be it knowne vnto all men, that i nicholas bowden chirurgion, cutter of the stone, and also occultest, curer of the ruptures without cutting, with the helpe of almightie god, can cure and helpe these sicknesses and infirmities following bowden, nicholas, fl. 1605? 1605 approx. 2 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a73537 stc 3432.3 estc s124644 99900321 99900321 150801 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a73537) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 150801) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1982:6) be it knowne vnto all men, that i nicholas bowden chirurgion, cutter of the stone, and also occultest, curer of the ruptures without cutting, with the helpe of almightie god, can cure and helpe these sicknesses and infirmities following bowden, nicholas, fl. 1605? 1 sheet ([1] p.) j. roberts, [london : 1605?] claims cures for kidney stone, hare lip, etc. imprint from stc. reproduction of original in the bodleian library, oxford, england. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine, popular -early works to 1800. 2008-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-11 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2009-01 john pas sampled and proofread 2009-01 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion be it knowne vnto all men , that i nicholas bowden chirurgion , cutter of the stone , and also occulest , curer of the ruptures without cutting , with the helpe of almightie god , can cure and helpe these sicknesses and infirmities following . in primis , i can by cutting bring to health , be they men or little children , that haue the confirmed stone in the bladder , i can take the same away from women or girles without cutting . also i can helpe those that are troubled with the grauell in the kidneyes or reines of the backe , also vlcerations , apostumations , or other impediments in the places afore-said . i can without cutting cure all ruptures or burstinges , as namely , ramex , inguinales , intestenales , serbales . i can also cure herniam , humoralem , aquosam , ventosam , carnosam , verrucosam , some by cutting , and some without , according to the disposition of the accident . i also cure wrie necks , wrie legges , and crooked bodies , by a rare meanes newly practised . all rumes , pearles , blemishes , or catteracts curable , although they haue beene long blinde , they shall in short time receaue sight . all hare or cleft lippes , i cure in short time . all excressentions or wennes , in what place so euer , i can cure them . those women that haue so hard trauell , that the mid-wife cannot performe her office , those i case , and deliuer presently . fistulaes , or cankerous matters , as lupus , noli me tangere , and diuers externall and enternall diseases , too long héere to rehearse . the professor héereof can shewe credible proofes for the performance of these greefes before mentioned . those which shall haue neede of me , shall haue me some observations made upon the calumba wood, otherwise called calumback: imported from the indies shewing its admirable virtues in curing the gout, and easing all sorts of rhumatical pains. written by a doctor of physick in the countrey, to the president of the colledge of physicians at london. peachi, john, fl. 1683. 1694 approx. 5 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a56761 wing p931b estc r204389 99825336 99825336 29716 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a56761) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 29716) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1933:8) some observations made upon the calumba wood, otherwise called calumback: imported from the indies shewing its admirable virtues in curing the gout, and easing all sorts of rhumatical pains. written by a doctor of physick in the countrey, to the president of the colledge of physicians at london. peachi, john, fl. 1683. pechey, john, 1655-1716, attributed name. 7, [1] p. [s.n], london : printed in the year 1694. a doctor of physick in the countrey = john peachi; also sometimes attributed to john pechey. copy filmed has ms. attribution "pechey" on title page. copy filmed trimmed at head, slightly affecting title. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gout -early works to 1800. therapeutics -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2006-05 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion some observations made upon the calumba wood , otherwise called calumback : imported from the indies : shewing its admirable virtues in curing the gout , and easing all sorts of rhumatical pains . written by a doctor of physick in the countrey , to the president of the colledge of physicians in london . london , printed in the year 1694. some observations made upon the calumba wood , imported from the indies : in a letter , &c. sir , we are told by good historians , that before physick was reduced into art and method , the custom was to carry sick persons into streets and markets , and such places of publick concourse , that they might have opportunity to inform those that passed by what their complaints were : and also to hear what experienced remedies they could communicate to them . and this method with gods blessing hath proved advantagious to the relief of multitudes . i 'le now tell you an excellent specifick that i have found admirably useful against the gout , easing all sorts of pains both external and internal , it is that excellent drug called the calumback wood : it corrects those flatulent acrimonious humours which afflict not only the joynts , but also the periostia of the bones , the muscles of the body , and the membranes of the stomach and bowels , and by its alcalizate quality it destroys those acidities which put nature upon the rack ; and this it doth by cleansing and strengthening , without creating any disturbance to nature , but leaving the parts more firm and strong , and less subject to receive new defluxions , whereby the returns of the distemper are much prevented . sir william temple observes , that amongst all the diseases into which the intemperance of this age disposeth it , he had taken notice of none to increase so much within the compass of his memory and conversation , as the gout , nor of any of worse consequence to mankind , because it falls generally upon persons engag'd in publick affairs , upon whose thought and care the service of their countrey very much depends ; and therefore he tells the world , that whoever proposeth a way of curing and preventing it , would do great service to states and kingdoms , as well as to private persons . i knew a young merchant who had been at the bath for pains and weakness in his limbs , and found no relief , he took the tincture drawn out of this wood with spring-water , and in two months time was strangely recover'd , and can walk ten miles in a day . a young gentlewoman extreamly afflicted with rheumatick distempers , and by going often into hot-houses to sweat , had brought her self into hectick feavers , and yet could find no ease of her pains , until she used the spirits and extract drawn out of this arthritick wood. an old gouty gentleman , about seventy five years of age , who was confined to his bed many months , with great extremity of pains , yet found ease by the use of this medicine , which he took sometimes in milk , and sometimes in wine and water , but continued it a month. a gentlewoman about fifty , who was let blood seven times in a year for her acute and violent pains , her blood very foul , yet found no relief , but grew every day weaker and fainter . i also directed her a vitriolick balsam , which is a kind of potential cautery , for it causeth tingling , and a little pain in the part for the present , and draws out a moist humour , and sometimes fetches off the skin ; this gave her great ease , but did not totally help her , until she took the medicines drawn out of this specifick wood , which she did in water-gruel , and sometimes in tea and coffee , and now she hath had health and ease many months . a humorsome gentleman , much afflicted with the gout , unto whom i had recommended the use of this wood , objected against it that 't was an outlandish plant , and we had herbs enough in our own gardens to cure our distempers . i told him that plea would never become him nor my self , who took so much tobacco , and drank so much coffee : upon that he fell to the use of it , and finds much relief by it , more than by the two former drugs . a virtuoso of my acquaintance told me , he had read such an excellent account given of this wood in mr. ray and other authors , that he resolved to try it , and has found it answer his expectation , and give him help in such a disease which is worse than death , for that easeth us of all pain , and this keeps us in continual torment . finis . certaine philosophical preparations of foode and beverage for sea-men, in their long voyages: with some necessary, approoued, and hermeticall medicines and antidotes, fit to be had in readinesse at sea, for preuention or cure of diuers diseases. plat, hugh, sir, 1552-1611? 1607 approx. 8 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). b00564 stc 19977.3 estc s94738 44920395 ocm 44920395 173841 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. b00564) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 173841) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 2101:10) certaine philosophical preparations of foode and beverage for sea-men, in their long voyages: with some necessary, approoued, and hermeticall medicines and antidotes, fit to be had in readinesse at sea, for preuention or cure of diuers diseases. plat, hugh, sir, 1552-1611? 1 sheet ([1] p.). h. lownes, [london : 1607] signed h.p. miles. imprint information from stc (2nd ed.). headpiece, initial. imperfect: worn, creased and stained. reproduction of original in: wellcome institute for the history of medicine. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine, naval -england -early works to 1800. patent medicines -england -early works to 1800. 2008-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-12 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-12 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion certaine philosophical preparations of foode and beuerage for sea-men , in their long voyages : with some necessary , approoued , and hermeticall medicine ; and antidotes , fit to be had in readinesse at sea , for preuention or cure of diuers diseases . and first for foode . a cheape , fresh and lasting victuall , called by the name of macaroni amongst the italians , and not vnlike ( saue onely in sonne ) to the cus●cus in barbary , may be vpon reasonable warning prouided in any sufficient quantity , to serue either for change and variety of meat , or in the want of fresh victual . with this , the author furnished sir francis drake and sir iohn hawkins , in their last voyage . 2 any broth or colase , that will stand cleare and liquid , and not gellie or grow thicke when it is cold , may also be preserued by this lire of nature from all mouldinesse , sowrenesse , or corruption , to any reasonable period of time that shal be desired . a necessary secret for all sicke and weake persons at sea , when no fresh meate can be had , to strengthen or comfort them . 3 now for beuerage : all the water , which to that purpose shall bee thought needefull to be caried to sea , will bee warranted to last sweete , good , and without any intention to putrefaction , for 2 , 3 , or 4 yeeres together . this is performed by a philosophicall fire , being of a sympatheticall nature with all plants and animals . in the space of one moneth , the author wil prepare so many tunnes thereof , as shall be reasonably required at his hands . 4 by this meanes also both wine , perrie , sider , reere , ale , and vineger , may be safely kept at sea , for any long voyage , without feare of growing dead , sowre or mustie . 5 and , as for medicine , if any nobleman , gentleman , or merchant , shall by his physition be aduised to cary any speciall distilled waters , decoctions , or iuyces of any plant or any other liquid vegetable or animall body whatsoeuer with him in any long voyage , this author will so prepare the same onely by fortifying it with his owne fire of kinde , that he may be assured of the lasting and durabilitie thereof , euen at his owne pleasure . 6 here i may not omit the preparation of the iuice of limons with this fire : ●ecause it hath of late been found by that worthy knight sir iames lancaster to be an assured remedy in the scurby . and though their iuice will , by naturall working and fermenting , in the end so spiritualize it selfe , as that it will keepe and last either simply of it selfe , or by the help of a sweete oliue oyle supernatant : yet this author is not ignorant , that it hath lost much of his first manifest nature , which it had whilest it was conteined within his owne pulp and fruit : ( as is euident in the like example of wine , after it hath wrought long , which differeth exceedingly both in taste and nature from the grape out of which it was expressed ) whereas being strengthened with this philosophicall fire , it retaineth still both the naturall taste , race , and verdure , that it had in the first expression : and so likewise of the orange . 7 there is also a specificall powder for agues quotidian , and tertian● and sometimes it helpeth quartans . halfe a dramme is sufficient for a man : and a quarter of a dramme for a child . it is taken in white wine beere , or ale. it cureth sometimes at the first taking , often at the second , and seldome or neuer falleth at the third time . it is not offensiue to the taste . it expelleth the disease , without any euacuation or weakening of the patient . 8 a sweete paste , for the head-ache : which commonly giueth ease , in one houres space , either vpon the first or second taking , because it is specificall . the dose is the weight of ● . d. 9 a safe , general & gentle purging powder , to be taken in white wine , working easily without any convulsion , or other offence to the stomacke . it is pleasant , and hath not any common or knowen purgatiue therein . it weakeneth not the patient , neither doeth the body grow costiue after it : which is vsuall in most of the common purgatiues . there haue been so many trials made vpon all sorts of complexions with this powder , as that it may well deserue the name of a generall purge : yet i can least commend it in cholericke bodies . the dose is two drammes and an halfe at a time . this being taken in warme weather for three dayes together , in the spring and fall , will preuent both the gowte and dropsie , and most of those diseases that spring from rheumaticke causes : and if it cure them in eight or ten dayes , take it for aduantage . it cureth the pockes newly taken in fiue or sixe dayes : and in tenne or twelue dayes , at the most , it cureth a deepe rooted pocke . 10 and if the plague , burning ●eauer , or small pockes , or meazels happen to infect any of the souldiers or mariners , or others in the ship : then if , within sixe or eight houres after infection , a dose of my antidotary powder ( whereof eight graines are sufficient ) be taken , it commonly preuenteth the rage and violence of the plague , by mastering the poyson , seldome suffering any sore to arise : and it disperseth and conquereth the matter of the small pockes and meazels : whereby in a few houres it vanisheth , without making the patient heart-sicke . and , in the cure of any kind of poyson , no vnico●es horne , no be●●ar stone , no terra lemnia or sagilleta , no mithridate &c. is able to match the same , though taken in a double proportion . it is an excellent remedie against swooning , or any sodaine passion of the heart . 11 there is also a medicine , which i will commend for the sea ( being a notable astringent powder ) which stayeth any flux of blood in a short time , and often cureth the piles and emerhoides . 12 the essences of spices and floures ( as of cinnamom , cloues , mace , nutmegs , rosemary , sage , &c ) being in the forme of powders , may with lesse danger be caried at sea , are more apt to be mixed and incorporated with syrupes , ●●leps or conserues , are more pleasing to nature , and are more familiarly taken , and with better successe then the chymicall oyles themselues , drawen by limbecke : their effects are answerable to the nature of the oyles . thus much i am bold to offer and publish for the benefit of sea-faring men , who for the most part are destitute both of learned physitions and skilfull apothecaries : and therefore haue more neede then others to cary their owne defensatiues and medicines about them . which if it shall receiue enterteinement according to the worth thereof and my iust expectation , i may happily be encouraged to prie a little further into natures cabinet , and so to disperse some of her most secret iewels , which she hath long time so carefully kept , onely for the vse of her dearest children : otherwise , finding no speedy or good acceptance of this my proffer ( but rather crossed by malice or incredulity ) i doe here free and enlarge my selfe from raine owne fetters : purposing to content my spirits , with such priuate and pleasing practises , as may better sort with my place and dignitie , and in likelyhood prooue also more profitable in the ende , then if i had thankelesly deuoted my selfe to bo● public●● . in which course , happy men are sometimes rewarded with good words : but few or none , in these dayes , with any reall recompense . vt deus per naturam , sic natura per ignem philosophicum . h. p. miles . some observations made upon the root cassummuniar, called otherwise rysagone, imported from the east-indies shewing its nature and virtues, and its usefulness above others as yet written of, in apoplexies, convulsions, fits of the mother, the griping of the gutts, with probable conjectures of its fitness to cure many other distempers; and its being the most proper corrector of the jesuits powder, rendring that ... harmless. by john peachie, doctor of physick. peachi, john, fl. 1683. 1679 approx. 14 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a56772 wing p938aa estc r220360 99831764 99831764 36231 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a56772) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 36231) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2052:05) some observations made upon the root cassummuniar, called otherwise rysagone, imported from the east-indies shewing its nature and virtues, and its usefulness above others as yet written of, in apoplexies, convulsions, fits of the mother, the griping of the gutts, with probable conjectures of its fitness to cure many other distempers; and its being the most proper corrector of the jesuits powder, rendring that ... harmless. by john peachie, doctor of physick. peachi, john, fl. 1683. pechey, john, 1655-1716, attributed name. [4], 8 p. printed for tho. parkhurst, at the bible and three crowns, at the lower end of cheapside, london : 1679. title page mutilated, affecting text. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to 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batch review (qc) and xml conversion some observations made upon the root cassummuniar , called otherwise rysagone , imported from the east-indies . shewing its nature and virtues , and its usefulness above others as yet written of , in apoplexies , convulsions , fits of the mother , the griping of the gutts , with probable conjectures of its fitness to cure many other distempers ; and its being the most proper corrector of the jesuits powder , rendring that me●●●●●… 〈◊〉 and harmless . by john peachie , doctor of physick . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . epictetus . london , printed for tho. parkhurst , at the bible and three crowns , at the lower end of cheapside . 1679. to the right worshipfull sir jonathan keate , baronet : a true patron of piety , vertue and learning . j. p. humbly dedicateth the ensuing observations , in testimony of his grateful resentment of his favours , with apprecation of all grace and happiness . of the vertues of cassummuniar . to give a description of the herb , its place , its growth , whether it beareth any flower , or seed , is not in my power , having received no account along with it from my brother , factor to the honorable the east-indy company : only thus much is most certain , it is a plant esteemed even by princes themselves , some part of what i have , being taken out of the king of golcondaes garden , one of the greatest , and wealthiest princes in india , and the priests , who are the brackmannes , of the pythagorean sect of philosophers , do many and great cures with it , for which they are so much esteemed not only by the natives , but also forreign merchants that reside there , the english themselves preferring them before their own country men , when they labour under those diseases that reign in the east-indys . they are very excellent botanists , admirably skilled in the nature , and use of plants , and having an extra-ordinary variety of them have improved galenical physick to a very great height . i do not understand that they are acquainted with any of the chymical waies of separating the pure , from the impure parts : or understand the use of minerals : but as they are nourished by the produce of the earth , so they are cured by the off-spring thereof , not feeding upon any animal killed for their use , fearing they should eat some of their ancestors ; because they hold a transmigration of souls . this root though it might serve to aromatize their diet , and is certainly a good stomachical , yet they use it only medicinally , and that in so homely a way as is becoming such plain , and simple men , unacquainted with the confectioners or apothecarys art ; they cut the root transverse , or cross-waies , and having so done , they dry it in the sun with great care , and when they have ocasion to use it , grind it betwixt two stones , adding water to it , after the manner of painters grinding their colours : being reduced hereby into the consistency of an electuary they administer two or three drams of it at a time to their patients . as to its qualities it is moderately hot , and very astringent , it consisteth of very fine parts , wrapped up in , and tied to an earthy matter ; and may be reckoned amongst your aromata or spices . it exceedingly recruiteth the animal and vital spirits , and may well be imagined by its taste , colour , and smell , to be an aperitive medicine . but by the experience i have had of it , i find it admirably to agree with the animal spirits , and a proper remedy against theit irregularities with spirit of wine i have drawn a good spirit from it , and with the remaining faeces made a very good extract , and conceive its extract made with fountain-water , might be better than the powder in the bloody flux , for which it is an excellent remedy . the spirit is good to mix with cordials , and is a very good medicine outwardly used : and will lay scents better than any thing yet sound out . it is matter of no small grief and trouble to any person endowed with pitty or compassion , to see how many persons labour under apoplexies , falling-siknesses , convulsions , and convulsive-motions , fits of the mother , which diseases have such stupendious symptomes , that they do astonish the beholders , nature seeming to be in an earth-quake , and in its last agony : and by the frequent aggress of so dreadful a distemper , those endowments which distinguish us from irrational creatures are in a great measure lost ; our understanding , that great light very much darkned our memory , that excellent repository , broken , and like a sieve lets through most , if not all the species presented to it , so that our fitness to serve either god or man is very much impaired . and yet notwithstanding all the boasts of chymists , and the singular and prudent management of galenists , with the help of what medicines nature or art hath yet presented , scarce one of a hundred hath proved a trophy of their victory over so obstinate a distemper ; i mean not those whose disease doth arise from any fault in the first waies , as children which have , wormes , or the nerves disseminated in the stomach , being affected with ill matter therein conteined , of which an easy way of cure doth effect the desired end viz. by evacuating and discharging nature by vomit or purges : but when the distemper hath its rise from the head , and is of long continuance and duration ; the way of cure iuse is first generals as bleeding , vomits , or purges ordinarily used in this case . afterwards where the distemper is in the head originally ; i use to cut off the hair , and use a fomentation of the spirit night and morning . as for internal remedies : ℞ cassummuniar . pulv . ℥ ii conserv flor . betonic . ℥ i cum syrupo pae●● : q. s. fiat electuar . s. a. capiat q. n. m. ter in die horis medicis supbibend . ℥ iiii sequentis . julapii ℞ aq . florum ●iliae , cerasor . nigr : an lb . spirit . lavendul . composit . math. ℥ iii. syrup . paeon . q. s. misce . i shall not give instances of those many who have had their fits hereby lessened and abated , and very many cured . i could instance in a gentlewoman , who had a concussion of her head , which she laboured under for half a year in the country , after a fall down stairs with her head foremost , coming up to london was cured by a decoction , and electuary made of this root , to mine , as well as her admiration , and liveth now free from any ill effects of that ill accident . i was called to a gentlewoman that had hysterick . fits with unusual symptoms , accompanied with as great oppressions , and debility in her spirits when her fits went off , as when upon her , as she apprehended . the medicines used i find upon the file to have been only these : ℞ cassummuniar . pulv . ℥ s conserv . flor . boragin . ℥ i cum syrup paeon , q. s. m. fiat electuarium , capiat . q. n. m. superbibend cockl . viii sequent . julapii . ℞ aq . atriplic . ℥ vi puleg. spirit lavend . composit . mat. an ℥ i m. the common plaster to the navil , and a nodul of galbanum ; in two hours her fits ceased , and with the use of the same remedies some few daies , she was so far cured , that they have not returned these twelve months , the occasion of the distemper not proceeding from any passions of the mind . the spirit of it drunk with black-cherry water every new , and full of the moon , i conceive may be a soveraign preservative for them , who have had the common symptoms that are forerunners of that mortal disease the apoplexy , or been once attacqued by it , and escaped it , for prevention of the second fit , commonly mortal . to conclude this head ; the greatefulness , as well as the usefulness of it , to prevent convulsions , looseness , and gripings in children , maketh me commend this medicine to country gentelwomen , to midwives , and nurses , and the rather because of its safety , and but one incovenience can attend the use of it , which is its binding quality , which is rarely a prejudice , where the medicine discusseth wind , as this doth . they may boil it in their water-pap , their milk , or what else they think fit to give the child . i prefer it before any other galenical or chymical medicine , for that i have observed , that by the nauseousness of spirit of amber , and ill contexture , and consistency of diascordium , methridate , and venice-treacle , they have oftentimes brought fits instead of hindering them . the decoction of it in a little ale , or wine , and water , is very useful for the mother when layd , or boyled in her caudle to prevent fevers , and after-pains , because it will promote sweat , and discuss wind . the griping of the guts , a disease no less torturing , than mortal , hath reigned excedingly in london for these many years last past : and notwithstanding the endeavours of our learned doctors , and ingenious chymists , our bills of mortality inform us , that a great number of persons die of it every week , though more in july and august than at other seasons of the year . this desease is many times epidemical in the east indies , and this root was sent me with high commendations of the succesful use of it by the brammenees in this malady , and indeed this remedy hath convinced me of the truth of doctor willis's assertion , that the nervous part is principally affected in this distemper . by the excrements it is distinguished into the bloody and unbloody flux , in the latter , the matter is sometimes waterish , and sometimes mucous , to which may be added that which is called the dry gripes . the method i proceed in all is alike : only where there is a fever conjoyned with , or consequent to the disease , i use fountain-water for the vehicle . when called to a patient , bleeding being premised , if the age , temper of the patient , and season of the year require it , i use doctor sydenhams purge . ℞ tamarind ℥ s sol . sennae . mundat . ℥ ii rhei ℥ iss coquantur in aq fontanae q.s. colatur . adde mannae , syrup . rosar . solutivi an . ℥ i m. fiat potio . at night when the purge hath done working . ℞ rad . rhysagon . pulver . ℥ ss cum syrup . corallior . q. s. fiat bolus hora sommi sumendus . repetatur sexta quaque hora. after it i give a large draught of the decoction of the same root sweetned with syrup of couslips , and sometimes fifteen drops of the laudanum liquidum described by doctor sydenham in his excellent book of observations upon acute distempers . this method i use till its declination to the better , and then the case is so easy , i need not inculcate any thing further about it . i use this root as a corrector of the inconveniences that attend the peruvian bark , and commonly prescribe three parts of the bark , and one of the root cassummuniar . and though i have alwaies after generals , as the bitter potions , vomits , or bleeding as the case requireth , proceeded to the use of that bark , and that as frequently , as most have , having had the honour of many persons of greatest eminency in the university of oxford one year under my care , together with many others ill of quartans , yet never can charge , that bark in any one of my patients with any damage , which was the result of its administration , being thus corrected . a very eminent east-india chyrurgion assured me , he had used this root in melancholy hypocondriack , and the scurvy , with great success , of which i can speak nothing from my own experience . i conceive that a decoction of this root in fountain-water , ( seeing it strengtheneth the animal spirits , helpeth separation of what is inconvenient from them , promoteth sweat , and a good circulation of the blood ) may be of great use in fevers , to prevent deliriums , which hath frequently a fatal ill event attending it . i look upon it as a thing very probable , that this root may be serviceable in many other diseases , and do not doubt , but it s own harmless , as well as useful nature will excite ingenious and learned physitians ( of which this nation and city aboundeth in as many as any in the world , ) to make a higher and greater improvement of it , than i have , or can . if what i have written may tend to the publick advantage , i have my end : and could wish , that all physitians would so far consult the good of mankind , as to communicate what they have singular to the world , that so noble a science might be completed , and health be the better preserved and restored : for that of seneca is most true in physick : multa egerunt , qui ante nos fuerunt sed non peregerunt , multum adhuc restat , multumque restabit , neque ulli nato post mille secula praecidetur occasio aliquid adhuc adjiciendi . this root may be had at mr. bartletts druggist in bishopgate-street , or at my apothecaries on rhederiff wall . mr. bartlett hath as i suppose a sufficient quantity for present use . and if it hath the desired success ( of which do not doubt ) i presume more will be imported in a year or two . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a56772-e210 syden . pag. 255. the charitable physitian, his hand extended to the curing of that contagious disease called the flux, or griping of the guts with other the most violent distempers now reigning amongst us, also their symptomes, whereby they are known ... / by j. deacon. deacon, j. (john) this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a37297 of text r20279 in the english short title catalog (wing d488). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 18 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a37297 wing d488 estc r20279 12354590 ocm 12354590 60096 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37297) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 60096) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 140:3) the charitable physitian, his hand extended to the curing of that contagious disease called the flux, or griping of the guts with other the most violent distempers now reigning amongst us, also their symptomes, whereby they are known ... / by j. deacon. deacon, j. (john) [3], 5-24 p. printed by w.g., are to be sold by isaac pridme ... and for the author ..., london : 1657. advertisements: p. 23-24. reproduction of original in british library. eng medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions -early works to 1800. a37297 r20279 (wing d488). civilwar no the charitable physitian his hand extended to the curing of that contagious disease called the flux, or griping of the guts. with other the deacon, j 1657 3161 0 0 0 0 0 1 949 f the rate of 949 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2006-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-10 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2006-10 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the charitable physitian his hand extended to the curing of that contagious disease called the flux , or griping of the guts . with other the most violent distempers now reigning amongst us . as also their symptomes , whereby they are known . all freely given to the poor in distress . by j. deacon . orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano . london , printed by w. g. are to be sold by isaac pridme at the golden falcon neer the new exchange and for the author at the golden anchor in tower-street over against barkin church . 1657. the charitable physician his hand extended to the curing of that contagious disease called the flux , or griping of the guts . dear countrey-men , it was the saying of an heroick spirit , that non solùm nobis nati sumus : if i am born to do good for my native countrey , i shall be very happy therein . it was likewise the saying of one of the wise men of greece , largire cum utilitate . my heavenly father , my high and mighty lord hath bestowed a talent upon me , which i desire not to tye up in a napkin , but to imploy it to the honour of the giver , and to bestow it to the profit of the receiver . for my lord hath commanded me to cast my bread upon the waters , and i shall find it after many dayes : he commands me to do good to all , but principally to those that are in distress : to such ( i say ) as groan under the burthen of gods heavy hand , and consequently those that labour under the violence of this furious and almost contagious disease now reigning amongst us , which is called by the common people the flux , with the gripings in the bowels . by which i understand many perish for want of means to purchase fit medicines for that disease from the learned physicians ; unto such alone i doe present this talent , this mite , this drop of the water of my affections , which by gods blessing may be a means to extinguish , at leastwise to abate the flames of these poore peoples calamities : which in the name of god take thus , ( if thou art afflicted with this terrible disease . ) foure or five handfuls of groundsel , or as much thereof as by bruising you may get almost to the quantity of half a pinte of juice ; unto which put the quantity of a walnut of fresh butter , which warm over the fire , and so drink it off : and every half houre afterwards , for the space of foure houres , drink one draught of posset-ale : after foure houres expired , eat one yolk or two of eggs potched : six or seven houres after take this drink following , which you must make thus : a drink . take one handful of plantane leaves , one handful of mint , and one handful of marygold flowers , and as much harts-horn as will lye upon a shilling at twice , with half an ounce of cinamon grosly beaten , boiled in a pottle of fair water until it be half consumed ; then strain it , and after it is strained , boyl it a walm or two with three ounces of hard sugar : of which drink give the patient every two houres foure spoonfuls : but within ten or eleven houres after the taking of the groundsel-drink , which i guess to be the houre of rest , then let the patient take ten or twelve spoonfuls of the drink thus boyled and strained , and let him take it for his ordinary drink for foure and twenty houres after . ( observe to give unto children one third part prescribed to men or women of the groundsel-drink , and half of the plantane-drink ; and to increase the same as the childe is in age and strength . ) this medicine being thus taken , and these rules observed at the beginning of the disease , with gods help it giveth a speedy cure : but if the disease have continued long upon thee , then expect not so sudden a cure , and therefore use the same medicine every other day , viz. the groundsel-drink , and the plantane-drink , every day ordinarily , the oftner the better . the best and fittest time to give the groundsel-drink is at 6 a clock in the morning . but if thou art suddenly taken sick at any time of the day with this disease , then take the groundsel-drinke presently , without delay , ( for delayes in this case are very dangerous ) after thou hast been an houre in bed : and if thy constitution be so hard to work upon , and thy body withall strong , so that the medicine beginneth not to work effectually in an hour and a halfs time , then you may take such another draught of groundsel . but if through stubbornness of thy disease , and thy former long neglect , thy body doth still languish , then repair to my habitation , or send me a discreet messenger ( for urines in this case are not to be trusted to ) though many unworthy professors of the honourable science of physick doe rashly adventure to give physick upon the bare inspection of the urine , to the utter destruction of the sick patient , although their idle prattle satisfies , but yet deceives ignorant people : a discreet messenger i say that may be able to resolve me some questions concerning the state of your body : by which messenger i shall send you a pill and a powder , which you shall have gratis , provided the messenger bring me a certificate under the hand of the minister that you are poor , that so the poor may not be deceived : which pill and powder are of excellent virtue for opening the obstructions of the bowels , and evacuates that sharp humor and wind which causeth this violent distemper ; and by the taking thereof not onely this , but many diseases have been cured , and as many prevented , to the preservation of thousands in this and other nations . it is excellent for the cure of the dropsie , for by its evacuative quality it unburdeneth the languishing body from those hydropick humours which invade the life of the patient . the gout , though a disease reputed incurable , yet this hath cured the same at twice taking , some topical medicine being applyed to the part , intentionally to discusse the humour collected , and farther taking the same medicine once in half a year intercepteth the furious reintration of the disease , which commonly pursueth those that have had the disease every spring and fall . it hath likewise mightily prevailed in the curing of those which have had the stone , which it dissolveth by its penetrative faculty , and afterwards by its expulsive faculty it forces the stone away . it cureth the quotidian , tertian , and quartan ague , though indeed the quartan requireth longer time , but the rest it most commonly cureth at the first taking . it hath cured many of the disease , struma , commonly called the kingsevil , if the disease be not too inveterate , and the mass of blood wholly corrupted and consequently it cureth many ulcers , apostheums , morphews , itch , and such like deformities of the skin ; for by the operative virtue of this medicine , those sharp humours which produce these unseemly and unwish'd for disasters , are carried away , and that at the first or second taking , but generally the third dose performs the work without question , if the constitution be any thing helpful to nature . but principally it is highly commended for those who have taken surfets by eating or drinking : for by its virtue it exonerates the stomach from those nauseous humours lately received from that redundancy ; which humours by continuance a very few hours in the body , kindle the flames of violent fevers , even to the subversion of nature , and loss of life , which too too many see and find by daily and woful experience ; all which calamities may be seasonably prevented by taking of this wholsome medicine . it is very profitable for those that want an appetite and digestion , which indeed is the forerunner of many diseases , for a failing appetite and a weak digestion speaks the whole body distempered , and gives certain notice of the pursuit of some furious disease . many carelesly neglecting these diagnosticks , precipitate themselves to their destruction . indeed it is a proper medicine to be taken at the beginning of any manner of disease , for by its operative virtue it doth diopilate the stomach , liver , spleen and mesentery , and presently cleanseth them from those impurities , which being lodged in those official parts , their natural operation is presently hindred , and the sad effects of insuing diseases produced . this medicine being a perfect catholick , worketh impartially on each redundant humor ; and incountring with that enemie the disease , in the beginning before he hath intrencht himself , gives him a repulse , and forces him to flight ; indeed it is like little david to great goliah . it were fit to be preserved for use in all families that are careful of their health , but especially for such as are remote from physicians : it may be taken at any time if the patient find himself suddenly surprized with the symptomes of insuing diseases . the precedent symptomes are commonly these following . an unusual pain in the head , unaccustomed passions and trembling of the heart , oppression and loathsomeness of the stomach , with a rare propensity to vomit : also a griping in the bowels , pain in the loynes or back , with shivering chillness or shaking , with a sudden violent heat , with slothfulness , drowsiness and restlesness to the whole body . i say when these or any of these symptomes appear , then know assuredly there is a storm coming , then without delay take this medicine . it may likewise be given to children , if you find any of these symptomes appearing on them : but to such give not the powder in substance , but that which is called the infusion of it , which you must make thus . take the whole powder , and let it lie in seven spoonfuls of white wine all night , then strain the white wine from the powder through a three double cloth , of the wch wine give the child one spoonful in the morning fasting , ( if the child be not above four years old ) but if a lusty child , and near eight or ten years of age , you may then give the quantity of three spoonfuls , rather less then more , for if it should not work in an hour and a halfs time you may give another spoonful , when you find it begins to work , give now and then a draught of posset-drink ; let not the child stir abroad all that day , nor sleep in four hours after taking the white wine ; to a child of fourteen or sixteen years of age , you may give four spoonfuls , alwayes remembring to give rather a spoonful too little , then one drop too much , in regard you may increase the quantity when you please ; it were fit that one of these powders were alwayes kept in a viol full of white wine , close stopt , for it will keep a whole year being set now and then by the fire , or in the sun , and then it is ready to be taken upon all occasions ; for twelve hours neglect may danger the loss of the child ; if the child be taken sick one day and neglect the medicine , till the next morning whilst the infusion is preparing : withall remembring that children take not the pill . the general vse of this medicine to men & women is as followeth . take the pill alwayes over night two hours after the eating of a light supper , so go to rest ; next morning take the powder fasting in a stewed pruon , pap of an apple , a piece of sweet butter , or of honey the quantity of a hasle nut ; one hour after drink a draught of posset ale , and when it begins to work with you , drink now and then a draught of the said ale ; sleep not in four hours after taking thereof , neither stir out of your chamber all that day : about noon eat some warm meat , making but a light meal ; and if it be needful you may take another pill and powder three dayes after , in the same manner as aforesaid . and if the patients body be costive , then 4 hours before you give the first pill give him or her a glister made onely with half a pint of pure sallet oyle , and half a pint of new milk . so likewise the next day six or seven hours after the taking the powder give the same glister , if the inflexibilitie of the humors have prevented the medicine working downwards answerable to your expectation ; but this is notusual , yet the first glister is common . but if you shall find any of the precedent symptomes formerly spoken of appear ; then stay not till night or next morning , but immediately go to bed , and as soon as you are warm , there take the pill , and within an hour after take the powder , in order and manner as afore directed ; and withall remember the use of the glisters , if your body be very costive : and if your body continue still in a distemper , then the next day in the evening take another pill , and the next morning after another powder as afore prescribed , not forgetting the glisters aforesaid . be it likewise remembred , that whereas , each body hath its several constitution , habit , strength or weakness ; and therefore you must take notice , that although the pill is to be given to men or women generally , yet the whole quantity of powder is not to be given to every patient : but rather half the powder at a time to a tender body , or else the greatest part of the infusion of the whole powder , according to former direction for children ; and if the medicine , whether the powder or the infusion , work not in an hour , or two hours time ; then you may take the rest of the powder or infusion , alwayes observing to take somewhat less then a grain exceeding the direction . but withall if you expect a blessing upon these my weak but willing endeavours , be mindfull of that wholesome direction delivered by a holy one , which speaks thus ; my son ? in thy sickness be not negligent , but pray unto the lord , and he will make thee whole , set thy whole endeavours on work to relinquish sin , and to order thy hands aright , and then give place to the physician , for the lord hath created him ; i say expect not a blessing untill you fit your self for that blessing by repentance , he that sinneth before his maker , let him fall into the hands of the physician ( saith a holy one ) and know thou whosoever thou art , that it s thy sin hath begot this punishment , which makes thee stand in need of the physician ; and assure thy self , if this punishment , this sickness , be removed from thee before an appearance of hearty sorrow be manifested in thee for thy sin , which occasioneth the same , this punishment , this sickness , is removed but to try thee , or to give way to a far greater affliction which will undoubtedly fall upon thee and that suddenly ; therefore if you desire not onely present but future comfort , begin now an amendment of life : thou that hast by continual transgressions endeavoured to crucifie again the son of life , repent that your sins may be put away ( which are the cause of all your present sufferings ) when the time of refreshings shall come from the presence of the lord , act. 3. unto such as are poor in spirit , whose inheritance is the everlasting kingdom , mat. 5. to such i say as thus mourn , it is my desire to comfort them , for they shall , they must be comforted , it is due to them by promise ; unto whom i say as peter said unto the poor lame man at the temple gate who beg'd his alms , gold and silver have i none , but onely such as i have i freely give thee : in the name of the lord jesus christ of nazareth , rise up and walk . ask and it shall be given you . happy is the man that can say with solon , patria , tibi & dictis & factis obitulatus sum . books printed for isaac pridmore and henry marsh , and are to be sold at the golden faulcon near the new-exchange . 1 the rogue , or the life of guzman de alpherache the witty spaniard , written in spanish by mathew aleman , servant to his catholick majesty ; the fifth and last edition corrected . 2 a physical discourse exhibiting the cure of diseases by signatures , whereunto is annexed a philosophical discourse , vindicating the souls prerogative in discerning the truths of christian religion with the eye of reason , by r. bunworth . self-examination or self-preparation for the worthy receiving of the lords supper ; delivered in a sermon concerning the sacrament , by daniel cawdrey , sometimes preacher the cure of the plague by an antidote called aurum vitæ. being well approved to be an easie safe, and perfect cure thereof; as also of contagious agues, or feavers beginning either hot or cold. the description, order and use whereof, together with the said antidote, and are to be sold at the shop of nicholas bourne, stationer, at the south entrance of the royal exchange. invented and produced by john woodall, master in surgery. published by authority. woodall, john, 1556?-1643. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a15689 of text s113972 in the english short title catalog (stc 25961). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 19 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a15689 stc 25961 estc s113972 99849200 99849200 14338 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a15689) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 14338) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1698:15) the cure of the plague by an antidote called aurum vitæ. being well approved to be an easie safe, and perfect cure thereof; as also of contagious agues, or feavers beginning either hot or cold. the description, order and use whereof, together with the said antidote, and are to be sold at the shop of nicholas bourne, stationer, at the south entrance of the royal exchange. invented and produced by john woodall, master in surgery. published by authority. woodall, john, 1556?-1643. [14] p. printed by e. p[urslowe] for nicholas bourne, london : 1640. printer's name from stc. b4 is a cancel; b4v line 1 begins: dreadfull disease,. signatures: a-b⁴ (-a1, blank?). reproduction of the original in the british library. eng plague -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. a15689 s113972 (stc 25961). civilwar no the cure of the plague by an antidote called aurum vitæ. being well approved to be an easie safe, and perfect cure thereof; as also of conta woodall, john 1640 3378 3 0 0 0 0 0 9 b the rate of 9 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-05 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the cvre of the plague by an antidote called aurum vitae . being well approved to be an easie safe , and perfect cure thereof ; as also of contagious agues , or feavers begining either hot or cold . the description , order , and use whereof , together with the said antidote , are to be sold at the shop of nicholas bourne , stationer , at the south entrance of the royal exchange . invented and produced by john woodall , master in surgery . published by authority . london : printed by e. p. for nicholas bourne . 1640 to the reader . the author sendeth greeting in the lord . shewing , that he having of late published some workes in surgery , amd amongst the rest , a treatise concerning the cure of the plague , which workes , although they are allowed and well approved of by many right worthy personages , for the matter in them contained , yet neverthelesse the author findeth , he hath by improvidence failed of his desires in one of the main points he aimed at , in the production of those workes , which was in the putting forth of the treatise of the plague in one and the same volumne , with the rest of his workes , for whereas his intent was , that treatise above the rest should have beene common , and open to every person , and also to have bin at an easie rate for the poorer sort , in which case his best course had beene to have printed it by it selfe , so had it borne its owne burthen of price , but by reason that the other treatises are bound up together with it , the book will cost ten shillings , which the poorer sort cannot buy , and they commonly have the greatest need thereof , especially in that dreadfull disease of the plague ; wherefore , partly through solicitation of some friends , and partly , for that the present time of infection requireth helpe , he hath thought fit to draw out of the said treatise , that one principall medicine called aurum vitae , and to publish it by it selfe , with an expression of the vertues and uses thereof , for the present occasion , and service of any person which shall thinke good to make use thereof , or that shall for the future be disposed to be provided before hand , against a time of need , of such a medicine , as will not decay in seven yeeres and more . vale . a description of the cordial antidote called avrvm vitae . this antidote , at one onely time given , taketh away the pestilentiall feaver , and therby cureth the plague , that the patient frequently becommeth well the very next day ; especially if the medicine be taken upon the first day of the complaint ; he or she observing of certain easie rules hereafter prescribed , concerning the order of administring thereof , and it is so easie and safe a medicine , that an infant , although it sucke upon the mothers breasts , may safely take it ; yea , and may easily be induced to receive it into the body : for that it is small in quantity , and is without offence in taste or smell to any : also , it may safely be given to any woman that is great with childe , whereof diverse trials have bin had with safety and comfort . the dose or quantity sufficient thereof for a man or woman to take at any one time , is but eight graines , and by that proportion , any discreet person may gather what may be given to any younger person : viz. a child of two full yeeres old , may safely take two graines , and a child of foure or five yeeres old , may take three graines , or foure , and one about foureteene yeeres may take six graines , and one of eighteene , nineteene , or twenty yeeres old , or more , may safely take the full of eight graines . and note that this medicine performeth its operation only by sweat which is the truest and safest way of the entrance upon that cure of the plague ( for the most part ) and also it doth ●t without moving the body either upwards or downeward ; and namely it causeth no vomits nor stooles : neither is it at all nauseous or offensive to the stomach , neither any wayes causing extraordinary thirst , nor faintnesse to the patient , but on the contrary , the patient , when his sweating is over , shall manifestly feele cheerefulnesse , as being much refreshed thereby , with also an abatement of his paines , and his feaver will be gone at the onely once taking thereof , neither shall the patient need to over-burthen himselfe with too many cloathes to force him or her to sweat : for the medicine of it selfe sufficiently performeth that duty , onely hee may bee ordered to have somewhat more to cover him , than the ordinary coverings he usually lyeth under , and the roome ought likewise to be kept warme with a fire therein , for that cold aire in time of sweating , is obnoxious and dangerous . and further , this medicine may bee kept seven whole yeares and longer , if occasion and need be , it will not decay in that time , for it being truly prepared of gold , is thereby permanent above other medicines , and looseth not its vertue as vegetable medicines doe : but as gold , that excellent mineral , excelleth all other mettals , in price and vertue ; even so the true prepared medicines thereof , as far exceed al other mineral medicines in their vertues , in the preserving and defending of men from diseases , as also in curing their inffrmities , when by gods permission they seize upon the bodyes of mankind . and whereas other strong medicines commonly worke two wayes at once , namely by sweat , and also by vomit , whereby they fiercely distract the patient , and produce fearefull accidents , as if death it selfe were at hand , by two violent expulfions at one time , yea oftentimes by a third , viz. by purging downeward : also this most safe , and sweating medicine , performeth as much as it promiseth , pleasantly , and without rigour or nautious offence , as well in the plague , as also in other contagious diseases , and namely in the smal pox , where nature also striveth to thrust out her venemous enemy , per poros cutis , or by the sweat holes of the skin , and that course of curing , is of all other the safest , in a contagious disease at the first entrance , which then consisteth rather of poysonous vapours vapours then of putrifaction of humours , in which regard the aforesaid course is safe , for it is a fearefull thing , yea , and a desperate one ( as i conceive ) to purge in the beginning of a contagious disease . this medicine is also approved good to be given in the beginning of any contagious ague or feaver , hot or cold , and for the most part , it cureth the patient at once giving , and it faileth seldome . of the rule and order to be held in the taking of this antidote for the cure of the plague . first the patient is to be demanded if he had any stoole that day , or the day before , and if yea , all is well for that point ; if otherwise , and that you find you have time to tarry so long ( else not ) let the patient have onely a suppository that may move him once , and when he hath had one stoole thereby , proceed without any further delay to the administring of the antidote ; for delayes are dangerous in that fierce disease , and whether the patient at that instant be found sweating , burning , quaking , raving , or in any other distemper give it in , and the party that taketh it , ●ought to be in his warme bed fitted with sufficient coverings before he takes this medicine in , then let him take it , either mixed with some cordiall thing , if he please , as a little mithridate , or give it mixed with the pap of an apple , which will doe as well , and so it is easiest taken in by infants ( as i suppose ) for it needs no addition at all to adde vertue to it , onely the addition chiefly serves to carry or convay the medicine without wasting into the stomach , for that it is a powder small in quantity , and subject to waste . also the party that is to take it , must have before hand an ordinary posset of ale and milke to the quantity of a quart very warm , which when he hath taken his medicine , shortly after let him drink a reasonable full draught of the said posset well warmed , and then lying on the one side , which side the patient please , let him be warme covered , head , face and all , leaving full breathing scope , and so in gods name let him lye still and sweat gently , if he can beare it for three or foure houres were best , & ever as he thirsteth , let him freely take warme posset drink , which were best to be given him in some cruet or spout-pot , if such were at hand , that he take no ayre by raising himselfe up in drinking . and when he hath performed his due sweating , let him be wiped dry and shifted , and then give the patient some warme broath ▪ and further by divers experiences the author hath found , that a patient so healed ( shifting his cloaths ) infecteth not an other , although he goe abroad the next day , for by that strong sweating the venome of the disease is wholy evaporated and gon , so as the next day he may by gods mercy safely goe abroad , but for the day of his sweating let him keepe within , and give him food competent in a sparing quantity , such as is of a light digestion , and deny him not drinke , so that it be somwhat warme at the fire only for that day . thus much for those which take the medicine within 24 houres of the first complaint . item unto such as the disease hath taken greater hold of , namely that before the receite of the aforesaid antidote , the patient have outward tumours , swellings or soares , as botches , carbuncles , or blaines , not yet broken nor ripe , if hee take the medicine as aforesaid , and sweat well upon it , the venome of the soares as is said , shall , through gods mercy , be so evapourated by his sweating , that the swellings shall decline of themselves , and not at all come forward , and if any after do break , as being formerly supperated , or ripe before the medicine tooke place , they also shall , as ordinary boyles , easily and quickly heale with every meane medicine . and notwithstanding generally , once sweating healeth the patient , yet neverthelesse if occasion bee , hee may safely take a second dosse , or proportion , yea , and a third without danger ; as diverse have done , so that he may be the more confident of perfect health ; neverthelesse if he find his desire by the first , let him not take a second , and if by a second , let him not take a third , for sweating medicines , too often taken , are obnoxious to a dijected weeke patient . the vertue of the precedent antidote , in the cure of the small pox . the disease of the small pox , hath great affinity with that most fearefull disease of the plague , being also contagious and deadly often times , and the cure thereof i have experienced to be by the same way , as the cure of the plague , only the cure of the smal pox succeeds best , if it be begun before that they doe manifest themselvs , and namely , in the first day of the feaver , or soon after , for that disease hath ever a forerunning hot feaver , or ague , for a messenger , wherfore it were not amisse for any that hath young children , especially in times that are contagious and infectious , to be prepared with remedies at hand , to fit such an unwelcome guest , considering the medicine will keep its vertue for more then seven yeeres . moreover , for the manner of the sweating in the small pox , let it bee very wearily and gently , and with no more cloathes then will keepe the patients sweating , and defend them from taking cold , and deny not them warm posset-drinke in the time of their sweating . also , when any person is desirous to take the benefit of the aforesaid medicine , having an ague , or feaver , with paraxismes or fits , let him not take the medicine in the time of the fit , but one full houre as is said , before the fit , or rather more , but if the feaver be continuall , as often in that fierce disease of the plague it is , give it at any time in manner aforesaid ; for if he take it , and his burning change into sweating , which the medicine usually produceth , the feare of death in the patient is halfe over . and further of a truth , the author can affirme that he hath cured some by the heretofore mentioned antidote , that had the pestities , or spots of the plague , vulgarly called gods tokens , upon them , and they are yet living witnesses thereof ; for which , and all other his exceeding favours in that fearefull disease , the almighty god alone be glorified : and so the author briefly eoncludeth with a copy of a certificate concerning the vertue of the before mentioned antidote , aurum vitae , referring the reader for further attestation to the authors booke called the surgions mate , or militarie and domestike surgerie . the copy of a certificate , concerning the vertue of the precedent antidote ; called aurum vitae , from the justices , ministers , and other the officers of the parish of s. margaret vvestminster , as it was by them presented to the right honourable , henry , earle of manchester , lord privy seale , &c. which by his lordship was presented to the rest of his majesties most honourable privy counsell . wee the inhabitants of saint margarets in westminster whose names are here under written , doe most humbly certifie your lordships , and that upon our owne knowledge , that in this time of visitation of the plague , feavers , agues , and other diseases , which have beene very grievous and great afflictions unto us : it pleased almighty god by the hands of one iohn vvoodall chirurgion of the east india gompany , and of his majesties hospitall of saint bartholomewes in london , a learned , judiciall , and expert man , which said iohn vvoodall about five weekes before michaelmas last , delivered unto some of us , who were officers in this said parish , an antidote composed in pills , which hee had made us , with directions how they should be administred to such as had the plague , feavers , agues , or any such violent diseases , that then remained among us ; which said pills have beene employed very carefully , according to his said directions , and administred to threescore severall persons , some of this new feaver , some of the small pox , some agues , and some other diseases , but most , to them that were visited with the plague , which had risings , soares , carbuncles , blaines , and were certainely knowne to have that fearefull disease , all which persons recovered , and not one of all them that have taken the said pils , dyed , thanks be given to almighty god : neither can we doe lesse than publish the great skill , judgement , and charity of the said iohn vvoodall , by whose industry and care this antidote hath wrought so good effect , and did bestow them freely , without one penny recompence for the same . westmincter the 6 of october . 1638. pet. heywood , iustice . rob. white , sub-curate . thomas mar. church-wardens . richard protter . church-wardens . william hawkins . copia vera tho. kirke . edward martin . and for satisfaction of such persons , as being in health , desire preservatives , the author observing , that although his antidote , be granted to be a cure for the diseased of the plague yet nevertheles therby it giveth not those that are well , satisfaction concerning their desires , which are rather for the present , to be furnished with some good preservative medicine , such as by art , through gods permission , may preserve them in health from that dreadfull disease , that it seaze not upon them unawares ; wherefore to satisfie such , he hath prepared two preservative helpes , the one being a powder to be inwardly taken , fasting each morning , the quantity of eight graines , either in beere , ale , or wine ; or to children , if it be mixed with butter , and spred upon their bread , or given them in milke , or any way else that they will be induced to take it in , it sufficeth ; and that they fast two houres after it , they may relie upon it , as on a good preservative , well approved of : and further , if any man , woman , or child , should accidentally or willingly take treble the quantity prescribed , they may safely doe it without any danger at all : yet by way of a preservative as is said to prevent the comming of the disease , the author holdeth the aforesaid quantity of eight graines is sufficient . the second preservative intended for correction of the ayre , is to be carried in a box , about the person of any , to make use of it at their wils , that they may often smell thereto , and thence draw in a preservative ayre to defend them from the danger of noysome vapours , which commonly the plague entreth by , as sent from the almighty , who alone defendeth from , sendeth to , and of his mercifull providence cureth the plague ; vnto whom be ascribed all honour , and glory amen , these 2 last recited medicines , are to be sold with the antidote , ready prepared for use , by nicholas bourne , as aforesaid . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a15689e-260 the dose of aurum vitae . of the continuance of its vertue . to cure agues or feavers that are contagious . necessaries to bee provided before the taking . a relation of the miraculous cure of susannah arch of a leprosy and ptysick, wherewith for some years past she had been sorely afflicted. arch, susannah. 1695 approx. 24 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 12 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a45118 wing h3663b estc r221930 99833174 99833174 37649 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a45118) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 37649) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2171:12) a relation of the miraculous cure of susannah arch of a leprosy and ptysick, wherewith for some years past she had been sorely afflicted. arch, susannah. hume, robert, apothecary, attributed name. fortey, thomas. nichols, charles, b. 1627. viii, 9-23, [1] p. printed by j. d. and sold by r. baldwin in warwick-lane, london : mdcxcv. [1695] first person narrative signed at end: susannah arch. includes signed testimonials from dr. charles nicholls and mr. thomas forty and mr. robert hume, apothecaries. copy has print show-through. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library, oxford. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng healing -religious aspects -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. leprosy -england -early works to 1800. miracles -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-02 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-04 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2006-04 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a relation of the miraculous cure of svsannah arch , of a leprosy and ptysick , wherewith for some years past she had been sorely afflicted . psal . 75. 1. — for that thy name is near , thy wondrous works declare . london , printed by j. d. and sold by r. baldwin in warwick-lane . mdcxcv . the preface . the works of god call for serious observation from all who are spectators of them , and are very instructive to the children of men. by these god may be said to speak once , yea twice , yet man perceives it not . we are with the utmost diligence to apply our selves to the right understanding of the voice of god in them , psal . 111. 2. the works of the lord are great , particularly the works of creation , which do always speak with a loud voice to the inhabitants of the earth , psal . 19. 1 , 2 , 3. the heavens declare the glory of god , and the firmament sheweth his handy-work . day unto day uttereth speech , &c. the visible heavens , so vast and spacious , richly adorned with sun , moon , and stars , which are admirable in their course , and powerful in their influence ; these are a legible book , wherein we may read what a glorious being god is , who is the maker and former of these glorious creatures : and from the consideration thereof reflect on man as a vile contemptible creature ; psal . 8. 3 , 4. when i consider thy heavens , the work of thy fingers , the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained , what is man that thou art mindful of him ? &c. and as the works of creation are great , so the works of providence ( whereby he governs , preserves , orders and disposes of all things in the world ) are great also , especially in and for his church and people ; the infinite power , wisdom and goodness of god being abundantly manifested in them . these works of god are to be narrowly inspected , found out , and searched into by all those that take pleasure therein : and it is a god-provoking sin not to regard the works of the lord , and the operations of his hands . for this sin god threatens to destroy a people , and not build them up , psal . 28. 5. sometimes god goes out of his usual course of providence , and works miraculously ( an eminent instance whereof we have in this narrative ) . this he doth sometimes immediately , mark 6. 52. joh. 2. 11. sometimes mediately , mark 9. 38 , 39. acts 4. 16 , 22. here might be considered what the glorious design of god is in his miraculous works . as , 1. to convince an atheistical generation of men , that there is a god that acts above the power of nature or natural causes , 2 kings 5. 15. 2. that those who contemn and under value the lord jesus christ ( through faith in whose name lepers were cleansed , the blind received their sight , a bloody issue stopped , &c. ) might be convinced that he was the true messiah , yea god as well as man. though christ came in the form of a servant , yet the glory of his deity sparkled forth in divers ways , and on divers occasions , particularly in his miraculous works , which none but a god could do , joh. 9. 3. & 2 11. christ turns water into wine , and thereby shewed forth his glory , even the glory of the only begotten of the father . the disciples of christ wrought miracles ; but this they did in the name of christ , acts 3. whereas christ wrought his by his own divine power , which may justly strike a damp upon those who of late have been so unhappy as to deny the divinity of our lord jesus . 3. christ's miraculous works are designed to strengthen the faith of his people ; john 2. 11. when christ had wrought that miracle of turning water into wine , it 's said , his disciples believed on him . they believed before , but now they were confirmed in their faith. and if so , then christ's curing the leprosy and other distempers in our day , which in the judgment of the ablest physicians were incurable , is not slightly to be passed over . that divers miraculous cures have been wrought of late , immediately by the divine power of christ without humane means , is not to be denied by any but such as are hardning themselves against christ and his works , as the unbelieving jews did , who though christ had done many mighty works amongst them , yet they believed not on him , john 12. 37. amongst other wonderful cures which the lord jesus hath lately wrought , this seems not to be the least which he hath wrought on the body of susannah arch ; of which this narrative gives an impartial account . she is known to be a woman of an holy conversation , enjoys much communion with god , and is a member of a congregation , meeting in devonshire-square in london . she lives at battle-bridg in southwark , where any that desire it may receive further satisfaction . a narrative of the miraculous cure of susannah arch , of a leprosy and ptysick , wherewith for some years past she had been sorely afflicted . i susannah arch do solemnly declare , in the fear of god , that my distemper began about four years ago with an extraordinary itching and scurf on my head , and afterwards it spread over my body . this continued about three years before i advised with any physician to know what it was ; and then my husband died , whose death was attended with many aggravating circumstances , occasioning much sorrow and grief ; all which conduced to increase my distemper . under my great distress of body and mind i was lamenting my self , saying , what , a poor distressed widow ! a poor afflicted widow ! then the lord was pleased to give me in that scripture , rom. 8. 32. he that spared not his own son , but gave him up for us all , how shall he not with him freely give us all things ? this i took as a bond from the lord , wherein he was pleased graciously to bind himself to supply all my necessities , which was much to my support at that time . immediately after my husband's burial , being left in a poor and desolate condition , that scripture came to my mind , job 1. 21. naked came i out of my mother's womb , and naked shall i return again . the lord hath given , and the lord hath taken away , and blessed be the name of the lord. under these sad exercises i was help'd to consider , that my outward condition was not worse than my lords and master's ; of whom it is said , matth. 8. 20. the foxes have holes , and the birds of the air have nests , but the son of man hath not wh●●e to lay his head. then was i help'd to say , i have lost all , and yet have all ; and to plead with god in the words of jacob , gen. 32. 12. thou saidst , i will do thee good . these and many other precious words were powerfully impressed on my soul for my support and comfort . after these troubles my distemper much increased , and then i advised with mr. forty an apothecary , who told me my distemper was a leprosy . i asked him whether it was curable : he told me , it was not curable . then was i advised by his wife to go to one mrs. griffin , who is skilful in curing scald heads , and she perswaded me to go to the hospital , but i found a reluctancy in my self thereto , having a perswasion in my mind from the time that mr. forty told me it was incurable , that jesus christ would cure it . nevertheless considering that passage of the woman that had the bloody issue , though she spent all on physicians , yet this did not hinder her being cured by christ when she came to him : so i concluded my going to the hospital might not hinder christ's curing me : thereupon i was satisfied in my self to go ; and when i presented my self to the physician and chirurgeons , they told me it was a leprosy , and asked me what i desired of them . i desired to be an out-patient , and they prescribed me some things , but i had no faith in the success of them , and so took but one dose , and threw the rest away , looking to an higher hand for my cure. however i went a second time , and then they who gave out the medicines , seeing my distemper , told me , it was in vain to spend my time in attending any further on them , for it was a leprosy , and could not be cured . not long after this i was sent by a friend of mine , on her own account , to dr. bourne , and i took that opportunity to shew him my distemper : and when he saw it , he lift up his hands , saying , good lord have mercy upon thee ! it is a leprosy . he likewise told me , there might be something given to curb it ( but not to cure it ) if i had wherewithal to defray the charge . i told him i was a poor widow , and so concerned my self no more with him . i went away from him full of comfort , having this perswasion , that jesus christ would be my physician , and would cure me . after this i was sent by the same friend , and on her own account , to dr. clarke , and took that opportunity to discover my case to him , who knowing me , sympathized with me , saying , alas , poor woman , it is a leprosy ! i asked him whether it could be cured : he told me , that something might be given to check it , but not to cure it ; and that if i would go to mr. humes an apothecary , he would give directions to him , and would do what he could for me . but having no hopes of cure from any humane means , i concerned my self no further with him in this matter . one reason why i had no expectation of cure from man was , the occurring of that scripture frequently to my mind , mat. 8. 2. lord , if thou wilt , thou canst make me clean . this i was enabled to plead before him with some degree of confidence that at last i should prevail . after this another friend and neighbour of mine being sick , desired me to go for her to dr. nicholls ; and when i had discoursed with him concerning my friend , i asked him what he thought of my distemper ? who answered , alas ! poor woman , how came you by this surfeit ? i asked him what the distemper was ? and he likewise told me , as the others had done before , that it was a leprosy , and incurable . this i can truly say , that all along my faith was fix'd on the lord jesus christ : it was on him i did and was resolved to rely , who in the days of his flesh , when on earth , cured all diseases and sicknesses among the people ; and i was confident , that he had the same power now he was glorified in heaven , as he had in the days of his humiliation . there is one thing i think good to remark , viz. when i considered that i was a poor polluted unclean leper , i was under some doubt ( though afterwards i concluded it was from satan ) whether i might and ought to come to the congregation of the lord's people to whom i belong , to partake of that blessed ordinance of the lord's supper amongst them . labouring under strong conflicts about this matter , as i was going to the congregation , that text came with power on my soul , gal. 5. 1. stand fast in the liberty wherewith christ hath made you free , and be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage . by this text i understood that the law of the leper , being part of the ceremonial law , is done away ; and so that doubt was removed . upon the last day of may , 1694. at night , when i was asleep in my bed , i was pleading with god in those words of the psalmist , psal . 57. 2. i will cry unto god most high , unto him that performeth all things for me : and then i thought i saw a man standing by me , and laying his hand on me , saying , i will be thou clean . i answered , lord , if thou sayest the word , it is done . to which i received this reply , all things are possible to him that believeth . i answered , lord , i believe , help thou my vnbelief . to which it was answered , he that believes , needs not to say , but is whole every whit , ( the hand being all the while upon my hand ) and thereupon i awaked , and perceived that it was a dream . from that time ( though i grew worse and worse ) i was strongly perswaded that i should be made whole . the next morning a christian friend of mine came to see me , and brought a woman with her , telling me , that she had brought one that could cure the leprosy . i then said to the woman , can you cure the leprosy ? she said , yes . but said i , you shall not cure me , for i have thrown my self on the physician of value , and he will cure me : and though you , or all the greatest doctors or chirurgions in london , would give me a great sum of money , you should none of you take me in hand . after this i had divers conflicts and temptations to weaken my confidence ; but god was pleased to give in divers seasonable words for my relief , and for the strengthning of my faith : as at one time that text came with power on my soul , mark 11. 22. have faith in god. and at another time that text , john 11. 40. said i not unto thee , that if thou wouldst believe thou shouldst see the glory of god ? and at another time that text , heb. 10. 35. cast not away your confidence which hath great recompence of reward . and whereas i had been afflicted with a ptysick for many years , wherewith i was laid vp every winter ; in november last it pleased the lord to remove that distemper , without the use of any humane means . and this was to me a token for good , that god would likewise cure me of my leprosy . soon after this , being at mr. beverley's meeting , and hearing the people talk of a miraculous cure of one that was lame , i asked one that sat by me concerning it : and she told me , that a maid that had been lame 17 years was miraculously cured on a sudden . then i told her , i was waiting at the pool , believing that i should be made whole . from that time my heart was drawn out to wrestle more earnestly with god for cure , crying out , lord ! why not i ? why not i , a poor leper ? in december my distemper growing worse and worse , both on my head and body , i met with some inward struglings , but was help'd to say , in the words of job , i know , o lord , that thou canst do every thing . i was likewise help'd to say , from that of the three worthies , dan. 3. 17. my god whom i serve is able to deliver me : however i am resolved to trust in him . and now to give a true and faithful account how i was healed . on the 26th of december at night i went to bed , as bad as ever i was ; and in the night i had grievous and sore temptations from my adversary , who told me i had no faith ; and that if i had faith i might be healed ; those words being cast into my mind , o ye of little faith : and i was tempted to think i had no faith , and that god did not love me , but i perceived this was to beat me off from my confidence in god. then was i help'd to look back to former experience , and remembred that about 30 years ago , when i was under great distress about the state of my soul , being under a deep sense of my sin. i was help'd to cast my soul on the lord jesus christ . and from that consideration many times since , when i have been in great distress , with respect to my outward condition , i have been enabled to cast my bodily concerns upon him ; and then i cried out , lord , i have cast my soul upon thee , and my body upon thee , and now i am resolved to cast all my diseases upon thee . then was i help'd to plead with god , saying , lord , if i have true faith , if thou lovest me , if i have an interest in christ , take away this distemper before i die . then satan suggested to me , that i had sinned with a witness in that i had limited god. but i was help'd to renew the same petitions to the lord , knowing i had not limited the lord , only that he would cure me before i die . then that scripture was brought to my mind , jam. 4. 7. resist the devil , and he will flee from thee . from which i was encouraged to resist him , knowing that he was a conquered enemy . then i lay quiet and with a composed mind till morning . next day i found a marvellous alteration , being much better and more chearful , which was discerned by a friend of mine , who told me , that she did perceive that i was much better . the next night after this , which was thursday night , as i was in my bed , i put my hand to my head , first on one side , and then on the other , and felt skin on both sides of it , which at first was surprizing and amazing to me . then i said , lord jesus ! hast thou begun ? thou wilt carry it on . when i arose in the morning , and had taken off my head-clothes , i found the scurf was gone from off my head , only there remained like a little cap on the crown of my head , which was easily taken off with a comb , which i made use of for that end : and then appeared firm skin all over my head. at the same time my distemper , which was spread over my whole body from head to foot , even to my very toes , was likewise taken away . and whereas i had neither skin nor hair on my head before , my hair is now grown to the admiration of them that behold it . and to this day , through the lord's goodness , i remain free both from leprosy and ptysick . jan. 16. 1694 / 5. svsannah arch . some of us whose names are subscribed have had certain knowledg of susannah arch's distempers , and also of her cure : and we are all fully satisfied in the truth of what is contained in this narrative . william kiffin , william collins , robert stead , richard adams , edward man , john piggott , benjamin dennis , william draycot , robert bartlett . the certificate of charles nicholls doctor of physick . on the 29th of september last , susannah arch coming to me on the behalf of another woman , desired me to tell her what her own distemper was ? i gave it , as my opinion , that it was a leprosy , and could not perfectly be cured , but something might be given to check it , or keep it under . furthermore , i coming this day into southwark , i saw this woman cur'd of her sad distemper ; and by what i have heard her say , and is related in the foregoing narrative , i do verily believe that it was done by the immediate hand of god , as the fruit and effect of her faith. i must say that i stand in admiration in beholding this woman cured . in witness of all which i set my hand this 18th day of january , 1694 / 5. charles nicholls . the certificate of mr. thomas forty , apothecary . ivnderstand i was the first person that susannah arch came to enquire of about her distemper , as she declared ; and i do testify , in the fear of god , that i did and do believe she had a leprosy , as is inserted in this narrative ; and i have seen her several times since she was cured : and by my conferring with her and others , i do declare , that i verily believe she is perfectly cured ; and that it was not done by any humane means , but by the immediate hand and power of jesus christ , as the effect of her faith. in witness of which i set my hand this 18th day of january , 1694 / 5. thomas forty . the testimony of mr. robert hume , apothecary . i robert hume do declare , in the fear of the all-seeing , heart-searching god , concerning susannah arch , whom i have known for several years , as followeth , viz. 1. she was , to my knowledg , grievously afflicted with an asthma , commonly called a ptysick ; yea i have seen her scarce able to go along the street so fast as a child of two years old . when her husband was ill of the sickness whereof he died , if she went but cross the chamber , she would pant like one almost expiring , insomuch that i thought she was more like to die than he : and so she commonly was in the winter , especially in such weather as increases that distemper . 2. one day she came to me , which i think was about july last , and showed me her head , saying , sir , can you tell me what i have got here ? i answered , it is a leprosy ( for so i think it was indeed , according to the description of the best authors ) : ay , says she , so every body tells me , for i have been at the hospital , and they all say so of it , and tell me there is no cure for it . i advised her to go to doctor clark , to hear what he would say of it . in a little time after she came and told we , she had showed it to dr. clark , and that he was of the same opinion with the rest , however desired to speak with me about it : i went to him , but do not punctually remember what he said , but this i remember , that he look'd upon it to be a very sad difficult case ; so that i all along took it for granted that he look'd upon it to be a leprosy , and that there was no hope of cure , for he ordered nothing for her . now as to these matters i do further declare ; 1st . as to her asthma : i could not but admire when i was with her a little after she was cured of the leprosy , and saw how she went a pretty way along the street , and up a pair of stairs , and that in frosty weather , without puffing and blowing , as she was used to do . i did take particular notice how she could speak without fetching her breath longer than a great many that never were afflicted with any such indisposition . 2dly . as for the leprosy : it was no less wonder to me , that when i came to look upon that which formerly was in my judgment leprous as snow , i found now was become as the flesh of a young child . i do verily believe she is wholly cured of it , there being all symptoms of soundness , and the hair does grow apace . let any doubtful , make what search they will , i am not afraid of being found in a mistake in this matter . to the truth of this attestation , i have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of february , 1694 / 5. robert hume . finis . a vindication of chymistry, and chymical medicines courteous and candid reader, chymistry, is an art that doth both teach and inable us (for our exceeding good and benefit) to seperate purity from impurity; ... fletcher, r. (richard), fl. 1676-1677. 1676 approx. 26 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a39816 wing f1359a estc r215438 99827320 99827320 31738 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39816) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 31738) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1907:24) a vindication of chymistry, and chymical medicines courteous and candid reader, chymistry, is an art that doth both teach and inable us (for our exceeding good and benefit) to seperate purity from impurity; ... fletcher, r. (richard), fl. 1676-1677. 15, [1] p. s.n., [london : 1676] title from caption title and first lines of text. by richard fletcher. imprint from wing. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. medicine, popular -early works to 1800. 2005-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-06 andrew kuster sampled and proofread 2005-06 andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a vindication of chymistry , and chymical medicines . courteous and candid reader , chymistry , is an art that doth both teach and inable us ( for our exceeding good and benefit ) to seperate purity from impurity ; exalt and advance what god and nature hath given us , to a farther and higher perfection than we receive it indewed with . for all bodyes , more or less , partake of the grossness and terrestriety of their matrixes : but after their essential purities are seperated from that terrestriety adhering , which they drew from their matrixes , they make it plain enough by their powerful effects , that it is to this state they ought to be reduced , before they work with efficacy ; and yet they still retain their character and internal idea . now if we shall well and truly consider it ; what have we in this curious nice age , either for back or belly , pleasure or necessity , that hath not in some kind or other been oblidged to chymistry , and its beneficial operations , for that perfection we receive it in ? what calling may be said to have attained to the perfection and hight it now glories in , without its help in some one or other of its ( more sublime or trivial operation . consider our bread our beer , wine , meat , &c. or whatever can render our lives happy or satisfactory : and you will find it in one degree or other to pass under the hand of chymistry , and its various operations , or preparations . and can we then be thus insensibly led to admit its dayly help and assistance in things of smallest value ; and can we be so stupid , dull , ignorant and blind , as to neglect its assistance in things of greater moment and concern ? and not only neglect its friendly advice , but deny its profitable hand in those things , which above all others we most need its help in ? nay , we do not only deny it makes us happy ; but we seek by all means possible to disgrace , slander , and make it ( and its professors ) contemptible and odious to the whole world . doubtless these are great follies , and we declare our selves either very ignorant , or else very malitious and self-ended . can we with ease and content , admit and allow its favours , ( and greedily seek after them ) to improve and maintain our purses and pleasure , and cannot we admit and embrace its help for the preservation of our health ; without which the other will be of little benefit , and less pleasure ? consider , if nature be weakned and oppressed , that she cannot accept of her usual and accostomed food ; so as she would , and ought to dispose of it for the supply of her spirits , and maintaining of her habitation ; and if she cannot in her ordinary course , so play the chymist , as usual : doubtless , she is less able to do it , in that which the very name , as well as the nature of it , makes her utterly to abhor , and reject ; and if she be not strong enough to seperate the essenses of her dayly and accustomed food , how shall she extract any thing from her physick ( if given gross ) that may give her that rerelief , which her present condition requires and calls for ? she [ viz. nature ] hath a double work to perform : first , to extract the essential part ( and to make use of it ) and secondly to cast off the gross as an enemy . it would doubtless , therefore ( in this ease ) be far better to save her the labour of seperation in this her weakned condition : for although nature her self when in health , can digest her food ( when dressed ) and seperate the alimental parts to her self , ( and make use of it for sustentation ) and cast off the gross as useless : yet her medicines must be pure , digested and seperated , and fited for her use : for if she cannot digest her food , then not gross medicines ; her food when in health may be gross , because she can dispose of it to advantage ; but when diseased , her physick must be pure , seperated and fit for her use , viz. to joyn with the spirit , or natural life in man. and in this the physician is rightly stiled , natures handmaid ; but not for loading her with more impurities , but in assistng and helping her to cast off impurities , by that which is pure . for of necessity , either the physician or nature must officiate , or act as chymist , before she can have , or receive what she calls for , and requires for her help and assistance . who therefore not drowned in ignorance and envy , would so strongly oppose so great a good as chymistry is author of ? for this is the only art ( which by supplying us out of the light of nature , with convenient means and particular natures to seperate the pure from the impure ) will teach us : first , to heal all diseases of the macrocosmical substances , and afterwards by examples and experiments deduced from those exteriour cures , will shew us the right and infallible cure of diseases in our own bodies . he that knows not how to purge and heal metals , how can he restore the decay'd , or weakned radical balsom in man , and repair it by comfortable and concordant medicines , to perform perfectly all its appointed functions ; which must necessarily be put into action , before any disease can be expelled : he that knew not what that is in ♁ , which purges gold , how can be come by an effectual and wholsome medicine that will purge and cast out those extrarious peccant causes that afflict and destroy the body of man ? he that knows not how to fix arsenick , or to take away the corrosive nature of a sublimate , or to coagulate sulphureons spirits ; and by a convenient specifical medium to break and dissolve stones in the greater world , will never in the body of man allay and tame the arsenical spirits of the microcosmic salt , nor take away the venimous indispositions of sulphur , nor dissolve the stone in the bladder , and drive it out being dissolved . now as the antient phylosophers ; who knew nature indeed , obtained their noble medicines by the strict and exact observation of nature in her own path ; how that kind was multiplied by kind , and without putrifaction there could be no generation : and as they found excellent medicines , by doing all things in the metallick kingdom according to the possibility of nature : so if you would have a medicine indeed , although inferiour to theirs , whether of the mineral , animal , or vegetable kingdom , you must proceed in the same method ; for as kind is multiplyed by kind , and not without putrefaction ; so if you will exalt any concrete to make it a friendly medicine , it must be in natures path ; kind with kind , and that by putrifaction . for the absolute things requisite to one that would conscionably undertake the sick ; are first to know how to unlock those medicinal bodies which the almighty hath created , and how to prepare them , and when , and to whom to apply them ; and also how to order and dispose the patient , so as that he may reap that good from them , which by carefull administration of them is expected . and thus will a little quantity of such a well prepared medicine , manifest it self in the powerful operating and friendly assisting of nature , to cast off her enemies ( viz. diseases ) with speed and safety . but on the contrary , how loathsome is the very name of ( gross and ill prepared physick unto debilitated nature ! and what 's the reason ? doubtless , the hard task she hath had put upon her by it , and even when she is least able to perform it , and hath more need of succour , than of a farther trouble . alas , how shall she receive so great a portion of loathsom medicines , being weak when even in the greatest of her strength she would ( not only ) be troubled to take ( but also at the sight of ) it ! and this from a secret sense and antipathy , her natural life or spirit hath against its nausceating , and dull quality , as well as the greatness of its quantity . then certainly nature hath no greater help , nor better remedy , then that true and friendly spagerick art or seperater of the impure , from the pure and medicinal part , that so renders it apt , and fit , for her more easie and friendly reception . why then should any so obstinately oppose so clear a truth , and so great a good as this excellent art of chymistry , in the preparation of medicines ( if compared with the other gross , sluggish and ineffectual foundation of physick ) or why do the galenists cry out against others in things they understand not ? or why do they envy us , and speak against our art , ( by which we prepare pure and harmless medicines ) and yet make use of those unnatural chymical medicines , prepared by the power of violent corrosive fires , destructive to nature . our way of preparing vegetable specificks , is by friendly dissolvents as are in themselves agreeable to the nature of the thing acted upon , so that in seperation the whole essence of the concrete is preserved both volatile and fixed , in odour , taste and collour , and the drossy gross part cast away . i say why do they make use of oyl of vitrial salt brimstone , and that dangerous vomit ♀ vitae prepared of that high exalted poyson , viz. oyle , or butter of ♁ also why do they use , crocus metallorum , prepared steel , crocus martis , flos sulph . lapis infernalis , ☿ dulcis ( falsly so called ) sacharum ♄ , tarbith minerals ( that hellish fluxing preparation of mercury ) with many other of those churlish unnatural ℞ in the london dispensatory : also why do they use chymical oyls , and salts of herbs , seeds , berries , spices , barke , woods , wax , rozins , minerals and stones ▪ with their compound and simple distilled waters , all unnaturally seperated from their other parts , or principles , as their late learned unlearned w. calls them . doth nature use these fires in producting these natural subjects they thus work upon ? ( no ) neither must her children in their art of melioration . she uses fire 't is true , but 't is her own , and it is she that furnishes the true son of art with his fire , which is gentle. does she seperate the salt sulphur and mercury , ( in her acts of generation ) and afterwards joyn them again . no , she ferments , putrifies , digests , vivifies and performs all her work and acts of generation , with one only fire which varies the species according to the matrix , &c. what can you gentlemen say for your selves , that have followed the subtile doctrine of the athenians , rather then the plain path of nature , but do you glory in the art of your masters . we will rejoyce in the works of our tutress nature , whose excellency will appear as well by reason , as dayly experience . consider , what is it that gives eminency and perfection , to any one thing we esteem as excellent ; we shall find that it is the purity of it , and that either in the animal , vegetable , or mineral nature : if we consider then what we are speaking of , viz. medicines prepared chymically ; we must also conclude its efficacy and excellency to proceed from its purity , or purified nature . let us ( i say ) consider what it is for , it is to help and restore decayed nature and her languishing spirit . now this spirit is the most subtile part of man ( i mean not the rational soul ) therefore no way to be assisted , but by that which is of purity and likeness with it ( viz. medicines of a subtile penetrating nature . ) the consideration of nature will tell you , what her medicines ought to be , and a true consideration of such medicines , will teach and tell you , what nature is , so that the quality of the one will inform you what the nature and essence of the other ought to be ; for the physician must ( if he will cure a disease ) administer his medicines to the spirit , because the spirit is the sole dispencer of guifts to all the parts and faculties of the body ; now as to the quality of the midicines you ought to use for natures relief , and assistance , is , that they ought to be of most subtile and thin parts . therein lyes the excellency of chymical medicines , above others , this art being able to exalt the most dull and inactive medicines , to the greatest of subtility , and far beyond what nature presents them to us in . nor doth it thus exalt their purity and efficacy , as to cure all diseases both inward and outward only , but renders the medicine it self incorruptible also : whilst the best of galenical ( mixtures ) will hardly keep a year . how then should these poor dirty , drossy medlies , answer those great ends they administer them for ? and how shall they root out inveterate , fixed and chronick diseases ? how shall they purifie the impure , or help the infirm , who are not cured of their own crude , corrupt and infirm condition ? if any shall here object , that the galenick medicines are safe and the chymical quickly cure , or quickly kill : let such objecters know , that they grant , and add more to the praise of chymistry and chymical medicines then they are aware of ; for nothing can quickly cure but what is efficacious , and fitted for so great a good , which nothing can be , that is not in some measure pure and like unto the nature it shall so assist . herein do they unawares affirm the excellency of such medicines : and then to those that suggest , they as suddainly kill , i must thus answer them , that they cannot kill , if administred by skilful operators ( as those must be that know their true preparation ) for as fire will warm at a fit distance ; yet if any man shall ( to warm another ) apply a red hot iron to his flesh , it will burn him ▪ so water will wash a man clean , ( if dirtied ) and he therefore unadvisedly leap into a deep well , he may be drowned . wine will cheer the heart , if moderately taken , yet many by excess have killed themselves ; but this cannot be attributed to the dangerous , or killing quality of the wine , as wine . so these medicines we know , use and extoll , if administred , or taken by pints , may destroy life : but if taken by drops , drams , or spoonfulls , in their vehicles , they enliven and help nature to conquer her enemies , viz. diseases . when other gross , sluggish and ill prepared nauseating mixtures , serve only to stuff up the body ( already too much obstructed ) with such quantities , which rather hinder then further her own operation , and also to rob nature of that praise due to her ( and the author ofher ) when she hath overcome , both the evil of the disease , and such medicines . now having briefly ( and i hope to the satisfaction of every unbyased and candid reader ) vindicated chymistry , and true chymical medicines ; i shall also with the like brevity , give the reader an account of some excellent useful chymical medicines prepared by me ; which may be of great benefit to all honest physicians , chyrurgions , apothecaries , midwives , and others who design good , and desire to be serviceable to their generation . a catalogue of chymical medicines prepared by richard fletcher , living at the sun in gutter-lane near cheap-side london . essence of southernwood , resists poyson , kills worms , provokes urine , strengthens the stomack , and cures surfets . essence of wormwood doth the same . essence of agrimony , helps infirmities of the liver , pissing of blood , and inward wounds . essence of m. mallows , easeth pains of the store . essence of marjoram , cures diseases of the brain . essence of angelica , resists poyson , cheers the heart . essence of dill and fenel , breeds milk , stays vomiting . essence of magwort , appropriated to women ; as also , is essence of arrach , germander , and peneroyal . essence of betony , dissolves the stone . essence of briony , cures dropsies , and falling-sickness : so doth dwarf elder . essence of centaury , cures the yellow jaundice ; the same doth succory and endive . essence of comfry , and clery , strengthens weak backs . essence of couslip-flowers , cures palsies . essence of arsmart , is wonderful in the stone . essence of of hysop , cures coughs and soar-throats . essence of st. johns wort , cures all cureable wounds , both inward and outward to admiration . essence of lavender , cures falling-sickness , and easeth all pains in the head , cures deafness . essence of laurel and bay-berries , cures diseases of the womb and bladder , expels wind , cures plurisies . essence of featherfew , is a singular womb remedy . essence of melilot , a wonderful friendly dissolver of the stone , and cleanser of the reins and bladder . essence of bame , mints , and rosemary , are wonderful renovating medicines . essence of tobacco , is excellent to cure old soars . essence of rue and savin , kills worms , cures pleurisies , expels birth , and after-birth . essence of sage , is an excellent medicine for women to help them to go out their full time . also essence of tansie is the same . essence of colts-foot , cures coughs , shortness of breath . essence of scurvy-grass , horse-redish , water-cresses , and broom , cures the scurvy and dropsie . essence of chamomel , cures pleurisies and stone . essence of saffron , powerfully corrects and expels poyson , cures feavers , consumptions , and drives out all offensive matter by sweat and urine ; and is excellent in the small-pox , measles , and all pestilential diseases , and is a very great cordial . the same is essence of clove-gilliflowers . essence of elder-flowers , cures dropsies , the stone , and opens obstructions of the liver , spleen and womb. essence of walnuts , kills worms , resists the pestilence , cures convulsions . essence of nutmegs , cloves , mace , and cinamon , strengthens the brain . essence of barberries , quench thirst. essence of corriander , gramwell , cardamom-seeds , kills worms , expels wind , provokes urine . essence of benjamin , and stirax , helps coughs , hoarseness and want of voice , and clears the skin . essence of pearl , coral , amber , and amber-grees , are wonderful restoratives ; and cures all diseases incident in women . antiscorbutick powder and essence . antivenerial powder and essence . stone dissolving powder and essence . a powder which causes speedy delivery in vvomen , a vvomb essence . these excellent specificks , are all prepared by proper dissolvents , by which the volatile and fixed parts are presverved with their odour , tincture and colour , so that what nature is best pleased with , is here fitted for her reception , that she may dispose of them , for those great uses and ends they were designed , &c. reader , i have not given you a full relation of the uses and vertues of those before mentioned essences . therefore i add this ; whatever is , or may be attributed to any vegetable , the same and more may be attributed to the essence of that vegetable , for by how much it is exalted in purity ; by so much it ecceeds in vertue and excellency . and as these noble remedies are purer , ( then the other common gross mixtures , which are usually given in great quantities ) so must their dose , viz. 5. 10. 15. or 20 drops in vvine , beer , ale , sider . tee , coffee , or broth , 3 or 4 times a day , that the active penetrating subtile parts of the medicine , may expel the evil , obnoxious diseasy matter , and so restore decayed strength , and bring nature again into her true path , by which she may preserve the whole man in health . thus having hinted unto you the excellencies of true prepared vegetable essences , and their safety above others : i shall also speak a little to mineral preparation , and so conclude the first part . mineral medicines have a more universal tendency then vegetables , they being higher graduated in nature , and more fixed , and more locked up , and harder to come at , for prudent nature hath put bolts and bars upon her best jewels , and hath made strong fences about them lest strangers should espay them , and steal them away , and make an ill use of them , and cry they are ours , and nature shall obey us , she is our servant , and we will do what we please with her . therefore she keeps the keys of her treasuries her self , but she will vouchsafe to lend them to such of her children as are willing to be instructed by her , and will promise alwayes to walk in her path , and perform whatever she commands ; i say , such a one , and no other , will she fet into her chambers of beauty and riches , but he that hath her keys , which are friendly adjuncts , may open mineral bodyes , and extract that solar tincture , which she hath planted in them ; for it is this solar tincture , which is so amicable to nature ; and cures the most radicated diseases , by enlightning and enlivening the natural spirit , by which nature comes both to see her errours , and amend her wayes ; being thus enabled , not only to cast off all offending matter formed in the body , but also changing those venoms , the cause of such matter● , and wiping off the character of the same . and such a medicine as this , is my well known and often tryed powder , called the eagle of metals : as also my little powder viz. the solar dove , with which medicines i have cured many diseases , accounted by the proud persecuting colledge incurable , as hundreds can witness ( for me ) in this city that i have cured for nothing ; when they had spent all they had to satisfie the unreasonable demands of those physitians they then had made use of ( by whom they were rendered more miserable then before ) a further account of which i shall give you in my bock of cures , which god willing will speedily be printed . now having attained to the knowledge and preparation of such medicines ; is it not good reason i should have the liberty to use them ( without molestation ) for the good of the poor , and the glory of god , the giver of every good and perfect guift , to whom be glory , amen . vvhatever i administer to another , i dare be oblidged to take the same dose every day for a year , to prove the safety of my medicines , and let every physician do the like , if he dare trust to the safety of his , &c. postscript to the reader . courteous reader , such is the envy , ignorance and clandestine art , and subtile practice of many of the professors of physick , apothecaries , chyrurgions and others of their friends and fond lovers of the blind galenical tribe , to instill into the minds of men a more then ordinary prejudice against chymistry , and the professors thereof : exclaiming against the art ( because they understand it not ) and branding the artists with such marks of infamy , ( as if right took place ) they themselves ought to bear ; and only because they are painfull , studious and industrious men , who labour in the field of medicine with admirable success : hence it is , that they persecute us , and consulting with demetrius , find cause thus to reason . if this sect prevail , our craft by which we get our vvealth , will come to nothing ; here lyes the stress of the matter : vvealth is that which they seek ; and the health of the sick is sought by chymical physicians . thus friendly reader have i in brief stated the difference between a mercenary doctor , and a true son of art ; that people may no longer mistake shadows for substances , and through that errour may no longer be rendered willing to be deceived . i was willing to sustain this labour and charge ; not in the least doubting , but that these lines ( if read without prejudice ) may be of good effect to clear the understandings of most men : so , as henceforth they will be able better to judge of the common practice of galenical physicians , and consequently for the future be less prejudiced against chymical practicioners , then heretofore they have been , &c. i intend ( god willing ) hereafter to publish more small peices of the same subject . from my house at the sun in gutter-lane near cheap-side london , octob. 29. 1676. finis . some observations made upon the mexico seeds imported from the indies shewing their wonderful virtue against worms in the bodies of men, women and children / written by a countrey physitian to dr. burwell, president of the colledge of physitians in london. peachi, john, fl. 1683. 1695 approx. 5 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a56766 wing p936 estc r35390 15272544 ocm 15272544 103341 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a56766) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 103341) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1191:9) some observations made upon the mexico seeds imported from the indies shewing their wonderful virtue against worms in the bodies of men, women and children / written by a countrey physitian to dr. burwell, president of the colledge of physitians in london. peachi, john, fl. 1683. burwell, thomas, 1626-1702. pechey, john, 1655-1716. 7 p. [s.n.], london printed : 1695. attributed to peachi by wing; also sometimes attributed to john pechey. cf. nuc pre-1956 imprints. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng therapeutics -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. helminths. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2006-05 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion some observations made upon the mexico seeds , imported from the indies : shewing their wonderful virtue against worms in the bodies of men , women , and children . written by a countrey physitian to dr. burwell , president of the colledge of physitians in london . london , printed in the year 1695. some observations made upon the mexico seeds : shewing their wonderful virtue against worms in the bodies of men , women , and children . in a letter , &c. sir , i received your letter , with your desire to know what particular specifick i had ●bserved the indians make most use of against worms ; and i must freely tell you , that i have often seen them give the mexico seeds , which powerfully expels them in men , women , and children . the seeds look like an insect , o● sort of flat worm it self , and is spotted like a leopard ; it is a sort of a palma christi , it resists the putrefaction of humours , and purgeth the stomach and bowels , and drives ou● all sorts of verminous matter by siege , which cause gnawing pains in the body . the deaths of more people is owing to worms than is generally supposed , for they cause vomiting , loosness , feavors , and wha● not . i saw an indian doctor give a medicin● made with these seeds , which expell'd forty worms at one time . many famous physitians have of late year in their observations taken notice , that i● most distempers , especially putrid and malignant feavors , there hath very much 〈◊〉 worms been a cause , which hath made them prove more difficult to cure , and generall● more mortal ; and a curious physitian tells the world , that with the help of microscopes he had discerned in his patients blood , and sometimes in their urine , many animated vermicles , and until he hath applyed himself to the use of worm-matick medicines , could perform no cures ; but upon the use of medicines against worms , he quickly perceived an abatement of all feavourish symptons . i knew a young gentlewoman who had a great pain in her head , much sickness at her stomach , a very pale countenance , want of appetite , and a continual feavourish heat , and sometimes a chillness in her back , and a great faintness . many means i applyed to mend her blood , to cleanse her stomach and to alter the habit of her body , but al● in vain ; at length i gave her this medicine in a decoction of bitter herbs , about twenty drops at a time every new and ful● moon ; she sometimes took it in good mum and now and then in milk , with lavender cotton boiled in it , she voided many worms and wonderfully recover'd . a maid servant who had a gnawing pain in her stomach and bowels , especially being hungry , a dry cough , a loathing , and sometimes vomiting and loosness , a symptomatical feavor , and sleep often disturbed with horrible dreams , starting and gnashing of teeth : but notwithstanding all these formidable symptoms , i gave her the tincture of these seeds , and ordered her to take them in wormwood-wine , and she was restored to a perfect state of health . many young children have been destroyed by worms , because they would not take bitter unpleasant medicines ; but this being given only in drops , and insensibly conveyed into their ordinary drink , hath proved very successful towards the preservation of their lives , especially when clysters have been administer'd made with alloes and worm●eeds boiled in ale , and the belly anointed with oyl of worms . i knew a young gentlewoman , who complaining very much of a great pain in her stomach , especially when she had at any time fasted , she dying very suddenly , her brother ( who was a physitian ) caused her body to be opened , and to the great wonder of the spectators the worms crawled about in a strange manner , which gave abundant satisfaction as to the cause of her death . if this medicine had been known sooner , the lives of thousands might have been saved who made up the numbers in your yearly bills of mortality at london . finis . horæ subsecivæ, or, some long-vacation hours redeem'd for the discovery of the true sal volatile oleosum of the ancient philosophers now happily regain'd to the materia medica : and distinguish'd from all other preparations, partly by the senses, but more effectually by its medicinal performances, totally extirpating the saline stem of acids (the root of most diseases) and inferring the volatile oleose temper, the standard of health in humane bodies / by t. byfield ... byfield, t. (timothy) 1695 approx. 42 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a30806 wing b6397 estc r36317 15643494 ocm 15643494 104290 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a30806) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 104290) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1182:18) horæ subsecivæ, or, some long-vacation hours redeem'd for the discovery of the true sal volatile oleosum of the ancient philosophers now happily regain'd to the materia medica : and distinguish'd from all other preparations, partly by the senses, but more effectually by its medicinal performances, totally extirpating the saline stem of acids (the root of most diseases) and inferring the volatile oleose temper, the standard of health in humane bodies / by t. byfield ... byfield, t. (timothy) byfield, thomas. [2], 30 p. printed and are to be sold by j. whitlock ..., london : mdcxcv [1695] occasionally attributed to thomas byfield. reproduction of original in the edinburgh university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng physiologic salines. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-05 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion horae subsecivae : or , some long-vacation hours redeem'd , for the discovery of the true sal volatile oleosum of the ancient philosophers . now happily regain'd to the materia medica : and distinguish'd from all other preparations , partly by the senses ; but more effectually by its medicinal performances , totally extirpating the saline stem of acids ( the root of most diseases ) and inferring the volatile oleose temper , the standard of health in humane bodies . by t. bysield , m. d. and fellow of the college of physicians in dvblin . london , printed : and are to be sold by j. whitlook near stationers-hall . m dc xc v. the volatile oleose temper , the standard of health in humane bodies . man , the accomplish'd draught of the universe , prince of all creatures and of the lower world ; for his super-celestial and divine soul has an immortal ray of the divine light , reflected to the same , by the sharp sight and soaring contemplations of his mind , which shew he is a dependent spirit on the father of the spirits of all flesh . and for his body he has a beautified composure of the elements , a perfect mixture in life , illuminated with an undiscernable spark of celestial fire , the form of a mixt body , first surrounded with a radical moisture , then bound to an elementary body , by the mediation of the spirit , giving it individual being . and life thus deriv'd is the most supream and compleat act of nature . for the souls of living creatures are vastly distant from the dark and earthy matter of their bodies , till by this subtile mean of an aetherial spirit they are fastned to 'em by the strictest tye in nature . the former of these two souls i leave to the conduct of divines ; the latter falling within my sphere , i 'll endeavour to direct into an harmonious union with the body , by the help of the spirit , which is a small portion of the purest air , a middle nature betwixt the body and soul ; light and invisible , temper'd with fire , volatile , and a most pure substance , begetting vital spirits . its first cloathing is with an universal sperm begot on sulphureo-saline exhalations drawn up into the air , rowling up and down in the belly of the wind , till it takes up its proper residence in the seeds of things . and thus descending to the lower region , it assumes the moisture of a watery vapour , and by degrees the element of water , which is a mean betwixt the air and earth ; a passive yielding nature , assuming multiplied shapes , apt to mix with things , delighted much in motion ; fit to receive and preserve every thing that 's subtile ; capable of the heavenly influences , and to convey 'em thro' the pores of our earth , which is an empty place , into which all the other elements project their virtues , a proper receptacle for the spiritual elements , a convenient hiding place to conceal the principles and operations of nature . here i may take notice , how the four elements , which upholds the fabrick of the world , continually acting one upon the other , beget and bring to light the fundamental principles of nature and philosophy . the fire acting on the air produces sulphur : the air acting on the water brings forth mercury : the water acting on the earth brings forth salt : the earth having nothing to work upon , brings forth nothing : so that we must take up with three principles out of the four elements . but i must not enter into so large a field , since i design but a short lecture , not so much for theory , as to demonstrate a rational practice from my sal volatile sulphureum , which is the most sensible and beneficial performance . i shall therefore consider , that the joyning of the principles well or ill together makes up a perfect or imperfect body . and that the prime agent is the fire that is plac'd in mixt bodies , and hath chosen the radical moisture as its proper seat , the principal residence of which ( in man ) is in the heart , the centre of the little world , the prime organ of life , altho' it be diffus'd thro' all the parts of the body . but there commanding from its castle , doth move concordantly all the faculties and organs , and breath life into the spirits , humours , and the whole elementary mass . it s food is a vivi●ical spirit flowing down from the superiour natures thro' the air , which becomes a natural oleose ferment and food of life , without which , neither man , nor any living creature , cou'd subsist : for man lives not by bread alone , but by the heavenly food of air. yet the lamp must be fed with the nutritious juices of corruptible bodies , which have in 'em a fixt fire : but the less we partake of those meats and drinks which have lost their supple nourishing particles , the more evenly we feed our vital flame : for salt meats , sour drinks , firy wines , and strong drams , are like so many fire-works thrown into the magazeen of the heart , which will blow up the man. 't is of dangerous consequence to enrage our calidum innatum , making flushings of wild-fire to run about our bodies , like flashes of lightning from the heavens . as the sun is the centre amongst the spheres of the planets , and scatters its beams downward by its motion ; so is the heart the centre of the body , which by its perpetual motion ( in conjunction with the air in circulating the blood ) sends heat to the superficies of the body , which we allay from day to day with liquids that penetrate our pores , and cool it : in imitation of the air and clouds , which flying round the world , temper and mitigate the heat of the heavenly sun. for as the heat of the sun would destroy all things , and nothing produc'd in nature , if the air and clouds did not intervene : so wou'd the invisible central fire of bodies consume 'em , if balmy sulphurs and watery vapours coming betwixt did not prevent it . 't is the universal fire thro' the medium of the air that governs all the subordinate sixt fires of bodies : for air hath ingress into air , and they join themselves together , nature being delighted in nature . and by how much the greater are the pores , by so much the better the body may be purify'd . thus beams of light incircled with radical moisture are our spiritual nourishment : but that will not support us without corporeal nutriment ; the former will avail but little without the latter . we stand in need therefore of food , that the natural spirits may be recruited , which do continually slide forth thro' the pores ; for thus we must maintain a successive repair of the loss of nature . our nourishing juices are made by the more succulent substance of our meat , whereby the parts and humours of the body are reinforc'd . the radical moisture is renewed out of the purer particles of blood , with the celestial influences intermingling with 'em by respiration . thus the natural ferment of man's body , as well from his spiritual as his corporeal diet , seems to consist in a sulphureo-saline temperament , which vital union becomes more inbodied in oleose salts , and then assumes a greater corporeity . the spiritual sulphurs are exalted with the volatile salts , and beget a mild and easie ferment in the happy concentration of the principles ; from whence the fix'd parts receive their vivid impregnations , and the insite fire is fed with its proper pabulum , and kept from rebelling . in all things , near the principle of life , is a smooth , supple , oily substance : in all seeds we find it more or less , therefore from so small bodies as seeds , oils are drawn . the substance of all animal sperms , that of eggs , and many other things , will help to demonstrate that 't is an oleose body that early covers the principles of life , till they are cloathed with our bodies , as our bodies are cover'd with cloaths . but when the inbred fire is harsh and inrag'd , thro defect of this balsom and union , and by the contrary abounding of acids ; then the spirits are inflam'd , the oil burns , the stamina vitae shake : at length the purer flements fly the texture , the mixt body dissolves , and the corruption of the frail elements come to a loss : the aetherial nature returns to its native home , and there is nothing left in the carcass , but a perturbation and confusion of the corruptible elements , having lost their governour . then reigns corruption , death , and darkness , in the deprived matter ; until the virtue of heaven does again slow down into it , and summoning the wandring elements re-inkindles the weak light of a new form , and reassumes the elements into the methodical composure of a new mixture . life is an harmonious copulation of matter and form , constituting the perfect being of an individual nature ; the health of that life is a regular assumption of the principles into magnetick love , wherein our natural fire , retain'd by spiritual sulphurs , lies well beded in oleity , rightly season'd with nitro-aereal salts ; not lock'd up , deprest , or drawn out beyond its centre . and this i call the salino-sulphureous temperament , which to preserve or restore , is the scope of medicine , the design of physick and physicians . i am warranted in this rational conjecture from some experimental observations , which is as near as humane sight can penetrate . 't is true , these things in their own nature , are invisible and transacted in secret , which makes em not understood by the gener●lity of men , who know not the occuls , much less to make it manifest ; and are altogether unaccustom'd to such contemplations and experiments . nevertheless they are not to be look'd upon as dreams and fancies ; no more than the spirit of life which animates ' em . for altho' nature is not visible , yet she acts visibly from a volatile sulphureous spirit , which executes her office in bodies . 't is generally granted , that life lies eminently in the blood ; and so i say , and that from its abounding with a pure sulphur and a volatile salt , which are demonstrable . sulphur illuminates , gives tincture and centrality ; what red more beautiful and more vivid than in good blood ? and what a sibrous consistence has it ? that there is plenty of volatile salts appears to an artist , who can extract em ; besides , 't is evident to all , by sweat and urine , both which abound with volatile salts . but some may say , the ingesta of meats and drinks may supply those : no , it cannot be , for these discharges are larger than they amount to . be pleas'd to make the experiment of living with bread and water for one week , and use hard labour , yet you 'll find your sweat and urine well impregnated with salts ; very few of which proceeded from your dyet . the great repairer of these is the ambient air in which both are eminently , and therefore plentifully convey'd in breathing thro the lungs to the blood , helping it to sanguisie the new access of chyle , in bestowing vital ferment and a vivid colour . i 'll take it for grant , that by this time we are agreed on the point , viz. that the healthful juvenile temper of our bodies consists in the harmony of our spiritual sulphurs and volatile salts , which magnetical ly join to the subjected natures , and gives 'em their proper seasoning : these tun'd with vital air rarisie and illuminate our bodies , still preserving a due regimen of our inbred fire , and a healthful government of the whole oeconomy . this temperament presery'd , is an antidote against all diseases and decay . 't is true , 't is very nice to hit and keep it , because we deal so low in the corruptible world , and depend so much on corporeal supplies for our subsistance , and are liable to so many changes of seasons , weather , and chance , that 't is no wonder so few make up a competent number of years : yet 't is good to know the standard of health , that we may still be aiming at that mark , some near approaches to which , will preserve life , altho' it is not acted with that satisfaction and pleasure the compleatly healthy do enjoy . but to lye under riveling acids , scorbutick wildfires , stones in wrong places , tartar in joints , rambling and fixt pains , and forty more troublesome distempers , which make the body such a clog to the soul , that to a generous mind 't is the greatest punishment in the world to attend upon it , in blowing its nose , wiping its breech , dressing , undressing , washing , combing , cleaning , and colouring it , in order only to the eating of water-gruel and drinking small beer with him . who would not rather be at some pains , and cost too , to make him a little better company for himself and his friends , by introducing that smooth , oleose temper i have already describ'd . and where that does bear sway , the saline stem of acids cannot set up to play its pranks . the inbred fire is kept so truly delighted and entertained with those solar guests , that it can't turn sour or ill-natur'd . for the sharpness of all salts arises from the insite fire of mixts : and the more the fixt fire is urg'd , the greater the sharpness ; from both the blood 's corrupted , and many diseases are deriv'd throughout the whole body , which exercise the utmost skill of physicians , and notwithstanding all their cunning , they are often buffled by ' em . so great is the energy of acids , that it preys upon all the sulphureity in the blood , till it has devour'd its whole tincture , and left it sizy , or turn'd it into matter , at least several colours ; but robb'd it of its life ; and transmuted the other juices into a vitriolick tartness . such acids will corrode metals , eat holes in iron , and make the sulphurs putrid and stink , to the offending of your nose . but i 'll shew in particular distempers some of the many mischiefs that arise from this root of acids . the grand enemy of man's health . our natural fire divested of its vital allay grows burning and scorching ; and being fed with the fires of mixt and disturb'd elements , at length puts on a raging fit and sharpens all the humours ; and when 't is more intense , enkindles the aetherial spirit , and becomes a strong fever , more difficult to cure than putrid ones , and when it becomes mortiferous , usually ends in convulsions : if it be not timely understood , and supply'd with proper alkali's in the method , and often enough repeated to correct the acids . but when by good conduct you get it to a remission and then an intermission , it is like to issue well . for in the intervals you have time to apply alkali's , which abate the fire by absorbing the acid fuel : for acids commonly cause this fire , and this fire creates acids . this seems to be the reason of the use of jesuits powder : t is freely given in intermissions , serving to good purposes , because impos'd so long , till it shall do something . not but that other alkali's may do as well , nay , it may be better in some cases , if administred in as large doses , as often repeated , and as long continu'd , and i doubt not to say , with less injurious consequences . but jesuits bark at present is got in fashion , and must be so , because it sometimes does the feat , tho seldom consider'd how it comes about ; but reverently look'd upon among the occult qualities , which to examine is reckon'd unmannerly , because difficult . in continued fevers of pure accension , blood-letting is proper in the beginning , and a close application of alkali's , and there are of such sort as may be securely given , although the fever neither intermit or remit . but the jesuit must not be so us'd , he plays tricks in a paroxysm : for besides his alkalisate absorbing quality , he has a churlish roughness and stipticity , which at sometimes recommends him , but at other times makes him very ill company . where the fever comes aguishly , or intermittingly , with cold and heat by turns , thro' the abundance of indigested roapy humours ; here jesuits powder , by its astringency , roughness , and bitterness sutgeneris , besides its alkalious quality , becomes a very good common remedy , if well apply'd . but in all fevers arising from faetid sulphurs , which are to determine in seasonable separations to the supersicies , there jesuits powder is altogether improper : but the variety in these sort of fevers is so great , that 't is not at present to be medled with . the rise of the scurvy proceeds from the blood impoverisht and separated ; for when the lively vinous spirits are exhul'd , what remains divides into two parts , a wateny and a thick substance ; which latter being of a tartarous nature , is impower'd with a faculty of turning the juices into acids . the watery part conveys to the glands , and by them to the superficies a firy , sharp , thin humour , which stets and corrodes the gums and skin , sometimes breaking out on the hands and legs , and will run a great quantity of clear and limpid , but sharp water : and from the tantarous fund this is supply'd , which still transmutes the thinner parts of your aliment into this sort of acid liquor . until the blood shall be again brought to its due mixture , by the addition of a sweet sulphureous spirit , the jively principle that gives tincture and keeps it in a just consistence , and makes it perfect . and thus it becomes a mediclnal fountain from which all parts are supply'd , according as they differ , each by its attractive quality drawing nourishment peculiar to its kind . from this decay of lively principles , and separation of the blood , tho' with some alteration , where the slegmatick humour more abounds , and the tartarous body less , proceeds those overflowings and inundations of the dropsie , which tho' of fatal consequence , if confirm'd , yet taken in time , by proper medicines and methods , may be prevented . the gout is a distemper that owes its original to tartar , which in the extraordinary undue ferment of the blood is work'd off into the extream parts , thro ▪ small meandets , and lodg'd in the interstices of joints , from whence it can't return : and by repeated ferments increases its mass to a visible chalky substance , which is of a dry stiptick nature , that by degrees drinks up the joint-water , and loading the socket , renders the part crooked and useless : tho ▪ in all it does not come to this height ; nor needs it , if timely care be taken . the stone differs but little from it , unless in scituation . many other diseases are deriv'd too from this general root . but because the mischiefs from acids and sick blood are more obvious than their remedies , i shall therefore betake my self to the description of a universal noble medicine , abundantly qualified to bring about the great design of health , and rescue life from the innumerable dangers wherewith it is surrounded . the true sal volatile oleosum of the ancient philosophers . from what i have said already it may appear that the volatile oleose temper is the most natural to our bodies , and governs best our calidum innatum ; contrary to the saline stem of acids , which divides and precipitates , enraging the insite fire , scattering it up and down , scorching the body , till it has one way or other ruin'd it ; like slashes of unbounded consuming fire from the heavens . in order therefore to the preventing of such destruction , i have laid my design in physick , and liberally expended in preparing two general noble remedies ; a panacea , which i formerly treated of , and this sal volatile oleosum ; for extraordinary directors whereby lesler or greater aberrations may be reclaim'd to a due state of health . for altho ▪ all persons that are declin'd from a just temper , are not immediately turn'd out of their beings ; yet so many live in pain , decaying , and wasting away , that 't is grievous to a physician , besides a great reproach to art , to hear 'em complaining and crying out their very lives are burthensome . there are indeed some wonderful strong bodies that will hold out thro' courses of excess to great ages . but hundreds , for one such , go early to the grave ; and they too , with such hail constitutions ( in all probability ) might have liv'd much longer with temperance : i 'm sure they ought to have liv'd to much better purposes . but 't is not my business to disturb such tranquil souls , who risque their lives in a perpetual tickle of sensuality , aways stimulated with the wild fires of wines and drams , to the committing of very odd actions . thus the glare of borrowed ●ights present phantastical ideas which to represent in figures to the view of others require the nicest artifice of the sensual man for their equipment . then appearing very taking with such as are led by the snares of their senses , no wonder so many dance after these ignes fatui , willing rather ( than to be at the pains of serious thinking ) to run secundo flumine , with the croud , chaft and heated with desires : as tho ▪ the fall of man had been their happiness , and 't were a divine blessing thus to be brutify'd . but i 'll betake my self to the assistance of the infirm , and such as thro' the want of bodily health know how to value that . and here , if persons will but contribute one quarter of that care about themselves , which i have done faithfully to preserve and serve em , abundance of complaints wou'd soon be remedied on very easie terms . i appeal to every one , whether 't is not a fair design in medicine , to aim at the right amendment of the spirit of life , which animates the mighty lump of matter , the body . alas ! what are we without it ? and by what small invisible power is so great a mass of matter lightly mov'd about at pleasure ? when the spirits are rich and well united , how supple , gay , and vivid , are all the senses and organs of the body , how concordantly , do they move in all their just dependencies ? no one griev'd on a●●●icted to abait the harmony . now a true sal 〈◊〉 o●●●sum is the fairest medicine to lay down for these purposes : because every one may be a judge of what he takes , and of what is true from false : and to help 'em in this discovery , and a little elucidate this universal remedy , is my present business ▪ but first 't will be necessary to preamble the great difference there is between comp●s●●● and m●st●● , the one being a conjunction of bodies in place , the other in quality and consent ; the one imperfecte mista , a confusion , the other a union . compositio is the joining of bodies without a new form , mistio is the joining or putting together of bodies under a new form. for the new form is commune vinculum . natural philosophers know that compositio is opus hominis , and mistio , opus naturae . man makes a fit application of bodies together ; but the perfect fermentation and incorporation of 'em must be left to nature , to make that continuum which otherwise is but contiguum . 't is therefore a great turn of thought , to find out the art of compounding in life ; so that mixtures at first troubled , may grow after clear and settled , by the benefit of rest , time , &c. the due contemplation of nature , as well above as below , and some competent knowledge how the superiour act on inferiour bodies , seems to me altogether needful . for the heavens do not enrich themselves by the earth and seas ; nor keep no dead stock , nor untouch'd treasures of that they draw from below : but what they do take up , they return and spend in dew and showers impregnated with life and power . this consent in nature , and some other luckey hints , have prov'd sufficient to beget my sal volatile oleosum , which is a nitro-aereal volatile salt magnetically ty'd ( by the knot of love in nature ) to a luminous sulphur . 't is more philosophical to call it sal volatile sulphureum . but to speak it at once , 't is spirit of air , and the best seasoning in the whole world of animal bodies in life . for by philosophick management , the truest , purest , and most wholsome volatile salt may be extracted from the air ; and the first begotten oleity in the world ; which transparent radical moisture ( prior to all specifick lives ) has some portion of the universal form that animates it : and this may properly be call'd a luminous sulphur , which is the root of all oleity ; for i wou'd have it take the name oleose when the sulphurs are cloath'd upon more bodily ; and thus you may descend to the more gross bodies of oils and fat 's . but to comply with the common meanings of men , i 'll call my medicine no more than sal volatile oleosum , but then it must be consider'd as perfectionate . and without doubt 't was some quondam great philosopher ( favour'd with a propitious birth ) that first discover'd this union in nature : and some learned doctor searching into sacred remains , an admirer of the disguis'd learning of the ancients , that robb'd the philosopher of the name , but not the secret , and handed it down to our age. how cou'd else so many agree in the name , and not understand the reason or truth of the medicine . yet every one can talk of a sal volatile oleosum , and every little processmonger can make it . that i expect in a little while to hear it cry'd about the streets like elixirs made of brandy , jalop , seeds , and licorish . whenas by the name elixir , the philosophers of old mentioned their most venerable secret ; but now 't is profan'd and affix'd to a parcel of murdering trash . and the world finding such sorry stuff under the highest titles in philosophy , have of late damn'd and ridicul'd the whole science . but i admire the wisdom of the ancients in vailing such glorious knowledge under their hieroglyphical figures and aenigmatical expressions , to secure it from barbarous and profane hands . no , let all their followers , the true sons of art , become worthy of useful rarities , by imitating their piety and honesty : then i wish they may find ariadnes thread to conduct 'em thro' the delusive windings of this intricate philosophy . 't is one of the greatest misfortunes of latter times , that all medicinal experiments are put out to making . the physician must by no means now-a-days know more than half of his art , having nothing to shew but multitudo librorum . the compleatest medicine wou'd stigmatize him with quackery , altho' it is the accomplishment of all his learning . nothing 's more difficult than to hit a curiosity aright , which the best of authors have difficultly enough discover'd : and he 's a very sensible person that can correct twenty mistakes in a preparation , and by them grow wise enough to bring about his end . and 't is not a low educated person can thus improve , he will take quid pro quo , and if the physitian is not experimentally skillful he must be put upon , and consequently his patients : thus we become full of medicines but no remedies . for if any one can but raise a volatile salt from horns or bones , and join therewith some aromatick oils , which for odour and thinness couple to the best advantage with his salt , then he cries out presently , 't is a sal volatile oleosum , altho 't is no more a medicine than a gilt shilling is a guinea . and mistakes herein are of fatal consequence to them that rely on such preparations : for they are at once banter'd out of their money , the time of helping themselves , and thus by delay out of life too sometimes . 〈◊〉 affirm , 't is not from horns , hoofs , nor bones , which abound with salts ; no , nor from sal armoniac that this remedy can be drawn . for altho' there be plenty of volatile salts , which chymists call so , that by the force of fire will come over the helm ; yet they bring with 'em somewhat of fixity , petrifying dispositions , and caustic qualities . and as for horns and bones , they are endow'd with very faetid , corporal oils : so that from these they borrow only a little pungent salt dilated in a phlegm , which is so poor a vehicle , that the salts will drop through to the bottom of the glass . now having made a shift for his salt , the chymist is to seek for the spiritual sulphurs or oleose part , which constitutes the medicine . here he 's at a loss in philosophy , and bluntly takes an oily body to join to his salt ; and because he finds the grosser bodies of oil are greasie , and wont mix well , he wittily turns one thought to the purer oils of seeds or aromaticks , and there he gets a scent too , and finding they will hang about his salts , he then pronounces ore rotundo that 't is the right sal volatile oleosum of silvius de le boe , or of some other cry'd-up doctor , whose reputation can support it ; not regarding science , or the medicinal virtues , so long as 't will pass for a commodity in trade . i must confess , 't is very difficult , and a great piece of art , to prepare this medicine , so as to answer learned tests and physical intentions . for the salts , as well as the sulphurs , are deeply conceal'd in nature , and their union is a great mystery , as nice as the subtile mixtions in life ; not to be received into one another by the philosophers adjoining , altho' he must have a hand in the business , till his design is wrought about by art. the sulphurs must be spiritualiz'd that mix with volatile salts , and be united by the mean of an aetherial spirit , and held to view illuminated and perfectly united . as in sine fermented ale the water , malt , and hop , are so entirely one , that art can never more shew the ingredients apart ; all three make up one thing , call'd ale. i have well consider'd the vegetable nature , and in the mineral kingdom have much pleas'd my self with fine sulphurs , difficultly enough obtain'd from antimony ; but yet am disappointed in both . animals methinks shou'd seem to yield the best sulphureous volatile , as nearest of kin to our natures : but so subtile are the spiritual elements , that they wing away with life in one quintessential form to the aereal mansions , and leave you only their corruptible natures to work upon . i cannot imagine where to apply my self in nature for a very wholsom salino-sulphureous volatile , unless it be from the atmospherical air , where nature forms the universal sperm of the world by her heavenly fire on the gentle and soft sublimations of the purer elements , and incorporates 'em to your hand , beyond the profoundest skill of the most inquisitive philosopher , altho' he have laminated the greatest part of nature on vulcan's anvil . for amidst all the variety of salts and sulphurs in the world , which are as many as there be species of things , none can be more agreeable than what 's drawn from this general bank of nature ; whence i borrow not only my matter , but therewith some portion of the universal form , and that 's a lively touch indeed . and since i can find here what i want , why need i look any farther . i have rov'd and search't as well as others , but reckon i have anchor'd well at last , considering i had no pilot. and he will prove a luckey man that hits my knack , or rather discovers such a terra incognita in philosophy , altho ' i give him here that aim which i never receiv'd . but shou'd he find my bait , yet one half of the skill does not lie in catching my starry volatiles : for i do assure him , he must well understand , and have long labour'd in experimental philosophy , before he shall be master of this rarity in nature . dii omnia laboribus vendunt . however , 't is curious to know the operation of nature , and how she produceth things by her workings which requires subtilness and quickness of mind ; for she is not perceived by vulgar eyes . 't is necessary to learn first with the brain and imagination , if 't were but to save labour and charges in fires and glasses . besides , there is no pleasure in the dull composition of things . give me vital principles wreath'd together by a magnetic virtue , whence they become a sure food of life , and security from the hasty separation by death , which is nothing else but life separating it self , by its self , from a corruptible body . but if any petulant sophister , stiff in his opinion , shall oppose these experiments , let him know , that what he assumes on trust , i make good by tryal . now in describing more particularly the virtues and use of this remedy , i 'll begin from its first entrance into the body . in the stomach these sulphureo-saline volatiles do loosen and cleanse away all viscid clammy humours and ill digestions ; they correct the austere and acid ferment , which gives heart-burn , sourness , pains in the stomach , flatulencies , collicks , convulsions , and ill vapours offending the head. and they bring in that oleose volatile temper , which causes a good digestion , well govern'd bowels , and a right nutritious chyle wherewith the body is supply'd throughout with wholsome juices . the food precipitated and hardned by acids sticks to the folds of the stomach like glue , and being too long detain'd , turns putrilaginous and austere , becoming a load on nature , to the great disturbance of the spirit of life and temperies of the part ; from whence great oppressions , strugglings , faintings , flushings of heat , palpitations , and sometimes very dangerous and sudden mischiefs ensue● but if they do not arise to such hasty destruction , yet these acids will by degrees so debauch the true design of the stomach , and corrupt all your aliment , that instead of a well-digested wholsome nourishment , you must be supply'd with sharp , corrosive juices throughout the whole body . till at length you 'll find the blood and all things spoilt , and all the bowels and organs griev'd . and then supply your bodies with the softest things in nature , and the greatest art in cookery , all is presently spoil't in this vitiated stomach . but here you may again remedy these contrary ferments and abounding acids , and vanquish the root of 'em : and not only so , but in lieu thereof regain a well-condition'd stomach , oily bowels , a true natural ferment ; and a supply of oleose volatile particles , which mixing with the chyle renders it not barely nutritious , but medicinal and balsamic . and this is not all , for they give a lasting vigor and strength to all the nervous texture , causing a round ability of the whole body . besides , pleasing gas's ascend the brain and recreate the senses , instead of cloudy noxious fumes . and because so many diseases are to be remedied in the first digestion , from a well-govern'd stomach . and that it is the most sociable and entertaining organ : i must have one bout at him more ; but first shew , that the glandules glutted with these sulphureous volatiles , convey in chewing a very wholsome saliva into the stomach with your food , instead of a scorbutic , vitriolic flegm . and that these subtile particles enable the stomach to such pleasant agreeable actions , that he plays the wanton with all his pabulum . this medicine keeps the orifice of the stomach clean , and as tite as that of the anus , folds up all the expanded wrinkles , reimpregnates remaining food , and gives a thousand pretty pleasing touches ( besides substantial services ) to the whole body . it suffers no canine appetite which ravenously devours what it can't concoct , sometimes to disgorging ; but gives a well-bred desire , which will equip you for all the dainties of a luxurious table , and warrant the decent carrying off thr largesses of friendship . the lungs , and all its pipes , are herewith cleans'd of tough foul spittings , thickned by a praeternatural heat , which causes consumptive p●hisical coughs , asthmatick weasings , and straitness of the chest , not to be reach'd by syrups , oils , licks , slops , or lozenges , which offend the stomach , and feed the unnatural fire . but this sal volatile oleosum subtilly and sweetly insinuates it self by the blood , and thro the pores , into the minutest passages , and there nobly and evidently displays its virtues . 't is the greatest antiscorbutick yet discover'd , which is obvious to every one that considers how it deals with the saline stem , and all its productions . it meets with it in every form , by its powerful penetrating nature , closely pursuing the most malign atoms , clipping the wings of all fiery flying acids , which sting the body , and deface it . but my paper will not admit of enlarging on every distemper . in all fluxes of blood by the nose , lungs , or downwards , occasion'd from acids , t is the most prevailing medicine . 't is a powerful dissolvent of petrify'd tartarous salts , therefore of singular benefit to such as are afflicted with goul and stone ; for herewith they may ( at least ) prevent the increase of either , and keep off the fits of both . and i have reason to believe , waste away the petrify'd matter already lodg'd . for that teizing distemper call'd vapours among the ladies , and hypocondriac flatus and stretchings among the gentlemen , 't is a non pareil in their claret , cyder , ale , or other liquors drank ad libitum . 't is a great restorative of age , from rheums and wind , decay , and wear and tear. ' twou'd save a thousand children in a year from dying of convulsion-fits . 't will secure from , or cure all the diseases of the brain , as coma , lethargy , carus , apoplexy , palsie , falling-sickness , vertigo , madness , catarihs &c. all aguish distempers , rheumatisms , dropsies , jaundies , &c. are remedied herewith . but i hate to enumerate diseases at this rate : 't is so rank quackish . i need not here mention the many cases in chirurgery that are deriv'd from such an unwholsom fountain , not to be cur'd by the plaister-box only , without eradicating this saline stock , and renovating the blood , by some such balmy medicine , that disposes all the dependent juices , flesh and organs to healing . i shall only say in general , that to restore the vital sulphurs of the blood is absolutely necessary to a sound and speedy cure of wounds , ulcers , and other sharp eruptions on any parts of the body , of whatsoever name or nature they be . and if i suggest this sal volatile oleosum as a prime remedy for such internal services , it may be taken by the by , for a friendly item . for all the drinkers of bath , tunbridge , or epsom waters , or any others , 't is a worthy companion . and so it is for all engag'd in long journeys or voiages , aptly suiting every climate . useful to all the world of whatsoever language , nation , or country , provided they are animal bodies , and not stooks or stones , or condens'd air. 't is useful from the birth to a hundred years of age , to cherish and uphold that vital congruity we desire to maintain with the superiour natures . all shagreen constitutions and tendencies to corrutpion , à qua●●●●que causa , may be releiv'd hereby . in the great variety of acute cases , it manifestly shews its power in its homogeneal virtues , standing by life in all the attacks of mortiferous diseases . but 't is impossible i should here , at a random guess , prescibe the proper seasons , doses and repetitions of the medicine , altho' i may pronounce it the most effectual remedy : i protest , i know not what to substiute in its place . and i may be thought as competent a judge of good medicine as any other , having been many years very curious in the materia medica . after all , i care not nine-pence for the opinion of those that decry what they cannot understand . i shall content my self to be the sole possessor of so excellent a remedy . farewel . excuse him however , who desires to deserve well . and so , long may ye enjoy these my labours to the glory of god. from my house in great carter-lane near st. paul's . finis . a direct method of ordering and curing people of that loathsome disease, the small-pox teaching the common sort of people (to whom the care of the sick is for the most part committed) how to go thorow their business with much more safety ... : as also how to prevent the usual deformity of marks and scars ... for the benefit of all, but especially the poor / being the twenty years practical experience and observations of john lamport, alias, lampard ... lamport, john. 1685 approx. 45 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a49182 wing l307 estc r11793 12254352 ocm 12254352 57287 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a49182) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57287) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 152:9) a direct method of ordering and curing people of that loathsome disease, the small-pox teaching the common sort of people (to whom the care of the sick is for the most part committed) how to go thorow their business with much more safety ... : as also how to prevent the usual deformity of marks and scars ... for the benefit of all, but especially the poor / being the twenty years practical experience and observations of john lamport, alias, lampard ... lamport, john. [8], 30 p. printed by j. gain for the author, and are to be sold by samuel crouch ..., london : 1685. "licensed october 14, 1685, rob. midgley"--t.p. verso. errata on t.p. advertisement on p. 16 and 23. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng smallpox -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2003-12 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion licensed , october 14 , 1685. rob. midgley . a direct method of ordering and curing people of that loathsome disease , the small-pox ; teaching the common sort of people ( to whom the care of the sick is for the most part committed ) how to go thorow their business , with much more safety , ease , speed , and certainty than hath been hitherto commonly known . as also how to prevent the usual deformity of marks and scars , with the most usual names of such remedies as are necessary to be made use of ; with their dose , and the manner of applying them . all made plain to the meanest capacity : for the benefit of all , but especially the poor . being the twenty years practical experience and observations of iohn lamport , alias lampard , practitioner in chyrurgery and physick . errata . page 5. l. 4. for or vitriol , r. of vitriol . p. 28. l. 3. i cure , london , printed by i. gain , for the author , and are to be sold by samuel crouch at the flower-de-luce , at the entrance of popes-head alley in cornhill , 1685. the epistle to the reader . country-men , this small tractate was intended as an appendix to another book now almost ready for the press , but that occasion which did move me to think of inserting it at the end of that book ( being augmented ) hath exposed this sooner to a view than was intended . of how singular use a treatise of this kind may prove to all sorts of people , may e●sily be conceived , if we do but consider how hard a matter it is to get any body but to enter into an infected house ; the great charge it is for poor people to pay a nurse , and how ignorant the most of them are of their business when they are obtained . or do but consider what a sad condition it is , when it happens in a family , where none hath had the distemper , and a tender is not to be gotten ; whereby the husband , is constrained to tend the wife , or she her husband ; or they sometimes three , four or more children sick of this disease : how ioyful would they be to know my cheap antidote , for preserving some to tend the rest ? or to be assured with what liquor they may boldly and safely refresh their darling husbands , wives , or scorched thirsty babes . or what would not some pretty maidens ( yea , or young men either ) give , to preserve that beauty they have hitherto enjoyed . all this have i ( by gods assistance ) often performed , far beyond the expectation or belief of most people , and now for the general good of mankind do freely communicate my experience . and lastly , let me perswade you , not to give heed to those who ( out of envy , or self-interest , demetrius like ) tell you that i do not understand the subject of which i have written , because i cry down cooling liquors as poyson to febrile people ; for i do assure you that i have not wrote from bare conjecture , but from undeniable experiments ; as you will quickly find when you do put my advice into practice . wishing you happy success , with my prayers to god almighty , for his blessing on my endeavours , under his alone protection as it is , i emit it to the world. he who fault with this doth find i 'le thank him when he proves more kind . i. l. from my study in havant , septem . 28 die lunae 1685. the cure of the small-pox . i having written a small treatise concerning the many gross abuses and dangerous errors , commonly used amongst such as do pretend to the curious art of healing , discovering the evil of such fraudulent impostors to the capacities of plain country people . upon hearing the lamentation of divers persons , not only that the small pox was spread much about the country , but also that many did die of it ; did resolve to * conclude that book with these short but sure directions for ordering people in that disease . being fully perswaded that i can hardly do my country much better service , than to communicate my knowledge herein ; having had large experience , and wonderful happy success , as well in curing without much difficulty or future a marks , as preserving those conversant amongst the sick , from the b infection ; being things much desired by all people that do conceive themselves in danger of this noysom disease , w●ll known for truth to all such as have imployed me . yea , whilst i lived i● aldingbourne , there was one no●able example , viz. all died that had this distemper not one escaping until three died out of one small c family ; and one out of a neighbo●rs d house , yet the former wanted not the advice of the most famous men in the faculty of medicine . the later did immediately ( after the death of his servant ) seek to me , and god so blessed my endeavours that not one more died , yet one child or * more had the disease ; but , if i forget not , they hardly kept their bed a day for it . one great cause of this disease being so mortal in the country , is because the infection doth make many physitians backward to visit such patients , either for fear of taking the disease themselves or transferring the infection to others . by this means the tending nurses do generally assume the sole authority of physitians , although that their experience perhaps is no more , but what they did gather by their being once a sufferer under the like ignorant practicing nurses . and in case the master of the family do give himself the trouble and charge of taking advice and remedies of some able physitian , yet this signifies nothing ; for their ignorant confidence is such , that they will be * guided no farther by it than it agrees with their own shallow brains , and customary practice . and considering how hard it is to break or alter an old custom that hath fully possessed the fond conceits of a multitude of ignorant people ; i have resolved not to strive against so turbulent a stream ▪ but rather endeavour to make such ( as are not too proud to learn ) more able in their callings , by communicating my knowledge , grounded on reason , and confirmed by many experiments . and to begin i will teach an antidote or preserving medicine , which is this ; take flos sulphuris ( i. e. ) flowers of brimstone ( which is commonly sold by the apothecaries ) four ounces , of clarified honey one pound ; warm the honey , and then stir in the powder , and so keep it in a gally-pot for your use . and when you do conceive your self to be in danger of the small pox , take the quantity of a nutmeg or more , at morning and evening or oftener if you please . you may go about your business as at other times , not minding any order of diet , for it is a very safe harmless medicine and never the worse for being cheap . i have had very happy success in the using it , as there are several living can bear me e witness ; and some of them ( i believe ) will wonder to see me make it so common , but it is the real good of my neighbour that i do aim at in publishing this paper , and not applause . those people that are near a chymist may do well to get such flowers as have been twice or thrice sublimed ; and the last time from colcothar ; for an ounce of such are worth 3 or 4 ounces of those that are commonly sold. but beware that you do not use powdered brimston in the stead of flos sulphuris , least you should meet with a little ratsbane amongst it . but to my business , when you find some of the symptomes to appear as the head-ach , drowziness , sometimes motions to vomit , pain in the back , these or some of these signs being accompanied with a feaver ( at a season when the small pox are rife ) you may well imagine that the disease hath seized the patient . when these signs do shew themselves ( do not run madding to dr. dunce or his assistance to be let bloud ) but go to your chamber ( i do not say to your bed ) and drink strong beer , and now and then a glass of sack ; and never fear increasing the feaver by your so doing , for it strengthens nature to cast out his adversary that way which nature doth most incline unto , as sometimes by vomit , sometimes by sweat and urine . but i have alwayes given an antimonial vomit , as soon as i could possibly have a fit time to give it , ( of which more hereafter ) for it doth expel such a quantity of the morbifick matter , from all parts of the body , but especially from the f head and g stomach , that the disease afterwards seems to be quite mastered ; no light-headed discourse , no unruly actions , no excessive thirst appearing ( or very little ) afterward . and this have i done with very happy success very often ; nay i have had some patients have been angry that they should be confined to their chamber for a few pimples ( as they called th●m ) ; and some never kept within doors . but such as cannot have well prepared antimony , may give a drachm of salt or vitriol ; and for want of that , give a drachm or a drachm and half , or two drams of purified white vitriol , and those which cannot obtain that neither , were better to give the like quantity of crude white vitriol than not to vomit at all ; for i have always observed that according as the stomach is more or less loaded with ill humors , so is this disease more or less violent ; and not as some of our country-people conjecture , as people that are fat and corpulent to be full of the small-pox ; and that spare lean people should have but few . i shall in the next place give my reader a taste of some other authors opinion , how far they may be said to countenance this kind of practice ; and will herein be as brief as possible i can , as having treated more largely in the forementioned book , under the title of feavers . doctor riverius in his practice of physick , page 624 , telleth us , that the cure of pestilential fevers must be directed to three things , viz , the fevers must be opposed with coolers and moisteners , the putrefaction with h evacuators and alterers , the malignant quality with antidotes . in the chapter of putrid feavers , pag. 576 , he sayes , but if thirst be caused by a cholerick humor contained in the stomach , the said humor must be voided by vomit or * stool . the c●olerick humor here spoken of , being stirred , is generally the ca●se of super natural thirst , in all fevers whatsoever . in the chapter aforesaid pag. 570 he writes thus , sometime also in the beginning of these fevers , vomit is to be procured , viz. when the patient is much vexed with illness of stomach , and with vomiting , &c. and many times it falls out that great quantity of matter is contained in the stomach and parts thereabou●s , which must be evacuated as soon as possible may be by vomit ; ( then he giveth a good reason for so doing ) seeing no concoction can be expected of such excrementitious matter in so great a * quantity ; and whatsoever the patient eats or drinks is changed into such like humors and encreases the matter which is cause of the disease . then by consequence to pour your cooling julips , apozemes , pippin-possets , &c. into such depraved stomachs , is like to pouring oyl on fire ( to quench it ) instead of water . then he tells us , that fernelius hath well observed , that all superfluity of humors in the stomach , spleen , pancreas , mesentery , and the cavity of the liver , is conveniently emptied out by a vomit , which sometimes will not be removed by * medicines that work downwards , though divers times administred . thus far riverius . now i must tell you that the material cause of putrid feavers , and the small-pox is the same ; but that which doth put it into act , ( or sets it on working ) is different : for the small-pox is set on fire by the contagious * air ; as you may see that a common surfet ( as you call it ) when the small-pox is epidemical it often turneth to be the small-pox , which had otherwise proved only a putrid feaver . but of this i have given a larger account in another treatise , which i hope shortly to publish . i will say no more of vomits in this place , having in the aforesaid book shewed almost a universal use of them , and proved it by undeniable experiments . and considering the aversness of many people to this kind of physick ; partly out of a natural antipathy , but more from observing the bad events of ill prepared medicines , too frequently made use of by such , whose idleness and ignorance keeps them from the knowledge of good chymical remedies ; of which well prepared vomits are ( to my knowledge ) of most admirable benefit to sick people . well , if you will not be so suddenly rid of your disease , as you might be by vomiting half a dozen times in two hours space ; then i must give a touch again at the order of diet . and here i will tell you again , that if you keep your patients from strong beer to satisfie their thirst ▪ you do thereby exceedingly increase the disease : and note likewise , that if you perswade them to eat either flesh or broth , you do almost as ill ; but if you will be feeding them ( though far better it were let alone until they hunger after it ) then give them now and then three or four spoonfuls of a plain sack-posset , or a piece of white-bread toast dipped in such strong liquor as the patient likes best , whether it be sack , white-wine , metheglin , cyder , march or mild beer , or good ale : and fear not to let him make his toast swim in his stomach if he do desire it . and for to make you the bolder i will give you doctor thompsons opinion herein , in his book of preserving the bloud , pag. 164 , says he , let none then haesitate to offer liberally what is potulent or liquid to one that is thirsty , for 't is both necessary and consentaneous to nature so to do : yea , through this omission the good juice or solid parts may suffer a deperdition . and in the next page , having given divers reasons for giving strong beer in fevers , he breaks out thus , away then with these clogging , dull , flat , vapid , debilitating decoctions of the kitchin , with all their crude vegitable ingredients , most injurious to a febrile stomach . page 166 at figure 3 , he writes thus , as there are a company of non-sensical physitians , who are loath to allow the dry soul of one scorched in a fever a sufficient quantity of moisture to allay their thirst : so are there multitudes of learned dogmatists ( i am certain egregiously ignorant in this particular ) who though they assent their patients should have good store of liquor granted them , as properly answerable to the indication of siccity or drought , yet must it be so qualified , that it ought by no means to contain too many hot particles , least they should seem to act contrary to the definition of a feaver which is as they proclaim it but falsly a preter-natural heat , wherefore they strictly enjoyn posset-drink made with some poor starvling liquor , barley-water , wherein cooling or very temperate herbs are boyled , small beer , fair water , rose-water , with some acid juice mixed , &c. to this they most devoutly keep a weak wretch , not doubting to mitigate ( although they have failed many million of times ) a causos or any burning fit. and a little after he saith , that they will by no means approve of a cup of wine , or a draught of strong beer or ale ( because too hot as 't is fancied ) the principal corroborating * diet , which i constantly prescribe to my patients . thus far dr. thompson . to proceed , if you can get any of the oil of sulphur by the bell , and drop in 6 , 8 or 10 drops into a draught of strong mild beer now and then , it will wonderfully help a weak stomach to concoct the ill humors collected therein ; which will much refresh the patient . if they come forth ill or seem too flat ( as you call it ) then give now and then a glass of sack , with a dozen or twenty drops of elixir proprietatis therein ; this chears the vital spirit ●xceedingly , if the elixir be good ; which it is h●rd to obtain ; for the more excellent a remedy is ; the more are they which do ( through ignorance or avarice ) adulterate the same . th●refore take this course , first observe if it be thick as bloud , then it is rich or strong of the ingredients , and the fewer drops will serve for a dose . secondly , smell to it , if it be strong of the sa●fron , that is another token of its goodness . thirdly , taste a drop on your tongue , for although it be always bitter , yet the less bitt●r the more better ; for that is a sign of being well dig●sted . but if all these hold , and it hath a harsh taste on the tongue , it is not good ; as being made with a menstruum mixed with oyl of vitriol or sulphur ; which although i have directed to be given in the patients beer , yet in the elixir it is not to be allowed ; because it doth corrode the principal ingredients , viz. myrrh , aloes , and saffron . yet for all what i have said , you had better make use of either of them , then to have none ; although i have seen some sold , that i would not give one ounce of my own preparing , for four of that ; of the reason of which odds , i could easily make any ingenious man sensible , by comparing them together . in the next place , there is a medicine sold in many places by the name of mathews's pill , but in truth doctor george starkey was the first discoverer of that excellent remedy . but be the author who it will , its vertues doth sufficiently declare his worth ; for i never saw any thing used by any physitian that did ever come near it for giving ●ase , and rest in any feaver of what kind soever . but i might here make the same complaint as i did about preparing the elixir , but i forbear . but i will teach you the right use thereof according to my many years experience . if your patient be suddenly taken so ill as to desire to go to bed , you may presently give him two pills as big as a pease , and a draught of strong beer with or after them , and if the party do neither sleep nor sweat in an hour or two , repeat them again , and beer as before ; and repeat it again , and again too , if need be . but if sickness doth not compel them to their bed , defer the giving them pills until bed-time ; but do not miss giving two or three at going to bed during the whole time of cure. but do not load them with clothes ( as the common fashion is ) but let them be covered , as may be well-pleasing to the patient , and of the two it were better they are a little too cold , than to be ever so little too hot . now because this may seem a paradox to some people , being so diametrically opposite to common practice , i will give my reason for so doing . if they be too hot , the vital spirit flyeth from the center to the circumference , which ●hould be imploy'd about the a stomach to concoct ( or rather digest ) the morbifick matter ther●in contained ; which is the fewel that doth maintain the fire in this disease . do not all men see how slowly the stomachs of sound people do digest meat ( i do not say d●ink ) in hot weather , for what it doth when the season is cold ? and from this conclusion you may draw a reason for the giving strong liquor to drink to febrile people , viz. that in regard the appetite to eat b is taken away by the disease , it is very absurd to deny the patient such spirituous drinks as hath underwent a precedent c fermentation ( to ease the stomach of the b●rthen of digesting ) so earnestly desired by nature ( that sure guide to true medicine ) that by the quick diffusing their vigorous atoms in the blo●d , the archeus may thereby be speedily enabled to conflict with the disease . here perhaps some will say that i do write ta●tologies ; but i answer , so material a point , being so much opposed , and that by persons esteemed eminently learned , so much to the prejudice almost of all mankind ; cannot be repea●ed too often , until it hath obtained belief of the audience . but i have designed this tractate , not to teach the learned , but to instruct the poor ignorant tenders of the sick , and such poor wretches as are not able to hire a tender , much less to pay a silken doctor to feel their pulse , whilest they look over the other shoulder , or hold some perfume to their noses : i shall rather refer them to the judicious writings of doctor starkey , doctor thompson , noah biggs , and others ; who partly from the works of that profound , indefatigable , pyrotechnian phylosopher van helmont ; and partly from their own diligent study and labour at the fire , ( the touchstone of natural things ) have not only battered some of galen's * out-works , but made the foundation of his phylosophy to totter . it may here be expected , that i should teach some excellent oyntment to prevent the pits , marks and scars , &c. which do commonly succeed this disease ; but i tell you that if the foregoing instructions have been but indifferently followed , there will be no need of the latter . but for their sakes who ( through some occasion or other ) have neglected it , i will give a word or two of this also , for i have been forced to do somewhat in this kind of practice ; but i would not have my reader imagine that i do pretend to an absolute deletion by this way ; but only a lessening of the same that they may not be so much deformed as otherwise . so soon as the small-pox begin to suppurate , that is in plain english to ripen , then take oyntment of tobacco being melted and with a feather besmear the patients face as hot as they can endure it ; and when they sit up it will be better to sit against a chaffing-dish of coles for an hour together ; but those that cannot you may do well to cover their faces with soft paper moistened with the oyntment . this is the best thing that i did ever see made use of ; and yet i have spent much time amongst them , not only in bare visiting ; but have watched several nights with such as have seemed da●gerous ; whereby i had greater opportunity to observe the operation of my remedies : than those who only prescribe a medicine by aim , and sendeth their bills to an apothecary , who oftentimes makes up the quantity with rotten stuff for want of good ; and with chopping and changing for want of sorts . now if any know better ( as i doubt not but better is ) i should be glad if either out of christian charity or human pity ; he would communicate it to the world for the benefit of poor afflicted mortals , whose torment under this disease cannot be demonstrated by any pen ; i mean when they have them much , and happen to be handled according to the common way of practice ; for otherwise it seemeth but a light matter to undergo it . lastly , i must advise you , not to rely too much on the use of the most excellent medicines that the art of man can prepare ; for our merciful god that giv●th us the assistance of his creatures , as well for food as medicine ; can when he pleaseth hinder their effect if they are not received with prayer and thanksgiving . therefore use the means , but do not rely on it ; but pray to god with sincerity and faith , that he would direct to and bless the means , and then you may with confidence and hope expect comfort thereby . to whose great name be ascribed all power and glory for evermore , amen . advertisement . those that have occasion for any of those medicines herein mentioned , may have them truly prepared by the author at reasonable rates , if they are not living too remote from his house in havant near portsmouth ; or at the george inn in chichester on mundays , wednesdays and saturdays ; or at the half moon in peter●ield on saturdays only . note , my fever pills which i have made use of many years , is not the same with matthews's pill , save in the original only ; mine containing some eminent cordial ingredients which are not in that . besides when i do intend it against the stone i add a mineral salt , which renders it far more efficacious in that disease . also i have an electuary for such as cannot swallow a pill , which answereth all the intentions of curing this disease , except vomiting . an appendix . when i had finished this small treatise and delivered it out of my hand in order to be printed ; it came into my mind that i had given directions to vomit such persons as should be infected with the small pox , as the most absolute speedy means to extirpate that disease , but had given no instruction to the ignorant tenders how to govern the patient during the t●me that it is working . therefore i have supp●ied that defect by way of an appendix , rather than to leave it defective in so material a point . therefore i will first shew ( to such as have a little insight into astrology ) how to elect a proper time for the administration of the medicine , and then teach the nurse how to do her office. first observ● what sign the moon is in ; for that is the basis of your work. for of all the signs in the zodiack , those that rese●ble such beasts as do chaw the cud , are by a g●neral consent of physitians accounted the best . and i do know it to be so by my own expe●ience . now which particular signs i do prefer before o●her , you shall know by my order in placing them ; that which i place first , to be first made choice of . for i do esteem capricorn ( ♑ ) before all the rest ; the next , taurus ( ♉ ) ; then aries ( ♈ ) ; after these , cancer ( ♋ ) ; pisces ( ♓ ) ; scorpio ( ♏ ) and sagittarius ( ♐ ) . the moon being in any of these seven will do indifferent well ; but the other five i reject except on very urgent occasion : the worst of the five are leo ( ♌ ) and aquarius ( ♒ ) . i do hardly ever give a vomit when the moon is in either of them , nor often being in libra ( ♎ ) , gemini ( ♊ ) or virgo ( ♍ ) , but the last is the best of the last five . secondly , observe with what aspect , and from what planet the moon is beheld , for i had rather she be void of course , than to be beheld by any planet so that her next application be good : and i do prefer the ill aspects of iupiter ( ♃ ) or venus ( ♀ ) , rather than the good aspects of saturn ( ♄ ) or mars ( ♂ ) . but the moon being in conjunction ( ☌ ) quartile ( □ ) or opposition ( ☍ ) , with saturn ( ♄ ) sol ( ☉ ) or mars ( ♂ ) , beware of giving any purging medicine . and ( ☉ ) and ( ♄ ) being so aspected you ought to forbear likewise . thirdly , let one of those seven signs ascend ; and carefully avoid the presence of ♄ or mars therein ; neither let them nor the ☉ behold the degree ascending ( partilly ) by any bad aspect , but ☉ corporally in the ascendant in any of those seven signs is good . much more might be said on this subject , but i design brevity , and this is the ground of all ; and what i have written , i have proved by several thousands of experiments . now such whose understandings cannot comprehend this , let them observe when the moon is in one of those seven signs , viz , ♑ , ♉ , ♈ , ♋ , ♓ , ♏ , ♐ , and avoid such days as she changes on , the full and either of her quarters . in the next place i must teach the nurse how to govern the physick in the time of its working . therefore when you give any of the vitriol vomits , you need not be very curious , do but thus ; give a good draught of strong mild beer to the patient , and in a quarter , or half an hour after give the physick , being dissolved in a little such beer , and then some sugar put into it ; which for the most part doth quickly come up again loaded with ill humors ; then presently give the party another draught of the like beer warm ; do thus as often as the patient doth c●st , which will be sometimes two , three , or four times . but if you take an antimonial vomit , then you had need to be more circumspect . the best that i do know ( that is to be had at the shops ) is that which is called aqua benedic●a ; being an infusion of crocus metallorum of which ( if the crocus be good ) one ounce or an ounce and quarter is a sufficient dose for a man ; but that which i have used many years is far more gentle , and yet the dose is much bigger , viz. 4 , 5 , or 6 ounces . but they are so safe that i commonly give them to big bellied * women , to ancient people , or to * children of three quarters of a year old or under . now these * antimonial vomits do ( for the most part ) keep the same order in working , as to the time , and you may take it any time of the day , either full or fasting , it matters not , if the physick be but rightly prepared . when you have drank your physick alone , then fast an hour after it , walking a little if you are able ( for i have often giv●n them to s●ch * patients as could hardly turn on their beds without help ) in which time it will work of it self ( if it be strong enough ) if not , take near a quarter so much as you took at the first and stir again . when the patient hath cast once , give him a large draught of warm gray posset-drink immediately after the casting ; doing so every tim● that h● casteth . and because i have seen some country-people make their posset-drink very ill , i will tell you how , and likewise how much i do usually make to be imploy'd in the working of one purge . i take most commonly two quarts of milk , and when it is ready to boil i do pour thereinto a quart of strong beer but not too stale ( because that would make the posset have a sowre taste ) and so let it stand over the fire until it be clear . for the most part these vomits are just two hours in the working . and for my emeto cathar ( or vomiting purge ) you may eat , drink , or sleep as soon as it is over , but commonly they do chuse to lie down on a bed. and that night i do usually give the patient three of my fever pills as big as a pease , and a draught of strong liquor after them , having supped ( either not at all , or ) two hours before . and in regard many people loath posset-drink ( and not to drink good store of some liquor were like a laundress washing with soap and none or little water ) i will tell you what will do as well , and that is strong mild beer or ale : but broath is not good , and gruel is much worse as i have seen proved . there is nothing ( as i conceive ) material now wanting , if you do but accept it as kindly , as i have candidly communicated the same , not resting on conjecture , ( for there is no argument beyond experience ) but making a practical use of it . i doubt not but many thousands will praise god for putting it into my heart to divulge it so plainly to the world. it may be some will say that there are abundance of abler artists , who might probably have done it more elegantly . i answer , since they have not done it , there is great need that some body else should . for it is not he that can lend me a hundred pounds that is thank-worthy ; but he that lendeth me four or five pounds to serve my necessitous occasion . and i studied not * elegance ( or applause ) but plainness ; that it might be the more universally useful . advertisement . all agues , sci●tica's , the scurvy , hypochondriack melancholy , with many other chronick diseases , are radically cured by the author , by extirpating the occasional cause thereof . he also gives speedy ease and rest in all putrid feavers , and cures them perfectly in few days , if they are not too far gone . he cures the tooth-ach without drawing the tooth ; and pleurisies , and quinsies , speedily and safely , without bleeding . he hath a singular way of easing after-pains , and gripes in young infants ; insomuch that the nurses could scarcely keep their beds an hour together one night , and there was no need of rising the next . the post-script to the indifferent readers within the compass of my acquaintance . gent. i would not have you despise the matter for the meaness of the stile , nor the subject for the plainess of the authors coat ; for a man is no more known by his raiment , than a good horse by his trappings , or a good gun by the stock . be not carried away from the truth with the gingling eloquence of such who by flattery have gained a repute in the world , but try the matter by your own reason , and senses ; according to that saying of aristotle , that we ought to give credit to reason , if the things of reason agree with experience . i say try , enquire , not what is reported of me , ( for ill-will and self-interest pervert judgment ) therefore enquire of those that have been my patients , of what cures have been done by me of all kinds ; whereof many are such as are generally accounted uncurable . but no more of this at present but a word or two of fevers , in this disease it is known far and near that my practice hath been quite contrary to the common custom ; i thinking it no shame to follow truth , although therefore very few will follow me , the major part aiming more at greatness than goodness . and as an ingenuous man said once , that although truth ought to be followed by all , yet he that keeps too close to its heels might chance to have his teeth dash'd out ; so have i been in danger often for no other offence . for i am of his opinion who said , to follow gallen any farther than he follows truth is great wickedness . now it cannot seem strange to any intelligent person that i should ever and anon be followed with such cruel clamors , making all people believe ( who are ignorant of my practice ) that thorow ignorance and want of good remedies , i destroy most that i do take in hand ; when the authors themselves know that it is as full of falsity as the sun is full of light. but herein they play the fox that dispraised those * hens and * grapes for nought , which he could not reach to taste . for i do believe there is not one of a hun●●●● th●t goeth so warily upon the art of heali●g as i did , being above twelve years a curi●●●●●archer into galens doctrine ; and as strict 〈◊〉 observer of their practice that were his fol●●●●● , before i did meddle with the admini●●●●●ion of ph●sick ; but i do assure you that i ●●●●ived more satisfaction in reading one chymic●l * author of about four or five shillings price , 〈◊〉 f●om all the books that came to my hand in all ●h●t time . and i never durst to profess any thing in the art , but with great doubting before . th●n pray consider what a bitter exigent i was at , that must either forsake truth it self , ( of which our merciful father had now discovered a glimpse to me to sweeten my labours ) or else i must forsake the splendid society of all the prof●ssors both chyrurgical and physical , within many miles of my dwelling ; for such was my unhappiness that there was not one professing the art of healing that did rightly understand either astrology or chymistry , within fifteen miles , or i suppose twenty . now i will tell you some of their practices . never was any poor mouse more narrowly watched by the vigilant cat , than i have been by them , or some of their deluded followers , so that if a patient fortune to miscarry under my care , it is presently ascribed to me or my chymical re●edi●● , because i often act contrary to the edicts of the female counsel , and will not lead my patients by bleeding , cupping , blisters , &c. ( as it were through an earthly purgatory ) alamode to their grave , hereby i say if a patient of mine dye , they report all the country over that i kill'd him or her ; with most bitter hyperbolical , false aggravations , as extream swelling , it never work●d , it was too strong , &c. when it is well known to thousands now living that if my purging physick never work it doth no hurt , which hath made me the bolder in using it ; nor ever have i had a patient that died whilst the vomit strained them , nor above one of a thousand within twenty four hours after its working was over . now as watchful as my antagonists have been , let them prove to the contrary and i will subscribe a paper of recantation , if their evidence be uninterested persons of credit . i must yet come closer , if they be angry i cannot help it , nor care i for it . are not ordinary feavers the means to carry a great number of people to their graves yearly ? let them look over their books and then tell me , if they have not lost out of the like number ten for my one . if this soap will not wash off the dirt with which i have been so unworthily bespattered ; i will offer one more scowring remedy . let any of them come to matter of fact , and abide but a fair trial ; and i will lose five guinnies , if i do not cu●e of febrile patients two for their one . but i suppose they will say , they hardly know any practice that i have had in this kind . i believe so too , but it is because i any fever ( except hectick and pestilential ) in few days , if i am called as soon as the patient doth appear to be very ill and then it is looked at as a thing not worth noting . but you t 's that cannot credit my report without proof , if you are neer chichester pray enquire of mr. iennings his daughter , mistress godfrey , and if any thing thereabout will make against my discourse i make no doubt but i have a sort of such friends as will discover the business without troubling me to search either my notes or memory . besides hers being a putrid fever , i will tell you somewhat concerning a malignant fever . in the year 80 or 81 , there were great numbers of people died of such fevers , many whereof were taken with vomiting , &c. yet i had the good fortune to cure eighteen in the parish of aldingbourn not one dying in that great compass of that disease ; mr. henry whitington and his wife being two of them . now it remains that i give a reason for this tedious post-script and so conclude . yet i had overslipt one thing being very proper to be spoken of ; and that is that since the whole treatise is concerning the small pox , to say a word or two of my experience herein . when this distemper did rage so much in and about chichester , ( ten or a dozen years since ) it was a great many that fell under my care , i believe sixty at the least and yet i lost but one person of the disease . nor was one of my patien●s marked with them , to be seen but half a year after . my success being such that many people thought themselves almost out of danger , if they could but get one of those nurses into their houses that did use to tend my patients . now as to the reason of this post-script , i having by study and labour attained to a far better , safer and speedier way of curing diseases , than was ever taught by galen , did think my self bound in conscience to give my neighbours warning of the danger of their botcherly , butcherly , cruel manner of practice , of bleeding , blisters , cupping , cauteries , actual and potential fontinels , &c. whereby i ( like paul at ephesus ) did engage the whole tribe of the medicinal art against me ; and this was not unreasonable neither , for if they lose these , the chief profit of their trade is gone . then do but consider how vain a thing it is , for one single person to stand upon his guard against a multitude of mad , resolute , self-will'd opposers . it is but like one going about to extinguish a heath-fire , when there are above one hundred others as exquisite persons , as industriously imploy'd to kindle the said fire in fresh places whilst he is putting it out where it first arose . so for me to make any defence against so violent and numerous , mad , heady kind of people , were but like barking against the wind ; or a hare to undertake to expostulate with a pack of hounds . for me to lose a patient , there is a clamor presently just like that in a country village , when a dog hath kill'd a sheep ; but for a score of theirs to die , there 's no more notice taken of it than for as many sheep to lose their lives in a butchers slaughter-house . for the female jury have always this healing balsam ready ; why he did as much as the art of man could do , but alas his time was come . very true , and so is his time come that is hanged , although perhaps he might have lived much longer had not the executioner's unlucky knot prevented him . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a49182-e460 * but the urgency of the occasion , by the raging of the distemper , hath forced this abortive birth . a mrs. badmerings familynear to a●hington , & one gibs at felpham week . b iohn haman needle-maker of chichester . c mr. t. gre●● . d h●n . li●b●ise . * vpon enquiry i hear that it was two children and one servant . * by help of my directions the master or mistress may be able to guide and controul the most confident nurse . e hen. betsworth a mole-catcher in chichester . caution . f riv. pag. 13. saith , aqua bened. purging upwards and downwards , bringeth such a quantity of flegme not only from the g stomach , b●t from ●he brain also &c h there is no quicker nor safer evacuation than by a chymical vomit . but do not think that tobacco and such like are to be used . * how dangerous stools are , every nurse can tell you . * is it best in a great quantity , and bad in a small ? * why then do ●ou use them . * and in put●id fe●●ers , by ●ating , or drinking to excess ; or some violent agitation , in labour or exercise . * pray 〈◊〉 that this an●i●●t , ingenious , i●dustrious , 〈◊〉 artist tells us plainly , th●t strong beer , a● and wine , which other doctors do forbid , be constantly ●res●ri●● to his ●ati●nts ( not o●ly as drink ) but 〈◊〉 chiefest diet als● ▪ a riv. pag ▪ 57● . say● , a 〈◊〉 ●●gard is to be 〈…〉 . b riv. pag 5●● . 〈…〉 c s●ch are all s●rts of wine , cyder , 〈◊〉 and all sorts of b●er and a●e , of which that is the be●● which the 〈…〉 . * their method . receipt . notes for div a49182-e2060 * t●e wiv●s of will. hartly , and rich read. hen. limbric● , all of aldingbourn n●●r chichester . * jane goodman of heyshot . * th●se are the best to prevent the m●rks . * goodwise s●one at the anchor i●n in liphook ▪ 〈◊〉 por●smouth road. and mrs. b●ll then of wick by chichester . * or , eloquence . notes for div a49182-e2960 * chimical vomits and other chimical remedies . * chimical vomits and other chimical remedies . * a brief discovery of the chief causes, signs, and effects, of that most reigning disease, the scurvy together with the causes, symptoms, & effects, of several other dangerous diseases most usually afflicting mankind. whereunto is added, a short account of that imcomparable, and most highly approved medicine called bromfield's pill. being the only remedy this age hath produced against the scurvy, and most other curable distempers. formerly prepared and set forth for the publick benefit, by m. bromfield; and now wholly assigned by him to mr. joseph stent. bromfield, m. 1694 approx. 51 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a29646 wing b4884g estc r217246 99828941 99828941 33374 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a29646) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 33374) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1984:8) a brief discovery of the chief causes, signs, and effects, of that most reigning disease, the scurvy together with the causes, symptoms, & effects, of several other dangerous diseases most usually afflicting mankind. whereunto is added, a short account of that imcomparable, and most highly approved medicine called bromfield's pill. being the only remedy this age hath produced against the scurvy, and most other curable distempers. formerly prepared and set forth for the publick benefit, by m. bromfield; and now wholly assigned by him to mr. joseph stent. bromfield, m. stent, joseph. 16 p. [s.n.], london : printed in the year, 169[4?] imprint smudged; publication date conjectured by wing. advertisement on verso of final leaf. reproduction of the original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. materia medica -early works to 1800. scurvy -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-07 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a brief discovery of the chief causes , signs , and effects , of that most reigning disease , the scurvy : together with the causes , symptoms , & effects , of several other dangerous diseases most usually afflicting mankind . whereunto is added , a short account of that incomparable , and most highly approved medicine called bromfield's pill . being the only remedy this age hath produced against the scurvy , and most other curable distempers . formerly prepared and set forth for the publick benefit , by m. bromfield ; and now wholly assigned by him to mr. joseph stent . london , printed in the year , 1694. the chief causes , symptoms , and effects of the scurvy . this disease doth chiefly proceed from melancholy bred by distempers of the stomach or spleen ; which being crude , stays in the passages of the arteries and veins , and thereby doth excite grievous fermentation or workings , from whence are sent vapors which afflict the heart and brain , &c. from all which is caused malignant and contagious putrefaction of melancholy ; and thence proceed these symptoms , viz. giddiness in the head , sudden flushings , heat and redness in the face and body , putrefaction and stinking of the mouth and gums , tooth-ach , stinking breath , blackness and looseness of the teeth , want of digestion , much wind , and unsavoury belchings : and by thick vapon arising from the hypocondria to the midriff , are occasioned obstructions of respiration , or shortness of breath , and straitness of the breast , &c. the body is dull and heavy , and in the legs are spots , sometimes red , purple , black , or blue : there are also violent pains in the head , shoulders , arms , fingers , belly , thighs , knees , legs , ancles , feet and toes : whence some who have had the pox , ( though cured ) do fear the return of their old malady . there are many thousands have this distemper , that are perswaded they have the gout ; because sometimes it hath the very signs of the gout : which also is the cause why the scurvy ( which by mistake is judged the gout ) is so seldom cured . for those medicaments pertinent in the gout are not the very same in the scurvy , and consequently cannot cure it . other signs of the scurvy are bad sleep , and frightful dreams , a feverish heat and sweats towards the morning . some have risings on their body , as if stung with bees or wasps , &c. others have dolors in their sides , imitating those of the spleen . and in short , it doth appear to a judicious eye , with and in the shape of most diseases ; as hath been sufficiently apparent , not onely to my self , but also to several other experienced physitians , who have traced this disease , and made exact inspection into its variable dresses , for many years together . and it is also observed , that it is propagated and spread abroad in these parts of the world , more than any other distemper whatsoever ; and by its sundry shapes hath seduced many in their judgment of the disease . for in some it passeth for a consumption , in others for a dropsie , &c. and medicines are given accordingly , but alas to little purpose , and all for want of a true knowledge of the original of the disease it self . and here observe a great truth , viz. that there are very few afflicted with any distemper of long continuance , who have not joyned with it a scorbutick taint ; which unless it be considered , and some powerful antisoorbutick medicaments given , the patient is very rarely , if ever cured . now the conclusion of all ( if the scurvy be not timely remedied , and that it grow predominant ) is sometimes swoonings , apoplexies , dropsies , great decay of the body , consumptions , and very often death it self . note , that in some , the scurvy is hereditary ; and that there are some few causes thereof , besides those here set down : but these being usually the chief , the other are omitted . the causes , signs , and effects of the virgin or maiden disease , called the green-sickness . the main cause of this disease is from obstructions or stoppage ; and the cause of such obstructions , &c. are evil , thick and clammy humours which choak and stop the passage in the vessels , and spoil the making and passage of the blood , &c. and these proceed from bad diet ; as eating of raw wheat , oatmeal , much salt , ashes , clay , chalk , &c. drinking of much vingar , or much cold water ; from too much or too little sleep , eating much raw fruit , sitting too long at sewing work , melancholy , violent exercise , great heats or colds , &c. the signs of this disease , are a pale and greenish colour in the face , the face and eye-lids swelled , especially after sleep ; the heart beats and fainteth , the stomach swell'd or pained ; they loath meat , have a tickling cough , and their breath short ; they sometimes vomit ; they have thirst , head-ach , and are often melancholy ; they are swell'd about their ancles and feet , and care not much to stir , especially up stairs or an hill. the continuance of this disease brings long fevers , barrenness , great watery swellings , and the dropsie : some have a schirrus or tumour , and wasting in their liver ; others by oppression of the heart die suddenly , and many fall into consumptions , which end in the grave . note , that great caution ought to be used in bleeding any maid in the arm , before she have had her monthly visits ; but if an urgent occasion call for blood-letting , then rather breathe a vein in the ancle . by following this advice , you shall most certainly prevent the death of some , and many diseases in others ; but more especially that most dreadful disease of barrenness . and against this very disease , viz. the green-sickness ; and also to procure the monthly visits in such women in whom they are wanting , there are but few medicines comparable to these pills , as has been often proved , when no other means or medicines could prevail . i shall here give some account concerning worms . of these creatures are several sorts ; but the most usual are shaped round and long : these are bred in the guts , yet sometimes get into the stomach . the second are short , and very small , like threds ; and commonly lie in the right gut , and in the end of the fundament , wherein is almost continual itching ; which worms also provoke the patient very often to stool . the third sort are long and broad , of an incredible length , but very rarely seen . worms are chiefly caused from raw , gross , flegmatick matter ; and therefore youth and such as eat much fruit , are seldom free from them : also all great eaters are very subject to them ; especially those who eat meats that easily putrifie in the stomach , and more at once than nature can well digest ; whence follow crudities , and thence worms ; the signs of which are many . some have unsavory belchings and a stinking breath , wasting of the gums , heaviness , fainting , great thirst , vomiting , cold sweats , and often a fever ; a short cough , unquiet sleep , intolerable gnawing pains in the stomach and belly , loss of appetite , weakness and consumption of the whole body . many times the patient hath an insatiable appetite , caused by flat worms , which devour the food that is eaten . there are a few signs more of worms , but these being the most common , i shall say no more of the rest at present ; only thus much shall add , that if worms be voided alive , without other excrement , in the beginning of a disease , 't is dangerous , and signifies great crudities ; and if voided dead , signifies much putrefaction that has killed them , which probably , shortly after kills the patient . in short , 't is the opinion of our age , grounded upon experimental proofs , that worms and their effects , have conducted more people to their graves , than any one distemper whatsoever . and therefore you that suspect them in your selves , make much of these pills , as a choice remedy to prevent a worm-eaten carcase : and take them ere too late ; by which doing you may prolong your days in case and health , and be obliged to thank your adviser . the causes , symptoms , and effects of dropsies . the dropsie ascites , is from abundance of water heaped up between the peritonaeum , or inner-coat of the belly , and bowels ; which infecting the mouth of the stomach , doth bring great thirst , and often a fever . sometimes it begins in the feet , and swells upward to the legs , thighs and cods : but at the same time the upper parts of the body usually consume . the cause of this dropsie may be from a cold distemper of the liver , which cannot make perfect blood , but flegm , wind , and water . sometimes a dropsie may proceed from a fever , hot meats , and too plentiful drinking of wine ; whence the liver , spleen , and kidneys , may lose part of their native heat , and consequently their ability to attrack the water , and eject it by the vreters . the same may be caused from the natural flux in women flowing too plentifully , or from retention of the same : and drinking much cold water may diminish and disperse the native heat , and by that means make way for a dropsie . the dropsie tympanites , is from wind shut up in the cavity of the abdomen or belly , and sometimes in the guts . this wind is bred from crude thick flegmatick , or melancholy humors , which by heat having motion , and made thin , become gross windy vapors . this dropsie is never of wind alone , but always mixt with water . but the greatest part of this distempper proceeding from wind , it is then called a tympany . the dropsie anasarca is , without controversie , bred from a cold distemper of the liver , which hinders its concoction ; from whence , instead of good blood , it disperseth flegmatick humors , and causeth the whole body to swell . a dropsie may be also caused from all tumors or obstructions of the liver , much bleeding , great evacuation by stool , sweat , &c. note , all dropsies are dangerous , and hardly cured . yet the dropsie anasarca , which is occasioned by flegm spread over the whole body , is easiest cured of the three ; but ascites and tympanites , with much more difficulty . notwithstanding , i here promise that my pills do very rarely fail to give help in the most dangerous dropsie ; provided the disease be within the power of physick to remedy . note , that all the symptoms afore-mentioned , are seldom in every one that have these diseases at one and the same time ( except those in dropsies ) but most are ; and some have more , and some fewer of them . there remains now something more to be said of those excellent pills afore-named ; of which briefly thus . two of the larger boxes of them , price but six shillings , are usually enough for perfect cure of either of the aforesaid diseases , except the disease be of very long continuance ; and then the person doth sometimes take a small quantity more , to perfect the cure. these pills are also of admirable use for such as have the pox , gonorrhaea , or running of the reins ; and for such as formerly have had either of those diseases , and suspect an ill cure , or dread a relapse : and for such they are of good use , taken in the spring , or autumn , to carry off any reliques of the malady that may be suspected to remain . they are likewise one of the most sure and speedy medicines in the world against the green-sickness , and for such young women as want their monthly visits . and ( as i hinted before ) have recovered many , who have been brought even to the grave with these distempers . they are also of good use against fits of the mother , as likewise against foulness , and other distempers of the womb , taking away the causes of barrenness . they free the body from lumpish melancholy humours , and revive drooping spirits even to a wonder , cure the jaundies , and are a good medicine against heat and sharpness of urine i shall add , that these pills taken sometimes to prevent diseases , or more closely followed to cure , as need shall require , are a choice remedy for all families , especially those who inhabit near the seas , such ( much more than others ) being liable to obstructions , agues , the scurvy , and many other distempers . they are also a precious medicine for mariners , and such as use the seas , to whom the scurvy , and many other diseases , are very incident ; partly from bad airs , sea fogs , sudden heats and colds , much salt diet ; and sometimes from excessive drinking of foreign and unfrequented liquors , &c. and they are the more commodious for such to take to sea with them , because in the time of taking them , none is confined to keep in , but every one may walk abroad at pleasure ( except the weather be extream sharp , or the body very tender ) for indeed they are so gentle , that they are safely taken by all persons , from three years old , to the greatest age ; and at all times of the year , even in the coldest or hottest seasons ; being so congruous to all constitutions , as gently to wait nature in her dictates ; as is daily manifested by their sundry and facile operations : for in some they gently move sweat , in others much urine , and in others they operate effectually by stool : and in some again , they work by sweat , urine , and stool . so that which way soever nature is inclined to acquit her self , that very way they are ready to assist her . many more are the vertues might truly be ascribed to this medicine ; but i shall only add , that it being taken some few times at spring and autumn , doth fortifie the body against the assaults of most diseases ; and it is also found , by daily experience , to free the body from malignant humours , and to resist these disease . viz. the scvrvy , the violent head-ach , palsie , falling-sickness , apoplexy , lethargy , or sleepy disease , vertigo , dizziness , frenzy , madness , catarrbs , or defluctions , asthma , or shortness of breath , obstructions of the liver , spleen and mesentery , agues , quotidian , iertian , or quartan , foulness and distempers of the womb , pain , and foulness of the stomach , putrefaction of humors , kings-evil , leprosie , mange , scurf , running pain , stitches , convulsions , gout , sciatica , cholicks , stone , loosness , fluxes , excoriation of the intestines , or griping in the guts , surfeits , loss of appetite , vomiting , &c. purges gross tartarous humours from the body , thereby preventing the gout , also sweetning and purifying the whole mass of blood , &c. and know that it doth not only prevent these diseases , but doth also cure the most of them : and , in a word , is a significant and most noble medicine against most curable distempers . i shall also add , that these pills do wonderfully remedy a stinking-breath , if the cause be not in the teeth . they are likewise a singular good remedy against those painful , watery flegmatick , or cholerick vomitings incident to the good-fellow , after drinking much , and sitting up late at night . also the pills being taken , to the number of three , four , or five , as the body is able , the next morning after hard drinking ( and the person to lie in bed two or three hours after taking them , or until they work ) do prevent surfeits , fevers , gouts , palsies , dropsies , &c. which are often the effects of too much wine , or strong liquors . i shall now insert the names and dwellings of some few ( of the great number that i might ) who have been restored by my pills , out of many dangerous distempers , after all other medicines haue failed . mr. harding of linnington near warwick , being near eighty years of age , had been a long time troubled with a dangerous scurvy and dropsie , being swelled as much as his skin could hold , in his feet , legs , thighs , belly , privities , breast , arms , hands and head , so that he was not able to stir out of his bed , was with six shillings worth of my pills perfectly cured . mr. richard hinton , living near the cock , towards the upper end of leather-lane , being brought into such a low and dangerous condition with griping in the guts , as there was very little hopes of life , was , however , by a friend of his advised to my pills , as the only medicine to be hoped in for his recovery ; whereupon he freely took them , and was thereby in a very few days perfectly recovered . mr. joseph seidon , woodmonger on mill-bank , westminster , being exceedingly afflicted with a dangerous dropsie , insomuch that the print of a singer would have continued a long time in his flesh ; and in this condition ( by a sad accident ) was thrust into the body with a sword , and bled much inwardly : his wounds alone were judged so dangerous , that most gave him over for a dead man ; and yet some perswaded him after all to try what my pills would do for him , which he willingly assented to : and their effects were indeed most wonderful , for they brought from him all the coagulated , or hardned blood , which was judged before would very much hasten his death ; they caused his wounds quickly to heal , and perfectly cured this dropsie . mary the wife of dennis barnard of butleigh in the county of somerset , having been above three years troubled with a violent tormenting pain in the left side of her stomach , but more especially after eating or drinking ( when , it was her constant use to tumble her self on the ground , in hopes of ease thereby ) had the advice of many physitians , and took many medicines they prescribed her ; but found no ease at all : and being brought exceeding low , even to the gates of death , almost despairing of life , was informed of the wonderful effects of my pills ; where upon a box of them was bought for her , at yeovil in the said county : she took of them as many and as oft as her body was able to bear , and they brought from her by stool many hundreds of living worms , of strange shapes ; some about an inch in length , some longer , and headed like eels . at last they brought from her somewhat like a bag ; which was judged to be that wherein the worms had lain . the woman upon this recovered perfect health , look't fresh and well , and became as able to follow her business as in all her life ; she being at that time fifty years of age. mrs. griset , of rockshal near warwick having been a long time sorely afflicted with an ague , was thereby brought into a very weak condition ; and withal being much troubled with the scurvy , had spots of several colours on her legs , and such violent pains in her joynts , that she was hardly able to go : this gentlewoman was perfectly cured with fifteen shillings worth of my pills , and in a short time became one of the heartiest women in that town . matthew griset of rockshal above named , being very far gone with the scurvy , and full of blew spots , and knotted in his joynts , had many great breakings out on his body ; all which with nine shillings worth of my pills , were perfectly cured . mr. samuel hookey , of thrupe near christ-church in hampshire , being for a long time exceeding sick and weak , and judged by all to be far gone in a consumption , and being given over by most physitians for a dead man , was , to the great wonder of all that knew him , perfectly cured with my pills . mr. john hall of stowmarket in suffolk , being extreamly afflicted with the scurvy and gout , was cured with my pills . edward goodall of stowmarket , was also cured by my pills , of the gout , scurvy , and several other indispositions . mr. robert taylor of hadleigh in suffolk , being much troubled with the scurvy , and having great pains in his bones , was perfectly cured with my pills . the wife of john roper of southover , in the parish of tolpidele in dorsetshire , was exceedingly troubled for the space of eight years with the scurvy and dropsie , her legs being full of purple , red and yellow spots , and so swelled , that they were ready to burst ; and she was often so full of pain in them , that she could not go , but upon her hands and knees ; she was lifted into , and out of her bed : and after the trial of all likely means that could be heard of for her cure proved successess , she had perfect help by the use of my pill , which made her so well , that she could travel on foot nine or ten miles in one day , being then fifty years of age . mr. john edmonds of arundel in sussex , being extreamly afflicted with the scurvy , insomuch that himself and others concluded it would in a short time end his days , was to the great admiration of all his acquaintance , perfectly cured by my pills , as in his letter to me he doth fully and thankfully acknowledge . mr. pearson of the bank , within two miles of sheffield in york-shire , was exceedingly swelled with the dropsie , and his breath so short , that he judged he had not long to live : and being in this sad condition sent for a box of my pills , with which he cured not only himself , but also two of his neighbours , who at that time were so desperately ill , that their physitians gave them both over for dead men : and in the same parish one of my pills perfectly cured a child of convulsion-fits . mr. john johnson , servant to mr. thomas forth , brewer in st. giles's in the fields , london , being so far gone in a most dangerous dropsie , that he appeared to all that beheld him absolutely past cure , and not likely to live three days ; was , to the great admiration of all that knew him , perfectly cured with my pills . and of this great cure any may be satisfied at the house of the said mr. forth , as also by most of the inhabitants thereabout . mr. henry towgood , an officer of the excise , resident at the bell in shepton-mallet in somersetshire , being exceedingly afflicted with the scurvy , and so much swelled with the dropsie , that he could not lift his hands to his head , his teeth were loose , his breath short , stomach lost , his body exceeding weak , and he almost despairing of help , was in a short time perfectly cured with my pills ; and his cure in those parts is judged most wonderful . thomasin spurwel , servant to jonathan spark esq ; at the friery in plymouth , having for divers years been afflicted with violent tormenting pains in her stomach , and several other indispositions proceeding from some maiden obstructions , whereby she was brought very weak ; was , after all other means had failed , perfectly cured with my pills . in march 1684. mr. william forman , living in gardners ally near clarkenwel-green , was in that dangerous condition , that he lay bed-rid 20 weeks , or upward , and could not turn in his bed , without two persons to help him : he was so far gone with a desperate scurvy , and dropsie , that he had quite lost the use of his limbs ; which were restored , and he perfectly cured by my pills . he will also give further satisfaction to any that desire it . mr. doules of milton , four miles from marlborow in wiltshire , being even at the gates of death , not able to move about his chamber , with a most dangerous scurvy and dropsie , was , to the admiration of the whole country , perfectly cured with my pills . john lawrence , being grievously afflicted with the dropsie and scurvy for several months , my legs swelled to admiration , having above fifty holes in them ; and being given over by several physicians as past cure , was advised by an acquaintance of mine , who had been in the like condition , to take bromfield's pills , saying they were the safest & only remedy for my distemper that could be , and that by the use of those pills he himself had obtained a perfect cure : whereupon i being willing to try any thing , which might contribute to my recovery , i presently applyed my self to the taking of them , which wrought so effectually with me , that with less than four half boxes , in six weeks time , i received a perfect cure , and was able to perform as good a days work as ever i did in all my life , and at this time am , blessed be god , in good health and state of body , really believing , that if it had not been for those pills , i should undoubtedly have lost my life . all this i do hereby affirm to be true , which i am ready to satisfie any person in , that shall enquire of me . to which i freely set my hand , this 23d day of december 1686. john lawrence . mr. rowland the minister of bishopston , near marlborow in wilt-shire , being brought even to the grave with a most dangerous scurvy and dropsie , received a most wonderful care with my pills . john white , servant to mr. marshall of st. albans , was exceedingly afflicted with the yellow and black jaundies , also had the scurvy in a very high degree , and an exceeding dangerous dropsie , so that all gave him over for a dead man , yet was perfectly cured with my pills . mr. nicholas gouge , of tisbury near hendon in wilt-shire , being 65 years of age , was exceedingly afflicted with a swelling and watery humor in his legs , which run much , he lay song under the chyrurgions hands , but finding no good from them , applied himself to my pills , which perfectly cured him , so that he was as able to follow business , as he had been in 20 years before , as was acknowledged under his own hand on the 11th . of novemb. 1677. james swanton esq ; living in kelberry , in the county of kildare in the kingdom of ireland , being extreamly afflicted with the scurvy and dropsie , received a most wonderful cure with my pills . mr. william leeds , living at the wheat-sheaves and pidgeons in portsmouth , being exceedingly afflicted with a dangerous scurvy and dropsie , insomuch that he was given over by physitians for a dead man , all hopes of his recovery being past , and not being able to turn him in his bed without help , was by the blessing of god perfectly cured with less than six shillings worth of my pills ; and this i had notice of by request of the said mr. leeds , in a letter dated the 10. of july , 1677. katharine green , widow of waterford , within two miles of hartford ; was extreamly troubled with very sick vomiting fits , for the space of three years , and sometimes with violent pains in her side ready to swoon away ; she sought for help to several eminent physitians , far and near , but could find none , insomuch that she was pined away even to a sceleton , and indeed did despair of life ; but being advised to try my pills as the likeliest medicine for her cure , she accordingly did take them , and with such success , through the mercy of god to her , that with less than a three shilling box of them , she was perfectly cured , to the great admiration of all that knew her . and this relation is printed upon her own request , which she is ready to testify . goodman stratom , living at shream near highworth , in the county of wilts ; being exceeding sick and lame , and having spent much time and money in seeking after help , but to no purpose , and his cure being almost dispaired of , he was however , advised to take my pills as the only remedy proper against his maladies , if any cure might be hoped for which he accordingly did , and by his use of little above three shillings worth of them , he received a perfect cure , and in their operation or working with him at several times , he voided incredible quantities of strangely shaped worms exceeding large and long , to the great admiration of the beholders ; and this cure is accounted so wonderful , that the like hath not been heard of in those parts . an abstract of a letter from thomas baker , of darking in surry . sir , it hath pleased god , by the use of your pills , two marvelous great cures have been wrought in our town : the one was upon thomas laker , aged seventy four years , who was extreamly afflicted for the space of thirty years , with great numbers of worms in his fundament , so that it is almost incredible to say what vast numbers came from him , and he having been with many physicians for help , could get none , but was given over as incurable ; however , some that had experienced your pills , advised him to try them , which accordingly he did , and was perfectly cured with an eighteen penny box of them . the other cure was on henry dibble , also of darking , aged above sixty years , who was so far overrun with a violent scuroy , that his physicians gave him over as past all hopes of recovery , who , notwithstanding , was perfectly cured with taking one eighteen penny box of your pills . these cures were performed , the first in the year 1680. and the latter in the year 1681. but i thought not fit to give you any account of them , until they had continued some considerable time free from these distempers , that we might be assured their cures were perfect and confirmed , which now we sufficiently are , without the least sign of a relapse . these are real truths , as can be testified by many in our town , as also by darking 22d of january 1683 / 4. your loving friend thomas baker . a letter from mr. bradshall , minister of lime in cheshire . mr. bromfield , these parts of cheshire are bound to praise god and pray for you , for those excellent pills sent by you amongst them , whereof eighteen perfectly cured one peter hunt a shoe-maker of lime , in the county of chester , in two or three days time , to the great admiration of his neighbours . both his hands were very much swelled with great pain , and his body in an high feaver ; and much infected with the yellow jaundies . the first dose eased his hands and whole body ; the second took down the swelling , and the third put him into a good state of body , and so dried the superated matter in his hands , that it pilled off in a very short time : and he hath lived since in good health for two or three years , without taking any other physick . i might inform you of many other ther wonderful cures performed by your pills with god's blessing , on multitudes of gentlemen , gentlewomen , and persons of inferiour rank , who have been speedily cured by them of a putrid feaver , which hath much infected these parts since so rare a medicine for it was by you sen us . so many also have been cured by them of colds , and wormes , and several other distempers , too many to be particularly mentioned , that i conceive your pills cannot be sufficiently commended by sir , your thankful friend and servant , t. bradshal . an abstract of a letter from mr. thomas pitt , chirurgeon in lime , in the county of dorset . sir , i hold my self obliged to give you an account of the great benefit , i , in my private practice , as well as the countrey round , have received by the worth and excellency of your pills , i have found them effectual against inveterate scurvies , calenture , griping in the guts , and serophulous tumors , one dose hath cured surfeits to admiration , they have cured pains in the head , old aches in the limbs , and many other distempers . more particularly three persons , in and near this town , one of a dropsie and scurvy , who had been diseased eight years , another was worn away ( as was judged by a consumption ) to a sceleton , who by taking two half boxes was perfectly cured , the third by taking one box was perfectly cured of the yellow jaundies . i could also give you an account of a great many more cures wrought by your pills , but shall add no more at this time but that i am , lime , june 22. 1675. sir , your humble servant at command , thomas pitt . an abstract of a letter from richard carter distiller at chichester . doctor , these are to acquaint thee with a remarkable cure that hath been lately performed with thy pills , upon the daughter of edmund stevens of the parish of appledrum , near this city ; she hath been extreamly afflicted with tormenting pains in her stomach and bowels , and many times in all her limbs , with great weakness in all parts of her body , seeming to be in a consumptive condition , very much loathing her meat , not being in a capacity to eat with her father and mother at their table in several years ; much hath been spent upon physicians and in physick for her cure , but all in vain ; and she continuing in this sad condition from seven years old , to the age of seventeen years , caused her relations to despair of ever getting help for her , yet notwithstanding all seeming unlikeliness of her recovery , she is perfectly cured with taking thy pills , and hath continued in good health ever since last spring : and this will be testified to any that shall enquire , by her father and mother , ( who are credible persons ) and who also desired me to give thee this account : i might also enform thee of several others , but having no order for it by those cured , shall say no more at present but rest . chichester , the 19th of the 11th month , 1677. thy friend rich. carter . directions for taking of my pills , are as followeth . i. persons of a middle strength are to begin with taking three or four pills at bed time , about three hours after a very light supper ( but no supper is better . ) if three or four work not sufficiently , add one every night , until you take the dose that best agrees with your body : take them two or three nights one after another ( or as strength will allow ) then forbear them a night , ( or two nights if the patient be not strong ) then take them again as before , &c. ii. those whose bodies are weak , or that a little physick will work with , may begin with two pills , taken after their first sleep , or very early in the morning fasting , and lie in bed an hour , ( or two , or three hours ) after them if conveniently they can . iii. note , if the pills taken at bed-time usually work much in the night , it will in such case be best to take them very early in the morning , and to lie in bed 2 or 3 hours after taking them ; or 2 or 3 pills more or less , may be taken at night , and as many in the morning , as strength will allow . iv. women with child , and those that give such , should begin with taking but one or two pills at most ; and afterwards may take more , as they find convenient . v. to children about three or four years old , give half or three quarters of a pill , to elder children give a pill , 2 or 3 , according to their age and strength : and by the way 〈◊〉 there is no better remedy in the world against worms . vi. if the patientbe thirsty ; in time of the pills working , he may drink a draught or two of p●●●et drink , thin broth , or such liquors as he best likes , except in dropsies , in which , 't is best to drink the liquor made as followeth ( if coveniently to be had . ) take of the tops of green-broom six handfuls , of fumitary as much , garden scurvy-grass , common wormwood , of each three handfuls , all can , bark of elder ten ounces , juniper-berries bruised , twelve ounces , anniseeds bruised , six ounces , horse-raddish roots three ounces ; liquorish four ounces : slice the roots , put them into a thin linnen or hair bag , and put them into five gallons of strong ale : when it hath almost done working , then within a day or two after , the patient should begin to drink thereof three draughts in a day : but if he drink no other liquor it will be the better , and let him sometimes eat a little candied or green-ginger , and still remember , besides the drink to take my pills as before appointed . these directions observed , the pills seldom fail to remedy any curable . dropsie , as hath been often proved . and note , this drink , with my pills , is also of excellent use for such as find themselves very far gone with the scurvy . vii . such as care not to swallow pills alone , may take them in a little of the pap of an apple , stew'd prunes , five or six spoonfuls of beer , ale , or wine ; or they may be bruised or cut small ( which indeed is the best way if they be very hard by long keeping and taken with honey , sugar the pap of an apple , beer , ale , or wine , &c. viii . against the pox , gonorrhaea , or running of the reins , let the pills be taken in the largest dose , yet not so , as much to weaken the patient . ix . note , my pills sometimes give an easie vomit or two ; that is when the dose is large , the stomach foul , or nature much inclined that way ; which proves very well for the patient : for they carry forth such choletick , flegmatick , and other noxious excrements , as nature could not well avacuate any other way , and by that means often compleat the cure. and if in their working the patient chance to be much stomach-sick ( which seldom happens ) then let him drink a glass of sack or whitewine ; or if wine be too costly , a draught of strong ale warm'd ; either of which usually gives speedy ease . and because i would have no mistake , pray observe , that those whose distempers are of long continuance , cannot in reason expect perfect cure with three or four times taking my pills , such should therefore take them in a dose as large . as they can conveniently bear , and continue them ten or fifteen days , or longer if need require ; omitting them a day or two sometimes , as before directed , or as the patient shall see cause . and that my pills may fully answer every ones expectation , i do advise all persons that shall swallow them ( whole ) and not find them opperate by stool or other ways by sweat , vrine , &c. as may be expected from the number of pills taken , that they would afterwards cut or bruise them pretty small , and so take them in the pap of an apple , honey , or stew'd prune , or drink them in half a dozen spoonfuls of ale , beer , or what best like the patient ; which is a sure way to make them opperate to content ; they being really not at all the worse ( but only harder ) though seven years old . and indeed it is also a piece of good husbandry , ( besides it's great advantage in forwarding the cure ) to cut or bruise them ; for four or five pills so taken will be to all intents and purposes as significant as six or seven taken whole : also to drink a good draught or two in the forenoon of posset-drink , thin broth , or ale , will very much forward and quicken their operation . but withal you should note , that when not only my pills , but any other purging medicine hath been taken three or four days immediately one after another , there cannot be matter the third and fourth times to work on , as there was as there was at the first and second takings . and so is it also most true , that half so many stools , when they have been taken three or four days as above mentioned , are as significant to the cure of a distemper , as so many more were at first taking . now these things being but throwly considered , and my directions rightly followed , i am very confident that every rational mans expectations ( in the use of my pills ) will be fully answered : but for such as will not follow . directions in taking them , it will be much better both for them and me , that they let my pills quite alone . and so i heartily desire them to do . my pills are disposed of in tin-boxes sealed up with my seal at arms , being a lion passant guardant , the larger box containing about forty pills ( or within one or two more or less ) is three shillings ; and the lesser box of nineteen or twenty pills is eighteen pence . but because of dangers , and extraordinary charge of fraight by sea , and great cost of returns from many parts out of england : the larger box of pills in scotland and ireland is sold for three shillings six pence ; and the lesser box for one shilling nine pence , and not under : and are to be sold by mr. brabazon aylener , bookseller at the three sidgeons against the royal exchange in cornhil , and at the royal coffee-house in exchange alley . mr. charles brome , bookseller at the gun near the west end of st. pauls church . mr. martin , at the coffee-house in kingstreet near guildhall . mr. john rowse , trunk-maker in ratcliff highway at the end of old gravel-lane . mr. burgess , cheesmonger at the george at shadwell dock . mr. jeffery woolston , at the holly-bush at queen-hithe . mr. horrod , cheesmonger within smithfield barrs . mr. john weld , bookseller at the sign of the crown betwixt the temple gates , in fleetstreet . mrs. stanly , semstress at her shop without moorgate . mr. avertey , at the cake shop without aldersgate . mr. francis rakestraw , tallow-chandler near the gate in tuttle street westminster . mr. robert collet , tallow-chandler at the end of newport-street , near leicester fields mr. natha . chandler , cheesmonger against drury-lane end in st giles ' s. mr. thomas vmfrevile , tin man against cree-church in leadenhall street . mr. butcher , distiller at the plow and still against the george-inn in southwark . mr. john seckle , tinman , at the bird-cage at cock-lane end against the conduit on snow hill . mr. bentley , bookseller at the post-house in russel-street , covent-garden . mr. paget , cheesmonger in s. james's market . mr. lloyd's coffee-house against the star-inn in the strand near charing cross . mr. joseph adams , cheesmonger at the frying-pan over against the market-house in clare market . mr. john rogers , haberdasher of hats , at the hat and harrow against the bull-inn within bishopsgate . mr. thomas stent , cheesmonger without the barrs against hoglane in bishopsgate-street . mr. king , razor-maker at the flying-horse against st. clements church in the strand . mr. israel harrisen , stationer under lincolns-inn gate in chancery-lane . mr. thomas ingleton , hosier over against cripplegate church , mr. francis parr , oil man in middle-row in holborn . mrs. green , semstress near fauntain stairs on redrif wall. mr. chapman , bookseller at the angel in the pall mall . mr. john taylor , at the ship in st. paul's church-yard . mrs. mary tonson , stationer at gray's-inngate next gray's inn lane. mr. robert diment , at his shop at billingsgate , and at his shop upon st. mary-hill . mr. john wilson , sail-maker upon copeskey at the hermitage-stairs . mr. robert fage , grocer at the golden sugarloaf in piccadilly over against burlingtonhouse . mr. william willis , stationer at the bible in kings-street , westminster . mrs. banbury , at her shop in westminsterhall , near the common-pleas . mr. thomas barras , pastry-cook next the bull near the barrs in white-chappel . mr. samuel bampton , cheesemonger in hungerford-market . mr. marshal , bookseller at the sign of the bible in newgate-street . mr. leicester , tallow-chandler in edmonton . mr. crosdeal , chandler near battle-bridg in tooly-street . mr. adam levingston , fruiterer at the south entrance of the royal exchange . mr. john own , cheesmonger at the 〈◊〉 head in drury-lane against the play 〈◊〉 william vine , at his house over against the rope-yard in woolwich . mr. robert todd , salesman at the star in chiswell-street . mr. edmund collet , at the angel and three crowns , a cake shop in smook-alley near spittle-fields . mrs. harding , chandler over-against the mount in white-chappel . and are also to be sold ( as heretofore ) at my former dwelling at the blue balls in plow-yard in fetter-lane , london , by mr. joseph stent . advertisements . for above 25 years past , that my pills have been made publick , they have through the assistance of god been attended with admirable success in caring most dangerous diseases incident to mankind , and thence hauing deservingly gained an high esteem and reputation , some wicked persons out of a design filthy lucre , have falsely pretended they have gotten a receipt of them ; who wandring through the countries , have offered at under rates a sort of dangerous counterseit pills to sale : these are therefore to request all my correspondents ( for sale of my pills ) that if they can discouer any such person or persons as about-mentioned , they will give me speedy notice thereof , that i may proceed against them according to law , all such pretenders being absolute imposters or cheats designing only to couzen the countrey . whereas it hath of late been falsely given out by some persons , that m. bromfield the inventor and publisher of the abovementioned pills 〈◊〉 died and that one mr. joseph stent sets forth pills in his name , without euer having had any order for 〈◊〉 so doing . these are therefore to satisfie all persons , that i the said m. bromfield ( blessed be god ) 〈◊〉 in good health at my house now in tottenham-high-cross in the county of middlesex ; and i do hereby further signifie to all persons , that i the said m. bromfield for divers good reasons and causes thereunto to me moving , have some years since , set ouer and assigned my whole and sole right and interest of preparing , making ; uending and selling my said pills , to the said mr. joseph stent , and to no other person whatsoever : he the said joseph stent being the only person to whom i ever did or shall discover the secret of preparing the said pills , and who hath constantly assisted at the preparation of them at my former dwelling-house in plow-yard in petter-lane aforesaid for the space of about fourteen years together . dated at my house in barnet , my former dwelling . march the 13th 1685 / 6 m. bromfield . finis . a letter to dr. charles goodall, physician to the charter-house occasioned by his late printed letter entituled a letter from the learned and reverend dr. charles goodall to his honoured friend dr. leigh &c. : to which is annexed an answer to a sheet of paper entituled, a reply to mr. richard boulton &c. writ by the aforesaid honoured charles leigh by name, m.d. resident in manchester, not far from the well near haigh and the well prope boulton in lancashire / by r. boulton ... boulton, richard, b. 1676 or 7. 1699 approx. 51 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28880 wing b3831 estc r34373 14346461 ocm 14346461 102267 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28880) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 102267) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1564:18) a letter to dr. charles goodall, physician to the charter-house occasioned by his late printed letter entituled a letter from the learned and reverend dr. charles goodall to his honoured friend dr. leigh &c. : to which is annexed an answer to a sheet of paper entituled, a reply to mr. richard boulton &c. writ by the aforesaid honoured charles leigh by name, m.d. resident in manchester, not far from the well near haigh and the well prope boulton in lancashire / by r. boulton ... boulton, richard, b. 1676 or 7. [4], 28 p. printed for a. baldwin, london : 1699. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-07 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a letter to dr. charles goodall , physician to the charter-house ; occasioned by his late printed letter , entituled , a letter from the learned and reverend dr. charles goodall , to his honoured friend dr. leigh , &c. to which is annexed , an answer to a sheet of paper , entituled , a reply to mr. richard boulton , &c. writ by the aforesaid honoured charles leigh by name , m. d. resident in manchester , not far from the well near haigh , and the well prope boulton , in lancashire . by r. boulton , of brazen-nose college in oxford . nor hath the great number of those escaped my observation , who finding it a much easier task to censure — than to write — endeavour to acquire the title of judicious , by condemning all things themselves have not written or thought on . boyle , phis . es . p. 1. london , printed for a. baldwin , 1699. the preface to the reader . the following sheets containing an answer to dr. goodall's letter ; and also an answer to a sheet of paper writ by dr. leigh ; i think my self bound to make an apology to the world upon a double score : and first , for what i have said in answer to dr. goodall's letter . and upon this account , all that i need to say is , that had the doctor not suffered his letter to be printed , i had not writ or published what i have ; but since he began first , he i hope , or at least the world will pardon me , for relating matter of fact so plainly , that they might judge of the sincerity and truth of his letter . but perhaps there are some , and i hope a great many , that will be unapt to believe the grounds of the following relation true ; i say , i hope they will be unapt to believe it ; because i would not wish them to have the same reasons to change their thoughts of him as i have ; and that i have fufficient reason to think the character i once gave him , rather what i could have wished him to be , than what he is . i conceive the following certificates , together with his own letter , will be self-evident arguments ; i have the copy of his letter writ by his own hand , and the certificate signed and witnessed by the persons whose names are subscribed ; so that if any body should question the truth , they shall be convinced with those papers . as for dr. leigh , all the apology i need to make is , that i beg their pardon for taking notice of his libels , since envy and malice needs no other answer but cantempt : and if the doctor takes such a delight in writing penny and two-penny books , he may look out for some other adversary , that thinks it worth his while to hearken to him : i for my part , shall entertain the same opinion of him as the world does , viz. that his remarks are his true and real representatives . and here i shall let the world know , that i take so little delight in opposing such adversaries , that for the future ( except i have great reason for it ) i shall leave such as have not the use of their reason to confute themselves ; and shall rather spend my time in making what improvements i can in the profession i have made choice of : and as truth and reason shall always be the rules by which i shall write so far as i can , so if i think my self upon that score concern'd to oppose any one that may be mistaken , i shall shew that respect which is due both to their learning and characters ; but if on the contrary , their ignorance and contempt of learned men , deserves ill usage , i shall leave it to some body else to gave them their merit , who shall not think it time mispent to answer them . i shall conclude this epistle with this advertisement , viz. that whereas a party of men have imagined , that by vindicating the colledge , i opposed them ; i profess , that by the colledge , i meant no separate party , but all such members which had not adopted that doctrine which i writ against ; and except they include themselves in that number , i shall declare that no party shall engage me further than truth and reason , either for or against any body ; and what is the product of that small share i have of either , i shall always submit to the candid censure of the learned ; to whom i subscribe my self london , jan. 18. 1698 / 9. their most humble servant , r. boulton . an answer to dr. goodall's letter , dated decemb. 6th , 1698. in a letter to himself . sir , i must confess , it was not without a little concern and surprize , that i found a letter against me with doctor goodall's name to it : i once thought , and had i not evident reason to the contrary , i should think still , that doctor goodall was a man of more courage and honour , ( as well as justice , than to desert a cause he had once engaged himself in ; of more courage and honour ) i say ; because it is an argument against both , to turn your back upon what you thought just ; and of more justice , because it would be unjust to engage your self in encouraging or patronizing that , which in your opinion was not approved . and give me leave to say , this letter which dr. leigh hath printed , will , i am afraid , call in question your judgment , as well as honour and justice ; for if in your judgment you thought my book was faulty , why did you patronize it with such zeal ? if the contrary , why should you not have the same opinion now as before ? at least , doctor , it had been better to have been silent , and much more prudent , than to force me to prove , what in your letter you deny . it is a thing i confess i am very loth to do , and would not , did i not think my reputation concern'd in it : for i am yet ready to acknowledge , that i not long since , thought my self very much obliged to you ; and as favours received from any one , shall with me be perpetual obligations of respect to them that bestowed them on me ; so i would be unwilling to do any thing which should look like ingratitude to you : for i must beg leave to say , that with me , ties of friendship shall be held inviolable , if it lies in my power ; and obligations i shall ever hold as sacred . but as the case now stands , the greatest respect i can shew you , is to prove the contents of your letter in respect of your reflections false , without that severity which your usage of me really deserves ; for whatever you may think , i am bold to say , that i shall make it appear that your last obligations and favours have made your former of very little value . therefore to justify my self , and to do you no wrong , i shall answer your letter in the same method you have writ it ; first returning you thanks for the good character you are pleased to give of my other books . the first words which concern me are these ; i — own your writing to me about mr. boulton ' s book , as a particular favour , he having by no means obliged me by his rude and unmannerly reflections upon you ; who i am sensible are not therein treated like a gentleman or a scholar . the language and reflections i own to be such , as no man of good breeding , much less any censor of the college of physitians would pass with an imprimatur . to this , doctor , i must answer , that as for an imprimatur to such a thing as that , i never desired it , for there was no need of it , it being an answer to such ridiculous reflections on me , as you were pleased to say at your own table , were the rudest and most malicious that ever you saw in your life , and that you thought that no doctor in physick could write such stuff : this was your opinion of dr. leigh's remarks ; and as for my answer to them , i will certify any body upon oath , that you read the greatest part of them whilst i sat by you , and that when you were weary , i read the remaining part to you ; and that you were so far from finding fault , that you smiled almost all the while ; and not long after gave your favourable opinion of them to a learned man of merton colledge in oxford ; this i affirm to be true , with as much solemnity , as if i were to say it upon oath . but supposing you had neither approved nor disapproved the thing , i leave the world to judge , whether you have not much more reason to reflect on dr. leigh than me , he having reflected on me , who never was in the least acquainted with him , and consequently could not possibly disoblige him ; and as for me , i have only turned his own dirt upon him again . the next words i shall take notice of in your letter , are these , as to his writing against mr. colbatch , i must own that did encourage him thereto , he having so rudely treated the universities , colledge of physitians , and the most learned men of our faculty , and likewise published and defended such an erroneous hypothesis , and raised such a dangerous superstructure thereon , as i fear will prove fatal to many . — yet notwithstanding mr. colbatch hath deserved ill of learned men , &c. — i cannot commend mr. boulton ' s treating him in the manner he hath done , which was so far from my opinion and good liking , &c. really , doctor , i am concern'd for your reputation , that you should suffer such things to be printed , which you could not but think highly disingenuous , and contrary to truth , if not inconsistent with reason it self : for here you declaim against my way of treating mr. colbatch , yet say he hath deserved ill , his hypothesis is erroneous , dangerous and fatal to many : where you justify what i have done ; for if his hypothesis be erroneous , dangerous and fatal to many , and deserved ill ; if what i have writ be ill usage , it is what you here pronounce to be his merit , though in the following words you say it is contrary to your approbation and good liking : which words , if true , it follows , that your own opinion is contrary to your own good liking ; because what i have writ is according to it ; and if you fall out with your own opinion , well may you with mine . but give me leave to say , my book is not only justify'd by what you say now , but was printed and was writ or altered according to your good liking : for before i writ one word of it , when you enourag'd me to it , i told you , i thought it was not worth my while to take notice of his books , and that i hated to write in such a manner as it was by some thought he ought to be treated in ; but to this you told me , i could not handle him too roughly , or some such words ; and this ( to put it into your memory ) you told me as i was walking with you cross smithfield . again , you declaimed upon the same subject coming down floulborn , where you told me , it would do the faculty of physick a great deal of service ; which prevailed with me to gratifie your humour , though contrary to my own inclination ; i then thinking your opinion preferable to my own , especially in a city where i was almost a stranger then , and the temper of which i was then unacquainted with . but you did not only approve it then , but when i had writ but a small part of it , you gave me leave to dedicate it to you ; for though in your own parlor , you seem'd with a smile to refuse it , yet upon reading over the dedication , you were pleas'd with another smile to accept it , telling me modestly , it was more than you deserved : and really i fear you have given me reason to think it so ; yet , i confess , i am heartily sorry , if i was so much mistaken in you . but to proceed to your further good-liking , you not only accepted the dedication , but read over the sheets from the press ; and altered or put in what zealous and fervent words you had a mind ; and at the same time approved of them . to convince the world of which , i add these certificates . i whose name is hereunto subscribed , do certify , that i carried several sheets of mr. boulton's book against colbatch to dr. goodall , who read them over whilst i was by ; and not only put in several words , but blotted out what he thought fit , and withal repeated these words , this will maul him : and this i am ready to testify upon oath . witness my hand , edward midwinter . i whose name is hereunto subscribed do testify , that i carried several sheets of mr. boulton's book against mr. colbatch to dr. goodall's house , and delivered them to him , one of which , i received back from him my self ; several words being put in according to his direction : and this i am ready to testify upon oath . witness my hand , henry lloyd . besides these certificates , i could add two more , were there occasion , but these i suppose may be sufficient , to shew that you approved of them ; besides , when the whole book was printed , i carried the dedication to you , which you consented to ; nor did you express the least dissatisfaction concerning the dedication , when the book was published , but only said , there was ( to ) instead of ( of ) in one place . but you further say , you requested me to read the learned mr. boyle's book , and to imitate that learned author , in my answer to mr. colbatch . truly , i remember you were commending mr. boyle , and said , he had mauld the unmannerly dr. bently , when i had writ about half my answer ; but i can never think your judgment so weak , as to have proposed it for a pattern , since there is no parallel in the case ; for tho' i remember you said , one might see how a gentleman could manage a clown ; yet it is on all hands agreed , that as mr. boyle is an ingenious man , so dr. bentley is a learned man , as well as the former ; but mr colbatch sure is not a doctor bentley , tho' you think sit to parallel them , for you say , mr. colbatch hath rais'd a dangerous , a fatal , and an erroncous hypothesis , but dr. bentley hath not ; for it is not dangerous or fatal to read any thing about phalaris . so that the circumstances shew there is no parallel , and consequently it could be no pattern : and i hope you will not wrong your judgment so much , as to say , that when a man runs down learning as much as he can , the same measures are to be taken as if he only erred in criticisms ; for one critick may make remarks on another in a different way , by which he may think the world will be set a laughing , and by that means ridicule the other : but when a man , as you say , lays down notions of a more dangerous consequence , and which may be fatal to many , ridicule may set men a laughing that understand the jest , but it will never convince weak and unthinking physitians ; nay , that which is ridicule to a judicious man , is not ridicule to a man that understands not the unreasonableness of a thing ; for such cannot think it ridiculous till they are convinced it is erroneous ; and though laughter may make an impression upon their lungs , it never influences the reason of those that think laughter unreasonable ; and though the weaker sort of physitians can read a satyr , and keep the subject before them in their thought at the same time , yet laughter puts them out of a capacity of thinking , and consequently of being convinced . in short , it may make men merry for a time , but it never lasts longer than their lungs are in a violent motion ; whereas a satyr where it is due , renders the subject opposed more despicable , and brings a cloud upon it , without setting the readers head a shaking , and rendring the sight inconstant . but not to urge at present what might be said in favour of satyrs , where a design is to influence the vulgar , and not to set learned men a laughing , i shall only shew you how much your proposition of a pattern was inconsistent not only with reason , but the opinion of the greatest orators that we know of . for cicero , that father of roman eloquence , in his oration pro sext. ros●io amerino says , non in omneis arbitrar omnis convenire , the same measures are not to be taken upon all occasions : for as he further says , haec enim est causa nova ac singularis , this is a peculiar cause , and therefore must have a peculiar method in managing of it . again in his book , de oratore , he says , neque est dubium , quin exordium dicendi , vehemens & pugnax , non saepe esse debeat ; no doubt but sometimes an oration ought to begin with heat and earnestness . according to which , in his oration pro q. rossio , he falls upon a whole body of men. o! societatem captiosam & indignam , &c. again , the same father of eloquence , in his book of oratory says , it is the part of an orator , ut inveniat quemadmodum fidem faciat eis quibus volet persuadere , & quemadmodum motum eorum aninus afferat ; it 's the part of an orator to consider what arguments are necessary to gain assent , and what may move mens passions . and i leave it to any candid judge , whether laughter or satyr are more proper , where an hypothesis is erroneous , dangerous and fatal to many ? whether mens lives are to be made subjects of laughter , or rather of more concern ? but to proceed to the last paragraph of your letter : you say , i am truly sorry , that in the particulars you mention , he hath not only disobliged me , but many others . how many i have disobliged by opposing them , i am not insensible ; but as for your self , i can assure the world , it is not by writing against dr. leigh , nor mr. colbatch , for if it were so , i had disobliged you half a year ago ; for then you had read mr. colbatch's answer ; and it is above four months since my answer to dr. leigh was printed , though for some reasons it was not published so soon : but you and i have not been fallen out above seven weeks ; besides , if you had been disobliged with my writing so against mr. colbatch , by the same reason you would have fallen out with dr. leigh , he having writ a two-penny book with worse language than mine ; and if my answer to him disobliged you , his reflections would have had the same effect ; but instead of that , you are both raised to such a pitch of friendship , that you are got to be reverend , and your friend , the honoured ; though before the reverend fell out with me , the honoured was unknown to the reverend altogether . but further , if my reflections on dr. leigh , or mr. colbatch had disobliged you , you 'd have disobliged your self , for you did not only correct my book , but mr. young's against s●lmon , which hath as many reflections as mine ; and i am afraid that 's contrary to your good-liking by this time. but sure you 'll not turn your back on mr. young , and say it 's contrary to your good-liking : no , he 's a little older than i , and you 're a little more afraid of his resentments : but though young birds are more easily catched with chaff than old ones , yet they are not all so ensnared , but sometimes they make shift to disintangle themselves . but to proceed , we are to look for another cause of your present obligations , and to seek for another cause of our falling out , which in short was this . in may last , i received the following letters from you , writ both upon the same paper . dated may 26 , 1698. this to mr. richard boulton , of brazen-nose colledge in oxford . — as to mr. boulton , be pleased to acquaint him , that there is a work in a certain part of natural history , which he is very capable to perform , and will be both reputable and advantageous to him ; but that for some reasons you cannot as yet acquaint him with particulars . but let him disingage himself from all other studies , reserve himself wholly for this , and come to town as soon as his affairs will permit . — this is a part of the letter , though the persons name is not here to be mentioned ; but upon the same piece of paper , i received likewise the following lines . sir , i thank you for your very kind and ingenuous letter of the 18th instant ; your gratitude expressed therein , doth highly oblige me , and you may be assured i will do you all the good offices i can : — your printer hath brought but one sheet since we parted ; if you let me know his name and house , i will take some care about the press , we all give our service to you . i am your sincere and faithful friend , charles goodall . now from this letter , it is plain , you were concern'd about the press ; but of that enough before . and how far you have been my sincere or faithful friend , i leave the world to judge , who have a specimen of your sincerity in this letter . upon the receiving thereof , i came to town as soon as i could possibly , but too late for what was mentioned in the former part of the letter ; which was to be taken for a peculiar kind of favour to be sent for from oxford for nothing ; whereas i writ to you the week before about it . but that it might not be for nothing , you got me to translate dr. groenvelt's book about cantharides , into english for you , which to please you , i did . why you could not answer that book ( for you threatned it mightily ) in latin as well as in english , i will not say . but this was not enough to send for me from oxford for , but you so tyred me with one thing after another , that i must either spend my time wholly for you , or you would not be pleased . but you will be apt to say , i am still obliged to you ; and truly i am not insensible of your last obligations , since to make tryal of them , i only deferred writing some unreasonable things you desired , upon which the storms rose , and the winds blew , and presently untied the bonds of friendship . but since i have made this relation publick , it perhaps may be wondered , why i should be your humble servant so long , having no more reason than your sending for me to london , for nothing almost ; since to disappoint me , and serve me so handsomly , was none of the most worthy actions of the physician to the charter-house . that this then may seem less strange , i must own , that you made me such promises of your interest in oxford , that i was willing to spend a little time to see the event ; but when i saw you had deceived me in that , as well as your letter to oxford , i thought it high time to make better use of it , than to consume it with dr. goodall . thus sir , i have , i hope , satisfied the world , that you have dealt , if i may be so bold to say so , very disingeniously with me ; yet i was willing to say nothing , had you not maliciously done me the favour to publish your spleen against me . yet i can easily forgive you ; and am from my heart sorry , that your reason should be so prevail'd on by the violence of your passion : but since it is so , and past help , i hope you will pardon this freedom ▪ which you your self have been the occasion of : and this i will assure you of , though it lies in my power to say much more to your disadvantage , i shall not , except you give me further reason : and i could wish , there were no just cause given to prevent me from subscribing my self , sir , your humble , and obliged servant , r. boulton . advertisement . since the former sheets were put to the press , i am told by several , that dr. goodall does own that he consented to the dedication , and that he wonders dr. leigh should pretend to say , that i presumed to dedicate my book to him , since it was done with his consent ; and he likewise declares , that he is not a little displeased , that dr. leigh should be so unfair , as to print his letter , without his consent : but i thank dr. leigh for it , because had it not been printed i could not have vindicated my self . an answer to dr. leigh , &c. that doctor leigh may be satisfied i am the very same man i ever took my self to be , i have , by certificates from the persons who carried my sheets to dr. goodall's house ( from the place where i have lodged ever since i came to london ) proved , that dr. goodall did correct and approve of my book ; and that he was concerned in it , appears from his letter sent to me at oxford : and how disingenuously and dishonourably the doctor hath dealt with me , let the world judge . but of this i have said enough before ; i shall therefore take a view of what the doctor hath said , either against me , or in defence of himself ; in doing which , i shall only lay down matter of fact , and leave the world to judge whether i have given him his answer . and first in his title , he calls my last book , my last piece ; he calls my book of the heat of the blood , a piece ; so that all i can write in the language of the famous doctor doctorum doctor leigh must needs be pieces : but i leave it to the world to judge , whether what he writes , be not more like pieces than books ; for in the first place he writ a penny book against me ; next he writ a three penny book against mr. colbatch ; and now i have got a two-penny book again : so that i cannot for the heart of me , stretch the doctors phancy , to write a book as valuable as a common almanack ; and it 's strange that all the doctor can say against me is not worth more than two pence in his own opinion ; but perhaps he hath squeezed more sense into his pieces than usually sticks in so small a compass , and therefore i shall examin their merit . in his first piece he hath made remarks on pigs , mice , elephants , cheesmongers , irish men , c — w t — d. the pudenda of a salt bitch , duck-shot , roger a coverly , the wise men of gotham , the cuckow and diego and his spanish geese . and all these wonderful phaenomena hath he declaimed on , instead of answering me : but truly in his last piece , he hath condemned himself . and page the 12th says , they were writ in a stile too light for the gravity and sobriety of philosophy ; so that in this , we must expect something like a philosopher ; truly a happy change : and i hope my last prescription hath taken effect . but let us see what alterations it hath wrought . page 5th , he makes his observations on sportive rattles of unthinking striplings : page 6th , he says , a snail will make a swift new-market courser ; which may be true , if a horses name . page 7th , he hath coined a new metaphor , viz. faeculent brain , derived from bog-house , in his first piece , page 7th . but page 8th , he says , if the lapwing would stay till the shell dropt off his head , he might fly : page 9th . he says , the crane and the p●gmies might have fought about the knots in a bull-rush ● . 10th . he tells us a story of a tartar that defaces th● plains he was foraging in , and straight removes to a 〈◊〉 clime : whence it 's evident that his notions of feve●● and inflammatory diseases , could not be borrowed from dr. willis . a strange consequence . p. 14th . he says , the weash-man purchased the pompion for the mare 's egg and got never a colt from it , and these are things not too light for the gravity and sobriety of philosophy . strange ! how the dr. philosophized when he wrote these things of weight and sobriety , and how much they differ from the admirable contents of his first peice . but if this be the dr's philosophy , unenvied by me may he phylosophize , till he hath gathered enough to compleat his theory ; i for my part shall leave him to hug and admire his peices till he is weary ; and shall only take notice of what he further dogmatically denies in my book without giving any reason for it , and what he says for himself . and first , all that sticks with the doctor , as to my books , is , that he cannot see or taste the mucilage ; which i conceive to be animal spirits ; and that the metaphorical glands which are made up of the extremities of the vessels , cannot be discerned by microscopes : this is all that the doctor alledges against my books , the remaining part of his sheet being either enlargements upon the wonderful stock of philosophy , but just now mentioned , or a vindication of his own book . as to the first , he tells me , i no where prove animal spirits to be an oyly mucilage ; and he asks me , whether i ever saw it or tasted it ? to this i answer , that i have both seen and tasted it ; and have already proved the animal spirits to be an oyly mucilage , in my book of the heat of the blood ; and therefore , i shall refer the reader thither , it not being requisite that i should trouble my self to repeat what is there said , as often as dr. leigh shall ask the question afresh . and since he here says , their agility in voluntary motion , demonstrates that they do not move slower than blood ; i answer , that it is no demonstration ; for though the spirits move slowly in the nerves , yet when they come to be mixed with the blood , and meet with particles which are of a different temper and texture , they may then become active , and many degrees more active than before . so the particles of alkalies and acids when kept separate in distinct vessels , have not half the agility and activity in their parts , as when mixed together ; the result of their mixture , if volatile , being a strong fermentation , which was in neither of the separate liquors , and altho ' gun-powder be slowly squeezed through a long pipe and out of that falls upon the fire , yet it 's explosion when worked upon by so powerful an agent , is no argument that the corpuscles of the gun-powder were in as violent a motion before the explosion ; since it 's evident that they are not ; so that the spirits may move slowly in the nerves when kept separate from the blood , yet be put into a more violent agitation when mixed with it ; that agitation being no argument of their equal agility before , but a consequence of their mixture . but to proceed to his other objection , viz. that the metapborical glands cannot be seen with a microscope ; to this i answer , that by metaphorical glands , i mean nothing but a commixture of the extremities of vessels , metaphorical glands implying no more ; which appears from what i have said in my book of muscular motion , to which i shall refer the reader , it not being necessary to repeat what is there , tho' dr. leigh should for information sake , ask the question again and again : but that what i have said there , is sufficient to prove , that there are such glands , i presume undeniable , till what i have offered with submission to reason , be confuted by it ; and then if i cannot maintain it , let it fall : it is knowledge and truth i shall ever value above my own opinion , if it be not so ; but if it be , i shall value it as truth , and only content my self with the satisfaction of contributing my endeavours to the general stock of knowledge . but to satisfy the world , that we are not to dis-believe , what i have said of those glands , because we cannot see them , i shall add a quotation from the honourable esquire boyle's works , which will shew him , that there are several truths in nature , which we believe , because we have reason for it ; tho' as to sight they are imperceivable ; for that most ingenious and experimental promoter of useful knowledge , who was a profound , and one of the greatest of philosophers , in his history of fludity , page 189. sect. xx. admits of reason to be proof , where the minuteness of bodies renders them imperceivable : for he says , if it be objected , that the various and insensible parts of water , and resembling bodies , wherein we make the nature of fluidity chiefly to consist , is but an imaginary thing , and but precariously asserted , since by our own confession they are so small , that the particles themselves , and more , the diversity of their motions , are imperceptable by sense , &c. we shall not deny the objection to be plausible , but must not acknowledge it to be unanswerable . and the like may be said for those glands ; for if we have reason to believe there are such , we are not to deny what our reason tells us , because it is not an object of sight ; and that it is the smallness of those glands that makes them to be imperceiptible by sight is evident , since the best microscopes will not make the terminations of those vessels visible which compose them : yet i hope no body will say , that the vessels have no ends , because they cannot see them : if then we allow what is beyond contradiction , viz. that the terminations of the vessels cannot be perceived , we must allow that these glands must be invisible , because made up of those vessels which are too fine to be perceived ; and that those vessels do communicate with one another , and consequently make up such glands i have given such reasons in my book , and also laid down such experiments , that i need not to bring any more till those are deficient . having answered all the doctors objections against my book , i shall consider what he says for himself : and first , to pass by all that heap of loud sounding words , which is vulgarly called bombast , or sound without signification , i shall briefly take notice , that tho' i quoted doctor willis , and shewed him that his notion of heat was the same with it , as also that doctor willis had the same notion of the cause of intermitting fevers ; and tho' i shewed him , that in dropsies , he mistakes the effect for the cause ; and that in his dissertation of mineral waters , he only proves what no body denies ; he thinks it an answer sufficient to deny what is evidently true , and matter of fact : for he says , he did not borrow his notions from dr. willis , neither do i say so ; but he acted the plagiary ( to use his own words ) or he stole them from him ; for those words he makes use on himself . but he says dr. willis assigns fermentation to be the cause of heat ; and that he assigns collision ; but any body that knows the least of the corpuscularian philosophy , would not think to come off with such mean evasion , since fermentation implies collision , and collision , which is the effect of motion , where it is violent enough , is but calling fermentation by another name , since fermentation and collision of the parts of hot bodies , are significatively the same , tho' different sounds . again , he says , he does not endeavour to prove an acid in vitriolated waters , but that there is a perfect concocted vitriol ; which is as much as to say , he does not argue for an acid , but for a perfect acid , since vitriol is an acid ; so that to prove vitriolate waters have vitriol in them , is to prove acid waters have acid in them ; which i suppose none denies . but let the doctor dispute the case , it 's a fine easie subject for him ; he may tell his country-men such amusing stories ; and that there is salt in their porrage if he will ; perhaps he may convince them , by the same strain , and vigorous arguments used at the well near haigh , and the well prope boulton in lancashire . but lest people should 〈…〉 doctor really confuted , he says very little in vindication of himself , thinking if he should use arguments , it would make people take notice of his faults the more . therefore to divert their observations , he thinks to make a noise about a latin sentence , and three latin words ; as if convincing me there , would attone for the whole notions of value in his book , taken from dr. willis ; but i don't think i need to use any arguments to perswade physicians , to believe what i have said , since it is the generally received opinion that dr. leigh hath nothing in his book of his own worth owning . but to come to his scholarship , he tells me i don't understand latin , and that i must go to school again : poor good natur'd soul ! he finds the good effects of my last advice , and by his quoting of horace and virgil , &c. i find he hath been at school , and taken it ; and now like a sweet tempered gentleman , he would needs advise me to make use of the same means ▪ this had been a symptom of a good d●sposition in mind , had i not been mightily prejudiced ; for there is scarce any body that finds benefit by a medicine , but they usually recommend it to every body that they have a respect for , whether they want it or not : whether i want it or not , i don't pretend to say , but am sure that notwithstanding his quoting dr. lister , i must tell him , pro me , is not so good latin , as quod ad me attinet , or quatenus me refert ; but he hath a mind dr. lister should be blamed with him , as when two children fall out about their play , the one thinks it hard to be whipped , and the other saved ; so he must needs have dr. lister in for two words at least ; with all my heart , i am not against it ; if he must be blamed , when the one hath the ferula , let the other stand by . the doctor is not angry that i find fault with sic regero : but let him not be concerned , i only think it a mean metaphor , and fitter to be used by him in the genuine sense of the word , than metaphorically . but he cannot let one sentence pass ; i carp at a harmless word in proclivi , and say it should be in promptu ; but that he may be satisfied in this particular also , i shall tell him i designed it , as an emblem of his ingenuity ; for i did not say in proclivi was never used , but i meant , that his thoughts which were in proclivi , ought to be in promptu ; which was as much as to say , they were according to the aetymology of the word ; i. e. mean and weak , instead of easie and fluent ; and i only expressed my self so ambiguously , to catch the doctor ; for i knew he 'd fall foul upon any bait ; and truly i had a mind to lay up a reserve to banter him ; for i could not think the doctor when roused , would have said so little in vindication of himself . but again , what shall i do now , he says i fall hard upon case ; and truly his case is such , that i cannot avoid it ; but he brings cicero , virgil , ovid , horace and plautus against me , can i oppose them ? no , but i can easily shew that they 'll oppose him , for tho' he be so vigorous , these quotations are against him : for opinioni haud natura se credidit , is false latin ; and to make it appear , we are to consider , that cicero in his book , de oratoriae partionibus says , ut in simplicibus verbis , quod non & latinum ; sic in conjunctis , quod non est consequens v●●uperandum est . so that tho' doctor leigh hath joined words , if the connection be false , the latin hath no consequence , and consequently is culpable . and where the sense of words are not connected , the sense is broke , and consequently to be blamed . i shall therefore , because he is so zealous upon his sentence , shew him , that the sense wants connection , and that none of the quoted sentences will help him : for in this sentence , opinioni haud natura se credidit , the person is the accusative case , and the thing in the dative , where if credo be taken in a grammatical signification of that word ; it must signifie to believe , and then the english will be , i believe my self to opinion not nature . but the doctor thinks this absurd himself ; let us see then what the authorities avail ; the first instance in plautus which he brings is , credere se neptuno . the second is , credere se coelo praepetibus pennis , virgil : the remaining instances are , credere suum animum alicui , terence , credere uni omnia , cicero . libris arcana credere , horace . veritus se credere nocti , ovid. now in all these , credo signifies to commit , as to commit ones self to the waves , to commit ones self to the air , to commit secrets to writing , &c. but if one should say , i commit my self to my opinion , and not to nature ; how incoherent would the sense be , and ridiculous . but perhaps the doctor will say , that credo may s●gnify , i give my self up to my opinion and not to nature ; if he does , the sense is not much better ; besides , the word nature is used so ambiguously , that i cannot tell what he gives himself up to , till he informs me , what he means by nature ; for nature is by some philosophers , and particularly the honourable mr. boyle , used to signifie the natural state of bodies , or their natural texture and modification ; but to say a man gives himself up to the natural state of bodies , or their texture and modification , must be nothing but absurdity ; and let the doctor try , if credo will bear any other english sense better than what i have mentioned , still remembring to keep the person either in the accusative or dative case ; if he cannot , as i am sure he cannot , the sentence is false latin , according to cicero , because false sense , and consequently vituperandum ; and not only so , but since credo is used by dr. leigh , in a different sense from what it is in those citations , and the authors quoted , it is impossible to use the word credo in their sense , so as to make grammatical sense of his latin words ; besides , as cicero says , there must be a like consequence or similar signification , to make the comparison good ; for it is not placing any latin words in the same cases and order , that makes them justifiable , except there be a parity of sense and reason . but why do i talk of reason to the doctor , since nothing is more heterogeneous or disagreeable to his head , than any thing that concerns that faculty ; for my book of the heat of the blood contains nothing , but what i hope i have given reason for . upon which account ▪ the doctor fell out with it , was dissatisfied , and in sine was resolved to shew his wit ; to which i gave an answer , which i thought most agreeable to such a philosopher ; which had so good an effect , as to bring the doctor to a very little better temper . but since i see he will be a two-penny author , i was resolved now to talk reason to him , finding it the properest method to be revenged on him ; for if reason before made him so mad with me , it may have a stronger influence , if re-applied to a weak head. and now i shall leave the world to judge what 's become of dr. leigh's reply , and dr. goodall's letter . as for a letter of mine , that he tells me of ; he hath taken a great deal of care to mis-represent it , and to make it what he would have it : but the sense of what i writ was , that tho' there were a great many learned and ingenious men in the university , they were not all such , which was no reflection , since it is mod certain , that those that are come fresh from school , or of a small standing , cannot reasonably be ranked amongst graduates in the university . and as for my qualifying my self for a degree in a month , or to perform the exercise of a day in an hour , i do not think saying so , was calling the exercise trifling ; for i having studied five years after i left chester-school before i came there , and having studied philosophy before , and read most conttoversies of value , i do not think it much presumption in me to say , that that which five years hard study had made easy to me , was difficult to those that came fresh from school : and i presume if dr. leigh should be sent to the university now , which were to be wished , he 'd be apt to say , the exercise was easie ; for when a thing is learnt , any thing is easie ; and i had learnt most of those things before ; so that i gave my friend an account how easie it was to me then , and how much my past studies had made those light : so that what i said , was nothing but what any batchelour of arts will say , viz. that at four years end they remember so well what they had learnt for the four years past , that were they to begin the exercise of the first year again , they could do in an hour , what a fresh scholar could not do in twelve : and if a batchelour at four years might without reflection say so , i hope in the sixth year of a continued and hard study , i might presume to say , i could do that in an hour , which a school boy could not do in twelve . but the doctor would needs represent me as an enemy to the universities , that they might revenge his cause ; but i here declare and say , that nothing shall make me an enemy to them , as long as i have the use of my reason ; and i shall ever contribute my utmost endeavours in vindication of the universities , till i have reason to the contrary , which i hope i shall never have ; and till then , as i shall make it my business to make what improvements i can in real knowledge , so i shall to the utmost of my power vindicate learning , and oppose the opposers of it . postscript . since the three former sheets were printed , i hear that dr. goodall is very angry , that i should offer to answer his letter in vindication of my self : and i am likewise told , that a certain friend of dr. leigh's thinks i have used him too hardly : but as to the first , i must beg dr. goodall's pardon ; for if he 's offended , he may blame himself for it ; i thought my self concerned to take off the unjust imputations laid upon me ; and if he can think well of himself for publishing a letter so inconsistent with truth , i have a better apology to make , for laying down matter of fact. as for dr. leigh , had he writ against me as a rational man ought , i should have answered him with that deference which is due from me to a graduate ; but if he thought fit to transgress the bounds of reason , it was but reason to answer him in a way he made choice of himself ; a method which i by no means would have made choice of , had he deserved a better character from me , than he hath amongst learned men. finis . the trumpet of apollo sounding out the sweete blast of recouerie, in diuers dangerous and desperate diseases. clarke, john, apothecary. 1602 approx. 55 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 31 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a18935 stc 5353 estc s118589 99853796 99853796 19193 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a18935) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 19193) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1093:11) the trumpet of apollo sounding out the sweete blast of recouerie, in diuers dangerous and desperate diseases. clarke, john, apothecary. [64] p. by p. short, dwelling on breadstreet hill at the signe of the starre, printed at london : 1602. signatures: a-d. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large 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conversion the trvmpet of apollo : sounding out the sweete blast of recouerie , in diuers dangerous and desperate diseases . experientia mater medicinae . printer's or publisher's device printed at london by p. short , dwelling on breadstreet hill at the signe of the starre , 1602. to the curteous and well disposed reader . hauing at the length as well out of mine owne manifold labours , charge and experience , as also out of the learned and industrious practises of sundrie my well affected friends vnto the chimical and spagirical arte , obtained many rare and excellent medicines for the health of mans body , whereof i haue here g●uen some taste , reseruing a further satisfaction for those who vpon iust occasion shall at any time hereafter require the same . i haue now presumed out of the fulnesse of my affection towards my naturall and well deseruing place and countrey , to present and offer the best and most approoued remedies , which by my 17. yeeres practise , i haue gotten either out of mine own workehouse , or from other mens laboritories , which haue spent some time in pellicanes , circling glasses and furnesses both calcining and reuerbaratorie , &c. and such like as well as my selfe . hoping , that those gentlemen , who in great kindnesse haue conferred both their receipts and cures vpon me , will not be offended though i shall rashly publish the names of some of their patients togither with mine owne , which they had happily purposed to reserue onely for their priuate remembrances . i am heere also to craue pardon of the patients themselues , whose names ( for the better credit of the medicines , and comfort of others that shall happen to fall into the like diseases ) i haue aduentured to disclose : my offence herein i hope will be the more tolerable , because my ende and scope is charitable , ayming principally at the health of man , without the which no honour , no wealth nor any other worldly pleasure can giue any true contentment . herein i haue also had a speciall and honest care not to nominate any , whose infirmitie might worke either disgrace or reproch to the patient ; neither can i iustly be taxed with a vaine-glorious & vaunting humor in blazing out these cures by a printers proclamation , saying in all christian humilitie , i challenge no part of the glorie to my selfe , but acknowledge as i ought , that omnis salus à domino : and likewise for that in cases either of death or torment vnto men as these are , i thinke there can be no meanes so generall or so sudden , but they will come farre short of their desires , that haue cause to vse them . neither am i singular in this course , for men of great iudgment ▪ and learning haue heretofore also made publike obseruation of their cures , and diuers of mine owne countreymen haue long since commended their speciall labours in this kinde to the world : as that painfull practizer i. hester , who printed a large catalogue of his oyles and waters , vnder many strange and stately names : and giles that anncient chimist , who hauing blowne away his wealth in the smoake of alchimie , did yet at the length light vpon a balsamum which remaineth to be solde at this day , commended for many rare & excellent vses . the credit of moyses diet-drinke lasted a long time , and was generally vsed in the scab of venus . and an other auncient and skilful distiller of my name doth at this present make great profit of that his excellent aqua bezoartica , with the which i dare boldly compare ( be it spoken without offence ) my aqua comfortans stomachū for the strengthning of any weake stomacke . neither can i forget that full and foule-mouthed physitian d. burcot who solde his generall purging drinke so many yeeres togither for 10. groats the quart beshite the bottle ( for so he vsually pronoūced the word beside . ) these and many more instances in this kinde i could produce , to prooue my selfe to be no author of nouelties . but what need i so much to insist vpon examples , seeing the medicines thēselues are such as were first deriued from the sacred closet of nature , and are now long since ratified and confirmed with that sure and autentique seale of experience . we see that indian weede tabacco , hath now found out both learned & honorable patrons , being first made known by publike impression , and afterward by continuall practise euen vntill this daie : and without all respect of age , sex , complexion , method or other circumstance . and why should not english simples truely and chimically prepared by english artists haue also their free allowance , and be made familiar with english bo : dies ? i rest then gentle reader in the expectation of thy fauour , whose infirmities i pitie , and whose recouerie i desire and hope to performe . i will sell nothing , but that which i dare and will take my selfe in the same disease , for which it is commended . and for thy better safetie and satisfaction , i haue here contained my selfe wholy within animal and vegetable medicines , wherewith i will at all times ( god willing ) bereadie to furnish thee ▪ at reasonable rates , out of my shop in sheere lane neere temple barre , faithfully and workmanlie drawne without all sophistication or adustion . thine in all christian loue , iohn clarke . plagve . a notable defensatiue cake against the plague , being first practised in millain vpon a generall infection there , about the yeere 1579. by m. d. siring , and after brought ouer and practized in england in the great yeere of visitation an. 1593. by n. romero gentleman , commended and graced by rodulphus the emperour , with many honourable termes of fauour vnder the great seale of the empire . i am bold to front my pamphlet with this defensatiue , because i vnderstand by many secret informatiōs of my friends , that diuers physitians and those of great reading and iudgment ( whose graue censures i doe greatly reuerence ) doe expect a fearefull and generall infection of the plague this sommer , by reason of the vnnaturall and intemperate season of the spring , which hath already shewed both his deadly and daungerous effects in the bodies and liues of many thousands of her maiesties subiects : which if it shall please god the great gouernor both of heauen and earth , in his vnspeakeable mercies to turne away from vs , i hope it will prooue a strong motiue to stirre vs vp to a general & christian thankfulnes . if othewise , so that our sins do call for vengeance & visitation from heauen , i haue thought good in my tender loue and affection towards my natiue countrey to publish this preseruatiue , which in fiue weekes space ( by the great blessing of god ) did cleare that famous citie of millain being so grieuously infected , as that in some one weeke there died three thousand persons . and the citizens in their great loue and thankfulnesse towardes d. siring bestowed a gratuitie of fiftie thousand crownes vpon him . obseruations in this medicine . it is made in the forme of a little round cake or tablet , and the dose is two drams . it is most properly giuen to such as are free and not possessed with the sickenesse , although abiding in visited houses . it is an excellent and easie purge , being wrought vp with many cordials and antidotes . if these cakes be kept betweene papers in a close box and neere some fire , they will last good for seuen or eight moneths . two drammes is a good dose or proportion for all such persons as are sixteene yeeres of age , and vpward to fiftie or sixtie ; so as they bee strong of body : but weake men of fiftie fiue , or sixtie ; or children betweene eight and sixteene must take only the halfe proportion . the cake may be eaten , and a cup of burnt wine drunke after it , or els dissolued in white wine . the said romero hath also giuen the same with good successe in many burning feauers . the practise of the aforesaid defensatiue in the latter end of the plague , an. 1593. in london . there were dispersed abroade within london and middlesex , great numbers of these defensatiue cakes vnto persons whose names are not here remembred . it pleased the right honourable lords and others of her maiesties priuie counsell to haue fiue and fortie of these cakes . doctor fletcher that learned prelate then byshop of worcester bought to the number of fiftie of these cakes and dispersed them in the then visited houses of the said citie , and it pleased god to preserue all the inhabitants of them from the infection , as he himselfe reported at the counsell table . the right honourable sir iohn puckering knight , then l. keeper of the great seale of england , appointed certaine of these cakes to be conueyed to the towne of s. albons by ma. belfield , for the clecring of the infected houses against the terme , which was then kept there . mast . richard young iustice of peace in middlesex and one of her maiesties customers , deliuered abroad many hundreths of them , and made one especiall triall in the parish of s. marie abchurch where he himselfe dwelled , vpon nine visited houses in which there aboade three and thirty persons , which trial gaue great contentment vnto the lords of the counsell , who sent for the true note vnto him to be fully informed thereof . and therupon s r romero should haue proceeded to a general triall in one of the greatest wardes in london , by her maiesties pleasure signified in the letters of the right honorable the ll. of her maiesties priuy counsell , and directed to the chiefe magistrate of this honorable citie , in whose hands vpon what reason the stay was made , i doe heere forbeare to vtter , because i would haue the dead to rest in peace : only it shall suffice , that himselfe by the opinion of diuers ( scorning and disgracing the medicine ) died within three weekes after , either of the plague it selfe or of a burning feauer his cousin german , as i haue been credibly enformed . thomas bland of the patish of alhallowes-barking , had defensatiues for himselfe , his wife and one seruant . 10. smith of the parish of creechurch , had for himselfe , his wife and foure seruants . frauncis bradborne of saint swithins parish , had for himselfe , his wife and two seruants . mast . merick preacher in crooked lane had for himselfe , his wife and two children . the daughter of goodman hawes being infected and taking it , escaped . mast . iarfield preacher at saint marie abchurch going vsually amongst the infected of his parish and others , and hauing taken this medicine togither with his wife and maide , were all ( thanks be to god ) preserued . the maide ▪ seruaunt of one mopsey flax-wife , hauing the plague vpon her , was cured by one of these defensatiues . iohn webster a purse-maker dwelling at the entrance into gutterlane , he and his man both tooke the same . mister eare a maker of gold lace in gutterlane , he and his wife had each of them a defensatiue . mistris hunt a victualer in gutterlane , she and both her maides tooke of this defensatiue . a seruaunt of master deacons the queenes sergeant plummer , hauing an extreame burning feauer , was cured with this medicine . a dutch goldsmith dwelling amongst the feather dressers in the black-friers took one of these defensatiues . a ruby-cutter lying at the dolphin in gutterlane , hauing the plague vpon him tooke one of these and was cured . goodwife russell an hearbe-wife in cheapside , hauing buried her husband of the plague , she & her maid were both preserued by taking this defensatiue . mast . heywood a copper-smith tooke one of these cakes . the wife of rowland that excellent artisan dwelling in southworke , tooke one of these defensatiues . a french gentleman being cousin to monsieur de la now lying neere the exchange , tooke one of them . s r romero that brought the receipt from millain , being then bedfellow with doct. siring , tooke the same twise himselfe . mast . crauen a draper in watlingstreete , and now a graue and well reputed alderman of this citie , bought one of these cakes . a seruant of mast . cordals in milkestreete tooke one of these defensatiues . mistris bradshaw an auncient gentlewoman and a cousin of hers then dwelling with her , tooke of these cakes , shee beeing then at her house at stebon●eath . mast . gamedge , a man much troubled with the gowte , and dwelling in saint tantlins parish , tooke one of these cakes to cleare his body of bad humors , and commended the working thereof greatlie . mast . colfe th'apothecarie dwelling at the artichoke in cornhill solde diuers of these cakes : so likewise did one other of the same facultie being a man of speciall note amongst them , whom i forbeare to name at this time . mast . moulton secondarie of the counter in woodstreet , bought two of these defensatiues . mast . shepham of the parish of saint thomas th'aposte bought two cakes . mast . richard wilbraham esquire , and late common serieant of this honourable citie , though preserued by this defensatiue ann. 93. from the contagion ; yet by a violent feauer this last yeere , to the vnspeakeable losse of this citie , to the incredible griefe of his friend and louing spouse ( though to his owne immortall glorie and comfort ) was in the flower of his age , and in the highest hope of his aduancement taken from vs to his euerlasting peace and rest . mast . chambers a merchant of good account bought two of these cakes . mast . swaynes man bought one of them . mast . william nichols a draper in watling streete bought two of these defensatiues . mast . culuerwel citizen and mercer of london , had 30. of these cakes for himselfe and his friends . mast . linford a draper in walting-streete , a man greatly beloued whilest he liued , and as greatly lamented now he is dead , had one of these defensatiues . mast . t. g. had foure of these defensatiues . a seruant of mast . archers had one of these defensatiues . ma. paumer of woodstreet had three of them . mast . dauenant in bowlane had foure of these cakes . henry ienkes a seruant at bishops hall tooke one of these cakes . mast . susans the barbarie merchant had one of these defensatiues . mast . scales dwelling at dowgate had one of these cakes . mistris duttons man of woodford , had one of them . mast . albanie a draper in watling streete , had one of these cakes . the author heereof and his men tooke of these cakes , and were all preserued . iohn ailswoorth of redding clothier , tooke one of these cakes . mast . vrie babington had two of these cakes . mast . edwin babington his brother had also two of them . mast . haruie a grocer , had for him selfe and nine others . peter peerson clothwoorker , had one of these cakes . mast . filkins a scriuener , had two of them . susan perches beeing sicke of the plague , tooke one of these defensatiues , and recouered . iohn dauison of s. michaels , took one of them being infected , and it helped him . the wife of garret iames in s. michaels parish , had one of them . iohn iackson in s. michaels , had one of them . iohn stokeley and his wife of the parish of s. michaels , either of them had one of these cakes . william haruie in s. michaels parish , had one of these cakes . george goodall cooke , had one of them . mast . elcoks maide at the faulkon in cheape side , tooke one of them . an vpholsters man at the stockes being sicke , tooke one of them and was presently well . mast . cotton a merchant dwelling in colman streete , tooke one of these cakes . mast . heyward a merchant , tooke one of them . master atmore a pewterer ( and if i be not deceiued ) the most exquisite workeman of his trade , had one of these cakes . mast . streete had one of these cakes . mast . gardner had four of these cakes . mast . bland had three of these cakes . mast . philippus of the custome house , for himselfe and his family bought fiue of these defensatiues . giuen to the bishops man of worcester two . smith , m. richard youngs man tooke one of these cakes . m. saundersons men had two of these cakes . mast . shaw a cooper , had for himselfe and his family three of these cakes . mast . collet dwelling at hackney had foure of them . mast . chune dwelling with m. hacket a draper in candlewick-streete had two of them . mast . thorpe the vintner dwelling at the miter on breadstreet hill had foure of these cakes . ma. westwraies the grocers maid dwelling neere the stockes had one of these cakes . mast . greenham preacher of christ-church had for himselfe and his family three of these cakes . iohn blackstone constable of abchurch parish had one of these cakes . mast . william marsh of the parish of great alhallowes hadde one of these cakes . richard parnam of sherborne lane had one of these cakes . a ropeseller neere the custom-house had three of these cakes . mast . smart the sword-bearer had one of them . mast . iohn ellis esquier had one for his man. a baker dwelling without algate bars himselfe infected , took one of these cakes and was preserued . mast . henricke the gunmaker without algate had for himselfe and his family six of these cakes . a linnen draper dwelling ouer against the dukes place neere algate , had for himselfe and his wife two of these cakes . mast . kilwell a diamond-cutter , hauing buried his wife and two children of the plague , was preserued by taking one of these defensatiues . a browne bakers wife without the barres beyond algate , being deadly sick of a burning feauer , and keeping her bed three weekes , was cured with one of these cakes . hauns van streete a diamond-cutter in a little alley in woodstreete hauing buried a daughter of the plague , he a●● his wife tooke this defensatiue . mast . lawe a scriuener in gutter-lane , hee and his maide tooke of these cakes . iohn todde a taylor in gutter-lane , hauing buried foure of the plague , the next day he and his wife tooke this medicine , he had afterwards three other of them for his friends . a golde wier-drawer at the cocke in gutter-lane , hee and his wife being both sicke of an extreame burning feauer , tooke of these cakes and were soone helped . mistris rundell a golde wier-drawers wife in kerry-lane , hauing a plague sore vpon her , was preserued by one of these defensatiues . iudith hatfield dwelling with her mother in dees alley in gutter-lane , hauing a plague sore , was preserued by this medicine . see some cures of agues performed with this medicine in the title of agues following . agves . hauing found by manifold experience the singular and eflectuall vse of diuers , both delicate and extraordinarie medicines for the rooting out of agues of all sorts ( although in burning feauers i haue no pleasure to practise , because they prooue oftentimes deadly and alwaies verie dangerous , and therfore i leaue them wholy to the graue and professed doctors ) i haue thought i● conuenient to offer my poore skill also i● this kinde , which if any man shall at any time contradict ( because i am no graduate in physicke , though happily i haue been as bolde with natures cabinet and the forge of vulcan as some of them ) i will at all times be ready to redouble any reasonable summe that shall be deliuered , vpon the faile of any cure in any one patient which i shall vndertake , not but that i may sometimes misse in some strange bodies and strangely possessed with these furious fiends ( for then i should be more then a man , cuius est aliquando errare ) but that hauing found already that my faithfull medicines haue hitherto scarcely deceiued me in the twentith patient ( i durst not write thus boldly of my cures if the statute of 34. henry 8. were not my warrant for agues ) i hold it no great aduenture , where the oddes is so apparant on my side , to make this offer in defence of my medicine to all such as shall either ignorantly or maliciously oppose themselues against it . and here leauing the multiplicitie of agues to the seuerall writers that haue so curiously defined and determined of them , i will contain my selfe within those few names and number of agues onely , which are most vsually knowne to the common sort of people , viz : a quotidian , a tertian , a double tertian , a quartane , or a double quartane . for the rest i referre all men to my auncients and signiors in physicke , who are better acquainted with their names and cures , then my selfe . these medicines , because they are costly and hard to be gotten , are reserued only for such as make some good valuation of their health . the most of my medicines are giuen in small dose , viz : halfe a dram or thereabout in powder to be swallowed in wine , beere , ale , or some appropriate liquor which shall be disclosed vpon the deliuerie of the medicine . in all these cures i doe neither vse clister , bloudletting , vomit , nor purge , happily in some deepe rooted agues , a larger sweat will be prouoked then in others by this medicine . neither the taste , nor the smell , nor the working ( in my experience ) hath bin any way offensiue to the patient , they are all either vegetable or animal medicines , and not minerall , although for my part i thinke as well and much better of minerall then of any or all the rest being truely and philosophically prepared , and hope to be a meanes one day for the publishing of some of them to the generall good of this land , and the credit of our english physicke : that master bostocks obtestation to almightie god long since written , may at the length receiue some answere from the clowdes , if god shall thinke it good to bestow such a heauenly fauour vpon vs. the patient retaineth his full strength during this cure , which seldome or neuer falleth out in ordinarie cures . the practise . the late lord treasurers barber ( who as i take it doth make the gregorians for bald heads an inuention proceeding from a sharpe and quicke spirit ) was cured of an extreame tertian very strangely and very suddenly , by one of these medicines about seuen or eight yeeres past . nurse pace dwelling in whitecrossestreete was cured of a tertian by one of these medicines , and within fourteene daies after , shee fell into the like againe by relapse , and was recured at the first taking . mast . robert albanie of lincolnes inne was cured of a tertian at the first taking . the wife of ma. nichols a draper in walting-streete was cured of a tertian at the first taking . goodwife harsley dwelling at bishops haul tooke one of the defensatiue cakes and was cured of an extreame tertian 〈◊〉 the second taking . robert betterton a seruant dwelling at lewsham was cured of a tertian at once taking . iohn dawley the millers man dwelling at lewsham was cured of a tertian . reynold rowse a clothworkers sonne in trinitie lane of the age of ten yeeres , was cured of a quotidian by one of these medicines . mast . thorpe a vintner dwelling at the signe of the miter on bredstreete hill was cured of an extreame tertian , whereof some fits held him 24. houres . william brooke of bromley in kent a colemaker , was cured of a quartane at the first taking . iohn glouer a painter dwelling in grubstreete cured of a terrible tertian ; hee tooke the medicine but twise . elizabeth rogers dwelling on the bank-side hauing a double quotidian , was cured with one of the defensatiue cakes . mast . filkins a skilfull scriuener and an honest man , hauing had two fits of a tertian , tooke a defensatiue cake and was helped . mistris lee dwelling with mistris brett her mother at edmonton , hauing had a double quartane a long time , was cured with one of the defensatiue cakes . william brooke aforesaid possessed of a quartane by relapse , was cured at the second taking of the medicine . ioane gwin a poore widow possessed of a quartane , was cured thereof by one of these medicines . a gentlewoman dwelling at bishops hall , was cured of a tertian at the first fit , and afterward she was also cured of a second tertian . mast . prescot a goldsmith dwelling at the spread eagle in cheapeside , cured of a tertian at the first taking . samuel sheafe m. albanies man in watling streete , cured of a tertian at the first taking . mistris norman the midwife dwellin● in bow-lane , was cured of a tertian . mistris gore a merchants wife of good account dwelling in bow-lane , being great with childe , and hauing a tertian ague , was cured by one of these medicines . ioane , sometimes seruant with the author hereof , but then dwelling at brainford , was cured of a tertian . mast . susans a barbarie merchaunt , then lying at his house at bishops hall , was cured of a violent tertian . mast . iohnes of radcliff being a master of a shippe , was also cured of a tertian at the request of the said master susans . i cured nurse price of two seuerall tertians , she then being nurse to one of my children . anne mason ( mast . pemmerton the elders maid being a gold-smith ) was cured of a tertian . mast . brooke dwelling within ludgate , hauing had diuers violent fits of a tertian before , was cured very strangely with one medicine . a cutlers boy in holborne , was cured in the same manner of a tertian . mistris wamslow a merchants wife was cured of a tertian . t. g. esquier was cured of a tertian in a most easie manner . ieffrey norman the midwifes son was cured of two tertians at two seuerall times . chappels wife the ioyner a most excellent workman dwelling in woodstreet , was cured of a tertian . ma. barnes the mercers wife in cheap-side , was by her owne confession cured of an ancient and inueterate tertian ; and after walking abroad a farre off from her house at battersey in an extreame colde euening , she fell into it againe : at which time vpon some good respect , i forbare to cure her the second time . i cured mistris shaw a coopers wife in saint iames parish of a violent tertian . i cured a courtiers wife a gentleman of good place of a tertian , in so strange a manner , as i neither had nor deserued any thankes , and yet shee was helped at the first fit hauing been long before most terribly vexed with a tertian . in iune or iuly last , i ▪ gaue a redde powder in a cuppe of wine to a carpenter that wrought at teddington with a most deere and worshipfull friend of mine , hauing had a long and violent quartane , whereby vpon his ill day hee was not able to worke , and yet was able to performe his labour well at his next fit . i doubt not , but that a second medicine would haue made a perfect cure ; which i did forbeare to send , because i heard no more from him . in september last i cured nurse wetherleis father in law dwelling at hiegate , of a long and extreame tertian with my red powder at twise taking . in ianuarie 1601. i cured a knights son of an old quartane with my mummia at once taking , he had only a small fit or two after . in februarie i cured edmond sawer , seruant with a worshipfull neighbour of mine of a tertian . i cured the same person againe of an other tertian in march after , at the first taking . see diuers agues cured with my defensatiue cakes ante tit. of plague dispersedly . a generall purgatiue and opener of obstructions both of the spleane and liuer , with the rare and approued vses thereof . if you would roote out any disease therewith , then vse no other drinke to your meales nor betweene meales , but such as is mixed with this opener according to such direction as shall be giuen . a quart or three pints euerie day a● the most is a reasonable portion of th●● compound drinke for the patient to take ▪ during his cure , the drinke it selfe wherewith it is mixed is only beere or ale which is strengthned thereby . holde halfe a spoonfull of this medicine a prettie while in your mouth in a morning fasting , and then spit it out , to dissolue a great stopping in the head arising of colde , it worketh from the braine and stomacke more kindly in my opinion then tabacco . it is a verie likely medicine to helpe deafenesse , arising vpon obstructions in the head . it is a present remedy against a surfet vpon any excessiue eating , to take halfe a spoonfull of the opener simple without mixture . the compounde drinke cureth any dropsie that is not inueterate , and so likewise of the french pocks being taken ten or twelue daies , or rather till the humour be spent , especially concluding the cure with a strong bath made of the decoction 〈◊〉 guaicum . it is also exceeding good against the palsie being an obstruction of the nerues ( as diuers learned physitians doe holde ) whereby the spirits cannot haue their free passage . it also cureth the yellow iaunders , it disporseth all winde and all diseases arising vpon colde rheumatique causes , it comforteth the braine , and in a fewe daies it procureth a good stomacke to him that refuseth his meate , and causeth a kindly and naturall rest . it agreeth with all complexions , as often experience can witnesse , only i find the cholericke man the vnfittest patient of all the rest . it neuer leaueth working till it haue rooted out the cause of the disease ( if it be curable ) so as you take the same long enough . it worketh only vpon superfluous humors , not spending or wasting the balsame of life , or humidum radicale at all , as ordinarie purges doe . and if in foure , fiue or six daies taking , it happen to giue tenne , twentie , thirtie , or fortie stooles in a patient that hath a full body , and wel replenished with grosse humors ; he shall finde himselfe no weaker at the last stoole , then he was at the first , so as he leaue before inflammation or pricking in the fundament . if the patient hauing some extreame disease finde himselfe heauie or melancholique ( but sicke it will not make him ) the first , second , or third day , let him not dismay himselfe , for this is rather a good signe of comfort that the medicine now is in contention with the disease , seeking to vanquish the same . a small and slender diet is best during all the cure , if the disease be olde and rooted , wherein , butter , milke , pottage , broth , salt , and all fattie meates would be forborne , and the most nourishing meates , & such as be of lightest digestion would be vsed : let the patient during his cure keepe himselfe out of the ayre , hauing a ●●e in his chamber , according to the season of the yeere ; and let him be carefull that he take no colde , nor vse venerie ( as he loueth his life ) either during the cure , or in one moneth after hee is in good health . this compound drinke is an excellent remedie against the greene sickenesse . according to the strength and weakenesse of your patient or of his disease , make your drinke stronger or weaker , and giue more or lesse quantitie accordingly : for here discretion must guide you . there is not any one of the common or ordinarie purgatiues vsed in this opener . this medicine being taken a fewe daies at the spring and fall of one yeere in a young gowte , or for two or three yeeres togither in an olde and inueterate gowte , will either make a perfect cure thereof , or bring the same to bee a verie easie and tollerable gowte vnto 〈◊〉 patient . this compounde beere or ale taken some reasonable time doth cure an vlceration in the stomack . where there is also occasion of surgery offred , there first take away the cause of the disease inwardly with this medicine , and then the surgeon shal after find an easie cure . in the pocks annoint the nodes and other sores with the simple extract . this opener cureth any green wound beyond the naturall balsamum , it is also excellent for a bruse . you may giue this opener in endiue or fumitorie water , or some other coole distilled water in hot bodies . for accurtation in a long disease after 14. or 20. daies if the patient be not perfectly cured , let him vse a strong bath of the decoction of guaicum twise a day , & before he go into the bath , let him take a warme draught of this opener mixed with beere or ale , then let him go into the bath that he may sweate . during all the time wherein you take this mixed drinke , warme your bed when you go into it , and your cloathes when you put them on . this extract purgeth very gently and without any conuulsions , and without leauing any drought in the body after , as ordinarie purges most commonly doc . if you take foure draughts of a stronger mixture in the day time besides meal-drinke , viz. at six in the morning one , and at nine another , and the third at three in the afternoone , and the fourth going to bed , it will commonly prepare the body the first day , and purge sufficiently the second day . this is a good course for all such as cannot spare any longer time about their physicke . but otherwise if a man doe onely take it at meales with a mornings draught something stronger , whereby it may onely giue two stooles euerie day after the first day , or if that proportiou will not procure two stooles euerie day , then if the patient doe also at bed time take an other draught of the stronger mixture , by this meanes in longer time , according to the deepe rooting of the disease , he shall cleere his body of all obstructions , and procure vnto himselfe a good stomacke in a most delicate and easie manner , without any offence vnto his body , either during the cure , or after : and if the patient please , he may onely take so little thereof and that in his meale drinks , as that after he findeth himselfe to haue sufficiently purged to his owne desire , it may serue to keep his body soluble as long as he listeth , and finde no inconuenience euen vntill all the superfluous humors that offend him , be wholy rooted out and extirpated . to ease the raging paine of the goute , take the simple extract vnwarmed , lay it on gently with your hand vpon the place grieued , & warming your hand at a cha●ingdish of coals placed by your foote or hand , which paineth you , work it in gently by little & little til you haue spent a spoonful or two vpon it , one quarter of an houre at the least , the longer the better ; & in the end driue it with your hand till it be in a manner stiffe like vernish , then lay on a linnen cloth , least it happen to sticke to your hose or gloue , lappe the member warme , and go into a warmed bed , and so it hath been often prooued to giue ease in lesse time then one houre , and the patient hath slept well all the night after . you may leaue the cloth on til it will come off easily : note the paine is easiest to remoue vpon the first approch , before you haue vexed the humour , and therefore good to haue some of this alwaies ready before hand . if the patient be troubled with the running of the raines , first stay them by some apte medicine , before you giue this compound drinke by way of diet . this simple extract healeth any itch or scabbes applied outwardly and rubbed well in , but if the skinne be broke or the flesh rawe , it will smart for a while , but healeth the sore speedily , & at a few dressings : qre of serpigo , tetter , ringworme , &c. to be cured with the same . this medicine will neuer decay , onely you must keepe your glasses well stopped , that the spirits thereof doe not euaporate . this is an excellent medicine to preuent the gowte , sciatica , iaunders , green-sicknes and all diseases arising of rhumes , superfluous humors or obstructions , and so i haue both vsed it my selfe , and perswaded diuers of my deerest friends to take it . it will also cure the same speedily being taken before they be deepely rooted , and howsoeuer they be rooted it will greatly qualifie and ease them , and if it procure a perfect cure take it for an aduantage . this medicine is not yet of so auncient a date as to yeeld many patients , and some of those which haue found benefit hereof , i know are veire vnwilling to be ●amed , but the medicine is so safe both for sound and sicke men to take ; as that the exposer or seller thereof will at all times bee willing either to begin or to pledge a health thereof vnto his patient . eies. hauing my selfe beene often troubled with a thin filme growing ouer mine eie , and sometimes euen ready to couer or clowd my sight ; at the lenght i happened vpon a kinde gentleman , who by earnest entreatie did first , bestow an excellent water vpon me for the cure of mine infirmitie which did then exceedingly grieue me , and afterward gaue me the receipt thereof , which had been most carefully kept as a sacre● relique within the possession of one na●● for a long time . with this water i haue helped diuets hauing filmes or skinnes , and white specks in the eie , whose names i did not obserue . it tickleth a little , but it smarteth not being dropped into the eie : and therefore the youngest childe may well endure the same . it lasteth good a moneth or six weekes after it is made . the stone . this medicine was obtained at the hands of a iewe being the popes physitian in the time of king henry the 8. who curing an italian in rome , being then a companion with an english knight there imploied in the seruice of his prince of his deadly pain and torment , by reason of great abundance of grauell in his kidneis ; did for his cure and ●he receipt of his medicine , receiue a ●●ule of the knight , which with his costly ●rappings and other rich furniture was esteemed woorth seuen hundreth pounds : from this knight by mesne degrees it came at the length into the possession of the publisher hereof . the practise . one ioane an hearbwife dwelling in chatterhouse lane , and keeping her standing commonly ouer against the starre in cheapeside on the market daies , was helped with this medicine . mistris wentwoorth dwelling in the whitefriers , hauing taken this medicine twise did voide either a bone or a stone like a bone and sharpe pointed , being also of such greatnesse , as that in mans reason it seemed impossible that she should haue expelled the same at so narrowe a passage , the bone is yet to be seene . goodwife reynolds dwelling in the church lane in saint martins hath two stones as yet to be seene that came from a childe being of the age of three yeeres , who had not made water in foure daies before . diuers other persons , but of better account haue also found ease by this medicine , whose names for feare of giuing offence vnto them i doe willingly suppresse , and haue thought it more conuenient to giue a priuate testimonie of them to such as desire for their own good to be better satisfied , then by publique impression to make thē generally known to all men . strangurie . there is also good proofe to be made of cures performed with this drinke , but because it is such a disease , as no man of good sort would willingly either haue or be knowne to haue , i doe therefore referre my experience herein to priuate satisfaction . for the hicocke or deadly yexing . i haue also a most soueraigne water to helpe the same , and that presently , & can shew good proofe thereof . sundrie other drinkes and waters of rare vse and vertue , which the said i. clarke will deliuer at reasonable prices to such as haue cause to vse them . an excellent aqua vita to bee drunke vpon a surfet . 2. a drinke whereof one spoonfull at a time doth ease an olde cough that tickleth in the throate . 3. a notable diet-drinke to roote out anye ache arising of any rheumatique cause , or of the french disease , often prooued . 4. a most singular gargarisme to purge the head speedily of all superfluous humours , often prooued . 5. an assured remedy both for the yellow and blacke iaunders . 6. d. steuens water . 7. aqua mirabilis . 8. the water of life . 9. the electuarie of life . 10. aqua calestis . 11. aqua imperialis . 12. aqua confortans stomachum ▪ whereof some late experiences doe here ensxe . master robens a gentleman of lincolnes inne , hauing an exceeding weake stomacke , was helped therewith : a verie late cure . mast . forest a gentleman lying in salisburie court , not being able to digest any meate which hee did eate in three moneths before , at the first taking of this water , was able to digest a piece of powdred beefe to his dinner : a very late cure also . mast . monke a gentleman of the temple alwaies casting vp whatsoeuer he did eate , was perfectly cured at the second taking of this medicine . this was performed in the last sommers vacation , being the most auncient of al the cures here remembred . mast . nye an attourney dwelling neer croydon , hauing surfeited vpon a piece of raw beefe was presently eased with this water : a late cure . mast . streets wife in holborne , hauing her stomack very vnapt to digest hir meat , found a perfect remedy with this water ▪ late cure . iohn winningtons wife dwelling ouer against the house of the publisher hereof , being giuen to a continuall casting had her stomack perfectly strengthened with this water : a verie late cure . 13. spirit of wine perfectly rectified . 14. cinnamom water . 15. rosa solis . 16. aqua vitae . 17. aqua rubea . 18. an approoued water to be held in the mouth , and to procure a flux of rheume . 19. an excellent fucus for bewtie called a pigeon water . 20. a notable water for a stinking breath . 21. a water to helpe the morphew . 22. a water to whiten and fasten the teeth . 23. an assured remedy for the running of the raines . 24. an excellent and approoued remedy for the collique . 25. a present remedy for the mother . 26. an excellent water for rheumatique or gummed eies . ointments . an approoued ointment to take away haire from any place speedily , and without paine . 28. an assured ointment to cure a red face that is full of heat and pimples , without paine or smarting . i haue here also thought it not impertinent to the subiect which i haue in hand , after many references to set downe some true and approoued receipts , which euerie man according to his owne inf●rmitie may safely vse or apply vnto himselfe , if he haue iust cause . approoued remedies for the tooth-ache , if the tooth be hollow . powder , a little of sal armoniake , and according to the bignesse of the hole , apply your remedy in a small ragge of lawne bound about with a threed , and dip the same in a little strong aqua vitae , or rather spirit of wine ; or if the paine be verie extreame , in a little of the oyle of vitrioll , then cut away all the superfluous lawne and threed : and hauing put the same into the tooth , close it vp with linte , and commonly it giueth ease in halfe an houre . some doe vse to stoppe the tooth with linte dipped in the oyle of origanum , or oyle of thime . the hollow tooth being stopped with pellitorie of spaine first bruised , doeth often times leaue aking . also a good quantitie of featherfew bruised and applied behinde the eare , hath often been ●ound a good remedie . a little laudanum put into a hallow tooth , doth sometimes helpe . also take henbane seede , and boyle it in wine-vinegar , then take the syrrup of white poppy and mingle it with the vinegar and gargle both first warmed toward the tooth that aketh . this is an excellent and approoued remedie . i haue set downe diuers receipts that the patient might haue choice , if one or two should happen to faile him . approoued remedies for cornes . first pare the corne very low , then take the fat of a rabbets kidney , apply it to the corne , binding a fine cloth about it , renue the same euerie night , and at a few dressings it will so supple the same , that you may easily pluck it vp by the roote . sapius probatum . the soft roe of a red herring incorporated with the pulpe of figges in equall proportion , and spread vpon leather , and then applied to cornes , ●irst we● pared , wil helpe them at a fewe dre●sings : an excellent and approoued receipt . mix the powder of calcined or burnt allom with red wax , pare the cornes and apply it : often prooued . fasting spittle mixed with powdred chalke and applied to a corne , and then leauing it two daies , and pilling off what you can with your nailes euery time before you vse fresh chalke and spittle , will soone roote them out . some doe labour to digge the corne vppe by the roote , and then they droppe one droppe of the oyle of sulphur in the hole to preuent it for growing againe , but this is a painfull way . diuers excellent vomits with their singular vses . infuse vpon elleborus albus brionie rootes and panis porcinus some spirit of wine for two daies , then distill the spirit ouer , then reinfuse and distill againe , reiterate this woorke three times ; then take a few drops thereof , put them into a cup of wine or other drinke , or dippe a feather therein , and stir the wine therewith , and it wil giue an excellent vomit . take this vomit two daies togither , each morning , if you feele your selfe ill at ease , or finde any great repletion in your stomacke . this being vsed once euerie moneth or in six weekes will keepe a mans body in a perfect state of health . as it was assured mast . rich of lee by a most graue and learned physitian , who for many curtesies conferred vpon him , during his aboade at his house , gaue him the receipt as a great testimony of his loue and requitall . this , mast . rich by his owne confession continually vsed the space of thirtie yeeres after , and euen till his dying day without feeling any touch of disease . i haue also found by often experience in my selfe , that a vomit taken once in a moneth or six weekes hath preuented diuers infirmities in my selfe , and to be an excellent meanes to cleere an ague , being taken vpon the first approch thereof . but this vomit which i meane is very pleasant and worketh very easily , and without any violence , and for mine owne opinion , i am verily perswaded that if it were generally vsed , it would saue 20000. pounds a yeere in tabacco , and performe all or most of the effects which tabacco doth , and that in a more easie and familiar manner , especially in such bodies who by nature haue any facilitie in casting with smal prouocation ; for it cleareth the head and stomacke exceedingly of all superfluous , rhumatique , cold and vndigested matter ; it is made in this manner . make an ale quart of posset ale , clarifie the same , and put therein a small handfull of fresh camomill , let it boyle therein a fewe walmes , deuide the same into three parts ; drinke one third thereof fasting at two seuerall draughts , and after a little pawse , force your selfe with your singer or a feather to cast : then take the second part doing as before , and deuiding it into two draughts ; and after this , take the third part likewise . so shall you both cast vp all your posset drinke , and cleare as well your head as stomacke of a great deale of phlegme and crude humours , which you shall easily perceiue to lie in the bottome of the bason by the stubbed end of a broomesticke folded therein , which will bring vppe the phlegme roping there at in great aboundance . diuers excellent and approoued waies for the staying of bloud . i haue often stayed bleeding at the nose by receiuing a fewe droppes of the bloud in a linnen cloth and burning the cloth , the reason whereof i leaue to better philosophers then my selfe . drie a little of the parties bloud in a fireshouell ouer the fire , blowe it vp with a quill into the parties nostrils , this seldome or neuer faileth . some blowe vp bole armoniake in the same manner . the dried bloud of the partie doth also stay the extreame bleeding of a wound , when all other remedies haue failed . the drie mosse gathered from an ashen tree or billet , and powdred , doth presently without all faile stay the bleeding at the nose , or of any wound ; this one remedy hath saued the liues of manie . it is an ordinarie meanes to stay bleeding by letting of bloud , as it is to stay a great loosenesse by some apte purgatiue . iohn clarke the publisher hereof will also be ready at all times to drawe any other waters , oyles , spirits , extracts , salts , tinctures , &c. both faithfully and according to arte for all such persons as shall at any time vpon reasonable warning require the same . his dwelling is in the middest of sheere-lane hard by temple barre leading into lincolns inne fields . finis . 1602. printer's or publisher's device at london , printed by peter short , dwelling on bred-streete hill neere to the end of old fish-streete , at the signe of the starre . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a18935-e250 ann. 1593. ann. 1594. an. 1600. an. 1601. approved medicines of little cost, to preserve health and also to cure those that are sick provided for the souldiers knap-sack and the country mans closet / written by richard elkes, gent. ... elkes, richard. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a39240 of text r20307 in the english short title catalog (wing e536). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 56 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 25 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a39240 wing e536 estc r20307 12354612 ocm 12354612 60098 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39240) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 60098) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 142:13) approved medicines of little cost, to preserve health and also to cure those that are sick provided for the souldiers knap-sack and the country mans closet / written by richard elkes, gent. ... elkes, richard. [4], 44 p. printed for robert ibbitson, and are to be sold by tho. vere ..., london : 1651. reproduction of original in thomason collection, british library. eng medicine, popular -early works to 1800. self-care, health -early works to 1800. therapeutics. herbs -therapeutic use -early works to 1800. medicinal plants. a39240 r20307 (wing e536). civilwar no approved medicines of little cost, to preserve health and also to cure those that are sick. provided for the souldiers knap-sack, and the co elkes, richard 1651 10336 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 b the rate of 3 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-01 pip willcox sampled and proofread 2007-01 pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion approved medicines of little cost , to preserve health and also to cure those that are sick . provided for the souldiers knap-sack , and the country mans closet . written by richard elkes gent. student in the art of physick , living at bagshot in the county of surry . medicos & chirurgos subinde mutare ; aegris taedium non levamen est . eccles. 38. 4. the lord hath created medicines out of the earth , and he that is wise will not abhorre them . london printed for robert ibbitson and are to be sold by tho : vere at the angel in the old-baily . 1651. to the high and honourable court of parliament , rich. elkes wisheth health , peace , and tranquility . right honourable , for as much as all men ought in their severall places and callings to endeavour to doe good in that common-wealth , wherein they live , your poor subject hath seen many men , both souldiers and others loose their lives , by a carelesse demeanour , sometimes ignorantly , some times wilfully , sometimes for want of a physitian , and chyrurgeon , sometimes neglecting the means when it may be had , for the prevention thereof , i do here make bold to present unto your view some defensives and remedies , for all that desire health . in the absence of a learned physitian and chyrurgion , these easie medicines may both cure and preserve health ; as the learned saith , the physitians duty consisteth , in two principall points , first , to preserve health . secondly , to cure the sick , which i have and will indeavour to doe , according to that tallent that almighty god hath bestowed upon me , and rest your obedient servant to command , in all submission and diligence . richard elkes . the directions of an old souldier in ireland about forty years since , which became a physitian there . as i travelled through the countie of clare , i heard of an excellent physitian which had accomplished manie rare cures , but especially the bloody flux . after some time spent i found the man , and conferred with him touching his art , which he seemed willing to impart , requesting the like of me , and said about fortie years before that time , he came out of england a souldier into that country , which was in queen elizabeths daies ; before a month was expired the bloodie flux seized upon him , and as he suppofed it came by eating of fresh meat , fresh fish , lying upon the ground being hot , and such like ; he remembred some directions that was given to him before he came out of england , that when you eate , give over with an appetite , drinke no more but to quench thirst , if you drink when you are hot , march after it , or stirre your body , when you rest at your fires sit not upon the cold ground , but upon wood , straw , or such like ; put off your wet cloathes , and especially your stockings and dry them , &c. and carrie in your knap-sacke a peece of steele to heat red hot , and quench it in your beer , water or milke , and as you travel gather the leaves and bark of the oake , and the leaves of the black-thorn , a bagge of salt and oatmeale , that if the flux should take you , you might helpe your selfe . so this old souldier remembred his directions , and observed it diligently , when he came to their fires , to dry his cloathes , and sit upon wood , or such like , and he cast his peece of steele into the fire to warme his drink , and when they had fish or flesh boiled , he would cast into the boiler , a handfull of oaken leaves , or bark of the oak , or a handful of leaves of black-thorn , salt and oatmeale ; and grated into his beer some of the oake bark ; this being observed , cured himselfe , and many of his fellow souldiers . the wars being ended , he became a physitian , and gained both monie and credit , by curing the flux , and some other infirmities . thus may any souldier observe and do for their healths in england , ireland , and scotland , if need require . also the souldiers may provide in their knap-sacks three sorts of earth , that is terra lemnia , it is called in the apothecaries shops , terra sigillata , bolarmonicke , and chalke ; this terra lemnia commeth out of the island of lemnos in the turkes dominion , the quantity of a bullet swallowed whole or beaten topowder , and taken in broth or other liquor fasting , it cureth the flux , and preserveth from the pestilence ; the best bolarmonick commeth out of spaine , and may be taken fasting in like quantity , or in some broth , the quantity of two bullets to cure a flux ; the common chalke which we have in england may be beaten to powder and boiled in milke or broth , and taken fasting it cureth a flux , if it be often taken the quantity of a spoonfull twice in the day . thus much of medicines with little cost . 2 to proceed to the cure of the flux , methodically according to art . you must consider what kinds of flux the parties are grieved with , and the complexion that doth predominate ; first , whether it be the flux diarrhea , lienteria , or dysenteria , if it be dysenteria which is most dangerous , i have read of foure kinds , but it requires a long discourse concerning al the sorts , but i omit that , because the cure differeth but little , only this , if you find the exhulceration to be in the upper & smal guts , you must minister medicines at the mouth , but if it be at the bigger or lower bowells , you must cast in glisters often , if the party be without a feavour , give him milke newly milked , wherein a gad of steele hath been quenched , you may make suppings or broth with quinces , knot-grasse , plantain-leaves , willow-leaves , cumfreyroots , and such like , you may make rice-milke , or boile white starch in milke , eate no flesh but partridges , culvers , or birds of the mountaine , goates and hares flesh may be permitted ; a good diet wel observed , the cure is halfe accomplished . if strength doe permit , you may purge down the vicious humors with two drams of rubarb , infused in halfe a pint of white wine , with currans and sweet fennell seeds , and drink it fasting to purge the vicious humors , after purging , take a dram of diascordium , thus may you purge every other day ; for in a week after this , make a drink with running water of two quarts , put seeds of sorrell , pumgranat rindes , knot-grasse , cumfery roots , bryer roots , plantain leaves , cinamon , bolarmonicke , dragons blood , and sugar ; drinke this as an ordinary drinke : likewise you may make a drink with red wine , cinamon , sugar , knotgrasse , and cumfery roots to drink three times a day four spoonfuls at a time . 2 to make a glister glutinous . rec : three pints of water , quench steel in it , untill one third part be wasted then boile in it cumfery roots , knotgrasse , bryer leaves , red rose leaves , and plantain leaves , of each a little handfull of acatia , hypocischidis , ana . ℈ij. bolarmonack ; sanguis dragonis : ana . ℈j. the juyce of quinces ʒj . goates tallow ℥j. if it may be had , and yolkes of three eggs , commixe this together and make a glister , administer this as often as you shall see cause . 3 for an implaister . rec. of the oyles of quinces , roses mastick ana . ℥ j. of the meale of fenny greeke and barley ʒj . sanguis dragonis balaustiaʒss . bolatmonicke ℥ j. acaliaʒij . as much wax and rosen as is sufficient , and make a plaister , spread it upon leather , and apply it to the navill over the neather ventrick where the party complaineth most . much more might be spoken but i leave it to the ingenious practitioner , and wish all men to be temperate , for intemperance is the cause of this and many other incurable diseases . 4 of the pestilence or plague . the pestilence is a fevor in the highest degree , which may bee taken severall waies , by living amongst sick people , by a corrupted aire , by rotten and corrupt dyet , which filleth the body with rotten and corrupt humors , but some bodies are stronger then others , some are more temperate in eating and drinking then others , in them rotten humours abound not , and , the infection fasteneth not so strongly upon them , but nature expelleth it , this is the reason that some people never catcheth the pestilence , though all be in a roome together , sometimes the infection happeneth , by living with the sick , and lodging in bed with them , drawing the breath that commeth from the sick party , if they approach near to them ; as the office of the lunges is to draw in fresh aire to comfort the heart , instead thereof it drawes in a venomous breath , which may be the destruction of the heart : the cause of a corrupted aire , is by standing ponds , or marshes in the heat of sumer , rotten coleworts , rotten roots , and fruits , & many people continuing in a close room , many dead bodies unburied : which may happen in the time of war , dead carrion and such like , immoderate heate of the aire , and moisture in summer time , thick mists , especially about autumn , that in a morning it may be smelt . the cause of corrupt humors in the body , is by eating corrupt meates and drinks , as flesh long unsalted , rotten fruits , cole-worts , and rotten cabbig , and roots : and corrupt water , or wine , or beer made with evill water , breeds rotten humors in the body , which i wish al men to have respect unto , and the best means to preserve their bodies from the pestilence that is , is not to continue in a pestilent aire , make fires often , burne rosemary , sage , juniper-wood and berryes , frankinsence , myrrh , pitch , and such like , what you eate let it be wholesome , gluttonizing doth corrupt the blood & produce dangerous diseases , as the measles , the pox which are the fore-runners of the plague , alwaies eate with your meate sharp things , as vineger , vargis , oringes , lemons ; let your pot-hearbs be sage , isope , balme , buglosse , and burrage , drinke no wine but alay it with good water , eate terra lemnia or fine bolarmonack as before is shewed , carry in your knap-sack a box of diascordium , and methridate , a handfull of rue the root of setwall , in shops zedoary , and elicampane roots , take either of these it may preserve from the infection , but above all , if you come into a house , or place that you doubt you have taken the infection , go presently and dig a hole in the fresh earth , put in your mouth and nose , and breath into it a quarter of an hour , then remove from that place and dig another hole and do likewise , this you may do three or four times , and by gods blessing the fresh earth will draw the venome from your heart , which i have proved also , if a man be in a sound , or choked in a roome , where a multitude of people are , it will as it were fetch life againe . further if you go into a roome which is infected , hold a turffe of fresh earth to your mouth and nostrills , it will preserve you from the contagion , as i have proved : you must avoid bathing , venus , and violent exercise , which openeth the pores , then the venomous aire will have no entrance into the body to destroy it : to be costive is hurtfull , for prevention thereof you may ●ive a soft glister or purge , with ●iludie rufi , also it is good for young people to be let blood , but remember to use a good dyed after it , and keep in untill the blood be settled again : and avoid all perturbations of the minde , as wrath , melancholly , and such like : many more remedies might be showed , which for brevity i omit ; only this antidote you may cause to be made at any apothecaries to carry in your knap-sack , and for the country man to keep in his house , to use if occasion be ; rec : of saffronʒss . of alloes epaticke of mirrhʒij . mastick ℈ i. bolearmonackeʒj . terra lemniaʒij . harts-horne burnt ʒj ss. the bone of the harts-heart , red corrall ana . ℈ j. walnuts in number 20. figs 13. bay saltʒj . of rue a little handfull , roots of scabius aristolochia rotundaʒij . tormentil and pimper-nell , ana . ʒv . bitanyʒj . zedoaryʒj seeds of sorrell , and seeds of purslain , ana . ʒss . and make all these into an electuary with clarified hony , or with syrrup of gillyflowers , and marygolds , take every morning upon the poynt of a knife , the quantity of a nut , it wil preserve from the infection , in like manner you may take it at any time when you come among infected persons : thus farre i have shewed you how the pestilence happeneth , and how to prevent it ; now i will shew you briefly the simptomes and signes of it , and proceed to the cure . when the wind is often in the south and west , the aire much altered , specially in autumn , many pimples rising : the measles and pox in divers places increasing , are the signes of the pestilence ensuing : the simptomes are , the extreame parts of the sick person wil be cold , and the inward parts very hot ; heavinesse , lazy and sleepy with a great pain in the head ; sometimes sadnesse , sometimes raving , vomiting , purging , losse of appetite , great thirst , the pulse frequent low and deep , the tongue red , at first growing black ; the urine thick and troubled , but sometimes like the urine of a healthy man , ( therefore i wish you to observe other signes ) most specially if there be any risings behind the eares , armepits , or groine , these are cheifly to be observed : and now i proceed to the cure . 5 the cure of the plague . if you come to the sicke party , the first or second day of falling sicke , the common use hath been to open a veine in that fide that the botch appeareth , or that side he complaineth of : for if you let blood in the contrary side , you draw venome over the heart , and destroy the body , also if the greife be above the shoulders , cut the cefallick veine , if below the shoulders , cut basilica , so if it be below the neather ventrick , cut the vein in the ham , or the anckle ; but the practice of some is not to bleed , you may apply cupping-glasses : if the pestilence should seize upon a man at dinner , or supper , give him a vomit : if it happen other times , you may give the party of the antedote before written , the quantity of a nut in some scabius water , and cover him very warm to sweat an hour , and cool him gentlely , it will both cure and defend him from it : or you may give this medicine following : rec : methridatum ℈ j. theriaca londinensis ℈ ij . bolearmonack prepared ℈ jss . waters of buglosse and scabius as much as is sufficient to make it into an electuary , give to the sick the quantity of a dram , and lay him in a warme bed , and cover him with clothes that he may sweat four hours , then let him be cooled gentlely by taking off the clothes one after another ; this being done , use the same the second day , and by gods blessing it may drive the venome from the heart , unto the extreame parts , which i wil direct for the cure thereof hereafter : you may also take electuarium de ovo the quantity of a dram or a scruple , according to the strength of the party , it is commended above all by some physitians ; but bolarmonick , or terra lemnia , i have proved them the quantity of a nut given in posset-drink or in surrup of gilloflowers , and 3 grains of saffron powder , this will drive out the venome into botches like carbunckles when other medicines be wanting , so the party hath recovered , it is also good to drive out the measels and the pox , remember in the time of sweating , you must not let the party sleep , nor in six houres after ; you may give him julips , made with waters of scabius , sorrel , endive and succory , surrup of gilloflowers , of wood sorrel , lemons , violets , and such like , for his meate , you may boile a chick , with sorrel , the juice of lemons , and burrage-flowers , or marigold-flowers are very good ; also you may dissolve a little saffron in his vineger to dip his meat in it , but let the saffron be very finely poudered , or tyed in a linnen cloth ( as saffron is a cordinal , so if much be taken it hurteth ) many other cordial things may be used , wood of aloes and n grated into his beere is commended . 6 the cure of the swelling or plague sore in the extream parts . if the swelling wil not break it selfe , you may apply that plaister called diachylon compositum , or galbanum spread upon leather , and applyed to the place : or an onyon cut off the top , and dig out the middle , and put in london treacle , and three or foure leaves of rue , put this to the fire and roste it , when it is wel rosted , lay it warm to the botch or swelling , if it break put in a tent , and let it run what it wil , when the corruption is out ; diachilon wil heale it up againe , also you may use this ; rec. great raisons halfe an ounce , bay saltʒj . figs 6 oyle of cammomell , and hony , as much as wil make this into a playster , mahearbs , ny other medicines might be set downe , but these wil easily be gotten ; if you desire further , repaire to your learned physitian . 7 of the calenture and spotted feavor . these feavors are very near unto the pestilence , which doth often happen unto mariners at sea , by feeding upon salt beefe , bacon , salt fish , and evil water , pulse and worm-eaten bread , which cannot be avoided at sea , this feavor is known , by feeling the outward mēbers cold , & those within , as the pestilence , sleepy , and heavie , the pulse very low : this feavor bringeth death in 24 hours many times if not speedily prevented : furthermore , you shal perceive the patient as it were distracted , ready to leap into the sea , sometimes vomit , the tongue white underneath , and black at the top , cold sweats , cramps , with many other accidents , like as in the pestilence : for the cure thereof , if the patient be able to endure flebothomy , open a vein in the arme , if he complain most in the head , cut the veine called cephalia , if at the chest , the basilicke vein , remove the sick into a fresh room , make a fire in it first , then put out the fire , and refresh the room with sweet waters , or what else may be had at the sea ; if at land cast rushes in the roome , and green boughs ; if the aire be hot , misty , and moist , shut the windowes , if clear and pure let in the fresh aire to comfort the heart : at the first you must not let the sick sleep overmuch , that will draw the venome to the heart , until it is defended by giving cordials , such as is prescribed before in the chapter of the pestilence , his dyet must be broth , made with cordial flowers , and a little saffron tyed in a cloth , after the third day you may give crums of bread in his broth ; for the cure , if time wil permit , give him a glister before letting blood , in this manner make your decoction with cordial flowers , after boyling dissolve into it diascordium , surrup of violets , roses and such like ; after phlebothomy give him a cordial , and lay the party to sweat , as is taught in the chapter of the plague : after sweating and phlebothomy , the sick may drinke barly-water , made with coole raisons of the sun stoned , and a scruple of saffron tyed in a cloath and boyled in the water , lemons boyld in milke both rinde and pulpe , untill it is turned to curds , and whay , drinke the whay continually as you thirst , i have proved it of good effect . and when he hath recovered a little strength , and the venome expelled from the heart , let him be purged with this potion ; rec. a quart of running water , or more , a handfull of cordiall flowers , a little cardus benedictus , a root of tormentil , a legg of a poultry , these being boyled , take a pint of that liquor or thereabout , dissolve in it of diaphenicon , ʒj . diacatholiconʒj ss. electuary of roses ʒij . give the sick this to purge the dregs of the feaver , as you shal see cause , adding some cordial surrups after purging , made with diascordium , amber beaser , surrup of violets , and surrup of lemmons , waters of buglosse , burrage and wood sorrell to drinke at night , so by the blessing of god the sick may recover health againe . 8. of the scurvie . there is the sea scurvie , and the land scurvie , both of these are a putrifaction of bloud which commeth by the neglect of exercising the body , and eating rotten meates , and corrupt drinke , or water , as is shewed in the former chapter ; the obstructions of the spleen doe increase this evill , and the morphew and blacke soult , the simptoms are these ; the gums swell , the teeth loose , the leggs wil swell , and have spots about the anckles , some will have many tawny spots about their breast , other some have complained with a great paine in the head , with a sorenesse all over the head ; i cured a tanner that laboured with this evill seven yeares , chiefly in the springe , and at the fall of the leafe ; by his owne relation in his youth he was laborious , but after he had gained a competent estate he took ease , and eate much , but of grosse meat ; his drinke was made of standing water , which as he supposed made the strongest drinke , his bread was made with barme , or yeast , but in his youth he eate leavened bread , so from this and such other of the same i have observed , that evill water , and unleavened bread doe breed this and many other dangerous diseases , for drink made of such water , the venome doth purge by the barme , and is in it , of which bread is made , and he that eateth such bread ( especially in cities and townes ) may have the scurvie , and feavers of all sorts , for if there be any venome in the drinke it will be in the barme ; therefore i wish all men to eate leavened bread if he can have it , and drinke made of cleare water ten dayes old at least . 9 for the cure of the scurvie . the first intention is to keep a good dyet , and exercise the body moderately , his meat must be meates of the best nourishment , as birds of the field , mutton , or veale , rabbets , and chickings , broath made with agremony , avins , scabius , or bitony , and such like ; all salt meats must be avoyded , the first three dayes let him take a draught of oximell in the morning fasting , and last at night , which is to be made in this manner ; rec. a quart of cleane water , a root or two of fennell , three or foure roots of parsley , a sprigge of rosemary , a little fumotery if it be to be had , fennell-seeds , and parsley-seeds of each a dram , three spoonfuls of the best honey , let this boyle gently , and scum it , and in the boyling put into it two spoonfuls of vinegar , after this hath been taken three dayes , take of rubarbe 3ij . of sena 3j . 40 raysons of the sun stoned , a race of ginger sliced , sweet fennel-seeds , annis-seeds of each 3j . let these be infused all night upon coales , the next morning take halfe a pint of this and dissolve in it a dram of diacatholicon , take this three mornings , after this let bloud if need require ; the body being thus prepared , make your scurvye-grasse drinke in this manner : take a peck of scurviegrasse , and a gallon of water-cresses , and a gallon of brook-limes , one handfull of egremony , one handfull of tamariske , or the buds or barke of the ashe , raysons of the sunne stoned a pound , of licorish halfe a pound , concused fennell roots peethed , and parsley roots , annis-seeds , and fennell seeds a quarter of a pound , put all these into a thin bagge , in five gallons of beere or ale , put the bagge into the barrell when the drinke is ready to be tunned , with a stone in the bottome of the bagge , let it hang within three or foure inches of the bottome of the barrell , let this drinke worke with these ingredients in it , then stop it close , and at eight or ten dayes drinke of it and none other ( except a little at meate ) untill the party be well ; most especially in the morning drinke a pint , and exercise untill the party is ready to sweat , and keep him warme after it ; the spoon-wort is good for the land scurvie , used as before is directed , and taken forty dayes together . 10 of the flux called , the plague in the guts . this flux in england which is called by many , the plague in the guts , is contagious as i conceive , a venomous matter cleaving to the neather or great guts for the most part , some seeme to have no feavor , other some have a feavour , and complaine most in the middle ventricle ; in briefe , i suppose the cure is accomplished by giving cordials , and sweating , and by glisters , if the flux appeare to be bloudy , or like scraping of guts ; without a feavour , you may proceed as i directed before in the chapter of the flux dysenteria ; at the first comming of this flux , take a quart of milke , boyle in it a handfull of marigold flowers , sage , and rosemary , bryer leaves , and knot grasse , this being boyled take one pint of this , put into it surrup of slowes , surrup of gilly-flowers , anna ℥j. the yolke of an egge , and a dram of diascordium , give this bloud warme , the next day if strength permit give the other pint of milke in a glister as before is directed , but after the first glister hath done working , give a cordiall thus prepared , take of the water fo burrage , scabius , and marygolds , ana . ℥j. diascordium ℥j. confectio alcermis ℈j. mithridates ℈ ss. surrup of violets , surrup of gillo-flowers , ana . ℥j. commix all this together and drinke it warme , presently after let the sick be covered warme , to sweat two houres if strength permit ; in sweating , drinke posset wherein saffron is boyled , this being used three times may cure it , for it hath recovered many of the above named flux , keeping a good dyet without flesh ; thus briefly of the pestilence , which destroyeth many , if meanes be not used to prevent it in time . 11. the cure of the itch , and lice . for cure thereof methodically , is first to observe a good dyet ( that is to say ) you must eate and drinke such things that breed good bloud , and to avoyd all things that breeds evill and rotten humours , as you may see in the chapters before going ; then purge the body with pilule de fumo terrae , or pilule inde haly , which you may have at any apothecaries , the second day let bloud in the basiliske veine , then make this water following ; rec. a gallon of running water , or the water that smiths use , and quench in it a gad of steele red hot untill halfe the water be wasted , then boyle in it a quarter of a pound of leafe tobacco , of dock roots , willow leaves , and leaves of the birch , of each a handfull , of brimstone tyed in a cloath 3 ij . wash the sore places twice in the day and you shall be cured ( except the itch be incorrigible , which with long continuance doth bring it to passe ; also if you make so much of this water as will wet your shirt twice in the weeke , the shirt being cleane washed and dryed , then dipped in this liquor , and dry it againe , it will both kill the itch , and destroy the lyce that are about you ) i have read a story of some souldiers that would boyle saffron , pepper , and graines in running water , and in that liquor dip their shirts twice in the weeke , it will make the shirt yellow , but it destroyed lice and itch ; others of the inferiour sort would boyle staveacre and tobacco in water and dip their shirts in it , and cure both itch and lice . many more medicines for the itch have been used , as brimstone pounded to powder with ginger , and tyed in a cloath , and infused in fallet oyle nine dayes in the sun , annoynt the sore places with this oyle and be whole ( but this will smell ) also mercury sublimate ℥ ss. beaten to powder , and put into a quart of running water three or four dayes , then with a little cloth wet the sore places , it may cure the itch , but it is dangerous , and must not be used unto raw places , for it may poyson the blood , therefore i wish that none would use it without the advice of his chyrurgion . so i come to speake of the incorrigible scab called by some the naopolitan disease , which happen , and hardly found out , the first cure ( as vigo saith ) of this foul disease is called morbus gallicus , i wil speak little of the cure in this place , because divers have written largely of it , and the maledy being chronicled it wil require a long time to perfect , i will onely give you some cautions to preserve from the infection ; if you be infected before it be confirmed , to expell it : the infection of this evill commeth cheifly 4 wayes , but seldome or never by eating and drinking , with the diseased as many think , the most dangerous way of catching this maledie is by a clean body carnally acting with an unclean body ; the next way of taking it is , man and man , or woman and woman lying in bed , the one cleane the other uncleane , the heate of their bodies do as it were participate of each others itch , scab , pox or pestilence ; the third way of taking this infection , is by approaching so near the diseased party , as to draw in its corrupt breath , as in the pestilence ; the fourth way is , infants sucking an unclean woman . signes how to know this disease , if it be newly taken not so easily discerned , if of long continuance , the face of some will be wan and pale , the eies hollow , and blew some scabs about the nose , sometime vlcers , sometimes no ulcers , a full paine in the head , great paines in the joynts , especially in the night , the shin bones continually pained , the vvula and neck swoln , the spade bone and sinewes in pain , lazy , and lumpish , gonorrhea swelling , in the arme-pits little knobs or ulcers , about the privy members , and fundament , sometimes scabs over all the body , with many more . 12 for cure hereof newly taken , and not confirmed . first of all you shal observe a good dyet , that is , eate veale , mutton , rosted birds of the mountaine , hens , chickings , partridges , or phesants , and such like : all salt meat is hurtful , al fish , but cra-fish ; garlicke onyons , salt , pepper , swines-flesh , and white-meates , and venus is forbidden ; sometimes the patient may use burrage , lettis , white beets in rice broth , when he is wearyed with meat dry rosted ; the second intention is to digest the corrupt matter with surrup of violets , surrup of fumotary , of each halfe an ounce , water of endiffe , and maiden haire , a spoonfull of vineger , let this be taken over night , the next morning give him this potion , take a handfull of burrage flowers , a handfull of mary-goldes : 40 raysons of the sun stoned , boile them in a quart of water , to a pinte , then take a dram of rubarh , and insuse in it all night , in that pinte of liquor , dissolve of diacatholicon and diaphenicon , of each half an ounce , in the same liquor , and take it fasting , and fast two houres , in the interim provide some thin broth to drinke as he purgeth , after purging give some cordial surrups with diascordium ; the second day purge againe , the fourth day sweat 4 hours , the sixth day sweat 4 houres , and the eight day sweat 4 houres ; in this interim provide this drink , take of lignum vite li. j. of the barke of the said wood li .. ss. raisons of the sun stoned , li. j. chinaroot ℥ij sassafras ℥vj salsaperilla ℥ix cardus benedictus , and maiden-haire mj. of liquorish , and annyseeds li . ss. of each , and 16 pintes of water , put all these in a pot very close stopped , and let it stand upon the coales 24 hours to infuse , then let it boyl 24 houres gently ; in the boiling , put in of white wine & quart , scum it , and save the scum , to apply to the scabby or soate places , strein this liquor and keep it in a vessel , close stopped , drink this drink and no other 40 dayes ( except at meate ) a little small drink may be permitted , thus havel cured many , at the first , before the evil be confirmed ; also this drink wil cure al diseases of the liver , as the dropsie , &c. if rightly used : further , if the party be scabby , or itchy , make this bath following , rec. of the roots and leaves of docks , chick-weed , fumoterry , of each a little bundle , lentils , and lupins , four handfuls bruised , elicampane roots , walwort , or the roots instead of walwort , elder , li . ij . black helibor ℥iiij. kneeholme li . ij . brimstone li . ij . boyle all these in so much water as will bath a man , when the third part is wasted , then let the diseased bath and sweat in it , two or three times in a week , after bathing , let the patient go to bed , and keepe warme , and drinke the aforesaid drinke , this hath cured many but if the scab be more inveterate , use this unction , rec. of quick-silver killed with fasting spittle , ℥j in a readinesse , then take the oyle of bayes , and masticke of each an ounce , and of the liquor of the bath aforenamed a pinte , of fresh butter , and swines grease , ℥iij. of each ; seeth all these until the liquor be wasted , then adde clear turpentine ℥j. of storax liquidam ℥ ss. white wax ℥iiij. iiij rock allum burnt ℥j. litarge of gold and silver ℥ij. ij . of each , of myrrh and frankensence , ana . ℥ij. juyce of lemons , ℥iij. commixe all these together with the quick-silver quenched , and annoynt the scabs , this will cure ; if you annoynt and sweat untill the flux be moved , but if this evill be confirmed and ulcerated it will require a longer discourse , which you may have hereafter if time permit ; thus briefly i thought good to direct the souldier , and others to prevent the danger thereof . i have read that charles the eighth , king of france , comming to rome , and naples with his souldiers , they brought this disease into france , the spaniard instead of silver and gold , brought it from the indies , but i hope better of our country-men , and rest , &c. 13. of the flux of bloud in wounds , and the remedies thereof . if the flux be little it is the easier restrained , but if it flow out abundantly , there must be speedy remedy , for bloud is the treasure of life , sometimes it chanceth in the inward parts , sometimes outwardly , inwardly by violent moving , and such like may breake a veine , outwardly by swords , guns , pikes , and other instruments ; also it doth happen by venomous medicines applyed to wounds , corrupting the veines , which cause a flux ; if the flux happen in the inward parts , as in the liver , lungs , reines , and bladder , it is of hard curation , yet it must not be neglected , for which purpose all stipticke and conglutinating things must be used , as cumfrey roots , knot-grasse roots , gum dragagante , terra lemnia , bolearmoniacke , rice , quinces , lentils , pomgranats , and such other cooling drinkes are best , and broths made with the above-named simples may help forward the cure , but this medicine following i have proved ; rec. pomgranat rindes ℥j. pulveris. bolearmonack ℥ ss. terra sigillata ℥ij. knot-grasse and cumphrey roots pounded , and the juyce pressed out , gum dragagante ℥ ss. intused in that juyce , make the said powders into pills , like little bullets with this infusion , and give the sick six of them in a day , three fasting in the morning , and three of them last at night , continuing this ten dayes , and it will make you whole . 14 : the flux in outward wounds are chiefly two , if it flow from the veines it is grosse and red , if it come from the arteries , it is of a purple colour , and commeth out by heaps , both these must be speedily cured , if the orifice be large ; to cure this , take of bolearmoniack , terra sigillata , ana . ℥j. dragons bloud , ℥ ss. alloes , and frankensence , ana . ℥ij hares haire cut in peeces , of spunge of the sea dryed and burnt , dragagant brayed , mingle all these together and binde it to the wound , and let it rest to the third day ; so mans bloud dryed into powder will stench the bloud , the wound being filled : also , if need require you may binde the extreame parts , or open a veine in the contrary part , as if the right arme be wounded , open a veine in the left ; you may cautorize the place , wet lint in vinegar , or a cloath wet in vinegar and put about the codds , hath been used with good effect ; besides all these , gerrard in his herball speakes of an herbe called clownes all-heale , that was found out by a mower which wounded himselfe with his sithe dangerously , he not having any chirurgion neare , by accident gathered an herbe which stenched the bloud , and after made a medicine of the same herbe and healed the wound ; this being knowne to gerrard he called it clownes all heale , this i have proved . also it hapned that i was comming from winchester , i met with a souldier comming from a fight neare ailsford , which was wounded largely in the neck , so that the flux of bloud could not be stopped , i remembered an herbe shewed me by an old midwife that groweth in shadowed places , i searched under an apple-tree and found the same herbe , and gathered a handfull , and rubbed it in my hands , and filled the wound there-with , it stenched immediat●y , after i made a salve of the same herbe , and cured the wound in 14. dayes , only i annoynted it with oyle of hipericon the second dressing , and gave directions to him to doe likewise ; the same souldier came to my dwelling in 14. dayes perfectly whole , and gave me thankes ; this i have often proved since that time , the name of the herbe is , archangel , or dead nettle , which carryeth a purple flower , this i made triall of when all other medicines could not be gotten ; i write this because any country people and souldiers may finde this herbe when chirurgions be not present , and other medicines farre distant , unlesse the souldier carry them in his knap-sack , and the country-man keepe them in his closet untill time of need . 15 of wounds . vvounds in generall are according to the severall members , as wounds in the head , face , neck , shoulders , and armes , &c. but wounds chiefly to be observed are two , that is , mortall , and curable ; also wounds curable may be made mortall by ignorant chirurgions , therefore i wish all men to hasten to an able chirurgion . as wounds that are mortall is in the braine , the heart , the stomack , the small guts and the bladder , neverthelesse i wish all chirurgions not to neglect the meanes , for i have seen gods mercy wonderfully shewn in giving strength to nature when the judgement of man faileth ; as touching wounds superficiall or deep after the flux of bloud is stopped as before directed , and that your chirurgion cannot be had ; first consider whether there be any dislocation of bones or fractures , or whether any veines , arteries , sinews , ligaments , tendons , or muscels be wounded , if you finde any of these you must proceed to the cure very carefully , or else you may make that wound gangred or rotten , which at the first might be cured ; this i have seen by ignorant people , applying hot medicines to hot and chollerick wounds , and cold medicines to the cold causes , as hemlock , henbane , and such others , which i omit , and come to show you whether there be any dislocation or fracture ; first , compare one member with the other , as if the shoulder be depressed it will be lower then the other , neither can the party lift it to his head ; if the elbow be out of joynt , the hand cannot be turned about , neither wil it be like the other , for the reducing of such a member , hasten to your bone-setter , but in his absence if such a thing happen in the fingers , toes , or the elbow , two men grasping the member very fast , a third man directing them to pull in the joynt , and the said third man with his right thumbe upon the place , the left hand turning the member into his right place , which the patient will soone finde ease , if rightly performed . further , if the shoulder be out , let that man put his arme over the round of a ladder , or over the head of another man that is higher then he that is dislocated , the chirurgion , or he that setteth the joynt put both his thumbs to the place , a second minister or two holding fast the lame arme over the ladder , or over the same mans head , so the sick may be above the ground , and the weight of his body with this help may reduce this joynt into his proper place ; many other wayes there are , but i omit , and come to fractures , which must be very diligently placed , if in the thigh , or above the elbow where is but one bone it may be broke short off , so the member wil be shorter then the other ; this must be drawn into his proper place as before is shewed , if riven or shaken into splinters , they must be all placed and bound up in some frame or spleets , past-board , or iron made according to the form of the member , if wounded through the flesh , there must be a place left for the dressing of the wound , and an implaister made with bolearmonick , terra sigilata , gum dragagante , dragons bloud , whites of eggs laid upon flax , and applyed round the member grieved , put into the wound oyle of elder , and oyle of hipericon , also make tents with lint rowled in the same oyle ( but be sure make them so , that you leave none of them behind when you take them out of the wound ; ) above all be sure that no dust nor haires fall in the wound , nor lint left behind that commeth off the tent ; also there must be care had of wounds of dry bodies , and of moyst bodies , as tender bodies are more moyst then those that labour and travell , if you finde them to be moyst bodies , you may use drying powders , as bolearmoniack , if proud flesh , or dead flesh , then use burnt allum , or precipitat , or you may make this powder : rec. sarcocolle , ℥ j. oliban . ℥ ij . aloes epatick ℥ iij . mastick ℥ j. frankinsence , ℥ ij . dragons bloud ℥ j ss. balaustia ℥j make this into fine powder and it will incarn wounds , if you finde the wound to be dry you may use the said oyle of hipericon , oyle of lillies ; if the sinews be wounded , oyle of elder is very good . to preserve a wound from imposthumation , rec : of mallowes , beets , violet leaves , and landebeef , of each a handful , boyle them until they be soft , then put in oyle of roses , and white lillies , make a cataplasme or poultis , with roses , rye meale or barley meale , adding some hoglard , apply this warme until the impostume be removed , for no wound can heale until the impostume be cured . likewise a member may cancern if not speedily removed , that member must be taken off ; to prevent this you must observe , whether the member about the wound , do alter in coulour , glissen and of a blew colour , the member doth not quite rot , but the spirits being hindred from comming to that place , it doth mortifie ; which commeth by applying venomous medicines , sometimes by overtying of a member when a bone is broken ; sometimes by applying things that are cold , stipticke , and sharpe , these and such others may cause cancerna , now to preserve the member wounded from cancerna ; rec. oyle of roses , umphacin , oyle of mirtive ana : ℥ iij . the juice of plantaine and nightshad , ana : ℥ ij . ss. let them seeth all together until the juice be wasted , then put to white wax ℥ j. ss. flower of beanes , lintiles , and barley ana : ℥ ij . ss. of all the n pulverised ana : ℥ j. ss. bolarmenacke ℥ j. graines and mirtiles a dram , make this into a plaister , with oyle of elder , labour it in a morter into a plaister , besides all these , there happneth feavors , cramps , convulsions , and many other by applying evil medicines to a wound which must be removed , before the cure wil be ended ; if there be a feavor , you must give cooling glisters and purge with potions following , make a decoction with cordiall flowers , in a ciate ful of that decoction , dissolve of diacatholicon of diaprunis , ana : ℥ ss. surrup of roses ℥ ss. take this fasting as a potion , if pained in the head , take pilule chochie or pilule aure , and such like ; if the crampe assaile the body , rub the member with warm clothes , or oyle of hedghog ; if a convulsion , rub the pole and the member with oyle of castoreum and sage . these impediments being removed , i proceed with the cure as followeth ; if the wound be large or dangerous , let his dyet be good broths , and meats of easie digestion , as birds of the hils , mutton , veale , chickins and rabbits ; he must avoid salt meates , beefe , poulse , cabbig , and windy meates , as fruits , nor drink no inflaming drink : the next intention is to keep the body soluble , with potions , pils , or glisters , then you must wash the wound with this lotion , take plantain water , buglosse , or burrage water , odoriserous wine , pomgranet flowers , plantain leaves , the flowers of st. johns wort , boyle this together and wash the wound , then make tents and roule them in oyle of hipericon , and fill the hollow places with them , then make plaisters to mundisie : rec. of clear turpentine ℥ ij . hony of roses ℥ j. smallege ℥ j. let them boyle together a little time , adde thereto the yolke of an egge , saffron , a little myrrh ℥ ij . of alloes ℥ j. make this into a stiffe plaister , with oyle of roses , and flower of barley , this wil mundifie and clear a wound in two daies , if not very foule ; after the wound is clear , you may proceed again with healing medicines ; if not mundified , you may use unguentum egiptiacum , or unguentum basilicum ; and for a healing-plaister , the wound being mundified take of clownes all-heale , falilly , archangell , ana : one handful , pound them , and boile it in hoglard , then straine it , let it stand to be cold , take the top of it , poure away the bottome , and boile it with wax and rosen , so much as is sufficient to make a plaister , this , or one of these hearbs made in a salve , will heale a green wound , or you may have this implaister made at any apothecaries , rec. salet oyle ℥ iiij . white wax ℥ j. turpentine ℥ ss. greek pitch , ℥ j. frankinsence , and mastick ana : ℥ j saffron ℈ j. mingle these and boile them upon a gentle fire , and make plaisters : so i end for old ulcers , you may mundifie the soare with white wine , and aquavitae , or with the mundificatives before written , as egiptiacum , or unguentum apostolorum , and finish the cure with the above named medicines . 16 to cure a gun-shot . the chyrurgeons first intention must be to stop the flux of blood , next to search diligently , whether the bullet do remain in the member wounded , or whether the bullet have carryed any thing before it into the wound , as paper , cloath or such like if so , the next intention is , with a terra-bellum or other instrument to take it out . make this digestive , rec : turpentine washed in aquaviter ℥ iv . vitelorum ovorum number ij . oyle of roses ℥ ss. precipitat twice calcined ʒj . saffron ℈ j. commix this and make a plaister , after this you may wash the wound with plantain water , red rose water , with oyle of roses and oyle of elder , after mundific the wound with this : rec : venice turpentine washed in aquaviter ℥ iij . oyle of egges ℥ j. or yolkes of egges number ij . hony of roses , and surrup of roses , ana : ℥ ij . the bran of fetches , frankinsence , mastick of each ℥ ss. cover your tents , and make plaisters , until the wound bee cleane , then you may proceed to end the cure with the forcnamed oyle of hipericon , and healing salves . 17 to cure burning with gun-powder , or burning with fire and scalding . if it happen that any part of the body be burned with gunpowder or fire ; take the juyce of onyons ℥ iv . and common salt ℥ ss. beat them well together , and if the burn blistered , anoint it three or four times in a day , for three dayes , then you shall proceed as followeth : but if the skin be burnt , and made raw , you must cover it all over with the finest lawn and , anoynt it with the juice of onyons , and salt , letting the lawn lye upon the wound , untill it is whole ; but if deeply burned , use this following , rec. the finest hoglard livre. iv . linseed oyle li . ij . oyle of roses li. ss. of mallow-leaves , violet leaves , the brood of bees ; plantain leaves , burnet , peny-wort , tulson , live-ever ana : mj. infuse these 6 dayes upon a gentle fire , adde thereto white wax li : ss , white niter ℥ vj . also you may put to shoomakers peece-greace , this being used will cure it , chipping off the lawne , as it health : if there be blisters you must not cut them , it wil be painefull : you may make part of this medicine if you need not the whole receipt ; also if the burn or scald be not much , you may pound onyons , and a little salt , or leeks with a little salt , so much as will cover the soare , and let it lye 24 houres , in the interim , take a handfull of house-leek , and the inner bark of the elder , bruise it and boyle it in a quart of creame into an oyle , scum off the cleare oyle as it ariseth , keep it and anoynt the soare place twice or thrice in the day , and it wil be whole , this i have often proved : you may beate into the cream the white of an egge , if your eyes or eye-lids should be burned . rec : rose water ℥ iij womans milke ℥ ij . the oyle of whites of two eggs , sugar candy halfe a quartern , mingle these and make an oyntment and annoynt about the eye-lids , and about the eyes : or you may make this , rec : oyle of roses ℥ vj . white lead washed in red rose water ℥ ij . white wax , oyle of the whites of four egges , the gum called campher , make this into an unguent , to take away the spots and scarres , take oyle of egges , and oyle of almonds , and wash the face it cleareth the skin . courteous reader , seeing many people , as wel souldiers as others , have neglected the means in time of danger to preserve their health , i thought good to show you briefly some easie medicines , which may be had most of them with little cost ( other medicines may be made for you at the apothecarys ) to keep in your closets , or knap-sacks untill time of need to make use of them in the absence of your physitian or chyrurgion , which i wish you to hasten unto for advice . finis . a table of the weights used by physitians , a scruple . ℈ a dram. ʒ an ounce . ℥ a pound . li . a quarter . q. a halfe : ss. a handfull . m. of every one . ana . all gentlemen and others, may be pleased to take notice, that there is a stranger come into these parts, whose name is peter francesse that hath brought with him out of the kingdome of persia, perfect remedy for the gout, the sciatica, the running gout, and all aches in the limbs, ... francesse, peter. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a84859 of text r211874 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.20[41]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 1 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a84859 wing f2055 thomason 669.f.20[41] estc r211874 99870551 99870551 163458 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a84859) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 163458) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 247:669f20[41]) all gentlemen and others, may be pleased to take notice, that there is a stranger come into these parts, whose name is peter francesse that hath brought with him out of the kingdome of persia, perfect remedy for the gout, the sciatica, the running gout, and all aches in the limbs, ... francesse, peter. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [london : 1656] title from first lines of text. imprint from wing. an advertisement of a cure for gout and sciatica offered by peter francesse.--thomason catalogue. annotation on thomason copy: "london decemb. 1656". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng medicine, popular -england -early works to 1800. patent medicines -england -early works to 1800. a84859 r211874 (thomason 669.f.20[41]). civilwar no all gentlemen and others, may be pleased to take notice, that there is a stranger come into these parts, whose name is peter francesse that francesse, peter. 1656 197 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-10 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion all gentlemen and others , may be pleased to take notice , that there is a stranger come into these parts , whose name is peter francesse that hath brought with him out of the kingdome of persia , a perfect remedy for the gout , the sciatica , the running gout , and all aches in the limbs , in all parts of the body . also the disease commonly called the kings evill , the palsie , or any benumbednesse in the limbs . the professor hereof doth cure all these diseases by plaisters , without applying any thing inwardly . he giveth ease in one houres time , and the party shall never bee troubled with these diseases again , after he hath cured them . the truth of this many can testify that was cured by him twenty years ago . you may hear of this gentleman at the bosomes inne in lawrence lane , at the lower end of cheape side , or at his house in little moorefields , in whites alley , at the corner of the black and white house , where one of these bills shall stick . organon salutis an instrument to cleanse the stomach : as also divers new experiments of the virtue of tobacco and coffee, how much they conduce to preserve humane health / by w.r. ... w. r. (walter rumsey), 1584-1660. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a57896 of text r5405 in the english short title catalog (wing r2280a). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 68 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 41 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a57896 wing r2280a estc r5405 12270499 ocm 12270499 58229 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a57896) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 58229) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 925:4) organon salutis an instrument to cleanse the stomach : as also divers new experiments of the virtue of tobacco and coffee, how much they conduce to preserve humane health / by w.r. ... w. r. (walter rumsey), 1584-1660. blount, henry, sir, 1602-1682. howell, james, 1594?-1666. [24], 56 p. printed by r. hodgkinsonne for d. pakeman ..., london : 1657. reproduction of original in huntington library. includes letters form henry blount and james howell. eng medicine -early works to 1800. tobacco -early works to 1800. coffee -early works to 1800. a57896 r5405 (wing r2280a). civilwar no organon salutis. an instrument to cleanse the stomach, as also divers new experiments of the virtue of tobacco and coffee: how much they con w. r 1657 12941 25 0 0 0 0 0 19 c the rate of 19 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-12 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion organon salutis . an instrument to cleanse the stomach , as also divers new experiments of the virtue of tobacco and coffee : how much they conduce to preserve humane health . by w. r. of grays inne , esq. experto credo . london , printed by r hodgkinsonne , for d. pakeman , living at the rainbow in fleetstreet , neer the inner temple gate , 1657. to the right honourable , henry , lord marquess of dorchester , &c. as apollo among the planets , so , i may say , your lordship is among peers : in the vast firmament of learning you out shine them all : and understanding that , among other scientificall speculations , your lordship hath been addicted to the study of physick ( wherein you have made such an admired progresse , that you have attained , not only the theory , but the practise thereof ) i am bold to dedicate this small piece to your lordship ; wherein there are divers new physicall experiments , for the universall health of mankinde : therefore i presume no discerning reader will adjudge this addresse to be improper . moreover , ther 's another reason that induced me hereunto , which was , that i knew your lordship to have been pleased to admit your self to gray's inne , and make it your musaeum , or place of retirement , ( which i hold to be one of the greatest honours that society ever received ) and being a member thereof my self , i adventured to make this dedication ; for which nevertheless i crave your pardon , and rest , my highly honoured lord , your obedient , and most humble servant , w● . rumsey . to my worshipfull and much honored friend , sir henry blount knight . sir , my miseries ( in matter of my health ) made me in my old age ( being now seventy two yeers old ) to remember what i learned in my youth at school , in reading of tullies office , ( that is ) after taking notice of my own body , to observe what did doe me good , or harm , before i should use the help of physitians : this made me to collect what i have written in this book , for mine own private use . many of my friends urged me to leave the same to be printed for the benefit of others ; which i was loath to doe , in respect it is a novelty , not prescribed by others , untill i understood by you , that it was well accepted in foreign parts by persons of great quality and knowledge , which came by the same relations of yours unto them . i lately understood that your discovery , in your excellent book of travels , hath brought the use of the turkes physick , of cophie in great request in england , whereof i have made use , in another form than is used by boyling of it in turkie , and being less loathsome and troublesome ; wherefore i thought meet to send this book to you , and to referre it to your iudgement , whether it be fit to be published in print . if you let it to passe under your protection , i little care what others speak of it , and rest sir , your loving friend and servant w● . rumsey . the answer of sir henry blount knight , to the preceding letter of his worthy friend iudge rumsey . sir , i present you with many thanks for your excellent physick treatise , and for your favour in the direction of it to me ; but for your printing of it , all mankinde is to give you thanks . for certainly all ages and nations have ever held a gratefull memory of the inventors of any devise or engine , to the publique advantage of humane life : for , as it is the goodnesse of god that gives us life ; so , of all men , they are most subservient to that goodnesse , who help to make that life long and comfortable ; amongst whom this your whalebone instrument will assuredly cause your name to stand . it hath already ( though crept out by stealth ) gained much credit abroad , in forrain countreys ; where i have known persons of eminent quality to hold it in great esteem . and besides the undenyed reputation ( where rightly used ) it gains , in the experience & practise thereof , it cannot in a rationall discourse , but have much preeminence above the usuall way of physick . for doubtlesse mens diseases arise from the stomach ; whose impurities obstruct the passages of life , poysoning and fermenting the whole moisture of mans body , till it becomes like a house which having it vaults and sinks furred up and stopt , soon growes so full of putrifaction and stink as cannot be endured : in which case physitians are like men who should advise to cast into such a house mirrhe , musk , amber-greece , or other pretious stuffe , in hopes to amend the uncleannesse thereof : and to magnifie that course as rationall , they make learned discourses of the drugges and the severall degrees of heat or cold , with their specifique virtues , which countenanced under strange names and authors , prevail to be made tryall of . but at last , when the simple master of the house ( after much fruitless trouble and expence ) finds no effect , but that the corruption and stench is grown more abhominable : then come you with this engine , like some discreet person , who with a broom and a little water , without charge , in half an hours time , makes a cleaner house , than the others , with all their parade , cost , and trouble could ever doe : but as for the two remarkable simples , which you most imploy ; that is tobacco and cophie , a man may guess at their rare efficacie , who observes how universally they take with mankinde , and yet have not the advantage of any pleasing taste wherewith to tempt and debauch our palat , as wine and other such pernicious things have ; for at the first-tobacco is most horrid , and cophie insipid , yet doe they both so generall prevail , that bread it self is not of so universall use . the tartars and arabs , two great nations , have little or no use of bread , yet they , the turks , persians , and most of the eastern world , have hourly use of tobacco and cophie , but especially of cophie : for , besides the innumerable store of cophie houses , there is not a private fire without it all day long : they all acknowledge how it freeth them from crudities , caused by ill dyet , or moist lodging ; insomuch as they , using cophie morning and evening , have no consumptions , which ever come of moisture ; no lethargies in aged people , or rickets in children ; and but few qualmes in women with child ; but especially they hold it of singular prevention against stone and gout . when a turk is sick , he fasts and takes cophie , and if that will not doe , he makes his will , and thinks of no other physick . and as for your way of taking both cophie and tobacco , the rarity of the invention consists in leaving the old way : for the water of the one , and the smoke of the other may be of inconvenience to many ; but your way in both takes in the virtue of the simples , without any additionall mischeif . and as for tobacco , not in smoke , but swallowed down , there is not observed a more sure or sudden remedy for a cough or the stone , amongst all that men have found out . and whereas most medicinall books are usually but bare transcriptions from former writers ; and so nothing but hear-say upon hear say , with monstrous addition of untruth upon untruth , till upon try all not one receipt in an hundred makes good what it promiseth . yours is all of your own constant experience on your self and others ; which in your personall recovery , and healthfull old age , gives a fair pledge to all who please to follow so considerable an example . thus , sir , with my best thanks i present you the love and service of him who is your affectionate friend and servant , henry blount . to his highly esteemed friend and compatriot judge rumsey , upon his provang , or rare pectorall instrument , and his rare experiments of cophie , and tobacco . sir , since i knew the world , i have known divers sorts of instruments : the first that i was acquainted withall , was aristotles organon , or instrument at oxford : another was the great happy instrument at munster : the third was the instrument which was made after the dissolution of the late long parliament ; that in oxford was instrumentum logicae , the instrument of logick ; that in munster was instrumentum pacis , the instrument of peace ; the last was instrumentum politicum , the instrument of policy . now your instrument is most properly called the instrument of health and may take place among the rest . without controversie it was an invention very happily lighted upon , and obligeth all mankinde to give you thanks : for he who findes out any thing conducing to humane health , is the best cosmopolite , the best among the citizens of the world ; health heing the most precious jewel of nature , without which we cannot well discharge our duties to god or man . but indeed there 's no perfection of health in this life , where wee converse with the elements ; the best is a valetudinary kinde of disposition ; and this proceeds from the perpetuall conflict of the humors within us for predomination ▪ which were they equally ballanced , and in peace , methuselah's yeers would be but a short life among us . now this combate , and malignity of the humors ariseth from the stomach ; which , like a boyling pot on the fire , is still boyling within us , and hath much froth ; whence , if the concoction be not very good , there are ilfavoured fumes , and fuliginous evaporations that ascend into the head ; where being distill'd , they descend in catarrhes and defluxions sometimes upon the optiques , and that may be called the gout in the eyes ; if they fall upon the teeth , it may be call'd the gout in the mouth ; if into the hands , 't is chiragra ; if in the hip , sciatica ; if in the knees , gonagra ; if in the feet , podagra . now sir , your instrument serves to take away the grounds of these distempers , by rummaging and scouring the stomach , and make it expectorate that froth , or phlegmy stuffe which lodgeth there , and that in a more gentle manner than any drugge . 't is true that rhubarbe is good against choler , agarick against phlegme , and hellebore against melancholy ; but they use to stirre the humors so violently by their nauseousnesse , that their operation is a sicknesse of it self all the while . your instrument causeth no such thing , nor leaves any lurking dreggs behinde , as drugges use to doe . touching coffee , i concurre with them in opinion , who hold it to be that black broth which was us'd of old in lacedemon , whereof the poets sing ; surely it must needs be salutiferous , because so many sagacious , and the wittiest sort of nations use it so much ; as they who have conversed with shashes and turbants doe well know . but besides the exsiccant quality it hath to dry up the crudities of the stomach , as also to comfort the brain , to fortifie the sight with its steem , and prevent dropsies , gouts , the scurvie , together with the spleen , and hypocondriacall windes ( all which it doth without any violence or distemper at all ) i say , besides all these qualities , 't is found already , that this coffee drink hath caused a greater sobriety among the nations : for whereas formerly apprentices and clerks with others , used to take their mornings draught in ale , beer , or wine , which by the dizziness they cause in the brain , make many unfit for businesse , they use now to play the good-fellows in this wakefull and civill drink : therefore that worthy gentleman , mr. mudiford , who introduced the practise hereof first to london , deserves much respect of the whole nation ▪ concerning tobacco , which the spaniards call la yerva santa , the holy herb ; in regard of the sundry virtues it hath : without doubt'tis also a wholsom vegetal , if rightly applyed , and seasonably taken , it helps concoction , makes one void rhume , break winde , and keeps the body open : a leaf or two steeped in white wine , or beer over night , is a vomit that never fayles ; it is a good companion to sedentary men , and students when they are stupified by long reading or writing , by dissipating those vapours which use to o're-cloud the brain : the smoak of it is passing good against all contagious aires ; in so much that if one takes two or three puffs in the morning , before he goes abroad ▪ there 's no infectious air can fasten upon him ; for it keeps out all other sents , according to the axiome , intus existens prohibet alienum . but sir , i finde that you have made other experiments of these two simples , which though not so gustfull , conduce much to humane health : and touching your provang , or whale-bone instrument , let me tell you , that it hath purchased much repute abroad among forreiners ; in so much that some , in imitation of yours , have found a way to make such an instrument of ductible gold , and you know what a cordiall gold is . i have been told of another kind of new instrument , that will conveniently reach from the mouth , to let in the smoke of tobacco at the fundament , and it hath done much good . certainly there are in natures cabinet , many boxes yet undiscovered ; there are divers mysteries and magnalia's yet unknown ; there be sundry effects which she would produce , but she wants the hand of art to co-operate , and help her , as it were by the way of midwifery : the world must needs confesse that you have done her a great good office herein . so , with my hearty kinde respects unto you , wishing that some happy occasion were offered , whereby i might be instrumentall unto you , i rest , worthy sir , your most affectionate friend and compatriot , james howell . chap. i. the miserable case of mankinde . i. we cannot live without daily food ; and from that food there ariseth not only our nourishment , but also severall superfluous matters following , which are the principall causes of all diseases which cannot be absolutely helped , although much mitigated by any temperate dyet . ii. in the stomach undigested meat , flegme , and evill humors , from whence proceed choler and melancholy , &c. and by consequence the stone , gout , and many other infirmities . iii. also in the stomach , winde ; from whence cometh the wind-cholick , and vapours , which disturb the head , and breed headaches , &c. iv. in the guts , stoppages of wind , and of digested excrements ; which disturb the whole bodie . v. in the uritory passages , stoppages of wind , and all moist things ▪ wherewith we nourish nature ; which breeds the stone and stranguries , &c. vi . in the veins and other parts of the body are corrupt humors , which nature draweth , with the quintessence of our food , for maintenance of the severall parts of the body ; from whence commeth the gout , and infirmities in the eyes , and other parts of the body ; which when strength of nature cannot expell outwardly , then the same returns upon the inward noble parts , to destroy man . vii . excessivenesse of heat and cold in several parts of the body ; which breeds agues and feavers : so that a man cannot easily help the one , without offending the other . viii . when nature , by reason of age , or some other accident , falleth to expell these evills , although physick may do much to take away the enemies of nature , yet the same also taketh away the vitall spirits , to the destruction of man ; so that means must be found , otherwise to doe the same . that in the speaking of my opinion to all these points , i follow the method of my profession in the law , to open and argue my conceit in every part of the case , and cite experiences like judgements thereupon , and leave others to argue the contrary at their pleasure , without any reply , and leave the successe to justifie the truth of what i publish , chap. ii. materialls to be used as remedies for severall occasions following . 1. a whalebone instrument , wch may be made from two foot in length or more , to a yard long , after this form , to be used for all ages , according to the stature of their bodies . it may be made after the form of a long feather out of a goose wing , with a small button of fine linnen , or silk , to the bignesse of a cherry-stone , fastened at the one end , which goeth into the body , and with a string fastened at the other end , that a man may use it , and draw it out at pleasure . these are commonly sold in london , and especially at the long shops in westminster-hall . if it be kept in water , it will be as gentle as may be desired . it must be stirred gently , and alwayes used after some meat and drink , as any man liketh best , and findeth occasion for a vomit . 2. electuary of cophy . take equall quantity of butter and sallet-oyle , melt them well together , but not boyle them : then stirre them well that they may incorporate together : then melt therewith three times as much hony , and stirre it well together ▪ then add thereunto powder of turkish cophie , to make it a thick electuary . 3. infusion of tobacco . take a quarter of a pound of tobacco , and a quart of ale , white-wine , or sider , and three or four spoonfulls of hony , and two pennyworth of mace ; and infusé these by a soft fire , in a close earthen pot , to the consumption of almost the one half : then strain it , and keep it in a close bottle . if it be kept long , then once every week let it be warmed by the fire , to keep it from vinowing . 4. cordials . bake a pot of apples or pears pared and cored , with houshould bread : then lay a thin laying of hony in the bottome of an earthen pot : lay thereupon a laying of the baked apples , one inch thick : lay thereupon a thin laying of the powder of enulacampane roots , and a little pounded nutmeg , and ginger : lay thereupon ▪ severall layings of hony , baked apples , and powders , as before , to fill the pot . cover the same with paste , and bake the same with houshold bread : quinces , orenges and lemmon pills may be added thereunto , to bake . when the same is so baked , if you mingle therewith rosewater , and sugar pounded , altogether , it will be more pleasant . 5. oyntments . infuse in a close earthen pot by a soft fire , or boyl in a s●illet , a quarter of a pound of tobacco in a pinte of sallet-oyle or fresh butter , without salt , untill the tobacco grow so brittle , that it may be bruised with the finger : then strain it ; then add thereunto pounded nutmeg and cloves , before it be fully infused ▪ to make it sweet : then strain this and keep it for your use . note , that if it be afterwards melted with burgundie-pi●ch or frankincense , it may be made thicker at pleasure . 6. suppositers . take equall quantity of frankincense and rosin ; melt them well together ; then add thereunto as much of the said oyntment , as shall leave it to be of a sufficient consistence to be a suppositer , which will quickly be seen by laying it in cold water , and making it into rolls : if it be too soft , melt it again with more frankincense and rosin , and so it may be made softer , with adding more of the said oyntment . rosin only thus used will serve the turn . 7. plaisters . melt the said suppositers made of rosin and frankincense , with like equall quantities of burgundie or stone pitch and wax , which may then be cast into cold water : then work them in your hands , and make them up into rolls , and use it at your pleasure . you may make them softer or harder , as before . 8. aliter . also the same may be melted again , whereunto may be added verdigrease to eat dead flesh : also white-lead or red-lead may be used to cool and heal , &c. which i leave to the compounders of plaisters ; but i know by constant experience , that this oyntment and plaisters doe admirable things upon all occasions , as well as any other oyntments or plaisters which are ordinarily sold in the shops . 9. sinapismus . this mustard plaister is made after severall forms , but for a plain way , take equall quantity of sharp mustard and black ordinary sope , with store of fine pounded pepper to make it thick : if it be in summer you may ad thereunto the pounded leaves of spearwort , which growes in moorish grounds , and pound them altogether , and apply it to the place grieved . the leaves of spearwort pounded will work the like effect : also you may take six cantharides flies , and pound them very fine , and make them to a thick paste with vinegar and leven of bread ; but never use any of these to above the breadth of six pence . although these things be made after a rude and plain manner , yet the same are cheap , and without offence to be used , which i leave to be made more curiously by the apothecaries . chap. iii we cannot live without daily food , and from that food there ariseth not only our nourishment , but also several superfluous matters , following , which are the principall causes of all diseases ; which cannot be absolutely helped , although much mitigated by any temperate diet . 1. how necessary our food is , every man knoweth ; how it is our portion , and gods goodness in this life , see ecclesiastes cap. 2. and cap. 5. and how miserable a mans life is without a good stomach to his meat , see ecclesiasticus cap. 30. 2. that from the superfluities of that meat , after the concoction of it in our stomachs , there remains certain superfluous matters , which are like barm upon drink , and froth upon the best boyled meat , is the generall opinion of physitians : and that the same are the principall causes of all diseases , which is plainly set forth ●y gratorolus in his chapter of exercises . 3. that the increase of these superfluities may be much mitigated by temperate dyet and exercises , as the opinion of all honest and godly men , whereof a man may see good directions in ecclesiasticus , cap. 31. but how impossible it , is for a man by a strickt diet , although he observes the rules of lesius , to help this evill , a man may read at large in doctor primrose his book of vulgar errors in physick ▪ lib. 3. cap. 3. &c. and many learned physitians doe maintain , that there is lesse danger in a little over liberall , than in an over sparing diet ; whereof see hippocrates aphorisms , lib. 1. aphor. 5. &c , and rantzovius , and many others maintain the same , and lemnius de occultis in many places maintaineth the same ; in so much that he spendeth a whole chapter to maintain , that after a light breakfast , a man shall be more able to eat a more liberall dinner ; and there is good reason for it ; for that when nature hath no food to feed upon , then it feedeth upon the corrupt humors , which breeds unrecoverable diseases and a generall decay of nature , for want of sustenance . i leave this to every mans age and experience ; but i finde it expedient for all men , rather to eat often sparingly , than to eat much at usuall meals , and especially at supper . chap. iv. in the stomach undigested meat , fleagm and evill humors , from whence proceeds choler and melancholy , &c ▪ and by consequence the stone , and many other infirmities . 1. tthat after the disposition of the meat in the stomach , there remains part of the meat undigested , it is too well known to moderate surfeiters , and very often to foul and weak stomachs , and to old age : as for the time when the stomach hath disposed of what it can digest , that is after sleep ; so heurinus upon hippocrates aphorismes ; and then a man must look to it , to remedy himself or suffer great evils . 2. that superfluous matters doe arise after the concoction and digestion of our meat , hath been shewed before , cap. 3. that those matters are at first flegme , which , being baked with the heat of the stomach , breed choler , &c. and by consequence the stone , is the generall opinion of learned physitians ; and vanthelmont ( a rare late writer ) describeth the same in many places , and sheweth how the humors are not of such severall natures , as they are ordinarily distinguished , but originally are flegme , and then baked to higher degrees , and get other names , as choler , &c. 3. the seat of these humors are in the stomach , but principally in the mouth of the stomach , which is the principall seat of life , which vanthelmont describeth excellently ; where he saith , that in the stomach , but especially in the mouth thereof , as in the very center point and root , is evidently setled the beginning of life , of digestion of meat , and of the disposition thereof to maintain life , what then soever the philosophers ( or physitians ) did talk or think to be of great moment concerning the heart , whether they will or no , they have made it common to the stomach . 4. common experience shewes this to be true in very many men , who can neither eat or drink in the morning , but loath the same , and are troubled with waterish humors , but cannot get away the same with all their fasting and physick . 5. how to avoid these superfluous humors , is our great labour , for otherwise they are the occasions of diseases , as is said before ; and besides that , while they are in the body , they make our bodies like unseasonable vessells , which doe spoyl the good meat which we doe put in our stomachs for our nourishments , so that it cannot be well digested ; which made hippocrates to deliver the aphorismes , lib. 2. aphor. 2. corpora impura , &c. that the more sustenance is taken into unpure bodies , the more mischief happens unto them . how far then doe they erre , who having foul dodies , doe endeavour to help themselves with caudles and cordialls before their bodies be cleansed , and made fit to receive the same ? 6. labour and exercise have been accounted , and are the best ordinary means to wear out these corrupt humors , and to help digestion thereof , for which purpose rantzovius cap. 9. and grator in his chapter of exercise , have written much out of many authors ; yet for all that it must be with this limitation ( dum vires , &c. ) while youth and strength of body doth last , and before old age come , or the body groweth weak with infirmities : and let a man be never so lusty and strong , yet nevertheless excessivenesse of humors in the body doe often kill the strongest and most laborious men , whereof we have daily many fearfull examples , which made rantzovius , cap. 18. say well , that the retaining of corrupt meat in the stomach , is a strong destruction of the body ; and cap. 50. saith , that the plague it self cannot invade that man , who hath not corrupt humors . how farre then doe they erre , who think to weare out these humors by fasting and exercise , when it may be quickly done otherwise , with so little labour and trouble as before , cap 2 n. 1. and hereafter , n. 8. &c. i leave it to every mans judgement ? and leave careless men to perish in their own negligent wayes . 7. lemnius de occultis hath written a whole chapter of the rattle which men have in their throats before they die , and ascribes it to the contractions of the vitall spirits , &c. and so it may be well enough ; for that a mans breath is stopped by flegme and undigested humors , which come from the mouth of the stomach into the throat , as well as an halter doth stop it outwardly . 8. when all means are tried to avoid both corrupt humors and corrupt meat in the stomach , vomiting of it up is accounted the best means by rantzovius and heurinus , and many learned physitians commend it exceedingly , and say that the egyptians and caldeans used it twice every moneth : and fernelius saith , that it purgeth not only the stomach , but also all the other parts of the body , to the very heart . and finally , that as all evill humors doe come out of the stomach to disturb all parts of the body , by certain secret passages : so if the stomach be made clean by vomiting , the same corrupt humors return into the stomach again by the same passages , to be avoided by the ordinary passages of nature , which otherwise cannot be purged downwards ; whereof a man may read it at large in rantzovius , cap. 18. and fernelius there , lib. 3. cap. 3. and parent his notable book of chyrurgery and physick , and many others . 9. how dangerous it is to procure vomiting by the ordinary course of physick , i leave it untill you come to the eighth following pointe cap 10. but how to doe it otherwise with little or no offence or disturbance unto nature , and without observing of any curious diet , or hindrance to a man in his vocations or journeys ; that is my principall labour , for which purpose i shall shew this easie and safe way following . 10. whether it be in time of health or sickness , whensoever you finde any evill disposition in the stomach , eat a convenient meal of what meat and drink you please , then walk a little while after it : then sit down with your body bending , and thrust the said whalebone instrument into your stomach , stirring it very gently , which will make you vomit ; then drink a good draught of drink , and so use the instrument as oft as you please , but never doe this upon any empty stomach . 11. to make the stomach more apt to vomit , and to prepare the humors thereunto before you eat and drink , take the bigness of a nutmeg , or more of the said electuary of cophie , &c. into your mouth ; then take drink to drive it down ; then eat and drink , and walk , and use the instrument as before . there may be more or less of the said electuary taken at any time before meat , as a man findes it to be most agreeable to the constitution and strength of his body , without any curious observance of diet or fire , or hindrance for a man to goe or travell about his business . 12. some may think it strange to procure vomit with this instrument , rather than by physick ; but look upon rantzovius , cap. 18. and other books , and there you shall finde them , to direct , that if a vomit will not work , you must help the same with putting a feather into the throat ; and many use a rosemary branch : but these things doe not goe into the bottom of the stomach to stir up the humors ( as the whalebone instrument doth ) which i leave to every mans experience . 13. many objections have been made against this course , which neverthelesse i doe not finde by experience , that the same are of any weight , to alter what is before directed . 14. as to that which physick books say , that vomiting more often than twice a moneth is dangerous , and may bring a man to an habit of vomiting , and so weaken the stomach , whereunto i doe agree , if it be done by physick , whose opperations are contrary to nature , as fernelius saith . but this way i prescribe is naturall , which may appear in little children who are at nurse , and are never accounted healthy but when they vomit often . also the dog is taught by nature to vomit , and all manner of hawkes cast their castings every morning , otherwise they are not in health . and the councell in ecclesiasticus , cap 31. doth not extend only unto superfluity of meat , but also to superfluity of humors ▪ and divers old commentators of that place affi●m it , to extend as a councel to help and strengthen weak stomachs . 15. others say , what good doth the meat when it is vomited up again , and that whosoever doe use it , have not the benefit of nature downwards ? whereunto i say , by experience , that all the meat doth not come up , but part of it , which is in the upper regiment of the stomach , and doth carry with it the corrupt humors of the stomach , which doth swim upon the top of the meat , and nature being eased of that burthen , doth work the residue of the meat more freely downwards , which may be found by experience ; and also nature draweth quickly the quintessence of the meat to the nourishment of the body , to avoid all corrupt humors , so that the body & minde shall be more strong and free for all occasions , and shall be with far lesse trouble , charge , and danger , than to doe the same by physick . 16. in respect i have spoken so much of vomiting , i will add the opinion of learned fernelius there , where he saith , that if after a vomit , the pulse being full and strong , pleasant sleep commeth easie , and free breathing , a good appetite , and the rest of the body lighter ; then the vomit is commendable , otherwise not , and very hurtfull : i leave the experience hereof to every mans judgement who useth it . 17. that although by vomiting , as aforesaid , a man shall avoid much thick flegme , yet by the often using of the said electuary of cophie , &c. although a man shall by ordinary coughing avoid great pieces of blew congealed fleagme , which i could not see avoided by any other means . if a man will take a spoonfull of the said infusion of tobacco in his mornings draught of ale or beer , it will add much good for this purpose , without lothsomness or trouble to the body . 18. lastly , i have often found , that if a man taketh from two spoonfull to twelve , according as a man findeth by experience to be agreeable to his age and constitution , of the said infusion of tobacco , cap. 2. n. 4. and drink it in a cup with ale or beer , the same is very good vomit : and divers lately have made the like infusion in posset drink ; but i finde no great difference in the operation thereof . observe when it doth work to drink good store of posset or other drink after it . chap. v. in the stomach wind , from whence commeth the wind-collick and vapours , which disturb the head , and breed head-aches , &c. 1. the principall cause of wind in the stomach is either undigested meat or undigested humors . clear the stomach with vomiting , as before , and then you shall be clear from wind . 2. when a man is troubled with wind in the stomach , let him put the instrument into his stomach , as before , a man shall finde great belching , and ease of the wind ; and especially if a man take a little of the said electuary of cophie , as before , before you put in the instrument , and then drink after it , as before , and then use the instrument without stirring of it to procure vomiting . 3. afterwards eat of the said cordiall made of enulacampane , &c. cap. 2. n. 4. which is a plain cheap cordiall , and is admirable good to comfort the stomach upon all occasions . that any cordiall or powders may be added or mingled with this electuary , with very good effect . 4. because men cannot ordinarily have the said composition , i thought fit to add one thing more , made with great ease , and of admirable use , as well for the wind , as also to dissolve tough flegme and humors in the stomach , as also to comfort the stomach , that is , take enulacampane roots dried , pounded , and sifted , mingle therewith as much sugar as shall please your taste , to take away the bitterness of the roots : then add thereunto a small quantity of pounded nutmeg and ginger : mingle all these together with a sufficient quantity of sallet-oyl , hony , or other pleasant syrope , to the thickness of an electuary . take into your mouth , from the bigness of a nutmeg to the bigness of a figge , every morning or oftner at pleasure ; then drink after it to wash it down , if you please ; but if you will not drink , then this cordiall will lie in the upper part of the stomach , and much comfort the same ; but herein i leave it to every mans observation and experience , to observe what doth best agree with his own body . 5. i have also found good use of taking a spoonfull of powders of nutmeg and ginger , with a spoonfull of hot waters for that purpose . chap. vi in the guts stoppages of wind , and of digested excrements , which disturb the whole body . 1. the stoppage of excrements in the guts are the occasion of many evils . gratorolus ▪ fol. 180. saith , all physitians doe agree , that health is principally preserved with , keeping the body conveniently loose : and let them all say what they will , unless the fore dore and the back dore of the body be kept open , as occasion serveth , the body will be quickly destroyed , with much reluctation and trouble . and how impossible it is to purge downwards , what is not first digested in the stomach , all men know , and authors agree . 2. this maketh physitians to be so ready upon all occasions , and sickness , to give pills potions , and glisters , &c. which are made of many and costly compositions , and require much observances of dyet , and aire , &c. but in the end breed infinite inconveniences , as may appear hereafter , cap. 10. 3. to spare all this cost and curiositie , whosoever will use the said electuary of cophie : and then a man may keep himself conveniently loose at his pleasure . but if a man be desirous for this electuary to work stronger , then one may add thereunto a small quantity of sena epithamum , or rubarb ( which physitians account to be safe physick for old men , children , and women with child . ) and then if a man take a pipe of tobacco in the morning , he shall finde good use thereof . 4. in respect divers men are loth to take any physick into their mouths , and especially little children are not able , when they are sickly and very pale with wormes , the said suppositers , cap 2. n. 6. being taken from the roll , and warmed in a mans hand , or by the fire , and used to what bigness a man pleaseth , but ordinarily to the bignesse of the fore joint of your little finger , and cast it into could water to harden , and after anointed with the said oyle of tobacco , and use it at your pleasure , with good success . although it be not a quick worker , yet the same brings no danger of the piles of ulcers in the fundament , by 〈◊〉 using thereof , as other suppositers doe ( but rather heal the same ▪ in the making of these suppositers , ●e 〈◊〉 and powder of commin seed , may be added to very good purpose for the wind . 5. if the same be used to little children , it will much conduce for their health , and to avoid wormes , to have their bellies well anointed by the fire with the said oyl of tobacco , when they use these suppositers . 6. if a man hath not a convenient loose stool , then let him put in another like suppositer presently . this may be used every morning or at any other time , as occasion serveth . 7. as the suppositers commonly used doe bring the danger of the piles and ulcers , so glisters oftentimes prove very dangerous , by working upwards the clean contrary way , which doctor primrose confefleth : and when a glister will not work , then they must have the help of a suppositer , as wecker confesseth . 8. in respect i have spoken so much of the use of tobacco , to work upwards and downwards , let a man read doctor primrose , in his book of vulgar errors in physick , who maintaineth the same , and also where he maintaineth , that if a physitian prescribes a vomit or a purge , which works contrary effects , he ought to be blamed , by reason of some inward and unknown causes . and for the admirable use of tobacco taken inwardly , or used outwardly , a man may read many excellent things in wickers antidotary , in so much as he calleth it the panacea , or generall remedy for all diseases and griefs , besides the excessive taking of it in smoak , which i leave to the censure of democritus junior : besides that , it doth over heat the body , and bake the undigested humors in the mouth of the stomach to the destruction of man . chap. vii . in the uritory passages , stoppages of wind , and all moist things , wherewith we nourish nature , which breeds the stone and the strangurie . &c , 1. as the stone proceedeth from the said corrupt humors , so the vomiting thereof doth much conduce to stay the growing thereof . also if you make a toste of manchet bread , with saletoyle , and then toste it again with hony , and eat it , and drink a good draught of beer or white-wine after it . the constant use hereof is very good to preserve a man from the stone , as i found by many experiences . 2. i have spoken so much before concerning the means of vomiting and purging , and how much the same doe conduce to preserve a man from the stone , that i need not say any more thereof : yet i must once again , upon certain evidence , say , that the often using of the said electuary of cophie , and tosts , doth exceedingly conduce to the help and cure of the stone ; together with a temperate dyet , but especially at suppers . 3. i have heard lately from men of good credit , that there is an excellent remedy for the stone in the kidnies , by drinking of the liquor in the tanners pits ; and for the stone in the bladder , by using of the same liquor there with a syringe : which i leave to further experience ; and will not trouble my self with it , while i may drink good ale , &c. and help my self otherwise , as aforesaid . chap. viii . in the veins , and other parts of the body , are corrupt humors , which nature draweth , with the quintessence of our food for maintenance of the several parts of the body ; from whence commeth the gout , and infirmities in the eyes , and other parts of the body ; which when strength of nature cannot expell outwardly , then the same return upon the inward noble parts to destroy man . 1. that those humors come out of the stomach to the severall parts of the body ; and that those humors return to the stomach again , to be avoided by the ordinary passages of nature , and especially by vomit , doth appear , by that which is before spoken . 2. the gout is the principall , and reputed unrecoverable disease , which commeth from those humors , and runneth up and down into severall parts of the body , to seek some vent to get out of the body : in which case , although i will not presume to say , that the gout can be absolutely cured , yet i dare say , that it may be much eased , so that a man may live long , without much trouble of that disease . 3. although vomiting is the principall means to avoid the matter of the gout , as aforesaid ; yet there be other outward means to draw the goutie humor which remaineth in the joynts ; which may stand well with hippocrates his aphorism , where he saith , that where nature swelleth , and offereth to vent it self , there it is to be avoided in convenient places . 4. many be the wayes and means which are prescribed in physick books : but that which , after many experiences , i found best , is , to apply a sinapismus , or mustard plaster , as before ; and that before and afterwards to apply one of the dropaces , or pitch plaster , as cap. 2. numb. 7. which the learned heurinus in his method doth commend exceedingly ; and doth much condemne the neglect thereof ; which he thinketh to be for no other cause , but because it is cheap . 5. it must be applyed in convenient places , as i cited before out of hippocrates . which places i found to be most convenient , and with lesse offence ( are these , that is ) if the pain be in the feet , between the great and little toes , where the toes doe part : if in the heel or ancle , to the sinews of both sides of the shinne bone , over against the lower part of the calf of the legge : if in the knee or legge , a little below the kneepanne , and , as before , by the calf of the legge : if in the fingers , upon the back of the hand , between the fore-finger , and little-finger , where the fingers part : if in the wrist or arme , to the inner part of the wrist : if in the neck , &c. then to the nape , or hinder part of the neck . 6. this mustard plaister is to be used in this manner first , a convenient large plaister made of frankincense , pitch &c. as before , is to be applyed to one of the said places for at least six hours ; then make a lesser plaister of about an inch , and not above two inches in breadth , of the said mustard plaister ; and apply it to one of the said places , as occasion shall require : let the same stay there for about eight hours , until the place blister and grow red : then take away the mustard plaister , and lay the other plaister thereupon . if the place doe blister , prick the same , to let out the water . take this plaister from the place applyed , once every twelve hours , or oftener : w●pe the place affected , and plaister , and so continue the same untill the place doth heal . thus i have seen it often used , and never miss admirable effects ; and without this course i have found all to be labour in vain . 7. although men generally conceive the gout to be only a waterish humor , yet , by the use of the means aforesaid , i have drawn out of the feet and hands , humors of the thicknesse of white of egges ; and when it had stood a quarter of an hour , it grew to be a substance , like leather ; so that i could scarce tear it with the strength of both my hands : which i verily beleeve is the humor which congeals in the hands , and makes crooked and knotty hands . 8. although this will draw the waterish and salt humors out of the joynts ; yet there is an easie convenient way to draw it out of the stomach , to prevent it from coming to the joynts , ( that is ) take about the bignesse of a nutmeg of the said electuary of cophie , as before , every morning when a man is rising out of his bed : then take into your mouth about an inch in length of the stalk of a tobacco leaf well dryed , and a little cinnamon , to take away the loathsome taste thereof ; which will draw the rhume out of the mouth ; and as it doth moisten , bite it ; and sometimes a little of the juice of it may be let into the stomach ; and then drink some drink to drive it down : this a man may doe while he is putting on of his clothes , and oftener , as a man findeth it to agree with his body , without offence . but tobacco leaves , or the stalkes thereof , undryed are loathsome and troublesome , howsoever the same are prescribed by wecker's antidotaries . i have known some being troubled with the pox , have received great benefit by often drawing of waterish humors with tobacco , &c. as before : but i leave them to mother cornelius tub. 9. i doe know that there are infinite numbers of bathes and pultices prescribed for the gout ; but i have often found , that boyled turnips made to a pultice , and the water wherein they were boyled for a bathe , will serve as well as any others . look more thereof chap. 11. numb. 20. the end thereof . 10. also i have found a very good pultice , by beating of the white of egges to a froth ; and then to mingle therewith ordinary soap , and apply it to the grieved place . but if any skinne be broken it will burn , unlesse one of the pitch plaisters be laid on the place under the pultice . 11. also if there be any swelling or heat , after these plaisters , take greene hemlock and vinegar pounded to green sauce , and binde it to the place , or lay the leaves of burres under the said pitch plaister , to the place grieved . 12. he that will not use these means to draw the humos out of the body , but repercussive means to drive the same back into his body , may shorten his dayes , and breed many diseases , as i have known it to happen often times . 13. also the malignancy of these humors may be known by this ; for by the said application for the gout i have often seen , that besides abundance of waterish humors , and thick humors drawn out , as aforesaid , of severall parts of the body , but especially out of the knees , there came out thence an excessive heat , with much smoak , as if it were out of a boyling pot . chap. ix . excessivenesse of heat and cold in severall parts of the body , which breeds agues and feavers ; so that a man cannot easily help the one , without offending of the other . 1. this is a strange thing , but commonly seen , as in agues , when a man hath sometimes an hot fit , and sometimes a cold fit , with little intermission of times . and men commonly complain that they have a hot liver and a cold stomach . doctor primrose hath handled this question among the vulgar errors in physick ; and makes it plain , that although the liver be alwaies hot of it self , which over heateth the bottom of the stomach ; yet the stomach is cold by accident , by reason of the noisome humors , like barm or froth , which come into the uppermost part of the stomach , by evill digestion . 2. there be many julips and curious medicines prescribed by physitians to remedy this evill ; and especially in burning feavers ; and these are of great use . but to spare much trouble herein , in hot diseases , and upon surfeits , let a man drink oftentimes great store of cold water , and eat a convenient quantity of broth , bread , and butter , and cheese , and then vomit with the whalebone instrument , as before . a man shall thereby avoid the corrupt humors in the stomach ; and then a man shall quickly avoid these infirmities , and bring the body to a good temper ; after which a man may drink strong drink , and wine , &c. with little offence . 3. i have known so much good done to all men of all ages , who would first in the morning drink at least half a pinte of cold water ; whereunto sugar may be added , together with the juice of oranges and lemmons , to make it pleasant . that i must say , that i never found any thing of more use for the health of man ; but i am afraid i labour in vain , in respect that most men doe abhorre it , as present poyson ( as doctor primrose saith , ) yet he sheweth the excellency thereof , by many experiences , and the authorities of many ancient and modern learned authors . for all this i have found many doctors of physick ( with whom i have conferred hereof ) to speak much against it ; whereat i doe not much marvail ; for that , if that be practised , which i have alledged in this chapter , there will be little use to be made of their physick , and of the shopps of the apothecaries . 4. i must adde one thing more for the use of good fellows , who use much drinking , &c. let them first drink cold water , as before , to cool their liver , and bottome of their stomachs : then the drinking of strong drink , &c. will comfort the upper part of their stomachs ; and much hinder the vapours , which fume up to their heads , from the excessive heat of their stomachs : and their drinking of water after the taking of tobacco is very good . 5. i have known divers men doe swallow small white pibble stones , to cool the heat of their stomachs ; which i conceive to be in imitation of long winged hawks : i have used the same my self , and they doe passe thorough a man downwards ; but i found little benefit thereby . 6. i have known others that used to swallow small bullets of lead ; which giveth me occasion to report a strange history , which i know to be true . an old souldier , and a commander in queen elizabeth's time , in the low countries , was drinking of healthes amongst his companions , and at every health he did drink a pistoll bullet , to the number of eighteen ; which continued in his belly for neer the space of two years , with much pain and grief : he acquainted a physition with this case , who did hang the souldier by the heels , by a beam in the chamber ; and then all the bullets dropped out of his mouth again ; but the same were somewhat worn in his belly . this souldier is yet living , and in good health , and about fourscore and ten years of age . 7. i have spoken so much of the cooling of the stomach , that it may be expected i should write somewhat of warming of cold stomachs : but i finde every man so ready to take tobacco , and to drink wines , and strong drinks , that i need say no more thereof ; but , as i have said before , so i say still , keepe the stomach clean , with the said whalebone instrument , when you finde any disturbance or loathsomnesse therein : and keep the lower parts conveniently loose , with the said suppositers : and draw out the humors which trouble the outward parts , with the said plaisters , &c. and keep the body in a temperate heat , as before ; and avoid intemperancy in dyet ; then there will be little use of physick . chap. x. when nature by reason of age , or some other accident , faileth to expell these evils , although physick may doe much to take away the enemies of nature , yet the same also taketh away the vitall spirits , to the destruction of man ; so that means must be found otherwise to doe the same . 1. i know divers have carpt exceedingly against all physitians , and their whole profession and medicines , whereof a man may read much in cornelius agrippa , de vanitate scientiarum , and democritus iunior , and many others cited by him , and the late booke of mr. biggs , intituled , the vanity of the craft of physick . but i much honour and admire the skill and knowledge of such of them as are honest and learned . 2. as for emporiques , mountebanks , quacksalvers , and the like , every place is too full of them , which will cure all diseases with one antidote . dr. primrose hath well discovered the errors of the people concerning them , &c. 3. that the common course of purgative physick is dangerous , by reason of the venemous qualities of the medicines , appeareth by that which is said before , and by the authority of fernelius and rantzovius , and all modest physitians : and the often use thereof is very inconvenient , as those authors , and doctor primrose ingeniously confesse : and that when ordinary physick faileth , the best way is to leave the patient to god and nature . 4. what infinite number of medicines , and what strange compositions are for every disease , & with what costly materials the same are made , every man may see in weckerus his antidotarium basiliense , and divers others dispensatories ; besides a great deal of curious observations must be used at the taking thereof . 5. what diversities of opinions there are about the compounding and administring of these medicines , and the ordering of the patient to use them , whether they be naturall things , after the form of the galenists , or chimicall , after the prescripts of the paracelsians ; or mixt , as doctor primrose , and the wiser sort conceived , there are as many controversies amongst them , as there were ever between the pope and luther , about matters of religion . then what shall the poor sick patient doe , especially , if there be a colledge of such physitians called to consult about this desperate case , but stand quaking like a poor condemned prisoner at the barre , expecting to have his finall judgement , to be sent to the place of execution . chap. xi . additions of severall intervenient remedies for most parts of the body . 1. for scabs and lice in the head , rub the scabby place with the said infusion of tobacco . 2. for sore or decaying eyes , take fine linnen clothes , and moisten them in the said infusion of tobacco , and binde them to your eyes , as you are going to bed , for the space of five or six nights , one after the other . i have known very many , who were almost blinde , cured in a short space by this means ; and never any missed . 3. there happened a strange cure to a servant of mine , who was stark blinde for three quarters of a year , which i thought meet to discover . as he was led by his wife ( a poor woman ) wished her to breath often in the morning fasting in both his eyes by turns , one after the other , which she did accordingly ; this made him to have a great itch in his eyes , which made him rub his eyes often , and with his nayles he drew some slime out of his eyes ; so that at three dayes end he began to see , and shortly after he perfectly recovered his eye-sight . this was about twenty yeers past , and he is now perfectly well and of 66. yeers of age . 4. if a man will take a linnen ragge , or brown paper , and moisten it in the said infusion of tobacco , and put it in his nose , & draw his breath upwards , it will purge the head and eyes ; and if there be any ulcers , in the nose ( as most men have , who are troubled with the poxe ) it will much help them . 5. if a man doth bleed over much at the nose , let a man stand behinde the party troubled , and with both his thumbs presse hard both sides of the upper part of the back-bone upon the neck , it will presently stopp the blood . 6. for deafnesse and noyse in the eares , drop the said oyle of tobacco cap. 2. n. 7. into the eares often , but especially at your going to bed : stop them with a paste made of figgs and mustard ▪ seed pounded , and sifted , and mingled with the said oyle , which being used without the oyle will be troublesome ; and be sure to keep your eares very warm with a cap. 7. although i doe not know any present cure for the toothache ; yet i say , that whosoever will use the stalks of tobacco as before , it will doe him much good , and be a great occasion to fasten the teeth : also if the said sinapismus , and pitch plaister be applyed behinde the lower part of the eare , it will doe much good . 8. the headache commeth principally from the fumes of the stomach , whosoever will cleer the stomack as before , but especially use to drink water in the mornings , and before meals as before , it will be a principall means to keep a man from the head-ache . 9. he who will use to drink cold water as before , it will preserve him from the toad-evill , and especiallly before drinking of wine , &c. and then wine and stronge drinks will be lesse offensive to a man . 10. i know some that have lain sick of the small-pox , and their breath almost stopped ; yet by the use of the whalebone-instrument , as before the blisters of the pox were broken in the throat , and they vomitted and were cured . 11. one was in a deep consumption , and when all physick failed , by using the whalebone-instrument as before , there was an imposthume broken in the stomach , and the party perfectly cured , after many physitians had given him over . 12. it often happens that men have great i che in bones close by the throat , and in the ▪ upper part of the back-bone by the neck , and sometimes lice come out of the same , if the said pitch-plaisters be applyed thereunto , it will draw much water therehence , and cure the same . 13. i have seen wennes in the throat , and the kings-evill often cured , with the application of the said pitch-plaister , mingled with verdigrease without breaking the skinne . 14. i have known many children very sick of the worms , unto whom some of the infusion of tobacco was given in drink , and their bellyes were annoynted with the said oyle of tobacco , holding them to the fire , and then using the said suppositers , whereby they avoyded great store of worms and were perfectly cured . 15. for the winde in the stomach , look before cap. 5. but for the winde in the guts , the said suppositers mingled with powdered cummin-seed , is an admirable remedy for it . 16. it is a common evill to old age to have weake knees , especially when men doe ride in cold weather : for remedy whereof let a man have a plaister made of the said pitch-plaister , applyed to cover the pans of both knees , and continued , which will doe very much good . 17. it is a common evill to have ulcers and caukers in leggs , especially in old age , for remedy whereof , keep the stomach clean as before , and the using of the tobacco stalks as before , will doe much good : but for outward applications , let linnen cloth be made wet in the said infusion of tobacco , and apply it to the sore place : i have known some have the flesh consumed from the bones , and the bones scraped with a knife , and being very old , yet cured by this means , and the flesh restored again . 18. for the gout in the feet , i refer it to what hath been spoken before : but for a common pain which men have in the bottome of their feet , whether they have the gout or no , let a man lay to the sore place one of the said pitch-plaisters , and then put in his shoes the warm water wherein powder beef , or cow-heels were boyled , or tobacco and ale or urine well boyled , and wherein store of bay-salt is dissolved , and let him walk as well as he can , he shall finde very much good ; so that the shoes be big and large : i have seen more by the using hereof ; than by any baths or oyntments , or any other outward means , saving the drawing out of the humor as aforesaid . cap. 8. 19. some may question , whether the having of the gout , be a great means to cure all diseases : i will not presume to decide the question , but say , that i have found much benefit thereby , with little trouble , and leave every man to his own sense ; for whereas i had preserved my self from the gout , for above one yeer , partly by repercussive medicines in my shoes , and partly by attractive remedies in drawing the humors into my mouth as before : in the end i had a great noyse and deafness in my eares , pains , and strange dreams in my sleep , much disturbance in my stomach , great heat and itching over all my body , &c. but when the gout came again upon me , i was cleered from all these evills ; so that i might say , ( silentia cuncta tranquilla sunt omnia ) saving , that when i had the gout again , i did quickly and easily rid my self thereof , by drawing out the humors as i have before declared , which makes me believe that these humors were vented from all parts of the body , as men doe usually draine quagmires . 20. lastly , seeing i have spoken so much of this disease of the gout , to be a generall cure , for all other diseases , i think meet to add somewhat concerning what dyet a man should use , when he hath the gout . before a man hath the gout , a temperate dyet is best to preserve a man from it , but especially ▪ to avoyd the moderate use of strong sharp drinks and wines , hot spices , salt meats , tobacco , &c. but when a man hath the gout , and is desirous to be rid thereof quickly , a man may make a more liberall use of these things , which will urge nature to make more speedy vent , of the corrupt humors , from all parts of the body , into some outward part of the body , to be drawn out by outward applications as aforesaid , this may seem to be a paradex but constant experience hath made me to presume to write so much : and then whether it be better to endure a little pain and labor for a short time , which bringeth so much good to all the body , and as i conceive prolongeth health , or to leave the body to be continually troubled with languishing diseases , and to run up and down to the bathe , physitians , and apochecaries , to their great charge and expence , i leave it to every mans judgement ; and for a mans better satisfaction herein , he may read the witty & eloquent apologie of learned rilibaldus in praise of the gout . thus i have made an end , of shewing a great part of the miserable case of mens bodies , which comes to them by unavoydable course of nature , with shewing my well wishes to remedy the same , hoping that this may move some honest and learned physitians to make more additions of more artificiall medicines thereunto , for relieving of mens miseries in those cases : but i am afraid of another greater misery , spoken of by the learned physitian in his preface gratorolus , wherein he doth much lament the miserable negligence of mankinde , who never ▪ thinks of the preserving of health untill it be too late , after the losse thereof : and for my part i shall end with that honest wish ( optandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano ) that in every man there may be an honest and sound soul in a sound body : and so we shall all make a good end . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a57896e-1130 note . notes for div a57896e-1270 note . notes for div a57896e-1630 1. point . notes for div a57896e-1880 2. point . vomiting . remedy ▪ instrument . ☞ ☞ notes for div a57896e-2510 3. point . note . notes for div a57896e-2650 4. point . note . notes for div a57896e-2920 5. point . notes for div a57896e-3010 6. point . note . notes for div a57896e-3300 7. point . notes for div a57896e-3450 8. point . notes for div a57896e-3670 9. point . head . eyes . nose . eares . teeth . head-ache . throat . belly and guts , &c. winde . knees and leggs . leggs . feet . conclusion . some observations made upon the molucco nutts, imported from the indies shewing their admirable virtues in curing the collick, rupture, and all distempers proceeding from the wind. written by a doctor of physick in the countrey, to dr. castle, one of the royal society in london peachi, john, fl. 1683. 1672 approx. 5 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a56767 wing p936a estc r217235 99828930 99828930 33363 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a56767) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 33363) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1933:10) some observations made upon the molucco nutts, imported from the indies shewing their admirable virtues in curing the collick, rupture, and all distempers proceeding from the wind. written by a doctor of physick in the countrey, to dr. castle, one of the royal society in london peachi, john, fl. 1683. pechey, john, 1655-1716, attributed name. 7, [1] p. s.n], [london : anno 1672. a doctor of physick in the country = john peachi; also attributed to john pechey. place of publication from wing. formerly identified in wing (1st ed.) as: m1578. copy cataloged has ms. attribution "pechey" on title page. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. materia medica, vegetable -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-06 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2006-06 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion some observations made upon the molucco nutts , imported from the indies : shewing their admirable virtues in curing the collick , rupture , and all distempers proceeding from the wind . written by a doctor of physick in the countrey , to dr. castle , one of the royal society in london : anno 1672. some observations made upon the molucco nutts , imported from the indies : in a letter , &c. sir , i understand that the french king hath appointed a society of ingenious men , whose main business it is to keep correspondence in several parts of the world , and receive informations of the novelties that occur in the cures of diseases , by specifick remedies : divers of which have been found upon tryal very useful in england and other parts of the world : and we are greatly beholding to the virtuoso's at gresham-colledge , for their kind communications , in the philosophical transactions which come forth every month. i now recommend to you from my own experience and success the bezoar nutt or bonduck , as an excellent specifick against all sorts of distempers that proceed from wind in any part of the bodies of men , women or children . it prevents and removes flatulent belchings which arise from the stomack and bowels , and by its specifick quality dispels those windy blasts which raise storms and tempests in the body , sometimes producing collick , and other times windy ruptures , which prove very painfull and dangerous . parkinson in his herbal tells us , that the egyptians in alexandria , call it their childrens guardian ; and not only give it inwardly , but hang it about their necks , to preserve them from all evils . i have known many children most miserably afflicted with griping in the guts with wind , who have found great relief by this simple medicine given for one month. an old gentleman extreamly tormented with chollick pains in his bowels , and also with a hermia ventosa or windy rupture : he had used many clysters , and taken many internal medicines to expell wind , and all to no purpose : yet upon the use of the tincture , spirit and extract drawn out of these nuts , was wonderfully eased . a man about forty years of age , who was seldom free from collick pains and ruptures , although he tryed many sorts of trusses and plasters to keep the wind from falling down , yet all failed , untill he used these medicines , and then he found great advantage . and i don't doubt but others may find the same advantage with god almighty's blessing . i knew a young gentlewoman who was at some certain times so threatned with acute pains from wind , that there was great reason for physicians to suspect a gangrene or mortification of her stomack and bowels : she had taken many physicians advice , and at last i advised her to the use of this remedy , and she found present ease . a countrey farmer far remote from all physicians , who is very subject to the above-named distempers , yet speedily helps himself by the use of this remedy , without oyntments , plasters or fomentations : he finds it sensibly expells the wind , and keeps his rupture from falling down , and therefore i think i ought to tell the world this excellent medicine , and not keep it to my self for private advantage , as is now become the common custom of the world. the great miseries that some people endure by wind in their bodies , makes their lives bitter , and they are afraid of everything they eat and drink , lest it should create disturbance to them . in such cases there 's nothing better for such persons , than to incorporate these drops with all their meat and drink : and by this means they prevent that miserable distemper the twisting of the guts , which sends so many to their long homes . i have greatly admired to see what wonderful ease many have received by these nuts , when the tincture , spirit and extract have been given in plentiful draughts of chicken broath . the reason why i conceal my name , is , left the country people knowing what i use , should despise it , or left physicians should think i recommend it for private advantage . the reason why i direct this letter to you , is , beeause in your chymical galenist , you wisely make experience a surer tryal of the goodness of a medicine , than either taste or smell . finis . the dispensary a poem. garth, samuel, sir, 1661-1719. 1699 approx. 80 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 44 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42418 wing g273 estc r8204 13104478 ocm 13104478 97464 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42418) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 97464) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 418:5) the dispensary a poem. garth, samuel, sir, 1661-1719. [2], 84 p. printed and sold by john nutt ..., london : 1699. a satire on the opponents of the dispensary organized by the royal college of physicians. written by samuel garth. cf. bm. reproduction of original in bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine in literature. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-04 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the dispensary ; a poem . london , printed , and sold by iohn nutt , near stationers-hall . 1699. the dispensary . speak , goddess ! since 't is thou that best canst tell how ancient leagues to modern discord fell ; whence 't was , physicians were so frugal grown of others lives , and lavish of their own ; how by a journey to th' elysian plain peace triumph'd , and old time return'd again . not far from that most celebrated place , where angry justice shews her awful face ; where little villains must submit to fate , that great ones may enjoy the world in state ; there stands a dome , majestick to the sight and sumptuous arches bear its oval height ; a golden globe plac'd high with artful skill , seems , to the distant sight , a gilded pill : this pile was by the pious patron 's aim , rais'd for a use as noble as its frame ; nor did the learn'd society decline the propagation of that great design ; in all her mazes nature's face they view'd , and as she disappear'd , they still pursu'd . they find her dubious now , and then , as plain ; here , she 's too sparing , there profusely vain . now she unfolds the faint , and dawning strife of infant atoms kindling into life : how ductile matter new meanders takes , and slender trains of twisting fibres makes . and how the viscous seeks a closer tone , by just degrees to harden into bone ; whilst the more loose flow from the vital urn , and in full tides of purple streams return ; how from each sluice a briny torrent pours , t' extinguish feavourish heats with ambient show'rs ; whence their mechanick pow'rs the spirits claim , how great their force , how delicate their frame : how the same nerves are fashion'd to sustain the greatest pleasure and the greatest pain . why bileous juice a golden light puts on , and floods of chyle in silver currents run . how the dim speck of entity began t' extend its recent form , and stretch to man. to how minute an origin we owe young ammon , caesar , and the great nassau . why paler looks impetuous rage proclaim , and why chill virgins redden into flame . why envy oft transforms with wan disguise , and why gay mirth sits smiling in the eyes . all ice why lucrece , or sempronia , fire , why s — enrages to survive desire . whence milo's vigour at th' olympicks shown , whence tropes to f — ch or impudence to s — why atticus polite , brutus severe , why me — nd muddy , m — gue why clear . hence 't is we wait the wondrous cause to find , how body acts upon impassive mind . how fumes of wine the thinking part can fire , past hopes revive , and present joys inspire : why our complexions oft our soul declare , and how the passions in the features are . how touch and harmony arise between corporeal substances , and things unseen . with mighty truths , mysterious to descry , which in the womb of distant causes lie . but now those great enquiries are no more , and faction skulks , where learning shone before : the drooping sciences neglected pine , and poeans beams with fading lustre shine . no readers here with hectick looks are found , or eyes in rheum , thro' midnight watching drown'd : the lonely edifice in sweats complains that nothing there but empty silence reigns . this place so fit for undisturb'd repose , the god of sloth for his asylum chose . upon a couch of down in these abodes the careless deity supinely nods . his leaden limbs at gentle ease are laid , with poppys and dull night-shade o're him spread ; no passions interrupt his easie reign , no problems puzzle his lethargick brain . but dull oblivion guards his peaceful bed , and lazy fogs bedew his thoughtless head. as at full length the pamper'd monarch lay , batt'ning in ease , and slumbring life away a spightful noise his downy chains unties , hastes forward , and encreases as it flies . frst , some to cleave the stubborn flint engage , till urg'd by blows , it sparkles into rage . some temper lute , some spacious vessels move ; these furnaces erect , and those approve . here phyals in nice discipline are set , there gally-pots are rang'd in alphabet . in this place , magazines of pills you spy , in that , like forrage , herbs in bundles lye . whilst lifted pestles , brandisht in the air , descend in peals and civil wars declare . loud stroaks , with pounding spice , the fabrick rend , and aromatick clouds in spires ascend . so when the cyclops o're their anvils sweat , and their swol'n sinews ecchoing blows repeat ; from the vulcano's gross eruptions rise , and , with curl'd sheets of smoak , obscure the skies . the slumbring god amaz'd at this new din , thrice strove to rise , and thrice sunk down agen . then , half erect , he rubb'd his opening eyes , and faulter'd thus betwixt half words and sighs . how impotent a deity am i ! with godhead born , but curst , that cannot dye ! thro' my indulgence 't is , that mortals share a grateful negligence , and ease from care. lull'd in my arms , how long have i with-held , the northern monarchs from the dusty field . how have i kept the brittish fleet at ease , from tempting the rough dangers of the seas . hibernia owns the mildness of my reign , and my divinity 's ador'd in spain . i swains to sylvan solitudes convey , where stretch'd on mossy beds , they waste away , in gentle inactivity , the day . what marks of wondrous clemency i 've shown , my bright and blooming clergy hourly own . triumphant plenty , with a chearful grace , basks in their eyes , and sparkles in their face . how sleik their looks , how goodly is their mien , when big they strut behind a double chin. each faculty in blandishments they lull , aspiring to be venerably dull . no learn'd debates molest their downy trance or discompose their pompous ignorance : but undisturb'd , they loiture life away , so wither green , and blossom in decay . deep sunk in down , they by my gentle care avoid th' inclemencies of morning air , and leave to tatter'd crape the drudgery of pray'r . mankind my fond propitious pow'r has try'd , too oft to own , too much to be deny'd . and in return i ask but some recess , t' enjoy th' entrancing extasies of peace . but that , the great nassau's heroick arms has long prevented with his loud alarms . still my indulgence with contempt he flies , his couch a trench , his canopy the skies . nor skies nor seasons his resolves controul , th' aequator has no heat , no ice the pole. from clime to clime his wondrous triumphs move , and iove grows jealous of his realms above . but as the slothful god to yawn begun , he shook off the dull mist , and thus went on . sometimes among the caspian cliffs i creep , where solitary batts , and swallows sleep . or if some cloyster's refuge i implore , where holy drones o're dying tapers snore ; still nassau's arms a soft repose deny , keep me awake , and follow were i flie . now since he has vouchsaf'd the world a peace , and with a nod has bid bellona cease : i sought the covert of some peaceful cell , where silent shades in harmless raptures dwell ; that rest might past tranquility restore , and mortal never interrupt me more . 't was here , alas ! i thought i might repose , these walls were that asylum i had chose . nought underneath this roof , but damps are found , nought heard , but drowzy beetles buzzing round . spread cobwebs hide the walls , and dust the floors , and midnight silence guards the noiseless doors . but now some busie wretch's feavourish brain , invents new fancies to renew my pain , and labours to dissolve my easie reign . with that , the god his darling phantom calls , and from his fault'ring lips this message falls . since mortals will dispute my pow'r , i 'le try who has the greatest empire , they or i. find envy out , some princes court attend , most likely there , you 'l meet the famish'd fiend . or in cabals , or camps , or at the bar , or where ill poets pennyless confer , or in the senate-house at westminster . tell the bleak fury what new projects reign , among the homicides of warwick-lane . and what th' event , unless her care enclines , to blast their hopes , and baffle their designs . more he had spoke but sudden vapours rise , and with their silken cords tye down his eyes . the dispensary . canto ii. soon as with gentle sighs the ev'ning breeze begun to whisper through the murm'ring trees ; and night had wrap'd in shades the mountains whilst winds lay hush'd in subterranean beds . [ heads , officious phantom did with speed prepare to slide on tender pinions through the air. he often sought the summit of a rock , and oft the hollow of some blasted oak ; at length approaching where bleak envy lay , he found , by th' hissing of her snakes , the way . beneath the gloomy covert of an eugh that taints the grass with sickly sweats of dew ; no verdant beauty entertains the sight , but baneful hemlock , and cold aconite ; there crawl'd the meagre monster on the ground , and breath'd a livid pestilence around : a bald and bloted toad-stool rais'd her head ; and plumes of boding ravens were her bed. down her wan cheeks sulphureous torrents flow , and her red haggard eyes with fury glow . like aetna with metallick streams oppress'd , she breaths a bleu eruption from her breast . and rends with canker'd teeth the pregnant scrolls where fame the acts of demy-gods enrolls . and as the rent records in pieces fell , each scrap did some immortal action tell . this show'd , how fix'd as fate torquatus stood , and that , the passage of the granick flood . the iulian eagles , here , their wings display ; and there , all pale , th' expiring decii lay . this does camillus as a god extol , that points at manlius in the capitol . how cochles did the tyber's surges brave , how curtius plung'd into the gaping grave . great cyrus , here , the medes and persians joyn , and , there , th' immortal battel on the boyn . as th' airy messenger the fury spy'd , a while his curdling blood forgot to glide . confusion on his fainting vitals hung , and fault'ring accents flutter'd on his tongue . at length assuming courage , he essay'd t' inform the fiend , then shrunk into a shade . the hag lay long revolving what might be the blest event of such an embassy . she blazons in dread smiles her hideous form , so light'ning guilds the unrelenting storm . then she , alas ! how long in vain have i aim'd at those noble ills the fates deny : within this isle for ever must i find disasters to distract my restless mind . good te — ns celestial piety has rais'd his virtues to the sacred see. so — rs do's sickning equity restore , and helpless orphans now need weep no more . pm — ke to britain endless blessings brings ; he spoke and peace clap'd her triumphant wings : unshaken is the throne and safe its lord , whilst m — d or o — nd wears a sword. the noble ardour of a loyal fire , inspires the generous breast of de — re . like leda's shining sons , divinely clear , p — land and i — sey deck'd in rays appear to guild , by turns , the gallick hemisphear . worth in distress is rais'd by m — gue , augustus listens if maecenas sue . and v — ns vigilance no slumber takes , whilst faction peeps abroad , and anarchy awakes . since therefore by no arts i can defeat the happy enterprizes of the great , i 'le calmly stoop to more inferiour things ; and try if my lov'd snakes have teeth or stings . she said ; and straight shrill colon's person took , in morals loose , but most precise in look . black-fryar's annals lately pleas'd to call him warden of apothecaries-hall . and , when so dignifi'd , he 'd not forbear that operation which the learn'd declare gives collicks ease , and makes the ladies fair. in vain formality his talent lies , and th' empty head's defects , the band supplies . hourly his learn'd impertinence affords a barren superfluity of words . in haste he strides along to recompence the want of bus'ness with its vain pretence . the fury thus assuming colon's grace , so slung her arms , so shuffl'd in her pace . onward she hastens to the fam'd abodes , where horoscope invokes th' infernal gods , and reach'd the mansion where the vulgar run t' increase their ills , and throng to be undone . this wight all mercenary projects trys , and knows that to be rich is to be wise . by useful observations he can tell the sacred charms that in true sterling dwell . how gold maks a patrician of a slave , a dwarf an atlas , a therfites brave . it cancels all defects , and in their place finds sense in br — w , charms in lady g — ce . it guides the fancy , and directs the mind , no bankrupt ever found a fair one kind . so truly horoscope its virtues knows , to this bright idol 't is , alone , he bows ; and fancies that a thousand pound supplies the want of twenty thousand qualities . long has he been of that amphibious fry , bold to prescribe , and busie to apply . his shop the gazing vulgar's eyes employs with forreign trinkets , and domestick toys . here , mummies lay most reverendly stale , and there , the tortois hung her coat o' mail ; not far from some huge shark's devouring head , the flying fish their finny pinions spread . aloft in rows large poppy heads were strung , and near , a scaly alligator hung . in this place , drugs in musty heaps decay'd , in that , dry'd bladders , and drawn teeth were laid . an inner room receives the numerous shoals of such as pay to be reputed fools . globes stand by globes , volumns on volumns lie , and planitary schemes amuse the eye . the sage , in velvet chair , here lolls at ease , to promise future health for present fees. then , as from tripod , solemn shams reveals , and what the stars know nothing of , foretels . one asks how soon panthea may be won , and longs to feel the marriage fetters on . others , convinc'd by melancholy proof , wou'd know how soon kind fates will strike 'em off . some , by what means they may redress the wrong , when fathers the possession keep too long . and some wou'd know the issue of their cause , and whether gold can sodder up its flaws . poor pregnant laijs his advice wou'd have , to lose by art what fruitful nature gave : and portia old in expectation grown , laments her barren curse , and begs a son. whilst iris , his cosmetick wash , must try , to make her bloom revive , and lovers dye . some ask for charms , and others philters choose to gain corinna , and their quartans loose . young hylas , botch'd with stains too foul to name , in cradle here , renews his youthful frame : cloy'd with desire , and furfeited with charms , a hot-house he prefers to iulia's arms . and old lucullus wou'd th' arcanum prove , of kindling in cold veins the sparks of love. with pleasure those dull frauds bleak envy sees , and wonders at the senseless mysteries . in colon's voice she thus calls out aloud on horoscope environ'd by the crow'd . forbear , forbear , thy vain amusements cease , thy wood-cocks from their gins a while release ; and to that dire misfortune listen well , which thou shou'd'st fear to know , or i to tell . 't is true , thou ever wast esteem'd by me the great alcides of our company . when we with noble scorn resolv'd to ease our selves of all parochial offices ; and to our wealthier patients left the care , and draggl'd dignity of scavenger ; such zeal in that affair thou dist express , nought cou'd be equal to 't , but the success . now call to mind thy generous prowess past , be what thou shou'd'st , by thinking what thou wast . the faculty of warwick-lane design , if not to storm , at least to undermine : their gates each day ten thousand night-caps crow'd , and their attempts their mortars speak aloud . if they shou'd once unmasque our mystery , each nurse e're long wou'd be as learn'd as we , our art expos'd to ev'ry vulgar eye , and , none in complaisance to us , would dye . what if we claim their right to assassinate , must they needs turn apothecaries straight ? prevent it , gods ! all stratagems we try , to crowd with new inhabitants your skie . 't is we who wait the destinies command , to purge the troubl'd air , and weed the land. and dare the college of physicians aim to equal our fraternity in fame ? crabs eyes as well with pearl for use may try , or highgate hill with lofty pindus vie : so glow-worms may compare with titan's beams , or hare court pump with aganippe's streams . our manufacture now they meanly sell , and spightfully , th' intrinsick value tell : nay more , ( but heav'ns prevent ) they 'l force us soon , to act with conscience , and to be undone . at this , fam'd horoscope turn'd pale , and straight in silence tumbl'd from his chair of state. the crowd in great confusion sought the door , and left the magus fainting on the floor . whilst in his breast the fury breath'd a storm , then sought her cell , and reassum'd her form , thus from the sore altho' the insect flies , it leaves a brood of maggots in disguise . officious squirt in haste forsook the shop , to succour the expiring horoscope . oft he essay'd the magus to restore , by salt of succinum's prevailing pow'r ; but still supine the solid lumber lay , an image of scarce animated clay ; till fates , indulgent when disasters call , bethought th' assistant of a urinal ; whose steam the wight no sooner did receive , but rowz'd , and blest the stale restorative . the springs of life their former vigour feel , such zeal he had for that vile urensil . so when pelides did blue thetis see , he knew the fishy smell , and own'd her deity . the dispensary . canto iii. all night the sage in pensive tumults lay , complaining of the slow approach of day ; oft turn'd him round , and strove to think no of what shrill colon spoke the day before . [ more , cowslips and poppies o're his eyes he spread , and s — nd's works he laid beneath his head. but all those opiats still in vain he tryes , sleep's gentle image his embraces flies . tumultuous cares lay rowling in his breast , and thus his anxious thoughts the sage express'd . the earth has rowl'd twelve annual turns , and more , since first high heav'ns bright orbs i 've number'd o're . such my applause , so mighty my success , i once thought my predictions more than guess . but , doubtful as i am , i 'le entertain this faith , there can be no mistake in gain . for the dull world most honour pay to those who on their understanding most impose . first man creates , and then he fears the elf , thus others cheat him not , but he himself : he loaths the substance , and he loves the show , 't is hard e're to convince a fool , he 's so : he hates reallities , and hugs the cheat , and still the pleasure lies in the deceit . so meteors flatter with a dazling dye which no existence has , but in the eye . prospects at distance please , but when we 're near , we find but desart rocks , and fleeting air. from stratagem , to stratagem we run , and he knows most who latest is undone . mankind one day serene and free appear ; the next , they 're cloudy , sullen , and severe : new passions , new opinions still excite , and what they like at noon , despise at night : they gain with labour , what they quit with ease , and health for want of change grows a disease . religion's bright authority they dare , and yet are slaves to superstitious fear . they counsel others , but themselves deceive , and tho' they 're cozen'd still , they still believe . shall i then , who with penetrating sight inspect the springs that guide each appetite ; who with unfathom'd searches hourly pierce the dark recesses of the universe , be passive , whilst the faculty pretend our charter with unhallow'd hands to rend ? if all the fiends that in low darkness reign , be not the fictions of a sickly brain ; that project , the * dispensary , they call , before the moon can blunt her horns , shall fall . with that a glance from mild aurora's eyes , shoots thro' the crystal kingdoms of the skies ; the savage kind in forests cease to roame , and sots o'recharg'd with nauseous loads reel home . light 's chearful smiles o're th' azure waste are spread , and miss from inns o' court bolts out unpaid . the sage transported at th' approaching hour , imperiously thrice thunder'd on the floor ; officious squirt that moment had access , his trust was great , his vigilance no less . to him thus horoscope . my kind companion in this dire affair , which is [ more light , since thou assum'st a share ; fly with what hast , thou us'd to do of old , when clyster was in danger to be cold : with expedition on the beadle call to summon all the company to th' hall. away the trusty coadjutor hies , swift as from phyal steam of hartshorn flies . the magus in the int'rim mumbles o're vile terms of art to some infernal pow'r , and draws mysterious circles on the floor . but from the gloomy vault no glaring spright , ascends to blast the tender bloom of light. no mystick sounds from hell's detested womb , in dusky exhalations upwards come . and now to raise an altar he decrees , to that devouring harpy call'd disease . then flow'rs in canisters he hastes to bring , the wither'd product of a blighted spring , with cold solanum from the pontick shoar , the roots of mandrake and black ellebore . and on the structure next he heaps a load , of sassafras in chips and mastick wood. then from the compter he takes down the file , and with prescriptions lights the solemn pyle . feebly the flames on clumsie wings aspire , and smouldring fogs of smoke benight the fire . with sorrow he beheld the sad portent , then to the hag these orizons he sent . disease ! thou ever most propitious pow'r , whose soft indulgence we perceive each hour ; thou that woud'st lay whole states and regions wast , sooner than we thy cormorants shou'd fast ; if , in return , all diligence we pay t' extend your empire , and confirm your sway , far as the weekly bills can reach around , from kent-street end to fam'd st. giles's-pound ; behold this poor libation with a smile , and let auspicious light break thro' the pyle . he spoke : and on the pyramid he laid bay-leaves and vipers hearts , and thus he said ; as these consume in this mysterious fire , so let the curs'd dispensary expire ; and as those crackle in the flames and dye , so let its vessels burst , and glasses flie . but a sinister cricket straight was hear'd , the altar fell , and th' off'ring disappear'd . as the fam'd wight the omen did regret , squirt brought the news the company was met . nigh where fleet-ditch descends in sable streams , to wash his sooty naiads in the thames ; there stands a * structure on a rising hill , where tyro's take their freedom out to kill . some pictures in these dreadful shambles tell , how by the delian god the pithon fell ; and how medea did the philter brew , that cou'd in aeson's veins young force renew ; how sanguine swains their amorous hours repent , when pleasure 's past , and pains are permanent ; and how frail nymphs , oft by abortion aim to lose a substance , to preserve a name . soon as each member in his rank was plac'd , th' assembly diasenna thus address'd . my kind confederates , if my poor intent , as 't is sincere , had been but prevalent ; we'd met upon a more serene design , and on no other bus'ness but to dine ; the faculty had still maintain'd their sway , and int'rest had directed us t' obey ; then we 'd this only emulation known , who best cou'd fill his purse , and thin the town . but now from gath'ring clouds destruction pours , and threatens with mad rage our halcyon hours : mists from black jealousies the tempest form , and late divisions reinforce the storm . know , when these feuds , like those at law , are past , the winners will be losers at the last . like heroes in sea-fights we seek renown , to fire some hostile ship , we burn our own . that jugler which another's slight will show , but teaches how the world his own may know . thrice happy were those golden days of old , when dear as burgundy , ptisans were sold. when patients chose to dye with better will , than live to pay th' apothecaries bill . and cheaper , than for our assistance call , might yield to fine for sheriff spring and fall. but now late jars our practices detect , for mines , when once discover'd , lose th' effect dissentions , like small streams , are first begun , scarce seen they rise , but gather as they run . so lines that from their parallel decline , more they advance , the more they still dis-joyn . 't is therefore my advice , in haste we send , and beg the faculty to be our friend . as he revolving stood to speak the rest , rough colocynthis thus his rage express'd . thou scandal of the mighty paeans art , at thy approach , the springs of nature start , the nerves unbrace : nay at the sight of thee a scratch turns cancer , th' itch a leprosie . cou'd'st thou propose that we the friends o' fates , who fill church-yards , and who unpeople states , who baffle nature , and dispose of lives , whilst russel , as we please , or starves , or thrives ; shou'd e're submit to their imperious will , who out o' consultation scarce can kill ? th' aspiring alps shall sooner sink to vales , and leaches , in our glasses , swell to whales ; or norwich trade in implements of steel , and bromingham in stuffs and druggets deal : the sick to th' hundreds sooner shall repair , and change the gravel pits for essex air. no , no , the faculty shall soon confess our force encreases , as our funds grow less ; and what requir'd such industry to raise , we 'll scatter into nothing as we please . thus they 'l acknowledge to annihilate , shows as immense a power as to create . we 'l raise our num'rous cohorts , and oppose the feeble forces of our pigmy foes ; whole troops of quacks shall joyn us on the place , from great kirleus , down to doctor case . tho' such vile rubbish sink , yet we shall rise , directors still secure the greatest prize . such poor supports serve only like a stay , the tree once fix'd , its rest is torn away . so patriots , in the times of peace and ease , forget the fury of the late disease : imaginary dangers they create , and loath th' elixir which preserv'd the state. arm therefore , gallant friends , 't is honour's call , or let us boldly fight , or bravely fall. to this the session seem'd to give consent , much lik'd the war , but dreaded much th' event . at length , the growing diff'rence to compose , two brothers nam'd ascarides arose . both had the volubility of tongue , in meaning faint , but in opinion strong . to speak they both assum'd a like pretence , but th' elder gain'd his just preeminence ; then he : 't is true when priviledge and right are once invaded , honour bids us fight . but to the fatal field before we fly , we 'll first reflect , and then consider why . suppose th' unthinking faculty unvail , what we , thro' wiser conduct ; wou'd conceal ; is 't reason we shou'd quarrel with the glass that shows the monstrous features of our face ? or grant some grave pretenders have of late thought fit an innovation to create ; soon they 'l repent , what rashly they begun , tho' projects please , projectors are undone . all novelties must this success expect ; when good , our envy ; and when bad , neglect : if things of use were valu'd , there had been some work-house , where the monument is seen . or if the voice of reason cou'd be hear'd , e're this , triumphal arches had appear'd . then since no veneration is allow'd , or to the real or th' appearing good ; the project that we vainly apprehend , must , as it blindly rose , as vilely end . some members of the faculty there are , who int'rest prudently to oaths prefer . our friendship with a servile air they court , and their clandestine arts are our support . them we 'l consult about this enterprise , and boldly execute what they advise . but from below ( whilst such resolves they took ) some aurum fulminans the * fabrick shook . the champions daunted at the crack retreat , regard their safety , and their rage forget . so thus at bathos , when the gyants strove t' invade the skies , and wage a war with iove ; soon as the ass of old silenus bray'd , the trembling rebels in confusion fled . the dispensary . canto iv. not far from that most famous theater , where wandring punks each night at five re [ pair ; where purple emperors in buskins tread , and rule imaginary worlds for bread ; where bently by old writers wealthy grew , and briscoe iately was undone by new : there triumphs a physician of renown ; to scarce a mortal , but himself , unknown . none e're was plac'd more luckily than he , for th' exercise of such a mystery . when bu — ss deafens all the listning press . with peals of most seraphick emptiness ; or when mysterious f — n mounts on high to preach his parish to a lethargy : this aesculapius waits hard by to ease the martyrs of such christian cruelties . long has this happy quarter of the town , for lendness , wit , and gallantry been known . all sorts meet here , of whatsoe're degree , to blend and justle into harmony . the politicians of parnassus prate , and poets canvass the affairs of state ; the cits ne're talk of trade , and stock , but tell how virgil writ , how bravely turnus fell . the country dames drive to hippolito's , first find a spark , and after lose a nose . the lawyer for lac'd-coat the robe does quit , he grows a mad-man , and then turns a wit. and in the cloyster pensive strephon waits , till chloe's hackny comes , and then retreats . and if th' ungenerous nymph a shaft le ts flie more fatally than from a sparkling eye , mirmillo , that fam'd opifer , is nigh . th' apothecaries thither throng to dine , and want of elbow-room's supply'd in wine . cloy'd with variety they surfeit there , whilst the wan patients on thin gruel fare . 't was here the champions o' th' party met , of their heroick enterprize to treat . each heroe a tremendous air put on , and stern mirmillo in these words begun . 't is with concern , my friends , i meet you here ; no grievance you can know , but i must share . 't is plain , my int'rest you 've advanc'd so long , each fee , tho' i was mute , wou'd find a tongue . and in return , tho' i have strove to rend those statutes , which on oath i should defend ; yet that 's a trifle to a generous mind , great services , as great returns should find . and you 'l perceive , this hand , when glory calls , can brandish arms , as well as urinals . oxford and all her passing bells can tell , by this right arm , what mighty numbers fell . whilst others meanly ask'd whole months to slay , i oft dispatch'd the patient in a day : with pen in hand i push'd to that degree , i scarce had left a wretch to give a fee. some sell by laudanum , and some by steel , and death in ambush lay in ev'ry pill . for save or slay , this priviledge we claim , tho' credit suffers , the reward 's the same . what tho' the art of healing we pretend , he that designs it least , is most a friend . into the right we err , and must confess , to oversights we often owe success . thus bessus got the battel in the play , his glorious cowardise restor'd the day . so the fam'd grecian piece ow'd its desert to chance , and not the labour'd stroaks of art. physicians , if they 're wise , shou'd never think of any other arms than pen and ink. but th' enemy , at their expence , shall find , when honour calls , i 'll scorn to stay behind . he said ; and seal'd the engagement with a kiss , which was return'd by th' younger askaris ; who thus advanc'd ; each word , sir , you impart has something killing in it , like your art. how much we to your boundless friendship owe , our files can speak , and your prescriptions show . your ink descends in such excessive showrs , 't is plain , you can regard no health but ours . whilst poor pretenders trifle o're a case , you but appear , and give the coup de grace . o that near xanthus banks you had but dwelt , when ilium first achaian fury felt , the flood had curs'd young peleus arm in vain , for troubling his choak'd streams with heaps of slain . no trophies you had left for greeks to raise , their ten years toil , you 'd finish'd in ten days . fate smiles on your attemps , and when you list , in vain the cowards fly , or brave resist . then let us arm , we need not fear success , no labours are too hard for hercules . our military ensigns we 'll display ; conquest pursues , where courage leads the way . to this design fly querpo did agree , a worthless member of the faculty ; drain'd from an elder 's loins with awkard gust , in lees of stale hypocrisie and lust. his sire 's pretended pious steps he treads , and where the doctor fails , the saint succeeds . a conventicle flesh'd his greener years , and his full age th' envenom'd rancour shares . thus boys hatch game fggs under birds o' prey , to make the fowl more furious for the fray. dull carus next discover'd his intent , with much adoe explaining what he meant . his spirits stagnate like cocitus's flood , and nought but calentures can warm his blood. in his chill veins the sluggish puddle flows , and loads with lazy fogs his sable brows . the brainless wretch claims a preeminence in setling lunaticks , and helping sense . so when perfumes their fragrant scent give o're , nought can their odour , like a jakes , restore . when for advice the vulgar throng , he 's found with lumber o' vile books besieg'd around . the gazing fry acknowledge their surprize , consulting less their reason than their eyes . and he perceives it stands in greater stead , to furnish well his classes , than his head. thus a weak state , by wise distrust , enclines to num'rous stores , and strength in magazines . so fools are always most profuse of words , and cowards never fail of longest swords . abandon'd authors here a refuge meet , and from the world , to dust and worms retreat . here dregs and sediment of auctions reign , refuse of fares , and gleanings of duck-lane ; and up these shelves , much gothick lumber climbs ' with swiss philosophy , and danish rimes . and hither , rescu'd from the grocers , come m — works entire , and endless rheams of bloom . where wou'd the long neglected c — s fly , if bounteous carus shou'd refuse to buy ? but each vile scribler's happy on this score , he 'll find some carus still to read him o're . nor must we the obsequious umbra spare , who , soft by nature , yet declar'd for war. but when some rival pow'r invades on right , flys set on flys , and turtles turtles fight . else courteous umbra to the last had been demurely meek , insipidly serene . with him , the present still some virtues have , the vain are sprightly , and the stupid , grave . the slothful , negligent ; the foppish neat ; the lewd are airy , and the sly discreet . a wren's an eagle , a baboon a beau ; c — t a lycurgus , and a phocion , r — . heroick ardour now th' assembly warms , each combatant breaths nothing but alarms . and whilst the scheme for future glory 's laid , fam'd horoscope thus offers to disswade . since of each enterprise th' event's unknown , let 's quit the sword , and hearken to the gown . nigh lives vagellius , one reputed long , for strength of lungs , and pliancy of tongue . which way he pleases , he can mould a cause , the worst has merits , and the best has flaws , five guinneas make a criminal to day , and ten to morrow wipe the stain away . whatever he affirms is undeny'd , milo's the lecher , clodius th' homicide . cato pernicious , cataline a saint , or — rd suspected , d — comb innocent . let 's then to law , for 't is by fate decreed , vagellius , and our mony , shall succeed . know , when i first invok'd disease by charms t' assist , and be propitious to our arms ; ill omens did the sacrifice attend , nor wou'd the sybil from her grot ascend . as horoscope urg'd farther to be heard , he thus was interrupted by a bard. in vain your magick mysteries you use , such sounds the sybil's sacred ears abuse . these lines the pale divinity shall raise , such is the pow'r of sound , and force of lays . * arms meet with arms , fauchions with fauchions clash , and sparks of fire struck out from armour flash . thick clouds of dust contending warriours raise , and hideous war o're all the region brays . * some raging ran with huge herculean clubs , some massy balls of brass , some mighty tubs of cynders bore . — * naked and half burnt hulls , with hideous wreck , affright the skies , and fry the oceans back , * high rocks of snow , and sailing hills of ice , against each other with a mighty crash , driven by the winds , in rude rencounter dash . * blood , brains , and limbs the highest walls distain , and all around lay squallid heaps of slain . as he went rumbling on , the fury straight crawl'd in , her limbs cou'd scarce support her weight . a noysom rag her pensive temples bound , and faintly her parch'd lips these accents sound . mortal , how dar'st thou with such lines address my awful seat , and trouble my recess ? in essex marshy hundreds is a cell , where lazy fogs , and drissing vapours dwell : thither raw damps on drooping wings repair , and shiv'ring quartans shake the sickly air. there , when fatigu'd , some silent hours i pass , and substitute physicians in my place . then dare not , for the future , once rehearse th' offensive discord of such hideous verse . but in your lines let energy be found , and learn to rise in sense , and sink in sound . harsh words , tho' pertinent , uncooth appear , none please the fancy , who offend the ear. in sense and numbers if you wou'd excel , read w — y , consider d — den well . in one , what vigorous turns of fancy shine , in th' other , syrens warble in each line . if d — sets sprightly muse but touch the lyre , the smiles and graces melt in soft desire , and little loves confess their amorous fire . the tyber now no gentle gallus sees , but smiling thames enjoys his n — bys . and gentle isis claims the ivy crown , to bind th' immortal brows of a — son . as tuneful c — greve trys his rural strains , pan quits the woods , the list'ning fawns the plains ; and philomel , in notes like his , complains . and britain , since pausanias was writ , knows spartan virtue , and athenian wit. when st — ny paints the godlike acts of kings , or p — r some facetious fancy sings : the banks of rhine a pleas'd attention show , and silver sequena forgets to flow . such just examples carefully read o're , slide without falling , without straining soar . oft tho' your stroaks surprize , you shou'd not choose , a theme so mighty for a virgin muse. long did apelles his fam'd piece decline , his alexander was his last design . 't is m — gue's rich vein alone must prove , none but a phidias shou'd attempt a iove . she said ; and as she vanisht from their sight , she cry'd , to arms ; so left the realms of light. the combatants to th' enterprize consent , and the next day smil'd on the great event . the dispensary . canto v. when the still night , with peaceful poppies crown'd , had spread her shady pinions o're the ground ; and slumbring chiefs of painted triumphs dream , whilst groves and streams are the soft virgin 's theme . the surges gently dash against the shoar , flocks quit the plains , and gally-slaves the oar. sleep shakes its downy wings o're mortal eyes , mirmillo is the only wretch , it flies . he finds no respite from his anxious grief , then seeks from this soliloquy relief . long have i reign'd unrival'd in the town , and great as my ambition's my renown . there 's none can dye with due solemnity , unless his pass-port first be sign'd by me. my arbitrary bounty 's undeny'd , i give reversions , and for heirs provide . none cou'd the tedious nuptial state support ; but i , to make it easie , make it short . i set the discontented matrons free , and ransom husbands from captivity . and shall so useful a machin as i engage in civil broyls , i know not why ? no , i 'll endeavour strait a peace , and so i save my honour , and my person too . but discord , that still haunts with hideous mien those dire abodes where hymen once has been , o're-heard mirmillo reas'ning in his bed ; then raging inwardly the fury said . have i so often banisht lazy peace from her dark solitude , and lov'd recess ? have i made s — th and s — lock disagree , and puzzle truth with learn'd obscurity ? and does my faithful fer — son profess his ardour still for animosities ? have i , britannia's safety to insure , expos'd her naked , to be more secure ? have i made parties opposite , unite , in monstrous leagues of amicable spight . t' embroyl their country , whilst the common cry , is freedom , but their aim , the ministry ? and shall a dastard's cowardise prevent the war so long i 've labour'd to foment ? no , 't is resolv'd , he either shall comply , or i 'll renounce my wan divinity . with that , the hag approach'd mirmillo's bed , and taking querpo's meager shape , she said ; i come , altho' at midnight , to dispel , those tumults in your pensive bosom dwell . i dream't , but now , my friend , that you were by ; methought i saw your tears , and heard you sigh . o that 't were but a dream ! but sure i find grief in your looks , and tempests in your mind . speak , whence it is this late disorder flows , that shakes your soul , and troubles your repose . erroneous practice scarce cou'd give you pain , too well you know the dead will ne're complain . what looks discover , said the homicide , wou'd be but too impertinent to hide . my stars direct me to decline the fight ; the way to serve our party , is to write . how many , said the fury , had not split on shelves so fatal , if they ne're had writ ! had c — h printed nothing of his own , he had not been the s — fold o' the town . asses and owls unseen themselves betray , if these attempt to hoot , or those to bray . had we — y never aim'd in verse to please , we had not rank'd him with our ogilbys . still censures will on dull pretenders fall , a codrus shou'd expect a iuvenal . ill lines , but like ill paintings , are allow'd to set off , and to recommend the good . so diamonds take a lustre from their foyle ; and to a b — ly 't is , we owe a b — le . consider well the talent you possess , to strive to make it more wou'd make it less ; and recollect what gratitude is due , to those whose party you abandon now . to them you owe your odd magnificence , but to your stars your penury of sense . haspt in a tombril , awkardly you 've shin'd with one fat slave before , and none behind . but soon , what they 've exalted they 'l discard , and set up carus , or the city bard. alarm'd at this , the heroe courage took , and storms of terrour threaten'd in his look . my dread resolves , he cry'd , i 'l straight pursue , the fury smil'd , and sullenly with-drew . in omnious dreams mirmillo spent the night , and frightful phantoms danc'd before his sight . at length gay morn smiles in the eastern skie , from rifling silent graves the sextons fly . the rising mists skud o're the dewy lawns , the chanter at his early matins yawns . the violets ope their buds , cowslips their bells , and progne , her complaint of tereus , tells . as bold mirmillo the gray dawn descries , arm'd cap-a-pe , where honour calls , he flies and finds the legions planted at their post ; where querpo in his armour shone the most . his shield was wrought , if we may credit fame by mulciber , the mayor of bremigham . a folliage of dissembl'd senna leaves , grav'd round its brim , the wondring sight deceives . embost upon its feild , a battel stood of leeches spouting hemorrhoidal blood. the artist too exprest the solemn state of grave physicians at a consult met ; about each symptom how they disagree , but how unanimous in case of fee. and whilst one assassin another plys , with starch'd civilities , the patient dyes . beneath this blazing orb bright querpo shone , himself an atlas , and his sheild a moon . a pestle for his truncheon led the van , and his high helmet was a close stool-pan . his crest an * ibis , brandishing her beak , and winding in loose folds her spiral neck . this , when the young querpoides beheld , his face in nurse's breast the boy conceal'd . then peep 't , and with th' effulgent helm wou'd play , but as the monster gap'd , he 'd shrink away . thus sometimes joy prevail'd , and sometimes fear , and tears and smiles alternate passions were . but fame that whispers each profound design , and tells the consultations at the vine . and how at church and bar all gape and stretch , if wi — ton but plead , or o — ly preach ; on nimble wings to warwick-lane repairs , and what the enemy intends , declares . disorder'd murmurs thro' the college pass , and pale confusion glares in ev'ry face . in hast a council's call'd , th' occasion 's great , and quick as thought , the summon'd members meet . loud stentor to th' assembly had access , none courted bus'ness more , or knew it less . true to extreams , yet to dull forms a slave , he 's always dully gay , or vainly grave . with indignation , and a daring air , he paus'd a-while , and thus address'd the chair . machaon , whose experience we adore , great as your matchless merits , is your pow'r . at your approach , the baffl'd tyrant death , breaks his keen shafts , and grinds his clashing teeth . to you we leave the conduct of the day , what you command , your vassals must obey . if this dread enterprize you wou'd decline , we 'l send to treat , and stifle the design . but if my arguments had force , we 'd try to scatter our audacious foes , or dye . what stentor offer'd was by most approv'd , but sev'ral voices several methods mov'd . at length th' adventrous heroes all agree t' expect the foe , and act defensively . into the shop their bold battallions move , and what their chief commands , the rest approve . down from the walls they tear the shelves in haste , which , on their flank , for pallisades are plac'd . and then , behind the compter rang'd , they stand , their front so well secur'd t' obey command . and now the scouts the adverse host descry , blew aprons in the air for colours fly . with unresisted force they urge their way , and find the foe embattel'd in array . then , from their level'd syringes they pour the liquid volly of a missive show'r . not storms of sleet , which o're the baltick drive , push't on by northern gusts , such horrour give . like spouts in southern seas the deluge broke , and numbers sunk beneath th' impetuou stroak . so when leviathans dispute the reign , and uncontrol'd dominion of the main . from the rent rocks whole coral groves are torn , and isles of sea-weed on the waves are born . such watry stores from their spread nostrils fly , 't is doubtful , which is sea , and which is sky . and now the stagg'ring braves , led by despair , advance , and to return the charge prepare . each seizes for his sheild , an ample scale , and the brass weights fly thick as showr's of hail . whole heaps of warriours welter on the ground , with gally-pots , and broken phials crown'd , and th' empty vessels the defeat resound . thus when some storm its chrystal quarry rends , and iove in ratling show'rs of ice descends ; mount athos shakes the forests on his brow , whilst down his wounded sides fresh torrents flow , and leaves and limbs of trees o're spread the vale below . but now , all order lost , promiscuous blows confus'dly fall ; perplex'd the battel grows . from stentor's sinewy arm an opiate flys , and straight a deadly sleep clos'd carus eyes . chiron hit siphilus with calomel , and scaly crusts from his maim'd fore-head fell . at colon great iapix rhubarb flung , who with fierce gripes , like those of death , was stung ; and with an angry and revengefull mien hurl'd back steel pills , and hit him on the spleen . scribonius a vast eagle-stone let fly at psylas , but lucina put it by . and querpo , warm'd with more than mortal rage , sprung thro' the battel , stentor to engage . fierce was the onset , the dispute was great , both cou'd not vanquish , neither wou'd retreat . each combatant his adversary mauls with batter'd bed-pans , and stav'd urinals . but as bold stentor , eager of renown , design'd a fatal stroak , he tumbl'd down ; and whilst the victor , hov'ring o're him stood , with arms extended , thus the suppliant su'd . when honour 's lost 't is a relief to dye , death 's but a sure retreat from infamy . but to the lost , if pity might be shown , think on querpoides thy darling son ; mine's small as he , just such an infant grace , sports in his eyes and flatters in his face . if he was by , compassion he 'd create , or else lament his wretched parent 's fate . thine is the glory , and the field is thine ; to thee the lov'd dispensary i resign . the chief at this the deadly stroak declin'd , and found compassion pleading in his mind . but whilst he view'd with pity the distress'd , he spy'd * signetur writ upon his breast . then tow'rds the skies he toss'd his threat'ning head. and fir'd with mortal indignation , said ; sooner than i 'll from vow'd revenge desist , his holiness shall turn a quietist . la chase shall with the iansenists agree , and th' inquisition wink at heresy . faith stand unmov'd thro' s — fleet 's defence , and l — k for mystery abandon sense . with that , unsheathing an incision knife , he offer'd at the prostrate stentor's life . but whilst his thoughts that fatal act decree , apollo interpos'd in form of fee. the chief great paean's golden tresses knew , he own'd the god , and his rais'd arm withdrew . thus often at the temple-stairs we 've seen two tritons of a rough athletick mien , sowrly dispute some quarrel of the flood , with knucles bruis'd , and face besmear'd in blood . but at the first appearance of a fare both quit the fray , and to their oars repair . the hero thus his enterprise recalls , his fist unclinches , and the weapon falls . the dispensary . canto vi. whilst the shrill clangour of the battel rings , auspicious health appear'd on zephir's wings ; she seem'd a cherub most divinely bright , more soft than air , more gay than morning light. a charm she takes from each excelling fair , and borrows c — ll's shape , and g — ton's air. her eyes like r — agh's their beams dispence , with ch — ill 's bloom , and b — kley's innocence . from her bright lips a vocal musick falls , whilst to machaon thus the goddess calls . enough th' atchievement of your arms you 've shown , you seek a triumph you shou'd blush to own . hast to th' elysian fields , those bless'd abodes , where harvy sits among the demi-gods . consult that sacred sage , he 'll soon disclose the method that must terminate these woes . let celsus for that enterprize prepare , his conduct to the shades shall be my care . aghast the heroes stood dissolv'd in fear , a form so heav'nly bright they cou'd not bear , celsus alone unmov'd , the sight beheld , the rest in pale confusion left the field . so when the pigmies marshal'd on the plains ; wage puny war against th' invading cranes ; the poppets to their bodkin spears repair , and scatter'd feathers flutter in the air. but soon as ee'r th' imperial bird of jove stoops on his sounding pinions from above , among the brakes , the fairy nation crowds , and the strimonian squadron seeks the clouds . and now the delegate prepares to go and view the wonders of the realms below ; then takes amomum for the golden bough . thrice did the goddess with her sacred wand the pavement strike ; and straight at her command th' obedient surface opens , and descries a deep descent that leads to nether skies . higeia to the silent region tends ; and with his heav'nly guide the charge descends . within the chambers of the globe they spy the beds where sleeping vegetables lie : till the glad summons of a genial ray unbinds the glebe , and calls them out to day . hence pancies trick themselves in various hew , and hence iunquils derive their fragrant dew . hence the carnation , and the bashful rose their virgin blushes to the morn disclose . hence arbours are with twining greens array'd . t' oblige complaining lovers with their shade . and hence on daphne's verdant temples grow immortal wreaths , for phoebus and nassau . the insects here their lingring trance survive : benumn'd they seem , and doubtful if alive . from winter's fury hither they repair , and stay for milder skies and softer air. down to these cells obscener reptils creep ; and there the nutes and painted lizzards sleep . there shiv'ring snakes the summer solstice wait ; unfurl their painted folds , and slide in state. now , those profounder regions they explore , where metals ripen in vast cakes of oar. here , sullen to the sight , at large is spread the dull unwieldy mass of lumpish lead . there , glimm'ring in their dawning beds , are seen the more aspiring seeds of sprightly tin. the copper sparkles next in ruddy streaks ; and in the gloom betrays its glowing cheeks . the silver then , with bright and burnish'd grace , youth and a blooming lustre in its face , to th' op'ning arms of these lov'd metals flyes ; and in the folds of their embraces lyes . so close they cling , so stubbornly retire ; their love 's more violent than the chymist's fire . near these the delegate with wonder spies where living floods of merc'ry serpentize : where richest metals their bright beams put on , while silver streams thro' golden channels run . here he observes the subterranean cells , where wanton nature sports in idle shells . some helicoeids , some conical appear , these , miters emulate , those , turbans are : here marcasites in various figure wait , to ripen to a true metallick state : till drops that from impending rocks descend , their substance petrifie , and progress end . nigh , livid seas of kindl'd sulphur flow ; and , whilst enrag'd , their fiery surges glow : convulsions in the lab'ring mountains rise , and hurl their melted vitals to the skies . he views with horror next the noisy cave ; where with hoars dinn th' imprison'd tempests rave : where clam'rous hurricanes attempt their flight , or , whirling in tumultuous eddies , fight . and now the goddess with her charge descends , where scarce one cheerful glimpse their steps befriends , here his forsaken seat old chaos keeps ; and undisturb'd by form , in silence sleeps . a grisly wight , and hideous to the eye ; an awkard lump of shapeless anarchy . with sordid age his features are defac'd ; his lands unpeopl'd , and his countries waste . here lumber , undeserving light , is kept , and p — p's bill to this dark region's swept : where mushroom libels silently retire ; and , soon as born , with decency expire . upon a couch of iett in these abodes , dull night , his melancholy consort , nodds . no ways and means their cabinet employ ; but their dark hours they waste in barren joy. nigh this recess , with terror they survey , where death maintains his dread tyrannick sway : i' th' middle of a dusky cypress grove , where goblins frisk , and airy spectres rove , yawns a dark cave most formidably wide ; and there the monarch's triumphs are descry'd . within its dreadful jaws those furies wait , which execute the harsh decrees of fate . febris is first : the hagg relentless hears the virgin 's sighs ; and sees the infant 's tears . in her parch'd eye-balls fiery meteors reign ; and restless ferments revel in each vein . then hydrops next appears amongst the throng ; bloated , and big , she slowly sails along . but , like a miser , in excess she ' s poor ; and pines for thirst amidst her wat'ry store . now loathsome lepra , that offensive spright , with foul eruptions stain'd , offends the sight . she ' s deaf to beauty's soft persuading pow'r : nor can bright hebe's charms her bloom secure . whilst meagre * phthisis gives a silent blow ; her stroaks are sure ; but her advances slow . no loud alarms , nor fierce assaults are shown : she starves the fortress first ; then takes the town . behind stood crouds of much inferiour name , too num'rous to repeat , too soul to name ; the vassals of their monarch's tyranny : who , at his nod , on fatal errands fly . now celsus , with his glorious guide , invade the silent region of the fleeting shades . where rocks and ruful desarts are descry'd ; and sullen styx rolls down his lazy tide . then shews the ferry-man the plant he bore , and claims his passage to the further shore . to whom the stygian pilot smiling , said , you need no pass-port to demand our aid . physicians never linger on this strand : old charon ne'er refuses their command . our awful monarch and his consort owe to them the peopl'ing of their realms below . then in his swarthy hand he grasp'd his oar , receiv'd his guests aboard , and shov'd from shoar . now , as the goddess and her charge prepare to breathe the sweets of soft elysian air ; upon the left they spy a pensive shade , who on his bended arm had rais'd his head : pale grief sate heavy on his careful look : to whom , not unconcern'd , thus celsus spoke : tell me , thou much afflicted shade , why sighs burst from your breast , and torrents from your eyes : and who those mangl'd manes are which show a sullen satisfaction at your woe ? since , said the ghost , with pity you 'll attend , know , i 'm guiacum , once your valu'd friend . and on this barren beach in discontent , am doom'd to stay till th' angry pow'rs relent . those spectres seam'd with scarrs , that threaten there , the victims of my late ill conduct are . they vex with endless clamours my repose : this wants his palate ; that demands his nose . and here they execute stern pluto's will , to ply me ev'ry moment with a pill . then celsus thus : o much-lamented state ! how moving's the disaster you relate . methinks i recollect your former air , but ah , how much you 're chang'd from what you were ? if mortals e're the stygian power cou'd bend , entreaties to their awful seats i 'd send . but since no human arts the fates disswade , direct me how to find bless'd harvy's shade . in vain th' unhappy ghost still urg'd his stay , then rising from the ground , he shew'd the way . nigh the dull shore a shapeless mountain stood , that with a dreadful frown survey'd the flood . it s fearful brow no lively greens puts on , no frisking goats bound o'er the ridgy stone . to gain the summit the bright goddess try'd , and celsus follow'd , by degrees , his guide . th' ascent thus conquer'd , now they towr on high , and tast th' indulgence of a milder sky . loose breezes on their airy pinions play , and with refreshing sweets perfume the way . cool streams thro flowry meadows gently glide , and as they pass , their painted banks they chide . these blissful plains no blites , nor mildews fear , the flowers ne'er fade , and shrubs are myrtles there . the delegate observes with wondring eyes ambrosial dews descend , and incense rise . then hastens onward to the pensive grove , the silent mansion of disastrous love. no winds but sighs are there , no floods but tears , each conscious tree a tragick signal bears . their wounded bark records some broken vow , and willow garlands hang on ev'ry bough . his mistress here in solitude he found , her down-cast eyes fix'd on the silent ground : her dress neglected , and unbound her hair , she seem'd the mournful image of despair . how lately did this celebrated thing blaze in the box , and sparkle in the ring , till the green-sickness and love's force betray'd to death's remorsless arms th' unhappy maid . cold and confus'd the guilty lover stood , the light forsook his eyes , his cheeks the blood ; an icy horrour shiver'd in his look , then softly in these gentle words , he spoke : tell me , dear shade , from whence such anxious care your looks disorder'd and your bosom bare ? why thus you languish like a drooping flow'r crush'd by the weight of some unfriendly shower . your pale complexion your late conduct tell , o that instead of trash you 'd taken steel . then as he strove to clasp the fleeting fair , his empty arms confess'd th' impassive air. from his embrace the unbody'd spectre flies , and as she mov'd , she chid him with her eyes . they hasten now to that delighful plain where the glad manes of the bless'd remain : where harvy gathers simples to bestow immortal youth on hero's shades below . soon as the bright higeia was in view the venerable sage her presence knew . thus he — hail blooming goddess , thou propitious pow'r , whose blessings mortals next to life implore . such graces in your heav'nly eyes appear , that cottages are courts when you are there . mankind , as you vouchsafe to smile or frown , finds ease in chains , or anguish in a crown . with just resentments and contempt you see the mean dissentions of the faculty ; how sick'ning physick hangs her pensive head , and what was once a science , now 's a trade . her sons ne'er rifle her mysterious store , but study nature less , and lucre more . i shew'd of old , how vital currents glide , and the meanders of their refluent tyde . then , willis , why spontaneous actions here , and whence involuntary motions , there : and how the spirits by mechanick laws , in wild cariers , tumultuous riots cause . nor wou'd our wharton , bates and glisson lye in the abyss of blind obscurity . but now such wondrous searches are forborn , and paean's art is by divisions torn . then let your charge attend , and i 'll explain how physick her lost lustre may regain . haste and the matchless . atticus address from heav'n , and great nassau he has the mace. th' oppress'd to his asylum still repair , arts he supports , and learning is his care . he softens the harsh rigour of the laws , blunts their keen edge , and cuts their harpy claws ; and graciously he casts a pitying eye on the sad state of vertuous poverty . when e'er he speaks , heav'ns ! how the list'ning throng dwells on the melting musick of his tongue . his arguments are th' emblems of his mein , mild , but not faint , and forcing , tho' serene ; and when the power of eloquence , he 'd try , here , lightning strikes you , there , soft breezes sigh . to him you must your sickly state refer , your charter claims him as your visiter . your wounds he 'll close , and sov'reignly restore your science to the height it had before . then nassau's health shall be your glorious arm , his life shou'd be immortal as his name . some princes claims from devastations spring , he condescends in pity to be king : and when , amidst his olives plac'd , he stands , and governs more by candour than commands : ev'n then not less a heroe he appears , than when his laurel diadem he wears . wou'd but apollo some great bard inspire with sacred veh'mence of poetick fire ; to celebrate in song that god-like power , which did the labouring universe restore . fair albian's cliffs wou'd eccho to the strain , and praise the arm that conquer'd to regain the earth's repose , and empire o'er the main . still may th' immortal man his cares repeat , to make his blessings endless as they 're great : whilst malice and ingratitude confess , they 've strove for ruine long without success . had some fam'd heroe of the latin blood , like iulius great , and like octavius good , but thus preserv'd the sinking latian power , rome had erected columns ev'ry hour ; loud io's her proud capitol had shook , and all the statues of the gods had spoke . no more , the sage his raptures cou'd pursue , he paus'd : and celus with his guide withdrew . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a42418-e80 the building of the dispensary . notes for div a42418-e5480 * medicines made up there for the use of the poor . * apothecaries hall. * the room th' apothecaries meet in , is over the laboratory . notes for div a42418-e8690 * k. arth. p. 307. * k. ar. p. 327 * pr. ar. p. 189. * pr. ar. p. 136. * k. ar. p. 189. notes for div a42418-e12410 * this bird , according to the ancients , gives it self a clyster with its beek . * those members of the college that observe a late statute , are call'd by the apothecaries signetur men. notes for div a42418-e16170 * consumption . gideon's fleece, or, the sieur de frisk an heroick poem, written on the cursory perusal of a late book, call'd the conclave of physicians / by a friend to the muses. guidott, thomas, fl. 1698. 1684 approx. 67 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42302 wing g2194 estc r2964 12781812 ocm 12781812 93830 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42302) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 93830) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 983:25) gideon's fleece, or, the sieur de frisk an heroick poem, written on the cursory perusal of a late book, call'd the conclave of physicians / by a friend to the muses. guidott, thomas, fl. 1698. [8], 30, [1] p. printed for sam. smith ..., london : 1684. reproduction of original in huntington library. advertisement: p. [7] created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng harvey, gideon, 1640?-1700? -conclave of physicians. medicine -early works to 1800 -poetry. 2007-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-04 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2008-04 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion gideon's fleece : or , the sieur de frisk . an heroick poem . written on the cursory perusal of a late book , call'd the conclave of physicians . by a friend to the muses . — facit indignatio versum . london , printed for sam. smith at the princes arms in s. paul's church-yard , 1684. a preface to the reader . courteous reader , comeing accidentally to a friends house in the city , a worthy member of the famous college of physicians in london , among other things , i was entertained with a book intituled , the conclave of physicians , written by a doctor of paris , and physician in ordinary to his majesty , as he there styles himself . hearing my friend read , and perusing it a little , we were both surpriz'd to find a man , that pretended to the highest degree in physick , and the vmbrage of his majesty , fall so foul on a society of men , that ought to be , ●●…d generally are , men of the best education , parts , and practice in a nation , founded on his majesties grace , encouraged by his favour , conven'd and instituted by royal authority , continued , supported , establish'd , and endowed with all the power and priviledge , the supream court of judicature of a nation , then thought fit to afford . finding also under feigned names , easily intelligible , and in a parisian scheme calculated , or rather clandestinely design'd for a meridian nearer home , gross reflections , as generally apprehended , on many worthy men now living , and some dead ; ( fecit indignatio versum ) the horror of the thing extorted the ensuing poem , which , as it is , i freely commit to thy perusal , desiring thee to consider , if in some words and expressions , i have been a little keen and severe , that in this case , and thing especially so circumstantiated , difficile est satyram non scribere . we did then also not a little admire , how a great and stately fabrick so far east , cou'd so privately , and soon , be conveyed to the west ; or how the presidency , and censorship of a * coll. cou'd so cunningly be vested in one man , who rudely , maliciously , and sawcily exercises more magisterial authority , and correptive jurisdiction over the prescripts , and receits of its celebrated members , then ever that did over the greatest empirick , or unauthoriz'd physitian . but considering that in the opinion of some sort of men , there is not a pin to chuse between a conclave , and a college , it may not be difficult to apprehend how so absurd a thing shou'd happen , especially if we take in the heifer of envy to solve the riddle of malice , the working with which but a very little while , like another sphinx , will unfold the aenigma . a low condition in the world , i account a great unhappiness , but no disgrace , being what infinite wisdom , in an unquestionably prudent series of providence , thinks fit to determine ; provided it be accompany'd with an humble , industrious , and submissive mind , satisfied for the present , and patiently expecting better things when god shall see fit ; but an impatient , restless , and turbulent necessity , that does cogere ad turpia , such a poverty as good agur prayed against , that makes men steal , invade property , and common right , break the bonds of all societies , and laws , and turns men into banditi , pirates , and high-way men , such an envious mean condition , and no other , i wou'd be thought to expose . as to what relates to practice , for which this capricio seems so much concern'd , those famous , learned , and worthy men of the parisian conclave , whose reputation , 't is more then probable , is maliciously pelted , through the crape and tiffany of an envious disguise , if it be not thought , as i presume it will , too mean an undertaking , when it comes to their knowledge , are better able to make a defence ; from which both their occasions and dignity , may well excuse , in regard nothing material , but is here sufficiently , though succinctly answered , in sense , or in kind ; from whom no other answer can justly be expected , then what a learned man gave an antagonist he contemn'd : audio contra me scarabeum quendam scripsisse , cui respondere nec dignitatis est , nec otij . one thing more i wou'd have thee understand , reader , that what is here said in just vindication of the members of the conclave , that are concerned , is no way derogatory to the known worth , and great eminence of the cardinals exempt ; for as the reach went , the cloud brake , and the conclave , like the israelitish ground , was partly wet , and partly dry , but both so inconsiderably , that neither the moistures improves , nor the drought impairs . and here i thought fit to mention , that as i never had the honour to be a conclavist , so * i do protest , i never yet saw either pope , patriarch , or cardinal ; much less can be suspected to have had any encouragement from them , otherwise than the satisfaction of my own fancy , and the doing that good office for others , which they may well think ( as mentioned before ) too mean for themselves , as knowing the best answer to calumny is silence , according to that of the historian , convitia spreta exolescunt . wherefore , if in this product of a few spare and drolling hours , that now ensues , any service be done the living , any justice to the dead , or the least divertisement given thee , reader , is the uttermost aim and ambition of the author , and thy friend philo-musus . advertisement . to avoid the bulk and trouble of quotations , the places in the conclave alluded to , or answer'd , are paged in the margin , to which the reader , if he please , may have recourse . errata . page 12. line ult . read naiades . l. 19. r. evene . p 24. l. 3. r. the. l. 4. r. for . to the author of the conclave . your bolt is gone , and only in this wise , that you so long about it did advise ; 't was not soon shot , the malice was prepense , and therefore justly gave the more offence ; but a mild judge , that all things calmly hears , at this time spar'd your neck , and cropt your ears . if you scape greater scouring , by a trick , you 'r fitter for the conclave of old nick ; it is his trade the brethren to accuse , and , as the * vision says , torments a muse ; yet while time lasts , the muse protesteth , that she will torment both satan and his brat . melpomene . the introduction . come fierce orbilius , and inspire my rage , to scourge a medicaster of this age ; a nasty bird , that his own nest defiles , the wise pay him with scorns , the fools with smiles ; an alien from those tents , whose rules are fit to teach him better manners , and more wit. a gnawing cubb , that tears dams bowels out , inform , raw , shapeless , swoln as with the gout ; hence tho' his satyr style in gall does wallow , his railings are unfledg'd , his curses callow . but can that name , fam'd for bloods circulation , turn holocaust to spleen , and emulation ? bold heterodox , of prostituted fame ! cease to be physicks-zoil , or change thy name , degenerate mome , born to confute that theme , none of great harvey's blood circles in him ; whilst with self-fancy'd names thou courts our eyes , thine own is a meer vizard and disguise ; but see what venom in his heart does lurk ( a renegade , is worse than nat'ral turk ) no vertues can be seen by jaundice eyes , where malice holds the glass to prejudice : fool that thou art ! what ails thy fruitless spight ? bark on , the sun still shines with his own light . but how can'st thou and jesuit disagree , as great a snarler , and make-bate as he , if 's bark obnoxious be , t is a new fashion to sheath up argument , and draw forth passion . what on this head thou hast material urg'd , wee 'l then consider , when thy spleen is purg'd . gideon's fleece : an heroic poem . when isr'el had done evil in god's sight , and he his scourge had made the midianite ; when sev'n years yoke and bondage , heavy grew , enough to break the stiff neck of a jew : then gideon , alias jerubbaal , liv'd , one of manasse's tribe , that then was griev'd , and by the hand of midian sore opprest , despair'd of safety more than all the rest . poor in his family , and he the least of all his fathers house , that made a feast of broth to treat an angel , to whose lot did fall the present of a porridge-pot , a present well accepted , 't was the mind more than the gift , the angel made so kind . a thresher not profest , but out of need , joash his son , of abiezer's breed . a mean estate good gideon did confine , is apt to make a bad one more repine , fret , that desert , and learned men do thrive , when he scarce , with the p. knows how to live , 't was naboth's vineyard ahab did invite , and envy mov'd this spiteful benjamite , to rail at isr'els mighty men , when he a mushroom is , and ever like to be . had the wise whining yelper been but quiet , minded his broth and porridge pot , his diet , his picque and malice then had ne'er been known , or that no flesh remained on his bone , but since he loves the word , vnmask'd , the same dress does become both venus , and his name . 't was wheat was thresht by gideon isra'lite , but men are so by giddy benjamite , men , whom the world deservedly admire , and cannot by so blunt a tool , expire , men in the threshing put to so much pain , as giddy speaks a thresher , not in grain ; romantic , frantic , antic giddy brain , ne're did the like , nor e're can do again , an andrew that wou'd well become a stage had he more wit , and less of spleen and rage . but 't is what 's natural in spleen-disease to have a dullness on the body seise , and those have fits of frenzy , and of folly , that are opprest with flatus-melancholly , spiteful , complaining , ne're content with what god's providence designeth for their lot ; malicious , envious , self-conceited , proud , do their own praise , and folly sound aloud , peevish and fretting at anothers good , the true effects of salt , and sower blood , morose , revengeful , sullen , fierce , elate , still grudging at anothers prosp'rous state ; vain-glorious , truculent , puff'd up with pride , think they know more , than all the world beside . these fruits grow on an hypochondriac man , his temper brings 'em forth , do what he can ; the cure is consultation , 't is too great for any hocus to do such a feat , 't is the concern of skilful men , well read , to touch this hydra's or medusa's head , and he that but pretender is to art , had better to a conclave griefs impart , than vent so much scurrility and pride , and think he does behind a * curtain hide , who wou'd effect the cure by hellebore , and send him to anticyra for more . can any think but sieur de frisk is frantic , when he condemns another for * romantic ? or can that man excuse him from a fiction , that well observes his * manner of adstriction ? can't his vulcanian course , philosophie of staples , stakes , and pipe-staves mention'd , * vye with any part of monsieur scudery ? as if an atome , or part minimal , cou'd be a wyth , or stake , at any call ; or what determin'd was to humane shape cou'd be a monkey , or his jackenape . of what dimensions must that atome be whose figure with a staple does agree , what was so long impenetrable known is soften'd now , and flexible is grown . figures immutable , what makes the change not less intelligible , than 't is strange ? simples , i mean , of which compounds partake , must be of certain form , and pristine make . and i should think that it were easier far for any child to bend an iron bar , than for an atom to be turn'd , or bent , by any force , less than omnipotent . must not the staple alway so endure , what can agen its streightness reprocure ? you 'l say , the same force crook't it first with ease can make it streight again , when e're it please ; pretty ! but here is doing and undoing , much like a former matrons formal wooing , backward , and forward , pro and con , you see in vulcans shop the chast penelope : and i shou'd think the staple must stand bent , altho' , perhaps , the salt-stake may relent . here better may be said , * risum teneatis ? if you can dance , the fiddle you have gratis , and if the pipes sweet melody but aid , stiff-stakes will caper too , i am afraid . but should i harken longer to this musick i should forget philosophy , and physick , smiling a little while i now proceed upon this doughty champion's doughtier deed . can any read this weak mechanick prater , and not say , that he is the * innovator , * will with a wisp , whose blazeing light intices out of the common way with strange * caprices , which if you follow , more truth will be mist , than any other * jatrosophist . is this the man will not be lov'd but fear'd , that plucks the hair off a dead lions beard ? drivels as if he still were chewing mastic , moisture as excremental , as * phantastic ? is this the man , or rather gut jejune , to set all mankind right and into tune ? * can rules and remedies of physick put ( as homer's iliads sometime in a nut ) into one sheet , on which all men ( no less ) with greater safety , speed , and good success , may more depend , securely more rely , than best pretenders to anatomy ? is this the ancient * method up to cry , to pinion method , that shou'd freely fly ? or the dogmatic curer to assist against a quack , or * pseudo-methodist ? that is , that will not travel in his way * novel or antique ( antick i shou'd say . ) * good god! with what a bold , and brazen-face , do some men labour others to disgrace , make any method of that brat the father , that is not method , but is quacking rather ; and yet these men to method can pretend , but t is no longer than 't will serve their end , be down-right quack , and methodist together , as rain , and storm , in sun shine ; twisted weather . is this the man that does so * featly prate of what will purge , fix , and precipitate , all in a breath ? a febrifugue so fine , so much a pearl , too good for conclave swine , * ducklings can laugh , at what will purge and fix , and may precipitate , but down to styx . ducklings a better name can never lack , duckling the best , because a duck crys quack . but to return , and here a little write , to do an absent man a job of right , famous at home , abroad almost ador'd , who do's for praise an ample field afford . can any think so mean of doctor willis but one that 's meaner much , and much more silly is , that he shou'd lay so great a stress upon * two cases , in a great phaenomenon ? as for the mothers , and the daughters sake , to raise in his own spleen an ague-cake ? fix that disease on principles unsound , that with one frisk are tumbled to the ground , * and this on hear-say ? no man can dispense with so much malice , and so little sense . did not this great man often ponder , when he thought of any thing he had to pen , cast much about , consider many cases , take practic turns , joyn'd with theoric-paces ? confer and lay up many things in heap , first whet his sythe , and then begin to reap ? who knew him better , had a longer knowledge , than one that spent a small time in a colledge , will say , 't was so , and no man took more care good workmen , and materials to prepare : 't is true he did compose , and set alone wou'd hear another , that consider on , but that he was romantic , or was rash , no man can say , but who deserves a lash well laid on by one of his own profession , * as learn'd a schoolmaster , as good physician . but what if this be all the daughter owns , ( who speaks with honour to the doctors bones , ) that she was once his patient , that he gave her mercury , but never digg'd her grave ; that she did slumber , far from her last sleep , the very noise of which had made her weep , had discompos'd her in a high degree and that from blame she thought the doctor free . what if the mother prove much more averse to what her dead physician may asperse ? both ill resent , and both do much condemn , who private speech will make a publick theme , heightn'd with all the aggravations can proceed from an enrag'd , ill-natur'd man , was not this ( thus against their wills ) a rape , who both did thus ( through mercy ) death escape . these are the cases , credit if you please , thus doted on , in a perplext disease . * in nomine domini , can this be the same to honesty and conscience * lays such claime ? * whose sentiment was so far in the right , when three physicians were mistaken quite ; and one shou'd tell him so , that if he wou'd subscribe to them against the patients good , and his own knowledge , he shou'd get so well . as he can't there express , nor e're should tell . where 's monsieur scudery ? one of those stories , in which an honest , but no wise-man , glories . an honest man may keep an honest wh — and conscience tell one l — but never more . the great sidleian star whose glorious ray was as the sun , enough to make a day , whose shining lustre fil'd an orb it made , tho' now he bee , ( as all men ) dust and shade , set in a clime from noxious vermin clear , and shineing bright in empyrean sphear , enough to teach an envious man to rest , for envy never haunts a soul that 's blest , painful , and pious , searching each recess of nature , and the art he did profess , endow'd with such a soul , that made up all defects cou'd e'r upon a body fall ; candid , and tender of anothers fame , a good example still to do the same , deserv'd much better language . but the sport encourag'd all , expected from the court , and disappointed . thanks my muse do's sing to both a gracious and sagacious king , that quickly found , dislik't , pluck't out the sting . knew tho' the word , associate , on that score be in contempt , as some have been before , in an opprobrious way , that to apply unto a roy●l learn'd society was arrogance , attemptible by none but once a waspe , and now a stingless drone . the radiant beames are by reflex divine , like moses face , that make the conclave shine , may fright profaner men , defend till death from vzzahs touch , and shimei's stinking breath . who vilifies what stands on royal grace , striking the child , slyes in the fathers face . the golden chrysostome , whose mouth and tongue is one well made , and to'ther sweetly hung , or rather the experienc'd vlysses , who 's tongue is tipt with better speech , than his is , words than the purest oyl much smoother are , and than the sweetest butter softer far , leaves the drawn sword to him whose arrows sly , like plagues , in darkness and with secrecy . to good effect that spent abroad some time saw men , and customes , in another clime , brought back the vertues of a forreign nation , at home well used in a higher station , must be traduc'd by nick-name of * detattle as if discoursing wisely were to prattle : ver'st in affairs at home , and things abroad , must undergo a paedagogian rod , learned , and well accomplisht , whose great soul , some may abuse , but ( justly ) none controul ; learning well manag'd is a double grace , 't is a good band , and 't is too a good face . and here i can't but cast a sheepish eye upon the vervex in anatomie , a double vervex makes a heavy busle , like janus bifrons , or the biceps muscle : nabal a belweather , by a mischance , where fate , not merit , cattle do's advance , is here discharg'd , to pick up crumms with mus , and should love majestie , as well as puss . nabal no belweather , but a fierce ram , that butts the flock , and runs at his own dam. gideon to vervex ever lent an eye , that made him pray , his fleece might once be dry , but here 't is as the butcher ey'd the goat , to bind him first , and then to cut his throat . is the right legg on which an art do's stand a mark of ignominy , or a brand of vile reproach ? that art must be but lame , if it can any way deserve that name , that wants this help to aid , and crutch the same . the famed circle that the blood doth make , the circuit it do's round the body take , a circuit that is but a visitation , to help each part , and keep it in its station , discoverd by a man , whose very name to haters of anatomy's a shame , we justly owe to this industrious art , declares the blood comes from , flows to the heart . next to the circulation i may place what 's near of kin , and much of the same race , that do's promote the motion of the blood , a muscle not yet throwly understood , protrudes it to the place where 't is design'd arterial blood to venal must be joyn'd , eases the thought , with what prodigious art the blood can move so soon to every part . the pulse that ( heretofore ) sate in the throne , cannot in this affair ( now ) act alone , but must admit this helper to assist , discover'd by a late anatomist : whose greater pain and care , he best can know that such fatigues agen shall undergo ; whose busie head and most industrious hand much greater commendation do's command , haveing that firm , and sure foundation laid , art will admire , and only quacks upbraid . this muscle d●●s the arterie invest , and suffers not arterial blood to rest , which by this means is ever onward prest , was never brought to light , till search was made into what lay so long obscure in shade by one yet living ▪ ready to maintain what 's shew'd in cutts by willis of the brain , or lungs , or stomach , arterie or vein , chiefly to give the fabrick of each part , expects additions from the men of art. that knife , and glass , the voyage first began that first did pass those streights of magellan , don't yet despair to shew where more things lye cannot displease friends to discovery , glass pylades , orestes was the knife , in products anatomick , man and wife . the milky veins , contain the chyle that feeds and fresh supplies , of blood and spirit breeds , supports the fabrick that wou'd soon decay , did not new still recruit , what flys away . the duct conveys the pancreatick juyce , of such necessity , and so great use , into the gutts , fierce choller to allay that else upon those tender parts wou'd prey . the limpid liquor , where the nymphs do sport and all the water-deities resort , of naides , and hyades the court ; the nerves , and whence the branches do commence to every part those spirits to dispense , that quicken motion , and excite the sense , keeps nature in the frame , it should be in , and shews the hand that moves the work within . these , and besides much more a numerous train of parts that make , and wait upon the brain for natures seeret service , and command , are products of an anatomick hand . who can this noble , useful art defame , whence such advantages already came ? and what may more , 't is he alone can tell that knows the work , he made himself so well . what is * superfluous , 't is hard to know , good plants among so many weeds may grow , that he the weeds must move , that has a mind but one good plant of better sort to find . can such an one * a killing idol be ? if e'r was alexicacus , t is he . much greater ideots then * at paris are fools of the first rate , any man may swear , who do expect to run a race , or go without a leg , without a foot or toe , without this art , who wou'd physicians be shall pass for fools , or lunaticks for me . * a yellow cap becomes his head the best , and better much then where 't is rudely plac'd instead of velvet on the learned crown of one of so much honour , and renown . but nothing is too sawcy for a prag , bespatters men , and thinks he plays the wag , is neither horse , nor ass , but ( both ) a mule , heady and silly , whom the bit must rule , bridle command and whip too must correct , who to defame another doth affect . a chymist only makes poys'nous projection , a yomist pleas'd with none but vive dissection : launces , or rather butchers men alive , thinks that alone can make a poor man thrive . to vervex iunior something to apply that stanches blood from jugular do's fly , intended to do greater mischief far but is but what a plethora , can spare . 't is manual operation is the bud contains , wrapt up within , the greatest good , succeeds in practise , to a man of art , who knows the whole , can better mend a part. physician , or chyrurgion can't be bad , that 's skil'd in this , and such great help has had . what if in practise some do chance to dye ? was it because the monsieur was not by : or if a tendon punctur'd be or nerve , ( which yet needs faith , and credit must deserve ) can such an accident that happens ill blanch or defame an able surgeons skill ? 't is real knowledge , maugre all disaster , will make a scholar much out-do a master . but what if what do's for ill puncture pass be nothing but an erysipelas ? on which a gangreen may , perhaps , sur'vene , and turn about the story quite and clean ; no nerve , nor tendon wounded , or no pain , what then was punctur'd was the median vein ; and so acknowledg'd by * the man of art , the first did to a vein , that word impart . is not a surgeons credit punctur'd thus , assassin'd by a scattering blunderbuss ? charg'd with as many bullets as might kill twelve men , if manag'd with more wit and skill , but now less hurtful then a single bugg , and all may well concenter in one slug. rather look home , and say thus , pater noster , forgive the daily blunders i do foster , stifle and keep from publick view , and sight , tho' others here with faults i charge in spight , give food , and raiment to a man has none , and when i ask for bread , give not a stone , yet if a stone should slip into my gut , i know to whom to go to have it cut , to one , i hope , ( tho' him i did abuse ) will not a patient penitent refuse . charge not male practise on my younger age , nor on my riper years malicious rage , from hatred , envy , malice , and the curse , of want of charity , deliver us . this is a christian part , and not to fly on places gawl'd , or strike men in the eye . the bell sounds loud , and rung will never break , much better plac'd , then on an emp'ric's neck : that 's now in middle state , twix't fear , and hope , is a vatinius to a miroscope , yet when he please , of that pretends the use as some atonement for a grand abuse . a bawble , in another's hand , in his omnipotent , and a creator is . wou'd par-boile , bake , wou'd dry , and roast enough , but that another man must find the stuff , wou'd have the benefit of his own lash , cou'd he reach further then a poor calash . those that are better drawn about in coaches are object , sitted for the worst reproaches ; but n'er the worse for rabshake's great rant , a poor physician , and a weak gallant . had he but what the fleece deserv'd , all men of idle scrible wou'd abhor his pen , a thing of such a foul prodigious genus , as far exceeds both great and little venus . but as a guerdon , for his clerkly pains more wit may be transfus'd into 's * calfes-brains . * shagrin of this concern may ta●●… the care , and frisk be plagu'd materialls to prepare . of what great use the microscope has been , to all ingenious men is plainly seen ; and he that laughs at so great help as that , needs not it's aid to magnifie a bat. * faetvs , the glory of his alma mater , buoy'd up with fame in practises high water , a sea-mark , which no pilot but must see , and by his means escape much misery , made for the good of others , and well may be pitcht upon by every bird of prey : who tho' thereon he drops his dung , no hurt comes to this pillar , high enough from dirt ; what e'r is thought of foetus , that 's the child that has himself , and his own bed defil'd , a hopeful bird , as ravenous , as great , like a foul harpie , dungs upon his meat . he that obliged has all human kind , by labouring mans original to find , his rise , and growth , and how that little can was once a point , in time become a span , that span a child , and then that child a man : whose modest skill into those secrets searcht , that nature , like a hawke , kept mew'd , and pearch't , must meet with men inhuman or more plain , with brutes that rudely will reward such pain : a book of greater worth , i here engage , than all the quacking scribble of an age , venus with all her wandring train , can't dare with this fixt star , lustre , or light compare . another scene of mirth must be * morbilli , sober , and grave , that calls to mind barzillai ; aged , and true , who complements his art , as loth from it , and it from him , to part ; at the same distance from a * western bumkin , as is a good musk-melon , from a pumkin . would bring * the queen , o're jordans stream , but that his feet can hardly go at such a rate ; wishes her well , and prays no ill may come by open violence , or secret doom ; useful to many , whose great fame and skill , his neighbours longer eares , do vex , and fill . m●s absent , in his place cannot appear , his deputie's , * the monsieur le docteur . sieur plegmatick , now in his grave , must be digg'd up again , hang'd in effigie : * branded with all the marks in head and hand , fancy can forge , or envy can command : made the chief butt for arrows were most tipt with pett , and ( more ) in malice double dipt . of whom , what here is fitter to be said , is , that a learned sober man is dead ; ought to have right , and priviledge of rest , the magna charta of all men deceast ; great in his time at court , and in the city , stanch in his judgment , though not madly witty. his epitaph , made by a man of fame , whose nature flatly contradicts his name , pictor and poet , does him greater right , is the best antidote , expels the spite , there best are read his parts , and charity , how far from base , and sordid actions free : grandeur , and candor , if you please to hear , marble can speak , and stone will make appear , to him that both together shall compare , what contumelies on his ashes lye , sacred and dear , to all posterity . if whipping cat of ninetails , or strappade , anointed well with oyl of bastinado , be justly due to a true renegado , what will become of them , that cross the seas , to purchase doctor-ship at greater ease , and , at return , affirm their mushrom skill , can cure the men , that greater art would kill ? turn tail to every thing where they were born , and think that nothing can deserve , but scorn , compar'd with what the braggadocio prates , is had beyond sea at much cheaper rates . vaunt their own great accomplishments , and art ; as if to all they science cou'd impart . these wou'd be bell-weathers , but that 't is found , the bell is crack't , or has a crafty sound . short horns best suit such mischievous shrewd kine , that nothing humane have , much less divine ; * do's such a false , and idle tale rehearse , as shames his prose , and ill becomes my verse . to give the painter his true colours then , the doctor was desir'd , or call'd , 't is ten to one ; or on the old ones tir'd back , a new disease might come , with fresh attacque ; carus , or apoplectick fit may smite , and that might make the painter say , * good night , when all the fault upon the jesuit lies , * good man and true ! without him no man dies , to whom 't is malice to assign this function , to close up eyes , or funge in * extream unction . * who can report six grains of salt of amber , can , but by frisk be thought , to fill a chamber pot of a kilderkin ? perhaps , more may bring water in great quantity away , so this may serve another to expose , the matter was not much , what was the dose : this was enough to raise the cry , * oibo ! 't is conclave cardinals make urine so , the dogs without , and * dock-tail'd currs , do miss , when they hold up their crippl'd legs , to piss . the same untruth and malice , you may find , in other things : i hast to what 's behind . to shew this monsieurs picque is general , spares none , but like to death attacqueth all , opens at all , falls foul upon a brother , and wou'd , if she cou'd be a man , his mother , sheds venom on a man of * bouncing fame , a man of great , and yet without , a name ; 't is not material , some body was meant , what he most fancies , whether dort , or trent ; trojan or tyrian , 't is no matter which , the man must scratch , if envy does but itch ; yet from himself he draws the greatest blood , and that way , if a witch , may be withstood ; but 't is no conjurer , the greatest need , is from a calenture he has to bleed , passing the line , distemper'd he is grown , else he the conclave wou'd have let alone . the thing 's too plain for any to pass by , the foul harangue of a fine butterfly ; * a famed norw . doctor , that shou'd scour unto his patient , in a coach and four , but for a butterfly , made such a halt , as made soft fire ( he says ) make stinking malt ; but what a pretty * answer is there said , by the new widow , to the doctor made , such as is deeply dipt in a romance , and savours much of a-la-mode a france . * who to their institutes a conclave sends , shou'd see that truth intelligence attends , that he be well informed , and not asperse , the living gown , or the deceased herse , that famous person was too great , too high , too wise , too solid , to regard a fly domitian-like ; when great concerns were near , then unconcerned , and childish to appear ; but grant 't was so , the patient might have dy'd , before his wife his quackship cou'd have spi'd , cubb'd in calash , or on a winged steed , what e're his haste was , or how great his speed ; since it did so evene , i may so say , and not predestinate mens lives away ; unless this may perhaps be in your mind , to frustrate means the fly was then design'd ; but did not politicks divinely erre , that monsieur was not destin'd to be there ? who wou'd have scorn'd the coach , and been the fly , put on his wings , before the sick should dye . and since i name his quackship , 't is but right , to bring some of his virtues into sight , his craft , and his technologie , to get the fish that will not bite , into his net. * first he before him sendeth out a scout , to make his way , and bring the thing about ; instructs his emissaries , sends before such cattle , then himself knocks at the door ; but first ( desir'd ) his scout prepares the way , and what an artist this man is , does say , has cured such and such , that were deplor'd , and by his speech , makes him almost ador'd ; then does the woodcock fall into the trap , and lives or dies , as good or ill shall hap . works off the former * physick-man , that he , to kill , may have the greater liberty ; is petulant , and seldom will confer about the case of any * sufferer , without affront , or huff , will take a care the man he meets , be just of his own hair , no joyning else , else no way to comply , but discord is the greatest harmony . such rascal deer do oft out ly the pale , and are not much concerned in the tale ; but if they wanton , or too fat do grow , the keeper then must use his gun or bow. * the nail well clenched on the other side , fast rivetted , will ever so abide , cannot be drawn , untill his pincers come , that for another left so little room ; a nail that 's driven with so great a stroke , as might one of the brother-hood provoke ; isma'l , contentious member , rotten limb , conclave , and quack , are jointly met in him : to whom i wish a temper free from stealing , less of the quack , and more of fairer dealing ; or , if he wants an office , i 'd prefer to be the conclaves annual scavenger , provided he himself did well demean , not make more foul , the place he should keep clean . * the next physitian to the house that 's best , in spacious paris , sacred in the west , must have a flap of reynards stinking tail , tho' it to hurt him nothing does avail ; 't was nothing but because he was not there , had he but come , h 'ad cur'd the pewt . but being not call'd in , the man was slain , unhappy much , beyond a country swain ; two planets ( * saturnine ) presage his death , when he alone propitious was to breath ; cou'd give the lease of life a longer date , cou'd parly death , and give a check to fate , cou'd be the best directing cynosure , and knew the thing , did never fail to cure. were * russia discipline now used here , he wou'd his share of justice have , i fear , whose longer practise ne're can maiden be , as an assize from execution free . had such a custom been in england , then he never now had rail'd at better men ; had been a sufferer by lex talionis , and no body had taken out de bonis . this only wou'd notabile have been , and he out of a constant course of sin . but since he lives to cast that in the dish of one , has greater fame than he cou'd wish , i hope all men will laugh , and no man vex at the fly trick of such a carnifex . a fatal error , there , perhaps might be unknown to him , caus'd that catastrophe , or time appointed , which god only knows , without a fault , the patients eyes might close , which here i leave to men of art that know what as'rum ' roots , and ruckthorne syrup do ; only suggest scammoniats , and mercurials , have made more slaughter , and procured more burials . these are the marks this monsieur levels at , too free in censure , ever to be fat , in scribling spends himself : thus rabbits play , much rain , and frisking washes fat away . if any more his venom'd arrows hit ▪ for i did only cast an eye on it ; never have patience libels to peruse , that learned men , and worthy do abuse : never approve in poetry , or prose , to hang a man , unless 't is by the nose , he that le ts loose a bull-dog pen on man , will cut his throat , when e're he fairly can . credit is next to life , nay , greater bliss , a better being , than bare being is : who , unprovok't , another sets upon , 't is ten to one is scratcht , if not undone . to any toucht , if i have not done right , i will next time tarantula does bite , next caper's cut , or the next frisk is made , and now retire from sun shine into shade , to meditate upon a hackny jade . first from the worthier men their pardon crave beneath desert , if treated 'em i have . here gemini the constellation shines , simeon with levi force together joyns ; * simeon the doctor does in van appear , levi the surgeon marches in the rear , commanded by de frisk , all three attaque , and joyntly leap upon anothers back . had not this doctor better staid at home , then come abroad to carp , and play the mome ; whose haunches wou'd much better fill a chair , then play such pranks , scarce here accounted fair , beneath the worth and place of a professor , to favour trigg , or culpeppers successor . levi the younger tribe , and much more dull , famous for little brain , and a thick skull ; who shews his teeth , that are too blunt to bite , and hates what he should be , an isra'lite , the junior vervex is the likeliest man , levy's full inch-thick cranium to trepan , vvhere can no danger be of hurt to brain , much like a rabbets , when the moons in vvain . levi the cursed cow with her short horns , may cure a pensil wart , and cut mens cornes , but if you look for one of greater art , gideon can tell where vervex keeps his mart . and here i may both prose and poem joyn , embarked in almost the same design , profane , traducing , dull , in every line ; prose without grace , and poems without wit , are like a rotten nut has nought in it , when magot has devour'd the kernel , then the empty shell is not fit food for men. were i to chuse what man i thought the best , and among poets saul above the rest ; i ne're should think a self-conceited thing cou'd be of very poetasters king ; i rather like a modest muse , that hears , what others say , and at them pricks her ears , then a damn'd porcupine , whose venom'd quill , can shed the blood of whom he please to kill . is 't wit or wile , i 'd ask a sordid muse , in proser , or in poet , to abuse ? here now my muse , wou'd take a little rest , claiming what others want , quieta est . ( after a little pause . ) she 's now refresh't , and travels on before ye , into some other parts of sacred story . when isra'l was to try the mighty band of his almighty sovereigns command , to cause the force of midian to retreat , and with 300 a great host defeat ; then gideon pray'd , a fleece , if dry , might be a signal promise of a victory ; his suit was granted ; fleece was dry ; on all the ground about a mighty dew did fall . 't is now no miracle , the fleece is dry , gideon can shew 't without a prodigy . and to its dryness you may add , 't is light , with pores well stufft with drollery , and spite : who ought of argument in it can meet , had need of eyes that are not dim to see 't . no vein but railing , and of nerves not one is to be found in this dry sceleton : the viscera are all become one spleen , nought else but that , and lungs are to be seen ; nought else does fill the cavity below , except that part whence bitter gall does flow . jejunum does appear the greatest gut , ileon , and colon , are in caecum put , caecum's the babies rectum too , the blind gu●●●… so cramm'd , it leaves a stink behind , a stink does to the infant most adhere , who does himself with his own dung besmere . the brain so little , and its bulk so small , is next of kin to what is none at all ; and easie 't is to think , a thing that 's dull can come from none , but from an empty skull . yet that which greatest therein i do see , is what is call'd r●te mirabile . a net well bird-lim'd , spred with a design to hasten work , and multiply the coin. this was a voyage for the golden fleece , attempted by a flock of gaggling geese : not such as sav'd romes capitol from harm , but such as colchos were resolv'd to storm . a crew of sea-men , strong and lusty louts , and jason there , chief of the argonauts . but stay — — 't is not the taking some outlandish air , can make a man accomplisht home repair , unless the root be in him , no good fruit can be expected ; 't is a better brute , a stallion drest with ribbon , so well bred , to leape a common brain , and vulgar head. a pair of whiskers , and the sieur de frisk , make art no greater , tho' the man more brisk ; some transmarine , tho' hospital physicians have no more skill than vagabond musicians ; 't is judgment to the mill that brings the grist ; the butcher sees more than th' anatomist ; things too familiar seldome will grow big ; a grocers prentice scarce will touch a fig ; and tho' the traveller the cogg more mind , the home-bred dusty-pole more corn will grind . physick , and all the care of it is vanish't , out of that breast wou'd have physicians banish't ; * writes bodin , sueton , seneca say thus , quintilian also , and herodotus ; if they a barb'rous action but relate , the same is laudable in his wisepate ; and what in foreign parts inhumane was , must every where as practicable pass , because some suit not with a peevish mind , to all in general he 'l prove unkind , taking a pet ( perhaps ) at two or three , extend his rage to all the faculty : rip up the bowels , that himself have born , and nero-like , expose to view and scorn : but this does too great honour to him lend , med'cin no viper is , nor bare this fiend ; an asiatick monster , meager , slender , got where wild beasts come down to drink , and gender . 't is best this way an artist to become , and this the best anatomy to some . who , if they bring this custom into fashion , should be the first are banisht from the nation ; were all like him to physick did pretend , most wou'd be plea'sd it might have such an end . can any think this probable can be ; * new observations in anatomy shou'd be discovered more by one than all the num'rous conclave , pope , and cardinal ? and yet this man dissection to pursue , with all the malice to a caitiff due ; here 's a plain surfet taken of a knife , too much of pride , too little of a wife perverteth judgment , and debauches life . herostratus , a temple did inflame , to see if that way he cou'd raise a name : and 't is the province of a sneaking drabb to lend sometimes authority a stabb : 't is a great step to an egregious knave , at one time to attaque a whole conclave : and tho' the care be great of guard and welt , the blow may be , when unexpected , felt . a suburb-cat should mind no city-mice ; distemper'd persons need the most advice , a name so great , so famous , cease to wear , or to abuse his conclave , quack ! forbear ; and that of gideon evermore decline , or , under meaner fortune , cease to whine . he that would live in calm , and rest in shade , must not anothers name or fame invade ; for who an ill aggressor once is found , is ever plagu'd still to make good bad ground . who loves to contradict anothers sense , may that way doctor singular commence , live an uneasie life , and when he dies , have this inscrib'd , * doctor of contraries . but to go on with a brisk gale and tyde , and after safely at an anchor ride ; breath of good men , not to usurp , but gain , saluted admiral upon the main , top and top gallant , pendant , streamer wear , is that which contradiction cannot bear . roughness one creature claims as a true mark , and curs may have a property to bark , shapeless is one , and snarling is the other ; diff'rent in kind , in rudeness each a brother . honour is not in him that does receive , but better plac'd in him , that does it give ; he is the fountain whence respect does flow ; the man is but a rivulet below , damn'd up , or stopp'd , by every wash , or fall of a great tide , or of a rotten wall. the best advance is by humility , and none can make so great a leap , as he that first retreats , and then comes on more fierce , fetches it further , than i can rehearse . i ne're the better am , if ten be bad , nor can one vertue in their vice be had . i may a bitter envious mind express , and thereby make my self so much the less but if i wou'd august and great appear , i 'd not deserve , or no mans censure fear : censure but few ; not count my self the best , he that connives is sooner at his rest . 't is an ill way to be a man of * note , to take all men he meets with by the throat ; expose with all the foulest play he had , vvhat , with a fair construction , can't be bad ; vvere all due circumstances weigh'd and clear , the charge wou'd not so terrible appear : but when one so much envious freedom takes , censures but what himself observes and makes ; 't is ill to bring such mormo's into sight , and then with them himself , and others fright , lay death and slaughter at anothers door , that is as far from that , as being poor . first make a body of absurdities , then cloth it with malicious disguise . 't is no good nature , much less any skill , to save the patient , but the doctor kill , endeavour , by all means , such to expose , are others friends , and only are his foes ; made so by crossness , and a peevish frame , that will allow none else to have a name . envy 's the worst companion e're can be , embracing , jvy-like , it kills the tree ; 't was aeacus did wittily torment , and with such vvit was into torment sent ; there made a hellish judg , fit for the place , some still remain of aeacus's race : but i can ill allow it to be wit , folly enough may be observ'd in it ; folly the wit has so much overgrown , that wit from folly hardly can be known . some wore their eyes abroad , the story tells , at home were beetles , moles , and dotterels . candour becomes all men of greatest art , not to be too severe , or madly tart ; who makes a burning-bull for others fame , perillus like , must perish in the same . a tyrant can't but this just sentence pass , since both are hot , and both are made of brass . hee l find two things , whoever shall be there , to be a patient , and a sufferer ; in heat tormenting that must suffer still , let patience , or impatience work its will. the conclave ne're will need , nor fear that fiend , that in reproaches does his talent spend ; but in contempt , and plain defiance stands with envious quacks , and boasting * scharlatans . to the readers of this poem . a smiter wou'd let none pass by , without a blow or calumny , and those upon their faces found , he jobbernowl'd against the ground ; to give an ease was general , * the cynick hung him on the wall of aesculapius temple , where before that god he did appear , and all spectators present , saw a rayler , an anathema . believe not me , believe your eyes , a smiter is made sacrifice . philiatrus . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a42302-e110 * p. 158. * intred . notes for div a42302-e940 * quevedo's p. 235. notes for div a42302-e2050 * introduct . * p. 185. * p. 173. * 173.174.175 . * p. 196. * p. 199. * p. 196. * p. 186. * p. 197. * p. 194. * p. 120. * p. 95. * p. 100 * p. 186. * p. 82. * p 21● . 211. * 16● . * p. 172. * p. 193. * p. 8. * p. 19. * p. 75. * p. 15● . * p. 110. * p. 30. * p. 8. * p. 19.5 . * p. 60. * p. 43. * p. 13. * p. 188. * p. 135. * p. 8. * medicina . * p. 135. * p. 110 &c. * p. 71. * p. 75. * p. 135. * p. 74. * p. 75. * p. 15. * introd . * p. 83. * p 50. * p. 60 , 61. * p. 198. * p. 61. * p. 62. * p. 5. * p. 90. * p 147. * p. 148. * p. 91. * p. 14. * p 114. * introd . * p 135. * p. 158. * p. 107. notes for div a42302-e18160 * vid. diog . laert. in vita diog . p. 388. ed. steph. 1593. ubi haec verba : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . gulielm, fabricius hildamus, his experiments in chyrurgerie concerning combustions or burnings made with gun powder, iron shot, hot-water, lightning, or any other fiery matter whatsoever : in which is excellently described the differences, signs, prognostication and cures, of all accidents and burning themselves : very necessary and useful for all gentlemen, and soldiers as well of the trayned bands, as others, especially upon sudden occasions / translated out of latine by iohn steer, chyrurgeon. de combustionibus. english fabricius hildanus, wilhelm, 1560-1634. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a41151 of text r22891 in the english short title catalog (wing f72). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 89 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 33 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a41151 wing f72 estc r22891 12125680 ocm 12125680 54589 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41151) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 54589) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 93:12) gulielm, fabricius hildamus, his experiments in chyrurgerie concerning combustions or burnings made with gun powder, iron shot, hot-water, lightning, or any other fiery matter whatsoever : in which is excellently described the differences, signs, prognostication and cures, of all accidents and burning themselves : very necessary and useful for all gentlemen, and soldiers as well of the trayned bands, as others, especially upon sudden occasions / translated out of latine by iohn steer, chyrurgeon. de combustionibus. english fabricius hildanus, wilhelm, 1560-1634. steer, john, chyrurgeon. [4], 66 [i.e. 60] p. : ill. printed by barnard alsop ..., london : 1642. translation of: de combustionibus. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng burns and scalds. medicine -early works to 1800. a41151 r22891 (wing f72). civilwar no gulielm. fabricius hildamus, his experiments in chyrurgerie: concerning combustions or burnings, made with gun powder, iron shot, hot-water, fabricius hildanus, wilhelm 1642 15571 9 0 0 0 0 0 6 b the rate of 6 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-01 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2007-01 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion gulielm . fabricius hildamus , his experiments in chyrurgerie : concerning combustions or burnings , made with gun powder , iron shot , hot-water , lightning , or any other fiery matter whatsoever . in which is excellently described the differences , signs , prognostication and cures , of all accidents and burning themselves . very necessary and useful for all gentlemen , and soldiers as well of the trayned bands , as others ; especially upon sudden occasions . translated out of latine by iohn steer , chyrurgeon . london , printed by barnard alsop , living in grubstreet , 1642. a table containing the contents of each severall chapter in this booke , chap. i. fol , 3. of the definition and cause of combustions and burnings . the degree and distinction of combustions , declared in three particulars , as also from whence the directions curative are to be taken . chap. 2. the signs by the which those three degrees of combustions may be known and distinguished , chap. 3. the sign or prognostication of combustions , chap. 4. of a two-fold method of curing combustions , chap. 5. the curations of the first degree of combustions , chap. 6. the curation of the second degree of combustions , chap. 7. the cure of the third and last degree of combustions , chap. 8. of the combustions of the eyes , chap. 9. of combustions of the groynes , chap. 10. of combustions of the joynts , chap. 11. of pain , and the cure thereof , chap. 12. of the imbecillity of the sight , chap. 13. of the deformity of scarres and their remedy chap. 14. of the retracted nerves and crooked juncturs after combustions , chap. 15. of lightning , and how those that are stricken with it , are to be succoured , chap , 16. the end of the table . chap. i. of the definition and cause of combustions or burnings . although combustions be very well knowne from other effects , yet for the better explaining of the doctrine , before wee enter any further , we will thus describe it . combustion is the solution of continuity of epidermis or the outward skin of the body , sometimes of cutis or the true skin , and oftentimes of the musculi , flesh , veynes , arteries , nerves , &c. marked with the strength of the fire ; now there followeth after this combustion vehement paine , inflammation , pustels , &c. and if the combustion be deep , the body will be foule , and will easily produce a filthy and malignant vlcer , for as soone as ever the fire or the firy substance hath touched the skin , the radicall moysture is presently dryed from the part ; hereby the skin waxeth hard , and is drawn together . the rest of the humour which remaineth within the skin and the parts adjacent , becommeth very hot , and getteth the nature of the fire : furthermore , that hardnesse of the skin which the parts circumjacent have drawne together , as also the ebullution of humours and solution of continuity do raise intollerable pain , which draweth unto it many humours from the parts adjacent , which ( if the combustion be but light ) doth run together under the upper skin , and hardneth the same , by reason of the strength of the fire ; and not admitting transpiration they are lifted up , and hereby come pustels ; but if the combustion be great , so that the true skin be also hurt , it will be hardned unto an escarre , then the humours which are ingendred and whatsoever else is retained and imprisoned under that hard skin will still flow thither by reason of the paine , whereby not onely the heat which they have received of the fire is increased ; but also what blood or humours sover doth flow from the body and the parts adjacent , do also wax hot and burning , and doe get a certaine sharpe and biting quality : hereby it commeth to passe , that the humours doe crode and knaw the place affected , and doe cause a great vlcer . furthermore it is to be noted , that as there are many things with the which the fire doth imprint his strength and quality , which as they doe differ in substance , so one much more vehemently burneth then the other ; therfore how much hard or solid the wood or mettle is , so much the more ardent heat is retained therein : also the heat of oyle , fat , waxe , pitch , new wine boyled unto the third part , as hereafter we will declare by an example ; and those which doe lightly sticke are much mor hotter then hot water ; for experience teacheth that lead will be dissolved in hot oyle , which will never be done in water , although it be in the height of heat . when lyme is quenched then it is so heated , that not onely it exulcerateth and burneth the skin and the flesh , but also it most violently draweth together the skin , nervs , and junctures . but the most vehement and dangerous fire of all , is heavenly fire , or lightning , for it containeth supernaturall faculties , as hereafser in order shall be declared . chap. ii. the degree and distribution of combustions declared in three particulars , as also from whence the directions curative are to be taken . although combustions be made of divers matters , as with mettels and liquors , as wee have afore declared , yet that little or nothing profiteth to the cure ; for even as combustions made with red hot iron is like unto combustions made with gold or silver being hot , so also cembustions whether they be made with hot oyle , wax , pitch , &c. among themselves ( according to their snbstance ) doe not differ , neither do they require a particular method in curing ; even as that most worthy d. d. laurentius faubertus , a singular man , and well practised in chirurgery , doth testifie . now as the cure may bee rightly instituted , we will divide all combustions , of what fiery matter soever they are made , into 3. divisions , to wit , into a small , indifferent , and great ; for if the thing which burneth doth not long stick unto the body , or be but light as straw , flax , hemp , or any kind of light or dry wood , or any thing which quickly falleth off , they are but only pustels raised , and this is the first degree or particular : but if the substance doe something longer stick , or shall be induced with a more violent heat , then not only the pustels are raised , but also the true skin is made destitute of radicall moysture from the part , and it is something dryed and drawn together , but not as yet any escar made . thirdly , if the fiery matter do stick very long , and doth contain in it a most violent heat , then not onely the true skinn , but also the flesh , veins , arteirs , nerves &c. are burned , drawn together , and dryed into an eskar , because the naturall moysture is consumed , with the strength of the fire : wherfore there are medicines which are to be changed and applyed , according to these differences , as hereafter is declared . the second iudication is taken from the part affected , for not one and the same medicine doth agree with the eye members , generative , nerves , iunctures , musculous , flesh , &c. also women and children , who are endued with an exquisite sence , do require more gentle medicines , but contrary those of a hard and rustique flesh , and which are strong men , require more stronger remedies , as galen rightly admonisheth . from this description , and distribution of combustions the method of curing easily appeareth , which wee ( god willing ) will declare in three chapters , like as wee have distributed combustions in three species or particuculars . chap. iii. the signes by the which those three degrees of combustions may be knowne and distinguished . seeing that wee have divided combustions into three degrees or species , and further , have prescribed a proper remedy unto every particular , it is necessary to declare how they are distinguished by signes and notes ; therefore the signes of the first particular or small combustion are these , rednesse of the skin , a sharpe and pricking pain , like as though the skin were rubbed with nettle-sced ; by and by ( except there be fit remedies applyed ) the place is inflamed , and pustles doe arise , in the which is contained cleere and white water , as also the upper skin is separated . a light combustion is knowne by the circumstances , to wit , that the firy substance was gentle , as straw , flaxe , hempe , and the like ; or that did fall off , as hot water : or that the part touched it but a little moment of time , on the contrary in the other species , the firy substance did touch the part a longer time , or it retained some greater heat in it , as hot iron , or any liquid mettle hard wood , pitch , oyle , wax , and the like : from hence it commeth , that the place doth presently inflame , waxeth red , painfull and burneth , and in the very same moment pustels are elevated , in which are contained thin water , and waxeth yellow and is sore by reason of the stretching of the skin , which is stretched and drawne together by the stanch of the fire . now in the last species , even in the same moment when the firy substance doth sticke to the body , there are pustels elevated , but presently they fall again , and chiefly in same place where the combustion is great and vehement , and the under skinne seemeth blacke and wanne , and hardly feeleth , though it bee pricked with a lancet , for there is a hard and dry crust , which when it falleth off , there remaineth a deep and profound vlcer , from the nature of the firy matter , and the space how long it hath stucke unto the body , a great combustion may be knowne . furthermore combustions doth speedily require a surgeon , and let him inquire to what species it is to be referred to wit , whether it be light , indifferent or great , if it be light , let it be holpen with the remedies declared in the 6. chap. least pustels bee raised ; if indifferent , then tune unto the 7. chap. but if it be vehement and great , poceed ; as we have declared in the 8. chapter . chap. iv. the signe or prognostication of combustions . a light combustion , where the the skin is only hurt , although it be something painfull , yet it may easily , and in a short time be cured , and there will scarce any scarre be perceived , if the cure be rightly instituted , and according to art : but contrary , a great combustion is hard to be healed , which also leaveth behinde it a filthy and withered scarre , by reason of the perdition and contraction of the skin , if pustils do not appeare in the beginning . the many humours do concurre together unto the offended part , which do putrifie and get a kind of a sharpe and knawing quality , so that they doe deeply crode the skin and flesh , and do cause a rotten ulcer and naughty scar : therefore the pustels are presently to be cut , that the sharp and hot water may flow forth . in wholsome and well-tempered bodies combustions is healed with a little labour : contrary in foule and plethorique bodies , it is hardly cured , and doth easily grow to a putred ulcer . for paine doth continually draw unto it humours and blood from the body , hereby the part affected , waxeth hot , and it flamed , and divers and naughty symtomes doe follow . combustions of the head and face do leave behind them smooth scarres , for the skin is so dryed and contracted with the fire , and the pores so shut , that the haire will never after come forth , nor grow . combustions of the eyes and the eye-browes , and of the members adnata and cornea although they be light , yet are they dangerous , and there may easily follow a deprivation of sight , or at the least a great imbicility , and the eye-lids may bee turned inwards . also combustions of the groyne are very dangerous , and hard to be cured , for these members neere unto the privie parts are moist , weake , and easily hurt by flux of humours . combustions of the belly is alwayes dangerous and hard to be cured , for the muscels of abdomen are in perpetuall motion , by reason of inspiration expiration and extention , which is mad with meat and drinke , excretion of excrement , laughing , crying , as i have observed in my country of hildane in a certaine childe of three yeares old , for hee being affected with a dangerous burne in the belly procured us much businesse the space of eight months . but if an intestine or gut in any part be burnt , it is mortall , as also the burning of lightning is mortall , as it is declared in its proper place . combustion of the great vessels of the arteries and veynes are dangerous , chiefly if it be deepe , for the heat contracteth and shutteth those vessels whereby the spirits and blood cannot flow to give life and nourishment , and then followeth gangrena and atrophia , as wee have shewed in our tract de gangrena & sphacelo . burning also of the nerves and articuls doe easily draw together the junctures : therefore it is needfull that the surgeon doe use great diligence in these kinde of burnings , and that he study presently from the beginning to soften the hardnesse and roughnesse of the skin with fit medicines , and to draw away and disperse the violent heat of the fire . chap. v. of a two-fold method of curing combustions . although there be an infinite number of medicines in use both among practitioners and the vulger sort of people for burnings , whether they be plaisters or ointments , juices , or distilled water ; neverthelesse , that all doe tend to the same end , to wit , that they doe either choke , resolve , or dissipate the corrupt matter or heat , which is left in the part , now the suffocating or choking of corrupt matter is done , either with cold and moist mndicines , as with the juices and waters of houslike , lettice , henbane , nightshad , and the like , or else with cold and dry things , such as are bale armeni terra sigillat , ceruse , potters clay , and such like plaisters , which doe shut the pores , so that the outward heat which is left by the fire , may be choaked and quenched like unto fire , which is shut into a close place . the other way of quenching hot humours consisteth in this , that the outward heate and sharpe humours be resolved and scattered , even as we see coles to be quenched if they bee scattered hither and thither , which is done by hot medicines , as we will shew in the next chapter , it shall not bee needfull to enquire what method is to be used . they which doe follow the first method , doe think themselvs to be sufficiently authorized with this generall rule of hipocrates . contrary medicines are made of contrary things . for seeing combustions is a hot accident , wee ought to cure it with his contrary , which is with cold things , which may extinguish the hot & burning humours left by the fire : i do confesse those sentences of physitians to be very true , but in my opinion refrigeration in camb. ought to be done by abating : for it is fitly rejected from the first method of curing , seeing there do many times arise divers symtomes , as hereafter we will shew , for it doth not suffice only to prevent corrupt humours , but chiefly many other accidents , as griefe , retraction and roughnesse of the skin , and inviron of the pores , which doe all require hot remedies . but that these things bee well understood , let us looke unto the properties of heat , the which hipocrates doth thus describe , heate is biting in vlcers , hardneth the skin , causeth intollerable paine , it ingendreth vehement feares , convulsions , and distentions . and galen saith , that the substance proper to draw together and thicken , is alwayes proper to cold , which is knowne to be in oyle , fat , and other things which by their coldnesse doe thicken and harden ; in which it is shewn , that cold things are plainly adversaries to combustions , and do cause divers and naughty accidents , for the skin being contracted and hardned by the fire , by the much use of cold medicines is hardned , and paine is increased ; hereby humours do gather together which are not onely retained under the hard skin , but by the use of cold medicines is forced downwards , and there they doe more heat , hereby commeth inflammation , impostimation , and divers times gangrene , for the humour included , because it wanteth breathing , it presently putrifieth , as galen witnesseth ; or because the heat which chanced whilst it is included in the affected part , hath dryed up the radicall moisture , in which the naturall heat consisteth , as we have shewed in our tract of gangrena ; for this cause hipocrates admonisheth that it is not good to turn erisipilas from the outward parts unto the inward , and there oftentimes doth follow ( if great burnings be dressed with cold medicines ) herpes or knawing wilde-fire for the humour being included under the skinne doth breed a certaine sharpenesse and malignity . anno 1594. there came unto mee a certaine young man from colin whom hirpes or wild fire had invaded his whole legge from the foot unto the thigh , by reason of a simple combustion : by what method , and with what medicines wee cured the same the reader may understand by my observations chirurgicall . therefore when i did consider , that as coales when they are carefully covered under the ashes doe retaine their heat a long time ; so corrupt humours , which in combustions doe flow to the affected place , are by the use of cold medicines retained ; i have therefore more rather chosen to my selfe another method , which hitherto i have used with great benefit to the patient ; for even as coals doe quickly squench if they are scattered about ; so hot medicines doe quickly coole ( yet by evacution ) by discussing and extracting corrupt humours , as galen witnesseth . for as heat ( as hipocrates witnesseth ) foftneth the skin , extenuateth , easeth paine , mittigateth convulsions , and bringeth vlcers to supperation : so such kind of medicines are applyed to those parts which are molested with blood , ( but they must be those which doe moderately heat ) to make thin the humours , and to dilate the passages and pores : the same galen also writeth , for cold but that there might be a right and methodicall curation of combustions instituted , all effects and accidents of burnings are to be diligently examined and looked unto , so that remedies may be changed and applyed and according to their natures ; but first of all , because paine followeth , by reason of the solution of continuity and sudden mutation which violently draweth humours and blood from the body . it is necessary to use repellent medicines , to wit , defensives , and clouts wet in vinegar and water lest such like humours and blood do follow to the offended place : then let there be used and observed , dyet , purgations , blood-letting , cupping , and other revultions , that the humours and blood may be drawne and evacuated to the other part , as appertaining to topicks ; in the first species of combustions , if pustels be not risen , let the corrupt and sharpe humours be drawn forth with an ointment made of onions and the like , but if the skin be drawne together and hardned , wee ought to use all dilligence that it be softned and made red , which ought to be done with medicines which are hot and moist , as the chapters following we will declare at length . chap. vi . the curations of the first degree of combustions . the first and chiefe worke which is required in combustions , is , that the chirugion doe prevent the rising of pustels ; for if he can do that the patient need not feare any further molestion ; therefore if any one be burnt with fire , water , hot oyle , or any such like thing : if the combustion be light , presently let the place be madified with water or spettle , and then held to fire as long as may be suffered , or let the burnt place be dipped in hot water , or if that will not be conveniently done , let a sponge or clout be wrung out in hot water , and applyed to the place , for that outward heat doth draw unto it empyruma , that is , heat left by the fire in the burned part , as aristotle and experience teacheth ; for as a scorpion being applyed to the bite of a scorpion doth draw to it his proper poyson ; so doth heat draw heat : hereby onions being mixed in a morter with a little salt and applyed to the burnt place , doth draw forth the corrupt humours , and suffereth not the pustels to arise , it may be spread on little pleggets and applyed , untill the whole burnt place bee covered . also this following oyntment doth violently draw forth corrupt humours , and will not suffer the pustels to arise . ℞ caepae crudae ℥ . 1. ss. salis . saponis ulbi veneti , ana . ℥ . ss. let them be mixed in a morter , and make an oyntment with oyle of roses and sweet almons . anno 1604. as my beloved wife was boyling of new wine in a great skellet , and stirring it with a spatter , she unadvisedly thrust her hand unto the wrist into the boyling wine , when it was boyled even unto the very height and thicknesse , whereby there presently arose a vehement paine , not onely in the hand , but also in the whole arme , the wine being washed away with hot water , wee applyed the oyntment lately prescribed ( which as then was most fittest unto my hand ) i anointed the whole arme with oile of roses , and rowled about rowlers dipped in water and vinegar , and did oftentimes renew them all . thus ( by gods favour ) of so great a combustion there followed no ulceration of the skin , but onely two pustels , the one in her thumbe , the other by her middle finger , which with a little trouble , vvith vnguentum basilicon vvere cured . now in universall combustions proceed as is declared in the following example . in the yeare 1605. the servant of one mr. ioachim , a dyer , by chance fell into a great chaldron full of hot die , from whence there followed a combustion of the whole body ; but because the die was not very much hot , those parts were chiefly burnt which clave unto the dregs of the die in the bottome of the chaldron , in which the heat was longest contained ; for the hands and face were onely burnt ; wherefore i being sent for , i anointed the whole body , the face onely accepted , with this following ointment . ℞ saponis liquidae lb ss. caepae crudae ℥ ij . salis ℥ . i ss , oleum de v tellis onorum ℥ j. amigdasar . dulc. ana . ℥ iii . musilag . sem. cydon ℥ iii . mixe them and make an ointment . for the eyes i used this anodine colerium as followeth : ℞ aque rosar , ℥ iii . aque plantag , ℥ i sem. cydonor & foenogreci , ana , ℥ ss misce , let them remaine upon hot ashes , the space of an houre , then let them be strained , and adde thereto a little womans milke , and drop it hot into the eyes , unto the other parts of the face i applyed an ointment of new wine boyled to the third part , which was solid and thick , lest it should flow unto the eyes and hurt them : the description whereof is thus : ℞ gum . elemni ʒi . oleum de vit. ovor , rosar . ana . ʒiii . saponis albi & veneti ℥ ii . let the gums be dissolved with the oyle , and all diligently mixed in a morter , & make an ointment , which being spread upou a linnen cloath , apply it all over the face , and every foure houres renew the emplaister , but the colery every houre ; also the same day , the belly being first emptied by a supposition , i opened the basilica veyne in the right arme , and took forth ten ounces of blood for he was a strange and plethoricke man , and the day following i administred this purgation following . ℞ electuar . diacatho , ʒ vi . ele , de succo rosar . ʒ ii . syrupi resat , solut . ℥ . i. with water of cicorie and buglosse make a potion , give it in the morning fasting , observing a good dyet . the next and third day i anointed the whole body with the foresaid ointment , and to the face i applyed the ointment which i prescribed for the same purpose , and in the eyes i often dropped the colerium , but because that in divers places , espeeially in the veynes the combustions penetrated deep , wee followed the same method of curing which we have declared in the 7 and 8 chapt. and by these remedies ( by the grace of god ) he was perfectly cured of this combustion in 14. dayes . furthermore the ointment of onions doth little or nothing profit to combustions of the face , for by it the eyes may suffer much hurt and dammage ; therefore this following ointment is used in place of the other . ℞ saponis veneti ℥ . 1. olei roser & amigdalar dulcium . ana . ℥ ss misce make an ointment in a morter , adding a little quantitie of the musilage of cydon seeds extracted with rose-water ; it is to be noted , that although the wine thin is not to be rejected in combustions , yet to the face we ought by no meanes to apply it so , for it moistneth , and penitrateth , and offendeth the eyes ; wherefore wee ought to take great heed that this foresaid ointment be not too liquid : many , that they may keepe the pustels from rising , doe presently apply clouts dipped in the gum of the juniper tree , others doe apply pleggets of larde about the burnt place . paulus egineta doth counsell to dip doubled clothes in brine , and apply them in lye and water , wherein lime hath been squenched , is good for the same purpose ; but these kinde of medicines are to be often repeated and applyed lukewarme , lest the linnen being dry should raise paine in the affected part . if the face be burnt with gunpowper , and that any of the graines or corne of the powder doe sticke in the skin , presently it must be gotten forth with a needle or some other sharpe instrumenr , afterwards heed is to be taken that pustels do not rise ; by this meanes the powder which is in the skin may easily be drawne forth , and the skin mundified , but if a chirurgion be not sent for in the beginning , and that the skin be already cicumtrised , it is necessary that the skin be againe blistered , which may be fitly done with this following ointment . ℞ cantharidum num . vj . fermenti ℥ ss. mix them in a morter with a drop or two of vinegar , of the which make a little plaister and apply upon the spots , but you ought to take great heed that this ointment come not unto the eyes , when the pustels doe first arise , let them be cut with cizors , then let the powder be taken away either with a needle or some other sharpe instrument , and then apply this following ointment . ℞ butiri sine sale ℥ . 1. vng. basilic . clei lillior albor , de vitell , over , ana. ℥ . ii . misce fiat vnguentum . as often as the chirurgion shall handle the sore , he shall diligently take notice how the blacknesse of the powder spendeth away , and shall wash it either with a decoction of foenegreeke or melelot flowers , afterwards apply the said ointment and so proceed untill the ▪ vlcer bee sufficiently mundified . i have in this cause used the powder of precipitate , to the profit of the patient , but to ease paine apply this anodine medicine about the sore . ℞ olei migdal . dulc. rosacei cerae allae ana , ℥ . j. dissolve and mix them , and then adde camphire ℈ j. the musilage of cydon seeds a little , mix them and make an ointment ; but if the powder bee blowne into the eyes , let them bee washed with womans milke or rose water warme , but especially we ought to use all diligence , that the flowing of humours be prevented , and paine be eased , as we have declared in the eleventh chapter . now if the powder be not blown into the skin but that the skin be onely burnt with the flame of the powder , then presently apply the afore-written ointment of sope , oyle of sweet almonds and roses . in the meane time whilst the effect is thus handled , the offensive humours and blood are to be diminished and drawne out by other places , lest by reason of the solution of continuity they should flow to the hurted part , and should cause inflammations and other dangerous symtomes , which may be fitly done by purgation , blood-letting , cupping , as we will shew in their proper place , chap. vii . the curation of the second degree of combustions . fvrthermore , if the combustion do penitrate more deep , so that not only pustels or blisters are raised , but that also the skin be burnt dead and contracted , then neither onions , sope , salt , neither any such kinde of medicines are to be applyed , much lesse those which are before said to be cold and dry , but those which doe mollifie the skin and cause rednesse , are to be used , for they are of temperature hot and moist , therefore proceed after this manner . first of all let the blisters be all cut with cizors whereby the hot and sharpe water may flow foith and wheresoever the upper skin is separated , let it be peeled off , lest matter should gather together under it , and because humours and blood doe presently flow to the affected place , it is needfull to prevent them with defensives ; therefore apply one of the following defensives , about the breadth of the palme of ones hand upon the burnt place : ℞ pul. boli armeni . sanguis draco . gallar . croci martis . accatiae ana. ℥ ss. olei rosar . ℥ iij . cerae novae ℥ i. ss. make an ointment according to art , adding a little vinegar , or else ℞ farina hordei . argillae fornac . ana . ℥ ij . let them bee boiled with vinegar and water to the forme of a cataplisme , and in the end mixe therewith the whites of two egges . this defensive is to he reiterated two or three times every day , lest it should dry upon the affected place , and should cause paine . but to the places round about , apply this following ointment . ℞ vngunt . basilicon . ℥ . 1. ol. rosar . & hillior . albor . ana . ℥ ss. vitel. ovor nam . ij . misce . this following ointment doth also very much profit for combustions , it easeth paine , softneth the skin , and resolveth the humours flowing to the part : ℞ butyri sine sale pinguedinis gallinae necent . ana , ℥ j. caerae novae . ol. lilior , albor , ana , ℥ ss , let them be dissolved together , and afterwards adde unto them croci ℈ j. muselag , sem , cydon , ℥ j. let them be mixed in a morter , and make an ointment ; if the paine be so vehement , that the sicke can very little take his rest , then mixe with the said foresaid ointment opii dissoluti ℈ ss , or else ℞ butiri recent , ℥ ii . ol , amigdalar , dulc. de vitellis ovor. ana . ℥ croci ●pii ana ℈ ss caphorae ℈ i. muselag . sem. cidon , ℥ i. misce . make an ointment and apply it . the defensive being applyed , and one of the foresaid ointments , the affected part is to be rowled in rowlers madified in water and vinegar , and if the offended part be the arme or the leg , beg in at the infirme part , for by this meanes the humours are repressed , which are prepared to flow unto the hurt part ; but if the combustion be any part that may not be rowled , apply linnen clothes , madified in water and vinegar 3. or 4 times a day , or also water wherein colworts have bin infused ( which should be of vinegar , water and salt ) in which linnen clothes he wet and applyed , it doth mightily represse the humours , easeth paine , and is an enemy to corrupt humours ; notwithstanding in the face such kinde of medicines are not be applyed be reason of the eyes , the skin being softned , and sufficiently rubified , divers doe apply drying medicines , as vngunt ex calce tota diap●mpholigos album rasis , and the like , but because such drying medicines doe contract the skinne , and cause filthy skarres , i doe not allow of the use of them , therfore i use emolent medicines to the end of the also i prepare an ointment for all combustions whatsoever , after this manner : ℞ butiri recent & tot . in aqua . rosar , ℥ . iij . ol. violatii de vitel ▪ ovor. amigdalar dulc. ana . ℥ ss. farinae hordii ℥ i. ss. croci ℈ j. musilag . sem. cydon ℥ . i. cerae q. s. make an ointment in a morter . this ointment mollifieth , easeth paine , and by little and little induceth a cicatrice ; but because combustions , especially those which are in the upper part of the skin flame with vehement sence , the chirurgions ought to have a great care that they do gentle clense them ; i , lest i should cause paine by clensing of vlcers , doe cover the burnt part about with fine linnen cloth , as with cambricke or lawne , and i remove it not untill the vlcer be whole , by this cloth the matter may easily flow forth , and the vertue of the medicines may come unto the vlcer ; now whilst that the vlcer is a curing , dyet , purgation of humours , and phlebotomy is not to be neglected ; let the patient abstaine from all things that are vehement , falt , hot and sharpe , and those things which are hard of disgestion , let him use pottage made of flesh new killed , in the which sorrill , endine , lettice and borage hath been boyled ; let his drinke be phtisan or ale not very strong ; if the body bee full , open the basilica or mediana veyne , and take out as much blood as strength will suffer ; if it bee needfull for him to purge , let him purge according to the nature of the humour predominating , concerning which it were good to have the opinion of a learned physitian ; if the combustion bee in the face , it were good to apply cupping glasses to the shoulders , that the blood and humours may be drawne backe . chap. viii . the cure of the third and last degree of combustions . this third and last degree of combustions is very dangerous , for that very often it ingendreth gangrena and sphacetus ; for first by reason of the vehement heat , the radicall moisture and naturall heat is dryed up : secondly , the skin musculous , flesh , veynes , arteries , &c. be dried and drawne together , so that the blood cannot flow to the offended part : thirdly , the humours and blood , by reason of the solution of continuitie and paine doe gather together , and increase the burning heat , hereby by reason of want of nourishment , and choaking of the naturall heat , the affected part mortifieth , as is declared in our tract of gangrena and sphasetus . in the yeare of our lord 1592. there lighted into my hands a very honest matron in hilden , who being weary , by reason of her domesticall businesse , and sitting by the fire alone , of a sudden fell into a swound downe to the hearth , and her right legge lay on the burning coales , whereby the calfe of her legge was so burnt , that a little after , ( by reason her body was foule ) she was taken with gangrena and sphaselus , wherefore the escarre being separated , and medicines applyed which pertaine to gangrena , she recovered her health : first of all therefore , the blisters are to be cut , and the water that floweth by reason of the combustion , to be dryed with a clout or sponge ; then the escarre is to be separated , or at the least to be cut away almost as close as the flesh , whereby the humour which is retained under the hard crust may flow forth , the medicines may enter , and whatsoever is inducerated and hardned by reason of the heat may softned , the escarre ought to be separated the first or second day before the part be inflamed , and in the beginning this following ointment is to be applyed . ℞ butirs . rec , et tot . in aquaros . ℥ iii . vngunt basilioon ℥ . i. ss ol. lilior . albor . amigda . dulc. ana . ℥ ss vitel. unius ovi . misce et appli. . afterwards doubled clothes wet in this following emulsion , is to be applyed hot , for it easeth paine mollifieth and stayeth flux of humours . ℞ medullae sem. cucurb . ℥ ii . sem. cidon , foenogr , ana . ʒi . let them be mixed in a morter and strained out with lb vj . of pure water , and make an emultion , in the which dissolve saponis veneti albi ℥ ss caphurae ℈ j. but if the combustion be in the face , the sope is not to be nsed by reason of the eyes , but in the place adde the waters of roses and plantaine . defensives also in the beginning are to be applyed , and rowlers wet in water and vinegar , that the violent flux of humours may be stayed ; but if the affected part be inflamed , and chiefely if the veynes , arteries , are contracted by the fire , then defensives are not so well approved of , except they have some power to resolve , viz. such as are these , beane flower , flower of lupins , of wheat , and the powder of camomile flower , &c. mix them , let the patient , and let the body be purged with fit purges , according to the nature of the humour predominating ; also open a veyne and apply cupping glasses , concerning which take the counsell of a physitian . when the flowing of humours and blood is stayed , then defensives are left off , whereby the spirits and nutriment may the better passe to the affected part , and to divide and separate the escarre : wherefore the learned chirurgion which is the hand-maid of nature , ought every day , as much as possibly he can , without paine to seperate some of the escarre , and afterward let him apply the forewritten ointment of sweet butter thereto : also this following fomentation hath no little power to ease paine , mollifie the skin , and helpe digestion . ℞ radicum altheae ℥ ii . sem. cidonior . foenograeci ana. ℥ ss. flor. chamon . meliloti ana. m. 7. let them be boyled in water , or if there be vehement paine , in milke ; then wet a sponge therein and apply it hot ▪ and afterwards mix a little oyle of white lillies , but if the burne shall be so great then it groweth to gangrena , or sphacetus , then proceed according to the cure of gangrena . but because these kinds of combustions , of the which we have spoken , doe oftentimes grow to a gangrene , therefore they ought to be carefully and judiciously handled , and alwayes something ought to be applyed , which may resist corruption , in children divers times doe happen combustions of the hands and feet , in the which the extremities of the fingers and toes are cleane burnt off ; in these , great diligence is to bee used , that that which is so burnt may be quickly separated , lest the corruption doe invade the sound parts ; therefore if the flesh and the bone be so burnt , that the joynt may be saved , the bone in the same joynt is to be separated with a raizor , not with cizors , as some would have it ; if the joint it selfe shall be also affected , let the skin behind the joynt be taken away with a raizor , but the bone with a little saw ; but why this abscision ought not to be done with inscision knives wee have shewed in a tract de gangrena , in the which also is shewed the manner of cutting off of fingers . as soone as ever the escarre is separated , it is good first to mundifie the vlcer , wherefore if it shall be rotten and stinking , the patient strong , and the affected part not very sencible , in such causes i was wont to apply egyptialum , but if the patient bee delicate , and the affected part very sencible , then mix with the foresaid ointment hony of roses , also the powder of precipitate washed in rose water , is an excellent medicine against all rotten vlcers , or else ℞ pulueris praec pitati radix aristoloch . rot. farinae hordei ana . ℥ i. with honie or roses , and a little turpentine make an ointment . if the combustion be in the head or face , adde a little gumma lemnia dissolved in oyle of roses , also a mundificative of the juice of smallege doth very much clense putrid vlcers when it is mixed with mel. rosarum and aquavita and applyed ; also these medicines spred upon cotten or fine lint , and applyed to vlcers , is profitable , or fine linnen cloths doubled , or let the part affected be rowled in a soft sponge , for these linnen clothes and sponge doe draw thin humours , which do hinder consolidation ; to vlcers already mundified , it is best to use incarnatives , such as are vngunt aurium nicotiane , or this following powder : ℞ pulvis aroes . sarcocollae . myrrhe . ana . ʒii . miso . f. pul . this following viscus doth mightily mundifie and incarnateth all sorts of corrup ulcers : ℞ herbar . centaurii et hiperici . cum toto , diapensiae , alchimellae , bete silve. . folior-arnoglossae maioris , ana m. iiij . radic. tormentille , aristolocbie longe ana . ℥ . iij . let them all be cut and beaten together , after let them be put in a glasse vessell and powre wine thereon untill it doe onely swim , and set it in the sunne the space of three dayes , then let it be boiled with a slender fire , untill the third part be consumed , and when it is strained with a strange expression ; in a glasen limbecke and in balneo marea make a viscus or bird-lime ; then cause a cicatrix , but not with those things which doe vehemently dry , as chirurgions use to doe in other vlcers , for vehement dryers applyed unto burnes doe cause a rough and filthy scarre ; therefore apply this following ointment : ℞ emplast . palmei ℥ i. pinguid . gall . et anser ana . ℥ ss. let them be dissolved together , and then mixe with them alumines vsti , saturni calcinati , lythargirii aurei , lapidis calum . naris . and in a leaden morter make an ointment adding of the musilage of cydon seedes and foenogreeke , as much as is expedient , with the which make an ointment most excellent for all combustions whatsoever ; also i have used an ointment of aliblaster in this cause with great profit , whose description is as followeth : ℞ lapidis alablastratis calc. . ℥ i. ss pumicis albi calcionat . ℥ ss make them into a very small powder , afterwards ℞ caerae albae ceri cervini ol. amigdalar . dulc. lilior albor ana . ℥ i. ol. de . vitell. ovor. ℥ ss. make an ointment according to art , this ointment mollifieth , easeth paine , and produceth a faire cicatrix . if the combustion be in the eye-browes lippes , or in the fingers , there ought to be great care taken that these parts be not contracted and fastned backewards rowled in a soft sponge : therefore linnen cloathes or lint , or thin leaden plates finely beat and used , are to be put betweene the parts where conglutination is feared : in great combustions which are in the great vessels of the veynes and arteries where atrophia is feared , by reason of little nourishment , all the affected part are the first dayes to be anointed with oile of roses , to represse the humours , and afterwards with this following ointment . ℞ cucci lumbricor ℥ ij . pinquid . humanae callinae . vrsi ana. ℥ i. aquavitae ℥ ii . misce . this ointment mollifieth , resolveth , corroborateth , and openeth , if any veynes or arteries , by reason of the violence of the fire , be contracted or stopped ; and it stayeth atrophia . chap. ix . of the combustions of the eyes . by how much the more noble one part of our body is more then the other , so much the more care is to be taken thereof when it is ill affected ; therfore because the eye , of all members is the most noblest and very sencible , it doth require a certaine particular cure : first of all therefore , the chirurgion shall endeavour himselfe in this whole worke , that he easeth paine , and stayeth the flux of humours ; wherefore presently from the beginning let him apply defensives to the temples ; and our all the pustels or blisters , that the sharpe and hot water may flow forth , but drop into the eyes now and then womans milke mixed with rose water luke warme , in which let a little saffron be macerated ; also doubled clothes madified in this milke should be applyed , and let it be reiterated as often as it is dry ; or else ℞ aqua . rosac . ℥ iij . sem. cydonior . & foenogr. ana . ℥ ss , croci integri . ℈ ss. misce . let them remaine in infutione the space of 4. houres , then let them be strained , to this musilage mixe a little womans milke , and then let it be dropped warme into the eyes , and let them be applyed thereto with doubled clothes warme ; it there be any great paine , then adde thereto a grain or two of opium dissolved in rose water , also pigeons blood being dropped warme into the eyes , easeth paine , then apply this following cataplasma : ℞ pulpa malor . dulc. suh . prunis decoct. ℥ ss. farine foenogr. et hordei ana . ℥ ss. boyle them in milke to the forme of a powltice , and in the end mix thereto croci ℈ ss. vitellum unius ovi , with a little oyle of roses , and let it be applyed hot , but round about the eyes , if the burn be but light , some ointment of sope may be applyed , which must be of a reasonable hard body lest it offendeth the eyes . this processe is not to be changed unlesse the parient be quite free from inflammation and pain , after that apply this following colerium , for the better exiccation and corroboration of the sight . ℞ aquar. euphrasia . foeniculi , rosarum ana . ℥ i. tutie preparat , sief sive opio ana . ℥ . i. misce fiat colerium . now know ( gentle reader ) that a colery , into the which womans milke entreth , is in the summer every day to be changed , but in the winter every other day , for the milke quickly turneth and waxeth sowre , and then it easeth not paine , but dryeth ; for this cause , those sharp things which we have prescribed in other burnings , as lye , brine &c. are not be applyed to burnes in the face , stupifactive medicines are to be resisted as much as possible may be , except great paine be present , for they ( by reason of their great coldnesse ) do thicken the humours and visible spirits of the eyes ; but if the skin shall be hardned to the eyes , it may bee softned and made supple with the foresaid ointments , but great care is to be had that the ointment or fat enter not into the eyes , for that stireth paine ; in the meane time whilst the skin is mollified with the aforesaid ointments and oyles , let the colery be dropped in , and the cataplasme be applyed , as we have already spoken of . generally let the patient use a sparing dyet , let him abstaine from all hot things , salt things , ginger , pepper , cloves , garlicke , onyons , radishes , and the like : and also from all things that are hard of digestion , also wine and strong ale doth much hurt , let his drinke be phtisan , in the which coriander seeds prepared , and anniseeds have bin boyled ; if the patient by reason of his age can not abstaine from wine , let him drink white win that is not very strong ; in his pottage let those herbes bee boyled which doe coole , and that doe purge choller , as are these , sorrill , borage , cicory , chernill , the roots of parsely , fennel mariory , rosemary , and eye-bright : let the patient take a little syrup cydonior , symplex or old conserve of roses , that the elevation of vapors unto the head may be hindered , if he be very thursty , let him use his decoction of parley , in the which dissolve the sirrup of the juice of sorrell , limons or pomgranuts , also confections of cherries , barberies , and such like are convenient . furthermore before i make an end of this chapter ( for the benefit and further experience of the reader i will declare an excellent example of combustions . there was a maiden childe , of the age of two yeares or thereabouts , which was the daughter of mr. samuel gaillard a most vigilant schoole-master of neocoments , and my most reverend godfather , whom by chance sitting by the fire , fell among the burning coales , whereby not onely her forehead about the eyes , but almost all her whole face , especially in one place was grievously burnt , i being called iust at the instant , i applyed this following ointment upon the whole face in the form of a plaister . ℞ saponis veneti ℥ i. ol. de vitel . ovor. et amigdal . dulc. ana , ℥ ii . gumi elemi dissolut . cum oleis ʒi . misce . make an ointment adding a little of the musilage of cydon seeds . but alwayes into the eyes drop a little of the colerium made of womans milke and rose water and apply it also with fine linnen clothes , the first i renued the plaister every foure houres , hereby the greatest part of currupt humours were culled forth , and the second day i prescribed him pottage made of new killed flesh , in the which was boyled the powder of the root of mechoacan ℈ i. and to the affected place i applyed this oyntment following : ℞ ol. de vitellis ovorum , ol. amigdalar . dulc , pinguid vrsi & pinguedinis humana ana ℥ ss. gum elami dissolut cum oleis ℥ ii . caerae novae ℥ i. croci ℈ i. misce . make an ointment , with the which i almost finished the cure , except that in the end of the cure i mixed with the foresaid ointment a little of the flower of lentils , and i anointed the whole burnt part with this following emolent oyntment : ℞ gum elemmi ℥ ss. ol. de vital ovor & lilior albor ana ℥ ss. pinguid . humanae . ʒii . misce . in the meane time whilst that the skin is mollifying , i use to extend it with both my hands , like as the felmongers doe there skins when they can them up ; and thus by gods favour she was cured , and there was no signe of a combustion left , except it were one little one in her upper lippe , in the which place , by reason of the childs unpatience i could not make the medicine stay . chap. x. of combustions of the groynes . the groynes , because they are rare , laxe , humid members , and apt to fluxe of humours , whereby they doe easily putrifie ; they doe also require a particular care and method of curing : first of all therefore ( because by reason of the vicinity of the emunctiories , humours doe quickly flow unto them ) defensives are to be applyed to the bottome of the belly , upon the combustion , also cut a veyne in the cubide , and if it may conveniently be done , provoke vomitting ; but if it be not convenient , let the patient be purged downewards , and prescribe him a slender dyet ; let him abstaine from strong wine , and from meats hot and sharpe , as we have shewed in the former chapter ; because the groynes are members rare , laxe , humid , and apt to corruption ; therefore if there be no blisters risen , presently apply some oyntment prepared of sope and onions , but if they are risen , let them be cut , whereby the sharpe water may flow forth , then apply this following ointment . ℞ vngunt rosati ℥ i. ss ol. de vitel . ovor. et amigdal . dulc. ana . ℥ ss. dissolve them , and then mixe thereto mirrhae aloes ana . ʒi . mixe them and apply them with linnen clothes , and then let the whole part be covered , with this following cataplasme : ℞ farinae hordii et fabar. ana . ℥ iii . pulv. rosar . rubar . ℥ ss. with a little vinegar and honey make a powltice , and apply it hot : but if the combustion bee great , so that it maketh a hard crust , then let it be seperated by little and little , with an incision knife or at the least scarified in divers places , then apply this following ointment to cause the escar to fall . ℞ superior is ungunt ℥ ij . pul. scordii ʒ . i. vnguent . egiptiaci ʒij . more or lesse according to the quantity of the putrifaction and the strength and weaknesse of the patient , and apply it on linnen clothes , afterwards . ℞ farinae lupinor . fabarum . lollii ana. ℥ i. ss let them be boiled in barbers lye , and then mixe to them . pul. scordii . aloes . mirrhae ana. ℥ ss. mix them and make a powltice , and apply it hot , after the escar is fallen , mundifie , incarnate , and cicatrice the vlcer , as wee have declared in our 8. chapter . chap. xi . of the combustions of the joynts . in combustions of the ioynts defensives ought to be applyed , the body purged , &c. medicines made of sope , onions , &c. are naught ; wherefore anoint the whole member twice a day with oyle of wormes , mans greace , hens greace , with an ointment of marsh , mallowes , and the like . the rest is to be learned in the former chapters . chap. xii . of paine , and the cure thereof . payne is a grievous symtome as well in combustions as in all other effects whatsoever , for it scattereth and consumeth the vitall spirits , and causeth unquietnesse and feavers , hereby followeth a defect of the minde , it draweth a flux of humors , and thereby arise inflammations , convultions , and other grievous symptomes , therefore it is to be eased as much as possible may be , now the generall curing of paine , is to take away the cause thereof . but because that in combustions there are two severall causes , to wit , sudden alteration , and solution of continuity , there shall be a two-fold scope of curing : first , that the corrupt humours caused by the fire be drawne forth , and the part affected refrigerated and brought to his proper temper , as we have sufficiently declared before . secondly , that whatsoere be disjoyned and burnt be united and consolidated ; but because the corrupt humours cannot be drawne forth , much lesse the blisters and ulcer cured , except the hard and contracted skin be first molified and made supple ; therefore it is necessary that the chirurgion doe bend his whole study , to supple and soften the skin , with those hot and moist medicines which are before rehearsed , whereby those sharpe and subtile humours may be exhallated and drawne by the pores of the skin ; but although such kinde of medicines are hot , yet they coole , notwithstanding by accident , that is as galen witnesseth , by resolving and scattering sharpe humours ; therefore if there be great paine , and that it be not eased with those medicines which we have prescribed in our 7 and 8. chapters ( the body being first purged , and a veyne opened , if age and other things will permit ) apply this following foment . ℞ radic. altheae ℥ i. florum chamomil , meloloti rosarum absynthii ana . m. ss. sem. foenog . anethi ana. ℥ ss. ol. violar . ℥ iij . let them be boyled in milke , in the which wring out a sponge or else doubled clothes , and apply it oftentimes to the painfull place , hot as it may bee suffered . this following powltice is also very good , and easeth paine marvellously . ℞ micarum panis albi lb ss boyle it in milke to the forme of a powltice , then mix thereto oyle of sweet almonds , new butter of each ℥ i. oile of egges ℥ ss. saffrom ℈ i. the yeolke of one egg , make therewith a cataplasme and apply it hot three or foure times a day , but first foment the place affected with the following foment ; if you have any mans greace in a readines , mix it therewith , for it is a singular anodine . also apply defensives , and prescribe a dyet , and let the body be purged according to the nature of the humour predominating ; also open a veyne and apply cupping-glasses ; if the paine be not eased with these things , proceed to stupifactive medicines , for it will not be in vaine , because they are cold , even in the fourth degree , and being done with heedfulnesse and wisdome , they are not dangerous , especially in the outward parts , but begin with those which are gentle . chap. xiii . of the imbecillity of the sight . seeing that divers times after combustions there followeth an imbecillity of the sight , and a great rheume in the eyes , therefore it will be necessary to declare how they may be holpen , that they grow not into lachrimale fistilo . s. opthalmia , and to a pin and webbe , or else cleane perish the sight : wherefore the cure shall be performed by three intentions , that is , by dyet , purgation , and stupifactive medicines ; and because that in rheumes of the eyes the braine sendeth forth humours and the eyes receive them , it is necessary that they be not altogether hindered , lest naughty humours should ingender in the body and the braine , but rather that those which are already ingendred and flow to the eyes , may be dryed and drawne backwards , likewise the eyes are to be defended lest they sustaine a fluxe . there are three things to be observed in the administration of dyet , to wit , the quantity , the quality , and the use ; for first all excesse , as well of meat as of drinke is to be avoided ; secondly , because the flux of the eyes is alwayes caused by superfluity of humours . the third thing to be observed , is , that the patient never eate , except the meat be first well concocted , that he have a naturall appetite thereto , and that he doe avoid multitude of meats at one meale , which differ in substance and in quality , let his bread be of the best wheat well boyled and levened , let him abstaine from salt meat , and that which is dryed , but especially from hogs flesh ; the flesh of young bullocks , capons , and of birds that live in woods is profitable for him ; also boyle with his meate and other pottages , hisope , mariorum , sage , rosemary , eye-bright , the roots of parsley , pimpernill , and the like : but if the fluxe bee caused of thin and sharpe humours , then boyle with his meate and pottage , and other warme things borage , buglosse , sorrill , chernill , celendine , eyebright , fennell , and purslow seedes , with many other things . other pottages are also very hurtfull , as those of letrices , purslow , colworts , as also of milions , onions , leekes , garlike , musterd-seed , radishes ; as also pepper , ginger , cloves , pease , and white meats instead of butter , all which are naught for fluxes of the eyes . strong wine and strong ale doe also hurt , let him use ale that is not very strong , but well boyled , or else pthisan drinke , wherein agrimony , eye-bright and pruens have beene boyled , then let it be a little sweetned with sugar and spiced with cinamon ; but if the patient cannot abstaine from wine , by reason of age or imbecility of the ventricle , let him choose old white wine which is not very strong : sleepe and rest are very convenient in diseases of the eyes , but watching and study is very hurtfull , especially presently after meat , to which may be added venus sports . secondly , let the hurtfull humour which floweth to the eyes , be digested , prepared and evacuated and if the flux be caused by a hot and sharp humour , let it bee digested with this following julip : ℞ aquar. bitonicae . euphrasie . borragini : acitoce ana . ℥ i. ss. syrupi de nymphea violatia et de cicorio ana , ℥ ss misce . make a iulip for two mornings , and then purge him with this following potion : ℞ electuar . diacathol . ʒiv . diaphenic ʒij . syrupi ros. solut . cum rhabar . et agaric . ℥ ij . make a potion with the water or decoction of betony or eye-bright , or else administer these pills : ℞ masse pillular de quinque generibus myrobolonor pil. agregativar ana . ℥ ss. diagridii grana iiij . with water of eye-bright , forme fine pills unto children you may administer them from ʒ i. to ʒ ii or ʒ iii . according as age and strength doth permit ; also let them be purged with manna , or the powder of machaocan , the body being purged use this following electuary : ℞ conserve flor. betonicae euphrasie et rosarum ana . ℥ misce . vnto children give a dram or two ; the body being purged , use this following electuary . ℞ conser. flor. beton . et euphrasie ana . ℥ ii . salvie et rosmarini ℥ i. misce . let the patient take of this electuary , the stomacke being empty , the quantity of a nut , the decoction of guiacum , the roots of china sarsa parilla sassaphras , is very good to dry up evil humours and to strengthen the sight : also the stomack ought to be looked unto because of his vicinity with the brain , for a weak stomack sendeth many vapours unto the brain which doe after descend unto the eyes ; therefore let the patient abstaine from all things which do clog the stomacke , and are hard of digestion , let him also take twice a weeke ʒ i ▪ of this masse ; ℞ pil. hiere pigr . simpli . gal. masse pillul . assaieret . rhah. opt . triti pulveris sene ana. ℈ . i. gariophiller . macis . cinamoni and . ℈ ss. with syrup . rosar . lenit , make a masse of pill . or else this following powder ; ℞ sem. coriandri preparat sem anisi ana . ℥ i. flor. betonicae rosar . rubr . euphrasiae ana. ℥ ss. cinamoni electi macis ana ʒii . pellicular , interior , ventriculi , galinarum ℥ ss. sacchari rosat , ad pondus omnium . mix them , and make thereof a powder . now followeth the 3 intention which consisteth of medicine chirurgicall , therefore if there be great pain , apply to the forehead some defensive out of the 7. chap. but drop into the eyes this following colery , and apply it with doubled clothes wet therein . ℞ aquar. plantaginis rosarum euphrasiae ana . ℥ i. caeruse lotae tutie preparat . olibani subtilis . pulv . ana . ʒ . i. misce . but if the flux of the eyes be of cold humours , then apply this colery following : ℞ aquar. euphra . foeniculi rutae ana , ℥ ii . olibani , masticis , myrrhe , aloes , tutiae preparat . sacocollae ana . ʒ . i. make a colery according to art . if the flux be of blood and of hot humours , then open the cephalica veyne in the arme ; if age doe give way , unto children apply leeches unto the caphalica veyne in the arme , or unto the jugular veynes in the necke , also apply cupping-glasses with great flame unto the shoulders ; also apply this following viscatory behind the eares . ℞ canthar . in pulv. redact. num . vj . fermenti acris ℥ ss misce . with a drop or two of strong vinegar , the inner barke of the black grape tree , if it be bruised and applyed , hath the same quality . also let the patient use twice or thrice a weeke this following masticatory : ℞ masticis radic. pyretri . summitat maioranae . nucis muscate ana . ʒi . make thereof trochisqs in a morter , about the bignes of a lupine : also mastique being chewed and kept a good space in the mouth , doth draw much humidity from the brain , also rasons and damasine pruens , moistned in oyle of fennell , and chewed , although they doe not altogether so much draw humours from the braine , yet they doe corroborate the braine and sight . i doe not allow of sneezing powders in diseases of the eyes , for by drawing of humours unto the nose , they fill the nerves optiques therwith , and so weaken the sight , also strew this following powder upon the head : ℞ flor. rorismarini , salvie , betonice , stoechados , rosar . rubr . summitatum maiorini ana . m. ss. coriand . prepar . ʒ . i. ligni aloes , mistieis , thuris , diam . dulc. nucis moscate granor. alkermes . cut them small , and beat them together in a morter according to art . if the sight be weakned , by reason of a continuall and long flux , let it be corroborated with this following distilled water : ℞ euphra . cum toto anagal . flore purpureo . henbar foenic. ana. m. x. ii . rute m. vi . incidantur . afterwards powre upon them of rose-water lb / . ii . set them in the sunne in a glasse vessell well stopped , the space of a day , and then distill them in balneo marea , with a gentle fire , it is good for the sight . chap. xiv . of the deformity of scarres and their remedy . the chief causes of the deformity of scarres , after the cure of combustions , are first , that the skin , flesh , veynes , &c. are drawne together and hardned with the force of the fire ; secondly , because that the radicall moysture ( by whose benefit all vlcers are cicatrised ) is by the force of the fire dryed and consumed , whereby it commeth to passe , that even as dry and barren ground bringeth forth weeds , cockel , and all other imperfect things ; but on the contrary the fat and moist ground bringeth forth all things perfect ; so also by the defect of the naturall heat and radicall moisture , there commeth filthy scarres ; also the use of cold medicines causeth naughty scarres , as hippocrates witnesseth in these words , cold things are biting in vlcers , hardneth the skin causeth intollerable paine , blacknesse , &c. wherefore , that we may avoid these hurtfull things , we ought presently in the beginning to apply emolent medicines , as wee have before instructed : now , as appertaining to the cure , first of all let the hardnesse of the skin be softned and made supole with the far of beares , hens , capons , oyle of lillies , and of the yeolke of egges , or else with this following oyntment . ℞ pinguid . galine vrsi piscis thymali . liliorum . de vitellis ovorum ana . ʒij . ol. myrrhe ʒi . succi lumbricor ℥ ss. misce . make an oyntment , with the which anoint the scar , every day three or foure times : then apply thereon a thin plate of lead rubbed over with quick-silver , but before the affected part be anointed with the fore said ointment , let it be washed with water , in the which bran and a little myrrhe hath bin boyled , but if the scarres be so much elevated , that they require greater mollifying , foment the place with this following decoction : ℞ radicum althe cum toto , ralic . brione & lilior albor . ana . ℥ i. flor. chammomille mel. loti ana. m. i. sem. foenogr. lini . ana . ℥ ss. let them be boiled in water , or else in the decoction of the head and feet of a weather , and apply it with sponges , or clothes dipped therein ; after the fomentation , anoint with this following oyntment , and apply thereon a cerot of oesope , or a plaister of frogs with mercury , and reiterate it every day , untill the cicatrix be sufficiently mollified , that it may be pressed downe with the plate of lead . and as often as the chirurgion shall anoint the scar , let him endeavour to stretch the skin that is contracted , with both his hands , as the glovers doe their skin . then let the wound which was before contracted , be dilated , which may be fitly done with linnen clothes spread over with glue , as is expressed by this following figure . a the wound of the scar being cut . bbbb these are foure linnen clothes spread over with glew , two whereof shall be placed to both sides of the wound so that there remaine some space betweene them , as appeareth by the figure . cccccc these are sixe strings to be tyed in knots , which may be more or lesse , according to the magnitude of the wound ; furthermore , as soone as the glew is dry , so that the linnen clouts doe sticke fast , which will be within the space of foure or five houres , then let the string be tyed fast together , and so the skin which is between the clouts will be drawne and forced together and the wound will be dilated ; in the meane time , hasten to cure and cicatrice the wound as fast as you may , and remove not your clouts untill the wound be cured , let your glew be made of astringent and clammy things , and of healing plaisters , as ℞ farine volitatis ℥ i. masticis rosar . rub . sanguinis dracon . ana . ʒii . make thereof a fine powder and mixe it with the whites of eggs and gum . tragacanth . to the thicknesse of honey . chap. xv . of the retracted nerves and crooked juncturs after combustions . in great combustions of the joynts , the sinewes are divers times retracted and drawn together , and the junctures are made crooked , and especially if the chirurgion was not very diligent in the beginning , and applyed not the splints and other instruments , concerning which we have written in our 11. chapter , wherefore we must institute a new cure ; but first let the body be purged according to the nature of the humour predominating ; for which these things following are very convenient , pil. de hirmodact . & pil. agrag . also elect. indiur . et benedict . taxatina . if the body be full of humours open a veyne , and draw blood acording to the magnitude of the strength concerning which take the counsell of a physitian . the body being purged and prepared , as we have even now shewed , the affected part is to be mollified and supplyed with this following decoction . ℞ radicum altheae cum toto radic. briconiae lillior albor malvarum ana . ℥ ii . fol violarum . flor. chamomillae meliloti . hyperici cham. ana. m. i. sem. eoenogr . sem. lini . ana . ℥ i. boyle them in the broth of the head and feet of a weather , for a fomentation , then anoint the whole member with this following ointment , ℞ vnguent . de althea auxungie humane . gallinasum anseris vrsi ana ℥ ss. succi lumbricor ℥ ss i. aque vitae ℥ ss. afterwards apply a plaister of musilage , hysope , or melilot spread upon a clout , the sinewes , ligaments , and junctures being well molified , we must use extention , which may be fitly done without pain , with fit instruments ; if the disease be in the knee or elbow , then those instruments are very convenient which are drawn by gualtherus reyff in his chirurgery . or else this following instrument of our invention which you may prepare with a little trouble , and it may serve as well to the elbow as the knee . aa notifieth a little casket made of wood , as well in the first figure as in the second . bb is an iron plate made in the fashion of a ring being of such breadth , that it will compasse the whole knee ; but that in the first-figure is open , and the other is shut and compasseth the knee , but that it may the better be fitted , it is necessary that part which belongeth to the rowndell of the knee be made hollow . cc. sheweth a skrew , by whose benefit the ring is drawne downwards , or when need requires , is lifted upwards . ddd as well in the first as in the second figure , in one part it noteth a haspe , and in the other part it sheweth holes , by whose benefit the ring is made straight , or slake , according as need requireth . e. noteth henges ; in the first figure with the which the ring is opened and shut ; therefore the ring being opened , and the legge being placed in the casket , ye shall fit the ring about the knee , and defend it with pleagets and linnen clothes , then haspe it close with those haspes and holes which are noted with ddd . furthermore , it hath two buckels noted thus ffff . and two thongs signified with gggg . by whose benefit the legge is bound into the casket : therfore the skiew being turned from the right hand towards the left , the ring and the knee are drawed towards the casket , and the legge may be extended as much as the chirurgion shall see fitting : furthermore , that the skrew may easily turne about in the ring , it is necessary , that it have a knobe which is noted with h. 1. is an iron plate which is annexed to the casket , between the two buckels , that thereby the skrew may the more easily be turned about . but if the combustion be in the fingers , an industrious and witty ▪ chirurgion may invent fit instruments for the purpose : i have restored all the fingers except the thumbe of the right hand , which by a combustion were drawne and conglutinated to the back of the hand , which kind of cure , although we have already touched in our observations , yet lest any thing should be here desired , which may fit to this purpose , i will here againe annex it , reader doe thou favourably judge of them all . anno 1596 isaacke gotteran of perr●y , brought unto me michael his son , which was of the age of 14. months , who at the age of sixe months , fell with his right hand into the burning coales , whereby his fore-finger , middle-finger , ring-finger , and little finger , were so burnt together with the back of the hand , that the fingers fell downe even unto the first articulation ; but because his father did commit the cure to unskilfull people , all his fingers except his thumbe were compact together with the skin of the backe of his hand , as it were in the forme of a globe as is seene by this following figure : after seven months , when the cure was perfectly finished , the parents of the fore-said child brought him unto me , pittifully desired my helpe , wherefore when i had parged his body with manna , being given him in his broth , i did prepare chirurgicall medicines , as followeth ; first i used this following decoction and oyntment for certaine dayes together : ℞ radic. althaee cum toto radic. bryon . lilior alb. ana . ℥ i. flor. chamomil . meliloti . chamedr . ana . m. j. sem. foenogr. lino ana . ℥ i. let them be boyled in the broth of the head and feet of a weather for a fomentation , then anoint the whole hand and arme with this following oyntment : ℞ vngunt dialtheos ℥ i. auxungue humane gallinarum anseris , vrsi , succi lanibricor ʒss . mix them and make an oyntment , then rowle the hand in a plaister of mufilage , when the nerves and the callosity of the wrinkled skin of the backe of the hand , and of the fingers , were with these things sufficiently mollified ; i cut away that hard skin between the backe of the hand and the fingers , with an incision knife ; and i also separated the fingers , then i strewed thereon my powder , to stanch blood , and i appleed theron the whits of egges mixed with the waters of roses and plantaine and oile of roses ; also i layed a defensive to the wrist , the next day i applyed this following digestive with soft plegets upon the incisions , as before with oyles . ℞ terebinth . lot . in aqua . plantag . et rosar ℥ . i. olei rosac ▪ et de vitel ovor ana . ℥ . ii . ℈ ss. vitel. vnius ovi misce . the 5 day i used this following instrument , and i endevored by little and little to bring the fingers to their naturall order : a is a splint of the breadth of three fingers , so long , that it may reach almost from the wrist to the elbow . b is a round sticke of the thicknesse of the thumbe , which is fixed to the splint , and in the middle of this sticke are foure wodden pins , noted with cccc . also the splint hath two buckels noted with dd. and two thongs signified by ee . by whose benefit the instruments is bound to the arme : therefore when the instrument was well bound to , and every where wellbow lstered with linnen clothes , i had in readines fingerstalls made of leather , which put upon the tops of the fingers , and with the strings that hangeth to them . i drawed the fingers downwards , and bound them to the pins noted with cccc . and every day i tyed them straighter . which that it might the easier be done , i anointed the arme with the aforesaid oyntment , as often as i dressed the wound , and lest that the fingers should againe conglutinate , i put between them leaden plates , and so by little and little the fingers were reduced to their proper functions ; in the meane time i consolidated and cicatriced the wounds , but not with those things which doe greatly dry , but those which have also an emolent faculty , with such medicines as we have shewed , and so by gods helpe we restored the hand to his proper use . chap. xvi . of lightning , and how those which are stricken with it , are to be succoured . because that of all fires , the fire from heaven is most vehement and dangerous , and containeth in it certaine supernaturall faculties , with which a man may soone be destroyed ; therfore i will make no long stay to what should be done therein : for this cause i have thought good ( for the benefit of the reader ) briefly to shew how those who are stricken with lightning are to be handled and i doe admonish all chyrurgions , that if they possible may , they take a physitian with them to such kinde of patients . now seeing this heavenly fire ( as experience teacheth ) containeth in it certaine supernaturall qualities , we may also perceive it to have an adjunct quality and matter , very hurtfull and venomous , which is easily perceived by that horrible stincke and pestiferous odour which commeth as well from men as from other creatures that are stricken with lightning : hence it is , ( as divers learned men doe testifie ) that beares , foxes , conies , or other creatures using such places , which are stricken with lightning , by reason of the filthy smell they cannot stay in their dens ; and dogges also will not eate of the flesh that hath been stricken with lightning . by these things we may perceive how dangerous it is to use hearbs which grow in such places : and the earth ( as oulaus witnesseth ) is perceived as it were to bestrewed with brimstone , wherefore it is no marvell , that men do without any manifest cause fall downe dead . now this fire , as seneca witnesseth , is subtill ; hence it commeth , that inanimate creatures , as trees , and the like , are also hurt ; also besides that subtilty it hath in it a most dry substance , and earthy ; hereby it commeth to passe , that it penitrateth and hurteth the soft parts of the body , but those which are more hard it breaketh , which i have observed not onely to chance to animate creatures , but also to those which , are inanimate . if there be any pustels , wounds , or spots , then apply onions mixed with salt , or the leaves of rue powned with treacle , and also apply cupping-glasses and leaches , the bladders being first cut ; those things which doe cause putrifaction and the falling of the scar , in this cause are not to be used ; therefore cut off the escarre with a paire of cizors , and then apply this following mundifying oyntment : ℞ mellis rosacei ℥ ij . futuerisradic . vincet & angeli . ana , fol. rutae cum pul . qussatpii theriacae ℥ ii . aqua vitae ℥ ss misce . make thereof a mundicative , when the ulcers are mundified then strew on this following powder : ℞ pulveris radic. vincitcvici & angelicae ana . ℥ ss i. myrrhe , masticis , olibani , fol. scordii ana . ℥ iv . make them all into a small powder , with the which with a sufficient quantity of the juice of sanicle or of peares , make thereof trochicqus and dry them in the shade , then make it into powder if any bones be broken , they are to be reduced , but the chirurgion ought to have a great care that he apply not such aftringent and cooling plaisters , as he useth to do in other fractures . for they doe hinder the expiration of the venome ; wherefore apply this following cataplasme : ℞ farinae fabar. lupinor , ana . ℥ i. ss. pul. radic. vincitexici & angelicae ana . ℥ ss. polior . cutae m. ℥ ss. boyle them with oximel . unto the forme of a powltiee , then mix therwith or triacle or mithridate z i. and let fracture be once every day new bound up , and let the powltice be renewed , but first wash the member with wine in the which the roots of angelica hath been boyled , and a little triacle dissolved in vinegar of roses , which ought to be done presently whilst the feare of the venome is present ; also apply a defensive about the broadnesse of the palme of the hand , about the fracture , that the elevation of the venome may be turned from the noble parts : ye ought also to looke , that the belly be kept soluble , which if it be not so by nature , then use suppositories and clisters , abstaine from purging and blood letting , except there be any particular occasion to the contrary , in the which take the counsell of a physitian . finis . a modest defence of the caueat giuen to the wearers of impoisoned amulets, as preseruatiues from the plague wherein that point is somewhat more lergely reasoned and debated with an ancient physician, who hath mainteined them by publicke writing: as likewise that vnlearned and dangerous opinion, that the plague is not infectious, lately broched in london, is briefly glansed at, and refuted by way of preface, by fr. hering d. in physicke. reade without preiudice; iudge without partialitie. herring, francis, d. 1628. 1604 approx. 84 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 26 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a03119 stc 13248 estc s116668 99851884 99851884 17177 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a03119) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 17177) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 990:05) a modest defence of the caueat giuen to the wearers of impoisoned amulets, as preseruatiues from the plague wherein that point is somewhat more lergely reasoned and debated with an ancient physician, who hath mainteined them by publicke writing: as likewise that vnlearned and dangerous opinion, that the plague is not infectious, lately broched in london, is briefly glansed at, and refuted by way of preface, by fr. hering d. in physicke. reade without preiudice; iudge without partialitie. herring, francis, d. 1628. [14], 37, [1] p. printed by arnold hatfield for william iones [3] dwelling in red-crosse street at the signe of the ship, london : 1604. "william jones [3]" from stc. refers to the caveat in stc 13239.5: herring, francis. certaine rules, directions, or advertisments for this time of pestilentiall contagion: with a caveat to those that weare impoisoned amulets. running title reads: against impoisoned amulets. imperfect; lacking errata; another copy, also in the harvard university library, contains errata. reproduction of the original in the harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english 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characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng plague -prevention -early works to 1800. medicine, magic, mystic, and spagiric -early works to 1800. 2003-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-07 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-11 aptara rekeyed and resubmitted 2003-12 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2003-12 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a modest defence of the caveat given to the wearers of impoisoned amulets , as preseruatiues from the plague : wherein that point is somewhat more largely reasoned and debated with an ancient physician , who hath mainteined them by publicke writing : as likewise that vnlearned and dangerous opinion , that the plague is not infectious , lately broched in london , is briefly glansed at , and refuted by way of preface , by fr. hering d. in physicke . reade without preiudice : iudge without partialitie . quemadmodum ex attritu lapidum ignis elicitur : sic ex collatione , & conflictu opinionum emergit veritas . london printed by arnold hatfield for william iones dwelling in red-crosse street at the signe of the ship. 1604. to all that loue health , and honour physicke , health of mind and body . there is an olde saying ( friendly reader ) that phylosophers and learned men agree together like the clocks of a great citie , which doe seldome concur , but for the most part differ , and vary one from another . this is not without some colour of trueth . neuerthelesse we must take heed , that we doe not therefore condemne good arts and sciences , either of vncertainty or of falshood , folly and vanity , as some haue done . for this were solem in crimen vocare , cum lippientes potiùs oculos tonsori licinio committeremus . as if a bleere-eyed man assaying to reade at mid-day , and finding inability , should lay the fault vpon the sunne , and not rather seeke remedy for his ill-affected eyes . hominum haec sunt vitia , non artium . these are the faults of men , and not of good arts , whose principles and theorems are true , certaine , constant , catholicke , and full of most cleare , resplendent and diuine light ; as the poets haue most pithily shadowed in the fable of prometheus , whom they set forth stealing fire from jupiter out of heauen . ingenia nostra habent suos morbos , quemadmodum corpora . our wits indeed haue their diseases as well as our bodies : as phylauty or selfe-loue , pride , ambition , malice , hatred , couetousnesse , vaineglory : and these as so many clouds , doe come betwixt vs and lady alethia , 〈◊〉 and darkening prometheus sparks , the little candle or light of our mindes , in such sort , as oft times we can not , and sometimes we will not see the trueth . books and opinions are mentis pignora & quasi liberi , as it were the begotten , and children of our mindes . and what father is there ( though otherwise neuer so prudent ) who may not be resembled to the crow which thinketh her blacke bird the fairest of all other ; or to the ape who so ouer-loueth her yoong ones , that by colling she killeth them ? it must be a foule and blacke fault which a father or rather a mother will see in her sonne : and it must be a grosse and palpable errour which a man will acknowledge , if it be of his owne breeding , brooding , or broching . ingenio qui vult cedere rarus erit . suum cuique pulchrum . euery one is in loue with his owne shadow . it is therefore nothing strange vnto me , that the ancient physician ( with whom i conferre in my 〈◊〉 discourse ) and other learned men , hauing receiued these 〈◊〉 by tradition , without any great examination , do labour to maintaine them in their writings , by shew and colour of reason . but i must needs confesse , i cannot but greatly wonder at the strange , vncoth , and vnreasonable paradox , broched of late in this city , that the plague is not contagious . this fantasticke conceit bringeth to mind that of the oratour : nescio quomodo fiat , vt nihil tam sit absurdum quod non dicatur & defendatur ab aliquo philosophorum . i know not how it commeth to passe , that nothing can be spoken so absurdly , which is not defended by some of the philosophers . if any one of our coat , should maintaine this monstrous and pernitious heresie , the tribe of physicians would be so farre from disputing the matter with him , as they would straight send him that anticeras to purge his braine with hellebore . contra principia negantem non est disp●●tandum . no argument is to be held with him who denieth principles , and razeth the grounds and foundations of arts. the plague is thus defined by physicions pestis est morbus acutus contagiosus plurimos inter fiens &c. the pest is a sharpe contagious disease . so that you see the plague is placed by physicians in that ranke of sharpe diseases , which are contagious . to this iudgement of aescalapius schoole , the philosophers , orators , poets , and wise men of all ages haue subscribed . how often doth tully call cataline , and other such like factious firebrands , pestes patriae , the plagues of their country : because as the plague spreadeth his poison vpon the bodies of men : so they infected the mindes of such citizens as conuersed with them , with poisonfull and seditious thoughts and inclinations . shall the ich , scab , measels , small poxe &c. be acknowledged catching and infectious , by the experience of euery silly woman ; and shall the plague be esteemed animal mansuetum , an harmelesse and innocent creature . but they easily reiect the authorities and reasons of physicians as naturians , for so they call them , and reason thus from the scriptures . the plague is called the sword , the hand , the arrow of god , therefore it commeth not by contagion , since neither an hand , a sword , or arrow doth wound by contagion . the french disease is called by a great learned man , flagellum diuinum scortatorum , gods whippes sent from heauen , to scourge whoore-masters . but if any man would heereupon conclude that it were not contagious , common experience would put out his eies . therefore these two will well concurre together , that the lues gallica , is a punishment inflicted by god vpon the filthy and beastly sinne of whooredome ( which in this age is counted but a sport ) and may be truely called the hand , the sword , the arrow of god smiting whoore-masters , and that withall it is catching and infectious , as appeareth euidently in that it commeth not onely by vncleane company , but likewise by the breath or contrectation of the tainted parties , and is sucked in , from the brest of impure women , by poore infants , and the nurses themselues giuing sucke to a childe whose parents were polluted , are oft-times infected . the like may be said of the leprosie , which may be also called the hand and arrow of god , & neuerthelesse is so infectious , that in all well ordered common-wealths , the parties tainted therewith , communi consortio excludantur , are commanded to dwell apart , non est malum in ciuitate , quod non faciat dominus . there is no euill in the city , which the lord doth not . it is therefore a fond conceit , to thinke that to euery particular man a seuerall plague or arrow is sent , and not rather a generall disease whereby one infecteth another . but they argue further . that which god inflicteth vpon men by the ministerie of angels , is not to be reckoned among naturall effects : but the plague &c. psal. 88. 1. paral. 21. ezech. 4. therefore it is not to be reckoned among naturall effects , and by consequent the plague is no naturall disease . if they will reason firmly , they must adde this word ( immediately ) vnto the proposition . and then we will chalenge the assumption as faulty and insufficient . it must be confessed that the angels themselues are not to be reckoned among naturall causes . but what shall let that , by the appointment of god , naturall causes should be mooued , and actuated by the angels . doe not angels both good and badde mooue and stirre vp the will of man , though the maner of their workings be secret , and to vs vnknowen , if not incomprehensible ? this is euident by the history of achab , and iudas . but who will deny that the will of man is in the number of naturall causes , and principles . and if the will of man may be inclined and disposed by angels , why should we thinke that they haue nothing to doe with other naturall causes . moses by lifting vp his rod , brought armies of flies and lice vpon egypt , raised a terrible haile , smot the egyptians with malignant vlcers . this was an extraordinary ministery of moses , aswell as of the angels . but shall we therefore thinke , that the lice and flies came not of putrefaction , the haile of vapors concret sodenly in the aire , the vlcers by the rotting of humors . satan hauing a commission signed from god , by a mightie tempest of winde blew vp the roofe where iobs children were . doth it therefore follow that he vsed no naturall causes , or is not rather euident that those princes of the aire , do in a moment stirre vp those naturall impressions ? the diuell casteth the saints into prison , 2. apocal. 10. but by tyrants and enemies of the church . in the 6. chap. the pale horse , on whom death sitteth as the horseman , receiueth power to kill , by sword , famine , wilde beasts . why shall we suppose that he vsed not naturall matter in bringing the plague and famine , as well as in sending wilde beasts or the sword , which are naturall instruments . afterward in the 4. chap. the angels haue charge to restraine the foure windes that they hurt not the earth or sea . whereupon it followeth that vpon the lords command they are likewise turned loose , and bring with them diuers affections and mutations of the aire , and especially contagious seminaries . it is apparant that the diuell ( who being a spirit , and of long continuance and experience , must needs be a great naturian ) reacheth to certaine witches called veneficae , diuers strong and vnknowne poysons : whereby those wretched creatures worke much mischiefe . againe , if no naturall causes did concurre in the pest , then could no naturall remedies ease it , much lesse cure it . but experience leadeth vs that both these are vntrue . we deny not but that the angels are vsed as instruments & ministers to inflict this iudgement and plague of the plague for the sinnes of men , neither that this disease hath in it diuinum quid , a secret and hidden nature , so that we may iustly with the inchanters of egypt acknowledge it the finger of god , yet we thinke it as absurd to affirme that there commeth no plague , but by the stroke and ministery of angels , as if a man should contend , that there was neuer any haile , tempest , thunder , proceeding from naturall causes , because we read , that great hailes , stormes and windes haue beene raised by the ministery of angels . historians report , that an old arke or monument being opened in babylon , there exhaled out of it , so pernitious and infectious a spirit or breath , that propagated the plague euen to the remote parthians . and in the time of marcus the emperour , the souldiers of auidius cassius , digging into an ancient sepulchre in hope of golde , which had not beene touched for many hundred yeeres , there followed instantly a huge and fearefull mortalitie . iulius obsequeus reporteth , that aetna casting smoke and fire in abundance , did exanimate and kill the fishes of the sea adioyning , which the liparenses certaine ilanders feeding vpon greedily , brought a greeuous pestilence among them . orosius , eutropius , augustine de ciuit . dei , and liuie lib. 9. make mention of prodigious swarmes of locusts in africa , which lying dead vpon the shores , and corrupting the aire , bred such a pest , as consumed in the sole kingdome of masinissa , 80000. and many more in the adiacent countries , and in vtica , of 3000. men , 10. onely suruiued . this may be sufficient to shew that the plague is not alwaies the immediat stroke of angels . galen reporteth , that vpon a dearth in his time , wherein the poorer sort of people were constrained to feed vpon roots , acornes , with other more vnholesome and corrupted aliments , there insued a great mortalitie . the vlcers & botches which are thrust out by nature , the preternaturall heat , the drought , the restlesnesse , with many other symptomes and accidents of feuers , doe proclaime this affliction a naturall maladie . it hath beene obserued in this last mortality among vs ( the wounds whereof are yet fresh and bleeding ) that women haue passed thorow the pikes more easily & happily than men . so that this hath bene called the womens yere ; because it is thought that for one woman , 6. or 10. men haue died . we must not therefore thinke , that either the angell is partial in sparing them , or their sins lesse hainous or notorious than the sinnes of men . the reason hereof ( as physicians haue conceiued ) is because they haue beene more tractable and easily perswaded to keepe themselues warme , to keepe house and bed : and by these meanes ( their bodies being likewise more soft , tender , and perspirable ) haue spent by sweating and insensible transpiration the venimous matter of the plague ; giuing thereby more speedy passage to that enemy of life , from the heart and other noble parts : whereas men for the most part being ill house-doues , accustomed to stirring and motion , haue beene very vnruly and inobsequent to the counsell of their physicians , and by exposing themselues to the aire , haue loked in that dangerous guest , to whom they should rather haue made a golden bridge . it hath beene likewise obserued , that this epidemicall disease hath had as his beginning , so his increment , state , and declination , and that it is now ( for it walketh still amongst vs in corners ) nothing so acute , violent and peremptory for the most part , neither so contagious and pernitious , as it was in the state and strength . some haue had the plague twise or thrise this yeere : but if it came only by the angell , he might vndoubtedly say with him , let me strike once , and i will not strike the second time . secession and departing the city hath beene questionlesse a meane to preserue many ; as appeareth euidently in that a small handfull among those great numbers who haue stepped aside , haue fallen by this sicknesse in the countrey , and those carrying with them from hence the seminaries thereof , in comparison of those huge multitudes which haue died in the city : and could not the angell haue found them out , as well in the countreys as in london ? againe , diuers families vpon their returne , being safe in the countrey , haue beene presently visited , & emptied . shall we imagine that the punishing angell stayed their retiring , and had no commission to deale with them out of the city ? and not rather thinke , that the aire of the city being tainted , & their bodies disposed to receiue infection , this euill hath seized vpon them ? if we looke into the city , we shall finde that in cheap-side and other open and large streets , and in faire , roomy , and spacious houses the pest hath not set in such sure footing , nor made such hauocke , as in narrow lanes , allies , and other pestered and noisome corners , where families of poore people are thronged together , as men vse to packe wooll-sacks one vpon another , so that one of them can scarse breathe beside his fellowes face . shall we imagine , that faire and ample streets , that sweet and goodly houses are priuiledged from the stroke of the angell , or from the arrowes of the almighty , more than poore and smoakie cottages ? are not such places as full fraught and replenished with sinnes of all sorts crying to heauen for vengeance , as those low and base cabbins of simple and miserable creatures ? i am not ignorant how ignorant and vnlearned men argue ( as they suppose ) strongly against all these things . if the plague proceed from naturall causes , or corruption of the aire , then all persons without exception , who liue and and breathe in the corrupted aire , must needs be poisoned and infected : which all men know to be vntrue . but reason it selfe will easily teach vs the inconsequence of this argument : for who knoweth not , that one and the same cause doth not alwayes worke alike , and that effects are varied according to the variety and diuersity of the suffering matters and obiects . the same sunne hardeneth the clay , and mollifieth the waxe : one and the same northern winde doth not pinch and pierce all bodies with the like coldnesse . if we should grant that all mens bodies were alike disposed to receiue the infected aire ( which is most false ) yet there may be many causes why the like effect should not follow in them all . as ( to make it plaine ) because one man hath carefully vsed some soueraigne and apposit preseruatiue , another hath neglected or contemned all such courses ; and as bolde and blinde bayard rushed vpon all dangers : another being a little touched or tainted , hath straightway sent for , or consulted with a learned physician , and taken a conuenient and rationall medicine : another either scorneth and refuseth physicians and physicke , or els sendeth to the physician , when the bell is ready to toll for him , and when the steed is stollen begins to shut the stable doore . but beside and aboue all this , we must know that god almighty hath an ouerruling hand , whereby he doth guide and direct naturall causes and effects , and heereupon it commeth to passe , that contagion though neuer so strong , cannot seaze on all though neuer so much disposed and exposed thereunto . all men are not poysoned that drinke poyson ; nor all killed with the sword or shot , that goe to warre . and yet poyson is lethall , and the sword deuoureth as well one as another . therefore to argue that diuers physicians , nurs-keepers and surgeons , conuersant about sicke persons , are not tainted at all , therefore there is no contagion in the pest , is all one as if a man should reason thus , that the poyson of the viper were not deadly , because the apostle paul , being bitten by a viper , had no harme , or that the sword is no deuourer , because iehosaphat being strongly belaid , and crying to the lord , was deliuered and passed with his life . i haue cursorily runne ouer these things , because the argument hath beene more largely handled of late by a iudicious diuine , and the opinion hath beene since that time somewhat minsed , and qualified ; how substantially and clarke-like i will not now stand to discusse . onely i thought meet ( because this conceit is not onely erroneous , but dangerous and pernitious to the weale-publicke , and being too grossely broched at the first , hath left a deepe impression in the mindes of the vulgar sort , who are as the oratour saith , pluma ipsa leuiores , as light as feathers , tossed to and fro with euery blast of vaine , ann idle heads , briefly to touch it by the way , tanquam aliud agens . it remaineth , that acknowledging the pests , contagion , we notwithstanding ( who are christians ) carefully auoid that faithlesse and paganish fearefulnesse , whereby we are made to breake all the bonds of religion , consanguinitie , alliance , friendship and pollicie : the husband forsaking and abandoning his deare wife , the parents leauing their children to sinke or swimme , the pastor exposing his flocke to euery deuouring woolfe , and the magistrate his people vnder his charge to all confusion and disorder . we are apt to rush into extremities . this were incidere in scyllam , whilest we would charibdim vitare , to auoid one euill , and commit as great , or greater mischiefe . as he is to be esteemed a good subiect and citizen , who though he will not intrude into euery fray made by desperate ruffians , with whom he hath nothing to doe , least he catch a broken pate , or woorse turne , yet will boldly enter the battell against the enimie of his countrey when he is thereto called by his prince , though with euident hazard of his life : so he is to be reputed a grounded & discrete christian , who as he will not rush rashly into euery infected and visited house without iust cause , warrant or calling , so when he is called , or tied by any bond of piety , nature , or policy , he will not forsake his station , or detract and forslow any duty or office , though the performance thereof be with euident danger of health , goods or life it selfe . for in these cases we may confidently expect a protection from heauen , and say with hester , if i die , i die . if we fall , we shall fall in , and not out of our way , wherein the lord of heauen guide vs by his good spirit of wisedome , till we come to the end thereof , which is the saluation of our souls . now to returne to our amulets , from whom by occasion we haue made ouerlong a digression : as i gaue at the first a briefe aduertisement concerning them , without any euill intention to wound any particular man in his credit , ( no not if i had beene able , as i am not ) so i haue reioyned not in any contentious humour , but in a desire to be satisfied if i erre , and reformed in my iudgement . i must needs acknowledge , that considering the obiect of my profession , which is that short epitome of the grand world , that wonder and miracle of nature , that temple of the holy ghost , that lord of the inferiour creatures , man , i haue bene very scrupulous ( if not superstitious in ) vsing any doubtfull , suspitious , or dangerous medicine whereof i haue not beene well and thoroughly perswaded . if any suppose this to be contentio de lana caprina aut asini vmbra , too base and meane a toy or trifle to be stood vpon , let him remēber that it is made no base dredge , but a noble , catholike , & diuine medicine , by the authors and commenders thereof . he may likewise call to minde , that the most precious balmes , and soueraigne antidots , & ( which is more , physicke herselfe , that noble science , is esteemed no better by many than a meere trifle . besides this , if the greatest , learnedest , and complet prince of europe , haue vouchsafed of late to stoope so low as to take vp ( though to throw away againe ) that base , strange , ill-sauouring weede , or rather intoxicating poison tobacco , discoursing thereof so learnedly , iudicially , and admirably , as he may seeme to haue beene brought vp all his life , at the feet of hippocrates , and not exercised from his birth , in the gouernment of great states and kingdomes , it can be no disparagement for me , who am infimus è plebe , to spend some few spare houres in the examination of these amulets . wherin , if i haue failed , and slipped now and then , ( as i feare i haue too often ) impute it i pray thee ( friendly reader ) to my manifold auocations and distractions in this heauy , dolefull , and lamentable time of visitation : da mihi maeoniden & tot circumspice casus ingenium tantis excidet omne malis . the lord of his infinit goodnesse continue and perfect his gracious worke of mercy toward vs , in remoouing wholy this grieuous , contagious , and fearefull plague , putting vp his sword altogether into the sheath ; and restoring vnto vs the daies of health and comfort , that we being schooled by these afflictions , may euery one of vs breake off our sinnes by compassion to the poore , and putting away the wickednesse that is in our hands , serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life . a modest defence of the caveat given to the wearers of impoisoued amulets , as preseruatiues from the plague . amicus plato , amicus socrates , sed magis amica veritas . plato is a friend , & socrates a friend , but trueth ought to be the chiefest friend to all true philosophers , much more christians . i set foorth of late a short caueat , concerning empoisoned amulets , or plague-cakes ( as they are called ) moued thereunto , as by many other reasons , so especially , because i greatly feared , that through an vnsound and idle persuasion of their force , other more rationall and effectuall remedies were neglected . an ancient and graue physician , whom i reuerence for diuers good respects , hath stood vp , and pleaded their cause . i amno pythagorean ; nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri . i would not willingly pinne my iudgement vpon any mans sleeue , be he neuer so graue and learned , vnlesse i be drawen by good and sound reason . humanum est errare . therfore remaining yet vnsatisfied , i haue thought good , not in any contentious humor , but in desire the trueth may be sifted out , and my selfe resolued and better instructed ( if i erre ) to consider of them somewhat more largely ; that if they be found so noble and catholike a medicine as some esteeme them , they may be still retained , and imbraced in our bosoms ; and if vpon examination they prooue suspicious , dangerous and hurtfull , they may be cashered and abandoned . first therefore , because opinion and name preuaile much to forestall the market , and wholly possesse mens mindes with preiudice , leauing no one roome for reason , i will be silent a while , and you shall heare one of the most learned , wise , and famous physicians of europe ( i meane horatius augenius ) very learnedly , ingenuously , iudicially , grauely and honestly ( after his maner ) vttering his mind of this point in question . whom i produce the rather , because it is intimated , that italian physicians ( which countrey without question breedeth many excellent men in that faculty ) haue these amulets in high and rare estimation . heare therefore what augenius without exception one of the greatest masters in physicke that italie nourisheth at this day ( if he be yet aliue ) speaketh to this purpose lib. 3. de peste cap. 27. de sublimato , arsenico cristallino , & puluere bufonis . i haue read in the writings of some empericks , that the powder of a toad , arsenicke , or sublimat , if they be worne vpon the region of the heart , so as they touch the skin , do maruellously preserue men from the plague . and they esteeme this as a great secret ; and as i vnderstand haue drawen some rich persons to be of their opinion . i who do not easily beleeue euery thing which i reade or heare , doe greatly doubt of the force and nature of those poisons , and do assuredly persuade my selfe , that they can neuer produce any such effect . and that i may lay open my opinion , we must know that experience ( especially in such kinds ) is perillous : for since the action of the physician is performed vpon so noble a subiect as the body of man , the nature and force of euery vnknowen medicine is with great iudgement to be examined & searched out : and the rule of examination is to cōsider whether reason approue and persuade it , or disclaime and reiect it . if reason allow and persuade it , thou maiest boldly vse it without scruple ; but if reason gainsay it , no medicine is to be vsed , vnlesse thou be assured of the operation thereof , by the long experience of men of singular iudgement . i say long experience ; for we must not trust one , two , or three experiments : but very many are to be diligently considered and wisely gathered , that the right habit of experience may be attained , which may deserue the commendation of all men , because it is one of the instruments ( as we haue sayd elsewhere ) by whose meanes and helpe , remedies are inuented . we must likewise marke well , that our experience take her originall from a man worthy to be credited , of great iudgement , wise , knowing well how to distinguish from what cause the successe proceedeth , whether from the medicine , the temperament of the body , the time of the yeere , chance , or other infinite respects . it falleth out dayly , that we see many effects , which haue a farre different cause from that the common people dreame of . now to applie those things that haue beene spoken , to our purpose , i affirme confidently , that such a medicine of poisons applied outwardly to the body , hath no manifest , probable or demonstratiue reason , whereby we may be persuaded that they haue so miraculous efficacie against the plague . they will say , that by similitude of substance there is attraction of the venim from the heart , to the outward part , by the attractiue vertue of the poison . but this can not so much profit , as euidently hurt . let vs grant , that the venimous facultie of the poison penetrateth to the heart , i pray you what effect will it produce there ? it can not draw the venom to it : for there is none , because he whom we will preserue is yet sound . if therefore , the heart be disposed to receiue the venimous infection of the aire , what shall hinder the force of the outward poison , that it may not infect the heart and other principall parts , and if it be once entred into the heart , what shall let the distribution of it by the arteries into all the bodie ? o great miracle , and neuer yet heard of , that a venimous facultie should flow into the heart , wander thorow the arteries , & not finding his looked for friend , should go out againe without any offence offered to the parts whereby he passed . besides , if the attractiue facultie be inuenimed , what reason can be giuen , the heart should not be continually offended by the poison thereof . it is euident , thar the heart is the principall obiect of poisons : how then shall it be touched by a venimous qualitie , and not endure wrong ? touching their experience , i cannot yet giue credit to it . i desire to see these things often tried , with good successe , to haue many testimonies of physicians of great iudgement , before i can beleeue them . but let vs come to those that are infected , and haue the poison actually seized on their heart . it may be they may doe them good . none at all . for attraction proceedeth from the stronger power , which draweth to it that which is weaker . let then some man tell me how he can be sure , that the poison of the plague shall not draw to it the venim of the outward medecine ; and why the poison thereof may not be stronger and greater than the other . besides , the matter of the plague is not properly poison but by similitude , and therefore cannot be drawen by another poison . but me thinke i heare one answer to all my arguments , that the effect is performed , though the cause be vnknowen because it is secret . this is the miserable refuge of al empericks , wherby they may easily wind out of any doubt , and absolue the most intricate question of our art without much adoe . but i abhorre this from my heart ; not because i allow no secret causes , which i grant , but because i thinke it a notorious fault , redounding greatly to the reproch of our art , if we run still to hidden causes , when manifest reason may easily end the controuersie . how will they demonstrate that poisons haue this effect ? by experience . but what experience can they shew worthy to receiue this credit ? and where are the physicians of note and learning , which approue them ? you haue heard my opinion , reseruing to others their better iudgement . now that i haue stayed your stomacks with this honest , graue , and iudiciall speech of father augenius that great and learned italian physician , who ( if i be thought too light ) may well weigh in the ballance with any one man whosoeuer he be , giue me leaue briefly to examine the reasons that are produced to proue , that these amulets do no hurt : secondly , that they do good . the first argument , if it be not altogether impertinent , must thus be reduced to forme : there is vse of poisons in physicke : therefore impoisoned amulets of arsenicke or such like , may be safely vsed by men in health , to preserue them from the plague without hurt . the proposition is somewhat largely stood vpon , which was neuer to my knowledge called into question by any man of iudgement , and the consequence which should haue beene proued , left altogether vntouched . physicke consisteth of diuers parts . that may be of vse in the hygieine the preseruing part , which hath no place in the therapeuticall . and there be many things of speciall vertue in the therapeutice , which if a man should practise vpon sound bodies to preserue their health , he might well be sent to anticyrae to purge with hellebore his vnsound braine . a sturdie horse requires a rough rider . duro nodo durus cuncus . in magnis & 〈◊〉 morbis , vbi ager necessariòex morbo periclitatur anceps potius remedium tentandum quàm nullum . in such cases physicians are inforced to vse euphorbium , opium , and paracelsus his deceitfull laudanum , and that sometimes in large quantitie : which yet no wise man will prescribe to his patients to preserue them in health . there is therefore vtterly no consequence in this , that because there may be sometimes in some diseases vse of deleteries in the therapentice , therefore they may be safely vsed as preseruatiues to maintaine health . for in such cases they are opposed against the disease to fight with it as an enemy , and so by their colluctation nature sometime saueth herselfe , as when by the fighting of two dogges , a man sometime escapeth without hurt or wound . in the curatime part of physicke , there is a necessarie vse of the saw , and of both potentiall and actuall fire . secamus , vrimus . and yet by your leaue a man in health will hardly be persuaded to such preseruatiues . before i leaue this argument , i will by your patience point at some defects in the proofe of the proposition . arsenicke , orpiment , toads and adders , are acknowledged ranke and deadly poisons in the highest degree . this is true concerning the minerals which consist of similar parts . but touching toads and adders , it cannot be verified , that they be absolutely and generally poisons . for these haue their venome , incertis , & determinatis partibus : in certaine and determinate parts , not vniuersally diffused thorow the whole bodie . touching adders or vipers it is euident that their poison lodgeth onely in the head , ( specially the teeth and taile . their flesh ( which onely is receiued ) into that noble medicine ( which thereof hath his name , and is called triacle ) is so farre from being a poison , that it is a present antidote against the poison of the other parts . and this will not seeme strange if we dare credit iacobus ferrarius , a learned physician of mantua , who in his booke de theriaca lately set foorth , reporteth that he hath seene mens hands besprinkled with the blood of vipers , without any farther offence than a little itching for a short time . and i haue beene informed by men yet liuing in our owne country , that they haue seene of our adders after their teeth haue beene pulled out , handled in mens hands , and caried in their bare bosoms familiarly without hurt . the like is to be verified of the scorpion , who carieth his venom in his taile . and therefore when they would dispatch themselues , they turne vp their taile toward their backe , and there shooting their stings kill themselues . and this they doe when they are so pursued as they see no way to escape , making by that meanes a speedy riddance of themselues . neither could they die so speedily of so small wound , if the instrument inflicting the same were not venemous , since they will endure farre greater wounds , without danger of life . therefore it is euident , that there is in the taile of the scorpion a poison contrary to the life and temperament of the scorpion . the poison of the spanish flies called cantharides , is esteemed to reside in the head , wings , and legs , and the body very medicinable . so the poison of a madde dogge lodgeth onely in his fome . the poison of asps in their egges : of the leopard in the gall or choler onely : of the venemous mouse in the vrine : the tortoise in the outward skinne . but to returne to adders or vipers , incomparable , galen in his 11. booke of the faculty of simple medicines , and in his booke de opt . secta cap. 12. telleth of certaine persons who being desperately diseased , by the vse of wine , whereinto whole adders had by chance fallen , not onely receaued no maner of hurt , but happily thereby recouered their health . there is therefore so great vertue in the flesh of vipers to resist malignity , that the venome of the externall parts seemeth by the force thereof altogether drowned and subdued . it followeth not therefore , because there is poison in the viper , therfore his whole subiect is a strong poison . for so a man might conclude , that the whole body of some men is poison , because there is in their spettle and teeth a venemous quality , as i my selfe with others haue seene euidently by a man in london , who being bitten by another lightly in the hand , was so impoisoned , that the whole hand rotted , and the party thereof shortly died . i maruell therefore that a man of note for experience & iudgement , would open such a gappe to the vulgar sort , to loath and contemne physicke and physicians , ( whereunto they are prone inough of themselues ) as to affirme that one of their most noble and famous medicines hath a strong poison , his basis and principall ingredient . galen in his booke de ther. ad pis. saith , that the fat of the crocodill laid vpon the wound , helpeth those that are bitten by the crocodill . the biting of the venemous mouse , is healed by the mouse brused , and laid vpon the place . after the same maner , they that are smitten by the viper , are helped if you bruise the viper and apply her to the wound . the body of the scorpion laide vpon the part , healeth hir poison . dioscor . lib. 6. cap. 44. e alia quam plurima animalia sua curant maleficia . yet the fatte of the crocodill , the body of the scorpion , or venemous mouse , are not receaued into the composition of the treacle , but doe onely helpe their owne poisons . we must therefore obserue , that nature hath not onely giuen venemous parts to these creatures , but others which are alexeterys to their owne poison . secus ( ait quidam ) omnia illa , ad vnum maleficium edidisset , ac de venenis sollicita , remediorum fuisset oblita otherwise she should haue framed them wholy to euill and hurt , and being carefull of poisons , should haue beene forgetfull of remedies . natura autem vt in superfluis non abundat , sic non deficit in necessarijs . nature as she abounds not in superfluities , so she is not defectiue in necessaries . now these alexetery parts ( as i may call them ) are of two sorts : some haue an ingenit propertie of curing their owne poisons , without admistion of other things , as the fatte of the crocodill and the scorpion whereof our marchants that trauell to constantinople haue good experience . other haue an ingenit and mixed faculty , as the body of the viper , which without other alexeterys being laid on the wound , cureth hir owne poison : and with commistion of other antidots , extinguisheth in a maner all poisons : galen explicateth this twofold faculty , lib. de ther. ad pis. cap. 4. where hauing said that the head and taile of the vipers are to be cut off , he addeth : and maruell not that these parts being taken away , the rest of the members doe make the antidot more effectuall , by the ingenit and admixed faculty of helping , which is in their flesh . after he calleth their faculty ingenit , and admixed : for as by their ingenit faculty they cure their owne poison , so by their admixed property , potentissimum efficiunt alexipharmacum . he that would be farther satisfied , let him peruse the booke of galen , and he shall not thinke his labour lost . your sweet kernels in bitter shels , precious diamonds in course stones , and pearles in base oysters , might serue well to illustrate this which hath beene already prooued , that there are certaine liuing creatures which haue some parts very hurtfull , or of no or little vse , and others very commodious and beneficiall to the life and health of mankind : but maketh nothing at all for your arsenicke , who is a minerall and consisteth of similar parts . the sweet kernell is of a different temperament to the bitter shell , the precious diamond of a more excellent substance then the course stone , or oyster wherein he is found . the flesh or sides of vipers is of a differing temperament from the teeth and head , wherein onely resideth the poison . but in your arsenicke you can shew me no part , be it neuer so small , which is not arsenicke , and that is a strong and ranke poison , you may seeke a good while heere , before you finde either kernell , diamond or pearle . this is no newes to them who haue any the least insight in philosophy : who know right well that in the body of man , there be organical parts much differing in temperament and nature : and that euery least parcell or portion of a similar part is of the same nature and substance . your cures wrought by the fume of orpmint and outward applying of arsenicke , make nothing to our purpose : for it hath beene shewed , that there is vse of many things in the healing part of physicke , which haue no place in the preseruing part . and yet doctors will perhaps make doubt of them , and be twise well aduised before they draw them into practise in hope to worke such miracles as is reported by them . it is well knowen that your dried toad hath failed in that maruellous effect attributed to him . but of all other the words following sound very strangely and harsh in my eares . i know not how they can be perpetually opposite to mans nature , nay if that be a true and sufficient definition of poison . at no time to agree with nature , i see not how these things may simply be called poisons , that at sometimes and in some cases agree with nature aswell as a man would wish . here is strange doctrine and new learning indeed , for our philosophers and physicians . you see not how arsenicke and such like poisons can be perpetually opposite to nature . then giue me leaue since i learned logicke since your time , to shew how i haue conceiued of these matters . the very name of poison or venom implieth ( in my conceit ) an absolute contrariety and hostility vnto nature . and warre is not more aduerse & contrary to peace , vertue to vice , blacke to white , then poison is absolutely , perpetually & irreconcilably opposed vnto nature . this wil more cleerly appeere if we peruse the definitions of poisons set downe by the best & most acute and sound philosophers & physicians . mercurialis in his first booke of poisons , cap. 5. following gallen and other philosophers , defineth poison according to the common notion and apprehensions of men , to be such a thing as killeth men and beasts irrecouerably , the cause being vnknowen . auicen ( not so properly ) calleth it a medecine contrary to mans nature . galen lib. 3. de temp. calleth that an aliment which is subdued by nature , and that poison which subdueth and vanquisheth nature . himselfe defineth it thus : poison is a mixed substance , enemy to the heart , and corrupter of humane nature . fernelius the french galen lib. de abt. rer. caus. defineth poison to be , not that which alwayes killeth or opposeth the heart the fountaine of life , but whatsoeuer by his whole substance and secret force doth either extinguish or notably offend the substance of the faculties or their functions . physicians consider and contemplat a threefold difference of subiects in their reference and relation to humane nature : the first sort are called aliments , the second medicaments , the third and last deleteries or poisons . aliments all are such things as haue a substance like and familiar vnto ours , containing a certaine benigne and wholsome heat and spirit , whereby the heat and spirits of our bodies are cherished and supported , and a matter passing by alteration into the matter of our bodies nourishing and increasing the substance of them . deleteries are such as in their whole substance , directly and as it were ex diametro , are opposed to aliments . for as they are in a neere familiaritie and affinitie leagued and linked to our nature ; so these are altogether enemies and pernitious vnto her , which being vsed do not onely affect vs with their first and second qualities , but in their whole kinde do corrupt whatsoeuer they touch in our bodies , and putrifying the substance thereof , turne it into their owne kinde and similitude . therefore aliments and deleteries are in their whole kinde and substance extremely contrary one to the other . in the middle ranke betwixt these two extremes purging medicines haue their place ; which neither as nutriments may be conuerted into our substance , neither as deleteries altogether corrupt and consume the same . these doe partly agree and partly disagree with nature , so as they neither ouercome her nor can be ouercome by her . therefore nature thrusteth them out of doores as seditious and turbulent guests , suffering them onely to carry with them bagge and baggage , i meane that humor which she may well spare , and hath most agreement and affinitie with them . now if poison be contrary to nature , if it subdue and ouercome nature , if it be an enemy to the heart , and a corrupter of nature , if it be in his whole kind and substance opposed to aliments , natures food , as auicen , galen mercurial , and fernelius , the lights and fathers of physicke and philosophy haue determined , i hope we shall salue galens credit wel enough : and galens description of poison will stand as true and sufficient , that poison is that which at no time agreeth with nature . how then shall we answer this argument ? if it it be a true definition of poison at no time to agree with nature , then you must put out arsenicke , orpmint with others mo out of the cense and order of poisons , which sometimes and in some cases agree with nature as well as a man would wish . how is this proued ? thus. all those things which do cure any disease , agree with nature as well as a man would wish . arsenicke , orpmint doe cure some diseases , as vlcers and such like ; therefore they agree with nature as well as may be . the lame legge of the proposition hath beene in some sort already pointed at , and the extreme limping and halting thereof will easily appeare to him that hath but halfe an eye in philosophy or physicke , at the first glimpse . for many philosophers hold it as a principle ( though not so soundly ) that all medicaments or curers do vim aliquam inferre naturae . they that are more sound and iudiciall make three orders & ranks of medecines , which ( though some apply to purgers ) may be verified of all in generall . the first order is of those which they call benigne and blessed medicines , because they are very familiar and friendly to nature , performing their operation without any the least offence of her . others are called indifferent or moderate , because they worke though somewhat more strongly , yet without offering any singular or notable wrong vnto nature . the third and last , are termed violent , churlish or rough-hewen , because they in their operation doe forcibly vellicat , offend and violat her . now if you will haue arsenicke a medicament , you must needs set him in one of these three ranks . in the first or second i am well assured you will not place him . it remaineth then that he must be ranged in the last band of sturdy and boisterous companions , who are ywis no great friends vnto nature . in this order are scammony , hellebore , euphorbium , who though they haue their vse , and the woorst of them be more tollerable then arsenicke , yet was it neuer ( as i suppose ) pronounced of them by any man of iudgement , that they agree with nature as well as a man would wish . the saw , the burning iron or actuall causticke do cure some diseases , yet how abhorrent these things are to nature , all men doe know . we must not thinke that all those things who by vanquishing and subduing their enemie the disease , doe giue reliefe and ease to nature , are therefore in themselues and their proper essence agreeable and friendly vnto nature . ellebor , scammony &c. ( of whom before ) who in their owne essence being hot and fiery , are apt to inflame the body , and to kindle a fire or feuer where none was before , yet in a body stuffed with choler , melancholy , and such ill humors , doe by carying away with them the fuell which gaue nourishment to the fire , do by accident relieue nature , put out the fire , and cure the disease . two or three flemish draughts of cold water haue somtimes cured a burning feauer , by quenching the flame : and yet arius the grammarian was killed by thessalus by one onely draught : and cold water agreeth so well with most mens natures , that they had rather powre it into their shooes then their stomacks . in the next place we are instructed how to preuent or cure the blisterings and vlcerations procured by these plague cakes . this is all one as if a man should first breake his fellowes head , and then giue him a plaister . onely one means is mentioned to preuent this inconuenience , which is , the taking away of the cakes , or rather ( as i would counsell ) the vtter reiecting thereof , which i cannot mislike . otherwise your lapping of him in thicker stuffe , your putting linnen betwixt him & the brest , your annointing the place with oile , as they giue more than suspition of his churlish and malignant property , aduerse and pernitious vnto nature , who seemeth to be in best case when he is farthest from her , and to delight nothing in his neighbourhood , so they will be found poore helpes , and weake meanes to encounter his strong poison , and malitiousnesse . as for the question which is moued ; whether to haue such things appeare , be not rather a benefit than an harme . i take it to be out of all question , that to raise blisters and vlcerations , in so noble a place , so neere to the heart the fountaine of life , by so venemous a subiect as arsenicke , cannot be any way beneficiall , but euery way offensiue and noisome . for first what learned physician hath euer counselled vesicatorys to be applied in that region so neere vnto the most principall part. next , what reason is there of any such euacuation , when we labour to preserue them that are sound . and if they be tainted with any venemous matter , how shall we be perswaded that arsenicke will by blisters expell the same , and not rather ioine hand in hand with it to ouerthrow nature , hauing by them entrance and accesse : especially if we consider the old maxime , simile simili additum fit magis simile . besides the best learned who haue receiued these amulets , hold that arsenick by a similitude of substāce doth draw the poison of the plague vnto it selfe , and not expell it , which must be done by an antipathy and contrariety : for that arsenicke should strengthen nature and helpe her to expell it , since it is an vndoubted and deadly enemy to nature , is improbable if not insensible . as no man doth affirme that all blisteres are poisons because of that effect , and therefore you might haue spared labour in proouing that which is not denied , so it is euident that diuers poisons doe produce that effect , and therefore are the more dangerously applied neere any principall part , because heereby they doe open as it were a doore or window to conuey into the body their infecting noisome spirits . the cause why garlicke & mustarddo blister the outward skinne , and yet taken inwardly , haue no such operation , is ( as i suppose ) because their heat is an agent being applied to the outmost skinne , which is a cold and membranous part , and so hauing no resistance doth rarifie and dissolue his continuity . but taken inwardly , they are patients , the inward heat subduing them , and scattering their spirits , so as they can not vnite to performe that action . but arsenicke is of a farre other nature , whose pestilent heat will not be commanded by nature , whether he be outwardly or inwardly vsed , but doth subdue and extinguish naturall heat . and this i take ( vnder correction ) to be the solution of this your proplem . whereas in the words following you affirme that it is manifest both by experience and reason , that things outwardly applied , haue action , and work into the body by cōmunicating their spirituall qualities , to the spirits of our bodies , by meanes of the warmth that openeth our pores , and ratifying the subtill parts of the medicine , is the cause of a reciprocall action and passion ; and hereupon inferre that it may seeme strange that arsenicke and such like strong poisons , hauing so strong poisoning spirits , should not poison our spirits wheresoeuer they meet , you acknowledge that these are strange works and woonders in nature : first , that such poisonfull spirits should mingle with our spirits , and not offend them : secondly , that they should strengthen them & helpe them to expell infection . these indeed are strange effects , & therefore if we be readier to wonder at them than to beleeue thē hastily , i hope you will pardon vs. but let vs heare how you satisfie vs , & vnlose this gordian knot . first therefore , you set downe this maxime or principle : arsenicke and orpmint are no wayes poisonfull or hurtfull to nature , but by their corrosiuenes , or fretting qualities : otherwise , they are as good both preseruatiues and curers , as any other most in vse : and therefore so long as they are kept from corroding or fretting , they can do no harme , but may do much good in that kinde which they do respect : that is to say , in all arsenicall diseases , as the plague , the plurisie , noli me tangere , cankers , and fistulas . if arsenicke be a strong poison ( as you acknowledge ) and poisons be ( as hath beene shewed ) toto genere & substantia naturae contraria . the deadly foes , and irreconcilable enemies to nature , then your principle and ground must needs shake , and will prooue no good foundation to build vpon , which maketh it onely hurtfull to nature by his corrosiuenesse or fretting qualitie . if to be offensiue to nature by excesse in some qualitie or other be sufficient to proue and make a poison , then are scammony , turbith , colocynthis , &c. poisons , and not medicaments ; for these all offend nature in qualitie . you must therefore either make these poisons with many moe , to consort with arsenicke : and then we shall haue good store of poisons . for all such things as are in the 4 degree of cold or heat , must be put into this ranke ; or els bring backe arsnicke from the cense of poisons into the classe of medicaments : for which i suppose you will haue small warrant . these indeed by reason of their excesse in qualitie , are sayd propè accedere ad venena , and are called maligna , or venenata ; but venena poisons they can not properly be called or accounted ●ction & passion , according to arist. 1. de gen. 50. 51. fit inter contraria qua sub vno , eodemque genere comprehenduntur . therefore an agent according to qualities , shall affect the qualities of the body , but an agent in the whole substance altereth the substance of our body . now it is manifest , that arsenicke doth not onely worke vpon the qualities , but that he corrupteth the very temperament and substance of the body . if you meane by arsenicall diseases , such maladies whose curer and specificall antidot is arsenicke , then are we beholding greatly to you , who haue found out an appropriat alexetery for the plague , whereunto the greatest and most profound philosophers and physicians could neuer attaine . for it is generally confessed by all , that the specificall antidot of the pest is yet vnknowen . thucidides sayth , that that malady did superare humanas vires , or rather humanam imbecilitatem . and the learned masters of our profession with one voice proclaime that forasmuch as the speciall weapon to kill that monster is not yet found out , we must pugnare contra illam beluam communibus praesidijs & remedijs aliorum venenorum . but i rather suppose you call those diseases arsenicall , because they haue in them a malignant , poisonfull , and pernitious venim , resembling the poison of arsenicke . how then shall arsenicke be their curer , when all diseases are cured by their contraries ? vnlesse you will maintaine that dotage of paracelsus ( for so i must needs call it ) against galen , that diseases are cured per similia , by their like . and then , if the body be emptie , exhaust and extenuat , we must exhaust and emptie it more , and not restore and repaire it . if it be too ful and plethoricke , we must fill it more , and not euacuat , if it be stopped and obstructed , then we must ramme and stuffe it vp more , and not de obstruct and open : if it be too hoat , we must lay on more wood , and not put out the fire either by taking away the fuell or quenching the flame . if there be solutio continui , we must not vnite , but disioyne the parts , & sic in cateris . if i thought that this vncouth and vnscholarlike paradox would be mainteined , it were easie for me to make the point as plaine as the kings high-way . but i muse much how the plurisie commeth into the tribe of these arsenicall diseases , vnlesse you put an addition to him , and call him a pestilentiall plurisie . the way whereby these poisons are metamorphosed into as good if not better preseruatiues and curers as any most in vse , is to keepe them ( as you say ) from fretting and corroding . and that this may be done , you prooue by example of the quacksaluers in germany , who first drinking sallet oyle , and after taking great quantities of these poisons , are preserued from harme and danger . that sallet oile , butter , or any other vnctuous things are good against poisons , it will be readily granted . but that they should be of such force and efficacy as to secure a man that should take after them great quantities of arsenicke , you shall giue me leaue to doubt . and i thinke i shal haue mo fellowes , then there be mountebanks in germany , or curtesans in venice . for why should we not thinke that there is as much vertue in treacle , mithridate , and those other antidots which they take after those poisons , at the least , as in sallet oile . and yet i hold not them sufficient to match and master these poisons . neither is it like that mathiolus had any such inward familiarity with mountebanks , as that they would acquant him with the secrets and mysteries of their art , which they conceale , tanquam sacra eleusinia . but suppose he was tolde this by some odde quacksaluer or other , and that he was so credulous to beleeue it , shall we build the conclusions of our art vpon the credit of a iugling mountebanke , or will any man be so madde that is compos mentis , vpon the mountebanks word to try the experiment , & arming himselfe with a good draught or two of sallet oile , afterward deuour great quantities of arsenicke . that the corroding qualitie of arsenicke , may be cleane taken away , you shall pardon me if i beleeue not your chynists , if they doe ( as you say ) affirme it neuer so confidently . we haue an homely and true saying , the diuell will be the diuell whether you bake roste , seeth , or broile him , or howsoeuer you handle him . naturam expellas &c : so arsenicke so long as he remaineth arsenicke , ( vnlesse you destroy his nature , and then the case is altered , he is no more he ) will vndoubtedly shew of what house he commeth by corrodings and corrupting . neither doe your instances of aron roots , or the gall of an oxe prooue the contrary . for we must remember that there be two kindes of qualities , the one common or as some call them accidentall ; the other specificall and formall . the qualities which are common or accidentall , may be remooued from their subiects . but those that are specificall , cannot be separated , sine interitu subiecti . as in a man to be hoat , cold , moist , dry , may be absent or present with him : but to be risibilis or irascibilis , can in no wise be separated from him so long as he is a man. the burning qualitie of aron roots is accidentall and common , and therefore remooueable . but the corroding or poisoning quality of arsenicke ( for these you make al one ) is by all learned physicions held specifical and essentiall . for else how should it be toto genere , & substantia deleterium . concerning your oxe gall , whose bitternesse you say you haue remooued , i say onely this : if it be gall , then it is bitter , if it be not bitter , then it is not gall. if a man put three gallons of water to three spoonefull of wine , and drawing out a glasse full , make his friend drinke thereof , affirming it to be wine , he will be ready to say , that were it not for the name of wine , he had as leaue drinke water . such mixture must haue their name of the praedominant . and i suppose that hee that should taste your sweetned gall , would call it galled sugar , and not sugred gall , as one did a cuppe of drinke mixed by his friend , yet not to the liking of his stomacke , wined water , and not watred wine . whereas you thinke it absurd , that there should not be as sure away to correct the poisoning quality of arsenicke by minerall meanes , as there is means to correct the offending qualities , of scammony , agaricke , hellebor , &c. by vegetables , me thinkes your speech is very harsh and vncouth , both for the phrase & sense . for mine own part i neuer heard or read of the correcting of poisons , but onely of medicines offending in quality , of which sort are those which you haue reckoned , whose offensiue quality being retunded , they are vsed without danger , and to the benefit and comfort of mankind . but as for arsenicke or such like poisons , being as hath beene often prooued toto genere deleteria , the infest and mortall enemies of nature , you may as soone make an aethiopian white with washing , as make them friendly and comfortable to our bodies by correcting , vnlesse by correcting you meane destroying of their nature and substance altogether , by reducing them to a caput mortuum , as you cal them , and that is a strange kinde of correcting : or else they produce such effect by accident , intending no such matter any more , then iasons enemy did , who by his sword cured his aposteme , which the physicions could not heale . all this while you haue endeuored to prooue that these amulets may be worne without harme , which how you haue performed , aliorum sit iudicium . now you will shew how they doe good . your opinion concerning the maner how they doe good , you set downe in these words . i assure my selfe that there is in these minerals which the alchymists call their spirits , good store of gold , or to speake a little plainer , of the spirits of gold , and from thence in my opinion it hath that incredible and admirable operation in preseruing our spiritis from infection . this ( as i suppose ) will be an incredible and admirable opinion vnto our philosophers & physicians , who may turne ouer a good number of books , before they find any mention of such a far-fetched and dearely bought conceit . there are three seuerall opinions concerning this matter . the first is , that by wearing these amulets , the heart is inured and accustomed vnto poison , and so by this familiarity learneth to contemne it . concerning this conceit i will say nothing my selfe , but you shall heare what crato that most learned germaine , and emperiall physicion speaketh to it , epist. ad monanium . touching the bagges of arsenicke , i finde no other reason for them woorth mentioning , saue that thereby the heart is accustomed vnto poison . but how weake and dangerous a reason this is , and that a man carefull of a good conscience ought not to trust to it , you easily discerne . therefore though you should produce sixe hundred authors which allow them , you shall not perswade me to vse or approoue them . i can tell you , since you vrge me , vpon my owne knowledge that creckouius was so weakened and exulcerated in the brest by them , that he threw away the bagge with great indignation in the castle of grauestem . i could say the like of others . that which followeth in crato is worth the reading , but i must make haste . the second opinion is that of antonius firmanus , who saith that arsenicke by similitude of substance draweth to it the venemous and contagious seminaries of the plague , and by that meanes preserueth him that weareth it . this opinion the discourser at large would seeme to follow in his english treatise of the pestilence , lately set foorth , wherin he alloweth & commendeth the vse of these amulets because by a similitude one venome draweth another as arsenicke doth , who voideth the poison of the plague insensibly . quod venenum & corpore attrahat , & tota forma & ratione caliditatis . this antipathy in arsenicke experience doth allow , &c. marke how clarke-like he reasoneth . first he saith that arsenicke draweth the venome by similitude of forme , & ratione caliditatis . then in the very next words , either forgetting what he had saide before , or notvnderstanding , what he was about to say , he attributeth this effect to an antipathy or contrariety . but i will stand no longer about him , but leaue him to his wandring muses : ne quem non inuenio vsquam esse putem nusquam . yet one thing by the way would not be ouerpassed , that whereas he would be reputed a great linguist , he hath in the epistle to the reader inserted onely two greek words , and the last seemeth not to be vnderstood , and for the first a meane scholler in mulcasters schoole , will easily tell him that it is neither good greeke nor yet true latine , but caco ethen scribendi indeed . concerning the opinion it is not true , that eueryvenome is like to arsenicke , neither that euery poison is like in substance and nature with another poison : neither can all contagious seminaries be like to arsenicke , since they are not of the same violence , analogie , or similitude one with another , as might be easily shewed some infecting onely cattle , others fishes , others men . what then if the poison of the plague be not like in nature with arsenicke : what if it be like in nature but stronger and hoater then arsenicke . surely then it must draw the poison of arsenicke , vnto it into the body , and double the euill . the third and last opinion is , that arsenicke doth by a certaine secret antipathy or contrariety oppugne , vanquish and expell the poison of the plague . this hath of all other the most probability and ground of reason , but it hath place onely then when the seminaries of the pestilence are contrarie to the poison of arsenicke ; for then the two poisons may warre and skirmish one with the other in such sort as they both spending their forces and rigor , ech against the other , and so dying in that colluctation and combat , the party by accident may escape with his life . and in this case peraduenture there might be some trueth in that obseruation which philippus ingrasias , fallopius and massa , learned men , and woorthy of good credit , haue made . and in this case some suppose that might be true which ausonius gallus reporteth of a leud huswife in these verses . toxica zelotypo dedit vxor saeua marito nec satis ad mortem credidit esse datum . miscuit argenti lethalia pondera viui cogeret vt celerem vis geminata necem diuidat haec si quis faciunt discreta venenum antidotum sumit qui sociata bibet ergo inter sese dum noxia pocula certant cessit lethalis noxa salutiferae . protinus & vacuos alui petiere recessus lubrica deiectis quâ via nota cibis quam pia cura deûm ? prodest crudelior vxor , & cum fata volunt , bina venena iuuant . and yet the discreet and prudent physician wil not heereupon counsell the wearing of arsenicke to cure the plague . for in poisons opposing nature in their whole substance , there is no artificiall or rationall method as galen teacheth meth. 13. cap. 6. and the physician cannot discerne but by euent vnto what poison , or analogie of poison arsenicke is opposit . the sympathys or antipathys of poisons together with the forces and secret insults of contagious seminaries , are vnknowen to the physician . the idiosygcrasye , or particular natures ( as galen calleth them , are vnknowen , & ( for ought we can see ) incomprehensible vnto humane imbecillitie , gal. 3. meth. cap. 7. and if the degree , nature , and facultie of that poison be not to be easily discerned , which proceedeth of corruption of humors in our bodies , much lesse is that hidden maliciousnesse of these minerals which is farre more subtile , secret , and vnsearchable . first therefore there must be a poison in the body : next that poison must be contrary to arsenicke : thirdly it must be of equall force , else if he suruiue and be of force after he hath subdued his enemie , he may doe a shrewd turne when al is done . we conclude therefore that it is rash and temerarious counsell , to vse a medicine , which if it finde not an enemy to struggle with , will easily speed and kill the party . better it is to follow galens aduise , who in his booke de simp. writing against zenocrates , would haue a physician neuer to vse any medicine which may be preiudiciall or hurtfull to the health or life of mankinde . as for the fourth opinion , your golden conceit that this maruellous operation should be wrought by the spirits of gold in arsenicke , i suppose there is farre lesse likelihood or probability therein , than in the golden dreame of the philosophers stone , whereinto many haue fallen being rich , and awaked out of the same starke beggars . first , how should we imagine , that the gold or golden spirits which are fancied to be in arsenicke should more preuaile in preseruing nature , than the arsenicall spirits ( whose quantity must needs be farre greater ) in violating and corrupting her . secondly , if this woonderfull worke of preseruation proceed from gold and his spirits , being in so small quantitie ( as they must needs be if they be at all ) in a little lumpe of arsenicke ; why doe you not rather counsell men to weare about their necks , vpon the region of the heart a double ducate or a plate of golde , seeing therein must needs be greater quantity of spirits , more neerely and firmely vnited then in arsenicke ? beside this might be done without all danger and great securitie , the arsenicall spirits ( which are so ill neighbors ) being remoued . i know right well that gold is of great vertue . auri sacra fames quid non mortalia cogis pectora ? one saith truely , that there was no fort inexpugnable , ad quod asmus auro 〈◊〉 possit ascendere . it is a cunning locke which a golden key will not open . but yet among all the vertues and effects of gold ( which are manifold ) i neuer heard that reckoned , that it should preserue the wearerers thereof from plague and poison . whereas you send vs to the refiners of mettals to be satisfied in this point , i can assure you that one of the skilfullest workemen and best practised in that kinde about london being demanded , what golde he thought to be in arsenicke , made this answere : that there was as much golde in arsenicke as in a rat. and this he affirmed to be not only his iudgement , but the conclusion of the cunningest workemasters in minerals about the city . as for paracelsus to whom in the next place you referre vs , i would be loath bonas hor as tam malè collocare , though i haue mispent some time in my dayes , and it may be about him : of whose writings i may say the cleane contrary , that socrates did of heraclitus booke . those things ( sayd he , being demanded what he thought of it ) which i vnderstand are very excellent , and therefore i suppose the rest which i vnderstand not to be answerable to them : for i can say , that such things in paracelsus which i vnderstand , are exceeding friuolous , absurd and ridiculous , and therefore i suppose the greater part ( if not all the rest included in his barbarous riddles ) to be sutable and agreeable with them . but because you stile him absolutely the most learned chynicall writer and worker that euer wrote , and i may perhaps be deemed partiall , you shall heare the iudgement of that graue , learned and most iudiciall physician crato concerning him , with whom i concurre in that point , epist. ad theod. zuingerum . ep. med. a scoltzim ep . 137. where hauing purged himselfe of a false calumniation , that he should be an enemy to chymicall preparations , he annexeth these words : insaniam verò paracelsicam qui summos in arte med. magistros , imò artem ipsam med. propter arcana sua ( vt appellant ) contemnit , & nouam nobise fumis medicinam fabricat , atque discentes a bonis authoribus ad fornaces ablegat , omnem denique seculi nostri excellentiam deijcere studet , vt sua medicamenta extollat , nunquam probani . artem enim ipsam hippocratis & doctrina methodicae galeni , acceptam ferre , vt eruditum medicum oportet ; ita paracelsica somnia , tot verborum falsitatis iuolueris tecta & tam monstrosis nominibus variata , fugere virum bonum decet . let paracelsus be esteemed by you and his followers a skilfull chymicall writer and worker , vndoubtedly he was neuer learned , neither will be euer so reputed among the learned . giue him what place you please among mechanicks or empericks , if you will needs haue it so ; for that is the highest forme wherunto you can aduance him : but if you offer to set him on the bench among the sages and senatours of learning , you shall doe him wrong and your selfe to . neither doe i yet denie but that he hath some things of good vse . and so had thessalus that olde bragadochian of galens time , and fioronamus that notorious empericke & impostor of our time , who was banished venice , but those , mixed with so much vanitie , pride and insolencie as marreth all . you shall finde it ordinary in illiberall and illettered natures ( if you marke it well ) that hauing attained any little smattering knowledge , small portion of riches , or meane degree of honour , they are farre more eleuated , and transported with high and ouerweening thoughts , than ingenuous and generous mindes of farre greater sufficiencie . i haue often maruelled how any man of wisedome and modestie , seeing the incredible insolencie and impudencie , the intollerable vanitie and follie , the ridiculous and childish crakings and vantings of paracelsus , should once commend him without nothing his contrary vices , and giuing him a dash with a blacke coale . touching pistorius whom you onely produce as a patron of your amulets , though i haue little or no acquaintance with him , yet if ex vngue leonem i must needs say , that his speeches sauour of too too much vanitie ( if not follie and falsehood ) and come very neere the mountbanks phrase , who vse to set out their basest trash with el-long and bombasted termes , and craking and lying vaunts . first he affirmeth , that many italian physicians are of opinion , that there was neuer a more excellent thing granted to mortall men by god , to preserue them from the plague . secondly , that they call it a diuine medicine inuented by god. thirdly , that they take it vpon their oathes , that neuer any fell sicke that ware them . haec dum recensentur satis superque , confutantur . you heard in the beginning , what father augenius that learned and graue italian physician conceiued of them . and it is certaine , that massaria a learned reader of padua hath learnedly and largely disputed against them . and sure i am that gerardus columba the great physician of messana disclaimeth them vtterly . but it is woorth noting , first that these physicians who so highly commend these amulets , are namelesse . secondly , that they offer oath vpon the matter , fearing belike that their words would not be taken : whereas ( if their credit were good ) their bare words would passe as currantly as their oaths . lastly , their hyperbolicall cōmendations of a poore poisoned cake , seemeth to me the language of vaunting quack-saluers , rather than of learned physicians . as for his experiment in zuricke ann. 64. and in basill , that he knew none die who wore them ; who will beleeue him , since we haue more than sufficient experience , both heretofore and of late in london , and you your selfe acknowledge the same , but holde it pitie to derogate from the credit of so noble and generall a medicine , for a few particular instances . how noble a medicine it is , i hope hath appeared by this time . sure i am that it is no rationall medicine , and that the most learned physicians , who haue handled the argument of the plague , do either directly oppugne it , as augenius , columba , massaria , &c. or els passe it ouer in silence , as not woorthy to be named or mentioned with rationall and noble antidots and alexeteries ( as palmarius or rather fernelius that worthy light of physicke ( for that learned booke of the plague being the most scholarlike , iudiciall and absolute in that kind , that i euer met with ) is thought to be written by him , and set out by palmarius his scholar ) or els if they mention it in the tale after a great ranke of other rationall medicines , they set this or the like brand in the forhead of it . quidam emperici , or quidam ( without naming them ) consulunt tabellam ex arsenico . certaine empericks , or certaine ( not woorthy to be named ) counsell a table of arsenicke , as platerus heurnius , &c. to conclude since physicke is the art of helping , healing , curing , i see not what we haue to doe with poisons , vnlesse it be to giue councell of precaution , and preuention , or to relieue them , who by errour or malice haue medled with them . me thinks it is wholesome and fatherly counsell that hippocrates giueth to all his scholars , that they should alwayes propound vnto themselues these two ends : first , ne noceant . secondly , vt prodesse possint . first , that they be sure to do no hurt to their patients . secondly , that they endeuour to doe some good . as for those who leauing so great varietie of safe , wholesome and salutiferous medecins , as god of his infinite bountie hath stored vs withall , will needs be still tampering with poisons , and deleteries , they seeme to me like the foolish flies , who forsake the sweet herbs and flowers to buzze about the candle , so long till their wings be singed , and themselues oft times burned with the flame . i might giue instances heereof , but that i hasten to an end . it is not good medling with edge-tooles . qui amat periculum peribit in eo . thus i haue presumed to inquire somewhat more at large , concerning these amulets non contentionis amore , sed veritatis indagandae studio : and that it may appeare that i am not of a seruile disposition to relie vpon the opinion of any , be he neuer so learned , vnlesse it be vnderpropped with learning and reason : the rather because i vnderstand that this taske was expected at my hands . as for that learned & ancient physitian ( who hath taken vpon him their defence and patronage ) i confesse that as i aimed not directly and particularly at him in my first writing against them ( they being ordinarily dispensed by many chirurgians and apothecaries in london , some of them being my kinde friends , so i doe now beare him no more grudge , malice , or enuie , then my selfe : though i haue beene of late discourteously and hardly intreated , reiected and shut out from conference . which kinde of dealing , how it agreeth with the rules of christianity or liberall profession , let indifferent men iudge . who knoweth not that our greatest diuines and best lawyers do dissent one from another , in some one point or other of their arts. do they therfore breake off all societie , and proclaime open hostilitie one against another ? god forbid . i haue read that aristides and pericles though they were at oddes , and iarred often in the senate of athens by reason of secret emulation , yet when they were to vndertake any publicke affaire or embassage , they did simulates in finibus patria deponere , easque redeuntes resumere . so i could wish that physitians should leaue their priuate grudges and discontentments at home in their owne houses , and not carie them abroad in their bosomes among their patients , to the disgrace of their fellowes and publicke opprobrie● , and slander of their profession . as for me , i am neither too skilfull to learne , nor too old to erre : but desire to follow that councell of the oratour . in sententia permaneto . enimuero nisi alia vicerit melior . ⸫ sit nomen domini benedictum . amica sit ( quaeso ) haec inter nos dissentio , opinionum non voluntatum , studiorum , non animorum . non opus habes amuletis & periaptis quibus simul concurrit , & cooperatur diabolus . thou hast no need of amulets , with whom the diuell doth concurre and cooperate . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a03119-e130 fracast . lib. 2. cap. 3. de morb . contag . gal. 1. de diff . feb . cap. 2. vid. hist. achab , iudae . the like may be said of children who haue died in great numbers : nature in thē being weak and not able to resist the furie of the disease . remember the hideous and lamentable crie in oliues parish in southwarke . psal. 91. marc. 18. act. 20. 5. notes for div a03119-e910 vrimus secamus . mathiolus telleth of another fraud or iugling tricke farre more probable . lib. 6. coment . in diosc. prefat . these are italian physicians of great name . of the contrary . the late censors deservedly censured; and their spurious litter of libels against dr. greenfield, and others, justly expos'd to contempt by the following answer to all, but especially the last, intituled, a reply to the reasons against the censors of the college of physicians, &c. humbly offer'd to the perusal of dr. thomas burwell, richard torles, william daws, thomas gill, the late censors. by lysiponius celer m.d.l. groeneveldt, jan, 1647?-1710?. 1698 approx. 92 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42184 wing g2062b estc r215837 99827601 99827601 32023 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42184) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 32023) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1849:3) the late censors deservedly censured; and their spurious litter of libels against dr. greenfield, and others, justly expos'd to contempt by the following answer to all, but especially the last, intituled, a reply to the reasons against the censors of the college of physicians, &c. humbly offer'd to the perusal of dr. thomas burwell, richard torles, william daws, thomas gill, the late censors. by lysiponius celer m.d.l. groeneveldt, jan, 1647?-1710?. [4], 28 p. printed for the author, and are to be sold by b. billingsley at the printing-press under the royal exchange in cornhill, london : 1698. "dr. greenfield" and lysiponius celer m.d.l. = jan groeneveldt. the words "thomas .. gill" are bracketed together on title page. his defense against members of the college of physicians, many of whose members regarded him as a quack. cf. dnb. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng groeneveldt, jan, 1647?-1710? -early works to 1800. quacks and quackery -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2007-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-03 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2008-03 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the late censors deservedly censured ; and their spurious litter of libels against dr. greenfield , and others , justly expos'd to contempt : by the following answer to all , but especially the last , intituled , a reply to the reasons against the censors of the college of physicians , &c. humbly offer'd to the perusal of dr. thomas burwell , dr. richard torles , dr. william daws , dr. thomas gill , the late censors . and to the expiring censure of d r charles goodal . by lysiponius celer m. d. l. si mihi pergit , quae volt , dicere ; ea , quae non volt , audiet . ter. andr. london : printed for the author , and are to be sold by b. billingsley at the printing press under the royal exchange in cornhill , 1698. the preface to the reader , to whom it may concern . my intention , is not to expose physick , but those who have done it : they are indeed of the faculty , and i am sorry for it . the twelve tho select , yet had one traitor among them ; and is it strange that a greater number should contain a less proportion of vnworthy ? whoever reproacheth an art for the crime of an artist , condemns his own ; for none is exempt : he that chargeth me with anothers fault , is as guilty as my self of the fact , and justly of the slander . but if i must suffer in my art , whilst publickly opposing the censors violence ; 't is by ends , not true judgment must be the occasion . they have acted ill ; what is that to the faculty or college ? suppose four of it had jointly been felons , must all the rest be thieves ? they have indeed exposed the college , but originally by passion ; they persist in their injustice , supported by pride : but some do the same with an intent to destroy it . they have evidenced their spight against one , shew their teeth at some few : but others strike at all , whether in or against their interest . what mean else those libels publickly dispersed to the disgrace of the faculty ? the authors ridicule physicians ; a pretty way to secure themselves from contempt : they are extreamly just to themselves , whilest injust to the art they pretend to , and as qualified for wit and railery , as the late censors were for their office. 't is meer baregarding stuff , like that of the pretended great defender of an art he neer learned , tho ever teaching it . i am sorry to see so great a body buckle to one whose only indeavour is , by indirect means to make himself great , when justly he cannot . this knight errant in physick , defends he knows not what ; attacks he can't tell whom ; and hates all but his dulcigna , his sweet imaginary greatness ; hath nothing of his own , but what no one would claim : but this plagiary jackdaw may e're long be plum'd by a leaden dr. it's wings clipt , and it's self exposed to the contempt of boys ; because it pretends to soar with the eagles : there are notwithstanding , and will be still honest physicians of the college , in spight of all forreign oppositions , or intestine broils . all bodies , by the instigation of some few boutefeus , may be guilty of mismanagement ; none are exempt from fault : pray allow us but to be equally obnoxious with the rest of mankind . all then i desire is , that there may be a difference put between the innocent and guilty , as i have endeavour'd it in my tract ; which whether it will please you with the preface i know not : all will neither be pleasing to , nor understood by all : but take it as you please to understand it : i shall soon be out of pain ; either by slighting both criticisms and resentment , or by a speedy answer . september 26 , 1698. lysiponius celer . the late censors deservedly censured , &c. the worthy late censors , after so many fruitless attempts , to exempt themselves from the justice of the law ; being baffl'd in all their applications , either to his majesty , the right honourable the lords , or other inferiour courts and persons ; and finding that the more they stir , the more they are bemir'd and stink : have now at last , as their utmost effort , bethought themselves of the late expedient of popularity . in order hereunto , to support their tottering credit and cause , they oblige the world with a single sheet for three pence ; intituled it as if addressed to the highest court of justice : and being frustrated in all their appeals , make it now to the mob , make them their judges and peers . they take no notice of their own remarks upon the prosecutors reasons , nor of his reply ; being asham'd of the one , and justly afraid of the other . for that reply , as it fully answers all their idle pretences , hath been satisfactory to the lords and commons ; so cannot be answer'd , containing only matters of fact , backt with irrefragable reasons , and shrew'd circumstances ; confirm'd by oaths of credible persons : which last , is the highest argument of truth in any , but such , who to palliate their evident injustice , have still , this their only recourse , to that crambe biscocta , their oaths and consciences , in opposition to the laws and justice of the nation . furthermore , being fully convinc'd , that no one of the late censors could endite even so silly a paper as i am about to answer , for reasons best known to them that know them ; i was at last forc'd to conclude , that it must be the product of a noddle ever tipsy with good-ale , and brains still crowing by the seminal influence of some hundreds of eggs devour'd anno vertente , which unless check'd by cortex and opium , had e're now grown fledg'd : especially if you consider the stile , so like that of the publick betrayer of the state , maxims and secrets of the college , and to use his own words so inimical to truth and sincerity , more then ( in his own great sence ) unprepared cantharides can be to the body . yet retaining some respect to their seeming gravity and qualifying sadness , though now out of the santo officio , not coopt up in the inquisition chamber , but breathing the free air as yet ; i waited and sought in the publick papers a required recantation : this three penny sheet , as well as the two penny state of physick , meriting at least an equivocating denyal . but seeing now they own it , and their sour temper cannot be alter'd , and continues nettled at good usage ; they must be crush'd to make them inoffensive , seeing they sting when tenderly handled . and tho' that paper deleterious to it self doth , like other poisons , carry it 's own antidote with it , answering it self by it's own nonsence , contradictions and falshood , to any unbiassed reader that hath been inform'd of this affair ; yet for the sake of those that are distant from town , and out of the reach of their heptamiliary quondam power , i thought to foul my fingers , anatomize it exactly , and expose it ( as it justly deserves ) in the publick theatre of england , to the view and scorn of all . but finding , tho' without any accurate search , that the principal consistent parts are , 1. contradiction . 2. falshood . 3. ignorance . 4. ill manners . 5. like conduct . yet all so complicated , as to make but one intire gordian knot of nonsence ; it needs not be dissected now i think on 't , it merits not so great a hand : but seeing it is roundly cover'd with a limber conscience , blown up with bombast , and got amongst the mob , let it e'ne be kick'd about , till it be deservedly lost . the 1st . of the reasons they pretend to answer is the following reason ; first , because the said censors did not only take upon them an office of trust and judicial authority , wherein the liberty and property of the subject is highly concerned without qualifying themselves , but also executed the same with utmost violence against an innocent person , as may more plainly appear in their proceedings against dr. john greenfield , a member of the said college , who having been accused by a vexatious woman of ill practice several years before was twice acquitted by preceding censors : but these gentlemen proud of their authority , and having no regard to the justice and judgment of their predecessors , and in contempt of two consecutive acts of grace from the king and parliament , did , notwithstanding , fine the abovesaid dr. greenfield for that imaginary crime , without suffering the said doctor to clear himself by witnesses ; and having signed a warrant and appointed an officer of their own creation , did commit him to newgate without bail or main-prize , and there detained him till the first day of the ensuing term , when and where the honourable the judges of the king's-bench convinced them of their illegal proceedings and discharged the said dr. greenfield in open court. to this they reply , that it is a malicious charge , drawn up and publish'd against the censors of the college of physicians [ who ] took no authority upon themselves , but what is vested in them by two acts of parliament , &c. the present censors having qualifyed themselves , and the rest , since the including act of grace acting inoffensively ; the present cannot , the former need not fear a prosecution . the prosecutors charge is solely against the late , nam'd in the reasons and title of this tract ; which charge as it is true , cannot be malicious , and not against any censors , but those that were so , now only censorious , with that indeleble character i hope : but if their biennial power , be perpetuated in their conceipt , and once a censor must e're be so ; let them e'ne be still the kings of branford , let them imagine the power of the two acts to be vested in them , appropriated to their persons , and inseparable from their quality ; whilst they are deservedly out of that place , power and trust they have so notoriously abus'd : but morta la bestia , morto lo veleno ; let them rattle with their tails , their fang-teeth are out . yet though their anthority be gone , their sence continues the same . they boast of a great power vested by law ; but no trust at all ; deny the taking of an office upon them , but own they are chosen into , and accept of the place ; think themselves warranted by two acts of parliament in the executing of a power , in contempt of four others : i mean the two of grace , and both the qualifying acts. but they must be taught , that the law requires a series of uninterrupted justice . you err not knowing the law , for whosoever shall keep the whole law , and yet offend in one point , he is guilty of all , &c. is it law that gives you leave to imprison ? the same commands you to qualify . the same justice that relieves the oppressed , ought to punish the guilty ; and though you boast the law cannot reach you , the legislators may . ponite inflatos tumidosque vultus ; quicquid à vob is minor extimescit , major hoc idem dominus minatur . next they alledge , that the censors are solemnly sworn , not to consent to admit any person into the college , but such , whom without favour , or affection , they shall judge to be duly qualified , both for learning and morals , that they will approve no person nor medicine for reward , favour or entreaty , but will in all things discharge the duty faithfully , as god shall help them . a solemn oath is a sacred tye and motive to justice ; but where this is wanting , that always aggravates the crime , can never justifie the action . finding then , that a gentle rebuke in general terms will not avail , viz. that of the former reply , that their oath was not binding to act illegally , and where it doth so , the constitution is faulty ; a severer lash must stop this full mouth'd cry upon a wrong scent . dr. greenfields learning and morals were approv'd when he entred the college , he was balletted for as well as any of you , admitted upon as good terms as any , hath the same diploma , priviledges , and authority to practice : this was done to your hands by more impartial judges ; and so far the recital of your oath is insignificant . but seeing 't is not this , pray tell us what oath it was that bound you , to reassume the cognizance of an affair twice determin'd before , by the same authority ; to commit the innocent , when you were disabled by two acts of parliament to act so by a criminal ; to declare that a poison when given by dr. greenfield with its due corrector , which must be a harmless medicine , because given by two of you censors without an antidote ; to refuse the admitting of witnesses , which were afterwards satisfactory to a superiour court ; to deny the tryal of his corrector upon other animals ; to exact the utmost farthing the law allow'd you ; to fine and imprison too , a collegiate , in an unpresidented manner ; to send him to newgate for the first offence ( as in your great wisdoms you thought ) when choice of prisons of less scandal might serve , to be deaf when intreated not to do it . 't was of you dr. burwel he begg'd it , upon your immediate return from the house of god , the house of prayer . wo be to you scribes and pharisees , hypocrites , &c. this last it was , first caus'd my blood to boile , now sowers my temper , irarumque omnes effundit habenas ; and made me almost forget to ask you , whether you did swear too not to qualifie your selves ? i believe if you can give your selves leave to re-examine this affair sedately , you will find it the result of passion , envy , ambition and by-ends . passion in dr. t — e upon a former peak : ambition in the bencher-fellows to curb and oppress the more serviceable and active by arbitrary laws ; envy for want of practice and success : by-ends shall be secret as yet . 't is so dr. g — ll , though you should exert to the utmost your now single capacity , register the contrary , and silence me with your ratio prima & ultima : i do not mean the thundering mawl against a protest at the college board ; but your customary nonononono , with a jove-like disgust , and a conclusive-shake of the nodle in a demiquaver . expect then the just reward of your pains , but no favour at all ; unless your adversaries be prevail'd upon by intreaty ; for they must discharge their duty faithfully , and help your selves as you can . next you multiply your power by a piece-meal recital . i 'll please you for once , and allow it as great in it self , as it hath been enormous in the execution , cuidam illic seritun & metitur , 't is a noli me tangere at present : but be pleas'd to remind , that almost the whole of it is in the quoted charter , 't is only confirm'd by the annex'd and subsequent acts ; and why are the due qualifications omitted , to which that power is annex'd . let us examine you a little , tho' not now at the censors board . were you profound , sad , discreet , well vers'd in learning and deeply skill'd in physick : you 'l say perhaps , these epithets , are requisite in persons to be admitted into that society , not in the censors that govern the same , according to the express words of the law. the fact i shall not dispute ; but certainly they are to be chosen out of such , and continue the same . the 1 st . indeed may be allow'd ; for your sense is out of the reach of , disproportionate to , and incommensurate with that of the rest of mankind . sad you are in the present acceptation of the word , your actions shew you such , and the present fear of a due reward , doth and will make you no other . but now in sober sadness , what is become of the third ? were you discreet in not qualifying your selves , if it were but only to prevent the charges of an assuredly wrong prosecution , since your piece meal loyalty was such , that the omission of it you count but a peccadillo . the present censors got here the start of you , and triumph over your ignorance . it was no doubt the greatest discretion imaginable , to commit a brother for mala praxis , yea very great mala praxis as the judicious go — le expressed it at the board , the giving of poison i mean , when some of your selves were guilty of the same ; guilty i say , in your own consciences , because you condemn'd it in another ; though he be innocent , having prov'd himself so in the superiour court : but this is not all , had this affair remain'd within the college and newgate walls , and not been expos'd by you so often in the publick courts , inforc'd by repeated libels , spread amongst the mob , persisted in to the utmost in opposition to the sense of mankind , and contempt of definitive justice ; it might have been pardon'd . humanum est errare , in errore persistere diabolicum . but again to push it more home , tho' in milder terms , you will say he was fined and imprisoned , for not duly executing the practice of physick ; but who was it gentlemen ? a graduate doctor , your fellow collegiate , unquestionable when admitted , and continued so for many years , till it pleas'd you to have it otherwise . reflect upon it , i pray , as the rest of mankind to my knowledge doth now : what physician shall we trust , when neither his being of the college doth warrant his skill , nor his continued practice approve his judgment in administring ? whom shall we except , when all are liable to the same mistakes ? this doth not only affect you , but the whole faculty of physick , however diffused , divided or distinguish'd in this famous city , and through the universe . would the least mechanick society have acted so publickly against a single member , if his exposing tended to the disrepute of all the rest : for tho the character of an honest physician be in it self real , where is there a fence against suspicion ; tho' groundless when started , it 's flight and pitch is incertain ; and you only can be exempt when at the board , and that only in your own conceipt , not decisive judgment . dat veniam corvis , vexat censura columbas . your great discretion hath ruin'd one part of your imaginary power , by your parties countenancing , and you mainly promoting that turbulent woman's suit against the doctor . pray startle not at what you know as well as my self , i shall prove it to others anon . you have open'd the eyes of the mob , and the flood-gates of the law against you . can the president be secure in his place , or the censors by their boasted power , from being either arraign'd at the bar as malefactors , or sued at the kings-bench as unskilfull ; and that at the choice of the multitude ? a pretended mistake , or an unforeseen accident upon a single dose of physick , exposeth a physicians person , reputation and estate , to the discretion of others avowedly ignorant , of what you have made them judges . we know what you told your councel , when dissuaded from this pernicious course by the example of all other societies . it must be done , else the college would be undone . peribo si non faxo , si faxo vapulavero . your power is too great , not to be manag'd but by persons throughly versed in the law : yet you will stretch it beyond it's due bounds , and expose it by your actions to be canvassed by those , who are justly jealous of it . you will not submit to the decision of the four chiefs ; but what think you of royal visitation ? are you exempt from that too ? may not a quo warranto be just and necessary in this reign , whatever it hath been in the former ? your party promoted it under the late , and will you not submit to it under the present . tute hoc tibi intrivisti , tibimet hoc exedendum est . but lastly , seeing this enormous power , doth so widely incompass all the jurisdictions of the greatest city in europe ; it was hoped your ambition would have soar'd no higher . no , your discretion drives some of you to hartford , to worry the ingenious coatsworth ; your designs round the circuits ( as you were told ) to hang physick out of the way : had not the clacking capit-alian goo — , that crepitante ciconia rostro , prevented by its noise the intended mischief , discover'd the towering g — ls ; and the jury disbeliev'd the depositions , that gentlemen might have rotted in prison , without bail or main-prize till the next assizes , to serve your turn ; that you might alleviate one crime , by committing another . i have done as well as your selves with your discretion , your learning and deep skill in physick , will not seem much greater when throughly canvassed , as it shall be in some measure in its proper place . you excuse your omitting of being qualified , because this neglect did not proceed from any error of [ your ] will. this being occasion'd partly by the practice of the former censors , who never qualified themselves for that employment ; and partly by advice of your council ( three of the great practicers of this age ) who were of opinion that the censors were not comprehended in the said act , it being no place of profit , or crust , nor by commission immediately from the king , nor such as concerned the publick government , but did only relate to a due regulation of the practice of physick in london and seven miles , which by the laws of the kingdom is entrusted in [ your ] hands , [ you ] being the most proper judges of the same . if it was not an error of the will , it was a filthy one of the judgment ; but why not of the will , when you would not hearken to the grave advice of the learned bernard : who told you the danger of the contrary , and spurr'd you on to your duty , by his own example . no , you thought to shelter your selves amidst the multitude , by a power paramount , as you deem'd to the rest of the law. there is but two setts of you that are obnoxious , the rest safe by the including act of grace ; but doth a multitude of offenders lessen the crime , it may prompt mercy to spare the less guilty . the most turbulent in a sedition , the ringleaders of a faction , are always justly punish'd ; tho' the seduced mob may be spar'd , because they were so ; and in a rebellious regiment , where one and all seem equally guilty , decimation is not only just , but merciful . will you make the world believe , that either that true oracle of the law sr. cr. levinz , or the judicious and popular sr. barth , or the equitable sr. thomas , would ever induce you to run the hazard of so severe a lash of the law , when as you say , you were already qualified by piece-meal ; so not conscience , but an unaccountable capriccio could hinder the total . why was not their advice produc'd when demanded before the attorney general ? no , you did here , as in gr — ds commitment , and would fain mend your selves , as you endeavour'd to do the warrant ex post facto . post est occasio calva . your profit indeed as worthily manag'd , together with the college stock , but small ; but upon examination of persons to be admitted certain . the perquisits sometimes very great . surely your boastingly great power requires the like trust in the persons entrusted therewith . your great sence owns the verb , not the noun , the full meaning of the word , but not the word it self . should a common-council-man argue , that he was chosen for , and represents only a private precinct ; would that exempt him from a due qualification ? but your power is more extensive then health and sickness . the collegiate physicians , and all other practitioners , apothecaries , naval and resident surgeons , and druggists are under your immediate inspection , pray cast them up and tell us how many thousand they are . this law would be a very pretty barrier here , against the universally incroaching popery ; when persons so vastly entrusted , if they will not , need not qualifie themselves ; or pick and chose when , how farr , and what part of that law they are pleased to satisfie . pray read but the preamble to your original charter , and you will find , that your power being so extensive , your capacity , care and skill ought to have been proportionate . his majesty indeed hath not been pleas'd to take any notice of you as to favour , but hath already in displeasure , and 't is hop'd he will curtail your ambition , and clipp the wings of your towering pride : but how much and whatever you have , is originally deriv'd from , and confirm'd by his royal predecessors . judges you were , but how proper , your actions have already , the law hath and will determine it . next you deny , that you executed your office with the utmost violence , against an innocent person , and member of the college ; call this and the former charges against [ you ] notorious untruths ; are surprized how the author durst print and publish them , and impudently deliver them to the most high and celebrated court of judicature in this kingdom ; the doctor having been prov'd guilty of ill practice in a very high degree , before the president and censors . i answer that you are doubly guilty of what you deny here ; because the doctor was doubly innocent 1st , in the eye of the law , rectus in any curia by the act of grace , tho he had been never so guilty before : 2ly , as to matter of fact , having prov'd himself so in the open court. therefore the author durst print and publish this and the former charges against you , durst deliver it to the right honourable the lords and commons , dares publish it again and prove it at any time ; as he would have then , if you durst have challeng'd him , or dare to do it still . as for impudence e'ne let that be shar'd amongst those , who openly dare in the face of the world to challenge the judgment of my lord chief justice , and the honestly of the jury , who sound upon oath the doctor not to be guilty of ill practice to any degree . they acquitted him of what you condemn'd him , yet both were equally sworn to do right ; 't is not now a meer error in you , you persist in your judgment and condemn him still . who , i pray , is now guilty of what i dare not name . you may go on in your defiance , but never prosper long in opposition to justice : she hath indeed leaden heels , especially when clogg'd by you , and hindred in her course , but you may at last ( as you deserve ) feel her iron hands . next you own the doctor a member of the college of physicians ( having a licence granted him to practice physick ) but then his admission was granted on these conditions , quam diu se bene gesserit , & statuta collegii observaverit ; & solutiones debitas praestiterit . all which conditions he hath notoriously violated , having prov'd a very factious , turbulent and disobedient member to that honourable society , &c. the doctor is indeed a member of the college ; his diploma is his licence , and yours is no more , because all one with his : his admission the same as , his behaviour better then yours in the eye of the world , because adjudg'd so by law. but seeing you persist in abusing both words and persons , i must inform you , that a licenciat in any faculty , is as great in other countries , as a simple fellow looks little in this . if he hath violated any conditions , you were notoriously imprudent , in not charging him with the true , but condemn him for an imaginary crime . out with it gentlemen , general words will not do in law , deceipt is generally couch'd under them . well then , is 't ill practice ? he is clear'd of that ; 't is not in him , but in you towards him . is 't want of respect , in not submitting to you at the censors board , and acknowledging his crime ? he beggs your pardon for that , and thinks your demand insolent , especially in the present conjuncture . is 't because he will not furnish you with money , to defend your injustice towards him ? he thinks he is not bound in justice to do it ; especially you having been so remiss of late , in levying that imposition upon him and his fellow licenciates . pray take example by the prosecutor , and be as industrious in settling the speciall verdict in dr. peaches case , as the prosecutor hath been in that against one of you . you are at a stand ; and so is dr. greenfield with the rest , not knowing whether they have not paid too much in their wrong already ; and whether a repetundarum doth not lye against you ? i mean a small bill in equity , for illegal exactions and undue expences . recrimination is no purgation in you . have you your selves perform'd the conditions requisite in just censors ? the doctor and prosecutor believes not , and make bold to tell you still , notwithstanding your late rhodomontados , and that almost in your own latin , quod vos non bene gesseritis , nec statuta regni observaveritis , solutiones utrique debit as praestabitis . i hope you may understand this latin in time , tho the licenciats cannot yours . a ternary of epithets brings up the rear of this clause . dr. greenfield is turbulent , factious and disobedient . not the first , even when repeatedly troubled to no purpose : factious he can't be , because he joins with the greater and better part of the college , against the ambition and impositions of the contrary . nor disobedient , because submissive even to an unjust sentence . you on the contrary , are honest , just and impartial . honest , for committing him in opposition to law. just , but not to him certainly , nor your selves neither . impartial , in exposing your selves , the college and the whole faculty , to derision , needless suits and contempt : this i suppose , is not your judgment at present , but will be so , and is to those of a better . you say farther , that the doctor unjustly complains of his treatment , the same being ( as he saith ) executed with the utmost violence ; that it is so far from truth , that on the contrary he was treated with all the fairness and kindness which any member of that , or any other corporation , could expect or reasonably desire , as will appear by the following account of true matter of fact. dr. greenfield doth and may justly complain of your violence ; but here you mistake the person , 't is the prosecutors charge against you , and if you come off o' nt no better else where , then by your excuses here , you may be as kindly treated as the doctor , and kinder too , because a prison of less scandal may serve . you were not used in the publick court , as the doctor in yours ; you were fairly heard , and the prosecutor chose your own friends to be evidence against you . there remains now but a fair retaliation of kindness , and that with an advantagious compliment if you please to accept it , in token of gratitude . may you be doubly repaid . but if your great kindness cannot be refus'd , and those lately incorporated amongst your kind selves , are doubly bound to accept it , whenever you please to offer it ; i 'd e'ne advise them rather to give you a good piece of plate for a conge , then be over loaded by your graces . if the matter of fact be drawn out of the lasting records of dr. g — ll ; i must crave leave to tell him , that he is out in both his capacities : viz. in relating the matter as register ; and condemning the doctor for the fact as censor ; his naturally precipitate haste hurried him on to puni●nd ' , without examinand ' ; and now to relate the affair without recognoscend ' . you say , the first year upon accusation of the husband , &c. the doctor was out of town , and so not heard in his own defence . the second year the complaint being renew'd , was condemned unanimously by the four censors , but not fin'd or committed , because one of the censors , contrary to his duty , refus'd to sign the warrant . the third year , he was unanimously found guily again , but was not committed , because one of the censors was called out of town , and another oblig'd to keep his chamber with a tedious fitt of the gout . the fourth year , upon a fresh complaint , he was found guilty of ill practice , and fin'd and committed without bail , or main-prize to newgate , &c. the account as here stated , is both improbable and highly mysterious . 1st , that the fact being committed in 1692 , the affair should not be determin'd till the 6th year after in 1697. 2ly , that the woman notwithstanding her continual torments should not seek for a re dress in almost two years . 3ly , that her friends should complain but once a year . 4ly , that this weighty affair , should have but one day in a year allow'd towards it decision . 5ly , that when the doctor was dismissed ( as was sworn in court by doctor collins ) the reason should be , because one of the censors , tho he condemn'd him according to his oath , yet refus'd to punish him contrary to his duty . 6ly , that upon another arraignment and condemnation , the doctor should scape unpunishd , because one of the censors was called out of town ( that very minute ● suppose , and must be absent the whole remainder of the year ) so hastily , that he could not set his hand to the warrant ; and another at the same time luckily taken with the gout in his toe , so that he was not able to stirr his fingers , so much as to set his mark. the doctor was indeed , after so many jeopardies , condemn'd to purpose at last , by men regardless of magna charta , and outstripping the inquisition it self ; but i hope they will be convinc'd , that either a gout , or an absence for a whole year , had been less prejudicial to the affairs and persons then , &c. i shall forbear to unriddle these mysteries , till mr. bolton's book against dr. greenfield comes out , under the auspicious conduct and influence of dr. goodale ; and at present give you only some hints . it was about this time mr. clunn was a trotting about with his pretended patients , in order to turn the tedious and expensive illicita , into a speedily gainful mala praxis ; the committy was then settling ; the censors modelling ; new laws forging , oaths and bonds imposing : in short , parturiebant montes ; and dr. greenfield was thought as yet not so great an offender , till he refus'd to be shopt in the repository , and protested against the laws impos'd : then , a'd terrorem , he was made an example , others very eminent were to follow his fate . but suppose the six sets of censors had unanimously condemn'd him for that fact , he was afterwards honourably acquitted of , upon a full hearing by a superiour court : let the world judge ; whether the dishonour of so foul an act , should not solely and wholly have belong'd to those his partial , ignorant and prejudic'd judges , who , by that means and in such numbers , had expos'd themselves , and the whole faculty , to the contempt of the universe . you own further your ignorance of the doctors being comprehended in the kings general pardon , [ your ] lawyers having never hinted any such thing to [ you ] , neither did the doctor plead any acts of grace when summon'd before [ you ] , &c. bless me what kind of judges are these , that plead their ignorance of the law , as an excuse of their acting against it ! this was not a single , private , absolete act , but an universal one repeatedly pass'd in parliament , since the pretended fact was committed . 't is very strange you should be ignorant of obvious laws , when so curiously nice in the terms , as to be able to distinguish , between four men who are the censors , and four censors who are the men , in the specicial verdict . but if all of the four censors , and those of the more numerous committee , continued invincibly ignorant of what was known to the very mob : i wonder it should scape the studious observations of the industrious go — le , who , propria voluntate & mero motu suis , without any pension from the state , hath been epitomizing all the news papers . you do both injustly , and in vain charge the learned in the law , with such a gross ignorance . advice not ask'd cannot be given , and if given , is to no purpose when never taken : had you not so much as a hint of this , when you oppos'd violently the doctors discharge . pray ask pardon of your councel for so signal an affront ; and be pleas'd to remember that you are a court , before which pardons are requir'd to be pleaded . reason second , these censors not being satisfied with the designed ruin of this doctor and family , proceeded to effect it ( according to the opinion of most people ) by stirring up and assisting the aforesaid turbulent woman to bring an action of 2000 pounds against the said doctor , which was carried on to an expence far above the ability of the woman , and back'd it by libels published in their name . but upon tryal before the right honourable the lord chief justice holt , the said doctor was honourably acquitted , and his practice vindicated , allowed of an commended by a great number of the most eminent physicians of the said college , it plainly appearing that ignorance , not judgment , was the cause of that censure , and envy for want of success by the same medicine they condemned the said doctor for , it being proved in court that some of them had made use of it before . this second charge ( you say ) is highly unjust [ you ] having been no further concern'd , then as witnesses subpaena'd . and as to the publishing libels in [ your ] names , it is so notoriously false , that you only vindicated your honour and justice against an impudent and scandalous advertisement , publish'd to defame [ you ] . i must now rake up this shameful affair , being forc'd to it by your no better denial . this woman ( one of the looser gang of pedlars , that offer good pennyworths of muslin , under pretence of a seamans covert baron and long reach ) lay perdu for about six years , to regain her forty shillings ; and seeing her yearly applications to consecutive censors , were not prevalent to cause the doctor to refund , what he but too dearly earn'd ; tho' she found her partizans baffl'd , and the doctor discharg'd by the judges ; yet thought ( forsooth ) to jump into an estate , by such a favourable opportunity , and commenc'd a suit of 2000 l. against the doctor , but unluckily it was some time after he had brought his , in the like summ against the censors , for false imprisonment . this was a plain design to quash both the actions , there being no overplus to be contended about in either : but the doctor thought it unreasonable ; she goes on and puts him to the expence of 50 l. by dilatory courses ; summons the censors to give evidence in what they had condemn'd before on her behalf , influenceth their numerous party , ( more then ever were seen in any court ) to defend her cause tooth and nail , and at last upon the verdict against her , pays the costs as soon as demanded . do you think all the world is at blindmansbuff ; and every one you see at ecco lo cieco , and your selves under covert cause winking ? no , dr. burwells menial servant , that poor addicated officer of yours john cole , hath related the fact to an eminent physician , a little before his own death : that by an express command of your attorney , he waited on mr. ambrose , and conducted him to that womans house , in order to commence that suit. all the world hath reason to believe you were the principals , she only accessary . the doctor still reserves a cardinal evidence in petto , till his numerous scruples , about a maintenance of a suit , champeatie , and common barretrie , are fully satisfy'd . now i shall readily grant you , that the advertisement you speak of , was impudent and scandalous , and lying as to matter of fact ; but i must acquaint the world , that neither the doctor , nor any of his friends i am sure , had any hand in it . the author was a professor but no doctor ; a noisy pamphletier ; that spark of flashy nonsense ; your worthy antagonist , and fit match for controversy : you may easily know him , whether he speaks or writes , prays or rail's 't is all one . piscis à capite foetet . but you were in torment , pray any tooth good barber ; drowning in spight , caught at grass , any ansa , any thing to pull in poor greenfield . you published a scandalous answer , to a scandalous advertisment ; whereby you doubly abuse the innocent : for you might as easily have trac'd the author of this , as he the messenger to the press of yours . i must tell you for once ; the doctor is so confident of the justice of his cause , that notwithstanding your numerous libels , he hath writ nothing as yet but his book in latin. the reasons and remarks , you dare not attack , are the prosecutors ; who hath hitherto expos'd you but moderately , notwithstanding your injustice be the very basis of his informations ; he could do it no otherwise , then by vindicating the doctor : as by justice he was , and in justice he ought to be . rumpantur ut ilia codris . you had indeed some shew of a pretence to answer , but no cause to revile a declared innocent . but pray did you not libel him previously to all this , while he lay at your mercy , your prisoner in newgate , both for the pretended crime and the impos'd fine . was not that enough ? but you must immediately give the world an account , that he was committed to newgate for ill practices , in the plural , without specifying for what. none but those that were acquainted with your constitution and injustice , could imagine it less then felony : debt it could not be because of that expression : nor for the fine ; that was never demanded . you remember no doubt dr. burwell , when you were not named , and scarcely affronted by the learned loss ; what horrid labour you were in for a year , before you could be deliver'd of a female child at one throw , by the midwifery of a letter ; your voluminous book you mean , in answer to six lines that touch'd you : be pleas'd to look in your epistle dedicatory , and amidst the broody metaphors and teeming allegories , you 'll find these words . yea and although in the case of a particular person , physicians may differ in their opinion , and perhaps each think he hath all the reason on his side , yet it is very base for either of these to begin to print the case , and condemn the other , were he never so guilty . and why so ? certainly because it exposeth the faculty , as well as the person . but tho' you were in the wrong , you both condemn'd and printed first with a witness : every time you have publish'd , may be deem'd the first ; because the doctor hath not answer'd you as yet . your being a judge or censor won't do : neither oath , nor discretion , bound you to print any thing . i hope you were a physician then ; and if so , i leave you to think of the adjective you use . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you are . now we will go on to the matter of fact , as by you related . the doctor brought the said woman thirty six grains of cantharides , to be taken to cure an ulcer of the bladder , whereof she took thirty grains in 12 hours , upon which ensued , first , great pains and torments with bloody urine ; and then voyding of several quarts of perfect blood , with skins and flesh that shecontinued twenty two weeks in great torment , &c. the truth of this , as it was declar'd and prov'd in court , when the doctor cast this woman , or the censors rather ; is the following , viz. upon the doctors extraordinary success in curing ulcers in the bladder , by the cantharides ( which is a distemper hitherto accounted incurable ) , he was recommended by some of his former patients to this person , and found her troubled with it , and a scyrrhus in the vagina uteri and cancerous piles withal ; he sends her eighteen of the pills , with their corrector camphire separately ; but with positive orders not to take them but in his presence , in order to give more or less , as the case upon particular signs should require : she impatient of delays , takes some of them in his absence , and without the corrector , upon which some pains and bloody water ensued ; but no more then what is but too usual , upon the bare applying of a blister . the doctor being sent for in haste , chides her , but takes off the pains and bloody water immediately ; sends her into the country , and attends almost daily upon her , for his forty shillings . not one ill word against the doctor all this while , all the clamour was against mrs. salloway the midwife ; who clear'd her self from injuring the person , by doctors coatsworth and gibson call'd in , they finding then cancerous piles were the cause of her pains , for the ulcer was gone . this clamour being obviated , the doctor was thought on about two years after , at the instigation of one of the censors , whom the doctor had exasperated , as he easily will be . the doctor being clear'd ; the woman musters up her tatter'd crew to swear that horrid nonsense , produceth the affidavits ; the censors condemn him upon them ; the court of kings bench upon impartial hearing acquits him of the fact. this being so , you are egregiously out both as to fact , and the nature of the thing , 1st , that above thirty grains of corrected cantharides , have been given by the doctor with success , both before and since his commitment , was fully prov'd in court. 2ly , notwithstanding what the womans evidence swore , it appear'd as plain , by their contradiction , and the time of taking , that she took less then fifteen pills . 3ly , it was evident by the doctors constant practice in attending , that it was against his order she took any , it was at her peril she did it , and ought to have far'd worse . 4ly , those that know the symptoms upon the giving of cantharides , will tell you , that 1st . there ensues a plentiful discharge of urine , then a desire to make water with a less quantity of it ; next , strangury ; lastly , bloody water with pains ; but perfect blood never : experience and famous authors declare this expresly : i will not now name them , but may e're long . by the flesh they mean ( i suppose ) the sphincter vesicae , nymphae , clitoris , and the labia pudendi perhaps : by the skins the bits either of the vagina or the bladder it self , torn off in pieces by these venomous animals , destructive to life , inimical to nature , muliebris they must mean. egregious anatomists , worthy ever to remain in the theatre , for the perpetual improvement of that art : especially if you consider their nice observations , as to the number of the quarts of blood : several they say . an indefinite quantity will bleed an elephant to death ; and tho this woman had nine lives like a catt , and each of them sustain'd by a proportionate and distinct quantity of blood , that number must have destroy'd her at last : but she is still alive , and the better for the doctor , as was prov'd in court. 't is a cancerous humor that attends her , and the doctor beggs you his seniors , to take some pitty upon her , and cure her of this , as he did of the ulcer , and he 'll refund the forty shillings : 't is worth your pains gentlemen , half an examination fee , a whole angel a piece . but this several is set down to impose upon all , being as wide as ones fancy , and as incertain , as your judgment of things : it must then be restrain'd , and it moderately reaching from four to the teens , we 'll take the middle number , and reduce it to eight : nay i 'll bate you two , and conclude it six by the affidavit , as reported from you ; which is about fifteen pounds of blood , if you consider the difference of troy and avoirdupoize , with that of the specific gravity of the blood , as distinct from water ; the first being bulk for bulk heavier then the last . perfect blood you say , that is the red mass , without the mixture of the serum , which is the transparent and fluid substance , wherein the other , or wherewith if you please , is naturally carried , and diluted in the vessels : this distinct from the bloody water , and the preceding plentiful urine , was measured like size , i suppose , to find the accompt . now it having been agreed amongst the anatomists , that the quantity of blood in men , is from sixteen to twenty four pounds troy , by which blood they mean , the red substance and the serum together , as they both circulate in the vessels ; and the proportion of the one to the other being almost equal ; this woman must have lost , and that in twelve hours time , at least thirty pounds of blood ; if you consider the bloody water too : which must be six pounds more then any one could have ; and yet she was better the next day then before , and alive to this . that perfect blood , as they call it , must be here distinct from the serum , i will prove by the following arguments . first , this perfect blood , came after the bloody urine , consequently distinct ; it must be taken from the bottom of the former , and is the coagulated red mass : for the rest was urine , tho bloody besure . secondly , this monstrous excretion of blood , being originally caus'd by a diuretic , must first cause a plentifull evacuation of urine ; which is nothing but the serum having past the kidneys ; next bloody urine , that is the red mass broke by , and diluted in the serum : now if you mind the gradation , the third , that is the perfect blood , must be the red mass subsiding , fluid when excreted , but coagulating after and settling to the bottom , and so measured ; or else where is there a distinction between the second and third . thirdly , if it were not so , the just proportion between the red mass and the serum , could not be known ; and so not sworn to : especially if you consider the tagg-ragg and bobtail , that made the observation for you , and the deposition too . fourthly , this poison , as you call it , working by separating the parts of the blood , and not by coagulating the whole fluid ; the serum separated , upon erosion of the blood vessels , imbib'd as much blood as it could retain ; which is the bloody urine ; the residue that subsided , must be wholly devoy'd of it , which is the perfect blood ; fifteen pounds in all of the red mass ; which , with thirteen pounds of serum , requisite to dilute it in the vessels , makes twenty eight : and ten to one , four more of both , our of the bloody urine ; makes thirty two , quod probandum erat . yet this heroic virago fainted not at all , after so enormous a loss of blood. lastly , the same witness that swore to the affidavit , deposed likewise in court , that that blood was as sweet as a rose ; now if it had been mixt with the serum , after this had once pass'd the kidneys , or the bladder , it would certainly have got a farr different scent , of kin to the boutan royal snush , and overflowing with the neighbouring perfumes . but whatsoever anatomists have said on this subject , was meerly conjectural : comparative anatomy , first ( that i know of as to this affair ) instituted by mr. boile , detects a great deal less quantity of blood in men. he tried the experiment upon sheep and other animals , took the exact weight of the blood issuing , and of the animal , which compar'd with that of man , by a synonymous rule , he found the proportion to be but sixteen pounds at most in any . you may try it upon goats , as my friend hath done , for the sake of the experiment and the blood it self ; and upon all imaginable allowances , you will find this assertion true . consequently then , this woman by your veracious accompt , voided as much more of blood , as she could have in her , besides what must of necessity have circulated in the vessels , and the habit of her body , to sustain her life . had you but consider'd the menstrua ; how careful nature is in the evacuation of that , tho' superfluous blood ; how gradually she doth it , in small quantities and several days ; tho then of no use to the body , because it was intended for another : what a small excess is called flooding , and accompanied with fainting ; and a little greater endangers life : or but minded , what loss of blood is fatal in haemorrhagies , even discontinued for some days : or seen executions by beheading : you would never have impos'd upon the world such nonsence . you consider'd as much , the horrid torments you talk of : nature was then upon the rack , as you make us believe ; which of it self , when her flesh and skins came away by bits , was more then enough to have destroy'd this miserable creature . what will not an exorbitant spight do ? when fired by passion , in an inconsiderate subject . any body , any thing , must be believ'd against greenfield ; any reproach true , if cast upon him . quicquid in eum jecer is , pomum erit . be pleas'd to accept of these few hints , for i design not to inlarge further as yet . the author i dare not name , least he should prove to be one only licens'd : an insignificant wretch , proper quo ad hoc ( what he is now about ) fit only to be despis'd , his offers disdain'd , and himself ( poor soul ) expell'd . as to the flesh and skins , pretended to be voided withal ; i cannot persuade my self to expose you for it , as you justly deserve : i ll let it alone , till further provok'd by the master-piece of dr. goodal 's creation . to prove your assertions , you boast of five affidavits : you may have as many scores , if you please , and keep them for your private use . the same witnesses that attested these , were examin'd upon oath in court ; and either retracted what they had sworn before , by not alledging what you here assert ; or were not believ'd in what they there depos'd : they were not then before you , but before a just judge and an honest jury ; who minded as well the credibility of the witness , as the possibility of the thing it self : or else , how could there have been a point blank contrary determination of this affair ? they clear'd the doctor of the self same fact you condemn'd him for , yet heard the same witnesses against him : but they had no party to quell ; no wild designs to carry on ; no person to hate ; no passion to satisfie , but that for truth and justice : and they were upon their oaths too , as well as your worships ; they talk'd not indeed so much of , but acted according to them : but why was there so great a difference in the sentence pronounc'd ? i 'll tell you . an oath may be , and is too often , only a loose covert for by-ends , as the party is biass'd by interest or passion ; as well as a fixed tye to truth , in persons immoveably just . next you seem to deny , that the doctor was honourably acquitted , &c. by replying . that it is true , that four junior physicians of the college , who never arriv'd to the honour or dignity of presidents , elects or censors , and profess'd malecontents to the said college , did endeavour to justifie the ill practice , by extenuating and excusing it ; though none of them durst own , that they had ever prescrib'd the dose given by dr. groenvelt ; neither could they deny the fatal effects , which had frequently attended the use of that bold and unhappy remedy , which by the most eminent authors hath been rank'd amongst poisons . these four junior physicians , whom you worthy seniors despise , need no other praise , but only to be nam'd , viz. sr. r. blackmore . the learned dr. bernard , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( deceas'd when 70 ) , dr. gibbons , and dr. coatsworth . the first solemnly knighted for his merit , and made physician in ordinary to his majesty ; two to publick hospitals ; the other universally known and applauded for his learning and practice , together with the rest . they indeed want leisure and ill nature , to execute the office of such censors ; have not ambition enough to become the heads of a party , of the college they deserve ; and their daily practice requires not a second examination , to make them elects . profess'd malecontents they are , yet not to the college , but at your parties proceedings ; and for that reason still continue honest . pray , which of you would not quit all his pretences , to those vast honours and dignities , to become but as one of them . all the good i can wish you , is but to arrive to seemingly the same repute , to support your daily declining state : but to them ( the three surviving juniors ) a gradual progress in their real worth , that the college may boast of more then a single hippocrates . they were really smart youths in quoting of authors ; their depositions tight as to matter of fact ; their instances pithy ; their observations becoming grey hairs : the court was astonish'd at their learning and experience , and became regardless , of the meerly negative and opinionative depositions , of their seniors and superiors , either as to present imaginary , or antiquated honours . there was a sly youth besides that prompted the councel , and laught at your management ; and many juniors that did , and were ready , to attest the truth , in vindicating the doctor ; each of them as eminent really , as you in opinion . but you forgot the eminent apothecaries , able surgeons , skillfull midwives , and a cloud of credible witnesses , attesting the extraordinary success of the doctor in ulcers of the bladder , by that decried medicine and dose ; which the doctor more conversant , and generally apply'd to , in cases of that nature , kept as a beneficial secret , till ravish'd by you , in order to abuse him and it ; yet he expects still a reward for the discovery , even from your selves . the fatal effects , were no other then those but too usual upon perl cordials . a bold remedy may be good and requisite in desperate cases ; and this was not unhappy to any but you , for condemning , what you knew not the nature and use of . some remedies indeed have been rank'd amongst poisons ; but it is either the excess of quantity , or some incorrected quality , makes them reputed so : mind the one , and mend the other , and what was noxious before , becomes benificial . thus sublimate is one ; but being corrected by one of the ingredients , that made it first a poison , becomes innoxious ; and is safely and daily administred even to infants . ratsbane corrected , hath been used internally with success , in desperate cases , by muller , bonetus and willis . cortex was formerly thought such , and given at first but to grains , with great caution , and only by some : till the nature and benefit of it , being duly observ'd by all , increas'd the dose of it almost to ounces . who doubts but opium is a poison ? yet daily us'd , in vast doses for pleasure , in the east ; and here in most cases , even to excess . hellebore , elaterium , coloquintida , lapis lazuli and other violent purgatives , are no better without the former precaution ; yet safely given by a skillful hand . an expert physician , that really knows the medicine and distemper , is the sole judge of the dose ; not to be abridg'd by meer strangers to the remedy and intention . my instances , moftly either of natural products , or slightly artificial , have been adapted to your capacities ; not daring to have a recourse to chymistry , and tell you , how various and instantaneous alterations and corrections of things , are thereby produc'd ; least i should be revil'd , for knowing something of so benificial an art ; though only with intent to prevent its being hurtful . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . besides , we must not immediately pronounce that a poison , what either some single , or a consecutive series of authors , declar'd to be so : we shall find both ancients and moderns much mistaken herein . to the former quicksilver is such : yet found now otherwise in it self ; and its preparations , useful in common , and a refuge in desperate cases . within this century , and our memory almost , the famous doctors of that faculty in paris , banish'd antimony as venom from physick , and those that us'd it , from the city practice ; threatned to prosecute dr. monginot ( though chief physician to the king ) the learned quercetan and mayerne : but had the honesty , when better inform'd , to retract that judgment by a solemn decree , and reinthrone that triumphant mineral . you say further , cantharides have been declar'd to be venomous animals , destructive to life , inimical to nature , for the most part deadly , &c. most l●thiferous poisons and acute venoms . pray what is become of your mother tongue and wit ? what do you mean by venomous animals ? is there any other , but what shew themselves to be such whil'st alive ? deleterious either by tooth , sting , or touch : by the first , as the vipers , &c. sting as the scorpion , centopies , the poisonous raja and cat-fish : tooth and mediate touch , as a mad dog : mediate and immediate as the torpedo : but a spanish-fly is as venomous as its kind , or a flea ; scarce so much as a gnat ; far short of a breeze : it s acute venom lies not in a sharp tooth or sting ; but in a slight touch , with a blunt probascis . i have heard of poisonous plants , and virulent simples i am acquainted with : but can you not distinguish between animalia venenata and talia venena ; though use hath allow'd a greater latitude to the latin expression , then to the venemous english . i appeal to all mankind , what is meant by a venemous creature ; that expression denoting such a quality , in a living agent : when the life is gone , they cease to be venemous , and often to be poisons ; being us'd either for physic or food ; as the vipers , raja and catfish : if you henceforward pretend to so much as an english summons ; pray next time , you make use of this word venomous , learn to understand it and to spell it better : else you will but expose your selves whil'st indeavouring to impose upon the vulgar ; and in describing of a fly , use the bombast , rattleheaded epithets of a snake . these flies , whatever you say , have neither a burning , nor a corroding quality , when in a skillful hand , with a due corrector : deadly no more then they were to this person . however you being touch'd a little by the authority of hippocrates , who recommends them twice , are pleas'd to allow , these lethiferous poisons and acute venoms , &c. to be us'd in very desperate and chronic cases : but to what purpose i cannot imagine ; u●less it be to ease the patient of his pains , by sending him packing ; as you insinuate hippocrates's potions serv'd both the patients , to-whom they were most unhappily prescrib'd , not exceeding five or six grains at most . i do not now wonder that greenfield was , when hippocrates must be lash'd by such like animals , for favouring this remedy . you talk indeed of powerful antidotes , but mention not any : there are none in the author , unless it be wine to allay the burning ; but that of pliny-lest out , viz. the heads and tails to correct the acrimony of the rest of the body of these flies : i will however unriddle this affair , for the sake of others . the ancients us'd them in smaller doses , for want of a due corrector ; but now one is found , they are given in a greater , with greater success ; and us'd at present but in chronic and desperate cases : pray is not an ulcer in the bladder such ? how often hath it's cure been attempted in vain , for several years , by all imaginable ways ? but now , by this method to be cur'd , in less then a week : either you must allow this distemper to be such , and so talk to no purpose : or if you deny it to be chronic , &c. you know not the case , and think it acute , because causing sharp pains . you need not fright the doctor , with tragical stories , of their mortiferous and deadly effects ; they shall be examin'd , whenever produced : only be pleas'd to take notice , that if all those remedies , that have been mortiferous , either by accident , design'd malice , or unskillful advice and mistakes , must be set aside , because then noxious ; you must never prescribe either opium , mercury , the cortex or steel ; nay clear the shop of most of the rest ; and whoop for your tools and practice withal : unless hevelius hath discover'd some medicinal simples in the moon ; which when fetch'd for you by go — les ganza's , will serve but sometime ; being as liable to be misus'd , as any we have . i believe these few notes , on your longest and most virulent paragraph , will prove a preliminary , short but full answer to mr. b — on ; let his intended book be never so voluminous , and his quotations numerous : the young gentleman knowing not as yet , that authority in physick , is always subject to reason and experience ; i am afraid his tract will come out in un●time . as to your boasted of partisan cyprianus , we know the man , his trade and education ; can produce authentic letters , as to his behaviour : lithotomist he is , and a competitor to his much senior , the expert and successful , greenfield ( who since his barbarous treatment , hath cut of and extracted the stone , from seventeen persons of both sexes , from five to fifty six years of age , and but one of them did miscarry ; who by the opinion of the physicians present at his dissection , could not have lived though he had not been cut ) . cyprianus indeed was the most violent , in his depositions against him ; tho both were of the same country , and strangers in this : the reason you may judge of . how eminent an anat●mist he is , will appear in the sequel : but his professorship , you speak of , like meleagers life , not being inherent , dwindled away with the life of a kind co-habiting refugie : his lectures expir'd as soon as the man ; and his honour laid in the dust , before the corps of his friend . however by his last lecture in the open court , i have learn'd , that spanish flises work contrary effects in different countries : here , as appears by the five affidavits , they render the blood ( like the bite of a haemorrhous ) flowing out by gallons : in holland ( upon his credit ) like that of an asp , they coagulate it by pailfulls : here , internally given , affect no inward parts , but only the urinary-ducts and receptacles ; though convey'd into the blood , and carried by it to all others : there , they miserably excoriate and ulcerate the throat , stomach and guts . had these venomous creatures , been the censors flies , and not stifled luckily in a pailful of blood ( which he swore he took out of the bladder ) , they had doubtless torn ' in pieces , and perhaps devour'd her skins and flesh ; as the cacciatori are serv'd by the vipers in campagna di roma . but now we talk of such animals , i must tell mr. professor , by way of return , one of my observations , viz. that the venom of an asp , lying close by the tongue ; is naturally , as to the creatures jaunt , bounded by a river : lucan , id nili metitur arenis : but we have made it boundless , by wafting it over the ocean . aspida fecimus merces , pelagoque petimus . wherefore it most plainly appears , that it was not a wise and considerate judgment , but envy and malicious suggestions , which occasion'd that unjust and illegal censure against dr. groenvelt ; nor will learned censors , either censure , what they do not know ; or condemn , what they themselves make use of ; nor are they solemnly sworn , to decry that as poisonous , which hath been evidently prov'd before the world , to be highly beneficial to the kings subjects . it had look'd far better in my poor opinion , for you to have done , what you charge the doctors evidence untruly withal ; viz. to have extenuated your crime , and not vindicated your practice , in opposition to the law , and the determination of the court of kings-bench . as to your old womens stories you talk of , the most fabulous we have heard and laught at in court , for no other fatality attending ; then the usual one , upon the best of remedies , in a dying person : but if you please to trump them up again , the doctor will either f — t at your thunder , by despising your tales : or if you expose the faculty too much by the rehearsal ; you must expect the same as to your persons and skill : lex talionis will bear him out if attack'd ; though not you the aggressors . instances he may have without any trouble ; for you know how great a body you have disoblig'd . you may then spare your brains and shoe-leather , skipp no more over the ditches in southwark ; least you fall into what you design'd for another . be therefore advis'd , either to submit patiently to the doctor and prosecutor ; or fairly to the law. the charge against dr. burwell and torlesse , for administring unprepar'd cantharides , though you deny it , is notoriously true ; being fully sworn to , by mr. daire , speers and boucher , known honest apothecaries : the bills were then , and are ready still to be , produced in any court. you were absent , you say , when this was alledged ; yet subpaena'd as witnesses , by the plaintiff , and concerned as such ; yea , and otherwise too , as hath been fully prov'd . you were really unkind to the woman , in not appearing ; to your selves , in not vindicating your honour . doubtless your presence would have over-aw'd the court ; undone the fact and asserted the common cause . you may still be present , and swear in your own cause , as evidence for the king : do but indict mr. speers of perjury ( with the rest to make the shorter work ) as you have threatned ; and the matter of fact will appear in its proper colours : the number of the bills is increas'd , and there is but such an opportunity wanting to produce them , and shew the world , how just you were in condemning the doctor for the same fact , you your selves were so notoriously guilty of ; but with this remarkable difference , that tho the doctor knew the cantharides not to be a poison , yet was careful to correct their acrimony : you have declared them an acute venom ; but administred them without any caution ( so much as to your selves ) , particular diet , or antidote ; unless it be that of plinie , and diuretics , as in one of the bills , to increase their force , malignity and venom , as you call it ; which appearing fully , by the bills themselves and the latin directions , and solemnly attested , in a publick court : pray be not so lavish of your tenders of oaths , for fear of the worst : at least give us some satisfaction first , how far your negative depositions , as to fact , and that in your own cause , can be valid , against a positive oath of sober and credible witnesses , who have and will assert directly the contrary of what you pretend to . reason third , the said censors having thus notoriously acted like ill men , informations , by order of the kings-bench , were brought severally against them ( in obedience to and incouragement by the law ) for not having qualified themselves , for a place of such high trust and judicial authority ; but by the great endeavours of the said censors to evade them , the suit hath prov'd very expensive , the said censors applying themselves to his majesty , by way of petition , for a noli prosequi ; but his majesty being informed of the case , out of a tender regard to justice and the laws , was pleas'd to deny them . reason fourth , dr. burwell , one of the said censors , being try'd the si●ting after the last term , upon the information aforesaid , a special verdict was obtain'd against him ; and the rest of the said censors having joined issue , are to be try'd the next term. here you are displeas'd with the prosecutors asserting , that you have acted notoriously like ill men. but if a notorious injustice , back'd by a barbarous treatment of a brother ; persisted in to the last , with the utmost aggravations , of privately aspersing , and publickly calumniating , of an innocent person , highly injur'd by your selves before ; and that in contempt , of the law , the decision of the jury , the advice of friends , and the sense of mankind , merits such a denomination ; be pleas'd now to accept , not the similitude only , but the thing it self . it was then your injustice , not the prosecutors malice , that occasion'd the informations . you have indeed indeavour'd to evade them , upon as vain pretences , as you make use of here , and sued , you say , for a noli prosequi , being inform'd by your councel ; that you were not within the act : but you know , that his majesty , upon true information of the matter of fact , was pleased to deny it : from which it doth plainly appear , that the prosecution was neither malicious , nor unreasonable : for you were left to the law , by his majesties consent to , and express approbation of , so just a prosecution : and you have experienc'd , by your repeated fruitless attempts , that the right honourable the lords are of the same mind . the verdict against dr. burwell , was brought in special : but it was the prosecutors design'd favour , to you not deferving any , that the least obnoxious person was pitch'd upon amongst you , to give you all time and scope of repentance : to that end , he order'd his councel , not to oppose the special verdict , when desir'd : furthermore , i am fully satisfied , if it had been any of the other three , the jury would have brought him in guilty , for reasons you may learn in time . notwithstanding all this , you have revil'd the prosecutor for being so tender , slighted his favours , and continue to do so . you express your selves wisely , that the matter is to be argued by ( not before ) the judges ; but in your wisdom , know not how this case will be then determined : yet , by an unaccountable stubbornness , hazzard your ruin , in a case suppos'd by your selves to be doubtful : you stop your ears to the advice of friends , and the counsel of those , who not only guess at , but know your danger ; slight all proposals ; laugh at those , who in pitty would gladly have been your mediators . three of you indeed may think your selves secure , and hope for an accommodation timely enough , tho' burwell be ruin'd ; but you are not safe , tho' he should escape ; your pleadings must be different , your case worse , your defence as to any point insignificant : but if the old gentleman should persist in , and fall a martyr to his obstinacy , you must not , you cannot , in reason and justice expect any other fate ; as you were his accomplices , more active , designing and spightful ; you must expect at least the same , deserve a worse usage . go on in your defiance ; the prosecutor hath hitherto , and i believe , will not fail to meet you one by one , wherever you are pleas'd to carry the suit : but my advice to the former ( if he thinks fit to take it ) is to desert you , that would expose him singly , to the lash of the law , and agree with his kinder adversary , whil'st in the way with him , least , &c. mat. 5. 25. i shall now take another book in hand , to prove that dr. greenfield also ought to be consider'd : i mean that of alius medicus , alias dr. bu●well , against mr. less . i should not have advis'd dr. burwell at all , but that i really pitty him , being made by nature more innocent then the rest , as his book doth fully declare it . he saith , in the 93 page , that good name is better then life , especially if lively-hood goes away with it . but what regard had he to that of dr. greenfield , or what compassion for his family ? the doctor was trapann'd by a feigned message and name , into a coffee-house he constantly us'd , to be hurried to newgate , from amidst his friends , patients and numerous acquaintance ; was follow'd from thence to his house , there taken from the imbraces of his wife and children , from under the nose of his father in law , the reverend dr. meriton : he was committed the same day he had cut a child of the stone , by persons regardless , of the life of one innocent , as well as the prayers of another , dr. greenfield i mean ; that a prison of less scandal , or the lodge of the college , might serve , till he could make his application to the other censors ; that to dr. burwell proving in vain . his commitment was instantly publish'd in the post-boy , newgate nam'd , his crime not specified , but declar'd in general ▪ for ill practises , with a notorious falshood , for refusing to pay his fine , which was never demanded , nor intended to be the only satisfaction , for that imaginary crime ; as appears by the censors warrant and defence . the authors adds in the same page , good name is like a venice glass , &c. if once crack'd though soadred or plaistred , yet is despis'd , undervalued , and in a manner good for nothing . yet he will not suffer the doctor so much as to indeavour it ; but , by repeated publick aspersions . essays ( though i hope in vain ) to shiver it in pieces . he adds further , it is like virginity in women , it enhanceth their price , &c. in days of yore , women were bought for wives , now only for whores : but seeing he hath ravish'd this metaphoric girl , and indeavours to violate her still ; he will be kindly us'd , if he only pays really , and suffers not otherwise for the fact : and if the first assault merits a round summ ; the repeated violations , as they enhance the crime , must likewise the price . he goes on and tells us , that private slander is a sort of civil gunpowder , that blows up whole families at once . surely publick is uncivil , it doth it much more : and seeing it might have famish'd the doctor , his wife and children , deserves their curses against him ( the cause of it ) as well as their cries , these are that authors words , not mine , and i firmly believe , a● not the doctors , nor his families wishes ; whatever the author deserves . i shall now conclude with some few questions to , and remarks upon , about half a score of that restless party , active to no purpose . you pretend to advance the grandeur of physick , by exposing that faculty ; shew your selves impartial , by punishing your own members ; without any regard to your own , or the colleges honour : for who can rely upon a physician , if his admission amongst you , doth not warrant his skill and honesty to boot . you pretend to attack your enemies abroad , by creating more within your own bowells , out of those who are best able to preserve and defend you . you are over head and ears in debt , yet lavishly waste the small residue of your stock in fruitless attempts , and as needful suits . in order to retrieve this , you talk of uniting your body ; yet perfist in affronting the most eminent of the fellows , and the whole body of those you call licentiats . pray where is your conduct in all these particulars ? you asperse the latter publickly and privately , as insufficient for practice ; yet they really are , and esteem'd by all , equal to the best of you . pray who will ensure your skill , when you your selves decry that of your equals ? you defame them , as fit only , quoad hoc , to practice only in some particular cases : yet the college hath given them as ample à diploma , as any you have , to practice in all. pray what means this abuse ? i had almost challeng'd your honesty . you will scarcely alallow them any priviledges ; yet the college hath granted them the use and benefit ( vsum fructum ) of all , either granted , or to be granted hereafter to it self . pray where is your justice ? you suffer them not to have the priviledge even of transgressing slaves , to speak for themselves ( i mean ) though standing before your worships , and in all humility , desiring to be heard . pray what do you make of them ? you affront your own vniversities by re-examining , and sometimes rejecting those , whom they have approv'd of , and honoured with the decree of a doctor : besides , you vilify the forreign academiae . pray where is and was your breeding ? you fly from post to pillar , from charter to the act ; now fix here , now there ; as you think , this or that will best bear you out , in your jarring intentions . pray where is your foundation ? you reject the four chiefs from being so much as arbiters of your differences , or judges of the by-laws you make . pray where is your discretion ? you challenge the justice of the jury , slight the advice of my lord chief justice . pray where is your manners and wisdom ? you impose laws , oaths , bonds , fines , obligations , upon freeborn ( not your ) subjects , without being their representatives , their consent , or authority . pray keep , leavy and pay them your selves ; if you please , and what you will or can . it is your boundless ambition , and conceited greatness , that is the cause of all the mischiefs that attend the college and faculty . it was indeed otherwise , when such low , wandring and retrograde orbs , were chek'd and kept under , by the presence of those immortal lights , whose glory is eternally fix'd . i mean , wharton , glisson , willis , ent scarburgh , lower , &c. fuistis troes , fuit ilium & ingens gloria dardan●ae . i had almost forgot the only licensed sydenham . audisne haec amphiarae sub terris abdite ? nay , dr. go --- le , can you bear to hear your self talk , and your great patron and benefactor revil'd with the same breath ? but now what calls it self a college , must seek for its renown amidst the adverse party , and shelter it self amongst the malcontents : it had only goddards dropps for the influence , the spirit of elliots bones for the support of that government ; till of late it got a young man for its defence . yet when at the board , every one of you is a menecrates , each of you thinks himself a jove ; to be adored , by those call'd licenciates , with capp and knee , in a profound silence . but you found of late , that those your equals , will no longer bear such like indignities . you must shew your selves first to be men , by reflex thoughts on your past actions : till then , i shall take leave of your excellencies ( as philip accosted your haughty predecessor aforesaid ) and that you may hence 〈…〉 d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i wish you sincerely , mente 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ingenuas didicisse fideliter ar 〈…〉 ollit mores , rec sinit esse feros . finis . errata . preface , p. 2. l. 8. r. beargarden , l. 9. r. never , p. 2. l. 2. dele even , ● 30. 〈◊〉 constit●●nt , ● . 2. l. 28. r. ever , p. 4. l. 14. r. their , p. 5. l. 4. r. sours , p. 7. l. 13. r. of ● , p. 12. l. 2● . r , ●heir , p. 13. l. 7. r. obsol●te . an elenchus of opinions concerning the cure of the small pox together with problematicall questions concerning the cure of the french pest / by t. whitaker ... whitaker, tobias, d. 1666. 1661 approx. 104 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 70 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a65692) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 106625) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1109:8) an elenchus of opinions concerning the cure of the small pox together with problematicall questions concerning the cure of the french pest / by t. whitaker ... whitaker, tobias, d. 1666. whitaker, tobias, d. 1666. questions problematical concerning the french pest. [8], 123 p. printed for j.g. for nath. brook ..., london : 1661. "questions problematical concerning the french pest / by tobias whitaker ... london : printed for nath. brook ..., 1661" (p. [89]-123) has special t.p. error in paging: p. 116-117 misprinted 117-118. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng smallpox -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-11 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-11 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an elenchus of opinions concerning the cure of the small pox . together with problematicall questions concerning the cure of the french pest . by t. whitaker physician in ordinary to his majesty and house-hold . london , printed by i. g. for nath. brook at the angel in cornhill , 1661. the epistle to the reader . candid reader , i have been studious to salute my nation with some acceptable present . it is not as yet a complete year since my landing with his majesty in england , and in this short time have observed as strange a difference in this subject of my present discourse , as in the variety of opinions and dispositions of this nation , with whom i have discoursed . this disease of the small pox , was antiently and generally in the common place of petit and puerile diseases , and the cure of no moment . the contagion that infected rebellious spirits , is known to come , and be received from the malicious breath of some venene natures ; and hath been permanent for many yeares , and conveyed to severall parts of this region ( not extinct at this day . ) but from what present constitution of the ayre this childish disease hath received such p●st●lential tinctures i know not , yet i am sure , that this disease , which hath for hundreds of yeares , and b●fore the practise of medicine was so exquisite , hath been as commonly cured as it hapned ; therefore in this age not incurable , as upon my own practise i can testifie : therefore i have publickly indeavoured to cast my weak dart at death , and to abate the severity of this disease in those that are afflicted with it . if i have not given full satisfaction to my country either in the matter or manner of my presentation , yet i have presented my velle and best respect unto them , with as much indeavour to fulfill their own desire . and in effecting thus much , i have snatcht many houres from my sleep and other employments , well knowing i was not born onely to serve my self , nor can i be confident of much longer time to serve others . i am no sooner past the diseases of youth , but in daily expectation of the infirmities of old age. and thus mankind is in perpetuo fluere , from the cradle to the saddle , and from thence to the grave ; therefore i do put my self upon action for the generall good of my country so long as i have time amongst the living , till i shall passe away and be seen no more . it is well known i have been buryed in exile from my own country the major part of three lives , and by the same providence am raised and restored again ; and by the same providence expect another resurrection , being assured tbat really i must enter into the terrestrial womb of my mother before this corruption shall put on incorruption . this short tract is my will , in which i bequeath the all i have done at present , to those that please to accept it , and wish there were more in my present possession to bequeath . and this donation at this time , is wished may be with as much respect received , as it is presented from a faithful friend and country-man t. whitaker . an elenchus of opinions in curing of the small pox . there are various affects which besiedge the body of man , and are continually storming and laying battery to it ; such as are luxury and intemperance in dyet and exercise ; also the distemper of the ayre and popular infection , with many other causes , some from celestial influence without us , others from various firmentations within us ; all subjecting humane bodies to depend upon remedies , and in these remedies either simple or compound , are contained the mystery of healing , with the industry of the physician , expertly and regularly to dispence , and with judgment and experience specifically to apply them : and this is the onely useful faculty of the physician , producing all contemplation into act , not debasing or undervaluing the theorical part of physick ; which argueth à priore , from the cause to the effect , and as the sun doth clearly discover the atoms , and occult mysteries of science , and present them to publick view . for though an argumen● à posteriore , from the effect to the cause , and from experience , be most sensible ; yet when it receiveth a lustre and illumination from reason , 't is more satisfying because more discoursive ; ( as for example ) the smith shall forge out a piece of iron into several figures , and if he be demanded the reason why he doth first put it into an intense fire , he will answer you , because his master ever did so ; but when he shall be informed that the subtile quality in fire doth open , segregate and soften the hardest body , which maketh it malleable , and so fitteth it for to receive the impression of the hammer : this reason will adde a greater satisfaction to his sense , as the complement and perfection of every artist . and by this conjunction of theory with experience , i shall extract my subsequent discourse concerning the most proper remes dies in the small pox. there will never be wanting as many varieties of opinions , as distinctions in complexions ; but in no age so many separatists in arts and sciences , as in this present age ; nor any region so insane and ill-principled at present , as this region of england hath lately been ; our universities for more than two ages rather an amsterdam of opinators , then the learned schools of well-grounded philosophers ; o tempora ! o mores ! my self hath been so many years dead in exile , that in this my resurrection i neither find the same places nor faces as i left them ; as if the restless spirit of that mad vanhelmont had set up his rest in the spawn of this late production : the subject of this discourse is now disputed , whether it be a disease , or any disposition praeternatural ? but i presume this is but a gymnastick exercise , argumentandi gratia , tossing each to other a few canting terms : for any well-instructed physician will soon espye it to be a vitiation of the figure , and a disease organical in general , such as is the disproportion of parts ; and that it is a disfiguration is manifest to common sense ; therefore as a disease it is the subject of my following discourse . this disease , which the english nominate the small pox , is much questioned amongst authors , whether it were known to the ancients or not ; amongst whom i find ioannes manardus , famous for his excellent knowledge , to understand the small pox to be the same disease which galen nameth exanthemata , in lib. 5. de morbis curandis , cap. 2. where he discourseth of pestilential pustules in the internal coat of the aspera arteria , and such as are in the external parts of the body , by no other appellation than in nomine exanthematum : and the same author in his commentarie upon hippocrates his vulgar diseases , there doth affirm , that amongst other diseases in pestilential constitutions , there doth appear ecthimata , which are great flourishing pustules in the skin , arising out of the ebullition of gross humors , by which he doth apparently demonstrate by what name the small pox , or variola , passed amongst the ancients . and sebastianus de morbis puerorum , with many other writers , are of the same opinion ; from whom marcus antonius , the florentine physician , doth differ , quaest . 22. grounded upon the authority of galen 4 de sanitat . tuend . saying , where there is a complication of lassitude with those pustules , which the grecian nominateth exanthemata , from those we may soon di●cover the particular excrement , which cannot signifie the small pox , because other pustules do render the special excrement , with the same distinction of pure choller , burnt choller or phlegme , with their quality of saltness and sharpness : therefore my endeavour must be to discourse of that kind of pox , which assaulteth humane bodies but once in the whole course of life , ( except rarely . ) valeriola , whose memory is honourable , doth endeavour to prove the small pox or measles which appear critically in inpestilential fevers , not to be by galen nominated exanthemata , with whose opinion i do consent , because the appellation is of general extent to all kind of pustules , and of choller 's , as is verified in his book de atra bile , ( where he affirmeth ) in deceased persons ; where excretion by the lower belly is not sufficient , in such persons the whole body is affected with pustules , quae nigris exanthematis similes essent , circum undique scatuit ; and in other places ( he speaketh ) of white pustules , ( which pliny nameth papulas ) and of these cornelius celsus maketh more kinds of rough and sharp eruptions upon the skin , magis & minus being the onely distinction of them : and many moderns conceive these pox to proceed from maternal menstruosity , others conceive them to be intercutaneal , ill juices or ●eccant humours , fermented by an intense heat in the superficies of the skin which corrupt humours ( according to fracastorius ) are generated by corrupt dyet , and therefore in his book de morbis , he placeth this disease of the small pox amongst diseases epidemical ; and as it is an affect cutaneal and epidemical , so it doth infect all children and young persons , because their temper is properly more moist and hot than old age , it being cold and dry in it self , but excrementitiously moist , onely by the decay of natural heat , and altogether indisposed to receive the impression of it ; old age being properly , & per se , cold and dry in temper , if otherwise , it is mirandum in morbo , and for such wonders in diseases i shall refer the reader to skenkius and pe●rus forestus , &c. there are not wanting ●ome physicians , that are 〈◊〉 of that opinion of the small pox , that it is hereditary to those that are affected with it , and not to be avoided by their natural issue , let them be of any age or temper , and therefore no more to be admired than the gout , stone , consumption , with paralytick and hydropical diseases , especially and more generally the small pox : against whose opinions fernelius is evidently opposite , ( especially ) to all physitians that affirm the small pox to proceed from maternal menstruosity , but especially caused by the malignity of the air , conjunct with vitious humours , whose opinion is most reasonable , because the vehicle of universal infection is the ambient air , which apprehendeth suddenly all matters subject and disposed to receive contagion . moreover , when the small pox are universally spreading , they frequently usher in the grand pest , upon a stronger infection of the air : and that it is a malignity especially of the air , hath been frequently proved by the creatures of the air , which have fallen dead to the earth , and killed by the poyson of the air . again , if this disease were conveyed in the principles of nature , from maternal bloud , which is administred to the production of all animals , then there were an universal reception of this disease , not onely in humane nature , but also in all animals whose production is ex semine & sanguine . but this disease is apprehended by no subject matter indisposed to receive the impression of such venemosity , as is of this nature ; nor is all mankind capable of such reception , although riverius will not have one of one thousand of humane principles to escape it , yet in my conjecture there is not one of one thousand in the universe , that hath any knowledge or sense of it , from their first ingress into the world , to their last egress out of this world ; which could not be if it were so inherent a concomitant with maternal bloud and seed ; but the small pox is dedicated to infants more particularly , which are most moist , and some more than others , abounding with vitious humours , drawn from maternal extravagancy and corrupt dyet in the time of their gestation ; and by this aptitude are well disposed to receive infection of the ayre upon the least infection , according to epiphanius ferdinandus , his cum quicquid recipi●ur , recipitur in subjectum benè disposit um . moreover , the want of motion is a stagmatizing cause in infants , by which their best humours may be altered into put refaction , and prepare that particular matter to a form fit for such matter ; for infants have no other exercise to digest their nutriment , but crying ( according to aristotle ; ) and common observation will manifest , that the most quiet infants are of least duration , and most morbifical : the causes of the small pox ( therefore ) are upon the corrupt disposition of the humorable masse internal , and these two causes do produce that one effect which galen nominateth obstruction of all distribution internal , and transpiration external , the permanency and continuation whereof doth effect an ill habit , and consequently all diseases , both similary , dissimilary and common , and thus i proceed to the signs of this particular disease . although the signs by which this disease is signified and distinguished from other affects , are many , which are rendred from the greeks , arabians and latines , yet from none of them more exactly than à ioanne pascalio medico valentino , in their order , the first sign of them being a pain of the back : the second , itching of the nose : the third , fearful and troubled sleeps : the fourth , a compunction of the sensible and nervy parts of the body : the fifth , a heaviness or ponderosity of the whole body : the sixth , a flourishing colour in the face : the seventh is , the lacrymation of the eyes : the eighth , a burning heat and fervency of the whole body : the nineth , a gaping , yauning and stretching of the whole body : the tenth is , a palpitation intercutaneal : the eleventh is , a compression and shortnesse of breath : the twelveth , a raucedo or hoarsness : the thirteenth is , a thick spitting from much heat : the fourteenth is , the heaviness of the head : the fifteenth is , the trembling of the heart : the sixteenth is , a great siccity or drouth and driness of the mouth and tongue : the seventeenth is , the perturbation of the mind , with convulsive motion : the eighteenth is , the soreness of the throat : the nineteenth , the trembling of the hands and feet : the twentieth is , a perturbed and pale urine . these are the pathognomical and proper signs of this disease in fieri and in facto ; the prognostick of hope or fear in the course and motion of this disease , dependeth upon the mutation and alteration of these signs and symptomes , in the time and manner of their eruption conjunct with the colour of them as followeth . the signs of discouragement after their eruption , taken from their colour , is when they appear black or green , the black being worst and most mortal . again , they are more dangerous when their eruption is exceeding in quantity , than when they are but few in number ; because the impurity is sooner corrected and exhausted , and the spirits lesse exercised in the expulsion of them ; those also are of more difficulty that are great and large , than the small ; according to aetius , and a contradiction diametrical to avicen , ( who saith ) the largest pox are most void of danger ; his words are these translated , scil . the white are best and safest when they are few in number and large in quantity . yet upon consideration the difference may be reconciled between them without much litigation , if avicen be understood in this sense , that the greatest in quantity are best in judgment , because they educe with them from the centre to the circumference , a greater proportion of peccant humour , which is a great disoneration or disburthening of nature : and aelius to judge the largest in quantity , to indicate a greater fulnesse of the peccant cause , and more dangerous than the least in quantity , because the largest are significants of redundancy in the cause : and herein they both agree , that the plenitude of matter is the cause of danger , because not without more expence of spirit to be cast out ; but if the same internal redundancy of the cause be equal , then the larger eruption is the greatest levamen to nature . besides this redundancy there are many other concurrences of circumstance , which are symptoms of as great danger in this disease , such as are the strictnesse and loosenesse of the belly , for any spontaneous flux of the belly must be of an ill signification , though the cause be plenitude , and the evacuation be à potentia naturae , because it is a retraction of the matter in motion from the circumference to the centre , which manifesteth ( almost ) an irrecoverable disorder in natural motion , and very few upon such accidents do escape death : and physicians cannot behold this accident of spontaneal purging or vomiting in this disease , without narrow hope ; some rare escapes there hath been reported , of which i can be no witnesse of any such recovery . thus having fulfilled my own intention in applying my self to the meanest capacity , for observation and use of my own country , which hath given me leave once more to breath in it , where i find this disease , heretofore of no moment , to be now of as great consideration ; therefore as hitherto i have plainly presented to common view the causes both internall and externall , with the signs of it in fieri & in facto , i shall proceed according to my ingagement , to the reason of cure , and what remedies are most proper , and when to be used or applyed . in the curing of this disease the principal scope of the physician is to assist nature in its regular motion , in the beginning with temperate correctives of the cause by dyet and ayre , the dyet according to paulus aegineta , must be moderate in quantity , neither too much , nor too sparingly adhibited , nor too hot nor too cold in quality ; if the dyet be too thin , the spirits will be enfeebled , and of no force or power to move the peccant cause to the circumference , which is the universal emunctory of the body ; and if the ayre of the place be over-hot , the feverish distemper is augmented , and the spirits in danger of suffocation : therefore upon this hinge of moderation turneth the safety of every person affected with this disease , and this course being ordered with judgment and care , is instar ommum medicamentorum , for there will be little use of any other application , except externally to preserve the beauty and comlinesse of the face : yet according to my theme i shall publish the variety of opinions in the curing of this disease , and after a little more enlargement of my own sense , i shall leave my self and all my collations to the consideration of our english world , as well knowing other regions to differ as much from us in practice as language , and set a value upon their own c●stom as will admit of no precept to the contrary , it appearing in a latitude to be an undervaluing of their own ; nor can any man perswade the major part of strangers , but that they can ride any horse in the world , with as much ●ase and confidence , as they do their owne hobby-horses and asses , for in truth those that they do so ride , are esteemed by the best caballarist to be no other . but to inlarge my self , or explain my sense in the regimen of this disease , the whole work consisting in moderation of ayre and dyet , without any other mixtures of violence or bland impediments , which may altogether pervert ▪ or in or by a lesse force retard nature in it● motion , the motion of nature in this case being from the beginning of this disease to the eruption of the pustules critical , and in critical motions the least application of any medicament is so dangerous , that no expert physician will admit ▪ for nature hath at this time set her self in a batalia posture , to encounter the enemy vi & armis ; and if upon the charge it shall make discovery of assistance , it will retard the present encounter , which addeth courage to the enemy , and giveth him a greater choice of ground , but if any of these auxiliaries should put natnre into a disorder by conjunction with it , the enemy will not neglect the opportunity of conquest : and in this argument a simile may become this place , though it be not a perfect demonstration , because diseases are as mutineers against natural government ; & nature , when it is it self and without disturbance , will give no entertainmeut to a resisting , rebellious and heterogeneall quality , to incorporate it self into the most noble parts ; but upon disorder and disturbance , then false appetites break in , and open t●e gates to all heterogeneality , to the ruine of the whole government ; therefore when nature is harmoniously set , the course is to preserve it so , by winding up any string at the first relax , which maintaineth harmony , and preserveth that string from contracting it self by rest , and grow so stubbor● ▪ that it cannot be wound up again without fear of ruption , which at the first slip might have b●en effected with much ease , and little fear of dismembring the instrument , and disturbing the harmony ; but if the relaxation by permanency hath over-stiffned and contracted this fiver of the instrument , yet the musician will not use any violent motion to extend it , and reduce it to its former posture ; but gradatim wind it up till it be properly si●ed and harmoniously fitte●● to consent with the rest of the members of the instrument ; the same order is to be taken in the curing of this disease ; for although this affect by some malignity be exasperated , yet the motion being critical will admit of no violence , and therefore a moderate dyet and temperate aire is only to be continued : the dye●●eing alimentū medicamentosum , 〈◊〉 as is milk with saffron , with flowers of calendula especially , before the eruption of the ●ox ; there being neither art or reason violently to move crudities in the beginning of any disease , without antecedent preparation , which preparation in this case is nothing else but the quiet of nature , and fomenting of it with seasonable and moderate aliment , which is the best refrigerium or comfort to the spirits , whose spiritual motion is the unum necessarium in this disease . i am not ignorant of young conceptions in this point ; nor is it my intention to neglect any objection that may be urged by my self or any other author , either ancient or modern , that may give more satisfaction to the reader ; who is ( quatenus medicus ) ignorant of several sects of physitians , as there are of divines in theology amongst us ; the erasistrateans will admit of no remedy in diseases , especially of plenitude , but fasting and abstinence from dyet : hippocrates commendeth a thin diet in the beginning of all acute distempers , and more plen●iful in the declination . gale● in the beginning of all firmentation universally adviseth phlebotomy or bloud-letting , as a general evacuation of all humours as they are mixt up in the masse of bloud , whose opinion wil be the basis of all my future discouse ; there are many , and physitians are galenists in this point , and more especially , and universally the french nation which make bloud-letting the principal and sole remedy in all diseases , climes , times , & ages ; and the greatest argument to confirm this practise ( is the mode of france : ) by the same argument they would prove stinking and putrid flesh , both of fish and fowl to be most comfortable to the sense , and corroborative to the animal spirits ; and if their rhetorick be no better then their logick to perswade persons of reason and sense to accept of their mode , it is most probable it wil prove the nummismata of galen , which is a quaere that will pass no farther then their own country , and those that are satisfied with such invalid arguments must suffer the successe ; for one errour in a logical brain being rooted , is without satisfaction ; or extirpated with exceeding great difficulty . therefore i shall not hope to perswade any of those modish persons from such rash practise , no more then to cleanse the negro of his blacknesse . i call it rash and inconsiderate practi●e in this disease , because it is a doubt indetermined amongs● the most learned professors 〈◊〉 all nations , both greeks , ar●bians , and latins , and all othe● principled from them ; bein● all of them unresolved of phl●botomy in the small pox , upo● any indication to be a safe remedy ; and if the disease b●●onjunct with an undeniab●● plethory of bloud , which is the proper indication of phlebotomy ; yet such bleeding ought to be by scarification and cupping-glasses without the cutting of any major vessel , because the section of such veins do not only evacuate too much spirit , 〈◊〉 also retract the peccant cause to the centre which is intended to the circumference , and effected by a shallow scarification upon the arms , back and thighs ; by which course there is a diminution of the cause in its mixture , and assistance to nature in its circum●erential motion , with little expence of sixt or fluent spirit , which is a great support to universal nature in its conatus to discharge the most noble parts from danger of ruine . contrarily , in the behalf of bloud-letting , i have been urged much with the example of the now then their own country , and those that are satisfied with such invalid arguments must suffer the successe ; for one errour in a logical brain being rooted , is without satisfaction ; or extirpated with exceeding great difficulty . therefore i shall not hope to perswade any of those modish persons from such rash practise , no more then to cleanse the negro of his blacknesse . i call it rash and inconsiderate practise in this disease , because it is a doubt indetermined amongs● the most learned professors 〈◊〉 all nations , both greeks , arabians , and latins , and all other principled from them ; being all of them unresolved of ph●●botomy in the small pox , upo● any indication to be a safe remedy ; and if the disease 〈◊〉 conjunct with an undeniab●● plethory of bloud , which is the proper indication of phlebotomy ; yet such bleeding ought to be by scarification and cupping-glasses without the cutting of any major vessel , because the section of such veins do not only evacuate too much spirit , but also retract the peccant cause to the centre which is intended to the circumference , and effected by a shallow scarification upon the arms , back and thighs ; by which course there is a diminution of the cause in its mixture , and assistance to nature in its circumferential motion , with little expence of ●ixt or fluent spirit , which is a great support to universal nature in its co●atus to discharge the most noble parts from danger of ruine . contrarily , in the behalf of bloud-letting , i have been urged much with the example of the now french king , who in this case was phlebotomized about ten or eleven times ( as i remember ) my self being at st. germain the same time , and upon this example they will ground a precept for universal practise ; i do not deny , but that such rare escapes have been in all diseases ; but for the universal and common successe of such practise , i shall leave to the observation and judgement of the universe , regulating my self according to reasonable axioms which are eternal & of undeniable validity , if they be studiously followed and separated from phanatick ebulitions of an ill-principled brain : and if by this argumentation any person of an other sense shall be offended , they do most honourably for themselves to publish more certain , reasonable and assured grounds of their practise , to the great satisfaction of the unsatisfied vulgar ; which can take no notice of any intervenient cause , but censure all practise according to successe ; it will also be a great instruction to others that are unacquainted with their mystery or solid ground upon which they limited their doctrine and practise , to the glory of their nation wherein they were educated and born , otherwise it will become them to acquiesce in the doctrine and practise of the most learned , antient and modern professors of healing , and not like van●elmont , to blaspheme all university and school-education and methodicall proceedings , contradicting all principles in doctrine and practise , putting out all light , and leaving the world to grope in darkness without any spark of light from them ; if they be wise their lip● preserve it , for nothing proceedeth from them of any such tincture , as if they did suppose we ought to know their meaning which the devil doth not know , ( nor themselves their own according to vulgar apprehension : ) for what can silence prove more , then a plain acknowledgment of such an error as will not indure the light of reason , nor reduce any contrary disputant to an incommodum , but leave a censure upon the art it self , and all other that professe it , as if art were onely a conjecture , and healing or curing of diseases were but an accident , as if causes had no relation to their effects , nor the sublation of them artificially to any substantial predicament ; which otherwise hath had an equall reputation of excellency in all ages , and the professors thereof amongst all nations . witness very many kings which have esteemed the contemplation and practise of medecine , as the one chief jewel in their crown , as hath been more largely expressed in my former writings . but to return from this digression , i shall resume my discourse of phlebotomy , and shew how unresolved and unsetled a remedy it is in this disease . all the chief professors of medicine , establish it upon the indications either of plenitude of humours or magnitude of diseases , these being most proper and universal indications of phlebotomy : and although it be a generall precept according to the doctrine of galen , yet it is not without exception , and more especially excepted in this case of the small pox. because in this operation a retraction of the peccant humour from the circumference to the centre cannot be avoided , which remedy must be as dangerous as unreasonable ; because no person of reason will allow a revulsion from an ignoble part to the most vitall and noble parts ; and although plenitude of humours be an indication for evacuation , yet it doth not solely indicate phlebotomy , except it be a fulness and redundance of bloud in predominance , for impure plenitude is a contra-indicant of phlebotomy ; the bloud offending more in quantity , then in quality , being the most proper indication of bloud-letting : and though there be some predominancy of bloud , yet bloud-letting in such a case hath never proved a curative remedy , nor did i ever see a sanguineous apoplexie cured by bloud-letting , and yet the indication of phlebotomy is proper , yet not curative , because it is not per se the cause of the disease , for where the cause is external as a confusion in such case , though there be a predominancy of bloud , yet bloud-letting doth prove a remedy of no moment . there is also an exception against phlebotomy ; though there be an apparent magnitude of disease . as for example , there is magnitudo morbi , in a lucuphlegmatia or dropsie ; so also in a cacexia , and yet in these and such like cases phlebotomy can be no remedy , nor is it indicated from the magnitude of these diseases ; in the small pox also , there is magnitude of disease , and though it be complicated with plethory of bloud , yet the 〈◊〉 of a ●ein is not a proper or safe remedy especially , from the beginning to their eruption , because the motion of nature is critical : therefore those that practise phlebotomy upon the precept of galen without distinction of cases , must consequently incur the censure of inconsiderate and rash practisers , or such as will abound in their own sense which is non-sense : and such phanaticks there are in medicine equall to those in theology , as doth appear by voluminous indigestions belched out in this age , some of them meer ebullitions of bitterness , and others of heresie , fomenting faction and mutiny in the schools of learning , as much as in the common-weal . some such sectaries there are in physick that deny phlebotomy to be a remedy in any case or disease , such as are the off-spring of vanhelmont , others that make it the sole-remedy in all cases , and their instructions are from the mode of france ; which mode is of no antiquity in that nation , nor ever so commonly used by any of their antient professors , which do ordain it as it is in it self , a great remedy , if properly adhibited , viz. where there is magnitude and violence of disease conjunct with plethory of bloud and consisting age , yet not without distinction of causes and diseases with other circumstances of time and clime . and those that do read the most learned of that nation can find them no otherwise principled : yet i have heard fernelius , which i take to be a glory to that nation , to have had a most sad censure by some of parisian practisers , and that it had been better for their nation that he had been unborn . i have heard this language in discourse , but could never conceive from what part of his learning they extracted their bitternesse . but to return to my theme of phlebotomy in the small pox , in which case the agent standeth onely like archimedes in expectation of a place to fix his foot to dislodge the earthen globe , for untill such an assurance of certainty to depend upon , doth manifest it self , there will be no well-grounded assurance of curing this disease by phlebotomy , not denying the practise upon just indications from the cause and disease rightly apprehended to be a most effectual remedy : but in this case although conjunct with plenitude of bloud , which doth most properly indicate evacuation , yet this evacuation by bloud-letting is insufficient , because according to galen in his books de multitudine , de element . de morbis vulgaribus ( saying ) that bloud is most temperate , because it is an equall mixture of all humours ad justitiam ; and therefore phlebotomy to be an equal evacuation of all humours conjunct with naturall spirits , and by this operation the bloud is left in its predominancy according to proportion , only the universall plenitude is equally lessned : and the morbificall cause still mixed with the remainder answerable both in quantity and quality to its first impression upon the whole masse , so that the disease is not extinguished by this remedy but lessened in the cause . and although , according to this doctrine of galen , there is an equall evacuation of humours , yet the spirits do at this orifice unequally transpire , for in all bloud-letting there is a passe of fixed and innate spirit with the fluent , and these cannot come within the compasse of equality , because the fluent spirit is daily repaired : but the fixed never : otherwise if it came within the compasse of repair , man should be eternall upon this earth ; but every evacuation of this nature doth abreviate humane life , and hasten old age , as may be observed in the french children , which by this frequent phlebotomising are withered in juvenile age. therefore phlebotomy is not a common remedy , but in such extremity , as the person must lose some part of his subsistance to save the whole . moreover in this universall evacuation there may be an expence of some humours which are necessary to be preserved in the masse , because they are not so suddainly repaired again , and from this cause nature may want a vehicle of motion , and suffer tyranny from the disease ▪ as when the phlegmatick part of humours is drawn from the cholerick , the bilious humor is left as fire to tyrannize over the remaining humours and the spirits , which are more apt to be inflamed , and for this reason an universall evacuation by phlebotomy in the small pox is and must be a doubtful remedy , because no man can justly prove that in a phlebotick operation , he shall let out the predominant cause more or lesse , or equall to any of the mixture in the masse of bloud . therefore if the principal scope of the agent be to relieve nature offended and oppressed by the predominance and turgency of a single peccant cause , the remedy indicated must be a particular correction , separation and extinction of that particular predominance which is not to be effected by cutting a vein , because the evacuation is universall and equally of the whole mass of humours , leaving the predominant humour ( according to proportion ) as turbulent as before , and consequently it can be no specifical remedy in such a case where the scope of cure is indicated from the quantity of the humour in predomination . and thus i pass to the circumstance of clime which doth prohibit phlebotomy universally to be used in all regions . i am not ignorant of the doctrine of galen , nor of his precepts in this point of phlebotomy , nor of augenius his 17. books upon the same subject ; and although galen in very many places affi●meth phlebotomy to be an universal and equal evacuation of the mixt mass of bloud , yet not granted without his own exception to be an universall remedy in all diseases , nor in all regions : therefore i shall now passe or urge his own exception against himself , which consisteth in the distinction of regions and diversities of climes , which as they are distinct in the degrees of aire , so also distinct in their dyet , which doth maintain nature in its perp●tuo fluere ; and as every region hath a customary dyet , so is their customary or common aire most agreeable to the inhabitants as mud is to eeles , and these are principally their subsistance , and much disordered upon any alteration of their aire and dyet : and if this accident had not hapned to william parr ( of our own nation ) his principles of nature might have lasted to this day unquenched : and it is a large vulgar errour to defend the death of any person to be just according to the power of his principles : nor could any person perswade sir thomas more upon the scaffold , but if it had been the kings pleasure he might have lived many more years upon the principles of nature ; but these changes are accidental . but as every distinct region hath their particular aire and dyet , so are the remedies or medicinall ingressions of their own clime most proper for their common and vulgar distempers , and those remedies will be more specifically sanative in that region then any other aliu●de or contracted from another clime : and out of a general observation galen hath excepted against his general precept of phlebotomy in his 9th . book de methodo medendi , where he saith in the extraction of bloud , there are many scopes observable and to be considered by the physitian , viz. custom , strength of spirit , consisting age , with the temper of the region and place of habitation ; as also the time of the year with the state of the heavens : and by reason of these circumstances , though bloud-letting be necessary , yet without a necessity of coaction not to be adhibited , and if there be such a necessity , it is to be drawn sparingly and with great consideration as by these expressions of galen , the whole universe may take cognizance , that as he esteemeth phlebotomy to be a grand remedy , so he adviseth the use of it with as great circumspection and judgement : and the non-establishment of this remedy neither by the antient nor modern professors of healing , is the cause of so much difference in consultation : every man imbracing his own commentary upon it , which maketh the remedy more doubtful ; otherwise it were ( according to gantius the portugal physitian ) the most pleasant and suddain remedy in all diseases , for it is quickly done and with as little trouble and pain . and now i pass to the circumstances of time to be observed in this operation . riverius ( i conceive ) amongst all the moderns to be the greatest assertor of phlebotomy in variolis & morbillis , which are the small pox and measles . and yet without the circumstances of time , age , and plethory of bloud , he will not adhibit phlebotomy , nor upon redundance of bloud if there appear any sign of their eruption ; neither doth he admit of any inordinate sleep , si pustulae erumpunt , and for this reason quia motus motui contrarius , for sleep doth colligate the sense and retract the spirit and humors to the centre ; and for the same reason phlebotomy is prohibited . and the same author saith , those that will begin the cure with bloud-letting , must be sure that the foresaid indications of age and redundance of bloud be compleated . moreover it is very rare to meet with such a conjunction of indicants ; plethory it self according to the proper signification is a fulnesse and redundance of the purest bloud , and such a redundance as is ad distentionem vasorū ▪ and very rarely discovered in diseases : & therfore the remedy doubtfull , and being uncertain it must be rashnesse or debility of intellect to apply such remedy . the same author saith also , that if the physitian shall not be invited at the first ebullition , when this disease is in its first firmentation , and before there be any signification of eruption or very few in number and quantity , that at such time phlebotomy may be profitable , and in the next lines contradicteth himself diametrically , where he saith , upon the eruption of the pustules , the fervency and symptoms are abated : and the whole operation is left to the motion of nature , which is then propelling the cause to the skin from the centrall parts to the circumferential , and then phlebotomy is unnecessary and of no use . again the same author affirmeth , that if this pustulous eruption be intense and conjunct with a difficulty of breathing , it is a sign that nature is onerated or over-burthened ; and therefore bloud-letting is to be ordained for disoneration of nature , and enabling it to encounter the remainder ; which is reasonable , if such a part of the onerating humour might solely & per se be extracted without the losse of spirit ; for the support ofspirit is the principal sco●e of cure in this disease , which is no way effected by bloud-letting . therefore this practise is insignificant , otherwise the argument would be acceptable to all logical persons , and as inacceptable to the whole sect of galenists which affirm phlebotomy to be an equall evacuation of all humours with fixt and fluent spirits , which are the principal prohibition of this practise in this case . otherwise upon an universal oneration , it were reasonable disburthening of nature , and properly indicated , if seasonably administred and upon a critical motion . but to conclude with the determination of this author , he in one wor● saith , bloud-lettings in the small pox is not to be adhibited neither in the beginning o● the ebulition , nor eruption of the pustules ; neither is any blou● to be drawn safely or withou● danger , insomuch that neithe● riverius nor any other autho● can afford any certain assuranc● of the practise of phlebotomy i● this disease , but rather thes● contradictory oppositions between the most learned antients and modern professors of highest judgement and observation , do prove this scope of cure by bloud-letting to be an unsafe and doubtfull remedy in the small pox ; and therefore i thought it my duty to publish so much to my own nation and in their own tongue , that they may be instructed and enabled to avoid the danger of unsafe or rash proceeding in the curing of this disease : and if these expressions be insignificant to any persons of another sense , i shall leave them as couragious and valiant adventurers , and wish their returns may be more successful then of late they havebin . i have now most plainly expressed my own sense of bloud-letting in this disease of the small pox particularly ; yet it will admit of a more generall extension to all circumferential motions in nature , for without dispute the intention in all afflictions is to expell all peccant and peternaturall causes from the centre to the universal emunctory , or to some particular place of reception , from a more noble to a less noble part , according to its power in resisting the cause : for if it cannot effect a universal evacuation circumfercntial , nor an extreme impulsion from the most noble to the most ignoble part , such as is from head to foot , or from the brest to the back ; then it moveth obliquely to some emunctory which may obtain the term of a perfect diversion to the next vicine part , or else to some neutral which hath a vicinity with both . as from the head to the glandules of the throat , glandules of the groyne which are more remote , and so proveth neither a proper diversion , nor proper revulsion . and in these motions , phlebotomy may be indicated either ●or diversion or revulsion , or universal evacuation ; which in art ought to precede a particular evacuation , by which remedy some internal oppilations or obstructions in via may be removed , and nature enabled more universally to free it self of a congestion . but since i have not consented to phlebotomy in the small pox , i am obliged to declare an undenyable regimen in this disease with considerable remedys , both external and internal to be applyed ; and although phlebotomy be in the catalogue of external remedies , yet so of no use in this case , by reason that it is as difficult in this disease to find a proper indication to sense , as a simple intemperies in a veletudinary person ; that is , such a disease as is without any other complication , such a disease imaginary there may be , but not demonstrative to sense : but if any proper indication with a necessity of coaction for drawing of bloud , doth present it self to the agent , then as i said in my precedent discourse , the application of cupping-glasses upon the shoulders , arms , and thighs with scarification , is the safest remedy ; with this caution that the scarification be superficiall and not deep , lest they enter upon a vein or artery ; and the evacuation be stopped with much difficulty and danger to the patient . and this applicatition thus performed , nature is assisted in its circumferentiall motion , if there be also a great care and circumspection in the contemperation of the ambient aire of the place , that it be not so hot as to suffocate the spirits , nor so cold as to repell the humour in motion to the centre ; or so congregate and condense the intrinsecall causes , that in conatu naturae , or in the endeavour of nature to dissolve and open , the porosities be inflamed , and the disease augmented , or totally stop the eruption of the pustules : and therefore to be advisedly ordered there are other externall remedies which are to be used in the state of this disease unto the declension for the prevention of escars , and these remedies are commonly the complement of every experienced nurse . but i shall first acquaint the reader with such remedies as are ordained by learned and antient practitioners , viz. when the matter of the pustules doth corrode and make a deep impression in the face , senertus appointeth a sufficient quantity of mallow roots to be boiled in the urine of the patient . some other physicians and old nurses have used an astringent wash , which in my sense is not to be andibited , because it stoppeth , or is the cause of retention of the humor in the face , and fixeth the cicatrix . riverius ordaineth oyle of sweet almonds new prest to anoint the face , and as an anodine to contemperate the acrimony of the humour , which in some persons ( as aqua fortis ) hath penetrated the bone , according to the relation of gartius . fernelius applaudeth this subsequ●nt oyntment ; take sweet almonds , white lillies , of each one ounce , capons grease three drams , the powder of the root of paeonie , flower de lys , lithargy of gold , of each halfe the scruple , sugar-candy one scrup●e ; mixe all these in a hot morter and straine them through a lin●en cloath , and anoint the 〈◊〉 morning and night ; and after this anointing wash the face with water distilled from calves feet . gartius out of his observation recommended his unguentum citr●num to be in curing the cicatrix a proba●um ; and my self shall present the oyle of eggs to be most incarnative and generating flesh , which doth fill up those cavities and prevent circatrising ( or vulgarly pittings the flesh ) not 〈…〉 when they come to 〈…〉 to open them with a 〈…〉 instrument , least by the per●●nency of the pustulate 〈◊〉 there be a greater impression of the cicatrix . some other physicians ( i know not upon what basis ) dispute against this order of opening the pustules when they come to maturity ; and i find their reason for it as weak as their opinion , for they urge such a diminution of naturall heat in letting out the puruleut matter upon full maturity , that nature is so debilitated , that it is disabled to incarnate ; and by want of this incarnation the cicatrix is more profound : but upō consideration of the opening of an apostema when it is mature , it is a levamen to nature as much as the taking of the burthen from a porter doth refresh him , and doth prevent the tediosity of naturall industry in mellowing or rotting the coat in which the matter is involved ; and consequently a proportionable corroborative to naturall heat and motion , and more especially when they are supplyed with remedies that are mundificative and carnative , as is before directed in the oyle of eggs. but because i hate prolixity , i do passe over a multitude of other medicaments , well knowing the vanity of being over-active when a less motion is more satisfactory , & frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora . and therefore out of my own experience and quotidian practise , i have recommended and presented this short direction of government in this disease , to those that please to accept of it as the most safe and successful . there remaineth now only one consideration in externall remedies● , and then i shall conclude this brief discourse of the small pox , not doubting but to render as much satisfaction to those that do perpend it , as is needful to be received from any publication upon the same subject . and so i return to the last external remedy in this disease ; and this is from the first eruption unto the time of maturation , in which time there is great inquietude and itching , principally in the plants of the feet , where the skin is most callous , hard and thick . and in this time i observe riverius above all other authors to ordain the bathings of the hands and feet , by reason of the density of these parts , in some more dense than in others , as in smiths , carpenters , and foot-posts , whose hands and feet are harder than persons of a more tender and sedentary trade or profession . i cannot but acknowledge that humectation and attenuation to mollifie those parts is properly indicated ; but the mode of this application is observable , because upon the opening of the porosities by bathing , the ambient aire may obtaine the advantage of repelling the inquination of the morbisical matter from these ignoble and extreme parts to the more noble , by the ambient aire in the course of sanguineous circulation , and hath proved fatall in such as have rare and tender skins , as is proved by the bathing the illustrious princess royal. therefore i shall rather ordain aperient fomentations in their bed , to assist their cruption and move sweat : and thus i conclude all external remedies . as i have plainly and briefly expressed my sense and practice concerning externall remedies in this disease , i am now obliged to passe orderly to such remedies as are internally to be adhibited ; and according to my former method , i shall in the first place entertain you with the practise of the best professors and authors in medicine from the beginning of this disease to the increment , from the increment to the state , and from the state to the declination ; and then shall take boldness to enter my self into their society , with all submission to seniority , in joyning my own vote amongst them . the first internal remedy , according to all antient order , is the dyet in this disease , which by the order of paulus aegineta , must be moderate in quantity and temperate in quality : such as is almond milk , or as temperate as the bloud ought to be in heat and moisture , and we call it medicamentum alimentosum . as for other internal medicaments they are corroborative , and such as support the spirits naturall in the expulsion of the peccant cause , or cathartical , or such as do purge and evacuate the humorall cause : but such medicines whether the form of glister or any other form , are universally censured as a motion contrary to the intention and industry of nature , because the quickness of such motion over-heateth the spirits , and lesseneth them in their quantitative power to force the cause to circumferential porosities , consequently to the ruine of the patient . who is there of any observation that hath not the sad experience of purging glisters in the increase of this disease , and upon their eruption more especially pernitious , and in my opinion more mortall then bloud-letting ? it being the least evill because it doth more equally evaculate all humours , sine conatu naturae , and a lesse impowering of the spirits , because all purging medicaments must be procured into act by the power of nature principally ; & yet some patients have superviv'd such rash practice , yet not to be received as abhoristicall , nor logically proved , more then an accident to be a substance . but for the ancient , and most learned moderns of all ages , they are in this disease upon the scope of propeling medicaments from the centre to the circumference , or from the internal to the external skin ; such as are decoctions of figs , calendula flowers , and saffron , in their just proportion boyled in milk , and all astringent medicaments to be prohibited in the beginning of ebullitior , because their astringency is a remora and delay to nature in propelling the peccant cause , except some supervenient flux of the belly shall urge it ; but the precedent ordinance , i recommend as the safest from the beginning of this disease , to the declension , 〈◊〉 healing , expelling , and nourishing . and let it be a note in the margent that this disease is most safely cured by regular government and little medicine , and in this land or nation of english , to whom i appeal● the most successful . and we must not rashly reject the antient , national and successful government of our own nation , ridiculously to perish by the mode of another , as much unknown to us , as we to them in education , humour , and intellect ; and as manifest a difference in all , as is in the originall of colours : and every nation doth build upon their own basis , and their own observations and experience , both natural and moral , which are the rule of their own government and commerce with strangers , which rule is natural to them , and the opposition as diametricall contrary as black and white ; and such a pass from one extreme to the other is equally unreasonable , and such hasty motion can prove but phaetontical and insuccessful . the mode of strange habits in apparell may be received according to appetite and fancy without perill of life ; and artificers of severall regions must be most dexterous in their operation , and more compliant with the humour and fancy of the natives thereof ; but the gift of healing is not equally dispensed in every region : hippocrates condemneth all the gnydian physicians as the worst orderers of dyet in diseases of that age ; and a great distinction there is between physicians of all nations in their successe : so that the gift of healing is not equally dispensed to all the sons of art and learning , for i have known as learned professors as are in the world ; and the want of success in their practise , hath caused some to relinquish their profession : therefore a disposition naturall gaineth more in a short time of excellency , then any compulsion can effect . and this naturall difference in dispositions is the proper subject of that gift of healing , the donor a free agent , the recipient a subject fitted to receive the full impression without resistance , either to science or success ; and these are hippocrates his sons of the gods by whom he swore , and that ( plurality of deity excepted ) was an oath not over-matched by any christian form of swearing ; and his prayer at the altar was a sacrifice of the highest antiquity . besides this distinction , of artists , especially physicians of whom there can be none so expert & satisfactory in his applications to a native of a different clime and custome as the person who is born and educated in the same place , and those ingredients to their remedy which will not agree with the curiosity nor reason of a strange artist , shall prove by their custom to be a specifical remedy to those natives in their own region : as in holland , their butter-milk and apples is their most cordial refershment in all diseases , and in all those places ; and of more esteem then any other remedy , and most prescribed by their native physicians ; and if you meet with the prescript of a pickled-herring , with an order to prepare it , you have then a probatum in all diseases ; for there is no full satisfaction given to any of that nation , if these remedies be prohibited . and answerably there is a natural adherence in all nations to their own custom , suum cuique pulchrum , the crow conceiveth her own bird the fairest , and so doth the negro . and both man and beast , as they have an aliment proper to their own nature , so naturally they elect their own physick ; the fowles that feed according to their kind upon corn , worms , and carrion , when they are diseased will seek out stones to cool them , and other disgorging remedies they find out , as the dog doth grass : therefore non omnia omnis fert tellus . but of all terrestrial inhabitants , the english do most distast the productions of their own country in nature and education , which presenteth an invitation to all nations to supplant and impoverish the natives and off-spring of our own country , or else inforceth them to stamp a strange name , especially upon pieces of art , to make them vendible , to the great incouragement of strangers and impoverishing our own nation : amongst whom there may by encouragement be pickt out an equality to the whole universe ; the neglect whereof doth as much infeeble the persons as the plants , without support answerable to their capacity . i have lived a long time amongst divers nations , and according to my time have had as much conversation with all sorts of people and professions ; and ( without national indulgence ) could not apprehend any excellency unmatchable in england , especially , before these latter rebellious ages , which was the discouragement of all artists , and suppression of arts and sciences ; and in policy fomented by all neighbouring-nations for the universall advance of their profit , and reputation of their nation : and by their industry and our own rebellious spirits , the gallantry , honour , education and antient renown of our own country hath been sepulted in oblivion . and now those sects of sadduces , that would not entertain the faith of a resurrection , are now forced with grief and shame to confesse it , and without doubt shall daily see this corruption to put on incorruption , and our nation to return to their former principles more purified by this fiery tryall , and to re-erect the antient memory and monuments of all the antient professors of arts , and sciences so odious to the spawn of this last age , some of which were then thankfull they had forgot the lords prayer ; and others that had turned all the schools of antient philosophy into furnaces and luxurious houses for sweating intemperate persons ; and these are the off-spring of phacton driving on their fiery chariot , till they have crackt their skulls with their own sublimation of spirits , for ayre rarefied must find vent or force it . iohannes crato is not to be condemned because his tutor educated him in chymistry , but to be highly applauded for his non-profession of it upon the uncertainty in the operation , quia totum opus constat in regimine ignis , and as a mathematician ought to be a king according to proverb , because of the expence his variety of instruments doth charge him with ; so ought the operatour to have more money then learing , to fit himself with a furnace for that equall heat which shall without dispute separate his homogeneals from his heterogeneals ; without which regiment of fire it cannot be effected . and this is the reason why every pretender to excellency in chymistry spendeth his whole industry in the figure of his furnace , and though he doth rejoyce and warm himself at his own external furnace , yet those infiered spirits of minerals are to the spirits of animals and innate heat as over-powering , as the sun is to all culine fire which putteth it out ; and so it hath proved to all operators which have been exact in their office ; they have been buryed very young in it . and this was a great observation of crato , that paracelsus which proclaimed eternity to himself in this world , did not live above 45. years ; nor the germane princess , used to those medicall preparations . and himself as a galenist boasteth of living with three emperours , and creating his own grand-child doctor of the chair : but all such observations are out of date and superannuated ; nor can an old man perswade children from playing with fire till they have burnt themselves . but more clearly to signifie my own sense in chymical operations , i cannot but approve the employment out of curiosity , because it is a great discovery of mixt bodies , and their mixture , which is a great pleasure to sense , but not as medicinal remedies to be acceptable or homogeneal to humane tempers : but the preparation of vegetals without exception , exceeding usefull in the composure of medicaments , because they are prepared in the womb or furnace of the earth by a perfect temper of fire , and need nothing but a separation from their terra damnata ; and their tincture very useful . and as it is more pleasure to the operator , so is it free from danger which cannot be avoided in working upon mineral and metalical bodies , as may be observed from goldsmiths , the major part of them being enervated and paralytick before they are of any considerable age of consistency ; and had they not their remedy always at hand , they would be soon ruined and useless in the world . the same accidents happen to miners that work in the earth amongst minerals and metals , who very often are suffocated or strangled in the place . these experiments being undenyable are arguments of sufficient force and demonstration to prove their non-agreement or consent with humane principles ; but for the advancement of art and science , adventures must be made and adventures rewarded with respect and applause . the navigator maketh discovery by the light of the sun in its full splendor : but he that searcheth into the bowels of the earth hath no immediate assistance from that planet , therefore their discovery is more obscure , laborious and dangerous , and their reward ought to be more ample . and now i return to my proper subject , and briefly to the conclusion of this discourse of the specifical internal remedies in this disease of the small pox , about which there is much litigation and dispute between the ancient and modern professors of medicine , sufficient to stuff up a volume of paper : therefore i shall upon my own experience and successe recommend to my country the sole use of saffron and milk , as a probatum in this puerile disease , and according to the custom of our english nation without alteration from the beginning to the declension of the disease , and for these reasons , because the milk is sufficiently nutritive and healing , and the saffron a cordial propellent of the cause in ebullition from the centre to the circumference ; and for a common drink in the place of ptysan to use a small decoction of sulfur , which moveth by sweat to the universal emunctory of the skin , and dryeth up superfluous moisture , lesseneth the quantity of matter , and giveth a levamen to the naturall spirits in their motion ; and for this practise i must return my acknowledgment and respect to gartias the portugal physician . amatus lucitanus with other moderns of the same sense , prescribeth for an ordinary drink in this disease , the decoction of barley with sorrel , which cannot be so siguificant as the decoction of salsa ; because their refrigeration constantly will debilitate natural heat , and by reason of such a check the motion of nature is impedted ; and therefore fernelius affirmeth that hot diseases are more unsafe in their cure then diseases of cold ; because cold remedies are altogether used as a contrary remedy to heat , by which cold correction of preter-naturall heat , natural heat it self is also extinguished , for which cause the application of constant apozems ought to be moderately hot and moist , there may be much more argumentation upon the point , but very little more i conceive à proprio , for it is not argumentation that cureth diseases , but the seasonable application of specificall remedies ; and he that will make more haste then good speed shall have little comfort in his undertakings , and much less if his remedy be improper ; for it is the specifical quantity of the remedy that cureth every disease ; and cures according to sanctorius , consist not in pluralities of medicaments , but the property of them answerable to the disease ; and this is the reason why an old woman doth often by her experience of an imperical medicament make a cure of some particular affect relinquished by learned practisers both in medicine and chyrurgery : neither are all diseases cured by a contrary remedy , ( though the rule of contrary be universal , because it admitteth exception , as burning is sooner cured by the scorching heat of fire , then by any other cold remedy ; so also a 〈◊〉 is a convulsive motion : and cured by sternation which is a like convulsive motion , so also a lassitude by exercise is cured by the like exercise . thirdly , a fever is a hot and dry distemper , but this distemper is cured by hot and dry remedies , ●rgo the disease is cured by its simile , for if a tertian or ardent fever be cured by rhabarb and scammonie , &c. which are hot & dry , then the remedies convein to the cause and not to the fever as a disease ; and according to galen lib. 6. epid. one pain is cured by another . hippocrates lib. 2. aph. 46. the greater and most vehement pain obscureth the less pain , lib. 2. aphor . 26. a fever supervening a convuision is good ▪ but not a convulsion upon a fever in his 4th . book aphor . 57. in a convulsion or distention of the nerves if a fever shall supervene ; it absolveth the disease in his 5. book aphor . 21. so also is vomiting cured with vomiting , and purging with purging . fourthly , a tetanus is cured by pouring water upon the head , lib. 5. aphor . 25. but a return is from a cold cause , and cured by a cold remedy according to epiphamus , ferdinandus and avicen lib. fen . 4. cap. 1. saith , that all diseases are not to be cured by contraries , because some are cured by dyet , as is expressed formerly in the small pox , others by their simile , as is before said . fifthly , those diseases are onely to be cured by contrary remedies that can obtain their contrary remedies , for many diseases want their 〈◊〉 remedy , such as are diseases in via & numero . sixthly , an apoplexia ever endeth in a paralysis , which is , a resolution of the nerves , with a deprivation of sense and motion in the part . gal. lib. 4 de loc . affect . so that one disease quantum ad causam is cured by the simile . in the 7th . place according to arist. one contrary is corroborated by the other contrary being present ; therefore cures cannot onely be effected by contraries . to conclude , curing sometimes is effected by occult qualities , acting from the property of the whole substance , such as are bezoarticks ; therefore not by contraries , nor is this last proposition true in all things , because hipp. lib. 5. aphor . 19. cold parts are alwaies to be warmed except in a flux of bloud , so that by this argumentation all diseases are to be cured by their specifical remedy , and not by the multiplication of ingredients in my sense the least variety of medicaments in this disease of the small pox , is most successful ; for various and often applications and mixture in remedies doth perturb nature as much , if not more then continual eating and drinking in a sane body , and by irrecoverable vexation of the patient , doth frustrate the expectation of the agent . to conclude , what i have written is agreeable to antient and learned authority , and no fanatick conception , to make the world believe that these truths were not established before by learned professors , though not so far extended to vulg●r apprehension . i am none of that society that dispute against that old axiome , quod nihil dictum quod non dictum prius , nor hath it been hitherto my fortune to cast any eye upon any modern that had not his ante-delineation from some precedent , and deduced from a former illumination ; but the addition to invention is common and frequent in every age , there are differences in writers as much as in painters , but none did ever pensil a draught to life by a meer copy , nor can they do it without copy . so that the difference is in the aptitude of some above other to present the copy more lively , that only , that is the proceed of meer fancy , is to sense nothing but confusion and void of any signification ; nor will appear in art any thing but a monstrosity , and in science some vulgar errors , some will have the philosophy of ducartus to be a new philosophy of his own coyning , but himself will not deny his illumination was from aristotle . dr. harvy his circulation of bloud was by the antients nominated a motion of bloud by the continuation of parts , of which none were ignorant , though not expert in dissection of living bodies : so also is the nova medicina laboratory infired by the antient luminaries , and bellowsed up by operators of several and different fancies , and these additions are ordinary to invention ; and such addition is but the extention of a first invention , as one that in his travel maketh a discovery of a land unknown before , cannot say that land was not in being before ; and if by the exact travell of a second person a larger discovery be made , this discovery is but an inlargement and extension of the first discovery , and so may be a succession of discoveries ad infinitum , and so it is generally in all invention : as in medicine , the first invention of remedies was from experience deduced from observation ; and upon further observation of more exacter intellects , the reason of such applications , and the specificall qualities of the remedy more exactly discovered , which is an addition to the first observation . moreover , the motion of the bloud was by the continuation of parts , as veins and arteries , and no farther discovered , untill my most learned predecessor by his exact observation demonstrated the manner of its motion to be circular , which is a farther extension of the first observation . and thus one artist differeth from the other in the invention about the first discovery , which was the originall copy and compass by which they steered . and thus i have steered this discourse to a haven where my intention is to lodge my vessel , and if the unlading prove profitable to my countrey , let them take it at their own valuation . finis . questions problematical concerning the french pest . by tebias whitaker m. d. physician in ordinary to the king and his houshold . london , printed for nath. brook at the angel in cornhill , 1661. questions problematical concerning the french pest , &c. natural motion is from imperfection to perfection , and according to nature i do now move from the disease of children which is nominated the small pox , to the grand disease of man-kind , which is nominated the french pest. from whence they contracted it , is not now the question , but other questions of more subtilty , are my present subject of discourse as followeth . quest . i. why this french disease should lodge in humane bodies for many years without signification or discovery , and then appear with its proper symptoms of malice and contagion . mercurialis affirmeth that the poyson in a mad dog is so lodged for many years before it appeareth in act ; but giveth no farther reason why it is so ; which is my present undertaking . as for the reality of it that is obvious to sense , and doth visibly appear , and how it is for longer or shorter time so lodged , will be as apparent to sense , as may be argued from the containing subject more or less , or in a longer or shorter time disposed to produce this occult quality into act , conjunct with activity of motion sooner , or impotency of natural power which doth retard it , and lodgeth it for a longer time without any symptom of eruption , and the malice is more according to the quantity of matter impregnated with a virulent quality . and that it doth so lodge without impediment or hinderance to the naturall action of the person in whom it lodgeth , is manifest to sense in the menstruosity of women , which cast a venene-spot upon the speigle or looking-glasse and yet in health , and sine actione laesa in themselves : and as it is a venemous quality in their bloud , so hath it lodged in them untill their time of puberty without any such discovery . and so doth the french disease lodge in the spermatick matter of humane bodys some years before it appeareth , and for such time without sensible offence to them : but the time of latency longer or shorter dependeth upon quality of the recipient matter in which it is contained , as the putrifying quality in those that are subject to the stone , which disturbeth some tempers sooner and stronger then others according to the quality of the matter in which it is involved : as is observable in all poysons which work according to the capacity of the recipient matter more or lesse disposed to receive impression . as in minerals , sulphur will sooner fire then amber , and in vegetals flax will sooner be fired then wood ; and though these be sensible , yet there are occult qualities in poyson imperceptible in their motion , and yet sensible in their effects and productions , as may be urged from the springing up of hearbs and grass , which moveth imperceptibly ; and yet that it doth move is sensibly discovered by its growth in a short time , and would appear in perfection at the first reception of the form , were it not impedited and delayed by the indisposition of the matter informed à vi plastica , and this is the reason of the latency of this disease so long time invisible . quest . ii. why this french pest should be generated in men and women free from any venereal act or impure congression . that it may be so generated , and that it is so , common experience doth present to every eye ; and the ancients testifie , viz. galen de loc . affect . 5. in these words translated , affirmeth , that the retention of seed and suppression of menstrual courses doth terminate in such poyson as will effect any disease according to the disposition and temperament of the body , and make impression upon other materials different in nature from animals , as before i have urged concerning women with their aspect upon looking-glasses in the time of menstruosity ; and at the same time pollute all herbs within the sphere of activity or contact , and so observable amongst the french people , that they will not permit any of the female sex within the circuit of such years of puberty to descend their wine-cellars or approach their vineyards : which upon observation hath been so destructive to their vintage , and upon any impure congressiō with women at such time , are received some mortall and in curable diseases , as the feprosie , odious a curse to mankind : and the venereal congression with women at such time , was not only pr●h●bited by the iewes , but also the entrance into any bath with the● ; therefore if the bathing such persons be of necessity to effect their health , my order should be for every such single person to have a fresh bath to themselves and their own private use . and thus i have proved that this disease may be generated in a man out of his own impurity , and without any impure congression or venereal act . quest . iii. after what manner this pest is lodged so long time imperceptible . this question is not void of difficulty to resolve , for if there were any opposition or repulsion from nature , then the venene quality upon such opposition must necessarily beget such a conflict as would appear sensible , or such a suppression as will very little differ from a total extinction of such venen● motion ; therefore my answer is , that viscosity and tenacity of the humours in which the spirits are involved , and in which they move , or their extreme coldness , by which both spirits and humours are so congregated , as without the reflection of a hotter beam , they cannot effect any motion ; or by neglect of timely remedies to discharge the mass of bloud of such malignity ; for diseases not resisted in the beginning do insinuate and enter into the subject matter insensibly , untill their eruption be inavoidable . other causes may rise from irregularity of dyet , or want of exercise to rarefie the spirits , attenuate the humours , and mundefie the masse of bloud ; for the want of such motion the bloud is contaminated , as is apparent in water-vesselled up from the motion of ayre , without which motion all waters would be but an ocean of putrefaction , to the ruine of all creatures upon the land as in the sea. moreover , the want of exercise doth incrassate the humours , and include the malicious quality in such manner , that it cannot so suddainly break out into act , but is covered like fiery embers under ashes , which send forth neither light nor heat till they be stirred up . and after this manner this disease is lodged in the subject matter impreceptibly , as is reported by belocatus , that this french disease was lodged in certain noble persons of verona thirty years before any path●gnomical symptom did appear . quest . iv. why this disease doth apprehend some persons most maliciously at the first co●tion , and leave other persons void of contagion , though very frequent in the act of venery and of impure tempers , according to sense most ap● to receive the impression of such poyson . i have in my former discourse expressed the differences of capacities , to receive the impression of distinct poyson sooner or later , and in that discourse the answer to the first part of this question is included ; that some tempers are like tinder infired and infected at the first stroke or allision of the ayre between two hard bodies , when such sparks will make no impression upon straw or flax , which in their own nature are very combustible ; so also are the different constitutions of humane bodies , some shall be by this pest infected in the first act , when other persons of corrupt mixture and in sense most disposed to receive inquination or pollution shall not be apprehended with this disease though very frequent in impure congression : for that there must be a more proper aptitude to receive this contagion in the first act by that proper temper so infected , then in the other which is a disposition more sensibly disposed to receive such contamination in a higher degree ; and yet they are not so really disposed as the first , which receiveth a sensible pollution . and this must be an occult quality more latent then patient in them , which will incorporate with any mixture , which is not generally observable in mixture ; as for example , oyle will not incorporate with water , but will separate each from other ; and yet they are both humid bodies : and though not capable of incorporation together , yet capable of distinct impregnation either of ●altnesse or sweetnesse ; but oyle will not receive these tinctures so suddainly nor completely as water ; and therefore poysons of the sharpest quality are impedited and resisted in their corrosion by oyly substances . and this is the reason why some dispositions receive pollution more fully and speedily then others : but where there is an homogeneality and samenesse in the matter of mixture , there will be a perfect incorporation , although they be specifically distinct , as the mixture of wine and water in the plant , for there is in the juice of that plant both a vinos● and aquose quality so mixt , that it is difficult to sense to discover any distinction from samenesse or perfect homogenealities ; but where there is no disposition capable to receive contagion it self , yet it may prove a vehicle of conveyance to a subject that is disposed . for many persons that have been in venereal and impure congression with an infected person , though not infected themselves ; yet upon the first act shall conveigh it to another person well-disposed to receive the contamination , for q●●cquid recipitur , recipitur secundum modum recipientis ; and is proved by daily observation , that cats , pigeons and other creatures that have commerce with houses infected with the pest , are not infected themselves with the plague , yet do conveigh it to other persons disposed to receive the impression of such contagion . and according to the observation of sanctorius , the breath of a cat in a room will affect a consumptive disposition , with difficulty of breathing and fainting sweats ; though the cat be unseen by the person affected ▪ which he made the rule of discovery of a consumptive inclination in such persons as come within the sphere of the forenamed creature . and although the disposition of the subject be the principal cause of receiving the impression of this french disease and production of it into act , yet not the onely cause , for the continuance or long-stay in venereal act , and over-heating themselves with so long and laborious motion is the cause of infection in that act ; which otherwise might be avoided , when these that sparrow-like are not infected with many impure congressions ; nor is any contamination so active as that which proceedeth from lively animals by the association of their intense heat ; as for cold poyson they are potentiall , and according to their potentiality more slow and dull in their motion and production of their effect . quest . v. what power this is which is nominated potential , and how it dedu●eth this venenosity into act , this term potential ought to be made clear to sense , because any cold poyson potential cannot be active of it self ; nor can nature as an agent natural produce it into act , but rather a contemperation or commoderation , nor is it agreeable with my reason , that nature should produce poyson into act ; because nature is most adverse to poyson , and poyson a contrary opposite to nature , except epiphanius ferdinandus can perswade me to the contrary , for he will have something alimentable in all poyson ; and if there be not something nutri●ive in all poyson according to his sense , there can be no part of poyson , as poyson , reduced into alimentable act by nature . therefore it i●probable , that although every ●art of poyson is poyson , and as poyson opposite and contrary to nature , as it is simple poyson , and cannot be alimentable , but as a mixt body ; something may be extracted that may be reducible into aliment , or the whole mixture so contemperated with an alimentable , may receive such admission into our natural principles as may impregnate as much as the recipient subject is capable to receive , and gradatim produced into an act of the same mixture from whence it was extracted according to the quality of the poyson , totally hot or cold ; yet galen doth urge another cause of nature , its production of poyson into act , which 〈◊〉 from the repugnancy of nature with poyson , by which contestation poysons a●e so rare●●ed , and by the repugnancy of nature made more subtile and forcible to enter the principles of nature , and by this power produce themselves into act , and the principles of nature into such compliance as is not much different from iden●ity with themselves : and upon s●ch forceable ●●trance , though it be poyson in tota 〈◊〉 , and void of any alimentable condition , yet it receiveth entertainment by nature without any sensible impediment to natural action ; and then digested , and so altered by naturall heat as maketh it alimentable , and prepared for assimilation . and this reason is consented unto by gal●n , lib. 3. de simplic . medic . where he affirmeth cold poysons to be attenu●ted , made hot and changed by the power of natural heat , by which mutation and alteration i conceive a full change of its own property into another nature , otherwise it will sooner or later return to its own natural body again , as gold by the power and ●orce of heat dissolved , and seemingly mixed with other metals and mineral substances , it s own property being unalterable by heat , doth separate from all other mixture , and returneth to its own proper and naturall body ; nor can i conceive how gold by the force of any fire should lose any atome of it self , except st. anthony his fire , which ef●ected his aurum potabil● , which challengeth entrance amongst vulgar errors . quest . vi. why a woman not infected her self , should infect another person with this disease , this node seemeth difficult to unwedge , as being contradictive to reason , that any thing should give that to another which it hath not in it self to give , or that any person should receive that which is not in being ; therefore it cannot be understood of a meer non-entity , which is neither in act nor in power , but of an occult quality latens in massa sanguinea , without any sensible discovery , till a masculine agitation shall make it effectuall and visible in those that upon such motion receive the contamination ; and such inquination or pollution is many times received from women who have no symptom of infection perceptible in themselves ; and therefore i conceive it to be their own proper venene temper contigent in them , as in scorpions and aspes and such other venemous creatures ; or else contracted al●unde , and from venene aliment ; the use whereof hath made it a naturall nourishment to themselves and poyson to others , as was observed by avicen in that puella that fed upon nothing but poysons , and was nourished with them as an aliment inoffensive and very nutritive to her , so as in common view she appeared to be of a most wholesome constitution , and yet her breath poysoned all other within the sphere of it , and with whom she had any commerce or conversation . thus every man doth receive the infection of this disease , that hath c●ition with a woman of such venene temp●r , though not infected her self ; and this is the reason why some such constituted women do abbreviate the lives of all men that have any congression with them in wedlock or otherwise , and this venene quality is also in many men , which infect all they comply with , except those of their own venene temper , and such tempers are most homogeneally matched together ; and if i were a professor of the law , i should judge any sound and wholsome temper so conjoyned in matrimony to such a venene constituon , their matrimony to be unlawful because unnaturall . and sir francis bacon in his vtopia doth very much agree with me in this opinion and judgement , where he admitteth of no matrimoniall conjunction without a strict paternal and materna inquest concerning the temper of each person and homogeneality in nature , and the hereditary diseases they are subject unto , as the gout , stone , and french pest ; that their propagation may be sound , strong and comely for the strength and duration of his new common-weal . and this may be the reason rather then the religion of the haunder , who maketh it lawful for the man and woman to make tryal each of other after they be undertrood for some time before they are joyned together in matrimony , and if in that time they have cause of mislike , they may abstain from marriage without any censure of impiety or breach of their law , or imputation of dishonour . quest . vii . whether there be any defensative against infection in the act of venery with such persons as are maliciously infected with this disease . there are not wanting , and other mountebanks upon every stage and market-place to quack of various remedies of defence , and specifical preparations they have extracted to this purpose ; though my self hath known many of them , and some physicians that have forfeited their palat and noses in this venereal combat , and proved their defensatives to be more fabulous then effectual , because necessarily in all coition there must be attrition of the genitals which heateth and forceth open all porosities in the members , and must of necessity give entrance to any venenosity of this disease which doth contaminate the spirits ; and if they can prepare no condensing remedy to shut up the porosities in the genitals , then their defensative is a meer aiery discourse , void of demonstration and appear a mist cast before the eyes of the spectators . for there is no such condensing medicine or remedy of any effect , because the friction of the genitals will relax and open the porosities of the parts , and the spirits must inavoidably receive the contamination of the disease in contempt of all opposition to the contrary . for this poyson moveth distinctly from other poysons received at the mouth into the body , for they descend into the ventricle , and are not so suddainly mixed with the spirits because they are dispersed and scattered amongst the viscera , and receive their contamination gradatim ; but this contagion is conveighed to the spirits in the turn of an eye , and communicated to them by the nearest consent which is between the genitals , and most noble parts of the body . and these are the reasons of my non-consent to any defensative against the pollution of an unclean women , and if any medicament be ordered of preservation from this pest , they must be such antidotes as do cure it ; and no remedy of cure more specifick then guiacum : and this remedy by daily experience we see will not do it , nor will any chymical medicament , though it doth seemingly cure the disease , yet it will not preserv● them from reinfection : and very many persons that account themselves cured at present , and take boldness to make another adventure , are infected again before their bodies are cleared of their former medicaments ; and though i said something of curative remedies , let me not be understood of absolute cure , for there is no such cure. quest . viii . why this french disease of it self killeth no man. 't is doubtlesse and without question that many persons of both sexes do daily die with this disease upon them , because it admitteth of no perfect cure in any that are infected ; and if any person perswade the contrary , i shall give them leave to comfort themselves with a false delight and pleasant dream : but that this french pest is not necant in it self , is the question to be argued , to which i answer with galen , lib. de marasmo , that the principle conatus of nature is to defend the heart , especially from poyson of any quality ; and that it doth most strenuously defend it from the contagion and poyson of this disease . another reason is because this disease in it self is void of a febri●e distemper , and if any symptom of frebricitation doth appear , it is accidentall , and from the complication of some other cause . thirdly , this disease is void of the difficulty of breathing , except in the highest extremity . fourthly , in this disease the pulse is never altered , neither are there any signs of it to be taken from the pulse , and these are demonstrative arguments to prove the heart to defend it self powerfully from the malignity of this disease . and this defensive power according to my opinion must principally depend upon the power of the vitall spirits , which are more robust then the natural spirits , as doth appear by their containing vessels of eac● ; for the arterie that containeth the vital spirits is double coated , else the spirits contained in them would make eruption through them because of their inherent force ; and the veines but single coated because their spirits in activity and strength is so much lesse then is the vital ; and by the force of this vital spirit the heart is defended against the invasion of this pest : and by this vitall spirit the heart defendeth it self against the assault of choler , which is so great an enemy to it according to arist. 4. de part . animal . and yet this question is not cleared from the exception of many physicians , who reasonably do affirm the generation of vital spirits to proceed from the naturall ; and if the naturall spirits have received contamination , how shall the vitall spirits which are begotten of them be free from pollution ? nor could it be otherwise , but from the purification they receive from the heart ; after the same manner as gold is separated from drosse and other aliene tincture ▪ by the activity of ●ire , so also doth the heart by its cordial fire inherent in it self , purge and clense the natural spirits from all pollution , and the heart by its own power desendeth it self from the contamination of this disease , which is the cause in chief why this disease of it self doth not kill the person affected with it . quest . ix . whether this disease be the proper disease of one particular region . that every region hath diseases inherent in themselves , and not contracted 〈◊〉 , with remedies of their own more specifical , then any contracted from alien and different regions ; and that there is a , much difference as between clime and clime , or east and west , 〈◊〉 without doubt is the 〈◊〉 catholica of all nations ; but what region may be the proper womb of this french ; 〈◊〉 is a present dispute between the french and neopolit●● the one will have it the proper dis●ease of the indians , and the french will have it proper to the neopolit●ns ; but because it hath made so great impression in 〈◊〉 , most modern writer● 〈◊〉 it the french disease so that they challenge the right to it from custom and long prescription , and i know no nation challenge any of their priviledge ; but as they have spread their tongue very far in europe and other continents ; so this disease hath commerce with the generality of nations and religions , both mahumeta● , iew , 〈◊〉 and heathen . but some particular regions may be after this manner affected from their vicious ayre an● dyet , witnesse those painful botches of the arab●●as affirmed by galen and av●cen , that they are generated from the locusts which they so greedily feed upon , as also in 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 from their delicacy in dyet , and frequent use of venery . insomuch , that according to the dyet and ayre , severall regions have their particular diseases . but the french disease proceedeth neither from the ayre of the place nor dyet , but from meer venery and impure congression , and therefore it is an universall disease more common in venereal and hot countries , where the women are more salacious th●n in cold regions ; this sex being in their temper more cold then men , by the heat 〈◊〉 the region are prov●●ed and more hot in pleasure ; by which themselves and others in conjunction with them are inflamed , insomuch that in those places this french dis●ase proveth hereditary , and is conveyed from family to family in the principles of nature ; as is the small pox according to some opinions conveyed in maternall menstruosity . and thus i have concluded the discourse of both great and small according to my promise . finis . hermetical physick: or, the right way to preserve, and to restore health. by that famous and faithfull chymist, henry nollius. englished by henry uaughan, gent. nolle, heinrich, fl. 1612-1619. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a89713 of text r209619 in the english short title catalog (thomason e1714_1). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 119 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 70 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a89713 wing n1222 thomason e1714_1 estc r209619 99868485 99868485 170298 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a89713) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 170298) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 213:e1714[1]) hermetical physick: or, the right way to preserve, and to restore health. by that famous and faithfull chymist, henry nollius. englished by henry uaughan, gent. nolle, heinrich, fl. 1612-1619. vaughan, henry, gent, [8], 130 p. printed by humphrey moseley, and are to be sold at his shop, at the princes armes in st. pauls church-yard, london. : 1655. annotation on thomason copy: "25 june". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng medicine -early works to 1800. a89713 r209619 (thomason e1714_1). civilwar no hermetical physick: or, the right way to preserve, and to restore health.: by that famous and faithfull chymist, henry nollius. englished b nolle, heinrich 1655 20033 99 35 0 0 0 0 67 d the rate of 67 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-08 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-08 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion hermetical physick : or , the right way to preserve , and to restore health . by that famous and faithfull chymist , henry nollivs . englished by henry uaughan , gent. london . printed for humphrey moseley , and are to be sold at his shop , at the princes armes in st. pauls church-yard , 1655. the translator to the ingenious reader . if any will be offended with this hermeticall theorie , i shall but smile at his frettings , and pitty his ignorance . those are bad spirits , that have the light ; and such are all malicious despisers of true knowledge , who out of meere envie , scribble and rail at all endeavours ; but such as submit to , and deifie their rigid superstition , and twice sodden colworts . for my owne part , i honour the truth where ever i find it , whether in an old , or a new booke , in galen , or in paracelsus ; and antiquity , ( where i find it gray with errors ) shall have as little reverence from me , as novelisme . veritatem tempus manu-ducit . there is no reason ( if they bind not their owne hands ) but the discoveries of survivers and posterity , may and should be more perfect , then the superficiall searches , and first attempts ▪ or aims rather of their predecessors . i wish we were all unbiassed and impartiall learners , not the implicite , groundlesse proselyts of authors and opinions , but the loyall friends and followers of truth . it would not then be impossible , but that we might in a short time attain to that perfection , which while it is envied in some , will never bee found in all . as men are killed by fighting , so truth is lost by disputing ; for while we study the figments and subtilties of sophisters , wee cannot search into the operations and virtues of nature . as many as wil consider this , it is not improbable , but they may do well . but despisers , and such as hate to be quietly instructed , must be punished with silence , lest by seeking their peace , we lose our owne . plautus . qui mali sunt , habeant mala ; qui boni , bona ; bonos quòd oderint mali , sunt mali ; malos , quod oderint boni , bonos esse oportet . hermeticall physick &c. chap. i. medicine or physick is an art , laying down in certain rules or precepts , the right way of preserving and restoring the health of man-kind . the word medicine , hath a manifold sense . first , it is taken for some receipt or medicament . so the philosophicall stone is termed a medicine . the lord hath created medicines out of the earth , and the wise man will not abhor them . secondly , it is taken for the habit , or profession of the physitian , and then it signifies the faculty of curing existent in some learned and expert professor . this habit or faculty is delineated , or methodically described and laid down in the dogmaticall books of physicians , that others may learne and practise thereby . thirdly , it is taken for , and signifies a physicall system or treatise , and in this latter sence it is to be understood in this place . the object of medicine or physick in this latter sence is , man , not in general , but that man onely who desires to learn the art of physick , and is to be informed or instructed by this present treatise : but the object of physick , as it is an habit in the mind of the physician , is man in general , either for the preserving or the restoring of his health . the operation , use , and end of physick , is health ; as the work and end of physical books , is a rightly principled and instructed physitian ; so far as instruction goes : it is termed hermetical physicke , because it is grounded upon principles of true philosophy , as the physick of hermes was . and for this very reason the true philosophers applyed themselves wholly to the hermetic science , that they might thereby lay a true foundation of physick , for the hermetic phylosophy layes open the most private and abstruse closets of nature , it doth most exquisitely search and find out the natures of health and sickness , it provides most elaborate and effectuall medicines , teacheth the just dose of them , and surpasseth by many degrees the vulgar philosophy , and that faculty which is grounded upon the principles of the common , supposititious knowledge , that is to say , it doth much exceed and out do the galenical physick . this appears most evidently , because the hermetical phisicians both can and frequently doe cure those diseases , which the galenists adjudge to be incurable , as the leprosie , the falling sickness , the gout , &c. that the principles of the hermetists , are more certain then those of galen , is sufficiently verified by their performances ; besides , it is a truth which cannot be denyed , that the certainty and proof of the principles of all arts , can by no other meanes be known and tryed but by practise , as paracelsus doth rightly urge in praef●t . d fensionum , page 252. now all the knowledge of the hermetists , proceeds from a laborious manual disquisition and search into nature , but the galenists insist wholly upon a bare received theorie and prescribed receits , giving all at adventure and will not be perswaded to inquire further then the mouth of their leader . i call not those hermetists , who know onely to distil a little water from this or that herb ; nor those , who seeke to extract from other things by their sophistical operations a great treasure of gold , which onely nature can supply us with : for the most ignorant amongst the people , may make a very useful distiller , and the other attempt is most commonly the task of sophisters and impostors : but i call them hermetists , who observe nature in her workes who imitate her , and use the same method that she doth , that out of nature , by the mediation of nature , and the assistance of their owne judgements , they may produce and bring to light such rare effectual medicines , as will safely , speedily , and pleasantly cure , and utterly expell the most deplorable diseases . these are the true hermetists : as therefore i doe not approve of all those that would be called hermetists , so neither doe i condemn all those , who diligently and conscientiously practise the galenicall physick : for some of them are precize and petulant , others are sober & modest : and these latter sort acknowledge the imperfection of their medicines , and therefore they endeavour and take delight to adorne , inlarge , and accomplish their profession with the secrets of hermetical physick : but the other sort ascribe supreme perfection to that ethnic , antichristian writer , and his medicines , and will not for meer envy , or out of a childish depraved ignorance ▪ looke upon the eminency of hermetic philosophy , nor inquire into the secrets of it , but seek rather by reprehending and carping those things they doe not understand , to magnifie their own way , and with peevish and virulent language , raile at the hermetic professors . now as i preferre the hermetical science to the medicines of these men : so ( their errours being first laid aside , ) i unite it with the physick of the more sober galenists , that theirs by consoclation with ours , may become perfect and irreprehensible : this joseph quercetar , a most expert physician , and a learned philosopher , whom as my master in this science i worthily honour , ( for i must confess , that by his instructions ( god assisting me , ) i benefited very much , ) did most happily performe . and many learned men even in this age design the same thing , especially the professors of physick in marburg , who by an express and memorable decree of the most illustrious and mighty prince william lantgrave of hassia , proceed in that very course . and who then can justly blame me , for walking in the same path with such eminent men ? i shall conclude , and give my judgement with learned crollius ( a man who for the advancement of the true physick , was most worthy of a longer life ) that whosoever desires to be eminent in the art of physick , ( and none can be so , that will study onely the placets of one man ) must ( above all things ) be unbiassed and addicted to no sect , nor aany one author whatsoever , but passe through them all in pursuit of the sincere truth , and subscribe only unto that , being mindful ever to preserve the same freedome for himself , which horace did . quo me cunque rapit tempestas , deferor hospe● , nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri . where-e'r my fancy calls , there i goe still , not sworne a slave to any masters will . ii. health is an incorrupt integrity , and soundnesse of the body preserved by , and depending upon the strength and virtue of the radical balsame . whence followes this consequence , that the more strong and virtual the balsame is , so much the more vegetous and healthful is the body . iii. the strength and virtue of the balsame , depends upon the equal and mutual conspiration of the hypostatical principles , that by their even and peaceful consistency , the balsame also may legitimately perform his functions , by which he may advantage and strengthen himself with the received aliment or food which is taken in , and may also ( when separation is performed by the stomack , ) cast out through his proper emunctories what is not nutritive , and may further provide that the seeds of diseases ( if any lurk in the flesh , or in the blood , in the disguise of that tincture , ) break not out , and bring suddain destruction to the body , or else may cause that those ●ll seeds may by the balsames strength and vigour , be cast out of the body as superfluous impurities , which cannot consist with the health of man . it is truth therefore which the most noble and learned crollius speaks in his preface to his basilica chymica : in what body soever ( saith he ) the hypostatical principles consist by union , that body may be judged to be truly sound . iv. medicine or physick , treats either of the preservation , or of the restoration of health . chap. 2. of the preservation of health . that part of physick which treates of the preserving of health , is an art , which by certaine cautionary rules , or precepts , teacheth and prescribeth a certain way and meanes to defend and save people from diseases . it is by the graecians termed {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} : to effect what this art promiseth , i give these following precepts . i. lead a pious and an holy life . for piety ( as the apostle teacheth ) is profitable for all things , having the promise of this present life , and of that which is to come . now all piety consists in thi● , that we love god with all our souls , and our neighbours as our selves . wonder not therefore , that so many in this age perish so suddainly and so soon . impiety now bears the sway : true and unfeigned charity hath no place to abide in ; perjury , treachery , tyranny , usury and avarice , or ( where these are not , ) a vicious , lascivious , and loose life , are every where in request . the soul , which god made and ordained to be the nobler essence , and the mistress , is now the bond-woman , and the serviledrudge to the vile body . we daily see , that one groom will serve to dresse and look to many horses , one sheepheard will keep a thousand sheep , one herdsman as many kine or oxen : but to dresse and feed one voluptuous body there 's need ( betwixt his clothes , his bed and bord , ) of all that earth and sea , and air afford . and i would to god that all these would suffice ! a most unhappy truth was that of the stoic , he is a servant to many , that serves but one body : for doe but imagine thy selfe placed in the clouds , or neare the starres , and from thence to looke down and observe our actions upon earth , thou shalt not see one man quiet , they runne all as busie as ants over sea and land , through citty and country , by right and wrong , to become lordly and rich . with restless cares they wast the night and day , to compasse great estates , and get the sway . what wouldst thou say at such a sight as this ? wouldst not thou cry out with seneca , oh the faith of god and men ! how many persons doth one ambitious stomach imploy ? if brutes and wild beasts devour or eat one another ( unless they be compelled unto it by extream famine ) we presently cry out , it is a prodigie : but what thing ( i beseech thee ) amongst mankind , is more frequent then such prodigies ? the satyrist askes the question , — when ever did ( i pray , ) one lyon take anothers life away ? or in what forrest did a wild bore by the tusks of his owne fellow wounded , die ? tygers with tygers never have debate , and beares amongst themselves abstain from hate . — quando leoni , fortior eripuit vitam leo ? quo nomore unquam , expiravit aper , &c. but men , whom god adorned with rationall soules , kill one another , and those to whom nature , reason ▪ and the faculty of speech , did ( above any other creatures ) commend love and unity , do by troopes ( as it were for spectacle and ostentation , ) murther and butcher themselves . add to this , that ( as seneca saith ) a dogge will bite before he barks ; stormes will threaten us before they dissolve upon our heads ; buildings will crack before they fall , and smoke will give us warning that fire is at hand : but the destruction of man by man is suddain , and without the least notice : nay , the nearer it is , it is by so much the more diligently concealed . and what then is one man to another ? who smiles , when he hates , salutes and embraceth , when he intends destruction , who under a serene smooth countenance hides poyson , violence and blood-shed ▪ certainly thou wilt erre , and erre grievously , if thou wilt trust to those faces , that meet thee civilly , and salute thee fairly : they have ( indeed ) the complexions of men , but the conditions of devils . nay , thou wilt meet with some , who ( as the same satyrist hath observed , ) esteem it no point of revenge to kill , vnless they may drinke up the blood they spill ; who do believe that hands , & hearts , and heads , are but a kind of moat , &c. — quorum non sufficit irae , occid●sse aliquem , sed pectora , brachia , vultus crediderint genus esse cibi , &c. but thou wilt reply , that salvages , barbarians , and canibals , may ( perhaps ) commit such villanies . art thou no better acquainted with our saints of europe ? that humane society and commerce , that godlinesse and sanctity , which we so much celebrate and commend our selves for , is nothing else but meere monopolizing , meere deceit , and a mutuall imposture . and amongst us saints , who ( in our owne opinion ) are mighty righteous , tender-hearted and brotherly , there is nothing more usuall , then to have store of anthropophagi , or men-eaters : for the rich , and the great amongst us , not onely feed upon and live by the sweat , the slaughter , and the blood of the poor and opprest , but esteem them ( of all others ) their choicest dainties , for they are swallowed without much chewing , and there is none to deliver them : insomuch that those sheepheards , who were said to flay their sheep , robbing them of their wool their skins , and their flesh , and leaving them onely their bare bones , may be truly said to be more merciful then those men . so that man to man , is no more a god , but a woolf and a devil . wonder not then ( as i said before , ) that so many amongst us dye so suddainly , and so soon for they had rather die sooner , yea and die for ever , then become sober ▪ charitable ▪ and truly pious . ii. follow after sobriety . for as drunkenness and immoderate feeding oppress and weaken the virtue of the radical balsame : so sobriety preserves from sickness● , and diseases . sober above most kings was massinissa the numidiar , who standing alwaies , and at his tentdoore , would in the open field eat his meat without sauce , being contented with dry bread , and military commons . for which very reason he was so vegetous in old age , that at the years of fourscore and six , he begat a sonne , and after ninety two , did in a pitched field over-throw the carthaginians , who had broken their league made with him ; in which battel he did not onely supply the place of an active , and expert leader , but performed all the duties of a common souldier . by the benefit of this virtue of temperance , did m. valerius corvinus live to be an hundred years old ▪ and retain'd at that age a sound mind in a sound body . and socrates continued all his life long in a perfect undisturbed health : yea , sobriety ( if we should fall sick , ) will restore us to health . there are some who think , that caesar used no other remedy to cure his falling sicknesse , which tooke him first at corduba in spaine , so that by a meere spare dyet , hard labours , and tedious watchings , he escaped , and overcame that dangerous and most commonly fatall in disposition . iii. eat not greedily , and drink not immoderately . nature in vegetables , doth not swallow down her nutriment , nor take it in ravenously , and all at a time . she doth all things leasurely , and by degrees , that her motion may be covenient and useful , or assisting to her preservation . it is thy concernment to imitate nature , and to do as she doth , when thou dost eat , and when thou dost drink . it is a most foul blemish upon the memory of alexander , that after most of his victories , he used to riot it with his officers , inviting them to delicious and sumptuous feasts , in which he used alwaies to drink prizes , and he that could tun in more then all the rest , was rewarded with a talent : but this intemperate eating and drinking , did cast him into such a violent , suddaine disease , that within three dayes he dyed of it . iv. let thy meat be simple and unarted . for such victuals ( saith the most industrious pliny , ) are the most wholesome and agreeable : nature is but one , therefore she doth most delight in one kinde of meate and drink . whence followes this consequence , thou shouldest never at one meal feed upon divers sorts of meats & drinks . for they are of an heterogeneous nature , and the fire of nature , which is but one and the same cannot work equally upon them all , and prepare ( legitimately ) a nutriment for his own body , out of divers and differing cibations . every thing the nearer it is to unitie , is by so much the more perfect and durable . there are infinite sorts of trees which live very long , but they use all of them ( without change ) onely one kind of nutriment : but if it be so , that thou canst not abstaine from variety of meats , yet be sure ( if possibly thou canst ) that they have some agreement and correlation amongst themselves : for contraries , ( as hippocrates affirmes ) will move sedition and differences , while some of them are sooner , some latter digested and communicated to the body . octavius augustus , would never have above three dishes of meat to his supper : imitate him , and use not too much indulgence towards thy selfe , so shalt thou live the longer and the better . v. accustome not thy selfe suddainly to meats and drinks , which formerly thou hast not been used to feed upon , unlesse they be prescribed thee by some expert and learned physician for thy healths sake . for every change is dangerous . nature is simple and alwayes the same : other manner of operation is simple too , and without change , and she delights altogether in constancy , and simple nutriments : but if thou dost change , she also will suffer the like change . we see daily , that those birds which are taken , and put into cages , by changing their naturall dyet , fall into divers diseases , and dye frequently . a lamb that is nourished with the milk of a cow , seldome comes to any improvement , but most commonly dyes . vi . use antidotes frequently , to preserve thee from poysons , and private or accidental mischiefes . lest thou perish by venemous meats or drinks , or by the aire thou livest in , which may be poysoned as well as thy food . mithridates by the frequent use of an antidote , which from him is still called mithridate , did so strengthen nature , that no poyson could hurt him : and when he tooke a venemous , deadly confection of purpose to kill himselfe , it could not so much as make him sick : so that being overthrown in battel by his enemies , and not being able to poyson himselfe , he was forced to command his armour-bearer to thrust him through , and so dyed . there be divers kinds of antidotes . i shall onely mention the most effectuall . the first is quercetanus , his confection of juniper and vipers , described by him in his private dispensatory , page 349. the second is his blessed theriac : the third , his celestiall theriac , called so by way of eminency , and described both in the same book . the fourth is ( rollius his theriac of mummie , with another very soveraigne , one described by him in his bafilica chymica . use these antidotes according to the philosophers prescriptions , and ( god assisting ) no poyson shall be able to hurt thee . vii . fly contagious airs , and if the aire thou livest in , be infected , change thy habitation . viii . take physick in the spring-time , and in the autumne . let us consider the nature of serpents and vipers : these in our stated seasons of spring & fall , cast off their old skins , and are clothed with new . that medicine or course of physick , which in all its circumstances answers to the great world , will work the more easily , the more prosperously , and will have the greatest effect . seeing therefore that trees , and all roots , which in the winter time seem dead , doe about the entrance of the spring break forth and bud , putting on greenness , and a renew'd youthfulnesse and fresh vivacity as it were , therefore the wise ancients did at the very same time ( by observing them ) take their purging and restorative physick , and by that meanes ( god cooperating with them ) did mightily strengthen nature , and multiply their dayes upon earth . such physick as this , is the starre of man imprognated with the physicall tincture . others use onely the philosophicall stone these glorious medicines ( whomsoever god shall reveale them to , ) may in their just dose be taken once in every week to the singular comfort , and incredible improvement of nature : so the philosophers tell me . the dose of the universall medicine , is the weight of one graine . ix . vse not too freqnently , the permissions of marriage . man for procreations sake , should not abhorre the concessions and priviledges of lawfull love , but let him eschew all wantonnesse , and confine his desires to naturall ▪ and legitimate , and that too within the bounds of wedlock : but in this also there must be moderation . solons law was thrice in the moneth . emission of seed weakens all bodies : this experience tells us , for men that are addicted to this intemperance , have the most nice and tender constitutions , easily offended , and seldome fruitfull ▪ like trees , which bearing too much in one year , yeeld nothing but leaves in the next . you are to understand from this paragraph , that seed is two-fold , radical , and prolific . the radical seed , is the innate balsame of the body , which if it be advantaged with perfect digestion , will yeeld effusion , and a balsame of the same nature as it selfe . in this balsame the body lives as in his proper seed . hence anonymus leschus , tract. 7. instructs us , that so long as there is seed in the body it lives ; but the seed being consumed ▪ the body dies . it is no wonder then , that so many have perished by the intemperance , who * going to bed in a vegetous , perfect health , were found dead next morning . if you excite a tree to bear fruit by violent and unnatural means , or by artificiall , as by kindling fire under his branches in an unseasonable time , you will but kill the tree , and manifest your own indiscretion . chap. 3. of diseases in generall . hitherto we have spoken onely of that part of physick , which teacheth us to preserve health ; it remaines now , that we consider the other part , which treats of the restitution of health . i. that part of physick which teacheth us the restoration of health , is an art laying down in certaine precepts or rules , a sure & safe way to redeem or free sick persons from diseases . it is termed by th●grecians {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . ii. in this we are to consider , first , the disease , and all its circumstances : secondly , the cure of it . for the true method consists in knowing , first the disease , and afterwards the cure . the doctrine of diseases , is termed by the grecians , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . iii. disease or sicknesse , is a privation , or the loss of health . iv. therefore ; because health depends upon the strength and vigour of the radical balsame , sicknesse must needs proceed from the weaknesse and indisposition of it . v. but when the strength of the balsame followes the conspiration of the hypostatical principles , as his proper {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ●r inclinatior , then or in that cause the insirmity of the balsame proceeds from the ind●sposition of the principles . whence followes this consequence . that those bodies , whose principles agree not amongst themselves , may be truly judged to be sickly and ill disposed . vi . touching the disease , there are two things to be considered . first , the conjoyn'd and apparent cause of the disease , which we shall terme extrarious . secondly , the cause of that extrarious or conjoyn'd cause . chap. 4. of the extrarious or conjoyned and apparent cause of the disease . i. the conjoyned ' apparent cause of the disease , i terme * by reason it is a cause most remote from , and altogether a stranger to , our nature . ii. this extrarious cause is twofold , substantial and accidental . the substantial is so termed , because it is the substantiall essence , or matter of the disease . the other is termed accidental , by reason that the conjoyned cause signified by it , is an accident , not a substance . iii. the substantial extrarious cause , is either an impure tincture , or a meteor . iv. an impure tincture , is an impure spiritual nature , so exactly mixt with the most inward parts of our substance , that at the time of its commixtion , it doth not presently and manifestly hinder nor prejudice the functions of the balsame , but remaining quiet and inoffensive at first , and for a time , doth afterwards by degrees , discover its enmity and force , and so infects the body . to this place must be referred ; first , those impure seminal tinctures ▪ by which the prolific seed is tainted , and the child that is borne of it , comes to be hereditarily infected with the diseases of his parents . secondly , the impurity of the body , that proceeds from the bloud , with which the child is fed and nourished in the wombe : from which last impurity , if the substance of the childe were not vindicated , and free'd by frequent breakings out , by the measels , and divers other extrusions , and petty and indispositions , besides the dayly discharge of it through the proper emunctories of the body , it were not absurd to conclude , that his whole nature must needs be depraved and overcome by it . purgations of this kind happen sometimes sooner , sometimes later , according to the strength of the radicall balsame ▪ which in some is slower , in others quicker and more vigorous ; as we see it exemplified in our very fields , of which some are more barren , some more fruitfull , according to their scituation , and the aspect of the sun-beames , shining directly and favourably upon some , upon others glancingly , and for a short time , which makes some places more forward , some more back-ward , and their productions , whether flowers , or hey , or corne , to differ accordingly , some being very good , some very bad . v. a meteor is either volatile or coagulated , both kindes are extrarious . i call it a meteor , because i would have the reader to inquire , how the * meteors of the greater world are generated , and by their generation , to learn and find out the true doctrine of the microcosmical meteors . vi . the volatile meteor , is commonly called an exhalation , and that is either dry or moist . the dry exhalation is termed a fume , and the humid a vapour : the fumid exhalation , because it is a fume arising from a dry body or principle , is hot , dry , light and subtile , alwayes tending upwards , and is near to a sulphureous fiery nature , which will easily inflame and kindle , and so is set on fire ▪ and burns . contrarily , a vapour is an humid flux , which if it be deprived by any exterior heat of its owne cold quality and so carried up into the region of the air , and there condensed by cold , is presently ( because of its thin , mercurial and aqueous nature , ) forced to resume its former state , and is turned againe into the nature of water . for as we see in the greater world , that tho●e vapors and exhalations , which by the heat of the sun , the influence of the stars , and by their owne proper internall calidity , are excited and stirred up , doe afterwards afford matter for various , miraculous meteors , and bodies imperfectly mixt both in the region of the air , and in the bowels of the earth ; and that those which are of a mercurial , cold , moist , and watry nature , doe alwayes produce clouds , raine , hail-stones , snow , frost and winds ; but those which are sulphureous , hot and dry generate coruscations , lightnings , fire-drakes , thunder-bolts , and other burning meteors : so in the lesser world , that is in the body of man , the like , and the very same vapours and exhalations , afford matter for the generation of many and different kinds of meteors . hence it is , that so many and such various sorts of diseases afflict man-kind . some of them being mercurial , cold and moist ; others sulphureous , hot and dry : nor are they so in meer forme and accident , but in substance , that is to say , they are such in their essentiall virtue , and are generated as wel in the inferiour region , the breast , the stomack , and the belly ; as in the superiour , the head and the braine , which parts do exactly quadrate and correspond with the airy region , and the subterraneous concavities of the earth . see quercetanus , tetr . page 45. 46. vii . the coagulated meteor , is termed tartar , of which we shall treat in the following chapter . chap. 5. of tartar . i. tartar is an acrimonious , pricking and corroding , or an aluminous , acid and styptic mucilage , which is bred in the body , and being separated from its proper juyce , is by the supervenient spirit of salt , according to the various inclination of nature , at a set time , and in those places which are most apt to receive it , collected together , and coagulated ; or if that juyce be not separated from it , it putrifies : from whence come worms and other innumerable symptoms . quercetanus in his advice against the joynt-gout , and the stone , describes it thus . salsugirous substances , because they have alwayes mixt in them some portion of earth ( though the predominant part in them be liquefactive , ) are in the body of man termed tartar ; a most apt ( in truth ) and most significant terme , which was first given them from the analogy , or similitude that was found betwixt the humours in mans body , yea betwixt his very blood and the substance of wine : which of all the fruits of vegetables , doth most abound with tartar . i doe not meane by tartar in this place that substance which is dissolved , and flowes in new wines , while they are thick and turbid , which being afterwards separated , or ( as the common phrase is ) settled , doth as the grosser , earthy , and more impure part subside into a feculent substance , found alwaies in the bottome , and called dregs . neither doe i mean that tartar onely , whose separation is performed by a long tract of time , and sticks to the dregs or lees of old wine-pipes . but i meane that tartar also , which is in perpetual liquefaction and commixture with the most refined wines , and which gives them their tincture either red or any other . this true tartar , either by evaporation , or simple distillation , or a balneum maris , is easily discerned to be moderately hot , for the more liquid part of the humour ( which was the vehiculum , in which the tartar in its dissolution was contained ) being separated from it , the tartar alone remaine in the bottom . this liquid humour , though of red wine , distills all bright and limpid , but the heavler red substance , which i call tartar , stayes all behind : a solid substance , and the more you fetch out of the substantifical humour , it becomes by so much the more hard and the dryer . nor is this tartar onely in red , or white wines , but in any other though decocted and also in the humours of mans body . nor is it there onely in the chylus , or nutriment , which answers in proportion to wine newly made ( for from the chylus , as from new win● , divers impure and tartareous dregs are separated , ) but also in the very blood , yea in the most pure , and after the very same manner , as we described it to be in wine . and as the art of distilling ( even that which is performed by the most gentle fire ) discovers and manifests unto us this kind of tartar : so nature also by her naturall fury both ranne and daily doth performe such separations of tartar , by a consumption of the humoural parts of our bodies ▪ out of which the dogmatical writers of physick , suppose the stone to be generated . and it is wonderfull to consider , how many sorts of diseases by the intervening of obstructions or ●ppilations , arise out of this meere separation , particularly the joynt-gout , and the stone : which diseases according to the sentiment of these dogmatists themselves , happen most frequently to those , who have the hottest livers ▪ and consequently the coldest stomacks : who ingenerate much crudities and mucous matters , which for want of a through-digestion , may be compared to raw fruits , that failing of their due and perfect maturity , ( which is performed by a contemperate heat that is all concocting and digesting , ) remaine acid , bitter , sowre and green . these being mixt with , and in the whole masse of blood , are there by the natural heate againe concocted , and a separation is made of the more crude and tartareous portion , which sticks afterwards to the inward parts , and causing divers obstructions , is at length forcibly carried into the joynts , where it stayes and lodgeth . for every part of the body of man doth naturally delight in , and attract to it , that which is most like to it selfe : the fleshie parts are nourished by that portion of the blood , which is most thinly moist , and mercuriall : the fat and marrowish parts , by that which is most oily , or sulphureous , but the joynts which are parts that be naturally glutinous and mucilaginous , love that portion which hath most likenesse and affinity with their nature ; whence it comes to passe , that this salsuginous and tartareous matter is taken in by them . now , when it happens that these parts in some bodyes , either for their weakness , or an innate hereditary disposition , or some such cause cannot by a proper and particular digestion , inoffensively digest , nor expell this crude and indigested tartareous matter , then is this matter , being of a saltish , viscous nature coagulated in them , and the ligaments of the joynts come to be stuffed up and stiffened with it , whence proceed those acute intolerable paines which attend this disease . and this is the true and genuine conjoyn'd cause of the paines and knottines of the joynt-gout . the same cause is sometimes lesse acute , sometimes more , according to the nature and condition of the tartar . for as we see that there is in the greater world , a great diversity of salts , for the earth yeelds first salt-gemme , which answers in proportion to sea-salt , that is onely saltish in tast ; then salt-nitre which is bitter in tast , and salt-alum which is austere and astringent : afterwards salt of vitriol , and salt armoniac which are acid and hot : and lastly ▪ those corrosive sharp salts which are termed alkal● , with others that are sweet and pleasant as sugar : so in the lesser world , that is in the body of man , there is generated a tartar or salt , which being dissolved , causeth onely a saltish humour , which the dogmatical physicians term saltish phegme , in plaine termes , a salt water or humour . there is also generated , a nitrous or bitter salt , which mixeth with the urine , and causeth bitter choler ; and a vitriolated acid salt which predominates in acid phlegme and melancholy . in like manner there be also aluminous and austere kinds of tartar , and other sorts which resemble the acrimonie of salt , as it is manifestly seen by the various affections of contractures and astrictions of the sinews , and the many perilous troubles of acrimonious humours in dysenteries and , divers ulcers as well inward as outward , all which are caused by the many and different kindes of salts , which are generated in the body . for why should not this be done by those things which are most like to doe it and most significant , and which do most properly and fully expresse the natures and diversities of causes , having their derivation and appositenes from the very fountains of nature , who is the best interpretress of her own concernments . these salts ( believe me ) doe better expresse and discover unto us the essences and distinctions of tartareous or saltish diseases , then those four humours which are commonly termed the sanguine , the phlegmatic , the bilious , and the melancholy , both because that these latter termes , signifie nothing unto us of the essence or matter of the disease , and also because that those dogmatists themselves , hallucinate and stagger very much both in the formation or aptnesse , and in the application of their said termes . ii. tartar is two-fold , adventitious and innate . iii. adventitious tartar , proceeds from meat and drinke , and the impressions of the firmament . every thing that we eat and drinke , hath in it a mucilaginous , reddish and sandy tartar , very noxious to the health of man . nature receives nothing for her own use , but what is pure . the stomack , which is an instrument of the archaeus of man , or an internall , innate chymist , and implanted there by god , presently upon the reception of that which is chew'd and swallowed down separates the impure ▪ tartareous part from the pure nutriment : if the stomack be vigorous , especially in its faculty of separation , the pure portion passeth presently into all the members to nourish and preserve the body , and the impure goes forth into the draught : if the stomack be weake , the impure portion is through the m●saraic veines conveyd to the liver , where a second digestion or separation is made . here the liver separates againe the pure from the impure , the rubie from the chrystall , that is to say , the red from the white : the red is the nutriment of all the members the heart , the brain , &c. the white ●or that which is no nutriment , is driven by the liver to the reyns and it is urine , which is nothing else but salt , which being exprest from the mercuriall portions , by the violence of the separation , is forced to a dissolution : it is dissolved into water by the liven & so cast forth . if the liver , by reason of its debility , makes no perfect separation , it casts that mucilaginous and calculous impurity upon the reyns , where for want of a ●ight and through separation it is ( according to the concurrency and method of nature ) by the mediation of the spirit of salt coagulated into sand , or tartar , either massie and solid , or mucilaginous . this tartar therefore is the excretion of meat and drinke , which is coagulated in all mens bodies by the spirit of salt , unless the expulsive faculty by its owne peculiar vigour or virtue , can command it into the excrements , and so cast it out by dejection . iv. there are four kinds of this adventitioustartar , which proceed originally from the four distinct fruits or cibations which we receive from the four elements . the first kind proceeds from the use of those things that grow out of the earth , as from all sorts of pulse , grains , fruits , herbs and roots , upon which we feed . the second proceeds from those nutriments which we take out of the element of water , as from fish , shel-fish , &c. the third is from the flesh of birds and beasts , &c. the fourth comes from the firmament , which the spirit of wine , in respect of its subtilty , doth most resemble . this kind of tartar is of a most forcible impression , while the air being primarily infected with the vapours of the earth , the water and the firmament doth afterwards annoy us : as wee frequently see in those acute and pernitious astral diseases , the pleurisie , the plague , the prunella , &c. v. tartar innate , is that which is cogenerated with man in his mothers wombe . vi . besides these impure tinctures and meteors , there is another substantial extrarious cause , which cannot be reduced to a certa●ne kind . to this must be referred , those insecta's or quick creatures which sometimes ( though rarely ) are generated in the body , as snakes , divers worms , &c. secondly , those things must be referred hither , which by inchantment and the mediation of evill spirits , are invisibly and insensibly conveyed into the bodies of men and women . thirdly , we are to reduce to this aphorisme or canon all splinters , bullets , or other weapons , which being violently thrust or shot into the body , lie deeply in the flesh , or under the skin . vii . we have now done with the substantial extrarious cause . to the accidental , i shall referre all disproportions of limbs , gibbosities , luxations , wounds , and fractures of bones . chap. 6. of god , the first and supreme cause of the extrarious cause . having now done with the extrarious or conjoyned and apparent cause of the disease . i shall consider the cause of that extrarious cause . i. this cause i shall divide into six heads or branches . the first of which is god . 2. excesse and defect of necessaries . 3. fire . 4. hereditary impurity . 5. imagination . 6. violent illation . of these i shall treat in their order ; and first of god . man , because he is made in the image of god , is bound also to live according to his will . i mean his will revealed and laid down in the ten commandements , and the holy scriptures , namely in those bookes onely which were left unto us , and which ( without scruple ) we have received from the holy prophets , and the apostles of the lord and saviour : but when we transgresse and violate this law and will of our maker , then doth god send upon us condigne punishments , amongst which diseases are numbred in the very booke of the law . for thus saith the lord : if ye shall despise my statutes , or if your soules abhor my judgements , so that ye will not do my commandements , but that ye break my covenants : i also will do this unto you , i will even appoint over your terrour , consumption and the burning ague , that shall consume the eyes , and cause sorrow of heart . i will also smite thee in the knees and the legges with a sore botch , that cannot be healed , from the sole of thy foot unto the top of the head . i will make the pestilence cleave unto thee , untill it hath consumed thee from off the land which thou possessest . and in another place , the lord shall smite thee with a consumption , with a feavour , and with an inflammation and extream burning , and with the sword , and with blasting , and with mildew : and they shall pursue thee untill thou perish . and the heaven that is over thy head , shall be brass , and the earth that is under thee shal be iron . the lord shall make the raine of thy land powder and dust , from heaven shall it come down upon thee , untill thou be destroyed . leviti● . cap. 29. 16. deuteron . 28. and in the new testament , that everlasting and blessed physitian , the holy jesus , who came not to destroy , but to save the world ; after he had healed the impotent man , who had beene sick of his infirmity eight and thirty years he dismissed him not without this loving and gracious caution : behold , thou art made whole sinne no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee . s. john chap. 5. 14. and s. paul also in his first epistle to the corinthians , rebuking that new and sinfull custome ( which had crept then into that church ) of prophaning the lords holy supper , with their own intemperate feasts , objects to them , that sharp visitation by diseases , which ( for that very abuse ) god had punished them with : for this cause ( saith he ) many are weak and sickly among you , and many sleep : for some of them had beene punished with death . thus is the just and all-seeing god , the first and supreme cause of the extrarious cause . chap. 7. of the excesse and the defect of necessaries , which is the second cause of the extrarious cause . fxcess of necessaries , is to be considered , first in victuals , where the offence is threefold . 1. in superfluousness . 2. in vairety . 3. in our manner of receiving them . we offend in superfluousness , when that which is to nourish us is taken in too great a quantity : whence follow frequent and unwholsome evaporations and belchings , which so fill and oppresse the vessels and organs of the spirits , that they are hindered in their functions ; or the meat with its weight and quantity so indisposeth us , that the inordinate operation and digestion is retarded . innumerable are the diseases and molestations which proceed from this particular intemperance . we offend in variety , when at one dinner or supper , we eate many and divers kinds of meats and drinkes , for these having a great dissimilitude and enmity amongst themselves , cause divers inconveniences by their various dissents and unequall digestion . we offend in the manner of receiving , when we eate hastily , or swallow our meat before it be well chew'd and devour our drinke like whales , as those are accustomed who drink healths ( as they term them ) at meales , taking off whole bowles and tankards {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , without so much as breathing time , and thinke the excess very fashionable & praise-worthy . another excess in necessaries , happens about taking of rest and watching : when the animal spirits by too much sleep , are by degrees habitnated into a certaine dulness , so that they perform their functions sluggishly , remitting still something of their due vigour , until at length they lose all their activity , and are naturalized ( as it were ) into an incurable stupidity . contrarywise by too much watching they are easily inflamed , so that oftentimes they cause maniacal fits and phrensies , with divers others most desperate consequences . a third excess of necessaries , happens from cold and heat . excess of heat happens , either when the body is over exercised , or when any other extraneous heat hath too free an access to it , and the innate fire of nature is beyond measure excited thereby , so that inordinate exhalations are caused in the body , which produce an excessive and dangerous resolution and weakness of parts . excess of cold happens either by a suddaine refrigeration or cooling after exercise , or when we expose our selves too much to cold weather , which hinders the evaporation of excrementitious exhalations by stopping the pores , and beating them back into the body , where they lodge and remaine . whence it comes to pass , that being of an extrarious malignant disposition , they afford matter and foment for many and severall kinds of diseases . a like excess to this , proceeds frequently from the hardness and thick callousness of some peoples skins , by which fault ( because little or no perspiration is performed ) the secret , and the ambient aire of their bodies is intercepted , so that there is no liberty for inspiration or exspiration . defect of necessaries is first , the want of meat and drink in their due time and proportion . this is either famine or thirst . secondly the want of naturall rest , according to the verse , quod caret alterna requ●e , durabile non est . the strongest body , and the best cannot subsist , without due rest . thirdly , the want of refrigeration or coolness of aire , which by its needfull community and permeation , allayes and tempers the inward heat of the heart . fourthly , and lastly , the want of due and requisite heat , by which the excrementitious exhalations of the body are vented forth , and the animall spirits incited to their peculiar functions . chap. 7. of fire , the third cause of the extrarious cause . by fire in this place , i understand not onely kitchin-fire , or any other fire that burns , but also the celestiall fire of the sun , and the sun and the native implanted fire of all the parts of ●●ns body . i. externall fire is the producent of extrarious causes by its separative power or faculty , by which it separates & extracts them from other bodies , & communicates them afterwards to our nature . ii. the internal , innate fire , produceth extrarious causes , when by digestion it separates the impure part , from that food or matter in which it first resided , whence our natural substance comes to be infected . so the naturall heat digests our meat , and by the assistance of the innnate salt dissolves it , that man may retain or keep in his body , that which is agreeable to his nature , and joyne it to his essence : but that which is contrariant , he segregates from the other , and casts forth at his proper emunctories . this segregated matter , or excrement , doth oftentimes mightily afflict the body , and that it doth two manner of waies . the first by being retained in the body , or for want of evacuation . the second , by a noysome f●tid exhalation , and sent ascending from it to the nobler parts , when it is so retained . it offends by retention first , when it is carried ( indeed ) to the naturall emunctories , or deijcient parts ; but the weakness of the expulsive faculty is so great , that it cannot drive it out . secondly , when it is left in the very stomack without farther exclusion . thirdly , when some subtil poyson , in and together with the nutritive portion or chylus , doth convey and insinuate it self into the most inward parts of the body : which poyson was first taken in with meat and drink . it happens often ( saith the most learned and expert quercetanus ) that when the naturall balsame is tainted by some impurity proceeding from food or nutriment , it doth afterwards give way and occasion for many dangerous symptomes and diseases . this paracelsus , the great father and leader of the german philosophers , in his treatise of the being , and naturn of poyson doth most learnedly expound . the stars also doe frequently powre down into the aire , and upon the earth , certaine astral emunctions , and arsenical vapours , with other noxious excretions and exudations . see his treatise of the being , and the power of the stars over inferiour bodies . hence proceed distraction , phrensies , plurisies , the plague , and frequent , suddaine dysenteries . putrified things grow to be noysome and hurtfull , by the meanes of those corrosive salts and fuliginous exhalations , which partly by an externall , partly by their own internall heat , are excited out of them and dispersed . moreover the excrements of man , when they happen to be retained in the body , are subject to a re-putrifaction , and frequently doe so , and wormes are generated out of them : in this case , the fuliginous , malignant spirits of that foul masse , ascend to the braine , whence proceed suddaine madnesse , the vertigo , the falling-sickness , and divers other lamentable diseases . there are also certaine living creatures , which ( if they be applyed to man ) will by their natnrall heat , suddainly indispose him , by emission of that which is most remote from , and inconsistent with his nature . cantharides are so full of this virulency , that being onely externally applyed , they prove oftentimes pernicious . bartholomew montagnana reports , that a certain citizen of padua , applying them onely to one of his knees , did bleed at the urinary passage , five quarts of blood . he affirms also , that the like inconvenience happened to another , who applyed them to his great toe , to take off the leprous scurfe of his nayls . the basilisk hath such a subtil and violent poyson in his eyes , that his very looks infect and kill . how hurtfull minerals are , when elevated into mercuriall vapours , may be read at large in paracelsus his books , von den bergfrancfhe●ten . iii. that extrarious causes , and divers indispositions , are introduced by common fire , none is ignorant . alchymists , goldsmiths , and colliers , can sufficiently prove this point , who are oftentimes so offended with vehement searching , sulphureous , arsenical and mercurial smoaks , that they fall into desperate and most painfull diseases . the smoake of galbanum , and hartshorne will induce the lethargy . chap. 8. of hereditary impurity , which is the fourth cause of the extrarious cause . i. hereditary infection , is a transplantation of extrarious causes , performed by impressing a fixt tincture , springing from another fixt salt into the prol●fic seed , which parents contribute to the generation of children . salt alone and onely , is of all the three principles fixt and f●●●e . therefore those diseases which proceed from the indisposition of the salt , are radically fixt , and for the most part hereditary , as the leprosie , the stone , the joynt-gout , and the like . but those diseases which spring from any infirmity of the fluxible and volatile principles , that is to say , from mercury and sulphur ( as all manner of cathars and feavers do , ) cannot so easily infect posterity : for these diseases neither fix their seeds firmly , nor deeply , because they have not their tinctures so tenaciously imprest . the nature of this kind of fixed salt or sulphur , may be perfectly discern'd in the seeds and the roots of plants : for if you take but some particles of them , and transplant them ▪ those very peeces will take root and grow , and bear fruit : but neither the leaves , nor the flowers in which the volatile mercury & sulphur have their seat , will do so . now the fixed salt is alwaies conserved in the root , and in some pithy stalks & siens or graffes : but the fixed sulphur is in the seed . and this is the reason that the transplantation of all vegetals , is performed by these onely : but by the mercuriall parts , which easily fade and wither , it cannot be done ; nor by those parts , which have onely in them a volatile sulphur , as the flowers , and the leaves of some vegetables . see quercetan , in his advice against the joynt-gout , and the stone . therefore ( saith the same quercetanus ) whatever lodgeth in the body of the parents , that with a firm , spiritual , impure , and malignant tincture can affect or infect the radical balsame , the vital seed , and the very root or fundamentall of humane nature : that same impurity ( whatever it be ) doth by an hereditary transplantation pass into , and infect the children . but if these impure seeds of diseases , have not taken such a deep root , nor so far corrupted the radicall balsame : or if by the helpe of nature , and her internall balsame , there is a separation made of them ; or if by the ministry of art , and externall , specifical balsames of physick , they are effectually allayed and weakned , or are come to their proper terme and utmost duration , so that their virulency and force is quite spent and broken : in any of these causes , gouty and leprous persons , doe not alwaies beget gouty and leprous children . for by these means , the roots of diseases , even the most fixt and malignant are eradicated , impure seeds are purified , and the morbid tincture by long traduction becomes quite extinct . this eradication of hereditary diseases , and purification of diseased seed comes to passe by the benefit and assistance of good seed-plots , that is , by the excellent , wholesome temperament of the matrix , in vegetous and healthy women : whence it happens , that the fathers seed , though tainted with some morbific indisposition , is by the laudable vigour of the mothers radical balsame amended , so that arthritical and calculous fathers beget children , which all their life-time continue healthy and unattempted by such diseases . yea , they beget such children ▪ as are not obnoxious or liable to such indispositions ▪ in like manner also it happens , that a vegetous , healthy father , contributing good seed , may have a sickly , impure issue , troubled with hereditary infirmities , the fathers seed attracting to it the malignant propriety of those diseases which possessed the mother . thus good corne , if it be cast into a bad soile , will degenerate into tares , or yeeld a very bad and a thin crop : but sow it againe in good ground , and it will recover its former goodnesse and perfection . chap. 9. of imagination , the fifth cause of the extrarious cause ▪ i. imagination is a star , excited in the firmament of man , by some externall object . ii. when the imagination is inflamed , or at the height , then strange passions and defections follow . iii. it is inflamed first , when it feigns some object to it selfe , and longs for it , but cannot enjoy it . hence it comes to passe , that pregnant or breeding women ( whose imagination is most vehement , because of the starre of the child , which upon some singular longing , doth most powerfully move them , ) doe by the force of an inflamed or exalted imagination ( when they faile to come by that object they long for ) impresse into the very child , the perfect forme or figure of it ; yea , it oftentimes causeth miscarriage , and the death of the child , as may be seen in this following history . a certaine woman great with child , seeing a baker carrying bread into the oven with his doublet off , longed for a peece of the bakers shoulder , and when any other meat was offered unto her ▪ or brought in to her sight , she would presently fall to vomit . her husband distrest betwixt love and pitty , offered such a large summe of money to the baker , that he consented , & suffered her to bite off two morsels of his flesh , but being not able to endure the pain the third time , the woman presently fell in labour , and was delivered of three boyes , whereof two were alive , and the third dead . mizaldus in his first century , relates it out of langius . to this first division , must be referred those unfortunate aspirers , who affecting some great knowledge or science , and missing to attain to it , by reason of a blockish stupidity , or imbecillity of apprehension , come to be distracted and stark mad . iv secondly , the imagination comes tomes to be inflamed , when by some unexpected object or accident , a man or woman is suddainly frighted . such accidents prove oftentimes very pernicious . a causeless , imaginary fear in times of infection , hath cast many into the plague , and the plague hath beene their death . there lives at gueilburg , a certaine bakers wife , who being young with child , went into the adjoyning woods or forrest , to gather sticks , and being very intent in gathering with her face towards the ground a citizen of that place comming suddainly at her , did so fright her , that ( not knowing well what to doe ▪ ) she struck one hand into the other , and continued rubbing them together with a very strong compression for a good while . this woman was shortly after delivered of a son with one hand onely , which childe i my selfe saw , and taught there in the publick free-schoole . in the like manner , some men that have been frighted by phantasms , and spiritual apparition in the night time , have instantly fallen into grievous diseases , and some have dyed . others by the excesse and violence of the horrour had the hairs of their heads changed from the native colour , into a quite contrary , especially that part which they chanced to touch at the time they were so frighted . i my self have known two , who affirmed , that such a change did happen to them upon the like occasion : the one had halfe his beard turned gray , the other had part of the haires of his head turned perfect white , the rest retaining still their first colour . v. thirdly , the imagination is inflamed , when the stomack is offended by some object of sence . such perturbations happen often , and men are frequently inclined to vomit , when they looke earnestly upon those ejectments which another hath cast up . vi . fourthly , the imaginationis in flamed , when any person imagines or fancies , that paine or trouble he is in , to be intolerable for him , and incurable . hence it comes to passe , that men despairing of their health or redemption , contrive their owne death , and make themselves away . chap. 10. of violent illation , which is the sixth and last cause of the extrarious cause . violent illation is performed two wayes , corporally , and spiritually . i. corporally , when a man or woman is wounded , thrust , or shot , or fallen , or their bones broken . ii. spiritually , when by the meanes and ministry of evill spirits , a man or woman is either blinded , or maimed , or any extraneous visible matter , is invisibly and without manifest violence , conveyed into , and lodged in their bodies , or when they are by any other preternatural wayes and meanes set upon and af●licted . that such things may and have been done , we shall prove by the truth of this following relation . in the year of our lord , 1539. there lived in the village of fugesta , within the bishoprick of e●steter , a certaine husbandman , named ulrich neusesser ▪ who was grievously pained in the hypochondriacal region , with most violent and sharp stitches ; whose fury and persistance made him send for a chirurgion , and ( incision being made ) there was found , and taken out of his side , an iron naile , which lay under the skin , without the least external symptome ▪ or discoloration of the part . this , notwithstanding the pain ceased not but was dayly exasperated ▪ and did more and more increase : whereupon this miserable man resolving with himselfe , that there could be no cure for him but death , snatched a knife out of the hand of his attendant , and did therewith cut his own own throat . upon the third day after , when his body was to be drest for buriall , there were present , eucherius , rosenbader of weisenburg ▪ and john of ettenstet ▪ ( a town in the dukedome of bavaria , ) both chirurgions who in the presence of as many persons as came to the funeral did cut up the body , and in the fore part of his belly , betwixt the cartilages and the navill , towards the side-region there were found , and taken out , and seen by them all ( a prodigious and wonderfull ●ight ● ) a round and long peece of wood , foure knives of steel made partly with edges , and partly with teeth like a saw , and two peeces of sharp and rough iron ▪ each of them being more then a span in length , and underneath all these , a great lock of haire wrapt close together and made up in the forme of a ball . mizaldus in his sixth century , relates this sad history out of langius . chap. ii. of the cure of diseases . hitherto we have known the diseases by his causes : it remains now that we teach the cure of it ; and this we shall doe onely by certain genernall rules or precepts . but lest we should proceed without method , we shall divide this chapter concerning the cure , into seven sections . we shall teach , 1. what , and how manifold the cure is . 2. how a physician ought to be qualified . 3. of what sort , kind or quality , the medicines or meanes of the cure ought to be . 4. out of what things those remedies must be sought and taken . 5. why medicines sometimes cannot restore and introduce health . 6. how the remedies or medicaments ought to be administred . 7. how the sick man must carry or dispose of himselfe , while he is in a course of physick . section 1. what ▪ and how manifold the cure is . i. the cure of diseases , is an operation by which a sick person is restored to his former health , and his sicknesse ( what ever it be ) quite expelled , and radically extirpated . ii. the cure or healing of all diseases , ( that i may in this place make use of the most apposite , significant termes of severinus , out of crollius ) is two fold . 1. universal , which is an absolute extirpation of every radical morbid impurity , whether hereditary , or from the sinister use of food , or by the force of externall impression . this universall cure is performed by a naturall medicinall balsame , consentaneous to the nature of man , which resolves , discusseth and consumes the seminary tinctures of all impurities and diseases : but corroborates , confirms , and conserves the innate humane balsame ; for ( as paracelsus teacheth ) so long as the radicall humour keepes in its due quantity and proportion , no disease or indisposition can be perceived . and in this way of cure , the pluralities , particularities , and orderly rules of symptoms and prognosticks , have no place ▪ for all diseases ( what ever they be ) are universally & perfectly cured by this one universall medicine . it is not without reason then that raymund lull●e affirms , that this onely one , supreme , universall medicine ( to which , and in which the virtues of all other particular and specificall medicines are reduced and included ) may be safely administred unto all sick persons , without inquiring what dis●ase they are sick of for wise nature , by an instinct from her selfe , hath given unto this her favourite medicine ▪ the prerogative and power to cure , and absolutely to exterminate all naturall infirmities whatsoever ; yea , and to rectifie and restore her own selfe when disordered and weakned . there be four chief kinds of diseases which if once confirmed , or inveterate , can be expelled by no medicine , but the universall , namely the falling-sicknesse , the gout , the dropsie , and the leprosie . to these paramount diseases , all other inferiour sicknesses , as to their proper fountaines and originalls , have relation and affinity . this universall medicine , is a jewel much to be wished for and worthy the looking after ; but few are they whom god blesseth with his favourite-secret . lullius adviseth all physicians , that diligently and faithfully labour for to search and looke after it : because it is the infallible remedy against all infirmities , and the greatest and most proper restorative and comforter of the spirits in their functions : for in this medicine ( as in their onely and proper subject ) there is ●●●all and universall collection and conjunction of all the operative , effectuall virtues of generall physick , coacted and united together by a natural method , consent and design : which virtues are otherwise , ( according to the ordinary course and dispensation of nature ) confusedly dispersed and distributed amongst and through her * three great families ; and he that hath such an antidote against all bodily diseases , hath the gift of god , which is an incorrupt , incomparable , and invaluable treasure in this life : what ever infirmity cannot be healed by this competent , natural medicine , we may boldly and safely conclude , that the finger of the great god of nature is in the cause . but the paine ( when we find it to proceed from his righteous hand , ) is by much the more tolerable , and we ought to beare it patiently , and thankfully , until the almighty physician himselfe will be pleased to heal us , by those wayes and means which his divine and unerring wisdome shall judge the best . iii. 2. next to the universall , is the particular cure , by which the roots of diseases , and the seminal tinctures themselves , are not alwayes taken away ; but the bitter fruits of them , the symptoms , paro●is●es ; and paines , are oftentimes prevented , mitigated , and so supprest , that they cannot come to their exaltat●on , or the worst passe , as the common phrase is . by this cure , the physicall evacuation of excrements is instituted , and some considerable succours are communicated to opprest nature by the friendly , consentaneous spirits of those medicines that are administred ; which spirits can onely rightly know , and penetrate into the secret lodges and topicall residencies of the radicall mor●ifie impurity . now , though this particular cure performs no more , than we have told you in the definition of it , yet is it not therefore to be slighted , nor rejected ; for it doth oftentimes in the most desperate diseases , doe the work of the universal , because the most mercifull god hath discovered unto us certain secret-natural universals , of which some containe in them the nature of the whole heaven , others of the whole air , and some againe of the whole earth , by whose help most diseases are easily known and cured . moreover specifical , appropriate medicines , when they are rightly refined and spiritualized , will emulate the virtue of the universal , by consuming radical impurities & strengthning the virtue of the innate humane balsame . seeing then that we want the universal , it will be happy for us , if we may attaine to the anie knowledge of ( at least ) the particular , subordinate , specifical and individual kinds and means of cures . section 2. how a physician ought to be qualified . i. every physician that desires to cure sick persons well and happily , must be a sound christian , and truly religious and holy . for true and perfect medicines , and the knowledge of them , can no where be had , but from god , whom we can serve by no other means in this life , but onely by piety , and piety hath included in it fervent and incessant supplications unto god , hearty and frequent thanksgivings for his gracious and free benefits , with sincere and actuall love towards our neighbours . god is so infinitely good and kind , that he doth dayly give , and offer both to the good and to the bad , all those things which are necessary both for their sustenance and their health : but that we use those gifts to the glory of god , and the good of our neighbours , piety alone is the onely cause . therefore , if thou desirest to select , and extract convenient and effectuall medicines out of those myriads of creatures , which by the secret power of their creator , dayly flow upon thee , & appear about thee , fear god , and love thy neighbour as thy selfe . this being done , i affirm it to thee , thou shalt find those things , which will fill thee with joy . thou maist easily apprehend by what i say , that he is unworthily permitted to be a physician , whose practise hath no other aim then covetousness and usury , and abuseth the gifts of god ( i mean his medicinal favours and discoveries ▪ ) to hoord up for himselfe the riches of this world . they are all impostors , and faithlesse mountebanks , who professe physick , and its great ornament chymistry , out of such a sordid , uncharitable , and unjust design . ii. he must be the servant , not the master of nature , and according to the sentiment of hippocratesand calen , he must be a profound philosopher , and expert , or well vers'd in the art of healing . he must be throughly seen in philosophy , because there be two sorts of philosophers . the one ( who are in truth but philosophers by name , ) after the common doctrine of the schooles , inquire onely into the elementary qualities of sublunary bodies : but the other sort ( who are the true philosophers indeed ) search into the most secret operations , proprieties , and performances of nature : her most private closers , and sanctuaries , are ever open unto these ; whence it comes to passe , that they have a perfect experimentall knowledge by the light of nature ▪ and are indeed true physicians : for the innate naturall faculty of all productions of the earth , is , by the chymical dexterity of these latter sort of philosophers , vindicated from the drossie adherencies of the matter , and united with the firmamentall virtue , or occult quality , which is caused and communicated to them , by the influence of the stars . this art of refining , and uniting inferiours to their superiours , makes a compleat and a successful physician . iii. he must be an alchymist skilfull in all spagirical operations , to separate the pure from the impure , the drossie and venemous parts of his medicinall ingredients , from the usefull and sanative , and one that knowes exactly how to prepare , and when to administer chymical medicines for the restoration of his patients . for as gold is seven times purified , so a physician ought to try and refine all his physicall materials by the ministry of fire , which separates the good from the bad . also he ought to have in some things , a certain and confirmed knowledge acquired by long experience , and a diligent daily inspection into the works of nature ; for true philosophy is nothing else , but a physicall practise or triall , communicating daily to industrious and learned operators , most usefull and various conclusions and medicines . and after all the coyl of academical licenciated doctors , he onely is the true physician , created so by the light of nature ▪ to whom nature her selfe hath taught and manifested her proper and genuine operations by experience . section 3. of medicines , what their qualities should be , and how prepared . i. physicall remedies or medicines , should both expell the disease , and strengthen natu 〈…〉 . hence came that infallible rule of physicians , contraries are cured by their contraries . for contraries , by the consent of all philosophers , expell and drive out one another , therefore it is necessary , that those medicines which take away the disease , be repugnant and contrary to the disease : and for the same reason ▪ they must be auxiliaries and consentaneous to our nature . upon which very consideration , that famous principle of the hermetists is grounded : every like is cured by its like . therefore medicines , as they respect , or look to the hypostatical principles , ought also to have some correspondence with the nature of the disease , but in their energie and effect , they must be adversant and quite opposite . thus the stone which proceeds from tartar , or coagulated salt , is cured by salt , but it must be analyticalor resolvent salt . the joynt-gout also which proceeds from tartareous , sharp and corrosive salts , is cured by lenitive and consolidating salts . in like manner , sulphureous diseases must be cured by their proper and specificall sulphurs : but to inflammatory sulphur that causeth feavers , we must oppose acid , vitriolated sulphur , which is a most effectuall cooler , and will coagulate and allay those incensed sulphureous spirits . whence followes this consequence . that some medicines may be corrosive , without any danger or prejudice . but with this caution , that they be so qualified , as not to work upon the innate , radical balsame , but only upon that extrarious malignant matter , which is the conjoyn'd and apparent cause of the disease . ii. it is requisite , that of medicines , some be spagyrically prepared , and some otherwise . for chymical remedies must not be used at all times , nor in all causes , but onely then , when our internal natural alchymist is insufficient of himselfe to separate the pure from the impure , and perfectly to extract out of compound medicines , that noble essence in which the force and virtue , or spirit of the medicament , is chiefly resident : or when there is a necessity in fixed and rooted diseases , to use minerall remedies , that confirmed and obstinate maladies may be set upon , and brought under by such powerfull and active medicines that will not be baffled . it is otherwise a foolish and needlesse imployment , to separate that by chymistry , which nature her selfe will performe with more ease and dexterity . and nature knowes better what is most convenient for her , then any physician : for she makes use of her own proper fire , and magnet , which attracts both from physick and food , that which is congeneous , and most like to her selfe : whereas an artist on the contrary , doth not at all times use the like fire , nor exactly in the same degree to perform his operations . for which cause , the true hermetical physicians , do not at all times administer minerals ; but most commonly when they exhibite minerals , they make use also of medicines extracted out of vegetables , or to quicken the operation of these latter , they give a competent and safe quantity of the former . iii. all medicines must be specificall and a●propriated to the disease . that is to say , they must have in them by the gift of god , such a virtue , that is peculiarly proper , and designed ( as it were ) to remove those diseases against which they are administred . whether they be universally so gifted , or particularly for some one sort of disease . that body , or subject in nature , which will be easily corrupted ▪ cannot be medicinall for all diseases : and this is the reason , that out of such bodies , the true philosophers extract onely specifical antidotes , whose power or virtue is effectual onely against some particular kind of disease . that thou maist have some knowledge of those materials or ingredients which are requisite and proper to make such sp●cifical medicaments , thou must diligently read the bookes of the hermetists , de signaturis rerum , that is to say , of those impressions and characters , which god hath communicated to , and marked ( as i may say ) all his creatures with . these bookes thou● must carefully peruse and all others which teach us the true and solid practise of physick . but if it would please god to blesse thee with the universal medicine , these studies , and all other cures whatsoever , might be safely pretermitted . this glorious universal medicine ( without all doubt ) is to be extracted out of such a subject , whose innate balsame preserves both it selfe , and the body in which it exists from all corruption . this body is so adequate , and temperated with such a just and even proportion of all the foure elements , that the qualities of no one of them , can ever possibly corrupt it . if thou conceivest it may be bad in another kind of subject , thou dost but play the fool and deceive thy selfe . what ever nature hath , that she can give us ; what she hath not , she neither will , nor can afford . to the wise man one word is enough . i speake out of the true light of nature : my studies also hitherto cannot find any other fu●damental of an universal medicine . section 4. out of what things medicines must be sought . i. they must be sought . 1. out of the word of god . 2. out of nature : and in nature , out of vegetals , animals , and minerals . i in this search , we must first pray for gods assistance ; and in the next place , we must attend to the instructions of the wise ancients . if thou couldst finde out such a thing as would purge and rectifie nature in the great world so effectually that ever after she would remaine sound and unimpaired , so that nothing of her homogeneous essence and perfection , could be saved from her by any extraneous fire , then ( without doubt ) both the way to , and the miraculous energie of this onely true and undeceiving medicine were in thy hands . section 5. why medicines cannot alwayes restore sick persons to their former health . o●waldus ●roll●us , a cruly learned and expert physician , in his preface to his basilica chymica , doth most fully and judiciously handle this point . his words are these . it is observed sometimes , that sick persons by the most convenient and effectual medicines , cannot be healed for some one or more of these eight subsequent reasons . the first is , because their appointed time or terme of life is come , which by no humane wit or medicine can be prolonged . for there is no remedy upon earth , by which our corruptible bodies can be freed from death , the decreed penalty , and the wages of our sinnes : but there is one thing , which ( if we add holinesse to it , ) will keep back and restrain corruption , renew youth , and lengthen our short life as heretofore in the patriachs . now though our life may be shortned and * prolonged ; yet because of the punishment for sinne , we must by the immutable decree of the eternal law , unavoydably die : for a conjunction of different natures , and things ( suppose a spirit and a body ) must necessarily induce a dissolution , else we should state a pythagorical metempsuchosis , or a revertency in ages as plato did . and in this case the use of our universall and supreme medicine , will prove as vaine and ineffectuall , as an old womans recipe● because the marriage of souls and bodyes , ordained by an inevitable necessity for divorcement and separation , can by no industry of artists , nor ayds of nature be rendred perpetuall ; for the statute lawes of the present things , and their great law-giver , are inviolable . it is impious therefore to seeke , and impossible to find out such a medicine , that will carry us alive beyond those bounds , which the very father of life will not have us to transpasse . the second reason is , because that sick persons are too too often brought to such a lamentable passe by the ignorance of unlearned physicians , and their pernicious recipe's , that the best and most virtual medicines can doe them no good , their bodies being utterly poysoned , and made immedicable by those fatal tormentors and executioners of mankind . in this desperate ●ase ( most commonly ) is the chymicall physician called upon ; but then would i have him to call to mind , that saying of trophilus in plutarch , which affirms that man onely to be the compleat physician , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} : and not to cast away ( but of vaine-glory , ) their soveraigne and undeserved medicines , to ●alve the credit of such detestable villaines , whose infamy is past cure : {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} : let them beware also , that they suffer not their medicaments to be mingled with the sluttish and venemous compositions of others , lest the ill consequence of such doings be laid to their charge , and the success or good event ( if any comes to passe ▪ ) be arrogated by , and ascribed unto those impudent and clamorous impostors ; for such a perverse and execrable envy possesseth these medicasters , that to disgrace those that are more learned and expert than themselves , and to keep up their owne decaying repute , they will ( if they can have that opportunity ) cast those patients which are curable and towards recovery , into an incurable and hopelesse condition . hence it comes to pass , that amongst the common sort of people , ( who suffer most by them ) they are publiquely saluted by the most apposite ▪ title of profest poysoners . the third reason is , because the physician is called upon too late , when nature is quite mastred or orecome , and the disease hath got his full sway ; otherwise if convenient or proper medines were seasonable , ( that is to say , in a time of prevention , by resisting the beginnings and first attempts of diseases ) administred , no doubt but ( with gods blessing and assent ) the consequence and effect would be happinesse and health . the fourth reason is , because the sick person will not punctually observe the physicians prescriptions : for it happens too often , that diseased people charge the physician or his medicines , with those ill events which by some omission or irregularity ( contrary to that golden law of the locrenses in ael●anu● , ) they have drawne upon themselves . the fifth reason is , because the nature or peculiar propriety of some persons , are not inclinable or adapted to health , as we see some timber to be so tough and knotty , and out of a certaine natural defect , to degenerate into such an untowardnesse , that by no force or art it can be cleft or wrought : and it happens very frequently , that the time chosen for healing , together with the indisposition of the stars , oppose the cure : for what ever disease is unseasonably , that is to say , immaturely heal'd , the party will be ever after subject to a relapse , because it is the seasonablenesse or fulnesse of time , that ( like harvest ) gives a firme and a fixed health . a ripe pear will fall off the tree spontaneously , but if we seeke to have it off , while it is green , we must either bruise the tree by shaking it , or with more violence break off the bough . therefore , if these considerations be neglected , especially in the cure of astral diseases , we shall but lose our labour , and come off with prejudice . physicians also must religiously provide , that the remedies they give , prove not worse then the disease , therefore let them never advise their patients to any impious course , nor consent to doe those things , which by salving the sore , destroy the soule and the body too : let it be their chiefe care not to hurt , if they cannot help . by doing so , they will keep a good conscience , which is a continuall ●east , but for a bad one there is no medicine . the sixth reason is , because the disease is come to that pitch or confirmation , from whence there can be no regress by the laws of nature , as in perfect , absolute , and confirmed bituminous , massie , sandy , and stony coagulations : for in such consummated diseases , no medicines can availe : nor in a native deafnesse or blindness : for what nature her selfe hath once deprived us off , that cannot be restored by any artists , no more then corporall disproportions and birthmaimes , or transpositions can be amended . the seventh cause or reason is ▪ the sordid , tenacious parcimonie of some rich patients , which makes the physician ( for no money is better disbursed , nor more honestly gotten ) discontented and carelesse : sometimes also the diffidence , incredulity , and suspition of patients , ( though the physician be never so faithful and diligent , ) hinders the operation of the medicine , and is a great impediment to the physician himself . the eighth and last reason is , the wisdome and the goodnesse of god , who ( without further toleration ) takes away the patient , lest being recovered , he should commit more , and more heynous offences against his maker , his neighbour , and himself , to the utter misery and perdition of his soul . for every disease is an expiatory penance , and by this divine affliction , correction and rod of judgement is the patient called upon , and required to amend his life : or else by this fatherly visitation and imposition of the crosse , which every child of god ( in imitation of his blessed sonne ) must patiently bear , he is purposely exercised to be an example of piety , submission , and perfection unto others ; for god doth oftentimes permit some particular persons to be afflicted with many and grievous diseases , whom the cheerefulness and health of the flesh ▪ with their dayly continuation in sins ( if left without rebuke , ) had cast at length into some desperate spirituall malady , to the manifest hazard of their eternal welfare : for health ▪ without holinesse , and a penitent resentment of of our frequent infirmities , is no token of gods mercy , but rather of damnation , and the portion of this life . moreover , sinnes by weakning the forces and activities of the soule , make her impotent and unfit to govern the body ; so that the principall part being sick and unapt to rule , the bodily faculties are profusely wasted and abused , and so death is hastned on , and with it a total and a finall destruction . at least by this yoke and bridle of sicknesse , as by a wholsome kind of purgatory , men will be retained in the ordinary offices of piety , and ( though they be but few , who are effectually reclaimed or converted by it , ) yet this detainment of their health ( which i● still left to them , they had still abused , ) will in some measure restrain and cut off from them , both the liberty and the power of sinning . hitherto the most learned crollius . thou wilt now ( perhaps ) object , that seeing all diseases are not curable , it is consequently absurd , to terme any medicine universal i answer , that is termed universall , not becaus it takes away all diseases at all times & in all causes , for that it cannot do ; but because it being but one , can expell and cure all those diseases , which by all other particular or specifical medicines whatsoever can , or have been healed and eradicated ; yea , and some diseases which by no appropriated particular medicine can be healed , as the gout , the falling sicknesse , the dropsie , the leprosie , &c. therefore it is termed universal , because it hath in it real and effectually , all the manifest and occult virtues of all other specifical medicines & that eminently , or by way of transcendency , so that all other medicines are subordinate and accomptable unto this . section 6. how medicines ought to be administred to the sick , and after what manner the physician must behave himself in their administration , and generally in his practise . i. every professor of physick , when he is furnished with convenient , effectuall , and rightly prepared medicines , before he enters into practise , must be conversant with , and acquire the friendship of some learned and well experienced physiciar , whose advise and assistance in his first attempts , he must make use of , not omitting his own observations . for in the multitude of counsellours there is safety , and a more exact judgement is given of the patients present condition , and the wayes and meanes to restore him are better and surer laid . by this course , that opprobrious german proverb , which sticks too fast to some young adventurers ( ein newer arkt , ein newer kirch-hoff : a new physician must have a new church-yard , ) would be easily refuted and quite abolished . this very course ( after serious and needful considerations ) i did heretofore propose to my selfe , and to effect it throughly , i procured and entred into mutuall and friendly covenants with a certaine doctor of physick , who was not unlearned : and that i might by this meanes proceed farther in my chymical discoveries , i conversed with him by frequent letters , and other more familiar wayes : and this i did , because i supposed him ( at that time ) to be a true philososopher , but i could never receive one line from him , that was not wholly dictated by the spirit of pride and arrogancy . at length , when it fortuned , that ( after a most loving invitation , i could not for very moving , and extraordinary reasons , attend upon him ) he rail'd at me ( though altogether innocent , ) with most horrid imprecations , and virulent language , terming me an unsanctified villaine , and laboured by all meanes to vilifie my studies and person , that by such clamorous and publique discouragements , he might force me to desist , and give over my profession . but none of these things shall move me : for god will yet give me such friends , with whom i may freely deliberate , and advise about physical operations , and the healing of the sick : too much knowledge is oftentimes foolishness . true philosophers walk wholly in the plaine path of nature . what profits learning , where pride beares the sway , and blinds the owner ? i have ever judged , the modest knowledge to be the most divine . it is true indeed , we are not all equalls : but let him that hath more of the light , walke in that shining path with modesty . i confesse indeed , and it is true , that he was my superiour by many degrees , but had he beene moved to this harsh dealing , by a meer conceit of his superiority in learning , perhaps he would not have cast me off so as he hath done . god resisteth the proud , and gives grace even to the humble . yea , the most wise , and the blessed jesus , did humble himselfe in the very forme of a servant , that he might familiarly live and converse with the most obscure and inferiour sort of people : and he was not ashamed , nor disdained to teach those poore spirits , not a sublunary , transient knowledge , but the glorious and permanent mysteries of the kingdome of heaven . i love still the learning of so eminent a person because others whom i love , commend it unto me : but that great knowledge , which he abuseth to an injurious scorn and undervaluing of me , i heartily hate . god almighty ( it may be ) for some secret respects , which his all discerning spirit onely knowes , would not suffer me to impart any longer , ( as we were mutually bound ) my private affaires unto him . therefore from henceforth let him live to himselfe , onely i would have him understand by this which is published , that his vehement and bitter letters made me very sad . but to returne to what we have proposed in the contents of this section ; a physician that would practise successfully , must first and before all things find out the disease , and what the cause of it is . for in vain wilt thou either seek or apply remedies , if the cause of the disease be not perfectly knowne unto thee : the beginning of the cure , is a right knowledge of the disease : but the disease cannot be known , without knowing the cause : for then are we confident , that we know the matter and effect , when we have discovered the cause or efficient of it . ii. he must apply and appropriate his remedies to the root and originall apparent cause of the d●sease , and not otherwise . iii. he must administer no med●cine● , whose forces or operative virtues in taking away the disease , he is not throughly acquainted with , unlesse he be well assured that they cannot indanger nor prejudice a person that is in health : by such trials he may safely and profitably discern what his medicines can and what they cannot effect . iv. he must administer nothing that hath in it a manifest poyson , unlesse the venome be first wholly and actually separated or taken out . v. he must before the administration of his medicines , remove all impediments that are likely to oppose or weaken their virtues ; and this must be done either by himself , or by another , viz. by a surgeon . he must let blood , take away all luxations , set broken bones , &c. and afterwards apply his medicines inwardly or outwardly , or both wayes , as need requires . vi . he must prescribe such a dyet both of meat and drinke , as will be agreeable to his patients present exigencie , and for the furtherance or assistance of nature , and the restoration of health . vii . he must carefully observe a just dose in all his medicines , with respect had to their operations , and to the strength of the patient . viii . he must never administer any of his medicines , without sanctifying them in , and with the blessed name of jesus christ . whatsoever ye doe ( saith the apostle of the gentiles ) in word or deed , doe all in the name of the lord jesus , giving thankes to god and the father by him . colos. 3. 17. section . 7. how the sick man should behave himself , while he is in a course of physick . i. let the sick person acknowledge , that he hath deserved , and drawn upon himselfe , the just anger of god by his frequent sinnes : and that it is by his righteous permission , that he is visited with sicknesse . ii. let him by an unfeigned penitence , and a godly sorrow reconcile himhimselfe unto god through the merits of his saviour , putting on an holy resolution to become a new man ; and afterwards let him draw near to the throne of grace , and intreat god for mercy , and his healing assistance . iii. after reconciliation and invocation of the divine aide , let him send for the physician , and physick being taken , let him not doubt of gods mercy , and his own recovery . that is to say , let him certainly believe that there is communicated and infused ( by the gift of god ) into the medicine which he hath taken , such an innate vertue ▪ as is effectual and proper to expell his disease . if he doth this , the event will be answerable to his faith , and the medicine will in all circumstances work successfully . a firm credulity , chearfull hope and true love and confidence towards the physician , and the medicine , ( saith that great philosopher oswaldus crollius , ) conduce as much to the health of the patient , yea sometimes more , then either the remedy ▪ or the physician . naturall faith ( i meane not the faith of grace which is from christ , but the imaginative ●aith , which in the day that the first man was created , was then infused and planted in him by god the father , and is still communicated to his posterity , ) is so powerfull , that it can both expell and introduce diseases : as it manifestly appeares in times of infection , when man by his owne private imagination , out of meere feare and horrour , generates a basiliscum coeli , which infects the microcosmical firmament by means of the imaginants superstition according as the patients faith assists , or resists . to the faithfull all things are possible , for faith ascertaines all those things which are uncertaine : god can by no meanes be reach'd and injoy'd of us , but onely by faith : whosoever therefore believes in god , he operates by the power of god , and to god all things are possible . but how this is performed , no humane wit can find out : this onely we can say , that ●aith is an operation or work not of the bel●ever but of him in whom he believes . cogitations or thoughts , surpasse the operations of all elements and stars : for while we imagine and believe , such a thing shall come to passe , that faith brings the worke about , and without it is nothing done our faith that it will be so , makes us imagine so : imagination excites a star , that star ( by conjunction with imagination ) gives the effect or perfect operation . to believe that there is a medicine which can cure us , gives the spirit of medicine : that spirit gives the knowledge of it and the medicine being known , gives health . hence it appeares , that a true physician , whose operations are natural , is born of this faith , and the spirit ( i meane this spirit of nature , or star of medicine , ) furthers and assists him , according to his faith . it happens oftentimes , that an illiterate man performes those cures by this imaginative faith , which the best physicians cannot doe with the most soveraigne medicines . sometimes also , this bare perswasion or imaginative faith heales more and more effectually , then any virtue in the exhibited medicine , as it was manifestly found of late years , in that famous panacea , or all-heal of amwaldus , and since his time , in that new medicinall spring , which broke out this present yeare in the confines of misnia and bohemia , to which an incredible number of sick persons doe daily resort . no other cause can be rendred of these magnalia , or rare physical operations , then the firme and excessive affection of the patient ; for the power , which worketh thus , is in the spirit of the receiver , when taking the medicine without any fear or hesitation , he is wholly possessed and inspired ( as it were ) with an actual desire and beliefe of health : for the rationall soule , when stirred up , and enkindled by a vehement imagination , overcomes nature , and by her own effectuall affections , renewes many things in her own body or mansion , causing either health or sicknesse , and that not onely in her own body , but extraneously , or in other bodies . the efficacy of this naturall faith , manifested it selfe in that woman with the bloody issue , and in the centurion . hitherto are the words of crollius . iv. when the patient is del●vered from his disease , and restored to his former health , let him heartily and solemnly give all the glory to the supreme , all-mighty physician : let him offer the sacrifice of thankes-giving , and acknowledge the goodness and the tender mercies of the lord . and let not the physitian forget to performe his duty , by a thankeful and solemn acknowledgement of gods gracious concessions , by choosing and enabling him to be his unworthy instrument to restore the sick . and this he must do , not onely because it is his duty , and a most deserved and obliged gratitude , but also out of a wise christian caution , to avoid those judgements which are poured upon the negligent and ungratefull , by the most just jealousie of the irresistible and everlasting god ; unto whom alone be rendred by angels and men , and by all his creatures , all praise and glory , and perpetual thanks in this the temporall , and in the eternall being . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a89713e-270 * it was not long before the publishing of this peece , that i was told by a very noble gentleman , that in his late travailes in france , he was acquainted with a young french physician , who for a long time had beene suiter to a very handsome lady , and having at length gained her consent , was married to her , but his nuptial bed proved his grave , for on the next morning he was found dead . it was the gentlemans opinion , that this sad accident might be caused by an excessive joy , and for my part i subscribe to it ; for a violent joy hath oftentimes done the worke of death : this comes to passe by an extreame attenuation , and diffusion of the animal spirits , which passing all into the exterior parts , leave the heart destitute , whence followes suffocation and death . scaliger exercit. 310. gives the reason of this violent effusion and dissipation of the spirits : quia similia maxime cuprint inter se uniri , ideo spiritus , veluti exire conantur ad objectum illud ex●ernum● atum ac jucundum , ut videlicet cum eo vniantur , illudque sibi maxime simile reddant . if any will suspect , that together with this excessive joy , there was a concurrency of the other excess mentioned by my author , i permit him his lib●rty , but certainly i thinke he will be deceived . * extrarious signifies such a substance , that is quite another thing , and of another disposition than ours is . * i promise my english reader , that ( if god will blesse me with health , and his performing assistance ) i will shortly communicate to him , ( according to the hermetic principles ) a most accurate treatise of meteors , their generation , causes , qualities , peculiar regions and forms : what spirits governe them , and what they signifie or fore-shew . * animalls , vegetals , and minerals . ☞ * the terme of life is moveable , not fixed : conditionall , not positive , as appears by that commandement , which s. paul observed to be the first with a promise ; and by many other reasons , which cannot be inserted in this place . the epilogue to the five papers lately past betwixt the two physicians dr. o. and dr. e. containing some remarks, pleasant and profitable, concerning that debate, and the usefulness of vomiting and purging in fevers / by and. brown, m.d. brown, andrew, m.d. 1699 approx. 50 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 21 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a29736 wing b5007 estc r33269 13117705 ocm 13117705 97772 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a29736) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 97772) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1545:6) the epilogue to the five papers lately past betwixt the two physicians dr. o. and dr. e. containing some remarks, pleasant and profitable, concerning that debate, and the usefulness of vomiting and purging in fevers / by and. brown, m.d. brown, andrew, m.d. 40 p. printed by john reid ..., edinburgh : 1699. "dr. o." and "dr. e." refer to charles oliphant and sir edward eizat. imperfect: pages cropped, stained, taped, torn, with loss of print. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng oliphant, charles, d. 1719. eizat, edward, -sir. enema -controversial literature. vomiting -controversial literature. medicine -early works to 1800. 2004-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-02 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-03 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2004-03 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the epilogue to the five papers lately past betwixt the two physicians dr. o. and dr. e. containing some remarks , pleasant and profitable , concerning that debate , and the usefulness of vomiting and purging in fevers . by and. brown , m. d. victrix causa diis placuit , sed victa catoni ▪ edinburgh , printed by john reid , anno dom. 1699 ▪ the epilogue , &c. or , some remarks on the late debate about the usefulness of vomiting in fevers . &c. tho i have been much solicited , to shew my opinion , about the debate betwixt the two physicians , concerning vomiting in fevers , in regard of its affinity with the practise of purging in fevers , which was mantain'd by me some years agoe , and violently oppos'd by a certain club of physicians ; i yet delay'd to give my sentiments therein , until i should see whether the learn'd colledge of physicians would interpose therein , and what would be their decision and suffrage : for the eyes of all men were upon them , expecting that they would do something in it , whose province it is , either to compesce or determine such differences among their own members , that the world might receive satisfaction in these controversies , which concern our lives and health ; but whether they consider not that it belongs to them , or that they know not what to do therein , i am ignorant : for there is neither any thing done that way , nor intended so far as i can learn : thus in the great concern of life and health , every one is left to his own capricious opinion , at hap-hazard , to take up with what he pleases , without being beholden to them for light and di●ection in such important and intricat concerns , what to sollow or what not : as whether or not a patient that has been made vomit only with whey , may be said to have been vomited by a physician , and the direction ought to be found upon the apothecarie's file ; and whether a vomiter being given by a physician in a fever , and the apothecarie's file refer'd to ; one would think it had rather been an antimonial vomit , than a vomit of whey . and whether after twice vomiting of a patient with whey , and purging him with two lenient potions , and two clysters , may one ounce of vomiting wine , with three drams of syrup of buckthorn be given the 9 th day of a fever ? or whether there be alwayes as much hazard in plentiful purging , as bystanders apprehend , who never were acquainted with the purging method in fevers ? and whether or not by the vain fears of friends and by-standers , a faithful and expert physician may be blunder'd , and a good method disgrac'd ? and whether dallying and triffling with a fever , tho less exceptionable , be not more dangerous , and often of more fatal consequence , than plentiful purging ? and whither upon any extravagant purging , the quieting medicine being a ready remedy , since in the controverted case it was not given till the ordinary's return to the patient ; may it be thought there was no need of it before that time ? these i take to be the most material points in this debate , which seems to be handled with a little more heat and humour , than is consistent either with the import of the matter , or dignity of the members of so judicious a society , who would be expected to treat all their matters , and seek to advance the improvement of medicine , in candor , amity , and peace . now , if i may lawfully interpose my sentiments in these matters , since the same has such relation to the debate about purging in fevers , wherein the rest of the physicians being concerned either as immediat actors , inciters , or connivers , so exercised me ▪ that there passed betwixt us no fewer than eight pieces in print : which terminat in another sub-division of the colledge it self , whereby they are now split into two halfs ▪ and parties , into guelphs and gibellins , which rent still continuing , has of late broken out into this new debate , whereupon there has passed five peeces . however others may think of all this , my humble opinion in the first place is , that this last contest has made so plain , profitable , and pleasant a discovery , that it may attone for the scandal of all the former divisions , animosities , and ruptures : o blessed breach , and happy and fortunat rent ! that has brought forth so much light to medicine , that does so far approve of the usefulness of purging in fevers , as to allow of vomiting therein also , as may be seen in the papers on both sides ; and as ex malis moribus oriuntur bonae leges , ill manners beget good laws ; so we may see debates , divisions , and differences may bring profitable things to light , which would have been otherwise hid : as sampson kill'd more philistines at his death , than in all his life ; so it may be hop'd that this division and debate may occasion the killing of more fevers than their concord either ever did , or in appearance would have done . and as the best antidote for the venom of the viper is the viper's flesh , so it is hop'd this wound may prove the true cure of the virulent opposition this way of treating of fevers has formerly met with . and who would not rejoice to see such clear light arise in our horizon of medicine , as to behold the credit and authority of the sagacious dr : sydenham , avouched and mantained , and his judgement and candor in his writtings fully asserted by both parties : and especially his method of treating fevers by purging , which had been too long and too much opposed by many in this place , to the unspeakable loss of medicine , and detriment of mankind . and tho dr. sydenham in his last work , his schedula monitoria , only appoints purging in fevers , and does not go the length of vomiting . those disputants seem so far to approve thereof , that both of them allow of giving vomits , in some cases also ; for which the authority's brought by the one , seem to be needless , since it is not denied by the other party ; but since these authorities may make the reader apprehend that the purging in fevers , is no new method and practice : and that it was in use before dr. sydenhams time . it is to be remarked , that purging and vomiting in fevers , were used only now & then before his time , and as some indications did require , but were not used generally , or in great and dangerous fevers , because the commotion oft times raised by the operation of the purgative or vomitive , did frequently exasperat the fever , which made the physician often times repent his use thereof ; and so purging and vomiting , was wholly laid aside with us , and the cure commited to cooling ptisans , emulsions , clysters , cordial , iuleps , &c. and that oft times with as litle reason as success : for the disease going to a crisis , the patients life was alwayes in hazard , because in every crisis , nature stands as it were hovering and in suspense , as it were with an equal ballance , indifferent to life or death , which may be casten as with a grain , and he that suffers the disease to go to a crisis , does just as if he would throw the dice upon his patients life : whereas dr : sydenham considered that the evacuation of the morbifick matter , did profitably intercept the crisis , and was the thing indicated and required in the cure of fevers , and that it could be done by purging & that any commotion raised by the operation of the purge might be commodiously allayed , by giving the paregorick , pacisick , or quieting medicine , and thus the morbifique matter , might be evacuated , and a hazardous crisis , profitably prevented , without any superveeuing commotion , or the exasperating the fever , whereby the patient had the direct benefit of the purging , without the accidental and noxious effect thereof . and as there are two wayes of these fevers , so there are two several wayes of practising of this method , for sometime these fevers are more slow , long , and chronical in their motion and progress ; and sometimes they are more rapid , quick and peracute , and come quickly to an end either to health or death ; in the slow and long fever . gentle purges repeated at intervals are most convenient , and there the quieting medicine is scarce needed : but in the quick and peracute fevers , sharpe purges and vomiters which work speedily , must without delay be given : for the slow and lenitive method , in a peracute and quick fever , never stops its course nor obviats its carrier : and as this seems most reasonable and suitable to experience , so it is very conform to the practise of an eminent author dr. panthot president of the colledge at lions , who in a book lately emitted by him , shews that as the frequent use of cordials , in fevers is very hurtful , because moving the humours with a fretful agitation , they drive them to the head . so he used only bleeding and frequent purgatives with a laxative ptisan taken several times a day , without delaying purging , as hippocrates teaches , to the end of the fever : and if dosings , ravings , convulsions or any other frightful symptoms did arise , then instantly , and without hesitation , he appoints emetique wine to be given , than which he knows not a better remedy . and there is an abstract of his book to be seen in the miscellany letters of the works of the learned emitted at london may 1695. now as to the controverted case betwixt the two disputants . if , dr : o : when he came to the patient , who was treated before only with gentle purgatives , and found him under any pressing symptoms , and the fever growing , i humbly suppose he did not amiss , to give emetique wine , and in such a dose as the patient cou'd bear . and to say the truth ▪ the doses of emetique wine are very various , according to the disposition of patients , and their easiness to be moved , some taking two ounces for a dose , and other only two drams . and considering that upon any exorbitant effect of the purgative or vomitive , the pacifique or quieting medicine is instantly to be given ▪ and in regard in this case , it was not given till the ordinaries return , we may construct in charity that there was no need there obefore , and the bystanders and friends their apprehensions and fears about the patient might be groundless , they never having seen any in a fever treated so , for the purging method in fevers had always been disguised and couched by physicians ; and the bystanders keept always in ignorance about it , ( as witness somes calling the effect of a purgative quietly given , a natural looseness which would carry off the disease , ) & if these fears were improven by any upon sinistrous designs , they could not do a more wicked thing , that being the way to fright timorous people from the use of this profitable practise of purging in fevers . and both reason and experience will shew to these that are acquainted with this way of cure , that there 's more danger oft times in the neglect of plentiful evacuations , than by the use of them , but as 't is not good to overact a cure , so it is not safe to dally and triffle away time , which is sometimes very precious , occasio praeceps , oportunity slips and medio tutissimus ibis , the midle way is the safest , but in my humble opinion a patient that survived so great and so plentiful evacuations , would not probably have been cured without pretty considerable ones , and some more they dalling and triffling or couching and dissembling the method . but since our disputants seem to be agreed about the substantials of this way of treating fevers by purging and vomiting , pray let them not squable about the circumstantials , and let them strive to out do on another in effectual and speedy curing , without either over-acting the method , or shooting short of it : and i can tell them from experience , that its hard to be believed , how great evacuations in many cases are not only tolerable , but also required in the cure of fevers , which we may the more freely venture upon , having the quieting medicine alwayes at hand , to check any exorbitancy that way . but by the by , it may be observed how pretty divertising it is , notwithstanding the great opposition made to this way of curing fevers , to behold the reception it now has , and to see persons at such variance , yet substantially agree in this practice , which is indeed no small argument for it , like the iews and christians , who both agree to the authority of the old testament : and if we narrowly observe several physicians practice , we will see some may be catched stealing into this practise , and some too cavalierly marching into it , some like firrets and moles working under ground , and some frolicking and vapouring it . as it has been the fate of all new discoveries , and discoverers , to meet with opposition , and contradiction , witness the opposition made to the circulation of the blood , and the cure of agues by the iesuits bark , no wonder this improvement of thus treating fevers , should meet with the same lot , especially when it receded so much from the common road , which treated them only with cooling ptisans , emulsions , clysters , cordial iuleps , &c. but when ever such improvments come to take place , physicians either jugle or labour to disguise them , or with more resolution than reason , strives who shall be fore-most therein , and extend them farthest , as was done with the iesuits bark , which was not only rashly used in all continual fevers , but by some most proposterously , to the cure of most diseases . i hope then it will not be unpleasing , that i offer my humble sentiments , in relation to the solution of this moral phaenomenon , these strange appearances of the actions of men , in their opposing , shifting , or streaching things at this rate , to the great detriment of medicine in particular , and of mankind in general . in regard new discoveries in medicine appear not at first to every one so plain and clear , as to silence contradiction , they are sure to meet with opposition from the weak and less perspicacious , and with quible and cavil from a spirit of detraction in elder physicians , who are jealous that new improvment derogate from them , or their experience , or that they are in hazard thereby to be reduced to the same level with younger physicians , and be put to go to school again to learn a new , and with all they abominate any thing that may be in hazard to convict their former practise of error or mistake ; tho such an error seems venial untill the occasion of delivery from it appear , but the mischief is , that the pride of self-seeking men is such , that before they will acknowledge the least bleemish or infirmity they will run the hazard of being the greatest criminals under covert , not only by the mischief they do by their own contempt of such practical improvments but by their example and authority , drawing many younger physicians after them , some following them out of reverence , and others out of fear . but for the more full clearing this matter , it would be considered , that as all men may be divided into these four sorts , so physicians are likewise divisible into as many kinds — the first sort are of these who have a great stock of sense and learning ; and withal , no less ingenuity and candor . the second sort are these who have much ingenuity and honesty , but little sense and learning . the third sort are these who have much sense , &c. but little candor and ingenuity . the fourth are these who have little learning and sense , and as little ingenuity and candor . for the first sort , as they will quickly discern , take up , and follow new improvements , they will as readily own , maintain , and endeavour to propagate them . for the second sort , tho they be long in discovering such improvements , yet their honesty makes them modest and doubtful , & keeps them from opposing them , waiting until their weakness comprehend them . for the third sort , tho they quickly discern such improvements , yet for by respects , and sinister ends , they are shy in falling in with them , or if they do it , they iugle and dissemble the use of them , and labour to disguise them , in so much , that by their hidden and reserved following them , they are so straitned , that they never come to any perfection in them . for the fourth sort , as they are slow in taking them up , so they are long in owning them , after they take them up , and as they are the most constant , so they are the most violent opposers of them , and always until it be a scandal so to do , their judgement taking as much time to be convinced , as their honesty to be engaged to own or defend them . and i may say of these two last sorts , if they shall also be cursed with any considerable degree of credit or reputation , to plague the world , and to hinder the good of mankind , by the propagation of such an improvement as this . ( for fortune never bestows her gifts so blindly as upon physicians ) when ever such come to discern and follow it , unless they be past feeling , and have their consciences wholly seered , they will be affected with a torture and remorse , proportionable to their guilt , and their accession to so many deaths , as has been caused thorow their contempt of this method , and that not only within the verge of their own practice , but also within the sphere of activity of their credit and authority , which may perhaps be no small precinct to some , it being very plain that he that neglects the right way to cure his patient , while it is in the power of art to help him , is as guilty as he that directly maletreats him unto death . and there is no physician who rightly understands the import , weight , and intricacy of his employment , and the great charge lying on him to be accomplisht therein , so far as is possible for study , enquiry and search to go , who will leave any stone unturned , to find out a more effectual cure of fevers , than that which has been commonly used , by bleeding , cooling ptisans , emulsions , clysters , cordial iuleps , &c. which every apothecarys boy can by rote tell , as perfectly as the physician himself ; and which can be made evident to do more hurt than good , beside the loss of time spent upon such triffling . now if every physician would be pleased to examine himself , and consider what his behaviour has been , in relation to this improvement , he may thereby know what place he may take in the foresaid scale , for according to his approbation or opposition of this improvement , his iugling , shuffling or plain dealing therein , he must necessarly be ranked ; but all men may see , what place our two disputants have , who notwithstanding of their animosity and difference , do both in their practice and writings , own and maintain dr. sydenham and his writings , wherein he delivers this way of treating fevers , and they being of two different parties , guelphs and gibellins , we may also guess at the sentiments of their respective associats . so it is hoped now , no physician in this place will any longer bogle or scar at this way of treating ▪ fevers or shuffle iugle , or dissemble it , to the scandal of their profession , the straitning of themselves , and the marring of their own and others accomplishment in this practice , for i am certainly informed , that the apothecaries begin to practise it , with the greatest freedom and success ; and one of them told me , that he has not only seen many others cured that way , but that also he himself was cured of a most desperate fever , by purging : and that he was happily treated that way , by the joint advice of the physicians who waited on him , and that at that time few physicians approved of , or publickly owned that way . and tho as both our disputants remark , dr sydenham in his last work , the monitory schedule , only says , this method is preferable to all others in very many kinds of fevers , yet thereafter he told to my self , and to several others , that he doubted not , but it would agree with all continual fevers , tho he did not think fit , to publish all that he thought of it , because it might derogat from some of his former writings , and he judged it would never be left off , when once it came in use , because he doubted not but it would be alwayes more succesful than any other way , and thorow all constitutions of years , and as he had practised it several years before the last edition of the schedula 1687 ; so i have practised it with the greatest success ever since , being 12 years : and a cure that has holden so many years , it is not to be doubted but it will hold good alwayes , tho in difficult and dangerous cases , it requires great care , diligence and caution , and dexterity therein , can only be acquired by exact attention and consideration , and due experience ; and this may be a reason why some physicians are unwilling to take up with it , as being averse to give the attendance sometimes requisite in this cure , and these who want experience therein , can only bungle at it , and know not how to go thorow with it ; for in difficult and dangerous cases , like the management of a ship in a storm , where the master must not only always be at the helm , but also be well acquainted with the way he ought to take ; so it requires not only the physician to be close at his post , but likewise to be no stranger to the way he ought to take . and especially in the fevers that reign at this time , which are most part quick and peracute , and cut off in a few dayes persons of impure bodies : and as i have used this method by vomiting and purging in many , and most successfully , at this time , so i have had lately considerable experience thereof in my own family , wherein four of my children , and ten servants had the fever , and blessed be god , all are recovered ; by repeated vomiting , with antimonial vomits , and frequent purgings ; except two servants , the one having gotten a great stress at work , who bragging of his strength , did contend with his neighbour at the mowing of hay , and presently sickned , and died the sixth day , and whom i saw not till the day before he dyed , and found him in such a condition , that i could not give him either vomite or purge ; and the other was his neighbour who strove with him , being a man of a most impure and emaciate body , who had endured want and stress before he came to my service , and who got not all was necessary , because he had not the occasion of due attendance , all my servants being sick at the time , and as both my children and servants that recovered , were vomited several times with antimonial vomits , besides frequent purging ▪ so it was astonishing to consider the quantity & corruption & virulency of the matter vomited up by them , and as i have in this matter sincerely told the truth , which is also for the most part nottour in the place : so every one may judge how malitious the reports industriously spread abroad of me , are , viz. that seven of my servants are lately dead in fevers , under this cure , whereas tho i have kept servants near these thirty years , except these two , i had never any before that dyed in my service , tho the fever has several times before been in my family , and among my servants and children , i hope the reader will not think this digression altogether impertinent , or out of vanity , since it is both for my own just and necessary vindication , and the defence of this profitable practice . yea i hope i might be also allowed to say something now also by the by , about other calumnies and slanders raised , and propogate against me about the cure of the gout , especially by a certain person ●ho keeps a publick-house , and whom i ●erved most diligently , without any other grarification , but slander & back-biting , for the errors committed most unreasonably by the patient , and which slanders some physicians also take pleasure to trumpet abroad , tho many other gentlemen may from their experience testify the help i have given them in that disease , if they please ; and the balsome i use , therein is the same with that used at london , & aproven by ●0 members of the colledge of physicians there ▪ as has been frequently mentioned in the gazette ; but of this enough at this time : another time if there be any more reason for it , may do as well , and verbum sapienti sat est , a word is enough to a wise man. but to return to the purpose , it is further to be remarked that as persons of impure bodys and abounding with vitious humours are most subject to these epidemical fevers , so they are in most peril thereby , wherefore all such persons would be admonished , that by the advice an able physician , in such an epidemical time , they would make use of fit means for prevention , whereby th●● may either escape the fever , or if they be seised , it may thereby prove more benigne and easily curable , and among all the remedys for prevention , as well as for cure , i know none more effectual as is mentioned in the letter insert in dr. os. last peice than antimonial vomits , which notwithstanding the fear some people have of them , may be so ordered , that they will work with as much security and ease , as a purgative medicine , and such vomits not only prepare , and open the way , for the more effectual operation of purges , but also one vomit has more effect , than two purges ; which is of considerable advantage in peracute and quick fevers , which still require a speedy remedy by evacuation , and no alteratives or correctors of vitious humors , can so suddenly restore , and alter such a corrupt mass of humors , as are usually evacuat in fevers by such vomits . now considering this whole matter , the opposition this practise has met with , and progress it has made , ( the full and clear history whereof , may perhaps hereafter be published for satisfaction of the curious , ) it is humbly proposed and referred to the serious consideration , of all physicians , whether or not they ought to be very wary and tender in their behaviour , about the discoveries , inventions and experiences of others , and whether or not they rather ought , to inquire , ponder , and modestly be informed about them , than be rashly driven by a spirit of pride , humour and caprice , to run them down by all their power , and all younger physicians especially , would be exhorted to beware whom they take for patrons and examples , for ex quovis ligno non fit mercurius , the best stock of natural sense and learning being little enough for a foundation to make a competent physician ; and without it , tho they grow old in practise , they will never acquire true skil and real experience in this difficult , intricate , and important art , and fame , and reputation more rarely accompanyes real merit in this faculty and function , than in any other whatsoever . the vulgar upon whose noise fame depends , being more competent iudges in any thing , than in the intrigues of this hidden art. if some younger physicians shall be pleased here to enquire , since they have not experience themselves , and that they must lean to the experience of others , how shall they discern the men of real experience , true skil and merit ; and distinguish them from men of meer vogue and fame : for the satisfaction of such , and as a mean to prevent their being initiated in the errors and mistakes of others , which being once taken up , are not easily forgone . i hope i may be allowed to make a little digression to admonish them , that they ought to be very cautious how they are led by the dictates and sentiments of these three or four sorts , whatever vogue and reputation they have . the first are these , who by driwing the trade of commeradship , good fellowship , and bon-companionrie have gotten many familiars and acquaintance ▪ who will cry them up for great physicians , for all know how generally acceptable such conversation is , and what a noise so many mouths well tun'd up this way make . the second sort are , these who are high flowne or bigotted to a party , either in religion or state , and these who make more than an ordinary semblance and shew of probity , whether real , or affected only i will not determine , but the opinion of a goodman , a man of probity or integrity , tho they also know him to be a very weak man , goes a great way with the vulgar to make a good physician ; especially the vulgar of the respective parties they are of . the third sort are , these interested in some great families , as having been domesticks , &c. or otherwise concerned therein , and who thereby come to reputation , great persons being called gods , no wonder they aim at creation , and the making men out of nothing , and in no faculty such an exploit as this seems so easie , as in physick . there is also a fourth sort , that by a gentile meen screw themselves into peoples liking and familiarity ▪ or by a facetious conversation , by making sports , and by telling little quirck knacks and mimical-stories , to divert whereby they gain the opinion of being thought witty and fine men , while there is nothing solid or profitable to be found in their conversation ; but since the most part are more delighted with shows or with vain and froathy discourse , than with what is serious , solid , and useful , and that fame buoyes up gliter things , letting the weightier fall to the bottom , no wonder such be easily carr●ed on the wings of the wind. but to insist too much upon such things may be rather constructed an invective against the elder , than an admonitio● to younger physicians . certain yet it is the profession must be fallen into a strange declination and deliquium , which makes it so much depretiated , and vilipended , that not only weak physicians , but any either he or she , without exception , come to be trusted in the most intricat and important concern of our lives and health , and that with , or before the most accomplished physician , yea , and without any other qualification , but an impudent pretending to understand the thing ▪ which is impossible for them to comprehend , whereas there is no thinking person , that makes a due reflection upon the intricary , difficulty and danger , attending medicinal practice , that will think it so easy a thing , to have true experience therein , tho every on braggs of their experience . experience being a faculty or power acquired by constant and serious observation , whereby the physician is able rightly to father the given phenomena , or visible effects upon their propper , ●o hidden causes . and felix qui potuit ●erum cognoscere causas , the linke betwixt cause and effect , lyes often too deep for vulgar eyes to discover it . and consequently there is no iudicious person but must confess , that there is none capable of any competent degree of skil , or true experience in this art , who is not endued with the most extraordinary enduements of mind , a most penetrating wit , an enlarged and most comprehensive genius , capable to reach , view , & ponder the state and concurrence of all circumstances of things and their productive capacities , relating to experience in practice , a ready wite to canvasse , and examine , and a solid and sure wit , to make happy-hits , and he that is pregnant in medicine , where ever he shal turn his eyes , whatever object he surveys , or subject , he shall bend his mind upon , by his pregnancy of spirit , he will be capable of making therein the like clear discoveries and iust hits . solid and sound reasoning , makes solid and sound acting ; those that clinsh and quible , that wrangle and cavil in their reasonings , as all weak-headed people do , are apt to do so in action and practice , about whatever subject they medle . a great general , politician or lawyer would upon application that way make a good physician and vice versa , a qualified physician , had he followed any of these studys , would have been exquisite therein ; and as we may give the preheminence for difficulty and intricacy to physick , beyond all other studys , so it is clear that physick may be allowed to need the greatest pregnancy of wit and iudgment of any other studys , and where-ever the young physician sees not these in the physician he followes ; it is in vain for him to expect their real accomplishment , true skil , or experience . the physician not only being a moderator of the secret works , and of the hid intrigues of nature , but is also put upon the rack and hard task of governing and disciplinating peoples humours , prejudices , and caprices , and has often more difficulty to graple with these , than with the diseases of the body , yea not only the patients , but the friends and by-standers by their mistakes and prejudices must give him needless work and trouble ; but in this part of the employment , the best physician is oft outdone by the weakest , who is more successfull herein , than the ablest , quia aquila non captat muscas , the eagle never catcheth gnats , he that is taken up with , and most conversant in , the difficultys and misterys of that art , and has his mind in sublime , to him , it is tedious to stoop to the servile trivial and mean-work of crouching to every caprice and lying at catch upon peoples humors , or waiting and watching the tides and turns thereof ; and this studying and serving peoples humours , has to the scandal of the profession , made some physicians forego the study of nature , and take themselves to the study and exercise of politick complaisance , and sycophantish humouring persons : not finding the true study ▪ and practise of physick , able to recommend them , and so instead of following medicinal prudence , to treat diseases with due circumspection , caution and art , they follow a kind of bastard prudence , or rather artifice and cunning , to cajole the humours , and strike in with the fansies and whimzies of weak persons , and young physicians would be admonished that they follow not the example of such . thus as vulgar opinion error and mistake as given occasion to the deradence and de●y of medicine : so these vices ought not ●o be obtruded on the art of physick , being thus brought thereinto , neither let the uncertointy or conjecturalness thereof , be objected , since it is thus also made a great deal more so : than otherwise it would have been , neither are the differences and disagreement among physitians to the disparagement of true medicine , seeing vulgar errors , &c. has given too much occasion for these also . tho physick of its own nature has no more uncertainly or conjecturalues than these other noble and usefull proffessions of war , law , politicks , navigation : in all which the event can be no more predicted or ascertained than in physick , and all that the artist is accomptable for , being the rational and prudent conduct , that nothing be overdone or undone , that was possible to have been done ; or that art and skil could suggest , nevertheless through the many diversions & discouragments physitians ly under , from vulgar prejudice errors and mistaks , the practiss thereof is made a great deal more both uncertain and uusuccessful then otherwise it would be . and for the debates and differences among physitians , when they break the bonds of charity and humanity , they are only the faults of men not of the art , but when they are only in opinion , they are no more than what 's incident to all other professions , that are versant about particular events , and pertinent debaits are a token of great industry and of a laudable emulation . and when mens wits are all of one size , their penetration and comprehension of the same reach , and their iudgment of the same vigour , then may we expect their opinions shall iump ; and i doubt if the 15 lords of session are always unanimous in there votes & decisions or if the councel of state , or a council of war are all of one mind , & yet no body takes occasion from that to disparage there procedure . and for the most part , these differences and debates among physitians , proceed from the pride , self-conceit and envy of some physitians , whom vulgar opinion has mounted upon a higher pinacle of fame , and reputation , than their true worth and merit , can maintain and suport , and whose real weaknes & emptynes chaffes & rages to see any worthy thing done in physick but in dependance upon them fearing they may be overtoped by others whom their eminence used to look down upon , whereas the ab ▪ candid and honest physician , will soon discern and cordialy welcome what is worthy in medicine , from whomsoever it chanceth to come , but that which he thinks futile & trivial will nothing move him , nor will he ever make it the ball of contention , as some have most unmercifully done , by my sincere , tho weak endeavours for the advancement of medicine . but thanks be to god , who favouring my honest purposes , has helped me to weather out so many storms raised against me , for my plain dealing about some dismal sinister and self-seeking designs , and some dangerous vulgar errors prejudices and caprices , such being of mischievous consequence in medicine , more than in any other profession , as they are in publick societies , and governments more than in private cases . and tho the evil spirit that raged against me , be not yet quite subdued and conquered , yet i hope the edge thereof is considerably blunted ; providence having brough● about some considerable things to disc●ver my innocency , and the folly and wicked ness of these secret works , hatcheed so much in the dark to controul my endeavours , that they can now scarce find a father to own them , every one denying thei● accession to the lybels printed on th● subject , and shifting them from one to another , except one poor creature , who , cal●ing himself a stripling aged 27 summer did most unhappily put his name to h●● elaborat six days work : but this striplin● reckoning his age by the summers , as th● horses age uses to be reckoned by th● grass , must needs be a kin to that animal , and it is no wonder , than if a young colt , has been more fool-hardy than the rest. whoever shall narrowly view how thing● often go in the world , may be in a horror to think that in many cases there is no convincing men , that they are in the wrong way , without the most lamentable and woful experiences , & that so man● deaths , so much destruction and irreparabl● ruine , is sometimes needfull to open men● eyes , and the dearest bought experienc● to cure their blindness , and that ov 〈…〉 belly of somes zealous and constant endeavours , to convince them of their mistakes and errors , as may be eminently seen i● this case , and i fear it be not the on● case . he that takes upon him to be an at 〈…〉 , because he takes on him the office or a preacher to the world , according to the opinion of some , he ought to have these 3 qualifications . first , the courage of a souldier , to encounter and combate ignorance , errors , and caprices , these obstinat enemies of all vertue , iustice and truth . the 2 d. the sense and solidity of a statesman , that he cumber not the world with any thing trivial or unworthy . the 3 d. the sincerity and integrity of a dying man , that he impose nothing false , or sophisticate in point of fact or reasoning . and how my performances in this , and my former essays , have answered these qualifications ; i must submit to my readers , who seing they are not all alike capable , to the weakest sort of them i crave liberry to propose these following considerations , before they give ●heir sentence , as first , that they would be pleased to consider the strange schock of 〈◊〉 and universal opposition , i have had the small assistance of any man , as 〈◊〉 my first book , predict and expect . ●dly . what estimate and value may be upon my subject , which is a more ●●tual way of treating these formidable ●●uers , which are a terror to many persons ●●d families , and which now seems to have 〈…〉 rage of the most decerning part of 〈◊〉 here . but for the third qualification , since it's ●ot so obvious to men , i bless god i have 〈◊〉 clear conscience that i never told any ●hing but truth in the commendation , & instances of the success of this way of treating fevers , and even from my very heart and soul , and that by innumerable and repeated instances , and experiences these 12 years confirmed . now in the next place , it is but reason●●le i should whisper my enemies in the 〈…〉 r how many of these qua●●●ications they ●●n make good to vindicate their be●omming authors , for i fear if their read●rs lay aside the cavilling and quibling ●he bitter and malitious invectives and slanders , there will be litle left 〈…〉 books , either good or ill . i shall only give the reader one of thei● mildest bourds , because they thought i● master-peice of wit , and it is in the end 〈…〉 their dialogue thus , that they would no allow me to come into the rank of authors , with the infamous tartaretus , who wrote de modo cacandi , because , say they , with a perverted authority , mihi ex pejori luto finxit proecordia titan , but whoever will take the pains , to view the whole of the treatment in this matter will , surely see it was not the itch of writing took these men , it has been the scab , the leprosie , and botch of writing , or rather scribling and blotting that seized them ; such blunders against any man , tho only verbal are scandalous enough . but if for well doing they are divellish , as being not only the brandeing the innocent but truth and righteousness it self● but committed to print , they fix eternally and ●●●elibly the blackest stain on the auth 〈…〉 and abettors , both in the eyes of 〈◊〉 and man , unless it be wip'd off , as i pray it may be , by their sincere and hearty repentence . but let them kno 〈…〉 is no true repentance without a pr 〈…〉 amendment , and endeavour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the damnage they ha●●●one the thing , not me , i mean. non tollitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum . finis . advertisement . the vindicatory schedule concerning the new cure of ●●vers , &c. de febribus continuis tentamen theoretica-practicum . &c. both shewing the nature and cure of fevers , by the author of this epilogue ; sold by iohn vallance book-seller near the cross , edinburgh . [the oracle for the sick.] groeneveldt, jan, 1647?-1710?. 1685 approx. 106 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 40 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42185 wing g2063a estc r223692 99833977 99833977 38456 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42185) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 38456) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1833:12) [the oracle for the sick.] groeneveldt, jan, 1647?-1710?. [14], 55, [9] p. : ill., tables s.n., [london? : 1685?] attributed to jan groeneveldt (cf. wing). title from half-title; titlepage lacking. imprint conjectured by wing. with an index. imperfect; lacking title page; half-title mutilated and pasted down on backing page; closely trimmed at head with slight loss of print. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general 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century. 2007-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-03 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2008-03 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the oracle for the sick . to the reader health . if to have opposed a sweeping plague could ever establish a physician 's gloyr ; whether you consider the dangers he rescued others from , or those he run himself into , or yet his skill that enabled him for it ; certainly for vs to resist the plague of an empirical infection , cannot now be our dishonour . for , take it from vs , every disease undertaken by a quack is altogether as dangerous as the plague . when therefore people do so generally die with the tokens of their folly upon them , who can blame vs for exempting the living from this mortality ? yet in doing this we foresee , that empiricism , like infection , will falsely be imputed to vs ; he that cures either , being at one time or other avoided as sick of the same disease . however , we hope your judgments , better informed by the good effect ▪ of our art , would clear us of that scandal , were not our qualifications sufficient to rub the pitch off our own fingers . all of the honourable , the colledge of phisicians in london , whereof we are members , have , to a man of them , been affected with the dying groans of persons murdered by intruders into physick . these formerly appeared only now and then , like the event of some petty rencontre ; but now they are heard so mournful and so numerous , that quacking looks as if it were attended with the effects of a pitch'd battel . not a week passes but some of us are called to these doleful objects ; whom we generally find to have been treated much in the manner following , viz. vpon our enquiry into the case it appears , the sick was seized with a fever , whose symptoms as to us related , did portend no danger ; we know a vomit would have been proper , the intruder gave a perl cordial ; the party ought to have been bled , the perl cordial was repeated ; some noble diaphoretick or febrifuge should have been administred , the perl cordial was repeated ; all this while a low diet should have been kept , but instead thereof gelly-broths were intruded : thus through omission and commission the symptoms of a dying man appear , then come in alkermes and a blister ; and a little before the passing-bell tolls in come we , to behold people murdered , and our own prosession thus abused . imagine you , what impression these barbarous cruelties must make upon such a body of men , whose charity , we do inform you , bears its proportion to that learning , which is admired abroad , and is likewise acknowledged here at home by the most malicious of our enemies . how do you think , when the laws are not silent , can we be so , against such bare-fac'd offenders ? justly has the college animadverted on several empiricks in getting the statutes of the realm executed upon them : and wisely has the whole body thereof considered of prudential methods towards the obtaining the end and intent of the law ; viz. the suppression of empirical man-slayers . sundry methods have formerly been under their debate ; the result whereof was , that some vndertaking like this of ours would prove the most effectual . convinced therefore by such a general opinion , and moreover encouraged hereto by several of the society , beside the unanimous resolution of vs five on the point ; we , for the publick good , and , we hope , not to the discredit of our profession , do proceed in the method following , viz. 1. at the angel and crown in kingstreet london , we have a repository , furnished with the most noble and efficacious medicines ; faithfully prepared with our own hands . 2. every day in the week , from seven in the morning till eight at night ; one or other of us will constantly attend at the repository , there to give his advice , and to dispense the medicines with his own hand ; or else to go himself or send another of us , where a visit is required . 3. every munday and thursday in the week , from two till six in the afternoon , we will all of us attend at the repository , there to advise and consult upon such cases , as shall then be proposed to us , and accordingly to dispense the medicines ; or to depute some of the consultation to visit , when required . 4. either at the repository , or at our several respective dwellings , we are ready to give to the poor our advice gratis , and to supply them with medicines at low rates . and , that it never may be said , we talk as much like impertinents , as they that oppose the giving of our own physick , let every thinking person well consider the weight of what we have to say in favour of these our proposals . we therefore acquaint you , that the laws have impowered physicians in england to give as well as prescribe physick . but to the end , reason , and not bare authority may prevail , believe it altogether as reasonable , as it is lawful for us so to do . for every one that prepares a medicine according to the dispensatory , unless he will be so insipid as to condemn what himself does , must own that our college , who made that dispensatory , is able to prepare the things described in it ; or , that he is guided by the directions of persons , who themselves know not how to perform , what they direct others to do : which can hardly be acknowledged by a man , who otherwise perhaps thinks better of himself than of the authors of the dispensatory . moreover , if in less knowing times the best physicians prescribed and dispensed their own medicines with their own hands ( as galen with his own hands prepared the great treacle for several of the emperors of rome , and gave most of his own physick ) what weakness is it now to think , in a practicophilosophical age , wherein learned men of all professions do so generally addict themselves to the search of nature , that physicians alone should neglect their province , and not know the preparation of their own medicines , which comprehends a great share of natural inquiries ? among men not professed physicians , the honourable , and learned mr. boyl is master of many noble preparations in medicine . in reference to physicians , who can be so injurious to the memory of our harvey , as to say , that he who found out the circulation of the blood , and knew the vital process from the first vibration of the salient point in the embryo , till it drew , nay expired its vital air , who dares say , he knew not the process of a dispensatory preparation ? with what curious medicaments has our willis enriched pharmacy , who , to our knowledge , put his own hand to the work ? nor have physicians abroad , such as sylvius , ettmuller , wedelius and others , been sparing of their own pains in making most curious remedies . and do not think , that all men of abilities in pharmacy are dead out of our college ; but to avoid palpable flattery in reciting of living names , let our adversaries name that one man of the college , who has not solid skill in pharmacy . if they cannot name him , let all men , who value their health , judge between them and vs . our college has published a dispensatory , containing a complete preparation of medicines ; but not one syllable of what any one of these medicines is good for , the application of all ( to prevent mistakes ) being reserved to their breasts , who invented or approved them . yet several of our bare medicine-makers have presumed to give these preparations to the sick improperly , they not knowing the true use of them ; whereby many have been brought to untimely ends. nor is this all , they , under pretext of their calling , too often vary our prescripts , or by slandering them , prevent their being taken . whose hands then , think ye , should we trust but our own , in preparing our remedies , if we either value your lives or our own reputation ? but more than all this , the most effectual remedies depend upon so long and such curious processes , that only read men , and they that know the intricacies of nature , can prepare them aright : to adulterate them , 't is true , is easie ; and to buy them of such as fell cheaper than they prepare carefully , is obvious ; but if you will either buy them true , or use them right , you must deal with men of art and not of trade only . and of what moment the advice of a physician in taking of medicines is , were not people too little sensible , we needed be less sollicitous in making them more . but , as we said , compounders not knowing the use or nature of medicines ; because they can go no farther than the dispensatory , which only shews the making of them , we do assure you , that he runs a great hazard of his life , who in his sickness takes any medicine without the advice of a physician . for were you but as throughly convinced as we do certainly know , that an improper diet does as surely kill as any poison could , you would hardly adventure upon medicines , which produce more violent effects upon our bodies than food can , without being assured by men of skill , that such medicines are proper for you . knowing therefore the necessity of taking advice with all medicines , and finding in our practice how difficult some cases are ; we have provided not only , that one physician shall always be attending ; but that many may assist one another in advising upon difficult cases . so that all the day long you cannot fail of a physician at our repository ; nor every monday and thursday in the afternoon of a consultation of several . where we hope , that as all persons of ingenuity understand a physician 's merit , so all shall receive mutual treatment from vs ; nor shall the great objection of the chargeableness of physicians hold against vs , inasmuch as we shall endanger no mans estate by the price of his health , nor will we demand any thing for our advice of the indigent . thus , you see , the good of all , and the credit of our profession is our meaning , which you have farther explained to you in the ensuing book . in it are contained all things that a physician can well ask his patient : and tho' several things may seem superfluous and liable to cavil ; yet to the judicious , and to men of art , there will appear nothing such : for better it is , that many questions more than need should be put , than that any one less should be forgotten . for instance ; without the knowledge of a patient's constitution no advice can safely be given ; without the knowledge of the complexion or colour , stature and other accidents , the constitution cannot be known ; and without all the questions mentioned in the beginning of the book , no man can be informed herein as he ought . by the convenience of this book people wholly strangers to us may have our advice at a distance , as if present : and such as had rather we should know the disease than the patient that is troubled with it , have hereby the opportunity of receiving advice , he to whom that advice is given , remaining altogether to vs unknown . wherefore all cavil at our plain expression in male and female cases is vain ; since to hear some necessary questions asked , would surely offend a modest ear , which to read will not raise the least emotion of a blush : so that no person's modesty ( who has this book ) need be put to the torture , in relating what some may think is here too boldly expressed ; yet in many cases of absolute necessity by physicians to be known . but peruse the advantages of this book . and thus , without necromantick art we can raise the idea of an absent patient ; when raised , without the inspiration of any python we can shrewdly divine what his fate will be ; and so , if either knowledge of secrets , or fore-knowledge of what is to come , were ever counted oraculous , delos it self did never own a much surer oracle . for indeed we have not only studied in the best vniversities of europe ; but we have put these our studies into practice for many years in other metropolitan cities of this part of the world , where several of us have been collegiate physicians , as well as in this great city , where we now reside all as such . being therefore skilled in several european languages beside the vniversal , foreigners at our consultation may discourse with vs in their own tongues , and may be as well understood as if they were in their own countries ; at least ( if they are learned ) they may freely talk with us in latin. and all persons , whether english or strangers may enjoy the benefit of the united counsel and experience of vs all . when we are not at the repository , we may be met with , or heard of at our respective dwellings , john greenvelt in throgmorton street , next door but one to broad-street . richard browne in winchester street . christopher crelle at the lower end of fryday-street . john peche in chequer yard near dowgate . phil. guide in salisbury court in fleetstreet . the oracle for the sick . the advantages of this book . § . i. such sick persons as have not the convenience , or are not in a capacity of calling in physicians ; by reason they either live at too great a distance , or are in no condition to defray that physicians charges upon a journey , whom they make choice of above others , or that they either will not or cannot go to him themselves , will here find these inconveniences removed . for here they have every remark and question , which physicians use to propound to their patients , from whence they take their indications , and more than will serve their turn . § . ii. by this mean many poor sick people will not henceforth be destitute of advice ; as they are in the countrey , and in places remote from great towns : a thing which redounds to the great detriment of several . for that they are necessitated to commit their case to chirurgeons , apothecaries , barbars , and good women dwelling in villages , who are not always sufficiently instructed how to describe a sickness aright nor it's accidents . through which ill management , the fick frequently dye of diseases , in the beginning slight and curable , had they but been well treated . and , which is most deplorable , the sick are little sollicitous either in setting their house in order , or about their estate of a higher consequence , because they are not in the least apprehensive of any danger they are in . which fatal accidents may henceforth in a great measure be avoided : forasmuch as one shall meet with none so ignorant , provided they can but read , who may not be capable of giving sufficient instructions to us concerning the estate of the absent patient , and concerning his sickness , by the sole use of this book . § . iii. those same sick persons , who in the countrey and places remote are under chirurgeons and apothecaries hands , capable of stating their case , and thereby of consulting physicians about their diseases , will be much better attended , whilst not any one circumstance requisite to the entire and perfect knowledge of their disease , is forgot : it being notorious , that most of the great faults , which are committed in the management of the sick , procede from this , that their diseases are not well known , one being taken for another . and seeing that physick is not an art of divination , as the ignorant vulgar perswade themselves , too much circumspection cannot be used in stating the case aright to physicians . and this will be much better done , when they that send , have their instructions in print , the reading whereof will lead them , as by the hand , to the observing all things worth consideration , which might otherwise easily slip their memory . so that those , who otherwise would have been negligent in their relation , in order to have advice from physicians , cannot now be so any longer : for as much as they are obliged to note , or make mention of each particular head in the book . § . iv. and even physicians themselves , of whom advice is taken , being absent , must of necessity by this method be more exact in their knowledge and judgment of diseases , and in prescribing their remedies . for they , as they are obliged , returning their advice with this book , wherein the sick party and the disease are drawn to the life , and described , the defects of their prescriptions , if any there are , will be far more evident . as faults in limning are best discovered , when the piece and the original are both in view , or when the features of the absent party are well known to us . such will be the state of the sick delineated by this invention , by means whereof persons skilled in the art of physick may judge of the abilities of that physician , who gave his advice : which can never be done in the way men practise prescribing piece-meal , wherein a man can only discern whether the prescript be well dosed , and possibly whether it came from a physician experienced in the practice of his art ; but not whether it be prescribed pertinently , nor whether it be proper for the patient and the disease , which is the principal thing . so that every physician , considering what it will conduce to his honour , though now perhaps he is conducted by conscience alone , will moreover be concerned in reference to his reputation : which will serve for a double incitement to encourage , and a double obligation to bind him firm to his utmost endeavour . § . v. physicians , that have persons of quality under their hand , and such as of whom it will be of import to remark from time to time , yea several times a day , the state of their sickness , will here also find a notable ease to their memory , and a great abridgment . for having as many books as they will mark at divers times , they can set down in each of these books the then present state of their patient , after the manner of astronomers , who set down from time to time the state of the heavens upon paper ; which state would otherwise slip out of their mind , and hinder the judgment that they would make : as on the contrary these different states of their patient will facilitate the consequences , which they will draw from comparing them ; so as to gather the crises and the other movements of nature , which they have to do withal . § . vi. there are several dishonourable diseases , which hinder the sick from discovering themselves , and they by this bashfulness render themselves incurable : whereas by this book any one may conceal his or her name , which contributes nothing to the cure of diseases , and may receive good and salutary advice . § . vii . and whereas seeing is the quickest and most comprehensive of all the senses , here one will at once have in sight a multitude of questions , which it would be tedious to hear asked and answered : and one may fix on what things are considerable , passing by such things as to the party seem worthy of little or no consideration . now you have seen some of the advantages of this book ; the use of it will discover to you the rest . § . viii . we need not here trouble our selves at all to answer those that take upon them to decry the inventions of others , and say that a man cannot comprehend in one book an infinite number of circumstances , a diverse combination whereof varies the case ; since the letters of an alphabet alone are sufficient to describe infinite volumes . and when physicians , chirurgeons , and apothecaries , and in their absence other persons who shall send or come to us or others to ask advice concerning a distemper , do find matters extraordinary in it , nothing will hinder , but they may add them ; since treatises of nature do admit discourses of monsters . § . ix . little also can they hurt us , who tell us , this invention is not our own . may they not as well reproach galen , who took his doctrin from hippocrates , and he from others ? it being no slight matter to put things in order , and to introduce a new use of them . but leaving vain-glory to others , we shall reckon it sufficient , that several persons do receive benefit , without regard whence it comes . and possibly , even they that would have something of novelty , might be the first in quarrelling upon that very account . § . x. others may find the reading of this work troublesome and disagreeable , because they may judge it , as it is , void altogether of embellishment , and without affectation , when they perhaps may be desirous of florid language . because they know not , that height of expression is no more proper for instructing , than flowers are for nourishment ; and since we intend the profit of all mankind indifferently , which is composed , for the greater share , of people who have not leisure for these things , our manner of discourse must be accommodated to their capacitie's , which will not prove useless to the intelligent , as the more exalted terms of our art would be to the less knowing . § . xi . some will also think it strange , that we make an enumeration so exact of things , from which we may gather indications ; possibly , because they behave themselves so little after this manner in their consultations . but let such men know this , that they cannot with too much circumspection treat the almightie's master-piece : moreover , the things which super-abound , being not at all bad , such as have a mind to make use of this book may leave what they will , and mark nothing but what they shall find pertinent to their design . § . xii . they that reproach us , will not be wanting also to render us odious to phyficians of other places , as if we suspected them of ignorance , and as if they knew not how to state a case , when it is necessary to take fome sound advice . but we have too good an opinion , yea better than those that envy us , of the capacity of all doctors in physick , who have obtained their degrees in famous universities , too good certainly ever to call it in question . we honour them , and are ready to consult with them ; so far are we from the least intention of harm to them . and one may truly say of this work , that as it will serve as an ariadne's clew , to guide by the hand the meaner sort , who may be destitute of physicians , and other persons , capable to state their case ; so it will serve as a medium to the more knowing physicians , and who as such are ordinarily fullest of employment , to save their time , which to them is very precious . moreover , they are not only at liberty by this invention to state several cases , for one ; but they may ease themselves of this trouble by the meanest of their servants , that can read ; nay , by the patients themselves . furthermore , they that are experienced know , that physick is an art of society , the practice whereof is in this found different from the law , in that a lawyer who pleads well , is never a whit the less esteemed , though he lose his cause . but the ignorant vulgar judge rashly of a physician by the event of the disease ; from whose calumny he cannot better protect himself than by consultation , which men cannot sometimes have with the physicians of the place , because there is not a sufficient number , and no good understanding among those there are , or because they are too much in the patients favour , and will not depart from their former advice , or out of respect they will not gain-say one another . there is not any way more advantageous to maintain the reputation of skillful physicians , and of such as omit nothing in the cure of a disease , albeit the success proves not always correspondent to their care , than to justifie their proceedings by other persons disinteressed and capable of judging : to which this book will give more assistence than any hitherto . § . xiii . and thus will this work henceforth be a touch-stone to distinguish physicians from pretenders ; these fearing nothing more than the use of this book and the method it contains : because one may easily by this mean know the faults , which they have committed in their management of diseases , and also may judge whether they have known them well ; whereas such as are expert in their profession desire no better , than to make any one a witness of their actions . and because in examining things , which a physician ought to know , in order to his understanding a disease well , and that he may direct his remedies to the purpose , there are some considerations common to both sexes , some peculiar to each , and others yet appertaining to chirurgery ; the first of the eight chapters into which this book is divided , shall be common to both sexes ; the second for males ; the third for females ; and the five last shall be chirurgical , treating of swellings , wounds , ulcers , bones broken and out of joynt ; concluding with some things concerning the remedy which hath been given the sick , the date of the book , an answer to some objections , and an alphabetical table . some of which must be omitted by such as they concern not , to wit , the chapter concerning males , by such as shall ask advice for a woman or girl , and then that of females , when one desires judgment concerning a man or boy ; and so other chapters . the use of this book is in this manner ; one must make a mark with a pencil , or draw a slight line with a pen upon the number , or on that part of the figure which one would denote : with this distinction in reference to the figures representing the body of man or the parts thereof , that to mark a pain or any external ail , the line ends on the skin or the outside of the figure , without being continued with points : but to signifie an internal pain or ail of the same part , one must continue the line with points . a b c so , to represent the state of a sick person , whose father lived a long time , but sickly and troubled with the gout , who was begot by him in his old age , of a mother in her youth and health . this sick persons constitution is weakly ; the skin without hair , clear , soft , thin and moist ; the colour pale ; of a middle stature ; habit of body lean ; takes liquid medicins with ease , but solid ones with difficulty ; hard to purge , but easie to vomit , &c. i must underscore it with a pen or pencil , as you may see . and such as have leisure may write it out on a paper apart , leaving the words which are not included or marked : and by this means one will find the sense compleat , and not at all interrupted with other words , useless to the matter in hand . as for example ; the person for whom advice is desired , is descended from a father of a long , middling or short life , yet living healthy , or who was troubled with the headach , palsie , apoplexy , falling-sickness , consumption , dropsie , gravel , stone , colick , venereal disease , gout , piles , leprosie , &c. who begat him in his youth ; manhood or old age ; of a mother of a long , middling , or short life , or yet living : healthy , or who was troubled with the headach , palsie , apoplexy , falling-sickness , consumption , dropsie , fits of the mother , gravel , stone , colick , venereal disease , gout , piles , leprosie , &c. who bore the patient in her youth , in in her middle age , or towards her old age. as to the constitution , it is hale , middling , or weakly . the stature , very tall , middling , or very low. the habit of body fat or lean. easie , or hard to work on by a purge . easie , hard , or indifferent to take liquid or solid medicins . vomits easily , difficultly , or never . and so of the rest ; for it will be easie to apply to the same use , and to employ every word of this book to give its meaning . as in pressing the fingers upon the keys of a virginal , you make some of them give their sound , while others lye still ; whence proceeds the harmony of the instrument . but if the meaning of every article of these observations be not apprehended , or if some ( as we said ) seem not pertinent to the subject ; such may be let alone , as likewise one may to a whole case add what he shall judge is wanting . thus have we done with the essay , which we thought good to premise , for the clearing of our grand design , and the practice of the same . now we procede to chap. i. the observations common to both sexes , and where the first marks ought to be made . the person for whom advice is desired , is descended from a father of a long , middling or short life , or yet alive : healthy , or who was troubled with the headach , palsie , apoplexy , falling-sickness , consumption , dropsie , gravel , stone , colick , gout , piles , venereal disease , leprosie , &c. who begot the party in his youth , manhood , or in his old age : of a mother of a long , middling or short life , or yet living : healthy , or who was troubled with the head-ach , palsie , apoplexy , falling-sickness , consumption , dropsie , fits of the mother , gravel , stone , colick , venereal disease , gout , piles , leprosie , &c. who bore the party in her youth , middle age , or towards her old age. as to the constitution , it is hale , middling or weakly . the stature very tall , middling , or very low. the habit of body , fat , fleshy or lean . hath a head very great , little , or well proportioned to the rest of the body . the forehead broad or narrow , high or low , or midling . eyes sparkling , lively or dull ; large , midling or little ; blew , green , red , grey , yellow , white or black . the mould of the head over-shot , little or much sunk . the nose big , sharp , red , blew , long , short , of a middle size , high , flat and dented in , or eaten away . nostrils wide or narrow , little or much . the lips of a high or low red , wan , blew , thick , turn'd inside out , middling , or little and thin . the mouth wide , middling or narrow . the teeth standing close , or one at a distance from another , white or discoloured and black , sound or rotten , dry or moist . the cheeks full , hanging down , flat , hollow or middling . the chin long , short , middling , round or dimpled . the neck short , long , of a middle length ; thick , slender , or of a middle thickness . the chest full , narrow , or of a middle size . hair thick or thin ; curl'd , light , yellow , red , dark , black , beginning to be gray , or turn'd gray ; bald all over , on the crown , before , behind , or on several parts of the head. hair course , middling or fine , greasie , neither very dry , nor very moist . hath a colour good or bad , naturally or by accident . the complexion white , pale , red . the balls of the cheeks a little or very red ; having a colour brown or fair , tawny , yellow , greenish , black . hath or hath not freckles or pimples in the face . hath or never had the small pox. is streight or crooked , much or little , before or behind . is a little , or very lame in the hip , leg or foot , right or left , naturally or by accident . sleeps little or much , a long while , or presently after dinner , quietly or restlesly , not within a few or many days . hath dreams pleasant , displeasing or indifferent ; dreaming of fire , water , mire , or of flying in the air. is easie or hard to work on by a purge . vomits easily , or hardly , or cannot vomit at all . takes solid medicins with difficulty , indifferently well , or with ease : takes liquid medicins with ease , difficultly , or indifferently well . dwells , or dwells not in the native air , which is serene or troubled , subtil or gross , enlightened or not enlightened by the sun , and exposed to the winds on the east , south , west or north ; unbounded or else enclosed with mountains ; temperate , hot , cold , dry or moist and fenny , or near a river : infected or not infected . eats and drinks little or much in health ; makes one , two or three meals a day . was ever temperate in eating and drinking ; or was of late , or of a long time addicted to excess in drinking brandy , punch , wine , either canary , sherry , claret , white wine or rhenish , old or new , fine or foul , cider , beer or ale , coffee , thea or mum ; cold water , spring , river , rain and ditch water corrupted . or eats too much salt-meats , spices , oisters , cheese new or old , milk-meats , garlick , onyons , coleworts , turneps , radishes , mushromes , cucumbres , melons , pease , beans , cherries , currans , goosberries , apricocks , peaches , plums , small nuts , chesnuts , wall-nuts and other bad food , and things hard of digestion . hath to excess either smoaked or chewed tobacco , or taken it in snuff . uses much , indifferent , or little exercise . hath much , indifferent or little business of the mind . is seldom , sometimes , or often sick of diseases violent , or moderate ; long or short ; slight or dangerous . hath been accustomed to purge and bleed 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 times , or more in a year , and hath forbore the doing of it for 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , or 6 years , and upwards . hath one , two , three or four issues , in or by the head , ears , shoulders , arm or leg , which run plentifully , little or nothing , of a long time before or since the party fell sick . or hath one , two , three or four issues , which have been dryed up 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 years , months or weeks . hath had scabs or breakin gs out , or an ulcer dryed up , or running , a little or long before , or since this fit of sickness . is of the age of years mo. days . hours . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 1 11 21 1 13 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 2 2 12 22 2 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 3 3 13 23 3 15 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 4 4 14 24 4 16 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 5 5 15 25 5 17 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 6 6 16 26 6 18 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 7 7 17 27 7 19 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 8 8 18 28 8 20 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 9 9 19 29 9 21 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 10 10 20 30 10 22 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 11   11 23 78 79 80 just , full , or or thereabout . 12   thereabout .   hath been ill , or kept bed. years . mon. days . hours . 1 2 3 4 1 1 12 22 1 12 5 6 7 8 2 2 13 23 2 13 9 10 11 12 3 3 14 24 3 14 13 14 15 16 4 4 15 25 4 15 17 18 19 20 5 5 16 26 5 16 21 22 23 24 6 6 17 27 6 17 25 26 27 28 7 7 18 28 7 18 29 30 31 32 8 8 19 29 8 19 33 34 35 36 9 9 20 30 9 20 37 38 39 40 10 10 21   10 21 41 42 just , or 11 11 22   11 22 23 thereabout .   just , or thereabout . because of an ague , which comes every day , or every other day ; or there are two well days and one ill , or two ill days and one well . the fit comes at the same or different hours , ebbs and flows , begins with a great or little chilness , lasts half a quarter , a quarter , half or three quarters of an hour , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 hours : it comes once or twice a day , with yawning , stretching , sickness at the heart , vomiting , pain in the limbs , faintness , without any exercise before it : is attended with a great or moderate heat , head-ach , dryness of mouth ; little , great or moderate thirst : the hot fit lasts half a quarter , a quarter , half , three quarters of an hour , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 hours ; ends in vomiting , loosness , sweat , or discharge of urine . or hath kept bed for a continual fever , which began with much or a little shivering , or without any chilness at all , with sickness at the heart , vomiting and faintness : the heat is tolerable or intolerable , with much , little or no alteration : the outward parts much , indifferent , or a little cold : the inwards much , indifferent , or a little hot ; or on the contrary : a pain in the loyns , with or without a cough , dry or moist , waking or sleeping with ●●ving , restlesness : which continual fever is always at the same pass , or is higher every day , or every other day , or twice on the same day : or else is slow , encreases after dinner , with heat in the palms of the hands : is accompanyed with a pain in the head or in some other parts . which must be marked in the figure a , b , or c ; drawing the line , which signifies the pain , from the word pain just to the part pained : and so for redness and other accidents ; with or without points , accordingly as the grief shall lye deep or shallow . a scalding , excoriation , wart . pain , stich , redness , swelling or boil , wound , ulcer , itch , numbness , heaviness , burning , pricking , throbbing , racking , tetter , pimples , scurf , scab , kernel , felon , b scurf , scab , kernel , felon , scalding , excoriation , wart . pain , stitch , redness , swelling or boil , wound , ulcer , itch , numbness , heaviness , burning , pricking , throbbing , racking , tetter , pimples , c excoriation , wart . pain , stitch , redness , swelling or boil , wound , ulcer , itch , numbness , heaviness , burning , pricking , throbbing , racking , tetter , pimples , scurf , scab , kernel , felon , scalding , hath a belly very hard and tight , or soft ; much or a little costive , or pretty loose , moderately ; or with a flux of the belly : goes to stool oftner on the day than in the night , or oftner in the night than on the day , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 times in a day , or every hour ; with or without gripes and racking pains in the guts , in the fundament , with , or without much straining : voids stuff that is , white , muddy , yellow , red and bloody , like the washings of raw flesh , grey , green , black or of divers colours ; frothy or not ; with or without gnawings of the guts . makes water often or seldom , with pain or without pain ; makes much or little at a time ; drop by drop , or full stream ; which is clear or thick at the making ; pale , yellow , citron-coloured , red , reddish , bloody , greenish , black ; having stood a while it either alters not , or of clear made it becomes thick : looks like fair water , new verjuice , or stale of beasts ; has a cloud at the bottom , in the middle , or at the top : which cloud is white , even , alike , or divided into several pieces : or it has no cloud , or it has threads , or is foul like bran , or has something like grease swimming at the top : has grounds , lees or settling at the bottom ; which is white , and being warmed becomes clear , as before , or it alters not at all . sweats not ; or is apt to sweat , often or seldom , all the body over , or only in some part , as , round the head , in the forehead , in the neck and breast , which sweat comes only in a dew , or in great drops , in a great or small quantity ; is hot or cold , rank or without smell , greasie or clammy , lasting a quarter , half , three quarters of an hour 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 hours . the sweat came the 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , day of the sickness . spits and raises with pain and coughing , or easily and without coughing ; a little or a quantity of spittle ; clear , thick , glewy , round , white , yellow , red or black ; froathy , filthy and like an aposteme . bleeds not , or bleeds much , or little at the nose , at the right or left nostril , often or seldom , thin or thick , red and fresh or black ; at the mouth , by cough or vomit , or without coughing and vomiting ; which is much or little in quantity , thin or thick , froathy , red , fresh or black ; at the fundament , not going or going to stool , mingled or not mingled with the excrements , thin or thick , red , fresh or black . in mind free : or has been or is still disturbed with some sorrow , dread and apprehension , with , or without cause . the place of the pain , which is marked before in the figure a , b or c is always the same ; or is encreased or eased by touching the part : is with or without heaviness : is little , middling , great or insupportable : seeming to the sick like a load , and as if it either bound or stretched the part : feeling like the prick of a needle , or the blow of a hammer : is continual or comes by fits : came lately or long ago : is more violent fasting or after meat , on the day than in the night : is eased by heat or by cold : or it finds ease neither by heat nor by cold . it tarries often or sometimes without feeling or moving : with or without loss or diminution of judgment and memory ; with or without groaning : the excrements come away of themselves , or without the parties knowledg : snorts and foams at the mouth : has fits or convulsions of all the limbs , or of some only , marked in the figure a , b , or c. hath a dizziness in the head , continual or at times , with or without dimness of sight , before or after meal . hath startings often or seldom . hath sore eyes , with or without inflammation , redness , smarting , involuntary tears , blearedness or matter ; and that of it self , or after a blow , or because something is got into the eye . the eyes seem good , but the party cannot see at all ; hath some film , or white covering over the sight of the right or left eye , or of both : or something like flies is flying before the eyes : cannot see in a great or little light , things afar off or near : or sees things at a good distance , as they are , or double ; is squint-eyed , one eyed , or blind by nature or by accident . hath a pain in the ears , a humming , ringing , or some noise , inveterate or lately come : great , little , or moderate : is thick of hearing : matter issueth or issueth not out of the ear : hears nothing at all , from the cradle , or for 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 years , months , days , and more or thereabout , since some animal or some other thing got into the ear , since the using of quick-silver . hath the nose stuff'd with something within it , as an excrescence of flesh , which is soft , hard , red , black , ulcered or not ulcered , with or without ill smell from something in the nose : bloweth out little or much matter , thick or thin , green , yellow , or white , or bloweth it not at all , or rubs the nose often : smelling is diminished or quite lost . the tongue is well , or cancered , or furr'd , of colour white , black or yellow , dry or moist , extremely rough , chapt and raw ; ●●eaks plain , or has an impediment in speech from the cradle , or since this sickness : hath lost the voice , or speech , is hoarse : is , or is not tongue-tyed : sucks well or cannot suck . the mouth is well , or bitter , salt , or stinking , with an ill breath , raw , or not raw : the gums which cover the teeth , are swollen , ulcered , eaten away , or sound . hath swallowed a fish-bone , a bone , or some strange thing : or it is thought , that some animal slid down the throat in sleeping . hath a pain in swallowing , and seems as if some bit stuck in the throat ; and what is swallowed , makes a noise as if it fell into a barrel . belches sowre , bitter , of an ill savour , or brings up wind or worms at the mouth : hath been weaned , or not weaned 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 days , weeks , months . the child hath , or hath not yet all its teeth ; and there are wanting or cut 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 great teeth upper or lower , or one or both of the eye-teeth . hath the tooth-ach a little while or a long time , on one side only or upon both ; the teeth being fast or loose , or not a tooth either little or great decayed , rotten and hollow ; the pain whereof is greater in the night than on the day , or on the day than in the night ; and finds ease by heat or by cold . hath a crick in the neck , which hinders or hinders not the turning of the head , with or without the almonds of the ears being down : or hath a swelling of the whole neck , with or without redness , pain and inflammation ; which hinders , or hinders not at all the breathing , in bed or up . hath a pain in the right or left side , which strikes up , or strikes not up to the paps or arm-pits . can lye easily , indifferently , or with difficulty upon the sound or the sick side . hath shortness of breath , with or without ratling in the throat , redness of cheeks , leanness of the whole body , or only of the legs and thighs . hath pantings or beatings of the heart , very often or seldom . hath ordinarily , or since the sickness came , a pulse quick , moderate or slow , strong , mean or weak , even or uneven . sighs seldom or very often . hath lost the relish of victuals , at the sight whereof the stomach turns ; hath little or much loathing ; hath a great or moderate appetite of things ordinary or extraordinary . hath a pain in the pit of the stomach , an hour , two , three , four , five or six hours after meal , or always . digests well , or does not digest victuals at all , and voids them by stool just as they were taken : or has much ado to digest them , or casts them up either presently , or an hour , two , three , four , five , six or seven hours after meat . peuks seldom or often , little or much of its milk , clear or curdled , presently , or a quarter , half an hour , or an hour or two after it has suck'd . has a vomiting and loosness , with or without cramp or convulsion , and vomits matter , excrementious , white , yellow , black , green , or of divers colours . voids by stool often or seldom worms alive , dead , long , short , flat , hairie , in a great or little quantity . falls in a swoon all of a sudden , by little and little , often or seldom , and continues in it a little while or a long time . hath a pain under the short ribs on the right or left side , with or without the hickup , with , or without hardness and tightness of the part , which pain presses or presses not upon the stomach , with or without rumbling in the belly . hath a belly of a good bigness , or puffed up and tight : feels a floating up and down , or as it were a bladder full of water , which sounds like a drum : or the whole body is the same : whereof if one touch any one part , the print of the finger remains , or does not remain : or only the legs ; or the belly , thighs and legs are swollen : which swelling comes at night , and goes away in the morning , or is always hard , never comes but upon standing long , in the night or on the day : is great , small , or midling : and that without having had any disease before it , or after some continual fever , quotidian , tertian or quartan ague . hath a pricking pain in the reins , which is marked in the figure a , b , or c , on the right or left side , or along the belly , with or without inclination to vomit , with or without a pain of the thigh on the same side . hath a pain of the whole belly , which is not eased by heat or cold : or only about the navil , which is eased by heat or cold . hath , or is thought to have the stone in the kidneys or bladder . hath a pain in the joynts , with or without swelling , redness or stiffness : which pain is asswaged by heat or cold , and is continual or comes by fits , chiefly in spring , autumn , summer or winter : walks freely , or cannot walk but with difficulty . hath a pain in all the limbs at once , or only in some one : which pain is deep or superficial : in the joynts , on one side of them , or in the middle of the limb : more violent in the night than on the day , or on the day than in the night , which causeth lameness or no lameness : or else hath pains , which run hither and thither , being sometimes in one arm sometimes in the other , sometimes in one leg and sometimes in another part , marked in the figure a , b , or c. hath pimples and scabs hard or soft , all over the body , or only about the forehead or the head : which cast or doe not at all cast forth matter or water yellowish or clear : and in some other parts of the body , with or without falling of the hair , much , indifferent or little : itch , scurf , galling and ulcers : which are hard or easie to heal ; or they come again after they are healed . hath , or hath not lice in the head or all over the body , in great or little quantity . chap. ii. for males . he is married , a widower or a batchelor . he has not been able to keep his seed 1 , 2 , 34 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 days , weeks , months , years : which is thin or thick , watry , white , or it discolours his linnen : of a yellow or green colour , of a bad scent : he voids it with pain , or without perceiving it : when he makes or makes not water , before or after he has made water : mingled with his urine or not . runs often or seldom . in a great , midling , or small quantity . with , or without erection of the yard . having , or not at all having his yard swollen . with , or without swelling of the nut. with , or without swelling of the foreskin or of the skin that covers the nut : which skin covers or uncovers the nut easily , or cannot cover it , or else cannot uncover it . with , or without smarting in the passage . with , or without an ulcer upon the nut , or upon the skin that comes over it : which ulcer has edges hard or soft , has proud flesh , or is even or hollow , has been cured and is come again , or has not been cured at all , but is a little diminished . he has had for some days , months or years the kernels of his groin large , soft , hard , with , or without pain : which have matter in them or not , of the bigness of a small nut , walnut , an egg , of the bigness of ones fist or bigger : his cods or stones are swollen , with or without the coming down of a gut , which goes up again in the night , or does not go up again into its place , he hath pimples or warts upon the nut , or upon the skin that covers the nut. he hath a carnosity in the passage of his yard , that stops his water : which may then be known , when putting in a wax candle one finds some resistence . which accidents have lasted years . mon. days . hours . 1 2 3 4 1 1 12 23 1 12 5 6 7 8 2 2 13 24 2 13 9 10 11 12 3 3 14 25 3 14 13 14 15 16 4 4 15 26 4 15 17 18 19 20 5 5 16 27 5 16 21 22 23 24 6 6 17 28 6 17 25 26 27 28 7 7 18 29 7 18 29 30 31 32 8 8 19 30 8 19 33 34 35 36 9 9 20   9 20 37 38 39 40 10 10 21   10 21 41 42 just , 11 11 22   11 22 23 or thereabout .   just , or thereabout . chap. iii. for females . she is a maid , a married woman or a widow for these 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 months , years and more . she has not yet had the benefits of nature , or but seldom , in a little quantity , in or out of order , with or without much trouble , as gripes and pains in the bowels : or she has them well formerly ; but they have been stopp'd for 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 days , months , years without apparent cause , or by reason of some vexation , fright , grief : or she has them in a great , little , or moderate quantity , with or without pain in her loins , loss of appetite , weakness , and noise in her ears : she has had them 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 days , months , with or without the interval of 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 days . she has at this instant , or used to have them red , thin , thick , yellow , green , black , pale , with or without clots of blood : with or without smarting : or else she has the whites , thin or thick , also with or without smarting , in a great or small quantity , continually , or at times : she has lost them entirely for 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 months , years and more . she looks pale , or her skin is pale , greenish , yellowish , swarthy , together with difficulty in walking , heaviness in her leggs : she has a longing to eat things unusual , as plaister , coals , ashes , salt , chalk , and the like . she is , or believes she is gone with child 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 weeks , months compleat , and an half , or thereabouts : her breasts are grown bigger or less : she hath a numbness or pain in her thighs , legs , or knees : she longs for several things : she has qualms at her heart . she feels , or she feels not her child stir , or she feels it stir often or seldom . she has had some breach of the water . she is brought to bed usually at her full time , with or without hard labour , which lasts 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 days : or else before her time , at 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 months , without cause apparent : or else she is come before her time , by reason of a fall , strain , blow , sudden fright , loss of blood : or else she cries out at her full time , the water coming away 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 days before the child , or but a moment before it : or she has been in travel these 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 hours , or 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 days . she has been well or ill delivered of a boy or girl these 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 hours , days , weeks or months : the after-birth came away whole , or else it was torn and came away in pieces , with , or without ill scent , or there remains still some part of it in the womb. the child presents , or comes not in a natural posture ; but presents or comes the feet foremost , or presented an arm : came double , alive , or dead , was drawn away by violence , whole or in pieces . she cleanses , or cleanses not in her lying in . she nurses , or nurses not her child . with or without pain , inflammation , hardness , aposteme and ulcer in her breasts : the milk being , or not being curdled . the nipples either have , or have not the skin off . she has a great , little , or moderate quantity of milk ; which is sweet or sharp , white or yellowish : thin , and which runs too much being put upon the nail , moderately thick : which swells not being boyled : or else she hath no milk at all . she can have no children , and yet it is not her husbands fault . she hath breasts round or large and flat , great , midling or little , hard or soft , and her flanks large or strait . she hath a belly big and swollen , and yet she hath passed the time of nine months : is of a good or bad colour , and she feels nothing stir in her belly : which being touched sounds or does not sound . she feels , or feels not a pricking pain in the womb : and some matter comes away or comes not from thence . the womb is ulcerated with or without itching . she hath at the orifice of the womb a swelling of colour , white , red , blackish , with pain , hardness in the groins , in the bottom of the belly , in the back , or other parts marked in the figure a , b , or c. she hath the orifice of the womb driven back inwardly , with , or without numbness and chilness in the knees : she hath this orifice high , low , thick , hard , soft , direct , or on one side : she hath it closed at all times , or at some seasons , after some ulcers were healed up . she hath a falling down of the womb , little , great , or moderate for a few or many days , months or years . she hath fits : with or without loss of motion and sense , difficulty of breathing , and as it were a ceasing of breath and pulse , and a convulsion of the limbs . chap. iv. of swellings . hath , or hath not pushes , or risings of the small pox all over the body , or in the parts marked in the figure a , b , or c , which are come out a little or in abundance , or they disappeared presently : are larger or straiter at the bottom than at the top , blackish , whitish , round , long . hath a tumor or swelling great , in different , or small , and of the bigness of half a vetch , a pea , a bean , a small nut , a wall-nut , a pigeons egg , a hens egg , a gooses egg , ones fist , both ones fists , ones head. which began years mo. days . hours . 1 2 3 4 5 1 1 11 21 1 12 6 7 8 9 10 2 2 12 22 2 13 11 12 13 14 15 3 3 13 23 3 14 16 17 18 19 20 4 4 14 24 4 15 21 22 23 24 25 5 5 15 25 5 16 26 27 28 29 30 6 6 16 26 6 17 31 32 33 34 35 7 7 17 27 7 18 36 37 38 39 40 8 8 18 28 8 19 41 42 since , just 9 9 19 29 9 20 or thereabout . 10 10 20 30 10 21   11 or thereabout . 11 22 23 in the part of the body marked in the figure a , b , or c. this swelling is hard or soft . with or without pain . with or without heat . red , yellowish , pale , lead-coloured or black . it came after some disease , or without having ever been sick . upon , or without a fall or strain . removes , or removes not , when one touches it . came suddenly , or was a great while in coming . appears at one time and disappears at another , or is always at the same pass . is with or without itching . with or without pustles or wheals . the mark of the finger remains when one presses it , or does not remain . ripens or ripens not at the top . beats or does not beat . is hard in the beginning , or grows harder after application of remedies . hath swelled veins all about . hath made a scar or scab . is with or without prickings . is heavie . is transparent , and one may see the light through it . is long , round , triangular , square , or of an unequal figure . chap. v. of wounds . the wound has been received . years mo. days hours 1 2 3 4 5 1 1 11 21 1 1 12 6 7 8 9 10 2 2 12 22 2 2 13 11 12 13 14 15 3 3 13 23 3 3 14 16 17 18 19 20 4 4 14 24 4 4 15 21 22 23 24 25 5 5 15 25 5 5 16 26 27 28 29 30 6 6 16 26 6 6 17 31 32 33 34 35 7 7 17 27 7 7 18 36 37 38 39 40 8 8 18 28 8 8 19 41 42 just or thereabout . 9 9 19 29 9 9 20           10 10 20 30 10 10 21           11 or thereabout 11 22 23 this wound is superficial , or deep , in the part or parts marked in the figure a , b , or c. it was made with the edge or the point of a sword , poniard , or knife , needle or bodkin : or else it came by a fall from some high place , or is only wounded from on high , with , or without bruising : or it was made by a blow of ones fist , a stick , stone , or fire-arms , at a distance or nigh : by a shiver of wood or stone : by a bullet , the wadding or a piece of the cloaths sticking in the wound , with which blow the patient either tumbled or tumbled not : with or without loss of speech : or the wound came by the bite or sting of some animal , venomous or not venomous . which wound either hath bled , or yet bleeds much or little , in a stream , springing out , or drop by drop , pure or mingled with excrement or urine : or out of it there runs a matter grey , white as milk , yellow or black . in which the flesh either is or is not carried away : with or without inflammation , swelling , pain , convulsion of the part , disposition to a gangrene or mortification , blackness , fever , fainting , raving , vomiting . which wound is great or little , lengthways or across , from above , downwards , or from below , upwards : hath pierced or not pierced into some hollow part , hath passed in and out , or hath not passed out : out of which there comes a wind or air which blows a candle . chap. vi. of vlcers . hath several ulcers , or hath but one ulcer in the part or parts of the body , marked in the figure a , b , or c. which ulcer came of it self without any external cause , or it came after some fall , blow , wound , aposteme , burning , prick or bite of an animal not venomous . it is hollow , having a strait entrance , and wide within , with or without hardness of the edges of it : or else is superficial , long , narrow , large , round , four-square , three-cornered , with or without great veins about it : with , or without inflammation , with or without redness , with or without pain : being filled with flesh , dead , spongy , or having flesh fair and red . with or without corruption of the bone : which sends out a little , indifferent , much , or no matter at all : which is white , grey , black , thin , thick ; with or without ill smell : or which is mingled with blood , or casts out a brown water with maggots : which ulcer runs from place to place , fretting the parts round about it : is encompassed on the inside with a skin like a quill . this ulcer hath been healed once , coming or not coming again , is great or little , hath been for years . mon. days . hours . 1 2 3 4 5 1 1 11 21 1 12 6 7 8 9 10 2 2 12 22 2 13 11 12 13 14 15 3 3 13 23 3 14 16 17 18 19 20 4 4 14 24 4 15 21 22 23 24 25 5 5 15 25 5 16 26 27 28 29 30 6 6 16 26 6 17 31 32 33 34 35 7 7 17 27 7 18 36 37 38 39 40 8 8 18 28 8 19 41 42 just , or 9 9 19 29 9 20 thereabout . 10 10 20 30 10 21   11 or thereabout 11 22 23 chap. vii . of broken bones . hath a bone broken in some one or more parts of the body , marked in the figure a , b , or c , by a fall , blow or wound , by fire-arms . with a wound or without a wound . which is broken short off , or shivered a-cross or length-ways , with splinters or little pieces of bone , or without splinters . comes out , or comes not out : is within or without , above or below . hath both the bones broke in the legg or arm , or has but one broke , which was set instantly , or a long time after , or is not yet well set again . is knit again , or cannot knit . the skull is split before or behind , or near the temples , or hard by the sutures , and the breach of it is great or little , with or without falling in of the bone , the cleft reaching or not reaching to the second table , or reaching to the dura mater . a piece of the broken bone is come out , or not come out . chap. viii . of bones out of joynt . hath a bone out of joynt , or out of the pan , in one or several parts of the body marked in the fig. a , b , or c. this bone is either quite out or but part part of it . was put out above , below , on the right , or left . by violence , as a fall , a wrench : or without violence , and by little and little . it moves with pain , or moves not at all . it is forced in , is even with the rest , or comes outwards . came out of it self , or by accident , for these years mo. days hours 1 2 3 4 5 1 1 11 21 1 1 12 6 7 8 9 10 2 2 12 22 2 2 13 11 12 13 14 15 3 3 13 23 3 3 14 16 17 18 19 20 4 4 14 24 4 4 15 21 22 23 24 25 5 5 15 25 5 5 16 26 27 28 29 30 6 6 16 26 6 6 17 31 32 33 34 35 7 7 17 27 7 7 18 36 37 38 39 40 8 8 18 28 8 8 19 41 42 just or thereabout . 9 9 19 29 9 9 20   10 10 20 30 10 10 21 11 or thereabout 11 22 23 hath suspicion of being poisoned . he or she is not bound in his or her body : or is costive , or seldome goes to stool , but when he or she takes a clyster , hath taken a vomit in this sickness once , twice , or thrice , and brought up choler , or water , sheer , yellow , green , and finds him or her self worse or better . he or she hath been bled in the arm 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 times : in the foot or at the haemorhoid veins 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 times : the blood was very good or bad at the first bleedings or pottingers : the blood was very good or bad at the last bleedings or pottingers . he or she hath been purged 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 times , and finds him or her self worse or better . this book was sent for advice at 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 of the clock , and half a quarter , a quarter , half or three quarters of an hour before or after noon : or just at the first or last minute of the 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 day of january , february , march , april , may , june , july , august , september , october , november , december : in the year 1686 , 1687 , 1688 , 1689 , 1690 , 1691 , 1692 , 1693 , 1694 , 1695 , 1696 , 1697 , 1698 , 1699 , 1700 , 1701 , 1702 , 1703 , 1704 , 1705 , 1706 , 1707. behold here be the principal remarks , that are requisite to be made upon the sick , and upon their diseases , which are not here named : because there is much more hazard in naming of diseases right , than there is ease ; which is the thing we have industriously designed for all sorts of persons . these remarks also may be of service to people in health ; whereby to ask advice , how they may preserve their health . not to mention several other curious uses of this book ; as it may serve for a table to take the physiognomy of an absent person by . but to comprize all the circumstances of any one subject , besides that it would be very tedious , so men rarely arrive at that excellency , as to have the first editions of their books quite perfect . it may sufsice , that these remarks are such as are ordinarily made by the best physicians in consultation , and that they are sufficient for the knowledge of diseases . which may serve for an answer to the censorious , who may blame this work for having said too little . as for those that find too much , they may leave something ; yea , if they please , they may content themselves with the following table . but whether the patient be rich or poor , the use of this book will be serviceable to either indifferently . now come the criticks , who say , that nothing is more easie than this invention : and they say no more than what has been said in all ages against the bravest inventions : whose excellence consists in this , that they are found easie when once discovered ; these same fellows thinking they could have done as much . but let them have a care , that the easiness of our enterprize turn not to their discommendation : forasmuch as they have taken no pains in a thing so easie , and a thing which by experience hath been , and day after day will be further acknowledged so beneficial to humane kind . finis . advertisement . vvhereas the five last chapters of this book are chirurgical , our intent therein is only to give advice , and to leave the manual operation wholly to chirurgeons . for since an external tumour oft-times upon its recess , causeth internal diseases , and again , since fevers are often attended with abscesses in some external part ; a physician 's and a chirurgeon's mutual assistence is often necessary to a patient : and since a symptomatick fever does ever attend considerable hurts done by violence , in every such case medical advice ought to be joined with manual operation . considering therefore that several cases cannot be managed aright without the knowledg of these things , we have so far , as aforesaid , insisted upon them . nor are we insensible , what injuries the chirurgeons , that serviceable order of men , but patients especially , do daily suffer from pretenders in this kind : but we will not so much as breathe a vein ; leaving , as we said , all chirurgeons business to whom it properly belongs : to all apothecaries also , who transgress not the limits of their calling , and consequently neglect not their business , we are ready to send our prescripts . the table of the book , being an easy way to represent an absent patient's case to physicians . which may serve instead of the book it self , marking with a pen or pencil the signs and accidents , that appear in the sick person , for whom advice is desired . they that would be more exact , must have recourse to the book . a. age of the sick , or of the sickness , 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 25 28 30 31 40 42 45 49 50 55 56 60 63 65 70 75 77 years , months , weeks , days , or thereabout , page 22. afterburden stuck , or came away whole or torn , p. 42. l. 12. ague , single , double , quotidian , tertian , quartan , p. 23. air native or not , exposed or not exposed to the sun or wind , p. 19. l. 27. almonds of the ears down , p. 33. l. 17. appetite craving , moderate , small , disordered , p. 41. l. 11. b. bald p. 18. l. 27. barrenness , p. 43. l. 7. beating of the heart , p. 34. l. 3. belching , p. 32. l. 28. belly tight , hard , soft , loose or costive , p 28. l. 1. benefits of nature , in or out of order , coming before or after their time , red , pale , with , or without smarting , in a great , little , or moderate quantity , continually , or now and then quite stopt , p. 40. l. 10. bite of an animal venemous or not venemous , p. 48. l. 7. blear-ey'd , p. 31. l , 5. bleeding at the nose in a great or little quantity , often or seldom , p. 29. l. 21. at the mouth , by cough or vomit , with , or without pain , p. 29. l. 24. at the fundament , going or not going to stool , mingled , or not mingled with the excrements . p. 29. l. 28. blind . p. 31. l. 16. blows the nose , little , much , or not at all , lately , or always , p. 32. l. 3. bone broken , p. 51. l. 5. out of joint , p. 52. l. 2. born of a father and mother of a long or short life , sickly or healthy , p , 17. l. 9. brests large , midling , or little , hard or soft , increasing or decreasing , p. 43. l. 9. brought to bed in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 days , p. 41. l. 26 , before her time at 4 5 6 8 months , p. 41. l. 27. bruising great or little , p. 47. l. 26. burn , p. 49. l. 11. c callus , p. 51. l. 20. carnosity in the passage of the yard , p. 39. l. 6. chapping and rawness of the tongue . p. 32. l. 10. cheeks full , hanging down , flat , hollow , or middling . p , 18. l. 19. chest full , narrow , middling , p. 18. 24. chillness , great or little , p. 23. l. 6. chin long , short , middling , round or dimpled . p. 18. l. 20. coffee , p. 20. l. 15. coldness of the outer parts , p. 23. l. 25. colour good or bad , naturally , or by accident . p. 19. l. 3. constitution hale , middling , or weakly , p. 17. l. 26. convulsion , p. 30. l. 25. cough dry or moist , p. 23. l. 29. cramp , p. 34. l. 29. crooked before or behind . p. 19. l. 10. custom of purging or bleeding hath been left off a little while or a long time , p. 21. l. 8. d deafness old or new , p. 31. l. 23. difficulty in breathing , p. 33. l. 28. in walking , p. 41. l. 10. in making water , p. 28. l. 17. discharge of urine , p. 23. l. 28. dreams , pleasant , displeasing , of fire , water , mire , of flying in the air , p. 19. l. 18. dryness of mouth , p. 23. l. 13. drowziness , p. 24. l. 1. easy or hard to vomit or purge , to take medicines , p. 19. l. 20. eats little , moderately , or much . p. 20. l. 7. excess in eating and drinking p. 20. l. 12. excrescence in the nose , p. 31. l. 29. exercise of body or mind , much or little , p. 20. l. 29. p. 21. l. 1. eyes sparkling , lively , dull , large , middling , little , p. 18. l. 5. f fall from on high , p. 47. l. 25. falling of the hair , p. 37. l. 6. falling down of the womb. p. 44. l. 5. faltring in speech . p. 33. l. 11. fearful with or without cause , p. 30. l. 4. fever continual , p. 23 , 24. film over the right or left eye , through which something appears like flies , not being able to see in a great light , things afar off or near hand , p. 31. l. 9. fit irregular , regular , which comes every day , evening or morning , holding two , three , four hours at once ; there are two ill days and one well , p. 23. fits of the mother , p. 44. l. 7. flux of the belly great , moderate or small , p. 23. l. 18. and p. 28. l. 3. foaming at the mouth , p. 30. l. 24. forehead broad , middling or narrow , p. 18. l. 4. g gone with child , the first 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 month beginning or compleat , p. 41. l. 14. gripes , p. 28. l. 8. groans , p. 30. l. 22. gums , swollen , ulcered , or eaten away , p. 32. l. 18. h habit of body , fat , fleshy , or lean , p. 18. l. 1. hair light , red , brown , black , gray , white , curl'd , p. 18. l. 25. head very great , little , or well proportioned to the rest of the body , p. 18. l. 2. heat great or moderate , p. 23. l. 12 , 24. hoarse , p. 32. l. 14. humming or a noise in the ears , old or new , great or small , p. 31. l. 18 : i issue in the head , arm or leg , dried up , p. 21. l. 10. judgment impaired or lost , p. 30. l. 21. k. kernels in the groin , p. 38. l. 24. l. lame in the hip , leg , or foot , right or left , p. 19 , l. 11. letting of blood to advantage , or not , p. 53. l. 9. lips thick , middling or thin , p. 18. l. 12. less or diminution of motion and sense , p. 30. l. 19. of hearing , p. 31. l. 23. of voice or speech , p. 32. l. 13. m. makes water often , seldom , much , little , drop by drop , easily , clear or thick , p. 28. l. 15. matter in the eyes . p. 31. l. 5. in the ears , p. 31. l. 18. meals , one , two , or three a day , p. 20. l. 8. melancholick with , or without cause , p. 30. l. 3. memory impaired or lost , p. 30. l. 21. milk in a great , little , or moderate quantity . p. 43. l. 1. mind free or disturbed , p. 30. l. 2. miscarriage by a fall , a strain ▪ blow , sudden fright , loss of blood. p. 41. l. 26. p. 42. l. 1. motion impaired or lost , p. 30. l. 20. mouth wide , middling or narrow , p. 18. l. 15. well or ill , p. 32. l. 16. n neck short , long , thick , slender , middling , p. 18. l. 21. noise in the ears , p. 31. l. 19. nose big , long , short , middling , p. 18. l. 9. nurseth or nurseth not her child . p. 42. l. 23. o one-eyed , p. 31. l. 15. p pain in the limbs , p. 23. l. 11. of the whole or part , right or left , before or behind in the head , p. 23. l. 13. p. 24. l. 7. in the loins , p. 23. l. 28. p. 36. l. 1. p. 40. l. 21. in the right or left side , p. 33. l. 23. in the belly , fundament , p. 28. l. 8. in making water , p. 28. l. 15. which is always the same or alters , p. 30. l. 6. p. 36. l. 14 , 22. small , moderate , or great , encreasing in the day or night , and is more violent fasting , or after meals . p. 30. l. 15. wandring or fixed , p. 36. l. 26. is asswaged by heat or cold , p. 30. l. 16. with or without heaviness , p. 30. l. 9. pain in the ears . p. 31. l. 18. in the neck , p. 33. l. 15. in the pit of the stomach , p. 34. l. 15. in the joints . p. 36. l. 12. paleness , with difficulty in walking , p. 41. l. 8. palpitation or beating of the heart , p. 34. l. 3. pimples and scabs , p. 37. l. 1. poyson , p. 53. l. 1. proportion streight or not , p. 10. l. 10. pulse quick , moderate , slow : which beats high , low , moderately , p. 34. l. 6. purged with or without relief , p. 53. l. 16. r. ratling in the throat , p. 33. l. 29. redness of cheeks , p. 33. l. 29. of eyes . p. 31. l. 4. restlesness . p. 24. l. 1. rubbing of the nose , p. 32. l. 5. rumbling in the belly , p. 35. l. 14. s seed has come away for 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 days , weeks , months , years ; which is thin or thick , white , yellow or green ; with or without pain , in a great moderate , or small quantity , with erection or swelling of the yard , of the nut , of the praepuce , or of the cods , with or without a painful kernel in the groin , which has matter in it or not . p. 38. l. 24. shortness of breath . p. 33. l. 28. sick aboout 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 16 days , weeks months , years , p. 22. sick at the heart , p. 23. l. 10. sickly or not , dangerously , or without danger , p. 21. l. 5. sighs , p. 34. l. 9. sight dim , p. 31. l. 9. sleeps long , little , not at all ; hath not slept for a pretty while , or for several days , p. 19. l. 16. small-pox , p. 19. l. 9. smarting of the eyes , with or without redness and inflammation of a long time or lately , p. 31. l. 4. in the passage of the yard , p. 38. l. 15. smelling impaired or lost , p. 32. l. 6. sobriety or intemperance , p. 20. l. 10. spits or raises with or without pain and coughing little or much , thin or thick , white , yellow , red , black , frothy , like corruption , p. 29. l. 16. squint-eyed , p. 31. l. 15. startings , p. 31. l. 2. stature tall , middling , or very low , p. 17. l. 28. sting , p. 48. l. 7. stinking breath , p. 33. l. 16. in the nose , p. 33. l. 2. stone in the kidneys , bladder , p. 36. l. 10. stones swollen , p. 38. l. 29. stools white , yellow , green , grey , red and bloody , thick or thin , p. 28. l. 11. voided without knowing it , p. 30. l. 4. straining to stool , p. 28. l. 10 : swallows easily or with pain , p. 32. l. 24. sweats . p. 23. l. 19. seldom , often ; the sweats are not ranc , are clammy , hot , cold , little , or in abundance , or sweateth not at all , p. 29. l. 4. swelling or tumour , great , moderate , small , hard , fost ; which throbs or throbs not long , round , or of another shape ; equal or unequal , p. 44. l. 19. of the neck , p. 33. l. 18. of the belly , p. 35. l. 15. of the legs , p. 35. l. 2● ▪ swimming in the head , p. 30. l. 28. swoons seldom or often , p. 35. l. 6. t. tast spoiled much or little , p. 34. l. 10. tawny visage , p. 19. l. 7. tears involuntary , p. 31. l. 5. teeth great or little , are not all cut , or are all cut but 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 stand close , or at a distance one from another , white , yellow , black or rotten , p. 33. l. 3. thick of hearing , p. 31. l. 20. thirst , p. 23. l. 14. tobacco , p. 20. l. 27. tongue clean or foul , p. 32. l. 8. tongue-tyed , p. 32. l. 14. tooth-ach , p. 33. l. 7. travail or child-bearing , she hath been in it , 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 days , p. 41. l. 25. u ulcer or sore came of it self , 2 3 4 5 6 7 days , weeks , months , years ; or after a fall or blow ; even or hollow , with or without hardness of the sides , with or without veins about it ; with or without inflammation , little or much redness , pain , proud flesh ; with or without corruption of the bone ; which runs little or much matter , white , black , brown thin , thick ; with or without stink , p. 49. l. 9. voice lost or hoarse , p. 32. l. 13 vomits little or much , p. 34. l. 29. with relief , p. 53. l. 8. vomiting and loosness , p. 34. l. 28. urine pale , yellow , red , bloody green , black , having a cloud in the middle , or a settling at the bottom ; is clear or thick when it ha● stood , p. 28. l. 19. w warts upon the nut of the yard , or on the skin tha● comes over it , p. 39. l. 4. watching little or much , p. 24. l. 1. whites , p. 41. l. 3. wine , p. 20. l. 13. wombfallen down , ulcered , with smart or itching , p. 43. l. 20. p. 44. l. 5. worms alive , dead , long , short , flat , hairy , in a great or little quantity , p. 35. l. 3. wounds , p. 47. l. 1. y yawning , p. 23. 1. 9. a treatise of the pestilence vvherein is shewed all the causes thereof, with most assured preseruatiues against all infection: and lastly is taught the true and perfect cure of the pestilence, by most excellent and approued medicines. composed by thomas thayre chirurgian, for the benefite of his countrie, but chiefly for the honorable city of london. thayre, thomas. 1603 approx. 137 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 37 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a13646 stc 23929 estc s101271 99837087 99837087 1395 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a13646) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 1395) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 978:05) a treatise of the pestilence vvherein is shewed all the causes thereof, with most assured preseruatiues against all infection: and lastly is taught the true and perfect cure of the pestilence, by most excellent and approued medicines. composed by thomas thayre chirurgian, for the benefite of his countrie, but chiefly for the honorable city of london. thayre, thomas. [8], 65, [1] p. by e. short, dwelling at the signe of the starre on bred-streete hill, imprinted at london : 1603. printer's device (mckerrow 278) on title page. dedication to sir robert lee, lord mayor. running title reads: preseruatiues against the sicknesse, and the cure of the pestilence. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to 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assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-05 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a treatise of the pestilence : wherein is shewed all the causes thereof , with most assured preseruatiues against all infection : and lastly is taught the true and perfect cure of the pestilence , by most excellent and approued medicines . composed by thomas thayre chirurgian , for the benefite of his countrie , but chiefly for the honorable city of london . altissimus creauit medicinam super terram , vir prudens non contemnit illam . imprinted at london by e. short , dwelling at the signe of the starre on bredstreete hill . 1603. to the right honorable sir robert lee knight , lorde maior of the renowned city of london , and to the right worshipful the sheriffes , and also to all the right worshipfull the aldermen their brethren , thomas thayre wisheth all spirituall and temporall blessings from the lord in this life , and in the life to come eternall saluation , through christ jesu our sauiour . considering with my selfe , right honorable , and right worshipfull , that nothing is more necessary , nor more desired in the time of dangerous sicknesse and perill of death , then to present vnto the person so standing , the meanes to preserue him from the violence of the same , and to restore the sick from imminent perill of death , vnto his former estate of health ; and perceiuing , right honorable , that no man had as yet written any treatise , wherein was contained such speciall and excellent medicines , that might be able to resist , and also cure this dangerous and contagious sicknesse ; and likewise to giue sufficient instruction & direction vnto the inhabitants of this citie , for their preseruation in this infectious time : i was mooued in conscience ( my lord ) for the dutie i owe , and for the loue i beare vnto this honorable city , to cōmunicate vnto them such preseruatiues , as are , through gods grace , giuen vnto them able to resist and defend from infection of this sicknesse all such as vse thē . and also i haue set down most excellent & approued medicines , such as i haue practised and approued vnto the great vtilitie of manie , beeing able , through gods mercy , speedily to cure the most and greatest part of al such as shall be infected with this sicknesse , beeing vsed in time , before the sicknesse hath vtterly ouercome nature . and although my insufficic̄cy to write any publique matter , perswaded me to relinquish my intēded purpose in publishing this treatise , i being the meanest of so many in this land , and vnable to write any plausible stile : yet the truth & plainnes of the matter , the excellency of the medicines , & the vtility that many should find thereby , being vsed , ouercame that doubt of mind , and animated me to proceede in my intended purpose ; not doubting , but assuredly trusting in the lord , frō whom commeth all health , that this beeing vsed , many shall bee preserued , and cured thereby , to gods glory and our comfort : he it is on whom we must depend . the lord hath created medicine of the earth , and giuen great vertue vnto trees , hearbes , gums , stones , and minerals , and all for the helpe of his people in the time of their sicknes . god make vs thankfull vnto him for them , & giue vs grace to be warned by others punishment , and to vse thankfully and diligentlie , the good means for our health : and then i trust assuredly that the lord will blesse our indeuours , vnto his glory , and our health ' and comfort . and for as much as i haue written this treatise chiefelie in respect of the citie , i haue presumed to dedicate the same vnto your honor , & vnto the right worshipfull the sheriffes and aldermen your brethren , as a pledge of my loue and humble duty towards you : which if it shall please you to accept in good part , and vouchsafe to patronize mine indeuours , i doubt not but that manie shall finde the benefit therof to gods glory & their great comfort : and i shall be incouraged some other time , as occasion shall be offred , to performe a work no lesse needfull : thus beseeching the almightie to blesse your honor , & the right worshipfull your brethren , with all happinesse your hearts can desire , i humblie take my leaue . your honors and worships to command , thomas thayre . to the louing reader grace and health from the lord. calling vnto mind ( curteous reader ) the saying of tvlly , non nobis solùm nati sumus , &c. we are not born vnto our selues alone , but we owe a dutie and seruice vnto our countrey , our parents , & our friends , and considering with my self vnto my griefe , the sicknesse , the which it hath pleased god to visit vs withall , is greatly increased , dispersing it selfe into manie places of this citie to the griefe of manie : i hauing duly considered thereof , thought it my dutie to vse the small talent that the lord hath lent me vnto his glory , and the good of my brethren : which moued mee to write this treatise shewing the causes of the pestilence : the meanes to preserue vs from the infection of this contagious sicknesse : and the way and methode to cure such as shall be infected therewith , vsing the remedie in time , i meane in the beginning of the sickenesse , before nature be ouercome , obseruing the order of this booke . and for as much as this is gods visitation for our iniquitie , wee must therefore first fly vnto him with contrite hearts , fixing our whole trust in his mercie : and then wee must with all diligence and thankfulnes of heart , vse the good meanes that the lord hath ordained for our health . for to neglect the meanes , is to contemne gods gifts ; and we make our selues guiltie of our owne death , and before god we are no better then murtherers , because we haue despised the meanes of our helpe that he hath ordained for vs. but i trust there are none so wilfull and obstinate in this citie . this treatise ( gentle reader ) i haue penned , and present vnto thee , plaine and simple , barren of eloquence and filed phrase to delight thee : yet herein is contained most excellent and approued remedies , and as effectuall for the curing of this sicknesse , as are , or haue beene knowne . vse them in gods name , and doe not trust vnto light and trifling medicines , considering the strength and daunger of this sicknesse : these haue power and vertue , through gods grace , to expulse and speedily to cure this infectious sicknesse : and for preseruing a person from infection i haue set downe manie preseruatiues . and for curing the sicknesse i haue set downe foure principall medicines , and three others of lesse strength , to bee vsed when the aforenamed cannot be had . all which you may haue readie or speedily made at euery good apothecaries . vse them i counsell thee in the beginning of this sicknesse , for delay breedeth daunger : and death commonly followeth , and medicine comes too late when nature is ouercome by the sicknesse . and for as much as i haue written this treatise for the benefit of all men in generall , that thinke good to vse it , & haue done it in loue & good wil , so i hope the well disposed will censure it . and no godly and vertuous minded physition will be herewith offended , or enuy my endeuours , considering it is for the benefit and helpe of many in this or such like dangerous time , wherein many perish for want of counsel and helpe in their sicknesse , at the beginning thereof . and where anie ouersight or defect hath passed in my booke , as i doubt not but that there are some , hauing so short time , and so little opportunity to ouerlooke it , i desire the learned reader to correct and amend the same : and in so doing i shall be vnto him beholding . and so now taking my leaue , i beseech god of his great mercy to blesse the meanes that we shall vse for our health , vnto the honour , glorie and praise of his holy name , and vnto our health & comfort . farewell luly the ninth . non quaero quod mihi vtile est , sed multis . thine in all friendly loue and good will , thomas thayre . a treatise of the pestilence : wherein is shewed all the causes thereof , with most assured preseruatiues against all infection . this contagious sicknes which is generally called the plague or pestilence , is no other thing then a corrupt and venemous aire , deadly enemie vnto the vital spirits : most commonly bringing death and dissolution vnto the body , except with spéede good remedy be vsed . i mean not that the aire of it self is a verie poison , for then consequently all persons ( for the most part ) that liue within the aire so corrupted , should be infected , and few or none escape the danger thereof : but my meaning is , that the aire hath in it selfe a venemous qualitie , by reason whereof those bodies wherein there is cacochymia , corrupt and superfluous humours abounding , are apt and lightly infected , those humours being of themselues inclined and disposed vnto putrifaction . now i will proceede to shew the causes of this dangerous sicknesse , and also the cure thereof . now hauing briefly defined what the pestilence is , i will ( god assisting me ) prosecute mine intended purpose . first , in shewing all the causes thereof , and the cure , and remedie for euerie cause . entring into due consideration of the causes of the pestilence that now raigneth , christian reader , i find there are thrée causes thereof . the first and chiefest is sinne . the second is the corruption of the aire . the third and last cause , is the euill disposition of the body , bred by euill diet , and the abuse of things called res non naturales , things not natural : not so called , for that they are against nature , but because through the abuse of them nature is debilitated , corrupted , and oftentimes vtterly destroyed . the first cause , i say , is sinne . the holy scriptures sufficiently proueth the same , and giueth manie examples how the lord oftentimes punisheth his people for their sin and impietie of life with the pestilence . reade the 14. chapter of the booke of numbers , and the 11. and 12. verses : where the lord speaking vnto moses , saying : how long will this people prouoke me ? and how long will it be ere they beleeue me , for all the signes i haue shewed among them ? i will smite them with the pestilence , and will destroy them , and will make thee a greater & mightier nation then they . why doth the lord here threaten the children of israel his chosen , to strike them with the pestilence ? the reason is shewed in the same chapter : because ( saith he ) they haue murmured against me , and haue rebelled , not keeping nor obseruing my lawes . and as the lord spake vnto the children of israel by moses , so speaketh he vnto vs dayly by his ministers and preachers of his word . also reade deuteronomy the 28. chap. the 1. 2. 3. and 4. verses , and there you shall sée the blessings that the lord promiseth vnto them , that walke in his waies and kéepe his commandements : and it followeth in the same chapter : but if thou wilt not obey the voice of the lord thy god , and keep and doe his commandements : the lord shall make the pestilence to cleaue vnto thee . and many more curses hee pronounceth against them that continue in their sin and iniquitie of life . and further , the lord shal smite thee with a consumption , & with a feuer , and with a burning ague , and so forth . this spake the lord vnto the children of israel his people , and this speaketh the lord daily vnto vs : but we are slow to repentance and amendment of life . reade leuiticus the 26. chap. and the 21. verse . and if you walke stubbornly against me ( saith the lord ) and will not obey my word , i will bring seuen times more plagues vpon you , according vnto your sinnes . and in the third verse following he saith : i will send the pestilence among you , and you shall bee deliuered into the hands of your enemies . this spake the lord vnto the inhabitants of ierusalem , and this speaketh hee vnto vs oftentimes by his ministers , whom we ought with all reuerence to heare , and with all diligence to follow . many more places could i cite and inferre out of the sacred scriptures , to proue sinne to be a cause of the pestilence , and sometime the onely cause thereof : example in dauid : example in pharao , and diuers other , which for prolixitie i omit , hoping this may suffice to proue sinne to bee a cause of the pestilence , which is indéede as a messenger or executioner sometimes of gods iustire . manie and great plagues hath this our land tasted of in times past , and it is not yet tenne yeares since this citie of london was visited and afflicted with this sicknes , dispersing it selfe into diuers and many places of this land , cutting off and taking away a great multitude of people : and i doubt not but sin was a great cause thereof . o that man would therefore remember the inconstancie and srailtie of this life ! and consider the end of his creation was to serue and glorifie god : but we daily dishonour him by committing of sinne , and not giuing vnto him that honor and seruice that is due vnto the lord : but placing all our affections vpon the vaine delights and inconstant pleasures of this alluring and deceitfull world , which do as it were bewitch vs , and withdrawe vs from that christian care that we ought to haue of our saluation , abusing gods mercie and long sufferance with our delayes and procrastination to turne vnto him , being misebly deluded by satan , and intised by the glittering shewes of this world , to the loue thereof ; and god knowes how soone we must leaue it . i pray god infuse his grace and holy spirit into our hearts , that sinne may be mortified in vs , and that it may worke in vs a reformation and amendment of life : & that we may henceforth walk in this our short pilgrimage , as christians and seruants of the lord , seruing him in all holinesse and pietie of life , contemning the vaine pleasures of this fraudulent world , which are but snares to intrap our soules , and the baites of sathan to draw vs vnto destruction : then shall we not need to feare death , but say with saint paul , mors mihi lucrum , death vnto me is gaine , saith he : so is it indéed vnto all the godly : but vnto the wicked it is an entrance into a continuall and eternall punishment : from the which christ that hath died for vs , deliuer vs. amen . now hauing shewed sin to be one cause of the pestilence , and sometimes the onely cause , when it pleaseth god to punish the impietie of his people , vsing it as the executioner of his wrath : it followeth that i shewe the other causes , whereof the pestilence may arise . the second cause , is the corruption of the aire . galen the most excellent and famous physition in his booke de differentijs febrium , saith , there be two causes of the pestilence : vnam , aërem vitiatum ac putridum : alterā , humores corporis vitio so victu collectos , & ad putreso endum paratos ; the one cause is ( saith he ) an infected , corrupted , and putrified aire : the other cause is , euill and superfluous humors gathered in the body through haughtie and corrupt diet , which humours be apt and ready to putrifaction . and this is most true , and not onely the opinion of galen and hippocrates , the fathers and princes of physicke , but of all the learned and iudiciall physitions of latter time , and at this day . now let vs consider how , and by what meanes the aire may be corrupted and altered from his wholsom qualitie vnto a venemous dispositiō . entring into due consideration therof , i finde many causes that may corrupt the aire , all which i will compose or include in these two . the first cause whereby the aire may bée corrupted , is through the vnholsom influence of that planets ; who by their malitious disposition , qualitie , and operations , distemper , alter and corrupt the aire , making it vnholesome vnto humane nature . when the temperature of the aire is changed from his naturall estate , to immoderate heate and moisture , then it corrupteth and putrifieth , and ingendreth the pestilence . i emit to write what i haue read concerning the alterations and mutations , that are sometimes caused by the superior bodies or planets here below vpon the earth : for vnto the learned it were superfluous , and vnto the vulgar or common sorte , it woulde rather bréede admiration then credite : but this euerie man is to vnderstand , deus regit astra , god rules the starres : and yet i doubt not , but through the eclipses , exaltation , coniunctions , and aspectes of the planets , the aire may bée corrupted , and made vnholesome sometimes , in somuch that diuers griefes are bred thereby . the second cause , whereby the aire may be corrupted , is a venemous euaporation arising from the earth , as from fennes , moores , standing muddie waters , and stinking ditches and priuies , or from dead bodies vnburied , stinking chanels and mixsones , and multitudes of people liuing in small and little roome , and vncleanlie kept : all these are causes and meanes whereby the aire may be corrupted . the third cause of the pestilence , is the euill disposition of the body , which is bred by euill diet : the bodie being repleat with corrupt and superfluous humors , which humors bereadie to putrifie and rot vpon anie light occasion : and when such a person doth but receiue into his bodie by inspiration , the corrupted and infections aire , he is therewith by and by infected , his bodie being disposed thereunto through superfluous and corrupt humors abounding : whereas contrarie wise , a body of a good disposition , i meane a body frée from grosse , corrupt , and superfluous humors , is not castlie or lightlie infected , because there is not that matter for the infectious ayre to worke vpon . and againe , nature is more stronge to repell the infectious or corrupted ayre , if it be receiued : and this is the cause why one person is rather infected then another ; namelie the disposition of the bodie . now hauing shewed all the causes of the pestilence ; i will ( god assisting mée ) set downe the cure and remedie for euerie cause , which causes being taken away , the effect which is the sicknesse , must néedes cease . the first cause , i say , is sinne : and this ought first to be taken awaie , and then i dare vndertake ( by gods assistance ) my corporall medicines shall soone staie this furious sicknesse . sinne is a sicknesse of the soule ; the cure thereof dooth consist in these two points . the first , is true , hartie , and faithfull repentance , with all contrition of heart confessing thy sinnes vnto the lorde , with faithfull prayer vnto christ iesu , that it will please him to be an aduocate and mediator vnto the lorde for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes . do this , and thou shalt find god mercifull , hee is readier to forgiue then we to aske forgiuenesse of him . he would not the death of a sinner , but with all mercy , patience , and long suffering wayteth and expecteth our conuersion vnto him . the second point , is newnesse of life : for what shall it auaile vs to haue forgiuenesse of our sinnes , if we fall into the same againe , and walke in our former euilnesse of life ? this will but increase gods wrath and indignation against vs , and exasperate him to punish our impietie of life with all seueritie . therefore , i counsell thee , as thou tendrest the saluation of thy soule , flie from euill , and do the thing that is right ; walke vprightlie before him in newnesse and holinesse of life : for the lord séeth all thy waies , and knoweth the thoughts of thy heart long before . remember thy time here is but short , and death will sommon thee ( thou knowest not how soone ) to giue an account how thou hast spent thy time , and vsed the talent that the lord hath lent thée here on earth . then shalt thou stād before the tribunall seat of the almightie & iust iudge , where all thy whole life shal be laide open , and all thy actions , and thoughts of thy heart made manifest and knowne . then happy and ten times happie are they , vnto whom the lord shall say : come yee blessed of my father , receiue ye the kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the worlde . but how vnhappie , and in what miserable estate are they , vnto whom the lord shall say : goe you cursed into eternall darknesse , a place of punishment appointed for you : where there is horror , weeping and gnashing of teeth . this is the place appointed for the vngodly worldlings that wallow and continue in their sinne , neglecting the seruice of the lord : for which end they were created . consider this ( good christian reader ) and defer no time to turne vnto the lord : for this life of ours is fraile , vnconstant , and very vncertaine . we haue examples daily before our eies of the vncertainty thereof , to day a man , to morrow none . homo natus muliere paucorum dierum est , & repletur inquietudine , saith iob : man that is borne of a woman his daies are fewe , and is full of misery . for thy further instruction , i refer thée vnto the godly and learned diuines , heare them : for they are the messengers and ministers of the lorde , appointed to teach his people , and in mée it might be noted for presumption , to take vpon mée the office of another man , hauing in this point more néede to be taught my self , then able to instruct others . the cure of the soule belongeth vnto them , and thē cure of the body vnto me . i will now hasten vnto the second cause , which is the corruption of the aire . i haue shewed before all the causes that may corrupt the aire : it followeth now that i teach the correction , purging and altring of the aire corrupted , which is the second cause of the pestilence . and first i would counsel you , that al the stréetes , lanes , and allies be kept cleane and swéete , as possible may bée , not suffering the filth and swéepings to lie on heapes , as it dooth , especiallie in the suburbes , but to be caried awaie more spéedily : for the uncleane kéeping of the stréetes , yéelding as it dooth noisome and vnsauory smelles , is a meanes to increase the corruption of the aire , and giueth great strength vnto the pestilence . also , that al the pondes , pooles , & ditches about the city , if they yéeld any stinking and noisom smels , that they be scoured and clensed : for there ariseth from them an euill and vnholesome aire , which furthereth the corruption of the aire , and worse will do in hotter weather . also , that you suffer no mixsons to be made so néere vnto the citie as they are , but to be caried far off : neither any dead carion to lie vnburied , as i haue séene , but to be caried forth and buried déepe . also , that euerie euening you make small and light fiers with oken wood , in those stréets where the infection is , either two , or thrée fiers , according vnto the length of the stréete or place infected ; the wood being consumed , cast in some stickes of iuniper ; and therewithall , two , thrée or foure rowles of perfume that i haue here set downe in my booke , which i would wish were vsed through the whole citie in your chambers and houses , cast in vpon some coles in a chafingdish or fuming pot , in the morning and euening . this fumigation hath a most excellent and singular propertie , to purge and alter a corrupt and vnholsome aire . but peraduenture some men for want of iudgement , wil think this my direction ouer curious & of small validity : but i do and will affirme , that the vse thereof is very requisite , and of great force & vtility , and the best meanes for the purging and altering the euill qualitie of the aire , that is knowne vnto man. this fumigatiō is to be vsed where the infection is , in the euening , and also in the morning ; & is of great force for the purging of the aire , and altering the euill qualitie thereof : which i wish were dayly vsed through the citie , in their houses and chambers , for the excellent vertue thereof . r. storax , calamint , labdanum , cypresse-wood , myrrhe , beniamin , yellow sanders , ireos , red roseleaues , flowers of nenuphar , of each one ounce ; liquid storax one ounce , cloues one ounce , turpentine one ounce , withy cole fiue ounces , rose-water as much as wil be sufficient to make them vp in trochis , & let them be two drams in weight . the wood béeing consumed , cast in some stickes of iuniper , and after it cast in two or thrée of these trochis , which will yéelde a comfortable smell and purge the aire . another more swéete and delectable for the better sort , to vse in their houses and chambers dailie . r. storax , calamint , labdanum , cypresse-wood , frankēcense , beniamin , of each of thē half an ounce ; red roseleaues dried , yellow sanders , of each two drams ; cinamon , cloues , wood of aloes , of each of them one dramme ; flowers of nenuphar one dram ; liquid storax halfe an ounce , gum dragagant two drams , and muske six graines , withy cole three ounces , rose water as much as will suffice to make it vp in trochis . this i would counsell gentlemen , and citizens to vse dayly in their houses and chambers , for the excellent operation it hath . also it is good for want of these , to burn in your houses and chambers iuniper , frankincense , storax , baylaues , marierom , rose marie , lauender , and such like . now hauing shewed the remedies for the two first causes ; it followeth , that i teach the cure of the third and last cause , which is the euill disposition of the body , through superfluous , corrupt , and euill humors abounding . here is the cause , and these corrupt and superfluous humors must be taken away before the body can bée in any good estate of health . and this is the reason that diuers persons liuing together in one aire , that one is infected and not another , namely , the disposition of the body : for those naughtie , corrupt , & superfluous humors , are of themselues apt and disposed vnto putrefaction , and if it so chance that they do putrefie of themselues , then there arise dangerous feuers , according vnto the nature of the humor that corrupteth . as for example , if choler do putrifie within the vesselles , it ingendreth febris ardens or febris causon , a hot and a dangerous feuer , working his malice in the concauitie of the liuer and lunges and about the heart , & except remedy be administred the person dieth . and so when any of the other humors doe putrefie , there springe feuers , according vnto their nature , as the learned knowe . now such bodies ( i say ) wherein there is such superfluous humors abounding , in the time of any infection , receiuing into their bodies the corrupt and venemous aire , are thereby infected : and these humors turned not only into putrefaction , but into a venemous qualitie , by the operation of the infectious aire whereas in bodies voide and frée from such superfluous humors , there the infectious aire hath not such matter to worke vpon : and againe , nature is more strong and forcible to resist and expell a corrupt and infectious aire although receiued . here the reason is apparant why one person is infected and not another . and very niedfull it is especiallie in this time of sicknesse , that this euill disposition of the body be taken away and amended , by purging and euacuating of the perccant humors . for which purpose i wil set down a very excellent and approued potion , which purgeth the blood and disburdeneth the body of superfluous humors both choler , flegme , and melancholie , opening attracting and euacuating the corrupt and vitious humors of the body , to the great comfort , helpe and ease of those that vse it with discretion , as i shall direct them : the making or composition whereof i haue here set downe . but first taking this sirrup thrée morninges before you purge , two spoonefuls euerie morning , fasting after it two or thrée houres , and vse your accustomed diet as before . r. oximell two ounces , sir . de quinque radicibus two ounces , misce . r. good rubarbe two drammes , spicknarde six graines , sene halfe an ounce , fenill seede , and annisseede of each halfe a dramme , flowers of borage and buglosse , of each halfe a little handfull ; water of endiue and fumitarie of each of them fiue ounces , and so make your infusion . let this infusion be made in some earthen stupot close couered and paasted that no breath or vapor goe forth , and let it stand seuen or eight howers vpon some imbers , or small coles , and but warme : after which time straine it forth and put thereunto of diacatholicon one ounce , diaphenicon halfe an ounce , electuarium succo rosarum halfe an ounce , mix these with the infusion aboue written , and this will be a sufficient quantitie for thrée daies , taking the third part the first day , and on the second day the halfe of that which was left , and the other part the third day : take it early in the morning , and sléepe not after the taking of it , neither eate , nor drinke vntill it hath wrought his effect , & then take some broth made with a chicken or a capon , and for want thereof with veale or yonge mutton , as you can bee prouided , with resins of the sunne stoned , two or thrée dates , a little parsely put thereunto , and thickned with some crummes of bread . when your potiō hath done working you may take of this broth , and also a little of your meate sparingly , and in the euening make a light supper with a chicken , or a rabbet , or such like meat that is light and easie of digestion , yéelding good nutriment : the next day early , take another part of your drinke , and vse your selfe as the day before . and likewise the third day , take that part of your potion that remained , and vse your selfe as before taught . this being done , rest a gods name , & vse a good and a moderate diet , and beware of excesse and superfluitie ; for he that vseth it shall fall into the hands of the phisition , but he that dieteth him selfe prolongeth his life . now if it so happen that your potion do not worke within two howers after the receiuing thereof , which is verie seldome séene in any body , then take a little of your broth , or if it be not readie a little thinne alebrue , either of which will cause it to worke forthwith . or if you feare through weakenes of your stomacke , you shall vomit after the taking thereof , then as soone as you haue receiued your potion , let there be made ready a browne tost , which being dipt and sokened in good vinegar , holde it vnto your nose , and smell therunto sometime . you ought to kéepe your chamber during the thrée daies , that you take your potion . and it is very requisite also , that you kéepe your house the day after your purging : because the pores of the body will be opened thereby . this potion is of great vertue , and not only deliuereth the body from a disposition to be infected with this sicknesse ; but also from many other griefes and diseases springing and arising by repletion , and corruption of humors , and very gently and easily purgeth both choler and flegme from the stomacke without molestation of the body , or weakning of nature . and this is especiallie good for such as want appetite vnto their meate , and such as féele an vnweildinesse , and slouthfulnesse in themselues , hauing no delight in exercise , dulnesse of the wit and sences , more sléepie then accustomed to be , shiuering of the body , mixed with heate , as if they should haue an ague . and if any thinke this a tedious course , and therefore loath , or vnwilling to vse it , let them consider that health is not obtained without some meanes be vsed , and let them not thinke much to take a little paines for the gaining of so pretious a iewell , without the which although abounding in worldly wealth , yet we can take delight , pleasure , or contentation in nothing : as for healthy bodies , such as are free from corrupt and superfluous humours , vsing a good diet and exercise of bodie , such ( i say ) are not lightly infected as others are , in whom there is repletion : it shall be sufficient for them without purging to vse anie of the preseruatiues i haue set downe in this booke . and let them bée assured by the vse thereof , and by gods assistance , from all infection , although the sicknesse were more strong and powerfull then it is : and although i assuredly know , that this potion béeing vsed may suffice to take away the euill disposition of the body , yet because i know many would bee loth to be inioined to kéepe their chamber foure dayes as they ought to doo , that vse this potion or any other purging potion , i haue for their benefite set downe a most excellent pill that purgeth all corrupt , and superfluous humors , and is with all a very good preseruatiue , defending the body from all infection . the composition of the pill . r. good rubarbe one dramme and a halfe , saffron two scruples , trochis of agarick one dram ; of chosen myrrhe one dram , aloes the best two drams , syrrup of roses solutiue as much as will suffice to make them in pilles . take a dram of these pils early euery morning , for fiue or six dayes together , taking two or thrée houres after them a little thin broth , and vse a sparing diet for these fiue or six dayes , and let your meat bée light and easie of digestion : you shall haue two or thrée stooels daily or foure in some bodies . notwithstanding you may safely goe abroad about your businesse , without any inconuenience at all . and hauing now shewed how the euill disposition of the body may be amended , and taken away by gentle purging and euacuating of the peccant humors , bred by euill diet , and the abuse of the six things called , res non naturales , whereof i will briefly speake , teaching what ought to be auoided , as hurtfull and preiudiciall vnto your health . in receiuing of the aire . the aire is one of the elements wherof our bodies are composed ; and without the inspiration , and respiration thereof we cannot liue : and therefore it standeth much with our health , that the aire which we receiue into our bodies , bée swéete , holesome and vncorrupt . and i counsell al men that they auoide all places of infection , all stinking and noisome smels ; and when they are disposed to walke , that they walke in gardens , or swéete and pleasant fieldes : but neither early nor late at night . i haue set downe the making of a good pomander , the which i would wish to bee worne not only of gentlemen , but of others also for the good property it hath both in resisting a corrupt , noysom , and stinking aire , and in comforting the senses . i doe not intend in this place to write of the nature of aires and the election thereof ; it would be ouer tedious , who so desireth it , let him reade hippocrates de flatibus : also auicen , and rasis haue written copiouslie thereof . and you ought to obserue aire as meate , cold sicknesses require warme aire , drie sicknesses moist aire : & so in the contraries , to them that be long sicke , change of aire is very commodious ; & to such as be in health , a temperate aire is most holesom . and where the aire is infected and corrupted , i haue set downe most excellent perfumes , for the correcting and purging thereof both for the stréets , houses and chambers , and by the vse thereof the euill qualitie of the aire shal be taken away . in eating and drinking . in eating and drinking , we ought to consider that the meates that we eate and receiue for the nourishment of our bodies be swéete and holsome , yéelding good iuyce : for such as the meat is , such humors it bréedeth in the body : if it be harde of digestion it dooth debilitate and weaken nature , and ouercharge the alteratiue vertue of the stomacke : if swéet , it bréedeth oppilations , whereof dangerous feuers arise ; sower cooleth nature and hasteneth age : moist dooth putrifie and hasten age , drie sucketh vp naturall moisture , salt dooth fret , bitter dooth not nourish , so that in diuersitie of meates is great diuersitie of qualitie . a man that is in health ought to vse a temperate diet , and féeding sparingly vpon one , two or thrée dishes at the most , and if we meane to liue in anie health of bodie all superfluitie , & repletion of meates is to be abhorred . consider with thy selfe , thou art a man indued with reason , and therefore in thy diet and all other thy actions let reason and temperance gouerne thine appetite & affections : through surfetting manie one hath perished , but he that dieteth himselfe , prolongeth his life . the varietie of meates at one meale bringeth paine vnto the stomacke , offendeth nature , and doth ingender and beget many diseases , as galen witnesseth , reason teacheth , and experience approueth . therefore whoso is in health , and desireth to continue therein , let him obserue this rule . let his meate that he vseth be wholsome & nourishing , such as best agréeth with his nature and complexion : for vnto some men béese is more holesome and better then chickens , or such like fine meates : the reason is , digestion is strong through heate , as in cholerike persons , in whom light and fine meates are rather burnt then digested : therefore grosser meates are for them more holesome and better . and let him also note what meates doe offend , or disagree with him , and let him refuse it as hurtfull : and in so doing he shall be a physition vnto himselfe . note also that thou maist eate more meate in winter then in sommer , because digestion is more strong , by reason that naturall heat is inclosed in the stomacke , but in summer vniuersally spread abroad into the whole body : so the stomacke wanting this naturall heate , digestion is thereby more weake . cholerike persons and children may eate oftner then anie other , by reason of their heate and quicke digestion . time and place will not permit mee to write what i would concerning diet , the obseruation whereof is a verie speciall meanes for the preseruation of health : & many times sicknesses are cured by the benefit of diet . in hote sicknesse vse a cold diet : in a moist sicknesse vse a drying diet , contraria contrariis curantur : all distemperatures are cured by their contraries . i will here end of diet : wishing thée to remember this saying of hippocrates , studium sanitatis est non satiari cibis , the means or studie to preserue health , is to eschue fulnesse or superfluitie of meates and drinkes . so is it indéede , and especially in a time of sicknes , as this is . and it is now excéeding good with all your meates to vse sharpe sauces made with vinegar , or rose vinegar , orenges , limons , pomegranates , and a little cinnamon and maces . but forbeare and refuse all hot spices , and strong wines , onions , garlicke , léekes , cabage , radish , rocket , and such like : the vse of them is verie hurtfull and dangerous . but these are good and holesome : borage , buglosse , sorrell , endiue , cichorie , violets , spinage , betonie , egrimonie , they are good both in salades , sauces , and broth : and your diet ought in this time of infection to bee cooling and drying . of sleeping and waking . god hath created the day for man to labour in his vocation and calling , and the night to rest and sléepe , which is so naturall and néedfull , that without it wée cannot liue . in sléepe our senses haue their rest , the powers animall are therewith comforted & strengthened , the mind quieted , digestion furthered , and finally the strength of the body maintained : and without sléepe wise men should be soone chaunged into idiote fooles . and sléep is no lesse needfull for the preseruation of our liues then foode . these are of themselues good , but we , through the abuse of them , change their natures , and make them hurtfull vnto vs. immoderate sléepe , and sléeping in the day is very euill : it dulleth the wit , it repleats and fils the bodie with euil humours , it ingendreth rheume , and maketh the body apt vnto palsies , apoplexies , falling sicknesse , impostumes ; and finally , slow and vnapt vnto any honest exercise . note also that we ought not to sléepe immediately after meat before it be descended from the mouth of the stomacke , for thereby digestion is corrupted , and paines , and noise in the belly ingendred : also our sleepe is made vnquiet and troubled by euill vapours ascending : therefore i counsell all men that are in health , and desire the continuance thereof , that they auoid sléeping in the day time , especially lying vpon a bed : and if they must néeds sléepe , being accustomed so to do , let them take a nap sitting in a chaire . and in manie sicknesses sléepe is dangerous : so is it after the receiuing of anie poison , or vnto a person infected with the pestilence : the reason is , sléep draweth the blood and spirits inward , & therewithall attracteth the venome vnto the nutrimentall or vitall partes : therefore if a person doubt that he is infected , let him refraine from sléepe , and let him take without delay some good medicine set downe against the sicknesse , and sweate therewithall . and as i haue shewed the inconuenience of too much , or immoderate sléepe : so i say ouer-much watching is no lesse hurtfull vnto nature . it doth debilitate the powers animall : it weakeneth the naturall strength of the bodie , bringeth consumptions , bréedeth melancholie , and oftentimes the frensie . therefore both in this and all other things , we must vse temperance , sobrietie and moderation . of exercise and rest . galen counselleth vs , if we desire to preserue health , that we vse exercise of bodie : it makes digestion strong , and more quicke alteration , and also better nourishing : it strengtheneth the bodie , it increaseth heat , drieth rheumes , it openeth the pores of the bodie , whereby humours offending nature are expulsed : it is indéede the preseruer and maintainer of health , as galen , auicen , and corn. celsus teach , and experience approueth . idlenesse and rest is a contrarie vnto exercise : it is the mother of ignorance , the nurse of diseases , it corrupteth the mind , it dulleth the bodie , filling and repleating it with superfluous and euill humours , which breede manie sicknesses . and as exercise and labour is a preseruer of health , so idlenes is the shortner of life , enemy vnto the soule and body , and very vnprofitable in a cōmon-wealth , and also hurtful in a priuate house . and remember this , that vehement exercise be not vsed presently after meate , for it wil conueigh crude and vndigested iuyce vnto each part , which is very euil & hurtfull . but exercise is good before meate , and two or thrée howers after meate , being moderately vsed . exercise is best and most conuenient , when the first and second digestion is complete , as well in the stomacke , as in the vaines . but in such a time of infection as this is , i cannot commend exercise , because it will too much open the pores , and the pores being opened , the bodie is apt to receiue the infectious aire . much more would i say of the benefit of exercise , and the inconuenience of idlenesse , but that i should be ouer-tedious in this place . of fulnesse and emptinesse . all fulnesse and superfluitie of meates are to be eschued , for as much as they make repletion : and all bodies in whom there is repletion , are apt to bee infected . and such bodies must endeuour to kéepe themselues soluble : all euacuations are good for them , as purging and bléeding , except some speciall cause doth forbid it : and let them vse a sparing and frugall diet . and they may safely , and with great profit vse the pill i haue set downe before in my booke . and as i haue said , repletion is an enemie vnto health , bringing and begetting sicknesse , and sometime sodaine death : so is too much fasting and emptinesse , no lesse hurtfull : it weakeneth the braine , and drieth the whole bodie , consuming the radicall moisture in man , and shorteneth life . and as repletion is to be abhorred and auoided , so is too much emptinesse to be eschewed : and as i haue said , we must vse a mediocritie in all things . of affections of the mind . affections of the mind are called by m. cicero , perturbations . galen calleth them pathemata vel affectus anims , and nothing is more hurtfull in this time of sicknesse , nor greater enemie vnto life , then feare , sorrow , anger , heauinesse and griefe of mind . anger is a dangerous passion : it chafeth the bloud , and disquieteth the heart : it inflameth the spirits : which ascending vp into the head , annoieth the animall powers or faculties . this passion cholericke persons , tyrants and fooles are much troubled withall , and oftentimes in their wrath perform wicked and vnlawfull actions , feare , sorrow , and griefe of mind are no lesse hurtfull vnto the body : for they waste the naturall heat and moisture , wherein life consisteth ; making the bodie leane and drie , whereupon consumption followesh : it dulleth the wit and vnderstanding , and draweth the spirits and bloud inward to the heart : and withall attracteth the venemous and infectious aire , if we liue within the compasse thereof . if i should here stand to write of all the perturbations for the mind , defining and distinguishing them one from another , shewing the wonderfull effects of them , and the inconuenience therof , i should be ouer tedious in this short treatise , and it might seeme impertinent in this worke : onely this i wish thée to remember , sub te erit appetitus tuus , & tudominaberis illi : vnder thée shall be thine appetite , and thou shalt beare rule ouer it , saith the lord. we must therefore maister our affections : for if they be not ouer-ruled and gouerned by wisedome , they will excéede , and proue daungerous enimies both vnto soule and bodie . and in this time of sicknes we ought specially to auoid these perturbations of the mind , and to vse all vertuous and commendable mirth , swéete musicke , good companie , and all laudable recreation that may delight you , and vse the perfumes in your chambers , and in other roomes of your houses that i haue set downe , being cast into a fuming pot or chafing dish vpon a few coales . do this euening and morning : the charge thereof is small , but the vtilitie is great . it purgeth the aire , and taketh away the euill qualitie thereof . now hauing shewed what ought to be auoided , it followeth , that i set downe preseruatiues that may resist all infection : which god assisting me , i will do . first of all , i counsell all men in whom bloud doth abound , the which they may easily know themselues , by the heate of their bodies , colour , largenesse and fulnesse of their vaines , that they be let bloud in the liuer vaine in the right arme : and let the quantitie be according vnto the strength of the person . also that all men in generall auoid all bathes and hote-houses , and all vehement exercise , that may ouerheate the body , and inflame the bloud . also the companie of women this hote and contagious time is verie hurtfull , and therefore ought to be vsed with great moderation . also walking verie early in a morning , and verie late in the euening , is hurtfull and dangerous . also auoide all prease and throng of people where a multitude are assembled , & al noisome & vnsauourie places . now hauing shewed all the causes of the pestilence , and set downe the cure and remedie for euerie cause : i will by gods assistance , for the care i haue of the preseruation of the inhabitants of this honorable citie , and for the loue i beare vnto them and my countrie , communicate vnto them most excellent and approued preseruatiues and of singular vertue : which whose vseth them , shall not néed to feare the infection of this contagious sicknes . first , with an humble and contrite heart desire mercie of the lord : and then commend thy selfe vnto his protection : which being done , vse the good meanes he hath ordained for thy health . pilles of especiall vertue in preseruing all that vse them . r. good aloes half an ounce washed in rosewater : of good myrrhe , of saffron , of each two drams : bolearmoniac . praep . one scruple : seed pearle one scruple : sir . of limons as much as wil suffice to make them in pilles , or in a masse . take halfe a dramme hereof made in pilles euerie second or third day in the morning ; faste after it thrée or foure houres : but it shall be good for you to take a little thinne broth , or a little alebrue , or sixe or eight spoonefuls of wine within an houre after , and vse your accustomed diet , as before . another pill that doth more moue the bodie , and giueth two stooles , or three in some bodies , and this is good for such as are costiue , and in whom humours abound . r. good rubarbe , chosen myrrhe , of each one dram ; chosen aloes two drams : zedoarie roote one scruple : saffron one scruple : sirrup of roses solutiue as much as will suffice to make the masse . this pill purgeth gently , and preserueth the bodie from all infection . such bodies in whom humours doe abound , and are most commonly costiue , may vse these pilles , taking half a dram euerie morning , for thrée , foure , fiue , or sixe dayes together , as they please . take after it either a little thin broth , or of an alebrue , or a draught of wine , if it bée not too hote for your complexion , and vse your ordinarie diet as accustomed , if it be good . another very good preseruatiue , and worthy of much commendations . r. of good mithridatum halfe an ounce , angelica root in powder two drams , of theriaca andro , half an ounce , bolearmoniac . praep . two drams , conserues of roses and borage halfe an ounce , seede of citrons two scruples , sirup of limons one ounce , mix them , make halfe this receite . or this which is very good . r. good mithridatum halfe an ounce , conserues of roses halfe an ounce , bolearmoniack praep . two drams , mix them . take as much of this euery morning as a nut , and fast after it two or thrée howers . a good pill and an assured preseruatiue . r. aloes optima foure drams , lota in aqua rosarum ; myrrh elect . two drams , croci two drams , rad . zedoariae one scruple , boli armeni one scruple , sir . limonum q. s. fiat massa . take halfe a dram of these pilles in the morning , you may mix it if you wil with a little white wine this sommer , and drinke it , and be frée from infection . another of most excellent vertue , and an assured preseruatiue . r. boli armeni praep . halfe an ounce , dictamni albi two drams , cinamoni three drams , rosarum one dram , rad . angelicae two drams , rad turmentillae , rad . gentianae of each two drams , sem . limonum one dram , santalorum omnium ana one dram , cornu cerui rasurae , flo . buglossae . fol. scabi , rad . turmentillae , rad . zedoariae ana one dram , oxyaloes , nucis muscatae , granatum iuniperi , ossis de corde . cerui ana halfe a dram , saphiri , hyacinthi , smaragdi , rubini , granati praep . ana one scruple , margaritarum two scruples , foliorum auri one scruple , puluerizantar & cum sir . exacetosa q. s. fiatelectuarium . this is to be taken euery morning , a scruple or two scruples daily , and is a most excellent and an assured preseruatiue against al infection . another that defendeth all men that vse it , from the infection of this contagious sicknesse . r. theriaca andromachi , mithridatum optimum ana two drams , conser rosarum three drās , boli armeni praep . two scruples , sem . vel rad . angelicae two scruples , sem . citri halfe a dram , sir . limonum halfe an ounce , misce . take of this euery morning , the quantitie of a hasel nut , or any other time of the day if you goe among any throng of people , or where the sicknesse is , but you ought to faste after it a while . the common pils against the pestilence , that defend al them that vse them from infection . r. good aloes halfe an ounce , myrrhe , saffron of either of them two drams , let them be beaten in a morter , and put to them a little white wine or sweet wine , & incorporate it together , make them in pils , & so take them if you will , half a dram in the morning , and drink after them an hower a draught of white wine : these although plaine , are very good : & i would they were more vsed for their vertue . but women great with child may not take of these pils , neither of the other pils set down before : let them content themselues to eate in a morning , some conserues of sorrell , roses , or borrage , wherewith they may mix some sirrup of limons , and let them be mery and vse a good diet , and good company to passe the time away , and this is the best medicine i can aduise them . the vse of orenges , limons , and pomgranats , is very good ; so is vinegar , cloues , maces , saffron , sorel with your meat , or * either of them in a morning with sugar is good . let all your meates be drest and saused with vinegar , orenges , and limons , maces and saffron , and a little cinamon , and auoide al strong wines , and hot spices . now hauing set downe most excellent preseruatiues for the gentilite , citizens and better sorte , it followeth , that i likewise teach the commons how they may preserue themselues in this time of infectiō : but first of the pomanders , which are apreseruatiue against this infection for the gentlewomen and citizens of this place . a very good pomander to be worne of all the better sort against this infection , and stinking and noisome smels when they go abroade . r. labdanum , of the rinds of citrons ana one dram ; of the three kinds of sanders ana half a dram ; wood of aloes , flowers of buglosse , and nenuphar , rose leaues ana two scruples , alipta muscatae half a scruple ; cloues , marierō ana one scruple ; zedoary roote one scruple , beniamin one dram , storax calamita one dram and a half , campher half a dram ; muske , amber greece ana foure graines ; make your simples in fine powder and mix them with rose water , wherein gum dragagant hath bin dissolued as much as will suffice to make your pomander . this is a singular good pomander , swéet and comfortable , to be worne in this time of sicknesse against corrupt aires , stinking and noisom smels . an other good pomander , though not all thing so costly , to be worne against the infection of the aire . r. of the rinds of citrons one dram ; storax , calamint two drams , labdanum one dramme , of all three kinds of sanders , ana two scruples ; flowers of roses , violets , and nenuphar ana half a dram ; liquid storax , beniamin , ana one dram ; campher one scruple , musk and ambergreece ana three graines , with rose water , & gum dragagant a little quantitie make your pomander . but here i had almost forgotten one preseruatiue which many men commend , and is good indéede , but especially for fearefull persons , such i mean as liue in feare of this sicknesse , and although i haue placed it last , yet not the least to be regarded : citò , longe & tarde , we must flie away spéedily , and we must go far off , and returne againe slowly , it is good for those that can cōueniently so do . let vs put our whole trust in the lord , from whom commeth all helpe , and with contrite hearts for our iniquitie vse the good meanes that the lord hath ordeined and created for vs , and cast away all feare , & i doubt not , but by gods assistance this sicknes shall be taken away . to eate euery morning as much as the kernell of a nut of electuarium de ouo , is a good preseruatiue . so is treacle of andromachus description , which you shal haue at the apothecaries , mix with it as much conserues of roses . thrée or foure graines of bezoar stone taken in the morning in a spoonefull of scabious , or sorrell water , is a good preseruatiue . so is a little diascordium taken in the morning the quantitie of two white peason . also to vse the roote of angelica , stieped in vinegar to chew in your mouth as you go in the stréet is good , and to eate a little thereof . gentian , zedoarie , turmentill , chewed and kept in your mouth are good . sorrell eaten in the morning with a little good vinegar like a sallet , is very good : the vse of orenges and limons is very good , pomegranates and vinegar . it is good euery morning betime , to take some good preseruatiue , and before you goe abroade , it shall not be amisse to eate something to your breakfast that is holesome , as bred , and swéet-butter , a potcht egge with vinegar , or some other thing as you are prouided , & vse alway in going into any infected place a roote of angelica to chew vpon in your mouth , a little spunge dipt in rose-vinegar to smel vnto often times is good , put into a pomander box of iuorie . also to weare a pomander about your necke and smell to it oftentimes , is very good . let your chāber be drest with swéet flowers as these , swéet mints , time , penerial , carnatiōs , roseleaues : and let your chamber bee strued with gréene rushes , vine leaues , oken leaues , and willow leaues & mintes . if you haue any windowes towards the north or northeast kéep them open in cléere daies ; your chamber ought also to bee persumed oftentimes , with the perfumes taught in this book ; you may vse iuniper beniamin , storax and wood of aloes . for your diet . yong mutton , veale , kid , capors , hennes , chickens , rabbets , partridge , fesant , quaile , plouers , small birdes of the fields , pigeons , swéete butter , potched egges with vinegar , but not in hot complexions . water-fowles are not good , neither is porke , or olde powdred béefe . but fishes from fresh riuers is very good eaten with vinegar , and good sauce , they coole the bloud well . let your drinke bée small béere , and well brued , and sometimes a cup of white wine mixed with water for hot complexions , with borrage , and buglosse , but eschew all hot and swéet wines . herbes that be good to bée vsed , sorrel , endiue , succorie , borage , buglosse , parsely , marigoldes , time , marierom , betonie , scabious , isope , mints , purslane , pimpernell , rue , angelica , cardus benedictus , lettuce . make your sauce with cytrin , limons , oreng , sorrell , vinegar , maces , saffron , barberies , and such like . raw , & yong fruit is hurtful , so is garlick , onions , léekes , radish , rocket , mustarde , pepper , and hot spices , and al hot wines , and all these are hurtfull , & so are al swéet meates : let your diet be cooling & drying . preseruatiues for the commons and contrymen , who haue not an apothecarie at hand . take of rue or herbe grace two ounces , of the yong buds of angelica , two ounces ; or for want therof , of the roote or séede one ounce , bolearmoniacke prepared one ounce , of iuniper berries one ounce , of walnuts cleane picked from their skins two ounces , good figges in number sixe or seuen , of saffron sixe peniworth , of good wine vinegar that is sharpe foure ounces . let these be well beaten together in a morter the space of one houre , and then put in your vinegar , and incorporate them together . which being done , put it into some swéete gallie pot or glasse , and couer it close : and take thereof daily in the morning the quantitie of a nutineg . or you may eate thereof at anie time going néere , or in any infectious place . another good preseruatiue of no lesse vertue in resisting all infection . r. of holy thistle , or for want thereof , our ladies thistle so called , betonie , angelica , scabious , sorrell , pimpernell , turmentill , of either of these a handfull , gentian roots also , if they may be had . bruise all these in a stone morter a little , and put thereto a pinte of good vinegar , and halfe a pinte of white wine , and put them into a still , and draw forth the water , and take two or thrée spoonfuls thereof euerie morning fasting , and be frée from all infection . the roote of angelica laid or stieped in good vinegar all night , and a little thereof taken in the morning is a good preseruatiue . the séedes are of the like vertue . another good preseruatiue that defendeth all from infection . take of the kernels of walnuts three ounces , rue one ounce and a halfe , fine bole armoniack one ounce , root of angelica & turmentill of either an ounce , good figs three ounces , myrrhe three drams , saffron foure peniworth . let these be beaten a good space in a morter , then put thereto two or thrée spoonefuls of good vnegar , and as much rosewater , and incorporate them well together , eate hereof as much as a hazell nut in the morning , and at anie other time of the day going where the infection is , and bee frée from all infection . now such as desire to liue in safety , and yet would bestow no cost for their preseruatiō , let them vse this . r. figges seuen or eight in number rue one handfull , the kernels of ten or twelue walnuts cleane picked from their skinnes , foure or sixe spoonfuls of good vinegar , beat these together in a morter , and keepe it close in a boxe , and eate thereof euery morning , and it is good to defend thee from the infection . galen commendeth garlicke , calling it the poore mans treacle , but vndoubtedly it is too hote to be eaten of cholericke persons , or sanguine , or in a hote season , and therefore i cannot commend it , except in cold , moist and rheumaticke bodies , for whom it may be good . i haue set downe , curteous reader , diuers and sundry preseruatiues that you may take your choise : vse them in the name of god. and this i dare boldly affirme , there are in my book as good as are known and sufficient for thy preseruation by gods grace . now it followeth , that i write of confections , electuaries , and potions , required in the cure of the pestilence . an electuarie of great and singular vertue in curing of the pestilence , being taken in time before it be setled at the heart , and nature vtterly ouer come . r. bolearmoniack prepared two ounces , terra sigillata one ounce , myrrhe sixe drams , rootes of gentian , zedoary , angelica and dictamni , of each three drams red corrall , red saunders of each a dram and a half , saffron one dram & a half , yellow saunders one dram , turmētil , scabious , leaues of cardus benedictus or holy thistle of each a dram & a halfe , flowers of marigolds one dramme , the bones of a harts heart halfe a dramme or two scruples , basill seede halfe a dram , good seed pearle two scruples , vnicornes horne two scruples , leafe gold two scruples , harts horne one dram . let all these be made in fine powder euery one by itself . thē take sirrup of limons and sorrell , as much as will be sufficient to make it in an electuarie . adde hereunto good mithridatum one ounce . he that is infected with the pestilence , let him take one dram or one dram and a halfe of this medicine , according to his strength with water of scabious , angelica , or cardus benedictus the quantitie of nine or ten spoonefuls , it must be taken warme , and procure the patient to sweate after two , thrée or foure houres : which if he cannot easily doe , then vse the meanes , as i haue taught in this booke , by putting in of bottles fild with hot water , & if it should so chance the patient should vomit , then giue him as much more ; and if he vomit againe , let him wash his mouth with rose water and vinegar , and receiue his medicine againe , the quantitie before taught , and vndoubtedly by this meanes the venemous infection shal be expulsed , the heart comforted , and the life preserued through gods mercie and goodnes . another electuary curing the pestilence , being taken within twelue , sixteene or eighteene houres , after the person is infected . electuarium de ouo . r. ouum gallinae recens , & educto per apicem albumine , id quod vacuum est , croco orientali imple , vitellum non auferendo : postea cum alio putamine iterum occlude , ne quid transpiret , & lento igne tamdiu assa in ollula , donec tota oui testa ad nigredinem deueniat , exempta è testa materia exsiccetur vt in mortario exquitissimè contundi & in puluerem redigi queat , addendo pulueris sinapis albi quantum praedicta omnia ponderant , postea , anaʒ ij . anaʒ iij. anaʒ j. anaʒ myrrhaeʒ ij . ossis de corde cerui scrup . ij . margaritarumʒ i. camphuraeʒ ij . anaʒ i. puluerizētur omnia sing . per se , misc . omnia simul in mortario , & tandem appone theriaca andromachi ad pondus omnium , & iterum pistillo fortiter contunde & commisce per tres quasi integras horas , agitando fiat electuarium . when any person is infected , let him take a dram or somewhat more , according vnto his strength , mixe and dissolue it in water of scabious , roses , or endiue , as you can haue , or in them altogether the quātitie or measure of eight spoonefuls , & make it warme , and drinke it in gods name , sweate well thereupon , and thou shalt be deliuered from danger of the sicknesse , and is a most approued medicine and spéedie remedie , if it be taken in time : for herein censisteth the danger , namely delay , in which time the venome pierceth vnto the heart , and there setleth , and vanquisheth the vitall spirits . for this is most certaine , as i haue often séene and approoued , that those that take and vse in the very beginning of their sicknesse , some good meanes , scarce two in tenne die , but very spéedily recouer their former health . and truly i cannot but lament the folly of many people , who féeling themselues sicke , driue forth and delay the time , some trusting to their strength and youth : other some take some light and trifling medicine to no purpose , and manie other blinded with a foolish opinion , that physicke can doe them no good : and this is the cause whie so manie die of this sicknes , as they now do . note this , that if a person doe vomite vp his medicine , that then you cause him to wash his mouth with rosewater and vinegar , and giue him as much more , if he cast it vp againe , do as before vntill he kéepe it . a singular confection for the cure of the pestilence . r. rad. angelicae , rad . gentianae , rad . zedoariae , rad . turmentillae , rad . dictamni , rad . valerianae , rad . anaʒ ij . anaʒ●j . cinamomi , myrrhae , boli armeni praeparati , terrae anaʒ iiij . anaʒj . succi scordii , succi calendulae ana vnc . 1. commisceātur omnia cum syrupo acctositatis citri q. s . incorporentur ad formam opitatae , adde mithridatum andromachi vnc . iii. & theriacae opti . vnc . i. & semis . aqua angelicae vnc . ii . misc . take one dram and a halfe , or two drammes of this confection , or two drammes and a half , according to the age and strength of the patient , with water of scabious , cardus benedictus , or angelica nine or ten spoonefuls , made warme and mixed wel together , let him drinke it and sweate well thereupon . another that cureth the pestilence , and expulseth al venemous infection . r. bolearmoniack prepared halfe an ounce , cinamon two drams , roote of gentian , angelica , zedoarie , turmentil ana two drams ; seed of citrons , red rose leaues , harts horne rased , of the three kinds of saunders of each one dram ; iuniper berries , halfe a dram ; nutmegge , the bone of the deares heart , ii . scrup . seede pearle and orient one dramme ; saffron one dram , red corall two scruples , rinds of citrons two scruples , fragments or peeces of the fiue precious stones , saphiri , hyacinthi , smaragdi , rubini , granati praep . ana one scruple , leafe gold one scruple , bezoar stone one scruple . make these into most fine powder seuerally , which being done , put thereto as much sirrup of limons as will make it in forme of an electuarie , making it somthing thick , & putting thereto of good mithridatum thrée ounces , mixe them . this being taken the weight of one dram or a dram and a halfe , or two drams for a strōg person in water of scabious , angelica , or cardus benedictus , sweating therwithal , cureth the person spéedily of the pestilence , expulsing it by sweat & vrine . another for the commons and countrimen , where these aforesaid set downe cannot be had . r. good mithridatum andromachus a dram & a half , good treacle , i meane not the cōmon treacle sold at the mercers , but at the apothecaries , called theriaca andromach . one dram . mixe these together , and take it in a little posset drink made with white wine , and sweate well therewith , and this cureth the pestilence . if any sore doe arise , then vse the meanes , as i haue taught in this booke , to ripen or suppurate the sore : which being done , let it be opened and drawne forth . another medicine or remedie for the commons and contriemen , very good and effectuall . take a great white onion , cut off the top , and with your knife pike forth the core , and make a wide hollownesse in the middle , which you must fill vp with good treacle , from the apothecaries called theriaca andromachi , or andromachs treacle , let it bée in weight one dram and a halfe : this béeing put into the onion , couer it with that you cut off before , and paaste it ouer and rost it in the imbers , and béeing soft stampe it in a morter , and straine it through a cloth , and with two or thrée spoonfuls of posset drinke mixed with it , take it and sweate thereupon as long as you can , and this wil expulse it from the hart . or this which is very good . r. mithridatum two drams , venice treacle one dram , mix them with water of angelica , cardus benedictus , or scabious , or for want therof posset drink made with white wine , and sweate well . these thrée last medicines i haue set downe for them that cannot haue spéedily the other aforesaid ; and although they séeme meane , yet are they of great vertue in this sicknesse , and cure them that take it in time in the beginning of their sicknesse , obseruing the order of this book therewithall . the signes that signifie and declare a person to be infected with the pestilence . the first is , a great paine and heauinesse in the head . the second is , hée féeleth great heat within his bodie , and the outward partes cold and readie to shake , and is thirstie and drie therewithal . the third signe is , he cannot draw his breath easily , but with some paine and difficultie . the fourth signe is , he hath a great desire to sléepe , and can very hardly refraine from sléeping , but beware hée sléepe not . and sometimes watching dooth vex and trouble him as much and cannot sléepe . the fift signe is , swelling in the stomacke with much paine , breaking forth with stinking sweat . the sixt signe is , diuers & heauie lookes of the eies , séeing all things of one colour , as gréene or yellow , and the eies are changed in their colour . the seuenth signe is , losse of appetite , vnsauourie taste , bitternesse of the mouth sowre and stinking . the eight signe is , wambling of the stomacke , and a desire to vomite , and sometime vomiting humors bitter and of diuers colours . the ninth signe is , the pulse beateth swift and déepe . the tenth signe is , a heauinesse , and dulnesse in all the body , and a faintnes and a weakenesse of the limmes . the eleuenth signe is , the vrine most commonly is troubled , thick & like beastes water , & stinking , but smel to it not if you loue your health : but oftentimes the water dooth not shew at all , especially in the beginning of the sicknesse , therefore trust not vnto the water , but looke vnto the other signes héere aboue set downe . the twelfth and last signe , and surest of all other , is , there ariseth in the necke , vnder the arme , or in the flanke , a tumor or swelling , or in some other part of the bodie there appeareth any red , gréenish , or blackish coloured sore , these are most apparant signes to the eye , that this person is infected with the pestilence . but take héede , bée not deceiued : for oftentimes a person is strongly infected with the pestilence , and hath neither apostume , carbuncle , nor botch appearing , in two or thrée dayes , by which time hée is néere his death : therefore when a botch dooth not appeare spéedily , it is alwaies an euill signe and dangerous . the reason hereof is , nature is weake , and the infection and poison is strong and furious : and nature being weake as in children , and in aged persons , and in others also , through the euill disposition of the body , is not able to make resistance against so furious , and puissant an enemie , and to expulse the infection or poison . and this is the verie reason and cause , why in some persons there appeareth no botch , or sore , but other certaine markes , or spots , as i may call them . now contrariwise , when the infection or poison is more milde and weake , and nature strong , then she gathering hir power and force together strineth and resisteth the infection , and expulseth the poison from the heart , and other the principall members vnto some emunctorie or clensing place , where it may be best purged & auoided . now this is a good signe , that nature is strong , and hath preuailed against the infectious poison ; so is it indéede , if the sore arise not néere about the heart , or throat , or som such dangerous place . and againe nature must now forth with bee aided ; least the venom gathering strength , by the putrefaction of the humors within the body , returne againe vnto the heart . therefore i say the heart must be strengthened with cordialles , and also spéedily comforted : and the other principal members likewise . for we commonly sée notwithstanding the botch be thrust forth by nature , yet the person often and most commonlie dyeth , whereof the greatest and most part might liue , if helpe in due time were administred . and sometimes the infection is so strong , and the body so weake through corrupt and vitious humors , that nature is sodainly ouercome , and the spirits of life expulsed . and this infection naturallie flieth with all possible spéed to the heart , as the principal member of life , to surprize it , & pierceth sooner vnto the heart of cholerick persons then any other complexion ; although the sanguine be more apt to be infected by reason of their heat and moisture , and phlegmatick are also apt through humiditie , that is in them : the melancholie are not apt to be infected , but hardlie cured béeing infected now forasmuch as this sicknesse is swift , fierce , and dangerous , and spéedily expulseth life , if it be not preuented in time by good medicine : let vs i say leaue our follie , in delaying to vse the meanes for our helpe , remembring this good counsell principijs obsta , sero medicina paratur &c. we must stop the beginninges , medecines come too late , nature béeing ouercome through the long suffering of the euil . and what is the reasō that so many dy ofthis sicknesse as they doe , i think you wil answere me it is gods hand and visitation , & contra mortem non est remedium : i grant indéede it is gods visitation , and so is all other sicknesses . and this is the difference , this sicknesse is strong , swift , and dangerous , and killeth many through his violence , and venemous quality : some other more mild , yet killeth also in some short time , if it be not preuented : and some other so mild & weake , that nature being strong doth ouercome hir selfe with good diet without the benefit of medicines . the verie causes indeed that so many die of this sicknesse are two . the first is the strength , power , and venemous qualitie of this sicknes , spéedily surprizing the vitall spirits . the second cause is , our delay to vse medicine in time , and not vsing good and effectuall medicines , such as haue vertue by gods grace giuen vnto them for the curing and withstanding of this violent sickenes . we must relie vpon god , fixing our whole trust in him , and thankfully and diligently vse the good meanes that hee hath ordained and created , for our health and helpe in time of sicknes . and against this contagious sicknesse , i haue set downe good preseruatiues , which being vsed , will by gods grace preuent the danger . and also most excellent and approued remedies for this sicknesse , that whoso vseth them in time , shal vndoubtedly by gods grace and mercie be spéedily cured . now it followeth , that i teach the vse of them , and the true and perfect cure of the pestilence , and what is to be obserued in the cure thereof . and first , i will teach the cure of the pestilence when no botch or sore appeareth , and how to preuent the rising of any botch or sore most commonly in all persons . the cure of the pestilence , when no botch , or sore appeareth , and how to preuent the rising of any botch or sores most commonly in all persons . in the cure of this sicknes there are thrée intentions especially required . the first is to aide and helpe nature , to expell the infection and venemous poison . the second is to comfort the heart , and other the principall members of the body . the third is a good obseruation in diet , afterward to be vsed . and at the first when any person féeleth himselfe sicke , let him well consider , whether any of the signes before set downe , that signifie a person infected , be in him or no : & if he find any of them at al in himselfe , then let him be assured it is the sicknesse . but héere hée must not deferre the time , doubting , and making farther trial , whether it bée or no : for in this time when the pestilence reigneth , there are few other sicknesses . the nature of this venemous and corrupt aire is to alter and conuert other sicknesses into the pestilence , as we find most true by experience . and againe , the nature and qualitie of this dangerous sicknesse , is , euer with all swiftnesse to approch and assaile the heart the principall member and fountaine of life . héere may it appeare , how dangerous delay is in this sicknesse , in not vsing some good and approued medicine , that hath vertue through gods gift to withstand the force thereof , and power to expell the venemous infection of this contagious sickenes . now to preuent this lyon of his pray , note what is to be done . first , when any féeleth himselfe sicke or euill at ease , if the sicknes begin hote with paine in his head , if he be of a sanguine or cholericke complexion , or hath a plethoricke bodie , that is , a bodie full of humors , large veines and full : let euery such person in anie wife be let bloud in the liuer vaine & right arme . and if there should be felt anie forenesse in any side of the body more then the other ; then let him bléede in that arme on the side grieued ; which being done , let the chirurgion decently bind vp his arme : and if the person be weake , then let this be done in his bed , and with spéede let him take one of the foure medicines set downe before in this booke for the cure of the pestilencé , the quantitie and the maner is there set downe . let him receiue his medicine warme , and procure him to sweat : which if he cannot easily doe , then must you fill some bottles with hot water , and set them in the bed about him , by which meanes you shall cause him to sweate spéedily . let him continue sweating thrée , foure , or 5. houres , or according to his strength , as he can endure it , giuing him , if he be verie drie in his sweate , a little of one of the cordiall confections set downe in this booke , to be vsed to a person after his sweat . and the kéeper must take great héede that the sicke person sléepe not : for whosoeuer is infected with the sicknes , must carefully be kept from sléepe , vntill they haue bled , if they may bleede , and taken their medicine , and sweate fiue or sixe houres after , and in so doing all for the most part shall bee spéedily cured of this sicknes . the patient hauing sweat well , drie his bodie with warme and soft clothes , and if the shéetes be wet with sweat , then pul them away , and let him rest in gods name , so hee sléepe not . and giue him to eate sometimes of one of the confections , that comforteth the heart , that giueth great comfort and strength vnto the body and principall members thereof , and therefore not to be omitted . two houres after his sweate giue him to eate some broth made with a chicken or a capon . in which broth boile endiue , borage , buglosse , and a little parsly , raisins of the sunne , and two or thrée dates , and a little whole mace . let his drinke be good , stale , and middle ale , wherein you must boile whole mace and some sugar . and if he be very drie , as commonly in this sicknesse they are , then giue him a spoonefull of one of the sirrups set downe in this booke for that purpose , which doth both assooage thirst and drinesse , and comforts the heart withall , he may vse to take a spoonefull when he is drie . his diet must be chickens , capon , rabbet , partridge or such like : but for want thereof young mutton or veale : and let him vse with his meate limons , orenges , pomegranats , good vinegar , graines of paradise , mace , a little saffron . let his chamber be perfumed with the balles or trochises set downe in this booke before for the purging and amending of the aire . vse them thrée or foure times in the day , and for want thereof take beniamin , storax calamita & liquid , wood of aloes , and burne it in some chafingdish or fuming pot for the purging of the aire in the chamber . and diuers times sprinkle his chamber with vinegar , or water and vinegar together . now within fiue or sixe houres after his sweate , or if it be longer it is the better , let him sléepe in gods name , and remember that you giue the patient oftentimes in the day one of the confections set downe in this booke , to comfort the heart , & giue him his broth and meat a little at a time , and the oftener , and giue him sometimes a cake of manus christito cate . and aboue all things , let him be of good comfort , fixing his hope aboue in the almightie , from whom commeth all help , health , and comfort : for obseruing what i haue taught , there is no danger of death : and for the most part all they that vse this order and direction , recouer and be frée from all danger within two or thrée dayes , except some verie few , that haue vnsound and very corrupt bodies before the infection . and this will i vndertake by gods leaue and his holy assistance to performe , and that not one in sixe persons shall die that taketh a good medicine , and that vseth this order and followeth my direction : for by this meanes of taking away of bloud , euacuation by sweate and purging the bodie , the infection and poisoned matter is expelled : insomuch that seldome riseth anie botch or sore , because the matter whereof the botch ariseth is otherwise cast forth . and if any doe arise , as sometimes there doth , by diligent foresight and good application it may spéedily be brought to suppuration , and drawne forth . but if no botch do arise within two dayes after his sweate , then doth none arise at all , doing as i shall shew you . the third or rather the second day , if he be any thing strong , and no botch appearing , giue the patient this potion vnderwritten , which will purge forth the rest or remnant of the venemous infection . a purging potion of great vertue , that expulseth all venemous and corrupt humours from the body . here i warne all men that they meddle with no purging medicine when the botch or carbuncle appeareth , and groweth towards ripenesse : for so shall they draw the venome in againe , which nature hath put forth before . r. leaues and flowers of holy thistle , scabious , turmentill , three leaued grasse , of each a little handful , gentian , tamarims , of each two scruples : good rubarbe one dram : water of bugloffe and endiue , of each an ounce and a halfe , sene three drams : water of scabious one ounce , flowers of borage a little handfull : make your infusion , which being done , put thereto diacatholicon halfe an ounce , manna halfe an ounce , sir . ros . solutiue one ounce . this potion hath a most excellent propertie in purging the bodie from venemous and corrupt humours , as the learned may iudge at the sight thereof . this potion must be taken of the patient the secōd or third day at the furthest after his sweating , when no botch appeareth . and let him forbeare to eate , drink , or sléep , vntil it hath wrought his effect , which is in giuing fiue , sixe , or seuen stooles . afterward let him receiue some broth , and vse a good diet , and also vse his cordiall confection for thrée , foure or fiue dayes , and rest in health in gods name , for he shall néede no further physicke : if he be disposed he may take the potion aboue written another day , for the thorow-purging of his body , and it shall be good so to do . this is the true and perfect cure of the pestilence , being vsed in time , i meane in the beginning of the sickenes , within foure , or six , or in some within twelue houres : the sooner the better , for in a little time this venemous infection gathereth strength , by the euill humours which it turneth into putrifaction , and swiftly assaulteth the heart , and without spéedy and good remedie , as we see dayly , death followeth . now it followeth that i teach the way or meanes to cure such in whom the botch appeareth , which ( god assisting me ) i will doe . the way or meanes to cure such in whom the botch appeareth . this sicknesse ( the pestilence ) is a fierce , swift , and dangerous disease , and verie quickly destroyeth nature : therefore i counsell all men againe , to vse at the first some spéedie helpe : for giuing it sufferance but a little time it resisteth all cure , neither is it in humaine power to helpe it , as we dayly see . héere i cannot but lament the follie of manie people , who neglect the vse of good means in time : some foolishly conceited , that physicke can do them no good : some other vsing some light and trifling medicine to no purpose : some other vsing none at all , standing vnto the mercy of the sicknesse , which is mercilesse , and thus manie perish daily : not perish neither , therein i saide not well : beati mortui qui in domino moriuntur , blessed are the dead that die in the lord. god giue vnto vs his grace , that wee may learne to contemne this vaine world , and be ready when he doth call , and while we liue here , to vse thankfully his good creatures vnto his glory and our comfort . now vnto the cure of the pestilence , which is my purpose . when any person féeleth himself infected , and that the sore beginneth to arise or appeare , if the sicknesse begin hote , and that he feeleth in himselfe anie great heate aboue nature , being of a sanguine or cholericke complexion , strong , and bloud any thing abounding , then would i haue that person with spéede let bloud , if it be within twentie foure houres of his sickening , and that the sore or botch be not yet in way of ripening , but newly risen . for you must note that blood is to be taken at the beginning of the sicknesse , and before the botch be growing to suppuration , or not at all : for at this time the botch hauing béene forth , and growing to suppuration , you should greatly hinder nature , and weaken the person , and indanger his life . but in the beginning of the sicknesse , it is a speciall good thing in all persons , in whom bloud doth abound . but these persons i doe except , women with child , or lately deliuered ; old men that grow towards thréescore , and children , also weake & féeble persons , wherin is cacochymia and little bloud : these persons may not bléed , but must receiue some medicine before set downe for the cure of the pestilence , and sweate therwith , and take cordials as i will shew them . but such as may bléede must obserue this rule in bléeding , according vnto the place where the sore or botch is placed or appearing . if the sore or botch appeare in the throate , necke , or vnder the eares , then open the head vaine cephalica in the arme , on that side , whereon the sore or botch is . and if the sore or botch arise in the armepit , then open the vaine mediana , which is betwéene the head vaine and the vaine comming from the liuer . if the sore or botch arise in the flancke , then open the vaine saphena in the inner side of the foote : alway remembring this note , that you let blood on that side whereon the botch appeareth : for on the contrary side it is dangerous and euill , drawing the venome ouerthwart the spiritual members , to the great danger of the patient . the quantity must be according vnto the strength of the patient , in those that be young , strong , and full of bloud , it is good to take much away , and in others according vnto their abilitie of body . and in this time of necessitie , when it may not be deferd , you must neither regard time , neither signe nor aspect or coniunction of planets , but in the name of god do it . quouis tempore & hora mittere sanguinem necessitas concedit & iubet : two houres delay in bléeding may be the cause of death . this being done , or not done , in those persons aboue named , who may not bléede : let there be giuen vnto the sicke person , of one of the medicines set downe for the cure of the plague before in this booke , and procure the sicke to sweate well : which if they cannot spéedily do , then you may vse the meanes before taught with bottles , whereby a sweate shall spéedily be brought forth : and let the patient endure it as long as he is able . and remember that you kéepe the sicke from sléepe in his sweat , and fiue or sixe houres after , if he be very faint , giue him of one of the cordiall confections to eate of sometime : and if he be so thirstie that hee must néedes drinke , then giue him of the sirrup set downe in this booke for that purpose . but you ought not in any wise to giue him drinke after his medicine , vntill he hath sweat well : and that which you giue him , must bee warme and comfortable . and hauing sweat well , dry his body with warme and soft clothes : and so let him rest , kéeping him from sléepe . within two houres giue him some good broth to eat made with a chicken , in which broth boile a little whole mace , dates , raisins of the sunne , endiue , borage , buglosse , & rings or some péeces of gold . let him haue oftentimes to eate of one of the cordiall confections , set down in this booke : and let his drinke be the first day betonie water , scabious and borage water , of each of them halfe a pinte , boiled a little with sugar and whole mace . after you may giue him ale , if not strong , boiled with mace and sugar . let his meate be chickens , capon , rabbet , yong mutton , or veale , and let him vse orenges , limons , pomegranets , graines of paradise , and all thing that doth comfort the heart and coole . you must perfume the chamber oftentimes in the day with the perfumes set downe in this booke , which will purge the aire of the chamber ; and sprinkle the floore of the chamber with good vinegar , and giue him to smell vnto oftentimes a cloth wet in rose vinegar . now must the sore or botch be looked vnto . and to ripen and bring it to suppuration , you shall find medicines set downe in this booke . if the sore do arise néere the heart , i haue set downe meanes to defend the heart , and to drawe the sore or botch further off : or if the botch appeare in the throte , then likwise draw it further for feare of suffocation , or choking the patient . if watching or rauing trouble him , i haue set downe meanes to helpe it . if thirst and drinesse vexe him , i haue set downe comfortable sirrupes to remedie it , or whatsoeuer he shall néed in this cure , if aduisedly you follow my direction . the patient ought to change his chamber sometimes , and to vse often the perfumes before set down : and to kéepe the house all the time of his sicknes vntill his sore be well , changing himselfe in fresh apparell well aired , and persumed before . and those that are about him must haue care of themselues , and eate daily euery morning some good preseruatiue . and aboue all , let them take héede of the aire or breath of the sore when it is opened : alway holding some roote of angelica stieped in vinegar in their mouth , or some other strong and good preseruatiue , and let them eate sometimes a little good mithridatum , or anie one of the confections preseruatiue set downe in this booke against the pestilence : and also let the kéeper take héede how to bestowe the plaisters that come from the sore . well now remember what i haue said ought to be done in this cure of the pestilence . first , that with all spéede you vse remedy without delaying the time , for therein chiefly consisteth the danger . secondly , that you bléed , if no cause forbid it , as afore is taught . thirdly , that you take one of the medicines before set downe in this booke , and sweate therewithall , and refraine from sléepe . fourthly , that you vse the cordials to comfort the heart set downe , and that you eat of them oftentimes in the day . fiftly , that if the patient be faint , you must vse the epithymum , and cpithymate the heart therewith . sixtly , that if the sore or botch appeare , and rise néere vnto the heart , that then you vse vpon the heart a defensitiue , and with spéede drawe the botch further off . the seuenth obseruation is , that with spéede you apply medicines to suppurate the sore , and drawe it forth . the eight is , that the chamber be oftentimes perfumed , that the aire thereof may be purged , and made holsome : and that the patient change his chamber oftentimes . the ninth is , that he vse the diet before taught , eating a little at a time , and the oftner . and to vse the sirrups and consections to coole and comfort . the tenth , which should haue béene the first , is , that the patient in anie case be kept from sléepe , from his first sickening vntill he haue taken his medicine , and sweat , and sire or eight houres after , and then to sléepe but one houre , and the next day let him sléepe thrée houres at times , but not aboue one houre at a time : and after the third day you may giue him more sléepe . but in the beginning of his sicknes , it is most dangerous : for by sléepe the spirits are drawne inward , and therewithall the venome is attracted vnto the heart , and also the feuer made more vehement and sharpe . and this is the cause that many die , that might liue if they were kept from sléepe , and therewithall take some good medicine . the eleuenth is , that the patient kéepe his chamber during the time of his sicknes , and refraine all companie , that he hurt not others . the twelfth is , that being well , he giue humble thanks to god , and then let him change his apparell , being well perfumed , and in the name of god goe abroade . and if the botch arise néere vnto the heart , then before you sweate , it were good to apply this defensitiue vnto the heart , being thinne spread vpon a fine cloth , as broad as wil couer the heart . r. good mithridatum one dram , andromachus treacle halfe a dram , red saunders , terra lemna halfe a scruple , with water of roses and vinegar , as much as will suffice , make it in forme of an vnguent in a morter . a good cordial comforting the heart and cooling , to be vsed after the patient hath sweat or purged , and oftentimes in the day to take of it as much as a good hazell nut at a time . r. conserues of roses , borage , and buglosse , of each one ounce : diamargariton frigidum , diarrhodon abbatis , of each halfe an ounce : seedes of citrons two scruples or a dram : manus christi three drams : fol. auri number 6. bolearmoniack prepared two scruples . mixe them , and let the sicke eate hereof many times in the day . a good potion giuing fiue or sixe stooles gently , which purgeth venemous filthy humours from the bodie , to be taken the third day after sweat , if no sore or botch appeare , or when a sore or botch hath runne , and is growing well , then is it good to vse this . r. flo. & fol. card. benedict . one handfull : fol. scabi , betonicae one handful : root of gentian one dram : good rubarb one dram ; water of buglosse , scabious & borage , of ech an ounce : let there be made an infusion therof . then adde vnto it diacatholicō halfe an ounce , cassia with manna halfe an ounce : sirrupe of roses solutiue one ounce , misce . this ought to be taken in the morning , and neither eate , drinke , nor sléepe vntill it hath wrought his effect , in giuing fiue , sixe , or seuen stooles , and vse your selfe as is before taught in purging . another good cordiall greatly comforting the patient after his sweate to be eaten oftentimes , a little at a time , and to continue the vse thereof three or foure dayes , vntill he be strong , and all danger past , or in his sweate a little , if he be weake , faint , and apt to swoune . r. conserues of roses , borage and buglosse of each half an ounce : spe . diagem . cal . & frig . of each one scrup . bolearmoniack prepared two scruples : spe . diamargarit . cal . & frig . of each one scruple : diarrhodon abba . halfe an ounce : sirrupe of limons and sorrell , of ech halfe an ounce , misce . within two howers after the patient hath sweat , giue him a little good broth , made of a chicken or capon , and let him eate a little at a time , and the oftner , according vnto his strength and stomacke : and let him be of good comfort , and eschew all feare & doubt , fixing his hope aboue in the almightie , from whom commeth all helpe and comfort . let his meat be chickens , or some light and good nourishing meate , as young pullets , capons , partridge , rabbets , or such like : but for want of these , young mutton , or veale , and let it be giuen him with sauce made with an orenge , a limon , and a little good vinegre with mace and saffron : and make vnto all his meate these coole and sharpe sauces : and vse no hote spices , neither strong wines in anie wise . let his drinke be middle ale , cleane brewed and well boyled with maces and sugar : also you ought to keepe him from sléepe the first day vntill it be toward night , & then let him rest in gods name one houre . and if the patient be verie drie and thirsty , as most commonly they are , then giue him of this iulep thrée or foure spoonefuls at a time to drinke . r. water of roses , endiue and buglosse of each three ounces , sorrell water foure ounces , good vinegar foure ounces : iuice of limons foure ounces : sugar one pound , boyle them a little ouer a soft fire : which done , and cooled againe , giue him a little thereof to drinke , the quantity of two or three spoonefuls at a time . also a ptisan made with barley , liquorice , and coole hearbes , is good to asswage his thirst . but vse this , which i do most commend for the asswaging of thirst and drinesse . r. sirrupe of endiue comp . sir . of sorrell of ech three ounces : water of roses , and buglosse , of ech one ounce : sirrup of limons two ounces , mixe them . let the patient haue sometimes , or as often as hée is drie , one spoonefull of this sirrupe , which is verie good : and this shall suffice , for the amending of his heate and drinesse . giue him to eate sometimes of a limon with sugar , or of a pomgranate , which are both verie good . or this asswageth and taketh away all thirst , and drinesse in this case . r. water of roses , and buglosse of ech three ounces : sirrupe of endiue and limons , of each two ounces , oile of vitrioll one scruple . mixc them . the taking of this one spoonefull at a time , taketh away drinesse and thirst . and if the patient be verie faint and weake after his sweating , or before his sweating , then apply this quilt vpon the region of the heart : and let him weare it continually for a while . a quilt for comforting and strengthening the heart , when the patient is weake , to be worne after his sweating . r. flowers of water lillies , borage and buglosse , of each halfe a dramme : red rose leaues one dram : flowers of balme & rosemaric , of each two drams : maces one dram : ofred and yellowe saunders , of each one dramme : wood of aloes , cloues , of each one dram : seeds of citrons , iuniper berries , of each one dram : saffron sixe graines : of the bone of the deeres heart one scruple . let them bee made in grosse powder , & quilt it in crimson or scarlet coloured taffeta , or fine cloth . this quilt being made by the apothecarie , vse it ouer , or vpon the heart of the sicke , in such manner as it may avide without falling away . an epithymum that doth much comfort the heart , when a person is weake . r. water of roses , borage , and buglosse of either three ounces : vinegar one ounce : forrell water two ounces : wood of aloes , red saunders , barkes of citrons , of euery one of them two drams : saffron sixe graines : electuarium de gemmis one dram : diamargariton two scruples . mixe them together , and make an epithymum . a little of this must bee made warme in some pewter dish , and then take little clothes of fine linnen , which fold vp two or thrée double . then moisten one of your clothes and wring it forth lightly , & apply it vnto the heart , kéeping it there a while , vntill it begin to be cold : then take another , and so a quarter of an houre together , and this you may doe two or thrée times in the day , applying afterward the quilt aforetaught . this is to be done when a person is weake and faint . a potion purging gently all venemous and corrupt humours from the body . r. scabi . card. benedict . mors . diaboli ana pu . i. betonicae pu . i. trifolii pu . i. rad . gentianae scrup . i. flo . boraginis , buglossae ana pu . i. sem . citrini scru . i. rhubarb . clectae ʒ j. sene ʒ iij. aqua scab . endiniae & buglossae ana vnc . j. & semis . fiat infusio . deinde adde diacatholicon vnc . j. manna calab . vnc . semis . sir . rosarum solutiu . vnc . i. misce & fiat potio . take this potion the second or third day after your sweating , so it be not on the changing or full of the moone , and the sooner the better , no botch or sore appearing . this will worke gently in all bodies , and purge strongly and effectually , and cleanseth and purgeth the bodie of the remnant of the venemous infection , and corrupt humours . take the other part the second day after early in the morning , you must neither eate , drinke , nor sléepe vntill it hath wrought his effect , which is in giuing you seuen or eight stooles . within an houre after the taking of it , or thereabout it will worke : haue therefore in readines your stoole with warme water . if after the taking of it you feare casting it vp , then vse abrowne toste and vinegar to your nose , and smell thereto oftentimes . within foure or fiue houres you may take a little good broth made with a chicken , veale , or mutton , with hearbes as afore taught . and when it hath wrought his effect , which will be within fiue houres , or thereabout , then may you eate some of your meat , and take your rest a while after , if you haue any disposition to sléep . make a light supper , and kéepe and obserue a good diet , kéeping your selfe within your chamber or house ten or twelue dayes . they that would haue it lesse purging , may take the third part before set downe . and although it work strongly , yet is it gentle , easie and hurtlesse . it purgeth choler , flegme , and all corrupt and superfluous humours . i could set downe many for the purging of the bodie , but none better , or to be preferred before it in this case : and this will suffice . at other times , we commonly giue sirrupes bnfore , opening , extenuating and preparing the bodie , but in this case , where the matter aboundeth , and requireth spéedie euacuation , we stand not vpon it . oftentimes and most commonly in this contagious sicknes the patient is troubled with lightnesse in his head , and cannot sléepe : the reason hereof is , note the braine is distempered by heate : hote vapours ascending and flying vp from the stomacke . and this is the reason they sléepe not : and the cause of their raging is want of sléepe , and a distemperature of the braine . when a person is so troubled , then vse this vnderwritten . an vnguent to annoint the temples and browes of him that cannot sleepe through heat , and distemperature of the braine . r. vnguentum popillion vnc . semiss . vnguentum rosarum vnc . semiss . vnguentum alabastra vnc . anaʒ ij . opium scrup . j. or scrup . ij . in aqua rosarum dissol . misce . with this annoint his temples , and the for part of his head sometimes , when you would haue him to sléepe . and giue him to eat this , which is excéeding good to cause sléepe , and stay raging . r. conserue of roses halfe an ounce : diascordium two drams : sirrupe of popie halfe an ounce : sirrupe of limons two drams : mixe them . giue him the halfe of this to eate , which will greatly further and prouoke sléepe . or this will also greatly prouoke sléepe . r. sirrupe of violets , sirrupe of limons , sirrupe of poppie of each one ounce : diascordium three drams : mixe them . giue the patient sometime of this in a spoone to drink , for it is good to prouoke sléepe and stay raging . a frontall to be applyed vnto the fore part of the head , to cause sleep . r. flowers of roses , violets , and water lillies , of each a little handfull : of the seeds and heads of poppie , one dram : of the three kinds of saunders , of each one dram : flowers of camomill , betonie , & melilote , ana pu . ss . beate them into grosse powder , and let a frontall be made thereof . apply this frontall vnto his head , as afore taught . i haue set downe these meanes to cause and prouoke sléepe , and stay the raging that is oftentimes in this sicknesse . but you must note , that this is not to be vsed in the beginning of his sicknesse : for in the beginning of the sicknesse the person ought in anie wise to be kept from sléepe . for as through sléepe the spirits are drawne inward , and the venome therewith attracted vnto the heart : so the heat is also excéedingly increased through sléepe . therefore this meanes that i haue set downe for causing of sléepe or anie other to sléepe , may not bée vsed vntill the patient hath sweat , and two or thrée dayes after his sickening . and the sore forth , then may you safely vse them to his great comfort & ease . through the great interior heat , the patient his tongue , throte and mouth will be sore , as i haue often séene , then make this gargarisme . a gargarisme to heale the mouth , throat & tongue in this sicknesse , if it be sore through the heat of the stomacke . r. barley excoricated or common barley a handfull , plantain leaues , strawberry leaues , violet leaues , sinckfoile leaues , of either of these a handful : bryer tops halfe a handfull : woodbine leaues and collumbine leaues , halfe a handfull : shred and bruise these hearbes a little , and then boyle them in a quarte of faire water , which beeing well boyled , straine it forth , and put thereto diamoron two ounces , sirrupe of roses two ounces , mel rosarum or honey of roses two ounces : mixe these , and let the patient vse it often to wash and gargarize his mouth . the vse of a little white wine sometimes is good with rose-water , and a little vinegar to wash his moth withal . to vomit at the beginning of the sicknesse is good : for if a person fall sicke at his meate , or within a while after his meate ; then ought hee to prouoke vomite , and when he hath vomited , then to take a medicine set downe for the cure of the pestilence , and sweat therewithall , and do as i haue taught in this booke before : but if he bée much troubled with vomiting in his sicknesse , then let him vse this that i shall teach him . gariphilarumʒ ij . syr . limonum vnc . semis . diamargariton frid . ʒ ij . misc . and if his vomiting should not stay , then were it good for him to take some gentle purging potion to expulse these corrupt humours that sucketh vp that disposition to vomite . i doubt not but what i haue written is sufficient for the interiour part . now will i come to the externall and outward application , and shew what is to bee done in suppurating and opening the sore . hauing taken one of the medicines afore taught , and sweat , vsing the cordiall appointed , apply vnto the sore this vnderwritten , which will drawe it forth , and ripen it : and you must haue special care that with spéede you draw forth the sore , apostume or carbuncle , least it returne againe into the bodie . a plaister to suppurate , drawe forth , and ripen the sore or botch , although common , yet very good and commended of al that vse it . take a great white onion , & cut off the head of it , & with your knife picke out the coare or middle part , and fill that hollow place full of good treacle , not common treacle , but theriaca andromachi , which you shall haue at the apothecaries . put on the head of the onion , and paast it with a little dow or leuen , and set it to roste in the imbers , and being soft rosted , take it forth and pill it , and stampe it in a morter , and lay it hote vnto the sore vpon some double cloth , and rowle it softly that it fal not off , & renew it and lay on fresh , euery sixe houres . and here i must néeds commend the vse of a yong cocke to be vsed in this maner vnto the sore . pull away the feathers from about the fundament of the cocke , and place the fundament vpon the sore , and hold his bill sometime to kéepe in his breath , he shall the better draw the venome : & if he die , then take another , and do so againe . then lay on this cataplasma , which i haue often vsed , and approued to bee verie good to draw forth and suppurate the sore . r. one lilly roote , young mallowes , one handful , let them be bruised in a morter : lineseede two or three sponefuls beaten grossely , boyle them together in sufficient water , or as much as will couer them , boyle them vntill they be very soft and thick , then put thereunto figges six or seuen : halfe a good handfull of raisins stoned , mix these together , and put vnto it oyle of camomil two spoonefuls , and being very warme lay it to the sore , and binde it softly that it may abide on , change it euery twenhoures . another that ripeneth the botch and bringeth it speedely vnto suppuration . r. onions and garlicke heads , of each of them in number foure : rost them in the imbers , then stampe them in a morter , and put thereto of fenegreeck and line seede of each a good spoonefull , snayles with their shelles foure or fiue , figs in number foure : leauen as much as a walnut , barrowes liquor as much as two walnuts , mix them in a morter , and warme it & apply it vnto the sore . an implaister that ripeneth the sore or botch . r. galbanum ammoniacum , bedelium ana j ounce , dissolue them in vinegar at the fire and strain them and put thereto diachilon magnum ij . ounces , mix them and spread it vpon a thick cloth , and lay it to the sore and change it euery xvi . houres . another plaister that draweth forth the sore and ripeneth it speedily . take a white lillie roote , yong mallowes two handfull , scabious one handfull : shred them and bruse them , and boile them in a sufficient quantitie of ale grounds , and put thereto of line-séede two or thrée spoonefuls beaten , and as much fenegréek beaten likewise , sower leauen as much as two walenuts , mixe them , and lay it warme vnto the sore , changing it euery sixtéene houres , two or thrée times vsing it , ripens the botch . by vsing any of these pultesses , or cataplasmes , you may spéedilie ripen the botch or sore , and béeing ripe , it ought to bée opened by the chirurgion in the lower part thereof , that the matter may be the better auoided . and remēber this note , that whatsoeuer you apply or lay vnto the botch must not be cold , i meane cold in qualitie and operation . for cold medicines would driue backe againe that venemous matter true hath expelled , to the great daunger of the that napatient . and if you feare the opening of it , which is indéeds nothing to suffer , then let the chirurgion vse a potentiall instrument , i meane a causticke , and béeing done vse this digestion . r. cleare turpentine washed one ounce , a yolke of a newe laide egge , as much : oyle of saint iohns worte halfe a dram , of good mithridatum halfe a dram . mixe all these together and vse it vnto the wounde vntill it be wel digested , which you may know by the whitenesse , thicknesse , and great quantity of the matter . and notwithstanding it is now running , yet shall it bée good for you to vse one of the pultise afore taught , it will ripen and bring forth the rest . this is dangerous for those that are about you , therefore bée carefull to kéepe your chamber , and also how you bestow the plasters that you vse vnto your sore , that others be not infected thereby . you ought to vse dayly in your chamber the perfumes before set downe thrée or foure times a day , to vse a good diet , and to eate of some of the cordials before set downe , and your sore béeing néere well , then ought you to purge with one of the potions before set downe . what is to be done when a sore or botch lieth deepe and commes not forth . you must take one of the medicines afore set down for the cure of the plague , and sweat therewithall : but if the apostume or sorely déep , notwithstanding your sweat , then must you fasten cupping glasses ouer or vpon the sore , first scarifing the place , and when you haue vsed your cupping glasses , then vse a yong cock or pullet , as before is taught , pulling the fethers from about the rumpe and taile , putting a little salt into the fundament of the cocke or pullet , set it vnto your sore houlding the bil of him sometime to retaine his breath : and if he die take one more , and do as before , and then apply the plaister of onions and treacle setdown before : and then applie some one of the other which will bring it to suppuration , then let it be opened as before taught . what is to be done when the botch wil not come to suppuration , but continues hard . if a botch come not to suppuration within thrée or foure daies , as most commonly it dooth , but resisteth your application continuing hard , then must you vse some caustick or strong vessicatorie , or insitiō which i like not of , the matter béeing vnripe or not altered into corruption : the continuance of a botch vnsuppurated and not drawn forth is very dangerous : the reason is , the venome gathereth strength by putrifaction within the body and returnes vnto the heart againe . then farewell life . this i haue knowne , and i am perswaded may die that might liue , if this were séene vnto . therefore to preuent danger , rather open the botch before it be full turned vnto suppuration , and vse cataplasmes and pultesses to ripen the rest that remaines . but being still hard , then i say you must vse the counsell of a chirurgion , and open it with a causticke , as i before sayd , how and wherewith i woulde teach , but it would bee too long in this place . first , before it bée opened , let it be well epithymated : and vse some cordiall set downe in this book , two or thrée times a day . and then vse digestions and salue to heales . what is to bee done when a botch strikes . in againe . sometimes i haue knowne the botch to appeare , and yet sodainlie to fall in againe , and this is euer a dangerous and deadly signe . but i will shewe you all that may bee done : and manie haue by this meanes béene relieued from death . first , with all spéede giue him some one of the foure electuaries set downe in this booke for the cure of the plague , the quantitie is there set downe : and procure him to sweate as long as he can endure it . then drie him with warme clothes . and giue him cordials to eate of , set downe in this booke . then ought hee to haue a glister , the which i will set downe , and the next day early giue him my purging potion set downe before : the which is good in this case : and giue him often cordials to eate . and by this meanes ( by gods grace ) the patient shall be deliuered from death . the clister . r. maluae , althaeae ambarum cum radicibus ana m. ss . mercurialis , hipericonis , meliloti ana m. ss . scabi m. ss . sem . lim , & fenigraeci vnc . j. fiat decoctio , m huius libra dissolue butyri vnc . i. mellis rosarum vnc . ii . olei violacei vnc . ii . catholici vnc . semiss . succhari rub . vnc . j. misce & fiat clister . take foure ounces lesse of the decoction , for that it will be too much in quantitie . let this glister bée giuen to the patient : and then the next morning receiue the potion set downe before , that purgeth venemous matter from the bodie , and obserue what i haue written . when a botch ariseth neare vnto the heart , or in the throte : then must you desire helpe of the chirurgion , who with cupping glasses may drawe the sore or botch farther off . to set downe the maner héere it were néedlesse , euery chirurgion that hath anie iudgement and practise knowes how to do it . i will here end , beséeching god to bee mercifull vnto vs , forgiue our sins , and make vs thankful for his great blessings bestowed vpon vs , blesse our labours , and cease this sicknesse . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a13646-e80 ne ope diuina ●il valemus . notes for div a13646-e270 what the plague is . aerem vitiati ac putridum . ●●metimes the ● is corrup●● by naturall ●ses , & som●●●es by euill ●its com●ded by god ●●e first cause . ●●mb . 14. 11. ●ut . 28. 1. 2. ● . leuit , 26. 2● vers . 3. ●en . de diff ●rium cap 8. ●ocrat . de ●hus . 2. cause is corruption he aire . third he is the e●disposition ●e body . note . gal. de diff . febrium lib. 1. cap. 5. the second cause of the pestilence . rotten exhaltions may corupt the aire . the aire tha● commeth frō such stinking places corru●● the blood . the third cau●● of the pestilēd is the euill diposition of the body . perfected ●n an● . ●ritudi●●m est . remember this whilst th● liuest here . ●uations . ●e good ●ers were in the of all ●ishes in●● & good persons ●t to be ●ed . yet it were good to take counsell of some doctor . to prepare the body . the potion purging . what is to be obserued in the ●aking of this ●otion . and draweth from all parts superfluous humors . these are the signes of repletion . both in feuers dropsies , rhumes falling sicknesse . galen de humoribus . qualitie . quantity . eccl. 7. galen iuuent . nēbrorum lib. 1. cap. 4. heate is the cause , of digestion . auicen . hippocrat . in aphoris . except one draught for a cold and weake stomacke . arist . de som . somnus causatur ex vapore cibi , qui vadit ad cerebrum . moderate sleep is good , and greatly comforts nature . ●eepe in the ●y makes the ●dy apt to in●ction in this ●●e of sicknes . ●ne nimium ●●turae inimicū . galen . in regim . sanitat . also increa●h wind , ●oler , & me●choly . ●hese passions the mind are ●angerous . take a little o● this euery morning . ●●ld wish to vse dai●me one of ● preserua● and when ●ake no ●se some o● preserua● ●●t commons with ●e and ● water . ●ncely pre●tiue . ●he apo●rie make for you . a good preseruatiue . rufi cont . pest . auicen in lib. 4. take these pils euery second day . * ●hat is , o●●●ges , limōs , ●●mgranats . ● good po●ander . a preseruatiue . ●he com●●s . for the commons . ●or want of ●ese waters ●●ke posset ●ink made white wine . a medicine of singular vertue in curing this sicknesse . a dram and a scruple is sufficient for a any man. ●elay in this ●knes is verie ●angerous , and ●mmonly ●ngeth death 3 good confe●on for cu●●●g the pesti●●●ce . 4 electuarium contra pestem cum gemmis . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. ●se are ma●est signes ● the heart ● drawne ●venim vnto ●y attraction ●he aire by inspiration ●he arteries the heart . 12. ●e reason ●y no sore ap●reth in som●sons . ●e reason of appearing sore or ●●ch . the heart ought with all speed to bee comforted . no helpe in some persons but death followeth . venena principes partes petunt . gal. what bodies soonest infected i shewed your before . hote feuers ●he cause so ●any die of ●s sicknes . 3. intentions required in the cure of this sicknes . beware you sleepe not vntil you haue taken your medicine , & eight houres after . vse help in the first beginning who ought to bleede . ●e him in ● sweating , if be very drie , ●n of the cor●ll sirrup set ●wne in this ●oke halfe a ●onefull , or a ●onefull at a ●e . what drinke the patient ought to vse . to mitigate and take away his drinesse and thirst . but my perfumes set down are far better to be vsed . let him sleepe one or two howers to preuent paine and lightnes of the head . god is the author of health . ●e purging is ●od , & ought be vsed . purging po●●n to be ta●●n the second ●y after sweat no botch or ●●e appeare . if it be not on the change or full of the moone . great folly in many men , to ●suse the means of their ●ealth . whē the botch sore grow●h toward benesse , beare ye neither ●rge nor ●eede , but vse ●rdials , and ●utward medi●●nes to ripē it . who may not ●eed . where to bleed , in what place or vaine . the quantity . any time or houre in necessitie let bloud . the diet the ●cke ought to ●eepe . or rosewater ●● vinegar together . change of chambers is good . ●nd apply an ●pithymum ●nto the heart . ●nd it were ●ry good that ●es were ●ade through ●ut the citie , & you think the ●erfumes too ●ere , then ●e frankin●nse , rosin , and ●urpentine . ●y sleepe the ●oud and ●rits vitall are ●awne inward ●d attracteth ●th it selfe the ●nome vnto ●e heart , and ●taineth it in . a defensitiue for the heart , in sweating to be vsed . a very good cordial confection to be eaten oftentimes in the day of the sick patiēt . a purging potion to be vsed the second day after sweat , if no sore appeare ●t worke not thin two ●ures take a ●tle broth fiue ●● sixe spoone●s . this cordiall ●onfection ●oth greatly ●omfort the ●eart . the diet that ●●ust be vsed . his drinke . a iulep to help drinesse and thirst . against thirstinesse a sirrup . iulep against ●st & dri●e . ●uilt com●ing the 〈◊〉 . an epithymū for the heart to be vsed to a weak and fainting person . ●xing it with infusion ●t was left . ●member to often in ●ur chamber ●t perfumes downe be●e . ●ppocrat . cum ●isque purgare . an vnguent to cause sleepe in watching and rauing . a confection causing sleepe . ●eause sleep ●ntlet to be ●ied vnto ●rowes . ●ote this . ● gargarisme . note this , whē vomit is good . cordials and sweat will stay vomiting . to stay vomiting . breake not selfe by meanes dily . vse cordials to comfort the heart . the cause why the sore coms not forth , is weaknesse of nature . 〈◊〉 with a 〈◊〉 . when a botch ariseth in a dāgerous place what we must doe . directions for the prevention and cure of the plague fitted for the poorer sort. wharton, thomas, 1614-1673. 1665 approx. 12 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a65601) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 37704) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2162:4) directions for the prevention and cure of the plague fitted for the poorer sort. wharton, thomas, 1614-1673. [2], 6 p. printed by j. grismond, london : 1665. by thomas wharton. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. plague -england -early works to 1800. plague -prevention -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2006-05 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion directions for the prevention and cure of the plague . fitted for the poorer sort . wisdom 17. 12. for fear is nothing else but a betraying of those succours which reason offereth . london , printed by j. grismond , 1665. directions for the prevention and cure of the plague . fitted for the poorer sort . i. diet . let every mans diet be moderate , and of such nourishments as are least subject to putrefie and corrupt . a small breakfast , a dinner of solid and wholesom meats , and a light supper . those who cannot go to the price of flesh , may make use of flesh-broths , ( which may be had at every cooks ) also of bread and butter , old cheese , toste and drink , toste and butter , and the like , drinking sometimes in the day a draught or two of purl● , or strong beer or ale , especially in the morning . let them abstain from the boiled herbs of colliflowers , cabbage , coleworts , spinage , and beets ; also from all wallowish and lushy fruits , as sweet plums , sweet apples , pears , peaches , mallacotoons , cucumbers , pompions , mellons , ripe gooseberries , ripe grapes , apricocks unless eaten with the kernels ; also from raw herbs , as reddish , spinage , &c. but all fruits baked or thoroughly corrected by the fire , are better than raw . for sallads , those that desire them may use sampier boiled and pickled , and served with vinegar ; and so capers , ashen-keys , broom-buds , elder-flowers , clove-gilliflowers . &c. or for raw sallads , lettuce , purslane , wood-sorrel , common sorrel , tarragon , white endive , borage and bugloss-flowers , both wilde and garden , served with a little mustard ( for them that can bear it ) and vinegar and oyl , or at least with vinegar ; and all moderately used . it is thought very expedient that all brewers , both about the city and suburbs , do fume their empty casks yery well with brimstone before they fill them ; and withall adde unto each barrel about an handful of bay salt burnt in a crusible or earthen pot unglazed till it leave crackling , together with a handful of bran , and both put into the same barrel : for it may be a great means to stop and cease the plague , because it will reach even to the poorest sort , who are otherwise ( by means of their poverty ) like to be destitute of any other preservatives . ii. preservatives . take every morning and evening one good spoonful of one of these liquors following , drinking immediately after it a draught of mace-ale , or purle , or strong beer , if they find themselves in any imminent danger . 1. take the best white-wine vinegar one pint , of london-treakle four ounces , mix them well together in a glass , bottle and keep them close stopt . or , 2. take carduus benedictus seeds , and bur-dock seeds , ivie berries , and juniper berries , of each well bruised one ounce ; the roots of celandine , angelica , elecampane , and valerian , of each 6 drams , garlick half an ounce , baum , mint , and vervine , each half an handful ; let them all be cut and bruised , and then infused in 6 pints of the best white-wine vinegar in a bottle close stopped for 5 or 6 days , then strain out the vinegar , and keep it for use as before . or , 3. take of this following electuary a dram , or half a dram , according to the age and strength of the patient , but for a child much less , drinking after it a draught of purle , or as before . take conserve of wood-sorrel 2 ounces , of flower of brimstone finely powdered 2 drams , diascordium half an ounce , of the temperate cordial species 4 scruples , of syrup of wood-sorrel as much as will make it up into a moist electuary . let the rooms of every house , especially such as are infected , be well fumed at least twice every day , either with about half an ounce of brimstone grosly powdered , and lapt up in a paper , and laid on a piece of board or tile , and set on fire , and carried from room to room till it be burnt out . or with a link lighted , and carried in like manner from room to room till all be well smoked , and then put it out . it will be advantageous in the way of preservation to forbid the sale or carrying out any infected clothes , or indeed any thing from infected houses , till such time as it shall please god the plague totally cease . it is the general received opinion of physicians , that all those who meet in publick congregations should before-hand take some little refreshment , and if they are so accommodated , to make use of some antidote withall ; and not by being altogether empty to expose themselves to receive any contagion each from other , which may easily happen when many ( as is usually found ) having the infection in their clothes or otherwise , doe press into the same place . for long fasting draws in the pulse and vital strength , weakens the animal spirits , and consequently induces fear and melancholy , whereby contagion easily enters the enfeebled body , and so spreads and continues the plague . further it is convenient for the preventing the spreading of the infection , that about half an hour at least before the people meet there be burned in the churches in several places some powder of brimstone , or some pitch , or tar , or other perfume of like nature and efficacy against the plague , but there is none like brimstone . it will without doubt be advantageous , that plenty of sea-coles be timely provided , that they may be had at reasonable prises , that so the poor may be able to keep cole-fires in their houses , which will be a great preservative against the increase of the sickness . also that there be especial care had about burials of the dead of the plague . first , that none be buried in the churches . secondly , that they be buried very deep in the earth . thirdly , that no grave that hath been made since the first appearing of this plague be digged up , or another made very near it , lest the venemous reeks of the body break forth at the place opened , and infect the air. in case there be not room enough in the church-yard , some other ground-must be allotted and provided without the city and suburbs , where the dead may be buried distinctly , and not heaped one upon another , because when many are buried together , their putrid ferment will easily grow to that strength , that the earth will hardly be sufficient to suppress the steems of it . fourthly , that the constant bearers be admonished not promiscuously and needlesly to mingle themselves with others , nor entertain discourses with heedless boys and children , who may easily receive harm from them . iii. cure . those poor people that are actually infected and begin to be sick , must by all means ( as they tender the possibility of their recovery ) keep themselves within doors , and avoid rambling out into the open air , or looking out at windows , either of which strikes the venom inward to the heart and bowels ; wherefore their safest course is presently to betake themselves to their beds , where they must lie alone , and in bed take this medicine following , or the like . take london-treakle a quarter of an ounce , one ounce of white-wine vinegar , one ounce of the juice of wood-sorrel or juice of orenges , 20 grains of the salt of wormwood , and one ounce and an half of plague-water of matthias , described in the college last book , pag. 13. and if they vomit it , renew it again as soon as the stomach begins to be setled . about an hour after let them drink about half a pint of white-wine or other posset-drink , and lie in bed as quiet as they can , and sweat as long as they can well bear it , taking now and then a draught of the same or other posset-drink ; and about 6 hours after the first draught , take another of the same medicine ; and so continue every 6 or 8 hours till the poison of the disease be spent . in the mean time once in 12 hours at the least let them be refreshed with water-gruel , mace-ale , oatmeal-caudle , harts-horn gelly , chicken-broth with mace , marigold-flower , and harts-horn , with a handful of wood-sorrel boiled together , or any such like , which they can best get . children and women with child being infected may take gascoine powder made by the apothecary , 20 grains in a spoonful of white-wine posset-drink , drinking immediately after it a good draught of the same with two spoonfuls of the plague-water , or one for a child . it is expedient in the course of cure that blisters be raised in several parts of the body , provided that not above four ( if large ) be applied at once ; onely the disease continuing or increasing , others may be successively laid on some two or three days after the first ; lest otherwise if there should be too many laid on at once , they should procure such a difficulty and pain in making water , as will not easily then be born . the places most proper for blisters are the inside of the arms a little above or a little below the elbow , the insides of the thighs a little above the knees , the insides of the calves of the legs , also a little below the croin , and a little below , the arm-pits ; likewise behind the ears : and upon the shape of the neck , which may be near double as large as any of the others . the place ought to be elected by the present physician ; so that it may best evacuate the matter from the parts to which nature endeavours to thrust it . let the rooms whereany sick persons are lodged be diligently kept clean and sweet , free from allmastiness and sluttishness , & where conveniently there may let sea-cole fires be made ; and sometimes let the rooms be fumed with brimstone , as before directed . some change their linen before the disease be fully sweated out , which is conceived to be very dangerous ; therefore we advise they do not change till all symptoms cease . for the bubo or batch . those that cannot apply such poultisses as are appointed by the college for want of attendance , may make use of this plaster following . take empl. de amoniac . and diachyl . simpl . of each half an ounce , and of the plaster of muccilag . a quarter of an ounce , mix them at the fire , and spread it upon thin leather puncht full of holes , and apply it to the place ; it will ripen and break the sore , and draw out the matter . for the carbuncle . take wheat-flowre and soot of each an ounce , sweet sope , and turpentine half an ounce , make it up with the yolks of two eggs , the turpentine and eggs must be first mingled in a mortar with a hot pestel , then adde the rest , and apply it warm to the place . there are two cardial sudonifick powders , proper against the plague , the one for men , the other for women , at mr. coniers at the vnicorn in fleet-street , with directions for their use . finis . kitchin-physick, or, advice to the poor by way of dialogue betwixt philanthropos, physician, eugenius, apthecary [sic], lazarus, patient. with rules and directions, how to prevent sickness, and cure diseases by diet ... cock, thomas. 1676 approx. 108 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 82 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a33534 wing c4793_partial wing c792 estc r12679 12033367 ocm 12033367 52808 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a33534) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 52808) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 865:2 or 2166:3) kitchin-physick, or, advice to the poor by way of dialogue betwixt philanthropos, physician, eugenius, apthecary [sic], lazarus, patient. with rules and directions, how to prevent sickness, and cure diseases by diet ... cock, thomas. [6], 87, [9], 52, [4] p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. printed for dorman newman, at the king's arms in the poultry ..., london, : 1676. part [2] has special title page: miscelanea medica; or, a supplement to kitchin-physick, to which is added, a short discourse on stoving and bathing, with some ... notes on dr. george thompsons galeno-memphis. london, 1675. "miscelanea medica" is also cataloged separately at reel 1327:37. attributed to thomas cock. cf. nuc pre-1956. epistle signed: thom. cocke. advertisement: p. [1]-[4] at beginning and end. item at reel 2166:3 is part 1 only. reproduction of original in dr. williams' library, london, england and henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng thomson, george, 17th cent. galen. medicine -early works to 1800. hygiene -early works to 1800. 2006-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-06 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion kitchin-physick : or , advice to the poor , by way of dialogue betwixt philanthropos , engenius , lazarus , physician , apthecary , patient . with rules and directions , how to prevent sickness , and cure diseases by diet , and such things as are daily sold in the market : as also , for the better enabling of nurses , and such as attend sick people ; there being nothing as yet extant ( though much desired ) of this nature . parve nec invideo , &c. ovid de trist . london , printed for dorman newman , at the king's arms in the poultry , and at the ship and anchor at the bridge-foot on southpark-side , 1676. gvlielmo , viri famigeratissimi gulielmi whitmore , unico proli , necnon costae suae formosae et castissimae , dominae fran. whitmore , filiolae viri nobilis thomae whitmore equitis aurati , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc t. c. med. d. d. in all dedications , there is something of design , self and interest ; and to be true to you , that which made me single you out for a shield and shelter , was partly to gratisie the stationer , who must needs thrive and fare the better , for coming under your roof . and had the book , no other worth in it , than that it bears so great a flag and canvass , as the name of your illustrious father , it were enough to make it sell , and recompence the reader for buying it . another end i have in it ( though you do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 epulari ) is , to set before you some wholesome and necessary directions for diet ; that being indeed , the best physick and physician , you and your amiable lady can ever hope to meet with , both to preserve your healths , and prolong your lives ; which so much concerns the poor of this town , city & country , that they may call me cruel , if i do not all i can , that you may ( to imitate in true charity and munificence your renowned ancestors ) long live and prosper , which is the most passionate desire of your servant and neighbour . thom. cocke . an advertisement to the patient . whereas divers persons in , and about london . some under the name and notion of chymists : others under the pretense of charity , do delude and entice people to their daily destruction , to make use of their cheap , safe , and harmless medicines ( as they call them ) though indeed ( as hath been often made appear ; ) both dear and deadly ; promising also , and warranting cures , though incurable : and whereas also , 't is the opinion of divers sober and considerate persons that one great cause hereof , is , because colledge physicians , and such as are approved , and have been educated in the vniversities , do not take more care of the poor ; it being not in their power to pay both for advice and physick . this is therefore to certifie all persons whom it may concern , that there are several physicians , and persons of known integrity , who have voluntarily , for the good and welfare of the poor ; undertaken to give all persons advice gratis that shall come unto them : and to write them bills to what apothecaries they themselves think sit ; or give them instructions what to do , or how to prepare medicines themselves , that are not able or willing to make use of the apothecary . and that all things may be done to the greatest security and advantage of the patient ; the aforesaid physicians have not only set those medicines they intend to make use of , at such low and mean rates , that none can imagine it is done for any other end than to gratifie the poor , and the apothecary to have an honest lively-hood for his pains ; no medicine exceeding six pence ; and some not above half so much . but also upon any occasion , either the patient , or the said apothecary in their behalf may have free access to any of the aforesaid physicians . note . that you may be informed where , at any time to speak with some one or more of the physicians above mentioned , at one mr. briggs , an apothecary by abch-church , or near the salmon in spittle-fields ; and 't is hop'd , that in other out parts of the city , where there is most need and most poor , that some of the honourable college of physicians , will in their christian care , and compassion to the poor , take the like care for the preservation of paupers , and preventing mountebanks , mechinicks , silly women , and such like intruders on physick . n b. now i am lanch'd , i expect nothing but storm and tempest : but , as yet , all that i could ever hear objected against any thing contained in this advertisement , was , that the medicines are cheap , and consequently ( as some suggest ) not good ; as if god had not ordain'd things necessary for the preservation of the poor , as well as rich . this made the philosopher thank heaven , that it had made all necessary things cheap and easie to be attain'd ; but all things dear and difficult , not necessary . besides if you consider that the intent of this undertaking , is in favour of the poor , there will be little reason then for this querulous complaint . some again that would fain say something , will 't is likely tell you , the dress and stile is too plain and poor , too mean , faint and seeble , to contend and meddle with goliah among the philistins . to this , i answer , that i did never fancy new , affected , and oftentimes non-sensick words for old matter : or , to put the reader to the trouble of learning greek , only to understand the title page of a book , lately expos'd to the press call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : but above all things , i hate that sneaking trick with daring , doubtful , and difficult words to confound sense , hoping thereby to make them pass for reason : all which , being i think great crimes in our methodical and orthodox chymist , i have endeavoured to avoid them my self ; or at least , i tell the reader by another character , or an , i. e. that i am not quite so silly , as not to be sensible of so great an errour , where there is no necessity or cause , but vapouring . others , for want of better arguments , and to gratifie their own discontents , will it may be cavil at the subject matter , esteeming it below the state and grandeur of a physician , and more fit for some waiting gentlewoman , nurse , or master of the pantry : but this savours so strong of calumny , design and arrogancy ; that it stinks alive , and stands in need of nothing , but contempt and scorn to make it more odious ; or else , i might produce emperours , kings and queens , and the best of physicians to be their judges . some also peradventure will more gravely argue , from the bad consequents of this undertaking : but upon better thoughts certainly it will appear to them , that i have done nothing herein to the prejudice of any ; the emperick , the searcher and sexton only excepted : and what makes poor people run headlong to mountebanks , silly women , mechanicks , psendo-chymists , and their graves , but that they have no other refuge to flee to in sickness , it being impossible for them ( they say ) to pay both for advice and physick : physick and physicians , are only made for rich men , and wait on princes , and receive gifts of kings , but never thanks , nor prayers from him who hath no other fee ; all which with hosanna's may be prevented by such an attempt as this ; the advising them ( especially where personal advice and visits cannot be had ) to very little physick , but rather to proper cordials , and a di●t proper to their disease , being the only safe ▪ honest , easie , and effectual way , both to pacifie their just clamors , and prevent their dangers in being ruined by bold ignorant practitioners , which understand neither themselves nor medicines they boast of ; our ortho-chymist ▪ and author of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ( as the learned calls it ) being only excepted . how justly herein do the poor complain and tell us , that the art of physick , which was instituted to save them , by the corruption of times , and intruders on physick , by neglect of magistrates , and want of personal visits , now ruines and destroys them : and that they are deprived of life , by using ( as they think ) the means to preserve it : is not physick confest on all hands , a pernicious , a deadly , a dangerous thing , if it be not used as it ought ? is it used , as it ought , without the physician 's visiting the patient , or the patient the physician ? and is the poor patient visited as he ought by the physician ? without which , the nurse , the neighbour , the friend and messenger that comes from them is the physician ; 't is they indeed act his part : and if these guides mistake their disease and symptomes ( as what else can be expected ) where is art and medicine ? and is not this the common case of paupers ? for redressing of which ( where visits cannot be had ) there needs no more than such a negative as , meddle not with physick , or very little : but let nature alone with a peculiar diet , or only some well prepared cordials proper for your distemper : and in behalf of the poor , it were to be wish'd , that no such thing as physick , ( unless diet ; our ambrosiopaeas or cordial spirits may deserve that name ) might be permitted them , until physicians be allow'd them , or encouraged by authority personally to inspect and visit them . and that this may not seem the bare conceit and opinion of one , who may be thought easily overtaken with meer idaeas , whims and speculations ( as i really think our chymist is ) i could else produce the voice of authority , and suffrages of the most eminent physicians , for what i have said , although they have not in a set treatise , handled it in this manner ; which i readily acknowledge , ( if this occasion would permit ) stands in need of a greater volumn and more authentick author : however , that i may a little comply with the mode and humour of times , and swagger in print as well as others ; give me leave ( good reader ) to tell thee , that having been beholden to both universities for my education , and spent in this city alomst twenty years in the practice of physick ; i may i hope , among the croud and crew of votaries that daily attend the shrine of aesculapius , be allow'd , locum philosophandi ; if not , i crave leave for my considence , and yet , cannot but still remain confident , till some more generous hand than mempsis ( or in plain english doctor g. t. ) helps the poor to better cheer , than a few airy and empty notions , that i have herein done them no wrnog , having given them , in this discourse on diet , no worse than i use my self , and am sure will tend much to their preservation and welfare . all that i have else to add in favour of my self , and for the errata's of the printer ▪ is , that from my first perusing a late book , entituled all in greek a direct ( though in truth an indirect ) method of curing chymically ; to the time of fitting this for the press , was not above eight or nine days ; so that i hope all my own , and the errors of the press , will at most amount to no more than a nine days wonder . if any one think , i need not have been thus concern'd for this affair , i can tell him , if all men had been of this mind , the book , to which this relates , must have escap'd without any reproof , which in my opinion stands in as much need of correction , as any thing i ever met with , since i could distinguish between truth and errour : and the whole design of this in opposition to that , is , to offer a more direct and real way of curing and preserving the patient ; and if the chymist dare say ; 't is no matter what we eat , or what we drink ; i dare upon as good grounds say , 't is no matter whether we eat , or whether we drink . there is something else i could say for my self ; but that long apologies have usually more of stick than stalk , and like may-poles , not only tall and long , but troublesome and fruitless . but to say no more of these logo-daedali , gin-cracks , wind-mills , and chymical camaera's ; 't is very observable , that paracelsus , and almost all that phantastick gang , notwithstanding their immortal medicines ( as they call them ) they dyed young , and in the prime of their age , and not only impartial historians , but those that have some fancy and favour for them , confess that though they performed many admirable , and stupendious cures , yet ( as 't is supposed of the jesuits powder ) their distempers either returned again , or they seldom lived above a year or two after , verifying herein the old adagie ; that 't is easie to cure the disease , if you will but venture to kill the patient , whom god defend and keep from danger and delusion is the prayer of their votary . t. c. note . that the few following dialogues are inserted only to amplifie , and make more familiar and evident , the intent of this advertisement ; and to give the reader a practical prospect of whaet is contained in it , and meant by it . part the first by way of dialogue betwixt philanthropos . eugenius , & lazarus . physician , apothecary , & patient . laz. i am glad , sir , to find you within : i have brought you a water , and desire your opinion of the party that sends it . phil. not to keep you in suspense , without any more ado , there is no certain judgement to be given by urine ; whatever is done that way , which so amuseth you and others , is by collusion , fraud and confederacie . laz. why then , sir , do you physicians permit us to bring our waters ? besides , there are those , that do undertake to tell us , who , and what the party is ; whether they shall live or dye , and much more to this purpose , which i forbear to trouble you with . phil. well lazarus , take it for an undoubted truth , that they are all but impudent lyes , and contriv'd stories to drive on some design and interest : and if you will credit me , some of the chief and archest of them have confest as much to me ; besides , ( as ignorant ( as you make your self ) you cannot imagine such silly illiterate persons ▪ as generally they all are , that boast of these mighty deeds , and upon enquiry are found to be either conceited women , or some decay'd , bold , ignorant mechanicks : nay , high way-men , bauds , and common strumpets , gypsies , witches and conjurers , commonly call'd cunning men and women should be most famous in this profession . is it to be supposed , that all universities , colleges and learned societies , ( as our mempsis will have it ) throughout the whole world , could remain ignorant , after the greatest endeavours they could use , as upon record , and in all their writings they solemnly protest they do ) if any such thing as these persons boast of by urin , or their universal medicines , were to be known or attain'd unto ? laz. truly , sir , there is something in what you say , and it seems to call in question ones discretion to believe all that is talk'd of : but i pray , sir , would you not have us then bring the patients water when we come to you ? phil. yes , by all means good lazarus , but not with any expectation of conjuring ; for though there be no certain knowledge of any disease , nor any safe judgement to be given only by the urine ; yet it serves often times to indicate or hint something to us . laz. if urine be thus uncertain , and insignificant ; i pray , sir , then how came this custom into such request , and what still continues the repute and use of it ? phil. all the account i can give you of the original and growth of this errour is , chiefly the ignorance , and credulity of the vulgar , either in not apprehending the devices , secret combinations , and stratagems of jugling vro-manticks ; or else the peoples mistake , and fond conceit in thinking the physicians chiefest skill lay in the urine , meerly because they observed them to view usually the water , when they visited the sick ; and on this mistake , but chiefly to prevent the charge of visits , as also the physicians condescention to the imposition , has occasion'd the use of this pernicious custom . but because there are some other errors i would advise you of in their proper place , i shall conclude this section , with these few directions . i. that whenever you visit the physician , you ever bring with you the sick persons water : only that it may be in a readiness , if the physician sees occasion to require it , but not with any expectation of being resolv'd any thing that is certain and material by it . ii. though the physician should omit to ask , yet do not you forget to tell him all you know of the sick : tell him his age , sex , calling , complexion , habit of body and constitution : his customs in eating and drinking , and what course of life he has led : what time he was first taken : whether he has a vomiting , or looseness , or both : whether he sleeps much , or wants it , or has a cough , stitches , or pains in any part : whether his thirst be great , or he sweat much , and in what part most , or whatever else the sick person at that present labours under , and complains of ; and be sure you do not conceil what medicines he has already taken by the advice , or perswasions of others ; and who they were . iii. let your visits be at the beginning , and first onset of the disease , and not be put off till the last , which makes the disease , not only the more difficult , but dangerous also , and oftentimes proves fatal : you may as well , when your house is on fire , forbear going about presently to quench it . iv. when you have the direction of such a physician as you ought to confide in ; be sure you keep to him , and punctually in every particular observe his directions ; a little error herein , be it in your diet or physick , may be your death : and run not from one physician to another , though perhaps more eminent and able than the first : it being a most certain truth , that multitudo medicorum , & medicinarum , &c. a multitude of medicines and physicians do very often destroy the sick — but as to our present concern about diet ; take notice : that i. all tender , temperate , sedentary , and sickly people , all infants , aged , idle and decrepit persons ought to eat often , but yet very little at once ; because much food , ( like much fewel thrown upon sire ) extinguisheth their natural heat : and as weak and wasted bodies are to be restored by little and little , so also by moist and liquid aliments , rather than dry and solid , because , that kind of diet does nourish soonest , and digest , and distribute easiest . ii. those that have an imperfect health , or are under any manifest disease , and eat much , and get little strength by eating ; 't is a sign they have used themselves to too full a diet : and the more you cram and cherish such bodies ; the less they shall thrive by it , but grow worse and worse ; because , by much feeding , you do but increase the vitiated and bad humours , which should be wasted by bleeding , purging , or abstinence . and this should caution all good women , nurses and chymists , how they importune , and impose upon sick persons , their comfortable , cordial , and good things ( as they call them ) and continually encourage the sick , say the physician what he will , to be eating one good thing or other to encourage the * archeus : to reform this , and other unreasonable customs in diet , was instituted in old times , that order of physicians call'd clinicks , or such as directed the diseased how to order themselves in sickness , which is now ( the more is the pity ) lest to the discretion of every idle , conceited and ignorant nurse or gossip . iii. never , though in perfect health , eat at once , till your appetite be quite satisfied : eat not till you have an appetite , and eat not so long till you have none , was galens rule , who lived an hundred years without any manifest sickness : this rule also the emperour aurelian , cato , seneca , and all the samous dietists carefully observed , and without it esteemed physick , but an insipid and insignificant thing — when we want our healths , we complain that we have taken cold , or eaten something hard of digestion , or make some such frivolous excuse or other ; whereas , the real cause lyes in a long continued disorderly diet : 't is rare unless we offend in quantity , that any food that is common to us or mankind , does offend us by its quality ; if there be any such thing as qualitie , as there is not , says mempsis . iv. if you have eaten or drank too much at once , use so much exercise or abstinence , before you so transgress again , as will perfectly digest the superfluity and excess of your former eating and drinking ; or else there will be a necessity of being beholden to the extraordinary helps of physick to prevent gouts , catarrhs , scorbuts , loss of appetite , crudities , obstructions , palsies , and what not ? v. if you eat a large breakfast , eat no dinner : if you eat no dinner , eat an early supper : if you eat a supper , eat no breakfast : if no breakfast , eat an early dinner ; and by this means you will keep your stomack clean , strong and vigorous , and preserve thereby a good digestion , and distribution of your food . custom and company cause us commonly ( more than thirst and hunger ) to eat and drink : but when hunger and thirst invite us ; 't is to be preferr'd before occasion and opportunity : but if you resolve both to breakfast , dine and sup , let your suppers be early and largest , your dinners least , and all the time after supper ( if your occasions will permit ) be dispos'd to honest and innocent recreations and mirth . vi. keep constantly to a plain , simple , and single diet : none enjoy more health , and live longer , than those that avoid variety and curiosity of meats and drinks , which only serve to entice us to our own ruine : note also , that when you are directed to a diet , you keep most to those aliments in that chapter , which least offend your stomack , and most refresh & please your fancy , to this end let the sick , or some for him , be often reading over the ensuing ghapters for diet : and if your food be solid , hard or dry , besure to chew it well , and drink the oftner . vii . begin your meals , with something actually hot , and such things as nourish most , viz. things that are sweet , thin , luscious and liquid , moist , slipery , and most passible , as cherries , apples , pears , but above all things flumory : but all solid , hard , dry , acid , sower , sharp and astringent meats and drinks are to be used last . viii . if at any time , yet at meals drink not much at once , rather drink often and little : this will make the meat and drink mix well in your stomach ; prevent fluctuations , crudities and sower belchings ; also ( for most ) morning ▪ draughts of strong drinks and frequent compotations , or tipling betwixt meals are to be avoided . x. when you are in perfect health and temper , eat and drink things temperate : and when distempered and sick , eat and drink things contrary to your distemper and sickness , though not contrary to your stomach and appetite : you may gratifie nature ▪ but not your disease , v. 8. if your disease be cold , your diet ( though it dislike your fancy ) must be both actually and vertually hot : and if your disease or constitution be hot , your diet must be cold or cooling ; and so of all other diseases according to the chapters hereunto annex'd : and ever more remember , that an erroneous , and irregular diet , will undo , all that the physician , or physick can do for you : and galen ( a man as much to be believ'd and depended on as mempsis ) in his tract de theriac , affirms all remedies ineffectual without a due diet. x. the particular chapters for diet ( there being variety enough in every chapter ) must be exactly kept to ; and no other food made use of , than is mentioned in those chapters , till the disease be cured , let standers by , and dogmatick chymists , say what they will to the contrary : 't is keeping to a proper diet that cures , and without this , they do but insanire , or act like mad-men , that either give or take physick . lastly . and above all things ; devoutly invocate god for his benediction , without which , neither paul nor apollo , galenist nor chymist , food nor physick can do any thing ; as is more amply thus signified in the words of sirac to his son jesus : in thy sickness pray unto the lord , and he will make thee whole : leave off from sin , and order thy ways aright ; and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness : then give place to the physician ; for the lord hath created him : the hour may come that their endeavours may have good success : for they also shall pray unto the lord , that he would prosper that , which is given for the prolonging of life : for the lord hath created food and medicines out of the earth , and he that is wise will not abhor them : and he hath given men skill , that he might be honoured in his marvellous works ; for , of the most high only cometh healing . phil. but to come a little nigher the business i aim at : pray tell me eugenius , what sick people have lately been with you ? and how mannage you that affair of paupers ? eugen. there was with me just now a lazar , so afflicted with the bloody flux , and so extremely indigent ; that he has neither house nor home , friend nor money , and what to do with him , i know not . pbil. give him two or three drops of the doctors pseudochymical , alexi-stomachon : a good draught of pepper posset , egg-caudle , mace-ale , mull'd sack , or burnt claret ; it may be will do as well . eugen. but , sir ! the man is almost dead , and starv'd with cold and hunger , and has no two or three shillings , nor farthings to buy the doctors drops , or a bit of bread ! phil. you must resolve then to relieve him , or let him dye . eugen. that 's a hard saying : i am loth he should perish , and yet to relieve all that may on this account come to me , is to ruine my self . phil. that 's more than you know eugenius : providence is not so dead and dull a thing , as too many make it : he that bad the young man sell all he had , and , &c. knew how to recompence his faith , and confidence in god : besides , you and i , have our names for nought , if we look no further than self and interest : be but you faithful in not imposing upon poor ; and careful in serving and saving the patient , ( be he poor or rich ) and never question an honest satisfaction : as paupers cannot pay , so also , prudent and generous patients will not , let art and industry go unmaintain'd . eugen. wou'd you have me then , sir , give him physick gratis ? phil. i , i , eugenius ; good convenient food and money too ; if you are convinc'd he is such a real pauper , as he says he is ; or else all the alexi-stomachons , polyceas , panaceas , and ambrosiopaeas , that you , or the hermetick doctor can give him , will do him little good : here , bid him provide him a good warm lodging , and buy himself a pound or two of rice , and let ▪ him torrifie , or parch it a little , as he is to use it , in a hot fire-shovel or frying ▪ pan ; or bake it for bread with a few seeds , nutmeg , pepper or cynamon , and eat nor drink any thing but rice , thus prepared with scalded milk , or milk and water , for seven or eight days , and your patient , eugenius , may live , to deride , and laugh at all the twelve-penny drops of chymists , and charitable cheats of poor needy mountebanks and mechanicks . eugen. would you have me , sir , use nothing else but rice ? 't is a great disease he labours under , and methinks rice should not master it . phil. if it does not ; give him often a dose of honest diascordium , or ( if that should fail ) of our hypnotick tincture , and cordial spirits : but you forget , eugenius , that i told you , great diseases may be cured by keeping to ordinary medicines proper for them . eugen. but rice , sir , is no medicine : 't is so common a food , that i wonder you should count it for physick any more than bread ! phil. i count bread , and every thing we eat and drink physick , provided it be contrary to a disease : for instance , if instead of a loose and moist belly , your patient was troubled with a hard , dry , and costive belly ; what medicines ? what alexi-stomachons and panpharmacons can do more , if so much , as such meats as moisten the guts and stomach ? sc. pruens , pears , apples , butter , oyl , watergruel , flumory , french barly , spinage , and many such like moist and anodine aliments , of which hereafter : and when the bowels and stomach are over moist , relax'd , and slippery as in your present patient ; what can physick do more than gradually , as rice does , both heal , alter , bind , dry and strengthen ; especially as it may be cook'd ? and you would find it , eugenius , a hard task to tell me of any one disease , that i cannot hope to relieve or cure by a proper diet , and very little else , as safely and surely , though not perhaps so suddenly , as the proudest medicine the chymist can produce . what disease is there that proceeds not from some of the simple or compound qualities ; and though no man is so compleatly wise , as to explicate them in all their causes and effects , which makes mempsis absolutely deny , their is any such thing as qualities , which is no less absur'd , than to affirm there 's no such thing as summer and winter , or fire and water , because in all things we know not their causes and effects , and yet 't is certain , they really exist , and are ( by the suns absence , or more immediate presence ) made up of such qualities , as we call , hot , dry , cold and moist : and as certain 't is , that all essential diseases are caused , and all medicines cure those essential diseases , by some or all of those four qualities , hot , cold , dry or moist : and what meats are there not , as well as medicines , that are not in one degree or other opposite to those causes ? and if so , as so it is , what hinders then ( as strange as the chymist makes it ) that food may not perform those cures , and if you please , not improperly be call'd physick , there being this only difference betwixt food and physick , that in health nature , i. e. his archeus , requires things homogeneal , or of like qualities and temper to its self ; but in sickness , things heterogeneal , or of contrary qualities to the disease , the neglect of which absolute and necessary distinction makes the chymist so sceptical as he is . of such force and power is food for the preventing and curing diseases , that i could name you no meaner a master of physick than avicen himself , who cured ( to use his own words ) innumerable diseases by diet ; and esteemed it so honest ( as indeed it is ) safe , easie , pleasant , and useful a science , that no good , nor wise men ( but the chymist ) would neglect or undervalue it : however , if diet should , ( as in some sudden and great diseases , it sometimes does ) prove ineffectual , you are hereby no more prohibited the judicious use of greater medicines , in such great and violent diseases , than the blowing up houses , to prevent and put out fires , when such natural and rational helps as water will not do it . and that i may no longer detain you from what at first i most intended ; i shall without any more ado , in several distinct chapters propose you a proper diet for diseases ; by the help of which , our cordial spirits , &c. i can with the satisfaction of a good conscience assure the reader , that he may safely , and with good success ( especially where the physician cannot visit the patient ) practise on himself , and avoid the danger of putting themselves into the hands of pseudo-chymists , silly women , mountebanks , mechanicks , fortune tellers , and such like cheats . and to do this , there needs not much more , than to be directed , or have the opinion of some honest and able physician , whether your disease be mixt , or comes immediately from a hot , a cold , a dry , or moist cause , and then , as you are directed by these ensuing chapters ; to use a mixt or simple diet contrary unto that cause . chap. i. treats of a cold or cooling diet , for hot diseases and constitutions . there is nothing that we can think on , that belongs to aliments so absolutely necessary , so good cheap , and easie to be attain'd , as w●ter , without which the whole universe must stand still , or run into immediate confusion . it 's peculiar prerogative is , to moisten , cool , relax , relieve ease pain , evacuate , thicken , thin , and contributes something to all the active and passive five qualities , dryness , only excepted : by its cold and moist qualities it quenches choler , and lenifies sharp , acid , salt , and adust humours , and relieves all inflamations , inward and outward , and is the only potent refuge for all volatil , saline , thin and sharp bloods . a glass of good spring water , with a little toast , and a little loaf-suger mix'd , is a very good mornings draught , for all hot , lean , sanguine , cholerick and hectick persons . so is water ▪ caudle made thus : take three pints of water , boil in it a little rosemary or mace , till it comes to a quart , then beat up an egg and put some of the scalding hot water to it , then give it a wame or two ; aad with a little sugar , drink it hot or cold ; three pints of spring water put to one pint of milk with sugar-candy , or double refin'd sugar , is a drink that princes may , and do often refresh themselves with . so also is running water with a lemon , and some part of the rine slit into it thin , and a little sugar and wine put to it ; or syrup of rasberries , baum , violets , mint , or clove gilly-flowers ; you cannot take too much of it , in ardent fevers out of a bottle cork'd close , and a quill run through the cork to drink out of : note , that raw cold water , in fevers , inflamations , and cholerick thirst , being drank at once in great quantity may cause obstructions , and many dangerous diseases , as dropsies , &c. but if you first boil well the water , and use it after it is again perfectly cold , instead of obstructing it will deobstruate , or open obstructions , and may thus be given at any time , in all sorts of fevers , either malignant or ardent , especially if a little white-wine vinegar be mix'd with it . that water is best , which is insipid , or without taste , clean , light and bright ; but to make bad water good , and good water better , boil it well , and then let it cool again before you use it . of water is made water-gruel ( the sick man's food and physick ) when the archeus abhors all cordials and high diet : this is ever very acceptable and pleasing , and consequently , not to be neglected by mempsis himself , there are these several ways of making it : take two pints of river or spring water , boil it first , and then let it cool again ; then put to it a due proportion of oatmeal , a handful of sorrel , and a good quantity of pick'd and well wash'd currants , ( eston'd raisins of the sun , and other ingredients , as the disease will permit , may also be added ) ●ye up these ingredients loosely in a fine thin linnen cloth or bag : boil them all well together ( with or without a little mace , nutmeg , rosemary , &c. as occasion offers ) when 't is sufficiently boil'd strain the oat-meal , and press out all the juyce or moisture of the currants and herbs ; throwing away the husks ; as you eat it , sweeten it with a very little sugar , salt , butter , and fine manchet may be added , unless the disease be very acute : or , take a quart of water , put to it a spoonful or two of oatmeal , and a little mace , when it is sufficiently boil'd , put in it seven or eight spoonfuls of white , or rhenish-wine , to make it more nourishing ( if the disease will bear it ) beat up an egg with a little sugar , and put some of the hot liquour to it , and then give it a walm or two : or , take tamarinds or pruens , wash them in several waters , then stone them , and cut them small ; boil them in a sufficient quantity of water and oatmeal , and strain the juyce from the flesh , as you did the currants , and add to it a little sugar when you eat it . all sorts of broths , ptisans , and suppings made of barley clean pick'd , hul'd , and wash'd in many waters , is very pleasing to persons sick of hot diseases ; so are all tart , sharp and sowre things , as verjuyce , barberries , vinegar , gooseberries , cervices , oranges , lemons , dryed grapes , or our common red cherries dryed , quench thirst , cool cause appetite , and please most sick pallats , sorrel , is a most noble and useful plant ; possets made of it , are excellent in ardent or malignant fevers , the green-sauce made of it , is the best of all sauces for flesh , gooseberries not full ripe , sealded , and eaten with good water , a little sugar and rose-water , marmalade of gooseberries is also a dainty repast for weak and sickly persons , so is their quideny , the quideny of currants , both white and red , do the like ; so do barberries either preserved , or in the conserve , and many such like d●●nties made by ingenuous gentlewomen ; tamarind possets are also very pleasing , and profitable in all hot diseases : 't is made thus : take three pints , or two quarts of milk , boil in it about two peny worth of tamarinds ( which you may buy at the apothecaries ) until it turn the milk , then strain it from its curds : thus is made white-wine , rhenish , lemon , orange , sorrel , pippin , and all possets made of sowre things , wh ch are excellent in fevers , and all diseases coming of choler ; vinegar possets will do as well as any . apples quodled , and eaten with water , sugar and verjuyce , are grateful to a hot and dry constitution : so pru●ns stew'd with sorrel , verjuyce , or juyce of lemon , endive , succory , dandelyon , spinage , beets , pur●lain , borrage , bugloss , violet ▪ strawberries cy●qfoyl , raspeberries , mulberries , burnet , quince , plantain , dampsons , lettice , cucumbers , eggs potch'd into water , vinegar or verjuyce , and eaten with sorrel sipits or vinegar , and fine sugar may be permitted persons , whose disease is not acute , or eggs beaten in a platter with butter-milk to a moderate thickness , and sugar'd is also excellent . two-milk posset : that is , boil a quart of milk , to this put a pint of butter-milk , take off the curd , and you have a pleasant posset : this bocheet made of ivory is also excellent . take spring-water three pints , boil it away to two ; when it is cold , put to it one ounce of shavings of ivory , a few coriander , or carryway-seeds ; you may add also as many bruised currants as ivory , put them all in a tin coffee-pot , adding as you think fit , a little liquorish , and let them stand simpering by the fire , four or five hours , then strain them , and keep the liquor in the pot to drink when you will as coffee ; to make it a more pleasant repast , you may put a little rhenish ▪ wine to it , and dulcifie it with a little powder of white sugar ▪ candy . cullis , and jelly of ivory and harts-horn is a good restorative diet ; for hot maciated persons , make it thus : take a chicken or young cockerel , pheasant , snipe , or wood cock ; those that have not too much money , may take hogs feet , lambs , calves , pigs-pettitoes or trotters ; or take the bones of veal , mutton , hens , pullets , capons , &c. which have sinews sticking to them ; boil all , or any of these in the water wherein french barley has first been bolled , throw away the barley , and add to the water some shavings of ivory , and a few currants , or estoned raisins ; when the broth is throughly boiled ▪ strain it , and when it is cold it will jelly ; take from it when 't is cold all the fat from the top , and dregs at bottom ; and to a porenger of this melted , put the yolk of a new laid egg beaten up with the juyce of an orange , and a little sugar , and let it stew gently a little while , and so drink it . note . that all salt , and bitter , and very sweet things ; and all hot and dry things , are to be avoided while you use this diet , and are advised so to do by your physician , as pepper , ginger , cynamon , much salt , tobacco , brandy , and wine unless mix'd with water , strong beer and ale , and meat especially much rosted , and very fat : but cooling odours , as vinegar or water , wherein rose leaves , violets , or any sweet temperate herbs have been steep'd ; or a turf of fresh earth often smelt to ; or to receive much the sent of cow-dung is good and necessary for hot blooded people . chap. ii. treats of a hot diet , for cold diseases and constitutions . the intent of hot aliments is to heat and dry a cold and moise constitution ; to cherish and restore our native heat , when it is deficient , by any cold accident or disease . if food vertually hot , exceed the second degree of heat ; as garlick , onyons , mustard , radish , brandy , &c. it may not then improperly be called physick ; and more fit to be used so , than as food ; and though our bodies are best preserved by things con-natural , or moderately hot ; yet when we do accustom them to things immoderate , as much wine , brandy , tobacco , &c. we seldom long escape death , or some great disease : but away with these distinctions of qualities , says mempsis : all that concerns this chapter , is to mind you of such things as are contrary to a cold disease , a faint , weak , vapid and watery blood : and 't is endless to assert all that may be said on this subject : i shall therefore only single out such as are sufficient . this cullis is counted excellent . take a large cock , capon , sparrows , partridge , snipes or wood-cocks , boil all , or any of them , in a gallon of spring-water , till they fall in pieces , or come to a pottle : then take off all the fat when 't is cold , and put to it two quarts of white-wine , and then boil it again to a pottle : then clarifie it with two or three whites of eggs : then dulcisie and aromatize it , with about a quarter of an ounce of cinamon grosly beaten , and about four ounces more or less of fine sugar : colour it with saffron , and perfume it with a grain or two of musk , or amber-greese ; and to make it more cordial and costly , add to it confect . of alchermes , and hyacynth , q. v. strain it through a gelly bag two or three times , and eat it alone , or mix it with other broths . or , take calves-feet , cow-heel , fresh pig-pork , veal or trotters , let them simper ten or twelve hours by a soft fire , in a sufficient quantity of spring-water , with mary-golds , rosemary , time , savory , sweet-marjoram , mace , or cinamon : when 't is almost boil'd enough , add to it a crust of bread , then strain it : to make it more nourishing , put to it , as you eat it , the yolk of an egg and sugar . or , take a quart of sack , burn it with rosemary , nutmegs or mace , then temper two or three new laid eggs ▪ with four or five spoonfuls of it : give it a walm or two with the eggs , and add to it sugar to your content : thus also for cheapness it may be made with ale , stale-beer or sider : or , take two or three spoonfuls of brandy : put to it a pint of ale , boil the ale and scum it , then put to it sugar and drink it : or , take three or four leaves of sage ; twelve leaves of garden , or sea-scurvy-grass , shavings of horse-radish root , as much as will lye on a shilling , raisins of the sun eston'd , num. 20. put them into a quart bottle of ale or beer , after two or three days you may drink it constantly for your ordinary drink against the scurvy , dropsie , green-sickness , or any cold disease . egg-caudle , and all sorts of broths , bocheets , caudles , cullices , jellies , and liquid aliments , made with flesh , eggs , sugar , sweet-fruit , wine , or aromatick spices , nourish more and sooner than things that are solid , and in the substance , and on this account , no diet can exceed eggs eaten any ways . take any flesh reer-rosted or boil'd ( mutton is best ) press from it the juyce or gravy : let it simper over a soft fire , with so much white or rhenish wine , as there is gravy : to which add the yolk of eggs as you see occasion , sugar , and a lirtle cinamon , nutmeg or mace ; drink often four or five spoonfuls of it , or eat it with crums of sine manchet , or naples bisket : the bottom of any well-seasin'd venison pasty , or meat 〈◊〉 stew'd in a sufficient quantity of wine and water , or ale and water , or water only makes a good stomach potage . all aromatick plants , all exalted sauces with anchovacs , saffron , shalots , pepper , ginger , cloves , cinamon , nutmeg , mace , mustard , or horse-radish roots , chervil , cresses , mint , peny royal , taragon , &c. steept , slic'd or shred into sack , are good sauces for cold and crude stomachs . note . that ambrosiopaea's , or our cordial spirits , much flesh , and good wine moderately taken , may be used while you are under this diet : rich aromatick scents , odours , and perfumes are also excellent : galen counted them the solace and support of his life : the sauce and food of his spirits ; and that reverend divine , the learned hooker , found them so to fortifie rature , that he could not live with●ut them : and certainly , most distempers incident to a cold and moist brain ( the original and prime cause of most diseases ) are prevented , relieved or cured by aromatick odours : these and good air , are says , ( 't is hippocrates , i think ) the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , charms against all evil . chap. iii. treats of a moist diet for dry diseases and constitutions . most of those things mentioned in the first chapter against hot diseases , may be useful also against dry , because such diseases as are hot , are generally also dry ; and therefore it is , that moisture and dryness are counted passive qualities : but besides what are already mentioned in that chapter , there 's nothing can come in competition with milk : and had gods providence confined us only to this aliment , and bread we had no cause to complain of his bounty . 't is generally suppos'd to be of a cold and moist temper ; but being nothing else but white blood , i rather think it ( as blood is ) temperately hot and moist , and so like the blood of our bodies , that nothing can exceed it for nourishment , and therefore 't is that milk in acute distempers is accounted offensive , unless alaid with water : asses milk for medicinal use is in greatest repute , because 't is not so thick , to obstruct , nor so thin as not to nourish : both which may be performed by cow-milk , either by taking from it the cream , call'd fleetmilk , or putting to it a due proportion of whey , especially if the whey be first well boil'd , and put to it cold , and then it will answer all the intents of asses milk : but such as are sound , and under no manifest distemper , stand in no need of these cautions and directions , nor can err in eating it , only observing : 1. that they do not eat it raw and cold , when they are hot : 2. not to eat it on a full stomach , or mingled with other meats : this makes children so subject to worms : 3. use no violent motion immediately after it . — a draught of warm milk from any cow ; ( 't is but conceit and opinion to count on a red-cow , more than a red-woman : the brown and black of both kine are best , so that they are young , well fed , and well flesh'd ) their milk , i say , taken in bed about an hour before you rise , is an absolute refection for a hot , lean and dry constitution , if you put a little sugar , or salt in it , you need not fear its curdling or corrupting . this trifle made of milk is pleasant : take a quart of milk ; boil in it a blade of mace : then take it from the fire , and dissolve in it two or three spoonfuls of fine sugar : then when 't is blood-warm , put to it about a spoonful of runnet , stir it , and dish it out for a wholesome repast : some do it with cream instead of milk , they are both good : there are many of the like nature , which this short essay will not permit of . fish of all sorts is also cold and moist , especially those that live in fresh waters , but fish that dwell in salt waters , and among rocks , and gravel rivers are best . fresh-cod , whiting , shads , place , flounder , sole , bream , barbel , smelts , carps , gudgeon , pearch , pikes , roche , mullets , jacks , or broths made with these , and oysters , cockles , crums of bread , and yolks of eggs are sine feeding for sick maciated people . fruit of all sorts , pears , apples , prunes , &c. stew'd , rosted , boil'd or bak'd , are good also against dry diseases ; carrots , cowslips , purslain , letice , asparagus , ripe mulberries , spinache , strawberries , dates , violet leaves , sweet-almonds , mallows , beets , endive , succory , borage , burnet , liquorish , scorzonera , raisins , currants , whey , wheat , french barley , oatmeal puddings , frumety ; but above all things flumory , the worth of which is known to few : 't is made thus : take half a peck of oatmeal , take from it the supersine flowre , put it to soke three or four days in a stand , or any earthen vessel , with so much water as will more than cover it , shift the water every day to take away the bitterness of the oatmeal , let it stand in the last water till it sowre : and when you would use it , stir it well together , and strain so much as you would use at once : then boil it up to the consistence of a gelly , and eat it at any time cold or hot , with a little white-wine or sugar , sack , claret , sider or oat-ale ; though it seems worst , that sort of flumory is best which looks cleer and sheer , and tastes sharp and sowre : thus also may be made flumory of wheat , rice , french barley , &c. frogs and snailes are counted good food in france , so may toads , spiders , or any vermine , if they come from thence : our english hens , cocks , veal , lamb , chickens , kid and capons , are , i think , every whit as good for saline , hot and dry bodies : if your lamb and veal be very young , you ought to stick it with cloves or rosemary , as you do beef ; and it eats more pleasant , and is more wholesome . the brains of most animals are over moist and phlegmatick : but the rumps , tails and tongues of all beasts , ( but one ) are temperate and restorative . the lungs also of flesh and fowl are good for hot and dry constitutions : so are the eyes , gizards , sweet-breads , and feet of most creatures , especially boil'd . cassia or currants boil'd in chicken or veal-broth , cools , moistens , and loosneth the belly : this is also a good , cool , moist , cheap and nourishing potage : boil any mutton or veal in water , with or without oatmeal ; when the meat is a little more than half boil'd , put in it a bundle of sweet herbs , and the green leaves of marygolds , sorrel , spinage , lettice , purslain , violet , and strawberry leaves : add to these a sufficient quantity of the tender part of asparagus , or a good quantity of green pease will do as well , especially if you bruise some of them before you put them in : or boil damask pruens in two quarts of water ; after they have boil'd a quarter of an hour , put to them a saucer full of wheaten bran ; let your bran only steep in the hot water till 't is cold , then strain it , and sweeten it with sugar , and drink it frequently : or steep a pound of pruens , and a very little liquorish in three or four pints of cold water ▪ thirty or forty hours , and drink it for common drink : or this emulsion : take raisins of the sun ston'd , and currants of each a small handful , lettice and purslain seed of each bruised two or three drachms , boil them in a gallon of spring water to a pottle ; then blanch two or three ounces of almonds , and bray them in a stone morter : strain the liquor , and put into it the almonds ; then strain it again , and with sine sugar make an almond milk , and drink it blood warm , as often as you will. in short , nothing moistens the body more than much sleep , ease and rest , and living in such a moist air as lambeth-marsh , hackney , or dengy hundreds : and though that air is simply best , which is most serene , clear , sharp and dry ; nay , our native air , though by its simpathy with our first matter , often times most repairs and mends our decayed natures ; yet sometimes a gross , thick and moist air , or indeed any air opposite to the disease we labour under , must by us always be reputed best : it being a sure rule that all things cure best by contraries , be it air , aliments , food , physick , or any of the non-naturals . note . that while you are directed this diet , all things are to be avoided , which are forbidden in the first chapter . chap. iv. treats of a drying diet , for moist diseases and constitutions . bread , is so inseparable a companion of life , that neither sound nor sick can subsist without it ; and did i not stand in awe of time , and feared prolixity : i would write its paragraph , and make man ▪ kind sensible , how with this , milk or water , and very little else , we might contemn the curiosities of a court , and encounter with death it self . epicurus ( that cormorant and monster of men ) only with his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 could entertain himself so well ; that he could dispute felicity with kings : and in his morals tells us , that when he would entertain himself more splendidly ▪ he mended his chear with a little milk , and found so much satisfaction by it , that he bids defiance to the pleasures , which the ignorant and sensual world so much like , and cry up in magnificent feasts , great entertainments , rich wines , costly meats and junkets : and certainly says our wise man , most that have addicted themselves to variety , extravagancy and excess , have thereby either loaded themselves with new cares , or contracted new vices ; and so become obnoxious to various and great troubles , and frequently commit rapines , cheats , violating justice , faith and friendship , and many times precipitate themselves into grievous diseases , losses and disparagements ; which by frugality , temperance and sobriety they might have avoided : nature requires little , opinion much , and he that has not this faculty of abdicating from his desires , his mind is like a vessel full of holes ever filling , but never full ; and to him , that is not satisfied with a little , nothing will ever be enough : and whosoever covets no more , than that little he enjoys ; however the world ( deceived by vain opinion ) may account him poor , yet he really is the richest man alive ; and the way to make ones self truly great and rich , is not by adding to ones riches , but by detracting from our desires ; and what reason is there , then says our brave philosopher , that any man should stand in fear of fortune , or court it's favour , since few or none are so poor , as to want long these things , or ever was reduced to a lower ebb , than sallets , bread and water ; nor know i , whether more than this , with a quiet mind , and good appetite , ( without which none need eat ) is worth contending for . how many by high drinks and dyet , riot , and luxurious compotations have dyed on their close-stools , expired in privies , and took their leaves of this base world over a chamber-pot , or at least , only out-liv'd the conflict , with gouts , palsies , catarrhs , surfeits , and many other ignominious diseases : and what great matter can be expected in church or state , from that man whose joynts are infeebled , his sinews relaxed , his head clowded , eyes bleered , and mouth full of curses and clamours , and all by reason of debauchery , excess and luxury ; which chokes rather than cherisheth nature , and clogs the veins and vessels with such superfluous moisture , that no meats nor medicines can command those unmanly diseases , that are the effects of it : and though bread will do as much as any thing , yet , unless temperance , abstinence , or a spare diet be joyned with it , all that physick or food can do is in vain . no persons are more offended with crudities , worms , fluxes , and defluxions than those that eat none , or too little bread : no flesh , fish or fruits that we can feed on , but putrifie and convert to slime and water for want of it : no country , no place , no people ; ( in some sort or other ) are without it : some bake it , some broil it ; others fry , tost and boil it ; some make it of dry'd fish ▪ some with roots of plants , and barks of trees : some with seeds , nuts acorns : among our selves 't is made of barley , rye , oats , misceline , wheat ; of all which barley bread is worst , and wheaten best , especially if it be not too fine , and without leven , or spoil'd in making or baking : the crum is best for cholerick , the crust for phlegmatick and moist constitutions ; or they may eat it tosted : the newer it is ; the more it nourisheth ; the older it is , the more it drys : i have known children cured of the chin-cough , by drinking little , and eating much bread ; 't is good also against the rickets : and the reason why fluxes , surfeits , fevers and many other diseases , are so rife in fruit-time , is , because bread is not eaten with them : the more moist and liquid our meats are , the more bread is to be eaten with them : dry houshold bread , manchet or bisket , eaten for a breakfast , for supper or last at meals , with a little wine , is the only refuge for rheumatick and moist constitutions . galen , by much study , was troubled with distillations , but preserved himself many years by eating no other breakfast or supper , than bread dipt in wine , and with good odours . rice made into bread , or dry'd in an oven , and steep'd in wine or stale strong beer , and then boil'd or bak'd with a little pepper , seeds , or cinamon is good , so are all spiced , and aromatick aliments : eggs rosted and eaten with pepper , much salt or cinamon , and a glass of wine or good drink after them , nourish and dry much : all wild fowl , partridge , old pigeons , ducks and geese ; stares , thrushes and black-birds ; larks , sparrows , teel and widgeon , rabbets , beef , mutton , venison and hare dry rosted , dry up rheum : broth made with rabbets , rice , sorrel , sage , sparrows , &c. all sowre things also dry much , as vinegar , verjuyce , orange , lemon : allum posset is incomparable for a gargel to hinder defluxions , or take it inwardly in hot and moist distempers : make it thus : take a lump of roch-allum , put it into a quart or two of boiling milk , stir it till it is very well curdled ; take off the curd , and drink it hot , in malignant and putrid fevers : broths made of china and sarsa ; or let all your beer and wine be drank out of a lignum vitae cup : some have abstain'd from all manner of drink , for many months : there are many other things that might be added to dry a moist disease and constitution , which we omit , because most of the diet in the second chapter against cold diseases , may be used here as a drying diet. note . that our ambrosiopaeas , or cordial spirits , at , after , or before meats may be used , while you are under this diet : but milk , much sugar , much drink , and all moist things , mentioned in the third chapter must be omitted ; but abstinence , a spare diet ; much exercise , little sleep , especially in the day-time , and presently after feeding is pernicious , for fat , phlegmatick , and moist bodies ; for hot , lean and dry bodies 't is necessary , especially in summer and hot seasons . the conclusion . and the summ of all is this : when a pauper and sick person comes to me ; i direct him ( if any ) no more physick than is absolutely necessary ; next i bid him keep a proper diet , or take a proper cordial against his disease . if his disease comes from a hot cause , i bid him keep ( till he recovers ) to the medicines and diet belonging to the first chapter . if from a cold cause , then to use no other diet and medicines than is contained in the second chapter . if from a moist or dry cause , then to the diet , and directions in the third and fourth chapter . if diet and our cordial drinks do not do , then i recommend them to the stove and artificial bath , mentioned in the second part of these dialogues ; and if then , and there they mend not , you may conclude their case desperate and more fit for the divine than physician . finis part the first . miscelanea medica : or , a supplement to kitchin-physick ; to which is added , a short discourse on stoving and bathing : with some transient and occasional notes on dr. george thompsons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . — nec lex est just●●r ulla quam necis artificis arte perire sua . london , printed in the year 1675. hippocratis & galeni fautoribus , speciatim erudito viro , mihique observando , thomae austen armigero , mei amicissimo , necnon egregiè doctis j. n. & t. s. medicinae doctoribus . pellaeo juveni , cultor non sufficit unus — duos igitur tanto heroi , diversi generis , obtigisse , memoriae traditur , craterum scilicet , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & hephestionem , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab eodem appellatos . quorum , ille quidem regem , hic vero alexandrum , coluisse dicitur : mihi quoque , in publicum prodeunti , analogo quopiam , multo magis opus esse , quis dubitet ? repertis enim libclli , & causae quam tractat justissimae patronis idoneis , alios etiam , scriptoris protectores , exquirendos facile persensi : nec mora , vos enim , viri egregii , illico mihi in mentem rediistis , ( unde quidem , ( ut verius dicam ) nunquam abestis ) qui me , vestra familiaritate , olim dignati , sic me , sic med omnia , utcunque tenuia , estimatis , & vel landare , vel saltem excusare , parati estis , ut aliis , hunc tractatum inscribere , vel alios , mei defensores adoptare , nefas duxerim . de meipso ( more chymicorum speciatim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , g. t. ) multa promittere modestia non patitur ; & quamvis mihi non sum tam suffenus ut quidquam de me magnoperè pollicear , in utraque tamen academià educato , exactis etiam viginti propè annis in studio & praxi medicinae , chymiae , & anatomiae , liceat mihi dicere me non prorsus ignarum esse plurimorum , sive dogmatum sive experimentorum , quae alicujus in hâc arte momenti sunt . quapropter navem solvendi & hunc oceanum discurrendi copiam facile mihi dandam confido , gratum aliquid & utile humano generi exponere studenti . valete viri egregiè docti , accipite hoc offerentem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; pergite mihi ( quod semper facitis ) indulgere , meique patrocinium suscipere , dignemini : & perpetuo favete addictissimo vestri , t. c. miscelanea medica : or , a supplement to kitchin-physick . the second part. all physicians whom we ought most to confide in , do conclude and have determined it as a most undoubted truth , to cure with contraries , and preserve with cordials , according to that confirm'd aphorism of contraria contrariis curantur : similia similibus , conservantur . paracelsus , theophrastus , bombastus , van-helmont , and some of their late conceited disciples , without taking any notice of this distinction , do morbum morbo curare : and venture to attempt the putting out of fire with fire : or , curing hot diseases with hot medicines , and consequently cold diseases with cold . hippocrates , galen , and their more aged off-spring ; on the other hand judge it more reasonable and practicable to put out fire with water ; and to subdue the cold effects of water , by heat or fire : and to this end , if the disease be hot and dry , as a fever , they advise such food and physick , as is cold and moist ; and hot and dry meats and medicines to subdue a disease that is moist and cold ; never neglecting ( as is supposed by the chymist ) to supply nature , though not the disease , with convenient , delightful , and proper cordials , always remembring , not to nourish , but to oppose a disease , with things that remove , or alter it by their qualities . we are much beholden to the temperament and qualities of things , for the preservation of our health , and curing diseases , nor is there , through the benignity and bounty of god , any accident or distemper , but hath its remedy assigned it , by the matter , form , temperament or qualities of medicines , knew we but certainly how , and when to apply them : and therefore it is , that physiology , and all the five parts of physick , are more absolutely necessary , than the most exalted , and accurate medicines of the chymist : and though by some ( who know the vulgar neither do , nor will know any thing but what is vulgar ) the galenist and chymist are represented , as two distinct , different and inconsistent things , yet 't is certain , they both serve but to make up one intire artist : and i could tell you eugenius not only of some physicians , but some also of your own profession , that can compare , if not out-do the greatest don and heroes ( as they think themselves ) of the chymical and hermetick sect : and because you may depend upon it for a truth , that all diseases and remedies , may as well and better be comprehended under some of the simple or compound qualities , than any other invented idea , name or notion whatever of the conceited chymist , to this very end , the foregoing chapters in the first part , have given you a practical account of such things , as do preserve by their agreement with nature , and cure by their contrariety to the disease ; and not to advise people to a diet , that is answerable to their disease and physick they are prescribed , is to ruine them : nor are they by any but conceited prac●tioners and humorists , to be left at large , to feed as they think sit on old cheese , red-herring , or to inflame themselves with the more subtil and penetrating spirits of brandy , punch and aqua vitae , which , though at first they seem to content nature , and exalt the archeus , or vital and natural heat of our bodies , yet they so alter also the natural tone , temper and ferments of the pancreas , blood and stomach , that ( in a little time ) they leave them languid , faint and vappid : by these things the chymist may for a while , seemingly make his archeus or nature blaze the better ; but ( like a torch with often beating ) it will certainly burn out the sooner : and 't is rare to find any accustomed brandy , or aqua vitae bubber , when once sick ever to recover , because the frequent use of such things , make all other cordials useless and invalid in time of sickness , and when nature should stand most in need of them . besides , they either at first so inflame the vital spirits , as to produce such acute , sharp , and sudden diseases , as fevers , apoplexies , and the like , or else in time ( as one fire puts out another ) they extinguish the vital heat and moisture , and thereby occasion such chronick and fatal diseases , as gouts , dropsies , palsies , hecticks , scorbuts , consumptions , and death it self . in short , our blood and spirits may as well be too much agitated as idle , and the volatil salts may stand in as much need of fixing , as the fixed salts of volatizing , nor is their less danger in one than the other : and how the chymist , only with his hot fiery cordial spirits at one and the same time , can serve two such different masters , i understand not , and must herein submit to better judgements than my own , and surely , such a modest and mannerly condescention , as this would have better become mempsis , than an unmanly disdaining others to magnifie himself ; nothing being more intolerable and base , than inurbanity : nor can i but wonder with what confidence he can pretend ( as he does , page 187 ) to subdue the irregular passions , and reform the sinful inclinations of others by his medicines , when , after so many thousand doses , as he says he has taken himself , ( only to animate others ) as yet he has not conquer'd his own : his prevaricating in this is enough on all occasions , to call in question his integrity , and to make him suspected a — chymist : nor are we so much to conside in the loud hyperbolies of his medicines , and great brags that are daily made of pantamagogons , alexi stomachons , &c. as to some few well digested institutions , that may practically relate to the six non-naturals , and a directory for diet. like food , like flesh , like meat , like medicine , was once almost grown proverbial : and some old philosophers , by the continual succession of new matter by aliments ; have not only affirmed ; that from sick men we may become sound men : but of late the chymists have so improv'd , and advanced the notion in behalf of their aetherial , and supernatural spirits , that we may ( say they ) also become new men ; and one of the best and most accomplish'd of the chymical cabal ( meaning mempsis ) has undertaken ( on condition his majesty will be gracious to that profession ) not only to cure his subjects of incontinency , atheism , profaneness , and all manner of sin and debauchery : but will make them also just , devout , loyal and religious , only by cokesing , tameing , and tickling the archeus with his hermetick and chymical preparations : and to gratifie farther , his sacred royal master for so great a kindness he engages ( to use his own words , pag. 187. of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) by the powerful operation of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( i. e. in plain english his profound skill in physick ) to convert quakers , catabaptists , independents , separatists , schismaticks & the multitude of phanaticks to the church of england . do this , & thou shalt have my consent , not only to be honest george , doctor george , and george the doctor : but sir george , st. george , and george the saint . but in good earnest i wish , dear doctor , thou hadst conceil'd the divine and moral operations of thy medicines , upon the hearts and consciences of poor mortals , because in these his majesties dominions thou canst now never more hope for any practice and employ as a medicaster : for surely the profane cavalier he 'l not meddle with thee , for fear of being made a schismatick , a religious rebel or round-head : nor will i 'm sure the devout phanatick , for fear of being damn'd for an atheist , a debauch'd and honest royalist : now then or never recant , and own the doctrine of contrarieties : now , now or never is the time to make it appear and convince the ignorant heretical , reprobate , and unconverted galenist , that thy chymical and hermetick physick , can at one and the same time work such contrary effects , as to make the serpent ( thy self dear doctor ) a saint ; a royalist , a round-head , and a rebel a royalist ; now i say is the time , the very time for thee , o mempsis , to work these wonders ; or else , ( with pity and compassion i speak it ) thou must , i , thou must pack up , and be gone into some of those horrid regions , where people are neither for god nor the king ; for king nor parliment , no , nor for my lord mayor , nor common-council . i wish also , that the doctor had not intimated , and suggested to his majesty that in good conscience ( for the good service he has done himself , and royal father of blessed memory ) he ought , or can do no less than overthrow , or at least new model , and purge with his reforming physick , his college of physicians , and two famous univerties , cambridge and oxford . but above all things , after all thy glorious boasts and brags of loyalty , thou wert bewitch'd to petition the parliament for no less ( in effect ) than his majesties ; there own , and the peoples lives and liberties : for what difference is there betwixt their being ruin'd , and their erecting a college for mempsis , with immunities for him , his heirs and assigns to dispense all the medicines , that must be made use of in his majesties dominions . this george , however reasonable , and necessary it seems to thy self ; yet , after thou hast fluttered a little longer like a feather in the wind , thou wilt find that the parliament will let thee drop , and take no more notice of thy phanatick freeks and frisking seminalities of thy brain , than if a tom ▪ tit ▪ mous , an owl , or a jack-daw had flown over westminster . let wisdom baul , and utter her voice never so loud : let her scream and tear her throat in pieces ; 't is ( as thou sayst george ) all one , as if thou shouldst vociferate neptune to forbear swallowing up ships , since 't is his nature to do such dirty and mischievous tricks : all which the lord mayor , and court of aldermen taking into their consideration , and that there 's no hope , that either the king or parliament will accommodate thee with a college ; our senators and city heroes are at this time preparing one for thee at moor-gate . and now , seeing he is so hardly dealt with ; let his majesty , his two houses , his nobility and gentry ; the bishops and clergy ; the lawyers and laity ; the whole city , town and country look to it as they will , 't is to be seared , that whatever chymick and hermetick physick can do , shall be done to have the same effects on them as on himself : and ( if heaven helps not ) convert them all to non conformity , faction and sedition . this zealous mempsis in another place of his evangelium chymicum ( for all he says is gospel ) has a hymn to his creator ( and by the way let me solemnly tell him , i wonder how he dare concern so great a god! in his little designs ) for putting it into the hearts of rusticks and mariners , with their punch , brandy , and aqua vitae bottles , to teach sottish galenists , the use and excellencies of his well distilled spirits , and the foolery of their dull julips , fulsom and fruitless apozems , bochets , cullices and gellies , as you may read at large in several paragraphs and pages of his book . but to leave these extravagancies , and flurts of the hypocondres : le ts hear what galen upon hippocrates says concerning this affair of aliments : this grave philosopher in his book de elementis , tells us , that by a dissent of the first qualities ( not from the punctum latens , the little atoms in the archeus , and seminal idaeas in the materia primâ , as our inspired mempsis will have it ) but from the dissent of these first qualities , says our author , which proceeds immediately from the elements themselves , and the aliments ; man is born for the physician , and were it not for the defects proceeding from these two , man could never dye . from the four elements , come the four qualities of heat , cold , driness and moisture : from these arise the temperaments peraments of aliments ; and from our aliments , come the four humours , call'd choler , phlegm , blood and melancholy ; and out of these humours the parts ; and from those parts the whole , or what we call a humane body : and when any of these four temperaments or humours are extinct , deprav'd or hurt in quantity , quality , or motion , then follows sickness and death : so that in effect , life and death , and every mans temper and constitution , depends more or less upon the aliments he feeds on ; and the humours themselves are nothing more than the effect of food , v. .g choler is the fomes of blood made of aliments over digested and concocted , and serves to ferment , agitate , or brisk up the constipated ideas of the archeus . flegm is made of food , ( for want of natural heat ) not enough concocted , and bridles choler , and keeps the blood and humours from burninig , tames , and fixes the spirits , and makes the body , cool , fat , moist and soluble . blood is made of food , perfectly elaborated to augment and nourish the parts : good food makes good blood ; and good blood makes good flesh : so that in effect , flesh and blood is only good food . melancholy is the terra damnata : the devil , the thick and drossie part of food and blood ; and was intended by nature to bridle the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the somes or froth of sperm and spirits ; to temper rage and lust , to compose the thoughts and imaginations : but being deprav'd , it works contrary effects , as we see in our friend mempsis . from this little representation of man , an intelligent , and considering person may find out as easily , as by the idaeas , atomes , or magots in the archeus , how we come by diseases , our dissolution and death ; and also how necessary , a direct and due diet , such a diet as may answer to the four temperaments , and humours of our bodies , choler , phlegm , blood , and melancholy : how necessary this ( i say ) is for the preventing , and curing diseases ; as might be farther amplified , but that i must avoid prolixity , that the book may not be too chargeable for the poor : or else it might be made evident , that a diet may be collected , not only to heat , cool , dry and moisten , but also to bind relax restore thicken thin deobstruate lenifie revel resist poyson and all things else , that pharmacy it self can necessarily lay claim to , towards the conservation of man. but this will not consist with a short essay , and therefore as concisely , as the subject will permit , i shall only add a description of the nature , use and vertues of an artificial bath , and stove hereunto annex'd ; with which , our ambrosiopaeas , and a proper diet may be performed as much as can reasonably be expected from the means . what a help it is to nature , to throw off by sweat those saline , acid , sulphureous , and corrosive particles of blood , which are the root of all diseases , is manifested by the daily experience of such as are daily relieved by it , in gouts , scorbuts , hecticks , the evil , palsies , and the like : as it helps thus to discharge the serum salsum , the salt , sharp and watery parts of blood by the skin ; how far this , i say , may extend it self , both for the preventing and curing many potent diseases , when diet and other remedies are deficient , and cannot do it , i leave to the bounty of a prudent and liberal conception . it is so contriv'd that 't is impossible for the patient to take cold , to faint or sweat beyond their strength , and own inclinations ; nor is there any nuissance in it , that is incident to stoving , or sweating in other baths . place here the figure . an appendix : or practical cautions and directions to be observed about stoving and bathing . sttoving and bathing are two different things : the first may not improperly be call'd a dry bath , the other a wet ; and when ever you meet with the word bath , you are to understand swearing in something that is liquid , as luke-warm milk , milk and water , or only warm water , or water prepared with ingredients proper for the diseased person . note also , that a bath with very hot water , drys more than it moistens , and contracts the skin and pores , rather than relax or open them ; and serves to supply the intention of a cold bath ; or bathing in cold water with such parts & persons , as cannot safely go into cold water : but a bath of heated , tepid , or warm water , is of so great a latitude , that it extends it self to most diseases , and serves ( to use the words of a learned author on this subject , dr. j. f. ) effectually more than any thing physick is prescribed for , to defecate the blood and humours , to mollifie the hardness of the spleen and bowels , to moisten , cool , and nourish a hot and dry constitution and liver , to rarifie and resolve also all cold congealed humours , and to prevent barrenness and miscarrying , that is occasioned by any intemperies of cold , heat or dryness . when you meet with the word stove , you are to understand sweating as in a hot-house , without any thing that is moist and liquid : you will also sometimes find the word vaporarium used in this appendix , the meaning of which will be known hereafter . the romans were most addicted to bains or baths ; the lacedemonians , russians , germans , and most northern nations to stoves : the turks , french and italians , use both baths and stoves : and as soon as they come out of the stove , they enter into a bain or bath of warm water , to wash away the recrements , slime , mador or mud ( as it were ) that stoving without bathing is apt to leave upon the skin . by this means also , the skin is not only made pure , clean and smooth , but also plump and fleshy : and according as the bath may be dulcified and prepared , it will nourish , feed and refresh the limbs and musculous parts , more than food : nor is there any thing to be done by the natural baths at bathe , but may be also performed by artificial baths of sulphur , bitumen , nitre , &c. and being advisedly used , they do as manifestly answer the expectation of the patient , as any remedies whatever ; in order to which observe these few directions . 1. never stove when the blood wants ferment , or ( according to the notion of the chymist ) when the fixed salts of the blood have over-ruled the volatil , as in dropsies , and some sorts of scurvies : but when the sulphur of the blood is too much exalted ( the fomes of most acute diseases ) or acrimony and acidity has insinuated it self into the mass , and yet the blood not vapid , then the stove is a proper , and most effectual remedy : or , more plainly , according to the significant , apparent , and practical meaning of the galenist ; stoving is not so proper and beneficial , for weak , lean , hot , hectick , dry , cholerick , maciated , melancholy and squalid bodies , as bathing ; nor bathing for cold , moist , fat , corpulent , plethorick , phlegmatick & hydropick constitutions and diseases , as stoving : the stove is most proper for the spring , autum and winter ; the bath for the heat of summer : the vaporarium is neither bathing nor stoveing , but differing from both , and to be used by all sorts of persons at any time . 2. before you bathe , or enter into the stove ; if your body be not naturally soluble , be sure it be made so by art : take a gentle clyster over night , if you intend to sweat next morning , or take the like clyster in the afternoon , if you intend to sweat at night . an hour before bed-time , and two or three hours after you have eaten a light supper , is the best time both for bathing and stoving , because you may lie all night after in your bed , and have your body well refresh'd and settled by morning . note also , that while you are sweating in a stove , bath or bed , you may refresh your self with mace-ale , egg caudle , chicken-broth , or any convenient bocheet , supping or liquid aliment . 3. when you come out of any stove or bath , take great care you take not cold : for preventing which , and many other accidents , nothing hath ever yet been invented comparable to this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , balneum , and vaporarium , now all in one presented to you ; which is so safe , so commodious and effectual , both for preventing and curing almost all diseases , that nothing ever was , or can be advised better , for private families than to have one of them constantly in their houses ; it being so contrived , that it may stand in any bed-chamber , with as much conveniency and ornament , as a well wrought chest of drawers or cabinet . in italy , france , germany , turkie , and many other countries , they are so curious , and ( not without good cause ) so addicted to stoving and bathing , that they count their habitations not compleatly furnish'd , and well provided and cared for , until they have them in their houses , esteeming them the most commendable and necessary furniture that belongs to them : and scarce a family of any remark and quality is to be found without them ; and if our english gentry , especially those that live in the country , remote from physicians , did also take up this custom , they would have no cause to repent them of their care and consideration : besides , not only their healths , but interest and good husbandry might induce them to it , it being the most profitable physician and apothecary they can make use of . another benefit of having them in their houses , is the accommodation of their sevants , attendants , bedding and linnen , and the avoiding many accidents by lying , bathing or stoving after strangers : by this means also , they will be encouraged to use them the oftner ; at least 't is likely it will induce them not to fail , spring and fall ; those being ( though no time amiss ) the most necessary times to prevent diseases , and preserve their bodies in a perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , health and integrity the whole year after . i know , and am well assured , that physicians would frequently advise their patients to stoving and bathing , had they them in their own houses , but the charge and trouble on all occasions of providing them , does too often discourage both the patient and physician . by this means also you may avoid spring and fall , the use of diet-drinks , physick●ale , and the like , which being at those times so rashly and promiscuously used as they are , do more hurt than good . letting blood also in the spring , may by this means be prevented , only observing then a spare and cool diet , which the ancients call'd their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or succedaneum to blood-letting : abstinence rather than bleeding being their way to abate blood , and prevent diseases : and to deal uprightly in a matter of so great concernment , for a preventive , 't is to be preferred before opening of a vein , which i do not much fancy , but in cases of extreme necessity , and not upon every trivial distemper , and occasion that offers it self : bood being that which makes blood , and ( as the oyl and lamp of life ) not prodigally to be expended , lest like the foolish virgins we have our oyl to buy , when we should have it to burn . the particular benefits of bathing and stoving are not easily to be reckoned up in a transient discourse , but that which they are so generally fam'd for , is to depurate the bad recrements of the blood , the lassitude , and lumpishness of the limbs , and to make the whole body brisk , nimble , light and airy . they prevent and cure all agues , and fevers of all sorts , both ardent , hectick , putrid and pestilential ; and in times of contagion , are of absolute use , provided the place they sweat in ( as it commonly happeneth ) be not infected ; which ( if for nothing else ) were enough to encourage persons to have these stoves in their houses . and as there is nothing more effectual to prevent the plague , than sweating moderately in these sorts of stoves , once or twice a week : so also , if infected , nothing can exceed them for a cure , taking at the same time convenient cordials : nature by a metastasis , being thereby assisted to throw off the poyson and venom of the blood , from the center , to the remote parts of the body , which is the only intention of the cure , the like is to be said of the small-pox , malignant fevers , and all contagious diseases . it relieves or cures all sorts of pains and aches , as sciatica's , gouts , &c. it cures also limbs , that are weak and relax'd , and all cold , and moist diseases got by cold . bathing by the mildness of its heat , mollifies and relaxes , softens & smooths , and on this account is very proper , and very prevalent to cure contracted members , and parts obstructed , either outward or inward , as the breast , spleen , liver . bathing also , wonderfully relieves and easeth nephritick pains , and such as are tortured and troubled with the stone , cholick pains , hemorrhoids , stopping of urine and courses , and makes a costive belly soluble and loose . all diseases of the sinews , and all internal diseases proceeding from a cold and moist cause , are prevented & cured by stoving , as rheumes , palsies , lethargies , cramps , deafness , weakness , swelling and numbness of the joynts : 't is also a specifick against the kings-evil and jaundies , scabs , itch , chilblains , and all efflorescences of the skin . in short , it so alters and defecates the blood , that you may alter as you will by them and diet , the whole habit of the body , & make it another thing than what it is ; like the ship at athens , though it continued still a ship , yet had it not by often reparation , one foot of the timber it was first built with . and not only sick and diseased persons , but such as are in health may receive profit , but no prejudice in the least by them : and my ingenuous friend mr. h. h. has told me , that in his travels to russia , sclavonia , and other eastern parts of europe , he observed that in those countries , it was not possible for the inhabitants to live ( for want of ventilation ) were it not for their stoves , but by the continual and frequent use of them , no people are to be found more sound and healthful ; and are thereby so little beholden to physick , that the name is scarce known among them : and not a place of any note , but has one in them so also the scorbute or scurvy , by often and frequent stoving , is never heard of among those people ( though for want of perspiration ) they would else be inclin'd to it more than we in england . 't is their only refuge also to prevent fevers , gouts , palsies , &c. after they have debauch'd themselves with high drinking , which these people , to the great scandal of their country , are most infamously addicted unto . many people , especially such as are hysterick and hypocondriack , by stoving in common stoves and hot-houses , are subject to fumes , head-ach , swounings , and suffocating vapours : but in this sort of stove , ( the head being in the open air , all the while they sweat ) these and many other evil accidents are prevented , nor are they at all offended with any noisome vapours or suffocating fumes . the manner of using it is thus . your body being made soluble by some gentle lenitive or clyster , go naked into the stove ; stay in it about half an hour more or less to your content , or the nature of your disease , taking while you sweat some comfortable supping , as mace ale , or whatever else may be advised by your physician : while you are sweating , you may increase or decrease the heat your self , and sweat as you please ; after you have sweat to your content , you may have the flammi●ers , or ●●re vessels remov'd ; and the neck-board slided away , and so slip down into the wet bath and there wash off the recrements , the slime and filth of your former sweat , with balls invented for that purpose : then ( after you have bathed about half an hour ) stand upon your feet , and wipe your body dry & step out of the bath into a warm bed , and lye warm till your body be well settled , and afterwards rise , and having taken some warm broth , you may go abroad , renewed to admiration , and sufficiently recompenced for what you have done . that which we call vaporarium , is a place in the stove , contriv'd chiefly for diseases of the womb , anus , and diseases of the inferiour belly ; as dysenteries , hemorrhoids , cancers , and fistulated ulcers , scyrrhous tumours , barrenness , abortion , menses , secundines , and every 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and were it for nothing else but decency ( cùm vapor per infundibulum & fistulam plumbeam ▪ in vterum , vel anum ingrediatur ) it was enough to induce private familes and persons to have one of these stoves by them . it still remains , that i give some account of the hydroticks which feed the flammifers ; or how and what it is that causeth the patient to sweat ; it is not caused by any gross material fire of wood , coles , &c. as the common chairs and stoves are , but 't is by an essential oyl , cohibited by retorts with well rectified spirit of wine ; and if you have the true exalted , and perfect oyly-spirit so well incorporated , and separated from its phlegm , as it ought , it will penetrate , and prove as active as lightning it self . there are some who know no better , who do in these cases use common brandy , and our poor , mean english spirits , and they succeed in their cures accordingly , there being seldom any visible or manifest benefit received by it : whereas , those mighty and potent diseases , of a confirm'd knotted gout , an ulcerated kings-evil , palsies , and the like , are frequently subdued by the oyly spirit rightly prepared ▪ as might be made appear , did it not savour too much of the pseudochymist , the mountebank and mechanick . all that i have else to add , being confined to a short treatise , and supposing that after the publishing this manner of bathing and stoving , there will be no want of undertakers , and such as will pretend to the utmost that can be done by it ; yet , that abuses may be prevented , and none but wilful people deceived , this is to signifie , that the very same preparation of spirits for the flammifers , that produce those great effects by sweat , and that i use my self , may be had at mr. briggs an apothecary , at his house by abb-church near cannon-street : or in spittle-fields near the salmon . by the help of which spirit , any that have these stoves of their own , may do as much with them towards curing themselves , as can be done for them , by the most mighty hand , and most magnifi'd medicine of a chymist . those that desire more ample satisfaction on this subject may read galen , do sanitat . tuend . the learned lord verulam , de vit . & morte : and the wise seneca's epist . de baln . finis . books sold by dorman newman , at the king's arms in the poultry . folio . the regular architect : or the general rule of the five orders of architecture of mr. giacomo barozzio da vignola . with a new addition of michael angelo buonaroti . rendred into english from the original italian , and explained by john leeke , student in the mathematicks , for the use and benefit of free masons , carpenters , joyners , carvers , painters , bricklayers , playsterers : in general for all ingenious persons that are concerned in the famous art of building . quarto . a golden key to open hidden treasures , or several great points which refer to the saints present blessedness , and their future happiness , with the resolution of several important questions , the active and passive obedience of christ vindicated and improved , ii. serious singular pleas , which all sincere christians may safely make to those 10. scriptures , which speak of the general judgement , and of the particular judgement that must certainly pass on all , &c. the first and second part . by tho. brooks , late preacher of the gospel at margarets new fish-street . a practical exposition of the ten commandments : with a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience . by the learned laborious , and faithful servant of jesus christ , james durham . late minister of the gospel at glasgow . paradice opened : or the secrets , mysteries , and rarities of divine love , of infinite wisdom , and of wonderful counsel , laid open to publick view . also the covenant of grace , and the high and glorious transactions of the father and the son in the covenant of redemption opened , and improved at large , with the resolution of divers important questions and cases concerning both covenants . to which is added a sober and serious discourse , about the favourable , signal and eminent presence of the lord with his people in their greatest troubles , deepest distresses , and most deadly dangers . being the second and last part of the golden key . by thomas brooks , late preacher of the gospel , at margarets new-fishstreet . letters of advice from two reverend divines , to a young gentleman about a weighty case of conscience , and by him recommended to the serious perusal of all those that may fall into the same condition . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a33534-e1540 * * v. authorem the tomb of semiramis hermetically sealed which if a wise-man open (not the ambitious, covetous cyrus) he shall find the treasures of kings, inexhaustible riches to his content / [by] h.v.d. h. v. d. 1684 approx. 39 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a36714 wing d24 estc r5297 20508323 ocm 20508323 109423 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a36714) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 109423) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 178:18) the tomb of semiramis hermetically sealed which if a wise-man open (not the ambitious, covetous cyrus) he shall find the treasures of kings, inexhaustible riches to his content / [by] h.v.d. h. v. d. 32 p. printed for william cooper ..., london : 1684. also appears as last part of collectanea chymica, at reel 88:3. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng alchemy. medicine, magic, mystic, and spagiric. 2008-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-05 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-06 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-06 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the tomb of semiramis hermetically sealed , which if a wise-man open ( not the ambitious covetous cyrus ) he shall find the treasures of kings , inexhaustible riches to his content . h. v. d. he that exerciseth love , will apprehend what i say : but if i speak to the ungrateful , he shall not comprehend my sayings . s. aug. of divine love. london , printed for william cooper at the pelican in little britain . 1684. most noble and most famous , s.r.j. curious in the inspection of nature , and my most honoured patrons . not only in former times , but also in this old age of the world , nothing hath been deeper buried , nor hitherto more desired by all , especially the lovers of art , than the knowledg of that great mystery of the philosophers , which by a known word is called the philosophers-stone ; we therefore preserving the inscription of the monument , do raise this knowledge , buried and obscured under the pretext of the tomb of the most wise semiramis , formerly queen of babylon , out of its grave , and present it to the view of the learned , which if ( not an ambitious covetous cyrus , but ) a wise man open , he will to his satisfaction find royal and inexhaustible treasures : i may also add constant health : which two , you will say , are the principal supporters of an happy life . but some haply of no small ingenuity will imagin that this tomb may be opened by womens work , or childrens sport : but let them know that this knowledg is a most deep river , wherein the lamb wades , that is , the upright profiteth ; and the elephant swims , that is , the most learned do fluctuate , yea are drowned in their opinions , errors and doubts ; whilst one is yet doubtful concerning the true subject of the great work , yea generally a stranger to it ; another very solicitous in acquiring the sophical mercury , wearyeth himself with unsuccessful labours , not knowing what it is , or of what form ; another tortures himself with vain perplexity to know what the philosophers fire is , what the magical elements , the key , or dissolving menstruum , whence it is to be drawn , whether sweet , or corrosive ? cold or fiery ? it hath troubled me often to see such men so concerned , and in vain laborious in those things , wherein they at length could find nothing but vanity and affliction of mind ; wherfore commiserating them by the impulse of charity , i do freely impart ( though many will accuse me as guilty of violated silence ) the light mercifully communicated to me , that they may use the same as a key to the sanctuary of that sacred knowledg . but the curious industry , and indefatigable curiosity of you , being most excellent in the exact arcana's and work of polydaedalus nature , having invited all the learned men of the world by your most sweet incitements , to communicate the most secret things , enjoyneth and obligeth me to make you ( the genuine sons of all sorts of knowledg ) heirs of this , which in my judgment is the most exact and curious work of all nature . but who i am , enquire not . i am a man that makes it my study to profit others , your friend , and an admirer of your vertues , known to many , at least by name . farewell therefore , ye students of nature , and high-priests of art , the lofty stars of germany , god be with you , and with his power strengthen your works and thoughts , that they may be highly advantagious to the whole commonwealth of learning , for the encrease of the publick-good , and the immortal glory of your own names . from my study , jan. 1. 1674. the tomb of semiramis hermetically sealed . chap. i. of the physical subject of the philosophers stone . the fear of the lord is the beginning of our work , and the end charity , and love of our neighbour . entring therefore with the assistance of our good god upon so divine a work , it must be first enquired , what the subject thereof is . for as a plough-man in vain prepares his ground for harvest , unless he be assured of the seed ; so also he prepares the chymical ground without any recompence , if he knows not what he sows therein : and herein at this day many do perplex themselves , and are hurried into different opinions . but this is not a place to discuss all these things , whilst some do seek it in the animal kingdom in blood , sperm , sweat , urine , hair , dung , egs , serpents , toads , spiders , &c. others are with great diligence imploy'd in the vegetable kingdom , especially in wine for the unprofitable magistery . for though it be manifest to us , that the supreme medicine of our health may be obtained in either kingdom , and indeed in man , ( especially in his heart ) as also in wine : for as gold contains the vertues of all minerals , so do these two comprehend the powers of all animals and vegetables as contracted into one ; yet that the great work of philosophers could be made from them , was never in the thought of any adept , it is therefore requisit to be sought in the mineral kingdom . but there is also here a great company of dissenters , so that we have need of an oedipus . for some there be that think to extract it out of the middle minerals , as they call them , namely , salt , nitre , alom , and such other , but all in vain , because they have in them no argent vive , into which they may be resolved ; in which error even we in our primitive ignorance were also involved . it remains therefore to be supposed , that metals are the physical subject of our blessed stone . but here also the matter is in suspence , because metals are some perfect and some imperfect . but in fine we say , that all fused metals , but especially the not fused , though imperfect , may by the intimate depuration of their original pollution ( which yet is very difficult , and by outward appearance scarce possible ) be the subject of the stone , whereof , saith flamel , some have operated in jupiter , others in saturn , but i ( saith he ) have operated and found it out in sol : and in exercit. ad turbam it is read , that all metals clean and unclean are internally sol , and luna , and mercury , but there is one true sol , which is drawn from them . and the author of the secret work of the hermetick philosophy , can. 16 . saith , he that seeks the art of multiplying and perfecting imperfect metals but by the nature of metals , deviates from the truth ; for metals must be expected from metals , as the species of man from man , of beast from beast . and can. 18. he proceeds thus : perfect bodies are endowed with a more perfect seed ; under the hard shell therefore of the perfect metals lieth the perfect seed , which he that knoweth how to extract by philosophical resolution , is entred into the royal path. so also that anonymous philalethes in his introduction into the king's sacred palace , chap. 19. concerning the progress of the work in the first forty days ; there is indeed in all ( even in the common ) metals , gold , but nearer in gold and silver , though ( as the same adept speaks well ) there is yet one thing in the metallick kingdom of an admirable off-spring , in which our gold is nearer than in common gold and silver , if you seek it in the hour of its nativity , which melts in our mercury , as ice in warm water , &c. but leaving now these more imperfect metals , at present we declare those two great and more perfect luminaries sol and luna , to wit , gold and silver , to be the physical subject of the stone , which way a great part of the philosophers have followed , and came to their desired end . which same thing augurellus shews , 2 chrysop . when he saith , take a metal pure , and purged of all its dross , whose spirit recedes in its secret part , and being pressed with a great weight , lives privily , and desires to be released from bands , and to be sent out of prison to heaven , being spread into thin plates . the same in chrys . lib. 1. seek not the principles of gold any-where else : for in gold is the seed of gold ; though being close shut up , it retires further , and is to be sought by us with tedious labour . and concerning the dignity of both the luminaries , lully , that star of spagyrick philosophy , in his book , p.m. 28. saith , two are more pure than the rest , namely , gold and silver , without which the work cannot be begun or finished , because in them is the purest substance of sulphur perfectly purified by the ingenuity of nature ; and out of these two bodies prepared with their sulphur or arsenick , our medicine may be extracted , and cannot be had without them . and clangor buccinae saith , you must operate prudently and expresly , because neither sol nor luna can be without ferment , and any other seed or ferment is not proper and useful , but gold to the red , and silver to the white ; which bodies being first subtiliated under weight , must then be sowed , that they may putrify and be corrupted ; where one form being destroyed , another more noble is put on ; and this is done by the means of our water alone . from hence a certain anonymous in his answer excellently concludes ; as fire is the principle of fire , so gold is the principle of gold ; such as the cause is , such is the effect ; such as the father , such the son ; such as the seed is , such is the fruit ; man generates man , and a lion a lion. but you will say , the philosophers affirm , that the matter ought to be such , that the poor as well as the rich may obtain it ; from whence that saying is , god hath granted this treasure to be sought by all men ; nor doth he deny that great good to any man , except to him that makes himself unworthy by the depraved affections of his heart . and geber , you ought not to consume your goods because of mean price : if you understand the principles of art , which we shall deliver to you , you will attain to the compleat magistery . for if it were gold , or any such costly thing , the poor would be constrained to postpone this glorious work. and whereas an artist may often-times happen to erre , a poor man could not repeat the work after an error committed , which must absolutely be done , if there be no other remedy . and lilium ; this stone is openly sold at the meanest rate , which if the sellers knew , they would keep it in their hands , and by no means sell it . and another anonymous , our expences exceed not the price of two florins : which arnoldus thus confirms ; hold fast , because the charge of our most noble art exceeds not the price of two pieces of gold in its emption , that is , in the operation . and geber saith , if in operations you lose your money , reflect not injuriously on us , but impute it to your own imprudence ; for our art requires no great expences . to which we answer ; that we never denied , that besides gold and silver there is not also granted another subject of meaner value , where we excluded not imperfect metals , as we mentioned before out of an anonymous philosopher in these words ; there is yet one thing in the metallick kingdom of an admirable beginning , &c. though many philosophers would have this vile price to be understood of our dissolving menstruum . moreover , you will say out of sendivogius tract . 11. in your operations take not common gold and silver , for these are dead things . we answer , by granting that the stone is not made of common gold and silver , as such , and so long as they are dead , but when resuscitated , and reduced into their first seminal nature , and made like unto the philosophers gold , then do they not only express their seed , but also do serve instead of ferment : which a certain philosopher confirms in these words , saying ; neither the ancient nor the modern philosophers have ever made any thing but gold of gold , and silver of silver , yet that was not common gold or silver . by which it appears , that the philosophers gold is not common gold , neither in colour nor in substance , but that which is extracted from them is the white and red tincture . chap. ii. what the physical or philosopher's gold is . the philosophers gold or silver , is a metallick body , resolved into the last matter to wit , into mercury , which is the first matter of the stone , and is thus proved : every thing is from that into which it is resolved : but all metals are reduced into argent vive ; ergo , they were argent vive . for , according to the common opinions of philosophers , that which the wise men seek is in mercury . moreover , mercury is the radix in alchymy , because from it , by it , and in it are all metals . and theophrastus ( that most profound sea of the spagyrick-philosophy ) thus speaks concerning the first matter of metals : to extract mercury from metallick bodies , is nothing else but to resolve or reduce them into their first matter , that is , running mercury , even such as it was in the center of the earth , before the generation of metals , to wit , a moist and viscous vapour , which is the philosophers gold or silver , containing in it invisibly the mercury and sulphur of nature , the principles of all metals , which mercury is of ineffable vertue and efficacy , and contains divine secrets . chap. iii. of the preparation of bodies for the philosophers mercury . avicen saith , if you desire to operate , you must necessarily begin your work in the solution or sublimation of the two luminaries ; because the first degree of the work is , that argent vive may be made from thence ; but because these , as the more perfect bodies , are closer bound , and have an harder coagulation , that they may be reduced into mercury , they do in the first place require preparation , and physical calcination , which indeed is not so necessary in silver ; for by reason of the cleanness and softness thereof , our water easily acts upon it ; which is not done in gold and the other metals , which do all require calcination , on which our water then more easily acts , especially if those which are impure be depurated for the similitude of substance . concerning the calcination of bodies out of the secret work of the doctor and bishop of trent for the philosophers stone : metals to be dissolved ought to be first calcined or purged in lac virginis , and luna being most fine and subtilly filed , must be dissolved in aqua-fortis , and distilled rain-water in which sal armoniack or common salt hath been dissolved ; then it must be precipitated into a most white calx , and washed in decanted water , and the calx must be edulcorated in other rain-water hot , that all the saltness and acrimony may be taken away , then must it be dryed , and it will be a most pure calx . but gold must be calcined after this manner : make an amalgame with gold ( which must be first depurated by the body of the black eagle , that it may be made beautiful and glorious above measure ) and mercury very well purged with salt and vinegar , and strained through leather , put it in purified aquafortis , that all the mercury may be dissolved , decant the aquafortis from the calx of sol , wash the calx as aforesaid in warm water , and dry it with a gentle heat , that calx ( if artificially and lightly reverberated , yet so that it flow not ) will be converted into a most beautiful crocus . gold that it may be reduced into the first matter , or mercury of philosophers , is thus otherwise calcined , whereof paracelsus , in his 7th book of metamorphosis concerning resuscitation , declares , namely ; that metal must be calcined with revivified mercury , by puting mercury with the metal into a sublimatory , digesting them together , till an amalgame be made , then sublime the mercury with a moderate fire , and bruise it with the metallick calx , and as before , repeat the digestion and sublimation , and that so often till the calx being put to a burning candle will melt like ice , or wax . this metal so prepared , put to digestion in horse-dung or in bal. mariae , moderately hot , digesting it for a month , and the metal will be converted into living mercury , that is , into the first matter , which is called the philosophers mercury ; and the mercury of metals , which many have sought , but few have found . joachimus poleman of the mystery of the philosophers sulphur , by help of his duplicated and satiated corrosive , divides a metal into the least atomes , and dilacerates it to be delivered to the fiery menstruum , dissolving it to a tinging soul. it is calcined by us another and better way , which calcination we rather call the first solution , and it is done by pouring the wine of life to the calxes of sol or luna aforesaid , put into a phial , ( which is our menstruum , of which hereafter in chap. 6. ) to the heighth of a fingers breadth , and putting to an head or alembick , they must be digested in ashes , or also in sand , and coagulated ; being coagulated , you must pour on new menstruum , as before , and coagulate , and that three or four times , or till the metallick calx melt at the fire like wax or ice , which is sign of sufficient philosophical calcinations ; and this is done with the preservation of the metal in its primitive vertue ; and this is that which aristotle saith in the rosary , joyn your son gabricius ( dearer to you then all your children ) with his sister beja , who is a tender sweet and splendid virgin . chap. iv. of the second and true philosophical solution of bodies , and their reduction into mercury . having performed calcination , or the first solution , whereof we have spoken in the preceding chapter , and which ( as the anonymous philosopher in his golden treatise of the philosophers stone in his answer hath it ) ought to be sweet and fully natural ; that is , which should without noise dissolve the subject with the preservation of its radical moisture , then the bodies so calcined must be put into a phial hermetically sealed , and in a gentle heat of bal. mar. or dew , be digested , or putrified the space of a philosophical month : for a voluntary solution is better than a violent ; a temperate , than a speedy ; as the philosopher hath it . and thus is made the second and true solution of a metal into viscous water , or a certain oleity with the preservation of the radical moisture , in which is the true metallick sulphur , together with the true and most noble mercury : for one of them is always the magnet , and remains solving with the solved , and desires to continue inseparably , and that because of the similitude of substance . wherefore the ancients said , nature rejoyceth in nature , nature overcometh and altereth nature , whereby the essential or formal solution is distinguished from the corrosive solution . but you must know that from luna is obtained a liquor , or green tincture , which is the true elixir of luna , and the highest arcanum to comfort the brain . but from sol by equal putrifaction is produced a liquor of the highest redness , which is the true elixir of sol , and the quinessence of metal . whereof , saith geber , we make sanguine gold better than that produced by nature , which nature no wise makes . concerning this viscosity , geber further speaks briefly : we have most exactly tried all things , and that by approved reasons , but we could never find anything permanent in fire , except the viscous moisture , the sole radix of all metals , when as all the other moistures being not well united in homogeneity do easily flee from fire , and the elements are easily separated from one another , but the viscous moisture , to wit , mercury is never consumed with fire , nor is the water separated from the earth , but they either remain altogether , or go altogether away . but will you enquire in what weight the menstruum is to be espoused to a metal ? the philosophers rosary saith , as in the working of bread , a little leaven leaveneth and fermenteth a great quantity of paste ; so also a modicum of earth is sufficient for the nutrition of the whole stone . aristotle nominates the weight , saying , do thus , and coct till the earth ( that is , the gold ) hath exhausted ten parts of the water . the author of novum lumen at the end of his book breaks forth into these words ; there ought to be ten parts of water to one part of body : and by this way we make mercury without common mercury , by taking ten parts of our mercurial water ( that is , the mercurial oyl of salt putrefied and alembicated ) which is an unctious vapour , to one part of the body of gold , and being included in a vessel by continual coction , the gold is made mercury , that is , an unctuous vapour , and not common mercury , as some falsly do imagine . chap. v. what a quintessence properly is . paracelsvs in his third book of long life , chap. 2. discourseth thus : a quintessence is nothing else but the goodness of nature , so that all nature passeth into a spagyrick mixture and temperament , in which no corruptible thing , and nothing contrary is to be found . he also in his fourth book archidox . of the quintessence saith , a quintessence is a matter which is corporally extracted out of all crescitives , and out of all things that have life , being separated from all impurity and mortality , most purely subtiliated , and divided from all the elements thereof . and a little after in the same place ; you ought to know concerning the quintessence , that it is a matter little and small , lodged and harboured in some tree , herb , stone , or the like ; the rest is a pure body , from which we learn the separation of the elements . rupescissa concerning the quintessence , in chap. 5. about the end , saith , the quintessence which we seek is therefore a thing ingeniated by divine breath , which by continual ascensions and descensions is separated from the corruptible body of the four elements ; and the reason is , because that wich is a second time , and often sublimed , is more subtile , glorified and separated from the corruption of the four elements , then when it ascends only once ; and so that which is sublimed even to a thousand times , and by continual ascension and desoension comes to so great a vertue of glorification , that it is a compound almost incorruptible , as the heavens , and of the matter of the heavens , and therefore called quintessence ; because 't is in respect of the body , as the heavens are in respect of the whole world , almost after the same way : by which art can imitate nature , as by a certain like , very near and connatural way . chap. vi. of the philosophical fire , or dissolving menstruum , or our liquor alkahest . the preparation of this water , or most noble juice , ( which is the kings true bath ) the philosophers always held occult , so that bernard count tresne and neigen , book 2. said , he had made a vow to god , to philosophers , and to equity , not plainly to explain himself to any man , because it is the most secret arcanum of the whole work , and is so indeed ; for if this liquor were manifested to every man , boys would then deride our wisdom , and fools would be equal to the wise , and the whole world would rush hither with a blind impulse , and run themselves headlong without any regard to equity or piety , to the bottom of hell. augurellus calls this menstruum mercury in these words : tu quoque nec coeptis cylleni audacibus unquam defueris argentum vulgo quod vivere dicunt sufficit , & tantis praestant primordia rebus . nor is argent vive ever wanting to the bold undertaking of cylenus , it yeelds principles to great things . the same doth george ripley judge in his preface of the twelve gates : i will teach you truly , that these are the mercuries that are the keys of knowledge , which raymund calls his menstrua's , without which is nothing done . geber names it otherwise , saying , by the most high god , this is that water , which lighteth candles , gives light to houses , and yeelds abundance of riches , oh the water of our sea ! oh our sal nitre appertaining to the sea of the world ! oh our vegetable ! oh our fixt and volatile sulphur ! o the caput mortuum , or faeces of our sea ! tridensine in his secret work of the philosophers stone , saith : the water which philosophers used for the complement of the work , they called lac virginis , coagulum , the morning-dew , the quintessence , aqua-vitae , the philosophers daughter , &c. paracelsus variously also , azoth , spirit of wine temper'd and circulated , mercurial-water , sendivogius , chalibs ; rupeseissa , vinegar most nobly distilled . van-helmont ( that most profound philosopher by fire ) called it , the liquor alkahest , and thus describ'd it : the liquor alkahest resolves every visible and tangible body into its first matter , preserving the power of the seed , concerning which the chymists say , the vulgar burn by fire , but we by water . we , by the philosophers leave , are those that can at will give names to their products , do call it the mercurial oyl of salt putrefied and alembicated : for oyl is exalted to an higher degree of a fiery quality , as it is the foundation of the whole metallick solution , ( which is to be well observed ) without which nothing can be advantagious in the art , and it acts the part of a woman in our work , and is deservedly called the wife of sol , and the matrix ; and it is the hidden key to open the close gates of metals ; for it dissolves calcined metals , it calcines and putrefies the volatile and spiritual , it tingeth into all colours , and is the beginning , middle and end of tinctures ; and is of one nature with gold , as arn. de villa nova affirms , unless that the nature of gold is compleat , digested and fixed : but the nature of the water is incompleat , indigested and volatile . in a word , it is the philosophers fire , by which the tree of hermes is burnt to ashes . concerning this fire johannes pontanus in his epistle saith , the philosophers fire is not the fire of balneo , nor of dung , nor of any thing of that kind , which the philosophers have published in their writings ; it is mineral , it is equal , it is continual , it evapourates not , unless it be too much incensed ; it participates of sulphur ; it is taken elsewhere than from the matter ; it divide , dissolves calcines and congeals all things ; and it is a fire with moderate burning ; it is a compendium without any great charge , because the whole work is perfected therewith . study therefore therein : for if i had found this at first , i had not erred two hundred times before i attained to practice : wherefore men do err , have erred , and will err , because the philosophers have not constituted a proper agent in their books , except one , namely artephius . but he speaks according to his judgment ; and unless i had read artephius , and perceived his scope , i had never attained to the complement of the work , &c. do you consult him , and ye shall know what our menstruum is . i have said enough . chap. vii . whether the dissolving menstruum be corrosive . geber de sum. perfect . cap. 52 seems to be of this opinion , whilst he saith , every thing that is solved must necessarily have the nature of salt , alums , and the like . and paracelsus in his fourth book archidox . of the quintessence , a little after the beginning , saith thus : it is difficult , and scarce credible , to extract a quintessence without a corrosive out of metals , but especially out of gold , which cannot be overcome but by a corrosive , by which the quincessence and body are one separated from the other ; which corrosive may again be taken from it . and chap. 3. of long life , tom. 6. book 3. he thus speaks : resolve gold together with all the substance of gold by a corrosive , &c. and that so long till it be made the same with the corrosive : nor be you dismayed because of this way of operation ; for a corrosive is commodious for gold , if it be gold , and without a corrosive it is dead . yet you must know , that our menstruum being poured upon gold , ought not properly be said to be corrosive , but rather fiery ; the strength and vertue of which arcanum overcomes all poisons . for every realgar , that is , mercury vive and sublimate , as also precipitate , ought to dye in the elixirium of sol , and come to a singular and excellent tincture ; because also violent solution is not made by our menstruum , such as by the resuscitatives , aquafortis and regia , and others of this form ; but ( as was said before in the fourth chapter ) it is done gently , sweetly , without any noise , and with the preservation of its radical moisture , with the spirits of which ( as lully hath it in his vade mecum ) a vivified vertue is infused in the matters . chap. viii . of the practice of the stone . when you have acquired the tinging soul of the planet , or the true quintessence thereof by previous putrefaction , in which the true mercury , and the philosophers true sulphur are contained : then is your matter prepared , fit to make thereby our blessed stone . take therefore ( in the name of him that said , and all things were done ) of this most pure matter a sufficient quantity , put it into a fixing vessel , or phial , or philosophical egg , hermetically sealed ; place it in an athanor , as you know , and proceed with a convenient , viz. a digesting heat , continual , ( for that failing it must needs dye , or become abortive ) sweet , subtile , altering , and not burning ( that i may use the counts own words ) from the first conjunction , even to perfect ablution , government of the fire , concerning which the anonymous philalethes may be further consulted , who by the government of every planet cleerly describes the diversities of colours , coagulating and fixing it into the white or red stone : for ( as raymund lully advertiseth ) he that hath not power and patience in the work , will corrupt it with too much haste . the sign of the work perfected will be this : if the stone being projected upon an hot plate of venus , doth melt like wax , and not smoke , but penetrate and tinge , then is the oriental king born , sitting in his kingdom with greater power than all the princes of the world. hence a philosopher crys out , come forth out of hell , arise from the grave , awake out of darkness ; for thou hast put on brightness and spirituality , because the voice of resurrection is heard , and the soul of life is entred into thee , praised be the most high ; and let his gifts redound to the glory of his most boly name , and to the good and benefit of our neighbour . chap. ix . of the augmentation of the blessed stone . when by the help of god you have now obtained the aforesaid incombustible sulphur , red with purple , that you may by the repeated inversion of the wheel ( as the philosophers term it ) know how to augment it ; in which no small mystery of art is contained , we may the same way and method augment it , whereby we made it ; yet you must know that the oftner our sulphur , which is our stone , is moistned or nourished by its proper milk , dissolved in a moist balneo , and again coagulated and fixed , as in the first work , the tinging vertue of it will be always greater ; so that indeed after the first absolute work , one part will tinge an hundred of purged mercury , or any other imperfect metal , in the second solution by lac virginis , and the coagulation and fixation thereof , one part will tinge a thousand . and thus time after time is our medicine augmented and multiplied in quantity and quality , in vertue and weight . take therefore one part of our stone , and pour it upon two parts of lac virginis , or the mercurial oyl of salt putrefied and alembicated ; solve and coagulate as you did in the first work , and our water which before was only a mineral potentially , is actually made a metal more precious than gold. and thus is the stone mortified by sublimations , and revivified by imbibitions , which is the chief universal way . these things being brought to a desired end , projections may at pleasure be made upon this or that metal prepared , and decently mundified and fused , as you have obtained the tincture either for white or red ; the true use of this art , and all the philosophers books , ( especially out philalethes ) will abundantly shew . chap. x. of the physical use of the stone both internal and external . you must know concerning this blessed stone , that it is an universal medicine containing in it the perfect cure of all diseases , as well hot as cold , so far as they are known to be curable by nature , and are permitted by god to be cured . if you enquire , how this most perfect medicine , and celestial tincture , and such other universal curatives do act , and operate , by curing contrary things in man's body . we answer ; they perform all this by heating , illuminating , and irradiating the archaeus , as our philosopher van helmont hath it in a treatise , entituled , there is in herbs , words and stones a great vertue , that they do certainly act without their dissolution or destruction , without their penetration , intro-admission , commixture , and commutation , also afar off upon the drowsie or inflamed archaeus , as it were by the sight alone , by the irradiation or ejaculation of their vertues produced and exposed , their former weight and properties being yet retained , and not changed . after which manner , as joachimus poleman excellently saith , they transmute the spirits of darkness , to wit , diseases , ( which are all nothing else but the properties of the seat of death , or the forerunners of dark and obscure death ) into good spirits , such as they were when the man was sound in perfect health , and by this renovation of the defective powers , strength is withal universally restored . the dose of it is from one grain to two , according to the age and strength of the patient in a draught of warm wine , or in a spoonful of the same quintessence dissolved , and taken every third day . in external diseases , wounds , cacoetheck and phagedenick ulcers , fistulaes , gangreen , cancer , &c. one grain is taken in wine every day , or once in two days ; but the part externally affected is washed in wine , wherein a portion of our stone hath been dissolved ; or if necessity require , it is injected by a syringe , putting a plate of lead , and a convenient ligature thereupon . and this is the internal and external use of this great mystery consummated , for the acquisition of which invoke the light of light , and with a pure heart pray for the illumination of your understanding , and you shall receive it : then operate prudently , give relief to the poor , abuse not the blessings of god , believe the gospel , and exercise your self in piety , amen . finis . smith's experiments being a true direction how to prepare several medicines that have been daily experienc'd; and frequently sold, by james smith, practitioner in physick and surgery smith, james, practitioner in physick and surgery. 1681 approx. 10 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a60463 wing s4090b estc r220072 99831501 99831501 35964 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a60463) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 35964) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2045:10) smith's experiments being a true direction how to prepare several medicines that have been daily experienc'd; and frequently sold, by james smith, practitioner in physick and surgery smith, james, practitioner in physick and surgery. [2], 13, [1] p. printed for the author, london : 1681. stained. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2004-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-07 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2004-07 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion smith's experiments , being a true direction how to prepare several medicines that have been daily experienc'd ; and frequently sold , by james smith , practitioner in physick and surgery london , printed for the author , 1681. gentlemen , i having travelled most parts of this kingdom , chiefly to see the variety of diseases , and different wayes of practice , that thereby i might be more capable of serving that part of the countrey where i intend to settle ; ( for it cannot be denyed , a person travelling to , and practising in , many places , may see much more than he who is more domestick , or lives altogether at home ) thought it a part of my duty , now i intend to desist from travelling , to leave behind me for your future benefit , some receipts , or ways of preparing some medicines , as may be useful in your families : and you have here not only directions how to make those things which i sell from my stages ; but several other as useful , and as much experienc'd as they . i know you have seen many pamphlets of the like nature , but never any so real as this : and though i may perhaps be malign'd by some , who prefer their private interest before a publick profit ; yet fear of offending such shall never cause me to wave my design , or check my undertaking , in a thing that may be so generally usefull . and i hope it will be as candidly accepted , as faithfully intended , from your friend and servant , james smith . 1. how to make the brown balsom for wounds , aches or pain in the limbs . take oyl . olive 1 quart , rosemary , thyme , cammomile , lavender , and winter savory , of each half a handful , break or cut them , and boyl them in the oyl , bees-wax and rozin , of each three quarters of a pound ; dogs-grease , bears-grease , and black pitch , of each one ounce . dissolve all these over a gentle fire , then as soon as it is taken off the fire , add venice turpentine 2 ounces , storax liquid 1 ounce , oyl of earth-worms , oyl of melliot , and oyl of st. johns-wort , of each half an ounce ; oyl of turpentine 1 ounce , oyl of spike 2 drahcms , stir these together till they are cold . 2. how to make the green oyntment for burns or scalds , inflammation , or heat in any part . take hemlock , henbane , nightshade , grondsill , housleek , dwarf-elder , marsh-mallows , chickweed , and plantain , of each a handful : cut the herbs , and put them to 2 quarts of oyl olive : boyl them till the herbs be crisp ; then strain it , and put to the oyl one pound of virgin wax , dissolve the wax , and then let it cool by degrees . 3. how to make an excellent water for any curable disease of the eyes . take quick-lime 2 ounces , let it steep 12 hours in a pint , of spring water , then take off the clear , gently strain it through a thin rag , that the scum which will be at the top get not through : put it into a brass pan , and put to it sal armoniack three drachms ; stir it with a brass spoon till it be ▪ very blew : drop of it into the eye two or thre times a day . 4. another remedy for the eyes . take white rose-water , plantane water , and eyebright water , of each one ounce ; powder of white sugar-candy half an ounce , olibanum one drachm : mix them by pouring the water to the powders in a mortar by degrees , stirring with the pestle all the while . use this as the former . 5. how to make the excellent powder for the worms , to be taken in honey or treacle in the morning take tormentil roots , coriander seeds , coraline , burnt harts-horn , all pulveriz'd , of each one ounce ; salt of wormwood one ounce ; mix them together very well , and keep it dry . probatum est . the dose for a man as much as will lye on a shilling . 6. an excellent powder for ruptures , or broken bellies , to be taken in claret , or strong drink in the morning . take the roots of bistort , round birthwort , tormentil , and the grear comfry , of each one ounce , red and yellow saunders , of each one drachm and half , dragons-blood , and harts-horn , of e●ch 2 scruples , bole-armoniack 2 drachms ; pulverize , and mix them all . dose from 12 grains to 2 scruples . 7. an approved remedy forthe epilepsie , or falling-sickness ; to be taken in strong drink in the morning . take peony roots , round birthwort , and sassafras , of each one ounce ; pellitory of spain 2 drachms , caraway seeds , sweet fennel seeds , and rue , of each half an ounce ; leaves of betony , and parsly , of each 2 drachms ; pulverize , and mix them together . dose from 12 grains to 2 scruples . 8. the powder to purge the head. take rosemary , and betony , of each 1 scruple ; black hellebore , of each 1 scruple ; ireos 1 drachm and a half : mix them all in fine powder , and take of it at night , one grain at a time . 9. the remedy for the tooth-ach . take pellitory of spain , mix it with an equal quantity of wheat-flower , and with the strongest spirit of wine make a paste , roul it in thin cakes , and cut it into square pieces and dry it ; hold a bit of it between the teeth , or in the hollow of the tooth : keep the mouth shut as long as you can . 10 the composition of the general purging pill , being the onely purge for any disease , either cronical , or acute , where purging is necessary . ℞ . scammonii ℥ ss . pulp . coloquint . ʒ v. f. p. et cum ol. caryophill . chim . q. s. f. m. cui adde , pil. cochiae min. et aggregativae , an . ʒ j. ss . bene contundantur simul , et fiat massa pro pilulis . dos . gr . 10. an excellent pill for the stomach . take of pill . ruffi , call'd pestilential , and pill stomachici with the gums , of each on drachm : salt of wormwood one scruple , elixir proprietatis , as much as will suffice to make a mass for pills . 12. a good remedy to stay vomiting . take malmsey six ounces , oyl of vitriol 10 drops ; mix them and take an ounce every morning fasting . 13. another for vomiting or spitting of blood. take 5 or 6 drops of oyl of mastich in cinnamon water . 14. a notable experienc'd medicine to ease the pain of the gout . take one , or two of the foremost sucking whelps of a mastiff , or bear-bitch , kill them , and take forth the guts , fill them with black snailes , roast them , and baste them with 10 ounces of oyl of spike coloured with saffron ; reserve that which droppeth from them , and mix it with as much oyl of wax , and therewith anoint the part grieved . 15. a remedy for a sore mouth either in young or old. take plantane water , honeysuckle water , and barley water mixt with saccharum saturni , and gargarize with it . 16. an excellent remedy for consumption or coughs . take anniseeds , carawayseeds , coriander seeds , lycorice , & elicampane , of each half an ounce , flower of brimstone 2 drachms ; mix these with good clarify'd honey to the form of an electuary , then add balsom of sulphur one drachm , and oyl of anniseeds 10 drops ; stirre it well , and take of it morning and evening as much as a hazel nut. 17. the way of making elixir vitae . take rosemary one handful , juniper berries 2 ounces , angelica roots , and elicampane , of each half an ounce , zedoary , and cardamom , of each 3 drachms ; steep all these 24 hours in 2 quarts of strong spirit of wine ; then draw off in an alembick very gently one quart and half a pint of the elixir . 18. to blanch the face . take the meat of lemmons , the kernels being taken away , and a quantity of the first sugar : still these , and keep the water to wash the face every night . 19. a powder for the stone , sand , gravel or flegm , that obstructs the urine . take sopewort roots , and sea-radish roots , of each half an ounce , juniper-berries , bay berries , and haws , of each five drachms ; gromel-seed , parsly-seed , and carraway-seed , of each six drachms ; gumme arabick and sal prunella , of each four scruples ; pulverize , and mix these , and put to them oyl of turpentine one drachm , oyl of juniper half a drachm . the dose from 10 grains to half a drachm . 20. to stay bleeding at the nose . take some lint and make a tent , dip it in ink and put up the nostril , and lay a defensitive over the eyes and nose made with sanguis draco●is , bole-armoniack , and a little vinegar . vale. the pisse-prophet, or, certaine pisse-pot lectures wherein are newly discovered the old fallacies, deceit, and jugling of the pisse-pot science, used by all those (whether quacks and empiricks, or other methodicall physicians) who pretend knowledge of diseases, by the urine, in giving judgement of the same. by tho. brian, m.p. lately in the citie of london, and now in colchester in essex. never heretofore published by any man in the english tongue. brian, thomas, 17th cent. 1637 approx. 181 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 60 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16823 stc 3723 estc s114775 99849998 99849998 15179 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16823) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 15179) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 656:10) the pisse-prophet, or, certaine pisse-pot lectures wherein are newly discovered the old fallacies, deceit, and jugling of the pisse-pot science, used by all those (whether quacks and empiricks, or other methodicall physicians) who pretend knowledge of diseases, by the urine, in giving judgement of the same. by tho. brian, m.p. lately in the citie of london, and now in colchester in essex. never heretofore published by any man in the english tongue. brian, thomas, 17th cent. [10], 108 p. printed by e. p[urslowe] for r. thrale, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the crosse-keyes, at pauls gate, london : 1637. printer's name from stc. reproduction of the original in emmanuel college (university of cambridge). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng urine -analysis -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. quacks and quackery -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2006-07 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the pisse-prophet , or , certaine pisse-pot lectures . wherein are newly discovered the old fallacies , deceit , and jugling of the pisse-pot science , used by all those ( whether quacks and empiricks , or other methodicall physicians ) who pretend knowledge of diseases , by the urine , in giving judgement of the same . by tho. brian , m. p. lately in the citie of london , and now in colchester in essex . never heretofore published by any man in the english tongue . si populus vult decipi , decipiatur . london , printed by e. p. for r. thrale , and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the crosse-keyes , at pauls gate . 1637. the preface , to the right honourable , right worshipfull , whether more or lesse dignified , who have been or hereafter may be my patients , as also to the courteous or discourteous reader . your honour , worship , or other worthinesse whatsoever ( good reader ) hath often heard it spoken from the mouth of many a well-read and experienced man in physicke , that ( urina est meretrix , vel mendax ) the vrine is an harlot , or a lier ; and that there is no certaine knowledge of any disease to be gathered from the vrine alone , nor any safe judgement to be exhibited by the same : you have been ( likewise ) often told , by physicians , that it were farre better for the physician to see his patient once than to view 〈…〉 ( who tell you so ) to entertaine the vrine as the onely index and discoverer of diseases to prono●●●● their opinion of the 〈…〉 disease by it , and to accept of being accounted skilfull 〈…〉 learned physicians 〈…〉 written dive●s tracts therein 〈…〉 dangers of taking physick 〈…〉 sight of the 〈…〉 dispossesse men of that fond opinion , of a physicians discerning diseases by it , wherewith they have been so long time deluded . to this purpose hath dr cotta written a booke ( called , a short discoverie of the unobserved dangers of severall sorts of ignorant and ( inconsiderate practisers of physicke in england ) wherein , amongst other tracts of the 〈◊〉 abusers of physicke , he hath written one tractate of the conjectours by vrines : therein shewing the falshood , and 〈◊〉 judgment of diseases by the vrine . he hath also therein set downe the ingenuous confession of a dying physician ( made to him being then present with him some three or foure dayes before his departure ) 〈◊〉 , who , being requested to commend unto 〈…〉 that skill by which hee had beene so 〈◊〉 admired and esteemed , for judging 〈◊〉 to be with childe by their vrine , made this ans●er . i have ( saith he ) long with the felicity of a good opinion exercised it , and with tryed certainty know it to be uncertainty , and certaine deceit : it is therefore unworthy posterity , and the name of art. reade the tract above mentioned , and you shall see this confession further amplified . if you please to take my confession too , you shall have it : i for mine owne part have been so fortunate herein , that i have seldome failed an my predictions of determining a woman to be with childe by the vrine , as i have made them beleeve , when the messenger hath been able to certifie me of the state of the womans body , and could answer me to certaine other questions touching other signes of conception . above all the rest , i was once magnified by a counsellors wife for this cunning cozenage ( i am not ashamed to terme it so ) at a festivall meeting at canterbury , in the presence of two ( as i take it ) other doctours of physicke : she told them to their faces that i was the cunningst doctour in all the towne , for i had told her by her water that she was with child , and just how long it was since she conceived of it ▪ but had the woman shew'd me ( that brought it ) no more than the vrine did , i should scarce have adventured to have pronounced her to have been with childe : yet i might ( knowing the gentlewoman , how long it was since she had a child , and the distance that she commonly kept in child-bearing , as also that she nursed her children her selfe ) have pronounced her , and that upon some probable conjecture , to have beene with child , though the messenger could not have answered me to such interrogatives ( as we use to demand of them before we pronounce a woman to be with childe ) nor the vrine shew ( as it doth not ) any thing concerning conception at all . i dare say , that the good gentlewoman is very confident that i determined her to be with childe by the sight of her vrine onely , because i did not intimate any thing to the contrary : neither is she to be so much blamed for her credulity , as i for my jugling . but to make her and other good women amends ( whom i have thus beguil'd ) i have in this ensuing tract set downe the fallacies , by which i judged her , and every other physician doth judge every other woman to be with childe ; as also , by which we give judgement of the disease , sex , and the like , seeming to doe it onely by the vrine : which have not heretofore beene published ( though too much practized of most ) by any man in the english tongue . doctour hart ( in his booke intituled the anatomie of urines ) hath by sufficient argument and demonstration , confuted the pisse-canons , or conjectures of vrines , taken from the severall accidents of the same ( as the severall colours , parts , contents , substance , quantity , smell ) and shewed their falshood in all these , and the many absurdities that have been committed by pretending knowledge of diseases by all these ; i thought it likewise fit to set downe the fallacies ; by which judgement of diseases is given by the vrine , to the end that the writings of other men ( who have written against this base custome of water-prophesying ) may gaine the more credit , and for the further satisfaction of such as yet remaine doubtfull whether there be any judgment to be taken from the vrine sufficient to determine the disease . to this end therefore i have set downe the fallacies which have upheld this custome of prating , and predicating strange things by the vrine : and i have pen'd them in the english tongue , because that meere englishmen ( i meane the common people ) who understand english only , are and ever have ben most subject to be deceived 〈◊〉 deluded . i hope therefore that no artist will be offended hereat , for i dare say that there is no ingenuous man , but is of mine opinion , and would as gladly ( as i my selfe ) that this base custome , of lecturing upon the vrine , were overthrowne and abrogated . what i have therefore done to this purpose , i intreat the courteous reader to accept in as good part , as i have been willing to impart the same : and for as much as i have been guilty of this fraud , though i have not long used it , let it suffice that it repenteth me of the same , for i meane never hereafter to shew my cunning , or rather cozening , upon the water , and hope that other men will helpe to beate down this custome , or else all that i have written will be to little purpose . however it will some thing delight the understanding and impartiall reader , and might profit the ignorant , if they ●ould make use of it to that end for which it 〈◊〉 penn'd . as for the stile , and method of 〈◊〉 it is poore and meane ; but such as best 〈◊〉 with such a poore , base , and stinking 〈◊〉 i have been enforced a little beyond my 〈◊〉 nature , and disposition , to bee somewhat 〈…〉 in lecturing upon the vrine , for which cause i may incurre censure of the graver and more modest people : if i have herein offended , i crave their pardon , for i could not well avoid it : and let them not taxe me of levity , or lasciviousnesse , for my life and conversation hath , and shall for ever testifie the contrary . howbeit i can claime no priviledge from backbiters , nor immunity from malignant tongues ; i refuse to be tryed by a prejudicate opinion , or the malignant spirit of contradiction ; and appeale unto the learned , judicious , and impartiall reader , to whom ( if i have erred ) for it is humanum errare ) i submit for censure ; if need be , for correction . and for as much as ( i feare ) that the greatest detractours that i shall finde ( though it be an old saying that the arts , nullum habent inimicum praeter ignorantem , have no enemy but the ignorant man ) are offenders in this kinde ; i admonish you ( brother pisse-prophet ) that you be not too busie in playing the criticke upon mee , because i have ( in confessing mine owne folly ) reproved your wickednesse , which you will hardly forsake . as for the censure of the ignorant ( whom you help to retain in this prejudicate opinion ) i regard it not . hos oblatrantes caniculos cum contemptu , 〈…〉 i psse by these barking curres ( as the lion doth ) with 〈◊〉 but if you 〈◊〉 ( whose gall'd back i have rub'd , and whose sore i have lanced ) who are conscious to your selfe of your owne guiltinesse herein , i shall rub harder and lance deeper : and yet ( if you kick over-much ) i shall finde a lash to quiet you . i pray therefore let me have your good word , lest you need mine . and so in hope that the learned , judicious , and impartiall reader will pardon my errours , and that the ignorant reader will become wiser , and that the delinquent reader will become honester , i rest ▪ yours , t. b. the pisse-prophet . chap. i. wherein is shew'd the errour of the common people ( who thinke that diseases are to be discerned by the vrine ) and the fallacies of the physician , who intimate the same unto them : as also , what is to be considered of the physician before he pronounce his judgement of an vrine . the vulgar sort are so strongly prepossest ( by reason of their ignorance ) that physicians can discern ( by the vrine ) the disease , the conception , the sexe , the parties age , with many other such absurdities , that i feare it will bee an hard matter to dispossesse them of that opinion . and physicians ( the more too blame they ) have intimated and pretended this knowledge unto them so farre , as that they will hardly acknowledge their errours , and relinquish this basery : but when it shall appeare that the vrine is altogether 〈…〉 shall be shewed and set forth by me in this ensuing discourse : let the ignorant choose whether he will believe his lying oracle or no , and let the physician choose whether hee will be honester than to use such deceit . yet ( i hope ) the one will blush to have been so deluded , and the other to have his conjecturing discovered . and now mee thinks you long to heare how it is ( the urine giving no certaine knowledge of any disease in the world ) that pisse mongers ( for they deserve not the name of a physician that pretend knowledge of diseases by it ) doe give judgement of it , and make thee beleeve that they discerne diseases by it , than the which nothing in the world is more false . but would you so faine know how this can be ? why thus it is , for i will now hold you no longer in expectation ; i must therefore give unto your speciall consideration two things , ( and then i will descend to all the particular quillets and fallacies that deceive the ignorant ) used in the contemplation and beholding of an urine , which make a man presume to give judgement of diseases by it . observe now with me , that the two things to be considered are these ; namely , that diseases are either acute , sharpe , and violent , as the plurisie , peripneumonia ( which is the apostumation , and inflamation of the lungs ) the phrenzie , iliaca passio , the small pox , pestilence , and every sharp fever : or else diseases : they are 〈…〉 : ( that is of continuance ) 〈…〉 such as proceed from the ill temperature of the humours and disposition of the constitution of the body , such as are the consumption , dropsie , melancholy . 〈◊〉 palsie . falling sicknesse , chachexia ( which is a depravation of the humours of the body , where by it taketh away , in man or woman , the appear from meat makes the body unfit for exercise , and marres the livelinesse of the spirit and countenance ) and this disease in women is commonly called the greene sicknesse , and it makes both men and women greene indeed . but ( to omit all circumstances that may be ) the physician alwayes beares these two considerations in m●●de . namely , that diseases are either acute , sharpe , and violent , or chronicall , and of continuance , and more gentle , as aforesaid , &c. now , for the most part , the common sort of people come 〈◊〉 send their waters unto physicians for acute , sharpe , and violent diseases : as the countrey-man or handycrafts-man ( who use to labour ) for some surfet ( as they call it ) taken by carching cold ( as they thinke ) after sweating at their severall labours , and your better sort of people ( as they thinke themselves , because they use no labour ) for a surfet taken by idlenesse , as sitting in the sunne , walking , sporting , drinking of wine , eating over much or such meat as their stomach hath not well digested , and the like . you must likewise note , that every sharpe disease hath an hot and burning fever joyned with it , and that the urine ( for the most part ) in a burning fever is of an intense high red colour ; and this colour ; amongst all the other uncertaine signes of urine ( which seeme to shew a disease , to put a difference betweene sharpe and chronicall diseases , and to discover a fever only ) is the most certaine of all other , and yet uncertaine in it selfe . such a urine being brought unto a physician to cast ( as they call it ) and being of a red high colour ( as i said before ) he presently conceives it to be a sharpe and violent disease , and then knowes for certaine , that there is a fever joyned with it ; so he is now quickly prepared to give his judgement of it , and needs now to doe no more , but to give a description of a fever , to make the messenger beleeve that he perceives the disease in the water ; but yet he comes to the true knowledge of the disease , by some such par●y and expostulation had with the messenger , as shewes the symptomes and affects of the sick partie ( though he seeme to have named them in the description of the disease to the messenger ) which truly determine the disease : and then he names the disease , looking upon the water ( as if it were there to be found ) in such manner as shall be hereafter shewed ; which makes the messenger to beleeve so indeed . now the description of a fever ( and indeed one description will serve for any fever , and for all sharpe and violent diseases ) is but to reckon up the symptomes and signes of a fever ( the which we know before that ever we looke upon the water ) which are these : namely ; great oppression of the stomach by choler , or some other humour , which causeth want of appetite to meat : oppi●ation and obstruction of the liver and spleene , causing great heat ( which causeth great drought , and much desire of drinke ) causing great paine in the head and backe , which likewise causeth want of sleepe and rest , from whence proceedeth ( oftentimes ) raving , franticke doting senselesse and idle talke . now to say that the sicke party is this affected ( for indeed so they are for the most part in every respect , but at the least in some kinde , in every violent disease ) makes the messenger to thinke , that the doctour doth perceive ( that the partie is so affected ) by the urine which ( by yea and by nay ) is no such matter : for he dares not alway trust to this high red urine , as an insallible signe of a fever ; for it may chance to be of such a colour by some other accident , when the partie that made it , is free from a fever . but admit that the high red colour of the urine did alway ( as it doth for the most part ) import a fever , yet the symptomes and companions of a fever ( as heat , drought , thirst , paine in the head , want of sleepe , oppression of stomach , want of appetite , oppilation of the liver and spleene , or any one of these ) are not therein to be seene , though it please his worship to play the anticke with the water , pretending that there are such marks in it , as shew all these things that i have named . neither doth he presume to name these symptomes ( as heat , drought , thirst , &c. ) from any signes thereof in the urine , but for that he knoweth by dayly experience , that the fore-named symptomes and companions of a fever ( as heat , drought , thirst , &c. ) are necessarie consequences , and inseparable concomitants of a fever : and yet ( oh the pride of man , in seeming to be what he is not ! ) the pisse-prophet doth pretend , that he perceiveth all these things in the water . these things being premised , i hope thou wilt be the better able to judge of that which followeth , and perceive how easie a thing it is to give judgement of diseases by the urine ( though it be not there to be seene ) and wilt conceive the fallacies that uphold this custome , and so learne to put a difference betweene an honest learned plaine-dealing physician and a prating empirick , and a rogue . i will now ( for this once ) imagine my selfe to be one of them and , to be in my chamber or study ready addressed to come forth , to give my judgement upon that high red water ( that importeth a fever , and so a violent disease ) that i last spake of , and will plainely shew you ( by the examination of three such severall urines , brought by three severall messengers ) in three severall chapters , how to give judgement of all acute , sharpe , and violent diseases , by the last description of the symptomes of a burning fever . chap. ii. what manner of persons your pisse-messengers are , how they are handled , deluded , and made to shew how the sicke partie is affected , and yet to beleeve that the doctour perceiveth the disease by the vrine . i have here already such a messenger ( attending my leisure to give my judgement upon such a urine ) who , being conducted to my presence , salues my worship with good morrow master doctour , and indeed the morning is the most usuall and fit time for the viewing of urines : the queane at darkin hath gotten that art , that she would not prophesie thereof after eleven of the clocke : and having thus saluted me , presents me the urine , saying , sir i desire your opinion of this water , and to tell me ( though the sick partie know that too too well already ) what the partie ayleth , and what the disease is ; the messenger ( whether man or woman ) you must note , is one who is , as it were , made out of waxe , whom a physician cannot deceive ( neither would hee if he could ) nor yet learne any thing out of him touching the disease , unlesse hee himselfe first have named it , and yet hee will make a shift to mould him into any form● that shall fit his purpose best , and make him by impertinent questions ( as he shall thinke ) to tell him any thing , concerning the sicke partie , that hee shall desire to know , and yet ( like hocus pocus who makes his ignorant spectatours to thinke that the balls are under the cups , though hee have conveyed them away by sleight of hand , and when they see that , to deeme him a conjurer ) to thinke that he hath discovered nothing , and me to be a skilfull physitian and an honest man , when as indeed there is no such matter ; for neither is hocus pocus a conjurer , though by his nimble conveyance he have deluded his silly beholder , or so much a knave as they thinke him , because he hath not done it by any unlawfull assistance ; neither am i so skilfull a physitian , though i have made the messenger beleeve that i perceive strange things by the water , because i doe but deceive the messenger ; nor so honest a man as i am esteemed , though i carry the matter very faire , because i doe not ingenuously confesse to the messenger , and so to every body else when i shall have occasion to discourse about it , that there is no certaine judgement of any disease by the urine , but out of pride pretend knowledge of diseases by it , and to backe this knowledge blush not to use such deceit and fallacies as hereafter follow . but now to returne to the urine from the physician and the fool , the messenger : this vrine , if brought out of the countrie , is for the most part in a glasse-bottle , but ( if ones in the citie ) it is brought in an urinall ; it is likewise red and high of colour , and that ( for the most part ) be tokeneth a fever . i now therefore ( before that ever i can poure the water out of the bottle , or take the urinall out of the case ) rip up all the symptomes of a fever , and say , this partie hath a great oppression of stomach and no appetite to meat , a great oppilation and obstruction of the liver and spleene , is very hot and dry , desireth much to drinke , hath a great paine in the head and can take no rest , and was taken in the manner of an ague with a grooving in the backe and paine in the head , first cold and then hot , reckning up all these things ( as if i saw them there so soone as ever i looke into the water ) so fast as ever i can make my tongue belie my heart . and with this description i have made the messenger admire my readinesse and skill in judging of urines , and he verily beleeves that i have espied these things in the water ; but it is farre otherwise ; for these things ( that i have reckoned up ) are but the usuall symptomes and companions of a fever , and the most of them are joyned with every fever , and all of them and many moe at once are complicate with many a fever . these things being so , i cannot but have hit the nayle on the head , for some of those symptomes that i have reckoned up , must needs accompany the disease ; and when i have once named them , the messenger presently answers , that the partie is just so affected as i have said : but ( as yet ) i have not named the disease , and perhaps omitted something which is expected that i should have named : and the messenger is as ready then to aske me if i perceive nothing else by the water , as i was to pronounce my judgment of it before : to whom i answere , yes if you will give me leave to tell you ; and then perchance askes me if i doe not perceive a stitch , and whether the party have not a plurisie , i answer ( looking upon the water as if it were there to be perceived ) yes i well perceive the stitch , and some cough too ; and i say , that when the cough takes the partie , the partie is much pained in the side ; and for as much as i did not name the stitch at first , i tell the messenger that we use first to declare the cause of the disease before we come to every passion or affect of the disease , or before we name it : i further adde that i was not yet come to speake of the stitch ( no nor should never have found it out of the water , had not the messenger bolted it out ) because i had named the cause therof , namely , the oppression of the stomach and obstruction of the spleene , and mesentery , and that the stitch was nothing else but a flatuous and windie humour proceeding from thence to the place affected ; so now i determine the disease to be ( as they suppose ) a plurisie ; and indeed they can better define their owne diseases by the symptomes and passions that they suffer , than any physician can doe by the water onely . but now as i have been happy in my predictions of the disease , and rightly determined it to be ( as it is indeed ) a plurisie ; so now i must proceed to the prescription ( as it is required ) of such remedies as may cure this plurisie : and now i am here as farre to seeke ( though i know the disease to be a plurisie ) as if i knew not the disease at all , nor had seen the urine , because i doe not therein perceive the scope and grounds of prescribing fit remedies ( according to the rules of art ) in every respect proper to the disease ; the which scope and grounds are these ( namely ) the parties age , the sexe , the constitution of the body , and the strength of it at this time , with divers other accidents , as whether the party be bound in his body , or have a flux and scouring , or the like : all the which nor any one of them can be discerned by the urine , & yet i must finde them there if the messenger refuse to tell me ( but that they seldome refuse to doe after that i have given them a description of the disease , and shewed them in some part how the partie is affected ) or else i must needs erre in my prescription ; for if i should prescribe ( not knowing the age of the partie ) such a quantitie of blood to be taken away from a young youth ( suppose ten or twelve ounces ) in a pluresie , which is the disease in hand , as should be taken from a man in his full strength , the partie might perish thereby ; or if i should take but foure or five ounces of bloud from a lusty young man ( in this disease ) at his full strength , i should doe him no good , and so he might perish on the other side : i might likewise erre in the dose , if ( not knowing the parties age ) i should prescribe more or lesse than were proportionable to the parties age in prescribing purging potions or clysters in this case ; i might likewise commit no lesse errour if ( not knowing the sexe ) i should in the forenamed disease prescribe blood-letting to a woman , her naturall courses being broke forth upon her ; for i might by that accident expect a solution of the disease without blood-letting . i might likewise erre , if ( knowing the sexe ) i should prescribe purging physicke for a woman in this case ( not knowing whether she be with child or no ) of such a quality as might cause her to miscarry : i might erre concerning the constitution of the body if i should ( not knowing the same ) prescribe that for a weakly constitution of body which were fitter for a robustuous and strong constitution : and so on the contrary . i might likewise erre if i should ( not knowing the strength of the body at this time ) prescribe too strong a potion , or too much blood to be taken away , when the disease hath overcome the strength and the partie is too much debilitated , or if i should prescribe too gentle a potion , or too little blood to be taken away when the strength is not yet dejected , but stands in equall contestation with the disease . i could shew a thousand wayes more how i could erre , and how most physitians doe erre that prescribe physicke by the sight of the urine only : but my intent is to shew how many thousand wayes i could deceive thee and make thee beleeve that i discerne all these things by the urine ( as thou thinkst i do ) namely the disease , the parties age , sexe , strength , constitution of body , and the like : i have therfore digressed herein from my purpose ( since my intent was not to shew the errors that are committed by such as pretend knowledge of diseases by the urine , but to shew the fallacies and jugling that they use in giving judgment of it ) and so frustrated thy expectation of this dainty art ; but i hope it shall be to thy profit , for thou shalt hereby be the better able to give thy physitian such instructions as he shall require , and shalt perceive the danger of taking physick prescribed by the sight of the urine only : and now to the purpose indeed ; but first imagine with me , that the last messenger , having received good satisfaction by the description of the parties disease for whom he came , was ready to certifie me of all the forenamed circumstances that were requisite for me to inquire of , as the parties age , sexe , constitution of body , present strength , how long the partie had been sicke , &c. and i have sent him away with such remedies as were most proper for his pleurisie , directions for blood-letting to mitigate his fever , some pectorall physick to ease his cough , with a liniment to mollifie , and to dispell wind , to anoynt his side withall for his stitch , and wish him to repaire unto me again within a day or two to certifie me of the successe of the physicke , and how the partie stands now affected , that if need require , i may supply him with further advise . now in all this ( i hope ) i have not erred , save only that i forgot to tell the messenger that the partie was very dangerously sicke , and would hardly recover , but yet i have prescribed him the best meanes that can , by the art of man , be for his recoverie , and i pray god to give his blessing , and so i have quite dispatched this messenger . and now whether the partie live or dye i shall be sure to be magnified for my skill ; if he die , for that my predictions prove true ; and if he live , for that i recovered him of so dangerous a disease . and now i am ready to encounter with the next messenger , who likewise brings me another urine of an high red colour , in giving judgement upon which i will plainely shew how a man may give judgement of all other sharpe and violent diseases by the water ( though it doe not certainely shew any symptomes of any disease , which determine the same ) and how thou shalt get out of the messenger every circumstance necessary to the judging and determining of a disease , as the age , sexe , and strength of the partie , and to the guiding of a man in prescribing of fit remedies , and yet he shall not perceive but that thou findest them in the urine ; sed hoc est decipere , non judicare ; but this is to juggle , and not to judge . chap. iii. the craftiest messengers must be the more craftily handled : the action and gesture of the physician in giving judgement of an vrine : that we come to the knowledge of the disease , and sex by impertinent questions ( as they thinke ) 〈◊〉 to the messengers , and not by the vrine : the cunning tricks that physicians have to make the messengers confident of their ( falsly ) pretended skill ; and the flammes that they have to evade censure , if they chance to erre in the pronouncing of their judgement . suppose this next messenger to be some nurse or tender of sick persons , who is commonly versed , and accustomed in carrying sick folks urines unto physicians ; and she salute me , with master doctor , i have brought you a water , and desire your opinion of it : and now i am like to have a hard taske of it , and to be so put to my trumps , that ( if i play not my cards sure ) i shall lose the set , miscarry in my judgement , be accounted a dunce , and lose my patient for ever ; but i will be aware of that , i warrant you . i now therefore take this carfty wench to doe , and i will handle her as craftily ; i take the vrinall of her , and bid her come from the doore of my parlour , study , or chamber ( where they commonly stand , ) unto the window , or light , where i commonly give my oracle ; and indeed , a man had need of a good light , and a better sight , that shall perceive all these things that i must find out of this urine . being come to the light ( as i am uncafing the urinall to looke upon it , ) i aske the nurse a question , not whose water it is ( for that she is enjoyned , any conjured , not to tell me , especially if it be a womans , nor any thing else , unlesse i first find it out of the water ) but my question is ; how long the party hath beene sick ; and she out of modesty and good manners , can doe no lesse but answer me to this question , for she thinkes this question to be but words of course , and that i can gather nothing from hence touching the parties disease ; and so she answeres me a weeke , a forthnight , two or three dayes , or more or lesse . but from hence i collect and have strong presumptions that it is an acute disease ; and if she say , a forthnight , i shall thinke it to be only an acute disease and of the lesse danger , unlesse there have another physician beene imployed already , the which i shall be sure to know , and if there have , i shall go neere to strike his nose out of joynt , and gaine the patient to my selfe , and then ( if i recover him ) i shall get immortall fame ; but if he chance to die , i will make a shift to shuffle off the disgrace upon my brother doctor , for that ( as i will say ) such and such meanes were not used at the first , though haply he have used as good a thode as my selfe could have done : but if she say that the party hath beene sick a weeke , i shall thinke it is a more acute disease , whether there have another physician beene imployed or no. but if she say three or foure dayes , i then presume that it is a most sharpe disease , and now i will so plant and interest my selfe in the party , as that i will prevent anothers comming there , unlesse it be to a person of quality , and then i will be as ready to desire another physician to be called , as the sick party shall be to request it , not so much that i desire his aide , or would have him partake with me in the booty , as in the disgrace , if the party should chance to die . and now i know ( by this question , as also the water , being high and red , witnessing the same ) that it is an acute disease : and now i take the urinall in my hand , and hold it up to the light , and ( looking very little upon it ) i shake it together , and set it downe very artificially in the window asloop , as if i meant to inquire further of it anone , and that it must stand so a while ; and indeed it must stand so a while , and i must looke but lightly upon it at first , or else i shall not have so good an evasion if i erre never so litle , nor so fit an opportunity to propound another question to the setting me forward in the pronoucing of my opinion , or to the inquiry of some other circumstance ( necessary to the guiding me in prescribing fit remedies ) as the parties age , sexe , strength , and the like , for this wench will be sure to hold me to my text . and now go along with me still , and conceive with me that it is asharp disease ( as appeareth by her answer ) and that i have no sooner asked her how long the party hath beene sick , and set downe the urinall in the window ( as i said before ) but that i presently say , this party hath a great oppression of stomach , no appetite to meate , with a great oppilation of the liver and spleene , is very hot , desireth much to drinke , hath a great paine in the head , and can take no rest , and was taken in the manner of an ague ( as they call it ) with a grooving in the backe , and paine in the head , first cold and then hot , as i said in giving my judgement upon the last urine ; and indeed this description will serve for any acute disease , whether it be the pleurisie , the small pox or maisels , a fit of the stone in the kidneis , the squinancy , phrensie , iliaca passio , the arthritis , or what other sharp disease soever , wherewith there is a fever alwayes complicate , or whether it be a simple fever which is primarily the disease it selfe ; but yet i will not alwayes use the same description to all commers , because divers messengers may come to a physician , and may stay for companies sake to goe away together , and might fall to questioning with each other what the doctour said unto them , and so might thinke ( if i should use the same description unto them all ) that i could say nothing else . i therefore vary my description of the disease , and am sometimes shorter in the same , and then ( if i find by expostulation with the messenger that i have omitted any thing that i should have spoken of ) i say that it proceeded from such a cause as i had already named , and that i should have come to speake of that anon ; i am sometimes likewise larger in my description , as i am here in relating how the party is affected , for whom this nurse comes : and she is as ready to take me up for the same , and sayes , that it is true indeed , that the party can take no rest , hath no appetite to meate , and was taken ( as i said ) in the manner of an ague , but complaines not of her stomach at all , but cries out , my head , my head , and complaines altogether of want of rest ; to whom i reply , that the paine in the head is the chiefe of the passions that the party is affected withall , but yet that it proceeded from the oppression of the stomach , and oppilation of the liver and spleene , which being obstructed , send a cholericke fume unto the braine , which infiame the animall spirits , and cause this paine which hindred rest , and that ( if rest were not caused ) it would make the party rave , be franticke , and burst forth into senselesse , and idle talke . thus having answered this objection , i now begin to touch the urinall , to see if it have setled enough , but finding it not to have setled enough to my purpose , and to shew me those things that i must finde out of it , i set it downe againe very tenderly , saying , it must yet settle alittle better ; and then i fall to questioning with the nurse concerning something that may shew me the sexe , for i must find that out of the water too ; and now i aske her , what the party useth to doe in the time of health , and this is a question that may ( she thinkes ) as well be answered without giving me any light of the sexe , as the former question ( which was , how long the party had beene sicke ) of giving me any light of the disease ; but you shall heare what i collect from thence . she answers , i demanding what the party useth to do , that the party useth to do little , save onely to goe up and downe the house , to worke about the house , to walke up and downe abroad , to keepe a shop , to labour , or the like ; and from all these i have my severall collections . now if she say , that the party useth to doe little , save onely to goe up and downe the house , i presume that it is the mistresses of the house , or the good-wifes , or one of their daughters , or some gentlewoman in the house , but for certaine , that it is a womans water , or a maides , for they should , and commonly doe ( if their shooes be not made of running leather ) keepe their house , and their worke is to walke up and down the house ; but if she say , the party useth to doe such worke as is to be done in or about the house , it is most likely that it is a maid-servant , but if she say to walke abroad , i then presume that it is a mans water , and that it may be the master of the house , or his sonnes , or some other gentlemans , whose worke and imployment is onely to walke abroad and take his pleasure ; but if she say , to keepe a shop , i suppose it to be the masters thereof , or an he apprentice his ; or if she say , that the party useth to labour , i imagine it to be a man-servant , or some hired labouring mans ; so by her answer to this question , namely , what the party useth to doe in the time of health , i discerne the sexe . and now i take the urinall againe in my hand ( for by this time it hath stood long enough to settle ) and now i say that it is a womans water , suppose that her answer to my question ( what the party used to doe in the time of health ) did inferre as much , that she hath a burning fever , is so dangerously sicke that she will hardly recover , unlesse such and such speedy meanes be used , and yet that all will scarce doe ; and this danger i will alwayes pretend in every violent disease , though there be no deadly signe at all ; but not to the sicke parties ( for that they cannot indure to heare of ) but secretly to the messenger , or some neere friend , or by-stander , if i be present with them ; and then if the party live . i shall not so much as have my judgement called in question , for saying the party would die , but be magnified for that i have recovered her of a dangerous disease ; nay , to be sure to be happy in my predictions and prognosticks concerning the life and death of my patients ( for they must alwayes have a hint of that , although the thought of death be an unwelcome guest ) i will deliver mine opinion both wayes ; i will threaten , or rather pretend the danger of death to the sicke party ( if my opinion be desired , ) with a but if such and such meanes be used , you may haply recover : and to some by-stander or hanger on , i will secretly whisper that there is no danger at all : or else i will promise life to the patient , which is altogether wished , and threaten death to some other inquisitour : and thus was a learned doctour in physicke over-matched by a meaner practicant in physicke , at ashford in kent who used this policy in his prognosticks . i have for mine owne part and office , herein delivered my selfe well enough to this nurse in my prognosticks concerning the event of the womans sicknesse , for whom she is come : i have told her how the woman is affected , what the disease is , and what will be the event ; and the nurse is reasonable well satisfied herewith , but yet i have omitted something , that she will be sure to tell me of , for since she hath undertaken the matter , she will not goe without her errand . so , now she asks me if i perceive nothing else by the water , and i imagine well enough what it is else that i should perceive by it , for when that question is propounded , it is to know whether the woman be with child or no : to whom i answer , that there are many moe things to be perceived by the water ( but not at all times ) as whether a woman were with child or no , which is that you looke for ; but it is no now to be seene in this water , because her body is all out of temper , and her water troubled and discoloured , but yet i thinke her to be , and well i may , if she her selfe thinke so ; i further tell her , that i could have certainely told , ( but yet i lie , ) if she had brought her water in the time of her health : and so she is satisfied for that matter , and confesseth that she is with child indeed . having thus satisfied her in all these things , told her that it is a womans water , in what manner she was sicke , what was her disease , that it was likely that she was with child ( which proves true ) and that she would scarce recover ( which is no great matter whether she doe or no ) i now begin to close with her , and aske her whose water it is ; but she will not tell me , and commend her for it , for she was forbid , and therefore hath vowed the contrary ; and indeed she was sent onely to heare mine opinion of the water , the which , if she like , shall haply heare further from the party , but if not , she hath order to goe to another pisse-prophet , and so if she like not his opinion neither , from him to another , untill she come to him that hits the disease rightest ( as she conceives ) by the water , and he ( i dare say , the most foole and knave of all the three ) is the man that shall be made choise of to cure this woman ; and this is thought great policy in making choice of an able physician . it behooves me therefore to be my crafts master in this art , for else you see here how i am like to be nosed of a patient , and to have my skill call'd in question ; for ( if i cannot finde the disease by the water ) they will soone conclude that i know not how to cure it . this nurse tells me indeed ( but if she had not told me , i should have perceived it ) that she came to heare mine opinion of the water , and that the sicke party would send to me againe , when she had heard ( she should have said , if she liked it ) what was mine opinion , and i thinke i have fitted her , and now tell the nurse , that it had been fitter they had sent for some present remedies , than to know the disease , or to heare mine opinion of it , so i hast her away with her oracle , bid her be sure to deliver it so as i had told her , and tell ( but not to the sicke party ) to some of her neere friends , how dangerously she is sicke , and that i would ( if she thinke good to make use of me ) use the best meanes to recover her that art could lead me unto ; and now i bid her make all the hast that may be , but yet ( before i let her goe ) i thus bespeake her ; in faith nurse , i commend thee that thou wilt doe thy errand handsomely , and make a physician finde the disease out of the water , and not be gull'd ( to tell how the party was affected ) as many a foole would have done , but i hope i have shewed thee truly how the party is affected , and what is her disease , and given thee such satisfaction as will content them that sent thee : loe therefore here is for thy paines , because thou hast put me to it so handsomely , and so i give her , ( fearing lest i should have erred , that she may maintaine my credit , and in hope of receiving a better fee , for being sent for ) the crackd groat , or the harry groat that was sent in stead of sixe pence , for casting this water ; nay , if it chance to be sixe pence indeed , she shall have it all , and so i shall be sure to have my message well done , and perhaps she will tell me that which she denied before ; but if not , she will magnifie me for my skill , and i shall be sure to heare further from the party , and have the casting of all the waters that she can bring me ; so i now send her away and laugh at her , and the devill at us both : i laugh at her because i have cozend her , and the devill , that he hath cozend us both , by making her to believe that i discerne all those things by the water that i told her , and making me to back my pretended knowledge by such fallacies . but doe not now imagine that i have been so long in hand with this nurse , in giving judgement of this urine , as i have been in penning the circumstances with the severall actions and gestures that i use in the examination of a pisse pot , which i have set downe to helpe thy understanding , or so long as thou hast been in reading them ; but that ( as if she had been but now new come in ) i take the urinall of her , propound the first question , set downe the urinall in the window , and pro●ounce a description of the disease : then propounding the other questions in order ( as i have done before ) define or determine the disease , tell her that such and such meanes ought suddainly to be used , and so send her away ; suppose therefore that she came but newly in , and is but now new gone out , and so i have done with her , and sent her away in a trice , and am ready for the next commer . but stay here a little , let that messenger tary , and conceive with me how one may give his judgement of any sharpe disease by the water , ( though it be not there to be seene , ) in pronouncing my judgement upon this last urine , for i cannot stand to instance upon many particulars : marke therefore the description that i gave to the nurse of the last disease , which i determined to be a fever , after that i perceived by the nurses answer to my first question ( which was , how long the party had been sicke ) that it was a sharpe disease ; now my description was this ; that the party had a great oppression of stomach and no appetite to meate , a great oppilation of the liver and spleene , was very hot , desired much to drinke , had a great paine in the head , and could take no rest , and was taken in the manner of an ague with a paine in the head , and grooving in the backe , first cold and then hot , the which description may serve for any sharpe disease in giving judgement of a water ; yet i doe not affirme , that in every sharpe disease the party is just thus affected in every respect , but for the most part , for if it chance to faile and be excepted against , i have shewed , how to make it good to the messenger , and to serve the turne to satisfie him , and not the physician and practicant in physicke . marke further , that in describing the disease , and shewing how the party is affected , i doe not yet define , determine , or name the disease , till i have expostulated with the messenger so farre , that i perceive the disease from thence , and have sounded enough out of him , to tell him any thing that he shall desire to know of me ; and then i determine the disease to be ( as the symptomes , when i have strictly examined them , shall agree with the messengers relation . ) a fever , the small pox , or maisels , a pleurisie , or the like , looking still upon the urine , as if i found it there , whereas i hope you well perceive my fetches , which helpe me out , or else dun might have stucke full fast in the mire . i hope also , that you perceive how easily a man may give his judgement of any other acute disease by the water , though it doe not shew it ; and now a word or two with this other messenger , and then i shall have done with acute , sharpe , and violent diseases . chap. iv. the rude simplicity of such as send their vrine unto a physician without any instructions how the party is affected : and the desperate hazzard , that they put their lives in , who adventure to take physicke prescribed only by the sight of the vrine . now this messenger is as rough-hewed as he that sent him and is a very plain fellow in his holy-day jacket and his busking hose ; he was call'd from making of faggots , or from thrashing , to goe to the doctour and carry this pisse that is put up in the vinegar bottle , and brought to me to judge of ; and it is a very turbid water of a very high , darke , red colour , by which as also by the messenger , ( for i can better tell , by the messenger , his gesture , time of comming , haste to be gone , and other circumstances , what the partie ayleth , how long he hath beene sicke , and whether it be a mans or womans water , than i or any physician can doe by the urine , especially if i lived in a towne or citie where i had much country practice ) i conceive it to be some countrie farmers , his sonnes , or mans , his hubber de hoy which is his man-boy , or halfe a man and halfe a boy : but which of them soever it be , hee hath borne it out with head and shoulders ( for so your country people use to doe before they send to a doctour ) and wrastled so long with the disease , and been so often foyled out , for they doe not observe the orders in moore or lincolns-inne fields , where if a man be three times foyled out , it is to stand for a fall , and he is to wrastle no more for that time , as that he can no longer stand , and yet he is to have one bout more with the disease who hath a cruell second in this duell , even death it selfe : and now ( if nature be not assisted by art ) this fellow , whose second i must be , is like to be put to the worst , and the disease is like to give him a flat fall upon his backe in his grave , never to rise againe untill the resurrection . therefore if i have any skill , i must shew it now or never : i now therefore take the water to examine it , and thinke to question with this messenger ( as with the former ) how long the partie hath been sicke , whose water it was , and to put him such other questions as might shew me such other circumstances which might shew mee the disease , and guide me in the prescribing fit remedies for the same ; but he cannot answer mee one question , not whose water it is , nor how long the party hath been sicke , no nor whether it be a mans or a womans water ; much lesse the constitution of the body , the present strength of it at this time , or whether the partie be bound or loose in his body , with divers other such circumstances , all the which are so necessary for me to know , as that without the knowledge thereof i cannot safely prescribe any physicke , and yet this fellow cannot tell me one word , for he saith that he was not told , but was onely hired to bring me the water , and to bid me send something to help the partie , and hath brought eighteene pence or two shillings with him to pay for that which i shall prescribe or send ; and all that he can say , is , that such a mans servant came to him to get him to come , but did not tell him whose water it was , nor how long the partie had beene sicke . and now what , on gods name , shall i doe in this case , for it is presumed that i know the disease by the water , and all other circumstances belonging to the same , which are requisite for to guide me in the prescribing of fit remedies , and i have pretended as much , and holpen to nurse up folkes in this folly , ( as other physicians have done before mee ) by giving my judgement of diseases by the sight of the urine , and backing my pretended knowledge by such fallacies as i have spoken of , without the which neither i nor any physician in the world can give any judgement of a disease , nor come to the knowledge of such circumstances ( unlesse the messenger , that brings it , tell us ) as may guide us in the prescribing of safe medicines every way proper unto the disease . i must tell you therefore ( for mine own part ) that i have already , and doe for ever hereafter meane to steere a new course ; yet i must , for this one time , prescribe for this fellow , who ( being all this while out of breath with his last arthleticke combate , and having caught such a wrinch , ( though he played strong play , as that he will goe neere to fall the next bout ) is expected to enter the sands , to revive the quarrell , and to undertake the last encounter . i now therefore take the urinall ( since the messenger can tell me nothing ) and looke better upon the water , as if i could tell miracles by it , for i must now make all the haste that may be to set him on foot , since he is so earnestly expected by his adversarie : now looking upon the water , i perceive it to be very crasse , thicke , and turbid , in all places alike , of an intense , high , darke , red colour ; and from thence i conceive , that according to the fopperous pisse-maximes , and rules of our great pisse-prognosticatours , there is a great commixture of superabundant humours , which the substance of it ( as they say ) being crasse , thicke , and turbid , sheweth ; and that nature is not yet able to concoct these humours , for then there would be some separation in the urine , and it would not be in all places alike , but would have sediment in the bottome , and be transparent in the upper part ; i conceive also that he hath a great fever , for that the colour sheweth , being red and high , and that there is great danger , for it is of an high darke red colour , tending to blacknesse . but yet i cannot tell what manner of fever it is , for i cannot discerne by the urine ( as common people suppose ) the passions and affects of the sicke party , that determine the disease , and should guide me in the prescribing fit remedies , and therefore i cannot tell whether it be best to let him blood , to give hive him a purging potion , or clyster , or whether his body would now beare any of these , or whether i were best to give him something to make him sleepe , or some cooling juleb , or some cordiall antidote to expell noxious humours from the vitall parts ; now which of these methods i shall best use ( for the messenger can tell me nothing ) i know not , but however the matter is not great , for the party ventureth but his life , and why shuld not i adventure my skill against it ? i now therefore pronounce the party to be sicke of a bastard pleurisie ( for , it is no matter what i say to this messenger , ) or a fever , and that the party would hardly recover , further adding , that hee should have beene let blood a weeke agoe , and that i feared it would now be too late , but yet i wish it to be done , for if any thing in the world recover him , it must be that ; and if that do it , it is but hab , nab , but yet however , i must put it in practice ; so now i hast away the messenger to get a chirurgion to let him blood ; and tell him where , and in what quantity it must be done , and now it is a question whether the disease , or the life be let out by this blood-letting : if blood offending in quantity , or corrupt blood ( offending in quality ) putrified by choller in the lesser veines , be let out , the disease may chance to be let out with it , and so mors or death may tarry for a sacrifice , till some other sicknesse take him upon more advantage . but if the good blood , seeming to be inflamed , be let out , when this fever proceedeth from choller in the greater veins , or from flegme , or other mixt humours in the stomach , spleene , or mesentery , which ought to be purged , the life ( insteed of the disease ) may be let out , by losse whereof the debt to god and nature would be paid . but haply ( insteed of blood-letting , i prescribe at randome , ( for so i must doe in either ) some purging potion , and so set the disease and a medicine together by the eares & leave the successe to fortune . and now whether the party live or die , i care not : for if he die , i have taught them to blame their owne negligence , in not sending any sooner ; but if nature be of such for●e , that she be able to withstand the conflict betweene the disease and the antidote , and start up , and take part with the medicine , so that the party recover , i shall have more attributed unto me , ( as the onely cause of his recovery ) than i have deserved , or than to god , who in his providence , had beene pleased ( by the worke of nature , more than by any skill of mine ) to spare and recover him : and thus you use to over-value the meanes , whereby ( as you suppose ) you have beene recovered , although used so desperatly ( as i have prescribed for this fellow ) by a methodicall physician , professing knowledge of diseases by the urine , or used quite contrary to the rules of art , by some rude empiricke and quack-salving knave , especially , if you chance to recover ; and to under-value the best meanes in the world , used by the most grave and learned physician , if the party chance to die : never satisfying your selves , when things are so come to passe , that it was gods providence , saying , ( sic placuit domino , ) it was gods will it should be so , and so resting your selves contented , but still tormenting your selves further , in thinking that this child , that friend , this brother , or that sister might have beene recovered , if the best meanes had beene used , as if god would not have directed thee unto that meanes , had it not beene his will now to take this party unto himselfe . and now , i hope that you perceive by these few instances , how a man may deceive the wisest messenger that you can send unto a physician with a water , and shew you the disease by the same , although it be not there to be found , and how great danger they put their lives in , that adventure to take physicke prescribed by the sight of the urine only : and so i have done with all sharp and violent diseases , and am now comming to speake of chronicall , lingring , and diseases of continuance , wherein i meane to shew you how to give judgement of them by the water , though in those diseases , it shew lesse than in sharpe and violent diseases . chap. v. a recapitulation of those things which have beene spoken , touching the giving of judgement of the vrine in acute and violent diseases : and a praecapitulation of some things necessary to be premised touching chronicall and diseases of continuance , before we come to the examination of the pisse-messengers , as we have done in sharpe and violent diseases . and now , whereas i shew'd you ( before that i came to instance and shew my cunning in giving judgement upon urines in violent diseases ) that diseases are either sharpe and violent , ( the which i have spoke of ) or chronicall and of continuance , such as i am now to speake of next ; and that , in sharp diseases , the urine is for the most part of an high red colour , and that there is a fever alwayes joyned with every sharpe disease ; so i shewed you that one may give a description how any sicke party is affected in any violent disease , by rekoning up the common symptomes and companions of a fever ( which are oppression of stomach , want of appetite , heate , thirst , paine in the head , want of sleep , &c. ) and make the messenger believe that i perceive the disease by the water , because i shew how the party is in some kind affected , the which neither i , nor any physician in the world can perceive in , or by water , but gather by consequence , when we once conceive that it is a violent disease ; for then we know that there is a fever joyned , and that there are some of those symptomes ( that i named ) joyned with it , but yet i doe not know what kind of fever it is , nor what violent disease it is ( and therefore i doe not name or determine it ) untill i have expostulated with the messenger , in such manner as i have already shew'd , and thereby come to the knowledge of some specificall note , or difference , which determine the same . i must now likewise give you to understand ( before that i come to examine some few urines , to shew you how i give my judgement of chronicall diseases ) that in chronicall diseases ( such as are the drop●e , gout , palsey , falling sicknesse , scurvey , french pox , green sicknesse , malacie , which is the disease of women newly conceived with childe , cough , head-ach , mother , and such like ) the urine is no way faulty , but representeth the urine of healthfull ; nay , oftentimes the most healthfull men in the world : and yet the physician ( such a urine being brought unto him ) must sentence the partie that made it , to be sicke , upon no other proofe but onely this lying strumpet , and false witnesse ( the urine ) suborned by the beguiled and so selfe-conceited vulgar , and connived at by the pisse-justice or judge , before whom shee is brought , who is corrupted for a testar , sometimes for more and sometimes for lesse , and is contented to accept of her evidence for truth , when he knowes it to be a palpable lye that shee comes to affirme . she is indeed the dumbe messenger betweene the doctour and his patient , who ( instead of passing the relation of his disease in writing , or by some discreet messenger ) pisseth his minde in his water , and expecteth an answer ; but if i should write him an answer in a letter written in the same language , i doubt he would scarce read it . how then shall i doe , who must answer his expectation , since the urine in this case sheweth no disease at all ? or what oracle shall i give ? shall i say ( such a water being brought unto me ) i doe not perceive by this water that the partie that made it is sicke , or ayleth any thing : farre be it from me for thinking so : if i should returne such an honest plaine-dealing answer , both the messenger and he that sent him would perceive me to be diseased in my braine , without the casting of my water , and would presently say that i were troubled with the simples : for why ( would they say ) have i sent or brought this urine if the partie be not sicke ? is not this a wise doctour that cannot tell the disease by the water ? this doctour shall give me no physicke , for i have gone to such a doctour ( rogue or knave you might call him ) that hath told me my disease directly by the water , and he shall be my doctour ; and ( for me ) so let him : and thus you grumble at your doctour , if he honestly tell you that the urine doth not certainly shew any disease , and begin to examine whose water it is , and how the partie is affected , as also the age , sexe , constitution of body , the present strength of it , and such other circumstances as should shew him ( he not seeing the partie ) the disease , and guide him in the prescribing fit remedies , you presently suspect him of ignorance , and thinke that he should tell you these things by the urine . and thus was i lately taxed by a gossip at east greensted in sussex ( where i lived and began my practice ) because i was strict in examining the state of her bodie that i might not erre in prescribing her something to give her ease of that which shee complained of ; for it was very suspitious that shee was with child , and she pretended that she desired to take something by my prescription , but because i asked her so many questions ( the which shee thought i should have resolved my selfe by the water ) she would none of mine advise , but reported that i had no skill in waters , and said , i asked her many questions , but could tell her nothing from the water . i spare to name her , yet i wish that she may chance to read this story , wherein she may perceive that i could have cozen'd her , that she may blush to thinke that she was so much a foole , and thanke me that i have canonized her for a foole-saint , by no other name , but the name of a gosssip and so let her know that i wanted not wit to have deceived her , had not my will beene restrained by a better resolution than to use such base deceipt ( to fit the humours of my patients ) as is used to delude the vulgar , who think that there is no disease nor symptome thereof , belonging to the body of man or woman , but that it may be discerned in the urine : yet it is farre otherwise , for in these chronicall diseases ( for the most part ) the water seemeth not to import any disease at all , and yet the partie is irrecoverably sicke : so likewise the urine is oftentimes of an high red colour , and seemeth to import a violent fever when the partie is not sicke at all : it may be also of so good a colour and consistence , in a violent disease , as importeth no disease at all , and yet the partie sicke unto death : for confirmation whereof , i will give you two or three instances out of mine owne experience , and referre you to doctour hari for further satisfaction , who in his booke intituled , the anatomy of vrines , hath set downe many examples out of his owne observation , as also out of the most ancient and authenticke writers , which confirme the same which i affirme : first , therefore to confirme this point , that the sicke partie is often irrecoverably sick of a most acute and violent disease , when his water seemeth not to import any disease at all ; i had a urine brought me ( when i lived at east-greensted in sussex , where i was then a young practicant in physicke ) which did not seeme to import any disease , but was of a better colour and consistence than mine owne , who was in perfect health , in so much that i could not discerne thereby that the partie was sicke ; much lesse that he was sicke unto death of a violent disease : but i did not tell the messenger that brought it , that i did not perceive by the water , that the partie was sicke , for then i might have shew'd my selfe to have beene a foole , and to have had no skill in waters , as that gossip thought me that i last spake of : but thus i handled the messenger ; i asked him how long the partie had been sicke , and he answered me , a weeke ; from whence i knew that it was a violent disease , for else i should ( if i had not put him that question ) have thought it to have been a chronicall disease , and so should have given a wrong description of the same , because the water seemed to import no disease at all : so when i had gathered , by his answer to that question that it was a violent disease , i likewise knew that there was a fever joyned , and gave him but the description of a fever , to shew him how the partie was affected , and he was very well satisfied therewith , and thought i perceived the disease in the water . now having given this description how the partie was affected , and that he had a fever ( and indeed a man needs not to say any more , what kind of fever soever it be ) i fell to some conference neerer to the matter ( with the messenger ) whereby i came to understand the disease better than by the urine ; and now i begin to tell him the danger that the partie was in . and he desires me ( for the messenger was kinsman unto to the sicke partie ) that i would be pleased out of charitie ( for the sicke man was poore , by profession a shooe-maker , by name john lintell ) to goe along with him , and to see him ; the which i granted , and went along with the messenger to see this sicke partie , whom i found , lying in his bed not able to stirre himselfe , sick of a peripneumoniacall fever ( which is the apost●mation and inflamation of the lungs ) with all the signes of death in his face , upon the eighth day of his sicknesse , with sharp nose , hollow eyes red cheeks , a great paine in his backe betweene his shoulders , and a great oppression of his stomach and pectorall parts , in so much that he could scarce breathe or speake , but with ratling in the throat ; all the which when i had well observed , i put him in mind of his mortality and present imminent danger , gave him the best instructions that i could to prepare himselfe for that sodaine change of this life for another that was like to be , and so tooke my leave of him : but before i could get away , i was desired by some of his friends that were about him , to tell them ( for they thinke that wee can surely tell , or else that we are not our crafts-masters ) whether hee would dye , or no ; and i tooke upon me to determine his death before eight of the clocke the next night , within halfe an houre of which time he dyed . but ( before i could get out of the chamber ) they began to whisper , as the manner is and to scoffe me to my face , saying amongst themselves , that they did nor perceive but that he might live as long as i ; but my predictions proved so true , and were so soone accomplished , that i came off from that their censure with more than ordinary credit , for as much as i had prefixed so short a time of his life , and the event ( death ) following now so neere the utmost bounds and limits of the time . yet i confesse ingenuously , that i was too peremptory in determining his death within so short a time , or by such an houre , for i had told them ▪ that hee could not live untill such an houre ( which was ●ight of the clocke ) and that , if he should escape that houre , he would recover ; but yet both of these predictions might have proved false , for he might both escape that houre , and yet might not recover ( though i said he would , if he passed that houre ) but dye within a few dayes or houres after . neither did i pronounce my judgment from any grounds of art , that did determine his death within such an houre , but onely by conjecturall probabilitie ; for your cunning men , or conjurers , nay the devill himselfe , cannot otherwise than upon conjecture , determine a sicke mans life unto an houre , unlesse you make him one of the almighties scoret counsell . nay i dare affirme , that the devils may , and often are deceived in their conjectures and calculations touching the life and death of men , and yet their naturall knowledge is farre more than mens , for they are spirits ; and their acquired knowledge is as much beyond mens , because they are ancienter than men ( even from the beginning of the world ) & are not subject to the same mortality that man is , who ( before he come to begin to have understanding ) is in his grave . i say therefore , that no physician , nay the devills ( who are ancienter than aesculapius or hippocrates , or any of that race ) cannot determine the life and death of a man , but upon conjecture , and may be deceived ; but yet you looke that a physician should be able to doe it , and not to erre , because such an event doth oftentimes accidentally follow such a peremptory conclusion as this of mine was , that this partie would dye within such an houre . it is true indeed , and i might truely say ( the nature of the disease , and the strength of the body , with all other signes of death being well considered ) that i thought the partie would scarce live untill such an houre : but if i should say ( without any qualification of the sense ) that the partie would not live untill such an houre , and that he would recover if he should passe that houre , you might thinke that i spake without my booke , for i could not say so , but that i must speake more than i know , and so derogate from the providence of god , in assuming that knowledge unto my selfe that belongs onely to him . i was likewise called to another lustie yong man ( one john duffield by name ) in the very same towne , very shortly after , who was sicke of the very same disease , in the same manner , whose friends were very importunate at me to be tampering with him , and to use my best skill to recover him , but i perceived that there had another quack been tampering with him before , who had omitted the opportunity of letting him blood , and found him so far and in such case debilitated that now there was no place for bleeding unlesse i had beene contented to have undergone the scandall that would have soone ensued ; so i wished them to send for the physician of the soule , and told them there was no place for my art : for , had i caused him to have been let blood , he would have gone neere to have dyed under the chirurgians hands , and then they would not have stuck to have said that i had kil'd him ; for it was afternoon , and almost night when i was called unto him , and he dyed before the next morning : yet ( as i said before of the incertaine judgment of diseases by the water ) his water was of as good a colour and consistence every way as any healthfull mans , yet notwithstanding i gave my judgement so upon this urine , as that i satisfied the messenger ; for i asked the messenger , how long the partie had been sicke , who answered almost a weeke ; from whence i gathered that it was a violent disease although the water did not witnesse the same , and so gave the description of a fever which shewed how the partie was affected , and made the messenger thinke that i perceived his disease in the water ; but you ( i hope ) well perceive how i did it , and how a man may be sicke unto death , his urine shewing no disease at all , and if a physician can satisfie the messenger and seeme to describe the disease by the urine , notwithstanding . so now i proceed to sit in judicature upon this modest harlot ( the urine ) who in chronicall diseases seemeth to import no disease at all , and yet she is caught ipso facto in her close tricks , for which she is come to publike censure : but first , before i come to examine this strumpet , i must further shew you how i come to know certainely whether it be a chronicall disease or no , since she is ( namely the urine ) so perfidious as that there is no credit to be given to any thing that she comes to give in evidence cōcerning the state of any sick or well bodies water whomsoever : now that i discern ( namely whether it be a chronicall disease or no ) by the same question that i propounded in giving my judgement upon urines in violent diseases ; and that question was this ; i onely asked the messenger how long the partie had been sicke , by answer whereunto i am certified , or at least have strong presumption , whether it be a chronicall or violent disease ; for if the pisse post say a weeke or lesse , i then presume that it is a violent disease : but if the pisse-bearer say that the partie hath not beene very well a good while ( which is their answer commonly in a chronicall disease , when we aske how long the partie hath been sicke , for indeed they are not sicke in most chronicall diseases , but are illish or not well ) i dare say then that it is a chronicall disease ; and when i have once received this answer to the forenamed question , ( let the water be of what colour soever it will , or whether i 〈◊〉 or no , i care not ) i know how to give an answer that shall please the messenger , and fill his bagge , but put nothing in it ; and though the water shew no disease at all , ( for so it falleth out for the most part , as i have already told you , in these chronicall diseases , that i am now to speake of next ; ) yet i will finde the disease ( for which the party sent it ) out of it : nay , ( if the party should have no disease at all , but send his urine to see if he be not inclining unto some such hereditary disease as his parents have dyed of , or beene subject unto , as the gout , stone , consumption or the like ) i will shake it into the danger of falling into the same , or some other disease of no lesse danger , for that they alwayes feare , and love to be warned of , though they have obtained such a constitution of body as is not obnoxious unto their parents diseases ; and thus i must doe , if an urine be sent , though the party be well , or but a little out of tune , by reason of the least distemper that may be ▪ for there is no such constitution of body , but that it hath its proper infirmities , the which must be discerned ( since there is such a custome ) by the urine ; and i will find them out , and more than there are , by it , if once i come to lecture upon it , or else let them blame my judgement ; so then ( i trow ) there will be worke for the tinker to prevent an hole in nature , where there was never like to be a breach . but ( i pray ) may not this physick-tinker ( who pretending such knowledge by the urine , is constrained to backe his pretended knowledge by such base fallacies ) may not ( i say ) nay , will he not , thinke you ( under pretence of fortifying that place where you feare a breach ) grate an hole in another to let in diseases , to make himselfe continuall worke , the which ( at last ) will let out that precious liquor of thy life , that thou wouldst be loath to lose ? but i leave that to thine owne charity to judge of ; and so betake my selfe to my study , to come forth from thence in my gowne and my cap , to entertaine the next pisse-bearers , who now begin to come thicke and threefold ; i must therefore be gone to my study , from whence you shall see me come forth presently , and heare me pronounce true judgement , upon the false evidence of the suborned witnesse ( the urine ) on the delinquent ( the sicke party ) though he be absent , and not here to speake for himselfe . chap. vi. after what manner ( if divers pisse-messengers come together ) they must be examined : how to shew ( by the vrine ) the sexe , whether a woman be with child or no , how long it is since she conceived of it , and whether she s●all bring forth a boy , or a girle , although the vrine shew none of all these . and now i am in my study indeed , and you thinke ( i suppose ) at my booke in earnest consultation with hippocrates , or galen , or some other learned physicke authour ; but , if i be looking upon any booke at all , it shall rather be gordo●ius his tractate of the cautions of urines , wherein hee teacheth a physician , ( though i thinke his intention was to teach him not to be deceived by the urine ) to deceive the people by the same : otherwise i am meditating how to handle every pisse-pot-bearer upon any occasion whatsoever : and my minde being now set more upon the benefit that comes to my selfe by the pisse-pot , than to others by my study , i minde my gate or doore more than my booke , though i am in my study ( where haply , my name being up , i have a bed and am lying upon it , and should have laine there till noone , had i not been interrupted ) and heare a great knocking at my gate , and must my selfe ( in my mans absence ) be faine to goe see what the matter is : so to my gate i trudge , in all precipitious hast , with a quicke pace and a sharpe looke , importing greater busines than to examine a pisse-pot , where i finde three or foure pisse-messengers at once , ( with their urinals under their aprons ) whom i usher into my hall , and there begin ( before i take them aside , apart , to lecture upon their waters ) to looke very sternely upon them , and aske them very hastily , ( to the end that i may dash them so farre out of countenance , that they may not be capable of conceiving whether i erre or no in giving my judgement on their waters , and to make them the more ready to tell me whatsoever i shall demand of them ) what they would with me , where they live , whose water it is for whom they come , &c. and they are all ready to present me their waters , looking who shall be dispatched first : but before i take any of their urinals of them , i sound them how farre i shall be puzled with them , dispatching them first , that i shall be least troubled withall . to the first therefore i say , where live you ? and she answers , at such a place , naming it : i further aske her whose water it is ? and she saith her mistresses : i aske her also who is her mistresse , to which she answeres me very orderly , and is now ready to put foorth her urinall unto me , but i doe not yet take it , nor i aske her no more questions , for she will be ready to tell me whatsoever i shall demand : i come therefore to a second , and aske her where she dwells , and ( she having told me ) i likewise aske her whose water it is that she hath brought , and she saith a gentlewomans , who desired her to bring it unto me , and she is ready to give me her urinall , but i refuse it : i goe now to a third , and aske her ( for they are for the most part , she-pisse-bearers in a great towne or city ) where she dwells , and that she is contented to tell me : but when i aske her whose water it is , shee pauseth here , and begins to make a doubt whether she were best to tell me that , or no ; and therefore answers , that it is a friends of hers : i then aske her what friends it is , and whether it be a mans or a womans water ; and she tells me , that i shall perceive that by the water , ( thinking that i can or ought to do so indeed ) when i looke upon it , and holds forth her urinall unto me , in hope that i will dispatch her first , but i refuse to take it , for i am like to be puzled with her , and it will require more time and art to answer her than both the other , and therefore shee shall tarry to be the last answered for that tricke . i now therefore take the urinall of her that told me that it was her mistresse water , and single her out from her fellowes , and bid her follow me into another roome ( for i must not let severall messengers heare what i say to each other ) because i may chance to stop two gaps with one bush , and to give the same answer and description of the disease to them all three , ( and indeed one description will as well serve for all chronicall diseases , as the description of a fever for all violent diseases , as i have shewed you ) and then they would thinke that i puld the bush out of one gap to put it into another , and that i could say nothing else . i having therefore tooke the maid into another roome , bid her come to the light , and as i am taking the urinall out of the case ( perceiving it to be of a subcitrine or pale colour , which seeme not to import any disease ) i presently say ; maid , thy mistresse goes up and downe : and she answers , yes forsooth ; and imagines no lesse now , but that i perceive the idea or shape of her mistresse in the water , and thinks that i can tell any thing else by the same , so that i shall not now need to trouble my selfe in asking her any more questions , for she tells me that her mistresse goes up and downe indeed , and that i had said very right , and tells me that her mistresse desired that i would certifie her whether she were with child , or no ; so i now set downe the urinall in the window , and tell her that it must stand so a little while , and settle , and then i will tell her presently . in the meane time , i fall to parley with the maid , and aske her whether her mistresse have had any child or no , and how long ( if she have ) it is since she had one ; and she saith , a yeere , a yeere and an halfe , or almost two yeeres : and ( indeed ) most childing women goe a yeere , or neere upon , and many a yeere and halfe , and some two yeeres before they conceive with child againe , especially if they nurse their children themselves . i aske her likewise , if she can tell whether her mistresse have her naturall courses monthly or no , or when she had them ; to which 〈◊〉 answers , that her mistresse bid her tell me , that shee hath not had them this tenne weekes , and therefore tells me that shee thinks she is with child , but would desire me to resolve her : and i may quickly doe it without any more looking upon the water , for the tale ( that this wench hath told ) shewes plainly that she is with child , and the sodaine stopping of the courses in a marryed woman ( that enjoyed them monthly before ) is the most certaine token in the world , that i know , that a woman is vvith child : it is likevvise the aptest time for a vvoman to conceive immediatly after she hath had them , neither can i nor any other physician tell , but by this token , ( vvhich is the most certaine of all the rest ) agreeing vvith other signes of conception , vvhich the vvater shevves not , vvhether a vvoman be vvith child or no , and yet for fashion sake , i take the urinall in my hand againe , and fall to peering into it ( as though i looked for some little child there ) and say now to the maid that her mistresse is not very well in her stomach , hath no appetite to meate , is ill in her stomach in a morning , and apt to vomit after meat ( and so are most childing women at this time ) and say , that she is a quarter gone with child , which jumps just with tenne weeks , according to the common computation of a womans go in forty weeks : but doe not say , that she is tenne weeks with child , or just so long as since shee had her naturall courses last , for that would make them so cunning ( in time ) that they would not send their waters to a doctour to cast , to know whether they were with child or no , but i say , she is a quarter gone with child , which is but as much as to have said she is tenne weekes with child , or just so long as since shee had her courses last , which was ( as the maid told me ) ten weeks agoe . i further say , that shee is with child of a boy , and to say so , is an even lay ; yet , lest it should prove false , i say ( looking upon the water very earnestly ) that if it had beene brought when it had beene warme , or when she had been quick with child , or some such like flamme , i could have told her certainely whether shee were with child of a boy , or of a girle , but i verily thinke it will be a boy ; so now , if it chance to be a boy indeed , it will be granted that i knew for certaine that it would be a boy , and i shall be accounted one of the rarest doctours in the town ; but if it chance to be a girle , the flamme , that i gave to the maid , and the truth of my predictions in determining the gentlewoman to be with child , and telling her how long she was gone with child , will help to beare out the other , so that i shall not have my skill one jot abated thereby . i now therefore tell the maid , ( as if she had come in but now ) that her mistresse is not very well in her stomach , hath no appetite to meat , is inclinning to vomit after meat , is with child a quarter gone , ( and as i thinke ) of a boy , and that it were very convenient for her to take some corroborating electuary to strengthen and settle her stomach though she be with child , nay , i tell her that it will be good , not only for her , but for her child also , and i bid her tell her mistresse , that it will make her child to prosper the better within her , and make it the more lively , so that she shall be the better able to bring it forth with the more ease ; nay , i tell her that it will make her bring forth the more wise and understanding child . and so i have done with the maid , bid her remember me to her mistresse , and be sure to tell her what i had said : and now i am sure that i shall get a fee for my selfe , and a feeling for mine apothecarie ; for what woman ( being with child ) would not have it to prosper within her ? but would she not more gladly bring it forth with ease , and most gladly ( it being brought forth ) have it prove a wise and understanding child ? i dare say she would , though for no other end but ( meerely out of pride and emulation ) to have it wiser ( that is wittier , and more sharpe-vvitted ) than her neighbours , and not so much out of desire that it should attaine true wisedome ; but whatsoever her drift be , it skills not ; i must bethinke my selfe of something to performe that which i promised , for this gentlewoman will repaire unto me for such an electuary as i spake of 〈◊〉 to which purpose i have the most admirable receipt in the world , learned it of a proud gossip very lately , into whose company i light bychance who was very inquisitive to learne where shee might get some quinces , and in a proud scornefull manner questioned with me concerning the nature and vertue of them : who told her that they did corroborate the stomach , and were cooling and restringent , and therefore good against vomiting , and fluxes ; at which shee seemed to scorn , and said , that she had heard a learned doctour say , that they being eaten of a great bellied-woman , would make her bring forth a wise child , as if i could not as well tell how fa●re they conduce to the producing of a wise child as her learned doctour . but suppose marmalade , or some other confection of quinces alone to be admirable for the purpose , yet i have learned more wit than to tell this gentlewoman so , or to give her a boxe of marmalade , and bid her eate often of it in the morning fasting , and before and after meate , no , she would then under-value my skill , and scarce thinke me worthy of a fee ; but i prescribe her an electuary , wherein marmalade , or some other confection of quinces is the chiefe ingredient , but i mixe therewithall some species or conserves to seeme to prescribe some rare curious thing though marmalade alone would have done as well : i shall serve this gentlewoman even so , and shall prescribe her such an electuary , which may haply stay her vomitting , and corroborate her stomach , so as she may have a better appetite to meate , and her child may become the more lively and prosper the better within her ; but whether it will make the child so wise as to knovv its ovvne father or no , i knovv not ; i dare not promise : but let her novv send vvhen shee vvill , for i am provided for her ; and so i have done vvith her maid , and sent her away , and am ready to encounter with the second ( and to send her away as wise as shee came ) who told me that it was a gentlewomans water that shee had brought . chap. vii . that physicians are often faine to reckon up most of the symptomes that accompany all the chronicall diseases of all the parts of the body ( from head to heele ) untill they hit upon that which the messenger looketh for , because the vrine ( for the most part ) in a chronicall sicknesse , seemeth not to importan● disease at all : and that a physician ( if hee give a false description of the disease , so that he be taken up by the messenger for the same ) must make it good however . i am now come forth with the maid whom i have dispatched , and bid the second messenger follow me into the same roome vvhere i gave my oracle unto the maid : vvhere being come , i say , come ( good vvoman ) give me thy urinall , and tell her ( the urine being of such a colour , as importeth not an acute disease , that is of a high red colour ) that this gentlewoman walkes up and downe , hath a crude stomach , no appetite to meate , and is ( if she feed liberally ) ill after it , and by reson of the ill disposition of her stomach , is often pained in the head : and here she stops me before i runne any further ( for else i might chance to reckon up most of the symptomes that accompany chronicall diseases , till i hit upon that which the messenger looked for ) and so takes me off , and saith she is troubled with a great paine in the head indeed , but doth not complaine much of her stomach : and then i reply that the paine in the head proceeded from the stomach and parts thereunto adjoyning , and that the stomach is alwayes accessary to the diseases of the head , and that i named the ilnesse of her stomach , first , because it was the cause of her disease : and having once given a description of a disease i must be sure to make it good , whether it be true or false ; for if i had ( for a description of a disease ) said that she had been troubled with an oppilation of the liver , and paine in the head ( the messenger answering , no master doctour , shee is troubled with an ilnesse , and paine in the stomach ) i would have said , it is very true indeed , and i should have told you so , had you not interrupted ●he , but yet i would maintaine it very confidently , that it came from the head ( for the stomach and head doe mutually offend each other ) and what could shee have said to the contrary ? or if , when i had given a description of the disease , she had said , master doctour , she is much as you have said , but doe not you perceive that she hath a very weake backe ? to which i answer , yes marry hath she ( for else why should she aske me ? ) and something else too , which i shall tell you presently ; and then i take the urine and looke upon it and shake it together and set it downe in the window to settle , pretending that it will shew me something else anone : in the meane time i gather by conference with the messenger , whether it be a married womans or a maidens water , and the● i take the urinall and say , ( if it be a married womans ) that she hath a very weake back indeed and that she is troubled with the whites , which is a disease that very many women are trouble withall , that complaine of weake backs : so no● i have made amends for not naming it at the first amongst the other symptomes : and now she● thinks that i have found it out by the water , never dreaming that i conclude , that shee hath weake back , from her question , and adde , that she● hath the whites , as a disease that followes the weakenesse of backe , but thinks ( because i look● in the water ) that i find it there : but if this water chance to be a maiden-gentlewomans , who●● either troubled with a paine or heate in her back and the messenger aske me if she be not troubled with one of them , i presently conjure them bo●● into the water ( for they commonly goe both together ) by shaking and looking into it , as also 〈◊〉 setting it downe a little to settle , and taking it 〈◊〉 againe straight-wayes ( for it is quickly found ) and then i say , that she hath a great paine and heate in her backe too , and ( according to her ripenesse , and readinesse for the man ) that shee would have the stone , or rather the stones , if she could tell how to get them : i further adde ( naming the disease for which shee hath sent her water , though she ayle nothing save only that cupid hath hit her with his golden arrow ) that this gentlewoman wanteth a good husband , and that she dreameth often of her sweet-heart ; & bid the woman bid her be of good cheere , & tell her that her sweet-heart will come very shortly ; and with this message she is so delighted , that she is more than halfe well againe , and thinks to her selfe ( though she say nothing to her that brought me her urine ) that i am a very cunning man , and that i can as well tell , whether she shall enjoy him whom she is taken withall , as i have guest by her yeers & constitution of body ( but shee thinks i have done it by her urine ) that she is in love , and that i can helpe her to something to make her sweet-heart as farre in love with her , and meanes to trie me for some love powder , or some other devise to catch her lover in a cleft sticke ; for shee hath heard of such tricks , and some that have professed physicke , have taught that art , and divers both men and women have repaired unto such knaves , ( and by practizing such wicked meanes as hath beene taught them ) have obtained their lovers ; but yet if she repaire unto me againe for this purpose ( though i have beene very youthfull in descanting upon her water ) i will read her a graver lecture , for i disclaime such knowledge ( though haply i know more than such a rogue as shall practice it ) and detest such wickednesse at mine heart . but now this long parenthesis , or discourse concerning this maiden-gentlewoman , may seeme to have hindred the dispatch of the woman that came for the married gentlewoman : yet if you doe suppose that she came in but now and that i have but now taken her to doe , and have gathered ( after that i have once pronounced a description of the disease ) by parly with her , that the gentlewoman is married , and such other circumstances as i would know , you shall not perceive but that i presently dispatch her ; taking the urinall in my hand and from the water ( though she have told me all ) pronounce the disease , and say , that the gentlewoman hath a very weake back , is troubled with the whites , & that this disease had hindred ( for you must conceive that the woman told me that this gentlewoman hath not had any child , this three or foure yeeres ) her conceiving with child , and that she would have no more children , unlesse she were freed of them ; and now i must think upon something ( against she send ) to cure this gentlewoman , for i am sure she 'll to 't againe for the t'other boy : and now i am ready for the third messenger , that said shee came for a friend of hers . chap. viii . how to correct the perverse disposition of crosse messengers : and afterwards to make the messenger believe that thou canst conjure , by shewing the disease by the vrinall case . how men will serve their wives ( who would faine be rid of them ) and women their husbands , when they have been with a physician ( for advice ) the one for the other . the notable imposture of a butter-box about this towne , who pretendeth great skill ( above other men ) in giving judgement of diseases by the vrine . i have made this gossip tarrie till the last for her oracle , because i feared by her answer ( when i asked her whose water it was that she had brought ) that shee would prove a crosse peece of flesh to deale withall : i must therefore handle her gently , for the wildest colts are oftner tamed by gentle meanes , as by letting them have the raines lie still in their necks , and giving them their owne play , than by curbing them in too straightly , or by labouring to quiet them by switch and spurre , or the lash : i therefore suffer this colt to play in her owne halter ▪ till shee have so tired or hampered her selfe , that i may doe what i will with her : i doe in no wise handle her roughly , or speake harshly unto her , and say , come you with your friends water , and let me see it , and ( when i have taken it of her ) aske her whether it be a mans or a womans water , for it seemeth by her other answer , that shee will not tell me that , and then say ( she denying to tell me ) come , come , a pox on 't , tell me whose water it is , for i have not time to stand peering into it , for every thing that i must tell you , though i could find it there , if i had not other fish to seeth : and indeed their foolish peevishnesse had ( oftentimes ) need to be so met withall , and some physicians have gone that straine , and by that humour have gotten more fame , than their transcendent skill in physicke or learning , above other men hath deserved : but i am not of that humour , no , i say , come good woman ( who stinkes as much of goodnesse , as a poult-cat of muske ) i have made you tarry , but you shall not altogether lose your labour ; i pray follow me ; and so i conduct her into my parlour , where i have now my man waiting for me with a cup of ale , with a nut-browne tost in it , or else a cup of good english beere of sixteene at the least , with nutmeg and sugar in it for my mornings draught , and sit me downe in my chaire , and say , here good woman i drinks to you , and so fetch off a bowle of almost a pinte , and bid my man fill the good woman a cup and put in some more nutmeg and sugar and bid her to drinke an hearty draught : and when she hath drunke , i bid my man fill me another cup , that i may wash both mine eyes , so that i may see the better to dispatch this woman quickly : and when i have drunke that off , i bid my man fill the good woman another cup , and bid her mend her draught , and tell her that to drinke nutmeg and sugar in her beere in a morning will make her water sweet . and thus are the perverse dispositions of crosse messengers better corrected , than the malignity of scammony , with anise-seed , rubarbe with spike , agricke and turbitch , with sal-gemme , ginger , or galingall , senna , with ginger , or cinamon , blacke hellebore with masticke , or cinamon , or la●is armenius , with twenty times washing in rose-water : but now to returne to the matter , i have washed away all the ill quality of this womans nature with the cuppe of beere that i gave her , and wrought her to so good a temper with my loving speeches , that i need not feare , but that she will tell me any thing that i shall aske her : however i have now drunke my mornings draught and shall be able to see the clearer , if i must find it all out of the water , that i must shew . i therefore now say , come good woman ( it is a great chance but that i lie ; ) how long hath your friend beene sicke ? and shee cannot answer me to this question without shewing me the sexe , ( that is , whether it be a mans or a womans water ) for the party is not sicke ; for then she might answer me directly without giving me any knowledge thereof , and might say , a weeke , a forthnight , or more , or lesse , but she must needs say , he , or she ( but yet she will scarce remember that she said , he or she , anone when i shall shew my skill upon the water , and determine the sexe ) hath not beene very well a good while , and so offers me her urinall with the water in it , as it is in the case , but i refuse to take it , and say unto her as followeth . good woman , because i have made you to stay so long , i will shew you your friends disease by the urinall case , and never looke upon the water at all : give me therefore the urinall case , and do you keepe the water to your selfe , so that i doe not see it at all , and yet i will tell you your friends disease , as well as he that should pore and peepe , or gaze into the water this month : and now the woman thinkes that i can surely conjure . i now therefore take the urinall case of her , and looke as wistly upon it , as if it were the urinall with the water in it , and presently pronounce ( looking upon the case , ) that this party goes up and downe , is not heart-sicke , but is faint in the body , hath but a bad stomach , doth linger and pine as it were , is joylesse and melancholike and takes no pleasure in any thing , which shall be the description of this disease : and now the woman she wonders to heare me say , by looking only upon the urinall case , that the party is so affected , as i have said ; and yet it is true , that the party is so affected , & it is as true that the urinall case doth shew it as certainly as the urine it selfe . for the water might be of such a laudable colour and consistence as might seeme not to import any disease at all , and yet the partie might be sick unto death : it might likewise be of such a colour and consistence as might seem to import a violent disease when the partie is not sicke at all : i wish therefore that any physician would set pen to paper to disprove me , or to shew that there is any certaine judgement of any disease , by the water ; and yet forsooth this base custome , of divining by it , must be continued : but how then , will you say , can a physician conclude , that a partie is thus or thus affected , from it ? why thus you may doe it : namely , by putting a question ; for ( as fernelius saith ) interrogatiuncula cautè praemittenda quampridem morbus invasit : a question is to be propounded ( craftily ) to the messenger ( as i have done to this woman ) how long the partie hath beene sicke : then pronounce a description of the disease , and fall to parly with the messenger , and thou shalt quickly find what the disease is ; for the same author saith , verborum circuitu stultorum mens facile irretitur , by exchange of words the foole messenger is soone caught : and thus have i caught this woman , whom ( though she be an old bird ) i have caught with chaffe ; for i asked her , before i tooke the urinall case of her ( by which i have undertaken to divine ) how long her friend had been sicke , and she answered mee , that he ( but hath forgot that she said he ) had not been very well a good while , from which answer i shall shew both the sexe and the disease ; for this word ( he ) sheweth me the sexe , and these words , hath not beene very well a good while , shew me that it is a chronicall disease , and how the partie is affected : the latter part of her answer , namely , a good while , shew that it is a chronicall disease ; and the former part of the words , namely , hath not been very well , doe implie that the partie lyeth not by it , and that therefore he goeth up and downe , hath no appetite to meat , is faint in his body , doth linger and pine as it were , is joylesse and melancholicke , and takes no pleasure in any thing ( as i told her before ) and so are all they that have not beene very well a good while : but the woman never dreames that i gather all this from her answer , because i looke upon the urinall-case , but rather thinke that the urinall infected the case , or else that i can conjure : but let her thinke what she will , so that i conserve that fame which i have got in the pisse-pot science , i care not : yet this i am sure , that she will thinke never the worse of mee for being a conjurer . imagine with me , that shee came but now in , and that ( after my courteous entertainment of her ) i have but now taken the urinall case of her , asked how long her friend hath been ●●cke , and received her answer , but that i presently pronounce the same description of her friends disease that i have already shewed you ; at which shee wonders not a little ; but i shall make her wonder more anon : and now i adde , that it is a mans water , to which she answers , that it is indeed . i further aske her how old the partie is , and according to her answer , as the parties age shall agree with hers , i say that it is her husbands , at which she mervailes more than at all the rest , and saith that it is indeed : and now she is ready to put finger in the eye , and askes me if he be not in a consumption , and tells mee ( for i did not name it ) that he hath a very great cough : shee askes me likewise if i doe not perceive it ; and i answer , yes i doe perceive it , or else befoole mee while you will , and i will never be angry : and then i tell her that this cough proceeded from his ill stomach ( which i had named ) that sent a theume unto his head , which distilled down from thence upon his lungs and caused the same . i now come neerer to the matter , and tell her that her husband is inclining ( and perhaps further entred than ever i shall be able to recover him ) into a consumption : but yet i tell her that i hope he may be recovered as yet , and that i will use the best meanes ▪ that may be , to restore him : i also aske her why she so long deferred comming to a physician , and shee saith , that her husband had thought to have worne it out , as they all think to doe : i now tell her that i feare there will bee some danger , yet i will doe what can be done on my behalfe , and that shee must now deferre no longer time , if she love her husbands life : and now if she be not provided of another husband already , and so come more to know how long she shall be troubled with him , and to excuse her selfe ( if he should chance to dye ) than for any thing to cure him , i must bethinke my selfe of some aurum potabile , some liquor of life of a great price , some consumption pouder of twenty or thirty shillings an ounce , or some such receipt which no body hath but my selfe ) than the which non datur majus secretum , there is not a greater secret in the world : and now if i recover the man , he will think his purse to be in a consumption , but i cannot cure it there . but if this woman would have him dye , she 'l goe home and tell him that he is in a consumption indeed , and will scarce recover : so now whereas he went up and downe before , walked abroad , and was sicke but a little in jest , he feeles himselfe iller already with this message , and meanes to dye in good earnest ; and so betakes himselfe to his chamber , with a resolution to save his purse , out of which hee never comes till he be brought with his heels forward : and thus was i cruelly haunted ( at canterbury ) by a man to put him in comfort of his wives more sodaine departure than god had decreed , but she is yet living , and ( for ought that i know ) may live to eate of that goose that may graze upon his grave . i dare say that women come not short of that man ▪ yet i did never perceive that any woman ever brought me her husbands urine for that purpose ; i will not therefore belye them , to make them worse than they are , for they are ( god amend them ) bad enough of themselves already . i have therefore done with this woman ( for i suspect , for all her fained teares , that she came to to that purpose ) and have given her her errand , and sent her away , and she ( by this time ) hath given her husband his errand , and sent him the way of all flesh , ( who had he not trusted to his wife , and relied upon the sending of his pisse in stead of sending for my selfe or some other learned physician ) might have been a live man and have lived many a faire yeere : but you see what is become of him , and ( i hope ) conceive what danger you put your lives in that adventure to take physicke prescribed by the sight of the urine onely : i hope likewise that you conceive by these few instances that i have already set downe , how a physician ( if i may so call him that useth such base fallacies to backe his pretended knowledge ) may give judgement of urines both in acute and violent , or chronicall and lingring diseases , and how handsomely your pisse-messengers are fob'd over : for i protest before god , that by these fallacies , this deceitfull jugling , and farre worse shifts than any i have here set downe , hath this base custome of giving judgement of diseases by the sight of the urine , beene underpropped and supported , or else it had long agoe been abrogated , and fallen to the ground : for there is no knowledge of any disease to be gathered by the urine , sufficient to guide a physician in the prescribing of medicines to cure the same : ( and yet ( forsooth ) such a base custome hath beene upholden by most of our best physicians , that ( you bringing us your pisse ) we must tell you ( though we do it meerly by such fallacies as i have shewed you , or the like ) what is the disease by it , and whether it be a mans or a womans water ; as also , if it be the water of a woman-kinde , whether it be a married womans or a maidens ; and , if a married womans , whether she be with childe or no ; and , if with child , whether she shall bring forth a boy or a girle , and when she conceived of it ; and ( i think too ) whether she shall bring forth a man or a monster : i can tell you one thing more ( as well as any man in the world can tell you any of these that i have named ) by the water , if you bee as much desirous to know , as you are farre to seeke sometimes , and that is this , namely who begot this child , whether your owne husband or vvhat other man. but if vvomen did beleeve as much ( vvhich they may as vvell as any of the other ) vve should as often have halfe a piece , for being sent for to the vvomen kinde , as have halfe a shilling sent us for casting their vvater . nay the maid ( that i spoke of ) may chance to be but a crackt vessell and a supposed virgin , and hath been toying vvith some fellovv or other , so farre that she knevv not how to backe his putting forward , but hath ( she thinkes but in jest ) taken such earnest for her virginitie , as hath confirmed the sale of her chastitie : upon consideration whereof , shee now begins to grow male-content , is queasie stomached , troubled vvith a paine and svvelling in her belly , and her ancles are svvolne tovvards night ; for which cause , her friends feare the dropsie , or some ill disease , and so send their daughters water to a doctour to cast , to know what she ayleth ; and if they have any jealousie of their daughter , that she hath plaid at fast and loose , and plaid loose when she should have kept fast , they thinke that a doctour can tell how the knot slipt , and easily resolve them of that doubt : but if we suspect and conceive it to be so indeed by the tale of the messenger that brings this water , yet wee dare not say that this maid is with childe , for wee know not the trouble and stirre that might come of it ; but happily we say , is this a maids water ? and then we say ( if it be ) that she hath a tympanie ( which is a dropsie as her parents feared ) meaning with two legges , which proves too true , and makes the messenger to call to minde ( when this tympanie hath more plainly discovered it selfe ) that the doctour asked her if this were a maids water ; and then they surely thinke that we could tell by the water ; but yet we can tell no otherwise , than as i have shewed you before in giving judgement of womens urines , and how we judge them to be with childe by their water ; the which , women themselves might doe ( if they would apply their hearts unto that wisedome that most properly concerned them ) by conferring with discreet women , or midwives , who ( if they could not better tell by that secret examination of their bodies which they might make , and by other observations , whether a women were with child or no , than any physician can doe by the urine , ) were not worthy to exercise that function ; so they should not need to trouble a physician ( for that matter ) but that they love rather to be tampering with a man than with their owne sexe , and so might save that groat ( sent for casting their water to know whether they be with childe or 〈◊〉 ) to buy them a pound of sope to make their limon white : but the woman is , so addicted to the man , that midwives ( i thinke ) ere long will be quite out of request , so that if some more of us physicians ( who are the most proper and handsome handed men amongst us ) doe not tur●● women-deliverers , our brothers will be ouer-wrought ; sed 〈…〉 targere : but i will not now rub any more upon this sore , for i have not now time to search it to the bottome , and therefore i will let it a one untill i may chance to ranke it with the other monopolized secrets of the met hodicall abusers of the noble profession of physicke . and thus have i shewed the fallacies and knavery ( of all those , whether physicians or quacks and empiricks ; who pretend knowledge of diseases by the same ) used in the giving judgement of an urine : the which i have so plainly shewed that the most ignorant people may perceive how finely they are flamm'd over , when they send their pisse to a doctour to cast , and may collect ( for it is very true ) that there is no certaine knowledge of any disease to be gathered from the urine ; but yet the nature of men is such that ( being setled in an opinion , though grounded meerly upon errours and 〈◊〉 they will hardly be bearen from it by sound arguments and solid reasons and will rather imbrace and maintain falsehood ( instead of truth ) than be thought so weake as to have beene possibly deluded : i know for certaine that it will hardly sinke into many of your heads , which i have written ; because many physicians , some divines , and other silenced ministers who have turned physicians ( vvhose tender consciences vvould not serve them to subscribe to the decent ceremonies of the church ) have practized these base fallacies , in giving judgment of waters being brought unto them : but ( i hope ) some of their vvaters vvill bee better looked into , than to be suffered to exercise tvvo callings of such vveight as are divinitie and physicke : and ( for mine ovvne part ) scare not though i be censured for going about to overthrovv this custome of giving judgment of diseases by the urine , the vvhich i knovv i shall be ; for i have already ejaculated something to this purpose , and i finde men so prepossessed vvith an opinion that the urine is sufficient to shevv a physician the disease , sexe , and conception , and the like , so that very mechanicks tell me that they have sent their vvaters unto such and such doctours , vvho have thereby told them their diseases directly : i ( saith one ) have sent my wives vvater by my maid ( vvho is a cunning vvench , and vvould not be deceived ) to a young dutch man a doctour , who ( they say ) is the most expert man , for his judgment in waters , in all the towne ; and he hath told the maid ( by the water ) how her mistresse hath beene affected in every respect , and that she was with childe , which proved true . to which i answer , that if the maid had no more wit than her master , i could as easily cozen her as the dutch-man did ; and i doe further affirme that the dutch-man is an asse , the french-man a foole , and the english-man a knave , who pretendeth knowledge of diseases by the urine . i have likewise had some conference with some of better breeding , and more knowing men , who ( because they have been thus deluded by their physicians ) doe likewise beleeve that the urine doth shew the disease sufficiently of it self : and ( to this purpose ) saith one , i have sent my water unto such a doctour with a latine epistle of two or three lines ( not writing how i was in any kind affected ) and he hath returned me an answer in very terse latine , and shewed me truely how i was affected , and what was the cause of my disease ; and therefore certainly ( saith hee ) the urine doth shew the disease : to whom i answer , that he could pen no epistle ( though he doe not write therein how he is affected ) from whence a physician cannot collect something which shewes hovv hee is affected , more than the vrine : and yet vvhen hee returnes his answer , hee vvill therein implie that hee perceiveth it by the urine . for examples sake i have here framed an epistle from this academian ; 〈…〉 in such terse latine as hee wrote ) unto his physician , for his judgement of his disease by his vrine : i have likewise set downe the physicians oracle or answer in some of the very same vvords vvhich this gentleman said , that his doctour vvrote unto him : from vvhence you shall perceive that there is nothing but fallacie in giving judgement of diseases by the urine onely . chap. ix . that the 〈◊〉 clerks are not the 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 long judgement of diseases ( by the vrine ) 〈…〉 , or meere jugling . vrinam hanc nostram ( egregie domine doctor ) morborum quam vocant indicem , per hunc bafulum cum hisce meis literis , inspic●endam ad te misi . quid mali m●natur , vel quodram morbi genus significare videtur , ex tuis literis rescriptis scire gest●● : inspice igitur , & rescribe sententiam tuam tantum quae sit , de urina , quem morbum indicat presentem , vel futurum prognosticat : déque cura ejus , & consilij genere quod erit ei accommodatissimum , sum post hac consulturus quum te certiorem fecerim ( ex ore meo ) quid mali , potissimum affligit , & , quae sit ejus causa ( si forte caelarae eam vrina ) ostenderim : vale interim , & ut valeas cura , ut & me valere facias , & valentem conserves . amicus tuus tui amantissimus . r. k. englished thus . worthy master doctour , i have sent you by this bearer , with these my letters , my water to view , which men call the discovere● of diseases : i desire to understand by your letters , what evill it threatens , and what kind of disease it seemeth to betoken : view it therefore ; and returne me your opinion of it in writing● and what present infirmity or imminent danger it doth foretell : as for the cure of it , i shall take your advice ; concerning that counsell which shall be most convenient for it , when i have certified you ( from mine owne mouth ) what malady most afflicts me , and have shewd you ( if my urine should conceale it ) what is the cause of it . in the meane time have a care of your owne wel 〈◊〉 , that you may make me well , and preserve my welfare also . and so fare-you-well . your most loving friend , r. k. i confesse that this epistle doth give a physician very little light of the disease , towards the pronouncing judgement of the same , yet not so little as the urine . i can draw no conclusion from the words thereof , because i penned them my selfe . but from the circumstance of the words i gather these particulars . first that there was acquaintance betweene you and your doctour , and that thereby he knew the complexion and constitution of your body , which conferred much to the giving judgement of your urine : otherwise ( if there had beene no acquaintance betweene you ) you would not have written unto him so familiarly ; secondly , you did but leviter ●●rotare , were but a little sickish or ill at ease ; or else you would not have beene able to have written your selfe for in a violent disease ( for the most part ) men are in two or three dayes so debilitated in their bodyes , and disturbed in their senses , that they cannot write : thirdly , from the urine ariseth this circumstance , that ( as the water seemed not to import a violent disease ) it did not seeme to import any disease at all , save onely that it was sent with your letters , to witnesse that you were not well . fourthly , i presume , that the messenger , whom you sent with your pisse , could tell your doctour ( for i am sure he would demand that ) that you walked up and downe , but were not very well : all which circumstances being well considered and layd together , were light enough for your physician to shew how you were affected . i doubt not , but that your doctour knew well how to make use of all such advantages , for else hee would have beene as lightly esteemed of all men , as you would have esteemed him , if hee had not told you ( as you thinke ) your disease by your water . i will now pen his answer unto your letters , and then i will shew you the fallacies of them ; wherein you shall perceive , that the learnedst clerks are not the wisest men , nor the craftiest pisse-prophets so honest as they should be . difficilis admodùm ( domine doctissime ) morborum , ex vrinae solius inspectione , cognitio & investigatio : quae verò inde noverim , ut me velis reforibere , ea recenseo laboras ( ut opinor ) a pituit â è stomacho in caput elevatâ , & rursus è capite in subjacentes partes distillante : quam verò partem opprimit , quamque viam affectat nescio : at m●hi suspicio orta est , ventriculum eandem praecipuè tenere , & nauseam tibi cum sibi fastidio adesse , unde nec cibum appetis nec estum digeris : li●n praeterea , prae stomachi impuritate , vitio inquinatur , & inde cor tetro vapore feritur & caput : unde tristaris , & somni ca●entia , vel saltem tibi adsunt somni turbulenti . venter cum hypochondrijs flatibus cruciatur . videris etiam aliquantulum febricitare . si quid omisi quod ex vrinâ noverim , vel quod eadem non indicaverit , fac me ut sciam , & id tibi consilij genus ( quod , ad morbum profligandum & ad pristinam sanitatem inducèndam erit aptissimum ) suppedit avero . vale , & ut valeas curo & cupio . sanitatis tuae studiosissimus . h. c. englished thus . the discerning and finding-out ( most learned sir ) of diseases , by the sight of the urine only , is a matter of great difficulty : yet ( as you desire me ) i have written unto you what i discerne by your urine . you are ( as i conceive ) troubled with rhume arising from your stomach unto your head , and from thence , distilling againe upon the lower parts : but what part it most oppresseth , or what place it affects , i cannot well tell ; yet i have great suspition that it chiefly possesseth your stomach , and that your stomach is nauseous and ioaths your meat , insomuch that you neither desire meat nor can digest it when you have eaten it . furthermore , your spleen is ill affected by reason of the impurity of your stomach ; whereupon your heart and head are assaulted with a tetrous vapour , so that you are melancholicke , and cannot take your rest , or at least have very troublesome sleeps : your belly and hypochondres are oppressed with wind : you seeme also to be somewhat feverish . if i have omitted any thing that i discerne by your urine , or that your urine doth not shew , let me but know it , and i will supply you with that advice which shall be most convenient to profligate your disease , and to reduce you to your former health . i desire and study your wel-fare , so fare-well . the most earnest wisher of your health . h. c. this epistle ( master doctour ) hath pleased your patient , and you thereby have purchased a great deale of honour : your latine he understands well enough , but the implied sense and meaning thereof he is not aware of , because he is not acquainted with the mystery of giving judgement of a pisse-pot : i will therefore be so bold as to comment upon your epistle , the better to helpe his understanding , and then i leave him to his owne genius to retaine or reject his old opinion concerning judgement of diseases by the sight of the urine . and now ( master doctour for your epistle ) you begin it thus , first you write , that the discerning and finding out of diseases by the sight of the urine onely , is a very difficult matter . it is very true , master doctour , that you have said ; it is a very difficult matter ( indeed ) to finde out diseases by the sight of the urine onely , but these your words implie that it may be done , and that you your selfe have arrived at the haven of this knowledge , and that most other men have come farre short of it . herein , master doctour , that which you implie is meerely false ; for neither hippocrates nor galen , nor your selfe ( who think not your selfe inferiour unto them ) did ever attaine unto this knowledge : but however you will not be ashamed to assume and arrogate it unto your selfe ( because it is put upon you , and you can make a shift to delude such novices , ) and to derogate what you can from other men : and this is very common to you with most other men of our profession . if you had written thus to your patient ( sir it is impossible to give true judgement of diseases by the sight of the urine only , which is but one of the many signes which together , with the knowledge of divers other symptoms ( which the urine sheweth not , do determine the disease ) you had said but truth , and shewed your selfe to have beene an honest man. but hang honesty , what care you for it ? so that you carry the matter so faire , that you be not caught in your knavery . you thinke , that if you had written so to your patient , hee would have suspected your skill , and therefore you will rather smother the truth to maintaine this your pretended skill ( though you be conscious to your selfe that you are a knave for your labour ) than you will have your skill questioned , though you have spoken truth , and therein plaid the part of an honest man : for then you thinke you should likewise lose your patient . secondly , you say , that you have according to your patients desire , written unto him what you descerne by his urine . to which i answer , that if the urine shew you any thing , which i question much in such a case , you write a great deale more than you perceive in the water , and that ( if you will be an honest man ) you must often frustrate the desire and expectation of your patients , which you may doe , and yet give them content too , if you carry the matter discreetly . thirdly , master doctour , you write , that your patient ( as you conceive ) is troubled with rhume arising from the stomach unto the head , and from thence distilling againe upon the lower parts ; but what part it most oppresseth , or what place it affecteth , ( which is most true , but yet there will be no notice taken of these words ) you know not . i answer unto this , that you doe not ( from the vvater ) gather this , but from his complexion and constitution of body vvhich you knovv and are acquainted vvithall : for neither doth any urine so certainely betoken either phlegme , rhume , choler , or melancholy , but that ( by reason of the divers variations that it is subject unto ) it may ( falsly ) pretend any of these humours to be predominant , and so be farre distant from the conjecturall and probable canons of the pisse-pot-science : but admit , master doctour , that this urine had beene brought you from a stranger , whose constitution you had not known , i presume that you would have enquired very narrowly what constitution of body the sicke party had been of , whether a leane spare , a grosse and fat man , or of a middle temperature and habit of body , as also how long he had beene sicke , and whether he went up and downe or no , before you pronounce your judgement of the urine : and then , if it chance to be true that you speke or write , you can make him beleeve , that you perceive it by the urine ; but if it be false , that you have said , you can make it good . fourthly , master doctour , you write , that you have a great suspicion ( which is a word that might call you judgement into suspition , but that your patient is very confident of your skill , and therefore he will give it a favorable construction ) that this rhume did chiefly possesse his stomach , and that his stomach was now become nauseous and loathed meat , and did not digest it being eaten : and your patient beleeves that you perceive his stomach is possessed with this humour , & that you perceive also by it that his stomach is nauseous , desires not meat , nor digests it being eaten : but here , master doctour , you are too cunning for him ; he writes unto you for your judgement of his urine , and you are afraid , that if you doe not satisfie his desire , he will seeke advice somewhere else : you therefore thinke that you were as good deceive him as another man. you read his letters , and they only desire your judgement of his urine , but doe not shew you any thing how he is affected : you looke upon his water , and that importeth no disease at all : you tell the messenger looking upon the water ( as if you there perceived it ) that he goes up and downe , and the messenger answers that he doth . you likewise know his constitution to be spare and thin , and what humour is predominant in the complexion & temperature of the same . you take all these into consideration : and first collect that he is not very well , because he hath sent unto you his urine ; and desires your advice of it : secondly , you conceive that he is not very ill , because hee walks up and downe , and his urine doth not import any disease at all . thirdly , you know his complexion to be ( for so i suppose it ) phlegmaticke . and now you conclude ( he neither being sicke nor well , and his complexion phlegmaticke ) that he cannot have a good stomach to his meat , and therefore you determine the cause of his sicknesse to be phlegme in the stomach : so you write unto him that he is troubled with rhume in the stomach rising from thence , and distilling downe thither againe , caused nauseousnesse , and want of appetite and digestion , and your patient thinks you perceive all these things by his urine : never dreaming that you collect from the forenamed circumstances ( namely his complexion , his going up and downe , and his urine not importing any disease ) that he was troubled with rhume in the stomch ; nor once imagining that you adde the nauseousnesse of his stomach , want of appetite and digestion , as consequent effects of this precedent cause ( phlegme in the stomach ) but thinkes that you perceive them all severally in the water : whereas indeed , you perceive none of them at all ▪ fifthly , master doctour , you adde , that your patients spleene is ill affected by reason of the impurity of his stomach : and he thinks likewise that you perceive this in his water : if his spleene be not ill affected at all , yet he will thinke it to be , because you say so : and if it be ill affected , it is not to be discerned in the urine , but is ( you well know ) cacochymiae soboles , the off-spring of impurity , which followeth ( very ) often crudity of stomach . sixthly , you further adde , that his head and vitall parts are assaulted with a noxious vapour proceeding from his spleem , which makes him sad , and that hee cannot take his rest , or at least that his sleeps are very troublesome , hee still thinkes that his water shewes all this , not knowing that these are necessary consequences of a crude stomach and a rheumatick constitution : he never considers , master doctour , ( as you doe ) that those that are on the sodaine distempered ( though they be but a little ill ) doe not take their rest , or at lest have troublesome sleep : but thinks that the urine ( according to the severall parts of it ) doth shew the disease of the severall parts of the body : he therefore thinks , that the circle shews the discases of the head , the center of the truncke or middle part of the body , and the lower part the diseases of the lower parts of the body : and so by consequence the disease of the toe is to be found in the very lowest part of the urine ; but the paines in the head or toes , are neither to be perceived by the upper-most or lower-most part of the urine nor by any other part of it . yet a silenced minister in kent , who was become an aesculapius , being asked by a friend of mine ( when he had , by this fallacious way of giving judgement upon an vrine , reckoned up a paine in the head , amongst other symptomes ) whether hee perceived by the vrine , that the party had a paine in the head , he answered , yes : looke you here ( quoth he ) this circle or ring , by some marks that i perceive in it , doth shew me that the party hath a paine in the head . he might as well have worne the surplice , and baptized with the crosse , against his conscience , as to make a common practice of lying against his conscience wilfully . seventhly , you adde that he is troubled with wind in the belly & hypochondres ; which is like-wise incident to phlegmatick constitutions , but is not ( as he supposeth ) to be perceived in the urine . eightly , you adde that he seemeth to be somewhat feverish : you doe not perceive this in the water neither , yet you know that whosoever is not well doth ( vel febre laborare , vel sebricitare ) labour either of a fever , or is feverish ; and therefore you have added this to helpe at a pinch , for you know not certainely , but that his feverishnesse may be greater than you suspect : his heat may be such , as that he may expect that you speake something of his liver , for hee thinkes that it is over-hot ; but you can tell him that hee cannot have a fever , but that his liver must be inflamed . in fine ( master doctour ) whether he he have a fever or no fever , you have hit the nayle on the head , and he believes that you have written nothing but what you perceived in the water ; but if it please him to read an exposition upon your letters , hee shall perceive your cunning to be ( vix frans honesta ) scarce honest cozening . you determined his disease ( as he told me ) to be flatus hypochandriacus , when you saw him , that is , wind in those parts called the hypochondres : but it was ( as he confessed to me ) flatus hypochondrunckicus , or ( as i thinke i may fitly call it ) the druncken hiquet , ex crapulâ contractus , taken by a drunken surfeite . it skills not what his disease was , nor how he tooke it ; i doe not meane to scandall him for it , since he is recovered of it ; i rather bestow this recipe upon him , by the way of prevention , ( noli tu peccare ampli●ùs , ne pejus tibi contingat ) that he fall not into the like infirmity : and wish withall my heart , ut valeat & resipiscat , that hee may enjoy his health with that greater happinesse of that wisedome , whereby hee may rectum distinguere falso , discerne truth from falshood . chap. x. i have here inserted another epistle ( out not in latine ) from a reveal'd divine , unto his cunning ae●culapius , for his judgement of his vvives vrine , to know whether she were with child or no : i have likewise set downe the doctours answer , with an explication of the aenigmatized fallacies , therein contained , darking the judgement of the learned , and making a specious shew of a falsely assumed knowledge . worthy master doctour , my kind love salutes you &c. my wife being neither sicke nor well , goes up and down the house , but is very puling : she hath a very , nauseous stomach , loaths meat , and if she eate any thing ( which is very little , or of some very strange dish ) she is ready to vomit it up againe : she hath now twice missed ( which she orderly enjoyed before ) the naturall benefit of her monthly evacuation : ever since which time , that shee had them last , she hath been thus ill : and for the same cause , that shee hath missed them , shee suspects that she may be with child , or else is thus ill for want of them : i have here sent you her urine , and desire you to vouchsafe to looke upon it , and to resolve us whether she be with child , or what other infirmity she doth labour of , that we may ( if shee ●e not with childe ) prevent a worse danger in ●●me ; i pr●y returne your answer in writing ; and ●o with my best wishes for your owne wel-fare , that others may fare the better for you , i bid you fare-well , and rest . your wel-wishing friend , j. h. reverend sir , my best respects to your selfe and your wife , do kindly resalute you both : your wife ( you write ) is neither sick nor well ; you may then shife your hands of her , if you doe not like sir , and tell her that you promised only to keepe her in sicknesse and in health : but however ( good sir ) i am sorie , as she is not sicke , that she is not well , but not so much as otherwise i should be , because your kindnesse hath caused this neutrality of being neither sicke nor well . her nauseousnesse of stomach , loathing of meat , and vomitting after , it will ●●ortly cease , and the disease ( which now troubles her stomach ) will some seven moneths hence , be gotten into her armes . in the meane time it were not amisse for her to take something to corroborate her stomach , which she may very safely doe , i have viewed her water , and can say no more than have done , unlesse to speak more plainely . i say with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she is with child , and that almost a quarter gone , god send her a happy deliverance , when the time shall come , and ( till then , and ever ) health , and so prayes , your assured loving friend , h. p. this good divine ( as most of them are ) is one who is possessed with this opinion , that the urine doth shew the disease , 〈◊〉 conception , and the like : yet haply hath heard that vrina 〈◊〉 meratrix , the water is a lying harlot , but yet hee thinks that a physician ( if he be his crafts master ) can tell whether a woman be with child or no● because hee heareth women clatter such things who have beene thus deluded . he never stands to examine the truth of such predictions by the urine , but supposeth that men are or should be honest in their callings . this i am sure of , that he is a loving man to his wife , for which i thinke him to be the honester man. hee hath sent her vrine to a doctour , and desireth him to resolve him from thence whether she be with child or no● or what other danger may be imminent . he writeth likewise , very punctuall and carefully , how she is affected : namely , that she hath a nauseous stomach , loathes meat , longs after trifles , and is apt to vomit after she hath eaten : now all these are evident signes of conception , if she be a childing-woman , and they doe agree with other signes also , and if she find any such alteration in her body ▪ as that she suspect the same : he likewise adds , that she hath not had her monthly benefit of nature , now this two months , which she enjoyed orderly before : & this witnesseth very strongly to the former signes that she is with child , and shewes how long it is since she conceived of it : but the goodman ( though he have read this in aristotle , and albertus ) 〈◊〉 think that this is all the ground we have to conclude woman to be with child , but thinks that hippocrates and galen , and the common practice of viewing of waters , have taught us otherwise to distinguish the sexe , as also whether a woman be with child or no , by her water : but ( good man ) he is deceived ; and which is worst of all , he hath partly deceived himselfe , for he hath written that unto his doctour ( though hee doe not know it ) that shewes his wife to be with child , and yet he desireth to be resolved from the water ; and so his doctour hath done : hee hath read his letters , and therein finds enough to his purpose , and a great deale more than the urine sheweth , from whence he may boldly pronounce her to be with child , though he never looke upon the water at all : yet ( having read the letters ) hee taketh the vrine , and before the messenger that brought it ) falls to peering into it , to seeme to find that there , for which he hath brought it : and so he betakes him to his pen and inke , to answer these letters , and ( having descanted upon the former part of the divines letters , in such manner as you see in his answer , which shewed him that the good gentlewoman was with child ) he now determines her to be with child , and that almost a quarter gone : which prooving true , as it is very probable that it will , makes them the more admire this unsuspected jugling : for they are not aware that the sodaine ceasing of the naturall monthly benefit of a woman , together with nauseousnesse of stomach , longing 〈…〉 trifles , want of appetite , and vomiting after meat , are the most infallible signes of conception by which we judge a woman to be with child , as indeed they are neither doe they observe , that it is the most apt time for a woman to conceive immediately after that she hath enjoyed that naturall benefit , as their doctour doth : nor they doe not conceive that the doctour determines her to be a quarter gone with child , from the time that shee enjoyed her naturall benefit last , which ( as her husband writeth ) was now more than two months agoe , which is almost a quarter , for two months is almost ten weeks , and ten weekes is a quarter of the time that a woman goeth with child from her conception according to the common computation of a womans going forty weeks with child but they good-man and good-woman , thinke ( as almost all the world beside themselves doth ) that the dr. perceives , by some signes in the urine , the conception , as also how farre a woman is gone with child : and the dr. is very well contented that they should thinke so : but whatsoever they think you see what they are but fooles ) for their labour , and their dr. but a jugler at the best , for nursing them up in that false opinion . and now i hope that you conceive that there is no certaine knowledge of any disease in the world by the urine , much lesse of the 〈◊〉 , conception , parties age , and the like : you perceive likewise the fallacies whereby the water-prophet maketh the messenger to thinke that he perceives all these things in the urine . you 〈◊〉 also that not only the rude multitude , 〈…〉 clerks have been made both greeke fooles , and hebrew asses , by 〈…〉 , and these deceitfull fallacies which i have shewed : yet these are not all the trickes , and fallacies that pisse-mongers have to deceive their patients , or pisse-messengers withall : but by these you may perceive how you may be a thousand wayes more deceived ; for by a little may be perceived what more is meant , and according to the old proverbe , verbum sapienti sufficit , to the wise few words suffice . let this therefore suffice , that hath beene spoken , to shew you how you are cozened , when you bring or send your water to a doctour to cast : and from hence learne to esteeme an honest plaine-dealing physician , according to his worth , who tells you that the water doth not shew the disease , as you suppose , and the common pisse-pot-casters doe make you believe . chap. xi . wherein , 〈…〉 how judgement of diseases by the 〈◊〉 of the vrine hath beene upheld by confederacie , and other such like cozening tricks . and now to adde more credit unto that which hath been already said ( although i have said more already than some would willingly heare , though no more than truth , and yet so much as might satisfie concerning the imposture and cozenage used in giving judgment of diseases by the sight of urine onely , ) i will briefly subjoyn some few sleights of confederacie , and other cunning trickes , whereby imposturs have beguiled the common people , and gained themselves credit , in maintaining the cozening trade of water-prophesying . now this confederacie is a plot or mutual compact made betwixt the pisse-prophet and some servant ( whether man or maid ) or some other of his family , whom hee hath deputed to that office , or else some nurse , mid-wife , apothecary , or such like , who first set upon the messenger being come to the doctours house telling them that the doctour is not yet at leisure , and so fall to parly with the messengers , getting out of them all things necessary to the judging of the disease ( as namely whose water it was , when the partie was taken sicke , and what other grievances the partie laboured of ) and then went or rather sent 〈◊〉 ●ther that stood by ( who seemed to take no not 〈◊〉 of that which the messenger said to the inquisitour ) to see if the doctour were at leisure to speak with the messenger , who is in very great haste to be gone : now this by-stander tels the doctour ( whose businesse was not so great , but that he might have come and dispatched the messenger at first , if his skill in urine had been as good as he pretendeth , and is presumed upon by such as he thus gulleth ) all that the messenger had related , who now comes forth and takes the urine , and tells the messenger that the partie is thus and thus affected , as his confederate had told him , which makes the 〈◊〉 messenger to thinke that he is a cunning man 〈◊〉 the judgement of urines . and thus the parson of caverley was wont to deceive his patients , and so gained the name of a cunning man ; too many such parsons and persons are suffered to abuse the common people in our dayes . others have their apothecaries or other attenders upon sicke persons , for their intelligencers , who come before-hand , and tell them that such a one is thus and thus affected , and hath been thus long sicke ( and hath haply taken such or such meanes already ) vvho meanes to send his urine for his advice ; i hope novv the doctour is provided to tell vvhose vvater it is , vvhat is the disease , hovv long the partie hath been sicke , nay and vvhat physicke the partie hath taken ; as useth a jugling dunce in essex ( who hath gained by 〈◊〉 and the like knavish plots of confederac●● 〈◊〉 credit than is 〈◊〉 such an illiterate 〈◊〉 as he is ) who presumeth to determine the conception to a day , the sexe in the wombe , the place where the partie lives , and what physicke the partie hath already taketh , with so many other such knavish absurd cozenages , as i have not time , and should ( if time did permit ) be ashamed to relate . a learned doctour , a much honoured friend of mine , told me that a noble-man ( a patient of his ) told him that he would undertake that this jugler would tell by the urine what physicke the partie had 〈◊〉 : and a doctour of the civill law told me that he went as a stranger to him ( as he thought ) and carried him his vrine , who so soone as hee saw it , told him that hee had a paine in his right kidney , the which ( as the civilian told me ) was true , but yet that the physicianer perceived it in his vrine was a lye ; i dare say that all learned physicians will sweare as much . this therefore must needs be done by confederacie , or else he had some accidentall intelligence thereof by hearing himselfe speake of such a thing long before , or else by hearing some body else to speake of it , which is little better than confederacie . such advantages are often made use of , for most people are ( when they come in company with a physician ) telling of their infirmities , which they be oft subject unto , and physicians take more notice thereof than they are aware of , and remember to make use thereof when occasion shall serve : besides 〈…〉 , that physicians have that live in great 〈◊〉 townes , and have much countrie practice , whereby they come to know the disease , as also how long the partie hath beene 〈◊〉 without the sight of the vrine , and that is this , they never have any vrine brought out of the countrie but that ( so soone as they have dispatched the messenger ) they aske if any body else be sicke in their parish or neere about them ; and so are often told that such or such have been thus long sicke , and after what manner , and that they doe meane to send to them very shortly ; so that now they need to doe no more but aske the messenger where he dwelleth , but that he knowes the disease without looking upon the vrine , and can say ( that this is such a ones , vrine ) as doth the fore-named jugler , and the partie is , thus or thus affected , although the vrine doe not shew it . by this confederacie hath much people been much deceived , and many ignorant rascalls have got much credit , who have accommodated themselves to the humouring of the vulgar people and such as have not been able to discerne the fucus or cloake of their cozenage ; but i hope that henceforward it will appeare more plainly unto them , by this little which hath been said to that purpose , so that i shall not need to enlarge my selfe any further hereupon , for then i should swell this small pamphlet unto a large volume . read it therefore and make 〈…〉 that end it was pen'd , viz. ( 〈…〉 evites ) not to cozen , 〈…〉 avoid the cozener . and so i will now proceed to shew you the lawfull use of the urine . chap. xii . that there is no judgement of diseases to be given by the vrine alone ; that the physician ought not to give judgement of the vrine , before hee have strictly examined how the sicke partie is affected : how this base custome came up . you will now aske me : what is there no use of viewing the vrine at all ? i answer no : there is no use of viewing it alone without the consideration of other signes , symptomes and indications of diseases , which are not therein perceived : neither can a physician prescribe physicke ( by the sight of the vrine ) with lesse danger , than if ( it being granted that purging would cure , and blood-letting would kill his patient ) he should notwithstanding cast crosse and pile which of these he should appoint . you will further object , that you suppose that a physician will not prescribe before he have examined all circumstances needfull for him to know . i answer , that no messenger can tell us that in all diseases ; though ( oftentimes ) in many cases they can . nay oftentimes they can not certifie us any thing how the partie is affected ; but ( with the very hazard of their 〈◊〉 ) expect that we should tell them what they 〈◊〉 by the sight of their vrine alone , and prescribe them physicke accordingly . but let such messengers learne to give their physicians better instructions , or stay at home , unlesse the patient be contented to put his life upon such a desperate chance . you will further object , that every one is not able to undergoe the charge of sending for a physician : and then what shall they doe , if it be not convenient to send their water ? to this i answer , that it is true , that every one is not able to reward a physician ( especially in the countrie ) for comming to see him : let therefore such an one send for his minister ( who is of duty bound to doe it ) to aske his counsell unto what physician to send , and intreat him likewise to write how hee is affected , what age the partie is of , of what sexe , of what constitution of body , the strength of it at this present time , when the partie was taken sicke , and what other unusuall symptomes the partie now laboureth of : as whether he have a vomiting or loosenesse , or be extremely bound in his bodie , and hovv long it is since hee vvas at stoole ; as likevvise vvhether he have a cough , or stitch , or can take rest or no , or bleed or svveat , or be grievously pained in the body , and vvhere the paine lyeth ; or vvhatsoever passion he suffereth : and then ( on gods name ) let them also send their vrine to a physician . and let the physician ( before that ever he vouchsafe to looke upon the water ) strictly examine all those , or the like circumstances that i have named : then let him take the water and looke upon it , and pronounce the disease : but if he take the water , and begin to pronounce a description of a disease by the sight of the urine alone , before he have examined those circumstances ; he makes but a foole of thee , and is ( for his labour ) but an impostour , and a knave himselfe . i had not thought that this imposture had crept into this citie , or been connived at by those that have power to suppresse it : but here it is so exercised , that some refuse to be informed of those circumstances ( to the end that they may purchase the more fame ) till they have shewed their jugling skill upon the urine . a friend of mine told me ( very lately ) that hee carried his urine unto a dutch doctour ( naming the man ) to have his judgement of it : now this man was so faint and weake , that he was faine to rest himselfe three or foure times by the way , and had his disease written more manifestly in his face than in his water ; and now being arrived at the doctours house , and admitted unto his presence , he begins to tell the doctour that he had nor beene very well ( which the doctour perceived very well by his countenance ) a good while , and that he had made hard shift to come unto him ; and was ready , presenting him his urine withall , to declare unto him further how he had beene affected ; but this butter-box interrupted him , saying , i pray forbeare to tell me any thing , yet i will tell you your disease by your water : was this ( thinke you ) an hard matter to doe , to tell the gentleman ( whose sicknesse was written in his fore-head , who had told the doctour that he had not been very well a good while , and whose complexion and constitution of body shewed the doctour vvhat diseases he vvas most subject unto ) vvhat vvas his disease ? he might have done that vvithout the urine , though his patient had said no more unto him : yet to shevv his uromanticke skill to the end that his fame may be the more spread for the same , hee takes the urine ( though he discerne no disease by the same ) and pronounceth his opinion from it . i hope you vvill ( in time ) perceive your ovvne errours , and their jugling vvho pretend knovvledge of diseases by the vrine ; and so i have done vvith this jugling . i should novv ansvver another objection , and question ; and they are these , that it may be that i plead for the physicians profit , to overthrow the judgement of urines , that our fees may grow the greater for being sent for : to this i answer , let their monies perish with them that thinke so , rather than i would be enriched by it . the question is this , how this custome of giving judgement of diseases by it ( since it shewes no disease certainely ) came up : to this i answer , that covetousnesse in the common people , to save their money ( because they saw physicians to view the water at the patients 〈◊〉 house ) caused them to send their waters likewise unto physicians : and pride in the physicians , to shevv more skill than ever they had learned out of their master hippocrates , made this to become a custome , which is become a very strong plea. i could shew how this custome might be as soone abrogated ; but since i have no power to put it into execution , i leave it to them ( whose power insufficient to suppresse it ) if their care were correspondent . i will now shew you your errours in the choice and change of your physician , and give you some few directions for the choice of the most convenient physician , for most men in their severall places and callings , and according to their severall abilities . chap. xiii . errours committed in the choice and change of a physician : directions how to avoid these errours : some rascalls nominated , who are usurpers upon , and abusers of the noble profession of physicke , and the honourable professors thereof . the errors that you commit in the choice of a physician , are these : either you choose an insufficient man , for his knowledge in physick ; or else one , who ( though he be sufficiently qualified for his knowledge ) is notwithstanding no fit physician for thee . for the first , you are in the time of your sicknesse led either by your owne fancie or by the perswasion of some friend to send for , or send unto such a man , who hath ( they tell you ) cured such a one of such a disease , when all other doctours had given him over : or else because he giveth out some great matters of himselfe , and disableth all other honest learned physicians , as doth trigge , alias , markham , who predicates of himselfe to ignorant people , that he was batchelor of arts in clare hall , and pupill and kinsman unto doctour butler in cambridge , a master of arts of saint johns in cambridge , a master of an hospitall , and one of the fellowes of the college of the physicians in london , and all these lyes : for hee never was otherwise than a shooe-maker , bred and brought up , save onely that he became a last-maker ; and is no other but an asse ( though hee pretendeth great learning amongst silly people ) who understandeth not one word of latine . this trigge lives in a place called captaine royden his lodgings over-against the custome-house ▪ such another is butler of puddle wharfe , a glover , felmonger , or sheep-skin-dresser , who should therefore be the better acquainted with the vertue of aesipus , because it belongs to his trade ; but yet i dare say he knowes not what it is . such another is little doctour george another shooe-maker , living about westminster . and one fashions an horne-merchant , who furnisheth apothecaries with harts-hornes , and stagges pis●es , and professeth great skill in curing consumptions . to whom may be added donnigton in moore-fields , who drencheth asses ( i doe not meane the long ear'd ones as familiarly as he was wont to drench horses , and burnes children behind the eares for the rickets . unto such knaves , or else to witches and conjurers ( whom you terme cunning men and women ) you are carried ( though they are the most vile and base ignorant asses in the world ) with more confidence than to the most learned honest physician that can be . and then if you chance to recover , you impute the cause thereof to such a rascall , never considering that it was gods providence not ( as yet ) to take this partie unto himselfe , and that this rascally quack ( for medicines used by an ignorant quacke , are said to be poysons ; but being used by a skilfull physician , they are said to be gods owne helping hand ) did not kill this partie , for it was ( as they say ) but haphazard . but if it happen that one of these rascals kill his patient ( for so it falleth out too often ) and some of your neighbors or friends question with you , why you made use of such a rogue ; you are then as ready ( to excuse your owne foolery and wickednesse ) to excuse him too , and to say that the best doctours cannot save a mans life when his time is come : and you thinke this is a sufficient plea to excuse your selves for not using the best meanes : you will not afford an honest man the like favour , who hath used the best meanes that art could lead him unto , if his patient should chance to dye , and satisfie yourselves ( as you ought to doe ) in this case , that it was gods providence , but prosecute him with all the scandalls , and slanders that you can , questioning withall his skill , the which you are no more able to judge of than a blinde man of colours . so much shall suffice to have spoken concerning the errours you commit in making choice of such a one , for your physician , who hath not been lawfully called thereunto , nor is sufficiently qualified with that knowledge , and those arts that necessarily conduce unto the making of a physician . now you erre likewise in making choice of an able man , when you make choice of the kings or queenes physician , who for their sufficiencie , it is not to be doubted but that they are skillfull men : but yet , in respect of their attendance at the court , and their much imployment by persons of great qualitie , they are not the best physicians for persons of meane condition ; for they cannot give that due attendance unto such a patient as his present necessitie might require : neither can you obtaine his presence when it is most desired : and then you are constrained to call another , who ( in respect that he knoweth not what hath formerly passed about the sick partie ) knoweth not what to prescribe without errour on his owne part , and danger to the sicke partie . you erre likewise , when ( being destitute of acquaintance with some able and convenient physician for you ) you make choice of a physician by the garbe , and habit where-with he is accoutred ; that is to say , his beaver-hat , his plush-suite , with his cloake of , or at least , lined through with the same , his silke stockings , with all other such sutable ornaments to decke his person : thinking that there dwells art alone , knowledge , and the muses , because he is mounted upon the wings of fame , which is no lesse mendacious & deceiptfull than an harlot , or ther pisse-pot ; the one whereof faineth diseases , the other modesty . you erre likewise , when ( having haply made choice of an able and convenient physician ) you cast him off , because you doe not presently obtaine the sodaine effect of the desired successe . but now to avoid the errours of making choice of an insufficient , or inconvenient physician ; leave trigge , and little doctour george to their a●le , and ( ne sutor ultra crepidem ) let the shooe-maker not presume to goe beyond his last ; et artem , quam quisque ●orit exerceat : let every other man exercise that art and faculty which he understands , and hath beene bred up in : and let meane people , let kings and queenes physicians alone , for those great personages whom they are to give attendance upon , and listen unto me a little , in directing thee in the choice of an able and convenient physician in the time of a violent and dangerous sicknesse . take therefore , ( and that in time ) such a physician as is authorized and allowed , either by the universities , or by the learned college of physicians of london : in the choice of such a one , who is so allowed and approved of , have some respect unto his dwelling , and other imployments ; and consider with thy selfe whether by remotenesse of place , or multitude of imploiments , he can give that attendance , that thy need may require . for in diseases of danger , it were very convenient that the physician did see his patient , ( if it were possible ) three times in a day : so hee should often observe something or other in the sicke party , that might divert him from his intended purpose , and direct him a safer way . wherefore an honest neighbour is more convenient than a stranger remote , especially for the meaner sort of people , and those who are so poore , that their purses will not reach to the gratifying of a physician for comming to see them with a fee : and let no man shake off that physician whom he hath first entertained ; but let him ( if he please ) take another physician , or more into consultation with hi● first elected physician , retaining him still . let this ( in briefe ) suffice to direct in the choice of a physician , for i had no purpose to touch upon this subject , but only to shew the fallacies and jugling , that is used in giving judgement of diseases by the urine , with the dangers that insuethe prescribing of physicke by the sight of the same alone . if i have not therefore satisfied thee in this latter , read doctour cotta his booke , called , a short discovery of the unobserved dangers of severall sorts of ignorant & inconsiderate practitioners of physick in england , wherein he hath ( at the latter end ) very learnedly set downe a description of the true artist , with directions for the election of him in the time of sicknesse . finis . istum tuum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tractatum non oscitanter percurri . de ●o siquaeras quid sentiam● eum & doctrina & facetijs refertum esse existim● . nec arbitror in eo quidquam contineri , quod possit bonorum aures offendere . si quis sit quìsecus à me sentiet , ego illum habebo aut pro impostore , aut pro impostorum fautore . quamobrem sim ego tibi au●or eum publicandi . nam hinc , & inibis apud omnes bonos gratiam , & perennem nominis famam tibimet comparabis . neque est quod vereare , ne forte ex ejus evulgatione labes medicinae aspergatur . honestae ejus praxi nullum hinc poter●t detrimentum accedere ; non magis quàm civitati illi dedecus in qua mercirices aut vapulant , aut exulant . ex musaeolo meo ipsis idibus martijs anniab exhibito in carne messia supra millesimum sexcentesimum tricesimi sexti . tui si quis alius studiosus , alexander read , m. d. atque ex numero soctorum collegij medici londinensis . impr. tho. weekes . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a16823-e300 the differences of diseases . the nature of a sharpe disease . how the physician judgeth of such diseases by the vrine ▪ signes of a sharpe disease . that a high and red coloured vrine is not always one in●allible signe of a fever . notes for div a16823-e450 the manner of the proceeding of vrine-gasers . indication of curing . medicaments for a pleurisie . notes for div a16823-e600 how crafty messengers may be deceived . why uniformity in judging is not to be used . the diversity of actions to be used in giving judgement from the vrine . the symptomes of a sharpe disease . notes for div a16823-e720 what is to be done , when no instruction can be had from the messenger . notes for div a16823-e840 how a lingering disease is found out . notes for div a16823-e1030 ordinary times of conception . the signe of conception in married women . other signes of the same . how you are to deale with those who desire to be resolved whether the child is like to be a boy or a girle . notes for div a16823-e2180 what confederacie is with whom this confederacie is commonly made . 〈…〉 of this cozenage by confederacy . another dunce in essex famous for this imposture . that by this cozening he determineth the conception , sexe in the wombe , & tells what physick the partie hath taken . that he determineth a man to have a pain in his right kidney 〈…〉 done but by confederacie . another tricke ( not much unlike to confederacie ) by which wee come to know whose water it is , and the like , and may make the messenger beleeve the water shews us . notes for div a16823-e2320 obi●● . answ . another object . answ . another object . answ . object . answ . quest . answ . notes for div a16823-e2460 vvho are not to bee chosen , although they be able . what physicians are to be chosen . the expert phisician learnedly treating of all agues and feavers, whether simple or compound, shewing their different nature, causes, signes, and cure ... / written originally by that famous doctor in phisick, bricius bauderon ; and translated into english by b.w., licentiate in physick by the university of oxford ... pharmacopée. english bauderon, brice, ca. 1540-1623. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a26839 of text r19503 in the english short title catalog (wing b1163). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 198 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 88 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a26839 wing b1163 estc r19503 12172216 ocm 12172216 55454 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26839) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 55454) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 120:8) the expert phisician learnedly treating of all agues and feavers, whether simple or compound, shewing their different nature, causes, signes, and cure ... / written originally by that famous doctor in phisick, bricius bauderon ; and translated into english by b.w., licentiate in physick by the university of oxford ... pharmacopée. english bauderon, brice, ca. 1540-1623. welles, benjamin, 1615 or 16-1678. [14], 160 p. : port. by r.i. for john hancock ..., printed at london : 1657. translation of: pharmacopée. advertisements on p. 158-160. reproduction of original in thomason collection, british library. eng fever. medicine -early works to 1800. a26839 r19503 (wing b1163). civilwar no the expert phisician: learnedly treating of all agues and feavers. whether simple or compound. shewing their different nature, causes, signe bauderon, brice 1657 34512 57 255 0 0 0 0 90 d the rate of 90 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-05 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion you see his shadow and his outward looks , such was his face , which yet is but the rind : to know him better you must read his books , you 'l wonder at his gifts , and noble mind . portrait of bricius bauderon the expert phisician : learnedly treating of all agves and feavers . whether simple or compound . shewing their different nature , causes , signes , and cure , viz. a feaverish heat . the differences of feavers . a diary feaver . a burning feaver . a continual putrid . a continual tertian . a continual quotidian . a continual quartan . an intermitting quartan . feavers annexed to quartans . a semitertian feaver . an hectick feaver . confused erratick feavers . malignant pestilent feavers , &c. written originally by that famous doctor in phisick , bricius bauderon , and translated into english by b. w. licentiate in physick by the university of oxford . published for the general good of this nation , and may be put in practice with facility and safety . printed at london by r. i. for john hancock , and are to bee sold at the first shop in popes-head alley , near the exchange . 1657. the epistle to the reader ▪ courteous reader ▪ there are no diseases more frequent in this nation , none more difficult of cure , than agues and feavers , so that they are proverbially called , the scandal of phisicians : fernelius , who was thought to have writ best against them , was himself destroyed by one ; neither hath there yet been publisht any remedy so saving , as their fiery darts are killing . accept then of this balsome , gathered from the choyse gardens of the greeks , latines , arabians , by the hands of that incomparable dr. bricius bauderon , whose age and experience works more on my faith , than the unfathomed arcana of the moderne febrifuga ; hee was eighty years aged when he writ this tract , and had fifty years confirmed by his practise , what in one moneths time thou mayest now be master of ; his painful long-teeming birth wants nothing but thy embraces to cherish it , it hath been for many years cloystered up in the french and latine tongue , though desired by ambitious heads as a choyse purchase ; few private studies could boast of its possession , which encouraged me to set it forth in this english garb , in which it is entire , though not so splendid ; more profitable , though not so beauteous : such emunct nostrils as shall snuffe at it , are like those my author speaks of , that wil swound at the smel of a rose ; suburban wits , that breath best in the worst air ; or like some unclean creatures , that thrive best in standing pools ; but i leave them , and commend the ingenious to the work it self , methodical , facil , and perspicuous enough to benefit the meanest capacity , yet satisfie the highest ; read and be convinced . thine , b. w. the contents of every chapter . chapter 1. treateth of a feaverish heat . chap. 2. of the differences of feavers . chap. 3. of the division of feavers . chap. 4. of the circuit of feavers . chap. 5. of the constitution of feavers . chap. 6. of the four times of diseases in special . chap. 7. certaine physical rules for practise chap. 8. of a diary feaver . chap. 9. of an unputrid synochus . chap. 10. of a continual putrid feaver . chap. 11. of a burning-feaver , and continual tertian . chap. 12. of the cure of these feavers . chap. 13. of a continual quotidian feaver . chap. 14. of a continual quartan . chap. 15. of an intermitting tertian . chap. 16. of the cure of a spurious intermitting tertian . chap. 17. of an intermitting quotidian . chap. 18. of a quotidian feaver from salt flegme . chap. 19. of an intermitting quartan . chap. 20. of feavers annexed to quartans . chap. 21. of confused , compounded , and erratick feavers . chap. 22. of a semitertian feaver . chap. 23. of a hectick feaver . chap. 24. of malignant and pestilent feavers . chap. 25. of the cardiacal feaver . chap. 26. of the feaver from crudity . special observations for the readers more easie apprehension . reader , for thy better understanding of the quantity of weights used in this , and other physick books , in compounding of medicines , observe this brief direction ; that , a graine is the quantity of a barley corn . a scruple is twenty barley cornes . three scruples containe a dram. eight drams containe an ounce . the expert phisician , learnedly treating of all agues , and feavers , whether simple , or compound , chap. i. of a feaverish heat . a feaver is so called from the latine word forveo , because it is a fervor or heat affecting the body ; the gr●eks call it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is to be inflamed or taken with a feaver , sometimes it is called {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is a fiery habit , or fiery disposition of the body , and by hippocrates in the first book epidem commen . 3. text 18. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ▪ that is , fire it self . it is a praeternatural heat kindled in the heart , as in its proper subject , primarily and per se hurting our actions , which heat by the mediation of bloud and spirits , through the veines and arteries , is diffused through the whole body . now , all heat is either natural , or ascititious , the natural is either implanted and fixt , or elementary and fluid , and a feaver cannot consist in either of these , because the implanted is fomented by the primogenious moysture , whose original is heavenly , and once depeculated or wasted , cannot be repaired ; nor in the elementary , because this by its temper doth help and cherish the implanted , and further it in concocting and assimilating the nourishment which is to bee converted into our substance ; this heat phisicians call influent , because with the spirits and bloud from the heart , it is carried by the veines and arteries to all parts of the body ; a feaverish heat then is in the ascititious saith galen , comment . on the sixth book , epidem . hippo. text the 28. an ascititious heat is three-fold ; the first in respect of the other is said to be simple , that is a bare exuperancy of heat , which is thus ingendred ▪ the elementary or fluent heat by a daily increase receding from its temper and mediocrity becomes excessive , so that that which was natural , by degrees becomes unnatural , and therefore vitious , and offensive to nature , doth hurt her operations ; and in this ascitious heat are your ephemerae or diary feavers , and unputred synochus . the second heat different from the former is acrid and mordent , arising from putrified matter , which though it be not very burning hot , yet favouring of the condition of the matter from whence it proceeds , is praeternatural and burdensome to the implanted heat , and in this are putrid feavers both continual and intermitting , compound , erratick , and confused . the third ascitititious heat is wholly malignant and pernicious , caused from some venenate or pestilent matter , not from the exuperancy of its quality , as the first , nor from putrefaction , as the second , but is substantially different , and inimicous to the vital and implanted heat . chap. ii. of the differences of feavers . seeing that all feavers are caused by an ascititious heat , and not by a natural , as was said before , it is necessary we take their differences first from the essence of heat , then from the subject in which the feaver is , or from the manner of the motion of heat , or from the cause of the disease , or from the matter , or symptomes . the first difference then is from the essence of the praeternatural heat , by which some action is alwaies hurt , because there is a recession from the natural state , and by how much the greater and more vehement this heat is , by so much the greater ought the feaver to bee accounted ; as for example , a {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , a burning feaver may be said to bee greater than any other feaver , because its heat being more intense it appears more acrid and mordent than any other humoral feaver ; but on the contrary , if you compare it with an hectick , it is less than that , because this possesses the very substance of the heart , but that the humours near unto it . another difference may bee taken from the subject wherein the feaver is , as for example , by how much the nobler the part affected is , by so much the more vehement the feaver , as that feaver which proceeds from a phrensie , peripneumony , or inflammation of the lungs , or from a plurisie by reason of the parts affected , shall bee farre more dangerous than that which follows an inflammation of the reins , spleen , or foot ; besides , the feaver is proportionate , or improportionate in relation to the subject , and thence shall be esteemed greater or less , as a burning feaver is proportionate in a body hot and dry , of youthful age at midsummer , or in a hot and dry region , and consequently less dangerous than the improportionate , which should happen to an aged body , cold and moyst in the winter season , and in a cold and moyst country , as hippocrates doth excellently note it , aphor. 34. sect. 2. the third is from the manner of the motion , and motions here , is nothing else but a swift or slow transition from one subject to another ; the swift motion is as often as the heat passeth from a crasse thick subject , to a tenuous one , as for example ; as oft as an intermitting feaver doth pass into a continual or other putrid one ; and on the contrary , the slow motion is as often as an ephemera or putrid feaver degenerates into a hectick , for the spirits are easier set a fire than the humours , and these easier than the solid parts of heart and body ; likewise an unputrid synochus being neglected , doth easily pass into a putrid one , and so of other sorts of feavers . the fourth is from the efficient cause , which is three-fold , the one evident , the other internal , the third occult ; the evident is drawn from those six non-natural things , as from the air , inanition or repletion , &c. the internal from fluxions on the stomack or lungs , obstruction , crudities , or putrefaction of humours , &c. the occult cause may be double , external , and internal , the external as the contact of a torpedo , impure copulation , the use of malign and venenate medicaments , &c. from whence are feavers epidemical , endemical , sporadical , and pestilential , saith hippocrates and galen , the internal cause is hard to bee discovered , because besides the putrefaction , there is a certain venenate air , or breath , which is for the most part unknown to us , whether it depend on the element of stars , and therefore is called by hippocrates , quid divinum , as was that sweating sickness in brittaine , which did not only depopulate england , but germany and france . the fifth difference is from the matter , which consists either in the spirits , or the humours , or the solid parts , and these three hippocrates in the sixth of his epidem . last section , text 19. calls {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , containing , contained and impetuous bodies . the containing , are the solid parts in which are caused hectick feavers , both universal and particular , they first invade the substance of the heart , then equally the other parts : these primarily and per se , possess the substance of some private part , from whence they are communicated to the heart , and to the rest of the solid parts , as to the lungs , midrist , stomach , or liver , &c. the contained , are the four humours which offend either in quantity or quality , in quantity as often as these humours are more or less enflamed in the heart without putrefaction , and hence are the epacmastical , acmastical , and paracmastical feavers ; in quality , in relation either to touch , sight , or taste , according to hippocrates , as by the touch of the pulse , some are judged mordent , others milde , and temperate in comparison with others ; others appear moyst as bilious feavers , such as are your continual tertians , or burning feavers , all which are mordent , especially about the state of the disease , and before the crisis ; the m●lde ones are such as the true diary feaver , which ends with a sweat or moystness , and your unputred synochus , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is moyst , of which galen makes mention against lycus ; for these in respect of other feavers are called milde and temperate . to the sight are referred the red ones , as the unputred synochus , which is from a more fervid bloud , the white ones as quotidians , the livid as quartans , syncopal , or pestilential feavers ; others are arid and horrid to the eye , as the colliquating hectick , and that of the second or third degree . in relation to taste , some are said to be sweet , as those from natural flegme , and many bloudy ones , which even after putrefaction retaine some sweetness ; others are bitter as the bilious , others salt , as those from salt flegme , and the hybernal causes , or winter burning feaver . the impetuous are the vital , animal , and natural spirits ; in the vital spirits is caused a diary of one day , if the spirits be tenuous , of more daies , if they be crasse ; but more of this in its proper place . some feavers are long , others short ; some diurnal , others nocturnal ; some ordinate , others inordinate ; some periodical , others erratical , according to the condition of the sick , the quality of the morbous matter , or its quantity and motion . the sixt difference of feavers is taken from their symptomes , as often as a part is possest with an inflammation , and these feavers are always continuall , whether bloud , choller , or flegme superabound ; if bloud , the feaver is called phlegmonodes , if choller , erysipelatodes , and typhodes , or burning ; and they have another name or appellation from the part affected , as from the liver hepatica , from the spleen splenica , from the bladder cystica , from the throat cynanchica , from the head phrenitica , lethargica , comatosa , from the lungs pneumonica , from the side pleuritica , from the midriff diaphragmatica , from the wombe hysterica , from the stomach stomachica , &c. chap. iii. of the division of feavers . all feavers of what sort soever are either essential , or symptomatical , the essential is either simple , compound , confuse , erratick , pestilent , or of malignant nature . the simple is either in the spirits , or humours , or solid parts ; chiefly in the vital spirits , then in the animal and natural ( if there be any such ) is the true ephemera which lasts but one day , but longer if the spirits be crasse . in the humours are ingendred divers feavers , of which some are continual , others intermitting , and of the continual some are from the humours not putrefied , others from putrid humours , and these either from the humours equally , or inequally putrefied . those which are from the humours not putrefied are from the bloud inflamed in the heart by a preternatural heat , which by the greater veines diffused into the habit of the body , doth primarily , and per se hurt our actions . these differ from an ephemera nominally , and in respect of the matter not really , nor in way of cure , because the one is in the spirits inflamed , the other in the bloud unputrefied ; both may proceed from the same external causes , and the same method and remedies serve for the cure of both , they are continual , and have but one accession , although there bee three sorts of them distinguisht by their several names . the first is , when the heat remains equal and alike to it self , through the whole course of the feaver , and how much is inflamed anew , so much is presently dissipated , and this the greeks call homotonos , or of equal tenor . the second is , when the late inflamation is greater than the dissipation , and then the heat gathers strength , and grows stronger , and this is called epacmastical , or increasing . the third is , when there is more dissipated , then is afresh inflamed , and it sensibly declines till it end , and by the same greeks is called paracmastical , or declining ; and this synochus may last seven days , but an ephemera transcends not the third day unless the spirits be crasse ; full bodies which abound with bloud , and fare deliciously and live idlely , and those in hot and moyst , or temperate regions , are most subject to the unputred synochus , for the most part it ends with sweating or moystness , as an ephemera , which wants not its danger , if you neglect bleeding . feavers which are in the putred humours are either from equal , or inequal putrefaction ; if the humours be equally putrefied in the great veines , the feavers are continual , and are three-fold distinguisht by the same names as the unputred synochus ; for the first is homotonos , when the putrefaction remaines equal and alike to it self through the whole course of the disease , and how much putrefies so much is emptied ; the second epacmastical , when the putrefaction from the beginning to the end increaseth ; the ast paracmastical , when the morbifical humour is from the beginning to the end by degrees diminisht . the●● three have no remissions , or exacerbations apparent at intervalls ( because the humours are equally putrefied in the great vessels ) as are in those which proceed from the humours inequally putrefied in the same vessels , of which in their proper place ; neither have they any intermissions as are in the exquisite intermitting feavers , but last till the whole putrefaction is discussed ; their signs are like to those of the unputred synochus , but more conspicuous , because they are from putred matter , but those from the effervescency of heat . the latter phisicians use the word {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , for every continual feaver caused from the humours inequally putrefied in the great veines , to difference it from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which signifies the same , if you respect the etymology of the word . this synechis , or continual feaver , hath divers appellations according to the site of the humour which doth unequally putrefie ; if in the great veines near to the heart , a {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} or burning feaver is ingendred , but if in the other veines further off , a continual feaver is caused , which hath its denomination from the predominant humour , viz. if natural choler putrefie , there will follow a bilious synechis , which every other day shall have its exacerbations and remissions , and in the morning especiall shall be most remitted , but without intermission , from whence is a continual tertian ; if natural flegme putrefie in the veines , there shall be a continual quotidian , which likewise every day at set hours shall have its remissions and exacerbations ; if a melancholly humour putrefie , there shall be a continual quartan , which every fourth day shall have its intension and remission , but no intermission . amongst those feavers which are caused from humours inequally putrid , there are some others which differ from the continual , both in matter and site , and are called intermitting , for the matter of continual feavers is natural , but that of intermittings is excrementitious ; the seat and matter of the continual , is in the great veines , but that of the intermitting without them , as in the liver , stomach , spleen , intestines , mesentery , and habit of the body , so that if excrementitious choler putrefie , it is called an intermitting tertian , because it recurres every thrid day , begins with rigour , and sometimes with vomiting , if it be exquisite , whose fit is twelve hours , or less , according to the quantity of choler producing it , and is terminated with sweats , then ends in an apyrexy , or perfect infebricitation , and the fuel of this disease is principally in the liver ; likewise if excrementitious flegme putrefie , out of the great vessels is caused an intermitting quotidian , whose fit is eighteen hours by reason of its coldness , crassness , and clamminess , and it begins with a coldness of the nose , eares , hands , and feet , and is terminated with a moysture , and not with sweat as a tertian , the fountain of this is the stomach , if glassie flegme putrefie in the same place ; there is another kind of feaver which the greeks call {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the word is derived from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which is milde , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the sea , because as that at first seems smooth to the marriner , and by and by is tost with most horrid tempests , so this feaver at first invasion is gentle , and so takes root , and a little while after precipitates the sick into most desperate dangers , or as aegineta would have it , it is derived from the adverb {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , gently , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , heateth ; to this kinde may bee referred those from rheume , and that which accompanies the green sickness , but of them in their place . if a melancholly excrementitious humour putrifie there , it begins with horrour , and sometimes with vomiting , as a tertian , and the fit is twelve hours , or more , or less , according to the quantity of the humour , and recurres every fourth day , and therefore is called a quartan , which is the longest of all feavers , and hath its seat in the spleen ; and so much for feavers in the humours inequally putrified , whether continual , or intermitting ; and though hippocrates and galen make mention of a quintan , sextan , septan , and nonan , we must not think they proceed from any next kinde of humour , but are to bee referred to a quartan , and to be cured by the same method , onely the difference is that a quintan is caused from an atrabilarious humour , and is the worst of all , fullest of danger , and of the greatest essence , saith galen , commen . on the third section of the first book epidem ▪ but the rest are from a melancholly humour . a hectick feaver ( although it bee in the solid parts ) is to be reckoned amongst the simple feavers , it differs from a pestilential , in that it is free from any venenate or malign quality , from the humoral , that is free from putrefaction . a pestilent feaver is likewise numbred amongst the simple , though it differ from them by its venenate , contagious , and pernicious quality , by which it contaminates our substance , and amongst malignant feavers may be numbred , those from vitellinous , aeruginous , and prassinous choller , according to galen , and hippocrates , and avenz●ar in his theisir , a leipyria is placed also amongst malignant feavers by hippocrates , in his epidem . and progno . 2. lib. 3. and by galen in his comments upon those books , it differs from an exquisite cause by its malignity , and is always deadly , according to galens commen . on aph●ris . 48. sect. 4. and c. 4. of his book of inequal distempers , it kills the fourth day , or sooner , and follows great inflammations of the viscera , so much of simple feavers . a compound feaver is that which is made either of two intermittings mixt , as a double tertian , a double and triple quartan , or of a continual and intermitting , as a hemitritaean , or a hectick with a putred make a compound feaver , and so likewise of many others . the confused is as often as two or three humours doe putrefie together , whether in the great veines , or out of them ▪ and in the same place begin together , and end together , for this mixion ingenders no compound but a confused feaver , and the one cannot be known from the other , because the signes are so confused from whence it hath its name , as for example , if choler and flegme putrefie together in the great veines , there shal be two continual feavers in the same place , which make a confuse , and no compound feaver ; on the other side , if the same humours putrefie with melancholly in the lesser veines altogether , and in the same place , there shall bee two or three intermittings , which mixt doe likewise produce no compound , but confused feaver ; so a double continual tertian will be confused , and not compound , because the putred matter is contained in the same place . the erratick , or inordinate feaver is that which observes no type , or order of other simple feavers , whose humour putrefies in divers places , and moves from one place to another , from whence is the diversity of the fits ; sometimes it intermits four dayes , sometimes eight , and sometimes more , and then recurres ; sometimes it comes sooner , and is called praeoccupant ; sometimes moves slower , and is called retardant ; and so much for essential feavers . a symptomatical feaver , though it be continual , yet differs from the former , because its matter is not contained in the greater veines , neither hath it any exacerbations , or remissions , but depends on the inflammation of the part which it possesses , from whence it hath its name , as is observed in the second chapter . chap. iv. of the circuit of feavers . to finde out the reason of the circuits of intermitting feavers is of no small moment amongst the learned , for what one allows , another reprobates , every one applauding his owne phansie ; leaving then their nicities , i shall declare my owne opinion , having premised somewhat for elucidation of what shall follow ; all the parts of the body are endued with four faculties , to wit , the attractive , retentive , alterative , and expulsive , and as long as these are free from any fault , man lives in perfect health , and when one of these is too strong for the other , he is affected with various diseases ▪ as if an excrement be inherent to any part , and cannot bee expeld from it by reason of its weakness , it becomes burthensome to it , because it is neither discussed nor removed ; or if by reason of its coldness , crasseness , or clamminess , it obstruct the passages through which it ought to be expeld , it putrefies , and causeth a disease , and the heat contracted by putrefaction is very offensive to the heat , and first of all occupies and infests the spirits , because they are tenuous , then the humours , because they are more cra●●e ; and last of all the solid parts , and this heat from the heart through the arteries dispersed to the whole body generates a feaver ▪ and hurts our actions . the cause then of the shortness or length , of the anticipation or tardation of the circuits , may be taken from these six things viz. from the species of the humour , from the quantity , quality , habit of the body , disposition of strength , and complication of feavers . there are four humours in the body , one of which exceeds the other in quantity and quality , as if pure bloud putrefie in the great veines , ( which is hot and moyst ) it begets a continual synechis , if out of those veines , it produces an intermitting , it s thinner part is turned into choler , and the crasser into melancholly , as alexan. aphrodis . learnedly notes . another cause of the circuits is from the quality of the humour , and weakness of the part where the excrement is heaped up ; as flegme next to bloud exceeds other humours in quantity , and being cold of quality , and moyst , crasse , and clammy , by its frigidity it resists putrefaction , and by reason of its crasseness and clamminess is not so easily resolved as bloud , and hence are the length of its fits , and by reason of the reliques and imbecillity of the part , new excrement is heaped on it , thence are new fits which recurre every day ; and if yellow choler putrefie in a part , it causeth the like , though more difficultly than flegme , by reason of its driness , by which it more powerfully resists putrefaction , and because it is a tenuous humour , and not crasse , it is farre more easily resolved than flegme , and leaves less reliques behind it in the affected part ; and hence is it that its fits ( which it causeth ) doe sooner end in an infebricitation , and greater time or interval is required for a new accession , but because the part is debilitated by the former excrement , it readily receives the new , which putrefying as before causeth a new fit , neither sooner nor later than the third day , and lasts twelve hours , and is therefore called a tertian , because it recurres every third day . the melancholly juyce retained in a part doth not so easily putrefie as other humours , by reason of its two qualities which resist putrefaction , viz. frigidity and siccity , and therefore it intermits two daies , and returns every fourth day ; and though the former matter bee emptied , yet there is a weakness and disposition of the part ( as in the other ) to receive a fresh humour , from whence follows a new fit , which for the most part lasts twelve hours , sometimes more , sometimes less , according to the quantity of the humour oppressing the part . the quantity of the humour , whether much or little , cannot of it self be the cause of the longitude , or brevity , anticipation , or tardation of the fit , it is true , a great quantity doth oppress the part , and a small is quickly resolved ; but that alone cannot be the efficient cause , because the same motion is observed to bee from a small and great quantity , and that it is so , let choler or melancholly be found in any part of the body putrefied , it is most certaine that choler will move neither sooner nor later than the third day , nor melancholly than the fourth , therefore the quantity of the humour alone cannot be the cause of the circuits , or of the longitude , or &c , of feaverish fits . but rather the quality is the cause of the length or shortness of the anticipation , or post-position of the fits , which your epileptical insults seeme to manifest , for they proceed not so much from the quantity of the humour , as from the quality offensive to the braine , and thus womens courses flow at set moneths and dayes , not by reason of the quantity of the bloud , but quality , whether they be much or little , unless somewhat intervert the course of nature ; and so wee must judge of the humours , in which there is a certain occult quality , unknown to us , which causes flegme every day , yellow choler every third day , and melancholly every fourth , to grow furious , and bee moved ; hippocrates seems to favour this opinion in his proaemium to the first book of prognosticks , where hee thus prophecies , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. whether there be nor somewhat divine in the disease , which according to aristotle , in proportion answer to the element of stars ; now the starry element is said to be that which operates beyond the order or power of the four elements , and is scarce comprehensible . the habit of the body whether dense or rare , may be the cause too , of the length or shortness of the fits , but the anticipation or tardation may bee referred to the substance of the matter , or to the multitude or paucity ; the substance is either crasse or tenuous , if crasse and clammy the fits shall be longer , if tenuous shorter ; if to the multitude , or paucity , a little is easier dissipated and resolved than a great deal , from these two then , the anticipation or tardation of the fits may bee caused . the fifth cause of the circuits may be from the strength , for if the alterative and expulsive faculty of every part be strong , they will cast off all the excrement to the parts destined for it by nature ; contrariwise , it they bee both weak , that remaining doth by degrees putrefie , because it is not discussed , and so it moves sooner or later according to its quantity , or quality , or both together , and the paroxysmes are longer , or shorter . the complication of feavers may change the course of circuits , because some are from a cold humour , crasse and clammy , others from a hot and tenuous ; so the one is moved , corrupted , and resolved sooner , the other later , from whence is the shortness or length of the fits ; besides our dyet , whether good or bad , if in tempestivous doth help or hurt much , or the patients intemperancy , and irregularity . the efficient cause of putrefaction is either external , or internal ; the external doth chiefly depend on corrupt meats , or evil juyce , which can no way be corrected by the help of nature , and which are apt to corrupt and affect the viscera ; the internal cause is either from obstruction , or the occursion of putrid things , for obstruction , caused by crasse & viscid humours hinders perspiration , and so the humours reteined , and neither discussed , nor cooled , doe easily putrefie though they be good , and hence a feaver ; of the same force is that obstruction which proceeds from a plenitude of the vessels , which is above our strength ; for they therefore putrefie because they cannot be concocted , nor governed by our enfeebled strength . the occursion of putred things doth first corrupt the spirits , then the humours , as the filthy exhalations , and putrefaction of vapours , drawing in the air from the gallical elephantiacal , and of those infected with a putrid or pestilent feaver . chap. v. of the constitution of feavers . sententious hippocrates in the 12th . aphorisme of the first section , reduces the times of diseases to two , viz. the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} and the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that according to galen in the first book of crises , chap. 4. is the constitution of the whole disease , or its duration conscribed within its four times , viz. the beginning , increase , state , and declination , the knowledge and distinction of which times is so necessary for a phisician , that without it hee can neither prognosticate aright , nor prescribe proper diet or remedies . the signes of these four universal times are taken from the idaea , or species of the disease , from its motion , from the nature of the fits , from the figure of the body , from the strength of the patient , from the season of the year , and age of the patient , from the pulse and rigor , from the hour of the fit , and the vehemency of the symptomes , from the length or shortness of the fits , from the nature of the evacuations , from the crudity or coction of the urine , and of the humours causing the diseases . the idaea or species of the disease is chiefly taken from its motion : for a swift motion shewes that the state will be quickly , and a slow motion that it will fall out later . thus a burning feaver by reason of its essence is said to be vehement , and quickly comes to its state ; and a pestilent feaver by reason of the governing faculty it affects , is vehement , and hath a speedy state , and an inflammation of the lungs , by reason of the dignity of the part , speeds to its state . from the nature of the fits you have these signes , if they be short , the state is near ; if long , afarre off . from the figure of the body , if the face with the hypochondria bee suddainly extenuated , it denotes the feaver to be acute , and of swift motion , but if the body be not impaired , it is a signe of its longitude . if at the beginning the sick be more than ordinarily weakned , it shews the disease to be acute , and of swift motion ; if otherwise , to be diuturnal . if the season , age , region , custome , and dyet of the patient be all agreeing , the disease shall be short ; if otherwise , long ; as for example , if a young cholerick body at midsummer , in a hot country , feeding high , on meats of good juyce , and drinking pure wine , should be taken with a tertian , it shall sooner leave him , than if hee were an old man in a cold country , and winter season , fed with cold and moist meats , and seized on by the same disease , and thus a winter quotidian would bee longer to him than a summer one . if the pulse be frequent , swift , and great , it declares an acute feaver of quick motion . if the rigour be long , it shews the length of the disease , because the humour is putrefied out of the great vessels , if short , it shews the contrary . if it alwayes invade at the same hour the disease will be long , because it shews the humour to be fixt , and hardly to be eradicated , but if it anticipate , or come later , it will be shorter , and bee more easily extirpated ; sometimes the quantity of the matter is the cause of the anticipation , as the paucity is of the tardation . the vehemency of the symptomes in the fit doth indicate the vehemency and velocity of the morbificall matter . if the later fit last longer than the former , it shews the augment , if shorter , the declination of the disease . if in a former fit there was an evacuation made by sweat , and yet the next fit be as long , it denotes the length of the disease from the quantity of the matter . if at the beginning , the urine bee coct , the feaver will be short ; if crude , long ; for the urine is of good judgement in feavers continual , or intermitting . that water is tenuous in which appear no contents , but is of white colour , and denotes crudities ; but if it be meanly crasse with white contents , smooth , and equal , it shewes coction , and the brevity of the feaver . if the matter be not contained in the greater or lesser veines , but in the stomach , then the signes are to be taken from the dejections or stooles , if in the instruments of respiration , from the spittle ; if in the habit of the body , from the sweat ; hippocrates in the first and second book of prognosticks ; but that these four times may the better be distinguisht , we shall set downe some examples of particular diseases , by which you may guesse of the rest . the beginning of a feaver is then said to be , when the humour in which the feaver doth consist is crude , the augment when it begins to be concocted , the vigor or state of the disease is most vehement when it appears most concoct , the declination when all symptomes doe abate ; or in a word , an obscure concoction determinates the beginning , a manifest , the augment , a perfect the state . the beginning of a phlegmon is , when the part is filled with bloud , the augment when the fluxion ceases , and the bloud collected putrefies , from which putrefaction is caused a heat , and from that heat a greater diffusion , distending the part more , though there be no new afflux , the vigour is when it is turning to pus , the paine and hear being greater , the declination when the pus flowes forth , or is digest and resolved . the beginning of an ophthalmy is , when there is a deflux of a thin , crude , copious humour to the eye , the augment is when the humour is more crasse , and hath some signes of coction , the state is when it is yet crasser , and less , when the eye-lids are glued together like to those that sleep , the declination when all things are more gentle , without the distinction of these times , the remedies reckoned up by hippocrates , apho. 31. sect. 6. would little availe this disease . the beginning of an ulcer is , when the sanies is watry thin and incoct , the augment when it is lesse and thicker , the state when the pus is tenuous , white , and equal , when crass and little , the declination ; these four universal times of diseases are not alwayes equal , nor comprehended within a set number of dayes , not only in divers diseases , but in the same , one is sometimes longer , sometimes shorter , and not alwayes equal . besides these signes , the anticipation of the fit doth declare the augment of the disease , as the tardation doth declination , though it is not universally so ; for some quotidians , tertians , and quartans ( by a certain propriety of the disease ) have from the beginning to the end always anticipated , as others have always been more tardant . if the fit anticipate , and be longer than usually , and more vehement , and the intermission shorter , more impure , and the feaverish heat increased , and the symptome● 〈…〉 it more grievous , they denote the state ; but if it be shorter , slower , more simple , and the symptomes lesse , they argue a declination of the whole disease . the like observation may be made of symptomatical feavers , which arise from the inflammations of the viscera , whose times are the same with those of phlegmons . all this is to be understood of 〈◊〉 diseases , and not of those lethal which run not through all these times manifestly , because some kill in the beginning , others in the augment , others in the state , and seldome or never in the declination , unless the disease be malignant , and the strength so deject , that it cannot expel the morbifical humour though it be concoct . chap. vi . of the four times of disease● in special . in the former chapter we treated in general of the constitution of the whole disease , now of the paroxysme or fit , having first told what time is , and what a paroxysme ; a period , or circuit , and what a type , and wherein they differ . time is the number or measure of motion according to priority , and posteriority , saith aristotle in the fourth of his physicks , but galen in his book to thrasybulus describes it otherwise , for he sayes . time is an alteration of the morbifical matter , made either by the natural or preternatural heat , since the times of diseases are essentially measured by the mediate passions caused in the living parts of our bodies , and those in relation to coction . a period is the time of intermission and remission , when a feaver returns from one place to the same againe , as for example , if a tertian ague begin the tenth hour with rigour , and the third day return the same hour with rigour , it shall be an intermitting tertian ; if a feaver begin with cold , it shall be an intermitting quotidian ; if with horrour , a quartan . in the period , paroxysme , or circuit is concluded the type , which is nothing else but the order of intension , or remission , comprehended in the period , which denotes both the time and species of the disease , saith galen . the matter of intermitting feavers is sometimes moved from one place to another , sometimes moves not , but rests quiet in a part , now when the matter is moved the times of intermitting feavers are six , viz. the beginning , the inequality , the increment , the state , declination , and integrity , or interval . the fit or paroxysine is divided into the accession , which is the worser part of the whole circuit , beginning from the first invasion and lasting to the state , and remission , which is the more benigne part , saith galen in his commentary on aphoris . 12. sect. 1. and chap. 3 , 4 , 5. of the times of diseases ; now to the accession belong the four first times , to the remission , the two last , which are now to be explained . the beginning is , when the matter begins to be moved , and nature hath not yet begun to work upon the matter . the inequality , when the matter begins to putrefie , and putrid vapours assault the heart , and a feaverish heat is diffused without the heart , which whiles it is expanding , nature gives battle against the matter . the augment is , when the heat is equally expanded throughout all parts , and the heat is more intense , and nature re-acts on the morbifical matter . the state is , when there is an omnimodal equality in the feaverish heat , that is when the heat is extended through all parts in an equal degree . the declination is , when there is a gradual inequality of heat , or when the heat is diminisht , and nature overcomes , and the seaverish heat forsakes the heart , and invades the extreame parts and feet . the integrity is , when the feaver is quite off but these six may very well be reduced to four , because the former of the inequality is reduced to the beginning , the latter part to the augment , and the integrity is no time of the feaver , but of the period ; and so much of feavers , whose matter is moveable from place to place . now let us speak of that matter which is not moved , but remains in a part , by reason of its weakness , that it cannot expel it , and therefore putrefies , and causeth a putrid feaver , which the matter being emptied doth intermit , but because the imbecillity of the part is still remaining , and certaine seminaries of the former matter , therefore a new excrement is easily received , which being corrupted causeth a new fit . the beginning of these fits is , when the superfluity begins to putrefie , the augment when the fuliginous putrid matter assaults the heart , and the humours contained in it are inflamed , so that its innate heat is made fiery hot , the state is when this fiery fervor is brought to the height , and the de bate is strongest between the feavourish heat and nature , the declination is , when nature overcomes the fiery heat , and expells it ( if the matter bee tenuous ) by sweat if the pores be open , and the expulsive faculty strong , or by urine if those passages be open , or by the stoole if the matter be crasse , which is the way appointed by nature for such excrements . the beginning of these diseases is known from the pulse rare and slow , from a plumbeous or sublivid colour , a coldnesse of the extreame parts , ssoath , sadness , paine , and profound sleep , the heat being retracted to the heart , and the braine refrigerated , from their eye-lids scarce moveable , the matter moving outwards and molesting them , from their salivation caused by the concussion of the rigour or horrour , the salival matter residing in the glandules about the root of the tongue , being expressed by it . when a dry cough is caused , the thinner part of the moisture falling into the rough artery , it being ineffectual and vaine , the sick is worse affected , and then is the augment with a great pulse frequent , and the heat expanded to all the parts . the state followes when the heat is consistent at its height , neither encreased nor diminisht , the symptomes vehement , the pulse greater , swifter , and more frequent then ordinary . if the declination tend to death , ( which is very rare ) the pulse is weak , unequal , and inordinate , but if to health , then all symptomes are remitted , and strength daily encreased . these four times are to bee observed both in sal●brous feavers , and mortal , but in different respects ; in the third chapter we told you , that salubrous feavers were either in the spirits , or in the humours , or in the solid parts . in the spirits is a diary , whose times are not taken from the matter , nor from the symptomes , but from the essence of the preternatural heat kindled in the vital spirit of the heart . the whole fit of this feaver is twenty four hours , sometimes shorter or longer , according to the quantity of the febrish heat , crasseness of the spirits , the strength of the sick , or thicknesse of the skin , but if it be exquisite , it speedily runs through its four times . the humours may bee inflamed without putrefaction , and cause a continual feaver , which hath but one fit , and that longer than a diary , whose four times are taken from its essence , and from the matter , viz. ( the fervid bloud hurting our actions ) whether it be homotonous , epacmastical , or paracmastical ; and these four times may be distinguished though short , and the matter not moveable from place to place . next , let us examine the sings by which the four times of feavers which arise from the humours equally putrefied , whose matter is quiet and immoveable may be distinguished , and afterwards of those inequally putrefied ; we will speak first of those whose matter putrefies in the great veines , and if equally there shall arise a threefold continual feaver , which come not alike to the integrity or interval , and end with one fit , and has no periods , yet hath its four times distinguishable ; the first is , when through the whole course of the disease , the measure of putrefaction is alike , and the greeks call this homotonos ; the second is , when the putrefaction is greater than the dissipation , and this is called epacmastical ; the third is , when the dissipation is greater than the putrefaction , and is called paracmastical , and their four times are distinguisht by their intention , and remission , and putrefaction ; if the humours which are contained in the great veines doe unequally putrefie , it is either the thinner part of the bloud , or cholerick bloud which putrefies , and it causes a continual tertian , or flegme , or the cruder part of the bloud , and causes a continual quotidian , or the crasser part , of the bloud , and maketh a continual quartan , of which more at large in their proper places ; the times of these feavers may be distinguisht from what is aforesaid , if the humours putrefie out of those greater veines , the feavers shall bee intermitting , and their four times shall be more evident than those of continual , because the matter moves from place to place , and they are terminated by urine , sweatings , vomitings or looseness . mortal feavers seldome have four times , for some kill in the beginning if they bee pe●acute , and the patient weak ; others kill in the augment , when the sick is stronger ; others in the state , when they are yet stronger , and the feaver is less acute , as galen shewes in his first book of crises , chap. 2. and hippocrates in the first book of his epid. sect. 2. text 45. saith , no man dyes in an universal declination , for coction signifies a speedy indication , and security of health ; the reason is , because in the declination of a paroxysme , or fit , the morbificall matter may not be overcome , and so death may follow , either from the weakness of the faculty , or from the malignant quality , or from the quantity of the humour wherewith nature is overwhelmed , or by some errour of the phisician , though signes of coction doe appear ; to prove this , avicen in book 4. fen . 2. tract 1. chap. 98. brings for an example the small pox of children , in the declination of which sometimes death follows , not by reason of the pockes which are in declination , but by reason of the feaver , and malignant quality annexed . another example there is , that a man may dye in the declination of a synochus , not by reason of the essence of the feaver , but by neglect of the malignant matter the cause of it , or being preposterously handled , as galen notes in his third book of crises ; these four times of diseases according to hippocrates and galen can no more bee described by a certaine number of daies , and houres , than the decretory daies can , by reason of the various temper of the humours , and the diseased , as shall further appear in the next assertion , for an acute disease hath shorter times and a chronical longer . the four times of a hectick feaver are not taken from the matter , nor from the symptomes , but from the essence of the preternatural heat which works upon the primogenious humidity of the heart , whose beginning is when the feaverish heat begins to work on the rorid substance of the heart ; the augment , when it begins to consume it ; the state , when the humidity is consumed ; the declination , on , when that native humidity begins to be restaurated . chap. vii . certaine physical canons , or rules for practise . all rules for curing are taken either from the disease , or from its efficient cause , or from the nature and situation of the affected part , or from the symptomes ; from the disease , as a feaver , whose preternatural heat is in the spirits , humours , or solid parts , and is not simple , but conjugate , viz. hot and dry , which according to hippocrates axiome , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , things are cured by their contraries ; that is , by coolers , and moistners , and this is the first canon . the second is taken from the morbifical putrid matter , which requires an ablation , or removing . the third from the nature and site of the affected part , as if the braine be affected , it requires other remedies than the lungs , and this other than the stomack , liver , spleen , guts , reines , bladder , or wombe , from the symptomes , if they be great with imminent danger of life , as if a syncope be accidental to a feaver , we must oppose that , omitting for a while the cure of the feaver ; but if they bee small , we must respect both , so that we principally attend the disease . the feaverish beat both of continual and intermitting feavers arising from a putrid filth , cannot safely and wholly be extinguisht , before the putrefaction be repressed , and the impurity taken away , for the method of curing requires this , that first wee remove the cause , then the effect , unlesse something more urgent forbid it ; the impure humour then is first to bee purged forth , and then if any extraneous heat be left , either in the humours , or parts , it is to be extinguished , and by preparatives , and things opening obstructions to be removed ; but against this doctrine it is objected , that things cooling doe per se encrease obstructions , incrassate the matter , and hinder its evacuation , and the stipation being increased , and the fuliginous vapours included , the putrefaction is doubled . on the other side , aperient , detergent , and purging medicines are all almost hot , and therefore per se are bad , and intend the feaver ; in this difficult case we must use the temperate rootes , such as are the sharp dock , grasse roots , butchers broom , and asparagus , which open obstructions without any manifest heat , and doe not increase the feaverish distemper , and so the worst is prevented , if the body bee strong this method is strictly to be observed , that is , to remove the efficient cause , and thorowly to open the obstructions with the aforesaid aperitive meanes , and then the putrid humour is to bee purged , although the feaver be a little exasperated by the medicine that does it ; but when by the fire of the feaver the strength is much resolved , then we are to use cooling medicines both inwardly and outwardly as juleps , epithems , &c. which with all possible speed may extinguish the heat , omitting a while the cause , for it is not safe to increase the feaver by such things as cut off the cause , lest life depart with the disease , but it is better in my judgement to extinguish the burning feaver , though you somewhat transgresse against the cause , but in curing of putrid feavers , the first place is due to the cause , that part of the matter be emptied , then to imitate nature by preparing it , which when by her assistance it shall appear to bee coct , then it possible to eradicate it , that the feaver be not diuturnal ; the emptying of the matter may be either by bleeding , or purging at the very beginning if nothing hinder . bleeding in all putrid feavers , especially the continual , is not to bee neglected , saith galen , in the eleventh of his method of curing , having premised a cooling glister , or suppository , if the patient were bound ; nor in intermitting feavers when there is a plenitude , or pulsative paine in the head , or tossing of the body with a suffocating heat , lest it degenerate into a continual feaver , or the putrefaction spread wider , and it is to bee done on the intermitting day , or at the time of remission in a continual feaver , provided age and strength allow it ; if the feaver be very vehement and urgent , to let bloud in that violence is to kill the patient , saith celsus ; and if the body be weak , let bloud a little at a time , so the strength will not bee impaired , because part of the burthen with which nature was opprest being taken off , she doth the more easily bear the rest , and with lesse force tame and subdue it , saith galen ; and we ought not so much to estimate the years as the strength of the diseased . a late writer hath published , that bleeding ought to be celebrated in all diseases , which i cannot allow , though i admit it in most , but more sparingly when the feaver is from a cold humour , lest by its refrigeration the crudity be doubled , and doe not easily admit of concoction , if the disease will suffer it , the best time for bleeding is the spring , if not , it may be administred at any time of the year , if strength permit , especially if there be a plenitude , suppression of the courses , or hemorrhoids . if the sick be bound in body , before you let bloud , give a suppository , or glister , or eccoprotical medicine that is gently purging , lest that the putrid matter should be rapt , or forced from the first region of the body into the greater veines , and so inquinate the bloud , and make it more impure ; the same is to be observed before we give a peritive medicines . purging is to be used at the beginning , if the matter bee turgid , aphor. 10. sect. 4. in diseases very acute ; purge the first day , if the matter invite to excretion , for delays in such cases are dangerous , and it must be done by some minorating medicine , that part of the impurity being taken away , the remainder may the more easily be concocted , for according to hippocrates aphoris . 22 sect. 1. we ought to move that which is concoct , and not the crude matter , nor at the beginning unlesse it be turgid , and for the most part it is not , and afterwards to purge with a stronger medicine , unless it be done by the benefit of nature ; neither are we always to wait for the concoction of the humours , especially where the matter is turgid , and with its fluctuating motion running from place to place perturbes the whole body , as it happens in the most acute diseases . if the feaver be continual it is better to purge at the time of remission , whethe it be in the morning or evening , than at the time of its exacerbation , or upon an odde or decretory day , if strength give leave , otherwise they are first to be refreshed with nourishments of good juyce , and those rether liquid than solid , because those are of easier distribution , and then wee are to use meanly purgers appropriate to the humour ; but if the feaver bee intermitting , then purge on the day of rest , or upon the fit day , if the fit come not till after dinner , at which time the humour is moved by nature to expulsion , the strength having first been repaired by nourishments , for then it is easier , and with less pains driven forth , being in motion , as i have found by experience in curing of quartans , as oft as i gave phisick on the fit day ; besides , it may be confirmed by reason , for that purging bee instituted according to art , we must consider the motion of nature , whether she tends upwards or downwards , and the season of the year , and the inclination of the sick , for if it be winter , and the patient aged , and vomit easily , and his stomach be full of crude clammy flegme , he ought to have a vomit , saith polybius , in his book of good diet , which is falsely ascribed to hippocrates the great ; for the six winter moneths purge by the upper parts : on the other side , if hee vomit not easily he is not to be forced , saith galen , and after him aetius , but is to bee purged downwards , by some medicine accomodate to the morbifical humour , at first purging those purgers which have an astriction with them ought not to bee used as myrobalans ; juyce of roses , and the sirrups compounded of them , especially if there be obstructions which usually accompany putrid feavers ; and in purging of the humours we must be careful to use such preparation , that the passage be made open , hippo. aphoris . 9. sect. 2. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. that is , when we would purge a body , we must make it fluxil , that the humour to bee emptied may yeeld , and be obedient to the traction of the medicament , for if the passages be obstructed , and putrefaction caused for want of ventilation , then before we purge wee are to use incisive medicines for the crasse humours , detergent for the clammy , and so to clear the obstructions ; and sometimes we are to appease and allay some heady humour ( which ought not to have been purged ) that by its furiousness and fervor , it rush not on some principal part , or by its acrimony exulcerate where it passes . the manner then of preparation , is to be proportioned to the humour , for the mitigation of the disease ; as for example , in acute feavers we use sirrups and apozems , which are made of such things as are attenuating and cooling , or which are detersive , and not very hot , as you may see in the second part of my enchiridion , but in diuturnal slow feavers , which flegme or melancholly ingenders , stronger and hotter means are required ; and those fierce humours which bleeding will not temper , nor purging carry away , we must bridle , and obtund with refrigerating medicines , not of thin substance lest they be more exagitated , nor of crasse because they hinder evacuation , but of a middle nature , which have a little austerity , or acidness , or both joyned with them , such as are your omphacium , juyce of sorrel , pomgranate , or citron , by which the acrimony and putrefaction of choler may be retunded , and the heat kindled in the humours , be impeded from spreading any further . if besides the putrefaction there shall be any suspicion of venenosity , we must mixe with the former such things as by a similitude of substance doe represse it , whether inwardly or outwardly applied , which shall be described in our tract of malignant and pestilent feavers ; detergent and attenuating medicines are to be fitted both for preparation of hot and cold humours , because both humours by their clamminess , or crasseness may obstruct , as is manifest in vitellinous choler ; if a detersive , and attenuatory faculty bee joyned with a cold quality , as in succory , it is the more efficacious , and of more frequent use than that joyned with a hot quality , as in worm-wood , hyssope , origanum , and that is to be used in hot diseases , these in cold with mulse , and not with plaine water , especially when the heat is sluggish , and the means not easily inflamed ; but on the other side , with cooling medicines we at once resist both the fervor of choler , and heat of the feaver , and prepare the vitious humour which doth foment it before we purge , by a diverse quality ▪ as more at large in the second part of our enchiridion . there are some that stoutly maintaine the opinon of avicen , that thin cholerick humours ought to be incrassated before they be purged ; which opinion seems to contradict hippocrates and galen , and may thus be reconciled . if sincere , or excrementitious choler be thin , it is not to bee incrassated before purging , but presently to be cast forth , for so it easily yeelds to the attraction of the medicine , and thus the opinion of the greeks is true ; but if the same choler be crasse and tenacious , as the vitellinous is , then it is to be attenuated and deterged , as avicen would have it , otherwise it cannot be driven forth , but by force and damage to the patient ; but if it be mixt with bloud , then wee are to expect concoction from the benefit of nature , but the fautorers of avicen object against the opinion of the greeks , that unlesse the thin humours be incrassated , they will be fixt in our members , penetrating into the most retired parts of our bodies ; to which objection some answer , if the choler be infixt it will grow thick , and cause obstructions , and then extenuating and detergent , and not incrassating medicines are necessary , or by attenuating remedies nature is helped to excerne the noxious humour by urine or sweat ; neither doth the strength of this argument reach to preparation before purging ; shall that which is crasse then be attenuated , and that which is tenuous incrassated ? galens opinion is , that that which may return to its natural state be altered , as by incrassating the thin ( viz. in diseases of the breast ) and attenuating the crasse , but not so in preparation , or alteration before purging ; and by this distinction the greeks and avicen may bee made friends . others give other reasons against avicen thus , the first natural action is attraction , to which thin humours are most obedient , and most readily follow the medicament ; the second is a kind of violent expulsion , by which also thin humours are most easily driven forth , therefore they are not to be incrassated . there are three sorts of purging medicines , some purge by traction , such as hippocrates , and the ancient greeks used , as euphorbium , lathiris , elaterium , scammonium , colocynthis , helleborus , &c. which wee use not now , unless in great diseases , or in small quantity mixt with other things , and corrected , and on rustick bodies , whom gentler medicines will little or nothing move , and not in continual feavers sprung from a hot cause . others purge by smoothing , or suppling , as manna cal. cassia egypt , sena , polypody , sirrup of violets , &c. others purge with astriction , as rhubarb , all the myrobalans , juyce and sirrup of roses , which we use when the parts are to be strengthened , and there is no obstruction which they may prejudice ; he that is to take a purge in them morne , let him not take sirrop of poppies over night , or dissolve treacle , or new mithridate in it , because the cold quality they have from opium doth hinder purging , according to the experience and authority of galen in his twelfth book , de theria . to piso . in the state of the disease abstaine from purging , that nature be not called from her work , but commit the whole business to her , because then all symptomes are most violent , otherwise you add evil to evil , especially if a crisis be near , hippoc . aphor. 29. sect , 2. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. at the height is is best to be quiet ; and in the next aphoris . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. at the state of diseases all things are most vehement , and therefore abstaine from medicaments , or any way to move or irritate nature , &c. aphor. 20. sect. 1. if the crisis be perfect all is safe , and no more is to be done , but if there be any thing left , it is to be removed by medicine for fear of a relapse , aphor. 12. sect. 2. that of diseases which is left within after judgement , does usually cause a return of the disease ; upon a critical day if there appear no signes of coction , but of crudity , though there be an excretion even in the state of the disease , it is not to be trusted to , neither ought we to fear those evil accidents which happen not according to reason , but the noxious humour is to be emptied that the disease returne not , aphoris . 27. sect. 2. if any light thing happen besides reason in acute diseases , we are not to trust to it , nor to be diffident if a greater business happen not according to reason , for such things are very uncertaine , and of no long continuance , the whole matter of a disease then cannot be rooted out , unless concoct and after the state , when those preter-rational symptomes are abated , and nature is assisting to us ; on the contrary , if there appear signes of a vasal plenitude , or of crudity , we must abstaine from purging , and neither provoke sweat , nor urine , lest the vitious humours , so moved , be carried into the greater veines , and exasperate the feaver , and make it more contumacious ; by what remedies urine and sweat are to be moved , i have taught in my enchiridion , in the first , second , and third chapters of the second part . these are the chief and general canons to be observed in curing of feavers , whether continual or intermitting ; other rules wee shall set downe in their proper place , now for their cure in special . chap. viii . of a diary feaver . this feaver hippocrates calls {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} that is , flatuous , and the other greeks {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , because it continues but a day , rather than from a fish aristotle makes mention of in his fifth book of animals , about the end of the nineteenth chapter , but the latines call it a diary , which sometimes is extended to more daies , when the spirits inflamed are crasse , which if not resolved it degenerates sometimes into a putrid feaver , sometimes into a hectick● or malignant feaver , saith galen . the causes of this feaver are either external , or internal ; the external are taken from the six non-natural things , as from the air too hot and dry in the summer , or the heat of the country , or the hot and dry temperament of the patient , as the picrocholous or cholerick natures , whose spirits are easily inflamed , from whence is an ephemera ; sometimes by the cold air , or use of aluminous bathes , the skin is condensed , so that the fuliginous exhalations which should be excerned through the skin are repressed , and so the spirits are easily inflamed ; sometimes it is from drinking of wine , drunkenness , long sleepes , or continual watchings , over-much labour , hard riding , idleness , or want of exercise , from the motions of body or mind , as from anger , fury , hunger and thirst , suppression of some hot humour , as of the courses , or hemorrhoids , from the contract of some feaverish body , from an actual or potential cautery applied to a cholerick or plethorick body , from hot meats , acrid medicaments , salt things , and the like . the internal causes are obstructions , whether caused from without , or within ; from an external cause , as from the thickeness of the skin , from within , as when a sharp distillation from the braine falls upon the heart through the arterial veines , which inflames the vital spirit , whence is a diary feaver . sometimes other viscera are obstructed , as the messentery , liver , spleen , reins , bladder , wombe , and when these are obstructed first of all , the natural spirits not being ventilated grow hot , and by their power alter the spirits of the heart , and increasing their heat beyond the bounds of nature cause a feaver . another internal cause is the inflammation or swelling of the glandules , which makes a diary , hippocrates aphoris . 55. sect. 4. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. that is , all feavers from swellings are bad , except the diary , and he saith the same , epid. 2. sect. 3. the signes are taken from the efficient causes , whether they be originated from things external , or internal ; if it proceed from an external cause , you may know from the relation of the sick ; if from the internal causes , by the heat , pulse , and urine , hippo. 6. epid. com. 1. text 29. and galen in the first to glanc . chap. 2. and 9. and 10th . method of curing , chap. 4. for if it be exquisite the heat is milde , and gentle to the touch , which ends with a madidness or sweat ; the pulse is swift and frequent , but equal and temperate ( in case it be not joyned with a putrid or hectick feaver ) except in that which proceeds from anger , sadness , hunger , crudity , thickness of the skin caused by cold , for then the diastole is greater , and swifter than the systole , the substance , colour , and sediment of the urine differ little from that which is natural , galen to glan . and its fits are very easie , if it arise from the inflammation of some bubo , or from the suppression of some humour , the urine shall be higher , and thicker , with a little sediment , and that crasse and crude ; it invades with rigour , and easily degenerates into an unputrid synochus , if the sick bee plethorical ; or into a synechis , if he be cacochymous , or into an hectick , if it be neglected , or ill cured . such are most subject to it , as are picrocholous and of a hot and dry temperament , and in the summer time ; if it be exquisite , it is cured by the benefit of nature alone , and for the most part its fit is twenty four hours , but sometimes lasts till the third day , when the vital spirits are most crasse , if it be prorogued longer it is not exquisite , but is either an unputrid synochus , or joyned with a putrid feaver , into which it easily degenerates . the rule for cure is not taken from the matter , because there is none , but from the essence of the feaver , which consists in the preter-natural heat , wch ought to be remedied by coolers , and moystners , for the faults of the spirits cannot be taken away by purging or bleeding , because here is neither cacochimy nor plenitude ; hippocrates in the fourth part of his book of dyet in acute diseases , and galen in his book of procatarctical causes , cured menander sick of a diary caused by heat , with paregorical , and diaphoretical medicines , as baths , frictions , and oyntments . we use baths when wee intend to relax the skin , call forth tenuous fullginous vapours , and change the habit of the body , but in the declination of the feaver , with gentle friction , that we may cause sweats , and the fumid excrements may be discussed , and then especially when there is no crudity in the chief vessels , nor inveterate obstruction of the viscera , nor hardness or weakness , lest that the crudity bee carried into all parts of the body ; if none of these things be , then the sick may safely wash , otherwise not , least that the obstruction and weaknesse of the viscera bee increased , and the tumor , if there be any . it is good against the thickness and obstruction of the skin , from cold or astringent causes ; if a diary have its rise from driness and heat , let the bath be luke-warme , and not hot , having first emptied the belly if it were costive with a suppository , or cooling and moystning glister , least it degenerate into a hectick , or synochus . if from the thickness of the skin by reason of too great cold , or by use of aluminous baths , diaphoretical , and paregorical medicines must be boyled in the water , for those take away obstructions , and provoke sweats , being of a hot and tenuous substance , and cause the cooleness of the water to penetrate the deeper , but these being temperate or hot in the first degree , and of thin substance , as the roots of marsh mallows , fenugreek , flowers of camomel , melilot , and elder , by these means the closeness of the skin is to bee made open , least perspiration being hindred , the humours bee inflamed together with the spirits , and so a putrid feaver ensue to the great damage of the diseased . the ancients used bathing more for delight than health , which custome is now out of use . we in france use baths of plaine water , or with a decoctron of plants , not for pleasure , but for the cure of an ephemera , because they moysten , contemperate the feaverish heat , and empty acrid vapours . to wipe off the sweat is good , with gentle frictions with warme oyle , because it opens the pores of the skin , and calls forth the spirits from the center to the circumference , but too vehement doth stop them up . oyntment and frictions are not good for such diaries as proceed from tumours inflamed , or from labour , because there is no need of evacuation ; frictions are good in those from obstruction and repletion , but not in those from inanition , though galen did use gentle frictions in all ephemeraes before the bath or oyntment , that the discutient water or oyle might pierce the deeper ; and the same galen in other procatarctical causes uses contrary remedies , as for labour he commands rest , for watchings sleep , for anger calmness , for sadness joy , and for venery chastness ; these have no need of frictions , only anoynt them with oyle of violets , and smooth over the body in the remission , and before meats ▪ if it be from drunkenness , command a vomit , if from cold , use diaphoreticks ; if from obstruction of the viscera , incisive and aperient medicines ; if from a catharre , purge next day ; if from an ulcer or bubo , wee must attend the cure of ulcers and tumours , and so of the rest . the diet is to be ordered according to the variety of the cause , if hot weather be the cause of the diary , and the patient be young , and his viscera good without obstruction , plethory , or cacochymy , of soluble body , and cholerick constitution , at the declination of the feaver , he may be cured with plentiful drinking of cold water , if otherwise the cure is to be altered ; you must not nourish him in the augment or vigour of the fit , but in the end , or out of it , hippo. aphor. the 11. sect. 1. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. if you weigh the cause of the disease , the strength of the sick , the age and sex , you must nourish him with meats of good juyce , altered with cooling herbs , which nourish speedily , oppose the feaverish heat , but stick not in the pores of the skin , for the whole body ought to bee fluxil and transpirable , hippoc. at the beginning of the sixth book of his epidem . sect. 6. and for this the chief thing is the juyce , or cremor of barley . if it proceed from anger , watchings , labour , immoderate venery , hunger , sadness , then we must nourish the sick with flesh brothes , &c. if from crudity , gluttony , or from suppression of some natural excrement , constipation of the skin , ulcer , tumor , or great paine , then let the diet bee thinner ; and if with the feaver there be a plethory , or cacochymy , that must be taken off by bleeding , this by purging , not for any urgency of the present feaver , but for fear of a putrid ; in brief , in all diaries , whatsoever is the cause , the nourishment must be medicamental , and if the body be bound it must be thus loosened . take of boyled hony an ounce , mouse turd , powder of hiera , and salt gem , each two scruples , and make a suppository ; or else make this glister . take of mallows , violet leaves , borage lettice , each one handfull , prunes twelve , of the four greater cold seeds each two drams , water-lilly-flowers , and roses , each a small handful , boyl them in water to a pint , streine it , and dissolve in it cassia , with suger , and the simple diaprunes each six drams , or as much of galens hiera and diaphaenicum , if the patient be a sea-man , porter , carter , &c. and the diary proceed from cold , with hony of violets , roses , or mercury , and oyle of water-lillies , each an ounce and half , and give the glister ; after this , if the sick be plethorick , or full of bloud and young , or the haemorrhoids or courses bee suppressed , draw six or eight ounces from the right axillary veine , as strength shall allow ; but if the patient refuse a glister , then in the declination of the feaver give this following potion . take of melon-seeds pilled one dram , of tamarinds two drams , cassia nexly drawn one ounce and a half , infuse them in the common purging decoction all night over warme embers , streine it , and dissolve with it sirup of violets or roses of nine infusions one ounce , and give this potion betime in the morne . or instead of this you may give an ounce and a halfe of manna of calabria , dissolved in a little fresh broth . it the diary flow from the thickness of the skin , or the use of alume-baths , then this following bath made of paregorical , and diaphoretical things will be good . take of mallows , violets , saponarie , succory , wilde endive and lettice , each six handfuls ; new roses if it be spring , or dried , if summer , four handfuls of wormwood , and centaury the greater , each two handfuls , marsh-mallow roots sliced , or bruised a pound , of fenugreek-seed , and salt-nitre , each two ounces , boyle them in a hundred pints of water for a bath , into which let the sick enter at the declination of his feaver , and drying his body let him goe to bed , and there sweat an hour or two after . chap. ix . of an unputrid synochus . an unputrid synochus hath no small analogy with an ephemera , for both are without putrefaction , and have but one fit until their end ; but they differ thus , an ephemera is essentiated in a preternatural heat inflaming the vital spirits , and an unputrid synochus in the bloud preternaturally calified in the heart without putrefaction ; is is differenced from a hectick , because this it in the solid parts , from a putrid feaver by its putrefaction . the heat of a synochus if compared with that of an ephemera is acrid , if with that of the putrid , gentle , because the bloud is of a temperate nature ; the conclusion then may be , that a synochus is a continual feaver , proceeding from redundancy of bloud , heated beyond measure by a preternatural heat , but without putrefaction hurting our actions . the causes are not unlike those of an ephemera ▪ but more vehement ; the principal are the denseness of the skin , or filth obstructing the pores , and incarcerating fuliginous excrements , &c. which prohibiting the eventilation of the bloud , doe so inflame it , or the suppression of some evacuation , as of the courses , haemorrhoids , or from excesse and fury ; thus the vital spirits are first inflamed by reason of their tenuity , then the bloud , which inflammation the greeks call a phlogosis ; but under the name of bloud you are to understand the four humours contained in the greater veines , which as often as they are inflamed without putrefaction they cause this synochus , full bodies that fare well , and live idely , are most subject to it , &c. this feaver for the most part lasts till the seventh day begins with a coldness , and ends with sweat , with a red urine , the pulse strong and swift , there is no danger in it unless some errour bee committed , and then it degenerates into a putrid synechis , whence follows death , unless prevented by large bleeding ; the whole body ; but especially the face is dyed with bloud , weariness possesses the limbes , the veines are turgid , the temples beat , the head akes , and often a deep sleep surprises , with difficulty of breathing ; the skin is soft , perfused with moysture , and a gentle heat . the cure is taken from the essence of the feaver , and cause of the disease ; the essence being hot and dry indicates contrary remedies , and the cause , its removal ; first then , let the diet be thin , cooling , and moystning hippoc. aphoris . 16. sect. 1. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} a moyst dyet is good for al feaverish bodies , especially for children , and those accustomed to such dyet , as cock broth , or of lambe , or veal , alterd with cooling herbs , and barley waters , &c. or some acid sirrups , as of limons , citrons , pomegranats , &c. galen reckons amongst the chief remedies of this disease bleeding till we faint if the body be open , otherwise to premise this glister . take of the leaves of violets , burrage , lettice , purslaine , each a handful , prunes sixteen , of the four greater cold seeds each two drams , boyl them in water to ten ounces , the dissolue of simple diaprunum and sugar each six drams , hony of violets , and oyle of water-lillies each an ounce and half , and make a glister , it cools , moystens , purges , and prevents a putrid feaver , then let bloud , for the veines being emptied that attract much cold art ( to avoyd a vacuum ) into the roome of the bloud , by which the rest of the bloud is cooled , and reduced to its ancient state , the fire extinguished , and the putrefaction inhibited , because both the natural and preternatural heat are seated in the bloud and spirits : then use this apozeme . take the roots of sorrel , grasse , butchers broom , & asparagus , each an ounce ( these rootes resist putrefaction , and by their tenuity of parts open obstructions without any manifest heat ) of both succories , lettice , burrage , purslane , or liverwort , each a handful , prunes sixteen , endive seeds half an ounce , of the four greater cold seeds each two drams , of violet , and water-lilly-flowers each a small handful , boyl them in three pintes of water to a pinte and half , streine it , and adde of the compound sirrup of endive , or of oxysaccharum simple four ounces , and aromatize it with white n for four or five days . after the seventh day you may give this purge ; cinnamon a scruple , rhubarb four scruples , try pherae , persicae three drams , cassia newly drawn an ounce , infuse them one night in part of the apozem over warme embers , then streine it , and adde of sirrup of violets of nine infusions an ounce and half . chap. x. of a continual putrid feaver . a synechis , or a continual putrid feaver is two-fold , the one where the humours are equally putrefied in the great veines , the other when inequally ; from those equally putrefied arise three sorts of feavers , as did in a synochus unputrid , viz. the homotonous , epacmastical , and paracmastical , and these have no manifest intermissions , as intdrmitting feavers , nor remissions , and exacerbations , as those which proceed from the humours unequally putrefied in the great veines . when the natural humours doe unequally putrefie in the great veines , it is either natural flegme ( which is nothing else but the cruder part of the bloud ) which as often as it putrefies it causeth a continual feaver , which is every day at set hours intended and remitted , from whence it hath its name of a continual quotidian . if natural choller putrefie in the veines near to the heart , it causeth a {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , or burning-feaver ; if in places more distant , either upward or downward , a continual tertian is produced , which every third day is intended and remitted , but intermits not , because the putrid matter is contained within the great veines , and not out of them . lastly , if a melancholly humour putrefie there , every fourth day it hath its remissions and exacerbations . the external causes are like those of an unputrid synochus , but stronger ; the internal are obstructions , either in the greater veines , or in the skin , or in the small veines of the liver , or habit of the body , which hindring perspiration the native heat is extinguisht , and hence putrefaction , the parent of this feaver . the sig●es are taken from the mordent heat , urine , and pulse ; the urine is crasse , red , turbid , faetid , and without sediment , the pulse not only great , vehement , and quick , but unequal and inordinate . a crisis does usually happen in all diseases one of these six wayes , viz. by bleeding at the nose , or by vomiting , or by looseness , or by sweats , or by urine , or by parotides in malignant and pestilential feavers ; if by chance nature attempt a crisis on the sixth day , although signes of coction appeared in the urine on the fourth , yet it is dubious , and fore-tells a relapse ; but if with signes of coction the crisis be with fainting , or any other grievous symptomes it portends death ; or if a looseness seize at the beginnig , and the feaver continue in the same state with signes of crudity , it presages death , because nature is overwhelmed with the plenty of matter ; on the other side , if the feaver be abated by the looseness , the sick well enduring it , and breathing freely , hee shall escape ; if spots appear the fourth , day , either black or livid , death is at hand , for they denote some malignant quality , which had they been red only , and the patient strong with signes of coction , there were good hopes ; this feaver is most gentle in the morne . the cure consists in evacuation , and alteration ; evacuation is to be made by bleeding , and that at the beginning for feare of suffocation or swounings , but if the patient sweat , or have the haemorrhoids , or a haemorrage , or the courses appearing , then the whole business is to be committed to nature , but if they flow but sparingly , and the feaver be not mitigated bleed notwithstanding ; the second part of the cure consists in alteration of the humours , by cooling and opening without any manifest heat , and restraining putrefaction , as with the fore-mentioned apozem ; besides , use this cordial powder . take of red corral , and the fragments of the five precious stones finely powdered each a scruple , the bone of the heart of an hart , or of an oxe , ( for they are both of the same vertue ) half a dram , of pearl a dram , sugar of roses a sufficient quantity , and four leaves of gold , let it be dissolved in broth or ptissan , or in the decoction of sorrel roots . take of the powder of balm and saffron each a scruple , water-lilly-flowers , red roses , and grana tinctorum , each two scruples , powder of diamargaritum frigidum four scruples , red wine two ounces , scabious , bugloss , and purslane-water each five ounces , apply it to the region of the heart , with a thick red cloth . take of the conserve of burrage and marigold flowers each an ounce , confection of alchermes a dram , spread them on a searlet cloth , and apply it after the epithem . take of the cerot of saunders , and oyntment of roses by measure each an ounce , oyl of roses an ounce , then wash them often with rose-water , adding half a scruple of camphore , bath the part with a linnen cloth , let it be cold in summer , luke-warme in winter , with three ounces of the white oyntment of galen , and half a scruple of camphore , anoynt the reines and loynes once an hour . chap. xi . of a burning-feaver , and continual tertian , these feavers differ not in matter nor cure , but in their name and seat ; both are caused by a cholerick bloud , putrefied in the great veines , the viscera being well ; that in the veines nearer to the heart , as in the ascending trunk of the vena cava , and in the arterial veine , and coronal of the heart ; this likewise in the great veines , but more distant from the arme-pits to the groine . a burning-feaver is so called {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} by way of eminency , because it is so great a fire in the heart . this burning-feaver , as also a continual tertian is two-fold , exquisite , and not exquisite ; the exquisite is from cholerick bloud putrefied as afore , the non-exquisite is , when besides choller , salt flegm , or ichors are putrefied with it , and this causus happens two wayes , the one when the veines dried by the heat of summer doe attract to themselves cholerick ichors which are acrid , as we being destitute of good food , make use of worse ; the other way is , when ichors and other humours are cast from some strong part upon a weaker , and not ventilated , doe putrefie ; thus likewise a continual tertian is two-fold , the exquisite from cholerick bloud , the non-exquisite from the admission of flegme , melancholly , or ichors . the external causes are the hot air , inspiration of putrid vapours , a cholerick distemper , drunkenness , sadness , by calling the heat from the circumference to the center , &c. the internal are either antecedent , as obstructions from crasse and viscid humours which hinder perspiration , by which means even good humors putrefie ; or a plenitude , either quoad vasa , which distends the vessels , or ad vires , which cannot bee concocted and governed by nature . or continent , as the putrid humour it self , which inquinates the pure bloud of the heart , not the whole mass at once , but that which is next it , and so by order of succession . the cause of a not exquisite continual tertian is the mixture of salt flegme , or ichors , putrefying in the veines of the midriffe , which proceed from the ascending trunk of the vena cava , or from the veines of the mouth of the stomach which flow from the splenical trunk of the porta , and make the stomachical coronary , or else it flowes from the hungry gut , or the simous part of the liver ; the signes of both legitimate , and illegitimate , are almost alike . the pathognomonical are taken from the burning heat which choller produces , and the unspeakable thirst , the acrimony of the humour continually molesting the heart and stomach , unless by chance a thin humor fall from the braine , and moysten the tongue . signes assident or concurring are the driness , blacknness , and roughness of the tongue from the adustion of the humour paine of the stomach , dreams , delirations , difficult breathing , the lungs or midriffe being inflamed , &c. sometimes it begins with a gentle rigour , sometimes with vomiting , sometimes with sleepiness if it be exquisite , sometimes with horrour , if it bee spurious by reason of the mixture of choller and flegme , at the beginning the urine is crasse and turbid , the pul●e small and unequal . the signes of an exquisite tertian have great analogy with those of an exquisite causus , only they are more milde ; the not exquisite are distinguisht by rigour , not by reason of the feaver , but the expulsive faculty of the greater veines , which empty themselves into the less , and these into the habit and sensible parts ; this feaver because its morbifical matter , is more distant from the heart , then that of a causus , doth not with equal force and assiduity afflict it , but hath its exacerbations and remissions every other day . if the parts about the heart be distended without paine , they signifie an inflammation ; if with paine at the beginning , death . if the signes bee grievous , it kills the fourth or seventh day ; if good , security is promised the same dayes ; if a rigour happen on the critical day , the patient being weak it is death , but if strong , the disease shall end with sweat . chap. xii . of the cure of these feavers . let it be temperate , or if too hot , be cooled with irrigations on the floore , and spreading coole herbs , as lettice , vine leaves , willow , oke , rushes , &c. with green flowers of water-lillies , roses , violets , let vinegar of roses dilute with rose-water , suckt up by a spunge be often ●eld to the nose ; let the linnen contrary to the vulgar opinion bee often changed , lest its filth foment the feaver . let his drink be boyled water , with sirrup of vinegar , or ptissan , or water and sugar , with a little juyce of pomegranats , citron , or lemons ; if you fear a delirium , use the alexandrine julep , or sirrup of violets , and water-lillies . if the feaver bee spurious , and the patient aged and weak in a cold air , a little wine dilute , with boyled water and sugar , with a toast may be allowed ; let his food be liquid , cooling , and moystning , as chicken , veale , or lambe broth altered with purslane , lettice , sorrel , burrage , bugloss , violets , marigolds , with the greater cold seeds , and white poppy-seed , or barley-water , acid fruites , as barberies , strawberies , rasberies resist putrefaction ; if he be much enfeebled , gellies , and analepticks must bee used . let bloud as soon as you can , but if hee bee bound in body give this glister first . take of violet leaves , mallows , lettice , gourds , burrage , each a handful , prunes sixteen , of the four great cold seeds each two drams , red poppy-flowers , or water-lilly , and roses , each a small handful , boyle them in whey or water to a pint , streine it , and dissolve of diaprune simple , and cassia newly drawn ( if it be exquisite , if not of diaphenicum , each six drams , honey of violets , and oyl of water-lillies , each an ounce and half , or so much of oyle of cammomel if it be not exquisite , and make a glister . take of melon-seeds one scruple , rhubarb grosse powdered , if you would purge choler by stoole , or fine powdered if by urine , four scruples , cassia newly drawn six drams , let him take it with sugar , and an hour and half after take fresh broth . as often as cassia , or any other purging medicine is infused , the dose is to be doubled , and where you feare obstructions , never purge with those things that have an astriction , as myrobalans , roses , and the sirrups made of them ; but instead of them use manna , cassia , or sirrup of violets of nine infusions ; next , alter the humour , with juleps which inhibit putrefaction . as take of sirrup of endive compound three ounces , succory and purs●ane water each half a pint , but if they be spurious take of oxysaccarum compound , which hath the opening roots in it , and a little juyce of pomgranates , after signes of coction , purge forth the humour thus . take of cinnamon a scruple , rhubarb four scruples , tamarinds two drams , diaprune solutive six drams , infuse them all night on warm embers in a decoction of the opening rootes , strein it , & adde sirrup of violets of nine intusions , or of roses solutive , with agarick ; if the feaver be illegitimate , an ounce and half , and give the potion ▪ in a spurious causus , take so much diaphaenicum which purges flegme and choler ; but if the patient have a paine in the stomach , and be nauseative , let him take a vomit so he be not tabid , or narrow chested . chap. xiii . of a continual quotidian feaver . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the juniors call it , because it hath no intermission , and to distinguish it from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which is , an intermitting quotidian . this feaver differs from an intermitting both in matter and seat where the flegme putrefies , because a continual one proceeds from natural flegme contained in the great veines , which is nothing else but crude bloud , which in time may be changed into good bloud , being of taste sweet , or insipid , arising from the cold and moyst part of the chyle , and as oft as this bloud is putrefied by a preter-natural heat in those veines , the other humours incorrupt is caused a continual quotidian ; but an intermitting is caused from excrementitious flegme , putrefied by a preter-natural heat out of those great veines , viz. in the veines of the habit of the body , in the liver , spleen , messentery . the external causes may be taken from the aire , cloudy , cold and moyst , from a flegmatick nature , the winter season , drunkenness , ill diet , as entrals of beasts , &c. the internal causes are a cold , distemper of the stomach , and of the meseraick veines , which send the chyle incoct to the liver , old age , cold humours falling from the head to the stomach . this feaver begins not with coldness , as an intermitting , because the matter is putrefied in the great veines , but with vaunings and stretchings , for the most part it invades at night , the heat is less acrid and mordent than in a continual cholerick feaver , because the humour is colder , the urine at first is white , crude , and crass , the pulse slow , and rare , being oppressed with a crass vapour raised from the flegme ; the sick are sleepy , their hypochondria stretcht with wind , their stooles white , their sweat none , or very little , and clammy , this feaver is usually lasting , being from a cold tough humour , often brings to a cachexy , or dropsie ; if the beginning be long , so will be the increment , and whole progress of the disease ; for the cure , let him use a good diet , shunning those things which ingender crasse juyces , then purge the first region of his body with these following remedies . take of barley , mercury , violets , and mallows , each a handful , fennel , and carret-seeds , each three drams , the tops of dill , and flowers of cammomel each half a handful , boyl them in water to a pint , streine it , and dissolve of galens hiera , and benedicta laxativa , each six drams , honey of rosemary , and oyle of camomel , each an ounce and half , and so give it . if the sick bee apt to vomit , let him take this . of the juyce of radish roots , and honied water each two ounces , powder of asarum a dram , let him drink it warme . take of succory , barley , and all the capillary plants , each half a handful , raisins stoned eight , four prunes , of the cordial flowers a small handful , boyle them in water to two ounces , then infuse the electuary of diacarthamum half an ounce , cassia newly drawn an ounce , agarick trochiscate a dram , streine it , and dissolve of sirrup of roses solutive an ounce , give the potion . take of agarick trochiscate a scruple , of imperial pills a dram , with honey of roses , make eight pills to be given after midnight . the first region of the body being thus clensed , open the basilick veine of the right arme , and draw bloud according to the strength , age , season , region , and impurity of it , because this being a continual feaver , bleeding is good for this as well as others . then give this julep , oxymel simple , and sirrup of maiden-hair , each an ounce and half , fennel , and endive water each half a pint , condite it with cinamon . take of fennel , and parsley roots clensed from the pith , butchers broom and asparagus each an ounce , of maudlin , succory , endive , the common capillary plants each one handful , the less sea wormwood half a handful , raisins stoned twenty , figgs twelve , endive seed half an ounce , aniseeds two drams , bugloss and french lavender flowers each a small handful , rosemary half a handful , water and hony two quarts , boyl away half , then clarifie the colature with honey of roses , and sirrup of the juyce of endive each two ounces , and condite it with cinamon . the matter being thus coct , give pills of agarick , and simple hiera each two scruples , and trochiskes of alhandal two graines , if they want a quickner make them up with honey of roses , and gild them ; give them after the first sleep ; next day give this bolus three hours before dinner , old mithridate two scruples , conserve of rosemary flowers two drams with sugar . chap. xiiii . of a continual quartan . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , a quartan feaver so called , because every fourth day it is exasperated , and remitted if it be continual ; but if intermitting , recurs every fourth day ; these two differ both in matter and seat , the matter of a continual quartan is natural melancholly putrefied in the great veines , the other humours remaining good ; but the matter of an intermitting , is excrementitious melancholly , putrefied out of the great veines in the spleen , or mesentery . a continual quartan is two-fold , exquisite , or spurious ; exquisite , when natural melancholly putrefies alone ; spurious , when other humours putrefie with it in the great vessels , and this is most frequent . the causes are either from a laborious life , a cold and dry temperament , a declining age , the autumn , or an unequal air , and meats producing melancholly , as swines flesh , hares , salt fish , oysters &c. the chief signes are taken from the substance of the feaver , or nature of its heat , from the actions hurt , which appears by the inequality , swiftness , slowness , or rarity of the pulse from the excrements and urine , this feaver begins without horrour , because the peccant matter is contained within the great veines , the urine is various , but for the most part crude , by reason of the coldness of the morbifical humour , little or no sweat , by reason of the paucity of the matter , little thirst , and the tongue inclining to black . a continual quartan , whether exquisite or spurious , is deadly in old men , especially if it follow an intermitting one , or a burning feaver illcured , a spurious quartan if it take in the summer is for the most part short , but if in the autumn it is long ; for the cure , first use meats of good juyce , rather liquid than solid , altered with burrage , bugloss . &c. vse currans , pine nuts , figgs , vinegar , though it be incifive is not good in this feaver , because by its coldness and driness it conduplicates the humor , but were it in the spleen it were commodious . at the beginning use gentle purgers , because by the strength of strong medicines the humour grows thicker , and the thinner part being dissipated , the terrene faeces remaine indissoluble , but in the declination use stronger ; if the body be bound give first this glister . take of mallows , violets , orech , burrage , bugloss , each a handful , flax and fenugreek-seed each half an ounce , of the four great cold seeds , and fennel-seed , each two drams ( for melancholly people are windy ) of the tops of dill , camomel , melilot , elder , each a small handful in the colature , dissolve of catholicum and diasena , each six drams , honey of violets , and oyle of lillies each an ounce and half , give the glister . take of polipody of the oke six drams , wilde saffron seeds and sena each three drams , dodder of time two drams , anni-seeds four scruples , cloves two , boyle them in whey to three ounces , then infuse of diasena , or diacarthamum six drams , streine it , and adde sirrup of violets of nine infusions , or sirrup of apples an ounce and half , and give it . the body being thus emptied , let bloud at the left basilick veine , with a large orifice . if the sick be inclined to vomit , then give him of the powder of the middle rine of a walnut , or of broom-seeds , or of the roots of asarum four scruples , with the decoction of reddish rootes make a vomit , or nettle-seed poudered given in mulse or whey will doe the like ; some give three or four grains of stibium prepared , which i allow not but in rustick bodies . take of the sirrup of the juyce of fumitory three ounces , endive , and burrage-water each half a pint . take of the roots of bugloss two ounces , sharp dock-grass , butchers broome , asparagus , and liquorice , each an ounce , of the middle rine of tamarisk , and ash , or elder , each half an ounce , of fumitory , hops , common endive , succory , milt-waist , balme , each a handful , prunes fourteen , cuscute and purslane-seeds , and the four great cold seeds each two drams , flowers of tamarice , broom , burrage , elder , each a handful , boyle them in order in a sufficient quantity of water , then adde the juyce of sweet apples three ounces , a sufficient quantity of sugar , aromatize it with a dram and a half of the powder of galens laetificans , with part of this decoction , you may make a magistral sirrup by adding purgers of melancholly , by which the morbifical humour may bee purged epicrastically ; to strengthen the viscera use this . take of the electuary of hyacinth , or confection of alkermes half a dram , powder of diatriasantali , and galens laetificans each a dram , white suger dissolved , and boyled in fumitory water four ounces , and make it into lozenges of two drams weight , with the conserve of succory flowers , and milt waist each three drams , and give one , three hours before dinner . if the spleen require it , use this oyntment . take of gum elemi , and juyce of tobacco each an ounce , oyle of st. johns-wort , or elder , half an ounce , of rosen and gum amoniake dissolved in vinegar of capers , and yellow wax each two drams , on the fire adde powder of long and round birthwort , and cyclamen root each a dram , make an oyntment . chap. xv . of an intermitting tertian . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} is taken by the greeks in general for every intermitting putrid feaver , which ends , and returnes again , but hippocrates especially calls this feaver of which we now treat , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , because it recurs every third day , it differs from the continual , of which we have spoken , not essentially , but in matter , seat , because their matter putrefies not every where , but in the lesser veines which are in the stomach , liver , mesentery , guts , spleen , wombe , and habit of the body ; an intermitting tertian is twofold , exquisite or spurious , the exquisite is from excrementitious choller , which being manifold , there are many differences in tertians . the matter of an exquisite tertian offends either in quantity or quality ; the quantity is either great or small , if great , either it putrefies in one place , or in divers at once ; if but in one place , it causes an exquisite tertian , which exceeds not seven fits ; but if the quantity be small , it shall end the fourth or fifth fit . if the matter offend in quality , as the choller is more or less hot , the whole constitution of the disease and the fits shall bee longer or shorter , milder , or more tedious , for pale or excrementitious choller is sarre more milde then yellow , and this , then vitellinous , porracious , or aeruginous , but the ceruleous is the hottest of all . if choller putrefie in divers places together , and the same day , then is caused a double intermitting tertian , whose fits returne every third day , and are exacerbated , although they assault every day , and intermit , because that which is putrefied is every fit emptied either by sweat , vomit , or stool . the spurious one by the mixtion of flegm or melancholly , is longer than that from excrementitious choller only , and lasts according to the nature of the humour mixt , and by the patients intemperance hath lasted from the autumnal to the spring aequinox . the causes of the exquisite are all hot and dry , as a hot summer , hot aliments , hunger , thirst , labour , strong wines , hot liver , and temper , &c. the causes of a spurious one are idleness , effeminacy , winter season , cold and moyst diet , obstructions , plenitude , &c. the heat of an exquisite tertian is more acrid and mordent than that of the spurious , through its four times , it begins with rigour , and often with cholerick vomitings , and ends with an universal sweat ; when the rigour is off , the heat is like a light fire , burning with difficult breathing , the urine at first is somewhat red , of meane substance , and in the lower part seemes thin , in the upper opacus . the signes of a spurious one are horrour , from the mixture of choller and flegme , a heat more obscure than that of the exquisite tertian , and more manifest than that of an exquisite quotidian , a pulse small and slow , which if it grow daily harder , the feaver shall last many moneths , bitterness of mouth , paine in the vertebra's , with inflation of stomach , and loathings of meat sometimes trouble them . before we let bloud let the first region of the body be emptied by a cooling glister , or minorating purge afore described , lest the morbifical humour be wrapt into the greater veines , and so we cause a continual feaver instead of an intermitting ; let bloud on the intermitting day with a small orifice , to prepare the humour . take of oxysaccharum simple , and sirrup of the juyce of endive , each an ounce and half , succory , and purslaine water each five ounces , then purge him thus . take of cinamon a scruple , rhubarb four scruples , tamarinds two drams , diaprune solutive , or electuary of psyllium six drams , infuse them all night over warme embers in an opening decoction , then adde sirrup of roses an ounce , give it on the intermitting day , or these pills . take of diagridium four graines , rhubarb a scruple , of pills aureae a dram , make them up with sirrup of succory , and give them after the first sleep take conserve of succory flowers , and of violets , or water-lillies each two drams ▪ powder of diatriasantalum scruple , with sugar make a bole to give next morne to allay the fire in the bowels . chap. xvi . of the cure of a spurious intermitting tertian . this feaver is more frequent than the exquisite , because men indulge too much to their genius , and its fits and whole constitution is longer , by reason of the mixture of tough , crasse flegme , or melancholly , the fits are sometimes twenty , twenty four , or forty hours , and then it is called an extense tertian ; let the diet be incisive , and detersive , and somewhat refrigerating , the broths be altered with endive , burrage , parsley , wood-sorrel , purssaine , and a fourth part of hissop or savoury , give gellies which nourish much in small quantity , and because they are quickly excerned , repeat them often , and sometimes give this powder . take of galens laetificans two drams , the analeptick or resumptive powder half an ounce , pure sugar six ounces , leaves of gold six , dissolve it in broth it wonderfully restores strength , if the patient be nauseative . take of nettle-seeds a dram , sirrup of tobacco , or simple oxymel an ounce , give it warme in mulse after meat , because it troubling the aeconomy of the stomach , it better exonerates it self with the meat , if occasion be for a suppository . take of honey boyled an ounce , salt gemmes , and mouse-turd each two scruples . take of cinamon a scruple , agarick trochiscate two scruples , rhubarb four scruples , simple oxymel and diaphaenicum each six drams , infuse them all over warme embers in a fresh infusion of damask roses , streine it and give it . if strength and other things allow it , let bloud on the intermitting day . bloud , saith avicen , is a brideler of choller , both in respect of its quantity and quality , for there is more or it , and being temperately hot and moyst , it doth moderate the acrimony of choller , and experience tells us , that those that are sick of a continual tertian , and the phrenitical , are best towards morning , because bloud hath then the dominion , and worst towards night when flegme rules , and therefore in asia those that were let bloud presently became phrenitical , or delirous , and not those which were not ; but that region is farre hotter and dryer than europe , then give this julep . sirrup of vinegar compound , and honey of roses , each two ounces , endive , succory , and agrimony water , each half a pinte . take of the five opening rootes clensed and bruised each an ounce , infuse them in a small quantity of simple oxymel on the embers four hours , the herbs succory , endive , liverwort , and the cappillary plants each a handful , penni-royal , origanum , or calamint , each half a handful , liquorice scraped and bruised two drams , raisins stoned twenty , prunes eight , endive seed three drams , melon , anise , and fennel-seed each a dram and half , the three cordial flowers , and chamomel , each a small handful , time half a handful , boyle them all in order with the oxymel and roots in two quarts of water till a third part be wasted , clarifie it , and aromatize it with cinamon . take of cloves half a scruple , agarick trochiscate two scruples , rhubarb and tamarinds each four scruples , diaphaenicum six drams , infuse them in part of the apozem and give it . take of conserve of succory flowers , citron pill candied each two drams , old methridate half a dram , give it with sugar three hours before meat . take of pills imperial , a dram , of agarick a scruple , diagridium four graines , make them up with honey of roses . to strengthen the liver , take of the powder of diatriasantalum two drams , conserve of succory-flowers , and citron pill condite each three drams , pure sugar dissolved and boyled in agrimony water , four ounces , make lozenges of two drams weight , and give one every morne ; if melancholly be joyned adde those things afore mentioned for it , instead of phlegmagoges . chap. xvii . of an intermitting quotidian . this feaver is caused from excrementitious flegme putrefied , and every day hath new fits with a refrigeration or chilness , the place of putrefaction is the smaller veines and habit of the body , and chiefly the stomach , which is alwaies almost affected in this feaver ; sometimes it is in the mesentery , the simous part of the liver , spleen , or wombe ; but if it putrefie out of the smaller veines , it doth not cause a feaver , but some other malady , as if it be putrid and stinking in the braine , or in the lungs after cathars , and astma's , or in the wombe , from whence is a womans flux ; or in the guts , from whence are worms , or in the bladder or reines , where it is dried into stones of divers colours . by flegme is here meant any cold and moyst humour produced in us , which may be putrefied from a hot or cold cause , that putrefied from heat , or the mixture of a serous moysture becomes salt , from cold if remiss is caused acid flegme , if intense , the glassie or albugenious , from these severall sorts of flegme are ingendred various feavers . a quotidian feaver is two-fold , the one from excrementitious flegme which is of sweet taste , or insipid for the most part produced in the stomach , which when it putrefies in the lesser veines makes an exquisite quotidian ; the other is , when some other humour besides flegme putrefies with it , and it is called a bastard quotidian ; let the phisician be careful he coufound not a bastard tertian , or double intermitting tertian , or a triple quartan , which have their fits every day with an intermitting quotidian , for their cure is farre different , and distinction difficult . the causes of this feaver are not unlike those of a continual quotidian ; gapings and wretchings precede this feaver , with a coldness of the external parts , as of the nose , fingers , ears , hands , and feet : with a paine in the stomach , seldome with rigour , but with a gentle horrour , the pulse inequal , inordinate , slow , and weak at first , afterwards more vehement and swift ; the urine first thin , white , and crude , afterwards thick and turbulent ; sometimes they vomit flegme , have acid belchings , swellings of the hypochondria , pale faces , and little thirst ; it usually seazes after noon , towards the evening or night ; its fits are for the most part eighteen hours , and therefore it is called {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} that is , partaking of both day and night , its intermission is impure by reason of the quantity , crasseness , and clamminess of flegme which is left by the former fit , and is the cause of the following , because it is not breathed forth by sweat as in a tertian ; this pituitous humour is hardly enflamed and moved , but the matter being coct , the vehemency of the fits cease , as in all other wholesome sicknesses , its heat is not burning , but meanly acrid . the signes of a bastard quotidian are confused , by reason of the excrementitious choller , or melancholly putrefying with it , but if choller bee mixt , you may know it from the vomitings , stooles , urine , pulse , and a more acrid and mordent heat , for some choller will be cast up , the excrement will be yellow , and the water tinct with choller , the pulse inequal and more frequent than in the exquisite , the fits shorter , with thirst and bitterness of mouth ; if melancholly be mixt consider its signes , with the spleen ill-affected . let the dyet be hot and drying , incisive and detersive ; let the drink bee decoction of sarsa parilla roote , sirrup of vinegar , or hydromel ; moyst meat that is substantifically moyst is good for all feavers , saith hippocrates , as broths of euchymous flesh altered with parsley , fennel , hyssop , savory , marjoram , sage , time , with a little endive , purslaine , or burrage , if it be spurious , the meat is easily corrupted by a feaverish heat , as milke by the hot air ; let them sleep in the declination , and not in the beginning of the fit , if the sick bee nauseative give a vomit , and then what followeth . take of sope an ounce , powder of simple hiera , agarick , and salt gemmious each a dram , seeds of coloquintida a scruple , beat them in a morter with juyce of mercury , make suppositaries , and dry them up for your use . take of origanum , penny-royal , calamint and mercury each a handful , seeds of dill three drams , agarick two drams , chamomel and dill flowers each half a handful , boyle them in water to a pinte , honey of roses , oyle of nuts , each an ounce and half , benedicta laxative , and hiera , or diaphaenicum each half an ounce , make a glister . take of polipody of the oke bruised half a dram , wilde saffron seeds , and sena each two drams , calamint half a handful , anniseed a dram , two figgs , flowers of time a small handful , boyle them in water to three ounces in the colature , infuse of diacarthamum six drams over warm embers , sirrup of roses solutive , with agarick an ounce , and give it ; if it be spring time , and the body young , or any evacuation supprest , open the right axillary veine , then give this julep . oxymel compound four ounces , sage , betony , and succory water ( if choller be mixt ) each five ounces . take of cocheae pills , and of agarick each half a dram , powder of hiera a scruple , agarick trochiscate four graines , trochiskes of alhandal two graines , or if choller be mixt , of diagridium two graines . take of diarrhodon and galangal each a scruple , trochiskes of wormwood two drams , citron pill condite with honey an ounce , conserve of sage , and rosemary flowers each two ounces , cover it with gold , let him take half an ounce three hours before dinner . take of oyle of wormwood , and mastick each an ounce , oyle of nutmeg half an ounce , mixe at the time of use a few drops of red wine , and anoynt the stomach . take of the plaister of mastick two ounces ▪ of ladanum an ounce , powder vvormwood two drams , red roses a dram , mace two scruples , reduce them to a masse , and make a scutiforme plaister for the stomach , an epiala being from glassie acid flegme requires the same cure , only stronger remedies . chap. xviii . of a quotidian feaver from salt flegme . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , a salt or salsuginous feaver , is of the nature of quotidians , so called because it is caused by salt flegme , as a winterburning feaver is , according to hippocrates , but according to galens explication of that place , it is so called in relation to touch , and not unto taste , because like salt it causes an itching mordency both in the body of the sick , and the hand of the phisitian touching it , which is thus , when fuliginous and very adust excrements are cast forth through the habit of the body and skin , it is distinguisht from other feavers by its horrour , thirst , and salt taste , by urine and pulse , and continuance of the fit , saith hippocrates , by reason of its heat from putrefaction , or the mixture of some serous humour which is salt , rather than of choller which is bitter , and not salt , as avicen thought . it is cured by the same remedies as an intermitting quotidian , tempering them with succory , hops , fumitory , the four great cold seeds , &c. with incisive , attenuating , and detersive things , as sirrup de bisantiis , and compound oxysaccharum ; we are not to expect concoction for purging the morbifical humour , which is so crasse and tough that it will be a long time first ; purge therefore in the augment and state , but gently premising to every purge its preparative , your catarrhall feaver is of the kinde of quotidians , and is cured almost with the same medicines . chap. xix . of an intermitting quartan . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , or a quartan feaver , is so called , because it returnes every fourth day , it is two-fold , exquisite or spurious ; an exquisite intermitting , differs from a continual , both in matter and seat , because this is from a natural melancholly putrefied in the greater veines , and that from an excrementitious melancholly , cold and dry , putrefying , chiefly in the spleen , then in the liver , mesentery , and habit of the body ; a spurious one is as often as excrementitious , melancholly putrefies with choller , or flegme in the same place , and sometimes choller and flegme putrefie apart , and degenerate into a quartan . the chief signes are a rigour at the beginning and augment , and horrour , with a shaking of the whole body , as if the flesh and bones were broken ; the urine at first white , thin , crude , and various , afterwards crasse and black . this feaver is the longest of all intermitting feavers ; the falling-sickness is cured by a quartan , if neglected it causes a schirrus of the spleen and dropsie ; if it degenerate into a double or triple quartan it is bad , but if into a continual it is lethal . the sum of the cure consists in gentle medicines , whether glisters or purges often repeated , and by degrees ascend to stronger , for he that acts otherwise from a simple or double quartan , makes a triple or continual one , whence is death ; this is confirmed by galens story , who contrary to the opinion of the phisitians of his time , in the midst of winter , cured eudemus the philosopher of a triple quartan by the use of treacle , by which medicine preposterously used be fell into it , for as long as signes of crudity appear , wee are not to use diureticks , nor sudorificks , lest by that meanes the corrupt humour be forced into narrower passages , from whence it is not easily removed , but grows more furious ; such excretions then are not to be used but in the declination . if the quartan be from choller adust , then to the following remedies adde things cooling , but if from flegme , then things incisive , attenuating , and detersive . if the feaver be exquisite , the melancholly humour diffused through the whole body , vinegar and its sirrups are naught , but if it be contained in the spleen only , it is good . take of mallows , violet leaves , burrage , fumitory , hops , each a handful , prunes twelve , endive seeds half an ounce , of the four great cold seeds each two drams , violet and elder flowers each a small handful , boyle them in water to a pinte , in the colature , dissolve of cassia , with sugar and diaprune simple , each six drams , hony of violets , and oyle of lillies each an ounce and half , give it . take of the pulpe of cassia six drams , powder of sena a dram , of aniseed , a scruple , of cloves two grains , with sugar make a bole . take of polipody of the oke bruised six drams , fumitory , hops , burrage , each half a handful , prunes four , figgs two , the seed of dodder , of vetches , anise , and purslane each half a dram , boyle them in water to four ounces , in the colature , boyle of sena leaves two drams , aniseed a dram , whole cloves two , express it , and infuse of catholicum , and diacarthamum each three drams , againe express it , and dissolve sirrup of fumitory , or epithimum an ounce , give this potion four hours before in broth , upon the fit day rather than on the other , because the matter being terrene and sluggish , will hardly yeeld ; but on the fit day the humour being in motion , it is then most easily expelled , i speak by experience , contrary to the common opinion . take of pills of fumitory a dram , powder of sena , and agarick trochiscate , each half a scruple , with sirrup of fumitory , make pills . if nature tend upwards give of antimony prepared and powdered three graines , conserve of violets three ounces , with sugar make a bole to bee taken on the fit day ; or infuse six graines of it in white-wine all night over warme embers , straine it , and give it before the horrour . amatus lucitanus boasts , hee hath cured many with a draft of rose-water warmed , and given at the insult of the fit , and some with happy success give at the insult five or six graines of pepper in a cup of generous wine ; if the patient be young with full veines , and it be spring time , let bloud of the axillary veine in the left arme . take of the rootes of sharp dock two ounces , butchers broome , asparagus , grass , and liquorice each an ounce , the middle rine of ash and elder each half an ounce , succory , endive , hops , fumitory , burrage , agrimony , burnet , miltwaist , mercury , each a handful , prunes twelve , new figgs eight , endive , purflane-seed , and the four great cold ones , each two drams , the three cordial flowers each a small handful , boyle them in two quarts of water till a third part be consumed , clarifie it with sirrup of pomgranates , and endive compound , each two ounces , and aromatize it with yellow saunders . take of succory roots an ounce and half , grass , butchers broom , asparagus , each an ounce , infuse them in simple oxymel all night over warme embers , and then boyle them in two quarts of water with burrage , endive , hops , fumitory , origanum , calamint , agrimony , each a handful , mercury and maiden-hair , each half a handful , liquorice scraped and bruised half an ounce , raisins stoned twenty , figgs eight , seeds of purssane , arise , dodder of vetches , and the four great cold ones , each two drams , flower of tamarisk , broome , and violets , each a handful , being taken off the fire adde the oxymel , wherein the rootes were infused , straine it , and clarifie it with oxysaccharum , compound two ounces , and aromatize it with powder of diatriasantalum . take of polipody of the oke bruised six drams , sena half an ounce , dodder of time two drams , annis●ed a dram , true black hellebore two scruples , whole cloves two , boyl them in part of the former apozem to three ounces , then infuse of catholicum and confection hamech each half an ounce , in the colature dissolve sirrup of fumitory the greater , or of apples an ounce , and give it . take of cloves three graines , aniseed two scruples , agarick trochiscate a dram , turbith bruised four scruples , sena two drams , infuse them all in part of the apozem , with an ounce of oxymel simple , upon warme embers , to the expression , adde of diacarthamum , and catholicum , each three drams , sirrup of fumitory the greater , an ounce . take of old treacle four scruples , conserve of bugloss flowers or rootes three drams , give it with sugar . take of cloves three graines , cinnamon a scruple , anniseed half a dram , rhubarb , tamarinds , and sena each a dram and half , infuse them all night in whey over warme embers , with the electuary of the juyce of roses half an ounce , streine it , and adde sirrup of violets of nine infusions an ounce and half , give it . take of the conserve of tamarisk , or broom flowers two ounces , conserve of the rootes of smallage , milt-waist , or maiden-hair , each anounce , powder of the trochisks of capers , and of dialacca , or diacurcuma , each a dram , make an opiate , give half an ounce on the intermediate days , drinking a little white-wine after it . take of trochisks of capers , and wormwood , each half a dram , root of jallop a dram , crocomartis two drams , conserve of the rootes or flowers of bugloss six drams , sugar dissolved in milte-waist water and boyled , four ounces , make lozenges two drams weight , take one every intermitting morne , and drink after it a little vvhite wine . take of gum elemi an ounce , vvax half an ounce , colophonia , turpentine , and powder of long birthwort , and caper bark , each two drams , flower-de-luce , cammels hey , nard indian , and myrrhe each a dram , styrax calamite half a dram , white-wine as much as will serve to dissolve the gums , make a mass , of which spread a plaister on leather in the figure of a neats tongue , and apply it to the spleen , it softens and resolves its hardness , or the chymical oyle of amoniacum , with some few drops of sharp vinegar doth more powerfully resolve any hard tumor of the spleen . chap. xx . of feavers annexed to quartans . the quintan , sextan , septan , and nonan feavers differ not from intermitting quartans , either in matter or cure , but in the quantity of the humour , and disposition of the body , rather than from the rising , setting , and congression of some starres , as the astrologers would have it ; all these feavers have their name from the motion they observe returning upon the fifth , sixth , seventh , or ninth day . the cause of these circuits depends not only on disordered diet , or the relicks of the morbifical matter not emptied , nor on the quantity , quality , or crasness and clamminess of the humour , nor on the influx of the starrs , or disposition of the body , but rather from the starry element , which hippocrates calls something divine , when a quartan is caused from very crasse and tough flegme , and a melancholly humour very crass , it may then bee extended beyond the fourth day , saith paulus aegi . and rhasis speakes of those returned every tenth day , and once a moneth ; that the quantity and quality of both humours , and disposition of body doe contribute somewhat , none will deny , but the cause of the circuits , histories doe report to be referred to the element of stars . pliny speaks of antipater the poet who lived very long , and every year on his birth-day had a feaver ; galen saies , he hath seen quintans but obscurely , but avicen boasts hee hath seen many , but they are rarely contingent . hippocrates presages thus of these feavers , the nocturnal is not dangerous , but long ; the diurnal is shorter , and sometimes they bring to a consumption ; the reason is , because the night is likened to winter , at which time cold humours move , and because in the night season remedies cannot conveniently be administred ; a quintan is the worst of all , for to the sound or tabid it is death , because it is vehement , proceeding from an atra-bilarious humour , and not from a melancholly juyce ; a septan is long , but not lethal , and so a nonan . the cure differs not from that of an exquisite or spurious quartan . take of the leaves of sena three drams , the rootes of true black hellebore one dram , of anise-seed , dodder of time , diagridium each half a dram , mastick , and salt gemmeous each a scruple , cloves half a scruple , make a fine powder , give a dram in a little white-wine on the fit day in the morn early once a week . chap. xxi . of confused , compounded , and erratick feavers . all these are of the kinde of essential feavers , and differ not from the precedent , neither in matter nor putrefaction , for they are all putrid , but in the seat and motion of the morbifical humour . a confused feaver is so called from the seat , when humours doe equally putrefie in the greater or lesser veines ; as if choller and flegme doe putrefie together in the greater veines , there shall be two continual feavers , because these two humours mixt doe putrefie in the same place , beginning and ending together , and by reason of this mixtion they cannot be known distinctly , or apart , because their signes are confounded , from whence this feaver hath its name ; likewise if both those humours putrefie in the lesser veines which are in the habit of the body , or in the stomach , liver , mesentery , spleen , or cuts , together in the same place , there shall be two intermitting feavers , which mixed doe constitute a confuse , and not a compound feaver . on the contrary , a compound feaver is as oft as the humours doe inequally putrefie , not in one place ( as the confused ) but in divers places together , whether in the greater or lesser veines ; and this feaver hath its name from the predominant humour , as in a bastard tertian where choller predominates ; likewise if there be more flegme or melancholly humour , it shall then be called a bastard quotidian , or quartan , which feavers are com-pound , and not confused , because their matter putrefies in divers places , and they begin and end at divers hours , because every one hath its several essence , seat , and motion ; also two quotidians , and a double tertian , and a double or triple quartan , are compound feavers , as often as their matter putrefies in divers places ; and thus a semi-tertian which is compounded of choller putrefied in the greater veines , from whence is a continual ; and flegme out of them , whence is an intermitting feaver ; or of flegme putrefied in the greater veines , and choller out of them , and is called a hemitritaean ; thus also a hectick feaver with a putrid , doe make a compound feaver , because the efficient cause of a hectick is in the solid parts , and of the putrid in the humours , but an ephemera joyned with other feavers makes no compound , otherwise there could bee no simple feaver ; the symptomes also which accompany feavers constitute no compound , one because they are not of the essence of feavers , though they increase , foment , and prolong them . the erratick feaver is so called , because its fits observe no proportion , for their beginnings are inordinate , resembling no species of any certaine simple , or compound feaver ; an erratick feaver then is of no certaine species , for it is neither quotidian , tertian , nor quartan , nor much less a continual , for being so called from the uncertaine insult of the fits , it is plaine it cannot bee continual , though it may bee joyned with a continual , as well as other intermitting feavers ; an erratick then is from no certaine kind of humour as other intermittings are , but either from the humours confounded together , and unequally premixt , and putrefying in the habit of the body , or from one humour but changed from it self and passing into another , for how much the humours are changed in the body of the sick , so much are the circuits of the fits varied ; and bloud is most of all transmuted when it putrefies , part of it passing into yellow choller , part into black . the causes of these feavers are many , one is the inequality of summer and autumne ; another when a humour begins to putrefie in a particular part , and another flowes to it from other parts , which was before bounded in them , or was redundant in the whole body ; a third is errour in diet , quantity , or quality of the humour , strength of the patient , &c. they are long , and of evil judgement ; he that would distinguish them rightly must bee well versed in the knowledge of simple feavers , both continual and intermitting . the signes of compound feavers differ not from those of the simple intermitting , as a double intermitting tertian begins as a simple with rigour , and sometimes with vomiting , and ends with sweat ; compound feavers are seldome of divers intermittings , but if it happen the first dayes , they are scarce discernable . compound quartans begin with horrour , as the simple intermittings , and they are the longest of all , they are thus distinguisht ; a double quartan growes furious two dayes , and is quiet the third , the fourth , and fifth ; again is furious , and so consequently a triple quartan every day begins with horrour , but every fourth day the feaver is more grievous , as if it were a simple quartan . every intermitting feaver of divers kinde may be complicate with another of the same kinde , if it be in divers places , as if a quotidian bee mixt with a tertian , on one day there shall be two fits , but on the next only one , that of the quotidian ; and on the third day there shall be two , on the fourth but one , and so forwards , the one shall begin with coldness , the other with rigour . if a quotidian be mixt with a quartan , then the fourth day there shall bee two fits , one with coldness , the other with horrour , on the other dayes but one , that of the quotidian . if a tertian and quartan concur , the first insult shall be of the tertian with rigour , the second day there shall be no feaver , the third day the tertian shall recur , on the fourth a fit of the quartan , on the fifth another of the tertian , on the sixth none , on the seventh there shall bee a double fit , one of the tertian , and another of the quartan , and so on . if a putrid feaver be joyned with a hectick it makes a compound , because the heat of this possesses the substance of the heart , that , the humours . the signes of both are taken from the pulse hard and unequal , from the urine , mordent heat , and manner of their motion , if it be bilious the invasion will be every third day , if a quartan , every fourth , if a quotidian , every day , either with rigour , horrour , or coldness ; and the exacerbations , and remissions of the putrid feaver will be at its set hours . chap. xxii . of a semitertian feaver . this feaver hippocrates calls the horrid feaver , from its horrour , or violent shaking , it is a compound feaver , and is two-fold , exquisite and not exquisite , that is made up of a continual quoridian , and an intermitting tertian , for it is more easie for a quotidian to be continual than a tertian , and its fits are longer than those of a tertian . besides , the horrour is not every day , but every other day , when then the fits both of tertian and quotidian meet together , and are confounded , but on the middle dayes there is only a refrigeration proper to the quotidian , the reduplications are every third day , not such as a tertian , but dimidiately like them , because the type of the tertian is changed by the flegme of the quotidian . this feaver is sometimes caused from a continual tertian , and intermitting quotidian , and not from two continuals , or two intermittings , as archigenes and celsus would have it ; whose opinions were they true , it would not be horrifical , as hippocrates and galen describe it , for horrour proceeds from rigour and cold mixt . the non-exquisite is two-fold too , the one when choller predominates , the other when flegme ; if choller prevail , there is a rigour and no horrour , and it comes sooner to its state without many reduplications , the heat is more acrid , with vomitings , and dejections yellow , &c. but if flegme predominate , there is rather a chilness than horrour , and many reduplications , with flegmatick excretions , less heat ▪ &c. these feavers are frequent in aethiopia , italy , and other hot countries , the gentlest of them is twenty four hours , the middle sort thirty six , the strongest forty eight ; if it bee exquisite every third day it is horrifical , the pulse hard and unequal , and so the heat , the urine crass and turbulent ; sweats in these feavers are bad , because they are symptomatical , and not from nature conquering , &c. this feaver is reckoned amongst the deadly , and sometimes lasts a whole month ; sometimes degenerates into a hectick , sometimes to a dropsie , by reason of the many obstructions ; sometimes it is shorter , when the matter is little , and contained in the common ducts . for the cure , if need be , first give a glister , then take of cinamon half a dram , agarick trochiscate two scruples , rhubard four scruples , honey of roses and diaphaenicum each an ounce , infuse them in a decoction of succory , hyssop , liquorice , raisins stoned , figgs , anni-seed , flowers of time , bugloss , and elder , all night over the warme embers , streine it , and give it at the time of remission . take of the simple sirrup of vinegar four ounces , use it with the decoction of barley , or with ptis●an made of barley , raisins stoned , figgs , and liquorish , or with a decoction of sorrel rootes , or water and sugar , if vinegar displease , use sirrup of pomgranates . in a spurious one if choller predominate , let your cholagoges exceed the phlegmagoges , and so on the contrary ; if the stomach be offended , give gastrical medicines , and so of other parts . take of sorrel , grasse , butchers broome , and asparagus roots , each one ounce , of both succories , fumitory , and the capillary plants each a handful , liquorish six drams , prunes twenty , figgs twelve , endive-seed three drams , anise two drams , elder and burrage flowers each a small handful , time half a handful , boyle them to a pinte , and adde honey of roses and oxysaccharum simple , each two ounces , clarifie it , and aromatize it with powder of diarrodon abbatis . in the declination provoke sweat and urine , the disease being contumacious is exasperated by strong purgers , and yeelds not to gentle , but by meane ones often repeated is overcome ; bleed if the sick bee plethorick , young , and strength give leave , &c. other compound feavers being caused from putrid matter are cured by the same method , and the same remedies as bastard intermittings are ; the confused feavers if from putrid matter in the greater veines , are cured as continual feavers , if not as intermittings ; the erratick as bastard intermittings , quotidian , tertian , or quartan . chap. xxiii . of a hectick feaver . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , a hectick is taken for every feaver that is hard to be removed , whether it be from flegme or melancholly , and is opposed to the schetick feaver which is easily removed , it hath its name from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which is a habit , because it is stable and permanent . for a hectick feaver is a preternatural heat kindled in the solid parts , which first occupies the substance of the heart , and then diffuses it self into the rest of the solid parts of the body , through the veines and arteries . this feaver is continual , and hath but one fit from the beginning to the end , without any intermission or remission , unless it be joyned with a putrid feaver ; every hectick is smple , or compound , that is either universal or particular ; the universal is that which first seazes on the substance of the heart , then on the other parts and this is seldome ; a particular one is that which first invades the substance of some private part , and at last the heart ; and this is frequent , as of the lungs in a ptissick , of the midriffe , liver , &c. a compound one is that which hath a putrid feaver joyned with it ; a simple feaver is further divided into three degrees , the first is , when the body of the heart , and the other solid parts are newly inflamed , and this degree lasts as long as the substantifical and radical moysture doth conglutinate the terrene parts , and is sufficient to nourish and foment the fiery heat , as oyle doth the flame of the cotton in a lamp , and this is hard to be known , but easie to be cured . the third and worst sort is called {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , because it hath adjoyned a hot and dry consumption , and is then when the humour is wholly wasted , and all the solid parts are as it were burnt , and turned into ashes , as the cotton of the lamp is for want of the affusion of more oyle , for thus the substantifical moysture being quite spent , the native heat is extinguished , and cannot bee restaurated by euchymous aliments , and this degree as it cannot be hid , so it cannot bee cured . the second degree is of a middle nature between them , and how much the nigher or further to the first or last , is by so much the easier or harder to cure , they all differ only gradually . the causes external are from the six non-natural things as the hot air , long hunger , watchings , suppression of excrements , &c. the internal are from a bilious temperament , a continual feaver ill cured , as a causus and continual tertian , and not from a quotidian or intermitting tertian , from a prisick lientery , or such diseases in which the nourishment being incoct , or ill concoct , doth not humectate the solid parts , which being destitute of their aliment , and conceiving a more acrid and feaverish heat , grow hot and dried . the first degree may be known by the preter-natural heat , if at first touch of the artery it be acrid and mordent ; if after drink or meat a heat presently flushes in the face from the sublation of vapours , this heat is at first so gentle that the sick deny themselves to be feaverish , for things done by degrees cause no paine , saith hippocrates ; as plants at their first sprouting are easily pulled up , but are hardly known unless by the skilful herbarist , so this degree is easily cured , but hardly discovered , unless by the learned phisician . the signes of the second kinde are not only from the mordent heat of the pulse being felt , but in the soles of the feet , and palmes of the hand ; besides , the pulse is harder and dryer than in the former , because the feaverish heat works not only on the rorid substance of the heart , but on its primogenious humidity , whence nourishment failing , the sick necessarily falls away , the urine is higher coloured by reason of the intense heat , depopulating not only the heart , but habit of the whole body , but less high than if a putrid were joyned with it ; this degree hath a great latitude , and so is accordingly known , or cured . signes of the last degree are a weak pulse , small , and frequent , and hard from driness , the urine hath some fatty substance swimming in it like to cobwebs , which denotes a quolliquation of the similar parts , the eyes are hollow , their humours being wasted , the temples fallen , the substantifical humour of the muscles being consumed , the forehead dryed , the nayls crookt , the eye-lids scarce moveable , the hypochondria distended , the skin hard and dry , cleaving to the bones , the fleshy substance being wasted . a hectick seldome possesses children , often young cholerick bodies , and old men that are of a hot and dry temper , and those that are long necked , and narrow breasted , &c. those that have a hippocratical face are past cure , and such as have a looseness . the cure of the first degree differs little from that of a diary , for it proceeds from the same manifest causes , but more vehement , which are inherent in the habit of the body , and therefore requires stronger remedies ; let the diet bee euchymous , liquid , cold , and moyst , and incrassating to hinder dissipation , as broths altered with lettice , purslane , marigolds , violets , burrage , wood-sorrel , spinage , &c. let the drink be ptissan , or water boyled with sitrup of maiden-hair , or the alexandrine julep with a little vinegar , if it proceed from an ephemera ; old age may be allowed a little small wine at meals . take of the leaves of mallows , violets , burrage , lettice , each a handful , prunes twelve , the four great cold seeds each three drams , water-lilly-flowers and violets each a small handful , boyle them in water , and in a pint of the colature dissolve of simple diaprunes , and cassia with sugar each six drams , honey of violets , and oyle of water-lillies each an ounce and half , make a glister , if you would have it nourishing too , then boyle them in the broth of a weathers head , or in capon broth , with the yolks of eggs . if the stomach be foul , take of manna of calabria an ounce and half , sirrup of roses solutive , with rhubarb if choller abound , or with agarick if flegme , and give it in a little chicken-broth , or ptissan , stronger remedies must not be used . to correct the acrid heat , and driness . take of sirrup of vinegar simple , or oxysaccarum , or of the juyce of endive , or poppy , if the patient rest not , three ounces , bugloss and wood sorrel water each six ounces , make a julep . baths are good which by their warmth open the passages , and draw the bloud to the habit of the body , if you give a cup of asses milk with sugar of roses to them whiles they are in it ; then to prevent sweating anoynt the back bone , and the emunctories , and extreame parts with this liniment . take of oyle of violets , or water-lillies , or sweet almonds , and oyle of roses , or myrtells , each three ounces , mixe them for your use . if you mixe in broth a little of this condite , and give it before meat , you will profit much , viz. conserve of violets , and water-lillies , and the bark of the rootes of bugloss , condite each an ounce , of the resumptive powder newly prepared three drams , or instead of it melon and cowcumber-feeds each a dram and half , powder of diatriasantalum , and diamargaritum frigidum , each half a dram , sugar of roses sufficient , make a condite and cover it with gold . the second degree is also cured by euchymous diet and alteration , with liquids , because they are sooner and easier distributed into the habit of the body , and doe more plentifully nourish , saith hippocr . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. if the hectick proceed from the ptissick , or continual feaver , you must recurre to their proper chapters , likewise i● from the inflammation of some viscus , or the guts , &c. take of the resumptive oyntment two ounces , oyle of sweet almonds one ounce , powder of florentine , flower-de-luce four scruples , saffron a scruple , anoynt the breast and back warme ; if there be a looseness anoynt the belly with unguentum comitissae : all this while let him take every morne at four of the clock half a pint of asses milk warme from the teat , with two spoonfuls of sugar of roses powdered , wash his mouth and sleep upon it , if he stept not afore . this milk because it is more serous , deter●ive , and coole , is best in a ptissick , but if you would nourish , womans milk is best ; if consolidate an ulcer , then cowes or sheeps milk because it is more cheesie and butyrous . the third degree being incurable by the consent of all , i shall speak but little of it , let their chamber be large that they may breath the cool air , let their meat be very nourishing and often taken in small quantity , especially womens milk , let the drink be ptissan , or small wine , cause rest , with diacodium , or a pill of cynogloss , or laudanum , use cooling moystning , and nourishing glisters , and juleps , to moderate , if not extinguish the fire in the solid parts . take of the confection of hyacinth , or alkermes four scruples , pearl two scruples , fragments of the five precious stones , and red corral finely poudered each a scruple , powder of diapenidium without the species the weight of them all , of the finest sugar an ounce , fix leaves of gold , make a powder , and dissolve a spoonful in every small quantity of ptissan , or what else you give , it wonderfully restores the lost strength . a compound hectick is hard to know , unless to the learned , who can distinguish the forme and type of every feaver ; this is cured by bleeding , if there be a plenitude , or the courses , or hemorrhoids bee supprest , or by gentle purgers if there be a cacochymie no wayes respecting the consumption , but the plethora , or cacochymy , saith hippocrates and galen . chap. xxiv . of malignant and pestilent ▪ feavers . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , of malignant feavers , some are essential , others symptomatical ; the essential have a great analogy with putred feavers , from which they differ not in matter , but only by a malignant quality venenate and contagious , either produced in us , or induced into us ; they differ also from hecticks , not by macilency , which in these is caused by degrees in them speedily , which variously waste the substance of the body , as the leipyria , syncope , &c. of which in their place . the symptomatical feavers are those which follow the inflammations of the viscera , and burning-feavers , from which they also differ by their malignant quality , as the essential also doe . a leipyria is two-fold , the one essential , the other symptomatical ; the essential is caused from glassie flegme cold in the third degree , collected in the bowels , though with some mixture of choller , yet notwithstanding that it may putrefie , the heat is called from the external parts , to the internal , in which is kindled no small fire , hence it is that the inwards burne , and the outward parts are cold , from whence if a thirst follow , it is deadly the fourth day , or sooner , saith hippocrates . this is cured as a continual quartan , and if symptomatical as a causus , or continual tertian , with this caution , that to all remedies both internal and external , we mixe something cordial , which may retund the venenate and malignant quality without any manifest heat . a syncopal feaver hath its name from the symptome , because the diseased are troubled with faintings and swounings ; by reason of the exact sense and hurt of the mouth of the stomach . the efficient cause is either crasse flegme putrefied in the stomach , with some maligne or venenate quality , which carried upwards to the mouth of the stomach doth 〈◊〉 and wound it , from whence is paine and faintings , and sometimes a syncope , that is , a sudden loss of strength , with sweats more or less ; sometimes it is from aeruginous choller which is wholly pernicious , whose vapour carried to the mouth of the stomach doth wound it , from whence are faintings , convulsions , and death , unless it bee vomited up , as galen mentions in a young man ; this feaver is very rare , and observes the type of a quotidian , which is worst towards the evening . if it come from prassinous or aeruginous choller , the signes are taken from a hot and dry season of the year , from a young , mac●lent , and bilious body , or from a continual burning feaver , or tertian , with a malignant quality , which usually kills before the fourth fit ; that from aeruginous choller is worse , the pulse is swift , from the abundance of heat , inequal from the multitude of the obnoxious humour oppressing nature , hard from the driness of the humour and vessels , small from the weakness ; the parts about the heart and whole body seemes puft up , and tumid , the colour is vitiated , in some white , in others livid or black , the belchings are acid if from flegme , bitter from porraceous choller , the eyes prominent , the tongue acid and black , they are best when quiet and unmoved . the humour is to be carried away by gentle clisters , and purged epicrastically , alwaies adding cardiacal medicines against the malignant and venenate quality , and if the patient be nauseative give a vomit . take a sufficient quantity of broth , and boyle in it mercury , balme , and burrage , each a handful , the tops of dill , with cammomel , and me●●lot-flowers each a smalhandful , course bran two pugills , figgs twelve , aniseed two drams , streine it , and dissolve of hiera an ounce , honey of mercury , and oyle of cammomel , each anounce and half , the yolks of two eggs , and give the glister . take of mallows , violets , barrage , purslane , balme , each a handful ▪ prunes sixteen , of the four greater cold seeds each two drams , water-lilley-flowers a handful , dissolve in the colature diaprunum simple , and cassia with sugar each six drams , honey of roses , and oyle of roses , each an ounce and half , give it at the time of remission . take of manna of calabria , and sirrup of roses solutive , with agarick , each an ounce and half , drink it in a little fresh chicken broth , boyle in the broth three drams of citron pill . take of cinnamon a scruple , rhubarb four scruples , tamarinds two drams , cassia newly drawn an ounce and half , infuse them all night over warme embers in chicken-broth , in the decoction of succory , purslane , citron-seeds , bugloss , and water-lilly flowers , straine it , and adde sirrup of violets of nine infusions , or of succory , with a double quantity of rhubarb , or of roses solutive an ounce and half , give the potion . take of agarick trochiscate for flegme , rhubarb for choller , half a dram , imperial pills a dram , with honey of roles , or sirrup of violets , make them up . take of the sirrup of citron pill conserved , and of sower pomgranates each two ounces , balme , and bugloss water each six ounces . take of bugloss roots two ounces , dried citron pill one ounce , it flagme abound , but of sorrel , and grass roots , if aeruginous , or prassinous choller , each one ounce , succory , endive , purslane , lettice , burrage , scabious , devils-bit each a handful , balme , and french lavender for flegme , each half a handful , raisins stoned twenty , liquorish six drams , prunes for choller eight , white poppy , and the four greater cold seeds or cardu●s benedictus , and aniseed , each two drams for flegme , the cordial flowers a pugil , boyl them in water to a pint , add sirrup of pomgranates three ounces ( which is good for them both ) make an apozem , and aromatize it with a dram and half of saxafras ; if you would make a magistrall sirrup in one part of the decoction without sirrup , infuse of cloves a scruple , agarick ▪ trochiscate an ounce for flegme , or cinnamon a dram , and rhubard an ounce and half , for choller , straine it , and boyle it gently to a sirrup with manna , and sirrup of roses , each half a pound , the dose is two ounces in a decoction of burrage , or broth twice a week . chap. xxv . of the cardiacal feaver . this feaver hath its name from the heart , and is of the same kinde with malignant and colliquating feavers , and not much unlike to the syncopall ; there is a great heat with it , and the face lookes red , great strivings of the heart , little and frequent breathing , insomuch that they are compeld to sit upright , like the orthopnoical , and are pained on the region of the heart ; the disease inclining , they have a thin sweat , a cold breath , and then follow syncopes , and death . the cure is the same with that of a burning-feaver , both for cooling and moystning diet , and for bleeding , premising the glister there described , if the body be bound ; in alterating the humours adde a fourth , or sixth part of hot alexipharmaca , by reason of the malignant and pernicious quality that is impressed , and then empty the humours with manna , cassia , &c , allay the thirst with julep of violets , or poppies . amongst malignant feavers are reckoned also those that doe variously impair the substance of the body , whether by degrees or speedily , as the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , &c. the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} is a kind of feaver , in which by reason of the excessive heat , the sick seem to be suffocated , and may be called an crysipelatose one , and is cured as a continual tertian . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , the moyst feaver is so called , because presently after the first day the sick begin to sweat , and by sweating their strength is so wasted , that they finde little or no benefit by it , in the year 1528. this feaver spread it self from england into france , and in short space killed the stoutest men by sweating , all remedies against it being invalid the french named it suette and numbred it amongst the pestilential , by reason of its maligne and venenate quality , the greeks call it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} is called by hippocrates , the restless implacid feaver ; in this the sick are alwaies tossing , changing their posture of lying , loath all things , are distended in the hypochondria , thirst , watch , or are delirous in their sleep . the internal cause is a crass , acrid , and bilious humour , imbibed in the coates of the stomach , sometimes it is from internal pains , the pulse suddenly failes , and the use of all remedies is prevented ; let the diet be incisive , refrigerating , and moystning , and if occasion be , give this glister . take of violet leaves , gourds , purslane , and nettles , each a handful , the four great cold seeds , and nettle-seed , each two drams , camomel and violet flowers , each a pugil , boyle them in water to a pint , and in the colature dissolve diaphaenicum , honey of roses , and oxymel simple each an ounce , oyle of water-lillies an ounce and half . to allay the thirst , use the juyce of pomgranates , or citrons , or the sirrups made of them , &c. take of cinamon a scruple , rhubarb four scruples , cassia newly drawn an ounce and half , infuse them in the infusion of damask roses , or in the decoction of succory , marigolds , burrage , prunes , with nettle-seed , and the cordial flowers , streine it , and give it ; procure sleep with sirrup of poppy , and a little diamargaritum frigidum . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} is called by the latines the colliquating feaver , by whose vehement heat not only the fat , but the flesh and substance of the solid parts are melted away , & this is of the kind of malignant feavers ; it is caused two wayes , the one when the colliquationis by degrees , as in hecticks , and the marasmus ; the other , when both fat and solid parts are suddainly dissolved , and this is a most grievous and dangerous disease , it differs from a marasmus because in this , that portion of flesh which is colliquated is always like a vapour , breathed forth by insensible transpiration , but in the colliquating feaver it flowes to the belly in the species of a bilious stinking crass humour , the external causes are , watchings , sadness , malignant medicines , &c. and this is not lethal . the internal cause is a fervid heat with a malignant quality which doth not always dissolve the body by insensible transpiration , but sometimes by manifest excretions . the signes are rusous , crass , stinking dejections , sometimes fat and viscid , with a spume or froth which indicates heat , the nose grows sharp , and the eyes hollow , which latter signes if they appear at first , we are not to meddle ; hippocrates proposes two remedies , the one the cremor of barley , the other cold water , with acid sirrup made up with sugar , and not with honey ; give glisters if occasion be , or eccoproticks , for the first region of the body , with opening and cooling decoctions , if there be obstructions , and condites , and cardiacal powders , as are described in the chapter of a continual tertian . chap. xxvi . of the feaver from crudity . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , a feaver from crudity , though the word crude be applied to various things , yet in this place it is taken for a raw cold humour , contained in the first passages , or in the whole body ; this feaver differs from an epiala , not in matter , nor in the place of putrefaction , but in malignity , and therefore is not voyd of danger , especially if it be joyned with an inflammation of stomach or liver , for sometimes it is without them . if the crude humour putrefie in the first passages there will be a nauseousness , sower belchings , with idleness , or unseasonable exercise , as venery presently after meat , &c. if it bee in the whole body the urine will be thin , and watery , the contents divulsed , the colour pallid , plumbeous or livid , the whole bulk somewhat swelled , the pulse unequal , obscure , with a dulness of the senses ; make a glister with hiera catholicum , honey of roses , oyle of camomel , decoction of mallows , mercury origanum , dill , &c. take of catholicum an ounce , infuse it all night in the infusion of damask roses , streine it , and adde sirrup of succory , with rhubarb duplicated , an ounce and half , give it in the morn ; if strength and age permit , and a high tinct urine require it , let bloud in the axillary veine in small quantity , with a narrow orifice . all attenuating things used must not be very hot , lest the feaver be increased . take of sirrup of vineger , and juyce of endive , each two ounces , succory & wormwood-water each six ounces . take of grass-roots , butchers broom , and asparagus , each an ounce , of succory , agrimony , endive , the capillary plants , & sea-wormwoode ach a handful origanum , and balm each half a handful , seeds of carduus benedictus , citron , and anise , each two drams , flowers of bugloss and time , each a pugil , boyle them in water to a pint , with oxymel simple three ounces , make an apozem , and aromatize it with cinamon . take of cinamon a scruple , rhubarb four scruples , catholicum half an ounce , cassia newly extracted an ounce , infuse them in part of the apozem , and to the expression , adde sirrup of roses , with agarick an ounce and half , give the potion , and give no stronger ; take of the conserve of citron pill three drams , old mithridate , or treacle , or aurea alexandrina , a dram with sugar , give the bolus next day three hours before meat . books printed , and are to be be sold by john hancock , at the first shop in popes-head-alley next to cornhil . a book of short-writing , the most easie , exact , lineal , and speedy method , fitted to the meanest capacity ; composed by mr. theophilus metcalse , professor of the said art . also a school-master , explaining the rules of the said book . another book of new short-hand , by thomas crosse . a coppy-book of the newest and most useful hands . four books lately published by mr. thomas brooks . preacher of the gospel at margarets new fish-street . 1 precious remedies against satans devices ; or , salve for beleevers and unbeleevers sores , being a companion for those that are in christ , or out of christ , that sleight or neglect ordinances , under a pretence of living above them , that are growing in spirituals , or decaying , that are tempted , or deserted , afflicted , or opposed , that have assurance , or want it , on 2 cor. 2. 11. 2 heaven on earth ; or , a serious discourse , touching a well-grounded assurance of mens everlasting happiness , and blessedness ; discovering the nature of assurance , the possibility of attaining it , the causes , springs , and degrees of it , with the resolution of several weighty questions , on rom. 8. 32 , 33 , 34. 3 the unsearchable riches of christ ; or , meat for strong men , and milk for babes , held forth in two and twenty sermons , from ephes. 3. 8. preached on his lecture nights at fish-street-hill . 4 his apples of gold , for young-men , and women ; and , a crown of glory for old men and women ; or the happiness of being good betimes , and the honour of being an old disciple , clearly and fully discovered , and closely and faithfully applied : the godly mans ark , or city of refuge in the day of his distress . discovered in divers sermons , the first of which was preached at the funeral of mistris elizabeth moore . whereunto is annexed mistris moores evidences for heaven , composed and collected by her in the time of her health , for her comfort in the time of sickness . by ed. calamy . b. d. and paster of the church at aldermanbury . the covenant of gods free grace unfolded , and comfortably applied to a disquieted or dejected soul , 2 sam. 23. 5. by that late reverend divine , mr. john cotton of new england . the ruine of the authors and fomenters of civil war ; as it was delivered in a sermon before the parliament at their monthly fast , by mr. samuel gibson , sometime minister at margarets westminster , and one of the assembly of divines . the new creature , with a description of the several marks and characters thereof , by richard bartlet . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a26839e-1170 of the name . the definition of a feaver . the division of heat . the division of ascititious heat . from the essence . from the subject . from the manner of the motion . from the efficient cause . from the matter . the containing . the conta●n●d . the impetuous . from the symptoms the simple feaver . an unputred synochus . the homotonos . the epacmastic● . the paracmastical . the putred synochus . the synechis . intermitting feavers . a hectick compound feavers . the confuse . the erratick . from the humour . from the quality . object . against this opinion . from the quality . from the habit of the body . from the strength . from the complication . the cause of putrefaction . what the catas●a●●● it . from whence are the signes of these tim●s . from whence is the idaea of the disease . 2 from the fits . 3 from the figure . 4 from the strength . 5 from the season . 6 from the pulse . 7 from the rigour . 8 from the houre . 9 from the symptomes . 10 from the duration of the fits . 11 from the evacuation . 12 from the urine . signes when the matter is out of the veines . how to distinguish the four times of feavers . the fo●● times of a phlegmon . signes of the times of an ophthalmy the four times of an ulcer . what time is . what a period is . what is the type . the time of intermitting feavers from moveable matter . the division of the fit . the first time . the second time . the third . the fourth the fifth . the sixth . the times of these putrid are but four . the signes of the times of these feavers . the augment . the state . the declination . from whence the times of a diary . feavers without putrefaction of the humours . the times of mortal feavers . the times of a hectick . of bleeding . purging ▪ of the name . of the external causes . of the internal causes . of the singes . who are subject to it . the cure the profit of baths . what a synochus is . the signes the cure . a cholagoge . feavers from humours equally putrefied . the causes . the signes how many wayes a crisis may be . the cure . the cordial powder . an epithem for the heart . a plaister ▪ a liniment for the liver . feavers from humours unequally putrefied . the division of these feavers . the external causes . causes internal . the causes of a not exquisite continual tertian . signs pathognomonical of a causus . signes assident . signes of exquisite tertian . prognosticks the aire . his drink . bleed . a cooling glister . a bole. a rule to be observed . a julep . a purge for choler of the name . how a continual and intermitting differ . external causes . the signs . a glister . a vomite a purge for the flegme . bleed . a julep . an apozem . pills ▪ of the name . the causes . the signs . prognosticks . the cure . a rule for purging . a glister . a purge for melancholly . a vomit ▪ an altering julep . an apozem . lozenges . the oyntment for the spleen whence a double tertian . the causes . the signs a caution . a julep . a purge for choller . pills ▪ a bolus . a cordial powder . a vomit . a suppositary . a purge a julep . an apozem . a purge . a bolus . lozenges for the liver . the division of this feaver . the signs signes of a bastard quotidian the cure . a suppositary . a glister . a purging potion . a julep . pills . a condite a liniment . a plaister . of the name . the cure . the sign● prognosticks . the cure . a glister a bole so melancholly . a purge for melancholly ▪ pills . vomit . an apozem for choller adust . an apozem for salt flegm . a purge for 〈◊〉 flegme . a purge for flegme and melancholly . a bole a purge for choller adust . an opiate lozenges . a plaister for the spleen . the causes . presages . a powder for an intermitting quartan . of a confused feaver . a compound feaver . of the erratick feaver . the causes . the signes of a semitertian . signes of a non exquisite semiter●ian . pr●●nosti●●s . a purge . a sirrup against thirst . an opening apozem . of the name . the definition . the division . the causes . signes of the first degree . signes of the second degree . signes of the third degree . the cure . a glister . a potion . baths . a liniment . a condite the cure of the second degree . an oyntment for the brest . the choyce of milks . the third degree . a short cure of a compound hectick . the division and difference of malignant feavers . of a leipyria feaver . the cure . a syncopal feaver . the cause the signes from prassinous choller . the cure . a glister for flegme . a glister for ae●uginous choller . a minorating purge for flegme . a purge for choller . pills . a julep for flegme . an apozem . the signes the cure . typhodis feaver . the moyst feaver . the restless feaver . the signe● . the cause . a glister . a potion . the colliquating feaver . the cause . the signes of the name . the signs . a minorating purge . a rule . a julep . an apozem . a purge . a discourse shewing the nature of the gout with directions to such remedies as will immediately take away the pain ... : and also helps for palsies, plurisies, cholick, convulsions in limbs ... : with receipts and directions for the cure of the king's evil and other diseases / by w. atkins. atkins, william. 1694 approx. 137 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 74 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a26131 wing a4125 estc r28312 10521921 ocm 10521921 45188 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26131) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 45188) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1394:20) a discourse shewing the nature of the gout with directions to such remedies as will immediately take away the pain ... : and also helps for palsies, plurisies, cholick, convulsions in limbs ... : with receipts and directions for the cure of the king's evil and other diseases / by w. atkins. atkins, william. xvi, 128 p. : port. printed for tho. fabian, london : 1694. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gout -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-04 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-04 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a discourse shewing the nature of the gout : with directions to such remedies as will immediately take away the pain , and prevent the danger of life , by keeping it from the inward parts ; or , a certain help , if it be got in the bowels , stomach or head. and also helps for palsies , plurisies , cholick , convulsions in limbs or inward parts ; also for nummed limbs , rheumetisms , or sinews that are shrunk . with receipts and directions for the cure of the king's-evil , and other diseases . by w. atkins the gout-doctor , who is removed from white-chappel into the old-jewry . london , printed for tho. fabian at the bible in cheap-side ; and are also to be had at the author's house , with the medicines . 1694. the effigies of w. atkins the gout dr. who for gouts , rumetisms , palsey , and convultions , and all pains in any parts , he exceedeth all men ▪ both for safest and speediest cures , as appears by his book . portrait of w. atkins advertisement . whereas several have , since my removal , been troubled to find me out ; this is to give notice that they may hear of me at any bookseller's or coffee-house near the exchange , by the name of the gout-doctor . the preface . it is almost incredible to declare what strange and speedy cures have been performed by my medicines , the like hath not been known in our age : for many have been weak and helpless for some months , and have been restored immediately ; but most find speedy help , and are recovered to health in a few days , though judged uncureable by others . such great success i have had for many years past , that most i have been concerned with are yet living , and able to declare their own experience . but since in my studies i have discovered my gout-medicines , it hath pleased god by his blessing to perform most strange and more miraculous cures than formerly . i must declare it to be the gift of god , who hath directed me to find out such excellent things , that i never had of man , nor ever did read them in other mens works , or any thing like them : therefore thanks be to god , who hath blessed my studies with so great success , as to make me helpful in such an age as this , wherein many diseases have proved incureable ; and there are others that are very dangerous , and some new distempers that have puzzled learned men to know what to call them : many that have been afflicted with them , have been lost for want of remedies . no doubt but there are excellent things in the world , which man hath not yet arrived to the knowledg of : therefore such as by their ingenious studies do find out hidden things for the preservation of the lives of many , ought to be encouraged ; and every gift that god gives to man , ought to be improved . there are some envious people in the world , who hate such medicines as are really good to perform speedy cures , and do all they can to put people in fear , and endeavour to perswade against them , pretending they are dangerous , though they know not any thing of their ingredients . but yet notwithstanding the great opposition and envious contradiction my medicines have met with by wicked and malicious persons , yet they are become famous ; for before the very face of my adversaries , i have performed great cures , which hath shamefully put them to silence : my medicines have been often proved by wise and understanding men ; therefore let not any regard the evil perswasions of the ignorant , or be afraid where there is no man of danger . i desire no plainer proof for the satisfaction of those that may not yet know my medicines , than this , that when you see the case is desperate , and there is in the judgments of all no hopes of life , then admit that i may come to give my assistance , and you will be satisfied in my common success in such cases . and this i can say for farther incouragement , i never had any died under my hands ; but i have been a means of preserving the lives of many when given over , as dying persons ; and some that have been long speechless , and had neither sense nor knowledg of any thing , yet have been recovered to health again . and the means that i use , are attended with so great a blessing , that for the most part great alterations , and some appearances of recovery are seen before i depart from them . it is now as great a pleasure to me to be doing good , by improving my knowledg , as it was delightful to me in my younger days to be reading and seeking after those things which now i have obtained , through the goodness of god , who maketh me able to do good in my generation . and though i was crossed by my relations , in the things my natural inclinations led me to , yet nothing could prevent me , and god's hand hath been with me , and hath directed me to the imployment of healing the diseased : and it plainly appeared to me , by the much business that came in to me of this kind , and the happy success i have had in my undertaking , that it is a work that god hath called me to ; and i dare not neglect , but look upon my self bound in conscience to follow this practice . and as god maketh me able , my resolution shall be to do good while i live , and shall be ready to be helpful to such as are not able to help themselves : therefore let such as are not able to get the medicines , apply themselves to me . but let not any come as deceivers ; for tho i may not know their condition , and being ready to take the word of any that do but say they are poor , yet i have afterwards found out by their neighbours that they have been rich : and though they have been unwilling to let their neighbours know how they came to be cured ; yet some being importunate with them , being in the like disease , have prevailed upon them to discover how they were healed . let such take heed lest their covetousness bring a worse thing on them . my mind is not to exact on any , but i shall be willing that every one may have help according to their condition . i am not forward to take money where i think i cannot do good , but my desire is to do as i would be done by : and if the case be difficult , and is such a matter that i my self do question or doubt of a cure , i had rather run the hazard at my own charge , than abuse people , as some do , to take their money , when at the same time they know they can do them no good . many are greatly abused by false pretenders , who ruin them both in body and estate ; so leave them to perish , being in an uncureable condition . these ignorant sort of practitioners are apt to speak ill of others , and think all are cheats like themselves ; and because they are not able to perform the cures they undertake , in order to make some profit of the patient , they will have half down , or else they can do nothing : but it is not my way to draw people in after this manner ; if i do not some good to those that come to me , when i first take them in hand , i desire no reward . god hath given me that knowledg , that in many i am able to give a near judgment whether they are cureable or not ; and do know , if they are cureable , nearly the time it will be performed ; and have commonly success according to my expectation : which maketh many of my envious adversaries say , how came this man by this knowledg ? i do give you to understand , that i came by it , not by slothfulness , but by my industrious studies : and it was many years before i came to have the knowledg of the nature of diseases ; but now , through the goodness of god , i have ▪ attained to the curing of diseases , but not with other mens receipts , as you report ; but these things by which i do perform such great and speedy cures , are great secrets that i have found out by my own knowledg and experience . i had in my youthful days a natural inclination to study physick ; and that which did at first put me on it , was for my own health , being a diseased young man. in time i obtained my ends , and cured my self , and since i have had great success in helping of others . thus by my reading , and much studying , and long practising , i have gained knowledg , and am now able to prepare proper medicines suteable for the helping of many diseases , which i shall not here mention ; i shall only name some particular diseases which i chiefly concern my self in , and wherein i have more than ordinary success : as in gouts , rheumetisms , bedridden-palsies , pleurisies , cholicks , convulsions on nerves or inward parts , or shrinking of the sinews , numness of limbs , old pains . i recover such as have lost the use of their limbs for many years , and also such as are deprived of the use of nature , or stoppage of urin , or stranguries , and most painful diseases , either in the limbs or inward parts : also dropsies , yellow-jaundice , and consumptions ; also venereal and pestilent diseases , and fevers . god hath given me more than an ordinary gift in curing such as i have here named ; and i hope he will give me a heart to improve it . in order to this i publish this little book of directions , and advise such as are at a distance in the country , too far off to have the help that those may have in london , or the towns adjacent , that they be provided with some of these medicines to keep by them , that in time of danger , observing the directions which i shall give , they may help themselves , and do much good for their poor neighbours : especially observe not to be without these three , being of great use on sudden occasions ; and though i call them the gout-medicines , you may read what great use they are for in many other dangerous cases . 1. the gout-balsam , that takes away sudden pains immediately in most cases ; and though used outwardly , it helpeth inward pains in a strange manner . 2. the gout-glister , observing well its use , will do strange cures , and very speedy , in desperate cases , as you may read . 3. a pouder for snuff . with these three i have been a means of preserving the lives of many ; and though they have been seemingly dead , and all motions of life to appearance have been gone , yet in such cases i have recovered them . according to what i have known , i do ●udg that some people in england are buried alive : therefore let this be a caution to all , to observe well the bodies of those who are laid out for dead , especially such as die suddenly ; for though the body may be changed to a dead colour in all parts , and may be cold and stiff after it hath been laid out some time ; if you do not observe it before , observe it then , and do not let it go to the grave , if you find a kind of a damp or cold sweat on the stomach , or a little warmth in the small of the back ; then you may conclude there is some hopes of life , though you may not discern any breath . this may be a good rule for the old women that are the searchers of the dead to observe . as for my part i should be very unwilling to bury my dead before they begin to stink or purge , as is usual , and then i should away with them to their place . this caution i give , in hopes thereby some may be preserved and restored after such-like dying fits. but my care shall be to advise and help you , rather to prevent danger in time by the use of means : and after i have given you large directions for the use of such means as may be provided to your hand , in the next place i shall direct you to prepare some necessary and useful things for the helping and curing of several diseases , which may be of use in your family , especially for such as cannot be at the charge of a physitian to help them . i shall also communicate unto you some receipts that have cured great numbers of the king's-evil , and other such-like diseases ; with many other choice receipts , that will be of great use in many cases ; that you need not expose your selves , with hazard of your lives , to make trial of any false pretenders : for when you are satisfied in what you have here before you , i do not suppose that you will run a hazard , before you have made a trial of your own preparation , according to the directions given you , especially when given out by a person of good report and reputation , by multitudes of witnesses of his success in the like cases , as is here mentioned . therefore being thus plain with you , i leave you to judg , by what you find , whether this i write be ●●r my private interest , or for the pub●●ck good. i meet in the streets with many objects of pity : by their physiognomy i know their cases , though i think it not my concern to meddle with them ; yet for the good of all , i do give out this little pocket-book , to advise such as are under bodily infirmities , to seek out for help before it be too late . and as god hath blessed me with success in my undertaking , so i do hope if you carefully observe my directions , god will still continue his blessing on the same means : which shall be the hearty desire and prayer of him , who is your friend and servant , may 26. 1694. william atkins . the contents . a discourse of the gout , pag. 1 quest . 1. what is the gout ? 2 q. 2. what parts are afflicted ? 5 q. 3. what causeth the pains of the gout ? 9 q. 4. from whence do these humours come that flow to the joints ? 13 q. 5. which way do these humours flow into the joints ? 16 6. a remedy , or cure , 17 the virtue of the gout-balsam , 22 the vse of the balsam in the gout , 23 the vse of this balsam in rheumatism-pains , 25 directions for its use in old pains , and lameness of limbs of long continuance , 25 directions for its vse , for sinews that are shrunk , 26 directions for its use , to help gout-like pains in the head , 27 directions for its use in convulsions of the nerves , 28 directions for the use of the gout-balsam in outward convulsions , 29 directions for the use of the gout-balsam in palsies , or numness of limbs , pag. 29 directions for the use of gout-balsam in dropsies , 30 directions for the gout-balsam in the sciatica , 31 directions for the use of the gout-balsam for the spleen or pleurisy , 32 directions for the use of the gout-balsam for kernels or swellings , ibid. directions for the vse of the gout-balsam in dangerous and painful sores , 33 the use of the gout-balsam in giddiness and apoplexy , 34 an observation , that this gout-balsam is good to take inwardly , ibid. directions for the second medicine for the gout , which is a red balsam , 35 directions for the third medicine , &c. 36 directions for the fourth medicine , &c. 37 the fifth remedy for the gout , 38 the sixth help to carry off the gout , ibid. the seventh help for the gout , 39 the eighth help for the gout , 40 the ninth remedy for the gout , 41 directions for ordering your body , 43 cautions , ibid. direction for diet , 48 a remedy to hinder or prevent the gout returning again , pag. 63 a vindication in my own defence against my malicious adversaries , 72 many are offended because i am not a college-doctor , &c. 73 another reflection or supposition is , that some dangerous matter is in the medicine , as aquafortis , &c. 77 an account of cures done by blisters drawn by the gout-balsam , 79 great and remarkable cures performed on palsies and convulsions in the nerves , 92 an explanation , or a discovery of the safety of the ingredients of the gout-balsam , 104 a word to the chirurgeons , 106 my apology to the apothecaries , 107 my apology to the doctors of the college , 109 an answer to some false reports , 115 the conclusion , 118 receipts , with directions for the cure of the king's-evil , &c. 119 a catalogue of choice medicines , sold at the author's house at reasonable rates , 127 a discourse of the gout . my design is to speak something concerning the gout ; but it being a disease that of late years is grown very common , most do know what it ●s , therefore i shall not need to make a long discourse concerning it . my intent is rather to direct you ●o that as may help you speedily ; and though this is hard to be believed by many , yet by what i shall write , you may be convinced that there is one that doth perform great things , and gives present help in the greatest extremity ; and such as use to be confined many months , are set at liberty in less than one week , but the pain is taken away in less than one hour . this is the common success of the gout-balsam , if rightly applied , to which i shall give here large and full directions in all cases wherein this balsam is useful : but before i come to that , i shall lay open something of the nature of the gout , by several inquiries , discovering the nature of this disease , with the signs and causes . quest . 1. what is the gout ? in general , all may know so much of it as to tell 't is a sore painful tormenting disease ; but those that are afflicted with it , are more sensible to know what it is , and when they may be said to have it , especially after two or three fits ; for usually it cometh after one and the same manner as a● the first , and about the same time of the year ; and for the most part it cometh to the same joint or part where it first beginneth ; and usually it giveth some warning before it cometh ; all which doth signify to us the nature of this disease . now the common signs that do foretel that the gout is coming , are these following tokens . sometimes an extraordinary itching in the blood , or by sudden heat , flushings all about the body , or sick fits , or a fulness after moderate eating , or a great heaviness , or melancholy , or a weariness after moderate exercise , or subject to dreams and disquiet sleeping , or ill taste , or flemical , or feverish , or a tenderness of the joints , or a change of the urine pale : and these are some of the common signs that the gout is coming ; but i do not mean that all these signs are in one body . but as there are differing pains of the gout , so there are differing causes and differing signs : my intent is but to touch on these things ; but if you observe , you will have some sign to foretel that the gout is coming as aforesaid ; and in a short time after any of these signs , the pain cometh , and is commonly violent at the first . the extremity of the pain causeth a soreness , and the settlement of the humours causeth a weakness . those that are afflicted with this disease , are for a long time disabled ; and though it be a disease that cometh by fits , yet for the most part every fit groweth longer , and weakneth the parts afflicted after the extremity of the pain is gone off ; so the disease groweth more powerful , as the party groweth in age. many of late have died of the gout ; and 't is observed , that it is more dangerous than formerly . thus in short i have set before you the nature of this disease , and after what manner it cometh ; so i shall come to the second query , which will shew some of the immediate causes , the differing sorts of pains , in nine parts . q. 2. what parts are afflicted ? for the most part the pain cometh in the joints ; for the joints being more loose and open than other parts , do receive the greater quantity of humours that causeth the pain ; and for the most part the pain cometh to the same part again , as if there were the seat or settlement of the humours . which for some reasons may be concluded to be true , for the cavity of the joints being hollow and loose may be full , and yet nothing seen when the pain is greatest : but after the pain is gone , 't is common to have a weakness in the joints , which remaineth on some always till the gout cometh again ; for because of the relicks that do remain in the joints , it more readily enters in : but when the joints are full , and the parts swelled , then the humours do sometimes flow to other parts of the body ; so by the increase of the humours , all parts may be afflicted together , both in the limbs and inward parts . but some have it not in the joints at all , but in the inward parts only : and usually when it is in the inward parts , the pain is exceeding great for a short time , and runneth about like a cholick or spleen , sometimes like the pain of the stone , and sometimes like the gripes in the bowels , and sometimes like plurisies . thus many are afflicted with the gout in the inward parts only . others there are that have the gout in the head , and in no other part at all ; and the pain is great by sits , but doth not continue painful so long as it doth in other parts . when the gout is in the head only , i have observed that it is in the external part without the scull , and so it will flow under the skin all over the head at times ; but usually it doth fix on the upper part of the head , where it doth sometimes continue for a long time very painful . but when the gout floweth from other parts of the body into the head , it is in the internal part of the head within the skull ; this is not painful , but causeth a lightness , and doth often deprive a man of his senses ; and indeed it is so dangerous , that few escape death : it must be extaordinary means that recover this . there is help to be had in this case ; but if men , through unbelief , are regardless of their lives , they may for want of means at hand in such a time be cast away . i cannot but pity such as i hear do die of the gout , for i know so much of the nature of the disease , that when the gout thus cometh from other parts into the head , they are not sensible of their danger , because they seem to be at ease , and will have a conceit of their doing well when they are near their end. if the danger do appear , by their being in a raving condition , it 's dagerous ; i know not where any have been recovered in that condition , but what i have recovered my self ; let such know that have the gout , that are in fear or danger of their lives by it , that it hath pleased god to provide means to give help for the preservation of your lives in that dangerous condition : for of all the parts that are afflicted with this disease , there is no such danger of life as when it is thus got into the head ; so let this be a sufficient caution for you to take help in time . the next thing to inquire further , is to know the cause of the pains of the gout . q. 3. what causeth the pains of the gout ? as there are differing pains , so there are differing causes . i shall give an account first of the immediate causes . 1. in some the immediate cause is wind being fixed in the part , and not having vent . this doth sometimes cause an inflammation , or a swelling that will be very sore and tender for a long time . 2. in some the immediate cause is a thin and cold whitish water fixed in the joints , that looseneth the ligaments and other parts , binding the joints together , that causeth a pain and great weakness in the parts afflicted . 3. in some the immediate cause , is a slimy matter that is without the joints : this humour being cold and thickish , causeth a hard swelling that pitteth like a dropsy ; and the part is cold and stiff , but the pain is more moderate than the humours that are thin . but this sort of dropsy-like gout usually continues long ▪ and causeth a great weakness , except timely prevented . 4. in some the immediate cause is a hot vapour or steam , driven into the parts by the heat of the blood ▪ and when the pores are opened where the pain is , this vapour doth come out like the smoak of a chimney that shall be seen to fill a room almost with smoak ; and when ▪ this smoak is come out , the pain is presently gone , and the party walketh about , though helpless just before . 5. in some the immediate cause of the pain , is a windy and frothy blood that stoppeth in its circulation : this swelleth in knobs like the cramp , is very painful , but quickly over . this is a kind of a scurvey sort of a gout , and usually runneth over all parts of the limbs and joints . 6. in some the immediate cause of the pain , is a black and settled blood , occasioned by great cold : this causeth universal pains in all parts of the body ; yet in this case ●t is not good to part with your blood , but rather to cleanse it , by using that medicine that openeth the pores : then a sweating pill is proper to carry off the cause . 7. in some the immediate cause , is a thick and matter-like humour , that being fixed long in a place , groweth to a hard kind of a kernel , that when it is dry it cracketh the skin , and crumbleth out like little stones ; but the pain is most before it cometh to a hardness . the best time to help this sort of gout is , when it first beginneth to be painful , for then the humour is thin , and will easily come forth when the pores are open . 8. in some the immediate cause is , for want of the blood circulating into all parts : and if the stoppage be about the joints , it eauseth the sinews to be stiff and dry , and sometimes to shrink , and sometimes draweth the joints together . this will cause the knuckles to be hard and knotty ; for by clinching of the hands together , they are deprived of the nourishment that should come to them by the free circulation of the blood. in this case it is dangerous to give way : but to prevent the shrinking of the sinews , endeavour to keep the joints in exercise . 9. in some the immediate cause of the pains in the inward parts proceedeth from a foul and slimy matter that gathereth in the bowels , that by the stoppage of the offending matter doth cause the wind that gathereth in those parts unnatural , to break its way upwards ; and sometimes it breaketh its course , and torments both back and sides , and runneth about the lower parts like stiches or spleen-like pains , and sometimes like gripes in the bowels : and oftentime these kind of humours do turn to convulsions . and many in this case have been lost for want of help ; for commonly it floweth to the head , and then the case is desperate . but now there is a remedy that will carry off the cause , better and quicker than if it were in other parts of the body . this may be sufficient to set forth the nature of this disease , by shewing the immediate cause of the pains . the next queries will discover something of the foundation-cause . q. 4. from whence do these humours come that flow to the joints ? there is a great difference in the judgments of physicians about this point . one saith , they flow from the head , the external part without the skull , and so flow under the skin to the joints . others say , they flow from the inward parts of the head , from the brain : others from the bowels : some name other parts ; so that if we put the judgments of all together , the gouty humours flow from all parts of the body . i shall give you my judgment , and that is , that the fault lieth chiefly in the digestion , and yet nature may have sufficient vent in the lower parts ; but the digestion doth not so speedily do its office , by conveying a part of the sustenance when 't is received , so speedily as it ought into the lower vessels : but when meat and drink is received in the stomach , it usually seemeth to oppress with a fulness for some time after eating or drinking ; and tho nature doth carry it off after in little time , yet the food perisheth in the stomach before it passeth ; and this doth hinder natural nourishment , and turneth to ill humours which disperse about the body , but especially to the parts afflicted ; but yet every one that hath a bad digestion is not troubled with the gout : but wheresoever it is , the body is much out of order ; in some it causeth head-pains , in others fevers , and many other distempers which are destructive to the body : the humours are not in all alike . but the humours causing the gout do commonly proceed from a disorderly government of the body , as sometimes by immoderate exercise or ill diet , or too much drinking or passion , or any other vehement motion , and colds and heats . these and other such-like disordering the body , breed ill humours , and open the secret passages of the body , and for the most part fixeth at the joints . and this is one part of the foundation-causes of the gout . next thing is to know , q. 5. which way do these humours flow into the joints ? we cannot be unsensible that the branches do receive their nourishment from the root , so the limbs do receive their nourishment and moisture from the body ; and ( as before ) i say the food perisheth in the stomach , breeds ill humours and not natural blood : so i conceive that by the same way that the blood passeth into the limbs , so do these humours circulate through the veins and arteries into the joints . and the humours being thin and cold as they flow from the stomach , sometimes may be sensibly felt to run through the circulating passages , and to settle in the joints ; the joints being more loose and open than other parts , do receive the greater quantity . and this is the way , as i conceive , that the humours flow from the stomach into the joints . and thus i have given some short account concerning the gout , what it is , and what parts are afflicted with it , with the immediate causes , with some part of the foundation-cause . 6. a remedy , or cure. but if i should write never so much in a long and large account ●bout the nature of the disease , this will not be any help to them that are ●fflicted with it , without the know●edg of a remedy for it . what would it signify if a man see his house on fire , for him to spend his ●ime about inquiring how it came , and what was the cause ? and while ●e is busy about that , the house is ●onsumed , when means was at hand ●o extinguish it : shall this be coun●ed wisdom ? no ; most will say ●hat man is a fool. so it is concerning the body ; there ●re some diseases that no man can know the causes , but yet the principal part may be known , and that is how to cure such diseases : yet some are so foolish , that except a man will tell the cause , they will not have the cure. i could tell of some but in the year 1693 , that in the gout , when their case was seen to be dangerous , and they were foretold of it , and the means was at hand , but yet refused , now they are in their graves : whereas many others in the like case did imbrace the opportunity , and are all living and well in health . and this i can say , that of the great numbers that i have for several years had in hand concerning the gout , i do no● know of any one but is yet living . this i do declare , that the medicines i have to carry off the gout have prevented other sickness , and cured other dangerous diseases , by clearing away the causes : and 〈◊〉 can prove many great cures hav● been done with the gout-medicines that no man living hath done the like in our nation , with such speed , for lame and helpless persons to be cured in one hour's time . also children in convulsions , if they have but any life in them , by the same means they are recovered speedily , and cured of that disease . in my giving you the virtue and use of these medicines , you will understand the common success i have in the applications , and will know the better how to make use of them for your advantage : and though the parties afflicted may be many miles distance , and thereby may be deprived of my assistance , yet observing the rules i give , i hope , with the blessing of god , the lives and limbs of many may be preserved . it hath pleased god to bless the same means under my hands with great success ; for i have had great experience for many years past in practice , and do keep a catalogue of cures done , given under the hands of the persons cured , that any person afflicted with the same disease , may read , for their own satisfaction , the persons names and dwelling-places , that have been cured . and in order to do good for the publick , because i am taken up in my new business , and have not that time as formerly i had to give out medicines with directions in many other cases ; therefore being willing that people should have the advantage of some good medicines of great use , i order my wife to sell them with directions . she is also able to help and give advice in womens cases ; but in difficult matters i shall give my assistance . but my chief business will be to follow my studying about remedies for the gout , and all other painful diseases in the limbs or inward parts ; and i hope to obtain great things in that kind of way , for in my studious thoughts i find great encouragement . i have lately corrected and amended my gout-balsam , and have also discovered another choice secret , being a pouder for the removing of the inward causes of the diseases of the limbs , and have already had great success in the use of it . and as god hath given me understanding to know the nature of diseases , and hath helped me to find out remedies for the cure of them ; i shall make it one part of my business to write them down , to be left for others to make use of when i am dead ; and i have already taken that care that they shall not die with me . this i mention , to satisfy many who are much concerned for fear they should be lost when i die . and in order to do all the good i can while i live , i shall give a large account of the nature , virtue , and use of these gout-medicines for every particular disease , wherein they have been proved to be useful , and have wrought very great cures . i shall begin with the gout-balsam . the virtue of the gout-balsam . it bringeth away the offending matter by opening the pores , and doth thereby prevent the danger of repelling ; for the immediate cause is seen to come away from the part afflicted , and this bringeth down the swelling of the gout , and for the most part the pain goeth away immediately after it is applied : and it doth strengthen weak limbs , and is very comfortable to cold and nummed parts . in many cases it is a medicine of great use , as will further appear by the directions for the use of it . next follows the use of it for the gout . the vse of the balsam in the gout . take a stick or quill , and dip into the pot of balsam , and spot it about the part afflicted , as far as the pain is ; then stir it about with your finger very well till it be near dried in , but not by the fire , for 't is hot of it self ; therefore i order you to spot it about , because if you lay on too much in a place it will smart : but some will bear much to be laid on and feel nothing , therefore my way is to apply a little first , and then stir that about ; and if it be not felt , then i lay on more ; and if it do not itch or smart , i go over a third time , and all before i put it up ; so that my way is to apply it till it be felt , and if there be more put on than will be dried in , then i do commonly lay on a piece of bladder , or any kind of skin , to keep the balsam to it , for clothes will take it away from the part . thus drest , i put it up for four and twenty hours , or longer ; but if the pain remain , i anoint it again quickly , according as it can be well born or endured . 't is needless to use it when there is no pain ; for the best time to do the most good , is to anoint it when the pain is greatest , for then the humour is in the part , and may be brought forth : but in case of a weakness remaining after , or any little kind of pain , i do sometimes dress the part once in a day , or in two or three days , or once a week , according as need requires . in this manner use the balsam for the gout , or such like pains ; but if need require , you may use it till it blister , if the humour will not go off without ; but then anoint the part with any healing thing , as salet-oil , or lucatellus's balsam , and this will heal it again in a little time ; but if it swell after 't is anointed with the gout-balsam , apply it again quickly , and the offending matter will come out . the vse of this balsam in rheumatism ▪ pains . when the pains are in all parts at once , then begin according to that direction for the gout , in that part as is mostly pained : and when that is well dressed and put up for some time , then apply it to the next part , and wait a little time after 't is thus applied ; and if after this the pain yet remain in other parts , apply it still where the pain is greatest , and with so doing you will find that this medicine will cure the rheumatism : but you need not apply so much in this case to every part , as when a pain is fixed to one place . directions for its vse in old pains , and lameness of limbs of long continuance . in such cases the humours being settled to the parts , it requires to be applied more freely to open the pores by small blisters or pimples , by which means the offending matter that causeth the pain or weakness , cometh away : and though the lameness hath been of many years standing , yet in such cases the cure is perfected at once dressing , as many have had experience ; but some are dressed a second or third time before it be performed ; very few miss of a cure , if there be any pain in the parts . directions for its vse , for sinews that are shrunk . take a very little just to moisten the part , then chafe it in very well with your hand , and stroke it with great strength with one hand , while you bear out the joint with the other ; and when the first application is dry , then apply it again , and do thus a third or fourth time , with a strong hand still stretching out the part ; thus doing , the sinews give way ; then if need require , i bind the joints out streight for one day or more . sometimes there is no need of so doing , but they keep out and are presently cured , applying it after this manner for about two hours time together . directions for its vse , to help gout-like pains in the head. when the pain is on the upper part of the head , or all over , then the hair must be shaved off to anoint the part pained ; and the temples also must be anointed very freely , for if the temples blister , it is very profitable in that case . when the head is anointed , put on a bladder to cover the part , and keep it close for one week ; and if the pain be not gone , you may dress it a second or third time , but let it be a week between every dressing ; if the head be sore or tender , anoint it with salet-oil , or any other mollifying thing ; but if the temples should run , lay on a plaister of paracelsus , or any other plaister that is moderate ; but it should not be healed too quickly . directions for its vse in convulsions of the nerves . observe the parts that are twitched , and so far as the motion works , apply the balsam ; use it moderately as it may be dressed every day ; and after 't is dressed , let it be bound up as hard with a roller as can be well endured : if after two or three dressings the convulsion be not gone , then it will be needful to take the gout-glister , according to the directions given for the use ; so take it once in three days , for three times if need require so often ; but one time commonly doth perform the cure. directions for the vse of the gout-balsam in inward convulsions . when convulsions are in the bowels or stomach , then anoint the belly or stomach all over , but very moderately , especially in young children : speck a very little about , just to damp it over ; so stroke a hand over it easily , and as soon as it is done , give the gout-glister according to the direction , and one spoonful of the gout-cordial . directions for the vse of the gout-balsam in palsies , or numness of limbs . take of the balsam , and anoint all over the parts afflicted ; lay on so much as can be well endured , and bathe it very well till it be all dried in , except the part be cold ; then put on a little more , and put it up moist in flannel , or other cloth , to keep it warm ; so dress it once a day for nine days together , if need require . directions for the vse of the gout-balsam in dropsies . apply it moderately , by spotting it all over the parts that are swelled , and stroak it as hard with your hand as can be endured , for an hour together ; and as you find it dry in , apply more : but if the parts are cold , and do not feel any heat , or smart , then you may apply it more freely ; and if you discern water to arise out of the pores , forbear chafing it ; and when you put it up , lay linen next to the parts anointed , for woollen will cause it to itch too much . thus you may dress it once a day , for three or four days together if need require . some are cured of the dropsy with once dressing ; and the water will come away plentifully for several hours together . directions for the gout-balsam in the sciatica . apply it to the small of the back first , then to the hip , and all down the out-side of the thigh to the knee , and down the out-side of the leg to the hinder part of the heel ; so apply it , spotting it about the parts , stirring it in very well ; and after three or four days dress it again . if the pain be not gone , then begin to dress it from the nape of the neck all along the back-bone ; do it in this part moderately , but so as that you may feel it itch or smart : thus apply it to the hip and huckel-bone , and down to the heel as aforesaid ; after this manner you may apply it once in three or four days , but if it be tender , use it but once a week . and thus if you skilfully manage it , according to this direction , it will help the sciatica ; every dressing lesseneth the pain , and the cure is performed easily in about two or three weeks time . directions for the vse of the gout-balsam for the spleen or pleurisy . apply it , with laying it first in your hand , so stroke the parts , both side and breast , as hard as can be endured : then give the party a sack glass full of the hottest gout-cordial ; but still keep stroking the part till the pain go away : the extremity will be over immediately , and in a very little time the party will be well without bleeding . directions for the vse of the gout-balsam , for kernels or swellings . in unnatural swellings and kernels , if they be in tender parts , use it moderately , especially in the groin or privy parts : if they are not gone the first dressing , then after twelve hours dress it again , and if need a third time in like manner : but if the knobs or swelling be in the legs , it may be applied more freely , and all will be gone ; in twelve hours time it doth , by opening the pores , bring the venereal matter out of the body . directions for the vse of the gout-balsam , in dangerous and painful sores . when a sore is greatly inflamed and very painful , then anoint round about the sore part , as near to the sore as you can conveniently ; a very little doth in this case : but my way is to apply it , according as can be well endure it , for speedy help ; i know better how to manage it than i can direct others , therefore use but little at first ; apply it a second time if need require ; but usually after once doing , though the sore hath seemed uncureable before , it will heal up in a little time and be well . the vse of the gout-balsam in giddiness and apoplexy . apply it to the temples , with your finger stirring it a little time ; also round the ears , and cross over the forehead close to the hair , and moisten your hand and chase round the neck backward , as close to the hair as you can ; so done , put a little of the gout-snuff up the nostril . an observation , that this gout-balsam is good to take inwardly . i shall not give you directions for that , only to let you know there is no dangerous thing in it , as i can satisfy any , by taking it my self before them if required . i have found it profitable for my own health , to take a little in hot liquor , when i have disordered my self by overmuch walking , or eating or drinking that as doth not agree with nature ; it expelleth the offending matter , and restoreth the body into good order again , and is a prevention of fevers and other sickness . this balsam is of great use in pestilence , and other fevers , by way of blisters . but this i must apply my self . directions for the second medicine for the gout , which is a red balsam ; it is to strengthen the parts . take of this balsam and anoint the joints : if there remain a weakness after the pain is gone , then bathe it in with a hot hand ; but if need be to qualify the heat , or to lay the itching of the gout-balsam , then use this cold , but bear the itch or smart of the other so long as you can ; for if you apply this strengthning balsam before the gout-balsam hath been on some hours , then you hinder the benefit of that dressing ; but my intent is , that after the pain is gone , and when the gout-balsam is too sharp , by reason of the tenderness of the skin , then use this strengthning balsam twice a day as a moderator . directions for a third medicine , which is a liquor of a red colour , to bathe . this is to use if small pains should come after the gout-balsam hath been used so often as to bring off the skin , then 't is proper to use this liquor , bathing it well twice a day by the fire ; it will take away little grinding pains , and heal it again : then 't is proper to lay on a piece of a thin bladder , or some thin skin of mutton-suet when you put it up , or thin leather . directions for the vse of the fourth medicine for the gout , which is a conserve to carry away the cause , and to prevent a return . of this lectuary , take the quantity of a small nutmeg first in the morning , and one hour before eating , and last at night , for three or four days together ; it will cause a good digestion , and cleanseth the stomach , and causeth a good appetite . but if you would use it as a prevention , then take it for three days together , when you have any signs that you fear the gout is coming ; and with so doing , if you do not hinder its coming , the fit will be very short . the fifth remedy for the gout , is a hot and comfortable cordial ; it is good against the stone . but when the gout is in the inward part , or any illness in the stomach proceeding from it , then take a sack-glass full or more , this will give present ease , by causing wind to break away : it will greatly strengthen such as are weak or faint ; such should take two or three spoonfuls three times a day at least ; and though it be hot , it will prevent a fever . with this cordial i cure the hectick fever , that is in many the greatest cause of a consumption . the sixth help to carry off the gout , is by a proper purge . if the body be hot and costive , it may be of use to take something purging moderately ; and therefore i shall direct you to that as is profitable in this disease , and that is caryocastinum . take of this half an ounce , or a little more or less , according as you find your constitution will require : or if you find at any time your body out of order for want of stool , then you may take a little , though at the latter part of the day , and it will answer your expectation . if this be well and faithfully prepared , 't is the best purge you can take for the gout . the seventh help for the gout is a glister of an excellent preparation in this case , and for inward convulsions . if the gout come into the bowels or stomach , and though the party thus afflicted seem to be past all hopes of recovery , yet by this means there is speedy help given , and the danger is quickly over . this doth certainly reeover when in the greatest extremity ; therefore 't is needful for such as are afflicted with the gout , to keep it by them in a readiness to prevent all danger ; it will keep many years . with this glister and the balsam i cure convulsions in young children ; and though some have had most of their children die of that disease , yet with the use of this means their other children are speedily recovered . it is also good for such as are afflicted with the cholick , or other inward painful diseases ; and also for vapours and lightness , or swimmings in the head ; it bringeth the vapours downwards , so giveth great relief in many cases , too large to mention here . the eighth help for the gout is a plaister . when after all hath been done , if yet there should remain a weakness in the joints , then 't is proper to lay on this plaister round the joint , and bind it on so long as it will stick . this plaister is good to recover strength in some sort of gouts , when other things will not do . 't is good also to bring down swellings , and will take away great pain ; therefore in some there may be occasion for this plaister . the ninth remedy for the gout in the head , is a snuff-pouder . when the gout is in the head , then put up a little of this pouder in the nostrils ; and though the party thus afflicted be raving mad , it will quickly compose the head by purging the brain , a waterish humour that is very cold will run down the nostrils . but as there are differing gouts , so there are differing causes , in the head as well as in other parts , for all are not seen to be light-headed , but seem to be heavy to sleep : still observe to use this pouder , if the head be out of order , so as you fear the gout is the occasion of it . when i find the gout dangerous in the inward parts , or in the head , i do apply the balsam to the temples , and use the snuff-pouder , also the glister and the cordial ; and with the use of these things i have recovered them as have been so far gone , that they have not known any thing that hath been done to them . thus i have given you the virtue , with directions for the use of these gout-medicines , to the end that all such as are at a great distance from me may have the benefit of them . they are only prepared by me , and sold at my house , in sir frederick's court in the old-jewry , where i give advice and directions according as the case brought before me doth require . it will be most for the advantage of those that are afflicted with any painful disease that cometh within the reach of the gout-medicines , to apply themselves to him who is the author , who hath skill in applying them ; and likewise to advise to what other means he may think needful : but such who cannot have my help , may observe the directions here given ; and looking to him who giveth us all things for a blessing , i hope you may have good success in curing your selves . directions for the ordering your body . when you have the gout on you , or such-like painful disease , whereby you are under confinement , observe these cautions . 1. caution . bleeding is certainly hurtful ; tho at the present it may seem to give a little ease , yet afterwards you will find the ill effects by the pains returning , and the next fit will be much worse : but many have not the least ease by bleeding , but are much more painful ; and by the weakness of the body , the disease fixeth it self in several parts by drawing away the blood , for at that time the blood is waterish and thin , then the best cometh away , but the ill humour that is the cause of the pain , lodgeth in the body , being too thick to be drawn away through the veins ; but the best way to bring this humour away , is by that medicine which opens the pores where the humour lodgeth , then there is no danger of repelling , but rather hopes that in time the cause may be removed out of the body . 2. caution . take heed of keeping the body with low diet , to think thereby to starve the gout ; for you may sooner starve your selves , than cure your selves of the gout by so doing : you need not bar your selves from good diet , for you will find your stomach will fail you too quick of it self : 't is more dangerous than you are aware , to bring down your stomachs to low and weak diet , for this doth not in the least ease the pain ; but by the bringing your body weak , your pain is greater , and the body more helpless , and in so doing are in danger , by your weakness and the continuance of the disease , of falling into a fever ; and by the emptiness of the body , you are in danger of bringing the gout in your inward parts . 3. caution . take heed that you do not indulge your self too much by confining your self from exercise before your disease force you to it , especially under the use of the means ; you had better strive than give way to it , so soon as it beginneth to come on you ; but by your speedy applying the means , and by exercising your self , you may prevent your being confined at all , especially after you have been once recovered by the means herein directed . 4. caution . take heed of over-much purging , for if you think thereby to cure the gout , you will be greatly deceived ; for by this means you will rather endanger a consumption , or at least a long confinement by reason of great weakness of body . my way is to order a gouty person , as i do consumptive persons ; i cure them without physick : by keeping up nature a man may strive with a disease till the cause be removed ; but by using such means as weaken the body , in this case it is the contrary way for a cure. 5. caution . take heed of being too busy with sleepy potions ; some have been so stupified with such potions , that when the gout hath been very dangerous , they have not been able to give an account of their condition , nor to tell where their pains lay ; so the disease is drawn into the head , and the man goeth sleeping to his grave : 't is better to hear the man cry aloud , for then some help may come ; and though his pains may be great , and continue long , so that he want rest and may endanger a fever , yet in all this there is more hopes of recovery than when the man is stupified , and thereby made unsensible of his condition : but since there is ease to be had by outward things , these dangerous means may be avoided , and the lives of many may be preserved . directions for diet. first , i shall tell you what is hurtful for the bodies of such as are afflicted with the gout . salt meats are not good , nor stale beer , nor no sharp or sowre things , nor mixed wines , nor claret , nor too much spoon-meats , but be sure to forbear cyder ; these and such-like things avoid , and be temperate and moderate in the use of all things , and this will be a good rule to observe against this disease . but in the fit of the gout you may eat meat once a day freely ; you need not refrain any good diet no more than at other times . i shall not stand to name particulars , but in short , you may eat fish or flesh , or herbs , or any thing else that is nourishing food . but such as have had the gout long on them , and are brought to be weak , and have not an appetite to common diet , let them strive to eat and drink something that is more strengthning than water-grewel , for sometimes eating too much of that and other spoon-meats , brings a dropsy , and hinders the curing the gout . i shall advise you to such things as are good to strengthen and nourish you ; and whereas you can eat but little , eat the oftner , and by so doing you will by degrees get a better appetite . but being willing to help you , i will direct to such-like diet as may be sutable to help weak persons . in a morning for a breakfast , take a pint of ale , boil it and scum it ; then take it from the fire , and let it stand till it be half cold , so break in two or three new-laid eggs , brew them together , and drink it while it is warm . in my judgment , if a man hath ●ot a stomach to eat a good breakast , he may with such a morning's-●raught hold up till dinner-time . but weak stomachs want change of diet. now if you have a good old nurse , they commonly know how to make much of themselves , and therefore are the better able to advise to that as may do good for a master or mistress . my mind is , that people as are not sick should get the best kitchin-physick as can be provided , or else for want of this lameness may soon turn to sickness . i do not intend to fill up my book with directions for diet , but yet i would give a little help to put your nurse in remembrance to study to make good heartning things to keep up the body . for change i shall give you farther directions , that you may know what may be good in a morning , or some times between meals , and use the best of your skill in providing . good jellies are proper sometimes made after this manner . take two calves-feet , and pu them into three quarts of water boil them in a pipkin till half b wasted away ; then strain off the feet , and set the liquor on the fire again ; put in half a pound of blew currans well cleansed , and two pennyworth of saffron , and half a quarter of an ounce of cynamon , a dram of large mace ; boil these till the currans be plump , and take it from the fire , and let it stand till it be half cold ; then have ready at hand a pint of white-wine , with four eggs well beaten to mix with the white-wine , and six ounces of fine loaf-sugar . brew these with the white-wine very well ; then take your calves-feet gelly , being , as i said , half cold ; mix all together , beating it very well with a spoon till it be almost cold : this , well prepared , is good to eat at any time , night or day ; and it may be eaten , either warm or cold , according to the season of the year , but in cold weather warm it a little . this is a good thing in a morning , to take about half a pint or more . i would advise you for a dinner to eat flesh , though never so little ; but eat as freely as you can , for that is the best way to get strength ; sometimes eating against stomach , doth procure a better appetite against the next meal ; for those that are weak , it is not good to boil or roast their meat over-much . i am sure , for consumptive people , flesh over-roasted is not good ; but if you love not your meat with the gravy in it , then you had better stew it , and put in sippets of white-bread ; so eat it , for then the liquor is the best of it ; and meat thus dress'd is strengthning . if you are disposed to eat fowl , 't is proper to have them well roasted or boiled . also fish if it be not well dress'd , is not good , being subject to rise in the stomach , and that doth cause a loathing of food . one good way to help the weak , is to study new things , for often change of diet is a great help to procure an appetite : and this is the proper business of good cooks and nurses . i would advise you to eat freely in the day , but at night be moderate , for then you have more freedom to drink , either wine or strong drink , for that is not hurtful , provided you drink not to excess : but small beer is certainly the best thing you can take to bring the gout on you ; therefore if you love the gout , drink good store of small beer , and you may be sure it will come with full power . this i can speak by experience , that i have found that small beer will bring a man into a consumption sooner than any thing i know of : i have been caught twice , but i take heed to avoid a third bout , for when i find my self thirsty , i drink good strong drink . i have seen some afflicted with the gout , that with low diet and small beer have been almost consumed to nothing ; and the disease is much more powerful , and they have no strength to help themselves . it is a miserable thing that a man or woman shall be in bodily health , but yet in great tormenting pain with a leg or an arm , that the very anguish of the pain shall cause them to cry aloud till they are almost spent ; and yet in this condition they are perswaded to refrain from eating or drinking of the best , though then they have most need of it to support nature ; and i am certain that there is less danger of a fever to keep the body in strength , than when the body is brought low and weak . i do know that what i say in this , by admitting you to eat and drink freely in the fit of the gout , is contrary to the judgments of some men ; but let none be offended for my giving advice , according to my knowledg , of the nature of the disease : if you think my advice is not good , then i make my appeal to you that find fault with me , and i leave you to be judges by my way of practice , and by the success i have ; for no man can say that ever any died of the gout that have been under my hands . it is now near three years since i discovered the gout-balsam ; and i have done greater cures with that medicine in this time on the gout , than have been done by any others , as i have proved before many witnesses . but since i have corrected and amended my gout-balsam , and discovered other great secrets , i cure many other diseases , and for the most part with outward medicines : but when i find any that are weak and low , i am constrained to direct and advise them to such things as are good to strengthen and raise them up again . after this manner do i deal with those that have the gout ; and have great success in my undertakings . thus i have given plain directions , that you may do good for your selves : but if you do not apply things so well as to have that success as i have , do not reflect on the medicines , or blame him that made them , but rather send for him , and see what he can do with the same medicines , and then you may be satisfied in the use of them against another time . you may conclude , that by my publishing this book , my intention is to do good ; for it would be much more for my advantage if i did not expose my medicines to sale , my profit in undertaking cures would be much more to me , and less trouble in preparing . sometimes they fall into the hands of ignorant people which know not how to use them , though directed ; and they find fault , because they have laid out their money , and are nothing the better . there are others that buy them and turn doctors , so pretend they have the same art with me ; and sometimes get a great deal of money ; so the people are deceived and cheated , for they may be ignorant of using them rightly : these things i have known to be done . others there are that will buy them , thinking thereby to find out the ingredients ; but that is impossible , so they deceive themselves . many there are that have tried , with all the tricks and inventions they could , to discover my medicines , but yet come short of their design . my gout-balsam hath near twenty ingredients in it , but i never knew that man that could name two things , and yet many will pretend they know what it is made of . any one that pretends to know that one medicine , let them make it , for there is but one of the trade ; and if any one can do this thing , he may be my partner , but till then i shall keep it to my self . many there are that would pick quarrels about my gout-balsam , if they could tell how , by finding out some dangerous thing in it : but that cannot be done , for they know it may be taken inwardly , and i have proved it to be safe ; and though in some cases it may not do good , yet in this you may be satisfied it will not do hurt . in some fevers i will use it to draw blisters on the temples , and it will give great relief , it will draw out that vapour that takes away the senses ; but if it were hurtful or dangerous , then i venture hard to apply it to such tender part so freely as to blister it : and if i should use such medicines as should prove dangerous , i should not only hurt them to whom i apply them , but do my self greater damage , by being exposed to the advantage of those that wait for such opportunities ; but my care hath been at all times to prevent them , for i never meddle with dangerous things , therefore none can take that advantage against me . i know there are some medicines that will cure one and kill another ; but what medicines i use , i can bring ●penly to be proved before the faces of any . and this is my comfort , i have nothing to burden my conscience for any wrong that i have done ●o others : and god hath given me his blessing , and maketh me prosperous in what i take in hand ; you may be encouraged to follow my directions with hopes of success , for you shall have the very same medicines as i use my self ; and observing the directions i have given , with god's blessing you may go on and prosper . by what i have written , you may be satisfied in the safe use of the medicines ; and by the directions and advice i have given , you may be encouraged to make use of them your selves , or send for help , you need not lie in misery : it is sufficient that there is proper means prepared to your hand in a readiness against a time of need , that will set you at liberty , and that very speedily ; and by reason the very humou is discharged out of the body through the pores , you may be preserved from the gout for a long time ; and by this means some are perfectly cured of the gout . yet i do not pretend to cure an old gout so that i● shall never come again , but this may be done with the balsam only : when the gout doth come , apply this balsam according to the direction , and the gout will go away presently , and not return for that fit ; you may expect it the next year according to the usual time , but then if you have your remedy at hand , you are freed of the gout again : after this manner do many keep from being confined , whereas before they used to be laid up in their beds for some months together . this is the advantage that is to b● had by the gout-balsam , presen● help , being freed of pains , and se● at liberty . but observe , that in wha● case soever , you use the go●● balsam as i direct in the gout , so you must remember not to anoint the ●art before the fire , for that will ●ause it to smart very much ; and you may remember also to keep it from your linen , for though it do not hurt the body , it will spoil your linen . by what i have written , you may be satisfied by my giving you these plain directions , that my real design is more to do good to others , than to advance my self . i shall not need to enlarge any further about the directions of the gout-medicines ; you have what is sufficient to help you in your extremity , in many cases as well as in the gout : and you may be further satisfied , that none of these medicines are in the least repelling ; but on the contrary , wheresoever they are used , they do prevent the humours getting into the stomach or head , and they will certainly secure you from that danger ; therefore you may conclude there is no manner o● danger ; for if they should not cur● you , they will certainly do you som● good ; and if you do not presently experience the good received , yet i● you do but observe , you will find afterwards your body to be more healthful ; for in many cases they vent vapours and other ill humours from the body , by opening the pores ; and prevent catching of cold , being a great defence to the body , by creating natural warmth ; and they comfort and strengthen the weak , as hath been well experienced by their use in young children and aged people . the next thing will be to direct you to what may prevent a return of ill humours , being also proper to hinder the returning of the gout ; and this has been experienced : and tho it be not for my interest , yet i am freely willing to direct you , and if possible so to assist you , that you may never have a fit more of the gout . a remedy to hinder or prevent the gout returning again . this is a pouder that formerly i have used in consumptions with great success , i have found it profitable in the gout ; it helpeth the digestion , and causeth nature to carry off any offending matter ; cleanseth the stomach , procureth an appetite , causeth the body to be in good natural order ; and doth , by purifying the body , prevent ill humours circulating to the limbs ; and is proper to take at any time if the body be any ways disordered , either by eating or drinking : then take so much as will lie on a new groat in a spoonful of ale , last at night and first in the morning ; this observed may prevent sickness : but if you fear that by any disorder of the body , or by any signs appearing that do foretel the gout is coming , then take the same quantity as before directed , and at the same time , and also an hour before every meal : or if you find , when you are drinking of wines or other liquors , your taste is bad , then take of this pouder such a quantity as before-mentioned , in the same liquor you may be drinking , and it will recover your taste . it is profitable in many other cases , but if you observe this order , it will be a means to prevent the gout coming on you . these medicines have been tried , proved , and experienced by learned and understanding men , and have been successful in the speedy and safe curing of many dangerous diseases that have been counted uncureable . god hath by their use wrought miraculous cures ; and there are great numbers of witnesses of the truth of these things , of the persons cured that have been in their beds in a helpless condition ; and the very hour the means have been applied , their strength hath been recovered , and have got up and walked about immediately : and many have been present who are eye-witnesses of these things . there is hardly one week passeth , but that there is some great and notable cure performed by these gout-medicines , being of great use in many other diseases not mentioned in this book ; and in most cases the cure is speedily done , both in aged men and women , and in young children : and though in aged people that have been many years afflicted with painful diseases , yet such have been cured in one hour's time , and have continued well afterwards . such as are inhabitants in or about the city of london , may be informed ( by enquiring almost in any part of the city ) of cures that are done ; or if they come to the author of this book , they may be satisfied what persons have been cured in their condition ; and may have satisfaction in their own cases , whether curable or not . he will also give his advice and directions to such whose cases are uncurable , to put them in a way to help themselves to do that good as can be done for them . and as for such as are not capable to prepare medicines for themselves , if the case be curable , they shall have the medicines bestowed on them : and if ever they are in a condition to be able to pay , i will trust them till then ; but if they have not a heart to do any thing , then i shall not look after them , but leave it to their own consciences to do according to their ability , something towards the charge of medicines , that i may the better hold out to help them that can do nothing . as for such as are able to pay for their medicines , they shall have them faithfully prepared , and at reasonable rates : and i shall endeavour , by my advice , to give them that assistance , that they may receive benefit by them , and have no cause to complain that they have laid out their money and are nothing the better . but if i can see the persons , or have a right account brought me , that i may be able to give a true judgment of their condition , i shall then deal plainly with them , and shall not suffer them to be at any unnecessary charge , for it is against my mind to take money where i find there is no hopes of doing good . i am so far from coveting gain to my self , by preparing medicines for such whose cases are doubtful , that i had rather give them my advice and directions , to make and prepare the medicines themselves , and then they will be the more willing to use the means for their own good , when they know the ingredients ; and in so doing they may cure themselves . but if they have not their cure , they cannot blame me ; for by this you may see my intention is to do all the good i can : and though god may deny his blessing on the means to some , yet others by the same means may be cured ; therefore let none despair of help , but rather wait upon god in the use of means for his blessing , in hopes of success in the end. and though the means i use my self is for the most part very successful in performing present cures , yet sometimes in some distempers it doth require longer time . there are some whose diseases are uncurable , but such are commonly proved , after the means i use is once applied : and some there are that cannot be perfectly cured , but yet do receive great help ; and by the use of means do keep up their bodies that they can walk abroad . but experience hath shewed , that when they have not had the means at hand , the disease hath got advantage again . by reason of the differing causes of bodily diseases , it is impossible for man to find such an infallible medicine as to cure all diseases . but there are for natural causes , natural helps ; and for differing sorts of diseases , there are many sorts of medicines proper for their cures : and those that have understanding will seek for help in time , if they know where to have it , for it is difficult to find out such as have good skill and a good conscience . many will say , the world is a cheat ; and the scripture saith , all men are liars ; and it may be you will say , you have met with such ill usage that you know not who to trust , especially in matters that concern life and health : in this you are at a loss and know not what to do , and bodily diseases come on a sudden ; and commonly in haste you run to the next that comes to hand for help ; but if it prove not a skilful man , it may be there is a life lost , or some mischief done for want of a right understanding of the disease , and for want of a proper remedy . and such as seek only their own interest , will make profit of them , and make it no matter of conscience whether they live or die ; and if they know they can do no good , they will not be so honest as to tell them so , but will keep them in hand while it is too late for others to help them . there are too many such practitioners , and this is a great discouragement , and makes many afraid to put themselves into the hands of physicians ; but i would advise such that are in health , to get knowledg of an able physician before sickness comes ; and those who know their bodily diseases , to be provided of such remedies as they hear do cure others in the like case ; and this is the way not to be deceived . believe not any man by his own report only , nor by a bare discourse of others , but get plain proof of his skill , and then you may venture with safety . now since i have been in the practice of gouts , rheumetisms and palsies , and all such-like painful diseases and weakness of limbs , there are some that would seek to ruin me if they could , and do hate me , and are maliciously set against me for my doing good : i could name some , but i shall omit that now ; and if they give me farther occasion , i shall make them ashamed of their doing , for no man shall discourage me from improving the gifts god hath bestowed on me ; and all may know what great success i have had by what i have written . i am unwilling to put persons names in print that i have cured , by reason many are troublesome to go and make enquiry when they have no occasion . this i have told you , that all that have need of help may come to me , and i will shew them what i have under the hands of those i have cured , sufficient to satisfy all persons what i have done , and what i can do . but because some through envy do publikly endeavour to run down my gout-medicines , i look upon my self concerned to make mention of something of proof against them , who have made it their business to speak against me without cause . a vindication in my own defence against my malicious adversaries . as most of the discourse against me is by some private persons , yet it comes to a kind of a publick discourse . were it a publick thing in open court , then i would make a publick defence in that manner as hath not been seen , that the world may judg what good i have done in my time : but according to my present occasion , i shall in this private way make my defence , that may be read at leasure , being in a little compass , it may serve for a pocket-companion . many are offended because i am not a college-doctor , and brought up gradually to be a physician , and therefore cannot have skill . in answer to this , first , most do know i do not pretend to be a doctor , for my business is not among the sick ; yet i must tell you , i do understand much in many diseases as to the curable part : but that i leave to the doctors , except it be so that i may have a friend given over by all ; if i can do them any neighbourly service of love , or help such as cannot be at the charge of a doctor , so far as christian-love and charity requires my help . but that which is my practice , the doctors do not pretend to , as to cure or help the gout after that speedy manner as i do , for these are new things of late discovery , that no man knoweth but my self ; and though many are unbelieving , yet what is written is certainly true , that i can do more than other men in the aforementioned diseases . and though i were not brought up gradually ( as you call it ) to be a physician , in that way and order as college-doctors , so i do not pretend to that knowledg , skill and learning ; but this i can tell you , that i have been a student of physick for many years : and though i did not wear a gown at the university , yet i did learn much of my knowledg at oxford , and had the privilege of a scholar in the great library , and began in my youthful days . after i had obtained to the knowledg of many good things , i did not practise it for some years , only for my self and family : but after some time i became serviceable to my friends , acquaintance and neighbours ; and thus i gradually came by my knowledg and learning . and though i have not the knowledg of discoursing like a doctor in their terms , yet i do know something of the nature ●nd cause of diseases , and know now to cure a disease . there are some that their parents do bestow much on them to train ●hem up to be ministers or doctors ; but if they have not a natural inclination that way , many times all cometh to nothing . also there are some as can use their tongues well in latin and other languages , can talk a great deal and do but little . i have known many such in my time , being acquainted in the university with all sorts and degrees , so it is not a rule to trust to , for every man that is well-learned in latin , greek and heb●ew , that he is therefore a skilful man ; for i have been acquainted with some that have had all these parts of learning , and yet fit for nothing but to talk . now all that know me , do know i am no talkative sort of man , being naturally one of few words , and am like one always in a study ; but yet i am ready to give an answer in any matter whatsoever , by which you may know i am not an ignorant nor unlearned person , neither do i undertake that as i am not able to perform ▪ and though i am not a college-doctor , yet i have knowledg and skill in that i do practise , as doth plainly appear , being examined , tried and proved : 't is clearly seen , and may be believed , that so far as i do pretend , god hath given me skill and understanding , and he it is that maketh me to prosper . this may be sufficient to answer this part , i shall in the next place answer some other reflections . another reflection or supposition is , that some dangerous matter is in the medicine , as aquafortis , or some other such-like things , because it draweth blisters , and with over-doing causeth the skin to come off . i did never use aquafortis in my life . and in answer to this supposition , among the many things that have been named by the doctors and other practitioners , put the judgments of all together , they never named more than one thing in it . you may know by what i have already declared , that there is nothing hurtful or dangerous in it , because i can take it inwardly my self , and in the very nature of the thing , in drawing any venomous matter out of the body . and further , let any doctors , or others , propose what way soever they will to apply it , on purpose to do all the hurt they can with it , i will expose my own body for the trial and proof of it in publick , if required . if there were danger of doing mischief with it in the use of it , then it would have been discovered before this time , for i have applied it to men , women and children , and never did hurt to any ; and i do use it freely to blister the part , if need requires . but you will not believe this , that i dare use it so freely ; i shall give some proof of this to help your unbelief , for in some cases i cannot cure the disease without blistering the part ; it doth not make any large blistering , but they rise as pimples ; which if you suffer your woollen cloth to chase the part , this will cause the skin to come off , but it will quickly heal again ; this is the greatest mischief that can come on it , but is often profitable if wisely ordered . this may be sufficient to answer this scruple of dangerous matter in it , and what follows will satisfy further . an account of cures done by blisters drawn by the gout-balsam . judg advocate jenkins was cured of the dropsy ; with once dressing the humours came out in one night's time , and he was well . mrs. hathaway in browns-lane in spittle-fields , had blisters drawn on both her temples with this balsam , in an apoplectical disease ; she had lain as dead for a long time before i came to here , and no hopes of her life : but after i had applied this , and other of my gout-medicines , she was recovered to her speech in half an hour , and revived , and rose up in a very short time after . i advised her to lay something to draw the blisters , and to keep them running ; which she did , and they run for two weeks , and so healed up . after this she had her health better than she had for many years before . mr. clifton in old-fishstreet has been confined by the gout for all the whole winter , several years together , but was set at liberty about christmass last , who used to be confined till may. his humours were drawn off by blistering the parts with this balsam . mr. jacobs , turkey-merchant in aldermanbury , by blisters on his feet , had help for the gout , that came out like gravel , and dropsy-like humours which came away as clear water , near half a pint in one morning . he also was recovered in a short time . captain hutson in grace-church-street , was dressed freely , and the humours of the gout were helped off by blisters , and was recovered to go abroad in a little time . mr. hide in stanhope-street , had blisters drawn for the stony-gout , which brought out the humours like thick curds , and prevented the extremity of pain , by discharging of the humour in this kind of way , and then it healed up again in a very short time . mr. terry at the king's-head in cheap-side , had it freely applied for blisters on his knee , to bring out humours , that caused the shrinking of sinews , that he could hardly go with crutches ; but in less than 12 hours his sinews were brought out , and he could walk without crutch or stick . mr. howard at limehouse-corner , that was much afflicted with the gout , and could not be helped , till by blisters the humours were let out , and then he was at ease , and could walk abroad . but sometimes the blisters will be healed up in one night's time , then i apply it freely again : but some are so quickly healed up , that i am forced to dress it on the blisters , and open them three or four times one after another . after this manner he was helped , and kept well for a long time . mrs. ambrose , at the bell in wood-street , was afflicted with a painful tormenting disease in one hand ; it was swelled all over the hand , and about the wrist , as if it had been poisoned : she lay in a miserable condition for many weeks , and neither doctors nor any others could give her ease till i was sent for ; then did i apply this balsam , which did immediately take away her pain , and afterwards dressed it freely to raise these blister-pimples ; so the venomous humour came out , and in this manner was she cured . mr. tarrant , at the bell in booth-street in spittle-fields , was greatly afflicted with sciatick pains in his hip and thigh , that he was almost consumed away like a consumptive man , and kept in bed in a helpless condition , and there was no help nor ease could be had till i came ; then i applied the balsam , and blistered the part , and the humour came away ; so he had present ease , and was recovered to go abroad in a few days : and by applying it two or three times , he was perfectly cured , and is well in health , much better than he used to be in former time . the widow hudson , who keeps a coffee-house in jewry-lane , being long afflicted with the gout and dropsy , and kept in bed very helpless , till by the use of this balsam , by way of blistering the parts like the stinging of nettles ; thus the humours were vented , and she is very well recovered . sir richard fisher , at islington , when he could not stir to help himself , but was carried about by two of his men from bed , and to bed ; in like manner was helped the same way , and the humours came out ; he walked about the same day , and continues well . it was done about a year and half ago , and there is hopes it may not come again . capt. dudley , at ratcliff-high-way , in the gout , was also helped by blistering the parts afflicted . mr. hall , by the pewter-platter in whitecross-street , was cured of the dropsy after the same manner ; the humour came out plentifully , and since hath remained in good health . mr. mason , in denmark-street by ratcliff-high-way , was helpless , being afflicted with a painful tormenting disease , and perfectly cured after the same manner . mr. sheffield , near ratcliff-cross , for a pain and weakness in his back ▪ he went as if his back had been broken ; he was cured after the same manner , by blistering that part . mr. palmer , at ratcliff-cross , for the gout in his leg , was helped after the same manner ; and others o● the neighbours in that place , as you may enquire at the shoemaker's shop . mr. flowers , in old-soho , his wife was greatly afflicted with the gout , and was helped also after the same manner . mr. hancock a counsellor , at the lower end of arundel-street , in extremity of the gout , was helped after the same manner . mr. edwards a brewer , in old-gravel-lane by wapping , for the gout was helped after the same manner , by blistering the part , and is cured ; has remained well a long time . mr. spirey , at anchor-stairs by deptford , being in tormenting pain of the gout , by once dressing after this manner , was set at liberty , and freed of his pains , and walked about the same day . mr. holmes a salesman , over against the earl of bedford's in the strand , being afflicted with the sciatica , for a long time was cured after the same manner . mr. palmer , near st. katherines by the bell , was lame a month in great pain ; and with once dressing in this manner was perfectly cured . mr. cooper , at the three compasses upon redriff-wall , in tormenting pain of the gout , with once dressing after this manner , was well recovered , and went abroad the same day ; he was anointed , though weak and helpless before his dressing . mr. olive , in shagby's walk in wapping , having great pain and a lameness on him for a long time , with once anointing was perfectly cured . mr. taylor , on wapping-wall , was very lame , and in tormenting pain night and day ; was perfectly cured by once dressing . multitudes of people have received great good by my medicines in many diseases which i do not make mention of : but you may understand by what i have given you , that my principal intended business , is to attend such who are afflicted with gouts , rheumatisms , palsies , convulsions , and all such-like cases . i have cured some that have been lame many years , and the cure hath been performed very speedily ; but some do require a longer time . this you may conclude , if i undertake a cure , you may be encouraged it shall be my loss if i do not perform it . if i should tell here the cures i have done for consumptive people , you could hardly believe it , but i shall not insist here on such things : if i could have had time , i should in pity have writ something to help such in this book , but that i shall refer to the next impression , and in the mean time shall be willing to help such by my advice , if they can come or send to my house . now i must return to the matter intended , for if i should fill up my book with never so many testimonies of curing the gout and such-like diseases , yet still some cannot or will not believe this to be true , that there is a man that can do these things . in a trial at law , in difficult matters , the plain proof of two or three witnesses on oath , puts an end to all controversies , and both judg and jury is convinced to believe , and judg according to the proof and truth of the evidence . such large proof hath been given of speedy cures of many diseased persons , of gouts , rheumetisms , palsies , and such-like , and were so speedily freed of their pains , that it is incredible to declare it . but that you may be convinced of the truth , i have given you the testimony of ten men , who have declared on oath , every man in his own case , their particular cures , and how speedily done : in the presence of many witnesses was this proof given , before the right honourable sir john fleet , late lord mayor of the city of london . and for a farther confirmation , he hath given it in writing under his own hand ; also subscribed by his attorney at law. it cannot be supposed that i should put a cheat on the people by publishing this , or that i should dare to counterfeit the hand-writing of so great a magistrate , which would but expose me shamefully to suffer punishment for so doing . all rational persons may believe this is truth , therefore i shall not need to give any of their names in this book ; but such as desire to be further satisfied , may see every man's affidavit in writing under their own hands , or may have a printed paper of the copy at the author's house ; with many others who have given under their hands the manner of their cures , therefore shall not mention any of them here . several of these also are perfectly cured by my gout-balsam , being applied freely to blister the parts ; by which all may be well satisfied there is no danger , though it may blister and cause the skin to come off where it is freely applied : but yet some bodies are so differing from others , that if they use never so much , they cannot feel it , and it will not cause either pimple or blister on them ; but yet though it be not felt , it doth so open the pores that it lets out the disease , let it be wind or water , and no more to be seen afterwards than if nothing had been done : so some are cured with ease and pleasure , rather than punishment , by using it . and this may be observed for a rule , if you do not feel it you may use it as often as you will ; or if you are minded to use but little , it doth require the longer time for your cure. now this is my way of vindicating my self , by giving you a plain account what is done by my medicines , rather than to name or publish what envious lying persons report . if i should be as unkind to them as they are to me , i could spoil their practice and selling of medicines , by making known what discourse has passed to me in the hearing of others ; for many have visited me in pretence of love , that will in other company speak against me without a cause , being only envious for my prosperity and good success in business ; and there are many offended at the good i do : it would be a crime in me if i should not do good ; and the cures i perform prefer me in practice , and the success i have shameth my adversaries , who are not able to do the like . you have had an account here of cures mostly concerning the gout , and such-like painful diseases , that have been performed chiefly by the gout-balsam , being freely used to blister the parts , and no hurt done to any . thus you have that which is sufficient to prove them liars that would say 't is a dangerous medicine . the next thing , as a farther vindication of the excellency of my gout-balsam , is to give you an account of what strange cures have been done in palsies , and such-like cases , with the use of that and my other gout-medicines . great and remarkables cures performed on palsies and convulsions in the nerves . mr. hoar , a painter in wapping , lost the use of his limbs by the dead palsy for five months , was perfectly cured in a few days . mr. dimsdell , in wenford-street by spittle-fields , was helpless in his limbs , by the num-palsy and convulsions in the nerves , and was perfectly cured in about two weeks time . many poor people who have been brought to my house , being helpless , in coaches , have been speedily recovered to go away on foot and without crutches . mrs. ashworth , in george-yard in shoreditch , who for a long time had been afflicted with running pains in all parts with convulsions . she had used all means as could be heard of to help her ; had tried the bath , and all was ineffectual , but grew worse : but at last , by providence , she heard of one in the same neighbourhood that i had cured : i was sent for ; when i came , the neighbours were about the bed expecting her departure ; with all speed i applied the means , for i found it was the cholick , convulsions and gout , had affected all parts at once , both limbs , bowels , stomach and head. in about two hours i did remove the cause , and she was comfortably revived , and in four days time she was cured . mrs. lucas , just without aldersgate , had been lame many months in a helpless condition ; the doctors could not find out the cause , and none could help her ; so she lay under great pain and weakness , which was on one side only , yet she could not help her self ; the nurse carried her about like a child in arms. when i came , i went speedily to my work , and in one hour's time she walked about ; and in about four days time she had recovered such strength , that she could walk from her country-lodgings at islington , to her dwelling-house at aldersgate . mr. morgan's son , at the corner of little-britain in aldersgate-street , had been helpless a long time almost in all parts . it was a kind of inward convulsion that affected the bowels and limbs , as was the cause of his weakness : i applied the means i use for helping the gout in the inward part ; which after once dressing he walked about , and the second dressing perfectly cured . several others in that street i have speedily helped in extremity of pains ; but 't is needless to multiply to fill up , it would tire your patience to read all . mr. moon , a cheesmonger in high-holborn , over against the new watch-house that is built in the middle of the street by the fountain-tavern : he had kept in bed for a long time as a bed-rid man , and could not help himself ; all means that had been used were ineffectual , so he lay in a hopeless condition despairing of help : at last , by strange providence , i came to him ; and because he had no pain , i feared he was uncurable ; but my medicines were applied , which discovered the disease ; it appeared to be a palsical waterish humour that was on the sinews , with a kind of convulsion in the nerves , that was the cause of his weakness . in less than one hour after i had applied my medicines , the cause being brought out , his strength came to him , and he rose out of bed and walked about his house . i dressed him twice afterwards , and in a little time he came to his full strength , and in good bodily health . after this manner was this cure performed . i have formerly cast off several that have been under great weakness , because they have had no pain , and sometimes no feeling ; for at first my medicines had not that success in such cases as now they have : but now they are much amended , and i daily increase my knowledg in these things , and do much good , and perform greater cures than formerly , in several diseases which i have thought uncureable my self ; as appears by the aforementioned cures , and others as follow , which are sufficient proof of the great skill and knowledg god hath given me in curing diseases . mr. meriton ( minister of old-fishstreet ) his son , in the 21 st year of his age , was strangely afflicted with a disease that took away his limbs , and deprived him of the use of nature ; it had so affected hi● inward parts from the pit of the stomach , that all his lower parts were as dead ; his bowels and inward parts were as dead , without any feeling or strength to help nature ; also down both sides to his toes ends . in this very weak condition this gentleman had lain for a long time , and no help could be had by all means that was used , by the advice and help of able doctors of the college . there were several concerned to advise and help one another , consented to use the utmost of their skill in this case ; but no good could be done , neither could they discover the cause of this disease ; so there was no hopes of his recovery , but in all likelihood grew nearer to his end as it got upwards . at last i was sent for by a letter to come at a set time ; so when i came there was dr. merity , and two of the college-doctors , and several others : after a little discourse , i began to apply my medicine , which did in a very little time cause a sensible feeling of the blood circulating , and in less than two hours he stood up , and his strength began to come ; he walked about a little then . now as it appeared , the cause of this was from convulsions on the nerves and inward parts , and by this means the limbs were affected with a palsical disease , that taketh away all strength wheresoever it cometh ; the convulsions had appeared by twitchings in his toes & feet : but after the means had been applied about three or four hours , he appeared more strongly . then i came with my medicines that cure convulsions , and in a quarter of an hour i brought away the very cause , and from that time he never had any more convulsions then his strength came , and the next day he walked about without any help ; so i dressed him a second and a third time . thus he was perfectly cured in about four days time . this was in cold frosty weather this last winter , so it was two weeks before he went abroad . madam hudson , on tower-hill , was much after the same manner as mr. meriton was , both in the limbs and inward parts ; only hers was all on one side of the body , half the head , one arm , and one leg ; but in the inward parts all together as he was ; and had been in this condition about four months , and all means was ineffectual , and no help could be had : though she had all done as the doctors could advise her , yet still she remained in this condition till i came . i applied the means , and in 24 hours she was in good order , and stronger and better to walk with that leg that was lame , than with the other , for she was weak in all parts with lying so long , and a consumptive woman long before . this great alteration was done , chiefly by the first dressing ; and since it has been her lot to fall into my hands , i hope , by my direction , and god's blessing , to cure her of the consumption . i have done much in helping her , both for the cholick and stone , and hope to see her in good health on all accounts : she is now under the use of means for the consumption , and is in a good way of recovery . mr. boulton's kinsman , living near the aforesaid mr. moon in holborn , was lame of a nummed and dead palsy : it affected all parts , both head and body , especially from the middle of the body to the toes ends ; both his legs were dead and cold , had no feeling at all ; pinching , pricking , or cutting , nothing could hurt him : he was tried , but , he said , if we would cut off his legs , he should not feel it ; they were also pale , and looked like the limbs of a dead man. this put me to a stand , whether i had best do any thing to him or not : i had him then took out of bed , and laying him cross on the bed , i dress'd him ; and after a little time he felt a pricking in both his legs ▪ then he began to be warm , i still chafed the weak parts till he had good feeling ; i pinched him and he cried out . in a little time his strength came ; in less than two hours time i had done all , and put on his clothes , and he walked down two pair of stairs presently , without stick or crutch ; then i left him among the family . this was done the first dressing , being the fourth day of this instant may 1694. this young man liveth with his uncle , who keeps a publick house in bloomsbury-market . he is a tapster , and hath since gone up and down stairs to draw drink , from five a clock in the morning till night . but this was too hard for him , for it hath caused a stiffness in his limbs ; yet he will be well of this in a little time , if not neglected or over-wrought before he hath got his full strength . a young gentlewoman at mr. millers ( the bull-head tavern in woodstreet near cheapside ) was taken with a dead-palsy on all one side of her body ; it drew her mouth , caused an impediment in her speech , affected her senses being much in her head , and her limbs on that side were as dead . thus she lay in a helpless condition for some weeks , and none could help her . mrs. miller came to hear of some cures i had done in that street , and sent for me : in like manner i dressed the dead parts , and before i went out of the house , she walked about without any help ; in about a week's time she walked strongly : her head is also recovered , but her arm is not yet , by reason of her being blooded ; therefore remember my cautions : by this arm it may be seen how she was in other parts ; i have her yet in hand for her arm , and hope in time to recover that also . this is one of the first questions i ask in any such-like cases , are they blooded ? a word to the wise is sufficient . if my advice had been observed but two years ago , as it is now , i am satisfied some might have been yet living that are now a rotting in their graves . what sad objects are daily seen , of persons afflicted with palsies and other diseases , as we walk the streets , that could never be helped because no cure was found out for them ! and great numbers do lie in beds in chambers and garrets , hid from the world , and thus they lie till they die . what if god send means at last to help such objects of pity , why should any be offended at this ? you have heard what i have done ; you know what i can do by what i have said before ; how shall i satisfy you further ? will nothing serve but i must unfold these secrets to you ? must i give my labour to another , and my skill to such as love not to take pains ? it's not reasonable . but yet to satisfy you further , i will discover something of the nature and safety of this gout-balsam , that you may have nothing more to say against it by your false suppositions . an explanation , or a discovery of the safety of the ingredients of the gout-balsam . first of all ; you say 't is dangerous because it will blister : you have heard of the cures that have been done that way by its use . what i declared further is truth , and if required can give it on oath , that the most dangerous part in it is often given in cordials by doctors , that there is nothing in it but what is taken inwardly . and further , some of the ingredients are often eaten for food , and for the most part is in common use , but especially in summer-time in most families : thus far i declare , find out the rest . you may suppose i do something more than ordinary to draw out the virtue , to make them useful in this way , but it is impossible if i would to raise any dangerous matter from the ingredients ; neither is any part thereof repelling , but all on the contrary ; and is so far from doing any hurt , that it is a prevention of all danger , as plainly appeareth in the manner of its operation . what i have laid down is sufficient to give satisfaction , both to you as have given a wrong judgment in the matter , and to others that may be fearful and timerous ; no man hath any just cause to be offended at me , for i am not willing to speak against others , except in my own defence , and design not to give offence to any ; therefore to remove all prejudice and envy , i shall make an apology to the practitioners in and about the city of london , to let them understand , my business may be a help rather than a hindrance to them , so we may agree together to serve our friends . i advise my patients ( when i see occasion for it ) to call for farther assistance ; i do not love to hinder other mens business . this is my method . an apology to the practioners in and about london , both chirurgeons , apothecaries and doctors . i. a word to the chirurgeons . that which was my business when i first began to be publick in the world , came the nearest to your concern ; but yet i left that as properly was your business , and applied my self to that as was the most difficult , troublesome and dangerous cases , as king's-evil , cancers , ulcers , imposthumes , and such-like cases . many of you know i did great things , and had in that way of business good success , and great practice ; but now i am come from all this , and leave it to you , therefore you have less cause to be offended than any others : yet i hear abroad how some of you do speak slightly , and in an undervaluing way do run down me and my medicines ; and although you know my skill and great success , you are so unkind to your friends , as to let them lie in misery till they seek out for farther help , and so hear of me . it would be better if there were a spirit of love and unity ; you shall not hear me to speak against you in any backbiting way , nor meddle to run down another , for this is not to do as i would another should do to me : so let us agree , and serve one another in love , and to do all the good we can to serve the publick . ii. my apology to the apothecaries . i know that you do not like any physicians that do prepare their own medicines , so i can hardly expect your good word : but yet if you do but consider the necessity men are put upon to do this thing , it should silence you in finding fault , considering that in some difficult cases there is no cure to be had by any medicines as you have ; and this puts ingenious men to study to find out something else ; and if they do attain to that which effectually doth business according to expectation , who shall be offended at this ? is it not all our duties to study to do all the good we can ? i do not intend to cast any reflections on you , for your medicines are very necessary and useful ; and most of you have good business , and no cause to complain : as for my part , i shall not prepare any medicines that belong to your trade ; but those things that i prepare , are more like food than physick ; and i am so far from hindering your business , that i rather promote it , by giving directions to my patients to the use of your medicines , as occasion requires . if it were in my way to serve you more , i should certainly do it ; my business doth not lie among the sick , but with them that are lame , and under painful diseases ; and for such i use only such things as i prepare my self , as you have an account of in this book ; and many physicians and other practitioners do make use of them with great success . iii. lastly , i make an apology to the doctors of the college at london . i do know some of you are very angry with me , because i often come where you are concerned : you see i raise your patients on their legs ; and why should you be offended ? the great success i have , should rather move you to promote my medicines by your advice ; when you see the case requires it , you would do well to send for my assistance : and seeing you do not prepare your own medicines , and you cannot find any other person that can do what you know i can , i shall therefore give my attendance to serve you , if you think well of it . let this offer be well taken , and let not any be offended ; and such as have been angry , i hope will be pleased again : if you will not be reconciled , i cannot help it ; and though you have threatned me , and do intend if you can to put a stop to my practice , i will stand in my defence against you ; if you can do the like , i will give place to you . the law is not intended to bind mens hands from doing good , nor made for the private interest of some particular persons , but the intent is for the good of all the subjects ; and if any prove otherwise , our parliaments can repeal or amend such laws if they see good . commonly such as are troublesome to others for well-doing , do but little good themselves , but seek their own interest more than the advantage of others . i do not intend any long discourse of this kind , being not willing to give any offence ; but because some malicious persons have interrupted me in my business , and shew their malicious intentions , what they would do if they had power , i am well satisfied in my mind , that they have such malice against me , that if opportunity served they would certainly do me a mischief . if it lie in my power i shall be ready to do them good , and should be glad i had not occasion to mention these things ; but i shall forbear , in hopes that all anger and malice may be over in time . i have now some that are my very good friends among you , and i shall endeavour so to behave my self in my publick business in the world , that i shall give no just cause of offence ; but if i must fight , my greatest weapon shall be my pen to defend my self : i am peaceable of my self , and not easily provoked ; but if i 'm forced , i shall do as well as i can , trusting god will be my defence . the lives and limbs i have preserv'd , have gained me much love ; and he that taught me all this art , he dwells in heaven above : and i hope he will instruct and learn me a great deal more ; and make me able to do more than i have done before . a great part of the inhabitants in and about london , are a middle sort of trading people : my business hath been much among them , and i am content with a middle station . if i had studied my own interest more than to serve the publick , i might have set up a coach and six horses ; but i am content to ride in a hired coach , and find it most convenient for speed , for i love to make haste to do good , though it be to serve such as cannot pay for it , god hath given me enough to my full content , and now i am ready to be serviceable to any according to my ability ▪ for in great and difficult cases , i will help the poor for nothing , rather than hide the talent god hath given me . i must declare this to you , though some that do not know me call me a quack-doctor , because i am not of the college , and it may be they think i am as ignorant as themselves ; but you know me , or at least have heard of me , yet you may not know so much as them that have experience of me : therefore i shall let you know something i can do more than ordinary in other cases as is not mentioned . i have a quick way in curing hectick fevers , and therefore can do much in consumptions . i have a speedy way to help such who are distracted , or light-headed under any kind of fevers , drawing ●he vapours down immediately , and rebuking the fever in a strange manner . such as are taken raving mad , oft-times the disease lieth in the head ; i can cure them perfectly in one day's time . such as are in torment with the cholick and gravel in the kidneys , i have an artificial way to ease them quickly , and bring away the offending matter . such as have falling-sickness and other fits , i can do much in helping them speedily , especially in women . in several other cases i give such speedy help , as the like hath not been known in our age. had i been in some mens places , some great persons that lately are gone to their long homes , might have been in the land of the living . i commit these things to your consideration , and if you please , try me and prove me ; and when you are satisfied , consider with your selves whether it is reasonable to hinder my practice , or to encourage it . i have taken this way to speak my mind to you , because i see you are not disposed to discourse me in a familiar friendly way when i meet you in the college ; but i hope we may meet in friendship and love when we are better acquainted . so farewel . i have heard of false reports given out by some , thinking thereby to hinder my practice ; to which i shall give my answer . an answer to some false reports . whereas several say , ( by reason of the speediness of my cures ) i use magick , or the black art , to do these things . in answer to this i do declare , that i have never seen any books of astrology , to read in them , for fear i should be hindered in better things . i have a rule to observe for gathering my herbs at the proper time , by the planets ; and in all the other parts i am as ignorant as a new-born child ; and i am so well known , that i can give good satisfaction of my life and conversation : i am so far from being concerned that way , that i spend my spare time in reading books of divinity . god only knoweth the heart ; but i have walked so circumspectly in my life and conversation , that i have kept my self unspotted from the world on all accounts : yet some have reported me to be a person of a wicked life and conversation . several false and malicious reports have passed as i have heard of ; i appeal to the whole world : if any person knows , or can prove any thing against me , i am ready to answer for my self . others give out that i am dead ; but that needs no answer , i am at my dwelling-house in the old-jewry , ready to give satisfaction in any case whatsoever . i think none can blame me for what i have written in my own defence , against them that publickly , in a backbiting way , have spoken against me : many of them i do not know , therefore i thought it necessary to give it out in print ; by chance it may come into their hands , and convince them of their folly ; and it will be for the satisfaction of those who have been doubtful and timorous , and through their perswasion have been discouraged to use the means : and though they cannot do any thing to give them relief , yet they have hindred them from taking help in time . they have done more harm to others , than they can do to me ; for many that might have been cured , are now uncureable , and some are dead as might have been living . but thus it hath been in former ages , evil-minded men are offended at any good works : and as they love not to do good themselves , so they would hinder others ; had they but power , they would , like devouring beasts , destroy their fellow-creatures . conclvsion . ingenious students , let all that are lovers of art , help and incourage one another , and join hand in hand together to do good , and exact on no man , but do unto others as they would be done by ; that is the way to obtain a blessing , to make you prosperous in all your undertakings , and indeavour to make improvement of time ; we need not spend it idly : he that knoweth most may learn more , and the best cometh short in many things . let us still press forwards , and do good while we live , that we may have peace when we die : let us live in peace and unity as brethren ; we are all but on a journey , travelling towards the grave , let us take the advice of our old father jacob , see that ye fall not out by the way . next follow some good receipts which i have used my self with great success in curing many . a receipt with directions for the cure of the king's-evil . take a kilderkin , or a lesser vessel , with one end out ; and put into your vessel two gallons of spring-water ; then put into the water three pounds of stone-lime unslacked , stir it about very well ; put in two gallons more , and three pound of lime , stirring it : then add more water and lime , to what quantity you please , still stirring it till it hath done hissing ; then cover it up for nine days , and it will be very clear . then take of this lime-water two gallons , and put into a stean , or pot ; then put in half a pound of liquorish sliced , and half a pound of anni-seeds , and half a pound of currans beaten , with half a pound of white saxafras-root sliced ; stir them all together , and after 24 hours begin to drink of it . take half a pint first in the morning , and at four in the afternoon , and last at night , for some weeks together . 't is best for this disease to take it at spring and fall if need be , for a month together . this king's-evil drink hath cured many of this disease ; and being a great cleanser of the blood , is good in many other diseases , as hath been experienced : it works chiefly by urine , and helps scurvy and dropsy , ulcers and imposthumes , piles and fistula's , consumption ▪ wastings , cinpanies , stone and gravel , swelling and sores , all corrupt humours , shortness of breath , want of appetite . if you have any wound or dangerous sores that may be under cure , then drink of this , and it will help the cure by purifying the blood. i have observed , that the king's-evil and other corrupt diseases , are mostly among poor people : i hope this receipt , with other directions i shall give , will be of great use to help such , and be a means of preserving their limbs , that they may be able to work for their livings ; for many poor families have been ruined for want of cure in many such-like diseases . if you make a quantity it will not keep long , except you leave out the currans ; if you leave them out it will serve : or you may mix up a little , and have it fresh . if you would make it pleasant , you may put in a spoonful of syrup of elder-berries into every draught , or sweeten it as you like it . now if your young children have need of it , if they cannot drink a quantity to do them good , let them drink the oftner : if they drink it for their common drink several weeks together , it is profitable so to do . some gentlemen that have experienced it , will drink it a month together for the scurvy . it is also good for any itching or scabby diseases to drink , for six or eight weeks together if occasion be . another thing good to add to this drink if need require . take of those things commonly called hog-lice , or as some call , lock-chesers , because they role round up in your hand . dry these and pouder them , and take as much as will lie on a sixpence , last at night , and first in the morning , in a spoonful of the king's-evil drink ; then drink a little after it , but not so much as when you do not mix this pouder in it . observe when you take this , follow it for nine days together . a plaister for the swellings of the evil. take a handful of hounds-tongue , and boil it in a pint of oil : then strain your oil , and to half a pint of this oil , put in half a pound of red-lead ; boil them about a quarter of an hour , or something longer , till it be fit for a plaister . apply this to the swelling , and let it stick on till it drops off ; then apply another if need be . this is good to dissolve the swelling . for running sores of the evil. you may apply this plaister , and if it run much , lay on a fresh plaister once in two days ; but open it twice a day , and wash it very well with lime-water ; this will keep it clean , and in time heal it up . it is not good to use plaisters that draw much , that is hurtful ; for by drawing the humours too much to one place , they being sharp , there will be danger of hurting the bones . another help for running sores . take the inward bark of elder , and boil in lime-water ; then wash the sores twice a day with this , and sometimes lay on elder-leaves for some days for change ; after two or three days apply the plaister again : this observed , will keep all the sores in good order , better than if they kept to one thing , especially if the humour be very sharp . if you do make good use of these things , you may have great success in curing the king's-evil , especially if you apply them in time , then the cure is performed quickly : i have cured some in a month , and others in less time ; but when the distemper is old and fixed , it requireth a longer time : still keep using the means , you will find encouragement by the amendments . you must keep to the outward means till it be well ; the drink need not be taken but according to the directions , chiefly at spring and fall. i wish you may have the success i have had in the king's-evil and scurvy , and other corrupt humours , you have the same means . next i shall give directions for such as have sore breasts . for swellings in the breast which are not to be broken , that come by cold. take a handful of holyhock-leaves , and as many violet-leaves ; cut them small , and boil them in fresh butter , or hogs-lard ; make it like a poultis , and lay it on a woollen cloth to cover the breast : lay it on as warm as can be endured ; let it lie on 24 hours , and if need be apply it a second or third time . this is also good for breasts that are broken , and have many holes ; apply it in this manner , and this will heal them in a little time . for a cancered breast . take the cords or corns , as some call them , of a stone-horse : dry them and beat them to pouder , and take half an ounce in a draught of ale , fasting two hours after do thus three mornings together . this is a choice thing for such-like humours in the breast . to use outwardly . take a pint of ale , a sprig or two of st. john's-wort , either green or dry ; boil it till it come to a quarter of a pint or less , it will be like salve : when 't is cold , lay it on thin leather , and dress it twice a day , laying it well on the sore , then lay on the plaister : keep to this , and in a few days you will find a good alteration . for a dropsy and tinpany . take salt of wormwood , salt of ash , and salt of broom , of each half an ounce ; put these in a quart of wormwood-water , shake it well , and after twelve hours begin to drink of it , a sack-glass full every morning , fasting two hours after it : one bottle is sufficient if timely taken . another . take blew flower-de-luce roots , and bruise them , and take of the juice two spoonfuls , and two or three spoonfuls of syrup of roses , and two spoonfuls of syrup of rhubarb : take this for three mornings , it will help these diseases . another . take a spoonful of mustard-seed in half a pint of ale last at night , and do the like first in the morning . these things are of great use against the dropsy and tinpany . a cure for agues . take sinkfoil , otherwise called five-leave grass ; dry it and pouder it , and take as much as will lie on a six-pence , in half a pint of wormwood-beer , very hot ; take it when the cold fit comes , and the like when the hot fit comes : doing thus three ague-days together , it will cure . another . take a pint of warm milk , and a quartern of brandy , and drink it when the fit begins . another . take a pint of ale , and a whole nutmeg grated in it , an ounce of allum beaten ; make it hot , and drink it off , stirring about after it : use these , and one or the other will cure your ague . an easy cure for piles . take the white ashes of slaty coals , as are often among sea-coal , and apply the ashes to the part ; 't is an excellent thing for speedy help . for specks and whites in the eyes . take the white of hen-dung poudered , and put it in the eyes : 't is a harmless thing , and good for many distempers in the eyes . another good thing for eyes . take the cock-tread out of an egg , and put in the eye , it will take any thing out of the eye in a short time . to stop bleeding at the nose in women . take man's blood and pouder it ; put it up the nostrils , and womens blood for men in like manner : but observe , after the blood hath stood sometime , take of that as is thickest . now you that are troubled with such diseases , should not be unprovided . a catalogue of choice medicines , sold at the author's house at reasonable rates . i. a drink for the green-sickness , that opens obstructions , takes away stomach-pains , and shortness of breath ; 't is good for old or young. price 2 s. the bottle . ii. a remedy for giddiness and pain , in the laying vapours ; it causeth a good digestion . in six-penny and twelve-penny papers . iii. a cordial remedy against fluxes and vomiting . in 6 d. and 12 d. bottles . iv. a drink that cures the gripes immediately . in 12 d. and 18 d. bottles . v. a pleasant drink for the cholick . 12 d. the bottle . vi. a pouder that cures the tooth-ach immediately , and clears the head of cold. at 6 d. the paper . vii . a pleasant conserve to destroy worms in children : it doth so remove any inward offending matter , that pale-fac'd children will have a fresh colour and healthy , in two weeks time . 't is 12 d. the pot. viii . a pouder to whiten and fasten teeth , and to cleanse the mouth of scurvy humours . in 6 d. papers . ix . that elixir , called daffy's elixir . at 2 s. the bottle . x. eye-water for pearls , and rheums in the eyes . in 6 d. bottles . xi . a remedy for such as cannot hold their water ; it also helps them that make urine in their sleep . xii . also a help for such as have stoppage of urine . finis . the accomplisht physician, the honest apothecary, and the skilful chyrurgeon detecting their necessary connexion and dependence on each other : withall a discovery of the frauds of the quacking empirick, the praescribing surgeon, and the practicing apothecary merret, christopher, 1614-1695. 1670 approx. 139 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 53 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a50694 wing m1835 estc r26201 09386596 ocm 09386596 42929 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a50694) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 42929) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1312:14) the accomplisht physician, the honest apothecary, and the skilful chyrurgeon detecting their necessary connexion and dependence on each other : withall a discovery of the frauds of the quacking empirick, the praescribing surgeon, and the practicing apothecary merret, christopher, 1614-1695. harvey, gideon, 1640?-1700? [5], 95 p. [s.n.], london : 1670. attributed by wing and nuc pre-l956 imprints to christopher merret, and to gideon harvey by the brit. mus. cat. caption and running title: the accomplisht physician and the honest apothecary. "a lash for lex talionis, or, a just repraehension of the practising apothecary": (p. 91-95) reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. physicians -great britain -early works to 1800. pharmacists -great britain -early works to 1800. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-12 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the accomplisht physician , the honest apothecary , and the skilful chyrurgeon , detecting their necessary connexion , and dependance on each other . withall a discovery of the frauds of the quacking empirick , the praescribing surgeon , and the practicing apothecary , whereunto is added the physicians circuit , the history of physick ; and a lash for lex talionis . homine semidocto quid iniquius ? london , printed , and are to be sold in little-britain . 1670. the preface to the vulgar reader . reader , to those whom nature hath raised out of a refined mould , and are by their education sublimed to a higher sphaere , as the gentry and literate persons of england , this discourse is no wise directed , unless accidentally by a superficial view , they should give themselves the divertisement of admiring the folly , indiscretion , and fond passion of the uulgar , whom moving erratically in a lower region , is the proper task of these sheets , to reduce to a more certain and less planetary motion . as the art of physick through its excellency hath ever dignified physicians to that degree , as to appear most acceptable to kings , princes , and all others of the highest ranck ; so likewise have physicians retributed a just gratitude to their art , by super adding to it that lustre and splendor , derived from their most succesful cures and excellent practice , and particularly from that so famed aesculapian college of london , and other doctors of physick , who by their study and experience , through travel have of right merited that title : these and their art have of late years been rendred subject to the same fate religion and the law not long before , of being subverted by the ignorance and ambiiton of such whose brain is as subject to vapors , as the climat wherein they live , being all manner of wayes ignorant of the delicious fruits of life , that are reaped from a constancy in their church-worship , their subjection to government , and in their due veneration of learning . their ignorance is discernable in their sensless liberality , of conferring the honour and title of doctor upon every quack , empirick , surgeon , apothecary , and almost every one that carries but the scent of mithridate about him ; and the ambition of these is no less ridiculous in receiving that mock-title . however since it is their vulgar humour so to do , i have for their better understanding corresponded with it so far , as to continue the same titles of physician , doctor , church-yard and hackney physician applied to the same parties , viz. to quacks , empiricks , praescribing surgeons , and practising apothecaries , for the most part meaning no other but such , unless where for distinction the reader will occur with the addition of accomplisht . my name i have purposely concealed , because from this small labour i promise my self no other advantage , than a complacency in my own sentiment , of having performed a duty , that noble art , and it 's most ingenious artists , require from all , that have received a benefit from it and them , in defending its honour and eminency from the abuse and violation of such mean and pitiful animals , as are aboue mentioned . and among that fry , none arrogate a greater sharp in the practice of physick , than the praescribing surgeons , who seem to be enfranchised in it , since now a dayes physicians take so little inspection into their boutchery , and inhumane practice , which because i shall not much insist upon in the ensuing discourse ; i will insert an instance or two here : one i knew , that against a diarrhoea or loosness , gave the patient two drams of diapalma plaster made up in pills , for several dayes , which through the quantity of lythargir it contain'd , gradually poyson'd the party . another presented his patient with half an ounce of mercurius dulcis a day , for ten dayes together , which absolutely destroyed the tone of the stomach , subverted the temperament of the brain , and at last rendred him paralytick . a third upon the exhibition of red praecipitate ill praepared & worse applied , after innumerable stools praecipitated the patient into his coffin ; this and many other disasters were the consequence of a huge army-bone-setter's practice ; who for his prophanations , and atheistical opinions is the monstrum horrendum of all men ; & for his extream illiterature is the only he , i should admire , that through his impertinent and fastidious boldness did arrive to the least repute , were it not his attendance on a great person had given a seeming appearance of his bungling skill . after all this , i must in short acquaint you with the remainder of my scope , chiefly ayming to distinguish those praescribing surgeons , and practising apothecaries , by their dangerous and fraudulent practice , from skilful chirurgeons and honest apothecaries ; for both which i have not only a due respect and esteem , but shall hereby endeavor to convince all accomplisht physicians of the necessity of their employments , and dependance on their art , making it my only request , not to take amis , what may be expressed in drollery or earnest against those of their fraternity , that are no less injurious to the noble practice of physick , than the necessary employ of skilful surgeons and honest apothecaries . my vulgar reader i hope will not be offended with my franck humour of having objected their fickle-headed inconstancy , which quality being set aside , it may without partiality be asserted , they are a people , whom for their more than ordinary endowments of mind , singular valour and address in their arms , nature particularly hath distinguisht from all other nations of the continent , by seating them in a most beautiful island , and putting in their hands the scale of iustice , to compose or decide the disputes of all foreign princes by their invincible power at sea and land. the accomplisht physician , and the honest apothecary . to discommend what so many are fond of , is a character no wayes obliging ; and therefore discovering the familiar cheats and impostures of those , whom our vulgar doth so passionately affect , must necessarily prove a work of very slender merit . however , since i do not compute the vain applauses of a credulous rabble the just price of my labours , nor dread the venomous darts of those i make the subject of my discourse , but chiefly rendring my self to that vertue , whereby men are spirited to work a publick good to their private disadvantage , shall now open to your sight , the skulls of such as are commonly intrusted with your health , where you may behold the wheels of their brain , framing subtil practices , to drain your dropsical purses , and play the fool with your consumptive bodies . § but that all this should be transacted with a delight to the patient , may seem no less than a riddle , though easily resolved ; for as in cheating there is a bonum utile , so in being cheated there is a bonum jucundum , the impostor usually impressing an expectation more pleasant than ordinary on his patients fancy , which doth not a little tickle his dull spleen . this confirms the truth of the motto , vúlgús vúlt decipi , the vulgar will needs be cheated ; a saying that 's more applicable to the commonalty of this horizon , than of any other in europe . for that once a a heel-maker , should arrive to an estate of many thousands , by selling barley water with a few drops of spirit of salt in it , were in no other city possible , than on tower-wharf in london ; or that a rational people should permit their purses to be gelded , and their bodies anatomized alive by a huddle of empiricks , as that hatband-maker , once of moorfields ; the gunsmith in barbacan ; that old doating piece of nonsense in southwark ; besides many more , not worth the value of my inck and paper , can only be reported of our english : or that not long since , a french mountebank doctor , ( who for many years in his own countrey , could scarce counterpoise his ordinary expences , with the fruits of his practice , ) should in less time than the common life of a physician , extract a mass of two hundred thousand iacobus's out of the mines of english church-yards , is an argument for other nations , to accuse us of an extream wantonness in our pockets . but i must praetermit illustrating that subject , not being embarqued in a design of reproving , but informing my vulgar reader . § the law looks very grim upon gipsies for cheating young folks , though of a very small part of their money , by conjecturing at their fortunes , which possibly may oft correspond with the purpose of their praediction , though other times may vary : but vulgar physicians , and those of no indifferent report , do not only conjecture grosly at the diseases of their patients , but also most times make a shameful difference between their conjectures , and the state and event of those diseases , whereby the party is defrauded of a great part of his mony , and like a fool his expectation frustrated . here may be demanded , which of these is the greatest cheat ; the gipsie , who for a trifle it may be a beggers alms , gives his auditor a divertisement of a pleasant discourse , leaving him withall to a free election of crediting what he pleases , or the vulgar hackney physician , who imposes an obligation on his patient , to believe his impertinent sentiment of his infirmity , and for so doing is satisfied with no less than a whole gripe of half crowns ? certainly , where there is a due propo●tion observed between the recompence and the merit , that cannot be comprehended within the circumference of a cheat , and therefore one might justly aver an indemnity in the gipsies penny , though no small cheat in the vulgar empiricks iacobus . § but to prevent your censuring me , overbalanced with a prejudice to those , that so much abuse that noble profession ; i 'le conduct you into their usual road and method , of examining their patients , and making inquiry into their diseases , wherewith being acquainted , you may ( though of never so unpolisht a skull ) as readily pronounce a verdict , as the best lye-a-bed till noon . § this knack doth chiefly consist in three notions , viz. first , that a patients grievance is either a discernable evident disease , which his own confession makes known to you , what it is ; or secondly an inward pain ; or thirdly , one of these two endemick diseases , a scurvy , or consumption , or a third , the pox. this is their theory , which is so deep engrafted on their dura mater , and may be acquired with less industry , than fourteen years study at one of our universities ; for so much time is requisite to make a man grow up to a doctor , the formality whereof in most places consists in , accipiamús pecuniam et dimittamús asinúm . § next i 'l inform you in the application and uses of these three notions . if a sick man makes his address to a vulgar physician , he demands his complaint ; t'other replies , he is troubled either with a vomiting , loosness , want of stomach , cough , bad digesture , difficulty of breathing or phtisick , faintness , jaundise , green-sickness , dropsie , gout , convulsion-fits , palsie , dizziness or swimming in the brain ; vomiting , coughing , or spitting of blood , an ague , a continual great heat or fever . these are all evident diseases the party himself expresses he is troubled with . but his sickness not being an evident disease , which he himself can explain , the vulgar doctor concludes it must be either an inward pain , or an endemick disease . the patient then making complaint of an inward pain , to his old trade of guessing t'other goes , inquiring-first in what part ; if he answers , he feels a pain in the right side under the short ribs , he tells him it 's an obstruction or stoppage in the liver ; if in the left side in the opposite part , then it 's a stoppage of the spleen ; if in the belly , it may be he calls it a colick , or wind in the guts ; if in the back or loins he perswades him , it 's gravel , stone , or some other obstruction in the kidneyes ; if a stitch in the breast , he terms it a wind , or sometimes a bastard , or other times a true pleurisie . § lastly , if the party be reduced to a very poor and lean carcass , by reason of a long taedious cough , spitting of blood , or want of stomach , or feebleness , or almost any other disease or pain , then be sure , he tells him , he is in a consumption , or at least falling into one . but being troubled with several diseases and pains at once , as running pains , saintness , want of stomach , change of complexion , so as to look a little yellowish , duskish or greenish ; then t'other whispers him , he is troubled with the scurvy . if diseased with ulcers or running sores , red , yellow , blew , or dark spots , pimples , or botches in the face , arms , legs , or any other part of the body , that 's determined to be the scurvy likewise , supposing the party to be a sober discreet person ; but if appearing inclined to wantonness , by reason of his youth or sly countenance , then the forementioned disease is to be called the pox. in most diseases of women they accuse the mother . in children their guess seems far more fallible ; for a child within the six months being taken ill , restless , and froward , if there appear no evident disease , he ever affirms it 's troubled with gripes ; upon which he prognosticates , that not speedily being remedied , the child will fall into convulsion fits ; but this not hapning according to his praediction , to prevent the forfeiture of his skill and repute , endeavors to possess the mother and rest of the gossips , it had inward fits . the child being past six moneths , and falling indisposed , then instead of gripes , it 's discomposed by breeding of teeth . but having bred all his teeth , and being surprised with any kind of illness , the vulgar doctor avouches , it 's troubled with worms . in short , take away these three words , obstruction , consumption , and scurvy , and there will remain three dumb doctors , the hackney-physician , the prescribing surgeon , and the practising apothecary . § hitherto we have only discovered to you the ordinary physicians conjecturing compass , whereby he steers his course to arrive to the knowledg of his patients diseases ; there yet remains we should unlockt'other ventricle of his brain , to behold the subtlety of his fancy , in groaping at the causes of diseases , which though the poet declares , ( foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas , ) to be cloathed with the darkest clouds , yet he by vertue of this following principle , aims at this mark immediately , viz. that most diseasés are caused by choler , phlegm , melancholy , or abundance of blood . of these , two are supposed to be hot , namely choler and abundance of blood ; and the other two cold , to wit phlegm and melancholy , and consequently causes of hot and cold diseases . these four universals being reduced to two general categories under the notion of hot and cold , any one having but the sense of distinguishing winter from summer , may in the time of an hixius doxius instantly appoint a cause for almost every disease . so that a patient discovering his trouble , it may be a want of stomach , bad digesture , fainting , cough , difficulty of breathing , giddiness , palsie , &c. his vulgar physician has no more to do , but takes him by the fist , to feel whether he be hot or cold ; if he finds him cold , then summons in his cold causes , phlegm and melancholy , which ready and quick pronouncing of the cause upon a meer touch doth almost stupefie our patient through admiration of this aesculapian oracle , hitting him in the right vein to a hairs breadth ; for quoth he , indeed mr. doctor , i think you understand my distemper exceedingly well , and have infallibly found out the cause , for every morning assoon as i awake , i spit such a deal of phlegm , and moreover i must confess my self to be extreamly given to melancholy . this jumping in opinions between them , makes mr. doctor swell with the expectation of a large fee , which the patient most freely forces upon him , and so the fool and his mony are soon parted . now it 's two to one but both are disappointed , the one in his unexperienced judgment , t'other in his fond belief ; for state the case , the disease takes its growth from choler or abundance of blood , or any other internal cause , there is scarse one in a hundred of those that are indisposed , who is not subject to hauk and spit in the morning , and being reduced to weakness by reason of his trouble , must necessarily be heavy in the passions of his mind , and incident into melancholy thoughts through the memory of his mortality , occasioned by this infirmity . so that seldom mirth and chearfulness are housed in indisposed bodies , because they are deficient of that abundance of light and clear spirits , required to produce ' em . no wonder the vulgar is so opiniater in the affair of their temperament , when belaboured with a disease , since in their healthful state it 's impossible for a physician to ingage their opinions otherwise , then to believe themselves to be phlegmatick and melancholy . my self have oft been praesent at the demands of a censure upon the temperament of several , whom some the infallible rules of art did adjudg sanguin , others cholerick , &c. to this they would ever reply , they found themselves phlegmatick and melancholly ; for every morning they spitted up such a great quantity of thick clotted flegm , that they must needs thence infer their bodies to be phlegmatick ; and melancholy they were assured did possess 'em , for ( say they ) though for the most part in company they appeared chearful and pleasant ; yet being alone they were subject to lapse into melancholy . to this reply was return'd , that all men , especially those that are accustomed to suppers , were subject to hawk and spit flegm at their awaking , by reason of the vapors , ( occasioned through the heat of the body , drawing inwards to the center , and melting the phlegmatick and soluble humors of the body , ) the stomach and bowels do transmit to the brain , during their sleep , which as soon as the spirits are ioosned , ( for through sleep they are tyed and lockt up , ) and begin to move , are praecipitated and distil down to the palat , which to the brain performs the office , the neck doth to the head of an alembick ; and indeed the brain and its hollownesses being placed a top of the pipes of the body , is not unlike an alembick head , for attracting and distilling moist humors . § to return to the point of declaring , how the vulgar strives even with violence to be cheated , not in their purses only , but in their fancy and opinion ; and in this particular our women are so violently eager , that if the vulgar physician can but make a true sound upon the treble of their fancy , will produce such a harmony , as shall sound his praise through city and countrey ; and without these female instruments or she trumpets , it 's almost impossible for a vulgarist to arrive to a famous report , who having once by his tongue harmony inchanted the women , doth by the same cheat subject the opinions of men to his advantage , women generally usurping and impropriating the affair of their husbands health to their own management ; for if a man chance to be surprized with sickness , he praesently asks his wife , what doctor he shall send to , who instantly gives her direction to him , that had her by the nose last . in this piece of subtilty our doctor shews himself no less cunning than the serpent in genesis , who to cheat adam thought it expedient first to deceive eve. § now without any further praeamble , i must tell you the humour , many a sick woman delights to be coaksed in by the ordinary physician , viz. she loves to be told , she is very melancholy , though of never so merry a composure , and in that part of the letany , mr. doctor is a perfect reader : for a woman making complaint she is troubled with drowsiness , want of stomach ; cough , or almost any distemper , he answers her she is in an ill state , and troubled with great and dangerous diseases , and all engendred by melancholy ; and then tells her once over again , she is very melancholy , and saith he probably occasioned by course treats at home , or some unkindness of friends , which makes the poor heart put finger in her eye , and force a deep sigh or two , and all this possibly for being denyed a tankerd on bartholomew fair , or a new gown on may day , which being refresh'd in her memory , doth certainly assure her , the impression of that melancholy to be the original of her trouble , though some moneths or years past , especially since her physician discovers to her as much , and for so doing admires him no less , intending withall to give an ample testimony to the world of her doctor 's great skil : but this is not all , he pursues his business , looking into her eyes , where spying a small wrinckle or two in the inward or lesser angle , he tells her , she hath had a child or two , namely a boy or girl , according to the place of the foresaid wrinkle in the right or left inward angle ; thence perswades her , that at her last lying in , her midwife did not perform her office skilfully , or did not lay her well , whereby she received a great deal of praejudice , as cold , wrenching , or displacing of the matrix , &c. which instance squaring so exactly with the praemeditated sense & opinion of his she patient , ( most women though never so well accommodated in their labour , being prone to call the behaviour of their midwife in question , ) he hath now produced a far greater confidence than before ; and last of all to compleat his work now at the exit of his gulled patient , of rendring her thoughts , opinion , and confidence vassals to his service , fame , and advantage , makes one overture more of a great cause of some of her symptoms , declaring to her , she is much subject to fits of the mother , occasioning a choaking in her throat ; and herein they also jump in their sentiments , scarce one woman in a hundred but one time or other is assaulted by those uterin steems , especially upon a tempest of any of her passions of fright , fret , anger , love , &c. § if i have hitherto reproach'd the vulgar physician for executing his employ with so little ingenuity , far greater reason may move me to condemn the water-gazer , who by the streams of the urin praetends to gratifie his patients nice curiosity of being resolved , what was , what is , and what disease is to come ; and what is more , some by their great cunning aiming to discover as much by the urinal , as the astrologer by the globe . the fame unto which the english doctor , still residing at leyden , had promoted himself , by his most wonderful sagacity in urins , is not unworthy of your note , hundreds or rather thousands repairing to this stupendious oracle , to have the state of their bodies described by their urin. but when i relate to you the first means , that gave birth to our countrey-man's repute , i shall soon remove your passion of admiring him . upon his arrival at the place forementioned , he had in his company a bold fellow , that haunted the most noted taverns and tap-houses , where by way of discourse divulged the good fortune that was hapned to the town , by the arrival of an english doctor , whose great learning and particular skil in urins would soon render him famous to all the inhabitants ; this being pronounced with a confidence suitable to the subject , occasioned three sick scholars , ( two hecticks and one hydropical , ) then present , to make tryal of the truth of his words the next morning , agreeing to mix all their urines in one urinal , and to commit the carriage of it to him , that was dropsical . in the interim mr. doctor is advertis'd of it by his companion , which made him so skilful , that when the hydropical scholar praesented him with the urinal , to know the state of his diseased body , he soon gravely replyed , that he observed three urins in this one urinal , whereof the two lowermost parts of the urin appeared to him to be consumptive , and the third that floated a top dropsical , withall that their condition was desperate , and at the expiration of six moneths , they should be all lodged in their graves . this admirable dexterity of discerning diseases by the urinal , was soon proclaimed by the scholars themselves , who all having finish'd the course of their lives within the time praefix'd , proved an undoubted argument of his unparalel parts in the art of physick , which immediately procured him an incredible concourse of people for many years together . § that the effects of confoederacy in promoting a physician to a popular vogue , are as powerful as sinister and dis-ingenious , may evidently be deduced not only from this narrative , but from the common design of vulgar empiricks , who to raise their fame as high as a pyramid , send forth several moúthers , to moúthe in all publick places , taverns , coffee and ale-houses , their vast abilities , expecting with that bate to hook in as many patients as will swallow it . others are no less skilled , in counterfeiting their great practice , by causing their apothecary , or others , to call 'em out of the church at an afternoon sermon , to hasten post to a suborn'd patient , to the intent , that the world be advertis'd of the weighty business this doctor is concern'd in . neither do i tell you a new thing , that some few years past , a little prating empirick , by insinuating into the speaking men and holders forth of conventicles , had inticed a far greater imploy , there his real capacity in physick could praetend to , but being now well mounted on horseback , turns his tayle to those , that had so long held the stirrup to him . others by their equipage , eminent houses , and occasioning one and the same patient to repair needlesly to them twenty or thirty times , manifest a decoy even taken notice of by the vulgar . these few most disingenious wayes , i do here purposely bring on the board , omitting many others , to convince the publick , that the onely means for a physician to advance himself honourably to practice , is by discovering his real abilities , in curing diseases by quick , certain , and pleasant medicines , & therefore nothing should render his parts more suspicious , than by attempting their discovery , by such fallacious and ignoble devices ; for certainly the conclusion is most sophistical , that because this doctor is drawn in his coach , t'other rides on horseback , or another hath a lacquey at 's heels , therefore he must be excellently qualified in his profession . but vulgús vúlt decipi . § if now i describe by way of advice to those that are entring upon the study of this divine art , the method of attaining to a point of excellency in it , that may serve our vulgar for a better rule , to distinguish their attainments by the course they have passed through ; first , it 's most necessarily requisite , our young student should be perfectly instructed in the latin and greek tongues , being the universal keys to unlock all those arts and sciences , and no less a grace to the future physician . 't is in this particular many of our embryonated physicians , that have of late years transported themselves to leyden & utrick , to purchase a degree , have been found very defective , insomuch that i have heard the professors condemn several of them , for their shameful imperfection in that , which is so great an adornment , and of so absolute an use in the study of physick . neither can less be suspected of some of the more aged vulgar physicians , making choice to manage their consultations in the vulgar tongue . secondly , being thus qualified for a student , he ought to apply himself close to the study of philosophy , for which oxford and cambridge may justly challenge a praeeminence above other universities . here it 's our student learns to speak like a scholar , and is informed in the principles of nature , and the constitution of natural bodies , and so receiving a rough draught in his mind , is to be accomplish'd by that excellent science of humane bodies . but because according to the first aphorism of the first master hippocrates , art is long , and life is short , he ought to ingage his diligence , to absolve his philosophical course in two years at longest , and in the interim for his recreation and divertisements enter himself scholar to the gardener of the physick garden , to be acquainted with the foetures of plants ; but particularly with those , that are familiarly praescribed by practitioners , to praevent being out-witted by the herb-women in the markets , and to enable him to give a better answer , than it is storied once a physician did , who having praescribed maiden-hair in his bill , the apothecary asked him which sort he meant , t'other replyed , some of the locks of a virgin. thirdly , supposing our student to have made a sufficient progress in philosophy , may now pass to leyden , and enter himself into a collegium anatomicum , anatomy being the basis and foundation , whereon that weighty structure of physick is to be raised ; and unless he acquires a more than ordinary knowledge and dexterity in this , will certainly be deceived in the expectation , of ever arriving to the honour , of being justly termed an accomplish'd physician . a proficiency in that part fits him for a collegium medicum institutionum , and afterwards for a collegium practicum , and then it 's requisite he should embrace the opportunity of visiting the sick in the hospital , twice a week with the physick professor , where he shall hear him examine those patients , with all the exactness imaginable , and point at every disease and its symptoms as it were with his finger , and afterwards propose several cases upon those distempers , demanding from every young student his opinion , and his grounds and reasons for it ; withall requiring of him , what course of physick ought to be praescribed . this is the only way for a young physician to attain to a habit of knowing diseases , when he seeth them , and a confident method of ouring those , that may repair to him , without running the hazzard of being censured by the apothecaries , or derided by 'em for his bills , as too many are , that at oxford and cambridge have only imbided a part of senuert's institutions , and overlook'd riverius his practice , and thence attaining to an imperfect and unhappy skill , by enlarging the church-yards in the city or countrey ; but what is more , he shall escape the danger , a young student i formerly knew in oxford praecipitated himself into , by imagining every disease he read , was his own ▪ i must likewise advise our student to take his lodgings there at an able apothecaries house , to contract the knowledge of drugs , and of praeparing , dispensing , and mixing them into compositions , and then by means of his other qualifications , may boldly praetend to direct , inform , correct , and reprove those apothecaries , which the chance of his practice shall conduct him to ; for it would be adjudged ridiculous , should a physician undertake to reprehend , and afterward bend his force , to suppress and decry apothecaries , privately or publickly , without having first acquired a particular experience in their art. here it is again , the vulgar physician is wrapt up in a cloud , and the apothecaries dance round him ; he praescribes medicines he never saw , they praepare them according to their own will and pleasure . whether you would not attribute a great honour to a certain vulgar physician , whom the commonalty of this city did embrace as their minion , for his great abilities in physick ; he entring a druggist's shop in cheap-side , spyed a great piece of a remarkable white light spongy drug , took it in his hand , and inquired what it was ; to whom the druggist said , do you not know it mr. doctor ? who replyed , no ; why , said the other , it 's that you have praescribed a thousand times in your bills , and you praescribed it to me but the other day ; pray what is 't then ; said the doctor ? t'other answered him , sir , it 's agarick ; agarick , quoth the doctor , is this agarick ? o wonderful ? § neither is it over those alone the physician justly claims a super-intendence , but over chyrurgeons likewise ; and therefore in this his course of study , would contribute to his future qualification , in sojourning a year with an experienced manual operator , without any hinderance to his other affair , and there by an ocular inspection , and handling of all his instruments , demanding their names , uses , and manner of using , withall by insinuations to visit his chyrurgical patients , and see him dress them , would render his study in chyrurgery so plain and easie , which otherwise might be thought difficult , that it should enable him to give laws to chyrurgeons also , especially to those that execute their office with that rashness , indiscretion , and dishonesty , as i once was told a chyrurgeon did , who being met by a friend upon the street , was inquired of , whether he was going in so great hast ? t'other made answer , to get a brave gelding out of a gentleman's leg ; which being but superficially hurt , he to accomplish his design , did by sharp gnawing oyntments and plaisters purposely widen the wound , until at length by his tampering , a gangraene happened , and thereupon his leg was taken off below the knee , which soon after put a period to his life . to this may be subjoyned another gross error , fabricius hildanus ( if i mistake not ) makes mention of , and committed by a chyrurgeon , that was called to remove a hard tumor in the belly , which by the application of an emollient cataplasm , being brought to softness , he judged it ripe and fit for opening , & accordingly made a deep incision into the tumor , whereout in stead of matter , there gush'd some softned excrements , the whole business being nothing but a stoppage and swelling of the guts through the ordure that was hardned ; which a laxative glyster would have removed in an instant . no less mistake , and in the same case of the stoppage of the guts , with some small inflammation , was committed the other day by a french chyrurgeon , who learnedly praescribed a glyster of eight or ten ounces of spirits of wine , with four or five ounces of oyl of turpentine , which render'd the inflammation mortal ; and so the brewer , for that was his vocation , though a young man , was by those fatal hot liquors that were infused into his guts , removed out of this world , who in my opinion in the beginning of this accident , did not appear with the least character that might praesage his death . § these two years having given occasion to our student to acquire a system and a brief compraehension of the theory of physick , and of the practice likewise ; nothing more remains , than to amplifie his commenced knowledge and experience by his further travails , to which end takes his journey to paris , to be acquainted with the most famed physicians , and informed in their way of practice , by surveying their praescripts at the most frequented apothecaries , to visit for a year every day the hospitals of l' hostel dieú , and la charité ; in which latter it's customary for any three or four young physicians , to examine and overlook the new entred patients , to name their distempers among themselves , and propose their cures , for to compare afterwards their opinions with the physicians , that are appointed for the hospital ; it is here , where twice a week he may see mounsieur ianot ( if living , for it 's above sixteen years since i saw him ) the most reputed chyrurgeon of this age , perform the most difficult operations of chyrurgery , as trypaning , amputating , cuting of the stone , tapping of the belly and breast , with the greatest dexterity imaginable . here he may also observe wounds and ulcers cured by vertue of those famed waters , viz. the white water , and the yellow water ▪ the former being aqua calcis , the latter the same with an addition of sublimate . § the art of praeparing medicines chymically , having merited a great esteem for its stupendious and admirable effects in the most despair'd diseases , shews a necessity of being instructed in it , and therefore a student may for the price of three pistols , purchase a most exact skil in it , of one mounsieur barlet , if surviving . § having attain'd his scope in this place , his curiosity ought to direct him to monpelier , where he will meet with a concourse of the greatests proficients in physick of europe , converse with the professors and physicians of the place , and out of 'em all extract choice observations , secrets , and most subtil opinions upon several diseases , which design can scarce be compassed in less than another year . now we must suppose our student to merit the title of an able experienced physician , and raised far above those vulgar ones , that never felt the cold beyond the chimneys of their homes . he is now render'd capable of understanding the greatest mysteries , and most acute opinions in physick , which he is chiefly to expect from those reputed professors of the albó at padua , where he is likewise to continue his diligence in visiting the famed hospital of san lorenzo , and observe the italian method , of curing diseases by alterative broaths , without purging or bleeding , that climat seldom suffering plethories in those dry bodies : he cannot but be wonderfully pleased with the variety and excellent order of the plants of their physick-garden , by them called horto di semplici . neither will he receive less satisfaction from the curious and most dexterous dissections , performed by the artificial hand of the anatomy professor . having made his abode here six months , may justly aspire to a degree of doctor in physick , which the fame of the place should perswade him to take here , being the imperial university for physick of all others in the world , and where physicians do pass a very exact scrutiny , and severe test. hence may transport himself to bolongne , and in three months time add to his improvements , what is possible by the advantage of the hospital , and the professors . last of all in imitation of the diligent bee , sucking honey out of all sweet flowers , our doctor must not neglect to extract something , that his knowledge did not partake of before , out of the eminentest practitioners at rome , examine the chief apothecaries files , and still frequent those three renown'd hospitals of san spirito in the vatican , san giovanni laterano on the mount celio , and that of san giacomo di augusta in the valley martia , besides many others ; as that of san tomaso , san ludovico , santa maria della consolatione , sant ' antonio , sant ' andrea , &c. § as a picture is raised to the highest point of admiration by the variety of excellent colours ; so the intellectuals of a physician are incomparably adorned with the addition of those various accomplishments , his travails through several countreys afford . wherefore ought not to content himself , with the sole improvement of his profession , for so vast an expense , trouble , and passing through so many dangers , but like an expert chymist , draw essences of all discourses , the ingenuity of those travailers from other parts of the world do offer . there should not a particular thing of note in any city escape his view , especially at rome , where six months is too small a space to examine all those holy relicts , and antiquities , though employed to a full advantage , without losing a day . the same movement should also incite him to visit the renown'd city of naples , and take a survey of the antiquities and wonders of nature about puzzuolo . having thus in all particulars satisfied his curiosity , may consult about the most advantageous way homewards , which is to embark in a felouck to legorn , to observe the excellent contrivance of this so famed sea port ; not omitting to admire enough that incomparable piece of art of the four slaves in brass , that are placed at the fountain near the inner mole . hence may pass to pisa to behold the pendent steeple , and thence to lucca , where he cannot but estrange how so small a common-wealth doth secure it self from the violation of so powerful neighbours . being return'd the same way to legorn , takes the opportunity of a felouk to genoa , thence by land to milan , where he must not forget to see the finest hospital of the universe , and the invincible citadel , which the world hath so much discours'd of . hence passes the alps and that stupendious mount st. godart to altorf and lucern , both popish cantons , and thence to bazil the chief of the protestant cantons , resolving not to leave this city without admiring the great masterpiece of holbeens dance of the dead . here he is to purchase a boat for two crowns to carry him down the river rhine to strasburg , where being arrived , gives the boat to him that guided it thither for his pains ; besides the handsomness of this old city , that inimitable piece of clock-work in the great church , and the height and artifice of the steeple ; there is little else worth your note , except a monastery , where you may taste wine of a hundred and fourscore , and another sort of two hundred years old , contained in hogsheads , that for the truth of the business , have the magistrates seal upon them . hence by boat or coach passes to heydelberg , the chief residence of the prince elector palatin , for his great wisdom , prudence , and conduct the most admired by the whole empire ; neither is it without reason , that so many are by their curiosity conducted hither , to observe the splendor , government , and wonderful order of this court ; and to please themselves with the sight of his highnesses guards of cavalry , who have the repute for the best managers of horses , and the best disciplin'd in their arms beyond any in france ; and his guards of blew coats far to out-do the low-countrey souldiers in their exercises . the english gentlemen ow the greatest honour to this prince , for that honourable and particular reception they have in his court. the castle for its scituation and structure merits your view , whence you are not like to return , without having tasted of the liquor , that 's drawn out of the great tun of heydelberg . hence by boat descends the necker to manheim , a very compleat little town , and thence down the rhine to worms , the ancientest city of the empire , and so to mentz , the staple for all rhenish wines , where the inhabitants will tell you of a perpetuum mobile , a clock that went exact for seven years together , without being wound or drawn up , which by the death of the inventor is left unrepair'd . thence to bachrach , a garrison town rendering obedience to the prince palatin , and noted for the production of those small rhenish wines , which being exalted with an artificial flavor , ( as the vulgar improperly calleth it , ) please our english palats , beyond the other sorts , though the least in esteem among the germans and other exact discerners , because they are fired wines , ( as they term 'em ) that is , not being endowed with a sufficient quantity of spirits , and strength , to put themselves into a natural fret , ( as all other wines do ) are forced into one by kindling a fire round the vessels that contain them , whereby also are render'd subject to be pall'd in a short time . rinckhow , oppenheym , mosel , necker , franckoner , stinkerd , bleykerd , and hochmer wines , in taste and wholsomness excel all others , and are called rhenish wines , not from their growth upon the borders of the rhine , but from their transportation down that river . cobelents , andernach , and collen are the next towns. thence by land to brussel , gaunt , ostend , nieuport , dunkirk , gravelin , and calis , and thence to the place his inclinations for his future settlement may praefer ; where by his vast experience and knowledge being rendred conspicuous in the secure and certain method of his cures , will soon give occasion to the vulgar , to discern the difference between him & the ordinary church-yard physicians , who by their sordid deports , and dangerous practice , make it their business to ease the blind people of the weight in their pockets , and plunge 'em into worse diseases ; and therefore of all cities none can esteem it self more happy than this of london , for being graced with so great a number of accomplish'd physicians , many of whom have contributed their parts to the repute and fame of their countrey , by their accurate and learned pens , so much admired by other nations , and their writings honoured by frequent impressions . it is the singular respect and esteem i ever had for them , that at present hath animated me to render the vulgar sensible of the excellency of their accomplishments , to whom they one a particular honour for their readiness , in employing what their great expences , travails , and indefatigable study have gained , in the assistance and relief of their languishing bodies against death and its causes . neither is it that onely should give them so great a share in your opinions , but the splendor and eminency their art and profession is invested with , since princes can for a time wave the important affairs of their throne , to admire the least part of it , in beholding the wonders of nature-in spagyrical praeparations and chymical transmutations ; and what is more ! since the great king of heaven and earth , christ , to promote his glory and honour , assumed the profession of a physician , in curing lunaticks , blind , lame , and all other diseases : wherefore if hence only the descent of the nobility of the art of physick be derived , it 's an invincible argument , that none should dare to assume it , but persons signally qualified , inferring it to be no less sin , than a great crime in those empiricks and apothecaries , that praesume & incroach upon it , to the hazzard of peoples lives , and guilt of the punishment , the law of god and man imposes upon wilful murder . but then should all those that have too early been abandon'd to their graves , return to demand justice for the poysonous pills and infected potions , what would the survivers in case of a colick do for such , as secundum artem should handle the glyster-pipe ? and should they in earnest for this be summoned before a bar , they would wittily plead , there can be no murder without a praemeditated malice , which though their pills were guilty of , their intention was sincere , and therefore the inditement lyeth only against the pill , and not the practising apothecary ; so that only he may kill by law. my scope hitherto hath directed me to undeceive the hoodwinckt vulgar ; which so far i have performed , as the theory of church-yard physicians tends to , in their gross and groundless conjectures at their diseases , wherein a mistake threats no less danger than a pilot is apprehensive of upon an erroneous discovery of his port , in which case he may easier escape perishing upon a rock or shelve , than a patient upon a conjectural error of his doctor , and i must tell you , that it is in no wise rare , if his compass of conjecture exposed to your reading fol. 7. misleads him eleven times in twelve , being far easier to guess at a cast of a dye , where you have only five to one odds . and as for the practising apothecary , that lump of confident ignorance , who followeth only the shadow of physicians , if his gaping conjecture hits but one distemper in twenty , swells in his own conceit , though he sends the remaining nineteen with a letter to st. peter . can you but admire with me here at the wisdom of nature , refusing to repose that secret treasure of knowledge in such hollow skuls . but if you could engage your self to an intent mind , to observe with what prudence and discretion , the accomplisht physician applyes his profound remarques of anatomy , and diagnostick or discerning rules of physick , to the infallible discovery of your diseases , you will with me conclude the grounds , rules , and maximes of the art of physick to be most certain , evident , and demonstrable , beyond the least suspicion of a conjecture in it , and withall attribute to it an eminency above all arts and sciences , whose subject is lock'd up from our external senses , as the internal constitution of the body of man is . § by the thred of my discourse i am now arrived , to display the practical errors , which do more immediately operate for the benefit of the clerk and the grave-maker . it 's an ill fate you will say , that attends a man , when he is surprized with a disease , whose dangerous symptoms look grinning and daring upon the hackney physician , and he standing amazed , and pusillanimous , forsakes nature in her encounter with the distemper , where for want of a seasonable relief , is compelled to yield . this was the case , lately a countrey gentleman was unfortunate in , who being strong and plethorick , by riding post happened to melt the grosser part of his humours , which through obstructing the nerves that move the tongue , suddenly deprived him of his speech , ( a symptom called an aphonia ) and proving an extream amazement to a vulgar physician , who not being sufficiently qualified in experience , gave his opinion , it was a surfet , which was only to be committed to nature ; but the next morning being usher'd in with an universal deprivement of all his senses and motion , termed a catalepsis , spur'd his friends to implore the aid of another , who at first sight readily discovering the disease ( which his experience confirmed to him , had few ounces of blood been extracted but one day before out of the jugulars , would certainly have been removed ) told them , the error of omission could in no manner be rectifyed , since death in few hours would be ready to take possession . § this preceding error relating to a disease less frequent , doth not occasion so many deplorable effects , as those that are committed in distempers , that are more ordinary , as continual feavers , which are oft engendred by a surfet , an ancient norman word , signifying an over-doing ; but particularly implying an over-eating , or over-drinking . this gluttonous english distemper i look upon , to import a greater danger , for being so ill handled by the hackney physician , who besides bleeding , omitting to purge the bowels and glanduls about the guts , of those malignant excrementicious humours , their continual cramming engenders , causes that ebullition of the blood ( which in the beginning was moderate ) to exaestuate and fret to that degree of malignity , which through that error praecipitates thousands every year to their tombs . these humours that thus lurk about the guts , and kindle so malignant a heat , are not capable of being concocted , for they are essentially against nature , and already separated , and therefore ought especially in the beginning , to be evacuated by such purgers , as are least inflaming , and least disturb the blood , whereby they may certainly , if making choice of a cooling purgative , praevent a malignity in bodies that are so crammed . neither can this be performed by glysters , since their force is limitted by the valve of the colon. and yet greater may the error be adjudged , when upon neglect of a sutable purge , sweating and drying powders are praescribed , which force and disperse those malignant and dormant excrements into the vessels , and worst of all is the error , when those poysonous vesicatories are applyed , to attract malignant excrements from the center into the arteries , that escaped the force of the sudorifick powders . have i not been an eye-witness , that a patient in the declination of his feaver , and in a mending condition , had a vesicatory applyed to the nape of the neck , by the impertinent advice of a church-yard physician , which some few hours after , render'd him phrentick , and not long after speechless . brevity obliges me to omit many instances of accidents , and of death it self , occasioned by those venomous spanish flyes . neither can i forget how four hackney physicians lately consulted in a slight distemper of a tradesman , whose complaint was a difficulty of urin and a vomiting , accompanied with a small heat ; this at the beginning was taken for a malignant feaver , and for cure bleeding and sweating was advised , by which latter his urin was totally suppressed , through depriving the blood of its serum ; the vomiting increased , and the heat in effect turned into a malignant feaver , with an appearance of red spots , and at that very instant gave direction for bleeding , the bad effect whereof was soon discovered by his untimely death . to shew the error of this course , i need only say , i have seen this very distemper ten and ten times removed at the beginning , with one dose or two at most of salt of vitriol . § how bleeding , that noble and great remedy , is abused by our hackneys , is taken notice of even by the vulgar , whose experience ( for reason in physick they do not praetend to ) tells them , it 's death in the measles and small pox in our climat , especially to great persons . § it 's a pleasant speculation for those that know better , to observe the practice of the hackneys in the countrey , how they vomit their patients with crocus , and scowr them with ialap , drench 'em with water-cresses and brook lime , and feed 'em with nettle pottage to the crop , terming all diseases , except feavers and agues , the scurvy . § but let me not be deficient in mentioning our groaping doctors , who praetend it 's difficult to discern a disease in a man without groaping his sides , and 's belly ; and impossible to discover the fits in a woman without feeling , much less to cure her ; whick knack is taught 'em by the physicians of paris . § and was it not a skilful praescription of a countrey doctor , who was sent for forty miles off , to consult with one of the eminentest physicians of london , to praescribe three drams of laudanum opiatum , for one dose , in the absence of the other , who fortunately giving the patient a visit before the bill was carried to the apothecary , modestly to cover the shame of the former , ( who was far sent for , and like to have been dear bought , ) slipt the bill into his pocket , and left another in stead , directing only a just dose of three grains , which having for that night eased the patient of his pains by a moderate slumber , and not answered the expectation of the countrey-man in a deeper sleep ; he next morning did not fail giving the apothecary a check for not obeying his orders , and therefore commanded him home , to make up a dose of one dram and thirty grains , which was but the half of what he used to ordain for his patients in the countrey ; but the honest apothecary had more wit , than to be one of his accessaries , well knowing , such a quantity was enough to cast him and six more into a dead sleep ; nothing ever wrought so much upon my curiosity , as to be informed , what number the burials of march and april amount to in the parish , where this famous church-yard-man keeps his residence . § this ungrateful task doth more tire me , than had i imployed six times the paper in recording the excellent methods the accomplisht physicians praescribe to their patients , how expertly they take their advantage of the disease at certain times and seasons , in giving medicines to conquer it , when the patient is strongest , and the disease weakest ; how they accommodate to every particular distemper , constitution , age , and sex , a particular remedy ; alter , increase , and lessen it according to every emergent occasion ; how they praeinform the patient of every critical and counter natural change , of every danger and of every step the disease makes , following its tract to the very innermost part of the body , and never cease pursuing , till they have rescued their patients from all assaults and dangers of their intestin enemy . § it 's time i should pass to the second part of my discourse , where i meet with a subject , which i can intitle nothing but the 〈◊〉 and froth of physick , a term the practising apothecary will not judge misapplyed , since it 's that he offers his patient in exchange for good metal . but i shall forego my aim , if i proceed on my way , without first halting a little at the original of the word and meaning of apothecary , which from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a box , denotes it to be a word , imposed anciently upon druggists , whose multitude of boxes placed in order in their shops , and containing all sorts of drugs , gave occasion to that denomination , and for that reason is improperly transferred upon such , whose office is only conversant about praeparing of drugs and simples , thence more appositely termed pharmacopaei , or makers up of medicines , and pharmacopolae , or sellers of praepared medicines , whom in their late budding and growth some very accomplisht persons have look'd upon as poysonous weeds , started up to choak the sweet flower of their practice , and consequently so planted into families , as not easily to be rooted out by their manifesto's , requiring for their further illustration a brief deduction of their first rise , and upon what score those makers up of medicines were assumed into the drudgery of physick . § you must note physick to have had the same beginning with all other vast arts and sciences , from confused notions and experiments , which upon their more certain confirmation , were thought fit to be recorded in the temple of apollo , whither people in case of sickness took their recourse , to make choice of what came nearest to their purpose , but missing of that , necessity obliged them to expose their sick before their houses , to move those that passed by , if any of 'em had been troubled with the same distemper , to divulge their remedies , which afterwards were to be added to the forementioned records . time having collected a multiplicity of all sorts of medicines , invited a great number of philosophers to that temple , whose eminent parts did enable them , to make better use of those observations than the vulgar , and by degrees digest them into order , and thence framing general rules , soon acquired a habit of knowing and curing most diseases , which gave occasion to the people , to make use of 'em as physicians ; and such were pythagoras , empedocles , and democritus , which latter had the honour of being master to hippocrates , a disciple who afterwards proved the greatest and only master in physick , of all those that had gone before him , or since to this day have come after him . the method then in use to train up youth to this profession , was , to place them apprentices with able physicians , who adjudged it necessary , to take their beginning from chyrurgery , the subject whereof being external diseases , as wounds , swellings , members out of joynt , and others that were visible , proved more facil and easie to their immature capacities , and wherein they might suddenly be rendred serviceable to their masters , in easing them of the trouble of dressing , clensing stinking ulcers , and applying oyntments and plaisters , a nauseous employ , which they ever endevoured to abandon to their scholars with what expedition was possible . this as it was the easiest , so it was the first and ancientest part of physick , and from which those that exercised it , were anciently not called chyrurgeons , but physicians , though they attempted no other diseases , but such as were external , according to which sense aesculapius , the first physician or inventor of physick , and his sons podalyrius & machaon , are by history asserted , to have undertaken only those , that wanted external help , internal diseases being in those dayes unknown , and by temperance in their dyet wholly debarred ; and if accidentally an internal distemper did surprize them , they applyed a general remedy ( knowing no other ) of poysoning or killing themselves with a dagger or sword , thereby choosing rather to dye once and finish their misery , than to survive to be objects of peoples pity , or to endure the shock of death by every pain or languor , especially since the sage judgments of that age , did esteem it a signal vertue , to despise and scorn the vain world , by hurrying out of it in a fury , a maxim most of the philosophers were very eminent in observing ; and was likewise extended to children , that brought any diseases , external or internal , with them into the world , their cure being performed immediately , by strangling or drowning them . neither was this art of external physick of a short continuance ; pliny writing , that six hundred years after the building of rome , the romans entertained chyrurgical physicians from peloponesus . idleness and gluttony at length exchanged their ease into a disease , which soon put them upon necessity of experimenting such remedies , as might reestablish them into that healthful condition , exercise in war and temperance in dyet had for so many ages praeserved their ancestors in . § upon a competent improvement of their scholars in this external practice of physick , and their deserving deportment , they thought them worthy of giving them entrance into their closet , to be instructed in such matters , as the most retired places of their cabinets contained , which were their remedies and medicines , and the manner of praeparing them . a jealous lover could not contrive the sole impropriation of his beautiful mistress with greater study , than they the sole possession of their medicines , these through their commonness losing as much of their value and esteem , as the other by being known to more than one . pachius a roman physician of great fame in the reign of tyberius , ( as scribonius largus libr. de compos med. cap. 23. writeth , ) made great gains of his medicine , named by himself hiera . pach. for its frequent successes in the most difficult diseases , but he whilest he lived , would not impart the composition to any . but after his death he bequeathed it to tyberius caesar in a book written to him , which before could not be drawn from him upon any score , though all means were used to know what it was , for he did praepare it , when he had lock'd himself up , and would not commit it to any of his servants , for he would cause many more things to be beaten than it contained , purposely to deceive his people . here is to be observed , that for its great effects he imposed the name of hiera upon it , or the holy medicine , which being once made publick , and the ingredients known , was deserted naked of its vertues , ceasing to perform those wonderful cures , which whilest it was by the inventor reserved secret it did ; as if the divine power finding it self abused in its bounty , of having bestowed a secret treasure on a physician , did withdraw it self , upon the contempt of imparting it to the vulgar . for , that god is the first and chief physician , hath been the constant faith of all ages , and that physicians were the sons of the gods , was commendably asserted by galen , and therefore it was truly spoken , that medicines were the hand of god , thence meriting only such names , as related to their divine original ; thus a certain antidote was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aequal to god , another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 given by god , another divine ; several compositions had the inscription of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or sacred . § upon this so true and undoubted a consideration , i need not pry for a cause of those frequent and ever constant unfortunate events , that accompany the medicines of most of our practising apothecaries , unless as they seem to own , the trivnal deity should now neglect to punish with shame and disaster , such as with polluted hands do offer to defile those sacred means , which it hath intended for its glory , the contrary whereof is sufficiently attested by him in the strand , who with three doses of mercurius dulcis , given against the worms to three children , did the same day worm 'em all out of their lives : and by him in the — who upon the exhibition of twenty grains of extractum rudij , sent a gentleman a hundred and nineteen times to his close stool , and the next day to his perpetual mansion ; but i am confident , without any praemeditated malice , since he was extreamly surprized , that so small and unproportionate a dose should prove so cruel to his customers guts , not having the grace to call to mind , it was the abuse of that excellent medicine , in misapplying it to the disease . a farther testimony was given by another in the old baily , praesenting his customer ( or patient as they use to term him , for this intruth was one ) with a collyrium , or eye-water , to eat away a pearl in his eye , which through its gnawing quality occasioning a great pain , did attract such a quantity of humours , as caused a perfect suffusion , and an incurable blindness in both eyes , an application that could not promiss better success , upon the neglect of bleeding and purging , both implying a necessity of being praemised before the use of any painful medicine , to drayn the body of those humours , which otherwise the smart and pain would attract to the part affected . the error was of no less importance , when in a great loosness or diarrhaea , an apothecary with crocus martis and opium suddenly putting a stop to the flux , impelled the chanal of those hot impetuous humours into the veins and arteries , where by moving the blood into a tempest , occasioned a mortal malignant feaver in one of his chief customers . and at this praesent day nothing is more capable of fermenting the choler of a certain wealthy merchant , than the name of an apothecary , a practical one having by impertinent repetitions perswaded him , his wife upon the swelling and pitting of her legs , ( a symptom common to women with child ) and the swelling of her belly , was certainly dropsical , which as it was occasioned by a stoppage only particular to women , was only to be remedied by removing it , and opening the passages ; and to that purpose did four times a day ply her with his electuarium e tribus , as he called it , which was powder of steel , antimony diaphor . and barren savin powder'd , all mixt with honey into an electuary , the force whereof did in a few dayes answer his intention of opening the passages , and expelling an embryon , or a perfect conception , upon which the purgamenta were driven down with so rapid a violence , that the matrix was left dry , exanguious , thick , and corrugated , without the least hopes of ever conceiving again ; you may conjecture , what an insupportable grief this moved in one , who setting aside the confluence of all external circumstances fortune had heaped upon him , could have nothing more contributed to his entire felicity in a most beautiful lady , and her amiable deports , than the addition of issue , of which until then the space of six years had not given the least appearance . fatal likewise was the miscarriage of a scrivener , who being discommoded by a very acute pain and inflammation in his ear , applyed a repellent medicine of rags dipped in aq. sperm . ran . and ol. ros. advised to him by a practical man , which forcing the inflammation to the brain , immediately occasioned a phrensie , and not long after a corps . these few tragical narratives selected out of a hundred or more , i have here exposed to your view , which may suffice for the repraesentation of their dangerous practice ; how ineffectual , costly , and defrauding their general practise is , i shall in its proper paragraph give you a breviat of . § time perswades my return to the place whence i deviated , to continuate the ancient manner of educating a young physician , who though render'd serviceable to his master , having acquired the knowledge of his medicines and their praeparations , yet remain'd as little capable of using them , as the instrument-smith a razor , or lancet ; and therefore bended his endevours to arrive to the art of discerning every disease by its signs , and making observations upon the prognosticks , all critical and praeternatural changes , the dose , constitution , and all other circumstances of giving those medicines , which he did gradually accomplish by his sedulous attendance on his master , and his practical discourses and lectures from him on every patient he visited . lastly , upon his attainment to a degree of perfection in the art , discovered to his master by his private examination , all the physicians and commonalty of the place were summon'd to be praesent at the taking of his oath in the publick physick school , which served in lieu of making him free to practice , or taking of his degree . the oath was as followeth . i swear by a apollo the physician and b aesculapius , and by c hygea , and d panacea , and i do call to witness all the gods , and likewise all the goddesses , that according to my power and judgment i will intirely keep this oath and this covenant . that i will esteem my master that taught me this art instead of my parents , give him his dyet , and with a thankful spirit impart to him whatever he wants ; and those that are born of him , i will esteem them as my male brethren , and teach them this art if they will learn it without hire or agreement . i will make partakers of the teaching , hearing , and of all the whole discipline my own and my masters sons , and the rest of the disciples , if they were bound before by writing , and were obliged by the physicians oath , no others besides . i will according to my capacity and judgment , praescribe a manner of dyet sutable to the sick , free from all hurt and injury . neither will i through any bodies intercession offer poyson to any , neither will i give counsel for any such thing . neither will i give a woman a pessarie to destroy her conception . moreover i will exercise my art , and lead the rest of my life chastly and holily . neither will i cut those that are troubled with the stone , but give them over to artists , that profess this art. and whatever houses i shall come into , i will enter for the benefit of the sick ; and i will abstain from doing any voluntary injury , from all corruption , and chiefly from that which is venereal , whether i should happen to have in cure the bodies either of women , or of men , or of free-born men , or servants . and whatever i should chance to see or hear in curing , or to know in the common life of men , if it be better not to utter it , i will conceal , and keep by me as secrets . that as i entirely keep , and do not confound this oath , it may happen to me to enjoy my life and my art happily , and celebrate my glory among all men to all perpetuity ; but if transgressing and forswearing , that the contrary may happen . § between these bounds of secrecy , veneration , honesty , and gratitude the art was for many hundred years maintained ; for in the time of galen , and many ages after him , medicines for their greater secresie were us'd to be praepared , and composed by physicians , as you may read libr. de virt . centaur . where it 's observable , their men were wont to carry their physick ready praepared in boxes after them , which they themselves according to the exigency of the case did dispense . this custome was continued , until wars ceasing , people began to be as intent upon the propagation of mankind , as the cruelty of the former martial ages had been upon its destruction , whence the world growing numerous , and through idleness , and want of those diversions of their military employ , addicting themselves to gluttony , drunkenness , and whoredom , did contract so great a number of all inward diseases , that their multiplicity imposed a necessity upon physicians , ( being unable to attend them all as formerly ) to dismember their art into three parts , whereof two were servil , namely chyrurgery , and pharmacy , and the other imperial and applicative , or methodical . the servil parts being committed to such as are now called chyrurgeons and apothecaries , the former were employed in applying external medicines to external diseases ; the latter in praeparing all ordinary internal and external medicines , according to the exactest praescription and direction of the physicians , whose servants were ordered to fetch the praescribed medicines at the apothecaries , and thence to conveigh them to their patients , by which means the apothecary was kept in ignorance , as to the application and use of the said medicines , not being suffered to be acquainted with the patients , or their diseases , to praevent their insinuations into their acquaintance , which otherwise might endanger the diverting their said patients to other physicians , or at least their praesuming themselves to venture at their distempers . neither were the physicians servants in the least probability of undermining or imitating their masters in their practice , not knowing the medicines or praescriptions . besides all this , those remedies , from which the chief efficacy and operation against the disease was expected , still remained secret with the physicians , who thought it no trouble to praepare them with their own hands . thus you may remark , the physicians necessary jealousie of their underlings , and their small pains , proved the sole means of impropriating the practice of their art to themselves , and yet by the advantage of their apothecaries and chyrurgeons , were capacitated to visit and cure ten times greater number of sick than before , which in a short time improved their fame & estate to a vast treasure ; whence it was well rhimed , dat galenus opes , dat iustinianus honores . but at length their honour & vast riches in the eye of apothecaries and chyrurgeons , proved seeds sown in their minds , that budded into ambition of becoming masters , and into covetousness of aequaling them in wealth , both which they thought themselves capable of aspiring to , by an empirical skil , the neglect and sloth of their masters had given them occasion to attain , since they did begin not to scruple , to make them porters of their medicines to their patients , and to intrust them with the praeparation of their greatest secrets . this trust they soon betrayed , for having insinuated into a familiar acquaintance with their masters patients , it was a task in no wise difficult to perswade them , that those that had made , and dispensed the medicines , were as able to apply 'em to the like distempers , as they that had praescribed them , who had either forgot , or were wholly ignorant how to praepare them ; so that now they were as good as arrived to a copartnership with their masters , in reputation and title , both being called doctors alike , and there being no other difference between them ; than that the master doctor , comes at the heels of his man doctor , to take in hand the work which he or his brother doctor , ( the chyrurgeon ) had either spoiled , or could no further go on with it ; this is e'en like tom went to market , and tom met with tom. a very fine case the art of physick and its professors are reduced to ; and that not only of late dayes , but of almost seven hundred years , for before that time apothecaries had scarce a being , only there were those , whom they called seplasiarij , from their selling of oyntments on the market of capua , named seplasia ; aromatarij , and speciarij , or such as sold drugs and spices . though i must confess apothecaries may offer a just objection , in praetending to a far greater antiquity , since the original and necessity of their employ was derived from the aegyptian bird isis , spouting sea-water into its breech for a glyster . § as things in motion pass their seasons of growth , heighth , and declination , so the art of physick having passed the two former , is now in its declination exposed to be reduced to the extreamest contempt , scorn , and almost a total abolishment by the praesumptuous arrogance of every one , who upon a long course of physick to remedy his infirmity , having gained a familiarity with the use and names of those numerous medicines , advised to him by some practical apothecary , or praescribing chyrurgeon , at his recovery concludes himself as capable of practising as either of them . upon such an occasion as is here instanced , the heel-maker , the hatband-maker , the gunsmith , that doating old piece in southwark , the woman at hamstead , and many others fell to quack , and to practice , and by the addition of some small help of a book of receits , have advanced themselves in fame and credit , among our capricious vulgar , beyond any of their practical or praescribing masters . but all this notwithstanding , since the art of physick partakes in vicissitude with those things , that from the lowest ebb have flow'd back to their greatest height , it 's an argument she is not seated beyond the hope of being restored to her greatest lustre , and flourishing splendor , as formerly she was , when physicians were courted and reverenced by multitudes of sick , and attended with a train of their own servants , their apothecaries and chyrurgeons all diligently expecting their commands , to a tittle and every the least circumstance executing their duty , and concurring with the people , in calling them , for the wonders they did , tutelar gods. whence i conclude the trade of an apothecary and the vocation of a chyrurgeon to be of absolute necessity ; for its impossible any physician of moderate practice , can afford himself the time of visiting his patients , ( which in this city do oft happen to live dispersed , and very remote from one another , ) and afterwards repair to his study , and take their particular cases into a more deliberate and serious consideration , than the talking noise of visiters , nurse , and others about the sick will permit ; unless as too many are , he is accustomed to make use of the empiricks conjecturing compass , and so slubber over the disease ; not being sensible all this while , it is the life of a man hung to a thread , depends on his care , which by the least of his mistakes or neglects will certainly snap in pieces ; whereby god is robbed of the glory , which would have been due to him by his cure , the prince deprived of one of his subjects , it may be main a pillar of his throne , wife and children by the loss of husband and father reduced to beggery , and possibly to whoredom or theft for a livelyhood , creditors are necessitated to a bankrupt for the death of their debtor ; all which important and weighty consequences are to be placed to the account of debet of the physician . that besides these parts of his duty devouring a very great share of his time , there should be a remainder sufficient for him with his own hands to praepare all the medicines , the diseases of his patients shall require , is not to be imagined ; for supposing the number of his patients not to exceed three or four , their diseases in one or other to be complicated or double , as a pleurisie complicated with any other inflammation , or obstruction of the kidneys , guts , bladder , &c. which former by its self presses for the praeparation of a julep , a linctius , a glyster or two , a cordial , a cataplasm , a sudorifick antipleuritick , an hypnotick , &c. in summa eight or ten taedious medicines are to be made up in one day for one single patient , it may be as many more for a second , third and fourth ; so here are about forty medicines to be praepared , carried away , and applyed all in one afternoon , a task that more probably ought to employ three or four than one ; but what if a physician receives into cure thirty or forty , as in spring and fall many do , to expect from his hands the praeparation of the sixteenth part of the medicines , were most absurd . so that necessarily from this self-praeparing of ordinary remedies , would issue a neglect and omission of many requisite medicines , and in want of some proper ones , the substituting of improper , and consequently this reformation must infer a greater number of inconveniences , than the praesent practice is subject to . moreover that a physician should consume the better part of his time in this so servil and drudging employ , were to slight the imperial and commanding part of physick , to lose the honour and respect due to him from those his underlings and others , and absolutely to turn a pure empirick , by minding the praeparation and application of his medicines more , than the theoretick and methodical science of physick ; which ought to be praeserved and improved by his continuated study , wherein he must now be exposed to a perpetual disturbance by the noise of the mortar , and have his spirits dampt by the unpleasant steems of glysters , oyntments , and plaisters , and necessitated to convert his house , which the honour of his profession requires neat and splendid , into a hogsty . how this greasie , stinking glyster-pipe and plaister-box doctor can be endured in the praesence of some delicate tendersented ladies , that are his patients , you may justly admire , when upon his feeling of their pulse with his unctuous fist , they shall apprehend themselves to stink of threacle and mithridate all the day after . but setting aside the fore-mentioned reasons , and allowing the necessity and decency of reducing those two parts of praescribing and praeparing medicines into one body again , the physician having onely the possession of the better part , must go backwards to learn the worser from the druggist and apothecary ; to wit from the former , the knowledge , choice , and prices of all his drugs , wherein he must run the hazard of being cheated by him , in buying quid pro quo , a rotten drug for a sound one , and paying a double rate more than the value of the commodity , which may happen for three or four times at least , until he hath purchased a competent craft for buying and selling . from the latter his quondam servant the apothecary , he must be instructed in all the artifices and dexterous wayes of praeparing simples , mixing and dispensing them into compositions , of dissolving gums , expressing of oyls , and juyces , praeserving and candying of flowrs , herbs , stalks , and rinds ; powdering and rasping of woods and barks ; rubbing the posteriora secundum artem for to apply leeches , besides a hundred other particularities ▪ knacks , and ornaments , as gilding of electuaries , bolusses , and pills , and standing in a handsom decent posture at the mortar , and with a bonne grace to found a march , or chyme a tune with the pestil , as he is pulverising , thereby to awake peoples drowsie eyes , and make 'em look up to see what trade lives there ; and lastly of tying up gallipots and viols , with old taffety , rangeing of 'em in order on the stall , to give passers by a nota benè of the great trading of that shop ; in fine , seven years is no more than a just space , to conquer the difficulties of their mysterious trade , which not considering the loss of time , how much it may contribute to the further adornment of the accomplisht physicians , i refer to better concocted judgments . § in the next place let 's ponder , whether it consists with the maximes of policy to extirpate and subvert their corporation , though supposing the better half of 'em to be such as i have termed practical men , and to whose ill conduct in their practice the bills of mortality may owe the greater half of the number of burials . at praesent the countrey being so much depopulated by plague and wars , the supposition may merit some consideration , however the advantages their continuance imports to the publick seem to overbalance the scales . 1. the number of their trade aequaling , if not exceeding any other , implyes so many families , whose necessities of victuals and clothes occasion a considerable trade . 2. druggists , chymists , merchants of drugs , seamen that transport the drugs , seedsmen , herb-women , gardiners , labourers , and many others having so great a dependance on apothecaries , would all by their extirpation sustain a damage of that importance , as should disenable them of contributing so considerably to the common trade of necessaries , as such a vast number of families require . 3. by the ruine of all those trades and families , it 's certain the king would take a share in the damage , losing so valuable a custom as that of drugs , and in time of war , and other occasions , by the impair of his subsidies and taxes , which the consequence of so great a proportion of subjects ruinated in their vocation must necessarily produce . 4. churches have been lay'd even with their foundation by the late dreadful fire , and therefore through the zeal of our times it 's ordained , they shall be again raised to their former structure by a revennue from the fire , coals ; but this sufficeing only for the outside , the inside , as pews , benches , and pulpits , is to be built by the product of purchases of graves , which if apothecaries be suppress'd , and practice wholly left to physicians , will come in but slow , and therefore for the quickning of that great work , they ought to be encouraged . 5. the antiquity of this so necessary trade compraehending some hundreds of years , pleads strongly for the right of their continuance . 6. humane policy cannot conceal its jealousie in a point so essential as the life of man , and therefore it 's but just , it should require some small counterpoise , to balance and justifie the actions of physicians , when quaestion'd in the death of any , which the apothecary is ever ready to do , by shewing the praescriptions , and averring the excellency of the medicines . moreover physicians are mortal men , and may ( and oft have ) in a debauch'd humour praescribe improper medicines , and most improportionate doses , which an apothecary by the experience of his trade may discover , and repair for a rectification to the physician next morning , when the cloud is over with him . and what is yet more , the apothecary may inform the physician , though praescribing according to the exactest rules of art , the dose of his praescription to be too large for the particular constitution of a patient , which his former experience of him confirms , that the sixteenth part of it will work most strongly with him ; and i must tell you , some lives have been saved by these kind of admonitions , and yet no dishonour to the physician . the onely objection against the inference of these politick reasons , is deduced from the authority of plato , asserting that it is a sign of an ill govern'd commonwealth , where there are a great number of physicians . § to rommage into the very bottom of this controversie , let 's suppose the praemisses insufficient for an inference , and enquire whether it were possible , to give them a lift out of their quacking , or rather out of their honester calling of praeparing medicines . i say no , for considering their great number , wherein they exceed physicians ; their being more popular among the vulgar than they ; the daily obligation they impose upon most trades , by buying their necessaries of them , or otherwayes imploying them , all whom the duty of retaliation and gratitude perswades to make use of apothecaries in their way ; the multitude of their relations and kindred , that out of impulse of nature , more than reason , will endeavour to promote their interest ; it 's an argument to convince me , that the physicians addresses to the vulgar by their manifesto's , will prove insignificant , well knowing that judges so ignorant as they , will rather incline to the ignorant party ; and therefore to praevent their putting on plush jackets , to appear as like physicians , as the monkey did a lawyer , when he had got's masters cap on , and so to quack openly , it will prove of greater concern to reduce them to their duty , by the course i shall describe anon , than to labour their suppression in vain . § hitherto i have entertained my reader with a discourse of the whole intrigue in the trade of apothecaries , my own curiosity i will praefer next , in amusing at the grounds and reasons , why apothecaries in most kingdoms do generally quack and aemulate physicians in their practice , rather than subject themselves to the just laws of physick , which in most commonwealths they are the most inviolable observers of . it is not the witchcraft of money or promises , can prevail with an apothecary in flanders , holland , or any of the imperial cities of germany , to hazard his reputation , or disturb his conscience , by giving to any the most harmless of purges , without a bill from a lawful physician ; whereas in france scarce any apothecary but will praesume to advise glysters , purging potions , and ptisan , which latter he hath alwayes ready , and sells it by the quart . the cause of this difference is to be discovered in the people , the apothecaries , and the physicians . the commonalty in a commonwealth are universally more industrious , saving , and thrifty , giving an undeniable reason for it , that they are obliged so to be , to provide for sickness and poverty ; at which time namely of sickness , the meanest tradesman or labourer is as willing to shew his gratitude to the physician , for the praeservation of his life ( which he puts a greater value upon , than to intrust with an apothecary ) as the best of the magistrates . on the other hand in a kingdom the popularity is more profuse and prodigal , by reason there being a great concourse of people and principally of nobility and gentry of great estates , occasioning an universal trade , extended to the meanest , makes money easier to come by ; whence the vulgar spending it as easie , in case of sickness , find themselves destitute of a capacity to satisfie a physician honorably , and therefore are forced to apply themselves to empiricks , or practising apothecaries , where they may have advice and physick at the same charge . the difference between the physician of a kingdom , and a commonwealth , is , that the former respecting the support of his honour and ease , judges his merits by far to exceed the latter , who imagines himself well satisfied with the value of a shilling for each visit , and for that reason is upon the least occasion sent for ; whence it happens , his visits sometimes are so multiplyed , that i have known several to have made fourscore and a hundred visits a day . § once more i must disgust your palat , with the relation of the nauseous , ineffectual , and fraudulent practice of apothecaries , who with their ends of latine , choaking terms , and stifling phrases , strive to confound and amaze the simple vulgar . if you are not too melancholy , you may smile at this story , a practical apothecary coming to see his customer , a cobler , that lay indisposed of a colick , observed him to crack a fart , ( for so it is expressed in the original , ) upon which saith the apothecary , sir , that 's nothing but the tonitruation of flatuosities in your intestines ; this was no sooner out of his mouth , but the cobler crackt another , and replyed to his doctor , sir that 's nothing but your hob-gobling notes thundering winds out of my guts , which litteral return of his terms of art in plain english , though by chance , obliged the apothecary to this expression , i beg you pardon sir , i suppose you have studied the art of physick , as well as my self , and want not my help ; and so away went don ieronimo di capo di bove . after this give me leave to be serious , in examining their general practice in all diseases . suppose your self to be troubled with any distemper , it matters not which , for all is one to him you are to send to ; upon his arrival he feels your pulse , and with a fixt eye on your countenance , tells you , your spirits are low , and therefore it 's high time for a cordial ; the next interrogatory he puts gravely to you is , when was you at stool sir ? if not to day , he promises to send you a laxative glyster by and by ; and if you complain you have a loosness , then instead of one laxative , he will send you two healing glysters . if besides you intimate a pain in your stomach , back and sides , then responding to each pain you shall have a stomach plaister , another for the right side , a third for the left , and a fourth for the back ; and so you are like to be well patch'd , and fortified round your middle . now before we go farther , let 's compute the charge of this first day . here is a cordial composed by the direction of some old dusty bill on his file , out of two or three musty waters , ( especially if it be towards the latter end of the year , and that his glasses have been stopt with corks ) viz. it may be a citron , a borrage , and a baum water , all very full of spirits ; if river water may be so accounted ; to these is to be added one ounce of that miraculous threacle water , then to be dissolved a dram of confectio alkermes , and one ounce of nauseous syrup of gillyflowers ; this being well shaked in the viol , you shall spy a great quantity of gold swiming in leaves up and down , for which your conscience would be burdened , should you give him less than five shillings ; for from the meanest tradesman he expects without the least abatement , three and six pence , the ordinary and general price of all cordials , though consisting only of two ounces of baume water , and half an ounce of syrup of gillyflowers . your glyster shall be praepared out of two or three handfuls of mallow leaves , and one ounce of common fennil seeds , boyl'd in water to a pint , which strained shall be thickned with the common electuary lenitive , rape oyle and brown sugar , and so seasoned with salt. this shall be conveighed into your guts by the young doctor his man , through an engin he carries commonly about him , and makes him smell so wholsom , for which piece of service , if you praesent your engeneer below half a crown , he will think himself worse dealt with than those , who empty your necessary closets in the night . the master places to account for the gut-medicine , ( though it were no more than water and salt , ) and for the use of his man , which he calls porteridge , eight groats ; item , for a stomachick , hepatick , splenetick , and a nephritick plaister , for each half a crown . what the total of this dayes physick amounts to , you may reckon . the next afternoon or evening , returns the apothecary himself , to give you a visit , ( for should he appear in the morning , it would argue he had little to do , ) and finding upon examination , you are rather worse than better , by reason those plaisters caused a melting of the gross humours about the bowels , and dissolved them into winds and vapours , which fuming to the head , occasion a great headach , dulness and drowsiness , and part of 'em being dispersed through the guts and belly discommode you with a colick , a swelling of your belly , and an universal pain or lassitude in all your limbs ; thus you see , one day makes work for another ; however he hath the wit to assure you , they are signs of the operation of yesterdayes means , beginning to move and dissolve the humours , which successful work is to be promoted by a cordial apozem , the repetition of a carminative glyster , another cordial to take by spoonfuls , and because your sleep hath been interrupted by the unquietness of swelling humours , he will endeavour to procure you for this next night a truce with your disease , by an hypnotick potion , that shall occasion rest . neither will he give you other cause than to imagine him a most careful man , and so circumspect , that scarce a symptom shall escape his particular regard , and therefore to remove your headach by retracting the humours ▪ or rather as you are like to discern best by attracting humours and vapours , he will order his young mercury to apply a vesicatory to the nape of your neck , and with a warm hand to besmear your belly and all your joints , with a good comfortable oyntment , for to appease your pains the cordial apozem is a decoction , that shall derive its vertue from two or three unsavory roots , as many herbs and seeds , with a little syrup of gillyflowers , for three or four times taking , which because you shall not undervalue by having it brought to you all in one glass , you shall have it sent you in so many viols & draughts , & for every one of 'em shall be placed three shillings to your account , which is five parts more than the whcle stands him in ; for the cordial potion as much , for the hypnotick potion the same price , for your carminative glyster no less , and for the epispastick plaister a shilling . thus with the increase of your disease you may perceive the increase of your bill , and therefore it 's no improper observation , that the apothecaries practice follows the course of the moon . the third day producing an addition of new symptoms , and an augmentation of the old ones , the patient stands in need of new comfort from his apothecary , who tells him , that nature begins now to work more strong , and therefore all things goes well , ( and never ill ; ) but because nature requires all possible assistance from cordials and small evacuations , he must expect the same cordials over again , but with the addition of greater ingredients , it may be magistery of pearl , or oriental bezoar in powder , the former being oft times but mother of pearl dissolved in distilled vinegar , the latter a cheat the armenians put upon the christians , by ramming pebbles down a goats throat , afterwards killing him , and extracting the stones before witness out of his maw , which they sell for those rare bezoars , whereof the quantity of fifteen grains i have known , hath been taken by a child of a year old , that lay ill of the small pox , without the least effect of sweat or any expulsion through the pores . and besides the repetition of a glyster , and the renewing of your plaisters , for the profit of your physician you must be perswaded , to accept of a comforting electuary for the stomach , to promote digestion ; of a collution to wash the slime and filth from your tongue , and to secure your gums from the scurvy ; of a melilot plaister to apply to the blister was drawn , the night before ; of some spirits of salt to drop into your beer at meals , of three pills of ruffi to be swallowed down that night , and three next morning , which possibly may pleasure you with three stools ; but are to be computed as 2 doses , each at a shilling ; the spirit of salt a crown the ounce ; for the stomach electuary as much , for the glyster as before ; for your cordial in relation to the pearl and bezoar , their weight in gold , which is two pence a grain , the greatest cheat of my whole discourse ; for dressing of your blister a shilling ; for the plaister as formerly . here i praesume that candour in you , as not to believe me so disingenious , as to take the advantage of apothecaries , in producing any other than the best methods of their practice , and that which savours the least of their frauds , for in comparison with others , ( though these are very palpable , in regard there is not a valuable consideration respected , or a proportionable quid pro quo , ) they are such as may be judged passable , yet when you are to reflect upon the total , that shall arrise out the arithmetical progression of charge , of a fortnights physick , modestly computed at fifteen shillings a day , without the inclusion of what you please to praesent him for his care , trouble , and attendance , i will not harbour so ill an opinion of him , or give so rigid a censure , as your self shall upon the following oration , your glysterpipe-doctor delivers to you with a melancholy accent , in these terms ; sir , i have made use of my best skil and indeavours , i have been an apothecary this twenty years and upwards , and have seen the best practice of our best london physicians , my master was such a one , mr. — one of the ablest apothecaries of the city , i have given you the best cordials that can be praescribed , 't is at your instance i did it , i can do no more , and indeed it is more properly the work of a physician , your case is dangerous , and i think if you sent for such a one , dr — he is a very pretty man ; if you please i will get him to come down . now sir , how beats your pulse ? the loss of the money your bill imports , adds to your pains , through the remembrance it is due to one , that hath fooled you out of it , and deserved it no other way , than by adding wings to your gross humours , that before lay dormant , and now fly rampant up and down , raking and raging , which had you not been penny wise and pound foolish , you would have praevented , by sending for a physician , who for the small merit of a city fee , ( for which you might also have expected two visits ) would have struck at the root of your distemper , without tampering at its symptoms , or branches , and by vertue of one medicine restor'd you to your former condition of health , from which you are now so remote ; being necessitated , considering your doubtful state , to be at the charge of a physician or two , to whom upon examination of what hath been done before , the apothecary shall humbly declare , he hath given you nothing but cordials , which word cordial , he supposes to be a sufficient protection for this erroneous practice ; and i must tell you , that had his cordial method been continued in a feaver , or any other acute distemper , for eight or ten dayes , your heirs would have been particularly obliged to him , for giving you a cordial remove out of your possession , and that through omission of those two great remedies , purging and bleeding , the exact use whereof , in respect of time , quantity , and other circumstances , can onely be determined by accomplisht physicians . § i should accuse my self of partiality , did i conceal , what may be pleaded for their practice . many a substantial citizen may have the fortune of a servant taken sick in his house , who should he upon every flight accident of that nature fling away ( as he calls it ) ten shillings on a physician , might justly be esteemed an ill manager of his concerns , when an apothecary at a venture by giving a vomit , purge , or glyster , may for the charge of a shilling or eighteen pence remove the distemper , which that now and then he performs with success , is universally known and taken notice of , and therefore in such cases , is so commonly sent for , or else could not judge any man so little commiserating the condition of his servant , as to expose his life to a certain danger . besides the apothecary finds himself more galiard and confident in this his practice on inferiours ; for if they miscarry , he excuses whatsoever error he hath committed , by asserting , he was importuned or rather forced to it by their master . on the other hand , should an apothecary being thus called in to a sick servant , or a mean tradesman , whose condition by reason of his charge of family and children is little better , refuse this assistance , disobliges the master , loses the practice of his family , or turns away his patient , who shall immediately send to the next , that shall most willingly embrace the employ ; whence may be observed , the one necessarily spurs on the other to practice . a third import greater than any of the former is , that physicians all , or most , being tyed to particular apothecaries , praescribe their bills in terms so obscure , that they force all chance patients to repair to their own apothecaries , praetending a particular secret , which onely they have the key to unlock ; whereas in effect it 's no other than the commonest of medicines , disguised under an unusual name , on design to direct you to an apothecary , between whom and the physician there is a private compact of going snips , out of the most unreasonable rates of the said medicines , wherein if you seek a redress , by shewing the bill to the doctor , he shall most religiously aver , it 's the cheapest he ever red . the consequence hereof as to your particular is a double fraud ; and as to apothecaries in general , their number bearing the proportion of at least ten parts to one of noted physicians , to whom allowing each his covenant apothecary , who constituting but one part of the ten , the remaining nine parts of the number are compelled either to sit still , or to quack for a livelyhood ; at or least eight of 'em , for we 'll suppose one part of the nine in a possibility , of acquiring competent estates , in a way more honest , than that of the covenanteers , by their wholesale trade , of fitting chyrurgeons chests for sea , and supplying countrey apothecaries with compositions . lastly , all accomplisht physicians are likewise exposed to manifest injuries from those covenant apothecaries , who being sent for by patients , after a short essay of a cordial , will overpower them by perswasions to call in a doctor , who shall be no other than his covenant physician , by which means the former physician , that by his extraordinary care and skil had obliged the family before , shall be passed by , and lose the practice of that patient . and should it happen , the sence of gratitude of the forementioned patient , should engage him to continue the use of his former physician , yet this covenant apothecary shall privately cavil at every bill , and impute the appearance of every new small pain or symptom , ( which necessarily in the course of a disease will happen ) to his ill address in the art of physick , and shall not give over , before he hath introduced his covenanteer , whose authority in the fraud of a physick bill , he supposes to be most necessary . § but since i have omitted nothing , relating to the concern of their practice , i will not be defective in proposing what may tend to the interest of their so unreasonable profit , as people judge . the necessity of their neighborhood to you , to be at hand on all important occasions , is an argument , they pay great rents in many places , to the satisfaction whereof , and the support of their families , it is not the profit commonly allowed over and above what commodities stand retailers in at the merchants or wholesale men , will plentifully suffice , so that it 's no more than reason , they should be considered in the rates and prices of their medicines , for the mysterie , pains , and art of praeparing them , and afterwards conveying them to your house , where their time in waiting on you , and answering many of your impertinent quaestions , or running to and fro for you to the doctors , and oft being called by you out of their beds in the night , ought i judge likewise to be taken notice of . secondly , all honest apothecaries at the years end rid their shops of two thirds of their decayed compositions , and rotten simples , which at their seasons they are obliged to praepare a fresh , and keep them ready for your use , if unhappily your disease should require any of 'em ; whence it appears the greatest justice , you should be charged for medicines , that are purposely so praepared and reserved for you though never praescribed , in the higher rates and prices of such , you at any time have occasion for . thirdly , an apothecary being obliged to repair to a physicians covenant apothecary , to purchase his phantastical nostrum at the unreasonable rate he is pleased to value it at , doth not a little inflame the reckoning . fourthly , the unskilful physician praescribing an ounce of pearl in a cordial emulsion , puts the patients purse into a disease , and gives him but little ease . moreover to praescribe bees praepared in the winter , or four or five ounces of peach kernels in the spring , or to ordain a restorative electuary out of parats tongues , and hawks livers , as a most egregious physician of our town did , is an argument , you need not to stair if your bill amounts to pounds sterling . and when your glorious physician hath markt you down an apozem of a yard and half long , i would not have you dispute with your apothecary , for demanding more than what 's usual for one , that contains but a simple or two , which possibly shall operate more effectually , and the physician will know more certainly , which of the simples did the feat , whereas in a great composition it 's impossible to determinate which of 'em contributed most to the cure. § these defects and abuses in the practice of physick in relation to their prices , chiefly depend on the great bulk of the london dispensatory , being overburdned with at least two thirds , though considering the time it was framed in , might well have vyed with any of its cotemporaries , for excellent and select compositions . but the experience of our so wonderfully improved age declares , most methods of physick can more commodiously be performed with a less than one third of its contents . to what purpose so many scores of syrups , which upon their unavoidable fermentation through the heat of the summer , undergo a dissipation of the imbibed or infused vertues of simples , differing afterwards in nothing from nauseous molasses ? so great a number of distilled waters seems rather intended for pomp , than the absolute necessity of such phlegmatick and insiped liquors , as most of 'em are . aqua gilberti , and cordialis frigida saxoniae , are through the addition of coral , pearl , bezoar , and precious stones , considerably advanced in price , but not the least particle in vertue , accusing the inventors of a defect in experimental knowledge , which would have discovered to them , there had been nothing so volatil or salin in those forementioned stones and pearl , that such weak menstruums were capable of extracting . and he that revises the composition of confectio hamech , will conclude it a very senseless one , for being render'd so adstrictive , by that great proportion of myrobalaas . mithridate and threacle if ever they had been causes of those great effects former ages adscribed to them , would certainly be promoted to higher vertues , were they corrected by the substracting many of their poysonous and hurtful ingredients . neither could i ever give my self a satisfactory reason , why those ancient and pure empirical compositions , whereof mesues was so diligent a collector , were recommended by those learned physicians to their apothecaries , without reducing their empirical and senseless multitude of ingredients to a less and more rational number , in the compositions of species confect . liber pulvis bezoard . magistr . diarrhod . abbat . and of many others ; likewise the chymical praeparations described in the latter end of the said pharmapoea , are as mean , as they are defective ; antimonium diaphoreticum is not so much fixt , but oft moves vomits ; the like effect may be imputed to their bezoardicum minerale . their mercurius vitae proves for the most part convulsive towards the latter part of the operation ; their oleum vitrioli too corrosive , and not at all volatil ; their turbith mineral is as churlish , as it is a crude and barren praeparation . the body of the chalybs praep . not being sufficiently opened by distill'd vinegar , doth not answer the physicians expectation in obstinate obstructions . their magisterium coral . and perlar. differ little from chalk in powder , or lime well washt . in fine , nothing is more worthy of the consideration of those so eminently accomplisht physicians of the college , than the reformation of their pharmacopoea , the correcting of its compositions , in retrenching the number of the ingredients , and reducing the body of the whole into a far less number of simple waters , syrups , electuaries , powders , compound purgatives , oyntments and plaisters , whereby they will singularly pleasure honest apothecaries , in detracting so considerably from that needless and almost endless pains and trouble , the praesent dispensatory injoyns , and save them the labour of running to one another to borrow medicines ; and lastly , since by this small determinate number of simples and compounds little or nothing will remain to be flung away at the years end , they may afford their medicines two thirds cheaper , and yet be no less gainers , and for this the publick will in gratitude become their aequal debtors with apothecaries . § to this praeceding catalogue of clamourous abuses of practising apothecaries , i will annex such others , as the immoderate thirst of lucre , and the sweet ease of laziness , do tempt them to ; and therefore if in the praeparation of prolix compositions , as of syr. arthem . syr. chamaepit . mithridate and others , they omit half a score simples or more , and supply the defect of 'em by a double proportion of others , you may judg , they intend nothing but the contracting their business , and the humouring their inclination to idleness . and if in the species of diamoschu they omit the mosck , in pulv. e chel . cancror . the bezoar , in pulv. cardiac . magistr . the ambergrise and leaf gold , in pulv. bez. mag. the unicorns horn , and the pearl , you may imagine they design a double profit ; the one by saving those dear ingredients , and the other , by charging the said medicines at as high a rate to the patients bill , as if they had been added in their full proportion . secondly , at the druggists there being two sorts of all drugs , the one good , sound and dear , the other though of the same kind , course , almost rotten and very cheap ; we may be jealous , that those who aim at an aldermanship by a quick step , do for the most part make use of the latter sort of drugs in all their compositions , and in the praeparations of the praescripts of physicians ; whose bills its most certain are by some apothecaries unfaithfully dispensed , by adding a less quantity of the ingredients , or such as will prove ineffectual , on design either to protract the course of physick , or to defame the physician . thirdly , the humour of a tradesman to play the gentleman is too visible in many apothecaries , who pass their time either physician like in visiting patients , or rendring themselves to the recreations of the times , wherein they are plentifully supported by the revenue of their shop , which their men manage according to the idleness and negligence servants are all addicted to in the absence of their masters ; whence supposing a praescription to be erroneously or dangerously praepared , and the patient upon the taking of it surprized with urgent symptoms , or yeild to his last fate , it shall not be divulged to you , the man that made up the medicine was a raw apprentice , or had been drinking drunk , whil'st the master was breathing his nag in hide-park , in all which transaction , it 's the physician that must father the ill success . § were you here to pass your sentiment on the praemisses , you would conclude i had spoken for and against the apothecaries , which how far i seem to have written for them , it 's time i should resolve you . first , in answer to what i objected seemingly on the behalf of the reasonableness of their practice . our most perfect english law imposes death upon those who exact money ( though out of a necessity for a livelyhood ) from any , by threatning their lives , if so , what can we suppose a greater argument against apothecaries , that exact great sums in their long bills for medicines , which beyond threatning , have artificially taken away their lives ? for it 's observable our law is so intent in the praeserving of the life of every ( though the meanest ) of the kings subjects , that if a proof be pursued , that the untimely death of any person was caused by an error in physick , administred by one that had no legal warrant for it , the crime is severely punish'd with a rope . § but since the condition of inferiour tradesmen and servants will not admit of great expences in physicians fees , besides large prices for medicines , the honourable college of physicians would singularly acquit their duty to the publick , in praeventing their rash inconsiderate humour of running to mountebanks , empiricks , or practising apothecaries for cheapness ( so seeming , ) by appointing every three or four years one or two junior physicians in every ward , whose visiting fee they should be obliged by oath , shall not exceed a shilling , and their chamber fee six pence , by which means many lives might be praeserved , the young physician gain considerably enough by the frequency of patients and the multitude of visits , and very much improve his experience . likewise there ought a pharmacopoea pauperum to be annex'd to the other , which consisting in cheap , few , and effectual medicines , and praepared by two or three apothecaries , authorized for that purpose in every respective ward , and every medicine reasonably rated by the physician at the end of his praescription , it would certainly praevent the ruine of many mean families in case of a great sickness , which oft cannot stand them in less than twenty or thirty pounds , at the rate physick is practised now . § physicians of late have made some sputter about the dishonesty , stubborness , and incapacity of apothecaries in their trade , but seeking redress among incompetent judges , the vulgar , mistook their case , and so must begin again . the carrier in the fable complaining to iupiter , his ass was sullen and wo'd not go the way he wo'd have him ; iupiter return'd no other answer , than that he had given him hands ; implying he might make use of 'em in taking the ass by the haltar , and driving him on with a battoon . the moral applyed to this affair can give no offence , since fables never created exceptions . so then the college of physicians having the means in their own hands , which their charter and several acts of parliament had conferred on them , may without much difficulty arrive to the end of their design , by summoning the chief of their corporation before them , and offering whether they will accept of an oath , to be taken every seven years or oftner , ( to put them in mind of their duty , ) in this form , or any other they shall think fit . they shall swear they will praepare the medicines and compositions of their dispensatory faithfully without altering or substituting quid pro quo , or omitting or adding any simples , which they engage shall be the sound and good ; and that they will praepare and dispense the praescriptions of physicians exactly without the least alteration , omission or addition , without cavilling , deriding , or reviling any thing therein contain'd . that they shall not sell their medicines at higher prices than the college shall think fit to tax or rate them . that they shall not praesume to give a vomit or purge , without a bill from a legal physician . that they shall not give a patient more than one cordial or glyster on an urgent occasion , which may satisfie the patients impatiency , until a physician be sent for , provided alwayes , that this shall not extend to hinder them from selling mithridate , threacle , simple waters , syrups , or any thing else a customer will buy of ' em . that they shall not feel pulses , examine patients , puzzle or fright them to cause them to send for another . that they shall dispense laudanum , mercurius vitae , and some other weighty medicines with their own hands . that they shall give physicians a due respect and honour , oppose the frauds and insinuations of empiricks and practising apothecaries . that they shall not keep any medicine in their shops longer , than the college praescribes a time for their continuing good and sound . that they shall not sell sublimate , praecipitate , arsenick or any other sort of quick poyson to any inferiour or unknown customer . that they shall conceal the diseases of patients , or whatever other secrets are committed to them in the cure. that they shall likewise keep secret such praescripts of the physicians as they shall enjoyn them to . that they shall not publickly or privately advise or sell any medicine that may occasion women to miscarriages , or kill their conception . that they shall discover the frauds and errors committed by practising apothecaries , if suspected to have caused the untimely death of any . that they shall not let blood , dress ulcers , or invade any part of the skilful chyrurgeons employ . besides what else is convenient to be added . an oath being no more than necessary in a trade , where frauds and abuses are so practicable , i am confident no honest apothecary can or will refuse it , since containing no particular , that cuts off from the priviledge or full extent of his trade . those whom the honesty of their intentions shall perswade their submission to these rules , may be distinguish'd from others , by being called college apothecaries , to whom it 's likewise most just , the physicians shall ingage upon the reputation of their profession , not to praepare any medicines , but such as are very difficult , requiring art and care , and whereon the weight and principal efficacy of curing great diseases doth depend , but that they shall send these also to be dispensed by them , and consequently shall leave off praescribing of nostrums that were used to be praepared by their covenant apothecaries . moreover that they shall not divert any patient from his apothecary , or in the least hint at his incapacity , to cause any suspicion or praejudice in the patient ; that they shall ever refuse to make use of a practising or any other than a college apothecary , but indeavour the suppression of all such and empiricks , for their mutual interest and advantage , and ever be obliged to give a good character of them in particular . that they will tax and rate their compositions and praescriptions conscienciously , and with a particular regard had to their rents , charge of servants , loss of time , and all other necessary circumstances . that they shall not usurp any authority or majestical command over them , other than of praescribing , directing , and informing what 's necessary for the good of the patient and their customer , and consequently esteem 'em as free tradesmen . § but if it shall be made to appear , a college apothecary hath in any particular , broken his oath , he shall be expelled and extermined as a perjured person , out of the college practice , without the least hope of ever being received in again . likewise a collegiate physician being found peccant , ought to be degraded of the honour , of being a member of so honourable a society . § the irregularity of the practice of physick being in a great measure to be imputed to the perverse qualities of some of themselves , the collegiate physicians ought to pass an ingagement , they shall depose all envy and malice , by desisting to decry or depress one another by clandestin sinister reflexions , but on the contrary , rather aiming at that part of a gentleman , to give a generous character of one another . that they shall not undertake the cure of any patient , who hath made use of another , before the former physician is dismissed with his due satisfaction . that if two or more are called to a consultation , they shall go out together , and no single one tarry behind , to insinuate into the opinion of the patient or his friends . that all consultations shall be made in a room private to themselves , and all their particular judgments shall be left wholly to be approved and decided by the physician that was first called , who ought likewise to praescribe only . that being called , where an empirick or practising apothecary hath by an irregular method brought the patient into a manifest danger , and an irrecoverable condition , he shall be obliged to acquaint the college with it . by a line of impartiality i have drawn this tract , not being conscious of any pique i have to any party therein mentioned , and for that reason can assert , i have produced what may be urged for physician and apothecary , to the least circumstance , and have likewise annex'd a way for accommodation between 'em , but how well or how ill i leave to the reader ; and so farewell . sunt bona mixta malis , sunt mala mixta bonis . finis . a lash for lex talionis ; or , a just repraehension of the practising apothecary . this preceding discourse was almost finish'd in the impression , when i chanced to spy somewhat new , prickt up against a post in a ballad-sellers stall , at first appearing like some strange news from tripoly , but upon a nearer approach , observed a very worthy person dr. merret named i' th' title of lex talionis , and in the ensuing page ▪ dr. goddart , both very accomplisht and eminently learned in their profession ; also a third , dr. daniel cox , a person as ingenious as learned . these to whom the generality of judicious men dedicate a character more ample , than my narrow bounds will permit to express , were assaulted in their honour and reputation by a clandestin scurrilous cabal of four or five practising apothecaries , raking up in the libel forementioned all the filth and dirt the sinck of their imagination stunk of , but with no other success than the bespattering of themselves , and defiling their own nest. the provocation for this was no more than what passers by give to those snarling animals , that bark at 'em , because they are none of the house ; it being the sentiment of those learned men in their treatises , that the people were extreamly imposed upon by some fraudulent apothecaries , whom they endeavoured to divert from their impious practice by a threat , they would attempt the praeparation of their own medicines , which the urgent occasion of a sickly season , and many inconveniences attending a private pharmacy might easily praevail with them , to render back to those , whose establish'd employment it had been for some ages . this was the opinion of all sober and honest apothecaries , with a censure , that the foresaid pamphlet was indited by some hermaphrodite apothecary-doctor to deserve a small piece , or to raise himself by causing a division between physicians and apothecaries ; these latter detesting those scandalous reflexions on the whole corporation of physicians , and others in particular by inserting their names , a sort of impudence not common in a civilized government , and what is more , of givng the lye to a gentleman , which the lex talionis of all nations recompenses with a bastonade . but give diabolus his due , the particular naming of persons being left out , it might pass for a piece of bouffonerie , the chief author being fitter sor a — — — on the little theatre of a bartholomew booth , than — sure he would have bursted had he not gi'n vent to his witty hogshead , that was thus upon the fret ; and when he has been well rackt till the lees drop into his breeches , his manners will shew more fine . however i 'le pass one hours time to give an essay , how facil it is to retort , but without reverberating heat : ( fol. 7. lex talionis ) that the young physician must be lodged gratis in the apothecaries house , and attended on by the servants , and by the mistriss into the bargain ; a filthy bird that befowls his own nest . cancaro ! what 's his meaning ? confesses , he holds his trade by a contented tenure in capite ; or by giving purges at 's house , when the sign is in capricorn , and for that reason the english mounsieur comes not thither , without muzling his nose under his cloak . but the gentleman has forgot to tell you , his trade is the onely means the physician has to shab off his tympany-cousin to the young apothecary , in hopes of his practice for her portion , urgente necessitate , po for that . sol . 24. the apothecaries having a laudable custom once a year ( and oftner too ) as many as please , to go herbarizing ( don 't say simpling ) in guttur-lane , where any not knowing may be instructed by those , who well understand , and are learned ; — o learned herbwomen ! ( fol. 25. ) he recites a fictitious story of a carrot top ; a most praegnant invention of his carrot-pa●e imagination . ( fol. 2. ) for certes sayes he , an incomparable gallus , whither his brother apothecary was carried the last sessions in the little coach ( fol. 17. ) with two wheels , up holborn and — such another his glyster-pipeship may keep in time , for it would be too pedantick for our age to say the apothecary goeth to his countrey house . fol. 17. of late times there being more ( doctors ) knighted , than known in so short a time . if this be the contest , as many of you shall be exalted to a knighthood o' th' burning pestil , with the figure ch. in the record of your manual ; but that wil spoil your palmestry i doubt . ( fol. 2. ) but domine , was it salva conscientia , ( fol. 25. ) when for a truth one of your small brethren in the margin of 's bill , put down item for item and item of pulvis ad anginam , being nothing but album graecum , each paper at half a crown ; for forty papers justo five pounds for white dogs — and what you please besides for tobith and 's little cur ? hush hush , all comes out ; 't is not forgotten the poor lady in — march'd off of an ala mode , she had got by taking some pills mr. nameless had roul'd between 's teeth , to make 'em take gilt the better . hereafter pray leave off that trick . ' tseems mr. nameless had been basely paid for 's glyster ; and how deservedly then the bon droll stiles 'em ( fol. 19. ) a society , generally ( none excepted ? ) very honest and sober men , oiboh ! pray do n't go by t' artichoak leaden — str . pils , potions , and quack-advice you may have , and after that a long arithmetical scrowl , little shorter than a shentlemans genealogy : this his jong picaro shall humbly present to you , and if you bid 'um send ursus major , and you will pay his b●ll ; expect not a farthing abatement from the favour of a quantum meruit ; for here 's a plain assumpsit ; if you understand not this knack , the iereboams shall make you — probatum est ; for it 's on record more then once in several of the courts . ( fol. 17. ) the battle is to the strong ; but they are strong , so● they ne'r break ; and how can they ? three patients i' th' spring makes their pot boil all the year . it 's well put in , a word of the battle ; for generally they go armed with the ivory pocket pistol , & the box of gilt bullets ; and auri sacra fames , the good old cause , even it 's that they fight for . ( fol. 18. ) their canting and formally praying over their patients , &c. this is granted was the practice of three noted physicians , and they got well by it , what then ? hast thou not heard of a precious brother of thine , who like a little stone-horse mounted the great tub , and with a sence of feeling , how heartily did he recommend his precious elizir vitae to dis dear sisters , and so powerfully did press it home to 'em ; and at length o how fervently did they embrace it ! all had been well , and they had still continued in the same perswasion , had not that wretch brother nameless held forth his poysonous box of ointment , almost to the utter destruction of their sweet enjoyment , and their comfortable fellowship ; but how precious an antidote was mercurius dulcis then , to rebuke that evil spirit lust and conven tickling had let in among ' em ? nemo omnibus horis sapit , may as well be verified of this apothecary as any other , when he bought dryed eels for vipers , to make trochisci , for his venice threacle , an admirable antidote ! ( fol. 9. ) for doubtless ( says he ) the discreet apothecary being learned , may make a far abler physician than he an ahothecary ; for it 's but joyning the theory of physick with his practick , and he may be compleat ; what ? a compleat mountebank ! conceditur ; but quomodo pulvis signior apothecary , the joyning of the theory with the practick ? possibly the joyning of culpepper with the glysterpipe ; or poor robin's almanack with the pestil and mortar ; seriouslr a very compleat physician . complamatum est ; and from that rule ( fol. 12 ) all fools or physiciaus indeed , or both , if he 'll accept on 't : ( fol. 25. ) for ex quovis ligno non fit mercurius , i. e. ex quovis wooden apothecary non fit medicus . but whence had your worship all those ends of latin ? sure th' are the parings of some university cobler ; for confident i am the learn'd author's gotham assistants are scarce guilty of knowing the first letter of the greek i' th' title , though it proved their neck verse ( fol 25. ) the apothecary if he would understand the practice ( a contradiction now confessing their ignorance i' th' practick ) and theory of physick , or any question that can be asked , ( what turn astrologer too ! ) let him buy frambesarius , the best piece ever duns studied to answer's quodlibets ; that 's th' use on 't . though when he trug'd to cambridg for a degree of blockhead in physick , don quixot falter'd most abominably , being better vers'd in priscian than galen . quot sunt partes medicinae ? answer'd quinque . primo , to perswade a customer in health he 's sick . secundo , to give him a pill that shall make him sick . tertio , to ●amp him up with cordials . quarto , to make im believe he 's well , though now sick indeed . quinto , to present ' im with a long bill ; if trap be the word go on and prosper . ( fol. 26. ) he comments on an ingenious book de fermentatione , like an asinus ad byram ; as if the learned author had not been able to explain's own thoughts , nevertheless runs on mistaking the thing all along . but my friend , when you have thorowly perused the praxis riverli ( fol. 26. ) and primroses enchridium , still it will be but simia est simia , etiamsi aurea gestet insignia , in english a debauch'd apothecary . neither will your asinary canting on the fermentation ( fol. 27. ) for a specimen of their wonderful pretended progress in physick , excuse 'em from being — in print ; ( fol. 25. ) let but a rational learned apothecary , &c. guarda la gamba ! a rational learned swabber in physick , a pot-carry ! and why may not a rational learned chimney-sweeper add but somewhat of the theory ( verba codicis ) to his former observations , be better fitted for practice , and i would sooner engage him than many a pot-carry . i mar'l tro ' your worship forgets they have travelled too as well as physicians ; 't is confessed they have ; but 't was on balaam's ass , from the village of ignorance , through the town of cheat'em in long-bill-shire , till they came to the strong castle of impudence . passe par la stil , but in your travels , have a care of the little coach , they make an ugly halt by the way , unless the coachman will ingage to bring you back , and yet ▪ t would be dangerous to take's word . pray good folks , a word of advice ; leave off this rambling , off with your travelling garb , the plush jacket , and the broad brim'd hat , 't is but vulpes sub pelle leonis , and on with your blew aprons again , the musick of the pestil and mortar will sound pleasanter than the passing bell ; for pot-carry is but quasi to the pit-carry , and your practicing quasi prating . now let 's blazon the primitive of your derived so eminent profession , as he call's it . apothecary pot-carry , pot-carry pit-carry , pit-carry picaro . o picaro , art thou the father of so eminent a generation ! then may i say with the author in the farewell of his prologue ; from a picaro-pit-carry-apothecary libera me domine . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a50694-e340 a an egyptian , and the first inventor of physick . b the son of apollo begotten upon coronis the daughter of phlegia . c the two eldest daughters of aesculapius . d the two eldest daughters of aesculapius . a vvatch-man for the pest teaching the true rules of preservation from the pestilent contagion, at this time fearefully over-flowing this famous cittie of london. collected out of the best authors, mixed with auncient experience, and moulded into a new and most plaine method; by steven bradvvell of london, physition. 1625. bradwell, stephen. 1625 approx. 144 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 33 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16629 stc 3537 estc s115636 99850854 99850854 16086 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16629) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 16086) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1624:14) a vvatch-man for the pest teaching the true rules of preservation from the pestilent contagion, at this time fearefully over-flowing this famous cittie of london. collected out of the best authors, mixed with auncient experience, and moulded into a new and most plaine method; by steven bradvvell of london, physition. 1625. bradwell, stephen. [4], 57, [3] p. printed by iohn dawson for george vincent, and are to be sold at pauls-gate at the signe of the crosse-keyes, london : 1625. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng plague -treatment -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-08 jason colman sampled and proofread 2006-08 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a vvatch-man for the pest . teaching the true rules of preservation from the pestilent contagion , at this time fearefully over-flowing this famous cittie of london . collected out of the best authors , mixed with auncient experience , and moulded into a new and most plaine method ; by steven bradvvell of london , physition . 1625. london printed by iohn dawson for george vincent , and are to be sold at pauls-gate at the signe of the crosse-keyes . 1625. ¶ to the reader . hippocrates saith , that good physitians doe applie themselues to the present time , and to take hold of the occasion . the present time ( good reader ) is woefull , & the occasion , dangerous : i know it was not his meaning that we should onely grieue for the first , and flee from the latter ; but to lend our assistance to the necessitie of the times calamitie . i haue but little water to draw , yet would i gladly bring my bucket-full to the quenching of this contagious flame ; and if it be but kindly regarded ; i am friendly rewarded : for i professe , not affectation , but true affection ; not a hope of prayse , but a heart of pittie , draws me ( or rather driues me ) to offer my counsell in this case . london is my mother ; in her wombe had i both birth and breeding . what sonne can see his mother woefully afflicted , dangerously sicke , and desperately forsaken ; but he must needs weepe for her teares , labour her recovery , and lend a hand ( at least ) to hold her vp ? i may not take vpon me to cure the sicke , because i meddle not with the sicknesse ( for to practise on the plague now , would proue a plague to my practise hereafter ) but i must labour to preserue the sound ; because by profession i am a physition . therefore i call this booke , a watch-man for the pest , because it doth onely ( as if it were a warder ) stand at the dore without , and deliver things necessary for preservation to those within ; but neither enters the infected house , nor meddles with the cure of the contagious . i expect from diverse conceits diverse censures of this booke . it is too long , too short , too solid , too idle , too full , too slender ; and i know not what . yet i hope the judicious will vouchsafe it the reading ; and the wise , the observing : as for the rest , i will neither favour the frivolous , feare the envious , nor flatter the curious . i know though hercules labour his heart out , he shall not be able to appease a iuno , nor please an eurystheus . therefore if i be not relished , i shall thinke the mouth is out of taste , since there is scarce a word , but i can proue his worth from good authoritie . if i be gratefull to thy palate ( good reader ) i will not be vngratefull to thy person ; but if ever thou wilt vse me , thou shalt finde me from my study in mugwell-street . iuly 18. 1625. ready to my power to do thee any pleasure , stephen bradvvell . a vvatch-man for the pest . tvlly ( whose method was as pleasing as his matter ) sets this downe as a savoury maxime in method ; omnis quae à ratione suscipitur de aliqua re institutio , debet à definitione proficisci , vt intelligatur quid sit id de quo disputatur . l. 1. de officijs . to follow him therefore , though ( but as ascanius followed his father aeneas ) non passibus aequis ; him , i say , whom hardly any hath happened to goe along with foote by foote in fluent sweetnesse : i will begin this discourse with the definition of the pest ; and while i lay open the severall points of the definition , i will discover the causes , the kinde and qualities , and the signes and symptomes of it . and withall ( in their severall places ) i will lay downe the rules of preservation , with good medicines ; whereby the further spreading of the pestilent infection may ( by gods blessing ) be prevented . ¶ the definition . the plague , is a popular disease : sent immediatly from god ; wrought by the constellations of the heavens , the corruption of the aire , and the disorder of mans diet : at the first striking to the heart , is venemous , deadly , and infectious : and for the most part accompanied with a feavor ; as also with spots called gods-tokens , or with a blayne , or botch , or carbuncle . this word plague ; in latine pestis ; in greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : signifieth a deadly fretting . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , quod efficiat defectum hominum ; or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pernicies , seu exitium . hippocrates giues it a stile of distinction , calling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , morbus communis : a common or popular disease . that it is a disease , needeth no proofe at all , since it manifestly affecteth the body contrary to nature , and hurteth the actions thereof . that it is popular is also apparent , in this , that when it once entreth into a countrey , cittie , or towne ; it over-runneth the same like a torrent , and few escape at least a scratching with it , if they be not deeply bitten by it : yea more are stricken and slaine by it , many times ( especially in the place where it hath gotten full strength ) then of all kindes of diseases else what-soever . and so much for his title . now , that it is immediately sent from god , it is evident by many proofes of holy scripture . as deut. 28.21 . and in the same chapter at the 22. verse , he saith ; the lord shall smite thee with a feavor , and with a consumption , with an inflamation , and with an extreame burning . in which words are expressed the painfull symptoms of the plague : viz. a feavor , ( which i shall proue hereafter ) a consumption ( which being vnderstood of calor naturalis , the heat and life of nature , is apparent ) an inflamation , by which the swelling called the botch is signified ; and by an extreame burning , the deadly carbuncle is liuely described . if we desire examples ; the botch is plainly specified in the plague of pharaoh and his servants ; exod. 9. chap. 10. and 11. verses , and in the sicknesse of hezekiah , isaiah 38.21 . seeing then the all-mightie god of heaven and earth in wrath & justice sendeth this plague vpon vs , let vs know that as the triacle for our bodies is consected of the flesh of earthly serpents : so the triale for our soules must be made of the blood of that brasen serpent , which was lifted vpon the crosse for our sinnes . let every man be to his owne soule and familie an aaron to take with speed his censor of repentance ; fill it with fire from the altar ( of the exceeding great and precious promises of god in christ . 2 pet. 1.4 . ) and put the incense of faithfull prayer thereon ; and runne quickly and make an atonement : for there is wrath gone out from the lord ; the plague is begun . somtimes the constellations of the heavens are the second cause by which god worketh and bringeth these iudgements on men . for astrologers are of opinion , that if saturn and mars haue dominion ( especially vnder aries , sagittarius , and capricornus ) the pestilence is shortly to be expected . or if those two ( the most maleuolent ) be in opposition to the gentle planet iupiter ; the effect of that opposition is the plague . as the poet singeth : coelitus imbuitur tabo difflatilis aura , mars quando obij●itur falcitenensque iovi . i know there be many learned men that thinke the starres because they are good and pure creatures , can bring forth no evill , nor impure effects : and amongst these valeriola ( in append. ad loc . com . cap. 2. ) thinks he hath so absolutely satisfied the point , that no obiection may ever be made more : yet i am of mercurialis his opinion , that though of themselues primarily they doe no evill ; yet accidentally , they may and doe . for the sunne of it selfe being the purest of them all , by drawing the vapours out of dunghills and other corrupt things , causeth a noysome stench by accident . but i intend not this treatise for disputation . if the starres be pestilently bent against vs ; neither arts , nor armes ; perfumes , nor prayers , can prevaile with them , who haue neither pittie nor sense , nor power to alter their appointed motion . but he that commandeth their course , and altereth them at his pleasure ; he that made the sunne and moone stand still for iosuah : yea , drew the sunne backe ten degrees for hezekiah , and caused the starres to fight in their courses against sisera . he is able both to hinder and heale all infections can arise from their influences . the cure of this cause ( therefore ) is the same with the former . the third cause of the pestilence , is ; the corruption of the aire . which corruption ariseth as well from sublinarie accidents , as from the influences of the starres . for noysome vapours arising from filthy sincks , stincking sewers , channells , gutters , privies , sluttish corners , dunghils , and vncast ditches ; as also the mists and fogs that commonly arise out of fens , moores , mines , and standing lakes ; doe greatly corrupt the aire : and in like manner the lying of dead rotting carrions in channels , ditches , and dunghills ; cause a contagious aire . as the poet affirmeth : corpora foeda iacent , vitiantur odoribus aurae . and even without these vapours , the aire sometimes is corrupted by the vnseasonablenesse of the weather , quum tempestiva intempestivè redduntur , as sayth hippocrates : when the weather is vnseasonable for the season of the yeare ; being hot when it should be cold ; moyst when it should be drie ; and contrarily . these preposterous orders , or rather disorders in the constitution of the aire , render it vnholesome , and infectious . and this is caused chiefly by the aspects of the planets , and many times also by vnholesome windes ; as especially the south winde , who ( being of temperature moyst and warme ) fills the aire with such a corrupt qualitie , as is soone turned into putrefaction , and many times doth easily transport a contagion from one coast to another . now for the temperature of the aire , the whole streame of opinions runneth vpon hot and moyst , as the fittest matter for infection , because most apt to putrefaction . so hippocrates ( in the second of his epidem . ) saith , that in cranon a cittie of thessalie , there arose putrid vlcers , pustuls , and carbuncles ; through the hot and moyst constitution of the aire . and the same he vrgeth againe in the third booke of the same treatise . and galen in 1 de temperam . cap. 4. affirmeth , that the hot and moyst constitution of the aire doth most of all breed pestilent diseases . and from these a multitude of later writers haue learned to speak the same thing . but for all this we know that the hot and dry weather also may cause a pestilent aire . and so saith avenzoar in his third booke , third tract . and 1. chap. and titus livius in li. primo , decad . 4. recordeth that rome was once infected with the plague by a hot and drie distemper of the aire . and wee cannot forget what a hot & dry parching summer we had this last yeare ; most fit to be the vnfortunate forerunner of this yeares pestilence : which now being seconded with such abundance of moyst weather all this spring and summer hitherto ; we may well doubt that a deluge of destruction is comming vpon vs. hence we may see the misery of man , that ( be the aire never so corrupt ) he must draw it in with his breath continually , for without it we cannot liue a moment : for as meate and drinke are the nourishments of our bodies , so is the aire the nourishment of our spirits : as therefore by corrupt meats our bodies are corrupted and diseased ; so by corrupt aire our spirits are easily infected , and soone extinguished . therefore we haue great cause to take heed that the aire we draw be pure and wholesome . and this may be effected two wayes : either by flying into a good , or by purifying the euill aire . the surest way to safetie is to flie from the impure into a pure aire . those therefore ( that haue meanes , and no speciall calling to hinder them ) doe well to take hold of this counsell . which 1. nature teacheth in giving man two legs , as well as two armes , that if his enemy be too fierce for resistance , he may escape by running . now nature hath no worse enemy then death ; nor death a better 〈◊〉 then the plague . secondly , the holy scripture teacheth it . 〈…〉 verse . come my people enter into thy secret place , shut thy dores about thee , hide thy selfe as it were for a season , vntill the indignation be over past . so pro. 22.3 . the prudent man foreseeth the plague , and hideth himselfe . and david was this prudent man , for ( 1 chron. 2● . last ) he durst not goe to the tabernacle to offer at gibeon , because he feared the sword of the angell . and thirdly , physicke adviseth it . for hippocrates , the prince of physitions ( in his booke de natura humana ) counselleth it in these words ; providendum est vt quàm paucissimus aeris influxus corpus ingrediatur , et vt ille ipse quàm peregrinissimus existat : regionum etiam locos , in quibus morbus consistit , quantùm eius fieri potest permutare oportet . by which he intendeth that a man must be carefull to let into his body as little aire as can be possibly ; and that that aire which he doth entertaine , be a stranger to the infected . and this be interpreteth in the clause following , where he saith , he must ( as farre as he may ) change the place of the region in which the sicknesse raigneth , for some other that is free from it . and this is that which is meant by citò , longè , and tardè . which iordanus calleth an antidote made of three adverbs : and thus versifieth vpon them . haec tria tabificam pellunt adverbia pestem : mòx , longè , tardè ; cede , recede , redi . i will be bold a little to comment vpon these words , in this wise . fly with speed from the infected place , lest by a little lingering , that infection ( which you would leaue behinde you ) goe along with you . and nothing can be more dangerous then for one to travaile with his humors already corrupted by an infected aire . for with the motion of his body , those humors are stirred , disturbed , and heat ; which causeth them to putrefie presently : by which putrefaction of the humors , the vitall spirits are instantly enflamed and infected , and life it selfe soone extinguished . besides that , in their going forth , before they are gotten beyond the limits of the evill aire ; in the labouring of their body , they fetch their breath oftener and deeper then at other times ; whereby they draw in a greater quantitie of the corrupt aire to minister more matter to the putrefaction begun . therefore flie quickly , and in flying goe softly , till you be quite out of the contagious aire . and flie not a little way , but many miles of , whither there is no probabilitie of common trading , or recourse of people from the place forsaken : and where there are high hills betwixt you and the infected coast ; which may breake of those blasts of wind that would at somtimes blow that corrupted aire from thence vpon you . moreover , if you be able , choose your habitation well and health-fully scituated . a house is well scituated that stands on high ground , farre from fennes , moores , marishes , and mines : having the dores and windows opening to the north and east ; not to the west , for that is not wholsome ; nor ( by any meanes ) to the south , for that being hot and moyst , is most subiect to contagion in sickly times . let the house be large , and the roomes many and spacious . in hot weather , open those windows that are toward the north ; in cold , those that are to the east . if there be dores or windows toward the other coasts , keepe them for the most part very close shut . in the night , leaue no window open at all . if the weather be moyst , open your windows toward the good coasts two houres after sunne-rising , and let them not stand open aboue two houres space : and so againe , for two houres before sunne-set . lastly , be not hasty to returne , so soone as you heare that the heat of the contagion is abated ; but keepe away as long as any signe of the sicknesse remaineth ; taking this for a sure rule , that it is lesse danger to tarry still in the infected aire , then to come into it from that which is pure and wholesome : for a fresh commer is aptest to catch the least contagion , and the very reliques of infection are sufficient to kill him . learne therefore of the wolues of thracia , who in winter , when the rivers are covered with ice , will not venter over for their prey ( though they be never so hungry ) till they haue layd their eare close to the ice ; then if they heare no noyse of water vnder it , they know the ice is thicke enough to beare them , and over they goe ; otherwise not . let the space of three moneths passe vpon the last infected person in that quarter whither you desire to resort : and let the house all that time ( and all the stuffe therein ) be throughly well aired , and perfumed before you returne . for the infection will cleaue to the walles and stuffe a long time , and will hardly be purged out of them : especially garments and bedding , if they haue beene vsed by the sicke of the plague . woolen cloaths will retaine the infection three or foure yeares , except they be well and throughly aired . blankets , coverlets , and ruggs must haue much airing before they may be trusted . furres also retaine it long , and it is hardly gotten out of them ; as appeareth by a story which fracastorius telleth of a furred govvne that was the death of fiue and twentie men in verona , in the yeare 1511. who one after the other wore it , thinking they had still aired it sufficiently . featherbeds will remaine seaven yeares infected , if alexander benedictus may be beleeved ; and these are best to be purged by opening the tikes , and spreading the feathers abroad very thin , perfuming them very often , and ever as they are airing , let them be turned with staues or stickes ; and let this be so done for many dayes together . as for mattrises , mats , and such like , it is best that they be burnt , for that is the surest way to free them from infection . but now , some men cannot , and some must not flie . some through povertie , and want of friends in the countrey ; or by reason of the dependance of their living vpon the towne infected , cannot leaue it . others whose calling and learning hath set them apart for the common good , must not goe . as maiestrates and other officers who are called to see the peace and good orders kept . ministers that haue pastorall charges , and are commanded of god to preach in season and out of season , and to administer the sacramēts to those which are able to repaire to the church . also physitians , chyrurgians , apothecaries , midwifes , keepers , and searchers , whose callings are to be helpfull to the sicke and weake ( though not of the plague , yet of other griefes ) they ought ( at least a convenient number of them , for the number of people remaining ) to tarry and follow those christian employments which they haue vndertaken , not for their owne benefit only , but for the common-wealth chiefly . such therefore as must tarry , let them obserue these rules following . first , flie from company , and be contented to liue as solitarily as your calling and buisinesse will giue leaue . let those that come to speake with you , come no nearer you then they must needs ; and if you stand to talke with another , be distant from him the space of two yards . but if you suspect the party to haue the infection , let the space of foure yards at the least part you . let the sound man be carefull also to giue the other the winde ; that is , so to stand that the winde may blow from the sound to the suspected , and not contrarily : and let the sound man turne away his face from him , holding and champing also some fit thing in his mouth , and smelling to some odour all the while he is in discourse with the other , or neare vnto him : ( which things in particular i will prescribe hereafter . ) shunne all places that are moyst and wet . in summer keepe you temperate , but alwayes drie : in winter keepe warme , and as much as you can , neare the fire . at all times avoyd all close alleys and lanes ( especially to lodge in them ) or neare common sewers , ditches , or such like noysome places . and keepe out of crowds and assemblies of people as much as you may . dwell not in an house that is pestred with much company in little roome . it is good also for those that are able , to shift beds , and chambers often , airing them every day . when the aire is cloudy , thicke , moyst or misty , goe not forth but vpon necessitie ; and in such weather , keepe the dores and windows shut . walke not abroad in the morning ( if you can choose ) till two houres after sunne rising ; nor at all after sunne-set , vnlesse vrgent occasion enforce . and in the heat of the sunne in summer ( especially about noone ) tarry not abroad ; neither sit , stand , nor walke in the heat of the same . in the full of the moone , goe not forth in the night , and keepe your head somthing warmer at that time then at other times . keepe moderation betweene heate and cold in your lodging and bedding . last of all , whatsoever you receiue from the hands of another ( especially if suspected ) touch it not before it haue beene cleansed , by boyling , or at least by washing in warme water ; if it may not spoyle or deface the thing : otherwise , aire and perfume it well . and thus much for flying into a pure aire . now we are to purifie the purified aire . and herein first i must distinguish aire into two kindes , viz. generall and speciall . by aire generall , i meane the whole open aire of the region . by speciall , i intend , either that which is inclosed in houses ; or that which is immediately next the person of every one , for the space of some few yards compasse round about the body , whether within doores or without , wheresoever it goeth or abideth . and first for the generall aire of the region . that is to be purged and rectified , first by cleane sweeping and washing of the streets , lanes , courts , allyes and other wayes and passages of the cittie ; leaving in them no durtie puddles , dunghills , or dead carrions . also by often casting out the mudde of the towne ditches , and other standing waters . every morning and euening sweep cleane the streets before every mans doore : wash downe the channells to keepe them sweet . but i like not that slabbering of the pavement before the house , which i see many vse in moyst wether ; for it increaseth the dampishnesse of the aire : excpt it be before the stalls of butchers and cookes : or except the durt can no other-wise be purged away ; and then let it be swept drie againe , except the sunne doe shine so cleare and hot , that it is likely to be soone dried thereby . but indeed there is no way of purging the aire like to the making of fires in the streets : so it be done with good discretion ; that is , in the evenings ; when the weather is moyst ; and not soultry hot . we read that hippocrates freed the cittie of cranon ( before mentioned ) and athens also ( as galen testifieth li , 1. de theriaca ad pisonem cap. 16. ) by making great bonefires , & burning sweet odours and costly oyntments in them . aëtius also ( li. 5. cap. 94. ) reports the like to haue been done by acro agrigentinus , whereby he delivered the greatest part of greece from the pestilence . some physicians that they may be singular , invent strange wayes by themselues to purifie the aire . as cardan perswades to burne leather , or any thing that smells strong though never so stinking ; but for my part i am of opinion with rodericu à castro , and laurentius ioubertus , that stinking smells cannot make a wholsome purgation of the aire . therefore i leaue his conceite to accompany that of alexander benedictus , who would haue the dogs that are killed , to be strewed in the streets , that the vapours of their putrefying carcases , might expell the venom of the putrefied aire . with which may also be exploded averroës his potion of vrine , which he esteemes an excellent antidote : i thinke that which is odious to the nostrills , by which way aliment is conveyed to the spirits : and that which is noysome to the stomach , by which nourishment is brought to the body ; can be no cordiall . but for the purging of the aire , rodericus à castro hath another way , and that easy and cheap ( if it be as good . ) he affirmeth that it was wont to be much vsed in spayne in pestilent times : and that is , to drive a great droue of oxen or kine through all the streets every day ; that their sweet wholsome breath may cleanse the impure aire . it is true , that the breath of those cattell are very sweet and wholsome : but it is to be doubted , that the impure aire being much more in quantity then their breath , will sooner infect them , then they purifie it ; which if it doe , then surely all their flesh will proue but vnholsome meat , and may infect more bodies after they haue bene at the butchers ; then they haue purified streets while they went before the drovers . but the spainards eate so little beefe , as they needed the lesse to feare such poysoning . now for my opinion what way is best to purge the generall aire of the region . i must needs say that of hippocrates ( before mentioned ) is the best , but too costly to be received of our cittizens . therefore i would advise that muskets and such like peeces might be discharged in every street , lane , and corner of the cittie every morning , and every euening . this way ( in hot weather ) doth not enflame so much as bonefiers doe by their continued heat , but purifie as much , or rather more . for by the blow , the aire is first forcibly moued , shaken , devided and attenuated , and so prepared for purification ; & then immediatly ( by the heat of the fire ) purified : and that kinde of fire purgeth it better then others , for ( by reason of the sulphur and sault-peeter ) it is exceeding drying ; and very wholsome . and that this opinion is not any conceit of mine owne ; let those that will , read levinus lemnius de occultis naturae miraculis , or crato in consilio 275. or raymundus mindererus li. de pestilentia cap. 20. the heathens could be at great cost in contagious times ; as appeares by the precious odours and sweet oyntments that hippocrates consumed in the fires for those citties before mentioned . why may not wee be at a lesser cost , for the safety of a greater cittie . god is nearer to vs , then he was to them ; we haue his promises to keepe vs in all our wayes ; and to prosper our handy workes ; they had no such comforts to rest vpon ; yet they endevoured and obtained : wee obtaine not , onely because we endevour not . and now i come to the fourth cause of the pestilence , which is the disorder of mans diet. in the name of diet are included six things , wherein a man ought always to be moderate and regular . 1. the aire , and i mean the speciall aire . 2. meate , and drinck . 3. repletion , and evacuation . 4. exercise , and rest . 5. seepe , and watching . 6. passions of the minde . these are the six strings of apollos violl , wherein consisteth the whole harmonie of health . if these be in tune , the body is sound ; but if any of these , be either too high wrested , or too much slackened ( that is , immoderately vsed ) then is the body put out of tune , and made subiect to any sicknesse . as one saith well , who hath thus composed those six points , in these two verses . aër , esca , quies , repletio , gaudia , somnus : haec moderata iuuant , immoderata nocent . let every man ( therefore ) be carefull in these things , and if his owne skill be not sufficient to teach him what is temperance ; let him observe these rules following . first for the aire . the disorders of diet in respect of aire , or ill choyce of habitation ; walking , running or riding at vnseasonable times , as in fogs , mists , dewe , rayne &c. and in vnholsome places , such as haue bene reckoned already : as also in drawing into the body too much of such aire as is pestilent and contagious . to cure this point of diet , we must proceede in purging the aire ; and hauing done with the generall , let vs now goe to purifie the speciall , and first of all that which is inclosed within the house . let every roome be kept continually very cleane ; leaue no sluttish corners ; let no water stand in any vessell so long as to putrifie , which in a corrupt aire ( especially in hot weather ) it will soone doe . cleanse all your vessels often ; wash those roomes that are in continuall vse ( both floores and wainscoting ) every morning ; and ( those which are able , wash the windowes , tables , cupboards , stooles , benches , and all wainscotings , in summer with rose-water , and vineger : and in winter with the decoction of rew , worme wood , balme , &c. and after these are washed , wipe them allwayes drie againe : ( for as i said before of slabbering the streets ; so , much more vnholsome is it to leaue the roomes of the house wet ) & hauing wiped them as drie as you can , aire them also presently with fire . a pan of fire set on the floore in the midst of the roome is the best & quickest way of aireing it . in the meane time let the windows and doores be shut . but obserue this : enter not into the roome , ( at least to tarry ) till it be aired , and the fier taken away : because then the heat and moysture are buisily working together , which for the time of working ( till the heat haue prevailed ) is vnholsome . and if you must needs goe in , during that time ; make hast out againe ; and set the doore wide open while you tarrie ; for such vapours kept close , haue suddenly depriued some of life , before they haue felt themselues offended : as skenckius ( in his observ . li. 2. de partibus vitalibus : observ . xix . ) proveth by diuerse examples . and i could name some also of mine owne knowledge , if need were . moreover while these roomes are thus aireing , you may cast into these fiers , in cold weather ; iuniper , both the wood and the berries ; pitch , turpentine , franckencense , storax , beniamin , oken-leaues , bay leaues , &c. also at such a season , you may strew your windows , shelues , & ledges ; with balme , mints , lavender , worme-wood , rew ; and such like warming smells . and if the heat of them offend , steep them in vineager six houres , and then strew them as before . in hot weather . take a tile , or a fier-shovell heated hot , and poure into it an equall quantitie of whitewine vineager and rose-water wherein a little camphor hath been dissolued , & with this perfume the roomes . at such a time likewise , strew the roomes with primroses , rose-leaues , violets , or some such coole or temperate smelling hearbs , as the season will afford . in temperate weather , rosemary and bay-leaues , in rosewater , heated in a perfuming pot is very sufficient . or take pitch , tarre , turpentine , rosin , of each a like quantitie , melt them together on the fier , and to every pound put in a pinte of vineager . boyle them to the consumption of the vineager . burne some of this daily at all seasons , and in all weathers . and if you adde to it the wood of iuniper made into powder : it will bee excellent . if any vault or vnsauory sincke be so neere as to offend any roome of the house : aire that roome most , and vse it least . the other kinde of speciall aire is sayd to be that which is immediatly next to the person of every one . this is to be purged foure wayes . 1. by things held in the mouth . 2. by odours held to the nose . 3. by apparell . 4. by amulets . for the first . of things held in the mouth , some be simple , and some compound . simple , are cloues , citron pills , roots of tormentill , angelica , zedoarie , and such like . compound , are such as these following . take of london triacle halfe an ounce ; mix it with the muscilage of gumm , dragagant & rose water , and a little sugar . so make it vp into rowles or lozenges , hold one in your mouth ; and let it dissolue therein , all the while you are neare any place or person suspected to be infected . you may also , hold mithridate in your mouth , if the heat offend you not . but a peece of a citron pill alone is best of all in sommer ; and in winter , a slice of angelica roote . likewise generally at all seasons iuniper berres steeped all night in whit-wine vineager . or cloues steeped in rose vineager . and in like manner may you steep slices of the roots of angelica , enulacampane , zedoarie , tormentill &c. in rose-water and vineager ; for they are too hot of themselues . and for those that haue cold stomachs , greene ginger is exceeding good . secondly . odours that are to be carryed in the hand and held to the nose , are also simple and compound . simple , are balme , mints , rue , worm-wood , penniroyall , myrtles , lauender , &c. but these hot hearbs are not fit for any but cold and flegmaticke complexions to vse them simply and alone . and it is a strange thing to see how all sorts of people play the fooles with their owne noses ; all carrying worm-wood , and thrusting it vp into their nostrills . wherein ten doe themselues iniurie , for one that doth good . for though they perceiue not the danger presently ; yet it must needs inflame their braine : which being over heat , will send downe such iuices to the heart , as shall inflame that also , and so bring them into a burning feauor , which is the high way to that sicknes they most desire to shunne . for the brayne is the continuall spring that cooles the heart ; which office if it performe not ; the heart will soone over heat it selfe : how much more will it be over heat then when that which should temper it bringeth distemper to it ? but people will be so skilfull , that they thinke they need aske no counsell in these matters : but like a flocke of sheep leap one after another , they neither know whether nor wherefore . it is good therefore to take the iuices of such hearbs as these and mix them with rose-water and vineager , and so carrie a sponge , or handkercheif dipped therein . and obserue this . allwayes mix cold smells with hot ; and ( even for cold constitutions also . ) let the cold odours be most praedominat : for the greatest danger is in over-heating . for hot things though they purge the aire , yet they inflame the bloud and humors . therefore temper them according to the constitution of the body and weather . let them likewise be something sweet . for vnsauory smells doe dissolue the spirits , and weaken the faculties . it is a sure rule , that those things which nature abhoreth , will alwayes hurt her , but neuer help her : except it be to euacuate in some case of repletion only . now for compound odours . take of london triacle halfe an ounce , vineager an ounce , rose-water two ounces . mixe them together till the triacle be well dissolued . then dip a peece of a sponge in this liquor ; and carry it in some little box peirced full of holes , to smell through . or , take liquid storax , wash it well in wine-vineager and rosewater , wherein some camphor hath beene disolued . then mix with it , of the powder of cloues , and yellow sanders , as much as will make it thick like tarre ; carrie it in some sevit or pomander-box . as for pomanders ; which are the best , both for handsome carriage and continuance of sent . if any will resort to me , i will fit them at diuers prices . furthermore , it is good also to wash the face , mouth , and nostrills often with strong vineager , rose-water and a little wine , wherein hath bene steeped ( for six houres together ) some thin shavings of zedoarie or angelica , or tormentill roots . the poore people may wash them with faire water and vineager , and the iuice of rue . thirdly . apparell is to be a defence against the infectious aire . which becommeth so , by being well made , and well kept . to the well making of garments in this respect , there goe two points ; the stuffe , and the fashion . for the stuffe , all woolen cloth would be avoided , because it retaineth the infection long : buffe also , shamoys , and such kinds of leather are naught , because they ( through their sponginesse ) doe draw and keep it much more then other wearings : feathers likewise and fans ; being the most needlesse ornaments , should now be layd aside , for they are also of a nature that retaineth infection long : and so are all kinde of furrs ; therefore weare none of these if you may choose . but if your purse will serue , buy grograms , chamlets , &c. such as may be watred : for the watering of stuffes through their gumminesse , doth best exclude the aire from entring or taking vp any loging in the stuffs so dressed . and let the doublets & hose be lined rather with linnen then fustian , because the woolinesse of fustian is of kin to the other allready found fault with-all . as for silkes , as grograms , taffaties , sattins , they are also very good , but veluets , plush , shag and such like are not so good . let them be also fitted with linings according to the weather , that they occasion not the body to sweat through heat , to bee tired with waight , nor to catch cold with thinnesse . for these inconveniences may be occasions of much harme ; but taking of cold is the most dangerous of all ; for there vpon follow putrid feauors : and all of them are friends to the plague . for the fashion , avoyd much quiltings , and stuffing with bombast and haire , for into such things the infected aire will easily get , and hardly forsake them . women vsually haue whale-bone bodies which are as good armour as any other . let the greatest care be to guard the vitall parts : but withall there must be some care of all the body : which to guard the better , it is good to weare long cloakes of such watered stuffes as i haue mentioned ; which being outermost , excludeth well the outward aire while one is abroad ; and when one is come home , they may be layd by , till they haue beene aired . but for physitians and chyrurgians , and such as come among the sicke : it is good for them to haue long gownes of such stuffes ; which as soone as they come forth of the sicke chambers , they may throw off to be aired . and so much for the well-making . now for the well keeping of garments ; this is done by keeping them cleane and sweet . to keepe them cleane , requires varietie and often shifting . to keepe them sweet is required much airing and perfuming . as when you put them on , or lay them by , and that according to the weather . as in cold weather . take iuniper slices , iuniper berries bruised ; rosemarie , bay-leaues , and wormwood cut small ; and franckincense grossely powdered . burne them together on a chafing dish of coales , and so perfume your cloaths . in hot weather . take dried rose-leaues steeped in rose-water , wherein camphor hath been dissolved , and adde to it a little vineager . vpon a hot fire-shouell make a fume : and perfume your apparell . in temperate times . take iuniper berries , gum dragagant , and franckincense , all grossely powdered ; of each a like quantitie . steepe them in vineager and rose-water , six houres . then spread the same on a hot tile or fire-shouell , and perfume your cloaths therewith . fourthly , amulets , are things made to hang about the necke , to touch the naked skin next the heart . these are of some with a kinde of superstition esteemed . but though carpus the chirurgian of bononia perswaded himselfe and others , that he was preserved from the plague by wearing arsenicke in a clout vpon the region of the heart ; yet many in london haue died of the plague with those bables about them : and as for arsenicke and other such poysonous stuffe , i could speake enough against them ; but a learned dr of physicke hath saued me that labour . but for some cordiall things ; i will for the readers satisfaction giue a taste of them . they may be of two sorts , simple , and compounded . simple , as vnicornes horne , bezoar stone , ( which is the best of all , if a man can get it ) the hiacinth also and smaragdus , and such like ; but how the influence of such stones may be conveyed out of their hard bodies to the heart , is hard for me to vnderstand . the former are more likely ; for galen reports ( li. 6. de simp. medic. facult . ) that he cured a boy of the falling-sicknesse , by hanging a paeonie roote about his necke . yet i thinke he could never say so but that once : therefore i would wish none to put any confidence in such disputable things . neverthelesse , since i haue divided them into simple and compounded ; i will giue you a composition , which may be vsed in stead of an amulet , and that to good purpose . take the leaues of red roses dried , two drams , all the saunders , lignum , aloes , zedoarie roote , angelica roote , sage , white dittanie , baulme , citron pills , of each halfe a dram . make them into powder , and sew them vp in a peece of red taffarie or calico ; and make a quilt thereof . heat it on a pewter dish vpon a chasing dish of coales ; and sprinckle it with rose-vineager : so apply it warme to the place , and renew it once in six houres . i cannot but let thee know ( good reader ) that even now while i was writing vpon this subiect , there hath beene a patient with me , who is poysoned with with a venemous amulet . be warned therefore by the harmes of others to take heed of such pernicious things . thus haue i finished the first part of diet ; concerning aire . the second part followeth . which consisteth of meate and drinke . disorder in meate and drinke is chiefly committed either in regard of the qualitie , or quantitie of them . in qualitie , when that meat or drinke which is vsed , is either generally vnwholsome for all men ( as venemous mushroms ; stincking or raw meate ; musty , or new , or dead drinkes ; these breed venom in the humors , and so a iust occasion for infection ) or els particularly naught for the proper constitution of him that eats or drinkes it . as meat of hard digestion to a weake stomach , ( for that denyeth nourishment ) meate of easie concoction to a strong stomach , ( for that putresies in the stomach , and so corrupts the bloud ) hot spices and inflaming drinkes to a hot constitution , &c. these breed many diseases in the purest aire ; and in a contagious , they easily make way for the plague . therefore we are to be carefull what we eat or drinke . and our care must be two fold ; first , to refuse things noysome ; secondly , to choose things wholsome . in refusing things noysome take these rules . beware of piercing and attenuating things ; for they are heating ; and by opening the body , they expose it to the corruption of the aire . on the contrary also thicke and slimie things are stopping , breeding crudities and putrefaction ; by reason of that crassitude , moysture , and accidentall heat which is in them . sweet and fatty things likewise are to be avoyded ▪ because they easily turne to choller , and so kindle hot feavors . very moyst meates , as wee see they are hardly kept sweet in hot weather , so by the heat of the stomach , they easily turne to putrefaction ; especially to hot and chollericke constitutions . but of all things those that are both moyst and hot ( especially wherin the moyst is predominant ) are most dangerous , because they are as it were the very seed of putrefaction . cold mixed with moyst is not so ill , because not so apt presently to putrefie ; but wheresoever the moyst is stronger , the blood is made watrish and weaker ; and therefore not so nourishing as nature needs it . also meats of hard digestion , melancholicke , salt , and windie are to be eschewed . beware of all things that are hot and enflaming . much vse of very sharpe things , are very hurtfull . shunne also all things that increase much blood , for the body must be kept low in contagious times . also all things that are loathsome to the pallat or stomach must be reiected ; for that which nature abhorreth , dissipateth the spirits . having thus taught by their qualitie in generall what meates and drinkes are to be forborne : now i will more particularly reckon vp such as are most commonly known and vsed : being most to be avoyded in times of infection . and first for your bread. be carefull that it be not mustie , nor mouldie : neither eat it hot , nor before it be a day olde . it is best for them that can haue ouens at home , not to send their bread to other houses to be baked : nor to receiue any continually from the hand of common bakers that serue to many severall houses . very salt and long powdered beefe ( though never so much watered afterward to get out the salt ) is not good ; yea all that watering and moystening makes it worse . also bacon , and porke , especially boyled : the hare , especially when he is olde . venison both of fallow and red deere , that liue in a corrupted aire , are vnwholsome : not alone for the reason that some giue of their liuing alwayes in the open aire ; and much running & heating their bodies therein ( which makes them apt to be corrupted by the contagion ) but also in regard of the manner of killing them ; which is by hunting them to death : for in that action they poyson their flesh very much by tyring their bodies and weakening their spirits to the death ; and by the infinite working of the passion of feare in them : which how apt that is to poyson any body ; i shall shew in his place . foules that liue in fens or waters , are all naught , as the goose , ducke , mallard , teale , hearon , &c. meats made of the inwards of beasts , are not good , as puddings , tripes , chitterlings , kidneys , livers , lights , milts , &c. of fishes , such as liue in standing pooles and ponds , ( especially in muddy waters ) are very evill ; as , carps , eeles , lampreys , and such like : for they corrupt the humors and breed obstructions . salt-fish and sea fish , sharpen the humors . oysters , cockles , muskles , peruinckles , are hurtfull . grisly fish ( as mayds , thornbacke , and such like ) are to be avoyded . egges of geese , ducks , pigeons , &c. are to be reiected . milke , ( because it is of all meates most easie of digestion ) soone corrupteth in the stomach , and therefore is disallowed . so is creame , because it makes grosse blood . likewise cheese , because it is stopping . and also whey , because it is opening , and not nourishing . of fruits , all such as are worme-eaten , are to be accounted corrupted and naught . all sweete and luscious fruits ; as cherries , plums , greene figs , sweete grapes , black-berries , &c. also melons , pompions , pomcitrons , &c. forbeare generally all summer fruits ; because they breed crudities and grosse humors . among the rest also beanes and pease are accounted vnfit meats . roots , such as are watrish , are to be refrained ; so also is garlicke ; ( for all it is called , the poore-mans triacle ) because it openeth and heateth too much ; therefore it is seldome fit in these times . hearbs that are hot are not to be vsed but with good advise , and tempering them with such as are cooling . and beware of cabages , coleworts , lettice , and rocket ; and all moyst and cold hearbs ; for they breed obstructions and crudities . let not your sauces be sweet ; for such increase choller ; nor too full of taste , for that whets the appetite beyond the desire of nature , & provokes to too liberall feeding . among other sauces , mustard is chiefly to be forbidden , because it openeth , and discusseth . beware of hot spices , vse them sparingly ; and then well allayed with cooling things . pottage and broths , are no fit food for these times : because if they be thicke and strong , they nourish too fast : or if they be thin and not nourishing , they fill the body with moysture more then needs . for manardus ( li. 5. epist . 3. ) saith , the body ought rather to be dried then moystened . some haue ( from strangers ) taken vp a foolish tricke of eating mushroms or toadstooles . but let them now be warned to cast them away ; for the best authors hold the best of them at all times in a degree venomous , and therefore in time of pestilence much more dangerous . now for the manner of dressing your meat , briefly obserue ; that baked meats ( because their vapours are restrained within their coffins ) are not so well purified by the fire , as meats otherwise cooked : therefore they are suspected to haue in them a degree of venom ; especially , if the meat haue beene kept any long while in the infected aire : much more if it be venison , for the reasons before-named . but if any be earnestly desirous of baked meats , let them first take heed they be not too full of taste and gluttonous : and also let the pie or pastie , be opened as soone as it comes out of the oven , and so let it breath it selfe till it be cold . also sowsed and pickled meats are not good ; neither are boyled meats so good as rosted . of drinkes . beere or ale that is new , strong , heady , and fuming ; also bitter , fl●t , dead , or fusty , are to be avoyded . likewise such as are sophisticated with lemons , spices , &c. and those that are made with sage , worm-wood , scorby-grasse ; and other such ingredients : vnto which may be added metheglin , mead , bragget , vsquebath , hippocras , aqua-vitae , rosa solis , aqua composita ; and all strong and compounded waters . as these are indeed no other then medicines , so neither are they otherwise to be vsed ; that is , alwayes with good caution , vpon good cause , and with skilfull counsell pery and sweet cyder , are to be refused for their sweetness and coldness . wines , though they are frequently vsed among sober people ; yet they are not so fit for the constitution of english men , as beere and ale. and this is evident in that the onely wise god ( who knoweth best what is fittest for every region ) hath forbidden this soyle to bring forth such things ; because they are either needlesse or not naturall to the inhabitants . therefore it were good if all kindes of wines were vsed of vs , but as so many kindes of medicines also ; that is , onely to helpe nature when shee is too weake to helpe her selfe in concoction , retention , and excretion . and among wines ( in regard of the sicknesse ) those that are new , sweet , blacke , and troubled , are forbidden . piercing wines ; such as white and rhenish ( for the reasons already alleaged in piercing and attenuating things ) i cannot allow of for ordinary vse : though some physitions doe . as for muskadell and malego , their sweet taste , and that dullnesse of spirit which is caused by them , betrayes their vnfitnesse in times of contagion . and before i leaue this point , let me leaue with you this caveat . take heed into what houses you enter to drinke with your friend : lest in stead of a health , you drinke your death . let euery man drinke in his own cup , and let none trust the breath of his brother . also take heed of all drinkes that smell or taste of the caske . now me-thinkes i heare one whisper in mine eare , hee would faine know what i thinke of tobacco ; he takes it to be the onely antidote against the plague . i cannot stand to dispute the case deepely : but i will briefly shew my opinion . tobacco hath these manifest qualities : it is heating and drying ; it evacuateth grosse humors ; it draweth away rheums ; it provoketh vrine , and keepeth the belly soluble . there may be some times , and some bodies wherein a medicine having these opening qualities may be vsed ; as namely , to a cold and flegmaticke complexion , full of grosse humors ; the partie for the time keeping himselfe warme , and within dores . but for the common fashion of taking it , by every man , every day ( yea almost every houre ) in shops and open places , without consideration of constitution , or iust cause ; i cannot approue of it at all : much lesse as any antidote . but let vs examine it a little further , for their sakes that would vse it more orderly : and see whither it may be accounted a preservatiue medicine or no. i haue already reckoned the best qualities it hath , being taken in the pipe ( for so onely i discourse of it ) and the first of those qualities indeed shews a faire countenance to the case : but the foure latter talke too much of penetration , and evacuation : wherewith it opens the pores , and makes the body fit to receiue the contagious aire ; it also dissolues the braine , and causeth the humors thereof to fall downe into all parts of the body distempered with a heat contrary to nature ; wherupon it enflames the blood , turns it to melancholy , and resteth not till it haue also turned blacke choller into burnt choller . and in all this doing , his heat carries no cordiall to the spirits ( which must never be absent from an antidote ) for it is mixed with a nauseous qualitie , noysome to the stomach , and offensiue to nature ; as appeares by the violence it offers in vomiting , when a little of the iuice is given to that purpose . these things considered , i thinke tobacco hath very little good vse in pestilent times . and thus much for noysome things to be avoided . now we come to reckon vp holsome things to be elected . let the qualities of your meats and drinkes be temperate betwixt hot and cold , and rather drie then moyst . and ( if the stomach may endure it ) let them for the most part haue a sharp or sower smacke with them . let them be of easie digestion , breeding good blood , and sincere humors in the body . let your bread be made of the best and purest wheat ( which alone maketh the best bread ) or mixe it with some rie . let the corne be such as harvest hath housed before the aire became infectious . leauened bread is the most holsome , because of the sowernesse . let those that may , bake their bread at home . rosted beefe may be eaten with vineager . a rosting pigge is not to be denyed , if his belly be stuffed with sage , sweete marioram , spinach , parsley , and mints : the sauce also made sharpe with vineager and spiced with a little pepper , or ginger . veale , mutton , lamb , kid , and coney are very holsome : but let them not be very fat . of fowles , such as fly neerest the sunne , and build their nests on high , feeding on sweet and holsome graine , are best approved by the best authors : because they receiue lesse infection from the lower aire , which is the most contagious . but if we examine which are they , we shall finde but a few that keepe all these conditions . for the hearon flies high , and builds high ; but feeds in fenny and moorish places , and on moyst meates . the kite , hawke , raven , and such like , feed on carrion , and are never counted worthy to be served as a dish at the table . the larke flies high and neare the sunne , but hath his nest on the earth . the rookes in deed flie somthing high , build high , and feed on the best corne ; and their young ones are esteemed daintie food : but these are not for every ones dish . therefore we may not be so over-curious in the choice of these creatures . let these suffice as most holsome , viz. capon , turkey , henne , pullet , chicken , partridge , pheasant , tame pigeons , yong wilde pigeons , turtles , larks , black-birds , thrushes , and finches . some inwards of beasts and fowles also , are very good and holsome : as the gizards and livers of hens , and capons : the hearts of veale , mutton , and lambe : also lamb-stones , and young cock-stones are excellent meat , and fit for the state of some bodies . but whosoever he be that makes choice of them for the nourishment of his lust , let him remember the israelites quailes , and tremble ; lest while the meat is in his mouth , the hand of god be at his heart ; and in the messe of his sinne , the plague salute him with the message of death . fishes that are of rivers , and cleare running waters are best : as plaise , flounders , &c. fresh salmon , trouts , barbels , shrimps &c. of sea-fish there are but a few fit to be vsed in these times : and those are gogions , mullets , soales , gurnards , lobsters , and cray-fishes : but fish must be seldomer vsed then flesh ; and onely for change of diet to weake and longing stomachs . for all kindes of fish breed but a watrish kinde of blood . egges of hens ( if they be eaten new and reare dressed ) are good , whither they be rosted , boyled , fried , or poached ; and eaten with veriuice , or vineager , and the iuice of a lemon . also turkey egges so vsed are good : but eate them seldomer , because they afford a little too rancke nourishment . in summer time , eate flesh and egges more sparingly then in winter , lest you increase blood too much , or turne it to choller ; which also turneth to inflamation , and putrefaction . butter is very good , and so is buttermilke : ( if moderately vsed ) but they doe easily inflame a chollericke stomacke : and send vp hot fumes into the head . the milke also purgeth some bodies : such therefore are the more to forbeare it . fruits may be allowed ( but seldome and in little quantitie to be vsed ) the sower and sharpe are best ; as sower cherries and plums ( but these preserved , or in tarts , or at least scalded , rather then raw ) the norwich , and katherin peares : the peppins , pearmains , & harvie apples being growne old ; are counted cordialls . also peaches , quinces , pomgranets , oranges , lemons , medlars , sarvices , strawberries , gooseberries , barberies , raspes , mulberries ; likewise dried fruits , as dried peares , plums , cherries , figs , raisins , damask proins , &c. those that haue hot stomachs , and desire cucumbers , may eat them beaten with an onion and salt , and sauced with vineager , and a little sprinckled with pepper . french beanes also ( called à formâ , kidney beanes ) may now and then be vsed , as the best sort of pulse for meate . so may hartichokes with butter and vineager , or the iuice of a lemon . if you earnestly desire sometime to eate of the moyster fruits : eat after them an orange with a little fennell and salt. and if you feele your stomach over-cooled with such kinde of moyst fruits ; drinke also a draught of good white wine : at such a time ; that wine is good to warme the stomach , and carrie away the crudities . of roots , these are the best , turneps , carrots , parsnips , hartichokes of ierusalem . also onions , and radishes , for they are esteemed of great vertue against venoms . and so are leekes , because they cleanse the blood . of hearbs ; the warme and drying are of greatest vse , as rue , wormwood , baulm , mints , peni royall , rosemary , and many such like ; with which you may stuffe and temper moyst meats . but for sallets and sauces : fennell , sweet marior●m , sage , time , parsley , succorie . but of all ; sharpe and sower hearbs are best : and therefore sorrell is in good request , and endiue or succorie mixed therewith ; because of themselues they are opening . hot spices may be vsed in moyst meats , and to temper cold and sower fruits . also in winter time , and to a cold stomach , they may be allowed simple ; or with little qualification : otherwise there is no vse of them , but to mixe with sauces . what spices i meane , are easily knowne : viz. pepper , cloues , mace , nutmegs , ginger ; and to these i adde saffron , and the roots of enula campane , zedoarie , angelica , and tormentill ; which are very vsefull . the fittest sauces are sharpe and sower ones . as sorrell and vineager , or veriuice , or the iuice of lemons , or oranges . also capers and vineager , are very good . when the weather is cold & your stomach craues it , you may mixe them with spices to make them warmer ; and in these cases if you doubt the weaknesse of your stomach , & the binding in of your spirits , by cold sower sauces ; then temper your meats with sugar , a little salt , cinnamon , pepper , safron , and some fennell : or with egges , butter , and the iuice of lemons , and a little fennell and saffron . broths must be very thin , and something sharpened with lemons , or vineager . in stead of them also you may somtimes vse posset-ale turned with vineager , or a lemon ; and after boyled with some of these hearbs before commended . or aleberries for those that cannot away with flesh . and let those that feed on these things , forbeare drinke . gellyes also are good for weake bodies , if they be not intemperately spiced . as for the manner of dressing : rost is better then boyled ; fish is beft ●● fried then boyled . but if any desire boyled meat rather , then let it be flesh of the drier sort : or if yet it must needs be of the moyster , let it be well sauced with sharpe and sower things , with a little pepper , cinnamon , prepared coriander seeds and salt . sorrell and marigold flowers may be added at your pleasure . i haue still prescribed vineager as a thing of generall vse , because being cooling and drying , it resisteth all kinds of poyson , and repelleth putrefaction . which is apparent ( as ambrosius paraeus li. de peste . cap. 8. testifieth ) in the embalming of dead bodies , who are washed in vineager , to keepe them from putrefying . but here i must giue a caveat to women : for ( as crato in consil . 275. saith ) it hurteth the mother : therefore they must allay it with white wine and sugar . now for drinke . middling beere or ale is generally best for common vse : but the constitution of every one must fit it selfe . onely take heed of extremities ; very strong enflames : and very small makes watrish blood . let your drinke be well boyled , and stale ; but quicke and fresh . cyder made of sharpe apples is not amisse to be vsed somtimes , to refresh the pallat with varietie . those that haue need of wine to helpe their stomachs , let them vse good claret , sherries sacke , or canarie : and now and then a draught of white wine . but if your stomach doe not much require them simply : allay them with water . let your wine be cleare , briske , old , and pleasant . to a weake stomach , and a feeble nature , wine is an antidote against all poysons ; as celsus li. 8. de re medica . cap. 27. affirmeth . and senectutis summa est medicina : it is the best medicine for old age , as aëtius teacheth in tetr . 1. serm . 4. cap. 30. but let not youths , and men of strength thinke they may be so bold with wine in these contagious seasons , as they haue bin wont to be at other times . for it must needs inflame their bloud , and inflamation is certainly seconded with putrefaction ; and putrefaction is no lesse then a degree of poyson in the humors , which will easily turne to the pestilence . and so much for the disorder of mans diet in qualitie of meat & drinke . now we come to quantitie . and herein ; the disease is surfeiting , and the remedie must be sobrietie . i will therefore lay open , first the danger of the disease , and then the course of the cure. in this disorder of quantitie , i cannot but admire at my countrey men : for if heliogabalus were now among the liuing , he might finde enough companions among englishmen . it was wont to be said , the drunken-dutchman : but the dutch haue playd the god-fathers , & haue too kindly , bestowd their names vpon our men , such names i meane as diotemus of athens had ; who was intituled the tunnell , for his filthy delight in drinking and drinking in a tunnell . for the liues of many are so monstrous , that a man might say of some among vs , as valerius aurelianus the emperour was wont to say of bonosus , a spaniard : that he was borne ; not to liue , but to drinke . these riotous abuses of gods good gifts , are a maine cause why the lord at this time striketh this land with sicknesse , and threatneth it with the famine . and if any of that luxurious sect be at this time sober , let them but listen to the testimonies of learned experience , who will tell them into what bodily dangers they plunge themselues by this detestable disorder . hippocrates hath an aphorisme to this purpose , that meat or drinke immoderately taken causeth sicknesse . paulus aegineta goes yet further , saying , that the veynes being filled too full ; are afflicted , distended , or els broken : obstructed , filled with winde , and over-charged . and of all diseases , he affirmeth , that the over-charging of the veines is the worst . galen affirmeth , that drunkennesse and crudities ( which arise from intemperance ) doe breed new diseases . and in another place , he sayth , whereas wine moderately taken increaseth naturall heat ; as being his proper aliment : by drunkennesse commeth astonishment of the brayne , the falling sicknesse , or some mayme either to sense or motion . and so , the best meats , which afford most nourishment , being immoderately eaten , ingender cold diseases . but avicen more particularly layes downe the dangers that follow this over repletion , in these words : eating much nourisheth not ; but fills the body with crudities and raw humors stops the pores , weakens the powers of nature ; causes putrefaction , mixed feavors , short breath , sciatica , and ioynt-aches . againe , in another place he speakes of drinking , thus : much drinking of wine in sanguine and chollericke complexions , overheats the bloud , and causeth choller to superabound ; and by too much repletion of the veynes and vessells , there may follow a hot apoplexie , and suddain death . in cold complexions it breeds diseases of the sinews ; and that for two causes : the first is the over moystening of the sinews ; the other , the turning of the drinke into vineager before it can passe through the body : so the nerves are by the former relaxed , and by the latter corroded . whereupon follows the cold apoplexie , astonishment , senslesnesse , lethargie , palsey , trembling of the limbs , and convulsions of the mouth . these are the fearefull mischiefs that befall their bodies ; besides the miserable wants that grow like eating cankers into their estates , and the hideous hell-torments which attend their soules . and note this also , that what these haue said of wine , the same is true likewise of all other strong drinkes . now to cure this bruitish disease , there is no better way then prevention ; and gluttonie is prevented by sobrietie . therefore againe hearken to avicen , who adviseth alwayes to rise from meate with some remainder of appetite : for within halfe an houre , or as soone as the meate ( first eaten ) beginneth to digest , our hunger ceaseth . li. 1. fen. 3. doct. 2. cap. 7. and hence it is , that some ( greedily following the sense of their appetite ) overcharge their stomachs even to vomiting , before they feele themselues satisfied ; because , though the vessell be over-full , yet the appetite is not appeased till concoction haue begun her worke vpon some part of that which is already received . these things are especially to be regarded in a contagious time . for repletion is the originall of all mischiefs that crudities can produce , and they can cause speedy putrefaction , & that speeds them with the pestilence . but as for a strict quantitie of eating and drinking , i cannot stint every mans stomach ; but must conclude with hippocrates , aph. 17. li. 1. concedendum est aliquid tempori , regioni , aetatt , et consuetudini . the time , place , age , and custome , must beare some sway in these things . onely in these times , i would wish all men , women , and children to be so moderate ( as avicen counselleth ) that they still keepe in the fire of their appetite ; and how sparing so ●ver they are wont ( naturally or customarily ) to be ; let them be now somthing more sparing . make sewer and shorter meales . i would wish those that haue not very weake and windie stomachs , to eat but twice a day : that is , breakfast and dinner : to goe to bed without a supper is very holsome ; thereby we giue sleepe leaue to supply the evenings nourishment , which it will better performe when neither the stomach troubles it with vapours ; nor it hinders the stomach from digestion . let your drinke also be lesse then your meat : and drinke not betweene meales , if you can forbeare . laertius li. 2. saith , that socrates liued in athens in divers plague times , and was never sicke of it : and the reason was , his great temperance in diet . in winter and cold weather , eate your meat hot from the fire . in summer eat it for the most part cold . let the times of eating be ; for your breakfast two houres after you are vp , and haue taken some antidote . and your dinner fiue houres after that againe . your supper also ( if the weaknesse of your stomach craue it ) fiue houres after your dinner . frame not to your selfe an antidote without skill : but take advice of the physition : who will consider what will best agree with the particular temper of your body : for mithridate and triacle , are generally good for all ; but not particularly for every one . but because every one will not be brought to breake their old customary times of meales ; as dinner at twelue , and supper at seaven : i am content to yeeld to custome in these cases . onely let them never goe forth without their breakfast : that they may be armed against winde and emptinesse . and their antidote taken two houres before ; that they may be armed against evill aires . now for those that must therfore make three meales a day ; let their breakfast ( if they be of a cold constitution ) be some bread and butter with nutmeg grated , and a little citron pill powdered , and strewed vpon it . or els bread and sallet oyle ( for such as loue it ) spiced with the powder of enula campane roote . or els ( especially in cold and moyst weather ) eate a few figs with a little penniroyall and salt . but for hot stomachs and chollericke complexions ; let such dip some bread in beere and vineager , and eat it . or take good wine vineager , steepe in it ( for three dayes together ) the powder of brimston and a few fennell-seeds , soppe your bread in it , and make it your break-fast and for those that must make three meales a day , let their breakfast be little in quantitie . at other meales , eat the lightest meats first , and then those that are more hard of digestion : eat no butter last , and drinke not last after your meate . neither is cheese so commonly to be eaten at these times , for if it be full of butter , it is fuming ; if not , it is binding : and both these are faults ; except the inclination of the body require it at sometimes . after dinner also , if you haue a cold stomach , close it with a bit of bread , and a few coriander seeds prepared . and this likewise will doe well for breastfast , if you be troubled with winde and gripings . eate not of aboue two or three dishes at dinner , and at supper , let one suffice you . quercitavus ( in diaetet : polyhist . sect. 2. cap. 8. ) proues , that the eating of varietie of meates , and drinking of divers kindes of drinkes at one meale , makes such a confused heape in the stomach , as turneth to infinite tumults in concoction ; while some are sower , and some speedier in softening , digesting , and distributing into the parts of the body . to conclude ; let custome somthing prevaile in all points of diet , with those that haue vsed temperance in former times ; and onely pare it somthing thinner in respect of the present pestilent time . as for those that never knew the rules of order yet : let them learne shortly , if they desire to liue long . and so much for the second part of diet : meate and drinke . the third poynt of diet , is repletion , and evacuation . galen ( li. 1. de differ . feb . cap. 4. ) sayth , that the body ought especially to be kept free from superfluities . and hippocrates ( in the third aph. of his first booke ) proveth that plethoricke bodies are subiect to great dangers : wherefore he counselleth evacuation ; and yet withall to goe no further therein then nature will safely beare . for as too much repletion is hurtfull , so too long fasting makes the stomach languish ; therefore suffer not too much emptinesse . hunger sharpens the humors and weakens the spirits : and thirst makes the heart hot , and enflames the spirits ; who therefore desiring to be cooled , doe draw in more quantitie of the evill aire by breathing , then they should , and that i haue alreadie proved to be dangerous . therefore it is better to eate the oftener , so it be the lesse at once . when you rise in the morning rub your sides , armes , and legges a little : your cloths being on ; comb your head , and rub it ; hauke and spit ; and blow your nose , to evacuate those excrements . then wash your hands and face with faire water first , in regard of cleansing ; but afterward ( in respect of preservation ) wash your face , nose , mouth , and eye-lids ( closing your eyes ) with rose-water and vineager and white wine . or with faire water and a little vineager , wherein rue hath shred and steeped all night . assay also to make water , and goe to stoole . be carefull to bring your body to a custome of evacuation at that time . and after that eat your antidote . if you be costiue , vse some suppositorie , or clyster ; if such slighter meanes ( whereof every man can prescribe one or other ) will not prevaile , consult with the physition : and suffer not two whole dayes to passe without such evacuations . be carefull likewise to keepe your selfe neate and cleanly at all times . wash your feete once a fortnight in warme water , wherein are boyled rose-leaues ( either fresh or dried ) vine-leaues , bay leaues , rosmarie , fennell , camomill , and some bay salt. flee all other bathings , and especially washing and swimming in rivers , ponds , and such open places , ( as the thames , and such like ) within the region of the aire infected : for it is most dangerous . if vrine stop , or menstrua flow not as they should ; seeke remedie of the physition speedily . fly venus as much as you may , for shee hath an ill report in times of pestilence . in a pestilent aire , every disease becommeth somthing pestilent , and more deadly then ever before : and any kinde of feavor easily turneth to the plague it selfe . therefore if any perceiue blood , or any other humor to abound , or to be corrupted ( what time of the yeare , or what weather soever it be ) let him begin to abate it by moderate abstinence ; or els take the advise of a physition ; for opening a veine , or some other course , such as the artist shall thinke fit . and let them not put it off till they be worse , in hope of growing better by their owne strength : for nature for the most part struggles in vaine without helpe : and contagious cases are not to be trusted to . naturall sweating , that commeth easily , and of it selfe is good ; hinder it not therefore , and yet embrace it not too earnestly . to conclude ; if a man or woman haue an issue , or fontanell in arme or legge ; or haue any running soare ; heale it not vp , for it is a good meanes to keepe safe from infection ; because nature will ( lightly ) be strong enough to expell any venom by such a common sewer . but yet make not this thy sheild of confidence , for though few such haue beene stricken ; yet i can name some that haue died of the plague , for all that they had issues , and those at that time well and plentifully running . the fourth poynt of diet , is exercise and rest . some are so lazie as they will not stirre their bodies at all ; these suffer superfluous humors to increase , because they doe not breath them out by exercise . ovid. de ponto , resembles such to standing pooles , which corrupt for lacke of purging themselues by motion . cernis vt ignavum corrumpunt otia corpus ? vt capiunt vitium ni moveantur aquae ? others againe are so violent in their labour and exercise , that they prodigally waste the treasure of those good humors that should nourish them . of these againe the poet singeth ; otia corpus alunt , animus quoque pascitur illis . immodicus contra carpit vtrumque labor . such exercises as running , wrestling , much leaping , violent dancing , hard riding , foot-ball-playing , tennise , and the like ; which cause a man to swear in open aire , are very dangerous . for thereby the pores are opened to let in that aire which bringeth poyson with it . also the lungs fetching short and deepe breathing ( as i haue else where sayd already ) draw it as fast into the vitall parts . moderate exercise stirreth vp and nourisheth naturall heat ; fills the members thereby with activitie and aptnesse to motion ; also it helps concoction and evacuation of excrements . therefore let your exercise be walking , and gentle stirring , ad ruborem , non ad sudorem : till you be warme , not till you sweat . let the time of exercise be the morning fasting , two houres after the sunne is vp ; for by that time , his beames will haue dispelled and dispersed the night vapours . the fittest place , is some large roome , enclosed from the common aire ; and where is little or no company , that their breaths distemper not the aire wherein you are ( by motion ) to breath somthing more largely . and it is good to perfume the roome also before hand , that the aire may be the purer . at all times , beware you take no cold . for great colds and rheums doe easily breed putrid feavors , and they as easily turne to the plague . the fifth poynt of diet , is sleepe and watching . if sleepe be immoderate or vnseasonable , it hindereth concoction , it heapeth vp many crude and superfluous humors , it extinguisheth the vitall spirits , and taketh away the liuelinesse of the animall faculties . overmuch watching also and want of sleepe , dries vp the good humors , and sets them in a heat , and ( which is most dangerous ) weakens the naturall forces . therefore obserue due times for sleepe . goe to bed betimes , and rise betimes ; for that is holsomest . sleepe not vpon meate , or after dinner ; especially if you haue fed any thing liberally : and by no meanes giue way to sleepe at such times lying along : but if you must needs take such repose , sit in a chaire vpright , and doe but take him napping ; let not such a sleepe be aboue halfe an houre long ; for a little yeelding satisfieth ; and by further indulgence the head will grow the more dull and drowsie . i counsell therefore rather to yeeld a little in this aforesayd manner , then by striving too much against it , to make the head ake ; but let some friend or servant ( within the time limited ) awake you gently , not sodainly to make you fright or start ; for that would disturbe those spirits and humors which your nap had setled . the night is the naturall time for sleepe . but let it be two houres at the soonest after supper ( if you must sup ) that the stomach may haue made some good progresse in concoction , before sleepe make holiday with the functions of nature . and then sleepe not aboue fiue or six houres at the most . let the chamber wherein you lie , be conveniently warme , the dores and windows close shut , to keepe out the evill aire of the night ; and before-hand perfumed to expell the pestilent . sleepe not without dores ; neither sit , nor lie vpon the ground or grasse in the fields or garden plots ; for the nearer the earth , the more deadly is the aire : and the immediate stroke of the cold ground is very dangerous . the sixt and last poynt , is the passions of the minde . all kindes of passions if they be vehement doe offer violence to the spirits . yea though they be of the better , and more naturall sort . as , ioy and laughter , if they be vnbridled and too profuse , doe exceedingly enervate and resolue both the spirits and body ; in so much as the breast and sides are pained , the breath is streightened , and many times the soule it selfe is ready to depart . so also care , suspition , enuie , iealousie , and such like vnquietnesses , doe ouer-heat the spirits , and drie vp and consume the good humors . but there be foure passions more violent then the rest . viz. immoderate ioy , sorrow , anger , and feare . immoderate ioy , by suddaine and violent dilatation of the heart , le ts the spirits fly forth so abundantly , that naturall heat is left naked and so is sodainly extinguished . if it breake forth into laughter , the danger is as i haue alreadie said . it is recorded of chrysippus , that onely vpon seeing an asse eate figs , he fell into such an vnmeasurable laughter , that he fell downe and died . and zeuxis that excellent paynter ( who made a most curious beautifull picture of the spartan helen ) vpon the sight of a very ill favor'd old woman , burst out into such an vnmeasurable laughter , that he laughed himselfe to death . but somtimes this immoderate ioy killeth before it venteth it selfe in laughter . for so sophocles the tragedian receiving a wonderfull applause of the people for the last tragedy he writ ; was so over-ioyed at it , that he fell downe and died presently . and it is recorded of one rhodius diagoras , who when he saw his three sonnes all at one time crowned with victory at the olympian games , ranne to meet them ; and while he embraced them in his armes , and they set their garlands on his head ; he was so overcome with ioy , that he fell downe dead in the midst of them ; and so turned their triumphs into a funerall . sorrow on the other side afflicts the heart , disturbs the faculties , melts the brayne , vitiates the humors ; and so weakens all the principall parts ; consumes the nourishments of the spirits and naturall heate ; and somtimes brings sodaine death . as adrastus king of the argiues , being told of the death of his sonne , was taken with so sodain a sorrow , that he fell downe and died presently . and so iulia the daughter of iulius caesar , and wife of pompey ; when she heard the newes of her husbands death , fell downe also suddainly and died . anger is so furious a passion , that it worketh wonderfully vpon the spirits and faculties ; disturbing them exceedingly , as appeareth by the shaking and tossing of the body too and fro ; the fiery sparkling of the eyes ; the colour comming and going , now red , now pale : so that the humors appeare to be inflamed ( especially choller ) and the spirits hurried this way and that way ; somtime haled outward , and presently driven inward againe . by which violent motions an vnnaturall heat in the spirits , and corruption in the humors are ingendred . hereupon ( many times ) follow burning and cholericke feavors , pulseys , iaundis , pleurisies , and all kinds of inflamations ; violent bleeding at the nose which can hardly be stanched ; and somtime death it selfe . nerva the emperour , being highly displeased with one regulus , fell into such a fury against him , that he was stricken therewith into a feavor , whereof he died shortly after . wencestaus king of bohemia , in a furious anger conceived against his cup bearer , would needs kill him presently with his owne hand ; but in the endevour he was stricken with a palsey , whereof he died in few dayes after . valentinianus the emperour in a great rage would needs destroy the whole countrey of sarmatia ; but he breathed forth his menaces with such vnbridled fury , that he burst out into bleeding and died . in the yeare of our lord , 1623. a poore olde man in the north part of devonshire ( dwelling in a part of a little village called little poderidge ) came to the house of sr thomas monck ( where i at that time was ) and standing at the buttery dore to receiue some beere ( which , together with other victualls , was every day given very liberally to all the poore thereabouts ) because the butler did not presently fill his tanckerd ; the olde man fell into such a furious rage against her , that with the very passion , he presently fell downe ; was taken vp dead , was with much adoe ( by me ) recovered to life and sense ; but never spake more , and died within two dayes after . feare also gathers the spirits to the heart , and dissolues the brayne , making the humors thereof to shed and slide downe into the externall parts , causing a chilnesse , and shaking over all the body : it abuseth the phantasie and senses , brings a lethargie vpon the organs of motion , and depriues the heart of all spirit and vigour : somtimes also it makes a mans will for him , and vnkindly bequeaths his estate to death . as cassander the sonne of antipater vpon sight of alexanders statue , fell into such a terror and trembling , that he could hardly shift himselfe out of the place , and had much adoe to recover his spirits againe . i could relate a story of one who ( receiving but a slight wound in the arme , in a place of no danger , and with very little losse of blood ) died presently with the very feare of being killed . but i should be too tedious if i should reckon vp more examples . now , if these passions could be so deadly in pure aires , and holsome seasons ; how much more ( thinke we ) are they pernicious in pestilentiall times ? but in respect of contagion , there is no passion so dangerous as feare . for by it the spirits are enforced to retire inward to the heart , to guard that prince of life from the danger feared . by this retiring they leaue the outward parts infirme , as appeareth plainely by the palenesse & trembling of one in great feare . so that , the walls being forsaken ( which are continually besieged by the contagious aire ) in come the enemies without resistance ; the spirits which are the souldiers that should repell them , having cowardly sounded a retrait . and hereby there is not onely way made for the evill aire to enter , but also the spirits ( wherein is all our heat ) being all drawne inward , doe draw in such vapours after them as are about the body ; even as the sunne draweth towards it , the vapours of the earth . and here-hence it is , that feare brings infection faster and sooner then any other occasion . now for remedie against these passions , we must know that they are diseases of the soule , and the cure of them belongeth chiefly to divines . they are the phisitians to deale inwardly with these diseases : to purge out the loue of this world , and the distrust of gods providence and mercies , as also to minister the cordialls of faith , hope , patience , contentednesse , &c. and to ordaine the strict diet of holy exercises , a good conversation , and walking with god. wee that are phisitians to the body , are but chirurgians to the soule : wee can but talke of topicall remedies , as to apply mirth , musicke , good company , and lawfull recreations ; such as may take away all time and occasions for carefull thoughts and passionate affections . thus haue i brought you through that part of the definition , wherein are the causes of the plague discovered . now we are to lay open the qualities of it , described before in the definition , thus which at the very first striketh to the heart , is venomous , deadly , and infectious . at the very first it striketh to the heart . therefore it is called morbus cordis , a disease of the heart . and that this is first stricken , is apparent by this , that at the first infection the vitall facultie sinkes , and languishes ; the whole strength of the body is suddainly turned to weaknesse ; the vitall spirits are greatly oppressed and discouraged . whereas the animall facultie commonly remaineth ( for a while ) in good plight and perfect in the vse of sense , vnderstanding , iudgement , memorie and motion . the naturall facultie also is not so presently hurt , but there is concoction and all other actions performed by the liver , stomach , reyns , guts , bladder , and other parts , as nature requireth . though indeed in a little time , these and the brayne also are overcome , as appeareth by the symptoms that follow , as lethargies , frenzies , vomitings , fluxes , &c. that it is venomous , is graunted of all both physitians and philosophers . and it is apparent by his secret and insensible insinuation of himselfe into the vitall spirits ; to which as soone as he is gotten , he shews himselfe a mortall enemie , with suddain violence choking and extinguishing them . therefore , his subtle entrance , his sly crueltie , his swift destroying ; the vnfaithfulnesse of his crisis , and other prognosticke signes ; and the vehemencie , grievousnesse , and ill behaviour of his symptoms , are manifest proofes of his venomous qualitie . for in this disease , the seidge , vrine , and sweat , haue an abhominable savour ; the breath is vile and noysome ; evill coloured spots , pustles , blisters , swellings ; and vlcers full of filthy matter arise in the outward parts of the body : such as no superfluitie or sharpnesse of humors , nor no putrefaction of matter ( without a venomous qualitie ioyned with it ) can possibly produce . it is deadly . this needs no proofe , the weekly bills argue it , and our owne eyes witnesse it , while we see continuall burialls , and some die in the very streets : and while we finde also that few of those that are stricken doe recover againe . but that it is infectious , is among many of the common ignorant sort more disputable , then among the learned . yet is it apparent enough by much experience ; for garments and houshold-stuffe haue beene infected , and haue infected many , as i haue shewed alreadie in the examples of a gowne and a feather-bed . now though this infection be not apparent to sense ( as indeed the deadliest poysons haue neither taste nor smell ) yet their lurking qualitie may be plainely demonstrated by such as are sensible . for we know that garments will a long time retaine any strong or sweete sent wherewith they haue beene fumed , or with which they haue beene layd vp ; now the sent is meerely a qualitie , and his substance is the aire , which is the vehiculum or seat of the sent wherein it is carried , & by which it is made permanent . other experiences we haue also ; as liue pageons being laid to the soares , are taken away dead , having not beene wounded , crushed , nor hurt by any hand at all . and lastly , many that are infected , can directly tell where , and of whom they tooke it . but say some againe , then why is not one infected as well as another ? i haue eaten and drunke , and lyen with them that haue had it , and the soares running on them . and yet i was not infected . i say they haue the more cause to magnifie the mercy of god to their particular ; and not to obscure it , by saying it is not infectious . this argument is not vnlike that of the mountebanks , who tell you that such and such haue beene cured by his medicines , but conceales how many haue died by the misapplication . if one should aske this man , i pray you , how many haue so conversed with the infected and haue so escaped ? i am sure they cannot name one of twentie . yea but sayth another , i hold the plague to be nothing els but the very influence of the striking angell , sent of god to destroy here one and there another , as hee hath particularly fore-poynted them out . such kindes of plagues indeed we reade of in sacred scripture , as exod. 12. numb . 11. v. 33. numb . 16. numb . 25. and 2 sam. 24. but there is great difference betwixt those plagues and these of ours . for in those , great multitudes suddainly , and all at once ( as one would say ) in a very short space of time were both smitten and slaine . the longest time of striking being but three dayes , namely that for davids numbering the people . in those plagues therefore the cause was onely supernaturall : for there was no time allowed for corruption and putrefaction of the aire . but in these of ours ( and in very many moe in all countreys and kingdomes , and in all ages of the world ) there hath beene sufficient time to breed and increase the contagion in the aire : in which time of breeding also , the antient naturall observations haue beene found true from age to age ; for many noysome things haue apparently discovered themselues , as fruits of the aires putrefaction , and prognosticks of the plague threatened . and when it hath begun , it spreads but by degrees ; first striking one man onely ; then two or three ; after that a few more ; and so multiplying the succeeding number , as it evidently groweth more contagious by the number of bodies already infected . besides those plagues before mentioned , doe discover a stroke , but no sicknesse ; but that of hezekiah discovered a sicknesse and no stroke of any angell . for it is plainly sayd , that hezekiah was sicke . isaiah 38. and that his sicknesse was the plague , appeares by the soare which was vpon him , and the medicine by which that soare was cured . this to the reasonable is reason sufficient . but ere i part with this poynt of infection ; i thinke it good to discover what bodies are most , or least apt to be infected . and to finde this we must first know that bodies are infected two wayes ; first , from without , in regard of the aire ; and secondly , from within , in respect of the present state of the bodie . from without , those are most subiect to it , who haue thin bodies , and open pores ; and whose hearts are so hot , that they need much attraction of aire to coole them . from within , they are most apt , whose veyns and vessells are full of grosse humors , and corrupt iuices ; the evill matter ( being thicke , and therefore cannot breath out through the pores ) increaseth her putrefaction ( by the heat within ) vnto the greater malignitie , and so becommeth pestilent . therefore those bodies that are moyst , and full of iuice ; whose veines are streit ( and therefore apter to intercept then intertaine the iuices ) and the thicknesse of whose skin denies the transpiration of the excrements ; these are easily poluted and infected . and such are women ; especially women with childe , for their bodies are full of excrementitious iuices , & much heat withall ; which is as oyle and flame put together . also those that are very costiue , or haue their water stopped ; the noysome vapours that are by these excrements ingendered , make the body subiect to infection . young children , in regard of their tender and soft bodies are apt to admit of any alteration vpon the lightest occasion : and because they fetch their breath short ( having but little roome for respiration ) they draw in much aire , with which the seed of contagion is attracted : and so are apt to be infected from without . and likewise because they are naturally moyst , and feed vpon the moyster kindes of meates ; and feed also with more appetite then iudgement ; they are therefore the more subiect to pestilent infection from within . likewise , the sanguine and delicate faire complexion , ( whose bloud and iuices are finer and thinner then others , and therefore more subiect to mutation ) are quickly infected : for the plague is able to insinuate it selfe into all the humors ; but into some more easily then others ; as into bloud first , choler next , fleam after , and melancholie last . poore people , ( by reason of their great want ) living sluttishly , feeding nastily on offals , or the worst & vnholsomest meates ; and many times too long lacking food altogether ; haue both their bodies much corrupted , and their spirits exceedingly weakened : whereby they become ( of all others ) most subiect to this sicknesse . and therefore we see the plague sweeps vp such people in greatest heapes . indeed in regard of the aire , the rich are as subiect as they ; for both breath the same : and delicacie of feeding makes the rich as apt to corruption : but then they haue meanes to get holsome food , good attendance , and precious antidotes to preserue them ; for we see by experience that ordinary things doe little prevaile . and this is the reason also why fewest of the rich doe die of the plague . great eaters and drinkers ( who can never be free from crudities ) as also luxurious idle livers , and whore hunters ( who spend the strength of their bodies prodigally ) are very apt to be infected . also such as in former times haue had customary evacuations by sweat , haemorrhoids , vomitings , menstrua , fontanells , or other like wayes of expelling noxious humors ; and haue them now stopped . those likewise that fast much ( their bodies being emptie ) receiue more aire in , then they let out . those also that are fearefull ; as i haue alreadie shewed in the point of passions . furthermore , nearenesse of bloud or kindred , by reason of the sympathy of natures , maketh men very apt to receiue infection from one of their owne bloud . and so those that are neare the sicke in body , being continually conversant with them , or often comming about them ; as chirurgians , keepers , searchers , and such like . lastly , virgins that are ripe and marriageable ; are apt to receiue infection , and being once stricken , seldome or never escape , without great and precious meanes . quia spirituosum semen in motu cum sit , facilè succenditur ; vel , quia intùs detentum facilè corrumpitur , & in veneni perniciem abit . mindererus de pestilentia . cap. 10. but some thinke by the strength of nature to prevaile against against this infection . but wee see strong and well nourished bodies die as fast as others : and that not because it is safer to be weake ; but as hippocrates sayth , corpora impura quò magis aluntur , eò magis laeduntur . their taking of the infection proues their body to be impure ( though strong ) and the more an impure body is nourished , the more it is endangered . but those are most likely to escape infection , that are troubled with the gout ; in whom the nobler parts of the body doe expell the noxious humors to the ignobler . those that haue fontanells , or any other kinde of issue , as vlcers , haemorrhoids , or plentie of other evacuations ; whereby the hurtfull humors are drayned away . olde folkes , whose bodies are dry and cold . also bold and confident spirits , whose courage can resist all feares , are to themselues an antidote ; if their body be withall kept cleane and pure by the common rules of preservation . lastly , those who keepe themselues private , and vse antidotes and meanes preservatiue , reposing themselues in god with david in the fourth psalme , and last verse . he will giue his angells charge over them , to keepe them in all their wayes , &c. psal . 91.5.6.7 . and 3. verses . but they must then walke in the way that god hath set before them , and that is , the vse of physicke . for , the lord hath created medicines out of the earth , and he that is wise will not abhorre them . ecclus. 38.4 . and with such doth he heale men , and take away their paynes . vers . 7. and in the sixt verse , he hath given men skill , that he might be honoured in his marveilous workes . then forsake not the physitian ; neither by thy scorning of his skill , force him to forsake thee : for as st paul said of the marriners in his ship. acts. 27.31 . so may i say of physitians in this cittie ; except these tarry , wee cannot be saved . and so much for the qualitie of the plague . now i come to the last part of the definition , discovering the signes and symptoms of it , in these words : and for the most part is accompanied with a feavor ; as also with spots called gods-tokens , or with a blayne , or botch , or carbuncle . i say , for the most part it is thus accompanied ; but not alwayes . for some are suddainly stricken , and die before they haue any acquaintance , either with distemper or outward paine . some haue thought there may be a plague and yet no feavor : but mindererus proues that to be an idle conceit . li. de pest . cap. 6. some also , haue died of the plague , and yet nothing hath appeared outwardly : and such as die suddainly , haue seldome any spots , or such like outward signe : and are therefore lesse infectious then others , if they be not too long kept vnburied . but to come to the severall points , which haue two generalls , to wit , inward signes , and outward signes . the inward is a feavor , and his symptoms . the outward are , the tokens , the blayne , the botch , and the carbuncle . the first and inward signe , is a feavor . as soone as the heart is stricken with the putrid vapour , the spirits grow distempered and inflamed . and this distemperature is a feavor ( not proper , but symptomaticall or accidentall ) and this feavor is not of one kinde in every one ; but diverse , and such are his symptoms also . as sometime pleuriticke , sometime squinanticke , sometimes cholericke , sometimes continuall , and sometimes intermitting . these distempers relate the cruell combate begun betwixt nature and her m●●●all enemie . the outward signes bring newes of the hopes or feares to which side the victorie is like to fall . for , if nature expell any part of the venom outward , it is a signe of some strength in her . if the tokens appeare , either the enemie is but weake ; or els nature is but weake , and shews her good will more then her power . for except the assault be but slight ; those repulses will not get the conquest . if there be a blayne or blister , it shewes nature is a little stronger , and the enemy not a little curs●er . if the botch or great apostumation rise . then hath nature a crowd of corrupt matter to encounter with ; an armie of enemies , against which shee stoutly bestirres her selfe . if shee driue forth a great quantitie of matter , and withall be well fortified ( within by antidotes , to maintaine her spirits , and strength : and without by perfumes ) that while the body of the battalion is driven out , the skouts of straggling vapours that arise from it , steale not in againe by the mouth , nostrills , and other outward passages ; then is she like to winne the day . and by the places where she driues them out ; it appeares , against which of the three castles of nature the greatest assault is given and continued . for if the swelling arise in the armepits , it shews that the the seidge is continued ( where it first begun ) at the heart . if in the necke , then is the battery layd at the brayne . and if in the groyne , then is the liver beleaguered . but sometimes these princes are all at once assaulted ; and then is it altogether vnlikely that nature can recover . for though both she and they be never so stout , and seeme for a time to prevaile , by expelling abundance of matter ( in the breaking of the botches ) yet nature may be so over-charged ; and the enemie ( whose venome is sly and subtle ) may shew himselfe such a machavilian , as one way or other he weakens her forces , puts her braue spirits to flight , and tyrant-like demolisheth all her beautious buildings . if the carbuncle arise . then we may say , nature playes the lion , but alas shee hath to deale with a fiery dragon : this of all venoms being the most malicious and cruell . but that the colours of these bloudy ensignes , may the better be discovered , i will play the herald , and blazon every signe by himselfe . so many ( i meane ) as are most inseparable from the plague , & therfore chiefly to be respected . as for the rest , ( though they be many ) they belong as well ( and more properly ) to other diseases ; and are more deceitfull , and lesse vsefull to any but the physitian onely . the signes of the plague ( therefore ) are commonly these . first , a secret sinking of the spirits and powers of nature , with a painfull wearinesse of the bones , and all without any manifest cause . then follows great trouble and oppression of the heart , that the partie vnquietly rowles vp and downe for rest from one place to another ; sighing often , and either offering to vomit , or vomiting filthy stuffe of divers colours , yellow , greene , and blackish ; then come paines in the head , which still increase ; and faintnesse . but after these come the surest signes , which are the tokens , blayne , botch , and carbuncle . the tokens are spots of the bignesse of flea-bitings , some bigger , some as bigge as a penny . they shew themselues commonly in the brest and backe ; but they will sometimes appeare in other places also . in some they will be many , in some but a few , in others but one or two . in colour they are for the most part of a pale blew , but somtimes also purple or blackish , circled with a reddish circle . the blayne is a little blister somwhat like one of the swine-pocks ; and many times of the same colour ; but somtimes , of a blewish or leaden colour ; and being opened , affordeth filthy matter of the like complexion . round about the blister , there is a rednesse the breadth of a groat , six-pence , or nine-pence : these will rise in any part : somtimes one alone , somtimes two or three ; but never very many . and these will breake , and fall , and leaue a dry crust , which will scale off . the botch is a hard swelling , rising as i sayd before in the necke , vnder the eares , or vnder the chinne ; in the armepits ; & in the groynes . it swelleth somtimes no bigger then a nutmeg ; somtimes as bigge as a wall-nut ; others as a hens egge , and some as bigge as a mans fist . also in some it swelleth out very fully to be seene plainly , and becommeth so soare that it can endure nothing to touch it ; in others it lieth low and deepe in the flesh , onely to be found by feeling ; and somtimes also scarcely to be felt ; but if you touch the place , it is painfull . those that lie high and plaine to be seene , are more hopefull ; the low lurking ones are very ominous and pernicious . the carbuncle riseth like a little push or pustle , with a prettie broad compasse of rednesse round about it . it is wonderfull angry , and furiously enflaming , as if a quicke coale of fire were held to the place : whence it hath his name carbunculus , a little coale of fire . it creepeth secretly in the flesh next vnder the skin , and is full of such a furious malignant poyson , as it will quickly consume and eate out so great a peece of flesh ( for the capacitie it is in ) as a man would wonder how it could so suddainly be done : being as if one did burne a hole with a hot iron . and it is strange to see that so small a tumor should be so devilish and dangerous to life : for if it be not with great care , and exceeding good meanes attended , it bringeth speedy death . but moreover obserue this . somtimes ( as i said before ) a man dies of the plague , when neither before nor after he is dead , there appeareth any tokens , or blayne , botch , or carbuncle . and yet there will be a signe which few haue observed ; my grand father ( who was a famous man , and of great experience ) hath taught it me ; and my father ( a physitian of aboue fortie yeares practise and experience ) hath confirmed it vnto me . that is , that after such a body is dead , in one place or other the flesh will grow softer then the rest : and the whole body will also grow softer & softer , and the longer the body lies , the softer will be the flesh . which shews the vilenesse of the putrefaction within . heurnius mentions this also among his signes in his booke de peste ; and addeth also these . that in a body dead of the plague , the nose lookes very blew , or blackish blow ; as if it had beene beaten or bruised . the like colour is in the eares and nayles : and ever worse coloured then other dead bodies vse to be . thus haue i displayed those signes which are least fayling : that the searchers may rightly informed themselues ; and not mistake ( as many haue done ) calling the purple spots of the pestilent feavor gods tokens . and somtimes letting bodies passe as not dead of the plague , because they had neither tokens , botch , nor carbuncle . i haue done it also to teach people how they may know when they are stricken with this infection ; that they may presently haue recourse to some skilfull man , and good meanes to recover them before it be too late . an houre is a precious space of time , and cannot be let slip but with hazard . and having thus shewed you what this dreadfull sicknesse is , what are the causes , qualities , and signes of it . before i leaue you , i will leaue with you a short generall direction to keepe your body safe from infection : and also ( if you feele suspicious signes of being taken ) how to begin to driue the venome from the heart , till such time as you may haue some more speciall meanes ( particularly fitting your present constitution and state of body ) by the counsell of some skilfull physitian . while health continueth , it is necessary that twise in the weeke , the body be evacuated with some gentle purging pill , to keepe the humors from superfluous increase . and in this case the pills of ruffus ( which are to be had in every apothecaries shop ) are very apt and good . or take of these pills of mine twice or thrice in a weeke . rs. aloës rosatae , vnc . j. rhabarbari , croci , ana drach . iij. myrrhae , drach . vj. santali citrini , drach . j. ambrae grifiae , scrup . j. cum syr . de succo citri , q. s . fiat massa pillularum . make pills of 8. or 10. grains a peece . take ij . or more of them in the morning fasting , foure or fiue houres before meate ; they may be taken best in syrup of roses solutiue , or in conserue of violets . and presently after them drinke a little white wine mixed with a little balme-water ( in cold weather ) : with rose water , and a little rose-vineager ( in hot weather ) : and with carduus , or scabious water in temperate weather . on the other dayes wherein you take no pills . take every morning fasting a dram or two ( or the quantitie of a nutmeg ) of london triacle , with as much conserue of red roses : this is for a temperate constitution . a cold constitution may take the triacle alone , onely sweetening it with a little sugar . and a hot complexion may mixe both the triacle and conserue in a few spoonefulls of rose-water and vineager . these powders following are good to cast into the broths of such as are sicke , or haue weake stomachs . take of red saunders , halfe an ounce , cynamom iij. drams and halfe , saffron , halfe a dram . powder them fine , and mixe them together . another . take of cynamom , halfe an ounce . cloues , halfe a dram . red corall , ij . scruples . saffron , halfe a dram . and the weight of all in sugar . make these into powder , and mixe them together . some giue this . take of pearle prepared , ij . drams . corall red , and white , of each halfe a dram . red rose leaues dried , saffron , spodium , of each a scruple . cynamon a dram . make them into fine powder , and mixe them . this is my counsell for those of ripe age , and for women that are not with childe . but for those women that breed childe , and also for infants or young children , there ought to be another way of preservation : in whom diet , must be most intended , and no purging vsed . for women , therefore , let them keepe their bodie soluble , by some gentle and familiar suppositories ; or gentle clysters , made of posset-ale with camomill flowers , and a little new-drawne cassia . take these in the afternoone : now and then . let them also every morning take the quantitie of a nutmeg of this medicine following . take harts-horne , cynamon , nutmegs , all the saunders , of each a dram . roots of angelica , zedoarie , enula-campane ; of each halfe a dram . powder all these . then take conserue of bugloss and borage , of each iij. drams . with an equall quantitie of syrup of citrons , and of dried roses . mixe all together , and make a conserue . take it ( as is sayd ) fasting , and fast two houres at least after . or els , take harts horne , red and yellow saunders , of each two drams . cloues and cynamon , of each one dram . beat them into fine powder , and mixe them together . with some of this , spice your meate , broth , or cawdell ; or whatsoever you haue to breakfast : and squeez into them a little iuice of a lemon . you may adde also some sugar as you please . let this be your break-fast . for young children . there is nothing better then bole armoniake , with a little tormentill roote , and citron pills made into fine powder : which you may mix with their meats , or cast into their broths : for their breakfast . if they be costiue , put vp a violet comfit or two for a suppositorie . or mix a little cassia , newly drawne , in some broth of a chicken , and giue it them now and then in a morning fasting . let them fast two houres after . and that day vse not the powder , before prescribed . and note this . when you suspect a childe to be sicke of the wormes , in a contagious time ; vse not wormeseed and those common trifling things : but order him as if you suspected he had the plague ; for that disease ( comming of so much putrefaction , as it doth ) is as apt to receiue the infection of the plague , as is tinder to take fire . it must not therefore be dallied with . but at such a time , you may giue twentie or thirtie graines of this powder following , for two or three mornings together . take harts-horne , j. dram . citron pill , rootes of angelica , and tormentill , rhubarb , and coralline , of each halfe a dram . make these into fine powder , and giue it as is said in a little carduus water , sweetned with some sugar . thus much for preservation in health . but if there be suspicion of infection , you must then looke about for a new course . in which case generally i condemne both purging and bleeding : for i know no vse of them in resisting or expelling the venom ; which is no other way effected but by sweating and running of the soares . yet i confesse phlebotomie hath his vse in sanguine and strong bodies ; so it be at the very first , while the spirits are strong and able of themselues to make good resistance . but if that first opportunitie be let slip ; i thinke it better to let it alone altogether ; then to doe it out of season ; and so to impaire naturall strength , which in this case ought most especially to be preserved and augmented . againe , though sweating be the true way , yet it must not be violent ; for that also weakens the spirits , and makes the body faint , therefore those sweating medicines must be mixed with cordialls . as for example . take mithridate , or london triacle , one dram . myrrh , enula campane root , and butter burre roote , of each ten graines . mixe these in a quarter of a pint of posset-ale and white wine mixed together ; to which you may adde some sugar to make the taste somthing gratefull . goe into your warme bed , then drinke this draught prescribed , and cover you with a reasonable weight of cloths ; and so sweat two or three houres , or somewhat more , as your strength will beare . but take heed you sleepe not in this while . then by degrees let the clothes be taken away , first one , and then another ; when you haue sweat sufficiently , or as much as you can endure . and let some one with warme napkins wipe you drie , and shift your linnen ; being very carefull of taking cold . then presently take this iulep . take of carduus water three ounces . syrup of lemons one ounce . bole armoniake , tormentill , angelica roote , of each one scruple . mixe all together , and drinke it off . doe this once in twelue houres , if you finde strength to beare it , till you haue performed it at the least three times : and at the second and third times , before you beginne to sweat , binde vnder either arme-hole , and to eyther groyne , some thin slices of radish roots , beaten with a little bay-salt , and sprinckled with a little vineager and rose-water : wrap them vp in foure little thin rags , and apply them . also , apply to the region of the heart , that quilt which i haue prescribed in stead of an amulet . when this is done , and the soares beginne to shew themselues ; follow the advise of those that are appointed to that purpose . for i must not enter into the infected house . therefore farewell . and the lord in mercie looke vpon this afflicted cittie . finis . if any be pleased to vse my antidotes ; i haue two powders , one is for daily vse , called pulvis pestilentialis ; the other in case of speciall danger , called pulvis vitalis . i haue also an excellent electuarie , which i call antiloimon , for his singular vertue against the plague . i haue likewise lozenges , and trochisks to hold in the mouth ; and rich pomanders to smell too . they were all of my grand-fathers invention , and haue beene proved to be admirably effectuall , both by his and my fathers experience . i confesse they are costly : but slight meanes and cheape medicines ( how ever they promise ) proue as deare as death . for we see by woefull observation , that the plague will not be repelled but by imperious encounters . i could relate very true and admirable stories of the effects of those three medicines aboue mentioned , but i will begge no mans beliefe . whosoever knows any thing of the name of iohn banister , must needs haue heard of many famous medicines by him invented . the first powder is 12. pence a dram : his quantitie , to be taken at once is halfe a dram . the second is 3. pence a graine : the quantitie is 10. or 12. graines . the electuarie is , 2. shillings 6 pence an ounce : the quantitie is one or two drams . because many men know that i haue a whole volume of excellent receipts left me both by my grandfather , and my father ; and lest they should censure me as too strict and covetous in keeping all secret to my selfe , i haue thought fit for the common good ; to divulge this excellent antidote following . electuarium de ovo , stephani bradwelli . rs. vitelli ovi vnius , croci pulveriz . scrup . ij . conterantur simul donec in pultiformam rediguntur . postea imponantur in alia testa vacua , cum exiguo foramine in capite facto ; benè obturetur : et lento igne donec testa nigrescit assetur . dein exempta materia , exiecetur & subtilissime pulverizetur . cui adde rad . tormentillae , zedoariae , angelicae , valerianae , dictamni , aristolochiae rotunda , ana vnc . j. ss . myrrhae , scrup . iiij . baccarum lauri , baccarum iuniperi , and drach . ss . corticis citri , scrup . ij . ss . sem . citri , sem . cardui benedicti , ligni aloës , ana scrup . ij . cornu cervini , boli armeni , ana drach . j. ss . moschi gr . x. pulveriz . omnia subtiliss . adde etiam conservae florum calendulae , vnc . ij . theriacae lond. vnc . j. cum aqua cardui , et sacchari . q. s . fiat electuarium . s . ae . there is a fellow in distaffe lane , that disperseth bills abroad , bragging of a medicine that was my grandfather banisters ; thinking vpon the fame of his name to get both glory and gaine to himselfe . but let me warne all men to take heed of such impudent lyers . my grand-father was very scrupulous of giving any speciall receipts to others . but if any man can say he hath any receipt of his : i am sure , ( if it were of any value ) i haue the coppie of it . but i professe vpon the word and credit of an honest man , that among all his receipts , he hath not prescribed one preservatiue drinke for the plague : and besides , his judgement ever was , that the best forme of an antidote was either powder , pill , or electuarie . therefore this drinke that he talkes of ; was either none of my grandfathers ; or els some very slight thing , by him little esteemed . i cannot beare it , that any should abuse the kings people with sophisticate medicines ; and lay the imputation vpon so famous , and so all beloved a man as master iohn banister was . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a16629-e150 li. de probitate medici boni , ad tempus appositi sunt , ad occasionem eripiendum accōmodati . notes for div a16629-e360 proëmium . the name . the causes . the qualities . the symptoms and signes . the name . the first and principall cause is god. the way of cure. the influence of the starres , the second cause . the cure of this cause , is the same with the former . the corruption of the aire , the third cause . the aire is corrupted by the windes and weather . what constitutiō of the aire is most contagious . the necessitie of the aire . the cure of this cause . flight . citò cede . longè recede . choice of habitation . how to let in fresh aire . tardè redi . who must not flee . how those that tarrie are to order themselues . for then is the braine more full of excrementitious humors & the whole bodie aboundeth more with moysture ; therfore more apt to entertaine putrefaction . purging of the impure aire . purging of the generall aire . fire purgeth the aire best . strang counsels of some learned physitions . the authors opinion . lib. 2. cap. 10. diet in six poynts . the disorders in the point of aire . the cure of the speciall aire in houses . observation . if you must needs be in the ●ome , let the fire be in the chimney . airing in cold weather . in hot weather . in temperate weather . cure of speciall aire about the body . things held in the mouth . odours , simple . compound odours . to wash the face . apparell . perfumes for apparell . amulets . dr. herring . a good quilt to be vsed in stead of an amulet . meate and drinke . disorder in their qualitie . qualities of meates generally to be refused . particular meats to be forborne . bread. flesh of beasts . fowles : inwards . fish . egges . milke . fruits . roots . hearbs . sauces . spices . broths . mushroms . what manner of dressing meates are worst . what drinkes are vnfit ▪ compounded drinkes . pery and cyder . wines . good caveats . tobacco . the cure of this cause . qualities of meates and drinkes generally to be chosen . bread. flesh of beasts . fowles . inwards . numb . 11 33. fish . egges . butter . fruits . roots . hearbs . spices . sauce● broths . gellyes . what manner of dressing meates is best . vineager his vertues . not so good for women . beere and ale. cyder . wine . who are fit to vse wine . quantitie . gluttonie . the dangers of surfeiting . li. 2. aph. 17. de re medicae ▪ li. 1. cap. 32. in com. 2. hipp. de natu. humana . li. de causis morborū . cap. 3. de removendis nocumentis in regimine sanitatis . tract . 4. cap. 1. ibidem . cap. 19. the cure. be sparing in eating . be more sparing in drinking . antidotes must be first taken in the morning . breakfasts . varietie of meats are naught a●● one meale . the cause . the way of cure. what is to be done when one riseth in the morning . keepe the bodie soluble . be cleanly . vrine and menstrua . venus . prevention of ill humors . sweating . issues . the cause . what exercises are not good . what exercise is best . the best time for exercise . the place for exercise . beware of taking cold. inconveniences of much sleepe . inconveniences of much watching . times for sleepe . the place to sleepe in . the dangers of violent . passions . immoderate ioy. examples of vnbridled laughter . examples of immoderate ioy without laughter . sorrow . examples . anger . examples . feare . examples . feare , how it is most apt to bring infection . the cure. the qualities of the plague . how the sicknesse striketh first . the plague is venomous . deadly . infectious . obiection . answer . a new opinion . answer . what bodies are most apt to be infected . who are apt to receiue infection from without . who from within . who are the most likely to escape . the signes & symptoms of the plague . feavor . what kinde of fight is discouered by the tokens . blayne . botch . what part is most affected . carbuncle . signes of being infected . the tokens described . the blayne . the botch . the carbuncle . how to know if one be dead of the plague , when neither spots , blayne , botch , nor carbuncle appeare . mr. iohn banister . heurnius his signes of a body dead of the plague . preservatiue medicines . for men and women generally to be vsed . pillulae bradwelli . for women with childe . for young children . observation . what course is to be taken with him that is infected . the triumphant chariot of antimony being a conscientious discovery of the many reall transcendent excellencies included in that minerall / written by basil valentine ... ; faithfully englished and published for the common good by i.h. ... triumph-wagen antimonii. english basilius valentinus. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a26734 of text r37084 in the english short title catalog (wing b1021). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 211 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 93 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a26734 wing b1021 estc r37084 16206227 ocm 16206227 105077 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26734) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 105077) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1087:6) the triumphant chariot of antimony being a conscientious discovery of the many reall transcendent excellencies included in that minerall / written by basil valentine ... ; faithfully englished and published for the common good by i.h. ... triumph-wagen antimonii. english basilius valentinus. j. h. (john harding), b. 1600 or 1601. [6], 175 p. a. lichfield], printed for thomas bruster, and are to be sold ... in london, [oxford : 1660. translation of: triumph wagen antimonii. place of publication and publisher statement suggested by wing. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. eng medicine -early works to 1800. antimony -therapeutic use. a26734 r37084 (wing b1021). civilwar no the triumphant chariot of antimony; being a conscientious discovery of the many reall transcendent excellencies included in that minerall. w basilius valentinus 1660 39028 34 5 0 0 0 1 87 d the rate of 87 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-11 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2006-11 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the triumphant chariot of antimony ; being a conscientious discovery of the many reall transcendent excellencies included in that minerall , written by basil valentine a benedictine monke . faithfully englished and published for the common good . by i. h. oxon. printed for thomas bruster , and are to be sold at the three bibles neere the west end of paules church-yard in london , 1660. reader , in this booke are contained many excellent and precious antimoniall medcines both physicall and chyrurgicall : some of them , even a meane capacity may attaine unto , othersome are more mysterious ; and therefore t is very probable that the selfe-conceited man ( who sticks not to vilifie any thing that surmounts his reach ) will call them figments , hopeing by his malitious subtilty to shun that deserved reproach which his proud insulting demeanour exposeth him unto : wee have in these dayes many pretenders to great mysteries , but by their fruits you may know them ; were there but any sparke of modesty left in the hearts of such impudent ignorant persons , they would not thus blemish so noble a science , which forsooth they would be accompted masters of : for if it be an unseemly thing for the authorized traditionalists to pretend a mastership in this faculty which concernes the life of man , ( and god knowes how much t is hazarded by the wilfulnesse and rawnesse of many of them ; ) how much more blame-worthy are those phantasticall hare-brain'd vpstarts , that ( without either the feare of god , or any respect to the good of their distressed neighbour ) attempt , by the subtilest wayes they can imagine , to beguile the vnwary , and to abuse the necessities of their afflicted patients , and yet highly pretend to i know not what sublime knowledge : i am perswaded that such as these have much injured many well disposed , tender-ingenuities , and have retarded the endeavours of such as pitty the deplorable estate of mankind : this peice therefore may serve to quicken the slow , and to settle the wavering mind . the object of it is antimony , t is easie to be had at a mean price , the medcines thence educeable are of great value ; but yet such of them as are so , have a suitable covering , the which remove by thy diligence and t will recompence thy paines . labour therefore , and humbly implore the searcher of all hearts to vouchsafe a blessing upon thy handy worke ; and whatsoever thou receivest through his mercy , be carefull to improve it to his glory and thy neighbours comfort . for , blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtain mercy : farewell , thy freind , j. h. the most material errata's , are to be corrected as followeth . page 52. l. 3. r. it ceaseth . p. 53. l. 2. r. alteration . p. 58. l. 10. r. restraine . l. 11. r. least . p. 80. l. 3. it first describes . p. 158. l. 2. r. thereinto . the triumphant chariot of antimony . the fiery stone of antimony , its fixt tincture , and most red oyl , shall in this work be briefly , but throughly taught , after an easy way and method without any ridles or doubtfull shadowes . i therefore basil valentine , a professed monk , and brother of the order of st. benedict , will fundamentally propound to the friendly reader , a brief admonition concerning some praecognita , which a spagirist ( carefully inquiring into the verity of art ) ought to be acquainted with : very profoundly therefore , and heartily , let these directions be ruminated on , by him who hath a desire after a certain enjoyment of this hermetical science : for if any slightly value these my proposals , doubtless his labor shall be in vain , for these things following are very worthy of due consideration . now before i attempt the main work of this little tract , i conceive it requisite to admonish the spagirist , of those things which are worth his knowledge ; on what basis he ought to erect his structure , and what foundation trusting too , his fabrick may resist impetuous storms , without declining : therefore , as a monk , i hold it fitting , and as a thing expedient , that when my self and thy self , titius and sejus , sempronius and cajus , shall be tributaries to death , we may leave behinde us in the world , an honorable memory to the praise of god , that his divine majesty may be adored : by a due preparation we address our selves unto the journey : my stare and calling , forsooth , requires a different spirit from the vulgar . in this my consideration , i have noted five observations for the diligent searcher . 1. an invocation on the name of god , 2. a contemplation on the essentiality of things . 3. their true and incorrupt preparation . 4. their use . 5. their benefit or proficuousness . all which , a true chymist must remember , and without which he cannot be , nor be called a true chymist : briefly therefore and severally these heads shall be treated of , that a particular and the universal entire work may thereby be brought to light , and appear perfect . 1. first therefore , the name of god ought to be called on religiously , with a pure heart , a sound conscience , without ambition , hypocrisie , and other abuses , such as are disdain , pride , arrogance , worldly boasting , oppression of our neighbors , and other tyrannies and enormities of that kinde ; all which , ought to be totally eradicated out of the heart , that , when it would prevail at the throne of mercy for the health of its body , it may be found a pure and well prepared temple ( the chaff being separated from the uncommix'd and undefiled corn ) for verily , verily , verily , god will not be mocked , as sophisters , and the wiselings of this age imagine ; nor will he be sued unto as a creator , without a true fear , a due obedience , and most humble supplication : for seeing man hath nothing , but what his most bounteous creator bestows upon him , he having given him a body , life , an operating spirit , and a most noble soul , and freely vouchsafed his own holy word for the support and nourishment of the soul to eternal life ; and having for bodily necessaries provided him food and raiment , and such other things as none can possibly want . it is just , that above all other things , his first father ( who hath created the heaven and the earth , things visible and invisible , the firmament , the elements , vegetable things , and all creatures ) be with most inward humble prayers sought unto for the obtaining of them . most certaine it is , that a wicked man shall never be acquainted with true medicine , and much lesse taste the truly immutable , and true celestiall bread of eternity . primarily , and cheifly therefore , follow this doctrine , placing all thy hope and confidence in god , humbly implore his blessing , that thy search may begin in the fear of the lord , and so shalt thou obtain desired wisdom ; for the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom : whosoever then hath resolved in himself to seek the top of terrestrials ( that is , the knowleege of the good , lodging in all creatures , ( which the most high hath bestowed upon man ) lying dormant or covered in stones , herbs , roots , seeds , living creatures , plants , minerals , metals , and the like ) let him cast behinde him all worldly cares , and their appurtenances , and expect release with his whole heart , by humble prayers , and his hope shall not fail , but he shall become worthy of the last redemption : of this let none doubt or despair , for he alone redeemeth israel from all their enemies , and will truly and faithfully perform the same to such as truly and humbly call upon his name : so that the first admonition cannot be more rightly and better practiced , then by prayers , seeing it is an invoking of god ; but beware you do it not from an hypocritical and deceitful heart , but cordially , after the rule of the capernaites ; with firmness of faith and hope , as the woman of canaan , thereby procuring her daughters health ; and with a christian charity , as the samaritan poured in wine and oyl into the wounds of the poor man near jericho , and , on his own cost , took the care of him : whosoever useth this invocation , and intends with a christian charity the benefit of his neighbor thereby , without doubt , shal obtain what he so earnestly seeks for , viz. his wish'd for end , and proposed hope of health and richness . 2. next to prayer , follows a contemplation of all things ( that is ) before all other things , chiefly consider their circumstances , matter , form , original virtues , influence , conjunction , the secret force of the stars , the elementary composure , the generation and forming ( out of the three principles ) the things that are ; then also that every thing is reducible , and may be brought back into its first matter and first essentiality , which , mention is made of in my writing ; that of the first matter , the last ; and out of the last , the first may be made . this consideration ( next to seeking of god ) is chief , celestial , and spiritually to be understood . the understanding of the condition and quality of every thing , is found out by the spiritual thoughts of man , from an out-flowing speculation ; and this speculating is twofold , possible , and impossible . 1. the impossible consists in superfluous cogitations of things without or beyond natures limits , wherein no form of essentiality is manifest ; as if a man attempted to search out the eternity of god , which cannot be done : but it is an absolute , crazy , wicked sin against the holy spirit , to set upon the inquiry of his immeasureable , infinite , and eternal deity , and to examine the unfathomable mysteries of his counsel and wisdome . 2. now the possible consideration admits the theory of examining the nature of things visible , manifest , and having a created form or essence , how by help of separation each body may be understood , that they may become profitable , the good may be segregated from the bad , and the medicine from the lurking poyson , in an anatomical manner , by separation and rectification , that the pure may be divided from the impure , without deceit ; which separation may be accomplished sundry ways , ( some whereof are known to the vulgar , others not so common ) as are calcination , sublimation , reverberation , circulation , putrefaction , digestion , cohobation , destillation , fixation , and other ways ; all which degrees are in their order found out , learned , practiced , and manifested by labor ; and by which appears what is fix , what volatile , white , black , or red , and the like , helping the artificer to discern and walk rightly in his art with mature consideration ; for consideration may trust too , or lean on a false foundation , and erre , if the kingly path be not attained too : but contrarily , nature knows not how to erre , if rightly governed by a faithful steward , to whose care she is committed : if thou ( therefore ) erre , because thou hast not loosned nature , and freed her from the body whereto she 's captive ; learn the theory better , & more accurately attend thy work , that thou may'st be acquainted with the true fundamental knowledge of separating all things ; and this is a chief , and the most principal thing . so then , the second basis of phylosophy is the speculating of all things and essences , and is called the consideration of nature , for it s written first seek the kingdome of god and his righteousnes &c. viz , by calling on his name , and the other things shall be added thereunto , viz. the understanding of things temporall , and enjoyment of necessaries for food and health . having circumspectly accomplished the consideration of all things . ( which in the precedent we called the theory ) followes in order a due preparation , which is compleated by manuall operation , that some thing both profitable and active may be obtained , by meanes of which preparation is purchased the knowledge of medicinall virtues : now manuall operations must with diligence and paines be carefully prosecuted ; experienced knowledge is praise worthy . but anatomy doth judge and demonstrate the difference both of the good and the bad and their virtues . handy labour gives evidence that all things may be brought to the light , and bee made visible : the theorical knowledge of the virtues of any subject is a good fore-runner of practise , and proves a truly solid foundation , whereby one may become a tru practioner , & is nothing else than a confirmation of the good that is discovered by manual labour , whereby the secrets of nature may be educed for profitable ends . for as in the reasonable soul the way is to bee prepared by the lord , so here an harmonious and legitimate path is to be cut out , that a progress may be made for bodily health without doubtfulness and errour . and this is preparation . 4. the preparation or separation of the hurtful & profitable , being ( by resolution ) accomplished , we come to the use or administration thereof : and here beware lest thou either encrease or diminish the true weight , which in the operation thou must observe [ viz. ] whether or no thy remedy bee weak or strong , which a physitian ought afore hand to know , as whether it bee injurious and hurtful , or beneficial , lest by the detriment and death of his neighbour , he exposeth his own soul to hazard . 5. after that the operation beginnes to bee dilated and diffused through the parts of the body , searching for the disease for which it was administred , the profitablenesse or benefit comes under consideration , by which , as the main end , is discernable , what good the operation hath induced ; for it may happen that a medicine may hurt , and not help the diseased , which may be contrary to , or improper for the diseased ; and so is rather a poyson , than a medicine for restoring health . let every one on this accompt warily heed and aim at the publique good , that he may observe , and them so observed commit to writing ; let them not perish by oblivion , but be manifested for the use of others . moreover in the vse , as also in the benefit of medicine , it is observable , whether or no a disease be a solution of continuity , or hath onely an internal seat ; for the exteriour differ from the interiour , and so are their remedies various . diseases therefore are to be distinguished , whether or no they are curable by onely outward remedies , or to be expelled by inward medicines : on which account when the centre of a disease lodgeth inwardly , and is to be throughly found out , there ought to be admitted such convenient remedies as may search unto , suddenly set upon , and divide it with the restauration of strength : otherwise the physitian labours in vain , if the centre be not reached unto . every physitian ought to know , that no externall disease , having his originall and residence within , can be destroyed by outward medicines ; but death and destruction would ensue thereupon . for example , if a man should endeavour to repell the out-breaking flowers of a tree , back into their centre , he would not only thereby destroy the fruit of the flower , but the juice being forced back to the centre ( against the law of nature ) from whence it had its afflux to the tree , would not onely be unprofitable by this violent reunition , but also totally suffocate it ; because the moist nutriment of the earth which it desires , could not have admittance . great therfore is the difference between new wounds made with iron , & old ulcers begotten from an inward distemper . new wounds are curable by outward remedies , old ulcers are not so : but besides the application of ointments , oyls , balsoms , & cataplasms , they require an inward cure , that the fountain may be destroyed , and the thence-flowing river may be dryed up , by which ( observing a right diet ) the disease shall be easily helped . 't is no art or skill to cure a green wound , which even the countryman with a peece of salted hogs fat easily doth : 't is a peece of art to remove the symptomes that happen to wounds , and to dry up the original of diseases . all ye physitians throughout the universe , all ye doctors who practise physick , ye masters , and learned in medicine of both sorts , external and internal , come hither , and examine your honourable title , and consider in your consciences , whether you received it from god or not , or proudly usurp it in formality or not : verily there is as vast a difference between an outward , and inward curing , as is betwixt the heaven and the earth . if you have received your title from god , he will help , blesse , and prosper you . but if you faign it , or assume it to your self , without such a call , ye , though great , shall greatly fall ; by which you prepare for your selves the unquenchable fire of hell . truly our saviour said to his disciples , ye call me lord and master , and ye doe well ; so let every one that will take to himself this honourable title , consider that he doth what is right ; that is , that he abuseth not his title , and boast not of more than he hath learned . he that will be a doctor of both medicines , ought wel to understand both medicines , that he may discover inwardly the disposition of the body by anatomy , and in what member the disease hath his originall , and by what means he may succour it ; he also ought to understand outwardly the circumstances of wounds and ulcers . good god! what would become of the master of both medicines , and his title , where will it be found , if many of such as use it were exposed to an exact tryall . heretofore the physitians themselves wrought with their own hands , especially in outward diseases , this belonging to the physitians office ; but now in our age , they have brought up their servants to exercise chirurgery , and thus is this most noble art become a base trade , which even the most illiterate blush not to practise : yea even such also as know not how to drive an asse out of the corn , are doctors of chirurgery ( yet even the physical doctors are their disciples ) and frequently exercise it with more successe , and a better conscience ( that i may speak the truth ) than thou , o ambitious , titled onely , unlearned physicall-chyrurgeon , that boastest of both names or titles , doest . but pray master doctor , and master physitian be not angry , i beseech you , with my speech and opinion ; for thou wouldst be forced to acknowledge , should i examine thee of cuts and stabs , &c. that thy judgement concerning such things is as large , and as much knowledge lyes in thy pate , as in the head of a hen painted on a table . 't is my faithfull advice to all such as are learned ( both of high and low estate ) to consider judiciously and conscientiously those things that are required in doctors and masters , viz. the true manner of the preparation , and the use of medicine ; then may you justly assume to your selves this honourable title , and you 'l be able to succour the distressed , and with a pure heart praise your creatour . by what hath been spoken , let every one examine himself , and see whether ( with right ) he may assume this title ; for whoever will lay claim to any title , 't is behoovefull that he exactly understand it , and be able perfectly to give an accompt why he assumed it : for it is not sufficient to say with the vulgar , behold ! a great deal of stinking ordure ( with honour to your eares ) and to be ignorant of the cause of the stinch . although a man often feeds on the most sweet smelling food , yet presently he casts out most fetid dung ; but you are to know the cause why fragrant fruit transmutes into stinch , the ground of which is naturall putrefaction . and on the other hand ( in spices ) the odour is not solely to be respected , but a genuine philosopher must search into the essence and originall of that smell , and what good virtues lye therein . from stincking dung ( with which the earth is dung'd and nourished , grows sweet smelling fruit ; for which are many reasons , and a large book might bee written of the various transmutations of nature ; but the chiefe cause of this change is putrefaction and digestion , and they are its chief keyes ; because the fire and the air bring or cause maturity , so that the earth and water are transmuted into each other ; for 't is a certain alteration , that , of dung , a balsome bee made , and contrariwise , of balsome , dung . but you will object and say , that i bring very rurall and plain examples ; i confesse they are homely , but the wise man will by his own industry consider my intention herein , how from the most low , the most high may be made , and from the high the most humble or low ; how out of a remedy a poyson , and out of a poyson a remedy ; out of a sweet thing a corrosive , and from thence a thing profitable may be produced . good god! nature will not be throughly searched by us all ; for our life is short , and thou most just judge hast kept to thy self many things , that man may admire thy creatures , of which thy self wilt be the judge ; give me grace , that i may firmly retain my saviour in my heart , even to my ultimate end , that besides my bodily health and food which in abundance thou hast bestowed upon me , i may also obtain the riches and health of my soul , of which i make no scruple , since thou hast shed on the wooden crosse , out of thy ardent love and mercy , the true sulphur of the soul for me ; which heavenly sulphur of the soul proves a poyson to the devill ; but to us , the greatest medicine . i cure my brethren by prayers , spiritually ; by appropriate remedies , bodily ; and hope that they 'l watch spiritually for me , that we may all become co-inhabitants in the tabernacles of the most high god . but , to return to my antimonial philosophy . be it therefore known unto the reader , that every thing hath in it selfe a quickning and operating spirit which dwels in bodies , nourisheth and preserves them : in the elements also are living spirits , by gods permission be they good or evill . men and other living creatures have a living operating spirit in themselves , the which departing , a carkass only remains . hearbs and plants contain in them a healthy spirit , otherwise they would be unfit for medicinal preparation and use . so both metals & minerals have in them their impalpable spirit , wherein lyes contained all their force and efficacy ; without a spirit the body is dead , nor can it discover any lively operation : know then rhat in antimony lyes a spirit , which effects all such things as lye hid therein , and are ▪ thence educible , but invisibly , not unlike the invisible virtue that lyes hid in the loadstone , whereof in my ●ract of the magnet i shall speake more largely . now there is a twofold spirit ; intelligent , and not intelligent . the intelligent spirits are endowed with reason ( and can become when they list , impalpable , and without bodies ) like us naturall men ; of which kinde are the elementary inhabitants , viz. fiery , as walking and wandring lights , and other bright phantasines : also inhabitants in the ayre , and dwellers in , and governours over the waters , & lastly , the earthy inhabitants , of which ranck are those that frequently appear in metallick mines , and are thence denominated mine-pit men : now these are understanding spirits , & skill'd in art , and are able to alter their shape , of whom i dare not determine any thing , but leave it to the all knowing god , whether it be expedient to deliver my judgment concerning them or not . the other spirits of the universe , and which doe not operate after the afore said manner by their own innate power , are such as ly hid in man , animals , brutes , plants , & minerals , which notwithstanding have in them an operative life , which they by their works discover , evidencing that there lyes an healing power in them , when they are separated from their bodies by the benefit of art . thus also the spirit of antimony manifests its vertue , and communicates it to mankind , when by a freedom from the chains and bonds of its body ( that its penetrative and operating force may be awakened ) it be used to that intent for which by the artist it is ordained . truely t is expedient that the master or artist & vulcan entertaine familiarity , for the fire separates the operative force and virtue ; but the artificer forms and fashioneth the matter , as a black-smith by the help of one and the same fire , and of one and the same metal viz. iron , forms ( out of that one matter ) sundry and several utensils , as spits , iron shooes , forkes , plowshares &c. so also out of antimony , many artificial things , and of diverse uses may be made : the artificer is the black-smith forming the matter , the fire is the unlocking key , the operation and utility confirms the preparation and brings experience . o good god! would but the foolish and unwise world see and hear rightly and discreetly , and truely understand , that a sight and hearing onely of what i write , may not satisfy them , without the obtaining of a truly inward useful knowledge , it would not lick up the purulent dregs , but go unto those living fountains where it may drink of the water of life . and let all know that i shall indeed make fools of many learned masters ; and on the contrary doctors of many poor , despised , searching and inquiring schollars ; all such breathing and longing spirits i invite to follow my doctrine , to observe my writings and admonitions with a chearful heart , a faithful companion and good conscience ( to whom thus enjoying i promise many things ) and so shall they be effectors of their desire , and speak honourably of me , when i shall ly in my sepulcher , prolonging my fame with a lasting memorial even to the worlds end . now if any surviving me shall dispute in my school against me , when dead , my writings will answer abundantly for me , and i certainly know that my disciples will not be unmindfull of the benefit they have reaped , but preserve the majesty of truth , which hitherto we have alwayes obtained , to the confusion of falsity and lying , and alwayes shall obtaine it to the worlds end . moreover the courteous & favourable student of art , ought to know the several sorts and kinds of antimony . one sort is pure , faire , of a golden nature , and abounds with mercury . another abounds with sulphur , and largely differs from that of the golden property , and temperature : for in the former sort are faire , long , shining radii , or lines , whereby 't is distinguishable from the latter ; for the difference of the goodnesse of the sorts of antimony is as much as is betwixt the flesh of four footed beasts , & of fishes , which have some agreement and affinity , as to the name , and ( if you will ) essence , but in goodnes are different . the ingenuous student must also know that a great many men have written of the inward virtues of antimony , but most few are they , who have learned the basis of its vertue , or found how they might possesse it , and since they onely talke and speak groundlesly , they loose their honour in that , for which intent ( of honour ) they betook themselves to writing . he that will write of antimony , needs a great consideration and most ample minde , and various rules of its preparation and assured end ; wherein it may with profit be used , that so he may give a certain undoubtful testimony of what is good or what is evil , what helpful and what poysonous . t is no small thing truely to search out antimony , thereby to know its essence and at length by diligence and experience , to obtaine the knowledge of it , to take away its poison , ( so much cryed out against by the clamours of the vulgar ) and by a better omen to transmute it into wholsome medicine . many inquirers or anatomists have hunted some here , some there , and miserably handled , tormented , and crucified antimony , in so much that 't is both unexpressible and incredible . but ( really ) they have not found out , or accomplished any profitable operation , wandring from the true end , propounding to themselves things that are false , and thereby shadowing their sight , from beeing able to discerne the mark . antimony may deservedly be compared ( & so also mercury ) to an infinite circle , and painted with all sorts of colours , and by how much the more it is sought into , so much the more is found out and learned , ( so that your progresse therein be right and true ; ) in a word , one mans life is too too short , perfectly to be acquainted with all its mysteries . it is the worst of poysons , the which being separated therefrom , it becomes the supremest medicine , and is to be administred for inward and outward diseases . which to many moles will seem incredible , and will be adjudged vanity and folly , but yet may be pardonable in them , because of their ignorance and want of judgment : but verily they are exceedingly to be blamed , who not knowing , have no desire after knowledge nor any will to learn . antimony hath four qualities , it is hot and cold , moist and dry , and imitates the four seasons of the year : it is also fixt and volatile : the volatile part is not void of poyson , but the fix'd part is altogether free there from . hence comes it to passe , that many unskilful men write what they neither know , nor understand , which may ( for that reason ) be adjudged monstrous , & one of the seven wonders of the world : there being none that either hitherto hath bin found or is at present to be found , who hath fundamentally learned all its faculties , virtues , and powerful operations , or hath so far tryed its force & efficacy , that nothing more may be therein seen , then he by his own experience knows . if any such can be met withall , he is well worthy to be drawn in the triumphant glorious chariot of the ancient emperours , when they had gotten some notable victories : but in my opinion the chariot smiths are likely of but light imployment about chariots of this kind : many artificers in this age being overwhelmed with their thoughts , have sought after riches only in antimony , and have neglected the benefit that its wont to bring to such as are diseased , the which utility ought notwithstanding first of all to be sought after , that the wonders of the lord may be manifested , and due thanks given to him . it cannot indeed be denyed , but that in antimony riches may be found , although neither thou nor i may beleeve it , since both of us are but scholars and disciples in its search ; although haply i have seene more therein , and experimented more , then either thou or such as thou art ( that boast exceedingly much , and arrogate a large portion of learning to themselves ) are able to learn to morrow or next day ; yet let none greive at his fortune , nor despaire , for god doth wonderfully distribute his mercifull rewards ; but yet the world abounds with such as are ungratefull , who contemn the blessings of god , esteeming wealth better then true riches , and therefore god hath set a cloud before their eyes , that such being blinded , may not know those secrets that lie hid under a metallick form . all people , even in these days , cry out , riches , riches , and imitate the saying of the epicurean , if our bodies would enjoy anything , our souls must willingly search after it ; frequently repeating the foolish wish of midas , so often spoken of by the poets : many therefore do here consult with themselves , how from antimony they may obtain their hoped for riches : but because in their commentaries and devices they minde not their creator , nor render a sacrifice of praise , and neglect that charity due to their neighbor , they in vain feel in the horses mouth , whose age , force and strength , they remain ignorant of : so in the wedding at cana of galilee , they indeed tasted and drank of the wine , and knew it to be made of water ; but the manner of its transmutation they were not acquainted with , for our saviour kept that miracle to himself alone , for the confirmation of his omnipotency . i do therefore affirm , that the mysteries of all things , and those secrecies that are implanted in the creatures by the creator , ought to be inquired into , and sought after from him : although 't is incredible and unlikely , that a man should attain to a perfect knowledge , any more then they aforementioned could understand our saviours miracles ; yet 't is not forbidden us to seek , because by study and diligence we may come to learn , so much as to prevent the causes of complaining of the loss of our health and riches ; and also may finde cause enough to rejoyce in such things , as by search we finde out , for which , let god , who is well worthy , be for ever praised . whosoever therefore will be a true antimonial anatomist , let him first consider the division or opening of its body , that after a due manner , and in due season , and in its own seat , he make his attempts , without erroneous deviations . secondly , let the regiment or governance of the fire be observed , that it be not too great nor too little , that it grows not too cold nor too hot ( for in the fire lies the very art ) that its living spirits may be forced out , released , and set at liberty , to perform their operating virtues . thirdly , let the use be observed , together with the certain measure and quantity , as before in my five necessary chymical heads or observations i have denoted , yet i le repeat them parabolically . by the division or anatomical part , the chief thing receives its preparation ; but in & by the fire is it adduced to profit and use : even as a butcher cuts an ox , ( which he hath killed ) into several pieces ; but yet 't is not fit for use being crude ; but must be concocted by the fires heat , which takes away the rawness of the flesh , and prepares it for useful nutriment , ( for if an housholder should eat crude flesh , it would be rather a poyson then food ; because the heat of mans stomack is too weak for concocting such a crude gross body . ) even so also , ( my friend ) maist thou conclude concerning antimony , which seeing 't is a crude gross poyson , and being mineral , hath a more hard indigestible body , then living creatures have ; it cannot be digested in the stomack , without a precedent preparation and concoction , but death would soon follow so strong a medicine . above all things ( as to antimony ) let its poison be taken away , and let it be so handled and ordered that it may never be reducible into poison any more , even to eternity : even as vinegar can never more be reduced into wine , out of which it was made by putrefaction , not frō thence ( viz. vinegar ) can a spirit of wine be extracted , but it is vinegar , and so it will remain . but contrarily if by distillation the spirit of wine be separated from its aquosity , and be elevated into its own exaltation , t will never be changed into vinegar in a whole age , but will alwaies remaine spirit of wine , as spirit of vinegar will still continue to be spirit of vinegar : but the manner of the generation of this wine-vinegar is wonderfull ; for of it , is made a thing different from what it was before in its vegetative essence ; for in the destillation of wine , the spirit of the wine comes first , the watry part residing in the bottom ; but in the distillation of vinegar , the spirit riseth last , as elsewhere hath been treated of . the spirit of wine therefore makes things votatile , because it selfe is volatile ; but the fix'd spirit of vinegar fixeth them , viz. the minerall and vegetable medicines that they are enabled to operate upon fix't things , and heal fixed diseases , which things observe very diligently , for therein lies an an entrance of great concernment . antimony ought therefore so to be prepared ( which its owne proper vinegar is able to do ) that its poison may be taken away , and transmuted into medicine , which never more for the future retaines any poison , but rather is sufficient to expell all sorts of poisons . the preparation of antimony consists in the keyes of alchymy only , by which it is opened , divided and separated ; such are calcination , reverberation , & sublimation : also in the extraction of its essence , which is vivified into mercury , which mercury is to be precipitated into a fix'd powder : moreover by art may an oile be thence made , which is most exceedingly profitable for the healing of the french disease : and so other preparations are found out by the benefit of chymistry . for example , a workman intending to make ale out of barly , wheat , or other fruits , t is needfull that he passeth through all these degrees before he extracts its essence , and convert it into a noble drink . first of all , he must macerate it in water , untill the fruit be broken , ( as i exactly observed , when being a young man i was in holland and england ) and this is nothing else but putrefaction ; this being done let the water run therefrom ; and the corne thus macerated , gather up into an heap , and leave it so for some season , that ( of its own accord ) it may grow warme , and this is called digestion , which being finished , dry the corne thus prepared in the aire , or at the heat of a fire , which is reverberation or coagulation ; being dryed , let it be ground in a mill like meale , and this is its vegetable calcination ; all these things being performed , it is to be boyled with water , that so the most noble spirit of the graine may be extracted by , and joyned unto the water , which before its preparation could not have beene done : thus then is the crude water changed into ale , and this is distillation after a grosse manner : the little leaves of the hops that are at last mingled with it , are the vegetable and preservative salt , keeping the ale from perishing by a new putrefaction : the italians and spaniards have but a small knowledge of this processe : in the upper germany , also in the country of rhine ( being my country ) few there are that are herewith acquainted : all the aforesaid degrees being compleated , then by clarification is a new separation made , and a little ferment or yest added to the boyled ale , which stirs it up to motion , that it lifts up it self of its own accord , and by that ebullition is the troubled separated from the cleer , the impure from the pure , by convenient standing and time , from whence the ale attaines its due perfection , and can operatively penetrate and accomplish that for which intent t is given . as long as the operative spirit is hindred by impurity , it cannot performe its office and worke , which is apparent in wine , which before its setling and standing , it cannot performe its operation ; but only after the separation of the pure from the impure ; which is hereby discernable , because that neither wine nor ale will inebriate , as long as they are new and unpurified , and are not capable of then emitting their operating spirits , but of this enough . now after all this , a new separation may be instituted by a vegetable sublimation , whereby the spirits of wine or ale may be reduced to another drink , viz. ( aquavitae ) which also is extractable out of either of their feces , which being done , and the operating spirituall virtue separated from its body , and abstracted by fire , there remaines nothing behind but only a warrish and dead sediment , and by rectification , this aquavitae may be so exalted , that by a frequent and artificiall abstraction it may become most pure , without any phlegme or water accompanying it , and then one pound is more efficacious then twenty pounds or more were before , for it speedily penitrates and inebriates , being reduced to this high degree of volatile virtue . thou therefore that art desirous of art , if thou wouldst obtaine knowledge from my writings , and wealth , riches , and true medicine from antimony , consider well what i have afore sayd , for therein the least letter hath its signification , and there 's not a word writ in vain , verily in my writings all about , are many words variously placed , which if the artificer did consider and understand what the true intent is , and in what the mark lyes , it would not greive him to read over every leafe severall times , and to engrave every word in a table of gold , and take notice , that although i have made use of rusticall and grosse examples , yet are they of great concernment ; i will not praise my own bookes , it being too unbe-seeming ; but let tryal be made , and they shall be found truly praise-worthy : i have the rather used such grosse examples , that ( because the virtue of antimony lies most profoundly hid , and is to be drawn out of most secret places ) by such examples , a way may be opened for thee , that thou mayst sooner obtaine thy end , and begin in a convenient manner , and bring thy diligent search to an happy issue . antimony may be compared to a bird flying in the ayre , which turnes herselfe sometime here , sometimes there , even as the aire drives her : so here a man or artist is the wind , who drives antimony where it pleaseth him , and brings it under a constellation in that place which he hath assigned it , for he can make it red , yellow , white or black , even as it seemes him best , ( having good respect to the governance of his fire ) wherein he shall assuredly discerne that antimony passeth all the colours which are wont to be found in mercury , at which do not make such great admiration , for nature permits many things which neither i nor thou shall be able totally ▪ and throughly to learne to day , to morrow , or next day : when an illiterate man takes up any book he knowes not what the writing thereof containes , and is totally ignorant of the signification of the letters therein , which he gazeth on as a heifer on a new dore ; but when that unskilfull man shall be informed as to the signification and use of those letters , he then ceaseth to esteem it any science more , but counts it a thing common and very facile , the use and intent whereof he perfectly understands , so that nothing seemes to him secret or obscure in that book , when both the reading and true apprehension of its contents are discovered and well conceived by him . in like manner antimony is as it were a booke for unexperienced men to read , whom i faithfully admonish with all my heart , ( if they would participate of the benefit of that booke ) that they first consider its letters , know and pronounce them , that to read , may be familiar unto them , ( the which by practising ) they may deservedly be advanced unto a higher forme or classis in the schoole , in which schoole , truly experience is the master , which by the tryall discovers who shall obtaine the garland , and be worthy its enjoyment before another . moreover , i will not that thou be ignorant , how many men daily , but foolishly , and very inconsiderately , cry out crucifie , crucifie , against all that administer poysons unto men , and prepare their accustomed medicine thereof , whereby so many men are miserably destroyed , of which nature , are mercury , arsenick , and antimony , and with these unseasoned clamours do the unlearned physitians most of all cry out , themselves being absolutely ignorant what reall poison , and what a true remedy is , how a separation is to be begun and perfected , that so out of poison the evill of its nature may be removed , and a better substituted : i do therefore my self also speak & cry out against all such as dangerously administer to man such poisonous things , not versed in their due preparations , for mercury , arsenick , antimony and the like , ( in their substance without preparation ) are plainly venemous and so remaine ; but yet after a necessary preparation , extraction , mortification , and victory over their poyson , they verily become a medicine sufficient to resist all other internall poisons , and fundamentally to eradicate them . and certainly when that which is poisonous shall by due preparation be so ordered , that it is no more noxious for the time to come , it then resists all such poisons as it finds unprepared , and prepares them in such manner , that they also lay aside their venenosity , and become conformable unto it , although both were hurtfull and poisonous at first . here i shal stir up amongst the learned a great contention , as to the true meaning of this my writing , whether or no what i now mention be possible or not concerning which many a censure wil be past : some suppose that from the aforesayd things , their venemous qualities can not be altogether removed by any meanes , no wonder indeed , that the knowledge of this thing is hid from their eyes , and that they do not at all think of learning the wonders of this universe . othersome , but a very few will readily confirm my doctrine of the transmutation of evill into what is better . consider , that even physitians will confesse , that the evill wherein a disease doth lodge , may be converted into good , and if they allow so far , it may not be unlawful for me also to affirm , that the evill which lies hid in a physical or medicinal subject , may be transmuted into better , that it may be administred with safety , rightly and wholsomely . but whereas experience , and the manner of proceeding is knowne to , but a very few , there will be but a very small number that will with constancy , adhere to the defence of my proposed opinion , without yeilding up to the clamours of the multitude , whose cryes are poison , poison , poison , as those impious jewes throated it out against our ever blessed saviour , crucifie him , and avowing him the readiest and worst of poisons , when as he was , and is indeed the panacea of our soules , redeeming of us from sin , death , the devill and hell , although the proud insulting scribes and pharisees denyed him , yet assuredly it both was and will remain a certain truth ( let the enemies of truth be broken to pieces ) even to eternity ; nor shall be ever convicted of falsity , by either death , devils , or the gates of hell . so i know that many trifling wanderers , lazy doctors , empericks , and many other intruders into physick , will clamor out against antimony , crying , a crucifige ; but yet it will endure , when those ignorant medicasters shall be broken to pieces ( i speak not here of those honest physitians , who adjudge it no shame to receive instruction ) it will , i say , remain , and by the vertue of it 's due preparation , potently subdue and conquer its enemies , when as the wicked haters and deriders of antimony shal perish , together with the blood-thirsty enemies of christ . i tend my speech to you skilfull doctors , who perswade kings and princes , &c. yea , and warn them to beware of this or that medicine , as being hurtfull , poysonous , and dangerous ; how rediculous you appear in my eye , i forbear to mention , for i well perceive and finde , that though in their own esteem they are most learned men , yet they speak onely according to opinion , ignorantly , and without any true observation , on which account they cannot either judge or speak otherwise ; and if it should happen that a man should have drunk such a poyson , and be even burst assunder , even there , by the help of god , would i administer such an antidote of my own preparation ( which , out of meer charity , i always am careful of having ready by me ) which should timely expel all the poyson , and cast it out : although thou , mr. doctor , who neither observest or understandest , wilt say 't is false and a lie ; it matters not , i know how to defend my own , and by approved experience to confirm it ; i have tryed it , prepared it , and ( if so liked me ) could produce testimony of its operation from the hands of many . and if i were to dispute in a methodical legitimate order with that doctor , as prepares not any of his medicines , nor knows how to do it , but commits the charge and care thereof to another : i am confident that i should outstrip him in his function of administring suitable remedies , & tumble him down to a place more low , with shame enough , he being ignorant of what he administers to his patients , and unacquainted with the qualities of his medicines , whether white , black , red , caeruleous , yellow , hot , cold , moist , or dry , or what they be : he reads of them onely in books , and by length of time obtains a possession of them , ( or , as it were , a possession ) nor endeavors he after any more acquaintance with them : most righteous god! what will these do ? what care do these men take of their consciences ? how will they succor the sick ? woe , woe , in the last day they 'l finde the end thereof , and deservedly finde whom it is that they have pierced . their thoughts are altogether after money , when as if they rightly minded their vocation , they would night and day think how to obtain farther for the augmentation of their renown : but labour being burdensome unto them , they let that pass , and run on , and defend their cure with prating , but yet with a checking conscience , and without any foundation : and let thus much suffice them . coles , to such men , are out of use , nor do they want them , but keep their money to bestow it on better uses : vulcan has but small familiarity with them , their furnaces for destillation are onely in the apothecaries shop , and thither also they rarely come : a little peice of paper , stufft with a recipe , compleats all things ; the which , a servant with his pestle and mortar , composeth : most bounteous god! change the time , put a period to their pride , lop off the trees least they grow up to heaven ; crush the gyants , least they heap up mountain upon mountain , and be assistant to those that trust upon thee , that they may stand before their hateful enemies . i do therefore admonish all my brethren , who live with me in this cloyster , that they constantly help me in their prayers for more plenty of true medicine , and that god would enlighten its hateful deriders , and reclaim them from their errors , whereby they may come to acknowledge the power of the creator placed in his creatures , and may hear it apparently and perspicuously , and may understand the very inward secrets ( by their endeavors and anatomy ) which lie most deeply hid under the outward form ; & i hope that the almighty creator wil hear our prayers , which if he please not , during mine and my brethrens lives , yet haply after our decease some may repent them , to whom so much grace may be given , that their darksome , blinde , and dimmed eyes , may receive sight , and by a true enlightning , finde the lost groat , the which god grant . amen . now therefore , having decreed to deliver a perfect , and my absolute opinion of antimony , i think convenient to speak a few words touching its name : observe therefore , it was formerly called by the arabians , asinat ; by the chaldeans , stibium ; by the latines 't is to this day called antimonium ; but the germans , ( studious in their own proper language ) call it spisglâsse , i. e. speared or radiated glass , because its substance is in such a form , and out of it may be made glass ( either apart , or by addition ) of divers colours , lying hid therein , and educible therefrom . let every one on that account consider , that the observations of the chaldeans , arabians , latines , germans , and other people , about antimony , were not in vain , but that both its vertue and use might equally and deservedly be taken notice of , and 't is very likely and credible , that by succeeding heresie its praise and virtue died , for truth may be opprest by the enemies violence , the devil being by god permitted to act many things , because of our transgressions and blindness . satan , you know , is mans enemy , and now that the verity of sincere medicine may be impeded and totally drowned , he makes use of all his art and endeavors , that the power of god may be eclipsed , and no thanks ascribed to him for his implanted blessings , and that natural remedies and redresses may be removed from man . but seeing 't is not so much requisite to dispute and discourse much of the name of antimony , because its title neither helps nor hinders , and because all the praise consists in its preparation , and in that power which by nature is given to it , and by the creator bestowed on it : i shall omit to mention more of its name , and come to describe its efficacy and operation , by which its vertues may be laid open , and immortal praise may be obtained . yet before i come to rehearse the virtues of antimony , seeing ( by my own acknowledgement ) that it is a meer poyson : i will propound an example , how one poyson attracts another like to it self , more effectually then any other thing whatsoever . for ( friendly reader ) observe that the true and inadulterate unicorns horn , casts from it self all sorts of poyson , which is thus evidenced : draw a circle with the said horn about a spider , and he will never get out , because he flies from what is contrary to him ; but if another poyson be put thereto , he would not fly or run from it , but passing through it , would go out of the circle . moreover , if a little piece of silver , hollowed , be made swim in a vessel full of water ( wherein put some poyson ) place the said horn thereunto , and let there not be any bodily or corporal touch , and yet you shal see it to repel the said peice far from it , which will fly upon the water , even as a duck foreseeing the fowler : but if it be placed , viz. the horn nigh to a piece of pure unadulterated bread , swimming upon the water , it will presently attract the bread unto it self , without any corporeal touch , and the bread will follow the horn round about , according as you move it , which is most miraculously wonderful in nature , that each thing should attract its like , and contrarily hate and abandon what is opposite unto it : from whence , the physitians have taken occasion to consider how to attract poyson by poyson , and things not venomous , by things void of poyson , after a magnetical manner . and thus poysons is expelled two severall wayes . first , by its contrary , which opposeth and resists the venome , as i have spoken of the unicorns ●orns . secondly , by its like , that one poyson may extract the other magnetically ; yet so , that the attractive poyson be first prepared , that its venenosity may be transmuted into medicine , sufficiently able to destroy the poyson by its attractive power : so soap washeth grease out of cloath , though it selfe was at first a fatness ; but when it is prepared of lime , oyl , and other things , by boyling and separation ( chiefly by the help of salt ) it ceaseth to defile of to spot , but rather takes them away ; so ( by the help of god ) in like manner poyson by precedent preparation , may cease to be poysonous , extracting it , dissipating it , and restore to former health : but that i may give thee , and the students of art , opportunity of being acquainted with the gifts of nature , and what poyson is , or how to be adjudged , whether good or bad , or what it is , i shall make use of some examples for confirmation of the truth , and the discovery of falsity and error ; which proudly arrogant medicasters or physitians , by reason of their sluggish and droanish lazinesse are unacquainted with . take an egge frozen with cold in the winter season , put it into exceeding cold water for a little while , and then the frigidity of the water will extract the coldness of the egge , and reduce it to its pristine estate ; so , whosoever shall have any member benummed with cold , let him speedily apply cold snow water thereunto , and so one cold will extract another , and the member shall be heated : so to any member possessed with a fervent burning heat , let be applyed some warm , hot matter ( to wit , spirit of wine rectified , or the quintessence of sulphur , both which are fiery in the supreamest degree ) and you shall see that the one heat attracts the other , by the force of magnetism from the member whereto it is applyed , and administers not onely rest , but perfect health . i could confirm my sayings with many undenyable examples ; take the sperm of frogs , appearing in the spring , put them upon a tile , dry them at the sun and powder them ; insperge of this powder on the venomous bitings of snakes and water-serpents , and 't will induce a good basis for their healing , insomuch that other medicines will compleat the cure 〈◊〉 a linnen cloath oftentimes moistned with the said frog-spawn , dryed , cut in p●●ces , and applyed , will perform the same . i ●ill also lead thee to the fundamentals of truth , by another ensample ▪ viz. take a living toad , dry him first at the sun , then in a covered pot well luted , bring him to ashes , pound him , and lay the powder on venomous bitings , or such accidents , and you shall see one venome attracting the other ; and the reason is , because by burning or calcination , the vertue of the toad is opened , and rendred effectually powerful to attract its like poyson . let this certain , indubious , and directory example , of poyson attracting its like , serve thee instead of the rest : if therefore any one be infected with the plague , and shall cautiously and diligently observe this thing , he shall finde that i have written most true ; now the best preservatives in the plague are , the star of the sun , and the spirit of mercury administred together , now the spirit of mercury operates , by attracting to it self poysons of a like nature , as a true cure of all venomous accidents : but because the star of the sun ( by whom ( as an operating vivifying sun ) all things are generated ) doth after a manner conquer universally every thing , i have placed the supreamest active power in the vertue of the sun ; that is , in its star , from whence all metals and minerals do principally obtain the original of their generation and increase , of which i shall treat more at large , when i shall come to make manifest the star of the sun unto thee , thine own conscience bearing me witness . under the which solar nature , antimony is contained , and deserves observation , for it produceth the self same effects as gold doth , and acts as much as corporeal gold can do ; but it hath not attained the vertue of the star of the sun , but fears and trembles before him ; and although antimony may well boast of his vast surpassing of the most fundamental medicines , yet falls he short of universally accomplishing that , which the star of the ●un hath ( by testimony of a celestial virtue ) in it self , and is able to perform . i omit to speak of the star of mercury , although it springs from the same matter as the aforementioned do , yet because of the penetrative force of the star of the sun , it yeilds to it as its superiour . all my books do harmoniously follow experience , even as links in a chain , or as brass stamps brass : let the virtues of what is therein mentioned , be exactly considered , and judiciously experimented by the fire ; for thus these writings of mine , my business , my proposals and medicines are to be brought to a certain end and conclusion , and ought ( if onely a right judge be present ) to obtain the true hereditary seat , and by means of that attempted way , bear away the honor and renown : now vulcan , a glorious artificer , as to the fire ( his own element ) is the onely judge ; concerning which , hear an example of a certain and indubitable experiment : when a flint-stone is smitten against a steel , a fire is stirr'd up by their mutual collision and violent motion ; the hidden sulphur or occult fire is discovered by that striking , and is by the air enkindled , so that it burns actually and sensibly ; the salt remains in the ashes , and the mercury flies away like combustible sulphur . from hence you may understand a certain manner how to proceed with antimony , viz. that his mercury be separated from his sulphur and salt , by medium's , granted us by nature . as the fire ( whil'st lying in its matter ) operates nothing , either profitable or permanent , unless it be made manifest ; so all remedies , except they are separated from their more gross parts , and are rectified , loosned , clarified , and artificially prepared ( by which all men may acknowledge that there 's a separation made of the pure from the impure ) and except the metallick : arth be removed from the rich , pure metal , there 's no ground of any certain and infallible hope ; all which transites cannot be done without the true manner of opening and loosening the body by the regiment of fire . in a word , i thus unfold the nature of antimony . all secret things ( whilst hidden ) are esteemed arts , the secret being revealed ceaseth to be an art , and becoms a trade , as i have elsewhere taught . the bee sucks honey from the flowers by an art which god hath given him , wherein the virtue , juice , and comforting faculty of medicines is contained , and out of which is openly or every where a medicine made ; and contrarily , from the sweetest honey may a corrosive be made , and the worst of poison , which experienced men only know , and ( after observation ) beleive : yet hony is not to be rejected or despised , which , ( notwithstanding its most excellent sweetnesse ) becomes destructive to its own medicinall faculties , if a corrisive be prepared therefrom , but , that the unvers'd and unexperienced physitian knowes not its preparation : here therefore will i fix a crosse even to the judgment day , for ignorant and unlearned physitians . now hony is thus prepared , out of the excrements of bruit beasts , the meadowes and dunged fields produce severall flowers , herbs , and plants , ( the earths young ones ) from these plants , herbs , and flowers , the bees extract a juice or quintessence , of which an alteration is made , or a generation of one thing from another , viz. a meat or honey differing from the first savour and form ; out of honey is prepared for man a most commodious , sweet , and most profitable food for many things : out of the same honey may be prepared an intoxicating essence , most destructive to man and beast . consider therefore o physitian , whatsoever thou art , young or old , learned or unlearned , rich or poor , a workman or artificer , or whatever thou art , follow me and nature , i will fundamentally teach thee the truth without any lye ; in what thing profit , and that which is good and right is , and in what injury is , and how thou shalt be able to separate the good from the evill , the lowest from the highest . verily out of antimony may be prepared a medicine , ( but all its venenosity must be first changed into medicine ) which may be able to blot out and consume all diseases , and to penetrate , in the manner of fire . know therefore that antimony ought to be prepared into a true stone like to fire , as to its virtue , as i have said ; on which account the quintessence of antimony is by me called the stone of fire ; for if it shall have been first brought to its own coagulation ; and if our stone of fire shal be truly prepared ( of which , at the end of this tract i shall write more largely ) its operation is not unlike those things , which consume maligne humours , and purifie the bloud even to the utmost degree , performing all such things as are found in potable gold . be therefore intreated my doctor , ( and yet no doctor , when as to this day thou hast learned no due preparation , and much lesse , cognizance of the use of my medicines ) that thou judge me not by thy opinion only , having no other witnesses then the unexperienced imaginations of thine own braines . but rather addresse thy self to labour , learn the way of preparing antimony , how it is to be proceeded withall , how its poison is to be rejected and separated , and a salubrious wholsome remedy introduced in its roome ; which if thou hast done , thou mayst truly judge of those things which formerly were , and at present are to thee unknown . o miserable worldly sophisters , who are loaden , and with child as it were , of false wisdome , ye lean on a deceitfull foundation , ye fly in the ayry imaginations of your owne fancies , and are altogether ignorant of the place of your rest : i do therfore admonish you , as you will give an account at the dreadfull day of judgement to the son of god , that you seek and learn what things you must use , that you may perform your duty , leaving the remainder unto god , who will blesse you , and afford his help unto you . o slow asses and drones , who care not to make any progresse in learning , and fear to black your hands with coales , be not hasty to judge , neither give any farther occasion of pulling that sentence upon your selves , which your childrens children may write against you in a booke incorruptible , above all things let every physitian be cautious , that he prescribe nothing averse to nature or to his cure , least his hope of restoring health deceive him . as if spirit of wine should be poured into the water of separation , a great conflict and burning would suddenly follow , because one nature cannot brook the other : but he that knowes how to unite and conjoyne them philosophically in distillation , will be able by the help thereof to make things momentary . so the oyle or liquor of tartar , and vinegar cannot be united by reason of their mutuall hatred ( although they both sprang from the same fountaine ) differing from each other , as much as fire and water ; so then the physitian in his undertaking a cure , ought heedfully to inquire into all circumstances that respect his patient , and having so examined , let him consider and use such right mediums as may remove the evill , lest destruction ariseth from that which should have remedied the disease . as when a red hot iron is quenched in aquafortis , & oyl of tartar forthwith poured thereunto , thou shalt scarce preserve thy glasse from breaking , but those contrary natures , will cast out fire from themselves in the manner of gunpowder , concerning which , our doctor with his gowne being ignorant , is forc'd to hold his peace . ah wretched men , unlearned doctors , unexperienced physitians , who write tedious receipts in a long paper : o ye apothecaries that set over the fire great cauldrons sufficient to boil the meat of noble mens houses , and to hold enough for an hundred persons , how long will ye be blind , anoint your eyes with a collyrium and balsom , that the scales may be taken off , and your eyes may obtain a true sight , which the lord vouchsafe unto you , that you may acknowledge his wonders , and consider his works , let love and charity to your neighbour take root within you , that you may be searchers after true medicine , which the king and heavenly prince of all , hath formed by his own omnipotent arme , and eternall wisdome , and freely given for the benefit of the most noble creature , man , viz. for his help and health in the greatest necessity . o deplorable , putrid , and stinking bag of wormes , , ah poor little worm and vilest of creatures , what thinkest thou that thus feelest after the husks , and leavest the kernells , nor ever thankest thy creatour for them , after whose image thou wert created , nor ever givest praise unto him for all his wondrous works ? return , return unto thy self delineate or paint thy self out , and make a resemblance of thy effigies , that it may shame thee of all thy ingratitude , because tho● hast not hitherto sought that which go● hath hidden in those good things he hat● granted unto us , and infused into hi● creatures , that a sacrifice of praise ma● be returned unto him . but i shall hold my peace , and from bewailing this misery , blindnesse , and errour , ( wherein the world is drowned ) i shall restain● my self , left by the trickling down of tears my writings should receive defilement , from which i can hardly abstaine . i am an ecclesiasticall man , implanted into : church-order , whereto i shall subject my self with my heart and mouth as long as my soule lives in this miserable body : i am on that account compelled to refrain , nor dare i write any thing of my selfe ▪ unlesse it be suitable to my order , else i would lift up my voice like a trumpet , and were i but a temporall judge , i would have audience at the hands of those contumacious men , who as yet not knowing the truth ( but are ignorant ) do slanderously persecute it , calumniate , reproach , and oppresse it with all their strength . most good god , most high lord of hosts , that sittest in thy glorious throne , governest the heavens and the earth which thou hast created , conservest the stars , disposest the elements , & the firmament , that they may run their course , before whom all the world trembles , the internall spirits fear ; look down for once upon the vanity of this unthankfull world : teach the sons of men inwardly to acknowledge what thou hast outwardly set before their eyes , that thou maist be glorified in thy throne , truly known in thy power , and worthily praised in thy infinite government & rule . truly i ( wretched and worthlesse man do give all thanks to thy most glorious mjesty for those great miracles and blessings , of health and riches which thou hast vouchsafed me , i cannot give thee any more in this world , which is but temporary and corruptible . but now in my writing of antimony , i shall discover its beginning truly , of what originall , and how it obtaines superiority and government ; how it may be elevated into its perfect operation : i will propound its root and its generation in the bowels of the earth , to what predominating star it is subject , what elements they are which have concocted it . let therefore the studious artist know that antimony is nothing else but a fum● or minerall vapour , produced above by the stars , and then digested by the elements into a coagulated forme . let all know , that antimony receives its essence , virtue , faculty , operation , and all qualities , as to its initium , o● birth , and root , as the mercury of the vulgar doth ; but with an harder coagulation . seeing that it is reduced to a more hard confirmation or coagulum , then common running mercury , which wants this induration , and the reason is , because it participates of a more thick salt , ( out of the three principles ) although with respect to its three principies , the salt obtains in it the smallest roome , yet it hath more thereof then common mercury hath ; from which meanes it obtains its coagulation ; because t is salt that gives hardnesse in all things , which hardnesse common mercury wants , because of its small portion of salt : in which mercury , a combustible sulphur is invisibly implanted , alwaies keeping it in flux , prohibiting its coagulation , nor can it be coagulated without the addition of other metallick spirits , which in the matrix of saturne are most potently effused , and to be there had beyond all the other metals , and otherwise it cannot be accomplished without the stone of the wise men , by which its three principles are made harmonious , and threby it obtaines a fusil malleable , soluble , and conjugable body like to the other metalls , otherwise mercury is running mercury still , and so remains untill this quality be taken from it . and on that account all animall and vegetable things are too too weake to bring mercury unto a fix , permanent and malleable hardnesse ( though some imagine the contrary ) because they are not of a metallick kind : for mercury is a meere fire , whence t is , that he can not be burnt by any fire , there 's no fire touches him , at least so , as totally to destroy , for he either suddenly flies away , and is spiritually resolved into an oyle incombustible , or else after fixation he abides constant that none can abstract from him any thing more ; and by this it appears also , because of him may be made whatsoever can by art be made of gold , for after a due coagulation hee is in all things like to gold , because he enjoyes the same root , stock , and originall , as gold doth : but seeing it is not my purposed aime to speake more prolixly of mercury here , and by speaking to introduce disputations , but simply and candidly to describe the true fundamentall originall of antimony , farewell mercury , that the discourse of antimony may be continued , but yet that which i have spoken of mercury ; parabollically , for your farther meditation , is not mentioned in vaine , but that antimony may thereby be the more rightly understood , it also being endowed with a mercuriall orignall . observe , mark and understand this , commit it to thy memory , viz. that all mineralls , as also all metalls are born of one principium or beginning , to wit , of a vapour , which the superiour stars do as it were extract from the element of the earth , by a certain distillation of the macrocosme or greater world , the influx of which upper astrall heat , operates upon things below , by an aereall fiery p●operty , infu●●ing it in , spiritually and invisibly . which vapour is resolved in the earth , and flowes , as it were , into water ; from which minerall water , all mettalls are seasonably brought to their maturity and perfection , and of it is made this or that metall or minerall , according to the predominating power of one of the three principles , or that which it abounds withall , be it one , or two , or all , equally tempered together , from whence t is that some metalls are fixt , othersome not fixt , as are gold , silver , copper , iron , tin , and lead ; moreover besides those known metalls , out of the same three principles ( according to the various commixion of them ) are sundry and divers mineralls generated and produced , such are vitrioll , antimony , marcasits , and other like flectrams , and mineralls , all which to reckon up , would be superfluous ; now whe●e●s gold in its own asterisme and generation becomes suddenly impregnated with , and receives a portion of a more pure and perfect sulphur and mercury then the other mineralls and metalls have , therefore its operative power and virtue is more large and effectuall in acting then the ●tars of the other metalls , and mineralls are , and on that account , in the star of the sun all things appear more perfectly ( if at least it shall be , by the benefit of the fire , reduced to its maturity ) then are to be found in the rest of the metalls and mineralls . and yet notwithstanding is there one only minerall , ( frequently mentioned by me ) wherein the sulphur of the sun is found to be as strong ( yea and stronger ) then in the sun it self , even as also there are two sorts of metalls found , wherein those dominations do abundantly triumph of which this is no place to treate : but i shall go on to finish the description of the nature of antimony . antimony therefore is a minerall having its minerall vapour turned into water , which spirituall emanation of the stars , is the true star of antimony ; which water in the element of the earth , by the strength of the stars , and also of the fire dwelling in the aire , being dryed , became by coagulation a palpable thing ; out of which , antimony is generated and brought forth in a forme , wherein sulphur beares the sway . mercury hath the next portion , and salt the least ; although it hath received salt enough to become an hard unmalleable forme . as to its quality it is dry and cold , its cold and moisture are not much , even as common mercury and corporeal gold it self , hath more of heat then cold : let these things suffice concerning the matter and the 3 principles of antimony , and how by the archeus in the element of the earth , it became perfect . but because such a narrow , philosophical search is not of so much concernment to the students of art , and most men value not in what centre the star of antimony resides , and from whence t is sprung , but would rather learne what good lyes in it , and would understand its preparation and reduction to a due state , that the virtues and operations thereof ; so much every where , by all , spoken of , may not be to them unknown : i shall therefore omit to delay them with long doubtings , but will briefly and sincerely write those things which in my private labour i have observed to be in antimony : although , for the shortnesse of life none can perfectly learn all , because in its preparations , miraculous accidents doe follow each other , degree following degree , colour following colour . one virtue , faculty , and operation succeds another . antimony therefore is no light or trivial poyson , but a chief one , and most high , being deadly both to man and beast ; from whence the common physitians , and ignorant plebeians ( having no true knowledge of medicine ) reject the use of antimony as poisonous ; & physitians forbid it to noble men , as dangerous ; and the academical professours doe barke out and howle ( even to madnesse ) to their disciples , a caveto : o beware of antimony for its a merely absolute poyson : now the inhabitants of towns , or cities on these clamours forbid the use of antimony , and with those out cryes have most men bin stird up , that even to my age or time , they 'l not hear of antimony , nor give any trust unto his medicines , although immense and unspeakable things are found therein : well , bee it so , verily i speak the truth and my writings are void of falsity : i call god my creatour to witnesse , that there is not a more noble medicine under the heavens , wherein a capital rich-pillar may be placed , then is in antimony , and deservedly on that accompt ought there to be fixed and erected . my son ; mark my sayings ; reader , observe my writings , wise men , consider the antimonial experiments which i doe mention ; my theory is founded upon nature , and my practick on experience , most frequently demonstrated & producing its effect to the admiration of many incredulous people ; i doe confesse as formorly i have done , that antimony at first before its preparation is a meere poyson . but good m. doctour , or batchelour , or physitian , ( but yet without any true degree , ) since thou art buried as to art , and onely beatest the bush , what dost thou talke for , let me also speak too , remember what thou sayest and consider that doctrine which i propound unto thee ; antimony ( say'st thou ) is poyson . ergo , none ought to use it ; a miserable conclusion good m. doctour and bachelour or m. physitian with your red cap : the best triacle is made of poyson or of {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , from whence it hath its denomination . and therefore none may take it into their bodies , because a poyson is therein : what ? doth this doctrine please you ? is this voice acceptable to your ears ? antimony after preparation ceaseth to be a poyson , and the whole of it being by spagyrick art transmuted , becomes medicinal , even as triacle is made of the venemous viper ; but before its preparation thou shalt not receive any profit or benefit from antimony , but rather discommodity and danger . now if thou intendest to become an antimonial disciple ( having first prayed ) frequent the school of vulcan beyond all other things , who is the master and teacher of all secrets , ( which the meanly learned men doe deride , and by their sloathful lazinesse never come to be acquainted with any secret from him , putting off the manifestation of any arcanum by their own sluggishnesse , ) nor is there any remedy in the world to be prepared without fire , let them cry out as they list , though never so madly . but what shall we speak of these haters of antimony , let us not value them , unlesse they can bring to the light something better and more excellent then antimony is ; seeing that especially out of antimony , may like remedies be had as ly hid in gold and the mercury of the vulgar , ( the star of the sun onely excepted ) from both which may an aurum potabile bee made to heal the leprosie , and the spirit of mercury is the chief top remedy of the french disease and many others . although those contemning fellows neither know nor are able to search it out . an ignorant man can no more judge , then the asse ( being ignorant of symphony ) can instruct the shepherd how to handle his pipe . he therefore that would truely judge , ought afore to learn all such things as he intends to deliver his judgement about , and to know as well from experience as from books that which is true and that which is false , that so he may judge aright . but before i addresse my self to the manner of proceding , i may perchance meet with some who will inquire whence minerals and other venemous subjects attract their poyson , what the essentiality of poyson is , & from whence generated in all things ; how ( the poyson being removed ) that thing may be converted unto medicine & safely administred without danger . i shall therefore informe you , concerning the influence of poyson , the which may be considered , naturally & supernaturally . therefore the first reason why god ( the supream guide , and governour of the stars , the creatour of heaven and earth , ) hath thought good to set before us sensible poysons , especially in minerals , is that by their first constitution , miraculous and powerful operation there planted by god , a man might see that his intent of thus exposing them to view , was , that there might be a distinction between good and evil , even as in his law , he hath prescribed us the knowledge of things to be done and to be left undone , viz. of good to be embraced and of evil to be avoided ; after the same manner as the tree in paradise was placed before our first parents , the use whereof tended to good , but the abuse to evil , which command of god being violated misery and destruction step't in . 2. another cause is that the good and the evil being known , the evil might be avoided and reduced unto a better state ; for it s not the will & pleasure of god that men drowned in destruction should totally perish , but that returning from evil , they proceed to what is better , and avoid the losse of their souls ; on that account hath he by similitudes placed before us good and evil , which in like manner is to be found in the command of his mouth verbally , and in the work of creation , that we may choose things tending to health , and avoid things tending to destruction . 3. thirdly , poyson is also produced by the stars , wherein are malevolent and con●rary conjunctions and oppositions of the planets , whence it falls out that the planets become infected and then cause in this inferiour world and microcosme plagues and other venemous diseases ; the like may you conceive of the comets . 4. fourthly , poyson is also produced by the fighting of two contraries , as for example , if a man exceedingly angry , or sad , or boyling with rage should drink , a deadly poyson would thereby be enkindled . 5. fifthly ; for illustrations sake , weapons may be ranked under the forme of poysons , if by them , any one receive a mortal wound , ( in which the abuse of weapons consists ; ) but if they be employed for defence and preservation of life , therein , their use is lawful and converted unto medicine . 6. sixtly and lastly , the cause of poyson becomes apparent from considering nature . whatsoever fights against her is a poyson to her , as in some men , they beeing not able to bear some meats , those meats being contrary to nature , become a poyson , but to such as love them , a medicine ; but principally , venenosity is extracted from an earth of a mercurial substance ( i speak of mineral poysons ) which being immature , indigested , of a form contrary to nature , and of hard concoction ( which hinders maturity and perfection , ) the whole body becomes thereby as it were a crude mineral ; as if a man should devour crude or raw wheat , his stomack would hardly concoct it , but weaknesse and inconveniences would seize upon the whole body , because of the deficiency and weaknesse of natural heat to digest it . but the wheat beeing maturated by the fire of the macrocosme , ought to be againe boyled or concocted by a lesser fire that it may be digested by the microcosme , as i have aforesaid concerning the eating of flesh ; hence t is evident that seeing antimony is crude , volatile and not maturated in the earth , or enough decocted , it cannot be born by the stomach without terrible torment of the body , and destruction , because of the debility of natural heat , too insufficient throughly to digest it ; experience teacheth thus much , that all purging medicines ( be they mineral , animal , or vegetable ) are of a poysonous substance , because of the predominating , mercurial , volatile essence that is in them , which volatile spirit is the cause of casting out those things that are found in mā , yet they do not set upon the root of that disease which is fixt , because fix't remedies onely doe throughly search out and radically expel fix't diseases , which to unfixt purgations is not granted , they , beeing like a violent torrent , sweep away what lyes in their compasse , but doe not work upon the fixed earth . now fixed and prepared purgatives doe not operate by stoole , but show themselves onely by sweat and and other means , and hunt out the very kernel and not the huske or shell and chaffe of the disease , as volatile , unfixt and unprepared purges doe , they onely expel the crust as it were , and cover of what is excrementitious , but as to the centre of the disease , that they reach not unto . be it on that account known to every one , of what state , age , or title soever , that the venomous essence must be totally removed out of antimony , before it can be transmitted into medicine , and be intituled with the name of a remedy . hearken therefore to the separation of antimony , of the good from the bad , of the fix'd from the volatile , of distinguishing what is helpful from what is poysonous , if at least we would obtain profit with honour , and verity , which cannot be accomplished without the separation of vulcan or fire , who is the artificer , as to all such things . for whatsoever vulcan leaves imperfect in the macrocosme , that the microcosme repairs and amends by a new vulcan , which maturates what is crude , and perfectly concocts it , making separation of the pure from the impure ; and let it not seem strange that the pure and the wholsome can be segregated from the impure and unwholsome , and that a remedy can ( by the benefit of fire ) be made out of that which is hurtful ; because t is evidenced by daily experience in the probation and inspection of colours discovered by the fire : for separation , and fire makeing a fixation , take away the venome and in its roome substitute a salubrious remedy . t is the fire then , that separates the poison from the medicine , the good from the evil , which thing none of the physitians either can or dare set their seales unto , unlesse they have contracted a most intimate familiarity with vulcan , and obtained that infernal bath of amity , wherein the bride being washed from all her uncleanesse may enter with her bridegrome into a legitimate bed ; o worldly subtilty that despisest or dost not understand my writings , did'st thou but know what i have now said unto thee , what may be called fixt , and what volatile , what the separation of the pure from the impure meanes , thou wouldst turn off many things to lethes lake , and contemne those trifles wherein thou trustest and follow me . for in me ( these are the words of antimony ) shalt thou find a mercury , sulphur , and salt , most useful remedies for the health of man ; the mercurial part lyes hid in the regulus , the sulphur in the rednesse , and the salt in the black earth which remains in the bottome . these three rightly separated and againe co-united by a due artificial manner , that a fixation without any poyson may be accomplished , give just cause of bo●sting to the artist , that he hath obtained the stone of fire , which may be made of antimony both for mans health , his food and rayment . for in antimony maist thou find all the colours of the universe , as white , black , red , green , blew , ashcolour , yellow , and colours innumerable , diversly preparable by incredible mixtures , diversly to be known and several wayes to be administred in sundry cases , every sort to be orderly disposed according to an appointed method ; i will therefore in several particles make manifest how medicine is to be prepared , how poyson is to be ejected , fixation to be instituted , things that are to be separated how to be begun withal , that the evil may be conquered and the good may overcome . t is well known to studious artists , that antimony doth not containe the virtue of one onely gemme in it selfe , as the other metals which ( in their kind ) are attributed but to one ; but universally containes the virtues of all stones , which appears by the various colours , which by the regiment of fire it doth yeeld forth ; of this colour some , othersome of another sort &c. it s pellucid shining rednesse is attributed to a carbuncle , rubine , and corals ; its whitenesse to the diamond and chrystal : it s blew and sky colour to the saphyr ; it s green to a smaragdine ; it s yellow to a hyacinth ; it s black to a granate , which naturally carryes in it an occult hidden blacknesse ; but in relation to metals ; it s black is ascribed to saturn , its rednesse to mars , yellow to the sun , green to venus , sky colour to the moon , white to mercury , its various mixt colour to jupiter ; but as all the colours expressed in stones and metals are found in antimony , so therein also all the virtues and faculties of remedies are to be found according to the reason of the colours , which though they are all found in antimony , t is notwithstanding impossible that one man alone should be throughly acquainted with them all , for the shortnesse of life prohibits one man alone to learn all those arcanums which nature carryes with it ; some-times in its preparation , a most acid vinegar is extracted by destillation ; after another way and manner is prepared from it a perfect and transparent rednesse , sweet and pleasant as hony or the purest sugar ; then again of a sudded t is prepared into the bitternesse of wormewood ; another while it imitates the acrimony of the oile of salt , and so one nature succeeds another : some-times again t is elevated by sublimation into the olympian mountains in the manner of a flying eagle , red , yellow and white , being forced down per descensum it yeelds various particular colours and preparations , as also by reverberation , t is also converted into a metal like to lead and into pellucid glasse , white , red , yellow , or black or of any other colour , but all the sorts of this glasse are not with safety to be used in medicine , unlesse tryed by a previous examen . antimony may also be resolved into various and several wonderful oiles , either alone by it self , or else with the addition and commixtion of other things , of which oiles some are onely to be outwardly used , and anointed on wounds or ulcers , othersome may be taken inwardly and drunken ; it yeelds also marvelous extractions which discover themselves so various in colour , that the oracle of apollo can hardly divine and reckon up the wonderous mutations of its nature manifested and opened by the help of fire ; there 's also made thereof quick-silver , and sulphur combustible , like to the common sulphur , whereof gunpowder may be made ; as also a true and natural salt and many other things . i 'le therefore now begin to treat of the preparation of antimony , to wit of its essence , magistery , arcanum and elixir , and its particular tincture , which studiously observe : where ( towards the latter end ) i shall rehearse somewhat of the preparation of the stone of fire , i 'le also recite many other secrets , but litle known , or else neglected in the world , because the egyptians , arabians and chaldeans are long since dead , who exercised this art , which may abundantly serve as the head and fountain of true and inadulterate medicine . observe therefore diligently and orderly all my preparations , as i shall lay them open unto thee , of which not one is without fruit and profit , it s due state beeing observed ; for the fixd medicines of antimony heal fixt diseases , and unfixd , heal diseases not fixed : so crude antimony ( not its prepared glasse ) doth unload and purge the ventricle onely , but suffers the cause of the disease to remaine . i now therefore begin at the several sorts of the ordering of antimony and make evidence of all the keyes of its preparation , which by fire onely is manifested , as a new birth , in that vocation or calling prescribed by god : the solution or preparation of the mineral of antimony is done by sundry sorts of fire and regiments of art , by which its medicinal force and operation is extracted by heat , and seeing that antimony is of a mixt colour , of a dull reddish black with a litle shining whitenesse . i 'll first describe its first destruction , or calcination , which is thus brought to passe . take hungarian antimony , or any other , ( the best ) grind it upon a marble into most subtile powder , lay this powder thin and sparingly in a plain earthen vessel , round or square , which let be made with rims about the heigth of two fingers breadth ; place this vessel on a calcining furnace , administer at first a gentle fire of coals , and when the stibium begins to fume , stir it with a litle iron rod to and againe , without ceasing , until it ceaseth to emit any vapour ; but if in the calcination the antimony chanceth to melt and run into balls , take off the vessel from the fire and let the stibium cool , and grind it again , and doe as afore , which must be so often don , until it neither fumes nor runs together any more , but remains in the form of white ashes , for then is your calcination perfect . take now this stibium thus calcined put it into a goldsmiths crucible , place it at a violent fire , that the antimony may flow like pure clear water , and that you may know when the glasse of stibium hath attained a perfect and pellucid colour , put into the crucible a long cold iron , and the glasse will stick thereunto , which strike of with an hammer , and so separate it , and hold it up against the light , which if it be transparent t is good and perfect glasse . but the reader and tyro in this art , ( for i write not to experienced artists , who have a long time endured the heat of the fire , and so its a slight and easy thing to them to make glasse of antimony , but to young followers of pyrotechny ) ought to know that all glasse be it made of what it will , either of a mineral , or a metal , or other things , ought to have its due perfection , that it may shine througly , may operate and be moreover further prepared for medicine . the antimony thus melted in the crucible , take a plain and broad dish or platter of laton , which ( first ) well warm , lest it break ; poure in the stibium by litle and litle , and very thinly , and thou shalt have a yellow transparent fayr glasse . and this way of preparing the glasse of antimony without any adition is the best , which in its operation discovers a greater virtue , and this is that which i call pure glasse , the other sorts being made by the addition of borax , and other such things , for example . take antimony one part , venice borax two parts , grind them together , put them in a crucible , and place them at a most violent fire , untill they melt together , poure them out into a dish of latton warmed , by little and little , and let it run thin , and thou shalt have ( if thou hast rightly proceeded ) a red transparent glasse like to a rubine , the rednesse or which glasse may be extracted with spirit of wine by a long circulation in the fire , and administred with very great successe , for a most noble medicine . there may be also made of antimony a white glasse after this manner , take antimony one part , venice borax four parts , grind them together , and flux or melt them in a crucible as aforesaid , first twill become yellow , but by a longer continuance in the fire , it wil become most white , which you may try by putting thereinto a cold iron , and examine if the colour be perfect or not , and proceed as above . there may be prepared also out of antimony , glasse of severall other colours , but i have only set before you such as i have learned by experience , & know their tendency to health , nor do i judge it necessary to fill up paper with too much talking , and by unprofitable verball circuits to prove irksome to the reader , and the rather , for that there hath been declared unto thee ( as to the glasse made of antimony ) the cheifest colour , viz. a transparant redness : the blacknesse which at first was its associate fled away with the fume after a spirituall manner , because according to that spirituall kinde , by the violence of fire the poison is blotted out , and taken away by calcination , although the glasse be not absolutely destitute of poyson , but holds ( as yet ) a great portion thereof in it selfe . i will go on therefore to acquaint thee , how the poyson may be altogether taken away from the glasse , the pure from the impure , and a new separation of that which is hurfull , from what is helpfull may be instituted ; that the tongue of the eloquent may be loosned , and cause given him of propagating my praise to the worlds end , which without all question my disciples wil cheerefully performe , when they come to see and perceive with their eyes , and feel with their hands , that i have written the naked truth for their profit and renoun , and have left behind me as it were a memorable testament . now the first separation of the sulphur from its own body and extraction of the tincture from the salt is thus brought to passe . take pure glasse of antimony made without any addition , as i have taught thee , grind it to the consistency of meal or slower , put it into a glasse bolt head having a broad bottom , whereto poure strong , rectified , distilled vinegar , set it at a gentle heat , or in the summer time in the sun , stirring or shaking it twcie every day ; until the vinegar resemble the colour of molten gold , which separate from the glasse , and reaffuse new distilled vinegar , do as afore , and as soon as that is coloured , take it out , viz. the tinged liquor , which change so often and extract untill the vinegar will not be coloured any more ; conjoyne all these extractions , filtre them , and abstract the vinegar by an alembeck in b. m. and a dark-red or yellowish powder will remain at the bottome ; to which powder , poure pure distilled rain water , and take it again off , pouring more new thereupon , and do so severall times ; by which meanes the sharpnesse will be taken away , and the powder will remain sweet and pleasant . grind this powder upon a marble or glasse first heated , and place it in a new alimbeck , whereon poure spirit of wine rectified to the very supreamest perfection , three fingers high , and so a tincture of antimony most pleasantly red , is extracted , some feces residing at the bottome ; this extraction is sweet ▪ and profitable , and such a remedy as ( without experience ) is scarcely to be beleeved . the feces left behind hold the poyson , and the extraction receives the medicine only , which medicine may successefully be administred to men and beasts , both inwardly and outwardly . for if four grains of this extraction be administred , and severall times repeated , it expels the leprosie & the lues venerea , purifies the corrupt bloud , resists melancholly : opposeth poysons , heales the asthmatick , and most other diseases , if it be rightly and orderly used . but if the afore mentioned yellow powder , before its extraction with the spirit of wine , be ground on a warmed stone , and if eggs be boyled to an hardnesse and divided long wayes , and the yelke taken out , and the cavity filled with this yellowish powder , and placed in a cold moist place or wine cellar for some dayes , it will be resolved into a yellow liquor , which liquor heales all new wounds and solutions of continuity , if presently at the beginning it be administred and anointed upon the wounds , with a fine feather , strengthning and defending the wound by superposition of a wound plaister , it hinders corruption and putrefaction , heales new wounds with suppuration and tumour , so that praise and thanks ought deservedly to be ascribed to the only creatour , for these mercifull gifts , in old ulcers and gangrenes , use this extraction or balsom of antimony , it will not leave thee or forsake thee in thy necessity , but thou wilt sing of its praise , and the virtues which it s endowed with , as i have done , and of its successefull use in externall greifs : the gangrene , cancer , polypus , woolfe , ulcers of the legs , and all such like eating and creeping diseases , fly before this remedy , and leave the house at liberty for former health to re-enter . if well fixt medicines be discreetly taken inwardly , and other convenient remedies applyed outwardly . i am wont to reduce the glasse of antimony into at oyle by an alembick two wayes , thus . take the glasse made out of the mineral of antimony , grind it most exceeding small , extract it with distilled vinegar , which extraction being made , abstract the vinegar by b.m. and to the remaining matter , pour on spirit of wine , and again extract it , put this extraction , thus , twice dulcorated by the spirit of vvine into a vessell luted , and exceedingly wel shut , circulate or pelicane it for a whole moneth , then by a singular artifice let it be distilled by it selfe without any addition , and so shalt thou have a sweet , pleasant , and wonderfull medicine in the forme of a clear red oyle , out of which is the stone of fire made . this oyle is the supream quintessence which can possibly be written of antimony , as may be seen in my admonition , where i have breifly spoken thereof , where i said that four instruments were requisite as to its preparation , and a fifth which vulcan dwels in , that is , four preparations are to precede its perfection , and the fifth is the benefit , and right application of the work in mans body . for example , the first labour is calcination or melting into glasse . the second is digestion , by which the extraction attaines perfection . the third is coagulation . the fourth is distillation into an oyl , by which distillation the thin is separated from the thick , after which separation succeeds fixation , by the ultimate and last coagulation by which the matter is reduced into a transparent stone of fire , which after all these operations , may be fermented in metalls , because it hath a very penetrative faculty , but much inferiour to the virtues of the ancient and true stone of the philosophers , because it tingeth not universally but only particularly as i shall in the end demonstrate , when i come to treat particularly of the stone of fire . the afore described oyl doth ( before its coagulation ) operate whatsoever is beneficially usefull for a physitian to know , in curing distempers , eight grains ( before coagulation ) being taken in pure wine , makes a man young , frees him from the asthma , and causeth that whatsoever excrescenscies grow on man , as nailes hair , &c. fall away , and new to be generated in their room ; so renovating as if a man were but newly born , as the phenix ( which fabulous story i mention for examples sake ) is renewed by the fire , and this medicine is much lesse combustible then the wings of the unknown salamander . moreover it consumes all the symptomes of mans body in the manner of a consuming fire , whereunto it may be compared ; it expels and casts out all that evil which aurum potabile is able to do ; but the star of the sun only , overcomes all the medicines in the world , if being rightly prepared , it be brought to a due fixation ; for the star of the sun , and the star of mercury ( which even of it self is very potent ) are generated and spring from the bloud of their own mother , and from the living overflowing channell of health . nor let it trouble thee that this extraction with distilled vinegar , and spirit of wine hath thus been reduced to a most subtil purity , and exalted to the very height by vulcan , for it neither purges by stool , nor yet by vomit ; but by sweate , urine , and spittle . it casts out the cause of every disease , and restores whatsoever became co●rupted , by meanes of accidentall symptomes . the common glasse of antimony most smally ground or beaten , and six grains or thereabouts , ( according to the strength of the sick ) being administsed , having beene first infused in a little vvine in a warm place over night , and purely streined in the morning , and the infusion drunk provokes to stool , and oftentimes stirs up vomit , because of the crude mercuriall quality which remaines in the glasse , on which account let every wise and prudent physitian , consider with himself , and look well how he useth the glass as to purgations , and let him rightly examine , and in due manner administer it , now i , being hindred by the shortnesse of time , it cannot be expected that i should throughly search every thing , and the rather , for that many more men there are in the vvorld , who have abilities to search , which if rhou wilt do , thou shalt receive the largest portion of praise next my selfe , and i will also in these writings of mine , commend thee even when i am buried in my assigned sepulchre , for thy diligence in finding more experiments . although i never saw thy face , and should have haply a little controverted with thee , wert thou at present borne or brought forth into the world . the common glasse of antimony may be also converted into an oyle , praise worthy , by the addition of something , which may without danger be given to the epileptick , and is thus prepared . take the glasse of antimony , grind or beat it exceeding well , pour upon it the juice of unripe grapes . digest them in a glasse bolt head with a plain bottome , excellently well luted , then abstract the juyce , and dry the powder , and grind it with twice its weight of clarified sugar , moisten it with distilled vinegar , distill it in the name of god through a retort , and at the end augment the fire , and so thou shalt extract a red oyle , which clarifie with the spirit of wine evē to transparency ; a dose of which administred in a little quantity , is found to be very profitable . to this oyl may be added some spirit of salt , and both projected on the subtil calx of gold prepared by its own water , extracted by an alembeck , which i have else where taught in my writings , and 't wil extract the tincture of gold only , without seizing upon its body , this fermentation being made , enough paper would not be procured to describe all the misteries which appear therein , far beyond the thoughts of man : but i advise the physitian that he listen unto , and mark my philosophicall proposals , that he labour and bring the preparation unto use , so shal he daily obtain honour , and be throughly acqu●inted with more operations then any physitian is able to prescribe unto him . when thou hast proceeded with antimony thus far , and rightly obtained this processe ( wherein 't wil be expedient , that thou behave thy self very discreetly , and learn the things with diligent cogitations , and try it by labour and working ) thou maist boast of that magistery thus by thee obtained , and discerne the vast ignorance wherein most men lye enthralled . this magistry mixt with a solution or tincture of corals , and given in drink with some comforting water , operates even to admiration in dysenterian diseases and stops all infirmities proceeding of impure bloud , makes glad the heart , excites chastity and honesty , and in a word makes a man quick and ready in all his undertakings . for all which benefits let us ascribe most humble thanks to the creator and conservator of all things , who hath bounteously vouchsafed unto us miserable in body , and sick in soul , remedies for both diseases ; supplying us with refreshment and help or succour , in all our necessities , i wil also in few words deliver an arcanum of antimony . take antimony and salt armoniack subtilly ground or beaten , of each equal parts , mingle them and distil them by a retort , dulcorate that which comes over with distilled raine water heated , and put upon it , which being abstracted , and together with it , viz. the water , all the acrimony and tast of the salt , the glasse of antimony will remaine in the bottome like white shining small , feathers , which subtilly dry in a very gentle heat ; this done , put them into a pelican , or circulatory glasse , whereto pour the best rectified spirit of white vitriol , both which let be circulated untill they shall be well united , distill them , and being distilled , poure spirit of wine upon them , which circulate as before , and so will there be a separation , and some feces will stay in the bottome , but the arcanum remaines united to the spirits of wine , and vitriol . which arcanum if it be yet once more rectified , one drop thereof drunk with a litle rose-water , operates more potently then a whole kettlefull of their boyled pottage ; it quickens the appetite , corrects the stomack , drives out melancholly , generates good moud , helps concoction , and is the best treasure for allaying the risings of the matrix , and for the collick that can be . which most laudable arcanum cannot be bought for , and valued by any silver . having spoken of the arcanum of antimony , i shall now speak of its elixir which is thus made . take ( with the help of god ) of antimony ground , or beaten , two parts , of salt armoniack one part , sublime them , that which it sublimed drive over by a retort into a recipient three times , every time separating the faeces , then by dulcoration evaporate the sal armoniack , which matter of antimony being well shut in a vessell , reverberate at a gentle fire , by little and little , untill it becomes like to the minerall of cinaber , then poure upon it distilled vinegar , and extract its rednesse , separate the vinegar , and poure upon the powder , the spirit of wine , which extract in b. m. and this extraction will be most pure , some feces being left in the bottome ; put now this spirit of wine , or this extraction into a bolt head , poure thereon a little quintessence of rhubarb and coralls , three or foure drops , whereof being given to a man , do gently provoke to stoole , and purgeth without any gripings , if thou hast rightly prepared it , it lightens the bloud , and is a most profitable and pleasant remedy for those who desire gentle purges ; but perhaps some physitian or other will wonder how t is possible that this medicine can purge so mildly , seeing that antimony is of it selfe , most exceedingly penetrative , and is here commixt with rhubarb , which of it self is likewise a purgative medicine ; but desist from wondring , for antimony is by this meanes destroyed , that his poisonous and purging quality , cannot operate upon any thing , as long as t is mixt with another simple , purging medicine ; for this simple hath only a naturall opening power . but prepared antimony by this meanes , fleed from it's labour of the expulsion of any thing from the vent●i●le , can leasurely finde out some other way , whereby to operate and performe that office for which it was appointed . beleeve me ( for i have no reason to falsifie or to lye ) this elixir thus prepared , can in the same manner-purge and penetrate the body , as antimony purgeth gold , and if i were to account , and number up all its virtues , i suppose it necessary to entreat at the hands of god , a longer life , that so i might more plentifully understand and try the wonders of his divine majesty , and having experienced them communicate them to others that they , together with me , acknowledging and observing those wondrous things may give all prayse and thanks to god their creatour . but that i may goe through with my purposed intention , which is so far to describe the virtues of antimony , as i have experimentally learned , i shall be silent as to things hidden from and not composed by me ; nor would it be handsome for me , to judge of other mens actions and things unknown unto my experience , but leave them to another judge , who hath by his own industry made tryal : it being impossible for one man fundamentally to learn all , because of the shortnesse of life , and the new accidents that daily happen in operations about the said antimony . moreover be it known to all , that antimony doth not onely purge gold and separate all extraneous additions therefrom , but performs the same operation in the bodyes of men , and other living creatures , which i shall prove by an homely example . if a householder intends to fatten a beast , but especially an hog , let him give him in his meat ( three dayes before he shuts him up ) halfe a dragme of crude antimony , by which means his appetite to his meat will be , whetted , and stird up within him , and heel soone grow fat ; and if he hath any hurtful quality or disease in his liver , or be leaprous , he shall be healed : this example will seem somewhat grosse to the ears of delicate men ; but i intended it for illiterate men , or country people , in whose brains the more subtile philosophy is a meer stranger , that they may discerne that experimentally , which for examples sake i have made use of , that so they may the sooner credit my other writings , wherein i speak more abstrusely : but because there 's a great difference between the bodies of men and beasts , i have no intent ( by this example here induced ) that crude antimony should be given to men also ; because that the beasts are able to bear and concoct much crude meats ; which is not permitted to the tender nature and complexion of man to doe . he therefore that will succesfully and with profit make use of antimony ought above all things to be experienc'd , and exactly to know the preparation thereof , and furthermore to consider the nature of his patient , whether he be old or yong , strong or weak , lest through the physitians errour , the patient be destroyed in steed of being cured : i now speak as to the weight of the dose wherein the supreame magistry is contained ; but if i should make use of circumstances and tedious ensamples for the further illustration of every thing , i should be to long : i will therefore omit to speak any more thereto , and addresse my self to another preparation or fixation of antimony : for as the spirit of wine separated from its body heats and warms a man , if it be drunk ; but if outwardly applyed , it extracts all the causes of inflamed members : on the contrary vineger , cooles and refrigerates both inwardly and outwardly , although it be of the same original and kind , and meerly for this reason , because vineger is made by digestion alone , whence followes the putrefaction of the wine with a vegetable fixation ; but the spirit of wine is made by the separation of destillation , or by a vegetable sublimation , by which the spirit of wine is made volatile . even so antimony ( according to this or that manner of preparation ) doth wonderfully display his gifts , and that , even beyond mans apprehension . it is thus fixt . take of antimony most subtily powdred , as much as you please , put it into a bolt head , poure upon it as much aquafortis as will cover it 6 inches , or halfe a foot high , place it at a most gentle fire to extract for ten days , filtre the extraction that it may be free from the feces ; then draw off the aquafortis by ashes or sand , even to a drynesse , & there will remaine a yellow powder at the botrome , whereto pour destilled raine water , place it at a continual heat , and you shall have a red extraction , filtre it , abstract the water per b. even to a drynesse , and a red powder will reside behind : hereto poure destilled vineger , which , in the heat , will by litle and litle grow red , and leave some whitish feces , destil this vineger by ashes , and reverberate that red powder which stayes behind three dayes in a constant open fire , & then extract its tincture with spirit of wine , & separat the remaining feces . all which things being accomplished abstract the spirit of wine per b. and there will remain a red powder , fix'd , and constant , which doth wonderfully perform its office : for if halfe a dragme be taken three times in a day ( morning , noon and evening ) or oftner ( which you may doe without any injury ) it drives forth coagulated bloud out of the body , and in time opens dangerous apostems , radically cures the lues venerea , produceth new hayr , and notably renews a man . now having sufficiently spoken of the fixt powder and extraction of antimony , i shall forbear to speak more about it , and come now to treat of its flores , which may be made sundry wayes : and here most men can neither tell what to speak , or what to answer , as being altogether ignorant of this artifice and such like , there will be some ( but an exceeding small number ) of my disciples , who are earnestly desirous of the spagyrick art , that will give heed unto my sayings , and will censure otherwise then the most will doe ; to you therefore ( my disciples ) i have to say , if ye will follow me take up my crosse ; suffer even as i have suffered , learn to undergo persecutions as i have done , waver not as to your intended labour , pray uncessantly , work without jrksomenesse ; and thus doing , god who heard my prayers , will not forsake you in yours , whose goodnesse i thankfully acknowledge with hearty sighes , and ocular tears . now as to my admonition touching the flores of antimony . i doe declare that they admit of sundry and various preparations , as is known to all spagyrists ; some by the admixtion of salt armoniack drive them downward per descensum , out of a retort , and dulcorate them by extracting the salt armoniack , and these flores being of a most white colour , doe much : others make use of some particular appropriated instruments , having litle pipes or necks , that the antimony enjoying the liberty of the ayre may ascend . others performe their sublimation in a strong fire , over which they place three convenient pots , and extract white , yellow and red flores together , which i have also attempted without any errour ; but when i would rightly use the flores in medicine , i am wont to mingle colcotha of vitriol with the red flores , and to sublime them together three several times , for thereby the essence of the vitriol co-ascends , and the flores become the stronger ; which having done , i extract the flores with spirit of wine , and separate the remaining feces and destil off the spirit of wine per b. m. until a dry powder is left . and these are my prepared flores , which i administer to my brethren , and other sick persons addressing themselves unto mee , whose souls i administer spiritual comfort unto by virtue of my office ; and whose bodyes i succour by virtue of faith and confidence . these flores purge gently , without excesse of stooles , and have taken away many tertians and quartanes , and consumed other diseases ; but i have decreed by the help of god and the blessed virgin mary , to compose a memorable testament and leave behind me , in my old age , a catalogue of all such cures as i have happily perfected , that i may openly ascribe thanks due to god ; and my successours may know my hearty good will , and together with me , admire and acknowledge those wonders of god , which he hath hid in nature , and which by my labour i have extracted : t is worth the readers knowledge , to understand , concerning the sublimation of antimony and its flores , that as to its condition , it is not unlike to that water which flowes down from the most high towring mountains ; thus therefore may a man judge of the difference of water ; some break forth even in the loftiest mountains , and were there far higher mountains , yet would the water climb up thither , ( for in truth there are plentiful fountaines in the tops of the stateliest hils ) othersome ly hidden in the bowels of the earth , and by tedious and hard digging are found out . now as to their difference i say , that the matrix of the terrestrial water is , in many places , more potently furnished with the rich treasures of water , then in others , because all the elements have a proper and own matrix of begetting easily , or more difficultly , by the force and virtue of the stars , from which the elements themselves are generated and procreated . now if that matrix be strong in the earth , it potently casts forth its seed by a strong expulsion , even unto the highest of the european alpes , or the top of the babilonian tower : they that are not very wise , hearing me so to speak will lay madnesse to my charge , or cry out that i am drunken with new wine , even as the jewes dealt with the apostles in the feast of pentecost . as is the elevation of the waters , so is the sublimation of flores , whereof ( viz. of the waters , ) those that appear in the highest mountains are more wholsome and cool then the well waters and such as are obtained by digging ; so , if the matter be lifted up , by the force and violence of fire , into the mountain of the ancient wise men , long since deceased , the earth will stay behind in the bottome , out of which a salt may be extracted for its proper use . and by sublimation is made a separation of the good from the bad , of the pure from the impure , of the thin from the thick , and medicine becomes thereby distinguishable from poyson . wee poor , wretched , miserable men , being after death ( which for our iniquities we have deserved ) buried in the earth , are seasoned with salt until we putrify , and at length are raised up by the heavenly fires heat , are clarified and listed up to a celestial sublimation and exaltation , where being purged from all the impure dregs , and feces of sin , we become the sons of god and heyres of eternal life , which our merciful god grant unto us . but i hope that none will reprove me , because of my comparing things corporeal , with things spiritual , and heavenly sublimation with the earthly in this my example . for i have not done it ( causelesly , understanding by mine own experience what is white , or what is black , whether it be a cloudy or clear heaven ; i le therefore passe to another preparation of antimony . t is expedient that my art-desiring disciple doe understand , and remember by my philosophicall teaching , that the extractions of antimony and of all other things doe differ exceedingly among themselves in their operations , which difference is not either in the matter , nor known from the matter , out of which it is extracted , but depends upon the preparation , and addition , whereby the whole virtue is extracted , experience being witnesse . and this i shall illustrate and confirme by an example , thus ; whatsoever is extracted either from antimony or from other things by the spirit of wine , obtains an operation far different from that which is extracted with strong vineger . the chief cause whereof i have already mentioned , for all extractions with spirit of wine doe provoke to stoole most powerfully , whether they be made of antimony or other purging things , as hearbs , roots , seeds , and the like . ( i speak as to the first extraction ) contrarywise whatsoever is extracted with vineger doth not provoke to siege , as doth the other , but rather constipates and binds by a singular medium . whereby the volatile is made fixed . this secret or arcanum ought very carefully to be lookt unto , but a very few doe consider it ; for many things ly hid and profoundly shut up in this mystery , which many masters , and servants , yea and many knowledge-pretending sophisters have not seen unto this day : the extraction of antimony is performed two several wayes , to wit , with vineger and spirit of wine , the vineger doth condense , but the spirit of wine doth of it self provoke urine and siege , as i have frequently mentioned , and especially in my twelve keyes , that the extraction of the glasse of antimony is a gentle purge , but the extraction of antimony with vineger , doth not purge at all , which is most certainely true , which experiment is a cause of more mature consideration and further-reaching thoughts , by which considerations nature gives & produceth a true philosopher . and it is altogether miraculous , that those things which at first have bin extracted with spirit of wine should retain a purging quality , when as , on the contrary , if the glasse of antimony be at first extracted with vineger , and the vineger beeing separated it be againe extracted with spirit of wine , there 's no such poysonous and purging faculty then left , but t is totally taken away , and not a footstep thereof , remaining , so as to cause siege , yet it can operate by sweat , and other wayes ; especially by spitle and vomit , it can performe its office , and seeks about , if it can find out any thing unfitting , it purgeth the bloud , heales the peripneumonia , is profitable for the asthmatick , and conduceth to other diseases ; it allayes any violent cough of what sort soever , and it is a divine remedy : and this extraction is perfected by common vineger . there is also another extraction viz. take powdered antimony : poure thereupon destil'd vineger , not common vineger , but that which is extracted from its own mineral , close it up well , and place it at the heat of the sun , and so in time the vineger will become as red as blood , separate this extraction , and filtre it , destil it in sand by an alembick , and in its drawing over it will represent wonderful colours most delectable to the fight , this oyle at length comes to be bloud-like , and leaves many feces , and may be profitably used in most diseases . for in the leprosie its glory appeares , and its , virtue becomes manifest , the french pox lately brought into our countrey is consumed and dryed up thereby , and it operates severall other miraculous things , if that the physitian hath regard to its right use , and observes a true preparation ; let him diligently consult with experience , and remember without forgetfulnesse . antimony is also prepared after this ensuing manner . take of antimony and red tartar of each equall parts , grind them exceeding well together , and burn them in a pot well luted , ( least the spirits exhale ) untill the tartar be burnt , which you must do in a wind furnace , beat or grind the matter thus combust very small , whereto poure common warme water , straine it as you would a lixivium ; by which meanes a liver will be made , ( for that title our ancient predecessors put upon it ) dry this liver , put it into a cucurbit , and pour spirit of wine thereon , filter it through a thick paper , and abstract it in b.m. to a third part ; this extraction may be used , but very sparingly , and with very great discretion , wherein is to be observed a notable miracle , viz. that the spirit of wine once abstracted will not be united to the red extraction any more from whence it was separated , but swims on the top thereof ▪ as oyle swims on the surface of water . but if this spirit of vvine be again poured upon new liver , it extracts as afore ; but this second extraction poured on the former , will not at any rate commix , which really is greatly to be admired at , but who can declare all the great wonders of god , or observe those gifts which the creatour hath implanted in his creatures , most profoundly to be considered . i have a little before mentioned an extraction of antimony with vinegar and spirit of vvine ; now if the vinegar be separated from that extraction by b.m. and the powder remaining be put in a moist place , it will resolve into a wound-liquor or yellow oyle , which in new wounds acts wonders ineffable , and in like manner in old , it hinders , and absolutely prevents any symptomes from taking root , and resists putrefaction . the other or second extraction out of this powder before its solution with spirit of wine , doth also shew its effect , and in inward diseases gives place to no other remedy . i have in my precedent writings most frequently propounded the way of its preparation , and in this antimoniall admonition , abundantly repeated it , because i know how much utility and how great secrets ly hid therein , and therefore hope that those repetitions in my writings will not be tedious or troublesome to the learner ; for what i write , is not causelesly written ; but my speakings are short , and containe a large extent within them ; and albeit they are manifold and frequently rementioned , yet are they most obscure to such as are unexperienced and unprofitable to children and infants , and most beneficiall to the disciple of art only . there 's also gotten another extraction by a caustick water , and t is thus : grind equall parts of vitrioll and common salt together , and distill from them a water per latus , or retortwise : increase and urge the fire , and so shall you extract a liquor like unto melted butter or oyle , which keep for its proper use . powder the caput mortuum , and dissolve it in a cellar into water which gather apatt , and filter through paper : then take hungarian antimony most finely ground or powdered , put it into a broad bottomed glasse , and pour upon it that water , set it at a gentle warmth , where if you let it abide its season , it will at the beginning resemble the violet colour of the ●methyst ; which when t is brought to this passe , augment the fire , and thou shalt have the colour of a transparent saphyr , and from this saphyrick colour will precipitate a white powder by the help of common water poured thereon , which inwardly taken , operates by stoole and vomit like as the extraction of crude vitrioll doth . the solution in the cellar which was extracted from the caput mortuum , doth truly transmute the thin leaves of mars , if boyled therein , into copper , experience being witnesse : now hearken to me , and consider somewhat further . pour the oyle , or the aforesaid water spoken of in the processe , upon crocus martis , being first reverberated with sulphur to a rednesse , place it in some heat , and extract the bloud red tincture of mars , then take of this extraction one part , of the red extraction of antimony burnt with salt petre , and prepared with spirit of wine three parts , of the water of mercury made apart by injection into an hollow pipe , one part ; of the calx of the sun dissolved in this caustick water , halfe a part , mix them , and by effusion , out of one vessel into another , purge them , then forthwith abstract them by ashes in a fire meanly strong , but the whole will not come over , for there will reside in the bottom a fair , red , fixt solution very profitable for old ulcers . the remaining caput mortuum begets by resolution in a dark place so sharp a liquor that scarce any aqua fortis can compare with it in acrimony or sharpness , but of this enough . out of antimony may also be prepared a white powder thus . take of hungarian antimony and salt petre thrice depurated and ground together , equall parts , burn them in a new pot wherein hath been no grease , in a fire of circulation , you must not cast in all at once , but by little and little , and apart , which the ancient spagyrists call by the name of puffing ( for t is necessary that the students in art be acquainted with their strange termes , which as to country language is unknown ) that puffation or injection being accomplished , powder that hard remaining matter in the pot , put it into a vessell of glasse , and pour thereunto common water warmed , and when the matter shall have setled , separate it , and pour on more , which do sometimes , that the salt petre may be extracted ; dry and powder the matter , and mix it again with an equall part of salt petre , proceed as before , and do thus three times , then grind the matter which remaines , and pour thereunto the best spirit of wine , and circulate it for a month in cucurbit or circulatory well shut , then burn on it new spirit of wine , nine or ten times , which labour being done ; dry the powder leisurely , and in a melting crucible , let it be well heated red hot , for an whole day at the fire . out of this powder , being resolved in a moist place , either upon a table of glass , or stone , or in the whites of eggs , is made a liquor , which by the heat may be again dryed into a powder ; verily this powder operates many very gallant things , scarce credible without experience . it workes not of a sudden , but by little and little , and time must be granted for the production and discovery of its force and virtue . let any one who is afflicted with an inward aposteme , take constantly of this powder , five or six times every day , in spirit of wine , or meere wine , fifteen graines at a time , and he shall be healed , and the bloud shall by little and little be ejected , and the patient be come perfectly well . he that is afflicted with the french disease within his body , let him use this powder , and he shall be radically cured . it produceth new haire , purgeth the bloud , and doth many other good things which we omit for brevities sake . for i cannot expound every thing with that plainnesse , and so perspicuously , as that every one should become a great physitian , by the bare reading of my writings , without any paines or labour , no , let them endure the burden , ( as is reasonable ) and let him know that the country man that thresheth and worketh on the corne will eat the best bread . but now i proceed too much into the open field , in which the ancient fowlers catch their larks , whom the younger will speedily follow with their nets , for my stile ( as all my writings witness ) hath a peculiar method , even as other philosophers have likewise done before me ; but now that my philosophy is changed by the processe therein immixed , let not any reader wonder at it ; for my philosophical speech having description of the processes therein , is different from another bare speech that hath no manifestation ; mark this difference , neither accuse me of being changeable in my intention , in my philosophical stile , preparation and process : for in my philosophical speech , thou shalt learn & observe the theory , but the process together with admonition sufficient , doth teach the practise , and on that account , are perspicuous and sufficient words to be made use of thereabouts . a balsom may also be prepared out of antimony ( not crude , but out of its regulus ) profitable for very many diseases , from which the mercury of antimony may be vivified , viz. take of hungarian antimony , and crude tartar , of each equall parts , salt petre halfe a part ; grinde them and flux them in a wind furnace , poure them forth into a cone , and let them coole ; let the regulus thus made be in like sort purified in the fire by tartar , and salt petre , three or four times , and so it will become white like to silver ( that hath passed the fulmination ) and the examen of lead . grind this regulus , pour unto it ( in a glasse ) the oyl of juniper or spirit of turpentine , ( which ascends first in distillation , and is clear like to water ) shut your glasse well , place it in b.m. at a moderate heat , and that spirit or oyl will grow red in the manner of bloud , pour it off , and rectifie it with spirit of wine . it hath the same virtues as the balsom of sulphur hath , as i shall advise thee when i come to speak of sulphur ; for the preparation of both is in a manner alike : three drops of this balsome taken in warme wine only thrice in a week , heales the diseases of the lungs , the astmah , ptysick , pleuritick , and such as are afflicted with an old cough . there are also made of antimony severall oyles , some by themselves , others by addition , and have not the same virtues , but diverse from each other , according to the manner of the preparation ; i wil speak a parable unto thee , many living creatures live only in the earth , as wormes , serpents , and other kinds , and sometimes new sorts are generated by corruption , formerly unknown . others live in the water , as fishes ; others in the ayre , as birds ; others in the fire , as the salamander , and there are found in the hot islands and burning countryes , other wonderfull creatures , of which we are ignorant , who conserve their life by the solary heat , and presently dye at being brought into another ayre . so antimony prepared with a watry addition , operates otherwise then if prepared with a fiery one ; and although every preparation thereof be done with fire , without which its virtue is not detected , or opened ; yet note and consider that an earthy addition workes divers from a watry one ; and so suitably , if antimony be by the fire elevated per se into the aire , and further prepared , it obtains a severall virtue , according to its severall preparations . the cheifest oyl and sulphur of antimony is thus made , without any addition of ought else . take ungarian antimony , beate it grosly , put it into a glasse cucurbit , with a plain bottome , pour thereto the true vinegar of the philosophers , viz. the vinegar with its own salt , lute up the glasse , putrefie it in horse dung , or in b. m. for forty dayes , and the body becomes again opened , and is made more black then ink , which is a signe of a perfect solution . but good god , why do i speake or write , i suppose that i shall meet with most few that will credit this testament which i leave unto my disciples : yet some few will be found , who acknowledging these wonders , and acquainted by experience with them , will more circumspectly consider them , and give me honourable thanks when i lye rotting in my tomb , because i have by the gift of god , set free from prison that virtue which is united to the creature , and made it operative . another way of bringing antimony over the helme , without any addition , is this : make regulus of antimony , tartar , and salt nitre , as i have afore spoken , powder that regulus , put it into a great round glasse , in a gentle fire in sand , and the antimony will sublime ; but every day brush down with a feather , whatsoever is sublimed , into the bottome of the glasse , and thus do until it will sublime no more , but a fixt precipitate regulus remaines in the bottome : but know that this work will require time ere the work appear ; grind this precipitate , and leave it in a cellar upon a polisht stone , for halfe a yeare , and then t will be resolved into a red liquor , and some feces will remain , for the salt of antimony will only melt , filtre this liquor , and abstract the phlegme in an alembeck , till a thick liquor be left , which lay aside in the cellar , and t will be congealed into chrystalls of a reddish white , and if they be again purged , they will be altogether white : this is the true salt of antimony , which i have frequently made ; dry it : mix one part of this salt , with three parts of venetian earth , destill it with a strong fire , and there will come , first white spirits , then red , the which do also resolve into white , rectifie this spirit gently in a dry bath , and thou shalt have another oyle of antimony , but much inferiour to the former , and t is rather a spirit then an oyle , because this salt is spiritually forced out . it hath frequently deserved praise in quartane feavers and others ; it breakes the stone of the bladder , provokes urine , cleanseth filthy serpentine or creeping ulcers , ( which have their operation from mars ) being outwardly applyed . it purgeth the bloud like to the salt of gold , and may be used in many other diseases , but it is not so perfect as the red oyl of antimony is , whose sulphur hath been separated , purged , and brought to the highest degree . the sulphur and the salt of antimony having beene described , together with their preparation and medicinall use , i will passe to the description of its mercury , and its medicinall virtue . take therefore the regulus of antimony eight parts , the salt of mans urin , clarified , and sublimed ; salt armoniack , and salt of tartar , of each one part , mix the salts , and thereto poure strong vinegar , lute it with the lute of wisdome , and digest the salts for a month in a continuall heat , then distill off the vinegar by ashes untill the salts remaine dry , which being done , mix with them three parts of venetian earth , urge them by a retort with a strong fire , and thou shalt have a wonderfull spirit , poure this spirit upon the powdred regulus , and putrifie them together two moneths , then abstract the vinegar , and to the remainder add four times as much fileings of mars , and distill it by the force of fire in a retort , the spirits of the salts will bring the mercury over with them in the manner of a fume , but thou must place instead of the recipient , a large glasse full of water , thar the spirits of the salt may mix therewith ; but the mercury will come together , and be converted into true quick mercury in the bottome of the vessell . thus may the artificer extract living and running mercury out of antimony , which hath beene by many a one every where studiously sought after , now therefore will i come to make known its use in medicine . take ( with the help of god ) one part of this mercury , presse it through a skin of leather , poure thereunto four parts of the red oyle of vitriol , rectified to the supreamest height , abstract the oyle , and the spirits of the oyle will remain with the mercury , urge the fire , and somewhat will sublime , throw back the sublimate upon the earth remaining in the bottome , and pour again thereupon as much new oyle , sublime it as formerly , and iterate it three times : the fourth time cast back your sublimate again upon its own earth , grind it together , and it will be pure like chrystall , put it in a circulatory , and pour thereon as much oyle of vitriol , and thrice the quantity of the spirit of wine , circulate it even to separation , and so the mercury resolved into oyle will swim at the top in the manner of oyle olive ; separate this oyle , and put it into another circulatory glasse , and pour thereunto sharp distilled vinegar , and by this meanes the oyle will recover its weight within twenty dayes , or thereabouts , and will settle to the bottome , and whatsoever is poysonous remaines in the vinegar , the which will be cloudy and blackish , and this is a miracle contrary to nature , that an oyle at first swimming , should in the end settle to the bottome : but note , that even the oyl of vitriol is heavy , and therefore beares up the mercury , which in its separation is not as yet altogether pure ; but when that light impurity is received by the vinegar , then doth the oyle recover its own weight , and being made compact goes to the bottome , and this is the oyle of the mercury of antimony , and is the fourth pillar of all remedies . now where ever thou art who beest leprous , i will procure for thee a meanes of health ; this oyle heales the apoplexy , comforts the brain and reason , excites the vitall spirits of the braine ; and whosoever shall use this oyle daily , for some time , and is afflicted with any distemper , he shall loose both his nailes and haire , and become young again : the bloud is thereby purged , and every evill expelled : the french disease is but a spot to this medicine , which in a very little white radically ejects it ; the praise of this remedy cannot be described with either tongue or pen : ah miserable clod of earth , and bag of worms why dost thou delay to offer a sacrifice of praise to thy creator , for those remedies which he hath granted unto thee ? o ye bragging boasters of both medicines ! come unto me , a monk , and servant of god , i will lay open to your eyes , what you never saw before , and will shew you the way of health , which as yet you have not observed ; now if any one knowes better preparations , let him not be silent , but speak : i am desirous to learn , nor is it a shame unto me to make further enquiry , and to search out that light which as yet i have not seen ; for i have oft said , no one is able because of the brevity of life , to perceive all the secrecies of nature . but whatsoever artificer hath lesse experience then i have , and doth not throughly understand my writings , i shal advise him to be silent , and nor presume to correct or disgrace them with unseemly prating , and many unprofitable words ; because he hath not heard them in the schoole , nor rightly understands the processes ; my termes are different from those which are in use with my adversaries , who are ashamed of labour , the which is necessary as to the planting of good trees , and ingraffing of wholsome fruits ; whence it happens that relying on a wild tree they never come to any sweet bough of a gentle garden tree unskilfull man ! do not at the very first word judge the things thou dost not know , nor condemn that which neither by knowledge or study , thou hast attained unto . many country people indeed , say that the fishes dy in the water by reason of cold , but whoever affirm it , speak ignorantly and indiscreetly , and what cannot be proved , for if in the winter season , when the superficies of the water is mightily congealed and frozen , there be little holes made by breaking the ice , not a fish will perish by reason of the cold , but if the ice of ponds or other waters be not broken , the fish will certainly dye , not because of the frigidity , but the want of the aire which cannot penetrate through all the ice ; for t is clearly evident , that no living creature can live without the use of ayre ; whence t is , that the fishes are choaked under the ice , and are not kill'd with cold ; i apply this example thus . it is necessary in antimony , that ( because of its manifold use ) holes be made by the miner in the mountain , that it may enjoy the ayre , and then t is behovefull that it be prepared with water , ayre , and fire , least its fruitfullnesse be choaked in the earth , instead of its being manifested by the various preparation of the physitian , for the hoped-for correcting and qualifying of distempers , which was the ground of its searching after . most miserable man that art an hater , and despiser of antimony , and cryest out that t is a meere poison , where is thy eloquence and rhetorick to defend thy self withall ? and seeing thou dost not understand , neither white , black , nor any other colour in this businesse , as to the preparation of antimony , and art a stranger to its virtue and benefits , thou mayest justly hold thy peace , and suffer these speeches and writings to passe by thy eares , ( because of thy unskilfullnesse ) like an impetuous torrent , agitated by the wind ; but beware lest the wind & the waves increasing , thy broken little ship be totally drowned . now to avoid this danger , do as the apostles did ; seasonably imploring help by thy prayers unto thy sleeping master , not hypocritically , but with a pure and sincere heart , and so thou shalt be saved , and really find , that the sea and the winds wil be tractable unto thee , and thou shalt bring all things to the desired end . good god! were but this the mind of man , in following after somewhat with study and labour , without doubt the muses and fortune would be propitious unto him ; and that disciple of art would find , that health and prosperity would attend him in his closet of art , and habitation of grace , so as that he should perceive a sure foundation , a full unspotted and constant corner stone , whereon he may with safety rest , and found his owne conscience , and so the unprofitable tatling of disputers , with the sick would be omitted , and cast out of the schooles , and the silent man would take his turne also , and publickly assert and prove that a castle built of stone is not so easily combustible as a pigeon-house , or a thatch't roof , or an old wooden neast of a stork , that is dryed every year in the sun . my disciples attend rightly with the utmost of your understanding to my simple plain admonition , studiously and diligently seek the centre which is scarce or never known by the outward face ; search throughly its virtue with a carefull expectation , even as an hunter doth after a wild beast , mark the print of the footsteps in the snow , that you take not a stag înstead of a doe , or an hare for a fox , through their footsteps ill-understood , and worse judged of : cast forth your net , but rightly , and then you shall have it well stored with the best fishes , spread open your nets discreetly & carefully , bind on your snares and intrapments , and so shall the fowler effectually and succesfully satisfie his own desire . in a word , that i may give my ultimate admonition unto the curious seeker , i do advise thus ; dear fowler , expose thy nets and thy voluble feathers deliberately unto the wind , and thou mariner attend wel on thy compasse when thou saylest in the deep sea , night and day , and art frequently tossed with tempestuous stormes , now here , now there ; for thus observing , thou shalt not faile in thy hopefull expectations , but in the end shalt take something with profit ; and arrive with my ●hip to its port , from the remotest countryes , with augmentation of thy wares and adventures . but why do i spend time in speaking or comparing ; i do but tread and thresh the empty stalks and strawes , in the manner of tatling sophisters , for my writings are so born , that but few letters in them will passe by , without some fruit , and be extinguished without the sparkes of some benefit ; but verily , they do contain in them a certain doctrine and instruction , that the labour of writing is to me a kinde of recreation and delight . well! i will retire or go back , one passe in the manner of a fencer , and induce into the laboratory a new schoole or learning , viz. of externall things , that i may declare and manifest the reason or cause , and preparation of antimony , that it may be approved as most profitable for outward distempers ( as indeed it is ) i le therefore give you the processe in a very few words . my disciple and lover of art , who desirest throughly to search into natures secrets , and to find out the most hidden mysteries , that thou mayst distinguish betwixt day and night , light and darkness i say unto thee . take one part of the best ungarian antimony , and halfe a part of common , or of fosile salt , of potters earths not baked six parts , grind and mix them well together ; distill them with a strong fire , and a red oyle will forthwith flow or distill forth , from which abstract the phlegme by distillation , that a red powder may remain dry in the bottome , grind it , and let it be resolved upon a marble stone , and thence wil issue a red pellucid balsome , far more noble then other vulnerary balsomes , most profitable in old wounds , which the common physitians with their plaisters , unguents , oyles , & ligaments , do esteem as dangerous & to be suspected , and are with derision compelled to take off the bridle & trappings from the horse , and lay them aside , and lead him back again into the stable from whence they brought him . my custome of speaking now containes no other thing ; for a monk cannot write all things so cleerly , as the reason and necessity of the work requires , because he is not versed in the circumstances of such businesse ; he is ( i say ) ignorant of their termes , that he cannot illustrate them formally or orderly enough ; and he entreats pardon for any transgession of that kind committed by him , and in like manner will he show his forward readinesse to serve all christians night and day in his spirituall office , and he will reward the kindnesse of the reader with his dayly prayers . this oyle is found to be most wholsome in old ulcers and wounds , of the greatest moment , nor are there many remedies above it or equall thereunto , except an oyle of antimony prepared with common mercury sublimate , which in healing of cancers , gangreens , wolfes , noli me tangere , is more potent and noble ; but in fistulaes and creeping ulcers , the afore prescribed oyle , doth experimentally shew its force in many incredible accidents , even to admiration , which i forbear to rehearse , lest i should be thought to be ambitious and greedy after honour , which vice i have alwaies fled from , doe flye from , and will fly from , by the help of god , and the blessed virgin mary . t is thus prepared . take of common mercury well mortified and most purely sublimed , and of antimony , of each equall parts , grind them , mix them , and distill them by a retort ( which can hold the spirits ) three times , rectifie this oyle with spirit of vvine , and t is prepared , being of a bloud-like colour ; at the beginning it was white and resembled ice , or molten butter : this oyle performes many wonders , which without it , 't would be impossible in nature to beleeve , could be amended , but yet notwithstanding its virtue , faculty , and operation , herein appeares in making good out of evill . another most profitable for externall wounds , may also be prepared , with addition . take of antimony and sulphur , of each one part , salarmoniack and salt of urine clarified , of each halfe a part , calx vive or quick-lime two parts . grind , mix , and distill them , if any thing sublimes , scrape it off , and grind it againe with the caput mortuum , pour thereunto the oyle which thou abstractedst , distill it as afore , and thus do three times , and t is prepared : old maligne and contumacious ulcers , refusing every remedy , do not despise this oyle , it is most strong , most penetrative , and layes a foundation of most certain healing , even as the oyle of vitriol doth . there 's also prepared a wonderfull vulnerary balsome composed of many things , whereof antimony is one . receive of sulphur four ounces , melt it in the fire very gently , mix thereto halfe a pound of quick silver , stir it with a stick untill it comes into a masse , which grind or beate , because it is prepared , as cinaber is wont to be prepared ; grind with it of antimony four ounces , red arsenick four ounces , crocus martis two ounces , powdred bricks eight ounces , let them be sublimed together according to art , in a glasse vessell , and thou shalt have rubies not unlike the oriental ones , ( as to the colour ) ( for they are volatile , and have nothing fix in them . ) let these rubies be most neately separated from the cinaber , which in the subliming did co-ascend with them , grind them , and extract them with vinegar , which done , abstract the vinegar in b. m. by little and little , and the remaining powder grind most finely small , and extract it with spirit of vvine in another vessell , separate the remaining feces , and digest this extraction with spirit of wine , in a vessel well luted , in b. m. for a moneth , then abstract the spirit of wine ( as you did formerly the vineger , ) put the remaining powder into a cucurbit with a round bottome , and put it into a vessel full of water in a pit , that it may therein swim like a boat , and so in a few dayes it will resolve into a fair transparent liquour , most profitable for old ulcers and wounds , if they be anointed with a feather dipt therein , and a common vulnerary plaister laid thereupon ; it will not leave thee destitute of help , especially in those outward wounds which are old and uncapable of any other remedy . but those solutions of continuity which depend upon some inward cause , are not to be understood or meant in this place ; but for the healing of such , somewhat more is requried ; which verily cannot be recovered without inward remedies , which dry up and radically put out the symptomes and centre of the disease , although there are but few masters in the world at this day , who circumspectly and exactly think of , and consider the thing which at present i doe write . would man but consider the miserable state and positure of our life , whereinto we are slipt by the fall of our first parents ; ( which lapse or fall , original sin and all kinds of calamities have followed , yea many and grievous diseases frequently too , wherewith we are oppressed , ) he would spend his time more rightly and profitably , that so he mought ( out of christian charity ) find out a means for his neighbours health , which is laid upon him as a duty , by the prince of heaven ; but because most men doe trifle away and loose their time about toyes and trifles , and refuse labour as being troublesome , they remaine in their old opinion , and are good stewards of their flesh , fearing the wearing out their hands with the washing them , and the anointing of them with oyl , fearing also that by buying much soap to purge & wash themselves , they should encrease the merchants price ; poor miserable men , what have we in this world whereof we may boast , strangers we are in our conduct , having our dwelling with god , who hath given us all things for our use whilest we live here , without pledge ; we ought on that acount bodily and spiritually so to behave our selves unto him , as faithful stewards towards their masters , that we may with a good conscience stand in that day , when all these bestowed goods shall return unto him , and that heavenly housholder shall require an accompt from all his servants ; left through means of our sins and unthankfulnesse , we be cast out into the utter prison of torment , where shall be gnashing of teeth . did but a man alwayes think thereupon , it would not be strange for his heart , never to think of committing any evil , but would most diligently perform his office , that he might serve his neighbour ; but the world very litle or nothing at all gives respect hereunto , but grasps up mony right or wrong ; the potentates care not , the commons help them forward ; they defend force by the name of equity , that themselves may also enjoy a portion of ill gotten goods , and may as 't were rightly devoure like lords and masters , the goods of their servants . beware , i say , lest the bones stick in your throat , and the fish bones pierce and adhere to your heart . but these admonitions are but in vaine ; ridiculous and contemptible unto the world , for when a while since i went on pilgrimage to s. james of compostella according to a vow , it being a difficult journy , and returned back unto my convent ( for which i blesse god even to this day ) i did believe that many would both rejoyce and praise god together with me , for those holy reliques which for the help and comfort of our convent , and all the poore i brought with me ; but few amend their lives , and but few testify their thankfulnesse to god for so large a benefit ; but have rather encreased their derisions , their contumelies , and their blasphemies : but the just judge well knows how to punish them at the last day : but of this enough . i return to antimony , out of which is another remedy prepared most profitable for all feavers , and also in time of the plague . take of antimony excellently well ground or beaten , without any addition , destil it with a strong fire in a retort , whereto let be united a large glasse recipient . iterate it three or fower times , for so at length will be produced a red powder , which extract with destilled vineger , circulate the extraction in a gentle fire for ten dayes , then forthwith destil it to the abstraction of the vineger ; urge the remainder by a peculiar artifice that it may passe into an oile , which yet circulate and pellicane it , until the phlegme be gon , and it be again reduced into a powder : the vineger must at first be separated in the destillation , and the oyl ( comeing last ) must be gathered in a new receiver . this oyl cures quotidians , tertians , and quartain feavers , four grains being given with the destill'd water of carduus benedictus , and the sick covered so that he may sweat . the same dose with spirit of wine or destill'd vineger ( according as the plague at first seized on the patient , either with burning or cold ) doth most potently expel the plague , as three of my brethren can testify , who were , taken with the plague and having made their wils and given up themselves to death , were delivered by this arcanum , and from that time forward did more highly esteem my medicine then before , and did assist me , both with their prayers , and manual labour , ( after performing the worship and service of god ) so carefully , that at length , together with me , they attained to many secrecyes and experiments , whence , by the industry of them , and other my brethren , more secrets of nature were detected and opened in one yeare , then in a long time before , for which i gave them thanks ( even to my last age ) and moreover will be heartily thankfull , because they well deserved it both of me , and other honest christians . but because they dyed before me , i do supplicate the heavenly cheiftain for their reward , who without doubt hath paid unto my btethren a sufficient premium in heaven , that they may be joyfully supplyed with a celestial recompence , in the stead of that which is taken from them in this life , and which could not have beene paid them by unskilful and ungratefull men . there 's also another vulnerary oyle made of antimony , by an addition , thus . receive of antimony , sulphur , and salt petre , of each equal parts , shut them under a campane , according as is customary ; but you wil do better if you use an alembick with a recipient , and you shall gather more oyl then per campanam , as to its colour it resembles common oyle of sulphur , but it is much stronger , because of the addition , and operates more potently then the common vulnerary oyle of sulphur doth , it is inwardly administred for diseased lungs , and outwardly administred to putrid filthy vlcers , the dose inwardly is three drops with spirit of wine , outwardly t is used only with a wound plaister layd thereon , thou shalt finde it an excellent remedy in all evils . another profitable oyle for gangrenous diseases and old ulcers is thus prepared . receive of antimony ground or powdred , one pound , of common salt , halfe a pound , of potters earth unbaked five pounds , mix them , grind them , and distill them in a retort , and a yellow oyle will come forth , all the spirits being come forth , put the matter into another glasse , abstract the phlegme , put the remaining powder in a cave upon a marble , and t will resolve into a liquid balsome , most profitable for serpentine creeping , and gangrenous evills , especially in the face of a man , or breasts of a woman : i could write more things of this balsome , but that i fear , that the unskilfull and tatling sophister , will say that ( in his opinion ) i write too much , and teach many things in paper , which i never found by use , but only conceived in my imagination . another oyle , may also be thus made . receive of antimony foure parts , salt armoniack one part , grind them together and sublime them with a gentle fire , & so the salt will lift up with it self the blood-like sulphur of antimony , grind this sublimate well , & for every pound of the crude antimony that you sublime , add five ounces mo●e of antimony to the sublimate , & su●li●●●● it as afore . this sublimate will be excellently wel dissolved in a moist place , or else separate the salt therefrom , and dry it by little and little , and thou shalt have a sulphur combustible , like the common sulphur sold every where . extract this sulphur ( in time ) with distilled vinegar , and separate the vinegar in b. m. by a gentle heate , extract or draw out its tincture , and the remaining powder draw over or distil into a recipient by a subtill artifice ; if the studious artist doth rightly proceed in this way , he shall find a sweet excelling oyle , without any corrosion or danger ; it heales the peripneumonia , expels the dolour of the sides and let the asthmatick take thereof in the morning , and at evening going to bed two graines , with the elixir or spirit of wine ; it heales pectorall diseases and casts forth all impurities from the breast , and it hath been useful to me , and helpfull to many a one , even beyond hope . but seeing that in other preparations i have sufficiently described the virtues of antimony , i suppose it needlesse to repeat them again in this place , least i become tedious to the studious , and excite in them i know not what suspitions . the liquor , made of this sulphur ( as i have already said ) is most profitably used in outward remedies , it takes away all the filth of the skin , and if a little oyle be thereto admixt , it takes away the pimples and spots of the hands , if anointed therewithall . it makes the skin bright , and heales the alopecia or head scab . the sulphur of antimony is also prepared yet another way . boile antimony beaten or ground , two houres or more in a strong lixivium made of ashes , filtre the antimony and pour thereunto most strong vinegar , and a red sulphur will settle to the bottome , pour away the phlegme and dry the pouder ; extract the tincture with distilled vinegar , as in the former sulphur , bring it into an oyl by distillation , which is not unprofitable , but yet weaker then the other precedent , where by the benefit of sublimation with salt armoniack , the body of antimony is opened and realeased . now followes three preparations of antimony cheifly necessary for a spagirist , viz. the preparation of a vinegar out of its proper minerall : the signed star of the philosophers , and philosophical lead , much esteemed of by many , who have beleeved that out of it might be made the true mercury of the philosophers , but it is impossible , neither is there so much granted by god thereunto , that in , or from antimony , the mercury of the philosophers should be found ; or the first ers , argent vive , and first water of perfect metalls , out of which is made the great stone of the ancient philosophers . but this primum ens is found in another mineral , in which ( having relation to metals ) the operation is higher then that of stibium , although that this hath its particular profit . note well , that the pillar as t were of internal and externall medicine is to be had in every shop or place of vendible things , were it but rightly prepared ; which i have oftentimes said , and there wanteth nothing but that the artificer learn to discerne the nature of mineralls and metals , and with exactness observe the preparation and use of antimony , whereupon a right judgement will follow , and not before . i wil therefore accomplish my promise , and satisfie the wishes of my disciples , and perfectly teach the knowledge of the ultimate and true separation of the good from the bad , beginning at the preparation of the philosophicall vinacre of antimony . the aes or minerall out of which antimony is melted and purged , beat or grind exceedingly small , put it into a glasse phyal with a most long neck , pour thereunto destilled raine water , that the glasse may be halfe full , lute it and putrefie it in horse dung until the aes or minerall begin to boil , and to froth , or spume , and ascend or worke up , then take it out , because this is a signe that the body is opened ; put this digested matter into a cucurbit well luted , and abstract the water which will be a little acid , which being drawn off , increase the sire and somewhat wil sublime , this sublimate being commixt with the faeces , let it be again moistned with the water which was extracted from it , and distill it as before , and iterate this labour so often untill it hath purchased the acrimony of the strongest distilled vinegar , but the sublimate doth decrease in every distillation . pour this vinegar thus prepared upon new aes or antimony-minerall in a pellican , that it may swim three singers over it , let it stand in a gentle heat twelve dayes , so the vinegar will become red and be more acid , separate this most purely , and distil it per b. abstracting the vinegar , and a rednesse wil remaine at the bottome , which extract with spirit of wine , and t will be a supreame medicine , rectifie the vinegar again in b. that the phlegme may be separated , and then dissolve therein its own proper salt , viz. one ounce of salt to four ounces of vinegar , distill it strongly in ashes , and so the vinegar will be more fortified , it refrigerates in a wonderfull manner beyond the force of common vinegar , it allayes the gangrene that is enkindled by gunpowder , and such other burning accidents , if it be ground with the soule of saturne into an ointment , and applyed like a cataplasme : being mixt with the water of endive , and with the fixt part of salt petre , burnt and prepared with sulphur , it divides and cures the squinancy , and extinguisheth heat . in the plague a full spooneful drunk at a time , and outwardly also applyed upon the bubo , with a third part of the distilled water of the combust sperme of frogs , extracts the poyson and refrigerates the signed stone of antimony is by many a one much esteemed of , and most men have earnestly attempted its preparation ; some have enjoyed their wishes , the intent and purpose of others hath come to nothing , many have beleeved that this star is the true matter of the philosophers stone ; imagining it so over-hastily , because nature hath freely formed this star of its own accord , but i deny it : ( these men leave the kings high way ; and do journey through unfrequented rocky places where the wild goats do live and the birds of prey do build their nests ) t is not given to this star to be the matter of so noble a stone though the cheifest of medicines lye therein . it is thus made . take of ungarian antimony two parts , fileings of sttele one part , burnt tartar four parts , melt them together and pour them out into a goldsmiths crucible , wherein they are wont to purge gold let it coole , separate the regulus from the scoria and faeces , grind it or beat it , and again add of burnt tartar three times its weight , and melt it as afore , separate , grind it , and again add thrice its weight of burnt tartar , melt it , and so the regulus shal be purged ; if thou hast proceeded aright ( which is here the maine thing ) thou shalt have a white star shining like to pure silver , and divided , as if the most accurate painter had described it with its radij or beames . this star sublimed with salt armoniack ; grows red , for the tincture of mars ascends , this sublimate may be resolved ( in a cellar ) into an oyl profitable for wounds . this regulus or star may be often destilled by the fire , with the stony serpents , so that in the end being totally consumed , he associates himselfe to the serpent ; the which being finished , the artist wil have a most burning matter , and altogether fiery , wherein many artificiall things lye hidden , and this matter is also resolved into an oyle , which ought to be brought over by destillation , and then rectified untill it be pure and cleer ▪ its use in the body , and to be administred inwardly , is thus . mix no more then three drops only with some convenient liquor , as two ounces of wine or some distilled water , according to the nature of the disease , and so give it , and but twice only in a weeke : t is expedient therefore that the physitian respects the causes of diseases , and the complexion of the sick , that he may with safety use his remedyes . but this oyle is of a most great acrimony , wherein lye many things , not fit to be revealed unto the common people , but to be reserved as certain secrets for philosophers , who have daily sustained most bitter labours : well then , whoever thou art that followest my steps , be not dejected in so doing , thou shalt find as i have found by my hard pains , which i wish unto thee withal my heart . i have prescribed unto thee things enough even from the beginning , whereby thou mayst finde the end , but many dye , who ( as yet ) have not attained the beginning , and perish before the obtaining of the magistry , i will on that account leave behind a book of rudiments or principles , that my disciples being acquainted with the first experiments , may the sooner arrive to the wished end , and give god and me thankes . in this oyle is this wonderful thing observable , that it operates upon chrystals calcined for three dayes , and extracts their salt , which done , the oyle is yet once more to be distilled by a retort , and so hast thou a remedy so potent , that it breaks and expels the stone of the bladder , and perfects many other things . now concerning the philosophers lead . let the searcher into art , know , that antimony is of kin to common lead : for even as some trees expell and drives out from themselves their too much rosin ( which is their sulphur ) ( as is seen in the cherry tree , and other trees ) ejecting and casting out their gumme ; but othersome ( abounding with over much mercury ) produce out of themselves , other heterogeneous plants , as appeares in the oake and apple , which bring forth bastards and monsters , &c. even so the earth hath its abortives that are rejected from the pure metals in the separation . now seeing antimony being of affinity to saturne , is thrown out from him , by reason of his too much sulphur , neither ( in his nativity ) cold arrive to the perfection of a fusil body , he remained a minerall , for his over abounding quantity of hot sulphur hath overcome , and hindred the mercury ( through the want and defect of cold ) from coagulation into a fusible body . but the lead of antimony is no other thing then its regulus , which is not as yet malleable , & as i have said , is produced by the copulating and fuseing of regulus and steel in the fire , whereby the star is made , out of which many have erroneously sought for , the stone of the ancient philosophers , but in vain : but as for the remedies , thence educible by preparation , i have already demonstrated , and will not repeat them . but on this account doth the regulus admit of the name of lead , because that that which stibium gives of it selfe from its own glasse , if it be melted for three houres , ( being first cemented ) in a wind furnace , in a well shut crucible with the salt of saturne , and then taken out it becomes malleable , and more weighty then before , because it hath received malleability and increase from the salt , that it is become a compact and ponderous body . nor is there much difference betwixt the signed star , and lead of antimony , although many artificers propose a difference , for both are made of regulus , and may be prepared into the same medicine as i have said , and here i 'le cease , and next to the following appendix , manifest the stone of fire . let god be favourable , and open the eares and hearts of such as are stubborn , and blesse them , that knowing the miracles of nature they may praise his omnipotence and be assistant to their neighbours , amen . the appendix finally note , that there are other uses of stibium , as in typographicall characters : also sigills and characters , ( of wonderfull virtue ) are made with metals mixt , under certaine constellations and planetary conjunctions , and by a certaine commixion are made looking glasses , or speculums of divers faces or shapes and proprieties , also litle tingling bells and statues , which for that they appertain not unto medicine , nor belong unto my calling , i wil here desist , and leave their handling to other artificers . acrostichon . at the beginning when the earth conceived me , no parent had i but the heaven alone , then a faithfull helper ( that so i might he borne ) jason the duplicate was chosen for to be , my virtue is the gift of solar heat , of fire debarr'd , i sweat not any bloud ; now don't neglect pluto thy mate to make in fighting let him also be the heater , vulcan doth shew the way to honour true methusalem , unto thee giveth thanks . of the triumphant chariot of antimony , and what the stone of fire is . on a time by serious prayers powred out before god , ( being absolved & quitted from superfluous thoughts , and wordly affairs i decreed to meditate on such spiritual cases , as might be useful for a more thorough search into the condition of nature , i therefore resolved with my self to get me some wings that so i might flye unto the superiour stars , and make inspection thereunto , as ( by the testimony of the poets ) icarus and dedalus have done . but when i approached overneer to the sun , my wings were burnt by his heat , and down i tumble headlong into the deepest sea ; but because i called upon god in my necessity ; he sent me aid and help from heaven , whereby i was reedeemed from destruction and danger . for an angell from heaven came unto my succour who commanded the water to stand still , and there was opened a great abysse , like a most high mountain , where walking up and down , i would needs search whether or no it were possible ( as the sons of men speake ) that there should be a familiarity between things most high , and things most low , and whethet or no , the supream stars have received from the creatour , force and virtue , sufficient for the production of things in the earth like unto themselves , and having searched through all , i found it certainly true , which our ancient teachers have long since left behind them for our instruction , and information ( if we are desirous disciples after truth and verity ) and have set down as fundamental , for which i gave most cordial thanks to the omnipotent god , and author of all wonderful things . briefly , i find that all minerals flow from the celestial stars , and have their original out of an aqueous vapour , which haveing bin a long time nourished by the stars , is reduced by the elements into a palpable forme ; whence , that vapour is dryed , and the waterishnesse looseth its dominion , and the fire ( after or next to the water ) by the benefit of aire bears the sway , that out of the water the fire may be made , and out of the fire and the aire , the earth may be made , which notwithstanding are found inseparable in all the corporeal things of the world before their resolution . the first matter therefore of all bodies is water , which by the dryness of the fire and the aire is changed into earth . but because i have determined to teach , how the stone of fire is to be prepared out of antimony , and because it doth not onely cure men , but particularly cures even metals also . it is convenient to advise what the stone of fire is ; what its mineral is ; whether or no a stone can be made without matter , and also of the ultimate difference , kinds and use of stones . let the holy spirit be assisting in this my determination , that i may truely explain this art as far as is lawful , from whence ▪ i hope for an eternal absolution from my chief confessour , who eternally sits in the throne of grace , and that from eternity , and will bear witnesse of all things , when the last sentence and decretory judgement shall passe upon all men , without protestation or appellation . in the first place , and above all other things know that the true tincture of antimony , which is a medicine both for men and metals , is not to be made of crude melted antimony , such as the drugsters and the merchants sell , but out of its mineral or aes , as t is dig'd out of the mountains , and that too , made into glass : but how to performe that extraction is all the art , and workmanship ; and whosoever finds it shall be thereby inriched with health and wealth . know also ( friendly reader ) that the prepared , fixt , and permanent tincture of antimony ( which i call the stone of fire ) is a penetrating , spiritual , fiery essence reduced into a coagulated matter , and may be compared to the salamander which cannot be burnt , but is purged and conserved in the fire . but our stone of fire doth not ting universally as the stone of the philosophers doth , which is made of the essence of gold , nor hath it so much virtue granted it : but it tinctureth particularly viz. luna , jupiter , and saturne into gold ; it toucheth not mars and venus , but onely as to what may by this separation be in part produced from them . also one part of this tincture can transmute but five parts , so as to remain constant in the trial , colour , and weight , in saturn and antimony it self ; when as contrarywise the true , antient , and great stone of the philosophers doth perfect innumerably . but yet this can be yet exalted it its own augmentation . and its gold is pure , and constant . the mineral of the stone of fire or of the tincture is the mineral or aes of stibium out of which ( as i have afore mentioned ) it is made , but how it is done , and what virtues and operations are therein i will presently declare . moreover the reader may observe that many stones tinge particularly , ( for all fixt tinging powders are by me called stones ) but yet one tingeth deeper then another ; as first ; the stone of the philosophers which far transcends all others . next which are the tinctures of the sun , and of the moon &c. as to the white . then the tincture of vitriol or venus , and the tincture of mars , both which contein in them the tincture of the sun , if they have bin formerly brought unto fixation ; next to these follow the tincture of jupiter and saturne for the coagulation of mercury and then finally the tincture of mercury itself , this is the difference and multiplicity of stones and tinctures , which notwithstanding are all generated out of one seed and one principal matrix , from whence also flowes the true universal one , and without these no metallick tincture can be given . and verily t is not in other things of what name soever ; i value not stones and gems as to my present purpose , for i will speak not of such now , since that they conteine in them a medicinal virtue onely ; i will also omit animal and vegetable stones , as appartaining to medicine solely , being unprofitable in metallick operations ; as the virtues of which mineral vegetable and animal stones , are conteined in the philosophers stone together , and at once . salts cannot ting , but are onely a key to the preparation of stones , otherwise , they are impotent of themselves ; ( at least , as to what belongs to metallick and mineral salts ) and now i speak to the purpose if thou rightly understandst me , as to what difference i suppose to be between mineral salts ) they ought not to be rejected , ( neither can they ) in tinctures , in whose composition none can be wtthout them ; for in them is found an excellent treasure by which every fixation and constancy hath its original and foundation . some body will now haply enquire ( whō i do not upō this account reprehend ) whether or no without matter such a stone can be made ; i say , no . for every thing necessarily hath its own matter , but diversly . the animals , theirs ; the minerals , theirs , and vegetables their matter : yet consider exactly , that no body without fermentation ; ( of which in the end of the work of the preparation of the great stone where i consider the transmutation of other metals with profit ; ) which cannot be wanting , is profitable or fit for any stone . although at the beginning a bodily form & corporeal essence , visible & palpable be taken , yet out of such a bodily essence the heavenly and spiritual vision ( for i cannot otherwaies call it ) ought to be extracted , which was at first infused into that body by the stars , and also begotten and concocted by the elements , which spiritual essence ought in like manner palpably and formally to be again changed with a little fire by the regiment and disposing of the microcosme into a palpable , fixt and constant matter . i speak without any imagination into an openfield , if i were wise i should not so much as whisper , and would refrain my hands from writing . therefore all tinctures of metals ought so to be prepared , that they may singularly love the metals , and earnestly and solely desire to be united to them , and to perfect them , just like two lovers who burning with love cannot rest until they are united and accomplish their desires ; then at last , they rest and are multiplyed by the will of god ; man lyes subject to many and wonderful deseases , which in some , doe debilitate and take away the strength of nature ; those diseases may be dealt withall by antidotes ; and that man may be restored to his former health . but love it is , that overcomes all other diseases , for which is no redress , or help but by a reciprocal love , and because that the desire of both sex is mutual , t is onely extinguished by satisfaction of the inflamed and hungry longing ; many things may be testified of the power of love , which doth not onely seize upon the younger sort , but the elder also , who in their extreame age , doe not onely doat , but even grow mad by the fury of love . there are other diseases which imitate or follow the natural complexions of men , and so assualt one more then another ; but love sets upon all without distinction , rich and poor , old and young , nor fears it any net that may be laid to trap it ; in other natural diseases the grief possesseth onely some certain members , the others being peaceable and quiet ; but love captivates the whole body , all its essence , forme , and substance , not the least part escaping ; for the heart is so filled with heat , that it is dispersed through out all the veins and sinews . and ( as i may so speak ) love reigning in its power , seizeth upon the sense , reason , and thoughts , and withdraws a man from his mind , that he forgets , omits and dis-estems every thing ; he contemnes god ; gods word , promises , wrath , threats and punishment ( i speak of inordinate & forbidden love ) nor can any thing recal him from that love , he is unmindful of his office , of his condition and vocation ; he tramples upon admonitions , despiseth the adhortations of his well wishing neighbour , yea he shuts his eyes from most things , that he sees not his own destruction ; stopping his eares to the faithful advise of such as do admonish him . it deprives many a one of sleep , takes away the appetite to food , procures a neglect of labour and arts , that so love may be followed and wayted on . many fall into a melancholy sadness , because of love , especially if things do not presently succeed according to desire , and they consume away like a candle , yea some loose both life and soul , as is apparent by examples . but such a one cares not , he contemnes the dangers both of soul and body , which indeed is a dreadful thing , let this suffice , for t is unseemely for me who am an ecclesiastical man , to give place to such things in my heart , even as ( be not offended with the word ) hitherto all my life time i have forborne it , and moreover will supplicate my god and lord that i may conserve my self for my bride ( the christian church ) to which by a faithful vow i have devoted my self . but this i induce for examples sake onely , that so i might discover and evidence , that al tinctures ought to have a love to the metals , ( else they cannot enter into true friendship ) and by a true penetrative love attaine to melioration or a better condition . let us now come to the preparation of the stone reserving its use to the latter end ; and since this stone is of a most penetrative and meer fiery property , let it be boiled with fire and ripened as other things of the world ; but yet differently according to the different natures of things , even as there are divers fires . 1. the first fire is celestial , instituted by god , whereby charity is kindled and faith towards the most high god , most holy trinity , and our most merciful saviour jesus christ , which faith will never deceive us , nor forsake us in any necessity , but will deliver our souls from eternal destruction . 2. the second fire is the sun , or elementary fire produced from the sun , which brings all things in the macrocosme to maturity . 3. the third is corporeal , whereby all meats and medicines are boiled and prepared , which men cannot want either for health or nourishment . we also find in the holy scripture , that before the last judgment , god will consume this visible world with fire , but what fire this will be , let us refer it to the judgement of the most high . there 's also mention made in the word of god of another , or an eternal fire , which is reserved in hell for the eternal punishment of the damned ; ( being infinite and without ceasing , god permitting it ; and not onely for them , but for the devils also , from which fire i pray the almighty god to preserve us ; whence i do faithfully admonish all , that they pray uncessantly that the call and life of every one , may have an harmony betwixt them , for thereby shall he conserve himselfe and be delivered by god from that infinite punishment . now let all know , that our stone of fire ought to be boiled and maturated with the corporeal fire of the microcosme , even as other meats and medicines are ; for at the farewel of the operative fire of the macrocosme , doth the fire of the microcosme begin the production of a new generation , and therefore let no man wonder at this coction . wheat grew and ripened by the elementary fire of the macrocosme , and a new coction and maturation is again produced by the corporeal fire of the microcosme , that so man may further use that blessing for his own conservation , and that he may enjoy even the utmost , and the least thing , which ( by the first and great world , was under operation and working on . the true oyle of antimony out of which the stone of fire is prepared , is of a most sweetly pleasant property , and is thus purged and separated from its own earth , place a glasse filled therewithal in the sun , and it emits from it selfe sundry and admirable beames like to the reddy rubine , shining with a fiery brightnesse , resembling other wonderfull colours and shapes , like to manifold speculums exposed unto the solar brightnesse . but hear me , thou studious lover of art and truth , if thou desirest to make a farther progresse in experience , take in the name of the most high , the aes or mineral of antimony born after the rising of the sun , one part , of the purest and best mundified salt petre , as much , grind them , and mix them exceedingly well , place them in a gentle fire , burne or fire them together according to art , ( this is the work , and this is the labour ) then shalt thou finde a dark , dusky , coloured matter remaining behind , of which make glasse , out of which being powdered , extract a most red tincture with a most strong vinegar , distilled and made out of its own proper minerall , abstract the vinegar in b. m. and there will remaine a powder which yet again extract with spirit of wine rectified unto the height , and some feces wil remaine , and thou shalt have a most red extraction , profitable in medicine . this is a most pure sulphur of antimony separated to the utmost , which if thou hast two pounds of , add foure ounces of the salt of antimony ( made as i have afore taught thee ) thereto , mix them , and circulate them in a vessel well shut for a month at least , so wil the salt be united to the extraction , if any feces remain let them be separated , then first of all destil off the spirit of wine in b. m. and that being abstracted , augment the fire , and there wil come forth the most sweet , pellucid red oyle , with many miraculous colours , rectifie this oyle in b. that a fourth part may remaine , and t is good . which being done , take of the quick mercury of antimony already spoken of , and pour thereto a red oyle of vitriol made out of iron , and supreamly rectified , distil the phlegme in sand , from the mercury , and thou shalt have a precipitate , a fairer then which cannot be seen , nor a more profitable in old wounds and ulcers , for it dryes up accidentall humours , from whence martial diseases have their rise , where ( also ) the united spirit of the oyl assists him . take of this precipitate , and of the aforesaid dulcorated oyle of antimony equal parts , mix them , put them into a glasse wel shut , in a gentle continuall heat , & the precipitate wil be dissolved in the oyle and be fixt , consume all the phlegme in the fire , and then shal you have a fix , dry , red , fusible powder , emitting no fume ; my disciple , i wil now speake in the manner of the prophets , foretelling things to come : when thy studies have guided thee thus far in philosophy , and thou hast perfected the labour of antimony , which i have prescribed thee , thou hast a medicine both for men and metals , it is sweet and safe , it penetrates , it moves not the belly , it corrects and expels what is evil ; if thy progresse hath been right , this medicine wil reward thee in thy health and food , that nothing in the world shal be wanting unto thee , for which thou owest unto god a sacrifice of praise . my god! i now speake with a sadned mind , being an ecclesiastical man , for i do not know whether i have done right or otherwise , whether too much or too litle : i leave it to every ones judgment : ye that are my disciples make tryal as i have done , if you attaine to your end , give praise to god , and thank me who am your master , if ye erre from the way , blame your selves , for i am not the cause of your errours . i have spoken enough , i have written enough , yea so clearly that none can teach more cleare , unlesse a man would purposely run into hell , and there drown himself , uttering things prohibited by the creatour , and eating of the tree placed in the middle of paradise : but what i have done , shal suffice me , until i can more largely judge of what is lawful as to this thing , and now i le speak a few words of its use . the use consists in the view of the person and observation of his complexion , as to humane health , see thou givest neither too much nor too little , that thou neither burden nature nor deny her what is sufficient . albeit it hurts not , although too much be given , for it helps lost health and resisteth poisons . yet know that three or four graines at a dose , is sufficient for the expulsion of all diseases , being given with spirit of wine ; this stone or tincture penetrates all the joynts of the body , and far transcends other arcanums , it doth most readily take away the pthisis , and all diseases arising from the lungs , the asthma , the cough , lepry , and lues venerea ; the plague , jaundise , dropsie , and all feavers , it expels any poisonous drink , t is profitable for such as are infected by a philtre or love potion ; it comforts the head , the brain , and what is of affinity to them , the stomack , the liver ; it heales the diseases of the reines , it purgeth corrupt bloud , expels maligne humours , lessens the stone of the bladdet , and drives it forth , heales the windy dysury , &c. it brings back the vitall spirits , compresseth the suffocatian of the matrix , provokes the menstrues , and allayes their overflowings , it begets fruitfulness , and sound seed in both sexes . outwardly . this stone of fire ( but yet it must be be also taken into the body and a suitable wound plaister externally applyed ) heales the gangrene , and all other corroding diseases , the scab , and infirmities arising from the corruption of the bloud , and the noli me tangere : in a word , this stone ( as a particular tincture ) is a remedy , for almost all the diseases whereto man is subject , which experience showes , together with the way , if only thou beest a true physitian sent and called by god . i will write no more of antimony , i have acted my part , let another also act his , that the mysteries of god may be layd open ( before the worlds end ) to the glory of him , and for the health of men ; i le hold my peace , and returne to my monastick order , until i shal have made larger progresse in my philosophy , that i may also write those things which i have a long time decreed , viz. of vitriol , common sulphur , and the magnet , their beginnings and virtues , may it please the prince of heaven to bestow upon us health of body , and eternall welfare of our soules in the unsearchable joyes of his celestial delight , amen . i conclude this tract of antimony , those things , which i have written of the red oyle of antimony made of its purified sulphur , and of its spirit which is prepared of its salt , observe , and therewith compare this last doctrine of the stone of sire , wherein if thou whettest thy wit and mind , from this comparing wilt thou finde their conjunction , for the basis and foundation is one and the same , and the amiry and freindship is the same , by which health is attained unto , and the lamenting stag caught by a pleasant cheerfull hunting . the water , fire , aire , earth , yea all things shall be reduced into powder and ashes , whatsoever is borne of them , doth also in time perish : the mercy of god only endures to all eternity , which alone man enjoyes , for which let us be thankfull . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a26734e-300 the sorts of antimony . london tryacle being the enemie to all infectious diseases; as may appear by the discourse following. 1612 approx. 47 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 14 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a06273 stc 16759 estc s102945 99838704 99838704 3092 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a06273) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 3092) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 844:19) london tryacle being the enemie to all infectious diseases; as may appear by the discourse following. band, r. fl. 1612 besse, william. browne, r. [6], 20 p. printed by edw: allde, london : 1612. describes a medicine sold by william besse. editor's dedication signed: r. band. in the 1615 edition the same dedication is signed "r. browne". leaf d (pages 19-20) torn, affecting text. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every 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as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions -early works to 1800. antidotes -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 taryn hakala sampled and proofread 2007-06 taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ¶ london tryacle , being the enemie to all infectious diseases ; as may appeare by the discourse following . london printed by edw : allde . 1612. to the gentle reader , r.b. wisheth all health and welfare according to his owne harts desire . it was my good hap gentle reader , not many dayes agoe , to hit vpon this discourse of london triacle : which after i had shewed vnto diuers of iudgement and skill in such matters & found that they iudged the booke well worthy the setting out , especially in this infectious season . i resolued thereupon to publish it to the world , that therby the fruite and benefite thereof might the better be imparted to our whole nation . it should seeme the discourse was fully ended before the plague in london began this last summer , for otherwise it is not to be thought but the authour would somwhere haue made mention therof . notwithstanding , i my selfe hauing made diligent enquiry as wel of phisitions as of surgeons & apothecaries what tryall hath bene made therof in the time of pestilence , i am by many of good iudgement assuredly certified that amongst the poore especially ( whome it most haunted ) this triacle by good triall and experience hath beene found to be of singular vertue , and to haue saued the liues of hundreds which haue taken it : for very few which in the first or second day of the dissease took any reasonable quantitie of it ( for litle of it as of all other preseruatiues can haue small force ) and therewithall laid themselues to sweate , very few i say miscaried : yea the most part did within few houres perceiue the venome of the disease to be driuen cleane from the heart to the outward partes , wherby within a day or two after , they found themselues past all daunger . but because it is no part of my meaning , neyther presume i to haue skill enough to set down at full the due prayses of so pretious a preseruatiue . i will surcease to proceed any further in commending the same vnto you : and that so much the rather , because the authour in the discourse it selfe hath at large declared the vertues thereof . onely this i will say therof by the way , that i can in nothing resemble this triacle better , then to the most valiant and victorious champion hercules for his worthy actes and conquests canonized amongst the gods. for as hercules is reported to haue trauailed continually from countrey to countrey throughout the whole world , euery where as he went destroying monsters , slaying tyrantes , murtherers & robbers ; clearing high wayes , cleansing all pestiferous ayres and noysome waters , whereby he deliuered infinite nations from thraldome and slauery , freed all passages for trauailers and waifarers , and restored the interrupted intercourse and trade with forraine countreyes , to the wonderfull and inestimable benefit of all mankind : euen so this triacle being by good aduice recieued into mans body , destroieth all venome and poison , killeth or expelleth all corrupt vapors and humors , and scoureth all the pipes & conduits whereby it saueth the heart and chiefe intrailes from suffocation and destruction , freeth all the vaines and vessels and restoreth free recourse and passage of the liuely and cheerefull spirits and nourishing humors into all the members of the body , to the singuler comfort and refreshing of the whole man. what should cause or induce the authour so long to stay the publishing of so fruitefull or rather necessary a discourse , in this so fit an opportunity , it is hard to guesse , vnlesse peraduenture it be that he perceiued straight vpon the perfecting of his booke the plauge to begin , and therefore thought it not amisse to deferre the setting out therof vntill eyther by him selfe or some learned men , sufficient triall might be taken of the forcible effects thereof in the plague it self , as already very good experiment had beene prooued in many other disseases , wherein if i haue guest aright , i hope the authour hath lesse cause to be offended with me considering i haue but done that which he meant to haue perfourmed himselfe , in making him do his countrey good a litle sooner then he intended . and my hope herein is the greater , because it is apparant by the suppressing of his name , that he neither ambitiously therby hunted after praise , nor greedily gaped for gaine , but wholy respected the benefiting and profiting of his countrey , by how much the more his good meaning is of all men to be taken in good part . and thus presuming that the authour will beare with my boldnesse and not doubting but so well a meant worke shall be acceptably receiued of the gentle reader , i commit them both vnto the almighties protection . r. band. the contents of the booke , 1. the occasion of making london triacle . 2. the first inuention of theriaca , and in what estimation mighty princes euer haue had it . 3. why it was called triacle or thiriaca . 4. the vertues and qualities of london triacle . 5. the order of vsing this triacle . 6. for what cause the receipt is not yet published , and wherefore the making of it is ( by authority ) committed to one apothecary . the occasion of the making of london triacle the masters & wardens of the grocers companie , hauing by sundry yeares searches , wel marked and obserued , that a filthy & vnwholsome baggage composition , ( termed cōmonly triacle of geane ) hath bene craftily , and by couine of certaine lewd persons , in a monstrous quantity , some thousand weight yearely brought into this realme , and here to the fowle deceauing , and danger of the liues of many thousands , bene publikely sould , carying credit with all sorts of people , onely for the bare name sake of theriaca , or triacle : ( as their dutie to their country bound them ) did diuers yeares vse all such good meanes and orders , as they could deuise , to bannish cleane out of the realme , or at least to hinder much the vente of such a uoysome and poysonish drugge . for although that the most of the company were not greatly learned , yet many of them being discreete men , and of good insight and experience in such matters , did out of the rules of bare reason , gather that this so named geane triacle , being ( as it is wel known ) made only of the rotten garble , & refuse outcast of all kinde of spices and drugs , hand ouer head , with a little filthy molasses , and tarre to worke it vp withall , was so farre from either curing or preuenting any disease in mans bodie , that by all likelyhood it must needes ingender most rotten and corrupt humors . and with good reason might they iudge that composition of no great vertue and force , which hath bene often sould of late yeares for xxx . s̄ . and sometimes for xxviii . s.̄ the hundred , which falleth out iii. d or at most vnder iii. d.q. a pound . now , what good spice , suger , hony , or other drugge of any vertue can be sould for so bace a price , let any man iudge ? so as it is most apparaunt to one that hath but halfe an eye , that so base a composition must needes be made of such dregges , and refuse , as are more fitte for the dungcartes , then the apothecaries , or grocers shoppes . and surely it is great pittie , that some seuere punishment is not by the superiour maiestrates , inflicted vpon such lewd persons , as being so often warned do still bring in , or otherwise by themselues , or their seruants make , or vtter such filthy and rotten drugges , and that vnder the cloake and name of so comfortable a preseruatiue , as triakle hath in all ages bene esteemed to be . but to goe forward , the grocers finding that their good care , and discreete orders for the bannishing of so vnwholsome a drugge , did not take such effect as they looked for and wished : and obseruing that the very cheapnes of this misnamed geane triacle , together with the excessiue dearnes of venice triacle , and mithridate , were the onely causes , that still contiinued so meruailous a vent thereof , after deliberate consultation had , thought it best to entreat the learned society of phisitions , to set downe some effectuall receite of triacle , which might be both forceable against rotten and venemous disseases , and also of an easie and moderate price for the poore subiect . vnto which , their so honest and reasonable request , the colledge of phisitions did readily condiscend : and therevpon they presently committed the charge of the setting down of the receite , vnto three choise men of their companie , which should ( by a certaine day ) deliuer vnto mr. besse an apothecarie ( to whome both by the phisitions and grocers order , the making thereof was onely committed ) their prescript , which they did after diligent conferring of sundry receats of learned writers , together ( according to the charge to them committed , carefully performe : ) within fewe daies after mr. besse did bring to the colledge , both the prescript to him before deliuered , and also a pound of the composition , which he by their order had made vp for a tryall sake , to the intent that all the whole company of phisitions together , after diligent examination of the prescript , with such tryall as arte could take , by the colour , taste , smell , and consistence of the tryacle it selfe , might either resolue vpon that receat alreadie set downe , or elsby adding , and rebating , as by their skill should seeme good ( with some little change ) sette downe another . and so it fell out indeede , that some little alteration , being in one simple or two made , the receate , was ( with the colledge seale annexed vnto it ) redeliuered to the said mr. besse , to be yearely by him accordingly dispensed and prepared , with streight charge , not in any iot or point , to varie from the very words of the same prescript : and that euery yeare before the dispensing thereof , he should giue notice to the president , and censors of the phisitions colledge , that for the carefuller preparing thereof , they might with any other of their societie , come to his house and there make examination , and tryall of all the simples , ingredients , before they were put together , & compounded . and that to the good of all the realme , the said triacle might be the more faithfully prepared , the master and wardens of the grocers , first presented m.w. besse to the lord mayor and the aldermen his bretheren , as a very fit man both for skill , and honest carefulnes in his profession , to performe the compounding of such a tryacle : where was giuen him a corporall oath , for the true , and carefull preparing thereof : and afterwards , the said master and wardens did deliuer vnto m.w. besse in writing , both the receate new writte out againe , and withall , all the poynts of his oath , with the seale of their company , reseruing the phisitions receate and seale , for their discharge , in the grocers hall. which course and order of examining yearely the simples , and carefull making vp of the composition , hath now these fiue years bene accordingly put in execution , and the triacle it selfe ( by so many yeares experience ) throughly tried to be of singuler vertue , and of wonderfull force , as well in comforting nature , as in expelling all noysome , and venomous matter from the hart , and principall partes of mans body . in setting downe of which receate , the phisitions tooke especiall care to appoint such ingredients as were perfectly knowne , not hard to be gotten , and ( as much as might be in so forceable , and effectuall a preseruatiue ) home bredde : and this they chiefely did , for the good and ease of the poore subiect , whose purse cannot reach vnto the price of costly medicines . all which things well considered , there may be more said iustly in the commendation of this london triacle , then may be of any other medicine whatsoeuer heretofore deuised , and set out in this realme : and if i should say forraine realmes too , it might well be iustified , considering the sound learning , deepe iudgement , and long experience of the whole colledge of phisitions , that deuised it with the great care which both they , and also the magistrates of the citie haue taken , for the diligent , and perfect preparing thereof . as for the price , it is so reasonable ( a pound not amounting aboue ij . s̄ . viij . d. an ounce by retale not aboue ii . d. ) as no wise man will spare so much to do his horse or dogge good withall . this tryacle is made , and to be had at the house of m. william besse , dwelling in the poultery , neere the counter . of the first inuention of theriaca , and in what estimation mightie princes euer haue had it . although andromachus the elder , nero the emperours chiefe phisition , be of most men estéemed , as the first inuentour of triacle , or theriaca , yet you must vnderstand , that he did onely adde vipers , first to some olde composition thereof , which he liked best , and withall gaue it a new name , tearming it , not theriaca , but galene , as much to say as calmenes , or stilnes . this galene did crito ( a famous practicioner vnder the vespatians reignes ) name theriaca , because it receiued the flesh of vipers : of phisitions , by a preheminence named in greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but that the reader may , together take a view both of the first beginning , and originall , and also what great credit theriaca was presently in with mightie princes , euen vpon the very first inuention : he must vnderstand , that the verie first theriaca , recorded of in writers , is that of antiochus , whome plinie surnameth magnus , and galen philometor . he reigned in siria some 200. yeares before christ . this was called antiochus his theriaca , because that great and mightie king himselfe did continually vse it as a preseruatiue against all poysons , and venomous stingings . by whose countenance , it grew presently into such estimation and credit , that the famous phisition endemus , ( as galen reporteth ) put the receate thereof in verse : and that all men might pertake the good and profite of so forceable a preseruatiue : the verses ( as plinie recordeth ) were engrauen in stone , ouer the porch doore of aesculapius his temple , as a medicine of so diuine power and vertue , as not to be esteemed for any mans inuention , but rather a diuine receate reuealed vnto mankinde , by the great god of phisick himselfe . within two or three ages after antiochus , did nicander , that learned phisition and poet , dedicate his booke , named theriaca , vnto attalus then king of perganum , where after , galen was borne . this attalus was a noble prince , greatly fauouring and aduancing all kinde of good learning : but aboue all things , wonderfully giuen to make triall of the vertues of medicines , and especially of such as were thought of force against venomous beasts , & poysons : which both he then , and by his example afterward , mithridates the great ( as galen truly testifieth ) did curiously and diligently , make experiment of vpon condemned persons . the experiments of this learned king attalus , rōming within an age or two after vnto the hands of mithridates , and being by his like studie , and tryall in immitation of attelus ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) much encreased , he culd out of both their experiences , the very choise simples , and thereof deuised a most effectuall composition , named by galen theriaca mithridatis ( much differing from that which we commonly call methridatum ) by continuall vse of which medicine , he preserued himselfe many score yeares free from all danger of poysoning : so that ( as galen writeth ) being streightly beseiged by the conquering romans , and out of all hope to escape , to preuent their cruelty , and to auoide his owne shame , he twice tooke ranke and strong poyson : but the force of his so often receaued tryacle was such , as no poyson neuer so great could preuaile against it , whereby in the end , the good king was compelled to dye vpon his owne sword . about fourscore yeares after mithridates miserable end , did aelius gallus , tiberius the emperours lieftenant in aegipt and arabiae , in his returne from thence , bring two receates of theriaca home with him : wherewith he presented the emperour tiberius , esteeming them as fit presents for so mighty a manarch . now in what wonderfull estimation , or rather admiration , tryacle was had in galens time , galen himselfe doth at large set downe , in his booke intituled of triacle , and dedicated vnto piso a noble roman : which booke ( as may be gathered by the text ) he writ in the beginning of caracalla his raigne , before he had made away his brother geta. for marcus aurelius ( in the beginning of whose raigne galen first came to rome ) a prince for his deepe and profound learning , named marcus the philosopher , and which ( as galen testifieth ) had a perfect and exquisite knowledge of his owne temprature and complexion , by the daily vse of triacle ( being both by nature , and also by trauaile , as well of body as minde , of a weake constitution ) liued many yeares ( notwithstāding ) in excellent good health , & state of bodie . so that the wonderfull opinion , which was had through all the world of this emperours wisdome , & learning , together with his long continued health , procured by the onely vse of this preseruatiue , brought triacle into such credit and estimation , that all great men , as well in the court of rome , as els where in the country and prouinces abroad , following the emperours example , fell to the vse thereof . and least the reader should thinke that marcus aurelius onely vsed andromachus his triacle : let him reade the last chapter of galens second booke of counter-poysons , where , in the very first line he shall finde the receate that aurelius so much vsed , compounded but onely of four simples , and god he knowes , a simple composition indeede ( for all the great credit it had ) if it be compared with our london tryacle . some fourteene yeare after m. aurelius his departure , succeeded in the empire soptianus seuerus , a prince though not greatly learned , yet both very wise and valiant . this emperour made that most renowned phisition ( or rather prince of all phisitions ) galen , to prepare and compound for the emperours owne vse , the theriaca of andromachus , and that of the chiefest , and most choyce simples , which could be got in the whole world : whereby through the renounce of so famous a phisitian , the glorious name of triacle was euer after amongst all posteritie wonderfully encreased and aduaunced . from galen vntill our dayes ( almost 1400. yeares ) if one ouer-runne the stories of all nations and ages , he shall finde that triacle hath beene from time to time , of all mighty princes had in wonderfull estunation and reputation . yea that most tyrannous and barbarous monarch , the great turke , euery yeare in egypt ( because that country lieth most fitly to get all indian and arabian simples freshest ) hath by the handes of the skilfullest and learnedst phisitions , which that sauadge & vnlettered nation yeildeth , a composition of theriaca prepared by the name of tharach faruc , which both of the emperour himselfe , & of all his bashawes and great men , is had in wonderfull estimation . although that through the ignorance of their phisitions in the making therof , both the vipers themselues ( for whom they substitute a kind of serpent with horns , called therfore of the greeks cerastes but of the egyptians tahyr ) and many other especiall simples besides are mistaken and falsified : whereby it commeth to passe , that the alexandrian or egyptian theriaca is in no degree to be compared with any kind of triacle artificially prepared in sundry citties of christendome , where all kindes of good learning , and namely of phisicke do most plentifully flourish . vvhy it was called triacle or theriaca . for the naming of it theriaca or triacle , diuers and sundry reasons may be alleaged . first , because it was of purpose ordained to supply the vse , or rather to reforme the abuse , and to enioy and possesse the roome and place of that bastard triacle , which hath these many yeares , to the vnspeakable annoyance of many thousands , beene too too much vsed in this realme , by the name of geane triacle . the second , but principall reason is , for that all , or most of the ingredients , hauing singuler force against , either inward poysons , or outward venomous bytings ▪ or stingings of venomous beasts , it must needes follow , that so perfect a composition made of so choise counter-poysons , & those so orderly in weight and measure proportioned , could not but be of wonderfull vertue and efficacy , not onely against poisons and venomes , but also against all corruption and rottennesse , either of humors or spirits : neither is the name triacle or theriaca to be thought , as vnfitly attributed to the london composition , although it receaue no vipers flesh in it at all . for notwithstanding that crito a famous empericke about vespatianus his dayes , gaue that same composition , which andromachus neroes phisition , first either inuented or enlarged , & withall tearmed it galene the name of theriaca , because it receiued vipers flesh , ( which kind of serpent is of many greekes both phisitions & philosophers , by a prerogatiue called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet the name of theriaca hath both before neroes time and since , bene commonly attributed not only to compounds , contayning no vipers flesh at all , but also to very simples , only for that they were iudged of force against the bytinges and stinginges of venomous beastes . for compoundes , who so doubteth , let him read the 10. chap. of the 2 booke of galen of counterpoisons ( for so i translate antidotus ) where he shall finde fiue seuerall theriacaes vpon a row , into none of which , vipers flesh is any ingredient . the first , of antipater , the second , & third , of aelius gallus ( vnder whose conduct in our sauiour christs time , strabo that learned geographer did trauaile both egypt and arabia ) the fourth , of euclide by-named palatianus . the fifth , of zeno the laodician . againe , in the fourteenth chap. he shal finde theriaca antiochi , philometoris ( plini calleth him magnus ) which raigned in siria some 12. score years before euer vipers flesh was put into any theriaca . for andromachus neroes phisition , by galens owne testimony , was the very first that added vipers flesh vnto theriaca . now since andromachus time , we may finde infinite receipts of theriaca in sundry phisitions , clearely voide of vipers flesh : as namely , that which m. aurelius so much vsed with so good successe , then the vulger theriaca diatessaron a simple receate , in shew of foure common simples , yet a receate no doubt of singular force and vertue : and last of all , that baggage composition , thrust in vnder the name of geane triacle , hath these many yeares vsurped the name of theriaca , although it hath no vipers flesh in it at all . as for simples , both galen calleth garlicke the country mans triacle , and plinie maketh mention , of a kinde of vine in the iland of thasos , called therefore theriaca , because , as well the grape , as the wine would heale the bitings , and stingings of serpents . besides , valeriana is of sondry late writers , named theriaca for the same reason : which things considered , the learned colledge of phisitions of this famous citie of london , did very aptly , and aduisedly ( to this their composition ) attribute the name of theriaca . and that so much the more , for that this london triacle , besides the choyse of olde simples , containeth in it , at least a dozen spices and hearbes , not knowne to the olde writers : whose wonderfull vertues , are notwithstanding against all poysons and venomes ( by many a hundred yeares tryal ) sufficiently approoued . and these late knowne simples were added , by warraant both of reason ( the perfect rule and leuell of all phisitions actions ) and also of auerroes , the best learned , both philosopher , and phisition of all the arabians , which in his abridgement of phisick , ( commonly called the colliget ) doth iustly reprooue the opinion of auicen , ( otherwise himselfe a most famous phisition ) affirming the andromachus his triacle , taketh his so wonderfull force , not from the vertues & qualities of the simples which are in it , but from a fift supernaturall hidden propertie , proceeding from the essentiall forme ( as he tearmeth it forsooth ) of the whole mixture , and therefore strictly warneth all phisitions , neither to adde too , nor diminish any thing from andromachus his first prescript : which opinion of auicen , as too superstitiously tying all posterity to our fore-fathers receipts , auerroze doth , and that iustly confute , wishing ( which in this composition , the phisitions of london haue with great reason put in practise ) that diuers of such excellent counter-poyson simples , as later times haue discouered , should be either added ouer and aboue the olde ingredients , or else substituted in some of their places , which were found to be of least force and vertue . of the vertues , and qualities of london tryacle . to recite all the vertues , and vses of the london triacle , as well in preuenting , as incuring most gréeuous disseases , would require a learneder , and larger discourse , then at this present is either requisite , or intended to be set downe . notwithstanding the cheife , and most principall quallities thereof , and those from which the reasons and grounds of all the rest must be fetched , are these that follow . first , this triacle heateth , and dryeth about the midst ( as phisitions tearme it ) of the second degree , and withall , is of very thinne parts . secondly , it hath a skowring , or deansing vertue , with a moderate astriction . by his heate , it helpeth all kindes of concoction , and ripeneth all crud humors , or drines in mans body . by his heate , & thinnes of parts , it openeth all poares & passages , it thinneth & breatheth out grosse humors and windes , it softeneth hard tumors , and relaxeth stifnes of partes , and consequently mittigateth all kinde of paines , and greifes : it prouoketh sweate , vrine , and womens courses , it openeth the emerands , and furthereth all euacuations : by his drynes , and cleansing powre , it consumeth and wasteth , or els wypeth away all grosse , tough , and clammy humors : and thereby deliuereth obstructions , and mightily resisteth all putrifaction , and poysons , either inward or outward . by his milde astriction and moderate warmth , it strengthneth all the principall members of mans bodie , and thereby renueth good spirits , ingendereth pure blood , and stayeth all immoderate wastings , and euacuations , either of humors or spirits . so that what soeuer infirmity in mans body , proceedeth either from too much aboundance of humors and winde , or els from their faultines in coldnes , grosenes , toughnes , clammines , or rottennes : likewise what soeuer is caused by stopping of the conduits , and passages , or by the astriction , and shutting of the poares : besides whatsoeuer imperfections or defaultes possesse the cheife and principall partes , and thereby hinder or depraue any of their functions or workes : all these ( if they be by inward medicines curable ) may by this triacle ( artificially and skilfully vsed ) be either wholy , and altogether cured , or at least greatly eased , and amended . to a phisition , or any other man trayned vp in good literature , these breife instructions are sufficient , to direct him fully to the perfect vse of this triacle , in all conuenient disseases . but because this discourse dooth cheifly respect , and is especially written for the ignorant , and vnlettered multitude of the common people , which is no wayes able to conceaue the naturall causes of things : it will not be amisse , for the simple persons better instruction , to set down by name , such common and running disseases , as this triacle is most to be vsed against . first , of all therefore it is of marueilous force against the plague , sweating-sicknes pocks ( small i meane ) or measels , or any other malitious & pestilent feauer . for being giuen the sicke person to drinke with dragons , carduus benedictus , or angelica water , it driueth out from the hart and principall partes to the skinne , all the venome and corruption of the dissease . by the same vertue it both preserueth , and also cureth as well any inward poyson , as any byting or stinging of madde dogge or venomous beast : yea , being outwardly applyed to the bytings and stingings : or to the carbunble or bubo in the plague , it doth ( as it were ) miraculously drawe out all the inward venome , and corruption by that issue . as for long head-aches , & megrames , turnsicknes , dulnes of sight , thicknes of hearing , and such like disseases of the braine , sinewes , and instruments of senses , which proceede from colde and tough humors , or from winde , all these by the continuall vsage hereof , may in time be either cleane taken away , or else greatly asswaged and diminished : for by comforting the braine , it cheareth the spirits , sharpeneth the wit , strengthneth the memorie , quickneth all the sensces . against the falling sicknes , and wormes , being disseases most commonly troubling children this triacle is an especiall remedie : as hauing diuers choyce ingredients , perticularly respecting those infirmities of purpose inserted into it : for the wheasings , and olde coughs , being taken with the water or decoction of hysope , or horehound , it is very effectuall : as also with the decoction of comfrey rootes , or conseruc of olde red roses , it excellently stayeth any lingering spitting of blood , issuing from the lungs or chest : likewise it healeth any stitches in the sides ( if they proceede not from hotte inflamations or pleurifles ) being either inwardly taken , or outwardly applyed hot . now in the stomacke , it prouoketh appetite , helpeth concoction , and distribution , breaketh and discusseth winde and either digesteth or driueth out from thence , all rawe and corrupt humors , whereby it healeth the inflation , or puffing vp of the stomacke with winde , and cureth that kinde of greedines ( which phisitions tearme the dogges appetite ) which dissease forceth them that haue it , to eate their meate greedily , and that very much , but presently after to caste it againe : notwithstanding after they haue vomited , their appetite is no whit stayed nor abayted , but streight way they become as greedy againe as before : in the lyuer it deliuereth all obstructions , & cureth the yealow iaundise , espetially being taken with the decoction of worme wood ( ground pure ) horehound , alecoast , maudline , or succory : whereby it cureth the gréene sicknes , and the dropsie , not being growne too farre , nor rooted . the like force it hath in infirmities of the spleene , wherein it helpeth all stoppings , discusseth windinesses , and diminisheth all sort of colde swellings or tumors : namely , being receaued with the decoction of tamariske , barke of capers rootes , or of finger-fearne . neither is it of lesse power and vertue , in curing the disseases of the entralls or guttes : for it singularly helpeth the collick , and stayeth all lares , and aswageth all torments , and grypings , if it be orderly taken with fitte , & conuenient liquors , strops , or conserues . but the most especiall , and singular vertue thereof , is the wonderfull comfort and strength it yeeldeth and imparteth to the hart , the principall parte of the life of man : which his force is most mightily perceaued in faintings , and swoundings . the same effects it showeth in tremblings of the hart , and in all melancholie-passions and frights . but to goe forward : in the kidnies and bladder , it mildly scowreth away and clenseth sand , grauell , or stones , and thereby often times cureth the stoppings of vrine , and the stran 〈…〉 rie . for the gowt ( after generall euacuations orderly administred ) the continuall vse of this tryacle , is a most effectuall remedie : which effect it worketh by helping concoction in the stomacke and lyuer , by comforting the braine , and by drying vp , or driuing out , either by sweate , or inscensible outbreathings , all superfluous moysture , both there and in all other parts of the bodie . besides all these , it is a singular remedie , both for palsies and cramps , either inwardly taken , or outwardly applyed , and annoynted with some conuenient oyle or grease . in womens matters , although the vertues thereof be excellently effectual , notwithstanding , i thinke it not amis to omit the rehearsall of them at this time , because any large discourse thereof , especially in the mother tongue , may seeme vnfit for chaste eares , and besides , is more likely to do harme then good , in vnchaste mindes . but here i may not ouer passe the mighty power it hath in driuing away any long lingering ague , proceeding from colde , grosse , or tough humors , & namely , of an old quartane ague , if it be orderly giuen in good large proportion , with the decoction of germander , or tamariske halfe an houre before the fit , the partie withall being put into a warme bed , & with store of warme clothes prouoked presently to sweate : marry here great heede must be taken , that first the body be well purged , and let blood ( if neede be ) and that the humor be ripe and concocted . to set downe at large , all the perticuler vertues , & effects of this london triacle , would make vp a large volume . for because therefore both i meane to be short , and these vertues alreadie expressed are sufficient to direct any reasonable man to the orderly vse of this london triacle , in most common disseases : i will surcease to discourse any longer of the quallities thereof , and proceede to the order of vsing it . the order of vsing london triacle . in the vse of london triacle , three things are to be considered : first , the quantitie , next the time , and lastly , the manner of ministring of it . a certaine quantitie , either in weight or measure thereof , cannot precisely be declared in words , by reason of the manifold diuersities , as well of the strength , age , sexe , temperature , and complexion of the sicke bodie , as of the disseases themselues , their causes , and the parts of mans body therewith possessed : in sucking children halfe a scruple will be a reasonable quantitie : in women with childe , or in child-bed , in very olde folkes , or yong children past sucking , a whole scruple may be well borne : in stronger bodies , and abler constitutions , a larger proportion may be allowed , ( due consideration being had of the vrgencie of the dissease , and the strength of the partie ) as from a scruple weight vpward to a whole dra●me or foure scruples in very vrgent and hard disseases , as in driuing away of a quartane or such like . but when poyson is already receaued inwardly , or any bodie newly bitten , slung with a mad dog , or venomous beast , you must ascend yet higher , and encrease your dasts to two dragmes weight , yea , and in strong poysons and venomes , vnto three dragmes , and this you must often times doe , and not be content with once giuing it . and here because most men knowes not these names of scruples and dragmes , and many men though , they peraduenture knowe them , yet haue them not readie at hand when neede requires , it is to be vnderstood , that a drag-weight in english siluer is vii . d. ob . iust , and a scruple ( which is the third part of a dragme , weigheth iust ij . d. ob . now who so cannot halfe or double any of these , is too simple to be thought fit to minister medicines vnto any sicke bodie being in danger . furthermore , for because that most of the common and vulgar people , though they had weights , yet they knowe them not : and which is more , knoweth not how to weigh any thing by those coynes which they best knowe , it is thought not amis , to set downe such directions in giuing of this triacle , as the ignorantest man of all cannot much goe amis . for a scruple , they are full the bignes of a meane and ordinarie hasell . nut husked : and for a dragme , the quantity of a small nutmeggo , may safely be administred , and so the rest ●atably : and thus much for the quantity . now for the time and fit season of giuing it ( which , as in all other medicines administring , so in this triacle giuing is the difficultest poynte of skill in all phisick ) two things are chiefly to be noted : the time of the day , and the time of the dissease . of all times of the day the morning is most apt , and fittest both for this medicine and all other such like to be taken in . and good cause why : for in the morning , after the whole nights rest , the former dayes meate being fully digested and dispearsed into the outward parts of the bodie , the inward parts , as the stomacke , liuer , spleene , and bellie vaines , are then empty , & therefore more apt both to receaue in themselues , and to dispearse throw into the whole bodie , the force and vertue of the medicine then taken . for alwaies , especiall care and regarde is to be taken , that neyther this triacle , nor any such like strong & forceable medicine , be administred inwardly after meate , or vpon a full belly . yea , and if the bellie be not either by nature loose , or by arte made soluble , the vse of triacle can no wayes be safe . the other time to be obserued , is that of the dissease it selfe , which caryeth so great sway , that often times it ouerruleth the time of the day , and altereth it at pleasure , according to the time of the whole dissease , or of that present fitt then possessing the sick body : for the time of the whole sicknes , as a long ague , or other lingering dissease , it is against all rules of arte to minister triacle , either in the beginning , or in the encrease of the dissease , vntil manyfest tokens of concoction and ripenes appeare : after which time ( if the obstructions of the lyuer or spleene continue not still great ) you may safely , accordingly as the ripenes encrease , & the obstructions decrease , ratably augment the quantitie of your triacle . the same is to be obserued in the time of the fit : for vntill the matter of that fit make show of ripenes , & that the passages of the outward parts and skinne be somwhat opened , you may no wayes giue any triacle : but after that time you may safely minister it , the better thereby to further the issue of sweate , and insencible out-breathings : by which kindes of euacuations ( being aboundantly performed ) very often times it falleth out ▪ that the whole dissease is dissolued and rid away . besides the two times rehearsed , she one of the ●●y , th● the other of the dissease , the age of the triacle it lesse is diligently to be considered : for the newer he is , the better , 〈◊〉 readi●● he stayeth any euacuation , especially by vomitto or stoole , & withall asswageth any inward grypings or paines , cheifly such as proceede from hotte and fretting humors . as gaine , the older this triacle is , the more forceable and effectuall are his vertues , in opening all stoppings and obstructions of the principall parts , and consequently in expecting , and driuing out from the inward to the outward parts all venomous and rotten , either humors or vapors . now for the manner of giuing it , you must note , that if your intent be to stay any fluxe or euacuation , by strengthening the principall parts , or else to mittigate & asswage any inward point , in such cases you must minister your triacle in solide or drye forme , either alone , or with some conserue , or electuary , and then sleepe vpon it : vnles you meane to stay immoderate sweating . contrariewise , if you meane and desire to driue out , and expell any corrupt or noysome humor or vapor , then giue it dissolued in some conuenient liquor , and sleepe not after it : except your meaning be to procure sweate , which of all euacuations is onely furthered by sleeping : and thus much for the right vse of this london tryacle . for what cause the receate is not yet published , and wherefore the making thereof is commited onely to one apothecarie . no doubt many will not a litle meruaile why the receat & proscript of this london triacle , is neither in this discourse , nor any where els published to the view of all m●n , especially of phisitions abroade : that by the examining at the simples , they may better iudge of of the force and vertue of the whole composition : an exam●●● whereof there is no president to be showed , either in former ages , or forraigne countries , vnles one would fetch a president and 〈◊〉 from the barbar 〈…〉 turks , who those many years haue ●once●led the r●●eate 〈…〉 till now of late , prosperus 〈…〉 ●●ing sundrie yeares in egypt , 〈…〉 prescript thereof , at the hands 〈…〉 simpler , which yearely had the 〈…〉 daies , all the simple ingredients for th●● 〈…〉 in the presence of all the skilfullest phis●● 〈…〉 doth yearely make vp the whole composition : 〈…〉 ●●ceate , the same alpinus hath very honestly , and to 〈…〉 praise , published to the whole world . in auntient tim●● 〈◊〉 pr●●decessors were so farre from concealing and supp●●●● any such effectuall medicine , that the first composition of triacle ( whereof record is found in any writer , antioc●●us his theriaca i meane ) was presently by endemus a famous phisition put into verse , and the verses engrauen in stone , and set vp ouer the good esculapius his temple doo●●e , the euery man to reade ouer , and copie out at his pleasure . what cause or reason then should mooue the phisitions of london , to kéepe their new receate of triacle so much concealed ? assure your selues they did it not without great reason , and good consideration . the very true cause of suppressing the receats , is the entire affection they beare to the whole nation , their natiue countrie , together with a diligent carefulnes they haue , that the composition may without fraude or cou●●n ●●e truly and perfectly prepared . for seeing how great 〈…〉 growne in the world , by suffering euery man that would take it vpon him to make geane triacle hand ouer hand , and that without ouer looking or correcting after ad●●is●● deliberately taken , they could fi●●e in th●●●ughly , and disorderly age , n●● other meanes to avo●●e 〈◊〉 inc●●●●nience , or rather mischiefe , sauing onely by committing the making and compounding thereof , with some one 〈◊〉 and skilfull apothecary alone : which their good 〈◊〉 meaning could not haue bene compassed , if the 〈◊〉 haue published to the world : for so euery other , 〈◊〉 〈…〉 by the 〈…〉 〈…〉 , might 〈…〉 〈…〉 as he is whome 〈…〉 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 is committ the 〈…〉 〈…〉 only apothecary , that thereby 〈◊〉 〈…〉 themeselues of the perfect 〈◊〉 〈…〉 viewing , and diligently examining all the 〈…〉 at his house , which thing would haue bene 〈…〉 & labour for them to performe in so many 〈…〉 and dr●●●ers houses as would haue 〈◊〉 ●●on●● above the 〈◊〉 thereof . neither is it their m●●●ing altogether to s●●ppresse the rec●●t●● , but onely : to conceale it for a 〈◊〉 , vntill good order may by authoritie be set downe , for 〈◊〉 t●●e and orderly 〈◊〉 of it , and such other live . 〈◊〉 they were the ●●●●rly 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 for a season , that before the publishing , they might make perfect proofe , and full tryall of the effects and vertues thereof . finis . medicinal experiments, or, a collection of choice and safe remedies for the most part simple and easily prepared, useful in families, and very serviceable to country people / by r. boyle ; to which is annexed a catalogue of his theological and philosophical books and tracts. boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1693 approx. 241 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 174 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28994 wing b3990 estc r10015 11670546 ocm 11670546 48050 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28994) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 48050) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1479:14) medicinal experiments, or, a collection of choice and safe remedies for the most part simple and easily prepared, useful in families, and very serviceable to country people / by r. boyle ; to which is annexed a catalogue of his theological and philosophical books and tracts. boyle, robert, 1627-1691. the second edition. 2 v. printed for sam. smith ..., london : 1693. includes index in each volume. vol. i has two parts, each with special t.p., and the catalogue of theological and philosophical books and tracts, which has special t.p. and separate pagination. reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate 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variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions. pharmacopoeias. dispensatories. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-07 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion medicinal experiments : or , a collection of choice and safe remedies , for the most part simple , and easily . prepared : useful in families , and very serviceable to country people . by the honourable r. boyle , esq ; fellow of the royal society . to which is annexed a catalogue of his theological and philosophical books and tracts . the second edition . london : printed for sam. smith , at the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard . 1693. price the preface of the publisher . these receipts , taken out of a large collection , as consisting of a few safe ingredients , commonly to be found at easie rates in most places , were sent to a learned physician beyond sea : to whom they were a welcome present , and answer'd , without doubt , the ends he had in desiring them . that excellent person , to whom these choice prescriptions are owing , did permit a few copies of them to be printed , and was pleased to put them in the hands of some of his friends , provided , as there was occasion , they would make tryal of them , and faithsully report the success . divers of those , who on these conditions had received so great a favour , held themselves obliged to enquire for persons affected with any of the maladies against which the said medicines were prescribed ; and , upon many experiments carefully made , having found , that frequently they have relieved those who used them , and sometimes strangely outdone expectation ; they addressed themselves with much importunity to the noble author , to suffer things , which were of such general benefit , and so easily to be procured by the poor , to be made more publick . and at length he hath been prevailed with not only to allow the former receipts , which but few had seen , to be reprinted , but hath , out of his rich treasury , stored us with a fresh collection , which , as in number it exceeds what we had before , so in quality and virtue it falls not short of it . and if what here , with such an honest and kind design is offered to the publick , be but candidly and favourably receiv'd , we may still hope for more blessings of this sort from him , who has not only a constant will and great ability to do good , but hath , perhaps , obliged the age as much as any private person in it . the author's preface . the following prescriptions are a part of a collection of receipts and processes , that from time to time have been recommended to me by the experience of others , or approv'd by my own : receipts that being parable or cheap , may easily be made servicable to poor country people . for medicines so simple , and for the most part so cheap , i have found all of them to be good in their kind : and though i think most of them safer than many other medicines that are in great request , yet i do not pretend that these should play the part of medicines and physicians too ; but that they may be usefully employed by one who knows how to administer them discreetly . i distinguish them into three classes or orders , annexing to the title of each particular medicine one of the three first letters of the alphabet ; whereof a is the mark of a remedy of the highest classis of these , recommended as very considerable and efficatious in its kind . b , denotes a secondor inferior sort , but yet to be valuable for their good operations . c , belongs to those remedies that are of the lowest order , tho' good enough not to be dispised . those receipts , which were my own , are expressed in my own terms ; so also those which i received from others by word of mouth : but them which were imparted to me in writing , though i my self would not have worded them , as they did that i had them from , yet i oftentimes made a scruple to correct or alter their expressions , tho' not suitable to the current style of the formularies of receipts , being more concern'd that the meaning should be close kept to , than the style rectified . the table of diseases . note , the number answers to the page . a. agues . pag. 4 , 13 , 25 , 74 amulet against agues . 13 amulet against cramps . 15 acidities to cure. 19 after-birth to bring away . 21 appetite to restore . 21 antimonial remedy for leprosies and fevers . 54 antimonial infusion . 56 apoplexy to prevent . 65 arthritick pains . 71 apoplectick fits. 78 b. bloody-flux . pag. 7 bowels to strengthen . 14 blood to stanch . 16 blood to sweeten . 19 brest vlcerated . 23 broken belly . 33 , 40 black jaundice . 44 burns . 84 c. coughs . pag. 1 , 32 convulsions . 9 , 20 consumptions . 12 child to bring away . 14 cramp . 15 contusions . 28 , 29 cutis excoriated . 30 continual fevers . 51 , 52 , 54 , 79 chilblains . 53 colick . 55 , 62 , 78 , 85 childbearing to be cleansed after . 57 cancer not broken . 67 colds . 69 childrens jaundice . 70 chin cough . 74 d. dysentery . pag. 7 , 18 , 59 , 68 diseases from obstruction . 38 difficulty of hearing . 39 drink for continual fevers . 51 , 52 drink for the scurvy . 64 diuretick medicine . 64 decoction of quick-silver . 80 e. evil. pag. 7 eyes to cure. 20 excoriations . 30 external piles . 63 experiment for a weak sight . 73 external remedy for fevers . 79 f. fits of the stone . pag. 8 fluxes sharp . 18 , 26 , 37 , 59 films to clear . 20 fits of agues . 4 , 13 , 25 fits of the gout . 40 fits of the mother . 50 fevers continual . 51 , 52 , 54 , 79 falling sickness . 75 fits apoplectick . 78 fits strain . 83 g. gripings . pag. 26 gout . 40 , 50 , 71 gums to strengthen . 69 h. hemorrhoids . pag. 10 , 17 , 27 , 63 , 84 heart burning . 34 hearing difficult . 39 hoarsness on a cold. 69 heat in the eyes . 72 heat of the stomach . 87 i. jaundice yellow . pag. 5 , 6 , 70 inflammations of vlcers 31 jaundice black. 44 itch to cure . 58 internal piles . 63 issue raw to make . 86 k kings evil. pag. 7 kings evil cured with lime water , &c. 82 l. lime water to make . pag. 11 lime water for obstructions . 12 legs inflamed and vlcerated . 31 loosness . 37 leprosie . 54 lungs stuffed . 74 lime water for the kings evil. 82 m medicine for the stone . pag. 49 , 76 mother fits. 50 medicine for a fresh strain . 52 medicine to cleanse the womb. 57 medicine for a sore throat . 60 , 66 , 77 medicine for the colick . 62 medicine for a cancer . 67 n nitre , a medicine of it for the colick . pag. 85 o. obstructions . pag. 12 , 38 outward contusions . 28 , 29 oil of turpentine mixt with ointment of tobacco , and balls of sulphur for the piles . 84 p. pains of the stone . pag. 2 pain of the teeth . 4 piles . 10 , 17 , 27 , 63 , 84 pains . 31 , 50 , 71 plaister to discuss tumours . 43 plaister to strengthen the joynts . 50 pleurisie . 68 prolapsus vteri . 71 q. quick-silver prepared against worms . 80 r. rheumes . pag. 1 , 32 , 68 ruptures . 33 , 40 resent strain . 35 remedy for chilblains . 53 remedies for fluxes . 7 , 18 , 26 , 59 s. stone . pag. 2 , 8 , 49 , 76 sharpness of vrine . 3 strengthen the bowels . 14 stanching blood. 16 stomach to strengthen . 21 strain . 34 , 35 , 37 , 52 , 83 , 85 strengthning plaister . 31 sores . 41 sore throat . 60 , 66 , 86 sharp humours . 62 scurvy . 64 strengthen the gums . 69 syrup for rheums . 68 sharp humours in the eyes . 72 sight weak . 73 stomach heat . 87 stomachical tincture . 88 t. tooth ach. pag. 4 , 32 tertian ague . 13 , 74 tumours . 17 tickling rheum . 32 teeth to keep sound . 32 tumours to discuss and ripen . 43 throat sore . 60 , 66 , 77 , 86 teeth to make firm . 69 u. vrine sharp . pag. 3 vlcers of the brest . 23 vlcers . 41 uteri prolapsus . 71 vrine stopt . 76 w. women in labour . pag. 14 wounds bleeding . 16. weakness of the joynts . 37 water for vlcers . 41 womb to cleanse . 57 wash for the itch. 58 weak sight . 73 worms in children . 80 whitloe to cure. 81 y. yellow jaundice . pag. 5 decad i. i. for coughs , especially such as proceed from thin rheums . take of choice olibanum , finely powder'd , from one scruple to half a dram , and mix carefully with it an equal weight of sugar-candy , ( white or brown , ) or , in want of that , of fine sugar ; and let the patient take it at bed-time in the pap of an apple , or some other proper additament , for several nights together : if it be found needful , it may be taken at any other time , when the stomach is empty . ii. to give ease in the pains of the stone , even that of the bladder . take the transparent sparr that grows upon the veins of lead-ore , and having reduc'd it to fine powder , give from half a dram to a whole dram of it at a time , in a moderate draught of some convenient vehicle . n. b. though there be ( at least in most of our english mines ) two teguments , as it were , of the veins of lead , that grow close together ; yet that which the diggers name cawk , which is white and opacous , is not the medicine i mean , but the transparent , or at least semi-diaphanous ; which easily breaks into smooth fragments , and in the fire cleaves into several pieces , that are wont to be smooth , and prettily shap'd . iii for sharpness of vrine . take of the dry stuff that divides the lobes of the kernels of walnuts , beat them to powder , and of this give about half a dram at a time , in a draught of white-wine , or posset-drink made with it , or in any other convenient liquor . iv. to appease the violent pains of the tooth-ach . make up a scruple of pillulae mastichinae , and half a grain of laudanum , into two or three pills for the patient to take at bed-time . v. for agues . take salt of card. benedict . and salt of wormwood ana 15 grains , tartar vitriolate half a scruple , mix them , and give them in a few spoonfuls of rhenish-wine , or of some other convenient vehicle , either before the fit , or at some other time when the stomach is empty . vi. for the yellow-jaundice . take an ounce of castle soap , ( the elder the better , ) slice it thin , put it into a pint of small-beer cold , set it on the fire , let it boil gently half away , after boiling some time , scum it once ; then strain it through a small sieve , warm it , and drink it all in a morning , fasting ; take a small lump of sugar after it , and fast two or three hours : the party may walk about his business , and eat his accustomed meals : if at any time he drinks wine , let it be white-wine . n. b. if he be far gone in the distemper ; two or three days after , he may take it once or twice more , and no oftner . refrain all other medicines : it will keep a week or longer . vii . for the jaundice . take two or three ounces of semen cannabis ( hempseed ) and boil them till the seeds ( some of them ) begin to burst , and a little longer , in a sufficient quantity of new milk , to make one good draught ; which the patient is to take warm , renewing it , if need be , for some days together . viii . for the dysentery . take pigs-dung , dry it , and burn it to grey ( not white ) ashes ; of these give about half a dram for a dose , drinking after them about three spoonfuls of wine-vinegar . ix . for the kings evil. take cuttle-bone uncalcin'd , and having scrap'd off the out-side or colour'd part , dry the white part ; and of this , finely powder'd , give half a dram for a dose in aqua malvae . x. a safe and easie medicine in fits of the stone . take sack , or , in want of that , claret-wine , and by shaking , or otherwise , mix with it , as well as you can , an equal quantity of oyl of walnuts ; and of this mixture give from 4 or 6 to 8 or 10 ounces at a time as a glyster . decad ii. i. for convulsions , especially in children . take earth-worms , wash them well in white-wine to cleanse them , but so as that they may not die in the wine : then , upon hollow tiles , or between them , dry the worms with a moderate heat , and no further than that they may be conveniently reduc'd to powder ; to one ounce of which add a pretty number of grains of ambergrise , both to perfume the powder , ( whose scent of it self is rank ) and to make the medicine more efficacious . the dose is from one dram to a dram and half in any convenient vehicle . ii. for the pyles . take the powder of earth-worms prepared as in the former receipt , ( but leaving out the ambergrise , ) and incorporate it exactly with as much hens-grease , as will serve to make it up into an oyntment . apply this to the part affected , whose pains it usually much and safely mitigates . iii. to make lime-water vseful in divers distempers . take one pound of good quick-lime , and slake it in a gallon of warm water , and let it stand 'till all that will subside be settled at the bottom , and ( separation being made , ) the water swim clear at the top : ( at which time it will often happen , that a kind of thin and brittle substance , almost like ice , will cover the surface of the liquor : ) as soon as the water is thus sufficiently impregnated , delay not to pour it off warily , and keep it very well stopp'd for use . iv. a lime-water for obstructions and consumptions . take a gallon of lime-water made as above , and infuse in it cold , sassafras , liquorice , and anyseeds , of each four ounces , adding thereto half a pound of choice currans , or the like quantity of slic'd raisins of the sun : the dose of this compound lime-water is four or five ounces , to be taken twice a day . v. an amulet against agues , especially tertian . take a handful of groundsel , shred and cut it small , put it into a square paper bag of about four inces every way , pricking that side that is to be next the skin , full of large holes ; and cover it with some sarcenet or fine linnen , that nothing may fall out . let the patient wear this upon the pit of his stomach , renewing it two hours before every fit. vi. for women in labour to bring away the child . take about one dram of choice myrrh , and having reduc'd it to fine powder , let the patient take it in a draught of rhenish-wine or sack ; or , if you would have the liquor less active , white-wine , posset-drink , or some other temperate vehicle . vii . for strengthening the bowels . take cloves or chives ( not bulbs ) of garlick , and let the patient from time to time swallow one or two , without chewing . viii . an amulet against the cramp . take the root of mechoacan , and having reduc'd it to pouder , fill with this pouder a little square bag or sacket of sarcenet , or some such slight stuff ; which bag is to be about three inches square , and to be hung by a string about the patient's neck , so as that it may reach to the pit of the stomach , and immediately touch the skin . ix . for stanching of blood , especially in wounds . take those round mushrooms that botanists call crepitus lupi , ( in english puff-balls ▪ ) when they are full ripe ( which is in autumn ) ; and breaking them warily , save carefully the pouder that will fly up , and the rest that remains in their cavities : and strew this pouder all over the part affected , binding it on , or proceeding further , if need be , according to art. x. for the tumors and pains of the hemorrhoides , not too much inflamed . let the patient dip his finger in balsam of sulphur , made with oyl of turpentine , and with his finger so besmeared anoint the tumors , whether external or internal , once or twice a day . decad iii. i. for the dysentery and other sharp fluxes . take the stalks and leaves of the herb call'd in latin , coniza media ( in english , flea-bane ▪ ) dry it gently , till it be reducible to pouder ; of this pouder give about one dram at a time , twice or thrice a day , in any convenient vehicle ; or else incorporate it in conserve of red roses ▪ ii. to sweeten the blood , and cure divers distempers caused by its acidity . take coral , the clearest and reddest you can get ; reduce it ( by exactly grinding it on a porphory , or marble stone , ) to an impalpable pouder . of this magistery made without acids , give the patient once or twice a day ( as need shall require , ) a large dose , viz. ordinarily about one dram at a time , or from two scruples to five . n. b. let him long continue the use of it . iii. to clear the eyes , even from filmes . take paracelsus's zibethum occidentale ( viz. human dung ) of a good colour and consistence , dry it slowly till it be pulverable : then reduce it into an impalpable pouder ; which is to be blown once , twice , or thrice a day , as occasion shall require into the patients eyes . iv. for convulsions in children . give the patient from 2 , 3 , or 4 , to 5 , 6 , or 7 , grains , according to the child's age , of the true volatile salt of amber , in any proper vehicle . n. b. 't is not near so efficacious in full grown persons . v. to bring away the after-birth . give about 30 drops , or any number between 25 and 35 , of good essential ( as chimists call it , ) oyl of juniper , in a good draught of any convenient vehicle . vi. to strengthen the stomach , and help the want of appetite . make the roots of gentian ( sound and not superannuated , ) pulverable , with no more waste of their moisture than is necessary . reduce these to pouder ; of which let the patient take from 12 or 15 grains to double that quantity ( or more if need be , ) twice or thrice a day . n. b. it may be taken on an empty stomach , or , if that cannot conveniently be done , at meal-times . to correct the bitterness , one may add to it pouder'd sugar , or make it up with some fit conserve , or mix it with a syrup . it is very good , not only for want of appetite , but for obstructions . and i ( r. b. ) have usefully given it in vertiginous affections of the brain , and to lessen , if not quite take away , the fits of agues , and even quartans . but in this last case the dose must be considerably augmented . one may also , if one pleases , instead of the pouder , give the extract drawn with fair water , and for those that like that form , made up into pills with a sufficient quantity of pouder'd tumerick , or the like proper additament ; to which i have sometimes added some grains of salt of wormwood with good success , in fluxes that proceeded from crudities and indigestion . where the winter-season or the patients cold constitution invite , or the medicine is to be long kept , i chuse rather to make the extract with wine moderately strong , than with water . vii . for vlcers in the breast , and elsewhere . take millepedes , ( in english by some called wood-lice , by others sows , ) and having wash'd them clean with a little white-wine , and dry'd them with a linnen cloth , beat them very well in a glass or marble mortar ( for they ought not to be touch'd with any thing of metal ) and give the first time as much juice , as you can by strong expression obtain from five or six of them . this juice may be given in small ale or white-wine , in which the next time you may give as much as can be squeez'd out of eight or nine millepedes ; and so you may continue , increasing the number that you employ of them by two or three at a time , till it amount to twenty five or thirty ; and if need be , to forty or more , for one taking . and note , that if upon the pounding of these insects , you find the mass they afford too dry , as it now and then happens ; you may dilute it with a little white-wine or ale , to be well agitated with it , that being penitrated , and so softned , with the liquor , the mass may the better part with its juice . viii . for taking off the fits of agues . take good common brimstone ( not flores sulphuris , ) and having reduc'd them , by passing them through a very fine sieve , to the subtilest pouder you can ; give of this pouder one dram and half or two drams , either made up into a bolus with a little good honey , or else in any appropriated vehicle ; let it be given at the usual times , and reiterated once or twice , if need be , especially if the fits should return . ix . for fluxes , especially accompanied with gripings . take of crude lapis calaminaris finely pouder'd two scruples , of white chalk one scruple , mix them exactly , and give them in a spoonful or two of new milk twice , or , if the case be urgent , thrice a day . x. for the pains of the piles . take of myrrh , olibanum , and common frankincense , of each alike quantity ; having pouder'd them , mix them very well , and let the patient receive the fume of this mixture , cast upon a chafsen-dish with embers , in a close-stool , for about a quarter of an hour , ( less or more , as he needs it , and is able to bear it . ) decad iv. i. for an outward contusion . apply to the part affected , skim'd or purify'd honey , spread upon cap-paper , to be kept on with some convenient plaister , or the like bandage , and shifted once or twice a day . ii. another for the same . beat aloes succotrina ( or else hepatica , ) to fine pouder ; then pour on it as much rose-water as you guess may dissolve a great part of it . this done , stir them well for a while , and when the mixture is setled , pour off the liquor , and in it dip linnen rags , which being applied to the part affected , will soon stick to it , and seldom need be remov'd till the patient be reliev'd ; and then to get them off , the rags must be well wetted with warm water , which will soften and loosen the adhering aloes . iii. for a slighter excoriation . melt mutton-suet taken from about the kidneys , and freed from its superfluous fibres or strings , and to about two ounces of this add little by little about 16 or 18 drops ( sometimes 8 or 10 may serve ) of oyl ( not aethereal spirit ) of turpentine ; spread this mixture on a linnen cloth , and by binding or otherwise , keep it upon the part affected . iv. for an excoriation , when the true cutis is affected . take prunella ( in english self-heal , ) and having pounded it very well in a marble or glass mortar , ( not one of metal , ) apply it to the part affected , renewing it but seldom , and not without need . v. to take off the pain and inflammation of vlcers in the legs and elsewhere . in a quart of water boil about so much white-bread , as in ordinary years may be found in a halfpenny-loaf ; then add to it two ounces of good sheeps suet cut very small ; and when that is boil'd a little , add to it one ounce of finely pouder'd rosin , and a little well searc'd brimstone : of these make a cataplasm , which is to be kept constantly on the part affected , and shifted once or twice a day , as need shall require . vi. for a cough , especially accompany'd with a tickling rheum . take equal parts of finely pouder'd olibanum and venice treacle , incorporate them exactly , and of this mass form pills of what bigness you please . of these let the patient take about half a dram at bed-time , or , if need be , one scruple , ( or more , ) twice a day . vii . to prevent the tooth-ach , and keep the teeth sound . lel the patient frequently rub his teeth moderately with the ashes that remain in tobacco-pipes , after the rest of the body hath been consum'd in smoak ; sometimes after washing ( if need be , ) his mouth with fair water not too cold . viii . for a rupture , especially in a child or young person . take of that geranium or cranes-bill that is commonly called columbinum , reduce the root and leaves to fine pouder , and of this let the patient take about half a spoonful night and morning for three or four weeks together , washing it down each time with some spoonfuls of red wine . ix . for the heart-burning as they call it . take from 15 or 20 , to 30 or 40 , grains of crabs-eyes , ( known commonly in the shops by the name of lapides canororum , ) reduc'd to very fine pouder , and either take it alone , or in any convenient conserve or syrup . 't is for the most part best to take this medicine when the stomach is empty . x. for a strain . take the strongest vinegar you can get , and boil in it a convenient quantity of wheat-bran , till you have brought it to the consistence of a poultess . apply this as early as may be to the part affected , and renew it when it begins to grow dry . decad v. i. for a recent strain . take worm-wood and pound it very well in a mortar of stone or glass ; then put to it as much of the whites of eggs , beaten to water , as may serve to make it up into such a consistence , as may be applied like a poultess to the part affected . ii. a strengthening plaister after a strain , or when there is any weakness in the joynt . melt down together and incorporate very well , two parts of diapalma , and one part of emplastrum ad herniam ; spread this mixture , ( but not very thick , ) upon leather , and lay it to the joynt to be strengthened . iii. for loosenesses . boil a convenient quantity of cork in spring-water , till the liquor taste strong thereof : of this decoction let the patient drink a moderate draught from time to time , till he finds himself sufficiently reliev'd by it . iv. for obstructions , and divers diseases proceeding thence . let the patient drink , every morning fasting , a moderate draught of his own vrine newly made , and ( if it can conveniently be , ) whil'st 't is yet warm ; forbearing food for an hour or two after it . v. for difficulty of hearing , from a cold cause . out of a bulbe or root of garlick , chuse a chive of a convenient bigness ; then having pass'd a fine piece of thread or silk through one end of it , that thereby it may be pull'd out at pleasure , crush it a little between your fingers , and having anointed it all over with oyl of bitter ( or in want of that , sweet ) almonds , put it into the cavity of the patients ear at bed-time , and draw it out the next morning , stopping the ear afterwards with black wooll ; but if need require , this operation is to be reiterated with fresh garlick for some days successively . vi. for ruptures in the belly , especially in children . having well cleans'd the roots of sigillum salamonis , scrape one ounce of them into a quart of broth , and let the patient take a mess , or a porringer full of it for his break-fast ; or else give half a dram or two scruples of the pouder of it at a time , in any convenient vehicle . vii . to give check to fits of the gout , and in some measure to prevent them . take three ounces of sarsaparilla slic'd and cut thin ▪ to these add an equal weight of raisins of the sun , rubb'd very clean , but not broken : put both these ingredients into three quarts of spring water , and let the vessel stand in a moderate heat , that the liquor may simper for many hours , yet without bursting most part of the raisins ; keep this decoction , well stop'd , and let the patient use it for his only drink , till he need it no longer . viii . a water for vlcers and sores . take a solution of venetian sublimate , and having made with very good quick lime as strong a lime-water as you can , ( so that , if it be possible , it may bear an egg , ) drop this upon the dissolv'd sublimate , till it will precipitate no more reddish stuff at all ; ( which will not so soon be done as one that hath not try'd will imagin : ) as soon as you perceive that the liquors act no longer visibly upon one another , pour the mixture into a filter of cap-paper , which retaining the orange-colour'd precipitate , will transmit an indifferently clear liquor : which is to be in a glass viol kept stopp'd for its proper use ; namely , that the part affected may be therewith wash'd from time to time , and , if need be , kept covered with double linnen cloths wetted in the same liquor . ix . a plaister to discuss tumours , or ripen them if it cannot discuss them . take of yellow wax , frankincense , and rosin , of each four ounces , or a sufficient quantity , melt them together gently , and being strain'd , make up the mass into a roll for use . x. for the black jaundice it self . take a spoonful of honey , boil it gently , and scum it , till it come to a good consistence ; then add of wheat-flower and saffron ( reduced to a pouder , ) as much of each as you may take up upon the point of a knife ; and having mix'd all well , put it over the coals again , until it lose its smell : afterwards you may put it into a little stone or earthen pot , and keep it for use ; which is , that the patient take the quantity of a pea , and anoint the navil , and fill the cavity thereof with it ; repeating the application for some days together , when the stomach is empty , and abstaining from meat and drink about two hours after the medicine is us'd . the end of the first part. medicinal experiments : or , a collection of choice remedies , for the most part simple , and easily prepared . the latter five decads being a second part . by the honourable r. boyle , fellow of the royal society . london : printed for sam. smith , at the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard . 1693. decad vi. i. a parable medicine for the stone . take of the seed of flixweed , and give of it about as much as will lie upon a shilling , either whole or grosly bruis`d , in any convenient vehicle . ii. for fits of the mother . dissolve store of sea-salt in the best wine vinegar , and in this dip a soft linnen cloth , which being folded so as to make 3 or 4 doubles , is to be applied somewhat warm to the soles of the patient's feet , and kept on till the fit be over . iii. a choice plaister to strengthen the joynts after the gout , and hasten the going off of the pain . take of paracelsus and diapalma ana , melt them and incorporate them exactly together , and spread the mixture very thin upon fine leather , to be us'd as a plaister to the part affected . iv. a very good drink in continual fevers . make a decoction of the leaves of rue in fair water , till the liquor tast pretty strong of the plant : this , being strain'd , is to be made somewhat palatable with liquorice , or a little sugar , or aromatic body : to half a pint of this add about 10 drops of spirit ( not oyl ) ) of vitriol : let the patient use this for his ordinary drink . v. a good drink to be frequently used in fevers , especially continual ones . give , in half a pint of some small convenient drink , half an ounce of harts-horn , burnt to great whiteness ; which is to be a little boyled in the liquor ; and this , thus alter'd , is to be given from time to time . vi. an easie medicine for a fresh strain . make up the clay , with which the bungs of barrels are wont to be stopp'd ; with as much vinegar as will bring it to the consistence of an indifferently stiff cataplasm : then warm it a little , and apply it to the part affected . vii . a remedy much used for chilblains . take a turnep , roast it well under the embers , and beat it to a poultice ; then apply it very hot to the part affected ; and keep it on ( if need be , ) for 3 or 4 days , in that time shifting it twice or thrice , if occasion require . viii . a simple antimonial remedy , that has often done much good even in the leprosie , and all continual fevers . take crude antimony , well chosen and pouder'd ; of this give about one , two , or three scruples morning and evening , according to the age of the patient , in a little syrup of clove-gilly-flowers , or any such vehicle , or else mix'd with fine sugar , enough to make it somewhat palatable . this may be continued for 4 or 5 months , if need require ; and if the first dose prove beneficial to the patient , in cases not urgent , a scruple or half a dram may serve the turn , nor need the exhibition be continued for so long a time . ix . for the cholick , and divers other distempers . take four or five balls of fresh stone-horse dung , and let them steep for about a quarter of an hour ( or less , ) in a pint of white-wine , in a vessel well stopp'd that the liquor may be richly impregnated with the more volatile and subtil parts of the dung ; strain this , and give of it from a quarter to half a pint , or some ounces more at a time ; the patient having a care not to take cold after it . x. an often experimented antimonial infusion . take one ounce of pouder'd antimony ; tied up in a little bag of clean linnen , and hang it in a gallon of beer or ale that is brought from the brew-house , and is yet scarce fit to be drawn out , much less to be drank . of this liquor , when 't is ripe , let the patient make use for his ordinary drink ; only having a care , that if by age or accident it be perceived to grow sour , that vessel then be left off , for fear , lest the acidity of the liquor , corroding the antimony , might make it vomitive . decad vii . i. an easie medicine to cleanse the womb , especially after child-bearing . take a large white onyon , of about four ounces in weight , if you can get so big a one , and boyl it in about a pint of water , with any thing fit to make a very thin broth , till a third part or more of the liquor be consumed : of this broth , which may be made a little palatable with nutmeg , &c. the patient is to take six or eight ounces twice or thrice a day . ii. an experienced wash that quickly cures the itch. take strong quicklime one pound , and put to a gallon of spring-water , let them lie together for some hours , and then warily pour off the clear , filter the rest , and take two ounces of quick-silver , ty'd up in a linnen bag , and hang it in the liquor , and boil it for half an hour or more ; then pour off the cleer liquor once more , and wash the hands only with it twice , or at most thrice , a day . iii. a remedy often us'd , with success , in fluxes , and even dysenteries . take fresh roots of bistort , cut them into thin slices , and moisten them well with fair water and wine , to make them more soft and succulent ; then press out the juice as strongly as you can . and of this give about three or four spoonfuls , mingled with half a dozen spoonfuls , or somewhat more , of red wine , or some other convenient liquor . iv. a good medicine for a sore throat . take the white of a new-laid egg , and by beating it , reduce it into water ; and with this water mix diligently so much conserve of red roses as will reduce it to a soft mass ; whereof the patient is to let a little bit at a time melt leisurely in his mouth . v. a choice medicine for a sore throat . take a piece of greasie linnen cloth , of such a bigness , as that , being doubled , it may make a bag in form of a stay , to reach from one side of the throat to the other , and contain as much matter , as may make it of the thickness of an inch or more : this bag being fill'd with common salt is to be heated throughly , and apply'd to the part affected as warm as the patient can conveniently indure ; and within 2 hours after , or when it begins to grow too cold ; another like it and well heated , is to be substituted in its room ; and whil'st this is cooling , the other may be heated and made ready for use : so that the part affected may be always kept in a considerable degree of warmth , for about 48 hours , if the remedy be so long needed . vi. an often experienc'd medicine for the cholick , especially produced by sharp humors . take a quart of claret , and put into the vessel about two ounces of nettle-seeds , stop the bottle , and keep it in boiling water , till the water has made three or four walms , to assist the wines impregnation with the finer part of the seeds : of this liquor let the patient take a small draught once or twice a day . vii . to appease the pain of the haemorrhoids , whether internal or external . take two parts of flowers of sulphur , and one part of sugar very finely pouder'd , mix them exactly together , and make them up with a sufficient quantity of a mucilage of gum tragacarth into lozenges , of about a dram a piece : of which you may give one at a time , thrice in a day , or if need be , 4 or 5 times . viii . to make an excellent drink for the scurvy . take two handfuls of water trefoil , and let it work in about 8 gallons of wort , instead of hops , or of small ale or wort , made for it : and let the patient use it for all , or for a great part of his ordinary drink . ix . to make an easie diuretick . peel off the inner skin of an egg-shell , then beat the shell to a very fine pouder : give about a scruple of it at a time in any convenient vehicle . x. a powerful application to prevent and check the apoplexy . make an issue at the meeting of the sutures , and keep it open for a good while ; but if the case will not admit delay , clap on a good cupping-glass , without scarification , or with it , as need shall require , upon the same concourse of the sutures . decad viii ▪ i. a choice medicine for a sore throat . take housleek , and having lightly beaten it in a glass or stone mortar , press out the juice hard between two plates ; to this juice put almost an equal quantity of virgin-honey , mix them well , and add to the mixture a little burnt allum , as much as is requisite to give it a discernable alluminous taste : let the patient take this from time to time , with a liquorish stick , or some such thing . ii. an approv'd medicine for a cancer not broken . take dulcify'd colcothar , and with cream , or whites of eggs beaten to a water , bring it to the consistence of a cataplasm ; which ought to be made large , and spread about the thickness of half a crown , and applied warm to the part affected ▪ shifting it at least once a day . iii. to make a very good syrup for thin rheums . take syrup of jujubes , syrup of dryed roses , and syrup of corn poppy flowers , of each alike quantity , mix and use them as the necessity of the sick requires . iv. for the dysentery and pleurisie . grate to fine pouder the dry'd pizzel of a stagg , and give of it as much as will lie upon a shilling , or thereabouts , once or twice a day , in any convenient vehicle . v. to strengthen the gums , and make the teeth grow firm . take catechu , terra japonica , or japonian earth , and dissolve as much as you can of it in a pint of claret , or red wine ; then decant the liquor warily from the subsiding faeces , and let the patient now and then wash his mouth with it , especially at bed time . vi. for a hoarsness upon a cold. take three ounces of hyssop water , sweeten it with sugar-candy ; then beat well into it the yolk of one egg , and drink it at a draught . vii . a choice medicine for the jaundice in children . take half an ounce of choice rhubarb made into pouder ; incorporate with it exactly by long beating , two handfuls of well chosen , and cleans'd currans . of this electuary let the patient take every morning about the quantity of a nutmeg , for several days together . viii . a rare medicine to take away gouty , and other arthritick pains . take highly rectify'd spirit of mans vrine , and anoint the part with it , the cold being just taken off , once or twice the first day ; and no longer , unless the pain continue . ix . for a prolapsus uteri . apply to the patients navel a pretty large cupping-glass ; but let it not stay on too long , not above a quarter of an hour , for fear of injuring the part it covers , especially the navel-string . x. to allay heat in the eyes , proceeding from sharp humours . beat the white of an egg into a water , in which dissolve a pretty quantity of refined loaf-sugar , and then drop some of it into the patients eye . decad ix . i. an experienc'd medicine for strengthening a weak sight . take of eye bright , sweet fennel seeds , and fine sugar , all reduc'd to pouder , of each an ounce , nutmeg also pulveriz'd , one dram ▪ ( at most ; ) mix these very well together , and take of the composition from a dram to two or more , from time to time . ii. an often try'd medicine for tertian agues . take crude allum and nutmeg finely scrap'd , of each about half a dram , mix the pouders well together , and with about six grains of saffron ; give this in two or three spoonfuls of white-wine vinegar at the usual time . iii. for stuffings of the lungs , and the chin cough . make syrup of penny royal , or of ground ivy , moderately tart with oil of vitriol ; and of this let the patient take very leisurely about a quarter of a spoonful from time to time . iv ▪ for the falling sickness in children . take half a dram of choice amber , finely pouder'd , and give it for six or seven weeks together , once a day , when the stomach is empty , in about four ounces of good white-wine . v. an approv'd medicine to drive the stone , and cure suppression of vrine , proceeding from it . take the roots of wild garlick , ( by some country people called crow garlick ) wipe them very clean , stamp them very well in a mortar of stone or glass , and strain out the juice ; with which make a moderate draught of good white-wine considerably strong , and let the patient take it once or twice a day . vi. an experienc'd medicine for sore throats . take of scabious water six ounces , of wine vinegar a small spoonful , of mustard seed beaten , and of honey , of each a spoonful ; stir and shake them very well together ; and then filter the mixture and keep it for use . vii . an often experienced external remedy in apoplectick fits. fix a cupping-glass ( without scarification ) to the nape of the neck , and another to each of the shoulders , and let them stick on , a competent time . viii . an easie but approv'd medicine for the cholick . take about half a dram of mastich , and mix it with the yolk of a new laid egg , and give it the patient once or twice a day . ix . to appease the heat of feavers by an external remedy . apply to the soles of the feet a mixture , or thin cataplasm made of the leaves of tobacco , fit to be cut to fill a pipe with , beaten up with as much of the freshest currans you can get , as will bring the tobacco to the consistence of a poultis . x. the medicine that is in such request in italy against the worms in children . infuse one dram of clean quicksilver all night in about two ounces of the water of goats rue , distill'd the common way in a cold still : and afterwards strain and filter it , to sever it from all dregs that may happen in the making it . this quantity is given for one dose . decad x. i. a choice medicine for a whitloe . take shell snails , and beat the pulpy part of them very well , with a convenient quantity of fine chopt parsly , which is to be applied warm to the affected part , and shifted two or three times a day . ii. a simple but vseful lime-water , good for the kings evil , and divers other cases . take half a pound of good quick-lime , and put it into one gallon of spring-water , and infuse it for twenty four hours ; then decant the liquor , and let the patient drink a good draught of it two or three times a day , or he may use it for his ordinary drink ; this infusion may be coloured with saffron , or red sanders ; and if need be to make it stronger , add more lime , and warm the water and keep it well stopt . iii. an excellent medicine for a fresh strain . take four ounces of bean flower , two ounces of wine vinegar ; of these make a cataplasm to be applied a little warm to the part affected ; but if this should prove something too sharp , ( as in some cases it may ) then take two drams of litharg , and boil it a little in the vinegar ; before you put it to the bean-flower . iv. for the pyles . take balsam of sulphur made with oil of turpentine , ointment of tobacco , equal parts , incorporate them well , and anoint the grieved place therewith . v. for a burn. mingle lime water with linseed oyl , by beating them together with a spoon , and with a feather dress the burn several times a day . vi. for a fresh strain . boil bran in wine vinegar to the consistency of a poultis , apply it warm , and renew the poultis once in twelve hours , for two or three times . vii . an experienced medicine for the cholick . take good nitre one ounce , and rub it well in a clean mortar of glass or stone , then grind with it half a scruple or more of fine saffron , and of this mixture give about half a dram for a dose in three or four ounces of cold spring water . viii . to make an issue raw , that begins to heal up . take of lapis infernalis one ounce , of crown soap an ounce and half , chalk finely pouder'd six drams , mix them all together carefully , and keep them close stopt , except when you mean to use them . ix . for a sore throat . make a plaister of paracelsus , three or four fingers broad , and length enough to reach almost from one ear to the other , and apply it to the part affected , so that it may touch the throat as much as may be . x. for heat about the orifice of the stomach . make a syrup with the juice of house leek and sugar , and give about one spoonful of it from time to time . a stomachical tincture . take agrimony , two drams , small centory tops one dram , coriander seeds bruised one scruple , sassafras shavings and bark , one dram , gentian root half a dram , zedoary root ten grains ; pour upon these three quarters of a pint of boiling spring water , cover it , and let it steep twelve hours , then strain it , and put it in a bottle ; then drop a drop of oil of cinnamon , upon a lump of sugar , and put it into the liquor . the dose is three spoonfuls twice a day , an hour or two before meals . the end . a catalogue of the philosophical books and tracts , written by the honourable robert boyle esq ; together with the order or time wherein each of them hath been publish'd respectively . to which is added , a catalogue of the theological books , written by the same author . london : printed for sam. smith , at the sign of the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard . 1693. advertisements of the publisher . i. many ingenious persons , especially strangers , having pressingly endeavour'd to procure a catalogue of the honourable mr. boyle's writings ; and the author himself being not at leisure to draw one up ; 't was thought it might be some satisfaction to those inquirers , if i publish'd the following list , as it was drawn out , for his own use , of the philosophical transactions , as well as the printed volumes , by an ingenious french physician , studious of the authors writings , some of which he translated and printed in his own language . ii. the letter l affixt in the margin , denotes the book related to , to have been translated , and publish'd in the latin tongue also . several of the rest having likewise been translated into latin , but not yet published . iii. those that have an asterisk prefix'd to them came forth without the authors name , tho' 't is not doubted but they are his. iv. such as have this mark ☞ prefix'd to them , are sold by samuel smith at the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard . v. divers of those mentioned as drawn out of the transactions , did probably come abroad in latin ; some of the transactions themselves having been published in that language . a catalogue of the philosophical books and tracts . new experiments physico mechanical , touching the spring and weight of the air , and its effects , ( made for the most part in a new pneumatical engine ) written by way of letter to the right honourable charles lord viscount of dungarvan , eldest son to the earl of cork , by the honourable robert boyle esq ; a defence of the doctrine , touching the spring and weight of the air , propos'd by the author in his new physico-mechantoal experiments ; against the objections of franciscus linus , wherewith the objectors funicular hypothesis is also examin'd . an examen of mr. tho. hobbes's dialogus physicus de naturâ aeris , as far as it concerns the authors book of new experiments , touching the spring of the air ; with an appendix touching mr. hobbes's doctrine of fluidity and firmness . these three together in a volume in 4 to , being a second edition ; the first at oxford 1662 , had been publish'd anno 1660. the two others at london 1662 , had been publish'd , anno 1661. the sceptical chymist , &c. 1661. physiological essays , or tentamina , written and collected upon divers times and occasions , with an history of fluidity and firmness , in 4 to . 1662. an experimental history of colours begun , 8vo . 1663. some considerations touching the usefulness of experimental natural phylosophy , propos'd in a familiar discourse to a friend , by way of invitation to the study of it : a second edition , 4to . oxford , 1664. the first had been publish'd 1663. of the usefulness of natural philosophy , the second part ; the first section , of its usefulness to physick , with an appendix to this first section of the second part , 4to . 1669. of the usefulness of experimental natural philosophy , &c. the second tome , containing the latter section of the second part , 4to , oxford , 1671. the first volume of these three books , contains five essays . the first , of the usefulness , &c. principally as it relates to the mind of man. the second , a continuation of the former . the third , a further continuation . the fourth , a requisite digression concerning those , who would exclude the deity from intermedling with matter . in the fifth , the discourse , interrupted by the late digression , is resum'd and concluded . the second volume contains likewise five essays . the first , of the usefulness , &c. as to the physiological part of physick .. the second , as to the pathological part of physick . the third , as to the semeiotical part of physick . the fourth , as to the hygieinal part of physick . the fifth , as to the therapeutical part of physick , in 20 chapters . the third volume contains six essays . the first , general considerations about the means , whereby experimental phylosophy may become useful to human life . the second , of the usefulness of mathematicks to natural phylosophy . the third , of the usefulness of mechanical disciplines to natural phylosophy . the fourth , that the goods of mankind may be much increased by the naturalists insight into trades , with an appendix . the fifth , of doing by physical knowledge , what is wont to require manual skill . the sixth , of mens great ignorance of the uses of natural things . an experimental history of cold , and some discourses concerning new thermometrical experiments , and thoughts about the doctrine of antiperistasis ; with an examen of mr. hobbes's doctrine touching cold , a second edition , quarto , 1665. attempts of a way to convey liquors immediately into the mass of blood , communicated in the philosophical transactions of december the 4th , 1665. observations and experiments upon the barometer or ballance of air , invented , ditected and begun , anno 1659 , communicated to dr. beal that continued them , and mentioned in the transactions of february the 12th , and march the 12th , 1666. hydrostatical paradoxes made out by new experiments ▪ for the most part physical and easie , occasion'd by monsieur paschal's tract of the equilibrium of liquors , and of the weight of the air , 1666. an account of an earthquuke near oxford , and the con comitants thereof , communicated in the philosophical transactions of april 2d , 1666. new observations and directions about the barometer in the same . general heads for a natural history of a country , great or small , communicated in the same . the origine of forms and qualities illustrated by considerations and experiments , in two parts , 8vo , 1666. a way of preserving birds , taken out of the egg , and other small eaetus's , communicated in the philosophical transactions of may the 7th , 1666. an account of a new kind of baroscope , which may be called statical , and of some advantages and conveniences it hath above the mercurial , communicated in the philosophical transactions of july the 2d , 1666. a new frigorific experiment , shewing how a considerable degree of cold may be suddenly produced , without the help of snow , ice , hail , wind or nitre , and that at any time of the year , communicated in the philosophical trasnactions of july the 18th . 1666. tryals proposed to dr. lower for the improvement of transfusing blood out of one live animal into another , communicated in the philosophical transactions of february the 11th , 1666. free considerations about subordinate forms , being an appendix to the origine of forms and qualities published last year , and reprinted with this , 1667 , in 8●o . a letter to the author of the philosophical transactions , giving an information of some experiments which he had made himself several years ago , by injecting acid liquors into blood , upon the occasion of those communicated by signior ▪ fracassari , in a letter written from oxford , october the 19th , 1667. new experiments concerning the relation between light and air , ( in shining wood and fish ) in a letter from oxford to the publisher of the philosophical transactions of january the 6th , 1668. a continuation of the same letter in the philosophical transactions of february the 10th , 1668. a continuation of new experiments , physico-mechanical , touching the spring and weight of the air , and their effects ; the first part . with a discourse of the atmospheres of consistent bodies , oxford , 1669. an invention for estimating the weight of water with ordinary ballances and weights , in the phylosophical transactions of august the 16th , 1669. certain philosophical essays and other tracts , a second edition ; with a discourse about the absolute rest of bodies , quarto , london 1669. the first edition had been published anno 1662. new pneumatical experiments about respiration , upon ducks , vipers , frogs , &c. communicated in the philosophical transactions of august 8. 1670. a continuation of the same experiments in the philosophical transactions of september the 12th , 1670. tracts : about the cosmical qualities of things : the temperature of the subterraneal and submarine regions , and the bottom of the sea ; together with an introduction to the history of particular qualities , 8vo . oxford , 1670. tracts : a discovery of the admirable rarefaction of the air ( even without heat : ) new observations about the duration of the spring of the air. new experiments touching the condensation of the air by meer cold , and its compression without mechanical engines , and the admirably differing extentions of the same quantity of air , rarified and compressed , quarto , london , 1670. an essay about the origine and virtues of gems , quarto , london , 1672. some observations about shining flesh , both of veal , and pullet , and that without any sensible putrefaction in those bodies , communicated by way of letter to the publisher of the philosophical transactions , in the transactions of december , the 16th , 1672. a new experiment concerning an effect of the varying weight of the atmosphere upon some bodies in the water , the description whereof was presented to the lord broncker , anno 1671. suggesting a conjecture , that the alterations of the very weight of the air , may have considerable operations , even upon mens sickness or health , communicated in the philosophical transactions of february the 24th , 1673. tracts : containing new experiments , touching the relation between flame and air , and about explosions . an hydrostatical discourse , occasioned by some objections of dr. henry moor , &c. to which is annexed an hydrostatical letter about a way of weighing water in water : new experiments of the positive , or relative , levity of bodies under water : of the air-spring on bodies under water , and about the differing pressure of heavy solids and fluids , octavo , london , 1672 , 1691. essays of the strange subtilty , great efficacy , and determinate nature of effluviums ; to which are annexed new experiments to make the parts of fire and flame , stable and ponderable , with experiments about arresting and weighing of igneous corpuscles ; and a discovery of the perviousness of glass to ponderable parts of flame , octavo , london , 1673. a letter of september the 13th , 1673. concerning ambergreece , and its being a vegetable production , mentioned in the philosophical transactions of october , the 8th , 1673. tracts : observations about the saltness of the sea : an account of the statical hyroscope , and its uses , together with an appendix about the force of the air 's moisture , and a fragment about the natural and preternatural state of bodies . to all which is premised a sceptical dialogue about the positive or privative nature of cold , octavo , london , 1674 , 1691. a discourse about the excellency and grounds of the mechanical hypothesis , occasionally proposed to a friend , annexed to another , entituled , the excellency of theology , compared with natural philosophy , octavo , london , 1674. an account of the two sorts of helmontian laudanum , together with the way of the noble baron f. m. van helmont ( son to the famous john baptista ) of preparing his laudanum , communicated in the philosophical transactions of october the 26th . 1674. tracts : containing , 1. suspicions about some hidden qualities of the air , with an appendix touching coelestial magnets , and some other particulars . 2. animadversions upon mr. hobbes's problemata de vacuo . 3. a discourse of the cause of attraction by suction , octavo , london , 1674 , 1691. some physico-theological considerations about the possibility of the resurrection , annexed to a discourse , entituled , the reconciliableness of reason and religion , octavo , london , 1674 / 5. a conjecture concerning the bladders of air , that are found in fishes , communicated by a. j. and illustrated by an experiment , suggested by the author in the philosophical transactions of april the 26th , 1675. a new essay instrument , invented and described by the author , together with the uses thereof , in 3 parts . the first shews the occasion of making it , and the hydrostatical principles 't is founded on . the second describes the construction of the instrument . the third represents the uses ; which , as relating to metals , are 1. to discover whether a proposed guinea be true or counterfeit . 2. to examine divers other gold coins , and particularly half guinea's . 3. to examine the new english crown pieces of silver . 4. to estimate the goodness of tin and pewter . 5. to estimate alloys of gold and silver , and some other metalline mixtures . all this maketh up the philosophical transactions of june 21. 1675. ten new experiments about the weaken'd spring , and some unobserved effects of the air , where occur not only several trials to discover ; whether the spring of the air , as it may divers ways be increased , so may not by other ways than cold , or dilation be weakened , but also some odd experiments to shew the change of colours producible in some solutions and precipitations by the operation of the air , communicated in the philosophical transactions of december 27th , 1675. an experimental discourse of quicksilver , growing hot with gold , english and latin , communicated in the philosophical transactions of february 21. 1676. experiments , notes . &c. about the mechanical origin or production of divers particular qualities , amongst which , is inserted a discourse of the imperfections of the chymists doctrine of qualities , together with some reflections upon the hypothesis of alcali and acidum , octavo , london , 1676 , 1690. this discourse comprehends notes , &c. about the mechanical origine and production of cold. of heat . of tasts . of odours . of volatility . of fixtness . of corrosiveness . of corrosibility . of chymical precipitation . of magnetical qualities . of electricity . new experiments about the superficial figures of fluids , especially of liquors contiguous to other liquors : likely to conduct much to the physical theory of the grand system of the world , communicated in the philosophical transactions of january , the 29th , 167 6 / 7 a continuation of the same experiments in the philosophical transactions in february the 167 6 / 7. the sceptical chymist , or chymico-physical paradoxes , touching the experiments whereby vulgar spagyrists are wont to endeavour to evince their salt , sulphur and mercury to be the true principles of things , to which in this second edition are subjoyned divers experiments and notes about the producibleness of chymical principles , octavo oxford , 1680 , 1690. a second continuation of new experiment physico-mechanical , in which , various experiments , touching the spring of the air , either compressed or artificial , are contain'd , with a description of new engines to persorm them , 1680. the aerial noctiluca , or some new phoenomena , and a process of factitious self-shining substance , octavo , london . the glaical or icy noctiluca , with a chymical paradox founded on new experiments , whence it may be made probable , that chymical principles may be converted one into another , octavo , london , 1680. memorials for the natural history of human blood , especially the spirit of that liquor , london , 1684 experiments and considerations about the porosity of bodies , in two essays : the former of the porousness of animal bodies ; the other of the porousness of solid bodies , octavo , london , 1684. short memoirs for the natural experimental history of mineral waters , octavo , 1685. an historical account of a strangely self-moving liquor , communicated in the philosophical transactions of november , the 26th , 1685. of the reconcileablness of specifick medicines , to the corpuscular philosophy , to which is annexed a discourse about the advantages of the use of simple medicines , propos'd by way of invitation to it , octavo , london , 1685. an essay of the great effects of languid and unheeded motion . to which is annex'd an experimental discourse of some unheeded causes of the salubrity and insalubrity of the air and its effect , octavo , london , 1685 , 1690. a free inquiry into the vulgarly receiv'd notion of nature , in an essay address'd to a friend , octavo , london , 168 5 / 6. a disquisition about the final causes of natural things . with an appendix of some uncommon observations about vitiated sight , octavo , london , 1688. medicina hydrostatica : or , hydrostaticks , applied to the materia medica , shewing , how by the weight that divers bodies us'd in physick , have in water ; one may discover , whether they be genuine or adulterate . to which is subjoin'd , a previous hydrostatical way of estimating ores , octavo , london , 1690. experimenta & observationεs physicae ; wherein are briefly treated of several subjects relating to natural philosophy in an experimental way ; to which is added , a small collection of strange reports , in two parts , octavo , london , 1691. medicinal experiments : or , a collection of choice remedies , for the most part simple and easily prepared , twelves , london , 1692. price 1 s. advertisements . because among those that willingly read the author's writings , there are some that relish those most , ( as most suitable to their genius , addicted to religious studies ) that treat of matters relating to divinity : the publisher thinks fit to gratifie them with a catalogue of those theological books that pass for mr. boyle's , because they were ascribed to him , and never positively disown'd by him ; tho' such of them as are mark'd with an asterisk , come abroad without having his name prefixt to them . seraphic love , five or six times printed , but first published in the year 1660. octavo . considerations about the stile of the scripture , whereof the first edition was publish'd in the year 1662. in english , and afterwards turn'd into , and several times printed in latin , octavo . occasional reflections on several subjects , with a preliminary discourse of the way of meditating there exemplified ; first publish'd in the year 1665. and afterwards turn'd into latin , but not yet printed in that language , octavo . of the excellency of the study of theology , compared with that of natural philosophy . printed in the year 1674. octavo . considerations about the reconcileableness of reason and religion . to which is annex'd a discourse about the possibility of the resurrection . printed in the year 1675. octavo . a treatise of things above reason . to which are annex'd some advices about things that are said to transcend reason . printed in the year 1681. in english , and afterwards translated into latin , but not yet printed in that language , octavo . of the veneration that man's intellect owes to god. printed in the year 1685. the martyrdom of theodora , and of didymus , london , 1687. the christian vertuoso : shewing , that by being addicted to experimental philosophy , a man is rather assisted , than indisposed , to be a good christian . the first part ; to which are subjoin'd , 1. a discourse about the distinction , that represents some things as above reason , but not contrary to reason . 2. the first chapters of a discourse , entituled , greatness of mind promoted by christianity , octavo , london , 1690. a catalogue of new physick books printed for sam. smith , at the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard . pharmacopoeia bateara . quâ nonginta circiter pharmaca , plerâque omnia è. praxi georgii batei regi carolo secundo medici primarii excerpta , ordine alphabetico concisè exhibentur . quorum nonnulla in laboritorio publico pharmacopoeano lond. fideliter parantur venalia : atque in usu sunt hodierno apud medicos londinenses . editio altera priori multò locupletior : cum viribus ac dosibus annexis . huic accesserunt arcana goddardiana ex autographo authoris desumpta . item ad calcem orthotonia medicorum observata : insuper & tabula posologica dosibus pharmacorum accommodata . cum indice morborum , curationum , &c. curâ j. s. pharmacopoei lond. in twelves . 1691. praxeos mavernianae in morbis internis praecipue gravioribus & chronicis syntagma ex adversariis , consiliis ac epistolis ejus , summâ curâ ac diligentiâ concinnatum . londini . in oct. 1690. phthisiologia seu exercitationes de phthisi tribus libris comprehen●ae . totumque opus variis historiis illustratum . autore richardo morton , med. d. & regii collegii medicor . lond. socio . londini . in octavo . 1689. osteologia n●●a , or some new observations of the bones , and the parts belonging to them , with the manner of their accretion , and nutrition , communicated to the royal society in several discourses . i. of the membrane , nature , constituent parts , and internal structure of the bones . ii. of accretion , and nutrition , as also of the affections of the bones in the rickers , and of venereal nodes . iii. of the medulla , or marrow . iv. of the mucilaginous glands , with the etiology or explication of the causes of a rheumatism , and the gout , and the manner how they are produced . to which is added , a fifth discourse of the cartilages . by clopton havers , m. d. fellow of the royal society . london . in octavo . 1691. synopsis methodica s●irpium britannicarum , in quatum notae generum characteristicae traduntur , tum species singulae breviter describuntur : ducentae quinquaginta plus minus novae species partim suis locis inseruntur , partim in appendice seorsim exhi●entur . cum indice & virium epitome . auctore joanne raio è soceita●e regia . londini . in octavo . 1690. pharmacopoeiae collegii regalis londini remedia omnia succinctè descripta , atque serie alphabeticâ ita digesta , ut singula promptius primo intuitu investigare possi●t , editio altera priori castigatior & auctior : huic annexus est catalogus simplicium tum locupletior tum compendiosor quàm antehâc editus ; accedit in calce . manuale ad forum nec non pinax posographicus , curâ ja. shipton , pharmacop . lond. in twelves 1689. richardi morton , m. d. ii petoaotia , seu de morbis universalibus acutis . octavo . lond. 1692. gualt . harris , m. d. de morbis acutis infantum . octavo . lond. 1689. the wisdom of god manifested in the works of the creation . in two parts , viz. the heavenly bodies , elements , meteors , fossils , vegetables , animals , ( beasts , birds , fishes , and insects , ) of the admirable structure of the bodies of men and other animals , and of their generation , &c. miscellaneous discourses concerning the dissolution and changes of the world. wherein the primitive chaos and creation , the general deluge , the universal conflagration and future state are largely discussed and examined . both written by john ray , fellow of the royal society . in octavo ▪ london , 1692. the duty of apprentices and servants . containing , 1. the parents duty , how to educate their children , that they may be sit to be employed and trusted . 2. the servants duty towards god , their masters , and themselves . with suitable prayers and directions for the worthy receiving of the holy sacrament . by richard lucas , d. d. vicar of st. stephen's coleman-street . london , 1692. the plain man's guide to heaven . containing , 1. his duty towards god. 2. towards his neighbour ; with proper prayers , meditatitions , and ejaculations . designed chiefly for the country-man , tradesman , labourer , and such like . london , 1692. the end . imprimatur , may 3. 1693. robert southwell . p. r. s. medicinal experiments : or , a collection of choice and safe remedies , for the most part simple , and easily prepared : useful in families , and very serviceble to country people . by the honourable r. boyle , esq ; fellow of the royal society . the second volume . containing about three hundred receipts , published from the author 's original manuscripts , and by him recommended to the care of his executors , and to be perused by some of his learned friends . together with a large preface , written by the author 's own hand . london : printed for s. smith , and b. walford , at the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard . 1693. the author's preface . though physick be not my profession , yet i hope this small collection of receipts will not incur the censure of equitable and charitable persons , tho' divers of them are professed physicians , since as i was induc'd to what i had done by the dictates of philanthropy and christianity , so i was warranted by great examples , both in ancient times , and in ours . of the former sort , i might take notice of several of the old philosophers , such as democritus , pythagoras , to which some add aristotle ; and even divers monarchs and great men of those times ; such as jubar , king of mauritania ; another king , nechepsos , cited by galen * , cato , pliny , &c. and of the second sort , not only by the last age , and the first part of our own , but by very late times , and in a neighbouring nation , whose customs we are wont sufficiently to esteem and imitate , we may be furnish'd with examples to our present purpose . for the french king himself , who has rais'd the majesty of a crown'd head so high , did not think it beneath the grandeur of so great a monarch to order the publication of the english remedy , as the french called the peruvian bark , which at a great rate he purchased from talbor , an english emperick , famous for his many and speedy cures of quartans , and other agues . by the authority of the same prince , who has been a great encourager of divers parts of learning , there has been some years since setled at paris a society or assembly of physicians , chirurgeons , and others , whose main business is to keep correspondency in several parts , and receive informations of the novelties that occur about diseases , and impart to the publick such as they shall think worthy and seasonable ; which communications consist not only of new discoveries , odd cases , speculations , and observations , but of receipts and processes of remedies , printed for the most part in french , the common language of the people . divers of which remedies , have upon tryal been found useful , as well in england as in france . there has been also lately in that kingdom a book printed more than once , that makes yet more for my purpose . for there has been publish'd in the french tongue a large collection of receipts , for almost all diseases , plac'd in alphabetical order ; and thô these receipts are circumstantially delivered in the mother-tongue of the people , yet they came not forth without the license or authority of the faculty of physick , and were ( at least the first tome ) so well receiv'd and approv'd , that in divers places the respective bishops authorized them by their publick approbation , and recommended them upon the account receiv'd , or the good effects they had produc'd both to the other charitable persons , and to the curates ( or parish priests ) in their diocesses . in complying with the desires of many , and with the dictates of philanthropy , i hope i may procure my medicinal receipts and processes the more favourable reception , if i shew that i might justly have a peculiar and personal repugnancy to this work. for many may think it strange , as i my self have been prone to do , that i should presume to recommend medicines to others , who for divers ▪ years have been so infirm and sickly my self . and some 't is like will upbraid me with medicoe curateipsum . but on this occasion , i may represent , that being the thirteenth or fourteenth child of a mother , that was not above 42 or 43 years old when she dyed of a consumption , 't is no wonder i have not inherited a robust , or healthy constitution . many also have said , in my excuse , as they think , that i brought my self to so much sickliness by over-much study . but i must add , that thô both the sorementioned causes concur'd , yet i impute my infirm condition more to a third , than to both together . for the grand original of the mischiefs that have for many years afflicted me , was a fall from an unruly horse into a deep place , by which i was so bruised , that i feel the bad effects of it to this day . for this mischance happening in ireland , and i being forc'd to take a long journey , before i was well recovered , the bad weather i met with , and the as bad accommodation in irish inns , and the mistake of an unskilful or drunken guide , who made me wander almost all night upon some wild mountains , put me into a fever and a dropsie , ( viz. an anasarca : ) for a compleat cure of which i past into england , and came to london ; but in so unlucky a time , that an ill-condition'd fever rag'd there , and seiz'd on me among many others ; and thô through god's goodness , i at length recovered , yet left me exceeding weak for a great while after ; and then for a farewel , it cast me into a violent quotidian or double tertian ague , with a sense of decay in my eyes , which during my long sickness i had exercis'd too much upon critical books stuft with hebrew , and other eastern characters : i will not urge that divers have wondred that a person in such bad circumstances has by the help of care and medicines ( for they forget what ought to be ascrib'd to god ) should be able to hold out so long against them . but this after the foregoing relation may well be said , that it need be no great wonder , if after such a train of mischiefs , which was succeeded by a scorbutick cholick that struck into my limbs , and deprived me of the use of my hands and feet for many months , i have not enjoy'd much health , notwithstanding my being acquainted with several choice medicines ; especially since divers of these i dare not use , because by long sitting , when i had the palsie , i got the stone , voiding some large ones ( as well as making bloody water ) and by that disease so great a tenderness in my kidneys , that i can bear no diureticks , thô of the milder sort , and that i am forc'd to forbear several remedies for my other distempers , that i know to be good ones , and among them divers , that by god's blessing , i have successfully try'd on others . this short narrative may , i hope , suffice to shew that my personal maladies and sickliness cannot rightly infer the inefficacy of the medicines i impart or recommend , and if it shew that , it will do all that was aim'd at by this representation . if some receipts or processes ( for i hope they will not be many ) should happen to be met with in the following collection , that may be also found either in some printed book or other , 't is hop'd an indulgent reader will either excuse or pardon that venial fault , especially if we consider , first , that neither physick nor chymistry being my profession , i did not think my self oblig'd to peruse any store of medicinal books , and therefore may well be suppos'd to be unacquainted with a great many of them , much more with many of their receipts and processes . and indeed i find by some of the later printed catalogues of books written about the physicians art , that there is a multitude of them , which when i wrote , i had never seen , or perhaps so much as heard of . secondly , that 't is so usual for authors , especially that write either systems or collections , to set down store of prescriptions dictated by their conjectures , not their tryals , and yet without giving a distinct character of almost any of them in particular : that if i had met there with some of the same that i am speaking of , i should not have selected them from a great number of other undistinguish'd ones ; and 't is easie to observe that there is a great deal of difference betwixt being told by an author that many things , and among the rest , but not before them , this or that drug , receipt is good for such a disease , and to have particular notice given of it , and not only to be confirm'd that 't is good , but to be told how good it is , and possibly also that it may be usefully employ'd in other distempers besides those for which 't is prescrib'd in the printed book . the most of these receipts are intended chiefly for the use of those that live in the country , in places where physicians are scarce if at all to be had , especially by poor people . and because very frequently a labouring-man , or a handicrafts man , or some tradesman has a whole family depending upon him , being maintain'd by his pains and industry , and yet is disabled to help himself and them , not by any internal disease , but by external , and often-times accidental maladies ; such as bruises , strains , cuts , tumors , aches , burns , and the like , i have been careful to furnish this final collection with a pretty number of good receipts , obtain'd most of them from able surgeons and practitioners for those external accidents , that those poor upholders of families , who cannot find or fee a surgeon or a doctor , may be cheaply reliev'd without either of them . the index . a. apoplexy page 1. aches 2. 122 ach or strain 2 ach scorbutical 2 , 3. 3 , 4 aches and pricking pains 5 anasarca ibid. agues 6 , 7. 7. 9 aguish distempers 7 ague plaister 8 agues tertian 10 ague quartan 11 acidities in the stomach 12 asthma 12 , 13. 41 anodyne clyster 89 arthritick pains 95. 122 affections of the nerves 120 aloetick pills 121 b. breathing difficult 14 breasts flaggy 16 bruise 16 , 17. 141 blood to stanch 18 , 18. 21 , 22 blood extravasated 20 burns 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 25 burns and scalds 24 blisters to draw 26 , 27 , 28 breast affected with cold page 33 bloody-flux 49. 49. 81 , 82 , 83 , 83 , 84. 86. 178 blood-shot eye 54. 56. 59 biting of mad dogs 119 biting of vipers 177 balsam for wounds 179 bloody water 188 c. convulsive asthma 13. 41 cholick scorbutick 15 contusion 16. 31 coagulated blood 17 costiveness 29. 41 cancer in the breast 29 chilblains 31 consumption 32. 35 colds 33 coughs 34 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 36 corns 37 , 38 , 38 , 39 convulsive fits 39 , 40 convulsions 42. 79 cholick 42 , 43 , 43 , 44 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47. 149 cramp 47 , 48 contusion of the eye 52. 60. 73. 136 clouded eyes 68 clyster anodyne 89 children griped 90 contractures 117. 130 courses stopt page 172 cuts and wounds 183 clyster for fluxes 190 d. dropsie anasarca 5 distemper aguish 7 difficulty of breathing 14 drink for cholicks 43 dropsie 48 dysentery 49. 49. 81 , 82 , 83. 83 , 84. 86. 178 digestive 50 diabetes 51. 172 diarrhoea 51 defluxions on the eyes 65 , 66 , 69 , 72 drink for fevers 80 , 81 drink to correct sharp humors 101 dulness of hearing 102 drink for the sight 137 drink for the stone 145 e. extravasated blood 20 expectoration 36 eye contused 52. 60. 73 eye blood-shot 54. 59 eye-sight to preserve 55. 74. 134. 138. 186 eye-water 56. 58. 62. 64. 67. 67. 70. 76. 135. 138. 186 erysipelas 57 eye medicament 60 eye-lids pained page 63 eye clouded 68 eye rheumatick 65 , 66. 69. 72 eye-plaister 72 electuary for the sight 74 epilepsie 77. 79. 191 elixir salutis 78 excoriation 133 f. flaggy breasts 16 fits of the mother 44 flux bloody 49. 49. 81 , 82 , 83 , 84. 86 flux common 51. 83 , 84. 86. 190. 192 films in the eyes 64. 75 falling-sickness 77. 79. 191 fevers 80 flux of the whites 84 fundament falling 87 french pox 123 g. gangreen 88 griping of the guts 89 gripes 90. 139 gargle 91. 91 gout 93 , 94 , 95 , 96. 99. 122 gunpowder to remove 134 gravel 145 gums scorbutick 156 gonorrhoea 92 , 93. 98 h. heart-burnings page 12 hysterical vapours 40 hydropsie 48 humor in the eye 52. 58 hurts in the eye 61. 77 head pouder 100 hearing hurt 102 haemorrhoids 102 , 103 , 103 , 104 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 106 , 107 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 109 , 110. 121 hollow aching tooth 153 humor of the kings-evil to correct 189 i. incontinency of urine 51 itch in hands , &c. 111. 167 jaundies yellow 112 , 112 , 113 , 114 k. kings-evil 115. 189 , 190. kidneys pained 115 kidneys stopped 116 l. looseness 51 laxation of a part 123 liquor for ulcers and wounds 175 lime-water to make 188 m. mother-fits 44 milk to increase 117 , 118 mad dogs biting page 119 marks of gunpowder to remove 134 mouth sore 168 menses stopt 172 n. nurses milk to increase 117 , 118 nerves affected 120 o. old aches 2 ophthalmick water 55 ophthalmia 56. 59. 74 oyntment for the gout 94 obstinate tumor of the knee 161 p. pricking pains 5 plaister for agues 8 plaister for corns 37 , 38 , 38 , 39 pain in the side 5. 46 pearl in the eye 54 pain in the eye-lids 63 pericarpium 68 phlyctena in the eye 71 plaister for the eyes 72 piles 102 , 103 , 103 , 104 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 106 , 107 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 109 , 110. 121 pains scorbutick 116. 122 pills of aloes 121 palsie page 124 , 125 , 126 pimples in the eye-lids 127 pleurisy 127 , 128 pouder for the sight 136 pissing blood 188 q. quartan ague 11 r. recent burn 24 , 25 redness of eyes 64 , 66 running of the reins 92 , 93 , 98 running gout 97 rheumatism 125. 130 rest to cause 131 recent strain 141 , 141 , 143 , 143 , 144 retention of urine 171 , 171 s. scorbutical aches 2 , 3 , 3 , 4 strain 2 sides pained 5. 46 scorbutick cholick 15 stanching blood 18 , 18 , 19. 21 , 22 styptick water 19. 21 , 22 scalding 24 , 25 specifick for cholicks 44 , 44 solution of continuity in the eye 61 sight to strengthen 55. 74. 134. 138. 186 scorbutick gout 97 sharp humors page 101 specifick for the jaundies 113 scorbutick pains 116. 122 small pox 129 scurvy 132. 157 skin rough 133 stomach to strengthen 139 , 139 stomach-plaister 140 strains 141 , 141. 143 , 143 , 144 stone 144 , 145 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 147 , 148 , 149 , 150 , 192 sore throat 162 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 164 , 165 , 165 , 166 t. tertian ague 10. 10 tumor in the eye 71 tooth-ach 150 , 151 , 152 , 152 , 153. 158 teeth to fasten 154 , 154. 155 , 156. 156 , 157 , 157. 158 , 158 tumors to ripen 159 tumors in the throat 160 tumor of the knee 161 throat sore 162 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 164 , 165 , 165 , 166 tettars 167 thrush in children 168 tenesmus 169 terms stopt 172 v. vapours hysterical page 40 urine sharp 170. 172 urine stopt 171 , 171. 173 , 173 , 174 urine running away 172 vomiting 175 ulcers 175 , 176 , 176 vipers biting 177 voiding blood 178 w. wrist-plaister for agues 8. 68 womens breasts flaggy 16 water ophthalmick 55 , 56. 58. 62. 64. 67 , 67. 70. 76. 135. 138. 186 whites in women 84. 185 weakness in the hands 125 wounds 175. 179 , 179. 183 wound drink 180 worms in children 184 ulcer of the womb 185 whitloe 187 warts 187 a collection of choice remedies . the second volume . a. 1. a powerful remedy in apoplectick fits. take the herb mastick , and distil by an alembick with a copper body an essential oyl , of which with such a pipe or quill that one end may be open'd and stopt at pleasure , ( the other still remaining open ) blow up some drops , first into one of the patient's nostrils , and a while after into the other . 2. a good plaister for aches , especially scorbutical . spread thinly upon slinck or very fine kids-leather the emplastrum de mucilaginibus , and let it lye upon the aching part as long as there is need . 3. for an old ach or strain . take of lucatella's balsam one ounce , of oyl of turpentine one dram , incorporate them very well with a gentle heat , and anoint the part affected therewith , wearing on it a piece of unwash'd flannen besmear'd with the same oyntment . 4. for scorbutick aches , especially about the share-bone . take two parts of palm-oyl , and one of oyl of camomile , ( to which if you please you may add a little oyntment of elder ) mix these exactly , and anoint the part affected . 5. a powerful remedy for scorbutick aches . take to one ounce of oyl of turpentine , one dram or two of the volatile salt of harts-horn , or as much as being well ground with it in a mortar of glass or marble , will bring it to the consistence of a kind of oyntment , with which , the cold being taken off , the part affected is to be lightly anointed . 6. a very easie medicine for light scorbutick aches or pains . anoint the pained part from time to time with fasting-spittle ; and if you will have the medicine a little stronger , the patient may put roch allom to the bigness of a small pea into his mouth , before he employs his spittle . 7. for aches and pricking pains in the sides and elsewhere . with a sufficient quantity of clean sulphur finely pouder'd , mix diligently as much venice-treacle as will bring it to a consistence for pills . of this mixture you may give the quantity of a pistol-bullet twice , or at most , thrice a day , drinking any convenient liquor after it . 8. an experienc'd medicine for an anasarca , or general dropsie of the whole body . fry freshly-gather'd rue with oyl of walnuts , till it become fit to be applyed hot as a cataplasm or pultice to the navil ; and keep it on that part for some hours , renewing it once or twice a day , if need require . 9. an external medicine often successfully try'd for agues . take 5 , 7 , or 9 ( for 't is pretended it must be an odd number ) of the roots of ribwort , and having made them clean , put them into a little bag of sarsnet or fine linnen , and let the patient wear it upon the nape of his neck , renewing it within 2 , 3 , or 4 days if need require . 10. a try'd remedy for agues . take of the bark of sassafras-root , and of virginian snakeweed , both in pouder , of each 10 grains , and with half a dram , or two scruples of mithridate or venice-treacle , or as much as will give it a due consistence , make a bolus to be taken at the usual hours . 11. a choice medicine for aguish distempers . take of salt of wormwood 15 grains , crabs-eyes , or pouder of crabs claws simple 8 or 10 grains ; mix these well , and give them in two or three spoonfuls of some cordial water . 12. an excellent wrist-plaister for agues . take wax , and spread it to about the thickness of a crown piece of silver , and of a convenient breadth and length to make an entire wrist-plaister ; up-this spread and display as well as you can the leaves of the tops of rue , not yet fully open'd by time , so that they may cover the whole plaister as well as you can make them do it . then apply this emplaster , and let it lye on for several days consecutively . 13. an often-try'd medicine for agues . take ribwort , gather the leaves as near the root as you can in a dry morning , wipe them clean , but do not wash them ; then dry them carefully , till you may reduce them to pouder : of this pouder give from one dram to two at most , mixt with one dram of conserve of roses , or the crumbs of white-bread , or the yolk of an egg or two . n. b. you may before you dry the leaves , distil a water out of some of them , and make an extract out of others with spirit of wine , or which is better , with spirit of dew . they are both good for the same disease that the pouder is . the dose of the water is one ounce , or an ounce and half at the usual times . and that of the extract about one dram in some ounces of white-wine . 14. an excellent medicine for agues , especially tertians . give as much of well-condition'd virginian snake-root reduc'd to fine pouder , as will lye upon a shilling , in a cup of sherry just before the beginning of the cold fit , repeating it once or twice if it need to be us'd oftner . 15. for a tertian ague . take of the root of angelica grated , or otherwise made into pouder , and give of it from half a dram to a dram in any convenient vehicle at the usual times ( viz. about two hours before the cold fit. ) 16. a medicine with which a quartan was cur'd , that could not be cured with the jesuits bark . take one dram of the black tips of crabs claws , and having reduc'd them to exceeding fine pouder , let the patient take it in any convenient vehicle or conserve , twice or thrice , as he would take the cortex , without intermitting any day . 17. an easie remedy , which long continued does much destroy acidities , or heart-burnings in the stomach . take half a dram at least of finely pouder'd red corral , and give it from time to time in any convenient vehicle , till the patient be reliev'd . 18. a very often try'd remedy for the asthma . take soap-boilers lees ( made with pot-ashes and quick-lime ) one part , spirit of wine rectify'd two parts ; set them in digestion , ( to unite them well ) and then add some drops ( at discretion ) of chymical oyl of carraways , and if you please , of aniseeds too . the dose in younger persons is about 10 drops , in elder ones , from half a dram to one dram in some convenient vehicle . 19. an excellent medicine for a dry or covulsive asthma . take choice saffron , reduce it ( by rubbing it in a stone or glass mortar ) to a kind of pouder , and with any convenient mixture give 8 or 10 grains of it in the form of pills at bed-time . b. 20. an experienc'd remedy for difficulty of breathing . take of choice castoreum dry'd enough to be pouder'd , 2 , 3 , or at most 4 grains , mix this with 10 or 11 grains of gasgoin's pouder reduc'd to very fine pouder ; mix up these with some little syrup or conserve , and when the patient has taken it , let him wash it down with the mixture , consisting of five drams of pennyroyal-water , and half a dram , or at most two drams of briony-water compound . 21. an approved medicine for inveterate scorbutick cholicks , and pains of the bowels . take english barley , and having well wash'd it , boil it in a sufficient quantity of fresh spring-water till it be just ready to burst : then pour off the clear upon the yellow part of the rinds of lemmons , freshly cut off from the white part , and put them into a bottle , which being carefully stopt , the liquor is to be kept so for use , which is , that the patient make it his constant drink . 22. to reduce flagy breasts to a good shape and consistence . take green hemlock well bruis'd , and reduc'd to a kind of cataplasm or pultise , which is to be apply'd ( the cold being first taken off ) to the parts 't is to work upon , and to be kept on till it hath perform'd what was intended , shifting it once a day . 23. an easie , but useful remedy for a fresh bruise or contusion . take fresh butter and parsley , of each a sufficient quantity , and having chopt the herb , mix it very well with the butter , to the consistence of a cataplasm , ( which is to be apply'd warm ) to the newly bruised part. 24. for coagulated blood , or a bruise . take black soft soap , and with a sufficient quantity of soft crumbs of white-bread very well mixt with it , make a paste , which is to be laid on the part with a linnen rag , and kept bound upon it for some hours , that it may have time to resolve the congealed blood , and bring the contused part from a livid to a red colour , which will much hasten and facilitate the restoring it to its former state . 25. to stanch blood falling from the nose , by a simple held in ones hand . let the patient hold knot-grass and solomon's seal in his hand till it grow warm there , or longer if need be . 26. an excellent remedy to stanch blood in any part of the body . take plantane-water two ounces , barley-cinnamon-water , six drams , spirit of vinegar one ounce , dragons-blood half a dram , syrup of myrtles five drams ; mix and make a julep , of which let the patient take three spoonfuls every hour . 27. the styptick water for stopping of blood in any part of the body . take one pound of excellent quick-lime , and put it into a clear earthen pot , pour upon it five or six pounds of fountain-water , cover the pot close , and let it lye to infuse about an hour without touching it , then after stir it with a stick for a little time ; then let it lye as before for 24 hours , sometimes stirring it , in the end you shall let it settle to a sediment , the water being very clear above , pour it off by inclination without stirring : take of this water one pound , which being put into a vial , you shall add to it a dram and half of sublimate finely pouder'd , then shake very well all together , so that the pouder may dissolve , and be of an orange colour , or more reddish than yellow , and in the end clear and limpid , because the red powder will praecipitate to the bottom . your water being clarify'd , you must separate the water from the grounds into another vessel , without troubling the sediments ; and to the water you shall add one dram of oyl of vitriol , and an ounce of saccharum saturni . shake all together , that they may mix the better , afterwards let all settle , and pour off the clear water , and keep it for your use . 28. a choice medicine to resolve extravasated blood. grate or rasp the root of burdock , and spreading the pouder upon a linnen cloath , bind it quite round the part affected , renewing it twice a day . 29. to make an excellent styptick for stanching of blood. take hungarian vitriol , allom , of each half a pound , phlegm of vitriol ten pounds : boyl to a dissolution of the vitriol and allom ; being cold , filter it through brown paper , and if any crystals shoot , separate the liquor from them , adding to each pound one ounce of oyl of vitriol . dip cloaths into this liquor , and apply them to the part affected . 30. an often try'd styptick to stanch blood , especially in wounds . take colcothar as it comes out of the retort , and having pouder'd it , roll tents of lint in it , and apply them to the orifices of the greater vessels , and employ other usual means to compress the vessel upon the tent , and to fill the cavity of the wound , partly with colcothar too . 31. a very often experienc'd remedy for burns . take two parts of oyl of walnuts , and one of honey , mix them well together over a gentle fire , and when they are thorowly incorporated , dip a feather in the mixture , and anoint therewith the part affected , so as the oyntment may touch it immediately , and then strew on it some pouder of ceterarch , or spleen-wort , and keep the part quiet , and defend it from the air. 32. an easie medicine , and common enough , but useful against burns . take onions , and beat them into a soft mass , and apply them as speedily as you can to the part affected , and keep them on it , till they begin to grow dryish , and then if need be , shift them , and apply fresh ones . 33. for a recent burn. take onions a sufficient quantity , and beat them very well with common salt finely pouder'd into a mash , that may be applyed as a cataplasm ( the cold being first taken off ) to the part affected , and renewing it , if need be , till the impression of the fire be taken out . 34. an excellent oyntment for burns and scaldings . take of the inner rind of elder-tree , and of fresh sheeps dung , without any adhering straws or foulness , of each one handful , and with fresh butter or oyl make thereof an oyntment , to be applyed as is usual in such distempers . 35. an easie and approv'd remedy for burns , especially recent ones . take a sufficient quantity of adders-tongue , and boil it softly in linseed-oyl till the liquor be strongly impregnated with the herb , then strain it , and keep it stopt for use . 36. an excellent oyntment for burns and scaldings . take of saccharum saturni half a dram , of the sharpest vinegar four ounces , make a solution of the former in the latter , and add to this solution drop by drop ( often stirring or shaking them together ) as much oyl of elder as will serve to reduce the mixture into the form of a nutritum or oyntment . 37. a slow but innocent way of making blisters without cantharides . take crows-foot , and putting to a handful of it about half a spoonful of mustard ; beat them very well together to the consistence of a poultise , put this to the thickness of ones little finger into the cover of a box , cut shallow , and of about the breadth of the palm of ones hand ( tho' this cover be less necessary than convenient ) and cutting a hole of the wideness of the box in a plaister of diapalma or the like , to make it stick , you must apply it to the part , and let it lye on 12 or 14 hours , because it works as well more slowly than cantharides , as more safely and innocently . 38. a good medicine to raise blisters . take cantharides reduc'd into pouder , and upon half an ounce of this put two or three ounces of good spirit of wine , let them lye together four or five days , that the spirit may acquire a good tincture , then filter it , and dip into it a piece of linnen cloath 6 , 7 , or 8 times double , and of the figure and largeness that you desire . this cloath being throughly wetted and cover'd with a melilot plaister , or one of diachylum , or some other that will stick , to keep it on , must be applyed to the part. at the end of five or six hours you may take off your plaister , and the linnen cloath , and find your work done . 39. to raise a blister without cantharides . the seed of clemmatis peregrina being bound hard upon any part , will in an hour , or at most two , have an operation , like that of another vesicatory , as far as its contact reaches . c. 40. an vseful medicine for costiveness . take virgin. honey a sufficient quantity , and mix exactly with it as much finely pouder'd cremor tartari as will suffice to bring it to the consistence of a somewhat soft electuary , of which the patient may take upon the point of a knife the bigness of an almond ( more or less ) as upon tryal you shall see cause . 41. for a cancer in the breast . take of the warts that grow on the hinder legs of a ( stone ) horse , dry them gently , till you can reduce them to a pouder , of which you may give half a dram for a dose in any convenient vehicle . 42. a potent medicine for contusions , and divers other affections . take alcohole of wine , and dissolve in it as much pure camphire as you easily can , and keep it very close stopt , till you have occasion to use it . then moisten thorowly with it some thin pieces of linnen or fine flannel , and apply them luke-warm ; and likewise you may with a rag dipt in it apply it to the eye-lids , having a care that none of it get into the eye it self , since there it would cause great smart . it may also be very usefully apply'd to burns , and yet more to contusions . 43. a try'd medicine for chilblanes . take pretty thick parings freshly cut off from turnips , and hold them to the fire till they be very crisp , then apply them to the unbroken tumors or blisters , as hot as the patient can endure it , and keep them on a competent time , and put on new if need require . they will cause the peccant matter to transpire , or otherwise waste without breaking the blisters . 44. to make a very nourishing aliment , that hath recover'd divers in consumptions . take 8 or 10 craw-fishes , ( or , if they be not of the larger size , a dozen ) boil them ( after the blackest gut or string is taken out ) in barley-water , till they become very red , then take them out , and beat them long , shells and all , in a marble or glass morter , to a soft mash , and in a press strongly squeeze out the juice ; which may be given either alone , or mixt with about an equal part of chicken-broth , or some such convenient alimental liquor . 45. a vulgar but often approv'd medicine for a cold , especially that affects the breast . take a sheet , or half a sheet pro re nata of brown paper , of as even a texture as you can get , and anoint it over evenly and very well with the eldest tallow , or candle-grease you can procure , so that the paper may be thorowly penetrated by it . then cover it thinly with nutmeg , as you were to rub the spice upon a toast , and clap it warm to the pit of the stomach , that it may reach a good way both above it and beneath it . 46. an experienc'd medicine for coughs . boil good turnips in water , and having exprest the juice , mix with it as much finely pouder'd sugar-candy as will bring it into a kind of a syrup , of which let the patient swallow a little as slowly as he can from time to time . 47. a good medicine for asthmatick coughs . take two ounces of oyl of sweet almonds freshly drawn , and put them upon one dram of flowers of brimstone , keep them for a fortnight in digestion in a moderate heat , and then decant off the oyl , or pass it through a clean linnen rag to keep back the brimstone : of this liquor give a spoonful or two at a time . 48. an easie medicine , which cur'd not long since a gentlewoman that had taken much physick for a consumptive cough . take 8 , 10 , or 12 well chosen raisins of the sun , and having slit them open , take out the little kernels , and stuff the raisins with the tops or small tender leaves of rue ; and let the patient take them either as they are , or in the form of a bolus or the like , pretty early in the morning , fasting after them two or three hours at least , if he cannot conveniently fast till noon . 49. a potent medicine ( for those that can bear it ) to ripen coughs , and hasten the expectoration of phlegm . take onions , cut them into slices , and fry them with fresh butter , as if you were to eat them , then take them out of the frying pan , and boyl them in new milk , till it be well impregnated with them , and they be made tender : of this mixture let the patient take a moderate quantity from time to time . 50. an excellent remedy for a cough . take of virgin-honey two ounces , of red roses warily dry'd and finely pouder'd half an ounce , of choice sulphur very well sifted two drams , of good benjamin reduc'd to fine pouder one dram. beat and mix all these very well , and of this let the patient take the mixture from time to time . 51. a plaister to prevent corns . take yellow bees-wax 4 ounces , verdigrise exactly pouder'd and sifted one ounce , the caput mortuum of the scull of a man one dram : incorporate them well with boiling them a little , and make thereof a plaister according to art. 52. an effectual plaister for softning and loosening corns . spread a plaister of gum ammoniacum ( not too thick ) without being dissolv'd in vinegar , and applying it to the part affected , let it lye on , till it have sufficiently done the designed work of emolition . 53. a powerful ( but smart ) remedy for corns . evaporate the strongly exprest juice of radishes to the consistence of a soft plaister , to be applyed to the part affected , and shifted as often as it grows dry . n. b. 't will sometimes smart for a while at first , but afterwards 't will do its work . 54. a good remedy for corns of the feet . take the yeast of beer ( not ale ) and spreading it upon a linnen rag , or other cloath , apply it to the part affected , renewing it once a day . 55. an excellent remedy that has cur'd many children of convulsive fits. take two or three drops of ( chymical ) oyl of rosemary , and put it into half an ounce of sack in an ounce bottle , stop the vial , and let it be well shak'd to make a whitish mixture of the liquors just before you give it . or else in a half-pint bottle or vial , put four ounces of sack , or some appropriated liquor , and drop into it forty drops of the foremention'd oyl ; and when-ever you are to give the medicine , shake the vial well stopt , and presently give of the whitish mixture a child's little spoonful . 56. a successful medicine for convulsive fits , and hysterical vapours ( as they call them ) or fits of the mother . take the liver of a hare , ( if it hath been hunted , it may be the better ) and hang it up in a dry place till it be somewhat fryable , having a care that it putrifie not ; of this reduced to pouder let the patient take two or three scruples at a time in any convenient vehicle . 57. an excellent medicine for dry or convulsive asthma's , and also for costiveness . give at bed-time 8 or 10 grains of choice saffron pulveriz'd grosly in a little syrup or conserve , as of violets , &c. to embody it with . 58. an excellent mixture for fits of the cholick , and some kinds of convulsions . take one ounce of flowers of sulphur , and as much sugar-candy , grind them very well together in a glass or stone mortar , and upon this quantity drop thirty drops of oyl of carraway-seeds , as much of oyl of orange , and as much of the oyl of aniseeds : incorporate these well , and of the mixture give about 20 or 30 grains for a dose . 59. an incomparable medicine for the cholick . the yellow peel of oranges , being reduc'd to pouder , give from half a dram to two scruples of it in any convenient vehicle . 60. to make a good purging drink for the cholick . take two ounces of rhubarb , four ounces of gentian , and a quart of good aniseed-water , let the roots infuse along in it , and give the patient about two spoonfuls at a time as often as need requires . 61. an almost specifick remedy for a fit of the cholick . take about half a dram of express'd oyl of nutmegs ( usually sold in the shops for east-indian oyl of mace. ) dissolve this in some spoonfuls of good wine , which the patient is to take as hot as conveniently he can . 62. an uncommon , but try'd remedy for cholicks , ( without much matter ) and good in fits of the mother . take good ginger dry , and instead of poudering it , cut it into as thin slices as you easily can : with these fill a tobacco-pipe , and take the smoak as you would that of tobacco . do this twice , thrice , or four times a day , but especially at bed-time , and in the morning . 63. an excellent medicine for convulsive cholicks . take of the volatile salt of pigeons-dung two or three grains , or somewhat more ( not exceeding five or six in all ) mix these with a scruple or half a dram of the same dung crude , but well and slowly dry'd , and finely pouder'd . give this mixture for one dose in some spoonfuls of any convenient vehicle . 64. for the cholick , or pains in the sides . take two balls of fresh horse-dung , and infuse them for 12 hours ( if haste require , 3 or 4 may serve the turn ) in good white-wine in a close vessel ; then strain the liquor , and let the patient take five or six ounces of it at a time . 65. for the cholick . boyl about one ounce of the seeds of the black stinging nettles in about a quart or more of good claret-wine ; then strain the decoction , and give of it a wine-glass full at a time , two or three times a day , or as often as need requires . 66. an excellent medicine for the cholick . take of doctor stephens's water half a pint , plague-water half a pint , juniper-berry-water half a pint , pouder of rhubarb 2 ounces ; mingle these together , shake the bottle when you take any of it , and take about four spoonfuls at a time . 67. for the cramp . take the leaves of rosemary , chop them very small , and sew them so in fine linnen or sarsnet , as to make a kind of garter of them , to be tyed about the patient's bare leg. 68. to take off the pain of the cramp . take of the oyntment of populeon two parts , oyl of spike one part ; mix them , and with the mixture anoint well or chafe the part affected . d. 69. a remedy , by which an hydropical merchant was cur'd . give about half a dram or two scruples for a dose of yellow transparent amber twice or thrice a day in any convenient vehicle . 70. an experienc'd medicine for a dysentery , or bloody-flux . give about three ounces of the juice of ground-ivy , mixt with one ounce of the juice of plantane , once or twice a day . 71. for to stop a dysentery , or bloody-flux . use the pouder of crepitus lupi , or fuss-balls , made up with some conserve of roses , or other convenient additament into pills . of this mixture give in dysenteriâ , as much at a time , as contains from about a scruple , to about half a dram of the pouder . 72. an easie , but very often try'd digestive , to be used instead of basilicum . take two ounces of good venice turpentine , and incorporate very well with it the yolks of two fresh eggs , and then add to it ( at discretion ) a little spirit of wine ; with this dress the part morning and evening , laying it on thicker , if the part be near some nerve , or other dryer part , and less thick if it be fleshy or moist . 73. a good medicine for incontinency of vrine , and the beginning a diabetes . cut off the necks of well blown sheeps-bladders , of the remaining membranes put up pretty store one over another into a cover'd pot , where being dry'd gently , and yet sufficiently , in a baker's oven , take them out , and pulverize them well . the dose is as much as will lye upon a large groat , or small sixpence . 74. for a diarrhoea , loosness , or flux of the belly . mix up 15 grains , or if the distemper be but slight , 10 grains , of pouder'd rhubarb with half a dram of diascordium , and let the patient take it either going to bed , or early in the morning after his first sleep . e. 75. for a contusion of the eye . take the crumb of whitebread , and diligently incorporate with black soft soap as much of it as will make a somewhat soft paste ; and then with your thumbs make a little cake ( as it were ) of it , and apply to the bruised part , the eye being first shut , and bind it so , that it may lye on for some hours , or a day if need be . but this ought to be used with caution . 76. an excellent medicine for clammy humors of the eyes . take new milk , and let it stand till it hath got a little cream upon it , then let the patient when he is in bed , take up with his finger a little of the cream ( and not of milk ) and shutting his eye-lids , besmear his eyes with it , having a care that very little or none get into his eyes , because it would make them smart ; let this cream lye on till the next morning , and in case the patient chance to wake in the night , he may , if he finds cause , lay on a little more , and wash all off in the morning . 77. a somewhat sharp but often try'd medicine to take off the pearl on the eye . take of the juice of celandine , and mix with it about an equal part of pure honey ; and of this mixture employ a drop , or at most two , at a time , letting it fall upon the part affected morning and evening . 78. an easie remedy for a recently blood-shot eye . take a rotten apple , and as many tops of wormwood , as being well beaten together with it will make a mass of the consistence of a cataplasm ; warm this a little , and put a sufficient quantity of it into a thin and clean linnen rag , and let the patient keep it upon the part affected all night , the next morning wash it off with some red rose-water , or the like liquor . 79. to make a choice opthalmick water to preserve the eyes and sight . take of the distill'd water of rue , celandine , and vervain , of each one ounce ; mix them , and infuse in them two drams of crocus metallorum exquisitely ground for a week or ten days ; then very carefully filter the infusion , that none of the atoms of pouder pass thorow with the liquor . of this let fall into the eye a drop or two , morning and evening , having a care not to shake the glass , when you employ the liquor , lest some unheeded dust may have escap'd the filter , and be rais'd . 80. for a slight opthalmia , or blood-shot eye . shake half a dram of diligently prepar'd tutty into an ounce of red rose-water , and drop it often into the eye . 81. an experienc'd eye-water for an inflammation and tumor of the eye . take of prepar'd tutty half an ounce , the water of white roses and of frogs spawn , and also of the best canary wine ( not distill'd ) of each two ounces , of aqua mirabilis half an ounce : mix these well , and drop a very little at a time into the patient's eyes . 82. an odd and often try'd medicine for an eresipalas . take the blood of a hunted hare whilst 't is yet warm , and drench thorowly in it clean linnen rags , which are to be dry'd in the wind or free air , and then kept in a dry place for use : lay a good piece of linnen thus stain'd upon the part affected , and either by binding it on , or covering it with some silken or other cloath , whose edges have some sticking plaister , keep it from falling off , and renew it from day to day , if there be need . n. b. if it grow too stiff with long keeping , you may soften it with a little sprinkling of fair water . 83. an experienc'd water for sharp and slimy humors in the eyes and eye-lids . take of prepar'd tutty half an ounce , prepar'd coral and pearl of each half a scruple , trochisci-albi ras . five or six grains , red rose-water , and succory-water , of each an ounce and half ; mix them well , and if you will have the medicine stronger , you may put three or four grains of aloes into it . 84. a choice remedy for an opthalmia , or blood-shot eyes . take of the juice of housleek two parts , daisies and ground-ivy of each one part ; mix these juices together , and to about two spoonfuls of the mixture , put five or six drops of clarify'd honey : let the juices depurate themselves by residence , and then in some small silver vessel clarifie them , and of this mixture let fall a drop or two into the eye three or four times a day . n. b. but if the inflammation be not so great , but there is more need of abstersion , use more of the juice of ground-ivy , and less of that of housleek . 85. for a light stroke or contusion of the eye . take two ounces of bettony-water , and three drops of clarify'd honey , mix them well together , and drop them into the eye three or four times a day ; the composition must be made fresh every second and third day . 86. a potent but smarting medicine for things growing on the eye . take white paper , and let it flame away upon a clean pewter platter , till there remain so much oyl behind as you think you shall need ; blow off the cinders of the papers , and with a little of your spittle mixt by your finger with the oyl , make up a kind of oyntment ; which being taken up with a feather , is to be apply'd once or twice a day , as need shall require , ( and as the patient can well bear ) to the affected eye : which course is to be continu'd till the cure be compleated . 87. for hurts that make a solution of continuity in the eye . take two ounces of celandine-water , and put to it 2 , 3 , or 4 drops of good clarify'd honey , enough to give the water a faint tast : with this dress the eye at least twice ( if not thrice ) a day . but the mixture must be made fresh once in two or three days , or else it will grow sourish . 88. an excellent and very often try'd eye-water , especially for outward affections of the eye . take of plantane-leaves 4 ounces , and of strawberry-leaves as much ; digest these for 24 hours in a pound of good white-wine . then distil them to dryness in a glass head and body in a balneo mariae . the liquor that is thus obtain'd put into a very clean brass ( not copper ) vessel , and let it stand there for some hours , till it have acquir'd a manifest , but not a very deep blew tincture , and then put to it ( when pour'd on ) an equal weight of white rose-water distill'd after the common way : shake these together , and let fall one drop into the internal corner of the eye , the patient stooping backward , and shutting his eye-lids for a minute or two , that the water may disperse on the eye , and that the quickness of the liquor , which may make him weep , may the less prejudice him . 89. to make a vseful medicine for pain or itching in the eye-lids , or on that account in the eyes . take half a spoonful of french barley ( after the first water it was put into over the fire is cast away ) and boyl it softly for a little while in a pint of spring-water , seasonably putting to it a good pugil of dry'd damask rose-leaves . ( n. b. sometimes you may add if you please a few red rose-leaves , or melilot-flowers , or both . ) with this liquor foment the part with a soft sponge for a pretty while , in the morning , and at night , having a care that it be apply'd pretty hot , or at least warm . 90. to make an excellent eye-water for redness and light films , &c. upon the eye . make some lime-water , by pouring a gallon of scalding-hot water upon a pound , or somewhat more of quicklime ; stir them together , and after some hours decant warily that which is clear . and to a pound of this water put half an ounce ( and no more ) of choice verdigrise pulveriz'd : and in a very moderate heat extract a tincture of a fine , but somewhat dilute , saphirine colour , ( but it ought not to be too deep . ) decant this very warily , and let a drop or two of it at a time fall into the eye , as often as need requires . 91. an excellent remedy to stop a violent defluxion on the eye . take red sage and rue , of each one handful , a spoonful of fine wheat-flower , and the white of a new-laid egg beaten to water , mix these very well , and spread them upon very thin leather or black silk , and apply it to the temples ; 't is to be about the bigness of a silver crown at least . 92. an excellent remedy for red eyes , made such by a defluxion of a hot or sharp humor . take of the tops of rosemary about one dram , and beat them up with one or two ounces of rotten pearmains or pippins , or if those cannot be had , with the like weight of the soft part of the same apples that are sound . and when by exquisite beating , you have reduc'd these things to a cataplasm , apply them , the cold being first taken off , to the part affected , binding it thereupon , and letting it lye all night . 93. an eye-water . take house snails , and beat them in their shells , and stratifie them with about an equal quantity of juice of celandine ; draw off the water in a cold or pewter still ( such as is us'd for rose-water ) and keep the liquor that will come over close stopt for your use . 94. the lady fitz-harding's eye-water , which lately cur'd an almost blind person , whose eyes look'd like glass . lady fitz-harding's eye-water . take three spoonfuls of white rose-water , as much eye-bright water , and as much sifted white sugar-candy as will lye on a three-pence , and the same quantity of fine aloes sifted and put to the water , and shak'd together , and drop a few drops every night going to bed. 95. a pericarpium , or wrist-plaister , that often-times frees the patients from flying clouds in the eyes , and sometimes lesser specks , specially if recent . take of rue , camomile , hemlock , each half a handful , of bay-salt two spoonfuls , one or two ounces of leaven ; incorporate these well together , and make thereof pericarpia , to be apply'd to the patient's wrists , and kept on , till growing dry , they become troublesom . 96. an excellent medicine for hot defluxions on the eyes . take of prepar'd tutty half an ounce , white rose-water and frogs spawn-water carefully drawn in very good canary wine , of each two ounces , of aqua mirabilis half an ounce ; mix these well together , and let fall two or three drops into the patient's eye ( especially at bed-time . ) 97. an easie but useful eye-water to keep the eye cool and moderately dry . take to two ounces of succory-water half a dram of prepar'd tutty , shake them well , and keep them together for use . 98. an often try'd pericarpium , or wrist-plaister for defluxions and fumes in the eyes . take rue , camomile , hemlock , wormwood , of each half a handful , bay-salt pulveriz'd about two spoonfuls , sour dough about an ounce ; mix all these together very diligently , moistning them from time to time with elder-vinegar , to a consistence fit for pericarpia , one of which is to be apply'd to the wrist of that side on which the part affected is , and to be renewed , if there be occasion . 99. for a phlyctena or little tumor in the carneous tunicle of the eye . take the decoction of mucilages that is proper for phlyctaea's , and dress the eye from time to time , to ripen the tumor : then open it with a lancet , and squeeze out all the matter ; and lastly , cleanse and heal the part with honey . n. b. but when the tumor is beginning , or not great , you may , in want of the decoction of mucilages , dress the eye with the mixture of equal parts of the water of melilot , camomile , and betony . 100. a plaister to strengthen the eyes , and stop defluxions on them . take of frankincense 2 ounces , olibanum and mastich , each half a dram ; mix these well , and reduce them into fine pouder , of which a convenient quantity is to be melted and spread upon black ribbon , or some such thing , with a hot knife or spatula , and so presently apply'd to the temples . 101. an often experienc'd medicine for little strokes or contusions of the eye . take betony-water three ounces , and five drops of clarify'd honey , mix them , and drop a little of the mixture from time to time into the patient's eye . n. b. take succory-water , crumbs of white-bread , a little saffron , and sometimes a little honey , for sharp humors in the eye lids , and burns or small specks ( of the eye ) four grains of roman vitriol to four ounces of water , of either rose-water , succory-water , or fennel-water , &c. 102. a good electuary to strengthen the sight . take conserve of borrage and betony of each an ounce and half , venice-treacle two drams , species dionisi , diarrhodon abbatis , diatrion santalon , of each half a dram , tartar vitriolate a scruple , diacorallion a dram and half , oyl of fennel seven drops , syrup of violets and coral , of each a sufficient quantity ; mix and make an electuary . 103. a choice medicine for an opthalmia sicca . take of the leaves of fennel , hyssop , celandine , betony , and carduus , of each half a handful , or a whole handful ; of linseeds , quince-seeds , fenugreek , and flea-wort , of each half a dram , of french barley one ounce : boyl all these a little in two quarts of fair water , and half a pint of white-wine . let the patient hold his head ( well fitted with a napkin for the purpose ) over the fumes for about a quarter of an hour . 104. for a film , or other such thing growing in the eye . take of crude roch-allom two parts , turmerick one part , and refin'd sugar three parts . pulverize each of these separately , then mix them exactly , and warily blow it into the patient's eye from time to time , as need shall require . 105. to make an excellent as well as famous eye-water . take celandine ( the whole plant except the root ) and having shred it or chopt it a little , put it into a retort , and distil it in balneo . when all the liquor is come over , empty the vessel , and put in as much of the fresh plant , and distil the liquor from it to make it more strong of the plant. put this liquor once more upon new or fresh celandine , and distil in balneo as before ; and keep this well-impregnated water close stopt . 't is to be outwardly us'd in the dose of 2 , 3 , or 4 drops at a time . 106. a medicine for hurts in the eye . take succory-water and crumbs of white-bread , enough to bring it almost to a consistence ; then add a little saffron to tinge and quicken it , and sometimes also you may put to it a little honey , to make it more cleansing and healing . apply it ( if need be ) with plagets of flax to the part affected . 107. a remedy that hath cured the epilepsie . give daily half a dram at a time of choice and very finely pouder'd amber in any convenient vehicle for about six weeks together . 108. elixir salutis . take of the seeds of anise , sweet fennel , coriander , and parsley , of each two ounces ; of liquorish scrap'd , wash'd , and bruis'd , and choice leaves of senna , of each likewise two ounces ; of raisins of the sun , rub'd clean and bruis'd one pound ; of elecampane-roots and guajacum wood , of each one ounce . mix these ingredients , and pour on them two quarts of aqua vitae , or english spirits ( for brandy is too hot a liquor . ) let these infuse together 48 hours . then put them all into a hair bag , and press them strongly in an apothecary's press , and if there be need , pass what is strain'd , through an hippocras-bag after the liquor is setled . keep this in bottles well stop'd in a cool place , and give of it two or three spoonfuls at a time , in the morning fasting , and if need require , at bed-time . 109. an experienc'd remedy for convulsions and epilepsies in children . take about half a dram , or from one scruple to two , or somewhat more , of well chosen , and very finely pouder'd amber , native cinnabar 10 grains ; mix them , and of this sweetned with some pouder'd sugar , or other fit thing that may give it a relish ; let the patient take twice a day ( at least for most days ) during six weeks , unless he fully recovers before that time . and however , he is to take it for two or three days before each new and full moon , for some months successively . f. 110. an excellent drink in fevers , even malignant . take a quart of spring water , and having given it a walm or two , put to it one ounce at least of harts-horn , calcin'd to perfect whiteness , and when the mixture is cold , put to it three ounces of syrup made of the juice of lemons , shake this mixture ; when you will use it , shake it well , and let the patient take of it a moderate draught several times in the day and night . 111. an vseful drink in feverish distempers . in a pint and a half of clear posset-drink , boyl about one ounce of cleans'd roots of dandelion , or piss-a-beds , cut or slic'd very small , till near half a pint be wasted , and then strain it , and let the patient take half a pint , or the whole quantity if he can , at a time . 112. an excellent remedy for dysenterical fluxes . take good venice turpentine , and with a very gentle heat evaporate so much of it , that when 't is cold , it may be but little short of coagulation . this yet sost , but not fluid substance , incorporate with fine sugar , enough to make it up into pills , whereof give in the morning fasting as many as will amount from a scruple to half a dram or two scruples , or a whole dram of the turpentine , besides the sugar . 113. an uncommon , but experienc'd remedy for dysenterical fluxes . take the bone of the thigh of a hang'd man perhaps another may serve , but this was still made use of ) calcine it to whiteness , and having purg'd the patient with an antimonial medicine , give him one dram of this white pouder for one dose , in some good cordial , whether conserve or liquor . 114. for the dysentery , and fluxes caused by sharp humors . take from half a dram to one dram of merourius dulcis , and as much either of fine sugar or sugar-candy , and with some purgative or other , let the patient take it once a day , with care , that none of it remain in his mouth , or stick in his throat . 115. an often try'd medicine for fluxes of the belly , thô bloody ones . give for a dose in any convenient vehicle as much pouder'd or grated pizzle of a hart or deer as will lye upon an ordinary half-crown piece . 116. an effectual medicine for dysenterical and other fluxes . take of a hare the skin , liver , gall , and all the parts , except the muscles , and having dry'd them so far ( and no further ) as that they may be conveniently reduc'd to pouder . give of this pouder from about two scruples to one dram , in any convenient vehicle . 117. an experienc'd remedy for sharp fluxes of the belly . take a pint of new milk , and dissolve in it two ounces of loaf-sugar , and at length about the bigness of a walnut of good mithridate ; give this mixture moderately warm for a clyster , to be reiterated if there be occasion . 118. to stop fluxes and whites . for fluxes you may in divers cases give the patient from time to time a moderate quantity of a decoction of half an ounce of ising-glass , in about a pint of new milk. 119. an easie medicine for fluxes , especially those caus'd by sharp humors . instead of butter take well-condition'd oyl-olive , and thorowly drench therewith a good toast , and let the patient eat it . 120. for a bloody-flux . take half an ounce of london-treacle , an ounce , or an ounce and half of conserve of red roses , mix them together with some syrup of clove ▪ gilly-flowers , or syrup of citrons , and keep them thus mix'd in a pot cover'd for your use . take of this about the quantity of a walnut at night , and in the morning for two days , fasting two hours before and after , intermit then a day , and take it again in the like manner . 121. a try'd medicine for the falling down of the fundament . take some ginger , and having carelesly slic'd it , put it in a little pan , heat it by clear and well kindled coals , and let the patient receive the fume of it , cast on by little and little in a kind of close-stool , or some equivalent seat , where the lower part of his body may be well cover'd for about half a quarter of an hour at a time . g. 122. a medicine for a light incipient gangreen . after having lightly scarify'd the part affected , apply as hot as the patient can well bear it , a cataplasm made of strong brandy , and the pith or crumb of whitebread , shifting it three or four times a day , or somewhat oftner , if need be . n. b. some use turneps boyl'd , and made unctuous with a little fresh hogs-lard to resolve the hard tumors of womens brests . 123. a choice anodyne clyster . take marsh-mallow roots half an ounce , leaves of the same , mallows , mullein , of each one handful , camomile ▪ flowers two pugils : boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water to ten ounces , and dissolve therein goats-suet 2 ounces , yolks of two eggs , and oyl of camomile an ounce and half : mix and make a clyster for easing pain . 124. a slight but often try'd medicine for the griping of the guts . take about a quarter of a pint of brandy , and having made a toast of bread ( not too fine and white ) throw it in very hot into the liquor , and as soon as 't is thorowly drencht let the patient take it out , and eat it hot ; and this may be repeated , if there be need , two or three times a day . 125. an often try'd remedy for the gripes in little children . take of oyl of nutmegs , and of wormwood , of each a like quantity , mingle them well , and with the mixture a little warm'd anoint the patient's navil , and the pit of the stomach . 126. to make an excellent gargle . take six ounces of scabious-water , one spoonful of mustard , one spoonful of honey , and one spoonful of vinegar ; grind all these very well together in a marble or glass mortar , till you have reduc'd them to a liquid mixture , which is to be used as a gargle . 127. a choice gargle for a sore throat . to four ounces of plantane-water add three or four spoonfuls of red rose-water , and mix very well with these the white of an egg beaten to a glair , or water ; sweeten this mixture with a small spoonful of white sugar-candy , or in want of that , as much very fine loaf-sugar . let the patient gargle this as often as need requires . 128. an experienc'd medicine for a gonorrhoea . take two ounces of ripe laurel-berries , and infuse them for a day in a quart of good white-wine : of this let the patient drink about two or three spoonfuls twice a day for a pretty while together ; only once in three days ( or thereabouts ) intermitting , that he may take some gentle purging medicine . 129. for a gonorrhoea . take choice mastich a sufficient quantity , and having very finely beaten and searc'd it , take about half an ounce of it at a time in the yolk of a new-laid egg , washing it down , if it be thought needful , in any convenient liquor . 130. an excellent remedy to take off the pains of the gout . take minium or red-lead ground fine half a pound , oyl of earth-worms one pound , or a sufficient quantity : boyl them to the consistency of a hard or solid emplaster , without burning : afterwards add of camphire two ounces , dissolved in oyl of earth-worms , so much as may make the emplaster of a just consistency . 131. an excellent oyntment in the gout . take barbadoes tar , and palm-oyl , of each a like quantity , melt them together in no more fire than is needful to make them incorporate well ; with this mixture warm , the part is to be anointed and warily chafed . 132. a slight but effectual medicine to appease gouty pains . take linseed well condition'd , and with a little water beat them in a marble or glass mortar , rubbing them very well , that the medullary part may be separated in some measure from the husk , and may make the water considerably white . in this liquor dip clean rags , and when they are thorowly wetted , apply them somewhat warm to the part affected , shifting them if need be once in an hour , or at most in two . 133. a speedy remedy to take off arthritick or gout-pains . take good spirit of sal armoniac , and with a feather dipt in it moisten gently all the part , or parts affected . 134. a medicine that almost presently appeases the pains of the gout . take of black soap four ounces , choice wood-soot finely sifted about a dram and half , and add to these about half the yolk of an egg : incorporate them diligently together , and spreading the mixture somewhat thin , apply it ( the cold being first taken off ) by way of cataplasm to the part affected . 135. a homely but often try'd medicine to appease the pains of scorbutical running gouts . take earth-worms cleans'd , and having fill'd an earthen pot with them , and luted on a cover very well , set it into an oven with a batch of bread , and let it stand there till the oven be cold . then take out the pot , and having remov'd the cover , you will find the matter turn'd into a gross liquor ill scented . strain this with expression , and keep it stopt for use , which is , to rub therewith the part affected with a warm hand once or twice a day . n. b. if the smell be offensive , you may put to it a few drops of oyl of rhodium , or some other odoriferous one , to correct it . 136. an excellent remedy for the gonorrhoea . take of choice amber , and of mastich , both reduc'd to very fine pouder , and very well mixt , equal parts , and of this mixture give half a dram at a time in a proper vehicle , or in a draught of chocolate . continue this for three weeks , or a month , if need require , purging the day before you begin to take it , and once every week afterwards , especially when you leave off the use of the pouder . 137. to appease the pain of the gout , and by degrees lessen the fits. take one part of spirit of sal armoniac , and three parts of spirit of wine , neither of them too well rectify'd : shake them together , ( and if you please digest them a while ) and having dipt old but clean linnen rags in the mixture , apply them to the part affected , shifting them now and then , as need shall require . h. 138. to make an excellent cephalick or head-pouder , good also for the eyes . take the leaves or flowers of betony , marjoram , and damask roses , also the flowers of sage and rosemary , all at discretion . to these add the pouder of lignum aloes , and some seeds of nigella romana . reduce all these to pouder , to be us'd as a hair-pouder , when the patient goes to bed. 139. an useful drink , to be frequently employ'd to correct sharp humors . take two ounces of choice barley ( english or french ) well wash'd from its dust and sordes : boyl this in a quart or more of spring-water till the grains begin to burst . then strain the decoction through a clean cloath , and let the patient use it at meals and other times , for his ordinary drink . 140. an experienc'd medicine for dulness of hearing , and hysterical affections . the juice of red onions is excellent for diseases of the ears , and for a deafness in its beginning . n. b. briony-roots also wonderfully prevail against all affections of the womb. 141. an experienc'd medicine for the pain of the haemorrhoids . take the sole of an old shooe , worn by some man that walks much , cut it in pieces , and burn it , not to white or gray ashes , but to a fryable and tender coal ; reduce this to impalpable pouder , and then with a sufficient quantity of unsalted lard make it into an unguent , wherewith the part affected is to be anointed from time to time . 142. for the haemorrhoids . make a suppository of hogs-lard or bacon , or instead of that employ goose-grease made up into the same form . 143. for the haemorrhoids . in the yolk of an egg , or a little of some convenient syrup or conserve , give from half a dram to two scruples or one dram , or somewhat more of flower of brimstone , once , or if the case be urgent , twice a day . the pouder may be also given in milk , to those that like it better than sweet vehicles . 144. a choice internal remedy for painful haemorrhoids . take about two scruples of choice sulphur vive , and mix it with a little sugar to make it relish , and give that dose once , or at most twice a day . 145. a very choice medicine for the pain and tumors of the haemorrhoids . take fresh leeks ( the whole plant ) shred them small , and fry them well with fresh butter , till they be fit to be brought to the consistence of a cataplasm or poultise , that is to be apply'd very war to the part affected , and to be renewed from time to time , as need shall require . 146. an vseful medicine for the pain of the haemorrhoids . make up flower of brimstone and an equal weight or a double of fine sugar , with a solution of gum dragon , into tabulets that may weigh about a dram a piece ; of those that contain the most sulphur you may give one twice a day , but of the other sort much oftner , if need require . 147. a choice remedy for the pain of the haemorrhoids . take album graecum , or white dogs-turd , reduc'd to an impalpable pouder , mix it up with a sufficient quantity of goose-grease , and by grinding it well in a leaden mortar , reduce it to a black oyntment , to be apply'd moderately warm to the part affected . 148. an experienc'd remedy for unbroken haemorrhoids . take calcin'd oyster-shells , and incorporate them with as much honey as will make up the pouder into an oyntment , with which the part affected is to be tenderly anointed from time to time . 149. for the haemorrhoids , a very successful try'd medicine . take maiden leeks ( as some call those that grow without having been transplanted ) and casting away the green part , make of the bulbous part and a sufficient quantity of whole oatmeal a caudle , whereof let the patient eat plentifully . 150. a choice drink for the pain of the haemorrhoids . take yarrow , and boyl a handful of it in about a pint and a half of posset-drink , in a cover'd vessel , till it be strong of the plant ; and of this decoction let the patient drink pretty plentifully from time to time . 151. an excellent remedy for the pain of the haemorrhoids . take of mastick , olibanum , aloes , and myrrh , of each a like quantity , pouder and mix them very well , then lay or strew a sufficient quantity of this upon a pledget of lint or cotton , moistened throughly with spirit of wine over a few well kindled coals , that the pouder may melt , and be clapt hot to the pit of the stomach , or the navel . 152. a medicine for the pains of the haemorrhoids . take a quart , or at least a pint of new milk , and boil it well for a while , and then taking it off the fire , presently put it into a close-stool in some open mouth'd vessel , and let the patient sit over the fume of it . 153. an excellent medicine to appease the pains of the haemorrhoids . take two fresh eggs , and roast them pretty hard , then peel off the shells and mince them . to these add two pippins , the core being first taken out , that must be roasted to pap ; mix these , and incorporate them very well with the eggs , reducing all to a kind of cataplasm , which is to be apply'd very warm , if not very hot , to the part affected , and to be renewed if need be . 154. a choice medicine for the pains of the haemorrhoids . take half a dram of good flower of brimstone , and boyl it a little in new milk , and let the patient take fasting in the morning both the liquor and the pouder for many days successively . and if need be , the like dose may be taken between four and five in the afternoon . also one may make up the like quantity of flores with a little fine sugar and gum tragacanth into tablets or lozenges , to be taken instead of the pouder and milk. i. 155. an experienc'd liquor to cure the itch in the hands or face , without mercury or sulphur . take a handful of the roots of elecampane , and as much of sharp-pointed dock , shred them small , and boyl them in two quarts of spring-water till the consumption of a pint . then strain the liquor , and with it let the patient wash his hands or other parts affected once ( or at most ) twice a day . 156. an experienc'd magnetical cure of the yellow-jaundies . take the gall-bladder of a sheep , and near the top , without emptying the liquor , make a small hole , at which put in two or three drops of the patient 's warm urine ; then tye up the upper part of the bladder , and hang it in the free air till it dry up , &c. 157. a homely but not ineffectual medicine for the yellow-jaundies . give about half a dram of the white part of hens-dung dry'd and mixt with a little sugar , in a few spoonfuls of white-wine . 158. a medicine almost specifick for the yellow-jaundies . take of clean filings of steel a sufficient quantity , and to make them grind the better , mix with them some loaf-sugar ; grind them long with great exactness , for in that consists the chief secret of this medicine . of this impalpable pouder give about half a dram for a dose ( besides the sugar ; ) and if need be , give it twice or thrice a day , in any convenient vehicle . 159. a specifick remedy for the yellow-jaundies . take one part of good saffron dry'd , enough to be rub'd in a glass mortar into pouder , and incorporate it well with four parts of choice turmerick . in the mean time take a handful of fresh sheeps-dung , and let it steep in about a quart of strong ale in a moderate heat , till the liquor be fully impregnated with the vertue of the dung. then strain it lightly thrô a linnen cloath , into a pint of it , or as large a draught within the limit as the patient can well take , give about half a dram of the foremention'd mixt pouder . this do in the morning fasting , aud in the evening about bed-time , giving also another dose the morning after the first . k. 160. the great medicine of a famous emperick for the kings-evil . give for a good while together a pretty strong decoction of devils-bit . 161. to mitigate pains in the kidneys . take oyl of scorpions , and oyl of bees-wax , of each a like quantity ; mix them well , and with this mixture moderatly warm , anoint the pained kidney . 162. an effectual remedy for stoppage in the kidneys . give in any convenient liquor about a dozen grains of salt of amber for a dose . l. 163. a pleasant medicine to appease scorbutick pains in the limbs . take liquid styrax , spread it thin upon slinck , or some very fine kids-leather , and keep it upon the part affected till it dry up of it self , or till the patient has no more need of it . 164. an experienc'd thô simple medicine for a contracture produc'd by keeping of limbs too long in an undue posture . anoint well once or twice a day the part affected with dogs-grease , chafing it in with a warm hand , and keeping the part warm afterwards . m. 165. a good medicine to inincrease milk to those that give suck . make pottage with lentils ( which many distinguish not from vetches ) and let the patient use freely of it . 166. another medicine to increase milk in nurses . take earth-worms , wash them well , freeing them carefully from their excrements , and from all adhering earth and filth . then dry them so as they may not stink , and yet be pulverable . of these , reduc'd to poúder , give half a dram or two scruples for a dose , in wine or any other proper vehicle . 167. a remedy , by which many dogs bitten by a mad-dog , have been all of them preserv'd this year from running mad. take three plants ( i. e. roots and leaves ) of that herb which is called rose-plantane , or by some star-plantane , and having chopt it small with a convenient quantity of butter , let the bitten dog take it the first day ; the second day give him five plants order'd as before , and the next day seven . n. 168. a good remedy for divers affections of the genus nervosum , or nervous system . take of the fresh roots of the male piony one ounce , of the seeds of the same plant two drams , and with a sufficient quantity of the syrup of piony , or some conserve of the like nature , beat them up into an electuary , ( which is best done not long before you mean to make use of it ) of which the patient may take the quantity of a small nutmeg or more if need be twice a day , and if occasion requires it , thrice . p. 169. aloetick pills , that do scarce at all occasion the piles . take of the frankfort angelick pills , and give of them from one scruple or half a dram to two scruples or more , for a dose . 170. a medicine for the pain and tumors of the piles . take the patient 's own urine moderately warm , and with rags dipt in it foment for a while the parts affected , and then anoint them with vnguent populeon . this do if need be three or four times a day , and if the tumors be internal , you may then inject a little of the foremention'd urine . 171. an excellent remedy for scorbutick and other pains in the limbs . take red and unsophisticated oyl of peter , and anoint therewith from time to time the part affected . 172. an easie but excellent poultise to appease pains and aches , even arthritick or gout-pains . take onions , and boyl or stew them in water till they be soft enough to make a poultise , then drain away the water and beat them , and having spread them to a good thickness upon a linnen cloath , apply them as hot as the patient can well bear , let him keep them on all night . 173. to strengthen a part weakened by a sub-laxation . spread emplastrum divinum upon soft leather , and apply it , keeping it on for some time . 174. a somewhat rough emetick , by which the french-pox has been often cur'd . take good mercury sublimate , and mithridate or venice-treacle , of each one ounce , mix them together , and put them into a quart of spring-water ; set them in balneo to dissolve in a close vessel ; and of this liquor well setled , let the patient take about half a spoonful , or if need be a spoonful , but never above a spoonful and a half , in four ounces of small ale warm , fasting in the morning , and once in the afternoon or evening , the stomach being empty . every second day intermit , and give a gentle purge . 175. a choice medicine for the palsie . take sarsaparilla a pound and half , bark of guajacum , china in chips , of each 2 ounces and a half : boyl all in six pints of water to a consumption of a third part : at the end add raisins of the sun stoned four ounces , liquorish bruised one dram , fat figs number twelve , boyl and strain it . of this let the diseased drink warm , as their ordinary drink . 176. for weakness in the hands , arising from the palsie , or an ill-cur'd rheumatism . take the tops of rosemary , and bruising them a little , make them up into a ball of the bigness of a small orange , or a large walnut with the green husk on . let the patient often roll one of these balls between his hands , and for divers hours in a day grasp one of them in the hand affected , that it may grow hot there , and transmit its effluvia into the part . continue this course as long as the distemper requires . 177. a choice external remedy for paralitick affections . make a strong decoction of rosemary-leaves ( or flowers if the season afford them ) and let the patient hold the part affected for a good while at a time in the liquor kept very warm . if after several tryals this medicine prove not effectual enough , take ten drops of oyl of worms , and mix with it well four or five drops of oyl of turpentine ; and with this mixture well warm'd anoint the part from time to time ; or else let the patient keep the part for a good while together , for more than once or twice if need require , in warm rain-water ( to dissolve the scorbutick salts . ) 178. to take off little pimples or grating inequalities within the eye-lids . take one spoonful of eyebright-water , one spoonful of plantane-water , and half a spoonful of good red rose-water ; mix these , and put to them about 15 grains of choice tutty finely prepar'd ; shake them together , and then let the pouder fall to the bottom , and with the clear liquor moisten the eye several times in a day , if it be found needful . 179. for the pleurisy . cut green broom-tops short , and fill therewith a skillet or pipkin of a pint and a half ; then fill it up with ale , boyl it softly till it be wasted to two or three spoonfuls , it will look black like treacle , and be thick . when 't is enough and cold , add as much mithridate as a nutmeg , and mingle it well , and give it the party warm in bed , and let him sweat three hours or more after it , by adding some cloaths . if it help not at first , repeat it next day , or the second not to fail . 180. an experienc'd ( and by some good authors excellent ) medicine for the pleurisy . take as many fresh balls of stone-horse dung , as the horse in good case may disburden himself of at one time ; cover these , whilst they are warm , with good white-wine ; let them stand a little to act on one another , and then press out gently through a clean linnen cloath as much liquor or juice as the mixture will readily afford ; and of this ( somewhat warm ) give a moderate draught , from time to time ; as need shall require . 181. a very often experienc'd medicine for the small-pox ( especially in children . ) . take the little balls of fresh sheeps-düng , and having freed them from straws and dust , and other things forrain to them , put an handful of them thus cleans'd into a quart of good white-wine , and in a vessel well stopt , let them infuse in a moderate heat for a night , or till the liquor be well impregnated with the taste and colour of them . strain this infusion , and give of it warm about a spoonful at a time , once in two or three hours , or oftner if need require . n. b. in case of necessity , the infusion may be much sooner made , by putting into the wine a greater proportion of the sheeps-dung . r. 182. a successful remedy for a kind of rheumatism , and a contracture of the limbs that followed upon it . take the inward bark ( that which grows next the wood ) of an elder-tree , cut or tear it into small bits , and with them loosely plac'd fill about a third part of a bottle . then pour in as much small ale or beer as will fill up the remaining part of the vessel , stop it well till the liquor be strong of the infusion . and of this let the patient drink a good draught once or twice a day , or if he can well bear it , let him use it as a diet-drink . 183. an approv'd outward medicine to cause rest without opiates . take of rose-water 8 ounces , good wine 4 ounces , strong vinegar 2 ounces ; mix these well , and having warm'd stupes in them , foment therewith the part affected , laying them on but moderatly warm , but taking them off when they begin to grow cold : this fomenting may last between a quarter and half an hour before the patient should compose himself to rest . s. 184. a choice and diversify'd medicine for the scurvy . from the freshly gather'd tops of firr a little bruis'd , abstract spirit of wine , or at least good nants brandy , and with this liquor draw a deep tincture from other fresh tops , of which tincture reduce some part into an extract , whereof to form pills ; keep these , the tincture and the impregnated liquor apart , to be employ'd separately or conjoyntly as occasion may require . 185. for an excoriation , and for preternatural tenderness of any part of the skin . take vnguentum diapompholigos , and spread it thinly upon lint , which must be apply'd to the part affected , and kept on by a bandage or some sticking plaister . 186. to take off the heat and roughness of the skin , especially on the lips. anoint the part affected with fresh ( or at least not too stale ) cream . 187. to take out the marks of gun-pouder shot into the skin of the face , or elsewhere . take fresh cow-dung , and having warm'd it a little , apply it as a thin poultise to the part affected , renewing it from time to time as occasion shall require . 188. an excellent medicine to strengthen a weak sight . take eye-bright , penny-royal , rue , celandine , lovage , saxifrage , of each half a handful , blewbottle-flowers , fennel-seeds , parsley-seeds , of each half a dram , grains of paradice one dram , hyssop , organy , willow-leaves , each half an ounce , galingal three drams , ginger half a dram , cinnamon one dram , sugar half an ounce . let them be finely pouder'd , and very well mixt together . take of this pouder one scruple or half a dram every day with your dinner . 189. a distilled water for strengthening the sight . take rosemary-flowers , sage , betony , rue , and succory , of each one handful . infuse these in two quarts of good sack , distil them in a copper alembick . the dose is a moderate spoonful . 190. a choice medicine , which i have several times used for a light stroke or contusion of the eye . put to two ounces of carduus-water , or that of betony , three or four drops of honey , use it every three hours . ( but have a care not to keep it above a day or two , lest it grow sour . ) 191. a much commended pouder to strengthen the sight . pouder of eye-bright 1 ounce , ordinary fennel-seed in pouder half an ounce , pouder of nutmegs half a quarter of an ounce , double refin'd sugar two ounces . all these being finely pouder'd and sifted , are to be mixt together , and taken as much as will lye on a shilling at a time , as often as you please . the pouder is to be taken dry , and kept in a box close shut in some dry place . this has done great cures in dimness of sight , and rheums in the eyes . 192. to make a drink to be taken like tea for strengthening the sight . to a quart of water ready to boyl , put in half a handful of eye-bright , and then let the liquor boyl but one walm or two , before you take it off to drink it instead of tea . 193. a rare water to strengthen the sight . take clary , and distil it in a cold still ; and of the water , let the patient take every morning , and if need be , every night going to bed , from two or three spoonfuls to six , either alone , or sweetned with a little sugar ; let him also with the same water unsweeten'd ▪ bath or wash the parts affected in the morning , and at bed-time ; and if need be , once or twice more every day . 194. an excellent external medicine to strengthen the stomach . take wormood , mint , and mugwort , and by beating them well in a stone or glass mortar , make a cataplasm , to be apply'd somewhat warm to the stomach , and kept upon it for a pretty while . 195. an often try'd remedy to strengthen the stomach , and also to take off griping pains in or near it . ( 't is good also for colds . ) take emplastrum stomachum of the london dispensatory , and drop upon it five or six drops of oyl of cinnamon , rubbing it well over with your finger , and so apply it to the patient's stomach , and after three or four days , or as soon as it grows dry , remove it , and having scrap'd the plaister , and warm'd it on the wrong side , let fall some drops of the oyl of cinnamon upon it , or more drops of the cordial spirit , and apply it again . 196. an excellent plaister to strengthen the stomach and chest . take of cinnamon , nutmegs , cloves , and mace , of each a sufficient quantity , pouder them well , and strew some of the pouder all over the bottom of a deal box of a convenient length and breadth , and fit it with a cover to shut close , upon this pouder lay a piece of clean flannel well dry'd , and strew it over thinly with some of the same pouder ; then lay on another piece of the like flannel of the same dimensions with the former , and upon that likewise if need be a little more pouder . this done , shut the box till the time of use , and then take out one of the pieces of flannel , and having lightly dusted off the pouder , lay it on the patient's brest , stomach , and belly , and let it lye on there for some days . when you perceive its vertue begins to languish , you must substitute for it the other piece of flannel , and put the first in the box to receive new vertue , and so proceed alternatively as long as you need the medicine , adding now and then some fresh pouder , if necessity require . note , that each piece of flannel ought to be long and large enough to cover the brest , and to reach from about the paps to the navel , or lower . 197. for a recent strain . take a pint or more of claret-wine , and boyl in it for a little while , in a close vessel , about a handful of red rose-leaves , till the liquor be strong of the plant. in this well heated dip a piece of linnen or flannel , and wringing out the moisture , double it , and apply it hot to the part affected , using a fillet , or some such thing to keep it on . 198. my lord bacon's experienc'd medicine for a recent strain or bruise . take a good handful of fresh wormwood , and boyl it in a sufficient quantity of strong ale to the softness of a poultise , then take it off the fire , and when you apply it , which you should do whilst 't is very hot , put to it a spoonful or two of good common brandy . 199. a choice plaister for a recent strain . take equal parts of the plaisters called diapalma and oxycroceum , and make of them a compounded plaister , to be spread upon thin leather , and apply'd to the part affected , and to be renewed , if need be , twice a day . 200. an approv'd medicine for a recent strain . apply seasonably a cataplasm made of bran boyl'd in good vinegar till it be soft enough to make a poultise . 201. a slight but choice remedy for a recent strain . take two spoonfuls of vinegar , and beat into it very well the white of an egg , and spreading it upon flax or tow , apply it to , and keep it on the part affected . 202. a parable but excellent medicine in the fit of the stone . take somewhat less than a handful of red chick-pease , or cicers , and boyl them softly in a quart of spring-water till the liquor be red , and well impregnated with the seeds : strain this decoction and sweeten it with syrup of marsh-mallows , out of which all the stronger diureticks are left . 203. for the stone . take a quarter or half a pint of simple arsmart-water , sweeten it with a little sugar or some convenient syrup , and aromatize it with a little nutmeg scrap'd , and give this mixture for one dose . 204. for the stone and gravel in the reins and bladder . take equal weights of common daucus-seeds , and of burdock-seed , and having mixt these together , put one ounce of the mixture to a gallon of small ale , and let the patient use it as a constant drink . 205. a good liquor to use as drink in a long fit of the stone . make posset-drink of three or four parts at most of milk , and one of white-wine . into two quarts of posset-drink scrape or thinly slice a nutmeg and a half , or two nutmegs ; add a little juice of lemon to your palate , and if you please sweeten it a little with syrup of marsh-mallows . take of this drink a pretty quantity at a time , and use it often in a day . 206. a good medicine for the stone . take a pint or a quart of ale , somewhat new , sweeten it with pure honey , and boyl it to the consumption of about one half , skimming it well from time to time . then dissolve in it the yolk of a new-laid egg ; and let the patient drink a good draught of this mixture once or twice a day , till he find relief thereby . 207. a choice medicine in an actual fit of the stone . take the decoction made according to the london dispensatory for the syrup of marsh-mallows , with this difference , that to the same quantity of water , you must take but half the quantities of each of the ingredients . let this corrected decoction be well clarify'd , and let the patient take of it warm 6 , 8 , or 10 ounces at a draught , from time to time , as need shall require . 208. the stone , and the cure. taken out of the history of the barbadoes , written by rich. lygon , gent. p. 118 , 119. after the stoppage of urine more than fourteen days , the following medicine did not only break , but brought away all the stones and gravel . and about three weeks after , the like pains returning , the same medicine did the like effect within ten hours after the taking thereof . take the pizzle of a green turtle ( or tortoise ) which lives in the sea , dry it with a moderate heat ; pound it in a mortar to pouder , and take of this as much as will lye upon a shilling , in beer , ale , white-wine , or the like ; and in a very short time it will do the cure. these are to be had easily , both at the charibee and lucaick islands , where these fishes abound . 209. a good medicine in pains of the stone , or cholick . take half a pint of good sallet-oyl , and as much good sack , ( or if that cannot be had , good claret wine ) shake them very well together , and give them moderately warm for a clyster . 210. to expel the stone in a fit. take crabs-eyes pouder'd , and dissolve a large proportion of them in good white-wine vinegar , and of this drink let the patient take from two spoonfuls to five or six at a time . t. 211. an almost specifick remedy for the tooth-ach . into a quart of red wine ( or at least of claret ) put one dram of allom , and another of acorns , a dram and half of galls , and half a handful of good dry'd rose-leaves . boyl this to the consumption of near half , and then take it from the fire and strain it , and dissolve in it a dram and a half of acacia cut into small bits , and with this liquor a little hot , you must wash the part several times in a day . 212. an uncommon , but not unuseful remedy for the tooth-ach . let the patient lye on the ear that is opposite to the part affected , and into the other ear drop two or three drops of the freshly exprest juice of rue a little warm , and stop the ear lightly with fine black wool or cotton . 213. an odd but very succesful external remedy for the tooth-ach . in the declining of the moon in august , take the fruit called hipps , viz. those of the wild bryar , with all the fuzey stuff that grows upon it , and lapping it up in a piece of thin sarcenet , tye it upon the arm that is on the same side with the part affected , and keep it on as long as there is need . 214. for the tooth-ach . take a handful of red sage , and a handful of clary , shred them small and beat them , sprinkle them with may dew ; then strain out the juice , put it in a glass bottle , and set it in the sun in a window , and when you use it put three drops into a spoon and heat it over a candle blood warm , and drop it into the ear , and let them eat a crust of bread , wet either in broth or posset , and chew it upon the teeth that ake . 215. an approved medicine for an aking tooth that is hollow . take two parts of common pepper ground to fine pouder , and mix exactly with it one part of sugar moderately fine over a gentle heat ; form these into a small pill of a shape and bigness fit for your purpose , and when your stuff grows cold 't will harden , and may be apply'd when you please to the part affected . 216. an excellent remedy to fasten teeth . take of burnt allom , acorns , of each one dram , galls a dram and half , red roses half a handful . beat all these together , and make them boyl in about a quart of good red wine , to the consumption of about a fourth part . then strain the decoction , and dissolve in the transmitted liquor of good acatia cut into very small bits half a dram. with this decoction the mouth is to be washt several times in a day . 217. to fasten the teeth . put mastick finely pouder'd upon the end of an handkerchief , rub your teeth therewith twice or thrice in a day , and chew mastick often . also boyl pomegranate-flowers with mint or mastick in red or claret wine , gargle or wash your mouth often with it . 218. a medicine prescrib'd to a great prince ( charles the first ) to fasten the teeth . take a pint of spring-water , and put to it four ounces of brandy ; let the patient wash his mouth with the mixture of these every morning , and twice or thrice a day besides ; and let him in the morning , roul for a little while , a bit of roch-allom to and fro in his mouth . 219. a good astringent liquor to fasten the teeth . to four ounces of claret-wine , or some other convenient menstruum , you may put to dissolve about four drams of terra japonica . 220. an excellent medicine to fasten the teeth in scorbutick gums . take of choice bole-armoniack two drams , choice myrrh ( not lucid ) one dram , roch-allom crude half a dram , claret-wine one pint. boyl these softly a little while together , and let the patient use twice , thrice ( or if need be ostner ) in a day . 221. to fasten teeth , made loose by the scurvy . anoint the parts affected with oleum myrrhae made by deliquium with whites of eggs boyl'd hard . 222. a lotion to fasten the teeth . in a quart of spring-water decoct for a while one ounce of the best terra japanica reduc'd to gross pouder . and then having filter'd the decoction , keep it stopt for use . 223. a good astringent liquor to fasten loose teeth . in a pint of red wine infuse about half an ounce of terra japanica , till as much as will be dissolv'd be taken up by the liquor . decant it from the faeces ( if there be need ) and keep it well stopt for use . 224. an useful liquor to fasten the teeth , and prevent the tooth-ach . to a pint of spring-water put half an ounce of clean sal armoniack , and with the solution of this salt , let the patient wash his mouth from time to time . 225. to make an excellent poultise to ripen tumors . take eight ounces of ( fat ) figs , two ounces of white lilly-roots , and two ounces of bean-flower ( or meal : ) boyl these together in water , and reduce them to the consistence of a poultise ; which is to be spread to a good thickness , and laid warm enough upon the part , and shifted as often as it begins to grow dry . 226. an excellent medicine to relieve those that are troubled with tumors in the throat , and some other parts . to a quart of new milk put a handful of mallow-leaves , with as much of the leaves of solanum , or nightshade , shred them small , let them boyl , till the herbs be tender as if they were to be eaten . then put into the milk as much crumbs of white-bread , as being stirred well with the other ingredients , will bring all to the consistence of a poultise . this is to be spread upon a stay for the throat , or some other thing fit to be apply'd to any other part affected , and is to be laid on as hot as the patient can well endure it , and when it begins to grow cold , it is to be succeeded by fresh made very hot , and so long as the case shall require . 227. a medicine that lately cur'd an obstinate tumor of the knee , that had baffled some chirurgeons . take a green colewort-leaf with red veins or streaks , and having cut the ribs flat and almost level to the rest of the leaf , bruise it with the haft of a knife , or some such thing , apply it to the part affected , renewing it once or twice a day . 228. a powerful and experienc'd topick for a sore throat . take two new-laid eggs roasted moderately hard , and the pap of two well-roasted pippins ; beat them well together , and add to them as much cruds of posset made with ale. having incorporated them all very well , apply the mixture very warm to the part affected , shifting it if need be once in five or six hours . 229. an approved remedy for a sore throat . take verjuice of grapes one ounce , good honey half an ounce , crude allom about a dram and half , and sea-salt half a dram ; pouder the salts finely , and incorporate them very well with the liquors into the form of a kind of liniment . in this dip a long feather , or a piece of rag tyed about the end of a slender stick ( as of liquorish ) and with it touch the part affected three , four , or five times : between each , two times gargling with a mixture of plantane-water , and some red rose-water . 230. a choice external remedy for sore throats . take millepedes , sows or hogs-lice alive , and sew them up between the foldings of a piece of linnen , and apply them to the throat in the form of a stay , which is to be kept on all night . 231. an easie but try'd remedy for a sore throat . take bay-salt dry'd , and having pounded it , put it into the folds of a rag in a sufficient quantity to make a stay to be ty'd about the throat , and apply it over night as hot as the patient can conveniently ▪ endure it . 232. a choice remedy for a sore throat , especially if enflam'd . take a little handful of the leaves of common mallows , and eight or ten good figs ; boyl these about a quarter of an hour in a pint of new milk , and let the patient use it very hot and often . 233. a homely but experienc'd medicine for a sore throat . take about one dram of album graecum , or white dogs-turd burnt to perfect whiteness , and with about one ounce of honey of roses , or clarify'd honey , make thereof a linctus to be very slowly let down the throat . 234. a homely but experienc'd remedy for a sore throat . into the leg of a worsted stocking that has been long worn next to the flesh , put in a sufficient quantity of good sea-salt exactly dry'd , or else decrepitated , and this salt being put in warm , if not hot , the stocking is to be ty'd about the patient's neck , and kept on all night . and if by the next day the distemper be not remov'd , you may apply fresh salt ( in the proportion ) in the same stocking as before , the night following . 235. a try'd medicine for a sore throat , caused by acid humors in the internal parts of it . take half a handful of the leaves of common mallows , and boyl them in about a pint of new milk near half an hour ; then let it run through a clean cloath , and let the patient use it a little warm three or four times a day as a gargle , or else let him use it by holding it in his mouth , and letting some drops slowly slide down his throat . 236. an often experienc'd remedy for tettars , and the itch. take flowers of sulphur , finely pouder'd , ginger , and burnt allom , each alike , save , that of the allom there must be somewhat less . incorporate these with as much fresh butter ( without any salt ) as will bring them to the consistence of an oyntment ; with this anoint the part affected at bed-time , as hot as the patient can well endure it , and let it lye on all night , wash it off in the morning with celandine-water well heated ; and whilst you continue the use of this medicine , take daily some cordial , to keep the noxious humour from being driven inwards . this will not fail to do the work. 237. a choice medicine for a thrush in young children , or a sore mouth . take an egg , and put out the meat , then fill it with the juice of red sage , and set it on hot embers till it boyl ; then skim it whilst any skum doth rise . then take as much allom beaten as the bigness of a pea or bean , and half a spoonful of honey , and let this be put in the egg and boyl it a little , and so take it off ; and when 't is cold , rub the child's mouth as oft as you see cause . 238. an almost specifick remedy for a tenesmus . mix balsam of sulphur made with oyl of turpentine with linseed-oyl , or some other convenient oyl , till the balsam be thereby so far allay'd , that the patient may well endure it ; and then let him dip his finger in it , and make use of it as a small suppository two or three times , or if need be , oftner in a day . u. 239. an excellent emulsion to be used in sharpness of urine , especially caused by blistering plaisters . take mallows two handfuls , gum arabick two drams , barley-water a sufficient quantity ; boyl all to a quart , to which add sweet almonds blanch'd one ounce , of the four great cold seeds , of each two drams . make an emulsion , strain , and add two ounces of syrup of marsh-mallows , of which drink at pleasure . 240. a powerful medicine for stoppage of urine . fry chervil with a sufficient quantity of oyl of walnuts , and apply a cataplasm made of it very hot to the navel ( and if need be , to the os pubis ) or share-bone . 241. for a retention of urine . take chervil , and with fresh hogs-lard fry it well , and lay it very hot upon the patient's navel and all the adjacent parts , shifting it , if there be need , once or twice . 242. an useful pouder for such as cannot hold their urine . take root of the male piony , yellow amber , red coral , and choice gum arabick , of each a sufficient quantity : reduce them to fine pouder , mix them well , and let the patient take of this mixture from 10 to 20 grains twice a day . 243. an easie medicine for sharpness of urine , and for obstruction of the menses , and their flowing too much , if the distempers be not obstinate . give about half . an ounce at a time of the newly exprest juice of ground-ivy in any convenient vehicle . 244. an old lithotomist's medicine for suppression of urine , ( given me by himself . ) give from about 50 grains to one dram for a dose of the pulvis hollandi , and if the necessity be very urgent , you may give from one dram to four scruples , or a dram and half , not neglecting in the mean while other proper remedies . 245. for suppression of urine . give about a spoonful at a time of bruised mustard-seed in any convenient vehicle . 246. a try'd medicine for a suppression of urine that is not very obstinate . dissolve half an ounce of choice castile-soap in half a pint of white-wine , or some appropriated liquor ; pass the solution through a woollen filter , that the more greasie parts may rest behind , and the liquor pass more clear ; put to this five or six grains of saffron : divide it into two doses , whereof one is to be given some few hours after the other , if the first do not operate well . 247. a speedy remedy for fits of vomiting . take a large nutmeg , grate off one half of it , and toast the flat side of the other , till the oily part begin to ouze or sweat out , then clap it to the pit of the patient's stomach as hot as he can well endure it , and let him keep it on whilst it continues warm , and then if need be put on another . 248. to make an astringent liquor , of great use in ulcers and ( some ) wounds . boyl two drams of choice catechu , or japan earth , in a quart of spring-waster ; pour off the clear , and with it by injection or otherwise dress the ulcers or wounds . 249. for outward ulcers . take the green bark of oak , and chop it altogether , both inside and outside , into very small pieces . upon these pour good lime-water freshly made , and let them infuse in it till the liquor has acquir'd a deep tincture . with this dress the ulcer once , and if need require , twice a day . 250. the famous scotch emperical medicine for a stubborn ulcer . burn to ashes , but not too much , the gross stalks on which the red colewort ( not cabbage ) grows , and with any fit additament make thereof a cataplasm to be apply'd to the ulcer , and shift it at reasonable distances of time . 251. a remedy against the bitings of vipers , and other venomous creatures . as soon as ever one is bitten ( for if the poyson be diffus'd through the mass of blood , the experiment may not succeed ) a hot iron may be held as near the wound as the patient can possibly endure , till it has , as they speak , drawn out all the poyson , which will sometimes adhere like a yellowish spot to the surface of the iron . 252. medicines against voiding of blood out of several parts . take two drams of henbane-seed , and the like weight of white poppy-seed ; beat them up with an ounce of conserve of red roses , of which give to the quantity of a nutmeg or walnut . or , take the express'd juice of twelve handfuls of plantane-leaves , and six ounces of fresh comfrey-roots , well beaten together with a convenient quantity of fine sugar . these two medicines have wonderful effects to stop bleeding . w. 253. a simple but powerful remedy for fresh wounds . take the juice of celandine , and dress with it recent wounds and cuts , instead of a balsam . 254. to make a simple , but excellent balsam to stanch the blood of fresh wounds newly made , and to heal them speedily . take good venice-turpentine , and in a limbeck , or some other convenient vessel distil off a good part of it with a very moderate fire , till there remains a thick substance , yet not like colophony , but of a liquid and balsamick consistence . what you have distill'd off set aside for other uses , for the remaining substance is what we now seek for , and is to be apply'd as a balsam both per se , and with plagets and other helps . 255. an excellent wound-drink . take harts-tongue , liverwort , wood-bugle , wood-sage , wood-betony , southernwood , wormwood , alehoof , bugloss , scabious , ribwort , white-bottles , mugwort , comfrey , mints , agrimony , strawberry and violet-leaves , cinquefoil , daisie-leaves , roots , and flowers , wild hony-suckles , wild angelica , avens , plantane , clowns wound-wort , hawthorn-buds , oak-buds , and bramble-buds . gather these herbs in may , or as many as can then be had ; the buds in march as soon as ever they put forth , before they come to leaves ; measure them , and take equal quantities of them , and dry them severally in the shade , and when throughly dryed put them up in bags , and so keep them for use . how to make the drink . take one gallon of spring-water , one pottle of the best white-wine , add to this two good handfuls of all the herbs , mingled well together being dryed , but if green , then one good handful of each . boyl them in a pipkin or iron pot to the consumption of the half ; then strain it out , and put to the liquor a quart of honey , and let it boyl again , and skim it , and when it 's cold , put it up into bottles stopt very close , then let the patient drink thereof morning and evening about a quarter of a pint at a time ( some use only three spoonfuls at a time ) fasting after taking of it one hour or two . observe , the liverwort is ever best to be put in green . if you make use of this for any sore , or ulcer in the body , lay any searcloath or plaister to it , of vnguentum apostol . or minium , or such like , as they use for wounds in the body , or a plaister of honey and wax . this drink is effectual for sores old or new , womens breasts , putrified bones , causing them to scale ; 't is good for any ach in the stomach , for the kings-evil it hath cured , also caused bullets in the flesh to come out , having long continued there . sir jo. mince was healed by drinking of this , being wounded through the loyns . 256. a quick remedy for a small and fresh cut , or wound . let the patient speedily plunge the hurt part into brandy , and keep it there for a while , till the pain , which will be excited , be extinguish'd , or much abated : or if the part be unfit for this operation , the liquor may be apply'd to it immediately with a soft sponge , & c. 257. a good vehicle for divers remedies , and that 't is it self useful against the jaundies , and worms in children . the distill'd water of the husks of walnuts is a very good vehicle in divers diseases , particularly in jaundies ; 't is a cordial , and exceeding proper to be mixt with julaps in fevers . 't is also an excellent antiverminary , or medicine against the worms , especially for children . 258. a powerful medicine for white fluors , ( and the like distempers . ) take a pottle of ale , and shred into it two ounces of white ichthyocolla ( isinglass , ) and in a loosely stopt vessel , let the liquor simper till about half is wasted ; strain the rest , and give of it two or three ounces at a time once or twice a day , as need shall require . 259. a tryed medicine for an ulcus uteri . take of true and choice bitumen judaicum , or asphaltum , and having reduc'd it to very fine pouder , let the patient take of it about a dram at a time in any proper vehicle , once or twice a day . 260. an excellent water to preserve the sight . to half an ounce of celandine-water , and two drams of succory-water , mixt together , put two or three drops of clarify'd honey , and shake them all together when you are to use them . of this water let fall a drop or two into the eye once or twice a day . it will not keep above three or four days , especially in summer , and therefore must be often renewed . 261. a try'd medicine for a whitloe . take house snails and beat them , shells and all , in a stone or wooden mortar , so long till they be reduc'd to the consistence of a cataplasm ; which apply somewhat warm to the part affected , and keep it on for 16 or 24 hours , renewing it then if need be . 262. a powerfully dissolving oyntment for warts , and divers tumors . take may-butter , and having melted it in a moderate heat , mix with it very diligently , but by little and little , as much oyl of tartar per deleq . as will give it a sensible , but not a considerably strong taste . 263. an experienced remedy for bloody water . take waters of the black alder , of mallows , of each three ounces , syrup of comfrey one ounce : mix them , and let the patient take four spoonfuls immediate ; and four or five times a day . 264. to make a well experimented lime water . take fresh quick-lime 2 pound , on which pour two gallons of water boyling hot ; when they have stood together about 24 hours , pour off the clear , and into one gallon of this , put of anniseeds , liquorish , and sassafrass thinly slic'd , of each four ounces . let them infuse for 24 or 48 hours in a cover'd vessel ; then take a pound and a half of smirna raisins ( which some call great blew currans ) wash'd and stamp'd . let these infuse for a few hours , and then pass the whole mixture first through a sieve , and then through a woollen bag. the dose is about a quarter of a pint ▪ warm twice a day . 265. an experienc'd medicine to correct the peccant humor in the kings-evil . take half an ounce of cuttle-bone dry'd till it may be finely pouder'd . give this to the patient for one dose . 266. an excellent and often-try'd clyster in fluxes , especially in sharp humors , and some other distempers of the bowels . in a quart of new milk boyl softly two small spoonfuls of grosly pouder'd rice till it be brought to the consistence of cream , then dissolve in it two ounces of our suet of sheeps-kidneys , and having strain'd it to keep back the fibres , give it at once for a lavement . 267. a cure for scrophula's , and the kings-evil . take a handful of paronychia folio rutaceo , call'd rue whitlow-grass , and by some , felon-wort , boyl it every morning in a quart of small beer , strain it , and drink it for your ordinary drink . it wastes the peccant humor , appeases the pains , discusses the unbroken tumors , and heals the broken ones . 268. against epilepsies , or the falling-sickness . take of the pouder of the true misseltoe of the oak as much as will lye upon a sixpence , early in the morning , in black cherry-water , for some days near the full moon . 269. a simple remedy for the stone . take persicaria , or arsmart , as much as you please , distil it in a common rose-water still , and give some spoonfuls of it in or before the fits. 270. an excellent remedy against fluxes . take unsalted butter , boyl it gently till a pretty part be consum'd , skimming it diligently from time to time , whilst it stands over the fire : of this butter melted give now and then a considerable quantity , as the patient is able to bear it . this medicine was very successful in ireland . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28994-e3830 b a b b a b b b b b b b c b b b b a a b a b a a b b a b a b c b b b b b b a b b b b c b b a b b b a notes for div a28994-e7790 b b a a a b c a b b b a b b a a b a c a a b a b b b a a b b b b b b a a a b c b a b a a b a a b a b a notes for div a28994-e12530 i. ☜ l l ☞ l ☞ ☜ l l l l l l ☜ l l l l ☜ l ☞ ☜ l ☜ l ☞ l ☞ l ☞ l ☞ ☞ l ☞ ☞ * l ☜ * ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ notes for div a28994-e15280 ☞ l * ☞ * ☞ * ☜ * * l ☜ * ☜ ☜ notes for div a28994-e16390 * * de simpl . medic. facultatibus , lib. ix . titulo jaspis viridis . ac nonnulli quoque annulis inserunt , scalpuntque in eo draconem radios habentem : velut rex ne●hespos memoriae ●rodidit in sexto & decimo libro . a corner-stone laid towards the building of a new colledge (that is to say, a new body of physicians) in london upon occasion of the vexations and oppressive proceedings acted in the name of the society called the colledge of physicians : for the better information of all men, as well as of physicians, chirurgians, and apothecaries, touching the unhappy estate of the art of physick, here in england, it being an apology for the better education of physicians / by adrian huyberts. huyberts, adrian. 1675 approx. 71 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 21 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a45272 wing h3858 estc r15506 11849358 ocm 11849358 49888 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a45272) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 49888) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 498:23) a corner-stone laid towards the building of a new colledge (that is to say, a new body of physicians) in london upon occasion of the vexations and oppressive proceedings acted in the name of the society called the colledge of physicians : for the better information of all men, as well as of physicians, chirurgians, and apothecaries, touching the unhappy estate of the art of physick, here in england, it being an apology for the better education of physicians / by adrian huyberts. huyberts, adrian. [2], 38 p. printed for the author, london : 1675. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng royal college of physicians of london. medicine -england -early works to 1800. medical education -england. medical education -early works to 1800. 2007-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2007-10 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a corner-stone laid towards the building of a new colledge ( that is to say , a new body of physicians ) in london . upon occasion of the vexatious and oppressive proceedings acted in the name of the society called the colledge of physicians : for the better information of all men , as well as of physicians , chirurgians , and apothecaries , touching the unhappy estate of the art of physick , here in england . it being an apology for the better education of physicians . by adrian huyberts , physician . rode , caper , vitem ; — tamen hinc in tua quod fundi cornua possit , erit . london , printed for the author . 1675. this apology of mine shall be divided into four parts : 1. the occasion of my present persecution . 2. the pretences upon which it is grounded : in the disquisition whereof , i have discovered under how great a mystery of iniquity this art hath hitherto been managed , to the abuse and detriment of the nobility , gentry , and all the people . 3. the manner of the colledges vexatious proceeding to ruine me . 4. an account of my self , as to my education in physick , my practice both here and beyond-sea , and my behaviour towards all english abroad ; especially the friends of his majesty . it is not for the sake of my own particular , that i appear hear in print : for , were not my case the concern of all other practitioners ; and were not the people of england concerned in having the gowns of my adversaries thus strip't over their ears , that they may read and know them naked as they are , and not be abused any longer about matter of medicine : and had not i well understood , that by their present persecution , a most just occasion hath been given me to serve the publick , by being smart and plain in discourse to inform the world , as well as to serve my self , i would have been content to have born all in silence : but conscience of duty hath called me forth . in order therefore to the better understanding of the collegiates quarrel at me , know , that at my first coming into england from my travels , a merchant of quality , being in a deplorable condition , having called divers of the doctors that are best reputed , to his assistance , it was all in vain ; for , after many trials of skill , and useless applications , they gave him over : upon which , i being called to the same patient , did ( by gods blessing ) recover him . at which , some of his former physicians , being angry when they were told it , could not hold ( it seems ) but said , they would rather have had him died , than that i , being none of their society , should have cured him . and for this , with some other of my performances of the same nature , they have waited for an opportunity to fall upon me . i could give many more like instances of time past ; for , i have been very willing to entertain such patients as they had given over to the grave : but i forbear , and may do it upon occasion , if they put me to it . that which moves them to molest me now is , partly to pay old scores of envy , and partly to satisfie the humour of one of their fellow doctors . one would have thought , my house being in the fields betwixt chelsey and kensington , i should have been far enough out of the reach of malice ; but that doctor living not far from charing-cross , having now and then a patient about westminster , and my neighbour-villages , it was my hap to be called among some of them , and ( by gods blessing ) to cure those whom he , and several other of his fellow doctors of the colledge could not . this ( it seems ) was crime enough ; and upon this it was , that he framed a complaint against me at the colledge . when st. peter had cured the lame man , the jews could not deny he had done a good work ; however , it was against their interest to tollerate him , therefore they concluded he should not practise any more , though in the name of jesus , but contrived how to lay hold on him upon some pretences . so those gentlemen , though a great part of my practice be to cure the poor members of jesus freely for his sake , do use me like jews , have been busie with pretences to disturb my practice . to this purpose a council was called ; and a junior doctor of the gang they employed to be their pedee-solicitor , as having a busie humour , and but little else to do ; and so he is condemned to carry the green-bag after the other doctor . the more grave and cunning of the number seem to wash their hands of the business ; but these are the two wights that now wear the name of the colledge in the prosecution at law against me : and yet there is also a tipling committee of juniors of the same society , that have little else to do ; to whom they give account what passes , and from whom they receive also counsel and instructions what next to do , to give trouble to other physicians . secondly , as to their pretences for the commencing of this malicious suit , they are divers . 1. the first is their foundational pretence , viz. a statute supposed to be made in the 14th and 15 year of king henry the 8th . whereby a confirmation is pretended to have been made of a patent before granted by the same king henry , wherein certain persons ( to the number of 6 , or 7 , ) and their successors , were constituted a colledge of physitians , and none but themselves , and such as are approved by them , to be permitted to practice physick in london city , and 7 , miles about . now , for the slighting of this pretence , give me leave , with all reverence to the law of the land , and its learned professors , to produce certain circumstances , whereby it may appear questionable , whether ever any such law , as is pretended , were passed in due form , as a law or statute in england ought to be . one circumstance very material is ; that it doth not appear by any record , that the royal assent was given to it . 't is granted , such a bill was tendred in the parliament in the 14th and 15th year of king henry the 8th and a copy of such a bill is to be seen in the rolls ; which seems to be but a meer copie of somewhat that was set on foot then , but perished in the birth , because neither at top nor bottom of it is to be seen , le roy le veult , the only signature whereby any thing is known to be a law. another circumstance that may induce a man to believe it no statute , is , because the contents or powers contained in it , are such as militate against the very spirit of an english parliament , the great sanctuary of the publick freedom : for , nothing can be more difficult than to believe , that a parliament would concurr to invest any sort of men , with so extravagant powers over their fellow subjects , as are contained in that supposed statute , viz. so sit themselves as a court of judicature , and there to convent any practisers not licensed by themselves , & upon informations without oath , and without a tryal per pares , themselves being the only parties , to take upon them to judge and condemn men ; and this without remedy by appeal to any superiour court in case of injustice , but to suffer penalties both in their purses by fines and amercements , and persons by imprisonments , according to such sentence as they shall please to pass against them ; so that they may be ruined in matter of livelihood , and their bodies rot in jayle , till these their judges and adversaries shall please to set them free . it cannot enter into any english heart to imagine , that our ancestors would entail upon us by law so great a slavery , so manifestly contrary to magna charta and to all the fundamental laws and liberties of the subject . — if it be objected , that the said supposed statute ought to be believed a real one , because it appears to have been in print about a hundred years ago , and hath been since collected into the great book of statutes . let such objector consider , how easie a matter it might be to impose upon a printer a copie of a bill instead of a statute , to be printed among statutes ; especially about matter of physick , whose concerns in those daies were but in few hands , and those but very slender , insomuch that the art it self was poor in improvement , & the professors very inconsiderable persons . and after it had been once printed as a law how easie a matter it was in process of time for the lawyers themselves unawares to accept it , and mr. pulton to reprint it as such without further inquiry , and to hand it as authentick down to posterity : so that t is no marvel at all , that the mistake should run on to such a height at length , as to take it pro confesso , and admit of it for a law in courts of judicature , and give judgment accordingly ; as in the case of dr. bonham recorded by my lord cook , and others . but it is withal to be considered , that in this latter age , the city of london it self encreasing to a vast amplitude , the number of physitians also being exceedingly augmented , and the extravagant insolencies of the collegiates , with their enmity and opposition to the professors of a more excellent way of physick , monstrously encreasing with their pride and covetousness , irritated men to resist their pretended power , and by assistance of the most learned gentlemen of the long robe to enquire into the bottom of it ; which upon divers trials afterward in courts of law was found to be but sandy ; as in the several cases of dr. william trigge , doctor barker , doctor stephen trigge , doctor read , fettiplace , and others ; in whose trials they successively were either overthrown or else non-suited , when great multitudes of people were present , who came thither to testifie what benefits they had received by cure from those men , after they had tried the collegiates and could find none : which being done , they had the satisfaction to hoot them out of the great hall of justice . — before i leave this point , it cannot be amiss to add one passage very remarkable , much to the purpose ; and that was in the daies of the usurper oliver , from whom the colledge-men had gotten such countenance , that they , after the having received several defeats at law in suing of others , took courage notwithstanding to arrest one dr. read , that lived then in moor-fields , and they brought the cause to a hearing in the court of common-pleas , supposing they must needs carry it before the then chief justice st. john , because he having been a creature of olivers seemed most likely to favour a cause that was favoured by his master . and the colledge-party labouring to prove the legality of their patent , the record pretended to justifie it was there produced in court ; and upon view of it , the said chief justice declared openly , he could not admit it as a good record ; for which he gave divers reasons , too copious here to be inserted . i have presumed the rather to give this instance , because whatever st. john was , as to his siding with the rump parliament , yet no lawyer ( i presume ) will deny him to have been an able judge , to understand whether that pretended record were an authentick statute , or no : however , the vast body of the people there present , were so apprehensive it was a cause of general concern , that upon the judges declaring his opinion , they filled guild-hall with acclamations ; and the colledge-pretenders sneak't away , not daring a long time after to venture upon any further disturbance . the consideration of these things is that which gives me courage , to stand up in my own defence at law a single man against the injurious assault of a ●●●●rous combination : and for two things i bless almighty god with all my heart ; the one is , that the rise of their malice hath been , because i did good where they could not ; and the other is , that it is my lot to live in a time , wherein the benches of westminster hall are replenished with judges , such as for reputation of learning , justice , and high affection to the subjects liberty , exceed all times that have gone before . a third circumstance , giving cause to believe it no statute , and that what evidence they insist on to prove a statute , is really but a meer copy of some bill that might in those daies be tendered to the parliament , but not passed , is this : that in the third year of the same kings reign , there was an establishment setled of a certain power by a particular statute to license such persons as were fit for the practice of physick in london and parts about it ; which power was by that statute lodged in the hands of the bishop of london , or the dean of st. pauls , and so , a much better provision made for the government of physick than what is now pretended , forasmuch as they were learned hands in whom the trust was then reposed to judge of fit persons : and certainly those trustees were more fit than the present collegiate pretenders can be , in regard they were not as these are , parties in the profits of the profession . and if any one should object , that bishops and deans , being busied about matters of a more sacred importance , are not like to be fit judges of physical concerns , as men bred up to the faculty may be ; i answer on the behalf of those reverend persons , that they are raised to that dignity for their excellency of learning ; and if men who are to be licensed , do bring them good certificates of their integrity of life , and good success in their practice , which is the surest evidence of a mans learning and knowledge proper for his faculty , ( nay it only is necessary , and other kinds of learning in a physician , but ornamental ) then i suppose the trust is better reposed in consciencious hands of those learned and reverend fathers ; who are more like to deal impartially in approbation , than men of our own profession , who have given the world too great a proof of their appetite of domineering and devouring one another , as well as their brethren , who like not their way nor their society ; having abundant cause to decline them . — and here now ( gentle reader ) if it were proper for me in this place , it were a work worthy of your patience , to let me clear up three particulars : 1. that it is altogether impracticable among physicians , to set up any number of them to be judges of their brethren , because there can be no certain rules ; and if there be no rules fixt to judge by , then those judges are left to be arbitrary , and may reject or oppress whom they please ; but that there can be no rules for this way of judgement which may be grounded upon the faculty it self , is evident by what wise celsus saith in his preface , est enim haec ars coniecturalis ; neque respondet ei plerumque non solum conjectura , sed etiam experientia ; for , this art of ours is but conjectural , & for the most part not only our conjecture , but our former experience also doth fail us in the making of our judgement ▪ and to this concur also all the rest of the old masters of the art , as i might demonstrate in their own expressions . and the reason of it is sufficiently set forth by that great philosopher of this latter age , my lord chancellor bacon , in his book called the advancement of learning ; wherein he sets forth the wonderfull variety , or different propriety of temper that is in mens bodies , which occasioneth a great facility to error ; wherefore the art is to be reckoned among arts conjectural ; and that it must therefore needs be but conjectural , because of the inconstancy and variety of the subject . viz. man's body . and he saith , whereas all other arts and sciences are judged by their power and operation , not by their success or work , only physicians bear away honour or disgrace principally from the event , which is ever an unequal judicature : for , who can tell , if a patient die or recover , whether it be by accident or by art ? so then , there is no necessity from the art it self , why only physicians , and not other men , should be judges . 2. it is utterly impossible , unless men can be found out perfect in the knowledge of all that is knowable in physick , to make any number of them judges over the rest . for , whereas other professions of men are to be bounded , having certain rules to judge by ; as the divine hath the sacred scriptures ; the lawyer certain maxims , statutes and customs , whereby to steer his course ; and so these professions are with reason made incorporations , exclusive of all other men from them : only physick is not alike capable , because the received rules of it are not aeternae veritatis , i. e. not perpetual : so saith the same celsus : so also saith dayly experience , the business of physick being upon perpetual improvement ; and so will be ( the treasures of natural subjects , and the reasons , flowing from every fresh inquiry and discovery , being inexhaustible , and alterable , ) to the end of the world , though all the hands and heads in the world were employed about it . — i my self have lived long enough ( almost forty years acquainted with this art ) to see it by improvement in all points turned topsie-turvie , the old learning belonging to it exploded by scholars themselves , the old education in academies judged incompetent , the places themselves being too narrow to afford much observation or experience , and the manner of life more speculative and notional than mechanick or laborious , which a physitian 's ought to be ; for , all notions of curing not derived from labour and practice , are meer talkative vanities ; and be they dressed never so learnedly and quaint , can only make a formal doctor , not a physician , at best but only the better fit him to be bound prentice to some able practiser in a populous city , that under him he may work out his way , to become indeed a doctor . i have also lived to see divers medicines , which , at the first usage of them in the world , were exclaimed against and condemned by their colledg-men , as noyous and hurtful to the kings subjects , to be now found of so much good use , beyond the remedies of former time , that in a little while they have convinced the obstinate coudemners , and the very same are now printed by themselves in their pharmacopeia for publick use ; and in many difficult , as well as common cases , because but few of the collegiate rulers are acquainted with any other improvements , they rely on them as their great arcanaes and no question but ere 20 , or 40 , years more be past , so great a spirit being now up and at work , for furthrr and further improvement among the working physicians , even those very remedies which are now to be magnified as the greatest , will ere long also be judged far inferior , and give place to others that will be of a more noble attainment . what a mischief then must it needs be , if any number of academian thinkers should successively be translated still to london , and there be setled with power by law , to be arbitrators over other physicians of a more laborious and practical course of studie ; whose coals they are scarce worthy to carry , unless it be to learn under them how to make effectual , safe , and pleasant physick ! on the other side , what a happiness would it be , if the reverend church-men would consider these things , and what authorty hath been intrusted in them only by law , for the approvement of physicians , and the prevention of that tyranny which the more idle and formal speculators of physick , have hitherto exercised over the industrious practical physicians , under pretence of law ; and thereby strangled ( as much as in them lay ) time after time , their worthy endeavours for the advancement of science ! for , it is still to be presumed , the reverend bishops are the only trustees in the law concerning this matter , seeing their statute of the third of henry 8th was never yet so much as doubted of , as this pretended one of the collegiates of the 14th hath been , and in court divers times rejected . besides , it is apparent enough , to any one that considers the whole course of proceeding in parliament ; which is , when they make a law for a new establishing of any thing , alwaies to repeal the former law that had appointed another of a contrary nature . how then can we believe , a parliament could forget it self so far , as to form a law to remove the first power of licensing practisers of physick out of the hands of the clergie , into other hands , and yet the latter supposed law not contain so much as one word of repealing the former ; certainly , 't is more rationall to suppose , that ( whatever hath been pretended ) the parliament did indeed never pass the bill proposed , seeing it would have been a strange thing so to have left physicians at an uncertainty for licensing , as they must needs be if both were statutes in force , and the power divided betwixt the clergie and colledg . if physicians then have a mind to be licensed , their surest way and most unquestionably legall , is to do as i have done long since take a license from the clergie ; by which and my other advantages in law i question not to be abundantly able , to justifie my self self and my practice , against my malicious persecutors . a fourth circumstance that may lead a man to believe it no statute , ariseth by the success of the late grand attempt , which the colledge-men made in the year 1663. when they presented an address unto this parliament now in being , to pass a bill they had prepared , not only for confirmation of the powers contained in their former supposed statute , but for enlargement of them also to such a monstrous magnitude as is almost incredible ; insomuch that the honourable committee , to whom the house of commons had referred the bill , and thereupon to report to the house their opinion , after a full hearing of the counsel that appeared for all parties , both physicians and others , were so well satisfied of the monstrosity of their demands , that they dismissed the colledge-men , re infecta , who retuned home with a flea in their ears and have ever since been wondrous quiet , till of late , upon pretence of i know not what new chimaeraes , they begin again to be troublesome ; yea , i have been informed , that after the committee had had many daies patience , to admit a full scrutiny into the nature of their cause , there appeared on the last day none on the colledge side but two of their own fellows , who had on this occasion acted as sollicitors ; so that one of the lawyers employed by the defendants , had the pleasure to observe , how ill a cause it was , seeing their own lawyers declined to appear any more in the business . so there was an end of it , all being dismissed by the honourable committee . yet the men do boast , and would give the parliament ( as i hear ) new trouble : but 't is possible , others may be beforehand with them there , with reasons to desire a reformation , and to remonstrate the miserable estate , into which physicians , and the art it self , have in all times been reduced , and would be in the future for want of improvement , if those men might have their way of domination . i can here challenge them , and do , in the view of the world , to nominate any one particular of improvement , that their society hath made in the art of curing , since their first incorporation , and i will prove the contrary . as for their pretensions of discoveries in anatomie , if they insist upon them , i am readie to prove , they have done nothing in all their anatomick theatres , which may conduce to better cure ; and no more than what may serve the salta-di-banco's upon a stage , it being the last part they have to play , or trick to shew , to entertain spectators , and amuse the world , to uphold some repute among such as are ignorant ; and draw on customers ; so that it is wonderfull to see how many , even of the nobility , and gentry , as well as the citizens , are taken by this sort of trick , the mock-shews of pretended discovery by anatomy . but how little is to be expected from such actors , that honourable gentleman mr. boyle tells you , in his book of experimental philosophy , where he saith he doth not see wherein by any of those new discoveries , any thing hath been done , to better the cure of diseases . you may take his word : and if the masters of the stage please to justifie themselves , i will in publick , evidence they have done nothing by it worth a straw , beyond what was done by the antients . yet know withal , i reverence so much of anatomie as is necessary : and half a years time spent in it is enough to fit any physician or chirurgian for practice . the new nicities serve for nought but ostentation and discourse . but as for noble medicaments , the rulers and leaders among them , have ( i will make it evident , by almost forty years observation ) made it their business to stifle , or else discredit them , and discourage the practisers or downright abuse and vex them under pretence of law ; though these are the sort of men , to whom the world have in this age been obliged ( as i can by instances make appear ) for the delicacie , easiness , and improvement of medicine . but i would not be too large , to tire the reader ; therefore i proceed . 2. their second pretence of suit against me is , that i am a chymist . this some persons have told me that had it from some of their own mouths . upon this point i answer , that it is my glory to be a chymist ; though among some ignorant of all science ; and others not skilled in this , it is hardly thought of ; and the only reason is this , because the other sort of physicians , and their agents , being either wholly ignorant , or at best but dablers in it , do count it their interest to cry out and clamor against it to fright the weaker persons , lest the experience of its excellency , should detect their own ignorance and insufficiency , and thereby annihilate their reputation and profit among the people . but they may do well to remember , that in the beginning of the year 1665 when some worthy physicians endeavoured , and had countenance from many of the chiefest of the nobility , who gave their approbation to an instrument in writing under their hands , for the erecting of a new society of physicians for the advancement of physick by chymical medicaments and practice , as easiest , safest , and most effectual for cure of his majesties subjects , one of the arts then used by the collegiates , to prevent the setting up of this society , was , immediately to put on a pretence , that they also are chymists , and make and use those remedies as much as any ; and this pretence they sometimes take up when they happen to be conversant among any ingenious persons that are knowing in this art : but on the other hand , if they chance to light into practice among people ignorant of the art , and who also are either religiously , or naturally melancholy , and consequently timerous , suspitious , and apt to entertain their suggestions , then they work on the dark side , secretly whisper and blaspheme this noble way of medicine , as dangerous , and as such that though it cure one disease at present , yet it leaves a root of ill behind , which after long time , if not shortly , springs up into the same or some worse disease , so that by such little arts as these , they and their agents do play on both sides , to uphold a tottering reputation ; which is now almost down , and will be quite ere long ; the eyes of the world being opened every day more and more to discover them , and the mystery of their craft . in this matter know , i do not include all of that society ; but 't is the usual practice of a prevailing party among those few fellows thereof who rule all . and now , seeing i so often mention that society , know that the government of it is not managed by the ablest and the most learned : but by such as grow up in seniority of entrance as fellows , be they wise or unwise . and to shew the world how much a few do affect domination over the vast multitude of their brethren , generally more learned than themselves , be pleased to consider that only the set number of men called fellows , do look upon themselves alone to be the colledge , and all others must truckle under , by the names of candidate , or licentiate . only ( forsooth ) a new project was lately laid for a feather in the cap , by the name of honorary , to be conferred upon some out-liers in town , and new-comers from the universities , that had repute for learning : and this contrivance was made , not out of love to the mens merits , but merely for fear lest these should make a secess to mount aventine , and set up for a popular rebellion , in some free society , against the senate of the colledge . for , the number of physicians flocking to london being very great , it was by them thought meet to train as many of them as they could , into a dependence ( forsooth ) upon the colledge : but how ? not to be fellows or sharers in the reglement of the society ; but as things tack't to , or meer hangers on , pleased with a rattle , and called honorary fellows , which is a title only a little more plausible than the poor word licentiates ; for , their piteous priviledge thereby is no more , than what is enjoyed by meer licenciates ; which is , to have the favor ( in sooth ) of free practice among their worships , but not a bit of interest in the lordship and authority ; that is meat for their masters . when i look over the new list of honoraries , what a shame is it , think i , that men of better learning and repute , should be content to be made mere properties , and no part of the party ! and now what ( i pray you ) shall become of all the rest ? here are still in london , abundance of physicians more ; some broke loose from the non-conforming ministry , others from the universities here , or from beyond-sea , in the habit of doctors : and these ( i hear ) have many of them offered themselves to be herded also in the colledge : but it seems , all their truckling will not do ; the sanctorum must not be made too common , nor the commons be over-stock't , and therefore they , for their pittifull petitions of address , are left to champ upon a denial , and graze among the vulgar . this mystery being opened , 't is time to return where i left ; that is , to tell you what became of the new society of physicians , which , so many of the nobility and prime gentry subscribed unto , as most necessary to be erected in the year 1665. know , that the great plague then befalling this noble city , the design for that time was of necessity laid aside , though most of its members did stay in town , while most of the collegiates ran away , except dr. wharton and three or four of the novices ; to shew how well they deserve henceforth to be called the colledge of physicians of london . before i leave the subject of chymistry , i have only a short word to add in defence of this queen of arts ; which is the mother not only of the noblest physick , but of abundance of other inventions the most useful for mankind ; of which a large catalogue might be given , if it were fit to be more copious . but what i have to say is , if any ill ever happened thereby , it is no otherwise than what is usual by use of the common medicines , when they are prepared by ignorant , careless , or knavish hands ; whereas , remedies well prepared by art chymical , do seem to be as the hands of god reached down from heaven in this latter age , in exceeding mercy to poor man , when his iniquities have so altered the whole scene of diseases , that in every one almost there is a touch of that which hippocrates called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , somewhat that is admirable or extraordinary , which makes them exceedingly different from what they were in the daies of him , or galen ; and indeed , from what they were a hundred years ago , and less ; so that the old art and remedies are insufficient to deal with them . and therefore from hence it is , that the society of apothecaries of london have wisely undertaken and executed a design most laudable , to supply the defect , and answer publick necessity , by erecting a grand laboratory and repository in their publick hall , for chymick medicaments ; to have them there ready made , of all sorts , to prevent fraud in the shops of private operators ( who have been wont heretofore to be ( for the most part ) the only preparers for common sale ) and to answer the prescripts of such physicians as understand the use of them ; who may now be confident of having them good there ( and at one rate or price common to all men ) upon the publick faith and honour of the whole company , rather than from the hand of any private sales-men . and whereas the common mistake of people is , when chymical medicines are named , that thereby are meant only mineral medicines , with the fear of which the malicious idle ignorant physicians have bug-bear'd them often ; know , that though most admirable remedies are made out of minerals ▪ and metalls well prepared , to cure many strange diseases , which other remedies will not , and are as safe for use as milk it self , ( and indeed only safe , because all other , being in such cases insufficient , are for that cause most dangerous ) yet no men do use the parts of animals and plants , and salts , more than the chymists do ; but exceedingly more to the purpose , being chymically prepared ; because by this art they are made to cure abundance of obstinate diseases , which they can never effect , if prepared the galenical way : & for proof of this , i could run over a whole field of instances , if it were not too tedious . but to end this particular , let it suffice to tell you , that 't is the glory of chymistry , to have contributed in a few years , more to manifestation of the vertues of plants , animals , and salts , than all the sectators of aristotle and galen , have done from their times to this day : which is the reason why many chymical practisers do seldom use other , unless there be a necessity . on the other side , 't is observed in the practice of our adversaries , that they are most frequent even when there is no necessity in the use of the common chymical mineral medicaments set down in their pharmacopeia ; which are things of but the lowest form in chymistry , and neglected by knowing men in this age of improvement ; yet used by those our masters , as their ultimum refugium , upon every little puzzle in their practice , and as their grand arcanaes . whereas i remember their predecessors were wont to cry out upon them , and damn all the growing practisers who in those daies durst use them , as dangerous , and enemies to the health of mankind ; though every dayes experience did manifest that they then condemned what they understood not , and that they produced such notable effects in curing , as could not be attained by the old remedies , in the most deplorable diseases . nor have matters gone thus only in london , to the discouragement of all the most usefull laborers in this faculty ; but should i revolve and repeat the history of time past , from the time of paracelsus ; how he was abused by erastus , and by almost all the academian professors throughout germany ; and how tyrannically that sort of men behaved themselves towards him ; and afterwards how they , in most of the universities and great cities of europe , persecuted his very memory , and all such as being enlightned by his labors did follow his way , for discovery of better medicine , down to the year 1603 ; at which time the laborious famous quercetan , and sr. tbeodore de mayerne , were both of them in two several publick sentences of the academian professors , and whole colledge of physicians in paris , printed by their order , condemned , and in positive terms the whole art it self of chymistry , as men not only unworthy to be consulted with by the physicians of that colledge : especially mayerne , declaring him an unlearned , impudent , drunken mad fellow ; exhorting all nations to abominate them both , and banish them and the like practisers , out of their territories as monsters of mankind : and threatning all the fellows of that colledge , that if they consult with either of them about any patient , they shall be deprived of all priviledge belonging to their colledge . which is also at this day one great mystery made use of by our london-collegiates ; whereby they resolve to correspond only with each other , in hope to ingross the trade among themselves ; supposing the name of a colledge must needs carry away the reputation from all other physicians , if they deny ( upon occasion ) to consult with them , because they are none of the colledge . o fine confederacy ! now good people look to your purses . but what i pray you became of quercetan and mayerne after this ? you may read their sentences published at large , in that unanswerable book called medela medicinae ; which was written by dr. marchamont nedham , eleven years ago ; where he tells you , that for all this , the one of those condemned persons became famous in france , the kings chief physician , and lived to see that colledge repent of their folly , and their successors become admirers of those chymical books and remedies which they had so rashly damned . the other , ( viz. mayerne ) became physician to two kings of england , and two of france , and left a name of great wealth and honour behind him . now by these things you may understand , what a wondrous precious thing an all-wise colledge may be in any noble city ; and what advancers of the art of curing , if either damning and suppressing laborious improvers , or the inthroning of arrogance , and such a course of study and sort of learning as is impertinent to physick , can effect it . 3. the third pretence is , because i am not one of or with their colledge . i confess i am not , nor will i ever be , there are good store of the best physians about town that are of the same mind ; and they have their reasons for it , which ( upon occasion ) they will produce : i also have my reasons , part of which may be pickt out of what i have already said . and to accept a license from them , is to acknowledge a power which i am not satisfied they have , or ought to have ; seeing that if ( as i said before ) we revolve the transactions of time past , t is to be found upon record , that such collegiate establishments or corporations of physick , have been the great hinderers of the progress of this art throughout all europe , and still are ; which hath made the most ingenious scholars which are laborers and inquirers , in the universities and capital cities of all the countries where i have travelled , sigh and swell with indignation , to see how their most laudable endeavours are discountenanced , and calumniated by that sort of medicasters , because they out-do , and shame them by diligence ; and , 't is to be lamented there hath been so little hope to see a through reformation in this faculty , both as to the manner of men's education for it , the full freedom of its professors , and the dismantling of those societies ; the natural tendency of whose power hath ever been ( as i can prove in facto ) to tyrannie over their brethren , and monopoly of the art. it may be soberly inquired , in cicero's language , cui bono ? to what end are they continued now , having been erected in the old time of ignorance , when physick and other sciences were at a stand , and all the world brutishly and tamely acquiesced in notions received from the greeks and arabians , and did set up their hercules pillars with a nil ultra ? but hear what that most learned lord bacon said , in the book of advancement of learning . i dare ( saith he ) confidently avouch , that the wisdom we have extracted chiefly from the grecians , is but a childhood of knowledge . and he further saith thus , medicine therefore hath been such hitherto , as hath been more professed than labored , and yet more labored than advanced , seeing the pains bestowed therein hath been , more in circle than in progression ; for , i find much iteration , but small addition in the writers of that faculty . and to the same purpose writes dr. mar. nedham in medela medicinae , in these words , i may safely say , that there hath been more of importance done for the advancement of physick , since my lord bacon wrote his book , than ever was done in the world before : for , in former time , men contented themselves with the little skill that was left them by others , making no progress ; but ran a round in commenting upon the greeks and arabs , as the oracles of physick ; and usually one commentator hath stolen out of another , so that you have but the same dish of crambe new cook't : and if you have but one of the most voluminous you have all . therefore , in the former age , it might be easie enough , the art it self being fixt and staked down to certain points , maxims , or rules , to set down rules also how to judge the professors , and with some colour of reason condemn that for male practise , which answered not to the doctrine of their rulers . but in this age , when the faculty of physick is so vastly diffused , and fresh discoveries of physical preparation , and of doctrine touching the nature of diseases , are daily made , that any sort of practisers should be authorised as judges , to determine who is a good or a bad practiser , when they can have no certain rules to judge them by ; or perhaps they understand not the nature of the medicines used , though they be told of the preparation ; or perhaps they will out of envy or hatred to such physicians , decrie what is more excellent ( as they have done heretofore ) this seems to be against the very reason , interest , and end of government : and therefore without all question , the abolishment of a nipping domination over the growth of the art of physick , in the hands of a few ingrossers in collegiate societies , will in a short time be judged by the princes and estates of europe , to be most necessary ; the exercise of it having hitherto been the great impediment of the progress of medicine . but if things be thus , what then shall be next ? is it fit all should be at liberty ; i answer yes for the present ; but not without government : let such as do amiss answer for it at the laws . a government ought to be : but seeing men , as physicians , for the foregoing reasons , cannot make certain laws or rules whereby to judge one another , the government of this profession ( till the king and parliament be at leisure to reform the matter ) may be left in general to the laws of the land. it seems to be one of the most unreasonable things in the world ; and nothing ( i think ) can be more destructive to the liberty of the subject , or make a man more miserable , than that if he be sick , he should not with freedom use what physician he believes can best cure him , but he must be limited to an accepting of such or such a one , of such a company , or else can have none that he phansies , but the man shall be molested , perhaps undone , for doing the sick service : and all under a supposal of avoiding thereby the use of bad physick among the people . the vanity of which supposal , and the security of mankind thereby , hath already here in part been discover'd , and will be much more before the end of this discourse ; in shewing of how pernicious a consequence it hath been to physick , to inthrone a few physicians to lord it over all the rest . wherefore , if the whole body of physicians here in this city be really the physicians of london , why may they not , being part of the city , be taken hereafter under the city government ? be obliged to take apprentices , such young men as have taken degrees in other arts at some university ; who when they have served their time at work under a city-physician , may then be made a free practiser of london ? such a populous city is the only place ( being a theatre of all diseases ) wherein to breed up men physicians indeed ; such as may practise with real knowledge ; not fill the world with cobwebs of idle speculations and notions , as men of the old way of education are wont to do ; and which may furnish his majesties armies and fleets royal , with physicians , as the society of chirurgerie do with chirurgians ; and be content to submit to a law , that if they run away from the city in the time of plague , or depart without special license of authority , to forfeit their freedom of practise therein any more . this alteration may seem uncouth at the first mention ; but should it be established by publick authority , the consequence would be , that the city would not be so basely deserted in the time of its necessity and few could incurr ( having been thus bred ) any suspicion of ignorance in the art ; which is now made the pretence of a great clamor by the collegiates , against many ingenious men , whose first education in the world was not in this art , but afterwards betook themselves to learn it in the most proper way of learning ; which is by labor , and have soon out-strip't the scholasticks in right knowledge of the materia medica , to the comfort of many thousands of his majesties poor subjects ; many of which have been left by the collegiates , who might else have perisht for want of a purse , to run through the tedious methods and means of that adverse party . but to avoid calumnie because they seek every occasion to sow it , know that in this i plead not on the behalf of any impostors , or real ignorants ; i only point out a way of better education for practice , which may prevent all ignorants , in the future , as far as by the wit of man they may possibly be prevented in this profession . in the mean time , till this which i here humbly mention , or some better establishment be thought of by others more able , it would be happy for the art , if certificates of a physician 's having lived in good reputation for his manners and practice , may be accepted as a sufficient evidence of his ability , and fitness to be licensed ; either by the reverend clergie , according as is directed in the first statute of the 3d year of henry 8th ( which never was yet repealed ) or else by some other persons not physicians , as by authority shall be thought meet . ratione legis cessante cessat ipsa lex . if in former time , a king and his parliament had reason to enact such a statute ( the very being of which , as a statute , hath yet been a question among some eminent lawyers ) nevertheless the condition of the very art , and all the affairs of physick , being so altered ( as is before declared ) and so many reasons lying now against the continuation , it is not in the least doubted by the ingenious and laborious improvers of medicine ; that when the same authority shall be rightly inform'd of these things , in a full and clear remonstrance , which may be presented to them , they will see reason abundant for the repealing of that statute of the 14th of henry the 8th ( if it be one ) and enact such a form of government , as may conduce to the improvement of the art , and the general comfort of the people . 4. their fourth pretence of suit against me is , that i have refused to leave off practising as a doctor . there is such adoe about this feather in the cap call'd doctor of physick , that i often wish it might be despised by the people . if they knew so well as i do , of how slight esteem it is beyond sea , and how easie to be gained , so many would not dote as they have done , upon many that run loose from being schoolmasters , or preachers , in england , to be made doctors at leyden , and the like places beyond-sea ; and by reading a few books and prating , intrude into a calling , which is not to be acquired but by years of labour , and studie of experimental , not school-philosophy . such talking book-doctors the world is too full of , and too many of them have crept in from time to time , to be principal fellows of the colledge here ( of whose names you may ere long have a catalogue ; ) to which they have been , and are admitted upon producing a diploma ; which is a parchment and publick seal of some forein university , and the answering of a few questions about doctrine and method ; and because leyden in holland hath been a fruitful mother of such english brats , ( too many of which are now dominering among us ) they are by our own university-men in scorn called leaden doctors : but the fittest name for all physicians , that thus slightly by the book enter upon the stage of the world , from our own or forein universities , to practice , is the due word of distinction , book-doctors . for , it is galen's own expression [ duobus cruribus innitimur ; quotidiana inspectione , & experientia , &c. ] we physitians ( saith he ) do stand upon two legs , viz. daily inspection and experience : but of the book-practitioners he saith , they are like those that take upon them [ ex libro navigare ] to saile by the book : and so both passengers and patients are in a ●●…ke condition of safety . i have declared the ●●king this degree for very good reasons ; i might have had it in holland when i would ; but because the way of distributing degrees is grown so corrupt , ( and as it is managed in universities ) serves but to impose upon mankind rather than secure them of a benefit by it , i did decline it ; reckoning it more honest , to rest upon a knowledge and conscience of my own sufficiency in physick to advance me , rather than to cloth my self with an empty title ; and so by my example , approve a corrupt course of formality which ought to be despised , seeing 't is made a mere matter of course , equally open to any per courtesie , or per-penny be they sufficient for it or no. what sad souls have i seen too often passed among the best universities , unto this degree of physick ! wine , venison , and pence , have been a customary passport to the old words of institution , abunde satisfecisti , egregie domine doctor . i have been in an university abroad , where i will for ten pounds , procure any novice that can but frame , or get a friend to frame for him , a thesis to read , and act some other slight forms of exercise in the publick place , to be made a doctor ; and this is the place that too many of our people run to , yea more , if any one will but send the money , no matter who he be , nor where ; for , though the professor ▪ who gives the degree never see his face , he shall with grant of a private diploma , be dubb'd a doctor . of so little esteem is it among foreigners ; and ought to be in all the world , till mankind can have better security of physick thereby : which can never be had but by breeding up youth , ( as i before said ) in the liberal arts first in some university ( which is but the ornamental part ; ) and afterwards to be bound apprentices ( for ▪ our art it self , and the philosophie proper to it , ariseth , and is improved , only by mechanick operation ) under a free-man practicant of this city , in order to the becoming free for practice here . the passing of such a formality as this , or the like , men can seldom be deceived by ; and it is the most probable means to make able doctors , and to prevent the miserable scandalous inconveniencies of the other corrupt formality , whereby the world ( like the dog in the fable ) is too frequently mistaken with the shadow , instead of the substance . thus having done with their pretences , i now pass on to the third point of this apology ; which is , the manner of their vexatious proceeding at law to oppress me ; wherein i shall be very brief . i am , and would have been a man of peace , but by no means could obtain it : for , after they had arrested me by writ , and carried on the suit against me in the king's bench , i made application to them by my self and friends : serjeant wiseman ( his majesties chief chirurgian ) having well known me many years , very courteously went with me to the president of the colledge ; who at first promised very fair , but when i went alone to him the second time , to know what i might expect , he told me , they had many weeds in their garden ▪ and they must take a course to root them out : which was all the answer i could get ; so i troubled him no more . and as for the countesse's doctor ( my great prosecutor ) he sent me word by a person of quality , that if i would lay down my practice , they would lay aside their quarrel in law ; but upon no other terms : whereupon , i provided to defend my self , the suit going on . and they having given my atturney a declaration against me , i prepared to put in my exceptions : and then on a sudden ( upon i know not what by-design ) they let fall their action in that court , and arrested me , this last vacation , upon another action in the court of marshalsey , where a new charge of expences was brought upon me , with great loss besides of my time and practice , through perpetual attendance upon the suit , till i had brought the cause on to be ready for a trial there : and truly , it had been then tried , had i not been advised by able counsel , not to suffer so important a cause to be tried in a petty court , but to remove it back by habeas corpus into the king's bench again as the more noble place ; which i have done , and there i expect a trial this michaelmas-term : which brings another great expence upon me , and loss of time ; it being the great artifice of the colledgemen , by tumbling me from court to court , to tire out and ruine me , and terrifie all others , if they can . now being come to the fourth and last point of my discourse , i humbly crave leave to wind up all , with a short account of my own education and practice . they say i am an apothecary ; 't is well 't is no worse ; and it had been well for their worships , if they had at first been bred so too ; for so , the apothecaries had not been put to it , to acquaint them with the materia medica and the way of practice ( as they are wont to doe ) at their coming to town . i did indeed begin , as they ought to have done ; that is , learn to operate medicine : i was called from trinity colledge nigh dublin in ireland ( where i had sometime been bred ) to live with the ablest apothecary there , his name jacob rickmans ; i serv●d him seven years , and became a free-man of dublin . the ablest physicians that ever i met with abroad , were first bred apothecaries , or chymists , or both , after they had qualified themselves with university-learning in other arts and sciences : for , other nations do think it as necessary for a practicioner of physick to be first bred in both those working employments , as it is for him that intends to read , first to learn his letters . after i had been thus initiated in the university and afterward in learning the skill to prepare and compound medicine , my inclination next led me to travel , to see what i could learn abroad . from ireland i took england in my way ; and after some time spent here , i passed into holland ; and from thence into germanie , france , and many parts of spain , to try in those countries what improvement might be made in physick : and at length i returning into holland , there took up my rest . it is about 26 years since i cured in roterdam some that now belong to the london colledg , who at this time do live in london . about the same time i lodged others of them in my house , lent them my money , left my whole employment for eight days together to shew them the countrey at my own charge , lodged some in my own bed. for which i have been invited with fair words , and by letters to receive a recompence ; but in the present dealing of that society behold my reward . i have been told since by the chiefest of them , that no place would permit me to practise as i do : and the malignity of spirit is risen so high among them , that i am sued , terrified , threatned banishment from my place of practice ; my very house and laboratory designed to strangers ( if a man may believe some of their own talkers ; ) and all to fright me away for ireland , whither they say i am going . t is true , that i have been invited to go thither , to reside at dublin , by two of the aldermen of that city , with large promises ; and the like invitations i have had from holland , to return thither : but my resolution is to abide where i now dwell , unless the collegiates drive me into london for shelter : for , one where or other i will be within the scent of them , and invite such sick as they leave off for incurable , if they can find in their hearts to send them to me ; and i hope they will believe 't is as possible for me , as for an old woman , to cure such as they too often have sentenced to death , for want of sufficient medicins . wheresoever i shall be , in city , or out , my house shall be open ( as it now is ) to receive all poor diseased ones , and to furnish them freely with easie effectual medicines , when they must not come nigh the gates of my all-wise adversaries . they have ( i hear ) lately proposed to the company of apothecaries this delicate tender , for the cure forsooth of the poor ; that some few of their fellows shall attend at set-hours monthly at their colledge , to give bills of direction to the poor sick : but upon what terms i pray you ? truly , 't is with a most gracious bountiful proviso ; provided that the apothecaries will give gratis such medicines as they shall prescribe . wonderful charity at other mens cost ! they will be so noble , as to find brains , pen , ink , and paper : somewhat they think they must seem to do , for mere shame ; because the poor , and the middle sort of citizens have ( for the most part ) renounced ▪ them as too tedious to their purses , and in their prescripts , therefore are glad to flock for help to others : but t is pleasant to think of the worthy project , that the poor ' pothecary is to pay for all . but , by your leave ( says he ) two words to a bargain ; and so there is like to be no more news of this fair proposal , when men have done laughing at it . by this i perceive , there is no danger that they will draw away my poorer customers from me ; for whose relief i have prepared effectual remedies , such as will according to the mind of hippocrates , cure citò , tutò , & jucunde ; and fitted a method of my own , answerable to their vertues , having spent 38. years in laborious pains and travels , to gain experience and knowledge in physick above the common sort ; i have look't into the practice of the best physicians , and artists of divers nations , and compared them with one another , and their opinions touching the nature of their medicines , their manner of using them , the operation of them , and their doctrines about diseases . i hope then , it will not be thought i practise without a method ; which though it be not the same that the more common collegiates , and the mere academians do dote upon , yet 't is much more direct and plain to the purpose ; and with it my remedies are such as my self and my patients may depend upon . and besides the general extent of many of them , i have other medicines which are appropriated to particular distempers . as for example , i have cured desperate quartans , some of a twelve months continuance : but generally , in all agues , i cure the fits in a few daies : quotidian fits i commonly take away with one dose ; tertian two doses , and quartan with three : which is not done by chance , the medicine being such as is particularly appropriate to an ague quatenus ague : it is a coelestial liquor ( if i may so call it ) suited to all palates and constitutions , and to be used at any time of the year ; and will for performance challenge a whole regiment of pots and glasses . i would not be counted a fool in boasting ; for , it is not my natural temper : but oppression compells me thus to play the fool , if in my case it be a folly ; for , i have reason to speak out ▪ that those of his majesties friends who once were with him in exile , may testifie who i am , and what services i did them beyond-sea in their sicknesses ; and i know they will , touching their own cases , make a just report . i could wish that most noble lady the countess of chesterfield were alive , to make up the number in testifying on my behalf , how many of her friend ▪ i cured while she was called my lady stanhope , at the hague , in the prince of orange's court. colonel bampfield is yet living , who after he had conveyed away his highness the duke of york from st. jame's , out of his enemies hands into holland , the next year fell into a violent fever ; and when his physicians despaired of his recovery , that lady sent to me then at roterdam to hasten to her : when i came into the colonels chamber , doctor romp● was there ; and after we had discoursed together about the patient , he appeared a man of another spirit than our collegiates ▪ and said , i commit the colonel to your care ; and do you know , that incurring him , you will not only oblige me , but the whole court. — about that time , i cured sr. francis mack-worth of miserable pains ; about the cure of which he said , he had before spent much money in trying what he could in england , france , and holland , and had met with no ease ; but it pleased god to inable me to cure him in three weeks . a gentleman who was then sr. francis his lieutenant , is now captain to one of his majesties foot-companies ; his name is captain read , and he liveth at this time in pel-mel . i could instance in a hundred more : but i ought to be no more copious than needs must in my own particular ; therefore i draw now towards an end . only let me give this short word more ; that in the year 1669. before my return to england , though i depised degrees in physick ; for the reasons that i have told you , i was however willing to be declared medicus in vtrecht , by dr. dimermeere , the states professor in that university i was so admitted ; and being shortly after returned into england , i was advised to desire a license and practicandum from his grace l. arch-bishop of canterbury ; under whose protection it hath been my happiness to practise , and do the like services for several of his majesties and the duke of york's servants here at white-hall and st. jame's , as i did heretofore beyond sea. and now must my hands , after all this , be bound up from doing good ? it were a strange reward for all my labours . nevertheless , my enemies go on ; and to dress me up fit to be made their martyr , they have been busie in representing me in the form of some strange creature , by slanders touching me and my qualifications : and among other particulars , it hath been reported up and down that i am a papist : but if to profess and practise the contrary in forein parts and in my parish , of kensington , in which i received the holy sacrament , be a sign of such a one , and cannot acquit me from the imputation , then they may go on with the report . but methinks , they of all men , should be afraid to seek to weaken my cause at law , by branding me as a papist : for as 't is true , that the statute of the 3d. of k. james do's lay a severe penalty upon any papist , who shall presume to practise physick in england : so 't is a shamefull thing and most incongruous , for these collegiates to make use of that statute , in disparagement of me ( and i hope authority will take notice of it ) when 't is known themselves have contrary to that law , entitled divers members and licentiates of their colledg that are noted papists ; and others also that are talked on as dangerously suspected , and may perhaps in time be convicted : that the world may be convinced how well in this particular also they deserve ; and how convenient a thing it is , to suffer such men to enjoy an authority by a law , who in the use of it are so bold , as to violate the laws and act against them . turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum . so i humbly commend them and their monopolie , and this my apologie , to be laid to heart by all the nation . finis . the poor mans physician the true art of medicine as it is prepared and administred for the healing of all diseases incident to mankind, by thomas o dowde esq; one of the grooms of the chamber to his sacred majesty king charles the second. o'dowde, thomas. 1664 approx. 14 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a53204 wing o139ca estc r218541 99830123 99830123 34573 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a53204) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 34573) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1872:28) the poor mans physician the true art of medicine as it is prepared and administred for the healing of all diseases incident to mankind, by thomas o dowde esq; one of the grooms of the chamber to his sacred majesty king charles the second. o'dowde, thomas. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [london : 1664] imprint from wing. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create 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elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2007-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-02 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-07 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2008-07 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the poor mans physician the true art of medicine as it is prepared and administred for the healing of all diseases incident to mankind , by thomas o dowde esq ; one of the grooms of the chamber to his sacred majesty king charles the second . before i give an account of many persons of quality by me cured of most desperate diseases , i shall give the world a particular satisfaction in the present method of cure of mistress elizabeth frind , the daughter of mistress alice frind , of little warley in the county of essex aged 13 years , and under a violent falling sickness seven times a day . munday , march 14.1663 . 12 vomits , 3 stools , and had that night onely two fits , neither of them lasting two minutes . thursday , mrach 17. 10 vomits , stools 4. sunday , march 20. 8 vomits , stools 10. wednesday , march 23.9 , vomits , stools 8 , saturday march 26. 7 , vomits , stools 4. tuesday march 29. 11 vomits , stools 7. being all a choler of the highest tincture and large quantity ; saturday april 2.7 vomits stools 6 , after the operation of the medicine the patient standing carelesly in a wet room without either shoes or slippers , caused a flatulent vapour to arise which occasion'd 2 fits the day following , but not so violent as the former , to correct which , monday , april 4.7 vomits . thursday april 7.11 vomits sunday april 10.17 vomits . stools 7 , and an extraordinary sweat , occasioned by adding one fourth part of the medicine more . thursday april 14.9 vomits , stools 8. munday april 18.8 vomits , and not in the least sick . friday april 22.8 vomits stools 3 , the patient by accident drinking 6 spoonfulls of milk , after the operation of her physick the friday before , the tartarus matter being in agitation , did coagulate the milk and from that mov'd to a symptome of a fit , but onely as a qualm lasting one minute , which occasion'd my immediate giving her some phisick which at the third vomit brought up the coagulated milk in 3 several knots almost to a suffocation , and occasioned her immediately to cry ( the vomit being past ) that her stomach was as well and light , as ever it had been in all her life , and at a eleven a clock came down stairs eat her breakfast and after her dinner , and eat at other times that day as chearfully as ever she did , and from this course of physick ( yet to be continued ) she grows fat and chearfull to the admiration of all her friends and acquaintance , and many eminent persons from the court and others do daily see her , from the 25th the putrefactive matter as green as grasse , and grosser then the white of an egge . — gircum the grand-child of mrs. brown at the blew-boar in high-holborne aged 18 years or thereabouts under a violent falling-sickness , 7 years falling 10 17 and never lesse then 4 times in 24 hours , and three persons usually to supress the violence of his convulse , cured by me in six dayes of medicine according to the former method , about 10 or a 11 months agoe free from all symptomes of that disease , and all others , and clearly alter'd for the better in the whole figure of his body . my dearest friend col. robert werden of the bed-chamber to his royal highness cur'd of the gout , general obstructions , and a twenty years continual cramp in 24 hours . the lady freeman wife to sr. george freeman , cur'd in 2 days of medicine of the scurvy , dropsy , & gout , in one knee , she being at that time with child . my loving friend mr. william payn cur'd of the gout in 24 hours , and went abroad the day following , who usually lay by it a moneth . mr. adams a brewer in st thomas apostles , southwark , cur'd of the gout in 2 days of medicine , and many others of that disease . sr. john denham knight of the bath , his majesties surveyour general for his buildings under the great affliction of the convulse and gout , freed by me from the first ( after the tryal ) of many eminent persons , and much abated in the second in three days of medicine , and might have been perfectly cur'd long agoe , if he had pleased . sr. george freeman kt. of the bath , son of sr. ralph freeman the most remarkable patient of england , sixteen years under the great affliction of active pains from head to foot , convulsion , tumour of his side , obstruction of his lungs , &c. in all that time in constant physick under several eminent persons to his great expence and hundred times wishing himself dead , as not onely by his verball relation , but by his letters appeard cur'd in ten days to great admiration . madam katherine needham daughter of the late lord kilmurry under a tympany of 7 years continuance , and for 3 weeks of every month in a dying condition by reason of violent obstructions , the first day of medicine sunk not onely one handful , but likewise freed from 150 hard kernells on her belly which the phisick from others could never reach , and in halfe the course of her cure , often declared her self to be so miraculously well as not desiring to be better , and is now well , living in cheshire . mrs. elizabeth booth , daughter of sr. john booth , cur'd in 6 hours of a surfet . henry clerk , servant to the late lady byron cur'd of a violent feavour , unable through extremity of pain to rise out of bed or open his eyes in 6 hours . — dively , servant to the same lady . under a violent pestilential feavour , lunacy & weakness & given over as dead , perfectly cur'd in 24 hours a peice . mr. henry brunk●●d of the bedchamber to his royal highness cur'd of obstructions of the stomach and violent pains in 24 hours . captain randall moulton and man 〈◊〉 persons of southwark cur'd of obstructions , fevers , agues , lunacies , &c , according as there several distempers were in 24 hours . mr. charles arth● 〈◊〉 ●am●●● house in r●t●orife , himself , wife and 4 children , cur'd of agues and violent fevers with lunacies in 24 hours a peice when some off the 〈◊〉 ●ere given over as dead , the wife of one becket a o●diner in the foresaid place troubled with great obstructions of her stomach , and violent pain 〈◊〉 head , to the extremity of running her head against the wall perfectly cur'd in 24 hours , and so continues . anne nichols the wife of john nichols soap-boiler , in glene-alley in s. t●oly's street in southwark , poisoned by an ill prepared medicine taken from i know not whom , ●●der so great a salivation , six moneths continuing in that distemper , so much passing from her every night as would wet a sheet ; as she relates her jaw 〈◊〉 , her mouth ulcerated , her face swoln , troubled with intolerable pains and thousands of worms , in that great quantity daily passing from her stom●●●● almost to a suffocation , daily wishing her self in hergrave , after the experiment of some eminent men and highest trials of art , in the hospital of s. thomas in southwark , where her teeth were forc't open by an instrument , and a gold ring being by her self put into her mouth to procure ease , was ●●●isibly consum'd within 48 hours , by the virulency of the poison , and of all this cur'd in 48 hours being 2 days of medicine , and the very poison brought out by the distinction of her pallat . mr. haugh-ton in crown court over against st. clements , troubled with a dropsy , his members swoln as 〈◊〉 as a childs head of 2 years old , and other parts proportionably , cur'd in 6 days , and still continues well , the cure being many months since . george mors of rose and crown court in grayes-inn-lane troubled with a violent dropsie , not making water in 3 weeks and 4 days , but as drops from a qui●● and given over as incurable by some eminent artists , cur'd in five days , and is at present as well as any man , and as many others of these distempers . mr. lewis at the dolphine near the gate-house , in westminster 9 months under a violent scurvy and dropsie , and had been the patient of several eminent artists of this city , and by them left as a dying man , insensible in hands , arms , leggs and feet , breast and belly having received the rights of the church was desir'd to send for me , and cur'd in ten days , and is at this present in perfect health , and restored to the perfect use of all the aforesaid members . mr. thomas a cheese-monger , at broken crosse in westminster ; and mr. morton at the fox near the new chappel at westminster both of a deep consumption and cough , the first cur'd in 4 days of physick , the second i leave to the satisfaction of enquiry as being most remarkable . the wife of the aforesaid mr. thomas under great obstructions and weakness in knees and leggs , cur'd in six hours , and at that time some months gone with child , and will i am confident have a fairer child and better delivery then in all her life . mr. john redding in so deep a consumption and cough , that i refused to give him medicine till prevailed on by the importunity of his sister mistress mills in ●●own court next door to my house , cured in two days of medicine and continues well , he was cur'd about 4 moneths agoe . mistress shue the wife of mr. shue a strong-waterman near the kings bench in southwarke , under a violent surfet , bloudy flux and griping of the guts , going to sto●● 14 , 15 , or 16 times in an hour for 6 days , and having been in the hands of others , was cured by me in 5 days , being 2 days of medicine . my honoured friend justice peck of westminster , and his lady cured of their several distempers , and one of his grand-children of the yellow jandies in one day 〈◊〉 for my cure of an ulcerated leg and remains of mercury after many moneths affliction to the patient , i leave to the judgement of the physician 〈◊〉 patient the parties have been . mr. john powell , an ingenuous chyrurgion near m. shelberies an apothycary in the strand under a violent ague six years , with some intermissions , yet so weak and low , having tried all means , was cured , and the moving cause carried off in 24 hours , many moneths sin● 〈◊〉 mr. cerby a carpenter living in loins-alley in bishopsgate-street , the most afflicted patient i ever met , from the remains of a two years ague , lying 〈◊〉 a ditch in finesbury-fields weary of his life , providence sending me that way , i gave him medicine next day and perfectly cured him in 24 hours 〈◊〉 miracle and is well to this day , he was cured many mone ths since . these cures an● many hundred more in this city , together with my constant practise in darby-shire for four years and a half , being considered by all rationall and un●yassed men may make it appear a modest proposition for a chymist ( who hath been a sufferer to misery and ruine in the late war for the king to 〈◊〉 in the sight of all the world without ostentation or vanity to make triall of 〈◊〉 skill with the most considerable of the galenist party in the most de●●●ate diseases prosessing that i would rather at any time have such patients on whom they have experimented , then such as never took medicine an● 〈◊〉 let the world see that this is not done for lucre of money , i never did nor never will turn my back up on the poorest patients though many hundreds in a year , but in charity have as tender a care of them , as of the wealthiest persons , and will when i shall be required administer in their common hospitals to their most desperate patients if curable by the art of medicine , without regard to the dictory or other usual impositions , and will likewise undertake to cure the plague in six hours . and to conclude though all my medicines be as safe as the most harmless milke i doe declare in the pres●●●● of the alseeing god , that i never administer to any person but with an aking heart and trembling hand , from an awfull reverence to the great treator of all things , who is pleased to intrust me the lowest of his servants , with so great secrets faithfully extracted from the meanest of his creature● whose blessings on all my endevours i shall ever beg . from my labaratory over against st. clements church in the strand . licensed , 〈◊〉 28 , 1664 . roger l'estrange . of the sympathetick powder a discourse in a solemn assembly at montpellier / made in french by sir kenelm digby, knight, 1657. discours fait en une célèbre assemblée, touchant la guérison des playes par la poudre de sympathie. english digby, kenelm, sir, 1603-1665. 1669 approx. 145 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a35986 wing d1446 estc r20320 11844477 ocm 11844477 49807 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a35986) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 49807) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 26:1) of the sympathetick powder a discourse in a solemn assembly at montpellier / made in french by sir kenelm digby, knight, 1657. discours fait en une célèbre assemblée, touchant la guérison des playes par la poudre de sympathie. english digby, kenelm, sir, 1603-1665. [145]-205 p. printed for john vvilliams, london : 1669. translation of: discours fait en une célèbre assemblée, touchant la guérison des playes par la poudre de sympathie. filmed from his of bodies and of mans soul, v. 2. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. wounds and injuries -treatment -early works to 1800. 2002-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-01 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2003-01 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion of the sympathetick powder . a discourse in a solemn assembly at montpellier . made , in french , by sir kenelm digby , knight 1657. london , printed for iohn vvilliams , 1669. a discourse of the cure of wounds , by the powder of sympathy . my lords , i believe you will remain all in one mind with me , that , to penetrate and know a subject , 't is necessary , in th● first place , to shew whether the thing be such , as it is s●pp●sed or imagined to be : for would not one unprofitably lose both his time and labour , to busie himself in the re-sea●ch of the causes , of that which peradventure is but a chim●ra , with-any foundation of truth ? i remember to have read a place in plut●rch , where he proposeth this question , why those horses , who , while they are colts , have been pursued by the wolf and saved themselv● by force of runing , are more fleet than other h●r●es ? wherto he answers , that it may be the scaring and aff●●ghtment , which the wolf gives the young beast , makes h●m try his utmost strength , to del●ver himself from the danger that follows him at the heels : therfore , the said fright , as it were , unknits his joy●ts , and stretches his sinews , and makes the ligaments and other parts of his body the more supple to run ; insomuch , that he resents it all his life afterwards , and becomes a good courser . or , perhaps , says he , those colts , which are naturally swift , save themselvs by flying away ; wheras others , who are not so , are overtaken by the wolf , and so become his prey : and so , it is not because they have escaped the wolf , that they are the more fleet , but it is their natura● swiftness that saves them . he affords also other reasons ; and at last concludes , that it may be the thing is not true . i find it not so fit ( my lords ) to reply hereto at a table d●scourse : where the chief design of conversation is to pass away the time gently and pleasantly ; without medling with the severity of high fetcht reasons , to wind up the spirits , and make them more attentive . but , in so renowned an assembly as this , where there are such judicious persons and so profoundly learned , and who , upon this rancounter , expect from me , that i pay them in solid reasons ; i should be very sorry , that , having done my uttermost to make it clear , how the powder , ( which they commonly call the powder of sympathy ) doth , naturally and without any magick , cure wounds without touching them , yea , without seeing of the patient : i say , i should be very sorry , that it should be doubted , whether such a cure may effectually be perform'd or no. in matter of fact , the determination of the existence and truth of a thing depends on the report which our senses make us . this business is of that nature ; wherin , they , who have seen the effects and had experience therof , and have been careful to examine all necessary circumstances , and satisfied themselves afterwards that there is no imposture in the thing , nothing doubt but that it is real and true ; and , they , who have not seen such experiences , ought to refer themselvs to narrations and authority of such as have . i could produce divers wherof i was an ocular witness ; nay , quorum p●rs m●gna fui : but as a certain and eminent example in the affirmative is convincing , to determine the possibility and truth of a matter in doubt ; i shall content my self ( because i would not trespass too much upon your patience at this time ) to instance in one only . but , it shall be one of the clearest , the most perspicuous , and the most averred that can be ; not only for the remarkable circumstances therof , but also for the hands ( which were above the vulgar ) through which the whole business passed . for , the cure of a very sore hurt was perfected by this powder of sympathy , upon a person illustrious , as well for his many perfection● , as for his several employments . all the circumstances were examined and sounded to the bottom , by one of the greatest and most knowing k●ngs of of his time , viz. king iames of england ; who had a particular talent and marvailous sagacity , to discusse natural things , and penetrate them to the very marrow : as also by his son , the late king charles , and the duke of buckingham , their prime minister . and , in fine , all was registred among the observations of the great chancelor , bacon , to add , by way of appendix , to his natural history . and i believe , when you shall have understood this history , you will not accuse me of vanity , if i attribute to my self the introducing this way of cure , into this quarter of the world. mr. iames howel , ( well known in france , for his publick works ; and particularly , for his dendrologia , translated into french by monsier baud●uin ) coming by , by chance , as two of his best friends were fighting in d●el , did his endeavour to part them ; and , putting himself between them , seiz'd with his left ●and upon the hilt of one of the comb●●ants , while with his right he laid hold of the blade of the other . they , being transported with fury one against the other , strugled to rid themselvs of the hindrance their friend made , that they should not kill one another : and one of them , roughly drawing the blade of his sword , cut , to the very bone , the nervs and mus●les of mr. howe●'s ●and : and then the other , di●ingaging his h●lt , gave a cross blow on his adversaries head , which glanced towards his friend ; who , heaving up his hand to save the blow , was wounded on the back of his hand , as he had been before within . it seems some st●ange con●●ellation reign'd then against him , that he sho●ld lo●● so much blood by parting two such dear friends , who , had they been themselvs , would have h●z●rded both their lives to have preserved his : b●t , this unvoluntary effusion of blood by them , prevented that which they should have drawn one from the other . for they , seeing mr. howel's face besmear'd with blood by heaving up his wounded hand , both ran to embrace him : and having sea●ch'd his hurts , they bound up his hand with one of his garters , to close the veins which were cut and bled abundantly . they brought him home , and sent for a chyrurgeon : but this being heard at court , the king sent one of his own chyrurgeons ; for his majesty much ●ffected the said m ● . howel . it was my chance to be lodged hard by him ; and , four or five dayes after , as i was making my self ready , he came to my house , and pray'd me to view his wounds , : for i understand , said he , that you have extraordinary remedies upon such occasions ; and my chyrurgeons apprehend some fear , that it may grow to a gangrene , and so the hand must be cut off . in effect , his countenance discover'd that he was in much pain ; which , he said , was insupportable , in regard of the extream inflammation . i told him that i would willingly serve him : but if , haply , he knew the manner how i would cure him , without touching or seeing him , it may be he would not expose himself to my manner of curing ; because he would think it , peradventure , either ineffectual or superstitious . he reply'd , the wonderful things which many have related to me , of your way of medicament , makes me nothing doubt of its efficacy ; and all that i have to say to you is comprehended in the spanish proverb , hagase el milagro , y hagalo , mahoma , let the miracle be done , though mahomet do it . i ask'd him , then , for any thing that had the blood upon it ; so he presently sent for his garter , wherewith his hand was first bound : and as i call'd for a bason of water , as if i would wash my hands ; i took a handful of powder of vitriol , which i had in my study , and presently dissolv'd it . as soon as the bloody garter was brought me , i put it in the bason , observing the while what mr. howel did ; who stood talking with a gentleman in a corner of my chamber , not regarding at all what i was doing : but he started suddenly , as if he had found some strange alteration in himself . i ask'd him what he ail'd ? i know not what ails me , said he , but i find , that i feel no more pain : me-thinks , a pleasing kind of freshness , as it were a wet cold napkin spread it self over my hand ; which hath taken away the inflammation that tormented me before . i reply'd , since then you feel already so good an effect of my medicament , i advise you to cast away all your plaisters ; only keep the wound clean , and in a moderate temper 'twixt heat and cold . after dinner i took the garter out of the water , and put it to dry before a great fire . it was scarce dry , but mr. howel's servant came running , to tell me that his master felt as much burning as ever he had done , if no● more ; for the heat was such , as if his hand were betwixt coales of fire . i an●wer'd , that although that had hapned at present , yet he should find ease in a short time ; for i knew the reason of this new accident , and i would provide accordingly , so that his master should be free from that inflammation , it may be , before he could possibly return unto him : but , in case he found no ease , i wish'd him to come presently back again ; if not , he might forbear coming . away he went ; and at the instant i put again the garter into the water ; therupon , he found his master without any pain at all . to be brief , there was no sense of pain afterward ; but , within five or six days the wounds were cicatriced , and entirely healed . king iames required a punctual information of what had passed , touching this cure : and after it was done , and perfected , his majesty would needs know of me how it was done , having droll'd with me first ( which , he could do with a very good grace ) about a magician and a sorcerer . i answer'd , that i should be always ready to perform what his majesty should command ; but i most humbly desired him before i should passe further , that i might tell him what the au●hour , of whom i had the secret , said to the great duke of toscany , upon the like occasion . it was a religious carmel●te , that came from the indies and persia to florence , he had also been at china ; who , having done many marvellous cures with this powder , after his arrival to toscany , the duke said , he would be very glad to learn it of him . it was the father of the great duke , who governs now . the carmelite answer'd him , that it was a secret which he had learnt in the oriental parts , and he thought there was not any , who knew it in europe but himself ; and that it deserv'd not to be divulged ; which could not be hindred , if his highness would meddle with the practice of it , because he was not likely to do it with his own hands ; but must trust a surgeon , or some other servant ; so that , in a short time divers other would come to know it , as well as himself . but , a few months after , i had opportunity to do an important courtesie to the said ●ryar ; which induced him to discover unto me his secret : and the same year he return'd to persia ; that now there is no other knows this secret in europe , but my self . the king replied , that i needed not apprehend any fear that 〈◊〉 would discover it ; for he would not trust any body in the world to make experience of this secret , but do it with his own hands : therfore he would have some of the powder● which i deliver'd , instructing him in all the circumstances . wherupon his majesty made sundry proofs ; whence he reciv'd singular satisfaction . in the int●rim , dr. mayerne , his first physician , watch'd to discover what was done by this secret : and at last he came to know , that the king made use of vitriol . afterwards he accosted me , saying , he durst not demand of me my secret , because i made some difficulty to discover it to the king himself : but , having learnt with what matter it was to be done , he hoped i would communicate to him all the circumstances , how it is to be used . i answer'd him , that if he had asked me before , i i would frankly have told him all ; for , in his hands , there was no fear that such a secret should be prostituted : and so i told him all . a little after the doctor went into france , to see some fair territories he had purchased near geneva ; which was the barony of aubonne . in this voyage he went to see the duke of mayerne , who had been a long time his friend and protector ; and he taught him this secret : wherof the duke made many experiments , which if any other but a prince had done , it may be they had passed for effects of magick and enchantments . after the dukes death , who was kill'd at the siege of montauban , his surgeon , who waited on him in doing cures , sold this secret to divers persons of quality , who gave him considerable sums for it , so that he became very rich therby . the thing , being fall'n thus into many hands , remain'd not long in termes of a secret but by degrees came to be so divulged , that now there is scarce any country barber but knows it . behold , sirs , the genealogy of the powder of smpathy in this part of the world with a notable history of a cure perform'd by it . 't is time now to come to the discussion , how it is done . it must be avowed , that 't is a marvellous thing , that the hurt of a wounded person should be cured by the application of a remedy put to a rag of cloth or a weapon at a great distance . yet it is not to be doubted , but after a long and profound speculation of all the oeconomy and concatenation of natural causes , which may be adjudged capable to produce such effects , one may fall at last upon the true ones , which must have subtle resorts and means to act . hitherto they have been wrap'd up in darknesse , and esteem'd so inacc●essible , that they who have undertaken to speak or write of them , ( at least those i have seen ) have been contented to speak of some ingenious sleight ; without diving into the bottom : endeavouring rather to shew the vivacity of their spirit and force of their eloquence , than to satisfie their readers and auditors , how the thing is really to be done . they would have us take for ready mony some terms , which we understand not , nor know what they signifie . they would pay us with conveniences , with resemblances , with sympathies , with magnetical virtues , and such terms , without explicating what these terms mean : they think they have done enough , if they feebly perswade any body that the business may be performed by a natural way ; without having any recourse to the intervention of demons , and spirits : but they pretend not in any sort to have found out the convincing reasons which demonstrate , how the thing is done . if i did not hope to gain otherwise upon your spirits ; if i did not , i say believe , that i should be able to perswade you otherwise than by words , i would not have under●aken this enterprize . i know to well , — quid vale●nt humeri , quid ferre recusent . such a design requires a great fire , and vivacity of conceptitions , volubility of tongue , aptness of expressions , to insinnuate , as it were by surprisal , that which one cannot carry away by a firm foot , & by cold reasons , though solid . a discourse of this nature challenges other than a stranger ; who finds himself obliged to display his sense in a language , wherein he can hardly express his ordinary conceptions . nevertheless these considerations shall not deterr me from engaging my self in an enterprize , which may seem to some much more difficult , than that which i am now to perform , viz. to make good convincing proofs , that this sympathetical cure may be done naturally ; and to shew before your eyes , and make you touch with your finger , how it may be done . you know that perswasions are made by ingenious arguments , which , expressed with a good grace , rather tickle the imagination , than satisfy the understanding : but demonstrations are built upon certain and approved principles ; and though they be but roughly pronounced , yet they convince and draw after them necessary conclusions . they proceed , as a strong engin fastned to a gate to batter it down ; or as a plate of metal to imprint the mark of the mony . at every turn , that truth makes , she approaches but little , and as it were insensibly , and makes not much noise , and there is no such great force required to turn her ; but her strength , though it be slow , is invincible . that at the end , she breaks down the gate , and makes a deep impression on the p●ece of gold or silver . whereas the stroke of hammers , and bars , ( whereto witty discourses , and the flourished conceptions of subtile spirits may be compared ) requires the arm of a giant , makes a great noise ; and , at the end of the account , produces little effect . to enter then into the matter i will ( according to the method of geometrical demonstrations ) lay six or seven principles , as foundation-stones , wheron i will erect my structure , but i will lay them so well , and so firmly , that there shall be no great difficulty to grant them . these principles shall be like the wheels of archimedes : by the advantage wherof a child might be capable to hale on shore the bigest carack of king hieron ; which a hundred pair of oxen , with all the ropes and cables of his arsenal , were not able to stir . so , by the strength of these principles , i hope to wast my conclusions to a safe port. the first principle shall be , that the whole o●be or sphere of the air is filled with light. if it were needful to prove in this point , that light is a material and corporal substance , and not an imaginary and incomprehensible quality , ( as many schoolmen aver ) , i could do it evidently enough : but i have done this in another t●eatise , which hath been published not long since . and it is no new op●nion : for , many of the most esteemed philosophers among the antients have advanced it ; yea , the great st. augustine , ( in his third ep●stle to volusian ) alledges , that it is his sentiment . but to our present business , whether l●ght be the one , or the other , it matters not ; t is enough to explicate its course , and the journies it makes , wherto our senses bear witness . t is clear , that , issuing continually out of its source , the suu , and lancing it self by a marvailous celerity on all sides by straight lines , where it encounters any obstacles in its way , by the opposition of some hard or opaque body , it reflects ; & leaping thence to equal angles , takes again its course by a straight line , till it bandies upon some other solid body ; & so it continues to make new boundings here & there ; till , at the end , being chased on all sides , by the bodies which oppose it in its passage , 't is tired , and so extinguishes . in the like manner as we see a ball in tenis court , being struck by a strong arm against the walls , leaps to the opposite side ; so that sometimes it makes the circuit of the whole court , & finishes its motion near the place where it was first struck . our very eys are witnesses of this progress of the light ; when , by way of reflexion , it illuminates some obscure place , whither it cannot directly arrive : or when , issuing immediatly from the sun , & beating upon ●he moon , or some other of the planets , the ray's , which cannot find entrance there , bound upon our earth , ( otherwise we should not see them ) ; and there it is reflected , broken & bruised by so many bodies , as it meets in its diversity of reflexions . the second principle shal be , that the light gla●cing so up●n some body , the rayes which enter no further but rebound from the superficies of the body , carry with them some smal particles or atomes : just as the ball , whereof we have spoken , would carry with it some of the moisture of the wall , against which'tis banded , if the plaister therof were also moist , & as , in effect , it carryed away some tincture of the black , wherwith the walls are coloured . the reason wherof is , that the light , that subtil and rarified fire , coming with such an imperceptible haste , ( for its darts are within our eyes , as soon as soon as its head is above our horison , making so many millions of miles in an inimaginable space of time ) i say , the light , beating upon the body which opposes it , cannot chuse but make there some small incisions , proportion●ble to its rarity and subtility . and these small atomes being cut and loosned from their trunk , the heat of the light sticks and incorporates it self wi●h the most humid , viscuou● , and glewing parts of them ; and carries them along with it . experience shews us this , as well as reason . for , when one puts some h●m●d cloth to dry before the fire , the fiery rays beating theron , those which find no entrance , but refl●ct th●nce , carry away with them some small moist bodies , which make a kind of mist betwixt the cloth and the fire . in like manner the sun at his rising enlightning the earth , which is moistned either by rain or the dew of the night , his beams raise a mist , which , by little and little , ascends to the tops of the hills : and this mist doth rarifie , according as the sun hath more force to draw it upwards ; till at last we lose the sight thereof , and it becomes part of the air , which , in regard of its tenuity , is invisible to us . these atomes then are like cavaliers , mounted on winged coursers ; who ride on still till the sun , setting , ●akes from them their pegasus and leaves them unmounted : and then they precipitate themselvs in crowds to the earth , whence they sprung . the greatest part of them , and the most heavy , fall , upon the first re●●eating of the sun ; and that we call the serain : which though it be so thin that we cannot see it , yet we feel it , as so many small hammers striking upon our heads and bodies ; principally the elder sort of us . for , young persons , in regard of the boyling of their blood , and the heat of their complexion , thrust out of them abundance of spirits : which , being stronger than those that fall from the serain , repulse them , and hinder them to operate on the bodies , whence these spirits came forth ; as they do upon those that , being grown cold by age , are not guarded by so strong an emanation of their spirits . the wind which blows , and is tossed to and fro , is no other than a great river of the like a●omes ; drawn out of some solid bodies , which are upon the earth , and so banded here and there , according as they find cause for that effect . i remember to have once sensibly seen how the wind ●s ingendred . i passed over mount cenis , to go for italy , towards the begining of summer ; and i was advanced to half the hill , as the sun rose clear and luminous : b●t before i could see his body , because the mountains interposed , i observed his rays , which gilded the top of the m●untain viso ▪ which is the pyramid of a rock , a good deal h●gher , than mount cenis and all the neighbouring mountains . man● are of opinion , that it is the highest mountain in the world , after the pic of tenariff , in the gran-de-canary : and this mount viso is always cover'd with snow . i observed then , that , about that place which was illuminated by the solar rays , there was a fog : which at first was of no greater extent , than an ordinary boul : but by degrees it grew so great , that at last , not only the top of that mountain , but all the neighbouring hills were canopied all over with a c●oud . i was now come to the top of mount cenis ; and , finding my self in the straight line , which p●sses from the sun to mount viso , i stay'd a while to behold it , while my servants were coming up the hill behind : for , having more men to carry my chair , than they had , i was there sooner . it was not long e're i might perceive the said fog descend gently to the place where i was ; and i began to feel a freshness that came over my face , when i turn'd it that way . when all my troop was come about me , we went descending the other side of mount cenis , towards s●z● : and the lower we went , we sensibly found that the wind began to blow hard behind our backs ; for , our way obliged us to go towards the side , where the sun was . we met with passengers that were going up , as we down ; who told us , that the wind was very impetuous below , and did much incommodate them , by blowing in their faces and eyes ; but the higher they came , it was l●sser and lesser . and for our selves , when we were come to the place where they said the wind blew so hard , we found a 〈◊〉 of storm : and it encreased still , the lower we went ; till the sun , being well advanced , drew no more by that line , but caused a wind in some other place . the people of that country assured me , that it was there always so ; if some extraordinary and violent accident did not intervene , and divert the ordinary course , viz. at a certain hour of the day , the wind raises it self to such a romb , or point , and , when the sun is come to another point , another wind rises ; and so from hand to hand it changes the point , till the sun set : which always brings with it a calm , if the we●ther be fa●r ; and that always comes from the mount viso , opposite to the sun. they told us also that the daily wind is commonly stronger towards the bottom of the mountain , than towards the top ; wherof the reason is evident . for , the natural movement of every body natural encreases always in swiftness , according as it moves forward to its center ; and that by the unequal numbers , ( as galileo hath ingeniously demonstrated ; i did it also in another treatise ) : that is to say , if at the first moment it advances an ell , in the second it advances three , in the third five , in the fourth seven , and so it continues to augment in the same manner ; which proceeds from the density and figure of the descending body , acting upon the cessiblility of the medium . and these small bodies , which cause a wind from mount viso , are thick and terrestrial : for , the snow being composed of watry and earthy parts united by the cold , when the heat of the solar beams disunites and separates them , the viscous parts flie with them ; while the terrestrial , being too heavy to fly upward , fall presently downward . this makes me remember a very remarkable thing , which befell me when i was with my fleet in the port of scanderon or alexandretta , towards the bottom of the mediterranean sea : there they use to dis-imbark , when they go to aleppo , or babylon . i had done already what i had intended to do in those seas , and happily compassed my design ; so it imported me much to return to england as soon as possibly i could ; and the rather because my ships were batter'd by a great fight , i had had a little before , against a formidable power ; wherin although i had obtain'd the better , yet , in so furious a dispute , my fleet was in some disorder , and my ships full of wounded men. to advise therefore of the most expedient course to come to some harbour , where i might repair my ships and be in surety : i assembled all my captains , pilots , and mariners , the most experienced of my fleet : and , having propounded to them my design , they were all of an unanimous opinion , that the surest course was towards the south , and to cast upon syria , iudea , egypt , and africa , and render our selves at the streight of gi●raltar ; sailing so near the main land , we should have every night some small briezes of wind , wherby we should in a short time make our voyage . and besides , we should not be in any great danger to meet either with spanish or french fleets . for , england was at that time in open war with both those kings , and we had advice , that they had great fleets abroad , to vindicate some things we had done in prejudice of them both , those sixteen months that we remain'd ma●ter of those seas : therefore it concern'd us to make towards some safe port ; where we might both refresh our men , and repair our batter'd vessels . my opinion was clean contrary to theirs : for , i believ'd our best course were , to steer our course westward , and to sail along the coasts of cilicia , pamphylia , lydia , natolia , or asia the less ; and to traverse the mouth of the archipelago , leave the adriatick on the right hand , and pass by sicily , italy , sardinia , corsica , the gulph of lion , and so coast all spain . telling them , that it would be a great dishonour to us to forsake our best road , for fear of the enemy ; since our chief business thither was to find them out : and the protection which it pleased god to afford us all along in so many combats , in going , ought to make us hope the same providence would vouchsafe to guide us in returning . that there was no doubt but the road which i proposed to them , consider'd simply in it self , was , without comparison , the better , and the more expedite to sail out of the mediterranean sea , and gain the ocean ; because , said i , although we have the briezes from the land , as long as we are upon the coasts of syria ; and egypt , we shall not have them at all while we sail upon the coasts of lybia , where there are those fearful sands , the syrtes , which are of a great extent , the said coast having no humidity ; for there is neither tree nor herb grows there , nor ought else but moving sands , which cover'd and interred heretofore at one glut the puissant army of k●ng cambyses . now , where there is no humidity , the sun cannot attract to make a wind : so that we shall never find there , specially in summer time , any other wind but that regular one which blows from east to west , according to the course of the sun , who is the father of winds ; unless some extraordinary happen , either from the coast of italy , which lies northward , or from the bottom of ethiopia , where the mountains of the moon are , and the source of the cataracts of nile . therfore , if we were near the syrtes , the winds of italy would be most dangerous to us , and expose us to shipwrack . i reason'd so according to natural causes , while they of my councel of war kept themselvs firm to their ex●e●●ence ; and i would do nothing against the unanimous sense of all : for , though the disposing and resolution of all things depended absolutely upon my self , yet i thought i might be justly accused of rashness or wilfulness , if i should prefer my own advice before that of all the rest . so we took that course , and went happil● , as far as the syrtes of lybia : but there our land bri●zes fail'd us ; and for seven and thirty days , we had no other but a few gentle zephirs , which came from the west , whither we were steering our course . we were constrain'd to keep at anchor all that time , with a great deal of apprehension , that the wind might come from the north , accompanied with a tempest : for , if that had hapned , we had been all lost ; because our anchors had not been able to hold among those moving sands ( for , under water they are of the same nature as they are upon dry land ) and so we must have been shipwrackt upon that coast . but god almighty , who hath been pleas'd i should have the honour to wait on you this day , deliver'd me from that danger . and , at the end of seven and thirty days , we observ'd the course of the clouds very high , which came from so●●h-●ast ; at first but slowly , but by degrees faster and faster : insom●ch that , in two days , the wind , which was forming it self a great way off in ethiopia , came , in a tempest , to the place where we rid at anchor , and carried us whither we intended to go ; but the force of it was broken before , coming so far . out of this discourse we may infer , and conclude , that , wherever there is any wind , there are also some small b●dies or atomes , which are drawn from the bodies , whence they come , by the virtue of the sun , and light ; and , that in effect , this wind is nothing else but the said a●omes agitated , and thrust on by a kind of impetuosity . and so , the winds partake of the qualities whence they come : as , if they come from the south , they are hot , if from the no●th , they are cold , if from the earth alone , they are dry , if from the m●rine or sea-side , they are humid and mo●st ; if from places which produce aromatical substances , they are odoriferous , wholsom , and pleasing : as those from arabia faelix , which produces spices , perfumes , and gums of sweet savour ; or that ●rom fonten●y and vaugirard at paris , in the season of roses , which is all perfumed : on the contrary , those winds that come from stinking places , viz. from the sulphureous so●l of pozzuolo , smell ill : as also those that come from infected places bring the contagion along with them . my third principle shall be , that the air is full throughout of small bodies or atomes ; or rather that , which we call ou● air , is no other than a mixture or confusion of such atomes , wherin the aereal parts predominate . 't is well known , that in nature there cannot be actually found any pure element , unblended with others : for the exteriour fire and the light acting one way , and the internal fire of every body pushing on another way , causes this marvailous mixture of all things in all things . within that huge extent , where we place the air , there is ●●fficien● space and liberty enough to make such a mixture ; which experience , as well as reason confirm● . i have seen little vipers , as soon as they came from the egs where they were ingendred , being not yet an inch long : which , conserv'd in a large gourd , ( cover'd with paper tyed round about , that they might not get out , but leaving little pin-holes made in it , that the air might enter ) encreased in substance and bigness so prodigiously , in six , eight , or ten months , that it is incredible ; and more sensibly , during the season of the equinoxes , when the air is fuller of those aethereal and balsamical atomes , which they drew for their nouriture . hence it came that the cosmopolites had reason to say , est in ●●re occultus vitae cibus , there is a hidden food of life in the air . these smal vipers had but the air only for their sustenance ; nevertheless , by this thin viand , they grew , in less than a year , to a foot long , and proportionably big and heavy . vitriol , salt-peter , and some other substances , augment in the same manner , only by attraction of air . i remember , that upon some occasion , seventeen or eighteen years ago , i had use of a pound of oil of tartar ; it was at paris , where i had then no operatory . wherfore i desired monsir ferrier , a man universally known by all such as are curious , to make me some : for , he had none then ready made , but did it expressely for me . and because , for the calcination of tartar , twenty pound may be as easily made as two , without encrease of charge ; he took occasion hereby to make a quantity for his own use . when he brought it me , the oil smelt so strong of the rose , that i complain'd of his mingling it with that water , wheras i had desired him to do it purely , by exposing it to the humid air : for , i verily thought he had dissolved the salt of tartar in rose-water . he swore to me that he had not mingled it with any liquor ; but had left the tartar calcind within his cellar , to dissolve of it self . it was then the season of roses ; therfore it seems that the air , being then full of the atomes which come from the roses , and being changed into water by the powerful attraction of the salt of tartar , their smel became very sensible in the place where they were gathered together , as the beams of the sun do burn , being crowded together in a burning glasse . there hapned also another marvailous thing , touching this oil of tartar ; which may serve to prove a proposition we have not yet touched : but , not to interrupt the course of the story , i will tell it you by way of advance . it was , that , as the season of roses passed , the smel of the rose vanish'd away from the said oil of tartar ; so that , in three or four months , it was quite gone . but we were much surprized , when , the next year , the said odor of roses return'd as strong as ever and so went away again towards winter : which course it still observs . which made monsir ferrier keep it as a singular rarity ; and the last summer i found the effect in his house . we have in london an unlucky and troublesome confi●mation of this doctrine : for , the air uses to be full of such atomes . the fuel in that great city , is commonly pit-coal , brought from newcastle , or scotland . this coal ha●h in it a great quantity of volatil salt , very sharp ; which being carried on by the smoke , uses to dissipate it self and fill the air , wherwith it so incorporates , that , although we do not see it , yet we find the effect : for it spoils beds , tapistries , and other houshold stuffs , that are of any beautiful fair colour ; the fuliginous air tarnishing it by degrees . and , though one should lock up his chamber very clean , and come not thither in a good while , yet at his return , he will find a black kind of thin soot cover all his houshold-stuff ; as we see in m●lls there is a white dust , as also in bakers shops ; which uses to whiten the walls , and somtimes gets into cup-boards and chests . the said coal-soot also gets abroard , and fouls cloths upon hedges , as they are a drying ; as also , in the spring time , the very leavs of trees are besooted therewith . now , in regard that it is this air which the lungs draw for respiration among the inhabitants , therfore the flegme and spittle which comes from them is commonly black●sh and fuliginous . moreover , the acrimony of this ●oot produces another funest effect ; for , it makes the people subject to inflammations , and by degrees to ulcerations in the lungs . it is so corrosive and biting , that , if one put gammons of bacon , or beef , or any other flesh , within the chimney , it so dries it up , that it spoils it . wherfore , they who have weak lungs quickly feel it ; whence it comes to pass , that almost the one hal● ▪ of them who dye in london , dye of ptisical and pulmonical distempers ; spi●ting commonly blood from their ulcerated lungs . but , at the beginning of this malady , the remedy is very easie : it is but to send them ●o a place where the air is good . many , who have means ●o pay the charge of such a journey , come to paris , and they 〈◊〉 use to recover their healths in perfection . the 〈◊〉 inconveniences are also , though the operations be not so strong , in the city of li●ge , where the common people burn no other than pit-coals , which they call h●ville . paris it self also though the air about it be excellent , yet is subject to incommodities of that nature . the excessivly stinking dirt and chanels of that vast city mingles a great deal of ill allay with the purity of the air ; stuffing it every where with corrup●ed atomes : which yet are not so pernicious as those of london . we find that the most neat and polished silver plate , exposed to the air , becomes in a short time livid and fo●l which proceeds from no other cause , than those black atomes , ( the true colou● of putrefaction ) which stick to it . i know a person of q●ality , ( and a singular friend of mine ) who is lodg'd in a place , where on o●e side , a great many poor people inhabit , few carts use to pass , and fewer coaches . his neighbours behind his house empty their filth and ordures in the middle of the street ; which uses hereby to be ful of mounts of filth , to be carried away by tombrells , but when they they remove these ordures ; you cannot imagine what a stench what kind of infectious air is smelt thereabour every where . the servants of my said friend , when this happens , use to cover their plate , and andirons and other of their fairest houshold-stuff , with cotton or course bays ; otherwise they would be all ●arnished . yet nothing hereof is seen within the air ; however these experiences manifestly convince , that the air is stuffed with such atomes . i cannot omit to add hereto another experiment ; which is , that we find by the effects , how the rays of the moon are cold and moist . 't is without controversie , that the luminous parts of those rays come from the sun ; the moon having no light at all in her : as her ecclipses bear witness ; which happen , when the earth is just twixt her and the sun , and by such interposition hinders her to have light from his rays , the beams then which come from the moon are those of the sun ; which glancing upon her , reflect upon us , and so bring with them the atoms of that cold and hum●d-star , participating of the ●ou●●e whence they come . whence , if one expose a hollow bason , or glass , to assemble them , he shall find , that wheras those of the sun burn by such a conjuncture , these , clean contrary , refresh and m●isten in a notable manner , leaving an aquatick and viscuous glutining kind of sweat upon the glass . one would think it a folly to talk of washing hands in a well polished silver bason , wherin there is not a drop of water , yet this may be done ; by the reflexion of the moon beams only ; which will afford a competent humidity to do it , but they who have tryed this have found their hands , after they are wiped , to be much moister than usually : and this is an infallible way to take away warts from the hands , if it be often used , let us then conclude , out of these premises and experiments , that the air is ful of atomes ; drawn from bodies , by means of the light which reflects theron , or sallying out by the interior natural heat of those bodies , which drive them forth . it may haply seem impossible that there can be an emanation of so many small bodies , that should be spread and carried up and down , so far in the air by a continual flux , ( if i may say so ) and yet the body whence they come receive no diminution that is perceptible ; though sometimes t is visible enough ; as , by the evaporations of the spirits of wine , musk , and other such volatil substances . but , this objection will be nul , and the two precedent principles , render themselvs more credible , when we shall settle another , viz. that every body , be it never so little , is divisible in infinitum : not that it hath infinite parts , ( for the contrary therof may be demonstrated ) but it is capable to be divided and subdivided into new parts , without ever coming to the end of the division : and it is in this sense that our masters teach us that quantity is infinitely divisible . this is evident to him who shall consider , with a profound imagination , the essence and formal notion of quantity ; which is nothing else but divisibility . but , in regard that this speculation is very subtile and metaphysical , i will serve my self of some geometrical demonstrations to prove this truth ; for , they accommodate best with the imagination . euclide teaches us ( in the tenth proposition of his sixth book ) , that if one take a short line , and another a long one , and the long one be divided into divers equal parts ; the short one may be divided also into as many equal parts , and every one of those parts also into others , and these last into so many more , and so on , without being able eve● to come to that which is not divisible . b●t let 's suppose ( although it be impossible ) that one might divide and subdivide a line , so that at last we should come to an indivi●ible ; and le ts see what will come of it . i say then , that , since the line resolves it self into indivisibles , it must be composed of them ; le ts see whether that may be verified . to which purpose , i take three indivisibles , ( and to distinguish them ) let them be a , b , c. for , if three millions of indivisibles make a long line , three indivisibles will make a short one . i put them then in a row ; first a , then b , so near , that they touch one another : and i say , that b must necessarily possess the same place as , a , or not possess it . if it possess the same place , they both together make no extension : and , by the same reason , neither 3 , nor 3000 will do it ; but all the indivisibles will unite together , and the result of all shal be but only one indivisible . it must be then , that , being not both in the same place , yet touching one another , one part of b must touch one part of a , and another part not touch it : then i add the indivisible c , wher of one part shal touch a part of b. which touches not a ; and by this means b is copulant , lying between a and c , to make the extension . to do this , you see that we must admit that b hath parts ; as the other two also which by your supposition are all indivi●ible : and this being absurd , the supposition is impossible . but , to render the matter yet more perspicuous , let 's suppose that these three indivisibles make one extension , and compose one line ; the proposition already cited from euclide demonstrates , that this line may be divided into thirty equal parts , or into as many as youplease : insomuch that it must be granted , that every one of these three indivi●ibles may be divided into three parts ; which is point blank against the nature and definition of an indivisible . but , without dividing into so many parts , euclide shews ( by his tenth proposition of his first element ) that every line may be parted into two equal parts : but this , being composed of indivisibles of unequal number , it must necessarily follow , that , being parted into two , there must be an indivisible more on the one side than on the other , or the middle one be parted into two halfs . so that he , who denies that quantity may be divided in infinitum , entangles himself in absurdities , and incomprehensible impossibilities : and on the contrary , he , who assents to it , will find it no impossibility or inconvenience , that the atoms of all bodies , which are in the air , may be divided , stretcht and carried to a marvailous distance . our very senses make faith hereof in some sort : there is no body in the world , which we know of , so compact , so solid , and weighty as gold ; yet , to what a strange extent and division may it be brought ! let 's take an ounce of this massy mettal ; it shall be but a button , as big as my fingers end : a beater of gold will make a thousand leavs or more of this ounce . half of one of these leavs shall suffice to gild the whole surface of silver of three or four ounces . let 's give this gilded lingot of silver to them , who prepare gold and silver thrid to make lace ; and let them draw it to the greatest length and subtilty they can ; let them draw it to the thinness of a hair , and so this thrid may be a quarter of a league long in extent , if not more ; and in all this length there will not be the space of an atom which is not cover'd with gold. behold a strange and marvailous dilatation of this half leaf . let us do the like to all the rest of the beaten gold ; it will appear that , by this means , this small button of gold may be so extended , as to reach from this city of montpellier to paris , and far beyond it : into how many millions of atoms might not this gilded line be cut with small sciffers . now , 't is easie to comprehend , that this extention and divisibility , made by such gross instruments , as hammers and scissers , is not comparable to that which is made by the light and rays of the sun. and it is certain , that , if this gold may be drawn into such a great length by spindles or wheels of iron , some of its parts may easily be carried away by those winged coursers we spoke of before ; i mean , by the rays that flie in a moment from the sun to the earth . if i did not fear to prove tedious to you by my prolixity , i would entertain you with the strange subtility of little bodies ; which issue forth from living bodies ; by means whereof our dogs in england will pursue the scent of a mans steps , or of a beasts , many miles : and not only so , but they will find , in a great heap of stones , that which a man hath touched with his hand : therfore , it must needs be , that upon the earth , or upon the stone , some material parts of the touched body remain : yet the body doth not sensibly diminish ; no more than ambergrise , and spanish skins , which will send out of them an odour during a hundred years , without any diminution of skin or smell . in our country they use to sow a whole field with one sort of grain ; to wit , one year with barley , the next with wheat , the third with beans : and the fourth year they let it rest , and dung it , that it may recover its vigor by attraction of the vital spirit it receivs from the air ; and so be plow'd up again after the same degrees . now , the year that the field is cover'd with beans , passengers use to smell them at a good distance off , if the wind blow accordingly , and they be in flower . it is a smell that hath a suavity with it , but fading ; and afterwards is unpleasant , and heady . but the smell of rosemary , which comes from the coasts of spain , goes much further . i have sail'd along those coasts divers times , and observ'd always that the mariners know when they are within thirty or forty leagues of the continent , ( i do not exactly remember the distance ) : and they have this knowledge from the smell of the rosemary which so abounds in the fields of spain . i have smelt it as sen●ibly , as if i had had a branch of rosemary in my hand ; and this a day or two before we could discover land ; 't is true , the wind was in our faces , and came from the shore . some naturalists write that vultures have come two or three hundred leagus off , by the smell of carrens , and dead bodies left in the field , after some bloody battle ; and it was known that these b●rds came from afar off , because none used breed near . they have a quick smelling ; and it must be that the rotten atoms of those dead carcaffes were transported by the air so far : and those birds , having once caught the scent , pursue it to the very source , and , the nearer they come to that , the stronger it is . we will conclude here that which we had to say , touching the great extent of those little bodies , which , by the mediation of the sun-beams and of the light , use to issue out of all bodies that are composed of elements ; which throng in the air , and are carried a marvailous distance from the place and bodies where they have their origin and source : the proof and explication of which things hath been the aim of my discourse hitherto . now , my lords , i must , if you please , make you see how these small bodies , that so fill and compound the air , are oftentimes drawn to a road altogether differing from that which their universal causes should make them hold : and it shall be our fifth principl● . one may remark , within the course and oeconomy of nature , divers sorts of attractions . as , that of sucking ; wherby i have seen leaden bullets at the bottom of a long barrel exactly wrought , follow the air , which one suck'd out of the mouth of the gun , with that impetuosity and strength , that it broke his teeth . the attraction of water or wine by a scyphon is like to this : for , by means of that , the liquor is made to pass from one vessel into another , without changing any way the colour , or rising of the lees . there is ano●her sort of attraction which is called magnetical , wherby the loadstone draws the iron . another electrick , when the iet-stone draws to it straws . there is another of the flame ; when the smoke of a candle put out draws the flame of that which burns hard by , and makes it descend to light that which is out . there is another of filtration , when a humid body climbs up a dry . lastly , when the fire or some hot body draws the air and that which is mixed therwith . we will treat here of the two last species of attraction ; i have sufficiently spoken of the rest in another place . filtration may seem to him who hath not attentively consider'd it , nor examin'd by what circumstances so hidden a secret of nature comes to pass , and to a person of a mean and limited understanding , to be done by some occult virtue or property ; and he will perswade himself that , within the filtre or strayning instrument , there is some secret sympathy , which makes water to mount up , contrary to its natural motion . but , he , who will examine the business , as it ought to be , observing all that is done , without omiting any circumstance , will find there is nothing more natural , and that it is impossible it should be otherwise . and we must make the same judgment of all the profound and hidden'st mysteries of nature ; if men would take the pains to discover them , and search into them with judgment . behold , then , how filtration is done . they use to put a long toung of cloth , or cotten , or spongy matter , within an earthen pot of water or other liquor ; and leave hanging upon the brim of the pot a good part of the cloth ; and one shall see the water presently mount up , and pass above the brink of the vessel , and drop , at the lower end of the piece of cloth , upon the ground , or into some vessel . and the gardners make use of this method , to water their plants and flowers in summer , by soft degrees . as also apothecaries , and chymists , to separate their liquors from their dregs and residences . to comprehend the reason why the water ascends in that manner , let us nearly observe all that is done . that part of the cloth which is within the water becomes wetted ; viz. it receivs and imbibes the water through its spungy and dry parts at first . this cloth swells in receiving the water ; so , two bodies joyn'd together require more room than one of them would by it self . let us consider this swelling and augmented extension , in the last thrid of them which touch the water , viz. that on the super●icies ; which , to distinguish from the rest , let us mark at the two ends ( as by a line ) with a. b. and the third which immediately follows and is above it , with c. d. the next with e. f. the next with g. h. and so to the end of the toung . i say then , that the thrid a , b. dilating it self and swelling , by means of the water which enters 'twixt it's fibres or strings , approaches by little and little to c. d. ; which is yet dry , because it touches not the water : but when a. b. is grown so gross and swol'n , by reason of the water which enters , that it fills all the vacuity and distance 'twixt it and c. d. as also that it presses against c. d. by reason of it's extension , which is greater than the space was betwixt them both ; then it wets c. d. , because the thrid a. b. being compressed , the exterior part of the water which was in it , coming to be push'd on upon c. d. , seeks there a place , and enters within the thrids , and wets them , in the same manner as at first it 's exterior and highest part became wet . c. d. being so wetted , will dilate it self as a. b. did ; and consequently pressing against e. f. it cannot choose but work the same effect in it , which before it had receiv'd by the swelling and dilatation of a. b. and so , by gentle degrees , every thrid wets its neighbor , till the very last thrid of the cloth toung . and it is not to be feared , that the continuity of the water will break , ascending this scale of chords ; or that it will recoil backwards : for , those little ladders , so easy to be mounted , render the ascent facile , and the woolly fibres of every thrid seem to reach their hands to help them up at every step : and so the facility of geting up , joyn'd with the fluidness of the water , and the nature of quantity , ( which tends always to the uniting of substances and bodies which it clothes , when there occurs no other predominant cause to break and divide it ) causes that the water keeps it self in one piece , and passes above the brink of the pot . after that , its vo●age is made more easie , for it follows its natural tendence , always downwards . and , if the end of the cloth hangs lower without the pot , than the surface of the water within , the water drops into the ground , or some vessel placed underneath ; as we see a chord being hung upon a pully , the longest and heaviest end falls upon the ground , and carries away the shortest and lightest , drawing it over the pully . but , if the end of the cloth , without the pot , were horizontal with the surface of the water , and hung no lower than it , the water would be immoveable : as , the two sides of a ballance , when there 's equal weight in both the scales . and , if one should pour out part of the water that is in the pot , so that the superficies grow lower than the end of the cloth without : in that case the ascending water becoming more heavy than the descendant on the other side , without the pot , it would call back that which was gone out before and ready to fall ; and would make it thrust on and return to its former pace , and enter again into the pot , to mingle with the water there . you see then this mystery , which at first was surprizing , displaid , and made as familiar and natural , as to see a stone fall down from the air . 't is true , that to make a demonstration thereof , exact and compleatly rigorous , we must add other circumstances ; which i have done in another discourse , wherein i expressly treated of this subject . but that which i now say is sufficient , to give a taste how this so notable attraction is performed , the other attraction by fire , which draws to it the ambient air , with the small bodies therein , is wrought thus ; the fire , acting according to its own nature , which it , to push on a continual river or exhalation of its parts , from the center to the circumference , carries away with it the air adjoyned and sticking to it on all sides ; as the water of a river trains along with it the earth of that channel or bed , through which it glides . for , the air being humid , and the fire dry , they cannot do less , than embrace and hug one another . but , there must new air come from the places circumjacent , to fill the room of that which is carried away by the fire ; otherwise there would a vacuity happen , which nature abhors . this new air remains not long in the place it comes to fill ; but the fire , which is in a continual carreer and emanation of its parts , carries it presently away , and draws other : and so there is a pe●petual and constant current of the air , as long as the action of fire continues . we daily see the experience hereof : for , if one makes a good fire in ones chamber , it draws the air from the door and windows ; which though one would shut , yet there be crevices and holes for the air to enter , and , coming near them , one shall hear a kind of whistling noise which the air makes in pressing to enter . 't is the same cause that produces the sound of the organ and flute . and he , who would stand between the crevices and the fire , should find such an impetuosity of that artificial wind , that he would be ready to freeze , while he is ready to burn the other side next the fire . and a wax-candle held in this current of wind would melt , by the flame blown against the wax , and waste away in a very short time : wheras , if that candle stood in a calm place , that the flame might burn upward , it would last much longer . but , if there be no passage wherby the air may enter into the chamber , one part , then , of the vapor of the wood , which should have converted to flame and so mounted up the funnel of the chimney , descends downward against its nature , to supply the defect of air within the said chamber , and fills it with smoke ; but at last the fire choaks , and extinguishes , for want of air . whence it comes to pass , that the chymists have reason to say , that the air is the life of fire , as well as of animals . but , if one puts a bason or vessel of water before the fire upon the hearth , there will be no smoke in the chamber ; although it be so close shut , that the air cannot enter : for , the fire attracts part of the water , which is a liquid substance and easie to move out of its place ; which aquatic parts rarifie themselves into air , and therby perform the functions of the air . this is more evidently seen if the chamber be little ; for then the air , which is there pen'd in , is sooner rais'd up and carried away . and , by reason of this attraction , they use to make great fires , where there is houshold-stuff , of persons that dyed of the pestilence , to dis-infect it . for , by this inundation of attracted air , the fire as it were sweeps the walls , floor , and other places of the chamber ; and takes away those little putrified , sharp , corrosive , and venomous bodies , which were the infection that adhered to it : drawing them into the fire , where they are partly burnt , and partly sent up into the chimney , accompanied with the atomes of the fire and the smoke . 't is for this reason that the great hippocrates , ( who groped so far into the secrets of nature ) dis-infected , and freed from the plague a whole province or entire region ; by causing them to make great fires every where . now , this manner of attraction is made , not only by simple fire , but by that which partakes of it , viz. by hot substances : and that which is the reason and cause of the one , is also the cause of the other . for , the spirits or ignited parts , evaporating from such a substance or hot body , carry away with them the adjacent air ; which must necessarily be supplied by other air or some matter easily rari●iable into air ; as we have spoken of the bason and tub of water , put before the fire to hnder smoke . 't is upon this foundation that physicians ordain the application of pigeons , or puppy's , or some other hot animals , to the soles of the feet , or the hand-wrists , or the stomachs , or navils of their patients ; to extract out of their bodies the wind or ill vapours which infect them . and , in time of contagion or universal infection of the air , pigeons , cats , dogs , with other hot animals , which have continually a great transpiration or evaporation of spirits , use to be killed : because through attraction , the air taking the room of the spirits , which issue forth by the evaporation , the pestiferous atomes , which are scatter'd in the air and accompany it , use to stick to their feathers , skins , or furs . and , for the same reason , we see that bread coming hot out of the oven , put upon the bung , draws to it the must of the cask which would spoil the wine : and that onions , and such hot bodies which perpetually exhale fiery parts , ( as appears by the strength of their smel ) are quickly poison'd with infectious airs , if they be exposed to them : and , 't is one of the signs , to know whether the whole mass of the air be universally infected . and , one might reduce to this head the great attraction of air by calcin'd bodies ; and particularly by tartar , all ignited by the violent action of the fire which is crowded and encorporated among it's salt. i have observed , that it attracts to it nine times more air , than it self weighs . for , if one expose to the air a pound of salt of tartar well calcin'd and b●rnt , it will ●ff●rd ten pound of good oil of tartar ; draw●●g to it , and so incorporating the circumjacent air , and that is mingled with it : as it befell that o●l of tartar which mon●ir f●rrier made me , wherof i spake before . but , meth●nks , all this is but little , compared to the attraction of air by the body of a certain n●n at rome ; wherof pe●rus servius , ●r●a● the e●ght's physician , makes mention , in a book which he hath published , touching the marvailous accidents which he observ'd in his time . had i not such a vouchy , i durst not produce this history ; although the nun her self confirm'd it to me , and a good number of physicians assured me of the truth thereof . there was a nun , that , by excesse of fasting , watching , and mental orisons , was so ●ea●ed in her body , that she seem'd to be all on fire , and her bones dryed up and calcin'd . this heat then , this in●ernal fire , drawing the air powerfully ; this air incorporated within her body , as it uses to do in salt of tartar : and , the passages being all open , it got to those parts where there is most serosity , which is the bladder ; and thence she rendred it in water among her urine , and that in an incredible quantity ; for , she voided , during some weeks , more than two hundred pounds of water every four and twenty hours . with this notable example i will put an end to the experiments , i have urged to prove and explicate the attr●ction made of air , by hot and ig●ited bodies , which are of the nature of fire . my sixth principle shall be , that when fire or some hot body attracts the air and that which is within the air , if it happens that within that air there be found some dispersed a●oms of the same nature with the body that draws them ; such atoms are more powerfully attracted , than if they were bodies of a different nature , and they stay , stick , and mingle more willingly with the body which draws them . the reason hereof is , the resemblance and sympathy they have one with the other . if i should not explicate wherein this resemblance consisted ; i should expose my self to the same censure and blame , as that which i taxed , at the beginning of my discourse , in those , who spake but lightly and vulgarly of the powder of sympathy , and such marvels of nature . but , when i shall have cleared that which i contend for by such a resemblance and conveniency ; i hope then you will rest satisfied . i could make you see that there are many sorts of resemblances , which cause an union between bodies ; but i will content my self to speak here only of three signal ones . the first resemblance shall be in weight ; whereby bodies of the same degree of heaviness assemble together , the reason wherof is eviden● . for , if one body were lighter , it would occupy a higher situation than the heavier body ; as on the contrary , if a body were more weighty , it would descend lower than that which is less heavy : but both having the same degree of heav●ness , they keep company together in equilibrio , as one may see by experience in this gentile example ; which some curious spirits use to produce , to make us understand how the four elements are situated one above the other , according to their weight . they put in a vial the sp●rit of wine tinctur'd with red , to represent the fire , the spirit of turpentine tinctur'd with blew , for the air , the spirit of water tinctur'd with green , and represent the element of water ; and , to represent the earth , the powder of some solid metal enamell'd : you see them one upon the other w●thout mix●ng ; and if you shake them together by a violent● 〈◊〉 you shal see a chaos , such a confusion , that it wil seem there 's no particular atoms that belong to any of those bodies , they are so hudled pel mel altogether . but , cease this agitation , and you shall see presently every one of these four substances go to its natural place ; calling again , & labouring to unite all their atoms in one distinct mass , that you shall see no mixture at all . the second resemblance of bodies , which draw one another and unite , is among them which are of the same degree of rarity and density . the nature and effect of quantity is to reduce to unity all things which it finds ; if some other stronger power , ( as , the differing substantial form , which multiplies it ) do not hinder . and the reason is evident . for the ●ssence of quantity is divisibility or a capacity to be divided , that is to be made many ; whence may be inferr'd that quantity it self is not-many ; 't is therfore of it self and in its own nature one continued extension , seeing then that the nature of q●antity in general tends to unity , and continuity ; the first differences of quantity , which are rarity and density , must produce the same effect of unity , and continuity in those bodies which participate in the same degree of them . for proof whereof , we find , that water unites and incorporates it self strongly and easily with water , oil with oil , spirit of wine with spirit of wine : but water and oil will hardly unite , nor mercury with the spirit of wine ; and so other bodies of differing density and tenuity . the third resemblance of bodies which unites and keeps them strongly together , is that of figure . i will not serve my self here with the ingenious conceit of a great personage ; who holds that the continuity of bodies results from some smal hooks or clasps , which keep them together ; and are different in bodies of a differing nature : but ( not to extend my self too diffusively in every particularity ) i will say in gross , as an apparent thing , that every kind of body affects a particular figure . we see it plainly in the several sorts of salt ; peel and stamp them separately , dissolve , coagulate , and change them as long as you please ; they come again alwayes to their own natural figure , after every dissolution , and coagulation . the ordinary salt forms it self alwaies in cubes of ●oursquare faces ; salt-peter in forms of six faces : armoniac-salt in hexagons ; as the snow doth , which is sexangular . wherto mr. davison attributes the pentagonary figure of every one of those stones , which were found in the bladder of monsir peletier , to the number of fourscore ; for the same immediate efficient cause the bladder had imprinted its action both on the stones , and the salt of the urine . the distillators observe , that if they powre upon the dead head of some distillation the water which was distilled out of it , it imbibes it , and re-unites incontinently ; wheras if one pour on it any other water of an heterogeneous body , it swims on the top , and incorporates with much difficulty . the reason is , that the distill'd water , which seems to be an homogeneous body , is composed of smal bodies of discrepant figures ; as the chymists plainly demonstrate : and these atoms being chaced , by the action of fire , out of their own chambers , or beds exactly fitted to them ; when they come back in their antient habitations , viz , to the pores which are left in the dead heads , they accommodate themselvs , and amiably rejoin and comensurate together . the same happens when it rains , after a long drougth : for , the earth immediately drinks up the water , which had been drawn up by the sun ; wheras any other strange liquor would enter with some difficulty . now that there are differing po●es in bodies which seem to be homogeneous , monsir gassendus affirms , and undertakes to prove , by the dissolution of salts of differing natures in common water . when , says he , you have dissolv'd in it common salt , as much as it can bear ; if you put in only a scruple more , it will leave it entire in the bottom , as if it were sand or plaister ; nevertheless it will dissolve a good quantity of salt-peter ; and when 't is glutted with this , 't wil dissolve as much of armoniacal salt , and so others of different figures . so that as i have observed elsewhere , we see plainly by the oeconomy of nature , that bodies of the same figure use to mingle more strongly , and unite themselves with more facility . which is the reason why those , tha● make a strong glue , to piece together broken pots of porcelain or chrystal , &c. always mingle with the glue the powder of that body , which they endeavour to re-accomodate : and the goldsmiths themselvs , when they go about to soder together pieces of gold , or silver , mingle alwayes their own dust in the soder . having hitherto run through the reasons and causes why bodies of the same nature , draw one to another with greater facility and force , than others , and why they unite with more promptitude ; le ts now see according to our method , how experience confirms this discourse , for , in natural things we must have recourse , en dernier ressort , to experience ; and all reasoning that is not supported so , ought to be repudiated , or at least suspected to be illegitimate . t is an ordinary thing , when one find she ha's burnt his hand ; to hold it a good while as near the fire as he can , and by this means the ignited atomes of the fire and of the hand mingling together , and drawing one another ; and the stronger of the two , which are those of the fire , having the mastery , the hand finds it self much eased of the inflammation which it suffer'd . t is an usual course , though a nasty one , of those who have ill breaths , to hold their mouths open over a privy , as long as they can ; and by the re-iteration of this remedy , they find themselv●s cured at last ; the greater stink of the privy drawing to it , and carrying away , the lesse , which is that of the mouth . they who have been prick'd or bitten by a viper or scorpion , hold , over the bitten or prick'd place , the head of a viper or scorpion bruised ; and by this means the poyson , which , by a kind of filtration crept on to gain the heart of the party , returns back to its principles , and so leavs him well recover'd . in time of common contagion , they use to carry about them the powder of a toad , and somtimes a living toad or spider , sh●t up in a b●x ; or ars●ick , or some other venemous substance ; which draws to it the contagious air , that otherwise would infect the party : and the same powder of a toad draws to it the poyson of a plague sore . the farcy is avenemous and contagious humor within the body of a horse : hang a toad about the neck of the horse , in a little bag , and he will be cured infallibly ; the toad , which is the stronger poyson , drawing to it the venome which was within the horse . make water to evaporate out of a stove , or other room , close shut ; if there be nothing that draws this vapor , it will stick to the walls of the stove , and , as it cools , recondense there into water ; but if you put a bason or bucket of water into any part of the stove , it will attract all the vapor which fil'd the chamber , and no part of the wall will be wetted . if you dissolve mercury , which , resolving into smoke , passes into the recipient , put into the head of the limbeck a little therof , and all the mercury in the limbeck will gather there , and nothing will passe into the recipient . if you distil the spirit of salt , or of vitriol , or the baume of sulpher , and leave the passage free betwixt the spirit and the dead head , whence it issued ; the spirits will return to the dead head , which , being fixt and not able to mount up , draws them to it . in our country , ● ( and i think it is so used here , ) they use to make provision for all the year of venison , at the season that their flesh is best and most savory , which is in july , and august ; they bake it in earthen pots , or ryecrust , after they have well seasond it with salt and spices ; and being cold , they cover it deep with fresh butter , that the air may no● enter . nevertheless t is observ'd , that after all their diligence when the l●v●ng beasts , which are of the same nature and kind , are in rut , the flesh in the pot smels very rank , and is very much changed , having a stronger taft ; because of the spirits which come at thi● season from the living beasts ; which spirits are attracted na●urally by the dead flesh . and then , one hath much to do 〈◊〉 preserve it from being quite spoil'd : but the said season be●ng passed , there is no danger or difficulty to keep it gustful all the year long . the wine merchants ( in this country , and every where else , where there is wine , ) observe that , during the season that the vines are in flower , the wine , in their cellars , makes a kind of fermentation , and pushes forth a little white lee , ( which i think they call the mother ) upon the surface of the wine : which continues in a kind of disorder , till the flowers of the vines be fall'n ; and then , this agitation or fermentation being ceased , all the wine returns to the same state it was in before . nor is it now that this observation hath been made , but , besides divers others , who speak hereof , st. ephrem the syri●n ▪ ( in his last will and testament , some 1300 years ago , ) reports this very same circumstance of wine ; sensibly suffering an ag●tation and fermentation within the vessel , a● the same time t●at the vines seem to exhale their spirits in the vineyards . he makes use of the same example in dry onions , which bud in the house , when those in the garden begin to come out of the earth , and fill the air with their spirits ; shewing by these known examples of nature , the communication between living persons , and the souls of the dead . now those viny spirits that issue from the buds and flowers , filling the air , ( as the spirits of rosem●ry use to do in spain ) are drawn into the vessels , by the connatural and attractive vertue of the wine within : and these new volatil spirits , entring , excite the more fixed spirits of the wine , and so cause a fermentation ; as if one should pour therin new or sweet wine , for in all fermentations , there is a separation made of the terrestial parts from the oily , and so the lightest mount up to the superficies , the heaviest become tartar lees , which sink to the bottom . but , in this season , if one be not very careful to keep the wine in a proper and temperate place , and the cask full and well bung'd ; and to use other endeavours which are ordinary with wine-coopers , one runs a h●z●rd to have his wine impaird , or quite spoil'd ; because volatil spirits , evaporating again , carry away with them the spirits of the wine that is barrel'd , by exciting and mingling with them . as in like manner , the oil of tartar , which monsur ●errier made , attracting to it self the volatil spirits of roses , diffused in the air in their season , suffer'd such a fermentation : and made every year new attractions of the like spirits , in regard of the affinity which this oil had contracted with those spirits at first ; which it lost again still as the season passed . and t is for the very same reason , that a table-cloath , or napkin , spoted with mulberries , or red wine , is eas●ly whitned again , at the season that the plants flower ; wheras at any other time , these spots can hardly be washed out . but , t is not only in france , and other places where vines are near cellars of wine , that this fermentation happens : in england , where we have not vines enough to make wine , the same thing is observed ; yea , and some particularities farther . although they make no wine in our country , to any considerable proportion , yet we have wine there in great abundance , brought over by the merchants . it uses to come principally from three places , viz. from the canaries , from spain , from gascony . now , these regions being under different degrees and climates , in point of latitude , and consequently one country being hotter or colder , than the other ; so that the same vegetals grow to maturity sooner : it comes to pass , that the foresaid fermentation of our differing wines advances it self more or less , according as the vines , whence they proceed , do bud and flower in the region where they grow ; it being consentaneous to reason , that every sort of wine attracts more willingly the spirits of those vines whence it comes , than of any other . i cannot forbear making some digression here , to unfold some other effects of nature ; which we see often , and are not less curious , than the most principal we treat of , and wil seem to be derived from more obscure causes ; notwithstanding , in many circumstances , they depend on the same principles , and , in many , much differing . first , touching m●les or marks , which happen to infants when their mothers , during the time of their pregnancy , have long'd for some particular th●ngs . to proceed after my accustomed manner ; i will begin with an example . a lady of high condition , whom many of this assembly know , at least by reputation , hath upon her n●ck the figure of a mu●berry ; as exactly as any painter or sculp●or can possibly represent one : for it bears not only the colour , but the just proportion of a mulberry , and is as it were emboss'd upon her flesh . the mother of this lady , being w●th-child , had a great mind to eat some mul●erries ; and her fancy bein● satisfied , one of them casually fell upon her neck ; the sanguin juice whereof was soon wiped off , and she felt nothing at that time . but the child being born , the perfect figure of a mulberry was seen upon her neck ; in the same place where it fel upon the mothers : and every year , in mulberpy season , this impression , or rather this excrescence of flesh sweld , grew big , and itch'd . another lady who had the like mark of a stra●berry , was more incommodated therwith ; for it , not only grew inflamed and itch'd in strawberry-season , but broke , like an impostume , whence iss●ed forth a sharp corrosive humor . but , a skilful surgeon took all away , to the very roots , by cauterizing ; so that , since that time , she never felt any pain or alteration in that place which incommodated her so much ; it being become a simple scar. now then , le ts endeavour to penetrate , if we can , the causes and reasons of these marvailous effects . but , to go the more handsomly to work , let us reflect . that , in the actions of all our senses , there is a material and corporal participation of the things we are sensible of , viz. some atoms of the body operate upon our senses , and enter into their organs ; which serve them as funnels , to conduct and carry them to the brain and the imagination . this appears evidently in vapours and savours . and for hearing , the exterior air , being agitated , causes a movement within the membrane or tympane of the ear , which gives the like shake to the hammer tyed thereto ; and that beating upon its anvil , causes a reciprocal motion in the air , which is shut within the crannies of the ear ; and this is that which we usually call sound . touching the sight , t is evident that the light , reflecting from the body that is seen , enters into the eyes ; and cannot , bu●bring with it some emanations of the body wheron it reflects ; as we have establish'd in our second principle . it remains now to shew that the like is done in the grossest of our senses , the touch or feeling . and if it be true , as we have shewn , that every body sends forth a continual emanation of atoms out of it self : it makes much for the assertion of this truth . but to render it yet more manifest , and take away all possibility of doubt , i will demonstrate it evidently to the eye : wherof every one may make an experience in a quarter of an hour , if he be so curious , yea , in a less compass of time . i believe you all know the notable affinity betwixt gold and quick-silver . if gold but touches mercury , that sticks close to it , and whitens it so , that it scarce appears gold , but silver only . if you cast this blanched gold into the fire , the heat chases and drives away the mercury , and the gold returns to its former colour : but , if you repeat this often , the gold calcines , and then you may pound , and reduce it to powder . now , there is no dissolvant in the world that can well calcine and burn the body of gold , but quick-silver . i speak of that which is already formed by nature ; without engaging my self to speak of that which is talked of among the secrets of philosophy . take then , a spoonful of mercury in some porcelan or other dish , and finger it with one hand : if you have a gold-ring on the other hand , it will become white and covered with mercury ; though it doth not any way touch it . moreover , if you take a leaf or a crown of gold in your mouth , and put but one of your toes in a vessel where mercury is ; the gold in your mouth , though you shut your lips never so close , shall turn white and laden with mercury : then , if you put the gold in the fire , to make all the mercury evaporate , and re-iterate this thing often , your gold will be calcin'd , as if you had , by amalgation , joyn'd mercury therwith corporally . and all this will yet be done more speedily and effectually , if , in lieu of common mercury , you make use of mercury of antimony , which is much hotter , and more penetrating ; and , though you drive it away by force of fire , it will carry away with it a good quantity of the substance of the gold ; that , re-iterating often this operation , there will no more gold remain for you to continue your experiments . if then , cold mercury doth so penetrate the whole body ; we ought not to think it strange , that subtil atoms of fruit composed of many fiery parts wil pass with more facility and quickness . i could further make you see how such spirits & emanations suddenly also penetrateev'n steel ; though it be a substance so compacted , cold , and hard , that the said atoms keep there residence their many months and years . in a living body , such as is mans : the intern spirits aid and contribute much facility to the spirits that are without , ( such as those of fruits are , ) to make their journy to the brain . the great architect of nature in the fabrick of a human body , the master piece of corporal nature , hath placed there some intern spirits , to serve as sentinels , to bring their discoveries to their general , the imagination , ( which is , as it were , the mistress of the whole family , ) wherby the man might know and understand , what is done without his kingdom , in the great world ; and might shun what is noxious and seek after that which is profitable . for , these sentinels or intern spirits , with all the inhabitants of the sensitive organs , are not able to to judg alone : insomuch , that , if the imagination or thought , be distracted strongly to some other object , these intern spirits do not know whether a man hath drunk the wine which he hath swa●low'd ; if perchance , seeing a person who comes to salute him , he fixes his eye upon him all the while , or he listens attentively to the air of some melodious song or musical instrument . the inward spirits the●efore bring all their acquisitions to the imagination ; and if she be not more strongly bent upon another object , she falls a forming certain id●as and images : for the atoms from without , being convey'd by these intern spirits to our imagination , erect there the like edifice , or else a model in short resembling the great body whence they come , and if the imagination hath no more use of those significative atoms for the present , she ranges them in some proper place within her magazin , the memory ; where she can recall , and send them back when she pleases . and if there be any object which causes some emotions in the imagination , and touches her nearer , than common objects use to do ; she sends back her sentinels , the internal spirits , upon the confines , to bring her more particular news . hence it proceeds that being surprized by some particular person , or other object , that has already some eminent place in his imagination , be it with desire or aversion , man suddenly changes colour , and becomes now red , then pale , then red again at divers times : according as the ministers , which are those intern spirits , go quick or slow towards their object , and return with their reports to their mistress , which is the imagination . but , besides these passages we speak of , from the brain to the external parts of the body , by the ministry of the nerv's ; there is also a great road from the brain to the heart ; by which the vital spirits ascend from the heart to the brain , to be animated : and hereby the imagination sends to the heart those atoms which she hath receiv'd from some external object . and there they make an ebullition among the vital spirits ; which , according to the intervening atoms , either cause a dilatation of the heart , and so gladden it ; or contract it , and so sadden it : and these two differing and contrary actions are the first general effects , whence proceed afterwards the particular passions ; which require not that i pursue them too far in this place , having done it more particularly else where , and more expresly . besides these passages , which are common to all men and women , there is another that 's peculiar only to females ; which is , from the brain to the matrix : wherby it often falls out that such violent vapours mount up to the brain ; and those in so great a number , that they often hinder the operation of the brain and imagination , causing convulsions and follies , with other strange accidents ; and by the same channel , the spirits or atoms pass with a greater liberty and swiftness to the womb or matrix , when the case requires . now , le ts consider how the strong imagination of one m●n doth marvailously act upon another man , who hath it more feeble and passive . we see daily , that , if a person gape ; those who see him gaping are excited to do the same . if one fall in company with persons that are in a fit of laughter , he can hardly forbear laughing , though he knows not , why they laugh : or if one enters into an house where all the world is sad ; he becomes melancholy . women and children , being very moist and passive , are most susceptible of this unpleasing contagion of the imagination . i have known a very melancholy woman , which was subject to the disease called the mother ; and while she continued in that mood , she thought her self possessed , and did strange things , which among those that knew not the cause , passed for supernatural effects , and of one possessed by the ill spirit , she was a person of quality ; and all this hap'ned through the deep resentment she had for the death of her husband . she had attending her four or five young gentlewomen ; wherof some were her kinswomen , and others serv'd her as chamber-maids : all these came to be possessed as she was , and did prodigious actions . these young maids were separated from her sight and communication ; and not having yet contracted such profound roots of the evil , they came to be all cured by their absence : and this lady was also cured afterwards by a physician , who purg'd the atrabilious humors , and restored her matrix to its former estate . there was neither imposture , or dissimulation in this . i could make a notable recital of such passions , that hap'ned to the nuns at lodun : but , having done it in a particular discourse at my return from that country , where i , as exactly as i could , discussed the point , i will forbear speaking therof at this time . and only pray you to remember , that , when two lutes or harps , near one another are both set to the same ●une ; if you touch the strings of the one , the other consonant instrument will sound at the same time , though no body touch it ; whereof galileo hath ingeniously rendred the reason . now , to make application to our purpose of all that hath been produced about it , i say that , since it is impossible , that any two several persons should be so near one the other as the mother and the infant in her womb ; one may thence conclude , that all the effects of a strong and vehement imagination , working upon another more feeble , passive , and tender , ought to be more efficacious in the mother acting upon her infant , than when the imaginations of other persons act upon those who are nothing to them . and , as it is impossible for a master of musick , let him be never so expert and exact , to tune so perfectly any two harps , as the great master of the universe do●h the two bodies of the mother and the infant ; so by consequence , the concussion of the principal strings of the mother , which is her imagination , must produce a greater shaking of the consonant string in the infant , to wit , his imagination , than the string of one lute being struck , can of the consonant strings of another . wherefore , when the mother sends spirits to some parts of her body , the like must be sent to those parts of the childs body . now , le ts call to memory , how the imagination of the mother is ful of corporeal atoms , coming from the mulberry or strawberry , that fel upon her neck and brest ; and her imagination being then surprized with an emotion , by the suddenness of the accident , it follows necessarily , that she must send some of these atoms also to the brain of the infant , and so to the same part of the body , where she took the stain at first ; twixt which and the brain , there pass such frequent and speedy messengers , as we have formerly set forth . the infant also having his parts tuned in an harmonious consonance with the mothers , cannot fail to observe the same movement of spirits , twixt his imaginations and his neck and brest , as the mother did 'twixt hers : and , these spirits , being accompanied with atoms of the mulberry , which the mother convey'd to his imagination , make a deep impression and lasting mark upon his delicate skin , wheras that of the mothers was more hard . as if one should let fly a pistol charg'd with powder only , against a marble , the powder would do nothing but ●ully it a little , which may quickly be rub'd off ; but if one should discharge such a pistol at a man's face , the grains of the powder would pierce the skin , and stick and dwel there , all his life time , making themselvs known by their black-blewish colour , which they always conserve . in like manner , the smal grains or atoms of the fruit , which passed from the mothers neck to the imagination of the infant , and thence to the same place upon his skin , do lodg and continually dwel there for the future ; and serve as a source to draw the atoms of the like fruit dispersed in the air , in their season , ( as the wine in the tun draws to it the volatil spirits of the vines ) and by drawing them , the part of the skin , where they reside , ferments , swels , corrod's , inflames , and sometimes break● . but to render yet more considerable these marvailous marks of longing , ( since we are upon this subject ) , i cannot forbear to touch also another circumstance , which might seem at first to be a miracle of nature , beyond the causes which i have alledg'd : but having well eventilated it , we shall obsolutely find that it depends upon the same principles . t' is . that oftentimes it falls out , that the impression of the thing desired or longed for by the mother , sticks on the child ; though the thing it self ne'r toucht the mothers body . t' is sufficient , that some other thing fal or inexpectedly beat upon some part of the woman with-child , while such a longing predominates in her imagination ; and the figure of the thing so long'd for , will be found at last imprinted on the same part of the body of the infant , where the mother receiv'd the stroke . the reason hereof is , that the atoms of the thing long'd for , being rais'd up by the light , go to the brain of the mother , through the channel of her eyes , as well as other more material atoms , proceeding from the corporeal touch , would go thither , by the guidance of the nervs : and , of these petty bodies , the mother forms in her imagination a complete model of that whence they flow by way of emanation . now , if her mind only run on it , these atoms , which are in her imagination , make no other voyage , than to her heart , and thence to the imagination and heart of the infant ; and so cause a reinforcement of the passion in them both which may be moved to such a violent impetuosity , that , if the mother doth not enjoy her long'd-for object , this passion may cause the destruction both of her and her infant , at least make so great a change in their bodies as may prejudice them both in their healths ' but , if some unlook'd-for blow surprize the mother in any part of her body , it often happens that the spirits , which reside in the brain , are immediately sent to that part by her imagination . and , in all such sudden surprisals , either in women or men , these spirits are transported with the more impetuosity , the more the passion is violent : as , when one loves another passionately , he runs suddenly to the door when any knocks , or that — hylax in limine latrat , hoping always t' is the party that entirely occupies his thoughts , ( for qui amant ipsi sili s●mnia fingunt ) who comes to give him a visit . these spirits then moved by this sudden assault , being mingled with the petty bodies or atoms of the long'd-for thing which poss●sses so powerfully the fantasie , carry them along with themselvs to the part of the body which is struck ; as also to the same part of the body of the infant , as well as to his imagination : and after that , all which haprens is but the same in respect of the mother and the child ; as when the mu●berry or strawberry fell upon the neck or breast of the ladies , with whom i have entertain'd you . permit me , my lords , to inlarge my digression a little further by re-accounting to you a marvailous accident , known all over the court of england ; in the confirmation of the activity and impression which the imagination of the mother makes upon the body of the infant in her womb . a lady that was my kinswoman , ( she was the neice of fortescu , the daughter of count arundel ) came to give me visits somtimes in london ; she was handsome and knew it well ; taking great complacency not only to keep her self so , but to add that which she could further : wherefore being perswaded that black patches which she used , gave her a great deal of ornament , she was careful to wear the most curious sort . but as it is very hard to keep a moderation , in things which depend more upon opinion , than nature ; she wore them in excess , and patched most of her face with them , though that did not much add to her beauty , and i took the liberty to tell her so yet i thought it no opportunity then , to do any thing that should give her the least diftast ; since with so much civility and sweetness she came to visit me . nevertheless , one day i thought good , in a kind of drolling way so that she might not take any disgust , ( and ridentem dicere verum quis vetat ? ) to tell her of it ; so i let my discourse fall upon her great-belly , advising her to have a care of her health , wherof she was somewhat negligent ; according to the custom of young vigorous women , which know not yet what it is to be subject to indispositions , she gently thank'd me for my care herein ; saying , that she could do no more for the preservation of her health , than she did , though she was in that case . you should at least , i reply'd , have a great care of your child , o! for that , said she , there is nothing can be contributed . yet , i told her , see how many patches you we●r upon your face : are you not afraid that the infant in your womb may haply be born with such marks on his face ? but , said she , what danger is there that my child should bear such marks , though i put them on artificially ? then , you have not heard , i reply'd , the marvailous effects that the imaginations of mothers work upon the bodies of their children , while they are yet big with them ; therfore i will reaccount to you some of them . so i related to her sundry stories upon this subject : as , that of the queen of ethiopia , who was delivered of a white boy ; which was attributed to a pictu reof the blessed virgin , she had near the teaster of her bed , where bore she great devotion . i urged another , of awoman who was brought to bed of a child all hairie ; because of a pourtrait of st. iohn baptist in the wilderness , when he wore a coat of camels hair . i re-accounted to her also the strange antipathy which the late king iames had to a naked sword ; wherof the cause was ascribed to some schotch lords , entring once violently into the bed-chamber of the queen his mother , while she was with child of him , where her secretary , an italian , was dispatching some letters for her : whomthey hack'd and kill'd with naked s●ords , before her face , and threw him at her feet ; and they grew so barbarous , that they had near hurt the queen her self who endeavour'd to save her secretary by interp●sing her self , for her skin was rased in divers places . bucanan makes mention of this tragedy . hence it came that her son , king iames , had such an aversion all his life time to a naked sword ; that he could not see one , without a great emotion of spirits : and , though otherwise couragious enough , he could not over-master his passions in this particular . i remember , when he dub'd me knight ; in the ceremony of putting a naked sword upon my shoulder , he could not endure to look upon it , but turned his face another way ; insomuch that , in lieu of touching my shoulder , he had almost thrust the point into my eyes , had not the duke of buckingingham guided his hand aright . i alledg'd to her divers such stories ; to make her apprehend , that a strong imagination of the mother might cause some notable impression upon the body of her child , to his prejudice . and 'pray consider , said i , how attentive you are to your patches , how you have them continually in your imagination ; for , i have observed , that you have look'd on them ten times since you came to this room , in the looking-glass . have you , therfore , no apprehension that your child may be born with half-moons upon his face ; or rather , that all the black , which you spot in several places up and down may assemble in one , and appear in the middle of his forehead , the most apparant and remarkable part of the visage , as broad as a iacobus : and then , what a grace would it be to the child . o●mee ! said she , rather than that should happen , i will wear no more patches , and while i am with-child : therupon instantly she pul'd them all off , and threw them away . when her friends saw her afterwards without patches ; they demanded how it came to pass , that she , who was esteem'd to be one of the most curious beauties of the court , in point of patches , should so suddenly give over wearing them ? she answer'd , that her uncle , in whom she had a great deal of belief , assured her , that , if she wore them , during the time she was with-child , the infant would have a large black patch in the midst of his forehead . now , this conceit was so lively engraven in her imagination , that she could not thrust it out : and so this poor lady , who was so fearful that her child should bear some black mark in its face , yet could not prevent , but it came so into the world , and had a spot as large as a crown of gold in the midst of the forehead ; according as she had figured before in her imagination . it was a daughter that she brought forth every way very beautiful , this excepted : 't is but few moneths since , that i saw her bearing the said mole or spot , which proceeded from the force of the imagination of her mother . i need not tel you of your neighbour of carcassona ; who lately was brought to bed of a prodigious monster , exactly resembling an ape , which she took pleasure to look upon , during the time she was with-child : for , i conceive you know the story better than i. nor of the woman of st. maixent , who could not forbear going to see an infortunate child of a poor passenger woman , that was born without arms ; and she her self was deliver'd afterwards of such a monster ; who yet had some smal excrescences of flesh upon the shoulders , about the place whence the arms should have come forth . as also of her who was desirous to see the execution of a criminal , that had his head cut off according to the laws of france : wherof her affrightment made so deep a print upon her imagination , that presently falling in labour , before they could carry her , to her lodging , she was brought to-bed , before her time , of a child who had his head sever'd from his body , both the parts yet shedding fresh blood , besides that which was abundantly shed in the womb ; as if the heads-man had done an execution also upon the tender young body within the mothers wombe . these three examples , manifestly enough prove the strength of the imagination : and many others , as true i could produce ; which would engage me too far , if i should undertake to clear the causes and unwrap the difficulties that would be found greater in them , than in any of those wherwith i have entertain'd you . because those spirits had the power to cause essential changes and fearful effects , upon bodies that were already brought to their perfect shapes ; and it may be well believ'd , that in some of them there was a transmutation of one species to another , and the introduction of a new form into the subject-matter , totally differing from that which had been introduced at first ; at least , if that which most naturalists tell us , at the animation of the embryo in the womb , be true . but this digression hath been already too long to return then , to the great channel and thrid of our discourse . the examples and experiments , which i have already insisted on in confirmation of the reasons i have aledg'd , clearly demonstrate that bodies , which draw the atomes dispersed in the air , attract themselvs such as are of their own nature , with a greater force and energy , than other heterogeneous and strange atoms ; as wine doth the vinal spirits ; the oyl of tartar perfum'd in the making , with roses , drew the volatil spirits of the rose ; the flesh of deer , or venison buried in crust , attracts the spirits of those beasts ; and so all the other wherof i have spoken . the history of the tarantula , in the kingdom of naples , is very famous : you know how the venome of this animal , ascending from the part that was bitten , towards the head and heart of the par●ies ; excites in their imagination an impetuous desire to hear some melodious airs ; and most commonly they are delighted with differing airs . therfore , when they hear an air that pleases them , they begin to dance incessantly ; and , therby fall a sweating in such abundance , that a great part of the venome evaporates . besides , the sound of the musick raises a movement , and causes an agitation among the aereal and vaporous spirits in the brain , and about the heart ; and diffused up and down through the whole body , proportionably to the nature and cadence of such musick ! as , when timotheus transported alexander the great with such a vehemency , to what passions he pleas'd : and , as when one lute struck makes the consonant strings of the other to tremble , by the motions and tremblings which it causes in the air ; though they be not touch'd otherwise at all . we find too , oftentimes , that sounds ( which are no other thing , than motions of the air , ) cause the like movement in the water : as , the harsh sound , caus'd by rubbing hard with ones finger , the brim of a 〈◊〉 full of water , excites a noise , a turning , and boundings , as if it danced according to the cadence of the sound : the harmonious sounds also of bells , in those countries where they use to be rung to particular tunes , makes the like impressions upon the superficies of the rivers that are nigh the steeple , as in the air especially in the night time , when there is no other movement , to stop or choak the other supervenient one . for , the air being contiguous , or rather continuous , with the water ; and the water being susceptible of movement ; ther 's the like motion caused in the fluid parts of the water , as began in the air . and , the same contract , which is betwixt the agitated air , and the water by this means moved to ; happens also to be betwixt the agitated air , and the vap'rous spirits in those bodies that have been bitten by the tarantula ; which spirits , by consequence , are moved by the agitated air , that is to say , by the sound ; and that the more efficaciously , the more this agitation or sound is proportion'd to the nature and temperature of the party hurt . and , this intern agitation of the spirits and vapours helps them to discharge the vaporous venom of the tarantula , which is mixt among all their humours : as standing puddle waters and corrupted airs , putrified by long repose , and the mixture of other noisome substance● , are refin'd and purifi'd by motion . now , winter appro●ching , which destroys these animals , the persons are freed from this malady ; but , at the return of that season when they use to be bitten , the mischief returns , and they must dance again as they did , the year before . the reason is , that the heat of summer revives these beasts , so that their venom becomes as malignant and furious as before ; and , that being heated and evaporating it self , and dispersing in the air the leven of the same poyson , which remains in the bodies of them who have been hurt , that draws it to it self ; wherby such a fermentation is wrought , as infects the other humours , and thence a kind of steam issuing and mounting to the brain , uses to produce such strange effects . it is also well known that , where there are great dogs or mastifs ( as in england ) if any be bitten perchance by them , they commonly use to be kil'd , though they be not mad ; for fear , least the leven of the canine choler which remains within the body of the party bitten , might draw to it the malignant spirits of the same dog , ( should he afterwards chance to be mad ) which might come to distemper the spirits of the person . and , this is not only practised in england , where there are such dangerous dogs ; but also in france ; according to the report of father cheron , provincial of the ●armelites in this gountrey ; in his examen de la theologie mystique , newly imprinted , and which i have lately read . i will say nothing of artificial noses , made of the flesh of other men , to remedy the deformity of those , who by an extreme excess of cold , have lost their own : which new noses putrifie , as soon as those persons , out of whose substance they were taken , come to die ; as if that small parcel of flesh , engrafted on the face , lived by the spirits it drew from it's first root and source . for , though this be constantly avouch'd by considerable authors , yet i desire you to think that i offer you nothing which is not verified by solid tradition ; such , that it were a weakness to doubt of it . but , it is high time that i come now to my seventh and last principle : it is the last turn of the engine , and will , i hope , batter down quite the gate which hindred us an entrance to the knowledge of this so marvailous a mystery ; and imprint such a lawful mark upon the doctrine proposed , that 't will pass for current . this principle is , that the source of those spirits or little bodies , wh●ch attract them to it self , draws likewise after them that which accompanies , and whatever sticks and is united to them . this co●clusion needs not much proof , being evident enough of it self . if there be nails , pins , or ribands , tied to the end of a long chord or chain , and withal a lump , either of wax , gum , or glue ; and i take this chord or chain by one end , and draw it to me , till the other end come to my hand : it cannot be otherwise but , at the same time , the nails , the pins , the ribands , the lump , and in fine , all that hangs at it must come to my hand . i go therfore to relate to you , only , some experiments that have been made , in consequence of this principle ; which will most strongly confirm the others produced before . the great fertility and riches of england consists chiefly in pasturage for cattle ; wherof we have the fairest in the world , principally of oxen and kine . ther 's not the meanest cottager , but hath a cow to furnish his family with milk : 't is the principal sustenance of the poorer sort of people , as 't is also in switzerland ; which makes them very careful of the good keeping and health of their cows . now , if it happen that the milk boil over , and so comes to fall into the fire , the good woman or maid presently gives over whatever she is adoing and runs to take the vessel off the fire : and , at the same time , she takes a handful of salt , which uses to be commonly in the corner of the chimney to keep it dry ▪ and throws it upon the cinders where the milk was shed . ask her , wherfore she doth so ? and she will tell you , 't is to prevent a mischief to the cows udder , which gave this milk : for without this remedy , it would grow hard and ulcerated ; and she would come to piss blood , and so be in danger to die . not that 't would rise to this extremity the first time ; but she would grow ill-disposed , and if this should happen often , the cow would soon miscarry . it might seem that there were some superstition or folly in this : but the infallibility of the effect warrants from the last , and , for the first , many indeed believe that the malady of the cow is supernatural , or an effect of sorcery , and consequently that the remedy which i have alledg'd is superstitious ; but 't is easie to disabuse any man of this perswasion , by declaring how the business goes , according to the foundations i have laid . the milk falling upon the burning coals is converted to vapour , which disperses and filtreth it self through the circumambient air , where it encounters the light and solar rays which tran●port it further ; augmenting and extending still farther the sphere of its activity . this vapour of the milk is not alone or simple ; but compos'd of fiery atoms , which accompany the smoke and vapour of the milk , mingling and uniting themselvs therwith . now , the sphere of the said vapour extending it self to the place where the cow is ; her udder , which is the source whence the milk proceeded , attracts to it the said vapour , and sucks it in together with the fiery atoms that accompanied it . the udder is , part , glandulous and very tender ; and consequently very subject to inflammations : this fire then heats , inflames , and swells it ; and in fine , makes it hard and ulcerated . the inflamed and ulcerated udder is near the bladder ; which comes likewise to be inflamed : making the anastomoses and communication 'twixt the veins and arteries to open and cast forth blood , and to regorge into the bladder , whence the urine empty's it self . but , whence comes it , you will ask , that the salt remedies all this ? 't is because that is of a nature clean contrary to the fire ; the one being hot and volatil , the other cold and fixed : insomuch that , where they use to encounter , the salt , as it were , knocks down the fire , by precipitating and destroying its action ; as may be observ'd in a very ordinary accident . the chimneys which are full of soot use to take fire very easily ; and , the usual remedy for this is to discharge a musket in the funnel of the chimney , which loosneth and brings down with it the fired soot , and then the disorder ceases : but , if there be no musket , or pistol , or other instrument to fetch down the soot , they use to cast a great quantity of salt on the fire below ; and that chokes , and hinders the atoms of fire , that otherwise would incessantly mount up and joyn with them above , which , by this means wanting nouriture , consume themselvs , and come to nothing . the same thing befalls the atoms which are ready to accompany the vapour of the milk ; the salt precipitates and kills them on the very place : and if any chance to scape and save themselvs , by the great strugglings they make , and go along with the said vapour , they are nevertheless accompanied with the atoms and spirit of the salt sticking to them ; which , like good wrestlers , never leave their hold , till they have got the better of their adversary . and you may please to observe by the by , that that there is not a more excellent balme for a burn , than the spirit of salt , in a moderate quantity . 't is then apparent , that there cannot be employ'd any means more efficacious , to hinder the ill effects of the fire upon the udder of the cow ; than to cast upon her milk , that has boil'd over upon the cinders , a sufficient quantity of salt. this effect , of securing the cows udder upon the burning of her milk , makes me call to mind , what divers have told me they have seen both 〈◊〉 france and england , viz. when the physicians examine the milk of a nurse , for the child of a person of quality , they use to make proofs several ways , before they come to judg definitively of the goodness thereof ; as , by the taste , by the smell , by the colour and consistence of it : and sometimes they cause it to be boil'd , till it come to an evaporation and they see it's residence , with other accidents and circumstances which may be learnt and discern'd by this means . but , those , of whose milk this last experiment hath been made , have felt themselvs so tormented in their paps , while their milk was a boiling ▪ that , having once endured this pain , they would never consent that their milk should be carried away out of their sight and presence : though they willingly submited to any other proof than that by fire . now , to confirm this experiment of the attraction which the cows udder makes of the fire and vapour of the burnt milk , i am going to recount to you another of the same nature ; wherof i my self have seen the truth more than once , and wherof any one may easily make trial . take the excrement o● a dog , and throw it into the fire , more than once ; at first you shall find him heated and moved , but , in a short time , you shall see him , as if he were burnt all over , panting and stretching out his tongue , as if he had run a long course . now , this alteration befalls him , because his entrails , drawing to them the vapour of the burn'd excrement , and , with that vapour , the atoms of fire which accompanied it , grow so chang'd and inflam'd , that the dog , having always a fever upon him , and not being able to take any nourishment , his flancks cling together and he dies . 't were dangerous to divulge this experience among such persons , as are subject to make use of any thing for doing of miscief : for , the same effect , would be wrought upon mens bodies , if one should try the conclusion upon their excrements . there hap'ned a remarkable thing to this purpose , to a neighbor of mine in england , the last time i was there : he had a very pretty child , whom because he would have always in his eye , he kept the nurse in his house . i saw him often , for he was a stirring man , and of good address ; and i had occasion to use such a man. one day i found him very sad , and his wife a weeping : wherof demanding the reason , they told me that that their little child was very ill ; that he had a burning fever , which inflamed him all over , as appear'd the redness of his face ; that he strove to go to stool , but could do little , and that little he did was cover'd with blood ; and that he refused also to suck : and that which troubled them most was , that they could not conjecture how this indisposition come ; for his nurse was very well , her milk was as good as could be wished ; and in all other things there was as much care had of him as could be . i told them , that the last time i was with them , i observ'd one particularity , wherof i thought fit to give them notice ; but somthing or other still diverted me ; 't was this , that the child , making a sign that he was desirous to be set on his feet , let fall his excrements on the ground ; and his nurse presently took the fire-shovel and cover'd them with embers , and then threw all into the fire ▪ the mother began to make her excuses , that they were not more careful to correct this ill habit of the child ; telling me that , as he advanc'd in years , he should be corrected for it . i replied , that 't was not for this consideration that i spake of it : but searching after the reason of her childs distemper , and consequently to find some remedy . and thereupon , i related to them the like accident which had hap'ned , two or three three years before , to a child of one of the most illustrious magistrates of the parliament of paris ; who was bred up in the house of a doctor of physick of great reputation in the same town : i told them also what i have now related to you , touching the excrements of dogs . and i made reflections to them upon a thing they had often heard , and which is often practised in our country ; viz. that , in the villages , which are always dirty in the winter , if there happens to be a farmer any thing more neat than others , and that keeps the approaches to his house cleaner than his neighbours do , the boys use to come thither , in the night time or when it begins to be dark , to discharge their bellies there : because , in such villages there is not much commodity of easments ; besides that in such clean places the knaves are out of danger to sink into the dirt , which otherwise might rise up higher than their shooes . the good houswives in the morning , when they open their doors , and find such an ill-favour'd smell , use to be transported with choller : but they , who are acquainted with this trick , go presently and make red hot a spit , or fire-shovel , and thrust it so into the excrements , and when 't is quencht , they heat it again and again to the same purpose . mean while the boy , that had plaid the sloven , feels a kind of pain and collick in his bowels , with an inflammation in his fundament and a continual desire to go to stool : and he is hardly quit of it , till he suffer a kind of feaver all that day ; which makes him return thither no more . and these women , to be freed from such affronts , pass among the ignorant for sorceresses , and to have made a compact with the divel ; since they torment people in that fashion , without seeing or touching them . this gentleman did not disallow those things i have already told you ; but was confirm'd farther when i wish'd him to look farther into the fundament of his child , for without doubt he should find it red and inflamed , and perhaps full of pimples , and excoriated . not long after , this poor chil● grew ill , and with much pain and pitiful cries , voided some small matter : which in lieu of casting into the fire or covering it with embers , i caused to be put into a bason of cold water and set in a cool place . this was continued to be done , every time the child gave occasion ; and he began to amend the very same hour , and , within four or five daies became perfectly well recover'd . but , least i trespass too much upon your patience , i 'le hold you no longer , but with one experiment more , very familiar in our countrey : and then i will summ up all that hath been said ; to make you see the force and import of this whole d●scourse . we have in england , as i touch'd before , excellent pasturage for the feeding and fatting of ca●tle ; so abundant , th●● , it falls out often , the oxen come to acquire such excess of ●at that it extends it self in a great quantity to their legs and feet and even hoofs ; which many times causes impostumes in the of their feet that comes to swel and get a core full of putrified matter , so that the beast is not able to go . the owners observing that , though the beef be never the worse for the shambles , yet they are damnified therby ; because , not being able to bring them to london , ( where the grand market is for fat beefs through all england , as paris is for auuergne , normandy , and other provinces of france , ) they are constrain'd to kill them up on the place , where their flesh is not worth half the price they might have got in london : the owners , i say , have recourse to this remedy viz. observing where the oxe , cow , or heifer , fix upon the ground the sick foot , at first rising up in the morning ; that very turf with the print of the foot on it , they cut up , and hang upon a tree or hedg lying open to the north wind : and , that wind blowing upon the turf , the beast comes to be cured , within three or four daies ▪ very perfectly , but if one should p●t that turf towards the south or south west wind the foot would grow worse . these circumstances wil not seem superstitio●s to you when you shall have consider'd , how , that , by the repose of the night , the corrupt matter or core uses to gather , in a great quantity under the foot of the beast ; which being set on the ground in the morning presses forth the impostume : the matter wherof sticks to the place . now , this turf of earth being exposed in some proper place , to receive the dry cold blasts of the northern winds ; those blasts intermingle with the said corrupt impostumated matter : which spreading its spirits about through all the air , the ulcerated foot of the animal , ( being their sourse ) draws them to it , and with them the cold dry atoms which cure it ; the malady requiring no other help than to be wel dry'd , and refreshed . but , if one should expose this turf to a moist hottish wind , it weuld produce contrary effects . behold , my lords , all my wheels formed ; i confess they are ill filed and polished , but let us try whether , being put together and mounted , they wil make the engin go : which , if they do , and fairly draw in the conclusion , you will , i presume , have the goodness to pardon the gr●ssness of my language ; and , passing by the words , content your selvs with the naked truth of the things . let us therefore apply what ha's been said , to that which is practic'd , when a hurt person is cured . let us consider mr● ho●el wounded in the hand , and a great inflammation following upon his hurt ; his garter is taken , cover'd with the blood that issued from the wound , and is steep'd in a bason of water where v●triol was dissolv'd , one keeps the bason in a closet moderately warm'd by the sun all day , and at night in the chimney corner ; so that the blood upon the garter be always in a good natural temperament , neither colder nor hotter than the degree required in a healthful body : what now must result , ( according to the doctrine that we endeavour to establish , ) from all this ? in the first place , the sun and light will attract , a great extent and distance off , the spirits of the blood upon the garter : and the moderate heat of the chimney , acting gently upon the composition , ( which comes to the same thing , as if one should carry it dry in his pocket , to make it feel the temperate heat of the body , ) will push out and thrust forward still the said atoms , and make them march of themselvs a good way in the air round about , to help therby the attraction of the sun and light. secondly , the spirit of vitriol , being incorporated with the blood cannot choose but make the same voyage together with the atoms of the blood . thirdly , the wounded hand expires and exhales , in the mean time , continually abundance of hot fiery spirits , which stream as a river out of the inflamed hurt : nor can this be , but the wound must , consequently , draw to it the air which is next it . fourthly , this air must draw to it the other air next it , and that the next to it also ; and so there will be a kind of current of air drawn round about the wound . fiftly , with this air will come to incorporate at last the atoms and spirits of the blood and vitriol , which were d●ffused a good way off in the air , by the attractions of the light and the sun : besides , it may well be , that , from the begining , the orb and sphere of these atomes and spirits extended it self to so great a distance ; without having need of the attractions of the air , or light to make them come thither . sixthly , the atoms of blood , finding the proper source and original root whence they issued , will stay there , re-entering into their natural beds and prim●tive receptacles : wheras the other air , being but a passenger , will evaporate away as soon as it comes ; as , when it is carried away through the funnel of the chimney , as soon as it is drawn into the chamber by the door . seventhly , the atoms of the blood being inseparable from the spirits of the vitriol , both the one and the other will joyntly be imbibed together within all the corners , fibres , and orifices of the veins which lye open about the wound ; whence it must of necessity be refresh● , and in fine imperceptibly cured . now to know in virtue of what such an effect and cure is so happily performed , we must examine the nature of vitriol : which is composed of two parts ; the one fixed , the other volatil . the fixed , which is the salt , is sharp and biting , and cauftique in some degree . the volatil is smooth , soft , balsamical , and astringent ; and 't is for that reason that vitriol is made use of , as a sovereign remedy for the inflammations of the eyes , when they are corroded and parched by some sharp and burning humor or defluction ; as also in injections , where excoriations require them , and in the best plaisters to stanch the blood and incarnate hurts . but , they who well know how to draw the sweet oyl of vitriol , which is the pure volatil part therof , know also that in the whole closet of nature , there is no balm like this oyl : for , it heals in a very short time , all kind of hurts which are not mortal , it cures and consolidates the broken veins of the breast ; ev'n to the ulcers in the lungs , which is an incurable malady without this balm . now , 't is the volatil part of the vitriol , which is transported by the sun ( the great distiller of nature ) and which by that means dilates it self in the air : and that the wound or part which receiv'd the hurt , draws and incorporates with the blood and its humours and spirits . which being true , we cannot expect a less effect of the volatil vitriol , but that it should shut the veins , stanch the blood , and so , in a short time heal the wound . the method and primitive manner how to make use of this sympathetical remedy was , to take only some vitriol , and that of the common sort , as it came from the druggists , without any preparation or addition at all ; and to make it dissolve in fountain ( or rather in rain-water , ) to such a proportion , that , putting therin a knife or some polished iron , it should come out chang'd into the colour of copper : and , into this water , they used to put a clowt or rag embrued with the blood of the party hurt ; if the rag were dry : but , if the rag was yet fresh , and moist with the reaking blood , there was no need but to sprinkle it with the smal powder of the same vitriol ; so that the powder might incorporate it self with , and imbibe the blood remaining yet humid . in both cases the rag was to be kept in a temperate heat or place ; viz. the powder in ones pocket , and the water ( which admits not of this commodity ) within a chamber where the heat should be temperate , and , every time that one should put new water of vitriol or fresh powder to new cloth or other bloodied stuff , the patient would feel new ease ; as if the wound had been then drest with some sovereign medicament . and for this reason they used to reiterate this manner of dressing both evening and morning . but now , the most part of those who serve themselvs with the powder of sympathy endeavour to have vitriol of rome , or of cyprus ; which they calcine at the rayes of the sun : and besides , some use to add the gum of tragagantha ; it being easy to add to things already invented . for mine own part , i have seen as great and admirable effects of simple vitriol , of eighteen pence the pound ; as of that powder which is us'd to be prepared now at a greater price : yet i blame not the present practice ; on the contrary , i commend it , for , it is founded upon reason . for first , it seems that the purest and best sort of vitriol operates the best . secondly , it seems also , that the moderate calcining therof at the rays of the sun takes away the superfluous humidity of the vitriol ; and operates on no part therof , but that which is good : as if one should boil broth so clear that it would come to be gelly , which certainly would render it more nourishing . thirdly , it seems , that the exposing of the vitriol to the sun , to receive calcination , renders its spirits more fitly disposed to be transported through the air by the sun , when need requires . for , it cannot be doubted but some pa●● of the aethereal fire or solar rays incorporates with the vitriol ; ( as is plainly discover'd in calcining antimony by a burning-glass ; for it much augments the weight of it , almost half in half : ) both are near-a-kin : those therefore , easily obeying the motion of their brother-beams , must needs make the grosser matter , they are united with less refractory . fourthly , these solar rays , being embodied with the vitriol are in a posture to communicate to it a more excellent virtue , than it hath of it self ; as we find that antimony , calcin'd in the sun becomes ( of rank poison that it was before ) a most sovereign and balsamical medicament , and a most excellent corroborative of nature . fifthly , the gum of tragagantha , having a glutinous faculty , and being , in other respects very innocent , may contribute somthing towards the consolidation of the wound . my lords , i could add many most important considerations touching the form and essence of vitriol ; wherof the substance is so noble , and the origin is so admirable , that one may avouch it , with good reason , one of the most excellent bodies which nature hath produced . the chymists assure us that it is no other than , a corporification of the vniversal spirit ▪ which animates and perfects all that hath existence in this sublunary world : which it draws in that abundance to it , that i my self have , in a short time , by exposing some only to the open air , made an attraction of a celestial vitriol ten times more in weight , of a marvailous pureness and virtue ; a priviledge given to none but it , and pure virgin salt-peter . but to anatomise , as we ought , the nature of this transcendent individual , ( which nevertheless in some respect may be said to be vniversal , and fundamental to all bodies , ) would require a discourse , far more ample , than i have yet made : and i have already entertain'd you so long , that it would be a very great indiscretion to entrench further upon your goodness , who have hitherto listned to me with so much attention and patience ; if i should go about to enter into any new matter , and embark my self for a further voyage . wherefore remiting several things to some other time , when you shall please to command me , and returning to the general consideration of this sympathetical cure i will put a period to this discourse : after i shall have said two or three words , which will not be of smal importance , for the confirmation of all that hath been alledg'd by me hitherto . i have deduced to you the admirable causes of the operations , and strange effects of the powder of sympathy , from their first root . these fundamental causes are so linked one within the other , that it seems there can be no default , stop , or interruption , in their proceedings . but we shall be the better fortified in the belief of their virtue and efficacy , and how they come to produce the effects of so many rare cures , if we consider that when any jugling is practiced in some one of these causes , or in all of them together , we may perceive immediately an effect altogether differing from the former . if i had not formerly seen a watch or clock , i should be justly surprized and remain astonish'd , to see the hand or needle so regularly mark the journal hours and motion of the sun , upon the flat of a quadrant ; and that it should turn and make its round every four and twenty hours ; there being nothing seen that should push on the said needle . but , if i look on the other side , i see wheels , ressorts , and counterpoises in perpetual movement ; which having well considered , i presently suspect , that those wheels are the cause of the movement and turnings of the said needle ; though i cannot presently discern or know how they effect it , because of the plate that lies interposed betwixt them . therupon , i reason thus with my ●elf , every effect whatever must of necessity have some cause ; therfore the body moved there , must necessarily receive its movement from some other body contiguous to it : now , i see no other body , to make the needle of the quadrant move and turn , but the said wheels ; therefore , i must of force be perswaded to attribute the movement to them . but , afterwards , when i 〈◊〉 have stop'd the motion of those wheels and taken away the counterpoise , and observed that suddenly the needle ceases to move ; and that , applying again the counterpoise , and giving liberty for the wheels to turn , the needle re●urns to her ordinary course , and that i make one wheel go faster , by putting my finger to it , or by adding more weight to the counterpoise , the needle hastens and advances its motions proportion●bly : then i grow to be convinced and entirely satisfied ; and so absolutely conclude that these wheels and counterpoises are the true cause of the motion of the needle . in the same manner , if , interrupting the action of any of those causes , which i have established for the true foundation of the sympathetical powders virtue , i alter , retard or hinder the cure of the wound : i may boldly conclude , that they are the legitimate and genuine true causes of the cure ; and that we need not amuse our selvs to search after any other . let us then examine the matter by this rule . i have affirm'd that , the light transporting the atoms of the vitriol and blood , and dilating them to a great extent in the air : the wound or place hurt attracts them , and therby is immediately refresht and eas'd ; and consequently comes to be heal'd ; by the spirits of the vitriol , which is of a balsamical virtue . but , if you put the bason or powder with the cloth-imbrued with blood into a cup-boord or a corner of some cold room , or into a cellar , where the light or fresh air never comes ( whence the place is corrupted and full of ill smell● , ) in that case the wound can receive no amendment , nor any good effect from the said powder . and , it will fall out in the same manner , if , having put the bason or powder in some by-corner , you cover them with some thick cloth , stuffing and spongie , which may imbibe the atoms coming forth , and retain the light and rays that ener there , so that they are thereby stop'd and quite lost . moreover morover , if you suffer the water of vitriol to congeal into ice ; or the cloth dip't in it ; the party hurt shall be sensible , at the begining , of a very great cold in his wound : but when it is iced all over , he shall feel neither heat nor cold , in regard that congealed cold constipates the pores of the water , so that it ceases to transpire and send forth spirits . if one wash the bloody cloth in vinegar or lye , ( which , by their penetrating acrimony , transport all the spirits of the blood ) , before the vitriol be applied ; it will produce no effect . yet , if the cloth be wash'd but with pure simple water , it will nevertheless do something ; for , that water carries not away so much ; but , the effect will not be so great , as if the cloth had not been washed at all ; for then it would remain full of the spirits of the blood . the same cure is performed , by applying the remedy to the blade of a sword which ha's wounded a body ; so the sword be not too much heated by the fire : for that will make all the spirits of the blood to evaporate ; and consequently the sword will contribute but little to the cure . now , the reason why the sword may be dressed in order to the cure , is , because the subtile spirits of blood penetrate the substance of the blade , as far as it went into the body of the wounded party ; and , there keep their residence , unless the fire , as i said before , chase them away . for experiment wherof , hold the blade over a chasing dish of moderate fire , and you shall discern , on the side opposite to the fire , a little humidity ; which resembles the spots that ones breath makes upon looking-glasses ; or upon the burnished blade of a sword . if you look upon it through a magnifying-glass , you shall find that this soft dew of the spirits consists in l●ttle bubles , or blown bladders : and , when once they are entirely evaporated , you shall discern no more upon the weapon ; unless it were thrust a new into the body of a 〈…〉 nor , from the begining shall you discover any such thing , but precisely upon the part of the blade , which had entred the wound . this subtile penetration of the spirits into hard steel , may confirm the belief of such spirits piercing through the skin of a woman big with child : as i remind , to have proposed to you in my sixth principle . to confirm all these particulars , i could add , to those i have already recounted many notable examples more ; but , i fear i have already too much exercised your patience ; i will therfore suspend any mention of them at this time ; but i offer to entertain any of this honourable assembly therwith , when they shall have the curiosity . i conclude then , my lords , with representing to you that all this mystery is carry'd and guided throughout , by true natural ways and circumstances ; although , by the agency and resorts of very subtile spirits . i am perswaded my discourse hath convincingly shew'd you , that , in this sympathetical cure , there is no need to admit of an action distant from the patient : i have traced to you a real communication 'twixt the one and the other ; viz. of a balsamical substance , which corporally mingles with the wound . now , it is a poor kind of pusillanimity and faint-heartedness , or rather a gross weakness of the understanding , to pretend any effects of charm or magick herin ; or to confine all the actions of nature to the grossness of our senses , when we have not sufficiently consider'd nor examined the true causes and principles wheron t is fitting we should ground our judgment : we need not have recourse to a demon or angel in such difficulties , nec deus intersit , nisi dignus vindice nodus inciderit . — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a treatise concerning the plague and the pox discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious contagions, as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them. edwards, 17th cent. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a37944 of text r207034 in the english short title catalog (wing e190). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 224 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 66 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a37944 wing e190 estc r207034 09808406 ocm 09808406 44138 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37944) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 44138) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1355:21) a treatise concerning the plague and the pox discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious contagions, as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them. edwards, 17th cent. [4], 66 [i.e. 146] p. printed by gartrude dawson, london : 1652. attributed to edwards (forename unknown)--nuc pre-1956 imprints and wing. imperfect: p. 66-96 lacking. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. eng plague. medicine -early works to 1800. a37944 r207034 (wing e190). civilwar no a rich closet of physical secrets, collected by the elaborate paines of four severall students in physick, and digested together; viz. the c a. m 1652 42964 113 0 0 0 0 0 26 c the rate of 26 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-12 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a treatise concerning the plague and the pox , discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious contagions , as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them . london , printed by gartrude dawson , 1652. the printer to the reader . this treatise hath pass'd the view and approbation , both of juditious phisitians and chirurgians , and hath been judged worthy to have a new vesture put upon him , and to be vindicated from the obscurity and darknesse it hath lain involved and eclipsed in this many yeares ; being collected out of the authorities of the most excellent , both former and later writers , and confirmed , strengthened , and approved , by the late experiences of many well practitioned chirurgians ; being formerly commended to publick view , by the approbation of a late famous servant , and chirurgian to king iames deceased ; who seriously considering the facilenesse of providing the medicines , with their approvednesse in a necessitous time , and in places remote , both from able phisitians and chirurgians , the danger of the present infection requiring speedy help , to such as might have occasion to make use of these medicines ; not doubting , but the charitable intentions of the carefull authour , publishing it on purpose for the publick good , shall find the acceptance of so necessitous a work , as is wished by a. m. the author to the reader . whereas there are divers receits set down in this book , which are written in latine , in characters used by phisitians and apothecaries , which cannot so fitly be brought into our english phrase ; and because their quantities are set down according to the latine order observed in the making up their receits prescribed , i have , for the better ease and understanding of the reader , set down the signification of their weights and measures , according to their characters . a handfull is written thus m. 1. half a handfull thus m. ss. a little small handfull thus p. 1. a scruple thus ℈ . 1. half a scruple , x. graines , or thus ℈ . ss. a drachm thus ʒ . 1. an ounce thus . ℥ . 1. half an ounce , or half a drachm ℥ . ss. ʒ . ss. a grain thus gra. 1. a drop thus gut. 1. the number of any thing thus nu. 1. &c. half of any thing thus ss. a pound , or pint , thus lib. 1. twenty graines make a scruple . three scruples make a drachm . eight drachms make an ounce twelve ounces a physick pound . ana. is , of either of them so much . p. ae . is , equall parts , or parts alike . s. a. secundum artem , according to art . so much as shall suffice is marked thus q. s a defensative against the plague . the first treatise chap. i. what the plague is . the antient phisitians in times past have greatly doubted , what the essentiall cause of this disease , which we commonly call the plague or pestilence , should be ; yet all doe agree , that it is a pernitious and contagious fever , and reckoned to be one of the number of those which are called epidemia , chiefly proceeding of adusted and melancholy bloud , which may be easily perceived , by the extream heat and inflammation , which inwardly they doe feel , that are infected therewith ; first assaulting the heart , and astonishing the vitall spirits , as also by the exteriour carbunkles and botches which it produceth ; whose malignity is such , both in young and old , rich and poor , noble and ignoble , that using all the meanes , which by art can , or may be devised , yet in some it will in no sort give place , untill it hath by death conquered the party infected therewith . chap. ii. cause of the plague . there are divers causes whereof this disease may proceed , as sundry writers doe alledge , as by over great and unnaturall heat and drought , by great rain and inundations of waters , or by great store of rotten and stinking bodies , both of men and beasts , lying upon the face of the earth unburied , as in the time of warres hath been seen , which doth so corrupt the air , as that thereby our corn , fruits , hearbs , and waters , which we daily use for our food and sustenance , are infected : also it may come by some stinking dunghils , filthy and standing pooles of water , and unsavory smels which are near the places where we dwell , or by thrusting a great company of people into a close , narrow , or streight room , as most commonly we see in ships , common gaoles , and in narrow and close lanes and streets , where many people doe dwell together , and the places not orderly kept clean and sweet . but most commonly , in this our time , it is dispersed amongst us , by accompanying our selves with such as either have , or lately have had the disease themselves , or at least have been conversant with such as have been infected therewith : but for the most part it doth come by receiving into our custody some clothes , or such like things , that have been used about some infected body , wherein the infection may lie hidden a long time , as hath been too too often experimented , with repentance too late in many places , it may also come by dogs , cats , pigs , and weasels , which are prone and apt to receive and carry the infection from place to place . but howsoever it doth come , let us assure our selves , that it is a just punishment of god , laid upon us for our manifold sins and transgressions against his divine majesty : for as seneca saith , quicquid patimur ab alto venit , what crosses or afflictions soever we suffer , it cometh from the lord , either for a triall of our faith , or a punishment for our sins . wherefore to distinguish any farther thereof i think it needlesse , for my intent is in breif sort , so exactly as i can , to shew the meanes how to prevent the same , as also how to cure it when we are infected . but before i enter to treat thereof , i think it not amisse , to shew what forewarnings and tokens are given us before hand of the coming thereof , thereby the better to prevent the same by prayer and repentance . chap. iii. warnings of the plague to come . avicen , a noble physitian saith , that when wee see the naturall course of the ayre , and seasons of the year to be altered , as when the spring time is cold , clowdy , and dry , the harvest time stormy , and tempestuous , the mornings and evenings to be very cold , and at noon extream hot , these do foreshew the plague to come . also when we see fiery impressions in the firmament , especially in the end of summer , as comets and such like , and that in the begining of harvest we see great store of little frogs , red to ades , and myse on the earth abounding extraordinarily : or when in summer we see great store of toades creeping on the earth having long tailes , of an ashy color on their backs , and their bellies spotted and of divers colours , and when we see great store of gnats swiming on the waters , or flying in great companies together , or when our trees and hearbs do abound with caterpillars , spiders , moaths &c. which devoure the leaves on the trees and hearbs on the earth , it sheweth the ayre to be corrupt , and the plague shortly after to follow . also by the beasts of the field we may perceive it ( especially sheep ) which will go mourning with their heads hanging down towards the ground , and divers of them dying without any manifest cause known unto us . also when we see young children flock themselves together in companies , and then will faine some one of their company to be dead amongs them , and so will solemnize the buriall in a mournfull sort , this is a token which hath been well observed in our age to foreshew great mortality at hand . also when we see rivers of water to overflow without any manifest cause , or suddenly vanish away and become dry : and when clear well-springs do suddenly become foule and troubled . also when the small-pox doth generally abound both in young and old people , all these do foreshew the plague to come . chap. iiii. sheweth how to prevent the plague . there are three principall meanes how to prevent this contagious disease : the first and chiefest is to acknowledge our manifold sins and wickedness unto almighty god our heavenly father , with a hearty repentance and amendment of our former sins committed against his divine majestie . the second means is to fly far off from the place infected , and as rondoletius saith , not over hastily to return thither again for fear of an after-clap : which saying is confirmed by valetius in these words , non enim morietur in bello , qui non est in illo : and the farther from it , the safer shall we be , yet were it a very uncharitable course that all which are of abillity should do so , for then how should the poor be relieved , and good orders observed : but for children it were best to send them far off from the place , because their bodies are most apt to receive the infection , as also for that they cannot so continually use antidots and preservatives , which by their great heat may indanger them almost so much as the disease it self . the third meanes consisteth chiefly in three points , which are these : order , diet , and physicall helps . for the first you shall have a care that your houses be kept clean and sweet , not suffering any foule and filthy clothes or stinking things to remain in or about the same : and in summer season to deck your windowes , and strow your floors with sweet and wholsom hearbs , floures , and leaves , of mints , balme , penniroyall , lavender , time , majoram , red-roses , carnations , gelliflowers and such like for your windowes , your floors to be strowed with green rushes , and mints , oaken and willow leaves , vine leaves and such like : your windowes which stand towards the north and east , do you alwaies keep open in the day time , if the ayre be clear , and that no infected and unsavory smell be near the same , as fogs , dunghils , &c. and every morning before you open either your doors , or windowes , as also in the evening when you go to bed , cause a good fire to be made in your chamber , and burn some odoriferous o●… sweet perfumes in the middest thereof , as hereafter i will shew you , or in stead thereof some juniper , frankincense , bay leaves , rosemary , lavender , majoram , or such like , which you must alwaies have dried in a readinesse , and so in the fume or smoke thereof to breath and perfume the clothes which you are to weare . a good perfume in summer season . ℞ . rose water and vinegar , of either six spoonfulls : rinds of sower citrons and lemons , bay-leaves , of either the weight of two pence which is ℈ . i. camphire , the weight of three pence , which is ʒ . ss. the hearbs and rinds must be dried and put alltogether in a perfuming pan , or instead thereof a peuter dish , set on a chafer of coles , will serve the turn . another good perfume in winter . ℞ . red-roses majoram and myrtles , of either a little handfull : callamint , juniper berries , laudanum , benjamin , frankincense , of either ʒ . i. which is the weight of seven pence . the hearbs , berries , and roses being dried , must be made in grosse powder , as also the gumms , and so mixed together , and when yee list , cast some part thereof on a chafer of coales , and receive the fume thereof . chap. v. now having received the fume as aforesaid , before you go forth of your chamber , eat some cordial electuary or preservative , as hereafter you shall find choise , which i have alwais used with good and happy success , after taking of the cordial wash your face and hands with clean water , wherein you must put a little vinegar , and then if you list , you may break your fast with some good bread and butter , and in winter season a potch'd egg is good eaten with some vinegar , and for plethorick and melanchole bodies , it were good to drink a draught of wormewood wine , in the morning fasting , because it resisteth putrefaction in the plethorick , and purgeth bilous matter in the melancholie . an excellent good preservative which i have alwaies used with good successe . ℞ . conserve of roses and borrage floures , of either two ounces : minardus mithridate , andromachus triacle , of either half an ounce : dioscordium , two drachms , dialkermes one drachme , powder of the seed of citrons pilled , one drachme , sirrup of lemons and sower citrons , of either halfe an ounce . compound all these together in the form of an opiat , you may eat hereof every morning the quantity of three beanes , and drink a draught of rennish wine , beer , or ale after it : but for children and such as are of tender years , so much as a bean thereof is sufficient , and give them onely beer or ale after it : the taking hereof every second or third day will suffice , if you go not into any suspected company . another excellent good preservative . ℞ . kernils of wallnuts and figs , of either four ounces : leaves of rue , one ounce and half , tormentill roots , four drachms , rind of sowr citrons , one drachme , right bolarmoniak , six drachms , fine myrrh , two scruples , saffron , one scruple , salt , half a drachm : sirrup of citrons and lemons , four ounces . the hearbs , roots , and rinds must be dried , the nuts must be blanched , and the bolarmoniack must be made in fine powder , and then wash'd in the water of scabios , and dried againe , you must pound the figgs and wallnuts in a stone morter severally by themselves very small , all the rest must be made in fine powder , and so mix them altogether in the morter , and then add thereto sirrup by little and little , and so incorporate them altogether : you may give this in the same quantity , and in like sort as the other before . another very good . ℞ . of the confection aforesaid made with nutts ℥ . iiii . minardus mithridate , four drachms , andromachus triacle , ʒ ii . fine terra sigillata , four scruples , sirrup of limons , ℥ . i. compound all these together in the morter , as the other before , you may give hereof the weight of a groat or six pence , every second or third day , and drink a draught of rennish or white wine after it in winter season , but in the heat of the yeer , sorrel water is best , and in the spring scabios or carduus benedictus water . also , so much triacle of andromachus description eaten every morning as a bean , with a little conserve of roses , is a very excellent good preservative . valetius doth greatly commend the taking of three or four grains of the bezar stone every morning , in a spoonfull of scabios water . i cannot here sufficiently commend the electuarie called dioscordium , which is not onely good to resist the infection , but doth also expell the venemous matter of those which are infected , being taken every morning and evening the quantity of a bean , and drinke a draught of rennish or white wine after it in winter season , but in summer a draught of beer or ale is best . in strong and rusticall bodies , and such as are dayly labourers , garlick onely eaten in the morning with some butter and salt at breakfast , drinking a cup of beer or ale after it , hath been found to be very good , which is greatly commended by galen , who calleth it the poor mans triacle , but in the sanguine , daintie , and idle bodies it may not be used , because it over-heateth the bloud , causeth head-ach , and universally inflameth the whole body . chap. vi . now when you have taken any of the foresaid preservatives , it were good and necessary to wear upon the region of the heart , some sweet bag or quilt that hath power to resist venome , and also to carry in your hand some sweet pomander , nodule , or nosegay , that will comfort the heart , resist venom , and recreate the vitall spirits , as here following is specified and set down . an excellent quilt or bag . ℞ . arsenike cristaline , ℥ . i. diamargaritum frigidum , ℈ ii . diambrae , ℈ i. you must grinde the arsenike in small powder , and then with some of the infusion of gum dragagant in rose water , you must make a paste , then spread it on a cloth which must be six inches long , and five inches broad , and spread it thick : then cover it with another cloth , and so quilt it together , which being done , fasten it in another bag of crimson taffetie or sarse●…et , and so wear it against the heart all the day time , but at night leave it off : and here you must take heed , that when you sweat , you doe take it away , for otherwise it will cause the skin to amper a little . there are some writers which doe utterly forbid the wearing of arsenike , but thus much i can say , that i have given this bag unto divers to wear , with most happie and good successe , for never did i yet know any one that hath worn this bag , and used any of the electuaries aforesaid , that hath been infected with the plague , but for any inconvenience or accident that hath happened thereby , i never found any hitherto , other then the ampring of the skin as aforesaid . another bag . ℞ . ireos , ℥ ss. calamus aromat. ciperus , ana . ʒ . i. ss. storax calam. root of angelica , ana . ʒ . iii , cloves , mace , anaʒ . i. red roses dried , ʒ . iii . pellemountain , penniroyall , calamint , elder floures , ana . ʒ . i ss. nutmegs , cinnamon , yellow sanders , anaʒ . i. nardi italicae , ʒ . i. amber greece and musk , ana . six grains . you must pound all these in powder , and then quilt them in a bag of crimson ●…affatie as aforesaid . a pomander good in the summer time . ℞ . the rind of citrons , red roses , nenuphare roses , yellow sanders , anaʒ . ss. storax liquid , benjamin , ana . ʒ . i. myrrh , ℈ . ii . ladanum , ʒ . i. ss. musk and amber , ana . six grains . powder all that is to be powdered , and then work them together in a hot morter with a hot pestell , adding unto it in the working some of the musselage of dragagant dissolved in sweet rose water , or rose vinegar , and so make your pomander . another good one for the winter time . ℞ . storax liquid , benjamin , storax calamint , ladanum , and myrrh , ana , half a drachm , cloves one scruple , nutmegs , cinnamon , of each half a scruple . red roses , yellow sanders , lignum aloes , and ireos , of each half a dram . calamus aromaticus , rind of a citron , ana . four grains , amber greece , musk and civet , of each six grains . you may make up this as the other before with some musselage of the infusion of gum dragagant , infused in rosewater . a good nodule for the summer season . ℞ . floures of violets , red roses , and nenuphare , of each one drachm , red , white , and yellow sanders , of each half a drachm . camphire , xii graines . cause all these to be beaten in grosse powder , then knit them all together in a peece of taffetie , and when you will use it , then wet it in rose water and a little vinegar , and so smell to it . another nodule for the winter season . ℞ . the dried leaves of mints , majoram , time , penniroyall , lavender , pellemountain and balm , of each a little handfull . nutmegs , cloves , cinnamon , angelica roots , lignum aloes , of each one drachm . saffron , two scruples . cause all these to be infused in rose-water and vinegar one whole night , then wet a spunge in the liquor thereof , and knit it in a peece of taffaty , or your handkerchief , whereunto you must smell oftentimes . a nosegay for the same purpose . ℞ . hearb grace , three branches : rosemary , majoram , mints , and thime , of either one branch : red-rose buds and carnations , of either three or four . make your nosegay herewith , then sprinkle him over with rose-water , and some rose-vinegar , and smell often unto it . also when you suspect to go into any dangerous or infected company , do you alwaies carry in your mouth a peice of the root of angelica , the rind of a citron dried , or a great clove , which must be first infused or steeped one whole night in rose-water and vinegar . chap. vii . for that there is not a greater enemy to the health of our bodies then costiveness , both in the time of the plague and otherwise , i have here set down how and by what meanes you may keep your self soluble , which you must use once four and twenty hours , if otherwise you have not the benefit of nature by custome . a suppository . take two spoonfulls of honey , and one spoonfull of bay-salt small pounded , boyle them together untill it grow thick , alwaies stirring it in the boyling , then take it from the fire , and if you list you may add one drachm of ihera picra simplex unto it , and so stirre them well together , and when it is almost cold , make up your suppositories of what length and bignesse you list : and when you minister any , you must first annoint it with butter or sallet oyle : you may keep these a whole year if you put them in barrowes mort or grease , and so cover them up close therein . a good glister . ℞ . mallowes , mercury , beets , violets , red-fennell , of either one handfull : seeds of fennell , annis , coriander , of either one drachm . boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of water , untill half the water be consumed , then straine it , and keep it in a glasse close stopt untill you need , for it will keep a whole week . take of the same decoction , a pint . ℞ . mel rosarum , or common honey , one spoonfull : oyle of violets or oyle of olives , three ounces , salt , one drachm , the yolk of an egg or two . mixe all these together in a morter and so give it warm in the morning , or two hours before supper : and if you add unto this one ounce of diacatholicon it will be the better . raisins laxative how to make them . ℞ . white-wine , three pints and a half , senuae , half a pound , fine white sugar , one pound , currants , two pound . you must infuse the senuae in the wine in a pot close stopt , and let it stand in a warm place four and twenty hours , then strein it and add to the straining the currants , being clean pickt and washt , and lastly the sugar , boyle all together on an easie fire , untill the wine be consumed , having care that you do alwaies stirr it about in the boyling for feare of burning , then take them from the fire , and put them up into a clean galley pot , you may eat one spoonfull or two of them a little before dinner , at any time . a good oyntment to keep one sollible . the gaule of an oxe , oyle of violets , of either one ounce : sheeps ●…allow , six draehms . boyle them together on a soft fire untill they be incorporated , then take it from the fire and adde thereto alloes cica●…ine , one ounce . bay-salt half an ounce . the alloes and salt must be both made into fine powder before you put them into the oyle , then stirr them together untill it be cold , and when you are disposed to have a stoole , then annoint your fundament therewith , both within side and without , and if you annoint your navell therewith , it will work the better . good pills to keep one soluble , and they do also resist the pestilence . ℞ . alloes cicatrine , one ounce , chosen myrrh , three drachms , saffron , one drachm and half , amber greece , six graines : sirrup of lemons or citrons , so much as shall be sufficient to make the masse . you must grinde the aloes , myrrhe , and saffron into small powder severally by themselves , then incorporate them together with the sirrup : you may give half a drachme or two scruples thereof in the evening half an hour before supper twise or thrise in a week : rases would have you to take half a drachme or two scruples of these pills every day , without using any other preservative at all , and he hath great reason so to esteem of them , for galen , avicen , and all ancient writers in physick do hold opinion , that aloes doth not onely comfort , but purge the stomack from all raw and chollerick humors , and doth also purge and open the veines called miserayick , and resisteth putrefact on : myrrh doth altogether resist , neither will it suffer putrefaction in the stomack : saffron doth comfort the heart , and hath also a propriety in it to carry any medicine that is given therewith unto the heart , but to conclude , these pills will purge all superfluous humors in the stomack , and principall members , and preserveth the bloud from corruption . chap. viii . i must here give you to understand that the infection doth oftentimes lie hidden within us , without any manifest sign or knowledge thereof at the first , and therefore were it good for sanguine bodies , and such as do abound with bloud , in the summer season to draw six or eight ounces of bloud out of the basilica vein in the right arme , which is a good meanes to prevent a further danger , ( as avicen witnesseth ) but for full and plethorick bodies , it were best to purge themselves once in seven or eight daies with some easie and gentle purgation , as hereafter ●… will shew you : but for leane and spare bodies , once in fourteen dayes will be enough at most : for wisely saith rondoletius , that it is not onely the venemous and contagious ayre which we receive that doth kill us , but it is the present communicating of that contagion with some superfluous humours in our bodies , as in his treatise de peste appeareth : therfore now will i shew you how to purge the body . pills good to purge . ℞ . alloes cicatrine , ten drachms , agarick of the whitest , ℥ . iiii . myrrh , mastick , of either two drachms : saffron two scruples . make these into fine powder , then compound them together in a morter , with so much oximell simplex , sirrup of lemons , or of staecados , as shall be sufficient , you may give one drachm , or a drachm and half of these pills , half an hour before supper : but for a cholerick body , you must leave out two drachms of the agarick in making of the receipt , and in place thereof add two drachms of rubarb , and for the melancholie , two drachms of epithimum , and give the same quantity in weight . a good purging potion . ℞ raisins , the stones being pickt out and washt , of either one ounce : polipode of the oak , elecampane root dried , roots of wild small sorrel , succory roots cleansed , of either half an ounce : leaves of burrage , bugloss , burnet , scabios , morsus diaboli , of either a little handfull : floures of burrage , bugloss , rosemary , violets , broom , of either a little handfull : seeds of fennell , sowr citrons , of either two scruples : shaving of harts horn , half a drachm . boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of faire water untill half be consumed , then strain it . take of the decoction aforesaid , three ounces . rubarb , two drachms and half , cinnamon , half a drachm . slice them both , and put them with the liquor in a close cup , and so let it stand to infuse in a warm place twelve hours , then strain it out strongly , and add thereto one ounce of the sirrup of maiden-haire , and so drink it warm in the morning about six of the clock , and refrain from meat , drink , or sleep two hours after it , this is good in lean and spare bodies : you may for the phlegmatick body , add in the infusion , one drachm of aggarick trosciscated . a purging powder for such as cannot take pills . ℞ . alloes ciccatrine , one ounce , myrrh , cinnamon , of either two drachms , saffron , one scruple . make them all in fine powder , and give one drachm in a draught of white-wine . floures stopt , how to provok them . for that women which have not their naturall course o●… them , are most prone to receive and take the infection , i have here set down good pills , which i have alwaies found excellent not onely for that purpose , but will also resist the danger of infection . ℞ . alloes ciccatirne , one ounce , roots of gentian , aristolochia rotunda , dittander , saffron , of either half a drachm : roots of garden madder , methridate , of either one drachm . cause them all to be ground in small powder , then mix it with the methridate and some sirrup of artemesia , or mugwort , give one drachm of these pills every morning twelve dayes togerher , or untill her tearms break . issues commended against the plague . in plethorick and full bodies , i have found nothing more safer in the time of the plague , then to make them an artificial issue , either in the leg or arm , for never hitherto have i known any one which hath had an issue , or ulcer running on him that hath been infected with the plague . palmarius and forestus , doe both affirm it to be true and certain , but here some ignorant people doe hold opinion that having once an issue , he must be constrained to keep it alwaies , which is most erronious , for then those which have had ulcers running upon them , some six , ten , yea sixteen yeers , may not be cured without some issue to be made in some other place , but therein they deceive themselves , for my self by good proof have often found the contrary in divers people which i have cured , some six , some ten , yea sixteen yeers past , and yet to this day doe remain in perfect good health without any issues . chap. ix . what diet we ought to keep . for our diet as hippocrates teacheth us , we must have a care not to exceed in eating and drinking but to keep a mean therein , and in any case to beware of surfeting and drunkenness , which are enemies both to the body and soule , but as we may not exceed in eating and drinking , so to endure great hunger and thirst is most dangerous , our meat ought to be of a facile and easie digestion , partly tending to a drying qualitie ; as cocks , capons , hens , pullets , partridge , pheasants , quailes , pigeons , rabbets , kid , veal , mutton , birds of the mountains , and such like ; but beef , pork , venison , hare and goats flesh is to be refused , and so are all water fowls , as duck , swan , goose , widgen , teal , and such like , because they are hard to digest , and do increase ill blood , and naughtie juyce in the bodie : lambs flesh , because of his exceeding moisture is also to be refused , eggs in the summer not good , but in winter tolerable : all fishes which are of a hard flesh , whether they be of the sea , or fresh rivers are to be allowed . in fresh rivers the perch , barble , gudgeon , loch , cool , trout , and pike are good ; and for sea fish , the gilthed , turbet , sole , rochet , gurnard , lobster , crab , praunes , shrimps , whiting , and such like eaten with vinegar . there are some authors which hold opinion , that fish is better to be eaten then flesh in the great fervent heat of the year , because they doe make a more cold bloud in the body then flesh ; another reason is , because they doe live under the water , they are not infected with any contagion of the aire , as beasts and birds may be , and therefore more wholsome , but in my judgement flesh is more wholsome , because it doth-breed a more pure , and fine juyce in the body then any fish whatsoever ; your bread ought to be made of pure wheat , not too new , nor too old , but of one dayes baking , or two at most is best : rie bread is to be eschewed , because of his great moisture : your drink is best beer or ale , not too strong or new , but the staler and clearer it is the better , at your meals a draught or two of claret wine is tolerable , but in hot weather it were good to allay it with a little water , for wine doth warm the stomack , help digestion , and comfort the heart . for your pottage you may take in the summer . parsly , lettice , sorrell , endive , succorie , sperage , hopbuds , burnet , burrage , buglosse , thime , mints , hysop , but in winter , balm , bittanie , thime , marigold , hysop , majoram , mints and rue are good . for your sallets take pimpernell , purslane , mints , sorrell , hore-hound , yong cole , hop ▪ buds , sperage , thime , tops of fennell , tarregon , lettice , and water-cresses are good . capers are greatly commended being preserved in vinegar , and eaten with a little oyle and vinegar , and so are olives very good also . for your sauce , the juyce of a limon , citron , or orange is best , the juyce of sorrell and vinegar is also good . all raw fruits are to be refused , except those which tend to sour tast , as pomgranates , damask prunes , pippins , red and sour cherries , and wallnuts , quinces , and peares preserved are very good eaten after meals . all kind of pulse is to be refused , as beans , pease , and such like , because they increase winde , and make raw humours and ill juyce in the bodie . refrain from garlick , onyons , leeks , pepper , mustard , and rocket , because they doe over-heat the body , make adustion of the bloud , and cause fumes to ascend into the head . cheese is not good , because it doth ingender grosse and thick humors . milk is also to be refused , because it doth quickly corrupt in the stomack . chap. x. sheweth what exercise and order is to be kept . you must beware of all vehement and immoderate exercise , which doth provoke sweat , as is tennis , dancing , leaping , running , foot-ball , hurling , and such like , because they doe over-much heat the body , and open the pores of respiration , whereby the infected aire hath the more scope to enter our bodies , but moderate exercise is very convenient , the use of hot houses at this time i thinke very dangerous , because it doth too much open the pores . walk not into the open ayre in the morning before the sun hath had some power to cleanse and clear the same , and in any case goe not abroad when great fogs and mists are upon the earth , for it is dangerous : but if urgent occasions move you , then before you goeforth of your doors be sure to eat some preservative first , and then take some good and odoriferous pomander , nodule , or nosegay in your hand , as before is shewed you . the extream heat of the day is likewise to be refused to walk in , because it chafeth the bloud ; as also in the evening after the sun is set , for then unsavory and unwholsome fogs arise out of the earth , and in any case if you can avoid it come not neer any any place infected , but use to walk in the open aire and dry ground . use venus combates moderately , but none at all were better , the best time to use them is three or four hours after supper , before you sleep , and then rest upon them . beware of anger , fear , and pensiveness of the minde , for by their means the body is made more apt to receive the infection . use pleasant and merry recreations , either with musick , pleasant company to talke withall , or reading some good books . bewar of sleeping at noon , but specially in the winter season , but in summer to take after dinner a nap of half an hour or an hour is tollerable in elderly bodies . watch not long in the evenings but two or three hours after supper is a good time to take your rest . chap. xi . teacheth what orders magistrates , and rulers of cities and townes , should cause to be observed , first , to command that no stinking dunghills be suffered near the city . secondly , every evening and morning in hot weather to cause cold water to be cast in the streets , especially where the infection is , and every day to cause the streets to be kept clean and sweet , and cleansed from all filthy things which lye in the same . thirdly , and whereas the infection is entered , there to cause fires to be made in the streets every morning and evening , and if some frankincense , pitch , or some other sweet thing be burnt therein , it will be much the better . fourthly , suffer not any doggs , catts , or pigs to run about the streets , for they are very dangerous , and apt to carry the infection from place to place . fifthly , command that the excrements and filthy things which are voided from the infected places be not cast into the streets or rivers which are daily in use to make drink , or dresse meat . sixtly , that no chirurgians , or barbars which use to let bloud , do cast the same into the streets or rivers . seventhly , that no vauts or privies be then emptied , for it is a most dangerous thing . eighthly , that all ●…nholders do every day make clean their stables , and cause the dung and filth therein to be carried away out of the city : for by suffering it in their houses , as some do use to do , a whole week or a fortnight , it doth so putrifie that when it is removed , there is such a stinking and unwholsome smell , as is able to infect the whole street where it is . ninthly , to command that no hemp or ●…lax be kept in water near the city or town , for that will cause a very dangerous and infectious savour . tenthly to have a speciall care , that good and wholsome victuals and corn be sold in the markets , and so to provide , that no want thereof be in the city , and for such as have not wherewithall to buy necessary food , that there to extend their charitable and godly devotion : for there is nothing that will more increase the plague , then want and scarsity of necessary food . eleventhly , to command that all those which do visite and attend the sick , as also all those which have the sicknesse on them , and do walk abroad , that they do carry something in their hands , thereby to be known from other people . and here i must advertise you of one thing more which i had almost forgotten ( which is ) that when the infection is but in few places , there to keep the people in their houses , not suffering any one of them to go abroad , and so to provide , that all such necessaries as they shall need may be brought unto them during the time of their visitation : and when it is staied , then to cause all the clothes , bedding , and other such things as were used about the sick , to be all burnt , although at the charge of the rest of the inhabitants you buy them all new , for fear least the danger which may ensue thereby , do put you to a far greater charge and grief : all these aforesaid things are most dangerous , and may cause a generall infection , to the destroying of a whole city , and therefore i do wish that great care be had thereof . chap. xii . doth shew what you must do when you go to visit the sick . first before you enter into the house , command that a great fire be made in the chamber where the sick lieth , and that some odoriferous perfume be burnt in the midest of the chamber , and before you go to him , eat some cordiall preservative , and smother your clothes with some sweet perfume , then wet your temples , eares , nose , and mouth , with rose-water and vinegar mixt together , then take in your mouth a peice of the root of angelica , the rind of a sower citron , or a clove prepared as before is shewed , and have some nosegay , nodule , or pomander , appropriate in your hand , which you must alwaies smell unto , so may you the more bouldlier perform your intent : but herewithall you must have a speciall care , that during the time you are with the sick , you stand not betwixt the sick body and the fire , for that is dangerous ; because that the fire of his nature draweth all vapors unto it self ; but keep you alwaies on the contrary side , so that the sick may be betwixt you and the fire : and for such as are to let any sick infected body to bleed , it were good they did cause the keeper of the sick body to lay open that arme or legg which is to be let bloud before he approach near : the reason is , for that most commonly all that are sick in this contagious disease , are for the most part in a sweat , and therefore suddenly to receive the breath thereof , would be very dangerous . now when you have been with any one so infected , before you go into the company of any whole and sound people , it were necessary you do stand by a good fire , having all the clothes about you which you did wear when you were with the sick , and then turn and aire your selfe well thereby , so shall you be sure the lesse to endanger others by your company . thus have i as breefly as i can devise set down all the ordinary meanes which my self have used , and by others known to be used for preserving you from this contagious and dangerous disease , which in the most part of people will suffice , but for such as dwell whereas they may have the counsell of a learned physitian , i do wish them to take his advice , especially for purging and letting bloud , because none can so exactly set down in writing the perfect course thereof ( which may be understood rightly of the common sort ) so well as he which hath the sight of the body : for that many bodies are oftentimes troubled with some one humour abounding more then another , which here to treat of would be too tedious , neither can it profit the common people , for whose sakes i have taken this paines : and now will i shew the signes to know when one is infected therewith , as also which are the laudable signes , and which are the contrary , and lastly the meanes ( by god his assistance ) how for to cure the same . chap. xiii . sheweth the signes of infection . the signes and tokens hereof are divers , as first , it is perceived by the suddain weaknesse , loosing and overthrowing of our naturall strength , without any manifest cause thereof going before , and sometimes it doth begin with a gnawing and biting in the mouth of the stomack , the pulse will grow weak , feeble , and unequall , with a great streightnesse and heavinesse about the heart , as if some heavie burthen or weight were layd thereon , with shortness of breathing , vomiting , or at least a great desire to vomit , great pain in the head : insatiable thirst proceeding of their great interior heat : sluggishnes , and universal faintness of all the body , with a great desire to sleep , and an astonishment of the mind and vitall spirits : and for the most part they complain of a great paine which is felt in some one place or places of their bodies , where the botch or blain is by nature intended to be thrust forth , yet some at the first have them appearing : and for the most part , they are taken at the first with a sharp and rigorous feaver . good signes . when the botch or carbunkle cometh out in the beginning of the sicknesse with a red colour , and yellowish round about it , and that it doth quicklycome to maturation , the feaver to cease , and the party findeth himself eased of his grief , and quickned in his spirits , these are good and laudable signes of recovery . evill signes . when the botch at the first commeth out blackish , or black in colour , also when the botch is opened , the flesh within doth look blew , and that then there appear not any matter or quitture in the wound , but as it were a spume or froth issuing out thereof , are ill and deadly signes , when the botch waxeth so hard that by no means it will come to suppuration , but resisteth whatsoever is done unto it for the furthering thereof , and so returneth in againe into the inward parts suddenly , is a token of sudden death at hand , and so it is if either before or after it is broken it look of a blewish colour , or of divers colours , like the rainbow , round about it . when the carbunckle or blain doth suddenly dry up , as if it were scorcht with the fire , and that the place round about it doth shew to be of a wannish blew colour , is a deadly sign : if in the skin appear green or black spots , the excrements of divers colours with worms in it either dead or living , having a vile stinking savour , and spitteth stinking and bloudy matter , doth betoken death . when the sick complaines of great and extream heat in the inward parts , and yet cold outwardly , the eyes staring or weeping , the face terrible , the said excrements or urin passing away , and the party not knowing thereof , are evill signes . when in the fourth or seventh day they are taken with a frensie , or do fall into an extream bleeding at nose , or have a great flux with a continuall vomiting , or a desire to vomit and do it not , extream pain at the heart , watchfullness , and the strength clean gone , are deadly signes . when the party being very sick , yet saith he feeleth himself well , his eyes sunk deep in his head , and full of tears , when he thinks all things do stink , his nailes looking blew , the nose sharp , and as it were crooked , the breath thick and short with a cold sweat in the brest and face , and turning and playing with the clothes , the pulse creeping or scarcely to be felt , and greivous unto him to speak , these are infallible signes of death at hand . some , before any of these signes are perceived , do dy , and some likewise which have divers of them appearing , and yet do escape , such is the uncertainty of this disease : there are many other symptoms which do happen in this contagious disease , which would be too tedious to declare , but these as the chiefest may suffice . the end of the first treatise . the second treatise , shewing the meanes how to cure the plague . chap. i. when we perceive any to be infected with this contagious disease , we must with all possible speed seek all the meanes we can how to prevent the malignity thereof , whose property is at the first to assault the principall part , which is the heart , and therefore requires present help ; for unlesse something be done within eight or four and twenty houres , little will it then prevail to attempt it , for by that time nature is either subdued , and clean overthrown , or else hath thrust the same to the exterior parts , or otherwise digested it : yet may we not neglect at any time , to use all the meanes we can , in helping and furthering of nature to the uttermost of our indeavour , because we doe oftentimes see nature so wearied , and weakened in expelling of this venemous matter , that unlesse some help be added to assist and comfort her , the party , for lack thereof , dyeth , which otherwise might be saved : for i have oftentimes seen by diligent helping of nature , that to be effected and brought to good passe , which i have judged most desperate . there are foure intentions required for the curing thereof ; that is , by bloud-letting , cordials , sweat and purging : but the manner how to execute the same , hath bred great contention both amongst the old and later writers , which here to treat of were too tedious , for unto the learned it were needlesse , and for the commonalty little would it availe them , therefore in brief will i shew you what i have observed touching the cure . first , if it be in a plethorick , sanguine , and strong body , and hath pain in the head , great heat at the heart , thirstnesse , the pulse strong , and labouring , or beating strongly , and hath great and large veines appearing ; these ought presently to be let bloud in that side where yee perceive the greif doth proffer it selfe to come forth , and not visibly appearing , tending to maturation : for then we may not draw bloud , but use all other meanes we can devise , in helping nature to expell it , neither may you draw bloud , if the party have a flix or lask ( which is an evill sign ) in the beginning of the disease , for by that meanes you shall hinder nature greatly , but onely give the party cordials ; neither may you stop the flix in the beginning , but if it be extream , and that it stay not the second day , then must you give some purgation , which may leave an astringency behind it , as hereafter in the cure of the flix shall be shewed . for as hyppocrates , in his first book and one and twentieth aphorisme , doth admonish us , we must consider and mark , how nature doth incline her self , for that will teach us what we are to doe . now if you perceive the botch or carbunkle to appear underneath the chin about the throat , then presently draw bloud in both vein̄es under the tongue , and immediately after that apply a cupping glasse ; with scarification in one side of the neck next unto the fore , thereby to draw it from the throat , for fear least suddenly it choke him up , and then apply chickens rumps , or hens rumps to the botch , the feathers being first pluckt away from the rump , and a grain of salt put into the tewell , and so hold the bare place to the greif untill the chicken die , which will be within half an hour , and then apply another , and so continue in changing them so long as they doe die , and lastly apply a mollificative cataplasme or plaister to the same place , as in the fift chapter following is shewed , which is made with unguentum basillicon , and to the botch apply the epithemation and cataplasme in the seventh chapter following . but if it be in the neck , he doth complain , then let him bloud in the cephallica vein in the arm , of the same side where he complaineth . if in the groin or flanke he doth complain , then let him bloud in the foot on the same side , and open the vein called maleola , or saphena , the quantity must be according as the age and strength of the party requireth , but at most draw not above six or eight ounces : for avicen willeth us , to preserve bloud as the treasure of nature . but in a weak , spare , and cachochimious body ( as galen teacheth us ) we may not draw bloud at all , for thereby should you greatly indanger the patient , but help such by cordials and sweat . and here you shall understand , that unlesse phlebotomy be done at the first , that is , within six or eight houres atmost , it will be too late to attempt it , neither may you doe it if the sore doe appear up in height tending to suppuration , for then should you hinder nature , which like a diligent workman , hath discharged and thrust forth that venomous matter , which otherwise would have killed us . and here touching phlebotomy or bloud-letting , you must have this speciall care , that you draw not bloud on the opposite side , as if it be on the left side the sore appear , then draw not bloud on the right side ; if it appear in the flanke , then draw not bloud in the arme , but in the foot , for otherwise you shall draw that venomous matter from the ignoble unto the noble parts , and so kill the body . and although the party complain not more in the one side then the other , yet by the pulse shall you perceive on which side the venome lieth hidden , for on that side where nature is opprest , there shall you find the pulse more weak , feeble , and uneven , greatly differing from the other side . and here you shall understand , that in some it hath been seen , that nature of it self at the first , hath thrust out that venomous matter in some place of the body , with a botch appearing high , and tending to suppuration , or a carbunckle , or spots called purples . now here if you draw bloud , you doe then greatly indanger the body ; but in this case you must onely give cordials , and use all the meanes you can to bring it outward , either by maturation , or evaporation , as hereafter shall be shewed you . and here you shall further understand , that where the age , constitution , nor strength of the party will permit that phlebotomy be done , yet for the better help of nature you must apply ventoses , with reasonable deep scarification , unto the next place adjoyning , where the party complaineth , thereby the more speedily to draw the venomous matter unto the superficiall parts , and there to apply the rumps of chickens , as before is taught you , and so apply to the place some strong maturative , and atrractive plaister , or cataplasme , as hereafter shall be shewed you . if the greif be in the head or throte , then apply ventoses to the neck : if it be in the emunctuaries of the heart , then apply them to the shoulders : if in the emunctuaries of the liver , then apply them to the buttocks or thighs , now when this is done , either by phlebetomy , or ventoses , then within an hour or two at the most after it , you must give the sick some good cordiall medicine , which hath power to comfort the heart , resist the venomous matter , and also procure sweat , whereof out of the following you may make choice as you list . an excellent good powder to expell the plague , which also provoketh sweat . ℞ . roots of gentian , bittanie , petasitis , ana , ʒ . i. roots of tormentill , dittander , ana , ʒ iii . red sanders ʒ . ss. fine pearle of both sorts , ana , ℈ . i. fine bolarmoniack prepared , fine terra sigillata , ana , ʒ . vi . rindes of citrons , red corrall , roots of zedoiar , shaving of ebony , bone of a stags heart , ana , sixteen graines : fragments of the five pretious stones , ana , ℈ . ss. shaving of a unicorns horn , succini , ana , ℈ . ss. leaves of gold and silver , ana , one and half in number , make all these in fine powder , every one severall by himself , and then mix them all together , and give thereof ʒ . i. or ℈ . iiii . more or lesse as occasion requireth , either in sorrell , scabios , or carduus benedictus water two or three ounces , whereunto you must adde a little sirrup of lemons , or sour citrons , and give it warm , the bolarmoniack must be pounded small , then washed in scabios water , and so dryed . another good powder . ℞ . leaves of dittander , called dictami cretici , roots of tormentil , bittanie , pimpernell , gentian , zedoiar , ana , ʒ . i. terra lemnia , alloes cicatrina , fine myrrh , rinds of sour citrons , anaʒ i. mastick , saffron , ana , half a drachm . bolarmoniack prepared as beforesaid , ʒ ii . all these must be made in fine pouder , and so mixt together , you may give two scruples , or one drachm thereof with any of the aforesaid waters . a good opiat to expell venome , and provoke sweat . conserve of the floures of burrage , bugloss , violets , bittanie , ana , ℥ . ii . venus triacle ℥ . ii . red terra sigillata , terra lemnia , mithridate , ana ℥ . i. shaving of ebonie , and harts-horn , orient pearls , roots of tormentill , anaʒ i. shaving of unicorns horn , root of angelica , ana half a drachm . sirrup of the juice of small sorrell and bugloss , ana , so much as shall suffice . mix all these together in the form of an opiat , then take of the same opiat , one drachm and half . scabios water , balm water , ana ℥ ii . dissolve the opiat in the waters , and drink it warm , then walk a little upon it , and then goe to bed and sweat . another excellent good means to expell the venom , and procure sweat . take a great white onyon , and pick out the coar or middle of him , then fill the hole with good venus triacle , or andromachus triacle , and aqua vitae , then stop or cover the hole of the onyon again , and rost him in the hot ashes untill he be soft , then strein it strongly through a cloth , and give it the sick to drinke , and the rest that remains , pound it small , and apply it to the sore , and sweat upon it . now when he hath taken any of the aforesaid cordials , if he chance to vomit it up again , then wash his mouth with rosewater and vinegar , and then give him more of the same again , which must be proportioned according to the quantitie vomited , for if all were vomited , then give so much more : ( if lesse ) then according to the quantity vomited , and if he vomit that also , then give him more , and so continue it to the third or fourth time , if cause so require , but if at no time he doe retain it , then is there small hope of recovery ; i have known divers , which have vomited their cordials three or four times , and at last , giving the juyce of the onyon as aforesaid , hath kept that , and sweat upon it , and so recover their health . also minardus triacle , or andromachus triacle being taken two scruples with one scruple of dioscordium , and dissolved in two or three ounces of this water following , or carduus benedictus , sorrell , and scabios water , hath been found excellent good and available , both to procure sweat , and expell the venomous matter . an excellent good water against the plague , and divers other diseases , which is to be made in may or june . take angelica , dragons , scabios , ana three handfuls . wormwood , sage , salendine , mugwort , rue , rosemary , varvein , endive , mints , ana one handfull . tormentill , pimpernell , agrimonie , bittanie , ana two handfulls . st. johns wort , fetherfew , and pionie , ana a little handfull . you must mix all these hearbs together , then bruise them in a stone morter grosly , then put them into a clean vessell of glasse or earth , and add thereto a pottle of white wine , or three quarts , a pint of rose-water , and a pint of vinegar : then mixe them well together , and presse down the hearbs close together with your hands , then stop the pot close , and so let it stand to infuse two dayes and two nights , then distill it in a stillatorie , this water hath been found excellent good , both to preserve one from the plague , being drunk three or four spoonfuls of it in the morning fasting , as also to expell the disease , being drunk with any of the cordials aforesaid . chap. ii. sheweth what is to be done after taking of the cordiall . now so soon as the partie hath taken his cordiall , ( if he be able ) cause him to walke upon it in his chamber a prettie while , then lay him into his naked bed , being first warmed if it be in cold weather , and so procure him to sweat , but in any case have a speciall care to keep him from sleep all that day , because thereby the bloud and vitall spirits are drawn to the inward parts , and there doth hold in the venomous matter about the heart ; but if the sore appear , or be perceived to present it self in any place neer the heart , then to defend the malignity thereof before he sweat , it were good to annoint the place betwixt the region of the heart and the sore with triacle , or with this unguent following . a good defensative unguent . take triacle , ℥ . ss. terra lemnia , red n , anaʒ . i. mix them together with a little rose-water and vinegar in a morter , to the form of an unguent , and so use it as aforesaid . and unto the sore place apply chickens rumps , as before hath been told you , and then annoint the place grieved with oyle of lillies ; and then epithemate the heart with any one of these epithemations following . epithemation . take the powder of diamargaritum frigidum , ℈ i. triasandalum , ʒ . vi . ebeni , ʒ ii . saffron , ℈ . ss. lettice seed , ʒ i. waters of roses , bugloss , and sorrel , ana ℥ vi . vinegar ℥ . ii . boil them altogether a little . another . take the waters of roses , balm , bugloss , carduus benedictus and white wine , ana ℥ iiii . vinegar of roses ℥ ii . powder of red roses , cinnamon , triasandalum , diamargaritum , frigidum , anaʒ ss. mithridatum , ℥ i. triacle , ℥ ss. ●…oil them together a little , and being bloud warm , epithemate the heart therewith , which being done , then procure him to sweat , and after sweat , and the body dryed , then apply this quickly to the heart . a quilt for the heart . take the floures of nenuphare , burrage , bugloss , ana , a little handfull : floures of balm , rosemary , anaʒ iii . red n , red corall , lignum aloes , rinde of a citron , ana , ʒ i. seeds of basil , citrons , anaʒ i. leaves of dittander , berries of juniper , ana ℈ i. bone of a stags heart , half a scruple , saffron , four grains . mixe all these in grosse powder , and put them in a bag of crimson taffetie , or lincloth , and lay it to the heart , and there let it remain . all these things being done , then procure him to sweat , having a good fire in the chamber , and windowes close shut , and so let him sweat three or four houres more or lesse , or according as the strength of the sick body can endure , and then dry the body well with warm clothes , taking great care that the sick catch not cold in the doing thereof , and then give him some of this julep following , and apply the aforesaid quilt or bag to the heart . a cordiall iulep . take waters of endive , purslane , and roses , ana , ℥ . ii . sorrell water , half a pint , juyce of pomgranats , and for lack thereof vinegar , ℥ iiii . camphire ʒ iii , sugar , one pound . boil all these together in the form of a julep , and give three or four spoonfuls thereof at a time . another iulep . take sirrup of ribes , sorrell , nenuphare , ana ℥ . i. juice of limons , ℥ i. sorrell water , ℥ viii . mix all these together , and take two or three spoonfulls thereof oftentimes , which will both comfort the heart , and quench thirst . and if in the time of his sweat he be very thirstie , then may you give him to drink a tysane made with water , clean barly , and licorice scrapt clean and bruised , boil them together , then strein it , and unto a quart of the liquor add three ounces of sirrup of limons , and give thereof at any time ; small beer or ale is also tolerable , or you may give a spoonfull of this julep following at any time . a iulep to quench thirst . ℞ . sorrell-water , four ounces , burrage-water , scabios water , of either one ounce , sirrup of lemons and sowre citrons , of either one ounce . mix all these together and so use it as occasion requireth at any time : and give oftentimes a cake of manus christi , made with perls for him to eat . but if in the time of his sweat you see the sick to faint or swoun , then apply to his temples , and the region of the heart , this mixture following . ℞ . conserve of roses , burrage , bugloss , broom floures , of either one ounce : mithridate , four ounces , triacle , one ounce , floures of violets , pellamountaine , red roses , of either one drachme , roots of ireos , one drachm , musk , sivet , of either eight graines . mix all these together with a quantity of rose-vinegar in the form of an opiat , this must be spread on plaisters , and applied to the heart and temples , and to the soales of the feet apply this plaister following . take of the aforesaid opiat , ℥ ii . unto the which you must put so much more of an onyon , which must have the middle part thereof taken out , and the hole filled with mithridate ; and aqua vitae , and so rosted in the ashes , and then mix it with the opiat , and apply it to both soales of the feet . now when all this is done , and that one hour is past after his sweat and body dried as aforesaid : it were good you did give the sick some good comfortable broth , although he vomit it up againe , then let him rest two houres , and then offer him more , which you must do oftentimes , and but little at a time . and if after all this done he continue still weak and faint without any amendment , then give him another cordiall , as ye did at the first , and so caufe him to sweat again so long as his strength can well endure it , and after sweat give more of the julep aforesaid , for by this meanes you shall oftentimes see the sore , which did offer it self to come forth , will be clean discussed and consumed away : but if it do not by this means go away , then use all the means you can to bring it to suppuration , and then open it with some caustick or incision , as hereafter shall be shewed you at large . the next day after his sweat , you may tollerate him to sleep one hour or two in the forenoon , whereby to prevent pain or lightnesse of the head , which may chance through want thereof : and if after his sleep the party be sick and faint , then immediately give him some good cordiall , according as the state of his body requireth , either in temperate or extream heat , as before is shewed : and in one hour after that give him some comfortable broth made with veale , mutton , chicken , or such like , wherein some burrage , bugloss , pimpernell , and a little hysop , with some parsley roots , the inner pith being taken out , must be boiled , whereof he must take a little at a time , three or four times a day , and betwixt times in taking of his broth , give him three or four spoonfulls of this julep following , which doth resist venenosity from the heart , and also quench thirst . a iulep to quench thirst and resist venenosity . ℞ . water of scabios , burrage , sorrell , ana ℥ . ii . sirrup of lemons , sowre citrons , and the juice of sorrell , of either one ounce . mix all these together , and give thereof as cause requireth . then at night he may sleep three or four houres more , and the next day , being the third or fourth day of his accubet , you may purge him with one of the purgations here following , but in any case you must take heed that you do not purge with any strong or scammoniate medicine , because it may cause an extream flux , which will be most dangerous , because it will overmuch weaken the body , and hinder concoction , for most commonly in this disease the body of it self is subject to fluxes . a good purgation in a strong body . ℞ . rad. cichoriae , ʒ . iiii . rad. petasitis , ʒ . ss. fol. scabiosae , card. benedictus pimpinellae , acetosae , ana m. i. florum cord. p. i. prunorum dammas no . x. sem. coriandri , ʒ . ss. aquae font . ℥ . ix . boyle them untill a third part be consumed , then strain it . ℞ . decoct. col . ℥ . iiii . fol. senuae , ʒ . iii . rhab. elect . ʒ . iiii . spicae . g. iii . infuse them together twelve hours , then strain it strongly , and add thereto these things . sir . de cichoriae , cum rhab. ʒ vi . oxisacchari , simp. ʒ . ii . mix them altogether , and drink it in the morning refraining from meat , drink , and sleep three houres after , and then eat some good broth . another in a plethorick and full body . ℞ . fol. scabiosae , buglossae , card. b. ana m. i. florum cord. p. i. rad. tormentillae . ʒ . iii . rad. fenic . licho . anaʒ . iiii . passularum enucleat , ℥ . i. prunorum dammas . no . vi . sem anis . coriandri , oxialidis , ana ℈ . i. sennae , polipod . q. ana ℥ . i. boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill half the water be consumed , then strain it , and keep it . ℞ . rhab. elect . ʒ . ii . agarici , tros . ʒ . i. croci . ℈ . ss. aquarum scabiosae , borraginis , card. b. anaʒ . iiii . infuse these together twelve hours in a warm place , then strain them strongly , and add thereto sir . ros. lax . mannae . calabriae ana ℥ . i. decoct. col . ℥ . ii . vel ℥ . iii . mix all these together , and take it as the other before . a good purgation for a weak body . ℞ . fol. sennae , ʒ . iii . rhab. elect , ʒ . i. sem. anis . ʒ . ss. schenanthi , ℈ . ss. aquae acetosae , ℥ . v. boyle them a little , then take it from the fire , and let them stand infused together twelve houres , then strain it out strongly , and add thereto sir . ros. lax . ℥ . i. and then drink it as the other before . another gentle purgation . ℞ . aquarum scabiosae , card. b. aquae ad pestem , ana ℥ . i. rhab elect , ʒ . ii . ss. cinamomi , ʒ . ss. infuse them together twelve hours , and strain them strongly ; then add to the straining sir . ros. lax . ℥ . i. sir . de limonibus , four ounces . mix them together , and so drink it as the other before , you may either add or diminish of the rubarb unto any of these potions as you list . now when you see the purgation hath done working , then give the sick some cordiall thing , as hereafter followeth , which he must also take the next morning following . a good cordiall to be taken after purging . ℞ . conserva burrag , bugloss , mali citri , anaʒ . iiii . confect . alkermis ▪ ʒ . i. boli veri , ʒ . ss. specierum diarhod abb . ℈ . ii . diamarga . frigid . ʒ . i. manus christi perlati , ℥ . i. sir . de lemon , ʒ . iiii . mix all these together , and give the sick thereof so much as a chestnut at a time , you must oftentimes eat thereof if the sick be in no great heat . another good cordiall to be given where great heat is . ℞ . conservae bor●…g , ʒ iiii . conservae fol. acetosae , ℥ i. bolarm . veri ▪ ʒ . i. manus christi cum perlis , ℥ . i. sir . de lemonibus , q. v. misce . you must oftentimes give of this where great heat is , so much as three beanes at a time . a good cordiall potion . ℞ . aquarum buglossae , acetosae , ana ℥ . i. pul. diamarga . frig. ʒ . ss. confectio alkermis , g. ii . sir . de aceto , citri , vel de lemon . ℥ . i. misce . all this you may take after purging as aforesaid , at any time . and here you must understand , that if it be in a plethorick body full of ill humors , it were good that you purge him again the next day . chap. iii. sheweth what symptoms often chance , and how to help them . for that in this contagious disease there are divers dangerous symptoms which do oftentimes chance , i will here shew you good meanes how to help the same . for lightnesse of the head through want of sleep . ℞ . hordei mundi . p. i. amigd . dul . depilatum ℥ . i. ss. sem. iiii . frigid . ma. mund. ana ℈ . i. aqua font . q. 5. fiat decoctio . decoct. col . l. i. sir . de lemonibus , de papa , ana ℥ . i. ss. sacchari perlati , ℥ . i. boyl them together a little , and then keep it to your use , you must often times give two or three spoonfulls thereof to drink , and anniont his temples with this ointment . oyntment to provoke sleep . ℞ . vnguent popillionis , ʒ . iiii . unguent . alabastrini , ol. nenuphariae misce , ana . ʒ ii . this oyntment is not onely good to provoke sleep but will also ease the pain of the head , if the place grieved be annointed therewith . for raveing and raging ▪ if the party rave , then give him one scruple of the powder of harts-horn burnt , with half an ounce of the sirrup of violets and lemons , and apply this sacculus following to the head . a good sacculus for raving and raging . ℞ . florum nenupharis , p. i. cort. pap. ʒ . ii . santali albi , rub. citri , ana . ʒ . i. florum ros. rub , p. i. florum viol . p. ss. florum camomil . betonicae , anaʒ . i. shread them all small , then pound them grosly , and quilt them in a bagg , and apply it to the head , and it will help you . aphtham , to help it . in this contagious disease , there doth chance an ulceration of the mouth , which is called aphtham , it cometh by means of the great interior heat which the sick is oppressed with in the time of his sicknesse , which if it be not well looked unto in time , it will greatly endanger the body , for remedy whereof use this gargarism . a good gargarism for the mouth . ℞ . clean barley , one handfull , wilde daysie leaves , plantalne leaves , strawberry leaves , violet leaves , of either one handfull : purslane seed , one scruple , quinse seed , one scruple and half . licorice bruised , four drachms . boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill the water be half consumed , then strain it , and take one pint and half thereof , and add thereto sirrup of roses by infusion , and sirrup of dried roses of either four drachms : diamoron two ounces . mix these together , and gargarize and wash the mouth therewith oftentimes being warm , and it helpeth . vomiting extreamly , how to help it . if it come in the beginning of the disease , as most commonly it doth , there is no better means to stay it , then by giving of cordials and by sweating , by which meanes that venomous matter which is the cause thereof is expelled , and breathed out , but if after cordials given , and sweat , it doth not stay , it is a very ill and dangerous signe : yet what means i have used to stay the same , i will here shew you . a good bag for the stomack . ℞ . dried leaves of mints , elder , origanie , wormwood , calamint , mugwort , thime , balme , pellemountaine , tops of dill , of either a little handfull : seeds of carduus benedictus , fennell , annis , of either four drachms : roots of ciperus , calamus aromaticus , of either four drachms : nutmegs , cloves , mace , of either half a drachm . make all these in gross powder , then put it into a linnen bag , which must be made so broad and long , as will cover the stomack : then take rose-water and strong vinegar , of either ten spoonfulls , wherein do you dissolve one ounce of mithridate , then must you first wet the said bag in two parts of clean water and a third part of white or claret-wine , and let him soak therein a little while , the liquor being first warmed on a chafer and coales , and then wet him in the rose-water and and vinegar being warm , and so apply it to the stomack , and when he waxeth cold , warm him therein againe , and let him remain half an hour in all , and then take him away , and dry the stomack with a warm cloth , and then annoint it with this ointment following . ℞ . chymicall oyles of rosemary , sage , of either one drachm : vinegar , mithridate , of either one drachm . mix all these together , and so use it , and if the party be costive , then were it good to give him a glister , wherein dissolve two drachms of mithridate , it is also good to apply ventoses unto the buttocks and thighes . yoxe , or yexing , to stay it . ℞ . dill seed , two scruples and half : white poppy seed , purslane seed , of either one scruple and a half . bruise them a little , then knit them in a fine linnen cloth , and let it soak in the drink which he useth , and when you give him drink , wring out the bag therein , and let him drink it , and that will stay it , also the order aforesaid to help vomiting , is good to stay the yoxe , or yexing , but if neither of them prevaile , then will the sick hardly escape death . flix , how to stop it . you must first give the patient this purpation following , which doth not onely purge away those slimie humors which is the cause thereof , but doth also leave an astringencie behind it . ℞ . rhab. elect . ʒ . iii . cinamoni , ℈ . ii . aquarum endiviae , borraginis , ana ℥ . ii . infuse them together twelve houres , then strain it out strongly , and add thereto one ounce of sirrup of roses laxative , and so drink it warm , refraining from meat , and drink , and sleep three houres after it : and at night when it hath done working , give this confection following . ℞ . conservae ros. ʒ . iiii . dioscordii , ℈ . i. ss. pul. diatragag . frigid . ℈ . i , dialkermes , g. x. sir . de lemon . ʒ . ii . misce . when you have given this confection , then doe you epithemate the region of the heart with this epithemative following , epithemation for the heart . ℞ . aquarum buglossae , burrag , rosarum , oxialidis , ana ℥ . iiii . throchiscorum de camphera , ℈ . i. pul. diamargarit . frigid . ʒ . i. aceti alb. ℥ . i. offa de corde cervi , ℈ . ss. santal . rub. coral . rub. misce . ana ℈ . i. with this you must epithemate the region of the heart warm a quarter of an hour , and if by this meanes it stay not , then the next day give some of this confection following , which i have found excellent good for the stopping of any flix whatsoever . ℞ . conservae ros. siccae . ℥ . i. pul. rhab. troschiscat ℈ . i. térrae lemniaeʒ . ss. lap. hemattitis , sang. draco . bolarmoni . anaʒ . ii . mithridatii , misce , ʒ . i. you must every morning and evening give two drachm hereof , and drink some plantaine water after it . now here you must understand , that if the flix come in the beginning of the sicknesse , and that no botch , carbunkle , nor ▪ spots appear in the body , then in any case you may not goe about to stop it , but suffer nature to discharge it selfe , and onely help nature with cordials , and epithemations applyed to the heart , but if by the continuance thereof , the patient grow very weak and faint therewith , then is it to be repressed , as before is shewed , but it must be the third day before you attempt to doe it . but if this flix come when the botch or carbunkle doth appear , and tending to maturation , then is it very dangerous , for by that meanes the venomous matter is drawn back again into the principall parts , and so killeth the patient . chap. iiii. sheweth the generall cure of a botch when he appeares outwardly . first , give cordials , and use the defensive before taught you in the second chapter , thereby to keep it from the heart , and then bring it to maturation as followeth . a good maturative . take a great onyon and roast him in the ashes , then pound him with some powder of white mustard-seed , and for lack thereof some triacle , and pound them together , and so apply it to the greif warm , and renue it twice a day , which within three or four dayes at most will bring it to suppuration . another . take white lilly roots , enulacompane roots , scabios , and onyons , of either two ounces . roast all these together in a cole leafe , or a wet paper , then pound them with some sweet butter , and a little venice triacle , whereunto doe you adde some galbanum , and ammoniacum dissolved in vinegar , and strained from the fesses and dregs , and so mix them altogether , and apply it , renewing it twice a day . another , where no inflammation is . take unguentum basilicon ℥ . iiii . soure leaven ℥ . ii . oil of lilies , sweet butter , ana . ʒ . iiii . triacle ʒ . i. ss. yolks of two eggs . mix them together , and so apply it , and when it is come to suppuration , then open it in the lowest part , either with a potentiall caustick , or by inscition , but the caustick is best , and when you have opened it , if no matter flow out , then apply the rumps of chickens to the sore , as before hath been shewed : after that put into the wound a digestive as followeth . a digestive , take the yolk of an egge , clear turpentine ʒ . iiii . clarified honey ʒ . ii . mithridate , or triacle ʒ . ss. mix all these together , and use it in the wound untill it be well digested , which you may perceive by the great quantity of white and thick matter that will flow out of it , and upon the sore lay this cataplasme untill it be digested a digestive cataplasme . ℞ . fat figs , and raisins the stones pickt out , ana . ℥ . ii . sal nitrumʒ . iv . sour leaven ℥ . iii . honey ℥ . i. oil of cammomill ℥ . i. ss. you must shread and pound the figs and raisins very small , then commix it with the rest in a morter , in form of a pultis , and use it . and when it is digested , then you must mundifie it with a mundificative , to which purpose unguentum virid . or else apostolorum mixt with unguentum basilicon will serve , and when it is clean mundified , then to incarnate and heal it up , doe you onely annoint or strike it over with a feather wet in arceus linament , which must be molten in a saucer , and over all lay a plaister of diaculum , or a plaister of kellebackeron , which is excellent good in all imposthumes and tumours , and in this order doe you proceed , untill the greif be whole . chap. v. sheweth how to bring the botch out , that lieth deep within the body or flesh . first you must consider , that oftentimes the botch , or carbunkle doth offer it selfe to come forth in some place of the body , and yet no apparant sign thereof , but lieth deep hidden within , because nature is not of sufficient strength to thrust it forth ; which is easily perceived by the great and almost intolerable pain , that by some is felt in the place where nature intends to expell it , which in the most part of people , by bloud-letting , cordials , and sweat , is clean taken away and evacuated ; but if after all this is done it goe not away , then unto these you must use all the meanes you can to bring it to the outward parts . first , by giving to the sick oftentimes some cordiall electuary to keep it from the heart , then ( if no great pain be in the outward part ) you must apply a cupping-glasse with scarification , directly against the place where the greif is felt , and let it remain thereon a quarter or halfe an hour , then take it away , and presently apply the rumps of chickens , hens , or pigeons to the place ( as before hath been shewed ) that being done , then lay some attractive and maturative plaister or cataplasme to the place , which here following is shewed , and every sixth hour you must apply the cupping-glass , as also the rest , untill such time as you have brought the venomous matter to the outward parts , there to be visibly seen , or at least , by feeling to be perceived , which commonly is effected at the second time , then use no more cupping , but onely apply a maturative to the place . a good maturative cataplasme . ℞ . rad. simphyti , ma . liliorum , ceparum , allium , ana , ℥ . i. fol. oxialidis m. i. you must pound all these together a little , then wrap them in a cole leafe , and so roast them in the hot embers , then pound them in a morter , whereunto adde ol. liliorum , auxungiaepor●… . ana . ℥ . i. fermenti acrisʒ . vi . mithridatiiʒ . i. mix them altogether in form of a pultus , and so apply it warm , and renue it twise a day . another ℞ . galbani , apopanacis , ammoniaci , ana . ʒ . iiii . dissolve these in vinegar if the botch be hot and inflamed ( but if it be not ) then dissolve them in aqua vitae , and being dissolved , then strain it from the dregs , and adde thereto unguent . basillici , mithridat . fomenti acris , ana , ℥ . iiii . mix all these together , and apply it . another which is sooner made . take a great onyon , make a hole in the middle of him , then fill the place with mithridate or triacle , and some leaves of rue , then roast him in the hot embers , and when it is soft , then pound it with some barrowes greace , and apply it to the sore , and that will ripen it in short time , then open and cure it as in the chapter before , but if the pain and inflammation in the place be so great , that the party cannot indure cupping glasses to be used , then must you apply a vesicatory to the place , in the lowest part of the greife . a vesicatory . take cantharides bruised in grosse powder ʒ . ss. soure leaven ʒ . ii . mix them together in a morter with a little vinegar , and apply it , which within twelve houres will raise a blister , which you must open , and then lay an ivie or cole leafe to the place , and upon all apply any of the cataplasmes aforesaid , and dresse it twice , a day , and once a day at least , give the patient some cordiall , and when it is come to a sortnesse , and that you perceive it is imposthumated , then open it , and so proceed to the cure , as before is shewed . when the botch will not come to maturation , but continueth alwayes hard . sometime it is seen that the botch , although it appear outwardly , yet will it not come to maturation , which commonly is accomplished within three or four dayes , but will resist whatsoever you apply to it , and remain and continue alwayes hard ; now here you must presently open it , either with a caustick or by inscition , for fear least it strike in again , or at least grow to gangrena , but before you open it , you must epithemate the greif with this epithemation following , and every morning and evening give the sick some cordiall , and betwixt the sore and the heart annoint it with the defensive before in the second chapter . an epithemation . take leaves of mallowes , violets , cammomill , ana , m. i. floures of dill , mellilot , ana . ℥ . i. hollehock roots ℥ . iiii . linseed ℥ . ii . boil all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill halfe the water be consumed , and then wet some wooll or flax therein , being first well beaten and pickt clean , and lay it upon the sore warm , and as it cooleth , doe you take it away , and lay on another warm stewse , and so continue it half an hour together , and then open it as beforesaid , and immediately apply to the wound chickens or hens , as before in the first chapter hath been shewed you : and if you cannot get chickens nor hens , then a whelpe or a pigeon clov●…n asunder by the back , and so applyed warm will suffice , which must be renued so oftentimes as cause requireth , and when that is done , then apply unto the wound a digestive , made as followeth . a digestive . take turpentine ℥ . ss. honey ʒ . ii . mithridate , or triacle ʒ . ss. the yolk of a new laid egge . mix all these together and use it in the wound , and upon all lay the digestive cataplasme beforesaid , which is made of figs , or a plaister of kellebackeron , or of diaculum magnum , and dresse it twice a day , and every dressing epithemate the greif as beforesaid , when it is digested , then mundifie , incarnate , and sigillate it , as in the chapter before is shewed you . chap. vi . sheweth what is to be done when the botch strikes in again . sometimes you shall see the sore will appear outwardly , and suddenly vanish away again , which is a very dangerous and deadly sign ; now when this doth chance , then presently give some good cordiall that hath power to expell the venome , as in the first chapter of this treatise you may find choyce of , and immediately apply this pultus to both the soales of his feet , which must be made with culver-dung , and vinegar mixt together , and spread on a cole leafe , and so applyed ; you must give the cordiall every third hour , and immediately after the first giving of the cordiall , you must epithemate the heart with the epithemation before expressed , in the second chapter of this treatise ; and when that is done , then cause the sick to sweat , if you may , and after his sweat , and the body well dried , then give him an easie glister , the next day parge him with some gentle pargation , as before is shewed you . and if by these meanes you prevail not , then small hope of life is to be expected ; yet petrus forestus willeth you , first to give a glister , and then within two houres after it , to draw some bloud in the same side where the greif is , and to annoint the place greived with unguentum resumptivum , mixt with some oil of cammomill , and then two houres after it to give a cordiall , and procure sweat upon it , and so following the rest of the orders aforesaid , did recover divers . chap. vii . sheweth how to draw a botch from one place to another , and so to discusse him without breaking . first you must apply a cupping glasse next adjoyning to the lower part of the sore , on that side where you would have him to be brought , and next unto that glasse apply another , so neer the first as you can , and if that be not so farre as you would have the sore to be brought , then apply the third glasse , and let them all remain a quarter of an hour , then takeaway the last glasse , but suffer the first to remain , then presently apply him again , and let it remain a quarter of an hour more , and doe so three or four times together , but alwayes suffer the first glasse next the sore for to remain ; now when you have thus done , then take all the glasses away , and presently apply a vesicatory to the place where the last and uttermost glasse did stand , suffering it to remain there twelve houres , then open the blister , and lay an ivy or cole leafe to the place , and upon all lay a pla●…ster of kellebackeron , or diaculum magnum , and dresse it twice a day , the longer you keep it running , the better it will be , and at length ●…eal it up as other ulcers are cured . now so soon as you have applyed the vesicatory , you must presently epithemate the botch with this epithemation . epithemation . take mallowes , violets , cammomill , dill , and mellilot , ana , m. i. hollehock roots three ounces , lin-seed one ounce and a half . boile all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill halfe the water be consumed , in this decoction you must wet some unwashed wooll or flax made clean and well beaten , then being wrung out a little , apply it warm to the place , and renue it every hour , during the time that the vesicatory is in working , and when you have opened the blister that is made thereby , then onely apply this cataplasme to the botch it self . take mallowes , violets and cammomill floures , of either one handfull . boil ▪ them in water untill they be tender , then cut them very small with a shreading knife , and add thereto oil of cammomill and lillies , of either two ounces : barrowes mort two ounces , wax one ounce . m●…lt the wax in the oiles , and then put it to the hearbs , and boile them together a little , then take it from the fire , and adde thereto barly and bean flower , a handfull of either of them , and so mix them altogether , and apply it to the greif , renuing it twice a day , which within three or four dayes will resolve and discusse the botch ; but if it doe it not by that time , then use all the meanes you can to bring it to suppuration , as before is sufficiently shewed you . chap. viii . sheweth how to know a carbunkle or blain , as also the 〈◊〉 of the same . the carbunkle or blain doth first begin with a little pustula or wheal , and sometime with divers pustulaes or wheales together , with a great burning and pricking pain in the place , which pustulaes are like a scalding bladder , seeming to be full of water or matter , yet when you open it , little or nothing will come out of it , and when they are broken , will grow to a hard crust or scarre , as if it had been burnt with a hot iron or caustick , with a great ponderosity or heavinesse in the place . in some it comes in the beginning , without any pustula at all to be perceived , but with a hard black crust or a scarre ; sometimes it lyeth hidden in the inward parts without any outward appearance at all , as if it be in the lungs , then there is a difficulty of breathing , with a cough and foul spitting . if it be in the liver or spleen , then the party feeleth a great pain and pricking in the same side ; if in the kidneyes or bladder it doth chance , then is there suppression or stopping of the urine , or great pain in the making of water ; if it be in the brain , then a delirium followeth , but howsoever it chance to come , the party infected therewith hath a fever , with other accidents , as before in the 13. chapter of the first treatise is declared ; if it begin with a green , black , or blew colour , or of divers colours like the rainbow , then is it a deadly signe , and so is it , if once it appear and then suddenly vanish away ; but if it be red or yellowish , so it be not in any of the principall parts , or emunctuaries of the body , as the heart , stomack , armpit , flanke , jawes , or throat , then it is laudable , otherwise in any of these places very desperate and dangerous to be cured , but wheresoever it doth chance , unlesse it may be brought to suppuration , it is deadly . the cure of the carbunkle . first , the universall means must not be neglected , as bloud-letting , cordials , epithemations , sweet and gentle evacuation by purging , as the time and cause requireth , which before in the beginning of this treatise hath been shewed at large , and the same order which is used for the cure of a botch , is also to be kept in the cure of a carbunkle , and to rectifie the ayre of the house by strewing it with vine and willow leaves , red roses and such like , as also to sprinkle the floor with rose water and vinegar , and cause the sick oftentimes to smell unto a cloth wet in rosewater and vinegar is very good : these things being done , then use all the means you can to bring it to suppuration , for which purpose this cataplasm following is very good a maturative cataplasm . take fat figs ℥ iiii . mustard seed , ℥ i. ss. pound the seed small by it self , the figs must first be cut very small , and then pounded likewise , and then adde thereto so much oyle of lillies as will suffice to make it in the form of a stiffe pultis , and apply it warm , renuing it twice a day , this must be continued untill the scar begin to grow loose and moveable , and then apply this following to remove the scar . take unsalted butter , the yolk of an egg , and wheat flour , mix them together , and apply it untill the s●…ar doe fall away , then doe you mundifie it with this mundificative . mundificative annodine . take clear turpentine , ℥ iiii . sirrup of red roses , ℥ i. honie of roses , ʒ iiii . boil them altogether a little , then take it from the fire , and add there to barlie and wheat flour of each ʒ . vi . the yolk , of a new laid egg , and mix them altogether , and apply it three dayes , and then use this following . another mundificative . take clear turpentine , ℥ iii . honie of roses , ℥ ii . juice of smallege , ℥ ii . barlie flowre , ℥ i. ss. boil them altogether saving the barlie , untill the juice be consumed , then take it from the fire , and when it is almost cold , adde the barlie thereto , and mixe them together , and use thereof to the grief untill it be clean mundified , and then incarnate it with unguentum basilicon , and lastly sigillate it with unguentum de cerusa decocted . sometime you shall find a little pustule to appear , without any elevation of the parts adjoyning , or outward hardnesse . now here to bring it outwardly you must apply this cataplasm . take lillie roots , onyons , and sour leaven , of either one ounce . boil them in water untill the water be consumed , then bruise them in a morter , and add thereto mustard seed , culver-dung , white sope , anaʒ . i. ss. snails without shels , vi . in number . mithridate , triacle , ana , half a drachm , yolks of four eggs . mix all these together , and apply it warm to the grief , renuing it thrice a day , this order must be continued untill you see the place elevated tending to suppuration , then apply a maturative , and so proceed as next before this is shewed you , and during the whole time of the cure , i hold it better to use rather poultises then plaisters , because they do not so much stop the pores , but give more scope for the venemous matter to breath out . when the carbuncle doth come with great pain and inflammation , how to help it . you must first bath and soke the place well with this bag following , and then presently apply the cataplasm ensuing , for by this means you shall not onely ease the pain and abate the inflammation and fever , but also prevent the danger of gangrena which may chance thereby . the bag . take mallowes , violets , plantain , liblong , ana one handfull . fat figs , ℥ i. hollihock roots , lillie roots , ana ℥ . i. lin-seed ; ℥ i. you must shred the hearbs grosly , and cut the figgs and roots small , then bruise them in a morter , and mingle them altogether , then put them into two little bags of linnen cloth , and boil them in a sufficient quantitie of clean water , untill the water be half consumed , then take out one of the baggs , and wring out the water a little , and apply it to the grief warm , and when it is cold , take it away , and lay on the other , and doe so half an hour together every dressing , which must be twice a day at least . the cataplasm . take mallows , violets , sorrell , liblong , ana two handfuls , henbane , a little handfull . wrap them all in a ball together , and roast them in the ashes , then bruise them in a morter , and adde thereto , mel rosarum , ℥ iiii . triacle , ʒ i. ss. saffron in pouder , half a drachm , yolks of five eggs . mix them together with the rest , adding some barly flower thereto to thicken it , and apply it warm , renuing it alwaies before it grow dry and stiffe , and every dressing you must epithemate the grief first with the baggs aforesaid , and this order must be continued untill the pain and inflammation be gone , then to bring it unto suppuration , if you adde to the foresaid cataplasm some oyle of lillies , and sweet butter unsalted , it will be very good , or you may make this cataplasm following . take soot of the chimney , ℥ . iii . bay salt , ℥ . i. ss. yolks of two or three eggs . mix all these together in a morter , and apply it to the grief warm , which must be alwaies renewed and changed before it grow dry and stiffe , this order must be continued untill the ●…ore come to suppuration , then to remove the scar , and finish the cure , doe you follow the order prescribed in the beginning of this chapter . there are other dangerous accidents which doe sometimes chance in the botch or carbuncle , which here to treat of would little avail the unexpert people , because they know not the means how to execute the same , but if any such thing chance , then doe i wish you to seek the help of some learned physitian , or expert chirurgion , whose counsell i doe wish you to follow . the end of the second treatise . a short treatise of the small pox , shewing the means how for to govern and cure those which are infected therewith . chap. i. sheweth what the small pox and measels are , and whereof it proceedeth . for that oftentimes those that are infected with the plague , are in the end of the disease sometime troubled with the small pox or measels , as also by good observation it hath been seen , that they are fore-runners or warnings of the plague to come , as salius and divers other writers doe testifie : i have thought it good and as a matter pertinent to my former treatise , to shew the aids and helps which are required for the same . i need not greatly to stand upon the description of this disease , because it is a thing well known unto most people , proceeding of adusted bloud mixt with flegm , as avicen witnesseth , which according to both ancient and latter writers doth alwaies begin with a fever , then shortly after there ariseth small pustulaes upon the skin throughout all the body , which doe not suddenly come forth , but by intermission , in some more or lesse , according to the state and qualitie of the bodie infected therewith : for in some there ariseth many little pustulaes with elevation of the skin , which in one day doe increase and grow bigger , and after have a thick matter growing in them , which the greeks call exanthemata or exthymata : and after the latines variola , in our english tongue the small pox , and here some writers doe make a difference betwixt variola and exanthemata ; for say they , that is called variola when many of those pustules doe suddenly run into a clear bladder , as if it had been scalled , but the other doth not so , yet they are both one in the cure , they doe most commonly appear the fourth day , or before the eight day , as avicen witnesseth . what the measels or males are . avicen saith , that the measels or males is that which first cometh with a great swelling in the flesh , with many little pimples which are not to be seen , but onely by feeling with the hand are to be perceived , they have little elevation of the skin , neither doe they grow to maturation , or end with ulceration as the pox doth , neither doe they assault the eyes , or leave any deformity behind them as the pox doth , neither are they so swift in coming forth , but doe grow more slowly , they require the same cure which the pox have , they proceed of cholerick and melancholie bloud . the cause of the pox and measels . the primitive cause as valetius saith , is by alteration of the aire , in drawing some putrified and corrupt quality unto it , which doth cause an ebullition of our bloud . the cause antecedent is repletion of meats , which do easily corrupt in the stomack , as when we eat milk and fish together at one time , or by neglecting to draw bloud , in such as have accustomed to doe it every year , whereby the bloud doth abound . the conjunct cause is the menstruall bloud , which from the beginning in our mothers wombs wee received , the which mixing it self with the rest of our bloud ; doth cause an ebullition of the whole . the efficient cause is , nature or naturall heat , which by that menstruall matter mixing it self with the rest of our bloud , doth cause a continuall vexing and disquieting thereof , whereby an unnaturall heat is increased in all the body , causing an ebullition of bloud , by the which this filthy menstrual matter is seperated from our natural bloud , and the nature being offended and overwhelmed therewith , doth thrust it to the outward pores of the skin as the excrements of bloud , which matter if it be hot and slimie , then it produceth the pox , but if dry and subtil , then the measels or males . but mercurialis an excellent writer in physick , in his first book , de morbis puerorum , cap. 2. agreeing with fernelius in his book de is rerum causis , c. 12. doth hold opinion , that the immediate cause of this disease doth not proceed of menstrual bloud , but of some secret and unknown corruption , or defiled quality of the aire , causing an ebullition of bloud , which is also verified by valetius , and now doth reckon it to be one of the hereditable diseases , because few or none doe escape it , but that either in their youth , ripe age , or old age , they are infected therewith . the contention hereabout is great , and mighty reasons are oppugned on both sides , therefore i will leave the judgement thereof unto the better learned to define ; but mine opinion is , that now it proceedeth of the excrements of all the four humours in our bodies , which striving with the purest , doth cause a supernatural heat and ebullition of our bloud , alwaies beginning with a fever in the most part , and may well be reckoned in the number of those diseases which are called epidemia : as fracastorius in his first book , de morbis contag . cap. 13. witnesseth this disease is very contagious and infectious , as experience teacheth us : there are two speciall causes why this disease is infectious : the first is , because it proceedeth by ebullition of bloud , whose vapour being entred into another bodie , doth soon defile and infect the same , the second reason is , because it is a disease hereditable ; for we see when one is infected therewith , that so many as come neer him , ( especially those which are allyed in the same bloud ) doe assuredly for the most part , receive the infection also . chap. ii. sheweth to know the signs when one is infected , as also the good and ill signs in the disease . the signs when one is infected are these , first he is taken with a hot fever , and sometime with a delirium , great pain in the back , furring and stopping of the nose , beating of the heart , hoarsnesse , redness of the eyes , and full of tears with heavinesse and pain in the head , great beating in the forehead and temples , heaviness and pricking in all the body , dryness in the mouth , the face very red , pain in the throat and breast , difficulty in breathing , and shaking of the hands and feet with spitting thick matter . when they doe soon or in short time appear , and that in their coming out they doe look red , and that after they are come forth they doe look white , and speedily grow to maturation , that he draweth his breath easily , and doth find himself eased of his pain , and that his fever doth leave him , these are good and laudable signes of recovery . when the pox lye hidden within and not appearing outwardly , or if after they are come forth they doe suddenly strike in again and vanish away , or that they doe look of a black , blewish , and green colour , with a difficultie and straitnesse of drawing breath , and that he doe often swoun , if the sick have a flix or lask , when the pox were found double , that is , one growing within another , or when they run together in blisters like scalding bladders , and then on the sudden do sink down and grow dry with a hard black scar or crust , as if it had been burnt with a hot iron , all these are ill signs . avicen saith , there are two speciall causes which produce death unto those that have this disease : either for that they are choaked with great inflammation and swelling in the throat called angina , or having a flix or lask which doth so weaken and overthrow the vitall spirits , that thereby the disease is increased , and so death followeth . how to know of what humours this disease cometh . if it come of bloud , then they appear red , with generall pain , and great heat in all the body . if they come of choler , then will they appear of a yellowish red and clear colour , with a pricking pain in all the bodie . if they come of flegm , then will they appear of a whitish colour and scaly , or with scales . if they come of melancholie , then will they appear blackish with a pricking pain . chap. iii. sheweth the meanes to cure the pox or measels . there are two speciall meanes required for curing this disease , the first is to help nature to expell the same from the interior and principall parts unto the exterior : the second is to preserve both the interior and exterior parts , that they may not be hurt thereby . for the first intention , if the age and strength of the sick will permit , and that the pox or measels appear not , it were then good in the first , second , or third day to draw bloud out of the basilica veine in the right arme , if he be not under the age of fourteen years , but the quantity must be at the discretion of him that draweth it , either more or lesse as occasion is offered : but for children and such as are of tender years , and weak bodies , it were not good to draw bloud out of the arme , but out of the inferior parts , as the thighes , hams buttocks , and the emeroidall veines , especially if the party be melancholie , or else to apply ventoses to the loynes , buttocks , or hams , which may boldly be used both before and after they do appear , either with scarification , or without , as cause requireth , which is a speciall good meanes to draw that ichorous matter from the interior to the exterior parts ; but for sucking children , it were best to apply bloud-suckers unto any of the foresaid places , which is a thing that may be used with more ease then ventoses , neither do i wish either of them to be used unlesse necessity require it , which is , when the matter lieth lurking in the interior parts , not offering it self to appear outwardly : otherwise i hold it better to leave the whole work unto nature , specially in sucking children : for when we see that nature is ready , or doth endeavour to expell the malignity which is in the interior parts to the exterior , which may be perceived by reviving of the spirits , and mitigating of the fever : here we ought not to use any meanes at all , but leave the whole operation to nature , which we must onely help by keeping the sick body in a reasonable heat , being wrapt in a scarlet , stammell , or red cloth , which may not touch the skin , but to have a soft linnen cloth betwixt them both , and then cover him with clothes in reasonable sort , and keep him from the open ayre and the light , except a little , and also from anger , using all the meanes you can to keep the sick in quietnesse , and if the body be very costive , then to give an easie glister . a glister . ℞ . barley , two handfuls , violet leaves one handfull : boyle these in three pints of water untill half be consumed , and strein it : then take of the same decoction twelve ounces . oyle of violets three ounces , red sugar and butter , of either one ounce , mix them together and give it to the sick warm ; you may encrease or diminish the decoction or ingredients according as the age of the party requireth : but if the sick have great heat , then may you add one ounce or four drachms of cassia newly drawn unto it , and when he hath expelled the glister , then rub the armes , hands , legs , and feet , softly with a warm cloth , which is also a very good meanes to draw that chorous matter from the interior to the exterior parts , when all this is done , then if the body be inclined to sweat , you must further the same by covering him with warm clothes , having a care that you lay not more on him then he can well endure , for otherwise you may cause faintnesse and swouning , which are ill in this case , yet must you alwaies keep the sick warm , and suffer him not to sleep , or permit very little untill the pox or measels do appear : and here you must have a speciall care to preserve the eyes , eares , nostrels , throat and lungs , that they be not hurt or offended therewith , as hereafter shall be shewed you , which you must use before he sweat and also in the sweat if need be . eyes , how to preserve them . ℞ . rose-water , plantaine-water , of either two ounces , sumack , two drachms . let them boyle together a little , or stand infused a night , then mixe therewith half a spoonfull of the oyle made of the white of an egg , then wet two clothes five or six double therein , then lay them upon either eye , cold , which must bee alwaies kept upon the eyes untill the pox be all come forth , and as they grow dry , wet them in the same liquor againe , and apply them , but if there be great pain and burning within the eye , then must you also put a drop of this musselage following into the eye : take quinse-seed , half a drachm , bruise it a little , then let it stand infused in three ounces of rose-water a whole night , then strein it , and put one drop thereof into the eye three or four times a day at least , or take of this water . ℞ . rose-water , ℥ . ii . womans milk , ℥ . i. myrrh finely powdered six graines . mixe them together , and use it in the eye as before is shewed : this doth ease the paine , resisteth putrefication , and preserveth the sight . for the eares , you must put a drop of oyle of roses warm into them before he sweat . for the nostrels , cause him oftentimes to smell to the vapour of rose-vinegar , or else vinegar , red-roses and n boyled together . for the throate , let him alwaies hold a peice of white sugar-candy in the mouth , and as it melteth swallow it down . for the lunges give the sick oftenimes some sirrup of quinses , or conserve of roses , a little at a time . and for his drink , the decocted water of barley , boyled with a little licorice is best , being mixed with the juice of a lemon , citron , pomegranate , or rybes : which the sick best liketh , for either of them is very good . and for his diet , he must refrain from all salt , fat , thick and sharp meats : and from all sweet things either in meat or drink , his meat must be of a facile and easie digestion , and that hath a cooling property in it , as broth wherein burrage , bugloss , sorrell , and such like are boyled , and for ordinary drink , small beer or ale is best . chap iiii. teacheth what is to be done when the pox or measels are flow in coming forth . now when you perceive the pox or measels are slow and slack in comming forth , then must you help nature , with cordials , and by sweat to thrust it out from the interior and principall parts , unto which purpose i have alwaies found this drink to be excellent good here following . ℞ . hordei mund. m. i. lentium . excort . p. i. ficuum . no. x. fol. capil. . v. lactucae . ana m. ss. fol. acetosae . m. i. florum cord . p. i. semen fenic . ʒ . ii . semen . 4. frigid . ma. anaʒ . ss. aqua font , lb. iiii . boyle all these together untill a third part of the water be consumed , and then strein it . ℞ . decoct. col . lb. i. succus granatorum vel ribes , ℥ . iiii . mix all these together , and give the sick four or six ounces thereof to drink every morning and evening , which will provoke sweat , and expell the disease , and if you cannot get the juice of pomegranats , nor rybes , then you may take so much of the sirrup of either of them . another good drink to expell the pox or measels . take a quart of posset-ale , a handfull of fennell seed , boyle them together till a third part be consumed , then strein it , and add thereto one drachm of triacle , and one scruple of saffron in powder : mix them together , and give two , three , or four ounces thereof to drink every morning and evening as cause requireth . but if it be for a strong and elderly body , you may give any of the expelling electuaries which are used to expell the plague , as in the first chapter for the curing of the plague doth appear . but if the sick be so weak that he cannot expell the disease in convenient time , then it is good to epithemate the heart with this epithemation following . epithemation for the heart . ℞ . aquarum ros. melissae , card. b. buglos . morsus diaboli , vini alb. ana ℥ . iiii . aceti ros. ℥ . ii . ss. pul. ros. rub . trium santal-cinamoni , elect. diamarg. frigid . anaʒ . ss. mithridati , ℥ . i. theriacae , ʒ . iiii . mix all these together , and let them boyle a little , and so warm epithemate the heart : and when you have done it , then give some expulsive drink or electuary as cause requireth , and then cause him to sweat upon it , for by this meanes you shall obtaine your desire by gods permission . thirst , how to quench it . now if in the expelling of the pox , the sick be very thirsty and dry , then give this julep to drink morning and evening , which i have found very good . ℞ . sirrup of jujubes , nenuphare , and burrage , of either four drachms : water of burrage , cichore , and bugloss , of either two ounces . mix them together and give the sick one half thereof in the morning , and the rest at night , and cause him oftentimes to lick of this mixture following . take the conserves of nenuphare , violets , and burrage , of either six drachms : manus christi made with perles , four drachms : sirrup of nenuphare and ribes , of either one ounce and half . mix them together : and with a licorice stick clean scrap'd , and a little bruised in the end , let the sick lick thereof . chap. v. sheweth what is to be done when the pox are all come out in the skinne . for that oftentimes the face and hands , which is the beauty and delight of our bodies , are oftentimes disfigured thereby , i will shew you what meanes i have used with good and happy successe for preventing thereof : which is , you may not do any thing unto them untill they grow white , and that they are come to maturation , which when you perceive , then with a golden pinne , or needle , or for lack thereof a copper pinne will serve , do you open every pustulae in the top , and so thrust out the matter therein very softly and gently with a soft linnen cloth , and if you perceive the places do fill againe , then open them againe as you did first , for if you do suffer the matter which is in them to remain over long , then will it fret and corrode the flesh , which is the cause of those pitts which remaine after the pox are gone , as avicen witnesseth : now when you have thus done , then annoint the places with this oyntment following . take elder leaves , one handfull , marigolds , two handfulls , french mallowes , one handfull , barrowes morte or grease , six ounces . first bruise the hearb in a morter , and then boyle them with the grease in a pewter dish on a chafer and coales , untill the juice of the hearbs be consumed , then strein it , and keep it to your use , the best time to make it is in the middle or the latter end of may . you must with a feather annoint the places grieved , and as it drieth in , annoint it againe , and so continue it oftentimes , for this will soon dry them up , and keep the place from pitts and holes , which remain after the pox are gone . also if you annoint the pox with the oyle of sweet almonds newly drawn three or four times a day , which you must begin to do so soon as the pox are grown white and come to maturation , it will cure them without pitts or spotts , and easeth the pain and burning , and helpeth excoriation . some do onely oftentimes wet the places with the juice of marigolds in the summer season , and in winter the juice of the roots will serve : and by that onely have done well . mercuriales doth greatly commend this decoction following to be used after the pustulaes are opened . take barley , one little handfull , red roses , a handfull , red sanders , white sanders , of either one o●…nce : saffron , two scruples , salt , four drachms , clean water , three pound . boyle all together untill a third part be consumed , you must oftentimes touch the sores therewith , with a fine cloth wet therein , and as it drieth in , wet it againe , this in a short time will dry them up . i have heard of some , which having not used any thing at all , but suffering them to dry up and fall off themselves without any picking or scratching , have done very well , and not any pitts remained after it . when the pox , after they come out , do not grow to maturation , how you shall help it . sometimes you shall find that it will be a long time before those pustulaes will come to maturation , or grow white : now here you must help nature to bring it to passe , which you may well do with this decoction . take mallowes , one handfull , figgs , twelve in number , water , a quart . cut the figgs small , and boyle altogether , untill half and more be consumed , and then wet a fine soft linnen cloth therein , and touch the place therewith oftentimes , which will soone bring them to maturation , and also ease the paine , if any be . ulceration , to help it . if in the declining of the pox they chance to grow unto ulcerations , which is oftentimes seen : then for the curing thereof use this order here following . take tamarinds , leaves of ●…entils , mirtils , budds of oaken leaves , red roses dried , of either a l●…le handfull . boyle all these in a pottle of clean water untill half be consumed , then strein it , and with a fine cloth wet therein do you wash and soak the place well , then wipe it dry with a soft and fine linnen cloth , and then cast into the place some of this powder following . take frankincese , mastick , sarcocoll , and red roses , of either two drachms . make all these into fine powder severally by themselves , then mix them together , and so reserve it to thy use . a very good unguent for the same purpose . take oyle of roses , vi . ounces , white wax , one ounce , ceruse washt in rose and plantaine-water , one ounce and half , clear turpentine , iii . drachms , camphire , half a drachm . you must first melt the wax in the oyle , then put in the ceruse by little and little , alwaies stirring it with an iron spalter , and let it boyle on a gentle fire of charcoles untill it grow black , but stirr it continually in the boyling , for feare least it burn : then take it from the fire , and add thereto the camphire , and lastly the turpentine : this unguent is good both to mundifie , incarnate , and sigillate . for extream heat and burning in the soales of the feet , and palms of the hands . petrus forestus willeth to hold the hands and feet in warm water , and that will ease the pain and burning , and may boldly be used without any danger . for to help the sorenesse and ulceration of the mouth . sometime it chanceth in this disease , that there is a great ulceration or excoriation in the mouth and jawes , called aptham , which if it be not well looked unto in time , will grow to be cankers , : now to cure and prevent the same , this gargarisme is excellent good . take barley-water , a quart , red roses dried , a little handfull , sumach , and rybes , of either two ounces , juice of pomegranates , ℥ . iii . boyle them altogether , saving the juice of pomegranates , untill a third part be consumed , then strein it , and add thereto the juice of pomegranates , with this you must often wash and gargarise , as also hold some thereof in the mouth a pretty while . also to prevent the same , the kernel of a pomegranate held in the mouth is very good , and so it is excellent good to lick oftentimes some diamoron , or juice of a pomegranate . for inflammation and paine in the tonsils and throate . take plantaine-water , a pint , sirrup of pomegranates , two ounces . mix them together , and gargarise therewith oftentimes being warm . another . taste nightshade-water , a pint , seeds of quinces , four scruples . boyle them together a little , then strein it , and add thereto two ounces of the sirrup of pomegranates , and gargarise therewith oftentimes . how to open the eye-lids that are fastened together with the pox . sometimes the eye-lids are so fastened together that you cannot open them without great pain and danger : then to open them you must foment or bath them well with a decoction made of quince seed , mallowes and water boyled together , wherein wet some fine linnen clothes five or six double , and apply them warm , and continue it untill you may easily open them , and then if you perceive any web or filme to be grown over the sight , then thrice a day do you put some powder of white sugar-candy into the eye , or if you list , you may dissolve the sugar in rose-water , and so use it in the eye , which will fret it away , and preserve the sight . a good collery for a web or ungula in the eye . take the juice of rue , fennell , salendine , mallowes , of either two ounces . boyle them together in a vessell of glasse , or peuter , over a chafer with coales , and scumme away the froth that doth rise thereof , then add thereto the gaule of an eel , one drachm , and let them boyle together a little , then put thereto four scruples of white copperas , and one scruple of verdigreace in fine powder , boil all together a little , then let it run through a fine linnen cloth , and keep it in a glasse , you must every morning and evening put one drop thereof into the eye , provided that first due evacuation be made so well by phlebotomie as purging . chap vi . teacheth how to help divers accidents which chance after the pox are cured and gone . for rednesse of the face and hands after the pox are gone , how to help it . take barley , beanes , lupins , of either one handfull : bruise them all in a morter grosely , and boyle them in three pints of water untill it grow thick like a jelly , then straine it , and annoint the face and hands therewith three or four times a day , for three or four daies together , and then you must wet the face and hands so oftentimes a day with this water following . take vine leaves , two handfuls : beane-flower , dragons , wilde-tansey , of either one handfull : camphire three drachms , two calves feet , the pulpe of three lemons , a pint of raw cream . you must shred the hearbs small , as also the lemons , and break and cut the calves-feet small , then mix them together , and distill it in a glasse still , also the water of may-dew is excellent good for any high colour , or rednesse of the face . for spots in the face remaining when the pox are gone . take the juice of lemons and mix it with a little bay-salt , and touch the spots therewith oftentimes in the day ; for it is excellent good . a good ointment for the same purpose . take oyle of sweet almonds ▪ oyle of white lillies , of either one ounce : capons-grease , goats-tallow , of either four drachms : sarcocoll , half a drachm : flower of rice , and of lupins , of either one drachm : litharge of gold , one drachm and half : roots of brionie , and of ireos , of either one scruple : sugar-candy white , one drachm . make powder of all those that may be brought into powder , and searce them through a searce , then put them all in a morter together , and labour them with a pestle , and in the working do you put the water of roses , beane-flower ▪ and of white lillies ana a great spoonfull , which must be put in by little and little in the working of it , and so labour them altogether untill it come to an unguent . you must every evening annoint the face therewith , or hands , and in the morning wash it away in the water wherein barley , wheaten-bran , and the seed of mallowes hath been boyled . for holes remaining when the small pox are gone . for helping of this accident i have shewed many things , yet never could find any thing that did perfectly content me , but the best meanes that i have tried , is one day to wash the place with the distilled water of strong vinegar , and the next day with the water wherein bran and mallowes have been boyled , and continue this order twenty daies , or a moneth together . running of the eares , how to help it . sometimes the eares do run very much in this disease , which in any wise you may not go about to stop in the beginning ▪ but suffer it so to run , and the eares to remaine open : but if there be great pain in them , then wet a spunge in warm water and oyle of roses mixt together , and lay it upon the eares . for stopping of the nostrills , to help it . sometimes the nostrills are greatly pestered by stopping them with the pox growing in them , which doth oftentimes cause ulceration in them , therefore to prevent the same , take red-rose , and plantaine , of either one handfull : mirrh in powder half an ounce . boyle all these in a quart of water untill half be consumed , and so being warm , cause the sick to draw the fume thereof into his nostrills oftentimes . also if the sick doth oftentimes smell unto vinegar , it is good . for hoarsenesse remaining when the pox are gone . take licorice , sebesten , jujubes , of either two ounces : fat-figgs , four ounces , clean water , four pints . boyl all these together untill half be consumed , then strain it , and give one spoonfull thereof to the sick oftentimes , and it helpeth . for filthy and moist scabs after the pox are gone . take lapis calaminaris , litharge of gold , and of silver of either two drachms : quick br mstone and ceruse , ana 3. ii . bring all these into fine powder , and then labour them in a morter with so much barrowes-mort or grease as shall be sufficient to make up an unguent , and annoint the place therewith every morning and evening . finis . some other few additionall observations concerning the passages in this latter treatise . page the eighth of this precedent book , a quilt or bag is commended to be very excellent ; it is reported to be pope adrians bag , which he used against infection , and in the great last sicknesse in london , it was commended to many great persons of worth by some apothecaries , who kept it as a great secret , and affirmed , it would prevent infection , and preserve them safe in that dangerous time ; and thereupon sold it unto them at a very great rate : but that you may not be deluded in the prescription , i have set down the true receit thereof , as it was delivered unto me from the hands of a very noble friend . a preservative against the infection of the air , and the plague , often approved by pope adrian , and many others of great rank and credit . take arsenick two ounces , auripigmentum one ounce , make little tablets thereof with the whites of eggs , and gum dr●…gacanth , and hang them about the neck against the heart . i have also set down a red cordiall water , very good against infection , which i had also from that noble friend . take a quart of good spirit of wine , or very good aqua vitae , infuse it in one ounce of good mithridate , with as much good venice triacle : let it be close stopped some few day●… in the infusion before you use it , then pour the spirit clear off , and reserve it for your use . but to discover what opinions other phisitians have held of that and the like , i have annexed hereunto their severall judgements hereafter , that amongst so many choise medicines , they may select out the best and safest for their own preservations , when need shall require . and to give them the better satisfaction , i have annexed , out of some choise manuscripts , some approved experiments , of some of our london ablest doctors , as also out of some other authors . severall opinions against wearing of arsenick amulets , as preservatives against the plague . the poysonous vapours of arsenick being sucked or drawn into the body , when they find no contrary poyson with whom to wrestle with , as with an enemy , ( for in an infected body there cannot be health ; but we suppose him to be well , whom we desire to preserve so ) those vapours must needs imprint a malignant and venomous quality on the spirit and heart , most adverse and pernitious to nature . and by galens own doctrine , all alexiteries doe in a mann●…r , if they be used too liberally , greatly offend and weaken our bodies ; how can we then think , that ranke poysons and dilaet●…ries , ( such as arsenick is ) being applied , as to penetrate in●…o the noblest region of all other , will no whit violate and wast our naturall , vitall , and radicall heat ? galen libr. de ●…mp . cap. 1●… . nor did galen , or any of the antient fathers and professors of ●…hysick , use to preserve from the plague , or any other poison , by administring some other poison inwardly , or prescribing outwardly applications , but proceeded by antidotes , and alexiteries , as will appear in libr. de theriaca ad pis. cap , 16. wherefore , unlesse we will utterly disclaim or relinguish the method and prescripts of these worthy antients , and prosecute new wayes and inventions , to oppose this man-yelling monster , we must attempt it not with poysons but antidotes . and galen defineth those to be poysons , which agree not with nature , either well or ill affected at any time ; for though there are some poysons , which if they meet in the body with a contrary venome , so fight with it , and oppose it , that both doe perish in the conflict betwixt them ; so that the party , by their colluctation and strugling together , escapes with his life : yet all of them agree in uniform opinion together , that where they meet with no opposition , they ruine the party : and therefore conclude , that arsenick , worn by a healthy man , finding not onely no contrary poyson to make conflict with , but no poyson at all , must necessarily thwart , and oppose , and make an onset on nature her self . and to confirme their opinions , i have purposely introduced the judgements of other learned phisitians concurring with them . gerardus columbus , a learned phisitian , reporteth , that it hath been observed , that the wearers of these amulets , upon unusuall heating their bodies , have fallen into sudden lipothimies , and swounings , with other fearfull accidents , which continued upon them till the amulets or placents were removed from them ; and that others , though not instantly , yet after some time , have by late and wofull experience discovered their malignity , by falling into malignant and pestilent fevers , some of them ending with death . franc. alphanus , a phisitian of salerne , relateth of one , who wearing arsenick , and heating himself with playing earnestly at tennise , fell down suddenly dead . mattheus hessus also thus writeth , as cordiall bags or amulets ought not to be disavowed , so empoysoned amulets can be no way commended ; nor doe i remember , that ever any received good from them , who abstained from other antidotes : but this i certainly know , that divers persons , who carry about them quick-silver in a nutshell , by the vain perswasions of some imposters , have died of the plague , and the counsellours and advisers of such like amulets , have been the first have betaken themselves to their heeles , confiding more in their running than cunning : and yet these quacks perswaded the ignorant people , with glorious promises and protestations , that whosoever carried quick-silver or arsenick about his neck , should be as safe , as if he had purchased a protection from the king of heaven historians also report , that caracalla , though he were a wicked emperour , prohibited by publick edict or proclamation , that no man should wear about him superstitious amulets . and theophrastus the great ( not without cause ) esteemed p●…ricles to have a crazed brain , because he saw him wear an amulet about his neck . and hereunto doctor francis herring , an able phisitian , as a corollary to what hath before been written , addeth the experience of some london phisitians , who report , they have seen foul holes made in the breasts of those that have worn those amulets , and have observed divers to die , who have religiously worn them about their necks , as well as others . and whereas the venters and setters out of these deceitfull wares , make them as a scout , to discover the infection when it beginneth to seize on a man , by clapping close to the heart , to guard that principall part , as the cheif tower : it is a meer deceit and collusion : for whensoever the body is heated , this event followeth necessarily , though no other infection be near , but the poysonous and venomous arsenick itself , whose salutation is rather ioabs imbracing , or iuda's kissing , than friendly preservatives . causes of the plague . there are two speciall causes of the plague . first , an infected , corrupted , and putrified air , secondly , evill and corrupt humours ingendered in the body . the air is infected , when the temperatenesse of the air is changed from his naturall state , to excessive heat and moisture , which is the worst temperament of the air , the vapours drawn up by the heat of the sun being unconsumed , rot , putrifie , and corrupt , and so with the venome infect the air : also dead carkases lying unburied , as it often chanceth in warres , evaporations of pooles , fens , marishes , stinking and noysome sents and kennels , and astronomers say , aspects , conjunctions and oppositions of ill planets , and eclipses of the sun and moon . also disordering ones self , either in diet or exercises bringeth one into the pestilence ; therefore in time of contagion , outrages and surfets are to be avoided , as also all excesse of eating , drinking , sweating , bathing , lechery , and all other things that open the pores of the body , and enter thereby ill aires , which invenome the lively spirits . signes of the plague . the signes which declare one infected already are many ; but the secret token of all to know the infected of the plague is , if there arise botches behind the eares , or under the arme-holes , or about the share ; or if carbunkles suddenly arise in any member , for when they appear , they betoken strength of nature , which being strong , laboureth to drive the poyson out of the body ; but if botches doe not appear , it is more dangerous , for it sheweth , that nature is weak and feeble , and not able to expell and thrust forth the venomous humours , and then you must have respect to the signes before rehearsed . the infection of the plague entereth into a man after this sort . in a man are three principall parts ( that is ) the heart , liver , and brains , and each of these hath his cleansing place : if they appear in the neck , they shew the brains to be chiefly vexed , if under the arme-holes the heart , but if they appear in the share , the liver is most infected , for when a man hath taken infection , it presently mingleth with the bloud , and runs to the heart , which is the cheif part of man , and the heart putteth the venome to his cleansing place , which is the arme-holes ; and that being stopt , putteth it to the next principall part , which is the liver , and it passeth it to his cleansing place , which is the share , and they being stopt , passe it to the next principall place , that is , the braines , and to their cleansing places , which are under the eares , or under the throat , and they being stopped , suffer it not to passe out , and then it is moved twelve hours before it rest in any place , and if it be not let out within the space of four and twenty hours by bleeding , it brings a man into a pestilentiall ague , and causeth a botch in one of those three places , or near unto them the cure of the plague . when thou feelest thy self infected , bleed in the first hour , or within six hours after , drink not , and tarry not above twelve hours from bleeding , for then when the bloud is flitting too and fro , the venome is then moving , and not yet setled , and after it will be too late ; those that are fat may be let bloud , or else not . if the matter be gathered under the arme-holes , it comes from the heart by the cardiacall vein , then bleed on the same side by the basilica vein , the innermost vein of the arme , if the botch appear behind the eares , above the chin , or in any other part of the face or neck , bleed out of the cephalica vein on the same side ; you may bleed with cupping glasses , and scarification , or horseleeches . if the botch appear in the share , bleed in the ankle on the same side , in any case not in the arme , for it will draw up the matter again . but if no botch appear outwardly , draw bloud out of that side where you feel greatest pain and heavinesse , and out of that vein , the greif of the members affected shall point thee out . if you perceive the plague invade you at meat , or on a full stomack , vomit speedily , and when your stomack is empty , take some medicine that may resist poyson , as mithridate , or triacle , or some of these following , which , as choise medicines , i have inserted , as being doctor edwards experiments . for the plague . infuse two peices of fine pure gold in the juyce of lemons four and twenty hours , and drink that juyce with a little wine , with powder of the angelica root : it is admirable , and hath helped divers past all hope of cure . another . take two drachms of juniper berries , of terra lemnia ℈ i. make both into fine powder , and mix it with honey , and take of it as much as a ha●…ell nut in three drachms of honeyed water made up thus : take a pint of honey , and of water eight pints , seeth and scum it at an easie fire , till the fourth part be wasted : it is an excellent antidote against poyson and plague ; if the poyson be taken before , it will expell it by vomit , if not , the medicine will stay in the stomack . another . take zedoary roots the best you can get , great raisins , and licorice , champ it with thy teeth and swallow it , if you be infected it preserveth without danger . another for botches , boyls , and tokens . take of ripe ivy berries dryed in the shade , as much of the powder as will lye upon a groat or more , and put it into three or four ounces of white wine , and lie in bed and sweat well ; after your sweat is over , change shirt , and sheets , and all the bed clothes if he may , if not , yet change his shirt and sheets . some have taken this powder over night , and found themselves well in the morning , and walked about the house fully cured . one having a plague sore under the thigh , another under the left arme-pit , taking this powder in the morning , and again that night , the sores brake of themselves , by this excellent medicine sent by almighty god : it is good for botches , boyles , plague-sores , tokens , shingles , erisipella , and such like , &c. thus farre doctor edwards doctor in physick and chirurgery . experiments tried by my selfe . for the plague . take of pillulae pestilentiales , called ruffi , or of pan●…hy magogon ( or for want of it ) of extraction rudii , of each half a drachm , mingle these , into six pills for two doses , whereof take three at a time in the morning fasting , for two dayes together . another excellent approved remedy . take eight or nine grains of aurum vitae , either in triacle water , or made up in diascordium , fasting . another excellent sweating powder for the plague . take of the powder e chelis cancrorum , of aromatitum rosatum , and of cerusa autimonii , of each half a scruple , mingle these up together in a diaphoretick powder , and take it in four spoonfuls of triacle water well mingled together . the cure of diseases in remote regions . the calenture , happeneth to our nation in intemperate climates , by inflammation of bloud , and proceedeth often of immoderate drinking of wine , and eating of pleasant fruits , which are such nourishers thereof , as they prevent the meanes used in curing the same . to know the calenture . at the first apprehension it afflicts the patient with great pain in the head , and heat in the body , which is continuall or increasing , and doth not diminish and angment , as other fevers doe ; and is oft an introduction to the taberdilla or pestilence , but then the body will seem very yellow . to cure the calenture . so soon as you perceive the patient possest of the calenture , ( except the chirurgion , for danger of the sign defer it ) i have seen the time of the day not respected , open the median vein of the right arm , and take such quantity of bloud , as agreeth with the ability of the bodie ; but if it asswage not the heat by the next day , open the same vein in the left arme , and take so much more like quantity of bloud at his discretion ; and if the body be costive , ( as commonly they are ) give him some meet purgation , and suffer him to drink no other then water cold , wherein barley and annise-seeds have been boyled with bruised liquorice . and if within 4. dayes the partie amend not , or being recovered , take it again , open the vein cephalick in one or both hands , bathing them in warm water , untill there come so much more bloud as cause requires . suffer not the patient to drinke seven dayes after he is perfectly recovered , any other drinke , then such water , as is before herein directed . the taberdilla , is a disease so called by the spaniards , by the mexicans , cocalista , and by other indians is named taberdet , and is so exceeding pestilent and infectious , that whole kingdomes in both the india's have been depopulated by it , for want of knowledge to redresse themselves of it . to know the taberdilla . it first assaults the patient vehemently with pain in the head and back : and the body seeming yellow , is some sign thereof , and within 24 hours it is so torturous , that the possest thereof cannot rest or sleep , turning himself on either side , back or belly , burning in his back most extreamly . and when it growes to perfection , there will appear red and blue spots upon the patients breast a●…d wrists . and such persons as have not presently requisite means applyed to them to prevent it , will be , by the vehement torment thereof , deprived of their wits , and many to cease their pain by losse of their lives have despairingly slain , and drowned themselves . the cure of the taberdilla . when you perceive it afflict the patient , permit him not to lie very warm , nor upon feathers ( for of what quality soever he bee in spain , having this sickness he is laid upon wheatstraw : ) then immediatly open the median vein , first in one arm , and the next day in the other , taking a good quantity of bloud : let him have water cold , wherein barlie and annise-seeds have been sodden without liquorice ( for the spanish physitians hold liquorice to bee hurtfull unto them ) so much as he will desire , which will be every moment ; but no other drink , nor any raw fruits : assoon as the spots appear , give him some cordiall potion : and laying him upon his belly , set six ventoses together on his back , between and beneath the shoulders ; and scarifying them , draw out ( if it be a body of strong constitution ) 18 ounces of bloud . after which , and that he hath slept , he will find ease within twenty four hours , and such alteration in himself , as he will thinke he is delivered of a most strange torment . then give him moderately nourishing meats , ( for he will desire to eat much ) the fourth day , give him some convenient purgations . and if in the mean while he is costive , provoke him every day by clisters ; and warn him to forbear 15 dayes all other drink then what is ordained : and be very carefull of his diet , for if this taberdilla , which we call here in england gods tokens , come againe unto the patient , he can hardly escape it . and it is no lesse infectious , then the usuall english plague . the espinlas is a strange sicknes , usuall in those parts to such as take cold in their breasts , after great heat or travell . it comes most times to those that lye with their breasts upon the ground ( especially ) in the night . to know the espinlas . the party having it , will be giddie in the head , and have pain and pricking at his breast , as with many thornes ; from whence i thinke it is called , for espina in spanish signifies a thorn ; and there will be upon the focell , being the upper bone of his arm , a hand breadth above the wrist , a little kernell by the which it is certainly known : he that hath this disease , will have appetite neither to meat , nor drinke , nor can digest meat , though he be invited and moved to take it . to cure the espinlas . the espinlas appearing by the former signs , take presently oyle olives , and therewith chafe the kernell upon the patients arm , using so to doe twice every day , untill it be dissolved ; and laying oyle likewise upon his breast , stroke it upward somewhat hard with the hand ; then spread fine flaxe upon it and the kernel , making it fast with a rowler , and within two or three dayes the diseased will be recovered thereof ▪ whereas else it is very dangerous to deprive them of life . camera de sangre . laxativeness , or blondy flux , proceed in those parts of divers causes : as by eating grapes , oranges , limons , melons , plantains , and especially a great fruit growing in the west-indies called pina , like a pine-apple , but bigger then four of the greatest which i have seen , which the spaniars hold for the most delicate fruit that is there , and many other fruits . also by sudden cold , or sitting ( being very hot ) upon a cold stone , or being hot by drinking water abundantly . and also eating of butter , oyle , and fish is so hurtfull to the parties that have it , that they must refrain to eat thereof , and whatsoever else , that may ingender any slimie substance in the intrals . the cure of the bloudie flux . there is more possibility of cure , by how much more expedition the medicine is ministred : and detracting it , the patients often die suddenly , without feeling much grief . for speedy and assured remedie , the patients bodie must be cleansed of the sliminess , ingendred in the passages of the nutriments , before any sustenance can remain in his bodie . to that purpose purge him in the morning , with halfe a pint of white wine cold , wherein half an ounce of rubard being smal cut hath been sodden , putting some sugar candie to it , to sweeten it , and immediatly after he hath so purged , keep at his navell rosemary sod in strong vinegar , applyed in the morning and evening very hot , untill it be stayed ; giving him often quinces bruised , and rouled in marmalade like pills , which he should swallow whole , and none of the fruits or meats before recited , nor any more white wine , but red wine of any sort : and if it be one the land use the livers of goats , ( especially ) sheeps , or bullocks rosted ; not willingly permitting the patient to eat any other meat : and if at sea , rice onely sodden in water , rather then any thing else usuall there , untill the infirmitie bee perfectly asswaged . the erisipela , reigneth much in those countries , proceeding from the unwholsome aires and vapours those hot countries doe yeeld , whereof many perish ; and if it bee not prevented by medicines presently ministred to the sick patients , it proveth incurable . to know the erisipela . hee will be swoln in the face , or some part of him , and it will be of yellow colour mixed with red . and when it is pressed with the finger , there will remain a sign or dint of the same , and then by degrees it will fill again to the former proportion . it speedily infecteth the inward parts , because such swellings come sooner unto perfection in hot places , then in temperat countries , and therefore the diseased thereof , must immediatly be provided of remedie . to cure the erisipela . the savage people first found out perfectly how to cure this disease , ( though it is the spanish name of the maladie ) by bruising so much tobacco as will yeeld four spoonfuls of juyce , and to drinke it presently after they are infected therewith , and to launce the places swollen , thereunto putting casade wet , and made into paste , continuing in cold and shadie places neer rivers : and not to travell and labour till they bee recovered : the spaniards in india doe recover themselves by taking the same juyce of tobacco , and setting so many ventoses upon the swoln places as they can contain , scarifying them , and drawing out the corrupted humour so congealed , using the like in two or three other parts of the bodie , where the disease doth not appeare . the juyce of tobacco is very excellent to expell poison , and is the ordinary remedie used by the indians , and other savages when they are poisoned , and bitten with scorpions , or other venemous creatures : but they make presently some incision where they are bitten or stung , and wash it with the juyce of tobacco , then applying the same bruised thereunto two or three dayes , they heal it up with dried tobacco . the tinoso or scurvie . is an infecting disease sufficiently known unto sea-fayring men , who by putrified meats , and corrupted drinks , eating bisket flourie , or foul crusted , and wearing wet apparrel ( especially sleeping in it ) and slothfull demeanour , or by grosse humours contained in their bodies get the same , to know the scurvie . many have perished when they returned out of hot regions into cold climates , where they have had the parts of their bodies , which with heat , were nimble and tractable to every motion of the spirits , dulled and benummed with cold , which is a token that this disease is ingendring in their joynts ; and soonest appears by swelling of their ankles , and knees , and blackness of their gums , or looseness of their teeth , which will sometimes come forth , when there is no remedie used in season . preservatives against the scurvy . you must have a care to preserve those things before rehearsed well conditioned , the badnesse whereof , in part breed this disease ; they must use exercise of body , and such as are exempted from doing of labour , must hang or swing by the armes twice or thrice every day ; they must not have scarcity of drink in hot climates , and coming into the cold , must be daily releeved with aqua vita or wine : it is also an assured medicine against this disease , to have such quantity of beer brewed with graines and long pepper , as in the morning , twice every week , there may be given a good draught to a man , proportioning three quarters of a pound of graines , and three quarters of a pound of long pepper , to a hogshead of beer : also white wine , or syder , boyled and brewed with graines and long pepper in like quantity , is very singular good : and it is not fit to suffer the gummes to abound with flesh , and therefore sometimes let them bleed , and cleer them with strong vinegar . to cure the scurvy . if the scurvy be setled in his mouth , the corrupted and black flesh must be taken away , and his mouth washed with strong vinegar , wherein graines and long pepper have been infused and brewed , and give him daily the drink that is before prescribed ; and as well such as have it in their mouths , as those that are swoln in their limbs , must have some meet purgation presently ; but those so swoln or stiffe ( for so some will be without swelling ) to scarifie the parts infected , and to apply thereto a poultis or cataplasme of barly meal , more hot than the patient will willingly suffer it ; so doing every morning , permit him not to rest two houres after , although being nummed or faint , he be supported to walk , and suffer him not to eat any salt meats , if other meats may be had . my self having eighty men , eight hundred leagues out of england , sick of the scurvy , i used scarifiing , and to the places scarified ( being destitute of the helps mentioned ) i applyed poultisses of bisket beaten in a morter , and sod in water , which , with the comfort of some fresh meats obtained , recovered them all except one person , and they arrived in england , perfectly sound . other observations concerning the scurvy taken out of other books . 1. those that are troubled with the scurvy , their thighs are stained with a violet colour , that one would think , that something of that colour were spread upon it , their gummes are corrupted , and their teeth loose ; these ever are signes of that disease . 2. some are onely pained in their teeth and gums , some otherwise ; some doe never break out , others their whole thighs are stained . observations out of sennertus , concerning the scurvy . 1. multitude of passions , and change of diseases in it . 2. greif of mind , and uneasie breathing and stopping . 3. corruptnesse of the gums , and ill savour of the mouth . 4. ach of the teeth . 5. spots . 6. urine . 7. pulse . 8. vein of the legs about the ankles , together with the hands and fingers , the nuch , the knees , and the moving of many parts , with swellings . 9. pain in the belly , about the forepart of the belly , about the short ribs . 10. feeblenesse and ache in the joynts . 11. paines of the reines , and strangury . 12. head-ache . 13. plurifie . 14. gout . 15. benumming , and the palsie . 16. trembling , and panting of the heart , and shaking . 17. cramp , pricking or shooting aches , and epilepsie ▪ 18. contractions , and stiffenesse of limbs . 19. apoplexie . 20. over-much sleeping . watching . 21. fear and sadnesse . 22. madnesse . 23. abundant bleeding about the nose . 24. memory weak . 25. ache in the shoulders . 26. appetite decayed , thirst and drinesse of mouth . 27. belching upwards . 28. disposition to vomit , or vomiting . 29. continuall spitting . 30. loosenesse in the belly , sometimes with bloud . 31. belly bound at other times . 32. muck sweat , with ill savour of the body , and p●…ysick . 33. ill colour of the face , and yellow jaundies . 34. swelling of the legs , and dropsie of the belly . 35. mighty heat . 36. fevers . 1. quotidian . 2. tertian . 3. quartain . 4. continuall . 37. plague or pestilence . 38. swelling , or puffing up of the flesh . 39. l●…menesse of the thighs and whole body . 40. saint anthonies fire . 41. gangre●…n , when the sore parts rot and mortifie . cures for severall diseases . a water to make a man see within 40. dayes , though he have been blind seven years before , if he be under fiftie years of age . take smallage , fennel , rue , betonie , vervain , egrimonie , cinquefoil , pimpernel , eyebright , celydonie , sage , ana a quartern , and wash them clean and stamp them , doe them in a fair mashing pan , put thereto a quart of good white wine , and the pouder of thirty pepper cornes , six spoonfuls of life honie , and ten spoonfulls of a man childs urine that is innocent , and mingle them well together , and seeth them till the half be wasted , and then take it down and strein it , and afterward clarifie it , and put it in a glasse vessell well stopt , and put thereof with a feather into the eyes of the blind , and let the patient use this medicine at night when he goeth to bed , and within forty dayes he shall see . it is good for all manner of sore eyes . wilde tansey water is good for the eye-sight ; and eating of fennell seed is good for the same . for the web in the eye . the leaves of white honie-suckles , and ground ivie , ana , ground together , and put every day into the eye , cureth the web . salt burnt in a flaxen cloth , and tempered with honey , and with a feather annointed on the eye-lids , killeth wormes that annoy the eye-lids . for wind in the side , that maketh the head swim . take of cammomil three ounces , a penniworth of pouder of cummin sewed in a poke like a stomacher , boil it well in stale ale , lay it to the side hot , and when it is cold renew it again hot . contra surditatem . 1. betonica saepe injecta tepid●… , mire proficit contra aurium dolorem & surditatem , & alia vitia , & sonos extraneos non sinit manere . 2. rost an onion as hot as you may suffer it , lay it upon the ear with a linnen cloth laid between . probatum est . contra lupum , venit saepe super oculum aut pedem . if it be incurable , it stinketh , fretteth , and the wound waxeth black . take salt , and honey , and barley , ana , burn them in an oven , wash the wound with vinegar , and dry it with linnen clothes , and then lay on the pouder , and doe so till it amend , pro cancro & lupo . take half a pint of juyce of mollein , and half a pint of honey , sodden to the thickness of honey , and mingle with these pouders , and lay on the sore . take orpiment and verdi-grease , of either a drachm and a half , juyce of walwort a pound and a half , honey a quartern , vinegar , boil them altogether till it be as thick as honey , lay thereof on the hole of the sore twice every day , with juyce of ribwort , and drinke juyce of avence . ribwort stamped and laid on the sore will kill it . pro oculis . 1. lac mulieris quae masculum genuit , sed praecipue quae geminos masculos genuit , mixtum cum albumine ovi , & in lana compositum passiones & lachrymas oculorum mitigat , et desiccat , si fronti lacrymantis imponatur : & proficit , etiam ad oculum ictu percussum , & sanguine●… e●…ittentem , vel epiphoras habentem , vel in dolore constitutum . 2. si quis duarum faeminarum , matris & filiae lacte perunctus fuerit , qui uno & eodem tempore masculos habent , in omni vita sua dolorem oculorum non habebit . 3. eyebright juyce , or water , is excellent good for the eyes . 4. annoint a red cole leaf cum albumine ovi , & quando is ●…ubitum oculo applica . for bleared eyes . take the juyce peritory , temper it with the white of an egg , and lay it all night to your eyes , & quando removes , lava cum succo . cornes . annoint thy cornes often with fasting spittle : or cleave a black snail to it . take woodsoure and lay to the corn , and that shall gather out the callum thereof , and be whole , but you must first cut it about with a knife . apostema . 1. gentian used twice or thrice in a week ad quantitatem pili d●…struit apostema . 2. drinke water of endive , petty morrell , with the pulp of cassia fistula . 3. take scabios , red pimpernel , solsickle and fumitorie , make these into pouder ; and use a spoonful thereof in the morning , especially in may . probatum est . pro stomacho frigido . 1. oates parched and laid in a satchell upon a cold stomack , is an approved cure . 2. the crust of a brown loaf made hot and sprinkled with vinegar , and laid on a cold stomack , salvabit . 3. a tile stone made hot and sprinkled with vinegar , eysell or ale , wrapt in a clout , and laid to the stomack , is good . pro dolore stomachi . 1. stamp fennell , and temper it with stale ale , & bibat tria cocleari●… simul . seeth penniroyall and binde it to his navel as hot as he may suffer it . for winde or gnawing in the belly . take calamus aromaticus , galingale , and a little fennel seed , cloves , and cinnamon , grate or beat them together , and take them in pouder , or drink them with ale . for the small pox . take almonds , and make almond milk , and take the cream thereof , and hath the face twice or thrice , though all the pocks be pulled away , it shall not be pock fret . annoint oft the patients eyes with a linnen cloth wet in the juyce of sengreen , and it will save them from the pox . for a stroke in the eye . juyce of smallage and fennel , and the white of an egg , mingled together , and put into the eye . bloudshed in the eye . five leaved grasse , stampt with swines grease , and with a little salt bound to the eye . pro oculo & aure. sint calida quae aure imponuntur , & frigida quae in oculo . for a venomed sore . take lavender , marigolds , sengreen and betonie , and stamp them together , and lay them to the sore . to make a swelling break . take pisse and vinegar , and sage m. i. stamped , and flour , and boil them together , and lay it hot on a cloth to the sore . for the squinsie . bray sage , rue , and parsely roots , and lay them hot to the throat . for biting of a mad dog . stamp mint , and clear leeks , and lay it to the sore . to breake a botch . make a plaister of woodbine leaves , and lay to the sore . for gnawings . take hearb bennet , and sheeps tallow , and oyle olive , frie them together , and lay it to the sore place . to increase milk . pouder of annise , and the juice of the bark of fennell root drunke . if milk be thick . eat mints , and boil mints in wine and oyle , and lay on the breasts . for botches , wounds , and sores , a salve . boil black rosin , red lead , and oyle olive together ; & flat emplastrum . qui bibit novem dies simul propriam urinam , nec habebit epilepsiam , paralysin , nec colicam . venenum . 1. qui bibit propriam urinam , sanabitur a sumpto veneno . 2. garlick , rue , centaury , graines of juniper , valent contra venenum . 3. pouder hempseed , and mingle it with goats milk , and let them boyle a little , and use this drink three dayes , valet contra inflationem , venenum , bubonem , felon , & squinanciam . pro auribus . green ash leaves burnt , and the liquor that drops out of them impositum valet . euphorbium pounded with oil citron , and laid hot on the eares , cureth sounding of the eares , tingling , and fistulaes . caput-purgium . take the juyce of ivy , and powder of pepper , mingle them , together , and drink it . for the bloudy flix . the yellow that groweth in red roses put into pottage , and so eaten , is good for the bloudy flix . vermes stomachi . the same yellow drunk in ale . valet contra vermes . for a felon . scabious stamped small , a good quantity of tar , and greace ana temper them together , and all raw , lay them to the sore place . for the reines of the back . boyl your own water well , scum it , then take a quart of that water , oyle of bayes one ounce , oyle of roses one ounce , boyle all in a pot , and therewith annoint well the reines in the hot sunne , or against the fire . unge renes , cum nasturtio & propria urina jej●…nus saepe , & juvat renes . coque mel & butyrum simul & unge renes coram igne . seeth smallage , and temper it with wine , and drink it fasting , and you shall be healed . for them that cannot goe upright for pain in their back and reines . take a fat hen , and scald her , and draw her , and fill her with sen●… coddes id weight , and polipody of an oak , and of annis , id weight , boyl her well , and strain her into a vessell , and take two spoonfuls thereof , and give it the sick first and last . for the stitch . take three handfuls of mallowes , seeth them in a litte raw milk , and put thereto a handfull of wheat bran , and let them boyle together , and then wring out the milk , and lay it hot to the stitch , apply it often . take a few leaves of rue , and yarrow , stamp them together , and wring out the juyce , and drink it with a little ale . for the stitch in the side . make balls of red wortes sodden , and burne them in a new pot , and then grind them to powder , and mingle them with honey and old greace , and make a plaister , and lay it thereto when it is well sodden . to heal wounds . take ribwort , plantain , smallage , ana . take well nigh as much may butter as of the juyce , mingle it together , that it be standing , and put it in a box that no air come thereto , and make an ointment , and this is the securest medicine for healing wounds . for swelling of ioynts . bray mallowes , and boyle them in new milk , and make it into an emplaister , and apply it to the place . to knit sinews or veins that are kickt or broke . take two onions in summer , when thou findest two wormes knit together , cut off the knots , and lay them to dry against the sun , and make thereof powder , and cast it in the wo●…nds , and it will doe as aforesaid . ut virga hominis nunquam erigatur . formicas istas pulverisabis , misce cum vaccinio lacte & da cuivis in potu &c. verrucae , porri , ficus . cortix salicis combustus & temperatus cum aceto , & appositus , verrucas , porros & ficus tollit . portulaca fricata tollit verrucas ▪ agrimonia trita & emplastrata cum aceto verrucas tollit stercus ovis si misceatur cum aceto , & fiat emplaistrum , tollit variolas & verrucas . for cornes . take beanes and chew them in thy mouth , and ●…ay them to the corn , doe this at night . for warts . 1. purslane rubbed on the warts maketh them fall away . 2. the juyce of the roots of rushes applied , healeth them . for a wound that bleedeth inwardly . take filago , and temper it with ale or wine , and give it him , and anon the bloud shall goe out by his mouth ; and if the patient cannot open his mouth , open it with a key , and put it in , and he shall receive his speech , this hath been proved . if men have any blood within them of any hurt . let them drink eufrase sodden with water , and anon they shall cast it out by vomit . aqua pro scabie , tumore , & prurita . ashes made of green ashen wood sifted clean , and mingled with clean water , and often stirred , all a whole day , the water thereof , that is clear gathered , and mingled with a little vinegar , and a little allome , and sodden together , is a pretious water to wash with , sores of swellings , and for itchings , and cleansing of divers sores . an vulneratus vivat , vel non . the juyce of pimpernell drunk with water , if it come out at the wound of a wounded man he shall dye , if it come not he shall live . also give him trefoile to drink , if he cast it out he shall die ▪ to destroy an imposthume , in what place soever it be . take the roots of marsh-mallowes , wash them and boyle them , afterwards take the same water , and boyle it with the seed of fenugreek , and line , then bake it with the bran of barly , afterwards fry it with bores greace , make thereof an emplaister , and apply it hot , and within a short time the patient will be cured . for warts . 1. agrimony stampt with salt , and tempered with vinegar , and laid on the warts , within four dayes doth take them away . 2. take the yolk of an egg well roasted , stamp it with oyle of olive , or oyle of violets , and make it in manner of a plaister , and this will doe away the warts in a night . 3. rub them oft with oaken apples , and bind a plaister thereof on them , and bray blossomes of golds , and agrimony with salt , and lay them to as a plaister . 4. burn willow tree rind , and temper the ashes with vinegar , & utere . oleu●… nucum . take nuts whole , seeth them in water , and then break them , and take out the kernels and stamp them , and then wring them through a cloth , and that oyle is noble and mollificative . unguentum dialaehaeae optimum pr●… p●…dagra . take brocks greace , swines greace , ducks greace , capons greace , ganders greace , suet of a deer , sheeps tallow , ana . p. ●… . melt them in an earthen pan , then take the juyce of rubarb , marsh-mallowes , morrel , comfrey , daysie , rue , plantain , mace , heyrif , matfelon , and dragons , ana . p. ae . fry them in a pan with the foresaid greace , secretum pro podagra . for the collick and stone . ℞ . cepas rubras , pista commixta cum mulvasceto , & bibe ealide . aqua propter ulcera & malum mortuum . ℞ . aquam fabri ●…otell . i. salviae , cuprif●…lii ●…asturtii & m●…dicum melli●… , coque ad medium , & lava locum . aqua pro alceribus . ℞ . apii , salviae , semperviv●… , ana . m. i. pista & coque in una 〈◊〉 . 8. aquae currentis , postea ●…ola & adde , ℥ . iiii . aluminis , medis , 〈◊〉 . ss. bulliet alumen m●…dicum , adde ℥ . iiii . camphorae & reserv●… . capitis dolor . coqu●… 〈◊〉 in malvazeto , & lava caput . pista r●…um , ●…um sale , & fiat emplastrum . for bones broken in a mans head . ℞ agrimoniae contisam fiat emplastrum . item bibe betonicam p. i. & resurgant ●…ssa & sanatis pro acto vusnera . capitis dolor . ℞ . rutae , ●…derae terrestris , folia lauri , coque in aqua vel vino & fiat emplastrum super caput . ℞ . celidoniam , pista & coque cum butyro versus dolorem capitis etsi cranium cecidit de loco , &c. & lava cum decoctione ejusde●… herba . corvi albi . attende cum ●…orvus habet ova , & unge ter vel quater cum melle , & pulli eorum eru●… albi . ebrii . qui prins biberit crocum quam ad p●…tationem inierit , crapulam vel ebrietatem non incurret . acetum . ut acetum redeat in vinum semen porri im●…itte per duas noctes . ova rotunda producunt gallinas , longa vero gall●…s . fistula . hebba roberti fistulae emplastrata , vel succu●… ejus in eam pos●…ta eam curat . succus caprifolii naribus impositus , polypum recentem & cauerum , & fistulam curat . pro virga virili combusta cum muliere . ℞ . sume morellae & sedi & axungiae poreinae , p. ae . frixa & suppoue . contra exitum ani . ℞ . urticas rubras pista , & in olla terrea ●…oque in vino albo ad medium , postea bibe mane & sero calide , & faeces superpone . contra fluxum . 1. ℞ , cornu cervi , & conchas ostrei , combure & da pulverem mane & sero ꝰ dies . plaister of paris . 2. ℞ pulverem alabastri misce cum albumine ovi , pone super tempora & alia loca . an virgo corrupta . pulveriza fortiter flores lilii crocei quae sunt inter albos flores , da ei comedere de illo pulvere , & si est corrupta statim minget . ut dens cadat . pulvis stercoris caprae positus supra dentem , facit cadere : cave alia . pro combusto cum muliere . take pouder of a linnen cloth when it is well burnt , and take the yolks of eggs , and mingle them well together , and therewith annoint the sore , and put the pouder into the hole . a drink that healeth all wounds without any plaiste●… or 〈◊〉 ointment , or without any taint most perfectly . take sanicle , milfoil , and bugle , ana , p. ae . stamp them 〈◊〉 a morter , and temper them with wine , and give the sick that is wounded to drinke twice or thrice in a day till he be whole . bugle holdeth open the wound , millfoil cleanseth the wound . sanicle healeth it , but sanicle may not be given to him that is hurt in the head , if the brain pan be broken , for it will slay him , and therefore it is better in another place ▪ this is a good and tryed medicine . unguentum genistae . take flores genistae , floures and leaves of woodbind ; ana , p. ae . stamp them with may butter , and let them stand so together all night , and in the morning make thereof an ointment , and melt it , and scum it well : this medicine is good for all cold evils , and for sleeping of hand and foot . unguentum augustinum is good for all sore legs that be red and hot . take groundsell and petty morrell , and stamp them , and temper them with may butter , and put them in a pot fast closed , and let them stand so nine dayes , and then frie it over an easie fire , and strein it through a cloth , and put it in a box for your use . unguentum viride is good pro erectione virgae , and for the mormale ; no ointment worketh stronger then this . take a pound of swines grease , one ounce of verdigrease , half a scruple of sal gemmae , this ointment may be kept 40. winters : valet contra cancros , and for running holes , it fretteth away dead flesh , and bringeth new , and healeth old wounds ; put it within the wound that it fester not : put to this ointment , pitch , rosin , and waxe , and it will be a fine heat for old bruises , swellings , and mormales . unguentum nigrum , for wounds , heating and burning . take a quart of oyle of olive , and boil it well , then cast in a quart of red lead , and stir it well with a slice , and boil it till it be black , and then let it cool ; and keep it for drawing and healing . unguentum rubrum . take a pint of honey , half a pint of vinegar , and a portion of verdigrease , boil them together , and it is good for all manner of sores . contra v●…mitum . 1. ℞ . rosewater , pouder of cloves , and mastick , and drinke it hot . 2. take mints thre ounces , roses half an ounce , mastick one ounce , barlie meal , and a crust of bread tosted , and this manner of plaister apply to the stomack . 3. rutae cochleare i. bibe cum vino vel cerevisia , multum valet . 4. pouder of gilliflowers strewed on his meats , staneheth immediately . note , he must eat no meat whilst he casteth ( ut virtus maneat . fluxus sanguinis narium . 1. hens feathers burnt , and the smoke thereof applyed to the nostrils stinteth it . 2. a pig●… turd b●…nt , and made into pouder , blown into the nostrils . 3. the juyce of smallage drunk restraineth bleeding . probat . 4. succus menthae & rutae mixtus cur●…t fluxum narium . contra sciaticam . stercora leporis temperata et calido vino applica forma empla stri dolori . f●…eckens of the face . 1. grease your face with oyle of almonds , & bibe succu●… plantaginis ▪ 2. annoint your visage well and often with hares bloud . to know if a man be a leper or no . let him bleed , and put the bloud into water , and if the bloud swim above , he is a leper , and if it descend , he is clean . for ache in the loins . take waybread , and sanicle , stamp them , and put thereto bores grease , & forma ●…plastri calide dolori applica . for a scald head . 1. wash thy head with vinegar , and cammomil stampt and mingled together , there is no better thing for the scall . probat . 2. grinde white hellebor , grinde it with swines grease , applica capiti . 3. take culver dung , with salt , and a little vinegar , and stirre them well together , and therewith wash thy head , & sanabit capitis faeditates . ad ornatum faciei . take fresh bores grease , and the white of an egg , and stamp them together , with a little pouder of bayes , and therewith annoint the visage , and it shall clear the skin , and make it white . if the liver rot . eat raw parsely 9. dayes , and 6. dayes after eat sage , and that will cleanse that the parsely hath wrought . note , all hearbs whose roots be medicinable , are best in aprill . for stopping of the pipes . ℞ . leaves and tender stocks of horehound , stamp them and seeth them well in butter , then wring it through a cloth , cool it , and adde to that pouder of liquorice , and of hysop , mixe them together , and keep it in a box , and when thou wilt , take a spoonfull , and temper it with hot wine , and use it when thou goest to bed . aliud . ℞ . a good quantity of hysop , seeth it in half a gallon of good wine , till half bee sodden away , and let the sick use it first and last , at evening hot , and at morning cold . probat . aliud . ℞ . the juyce of cinquefoil stamped , and drinke a sup thereof with wine or ale , and it shall clear thee of much flegm , above and beneath . the plague water . take a handfull of sage and a handful of rue , and boil them in three pints of malmsie , or muscadine , untill one pint be wasted , then take it off the fire , and strain the wine from the hearbs , then put into the wine two penniworth of long pepper , half an ounce of ginger , and a quarter of an ounce of nutmeg , all grosly bruised , and let it boil a little again : this done , take it off the fire , and dissolve it in half an ounce of good venice triacle , and a quarter of an ounce of mithridate , and put to it a quarter of a pint of strong angelica water ; so keep it in a glasse close stopped for your use : for preservation you shall take every morning a spoonfull warm , and lay you down to sweat upon it , and so continue to take it twice a day untill you perfectly recover . this water likewise cureth the small pox , the measels , surfets , and pestilentiall fevers . a cordiall water good for the plague , pox , measels , all kind of convulsions , fevers , and all pain of the stomack . take sage , rosemary , rue , celandine , seabios , agrimonie , mugwort , woormwood , pimpernel , dragon , carduus benedictus , rosa solis , betonie , marigold leaves and flowers , centurie , polipodium , scurvie grasse , of each a handfull , wash them and swing them in a clean cloth till they be dry , then shred them small , and take the roots of zedoarie , tormentill , enula campana , angelica , licorice , of each half an ounce scraped , and sliced , then take of the best white wine eight pints ; put them all into an earthen pot well leaded , let them stand two dayes close covered , and stirre them once in the day , then still them in a limbeck , with a temperate fi●…e ; it will be two dayes and a night in the still : keep the first pint by it self ; of which you may take a spoonful at a time ; of the next quart take twice so much ; of the next pint you may give to little children a spoonful at a time : lute the still well , that no aire come forth , and keep it in close glasses . for a child that hath the ague . take the hearb called hartshorn , stamp it , then mingle it with bay salt , and three or four houres before the fit come apply it , spread upon a linnen cloth , to the childs wrists , and when the fit is past , apply a fresh one before the next fit , and in a few fits , god willing , she shall be cured . for a burning fever . take red mints two handfull , boyle them in a quart of running water , to the consumption of half , strain it , and put thereto four or five spoonfuls of white wine vinegar , and as much honey , boyle it to the height of a sirrup . take of endive two handfuls , boyle it in a quart of water , to the consumption of half , take two spoonfulls of this , and one of the sirrup , in the morning fasting , and at any other time you please . for the iaundies black or yellow . take of white wine one pint , steep therein of the root of calidon , the weight of twelve pence , of saffron one pennyworth , a rase of turmarick ; bruise all , and bind them in a fine peece of laun , and let it infuse in the wine a night , drink a part thereof in the morning , one other part at noon , and the rest at night . to bring down the flowers . take of alligant , or muskadine , or clarret , a pint , burn it , and sweeten it well with sugar , put thereto two spoonfulls of sallet oyle , then take a good bead of amber in pouder in a spoon with some of the wine after it , take it evening and morning . to stay the flowers . take amber , corrall , pearl , jeat , of each alike , grind them to a fine pouder , and searse them ; take thereof as much as will lye upon six pence with conserve of quinces , and drink after it a draught of new milk , use it every morning . for the mother . take a brown tost of four bread of the nether crust , and wash it with vinegar , and put thereto black sope , like as you would butter a tost , and lay it under the navill . for the stone . take saxifrage , pellitorie , parslie , eyebright , wild thime , of each two handfuls ; of raddish roots two or three , steep all in a pottle of red cowes milk a night , then still it , make of this quantity two stillings . you must take at a time nine spoonfuls , as much renish or white wine , and the juice of a lemon , sweeten all with sugar , and take it fasting , if your stomack be cold , slice a little ginger , and put into it . for a cold , cough , ptissick , or any defect of the lungs . take horehound , maiden hair , liver-wort , harts tongue , germander , hysope , agrimonie , of each a handfull , wash them and boil them in six pints of running water in a pipkin , till four pints be consumed at least , strain it , and put the liquor into another clean pipkin , put thereto of the root of ennula campana in pouder and searsed one ounce , of licorice so used two ounces , of pure honie eight or nine spoonfulls ; boyl it till it wax somewhat thick , then set it to cool : take the quantity of half a nut at a time , as often as you please . the best time to make it is in may . for a stitch . take of stale ale , two pints , clarifie it , and boyl therein of the tops of green broom a handful , then sweeten it with sugar , and give thereof to the sick warm to drink . also take beer , make it very salt , put a little nutmeg thereto , and drinke thereof bloud-warm . apply upon the grief outward , fennel seed , and cammomile made wet with malmsie , as hot as can be suffered , three or four dayes together . or take a tost of rie bread tosted on a gridiron , and spread tar thick thereon , lay it hot next the skin , and let it lye 9 , or 10 houres , and if the pain be not gone at first , apply it again . for a consumption . take a leg of veal , cut away the fat , and take a red cock , scald him , and wash him clean , then let the cock and veal lye in water the space of three houres , seeth them with two pottles of fair water , and scum it clean : as the fat riseth , take it off , and seeth it till half ●…e consumed , then put in a pottle of the best claret wine , and let it seeth together till it come to a qua●… , clarifie it with three or four whites of eggs ; let it run through a jelly bag ; then set it on the fire again , and put to it of sugar a pound , let it seeth a little , then drinke of it warm three or four spoonfuls at a time , as often as you please . for the green sickness . take an orange , cut off the top , and pick out some of the meat , then put therein a little saffron , rost it gently , when it is rosted , put it presently into a pint of white wine , keep it covered , and drink thereof fasting . a speciall water for all sores . take of running water four pints , of sage , smallage , of each three handfulls , of housleek a handfull and a half , seeth them together to the consumption of half , then strain it , take of allum two ounces , of white copperis an ounce and a half , of camphire two drachms , beat all severally into fine pouder , put all into the water , and let it boyle a little , then put thereto of clarified , honie half a pint , and let it simper a while , then reserve it in a glasse close stopped . wash the sore therewith , and wet a cloth therein , and lay thereto ; if it heal too fast , lay dry lint therein . for the trembling of the heart . take a spoonfull of the spirit of tartar when you find your self troubled . or take lignum aloes , riponticum , eupatorium , red sanders , of each two ounces , beat them , and boyle them in six pints of fair water till two pints be consumed ; of the four pints that remain , being strained , make a sirrup with sugar , and while it is hot , put thereto of saffron one scruple , of ginger one drachm , of musk two carets , cloves , nutmegs , of each a scruple and a half , keep it in a glasse close shut , take thereof a drachm at a time in a little broth , or burrage water , fasting . for a flux of the womb . take chalke finely scraped , stir thereof in whites of eggs till it be thick , spread thereof on brown paper , and lay it on a gridiron on the fire untill it stiffen a little , bind it hot upon the navill . take milk and set it on the fire , when it seeths , throw in a peice of allum , which will turn it to a posset , of the thin thereof , give a glister in the morning , and at four in the afternoon . a purging drink for superstuous humours , for aches in the joynts , sinewes , and for agues . take sarsaperilla , sasafrass , polipodium , of each a handfull , hermodactiles the third part of an ounce , licorice one ounce , cut and slice the above named , and put them into a new pipkin glassed , and having a cover , and put the●…o five quarts of spring water , let all infuse four and twenty houres , then put thereto of fennell seed two ounces , raisins of the sun stoned and picked four ounces , carduus benedictus , red sage , agrimony , maiden-hair , of each a handfull , put all into the pipkin , and close it with paste , set it within a pan of warm water on the fire , and let it boyle two houres , then put thereto of sena one ounce , let it boyle again half a quarter of an hour , and take it out , letting it stand covered two houres , then strain it without wringing , and keep it in a glasse or stone bottle . you must take at a time half a pint in the morning , and fast one hour after , it will not purge in five or six houres , you may use it at any time in the year , but in extream heat , and in frosts . a pretious eye-water for any disease of the eyes , often proved . take of the best white wine two little glasse fulls , of white rose water half a pint , of the water of selendine , fennell , eyebright , and rue , of each two ounces , of prepared tutia six ounces , of cloves as much , sugar rosate a drachm , of camphire , and aloes , each half a drachm . the tutia is thus prepared . in a crusible ( such as the goldsmiths use ) put your tutia and with a charcoale fire let it be made red hot six severall times , and every time quenched in rose-water and wine mixt together ; the last time cast the water away , and grinde the tutia to very fine powder . you must mix the aloes with the water after this manner put the aloes in a clean morter , and pour upon it of the mixt waters , with the pestill grinde it too and fro , and as it mixeth with the water pour it off , putting more water to it , till it be all dissolved . to bring the camphire to powder . in a clean morter beat one almond , then put in the camphire , and beat it to a fine powder , without which it will no●… come to a powder . likewise beat all the cloves to a fine powder , then mix all together in a strong glasse , stop it close and lute it , that no air enter , and let it stand forty dayes and nights abroad in the hottest time of summer , and shake it well thrice a day . the use . drop a drop of the water into the eye thrice a day with a black hens feather , the infirm lying on their back , and stirring the eye up and down . if there be any thing grow upon the eye . take four drops of oyle of amber rectified , and mix with half an ounce of the water , dresse the eye as before . for any ague . take a quarter of a pint of canary sack , put into it a pennyworth of oyle of spike , a pennyworth of sirrup of poppyes , and one grain of bezar , mingle these together , and let them stand infused all night , and exhibite it next morning to the patient fasting . for an ague . boyle two ounces of roch in a pipkin , in a pint of ale , about a quarter of an hour or better , then give the party grieved to drink of it pretty warm , some two houres before the fit cometh , about half of it , and what the party cannot drink at the first draught , let it be warmed against the second fit , and give it as before , after two houres be past , let the party drink as much posset drink as he can . another . take the quantity of a wallnut of black sope , and three times as much crown sope , mix them together , then shred a pretty quantity of rue , and half a spoonfull of pepper finely beaten , and a quarter of a spoonfull of fine wheat flour ; mingle all these together , then take as much strong beer as will make it spread upon a linnen cloth , whereof make two plaisters , and lay to each wrist one , and sow them fast on for nine dayes ; this must be applied as the cold fitt beginneth to come upon them . to make pills to cleanse the backe . boyle venice turpentine in plantain water , then take the turpentine , and bray it in a morter to very fine powder , take the powder and mingle it with powder of white amber , powder of oculorum cancrorum , and powder of nutmeg , of each half a drachm : mix them up into pills , and take three of them in a morning . a bath . take mallow leaves , violet leaves , endive , motherwort , mugwort , rose leaves , lettice , cammomill , bay leaves ; boyle of all these one handfull , in a sufficient quantity of pure running water , and set in the bath about an hour , then goe into a warm bed and sweat awhile , and when you come out of your sweat , and are pretty cool , eat strawberries and sugar , this will clear the body and purifie the blood . for the cough of the lungs , and defluxions . you may take sometimes of sirrup magistrall , of scabious and of oxymell iutianizans , of each one ounce , and of diacodium half an ounce , and of sirrup of diasereos half an ounce : mingle these all well together , and mingle with it also a drachm of pure flower of sulphur finely searced ; and take of this the quantity of a large nutmeg three or four times in a day , at morning , an hour before dinner , an hour before supper , and last at night ; it will cut the flegm , and carry it gently away , without any perturbation or violent trouble of coughing , and cause quiet rest . to cause a woman to have her flowers . take of gladwin roots about a handful , boyle them in vinegar , or in white wine till they be very tender , and after put this into a vessel on the ground in a close stool , so that the woman may sit over it very close stopped , so that the heat may strike up into her body : this medicine is reported never to fail , but to bring them down : but you must have a speciall care that no woman being with child have this medicine administred to her . for the cough of the lungs . take of coltsfoot two handfuls , of hysop , and the tops of red nettles , of each one handful , of horehound , and maiden-hair , of each half a handfull , of raisins of the sun , having their stones taken out three ounces , of liquorice sliced half an ounce , and of elecampane roots sliced one ounce , of annise-seeds half an ounce grosly bruised , boil all these together in a gallon of water in an earthen pipkin with a gentle fire , till the third part be boyled away , then strein it , and take a quart of the decoction , and put to it two ounces of sugar-candie beaten , and let it boil a little over the fire again , till the sugar candie be melted , then take it off the fire , and put it up into a glasse close stopped , and drinke of it three or four spoonfuls morning and evening so long as it lasteth , a little warmed . for cramp or numnesse . take a penniworth of saffron , put it into a little bag , then put it into three ounces of rosewater , and stir it well in the rosewater , then take four penniworth of camphire , and infuse that in the rosewater , and being so infused and mixed ; chafe the place with it warm , and smell to it , as he bathes the place . for a cough , winde , and a cold stomack . take four ounces of good annise-seed water , mingle it with one ounce of spirit of mint , and dissolve it with two ounces of pure white sugar candie , beaten into very fine pouder ; set it upon a chafingdish of coals in a peuter dish , and when it beginneth to walm , burn it with a paper as you doe wine , stirring it well together with a spoon , then take it off the fire , and evening and morning , take a good spoonful of it first and last . it will comfort the stomack , and is good against cough and winde . for a cough and consumption . take of lungwort , liverwort , hysop , violet , and strawbrrie leaves of each one handful , licorice sliced , and scraped , annise-seeds , and fennel-seeds , of each one penniworth a little bruised , a parsly and a fennel root clean scraped , pithed , and cut into small peeces , twelve figs sliced , four ounces of good great raisins having their stones taken out ; boyl all these together in a pottle of clear running water , till it come to three pints , then put into it two ounces of pure white hard sugar , dissolve it upon the fire with the other decoction , then take it off , strein it , and drink thrice a day of it , that is in the morning , about four in the afternoon , and last at night , three or four ounces of it at a time , and it will asswage the driness and thirst , and open the obstructions and stoppings of the liver and spleen , and cause your flegm to com away with more ease . for a cold dropsie . take olibanum , and rost it in a fig , and apply it to their great toe : but if they be swelled in their face or head ; then take anew layd egg roasted hard , take out the yolk , aend put into the hole so much cummin seed as will fill it , and apply it as hot as it may be endured to the nape of the neck . for the dropsie . take a pottle of white or rhenish wine , an ounce of cinnamon , and a pint of green broom ashes , put them together in an earthen pot eight and forty houres , the cinnamon being first bruised ; stirre them all often , and then put them up into a white cotten bag , and let the liquor drain out of them , put it up again twice upon the lees , and then use four times a day of it , drink it cold , in the morning , one hour before dinner , one hour before supper , and when you goe to bed , at each time drink a quarter of a pint ; if the greif be not fully removed , use a second or third pottle so made up , but with most persons one pottle sufficeth . for an ague . take as much black sope as a wallnut , and three times as much crown sope , and mingle them together , then shred about a pugill of rue , and put thereto half a spoonfull of pepper very finely beaten , and with a quarter of a spoonfull of fine wheat flour , or as much as shall suffice ; mingle all these together , then take as much strong beer as will make it spread upon a linnen cloth , and make it up into two plaisters , and apply to each wrist one , and keep them fast on for nine dayes together ; you must apply the plaisters just as the cold fit beginneth to come upon them . sweat is held by all experienced phisitians , to be very good to cure an ague , but they must be put into their sweat before the cold fit come upon them ; you must use this twice or thrice before the ague will be quite cured ; and let them drink no other drink during their sweat but aqua vitae and small beer mingled together , but you must not make it too strong of the aqua vitae . to comfort and strengthen the ioynts and sinewes . ℞ . of the flowers and seeeds of saint iohns wort three steep them three dayes in sufficient wine , and then seeth them in a brazen vessell till the wine be consumed , then strain them ▪ and put to the straining as much of fresh saint iohns wort stamped , and steep it again three dayes , and afterward add thereunto , of turpentine three ounces , of old oyle eight ounces , of saffron one scruple ; of mastick 3. ss. of myrrh , of frankincense , ana . 3. ii . ss , afterward put in the straining the space of a moneth , of the flowers and seed of saint iohns wort one handfull and half , of madder brayed , of fine grain wherewith scarlet is died , ana. three drachms , of the juyce of yarrow two ounces , seeth them to the consumption of the juyce , with earth wormes washed with wine two ounces , and a little wine odoriferous . for obstructions of liver and spleen . ℞ . flowers of burrage , buglosse , marigolds , violets , endive , of each a handfull ▪ dates stoned three ounces , of the best blew currans two ounces , sweet fennell ▪ seed half an ounce , graines and coriander , of each one drachm , whole brown watereresses nine leaves , hysop stripped downwards nine little branches , of french barly three ounces ; boyl all these together in a pottle of spring water till a third part be consumed , then strain it , and when it is strained adde of the conserve of barberries three ounces , sirrup of lemons and of quinces , of each three ounces , this is to be taken morning and evening , nine spoonfuls at a time . the flowers are to be had at the apothecaries , dry all the year . for the palsie in the head . for the palsie in the head , take of the oyles , of amber , fox , and beaver , and mingle them together , and annoint the nape of the neck with them evening and morning , chafe it in with a warm hand , and chafingdish of hot coales . and take of the oyle of amber alone , and with your finger put some of it every morning into your nose , and take two or three drops of it , and rub it into your head upon the mould thereof . and take two or three drops of the same oyle , and put it into your beer or ale for your mornings draught , especially at the change or full of the moon , for four or five dayes together . be sure to keep warm , and avoid going abroad in rain , misty , or moist weather . oyle of saint johns wort for ache and pain . take a quart of sallet oyle , put thereto a quart of flowers of saint iohns wont well picked , let them lie therein all the summer , untill the seeds of that hearb be ripe , the glasse must be kept warm , either in the sun or in water , all the summer untill the seeds be ripe , then put in a quart of saint iohns wort seeds whole , and so let it stand twelve houres , the glasse being kept open , then you must seeth the oyle eight houres , the water in the pot full as high as the oyle in the glasse , when it is cold strain it , that the seed remain not in it , and so keep it for your use . for the knitting together and strenthening of bones . give inwardly knotgrasse , plantain , or ribwort water , with sirrup of the greater comfrey , to three spoonfuls of the water exhibit one of the sirrup , so often as they use it : there are also v●…lnerary potions prescribed for this purpose in the dispensatories . for the courses . when you give oculos cancrorum ( truly called lapides cano●… ) to provoke a womans courses , you must give her almost a spoonfull of it , mixed with some water of motherwort , called artemisia , causing her to drink a good glass-full of the water immediately after it ; the best time to exhibite it , is to give it hot in the morning by four of the clock , and let her sleep after it , you must give it about those times she ordinarily expecteth her courses ; if you cannot get morherwort water , you may use in stead of it penniroyall water . you may dissolve your powder of lapidum cancrorum , either with juyce of lemons , or with distilled vinegar , and spirit of vitrioll ; if you put a greater proportion of vitrioll , then of the other , it will sooner dissolve , you need but cover it with the juyce or spirits , and after some few houres poure off the spirits from the powder . a cordiall excellent good for melansholy , panting and trembling of the heart , swounding , fainting , coldnesse , and rawnesse of the stomack , and also for many other greifs arising from a cold and moist complexion , ●…ften proved with happy successe . take of saffron half ●…n ounce , of angelica roots finely sliced one ounce , of cloves six drachms , balm two handfuls , rosemary tops four handfuls , shread the hearbs and roots , and beat the spices grosly , then put them , with half a pound of sugar , into three pints of small innamo●… water , or of small aqua vitae , and let them stand infused three or four dayes together , after boyle them , and let the aqua vitae burn , stirring them well together , till near a pint thereof be consumed away , then strain it , and when it is settled poure off the clear from the bottome ; keep the clear for your own use , and reserve the bottome , which you may give away unto poor people , for it will be good and comfortable , though not so strong : the way to use it , is to take every morning fasting a spoonfull , and after every meal , at each severall time , a spoonfull . a sudden way to make up this excellent cordiall . take of the best of doctor mountfords water , ana . ℥ . iiii . of very good angelica water ana . ℥ . iiii . of clove water , ana . ℥ . iiii . of rosemary water , ana . ℥ . iiii . of balm water , ana . ℥ . iiii . of spirit of saffron ℥ . ii . mingle all these together , and with as much sirrup of pure sugar as shall suffice mingled , make it up , and put into either of these two medicines , of musk and ambergrease , of each a grain . both these are excellent cordials for all the greifes before rehearsed . pills to purge flegm and wind. take of the best aloes succotrina nine drachms , of rubarb , jallop , and agarick , of each six drachms , of mastick four drachms , of red rose leaves three drachms , let all these be beaten severally into very fine powder , and searced , then mix them well , and beat them up into a paste , with sirrup of damask roses as much as shall suffice , at the end add unto it twenty drops of oyle of anniseeds : when you have occasion to use these pills , take about two scruples thereof for one dose made up into three pills . for the gout . take of new extracted honey two spoonfuls , a pennyworth of red nettle seeds finely bruised , mingle them well together , and apply it to the gout : let the party drink every third day for a sevennight in the morning in his bed half a pint of new milk , of a red or black cow . for the gout , my lord denni's medicine . take burdocks leaves and stalks , cut them small , and stamp them very small , then strain them , and cleanse them , and when you have so done put them into glasses , and put pure oyle of olives a top of them , and stop it close from the air , and when you would use it for the gout , poure it into a porrenger and warm it , and wet linnen clothes in it , and apply it warm to the greived place , warming your clothes one after another , as they grow cold that are on . another , very good for the gout . take the yest of ale , and spread it upon brown paper , and apply it upon the greived place pretty warm , the space of twelve houres : some first warm the pickle of olives , and then bath the greived place therewith , putting their feet into it , and after use the former medicine . my lord denni's medicine must not be taken till three dayes after the change of the moon , then after it must be taken six dayes together , then six dayes before the full it must be taken twice a day . to stay the courses when they come down too violently . take half a drachm or a drachm of diascordium , dissolve it in a drachm o●… posset ale , wherein formerly hath been boyled half a handfull of shepherds purse , and as much knotgrasse , and of the greater comfrey , and drink thereof a good draught at a time morning and evening . for the whites . take a quarter of a handfull of white archangell , plantain , sheaphards purse , and of the greater comfrey , of each half a handfull , of the hearbs horse-taile , and cats-taile , of each half a handfull , boyle all these in two quarts of milk till half be consumed away , then strain it , and sweeten it with good white sugar ●…andy finely beaten , and drink of it twice a day for ten or fifteen dayes together . to keep the body soluble and to purifie the bloud . take maydenhair , wild germander , wood-sorrell , and balm , of each a pugill , of wild mercury half a handfull , of damask roses two handfuls , of clarified whey six pints , let it stand scalding hot for an houre stirring it sometimes , after an hour is past strain it , and drink it twice or thrice a day a good draught of it ; and if you wash your hands in beef broth after your taking it , it will take away all roughnesse and haires of the hands , it may be taken safe of a woman with child for the green sicknesse , or yellow iaundies . for cure hereof first purge universally with this or the like purgation ▪ ℞ . of hiera picra four scruples , of rubarb , and trochisces of agarick , of each half a drachm , of rasped ivory , and hartshorn , of each half a scruple , of cinnamon six graines , of saffron four graines , of diacatholicon half an ounce ; infuse these things in the whey of cows milk , or in the distilled water of alkakengie , or in dodder water , or endive water , you may adde oxymell thereto . an electuary for the green sicknesse . take of diatrion santalon , and diarrhodon abbatis , of each one drachm , of diacurcuma , and confection of alkermes , of each half an ounce , of diamargariton frigidum , and calidum , of each two drachms , of rasped ivory , and hartshorn , of each one drachm , of all these make an electuary , and give it evening and morning by it self , or with dodder or endive water , the dose is one drachm , protempore uno . an excellent powder for the green sicknesse . ℞ . four scruples of gentian made into fine powder , of rasped ivory , and hartshorn , of each two scruples ; make these into a fine powder , and give a spoonfull thereof with white wine , or the like , at once . another medicine . ℞ . three or four spoonfuls of flemish madder , boyle it in two quarts of white wine , with a peice of sugar , to the consumption of half of it , strain it , and let the maiden drink thereof morning and evening a good draught warm , and walk , or use some exercise to heat the body , but take no cold ; use this for eleven or twelve dayes together . a singular purging potion against the green sicknesse , and all opilations of the liver , and causeth young maids to look fresh , and fair , and cherry-cheek'd , and will bring down their courses , the stopping whereof causeth this greif , and it is good against all manner of itch , scabs , breaking out , and manginesse of the body , purifying the blood from all corruption . ℞ . of the roots of monkes rubarb , that is red do●…k , and of red madder , ana. half a pound , of sena four ounces , of anniseseed , and licorice , of each two ounces , of scabious , and agrimony , of each one handfull ; slice the roots of rubarb , and bruise the anniseseed and licorice , break the hearbs small , and put them all into a pot with four gallons of strong ale , and infuse them all the space of three dayes , then drink of this drink , for your ordinary drink , for three weeks at the least , the longer the better , and make new as need requireth ; it eureth the dropsie , and yellow jaundies also , if you put in of cammomill one handfull . for the green sicknesse , or iaundies . ℞ . of white briony root sliced half an ounce , boyle it in a pint of ale gently a quarter of an hour , and drink a good draught thereof , and sweat , and in your sweat drink it all , or as much as you can , the next day make new and drink again , but without sweating , and use some exercise to keep the body warm ; use this last order twelve dayes together , use good cordials and restoratives , with sirrup and conserve of fumitory . for the green sicknesse , and iaundies . boyle of rue , and sage , of each a bundle , in a quart or three pints of ale , with one scruple of saffron . to cure this disease , the electuary of steel is excellent , if the body be first purged , for it doth open all obstructions : but the patient must use some exercise after the taking it , to stirre up naturall heat the better ; the dose is half an ounce at a time to take of it . the steel for the electuary is thus prepared . ℞ . of the filings of the best iron , or steel , as much as you please , grinde it subtilly and finely , upon a porphiry , or red marble stone , with vinegar , then dry it at the sun , or at the fire , and grinde it again with vinegar as at the first , and doe thus seven times one after another , and thus you have the steel prepared fit for you . the electuary of steel is made up thus . ℞ . of the filings of steel so prepared half an ounce , cinnamon , nutmegs condited , of each three drachms , of chosen rubarb two drachms , of the species of aromaticum rosatum half a drachm , of chosen honey , and of fine white sugar , of each one pound and one ounce ; mingle these all together over a soft fire , and make it up into an electuary . after the taking of this electuary , let the patient in all cases use some bodily exercises , being first universally purged , for this electuary is most excellent against all obstructions of the liver , spleen , or other disease , and for the green sicknesse . for the green sicknesse , or green iaundies . the green sicknesse , or jaundies cometh of yellow choller , mixed with corrupt or putrified flegm , and corruption of bloud , debility of nature , and faintnesse of heart ; it happeneth also when the liver is weakened that it cannot convert the nourishment into bloud , but the digestion is raw and crude , so that the whole body is filled with water and flegm instead of good bloud ; it is cheifly found in young maidens , who desire to abate their fresh colours , and , as they conceive , to be fine , and fair , and foolishly feed upon trash ( which altereth the colour and state of their bodies ) as of unripe apples , peares , plums , cherries , and raw fruits , and hearbs , or meale , wheat , barly , raw milk , chalk , lime , and the like , and they that have this disease are very pale and greenish ; if they chance to cut their finger , no bloud , but water , will follow ; they feele great pain in their head , with continuall beating , are faint , short-breathed , and their naturall flowers are stopped and stayed , to the prevention and cure whereof , the body must first be well and orderly purged , as by the medicines before prescribed . finis . in the strand near the middle exchange in salisbury street at the second house on the right hand where a barber's pole hangs out, liveth john butler, an expert operator and oculist. butler, john, oculist. 1682 approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a78064 wing b6278 estc r231161 99896786 99896786 133216 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a78064) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 133216) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2441:6) in the strand near the middle exchange in salisbury street at the second house on the right hand where a barber's pole hangs out, liveth john butler, an expert operator and oculist. butler, john, oculist. 1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. (woodcut) s.n., [london, : 1682] imprint from wing cd-rom, 1996. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng deafness -treatment -early works to 1800. eye -diseases -early works to 1800. medicine, popular -early works to 1800. 2008-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-08 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-08 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion in the strand near the middle exchange in salisbury street , at the second house on the right hand where a barber's pole hangs out , liveth john butler , an expert operator and oculist . you may find him there from seven in the morning till twelve , and then he goes into sweeting's alley , to that which was joseph's coffee-house , now called the flanders coffee-house , next door to the sign of the horse-shoe near the royal exchange , there he stayes till four of the clock , who ( by gods blessing ) cureth the distempers following , ( viz. ) he cureth blindness by couching of cataracts , he taketh specks off the eyes , and cureth defluxions of rheums in the eyes ; he hath singular good skill and knowledg in curing of deafness , when the party comes to him , he will tell them the cause of their deafness , whether the deafness be internal or external , or whether curable or no. he cureth noises , singing or buzzing in the ears ; he cureth bursten bellies , he cureth ulcerated legs , and itch in any part of the body ; he hath an excellent art in drawing forth of corns out of the feet and toes with the whole substance in length and similitude of a clove , and drawing no blood , nor putting the party to any pain at all : and by the operation of a plaister to kill them , that no other corns will ever come again in the same places . he is none of those which you call by that vulgar name corn-cutters , could he perform it no better than such persons , he would scorn to set it forth in print . for every corn he draweth in his chamber is six pence ; if any person sends for him to their dwelling places , he expects twelve pence . if any person doth conjecture that other corns will come again in the same places , upon consideration he will admit of a years trial and take nothing for the present ; and if other corns do come again in the same places within the year , then he will expect nothing . alderman rugg dwelling in st. albans in hertfordshire , he was very lame with corns , he had five and fifty corns taken out 26 years ago by this professor , and never any other corns came again in the same places . capt. body dwelling in london-street in ratcliff , had thirty corns taken out three years ago , and never any came since ; he was so troubled with them , that he was forc'd to ride up and down to do his business ; but now goes very well without any pain . mr. morgan a herald-painter in thredneedle-street near the royal exchange , he was much troubled with corns , i took them out two years ago . and he was never troubled with any corns since that time . mr. peck now dwelling in noble-street , he had fourteen corns taken out by the professor hereof four and twenty years ago , and was never troubled with any corns since . he can give testimonies of some hundreds of persons more that he hath cured of the particulars abovesaid , since his comeing to london , which will be too tedious to insert here . he cureth many other distempers not here mentioned . this oculist has a large house and shop wherein he now dwells , known by the sign of the bell in pye-corner near smithfield , which he is willing to sell , lett , or exchange for another of the like value in or near the city . if any person please to send for him , they are desired to leave a note at his chamber . cochlearia curiosa: or the curiosities of scurvygrass. being an exact scrutiny and careful description of the nature and medicinal vertue of scurvygrass. in which is exhibited to publick use the most and best preparations of medicines, both galenical and chymical; either for internal or external use, in which that plant, or any part thereof is imployed. written in latine by dr. andreas valentinus molimbrochius of lipswick. englished by tho. sherley, m.d. and physitian in ordinary to his present majesty. cochlearia curiosa. english. moellenbrock, valentin andreas, d. 1675. 1676 approx. 294 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 135 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a51111 wing m2381 estc r214205 99826411 99826411 30814 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a51111) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 30814) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1764:30) cochlearia curiosa: or the curiosities of scurvygrass. being an exact scrutiny and careful description of the nature and medicinal vertue of scurvygrass. in which is exhibited to publick use the most and best preparations of medicines, both galenical and chymical; either for internal or external use, in which that plant, or any part thereof is imployed. written in latine by dr. andreas valentinus molimbrochius of lipswick. englished by tho. sherley, m.d. and physitian in ordinary to his present majesty. cochlearia curiosa. english. moellenbrock, valentin andreas, d. 1675. sherley, thomas, 1638-1678. [14], 195, [29] p., 4 leaves of plate : ill. printed by s. and b. griffin, for william cademan, at the popes head in the new exchange, and middle exchange in the strand, london : 1676. a translation, by thomas sherley, of: moellenbrock, valentin andreas. cochlearia curiosa. includes index. on verso of final leaf: an explanation of the physical characters, or marks used in this book. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-04 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion cochlearia curiosa : or the curiosities of scurvygrass . being an exact scrutiny and careful description of the nature and medicinal uertue of scurvygrass . in which is exhibited to publick use the most and best preparations of medicines , both galenical and chymical ; either for internal or external use , in which that plant , or any part thereof is imployed . written in latine by dr. andreas valentinus molimbrochius of lipswick . englished by tho. sherley , m. d. and physitian in ordinary to his present majesty . london , printed by s. and b. griffin , for william cademan , at the popes head in the new exchange , and middle exchange in the strand , 1676. to the honourable sir iohn bennet knight and baronet , knight of the bath , and one of his majesties justices for the peace for the county of middlesex . sir , there is two things i have alwayes had a great abhorrance for , idleness and ingratitude , the desire i had to avoid both which hath been the occasion of affixing your name to this book , which is a treatise so useful , both as to its subject , and the method of the diseourse upon it , that it gave me the confidence to think it worthy your acceptance , and the rather because it is not onely the first tract that i have hitherto met with , writ purposely upon this peculiar plant , but also the author hath delivered what he had to say upon it under such curious , and excellent heads , that i cannot but give it this just character ▪ that it is both a learned and accurate work , so that it may deservedly be called cochlearia curiosa . and this i may do without the censure of being partial , since i pretend no further interest in the thing , than the having put it into english , that those country men of mine , which are unacquainted with the latine tongue , might reap the benefit of it . this advantage i received from the doing of it , that it diverted me from some melancholly thoughts ; and i employed those hours of vacancy from business , that i could spare from the solicitation of my affairs of neerest concern , which were lately incumbant upon me . having thus redeemed some hours from the imputation of being idlely spent , i began to consider if there were not yet a further improvement to be made upon this occasion , and reflecting upon the long friendship you have honored me with , and the frequent favours you have conferred upon me , my present state of affairs , not permitting me to make any suitable return , i resolved at least to shew my self not insensible of your favours , and therefore took this opportunity of making a publick acknowledgment of them desiring you would except of this as a testimony of my gratitude , till i am so happy to give you further evidences of my desires to approve my self , sir , your grateful and affectionate servant , tho. sherley . the epistle to the reader . reader , of what classis soever you are , i must tell you , that in stead of your censure i expect your thanks for the present i now make you : 't is a treatise of scurvygrass , a plant that grows very plentifully in our country , a sign , as the author assureth us , that the scurvy , in which disease it is peculiarly advantagious , is but too frequent amongst us , which our own experience doth sadly confirm . the heads , under which the learned author hath discoursed , are not onely useful , but curious , and i conceive , he hath handled this matter so fully , that there is little more can be said by any other upon this subject , which his industry and care hath not taken notice of . for this treatise contains , not only a description of the several spcies and kinds of this plant , with its several names , place , and time of growth , temperature , general vertues and use ; but also doth innumerate the particular uses . medicinal vertues , and manner of applying each particular part of this plant , together with an exact description of all sorts of medicines preparable from the whole or any part of the said subject , either by the galenick , or chymical art. he hath likewise fitted his labour both to the capacity , and delight of all sorts of readers , for in the proeme ( concerning divers curious plants ) he hath afforded matter of delight , and inquiry to the curious virtuosi , and inquisitive natural philosopher , as well as botanist : in the body of the discourse , he hath interwoven and solidly discussed several medicinal points to the satisfaction ( i doubt not ) of candid philosophers . to content and imploy those that are chymically addicted , here are plenty of excellent preparations to be made by that art from this subject , and to ease the young galenical student in physick , here is a faithful and laborious collection of all sorts of galenical medicines , and that from the most approved , and authentick physitians works now extant . i question not , but the vertuous and country ladies will be highly delighted with the imployment and diversion this book will furnish them with , by instructing them how to make sauces , wines , syrups , and distilled waters from this plant , all of them very efficacious towards the recovery of their sick and languishing neighbours and tenants . the industrious apothecary may here find the way to make several chymical medicines preparable from this plant ( and often prescribed by physitians ) which otherwise he will be necessitated to buy from unfaithfull hands . and the honest country farmer , who may perchance live far from any physitian , may be hereby capacitated to relieve himself or family ( afflicted with the scurvey , or any symptom of it ) upon an exigence , by applying safe , effectual , easily preparable , and cheap medicines , of which sort are the wine , water , syrup , and decoction . one thing i think necessary to give you notice of ( which the author hath likewise done ) which is that several of the galenick medicines described ( ever in this tract ) are so disgustful and to be taken in such large proportions , that few pallats can readily comply with the use of them ; and therefore i do advise those that want judgement to make an election , to make use of the less compound , and easiest of preparation ; till the next impression of this book : in which it is possible i may give my opinion , and animadversions upon most of the medicines in it , together with a description of the preparation of those chymical medicines often prescribed to enter the composition of the galenick ones herein prescribed . the author of this ensuing work is the learned andreas valentinus molimbrochius , a member of that industrious and useful society of men , who stile themselves the curious inquisitors after nature , he composed it in latine interlaced with much of his own native language , the german tongue , all which for thy benefit i have put into english , together with a large alphabetical table . in the doing which i have not been so solicitous after the fine and modish way of expression , as to render the work intelligible , and consequently useful to all sorts of readers . medicines from their usefulness to the sick , are stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the hands of god , and are so sacred a part of the art of physick , that the preparation of them ought not slightly to be committed into unfaithful or ignorant hands , it being too common for such persons to make gross and dangerous mistakes , to prevent which it is the duty of all honest , able physitians to make up and dispense their own medicines : and i am sure it was the laudable custom of all the antient fathers of physick to do so , even till this last century ; and i find it not onely voted honourable to do so , amongst the acts of that prudent and learned society , the colledge of london physitians ; but it is likewise now at this time practised by many of the worthiest members of that society , yet some interessed persons , indeavour to disparage this way , by alledging it is the same which is used by those bold pretenders to physick , illiterate quacks , and bill-men . but if this be a sufficient argument , i doubt there will hardly be found any profession , which may not be disparaged . it is certainly the interest of the sick , that physitians do reassume this care of making medicines for them . for now the scurvy hath spread it self so generally over these western parts of the world , it by complicating it self with most other diseases ( such as agues , cholicks , feavers , convulsion , mother , and hypocondriack fits , the gout , drepsie , pox , &c. ) renders them all so stubborn and rebellious , that they will not yield to any remedies , but such as are highly graduated , of which kind are the more generous sort of chymical medicines ; which also ought to be adapted to the peculiar circumstances of the sick , as his temper , age , sex , &c. by the physitians care and skill . for my part i think it so much my duty , that i declare i will be ready upon the application of any sick persons to me , to afford them not onely my advice , but will also furnish them with safe and efficacious medicines ; being convinced that it is both just and honourable to do so , this intention of mine doth justifie me to be what i here subscribe my self a lover of my country , and reader , from my study over against the stocks-market place near cornhil , at the sign of the sugar loafe and tobacco-role , london , ap 3. 1676 thy friend , tho. sherley . a table of the contents of the chapters . the proem . of divers curious plants , page 1. chapter i. of the name of scurvygrass , p. 17. ii. of the description of scurvygrass , 27. iii. of the differences of scurvygrass , 34. iv. of the place and time of growth of scurvygrass , 36. v. of the qualities and vertues of scurvygrass , 40. vi. of medicines prepared from scurvygrass , 43. vii . of sauces made with scurvygrass , 50. viii . of the decoction of scurvygrass , 52. ix . of the wine of scurvygrass , 64. x. of the infusion of scurvygrass , 72. xi . of the water of scurvygrass , 82. xii . of the spirit of scurvygrass , 103. xiii . of the volatile salt of scurvygrass , 112. chapter xiv . of oyl of scurvygrass . pag. 121. xv. of conserve of scurvygrass , 124. xvi . of the syrup of scurvygrass , 128. xvii . of the electuary and mixtures of scurvygrass , 135. xviii . of the essence of scurvygrass , 146. xix . of the iuice of scurvygrass , 153. xx. of the magistery of scurvygrass , 165. xxi . of the outward use of scurvyrass , 171. errata . the reader is desired to pass by literal faults , and to correct the following with his pen , as they occur . in the proem , pag. 4 ▪ line 15. read bittersweet . p. 5. l. 2. r. well known for not known . l. 14. r. day-star for dog-star . l. 24. r. moist . p. 6. margint r. 359 for 369. p. 12. mar . r. 495 for 405. lib. 7. for lib. 1. p. 13. mar . quest . 5. for 355. 235 for 250. hist. 11 for hist 4. 90 for 91. in the book , p. 20. l. 20. r. whose for those . in mar . lib. 13. for lib. 130. p 22. l. 18. r alliaria . p. 35. l. 10. r. digitatis . l. 21. equisitum . in mar . p. 176 for 116. p. 27. l. 24. r. stalks . p. 32. l. 28. dover for bristol . p. 38. l. 20. r. ptisan . p. 41. l. 15. r. levamen . in mar . p. 148. p. 42 l. 27 r warm . p 45. l. 6. r. sheeps pease . l 7. r one ounce . p. 46. l. 7. r. antiscorbuticae . p. 47. l. 27. r. prescribed . p. 52. l. 6. dele the. p. 55. l. 16. r. melons p 61.26 . r. brunnerus . in mar . brunnerus for brown. p. 62. l. 17 r. assarabecca . in mar : p. 17. p. 63. l. 3. that the. p. 68 , l. 4. phlegm . p. 72. l 1. chap. x. p. 146. l. 15. r chap. xviii . l. 20. elecchir . p. 145 ▪ in mar . p 186. p. 149. l. 29 dilated . p. 150. l 13. dele are . the leaves of yong winter scurvygrasse smale creeping scurvygrasse great creeping scurvygrasse britanica bistort the english scurvygrasse of pena and lobetius true scurvy grasse dutch scurvygrasse the curiosities of scurvygrass , or , an exact scrutiny and careful description of the nature and medicinal vertues of scurvygrass . the proem . before i enter upon my curiosities of scurvygrasse , i think it convenient , in the first place to give an account of certain admirable plants , amongst which the rosa sinica , or china rose , so called from the place of its growth , is not the least considerable . it grows upon trees , which every day change . colour twice , some times it is altogether purple , and then again it becomes totally white ; and is absolutely without smell . * athanasius kircherus in his china illustrata makes mention of this rose : where he also tels us , that at rome , that noble botanist franciscus corvinus , in his garden furnished with all sorts of plants , hath a plant called viola nocturna , or the night violet , which according to the suns rising , or setting doth sensibly change its colours . in the day time it hath no smell , but in the night it breathes forth a most pleasant odour . of the rosa hierochuntina , or iericho rose , many relate that tho it be dry , and an hundred year old , yet every christmas day , in the precedent night , betwixt the hours of eleven , and twelve , it begins to blow , or open it self of its own accord , and at length its leaves are fully blown , and expanded , after which it gathers in its branches , and shuts it selfe up in the forme of a bud . but this truly is a fable ; for every day if it be put in wine , or water , it will open it selfe , and being taken out of the liquor it will again contract it selfe : the truth of which i can satisfie any person in for i have such a rose which i procured for this intent , that i might administer to women afflicted , with hard labour , called by the grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a draught of wine , in which this rose hath first expanded it selfe , for the water in which this hath been infused doth greatly promote the delivery of women in travel , as hath been observed hitherto by many ; and amongst the rest it hath been noted by erasmus franciscus ( in the gardens of pleasures in the east and west-indies b but i rather use wine than water , which seems more agreeable to reason , because it is most apt to revive the spirits , which is necessary in difficult labour . this is called the iericho rose , because it is supposed to grow in the gardens , and fields about the city of iericho in palestine ( which place is often mentioned in the sacred scripture ) but this is a mistake , as appeares by baronius 2. observat. c & munstero in cosmograph : in descript , civitatis hiericho . writing thus : i have bought them brought thither by strangers from the adjacent parts of arabia , where it growes on the sea shore upon the sand , rau wolfiius saith he found a wild sort of them in syria among their cottages , and ruined buildings . caspar bauhinus d tels us he produced it several years together in his garden , for it easily grows and flourishes . it is also called rosa hierosolymitania & rosa sanctae mariae . the rose of ierusalem , and the rose of saint mary . but whether it be a rose or asphalthus , rose-wood or convolvulus , bindweed or amomum dioscondis , or bitterweed ; or erica , heath , or else a violet , or dame-violets , i leave others to judge , for there are authors , who relate it to all these kinds , but i shall proceed . matthiolus in epistola nuncupatoria , writes of an herb , which , touching any place that is locked , causeth it to open . he also asserts , in the same place , that he saw a man at venice , ( who was condemned to be hanged ) who by applying only one herb , with certain ceremonies , made all doors fly open , and thrust back their locks , the same faculty also hath another herb , not known in italy , and growing in the mountains , upon which , if horses tread , it looseth their iron shoes . e athanas , kercher . de mun. subterran . they commonly call this herb from this effect , scoffocavallo , and suppose that it is a sort of lunaria or moonwort . there growes in iudea a root called from the place baharas , which as iosephus de bello iudaico tels us is of the colour of flame , and shines , and sparkles like lucifer , or the dog star ; it also refuseth to be plucked up by any that desire it , until it be sprinkled with a womans urine , or menstruous blood . there is a certain herb called asciomenes , which , as apollidorus saies , being sprinkled with wine , doth contract its leaves into its self . and another growing in our country about most places and brooks , by bauhinus supposed to be a sort of balsamina or balm apple : of many others it is called persicaria siliquosa , or codded arsemart , which ▪ assoon as it is but slightly touched with the hand , the seeds fly out of the husk into your face , and for that cause it is called herba impatiens , or noli me tangere , impatience , or touch me not . i have often observed and gathered this herb ( when i studied the knowledge of herbs ) at lipswick , where it grows not far from the cabbage gardens . ( kohl garten . ) agreeable with this is herba viva , or the living herb , which is mentioned by simon paulus f , which altogether refuseth to be touched , and which this author saw contract it self at the slight touch of a toad . if this herb be laid hold of , it appears to be absolutely withered , and dry ; but if you take away your hand , it recovers its colour and freshness again . and bauhinus g saies , it withers or growes fresh again , as often as you lay hold of it , or remove your hand from it . the beforementioned simon paulus in the same place remembers another plant , which he calls mimosa , which cannot endure to be touched , and perisheth if it be , but doth not contract it self so soon , nor so soon expand its leaves , as the other doth , after touching . bauhinus h writes it is of the colour and taste of liquirise , and doth agree in many things with wilde foene-greek . of indian fern the same simon paulus i relates , that its true , it will suffer it self to be touched , but then afterwards its leaves do wither and die , as if they were corrupted with a gangrene . in the isle cambabon there is a tree , whose leaves are very like a mulberry tree , but on both sides it hath two sharp and short feet , which , when it is touched , it goes away . bauhinus h and theophrastus l mention a certain tree , growing near memphis , which hath nothing peculiar , either in its leaves , boughs , or form , but in its event : for to look upon , it is prickly , and its leaves are like fern , but if any body touch its branches , they say it does as it were dry , and languish , and contract themselves , but a little while after they return to life again . there grows ( as we are told by franciscus lopaiz ) a plant in peru , whose leavs , being touched , grow very dry . borellus l writes thus of a sensitive plant found out by him ; i can glory , saith he , that i first found motion in the flower of a plant sufficiently known , which i will name to you , least any body take from me my due praise , which many times hath hapned to me , &c. and a little after : the flowers iateac aromaticae knapweed , whilst they are in vigour and and full strength , and whilst there is to be perceived , as it were , a mealiness upon the flowers , if the least part of the herb be touched ; its hairy strings will contract themselves , so that the left part will gather it self up , the right side being touched ; and so on the contrary . but you must carefully take heed , that you do not repeat this action in the same flower . the same thing may be done with the wilde iacent and thistle , wherefore i do not doubt , but if curious search were made , but that many such plants may be found ; nay , i affirm for a truth , that all plants have an obscure sort of sense , but some more obscure than others . thus far borellus . there is also an herb ( which as nicholas monardus testifies ) sheweth in diseases whether the sick shall live or die . the spaniards relate that in a province of the west-indies , there is a certain tree like a pare tree , whose fruit being eaten , doth wonderfully provoke venery even to a miracle . theophrastus mentions a plant , of which he that eates is enabled to lie with a woman seventy times together . also the herb called ossifraga , is very wonderful by reason of its power to soften bones ; of which tho. bartholinus m takes notice . they say if oxen eat of it , it renders them unapt to go , and makes their bones so soft , that they may be twisted about like a switch , but they do not die , but may be recovered , if they give them the bones of some other beast destroyed by this herb. v. b. sachsii scholion in dictam observationem n , & simon paulus o . iacob bontius p speaks of another plant growing in molucca , which produceth a seed like barley , but it is blacker , and more hairy . it also growe in other parts of the indies upon the continent , and doth so confirm , and strengthen the bones , that if the teeth be onely moistened with the juice of it , they are inabled to grind a flint to powder . there grows a fruit in a province of china , which the chineses call peci , this being put into the mouth with a piece of copper , it doth not onely so soften the copper , that it may be broken with the teeth , but doth convert it into so excellent a substance , that it may be eaten q . in tartary there grows an herb like hemp , excepting that it hath not so strong , nor hard a stalk , which falleth to pieces or dissolves , and as it were becometh dirt , if it be put into water ; but if it be cast into the fire , it will never be burned , or consumed . in the same place also , and it is worthy our admiration , it is related by benzo r of a tree which sweats forth water from its leaves constantly . this is also taken notice of by franciscus erasmus in his garden of pleasure . they write , that in all that island there is no other water to be found , but what comes from that tree ; which is perpetually covered with a thick cloud , excepting when the sun shines very hot upon it . some there are , that suspect this place to be the rainy island of pliny and solinus ; for so pliny lib. 6. cap. 32. in an island called ombrion , there are trees like to ferula , fennel giant ; from which they press out water , that which is got from the black sort is bitter , but that which comes from the white is pleasant to drink , but benzo and linscotus attributes this to a tree , that hath leaves like the walnut , tho somewhat bigger , and are perpetually green , it hath its fruit in the bark of it , hanging out like acrons with a sweet kernel and exceeding aromatical taste . there are moreover other trees admirable upon the account of their largeness , upon which they build little houses . there is a tree called licondo , so great that it can contain two hundred men with their arms , and oars , of the trunk of which they make boats in the kingdom of congo . he that desireth to know more of this kind , let him read linscotus de ind. oriental . nay they say in china there are found leaves , which falling into a lake , or pond , become birds ; and roses , which twice a day change colour , now being purple , and then afterwards appearing of a whitish colour , as is related before of a certain tree ; also whose leaves , if they fall on the ground , become flying birds , if into the water , they are changed into fishes . claudius duratus relates there are trees in scotland , whose fruit wrapt in their leaves , if they fall into the water , are transmuted into birds . sebastianus munsterus in sua cosmographia speaks of these birds , which , because of their bigness are called geese ; but authors that write of them do not agree in the thing ; for some hold they are produced from the leaves of the trees ; others from the apples or fruit ; others from the rotten plancks of a ship. but what is to be thought of these birds appears from sennertus s , and sperling t . i affirme that nature observes her lawes in the generating both of geese , of wood , and of apples . i therefore say , and affirm , that the seeds and eggs of these geese are contained in that sea , and from them , not from the apples , nor from the wood , nor from the water these geese are produced . so that whether the apples , or wood are put into the water , or not , yet these geese shall be generated there . of this see more in the newly cited sennertus and sperling d. l. and kipping u ; and caspar bauhin . w by whom almost all authors that have writ of this subject are cited . nor can i omit in this place the planta haemagoga , or herb , that causeth bleeding , which is mentioned by galen x ; which only by touching at first draws the blood out of the veines and then kills . but this is ranked among the fabulous reports of the ancients by ioh. baptista sylvaticus , and hen. petreus y : but zacut. lusit . z doth stoutly defend the thing , and accurately answers the reasons brought against it by sylvaticus . borellus a tells us of d. laugerius , an incomparable herbalist and physitian which found this herb about the latarran : and that he says also that simon cortand had likewise found it , and saw its effects even to amazement ; for when it was applyed to the thigh of a sick person of a sanguine complexion , the blood run from thence every way in streams , so that they were forced to apply the loadstone to stop it . he describes it to be a mountain plant , and that it is found among the pyrenaean mountains as far as the alps , and hath leaves like sage . the same borellus b mentions a certain clandestine or hidden herb , which may be deservedly reckoned among wonderful plants , he describes is thus ; it is found in the spring time , it is hidden and lurks under the earth , as if it were of an envious nature , it is called clandestina madronna occulta , and by many other names , it is hard to find , and hath been known but a few ages since . it is described by dalacampius in his last book of plants , but there is two sorts found with us , which he knew not of , he only describing the purple sort . but i can certainly aver , there is a sort to be found with a white flower , tho it be rare its flowers lay a few daies in heaps above the earth ( like adders tongue and moonwort , ) but the leaves are hidden , white , thick and gathered up as it were a pine nut , &c. also a certain sort of orchidis , or dogs stones , deserves admiration , for it so represenrs the forms both of bees , spiders , flyes , butterflies , birds , and men , so that there is no member in these insects , birds , or men , which nature hath not expressed in these plants , insomuch that the compleat humane structure , under both sexes , is found formed in the flowers of this plant. vid. athanasius kircherus c , & dom. d. martinus : bernhardi à bernite d . i could produce more of such kind of plants , did not my intended design prohibit it ; for now it is fit i come to my description of scurvygrass , which tho it be not so wonderful , as these before recited plants , it is nevertheless considerable in this , that it is one of the chief curers of the scurvy , and therefore it growes in no other places , but where this disease is common , as shall be proved by and by . the curiosities of scurvygrass , chap. i. of the name of scurvygrass . plants were produced by the great and good god , for the health of men , and according to the diversity of circumstances , they are allotted different names . some derive their names from their inventors , or finders out ; so artemisia or mugwort was so called from artemisia , wife to mausolus , king of caria , who adopted this herb to her self . gentian from gentius king of illyricum , who first found out its virtues in his wars . lysimachus , or loose-strife from lysimachus , son of agathocles of macedon , telephium , orpine , from telephus king of mysia . nymphaea water-lillies , from the nymphs , or fairies , who first discovered it , or because it loves to grow in watrish places . teucrium , germander , from teucrus ( son of scamander , king of troy , a cretian ) as pliny e will have it . nicotiana , tobacco , from iohn nicott , a counseller to the king of france , who discovered it in the year 1560. mercurialis , mercury or dog-nettles , from the god mercury , whose invention according to f pliny it was . 2. many derive their names from their vertues and qualities , in which they excel others : as hepatica or liverwort , because it heals the liver . herba paralysis , cowslip or primrose , because it prevails against the palsie . acorus , aromatical reed , or sweet smelling flag , because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. pupillis medetur : it is profitable against dimsightedness . narcissus ; daffadil , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from its power of stupifying ; not , as the poets fable from the youth narcissus , who fell in love with himself , scrophularia , or figwort , because it is believed to cure the scrophulas , swelling of the throat , or kings-evil . polygala , milkwort , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because it can produce much milk. vrtica nettles , ab urendo , from burning , by reason it raiseth blisters in the skin , as fire doth . saponaria , sopewort , because it may be used instead of sope to cleanse linnen cloath . moly , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from its removing diseases . gelatophylus , seu apium risus , or water crow-foot , because it moves laughter . centaurium , century , from its vertue in many diseases , was thought worthy to derive its name a centum aureis , from an hundred crowns . the germans esteem this plant so pretious , that they call it tausandgulder kraut , that is , thousand gelder herb , altho g pliny writes , that it derives its name from chiron the gentaur . potentilla , wilde tansie , from its great vertues , as if one said potens , or powerful ; it is also called argentina , chiefly from the silvery shining of its leavs being dryed ; it is called anserina , goosegrass , because geese delight to eat it in watry meadows . trachelium , throatwort 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from the throat in those diseases 't is commended and therefore also cervicaria , neckwort , and vulvaria . also from its external form , campanula , bell-flower , or canterbury bells . also lepidium , dittander , because it doth take off the spots and scurse from the face , ( by some called lepidas . ) sinapi , mustard , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from hurting or offending the eyes . nasturtium , water-cresses , as it were , wring by the nose , provoking by the acrimonious sent of its seeds to sneezing . lactuca , lettice , from increasing milk , and abounding with it . lapathum , dock , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from emptying , because the decoction of it emptieth the belly . iii. many plants gain their name from the place of their growth . so nardus from naardo , a city of syria , terminated by the river euphrates , colchicum , or medow-saffron , because it grows in plenty at colchis , a city of asia near pontus . cyticus , a kind of shrub that generates much milk , and grows in a place called cythinus , as pliny h saith . thapsia , a sort of ferula , great spanish scorching fennel , because it is found in thapsus , an island of the same name , dioscordius . i helenium , elecampane , because the best is in s. hellens island , brittanica , a sort of bistort , a snake-weed which grows on the sea shore , opposite to brittany . henricus patraeus k . ligusticum , lovage , because it grows plentifully in liguria in italy . so also ruta muracia , wall-rue , because found on walls . caltha palustris , fenny marigolds , because they grow in marshy and wet places . parietaria , pellitory of the wall , which springs forth of walls ; from whence it is called by celsus l . herba muralis , the herb of the wall. alsine , chickweed , quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; that is , it loves dark and shady places . iv. others are named from their taste : as acetosa , sorrel , acetocella , wood-sorrel , from their having an acide or four taste . centory the less , from its too much bitterness is called fel-terrae , or gall of the earth . pyrethrum , pellitory of spain , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from fire , from the fiery heat of its root , which is felt upon the tongue . eruca , rocket , which by pricking bites the tongue . v. they are named from their sent : as caryophyllata , avens , or herb bennet , because its root being pluckt up in the spring time , doth smell aromatically like cloves , called caryophillus-geranium moschatum , & iva moschata , cranes bill , and chamcepitis , smell like musk. camphorata , stinking ground-pine rubbed betwixt the fingers , gives a smell like campher . allium , garlick , some derive its name from exhaling a stinking smell , and therefore write it alium : there are also who will have it derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to leap forth , because it grows suddenly . alliacia , jack by the hedge , by reason its leaves bruised small betwixt the fingers , smell of garlick . so also scordium ; water germander , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from garlick whose sent it breaths . liba notis , the herb frankincense , from its smell of frankincense . spondilium ; so called from an insect of that name , of a stinking smell . atriplex faetida , stinking orach ; 't is called also vulvaria futuaria , stinking wort , from its unpleasing and stinking smell . vi. from their colour : ornithogalum , star of bethlehem , from its milky colour , like that to be seen in the wings and eggs of hens . luteola ; dyers weed , with which they colour woollen cloth yellow . nigella , fennel flower , from the black colour of its seeds . iris , flower de luce , from the similitude it hath to the colours of the rainbow . chrysanthemum , corn marigold , because its flower shines with a golden splendour . tripolium , sea starwort , as it were grey thrice , or three aged , whose flowers change colour thrice a day , according to dioscorides m . in the morning it is white , at noon purple , and in the evening 't is of a light red colour . virga aurea ; golden rod , from its golden flowers . cyanus , blew bottle , because of its sky-coloured flowers . vii . from some living creatures , to whom they are either friendly or disagreeable . pulegium , penny-royal , because the flowers of it being burnt , when they are fresh do kill fleas . tragoriganum ; goats marjoram , which is pleasing to goats . melissa ; balm , called also apiastrum , because bees are delighted with it . chelidonium ; celandine , because it was first found by the swallow , called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which recovers the sight of his blind young ones with it , or as others will have it , because this herb flourisheth when the swallows come , and withers when they depart . psyllium ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , flea-wort , that is , it hinders the generating of fleas in those houses in which it is kept green . conyza ; fleabane , because it catches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fleas by its glewish or slimy substance . apocynum , dogs bane because it kills dogs . anonis , rest-harrow , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because it helps asses ; for many suppose asses do willingly tumble upon it to rub their backs against its prickles . viii . from the time : so anemone , anemony , a sort of crows-foot is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from the wind , because it never opens its flower but when the wind blows , from whence it is called herba ventis , wind-herb . also primula veris , primrose . crocus vernus , saffron of the spring . viola martia , march violets , because they flourish at these times . ocymum , basil , by reason it grows slowly , or by little and little . ix . many have their names from their outward shapes , or form ; as sagitta , arrow head , sagittary , from a dart. nummularia , money-wort . digitatis , fox-glove , or finger-wort . auricula vrsi , bears ear. orchis sue satyrion & cynoforchis ; dogs-stones . pes anserinus , goose foot . pes leporis , harcs foot . pes leonis , lyons foot . brancha vrsina , bears breech . buglossa , bugloss , or oxe tongue . cynoglossum , hounds tongue : and so cyperus , cyperus , or galingal , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , so called from the shape of its root , which resembles a small vessel , or little box. equisitium , horse-tail , because its leaves are like horse hair . asphodelus , or hastula regia , asphodil , female daffodil , or king scepter ▪ because , when it is in its flower , it resembles the scepter of a king. kyris , stinking gladdon , from the likeness of its leaves to a razor . serratula , little saw , from its leaves being small jagged . tragopogon , goats beard , from the long hair or wooll branching out of the top of it ; wherefore in latine 'tis called barba hirci , and barba capri , because in some measure it resembles the beard of a goat . pirola ; winter-green , from the similitude its leaves have with those of a pair-tree . lunaria , moonwort , from its husk or cod , representing the form of the moon . dracontium , dragons , by reason of its purple spots in its stalk , which are like to a dragons ▪ thlaspi , treacle mustard , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bruise , because its fruit appears as if it were bruised . beta , beet , for that it is of the figure of the greek letter β , whilst it is full of seed : and so also our cochlearia , scurvygrass , because its leaves are turned up , and hollowed round , nearly expressing the outward shape of a spoon ; so that its leaves resemble a little spoon , not very hollow : from the same reason the germanes name it loffelkraut , according to n schvenckfelt , who calls it scharbockskraut , without doubt from its excellent virtue against the scurvy , from whence the danes call it skiorbugsurt , steeurt . simon paul. o the hollanders and frieslanders lepelcrunt p . the english scurvygrafs , and spoonwort , &c. it is called herb aux escu eillieces , as casper pilleter q . chap. ii. of the description of scurvygrass . the herb scurvygrass is of no high growth , but rather low , its leaves at their first springing out are longish , like those of pyrola , or winter-green , or the leaves of adders tongue , having many small strings , or stakes , of a moderate length , proceeding from its root ; the leaves are shining , flat , thick , fat , a little hollowed , 't is generally but small : but if it light on a proper soyl not so small , but of a middle size , resembling a shallow spoon . sometimes its leaves are angular , and pointed , its stakes are nine inches long , and sometimes they are a span and half high , all along which there grows white flowers ; its seeds are small , and of a dark red , or rusty brown colour , inclosed in little shells or husks , like the seeds of water-cresses . the roots are slender and stringy , and of an acide or biting taste : this herb is like the third sort of water pimpernel , according to lobel r ; but it chiefly resembles that water pimpernel with the round leaf , not that which is notched or jagged ; wherefore guilandinus , as bauhinus s says , calls this kind of pimpernel sometimes water plantain , and sometimes he says it appears to be a sort of scurvygrass . there are some which will have scurvygrass to be a sort of orpin , because they suppose it hath leaves like purslain , which is justly disapproved of by wierus , t because garlick , and onions , sampier , land coltrops , spurge . helioscopius , another sort of spurge , which also hath leaves like purslain , that is , thick , smooth , fleshy , or pulpy , are of the kinds of orpine . he adds also many more distinguishing marks : as 1. that scurvygrass is of a full deep green colour , but orpine hath blewish leaves , that is obscurely blackish like plumbago , or the arsmart of pliny , bears-breech , &c. 2. because the leaves of scurvy-grass are bent up like a spoon , with very small angles or points . 3. scurvygrass hath only single leaves upon each small stalk , of which many spring from its root : but the stalks of orpin grow higher , and are furnished with more leaves . 4. the stalks of scurvygrass are sharp pointed , and outwardly round , but orpin hath stalks that are fat , and round , like purslain . 5. the flowers of scurvy-grass are always white ; but orpin sometimes white , and sometime yellow . 6. they differ in the place of their growth , for orpin grows not in watry places , but chiefly amongst vines ; but scurvygrass loves wet grounds , and fields near the sea-shore : in frisland and holland it grows of its own accord ; and although in our country we raise it in gardens , yet it delights in moist ground where it may shed its seed , otherwise it will not grow . 7. they differ in their temper ; for scurvy-grass is hot and dry to the second and third degree , and of an eminent acrimony , or biting tast , exceeding that of water-cresses : but orpin is not so hot , but only in the first degree ; and moreover , it is endowed with a cleansing and detersive faculty ( witness galen and dioscorides ) from which it cureth the morphew . what telephium or orpin is , is commonly known , it is so named ( as is declared in the first chapter ) from telephus k. of mysia , who used it to a malignant ulcer ( for which cause such ulcers are called telephia ) with which he was long afflicted , and in which he was wounded by achilles : but in these , and such like ulcers , which are almost incurable , orpin is out-done by the decoction of the leaves , and sprouts of bramble , or dogs-berry bush made with wine ( which is also called cynosbatus ; which as simon paulus s proves , is the same with cynorrhodon , or eglantine ) if the ulcers be often washed with it warm , which i have many times experienced in such like patients ; and therefore candidly communicate it to the courteous reader . many of the latter writers do absolutely affirm our scurvygrass to be the same with bistort , which was first discovered to the roman souldiers by the frislanders , or north-hollanlanders . this is also mentioned by dioscorides . t it is described by dioscorides u c. l. that it hath leaves like wild docks , but blacker and more hairy , and of an astringent taste : and hath a little short root , and shoots forth small stalks . but that scurvygrass is quite different from bistort , these reasons following prove . 1. hitherto in these parts it hath not been known , so that many will have it to be arsemart ; others bears ear , and some mountain carnations ; there are which avouch it to agree in its faculties with bistort : but scurvygrass , in these and other western countries , is known by every body . 2. bistort , as appears by dioscorides , w hath leaves like wild dock , but blacker , and more hairy , of a binding or astringent taste ; but the leaves of scurvy-grass are round , and greener , like asserebacca , smooth , and not at all hairy , nor no way astringent . 3. bistort hath a slender and short stalk and root ; but scurvygrass consists of many small stalks , with only one leaf upon each of them ; the root is not so short , but sometimes of the length of a span . 4. bistort is cold and dry , and therefore endowed with a binding faculty , from whence it strengthens loose gums , and prevents the falling out of the teeth ; but scurvygrass is of a hot nature , as any may perceive by its biting the lips upon its first touching of them . that it also fastens loose teeth , is from another reason , because it insensibly corrects those thin and cold humours , whose substance is wholly vicious , and offensive , which are lodged about the teeth . x lobelius says thus of this matter : they in frisland account scurvygrass the brittanica of the antients , they might better maintain this opinion , if they knew that in england by the pleasant river of thames , ( which flows by london , and from thence to bristol , a port of the western ocean to which it moves , and by degrees increaseth its floods ) there is another of the same kind , like it in the flowers , seed , and taste , but with leaves not so hollow , or spoon-like , rather resembling all-seed , or little dock , the length of the leaf is of the breadth of an inch , to an inch and half , or two inches . it is thick , close , and full of juice , of the taste and colour of the other scurvy-grass , with a larger root , and so all other parts of it proportionable , but less astringent , but no ways conveniently likened to the bistort , or britanica of dioscorides , although like the other sort ( viz. the dutch scurvy-grass ) it be praised for sore mouths , and the scurvy with which we have seen many people that were deeply afflicted , cured the last spring . chap. iii. of the differences of scurvygrass . there is four sorts of scurvy-grass . 1. there is scurvygrass with a very round leaf , and is called dutch scurvygrass , the dutch scurvygrass of pena and lobelius ; the britanica of gesner . lobelius and bauhinus write it is a kin to treacle , mustard , and cress : this is the common sort . ( vid. fig. 1. ) the second sort is that with the hollow or crooked leaves ▪ called britanica , bistort of pena , english scurvygrass , with leaves of wild arach , or allseed , of which a lobelius c. l. and his printed figure of the same . this you may behold ( fig. the 2. of this book ; ) this sort is unusual with us . the third kind is the creeping scurvygrass of bauhinus , the least sort of creeping sea scurvygrass : of tho. bartholinus it is called , coclearia amagria insula supina , the greater , and the less , b simon paulus ( fig. the 3. and 4. ) c iohannes wierus makes another difference of scurvygrass , by reason of its age. his words are these : at its first springing forth , it puts out leaves like ophioglossum , or adders tongue , which arise together with its stalks from the roots ; after that , being grown somewhat elder , it becomes more fleshy , or pulpy , and is very like asserebecca , both in bigness and figure , only it hath blunter points on the edges of its leaves , commonly 7 or 9 , chiefly in the winter time ; the least part of the leaf is plain , but most usually it appeares hollowed like a spoon ; from which reason it derives its name , both among the germans and latines : so that you may deservedly call it catyldon , or a hollow dish . after another years growth its leaves become like ivy , and asserebecca and they grow thinner by degrees , more and more , as they grow higher from the root , and are nearer the knobby , and bossy , or top part of the plant ; and so the leaves grow more manifestly pointed , and that in the months of march , april , and may , at which time their flower flourisheth at the height . in the place of which , afterwards in the month of iune , there succeeds plenty of seed , which being ripe , it appears in little husks , and they are small and plain , and of an obscure red colour : the root of this is slender , white , strait , and not long . chap. iv. of the place and time of the growth of scurvygrass . it hath been declared above , that scurvygrass doth not grow in all places , and chiefly not in the eastern parts of the world , in which it is never found , nor will its seed sown in the earth there produce it , for it will only grow in the western parts , in which the disease which it cureth , viz. the scurvy is frequent . and this therefore happens through the great wisdom of the creator , that where any diseases , through the nature of the place , are as it were vernacular or peculiar , there also familiar and specifick remedies against the same diseases do grow plentifully . and d fabr. hildan writes : it is likely nature is therefore backward in producing scurvygrass in swisserland , because through gods mercy this country hath hitherto been free from this grievous plague the scurvy . in those places which are not afflicted with the scurvy , scurvy-grass doth seldom or rarely thrive , and that with difficulty , and although he himself , and his collegues and comrades , did with exact care sow it in their gardens , nevertheless they could not raise one plant of it from its seed . again , in his book de valetud . tuend . p. d. he reports that in the year 1628. he made another tryal , if perhaps it would be produced , and carefully sowed the seed which he procured out of holland in his garden , which sprung up in plenty ; to which he adds his prayer , that it might not prove an unlucky omen to the swissers , and a forerunner of this disease , of which it is a remedy . it is related by f hermann . nicholai , that in groenland ( whose inhabitants are infested with the scurvy with that violence , that the motion of all their limbs is taken from them by it ) and also in the mountain of bares of this island , called tafelberg , scurvygrass and sorrel grow so plentifully , that it hinders men from walking , and that these plants always grow together , or near one another , because they ought not to be used asunder , lest singly taken by themselves they do hurt ; for one abounds with a volatile salt , the other with a sowre one , from the mixture of which a middle quality results . he also describeth the manner how the groenlanders use it , which is thus : they take the newly killed flesh of their rain deer , or some fowl , and boiling it with oats or barley , make a plisan , and this broth they season with these scorbutick herbs , from whence ariseth a highly medicinal nourishment ▪ by the use of which their bellies are so loosened , that the corrupt humours are evacuated , as if they had took a purging medicine , and presently they recover , as if they were new born . it grows plentifully in england , chiefly about the river thames : as lobelius c. l. reports in friesland , holland : also about hamburgh , and in other maritime places of the lower germany , and grows freely about fenny and marshy places . with us it is common and frequently raised from the seed in gardens , loving shady moist places , and to grow by brooks sides . it grows sufficiently well in the gardens of flanders , and elsewhere . it flourisheth in april and may ; the next year after it is sown , the seed ripens by degrees in may and iune : g schwenckfelt says , that he had green scurvygrass ( which was raised from the seed ) in his garden a whole year together , which he kept for the juice . hiebner in his agriculture , about the end of it writes ▪ loffelkrout saamen strevet man anss , &c. that is , the seed of scurvy-grass is to be sown in the spring , and afterwards it is to be removed and replanted ; by which means it will thrive better and the plant will be larger . chap. v. of the qualities and virtues of scurvy grass . scurvy grass is of the classis of those plants , which are of a hot and dry faculty h , in the same degree with the third sort of green water cresses , and is not unlike it in quality and taste , i schroderus . in groenland , as it is noted by simon paulus quadripart , botanic . p. 209. it is almost insipid or tasteless . it is indowed with an opening and diaphoretick power , rendring fixed and crude humours , volatile and spiritual , and resists putrefaction ; from whence it is useful in the obstructions of the mesentery , spleen , and diseases of the hypocondryes . therefore brunnerus k sayes , scurvygrass doth not onely wonderfully mend the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or disorders of the spleen , but also powerfully opens obstructions , it liquefieth , cuts , attenuates , and cleanseth melancholly mixed with phlegmetick humours , and sends them to the kidneys , and therefore doth happily cure the cacochymy or vitious juices of the body , proceeding from swollen , or great spleens , and that chiefly , if the decoction of it be made with whey of goats milk. it is profitable against the dropsie . it procureth womens courses . the seed is effectual in expelling by sweat the small pox , and measles , frider. hoffman n . but chiefly scurvygrass doth powerfully cure the scurvy and its symptomes ; wherefore it is called scorbuticorum levamon . the solace or comfort of the scorbutick , by iohannes iohnston o ( a physitian that will easily be allowed the chief of our times ) . upon what account it doth avail in the scurvy is taught by sennertus p . it abounds with a volatile salt of a certain bitterish taste , for which cause it opens and penetrates those crude , gross humours , and renders them volatile , as the chymist speaks ; it discusseth and purgeth by urine and sweat ; it strengthens the bowels . almost all modern physitians do agree , that in the scorbutick humour there abounds a gross and fixed salt , like that which is in smoked and dryed flesh , and this is proved by me in my tract . de varis seu arthridite vaga scorbutica . if this salt therefore shall be made volatile , it may be discussed and expelled with the more ease , but if the scorbutick salt be volatile , as it is in the running gout , it is further attenuated , and fitted for discussion by the secret pores of the skin , by the volatile salt of scurvygrass , or because this salt ( viz. in the scurvy ) is most commonly acid , and therefore apt to cause such intolerable pains by the volatile salt of scurvygrass , it is drunk in and mortified . the chief antiscorbutick power or vertue of scurvy-grass is occult or secret , as almost all modern physitians do agree , as it also appears in my tractate de varis . iohannes ioachim bechorus q describes the vertue of scurvygrass in these following verses . spoonwort doth marm , and also doth dry , in the scurvy 't is a great remedy , it sends out all corrupt humors by sweat with this your mouth gargel often , and wet . this plant which deserves so much of your praise the apothecaries use six several wayes . it 's spirit , syrup , water procures health , so doth its salt conserve , and th' herb it self . scurvygrass is not onely used inwardly , but outwardly also , as you may see hereafter in the one and twentieth chapter of this book . chap. vi. of medicines prepared from scurvy-grass in general , and in particular from its seed , scurvygrass hath ( as other plants likewise have ) its root , its leaves , its flowers , and its seed , yet there is no part of it in use , but onely its leaves and seed . the leaves of scurvygrass are used inwardly , and outwardly : if there be any occasion to use them inwardly , they ought to be employed fresh and new gathered , else the volatile salt , upon which its vertues chiefly depend , will vanish away . there are many different formes of medicines made from its leaves ; as 1. sawces . 2. decoctions . 3. wine . 4. infusions . 5. waters . 6. spirits . 7. volatile salt. 8. oyle . 9. conserve . 10. syrups . 11. electuaries , and mixtures . 12. essences . 13. juice . 14. magistery . of all which , and of every one in particular , i intend to write . the seed also doth enter divers compositions , and is used both inwardly and outwardly , among which are these following ; aqua nephritica , or the water for the stone in the kidneys , which is described by bald. timaeus r a guldenflee , thus : ℞ of the seeds of broom , parsley , gromwel , wilde carrots , fennel , anis , chervil , saxifrage , pimpernel , water cress , scurvygrass , red ciches or shoop pease , of each a noun . being mixed together steep them in a sufficient quantity of sack , and let them be distilled . in the same place the same author describes a spleen water thus , ℞ of the seeds of butchers broom , ashtree keyes , amee or bishops weed chervil , rue , agnus castus or chast tree . cummin , anis , fennel , citron , scurvygrass , water cress , card. mar. or our ladies thistle . ana. ℥ . 1. being reduced to a gross powder , pour upon them of wormwood wine a sufficient quantity , let them steep for three dayes , and afterwards let them be distiled . pillulae antiscorbutae or pills against the scurvy of the same author s . ℞ of the extract of quercetainus his pill . malang . ʒ . 2. the extract of sennaʒ . 1. rosin of iallapʒ . 1. gr . 6. vitriolat tartar. gr . 13. the volatile salt of amber ℈ . 1. the seeds of scurvygrass . water cresses . mustard seed , of each ℈ . 1. ss . mix them , and with the juice of scurvygrass make a mass for pills . the decoction of guaiacum wood by the same author t . ℞ of guaiacum wood rasped ℥ . 2. ss . the bark of the same wood ℥ . ss . sarsaparilla ℥ 1. ss . sassafras wood rasp'd ℥ . 6. the roots of scorzonera , enula campain of each ℥ . ss . the seeds of scurvygrass . water cresses of each ℥ . ss . the inner bark of a pine tree ℥ 1. citron pill , ℥ . ss . cinamon ℥ 1. being cut and bruised , steep them in the waters of scurvygrass , of water cress , of fumatery , of each a sufficient quantity afterwards let them be boiled in a double vessel . the straining of this lb. 3. the syrup of the juice of scurvy-grass . the syrup of the juice of water cress. of the juice of fumetary , of each ℥ . 2. mix them the dose is from ℥ 4. to ℥ 6. the seed is chiefly described in nodles or little bags ; as for example . ℞ of the seeds of scurvygrass , of rocket , of water cress , of each ℥ 1 the leaves of senna without stalks ℥ 1. ss . the roots of polypod . of black hellebore . of iallap , of each ℥ ss . the bark of ash tree , of tamarisk . of cappers , of each ℥ . 2. being cut and bruised , make it into a nodule with fine white linnen . title it the purging nodule for one kan or quart of wine . it is also an ingredient of the spleenitick essence of b. dom. d. michaelis which is this : ℞ of the herb of spleenwort , m. 3. mother of time , dodder . harts-tongue , milzadel , the flowers of st. iohns wort . of each m. 1. brom flowers p. 2. the bark of cappers , of tamarisk , of ash-tree , of each ℥ 4. the roots of polypode , of the oak , of fern , of grass , of each ℥ 3. of herb bennet ℥ 1. ss . the seeds of butchers broom . of ash-tree keyes seeds an . ℥ ss . of scurvygrass , of water-cress , of eachʒ 2. with the spirit of dodder and fumetery , make an essence according to art. chap. vii . of sawces made with scurvygrass . it is declared in the former chapter there may be made many different formes of medicines from the leaves of scurvygrass , and among the rest embemma or sawces . what is signified by embemma may be gathered from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. immergere , intingere , to dip under , or dip into , and seemeth to be derived from thence , from whence the latines call sawces intinctus , the germanes name it , ein tuncte , ein titsche . sawces are made of divers things ; as for example , of cappers , of the pulp of apples , with pulp , or rather the juice , of lemmons and wine , with the roots of horse reddish grated , adding vinegar unto it , with mustard-seed ground small , either with vinegar , or must , or the juice of grapes , from whence it is called mustardt by the borderers . sawces are also prepared of water cresses , and wine , and sugar . also sawces may be made of scurvygrass , if , for example , its fresh gathered leaves be cut small , mixt with sugar , and a sufficient quantity of wine poured upon it . you may mix scurvygrass and water cresses together , and prepare them the same way , or take of scurvygrass very small cut or minced , and adde of juice of lemmons or sowre orenges , and so you will have a sawce pleasant to the taste , and effectual against the scurvy , for these kind of sawces are mighty advantagious in the scurvy , insomuch that the people of norway are preserved from this disease by the use of them , as is asserted by u gr. horst . chap. viii . of the decoction of scurvygrass . evgalonus doth affirm , that he hath cured many scorbutick persons , onely with the decoction of scurvygrass . the leaves of the new scurvygrass are to be boiled in milk , or , if they be troubled also with a fever and heat , then boil them in butter-milk w , also in whey , wine , ale , beer , or water , and let the decoction thereof be drank several dayes together , if the leaves of scurvygrass be used by themselves , they ought not to be boiled long , and if they are boiled with other ingredients , they ought to be added towards the end of the boiling , lest the volatile salt do quite vanish away . there are many decoctions described by authors in which among the rest , the fresh leaves of scurvygrass do not enter the decoction singly , and by themselves , but mixed with other things as well purgative as sudorisick , of which sort is the decoction of x sennertus . ℞ of the roots of cichory , of fennel , of wild redish , of each ℥ 1. of wake robin preparedʒ ss . the leaves of scurvygrass , of water cress , of brooklime , of each m. 2. of card. bened. of fumetery , of centaury the less , of wormwood , of each m. ss . let them be boiled in a close vessel in whey of goats milk , or in renish wine lb 4. in the same place he hath this decoction . ℞ scvrvygrass . water cresses of each part equal . brook lime halfe a part . let them be bruised in a stone mortar , and let them be boiled in goats milk or whey . the purging potion of y matthias martinus in his tract of the scurvy . ℞ of the leaves of fumetery , of fresh scurvygrass , of brooklime , of maidenhair , of spleenwort , of agrimony , of each m. 2. of scabiose , of miltwast , of each m. ss . the cordial flowers of each , p. 1 ▪ liquoris root bruisedʒ 6. the leaves of senna , ℥ 1. choise rubarb . the bark of indian mirabalans prepar'd , of each , ℈ 4. raisins of the sun stoned , ʒ 9. clean picked barley , p. 1. schaenanth or camels hay ℈ 1. let them be boiled in whey to the quantity of one pint , let them remain in infusion for a night , to the straining add , of the syrup of forestus against the scurvy , ℥ 2. of the repeated infusion of roses , of nicholas his syrup of cichory with rubarb , of each ℥ ss . mix them for three doses to be taken in the mornings , with which there use to be voided much filthy melancholy . the sweating decoction of china , of the same author , in the same z book . ℞ of the roots of china ℥ 2. sarsaparilla . scorzonera or vipers grass , of each ℥ 1. ss . of liquorisʒ 6. the seeds of meloris of cucumbers , of eachʒ 2. the leaves of brooklime , m. 1. ss . of scurvygrass , m. 1. the flowers of bugloss , m. ss . raisins of the sun , ℥ 3. harts horn burned ℥ ss . rhodium wood rasped , ʒ 3. cinamon , ʒ 2. with these being grosly bruised prepare a decoction with barly water , or the broth of an hen without salt , it is extreamly good to procure sweat with . the decoction against the scorbutick consumption of the same a author . ℞ of the bark of cichory roots , of parsly roots , an . ℥ ss . the leaves of spleenwort , of cichory , of miltwaste , of brooklime , of scurvygrass , of fumetery , of agrimony , of roman wormwood of each m. ss . the cordial flowers , p. 1. the seeds of aniseʒ 1. of endive , of agnus castus , or the chaste tree , of each , ʒ ss . raisins of the sun skin'd and stoned , ʒ 6. the bark of capper roots , ʒ 3. make a decoction for a pint and half , in beer or else in common water , and add to the straining of ferestus his syrup against the scurvy , ℥ 1. ss . of fumetery , of cichory with rubarb , of endive , of each ℥ ss . the broth of an old cock by the same b author is much commended . ℞ of vipers grass , polypodium , of each ℥ 1. ss . asparagus , bugloss , of each ℥ ss . white-wine tartar , or else of the cream of tartar , the seeds of carthamus or bastard saffron bruised , of eachʒ 10. of anise , of carrawayes , of eachʒ 2. gummy turbith rootsʒ 5. salt gem or mountain saltʒ 2. the leaves of senna of alexandria , ℥ 2. the roots of galingale , of ginger , of eachʒ 1. ss . cinamonʒ 1. the flowers of bugloss , of violets , the leavs of agrimony , of miltwast , of betony , of germander , of gout-ivy , of scurvygrass of each m. 1. all being bruised , let them be stuffed into the belly of an old cock , and let them be boiled in three parts water , and one part white-wine ; let this decoction be used for divers dayes together . barbet hath this apozema or decoction . ℞ of the roots of raddishesʒ 3. of fern ℥ 1. the leavs of brooklime , of water cress , of scurvygrass , of each p. 1. tamarinds ℥ 1. the seeds of smallageʒ ss . boils it in barly water , or rhenish wine , and in ℥ 24. of the straining dissolve , of the syrup of the five opening roots ℥ 2. adding of spirit of vitriol 8. drops . mix them and make an apozema . gregory horstius his sweating potion , which he describes d tract . de tuend . san. the roots of devils bit , of sarsaparilla , of true round aristoloch , or birthworth , an . ʒ 3. the herbs scurvygrass , m. 1. sage , bettony , southernwood , rue , periwinckle , of each , p. 1. the seeds of columbineʒ 2. boil them in the water of water-cresses , of brooklime , of scvrvygrass , of each a like quantity , to the consumption of half the liquor , strain through a sieve or cloath with ℥ 6. of this decoction , 7 earth worms , which have circles about their necks , then add of treacleʒ ss . of cinamon waterʒ 2. of spirit of scvrvygrassʒ 1. ss . of the mixture s. vitriolate 8. dr . mix them ℞ of this ℥ 1. ss . add to it of oriental bezoar stone gr . 5. of spirit of tarra sigill . ʒ 5. mix them for one dose to procure sweat . this apozem ▪ is commended by dr. iohn michael fehr ▪ the worthy president of the colledge of the curiously inquisitive after nature . the decoction of forrestus , which is opening , discussing , strengthening , which he describes , f ℞ of the bark of the roots of cichory , of parsly , an . ʒ ss . the herb of spleenwort , of cichory , of miltwast , of brooklime , of scurvygrass , of fumetery , of agrimony , of roman wormwood , of each m.b. the cordial flowers , of each p. 1. the seeds of aniseʒ 1. of endive , of agnus castus , of eachʒ ss . raisins of the sun stoned p. 1. the bark of capper roots , ʒ 3. make a decoction in common water to a pint and half , add to this being strained , of the syrup against the scurvy , of fumetory , of endive , of cichory with rubarb , of each ℥ ss . mix them . this before cited author writeth , that he hath not found a more efficacious experiment in the scurvy , he g reports that he had ordered some the decoction of scurvygrass and brooklime in common beer . h hartman commends for poor people in the scurvy the decoction of guaiacum wood with scurvygrass . i brannerus writeth , that the decoction of milk or goats whey in which scurvy grass hath been boiled , is very profitable for those in diseases of melancholly , and in tumors , and swellings , which fear a flux of melancholy matter . it is to be observed of many of the decoctions before cited , that they are unpleasant , and that there is too great a quantity alotted for one dose . if physitians of our age should prescribe such , they would be deluded by their patients . therefore it behoves every physitian , that he prescribes medicine in a less quantity , and more grateful to the pallat. care is to be taken also in these kinds of decoctions , lest that the leaves of assaracabacca be mistaken for the leaves of scurvygrass , as was done in denmark by pretenders to physick , endeavouring to cure themselves and others , and to that purpose caused them to be infused , being bruised in antiscorbutick potions , from the use of which medicines , they fell into vomitings , and so they suffered much pain and punishment , as a justly merited reward for their foolish physick , as is testified by simon paulus k . but here in this place such a mistake is not to be feared , because our women commonly know scurvygrass , but it were to be wished if the medicasters of both sexes , of which here are more than a few , that the magistrate would lay some heavier punishment upon them , that they might not without punishment kill so many as they do . galen counts them to differ nothing from thieves onely in this , that these get their prey in cities , and the other in mountains and woods . nay he rightly affirms that they are much worse than robbers , for they onely take away the money of travellers , and are subject to be punished , but these are rewarded for taking away the mony together with the life of the sick. chap. ix . of the wine of scurvygrass . this wine made of the leaves of scurvygrass is prepared two several wayes , that is , either by fermentation or without fermentation ; without fermenting it is done thus , take must or new wine , not trod out with feet , through a sack , but clear and squeezed forth by a press , whilst it is yet new , and hath not hitherto fermented or worked ; put it into a very clean barrel , in which are great quantities of fresh gathered scurvygrass leaves made pure and cleansed from all filth and dirt , and put into the barrels , till they be filled to the middle , so that the leaves and the new wine may be of like quantities , and that the vessels may be filled to the top , the barrel ought to be stopt up exactly , and so you will have in short time ( if you have done as you should ) a wine clear , red , and almost sweet , almost equalling sack in its relish , having sensibly both the smell and taste of scurvygrass , yet not ungrateful to the pallat. scurvygrass wine is made by fermentation , if in an open vessel in which the must doth work , you put in the leaves of scurvygrass , but not in so large quantities , whose taste 't is true , will not be so pleasant to the pallat , but is of great force and vertue in the scurvy , insomuch that it doth exceed wormwood wine , which is so much commended in the scurvy . the causes hindring the fermentation of the first sort of wine are three : the first is the addition of the leaves of scurvygrass to the must or new wine , which hath not yet wrought , for it is otherways if it hath already begun to ferment , for then you can scarcely hinder it to proceed , wherefore l kirger is in the right , ( who saith ) if the first degree of fermentation be begun , or be upon its increasing , it moves towards it height or state , it is not then any longer in the power of the chief form to call back those parts that are already separated , or to hinder those from separating themselves . secondly , the close stopping up the vessel , and thereby denying a free space or convenient room , by that means the must cannot rarifie it self , nor expand its parts , which rarification and expansion are absolutely necessary to cause fermentation . such mute or stifled wines the germans call stumme weine oder verhaltene moste , that is , stum or unworked must. thirdly , by taking away the ferment ( or particles which cause the workings in the must , by the addition of the great quantity of the leaves of scurvygrass . for the faeces or dregs of the must ( which is its ferment , or that which causeth it to work ) sticketh to these leaves , and so is hindred in its operation , as it is done in the wine called by the germans spahe wein , that is , stum. when for the same purpose they put into barrels filled with must , or juice of grapes , the smooth and slender twigs of ash , birch , tamarisk , or hasel wood . but if the faeces be not impeded , than by reason of their acidity with which they are endowed in a large proportion , upon the score of their salt , the must having space enough can easily ferment , after the same manner that acid ferments ferment the humours in our bodies and are wont to excite and stir up fevers ; for it is the general opinion of modern physitians , that the chief cause of fevers is fermentation , which is more largely proved by dr. thomas willis and kergerus , by whose reasons being moved , i also embrace the same opinion , but after what manner , and with what ferments the feverish fermentation is performed , which is the cause of every fever ( for in this authors differ , and therefore ) i think it convenient in this place to delineate , or give as it were a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or short account , as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or a discourse of fevers , that so there may be an occasion started for a further inquiry into the nature of the thing , reserving a tract of this subject to another time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . there are to be considered in this feverish fermentation ; the ferments , the humors fermenting ; the place in which the fermentation is made , and the time of the fermentation . the ferments are plagme , coller , the pancratick juice , the salt residing in our bodies ( if they happen to be preternatural or unkindly constituted , and have acquired to themselves either an acide , or some other fermenting faculty ) and poison . the humours fermenting in fevers are the chyle the lymphatick juice , the blood. the place in which fermentation is made is threefold ; the vessels in which these humours are contained , viz. the venae lacteae , or milky veins ; the lymphatick vessels , and the veins and arteries . the time of the fermentation is various upon the score of its duration ; for fevers , by reason of the diversities of their ferment , on the account of their qualities and quantities , and also the distance of the vessels are either short or long , some of them prove continual , some again are intermitting , and these happen either every day , or return upon the third or fourth day , and these have their certain times of coming about and endings . intermitting fevers or agues are produced in the milky veins , from praeternatural phlegm , from whence are phlegmatick and quotidian agues , commonly called crude ( of the germanes magan fieber ) because the phlegmatick juice of the crude nourishment in a weak stomack , being not rightly resolved and volatized , by its ferment , it becomes sowr . from praeternatural choller , bilious and tertian agues are produced ; and from the pancratick juice , melancholy , and quartan agues . if in the lymphatick vessels , its juice shall grow sowr by reason of a strange salt , and shall ferment there , there will arise fevers joyned with catarhs and defluxions . if the blood do ferment in the veins and arteries , either the venal or arterial blood ( which is to be look'd upon as one and the same liquor by reason of its circulation , happily found out by dr. harvy ) from thence will arise continual fevers , as it happens the fermentation from divers ferments is in the vessels near to , or remote from the heart . but if poison be taken into or generated in the body ( which that such a thing may be , experience teacheth , and is sufficiently proved by sennertus , zacutus lusitanis , and others ) then there breaketh out malignant fevers , as the measles , small pox , spotted fever , and the plague it self . that the blood may be made to ferment with venomes , appears from hence , that in such cases there will come forth bubo's and parotides , that is angry swellings in the groin , under the arm-pits , and behind the ears , also other little swellings , and after death the body will be puffed up and swolne . this saving every mans judgment , i thought fit to add 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and by the by , and now i return where i left . sennertus (m) doth direct this physical wine . ℞ of the roots of sarsaparilla , of china , the wood of sassafras , an . ℥ 2. the roots of rhodium , of avens , or herb bennet , of vipers grass , an . ℥ 1. harts tongue , germander , scurvygrass , wormwood , an . m. 2. of the best cinnamon , ʒ 6. raisins bruised , lb. 1. pour wine upon them , or which is more convenient must , to the quantity of half an amphora , that is take three gallons , and so make a physical wine . chap. viii . of the infusion of scurvygrass . what infusions are , is commonly known , as to wit , let physical things be steeped in a convenient liquor , that they may yield their vertue to it , and put them in a warm or hot place , in a stone or glass vessel . so you may also infuse the leaves of scurvygrass , sometimes by themselves , and sometimes with alteratives , purgatives , diureticks and sudorificks , and mixed together , and that in wine , ale , milk , whey , butter-milk , &c. as will appear by these following examples : the infusion of matth. martinius , ℞ of the leaves of scurvygrass , m. 2. put them for a night into ℥ 5. of goats whey , or let them be boiled in mb , moderately warm , and being strained hard out , mix with it of forestus his syrup against the scurvy , or of the syrup of the juice of sorrel , ℥ 2. and let it be drank cold. the same authors alterative wine , ℞ of the leaves of brooklime , of water cresses , of scurvygrass , an . m. 1. bruise them and steep them in the distilled liquor of radishes and a fourth part of wine , or in all white-wine , to the quantity of about a quart , and hang in the straining of the liquor this following nodule , or little bag , ℞ of galengalʒ 2. spikenardʒ ss . the best cinamonʒ 1. ss . english saffron ℈ 2. and make a slight boiling , drink the straining morning and evening . the wine of scurvygrass of n sennertus . ℞ of fresh gathered scurvygrass some handfuls , beat them very small and pour upon them of rhenish wine some pints , put it in a glass , let it stand in a cellar three dayes , afterwards let it be strained for use . the same authors o infusion . ℞ of the roots of wilde radish , ℥ 1. scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , fumatery , of each m. 1. being bruised in a marble mortar , pour upon them of milk or whey a pint and half , let them stand 12 hours in a warm place , afterwards let it be strained , and adde to the straining of saffron ℈ 1. cinnamon , ʒ 1. ss . strong cinamon waterʒ ss . mix them . or ℞ of water cresses , scurvygrass , ana . m. 2. galangal , cinamon , ana . ℥ 2. wild-radish roots ℥ . ss . bruise them all in a stone mortar , and pour upon them a sufficient quantity of whey , let them stand in a warm place for a night , and strain them out in the morning . the infusion of dr. bald. timaeus of guldenflee . ℞ of fresh wild radish roots , cut into round slices ℥ iv . pour upon them of rhenish wine , lb iv . let it stand in infusion for 3. dayes and then strain it afterwards . ℞ of fresh leaves of scurvygrass , of water cresses , of brooklime , ana . m ii . cut them and beat them in a marble mortar , and pour upon them the former straining , let them stand for a day and a night , then press them strongly out with a press , and filther it through a whited brown paper . for nice people you may add a little sugar . or ℞ of fresh scurvygrass , water cresses , an . m. ii . fumatery , wormwood , pimpernel , ana . m. 1. ss . ash-tree bark , ℥ i. iuniper berries ℥ i. ss . enula campane roots , ℥ i. cichory roots , ʒvi . being cut and bruised grosly , put them in a little barrel , and pour upon them of new wine or new ale six gallons ; after it hath worked well , and is clear , take of it twice or thrice in a day from ℥ vi . to ℥ x. or more , as you think fit . you may order this following . ℞ of scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , ana . m. ii . raddish roots cut into slices , n o. i. put them into a sufficient quantity of the best white-wine . you may take a wine glass full of the straining of it when you please , or if you will sweeten it with sugar . or ℞ of scurvygrass , water cresses , fumatery , ana . m. i. pour upon them a sufficient quantity of whey , let them stand in a glass close stopt for a nights time , in the morning strain it out hard , the dose is ℥ iii. the physical wine of dr. fredrick deckers . q ℞ of scurvygrass , water cresses , wall rue , ana . m. i. wild raddish roots , polypod roots , ana . ʒii . black hellebore roots , ialap , ana . ℥ 1. choice senna leaves ℥ i. the yellow rind of an oringe ℥ ii . strong cinamonʒi . ss . cruce tartar , ʒiii . being cut and grosly bruised , sow them in a bag , and put them in a stone pot , and pour upon them of white or else rhenish wine two quarts . take a draught of this in the morning . nodules belong to infusions (r) sennertus describes this nodule . ℞ of brooklime , scurvygrass , water cresses , ana . m. 1. bruise them and infuse them in rhenish wine , afterwards let it be pressed hard out , and in the straining infuse this following nodule . the seeds of water cresses , half an ounce . cinamon , cloves , mace , of eachʒi . give a draught of this every day . brunnerus prescribes this : ℞ of the roots of fennel , cichory , asparagus , ana , ℥ ii . ss . the seeds of aniseʒii . the herb scurvygrass , agrimony , dodder , maidenhair , an . m. ss . the leaves of senna of alexandria , ℥ i. the roots of polypod . of the oak , ℥ ss . the best rubarb , ʒiii . of mechoacanʒii . choice cinamon , ʒi . ss . spikenard , ℈ i. ginger , ℈ ii . of these being cut and bruised make according to art , a nodule . these following nodules are to be found in tract . de varis , or arthrite . vag . scorbut . cap. 8 , p. 106 , 107. ℞ of the herbs scurvygrass , water cresses , germander , polypod , ana . m. i. the roots of wild raddish , fern , polypod . ana . ʒ . ii . the bark of capers , tamarisk , an . ʒi . ss . the flowers of noble liverwort , of cichory , an . p. i. senna leaves without stalks , ℥ i. the roots of black hellebore , of rubarb , an . ʒi . ss . the yellow of oringe peel , ʒii . choice strong cinamon , ʒi . clean crude tartar , ℥ ss . being cut and bruised make a nodule with fine white linnen , intitle it the purging bag for one can of wine , of which it is good to take every morning and evening a wine glass full . ℞ of the herbs betony , germander , rosemary , fumatery , dodder , spleenwort , melt-wast , scurvygrass , brooklime , an . p. 2. the roots of polypod . ℥ ss . black hellebore , ʒvi . the flowers of water-lillies , arabian lavander , rosemary an . p. 1. senna leaves without stalks , ℥ i.ʒii. of anniseeds , fennel seeds , an . ʒi . ss . the purest crude tartar , ℥ ss . salt of tartar , ʒi . let them be cut and bruised , and make a nodule with fine white linnen according to art. title the purging bag for one kan of wine . or there may be prescribed this nodule . ℞ of the herb scurvygrass , brooklime , ana . m. i. senna leaves without stalks , ℥ i. ss . the flowers of cichory . p. ii . the roots of polypod , of black hellebore , an . ℥ ss . of ialap , ʒvi . the seeds of scurvygrass of anise , an . ʒi . ss . the best cinamon , ʒi . pure white tartar , ℥ ss . being cut and bruised make a nodule with fine white linnen , title it the purging bag for one kan of wine . chap. xi . of the water of scurvygrass . this water is made of the fresh leaves of scurvygrass artificially distilled in a balneo mariae , water being first poured upon them . t forestus among distilled liquors , highly commends the water of scurvygrass distilled in sand : insomuch that they report , by the constant use of it , it will cause the black colour both of the whole body and the thighs to vanish away . with this water , mixed with other things , variety of potions may be made , and powders , and other antiscorbutick medicines may be given in it . compound scurvygrass waters are described by several authors , of which the chief are these which follow : the scorbutick water of u quercetanus . ℞ of the bark of cappers , of tamarisk , of an ash-tree , polypode roots of the oak an . ℥ ii . the herb scurvygrass , water-cresses , the tops of balm , agrimony , meltwaste , germander , ground pine , an . m. ii . the seeds of fennel , anise , carduus benedict , an . ʒ 1. ss . the flowers of broom , centaury the less , s. iohnswort , elder , wild time , ana . p. ii . let all be infused for three dayes in fumatery water , whey , an . lb iii. strong white wine , lb iv . oxymel of scylls , lb i. then strain it out hard , add to this liquor of the trochises of cappers , of diolace , an . ʒvi . afterwards distill it in ashes to dryness : the dose is ℥ ii . in the morning three hours before eating to be continued for several dayes together , according to the greatness of the disease . the scorbutick water of w tobias doncrelius . ℞ of strong and biting wilde radish roots , lb iv . polypode of the oak , ℥ i. ss . the bark of capper roots , ℥ ss . fennel seeds , ℥ i. cardamons , ℥ ii . saffron , ʒi . cut the radish roots into thin round slices , but let the other things be so subtilly powdered , and put them altogether into lb ss . of rhenish wine , let them stand in infusion in a warm place for eight dayes , the vessel being shaken once or twice every day afterwards add of the waters of scvrvygrass , brooklime , water-cresses , an . lb i. ss . true ground-pine , the compound-water of fumatery , an . lb i. whey of goats milk , lb i. ss . mix them and distil them in a b. m. with a gentle fire . the scorbutick water of x sennertus described thus : ℞ of the bark of tamvrisk , of an ash tree , caper roots , the roots of polypod . of the oak , the opening roots , an . ℥ i. gentian , ʒvi . ellecampaine , wake robin , citron peel , an . ℥ ss . ground pine , germander , carduus benedict . an . m. i. trochies of wormwood , of cappers , an . ℥ i. rocket seeds , ℥ ss . being bruised add to them of strong wild raddish roots lb i. ss . water cresses , scvrvygrass . brooklime , fumatery , an . lb iii. mix them with the others , and when they are bruising , pour upon them , and let them infuse in it . of rhenish wine , of the water of dodder , of carduus benedictus , an . q.s. distill them . the scorbutick water of dr. michael doringius described by sennertus y ; ℞ of the herb scurvygrass , water-cresses , brook-lime , monywort , celandine the lesser , hawkweed , ana . m. i. the cordial flowers , an . ʒ . i . marigolds , ℥ ss . the roots of gentian ℥ i. ss . sweet smelling garden reed , ʒvi . elecampain , wake-robin , an . ℥ ss . dryed citron peel , dryed oringe peel , an . ʒiii . trochise de eupator or agrimonyʒvi . the seeds of dodder ℥ ss . of scurvygrass , of water cresses , of anise , of fennel , an . ʒii . infuse them for three dayes in the waters of fumatery , dodder , carduus benedictus , an . lb iii. strong white wine lb i. compound balm water , lb ss . according to art distill it in glass vessels in a mb putting into the nose of the alimbeck a nodule , made with ʒ ii . spec . diambrae . another water of the same authors in the aforesaid place z . ℞ of the herb scurvygrass , brooklime , water cresses , fumatery , vervain , ground pine , an . m. i. the flowers of broom , st. iohns wort , borrage , eugloss , ana . m. ss . the roots of ellecampaine the great celandine , an . ʒvi . citron peel , ℥ ss . trochises of rubarbʒv . seeds of dodder , anise , fennel , an , ℥ ss . galingal , ʒvi . infuse them three days in the waters of fumatery , dodder , carduus benedictus , strong white wine , malaga sack , an . lb i. ss . distill it according to art in glass vessels , hanging in the alimbeck a nodule of species diambrae , ʒ ii . another water of sennertus a in the same place . ℞ of the roots of vipers grass , sarsaparilla , an . ℥ ii . the bark of tamarisk , of ash tree , an . ℥ i. ss . fresh scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , monywort , maudlin , ground pine , miltwaste , germander , balm , an . m. ii . the seeds of our lady thistle , columbine , carduus benedict . an . ℥ ss . fennel , ℈ ii . the flowers of broom , st. iohnswort , elder , centaury the less , an . m. i. infuse them in whey , fumatery water , ( or the water of water cresses ) or white wine , ana . lb iv . distill the liquor in ashes , give of it in a morning ℥ ii . another of the same author in the same place . ℞ of scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , an . m. iv . monywort , wormwood , fumatery , scordium , arsemart , balme , germander , ground pine , an . m. i. sarsaparilla , guaiacum wood , an ℥ iii. the distilled water of water cress agrimony , white wine , ana . q.s. distill them . another of the same author in the same place . ℞ of water cresses , scurvygrass , an . m. iii. wormwood , stonecrop the lesser , an . m. ii . the roots of wilde radishes cut into round and thin slices , lb iv . scorzon . or vipers grass roots , ℥ i. the bark of capper roots , of tamarisk , an . ʒiii . fennel seeds , ʒvi . grains af paradice , cardamons , saffron , ana . ʒi . pour upon them of rhenish wine , lb xvi . the distilled water of scurvygrass , of fumatery , an . lb i. goats whey lb ii . let them stand in a warm bath for a day , afterwards distill them , and give every day ℥ iii. of this distilled liquor . another of the same author in the same place . ℞ of scurvygrass , brooklime , water cresses , arsemart , monywort , an . m. i. germander , ground pine , scordium , ana . m. ss . roots of elecompaine , of fern , of oris , of assarabaca , of vipers grass , of sarsaparilla , an . ℥ i. bark of tamarisk , cappers , ash tree , an . ʒii . flowers of elder , borrage , an . m. ss . iuniper berries bruised , ℥ iii. citron peel , cinamon , an . ʒiii . indian spikenard , saffron , an . ʒii . seeds of rochet , nettles , fennel , an . ʒi . ss . pour upon them of the water of bugloss , balme , water cresses , an . iii. par . iuice of lemmons , vinegar of glove gilly flower , of elder , an . i. part . digest them some dayes in a close vessel , afterwards press out the juice , distill this expressed liquor in balneo to the consistance of sope ; pour upon the remaining part of the distilled water of oxymel of scyllles lb i. of white wine , lb iii. digest them some dayes and distill it again . another of the same author in the same place b to mix with wine , when you drink . ℞ of fresh scurvygrass , m. vi . water cresses , harts tongue , an . m. ii . sarsaparilla , ℥ iii. raisins of the sun bruised lb ss . iuice of brooklime lb ss . of sorrel , lb iii. distill them in balneo . gregory horstius c describes such kind of waters , of which sort this is one . wild radish roots , lb i. the roots of polypody , licorish , an . ℥ iii. cappers , ℥ i. ss . the herb water cresses , banck or winter cresses , scurvygrass , an . m. vi . fumatery , m. iv . bettony , fluelling , an . m. ii . fennel seeds , ℥ i. ss . the best tartar well washed and purified ℥ ii . put them into distilled whey , let them stand in a warm place for eight days , then distill it in mb , the dose is ℥ iv . every day , for eight dayes together . another of the same author in the same place d . ℞ of the roots of wilde radish , lb i. cichory , lb ss . polypody , liquoris , an . ℥ iii. the herb scurvygrass , water cresses , banck or wintercresses , an . m. viii . betony . fluelling , an . m. ii . fennel seeds ℥ i. ss . the best tartar several times washed and made clean , ℥ ii . let all these be fresh and green , if possible ; infuse them in distilled whey , for the space of eight days , then distill them in mb . dose is ℥ iii with syrup or iuice of fumatery , ℥ ss . the antiscorbutick water of hadrianus e a mynscht . ℞ of the roots of wild radish cut in slices , lb i. polypody , ℥ ii . angelica , masterwort , ledoary , an . ℥ i. ss . the shavings of guaiacum wood , of sassafras , sweet smelling reed , galingal the less , an . ℥ i. cardamons the less , saffron , fennel seed , the bark of cappers , of tamarisk , an . ʒvi . being cut and bruised , infuse them in lb i. of malaga sack , for eight dayes , in a warm place , shaking the vessel once or twice every day , afterwards add of the waters of water cresses , scurvygrass , the lesser nettles , stonecrop , the lesser celandine , monywort , fumatery , an . lb i. mix them , and draw it off in mb by a limbeck . the compound water of matthaeus martinius f . ℞ of the leaves of water cresses , winter cresses , an . m. iv . gout-ivy or groundpine arsmart , balm , ana . mi. monywort , wormwood , scordium , fumatery , an . m. i. ss . fresh scurvygrass , mvi. brooklime , m. iii. sarsaparilla roots , ℥ ii . ss . shavings of guaiacum wood , ℥ iii. ss . the seeds of anise , fennel , an . ʒii . the waters of winter cresses , agrimony , wormwood , the best white wine , an . q.s. distill it according to art. another of the same author in the same place . ℞ of strong wild radish roots , lb iv . the roots of polypody of the oak . ℥ i. ss . the bark of capper roots , ℥ ss . fennel seeds , ʒi . cardamon , ʒii . saffron , ʒi . winter cresses , m. iv . wormwood , scordium an . m. iii. cut the radish roots into thin slices , and let the rest be bruised , and put them altogether in rhenish wine lb xvi . let them stand in a warm bath for 8 daies , in a convenient vessel ; after which add of the water of scurvygrass , fumatery , an , lb i. goats whey , lb i. ss . distill them all in mb . the water for the spleen of dr. baldasser timaeus g of guldenflee , which is to be found after his medicinal epistle . ℞ of spleenwort , tamarisk , dodder , fumatery , maidenhair , chervell , wormwood , wall rue , germander , water cresses , scurvygrass , brooklime , steeled wine ( i. e. ) in which steel hath been quenched . the water of balm , fumatery , an . lb i. let them stand in digestion for a day and a night in mb , then distill them . another of the same author h . ℞ of the fresh herbs of brooklime , m. iii scurvygrass , water cresses , an . m. ii . fumatery , sorrell , cichory , an . m. i. new citrons , numb . iii. or iv . cut them and beat them in a stone mortar , pour upon them a sufficient quantity of goats vvhey . distill them . aqua polychresta rolfincii against the scurvey , and a sickly complexion , which is described by iohn ●●dov . hanneman , in prodromo le●ici medic. i ℞ of the bark of capper roots , tamarisk , ash tree , the roots of cichory , briony , polypody , swallow wort , asparagus , parsly , vipers grass , an . ℥ iii. china roots , sarsaparilla , wilde time , an . ℥ iii. the leaves of agrimony , pontich wormwood , cent 〈…〉 lesser , germander , scurvygrass , dodder , fumatery , hyssop , balm , water cresses , sage , an . m. ii . the shavings of guaiacum wood , ℥ i. of sassafras , of red sanders , an . ℥ iii. the seeds of smallage , parsly , anise , citron , water cresses , an . ℥ ii . the flowers of elder , broom , water lillies , hops , an . m. iii. all being dried and cut , steep them 3 days and nights in very good vvhite vvine , a sufficient quantity ; distill them in a copper with an alimbeck and refrigeratory , save the first and second spirit● by themselves , or of all these t●●ngs digested 6 days and nights , and then strained hard thorow a linnen cloath , and the straining put into an earthen body . distill a spirit , which keep by it self . the distilled liquor of sarsaparilla of the same author , which is described by me in my tract de varis k . ℞ the roots of sarsaparilla , ℥ ii . china sliced , ℥ i. cichory , scorzonera or vipers grass , an . ℥ ss . bark of cappers , tamarisk , rhodium wood , an . ℥ ss . the fresh leaves of the lesser celandine , scurvygrass , brooklime , fumatery , maidenhair , ground pine , an . m. i. cut and bruise them , then pour upon them the water of cichory , fumatery , scurvygrass , an lb i. ss . let them stand in a bath for three dayes , then press out the liquor into a glass body , and distill it with a gentle fire of ashes , till the ingredients are become a rotten slime . the distilled liquors of drawizius tit. 5. l of the scorbutick head ache. ℞ iuice of borrage , bugloss , an . lb i. the herb scurvygrass , fumatery , water cresses , housleek , an . m. i. spec. diarrhodon abbatis , ʒii . distill it in mb , and reserve the distilled liquor in a glass , whose dose for one time is ℥ iii. or from three to ℥ viii . to every dose you may add a dram of cinnamon water . chap. xii . of the spirit of scurvygrass . of all the medicines which are made of scurvygrass , there is none more efficacious , nor none more in use , than its spirit ; which by reason of its volatile salt , and oyl , with which it is impregnated , doth conveniently contain within it self the whole scorbutick power and vertue , which is lodged in a large quantity of the plant ; and you may draw a burning spirit from it as well as from wine . this spirit is made either without fermentation or with fermentation . that which is made by fermentation is commended by sennertus m , who writes , that the artifice of preparing it consists in digestion and fermentation , and , says he obtained from iohan. buttnerus , an apothecary of gorlick , a spirit of scurvygrass ( which he had prepared artificially by fermentation and distillation ) which retained the smell and taste of the plant , and was inflamable , like spirit of wine . simon paulus n in the book often cited , proposeth this following way to prepare this spirit . ℞ of fresh scurvygrass as much as you please , bruise it in a marble mortar , and being put into a convenient vessel with water hardly warm , or which is better , sprinkled or moistened with its own raw juice in which a little yest of beer or ale is dissolved , and slightly sprinkled with salt. when it is well mixed together , set aside the vessel , being exactly stopped with dow ( which stopping is absolutely necessary , because of the fugitive nature of its volatile salt ) into a cellar ; let it stand till it breath forth a smell in●o the air , like that which proceeds from fresh scurvy-grass bruised , which when you observe , distill it in mb . and you will have the spirit of scurvygrass . rolfincius o about fermentation , perswades that it should be done with spirit of wine by that means to save the volatile salt. but in his second corolary in lib. 1. cit . loc . he sayes fermentation doth not altogether destroy it , but excites and sends off a great part of it , insomuch that spirit of wine poured upon scurvy-grass and forgotten was found to be plainly sowre , from which the most generous sulphurous spirit was fled away . they which perform the distillation of spirit of scurvygrass , with spirit of corn , poured upon the fresh herb , do get an excellent spirit that way ; of which sort is that which was conmunicated to me by dr. fehr , and as you may find in another place , heretofore i was wont to prepare it thus : viz. in tract . de varis p i have described it after this manner . ℞ fresh scurvygrass , full of juice , whole and not bruised , as much as you please , pour upon it the spirit of wheat or rye ( not the rectified spirit of wine , which for the reasons i have given in my aforesaid tract , is not so convenient ) to the one half of its quantity , and distill it in a copper body , pour this spirit upon fresh herbs , and so distil it , which repeat several times as before , then rectifie it , and reserve it for use . note , that the oft'ner the spirit is drawn off of fresh herbs , it will be the stronger , and so will not need to be rectified . this spirit is not onely peculiarly advantagious against the scurvy , but also is commended by many , in the weakness of the stomach , and in the colick . one time i prescribed it to a certain person of quality , who was too gross and corpulent , who extold it much , because by the use of it he became more active and nimble . the dose of it may be from 10. to 20. or 30 drops in a convenient vehicle , viz. in wine , ale , beer , broth of beef , or chicken , buttermilk , whey , or any distilled water , as also in wormwood wine ; but it is best in milk , for the reasons which i have alledged in my tract de varis q . you may also commodiously mix it with tincture of tartar , spirit of tartar , or with the opening spirit of penotus , with the essence of steel , essence of fumatery , the bezoartick tincture , tincture of treacle , the anodine essence , elixir proprietatis , and according to a circumstances . if any desire a compound spirit of scurvygrass , they may mix with it sea radish roots , brooklime , water-cresses , &c. and distill it according to art. of which sort is the simple antiscorbutick spirit of dr. michaelis . ℞ the herb scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , dittander , the roots of sea radishes , wake robin , an . q.v. being slightly cut and bruised pour upon them spirit of elder berries made by fermentation to the height of three fingers , digest them for three dayes in mb , with a gentle heat , the vessel being well stopped , then distill them . if you add to this penotus his opening spirits it will then become the compound antiscorbutick spirit of the said author . drawitz . tit. 3. of the scorbutick lakmung p. 153. commends this spirit . ℞ strong spirit of tartas , lb i. spirit of scurvygrass , ℥ iv . with which being mixed , moisten lb ii . of vitriol calcined to redness with a moderate fire , digest them in a bath for eight dayes , than distill it by a retort , increasing the fire by degrees , untill with the other spirits , the spirit of vitriol distill also . it may be given from ʒ ss . to ʒ i. dr. deckers r in his golden notes upon barbet commends this following spirit . ℞ the bark of ash tree , tamarisk , the roots of fraxinell , cappers , an . ℥ i. ss . polypody of the oak ℥ ii wild radish , ℥ iii. the herb scurvygrass , m , iv . winter cresses , brooklime , sorrel , spleenwort , an . m. iii , bay-berries , iuniper berries , an . ʒvi . the tops of the lesser centaury , p. iv , goose dung , ℥ i. seeds of citron , mustard , cardnus benedictus , an . ℥ ss . cloves , ginger , cinnamon , nutmegs , an . ℥ iii. being cut and bruised , digest them in warm sand with lb viii . of white wine and lb iii. of brandy , for three dayes time , then let them be distilled in sand , by an alimbeck . i have declared above , that you may mix the spirit of scurvygrass , with divers elixirs , tinctures , essences , and other spirits , as for example thus : ℞ elix , proprietat . ʒiii . spirit of scurvigrass , ʒi . sal armoniack , ʒ ss . mix it and put it in a glass . title it the elixir against the scurvy , twenty drops of it may be given , or , ℞ the sweet essence of steel , ʒiii . spirit of scurvygrass , ʒi . sal armoniack , ʒ ss . mix them , and keep it in a glass . give of this essence thirty drops . or , ℞ the bezoartick tincture , ʒii . spirit of scurvigrass ▪ ʒi . mix and keep it in a glass . call it the sweating tincture , of which 35 drops may be given . or , ℞ essence of wood , of wormwood , an . ʒi . ss . spirit of scurvigrass ʒi . mix it in a glass . call it the essence good for the scurvy , to be given to 40 drops . or , ℞ penotus his opening spirit , spirit of scurvygrass , an . ʒ ii , mix them in a glass . title it the spirit good against the scurvy , of which you may give 40 drops . or , ℞ spirit of tartarʒiii . of scvrvygrass , ʒ i. mix them in a glass . call it the spirit good against the scurvy , of which may be taken 30. drops . drawiz . tit. 7. of the scorbutick pains in the side or pluresie hath prescribed this potion . ℞ the water of corn poppy , dorncreilius his antiscorbutick water , an . ℥ i. spirit of nitre , ℈ i. tartar , ℈ ss . scurvygrass , viii . drops syrup of scabions , or else of wild poppy , ʒvi . mix them for a potion : chap. xiii . of the volatile salt of scurvygrass . since the salt is the chief part , by means of which , scurvygrass is so prevalent in the scurvy , according to the philosophers axiom : per quod quid est tale , illud est magis tale : that by which a thing is what it is , that thing is more such . there is therefore a necessity , that we treat of this salt. and because of its volatility , but little of it can be gotten , it is sufficient that we use its spirit , in which this salt is hid and contained . this salt is made ( after the same manner that many others are , viz. ) let the thick leaves of scurvygrass , and full of juice , be boiled a little while in water , and afterwards press out the juice , or which is better , if only the juice pressed out of the fresh gathered leaves be purified , and a little evaporated till it be somewhat thickened , and so set by , till of its own accord the salt shoot in the juice . the chief efficacy of scurvygrass ( as hath been declared just now , and also above in the fifth chapter ) is from the volatile salt. for experience teacheth , that there is a great penetrative vertue in volatile salts , and therefore they are very effectual in many diseases ; from whence many now a daies refer the causes of all internal diseases to an acide , and an alkaly salt , and therefore they use almost no other medicines , except such in which there doth abound a volatile salt , which may drink up and mortifie the other salts . but these are in an error , both upon the account of the cause and upon the account of the cure , and seem to me to be like that sect of physicians called methodists , which also reduced all particular diseases to two general affections , that is , astriction and laxity , or being bound or loose , and reduced all their practice in general to stopping or binding those that are loose , and to loosening or relaxing those that are shut up or bound . for to refer the causes of all internal diseases to the aforesaid salts , is a great absurdity , as it may be made out by most sort of diseases , if the intention of this book would permit it . neither truly , tho some would have it so , can they establish this doctrine , from hyppocrates in lib. de prisca medicina , for in the same piace , besides hot , cold , moist , and dry ; he describes more forcible qualities of the humours , which he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , powers , strength or vertues ; he names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , bitter , salt , sour , rough , or harsh , with which faculties , that salts are endowed no body doubts , but that also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , sweet or insipid ( or tasteless ) and many others , which through their plenty and strength have different faculties , are of the nature of salts , no man will easily believe . also their manner of cure offends against the rules of our great master , for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : to warm much is dangerous , for all that is too much is an enemy to nature , but that which is done by little and little , is safe : especially , if any one pass from one extream to another s : and the opinion of mesues is , that then we are to make use of strong medicines , when weak ones will not prevail . but medicines consisting of volatile salts , are hot in the third and fourth degree , and smell and taste strongly , which sort of medicines do not onely manifestly alter our bodies , but do it vehemently and not without trouble and hurt , nay most vehemently , and not without grievous hurt , and therefore are not to be often , and indifferently used in every distemper , as every young studient in physick knows , and hath learned from the institutions . moreover the matter from which such sort of medicines are prepared , are blood , the scull , bones , and the urine of men , and the bloud and horns of a stag , vipers , serpents , amber , &c. from these they prepare essence . and spirits , and sepaparate and collect their volatile salts from them according to art , some of which are many times very hurtful , as for example is that which is made of humane bloud , which for the most part is taken indifferently from any man that is let bloud , and not only from young men , and exactly healthy , which those that prepare medicines out of humane bloud ought carefully to observe , for otherwise by reason of diseasie ferments lurking in the blood , they do more hurt than good . nay medicines of humane bloud , tho from healthy persons , are suspected by physitians , by reason that philters , which are made of it render men sottish , and mad , and many times kill them . insomuch that the bloud taken from a red haired man is poison , as 't is commonly delivered by authors . vid. zachut . lusitan . lib. 1. de medic. princ. hist. 23. p. 41. & dr. garmaen . lib. de mirac . mort. tit . 2. p ▪ 24. of which the example alledged ▪ by the same zachut , t of a student , which , by drinking the bloud of a red haired man , became a perpetual fool , is a sufficient proof . moreover these medicines are not only ungrateful to the taste , but stinking sented too , yet for all that , they are not only given at the mouth to be swallowed , but applyed to the nose to smell to , and yet by the mutual assent of all authentick physitians , they are hurtful to the head , womb , and nerves ; unfriendly to the heart , and they cast down and weaken the spirits , for as good smells do strengthen these , so ill ones do overthrow and weaken them , for helmont in tract tria prim . princip . eorum essent . de morb. exer esse , jtstly asserts , odores fortes & pertinaces superant vires nostras & vix ab archeo superantur atque digeruntur , adeòque importunè in nos agunt : i. e. strong and lasting sents do overcome our strength ( or spirits ) and are hardly digested and mastered , by the archeus or ( vital spirits ) and therefore they act in us detestably . also we are instructed by many examples , that thinking to recover those which were seized with the falling sickness , or with an apoplexy by very stinking things , they have caused sounding fits and abortions , and women subject to fits of the mother ( to whom all other stinking things have proved advantagious ) have been by these means promoted to eternal life . therefore diseases arising from choler and fermentation , by exhibiting volatile salt are exasperated , because they encrease the fermentation and ebullition , which another time shall be proved more at large . but this i cannot forbear to mention , that not long since , i cured a man , who was sick of a tertian ague , who immediately after having took of a certain volatile salt , felt an extream heat , and trouble in his stomach , and tongue , insomuch that his tongue was inflamed and swelled with great danger of being choked , and also there issued forth of his mouth , a thick hot matter , like melted pitch , without doubt stirred up by the volatile salt working upon the choler , and salt in his stomaek , and encreasing its ebullition , which will easily appear from hence , for that the sick man , being near unto death , by my exhibiting to him a precipitating powder , he found great relief , and god be praised was happily recovered . from whence it clearly appears to all men , that those physitians which give volatile salt indifferently , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or without rule to their patients do not cure either citò , speedily , ( unless by hastening death ) neither tutò , safely , much less jucundè pleasantly , which nevertheless in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or the curative part of diseases is absolutely to be observed . but this i grant that in stubborn diseases , such as the dropsie , gout , hypocondriack , affection , scurvy , &c. in which a wild salt abounds , that by the benefit of those sort of medicines , prepared from innocent and gentle substances , regard being had to circumstances , they may the sooner obtain their end , which i my self by such sort of medicines , but not dangerous nor so stinking , mixed with other balsamick things , in a proper dose and convenient vehicle have experienced often , in those sort of diseases , other remedies proving ineffectual . ( for i have besides many other a singular medicine of a certain volatile salt , prepared for use , after a peculiar way , which is not so ungrateful , and yet is of eminent virtue , and therefore worthily deserves to be named sal mirabilis , or the wonderful salt , and then rightly according to hyppocrates aphorismum sextum , sect. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . against extream diseases , extream and exquisite remedies are best . and it is convenient according to the advice of celsus w anceps auxilium experiri , quam nullum : that is , to try a dangerous remedy rather than none at all . chap. xiv . of oyl of scurvygrass . there are commonly three kinds of oyls in the shops : those that are made by distilling , by pressing , and by infusion ▪ to which also may be referred those made by boiling . they prepare an oyl from scurvygrass by infusion and distillation , and that in a twofold manner . and first the leaves of scurvygrass are imployed either dry or green . the oyl cannot be made of dry scurvy-grass because its volatile salt is gone , therefore the green ought to be taken which being cut and put into oyl of olives , mixed with scurvy-grass water , may be boiled till the watery moisture be exhaled . the other is gotten in the distillation of spirit of scurvygrass , chiefly if the leavs be thick , and full of juice , and it hath the same vertues with the spirit , but more eminently , and therefore its dose given in a convenient vehicle must not exceed four or five drops , for all distilled oiles are very hot , and for that cause are to be used with great caution , but if they be turned into a volatile salt , they are not so hot , and are useful in great diseases . so distilled oil of cinamon as helmont x witnesseth in the before cited place . when it shall be mixed with its alkaly or fixed salt , without any water , by an artificial and secret circulation , in the space of three months , the whole will be changed into a volatile salt. many digest any kind of distilled oil with rectified spirit of wine , by which the oil is drank in and united , and appears under the form of a spirit . those distilled oils ( such for example that smell well , for stinking odors are enemies to our nature , as is declared in the chapter before ) thus prepared and methodically exhibited , do become most efficacious remedies in diseases proceeding from cold , and want of spirits , for they quickly by reason of the exceeding subtilty of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or effluviums are diffused through all parts of an humane body , and refresh our spirits with their fragrant sent , and do recreate and restore lost strength , which experiment we see daily in swoundings . i am well acquainted with a practitioner in physick , which having given such a prepared oil , to the quantity of two drops in spirit of roses sented with amber , he did as it were wonders , or miracles with it . with this distilled oil of scurvy-grass , the magistery is made , or rather an eleosaccharum , or oily sugar of scurvygrass , of which shall be treated below in the twentieth chapter . it is also sprinkled upon powders , and added to pills , thus : ℞ the powder of ialap coloured with essence of saffron ℈ i. magistery of agarick , gr. vii . distilled oil of scurvy grass , gut. iii. mix them and make a purging powder . ℞ quercetans melanagogick pills , ℈ i. extract of black hellebore , gr. vii . distilled oil of scurvygrass gut. iii. mix them with antiscorbutick water , and make 9 pills . this distilled oyl of scurvygrass is also used outwardly , as is its oil by infusion , as it will appear beneath in the one and twentieth chapter . chap. xv. of conserve of scurvygrass . conserves are so called because by the mixing of sugar with them they are conserved from corruption , for the most part those things that are made into conserves , are flowers , seldome herbs , seldomer roots , but very rarely fruits . conserves of scurvy-grass are made of the leavs chop 't , and cut small , and beaten in a stone morter , with a wooden pestle , by degrees mixing sugar double or trebble the proportion of the herbs . this ( according to the judgement of dr. simon paulus in his book often mentioned before ) is given with much advantage to those , which are subiect to the affliction of the scurvy , and loath their meat . it is commended ( by dr. blumentrost * ) in obstructions of the liver and spleen , also in the stone . he also commends it to those , who are weak at the act of venery , but because it moves the courses , it is to be used cautiously by those that are with child , neither is it convenient for cholerick persons , because of the sugar , except perhaps it be taken with whey of goats milk. the dose is ℥ ss . or the quantity of a walnut , by it self , or mixt with other conserves , species , powders , or essences . if it be dissolved in the water of carduus benedictus , scorzonera , &c. mixt with other sudorificks , it procureth sweat . sennertus a prescribes this following medicine made with conserve of scurvygrass mixt with other things . ℞ the scorbutick water described above in the 11 chapter , ℥ iv . the waters of scurvygrass , brooklime . an . ℥ i. conserves of scurvygrass , ℥ i. ss . betony , ℥ ss . let them stand for a night , strain them in the morning , and add of ℞ of vitriolated tartar , or of mistura simplex , ʒ ss . mix them . the liquor called the simple mixture , ℥ .i. ss . robe ( or the thickened juice ) of iuniper , berries , ℥ ii . extract of calamus aromaticus , that is sweet smelling reed , ℈ i. saffron , ℈ ss . conserves of scurvygrass , ℥ iii. fumatery , sorrel , an . ℥ i. ss . fresh juice of citrons , ℥ iv . the scorbutick water , ℥ vi . the water of scurvygrass , ℥ iv . cinamon ℥ ss . let them stand in digestion , afterwards strain them . also this , ℞ wormwood , p. iii. conserve of scurvygrass , ℥ iii. fresh water cresses bruised , m. i. dryed citron peel , ℥ vi . pour upon them of rhenish wine , lb 4 . let it stand in a glass some dayes , afterwards pour out what is clear . grembs b hath these following morsules . ℞ conserves of scurvygrass , ℥ i. ss . borrage , bugloss , roses , an . ʒii . magistery ( that is ) rosin of ialap , ʒ ss . preserved citron peel , ℥ iii. white sugar dissolved in scorzonera water , as much as is sufficient to make morsules , that is tablets or lozenges . bald , timaeus c à guldenflee prescribes this bolus . conserve of scurvygrass , fumatery , an . ʒi . confectio alkermes ℈ i. resin of ialap , gr . ix : mix them make a bolus , sprinkle , or strew it over with sugar . chap. xvi . of scurvygrass syrup . some say that syrup is a greek word , and appears to them to be so called , as if it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , syriae succus , others derive it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , traho , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , succus , that is , extracted juice : but many because syrups were invented by the arabian physitians , and the name of it not mentioned either by hyppocrates nor galen , had rather derive the word syrup from the arabick word schaereba ( that is ) sorbere , as if they should say a liquor to be supped up , and suppose this word is to be writ with an i , not with a y , which letter the arabians have not . the latter grecians , as actuarius , &c ▪ call it serapium . a syrup is the form of a fluid medicine , made with sugar , or hony , with the decoction , juice of , or infusion of things , and boiled to that consistence or substance , that a drop being put upon marble will stand , and not flow abroad . so syrup of scurvygrass is made of the purifyed juice , after the manner prescribed by sennertus . if you boil one pound of its juice , with ℥ iii. of sugar , and by the help of the heat of a bath , ( or boiling water ) bring it to the consistence of a liquid syrup . the dose of which is from ℥ i. to ℥ ii . almost after the same manner forestus his syrupus scaeletyrbicus is made , described by sennertus e in the forecited place , and by forestus f . ℞ iuice of scurvigrass , brooklime , an . lb iii. the best sugar , lb ii . boil them together , and according to art make a syrup . bald. timaeus g à guldenflee hath this syrup following . ℞ iuice of scurvygrass , lb i. ss . citrons , ℥ iii. sorrel , ℥ ii . balm ℥ i. after its dregs are settled filther it , thorow a spongy whited brown paper , and add water of black cherries , lb i. ss . cinnamon waterʒiii . iulep of roses , ℥ i. ss . white refined sugar , as much as is sufficient to procure a pleasant taste to it , keep it in a glass , and title it the syrup of scurvygrass . there are more compound syrups of scurvygrass , among which are these following . the compound syrup of scurvy-grass much used at wratislaw , and heretofore prescribed by dr. casper packischius physician in ordinary to that common-wealth , which sennertus h describes thus , ℞ the herbs scurvygrass . water cresses , agrimony , water-minth , spleenwort , moon fern , sage , maidenhair , germander , horehound , fumatery , speedwell or fluellin , five leaved grasse , or cinque foil , the leaves of dwarf elder , an . m. i. seeds of fennel , water cresses , smallage , parsley , aniseeds , the pulpe of the seeds of butchers broom asparagus , an . ʒi . melons , ʒii . the roots of fern , oenanthe , asparagus , pimpernel , borrage , bugloss , polypody , colts foot , liquoris , taraxicon , or lyons tooth the bark of capper roots , an . ʒi . ss . the flowers of liverwort , borrage , an . m. ss . make a decoction of all these according to art , in a sufficient quantity of the water of water-cresses , till there remain forty ounces of it . let it stand in digestion till it be cold , press it out strongly to the straining , add lb ii . of course sugar , boil it with a gentle fire to the thickness of a syrup , clarifie it , and aromatize it with this following nodule , ℞ powder of rhubarb , ʒiii . cinamon , ʒi . cloves , mace , an . ℈ ii . the antiscorbutick syrup of dr. bald. timaeus , which he hath described after cases medicinal , pag. 418. ℞ the new pressed iuice of scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , cichory , fumatery , sorrel , an . lb i. ss . being mixed precipitate them , or clarifie them with lb ii . of juice of citron . add to the straining the yellow part of citron peel , ℥ i. ss . white refined sugar , lb ii . put them into a glass body , with a blind head , and digest them for a day and a night in a mb , and save the strained liquor in a glass . the antiscorbutick syrup of mynsicht i . ℞ of the iuice of knut-berries of norway , lb iii. of water-cresses , brooklime , sorrel , scurvygrass , an . lb ss . to these being mixt , add of refined sugar lb i. ss . and make a syrup of due thickness . the syrup of matthias martinius k ℞ corinthian currants well moistened with syrup of the juice of sorrel , ℥ i. ss . roots of polypody , smallage , scorzonera , liquoris , sowre sorrel , or ditch dock , eryngo , enala campain , the bark of capper roots , tamarisk , an . ℥ ss . the seeds of melon , ʒiii . nettle , anise-seed , an . ʒi . ss . iuniper berries , ʒiii . the leaves of dodder , maidenhair , monywort , spleenwort , scurvygrass , an . m. i. wilde time , time , an . m. ss . the flowers of bugloss , violets , an . p. i. ss . cinamon , ʒi . boil them in common water , or goats whey , as much as is sufficient , in a double vessel , or mb . add to a lb i. ss . of the straining of these , as much sugar candy , as is sufficient , and let them be boiled to the consistences of a thin syrup . wierus his syrup for children to be found in the same author . ℞ rhubarb , centaury the leesser , pontus rhubarb , an . ʒ ss . anise-seeds , liquoris , an . ℈ ii . make a powder and infuse it for a night in the thick broth of pruens and scurvygrass , afterwards being pressed out with as much sugar as is needful , make it into a syrup . chap. xvii . of the electuary and mixture of scurvygrass . electuary is a word derived from the greek , but corrupted , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. to waste with licking ; for an electuary is a medicine of a substance thicker than a syrup , hardly liquid or fluid , composed of several things , as first of conserves , preserves , powder , &c. taken in and mixt with hony or sugar . many times they add distilled waters , spirits , essences , extracts , distilled oyls , &c. and these are called mixtures . examples of which are these that follow , ℞ conserve of scurvygrass , ʒii . germander , sorrel , cichory , preserved elecampane roots , an . ℥ ss . with the sharp syrup of citrons , and endive , make an electuary or , jupit ; conserve of fumatery , scurvygrass , an . ℥ i. wormwood , borrage , preserved roots of pimpernel , cichory , an . ℥ ss . the species called diarrhodon abbatis , diapliris-arcontic , an . ʒ ss . with the sowre syrup of citron make an electuary . or , ℞ conserve of scurvygrass , ℥ iii. fumatery , of the flowers of broom , borrage , balm , an . ℥ i. ss . candid citron peel , preserved nutmegs , an . ℥ i. extract of iuniper berries , ʒii . confectio alkermes , ʒi . with syrup of scurvygrass , or the sceleterbick syrup of forestus , make an electuary . these hitherto are taken out of sennertus m where also this following mixture is described . ℞ the compound spirit of tartar or mixture simplex ℥ ii . extract of iuniper berries , pimpernel . calamus aromaticus , an . ʒ ss . saffron ℈ ss . the essence spirit , or for want of that , the iuice or syrup of scurvygrass , water cresses , an . ʒii . syrup of cinnamon , ℥ ss . fumatery . sharp citrons , an . ℥ i. mix them all exactly , digest them , and strain it out , the dose is from ʒ i. to ʒ ii . another . ℞ conserve of scurvygrass . fumatery , an . ℥ i. the rob , or thickened iuice of elecampane . iuniper berries . fumatery , an . ʒi . mixtura simplex , ʒ ss . spirit of scurvygrass , ʒi . steeled tartar , ʒii . purified salt armoniack , ℈ i. ss . with syrup of scurvygrass make a mixture . matth. martinius his electuary , p. m. 674. ℞ the conserve of the flowers and buds of scurvygrass , ℥ iii. the flowers of bugloss , clove gilly-flowers , damisk roses , an . ℥ i. ss . preserved indian nuts , preserved citron peel , cut small , an . ℥ i. extract of iuniper berries , ℥ iii. confectio alkermes , ʒi . ss . syrup of cinamon , ʒvi . iuice of scurvygrass , or forestus his sceleterbick syrup , q.s. make an electuary , and make it pleasantly sowre by mixing with it ▪ a sufficient quantity of the sharp spirit of sulphur . another of the same author . ℞ conserve of scurvygrass leavs ℥ iii. bugloss flowers , clove gilly flowers , pulpe of preserved citron , preserved indian nuts , an . ℥ i. extract of iuniper berries , ℥ ss . rhodium wood , sarsaparilla , an . ʒ ss . calamus aromaticus , confectio alkermes , an . ʒi . with the sceleterbick syrup , bring them all into the consistance of a solid electuary . the tincture of iohannes wernerus , which the same matth. martin . hath discovered , p. m. 685. which by reason of its thick consistance rather deserves the name of an electuary , and therefore is referred to this classis , and is this which followeth . ℞ of the best spirit of wine , q.s. in which steep , ( being first put into a glass body in a convenient place ) guaiacum wood rasped , ℥ ix . fern roots , ℥ iii. the inner bark of an ash-tree , dwarf elder , cappers , an . ℥ i. anis-seeds , ℥ i. ss . when the spirit of wine hath filled it self with the tincture of the ingredients , after nine days strain it out strongly . or , ℞ whey of goats milk , the distilled waters of borstast apples . oxymel of scylls , or sea onions , an . q.s. in which infuse , of the leaves or tops of pontick . wormwood agrimony , germander ivy , rue , elder flowers , an . m. ss . the lesser housleek , water cresses , fumatery , brooklime , hyssop , scordium , an . m. i. scurvygrass , m. ii . when you have macerated these for two dayes , and pressed it out , let both the tinctures be joyned , being thickened by a gentle fire , add to them species diacurcum : ( that is , the compound powder of turmarick roots ) ℥ ss . the same author hath also these following , ℞ the thickened juice of scurvygrass , ℥ ii . salt of scurvygrass , ʒ ii . the hypocondriack mixture , ℥ i. ss . the extract of sassafrass wood , ʒiii . of iuniper berries , ℥ ss . essence of bawm , ℥ i. dissolved corral , ʒ i. mix them . or , ℞ essence of scurvygrass , water cresses , orange peel , an . ℥ iv . the solution of vitriol of steel , ℥ ss . pearls , leaf gold , an . ℈ i. rectified spirit of vitriol , of harts horn , an . ʒii . spirit of salt , ʒi . tincture of steel , ʒvi . syrup of cinamon , sharp syrup of citron , an . ℥ ss . make a mixture . or , ℞ the camphorated spirit , or water of theriacle , ℥ v. rectified spirit of tartar , ℥ iii. rectified spirit of vitriol . ℥ i. ss . the extract of iuniper berries , bawme , scurvygrass , scordium , yellow sanders , bugloss flowers , an . ʒii . cinnamon , ʒi . syrup of the juice of cherries with the flowers of clove gilly flowers , of scurvygrass , of spleenwort , an . ℥ iii. bald. timaeus c à guldenflee prescribes these . ℞ new citrons together with their peels cut small , number iii. the leaves of fresh scurvygrass , of water cresses , m. ii . wood-sorrel , m. i. let them be beaten in a stone mortar with a little sugar . make an electuary . or , ℞ the steel electuary , ℥ iii. conserve of scurvygrass , water cresses , an . ℥ ii . preserved citron peel , roots of scorzonera , cichory ▪ an . ʒvi . with syrup of scurvygrass , q.s. make an electuary . drawiz . tit. 5. of the scorbutick head-ach , p. 213. hath this ℞ conserve of scurvygrass , ℥ i. water cresses , borrage , roses , violets , fumatery , candid citron peel , an . ℥ ss . spec. diarrhoid . abbatis , laetificant . almansor , an . ℈ i. with the sharp syrup of citrons , q.s. make a condite or electuary . the antiscorbutick electuary of dr. hanneman o . ℞ the conserve of scurvygrass sage , an . ℥ ii . the flowers of broom . elder . cichory . borrage , an . ℥ i. germander ground pine an . ℥ i. ss . candid citron peel , ℥ ii . ss . species diarrhod . abbatis , pliris . archontic . an . ʒv . timaeus his antiscorbutick syrup . s. q. make an electuary . or you may prescribe this , ℞ conserve of scurvygrass ℥ ii . fumatery , ℥ i. candid citron , ℥ ss . my digestive against the scurvy , ʒiii ▪ ivory calcined without fire , ʒi . with forestus his syrup against the scurvy , q.s. make an electuary i do admonish you concerning these and the like medicines made with sugar ( which i have also done before in my tract de varis p or of the wandering scorbutick gout . ) that they ought to be seldome , or sparingly used in the scurvy , because by their glutinous nature they breed obstructions of the bowels , and are easily converted into choler , and cause tumours of the the spleen : and are therefore hurtful for spleenitick persons according to that old saying : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ ( i. e. ) salt and bitter things are profitable to spleenitick persons , but sweet things hurt them . nay it appears by chymical trials , that sugar is made up of , or contains a sharp and corrosive salt . for which cause the old electuaries , of which sort there are many in the apothecaries shops , now a dayes are seldome prescribed or used . i therefore wonder that they are yet brought from spain , and other places afar off , where by the by , they are not so excellent practical physitians , as in germany ( and england ) to whom also nature was never so unkind , that she did ever deny them her remedies , with which the diseases of the inhabitants might be overcome . chap. xiv . of the essence of scurvygrass . essence and elixir are one and the same , as the reason of the name doth shew , for elixir is derived from the arabick elecshir or elieschir , which signifies an essence extracted by art. also an extract and a tincture , differ little from these , and an extract onely upon the account of its substance which is thicker than an essence , and elixir , a tincture hath the same body , and consistance with an essence and elixir , but is endowed with a better colour . these four are prepared after one and the same manner , when for example , by the help of some convenient menstruum or liquor the balsamick and best parts of a medicine , are separated from the gross and foul . the essence of scurvygrass is made thus , the dried leavs being cut very small , pour upon them spirit of wine , and let them stand in digestion , till it hath extracted the colour and taste , after which filther it ; or macerate or steep the leaves of scurvygrass in the best spirit of wine , till it hath imbibed the tinctvre , than throw away the leaves and add new ones , repeat this infusion so long , untill the spirit be filled with the essence of scurvygrass . but certainly since the volatile salt of scurvygrass is lost in drying the leaves , and in extracting it with spirit of wine , it joynes it self thereto , and is separated with it , and so flies away , there is there fore left a body of little efficacy . sennertus q rightly admonisheth , that it is not fit to make extracts of scurvygrass , and other antiscorbuticks , and therefore it is sufficient to exhibit their juices . the same sennertus in the same place , p. 625. and matth. martinus , p. 682. teach how to make the essence of scurvygrass , after this manner : let the juice of scurvygrass pressed out be put in digestion in mb , till its thick sediment fall to the bottom , and the remaining juice begin to grow clear and reddish ; then pour off that which is clear from the dregs , and digest it again , till it let fall no more dregs . simon paulus in the place often mentioned before , p. 265. in favour of nice palates , which loath the crude juice , or infusion of green scurvygrass leaves , or for fear lest the crude juice should hurt the stomach , and other bowels designed for nutrition , tells us how to make a liquid essence or tincture of the colour of chio , or malago wine , it must be done in the moneth of may , or before it be got into flower , heretofore he prepared it for the use of the eminently free and imperial town and state of lubeck , where he exercised the practise of physick for four years , the description of which he communicated to the same place , which is this : ℞ of the leaves of scurvygrass , stamp them , and with a strong press squeeze out their juice ; let it clarifie it self in a glass , or other vessel well stopped , by the help of the gentle heat of warm water , and then filther it through spongy whited brown paper . of this juice thus artificially clarified , to three parts of it , pour one part of the spirit of scurvygrass before described in the twelfth chapter of this book ; digest , or circulate them according to art , to which if you add a little sugar , it is then the essence of scurvygrass , which ( as he declares in the same place ) he found most excellent and efficacious in scorbutick diseases , in which case an ounce or two of it is to be dilated with some convenient distilled water , or else in rhenish wine , or the like vehicle ; but especially if there be mixt with it a few drops , or the quantity of a scruple for a dose of the mixture called , mixtura simplex , or mixtura diaphoretica in peracutis . from this threefold febrifick essence mixt together in equal parts , is made the liquid essence , and antiscorbutick tincture of the same author described in the same place , p. 269. moreover , there are are other liquid essences , tinctures , and mixtures composed of scurvygrass . as , the mixture of dr. glantius , physitian in ordinary to the emperour , which you may find in my tract de varis , cap. 13. p. 235. ℞ fumatery , scvrvygrass , germander , wormwood , an . m. iii. orange peel , spec. diapliris archonticon an . ʒ . vi . digest them with spirit of elder and scurvygrass , ana . q.s. to the of their tincture ; let them be strongly pressed out , and put of the former herbs and powders into the straining , and do this three or four times , and at last being clarified by setling , add , of spirit of fern , scvrvygrass , an . ℥ iii. ss . tincture of tartar , ʒix . mix them . the dose is from 12 drops to 20. the mixture of dr. iohn nichol. finckius , which is extant in my forecited tract in the same place , p. 236. and is this : ℞ rectified spirit of tartar , ℥ ii . ss . vitriol , ℥ i. ss . scvrvygrass , ℥ ii . tincture of steel , ℥ i. red sanders , q.s. digest them till it be a tincture : the dose is from 20 to 30 drops in a convenient vehicle . the mixture of hannemannus , which he describes in prodromo lexici medici , p. 677. ℞ spirit of scvrvygrass , ʒii . carduus benedictus , ʒi . deers blood , ℈ iii. the aromatick tincture , ʒi . ss . mix them . the dose is ʒi . the antiscorbutick mixture of reinesius , which he describes in his epistles , p. 4. ℞ rob , or the thick juice of iuniper , berriesʒvi confection of alkermes , ʒi . ss . essence of scurvygrass , wormwood , an . ʒvi . baum , ʒii . sassafras wood , ʒi . of antiscorbutick water , ℥ i. ss . of aqua carbunculi , ʒi . ss . digest them a little while , afterwards strain them out , and mix with the straining of the mixture of the three spirits , ʒiii . the juice pressed out of the conserve of scurvygrass , and clarified ℥ ii . ss . syrup of cinamon , ℥ i. calamus aromaticus , ℥ ss . mix them . the mixture of dr. bald. timaeus r of guldenflee . the simple mixture , spirit of scvrvygrass , water cresses , iuniper berries , an . ℥ ss . mix them . the dose is from ℈ i. to ℈ ii . the essence of scurvygrass described by hartman in his prax. chymiatrica , p. 214. is much commended . chap. xix . of the iuice of scurvygrass . this iuice is to be squeezed forth with a press , either by it self , or by pouring milk , whey , or wine upon the herb ; and that it may not be very offensive to the stomack , you may add a little sugar , cinamon , anniseed , ginger , or cinamon water . simon paulus in the often cited place , p. 268. also henry brucaeus would rather that this juice should be used by it self , and unmixt , or diluted with any thing ; and doth write , that he himself hath experimented , that the unmixed juice given by it self to sick people , their bodies being first purged , it hath proved exceeding beneficial to the poorer sort of scorbutick people : and that scurvygrass , whose power is supposed chiefly to consist in a volatile salt , cannot be exhibited in a more convenient form , than in that of its juice , and that thereby the scurvy will be the sooner overcome . and eugalenus testifies , that there is greater efficacy in the juice , than in the decoction ; and that it is very prevalent to preserve the mouth and gums from putrefaction , even after the small pox s . it is also administred to hydropical persons ; as also to such as have outwardly spots and stains in their skin , proceeding from the disaffection of their spleen . schwenckfelt de stirp . silis . p. 262. of many , it is supposed to be an admirable alexiterion , or preservative against all infection , or poyson ; so that even in the winter-time they mix , and give to drink four ounces of juice of scurvygrass , with every pint of french or red wine . matth. martin . l. saepe cit . pag. 677. and elsewhere . 't is prescribed several ways , and the dose of the iuice of scurvy-grass is from ℥ iv . to ℥ vi . sonnertus t prescribes it thus : ℞ scvrvygrass , bro●klime , water-cresses , an . m. i. bruise them , and put them in rhenish wine to infuse , afterwards strain them strongly out , and in the straining put this following nodule . ℞ the seeds of water-cresses , cinamon , cloves , mace , an . ℥ i. give every day a draught of it . or thus : ℞ wild redish roots , scvrvygrass , water-cresses , brooklime , fumatery . being bruised in a marble mortar , pour upon them milk , or whey of goats milk , lb i. ss . let it stand in a warm place twelve hours , afterwards strain it : add to the straining saffron , ℈ i. cinamon , ʒi . ss . or cinamon water , ʒ ss . mix them . or , ℞ water-cresses , scvrvygrass , an . m. ii . wild redish , ℥ ss . galingal , cinamon , an . ʒii . all being bruised in a stone mortar , pour upon them a sufficient quantity of whey ; let them stand in a warm place for a night , and strain them out in the morning . or , the iuice of the herbs scurvygrass , water-cresses , an . two spoonfuls , celandine the lesser . sorril , an . i. spoonful , wormwood half a spoonful , cinamon water a small quantity . mix them with a draught of whey . or , of the juice of the middle sort of housleek , brooklime , water-cresses , scurvygrass , an . ℥ ss . goats whey , ℥ ii . saffron , mace , cardamon seeds , an . ℈ ss . cinamon water , ʒi . mix them for one draught . or , ℞ scurvygrass , brooklime , water-cresses , an . m. i. wild redish roots , ℥ i. ss . bruise them in a marble mortar , and pour upon them as much goats whey as is sufficient ; and being well mixed , let them stand in infusion twelve hours : after that , boil them half an hour in a double vessel ; then strain it , and give it to drink . the dose is ℥ vi . in the morning , and two hours before supper . he hath also these following in the same place u . ℞ the fresh pressed iuice of scurvygrass , brooklime , water-cresses , an . lb ii . preserved cichory roots , ℥ vi salt of tartar , ʒ ss . let it stand in digestion a few days in a close stopped vessel , then strain it , and add to the straining white sugar , ℥ iv . conserve of borrage , betony , fumatery , an . ℥ ii . let them stand in digestion again a day and a night , and afterwards strain it . or , ℞ the simple mixture , ℥ ss . rob or thick juice of iuniper , ℥ i. iuice of scurvygrass , water-cresses , brooklime , an . ℥ vi . spec. diarrhod . abb. ʒii . syrup of borrage , clove gilly flowers , sour citrons , an . ℥ i. ss . cinamon water , ℥ ss . let them stand in digestion , afterwards , pour of that which is clear . horstius w his apozeme of which mention is made above cap. 8. and is described by dr. fehr , is this . monywort , water cresses , pimpernel , scurvygrass , an . m. ii . the tops of green wormwood , rue . the lesser housleek , an . m. ss . cut them , and bruise them in a stone mortar , press out their juice , and pour into it goats whey , and strain out ℥ viii . for to take at twice , the same gregory horstius x hath this . ℞ of the aforesaid juices , ℥ iv . cinnamon water , ʒi . ss . mix them for one draught . y the antiscorbutick wine of mynsich is prepared out of juices thus . ℞ rhenish wine , lb. iv . iuice of scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , sorril of each purified , ℥ iv of the roots of wild reddish , enula compane , fresh iris roots , an . ℥ i. ss . cut them all into thin slices . rocket seed bruised ℥ i. being all mixed put them in a cold place , and reserve them for use , adding to them two nutmegs tosted . quercetanus z his appropriate medicine for the scurvy , which you may find in his diaetet . polyhistor ℞ wild reddish roots cut small , ℥ ii . scurvygrass , m iii. bruise them and pour upon them . of the decoction of barly , lb. i. white wine , ℥ vi . press out the iuice and drink of it morning and evening . solomon albertus de scorbuto , sect. 261. hath this following . ℞ water cresses . scurvygrass , of each iii. full handfuls . while the herbs are yet fresh and green , and full of juice , beat them in a stone mortar , with a wooden pestle , and squeeze out the juice strongly with a press , letting it run through a sieve , to this strained liquor add ▪ double refined white sugar , ℥ iv . strong biting cinnamon , ℈ iv . mix them , and make a drink . with this agrees that which is to be found in matth. martinus , l. c. p. 679. ℞ iuice a of scurvygrass new pressed , lb ii . water cresses . brooklime , an . lb ss . fumatery , chichory , sorril , an . ℥ v. being mixt clarifie them with juice of citron . ℞ fresh scurvygrass , water cresses , brooklime , sorril , an . m. i. beat them in a stone mortar and pour upon them lb iv . of rhenish wine , in which hath been infused for three daies fresh wilde redish roots cut into thin slices , let it stand in infusion for a day , and a night , afterwards press it out strongly , and add to the straining . fresh iuice of citron , ℥ iv . sugar a small quantity . mix them . the dose is from ℥ iii. to ℥ vi . i have prescribe this following in my tract . de varis . cap. 8 p. 94. ℞ the iuice pressed from scurvygass , ℥ ii . goats whey , lb. mix them . drawizius tit . 5. of the scorbutick head-ach , p. 216. his expressed juice against the scurvy is this : ℞ monywort , water-cresses , water pimpernel , scurvygrass , an . m. ii . tops of green wormwood , fresh rue , the lesser housleek , an . m. ss . cut them and beat them in a stone mortar , and press out their juice through a linnen cloth , then ℞ the herbs from whence you have pressed out the juice , and boil them in lb ii . of goats whey a little while ; press them out , and strain them again , and add this to the former juice ; mix them and aromatize them with ℥ i. of cinamon water , and of the distilled oyl of mace and nutmegs , ana five drops : mix them , and make a potion , or drink , the dose of which for once is from ℥ iii. to ℥ v. and at the most ℥ viii . the same author tit . 7. of the scorbutick plurisie or stitch in the side , p. 251. hath described this potion . ℞ quercetanus his antiscorbutick water , our lady thistle water , an . ℥ i. diaphoretick antimony , gr . x. magestery of crabs eyes , ℈ ss . fresh iuice of scurvygrass , ʒiii . syrup ambros. ℥ ss . mix them for a draught . the thickned juice of scurvygrass may be used instead of its extract , b also pills may be made of it ; as for axample : ℞ the sweet extract of steel of dravviz , described by me in my tract de varis , cap. 13. pag. 215. extract of fumatery , an . ʒ ss . thickned iuice of scurvygrass , ʒii . make pills according to art , of the bigness of little pease ; title them the antiscorbutick pills . the dose is from ℈ i. to ʒ ss . chap. xx. of magistery of scurvygrass . a magistery is a sort of subtil fine medicine of the chymists , which is made by separating the best parts of any thing , from the impure and useless , by the help of some convenient menstruum , or liquour ; and then reducing it to the form of an impalpable powder , sometimes 't is to be reduced to the substance of butter , and therefore a magistery is called by the germans , meister stucklein , kunst-stucklein , that is , a masterpiece , or piece of art. of this kind is the magistery of jalap , which doth consist of its rosiny parts , in which the purging faculty chiefly resideth , which is extracted with the best spirit of wine , and precipitated with common water . the best way of making this magistery is taught by zwilffer in his animadversions in pharmac . augustan . p. 4●9 . also for the magistery of cinamon , vide schroder c : but other magisteries made with corrosive spirits , destroy the vertues of the things they do dissolve , and are nothing but dead earths , or as paracelsus calls them , relollacea , that is absolutely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and of no vertue , but rather prove hurtful , because the acrimony of the dissolving liquor , is hardly to be washed off from them , from whence it is no wonder , sayes laur. hoffmann . d that the magistery of pearls hath killed many , by corroding the bowels with their acrimony which is also attested by libavius . the magistery of scurvygrass is not properly a magistery , but an elosaccharum , or oily sugar , and is made by exactly mixing together a scruple of the distilled oyl of scurvygrass , with an ounce of sugar . rolfincius e teacheth to prepare it after this following way , ℞ of white sugar bruised and sifted as much as you will. iuice of scurvygrass and oil of scurvygrass , of each as much as is sufficient . let the juice be fresh , or if it be thick , moisten it with fair water , sprinkle the sugar with this , and rub it well with a pestle in a stone , or glass mortar , till the sugar hath acquired an exact green colour , then pour upon it the oil of scurvygrass by drops , again mixing them all together exactly , with the help of the pestle , that every atome , or small grain of the sugar may have imbibed some part of the oil. keep it in a glass well stopped with a bladder it 's vertues are against the scurvy . the dose is from gr . vi . to ℈ ss . in a spoonful of wine . the same author in the same place sect. 2 cap. 3 pag. 320. proposeth another way of making the magisteries of vegetables , and so also of scvrvygrass , which in that place you may see . the same author in his short notes upon this eleosaccharum of scurvygrass discourseth thus : the genuine and true eleosaccharum of scurvygrass is made with the iuice of scurvygrass , the juice is instead of the body of it , the oil is the soul , and the spirit marrying the soul to the body , is the sugar , author also of many benefits to it . they which in the place of the juice of scurvygrass , use the juice of bucks-horn , or of the blades of wheat , newly sprung out of the ground , and moist with dew do thereby counterfeit both the colour , and dissolvableness , however for all that , it is not a medicine to be slighted ▪ for there is a cleansing vertue in both of them and a purging one in that made with the bucks-horn , besides that they are pleasant , it will wholly dissolve in any vehicle in which it is given , and it is taken into it , and joyned with it in all its parts . the inventor of the magistery of scurvygrass dr. iohann . dravviz , my good friend , heretofore the most happy physitian of lipswick , communicated his way of making it to me , which i here put down word for word . ( which because it is long and written in the german tongue , which i think will not be much for the edification of the english reader to transcribe , i will therefore put it in english ) thus : take scurvygrass in summer , when 't is best squeeze out the juice , expose it to the sun , that so it may come to some consistance , and a greenness , yet must it not stand so long exposed , nor too hot , least it be spoiled let this juice imbibe some sugar thinly strewed upon a smooth dish , let it dry up ; this do so often ▪ until it be green and enough , keep this well inclosed for use . take for the perfecting of this magistery , as much sugar as you will and pound it small , and moisten the colour again , with a little of the water and spirit of scurvygrass ; thereby to make it something thin , then pour it upon the beaten sugar , and stir it well together , that it may get a fine green colour : put it into a glass with a narrow neck , pour some of the rectified spirit of scurvy-grass upon it , stop the hole with the palm of your hand , and shake it well , that it may be well imbibed , which when done , pour some fresh spirit upon it , as much as it will imbibe , to impregnate it well ; put it into a glass well closed with a bladder for use . note 1. that the juice of scurvy-grass must not be squeezed out too hard , for else it will be too thick ; secondly , the sugar where with it is to be impregnated , is to be strewed thin , that if possible it may grow dry in half a day , or else it will be too black . thirdly , 't is better to put it into several glasses , when 't is perfected , lest it lose its strength . with this magistery you may quickly make a scurvygrass wine , putting the quantity of so much as will lye upon two knives points into a glass of wine , and it will receive the colour , scent , and taste of the herb ; and it is an excellent medicine for the scurvy . the dose is from a ℈ i. to ʒ ss . but this operation is troublesome and uncertain , i therefore prefer the eleosaccharum before described , which is that which enters the composition of my antiscorbutick digestive , which you may find in my tract de varis , cap. 8. p. 95. ℞ of the opening crocus martis , ℥ i.ʒii. magistery of scvrvygrass , vitriolate tartar , niter antimoniac , an . ʒi . the roots of wake robin powdered , ʒi . ss . mix them , and make a powder . the dose is from ℈ i. to ʒ ss . chap. xxi . of the outward use of scurvygrass . it is declared above in the fifth chapter , that scurvygrass is to be used , not only inwardly , but outwardly also . we have hitherto discoursed of its internal use , now follows its external . scurvygrass is used externally in many disaffections of our bodies , in divers formes . it is made use of many times in baths , to cherish by its warmth the aking joynts of scorbutick persons : an example of which this following fomentation may be which is commended by brucaeus in one of his disputations , and described by symon paulus in the place often cited , pag. 269. ℞ iuniper berries slightly bruised , water mynth , both sorts of cardamin , or ladies , smocks , winter cresses , scurvigrass , an , m. ii , camomil flowers , m. iii. mugwort , balm , rosemary , marjoram , time , hysop , an , m. i. boil them in a sufficient quantity of water , and foment the legs with this warm decoction . he also reports that his father used one like this , with very happy success . ℞ mallows , marsh mallows , brooklime , fumatery , green scurvygrass , fresh-water cresses , camomil , an , m. ii . mallow roots , ℥ iii. dwarf elder rooes , ℥ ii . iuniper berries m. i. cut , bruise , and mix them together , make a decoction in common water , for a fomentation . so that the feet may be made hot with the vapours of it , they being covered all over with blankets , or with woollen cloath . forestus f mentions a certain vaporous bath for the legs , in which he puts scurvygrass , brooklime , water-cresses , bay leaves , &c. in the same . place he orders this fomentation , which also is to be found in matth. martinus . pag. 740 : ℞ of the flowers of melilot , m. ii . camomil . m. i. mallows roots and all. mugwort , an , m. i. ss . brooklime , scurvygrass , fumatery , an . m. i. faenigreek seeds , ℥ ss . marsh mallow roots , ʒi . the seeds of water betony parsly , an . ℥ ss , boil them in common water for a fomentation . in the hard swelling of the legs of scorbutick persons , the same matth. martinus prescribes this fomentation . ℞ marsh mallow roots . ℥ iii. mallow leaves , m. iv . flowers of camomil , melilot , the tops of common wormword , an . m. ii . brooklime , m iv . boil them in a sufficient quantity of common water , adding as much as you please of brooklime , and scurvygrass water . the same author pag. 748. adviseth the decoction of scurvygrass , and the like against scorbutick spots , and also this following . the leaves of garden cresses , water-cresses , scurvygrass , an . m. ii . ℞ camomil , melilot , an . m. ss . time , savory , penny-royal , an . m. i. rosemary , p. i. wild carrot roots , ℥ ss . bay leaves , m. i. iuniper berries slightly bruised , ℥ i. ss . boil them in a kettle full of common , or else rain water , to the wasting of a third part ; with which being warm , wash the thighs and feet , or dip in linnen cloaths , or a sponge in it , and apply to those parts you would take away the spots from , it also draws out the stains . the same author hath this fomentation against the scorbutick pains of the joynts , pag. 702. the flowers of camomil , melilot , an . m. iii. leaves of common wormwood , mallows , ℞ scvrvygrass , brook-lime , an m. ii . mugwort , m. i. marsh mallow roots , ℥ ii . cummin seed , ʒii . being chopt small and bruised , boil them in a sufficient quantity of common water , adding towards the end rhenish wine , vinegar , or vinegar of hellebore ℥ iv . apply it early in the morning and in the evening . solomon albertus tract de scorbut . commends a fomentation against scurvy spots , which is this , ladies smock , or wild cresses or garden cresses . cardamin , or the other sort of water minth of dioscordes , which is also called water cresses , scurvygrass , an . m. ii . camomil , melilot , an . m. ss . time , savory , penny royal , an . m. i. rosemary , m. ss . wild carrot roots , bay leaves , m. i. iuniper berries lightly bruised , ℥ i. ss . boil them in a kettle of common water to the consuming of a third part . moisten the member with the vapour of this decoction being hot , or wash the thighs and legs with it being warm ; or being imbibed in linnen cloaths , or a sponge , wrap it about the part that is spotted . the use of this is not only to make the spots that lay hid to come forth , and appear , but also it is very prevalent to take away those that fully appear , and flourish in the skin . to take away the spots and stains in the legs , sennertus p. 636. commends fomentations and baths of juniper berries , cresses , scurvygrass , &c. or to wash the legs with scurvygrass water . also he prescribes this following : ℞ iuniper berries , bruised , water mynth , water cresses , scvrvygrass , an . m. ii . camomil flowers , m. iii. mugwort , betony , wormwood , rosemary , marjoram , time , hysop , an . m. i. boil them in a sufficient quantity of water , fume the legs with the vapor of the hot decoction , or foment the legs with a sponge dipped in the decoction and applyed warm . he hath this following against the contraction , and stiffeness of the limbs , p. 639. ℞ marsh mallow roots ℥ iii. pellitory of the wall , scurvygrass , brooklime , water cresses , wormwood , flowers of camomil , melilot , an . m. ii . linseed . faenigreek seed , an . ʒvi . boil them in water and let the legs be fumed with the hot vapour . solomon albertus g and matth. martinus h have ordained this following fomentation in crucifying scorbutick pains , and against weakness and inability to walk . the roots of marsh mallows , mallows , an . ℥ i. iris or oris , ℥ ss . linseed , foenigreek seed , an . ℥ i. ℞ camomil , melilot , violet leaves , an . m. i. wormwood . scvvygrass , brooklime , water cresses , an . m. ss . boil them all either in cistern water , or neats feet broth , or in oil and water , make a fomentation to be applyed . the same author directs to wash the tumours and little hard knobs in the skin with a decoction of the leavs of scurvygrass and tobacco made in wine and water forrestus i writes that he applyed for a fomentation to the legs of some scorbutick persons , scurvygrass , brooklime , and the like herbs sewed in a bag and boiled . and matth. martinus k wrapped about the legs double linnen cloaths dipt in the hot decoction of scurvygrass and brooklime . i my self in the year 1657 prepared a cataplasme or poultice made with scurvygrass , brooklime , water cresses , and mallowes bruised and boiled in water : this extemporary medicine i devised being at a great distance from any town , where i could procure any other , this i applyed to a certain gentleman afflicted with the wandring scorbutick gout , in so grievous a manner , that when i was with him , his feet were so distorted and contracted , that there appeared no hopes of restoring him , but this being used warm , by gods assistance , did like an inchantment , in a quarter of an hours time , take away his almost insupportable pain , and restore his contracted and distorted limbs . see my tract de varis , c. 15. p. 277. where you will find this relation , and also this following cataplasm , which i prescribed for a citizen of halis in saxony , and did much good , ℞ mallowes , brooklime , scurvygrass , an . m. i. camomil flowers , p. iii. boil them in common water , and being gently pressed out , add spirit of earthworms , ʒvi . venice sope , ʒv . camphor , ℈ i. saffron , gr . viii . mix them , make a poultice . sennertus in the place often cited p. 639 against the contraction and stifness of the limb● of scorbutick , people prescribes this cataplasm . flowers of camomil , melilot , seeds of fennel , ℞ cummin , anise , an . ℥ i. eht meal of lineseed ▪ faenigreek , an . ʒii . with the decoction of the leaves of dwarf elder , mugwort , scurvygrass . make a cataplasm to which you may add fresh butter . from scurvygrass , with other things you may prepare liniments , ointments , oils , &c. matth. martinus commends this ointment following , in ulcers of the legs . ℞ of the clarfied juice of smallage balme , wormwood , scurvygrass , an . ℥ ss . celandine , ʒvi . all which being boiled to the consistance of a liniment , you may add according to the degree of the putrid nature of the vlcer , powder of frankincense , mastick , aloes , myrrh , as much as you will , or burnt allum , or a little precipitate . the same author , pag. 705. hath this liniment against scorbutick contractions . ℞ the iuice pressed from the leaves of scvrvygrass , ℥ i. the oiles of st. iohnwort , mullei● , elder , an . ℥ ss boil them to the wasting of the juice , and being pressed out add. tacomahaca in powder , ʒi . ss . indian balsome , ℈ iv . stir them very well upon a gentle fire , and at the latter end , add a little wax . and p. 706. he hath this which is more efficacious . the oil of camomil , castor , an . ℥ i. the marrow of an ox thigh bone , ℥ i. ss . iuice of redish . scvrvygrass , water cresses , an . ℥ ss . with sallet oil and wax . make a liniment . solomòn albertus prescribes this un . guent against the foul scurf and roughness of the scurvy parts . ℞ briony roots , wilde cucumber roots , an , ℥ i. prepared earth worms , ʒiii . boil them in oil , and water , until they be wasted , the liquor being squeezed out by a press , add afterwards , oil of lillies , ℥ ss . lineseed , camomil , an . ℥ i. turpentine washed in mallowes water , ʒv . ointment of bdellium , ʒiii . iuice of scurvygrass , ℥ i. being melten again , at a gentle fire , add new wax , q.s. ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mollioris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to the consistance of the softer sort of ointment , called a liniment . deckers l. c. p. 152. hath these following with scurvygrass , infused in oil. ℞ oil of earthworms , roman camomil , scvrvygrass , an . ʒiii . mix them for a liniment to anoint the hypochondries with , warme , in the moveable pains of those parts . and pag. 153 he hath this in the scorbutick palsie . ℞ oil of earth worms , ℥ i. scurvygrass , st. iohns wort flowers , an . ℥ ss . the distilled oiles of rosemary , sage , rue , an . gut . v. mix them , make a liniment . in my tract de varis cap. 15. at the end , i have prescribed this oil to be used to those parts that are weak and unapt to move , in the wandring scorbutick gout . ℞ oil of earthwormes , ℥ i. the distilled oil of rue , sage , rorismary , scurvygrass , an . gut . vi . mix them and put them in a little box sayes my author , be sure to keep it in a glass , and title it to use outwardly to the joynts . also spirit of scurvygrass is to be used outwardly in scorbutick pains , chiefly in the wandring scorbutick gout , as will appear by these following , which are to be found in my often cited tract de varis cap. 15. p. 269. and pag. 272. ℞ spirit of earth wormes , ℥ iv . scurvygrass , ℥ ss . treacle camphorated , ℥ i. essence of castor , ʒii . mix them and keep them in a glass , title it the spirit for outward use . or ℞ spirit of earth wormes , ℥ v. sal armoniack , ℥ ss . scurvygrass , ℥ ii . in which dissolve venice sope , ℥ ii . campher , ʒvi . opium , ℈ i. saffron , ℈ ss . digest them some dayes and nights , and afterwards filther , and keep it in a glass for use . title it the outward balsome for the joints . this outward medicine of mine , i have often found so exceeding beneficial in pains of the joints ; that for that cause it worthily deserved the name of a balsome . this i have described in the first edition of my tract de varis , printed anno 1663. cap. 14. pag. 149. and in the last edition , p. 283. the often praised dr. deckers in his golden notes upon barbetts praxis is pleased to intitle it the balsamick tincture . iohn drawiz . tit. 1. of the scorbutick . reiffender sicht . pag. 38. describes a spirit to be used externally in those kind of pains , in compounding of which the seeds of scurvygrass is made use of , and it is this , ℞ the flowers of lillies of the valley , m. ii . rorismary , m. i. castor , the seeds of scurvygrass , an . ʒvi . rocket , ℥ ss . put them into well rectified spirit of wine , ℥ viii . let them stand in the sun for three dayes then press it strongly out , and add , spirit of earth worms , ℥ ii . ss . camphor , ʒi . ss . mix them exactly . in such kind of pains i have ordered this following spirit , commonly with good success , spirit of earthworms , ℥ ii . ants , ℥ i. ss . scurvygrass , ℥ i. sal armoniack , ʒii . my anodine essence , ʒi . ss . mix them , and put it in a glass , and title it the spirit to use in outward pains of the joynts . schroder , as is said above in the 19. chapter , is of opinion , that if the mouth , and gums be moistened with the juice of scurvygrass , it preserveth them , from putrifaction , and forestus m affirms the same matth. martinus , p. 695. commendeth scurvygrass and brooklime , dryed and rubbed to powder , against the looseness of the teeth , and bleeding of the gums , to which he added a little pumice stone , and burnt alome . also the same forrestus adviseth to wash the gums often with the decoction of scurvygrass , and brooklime made with milk. in the same place he commends & relates of a patient of his that was cured by only often washing his gums with the distilled water of scurvygrass and brooklime . and observat . 12. pag. 363. he directs this following liniment against stinking , putride , slimy , loose , and bleeding gums ℞ sage dryed and powdered , ʒii . alome , ʒ ss . and with the iuice of scurvygrass , brooklime and honey , an . q.s. make a mixture . the often cited matth. martinus in the same pages prescribeth this water to hinder defluctions to the teeth to preserve from the scorbutick tooth-ach , and to procure a sweet and pleasant breath , the leaves of sage , besony , an . m. iv . the flowers of wild plums , red roses , an . mii. marjoram , arabion lavender , an . mi. burnt alome , calcined tartar , an . ℥ i ss . the roots of sarsaper ℥ ii . rhodium . wood , ʒvi . pellitory , ʒiii . oris of florence , ℥ ss . nutmegs , cinamon , an . ʒii . ginger , myrrhe , mastick , citron peel , pomgranate peel , an . ʒi . camphire , ℈ ss the best white wine , lb iv . iuice of scurvygass , winter or water cresses , an . lb i. let them stand ten daies to infuse , shaking it every day , afterwards distill it . almost of the same nature is the water of sennertus in the forecited place p. 632. also solomon albertus , p. 517. to be used in the like disaffections of the teeth , and gums , and is made with the leaves of scurvygrass , and other things thus : damask roses , the leaves of an olive tree , green , or else of privet , the tops of bramble , ℞ the leaves of scurvygrass , sage , an . m. i. water cresses , rue , an . m. ss . myrrhe , ʒii . rose water , or some other proper water , as much as is sufficient to infuse them in , which being done distil it in a glass vessel . sénnertus n in the like affections useth this following , ℞ scvrvygrass , water mynth , water cresses , red roses , an . mi. boil them in fountain water , take of the straining , ℥ x. add to it , hony , ʒvi . alome , ʒi . make a gargal for the mouth . or , the bark of a wilde plum tree , ℥ i. scurvygrass , water-cresses , an . mi. red roses , m ss . pomgranet flowers , ʒii . boil them in a sufficient quantity of steeled water . add to the straining a little alom , honey of roses and syrup of mulberries , mix them . against the contagion and putrifaction of humours near the jawes , the same author o adviseth to gargal with the waters of scurvygrass , watercresses , mugwort , tobacco . also this . ℞ the water of self heal , plantain , scurvygrass , an . ℥ iii. tobacco , ℥ ii . spirit of vitriol , ℈ i. honey of roses , ℥ i ss . mix them . deckers hath noted this tincture against looseness of teeth , and the scorbutick bleeding of the gums . ℞ tincture of gum lacca , ℥ ss . columbine flowers , ʒi . spirit of scurvygrass , ʒii . mix them and wash the mouth , and gums with this , i make use of these following , ℞ tincture of sulphur of vitriol , ʒii . spirit of scurvygrass , ʒi . mix them , keep them in a glass . of which drop a few drops into brooklime water , in which a little burnt alome hath been boiled , and wash the mouth and gums with this water . or , ℞ ointment of columbine , ℥ ss . powder of burnt alome , ℈ i. distilled oil of scurvygrass gut . ii . syrup of scurvygrass , q.s. mix them and keep them in a little box , title it salve for the gums . the leaves of scurvygrass , as also its oil , both that made by distillation , and that made by infusion , are used in glysters . the often cited dr. deckers hath these , ℞ the leaves of scurvygrass , henbane , the flowers of camomil , roman elder , an . m. ss . tops of wormwood , m. i. elecampain roots , ℥ i. ss . iuniper berries , bay berries , an . ʒv . boil them according to art in q.s. of whey , in a vessel close stopped , take of the straining ℥ viii . or x. add to it . oil of scurvygrass , the lenitive electuary , the electuary of bay berries , an . ʒv . the yolk 〈◊〉 an egg. mix them , and make a glyster . i have prescribed this in my tract de varis , cap. 13. pag. 203. ℞ mallowes , pellitory , water cresses . brooklime , scurvygrass , an . m. i. roots of fern , polypody an . ℥ i. boil them in common water q.s. take of the straining ℥ ix . dissove in it of the electuaries , hiera picra , diacatholicon , lenitive , an . ʒvi . oil of camomil , earthwormes , an . ℥ i. sal gemm . ℈ i. with one yolk of an egg. make a glyster according to art. you may also in scorbutick pains of the belly prepare this glyster . ℞ the ingredients of the carminative decoction , m ▪ iv . tops of wormwood , scurvygrass , an . m. i. flowers of roman camomil , p. iii. century the lesser , p. ii . bay berries , ℥ i. boil them in q.s. of milk. take of the straining ℥ viii . add to it of the electuary lenitive , ℥ i. of bay berries , ℥ ss . oyles of camomil , dill , an . ʒvi . distilled oil of scurvygrass , gut . v. one yolk of an egg. according to art make a glyster . finis . glory to god only . the index . a. acetosa , sorrel , it grows plentifully in greenland , p. 38. acetosella , wood sorrel , both derive their names from their taste 21. acid , and alkali salts are falsly supposed by many to be the causes of all diseases , 113.114 . that they are so cannot be proved out of hippocrates 114. acid , ferments are the cause of fevers , 67. acorus , sweat smelling flag , or read why so called , 18. allium , garlick the reason of its name 22 alliaria , iack by the hedge , its name from i●● smell 22. alsine , chickweed , why so called 21. anemone , wind herb , a sort of crow-foot , why named so 24. anonis , rest harrow , why so called ibid. ansarinae , and argentinae wilde tansie , its derivation 19. apiastrum , bawm , why so named , 24. apium risus , water crow-foot , why so called , 19. apocynum , dogs bain , its derivation , 24. the apozeme , or decoction of dr. barbet . 58. of dr. horstius 59.159 . of sol. albertus 161. of quercitanus peculiar in the scurvy 160. agues their cause 69. artemisia , mugwort , the derivation of its name 17. asciomenes , a wonderful herb 5. asphodelus , kings scepter , why so named 25 , atriplex faetida , stinking orach , why so stil'd 22. arrow head , an herb , why so called 25. auricula ursi , bear ear , so named from its outward form 25. antiscorbutick pilus , by the authour , 164. by timaeus , 46. spirit simple by dr. michaelis 107. compound by the same authour 107. digestive , by the author 170. electuary , by hannemanus 144. essence 148 , 149. syrup , by timaeus 132. by minsichtus 133. tincture , by john wierus 140. by deckers 192. wine , by mynsichtus 160. assarabecca , leaves used by mistake for scurvygrass 62. b. baharas , a wonderful root growing in the indies 5. a bag with scurvygass for the legs of scorbutick persons 180. balsome , in scorbutick pains of the ioynts , by the authour 186. the bolus of dr. timaeus composed with conserve of scurvygrass 127. barba herci , goats beard , why so called 26. branca ursina , bears breach , the reason of its name 25. bassil , why so called 25. bath , with scurvygrass 173. bawm , the reason of its name 24. beta , beate , why so called 26. birds produced from the leaves , and fruit of a tree in scotland 12. blew-bottles , called so from their colour 23. blood of a red hair'd man poyson 116. the blood of every man indifferently , not fit to make medicines of 116. britanica , bistort , or snakeweed , why so called 21. broath of an old cock by martin 75. buglosse , ox young , so called from its shape . 25. bramble bush , called dog berry bush , the decoction of it cures vlcers . 30. bleeding of the gums , a gargale against it 192. c. caltha palustris , fenny marigolds , why so called 21. the cause of fevers 67. of agnes 68 , 69 , of the acid , or sowre ferment in fevers 70. hindering fermentations in wine 95 , 66. campanula , bellflower , so called from its shape 20. camphorata , stinking ground pine , named so from its shape 22. cariophyllata , herb bennet so called from its sent 22. a cataplasme , with scurvygrass against contraction of the limbs by the authour 180 , 181. in scorbutick pains of the joynts , by the authour 180. against stiffness , and contraction of the limbs in the scurvy by sennertus 181. centaury , the reason of its name 19. why called fel terrae 21. cervicaria , neckweed , why so named 20. chelidonium , celandine , its derivation 24. chrysanthemum , corn marigold , why so called 23. citrons good in the scurvy 51. colchicum , meadow saffron , why so called 20. compounds with conserve of scurvygrass , by sennertus 125 , 126. another 126. another 127. conserve the reason of its name 124. of scurvygrass ibid. its vertues 125. conyra , fleabain , why so named 24. crocus vernus , saffron of the spring , why so called 25. codded arsmart , a sensikle plant 5 , 8. continual feavers their cause 67 , 68. condit , with scurvygrass by drawizius 144. cochlearia , scurvygrass the reason of its name 26. cyanus , blew-bottles , so called from their colour , 23. china rose , a wonderful flower 1 , 2. cynosbatus , and cynorrhodon , bramble , and eglantine are the same 30. cynoglossum , hounds tongue , why named so 25. cynosorchis , dogs stones , why so called 25. cytiscus , shrub trifoil , the reason of its name 20. cowslip why so called 18. chickweed , why so called , 21. cyperus , why so called , 25. d. dracontium , draggons , the derivation of its name , 26. decoction of scurvygrass , of sennertus , 53. another , 53. outwardly against scurvy spots , 174. against hard knobs in the skin , 179. made with ale or beer , commended by forestus , 61. in milk or goats whey commended in melancholy diseases , by brunnerus , 61. sudorisick with china , by matth. martin . 55. with guaiacum wood , by timaeus , 47. another with guaiacum and scurvy-grass , by hartman , 47 , 6. against scorbutick wastings , by martin . 56. to open obstructions , by forestus , 60. digestive against the scurvy , by the author , 170. digitalis , finger wort , wherefore so called , 25. distilled liquors of sarsaparilla , by rolfincius , 101. against the scurvy , by drawiz . 102. distilled oyles to be used with caution , 122. dittander , why sb called , 20. dock , the derivation of its latine name , 20. who was the devisor of the magistery of scurvy-grass , 168. in difficult labour , a remedy , 3. dogs stones , or satyrion , certain admirable kinds of them , 15. dog berry bush its leavs , and sprigs boiled in wine , is a sure remedy to cure vlcers , 30. dyers weed , why so named , 23. dog nettles , the reason of its name , 18. daffodil the reason of its name , 18. e. electuary , the derivation of its name , 135. what it is , ibid. of scurvygrass , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , to 145. compound by martinius , 138. another , 139. by timaeus , 143. another , ibid. by the author , 145. antiscorbutick , by hannemanus , 144. eleosaccharum of scurvygrass , 166. elixir , essence , extract , and tincture , differ little , 146 , 147 , essence of scurvygrass to , 149. antiscorbutick essence , 148. elicampain , its name from whence ? 21. embemma , sauces , why so called , 50. of scurvygrass ▪ ibid. of other things 51. equiseti , horse-tail , why so called , 25. eruca , rocket , the reason of its name , 22. essence of scurvygrass , 147. the manner to prepare it , ibid. of the iuice of scurvygrass , 148. by simon paulus . ibid. for the spleen , by dr. michael . 48. extract of scurvygrass of no vertue , 148. f. fevers their cause , 67 , 68 , 69. intermitting or agues their cause , 69. quotidian their cause , ibid. tertian their cause , ibid. quartan their cause , ibid. from catharrs the cause , ibid. malignant the cause , 70. feverish ferment , what it is , 68. in feveverish fermentation what is to be considered , 67. fel terrae , centaury , why so called , 21. the finder out of magistery of scurvygrass , who , 168. a fomentation with scurvygrass , 172. in the hard swelling of the limbs from the scurvy , 174. against the scurvy spots , ib. 175 , 176. by sennertus , 177. against scorbutick pains of the joynts , 175. against contraction , and stiffness of the limbs , 181. by sennertus , 178. against weakness and imbecilities to go , by martinius , 179. another by sol. arbertus , ibid. the fruit peci , very wonderful , 10. a fruit very powerful to provoke venery , 9. futuaria , its derivation , 22. figwort , why so called , 18. ferula , why so called , 20. flower de luce , 23. foxglove , fingerwort , 25. g. galens opinion concerning pretenders to physick . 63. girlotophylis , water crowfoot , why so called ? 19. gentian , why so named ? 17. geranium moschatum , crains bill , why so called ? 22. geese produced from a tree in scotland , 12. golden rod , why so called ? 23. glysters with scurvygrass , 193 , 194 , &c. a glyster in scorbutick pains of the belly , by the author 194. good smells strengthen the spirits 117 , 122 , 123. the groenlanders extreamly afflicted with the scurvy 38. the use of all their limbs taken away by it , ib. their way of curing themselves , ibid. gums bleeding , a gargale against it 189 , 190 , 191. goats marjoram , the reason of its name 24. goose foot , why so called 25. galangal , the reason of its name ibid. h hastula regia , kings scepter , why so called 25. hard labour of women , a remedy against it 3. helenum , elecampaine , its derivation 21. hepatica , liverwort , why it is so called 18. herbs , see also plants herb frankencense why so called 22. herb aux-escu-eilliers 27. herba paralysis , or cowslip why so called 18. hidden herba , called claudestina madrona occulta , a wonderful plant 14. an herb which opens any lock by touching it with it 4. another that loosens horses shooes if they tread on it 5. called impatiens , noli me tangere , or touch me not 6. called herba viva , or the living plant ib. called mimosa , all of them sensible plants ib. called ossifraga , which softens bones 9. another which strengthens bones 9. an herb which dissolves to dirt in water , but if it be cast in the fire it will not burn 10. an herb causing bleeding 13. herba muralis , why so called 21. herba ventis , why 24. hares foot , why so called 25. i. jaceae aromaticae , knapweed , a wonderful plant 8. jerico rose , a wonderful plant 2. ierusalem rose a wonderful plant 2. indian fern , a sensitive plant , 7. the infusion of scurvygrass , 72. by matthius martinius , 72 , 73 , by sennertus , ibid. another , 74. by timaeus , 75. an other , ibid. by the author , 76. an other , ibid. iris oris , why so called 23. the inventor of magistery of scurvygrass 168. iva moschata , crainsbill , why so called , 22. iuice of scurvygrass 153. its vertues , 154. the manner how to prepare it , 153. if it be made thick it my be used instead of its extract , 164. the manner of prescribing , by sennertus , 155. by timaeus , 161. by the author 162. its dose inwardly , 155. its externaluse . 188. the ezpressed scorbutick iuice by drawizius , 163. ill sents cast down the spirits , 117 , 122. the causes of sounding and abortion , 118. k. kings scepter , why so called 25. knapweed , sensative plant 8. l. lactuca , lettice the derivation of its name , 20. lapathum , dock whence its name is derived ibid. lepidium , dittander , why so called , ibid. lofletfraut , 26. libonatis , herb frankincense , why so named , 22. liconea , a great tree in congo , 11. ligusticum , lovage , why so called ? 21. a linement in scorbutick contractions , by martinius , 182. one more effectual , 183. in moveable scorbutick pains of the hypochondries in the scurvy , by deckers , 184. in the scorbutick palsie , by the same author , 185. against bleeding , and corrupt gums , by forestus , 189. lunaria , moon-wort , why so called ? 26. luteola , dyers weed , and yellow weed , why so called 23. lysimachia , loose strife , whence it hath its name ? 17. lyons foot , why so called , 25. m. madronna occulta hidden herb , why so called , a wonderful plant , 14. magistery , what it is ? 165. of scurvygrss what ? 166. the manner of preparing it , 169. of ialap , 165. of cinnamon , 166. of pearles , hath killed many , 166. magisteries prepared with corrosives spirits of no virtue , but are hurtful ibid. medicines ought to be prescribed in small quantities , and pleasant , 62. hot in the third , and the fourth degree hurtful , 115. and to be used with caution , ibid. from humane blood suspected , 116. from volatile salts , some of them are stinking , 117. those that stink are hurtful , ibid. medicasters , are worse than robbers , and theives , 63. they ought to be punished by the magistrate , ibid. melissa , bawm , the reason of its name , 24. mercurialis , dog nettles , whence so named ? 18. methodist , what they are ? 113. march violets , 25. malignant vlcers , are certainly cured by the decoction of dog berry bush in wine , 30. medicinal wines , by deckers , 77. by sennertus , 71. a medicine against difficult labour in women 3. mixture what ? 135. of scurvygrass by sennertus , 137. by reinesius , 152. by martinius , 138. by glantzius , 150. by finckius , 151. by hannemanus , 152 , 144. by timaeus , 153. moly , why so named ? 19. morsules , compounded with conserve of scurvy-grass , by grembs . 127. monyworth , why so called , 25. mouth a gargale for it , against loose teeth , and bleeding gums , 191. must , what it is ? mute wine the same , 66. its fermentation caused by its dregs , 67. moveable plant , 7. milkwort why so call'd , 19. mustard , why so called , 20. moonwort , why so called . 26. n. narcissus , whence so called 18. nardus , its derivation , 20. narsturtium , water cresses , why so named , ibid. nicotiana , tobacco , from whom it took its name , 18. nigilla , why so named , 23. nodule , what ? 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 47. a purging nodule which the seeds of scurvygrass , 47. a compound one by sennertus , 78. a nodule of the authors , 79 , 80 , 81. noli me tangere , a wonderful plant , 6. night violets , a wonderful plant , 2. nympheae , water lillies , its derivation , 18. nettles , the reason of its name , 19. o. ogymum , bassil , why so called ? 25. oyl of scurvygrass , 121. used in powders and pills , 123. by infusion , 1●1 . by distillation , ibid. by the author , to be used outwardly , 185. to strengthen in the running gout , ibid. distilled from scurvygrass , for outward use . 124. oyles distilled , are powerful medicines , 122. to be used with caution , 122. they may be made into volatile salt , ibid. they are not then so hot , ibid. they may be changed into the form of spirits , ibid. ombrion , supposed to be the rainy island of pliny , and solinus , 11. orchis , dogsstone so called from their outward figure , 25. ornithogalū , star of bethlem , whence so called 23. orenges , good in the scurvy , 51. oris , the reason of its name , 23. orpine the reason of its name . 17. parietaria why so called ? 21. peci softens copper , 10. primrose why so called ? 24. psylium , why so called ? ibid. pills , against the scurvy by the author 164. by timaeus , 46. a potion with iuice of scurvygrass , by drawizius , 163 , 164. a purging potion , by martinus , 54. a sudorifick potion by horstius , 59. preparations from scurvygrass , 43. powder of scurvygrass against looseness of teeth , 188. plants of a wonderful nature , vide proem . physitians which give volatile salts indifferently to all people , do offend against the method of physick , 119. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or a short account of the true , causes of fevers , 67 , 68 , 69. polugala , why so call'd , 19. potentilla , why so called , ibid. pulegium , why so called , 23. pellitory , why so called , 21. q. quotidian agues , and fevers their cause 69. quartian agues , and fevers their cause ibid. r. rosa hierochuntina , what it is ? 2. if it blow constantly of its own accord every christmas eve at night . 2. from whence so named , 3. it groweth in arabia , upon the sea shore , in the sand , 4. its vertue in difficult labour , 3. rosa st. maria , our ladies rose , rose of jerusalem 4. rosa sinica , china rose , it is a wonderful plant , 1. the rainy island of pliny , and solinus called ombrion , 11. ruta muraria , wall rue , why called so 11. rocket its name , 22. s. sagitta herba , arrow head why so called ? 25. sal acidum , & sal alkali supposed by many to be the cause of all diseases , but falsly 113 , 114. the salt in the scurvy is mortified and drank in by the salt of scurvygrass 42. sauces of scurvygrass 50. of other things joyn'd with it 51. scordium , the derivation of its name 22. scoffocavallo , is a sort of moonwort , a wonderful plant 5. scrophularia , figwort , the reason of its name , 18 , 19. seratula , little saw , so called from its outward shape 25. scharbocfs-kraut , 26. scurvygrass , its names , 27. it s different kinds 34 , 35. four sorts of it 34. its qualities and vertues 40. it is described , 27. it s chief vertue in the scurvy is occult , 42. it cures the scurvy 37. it is like to water pimpernel 28. it is not like orpine 28 , 29. nor bistort , 31 , 32 , 33. why it fastens loose teeth , 32. its leaves must be used fresh , 44. it s outward use 171. it growes no where but where the scurvy is common 15 , 16. its iuice 153. the way how to prepare it ibid. its vertues 40. it s outward use . 171. made thick it may be used instead of an extract 164. its dose inwardly 155. the manner of prescribing it by sennertus ibid. by the author , 154. by timaeus , 161. its seed is to be used both unwarely , and outwardly 44. it enters many compositions ibid. 't is cheifly used in nodules 47. scurvygrass growth of its own accord and plentifully in holland , friesland , hamburge , england , 39. near the sea coasts , 29. in the gardens of flanders 39. it growes in the western parts of the world 36. it growes not in the eastern parts , ibid. nor in swizzerland 37. where the scurvy rageth , 36. in greenland it is without taste 40. it abound with volatile salt , 41. it is hot , and dry 40. it is called lavamen scorbuticum , 41. it slourishes , in april , and may 35. it moveth the courses in women 41. it is useful in the dropsie . 41. hypochondriak passion , 40. in disaffections of the spleen ib. satyrion , why so call'd 25. sorrel the reason of its name ? 21. sorrel and scurvygrass grow together in gronland , 38. they are used together by the gronlanders in the scurvy ibid. sfeeurt , 27. sfiorbugs-urt ibid. sinapi , mustard the reason of its name 20. saponaria , soapwort , why so called ? 19. sensible plants , v. proem . all plants have an obscure sence 8. scurvygrass shewed first to the roman soldier by the frislanders , or north hollanders , 31. spirit of scurvygrass 103. made by fermentation ibid. without fermentation 104. simon paulus his way ibid. compound for outward use 186. by the author , 186. in scorbutick pains in the joynts 187. by drawizius , ibid. by the author , 188. its vertues 106. good against the scurvy ibid. in the cholick ibid. in weakness of the stomach , ib. good against being too fat . ibid. best to be taken in milk ibid. simple by dr. michaelis , 107. the compound one of the same author 107. another by drawizius 108. another by deckers ibid. spirit of wine put upon scurvygrass became sowre , yet when it was distilled it yeilded a strong spirit , 105. spondelium , why so called ? 22. spoonwort , why so called ? 26 , 27. suggar contains a corrosive spirit 146. sweet , and suggery things hurtful in the scurvy , 145. stifled wine , or stumm wine how made ? 66. syrup the derivation of its name 128. what it is ? ibid. of scurvygrass 129. the compound by timaeus 132. by packischius 130. antiscorbutick by timaeus 132. by mynsichtus 133. by wierus for children , 135. celety bicus by forestus , 129. t. tobacco from whom it had its name 18. tausendgulden-kraut 19. telephium , orpine from whom so called 17. it is described , 29 , 30 , 31. it healeth vlcers 30. the time of feverish fomentations 68. thapsia , great spanish scortching fennel , why so called 20. thlaspi , treacle mustard , why so called ? 26. tincture what ? 146. antiscorbutick 109. by john wierus 140. against loose teeth , and bleeding gums , by deckers 192. tragoriganum , why so called 24. trachelium , throatwort , why so called ? 19. trogopogon , goats beard , why so named ? 26. tripolium , sea starwort why so called ? 23. 't is the wild thistle , and is a sensative plant , vide proem . a tree of a wonderful bigness 11 a tree whose leaves do turn into birds and fishes 12. a tree that drops water , a wonderful plant , 10. a wonderful tree growing near memphis , 7. another in the isle of cambabon ib. another in a province of the east indies 9. in peru 7. teucrium , germander , why so called ? 18. v a vaporous bath made with scurvygrass , 173. venome is caused by fermentation in the blood 70. viola martia , why so called , 25. viola nocturna , a wonderful plant 2. vlcers though malignant are certainly cured by the decoction of the sprigs , and leaves of dog-berry bush 30. vnguent for vlcers in the legs ▪ by martinius 182. against foulness and scurfe of the nervy parts , by solyman albertus 184. against looseness of the teeth , and wasting of the gums by the author 189. urtica , nettles why so called ? 19. vularia , neckweed why so named ? 20. vulvara , stinking orach the reason of its name 22. volatile salt of scurvygrass 112. very effectual in the scurvy 112. the way to make it ibid. by the author 112. volatile salts good in many diseases 119. not fit to give in all diseases 118 , 119 , 115 it may be allowed in stubborn diseases 119. given to a man in a tertian ague is proved very dangerous 118. they are hot in the third and fourth degree 115. they are indowed with a very penetrative power 119. they increase the fermentation of the humours 118. volatile salts , from what things they are prepared 115. virga aurea , why so called ? 23. w wine in which a jericho rose hath been infused is an efficacious remedy in difficult labour 3. wine of scurvygrass 64. how is it to be prepared ? 64. it is made by fermentation 65. or without fermentation 64. sennertus his way 64. wine medicinal , by deckers 77. by sennertus 71 , 73. wine antiscorbutick , by mynsichtus 160. wall rue , why so called ? 21. wine the cause hindring their fermentation , 65 , 66 water lilly , the derivation of its name 18. water against the stone in the kidneys , by timaeus 44. good for the spleen , by timaeus 45 , 97. of scurvygrass its vertues 82. against the scurvy , and green sickness 99. by rolfincius 99. by quercetanus 81. by doncrelius 82. by sennertus 83 , 88 , 90. another 89.91 , 92. by doringius 86. another 87. by gr. horstius 93. another 94. by mynsichtus 95 , 97. a water hindering defluctions upon the teeth , and preserving from the scorbutick toothache , by martinius 189. another compound water , by martinius ibid. winter green , the reason of its name , 26. deine spahe 69. weine stumm ibid. wilde tansie 19. water cresses , why so called , 20. water germander 22. x. xyris , stinking gladion , or flag , why so called ? 25. finis . an explanation of the physical characters , or marks used in this book . mb . balneo maria , a bath of hot water . m. manipulus , a handful . p. pugillus , as much as can be took up betwixt two fingers and a thumb . £ . a pound weight . ℥ . an ounce , the sixteenth part of a pound . ʒ . a dragme , the eighth part of an ounce . ℈ . a scruple , the third part of a dragme , it contains 20. grains . gr. a grain , the weight of a barley corn. gut. a drope . q.s. quantum sufficit , as much as is sufficient . q.v. quantum vis , as much as you please . f. fiat . let it be made . ana. of each a like quantity . misce. mix them . cochlear . a spoonful . cong . a gallon . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a51111-e2430 * cap. 4. part . 4. p. 176. b p. 1. p. 357 ▪ c cap 86. d lib. 12. pinac . sect . 4. p. 484. e lib. 12. pag. 412 : f class . 3. quadripart , botanic . p. 302. g lib. 10. pinac . sect . ●● p. 369. h bauh . lib. 1. pag 360. i simon paul. cap. 1. h bauh . lib 12. pinac . sect . 6. p. 51● . l theoph. lib. 4. hist. 3. l borel . cent. 1. histor . & obser. canor . medico . phys. 100. p. 98 : m tho. barth . obs. 38. in anno 1. ephemer . natur. curios . p. 125 , 126. n pag. 126. o sim. paul. quadripart . botan . clas . 4. p iac bon. lib. 5. med. ind. c. 33. q v. ephemes erud . 32. tom. 2. p. 367. r benzo in descrip . ins. canar . occid . part . 6. s sen. hypomnem phys. c. 8. p. 405. t sperl . instit. ph●s . l. 1. c. 7. u kipp . instit. philos. natur . lib. 7. c. 12. w casp. bauh . pinac . l. 12. sect . 6. x gal. l. 4. purga● . med. facult . c. 4. y hen. petr. l. 1. dissertat . harmonic . 12. quaest . 355 pag. 25● . z zac. lus l. 2. de med. princ. histo● . 4. p. 184. a borell . cen● . 4. hist & observ . 〈◊〉 medico phys. 90. p. 34● . b borel . cent . 1. l. hist. & obs . 30. p. 35 ▪ c athan. kirch . l. 12. de mun . subter . l. 1. c. 9. p. 348. d d. mart. bern. obs . quae . 41. est tom. 2. miscel. curios . p. 73. notes for div a51111-e5060 e plin. lib. 25. c. 5. f plin. lib. 25. cap. 5. g plin. lib. 29 cap. 4. h plin lib. 130. cap 24. i dioscor lib. 4 c. 151. k dissertat . harmnn 38. sect. 24. p. 289 l cels. lib. 2. cap. 33. m diosc l. 4. cap. 135. n schv. lib , 2. de stirp . siles . p. 262. o sim. paul. quadri par●● clas . 3. p. 267. p tabernemont l. 2. herb. p. 116 q synonym . plant. p. 115. notes for div a51111-e7410 r lob. icon . p. 467. s bauh . l. 7. §. 1. pinac . theatr . bot. 1. p. 252. t wier de scorbut . p. m. 340 : s sim. paul ▪ c. l. p. 54. plin. l. 25. cap. 3. t dios. lib. 4. c. 2. u gal. l. 6. simpl . med. paul. aegin . l. 7. c. 3. w dios. c. l : x lob. in advers . p. 122. notes for div a51111-e8140 a vid. observat . stirp . p. 1570. b sim. paul. quadripart botanic . c ioh. wier . tract . de scor p. m. 336. ( vide fig. 4. & fig. 1. ) notes for div a51111-e8510 d fab. hild de valetud . tuend . p. m. 646. c●nt 5 observ . chirur. 5. p. 388. f herm nich. obs chir. rar . 97. g schwenckf . lib. 2. stirp . siles , p. 262. notes for div a51111-e8950 h pilleter . plant synonym . p. 1152. i schrod . pharm . medic . chym. lib. 4. clas . 1. p. 50. k brunn . corsil . 63. p. 337. schwenkf . c. l. p. 262. maeb . epitom . instit. med. l. 5. part . 2. § 8. c. 29. p. 662. n frid. hoff. meth. med. wallejan . p. 14. o ioh. iohns . in notit . regni vegetab p. 302. p senn. l. 3. med. prac● . part . 5. §. 2. cap 4. p. 613. q in suo parnas . medicin . illustrato . p. 324. notes for div a51111-e9640 r bald. tim. post epistolas ejus p. 451. s pag. 461. t lib. 3. cas. med. 33 p. 165. notes for div a51111-e11870 u gr. hors. lib. 1. de tuend . san. c. ●6 . p. 72. notes for div a51111-e12060 w vid. sennert . l. 3. med. pract. p. 5. sect . 2. c. 6. p. 619. x sennert . l. 3. med. pract . p. 5. § 2 , c. 6 ▪ p. 617. y mat. mart. p. m 667. z pag. 713. a pag ▪ 7 ●● . b mat. mart ▪ p 668. barb. lib. 4. prax. cap. 8. d lib. 2. c. 4. p. m. 270. dr. ioh mich. fehr in sua hiera , picra . p. 132. he there describes it , vid. infra c. 19. f lib. 20. observ . h. p. m. 298. g observ 12 : p. m. 303. h hartm . prax. chym. p. m. 214. i brown in consel , 30. p. 165. k sim. paul. quadripart . bot an . clas . 2. p 529. notes for div a51111-e16480 l kirg . de ferm . §. 2. c. 8. pag. 13 ▪ kergerus . (m) sennert , l 3. med. pra● . § 2. c. 8. notes for div a51111-e17910 n sennert . l. 5. med. pract . p. 3. §. 2. c. 9. p. 243. o senn. l. 3. med. prac. part . 5. §. 2 , c. 8. pag. 617. lib. 3. cas. med. 34. p. 165. q fred. deck . in notis & obs. in prax. barb. p. 148. (r) sen● lib. 3. med. pract. part . 5. §. 2. cap. 6. p. 617. brun. consil. 30. p. 167. notes for div a51111-e21910 t for lib ●0 . observ. 1. p. 300. u quere cap. 7. pha. mac . w tob. done in dispensatorio ipsius , cap. 17. d. m. 132. x senn. l. 3. med. prac. part . 5. § 2 , c. 6. pag. 621. y sen. lib. jam citat . z p. 622. a sen. p. 623. b p. 649. c greg. horst . observ. 26. p. 253. d observ. 35. p. 277. e hadrian . a myn. in armentorio medico chymico §. 19. p. 314. f mat. mart. in tract . de scorbuto . p. 681. g p. 443. h lib. 3. cans . medic. 33. pag. 164. i pag. 77 , 78. k cap. 13. pag. 236.236 . l par. 217. notes for div a51111-e32570 m sennert , l 3. med prac. part . 3. § 2. c. 6. p. 624. lib 5. c. s. part . 3. § 2. c. 9. p. 343 n sīm . paul. class . 3. p. 268. o rolf lib 3. chym. in a●t . form . reda● . p. 133. p cap. 13. p. 117. q cap. 12. p. 192. r dr. deck . in barb. prac . l. 4. c. 3. p. 157. notes for div a51111-e35020 s hyppocr . aphor. 51. § 2. t zachut lib. 3. pra● . admir . observ. 82. n. 84. p. 334. w cels lib 2. cap 9 pag. 66. notes for div a51111-e35660 x helm . n. 84. p. 334. timaeus lib. 3 cas. med 33 p. 162. notes for div a51111-e36210 * blumen . pharmac d●met & partat . c. 27. p. 76 , 77. a senn. l. 5. med. prac. part . 2. ss . 2. c. 9. pag. 342.343 . b grembs l. 2. arbor , integr . & ruinos . homin . c. 1. ss , 4. p. 197. c bald. tim. lib. 3 cas. med. 33. p. 163. notes for div a51111-e37660 senn. l. 3. med. prac. part . 5 ss . 2. c. 6. pag. 625. e senn p 619. f for. lib. 20. observ. 11. g bald. tim. i. ep. med. 16. p 41. h sen. l 3. med. pract. part . 5. ss . 2. c. 6. p. 619 , 620. i myns . in armament . medico ph ▪ sico. § 16. p. 261. k matth mart. in tract . de scorbuto , p m. 673. matth. mart. p. 683. notes for div a51111-e40980 m sen. lib. 3. med. pract. part . 5 § 2 cap. 6. p. 628 &c. ● c bald. tim. lib. 3 cas. med. 33. p. 164. o in prodomo lexici med . p. 679. p cap 8. p. 93. c. 12 , p. 189 , notes for div a51111-e46030 q senn. l. 3. med. pract. part : 5. §. 2. c 6. p 616. & in tract . de cons & diss. chym. cum aristot. & galen . c. 19. p 401. r bald. tim. lib. 3. cas. 34. p. 164. notes for div a51111-e47900 s schnoder . l. 4. pharmacop . med. chym. p. 50. t senn. l. 3. med. pract. part . 5. §. 2. cap. 6. p. 617. &c. u senn. l. 5. pag. 342. w fet. in tract . de absynth . p. 134 x horst . l. 4. observ . 36 p. 279. y myns . in armament . chy . mico . p. 360. z querc . § 2. c. 1 pag. m. 73. a bald. tim. à. guidenfle● lib. 3 cas. med 33 p. 163. b vid. schroder . l. 4. pharmac . med. chym. p. 50. notes for div a51111-e52260 c schrod . l. 4 pharmac med . chym p. 48 &c. d laur hoffm . tract . de vero usu et fero abus medic . chym . pag , 20. e rolf. l. 4. ch●m . in art form red act . § 6. cap ● p. 275. notes for div a51111-e53090 f for l. 20. observ . 11. p. 300. sol. alb de scorb . p. m. 530. g sol. alb. c. l. pag. 539. h matt. mart. p. 706 , 707. pag. 743. i for. obs. 12. pag. 303. k matt. mart. d. l. p 735. mat. mart. l. c. pag. 746. m for c. l. pag. 299. n sen. l. c. pag ▪ 631 & 632. o sen. ● l pag. 635. deck . d. l. pag. 15● . certain necessary directions, aswell for the cure of the plague as for preuenting the infection; with many easie medicines of small charge, very profitable to his maiesties subiects / set downe by the colledge of physicians by the kings maiesties speciall command ; with sundry orders thought meet by his maiestie, and his priuie councell, to be carefully executed for preuention of the plague ; also certaine select statutes commanded by his maiestie to be put in execution by all iustices, and other officers of the peace throughout the realme ; together with his maiesties proclamation for further direction therein, and a decree in starre-chamber, concerning buildings and in-mates. royal college of physicians of london. 1636 approx. 180 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 77 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a06288 stc 16769.5 estc s108814 23153180 ocm 23153180 9285 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a06288) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 9285) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 844:22 or 1799:14) certain necessary directions, aswell for the cure of the plague as for preuenting the infection; with many easie medicines of small charge, very profitable to his maiesties subiects / set downe by the colledge of physicians by the kings maiesties speciall command ; with sundry orders thought meet by his maiestie, and his priuie councell, to be carefully executed for preuention of the plague ; also certaine select statutes commanded by his maiestie to be put in execution by all iustices, and other officers of the peace throughout the realme ; together with his maiesties proclamation for further direction therein, and a decree in starre-chamber, concerning buildings and in-mates. royal college of physicians of london. [142] p. by robert barker ... and by the assignes of iohn bill., imprinted at london : 1636. signatures: a4(-a1), b-s4. c1r catchword is "demenour." this item can be found at reels 844:22 and 1799:14. imperfect: item at reel 1799:14 stained. reproduction of originals in the british library and harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy 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proquest page images 2006-05 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-05 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion certain necessary directions , aswell for the cure of the plague , as for preuenting the infection ; with many easie medicines of small charge , very profitable to his maiesties subiects . set downe by the colledge of physicians by the kings maiesties speciall command . with sundry orders thought meet by his maiestie , and his priuie councell , to be carefully executed for preuention of the plague . also certaine select statutes commanded by his maiestie to be put in execution by all iustices , and other officers of the peace throughout the realme ; together with his maiesties proclamation for further direction there in : and a decree in starre-chamber , concerning buildings and in-mates . ¶ imprinted at london by robert barker , printer to the kings most excellent maiestie : and by the assignes of iohn bill . 1636. ¶ to the iustices of peace . as the want of lawes occasioneth wrongs to be committed wittingly ; and want of knowledge of lawes carieth men into offences ignorantly : so are laws themselues a burthen when they are too many , and their very number is a cause that few are executed : where penall lawes haue otherwise no life , but in their execution . and certainely that magistrate who knowes but few , and causeth those to be duely obserued , deserueth better of the commonwealth , then he that knoweth many , and executes but few . therefore is the composition of this volume , that those few laws , and other ordinances being most needfull for the time , may bee easily had , soone knowne , and duely executed ; which is required by his maiestie . ¶ the contents of this booke . an aduice set downe by the colledge of phisicians , for preuention and cure of the plague . 2 orders concerning health . 3 a proclamation for quickning the lawes made for the reliefe of the poore , and the suppressing , punishing , and setling of the sturdy rogues and vagabonds . 4 an act for the reliefe of the poore . 5 an act for the necessary reliefe of souldiers and mariners . 6 an act for punishment of rogues , vagabonds , and sturdy beggars . 7 an act for the charitable reliefe and ordering of persons infected with the plague . 8 a decree of starre-chamber against inmates and ne● buildings . at whitehall 22. aprill , 1636. present the kings most excellent majesty . l. archbishop of cant. lord keeper . lo. duke of lenox . l. chamberlain . earle of dorset . earle of salisbury . earle of holland . lord viso . wilmot . lord cottington . lord newburgh . m. treasurer . m. comptroller . m. vicechamberlaine . m. secretary coke . m. secretary wind●ba●● . it was this day ordered , that the iustices of peace of middlesex and surrey , shall forthwith meet together , and shall seriously consider of and set downe such rates as are fit for the raising of moneyes to build pest-houses , or to prouide other convenient habitations , or places of aboade for infected people , and to furnish them with all other necessaries for their reliefe , and shall take order for levying , and collecting the same accordingly . it is likewise thought fit and ordered , that the iustices of peace of middlesex shal repair vnto , and ioine with the lord maior and aldermen of the citie of london , in making additionall orders ( to those heretofore printed ) to bee forthwith printed for preventing , so much as may be , the increase of the infection ; and shall be hereby authorised from time to time hereafter to make such orders as they shall thinke fit and convenient for the purposes aforesaid . also the church wardens and overseers of the poore , and constables of every parish , are hereby required and enioyned to prouide themselues with bookes for their directions . lastly , the physicians of the citie of london are to renew the former booke touching their medicines against the infection , and to adde vnto and alter the same as they finde the present times and occasions to require , and to cause the said booke to be forthwith printed . to the kings most excellent maiestie . whereas it hath pleased your maiestie , out of your royall care of the safety and welfare of your subiects , by your speciall command , as also by order from the lords of your maiesties most honourable priuie councell to enioyne the colledge of physicians to renew their former book touching their medicins against the infection , and to adde vnto and alter the same , as they finde the present times and occasion to require : wee , the president and colledge of physicians , in all obedience to your royal command , haue often met and maturely considered of the premisses , and vpon serious reuiew of our former booke , haue made such additions and alterations as wee iudged most requisite for the present occasion ; which we haue caused to be printed , and now most humbly present vnto your most gracious maiestie . an aduice set downe by the colledge of physicians , by his maiesties speciall command , containing certaine necessary directions , as well for the cure of the plague , as for preuenting the infection ; with many easie medicines and of small charge , the vse wherof may be very profitable to his maiesties subiects . doctors , apothecaries and chirurgions . the church orders for praiers being first obserued as in former times , it is thought necessary that by the gouernment of the city there be appointed sixe or fowre doctors at least , who may apply themselues to the cure of the infected : and that these doctors bee stipendiaries to the city for their liues : and that to each doctor there be assigned two apothecaries and three chirurgions , who are also to be stipended by the city , that so due and true care may be taken in all things , that the people perish not without helpe , and that the infection spread not , while none take particular care to resist it , as in paris , venice , and padua , and many other cities . and if any doctor , apothecary or chirurgion stipended by the city shall happen to die in the seruice of the attendance of the plague , then their widowes suruiuing shall haue their pensions during their liues . men or goods from forreigne infected places . it is likewise necessary that there be care taken that neither men nor goods may come from any suspected places beyond the seas or in the land , without certificate of health , or else either to bee sent suddainely away , or to be put to the pest-house or some such like place for forty daies ( according to the custome of italy , ) till the certainty of their soundnesse may bee discouered . two places for entertainement are to bee prouided ; one for the sound and another for those who are infected . that all established good orders bee reuiued . that the statutes and good orders made and formerly published against common beggars , against all manner of plaies , bowling-allies , inmates , tipling-houses , lestalls , against the sale of corrupt flesh or fish , may be reuiued and strictly executed , and that the skauengers in generall , and euery particular housholder take care for the due and orderly cleansing of the streets and priuate houses , which will auaile much in this case . that dogges , catts , conies and tame pidgeons be destroyed about the towne , or to bee kept so sparingly that no offence may come by them , and that no swine be permitted to range vp and down the streets , as they frequently doe , or rather not to keepe any at all . it were also to bee wished that the slaughter-houses were vtterly put from out the liberties of the city , being in themselues very offensiue , and that tunnells in church-vaults be considered of , and the depth of graues . to be ca●tolous vpon any suspition . it is to be feared , because every one desireth his owne liberty , that none will giue notice of any suspition of the plague against themselues ; wherefore that must be the ouerseers care , vpon any notice or suspition of infection , by the helpe of the doctors , chirurgions , keepers or searchers , to finde out the truth thereof , and so to proceed accordingly , but not to depend vpon the testimony of women searchers alone . the care to be taken when a house is visited . that vpon the discouery of the infection in any house , there bee present meanes vsed to preserue the whole , as well as to cure the infectted . and that no sick person be remoued out of any house , though to another of his owne , without notice thereof to be giuen to the ouerseers and to be by them approued : or if the whole be to be remoued , that notice be giuen to the ouerseers of their remoue , and that caution be giuen that they shall not wander about till they be sound . the house that is known to be infected , though none be dead therein , to be shut vp , and carefully kept watched by more trusty men then ordinary warders , till a time after the partie be well recouered , and that time to be forty dayes at the least . caution concerning flying into the countrey . because many masters of families , presently vpon the visiting of their houses before any be dead , fly into the countrey to their friends , by which meanes the plague is often carried into the countrey : that no man shall depart his house except it be to an house not inhabited , and that it be to an house of such distance as that he may conueniently trauell thither without lying by the way , much lesse that hee send his children or seruants and this to be done , by the approbation of the ouerseers vnder their hands . that such also as remooue into the countrey before their houses bee visited , haue a certificate from the ouerseers of their parish , vnder their hands and seales , testifying , that such persons were not visited before their remoue , that by vertue thereof they may the freeli●r trauell in the countrey , and be more readily entertained . that no infected person be secretly conueied out of any house : and in any such misdemeanour the master of the house , both from which the sicke party is sent , as also the master of the house into which the partie shall be receiued without the licence of the ouerseers of both parishes respectiuely , shall be seuerally punished at the discretion of the ouerseers . because it is likely that the better sort will not call to them such doctors as are deputed to the care of the plague , vpon the first fulling sick of any in their houses , lest thereby they might draw greater infection vpon themselues ▪ if therefore any house so bring other doctors shall happen to be visited , that then the doctor , who shall ordinarily take the care of that house , shall presently cause notice of the said infection to be giuen to the ouerseers , that care may be had thereof by the physicians deputed . buriall of the dead . that one being dead in any house of the plague , notice be giuen to the ouerseers , and that the dead party be buried by night in priuate manner ; yet not without the priuity of the minister , clerk , bearers , and constable or ouerseers , and that none enter the visited house but permitted persons , vpon danger to be presently shut vp themselues , and that there be a visible marke set vpon the outside of the doore , and to stand shut vp fourty dayes , and that there be no tolling or ringing of bells at such priuate burialls . caution about apparell and housholdstuffe . that no apparell nor housholdstuffe be remoued or sold out of the infected house , for six moneths after the infection is ceased in the house , and that all the brokers and inferiour criers for apparell be restrained in that behalfe . preseruatiues . correction of the ayre . for the correcting of the infectious aire , it were good that often bonfires were made in the streets , and that sometime the tower ordnance might be shot off , as also that there be good fiers kept in & about the visited houses and their neighbours . take rosemary dried , or iuniper , baileaues or frankincense : cast thē same vpon a chafingdish , and receiue the fume or smoake thereof . also to make fiers rather in pans to remoue about the chamber , then in chimneies , shall better correct the aire of the houses , adding a piece of old iron to the fire . take a quantity of vineger very strong , and put to it some small quantity of rose-water , ten branches of rosemary , put them all into a bason , then take fiue or six flint stones , heated in the fire till they bee burning hot , cast them into the same vineger , and so let the fumes be receiued from place to place of your house . that the house be often perfumed with rue , angelica , gentian , zedoary , setwall , iuniper wood or berries burnt vpon imbers , either simply , or they may bee steeped in wine vineger , and so burnt . perfume the house and all therein with this : slake lime in vineger , and aire the house therewith , burne much tar , rosen , frankinsence or turpentine , both in the priuate houses , and in the churches before prayers . by perfuming of apparell . svch apparell as you shall commonly weare , let it be very cleane , and perfume it often , either with some virginia cedar burned , or with iuniper , and if any shall happen to be with them that are visited , let such persons , as soone as they shall come home , shift themselues , and ayre their clothes in open ayre for a time . by carrying about of perfumes . svch as are to go abroad shall do well to carry rue , angelica , or zedoarie in their hands to smell to ; and of those they may chew a little in their mouthes as they go in the street , especially if they be afraid of any place . it is not good to be ouer-fearefull , but it cannot be but bad to be ouer-presumptuous and bold . take rue one handfull , stamp it in a morter , put thereto wine vineger enough to moisten it , mixe them well , then straine out the iuyce , wet a piece of spunge , a toast of browne bread therein , tie it in a thin cloth , beare it about to smell to . take the root of angelica beaten grosly the weight of six pence , of rue and wormwood , of each the weight of foure pence , setwall the weight of three pence , bruise these , then steep them in a little wine vineger , tie them in a linen cloth ; which they may carry in their hands , or put it into a iuniper box full of holes to smell to . or they may vse this pomander . take angelica , rue , zedoarie , of each halfe a dram , myrrhe two drams , camphire six graines , wax and labdanum of each two drams , more or lesse as shall be thought fit to mixe with the other things , make hereof a ball to carry about you : you may easily make a hole in it , and so weare it about your neck with a string . the richer sort may make vse of this pomander . take citron pills , angelica seeds , zedoary , red rose leaues , of each halfe a dram , yellow sanders , lignum aloes , of each one scruple , galliae moschatae foure scruples , storax , calamit , beuzoni , of each one dram , camphire six graines , labdanum three drams , gum tragaranth dissolued in rose water enough to make it vp into a pomander , put thereto six drops of spirit of roses , inclose it into an iuory box , or weare it about your neck . by inward medicines . let none go fasting forth , euery one according to their fortunes , let them eat some such thing as may resist putrefaction . some may eat garlike with butter , a cloue two or three , according to the ability of their bodies : some may eat fasting , some of the electuary with figs and rue hereafter expressed : some may vse london treacle , the weight of eight pence in a morning , taking more or lesse , according to the age of the party ; after one houre let them eat some other breakfast , as bread and butter with some leaues of rue or sage , and in the heat of summer of sorreli or wood-sorrrell . to steep rue , wormwood or sage all night in their drink , and to drink a good draught in the morning fasting , is very wholsome , or to drink a draught of such drink after the taking of any of the preseruatiues will be very good . in all summer plagues it shal be good to vse sorrell sawce to be eaten in the morning with bread , and in the fall of the leafe to vse the iuyce of barberies with bread also . by cordialls . mithridates medicine of figs. take of good figs and walnut kirnels of each twenty foure , rue picked two good handfulls , of salt halfe an ounce or somewhat better : first stamp your figs and walnuts well together in a stone morter , then adde your rue , and last of all your salt , mixe them exceedingly well : take of this mixture euery morning fasting the weight of sixteene pence , to children and weake bodies lesse . or this will be effectuall also . take twenty walnuts , pill them , figs , fifteen , rue a good handfull , tormentill roots three drams , iuniper berries two drams , bole armoniack a dram and a halfe . first stamp your roots , then your figs and seeds , then adde your walnuts , then put to your rue and bole , and with them put thereto sixe drams of london treacle , and two or three spoonfuls of wine vineger , mixe them well in a stone motrer , and take of this euery morning the quantitie of a good nutmegg fasting they that haue cause to goe much abroad , may take as much more in the euening two houres before supper . for women with child , children , and such as cannot take bitter things , vse this . take conserue of red roses , conserue of wood-sorrell of each two ounces , conserues of borage , of sage flowers , of each sixe drams , bole armoniack , shauings of harts horne , sorrell seeds , of each two drams , yellow or white sanders halfe a dram , saffron one scruple , sirrupe of wood-sorrell , enough to make it a moist electuary ; mixe them well , take so much as a chesnut at a time , once or twice a day , as you shall finde cause . for the richer sort . take the shauings of harts horne , of pearle , of corall , tormentill rootes , zedoarie , true terra sigillata , of each one dram , citron pills , yellow , white and red sanders , of each halfe a dram , white amber , hyacinth-stone prepared , of each two scruples , bezoar stone , of the east vnicornes horne , of each 24. graines , citron and orange pills canded , of each three drams , lignum aloes one scruple , white suger candie , twice the weight of all the rest , mixe them well being made into a dredge powder . take the weight of 12. d. at a time euery morning fasting , and also in the euening about fiue a clocke or an houre before supper . with these powders and sugar there may be made lozenges , or manus christies , and with conuenient conserues they may be made into electuaries . all which and many more for their health they may haue by the aduice and directions of their owne physicians : or at least physicians will not be wanting to direct them as they may haue need to the poore for charities sake . they may also vse bezoar water , or treacle water distilled , compounded by the physicians of london , and known by the name of aqua theriacalis stillatitia , which they may vse simply ; or they may mixe them also with all their antidotes , as occasion shall require . the vse of london treacle is good both to preserue from the sicknesse , as also to cure the sicke , being taken upon the first apprehension in a greater quantitie , as to a man 2. drams , but lesse to a weake body , or a childe , in carduus , or dragon water . take of the finest cleare aloes you can buy , in colour like to a liuer , and therefore called hepatica , of cinamon , of myrrhe , of each of these the weight of three french crownes , or of two and twentie pence of our money , of cloues , maces , lignum aloes , of mastick , of bole orientall , of each of these halfe an ounce , mingle them together , and beat them into a very fine powder : of the which take every morning fasting the weight of a groat in white wine delayed with water . take a dry figg and open it , and put the kernell of a walnut into the same , being cut very small , three or fower leaues of rue commonly called herbgrace , a corne of salt , then rost the figg and eat it warme , fast three or fower houres after it , and vse this twice in the weeke . take the powder of tormentill , the weight of six pence , with sorrell or scabious water in summer , and in the winter with the water of valerian , or common drincke wherein hath bene infused the fore named herbes . or else , in one day they may take a little wormewood and valerian with a graine of salt , in an other day they may take seuen or eight berries of iuniper , dried and put in powder , and taking the same with common drincke , or with drincke in which wormewood and rue hath been steeped all night . also the treacle called diatessaroum , which is made but of foure things , of light price easie to be had . also the roote of enula campana taken in powder with drinke . likewise a piece of arras roote kept in the mouth as men passe in the streets . take six leaues of sorrell , wash them with water and vineger , let them lie in the said water and vineger a while : then eats them fasting , and keepe in your mouth and chew now and then either setwall or the roote of angelica or a little cinamom , or foure graines of myrrhe or so much of rattle snake roote . by medicines purgatiue : it is good for preuention to keep the bodie reasonable open , especially with such things as are easie of operation and good to resist putrefaction , such are these pills which are vsually to be had at good apothecaries , and are called pestilentiall pills . take aloes two ounces , myrrhe and saffron , of each an ounce , ammoniacum halfe an ounce ; make them vp into a masse with the iuice of limons , or white wine vineger , to keep the bodie open , a small pill or two will be enough taken a little before supper , or before dynner , but to purge the bodie take the weight of a dram made into fiue or six or more pills in the morning fasting , and that day keepe your chamber . if the patient be costine and bound in his body , let him take a suppositary made with a little boiled honey , and a little fine powder of salt , and so taken in at the fundament , and kept till it mooue a stoole . for the poore take aloes the waight of six pence , put in the pappe of an apple : and for the richer , pills of ruffus to be had in euery apothecaries shop . such as are tied to necessarie attendance on the infected , as also such as liue in visited houses shall doe well to cause issues to to be made in their left armes or right legs , or both as the doctor shall thinke fit . blood letting . if the patient be ful of bloud and strong , let him be let bloud vpon the liuer-veine in the right arme , or in the median veine of the same arme ( if no sore appeare . ) for bloud-letting and strong purging there must bee particular directions had from the doctors deputed according to the constitution of the parties . these two last remdies of blood-letting , and strong purgings , are to bee vsed the first day that the patient shall fall sicke as cause shall be to vse the one or the other , ( no sore appearing ) in which case , if any sore or spots shall appeare , they are both to be forborne . vomits . to prouoke vomit , with two ounces of ranck oyle , or walnut oyle , a spoonefull of the iuice of celendine , and halfe a spoonfull of the iuice of radish roote , or two spoonfuls of oxymel of squils with posset drink and oile . medicines expulsiue . the poison is expelled best by sweating prouoked by posset ale made with fennell and marigolds in winter , and with sorrell , buglosse , and borage in summer , with the which in both times they must mingle london treacle , the waight of two drammes : and so to lay themselues with all quietnesse to sweat one halfe houre , or an houre if they be strong . for the cure of the infected vpon the first apprehension , b ur seeds , cucheneely , powder of harts horne , citron seeds one , or more of them , with a few graines of camphire , are good to bee giuen in carduus or dragon water , or with some treacle water . take burre seeds and cucheneely , of each halfe a dramme , or to a weak body of each one scruple , camphire fiue graines , mix these with two ounces of carduus or dragon water , halfe an ounce of treacle water , sirrup of wood sorrell a spoonefull , mix these , giue it the patient warme , couer him to sweat , you may giue him a second draught after twelue houres , let him drinke no cold drinke , this posset drinke or the like will be good to giue the visited liberally . take wood-sorrell halfe a handfull , marigold flowers halfe so much , shavings of harts-horne three drams , a figge or two sliced , boile them well in cleare posset drink , let them drink thereof freely , you may put thereto a little suger . take citron seeds six or eight , shavings of harts-horne halfe a dramme , london treacle one dramme , mix them with two ounces of carduus water , or with three ounces of the prescribed posset drinke . drinke it warme and so lie to sweat . take sorrell-water fiue or sixe spoonfuls , treacle-water one spoonefull , london-treacle one dramme and a halfe , mix them well , giue it warme , and so lay the patient to sweat . take tormentill and celandine roots of each foure ounces , scabious and rue of each one handfull and a halfe , white wine viniger three pints , boile these till one pint be wasted , straine out the liquor , which reserue for the vse of the infected : let it be taken thus . take of this liquor and of carduus water of each one ounce and an halfe , london treacle one dramme and a halfe . bole-armoniak halfe a scruple , put thereto a litte sugar , mix them well , let the partie drinke it warme , and couer him to sweat . in summer this is good . take the iuice of wood-sorrel two ounces , the iuice of lymons one ounce , diascordium one dramme , cinamom sixe grains , viniger halfe an ounce , giue it warme , and lay the sicke party to sweat . vse this in case of fluxes of the belly or want of rest . take an egge and make a hole in the top of it , take out the white and yolke , fill the shell with the weight of two french crownes of saffron , rost the said egge thus filled with saffron vnder the embers , vntill the shell begin to wax yellow . then take it from the fire , and beat the shell and saffron in a morter together with halfe a spoonefull of mustard seed . take of this powder a french crowne waight , and as soone as you suspect your selfe infected , dissolue it into ten spoonfuls of posset ale , and drinke it luke-warme , then go to bed and prouoke your selfe to sweating . or , take one dram of the electuarium de ouo . take fiue or six handfuls of sorrell that groweth in the field , or a greater quantity according as you wil distill more or lesse of the water thereof , and let it lie infused or steeped in good vineger the space of twenty foure houres , then take it off and dry it with a linen cloth , and put it into a limbeck , and distill the water thereof , and as soone as you finde your selfe touched with the sicknesse , drinke foure spoonfuls of the said water with a little sugar , and if you be able walk vpon it vntill you sweat , if not , keep your bed , and being well couered prouoke your selfe to sweating . take of the root butter-burre , otherwise called pestilent ▪ wort one ounce , of the root of great valerian a quarter of an ounce , of sorrell an handfull , boyle all these in a quart of water to a pinte , then straine it , and put thereto two spoonefulls of vineger , two ounces of good sugar , boyle all these together vntill they be well mingled : let the infected drink of this so hot as he may suffer it , a good draught , and if he chance to cast it vp againe , let him take the same quantity straight way vpon it , and prouoke himselfe to sweat . or the infected may take one dram of this powder following . take sugar of roses foure ounces , ginger two ounces , camphire one ounce , make these into fine powder , keep it made vp into balls with wine . take of the powder of good bay-berry , the huske taken away from them , before they be dried , a spoonfull ; let the patient drinke this well mingled in a draught of good stale ale or beere , or with a draught of white wine , and go to bed , and cast himselfe into a sweat , and forbeare sleep . take the inward bark of the ash-tree one pound , of walnuts with the greene outward shels to the number of fiftie , cut these small ; of scabious , of veruin , of euery one a handfull , of saffron two drams , powre vpon these the strongest vineger you can get foure pintes , let them a little boyle together vpon a very soft fire , and then stand in a very close pot well stopt all a night vpon the embers , after distill them with a soft fire , and receiue the water close kept . giue vnto the patient laid in bed and well couered with clothes , two ounces of this water to drinke , and let him bee prouoked to sweat , and euery eight houres during the space of twenty foure houres giue him the same quantitie to drinke . care must bee taken in the vse of these sweating cordialls , that the party infected sweat two or three houres , if hee haue strength , and sleep not till the sweat bee ouer , and that hee haue beene well wiped with warme linen , and when he hath been dried let him wash his mouth with water and vineger warme , and let his face and hands bee washed with the same : when these things are done , giue him a good draught of broath made with chicken or mutton with rosemary , thyme , sorrell , succory and marigolds ; or else water-grewell , with rosemary and winter-sauory , or thyme panado seasoned with veriuyce or iuyce of wood-sorrell . for their drinke let it be small beere warmed with a toste , or water boiled with carraway seed , carduus seed , and a crust of bread , or such posset drinke as is mentioned before in the second medicine ; after some nutriment let them sleepe or rest often washing their mouth with water and vineger . these cordials must be repeated once in eight , ten or twelue houres at the furthest . if the partie infected vomit vp his medicine , then repeat , it presently , or else giue him two or three spoonefuls of vineger of squills , or oxymel of squills with ▪ posset drink , and then after proceed . medicines externall . vesicatories applied to the armes , inside of the thighes , or about the bottome of the calfe of the leg , will draw forth the venome : but the vse of these requires the direction of the doctors deputed . for the swelling vnder the eares , arme-pits , or in the groines , they must bee alwayes drawen forth and ripened , and broke with all speed . these tumors , and much more the carbuncles and blaines doe require the care and skill of the expert chirurgion : but not to leave the poorer sort destitute of good remedies , these following are very good . pull off the feathers from the tailes of liuing cocks , hennes , pigeons , or chickens , and holding their bills , hold them hard to the botch or swelling , and so keepe them at that part vntill they die , and by this meanes draw out the poison . it is good to apply a cupping glasse or embers in a dish , with a handfull of sorrell vpon the embers . to breake the tumor . take a great onion , hollow it , put into it a figge , rue cut small , and a dram of venice treacle , put it close stopped in a wet paper , and roste it in the embers . apply it hot vnto the tumor , lay three or foure one after another , let one lie three houres scabious and sorrell rosted in the embers mixt with a little strong leaven , and some barrowes grease , and a little salt , will draw it and breake it . take two or three rosted onions , a lillie root or two rosted , a handfull of scabious rosted , foure or fiue figs , a piece of leauen and a little rue , stampe all these together , if it be too dry , put to it two ounces of oile of lillies , or so much salt butter , make a pultesse , applie it hot , after it hath lien three or foure houres , take it off and burne it , and apply a fresh pultesse of the same , if it proue hard to breake , adde a little burnt copperasse to the pultesse . or this . take the flowers of elders two handfuls , rocker seed bruised one ounce , pigeons dung three drams : stampe these together , put to them a little oile of lillies , make thereof a pultesse , apply it and change it as you did the former . to draw . vvhen it is broken , to draw it & heale it take the yolke of an egge , one ounce of honey of roses , turpentine halfe an ounce , wheat flowre a little , london treacle a dram and a halfe , mixe these wel , spread it vpon leather , change it twice a day , or take diachylon cum gummis . for the carbuncle . applie an actuall or potentiall cautery , saying a defensatiue of bole ▪ armoniack , or terra sigillata , mixed with vineger and the white of an egge , round about the tumour , but not vpon it . take three or foure cloues of garlick , rue halfe a handfull , foure figges , strong leauen , and the soote of a chymney in which wood hath beene burnt , of each , halfe an ounce , mustard-seed two drams , salt a dram and a halfe , stampe these well together , and applie it hot to the sore : you may put thereto a little salt butter , if it be too dry . or this . take leaven halfe an ounce , radish rootes the bigger the better , an ounce and an halfe , mustard-seed two drams , onions and garlick rosted , of each two drams and a halfe , venice treacle , or mithridatum , three drams , mixe these in a morter , applie it hot thrice a day to the sore . but these sores cannot be well ordered and cured , without the personall care of a discreet surgeon . take of scabious two handfuls , stamp it in a stone morter , with a pestle of stone if you can get any such , then put into it of old swines grease salted two ounces , and the yolke of an egge , stampe them well together , and lay part of this warme to the sore . take of the leaues of mallowes , of camomyll flowers , or either of them a handfull , of linseed beaten into powder two ounces , boyle the mallow leaues first cut , and the flowers of camomyll in faire water , standing about a fingers breadth : boyle all them together , vntill all the water be almost spent , then put thereunto the linseed , of wheat flowre halfe a handfull , of swines grease , the skinnes taken away , three ounces , of oyle of lillies two ounces , stir them still with a stick , and let them all boyle together on a soft fire without smoake , vntill the water bee vtterly spent : beat them altogether in a morter vntill they be well incorporated , and in feeling , smooth and not rough . then take part thereof hot in a dish , set vpon a chafindish of coales , and lay it thick vpon a linen cloth , applying it to the sore . take a white onion cut in pieces , of fresh butter three ounces , of leauen the weight of twelue pence , of mallowes one handfull , of scabious , if it may bee had , one handfull , of cloves of garlick the weight of twenty pence : boyle them on the fire in sufficient water , and make a pultesse of it , and lay it warme to the sore . another . take two handfuls of valerian , three rootes of danewort , an handfull of smallage or lovage . seeth them all in butter and water , and a few crums of bread , and make a pultesse thereof , and lay it warme to the sore till it breake . another . if you cannot haue these hearbes , it is good to lay a loafe of bread to it hot , as it commeth out of the oven ( which afterward shall be burnt or buried in the earth ) or the leaues of scabious or sorrell rosted , or two or three lilly rootes , rosted vnder embers , beated and applied . ¶ orders thought meete by his maiestie and his priuie councell , to be executed throughout the counties of this realme , in such townes , villages and other places as are , or may be hereafter infected with the plague , for the stay of further increase of the same . as the most louing and gracious care of his maiesty for the preseruation of his people , hath already beene earnestly shewed and declared by such meanes and waies as were thought expedient to suppresse the grieuous infection of the plague , and to preuent the increase thereof , within the city of london , & parts about it ; so whatsoeuer other good meanes may bee yet remaining which may extend and proue behouefull to the countrey abroad ( where his maiestie is sorry to vnderstand that the contagion is also in many places dispersed ) it is likewise his gracious pleasure , that the same be carefully prouided and put in practise . and therefore hauing taken knowledge of certaine good orders that were vpon like occasion published in time past , together with certaine rules and medicines prescribed by the best and most learned physicians , and finding both of them to serue well for the present time , his maiesty is pleased , that the same shall be renewed and published : and withall straitly commandeth all iustices of the peace , and others to whom it may appertaine , to see the said orders duely executed . at the court at hāpton court this 30. of iuly . 1603. infection of the plague . inprimis , all the iustices in euery county , aswel within the liberties as without , immediately upon knowledge to them giuen , shall assemble themselues together at some one generall place accustomed , being clear from infection of the plague , to consult how these orders following may be duly put in execution : not meaning that any iustices dwelling in or neere places infected , shall come thither , whiles their comming may be doubtfull . and after their first generall assembly , they shall make a distribution of themselves to sundry limits and diuisions , as in other common seruices of the county they are accustomed to doe , for the prosecution thereof . 2 first , they shall enquire , and presently informe themselues by all good meanes , what towns and villages are at the time of such assembly infected within every their counties , and in what hundred or other diuision the said townes and villages are , and how many of the same places so infected are corporate townes , market townes , and villages , and shall consider of what wealth the inhabitants of the same townes and parishes are , to be able to relieue the poore that are or shal be infected , and to be restrained in their houses . 3 item , thereupon after conference vsed according to the necessitie of the cause , they shall deuise and make a general taxation , either by charging the towne infected with one summe in grosse , or by charging the speciall persons of wealth within the same , to be forth with collected for the rate of one moneth at the first , and so if the sicknesse shall continue , the collection of the like summe , or of more or of lesse , as time and cause shall require , and the same to be every first , second , third or fourth weeke employed to and for the execution of the said orders . and in case some of the said townes infected , shall manifestly appeare not to bee of sufficient abilitie to contribute sufficient for the charges requisite , then the taxation or collection shall bee made or further extended to other parts , or in any other further limits , as by them shall bee thought requisite , where there shall be any such townes or villages so infected , and vnable to relieue themselues . and if the said townes be situated in the borders & confines of any other shire , then as the iustices shall see cause and need for the greatnesse of the charge requisite , that the parts of the shire ioyning to the towns infected be not able , they shal write their letters to the next iustices of the other shire so confining , to procure by collection some reliefe , as in like cases they are to relieue them , in respect of neere neighbourhood of the place , & for that the same infection may be the better stayed from the said adioyning places , though they be separated by name of the county . 4 item , they shall cause to be appointed in euery parish aswell infected as not infected , certaine persons to view the bodies of all such as shall die , before they be suffered to be buried , and to certifie the minister of the church and churchwarden , or other principall officers , or their substitutes of what probable disease the said persons died : and the said viewers , to haue weekely some allowance , & the more large allowance where the townes or parishes bee infected , during the infection , towards their maintenance , to the end they which shal be in places infected , may forbeare to resort into the company of others that are sound : and those persons to be sworne to make true report according to their knowledge , & the choise of them to bee made by direction of the curate of the church , with three or foure substantiall men of the parish . and in case the said viewers either through fauour or corruption ▪ shall giue wrong certificate , or shal refuse to serue being thereunto appointed , then to cause them to be punished by imprisonment , in such sort as may serue for a terrour to others . 5 item , the houses of such persons out of the which there shall die any of the plague , beeing so certified by the viewers , or otherwise knowen , or where it shall bee vnderstood , that any person remaineth sicke of the plague , to bee closed vp in all parts during the time of restraint , viz. sixe weekes , after the sicknesse be ceased in the same house , in case the said houses so infected shal be within any towne hauing houses neere adioyning to the same . and if the infection happen in houses dispersed in villages , and separated from other houses , and that of necessitie , for the seruing of their cattell , and manuring of their ground , the said persons cannot continue in their houses , then they bee neuerthelesse restrained from resorting into company of others , either publikely , or priuately during the said time of restraint , and to weare some mark in their vppermost garments , or beare white rods in their hands at such time as they shall goe abroad : yf there be any doubt that the masters and owners of the houses infected , will not duely obserue the directions of shutting vp the doores , specially in the night , then shall there be appointed two or three watchmen by turnes , which shall be sworne to attend & watch the house , and to apprehend any person that shall come out of the house contrary to the order , and the same persons by order of the iustices , shall be a competent time imprisoned in the stockes in the high way next to the house infected : and furthermore , some special marke shall be made and fixed to the doores of euery of the infected houses , and where any such houses shall be innes or alehouses , the signes shall be taken downe for the time of the restraint , and some crosse , or other mark set vpon the place thereof to be a token of the sickenesse . 6 item , they shall haue good regard to chuse honest persons , that either shall collect the summes assessed , or shall haue the custodie thereof , and out of the said collection to allot a weekly proportion for the finding of victuall , or fire , or medicines for the poorer sort , during the time of their restraint . and whereas some persons being well disposed to yeeld almes and reliefe , will be more willing to giue some portions of victuall , as corne , bread , or other meat , the same shall be committed to the charge of some special persons , that will honestly and truely preserue the same , to be distributed as they shall be appointed for the poore that are infected . 7 item , to appoint certaine persons dwelling within the townes infected , to prouide and deliuer all necessaries of victuals , or any matter of watching or other attendance , to keep such as are of good wealth being restrained , at their owne proper costs and charges , and the poore at the common charges : and the said persons so appointed to be ordered , not to resort to any publike assembly during the time of such their attendance , as also to weare some marke on their vpper garment , or to beare a white rod in their hand , to the end others may auoide their company . 8 item , that in the shire towne in euery countie , and in other great townes meete for that purpose , there may be prouision bespoken and made , of such preseruatiues and other remedies , which otherwise in meaner towns cannot be readily had , as by the physicians shall be prescribed , and is at this present reduced into an aduice made by the physicians , and now printed and sent with the said orders , which may be fixed in market-places , vpon places vsuall for such publique matters , and in other townes in the bodies of the parish churches , and chappels : in which aduice only such things are prescribed , as vsually are to be had and found in all countreys without great charge or cost . 9 item , the ministers and curats , and the churchwardens in euery parish , shall in writing certifie weekely to some of the iustices , residing within the hundred or other limit where they serue , the number of such persons as are infected and doe not die , and also of all such as shall die within their parishes , and their diseases probable whereof they died , and the same to be certified to the rest of the iustices at their assemblies , which during some conuenient time would be euery one and twenty dayes , and thereof a particular book kept by the clerk of the peace , or some such like . 10 item , to appoint some place apart in each parish for the buriall of such persons as shall die of the plague , as also to giue order that they be buried after sun setting , and yet neuerthelesse by day light , so as the c●eate be present for the obseruation of the rites and ceremonies prescribed by the law , foreseeing as much as coueniently he may , to be distant from the danger of infection of the person dead , or of the company that shall bring the corpse to the graue . 11 item , the iustices , of the whole countie to assemble once in one and twentie dayes , to examine whether those orders be duely executed , and to certifie to the lords of the priuie councell their proceedings in that behalfe , what townes and villages be infected , as also the numbers of the dead , and the diseases whereof they dyed , and what summes of money are taxed and collected to this purpose , and how the same are distributed . 12 item , the iustices of the hundred , where any such infection is , or the iustices next adioyning thereunto , to assemble once a weeke , to take accompt of the execution of the said orders , and as they finde any lacke or disorder , either to reforme it themselues , or to report it at the generall assembly there , to be by a more common consent reformed . 13 item , for that the contagion of the plague groweth and encreaseth no way more , then by the vse and handling of such clothes , bedding and other stuffe as hath bin worne and occupied by the infected of this disease , during the time of their disease : the said iustices shal in the places infected take such order , that all the said clothes and other stuffe , so occupied by the diseased , so soone as the parties diseased of the plague are all of them either well recouered or dead , be either burnt and cleane consumed with fire , or else aired in such sort as is prescribed in an especiall article contained in the aduice set downe by the physicians . and for that peraduenture the losse of such apparell , bedding , and other stuffe to be burnt , may be greater then the poore estate of the owners of the same may well beare : it is thought very good & expedient , if it be thought meet it shall be burnt , that then the said iustices , out of such collections as are to be made within their counties for the reliefe of the poorer sort that be infected , allow also them such summe or summes as to them shall be thought reasonable , in recompense of the losse of their said stuffe . 14 item , the said iustices may put in execution any other orders that by them at their generall assembly shall be deuised and thought meet , tending to the preseruation of his maiesties subiects from the infection . and to the end their care and diligence may the better appeare , they shall certifie in writing the said orders newly deuised : and if any shall wilfully break and contemne the same , or any the orders herein specified , they shall either presently punish them by imprisonment , or if the persons so contemning them , shall be of such countenance as the iustices shall thinke meet to haue their faults known to his maiestie , or to the councell , they shall charge and binde them to appeare before vs , and the contempt duely certified , that there may be a more notorious sharpe example made by punishment of the same by order of his maiesty . 15 item , if there be lacke of iustices in some parts of the shire , or if they which are iustices there , shall be for the time absent , in that case the more number of the iustices at their assembly shall make choice of some conuenient persons to supply those places for the better execution hereof . 16 item , if there be any person ecclesiasticall or lay , that shall hold and publish any opinions ( as in some places report is made ) that it is a vain thing to forbeare to resort to the infected , or that it is not charitable to forbid the same , pretending that no person shall die but at their time prefixed , such persons shall be not onely reprehended , but by order of the bishop , if they be ecclesiasticall , shall be forbidden to preach , and being lay , shall be also enioyned to forbear to vtter such dangerous opinions vpon pain of imprisonment , which shall be executed , if they shall perseuere in that errour . and yet it shall appeare manifestly by these orders , that according to christian charity , no persons of the meanest degree shall be left without succour and reliefe . 17 and of these things aboue mentioned , the iustices shall take great care , as of a matter specially directed and commanded by his maiesty vpon the princely and natural care he hath conceiued towards the preseruation of his subiects , who by very disorder , and for lacke of direction do in many parts wilfully procure the increase of this generall contagion . ¶ orders conceiued and agreed to bee published by the lord maior and aldermen of the citie of london , and the iustices of peace of the counties of middlesex and surrey , by direction from the lords of his maiesties most honourable privy councell . whereas in the first yeere of the reigne of our late soueraigne , king iames of happy memory , ouer this realme of england , an acte was made for the charitable reliefe and ordering of persons infected with the plague : whereby authority is giuen to iustices of peace , maiors , bayliffes , and other head officers , to appoint within their seuerall limits examiners , searchers , watchmen , keepers , and buriers for the persons and places infected , and to minister unto them oathes for the performance of their offices . and the same statute also authoriseth the giving of other directions , as unto them for the present necessity shall seeme good in their discretions . it is therefore vpon speciall consideration thought very expedient for the preuenting and auoyding of the infection of sicknesse ( if it shal please almighty god ) which is now dangerously dispersed into many places within the city and suburbes of the same : that these officers following bee appointed , and these orders hereafter prescribed bee duely obserued . examiners to be appointed in euery parish . first , it is thought requisite and so ordered , that in euery parish there be one , two , or more persons of good sort and credit , chosen and appointed by the alderman , his deputy , and common councell of euery ward , and by the iustices of peace in the counties , by the name of examiners , to continue in that office the space of two moneths at least : and if any fit persons so appointed as aforesaid , shall refuse to vndertake the same , the said parties so refusing , to bee committed to prison vntill they shall conforme themselues accordingly . the examiners office. that these examiners bee sworne by the alderman , or by one of the iustices of the county , to enquire and learne from time to time what houses in euery parish be visited , and what persons be sicke , and of what diseases , as neere as thy can enforme themselues , and vpon doubt in that case , to command restraint of accesse , vntill it appeare what the disease shall proue : and if they finde any person sicke of the infection , to giue order to the constable that the house be shut vp : and if the constable shal be found remisse or negligent , to giue present notice thereof to the alderman , or the iustice of peace respectiuely . watchmen . that to euery infected house there be appointed two watchmen , one for the day and the other for the night : and that these watchmen haue a speciall care that no person goe in or out of such infected houses , whereof they haue the charge , vpon paine of seuere punishment . and the sayd watchmen to doe such further offices as the sicke house shall neede and require : and if the watchman be sent vpon any busines , to lock vp the house and take the key with him : and the watchman by day to attend vntil ten of the clocke at night : and the watchman by night till sixe in the morning . chirurgions . that there bee a speciall care , to appoint women searchers in euery parish , such as are of honest reputation , & of the best sort as can be got in this kinde : and these to be sworne to make due search and true report , to the vtmost of their knowledge , whether the persons , whose bodies they are appointed to search , doe die of the infection , or of what other diseases , as neere as they can . and for their better assistance herein , forasmuch as there hath beene heretofore great abuse in misreporting the disease , to the further spreading of the infection : it is therefore ordered , that there bee chosen and appointed three able and discreet chirurgions , besides those three , that doe already belong to the pesthouse : amongst whom , the citie and liberties to be quartered , as the places lie most apt and conuenient : and euery of these sixe to haue one quarter for his limit : and the said chirurgions in euery of their limits to ioyne with the searchers for the view of the bodie , to the end there may bee a true report made of the disease . and further , that the said chirurgeons shall visite and search such like persons as shall either send for them , or bee named and directed vnto them , by the examiners of euery parish , and informe themselues of the disease of the said parties . and forasmuch as the said chirurgions are to bee sequestred from all other cures , and kept onely to this disease of the infection : it is ordered , that euery of the said chirurgions shall haue twelue pence a body searched by them , to bee paid out of the goods of the party searched , if he be able , or otherwise by the parish . orders concerning infected houses and persons sicke of the plague . notice to be giuen of the sicknesse . the master of euery house , assoone as any one in his house complaineth , either of botch , or purple , or swelling in any part of his body , or falleth otherwise dangerously sicke , without apparant cause of some other disease , shall giue knowledge thereof to the examiner of health within two houres after the said signe shall appeare . sequestration of the sicke . as soon as any man shal be found by this examiner , chirurgion or searcher , to be sick of the plague , he shall the same night be sequestred in the same house . and in case he be so sequestred , then though he afterwards die not , the house wherein hee sickned , shall be shut vp for a moneth , after the vse of due preseruatiues taken by the rest . ayring the stuffe . for sequestration of the goods and stuffe of the infected , their bedding , and apparell , and hangings of chambers , must be well ayred with fire , and such perfumes as are requisite within the infected house , before they be taken againe to vse : this to be done by the appointment of the examiner . shutting vp of the house . if any person shall haue visited any man , knowne to be infected of the plague , or entred willingly into any knowen infected house , being not allowed : the house wherein he inhabiteth , shall be shut vp for certaine dayes by the examiners direction . none to be remooued out of infected houses , but &c. item , that none bee remooued out of the house where he falleth sick of the infection , into any other house in the citie , borough , or county ( except it be to the pest-house or a tent , or vnto some such house , which the owners of the said visited house holdeth in his owne hands , and occupieth by his owne seruants ) and so as securitie be giuen to the parish whither such remooue is made , that the attendance and charge about the said visited persons , shall be obserued and charged in all the particularities before expressed , without any cost of that parish , to which any such remoue shall happen to be made , and this remoue to be done by night : and it shall be lawfull to any person that hath two houses , to remooue either his sound or his infected people to his spare house at his choice , so as if he send away first his sound , he may not after send thither the sick , nor againe vnto the sick the sound : and that the same which he sendeth , be for one weeke at the least shut vp , and secluded from company for feare of some infection , at the first not appearing . buriall of the dead . that the buriall of the dead by this visitation be at most conuenient houres , alwayes either before sunne rising , or after sunne setting , with the priuitie of the churchwardens or constables , and not otherwise , and that no neighbours nor friends be suffered to accompany the coarse to church , or to enter the house visited , vpon paine of hauing his house shut vp , or bee imprisoned . no infected stuffe to be vttered . that no clothes , stuffe , bedding or garments be suffred to be carried or conueyed out of any infected houses , and that the criers and caries abroad of bedding or olde apparell to be sold or pawned , be vtterly prohibited and restrained , and no brokers of bedding , or olde apparell bee permitted to make any outward shew , or hang forth on their stalles , shop-boords or windowes , towards any streete , lane , common way or passage , any olde bedding or apparell to bee solde , vpon paine of imprisonment : and if any broker or other person shall buy any bedding , apparell , or other stuffe out of any infected house , within two moneths after the infection hath been there , his house shall bee shut vp as infected , and so shall continue shut vp twenty dayes at the least . no person to be conueyed out of any infected house . if any person visited doe fortune , by negligent looking vnto , or by any other meanes , to come or be conueyed from a place infected , to any other place , the parish from whence such party hath come , or beene conueyed , vpon notice thereof giuen , shall at their charge cause the said party so visited and escaped , to bee caried and brought backe againe by night , and the parties in this case offending , to be punished at the direction of the alderman of the ward , and the iustices of the peace respectiuely : and the house of the receiuer of such visited person to be shut vp for twenty dayes . euery visited house to be marked . that euery house visited be marked with a red crosse of a foot long , in the middle of the doore , euident to bee seene , and with these vsuall printed words , that is to say , lord haue mercy vpon vs , to bee set close ouer the same crosse , there to continue vntill lawfull opening of the same house . euery visited house to be watched . that the constables see euery house shut vp , and to be attended with watchmen , which may keepe them in , and minister necessaries vnto them at their own charges ( if they be able ) or at the common charge if they be vnable : the shutting vp to be for the space of foure weekes after all be whole . that precise order be taken that the searchers , chirurgions , keepers and buriers are not to passe the streets without holding a red rod or wand of three foot in length in their hands , open and euident to be seene , and are not to goe into any other house , then into their owne , or into that whereunto they are directed or sent for , but to forbeare and abstaine from company , especially when they haue been lately vsed in any such businesse or attendance . and to this end it is ordered , that a weekely taxe be made in euery parish visited : if in the city or borough , then vnder the hand of the alderman of the ward , where the place is visited : if in either of the counties , then vnder the hands of some of the iustices next to the place visited , who , if there bee cause , may extend the taxe into other parishes also , and may giue warrant of distresse against them which shall refuse to pay : and for want of distresse , or for assistance , to commit the offenders to prison , according to the statute in that behalfe . orders for cleansing and keeping of the streets sweet . the streets to be kept cleane . first , it is thought very necessary and so ordered , that euery house-holder do cause the street to bee daily pared before his doore , and so to keep it cleane sweptall the weeke long . that rakers take it from out the houses . that the sweeping and filth of houses be dayly caried away by the rakers , and that the raker shall giue notice of his comming by the blowing of a horne , as heretofore hath beene done . laystals to be made far off from the city . that the laystals bee remooued as farre as may be out of the city , and common passages , and that no night-man or other be suffered to empty a vault into any garden neere about the citie . care to be had of vnwholsome fish , or flesh , and of mustie corne. that speciall care be taken , that no stinking fish , or vnwholesome flesh , or mustie corne , or other corrupt fruits , of what sort soeuer , be suffered to be sold about the city or any part of the same . that the bruers and tipling houses be looked vnto , for mustie and vnwholesome caske . that order be taken , that no hogs , dogs , or cats , or tame pigeons , or conies be suffered to be kept within any part of the city , or any swine to be , or stray in the streets or lanes , but that such swine bee impounded by the beadle or any other officer , & the owner punished according to the act of common councell , and that the dogs be killed by the dog killers , appointed for that purpose . orders concerning loose persons , and idle assemblies . beggers . for asmuch as nothing is more complained on , then the multitude of rogues and wandering beggers , that swarme in euery place about the city , being a great cause of the spreading of the infection , & will not be auoided , notwithstanding any order that hath been giuen to the contrary : it is therefore now ordered , that such constables , and others whom this matter may any way concerne , doe take speciall care , that no wandering begger be suffered in the streets of this city , in any fashion or manner whatsoeuer vpon paine of the penalty prouided by the law to be duely and seuerely executed vpon them . playes . that all plaies , beare-baitings , games , singing of ballads , buckler-play , or such like causes or assemblies of people , bee vtterly prohibited , and the parties offending , seuerely punished , by any alderman , or iustice of the peace . tipling houses . that disorderly tipling in tauernes ale-houses and cellers , be seuerely looked vnto , as the common sinne of this time , and greatest occasion of dispersing the plague : and where any shall be found to offend , the penalty of the statute to be laid vpon them with all seuerity . and for the better execution of these orders , as also for such other directions as shall be needfull , it is agreed that the iustices of the city and the counties adioyning doe meete together once in ten dayes either at the sessions house without newgate , or some other conuenient place , to conferre of things as shall be needfull in this behalfe . and euery person neglecting the duety required , or willingly offending against any article or clause contained in these orders , he to be seuerely punished by imprisonment , or otherwise , as by the law he ought . god saue the king. ❧ by the king . ¶ a proclamation for quickning the lawes made for the reliefe of the poore , and the suppressing , punishing , and setling of the sturdy rogues and vagabonds . whereas many excellent lawes and statutes with great iudgement and prouidence haue been made in the times of our late deare and royall father , and of the late queene elizabeth , for the reliefe of the impotent and indigent poore , and for the punishing , suppressing , and setling of the sturdy rogues and vagabonds , which lawes and statutes , if they were duely obserued , would be of exceeding great vse for the peace and plenty of this realme , but the neglect thereof is the occasion of much disorder , and many insufferable abuses . and whereas it is fit at all times to put in execution those lawes which are of so necessary , and so continuall vse : yet the apparant aud visible danger of the pestilence , ( vnlesse the same by gods gracious mercie , and our prouident endeuours be preuented ) doth much more require the same at this prsent . we have therefore thought it fit , by the aduice of our priuie councell , by this our publike proclamation , straightly to charge and command , that all our louing subiects in their seuerall places , doe use all possible care and diligence as a principall meanes to preuent the spreading , and dispersing of that contagious sicknesse , to obserue and put in due execution , all the said lawes made and prouided against rogues and vagabonds , and for the reliefe of the truely poore and impotent people . and in the first place , wee strictly charge and command , that in our cities of london , and westminster , and suburbs thereof , and places adiacent thereunto , and generally throughout the whole kingdome , that there bee carefull watch , and ward kept for the apprehending and punishing of all rogues and vagabonds , who either in the streets or high wayes , vnder the names of souldiers , or mariners , glasse-men , pot-men , pedlars , or petty-chapmen , or of poore or impotent people , shall bee found either wandring , or begging . and wee doe further strictly charge and command , that all constables , head-boroughs , and other officers , doe vse all diligence , to punish , and passe away according to the law , all such wanderers , or beggers , as shall be apprehended , either in the cities , or places aforesaid , or in any other cities , towns , parishes , or places within this realme , and take great care that none passe under the colour of counterfeit passes . and that all irish rogues , and vagabonds be forthwith apprehended , wheresoeuer they shall be found , and punished , and sent home according to a former proclamation , heretofore published in that behalfe . that all householders of whose persons , or at whose houses any such vagrants shall be taken begging , doe apprehend , or cause them to be apprehended , and caried to the next constable , or other officer to be punished , according to the lawes . and that they forbeare to relieue them , thereby to giue them incouragement to cōtinue in their wicked course of life . that the iustices of peace in their seuerall places throughout this kingdome be carefull either by prouost marshals , or by the high constables , or otherwise by their good discretions effectually to prouide , that all rogues and vagabonds of all sorts be searched for , apprehended , punished and suppressed according to the law. and that once euery moneth at the least , a conuenient number of the iustices of peace in euery seuerall county and diuision , shall meete together in some conuenient place in that diuiuision , and take account of the high constables , petty constables , and other officers within that diuision , how they haue obserued the lawes and our commandment touching the premisses . and that they seuerely punish all such as shall bee found remisse or negligent in that behalfe . and wee doe hereby strictly charge and command as well all and singular iustices of peace , constables , headboroughs , and other our officers and ministers , as also all our louing subiects of what estate or degree soeuer , to vse all diligence , that all and euery houses or places which are or shall bee visited or infected with the sicknesse , bee carefully shut vp , and watch and ward kept ouer them , that no person or persons within those places doe goe abroad , or depart from thence , during the time of such visitation . and we doe hereby command all and singular our iudges of assize in their seuerall circuits to giue speciall charge , and make speciall enquiry of the defaults of all and euery the iustices of peace who shall not obserue their meetings in the seuerall counties and diuisions aforesaid , or shall not punish such constables or other officers as being informed either by their owne view and knowledge , or otherwise are or shall be found remisse or negligent in the premisses , or in leauying such penalties & forfeitures as the lawes and statutes of this realme require against the parties offending herein . and thereof to informe vs or our priuy councell , to the end that such due course may bee taken either by remouing out of the commission such negligent iustices of the peace , or otherwise by inflicting such punishment upon them as shall be due to such as neglect their owne duties , and our royall command published upon so important an occasion . and we doe hereby will , require and command all and euery our iudges of assize , maiors , sheriffes , iustices of peace , constables , headboroughs and other our officers , ministers and subiects whom it may concerne that they carefully and effectually obserue and performe all and euery the premisses , as they will answere the neglect thereof at their vttermost perils . and whereas wee haue lately commanded a booke to be printed and published containing certaine statutes made and enacted heretofore for the reliefe of the poore , and of souldiers and mariners , and for punishment of rogues and vagabonds , and for the reliefe and ordering of persons infected with the plague , and also containing certaine orders heretofore and now lately conceiued and made concerning health : all which are necessary to be knowen and obserued by our louing subiects , that thereby they may the better auoid those dangers which otherwise may fall vpon their persons or estates by their neglect thereof : wee haue thought it fit hereby to giue notice thereof to all our louing subiects , to the end that none may pretend ignorance for an excuse in matters of so great importance . and wee doe hereby declare , that whosoeuer shall be found remisse or negligent in the execution of any part of the premisses , shall receiue such condigne punishment for their offence , as by the lawes of this realme , or by our prerogatiue royall can or may be iustly inflicted vpon them . giuen at our court at white-hall the three and twentieth day of april , in the sixt yeere of our reigne of england , scotland , france and ireland . god saue the king. anno xliii . reginae elizebethae . ¶ an act for the reliefe of the poore . be it enacted by the authoritie of this present parliament , that the churchwardens of euery parish , and foure , three , or two substantiall housholders there , as shall be thought meet , hauing respect to the proportion and greatnes of the same parish and parishes , to be nominated yeerely in easter weeke , or within one moneth after easter , vnder the hand and seale of two or more iustices of the peace in the same countie , whereof one to be of the quorum , dwelling in or neere the same parish or diuision , where the same parish doeth lie , shall be called ouerseers of the poore of the same parish . and they , or the greater part of them shall take order from time to time , by and with the consent of two or more such iustices of peace as is aforesaid , for setting to worke of the children of all such whose parents shall not by the said churchwardens and ouerseers , or the greater part of them , bee thought able to keepe and maintaine their children . and also for setting to worke all such persons married , or vnmarried , hauing no means to maintaine them , vse no ordinary and dayly trade of life to get their liuing by , and also to raise weekly or otherwise ( by taxation of euery inhabitant , parson , vicar and other , and of euery occupier of lands , houses , tithes impropriate , or propriations of tithes , cole-mines , or saleable vnderwoods in the said parish , in such competent summe and summes of money , as they shall thinke fit ( a conuenient stocke of flaxe , hemp , wooll , threed , yron , and other necessary ware and stuffe to set the poore on worke , and also competent sums of money , for , and towards the necessary reliefe of the lame , impotent , old , blind , and such other among them being poore , & not able to worke , & also for the putting out of such children to bee apprentices , to be gathered out of the same parish , according to the ability of the same parish and to doe and execute all other things , aswell for the disposing of the said storke , as otherwise concerning the premisses , as to them shall seeme conuenient . which said churchwardens and ouerseers so to be nominated , or such of them as shall not be let by sicknesse , or other iust excuse , to be allowed by two such iustices of peace or more , as is aforesaid , shall meete together at the least once euery moneth in the church of the said parish , vpon the sunday in the afternoone , after diuine seruice , there to consider of some good course to be taken , and of some meet order to be set downe in the premisses , and shal within foure daies after the end of their yere , and after other ouerseers nominated as aforesaid , make and yeeld vp to such two iustices of peace as is aforesaid , a true and perfect account of all summes of money by them receiued , or rated and sessed , and not receiued , and also of such stocke as shall bee in their hands , or in the hands of any of the poore to worke , and of all other things concerning their said office , and such summe or summes of money as shall he in their hands , shal pay and deliuer ouer to the said churchwardens and ouerseers , newly nominated and appointed as is aforesaid , vpon paine that euery one of them absenting themselues without lawful cause as aforefaid , from such monethly meeting for the purpose aforesaid , or being negligent in their office , or in the execution of the orders aforesaid , being made by and with the assent of the said iustices of peace , or any two of them before mentioned , to forfeit for euery such default of absence , or negligence , twenty shillings . and be it also enacted , that if the said iustices of peace doe perceiue that the inhabitants of any parish are not able to leuie among themselues sufficient summes of money for the purposes aforesaid : that then the said two iustices shall and may taxe , rate and assesse , as aforesaid , any other of other parishes , or out of any parish within the hundred where the said parish is to pay such sum and sums of money to the church-wardens and ouerseers of the said poore parish , for the said purposes , as the said iustices shall thinke fit , according to the intent of this law. and if the said hundred shall not be thought to the said iustices , able , and fit to relieue the said seuerall parishes not able to prouide for themselues as aforesaid ; then the iustices of peace at their generall quarter sessions , or the greater number of them , shall rate and assesse , as aforesaid any other of other parishes , or out of any parish within the said county for the purposes aforesaid , as in their discretion shall seeme fit . and that it shall be lawfull aswell for the present as subsequent churchwardens , and ouerseers , or any of them , by warrant from any two such iustices of peace as is aforesaid , to leuie aswell the said sums of money and all arrerages of euery one that shall refuse to contribute according as they shall be assessed , by distresse and sale of the offendors goods , as the summes of money , or stock which shall be behinde vpon any account to be made as aforesaid , rendring to the parties the ouerplus , and in defect of such distresse , it shall be lawfull for any such two iustices of the peace , to commit him or them to the common goale of the countie , there to remaine without baile or mainprise , vntill paiment of the said sum arrerages and stocke . and the said iustices of peace , or any of them , to send to the house of correction or common goale such as shall not employ themselues to worke , being appointed thereunto as aforesaid : and also any two such iustices of peace , to commit to the said prison , euery one of the said churchwardens and ouerseers , which shall refuse to accompt , there to remaine without baile or maineprise , untill he haue made a true accompt , and satisfied and paid so much as vpon the said accompt shall be remaining in his hands . and be it further enacted , that it shall be lawfull for the said churchwardens and ouerseers , or the greater part of them , by the assent of any two iustices of the peace aforesaid , to bind any such children as aforesaid , to be apprentices , where they shall see conuenient , till such man child shall come to the age of foure and twenty yeeres , and such woman childe to the age of one and twenty years or the time of her mariage : the same to be as effectuall to all purposes , as if such child were of full age , and by indenture of couenant bound him or herselfe , and to the intent that necessary places of habitation may more conueniently be prouided for such poore impotent people , be it enacted by the authority aforesaid , that it shall and may be lawfull for the said churchwardens and ouerseers , or the greater part of them , by the leaue of the lord or lords of the mannour , whereof any waste , or common within their parish is or shall be parcell , and vpon agreement before with him or them made in writing vnder the hands and seales of the said lord and lords or otherwise , according to any order to be set downe by the iustices of peace of the said countie at their generall quarter sessions , or the greater part of them , by like leaue and agreement of the said lord or lords , in writing vnder his or their hands and seals . to erect , build and set vp in fit and conuenient places of habitation , in such waste or common , at the generall charges of the parish , or otherwise of the hundred or countie as aforesaid , to be taxed , rated and gathered , in manner before expressed , conuenient houses of dwelling for the said impotent poore , and also to place inmates or more families then one in one cottage or house , one act made in the one & thirtieth yeere of her maiesties reigne , intituled , an act against the erecting and maintaining of cottages , or any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding . which cottages and places for inmates shal not at any time after be vsed or imployed to or for any other habitation , but only for impotent and poore of the same parish , that shall be there placed from time to time by the churchwardens and ouerseers of the poore of the same parish or the most part of them , vpon the paines and forfeitures contained in the said former act made in the said one and thirtieth yeere of her maiesties reigne . prouided alwayes , that if any person or persons shall finde themselues grieued with any sesse or taxe , or other act done by the sayd churchwardens and other persons , or by the sayd iustices of peace , that then it shall be lawfull for the iustices of peace , at their generall quarter sessions , or the greater number of them , to take such order therein as to them shal be thought conuenient , and the same to conclude and binde all the sayd parties . and be it further enacted , that the father and grandfather , and the mother , and grandmother , and the children of euery poore , old , blinde , lame , and impotent person , or other poore person , not able to worke , being of a sufficient abilitie , shall at their owne charges relieue and maintaine euery such poore person in that manner , and according to that rate , as by the iustices of peace of that county where such sufficient persons dwell , or the greater number of them , at their generall quarter sessions shall bee assessed , vpon paine that euery one of them shall forfeit twenty shillings for euery moneth which they shal faile therein . and be it further hereby enacted , that the maiors , bailiffes , or other head officers of euery towne , and place corporate , and city within this realme , being iustice or iustices of peace , shall haue the same authority by vertue of this act , within the limits and precincts of their iurisdictions , aswel out of sessions as at their sessions , if they hold any , as is herein limited , prescribed , and appointed to iustices of peace of the county , or any two or more of them , or to the iustices of peace in their quarter sessions , to doe and execute for all the vses and purposes in this act prescribed , and no other iustice or iustices of peace to enter or meddle there . and that euery alderman of the citie of london within his ward , shall and may doe and execute in euery respect , so much as is appointed and allowed by this act to be done and executed by one or two iustices of peace of any countie within this realme . and be it also enacted , that if it shall happen , any parish to extend it selfe into more counties then one , or part to lie within the liberties of any city , town , or place corporate , and part without , that then as well the iustices of peace of euery countie , as also the head officers of such city , towne , or place corporate , shall deale and intermeddle onely in so much of the said parish , as lieth within their liberties , and not any further . and euery of them respectiuely within their seuerall limits , wards and iurisdictions , to execute the ordinances before mentioned concerning the nomination of ouerseers , the consent to binding apprentices , the giuing warrant to leuie taxations vnpayed , the taking account of churchwardens and ouerseers , and the committing to prison such as refuse to accompt , or deny to pay the arrerages due vpon their accompts . and yet neuerthelesse , the said church-wardens and ouerseers , or the most part of them of the said parishes , that doe extend into such seuerall limits and iurisdictions , shall without diuiding themselues , duely execute their office in all places within the said parish , in all things to them belonging , and shall duely exhibite and make one accompt before the said head officer of the towne or place corporate , and one other before the said iustices of peace , or any such two of them as is aforesaid . and further be it enacted by the authority aforesaid , that if in any place within this realme there happen to bee hereafter no such nomination of ouerseers yeerely as is before appointed , that then euery iustice of peace of the county dwelling within the diuision , where such default of nomination shall happen , and euery maior , alderman , and head officer , of city , towne , or place corporate , where such default shall happen , shall lose and forfeit for euery such default fiue pound , to be imployed towards the reliefe of the poore of the said parish , or place corporate , and to be leuied as aforesaid of their goods by warrant from the generall sessions of the peace of the said countie , or of the same city , towne , or place corporate , if they keepe sessions . and be it also enacted by the authority aforesaid , that all penalties and forfeitures , before mentioned in this act to bee forfeited by any person or persons , shall goe and be imployed to the vse of the poore of the same parish , and towards a stock and habitation for them , and other necessary vses and reliefe as before in this act are mentioned and expressed , and shal be leuied by the said churchwardens and ouerseers ▪ or one of them , by warrant frō any two such iustices of peace , or maior , alderman , or head officer of citie , town or place corporate , respectiuely within their seuerall limites by distresse and sale thereof , as aforesaid , or in defect thereof , it shall be lawfull for any two such iustices of peace , and the said aldermen and head officers within their seuerall limits , to commit the offendor to the said prison , there to remaine without baile or maineprise , till the said forfeitures shal be satisfied and payed . and bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid , that the iustices of peace of euery county or place corporate , or the more part of them in their generall sessions to be holden next after the feast of easter next , and so yeerely as often as they shall thinke meet , shall rate euery parish to such a weekely summe of money as they shall thinke conuenient , so as no parish bee rated aboue the summe of sixe pence , nor vnder the summe of a halfepeny , weekely to be payed , and so as the totall summe of such taxation of the parishes in euery county , amount not aboue the rate of two pence for euery parish within the said county . which summes so taxed , shall bee yeerely assessed by the agreement of the parishioners within themselues , or in default thereof , by the churchwardens and petie constables of the same parish , or the more part of them , or in default of their agreement , by the order of such iustice or iustices of peace as shall dwell in the same parish , or ( if none bee there dwelling ) in the parts next adioyning . and if any person shal refuse or neglect to pay any such portion of money so taxed , it shal be lawfull for the said churchwardens and constables , or any of them , or in their default for any iustice of peace of the said limite , to leuie the same by distresse , and sale of the goods of the party so refusing or neglecting , rendring to the party the ouerplus , and in default of such distresse , it shal be lawful to any iustice of that limit , to commit such person to the said prison , there to abide without baile or maine prise , till he haue payed the same . and be it also enacted , that the said iustices of the peace at their generall quarter sessions to bee holden at the time of such taxation , shall set downe , what competent sums of money shall be sent quarterly out of euery county or place corporate , for the releife of the poore prisoners of the kings bench , & marshalsey , and also of such hospitals , and almes houses , as shal be in the said county , & what sums of money shal be sent to euery one of the said hospitals , and almes houses , so as there be sent out of euery countie yeerely xx . s. at the least to each of the said prisons of the kings bench , and marshalsey , which summes ratably to be assessed vpon euery parish , the churchwardens of euery parish shall truely collect & pay ouer to the high constables : in whose diuision such parish shall bee situate , from time to time quarterly ten dayes before the end of euery quarter , and euery such constable at euery such quarter sessions in such county shall pay ouer the same to such two treasurers , or to one of them , as shall by the more part of the iustices of peace of the county , be elected to be the said treasurers , to be chosen by the iustices of peace of the said county , citie , or towne , or place corporate , or of others which were sessed and taxed at fiue pound lands , or ten pound goods at the least , at the taxe of subsidie next before the time of the said election to be made . and the said treasurers so elected to continue for the space of one whole yere in their office , and then to giue vp their charge with a due account of their receipts and disbursements , at the quarter sessions to be holden next after the feast of easter in euery yeere , to such others as shall from yeere to yeere , in forme aforesaid successiuely be elected treasurers , for the said county , citie , towne , or place corporate , which said treasurers or one of them shall pay ouer the same to the lord chiefe iustice of england , and knight marshal for the time being , equally to be diuided to the vse aforesaid , taking their acquittance for the same , or in default of the said chiefe iustice , to the next ancientest iustice of the kings bench as aforesaid . and if any churchwarden or high constable , or his executors or administrators , shall faile to make payment in forme aboue specified , then euery churchwarden , his executors or administrators , so offending , shall forfeit for euery time the summe of ten shillings , and euerp high constable , his executors or administrators , shall forfeit for euery time , the sum of xx . s. the same forfeitures together with the summes behinde , to be leuied by the said treasurer and treasurers , by way of distresse and sale of the goods as aforesaid , in forme aforesaid , and by them to bee imployed towards the charitable vses comprised in this act. and bee it further enacted , that all the surplusage of money which shall be remaining in the said stocke , of any county , shal by discretion of the more part of the iustices of peace in their quarter sessions , be ordered , distributed and bestowed for the reliefe of the poore hospitals of that county , and of those that shall sustaine losses by fire , water , the sea , or other casualties , and to such other charitable purposes , for the releife of the poore , as to the more part of the said iustices of peace shall seeme conuenient . and bee it further enacted , that if any treasurer elected , shall wilfully refuse to take vpon him the sayd office of treasurership , or refuse to distribute and giue reliefe , or to account according to such forme as shall be appointed by the more part of the said iustices of peace , that then it shall be lawfull for the iustices of peace in their qarter sessions , or in their default , for the iustices of assize , at y e assizes to be holden in the same countie , to fine the same treasurer by their discretion : the same fine not to be vnder three pound , and to be leuied by sale of his goods , and to be prosecuted by any two of the said iustices of peace , whom they shall authorize . prouided alwaies , that this act shall not take effect vntill the feast of easter next . and be it enacted , that the statute made in the nine and thirtieth yere of her maiesties reigne , entituled , an act for the reliefe of the poore , shall continue and stand in force vntill the feast of easter next . and that all taxations heretofore imposed & not payed , nor that shal be payed before the said feast of easter next , and that all taxes hereafter before the said feast , to be taxed by vertue of the said former act , which shal not be payed before the said feast of easter , shall and may after the said feast of easter , be leuied by the ouerseers and other persons in this act respectiuely appointed , to leuy taxations by distresse , & by such warrant in euery respect , as if they had been taxed & imposed by vertue of this act , and were not paid . prouided alwayes , that whereas the iland of fowlenesse in the countie of essex , being inuironed with the sea , and hauing a chappel of ease for the inhabitants thereof , and yet the said iland is no parish , but the lands in the same are situated within diuers parishes , farre distant from the same iland , be it therefore enacted by the authoritie aforesaid , that y e said iustices of peace shall nominate and appoint inhabitants within the said iland to be ouerseers for the poore people dwelling within the said iland , and that both they the said iustices , and the said ouerseers shall haue the same power and authority to all intents , considerations and purposes , for the execution of the parts and articles of this act , and shall be subiect to the same paines and forfeitures , & likewise that the inhabitants and occupiers of lands there , shall be lyable and chargeable to the same paiments , charges , expences , and orders in such manner and forme as if the same iland were a parish . in consideration whereof , neither the said inhabitants , or occupiers of land within the said , iland , shall not be compelled to contribute towards the reliefe of the poore of those parishes , wherin their houses or lands which they occupy within the said iland are situated , for , or by reason of their said habitations or occupyings , other then for the reliefe of the poore people within the said iland , neither yet shall the other inhabitants of the parishes wherein such houses or lands are situated , bee compelled , by reason of their resiancie or dwelling , to contribute to the reliefe of the poore inhabitants within the said iland . and bee it further enacted , that if any action or trespasse , or other suite shall happen to bee attempted and brought against any person or persons for taking of any distresse , making of any sale , or any other thing doing , by authoritie of this present act : the defendant or defendants in any such action or suit , shall , and may either plead not guilty , or otherwise make auowry , cognisance , or iustification , for the taking of the said distresses , making of sale , or other thing doing , by vertue of this act , alledging in such auowry , cognisance , or iustification , that the said distresse , sale , trespasse , or other thing whereof the plaintiffe or plaintiffes complained , was done by authoritie of this act , and according to the tenour , purport , and effect of this act , without any expressing or rehearsall of any other matter of circumstance contained in this present act. to which auowrie , cognisance , or iustification , the plaintiffe shall be admitted to reply , that the defendant did take the said distresse , made the said sale , or did any other act or trespasse , supposed in his declaration of his owne worng , without any such cause alledged by the said defendant , whereupon the issue in euery such action shal be ioyned , to be tryed by verdict of twelue men , and not otherwise , as is accustomed in other personall actions . and vpon the triall of that issue , the whole matter to be giuen on both parties in euidence , according to the very truth of the same . and after such issue tryed , for the defendant or non suite of the plaintife , after appearance , the same defendant to recouer treble dammages , by reason of his wrongfull vexation in that behalfe , with his costs also in that part sustained , and that to bee assessed by the same iury , or writ to enquire of the dammages , as the same shall require . prouided alwaies that this act shall endure no longer then to the end of the next session of parliament . anno xliij . reginae elizabethae . an acte for the necessary reliefe of souldiers and mariners . whereas in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of the queenes maiesties reigne that now is , an act was made , intituled , an act for the necessary reliefe of souldiers and mariners : and whereas in the nine and thirtieth yeere of her maiesties reigne , there was also made another act , intituled , an act for the further continuance and explanation of the said former : bee it enacted by authority of this present parliament , that both the said acts shall bee , and continue in force vntill the feast of easter next , and shall be from and after the sayd feast discontinued . and forasmuch as it is now found more needfull then it was at the making of the said acts , to prouide reliefe and maintenance to souldiers and mariners , that haue lost their limmes , and disabled their bodies in the defence and seruice of her maiestie and the state , in respect the number of the said souldiers is so much the greater , by how much her maiesties iust and honourable defensiue warres are increased : to the end therefore , that they the said souldiers and mariners may reap the fruits of their good deseruings , and others may be encouraged to performe the like endeauours : be it enacted by the authority of this present parliament that from and after the said feast of easter next , euery parish within this realme of england and wales , shall be charged to pay weekly such a sum of money , towards the reliefe of sick , hurt , and maimed souldiers and mariners , that so haue bin as afore is said , or shal lose their , lims , or disable their bodies , hauing bin prest , and in pay for her maiesties seruice , as by the iustices of peace , or the more part of them , in their general quarter sessions , to be holden in their seuerall counties , next after the feast of easter next , and so from time to time at the like quarter sessions , to bee holden next after the feast of easter , yeerely shall be appointed , so as no parish be rated aboue the summe of ten pence , nor vnder the summe of two pence weekely to be paid , and so as the totall summe of such taxation of the parishes , in any county where there shall be aboue fifty parishes , doe not exceed the rate of sixe pence for euery parish in the same countie , which summes so taxed , shall be yeerely assessed by the agreements of the parishioners within themselues , or in default therof , by the churchwardens and the pety constables of the same parish , or the more part of them , or in default of their agreement , by the order of such iustices , or iustice of peace , as shall dwell in the same parish , or if none bee there dwelling , in the parts next adioyning . and if any person shall refuse or neglect to pay any such portion of money so taxed , it shall be lawfull for the said churchwardens and pety constables , and euery of them , or in their defaults , for the said iustices of peace , or iustice , to leuy such summe by distresse and sale of the goods or chattels of the party so refusing or neglecting , rendring to the party , the ouerplus raised vpon such sale . and for the collecting and custodie of the summes taxed in forme aforesaid . be it enacted , that the churchwardens , and pety constables of euery parish , shall truely collect euery such sum , and the same shall pay ouer vnto the high constable , in whose diuision such parish shall be situate , ten dayes before the quarter sessions , to be holden next before , or about the feast of the natiuity of s. iohn baptist next , in the county where the said parish shall be situate , and so from time to time , quarterly within ten dayes before euery quarter sessions . and that euery such high constable , at euery such quarter sessions in such county , shall pay ouer the same to two such iustices of peace , or to one of them , or to two such other persons , or one of them , as shall be by the more part of the iustices of peace of the same countey elected , to be treasurers of the said collection , the same other persons , to be elected treasurers , to be such , as at the last taxatiō of , the subsidie next before the same election , shall be valued , & sessed at ten pounds in lands yerely , or at fifteene pounds in goods : which treasurers in euery countey so chosen , shall continue but for the space of one whole yeere , and then giue vp their charge , with a du account of their receits & disbursments , at their meeting in easter quarter sessions ; or within ten daies after , to such others , as shall from yeere to yere in the forme aforesaid , successiuely be elected . and if any church-warden , pettie constable , or high constable , or his executors , or administrators , shall fail to make payment in forme about specified , their euery church-warden , and pettie constable , his executors or administratours so offending ▪ shall forfeit the summe of twenty shillings . and euery high constable , his executors , or administrators , the summe of fourty shillings , to bee leuied by the treasurers aforesaid , by distresse and sale in maner before expressed , and to be taken by the said treasurers , in augmentation of their stock , to the vses aforesaid . and if any treasurer , his executors or administrators , shall faile to giue vp his account within the time aforesaid , or shall bee otherwise negligent in the execution of his charge , then it shall bee lawfull for the more part of the iustices of peace , of the same county in their sessions , to assesse such fine vpon such treasurer , his executors or administrators , as in their discretion shall seeme conuenient , so it bee not vnder the summe of fiue pounds . and for the true and iust distribution and employment of the summes so receiued , according to the true meaning of this act , be it enacted by the authority aforesaid , that euery souldier or mariner , hauing had his or their limmes lost , or disabled in their bodies by seruice , being in her maiesties pay , as aboue is mentioned , or such as shall hereafter returne into this realme , hurt , or maimed , or grieuously sick , shall repayre , if he be able to trauell , and make his complaint to the treasurers of the county , out of which he was pressed , or if he were no prest man , to the treasurers of the county where hee was borne , or last inhabited by the space of three yeeres , at his election . and if he be not able to trauell , to the treasurers of the county where hee shall land , or arriue , and shall bring a certificate vnto any of the treasurers aforesaid , vnder the hand and seale of the generall of the campe , or gouernour of the towne wherein hee serued , and of the captaine of the band , vnder whom hee serued , or his lieutenant , or in the absence of the said generall or gouernour , from the marshall or deputie of the gouernour , or from any admirall of her maiesties fleet , or in his absence , from any other generall of her maiesties ships at the seas , or in absence of such generall , from the captaine of the ship wherein the said mariners or souldiers did serue the queenes maiestie , containing the particulars by his hurts and seruices , which certificate shal be also allowed of the generall mustermaster , for the time being , resident here within this realme , or receiuer generall of the muster rolles , the treasurer and controller of her maiesties nauie , vnder his hand , for the auoyding of all fraud , and counterfeiting : then vpon such certificate , such treasurers as are before expressed , shall according to the nature of his hurt , and commendation of his seruice , assigne vnto him such a portion of reliefe , as in their discretions shall seeme conuenient for his present necessity , vntill the next quarter sessions , at the which it shall be lawfull for the more part of the iustices of peace vnder their hands , to make an instrument of grant of the same , or like reliefe , to endure , as long as this act shall stand or endure in force , if the same souldier or mariner shall so long liue , and the same pension not bee duly reuoked or altered , which shall be a sufficient warrant to all treasurers for the same countie , to make payment of such pension vnto such persons quarterly , except the same shal be afterward by the said iustices reuoked or altered . so that such reliefe as shall bee assigned by such treasurers or iustices of peace to any such souldier or mariner , hauing not borne office in the said warres , exceed not the summe in grosse nor yeerely pension of ten pounds . nor to any that hath borne office vnder the degree of a lieutenant , the summe of fifteene pounds . nor to any that hath serued in the office of lieutenant , the summe of twentie pounds . and yet neuerthelesse , it shall and may be lawfull to and for the iustices of peace and others , hauing authority by this act , to assigne pensions to souldiers & mariners , vpon any iust cause , to reuoke , diminish , or alter the same from time to time , according to their discretions in the generall quarter sessions of the peace , or generall assemblies for cities or townes corporate , where the same pension shall be granted . and whereas it must needs fall out , that many of such hurt and maimed souldiers and mariners , doe arriue in ports , and places farre remote from the counties , whence they are by vertue of this act , to receiue their yeerely annuities , and pensions , as also they are prescribed by this act , to obtaine the allowance of their certificates from the mustermaster , or receiuer generall of the muster rolles , who commonly is like to abide about the court or london , so as they shall need at the first , prouision for the bearing of their charges , to such places : be it therefore enacted , that it may be lawfull for the treasurers of the countie where they shall arriue , in their discretion vpon their certificate ( though not allowed ) to giue them any conuenient reliefe for their iourny , to carry them to the next county , with a testimoniall of their allowance , to passe on towards such a place . and in like manner shall it be lawfull for the treasurer of the next county to doe the like , and so from county to county ( in the direct way ) till they come to the place where they are directed to finde their maintenance , according to the tenure of this statute . and for the better execution of this act in all the branches thereof , bee it enacted , that euery the treasurers , in their seuerall counties , shall keepe a true booke of computation , of all such summes as they leuie , and also a register of the names of euery such person vnto whom they shall haue disbursed any reliefe , and shall also preserue , or enter euery certificate , by warrant whereof , such reliefe hath beene by them disbursed , and also that the mustermaster , or receiuer generall of the muster rolles , shall keepe a booke , wherein shall be entred the names of all such , whose certificates shall bee by him allowed , with an abstract of their certificates , and that euery treasurer returning , or not accepting the certificate brought vnto him from the said muster-master , shall write and subscribe the cause of his not accepting , or not allowing thereof , vnder the said certificate , or on the back thereof . and be it further enacted , that if any treasurer shall wilfully refuse to distribute and giue any reliefe , according to the forme of this act , that it shall be lawfull for the iustices of peace , in their quarter sessions , to fine such treasurers , by their discretions , as aforesaid , the same fine to bee leuied by distresse and sale thereof , to bee prosecuted by any two of them , whom they shall authorize . and be it also enacted , that euery souldier or mariner that shall be taken begging , in any place within this realme , after the feast of easter next , or any that shall counterfeit any certificate in this act expressed , shall for euer lose his annuitie or pension , and shall be taken , deemed , and adiudged as a common rogue , or vagabond person , and shall haue , and sustaine the same , and the like paines , imprisonment and punishment , as is appointed and prouided for common rogues and vagabond persons . prouided alwayes and be it enacted , that all the surplusage of money which shall bee remaining in the stock of any county , shall by the discretion of the more part of the iustices of peace , in their quarter sessions bee ordered , distributed and bestowed vpon such good and charitable vses , and in such forme as are limited and appointed in the statutes made and now in force , concerning reliefe of the poore , and punishment of rogues and beggars . prouided alwayes that the iustices of peace within any county of this realme or wales , shall not intromit or enter into any city , borough , place , or towne corporate , where is any iustice of peace for any such citie , borough , place or towne corporate , for the execution of any article of this act : but that it shall be lawfull to the iustice and iustices of the peace , maiors , bailiffes , and other head officers of those cities , boroughs , places , & townes corporate where there is any iustice of peace to proceed to the execution of this act , within the precinct and compasse of their liberties , in such manner as the iustice of peace in any county may doe , by vertue of this act. and that euery iustice of peace within euery such citie , borough , place or towne corporate , for euery offence by him committed , contrary to the meaning of this statute , shal be fineable , as other iustices of peace at the large in the counties are in this act appointed to be . and that the maior and iustices of peace in euery such borough , place and towne corporate , shall haue authority by this present act , to appoint any person , for the receiuing of the said money , and paying the same within such citie , borough , place or towne corporate ; which person so appointed , shall haue authority to doe all such things , and be subiect to all such penalties , as high constables , by vertue of this act should haue or be . and be it enacted , that all forfeitures to bee forfeited by any treasurer , collector , constable , church-warden , or other person , for any cause mentioned in this act , shall be imployed to the reliefe of such souldiers and mariners , as are by this act appointed to take and haue reliefe , and after that reliefe satisfied , then the ouerplus thereof , with the ouerplus of the stock , remaining in any the said treasurers hands , shall bee imployed as is before mentioned , to the charitable vses , expressed in the said statutes , concerning the reliefe of poore , and for punishment of rogues and beggers , ( except the said iustices , or the more part of them , shall thinke meet to reserue and keepe the same in stock for the maintenance and reliefe of such souldiers and mariners , as out of the same county may afterward bee appointed , to receiue reliefe and pensions . ) and that the reliefe appointed to bee giuen by this act , shall be giuen to souldiers and mariners , out of the county or place where they were pressed , so far forth as the taxation limited by this act , will extend . and if the whole taxation there , shall be before imployed , according to the meaning of this act , or that they shall not be prest men , then out of the place where they were borne or last inhabited , by the space of three yeeres , at his or their election . prouided alwayes , and be it enacted , that euery pension assigned heretofore to any souldier or mariner , or that shall be assigned before the said feast of easter next , notwithstanding the discontinuance of the said two former acts , shall stand in force , and shall yeerely from and after the said feast of easter next , be satisfied and payed , out of such taxations and forfeitures , as shall be made , collected , and leuied by force of this act , so long as the said pension shall remaine in force , without such reuocation or diminishing , as is before in this act mentioned . which clause of reuocation or diminishing before mentioned , shall extend aswell to pensions heretofore assigned , as to such as at any time hereafter , before , or after the said feast of easter , shall bee assigned to any person or persons . and bee it also enacted , that all arrerages of taxations heretofore made , by vertue of the said former statutes , or any of them , which shall be or remaine , at the said feast of easter next , vncollected , and not receiued , or leuied , shall , and may by authority of this act , be had , receiued , and leuied , by such persons , and in such manner and forme , as in euery respect , taxations made by vertue of this act , are appointed to bee collected , receiued and leuied , and shall be imployed to the vses expressed in this act , and no otherwise . prouided alwaies , and bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid , that if the said rate shall bee thought not to bee sufficient for the reliefe of such souldiers , and mariners , as shall be to be relieued within the city of london , that then it shall bee lawfull for the maior , recorder , and aldermen of london , or the more part of them , to rate and taxe , such reasonable taxe , summe and summes of money , for the said reliefe , as shall be to them thought fit and conuenient . so as such summe and summes of money , so to be rated , doe not exceed three shillings weekely out of any parish , and so as in the totall , the summe shall not exceed , or bee vnder twelue pence weekely out of euery parish , one with another , within the said citie and the liberties thereof . this act to endure to the end of the next session of parliament and no longer . anno xxxix . reginae elizabethae . an act for punishment of rogues , vagabonds , and sturdy beggers . for the suppressing of rogues , vagabonds & sturdie beggers , be it enacted by the authority of this present parliament , that from , and after the feast of easter next comming , all statutes heretofore made for the punishment of rogues , vagabonds , or sturdie beggers , or for the erection or maintenance of houses of correction , or touching the same , shall for so much as concerneth the same be vtterly repealed : and that from , and after the said feast of easter , from time to time it shall and may be lawfull to , and for the iustices of peace of any county or city in this realme or the dominions of wales , assembled at any quarter sessions of the peace within the same county , city , borough , or towne corporate , or the more part of them , to set downe order to erect , & to cause to be erected one or more houses of correction within their seuerall counties or cities : for the doing and performing whereof , and for the prouiding of stocks of money , and all other things necessary for the same , and for raising and gouerning of the same , and for correction and punishment of offenders thither to be committed , such orders as the same iustices , or the more part of them , shall from time to time take , reforme , or set down in any their said quarter sessions in that behalfe , shall be of force , and be duely performed and put in execution . and bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid , that all persons calling themselues schollars , going about begging , all sea faring men pretending losses of their ships or goods on the sea , going about the countrey begging , all idle persons , going about in any countrey , either begging or vsing any subtile craft , or vnlawfull games and playes , or faining themselues to haue knowledge in physiognomie ; palmestry or other like crafty science , or pretending that they can tell destinies , fortunes , or such other like fantasticall imaginations : all persons that be , or vtter themselues to be proctors , procurers , patent-gatherers , or collectors for gaoles , prisons or hospitals : all fencers , bearewards , common players of interludes , and minstrels , wandering abroad ( other then players of interludes belonging to any baron of this realme , or any other honourable personage of greater degree , to bee authorized to play vnder the hand and seale of armes of such baron or personage ) all iuglers , tinkers , pedlars , and pety chapmen wandering abroad , all wandering persons and common labourers , being persons able in body , vsing loytering , and refusing to worke for such reasonable wages , as is taxed or commonly giuen in such parts , where such persons doe , or shall happen to dwell or abide , not hauing liuing otherwise to maintaine themselues : all persons deliuered out of gaoles that begge for their fees , or otherwise doe trauaile begging : all such persons as shall wander abroad begging , pretending losses by fire , or otherwise : and all such persons not being felons , wandering and pretending themselues to bee egyptians , or wandering in the habit , for●●● , or 〈…〉 counterfeit egyptians , shall be taken , adiudged , and deemed rogues , vagabonds , and sturdy beggers , and shall susteine such paine and punishments , as by this act is in that behalfe appointed . and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid , that euery person which is by this present act declared to be a rogue , vagabond , or sturdy begger , which shall be at any time after the said feast of easter next comming , taken begging , vagrant , wandring or misordering themselues in any part of this realme , or the dominion of wales , shall vpon their apprehension by the appointment of any iustice of the peace , constable , headborough or tythingman of the same county , hundred , parish , or tything , where such person shall be taken , the tythingman or headborough being assisted therein with the aduice of the minister , and one other of that parish , be stripped naked from the middle vpwards , and shall bee openly whipped vntill his or her body be bloody ? and shall be forthwith sent from parish to parish , by the officers of euery the same , the next straight way to the parish where hee was borne , if the same may be knowen by the parties confession or otherwise . and if the same be not knowen , then to the parish where hee or shee last dwelt before the same punishment by the space of one whole yeare , there to put him or her selfe to labour , as a true subiect ought to doe : or not being knowen where hee or she was borne , or last dwelt , then to the parish through which he or she last passed without punishment . after which whipping , the same person shall haue a testimoniall subscribed with the hand , & sealed with the seale of the same iustice of the peace , constable , headborough or tythingman , & of the minister of the same parish , or of any two of them , testifying that the same person hath beene punished according to this act , and mentioning the day and place of his or her punishment , and the place wherevnto such person is limited to goe , and by what time the said person is limited to passe thither at his perill . and if the said person through his or her default doe not accomplish the order appointed by the said testimoniall , then to be eftsoones taken , & whipped , and so as often as any default shall be found in him or her contrary to the forme of this statute , in euery place to be whipped , till such person be repaired to the place limited : the substance of which testimoniall shall be registred by the minister of that parish , in a booke to be prouided for that purpose , vpon paine to forfeit 5. shillings for euery default thereof , and the party so whipped , & not knowen where hee or she was borne , or last dwelt by the space of a yeare , shall by the officers of the said village where he or she so last past thorow without punishment , bee conueied to the house of correction of the limit wherein the said village standeth , or to the common gaole of that county or place , there to remaine and be imployed in worke , vntill hee or she shall be placed in some seruice , and so to continue by the space of one yeare , or not being able of body , vntill he or she shall be placed to remaine in some almeshouse in the same countie or place . prouided alwaies , and bee it enacted , if any of the said rogues shall appeare to bee dangerous to the inferiour sort of people where they shall be taken , or otherwise bee such as will not be reformed of their roguish kinde of life by the former prouision of this act , that in euery such case it shall and may be lawfull to the said iustices of the limit where any such rogue shall be taken , or any two of them , wherof one to be of the quorum to commit that rogue to the house of correction , or otherwise to the gaole of the county , there to remaine vntill their next quarter sessions to be holden in that county , and then such of the same rogues so committed , as by the iustices of the peace then and there present , or the most part of them , shall be thought fit not to be deliuered , shall and may lawfully by the same iustices , or the most part of them , bee banished out of this realme , and all other the dominions thereof , and at the charges of that countrey , shall bee conueyed vnto such parts beyond the seas as shall be at any time hereafter , for that purpose assigned by the priuy councell vnto her maiesty her heires or successors , or by any sixe or more of them , whereof the l. chancellor , or l. keeper of the great seale , or the l. treasurer for the time being to bee one , or otherwise be iudged perpetually to the gallies of this realme , as by the same iustices or the most part of them it shall bee thought fit and expedient . and if any such rogue so banished as aforesaid shall returne againe into any part of this realme or dominion of wales without lawfull licence or warrant so to doe , that in euery such case , such offence shall be felony , and the party offending therein suffer death as in case of felony : the said felony to bee heard and determined in that county of this realme or wales , in which the offender shall be apprehended . and be it also enacted by the authority aforesaid that if any towne , parish , or village , the constable , headborough or tythingman be negligent and doe not his or their best endeauours for the apprehension of such vagabond , rogue or sturdy begger , which there shall bee found contrary to the forme of this present act , and to cause euery of them to bee punished and conueied according to the true meaning of this present act , that then the said constable , headborough , or tithingman , in whom such default shall be , shall lose and forfeit for euery such default ten shillings . and also if any person or persons doe in any wise disturbe or let the execution of this law , or any part thereof , concerning the punishment or conueying of rogues , vagabonds , sturdy beggers , or the reliefe or setling of poore impotent persons in any maner of wise , or make rescous against any officer or person authorised by this present act for the due execution of any the premisses , the same person so offending shal forfeit & lose for euery such offence the summe of fiue pound , and shall be bound to the good behauiour . and bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid , that no person or persons hauing charge in any voyage , in passing from the realmes of ireland or scotland , or from the isle of man into this realme of england , doe wittingly or willingly bring or conuey , or suffer to be brought or conueyed in any vessell or boate from and out of the said realme of ireland , scotland , or isle of man , into the realme of england or wales or any part thereof , any vagabond , rogue , or begger , or any such as shall be forced or very like to liue by begging within the realme of england or wales , being borne in the same realmes or island , on paine of euery such person so offending , to forfeit and lose for euery such vagabond , rogue , begger , or other person like to liue by begging .xx. s. to the vse of the poore of the said parish in which they were set on land . and if any such manniske , scottish , or irish rogue , vagabond , or begger , be already , or shall at any time hereafter be set on land , or shall come into any part of england or wales , the same after he or she shall be punished as aforesaid , shall bee conueyed to the next port or parish in or neere which they were landed or first came , in such sort as rogues are appointed to bee by this present act , and from thence to bee transported at the common charge of the county where they were set on land , into those parts from whence they came or were brought . and that euery constable , headborough , and tythingman , neglecting the due performance thereof , shall forfeit for euery such offence ten shillings . be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid , that no diseased or impotent poore person shal at any time resort or repaire from their dwelling places to the city of bath , or towne of buxton , or either of them to the baths there for the ease of their griefes , vnlesse such person doe forbeare to begge , and bee licensed to passe thither by two iustices of the peace of the county where such person doth or shall then dwell or remaine , and prouided for to trauaile with such reliefe , for & towards his or her maintenance , as shal be necessary for the same person , for the time of such his or her trauaile & abode at the city of bath , and town of buxton , or either of them , and returne thence , and shall returne home againe , as shall be limited by the said licence , vpon paine to be reputed , punished , and vsed as rogues , vagabonds , and sturdy beggers declared by this present act. and that the inhabitants of the same city of bath , and towne of buxton shall not in any wise be charged by this act with the finding the reliefe of any such poore people . prouided alwayes , that the iustices of peace within any county of this realm or wales , shall not intromit or enter into any city , borough , or towns corporate , where be any iustice or iustices of the peace for any such city , borough , or towne corporate , for the execution of any branch , article or sentence of this act , for or concerning any offence , matter , or cause growing or arising within the precincts , liberties , or iurisdiction of such city , borough , or townes corporate , but that it may and shal be lawfull to the iustice and iustices of the peace , maiors , bailiffes , and other head officers of those cities , boroughes , and townes corporate , where there bee such iustices of the peace , to proceed to the execution of this act , within the precinct and compasse of their liberties , in such maner and forme as the iustices of peace in any county may or ought to doe within the same county , by vertue of this act , any thing in this act to the contrary thereof notwithstanding . prouided alwayes , that this act , or any thing therein contained , shall not extend to the poore people for the time being in the hospitall , called saint thomas hospitall , otherwise called the kings hospitall , in the borough of southwarke neere adioyning to the city of london , but that the maior , commonalty , and citizens of the said city of london for the time being , shall and may haue the rule , order , and gouernment of the said hospitall , and of the poor people therein for the time being , any thing in this act to the contrary notwithstanding . prouided alwayes , that this act or any thing therein contained , or any authority thereby giuen , shall not in any wise extend to dis-inherit , preiudice , or hinder iohn dutton of dutton , in the county of chester esquire his heires or assignes , for , touching or concerning any liberty , preheminence , authority , iurisdiction , or inheritance , which the said iohn dutton now lawfully vseth , or hath , or lawfully may or ought to vse within the county palatine of chester , and the county of the city of chester , or either of them , by reason of any ancient charters of any kings of this land , or by reason of any prescription , vsage , or title whatsoeuer . and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid , that all fines and forfeitures appointed or to grow by this present act , ( except such as are otherwise limited and appointed by this present act shall wholly goe and be unployed to the vse of the reparations and maintenance of the said houses of correction , and stocke and store thereof , or reliefe of the poore where the offence shall be committed , at the discretion of the iustices of the peace of the same limit , city , borough , or towne corporate : and that all fines and forfeitures appointed or to grow by conuiction of any person according to this present act , shall by warrant vnder the hands and seales of any two or more of the iustices of the peace of the same county , city , borough , or towne corporate , bel●ied by distresse and sale of the goods and chattels of the offender , which sale shall be good in the law against such offender . and that if any of the said offences shal be confessed by the offender , or that the same shall be proued by two sufficient and lawfull witnesses , before such two or more iustices of the peace , that then euery such person shall forthwith stand and be in the law conuicted thereof . and bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid , that any two or more iustices of the peace within all the said seueral shires , cities , boroughes , or townes corporate , whereof one to be of the quorum , shal haue full power by authority of this present act , to heare and determine all causes that shall grow or come in question by reason of this act. and bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid , that the lord chancellor or keeper of the great seale of england for the time being , shall and may at all times hereafter by vertue of this present act , without further warrant , make and direct commission or commissions vnder the great seale of england , to any person or persons , giuing them or some of them thereby authority , as well by the oaths of good & lawfull men , as of witnesses or examination of parties , or by any other lawfull wayes or meanes whatsoeuer , to enquire what summes of money or other things haue been or shall bee collected or gathered for or towards the erection of any houses of correction , or any stockes or other things to set poore on work , or for the maintenance thereof at any time after the seuenteenth day of nouember , in the eighteenth yeere of the reigne of the queenes most excellent maiesty , and by whom the same were or shall be collected or gathered , and to whose hands commen , and to what vse , and by whose direction the same was or shall bee employed . and to call all & euery such person & persons , and their sureties , and euery of their executors or administrators to an accompt : and to compell them and euery of them by attachment of their goods or bodies to appeare before them for the same , and to heare & determine the same , and to leuie such money and things as they shal find not to haue been duly employed vpon the said houses of correction , or stockes , or vpon other like vses , hauing in such other like vses respect of things past by the said commissioners to be allowed of , either by distresse & sale of the goods and chattels of such persons as they shall thinke fit to bee chargeable or answerable for the same , or by imprisonment of their bodies at their discretion : and that the said commissioners shall haue full power and authority to execute the same commission according to the tenor and purport thereof : and that all their proceedings , doings , iudgements , and executions by force and authority thereof , shall be and remaine good and auaileable in the law : which said money so leuied by the said commissioners , shall bee deliuered and employed for the erecting or maintenance of the same . prouided alwayes neuerthelesse , that euery sea-faring man suffering shipwracke , not hauing wherewith to relieue himselfe in his trauailes home wards , but hauing a testimoniall vnder the hand of some one iustice of the peace , of , or neere the place where he landed , setting downe therein the place and time , where , and when he landed , and the place of the parties dwelling or birth , vnto which he is to passe , and a conuenient time therein to be limited for his passage , shall and may without incurring the danger and penalty of this act , in the vsuall wayes directly to the place vnto which he is directed to passe , and within the time in such his testimoniall limited for his passage , aske and receiue such reliefe as shall be necessary , in , and for his passage . prouided also , that this statute , nor any thing therein contained , shall extend to any children vnder the age of seuen yeares , nor to any such glassemen as shall be of good behauiour , and doe trauaile in or through any country , without begging , hauing licence for their trauailing vnder the hands and seales of three iustices of the peace of the same county where they trauaile , whereof one to be of the quorum . and bee it also further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid , that this present act shall bee proclaimed in the next quarter session or sessions in euery county , and in such other market townes or places , as by the more part of the iustices of the peace in the said sessions shal be agreed and appointed . this act to endure to the end of the first session of the next parliament . ¶ certaine branches of the statute made in the first yeere of the reigne of king iames , concerning rogues , vagabonds , and sturdy beggars . forasmuch as sithence the making of the act of 39. eliz. diuers doubts and questions haue been mooued and growen by diuersitie of opinions , taken in and vpon the letter of the said act : for a plaine declaration whereof , be it declared and enacted , that from henceforth no authoritie , to bee giuen or made by any baron of this realme , or any other honourable personage of greater degree , vnto any other person or persons , shall be auaileable to free and discharge the said persons , or any of them from the paines and punishments in the said statute mentioned , but that they shall be taken within the offence and punishment of the same statute . and whereas in the said statute , there is a prouiso conteined , that the said statute , nor any thing therein conteined , shall extend to any such glassemen as shall be of good behauiour , and shall trauell in or thorow any countie without begging , hauing licence for their trauelling , vnder the hands and seales of three iustices of the peace of the same county , where they trauell , whereof one to bee of the quorum , as by the statute more at large appeareth : by reason of which libertie , many notorious rogues and vagabonds , and euill disposed persons haue vndertaken , and doe professe the trade of glassemen ; and by colour thereof doe trauell vp and downe diuers counties of this realme , and doe commit many pickeries , petty felonies , and other misdemeanours : for the auoding of which inconuenience , bee it established and enacted by the authoritie of this present parliament , that from and after two moneths next after the end of this present session of parliament , all such person and persons , as shall wander vp and downe the countrey to sell glasses , shall be adiudged , deemed , and taken as rogues and vagabonds , and shall suffer the like paine and punishment in euery degree , as is appointed to bee inflicted vpon rogues , vagabonds and sturdy beggers , by the intent and true meaning of the said statute , made in the nine and thirtieth yeere of the reigne of the said late queene elizabeth , and shall be set down limitted , and appointed by this present act , any thing in the said statute of the nine and thirtieth yeere of her said reigne to the contrary therof in any wise notwithstanding . and forasmuch as one branch of the statute of 39. eliz. is taken to bee some what defectiue , for that the said rogues hauing no marke vpon them to bee knowne by , notwithstanding such iudgement of banishment , may returne or retire themselues into some other parts of this realme where they are not known , and so escape the due punishment which the said statute did intend to inflict vpon them : for remedy whereof , be it ordained and enacted , that such rogues as shall after the end of two moneths next after the end of this session of parliament , be adiudged , as aforesaid , incorrigible or dangerous , shall also by the iudgement of the same iustices , or the more part of them then present , in their open sessions of the peace , bee branded in the left shoulder with an hot burning iron of the breadth of an english shilling with a great romane r vpon the iron , and the branding vpon the shoulder to bee throughly burned , and set on vpon the skinne and flesh , that the letter r bee seene , and remaine for a perpetuall marke vpon such rogue during his or her life , and therevpon bee sent by the same iustices to the place of his dwelling , if he haue any , if not , then to the place where hee last dwelt by the space of a yeere , if that can be knowne by his confession or otherwise : and if that cannot bee knowne , then to the place of his birth , there to bee placed in labour as a true subiect ought to doe : and after such punishment of any such rogue as aforesaid , if any rogue so punished shall offend againe in begging or wandring contrary to the said statute , or this present act , that then in euery such case , the party so offending shall bee iudged a felon , and shall suffer as in cases of felony without benefit of clergie , the same felony to be tried in the county where any such offender shall bee taken . anno primo iacobi regis . ¶ an act for the charitable reliefe and ordering of persons infected with the plague . forasmuch as the inhabitants of diuers cities , boroughs , townes corporate , and of other parishes and places being visited with the plague , are found to bee vnable to relieue the poorer sort of such people so infected , who of necessity must be by some charitable course prouided for , lest they should wander abroad , and thereby infect others : and forasmuch as diuers persons infected with that disease , and others inhabiting in places infected , aswell poore people and vnable to relieue themselues , that are carefully prouided for , as other which of themselues are of abilitie , being commanded by the magistrate or officer , of or within the place where the infection shall be , to keepe their houses , or otherwise to separate themselues from company , for the auoiding of further infection , do notwithstanding very dangerously and disorderly demeane themselues : bee it therefore enacted by the authoritie of this present parliament , that the maior , bailiffes , head officers , and iustices of the peace , of euery city , borough , town corporate , and places priuiledged , where any maior and bailiffes , head officers , or iustices of peace are or shall bee , or any two of them , shall haue power and authority from time to time , to taxe and assesse all and euery inhabitant , and all houses of habitation , lands , tenements and hereditaments within the said citie , borough , towne corporate , and places priuiledged , or the liberties or precincts thereof , at such reasonable taxes and paiments , as they shall thinke fit for the reasonable reliefe of such persons infected , or inhabiting in houses and places infected in the same cities . boroughs and townes corporate , and places priuiledged , and from time to time leuie the same taxes , of the goods of euery person refusing or neglecting to pay the said taxes , by warrant vnder the hand and seale of the maior and bailiffes , and head officers aforesaid , or two such iustices of peace , to bee directed to any person or persons for the execution thereof . and if the party to whom such warrant is or shall be directed , shall not find any goods to leuy the same , and the party taxed , shall refuse to pay the same taxe , that then vpon returne thereof the said maior , bailiffes , head officers or iustices of peace , or any two of them , shall by like warrant vnder their hands and seales , cause the same person so taxed to bee arrested and committed to the gaole , without bayle or maineprise , vntill he shall satisfie the same taxation , and the arrerages thereof . and if the inhabitants of any such citie , borough , towne corporate , or place priuiledged , shall finde themselues vnable to relieue their said poore infected persons , and others , as aforesaid , that then vpon certificate thereof by the maior , bayliffe , head officers , and other the said iustices of peace , or any two of them , to the iustices of peace of the countie of , or neere to the sayd citie , borough , towne corporate , or priuiledged place so infected , or any two of them to be made , the said iustices of , or neer the said county or any two of them , shall or may taxe and assesse the inhabitants of the countie within fiue miles of the sayd place infected , at such reasonable and weekely taxes and rates as they shall thinke fit to be leuied by warrant from any such two iustices of peace , of , or neere the countie , by sale of goods , and in default thereof , by imprisonment of the body of the party taxed , as aforesayd . and if any such infection shall bee in any borough , towne corporate , or piuiledged place , where there are or shall be no iustices of peace , or in any village or hamlet within any county , that then it shall and may bee lawfull for any two iustices of peace of the said county , wherein the said place infected is or shall be , to taxe and assesse the inhabitants of the said countie , within fiue miles of the sayd place infected , at such reasonable weekely taxes and rates as they shall thinke fit for the reasonable reliefe of the said places infected , to bee leuied by warrant from the said iustices of peace of the same county by sale of goods , and in default therof , by imprisonment of the body of euery partie so taxed , as aforesaid : the same taxes made by the said iustices of peace of the county , for the reliefe of such cities , boroughs , townes corporate , & places priuiledged , where there are no iustices of peace , to be disposed as they shall think fit . and where there are iustices of peace . then in such sort as to the maior , bailifs , head officers , & iustices of peace there or any two of them shall seeme fit & conuenient . all which taxes and rates made within any such citie , borough , town corporate , or place priuiledged , shal be certified at the next quarter sessions to be holden within the same citie , borough , towne corporate , or place priuiledged ; and the said taxes and rates made within any part of the said county , shall in like sort be certified at the next quarter sessions to bee holden in and for the said countie , and that if the iustices of peace at such quarter sessions respectiuely , or the more part of them shall thinke it fit , the said tax and rate should continue or be inlarged , or extended to any other parts of the countie , or otherwise determined , then the fame to be so enlarged , extended or determined increased , or taxed and leuied , in manner and forme aforesaid , as to the said iustices at the quarter sessions , respectiuely shall be thought fit and conuenient ▪ and euery constable , and other officer that shall wilfully make default in leuying such money , as they shall be commanded by the said warrant or warrants , shall forfeit for euery such offence ten shillings , to be employed on the charitable vses aforesaid . and be it further enacted , that if any person or persons infected , or being dwelling in any house infected , shall bee by the maior , bayliffes , constable , or other head officer of any citie , borough , towne corporate , priuiledged place , or market towne , or by any iustice of peace ▪ constable , headborough or other officer of the countie , ( if any such infection be out of any citie , borough , towne corporate , priuiledged place , or market towne ) commanded or appointed , as aforesaid , to keepe his or their house , for auoiding of further infection , and shall notwithstanding wilfully and contemptuously disobey such direction and appointment , offering and attempting to breake and goe abroad , and to resist , or going abroad , and resisting such keepers or watchmen as shall be appointed , as aforesaid , to see them kept in , that then it shal be lawful for such watchmen , with violence to inforce them to keepe their houses . and if any hurt come by such enforcement to such disobedient persons , that then the said keepers , watchmen , and any other their assist assistants , shall not bee impeached therefore . and if any infected persons as aforesaid , so commanded to keepe house , shall contrary to such commandement , wilfully and contemptuously go abroad , and shall conuerse in company , hauing any infectious sore vpon him vncured , that then such person and persons shall be taken , deemed , and adiudged as a felon , and to suffer paines of death , as in case of felonie , but if such person shall not haue any such sore found about him . then for his said offence , to be punished as a vagabond in all respects should , or ought to be , by the statute made in the nine and thirtieth yeere of the reigne of our late souereigne lady queene elizabeth , for the punishment of rogues and vagabonds ; and further to be bound to his or their good behauiour for one whole yeere . prouided , that no attainder of felony by vertue of this acte , shall extend to any attainder or corruption of blood , or forfeiture of any goods , chattels , lands , tenements , or hereditaments . and bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesayd , that it shall be lawfull for iustices of peace , maiors , bayliffes , and other head officers aforesayd , to appoint within the seuerall limits , searchers , watchmen , examiners , keepers , and buriers for the persons and places respectiuely , infected as aforesayd , and to 〈…〉 vnto them oathes for the performance of their offices of searchers , examiners , watchmen , keepers , and buriers , and giue them other directions , as vnto them for the present necessitie shall seeme good in their discretions . and this acte to continue no longer then vntill the end of the first session of the next parliament . prouided alwayes , and be it enacted by authority of this present parliament , that no maior , bayliffes , head officers , or any iustices of peace , shall by force or pretext of any thing in this acte contained , doe or execute any thing before mentioned , within either the vniuersities of cambridge or oxford , or within any cathedrall church or the liberties or precincts thereof , in this realme of england , or within the colledges of eaton or winchester , but that the vicechancellor of either of the vniuersities for the time being , within either of the same respectiuely , and the bishop and deane of such cathedrall church , or one of them , within such cathedrall church , and the prouost or warden of either of the said colledges within the same , shall haue all such power and authority , and shall doe and execute all and euery such act and acts , thing and things in this act before mentioned , within their seuerall precincts and iurisdictions abouesaid , as wholly absolutely , and fully to all intents and purposes , as any maior , bayliffes , head officers , or iustices of peace within their seuerall precincts and iurisdictions , may elsewhere by force of this act doe and execute . in camera stellata coram concilio ibidem , vicesimo die octobris , anno regni reginae elizabethae quadragesimo , &c. praesentibus , thoma egerton mil. dn̄o cultod . magni sigilli angliae . dn̄o north. dn̄o buckhurst . iohanne fortescue milite cancellar , scaccarij . archiepiscopo cantuariens . popham milite capitali iustic . de banco regis . anderson milite capitali iustic . de communi banco . this day rice griffin and iohn scrips were brought to the barre , against whome edward coke esquire , her maiesties attourney generall , did enforme , that the said griffin had vnlawfully erected and built one tenement in hog-lane in the countie of middlesex , which he diuided into two seuerall roomes , wherein were now inhabiting two poore tenants , that onely liued and were maintained by the reliefe of the parishioners there , and begging abroad in other places : and that the said iohn scrips had in like sort diuided a tenement in shordich , into , or about seuenteene tenancies or dwellings , and the same inhabited by diuers persons of very poore and base condition , contrary to the intent and meaning of her highnesse proclamation , published and set out the seuenth day of iuly 1580. in the two and twentieth yeere of her highnesse reigne , whereby the same , and such manner of buildings and diuisions , are altogether forbidden and prohibited , as by her maiesties said proclamation more at large appeareth . moreouer , her highnesse said attourney further informed this honourable court , that sithence the said proclamation , sundry decrees haue beene made and 〈…〉 this court , aswell for the prostrating , pulling downe , and defacing of diuers new buildings : as also for reformation of diuisions of tenements : all which notwithstanding , sundry wilful and disobedient persons , continue in their contemptuous maner of buildings and diuisions : by meanes whereof , the citie of london , and suburbs thereof , are ouercharged , and burdened with sundry sorts of poore , beggerly , and euill disposed persons , to the great hinderance and oppression of the same ; so as the magistrates and officers in and about the citie , to whom the execution of the aforesaid decrees and orders chiefly appertaineth , cannot performe and doe the same , according to the purport and tenour thereof : and in regard thereof : her highnes said attourney humbly prayed , that the said griffin and scrips might receiue , and haue inflicted on them , some condigne and fit punishment , and that at the humble petition of the lord maior and aldermen of the citie of london , and other the iustices of peace of the countie of middlesex and surrey , the court would be pleased to set downe and decree , some last and generall order in this and in all other like cases of new buildings , and diuisions of tenements . whereupon the court grauely considering the great growing euils and inconueniences that continually breed and happen by these new erected buildings and diuisions made and diuided contrary to her maiesties said proclamation , and well weighing the reasons of the said lord maior and aldermen of the said city , and iustices of the counties aforesaid in that behalfe , greatly tendring the ouerburdened and distressed estate of the inhabitants that dwell in sundry the parishes where the said new buildings and diuided tenements are , being for the most part but of small abilitie to beare and sustaine the great charge which is to grow there , by meanes of the poore placed in sundry of the new erected and diuided tenements , haue therefore by the whole and generall consent of all the honourable presence here sitting , hearing the accusations aforesaid , and the answeres , defences , and allegations of the said griffin and scrips , ordered and decreed , that the said griffin and scrips , shall be committed to the prison of the fleet , and pay twentie pounds a piece for a fine to her maiestie . and as for the pulling downe , or reforming of any house new built or diuided sithence and contrarie to the said proclamation , within the citie of london , or the compasse of three miles thereof , in which any poore or impotent persons now doe , or hereafter shall dwell or abide , for that if the same houses should be pulled downe , destroyed , or reformed , other habitations must bee prouided for them at the charge of the parishes where they be , or shall be dwelling . the court doeth as yet think fit to forbeare and respit the doing thereof , and haue ordered and adiudged that all and euery such poore and impotent persons , which dwell or shall dwell & 〈…〉 in any new buildings , or diuided tenements erected & diuided , contrary to the effect and intent of her highnesse said proclamation , and are or shall in any wise be driuen to liue by begging or to be relieued 〈…〉 within the city of london , or any other place within the compasse of three miles thereof , shall and may during the time of his or their life or liues , abide and dwell in the same , without giuing or paying any maner of rent seruice or other recompence vnto the landlords or any other , for , and in respect of the same , and not be thence 〈…〉 they shall after become able to liue of themselues , and that the said landlord , owner , or any other that 〈…〉 to , or for any rent or rents growing , ar●●ng , or payable for any of the said new buildings , or diuided tenements , to inhabited or to bee inhabited with poore people as aforesaid , shall 〈…〉 enioyned , and vpon this 〈…〉 and decree , take sufficient notice and warning , that hee or they doe not 〈…〉 encumber , disquiet , or moldst any of the said poore tenants , for any rents , covenants , conditions , promises or agreements , touching , or in any wise concerning the said tenements , new buildings , or any of them , for the leuying or recouering of any rent , seruice , or other consideration in lieu of any rent . and for that the new , buildings and diuisions of sundry houses , within the citie of london and three miles compasse thereof contrary to the tenor of the said proclamation , hath beene and is the occasion of great charges vnto the parishes of the said city and precinct aforesaid , whereby the said parishes are still ouermuch burdened with poore and impotent persons , it is therefore ordered and decreed , that all such landlords or owners of such buildings or diuisions whersoeuer they should dwell , shall contribute and giue such like ratable and reasonable allowance with the said prishioners where such buildings and diuisions are , towards the finding and maintaining of the poore of the parish , in which such buildings are , is , or shall bee erected or diuided contrary to the said proclamation , as should bee apportioned and allotted him or them to pay , if he or they were dwelling in the said parish . and it is further ordered and decreed by this honourable court , that after the death or departure of such poore people as doe or shall inhabite the same houses or diuided tenements aforesaid , the houses thereby being become void , then the lord maior and iustices of peace neere vnto the city adioyning , hereby are commanded to reforme the said diuided tenements , and to prostrate , pull downe and deface the said new buildings in such sort , as the same be no more left fit for habitation , and the timber and wood therof to be conuerted and disposed in such manner as by the said proclamation is required : as also to take order in all other the premisses , that this decree be duely obserued and kept : and if any shall be obstinate , then to binde such landlords as that shall obstinately and wilfully disobey this sayd decree , to appeare in this honourable court of starre-chamber to answere their contempt therein . this decree was afterward read in the court of starre-chamber the 29. of nouember 1609. and then confirmed and straitly commanded by all the lords present to be duely put in execution . in camera stellata coram concilio ibidem , vicessimo nono die nouembris , anno septimo iacobi regis . praesentibus , thoma egerton milite dn̄o ellesmere , dn̄o canc. ang. comite sarum dn̄o thesaurario ang. comite northampton . comite exon. dn̄o zouch . iul. caesare milite cancellar . scaccarij . archiepiscopo cant. fleming milite capitali iustic . de banco regis . coke milite capitali . iust . de com . banc. yeluerton milit . iustic . de banc . reg. williams milit , iustic . de banc . reg. foster milite iustic . de communi banc. this day sir henry montague , knight , recorder of london enformed this most honorable court , that where there haue been diuers proclamations as well in the time of our late souereigne queene elizabeth , as also since his maiesties most happy reigne , and also diuers orders and decrees taken in this honourable court for the restraining and reforming of the multitude of new erected and diuided tenements , and taking in of inmates , yet neuerthelesse the same doe so daily increase and multiply in euery place in and about this city of london and the suburbs thereof , infinite number of people being pestered together breeding and nourishing infection , so that the same tendeth to the great imminent danger of the gouernement and safety of this citie , and consequently to the perill of his maiesties sacred person , the queenes maiestie , and their royall issue , and the lords of the state here ordinarily residing , with many other great enormities , if the same bee not carefully and speedily preuented . and therefore it was humbly desired , that this honourable court would reuiue a decree of this court , made the twentieth day of october , in the fourtieth yeere of our said late soueraigne queene elizabeth , taken and established for restraining and reforming of such new erected buildings and diuisions . and that the said decree might bee put in present execution for the speedy refor of the said enormities , wherupon the said decree being openly read , this honourable court , and all the whole presence here sitting , taking tender care and consideration of the good and safety of the said city , and grauely fore-seeing the imminent danger and euils which doe growe and increase , and doe chiefely arise through ouermuch neglect in due execution of those former proclamations , decrees and ordinances which are not looked into as they ought to bee , doeth therefore decree and order , that the said former decree taken the said twentieth day of october in the said fortieth yeere of our late soueraigne be presently , and from time to time hereafter , more seuerely looked into , and put in execution . and his maiesties learned councell , and also the lord maior , and aldermen of london , together with all iustices of peace , and other his maiesties officers whatsoeuer which the same may any way concerne , are hereby straitly charged and required , that they and euery of them doe from time to time hereafter diligently and strictly cause and see the said decree to bee in all points duely obserued and put in execution , and tearmely to make certificate to his honourable court of their proceedings therein , and of such persons as they shall finde to offend in that behalfe ; whereupon this court doth purpose to proceed against them for their contempts with very seuere punishment . * ⁎ * london , imprinted by robert barker , printer to the kings most excellent maiestie anno dom. 1626. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a06288-e3880 the church-wardens of euery parish , & other substantiall housholders yeerely to be nominated at easter , to be ouerseers for the poore . children of the poore to be set to work . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stocke of 〈…〉 axe & hemp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be raised . the church-wardens and ouerseers to meet together once euery moneth . account to be giuen by the ouerseers to two iustices of peace . other parishes within the hundred , to be taxed towards the reliefe of poore parishes . how to leuie money of such as refuse to pay . punishment of such as will not work . poore children to be put apprentices by the church-wardens and ouerseers . dwelling places for impotent poore to be built . order for such as are geieue with any sesse or taxe . parents , &c. being able , shall maitain their owne poore . 〈…〉 every alderman in the city of londō 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 authority as two iustices of peace . iustices . &c. to meddle onely in their owne liberties . a double account to be made . 〈…〉 for 〈…〉 . penalties and forfeitures to bee employed to poores vse . parishes to be rated at the generall ●●●●ions . leuying of summes of money rated . reliefe of the prisoners in the kings bench , marshalsey , hospitals , &c. treasurers for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 vp their account at the yeeres end . l chiefe iustice ▪ knight marshall . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 surplusage shal be bestowed . refusing to be treasurer to giue the reliefe appointed . a former statute for reliefe of the poore . 〈…〉 . the defendants plea in a suite commenced against him . notes for div a06288-e4460 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . taxation 〈…〉 parish . refusing to pay the money taxed . churchwardens shall pay to the high constables the money taxed . churchwardens , &c. failing to make payment . a treasurer failing of account , or neglecting his charge . to which treasurer the souldier shall repaire for reliefe . who shall make the souldiers certificate . allowance of the certificate . treasurers shall assigne reliefe to soldiers . iustices shall grant reliefe to souldiers . how much reliefe shall be assigned . the iustices may alter souldiers reliefe . souldiers ariuing far from the place where they are to haue reliefe . the treasurers booke of computation , and register . a treasurer refusing to giue reliefe . a souldier begging , or counterfeiting a certificate . the surplusage of the stock . chiefe officers in corporate townes . how the forfeitures shal be imployed . pensions assigned , to stand in force , though the statutc be repealed . taxations made and not leuied . if the rate be not sufficient for souldiers in london . notes for div a06288-e4950 all former statutes concerning rogues , &c. reuealed . iustices of peace shall set downe order for erection and maintenance of houses of correction . who shall be adiudged rogues , vagabonds , and sturdy beggers . the punishment of a vagabond . a testinoniall after punishment . rogues which be dangerous , or will not be reformed . rogues to be banished the realme , or committed to the gallies . rogues returning after banishment , to be reputed felons . the forfeiture of a constable &c. not doing his duty . disturbing the execution of this statute . bringing into this realme of irish , scottish or manniske vagabonds . diseased persons resorting to bath and buxton . the iustices within towns corporate shall only intermeddle . s. thomas hospitall in southwarke . the iurisdiction of iohn dutton of dutton reserued . in what sort the forfeitures shall be imployed . iustices of peace may heare and determine the causes of this statute . commissioners to enquire for mony gathered . a prouision for poore sea-faring men . glassemen not begging . this act to be proclaimed . no authoritie giuen by any baron , &c. shal free others from the offence and punishment of the statute of 39. eliz. glassemen brought within the compasse of the statute . rogues branded with an hot yron r. glassemen brought within the compasse of the statute . notes for div a06288-e5660 taxing others for the reliefe of the sicke of the plague . the inhabitants vnable to relieue the infected . an infected person commanded to keep his house , disobeyeth . infected persons how felons . attendants appointed vpon the infected persons . the vniuersities , cathedrall churches , caron , winchester . sudorificum regale, or, the royal sudoforick barker, richard, sir. 1676 approx. 48 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a30934 wing b779a estc r29065 10805066 ocm 10805066 45982 this 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a30934) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 45982) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1395:13) sudorificum regale, or, the royal sudoforick barker, richard, sir. [47], 32 p. printed by j.d. for sir richard barker, london : 1676. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-04 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-04 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion sudorificum regale ; or , the royal sudorifick . london , printed by j. d. for sir richard barker , 1676. charles r. whereas the law made for the encouragement of the industry or ingenuity or those who produce , or invent any new thing , for the common benefit of this kingdom , doth seldom take effect , by reason of the difficulty of bringing new inventions into notice and use ; his majesty being willing , as much as in him lies , to promote such inventions , according to their worth and usefulness ; and having also an especial respect and zeal for the health of his subjects , doth hereby of his meer motion and free grace , give and grant unto roger brettridge and richard kingsmill , esquires , to have the whole and sole making , publishing , uttering and selling of a certain sudorifick , by them , or one of them , invented and made in his royal elaboratory ; of whose efficacy and excellent vertue , for the curing sundry diseases , as well chronical as others , safely , sweetly , speedily and effectually , he hath had assured proof , demonstration and testimony , as well from the persons , who have taken many doses thereof , as from those who have administred the same . and he doth hereby also further authorize them to sell and utter into all , or any his majesties kingdoms or dominions the same , by the name of his majesty of great britain's sudorifick ; and to seal the several parcels , or doses thereof with his majesties badg , or device of the rose and crown , and c. ii. r. cut in silver . and to the intent the said inventors may have the benefit intended them by the law , of the sole making and utterance of the said sudorifick , and his good subjects the more speedy notice and benefit thereof , he doth hereby recōmend the same to all persons of honour , physicians , chirurgians , and especially those of his fleet , drugsters , apothecaries , and others , to be by them promoted . and doth will and require all persons , as they will answer the contrary at their peril , not to counterfeit his said seal , or impression of his said badge , nor to undervalue , abuse , sophisticate or counterfeit the said sudorifick , nor in any-wise to oppose , or hinder the utterance , sale , or use of the said sudorifick , to the frustration , or hinderance of his majesties gracious intent of benefiting his subjects in general in the concerns of their health , and by the inventors in particular , for a reward of their ingenuity . the royal sudorifick , with the publication whereof i am entrusted , who so takes , must fast three or four hours after every dose . in pag. 30. line 14. last word , week is mistaken for month. sudorificum regale : or , the king 's sudorifick . chymiatry , for so with the light change of one letter it is more truly named than chymistry , is a very antient art , and came , as other learning , from the east by egypt to greece , and so to the roman empire , and saluting africk , as philosophy and physick also did , it found kind entertainment , and some improvement in those countries , especially in the times of some more generous princes ; of which progress in those parts the arabick articles prefixed to several greek terms of this art , as alambick , alchymy , are a sufficient testimony . and it at all times , and in all places friendly served , and no-where opposed the received principles of physick and philosophy . for neither indeed belongs it any more to the office of a chymist , than of an apothecary , to dispute or take cognizance of those to them superiour , and more comprehensive faculties . but the study of it hath been much more cultivated in later times , by reason of the opposition that paracelsus , and some of his followers of like fanatick strain , made unto the establish'd practice of physick , by colour of his pretended chymical principles . followers , i say , of a fanatick strain ; for in their contest against their adversaries , they were not ashamed to practise their master's maxim , si dei deficit auxilium , diaboli succedat : and sought to build themselves a name by raising a babel of confused words , instead of a reformed art of physick , on the ruines of all true christian divinity , as well as physick and philosophy . indignation as it should seem against this innovator , who partly concealed his tenets in the smoak , as i may say , and partly endeavoured to illustrate them by the fire of this noble art , provoked many to follow him through both , and to attack him there whence his chiefest strength and confidence seemed to arise . so it came to pass , that whereas formerly the generality of physicians hardly knew what a retort or alambick did mean , there are few at this day who are altogether strangers unto the more useful operations of this art. and our age seemed prone to receive with less opposition his maxim , who was so bold as long since to say , medicum non posse esse magnum , cui chymia non sit magna . and not only in germany , where this contest first began , but with us chymiatry hath of late got some reputation , notwithstanding the fierce oppositions of its obstinate enemies , and is in far greater esteem , and flourishes more than formerly , so that now its contemners are forced , by reason of its fame , to pretend to know and understand something of it ; and very many of its common inventions , and preparations heretofore accounted dangerous , and cried down for poysons , are now every-where frequent in the shops of apothecaries , as well as closets of physicians . that excellent purging extract which is in truth the catholicon purgans paracelsi , now universally used and commended , durst not appear in italy under its author's name , and keeps still the disguised title of extractum rudii , from the first publisher of it in those parts . what more suspected than antimony , what more frequently used at this day ? if vomiting , purging , and sweating could cure all diseases of more frequent incursion , it would bid as fair as any yet produced , to merit the name of an universal medicine . for purging , perhaps not many , besides that already named , excel the pulvis comitis , wherein it is a principal ingredient : and there is extant a preparation of it , that purges in an almost unperceptible dose , sweetly and very effectually . crocus metallorum may perhaps vye with all other commonly known vomits for use and efficacy ; yet are not our chymical closets without more safe , gentle and effectual . there is another vomit known unto us no less powerful and effectual , though not yet in common use , which being more safe and familiar , may be administred both to children and ancient people , without danger or forcible straining . the diaphoretick of antimony needs not my commendations , having commended it self to all men . physick hath advanced very little or nothing till its worthy professors were either awakened or assisted by this art ; and considering , the great change it hath made in medicine since paracelsus's time , we can hardly hope it will make any further or more considerable progress in our days , or attain its perfection to the cure of those formerly held incurable diseases , gout , stone , &c. at any time , without the assistance of some choice chymical-preparations . if the works of paracelsus and his followers ( all of which may perhaps not unjustly deserve the name of vexations , which he gave to one of his treatises ) have , according to the true proverb , vexatio dat intellectum , made so great innovations in the art and practice of physick it self , as well as in the materia medica , and produced some flashes of light , like those that result from the collision of flint and steel , in the contest betwixt galenists and paracelsians ( as they lov'd to mis-call them , i mean our chymists ) what might not be hoped from a true chymiatry , a friendly association of chymists in their true subserviency to physicians . this book , though it brings news of a very great increment to the chymical dispensatory , and hopes to furnish the chymiater with another pillar of his practice , nothing inferior to antimony it self , is contented for the present only briefly to declare the occasion , and encouragements that have been given to its publication at this time , and to point at its force and use , reserving the further discovery of its nature , till publick testimony of its worth may embolden it to put off its disguise , and like that excellent purgative extract forementioned , own its true name and author . in the interim it is hoped , that the ingenuous and candid will neither impute it to insolence nor presumption in the publishers , that they have appealed to his majesties candor and experience , and sought protection against the obloquy and detraction of the ignorant and envious from his soveraign testimony . and this is another glory justly to be ascribed to chymiatry , and here seasonably to be remembred to the honour of its preparations : that whereas physicians of later times have withdrawn themselves from the happy and laudable practice of the ancients , in preparing and administring their own medicines ; and laid not only the charge and trouble , but which is worse , the care and trust , wholly upon their servants , or apothecaries , as a work below and unbecoming their profession : kings and princes have not been ashamed to inspect , but have also sometimes for their recreation put their hands to the preparation of the more neat , noble , and precious chymical medicines , and not disdained to give them their names ; and have thereby for the honours done this art in their own times , and dominions , propagated and perpetuated their renown throughout the whole world , and to all succeeding ages . hermes , supposed the first author of this art , whence it hath been stiled the hermetick , was not only a king , but , by consent of all ages , hath been acknowledged for , and advanced to the title of trismegistus : which needs the favour of a candid interpretation to keep its signification below the pride of blasphemy , and hath left no higher for the peculiar stile of god , then optimus maximus . and now i have instanced in him , i will not descend to any inferiour names , having more than sufficient cause to glory , and congratulate with this ancient , noble , and excellent art , and its favourers and worthy professors , that his majesty hath so far owned them and it ; who , as he hath been very bountiful to all ingenious artists , hath no-where appeared more munificent , than in the reward he hath given to those who have presented him with any worthy chymiatrical preparations ; and in the splendid provision he hath made for the entertainment of worthy operators in this art. i shall not therefore need much apology for my boldness in taking sanctuary under the sacred name of his majesty , and entitling him to our sudorifick , according to his gracious concessions made in the behalf thereof . and i am assured that unto all loyal and ingenuous spirits , his majesties pleasure in this particular to them declared , which we have therefore caused to be printed , and prefixed unto this paper , will be abundant satisfaction , as well as sufficient authority for this our practice . and if it would not seem a derogation from his , to seek ornament or protection from other names , we might alleadge the care of the wise venetian , not disdaining after this manner to provide for the true preparation of some chymiatrical-medicines , and that dangerous one in particular of mercury sublimate , as well as that excellent antidote we call the venice treacle : by which they provide wealth to themselves , with health to their subjects . nor doth the grand seignior think it below his care to make provision of the natural balsam , nor of his government , to prevent deceit in those that gather the medicinal earths in his dominions , to appropriate a stamp unto them , which have thence the names of terrae sigillatae . and it were to be wished , that for the better obviating the frequent mischiefs that arise from the use of pernicious , dangerous , or at best dubious medicines , daily published without licence , direction , or approbation of the learned , by ignorant and obscure persons , that there were some publick test , whereby the true arcana of the sons of art might be tryed , and upon proof of their worth , might receive just testimony and encouragement ; and the spurious preparations and sophistications of impostors be decryed and damned , as they deserve . nor are we without presidents of this care in the most illustrious persons : galen was appointed to prepare treacle , as he had been instructed by demetrius the physician , by the emperour antoninus . and to tiberius caesar after-ages were obliged for that excellent composition called hiera pacchii , which the author composed with his own hands , and kept secret all his life , and bequeathed , with a book of directions for its use , by his last will and testament , as a most precious legacy to that mighty emperour ; propter crebros fuccessus in vitiis difficillimis , as i find it commended in the words of scrib . largus . these examples being above all exception , may help in some part , as i hope , to justify our chymiater against that too well received maxime , medici est praescribere , non operari . and if my authority be not sufficient to bring this axiom into reputation , that they who will not work in physick , ought not to live by it ; i will appeal to the uncontestable reason and authority of that princely and heroick physician and philosopher , thus expressed by him ; rerum ipsarum cognitio vera ê rebus ipsis est : ex libris ( solis discere ) periculosissimum : and if i may have leave to interpose my judgment in a thing wherein the health and lives of men are so highly concerned , as well as credit of physick , nothing seems more necessary and conducible thereunto , than for the colledg of physicians to imitate that practice , on far less weighty grounds introduced into other corporations , to make none free of their body , but who have served seven years apprentiship to some learned physician , and who have been well vers'd in botanicks , drugs , and all medicinal materials , and chirurgical and chymical operations . methinks it should not be remembred without blushing by some , with what confidence the young druggist , arm'd and provided with no other ammunition than of the most common , frequently used and prescribed drugs , which he drew out of his hawking-bag , encountred them in the face of a parliament , presuming more on their ignorance than his own skill : nocumenta documenta . sure i am the operating chymiater hath much more advantage by his commendable industry over the unpractised prescriber , by the knowledge he thereby necessarily acquires of the natures of herbs , drugs , &c. anatomized by the fire , and of his medicines extracted out of them , or compounded of them , and thence of diseases , and their cures . the instance lately given by tachenius of common water , commended by a great physician for a cordial , will for ever silence what can be pretended to the contrary . for want of this skill it was that the excellent heurnius durst not use oyl of aniseed in the colick , which he cured with its decoction . he that will take the pains to read tachenius his hippocrates chymicus , shall thence learn the reason , with many other forcible arguments , proving the necessity of practick chymiatry . i am perswaded that at this day after so long practice and experience , i shall not need to make any long defence of our chymical medicines against those obsolete and antiquated objections , or scandals rather , with which the ignorant vulgar are deterred from their use , to the great damage of their own health , and of physick it self , as well as the experienced physician . the ingenious and learned , who are well vers'd in both practices , will , i am confident , not only allow willingly that some ornament and assistance may accrew unto the noble profession of physick by the chymist , but readily subscribe to his impartial judgment , who having faithfully examined , and judiciously weighed what could be said on both sides , concluded that the right practice of chymiatry was the highest perfection of physick , and the noblest way of practising physick was by chymical medicines . and whereas the vertues of many simple medicines lie not in their whole forms , or substances , but in many are divers in divers parts , and those not separable by other than chymical instruments and operations , as their spagyrick anatomy doth manifest : the care of the skilful chymist is to separate what is contrary , and retain only what is proper to effect his curative intentions without danger , and with the least offence to his patients . and to make use of the words , and therein of the testimony of an impartial author ; he separates the unprofitable , improper , gross , and terrestrial , that he may make his medicines efficacious , acceptable , and durable . it is meer ignorance , or malice , which is worse , and both wilfully affected , if any at this day pretend that chymical medicines are violent or dangerous . for first , as to the intent of the chymist , it is plain , his purpose , endeavour , and labour is not to prepare violent and dangerous medicines , but to render those crude and violent ones , which are administred by others , less hurtful , dangerous , violent , and offensive . and there is no reason to imagine that he who studies and attains to make the malignant , hurtful , dangerous , violent medicines , used by others , benign , profitable , safe , acceptable , and prides himself so much therein , should administer them of contrary qualities . neither in those cases , wherein the urgency or obstinacy of the disease requires strong medicines , are the chymical prepared , more dangerous than crude and unprepared , which are prescribed by others of necessity , who have no better , unless borrowed from the chymists . in the next place , as there 's no ground either from the intention or operation of the chymist , to asperse his medicines with the odious epithete of dangerous or violent , but thence it is manifest that they deserve rather the quite contrary commendations : so neither can this be attributed to them from the consideration of the matter of their medicines : for crude hellibore , colloquintida , scamony , euphorbium , &c. used by the ancients , were rather more dangerous and violent , and not more effectual than their extracts and other preparations now in use with our chymiaters . witness the purgatives above commended , wherein the most forcible medicines are daily used , without any bad accidents , but what may more justly be imputed to the physician , or physick it self , than to the chymical preparation , medicine , or operator . if we proceed further , and examine the principles according to which the chymiaters compose and dispense their medicines , we may appeal to that decisive judgment , long since made by one , who was throughly experienced in both ways , and who cannot not be justly excepted against by either , in these words ; principia chymica galenicis , qui elementa tantum cognoscunt incognita , magis ad medicinam attinent quam elementaria . hither i might transcribe many things to this purpose , discussed by that renowned chymiater otto tachenius in his late contests with zwelfer and others , correctors of the augustan dispensatory , wherein it doth manifestly appear , how necessary the right knowledg of those two chymical principles of acid and alchaly is unto the right preparation and dispensation of medicines ; which cannot be attained without chymical experiments and operations . for want of which skill , learned men , not altogether ignorant neither of chymistry , may run into very great mistakes . but i refer my self in this particular to that worthily above-commended chymiater , whose works now ( the jewels of private cabinets ) will i hope shortly be as common and familiar in the learned chymiatrick world , and as useful to the cure of some yet formidable diseases , by the skilful application of those principles to their remedies , as the fire and water , whereunto he well resembles them . but i cannot dismiss this learned witness of the usefulness of chymical principles and learning , without producing his testimony given to the antiquity of them , which he asserts to have been the same with the family of aesculapius , for his skill in physick accounted a god amongst the greeks , derived into publick notice by the works of hippocrates , who for his profound learning hath obtained the title of the divine . and to the apostacy made by the galenists from his principles , to the more narrow and gross of the elements , we may justly ascribe the non-proficiency of physick and philosophy it self from those times until ours , wherein some learned men as it were against the prescription of the galenists , have again endeavoured to introduce his acid , alchaly , bitter , sowre , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; and instead of their fire , air , water and earth , hot , cold , &c. but neither may we allow ignorant or envious persons to decry strong and vehement medicines , or chymiatry which produces , or chymiaters who apply them in such cases wherein they are necessary , and the galenists with one consent acknowledge those of the shops not to be effectual : for as this cannot be denied , that some chymical medicines or preparations are the only ones , from which it can be hoped that some stubborn and otherwise incurable diseases can be removed and subdued , being sufficiently testified of hundreds of persons by such means relieved , though not always violent , who had been given over after consultation ; so that axiom of the ancient , eloquent and learned celsus , must in all ages stand and justifie●●he learned galenist or chymist in the use of violent remedies in desperate cases ; nil refert an satis tutum praesidium sit , quod unicum . and here give me leave by the way , candid reader , to assure thee , that not only sir walter rawleighs diaphoretick of mercury , the treasure of some private closets , but other preparations of that metalline spirit , may be made without any addition of salts or other corrosives ( for he is benign , and good with the good , as bad with the bad ) which will powerfully sweeten the blood , and cast off the impurities of the body by sweat , and other operations . and of the truth of this , if need were , we might produce irrefragable testimony ; and leave it to thy own judgment to estimate what excellent effects may be hoped from so powerful a medicine . i need not tell thee what paracelsus boasted of his aquila , nor what others have sought and hoped to effect by it , in most desperate malignant diseases . the frequent use , and too frequent abuses of the known and common preparations of it , shew how useful and grateful a medicine it would be when made truly benign by the preparation of a happy operator , who knows to bind this hitherto incorrigible and ungovernable fugitive to the laws of true medicinal operation . if what we now bring thee be accepted , we will not long detain thee from a fuller discovery of this , and some other choice jewels of our chymiatrical dispensatory , which we have long sought , and now hope , if we meet with favourable acceptation in these our first fruits , to have occasion and encouragement to make publick , for the common good and honour of physick and physicians . but here the candid reader will be pleased to observe with me , that chymiatry hath introduced many gentle and familiar medicines , by a right use whereof , those diseases have been and may be cured , which have been vainly attempted with the more forcible remedies . and it is ignorance of the ancient hippocratick physick and chymiatry is the cause , that unto this day in some diseases , as the pox , &c. not only violent , but dangerous , yea horrid remedies , are yet in use , and poor patients have recourse in corners unto such practitioners , whose medicines torment them more than their diseases , and yet delude their expectations of perfect cures with deceitful palliations . to the hippocratick ( and not galenick elementary principles of hot , cold , dry , moist , &c. ) we are beholden for the advancements our age hath made in cure of some diseases , to which the most violent and destructive remedies have been formerly applied ; because how desperate soever , they were then the only known means supposed to be effectual . he that desires an infiance of this needs only call to mind what disease it was for which crude mercury hath been prescribed to be taken in great quantity by the mouth , and compare that desperate one , and other violent medicines prescribed in printed books in that , and such miserable cases , with the late familiar , easy , and almost contemptible remedies of our studious and ingenious countryman . thô envy hath depriv'd the world of many of these , and is the cause that noble above-commended chymiater hath not yet published his viperine antidote , appropriated by him to the cure of venerial , and the like diseases , in the most choice and tender bodies , yet are there instances enough of such powerful , and yet benign remedies , as are sufficient testimonies to vindicate chymiatry from being guilty of the use of violent remedies to desperate diseases . and we hope this royal sudorifick we now commend unto thee , will , when gotten into knowledg and esteem , tend very much to the reputation of this art , quite take away the use of dangerous mercurial preparations , and equalize the best antimonial , the choice treasures of some chymiatrical closets ; for which hope i have , besides experience , good reason and authority of the most learned chymiaters . to these desperate remedies in many cases , as of gravel in the reins in ancient bodies , &c. the mineral waters may be accounted , but none can with any great certainty prescribe them , who are not able to judge of the diseases and waters appropriate to them by true chymiatrical principles , and such know so well to prepare mineral waters at home , that they shall not need to go so far , or pay so dear for them , who may properly expect relief from them ; of this we have many witnesses , for whom we many years since prepared such as were not inferiour to the german spaw . and we are assured there are amongst our worthy chymiaters at home , who know to prepare and accomodate such remedies to the age , temperature and distempers of their patients , that their charge , and travel , and other hazards of life and health , weak and diseased persons must needs incur in such journeys , being considered , i hope i shall be excused for this reflection upon them as dangerous , and in some sense desperate remedies , to which patients are oft condemned for want of knowledge in chymiatry . i conclude this discourse with that passage which i find in a learned and indifferent physitian , treating of the subject we have now in hand , who casting the errours ( made on both sides ) off from the noble and excellent art , on to the base and ignorant intruders on both parties , as he justly adorneth the learned practisers with that glorious eulogie , given them by the ancients 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , so he excludes not the chymist from the honour of being some finger in that hand of god , but ingenuously acknowledges , and almost unto sense demonstrates the necessity of chymical preparations , saying , the chymist is that to physick , which the cook is to food . neither would i be understood to reflect on the learned galenist or chymist ; but hope it will be no blasphemy to say of those , who trust to those practisers , ignorant in chymiatry , they had need to take heed that when god sends them physick , the devil send them not an ignorant , as well as unlicensed physitian : but for the sake of such to condemn and endeavour to exclude the chymiater , were as absurd as for the slovenliness of some ignorant cooks to pretend a jealousie of all , and turning them out of the kitchen , to reduce us to a necessity of eating raw meats like salvage beasts , or more salvage men. thus far , courteous reader , i have thought fit and necessary to advise thee concerning the nature of chymical medicines in general , and to prevent as much as i can , all prejudicate opinions , that might deter thee from the use of our royal sudorifick on that accompt . now , give me leave to inform thee of the virtues and use of it in physick ; and the manner of its application and operation . i need not tell thee of what great force and esteem other sudorificks are , especially that of antimony ; how that , and some others have been prescribed as great andidotes not only against simple agues and feavers , but against pestilential ones and the plague it self , for cleansers and sweetners of the blood , for resisters of poyson , resolvers of noxious humours , openers of obstructions ; in which faculties and virtues it is not behind , but equal , if not superior to the most and best sudorificks , such as are aurum fulminans , potable gold , made thence , powder and magistery of pearls , which may better appear by the cures that have been done by it in the diseases which require sudorificks , and others which are here set down for thy instruction , and the manner how in every disease in particular it is to be used and applyed . this sudorifick hath been by experience found to be more particularly appropriated to some diseases , and namely for the prevention of madness , small-pox , rickets , scurvy , gravel , stone , gout , rheumatism , by some taken for a running gout ; apoplexy , palsey , worms : in all which cases it is to be taken at the full and new of the moon . it prevails also very much to the cure of those diseases , and of many , if not all kinds of agues , all surfeits , especially on fruit , paralitick trembling , weakness thence proceeding , black & yellow jaundice , fluxes of the womb. there is hardly a better remedy for worms , french-pox , &c. epilepsies or falling-sickness , cancers and vlcers are holpen by it ; but in ●●●se last it will be needful for the patients to have recourse to the publisher hereof for special directions , according to the several conditions of the diseased , & their distempers . some may object and say , what is one sudorifick better than another ? which if they do , it matters not , sith every knowing man will easily discern , that such understand not the difference of well and truly prepared medicines , from those that are basely sophisticated , nor the great variety of different humours and distempers requiring very different resolvers and correcters , upon whose operation many times sweat succeeds by the power of nature helped by proper digestives , correctives or resolvents , much different in themselves though generally known by the names of diaphoreticks or sudorificks or cordials . witness that renowned modern chymiater in his hippocrates chymicus , pag. 132. it is one sort of acid which a vacuous and alcalizate antimony doth imbibe ; another which pearls in the palpitation of the heart ; another that crabs eyes in wounds and bruises ; another that goats blood in pleurisies ; another that iron in obstructions and loofness ; another that the volatile alcalies of vegetables in hecticks ; another that the bezoar-stone in faintings of rich men ; i say of rich men : for if the proportion of the stone to the acid be small , in regard of the price of the stone , it is prescribed in vain : for the common opinion is , and they do say , that it expells sweat , which yet happens not , unless it have first consumed the morbous acid ; for they consider this stone to act in the body as a wedge driven by a beetle , not observing , that the forraign sapor being consumed by the stone , or the like , the contraction of the pores is released , and then the whole body is transpirable of it self , as hippocrates hath taught — . i say also , there is another acid which the lilium of paracelsus doth imbibe in the dropsie ; another which the spiritual salt of tartar in the hypochondriack melancholy , and all other diseases of the spleen ; and another the osteocolla in the fractures of the bones . and lastly , it is another acid which corals with their specifick alcali do imbibe in the gonorrhea , &c. a learned physician in his treatise of the gout lately printed , discoursing of the powerful operations of a certain mercury rightly applyed in that disease , and particularly of the knotted sort deemed incureable , according to the verse of the poet ovid , generally vouched to the dishonour of physick , tollere nodosam nescit medicina podagram ; and instancing in a person quickly and perfectly cured thereby , of a knotted gout ; gives us one experiment accidently made on his own body , whereby not only the difference of the mercurial diaphoretick from all others in its working , but somewhat of its transcendent power when rightly prepared , is fully made out ; which i hope will not seem too tedious , if i transcribe it hither , for the readers better satisfaction about the different powers of sudorificks : he relates there , that some years before he published that book , whilst he viewed the mines of cinaber in transylvania , and observed the way the miners there used , for extracting the living mercury from the oar , by pounding and mixing it with coals grosly beaten , standing there in earthen vessels , his whole body from the heat of that place , and fumes of the mercury , did break out into sweat , whereby a swelling , which the physitians call a ganglion , supposed to come from the straining of a sinew , which had risen on his left hand some years before , and was then grown up to a great body , and had almost deprived that part of its motion , and to which he had in vain applyed the most commended remedies , was taken away , the matter of it being first diffused over all the back of his hand during his sweat , and a little after , within the space of two days quite dissipated into the air , and utterly disappeared ; and that he was in that manner perfectly cured of that swelling . if any person of honour , learning , physician , or other , desire further satisfaction in the nature , preparation , or ground of the vertues ascribed to this medicine , he may be attended , and further informed upon request . advice of the publisher to the reader . courteous reader . next after that blessed glory and immortality , which is the prerogative of the inhabitants of heaven , there is nothing so much to be valued and laboured after , as the felicity of a long and healthful life in this world. i have therefore greatly lamented with my self , whilst i have observed on the one hand , many diseases to radicate and fix themselves deep and close in the bodies of men and women , and their dear children and relations , before they are discovered by the persons affected or concerned , or the physitian to whom they repair for advice ; and on the other hand so many errours committed , and sad inconveniencies thereby brought upon multitudes of people of all sorts , by sudden and rash attempts of intentional cures , upon supposed curative indications . these oftentimes are the causes , whereby many distempers become incurable , and miserably vexatious during life , which , thereby of the greatest blessing , becomes the heaviest curse , and was in such case , as truly , as ingeniously compared to the span of a gouty hand , the longer it is extended , the more painful and tormenting : so that death it self hath by some been preferred , before such a diseased life , and its continued agonies . the reasons of this , besides those abovementioned , delay and length of time running on to a confirmation of diseases , before their true natures and causes are discovered , and sudden and rash judgments made in those cases , are the administration of improper medicines , which do not only give the disease time to grow on , and fix it self on the patients body , and weaken it , but many times conspire with , and advance or confirm the disease , and suddenly draw on death it self . and lastly , the pernicious effects , and cruel accidents , inseparable consequents of poysonous crude and untruly prepared medicines . for the remedy hereunto , and thereby as much as possible to take away the shame and reproach which lyes on the art , and discouragements which oftentimes fall on the studious learned and ingenious physitian : it seems to me that it would be very expedient to publish , promote , and bring into light and use some more noble , safe , gentle , effectual and certain remedies , which might by their excellency and power , discountenance and exclude the dangerous , uncertain and ineffectual medicines now in frequent use , and sometimes necessarily retained in practice by able physicians , as being the only known remedies for some distempers . from these considerations of love and pity to my country , and respect to the honour of the profession , and of the learned and experienced professors of physick , i have oftentimes been pressed to emit something out of my many years very chargeable and laborious experience and practice , which might worthily aspire to their real acceptance and unfeigned approbation , as tending to the preservation of mankind from many miserable and deplorable grievances of diseases ; and thereby to evince and demonstrate , that all the productions of our elaboratory , are not meer new nothings , as many so creperously noised about the world , but which deservedly expect a just preference before the obsolete and vulgar preparations . of which sort this now commended unto thee , by the royal name and signature , is not only so efficacious and powerful , as hath been spoken ; but also so safe and innocent from any opposite or indirect quality to nature , that infants have , and may take it with great success in most distempers they are incident to , without the least manifest operation , more than a moderate breathing sweat , which happens not neither , unless the party be required to keep a little more warm than ordinary , but if so ordered , then its operation is , as aforesaid , sudorifick or sweating moderately , and by that quality , with all its true and noble effects , well known to the truly learned , it roots out and cures most diseases , of which i here will particularly mention some , ( viz. ) these following ; having not now opportunity or leasure to treat of the causes natural and accidental of each known particular distemper , to which it is helpful . directions . generally this sudorifick may be taken in conserve of roses , or juice of liquoris : for stone , french-pox , and scurvy , in juice of liquoris ; for rhumatism in marmolet of quinces , or conserve of red roses ; for the gout in syrup of elder-berries , or decoction of pelitory of the wall sweetned . common dose : for a child of one year , one grain , and so encreasing to seven for one of seven years ; for a man , 15 grains , in extraordinary cases , rising to 20 , or half a dram , in the quantity of a hazel-nut of conserve , or half a spoonful or more of syrup , or like matter . for those that are subject or inclinable to have the stone or gravel , let them take this medicine every night , with three or four spoonfuls of warm white wine after it , and the next morning drink , after they have made water , a draught of wine and water , viz. two spoonfuls of white wine to four of water , and so proportionably for a draught , sweeten , or otherwise as they like it , and it will prevent the gathering and coagulation of the stone , by bringing away the gravel . now for those that have already the stone , it may be taken likewise every night with a little warm white wine after it , and the next morning drink a draught of white wine and ale proportionably , as abovesaid , of the wine and water , wherein hath been boyl'd parsly and mercury-roots , of each ½ a handful , grumel-seeds a quarter of an ounce ; and in either of these directions to keep a moderate dyet , both as to food and drink , refraining any thing of milk , sharp , sour or salt things ; but if extreamly afflicted in this case let them repair to us , for a farther and more particular order and rule , by which , and the blessing of god , if nature be not too far spent , and the parts too deeply ulcerated , they may find certain relief as several have done . for those that are troubled with rheumatisms or destructions , let them take it a week together , every night and morning , and go about their occasions , avoiding sharp , salt , or sour things , as aforesaid ; but such as french-wine will agree with , in this case may drink sometimes a glass or two , but not to exceed . for the french-pox , those that have newly got it , and would again in a little time be quit of it : let them take a dose of this medicine every night going to bed , drinking only a little mace-ale , and be covered in a gentle breathing sweat for 3 or 4 hours , and the next morning eat a mess of thin broth or water grewel without salt , keeping moderate dyet and drinking , and to repair once or twice in a week to some able physitian for a gentle and proper purge in that case : but those that are much troubled with this distemper , and have been already under flux , salivation , purging with mercurial medicines prepared with corrosives , dyet-drinks , &c. the common long and tedious ways of curing , and seldom perfectly cured ; such , i say , that neither are cured , nor ever like to be cured by that way , let them take a dose of this medicine every night going to bed , with a little mace-ale after it , and keep in a gentle sweat or indifferent warm , and the next morning take another dose with a mess of thin broth or water-grewel after it , walking about your occasions , and observing the same rule and a moderate dyet as aforesaid , for a month , now and then taking a proper and gentle purge , and by this order you may free your self from this sad distemper and its dangerous effects : if this medicine be laid upon shanker , buboes , pustules , or any venereal or other vlcer that is not too deep , it cleanses them from their poyson , defends them from their humours coming to them , and takes away all putrified flesh that is in them ; wherefore it is deservedly commended to all chyrurgeons as one of the most effectual medicines to lay a foundation for the cure of the aforesaid sores , or any other if curable , whose symptoms are various . as for the scurvy , much treated of in this our age , and many medicines prescribed for it , yet too often are other distempers taken for it , by reason of the similiariness of their symptoms , though the causes are quite contrary , by which both physician and patient are deceived , the one in judgment , and the other for want of cure : now for those that have the real and true scurvy , this medicine most certainly helps , if duely taken every night for a time , with a draught of warm drink and an orange squeezed in it , going to bed , and lying in a breathing sweat for two or three hours , and for those that find only some small symptoms of this distemper , and suppose it to be growing upon them ; let them likewise take this medicine every night as aforesaid for a time , and it will prevent the scurvy for ever coming to its strength and vigour , as sufficiently hath been proved . for the gout , those that would be preserved from it , let them take this medicine two or three times a week at nights , with any warm thing after it , and they shall never be troubled with it ; but those that are already much afflicted with it , may please to repair to us for further directions and more particular order in this medicine , and they may find certain cure as many have done ; though it be a cure difficult , and in this nation not fully known . finis . galeno-pale, or, a chymical trial of the galenists, that their dross in physick may be discovered with the grand abuses and disrepute they have brought upon the whole art of physick and chirurgery ... to which is added an appendix de litho-colo ... / by geo. thomson ... thomson, george, 17th cent. 1665 approx. 162 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 69 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a62433 wing t1023 estc r33830 13575951 ocm 13575951 100452 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a62433) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 100452) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1053:5) galeno-pale, or, a chymical trial of the galenists, that their dross in physick may be discovered with the grand abuses and disrepute they have brought upon the whole art of physick and chirurgery ... to which is added an appendix de litho-colo ... / by geo. thomson ... thomson, george, 17th cent. [16], 120 p. : ill. printed by r. wood for edward thomas ..., london : 1665. imperfect: pages stained and tightly bound with some loss of print. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2004-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-02 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-03 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2004-03 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion galeno-pale : or , a chymical trial of the galenists , that their dross in physick may be discovered . with the grand abuses and disrepute they have brought upon the whole art of physick and chirurgery , in their method touching phlebotomy and purgation . their vain curiosity in anatomy reprehended ; and their false rule of contraries in the cure of diseases manifested . also , a full answer to the objections charged by the galenists against the chymists , and chymical medicines vindicated . to which is added an appendix , de litho-colo : or , an history of three large stones excluded the colon by chymical remedies . by geo. thomson , medicinae doctor . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . homer . odys . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . london , printed by r. wood , for edward thomas , at the adam and eve in little brittain , 1665. to the most reverend father in god , gilbert , by divine providence , archbishop of canterbury , primate and metropolitan of all england , and one of his sacred majesties most honourable privy council . may it please your grace , among the many moecena's of hermetick philosophy , i conceive none more fitting to protect the medicinal verities here set down , then your grace ; who hath been pleased to express very much kindeness and love for this noble art , to the no small encouragement of the professours thereof . and all things duly pondered , where can chymical physick better shelter it self against maligners and opposers of it , then under the wings of divinity , on which it ought to attend as an hand-maid ? yea , there should be a synergie , and conspiration of all arts and sciences to advance theology , which makes the better part of us happy . how can the soul act aright when there is an atonie , ametrie , and dyscrasie in the body ? sith as the chyle is , such is the chyme , or rubified juyce ; as is the chyme , so is the sanguis , or purest part of the blood ; and as this is , so are the vital spirits ( the immediate instrument of the soul ) either luminous and clear , or dark and muddy ; and so capable to act well or ill : how sollicitous then should we be to search out those great arcana's in nature , which the good creator hath ordained for the preservation and redintegration of these bodies , ( which upon slight occasions from within and without , are obnoxious to be valetudinary , and put out of frame ) that the diviner part may operate the more freely , vigorously , and orderly . certainly there is no better way to attain this then by spagyrick philosophy , which separates tribulos & spinas , what is hurtful and superfluous in every concrete , from the profitable , pure , and sincere ; bringing it to such an entelechie and excellency , that it is able to display that radiant virtue which god hath implanted in it for the good both of body and soul. and were this course closely followed , and generally countenanced , those rebellious and enormous vices of the minde , too grassant at this day among us , which in great part arise from the feral , anomalous , unheard of prodigious , and untractable diseases of the body , might in some measure be reformed ; and certainly if there be not some timely prevention , mox daturi progeniem vitiosiorem , most of our posterity is like to be born diseased . seeing therefore no medicine is able to mortifie these seminal principles of diseases , or wash off those radical tinctures which have been traduced to us from our parents , but the best sort of chymical preparations exalted to the highest degree of perfection ; some of which have been of late years brought to light by the indefatigable industry of some ingenious men , whom the galenists have endeavoured to eclipse , and despitefully to suppress by calumnies and reproaches ; we humbly beg your graces favour to stand up for the defence of our art , so far as truth , sound reason and optical experiments shall permit ; and that your grace would be pleased to joyn with some other heroes of the nation , either to stop the mouthes of these anti-chymists , or to constrain them to make good by matter of fact , and fair equal trials here proposed , what they alledge against us ; that there may be a full discovery made who are the physicians , quos creavit altissimus , and who are they that go about ludere cum corio humano : and this present and future age shall be bound to celebrate your praises ; my lord , your graces most humble and obedient servant , geo. thomson . to the reader . courteous reader , be pleased to bestow what time you can well spare in perusual of this short treatise , which ( how contemptible soever it may seem to thee ) may perhaps be a means to save thee from the jawes of untimely death , and prolong thy dayes . the main scope of the author is , to do thee , his countrey , and the whole world service , in reference to that which ( according to the innate law of self-preservation ) every creature desires ( that is ) life : which if not accompanied with health , cannot but be very tedious . that therefore thou mayest enjoy a sound body and soul , next temperance in all things , embrace an honest and able physician ; not one whom thou fancies , but who is really so , according to these infallible signs here described . the sum of this discourse is nothing but a touchstone depending upon matter of fact , to try whether a physician be as he professes himself , and ought to be , one that having a commission from the angel raphael , is endued with the gift of healing , not palliating , dawbing and plaistering upon an unstable foundation . here thou mayest learn to keep thy blood wherein is the life , and not prodigally to spend it , upon every trifling occasion , which may do thee more service sometimes then the best doctor in england , and help those diseases he cannot . here thou mayest be instructed to beware of uncorrected purgatives , which do but colliquate and putrefie the wholesome chyme , or juyce of the body , enervating it without any considerable ease , unless accidental ; and to value that physick which carries off the occasional morbifick matter to thy benefit , without any notable debility succeding . in this enchiridium thou wilt finde the difference between a sincere and corrupt physician ; one that dares act subdio , in the face of the sun , that men may behold him whether he doth right or wrong , and so justifie him or condemn him ; and between him that studies to be in the dark , and cast a mist before the spectators eyes , that he may play legerdemaine with them . lastly thou wilt see whose actions are able to bear the test of the fire best , ( by which every work is to be tryed ) the galenical or helmontian , whose facts like gold or silver , leave the least scoria or dross behinde ; and whose like lead or other base mettals , leave most . we hope no man that desires the preservation of himself , king , and countrey , but will allow these operative propositions to be just , equal , profitable , and laudable , to put an end to that which garrulity and multiloquacity will never determine . wherefore , candid reader , all that we shall request of thee , is to stand still and see , that we may have right done us , forbearing to be prejudicate and partial ; and if ever thou shouldest need us , we shall endeavour to gratifie thee with that physick which we are confident no galenist in england possesses . now if it fall out that our faithful and wholesom counsel herein should ( through the subtil wiles and and crafty devices of our enemies ) be rejected , we shall rest our selves contented that we have done our duty , and shall shake off the dust of our feet upon them , qui valdè volunt perire , being satisfied that their perdition is from themselves . geo. tomson . the contents . chap. i. a short description of galen , from whom they are denominated galenists . pag. 1 chap. ii. an account of that true chymical philosopher , and learned physician , helmont , whom we own for our patron . pag. 4 chap. iii. of the abuses and disrepute the galenists have brought upon physick , and the reformation they have of late pretended . 7 chap. iv. how the galenists have domineered in the world , and deceived it . 15 chap. v. in what space of time a good physician may resolve his patient of the event of his disease . 21 chap. vi. how much precious time the galenists spend in anatomical curiosities to little purpose . 25 chap. vii . a just reproof of the ignorance of most of them in surgery . 30 chap. viii . what a noise our adversaries make with their laboratory , and how they vaunt that they use chymical medicines according to their method . 35 chap. ix . an answer to some objections laid to our charge by the galenists . 38 chap. x. an expostulation why the dogmatists will not come to the touchstone of true experience . 41 chap. xi . how much to seek the galenists are in that necessary philosophy which directs us to the cure of diseases . 44 chap. xii . of the two grand supporters of the galenical physick , phlebotomy and purgation . 48 chap. xiii . of the second supporter , fruitless purgation . 56 chap. xiv . of that fictitious rule of contraries , by which the dogmatists are guided in the cure of diseases . 65 chap. xv. a brief examination of their pharmacopoea . 70 chap. xvi . a cursory view of the mineral waters , to which the dogmatists flye , as to a sanctuary , in difficult cases . 77 chap. xvii . a vindication of chymical medicines from that false accusation of being dangerous . 83 chap. xviii . of the galenical method . 90 chap. xix . of the helmontian method . 96 chap. xx. some animadversions upon the late attempt to procure a patent from his gracious majesty , for the erecting a colledge of chymical physicians . 103 a history of three large stones excluded the colon by chymical medicines . 109 galeno-pale : or , a chymical trial of the galenists , that their dross in physick may be discovered . chap. i. a short description of galen , from whom they are denominated galenists . the great patron , to whose decrees and dictates ( right or wrong ) the dogmatists have obliged themselves to subscribe , is galen of pergamus in asia ; who lived about fifteen hundred years past , in the time of adrian . he was a man doubtless of excellent parts , and very laborious , but took a very indirect course to make a discovery of the truth of things , as they are in themselves , by bringing them to the touchstone of sound experience ; by making an analysis or resolution of bodies , that their principles might be laid open , and their heterogeneities manifested ; without which it is impossible for any man to be a philosopher as he ought . he had a great ambition of writing much , as it plainly appears by those voluminous tracts that are now extant , besides what are lost ; for 't is reported that he wrote four hundred books in physick : to what good purpose , any discreet impartial man may easily judge . his loquacity hath much affected some men , who count learning principally to consist in variety of languages , polylogie , and plausible argumentations , though deduced from false axioms . hippocrates his concise aphoristical doctrine , written according to the sincerity and candor of that age , was amplified and vainly enlarged by his fruitless and frivolous comments , to a huge bulk , contrived on purpose to get a fame in the world , by those that are ready to subscribe to any positions of antiquity , for their ease , rather then to anatomize things as they ought by the fire , that thereby they may be reduced into the visible parts . so ignorant herein was their great master galen , that he never saw either rose-water or quicksilver . how much to seek he was in anatomy , vesalius hath delivered ; who makes it to appear in many places , that he never dissected the body of man. in the botanicks , or knowledge of plants , he hath instructed the world no more then dioscorides his predecessour , whom he hath plainly transcribed in many places word for word , concealing the author , sticking in the mire of the four elements , their mixture , qualities , and temperaments , neglecting the virtus cherionia , crafts , and specifick properties of simples . his followers have , and do even obstinately to this day , to the destruction of millions , cry up his method ; a tedious way to cure diseases , but a short one to get money . the two principal pillars that support this rare method , are phlehotomy and purgation , both of which we can demonstrate to be pernicious to humane nature , destroying more then ever the sword. in the knowledge of the causes , quiddity , or essence , immediate subject , and radical cure of diseases , ( an incurable catalogue whereof he hath delivered to posterity ) that he was extream blinde , we shall undertake to evince and prove è facto . all this duly considered , would make a man stand amazed to see how refractorily his disciples do maintain ( to this day ) those rotten principles in physick derived from him ; and how wilfully they hood-wink themselves , delighting in the darkness of their own erroneous tenents , lest they should behold the bright beams of chymical philosophy , to the diminution of their own sinister respects . chap. ii. an account of that true chymical philosopher , and learned physican , helmont , whom we own for our patron . helmont a german , was without all question , ordained in these last times by especial providence of god , for the comfort and relief of distressed man ; to be an instrument to discover those gross errours and notorious abuses in physick , that have relation to the life and soul of man , committed by those that rested themselves contented to be ignorant with antiquity , and enjoy profit , honour , and ease , rather then question any thing delivered to them ( how false soever ) by making a severe scrutiny into the bottom of nature , by difficult labours with their own hands , and great expence of their purses . this worthy man who ( we confess ) hath instructed us in the principles of philosophy , was omnifariam doctus ; one that was very knowing in the doctrine of the ancients , having made a wonderful speedy progress in the learning of the schools , as well versed in the languages as the best galenist ; who , after that he had rolled every stone in the old philosophy , and ran through that cyclopeodie , or universal learning , yet could finde no solid satisfaction in the natural causes of things , till he came to pyrotechnie , wherein he laboured fifty years compleat , leaving those lying sophisms that he had imbibed , contemplating things as they were in themselves . hereby he learnt the genuine beginnings of all concretes , making separation of them into their fundamental parts ; dissolving and coagulating , fixing and volatilizing bodies ; looking narrowly into the defects , alteration , life , and death of things ; extracting , dividing , conjoyning several bodies , bringing what was crude to maturation ; and promoting natural causes , by removing those impediments that they could not arrive at their just ends . hence he dived into the seminal virtues and properties of things , and was able to give an account of their true , efficient , and natural causes ; bringing to light the doctrine of fermentation , the original and activity of spirits , with the rare effects of tinctures ; and this by mechanical demonstration of the fire . this is he that hath plainly detected the most absurd perilous doctrine of the galenists , proving their palpable ignorance of the causes of diseases , and their proper cures ; setting down infallible arguments to evince how destructive their bleeding and purgations are to mankinde ; challenging them to make good what he had delivered by visible instances and examples of fact ; which they would never come to , nor ever dared to answer him by way of confutation , but by denying all that he had proposed , giving him scurrilous and opprobrious language , ( as it is their common custom when they have nothing to say for themselves ) calling him fanatick , innovator , dreamer , carping at any lapse or peccadillo in his writings with aggravations to the height : hating and abhorring to the death all those that stood up in his behalf , naming them hereticks in physick ; and all this gratis dictum , without the least tittle of truth . thus hath this worthy man been sleighted , villified , and reproached , for not still conniving at those capital errours in physick , which they have greedily swallowed down without any scruple , to the ruine of millions . however , let these pittiful physicians rail at , and calumniate this heroe , 't is our duty , who have received so much benefit from him , to acknowledge him our master , and to maintain his true positions , to the utmost of our power against all gain-sayers . chap. iii. of the abuses and disrepute the galenists have brought upon physick , and the reformation they have of late pretended . ye have of late made a great stir , though to little purpose and credit , to procure a power from the supreme authority of the nation , that ye might make a reformation in this noble profession of physick , there being ( as ye say ) no visible means left but your selves to compass it . but what was your drift in this ? truly , we believe the first thing , next the enslaving the poor apothecaries , would have been a total suppression of those that had opposed your fictitious principles , false axioms , and indirect practices in physick , that then ye might have domineered as ye pleased . but stay a while , we hope the sage magistrate will take it into consideration , that ye are the chiefest persons that need reformation ; and that your purgations need purgation , they being ( as we can prove by matter of fact ) not fitting , so uncorrected , to be taken into the body . we hope moreover they will take notice , that your bloody course ought to be voted cruel and unchristian , the life or soul being seated in the blood : god having created the medicines of the earth , not bleeding , cutting holes in the skin , blisterings , and such like butchering tortures , to cure miserable man. 't is true , there are sad exorbitancies , irregularities , and abuses in physick , but who we pray have been the principal occasions of them but your selves ? who have conjured up such swarms of quacks in every place , ( who like locusts eat the bread out of honest physicians mouths ) by your profane prescripts ? and now you would fain lay them down , but ye cannot ; for they are become too potent for you , some of them having so well improv'd their time , that they are like for ought we can see to cast you out of the saddle , and to ride with foot-cloaths themselves , dealing but deservedly with you . if ye had better practised the pythagorical doctrine , these things had never been ; or had ye delivered your selves , as ye finde fault paracelsus , helmont , and other sons of art did , more obscurely , and aenigmatically , who foresaw these mischiefs , and endeavoured to prevent them , physick had flourished to this day in its splendor and beauty : but as ye have handled the matter , every good-wife , any silly fellow may read your dispensatory , use some of those medicines without your method , and sometimes no less success ; yea , and may laugh at some of those ridiculous compositions discovered to them by your trusty servant culpepper . but all this is no hinderance but a furtherance to encrease your practice , ( as we have heard some of you say ) sith these illiterate ideots do but make work for you . is it so , but we much doubt it ; surely if ye aimed at this at first , to multiply these men to augment mortalities for your advantage , it was a very wicked design , not to be endured by a nation : but if this be fallen out through your incogitance accidentally , that these men have brought in the more gain to you , to the detriment and ruine of the people , and simply for this reason , ye desire to be arnautists , or self-deniers , why do ye ( pretending to the higher powers a publick good ) not likewise instruct them in some way , how the indigent commonalty may be cured better and cheaper ; giving us infallible testimonies of some rare cures above others , and your zealous charity for your neighbours , by abating your excessive fees , and by curing him gratis that hath faln into thieves , like the good samaritan . and we think it were but just , that they who have gotten such riches in physick , as some of you undoubtedly , by the destruction of those that might have been preserved , should zaccheus-like , impart a portion to those that are distressed . and certainly there is now great need of this retribution , and as the state of things stands , another course must be taken ( without this costly physick ) to cure the poor of the nation ; which if our prudent senators shall please to listen to , we shall in all humility propose to their wise considerations ; beseeching them to consider what sad consequences must of necessity have come upon a concession to the presumptuous desires of these men : how thousands of poor people must have neglected the means , and so have run the hazard of perishing , having not wherewithal to seek to these chargeable doctors for recovery , the apothecary not daring to sell them a little london treacle mithridate , &c. unless authorized by them ; as if their prescripts were able to infuse new virtues into medicines . neither should any have stretched forth his hand to have pulled his languishing brother out of the ditch , unless licensed by them . what we pray should our city have done , if some epidemical contageous disease , as the plague , had reigned amongst us , sith they ( according to their masters dictates ) would all have run out of it : we plainly see the greatest clarks are not alwayes the best politicians , for we stand amazed to see such learned physicians , men so highly reputed for their parts , to carry on such an unreasonable project , meerly for their own sinister interest , ( the publick good therein being altogether neglected ) as to sollicite the highest court of iudicature , to confirm such a patent to them , that they might be sole masters of their lives , souls , and fortunes , without controulment : that they might brow-beat , insult , and tyrannize over those that are no whit inferiour to them in worth . did ambition , covetousness , and revenge so blinde them , that they should think that such wise senators would ever condescend to make themselves and people slaves and vassals to the insolent lusts of those , who never gave us any proof , pledge , or earnest of their cures in physick above many apothecaries ; who have protested to us , that there were some of these stately doctors so extream ignorant in materia medica , that they did not know the ingredients of certain trivial compositions presented to their eyes : yea , and that some of their prescripts have been so notoriously extravagant and pernicious , that the apothecary hath been forced to correct them , unless he would have suffered the patient to run the hazard of perishing . we confess , the apothecary in many defects and obliquities is not to be excused , however ( as diogenes struck the father when the son offended ) so we think the doctor deserves the lash for not rightly educating and instructing his poor obsequious servant ; for we are verily perswaded had they been more discreetly tutor'd , they would have proved better . but hinc illae lacrhymae , this is that which wrings the doctor , and galls him to the heart , that he should bring up birds to pick out his own eyes ; that after so many years sweet congress , and mutual correspondence , his labourer , drudge , or excrement ( as a doctor was heard to call him ) should now stand in defiance against him , and take upon him to cure diseases equally with him . and to say truth , a man cannot tell which of the two exceeds ; for we are of that opinion , one may pick and chuse , but find never a barrel better herring . the servant is now become a doctor , the dispencer a prescriber : both use the same method , the same indications , the like medicines , and with equal success for ought we can see . of the two we confess , the apothecary hath for the most part the start of his doctor , for as much as he not onely knoweth the composition exactly , and at his pleasure can frustrate both physicians and patients expectation ; but also being more conversant with the sick man , can advantage himself more then the other by frequent observations , which opportunity the doctor , partly through pride , and partly through covetousness and idleness , loses . now good master doctor galen , let us reason a little soberly ; have ye not brought your hogs to a fair market ; whether of us ( we beseech you ) have been most prudent and provident ? ye that have made this noble science ( the professours whereof divine writ hath charged to be honoured ) to become a meer mercenary or a meretricious business ; a very trade to get money , an imposture to serve your own ends , setting up an apothecary your emissary and decoy , to fetch in gainful practice ; or we that have alwayes been tender of the reputation of physick , and the lives of the infirm ; and for that end have not onely studied hard for many years , beating our brains to do that which is fitting according to art ; but also laboured with our own hands night and day , not without hazard of our lives , and great expences , that we might understand what we do , and do what we ought for the lives of our poor miserable patients ; that we might alwayes have in readiness those arcana's , of which the vulgus hominum is , and ever will be ignorant . had we prostituted our selves and the art , or taken those indirect courses which ye have done , we are certain we might have been possessours of riches and honours equal with you . chap. iv. how the galenists have domineered in the world , and deceived it . 't is unspeakable how these galenists have imposed upon credulous men , how by their plausible rhetorick they have allured them , and made the people willingly to resign their lives up to their judgements , notwithstanding all those sad presidents lively represented to their eyes . what fair pretences have they made use of to gull them into their physick ? what a supercillious command have they had over their obsequious apothecary , to speak for them , to lye for them ; yea , and to do some things for them , to the hazard of his soul ; being forced to maintain , and sometimes to own all their miscarriages , misdemeanours , and gross aberrations in physick , or else he , his wife and children must bite on the bridle . these are they that have infused into the people abominable vulgar errors in physick , which neither doctor primerose , doctor browne , nor a thousand like them , are able by the best of rhetorick or logick to eradicate , till some notable and eminent cures relating to their lives , by degrees , shall convince them of the contrary ; which is a hard thing to do , because these mysochymists and haters of truth , have prejudiced them against the assertors of it . great men are not a little entangled in their snares , being lured and caught by their bewitching tongues , by their fame of being great schollars , well versed in all the languages , excellent mathematicians , historians , geographers , which are qualifications very laudable , and which we very much respect ; but what is all this to a sick man that lies groaning upon his bed in a violent feaver , tortur'd with the gout , the stone , the cholick , the iliack , haling for breath as for life ? what is this mans learning to him , if he cannot ease him and give him relief , quatenus a physician ? if after all learned argumentation , and eloquence of the galenist , some trivial chymist that hath learnt something by blowing the coals for his master , shall cure him , without any long preamble ; be serious and tell me ( as we are all philautists , and desire self-preservation ) whether this man ( though otherwise not to be justified in his ignorance ) be not to be encouraged and to be had in some estimation in any well-governed land ? consider this therefore worthy magistrates , that as ye are the sons of adam , ye will alwayes be prone to diseases ; and doubtless none of you in such a case but will highly prize a man that shall offer , promise , and perform a cure for you , above another that tires you out either with none , or false promises . great patriots , be pleased to take notice how they have villified and slandered true artists , perswading the world falsly , that chimical medicines ( which we frequently use without strict weighing them ) were dangerous , received an empyreuma , or hurtful impression from the fire ; that they did either kill or cure in a short time : yea , some of them have been so impudently audacious to assert , that whosoever took chymical medicines , although he were cured for the present , yet in the revolution of a year it would cost him his life . so that in their fury they have cast into the kennel out of a very honest and able apothecary's shop , a most safe , innocent , and effectual chymical medicine , and afterward have endeavoured the ruine of the poor man. a quondam noted galenist , in greatest part reclaimed from their fopperies , and almost got out of that durty practice , protested that he knew a most eminent doctor of the colledge , that passes for one of the most learned amongst them , that did not dare to venture to give five or six grains of antimonium diaphoreticum , which we can give with confidence , security , and good effect , often to thirty or forty grains . they formerly cried down oyl of vitriol by no means fitting to be taken into the body , because it did corrode a glove , supposing it would act the same in the stomack . as for mercurius dulcis , and other preparations of mercury , they concluded them all to be little better then poyson ; which now they frequently make use of , not scrupling to give it to children , but we fear to their destruction sometimes , as they order the matter by their method , and a careless preparation of it , which they alwayes referre to another . yet it is not long since that a galenist of great fame did upon some discourse of mercury confidently affirm , that he knew he could do as much with crude mercury , as any with it never so well prepared : which he dares not ( we are sure ) maintain to be true by any visible instance , but spake it meerly out of a vatinian hatred to chymical preparations ; which nothwithstanding he and his fraternity are forced to make use of closely , labouring to pump and fish them out of others . now at length finding that they have strived in vain against truth , by their obloquies and false suggestions still kicking against a prick ; and finding they cannot obscure the bright beames of pyrotechnical philosophy , they take now another supplanting course , and of a sudden will all become chymists ; but galeno-chymists , as monstrous and anomalous as a centaure or syren : and hereby they think to blear the eyes of the world , to make them believe , that their method sweetens all our sharp vitriolate medicines , allayes all our corrosives , fixes all our mercurial preparations ; and in short , makes all safe and sound , which otherwise would be destructive in our fingers . thus they still juggle with , and delude the world , still protracting and spinning out the time , very unwilling to part with ease , gain , and honour , notwithstanding thousands suffer by their indirect practice , e're they will come in quietly , and sincerely submit to the truth , for the good of the nation ; although they know at last they must be forced to yield , time bringing that to light which is their principal study to involve in obscurity . for we make no question but that posterity will admire their obstinacy herein , and abhorre them for it . well , come what will come , for ought we can see they are still resolved to maintain their state and grandure as long as they can , for their present life , and then let the world hereafter censure them , what care they : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as the greek poet hath it . yet it hapned that one of their greatest donns , being questioned by a perspicacious gentleman , what the reason was , that he ordered something very incongruous in reference to his patient ; and being charged home by him , whom he knew would not be baffled , made this express answer ; hang it ( quoth he ) we are but a company of cheats . this was reported to us by a person of quality , that dares testifie the truth of it to the face of him that spake it . chap. v. in what space of time a good physician may resolve his patient of the event of his disease . he is unworthy the name of a physician , that in acute diseases doth not on the fifth or sixth day after his admission , either make nature master of the disease , or else on the sixth or seventh give a positive prediction what will be the conclusion thereof ; and that with so much certainty , that he should seldom be mistaken but as a man : for it is a grand ignominy , and an intollerable disgrace , to see a mechanick to engage himself to bring to pass what he undertakes , and a learned physician , either not to dare to promise you any thing of a cure , or wholly to frustrate your expectation . it is no wonder if some men taking advantage of your weakness in this particular , have cast it in our teeth , that our art is altogether conjectural ; and that we do all things therein by hab nab , happy be lucky ; hitting the mark with as much uncertainty as those people called andabatae , that fought with one another winking ; we wish these scoffs and taunts might lie at the doors of those that have justly deserved them . in chronick infirmities a longer time must needs be required to give satisfaction to the patient concerning his recovery , the matter of the disease being many times fixt in the body , and as it were settled on the lees , the ferment of the parts being either vitiated , or in great part abolished ; and the archeus or vital spirit being much diminished , the immediate instrument of the soul , by which it acts for our health or sickness , in which every disease nestles , and is primarily seated and characterized , without the power of which none can be cured ; ( of which the galenists have been too ignorant , until such time most acute helmont ( like a bright star of truth ) made it appear ) as the matter stands thus , a physician may very well assume a fortnight or three weeks at most , finally to conclude what he is able to do for his patient ; whether he be capable ( as he conceives ) to be restored to health , if not , then to resign him up to another that may be able to do more : for this wier-drawing course in physick , to keep a patient long in suspence , without any relief , ( peradventure for some private ends ) is to be abominated . 't is a strong argument of great weakness or deceit in a physician , when in some reasonable time he cannot or will not give an account what is like to be the issue of his labours : such an one is to be avoided as the plague , that is blinde and cannot discover the mark he is to shoot at ; or aims at the purse of his patient , rather then the recovery of his health . be advised whosoever thou art , not to suffer him that waits for a crisis , and cannot give thee in a short time a sufficient testimony of an effectual cure , to proceed any further ; for be assured that a good physician never looks after a crisis , ( standing still as a meer spectatour while nature is oftentimes worsted upon unequal terms by its enemy ) but with all expedition unroosteth that unwelcome guest , that hath taken up its lodging in the vital spirits , wherein the longer it lurks , the more difficult it is to eject ; for cunctando crescit , and so at length confounds the oeconomy of the whole body : wherefore an honest and prudent chymist , principiis obstat , falls forthwith upon the extirpation of any malady , whereas the galenist labours to circumcise and lop off here and there the branches or symptoms , lulling his patient asleep with some incorrected opiate , mitigating sleight pains by anodines , quenching his thirst by cooling iuleps , bedaubing his feet , wrists , and front , with cataplasms , and the like , to the wearisomness and vexation of the sick man , without any real casement of his grief . hence it falls out that some of our learned galenists have protracted an acute feaver , to the one and twentieth day , and that in hope of a crisis , which we are confident might have been taken down before the seventh . hereby they hatch up some chronick tedious languor , which usually follows at the heels of most malignant feavers they take in hand , because they never searched the soar to the bottom , but onely skinn'd it over . oftentimes do these botching galenists bring to light a viperous generation of long infirmities , that might easily have been destroyed at first in ovo the embryon , which afterward growing too headstrong for them , elude and slight all their trivial applications . and all this they can still do under the notion of safe medicines ; when indeed a generous man had better have dyed caesars death , and nimbly to have been sent into the other world by some precipitate quack , or venturous pseudochymist , where he might be at rest , then to crumble and moulder away in a languishing feeble manner ; and withal to sustain those torturing and racking carnifications , by their blisterings , cuppings , scarifications , cauteries , and setons , with their loathsome potions , consuming purgatives , their severe cookeries , and rigid diet-drinks , and at length to drop into the pit . let any discreet man judge whether such doctors as these deserve a patent , who have nothing wherewithal to excuse their homicide , but that they perform it with the fairest method in the world . chap. vi. how much precious time the galenists spend in anatomical curiosities to little purpose . our antagonists raise no small dust , and make no little noise with their dissection of bodies , which were much to be commended , if they did not spend more time then needeth , rather for ostentation , and to get a fame abroad , then for any notable improvement in the cure of poor miserable man. for if it savoured not too much of vain-glory , they would rather exercise these operations more privately amongst themselves , and instruct any ingenious gentleman , that desires to be informed therein , so far as might conduce for his particular satisfaction ; and not make a publique theatrical business of it , for the entertainment of any rude fellows : but enough of that . as exact anatomists as these men are , we know this for a truth , that the lodging place of diseases is seldom to be discovered by the knife ; which indeed was boldly attempted ( though in vain ) by an industrious galenist of late years , who cut up a pestilent body , to finde out in what part the plague did principally reside , to the loss of his own life , perhaps for want of some arcanum which an helmontist could have given him . anatomy we stand up for , as much as any , without which we are certain a physician must necessarily be much defective in physick ; in which ( we dare say ) some of us have bestowed as much pains as most of our opponents : and something we can say without vain-glory , that we were the first that in these parts of europe have made the experiment effectually of taking out the spleen of a dog , without which he lived perfectly well two years and a quarter ; the same being often repeated by others who stiffly opposed it at first . but what is all this to the grand matter in hand , which crowns and gives life to all the rest , that is , to be master of those remedies which ( proportionable to diseases ) are able to tame and subjugate them to the law of nature ? what would it profit to tell our patients that we had taken the spleen out of a dog , if they ( afflicted in that part ) could receive no benefit from us ? what pittiful comforters should we be in such a case ? 't is true , the invention of the circulation of the blood by industrious doctor harvey , is highly to be commended , and gives some satisfaction in the solving certain phaenomena in physiologie and aitiologie ; yet we can see the therapeutick part little advanced thereby , so that many stubborn diseases are equally as hard to conquer ( caeteris paribus ) as they were before its discovery . are your officinal medicines , on which ye solely depend , any whit more sufficient and powerful to cure now , then before the venae lacteae of asellius , and the vasa lymphatica of 〈◊〉 were brought to light ? or ye ( for this reason ) better physicians then formerly , notwithstanding all your raking and groping in these uncomfortable dark cadaverous subjects ? surely not at all : if the spagyrist had not somewhat supplied your want in that which is most necessary ; affording you a few more prevailing helps for your patients sanity , then ye ever possessed heretofore . what would it avail if ye knew the exact site of the smallest string or fibre in the microcosme , and yet were not able to reduce it , dislocated , into its right place ? how uncomfortable to one afflicted with some grievous malady , is that physicians anatomical lecture of mans body , if he be ignorant in the anatomy of some active , spriteful , enlivening medicine , that may give him ease . whatsoever therefore is introductive , subservient , and of far less moment comparatively , ought to be set behinde , and have less pains bestowed upon it , then what is absolutely necessary , and doth primarily and immediately conduce to the attaining that end , which both physician and patient desire above all things ; and such is the knowledge of generous remedies , which can never be acquired without herculean labour : for the hammering out of which , our whole 〈◊〉 if we should live an hundred years ) is too scanty . 't is certain , every mechanick ought to have a competent insight of that machine , as watch or clock , &c. which he goeth about to mend ; but if he want instruments and fitting tools , how is it possible he should rectifie any great defect in it : in like manner it behoves a physician to be acquainted with the structure and conformation of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , admirable engine , mans body , so far as is needful and expedient , to instruct him in the reparation and restitution of it , when at any time it is cast off the hinges of its sanity , through any occasion from within or without : but above all it concerns him , to spend the greatest part of his precious time , to bend all his sinews , and to put forth his whole strength , to finde out those powerfull remedies , which are indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , able to reduce and compose any ataxie , exarthresie , or exorbitance in this lovely frame . desist then ye vain-glorious galenists from spending your dayes about impertinent and superfluous searches in stinking carcasses , which are never able to teach you how to destroy the rampant diseases daily breaking violently into these living houses , without pyrotechnical anatomy , which alone can reclude the secrets of nature , and shew us where every disease is seated , and by what effectual wayes it may be disturbed , and thrown out of that vital light in which it lives and dyes . chap. vii . a just reproof of the ignorance of most of them in surgery . certainly it was an evil design at first , and a plain demonstration of idleness and pride in physicians , when they brake into parts those faculties , which did formerly , and should alwayes indivisibly reside in one man. we confess fractures and dislocations require the hand of a professed artist , that is throughly versed in anatomy and accurate experience in this kinde ; but when medicines taken inwardly are principally to perform the cure , outward as well as inward diseases belong to the physician , so it may be done to the encouragement of the professours of surgery ; sith honos alit artes : as the matter stands now , it is not amiss for the surgeon to have a share in the profit , although the physician hath the greatest hand in the cure. we have oftentimes admired the ignorance of some galenists , that have not been able to undertake a whitlow , a scald , a green wound , a trivial soar , but have been forced to send them to a surgeon living remote , as if it no whit concerned them ; and as if any one could be a true physician , and be destitute of that which essentially belongs to his art. needs must that physician be extreamly mutilated in his knowledge , that is to seek to cure a phlegmon , an erysipelas , fistula , or malignant ulcer : for we can confidently averre , and make it evident , that 't is the inward medicament that must principally cure most outward discases , if they be ever radically and to a purpose healed , outward applications being oftentimes of no effect . yet we will not deny some virulent ulcers may to a wonder receive sanation by vertue of chymical preparations outwardly applied ; as , balsamum fuliginis , balsamum sameck , the pure sulphur of venus , antimony , and other minerals , of which none but a true son of art can be possessour . but above all is to be extolled , that admirable magnetical way of curing , which doubtless if rightly improved would work stupendious things ; so that some galenist would presently conclude that there is witchery , or some supernatural means made use of : so blinde and stupid they are in the most needful phylosophy , that what their brains cannot conceive , they presently reject as diabolical or impossible . tell them of the alkahest , or universal menstruum , of lapis chrysopeius , lapis butleri , of a panacaea , they will but deride and flout at it , boldly and presumptuously denying any such thing to be in rerum natura , because their shallow wits being altogether soused and steeped in durty humours , qualities , temperaments , mixtures , and contrarieties , never had the happiness to have the least glimpse of the admirable perfections of such things . this we can set down positively as a truth , that that physician that knows not something of the cure of diseases both inward and outward this way , is but a meer novice , alwayes learning , and never like to come to any perfection in his art : let him be never so much applauded for his excellent parts , and great learning , he shall alwayes be esteemed by the wisest , an ideot in phylosophy , altogether ignorant of the radical and intrinsecal causes of things . we doubt not but there is excellent use of manual operation , where the knife is to perform the cure , as in amputations of parts , lithotomie , and the like . but we know this experimentally , that both physician and surgeon are too forward to lop off parts , and butcherly to cut holes in the skin ; whereas many times this bloody course might be omitted , and the sick person restored in great part , if not altogether , to his pristine health , without mutilation or sauciation ; as we could instance of late in a gentleman , belonging to a noble man , whose leg after all their tedious torturing , and frivolous attempts , as , blood-letting , purgation , salivation , sudorificks , diet-drinks , mercurial applications , and cauteries , they at length despairing of his recovery , advised to be cut off : which god ( by means of his poor servant a chymical physician ) prevented , the gentleman being restored to his perfect health , and his limb saved . it were to be wished , that ye would study to dissolve and reduce into their first matter , those coagulations frequently hapning ; as , scrofulous tumors , nodes , scirrosities , ganglions , wens , &c. without scarifications and incisions : but especially to bend your whole strength , to finde out some potent arcanum ( which god no doubt hath created ) for the untying and colliquating that monstrous product , in mans body , the stone , without cruel lithotomie by a frightfull knife . did you not despond to finde , and supinely slight the pursuit of something in this kinde , yea , if ye did not maliciously discourage others , without controversie such an arcanum might have probably been brought to light , able to dissolve the stone even in the bladder . but it is enough for you to rest your selves contented with the old profitable way of perforating and broaching the body , which if it fail , ye presently protest ye have done as much as art can ; which narrowly examined by a judicious physician , would perhaps prove very impotent . how often have ye received credit and applause from the world , when in the dissection of dead bodies , ye have found any of the viscera corrupted , or hard congealed substance ; as , stones in the kidney , gall , or other parts , justifying and magnifying your selves , that more could not have been done by art ; whereas peradventure at that time ye were first admitted , the corruption might have been hindred , and coagulations dissolved . some few years since a chymical physician expelled three large stones nestling about the region of the spleen , the least as big as a large turky's egg , out of a maid-servants body , by virtue of some paracelsian medicines , perfectly restoring her to health , which she enjoyes to this day ; whom we are confident if a galenist had undertaken , he would by his blood-letting , pernicious purgation , blisterings , &c. have destroyed , and the cause of her disease should never have been discovered , unless by accident the knife had made it appear ; which would have sufficiently excused the galenist , and cleared him as one that did what possibly could be done by art. chap. viii . what a noise our adversaries make with their laboratory , and how they vaunt that they use chymical medicines according to their method . ye make your boast that ye possess ( as well as we ) your laboratory , and variety of furnaces : that ye use chymical preparations , according to your method , not as we do , at random . that ye knowing the ill qualities and properties of them , and how hazardous they are , do upon a pinch flye to them , having made use of first other safe medicines . these are fair pretences of truth we confess , but if we search narrowly to the bottom , we shall easily discover them to be meer delusions . as to the first which ye glory in , your laboratory , we answer , 't is not the laboratory or specious furnaces that simply makes the spagyrical physician , no more then a vast library of it self will make a learned schollar . is there any more in this then a meer pomp and vanity , to have multiplicity of instruments , and not be able to make use of them according to the true principles of art. for we dare averre it , that that man that is an enemy to the doctrine of helmont , cannot possibly arrive to be a true chymical philosopher . he may indeed be like one , as the ape is said to be like a man , and therefore most deformed ; simia quòd similis turpissima bestia nobis , &c. do ye think ever to attain to this difficult knowledge by virtue of your master galens rules , who never saw quick-silver or rose water ? whom incomparable helmont hath made appear altogether blinde in the true fundamentals of nature , not knowing aright the quiddity or essence of a disease , the cause , the immediate subject , or place thereof , nor the direct and perfect cure of it . be not deceived , for it is no such easie matter , as ye would make the world believe , to become a philosopher by the fire : lay aside therefore your dearly beloved galen , who hath made you so rich by the ruine of others , and study helmont night and day ; and when ye have attained some of his theory , then buy ( as he advises ) coals and glasses . by this means we doubt not but ye will become sound physicians , if otherwise never . to what you alledge concerning your use of chymical medicines , we may safely , say , it had been happy for the credit of this art , if none had ever come into your fingers , or been prescribed by you ; having so perverted the use of them , partly through adulterate and sophisticate preparations , proceeding from ignorance , supine negligence , or covetousness ; partly through your dogmatical method , prescribing them unseasonably , when ye have suffered nature to be worried by a disease , and thrown flat on its back ; and exhausted it by cruel phlebotomy , poisonous purgations , blisterings , scarifications , &c. upon this ye take occasion to maligne , slight , and villifie those chymical medicines , which ye either never had good , or never knew how to use . yet thus much we have observed , when a patient findes any benefit , 't is for the most part by virtue of some chymical medicine which ye mix ( as ye usually do ) with your trumpery , meerly to disguise the matter , lest too much respect should be attributed to a medicament which ye have borrowed from your adversaries . moreover , let any indifferent man judge , whether it be not a part of the most odious ingratitude that can possible be devised , for these men to scoff at , to rail against , to calumniate and backbite them , from whom they have received the best means they enjoy to cure their patients ; without which they had been before now exploded and thrust off the stage of the world with disgrace . chap. ix . an answer to some objections laid to our charge by the galenists . our adversaries object to us , that many ignorant empiricks make use of chymical preparations , to the destruction of many credulous persons : posting themselves up in every corner of the street , proclaiming themselves to be possessours of great arcana's , even to panacaea's , whereby they profess they can work wonders , and cure a catalogue of diseases which the galenists count incurable ; but being brought to the touchstone of sound experience , they are found to be meer impostors , empty of all sound knowledge , no whit able to perform any thing proportionable to their promises . moreover , they urge that our chymical authors are hyperbolical , or excessive in the praises of their medicamens , extolling them beyond the activity of the things themselves ; and that they frequently set down false processes , which when a young beginner first puts to a trial , according to his authors description , he is disappointed and discouraged in limine , even in the first essay or onset , which is enough to make us censure you stentors and vain boasters . this we confess ingeniously is not to be denied in part , and we could wish it otherwise ; but 't is the fate of the best things to be corrupted , and 't is an ill argumentation to conclude any thing to be evil , because some have abused it . for our parts , we utterly disown and renounce these mens actions , condemning their ignorance as severely as ye can , desiring they might be suppressed , and chastized according to their demerits . yet thus much we can say for some of them , that having got some trivial chymical medicines perchance from your apothecary , neglecting your method , ( which many times ties you up so fast , that ye want liberty to use some laudable medicines for your patients recovery ) they have performed some eminent cures to your disgrace and their own applause ; which hath made some admire your great imbecillity herein , to the dishonour of learning . we know a chymist that desires no more practice in physick to get a competent living by , then those patients to whom ye cannot make a promise of a cure after two or three moneths time , whom he would undertake to resolve in less then a moneth . and assuredly to any discreet man this is proof enough , how erroneous ye are in that which chiefly concerns the life of man. for our parts we should think it very strange , and be infinitely ashamed , if any patient should be cured by the galenists , whom we have given over , which ( we are sure ) ye on the contrary part cannot make good . as touching chymical authors , that set you not in express terms the right way to make some medicines , and likewise prize some more then they deserve , for these we apologize not : but by your favour , we conceive that many times the errour lieth in you , who want true chymical rudiments , and not in them who think it not wisdom ( seeing the unhappy success thereof ) to set down all things so plain , that an apothecaries boy may understand them . for believe it , if ye had those philosophical principles which helmont hath delivered to the world , these trivial authors could not so easily deceive you : in him we are sure ye will finde sound doctrine , and demonstrable , by which we doubt not to confute your false theorems and axioms in philosophy . we plead not for any that magnifie any preparations beyond what they deserve , it is enough if we engage our selves no further with you , then wherein the things themselves shall justifie us . chap. x. an expostulation why the dogmatists will not come to the touchstone of true experience . why halt ye thus between two opinions , and will not come fairly and candidly to give the world an assurance of your sound practice , which concerns their lives and souls , but still equivocate , playing fast and loose , tergiversating , wrangling , and quarrelling about punctilio's in physick , assuming to your selves a strange heteroclite or hermophraditical name , as galeno-chymists , invented by your brains to blinde the world ; a name altogether inconsistent with a true physician , who may very well be expressed by two syllables . why hath not your sect yielded formerly to helmonts fair proposal , while he was alive , that there might be a final conclusion of these controversies by matter of fact ? ( indifferent iudges appointed on both sides to give their censure ) why do ye not accept of the same at this day , if ye were not conscious to your selves of your owne weakness ? what poor shifts and starting-holes have ye found out , what pittiful fig-leaves have ye joyned together to cover your nakedness , and to wave this fair , necessary , and most evincing way , to discover truth by action ? contrary to which , all your sophistical disputes , your paralogismes , your quirks , your tricks and plausible juggles signifie nothing ; no nor your great schollarship , not rightly squared and applied to the use and benefit of mankinde , and the charity of your neighbour . let not therefore any physignathus , inflatus scientia , supercilious critick , chattering linguist , or one that knows how to dispute problematically and artificially to deceive his brother ; let not such ( we say ) who professes and practises physick , being grosly ignorant of the right knowledge of things , for the commodity and use of the world , boast or vaunt of his glittering endowments in this kinde : but let him rather lay his hand upon his heart , and considering his own emptiness , reflect upon himself , how he hath deceived and been deceived ; and at length let him , though a senior , ( for it is never too late to repent sincerely , and be wise to salvation ) embrace the sound doctrine of helmont , who will teach him to save mens lives as he ought . if any be so ingenious to say , i have done what i can , and i know no other way then bleeding , ordinary purging , and sweating medicines , and doubt whether there be a better , and would willingly learn ; we shall undertake to demonstrate to this man , that which will be very satisfactory to him , and question not to convince him , if he be not notoriously obstinate of his mistakes in this kinde . chap. xi . how much to seek the galenists are in that necessary philosophy which directs us to the cure of diseases . needs must the galenist erre in the cure of diseases , when they are very ignorant of their causes . their very fundamentals and principles in natural philosophy being false , as helmont hath plainly made it appear . what an absurdity is it to take in fire , which is neither a substance nor an accident , to make up the four elements , and to fetch it from the highest region , next the moon , that it might enter into all concretes : and from these quaternary elements to deduce their four humours , complexions , and temperaments , and accordingly to proceed in the cure of man ; bending all their forces to remove qualities , accidents , and products of diseases , leaving the disease it self behinde ? what an erroneous definition have they made of a feaver , and therefore it is no wonder if they go unsuccessfully about the cure ; as if there were no more to be done but to take an indication from preternatural heat , and so to cool in the same degree , for the restauration of the patient to his former sanity ; making that essential to a feaver which is but a meer product , depending upon the exorbitancy of the archeus , or vital spirits ? what errour can be more gross then to maintain , that the natural heat of the stomack , by means of the parts adjacent , is able to alter what is taken into it so powerfully , that in a short time even such hard bodies , as bones , iron , and glass , are dissolved in it , which the culinary fire cannot easily conquer ; taking no notice that the stomack of fishes are actually cold , and yet digest most vigorously . surely 't is very improbable that these men should rectifie the indigestion and defects of the stomack , that know not how it performs its office aright . hence it comes to pass , that they often destroy by their faeculent medicines the eucrasie or tone of that part which ought to be taken into care above any in the whole body . analogous to fire , they have brought in an humour called choller , part whereof they say is gathered into a receptacle of a bladder , which overflowing and exceeding ( they affirm ) causes the jaundies , and many other diseases depending upon that humour ; reckoning that an excrement ( to be purged out with rhubarb ) that is of most noble use , which no perfect creature can want , neither beasts , fowl , or fish ; ordained by god as a special balsom , to preserve the body from putrefaction ; by virtue of which the second digestion is performed , the acide juyce of the stomack being converted into a saline . their ignorance herein hath produced many capital errours in physick , which would be too tedious to insist upon . from the element of earth they have deduced another humour called melancholly , which they have placed in the spleen , reputing it a part destinated for that purpose ; never dreaming till helmont divulged it , that in it and the continuate arteries , is resident a ferment of most admirable use for the digestion of the the stomack , which being interrupted through multiplicity of occasional causes , engender various diseases ; as , scurvy , plurisie , quartanes , &c. which they neither know how to cure , nor by their good wills would suffer others . what a miserable errour is it in philosophy to assert , that the stone in the kidneys and bladder is engendred from phlegme , ( which they say symbolizes with the element of water ) which humour by power of a graduated heat ( but where to be found in the body we know not ) is brought to that stony consistence ; which how to break they are altogether unwitting , unless by the knife . it hath been a common practice to keep their patients some moneths to diet-drinks of guaiacum , sarzaparilla , sassafras , out of an intent of drying up superfluous moisture , and imaginary catarrhs in the body ; as if one of their strong purges would not more effectually answer that indication in one day , better then their former course in a moneth . these things helmont hath plainly shewed to be ridiculous . who in his right wits will take these men to be found philosophers , that attribute the cause of extream thirst in a feaver simply to heat and drought ; whereas at the same time a great quantity of cool liquor floats in the stomack , to some pints perhaps . they see hydropick persons abound with great quantity of moisture all over the body , and yet cannot be provoked to sweat ; however they never gave us any clear reason thereof till helmont appeared . infinite have been their mistakes in nature , and false hypotheses , to the detriment of mans life , which are sufficiently laid open by that great philosopher helmont . and therefore having given you a little glimpse of these things , that ye may conceive ex ungue leonem , we shall referre you to know more of that worthy author , who hath delineated and characterized them exactly ; from whom we acknowledge to have received most part of our instructions . chap. xii . of the two grand supporters of the galenical physick , phlebotomy and purgation . did the world rightly understand what destruction of mankinde hath been made by this sanguinary way of curing diseases in all ages , since this prodigal emission of blood came first in use , ( suggested without all doubt by that sworn enemy to mankinde the devil ) it would ( being enraged ) utterly abominate any such physician , or such a pretended remedy . how happy may those nations be reputed in this particular , ( witness their longaevity and sanity above ours ) whom nature hath so well instructed , as not to part with this precious treasure of life , unless against their wills through some violent separation of the connexed parts . and certainly were we but governed by nature , which intends all things for its own preservation , and never erres therein , unless interrupted or put by its scope through some transverse contingent , we would by no means admit of this bloody course for a cure ; being sufficiently convinced , that this solar balsom the pure blood , called by the latines ( to distinguish it from cruor ) sanguis , the very stamen and subtegmen , the subject and material foundation of life , is never exterminated or cast out of the body by nature , unless extimulated through some exasperating and hostile matter that is gotten into it . and indeed to let out promiscuously sanguis and cruor , good and bad together , which is unavoidable , for qua data porta ruunt , is equally absurd , as to cut off part of the fleshie substance of the finger , that the splinter or thorn therein fastened may be removed ; or to suffer generous wine to run out , that some distasteful and fracedinous odour contracted from the vessel may be taken off ; or that the ebullition or effervescence thereof , proceeding from the impetuous spirits , endeavouring a segregation of impurities in it , may be asswaged : whereas it is more consonant to reason , to pick the thorn out of the finger , to impregnate the wine and vessel with some odoriferous fume or liquor , that it may become fragrant and pleasing in smell ; likewise to take down the fermentation of the fretting acide atomes thereof by some artificial means , that is able to lenifie and appease the spirits , and settle all quiet . doubtless the same may be accomplished in mans blood , ( when at any time through some preternatural occasion it becomes tumultuous , exorbitant , and degenerate from its genuine goodness ) by ridding it of that pungitive acidity and cadaverous foulness , which makes it disturbed and restless as long as it remains in it ; for omne vivens mortui impatiens esse solet . and this we are certain an able physician can effect , being admitted while there is a competent strength , which we are alwayes most careful to preserve and augment , contrary to the tenour of your practice . for so soon as we have discharged the first and second digestions , of what did burthen and clog them , we either exhibit some potent arcanum , which upon its first entertainment into the stomack , doth either pacifie the fury of the vital spirit , or by its illuminating beams doth disperse the black atomes that obnubilate the same spirit , that it cannot act for the good of the whole : or we give some volatile alkali , enriched with the specifick virtues of fit concretes , capable to be circulated with the blood into all parts of the body , being allied to the foresaid spirit , and symbolizing with it . these are powerful in opening , cleansing , expectorating , volatilizing any congealed blood , invigorating the natural , and correcting the preternatural ferment ; extinguishing the acidity of the latex in the blood , dissolving scirrous and tartareous-like matter , with which sometimes the veins , arteries , and other parts of body are as it were parietted . these are diuretick , diaphoretick , and antimalignant mortifying erysipela's , breaking and profligating vomica's , or any abscesses in the body ; and this we can engage our selves to perform , without any notable diminution of the strength , or fear of recidivation , or any dangerous lapse into some chronick disease , which the phlebotomists dares not promise with any security : for it often happens that the patient is sent piece-meal to his grave , being ( as it were ) grated into his first elements , because his disease was never rightly mannaged in the beginning . now the greatest plea the galenists have for blood-letting , is taken from plethora sanguinis , an extraordinary fulness of blood quoad vasa , or quoad vires , as they call it ; that is , when the vessels are over-filled , or the strength oppressed with too great redundance of blood ; and here they speak equivocally , leaving us to seek what blood they mean , either that which is properly named sanguis , the most pure sincere , and sublimest juyce in our body , in which the soul is chiefly seated , or that crude ( lately rubefied liquor called ) cruor , oftentimes abounding with superfluities and recrements : if they take their indication of bleeding from the first , we can confidently upon sound arguments deduced from some experimental demonstrations ( which we would set down at large , if succinctness which we aim at did permit ) assert , that there is no such thing really existent in the body of man ; for never had any man too much of that most vital balsom called sanguis , the encrease or diminution of which , shortens or prolongs our dayes ; for could there be every way a plenary , absolute , and continuate reparation of the same , our lives would be protracted to an exceeding great length beyond what they are . this therefore is by no means to be exhausted or squandered away upon trivial occasions , at the unreasonable and arbitrary commands of a desperate galenist , but to be precisely preserved and hoarded up , as the onely treasure and stock of life . well , if they take their indication to bleed from fulness of the last called cruor , then sith this consists of partly excrementitious matter , and partly wholesom juyce , disposed , and in a fair way to be made sanguis by long circulation , they must necessarily by opening a vein , let out without any election , the laudable as well as the depraved parts in the cruor , and its inseparable companion the sanguis , and all to satisfie one supposed palliating scope ( of little moment in comparison of the rest ) an inanition of that which erres in quanto , which being attained , produces more hurt then profit any way ; and might easily have been corrected by diaphoreticks , and those proper medicines that respect a quale in the blood , and cause a free diapnoe thereof ; consuming insensibly ( according to sanctorius his statica ) no small quantity of our substance in four and twenty hours , sufficient in a very short space with abstinence joyned thereto , to take down any athletick habit of the body ▪ so that the principal indication in this case ought to be taken from cacochymie , which frequently infests us to our destruction , and that imaginary and insignificant plenitude to be neglected . there is we confess something to be said for the defence of immediate derivation of some degenerate blood , impacted any where , as when in a phlegmon the vein contiguous to the part affected is opened , that the faeculent : blood contained therein , oppressing it , may be directly and moderately discharged , that thereby the residue may be more difflable and easie to be discussed : likewise , when there is some muddy foul cruor restagnant about the spleen and womb , threatning an abscess or some other malady , &c. in this condition the opening the inward haemorrhoides or uterine veins may sometime profit , without dammage to the whole ; supposed the physician be destitute of those generous arcana's , that are able without any solution of continuity , to reach the part affected , and to conquer the disease radically , by mundifying the blood , and by ridding it of that thorny , vexatious , and virulent acidity of the latex that oftentimes gets into it . all this seriously weighed , who would not avoid this blood-sucking course , and rather commit himself to such a physician , who , not as a meer illiterate empyrick or quacksalver , ventures his medicine at random , without any sound reason or intellectual notion of what , wherefore , when , and how much of it he gives ; but being throughly acquainted with the diagnôsis of the disease , is able upon very firm grounds to make a prognôsis of it , and so to proceed to a therapeia , according to just , necessary , and direct indications , accurately designing an adaptation , appropriation , and adaequation of the remedy to the disease . away then with this detestable lavish phlebotomy , that hath destroyed more then tobacco or the sword together , may it be banished the court , city , and countrey , nor ever be depended upon hereafter in this island , or any of his majesties territories , for the cure of any difficult disease ; but let it be confined and inflicted as a feral plague upon all those that delight in blood , and hate our gracious sovereign , and all his loyal subjects . chap. xiii . of the second supporter , fruitless purgation . t is not without great reason that excellent hippocrates mentions one aphorisme no less then four several times , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , if that be carried out of the body by purgation that ought to be , the sick man findes himself the better for it , and his spirits more chearful , and better able to bear his disease ; as if he had foreseen the great mischief that was like to come upon indiscreet evacuation , with deletery catharticks , which putrefie and colliquate the lately tinged chymus into a faetide and cadaverous substance ; whereby some juggling physicians take opportunity to impose upon their credulous patients , that they are in a fair way of recovery , ( though they finde it otherwise ) sith so many ill humours , as choller , phlegme , &c. are purged out of their bodies , whereas in very truth not a jot of the morbifick cause hath been so much as touched . we have a history to confirm this out of helmont , & experto credamus , for the worthy author tells us , that taking his leave of a young lady , holding her by the hand he caught the itch ; whereupon he sent for two of the most eminent galenical physicians in that city , to consult with for the cure of it : who , upon the sight of a purulent scab presently delivered their opinions , that there was abundance of adust choller and salt phlegme in his body , which occasioned a depraved sanguification in his liver . upon this account , after they had largely bled him , and prepared the humour ( forsooth ) with their fulsom and nauseous apozemes , containing about fifty ingredients , with addition of agarick , rhubarb , every fourth or fifth morning , to the end that this supposed retorrid choller and salt phlegme might be drawn forth , according to that innate similitude of substance , that they would fain make us believe is between the purgative and the humour ; and at length they gave him those virulent pills de fumaria every third day three times , which wrought so liberally , that they almost filled two buckets with the foresaid humours : but hear with what event in his own words , iam venae mihi exhaustae erant : genae conciderant , vox rauca , totus corporis habitus concidens tabuerat : descensus quoque è cubiculo atque gressus erant difficiles , quia genua me vix sustinebant . that is , thus at length were my veins emptied , my cheeks fallen away , and i could hardly speak for hoarsness ; my whole body was wasted , so that i could hardly get down out of my chamber , it being most tedious to me to stir , for my legs were scarce able to bear me up ; yea , my stomack failed , that i had neither appetite nor digestion : and withall my itch was as bad as ever . thus was this great philosopher ( who at first , setting aside this cutaneous infection , was found winde and limb as we say ) brought almost to the gates of death by this enormous purgation , who without doubt might have been cured very suddenly , if that true peccant matter , which is the principal occasional cause of diseases , and is but little in quantity , had been carried off by some appropriate solutive , and the miasma which stole in through the pores of the skin , and there settled in the innate archeus , had been mortified ; which course helmont at last took for his recovery , after he had been macerated , and excarnified by a hypercatharsis , alwayes accompanied with a dysphoria and ill effect . this remarkable story of helmont ( the same being re-acted many thousand times since ) may give men a strict caveat how they put their lives into the hands of such desperate , persidious evacuators , who cast men into purgatory , and yet never expiate the disease , assuredly those physicians that exterminate out of the body good and bad at random , the cruor or good juyce , and the scoria or dross , with such uncorrected catharticks , that are no better then absolute poison , leaving sometimes an impression behinde hardly deleble ; seldom giving any alleviation , unless ( as clavus clavum expellit ) per accidens , may be very well compared to a mad person , that in cleansing a foul house , casteth out with the filth some of the most useful furniture belonging to it . and yet what is more commonly practised amongst the galenists , who being consulted , do upon the bare inspection of the urine , frequently and rashly prescribe bleeding and purging ; the last whereof being best of the two , though bad enough as they order the matter , doth generally more mischief then good . we speak not this utterly to condemn some moderate evacuations , both by vomit and stool , sith we our selves oftentimes intend the same and make it our scope ; but we never give them so uncorrected as they , to the injury and impairing of nature : but they are such that are alwayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , consentient and competent remedies for the profligatiag the disease , leaving behinde an euphoria , an alacrity of the patient , and an abatement of the infirmity according to his capacity . neither do we depend upon solutives simply , as sufficient to cure any difficult disease , but having often that most excellent rule of hippocrates in our thoughts , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , to carry the morbifick matter that way nature is most enclined to send it our , supposed the passage be commodious . we never give any purgative medicine , but the same is diaphoretick , diuretick , and expectorative : for whereas your catharticks are often pernicious in malignant feavers , as the pest , small pox , spotted feaver , and the like , so that the archeus being distracted upon the admission of such an unwelcome guest , leaves the propulsion of the malignant matter , and bends all her forces to conflict with the late received poison , whereby it comes to pass that the venom of the disease , which before tended to the peripheriae , or outwards parts of the body , hastens forthwith to the centre , and there fixes upon some of the noble viscera , we on the contrary can safely exhibit , in any of the foresaid diseases , some medicament that may rid the first region either upward or downward of trash and trumpery , which encumbers it there ; and at the same time both kill and drive out the venom to the extream parts , and grand emunctory of the whole body the skin : questionless he that omits this last principal intention , shall seldom cure any feaver , or any other malady as he ought . and indeed it is most happy for us that what hippocrates faith is most true ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , our whole body is porous and transmeable , especially our skin : for did we not freely breathe out those hurtful atomes , that are engendred within , and likewise insinuate into us from without , we should perpetually be obnoxious to feavers , and other horrid diseases , that would quickly destroy the world ; for never did any one recover of a feaver , but by transpiration either sensible or insensible ; which ought especially to be regarded by all legitimate physicians , that they may labour vigorously with their own hands to have in readiness such noble arcana's , that may reach the sixth digestion , and there joyn with the archeus , to extinguish any malignity , to difflate and dissipate the gross peritomata , and virulent excrements therein contained . he that is ignorant herein , may as well presume to cure the stinging of a scorpion , the biting of a viper , or tarantula , by purgatives , as with any assurance to heal most infirmities that are predominant among us at this day . for very many diseases have in them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of hippocrates , something of a more spiritual and invisible nature , then to be carried off by gross purgatives . hath not the apoplexie ( that destroyes a man in the twinckling of an eye ) something in it like the poison of a basilisk ? is there not in the palsie something of the stupefying nature of the fish torpedo ? have not some plagues destroyed men suddenly like some mephitical or pernicious damps , arising in the subterranean and deep caverns of the earth , which happens to those that dig in mines ? questionless the letharigie arises from a poison analogous to opium or hyoscyamus . the itch may be compared to the venom of cowich , the spots in feaver and the scurvy , to the biting of fleas . the small pox to some virulent epispastick ; and the measles to nettles or gnats . there is sometimes engendred in our bodies an nitrosulphurous matter , that may be compared to gun-powder , which puts us as it were into a flame , and would quickly shatter us in pieces like a granado , were there not free vent for its expiration through the pores of the skin . in a gangrene , the part is mortified as if some potential cautery were applied to it . what a strange poison is there in the rickets , that often makes an exostosis , and bends the bones of children like a bowe ? but most prodigious is that poison in plica polonica , that in one night doth so complicate and contort the hair , that all the art of man cannot untangle and unsnatle it ; which if you attempt to cut off with a pair of sciffers , a large haemorrhagie or flux of blood presently follows , to the hazard or ruine of life . many more diseases in this microcosme might be instanced , that do manifestly express a poisonous nature of affinity with those in the macrocosme ; but this may suffice to convince those men of most palpable ignorance , that think the common course of scouring the body with ordinary and deletery laxatives , is sufficient to cure most diseases that consist of so subtil and almost immaterial substance . it is as possible to hinder the magnetick operation of the loadstone upon iron , by the interposition of a piece of lawn , as to be able to cure the foresaid diseases by faeculent colliquating catharticks . certainly that cannot be an appropriate and adequate remedy , that is not in some degree proportionable to the disease , as it is more or less graduated and sublimed in its activity : for let us take into our contemplation , what an inconsiderable thing in bulk is able from without to discompose , and disorder the whole frame of our bodies , turning them as it were topsie turvie in a trice . in what a minute subject matter doth the poison of a mad dog , a viper , a tarantula reside ? of what little moment is it in bulk to our eye , and yet how admirable are their effects to our speculations ? sith then venoms no whit inferiour to the forementioned , are oftentimes produced in our bodies , being exalted to that degree of malignity , that they sometimes destroy us solo intuitu et radio , how sollicitous and sedulous should we be to enquire after such antidotes , which the great creator hath ordained , equivalent to their poisons ; that may be able with as much celerity and vigour to preserve and restore us , as the other to pessundate and destroy us . this undoubtedly might be compassed by industrious and learned labourers in chymistry , did not these obstinate galenists ( who alwayes stick in the mire of their stercoreous purgatives , as , scammony , colocynthis , agarick , and rhubarb , utterly to be sequestred from the body of man so unprepared , ( as is evident through their whole dispensatory ) and never to be made use of so crude and hostile to nature by any son of art ) discourage and disparage us , and take off the hearts of princes from favouring us , by falsly traducing this honourable science , and the professours thereof . chap. xiv . of that fictitious rule of contraries , by which the dogmatists are guided in the cure of diseases . that sentence , contrariorum contraria sunt remedia , is generally taken up by the galenists as a certain rule , by which they presume to abate or remove most maladies ; but with what little success , and what little verity there is in it , may easily be obvious to any intelligent observer , that hath but seen a feaver directly cured . what destruction hath been made of mankinde by this one position , to which they have adhered most superstitiously , ( though altogether false , having , as helmont hath proved , no absolute being in nature ) is unspeakable . how many orphans and widdows have reason to brand with a curse this one sentence , whose parents and husbands might have survived many years , had not their physicians taken a contrary course to cure them , and thereby sent them packing to the grave ? some of us could relate notable storries not long ago acted by them in this kinde , which for brevity sake we shall now omit . for the first thing they usually declaim against in a feaver ( when they have got a patient in a hopeful way of recovery out of our hands , by their insinuating close wayes ) is , that our medicines ( if they finde that they be spirituous , active , and strike upon the nostrils any whit strongly , or affect the tongue by their leptomerie and subtil penetrative atomes ) are too hot ( forsooth ) for the disease , and endanger the inflammation of the blood , causing thirst , &c. whereupon , having by their smooth eloquence possessed the patient with a dislike of such remedies , they presently fall upon ( according to the foresaid maxime ) the prescribing of cooling juleps , p●isans , emulsions , decoctions saturated with crude herbs , uncorrected juyce of poppy , and the like , hardly allowing them a draught of small beer , but by no means any wine ; whereby it comes to pass that the tone and ferment of the stomack is subverted , transpiration hindered , the malignity detained , the blood made restagnant , the vital spirits depauperated , losing their activity and force , becomming torpid and careless to preserve themselves , and the morbifick matter more tenaceous ; and at length perhaps the sick man rid of his disease , and laid cooling in the church-yard . were it not far better to trust in a feaver to a pepper or mustard posset , a decoction of carduus benedictus , aron , and horse-raddish-roots , that quicken the archeus , strengthen the stomack , rarifying and cleansing away the febrile , gross , viscous matter by urine and sweat , then to such dull , destructive , and mortifying iuleps of the galenists , given according to the pernicious rule of contraries ? how do these men neglect the saying of hippocrates , naturae ( that is the vital spirits principally ) sunt morborum medicatrices , when they will not support and invigorate them with a little spirit of wine , ( with which they symbolize above any thing ) because it conspires with the feaver , and so too hot ; not considering those qualities of heat and cold are but products and consequents of the disease , which being removed , there presently follows a cessation of them in an instant : so that it matters not whether the medicine be hot or cold , so it eradicate the malady , which irritates and exasperates the archeus , that it is impatient till it have shut out such an unwelcome guest ; and according as it makes several assaults and onsets upon the occasional matter , so it varies in those momentary and transient qualities of heat and cold in the extream parts ; which are but insignificant in comparision of that which is primarily to be looked after , the enabling and advancing the enormontick power of the vital spirits , to profligate the disease ; which can be done no better way then by spirituous liquors , which whosoever denieth moderately and seasonably , for fear of some small inconvenience , which the violation of the maxime of contrariety may induce , may very well be reputed a pittiful ignorant physician . for we are able to make it appear optically , that wine ( as it may be ordered in the hands of an artist ) is able to conquer many very acute feavers , even that they call a causus . the same reason they observe for the curing of diarrhaea's , lienteria's , gonorrhaea's , vomitings and haemorrhagies , making use of astringents and corroboratives , that may diametrically answer the laxity and weakness of the parts , whereby they many times constipate in the body , and as it were wedge in that which nature went about to extricate ; whereas any but a daubing and palliating physician , would aim at the extirpation of the original cause of these effects ; which being once expedited , all the products , symptoms , phoenomena , and epigenomena cease immediately . but to be short , for i must but touch upon these things , 't is no wonder and these men take a contrary way to heal infirmities , sith they have alwayes been and still continue so contrary and opposite to the most sound pyrotechnical philosophy , stiffly holding fast their opinions ( we fear ) with one of their great ones , who swore in another case , se nolle persuaderi etiamsi aliquis persuaserit : that he was resolved not to be convinced that he was in an errour . chap. xv. a brief examination of their pharmacopoea . what invalidity and impotence to heal infirmities there is in their preparations in general , set down in the pharmacopoea londinensis , as a pattern and rule for all their servants to follow , is obvious to any one that hath made a considerable progress in the theory and practice of physick , so that he be not prejudicated and carried away by sinister respects . it would require a long time to scan and set down at large those nonsensical , ridiculous , improper , and languid medicaments they have ordained for the help of man : we shall onely compendiously give you a glance of some of them . we finde throughout their whole dispensatory these remarkable errours inseparable and common to all their preparations . first , we observe a great defect in the analysis , or opening the body of any concrete , that its crasis or purer part may be obtained ; so that what they give is very little of its virtue , separated by halves , or drowned and swallowed up with the scoria , faeces , and excrement of the whole ; so that it is impossible it should explicate its activity as it ought . secondly , we observe what a congeries , cento , linsey wolsey of simples they jumble and clutter together , to some scores , without any reasonable symbolizing contexture or congruity , looking more wayes at once , then ever argus his eyes , but still from the principal mark ; clashing , conflicting , and at greater hostility with each other , then ever their supposed contrary elements ; whereby they castrate and rob many a single ingredient ( by this confused hotch-potch ) of its eminent properties , which being duly prepared and applied , would do a physicians business . thirdly , we cannot but especially take notice and condole the ineffectual , frivolous , and vain corrections of those virulent and poisonous concretes , which they take into many of their compositions , thinking it enough to adde to them a little anniseed , ginger , cinamon , or some gum , with the like , onely to disguise and palliate , no whit to mitigate the violent powers of those things that are of themselves destructive to our nature . 't is strange they should be so wilfully ignorant , in making no scruple of prescribing ten or twelve grains of scammony , and little less of colocynthis , manifest poisons so uncorrected , and yet startle at , and are very nice to give four or five grains of antimonium diaphoret . whose supereminent purgative operation is taken off by virtue of a spirituous salt that purifies and fixes it in the fire . but 't is the custom of these polypragmones to busie themselves about impertinencies , and to neglect matters of greatest weight , stumbling at a straw and leaping over a block , straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel , superstitiously precise in the regulation of the patients diet , over punctual in the contrivances of slibber-sauces , and withal to offer him pestilent and lethiferous medicaments , which they are not at all sollicitous to correct . if such be not ignorant in their art , we would willingly be informed who are ? that neither know how to make a good medicine , nor how to order it in every respect when they have it , as we can make evident . it cannot be denied but that the best of the remedies in the dispensatory are chymical , for which they are beholden to us , and these ( we assure you ) are of the lowest tribe and meanest trivial sort in comparison ; neither are these free from being sophisticated through inadvertency of some , and covetousness of others , nor are they at the best such as they might be exalted to in the hands of an artist . we shall instance in some few that are frequently used : who , but such as are supine , and indifferent whether they kill or cure , would suffer the flowers of brimstone to be so slightly prepared , that we can see little difference between it and the vulgar finely powdered ? whereas if it be pyrotechnical handled , four or five grains sublimed shall effect more good then a dram of the ordinary . the most usual , safe , and best vomit ( in their account ) is borrowed from antimony , called infusio croci metallorum , and yet this acts but uncertainly in the carrying off the morbifick matter ; for wanting its due alteration and correction , it causes sometimes no small discommodity in malignant feavers ; moreover , their method will not suffer them to use it aright ; not knowing when , how often , nor to whom it may be given with any confidence , that an euphoria or alleviation may follow : and the reason of their hesitation therein , is their often being frustrated in their intention , and some sad consequences that have come upon it . they have taken into their shops another vomit called mercurius vitae , which we wonder they would ever venture to admit into a catalogue of their safe medicines , with a — &c. sith they alwayes heretofore railed at it , and are not yet absolutely reconciled , calling it mercurius mortis : some of them having had ill fortune with it , because their shallow wits understand not the right process , the just dose , management , and use of it , which a mountebank or quacksalver is better acquainted with ( to their disgrace ) then they ; for by vertue of this common vomiting powder , many an illiterate empirick hath gained no small reputation in conquering those stubborn effects which baffled them , and were believed incurable . now ( setting aside the abuse of the thing ) if mercurius vitae meanly prepared , and extravagantly given by ideots , be able to do such rare feats in physick , what think ye might be done by it if graduated , exalted , and perfected in the hand of a learned well experienced chymist , that utterly renounces the galenical method ? in feavers and agues they cannot but confess that they are much obliged to us for the discovery of oyl of vitriol , which doth them the best service therein of any one thing they possess , for the extinction of the thirst , and allaying the ebullition and effervescence of the blood ; not by cooling , as they grosly imagine , but by comforting the natural ferment of the stomack , and by correcting that alkalizate , exotick , and putredinous matter therein . how difficult it is to procure this medicine legitimate ( and without exceptions ) from the shops , let any euchymist that hath laboured with his own fingers herein be judge ? for as those directions they have set down for the drawing it over are very ordinary , and much inferiour to the more sublime way , so likewise their use and application thereof is very suitable ; for the prescription of it is many times as absurd , and to be derided , as their ordering of four drops of the spirit of vitriol in the composition of electuar . sassaphr . consisting of two pound of sugar and other ingredients . how poor , jejune , and barren is the preparation of pearles and coral with vinegar , that doth but onely superficially divide them , and as it were pulverize them into small parts or atoms , not at all penetrating them centrally and essentially ? what dull preparations of mars have they set down , more becoming some feminine practioners then such learned doctors ? mercurius sublimatus dulcis , and praecipitatus , are now exhibited by some of them , for the cure of knotty and stubborn diseases , as , lues venerea , and the like , but after a deal add , niceness , and scrupulosity , they were loth to venture upon them , till some confident surgeons lead them the way , and taught them a better method then their own , to destroy these hydra-like monstrous diseases , that have of late sprung up among us . how strangely blinde most of them have been in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or manual tractation of mercury , may appear by a galenist , who bitterly enveighing against chymical remedies in the presence of a spagyrist , by whom when he was questioned , why he did then prescribe mercurius dulcis , as appeared in one of his prescripts upon the file , and being convinced of the truth thereof , and how it was a mineral , protested he verily thought it had been a vegetable , and had its original from the herb mercury . hence we may learn how perfunctory and drowsie many of these prescribers have been , and what little inspection and scrutiny they have made into that which is deservedly reputed by all hermetical philosophers , a miracle in nature . thus they credulously rest themselves contented , trusting to other mens eyes and hands in things concerning mans life , thinking it sufficient if they can get by roat the bare names of some paracelsian medicines , though they neither know the facture of them , what they give to their patiens , nor how much , nor when , as they ought . for did they take pains themselves , they would quickly discover that these mercurial sublimates and praecipates in the shops are very imperfect , compared with those that an adeptus is able to produce . chap. xvi . a cursory view of the mineral waters , to which the dogmatists flye , as to a sanctuary , in difficult cases . had not kinde nature provided some better means and more forcible helps for the poor diseased , ready to his hand , then the galenist , he had been at a very sad pass . how many by virtue of these mineral wells have been restored , that have been brought to a very low ebb by ill physicians , having run through a long and irksome course of physick , even to desperation ? we are apt to believe , that those that lately endeavoured to engross all physical practice into their own hands , would by their good wills likewise have prohibitted the admirable use of the waters , unless to whom they should have prescribed them , that their method might have gain'd the more credit : for we are perswaded that they looked upon the waters with as envious an eye , as ever they did upon our chymical preparations ; ( although they have been forced to make use of both upon a pinch ) and why ? because when all their costly compositions could do no good , some few draughts of a cheap mineral water hath done the business . which thing may very much plead for the rare effect of minerals ( which they have so declaimed against formerly ) were not the dogmatists perverse beyond expression . one would think they should not so long with such heat have contended against them as dangerous , scarce allowing them a place in the apothecary's shop , after so many visible experiments of their sanative property , to which they have been beholden at a dead lift . had they not minded their own , more then the publick good , they would have observed nature , and contrived by art those medicines , that might at least have equalled , if not excelled , what she was pleased liberally to afford us out of the bowels of the earth for our comfort . who , that had not been lazie and supine , but would have found out e're this a succeda●eum to natural martial liquors , that so powerfully rectifie the spleen , and open the tuff obstructions of the hypocondries , cleanse away any sabulous synagma , and gross impurities from the kidneys , takes off the acidity of the serosa colluvies , and corrects the noxious aspect of the womb , pacifying and amending its furious exorbitance ? were it not much for the repute of physick , to have alwayes in readiness ( at all seasons of the year ) some such artificial preparations contracted into a small bulk , ( proportionable to the foresaid natural ) answering the like intentions , that thereby the patient might save the labour of a long journey , and the excessive sumption of crude water to his prejudice sometimes ? what cannot a good menstruum friendly to nature , free from corrosion , do in this kinde ? that is able to reserate those secret active virtues that are fast locked up in mettals , and bring them to light . by this means the primum ens of minerals may be discovered , and their sulphurs extracted , which are able to perform wonderful cures in the hand of an adeptus . if the esurine salt of sulphur embryonate lightly touching a vein of iron or copper , and therewith imbued , is able to exert and express such powerful efficacy in healing within and without ; ought not this to excite any industrious man to follow the footsteps of nature , to observe the beginning and progress of her motions and clandestine working in the innermost parts of the earth ; and accordingly to imitate her in dissolving either of the foresaid mettals , by an appropriate saline liquor , that is able to penetrate them centrally . if ye took pains herein as ye ought , many a calamitous disease might be overcome in the beginning , which through delay and procrastination becomes incurable , before the patient arrives at the mineral waters . it was not without reason that a famous empirick did cause an esurine water every other day to be fetched fresh , which he made use of as the best liquor to receive and convey the virtues of concretes ; which may be a fair president for you that are destitute of better remedies . and sith ye will not vouchsafe to foul your own fingers about matters of so great moment concerning the life , shew your selves so far desirous to do righteous things , as to put in practice what nature , or some laborious artist , shall offer you prepared . for our parts , few of us depend upon these mineral fountains , having wherewithal to supply the wants of our patients , and to procure sanity at home : and we conceive that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , some vinous spirituous liquor , a surer , safer , and more expedite means to overcome a fixed disease , then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the pouring in a great quantity of raw water , not without some inconvenience , as we have known , though prescribed by a most exquisite galenical method . but the offence in these esurine waters is far more venial then the frequent oblation of aqueous and maukish iuleps in feavers , sine sale , aut sole , without either spirit or life ; as unsavoury and torpid as the authors that dictate them , who with as much judgement and reason prohibit those the use of salt , that are inclined to the duelech , stone , and other troubles , which we are certain is most effectual to prevent them . doubtless it is far better if opportunity be offered , to take a journey to the wells , and to drink moderately of those esurine waters , abounding with saline corpuscles , then to be obliged to take the dull drench-like potions of the dogmatists , more fitting for a horse then a man ; for those being of thin parts quickly pass through , and carry with them some peccant matter , seldom leaving any great evil impression behinde : but these being gross and muddy put the expulsive faculty to much trouble to discharge them , leaving many faeculencies and grounds behinde , and thereby debilitate the digestion of the parts . now our faithful advice in general to such as drink these mineral waters , is , that they first take some proper emeto-cathartick , that may cleanse away any filth lurking in the stomack , guts , and mesentery . secondly , that they begin with a small quantity at first , and so rise higher by degrees , according to the capacity of the person ; alwayes taking after the water that which may rectifie its crudity , corroborate the ventricle , and other parts , stir up and encrease the vital spirits , furthering the water in its operation . thirdly , that the diet be very moderate , alwayes gratifying the appetite , offending rather in liquid then solid nourishment ; and here generous wine taken soberly with discretion , cannot but profit and produce many good effects . chap. xvii . a vindication of chymical medicines from that false accusation of being dangerous . it is a hard thing to strive against the stream of a vulgar opinion at any time , but especially when countenanced and backt by men of eminent knowledge and fame . nought in this case save somewhat of a miracle , is able to undeceive those , that have obliged themselves to an implicite obedience , and indisputable belief of whatsoever their admired professours shall deliver , conceiving what proceeds from their mouths must needs be oracular . such reverence doth some mens authority carry with it , that they need not take pains to invent arguments , where an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 puts the matter out of doubt . indeed we much approve of this in religious matters , but can by no means allow it in humane arts and sciences , which ought to have something of demonstration to confirm the truth of them . what difficulties some of us have undergone to perswade some prepossessed against us , ( that have imbibed the exitious precepts of the galenists ) to admit of those chymical remedies ( which we knew would save their lives ) is well known to those that have been made sensible of their errour herein . for the very name chymical did sound so deadly in their ears , that many in those places ( where we practised ) did apprehend , that he that dealt in such medicines had a design to destroy them ; and that he was to be avoided as a necromancer , or one that busied himself in some unlawful art : so that if prevalent necessity had at any time forced them to take these preparations into their bodies , they were even sick with conceit ; and we had more ado to cure their misapprehensions and crazie fancies , then their diseases . yea , now and then all our eloquence and best reasons could not prevail to perswade them , that what we had given them was innocent , leaving no ill effect behinde ; and that they were perfectly restored without relapse . now their scrupulosity principally arose from this ground , ( besides what the dogmatists had infused into them ) because we performed our business with quickness and dexterity , without those large purgations which they had been formerly used to . to satisfie all these foolish and frivolous doubts , which their great doctors had buz'd into their ears , took up no little time and patience . now , these things considered , have not the true chymists been put to a very hard task , to conflict with a sworn enemy the galenist , a peevish , prejudicated , unruly weak patient , and a predominating disease . what , but omnipotent truth , could ever have brought this despised and exploded art into any estimation , that the professors thereof should dare to look any opposer in the face , and defie what he can openly object against it . magnarum usque adeò sordent primordia rerum . the greatest things have but minute and contemptible beginnings , attaining perfection by degrees . never was any excellent , useful invention brought to light , inconsistent with some mens interest , but presently there emerged malicious zoili , or proud emulatours , that contrived how they might strangle it in the birth , by defamation and false suggestions . this course the galenists took in the infancy of this noble science , crying it down with all might and main , conjuring the world that they should avoid all chymical medicines as most dangerous ; damning them all without distinction . and when they saw they could not maintain this falsity long , e're some benevolent patients that had found the contrary by experience , made it appear otherwise : then missing their aim here , they inserted this hypothesis , if they be not well prepared ; as if any artificial thing could be innoxious if not well prepared ; for even our common food not well ordered may be dangerous to us ; and a nasty slut may poison a man , and verifie the proverb , god sends meat , and the devil sends cooks . who that argues for spagyrical medicines doth not take it for granted , that they ought to be made by an artist ? will ye never desist from diminishing the worth of a good thing , because some have abused it ? is chymical physick in express terms ( without equivocation ) any whit dangerous , unless depraved by you and some illiterate pseudochymists ? how is it likely that ye should ever make an approved chymical , that never made a good galenical remedy ? whose are most saving , and consequently safe , yours , that are either like chip in potrage , or else hazard the producing some mischief ; or ours , that according to the capacity of the patient ( due circumstances observed ) acts as infallibly for his welfare and preservation , as fire burns and water moistens , from a power of its innate gift , that the great creator hath bestowed upon it . you would do very well to reflect upon your dispensatory , wherein ( except some few chymical lent you ) all your preparations either omit to do what they should , or commit what they should not : and certainly these are dangerous per se , supposing they be made accordingly to your best art. if ours offend it is but per accidens , because those requisites set down are neglected to make them such as we intend them . for example and experience , which is the true touchstone that must discover us : let any of you in perfect health pick out of your formal apothecary's book , stuffed full of supernumerary preparations , the most safe and active of them , that do you the greatest service , to the number of ten ; weigh out the known dose of any one singly , with the strictest curiosity you please ; take each of you the same into your own stomacks , and repeat the dose as often as ye dare ; and so proceed likewise with another , and so on to the residue of the ten : when ye have acted your parts , we likewise ( every way sound ) selecting ten of our arcana's , will swallow down ( without trusting to the scales ) a sufficient quantity of any one ( that may be most suspected ) which we commonly exhibit to the sick for their recovery ; look how often ye have taken of each of your ten , so often will we iterate or duplicate the sumption of any one of ours . and then let any indifferent person judge who bears their medicines best , having the fewest bad symptoms following , and so conclude accordingly whose are most dangerous . such hath been our zeal for the good of our neighbour , that we have for some years seldom given any thing to our patients which we have not first taken into our own bodies perhaps many times : and consideratis considerandis , an acute medical observer shall learn more feelingly from himself , that which tends to the right use of any arcanum , then he shall from another . assuredly for our parts , we had rather run the hazard of an ambiguous remedy our selves , who know , and can best correct any supervenient inconvenience thereof , then to proffer it upon uncertain grounds to another , who perchance through his impatience and morosity will neither suffer us to amend what is fallen out amiss , nor listen to any reasonable apology how it came to pass . if the galenist did take this course , he would not give chymical preparations with such a tremulous hand as he doth , being doubtful whether they be made as they ought , and what certain effect they may have . for all this proceeds from a want of that true experimental knowledge which he may ( setting aside this timorous childish apprehension of danger and hurting himself ) acquire , by frequent repetitions of ingesting that into his own ventricle , which may instruct him far better then anothers . we deny not but the ambient air , and the differing constitution of several individual bodies do somewhat alter the operation of that which works by sensible vacuation , which is to be considered , but not to be insisted upon too superstitiously ; but we see no reason why some transcendent arcana's which act tono unisono invisibly , should not cure diverse persons alike indifferently , in the east indies , and this part of the world , with some small variation of the quantity . so that an adeptus may presume to induce , that if the best sort of medicines have a constant happy effect upon himself at all times of the year , the same cannot but express the like energie upon others , presented by an expert hand that hath an eye in it . it were to be wished that physicians would animate some nice scrupulous patients , and convince them of those harsh conceits they oftentimes harbour , ( not without just cause ) that they shall make an apothecary's shop of their bellies ; ( and if what they take do not work it will poison them ) by swallowing down the same before their faces , that they may recant of their folly , and be further incouraged to submit to those rules which are easie to observe , without any rigour or danger in them . and we admonish any that desires to be approved in the iatrical art , to make it his principal pains and study to be throughly acquainted with the practical use of those medicines he possesses so exactly and accurately , as a shoo-maker with his last , or an artificer with his tools ; that knowing what he can trust to , he may after a judicious examination of the sickness , begin and proceed in the sanation of the same with confidence , and no less real performance . chap. xviii . of the galenical method . our adversaries do much glory and vaunt in their method of curing , asserting , that if a man have never so excellent medicines , if he be ignorant therein , he cannot discharge his duty as he ought . we desire first to know of these learned grecians , what ( according to the etimon ) this word methodus signifies . is it , we pray , any more then a short way of healing maladies ? how short ye come of this , the world may easily judge , who keep your patients in a course of physick so long , till ye run them quite out of breath , and all under a pretence of method . is it worthy of a physicians method to dally with his patient some moneths , even years , and not absolutely satisfie him , whether he be curable or no : or perhaps after he hath exhausted his strength and purse , to send him into the countrey , to the wells , or bath ; yea , sometimes into france , that the less notice may be taken of it if he chance to dye ( as we have known ) by the way ? is not this a rare method to see a physician keep a pudder , and make a great noise about a sick mans diet , precisely to enjoyn him , upon loss of his life , not to violate the least punctilio ; strictly forbidding those things which ( given by the nurse or standers by , and concealed from the physician ) have cured him ? to see a sick wretch in a vehement feaver , almost parched up for want of moisture , and not a draught of small beer allowed him to quench his unsatiable thirst , or a little wine to refresh his drooping spirit , is enough to make a man afraid of such a method . to hear them when a man is in a peracute feaver , logically discourse of their indications , general , subalternate , and specifick , profitable and unprofitable , artificial and inartificial , condications and contraindications ; with those they call consentientia , correpugnantia , and permittentia , and be extreamly ignorant of indicata , or remedies , proportionable and competent to cure the feaver ; suffering the patient either to perish , or to fall into some desperate chronick disease , and so to twindle and moulder away at length ; whereas if things had been rightly ordered , all this might have been prevented , is sufficient to make a man explode and nauseate their method . when we hear how curiously they examine , which of the four humours , arising from the mixture of the four elements , ( which never had an existence in nature , as helmont hath sufficiently proved ) abounds in the body , that thereby they may finde out a convenient purge ; as , rhubarb for choller , agarick for phlegme , &c. loosening the body by stool sometimes fifty or sixty times ; to the consumption of the strength of the sick party , without any ease , the morbifick matter still remaining behinde untouched . when they learnedly babble concerning complexions , temperaments , constitutions , being grosly ignorant of the seminal , formal , and vital properties of things ; not able to discover in the least without relation , or to give any plausible reason thereof from their durty elements , humours , and qualities , that this man naturally abhors posset-drink , a second honey , a third an egg , which if they should take into their bodies , in some diseases , were enough to cost them their lives . when they stand so superstitiously upon the season of the year , the climate of the countrey , the qualities of the air , the time of the day , that before they can take an opportunity , the patient is ten times more hard to cure , or perhaps past relief : all this ( rightly understood ) would justly provoke a man to condemn , abhorre , renounce , and defie their method . who that hath any spark of charity in him , but must needs pitty that distressed wretch , who hath a physician attending him , that gapes for a crisis even to the one and twentieth day , doubtful what is like to be the issue then ; and in the mean time exhausts the purple soul of his patient by frequent phlebotomy , spending his spirits by some torturing course , marring the ferment of the stomack ; and is so far from assisting and furthering nature , that he becomes a remora , or hinderance to her ; so that if strength of body be not extraordinary , 't is impossible such an one should escape without a miracle : certainly a man may not offend to say that this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , satans device and plot to destroy mankinde . or we may justly censure this galenical method , as the word methodus signifies , according to another interpretation , fictio , or ludificatio ; a meer imposture or cheat. had not a man better either to trust to god and nature , or , if he can be procured , make use of some honest , plain physician , who without any deceit or pompous preludium , shall fall to his work of curing you . 't is a sad thing to behold a young man in the flower of his years , in full strength of body , abounding with vital spirits , sending for a physician in the beginning of his disease , to be thus methodized into his grave , by them that pretend to be such grave learned doctors ; who , if he had dyed in the field bravely , ought little in comparison to be lamented . can any sober , wise man blame any one that knows this to be true , and dares demonstrate it , that he is satyrical and invective against these notorious actions ? that man questionless that knows he can prove these things to be so , cannot but damnifie his soul , if he make not a timely discovery of them for his countreys good . we invocate the supreme power , that 't is not malice to any mans particular person , nor a principal design to be known in the world to our advantage , that hath excited us to declare our selves thus , to the detriment of any mans individual credit and reputation : far be it from us , for these things ( if it could have consisted with charity and a good conscience ) should never have been published ; and we hope our future actions will sufficiently demonstrate our sincerity herein ; though we expect from our adversaries nothing but harsh censures , underminings , quick eyes to discover our lapses , calumnies , and reproaches . but 't is sufficient that we have done our duty , to give the world a fair warning of these abuses , which if it make not good use thereof , let it be upon their score , sith we have done what we ought . chap. xix . of the helmontian method . as you magnifie your own method , so ye often cast it in our teeth that we use none , and that we can give little account of what we do , but as empiricks . as to this we would willingly know of you , whether of the two performs things more orderly and methodically , he that brings the life into confusion , disorder , and at last perhaps to a sad catastrophe , by a tedious , impertinent , groundless , absurd , and fruitless means , quite beside the mark ; or he that sweetly composes , pacifies , and allayes the disorders , irregularity , exorbitancies , and tumults in the microcosme , by direct and adequate applications and appropriations of those friendly medicines , which may assist nature immediately to conquer its grand enemy the disease , that at length there may be a happy conclusion to health , without your insalutiferous method ? what man that hath been throughly cured of a dangerous disease in a short time by us , will ever finde any fault that we did not use your long method ; a meer ens rationis , invented to delude the world ? are ye to be excused that go far about to destroy your patients , notwithstanding your tinkling and trapped arguments and conclusions deduced from false premises ? for our parts we had by far rather enjoy an ability in our profession , to relieve a languishing wretch , tortured and racked with some cruel malady , then by making a great noise in the world , puffed up with empty knowledge , be reputed great and eminent schollars , but altogether ignorant in the cure of a disease ; frustra fit per plura , quod fieri potest per pauciora , is known to every ingenious man. if we heal in a fortnight a sickness , that ye cannot in a moneth , are not we the best methodists ? if we strike at the root of a disease , ye at the branches ; if ye mistake in applying agents rightly to patiens , erring egregiously in the primary , efficient , and material causes of a disease , often blundering and overseen in your prognosticks , and extreamly blinde in the proper crasis of things , thus groping in the dark , are seduced by the ignes fatui of your elements , humours , temperaments , seldom ( unless by accident ) hitting the mark ( as ye ought ) your patients sanity : if we can give a better evidence and phisolophical account that we are in the right in iatrical practice above you : if we , when we come to our patient , after some short inquisition shall declare , that there is such a cause of his disease , and that the subject of it is in such a part ; and that if he be observant , we shall in some little time satisfie him , whether we have a remedy sufficiently potent to make nature master of the disease or no ; and so accordingly make our prediction confidently , and that on the fifth or sixth day after our first visit in acute diseases : if we peremptorily deliver , that by gods help we doubt not but to cure him , and bring to pass the same , without relapse or succeeding diseases , far better then the galenists , will not any man say that we are the best methodists ? what signifies it if ye abound with hundreds of medicaments , composed by your own apothecaries , which ye say ye use according to indications , and not one of these a competent or adequate remedy for many great diseases ? is it not better to enjoy twenty or thirty good auxiliary preparations , made with our own fingers , the meanest whereof shall be more effectual then the best of yours ; and these used not ( as ye falsly object ) at random , at a venture , but rationally , and according to a just techmarsis , taken from nature and the disease ; the one whereof we shall ( as ought to be done ) assist to overcome the other , by removing impediments , and occasional causes , by purifying and strengthning the organs , by tinging the parts with some excellent and appropriate balsom , by invigorating and rectifying the ferment of the stomack and other parts , by dulcifying the degenerate sharp latex , which infests the blood , viscera , or any instrument , by expunging and razing out the character or idaea of the disease in the archeus , or vital spirits ; lastly , by pacifying the displacency , tumults , fury , and exorbitancy of the archeus . and when we have made the truth of these things appear in the presence of modest , indifferent , and discreet judges , we shall give sound , satisfactory , philosophical reasons of what we have done , which we will undertake to elucidate thus . we will so many of us on each side ( as we shall agree upon ) visit the sick people of some hospital , with equal and competent arbiters or censors : after that each party hath given his verdict , and opinion of the nature of the disease , inward or outward , we will make our prediction what is like to be the epilogue or event thereof , whether it be curable or no , and in what time probably it may be brought to pass . let the galenist , or helmontian , that doth ( according to the sentence of those elected persons , to whose award we are to stand ) perform his business best in the diagnostick , prognostick , and therapeutick part , prevail , and be taken into the favour and tuition of the magistrate ; and the other be rejected , and banished out of the city with disgrace , never to appear here to practise physick any more . or we will deal with you in this manner , we will summon so many patients that have feavers , or other diseases , in the city , whom we will visit together , and according to our former proposition , enter upon a direct proof , who may best deserve a diplôma or patent . or we will ( if ye please ) act severally , we will ( with so many impartial judges ) undertake twenty persons that have acute diseases , and so many chronick ; after that we have illustrated the nature , condition , and magnitude of the disease to the standers by , ( our foresaid arbitratours ) we will enter upon the cure with a prognostick , in acute diseases , after our first admission , upon the fifth or sixth day ; and in chronick diseases , in the space of three weeks or a moneth at farthest . ye shall be bound to act the like , the same supervisors attending you that did us ; who , after they have seriously weighed all circumstances , being rightly informed , and considered what difficulties both parties have been put upon , shall determine as each of us have done better or or worse , who are the true artists , and so receive a reward or mulct . moreover we declare , that we shall take into our hands twenty sick persons that have acute feavers of what kinde soever , and of these twenty , we will engage to secure under god sixteen of them upon the fifth or sixth day after our approach , or to give a prognostick upon the same dayes , how the disease will terminate ; in which if we fail , we shall be willing to suffer accordingly , supposed that ye come to the like trial . and because ye insist so much upon bleeding , and there is no disease according to your own positions , that requires it more then a pleurisie ; we dare oblige our selves to cure more pleuritick persons , citò , tutò & jucundè , without bleeding , then ye shall , making use of the same . this is the way , great doctors , for you to redeem the credit of this noble science , and to restore it in some part to its pristine renown , and doubt not , if ye do your business as ye should , but that our sovereign lord the king will give you a diploma , and confirm a patent to you ex condigno ; for questionless he is of hannibals minde , hostem qui feriet erit sibi carthaginensis . do well and have well . but if ye fall to your wonted scribling , your quarrelling de lanâ caprinâ , your captious and critical censures , your guilful sophisms , and paralogisms , making the world believe that this is but a foolish contest , and that truth cannot be determined this way , by reason of the variety and multiplicity of circumstances to be observed ; and that to put these controversies to a trial in an hospital , is to put our sickle into another mans harvest , with such like mormolyceia , or bugbears , which ye returned us as answers , when some of us did urge by letters , and challenge you in particular to this most expedient proof : yea , one of you arguing with another of us in the presence of some ingenious persons , ( and the galenist confounding the argumentation with much prattle , on purpose to amaze the auditors , that they might not rightly understand the opponent the chymist , ( by whom , when he was put upon then , as at several other times , an essay of action ) made a pish of it , objecting , that in difficult cases , we chymists had alwayes a recourse to action . if ( we say ) ye shall continually deal thus with us , and disregard us , that profess , and can vindicate our selves schollars , and philosophers , equal with you , we are resolved ( after this epitome , being onely an hint to the world of some of your indecorums in physick ) to publish an history of your errours therein at large . chap. xx. some animadversions upon the late attempt to procure a patent from his gracious majesty , for the erecting a colledge of chymical physicians . never was there a more just , honest , desireable , and useful enterprise set upon in this nation , then an endeavour of some chymists to purchase an influence and favourable countenance from our sovereign lord the king , that thereby we might be authorized and encouraged to meet together , and consult ( without interruption ) about some expedite and effectual way , for the regulating and reforming those present enormous abuses in this excellent spagyrick science ; and for the prevention of the same for the future ; and that we might joyn our forces for the meliorating and advancing of that art , which in despite of all adversaries , will in some short time manifest it self to be queen regent in physick . moreover , seldom hath there been any design more generally countenanced and animated by the learned nobility , and ingenious gentry of england , then this . but such hath been our fate , that some malevolent ill-disposed persons ( as well from within as from without ) have both maliciously and ignorantly cast such rubs in our way , that we have been disappointed from attaining that end , for which his gracious majesty hath professed to have no small kindeness . that therefore every inquisitive man may in part receive some satisfaction , what hitherto hath obstructed our business , we certifie him , that some of us have been overseen at first in admitting among us certain very illiterate persons , that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , chymic● umbratiles , mock chymists , no whit exercised in anatomy and botanicks , inexpert in the history of diseases , their efficient and material cause , their event , or any cure , of which they could give any philosophical reason : these have been among us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , foul blots and disgraces , presumptuous boasters , heady and high-minded , intruding themselves to our disturbance ; whereby our subtil supplanting enemies have taken advantage to defame us , representing us to the world a company of fanaticks , falstly suggesting that we went about to tread under foot all learning , and to introduce a meer empirical way of practice in physick , with such blasting language , contrived on purpose to diminish our repute , and to disenable us from atchieving that which would prove so useful to the world ; that they may the better establish their pretended polyarchical government in the galenical way . that these aspersions therefore may be taken off , and no more reflect upon us to our prejudice , who profess our selves philosophers by the fire ; we freely declare , that we are philomathêis , hearty lovers and promoters of learning , and shall never go about to derrogate from schools and academies , but shall vigorously defend them so far as truth will admit ; and shall be ready to censure him that pleads for amathie , or illiterature in the body natural , disposed ( if ever opportunity be offered to him ) to stand up for anarchie in the body politick . and we are resolved upon mature thoughts , never to joyn with such , that ( disclaiming against schollarship ) go about to lay the foundation of such an illustrious art , upon the sandy foundation of some wilde and extravagant notions , that they have picked up by chance from some slight operations made at a venture . for whosoever enters upon pyrotechnie , ought to have beforehand some general knowledge in the nature of things , and to acquire some infallible axioms and theorems delivered to him , by those that have been most expert ; which how any one can attain to , without a competent knowledge in the scholastick languages , we are much to seek . and certainly helmont never thought a rude and illiterate person destitute of any previous theory , a fit agent to aspire to the mysteries of this profound science . for our parts we should be willing to condescend to any thing below our selves , that such an eminent attempt as a society of chymical physicians might be established ; but should unwillingly yield that such a great mistress of knowledge should be committed to those , that are no whit able to protect , adorn , or credit her . 't is not a good medicine , purchased we know not how , or stumbled upon by some ridiculous chance , that makes a real philosopher , nor multiplicity of furnaces , contrived on purpose to get a fame in the world , but undeniable and stable principles , that enoble an adeptus , or son of art. le no therefore any blinde bayard , that wants the discretion to hold the reins of phebus his steeds , presume to drive the solar chariot of pyrotechnie , lest instead of cherishing and illuminating the world , he bring all into confusion and combustion , as some pseudochymists among us of late have endeavoured . to conclude , although we have been hitherto crossed in this noble enterprize , on one side by the galenist , and on the other by the pseudochymist , or pretender thereto , ( this most innocent art being as it were crucified in the midst between them ) yet we question not but that at length in despite of all opposition , true chymistry will flourish , and moving in its right sphere , will scatter all black clouds and mists of ignorance and envy , and shine out in its perfect splendor . the figure of two colick stones extracted out of the body of anne taylor . an appendix . de litho-colo : or , a history of three large stones excluded the colon by chymical medicines . the importunity of some friends have moved me to expose ( on a sudden ) to publick view these prodigious and monstrous stones , generated in the colon , that the world may be informed what strange coagulations sometimes happen in this microcosme ; and what need we have to look after remedies of the superlative degree , to dissolve and dispossess them of their lodging place . the narrative is thus : in the year , 1655. i was sent for in the midst of february to anne taylor ( servant to mr. sikes a brewer , living at rumford in essex ) about twenty years old , of a florid ruddy colour , having a square body , vivacious and active , but low in stature ; who was suddenly taken with a violent pungitive pain on the left side , an inflation and distention of the epigastrium , a feaver , an aking in her loins , inquietude , a nauseous disposition , frequent belchings , and great constriction of the belly . having examined the symptoms , i apprehended that her disease arose principally from the spleen , stuffed with feculent degenerate blood , which having contracted malignity , darted its venom at the pleura , stomack , intestines , and reins ; hence the vital spirits being disturbed , an estuation and effervescence arose in the blood , which caused a feaver . this considered , i presently offered upon my first access in the afternoon , an emeto-diaphoretick , which making some small evacuation , gave her ease , but of short duration , for a few hours after there was a recrudescence and exacerbation of all the foresaid symptoms . the next morning i offered her an emeto-cathartick , intending to carry the morbisick matter most downward , but in vain , for it still regurgitated , and came away by vomiting : however , she found an abatement of the racking pain of her side , and other parts , which yet still returned by fits . then i plied her hard with those things that were diaphorerick , resolving , abstersive , for the space of three or four dayes , making use of requisite topicks ; not omitting whatsoever might pacifie and invigorate the vital spirits against future paroxisms . upon the sixth day after my first admission , coming to see her , i found her chearful , ( the pain of her side and feaver abated ) with many hopeful signs of speedy recovery , onely she complained of a weight of her left side , tending downward toward the kidneys , and a straitness of her belly , but yet she thought a small matter more would perfectly cure her ; so giving her precaution , i bad her go on to take what remained , charging her to give me notice if any thing fell out amiss . the sabbath day following , being the tenth from the first onset of her sickness , a messenger came in all haste to me to horn-church , relating the anguish and cruel torments that this wretched maid suffered about the region of her loins , with straining to vomit , sharpness of her urine , and difficulty to make it , and continual watching . upon this i began to think that the kidneys had a great share in the production of those iragical accidents , which formerly appeared : wherefore i presently dispatched away to her another emeto-cathartick , and some other chymical preparations , that were of force to cleanse and sweep away any sabulous matter , or gross impurities from those parts . having taken the first she was put into great straits , and had many pangs , yet upon my strict injunction they urged her to take whatsoever i sent : which , upon every sumption and repetition , caused a crispation and convulsive motion of the genus membranosum , the archeus endeavouring to make an extrusion of that which as long as it harboured in its bosom , could never be at rest ; so that by a frequent exciting the expulsive faculty , and by corroborating the spirits at the same time , nature by an alternate vicissitude of rest and motion producing throwes , was delivered at length by the help of some dextrous hands of three strange stony concretions , conceived in the upper part of the colon nigh the spleen . now the first appearance of these was after a great agony on munday night , being the eleventh day ; for the sphincter of the anus being notably dilated , a hard rough body was discovered in the fundament by a midwife , or some of the officious women there present , who by frequently assaying , and tender contrectation thereof , made shift to get out one of these deformed stones ( more friable then the other two ) by fracture and piece-meal , and then forthwith sent to me to hasten to be a spectator of this monstrous birth . no sooner had i entred the house , sounding with the exclamation of the neighbours , but i was presented with some fragments of an exotick matter , which i beheld not without just admiration . this ( quoth some of them ) is nothing in comparison of what is behinde , wherefore we desire you to meet another doctor and surgeon tomorrow morning about nine of the clock ; which i easily assented to in such a difficult case , both for instruction , and also the evasion of slanderous tongues , which i knew had much partial respect for this safe galenist they sent for , that could ( if she miscarried ) maintain it cum privilegio . the next morning i precisely observed the time appointed , waiting three hours for his worship , but neither he nor the surgeon coming , i thought good to take my leave , and to resign her up to whom they pleased ; but by perswasion of the master of the house , who told me ( let the issue be better or worse ) he would undertake to defend me against the galenical gang ; i fell to my work , and having taken a strict view of the outward site of the bigger of these stones , whose basis appeared every way about an inch to my eye ; the sphincter being much expanded through great stress , i concluded that these lapideous concretions were either to be broken by a fit instrument , and so to be drawn out by parcels , or to be extracted whole , if it could be done without danger of lacerating the sphincter : to this end i presently sent for a plain barber surgeon of the town , thomas flemmin , since dead , whom i enjoyned to fetch me the strongest pair of curling-irons he had , which forthwith done , i directed him to insinuate and worm them in between the sphincter and the stone , to lay fast hold , and to try whether he could turn it about ; which he did artificially , and setting a strong hand , pulled it out confidently in a trice . the other quickly followed , and the patient was immediately freed from her dolorous condition , a large quantity of urine issuing forth which had been stopped nigh forty eight hours . after this succeed an involuntary flux of excrements , through a weakness of the fibres of the guts and sphincter violently distended , which were at length restored to their former tone by virtue of a fumigation which she received , sitting over a pan of quick coals . thus was this miserable virgin recovered at length from an untimely death , by force ( under god ) of some chymical medicines , which may adde a little to the lustre of this useful art : for none but remedies more potent then ordinary could have forced three such petrified bodies of that bulk , lurking under the left short ribs , through the manifold cells of the colon down to the strait gut , and so to be voided . ever since she hath enjoyed her health , onely taking two or three years ( spring and fall ) what was requisite ; and since married an inn-keeper , francis chatterton , living now at rumford at the sign of the dolphin , by whom she hath had two children . for present satisfaction take this short description of the three stones thus : touching the first which the midwife and some others brake out by their subtil working into it with their fingers , in my absence , i cannot give that exact observation as of these two i have in my own custody ; for they having shared it amongst themselves , desiring to keep it for a rarety , had so dispersed it , that i am not able to set down any certain dimensions of it : but so far as my conjecture can reach , according to their relation , it might very well be equal in quantity to the greatest of these two , inclining to a cylindrical shape , of a friable and fragile substance toward the superficies , but more tenacious toward the centre ; consisting of dissimilar parts , wherein appeared many white filaments like alumen plumosum . the cortex or outside was of a pitchy colour , but the innermost part brownish . the second of the three , and the first of the two which i extracted , and now reserve by me , is of a cone-like figure , broad beneath and sharper above , nigh three inches in length , two and a quarter in bredth abouut the basts , one and three quarters in the midst , and somewhat above half an inch on the top . the outward coat covering the inward like a bark , is more compact , and of a tartareous substance , partly blackish and partly mouse coloured . it hath four great dokes in it , two nigh the basis , and two nigh the cone , beside many small ones , and tortuous incisures . under this cortex lieth a calcarious matter , which hath a small quantity of a thready or lanuginous substance mixt with it , tending to a gravel-like colour . it weigheth now not above two ounces seven drams , being diminished and circumcised by those that handling it have out of curiosity picked off something considerable ; and withall the ambient air hath made it somewhat lighter , but at first its weight was much more . the second to this is triangular , almost equilateral , each side being about two inches three quarters in length , and near two in bredth . it s substance much resembles the other , onely its outside here and there is softer to the touch , feeling plushie like some part of a stags horn , to which it is like in colour . in the middle appears a harder body dissimilar from the angles , which seem to be appendices to it . in it are some small cavities , but one very large , like the hollow part of that the latines call astragalus , an huckle-bone . it is lighter then the other considering its proportion , weighing one ounce five drams and a half . we observed when these colick-stones first came to light , that many plum-stones and cherry-stones lay couched in several hollow places in them , which had continued in her body about half a year undissolved , appearing fresh as if they had been newly swallowed . hereby the bulk of these coagulations was encreased , that they became more hard to be precipitated , their unequal asperities impeding their passage , exasperating and galling the tender and most sensible tunicles of the colon : hence arose most exquisite dolours , which this poor wretch underwent for several dayes , which would undoubtedly have destroyed her , had not her vital spirits been lenified , appeased , and supported by some spagyrical cordials that were most amicable to them . throughout the whole course of the disease , i avoided cooling iuleps , barley liquors , ordinary opiates , or any common papaverous preparation of the galenists , which would have brought nature into a nummed and drowsie condition , and so have made it supine in the expulsion of these hostile guests , that had taken such firm possession in the colon to its utter ruine . i make no question but a dogmatist would presently without any scruple ( being confirmed by those indications there present to which they severely adhere ) have first bled her perhaps two or three times , under the notion of a pleurisie , then expectorated her with their nasty slaps ; but failing here would have given her laudanum for the mitigation of her intollerable pains ; and so bringing her into an everlasting sleep , have sent these remarkable coagulations into the grave with her unseen . this tragical history ending comically , i have here communicated to the world , that it may be allured to become a phylo-chymist , and understand the insufficiency of galenical preparations to help in extremity ; and to encourage all ingenious and industrious artists in their labours ; that such a litho-tribon , or break-stone arcanum may be attained , that hath power to dissolve the stone even in the bladder , without direful cystotomy . to conclude , i shall hereafter ( if god permit ) give you a fuller and larger account of this colick duelech , with some other unusual observations , collected in eighteen years diligent study and practice ; and shall likewise give you my thoughts of splenotomy , or exection of the spleen out of a living dog , his life preserved : which i can ( absit jactantia ) vindicate to be the first that made any sound and notable trial thereof in europe known publickly , although some of our galenical anatomists have very unhandsomly assumed the credit of it to themselves . in the mean time make good use of this here delivered , and be grateful to the most high if thou reapest any benefit thereby . the stones before spoken of are in the authors keeping , at his lodgings near to the blue boar inne without allgate ; where any ingenious person that desires to be further satisfied concerning them , may be freely admitted to see them . finis . errata . pag. 2. line 28. read their . pag. 42. l. 1. read hermaphroditical . p. 60. l. 3. r. profligating . p. 62. l. 1. r. perittomata p. 63 l 27. for magnetick read specifick . p. 68 l. 15. r. comparison . p. 74. l. 14. 1. affects . p. 77. l. 8. r. precipitates . p. 92. l 7. r. coindications . a letter in answer to certain quæries and objections made by a learned galenist against the theorie and practice of chymical physick wherein the right method of curing of diseases is demonstrated, the possibility of universal medicine evinced, and chymical physick vindicated / by george acton ... acton, george. 1670 approx. 33 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a26305 wing a449 estc r6585 12706851 ocm 12706851 66048 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26305) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 66048) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 372:5) a letter in answer to certain quæries and objections made by a learned galenist against the theorie and practice of chymical physick wherein the right method of curing of diseases is demonstrated, the possibility of universal medicine evinced, and chymical physick vindicated / by george acton ... acton, george. 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ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 andrew kuster sampled and proofread 2006-05 andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a letter in answer to certain quaeries and objections made by a learned galenist , against the theorie and practice of chymical physick . wherein the right method of curing of diseases is demonstrated : the possibility of an vniversal medicine evinced ; and chymical physick vindicated . by george acton doctor of physick . published for the benefit of such as languish under any grievous distemper without cure. london , printed by william godbid for walter kettleby , at the sign of the bishops head in duck-lane . 1670. sir , had you not power enough with me to perswade me for your satisfaction , to neglect my own , i should scarcely at this time have comply'd with your desires , in answering your several quaeries and objections against both the theorie and practice of chymical physick ; for i find almost all the galenists that are either totally ignorant of chymistry , or acquainted only with the vulgar ; such as is that of crollius , hartman , beguin , and their like , so riged opposers of the more occult philosophy of hermes , raymond , lully , basilius valentinus , paracelsus , vanhelmont , &c. that they cannot but protest against all their schollars and followers , as heterodox , deserters of the schools , and ( to use your own expression ) phanaticks and canters of such a philosophy , that were galen himself again living upon earth , he would not be able to understand it ; and although for your own part i have no reason to believe you of the number of those supercilious opiners , that scorn to forsake an errour because vulgarly received ; yet i doubt whether the truth in so plain a dress as i shall expose it , may not startle you also . you are perhaps too tender of the reputation of galen , for you ought not to think it any discredit to him , that had never seen so much as common distillation in his life , to be said not to understand the profound and hidden mysteries of natural phylosophy , plunged in an abyss inaccessible and imperceivable by any possibility of witt , without the help of fire ; he well saw that the tenuous and aethereal substance of things , was of greater efficacy than their grosser part , as he confesseth in his 11 book de simp. med. facul . quae tenuium sunt partium , iis quae sunt crassarum plus habent efficaciae etiamsi parem sortita fuerint facultatem , nimirum quia melius penitrent ; but he knew not how to separate the tennous parts from the implication of the gross , which we do by the help of fire . whence i conclude , that he ( had he understood the art of chymistry , which in his time lay hid in obscure hieroglyphicks in the shrines of aegypt , would have left us both his physiology , pathology , and especially his method of healing , quite different from what it is ; for it cannot reasonably be imagined , that so curious a searcher into the hidden things of nature , would have contented himself with a bare rational analysis of bodies existing only in the understanding , had he been acquainted with the encheiretick , resolving all bodies into principles subject to sense , and fit for the use and manual operation of a skilful physician by the help of fire . your ideal analysis , by a progressive agitation of the mind , by which you find contemplation to end where natural composition begins , leads you at last but into the dark chaos of the elements , and there begets but this unprofitable conclusion ; that because all things are by a mental resolusion ultimately resolv'd into the four elements , therefore these are the common principles of all things . now how much it may really improve any mans understanding in the art of physick , to tell him all things are compounded of the four elements , more than in ship-carpentry , to tell him a ship is made of timber , iron , hemp , and tarr , i leave you to judge . we therefore , ( in regard the elements are but remote principles upon which only god and nature can work ) have by the resolution of fire found out nearer principles subject ( as i said ) to sense , and fit for the use of a spagyrical physician : these are mercury , sulphur , and salt , which being first separated and cleansed from all heterogeneous feculency , then exalted ( by the help of fire ) in power and virtue , we can either use them severally , or conjunctly , according to their virtues , and the curative intention of the physician ; and thus by the help of fire , we make medicines easily curing those obstinate diseases you esteem incurable ; by the help of fire we understand the occult hermetick and helmontian philosophy ; and by the help of fire , with much study , labour , and sweat ( never by the bare reading of books at your ease ) may you also be satisfyed of the reality , truth , and excellence of that physick which you now profess ( and i believe you ) no more to understand , than the cantings of gipsies . but now to your first quaerie : whether it be possible to cure a disease without a remedy contrary to the disease , or at least to its cause ? i answer with the adepti in the affirmative , and say , nulla fit sanatio per contraria , quia morbus proximè & primariò consistit in arbéo at substantiae in esse ( according to aristotle ) nihil est contrarium . it is not the corporeal substance of the brain , heart , liver , spleen , &c. that suffers primarily , & per se in their several distempers , though idiopathical , but the jusitous spirit governing the part , and disposing it to perform all natural , vital , and animal functions , which being hurt by the errour and depravation of the jufluous spirit and topick ferment , the part necessarily suffers by accident , quia actio terminatur in corpus . now the atonie of the jufluous spirit and deviation of ferments happens by ill air , contagion , malignant influence , poisonous fumes or odours inspir'd , or entring by the pores , by meat or drink hurtful either in quality or quantity , by poison or virulency of ill physick , by natural or accidental inequality of strength , by retention of excrements of the several digestions , by transmission from one digestion to another , before a perfect concoction in the former , &c. so then the right method of curing diseases , is primarily by pacation of the enormontick spirit , and extinction of morbifick idea's , and but à posteriori , by expelling the peccant matter generated by the ataxie of the spirit : but such a sedation of the spirit cannot possibly be procured by contraries ; does not fire burn most vehemently , when constring'd by an extreme cold of the ambient ? and hot water soonet extinguish fire than cold , because sooner penetrating its pores ? i could multiply arguments against the method of curing diseases by contrary remedies ; but my design is rather to recreate than tire you with too long a letter . to your next quaerie , therefore , whether we acknowledge four ▪ humours ; and if so , whether various distempers flowing from the depravation or excess of various humours , as synochus simplex , of too much abundance of blood ; quotidiana intermittens , of flegm ; tertiana intermittens , of choler ; quartana intermittens , of melancholy ; all putrifying in the first region of the body ; and both quotidian , tertian , and quartan , continual from the same humours putrefying in the vein , may be all cured by one medicine ? in answer to this ; first , we deny your humours , as most repugnant to reason , that under one act of sanguification , and in the same vessels , four different humours should be produc'd , and that naturally in sound and healthful bodies these humours should be the efficient causes of future diseases ; for this were to suppose nature always to erre , etiam in suis finibus . sense likewise assures us , that although there be a liquor swimming upon blood , emitted and cold , of a yellow colour , yet that it is not therefore yellow bile ; for that it is not bitter to the taste : and though the yellow jaundies staining the whole body with a yellow colour , and the urine with a deep tincture of red , seem ( prima faciè ) to prove your hypothesis of humours ; yet upon an exact spagyrical examination , you shall find the contrary ; for if this tincture of urine were à flava bile , there must be found in it by distillation at least some bitterness , either in the liquor that comes over , or in the hypostasis , or caput mortuum ; but there is found none , nor could a small quantity of yellow liquor tinge a large quantity of urine with a colour deeper than its own . so that we say , nullus in natura humor noster , nisi cruor , latex , & secundarius . now sometimes this latex , sometimes the chyle , from the errour and contagion of degenerated ferments , and pre-disposition of the matter , receives various tinctures , and puts on the disguise of your supposed humours . but granting you a quaternary of humours , yet we deny them to be truly the efficient causes of diseases , for manente causa non tollitur effectus ; but very many diseases we see daily cured by amulets ; plaisters , laudanums , anodynes , magneticks , &c. without any evacuation of humours at all ; so then the truly efficient and conjunct cause is spiritual , and such a medicine as can quiet the archeus , and reduce it to its natural state , shall easily cure all these distempers , without any regard had to the purgation , or carrying away of peccant humours ; for the jusitous spirit being strengthened , and the local ferments restored to their proper energy , your peccant humours shall soon , by the power of these , be either subacted and compell'd into their genuine perfection , or driven out by the ways most familiar and easie to nature , truly acknowledged by hypocrates to be morborum curatrix ; and in my opinion , the reason why meer galenists seldom perform any considerable cure in obstinate diseases , is for that they wholly prosecute evacuation , and by that means oftentimes disable nature , ( especially by phlebotomy ) from doing what she would be able oftentimes of her own strength to perform , never aiming primarily and directly ( but thus only by accident ) at the re-establishing of nature ; and no marvel , since this way of healing is not performable without the help of such arcana as are only known to chymists , and of them , only to the adepti , not every vulgar professor of chymistry . but you urge a necessity ( in the right method of healing ) of having respect not only to the expulsion of peccant humours , but also to the extinction of praeternatural heat by cooling medicines , and refocillation of cold , by heating ones ; as for example , in the cure of anasarcha , which you say is from an immoderate refrigeration of the liver and veins ; of a fever , which is from a praeternatural heat kindled first in the heart , and thence diffusing it self through the whole body ; of bradypepsia and apepsia , from the coldness of the stomach ; of boulimia , from an extraordinary heat of the stomach suddainly precipitating digestion , and causing almost a continual want of aliment ; and likewise in implicite and compounded diseases that are contrary to each other , as a hot liver , and cold stomach ; whatsoever medicines should by their heating quality be proper in the cure of anasarcha , bradypepsia , apepsi , and cold distemper of the stomach must in respect of that heat , be quite contrary in a fever , boulimia , and hot liver . i answer still with the adepti ; that heat and cold ( as i said of hmours ) are not the efficient causes of diseases , but the antecedent , and therefore though their consideration be diagnostick yet not curative , non calor & frigus ( says hypocrates ) sed acidum , acre , amarum , ponticum , &c. sunt morborum causae . heat and cold praeternatural , are indeed an effect of the enraged vital spirit , which being once quieted , the natural temper presently returns ; and as for the hot liver and cold stomach , which so much puzzles you , that you know not which way to direct your curative intention , as appears by your method : impliciti compositique morbi si dissentiant , nec prorsus huic , nec illi , sed utrique mediocritate quâdam succurendum : which is in effect but a needless kind of despair of a cure ; whereas i am able to assure you , that if for the future you can find out such a remedy as can re-invigorate the languishing tone of the stomach and liver , restore their deviated ferments , and appease the archeus , which may be all done with one medicine , without any regard had either to the cold of the one , or heat of the other , you shall quickly , safely , and pleasantly cure both ; and by the like method , all other diseases vulgarly ascribed to heat and cold. you attribute concoction to the heat of the stomach , and to the diminution of this heat , want of digeston , and all diseases happening thence ; but that heat is not the efficient cause of digestion , seems manifest ; for 1. fishes digest without any actual heat , and to say that potential sufficeth , is scarcely consonant to reason , that a thing barely in potentia , should actu jam agere . 2. there ought to be as many degrees of heat specifically different , as there are specifical differences of concoction , in the stomachs of animals of different species ; for whatsoever is produc'd specifically different , ought likewise to have the efficient cause of that difference specifically different , otherwise , quidlibet generetur à quolibet indifferenter , which i think no man will affirm . besides , what degree of heat must we allow the stomach of an ostrich , easily digesting leather , cloth , and even nails of iron ? what degree of heat in boulimia for the digestion of the coursest food , in so large a quantity , and so fast , that the stomach is scarcely ever to be satisfi'd ? riverius confesseth this cannot possibly be from a more intense heat , since meat boiled in a pot with the strongest heat that can be invented , and continued for many days , cannot by this means be resolv'd into a chylous liquor , much less bones , as in the stomach of a dog in the space of an hour : i know you shift this off to a peculiar faculty , but a faculty cannot act without an instrument , so that you are constrained to flie to the idiosyncrasie of the part , which you teach to be a certain proportion of first qualities ; but of all the first qualities , heat is the most active , which nevertheless , as has been already shew'd , cannot have the power of so suddain a liquation of meats , so that after much struggling , you are at last but where you began . we therefore ascribe the difference of digestions , not to heat , but to formal proprieties , and the operation of the specifical ferments . by what hath been said , your objections borrow'd out of helvetius , against the possibility of an universal medicine , seem sufficiently answer'd ; nevertheless , take this argument : health is but one simple homogeneal integrity of life , nature but one , but one sole spirit , the governour and moderator of life , which alone labours under diseases , and is alone ( it by a powerful medicine sufficiently strengthened ) able to overcome all diseases ; why then may not one medicine , such as the liquor alkahest of paracelsus , his tinctura lili ab electro minerali , his tinctura lili antimonialis , his mercurius vitae , his mercurius diaphoreticus dulcis & fixus , his ignis veneris , his corallatus , his elixir proprietatis , or any other equal to these , be able to cure all diseases ? and although i am not as yet so happy my self , as to be master of any one of these , yet in confirmation of this hetrodoxical doctrine , i will undertake ( provided the patients you shall assign me for the tryal , will faithfully comply in taking the medicines , and carefully observe the order prescrib'd them ) to cure all sorts of fevers how malignant and complicated soever , with one medicine ; your distempers of a hot liver and cold stomach , with one medicine , and for the most part , sanguine , bilious , melancholy , and flegmatick diseases , ( as you esteem them ) with one medicine , which i hope will make you change you opinion of the necessity of curing diseases by their contrary remedies . and as for those obstinate diseases , whereof many are esteemed by you incurable , and the rest seldom or never cured by the vulgar method , as the dropsie , the gout , stone in the reins and bladder , apoplexy , co●●u , falling sickness , madness , furor uterinus , scurvy , french pox , small pox , griping of the gutts , of which so many hundreds fell the last autumn , hysterica passio , with almost the whole catalogue of diseases , wheresoever the vital spirit , and tone of the part affected , are not so weakened , that no medicine can work its effects ; to end the dispute between us , whether chymical or galenical physick be the most powerful and successful , and which of them the most worthy of esteem by you , and all wise and unbyassed persons ; let there be some of all , or the most of these diseases put into my hand as soon as you please , and if you do not find me by the help of chymical physick , to cure even the hardest of them with less annoyance , less disturbance , less weakening the spirits and force of the patient , and incomparably more expedition , safety , and certainty , than your ordinary physicians cure light and easie distempers , let me be no longer held by you worthy of credit , or have any place in your esteem ; but if i do , ( as by the grace of god you will certainly find i shall ) i doubt not , but for the future you will give the preference to chymical physick , and not think me in this guilty of vanity or ostentation , which i have made known unto you out of the sincerity of my heart , inerrable experience , my love of the truth , and ( i hope ) to the inestimable benefit of such as shall need and require my help . but you apprehend chymical medicines to be dangerous , as being many of them extracted out of poysonous metals and minerals , as iron , copper , tinn , lead , mercury , antimony , &c. and corrosive salts , as vitrial , nitre , tarter , bay salt , &c. but you seem more especially to be affrighted at antimony and mercury ; and truly if you mean their vulgar preparations , ( which nevertheless you commonly make use of your selves , ) such as are the vitrum , and flores antimonii , crocus metallorum , the ordinary mercurius vita , praecipitates and sublimates , i so much abhor them my self , that i detest the use of them . but i have by me certain preparations out of ♁ and ☿ far more precious than gold , with which i know how to cure almost all curable diseases in the body of man , and so safe , that i give them commonly to little children , without ever having found the least harm or inconvenience in them ; some of them purge not at all , but are diaphoretick , alexipharmacal , balsamical , restaurative , and pacative : and those that do , never cause any superpurgation , though the patient by mistake should take a double or treble dose . out of ☿ can i make many excellent medicines , whereof one particularly and especially cures the pox , though ever so full of raging pains , tophi , and ulcerous exesions . cut of antimony , basilius valentinus says , he knew how to make above 300 several preparations , whereof he valued many as more precious and universal than potable gold ; nevertheless , esteeming himself yet but a learner and searcher into the innumerable virtues and proprieties of antimony . quercitan says , there are in ♁ 600 proprieties . our most learned roger bacon made an oyl out of antimony , which he affirms to be little inferiour not only in medicine , but also in transmutation of metals , to the great elixir of the phylosophers . of antimony paracelsus made some of his most stupendious arcana ; as his lili antimoniale , his mercurius vitae , with which he could cure all the diseases in the body of man , and says of ♁ , that as it separates from gold all heterogeneous admixture and impurity , so doth it from the body of man all diseases . and of mercury , both he and van helmont made their miraculous . alkahest . ☿ is certainly the most precious jewel in the whole treasure of the mineral kingdom of nature , from which alone ☉ it self borrows its perfection . if i would now comunicate to you but what is known to my self that am but a scholar in the schools of these two great masters of natural philosophy of the virtues and hidden mysteries of these two minerals , i must instead of a letter , write a volumn , which is at present far from my purpose and your expectation . now as to saturn , mars , venus , which you likewise apprehend to be dangerous ; out of saturn alone , paracelsus professeth himself able to cure at least 200 several diseases , out of ♀ he made his ens veneris , one of his greatest arcana , and says of ♂ , that he does , valida pugnacique manu morbor quemplurimos etiam contumacissimos domittare , hear your riverius in the praise of ♂ in the cure of hypochondriack melancholy , scurvy , most affectious of the liver and spleen , ulcers of the stomach , green sickness , and many others . at caeteris omnibus remediis palmam praeripit sal martis , quod obstructiones aperit viscera corroberat , earumque calidam intemperiem emendat , &c. a certain physician you well knew , got more fame and riches than any of his time in this town , by means of a secret operative preparation of steel , with which he really perform'd many greater and more considerable cures , than others equal to himself in all other considerations . but you fill me with admiration , that you should fear the corrosive quality of vitriol , tartre , nitre , and bay salt , you may draw a menstruum out of bread or honey , that will dissolve flints , and vlstadius out of honey makes a dissolvant of gold ; would you therefore be affraid of the use of bread or honey ? you know the juice of limons dissolves pearl and coral , and yet most grateful and friendly to the stomach ; and why should these spirits temper'd with the allay of other milder liquors , ad gratam aciditatem , be more dangerous ? indeed common experience shews you the contrary ; besides you ought to consider the difference between the hard bodies of stones and mettals , and the softer membranes of the stomach , irrigated continually with a balsamick vital moisture : aqua fortis that corrodes stones and mettals , whill not penetrate wax . but to leave you no ground of suspition , i can shew you how to make them freed from their corrosive aciditie , pleasant to taste and smell , and highly exalted in virtue . but this i confess is a great secret , especially that of the volatile salt of tarter , of which paracelsus and van helmont affirm , that it penetrates into the most inward and remote parts , cleansing them from all impurity , instar saponis cuncta abstergens & omnem è venis amurcam detergens , &c. but though you have oblig'd me to make this just vindication of chymical physick , i would not have you think i either despise or neglect the excellent use of herbs , which i acknowledge with van helmont , to be pentacula divini amoris . out of animals and vegetables i can make medicines that cure the gout and dropsy , with that certainty , as scarcely to miss two in twenty . but indeed , as is our method of healing , so are our ways of preparation very different from yours ; you in your decoctions consume commonly a third part , sometimes half or more , in which consumption a great deal of the spirit and volatile salt of the ingredients , which contains their highest virtues , is evaporated and lost ; of the certainty of this loss , both your smell and taste will bear you witness : we , on the contrary , so make our decoctions , that the whole virtue of the crassis of the plant is preserv'd without any diminution ; i leave it now to your self to judge whether you or we may reasonably hope for the better success in this particular ; the like difference is between your distillations and ours ; you for the most part add water , or at least draw over but the flegmatick part of the plant , with some very small part of its sulphur , which gives it something of its natural smell and taste , leaving nevertheless almost all its sulphur , and totally all its alkalious salt behind ; so that your distill'd waters carry only the name , little of the virtue of the plant from which they are drawn : we first stamp the hearb , and draw its water , then cohobe it so often upon the caput mortuum , till we have brought over its sulphur , and lastly calcine the remaining feces , and with the waters extract its own salt , and then circulate them together ; and thus are the mercury , sulphur , and salt united , which completes the virtue of the whole plant , and compar'd to yours , is worthy of the name of an essence ; this is indeed laborious and costly , but in its effects largely recompenceth both . there remains yet an objection against chymical physick to be answered , which you offer not as your own , but as received by common report . that chymical physick , though for the present it conquer many diseases held incurable , yet that afterwards it shortens the lives of such as have been so cured . there is indeed such a senseless calumny current amongst women , and the weaker sort of men industriously disseminated amongst them , by some hoping perhaps by this art the better to keep up their own esteem and reputation , which otherwise by their abilities they find themselves not likely to maintain . but to avoid contention , let common experience determine this difference between us . for my own particular , i can faithfully assure you , that by chymical physick i have cured my self of the vertigo , and gout , both in great extremity ; it is now 4 years since , and i have not ( i bless god ) to this day relaps'd again into either , nor have i found any harm , but on the contrary , many benefits to my health by such medicines , tending in all probability to the prolongation of my life ; and if i had not grounded my esteem of chymical physick upon good reason and sufficient experience , you might think me mad , to make desperate practices upon my own life . my lungs are naturally so tender and weak , that had it not been for chymical medicines , i cannot think i could have liv'd to see this day . but inform your self further , and you shall find that those that have been long accustomed to chymical physick , have preserv'd their lives and health much longer , and more comfortably , than those acquainted only with your druggs ; for consider impartially , how few escape death in contumacious diseases by means of galenical medicines , loathsome , tedious , and for the most part ineffectual ; and those that do , how slowly do they recover their colour , appetite , and strength , remaining long in continual fear and danger of relapse ? such large quantities of physick as your slow method requires , so depauperates the vital spirit , and oppresses nature , that it may be known many times a year after , from what method they receiv'd their cure : whereas we in the same diseases perfect the cure quickly , with little physick , and in small doses , such as can hardly be nauseous to the nicest and most delicate stomachs ; and in our whole scope , our method directs us not to enervate ( as you do ) but to erect deficient nature , not to extenuate , but reintegrate the languishing spirit : and is it then likely that chymical medicines taken from the hands of a skilful chymical physician , appeasing and strengthening the archeus , restoring the ferments , which alone in their intire vigour , are able to overcome all diseases , as being the undoubted authors of transmutation , friendly and comfortable to nature , should nevertheless shorten life ? besides the evidence of reason , i can testify out of my own diligent observation and experience ( and that fido animo ) the contrary . but i believe i need not take much pains to satisfie you in this particular , i know you are too sharp sighted to be miss-led by such an ignis fatuus ; on the contrary , i rather believe you inclinable to acquaint your self fully with the theory , and manual operations of chymistry , which though it cost you ( as it hath done me ) much time , sweat , and money , yet if you prove equally successful , i dare promise it shall never give you cause to repent you : for ( i speak it without boasting ) i have by the help of this art easily and quickly cured diseases quite desperate in the hands of very able and experienced galenical physicians . truly were not chymical physick incomparably more powerful and safe , than galenical , i do not see how i could excuse my self in leaving at any time , the trodden , smooth , and easie paths of the vulgar or galenical method , in which i am graduated as well as you , to follow those of the chymical , painful , costly , sublime , and so secret , that but a few have ever rightly understood : — pauci quos aequus amavit jupiter , hoc potnêre — at the worst can be said ; surely he that understands both physicks , is likely to perform more than he that understands but one ; but i must not transgress the limits of a letter , let what has been said suffice for the present , till i print my synopsis medico-chymica , which is almost finished , and i shall be ready at our next meeting to give you further satisfaction in any thing : in the mean time i pray do me that right to believe , that what i have said in vindication of chymical physick , hath been without the least animosity , or intention of prejudice to the person or practice of any man , purely in defence of the truth , and that whatsoever i have undertaken to do my self in my own particular , the better to confirm you , i will by the grace of god , whensoever you shall offer me the occasion , faithfully make good ; and further , that i shall unalterably remain upon all tryals . sir , your faithful friend and servant g.a. silver-street near bloomesbury market london . march 4. 1669. finis . medicinal councels, or advices written originally in french by dr. theodor turquet de mayerne ... ; put out in latine at gevena by theoph. bonetus ; englished by tho. sherley ... mayerne, théodore turquet de, sir, 1573-1655. 1677 approx. 189 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 81 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a50385 wing m1428 estc r32060 12308678 ocm 12308678 59323 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a50385) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 59323) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1016:2) medicinal councels, or advices written originally in french by dr. theodor turquet de mayerne ... ; put out in latine at gevena by theoph. bonetus ; englished by tho. sherley ... mayerne, théodore turquet de, sir, 1573-1655. bonet, théophile, 1620-1689. sherley, thomas, 1638-1678. [16], 136, [7] p. printed for n. ponder ..., london : 1677. errata is on p. 136. includes index. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-04 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion medicinal councels or advices : written originally in french , by dr. theodor turquet de mayerne , kt. baron of aubonne , counsellor and chief physician to the late king and queen of england . put out in latine at geneva , by theoph . bonetus , m. d. englished by tho. sherley , m. d. physician in ordinary to his present majesty . london , printed for n. ponder , at the peacock in the poultry near cornhill , and in chancery-lane near fleetstreet . 1677. licensed , roger l'estrange . may 15. 1676. to denzell lord hollis , baron of isfield , steward of her majesties revenues . my lord , i did heretofore acquaint your lordship , with my intention to write my thoughts and experience , both of the causes and cure of the stone in humane bodies : and that i did design to dedicate that book to your lordship , as the most proper altar at which to offer whatever i should produce on that subject ; you having been not only the most illustrious patient i have had in that disease , but also the most generous too : for when some years since i was so happy to serve your lordship not insuccessfully , upon that occasion , in the recovery of your health , your lordship was pleased to take the opportunity ( in a most glorious assembly ) to give so obliging a character , both of my skill , and care in my profession , that had i not many former inducements , yet this alone were sufficient to challenge ( as a due debt to your lordship ) not only my labours upon that subject , but the services of my whole life . some part of that treatise of the stone , i writ some years since , and have yet lying by me ; having had no conveniency to compleat the same , by reason of the removal of my habitation , and the constant trouble the prosecution of my right to a considerable estate , hath ingaged me in : for i find that a work of the nature of that treatise , will allow of fewer avocations , and requires a more easie posture of affairs , than i at present enjoy . therefore be pleased , till i can make you that present , to accept of this book of medicinal councels ; which i shall not need to recommend to your lordship , since the worth of their author , sir theodor mayerne , is sufficiently known to you . i put them into english for the publick good : but i present them to your lordship , not that you need translations , ( for your great learning , and knowledge in most languages , as well as your excellent wisdom , hath been amply manifested to the world ) but that i might take the opportunity of making a publick acknowledgement of your favours to me , and attest how much i am bound to be , what i subscribe my self , your lordships most humble , faithfull , and affectionate servant , tho. sherley . from my lodgings next door to the steps going into the black-friers , by the side of fleet river , near fleet-bridge . to the reader . if you have ever been sick , and have felt the incommodities of a tourturing or languishing disease , i am sure you will conclude with me , that man cannot enjoy a more useful and precious blessing , then that of health : for this gives us the true relish and delights of honour , riches , knowledge , &c. all which without health , have more of bitter then sweet in them : and it were much more eligable to die , then to languish out many years under the dayly oppressing insults of some vehement and cruel disease ; which is in reality to die , and but supposedly to live. how much reason have we then to praise god for giving the knowledge of that divine art of physick to mortal men ; and to honour physicians ( as we are commanded to do ) whose office it is , to take care of preserving our health ; and when it is decay'd , to restore us to it with speed , safety , and pleasure . the heathens were so sensible of these benefits , that they idoliz'd , and gave divine honours to physicians ; which thing we that are christians do both renounce and abhor : but yet we must acknowledge , that a faithful and learned physician , can hardly either be rewarded , or praised to his merit : and those men are most ingrateful , and deserve not to enjoy even their own lives , who despise either the art of physick , or its professors . the cultivators and promoters of this science , have employ'd their learned labours several ways ; some of them in writing medicinal institutions , others in controversies , others in comments , notes , and illustrations upon the works of hippocrates and galen , others in composing methods and practices of physick . as also in describing chirurgical operations ; others in anatomy , others in increasing the materia medica , by writing pharmacopaea's , both galenical and chymical . but none have merited so much , ( because of the utility which redounds from that way of writing ) as those authors which have writ consultations and councels : for by this singular artifice , ( or way of writing ) we are taught to effect that which is the most difficult thing in the art of physick , viz. the application of general precepts , to particular subjects and persons : for the art of physick is long by precepts , but is rendred short and efficacious by examples . and by this means we have the knowledge , learning , and experience of industrious able physicians , ( which they have labour'd all their life time to acquire ) convey'd to us in epitomy . of these sort of writers is our author , sir theodor mayerne : ( chief physician to his late majesty , and his royal consort ; ) for whose abilities , let his large fame , and almost constant success , speak : and i need say the less of him , because he hath yet living so many testimonies of his worth and skill amongst the nobility and gentry of this kingdom : i conceive this book may prove acceptable to many ; and therefore have put it into english , that many may receive the advantage ; which is the wish of , reader , thy friend tho. sherley . in this book is contained , 1. a councel or advice in a consumption , for a certain nobleman . written in french. 2. advice in a consumption , for the before mentioned nobleman's son. sent into france . 3. councel or advice in various disaffections of the hypochondries : written in french for a certain gentleman , a counsellor at law. 4. advice in the same disease , for the same person . given in french. 5. another advice in the same disease , for the same counsellor . written in french. 6. another councel in the same disease , for the same person . written in french. 7. advice in divers disaffections , upon which follow'd a gangrene of the perinaeum , and an ischuria , or suppression of urine . written for a person of great quality . 8. councel in a suppression of urine . for a person of quality . 9. advice for a caruncle in the urinary passage . for a certain person of quality . 10. advice in the plague . written in french. 11. another councel in the plague . written in french , and presented by the kings physicians , to lewis the xiii . the french king. 12. a councel in the constriction , or stranguling of the throat , proceeding from melancholly fumes arising from the hypochondries : for the renowned physician , the most excellent mounsier bouvard , chief doctor to the french king. written in french. 13. another councel in the same disease , for the same person . written in french , by the renowned dr. de arduynes , physician of the hospital of charity at paris , called st. iames hospital . 14. another for the same person . written in french. 15. advice against the epilepsia , or falling-sickness : for a maid of quality . written in french , by a physician whose name is not known . the first councel , in a case of consumption ; for a noble person . written in french. my lord , i give you thanks for your charitable and pious advice sent to me , and taken out of the last chapter of ecclesiasticus . it is very fit for me , who am now growing into old age , the inconveniencies of which , are already incumbent upon me . the inhabitants of this kingdom being disturbed with tumults , and i at a distance from my lordship of aubonne : in that place it would not have been difficult to have found a sanctuary , where i might have took a farewell of the world , and there quietly have resign'd my soul into the hands of my saviour . but perhaps it is otherways decreed by gods over-ruling power , to resist which , were impious and wicked . i know not if there yet remain such a happiness for me , ( which the troublesomeness and incommodity of the journey , proceeding from the distance of the place , and length of the way , forbids me to hope ) that i may yet enjoy your company : but if god do grant it , it will be much to my satisfaction and content ; if otherways , accept favourably of the friendly and kind propensity of my mind ; and my desires to be near and present with you : i am ready by all sort of services to deserve your favour . but being separated from you by a fatal necessity , since i cannot assist you nearer hand , ( for the honour you confer upon me , in desiring my advice ) in the recovery of your health ( which i wish to god you may injoy better ) though this present intemperate weather doth not savour it ; but rather puts a stop to the use and efficacy of medicines ; yet for all that , as improper as the weather is , accept of , and follow the councel i here send you , the which i offer to you with an affectionate mind . i do not doubt but that mr. de gras hath exactly and throughly examined your constitution in general , and the unequal distemperature of all your parts , both natural , vital , and animal ; and i do firmly allow of the conjectures , constituted by so learned a man , and one knowing in the art : but since i have been acquainted with you from your cradle , nay , with your ancestors before you , the last fate of whom , was throughly examin'd and look'd into by me . i suppose this affair ought to be deeper inspected . your illustrious father , of happy memory , had the thread of his life broken off before its due time , by a continual cough , and an incessant defluction upon his lungs : but as to what concerns your self , ( if i remember rightly ) you are like him in every thing , both in your mind , and in your body , you had always weak lungs , you wax lean , ( of which i have been an eye witness ) and oftentimes also you did use to spit blood , though in small quantities : this i suppose , that as those parts which are weak by nature , are subject to suffer by all sort of injuries , so the lungs are so above the rest , both upon the account of their proper texture , which is rare and spangious , as also by reason of their scituation , by which they easily receive the morbiffick causes , as well from the superiour parts which lay over them , as also those which to their great prejudice are transmitted to them from the inferiour parts . i do not deny but that the stomack performing of its office ill , the mesentery filled with obstructions , and the liver generating acrid and thin blood , may ( from the depraved condition of the aliment they afford ) evilly affect the brain and lungs ; whose excrements , whether they are transmitted thither ( from other parts ) or congested there , are yet very liquid , as long as they remain in their state of fluidity , which is common for all dissolv'd tartars ; but having gain'd a place , and being lodged in the pipes of the lungs , they coagulate into a glutinous and mucilaginous substance , producing that asthmatick and p●…isical disposition , or difficulty of breathing , with which you are molested . for this mischief , viz. the leanness and corruption of the whole body , is occasion'd , and doth proceed from these excrements , although there be no present aposthumation , vomica , or ulcer , yet do these excrements threaten the same effects , and no less mischievous . that you may receive relief , there is a necessity by a good diet , to amend the vices of the antecedent causes , in their fountains or spring-heads , reducing by degrees to a better state , the deprav'd faculties of the parts , in which the first and second concoctions are perform'd . secondly , to hinder the flood and defluction from the brain , and that by strengthening , drying , and diverting to other parts , that humour , which otherways perpendicularly flows from thence upon the lungs . thirdly , repairing their balsom , retrieving them from put refaction , by the sorce of medicines indow'd with a balsamick power . and if in the course of doing this , in the mean time the anacatharsis , or upward evacuation happen to be difficult , or stopt , care must also be taken of that : and at last there must be analeptick means made use of to refresh and restore the parts which are tending to a decay and consumption . 1. that you may attain this end , follow exactly the advice given you by your physitians concerning diet ; which if i should particularly describe , this councell would swell into a volume . 2. upon the account of the brain : prepare emissary passages for it , besides such as it hath naturally of its own : i do not disapprove of issues in the arms , but they are no way comparable to those which are made in the shoulders upon the region of the omoplats , or shoulder blades , at an equal distance from the spine ( or back-bone ) perhaps you will object your leanness , to which i answer , that i have not spar'd those which have been extenuated , and i find them to be more efficacious then those made in the neck , betwixt the first and second v●…tebra's . wherefore omit not this remedy ; and in this case , it is sufficient to put in , and closely press down five or seven pease , applying a sticking plaister upon them : i approve of the plaister pro suturis , which is compos'd of moderately warming , and gently adstringent things , which doth powerfully strengthen and confirm the parts , and helps to suspend the defluction : the place of this may be supply'd by a capp or coife , which i make of dryed bettony , rosemary , red roses , and the barkes of new pistacho nuts , adding moreover yellow amber , and the seeds of roman nigil , with a few cloves : keep your head neither too hot , nor too cold , but nevertheless , let it be so cover'd , that the cold may not offend it . i cannot forbear to press upon you the advice of celsus , whose words are these ; nothing is so profitable to the head as cold water is . therefore he that hath this part infirm , he will d●… well , in the summer time , to hold his head for a good while together , every day , under a large spout of water , or to cause it to be pumpe●… upon . let your capp be covered on both side with whited brown paper , and quilted betwix with tow , or flax ; it is convenient to sum ; with some cephalick powder , in the composition of which , there ought to be a larg●… quantity of yellow amber : i know not i●… you ever have used to take tobacco . you may make a powder of colts-foot , the bark of pistacho nuts , rosemary , yellow amber , and a twelfth part of tobacco : to which , if the lungs abound with tough phlegm , and there be an asthma , you may add as a powerful help , ( and wonderfully beneficial ) a little orpiment , ( for as d●…sconides says , it is very useful in these diseases ) you cannot be ignorant how it is to be made use of , to wit , in a pipe , you may use it morning and evening , passing the smoke through your nostrils , or only blowing it out at your mouth , as you shall find it to be most effectual . in favour of the lungs , it is particularly advantagious to drink thin metheglin , or meade , not too strong , but well fermented or wrought , composed with agrimony , bettony , both kinds of veronica , or fluelling , and both sorts of lungwort , colts-soot , and a large quantity of iulubs . this kind of drink if it be made right , is not unpleasant to the tast. wine is hurtful for you , but i doubt whether you can leave off the use of it : but if you can abstain from it , do . a syrup made with the flesh of tortoises , snails , the lungs of animals , froggs , and craw-fish , all boyl'd in scabiose , and colts-foot water , adding at last sugar candy , will prove very useful . lac sulphuris is a precious balsom , which may be taken in a rere egge , with a few grains of benz●…min and sugar , or it may be made into tabellets , with sugar and the pulpe of marsh mallow roots : these sort of medicines require to be used long , nevertheless , forbearing the use of them for some days ; least nature being accustomed to them , should at last neglect them , though they are precious , as she useth to do other things . the unadulterated balsom of peru , either black or white ( if you can procure it ) taken to the quantity of four or five drops at a time in oxymell , is highly conducive ; also the ruby of sulphur rightly prepar'd , with the white aetherial oyle of turpentine s. a. but as this operation is artificial , so the preparation of it should be committed to an expert artist : the before said suffumigation promotes expectoration : if the phlegm be yet tough , take care to prepare an oxymell , with the pectoral decoction , well clarifi'd , sugarcandy and honey , made sharp with oyl of sulphur : and this upon urgent necessity may be licked with a liquorish stick bruised at the end . as to what relates to restoration or nutrition , persist in the use of cock-broath , made with china roots , and cleansed barley , besides the use of the beforomentioned syrup of tortoises , but asses milk , with sugar of roses , is to be used both winter and summer , and is very prevalent to this intention : i also advise you to change the aire ; for the scituation of your house is absolutely unwholsome for you : the next spring go to delph , and find out the house of your noble brother , nay , travel as far as aurange , lunell , biterras , and mompelier , staying in those places some months , or longer . i have not time to say any more , but this one thing , if perchance any of your relations come about you , have a care that they do not contract the same disease in their lungs . you ought to follow this my advice exactly in every particular ; which if you do , undoubtedly it will prove beneficial to you for preservation . god prevent an ill omen . dated london , 1645. the second councel . for an illustrious nobleman , son to the former , inclin'd to a consumption . written in french. my lord , apologies are remote from the busines●… in hand , and are needless : for yo●… are not guilty of any injury to me●… my friends , and your self above the rest 〈◊〉 them , ought to esteem me altogether of another mind , from the custom of those wit●… whom complements and ceremonies is usua●… amongst their familiar acquaintants , ( whic●… can hardly be practic'd by sincere minds . ) 〈◊〉 at any time i admit any one into my intimat●… friendship , and addict my self to serve hi●… ( which i have long since done to you , and devoted my self to your whole family ) 〈◊〉 never impeach them for being nice , or omitting of officious occasions , nor interpret any thing in the worst sense , being secur'd of their constancy ; supposing business doth hinder my friends , or that there is some other great occasion , that is the cause of the intermitting of their writing to me ; but if my pains may be useful to them at any time , i never deny it to them , greedily laying hold of all opportunities to deserve well at their hands , whensoever occasion doth offer it self , chiefly where i may be assistant by my art , or profession . i have long been afraid lest this disease , which hath threatned you a great while , should at last break out into act . i was heretofore throughly acquainted with the nature and constitution of your illustrious father , and grandfather , ( who are to be reverenc'd by me upon many accounts ) the depraved constitution of whose lungs , i could not so well alter , but that it hasten'd their fate . their infirmities are descended to you by way of inheritance , together with their great endowments and virtues . if you have done any thing which hath hasten'd this misfortune to fall upon you , it is unknown to me , and it were necessary that you acquainted me with it ; for accurate instruction is necessary , that you may receive the full advantage and fruit of my advice . i particularly wish to be inform'd what kind of tumour that was on your breast , and what those acrid medicines were , which your physician writes you have made use of ; and whether they were mercurial or no : also the quality , and quantity of the matter you excluded by vomiting , it were convenient to know whether it were purulent and stinking , or not . these things being well inquir'd into , are of great moment towards the cure of your lungs , which are the basis and original of your griefs , a consumption is but a fingers breadth off from you , and evil is threatned , unless you seasonably use your utmost endeavours to extricate your self from the power of it , with which , to my sorrow i perceive you are already insnar'd , i have often observed aposthumes to break in the lungs , some of them with good success , some of them with ill ; god preserve you from them . ulcers of the lungs , because the lungs are in perpetual motion , and are filled with large vessels , and constantly receiving humours , both from the upper , and inferiour parts , do difficultly admit of cure ; but all our endeavours must be made use of , and the success submitted to god , expecting from his will a happy event : you have already been under the cure of experienc'd men of art , which their own accounts testifie . and amongst our rules , this is the chief : if all things be done rationally , and success do not presently follow ( the intentions and indications of cure remaining still the same ) we are to insist upon the same medicines , without any alteration , unless something happen which absolutely compells us to it . but to satisfie your desire , because you expect my advice , i will , having begun , proceed farther , submitting my councel to the judgement and experience of those learned men , under whose hands you now are , ( i being at so great a distance from you ) and in the first place i advise , as soon as the weather shall be more temperate , that you try the change of air , experimenting another and more propitious one , without delay , being carried in a litter , or otherways , so that the motion may not hurt you , beginning your journey with the rising of the sun , and getting into your inn before sun-set . travel to volcas , aurange , mompilier , bitteras , &c. breath dry air , the heat of whieh you may easily temper in the house , according to the conveniencies the place allows : galen , the master of physicians , used to send consumptive patients to tabias , not that he might be rid of the care of them , but to dry up the ulcer and defluction , by drawing in of a more pure air , indow'd with a drying faculty , and a balsamick power from the plants which grew there . some years since a gentleman of these parts , call'd mr. cotton , who was in a confirm'd consumption , spit matter mix'd with blood , and was extreamly extenuated , being a mere skeleton , cover'd with a dry skin . this gentleman was sent to these parts , and upon his return , he was absolutely recovered ; he liveth healthy with his family , and is father of many children . i have seen ( that i may discover the efficacy of the air in diseases of the lungs ) a gentleman , who having received a deep wound in his breast , he was twice cured thereof by making an aperture in the opposite side , which necessity compell'd to be made betwixt his ribs : which aperture became a fistula ; he travel'd into spain , where after five years stay , the fistula healed up ; returning to his own country , which was a cold and moist climate , it open'd again of its own accord : and he was healed again by going into spain for the same number of years as formerly . from hence it will plainly appear to you , that the air pervading all the bronchia , or pipes of the lungs , and passing directly to the heart , is more efficacious in exerting the force of its native , or acquir'd qualities and virtues , than any other sort of remedy whatsoever . the second head regards drink : if you can forbear wine altogether , you will do very well to do so : for whether you drink much or little , it doth affect , and will afflict your head . i hear they make good beer at geneva ; if you can get that which is small and clear ; or else the decoction of barley well fermented , and without hops , that may be commodious for you : which moreover you may render medicinal by the addition of china roots , or the roots of the greater canes , or reeds of narbon , and with tro●…matick , or wound herbs and pectorals ; amongst which the male veronica , bugle , and self hete , are the best : if you leave your native soil , and your own house , ( which are not healthy for you to dwell in ) there may be prescribed a weak hydromel , or meade , or else a thin drink made with raisons , but well fermented , and impregnated with the virtue of the foresaid simples , and others as pimpernal , the greater comfory , aelurop , plantain , midlin , broad leaved lungwort , ( which is a moss of an ash-colour , growing upon old oaks ) these kind of drinks rendred familiar and ordinary , and pertinaciously continu'd by their constant use work wonders ; they being endow'd both with a nutritive and medicinal virtue . arcaeus an approved author , ( a spaniard ) doth much commend guajacum in ulcers of the lungs , and i know by experience it is very successful ; nor is the use of it to be feared in lean bodies , for its accrimony and heat , ( if you proceed by degrees to use it ) may be temper'd , by adding the larger quantity of water , or it may be boyl'd in barley water : or else the roots of china , or reeds , are harmless , and without heat , dry sufficiently ; moreover , do not descend from the necessary advice given you about diet , by your physicians . cows milk is useful to condense and nourish well ; but to refrigerate and cool , asses milk is more efficacious ; it detergeth , and cleanseth better , and carries off the watery excrements by urine , ( to which intent also lignum nephriticum conduces , being added to your ordinary drink , ) add to this , that it leaves nothing untouched , but brings it away with it self , if only it pass well : and this your own experience will make out to you , there being this occasion given to make proof of its effect : follow what your physicians advise you ; the force and virtue of the milk will be augmented , if the beasts feed upon herbs , which are appropriate to your grief . i commend sugar of roses , with which sweeten your milk. i firmly hold upon this account , that a syrup made with vulnery herbs , and wood tortoises , ( in narbon call'd garrige ) shell snails , the tayles of craw-fish , green froggs , ( of which you have plenty ) will be of great use to you for the future , dilating'an ounce of it with a draught of milk. you may cast in a fourth part of rose-water into the decoction of the aforesaid simples , being clarefi'd before the sugar is put to it : i would have to be added to the tabblets of sugar of roses which you use , some truly prepar'd blood stone : harts-borne well and philosophically calcin'd by the vapour of some pectoral water , and i approve of crabs eyes , prepar'd after the common way : concerning the lapis haematitis , or blood stone , read what is delivered of its virtues in your disease , by the most experienc'd amongst the ancient physicians alexander trailianus , cap. 1. lib. 7. practicae , under the title of ; such things as are convenient for those which spit blood , from the defluction of an acrid humour ; which i also think useful for those which spit blood by reason of an anastomasis , and all sorts of haemoptysis , proceeding from the breast , let the cause which produces it be what it will. a cough is the most troublesome symptom of these kind of diseases ; for it irritates and shakes the lungs , and will not permit the mouths of the vessels to close , nor grow together . take care therefore to prepare bec●…hical , or pectoral tabblets of an extract made without the least burning , but perform'd with the vapour of water ; let it be made of the best liquiris , macerated in the waters of fluellin and mullin : adding to it new made penidies , blood stone , and manus christi , composed with pearls and corals : if you are not inclin'd to sleep , procure it by intervals with art ; take care therefore to prepare , either diacodion tabellatum , or use syrup of white poppies , dispensed as it ought to be ; using them at the hour of sleep , and taking them in the cream of barley , beginning with half an ounce , or three drams , and so proceeding by degrees to an ounce at most , if necessity require it ; but have a care you use them not , if they may be spared . as to general remedies , viz. purgation and blood-letting , let the use of the first be seldom , always avoiding strong purges , for it is enough to use laxative ptisans , prepar'd with senna , tamarynds , cassia , and syrup of cichory , with a fourfold proportion of rhubarbe , sometimes adding new granulated white calabrian manna , all being well clarified . neither omit letting blood , which let it be frequent , rather then much , according to indications : moreover , the revelling and derivative medicines prescribed by your physicians , are to the purpose , and therefore to be apply'd at convenient times , according to advice : as to the issue which is in your arm , i do not dislike of it , but according to my judgement , i had rather have one made by burning in the neck , betwixt the first and second vertebra's , or two issues made upon the shoulders , betwixt the superiour angles of the omoplats , and the spine of the back . besides these , let medicines be provided ready against the paroxysme , that is , when the blood doth abound : in this case i do no ●…ess approve of opening a vein in the foot , than in the arm , or let a cupping-glass be apply'd to the region of the liver : use oxycrate made with plantain water and frog spawn : let trochises , or little balls , be made with gum tragacanth , dissolv'd in plantain water , and compacted with a powder , composed with half a part of rock alom , reduced to a subtile powder , a fourth part of harts-borne , calcin'd with fire till it be white ; also a fourth part of prepar'd blood stone , and coro●…ted manus christi , the weight of all of them . hold these balls in your mouth , and let them melt by degrees , and so swallow them ; for they dissolve but slowly : the effect of alon●… 〈◊〉 this cafe is very great , it may be given at ●…he hour of sleep , to the quantity of a dram 〈◊〉 barley broath , several days successively ; it may also be dissolv'd in milk that is turn'd , ●…d become thin by boiling in it plantain , mullin , allheale , pimpernell , tormontill , and vinca per vinca , or periwinckell , clarifying this milk , by settling and adding alom to it , that so it may be given with apozemes , or iuleps . i cite here this experiment ( taken out of our authors ) because by the prescribing the use of it i have gain'd honour and credit , especially in the ordering the use of it to a noble matron , afflicted with a desperate haemoptysis , or spitting of blood from the lungs ; ejecting from thence divers pounds for several days together . i ordered to bruise the tender leaves of red stinging nettles , and to give five ounces of the juice pressed out of them , and clear'd by settling ; twice in a day , ( if there be added to this an ounce of rightly prepar'd syrup of coral , the medicine will be more efficacious . ) and although she was then threescore years old , weak and helpless , yet she was restored to perfect help for five years . you may put the councel i have given you into use : for now i have nothing more to say . if god grant you life , it must be restor'd by proper remedies , i shall always be ready to serve you , in the preservation of your health , as far as my experience in the practice of my profession will enable me . london , february 20 , 1657. this illustrious nobleman is now living , anno 1674. he is more then threescore years old , a batchelor , hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or shoulder blades which stand off like wings , shewing by his habit of body , and all other signs , his native propensity to a consumption , spitting matter , perpetually afflicted with a cough , only using drying food , as salt-meat , herrings , and smoaked meats : finding moist food to be hurtful for him . councel the third . in various hypochondriacal distempers : for a certain noble councellor at law. written in french. when i carefully take under examination all those symptoms with which you have been molested and tired out , and having also an eye to your temperament , i do constitute the root of a●… those griefs with which you have been afflicted , to be in a melancholly humour , not only ge●…erated in the liver , and evilly separated or expell'd , worse wrought upon in the spleen ( remaining to the hurt of the stomack , an●… those parts , by which it ought naturally t●… be discharg'd ) but also mixed in the veins with the rest of the mass of blood , nay , extended as far as the brain , which this offensiv●… enemy of nature , doth assault as an organical part , upon whose temperament an alteration being made by it ; from hence the principle functions of the soul do act erroniously at sometimes : and from this humour , and from nothing else , is the original of your fore-pass'd melancholly afflictions , returning upon you by fits ; the settling of humours in the parts near the fundament , ( the malignancy of which humours consists in a septick , and corrosive salt ) hath begotten that great ulcer , which is now turn'd to a fistula . that troublesome heat of the palm of your left hand , and the sole of your foot , doth plainly shew the power of the spleen , affecting the upper as well as the nether parts ; also the intense dryness of your mouth ; all which are induced by sulphurious , nitrous , and vitriolate exhalations sent up from the bowels : moreover the stupor and numbness of your arms & legs , which affects you only by periods and fits , not constantly : to all which may be added the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or stuttering of your tongue , returning by intervals ; from these without doubt i say , is the idea of your melancholly afflictions : all which may be constituted to proceed from the reciprocal flowing of that juice from the spleen to the brain , and contrary ways flowing back again ; which oftentimes introduceth grievous symptoms , as the epilepsia , and others , insomuch that it is not absurd to make a presage from these signs , of the near approach of a palsie , though i think the danger may be prevented , if you be but strong enough : let us omit the cure of the fistula , since it is almost healed : but lest we triumph before the victory be gain'd , we must allow the space of five or six months , to expect whether perhaps any new budding of the disease , do not cause us quite to lay aside our conceived hopes of a perfect cure ; for the melancholly humour is not unlike the dispositions of the most sort of poysons , which by the force and efficacy of antidotes , are somewhat weakened , and the tempest which they brought with them allay'd , and the introduced symptoms ended , so that nature being restor'd to her former state , doth easily overcome what remains : let us direct our aim then at this point , since in my judgement , any other method of cure , though it may appear never so useful , will prove ineffectual for the future . i do not touch upon your diet , being certain , that those to whose care you have committed your health , will not pretermit any occasion of either doing what is fit , or omitting what is inconvenient ; let us proceed to remedies ; of these i think it will be vain for the future to continue in the use of slight ones , which are usually prescrib'd , more for the comfort of the physician , then the sick ; which are really adiaphora , or indifferent , they are innocent truly , but by being so , they afford no help : this evil is to be pluck'd up by the roots , otherwise it will be perpetually hatching , and producing a new brood . let vomits lead on the first and main battle , as well for their efficacious removing the filth of the first regions of the body , as also to remove by their specifick efficacy ( from which only the triumph and victory over melancholly is to be expected ) future impediments . of these , i know none more prevalent , nor of less danger , than the infusion of crocus metallorum , made in canary wine , allowing an ounce of this to a pint of the wine ; of which if you are easie to vomit , you may take the first time one ounce , adding of simple oxymel half an ounce , and one ounce of cardus beneditus water : if you are hard to work upon , then you may take from the quantity of ten drams , to an ounce and half of it , though i think it safest to begin with a small dose , except the vehemence of the disease perswade otherwise . vomit three or four times , nay more , making use of no other medicine between : but if your endeavours to vomit prove fruitless , the stomack may be easily moved to it by drinking of barley water , or thin chicking breath , nay only with warm water ; procure this sort of evacuation at least three times , allowing the space of two or three days between , after which , apply your self , to purgation , beginning with elleborat , and hypochondriack apozems . if by rubbing and pressing hard with your hands , the whole abdomen and the hypochondries , there be found pertinacious obstructions there , it will be necessary then to exhibit some preparing medicine for 7 or 8 days together , which being perform'd , the purgation of the humour is to be administer'd again : if there be any occasion to open a vein ( from which nevertheless i expect little benefit ) let the physician that is present take care of that : i note this one thing to you , that i prefer the opening of an inferiour vein in the malleoli , or ancles , rather then a superiour in the arms , unless there be somewhat else that hinders it . the body being thus conveniently evacuated , the whole business of the cure is to be directed to the use of steel , in this cure the chief medicine : there are three weeks at least to be imploy'd about the foresaid general praescripts , and in the mean time , care must be had of that intense dryness of your tongue , which is so troublesome to you , which i hope in a small time will be dissipated , from which no great danger is threaten'd ; so that care be took , that the body be cleansed from those hot , dry , and vitriolick juices , ( of the nature of canker of brass ) which doth enduce this intense and unsatisfy'd thirst ; in which case there is great relief found in the opening the veins , situate under the tongue , by which the heat of the lungs and heart is allay'd , and the brain effectually discharg'd ; if you find the brain to be possess'd ( with this matter ) and if you find the continual numbness of the members to remain , together with an imbecility to move , apply a great visicatory to the nuck of the neck , and make two issues in the topes of the shoulders ; the head being shaved , put upon it fernelius his cataplasme , or some other epispatick : anointing the whole back-bone every day with balsom of earth-worms , or batts , &c. and when the weather is convenient for it , go to the baths of borbon , or aquense , which are not far from your house , and use to wash your body with them , and let the whole spine of your back be dropt upon by these waters . i do firmly believe your panick fears will vanish , if you devote your self to the use of steel , by the virtue of which , i have seen many melancholly persons deliver'd , the weakness of whose limbs did declare , that they were already paralitick : and among these , a certain maid of honour , committed to my ●…re the last year , by the queen of bohemia , who by the force of this melancholly juice , had the motion of all her limbs took from her , whom by gods assistance i restor'd to the queen again , merry , and enjoying a firm health , to the admiration of all those which had her in cure before me , in whose judgement she was afflicted with a palsie , i proceeded altogether another contrary , and yet common way , by the help of which she attain'd her health : for 't is only old dogs that are the best hunters . but concerning your fistula , i think it is not far from being healed , if your chyrurgion may be credited , who is a most expert man , to whom , ( which you before desired me to do ) since i have lately writ , there is no need that i take up my pen again , that he may be further satisfy'd of my kindness . outward remedies are needless for the future , but lest i should seem to be wanting in my care and friendship , if there is any thing needful to dry and confirm the cicatrice , use the balsom of sulphur , of which you have heard me spake often , which will supply the place of all other medicines which are fit for the part affected : you may apply emplastrum diasulphuris to the part ; which since it needs some detersion and cleansing , upon that account it is convenient to use the solution of crollius his lapis mirabilis , or another according to my judgement , of equal efficacy , consisting of pure bole-armenick , white vitriol , and camphor , prepar'd according to art : or you may well use the mercurial water described by hartman ; made of mercury sublimate , freed from its corrosive spirits by tynne , according to art. when the fear of a palsie shall be dissipated , and the humour bred in the hypochondries overcome , and cut off ; also when it shall only remain to imploy our endeavours , that the cure of the fistula be made firm and undoubted ; and that the birth of the same germinating kind of ulcers , ( in those lower parts subject to corruption ) may be prevented , then the use of mercurial medicines taken inwardly , will be seasonable , which in convenient time and place shall be prescribed to you with necessary cautions ; as also certain other exsicating medicines , taken from the classes of minerals , and these such as promote a diaphoresin , ( or transpiration ) at the pores , whose power and faculty is to discuss malignant vapours , and to hinder defluctions ; these produce different actions , according to the divers distemperatures of the receiving parts ; which distempers they master and overcome , by their particular efficacious impressions : but enough for this time , and i will only subjoin an orderly description of certain medicines promised above : if you please , you may make use of mr. favonius the apothecary , who will be very careful in their preparation : if your fistula be healed , and cicatriz'd , that it may long remain so , it is necessary you go to geneva , &c. in the first place prepare the stomack for the space of two days before , that so you may vomit easily . as , ℞ of simple oxymel , ℥ iij. oxymel of squills , ℥ j. mix them for 4 doses , taking them in a draught of ptisan , at a large distance from meals . then , ℞ of the infusion of crocus metallorum ; made with canary sack ( proportioning ℥ j. of the crocus , to ℥ xvi . or a pint of the sack ) take ( i say ) of this infusion philter'd through a papire , ℥ j. of the water of carduus benedictus , ℥ j. simple oxymel , ℥ ss . mix them , and make a draught , to be given in the morning , with observing a due and regular order , in the time of its operation . let this medicine be repeated thrice , interposing the space of two , or three days betwixt each time of taking , according to the strength and disposition of the stomack ; a regard being had to the operation of the medicine ; if there be occasion , those that can bear the operation well , may increase the quantity of the infusion to ten drams , or an ounce and half . in the days between , it will be necessary to soment the hypochondries , and region of the stomack , with an emollient , inciding , and opening decoction : by this means , the humours which are to be discharg'd by vomit , will be render'd fluid , and the operation will succeed with the less trouble . after taking the third vomit , a day or two being allowed for quiet , let there be given the following apozem . ℞ of the roots of female fers , cichory , lions tooth , the middle-barke of an ash-tree , the roots of sharp leav'd docks , an . ℥ j. marsh-mallows , ℥ ss . the barke of caper-roots , of tamariske , an . ʒ x. the fresh roots of polypody , ℥ iij. of the leaves of fumaterry , germander , ground pine , agrimony , bettony , of all the sorts of maiden-hair , an . m. j. the flowers of cowslips , st. iohns wort , an . p. iij. water-lillies , p. ij . ss . the tops of rosemary , marjarom , an . p. j. the seeds of male piony , ʒ iij. of sweet fennel , of corryander prepar'd , an . ℥ ss . of carthamum , fresh , full , and such as sink in water , ℥ ij . raisons of the sun stoned , iujubs , an . ʒ iv . sweet smelling apples , cut into bits with their peels on , n. iij. make a decoction of all these in a s. q. of water , in which was steeped before for the space of four hours , sparkling tartar of white wine , ʒ vi . clean picked senna leaves , ℥ ij . the small shings of true black he●…or roots , ʒ iv . after a sufficient decocting , strain it ; which reduce by gentle boyling to ℥ xv . in which dissolve , of the solutive syrup of damask roses made with agarick . of the syrup of cichory , with a fourfold proportion of rhubarb , anʒ j. ss . spirit of vitriel , gut . xii . mix them , and make an apozem for three days , to be taken a mornings , with care , and keeping within doors , either every day , or every other day , according to your strength : and this to be done three hours before you take any broath . if it seem convenient either between , or after these purgations , to open either of the saphena veins , let that be committed to the pleasure of your physician which is present with you . afterwards let the peccant juices be prepar'd again and again , and the obstructions of the bowels powerfully recerated by this following medicine : ℞ the decoction of sweet seuted apples , nephriteck wood , adding a little 〈◊〉 ℞ iij. small white wine , lb j. spirit of salt , vitriol , an ʒ j. mix them exactly in a flat glass dish , then ●…resently drop leisurely into it , of oil of tur●…ar , made per deliquium , q. s. to extinguish ●…ll acidity , or sowerness , add to th●… . syrup of the flowers of red fluelin , with the violet flower , syrup of cowslips , an . ℥ ●…j . cl●…on water , one spoonful . make a perfect mixture of them by long agi●…ating them together : take of this liquor 〈◊〉 v , for a dos●… , twice in a day , at a good ●…stance from meals , do this eight days together : which time being elapsed , repeat purging , thus. ℞ clean pick'd and small cut senna leaves , ʒ iv . choice rhubarb , ʒ ij . the stringy fibers of true black hellebor roots , ℈ iv . to these being strain'd , pour such a quantity of the strain'd decoction of tamarynds and tartar , as is sufficient to make the infusion for a whole night upon warm ashes , adding , of lavender flowers , ℈ j. one blade , or flower of mace. in the morning after a gentle boiling , strain it , in which reduc'd to a dose , dissolve , syrup of damask roses with agarick , calabrian manna , an . ℥ j. spirit of vitriol , gut . iv . mix them for a potion to be given in the morning , with a careful governing of yourself . this being perform'd , your body is sufficiently fitted for the use of steel ; the metho●… of taking which , was sufficiently describ'●… to you the first time : in the interim , sir while you are at leisure betwixt making u●… of the prescriptions , and that will take up good space of time , ( but absolutely necessar●… to the right preparing , of the peccant juice and the cure of your body ) in the mean sp●… use these things which have a respect to t●… dryness of your tongue : as a syrup made with the white of an egg , and sugarcandy . trochisch's of liquoris , prepar'd from its extract mix'd with sugar of roses , adding a ●…ittle of the mucalage of gum tragacant . the distill'd water of milke , with the syrup de mucilaginibus taken by a spoon , or put of a glass bottle , or out of a phyol with a narrow mouth . the use of rock chrystal truly prepared , with conserve of violets , or water lillies , is good . an injection into the iawes made with barley water , and milke warm from the cow , either by it self , or adding a little sal pru●…lla . syrup of the juice of the greater semper●…uive or house-leek , boyl'd with sugar , adding 〈◊〉 little of the same sal prunella : see that you ●…se them by turns , lest nature being too much accustomed to one , frustrate or reject ●…eir effect . i doubt not but those symptoms which ●…hreaten a palsie , will either be diminished , ●…r for the most part removed , by the before ●…rescribed medicines , which symptoms if they ●…ould persevere , though but a little , that ●…he fearful mind of the patient may be satis●…'d ; by the advice of the physicians which ●…re present ; let there be apply'd to the head being shaved , fernelius his cataplasme against catarrhs , described in his councels , for divers days together : apply to the hinder part of the neck a large visicatory , with which excite a blister , which keep running a long time . affix a couple of pyroticks , or causticks , to the superiour angles of the shoulder blades , with which large ulcers being made , let them be kept continually open with many pease , applying upon them a strong sticking and drawing plaister . morning and evening anoint the whole length of the back-bone with our balsom of batts , rubbing it very well in with a warmed hand . the balsom of batts . ℞ the greater sort of serpents , or snakes , cut into pieces , their skins being first strip'd off , num. iij. butts , num. xii . very fat sucking puppi●…s , num. ij . earth-worms wash'd in white wine , lb j●… common oil , lb iij. malago sack , lb iv . the leaves of sage , marjarom , bayes , calaminth , origanum , penyroyal , an , m. ij . boil them ( adding new hogs-lard , lb ij . ) 〈◊〉 the consuming of the wine , and the falling ●…f pieces and putrilage of the animals ; let 〈◊〉 fat be well pressed out , ℞ of this fatness , lb j. gum. elemi , tacamahaca , an . ℥ j. ss , the marrow of a stag , an oxes leg , an . ℥ ij . of p●… gum , galbanum●… ℥ j. liquidambar , gut . x. butter , of nutmegs oil of bayes , an . ℥ ss . mix them , and make a balsom . i believe , and i hope , that the ulcers which ●…ere caus'd by the incisions about the fundament are closed , and confirm'd by a cicatrice : it happen to be otherwise , let them be ●…ashed with the dissolution of the artificial ●…one , which is call'd lopis mirabilis ; or ●…uch the ulcers with mercurial water made sublimat , delivered from its corrosive spirit , ●…d deaded by tin : apply balsom of sulphur them , such as is describ'd by rulandus , 〈◊〉 put upon them a lead plaister , with ●…alk , or emplastruin diasulphuris , which ●…dicines may be approved of as specificks ulcers of the fundament , and the circum●… par●…d . 〈◊〉 there be any internal symptoms continue , or bud again , these evils are to be remedied by mineral medicines , such as are mad●… of mercury and antimony rightly prepar'd which shall be prescribed by us , in their du●… time , according to the degree of urgent necessity . postscript . the use of the aforesaid remedies . after your return into your own country , about the beginning of the mon●… of september , take care to have prepar'd 〈◊〉 you an emollient and detergent glyster , addi●… lenitive electuary , and honey of dog nettl●… let it be injected in a morning about th●… hours before dinner . the day after take the purge prescrib'd and if you like the form of a bolus , you 〈◊〉 add a scruple of mercurius dulcis truly prepar'd , observing to govern your self , order in the working . the day following , begin the use of 〈◊〉 apozem , continuing the use of it for eig●… days . which being ended , purge your body aga●… with the same proportion of the purge , or the bolus . after which , if necessity require , proceed to the use of steel , observing the order laid down . if nothing do absolutely insinuate the use of this , then a good diet will be sufficient , the particulars concerning which , you may easily gain the knowledge of . omit not in the mean time the exercising of your body , which is absolutely necessary for you . also by intervals , at least once in a month purge your body , taking the before prescribed bolus , with mercurius dulcis . let the infusion be familiar to you , or the gentle decoction , remember'd in the second councel , to which you may if you please , add half a pound of the filings of steel , to four measures of fountain , or cistern-water : taking every time two ounces . councel the fourth . in the same disaffections of the hypochondries ; for the same noble councellor at law. written in french. when the p●…st had-now come three times to us , and yet no account was written to me concerning your health , i●… was possessed with careful and troublesome thoughts , by reason of the great and dreadful symptoms describ'd in your last letter , upon the account of which i writ , and sent you my advice and councel : but your last letter hath expell'd all my fears , which doth manifest , that the troublesome dryness of your mouth , and all those symptoms which were praelud●… , and fore-run●… of a palsie , did wholly seize upon the unlook'd for arising of an apostbume in your right cheek , which as well upon the opening of it by mr. iuis , as also at your ear , did pour out laudable , and well digested pus , ( or matter . ) as to your fistula's , heretosore so afflictive to you , they are shortly to be closed up with a cicatrice , for they are now almost healed , by the acurate care and diligence of your chyrurgion ; for which , both from my self , and all experienc'd artists , he worthily deserves praise , which i will publickly make known , whensoever you require it , although i am equally averse to admit , or impart adulatory expressions . before your sores can attain a perfect consolidation , the greatest part of the winter will be past over , and the subsequent spring will be near at hand ; at which time you will much better pass through that tedious course of diet and medicines which are to be made use of , then you can do in the height of winter . wherefore since it is necessary to preserve , and repair your life , that something be couragiously taken in hand , and yet nothing urgeth to begin it now : my opinion is , that you elect a proper time , in which , without interruption , you may prosecute the course of your cure , and use your medicines successively , in due orde●… , and with advantage ; which if they be otherwise administred by fits , or broken intervals , and not with one steady course , although they be artificially and properly prescrib'd , yet they cannot have the least success : i advise ( to compleat the cure ) that as soon as dr. guenalt , &c. shall think fit , your body be emptyed by purging , according to the method i have prescribed ; from thenceforth you may safely be quiet , only studying how to repair your strength , as well by aliments of good juice , as by gentle cordials , such as the majestery of pearls , red corals , and crabs eyes , sometimes given in broaths , sometimes with the confection of kermes , and syrup of queen-apples , procuring gentle purgations betwixt whiles , with laxative ptisan , compos'd only with senna , or sometimes adding cassia , tamarinds , and manna , clarifying all of them well , sometimes putting to the same quantity of the infusion , a double dose of the purgers , upon the account of cleansing . from the going through this course , to the time that remains to the vernal aquinox , i advise you to rest ; but when that time is come , then apply your self to the other course , nourishing your body afresh , insisting in the method i sent you before ; according to which , having used the general remedies , the prascripts of which you have by you , you are to make use of the essence of steel , which i send to you mix'd , and prepar'd with my own hands : and in my opinion this sort of remedy is so powerful , and so fitting for you , that if it agree with your nature , which i suppose it will not be repugnant too , i think the use of it is to be continu'd for threescore days together , according to the rules i have prescrib'd : this being perform'd , i hope your bowels being strengthen'd , the humours will be amended , and the collection of all the causes of ●…he before past accidents being cut off ; nay the fear of a recidiva , or relapse , which might happen upon closing up the fistula in the fundament , which though it be a thing to be desir'd , yet it is osten full of danger , when nature of her own accord seeketh a vent : and this is confirm'd by cardinal rich●…leus arm , who possibly might have injoy d a longer li●… , if the cure of his fistula had been prosecu●…ed with less diligence . in the using of the steel , let necessary purgations be interposed , having a care from henceforth of such as have aloes in them , they irritate , and offend the fundament , unless their bitterness be altogether taken away , which though it may be perform'd by art , yet in my judgement it signifies little to attempt that thing , which hath less utility then ostentation in it . having taken your essence of steel ( which ought not to procure any loathing to you ) warm bathes are to be thought off , and the use of asses milk , and of mineral waters : but the place of these i believe will be supply'd by the steel . i wish i could be by your side to direct you ; but whether that will be hereafter or no i know not , although i heartily wish that i may once again see my country . the steel sent to you , was prepar'd wholly and compleatly with my own hands ; and by gods assistance you will receive more advantage from it , than from all the rest . god give it his blessing , &c. councel the fifth . in the same disaffections of the hypochondries ; for the same noble councellor at law. sent into france . my last letters gave you a large account how to make use of the steel , which as i suppose is the chief , and apt remedy to recover your health , it only remains that i send it to you ready prepar'd , which i now do : you are to receive seventeen ounces weight of the syrup , which that it may be temper'd , and fitted to be used , according to the rule laid down in my former letters , take order to have this following syrup carefully made . take sweet smelling apples , commonly call'd queen apples , ( with short stalkes ) as many as you please , cut away their rind , afterwards draw a water from them in a double vessel , in a boiling balneo maria , till you have got a sufficient quantity , pour the foresaid water upon the rinds , which have been first laid upon a table until they are almost dry , add to them new lemon peels cut small , distil this water again by a body of belvee earth , or tin ; or so that the distiller may carefully avoid the breaking of the vessel in a large glass alimbeck , and head of the same metal ; put into the inward part of the spout of the alimbeck , a nodule or little bag , made with fine linen , and fill'd with half a dram of ambargreece , and six grains of mosck : put the vessel into a kettle of water , filled with hay , or saw-dust . make the joining of the body , head , and reciver , fast with lute , or paste , made of meal , quick-lime , and the white of an egg ; draw a water from this by distillation ; in which , with a gentle heat , dissolve as much white sugarcandy , ground to a fine powder , as it can possibly contain , to make it of the consistance of a syrup , of which take exactly twenty three ounces dilute , and mix it with that quantity ( of the prepar'd steel ) which i send to you , which is sufficient for you to use threescore days , which is the time prefix'd by me . this syrup is included in an earthern bottle , well stopt , and sealed with my own seal , which note , least it be chang'd . i would willingly have sent you the whole prepar'd , but that the price of the carriage would have been insufferable : keep this as a treasure for the recovery of your health , ( which perhaps you will not attain too in the place you now dwell in ) take it all , leaving no remainder of it ; i wish i were nearer you , for my presence would conduce much for the right use of so great a remedy , although you cannot want expert directers when you shall be in that vast city of paris : give me an account of the success , chiefly if the desire of recovering your perfect health , shall call you home , and hinder you from expecting the spring , which assists the efficacy and operation of medicines . as to the swelling behind your ear ( it is a thing of difficulty , and for the most part eludeth the force of medicines ) i hardly think you are in that condition now , that upon the account of that you need my advice , since i imagine this grief of yours is already past the declination ; but if there do remain any stubborn hardness , let that be overcome by some mercurial remedies , which will advance the power of other medicines , and efficaciously overcome the hardness . i do often make use of them ; and i do find , if all hope of suppuration be gone , yet these do so rarifie the humours , that nature is able to dissolve that humour that was congeal'd , into the form of perfect matter : this ( besides other experiments ) happen'd in two pestilential tumours , of which one was under the arm-pit , they retain'd their hardness for six weeks , though the malignity was extinct ; yet by the help of mercurial remedies , they were brought to a happy suppuration . councel the sixth . in the same disease ; for the same gentleman . in convenient time , as the next spring , a little after the equinox , the general praescripts being before made use of , and by them the peccant juices carefully prepar'd and evacuated , then exhibit the chalybeat medicine . continue the use of it ( according as it ageees with you ) for threescore days ; observing necessary cautions : wherefore let this number of days be so divided , that there be exhibited of our steel syrup , two drams for six days , three drams for as many days ; four for xii days , five for xii days more , six for eight days together ; seven for eight days . eight for eight days ; let it be given in any grateful liquor , whether it be in clarified whey , the water of apples , of fumaterry , burrage , baume , or thin capon broath , wine , small beer , &c. or in the restorative water , of which , mention is made in what follows . after the taking of the medicine , you must walk , or use some other gentle exercise , by which the body may be moderately warm'd , without procuring sweat ; but forbear dinner for four hours , which may be sufficiently large , according to your appetite , and the disposition of your stomack easily to concoct meat of good juice : but let your supper be sparing , not cramming in meat before the former food be digested ; let your ordinary drink be oligophorick wine ( that is , such as will bear but little water ) of a brick colour , or a flesh colour , very well diluted with the decoction of cleansed female fern roots , of lentisk , or mastick wood , and nephritick wood . in the passing through the chalybiate course , let your body be purged by this following potion the days which follow , the xij . the xxiv . the xliv . the lij . and the lx. giving the draught four hours before any broath , observing due orders . ℞ fresh polypody roots , pulpe of tamarinds , an . ℥ ss . the clean picked leaves of senna , cut small , and sprinkl'd with well sented white wine , ʒ v. the small strings of the roots of true black ellebor , ʒ j. tragee commun . cream of tartar , an . ʒ ij . make a decoction in a sufficient quantity of the distilled waters of fumaterry , and water lilly flowers ; add to the straining , of choice rhubarb ℈ ij . infused by its self in baume water . of yellow sanders , ʒ ij . reduce them all unto a small dose , in which dissolve , the solutive syrup of damask roses with agarick , ℥ j. calabrian manna , ℥ ss . mix them , make a potion to be taken in the morning . in the days betwixt , let the chalybeate syrup be dissolved in a draught of laxative ptisan , prepar'd with senna and liquoris , according to art ; do this every third day . let the restorative water be prepar'd of the juice of the pulpy flesh of a calf , a capon , 〈◊〉 weather , the hart of a lamb , and a calf , distilled in a body and head ; to which let there be added the juice of queens apples , ●…ew whey , and the blood of a golt pig , a lamb , a calf , all agitated so long till they ●…re freed from the fibers and strings . some cinnamon and mace ; and let them be distill'd 〈◊〉 a double vessel ; to the distilled liquor ●…dd the fourth part of the strongest and best ●…d wine , and distil it again : reserve the liquor in a glass viol , close stopt for use . ℞ syrup of queen apples , of the flowers of red fluellin , an . ℥ vi . of citron peels , ℥ iv . mix them , and drop into them as much spirit of salt as will make them moderately sower , add , of confection of alkermes , ℥ ss . reserve it for iulips , mixing ℥ j of this syrup , with four of the aforesaid water ; to be taken five hours before dinner , and two before supper , those days in which you take the martial syrup : or if your stomack be any way disturbed with this drink , betwixt the two meals , then you may take it at the hour of sleep , chiefly if you perceive that the spirits are low , or any inclination to swounding ▪ these things being perform'd exactly , and in order , there will be place for the usual strengtheners and renovators of the body , and the specificks against melancholly : warmis●… baths of fresh water , whey of asses milk and perhaps mineral waters . all and every one of which are to be prescrib'd according a●… occasion shall offer , and according to the suc●… cess of the former . in the interim , let there be prepar'd by th●… hand of a'careful and expert artist , the following bezoartick pastills ; than which the●… is nothing more precious to defend the hea●… and brain against the impulse of any sort 〈◊〉 malignant vapours . the bezoartick pastills . ℞ harts-born philosophically calcin'd by the vapour of strong white wine , with the shavings of iuniper , ebeni , and rhodium wood according to art. harts-born bezoar , prepar'd from harts-born calcin'd to whiteness , with the strongest oils of vitriol and salt , an ▪ two ounces . the scull ●…f a stag , and of a healthy man that was hang'd , both prepar'd the same way , of each one ounce . of the majestery of red coral . of pearl , of mother of pearl precipitated with alom , an . six drams . crabs eyes , the black tips of the thighs of the greater sort of sea crabs prepar'd , an . one ounce and half . the roots of carlin thistile , ten drams . indian contra yerva , half an ounce . cuchinill , the oriental bezoar stone , the occidental , an . five drams . of the flesh of the liver , heart , and of the back-bones of vipers , taken at a fitting time , twelve drams . of cloves , of mace , an . one dram ▪ ambar-greese , two drams . mosk , half a dram. of the fixed ceruss of antimony , one part to five of the rest . make a subtile powder of all of them , and taking a sufficient quantity of the strong gelly of harts-born , a little coloured with saffron , adding a little of the mucilage of gum tragacanth , made with distill'd treacle water , make a past , of which form pastils of convenient shapes for use : let them be dry'd ; and kept in a box impenetrable by the air , in a dry place . when the melancholly vapours are oppressingly urgent ; the palpitation of the heart , or other vaporous disaffections assaulting , let there be given ten , twelve , fifteen , or twenty grains , in confection of alkermes , the water of a stags head , treacle water , wine , or any other cordial liquor . these things being exactly performed , this noble gentleman was cured , though he followed his pleasure , &c. councel the seventh . in divers disaffections of the perinaeum , upon which followed a gangreen , and an ischuria , or difficulty of urine : for a noble person . the description of the disease . because you are desirous to know the state of this noble patient , i will in few words , but in order open it to you , at his intreaty : upon his return hither out of england , he often complain'd of heat in his urine , and many times also of a stoppage of it ; but taking of the emulsions and glysters you prescrib'd him , applying also of candles , he was easily recover'd ; but he was continually sensible of a pricking pain ( though not very sharp ) in the left part of the perinaeum , and this for two or three months before this disease , which continued till the aposthume in the perinaeum was broke . but about the beginning of the month of april , this year 1620. when not exactly observing the l●…iet prescrib'd him , and also exceeding in the exercising of his body , there was a certain stinking scent perceived in his urine : this stink by degrees was so increased , that it was wonderful how such put refaction could remain so long in the body without a feaver , nauciousness , and other grievous symptoms : also at the same time , there was to be seen at the bottom of the urine , a certain viscous matter , not unlike the spawn of frogs . the month of may being past , when he travelled to the alpes to see his lands and possessions , he went on foot up and down the rocks , and contrary to custom , and above measure having overheated himself , he was invaded with symptoms after a more grievous manner : when he was return'd , i prescrib'd him emulsions , and caused him to take milk glysters several times : i anointed his reins with refrigerating ointments and oils , i have purged his body with gentle cholagos , ( or purgers of cholor ) and opened a vein in his arm : and because plenty of that stinking viscous matter was expell'd with his urine , i perswaded the use of whey with sugar for some days together . these things being observed , together with an exquisite diet for xiv days , all things appearing fair and well , and the stench of the urine seeming to be much abated , i was call'd to sol●…durum ; not long after my going away , the disease sell a raging with more bitterness and cruelty then before ; for there was not only a fierce feaver , and a continual suppression of urine , but also a phlegmon , or inflamation did arise in the perinaeum it self : wherefore in my absence he was necessitated to send for another physician . he insisted in the use of emulsions and glysters , and anointed the place affected with convenient ●…ls , he was forced also to make use of a bath , by reason of the vehemence of the pain : in the mean time i return'd , and found the patient as it were in an agony ; for he was seized with a vehement feaver , frequent soundings , nauciousness , and loathing of food , heat and retention of urine , and all the eminent signs of death : the inflamed tumour in the perinaeum was bigger then a goose egg , with extreme pungent pain , with a tumour and hardness of the cods and yard : the kings doctor , before my coming , had made use of discutient and resolving anodyns , but without success : wherefore it was fit to procure digestion , and ripen the matter , which was effected by this cataplasme , or poltess . ℞ of the roots and leaves of marsh-mallows , mallows , an . m. j. boil and bruise them according to art , and add , of wheat meal , ℥ ij . ●…aenugreeg seed , linseed , an . ℥ j. fresh butter , oil of white lillies , ointment of marsh-mallows , an . ℥ j , ss . saffron , ʒ ss . yolkes of eggs , num. ij . mix them , and make a poultess . which was applyed twice in a day warm . the xxix of may , the aposthume was broke in the middle of the perinaeum , upon the very seam , upon which there flow'd forth in a large quantity , such stinking and putrid pus , ( or matter ) that the whole chamber was fill'd with a most incredible , nay , a cadavorous sent , ( like that of a rotten carkass ) which continu'd for several days : for such was its gangrenous putridness , that the whole perinaeum being mortifi'd , fell off , and there succeeded a very large ulcer . notwithstanding he applyed such things as hinder putrefaction ; i apply'd to the ulcer my ungnentum aegyptiacum , with pleggets , and two tents , of which one ascended towards the scrotum , and the other was thrust downward towards the fundament , i afterwards put upon it the following poultess . ℞ meal of lispine , of beans , an . ℥ j. ss . the powder of the tops of wormwood , of scordium , rue , an . ʒ ij . boil them in simple oxymell , and make a poultess , to which , being yet warm , add , aloes , myrrh , an . ʒ j. ss . but i cut off as much as i could of the dead flesh with scissers and knives , as often as i open'd the ulcer : i wiped away the matter with pencils made of sponge , dipt in the decoction of scordium , rue , wormwood , and lupines , adding a little salt : by which means the putrefaction went off by degrees , and that in three days time , and spread no further . wherefore i omitted the further using of the aegyptiack ointment , and apply'd to the ulcer a linement composed with the powders of round aristolock roots , the roots of florentine oris , angelica , aloes and myrrh , with the extract of scordium , mixt with a little yolke of an egg ; i did use the before prescrib'd cataplasme for more then three weeks : for not only the skin and flesh of the perinaeum were wasted and eat away by the putrefaction ; but also much of the membrains were rotted , as without doubt were the tunicles , or coats of the urinary passage , which we were fain to cut off , and take away ; wherefore almost all the urine did issue out at the ulcer for a long time . about the beginning of iune , that pimple or small tumour in the middle of the yard upon the right side thereof , which was hard almost from the beginning of the disease , became an aposthume ; and a little while after it also broke , but it did not penetrate to the passage of urine ; wherefore applying of emollients , digestives , and mundificatives , it was with difficulty healed . three days after the breaking of the small tumour in the yard the humour which was before spread through the whole scrotum , fell down to the lower part of it , toward the ulcer in the perinaeum , and there made a hard extuberance , but by applying of emollient bags , ointment of marsh-mallows , and melilote plaister , the matter which was collected there , was by degrees evacuated by the ulcer of the perinaeum . the ulcer being sufficiently cleansed from putrid flesh , and mortify'd membrains , we made use of a traumatick decoction , ( or wound think ) composed of winter green , ladies mantil , sanicle , or butter-wort , sa●…acens consound , mugwort , red betts , all boil'd in adstringent red wine ; after this manner , the patient drank a draught of this three hours before dinner , and another as many hours before supper ; we also injected it into the ulcer twice a day warm ; we also put in two tents moistened in the same decoction , into the ulcer , thrusting one of them forwards , the other backwards towards the prostatas , at last we apply'd a doubled linen cloath , dipp'd in the same warm : we did not only pour in the decoction with a syringe into the ulcer , but also into the urinary passage , both above and beneath ; which that it might be done the more conveniently , we caused a crooked pipe to be made to the syringe . 't is to be admir'd , that in this great and high putrefaction , the sphincter of the bladder did always remain safe and untouch'd , which appear'd from hence , that the patient , even in the height of his disease , could always retain his urine , nor did he ever let it go from him against his will. nevertheless the ulcer which went downward towards the bladder , was deep , and touched the prostatas , which i suppose were evilly affected heretofore ; as often as he made water , it flowed partly at the yard , partly at the ulcer , but without any difficulty or pain : he used the foresaid traumatick decoction for three months , so that by degrees the ulcer was fully consolidated , nor did there remain any fistula . besides topical means , general medicines were made use of , and the strength being recruited by degrees , i gave him every other day , and sometimes seldomer , a little of the best turpentine , by the benefit of which his belly was loosened , and the urinary passages also cleansed : the reins were anointed with ointment of roses , with camphor , and there was apply'd a plate of lead big enough to cover the loins , and the os sacrum . now god be prais'd , this gentleman enjoys a perfect health , nor doth perceive any inconveniency of these great griefs ; he makes water freely , there being only left this impediment , that he is sensible of a certain painful itching in the place where the ulcer was formerly ; moreover , many times there appeareth a branny substance in his urine , and as often as he makes water , there appeareth one drop of a white , viscous , glutinous matter at the top of the urinary passage , before the making of his water . this gentleman desires to know of you what kind of matter this is , and from whence it cometh ? i suppose this matter to proceed from the weaken'd , and not sufficiently strengthen'd prostatas , and that it is as it were an excrement of the seed , by the benefit of nature thrust out to the extremity of the yard . he also inquires , why that painful itching when he makes water , should only happen after supper , when he is about to go to bed , and is not perceived in the morning , or day time ? i judge nature doth in the night time , ( which is the time she performs her chief operations in ) furnish that part which wants its membrain , with a certain viscous , glutinous matter , to the intent to defend it from the acrimony of the urine , that it be not hurt by it ; but in the day time , by reason of making urine often , that matter is washt away , and the part being yet weak , is vellicated and gnawn ; if this be not probable , it seems so to me . the answer . that you would gratulate me concerning my lately bought lordship of aubonne , and wish my new possession may be happy to me , is friendly done of you , most worthy sir ; whereas chiefly for this cause you propose a strict necessity of our mutual discourse sometimes , which hitherto hath been begun , and continued only by letters betwixt us ; which friendship i extremely desire may be improved by our personal converse : the great god allow me and mine a long and quiet lot , and grant we may enjoy your wishes ▪ i think speedily , by gods assistance , to visit our possessions , the which are yet unknown to me : in the mean time i most affectionately return you my love for yours : and know that i am yours . behold how propitious heaven is to us wretched men , which as with one hand it afflicted our generoas patient with almost incurable diseases , so with the other it raised him up again by the help and operation of remedies , by which ( if ever ) seasonable presence of yours , this excellent man was restored to life , and snatched out of the jaws of death , and emerg'd from an iliad of diseases : the great and good god , the author of health , perform your desires , to whom be praise ; and let there be dedicated to your self aesculapius his cock , the hier●…glyphick of vigilance . in those bodies whose urethra , or urinary passage of the yard , hath been long afflicted , and tortur'd by a cursed caruncle , even after the flesh thereof is consumed , and the ulcer healed and cicatric'd , the part remains weak a long time , and is very apt to receive defluctions , and that chiefly in plethorick , sanguine , and bilius constitutions , and such as have movable humours , and use hard exercise , indulge their appetite , and are little carefull in their diet. the kings doctor , and you , did stoutly endeavour to prevent the phlegmon , which perhaps might have been hindred , if the part had not been so extremely fill'd , and heaped up with humours , that it eluded the force of remedies , and did upon that account manifoldly exceed , and surpass the power of digestion , and dissipation : the lower parts are moist , and near to the excrements , whose putridness and stench useth to be very great , which was the reason that they were the sooner seized with the gangreen ; with that horrid stench which the patient was afflicted with : if the feeble and languishing heat deserts the parts , there doth immediately follow a sudden deadness , ( or cadaverous corruption ) and dissolution of the subject . but by the divine goodness these mischiefs have been already removed by you , the curing of which i certainly attribute to your tranmatick decoction , with which i am well acquainted , and have approved it by manifold experiments . there now remains three things , of which you require my opinion . 1. the itching in that place where the ulcer was , and that chiefly after supper , it being not perceptible all the day time . 2ly . the urine 's being fill'd with a substance like bran , which it doth not pour out so constantly , but by fits . 3ly . the purilent matter excreated which appeareth at the top of the glans , at the upper end of the urinary passage , and cometh before the urine , and is expell'd by it . for the first , i do with you attribute it to the yet tenderness , and rawness of the part ; which is scarce yet covered with a cicatrix ; and is of that tender and exquisite sense , that ( being by the reiterated excretion of urine in the day time , cleansed and washed from that mu●…us substance with which the whole passage in the time of sleep was moistned , and as it were lined ) this nervous body is easily hurt by the acrimony of the urine , and is moreover irritated by the frequent solicitation of the expulsive faculty . to avoid this inconveniency , let the cicatrix be confirmed by drying medicines : make ●…erary injections into the urethra , adding to them the insipid oc●…r of vitriol thorowly calcin'd , and also sugar of lead : let the perinaeum be sumed ( in a chair with a hole in it ) with frankincense , mastick , sanderack , amber , aloes , myrrh , adding crude antimony , and also the cinabar of antimony , in small quantity . 't is questionable whether the branny substance proceed from the kidneys , or , which often happens , by the length of the disease , it ●…th drawn the prostratas into ●…sent ; or whether the bladder ( by reason of the long distemperature , tumour , and solution of the continuity of the adjacent parts ) be not afflicted with a kind of scabb●…ness . as for the white viscous matter , it appears to be of the nature of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , pus , or corruption , and i suppose it to sweat out per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , thorow the thin membrane of the ulcer ; or to proceed from the ulcerated pro●…ratas , grown hard at the bottom : which glandules since they naturally contain an excrementitious slime very diffrent from seed , 〈◊〉 which matter is design'd to line the urinary passage , that the seed and urine may be ex-created easily , and without pain ) if they be weakned , the quantity of this humour will ●…hen exceed more then usually , and it doth commonly impose upon many under the spe●…es of a gonorrhaea : this symptom will be ●…ured by the foresaid injections , and fume , to which if there be joyn'd the artificial use of medicinal waters , and at length we exhibit , ●…r a month or two , pills compos'd of turpentine , and mastick , i hope we shall have ●…one all that is necessary for a perfect cure. the history of this disease is long , which god grant i may see an end of when i come 〈◊〉 you ; if any thing remain to be done more , let it be perform'd by mutual ad vice ; in the mean time , proceed to afford your assisting hands to this generous man farewell . london , the 23 of ianuary anno 1621. councel the eighth . in an ischuria , or difficulty of urine , proceeding from a stony disposition of the kidnies : for a certain noble person . the description of the disease . the lord n. is of a hot and dry constitution of body , he is now entred his ●…xty third year of his age ; his noble and principle parts are yet sound and firm , except his kidnies , chiefly his left one : he hath ●…een a souldier , and followed the camp from ●…s youth , and upon that account hath undergone much labour and trouble . from ●…ence it was , that more then twenty years ●…nce he began to be afflicted with defluctions ●…on his ioints : when the hot distempera●…re of his liver , continually sending up va●…urs to his head , did not a little increase the ●…isease : also upon the account of these ●…ins in his ioints , and the defluction , his excellence made use of the advice of dr. rivi●…rus , and dr. quercetan , and other physicians , and used their medicines with som●… success ; but for all that , he endured long an●… grievous crucifying pains , insomuch that a●… length it turn'd to the knotted gout ; and h●… was forced to keep his bed for many ▪ week●… together : but in the mean space , the pai●… ceasing , besides his domestick and priva●… business , he took care also of publick affairs and they also of the greatest concern , and b●… stow'd great pains about them but becaus●… he had hitherto made use of his familiar medicines , prescrib'd him by the fore-name●… physicians , to defend him from the pains 〈◊〉 the gout , ( and to lessen the cause of the disease ) with good success ; and found no sm●… advantage by the issues which he had , h●… excellency would not have burthen'd y●… with letters : but that more then a year sin●… he being troubl'd with another distemper , 〈◊〉 had requir'd your excellencies advice , a●… had found relief thereby ; but that you m●… the better understand the business , i will expose it to your eyes in few words . iune the xviij . the last year 1620. at sumptuous ●…east , he filled his stomack wi●… crude , and with fryed meat , and did dri●… wine , contrary to his custom , refrigerat●… with fountain water , he was taken with nauciousness , and belchings . but when 〈◊〉 found he was bound in his body , about the xxij day , a little before dinner , without the advice of a physician , he took a little turpentine , by the help of which he had two stools : but what follow'd ? about the beginning of the night , his urine was plainly and fully stopt ; upon which , he was afflicted with sharp pains ; nauciousness , gripes , and vomiting . when i visited him upon the 23d . day of the said month , i found him as it were dead with extreme pain : his belly was extreme hard , and his bladder , by reason of the plenty of urine , was extended after a wonderful manner : i perswaded him to loosen his belly with a glyster , and that he would admit of a catheter to be put into his bladder . but this noble patient was infinitely averse to this operation , by reason of the narrowness of his urinary passage , ( which he said was natural ) he desired i would try all other remedies before i put in the catheter . i caus'd him to take several glysters , and prescrib'd him a bath , with emollient roots , herbs , flowers and seeds and such things as relax'd and eas'd pain ; i apply'd also bags , compos'd with the same simples , to his belly ; and also anointed the perinaeum with oil of white lillies , and oil of sweet almonds ; but when i had used all my diligence , and yet his urine did not pass , the pains and other symptoms were increas'd more and more , the xxvi day , about nine at night , i exhibited to him a small potion of three grains of laudanum , confectio alkermes , ℈ j. dissolved in the pectoral decoction , and a little cinnamon water : by the benefit of this medicine he slept quietly that night , and his water came plentifully from him in his sleep . but whether he voided at the same time with it , any small stones , or gravel , was not observed : but after a few days , we found in the urinal a small stone , porous , and of the colour of ashes : from that time he was oftentimes sensible of pain , chiefly in the region of the left kidney ; but applying a bag made with marsh-mallow roots , mallows , pelletory , chamomil , mellilot , and emollient seeds , and such as discuss wind , his pains remitted , neither from thenceforth did any grievous symptoms afflict him . but from that time ever since , he hath voided certain small , red , hard , and rough stones : also about xiv days since , in his last sickness . that which remains is , that he keeps an exact diet : by intervals purging the first and common passages , with a medicinal wine made with agarick ; senna , rhubarb , creme of tartar , and certain appropriated herbs , prepar'd in the time of vintage , after which , to wit , the following , or the third day after , he doth purge the urinary passages with turpentine : and osten drinks a water made of the opening roots , saxafrage , and the like things , but never useth these , unless his body be first rightly purged : the generous patient desires to be inform'd , if the turpentine is to be washed or not , because in this practisers disagree : hitherto by my advice he hath used it unwashed ; for to me it seems likely , that the subtiler parts which go to the passages of urine , are lost in the washing , &c. the 3d. of december , 1621. the answer . as to the material cause , the stone and the gout are the same kind of disease , they differ only in place , and in the condition of that juice which accompanies the disease , that which passeth to the loose and weak ioints , belongs to the kind of dissolved salts : but that which seats it self in the kidnies and bladder , is like coagulated tartar. worthy sir , you acurately describe those symptoms with which this noble person hath had a sharp conflict , the abating of which , nay , if it were to be hoped for , ( by the removal of the cause ) that the patient might be relieved from it , is your desire : the like i also wish with my soul. the knotted , and stony gout , resuseth medicinal helps : now then let us only be sollicitous concerning the future coming on of a suppression of urine , from gravel oftentimes impacted in the narrow passages , by which the discharge of urine is hinder'd . the generating of the stone is powerfully impeded , by procuring a revulsion of the viscid , slimy matter to the upper parts , and excluding them by vomit , after liberal eating , and large drinking : let this be done once in a month , or every other month , after supper , that by sleep presently following after it , the body may be refresh'd again , and the spirits recreated . about the last quarter of the moon , let his body be purged with the pulpe of cassia , with turpentine , and powder of rhubarb : and for four mornings together after that , let there be given ℈ j. or ʒ ss of vitriolated tartar , prepared after crollius's way , described by him in his basilica chymica : after this drinking broath seasoned with salt , and render'd medicinal with the opening roots , with the tender tops of mallows , and stinging nettles ; let this worthy person ride , since by reason of the weakness of his limbs he cannot admit of other kind of remedies . from henceforth let his belly be emptied , and his kidnies temper'd with emollient and cooling glysters , adding to them quercetanus , antinephritick electuary . the drinking the mineral waters will not be unuseful hereafter , unless perhaps it be a little inconvenient for the gout , upon the account of stirring up a destuction : but i account it worth while , to buy with a small present inconveniency , a great benefit arising from thence . let the parts in which the sandy b●…ost is lodged , be fomented with relaxing , emollient , and diuretical things ; prepare a semicupe , or half bath ( if the decay of the limbs be not very great ) adding to it very much oil. to remove the rubs and obstructions stopping the passages , let there be given the before describ'd tartarus vitriolatus in pelletory water , white wine , oil of sweet almonds , &c. the liquor of raddishes prepar'd with sugarcandy is excellent : nothing is more precious then lapis prunella , dissolved in common ptisan , or pellitory water , adding a little syrup of marsh-mallows : the conserves of common mallows-flowers , and of roses , prepar'd at a fit time , renders the passages slippery , to which let there be added a third part of powder of liquoris , gum arabick , and the pulpe of pruines , mixed in equal proportions , and let this noble person take the quantity of a wallnut of it in a morning , for five or six dayes , drinking a little white wine upon it , and that before his taking the monthly purge , and the dinretick broath , ease the bitterness of his pain as often as there shall be need by giving of laudanum : i neither will , nor ought i to burthen this worthy person with more remedies , the omnipotent god grant that these medicines may remove the cruel tortures with which this stout commander is afflicted . dated london , february the 17th . an. 1622. councel the ninth . in a case of a caruncle in the yard : for a noble person . the description of the disease . the noble n. is of an excellent habit of body , strong , and now is past the 37 th year of his age , and is by nature of a hot and dry temper : when more then xij years ago , he had contracted a gonorrhea by immoderate , and too violent copulation , and had been afflicted with it for some time , he relateth , that a certain night , in the act of carnal copulation , he had a large efflux of pure blood , instead of seed : from the beginning , ( and truly for many years since ) out of modesty he concealed his disease , and almost quite neglected it , by degrees there followed upon it a difficulty of urine , which for all that was sometimes more violent , at other times more remiss , according to his diet and exercise : but in the mean space , for many years this patient could scarce ever make water without difficulty and heat : and in the time of making urine , he felt also pain almost in every part of his yard , and a branny substance , did often appear in his urine , and doth also still appear ; he voids his urine not in a strait line , but sometime on one hand , and sometimes on the other ; also for many years there hath continually distilled by his yard a certain purilent matter , but without pain , and sometimes , though not often , after the excretion of urine , there hath follow'd a drop or two of blood : though his pleasure in copulation be less then it was formerly ; yet nevertheless he-hath many children by his wife . moreover , when the last summer , by reason of publick business , and that of great moment , he rode post a very great journey on horseback , the disaffected part was so bruised and rubb'd , and also the grief was so exasperated , that all the symptoms which i have related were wonderfully increased ; wherefore about the end of the month of september , at which time i was call'd to him , i purg'd him divers times with cholagogs , and the patient used a semicupe , or half bath , as also i exhibited by 〈◊〉 , the syrup of violets , and marsh-mallows , with the water of the opening roots , that it might be as it were a vehicle to the syrup , i commanded the perinaeum to be ●…inted with an anodine liniment , and the ●…ins twice every day with a refrigerating ointment , which medicines were not made use of without advantage : his pain abated , and he began to make water with less difficulty ; when therefore all things were safe , ( for i knew nothing yet of the caruncles , or that it was a disease inveterate ) i did hope that i might return to my own family , and what was further to be done , i left to the patient and his domesticks to perform . not long after my going away , when the disease began to renew it self again , there was another physician call'd in to advise : he again purged his body with cholagogs ; and with syrup of violets , and marsh-mallows : he exhibited also with great success , emulsions made with the greater cold seeds , and sweet almonds ; when i was call'd again , ( the pain still continuing ; the sick person then discover'd to us , that it was a disease of long standing ) it was agreed upon then by us , that i should search with a probe , and a catheter , what was at the bottom of this grief , or what was its cause : wherefore the body being re-purged with cholagogs , composed of the compound syrup of roses solutive , together with the electuary of the juice of roses ; and the catheter being put in , i found caruncles in divers places , chiefly towards the left side of the urinary passage ; which caruncles do even now so stop up the passage , and are so painful , that to this very time he could not search farther then the half way of his yard ; neither with the catheter , nor with the syringe , or could the patient probe , or feel any further with wax candles ; which instruments and medicines he hath hitherto applyed to himself with his own hands ; therefore i could not hitherto make any medicine reach any farther ; though i doubt not , that a great part of the distemper , nay , the root of the disease , is hid in the prostatas : for if the urinary passage was exulcerated from the long continuance of that gonorrhea , and the caruncles grew from that occasion , how much more reasonably may we suspect the disaffection and exulceration of those glandules ? moreover the pain ( although obscure ) which the noble patient did feel more then two months since about his fundament , as i shall declare afterwards , did denote some kind of grief to be lodged there ; for truly , as hippocrates and experience cause us to believe , ubi dolor ibi & morbum esse , where there is pain , there the disease is : his urine also , the last autumn , did many times flow from him against his will , and that whilst he slept ; without doubt by reason of the sphincters being hurt , which doth immediately adjoin to those glandules , and the great pain which the patient did suffer heretofore , proceeded from the sympathy that part hath with the prostatas . the urinary passages being searched , and the caruncles being discovered , we applyed two bags , composed of emollient , resolving , and pain easing roots , herbs , flowers , and seeds , and we anointed the whole perin●…um with an anodinus , and emollient ●…iniment : as also we injected an emollient decoction with a syringe , into the urinary passage : but as i said before , the pipe of the syringe could never be admitted deep enough , by reason of pain ; nevertheless , we hoped the cure would succeed according to our wishes , but in vain : for when the patient had moved his body again with some violent exercise for some days together , the disease made a new assault upon him ; by reason of which , not only the evil affection in the urinary passage was exasperated , but also the patient was invaded with a tertian feaver : wherefore we were forced for a time to lay aside the cure we had began of the caruncles : we again purged him with the before prescribed cholagogs , we opened a vein in his left arm ; we order'd the best kind of diet , to wit , cooling and moistening , and we gave him such things as are usually given to bridle and temper the ebullition of yellow choller . and to abate the acrimony of urine ; we anointed his loins , as also the region of his liver with a refrigerating ointment . we injected with a syringe into the urinary passage , a collyrium made of mucilage of quince seeds , extracted with rose , and with plantain water , to which was added wash'd cerusse , prepar'd tuthia , harts-born burnt , and prepar'd : these remedies being apply'd for some days , the feaver , and that sharp pain in the urinary passage did remit ; but the patient complain'd of a certain obscure pain about the fundament , and about the region of the prostatas , but applying of bags made with the flowers of chamomill , melilot , elder , roses , wormwood , and the like , that pain did abate , at length the patient himself put in a wax candle , cover'd over with emplastrum de ranis cum mercurio , and this he thrust in as far as he was able to suffer it , to the end that i might discover , if by this means the caruncles might be mollified and discussed : for i durst not hitherto apply stronger medicines , by reason of the exquisite sense , and tender feeling the patient was endow'd with : the candles ( which by no means ought to be hid ) as often as i drew them out , were cover'd over with a viscid , and purilent matter ; from which i conjecture , that the urinary passage is exulcerated in divers places , which also the noble patient easily perceived when he put in the pipe of the syringe , or the wax candle ; and this is what i have hitherto observed concerning this worthy persons distemper , together with an account of the medicines apply'd to him . now it is enquir'd first , if that branny substance which hath hitherto appear'd in his urine , do denote in our noble patient , a scabby bladder , as hippocrates will have it , 4 aph. 77. i suppose , ( but submitting to your judgement ) these branny scales do not proceed from the bladder , but from the urinary passage : for those which are afflicted with a scabby bladder , do not only let fall , or void a fursurous , or branny substance with their urine ; but their whole urine is such , as hippocrates testifieth : but in this patient the urine is not thick , but was always ( excepting when he had his feaver ) natural , and he voideth these branny scales in very small quantities : wherefore these furfures are nothing else but crusts or scales , concreate and made of the purilent and viscous matter , procured by nature ( as it seems probable ) to the intent that it might be as it were a covering to the ulcer which is in the urinary passage , which crusts the urine , softens and seperates from the small mouths of the ulcers , and brings away with it self , when it flows forth . secondly , it is enquir'd , if any medicines taken at the month , or other topicks , can extirpate the caruncules , or heal the ulcers in the urinary passage ? we have always thought it vain to try them on this noble patient . thirdly , if topicks are to be apply'd , whether those which i have mention'd may be sufficient , or whether in this patient , who hath so exquisite a sense , that he can scarce suffer a wax candle , cover'd with emplastrum de ranis , as was said before ? whether stronge●… ones , described by andreus lacuna , alphonsus ferrero , and others , be to be apply'd , w●… doubt . fourthly , whether or no some part of the disease be in the prostatas ? of this the patient hath always doubted ; but we never did and that for the reasons related before . fifthly , if that purilent matter , which hath distill'd by the yard for so many years , be tr●… seed or no ? i absolutely believe it not to b●… seed , but a vitious matter which falls thither from the superiour parts of the body : fo●… physicians know , that the innate heat is extinguished , the radical moisture consumed , and the body wasted by a long lasting gonorrhea nay by immoderate coition , or copulation but because this hath not in the least happen to our noble patient , ( who hath always be●… of a strong and excellent habit of body ) it follows therefore , that this is not true seed , but a vitious or depraved humour that flows out : i ascribe it to this therefore , that i might demonstrate some evil doth lurk in the prostatas ; and that the matter is supply'd from thence : we may be assured , it doth not in the least flow from the kidnies or bladder , because the urine was almost always clear , and laudably digested : ( excepting the branny substance which appeared in it ) but the patient objects one thing , to wit , that heretofore he felt no pain about his fundament , and therefore there was no disease there before ? i answer with hippocrates , that two pains at one time , and not existing in the same part of the body , the more vehement obscures the less ; since therefore the tope , or head of the yard , by reason of the concourse of nerves , is of an exquisite sense , it is no wonder if the vehement pain in that place , ( before we exhibited anodynes , and consolidating injections ) did obscure that other about the prostatas , whose sense is not so acute : from hence it doth clearly appear , that the collyrium and other medicines , were not made use of without very great advantage , and there might have been much hope from them , could they have been admitted deeper into the part . sixthly , since heretofore the patient many times found advantage in the use of powder of liquoris , mixed with turpentine , it is enquired whether spirit of turpentine may be safely given to such a body as this , who is very bilio●…s , or abounds with choler ? seventhly , if the use of mineral waters alone , that is , without topicks , can cure this evil , as well in the prostatas , as the urinary passage ? we always have doubted of it ; for suppose that the mineral waters do greatly cleanse the urinary passages , we do not believe they can in the least consume the caruncles . eighthly , if those emollient , anodyne fomentations , which relax'd the urinary passages , were exhibited according to reason or no ? and if by the using of them the caruncles could grow bigger , as the patient would perswade us : although the effect demonstrates the contrary to us . the answer . i have hitherto forborn either to write , or send an answer to your letters which came to me above a year ago , ( most learned sir ) for that the noble person in whose behalf they were writ , put us in hopes a long time of his coming to us ; which at length he confirmed by coming : wherefore since in your learned letter you recount the history of the whole disease with which he was afflicted , and require my advice ( at this great distance ) concerning what is to be done , i thought it needless to write those things , which things themselves i had an opportunity to perform , the subject of them being at hand : and it was sufficient by way of compendium , to do them to the patient himself . accept therefore of what hath passed here in our land of britain , and an account of what we have done with the patient . the difficulty in , and the manner of his making urine , did cause a suspicion , that there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , fleshy excrescences , commonly called caruncules , within the urethra , or passage of the yard ; searching it with a wax-candle , i found the grief , whose double cause being as they say unravell'd ab ovo , or from its beginning , i sound its first rise was to 〈◊〉 attributed to the gonorrhaea , in whose in●…ed ●…entigo , ( or erection of the yard ) by copulation the chorde , as the vulgar call it , was broke ; but to speak move like an artist , the membrane of the urethra was cl●…t , or chopt , and being by the inflamation , and force of the tumour contracted and made short , after that large haemorrhage or stux of bloud , which usually follows such torcible endeavours , and violent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , avulsions or tearings of the parts , there remained an ulcer , from which by degrees there grew a fungus , or red spongy flesh , a preternatural tumour , which is a disease in me●…tu , ( or in the passage ) which can be taken away safely , and certainly by no other means , then by removing the superfluous flesh by exoereticks , or gentle corrosives . this spongeous proud flesh is wont to ouze or sweat out a purulent s●…nies , or matter , which usually for the most part imposeth upon those who less accurately enquire into this disease , under the species of a gonorrhaea : from hence those strings , and filaments of corrupt matter , which flow'd forth with the urine on both sides , at our first view ; which matter ( i suppose as you do ) doth partly flow from the prostatas , which have been offended , and for a long time afflicted with a malignant distemper , the destroyer of the native heat , and the underminer and weakner of all the actions . having carefully weigh'd every difficulty , and chiefly the delicate and nice nature of the patient , whose tender sense is such , that the slightest and easiest chyrurgical remedies , are esteemed by him for most cruel torments , i apply'd my self to the business ; and universal or general medicines being premis'd , i consum'd with a gentle cathaeretick ( apply'd with a wax-candle ) the whole caruncle , and that with little pain in the harder sort of warts , half the length of the urinary passage , the dimension of which was hardly so long as the breadth of three of his fingers : the nearness of the neck of the bladder , caused me no small trouble , when i was come to the end of the caruncle ; but chiefly that small ●…ubercle which gives way for the seed to enter the urethra , by the little mouth which opens it self in the prostatas , whose bulk being increased by a tumour , proceeding from the flux of humours , might have deluded an artist of small experience , and perswaded him to have continued the use of the corrosive longer . but take this as a secret from me , in the cure of a caruncle , you shall procure it sooner by going slowly to work , than by being hasty : as often as the lips , or edges of the ulcer shall be swell'd by the irritation of medicines , if they be fomented with lenitives , they will subside , and fall again , and ( what is wonderful ) the most pertinacious stops , or obstructions , will vanish of their own accord in a few days time . so it happen'd to our noble patient , who by the mercy of almighty god , is now as free from this chronick disease , ( which was almost converted into a habit , or nature ) as ever he was in his life , as appears by the free passage of his seed and urine , also he pisseth with a full , continued , and strait stream , who lately expell'd his urine by drops , and with much difficulty . the superfluous flesh , ( or caruncles ) being removed , there remain'd a longish ulcer , which in respect of the part is great ; and the cause being malignant , we have again and again cleansed the ulcer , and have hitherto with incessant labour , endeavour'd to dry up , and bring it to a cicatrice : but there is one thing yet remains after the healing of it , that is , to procure a solidity and hardness of the cicatrix , which cannot be done either by slight , or few medicines , or in a few days , in a part , which is washed every day by the torrent and floud of the urine : if publick business would permit this patient to remain longer with us , we would add a conclusion to the cure ; but at the time of his departure , he shall bring along with him both advice and necessary remedies , which shall supply the want of our presence . therefore by way of confirmation , and that whatsoever remains in the glandules , may be radically taken away , and that there may succeed no new infirmity , i advise , that the body being artificially purg'd again , the next spring he enter upon a sudorifick diet , than which i suppose nothing more advantagious , both as to correcting the general cause , as also by strengthening and greatly drying the parts , to restore them perfectly . i have written what is further necessary more minutely , and particularly in my advice ( which he brings with him ) and at the present time of acting , the present face of things will direct you what is to be done first , and what last : the soul of cures are the opportunities of times , which to follow , and lay hold of the moments , is a thing denied to the absent . you will learn from the mouth of this generous person , what arts i have made use of in fighting against this pertinacious enemy ; with what prudence i have eluded the cruelty of the most dangerous ▪ symptoms , with what care and diligence i have mittigated their present fierceness . this epistle would swell into a volume , should i relate all . but lest i seem to envy the publick good , i will commit to the press my small commentaries upon caruncles , and my experience in this part of the art , as soon as my affairs at court will give me a breathing time , which imperfect faetus i willingly leave to be licked by more polished ingenueties , and such as are more experienc'd in art : for i am not in love with my own labours , nor can i believe that i can produce greater , or better things than other men . that you may experiment our exaeretick medicine , i have sent you a little of it , which nevertheless is sufficient to take away four great caruncles . i●… it perform its work but slowly , let not your mind d●…spond ; for to work safely and pleasantly , is better then swiftly and dangerously : the effect of the medicine will never prove vain ; but you may accelerate it by adding of mercurius praecipitatus ; but why do i light a candle to the sun : receive this as a testimony of my kindness ; if you desire greater and more solid ones , know that they shall not be denied you . i answer nothing to your questions ; if you require my testimony concerning what you have advis'd , or administred heretofore to the noble patient , whoever calumniates you , let them learn to know , that men experienc'd in the art are to be believed , and i do aver , that you have done all things according to art , &c. dated london , february the 5th . an. 1616. councel the tenth . in a catarrh : for a noble person . written in french. sir , i participate in the evils which happen to my friends , and suffer by consent , or sympathy with them , chiefly if they be such to whose service i have devoted my self , my genius compelling to do so : i hear that a troublesome catarrh afflicts you , which by day gives you some respits , but by night is exasperated and very troublesome : the disposition of these sort of disaffections is , that they grow worse when the night approaches , at which time phlegm predominates over the rest of the humours . now since your body in general is sufficiently purged already , it remains particularly to cleanse your brain ; and afterward , by means of drying medicines to strengthen it . to which intent i advise , that in the mornings , two days together , and again every other day for some time , you use a gargarisme , composed of twelve spoonful of white wine , four spoonfuls of vinegar , three of hony , and two of mustard distemper'd , and as the custom is , ground together ; let this mixture be warm'd , and take of it a spoonful or two , gargarising with it , and carefully spitting out whatsoever phlegm it draws from the brain : reiterate this gargarisme five , six , or seven times , until you find your head emptied , and made lighter ; if there remain any heat in your iaws , that will be removed by garguling with a temperate oxycrate , or mixture of vinegar and water . cause to be prepar'd a powder made of mastick six drams , yellow amber three drams , benzomin two drams , red roses , and coriander seeds , of each two drams and a half ; fume those things you cover your head with in a morning , and at night going to bed , with this powder ; or rather a cap made of tow , or wool , quilted , and make a paper coif to be worn perpetually , putting over it the foresaid cap : 't is absolutely necessary , for the cure of the present sickness , and to prevent greater dangers which are ready to fall upon you , that you defend your self the whole winter against the injuries of the cold : in the mornings use frictions , or rubbings of the upper parts of your elboes and arms , and the whole length of your back-bone , with moderately warm linen cloths : apply to your pole , hot bread newly drawn out of the oven , and cut in the middle ; or rather a mornings , apply dry cupping glasses . all these things being observed , unless you go to stool of your self , your belly is to be loosen'd , to which purpose glysters are useful : but if you abhor them , than at the beginning of your meal use prunes , stewed with senna : if my advice prove effectual to you , i shall be abundantly satisfi'd , &c. precautions and cure , against the plague cruelly raging . the remedies . prescribed by the common consent , and joynt endeavours of the king and queens doctors , and physicians in ordinary , in pursuance of their duty ; and directed to their majesties apothecary , july the 6th . 1625. preservatives against the plague . the medicinal broath . for the kings break-fast let him sup this broath : let his majesty take broath alter'd with the leaves of wood-sorrel , three●…eav'd sorrel , porcelan , borrage , bugloss , 〈◊〉 , baume , pimpernel , the red flowers of fluellin , the fruit of barberies , shaving of harts-horn : in ℥ viij . of the straining of this ●…et there be dissolved of the sweet majestery of coral , of pearl , of each ℈ j. chrystals of sor●…el , and of small oster , of each ʒ j. mix them . if the chrystals be wanting , drop in as much oyl of sulphur made by a bell as will render it moderately sower : let the king take this broath before he come out of his chamber , having first been at stool ; let him deferr dinner for three hours after it . if this broath be troublesome to him , and his stomach require change of break-fasts , then every morning let this following be ready to be given at his majesties command . gelly of harts-horn . ℞ of the thin and broad shavings of harts-horn , made of the horns of a beast newly kill'd , ℥ j. ss spring-water , lb ij . boil it till half be consum'd , not taking away the scum : then presently strain it through a tammy cloath , to which whilst it is yet warm , add as much as you please of rhenish wine , juice of limons , or pomecitrons , a little cinnamon-water , and a few grains of ambergrease ; it may be made of a yellow colour with two grains of saffron , made into a little knob , by tying it up in a piece of tiffany , which being moistned with the liquor , let it be often squeezed out : let the gelly yet warm be poured into a murrhy , or a chin●… dish , and suffer it to congeal in a cold place . another gelly , more cordial . ℞ rasped harts-horn , ℥ j. ss . flowers of borrage , bugloss , an . pug. iv . celandine , red veronica , or fluellin , an . pug. j. the tops of baum , m. j. fountain water , lb ij . the best rhenish wine , lb ss , boil it till there remains lb j. to which add , of the quiddenies of mulberies , rasberies , currans , an . ℥ ij . cinnamon water , one spoonfull . ambergrease , gr . iv . oriental musk , gr . j. all being melted with a gentle heat , pour it out , and put it into murrhy , or else china dishes , and permit it to cool for use . biskets of pomecitron-peels . ℞ of fresh citron peels , both the yellow part and the white , only removing the soure part , take lb j. boil it in spring-water for the space of one hour , and removing the vessel from the fire , suffer it to remain in infusion for xxiv hours , in an earthen vessel : pour off the water , and dry the peels well with a clean linen cloth , beat them in a stone-morter into a past , and then let there be added a double proportion of sugar dissolved in rose , orange , and baume water ; boil it to the consistance of a solid electuary , adding ambargrease ℈ j. oriental musk , gr . v. majestery of pearls , and red corals , an . ℥ ss . of oriental and occidental bezoar-stone subtilly powder'd , and ground upon a porphery , with baume water , an . ʒ j. mix them , and make morsels , or little cakes , like the solid conserve of roses : let his majesty take one , or two of them in a morning for his breakfast : let the king drink upon them a draught of well wrought clear beer , in which hath been infused pimpernell and meadow , sweet , the flowers of borrage , bugloss , and the tops of baume . the cordial syrup . cut off the tops of the stalks of augelica cross ways , whilst they yet remain fix'd in the ground , then fill them up with white sugar-candy finely powder'd , and stop them up with cotten , and cover them on the top of that with nut-shells , and after two or three days , pour the sugar which is dissolv'd into a syrup , into a convenient vessel , and let there be prepared a sufficient quantity of the syrup this way , of which take ℥ viij . syrup of mulberries , rasberries , and the sower syrup of citrons , an . ℥ iv . ambargrease , gr . vj. mosck tied up in a cloath , gr . ij oil of sulphur , as much as is sufficient to give it a pleasant sharpness : keep it in a viol close stopt for use , which is to be taken in a morning , to the quantity of ℥ ss in the stead of the foresaid prophylac●…icks , or preservatives . let him eat sometimes new butter spread upon bread with the leaves of sorrel , and three leaved sorrel , and a little salt , and let him drink upon it a draught of beer , with the infusion of the before-named herbs . tabella hypoglottides , or , tabellets to be put under the tongue . ℞ of bole armenick wash'd in rose-water , ℥ j. sealed , lemnian , and strigoninan earths , an . ℥ ss . harts-born , burnt white , ʒ x. sweet majestery of pearls , coral , crabs-eyes , an . ʒ vj bones of a stags-heart , ʒ iij. fragments of iacinths , emrods , chrystals prepar'd , an . ʒ ij . the stone call'd lapis contra yerva , which is prepar'd of the juice of the herb in the indies , ℥ ss . oriental and occidental bezoar , an . ʒ j. ss . the roots of zedoary , tormentil , an . ℈ v. candied citron-peels , ʒ ij . ss . ambargrease , ʒ j. the best mosck , ℈ ss . let all of them be finely powder'd , and made up into a past , with the mucilage of quince-seeds , extracted with rose-water adding to these a double proportion of sugar , of which make trochises , and keep them for ordinary use , drying them with a gentle heat : let them be held in the mouth , and swallow'd by degrees , and let them be dissolved as often as his majesty goeth by suspected places . bezahartick trochises . ℞ of the chrystals of wild-sorrel , of three-leav'd sorrel , an . ℥ j. strigonian earth , ʒ vj. harts-horn burnt white , the sweet majestery of pearls , corals , an . ʒ v. bones of a stags-heart , ʒ iij. roots of contra yerva , tormentil , an . ℥ ss . the hearts and livers of vipers , taken at a fitting time , ʒ ij . ambargrease , ʒ j. the best musk , ℈ ss . white sugarcandy the weight of them all ; make of them all a fine powder , which make into a past with baume , roses , and orange flower waters , of which form trochises , to be used as before , a portion of which may be acuated with a few drops of oil of angelica , or with that which drops out of the ripe stalkes ( without pressing ) when they are cut . the pomeambar . ℞ of the best labdanum , ℥ iv . benzoin , gum. caranna , stirax calamita , wood of aloes , angelica roots , zedoary , an . ℥ ss . sweet smelling reed , ℥ j. rhodium wood , yellow sanders , juniper , cedar , anʒ vj. lavender flowers , oris flowers , marjarom , citron-peels , aurange-peels , an . ʒ xij . cloves , ʒ vj. ambargrease , ʒ iij. musk , ʒ j. rub the rosins and gums to a fine powder in a hot mortar , bruise , and mix them altogether ; and by adding as much as is sufficient of balsom of peru , make a past , of which form round balls , to be carried about and smelt to . the sweet sented pestilential liquor . because the king hateth to smell to vinegar , prepare this sweet sented water following , to infuse the species in . ℞ of oris flowers , lb j. the leaves of marjarom , m. iv . common-time , wild-time , an . m. iij. basil , m. iij. baume , m. v. sage , rosemary , bayes , an . m. ij . of the flowers of elder , p. vj. red roses , red fluellin , spanish broom , pipe-tree , an . p. viij . shaving of cedar-wood , ℥ vj. cinnamon , ℥ vj. rose-water , lb xviij . let all the simples be very new and fresh , and put them in a double vessel , or a body and head ; and having poured upon them the liquors , distil it according to art , in a balneo , with a refrigeratory . then , ℞ of the roots of butter-burr , enula campaine , gentian , an . ℥ iv . winters-barke , ℥ iij. of the roots of angelica , the great valerian , master-wort , carlin thystil , an . ℥ ij . galangal , sweet keed , zedoary , wood of rhodium , juniper , an . ʒ x. the leaves of dryed scordium , baume , lemon , time , sage , marjarom , rosemary , an . m. j. rue , m. ij . dittary of crete , malabar●…hrum , an . ℥ ss . flowers of elder , p. iv . lavender , french lavender both sorts , an . p. ij . orange-peels , the yellow rind of citrons , ℥ ij ss . cloves , ʒ xij . nutmegs , mace , an . ʒ ij . all of them being cut and bruised , sprinkle them with malago sack , afterwards put them in a stone-pitcher , and pour upon them , of the before described water , lb viij . rose-water , orange-water , water of jassemy flowers , an . lb ij . put them to digest in dung , or a balneo , for the space of four days , strain some of it immediately for the kings present use : which liquor may be made stronger sented , by adding some grains of ambargrease and musk. our lord the king may carry about with him , a sponge dipped in this liquor , and put into an ivory box , full of small holes . you may pour vinegar upon the remaining mass , and make another infusion for the courtiers , adding a greater quantity of lavender flowers , citron-peel , and cloves : also add treacle and mithridate , that it may become an acetum theriacale . the moist fume for the kings bed-chamber . ℞ of the roots of florentine oris , ℥ vj. enula campaine , angelica , an . ℥ iv . winters-bark , storax calamita , an . ℥ iij. the inward bark of cinnamon , ℥ j. sweet garden-reed , ℥ ij . rhodium wood , juniper wood , an . ℥ j. ss . yellow of citron-peel , benzoine , an . ℥ v. zedoary , galangal , an . ℥ xij . the dryed leaves of marjaram , sage , rosemary , time , an . m. ij . lavender-flowers , p. vj. cloves , ʒ x. all being bruised and cut , put them in a stone vessel , and pour upon them of the best rose-water , lb x. of the strongest vinegar , lb ij . let the vessel be a fourth part empty , and put it in a balneo , and let it infuse for three days , then take it out again for use : whilst it is in infusion , let he vessel be covered with a bulls bladder , cast of this liquor upon a h●… plate of iron , and thus fume the kings bed. chamber three or four times a day , every day . or make with this , that which they call cassolets , to boil in a corner of the kings-chamber ; but then you may add stronger sents or perfumes , as benzoin , storax calamita , ambargrease , or you may pour this liquor into a spanish cassolet , with silver little balls , and so make it to boil according to art. the dry fume for the court-chambers . ℞ the wood of rhodium , juniper , cedar , pine , an . ℥ iv . mastick , frankincense , sanderack , colophonium , an . ℥ iij. dry balsom , gum caranna , storax calamita , an . ℥ iij. ss . benzoin , ℥ x. red roses , winters bark , the inward bark of cinnamon , an . ℥ ij . ss . mix them all together , and make a gross powder ; strew some of it upon coals for a fume . if you add ʒ ij . or ʒ iij. of amber to the ●…foresaid powder , though it will not be the gratefuller , yet it will be the more efficacious . trochises to fume the kings shirts , and cloaths . ℞ damask roses gathered after the sun-rising , lb ss . benzoin , ℥ ij . mix them , and make them into a paste , by ●…ong beating them together in a mortar ; of which form trochises to be dryed in the ●…hade . ℞ of these trochises , reduc'd to a powder , ℥ j. musk , gr . j. civet , gr . iij. caraman balsom , ℈ ss . make trochises with rose-water , and a little gum tragacanth , to be dryed and kept in a ●…ox close shut , to be used in the mornings . ii. trochises . ℞ trochises of roses , ℥ vi . powder of benzoin , ℥ ij . musk , gr . j. civet , gr . xvi . rose-water , as much as is sufficient , make a mass . the iii. perfume . ℞ very fine powder of juniper-wood , benzoin , an . ʒ vij . musk , ℈ j. rose-water , q. s. with the muscilage of gum tragacanth . make a mass . it will be convenient to sprinkle his hankerchief with aqua angeli : let the settling of this water be made up into pastills , for to fume the chamber , shirts , and other vestments . aqua angeli . ℞ wood of aloes , storax calamita , an . ℥ ss . benzoin , ℥ iv . nutmegs , yellow sanders , cloves , an . ʒ ij . boil them in rose-water , such a quantity a●… may cover them four fingers ; do this in 〈◊〉 close vessel , with a gentle fire , in sand o●… ashes ; continue the boiling for a day and 〈◊〉 night , then strain it , and add to it , of the best rose-water , lb iij. orange flowers , jessamin flowers , musk , an . ℈ j. of the remaining mass , being warm , make pastills . the balsom for the nostrils . ℞ balsom of peru , ʒ iij. distill'd oyl of angelica , or if you have it , that which drops from the stalks being cut , oyl of citron-peels , an . ʒ ij . rosemary , juniper , an . ʒ j. roses distill'd , ʒ ss . orange butter , jessamin butter , an . ℥ ss . ambergrease , ℈ iv . oriental musk , civet , an . ℈ ij . mix them all together as they should be , and by grinding them upon a porphiry , make a balsom , for the king to anoint with in a morning before he go out of his chamber . oyl of amber often rectified with spirit of wine , is excellent good . mathiolus's oyl of scorpions is very efficacious , if our lord the king anoint his pulses , and the region of his heart with it , when he hears a sermon , or admits a crowd of people to come to him . let his diet be refrigerating , and drying ; let him change the air , and avoid the concourse of people . besides these prophylactick , for the cure of the disease when it is present , have these following ready prepar'd . aqua theriacalis , described in the london pharmacopoea , p. 12. antidotus saxonica vera . electuar . de ovo , vegetabile , ac minerale . pulvis rubaeus pannonicus alter pharmac . aug. p. 114 pulvis griseus caesaris , ibid. p. 3. species liber , ibid. p. 137. diascordium magistrale , mayernii . diascordium fracastorii . theriaca andromachi . londinensis antidotus , p. 91. mithridatium damocratis . confectio alkermes . confectio hyacinthina . salts of butter-burr . meadow-sweet . elder . rue . scordium . iuniper . pope leo's oyl of scorpions . species for emulsions , composed of citron seeds , mustard seeds , ●…actis ●…erlurum , or milk of pearls . let these purges be in a readiness . tryphera , persica mesusi , vel iohannis damasceni , pharm . aug. p. 56. pilul●… ruffi . mastichinae fernel . angelica seeds , with other cordial herbs . another councel or advice in the plague . written in french , and presented by the kings physicians to lewis the xiii . the french king. the curative part. these are the signs of the simple plague , when it is alone , and it is joyn'd with no other kind of feaver : a small pulse , l●…nguid , low , unequal ; decay of strength , fainting , vomitings , and anxieties ; but nevertheless , the heat is so moderate , that the feaver is insensible : there is no thirst , no pain , the urine is like healthy peoples : but the sick dye in this gentle state of the disease , contrary to hope and opinion . if the p●…st be joyned with a putrid feaver , then there are these symptoms , a most sharp pain of the head , drousiness , ravings , difficulty of breathing , with a stinking breath , unextinguishable thirst , loss of the appetite , urgent vomiting , burning heat of the inward bowel●… with coldness of the extreme parts , turbid , confused , and flame colour'd urine ; the excrement●… of the belly extremely stinking . if the plague be simple , let this composition be made use of . ℞ a new lay'd egg , pour out the white , and fill it with saffron , rost it under hot ashes , till it be almost hard , then the shell being taken away , beat the egg with these things added to it . white dittany , tormentil , angelica , juniper-berries , an . ʒ ij . camphire , gr . iij. mix them all in a mortar , with the weight of all of them of the best turpentine , or mithridate . let there be taken gr . xx . in equal parts of spring-water and white-wine , reiterate this dose thrice in an hour , if it happen that the stomack cast it up by vomit ; but after that hour is elapsed , give a simple glyster to expell the excrements , in which oftentimes the contagion is lodg'd ; which being voided presently , procure sweat by giving of the fol●…owing water . ℞ of the roots of sorrel , gentian , white dittany , tormentil , an . ℥ ss . juniper-berries , ℥ ss . seeds of carduus benedictus , citron , an . ʒ ij . old mithridate , ℥ j. shaving of guajacum-wood , ℥ ij . water of sorrel , meadow-sweet , carduus benedictus , an . lb j. let there be taken of the foresaid water , two or three ounces , with ℥ ss . of syrup of lemons , sustaining the sweet for 5 or 6 hours , according to the strength of the patient , avoiding sleep whilst it is breaking forth ; in the interim giving the patient slices of citron to suck , infused in cold water , the berries of ever-green thorn , and wash'd cherries , and the like , that he may cool his mouth . the heart being thus fortify'd , the excrements voided , and the venom expell'd by hidroticks , or procurers of sweat ; let there b●… given to the sick , broaths made with sorrel lettice , cichory ; season his meat with the juice of sorrel ; oranges , lemons ; give foo●… often , but little in quantity , lest the stomack be burthen'd : let drink be allow'd mor●… freely , for thirst is hurtful : let there b●… given spring-water , in which is infused liquoris , and a good many slices of citron , no●… omitting to boil it : but our opinion is , wi●… may be allowed ( notwithstanding the heat ) to defend the heart , which is destroy'd by often ●…aintings : but let the wine be small and thin , and a little rough , according to the height of the fever , if the patient be desirous of it . let his sleep be little , and every hour to temper the heat of the mouth , gargule with simple water , or diluted with a little wine : in the mean time make the patient chearful , nourishing the hopes of health in him ; for nothing is so pernicious in these kind of diseases , as terrour and fear is . also let the sick be in a temperate place , letting in often fresh air , by opening the doors and windows , which o●…ght to be towards the north : these remedies , together with diet so used , it is taken by many for an excellent thing to anoint the arm-pits and grain , with oil of scorpions , or oil of lillies , adding treacle to it ; and this to be done several times , to extract the venom ; by this ●…he heart is defended , and freed from it . blood-letting doth not seem necessary , un●…ess a putrid fever be joyn'd with the plague , with extreme pains , inflamations , anxieties , difficult breathing , a high plethora , and other ●…he like accidents , which are the issue of ful●…ess : in letting blood , observe not so much ●…e quantity , as the measuring it by the te●…our of the patients strength and vigour : let this medicinal indication be a general canon and rule . observe these few things ; with whatsoever means the disease is to be opposed , let it be done at first , before the disease be confirm'd , and have taken root : begin with the cordial potion , giving of it thrice in an hour , if the stomack cast it up again : at the same time cast in a glyster , and presently let blood , except something hinder , exhibiting a little after the sudorifick water ; so that these helps and remedies are to be administred in the space of six hours ; letting blood procrastinated is unuseful , since it is better to let it alone , then to make use of it when a bubo appears ; for he that doth that , intends mischief , not to cure. to cure a bubo . many use only boiled scabious , bruised and brought into the form of a poultess , adding hogs-lard to it : from the great power th●… is endow'd with in these diseases , it ha●… gained the name of ( casse bosse ) the cure 〈◊〉 bubo's : to this cataplasme some add li●… roots , or onions baked under the embe●… to which being bruised , they add some yoll●… of eggs , pigeons-dung , and leven , beati●… them all together with a sufficient quantity 〈◊〉 oil of li●…tes ; afterwards they apply it warm , changing it every other hour : they add to every ounce of oil , one dram of treacle . to cure a carbuncle . to this purpose it may be sufficient to apply only scabious or sorrel , backed under the embars , making it into the form of a poultess , with yolks of eggs , and fresh butter , to be renew'd every hour : the leaves of mallows , march-mallows , pellitory of the wall , &c. the rest are wanting . advice for the constriction , or stranguling of the throat , arising from melancholly vapours , proceeding from the hypochondries . for dr. bouvard , chief physician to lewis xiii . king of france . written in french. from the relation of the compression of your throat . which is not fix'd and stable , nor continual , and is without an ulcer , tumour , and inflamation : and from your perceiving an agitation in the region of the hypochondries , from whence acrid and hot vapours are carried to the throat , ( which is the tube and funnel of the chimny ) in the extremity of which there resides a distemper which proceeds from another place , just as the nostrils are exulcerated by acrid phlegm , and choler inflames and vellicates the fundament in bloody-fluxes , although the cause of those evils lurk in other places . we suppose this disease is only a symptom of an internal cause afflicting you , to wit , of the hypochondries , liver , and other adjacent parts , with a notable hot and dry distemperature , upon which account the belly is bound , and all the thin and serous humours are snatch'd into the veins , there being lodg'd plenty of choler , and other gross humours , in the chief veins of the mesentery , and the natural caveties of the bowels . this foundation being laid , it is easie to procure help by diet , and generous cooling and moistening evacuators : and if your recovery do not presently follow , according to wish , you must not therefore abstain from medicines , ( a word is sufficient to an understanding physician . ) prescribe your diet to your self by strong refrigerators : i understand you have used weak mineral waters , such as monfran ( once or twice a year : ) i hear to evacuate , you have frequently let blood in your arm : use laxative ptisans with cassia and senna , and other slight sort of purgings of that kind , with syrup of roses , and peach-blossoms : universal baths ; and also use milk , and clarified whey , in which fumaterry hath been insused ; drink asses-milk plentifully : persist in the use of these , according to the vehemence of your contumacious and habitual disease , which otherwise no doubt will encrease , and bring upon you worse symptoms . in the same disease . by dr. de arduynes , physician of the hospital of charity at paris , call'd st. iames. written in french. we have been made acquainted with the disease with which n. d. is af●…licted , which in my judgment is an off-spring of the distemperature of the bowels , whose office is to prepare the nourishment ; from which bowels , plenty of vapours ascend to the head , which afterwards fall down to the throat , and parts adjacent : the parts which are affected are the spaces betwixt the laryngx , or tope of the wind pipe , and the bone hyoides . to the cure of this disease , frequent and iterated purgation is necessary , to be begun with this usual ptisan following . ℞ of the common ptisan made of the roots of cichory and bugloss flowers , two pounds : in which infuse of oriental senna leaves , ʒ ij . strain it , and prepare a ptisan , of which take two or three wine glass-fuls in a day , one upon an empty stomack , another a little before dinner , the third about four of the clock in the afternoon . this purgation being perform'd , in the use of which you are to persist for five or six days , first the basilica in the right arm , then that in the left arm is to be opened . let bathing follow this letting of blood , for seven or eight days ; other topical medicines , as oils , poultises of swallows-nests , &c. are altogether useless ; for having used the former medicines , health will follow : if any thing remain of this disease , it is easie to look to its specifick cause ; but in this case we are to be warned of the effect . by the same person , for the same person . out of french into latine . we do collect from your note sent to us , ( in which the symptoms with which the noble d. is afflicted are related ) that there is some lessening of the disease ; and that it did arise from vapours in the head , whi●…h descended by the way of the throat : and because there is less plenty of these dry vapours , from hence there doth not follow so great a distention of the part ; but on the contrary , they being confin'd within their first region , from hence there follows a greater distention of the hypochondries then formerly : from hence ariseth that kind of affection or disease we call windy melancholly , which is now much flighter then it was : nor is it needful to enquire , if there be a phlogosis , or inflamation or no , in those places ; for this is certain , wheresoever adust melancholly lurketh , there is always present and joyn'd with it a distemperature , the reason is , that the presence of the vapours doth suppose heat , which stirs them up . but to the cure of this disease , the now prescribed remedies are to be insisted on , afterwards proceeding in the use of the following . let the beginning be with opening a vein , unless it have been perform'd already , and first strike the basilica , afterwards the saphena ; in the intermediate time let there be constantly used semicups , or half baths , in which the patient sitting , let him take the decoction of scorzonera , with the simple syrup of apples , not omitting pimpernel : the third or fourth day after the encathisme , or sitting in the bath , this following purgation is to be made out of hand . ℞ the foresaid decoction , lb j. in which infuse oriental senna leaves , ℥ j. in the straining dissolve clean pulp of cassia , ʒ ix . strain it again , and make an apozeme , to be taken at three doses , without the syrups : adding to every dose syrup of dodder , ℥ j. and so make an apozeme to be taken in the bath . after the celebrated use of the bath , let bloud-leaches be apply'd to the edge of the fundiment : and after that , sit in a chair with a hole thorow it , a b●…son of hot water being placed underneath it , that the haemorrhoides may be excited by the vapours of it : which if by natures assistance you can cause to appear , it will be a good omen . and afterwards persist in the use of altering remedies , adding to them capper roots , and tamarisk wood : these things being rightly perform'd , send us back word , how the patient finds himself then . the patient was restored a little while after by using the mineral waters , and cha●…byate wine . advice in the epilepsia , or falling sickness : for a noble virgin. written in french , by a physician whose name is not known . although the disease of this noble virgin , is called the epilepse , and is noted to be fixedly rooted and confirm'd , as having eluded and baffled many medicines , yet i hope god ( the chief physician of chronical diseases ) giving his blessing , in progress of time she will be freed from it ; and by changing her age and temperament , ( which happens in climacterick years , to wit , on the seventh year , by the help of the natural heat , grown more and more viget and lively ) she will overcome that pernicious diath●…sis , or indisposition : chiefly when nature , at her appointed time , shall have cleansed the body of this maid of its impurities , by the coming on of that flux which is familiar to the sex. and this is the rather to be hoped , for that those which have been by , and present when the fits invade her , and have noted the signs going before , do deny it to be idiopathical but rather assert it to be produced by sympathy , and consent of parts : that is , its original is not to be derived from the evil constitution of the brain ; but wholly from the inferiour parts , chiefly from the bowels , ( with whom the brain consents by affinity ) from which gross vapours ascend upwards , chiefly in the time of sleep , which is stirr'd up from their proper mine by the heat then going to the inward parts : and this is manifest from the pain which is perceived in the upper part of the belly , before the assault of the paroxysme , or fit ; and the turbulency , and want of sleep going before it , indicating the bowels are filled or stuffed with vitious humours , ( to which perhaps may be joyned werminous , or wormey matter , a thing familiar to that age ) which first pour sorth vapours , which procure those terrifying wants of sleep , and afterwards produce the epileptical insults , by obstructing the passage of the animal spirits , and hence for a time intercepting their action , untill those vapours be dissipated , or are transmitted to the inferiour parts . now since according to my judgment , the antecedent , and first cause of this rebellious and troublesome disease , is constituted and made by those depraved humours , and that vitious minera , we may well hope they will be taken away , and their effects removed in time , by the divine assistance and blessing : and that the rather , because perhaps all things have not been prescribed with a fit and due method , nor chymical medicines made use of , by the help of which most pertinacious diseases are overcome ; which sort of medicines are to be rightly used , slighter ones having been first made use of . let the first scope , or intention of cure be to purge the sink of the body , by the help of the emetick , and purging medicine , noted a. taking of it presently , in a double proportion of breath ; walking after it the space of an hour , to make it act the better ; also taking several spoonfuls after it of broath , ( somewhat more then warm ) till it begins to nauceate ; by which the vomiting will be the casier : if perchance the epileptical paroxysme shall happen whilst it works , that ought to be no cause of fear , since it is an effect of the commotion of the humours stirr'd up by it , which ceasing the fit also will cease . let the second intention be , to prepare the morbifick or offending humours with the decoction prescribed for that purpose , and noted b. of which a draught is to be taken six days successively in the morning , two hours before dinner . the third thing that occurs is , that the humours thus prepar'd , be excluded by the pargation , in the form of a potion , noted with the letter c. let her drink that two hours before she take thin broath : let her be allowed to dine two hours after that ; but in the mean time let her keep the house all day . let the fourth scope be , to remove thos●… vapours w●… are the authors of the epileptical fits , ●…ne other place , by making issu●… ▪ in a conv●…ent place , to wit , in the inwar ▪ part of the legs ; ●…so procure a constant evacuation of the ex●…rements of the brai●… which otherways b●…ng joyn'd to the vapour : arising from the lower parts , they are thereby melted , and prove mischievous ; for bein●… become liquid again , and being first express●… or squeez'd out of the brain , they fall dow●… upon the throat , and produce that stertor , o●… snorting , which is manifestly perceived bo●… before and after the fit : we may obtain t●… delivering of the brain from these excreme●… titious humours , by making of another iss●… in the pole , which after full six months m●… be permitted to be stopt up , making anoth●… in the arm , if there be occasion . the fifth scope regards specificks , design'●… 〈◊〉 strengthen the brain , and marked with 〈◊〉 ●…ter d. the application of which is 〈◊〉 to the judgement of the apothecary . ●…f the disease resist these medicines , mo●… efficacious ones must be made use of , viz. chymical ones , which are frequently used by the most excellent physicians of our times , as dr. quercetan , and dr. de mayerne , and are marked with the letter e. as also peacocks-dung must be used , which i look upon as a specifick remedy amongst these medicines . if the paroxysmes do continue , or are protected , there is to be given a spoonful or two of rondeletius's water of swallows : also rulandus his aqua benedicta , and for the cutting of phlegm , which produceth the snorting , there may be given one spoonful of oxym●…l of squils , or sea-onions , with the like quantity of oil of sweet almonds . let there be joyn'd to these medicines , an exact rule of living , eating of the most wholsome food ; let the dinner be larger then supper , which ought to be a good while before going to bed , walking gently after it , that the digestion may be the better : let her abstain from all hot nourishments , saeces , spices , from all sort of pulse , parsni●…-roots , cabbage , garlick , onions , leek●… , ch●…s , and other flatulent and vapourous meats , and suchas are of difficult digestion : as to drink , abstain altogether from pure and good wine for some time , because it is a high incentive of these kind of diseases : in the place of which let her use the decoction of the roots of china , paeony , and a little calamus aromaticus , and a few leaves of bettony : let her avoid the crepusculum , that is , the d●…wn of the day , and twilight , and all external injuries of the air ; let her beware of violent exercise ; passions of the mind , chiefly fear and grief ; which s●… she avoid as much as is possible . the series , or course of the designed medicines . ℞ crocus metallorum truly prepar'd , gr . v. white-wine , ℥ j. ss . cinnamon , gr . xv. make an infusion for a night , and afterward●… add ℥ ss . of sugar . let it be boil'd to the consistance of a thi●… syrup , use it as is prescrib'd , and sign it 〈◊〉 ℞ of the roots of polypody , cichory , scorzonerae , paeony , the bark of tamarisk , an . ℥ ss . the leaves of bettony , germander , fumaterry , an . m. ss . the flowers of lillies of the valleys , bugloss , sweet primerose , leaves of sage , hyssop , the leaves of spleenwort , an . p. j. calamus aromaticus , misselto of the oak , an . ʒ j. boil them for two hours in a sufficient quantity of water , they having been infused a whole day before , afterwards strain them , and sweeten it with lb ij . of sugar , and clarifie it with the white of an egg ; note it b. ℞ of clean senna leaves , ʒ ij . trochises of agarick , the bark of black hellebor , an . ℈ ij . annis-seeds , ʒ j. ss . salt of tartar , ℈ j. spirit of wine a few drops . infuse it for a night in lb ss . of the former decoction , upon warm embers : dissolve in four ℥ of the expression of it . king sabors syrup of apples with senna . ℥ j. cathol opt . ʒ ij . mark it with the letter c. if this purge doth not work sufficiently , repeat it the day following , adding ℈ iv . of confect . hamach . ℞ the monpelier powder called puler . de gutteta , ℥ j. misselto of the oak , mans scull rasped , an . ʒ ij . mix them , and make a powder , of which take half a dram , or ℈ ij . with ℈ j. of sugar , and drink upon it one or two spoonfulls of langius epileptical water , or rondeletius aqua epilepticae hirundinum . sign it with the letter d. let it be used every morning two or three hours before dinner : but in the evening , about the time of going to bed , let her take one of the candied morsules following , or ʒ ij . or ℥ ss of it . ℞ of the solid conserve of roses , ℥ j. ss candied citron-peel , bettony flowers , an . ℥ ss the aforesaid powder de gutteta monspel . ʒ ij . coral , white amber prepar'd , an . ʒ j. sugar , the weight of them all . ℞ aquilae al●…e quercetani , that is , the white eagle of quercetanus ; which is , mercurius dul●…is six or seven times sublimed , gr . xv. rosin of scamony , gr . v. wrap it up with a little pulp of a roasted apple artificially , and so take it . let this medicine be noted with the letter e. let her use these medicines according to the rules i have prescribed , as also the peacocks dung if necessity require it , at a proper time , which i am to acquaint you of . but i had forgot to tell you , that for the greater diverting of the diseasie bun●…ours , after the exhibiting the purge noted with the letter c. there is to be let out some ounces of bloud , from those veins about the ancles of either of her feet , which shall appear most turged , or swelled : and this bloud-setting being perform'd , the two issues are to be made . 't is also very conducive , that a good concoction be procured , and that vapours be suppressed ; and therefore after every meal , let her take one spoonfull of the following digestive powder . ℞ bisket bread , ℥ j. powder of coriander-seeds , caraway-seeds , an . ʒ iij. red roses , red coral , an . ʒ ss sugar , the weight of them all . mix them , and make a powder for the foresaid use . the chymical medicine consisting of quercetans aquila alba , and rosin of seamouy , or its extract prepar'd with spirit of wine , according to schroder , is the calomelanos turqueti : it is to be repeated every month , before every new moon , either increasing or lessening the dose of the rosin of scamony , or the aquila alba , as it works more or less . these things being strictly observed , this noble virgin was delivered from this grievous disease . errata . correct literal faults as you find them : and read p. 88. l. ●…2 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . finis . a table of the contents . air. warm air beneficial for those in consumptions , p. 9. a fistula cured by it , p. 14. apozem . to prepare melancholly , p. 31. to prepare phlegm in the brain , p 132. balsom . of batts , p. 36. cordial against the plague , p. 111. bisket . made of citron-peels , p. 99. brain . how to free it when it is loaded with humours , p. 27. to strengthen it in a consumption , p. 6. bran. in the urine not always a sign of a scabby bladder , p. 83. broath . medicinal in the plague , p. 97. bubo . in the plague the cure , p. 118. carbuncle . in the plague , p. 119. caruncles , vid. yard . cataplasme . easing pain , and ripening , p. 58. cleansing , and resisting putrifaction , p. 59. ca●…teries . in consumptions where to be apply'd , p. 5. 19. in the shoulders , p. 36. china . the decoction in a consump●…ion , p. 16. conserve . cephalick in the falling-sickness , p. 134. consumption . hereditary hardly to be cured , p. 12. curative indications , p. 4. remedies , p. 5 , 6. diet , p. 7 , 8. one in a consumption cured by removing into warm air , p. 9. strong purges hurtful , p. 18. how to let blood in it , p. 18. decoction . traumatick , p. 60. diet. sudorifick useful after consuming the caruncule in the yard , p. 91. dung. of peacocks in the falling-sickness , p. 3 1 , 135. epilepsie . from the lower belly the signs , p. 128. indications for the cure , p. 129 , 130. specificks for it , p. 131 , 135. diet against it , p. 131. fistula . in the fundament how to cicatrice it , p. 28 , 29. fume . to dry the brain , p. 95. moist fume in the plague , p. 107. dry fume in the plague , p. 108. fundament . the healing of a fistula there , p. 28 , 29. pain not always there where the prostata's are affected , p. 85. gargarisme . which draws phlegm from the head , p. 95. gout . gout and stone , diseases of the same kind , and proceed from the same cause , p. 73. gonorraea . if that which drops out of the yard be always seed , p. 84. the use of spirit of turpentine , p. 86. if mineral waters be beneficial in it , p. 86. if useful in the gout , p. 75. guajacum wood. the decoction good in consumptions , p. 16. haematites . its virtues against spitting of blood , p. 17. hydromel . a medicinal one in a consumption , p. 7 , 15. hypochondries . a fomentation against its obstructions , p. 33. hypochondriacal fits. what vein to open in it , p. 26. remedies against it , p. 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. signs , p. 121 , 124 , 125. iscuria . remedies against it , p. 71 , 72. iulep . a cordial one , p. 52. liquor . 〈◊〉 in the plague , p. 104. lungs . ulcerated hard to cure them , p. 12. meath . a medicinal one in a consumption , p. 7. 15. medicines . proper in the plague , p. 98 , ad 119. melancholly . the signs of it , p. 23. it rejects slight medicines , p. 25 , ad 45. milk. cows milk in a consumption , p. 16. the virtues of asses milk , ibid. mouth . the cause of dryness of the mouth , p. 23. nephritick wood. it s decoction in a consumption , p. 16. palsie . the cure of a spurious one , p. 27 , 35. parotis . stubborn ones , how to ripen them , p. 47. pastills . bezoartick ones , p. 53. perinaeum . the curing of its ulcers , p. 58 , ad 〈◊〉 . phlegmon . of the perinaeum , p. 57. plague . it s cure , p. 114 , ad 119. if fit to open a vein in it , p. 117. pomeamber . in the plague , p. 103. potions . vulnerary ones useful in consumptions , p. 15. melanagogal , p. 50. powders . antiepileptick , p. 133. purging in the epilepsie , p. 134. digestive , p. 135. purgations . drawing away phlegm and melancholly fro●… the brain , p. 130. malanagogal , p. 125. ptisan laxative , p. 122 , 123. scabios . it s effi●…cy in the plague , p. 118 , 119. sleep . how to procure it in consumptions , p. 11●… ▪ sweat. how to procure it in the plague , p. 115 , 11●… ▪ sulphur . the use of its milk in consumptions , p. 7. syrup . cordial , p. 110 to prepare melancholly , p. 45 , 49. in a consumption , p. 7 , 16. tabellets . to hold under the tongue , in the plag●… p. 101. tobacco . the use of it in a consumption , p. 7. trochises . bezoartick , p. 102. to fume the kings cloaths , in the plague , p. 109 , 110. trupentine . it s usefulness , p. 62. whether to be washed or not , p. 73. veins . to open under the tongue , the usefulness , p. 27. vomits . their use in the epilepsie , p. 129. in hypochondriack fits , p. 25. the use of crocus metallorum , p. 25 , 30 , 132. vomiting . how to prepare the stomach for vomiting , p. 30. urine . the cause of branny urine , p. 83. wine . hurtfull to the epileptick , p. 131. to the consumptive , p. 15. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a50385-e21950 cassolet is a perfuming pot , with fire under it . medicinal experiments, or, a collection of choice remedies for the most part simple, and easily prepared by ... r. boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1692 approx. 91 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 65 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28992 wing b3989 estc r954 12770244 ocm 12770244 93647 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28992) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 93647) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 707:7) medicinal experiments, or, a collection of choice remedies for the most part simple, and easily prepared by ... r. boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. [11], 11, 88, [2], 17 p. printed for sam. smith ..., london : 1692. "a table of diseases" [i.e. index]: p. [1]-[11] in second grouping. added t.p. and separate paging ([2], 17 p. at end): a catalogue of the philosophical books and tracts, written by the honourable robert boyle ... together with the order or time wherein each of them hath been publish'd respectively : to which is added, a catalogue of the theological books, written by the same author. imperfect: fulton calls for an engraved port. lacking in filmed copy. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by 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was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng boyle, robert, 1627-1691 -bibliography. medicine -early works to 1800. medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-02 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion imprimatur , novemb. 18. 1691. robert southwell . p. r. s. medicinal experiments ; or , a collection of choice remedies , for the most part simple , and easily prepared . by the honorable r. boyle , esq fellow of the royal society . london : printed for sam. smith , at the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard , 1692. the preface of the publisher . these receipts , taken out of a large collection , as consisting of a few safe ingredients , commonly to be found at easie rates in most places , were sent to a learned physician beyond sea : to whom they were a welcome present , and answer'd , without doubt , the ends he had in desiring them . that excellent person , to whom these choice prescriptions are owing , did permit a few copies of them to be printed , and was pleased to put them in the hands of some of his friends , provided , as there was occasion , they would make tryal of them , and faithfully report the success . divers of those , who on these conditions had received so great a favour , held themselves obliged to enquire for persons affected with any of the maladies against which the said medicines were prescribed ; and , upon many experiments carefully made , having found , that frequently they have relieved those who used them , and sometimes strangely outdone expectation ; they addressed themselves with much importunity to the noble author , to suffer things which were of such general benefit , and so easily to be procured by the poor , to be made more publick . and at length he hath been prevailed with not only to allow the former receipts , which but few had seen , to be reprinted , but hath , out of his rich treasury , stored us with a fresh collection , which , as in number it exceeds what we had before , so in quality and virtue it falls not short of it . and if what here , with such an honest and kind design is offered to the publick , be but candidly and favourably receiv'd , we may still hope for more blessings of this sort from him , who has not only a constant will and great ability to do good , but hath , perhaps , obliged the age as much as any private person in it . the author's preface . the following prescriptions are a part of a collection of receipts and processes , that from time to time have been recommended to me by the experience of others , or approved by my own : receipts that being parable or cheap , may easily be made serviceable to poor countrey people . for medicines so simple , and for the most part so cheap , i have found all of them to be good in their kind : and though i think most of them safer than many other medicines that are in great request , yet i do not pretend that these should play the part of medicines and physicians too ; but that they may be usefully employed by one who knows how to administer them discreetly . i distinguish them into three classes or orders , annexing to the title of each particular medicine one of the three first letters of the alphabet ; wherefore a is the mark of a remedy of the highst classis of these , recommended as very considerable and efficatious in its kind . b , denotes a second or inferior sort , but yet to be valuable for their good operations . c , belongs to those remedies that are of the lowest order , tho' good enough not to be despised . those receipts , which were my own , are expressed in my own terms ; so also those which i received from others by word of mouth : but them which were imparted to me in writing , though i my self would not have worded them , as they did that i had them from , yet i oftentimes made a scruple to correct or alter their expressions , tho' not suitable to the current style of the formularies of receipts , being more concern'd that the meaning should be close kept to , than the style rectified . the table of diseases . note , the number answers to the page . a agues . pag. 4 , 13 , 25 , 74 amulet against agues . pag. 13 amulet against cramps . pag. 15 acidities to cure. pag. 19 after-birth to bring away . pag. 21 appetite to restore . pag. 21 antimonial remedy for leprosies and fevers . pag. 54 antimonial infusion . pag. 56 apoplexy to prevent . pag. 6● arthritick pains . pag. 7● apoplectick fits. pag. 78 b bloody-flux . pag. ● bowels to strengthen . pag. 14 blood to stanch . pag. 16 blood to sweeten . pag. 19 brest vlcerated . pag. 23 broken belly . pag. 33 , 40 black jaundice . pag. 44 burns . pag. 8● c coughs . pag. 1 , 32 convulsions . pag. 9 , 20 consumptions . pag. 12 child to bring away . pag. 14 cramp . pag. 15 contusions . pag. 28 , 29 cutis excoriated . pag. 30 continual fevers . pag. 51 , 52 , 54 , 79 chilblains . pag. 53 colick . pag. 55 , 62 , 78 , 85 childbearing to be cleansed after . pag. 57 cancer not broken . pag. 67 colds . pag. 69 childrens jaundice . pag. 70 chin cough . pag. 74 d dysentery . pag. 7 , 18 , 59 , 68 diseases from obstruction . pag. 38 difficulty of hearing . pag. 39 drink for continual fevers . pag. 51 , 52 drink for the scurvy . pag. 64 diuretick medicine . pag. 64 decoction of quick-silver . pag. 80 e evil. pag. 7 eyes to cure. pag. 20 excoriations . pag. 30 external piles . pag. 63 experiment for a weak sight . pag. 73 external remedy for fevers . pag. 79 f fits of the stone . pag. 8 fluxes sharp . pag. 18 , 26 , 37 , 59 films to clear . pag. 20 fits of agues . pag. 4 , 13 , 25 fits of the gout . pag. 40 fits of the mother . pag. 50 fevers continual . pag. 51 , 52 , 54 , 79 falling sickness . pag. 75 fits apoplectick . pag. 78 fresh strain . pag. 83 g gripings . pag. 26 gout . 40 , 50 , 71 gums to strengthen . 69 h hemorrhoids . pag. 10 , 17 , 27 , 63 , 84 heart burning . pag. 34 hearing difficult . pag. 39 hoarsness on a could . pag. 69 heat in the eyes . pag. 72 heat of the stomach . pag. 87 i jaundice yellow . pag. 5 , 6 , 70 inflammations of vlcers pag. 31 jaundice black. pag. 44 itch to cure . pag. 58 internal piles . pag. 63 issue raw to make . pag. 86 k kings evil. pag. 7 kings evil cured with lime water , &c. pag. 82 l lime water to make . pag. 11 lime water for obstructions . pag. 12 legs inflamed and vlcerated . pag. 31 loosness . pag. 37 leprosie . pag. 54 lungs stuffed . pag. 74 lime water for the kings evil. pag. 82 m medicine for the stone . pag. 49 , 76 mother fits. pag. 50 medicine for a fresh strain . pag. 52 medicine to cleanse the womb. pag. 57 medicine for a sore throat . pag. 60 , 66 , 77 medicine for the colick . pag. 62 medicine for a cancer . pag. 67 n nitre , a medicine of it for the colick . pag. 85 o obstructions . pag. 12 , 38 outward contusions . pag. 28 , 29 oil of turpentine mixt with ointment of tobacco , and balls of sulphur for the piles . pag. 84 p pains of the stone . pag. 2 pain of the teeth . pag. 4 piles . pag. 10 , 17 , 27 , 63 , 84 pains . pag. 31 , 50 , 71 plaister to discuss tumours . pag. 43 plaister to strengthen the joynts . pag. 50 pleurisie . pag. 68 prolapsus vteri . pag. 71 q quick-silver prepared against worms . pag. 80 r rheumes . pag. 1 , 32 , 68 ruptures . pag. 33 , 40 resent strain . pag. 35 remedy for chilblains . pag. 53 remedies for fluxes . pag. 7 , 18 , 26 , 59 s stone . pag. 2 , 8 , 49 , 76 sharpness of vrine . pag. 3 strengthen the bowels . pag. 14 stanching blood. pag. 16 stomach to strengthen . pag. 21 strain . pag. 34 , 35 , 37 , 52 , 83 , 85 strengthning plaister . pag. 31 sores . pag. 41 sore throat . pag. 60 , 66 , 86 sharp humours . pag. 62 scurvy . pag. 64 strengthen the gums . pag. 69 syrup for rheums . pag. 68 sharp humours in the eyes . pag. 72 sight weak . pag. 73 stomach heat . pag. 87 stomachical tincture . pag. 88 t tooth ach. pag. 4 , 32 tertian ague . pag. 13 , 74 tumours . pag. 17 tickling rheum . pag. 32 teeth to keep sound . pag. 32 tumours to discuss and ripen . pag. 43 throat sore . pag. 60 , 66 , 77 , 86 teeth to make firm . pag. 69 u vrine sharp . pag. 3 vlcers of the brest . pag. 23 vlcers . pag. 41 uteri prolapsus . pag. 71 vrine stopt . pag. 76 w. women in labour . pag. 14 wounds bleeding . pag. 16 weakness of the joints . pag. 37 water for vlcers . pag. 41 womb to cleanse . pag. 57 wash for the iteh . pag. 58 weak sight . pag. 73 worms in children . pag. 80 whitloe to cure. pag. 81 y. yellow jaundice . pag. 5 a catalogue of the philosophical and theological books and tracts , written by the honorable robert boyle esq together with the order of time , wherein each of them hath been published respectively . decad i. i. for coughs , especially such as proceed from thin rheums . b take of choice olibanum , finely powder'd , from one scruple to half a dram , and mix carefully with it an equal weight of sugar-candy , ( white or brown , ) or , in want of that , of fine sugar ; and let the patient take it at bed-time in the pap of an apple , or some other proper additament , for several nights together : if it be found needful , it may be taken at any other time , when the stomach is empty . ii. to give ease in the pains of the stone , even that of the bladder . a take the transparent sparr that grows upon the veins of lead-ore , and having reduc'd it to fine powder , give from half a dram to a whole dram of it at a time , in a moderate draught of some convenient vehicle . n. b. though there be ( at least in most of our english mines ) two teguments , as it were , of the veins of lead , that grow close together ; yet that which the diggers name cawk , which is white and opacous , is not the medicine i mean , but the transparent , or at least semi-diaphanous ; which easily breaks into smooth fragments , and in the fire cleaves into several pieces , that are wont to be smooth and prettily shap'd . iii. for sharpness of vrine . b take of the dry stuff that divides the lobes of the kernels of walnuts , beat them to powder , and of this give about half a dram at a time , in a draught of white-wine , or posset-drink made with it , or in any other convenient liquor . iv. to appease the violent pains of the tooth-ach . b make up a scruple of pil. lulae mastichinae , and half a grain of laudanum , into two or three pills for the patient to take at bed-time . v. for agues . a take salt of card. benedict . and salt of wormwood and 15 grains , tartar vitriolate half a scruple ; mix them , and give them in a few spoonfuls of rhenish-wine , or of some other convenient vehicle , either before the fit , or at some other time when the stomach is empty . vi. for the yellow-jaundice . b take an ounce of castle-soap ( the elder the better , ) slice it thin , put it into a pint of small-beer cold , set it on the fire , let it boil gently half away , after boiling some time , scum it once ; then strain it through a small sive , warm it , and drink it all in a morning fasting ; take a small lump of sugar after it , and fast two or three hours : the party may walk about his business , and eat his acstomed meals : if at any time he drinks wine , let it be white wine . n. b. if he be far gone in the distemper ; two or three day after , he may take it once or twice more , and no oftner . refrain all other medicines : it will keep a week or longer . vii . for the jaundice . b take two or three ounces of semen cannabis ( hempseed ) and boil them till the seeds ( some of them ) begin to burst , and a little longer , in a sufficient quantity of new milk , to make one good draught ; which the patient is to take warm , renewing it if need be , for some days together . viii . for the dysentery . b take pigs-dung , dry it , and burn it to grey ( not white ) ashes ; of these give about half a dram for a dose , drinking after them about three spoonfuls of wine-vinegar . ix . for the kings evil. b take cuttle-bone uncalcin'd , and having scrap'd off the out-side or colour'd part , dry the white part ; and of this , finely powder'd , give half a dram for a dose in aqua malvae . x. a safe and easie medicine in fits of the stone . b take sack , or , in want of that , claret-wine , and by shaking or otherwise , mix with it , as well as you can , an equal quantity of oyl of wallnuts ; and of this mixture give from 4 or 6 to 8 or 10 ounces at a time as a glyster . decad ii. i. for convulsions , especially in children . b take earth-worms , wash them well in white-wine to cleanse them , but so as that they may not die in the wine : then , upon hollow tiles or between them , dry the worms with a moderate heat , and no further than that they may be conveniently reduc'd to powder ; to one ounce of which add a pretty number of grains of ambergrise , both to perfume the powder , ( whose scent of it self is rank ) and to make the medicine more efficatious . the dose is from one dram to a dram and half in any convenient vehicle . ii. for the pyles . b take the powder of earth-worms prepared as in the former receipt , ( but leaving out the ambergrise , ) and incorporate it exactly with as much hens-grease , as will serve to make it up into an oyntment . apply this to the part affected , whose pains it usually much and safely mitigates . iii. to make lime-water vseful in divers distempers . c take one pound of good quick-lime , and slake it in a gallon of warm water , and let it stand 'till all that will subside be settled at the bottom , and ( separation being made , ) the water swim clear at the top : ( at which time it will often happen , that a kind of thin and brittle substance , almost like ice , will cover the surface of the liquor : ) as soon as the water is thus sufficiently impregnated , delay not to pour it off warily , and keep it very well stopp'd for use . iv. a lime-water for obstructions an consumptions . b take a gallon of lime-water made as above , and infuse in it cold sassaffras , liquorice , and anyseeds , of each four ounces , adding thereto half a pound of choice currans , or the like quantity of slic'd raisins of the sun : the dose of this compound lime-water is four or five ounces , to be taken twice a day . v. an amulet against agues , especially tertian . b take a handfull of groundsel , shred and cut it small , put it into a square paper bag of about four inches every way , pricking that side that is to be next the skin , full of large holes ; and cover it with some sarcenet or fine linnen , that nothing may fall out . let the patient wear this upon the pit of his stomach , renewing it two hours before every fit. vi. for women in labour to bring away the child . b take about one dram of choice myrrh , and having reduc'd it to fine pouder , let the patient take it in a draught of rhenish-wine or sack ; or , if you would have the liquor less active white-wine , posset-drink , or some other temperate vehicle . vi. for strengthning the bowels . b take cloves or chives ( not bulbs ) of garlick , and let the patient from time to time swallow one or two , without chewing . viii . an amulet against the cramp . a take the root of mechoacan , and having reduc'd it to powder , fill with this pouder a little square bag or sacket of sarcenet , or some such slight stuff ; which bag is to be about three inches square , and to be hung by a string about the patient's neck , so as that it may reach to the pit of the stomach , and immediately touch the skin . ix . for stanching of blood especially in wounds . a take those round mushrooms that bonatists call crepitus lupi , ( in english puff-balls , ) when they are full ripe ( which is in autumn ) ; and breaking them warily , save carefully the pouder that will fly up , and the rest that remains in their cavities : and strew this pouder all over the part affected , binding it on , or proceeding further , if need be , according to art. x. for the tumours and pains of the hemorrhoides , not too much inflamed . b let the patient dip his finger in balsam of sulphur , made with oyl of turpentine , and with his finger so besmeared anoint the tumours , whether external or internal , once or twice a day . decad iii. i. for the dysentery and other sharp fluxes . a take the stalks and leaves of the herb call'd , in latin , coniza media ( in english , flea-bane , ) dry it gently , till it be reducible to pouder ; of this pouder give about one dram at a time , twice or thrice a day , in any convenient vehicle or else incorporate it in conserve of red roses . ii. to sweeten the blood , and cure divers distempers caused by its acidity . b take coral , the clearest and reddest you can get ; reduce it ( by exactly grinding it on a porphory , or marble stone , ) to an impalpable pouder . of this magistery made without acids , give the patient once or twice a day ( as need shall require , ) a large dose , viz. ordinarily about one dram at a time , or from two scruples to five . n. b. let him long continue the use of it . iii. to clear the eyes , even from filmes . a take paracelsus's zibethum occidentale ( viz. human dung ) of a good colour and consistence , dry it slowly till it be pulverable : then reduce it into an inpalpable pouder ; which is to be blown once , twice , or thrice a day , as occasion shall require , into the patients eyes . iv. for convulsions in children . a give the patient from 2 , 3 , or 4 , to 5 , 6 , or 7 grains , according to the child's age , of the true volatile salt of amber , in any proper vehicle . n. b. 't is not near so efficatious in full grown persons . v. to bring away the after-birth . b give about 30 drops , or any number between 25 and 35 , of good essential ( as chimists call it , ) oyl of juniper , in a good draught of any convenient vehicle . vi. to strengthen the stomach , and help the want of appetite . b make the roots of gentian ( sound and not superannuated , ) pulverable , with no more waste of their moisture than is necessary . reduce these to pouder ; of which let the patient take from 12 or 15 grains to double that quantity ( or more if need be , ) twice or thrice a day . n. b. it may be taken on an empty stomach , or , if that cannot conveniently be done , at meal-times . to correct the bitterness , one may add to it pouder'd sugar , or make it up with some fit conserve , or mix it with a syrup . it is very good , not only for want of appetite , but for obstructions . and i ( r b. ) have usefully given it in vertiginous affections of the brain , and to lessen , if not quite take away , the fits of agues , and even quartans . but in this last case the dose must be considerably augmented . one may also , if one pleases , instead of the pouder , give the extract drawn with fair water , and for those that like that form , made up into pills with a sufficient quantity of pouder'd tumerick , or the like proper additament ; to which i have sometimes added some grains of salt of wormwood with good success in fluxes that proceeded from crudities and indigestion . where the winter-season or the patients cold constitution invite , or the medicine is to be long kept , i chuse rather to make the extract with wine moderately strong , than with water . vii . for vlcers in the brest , and elsewhere . a take millepedes , ( in english by some called woodlice , by others sows , ) and having wash'd them clean with a little white-wine , and dry'd them with a linnen cloth , beat them very well in a glass or marble mortar ( for they ought not to be touch'd with any thing of metal ) and give the first time as much juice , as you can by strong expression obtain from five or six of them . this juice may be given in small ale or white-wine , in which the next time you may give as much as can be squeez'd out of eight or nine millepedes ; and so you may continue , increasing the number that you employ of them by two or three at a time , till it amount to twenty five or thirty ; and if need be , to forty or more , for one taking . and note , that if upon the pounding of these insects , you find the mass they afford too dry , as it now and then happens ; you may dilute it with a little white-wine or ale , to be well agitated with it , that being penetrated , and so softned , with the liquor , the mass may the better part with its juice . viii . for taking off the fits of agues . b take good common brimstone ( not flores sulphuris , ) and having reduced them , by passing them through a very fine sieve , to the subtillest pouder you can ; give of this pouder one dram and half or two drams , either made up into a bolus with a little good honey , or else in any appropriated vehicle ; let it be given at the usual times , and reiterated once or twice if need be , especially if the fits should return . ix . for fluxes , especially accompanied with gripings . a take of crude lapis caliminaris finely pouder'd two scruples , of white chalk on● scruple , mix them exactly , and give them in a spoonful or two of new milk twice , or , if the case be urgent , thrice a day . x. for the pains of the piles . b take of myrrh , olibanum , and common frankincense , of each a like quantity ; having pouder'd them , mix them very well , and let the patient receive the fume of this mixture , cast upon a chaffen-dish with embers , in a close-stool , for about a quarter of an hour , ( less or more , as he needs it , and is able to bear it . ) decad iv. i. for an outward contusion . c apply to the part affected , skim'd or purify'd honey , spread upon cap-paper , to be kept on with some convenient plaister , or the like bandage , and shifted once or twice a day . ii. another for the same . b beat aloes succotrina ( or else hepatica , ) to fine pouder ; then pour on it as much rose-water as you guess may dissolve a great part of it . this done , stir them well for a while , and when the mixture is setled , pour off the liquor , and in it dip linnen rags , which being applyed to the part affected , will soon stick to it , and seldom need be remov'd till the patient be reliev'd ; and then to get them off , the rags must be well wetted with warm water , which will soften and loosen the adhering aloes . iii. for a slighter excoriation . b melt mutton-suet taken from about the kidneys , and freed from its superfluous fibres or strings , and to about two ounces of this add little by little about 16 or 18 drops ( sometimes 8 or 10 may serve ) of oyl ( not aethereal spirit ) of turpentine ; spread this mixture on a linnen cloth , and by binding or otherwise , keep it upon the part affected . iv. for an excoriation , when the true cutis is affected . b take prunella ( in english self-heal , ) and having pounded it very well in a marble or glass mortar , ( not one of metal , ) apply it to the part affected , renewing it but seldom , and not without need . v. to take off the pain and inflammation of vlcers in the legs and elsewhere . b in a quart of water boil about so much white-bread , as in ordinary years may be found in a half-penny-loaf ; then add to it two ounces of good sheeps suet cut very small ; and when that is boil'd a little , add to it one ounce of finely pouder'd rosin , and a little well searc'd brimstone : of these make a cataplasm , which is to be kept constantly on the part affected , and shifted once or twice a day , as need shall require . vi. for a cough , especially accompany'd with a tickling rheum . b take equal parts of finely pouder'd olibanum and venice treacle , incorporate them exactly , and of this mass form pills of what bigness you please . of these let the patient take about half a dram at bed-time , or , if need be , one scruple , ( or more , ) twice a day . vii . to prevent the tooth-ach , and keep the teeth sound . b let the patient frequently rub his teeth moderately with the ashes that remain in tobacco pipes , after the rest of the body hath been consum'd in smoak ; sometimes after washing ( if need be , ) his mouth with fair water not too cold . viii . for a rupture , especially in a child or young person . a take of that geranium or cranes-bill that is commonly called columbinum , reduce the root and leaves to fine pouder , and of this let the patient take about half a spoonful night and morning for three or four weeks together , washing it down each time with some spoonfuls of red wine . ix . for the heart-burning , as they call it . b take from 15 or 20 , to 30 or 40 , grains of crabs-eyes ( known commonly in the shops by the name of lapides cancrorum , ) reduc'd to very fine pouder , and either take it alone , or in any convenient conserve or syrup . 't is for the most part best to take this medicine when the stomach is empty . x. for a strain . b take the strongest vinegar you can get , and boil in it a convenient quantity of wheat-bran , till you have brought it to the consistence of a poultess . apply this as early as may be to the part affected , and renew it when it begins to grow dry . decad v. i. for a recent strain . b take worm-wood and pound it very well in a mortar of stone or glass ; then put to it as much of the whites of eggs , beaten to water , as may serve to make it up into such a consistence , as may be applied like a poultess to the part affected . ii. a strengthning plaister after a strain , or when there is any weakness in the joynt . b meel down together , and incorporate very well , two parts of diapalma , and one part of emplastrum ad herniam ; spread this mixture , ( but not very thick , ) upon leather , and lay it to the joynt to be strengthened . iii. for loosnesses . c boil a convenient quantity of cork in spring-water , till the liquor taste strong thereof : of this decoction let the patient drink a moderate draught from time to time , till he finds himself sufficiently reliev'd by it . iv. for obstructions , and divers diseases proceeding thence . b let the patient drink , every morning fasting , a moderate draught of his own vrine newly made , ( and if it can conveniently be , ) whil'st 't is yet warm forbearing food for an hour or two after it . v. for difficulty of hearing , from a cold cause . b out of a bulb or root of garlick , chuse a chive of a convenient bigness ; then having pass'd a fine piece of thread or silk through one end of it , that thereby it may be pull'd out at pleasure , crush it a little between your fingers , and having anointed it all over with oyl of bitter ( or in want of that , sweet ) almonds , put it into the cavity of the patients ear at bed-time , and draw it out the next morning , stopping the ear afterwards with black wool ; but if need require , this operation is to be reiterated with fresh garlick for some days successively . vi. for ruptures in the belly , especially in children . a having well cleans'd the roots of sigillum salam●nis , scrape one ounce of them into a quart of broth , and let the patient take a mess , or a porringer full of it for his break-fast ; or else give half a dram or two scruples of the pouder of it at a time , in any convenient vehicle . vii . to give checks to fits of the gout , and in some measure to prevent them . b take three ounces of sarsaparilla slic'd and cut thin ; to these add an equal weight of raisins of the sun , rubb'd very clean , but not broken : put both these ingredients into three quarts of spring-water , and let the vessel stand in a moderate heat , that the liquor may simper for many hours , yet without bursting most part of the raisins ; keep this decoction well stopp'd , and let the patient use it for his only drink , till he need it no longer . viii . a water for vlcers and sores . b take a solution of venetian sublimate , and having made with very good quick-lime as strong a lime-water as you can , ( so that , if it be possible , it may bear an egg , ) drop this upon the dissolv'd sublimate , till it will precipitate no more reddish stuff at all ; ( which will not so soon be done as one that hath not try'd will imagine ) : as soon as you perceive that the liquors act no longer visibly upon one another , pour the mixture into a filter of cap-paper , which retaining the orange-colour'd precipitate , will transmit an indifferently clear liquor : which is to be in a glass viol kept stop'd for its proper use ; namely , that the part affected may be therewith wash'd from time to time , and , if need be , kept covered with double linnen cloths wetted in the same liquor . ix . a plaister to discuss tumours , or ripen them if it cannot discuss them . b take of yellow wax , franincense , and rosin , of each four ounces , or a sufficient quantity , melt them together gently , and being strain'd , make up the mass into a roll for use . x. for the black jaundice it self . a take a spoonfull of honey boil it gently , and scum it , till it come to a good consistence ; then add of wheat-flower and saffron ( reduced to a pouder , ) as much of each as you may take up upon the point of a knife ; and having mix'd all well , put it over the coals again , until it lose its smell : afterwards you may put it into a little stone or earthen pot , and keep it for use ; which is , that the patient take the quantity of a pea , and anoint the navil , and fill the cavity thereof with it ; repeating the application for some days together , when the stomach is empty , and abstaining from meat and drink about two hours after the medicine is us'd . the end of the first part. medicinal experiments ; or , a collection of choice remedies , for the most part simple , and easily prepared . the latter five decads being a second part . by the honorable r. boyle , fellow of the royal society . london : printed for sam. smith , at the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard , 1692. decad vi. i. a parable medicine for the stone . b take of the seed of flixweed , and give of it about as much as will lie upon a shilling , either whole or grosly bruis'd , in any convenient vehicle . ii. for fits of the mother . b dissolve store of sea-salt in the best wine vinegar , and in this dip a soft linnen cloth , which being folded so as to make 3 or 4 doubles , is to be applied somewhat warm to the soles of the patient's feet , and kept on till the fit be over . iii. a choice plaister to strengthen the joints after the gout , and hasten the going off of the pain . a take of paracelsus and diapalma ana , melt them and incorporate them exactly together , and spread the mixture very thin upon fine leather , to be us'd as a plaister to the part affected . iv. a very good drink in continual fevers . a make a decoction of the leaves of rue in fair water , till the liquor taste pretty strong of the plant : this , being strain'd , is to be made somewhat palatable with liquorice or a little sugar , or aromatic body : to half a pint of this add about 10 drops of spirit ( not oyl ) of vitriol : let the patient use this for his ordinary drink . v. a good drink to be frequently used in fevers , especially continual ones . a give , in half a pint of some small convenient drink , half an ounce of harts-horn , burnt to great whiteness ; which is to be a little boyled in the liquor ; and this , thus alter'd , is to be given from time to time . vi. an easie medicine for a fresh strain . b make up the clay with which the bungs of barrels are wont to be stopp'd , with as much vinegar as will bring it to the consistence of an indifferently stiff cataplasm : then warm it a little , and apply it to the part affected . vii . a remedy much used for chilblains . c take a turnep , roast it well under the embers , and beat it to a poultice ; then apply it very hot to the part affected ; and keep it on ( if need be , ) for 3 or 4 days , in that time shifting it twice or thrice , if occasion require . viii . a simple antimonial remedy , that has often done much good even in the leprosie , and all continual fevers . a take crude antimony , well chosen and pouder'd ; of this give about one , two , or three scruples morning and evening , according to the age of the patient , in a little syrup of clove gilly-flowers , or any such vehicle , or else mix'd with fine sugar , enough to make it somewhat palatable . this may be continued for 4 or 5 months , if need require ; and if the first dose prove beneficial to the patient , in cases not urgent , a scruple or half a dram may serve the turn , nor need the exhibition be continued for so long a time . ix . for the cholick and divers other distempers . b take four or five balls of fresh stone-horse dung , and let them steep for about a quarter of an hour ( or less , ) in a pint of white-wine , in a vessel well stopp'd , that the liquor may be richly impregnated with the more volatile and subtil parts of the dung ; strain this , and give of it from a quarter to half a pint , or some ounces more , at a time ; the patient having a care not to take cold after it . x. an often experimented antimonial infusion . b take one ounce of pouder'd antimony , tied up in a little bag of clean linnen , and hang it in a gallon of beer or ale that is brought from the brew-house , and is yet scarce fit to be drawn out , much less to be drank . of this liquor when 't is ripe , let the patient make use for his ordinary drink ; only having a care , that if by age or accident it be perceived to grow sour , that vessel then be left off , for fear , least the acidity of the liquor , corroding the antimony , might make it vomitive . decad vii . i. an easie medicine to cleanse the womb , especially after child-bearing . b take a large white onion , of about four ounces in weight , if you can get so big a one , and boyl it in about a pint of water , with any thing fit to make a very thin broth , till a third part or more of the liquor be consumed : of this broth , which may be made a little palatable with nutmeg , &c. the patient is to take six or eight ounces twice or thrice a day . ii. an experienced wash that quickly cures the itch. a take strong quicklime one pound , and put to a gallon of spring-water , let them lie together for some hours , and then warily pour off the clear , filter the rest , and take two ounces of quick-silver , ty'd up in a linnen bag , and hang it in the liquor , and boil it for half an hour or more ; then pour off the clear liquor once more , and wash the hands only with it twice , or at most thrice , a day . iii. a remedy often us'd , with success , in fluxes , and even dysenteries . b take fresh roots of bistort , cut them into thin slices , and moisten them well with fair water and wine , to make them more soft and succulent ; then press out the juice as strongly as you can . and of this give about three or four spoonfuls , mingled with half a dozen spoonfuls , or somewhat more , of red wine , or some other convenient liquor . iv. a good medicine for a sore throat . b take the white of a new-laid egg , and by beating it , reduce it into water ; and with this water mix diligently so much conserve of red roses as will reduce it to a soft mass : whereof the patient is to let a little bit at a time melt leisurely in his mouth . v. a choice medicine for a sore throat . a take a piece of greasie linnen cloth , of such a bigness , as that , being doubled , it may make a bag in form of a stay , to reach from one side of the throat to the other , and contain as much matter , as may make it of the thickness of an inch or more : this bag being fill'd with common salt is to be heated throughly , and apply'd to the part affected as warm as the patient can conveniently indure ; and within 2 hours after , or when it begins to grow too could ; another like it and well heated , is to be substituted in its room ; and whil'st this is cooling , the other may be heated and made ready for use : so that the part affected may be always kept in a considerable degree of warmth , for about 48 hours , if the remedy be so long needed . vi. an often experienc'd medicine for the cholick , especially produced by sharp humors . a take a quart of claret , and put into the vessel about two ounces of nettle-seeds , stop the bottle , and keep it in boiling water , till the water has made three or four walms , to assist the wines impregnation with the finer part of the seeds : of this liquor let the patient take a small draught once or twice a day . vii . to appease the pain of the haemorrhoids , whether internal or external . b take two parts of flowers of sulphur , and one part of sugar very finely pouder'd , mix them exactly together , and make them up with a sufficient quantity of a mucilage of gum tragacarth into lozenges , of about a dram apiece : of which you may give one at a time , thrice in a day , or if need be , 4 or 5 times . viii . to make an excellent drink for the scurvy . a take two handsfuls of water trefoil , and let it work in about 8 gallons of wort , in stead of hops , or of small ale or wort , made for it : and let the patient use it for all , or for a great part of , his ordinary drink . ix . to make an easie diuretick . c peel off the inner skin of an egg shell , then beat the shell to a very fine pouder : give about a scruple of it at a time in any convenient vehicle . x. a powerful application to prevent and check the apoplexy . a make an issue at the meeting of the sutures , and keep it open for a good while ; but if the case will not admit delay , clap on a good cupping-glass , without scarification , or with it , as need shall require , upon the same concourse of the sutures . decad viii . i. a choice remedy for a sore throat . a take housleek , and having lightly beaten it in a glass or stone mortar , press out the juice hard between two plates ; to this juice put almost an equal quantity of virgin honey , mix them well , and add to the mixture a little burnt allom , as much as is requisite to give it a discernable aluminous taste : let the patient take this from time to time , with a liquorish stick , or some such thing . ii. an approv'd medicine for a cancer not broken . b take dulcify'd colcothar , and with cream , or whites of eggs beaten to a water , bring it to the consistence of a cataplasm ; which ought to be made large , and spread about the thickness of half a crown , and applyed warm to the part affected , shifting it at least once a day . iii. to make a very good syrup for thin rheums . a take syrup of jubibes , syrup of dryed roses , and syrup of corn poppy flowers , of each a like quantity , mix and use them as the necessity of the sick requires . iv. for the dysentery and pleurisie . b grrate to fine pouder the dry'd pizzel of a stagg , and give of it as much as will lie upon a shilling , or thereabouts , once or twice a day , in any convenient vehicle . v. to strengthen the gums , and make the teeth grow firm . b take catechu , terra japonica , or japonian earth , and dissolve as much as you can of it in a pint of claret , or red wine ; then decant the liquor warily from the subsiding faeces , and let the patient now and then wash his mouth with it , especially at bed time . vi. for a hoarsness upon a cold. b take three ounces of hyssop water , sweeten it with sugar-candy ; then beat well into it the yolk of one egg , and drink it at a draught . vii . a choice medicine for the jaundies in children . b take half an ounce of choice rhubarb made into pouder ; incorporate with it exactly by long beating , two handfulls of well chosen , and cleans'd currans . of this electuary let the patient take every morning about the quantity of a nutmeg , for several days together . viii . a rare medicine to take away gouty , and other arthritick pains . a take highly rectify'd spirit of mans vrine , and anoint the part with it , the cold being just taken off , once or twice the first day ; and no longer , unless the pain continue . ix . for a prolapsus uteri . b apply to the patients navel a pretty large cupping-glass ; but let it not stay on too long , not above a quarter of an hour , for fear of injuring the part it covers , especially the navel-string . x. to allay heat in the eyes , proceeding from sharp humours . b beat the white of an egg , into a water , in which dissolve a pretty quantity of refined loaf sugar , and then drop some of it into the patients eye . decad ix . i. an experienc'd medicine for strengthning a weak sight . b take of eye-bright , sweet fennel seeds , and fine sugar , all reduc'd to pouder , of each an ounce , nutmeg also pulveriz'd , one dram ( at most ; ) mix these very well together , and take of the composition from a dram to two or more , from time to time . ii. an often try'd medicine for tertian agues . b take crude allum and nutmeg finely scrap'd , of each about half a dram , mix the pouders well together , and with about six grains of saffron ; give this in two or three spoonfuls of white-wine vinegar at the usual time . iii. for stuffings of the lungs , and the chin cough . b make syrup of penny royal , or of ground ivy , moderately tart with oil of vitriol ; and of this let the patient take very leisurely about a quarter of a spoonful from time to time . iv. for the falling sickness in children . b take half a dram of choice amber , finely pouder'd , and give it for six or seven weeks together , once a day , when the stomach is empty , in about four ounces of good white-wine . v. an approved medicine to drive the stone , and cure suppression of vrine , proceeding from it . a take the roots of wild garlick , ( by some country people called crow garlick ) wipe them very clean , stamp them very well in a mortar of stone or glass , and strain out the juice ; with which make a moderate draught of good white-wine considerably strong , and let the patient take it once or twice a day . vi. an experienc'd medicine for sore throats . a take of scabious water six ounces , of wine vinegar a small spoonful , of mustard seed beaten , and of honey , of each a spoonful ; stir and shake them very well together ; and then filter the mixture and keep it for use . vii . an often experienced external remedy in apoplectick fits. a fix a cupping-glass ( without scarification ) to the nape of the neck , and another to each of the shoulders , and let them stick on a competent time . viii . an easie but approv'd medicine for the cholick . b take about half a dram of mastick , and mix it with the yolk of a new laid egg , and give it the patient once or twice a day . ix . to appease the heat of feavers by an external remedy . c apply to the soles of the feet a mixture , or thin cataplasm made of the leaves of tobacco , fit to be cut to fill a pipe with , beaten up with as much of the freshest currans you can get , as will bring the tobacco to the consistence of a poultis . x. the medicine that is in such request in italy against the worms in children . b infuse one dram of clean quicksilver all night in about two ounces of the water of goats rue , destil'd the common way in a cold still : and afterwards strain and filter it , to sever it from all dregs that may happen in the making it . this quantity is given for one dose . decad x. i. a choice medicine for a whitloe . a take shell snails , and beat the pulpy part of them very well , with a convenient quantity of fine chopt parsly , which is to be applyed warm to the affected part , and shifted two or three times a day . ii. a simple but useful lime-water , good for the kings evil , and divers other cases . b take half a pound of good quick-lime , and put it into one gallon of spring water , and infuse it for twenty four hours ; then decant the liquor , and let the patient drink a good draught of it two or three times a day , or he may use it for his ordinary drink ; this infusion may be coloured-with saffron , or red sanders ; and if need be to make it stronger , add more lime , and warm the water and keep it well stopt . iii. an excellent medicine for a fresh strain . a take four ounces of bean flower , two ounces of wine vinegar ; of these make a cataplasm to be applied a little warm to the part affected ; but if this should prove something too sharp , ( as in some cases it may ) then take two drams of litharg , and boil it a little in the vinegar ; before you put it to the bean flower . iv. for the piles . a take balsam of sulphur made with oil of turpentine , ointment of tobacco , equal parts , incorporate them well , and anoint the grieved place therewith . v. for a burn. b mingle lime-water with linseed oyl , by beating them together with a spoon , and with a feather dress the burn several times a day . vi. for a fresh strain . a boil bran in wine vinegar to the consistency of a poultis , apply it warm , and renew the poultis once in twelve hours , for two or three times . vii . an experienced medicine for the cholick . a take good nitre one ounce , and rub it well in a clean mortar of glass or stone , then grind with it half a scruple or more of fine saffron , and of this mixture give about half a dram for a dose in three or four ounces of cold spring water . viii . to make an issue raw , that begins to heal up . b take of lapis infernalis one ounce , of crown soap an ounce and half , chalk finely pouder'd six drams , mix them all together carefully , and keep them close stopt , except when you mean to use them . ix . for a sore throat . a make a plaister of paracelsus , three or four fingers broad , and length enough to reach almost from one ear to the other , and apply it to the part affected , so that it may touch the throat as much as may be . x. for heat about the orifice of the stomach . b make a syrup with the juice of house leek and sugar , and give about one spoonful of it from time to time . a stomachical tincture . a take agrimony two drams , small centory tops one dram , coriander seeds bruised one scruple , sassatras shavings and bark , one dram , gentian root half a dram , zedoary root ten grains ; pour upon these three quarters of a pint of boiling spring water , cover it , and let it steep twelve hours , then strain it , and put it in a bottle ; then drop a drop of oil of cinnamon , upon a lump of sugar , and put it into the liquor . the dose is three spoonfuls twice a day , an hour or two before meals . the end . a catalogue of the philosophical books and tracts , written by the honourable robert boyle esq together with the order or time wherein each of them hath been publish'd respectively . to which is added a catalogue of the theological books , written by the same author . london : printed for sam. smith , at the sign of the prince's arms in st. paul's church-yard . 1692. advetisements of the publisher . i. many ingenious persons , especially strangers , having pressingly endeavour'd to procure a catalogue of the honourable mr. boyle's writings ; and the author himself being not at leisure to draw one up ; 't was thought it might be some satisfaction to those inquirers , if i publish'd the following list , as it was drawn out , for his own use , of the philosophical transactions , as well as the printed volumes , by an ingenious french physician , studious of the authors writings , some of which he translated and printed in his own language . ii. the letter l affixt in the margin , denotes the book related to , to have been translated , and publish'd in the latin tongue also . several of the rest having likewise been translated into latin but not yet publish'd . iii. those that have an asterisk prefix'd to them , came forth without the authors name , tho' 't is not doubted but they are his. iv. such as have this mark ☞ prefix'd to them , are sold by samuel smith at the prince's arms in st. pauls church-yard . v. divers of those mentioned , as drawn out of the transactions , did probably come abroad in latin ; some of the transactions themselves having been publish'd in that language . a catalogue of the philosophical books and tracts . new experiments physico-mechanical , touching the spring and the weight of the air , and its effects , ( made for the most part in a new pneumatical engine ) written by way of letter to the right honourable charles lord viscount of dungavan , eldest son to the earl of cork , by the honourable robert boyle esq a defence of the doctrine , touching the spring and weight of the air , propos'd by the author in his new physico-mechanical experiments ; against the objections of franciscus linus , wherewith the objectors punicular hypothesis is also examin'd . an examen of mr. hobbes's dialogus physicus de naturâ aeris , as far as it concerns the authors book of new experiments , touching the spring of the air ; with an appendix touching mr. hobbes's doctine of fluidity and firmness . these three together in a volume in 4● , being a second edition ; the first at oxford 1662 , had been publish'd , anno 1660. the two others at london , 1662 , had been publish'd , anno 1661. the sceptical chymist , &c. 1661. physiological essays , or tentamina , written and collected upon divers times and occasions , with an history of fluidity and firmness , in 40. 1662. an experimental history of colours begun , 80. 1663. some considerations touching the usefulness of experimental natural philosophy , propos'd in a familiar discourse to a friend , by way of invitation to the study of it : a second edition 40. oxford , 1664. the first had been publish'd 1663. of the usefulness of natural philosophy , the second part ; the first section , of its usefulness to physick , with an appendix to this first section of the second part , 4 0 1669. of the usefulness of experimental natural philosophy , &c. the second tome , containing the latter section of the second part , 40 , oxford , 1671. the first volume of these three books contains five essays . the first , of the usefulness , &c. principally as it relates to the mind of man. the second , a continuation of the former . the third , a further continuation . the fourth , a requisite digression concerning those , who would exclude the deity from intermed●ing with matter . in the fifth , the discourse , interrupted by the late digression , is resum'd and concluded . the second volume contains likewise five essays . the first , of the usefulness , &c. as to the physiological part of physick . the second , as to the pathological part of pphysick . the third , as to the semeiotical part of physick . the fourth , as to the hygicinal part of physick . the fifth , as to the therapeutical part of physick , in 20 chapters . the third volume contains six essays . the first , general considerations about the means , whereby experimental phylosophy may become useful to human life . the second , of the usefulness of mathematicks to natural philosophy . the third , of the usefulness of mechanical disciplines to natural philosophy . the fourth , that the goods of mankind may be much increased by the naturalists insight into trades , with an appendix . the fifth , of doing by physical knowledge , what is wont to require manual skill . the sixth , of mens great ignorance of the uses of natural things . an experimental history of cold , and some discourses concerning new thermometrical experiments , and thoughts about the doctrine of antiperistasis ; with an examen of mr. hobbes's doctrine touching cold , a second edition , quarto . 1665. attempts of a way to convey liquors immediately into the mass of blood communicated in the philosophical transactions of december the 4th 1665. observations and experiments upon the barometer or ballance of air , invented , directed , and begun , anno 1659 , communicated to dr beal that continued them , and mentioned in the transactions of february the 12th and march the 12th , 1666. hydrostatical paradoxes made out by new experiments , for the most part physical and easie , occasioned by monsieur paschal's tract of the equilibrium of liquors , and of the weight of the air , 1666. an account of an earthquake near oxford , and the cocomitants thereof , communicated in the philosophical transactions of april 2d , 1666. new observations and directions about the barometer , in the same . general heads for a natural history of a country , great or small , communicated in the same . the origine of forms and qualities illustrated by considerations and experiments , in two parts , octavo , 1666. a way of preserving birds , taken out of the egg , and other small faetus's , communicated in the philosophical transactions of may the 7th , 1666. an account of a new kind of baroscope , which may be called statical , and of some advantages and conveniences it hath above the mercurial , communicated in the philosophical transactions of july the 2d , 1666. a new frigorific experiment , shewing how a considerable degree of cold may be suddenly produced , without the help of snow , ice , hail , wind or nitre , and that at any time of the year , communicated in the philosophical transactions of july the 18th , 1666. tryals proposed to dr. lower for the improvement of transfusing blood out of one live animal into another , communicated in the philosophical transactions of february the 11th , 1666. free considerations about subordinate forms , being an appendix to the origine of forms and qualities published last year , and reprinted with this , 1667. in octavo . a letter to the author of the philosophical transactions , giving an information of some experiments which he had made himself several years ago , by injecting acid liquors into blood , upon the occasion of those communicated by signior fracassati , in a letter written from oxford , october the 19th , 1667. new experiments concerning the relation between light and air , ( in shining wood and fish ) in a letter from oxford to the publisher of the philosophical transactions of january the 6th , 1668. a continuation of the same letter in the philosophical transactions of february the 10th , 1668. a continuation of new experiments , physico-mechanical , touching the spring and weight of the air , and their effects ; the first part . with a discouse of the atmospheres of consistent bodies , oxford , 1669. an invention for estimating the weight of water with ordinary ballances and weights , in the philosophical transactions of august the 16th , 1669. certain philosophical essays and other tracts , second edition ; with a discourse about the absolute rest of bodies , quarto . london , 1669. the first edition had been published , anno 1662. new pneumatical experiments about respiration , upon ducks , vipers , frogs , &c. communicated in the philosophical transactions of august 8. 1670. a continuation of the same experiments in the philosophical transactions of september the 12th , 1670. tracts : about the cosmical qualities of things : the temperature of the subterraneal and submarine regions , and the bottom of the sea ; together with an introduction to the history of particular qualities , octavo , oxford , 1670. tracts : a discovery of the admirable rarefaction of the air ( even without heat : ) new observations about the duration of the spring of the air new experiments touching the condensation of the air by mere cold , and its compression without mechanical engines , and the admirably differing extensions of the same quantity of air , rarified and compressed , quarto , london , 1670. an essay about the origine and virtues of gems , quarto , london , 1672. some observations about shining flesh , both of veal , and pullet , and that without any sensible putrefaction in those bodies , communicated by way of letter to the publisher of the philosophical transactions , in the transactions of december the 16th , 1672. a new experiment concerning an effect of the varying weight of the atmosphere upon some bodies in the water , the description whereof was presented to the lord broncker , anno 1671. suggesting a conjecture , that the alterations of the very weight of the air , may have considerable operations , even upon mens sickness or health , communicated in the philosophical transactions of february the 24th , 1673. tracts : containing new experiments , touching the relation between flame and air , and about explosions . an hydrostatical discourse , occasioned by some objections of dr. henry moor , &c. to which is annexed an hydrostatical letter about a way of weighing water in water : new experiments of the positive , or relative , levity of bodies under water : of the airs-spring on bodies under water , and about the differing pressure of heavy solids and fluids , octavo , london , 1672 , 1691. essays of the strange subtilty , great efficacy , and determinate nature of effluvin●s ; to which are annexed new experiments to make the parts of fire and flame , stable and ponderable , with experiments about arresting and weighing of igneous corpuscles ; and a discovery of the perviousness of glass to ponderable parts of flame , octavo , london , 1673. a letter of september the 13th , 1673. concerning ambergreece , and its being a vegetable production , mentioned in the philosophical transactions of october the 8th , 1673. tracts : observations about the saltness of the sea : an account of the statical hyroscope , and its uses , together with an appendix about the force of the airs moisture , and a fragment about the natural and preternatural state of bodies . to all which is premised a sceptical dialogue about the positive or privative nature of cold , octave , london , 1674 , 1691. a discourse about the excellency and grounds of the mechanical hypothesis , occasionally proposed to a friend , annexed to another , entituled , the excellency of theology , compared with natural philosophy , octavo , london , 1674. an account of the two sorts of helmontian laudanum , together with the way of the noble baron f. m. van helmont ( son to the famous john baptista ) of preparing his laudanum , communicated in the philosophical transactions of october the 26th , 1674. tracts : containing , 1. suspicions about some hidden qualities of the air , with an appendix touching coelestial magnets , and some other particulars . 2. animadversions upon mr. hobbes's problemata de vac●o . 3. a discourse of the cause of attraction by suction , octavo , london , 1674 , 1691. some physico-theological considerations about the possibility of the resurrection , annexed to a discourse , entituled , the reconcileableness of reason and religion , octavo . london , 1674 / 5. a conjecture concerning the bladders of air , that are found in fishes , communicated by a. j. and illustrated by an experiment , suggested by the author in the philosophical transactions of april the 26th , 1675. a new essay-instrument , invented and described by the author , together with the uses thereof , in 3 parts . the first shews the occasion of making it , and the hydrostatical principles 't is founded on . the second describes the construction of the instrument . the third represents the uses ; which , as relating to metals , are 1. to discover whether a proposed guinea be true , or counterfeit . 2. to examine divers other gold coins , and particularly half guinea's . 3. to examine the new english crown pieces of silver . 4. to estimate the goodness of tin and pewter . 5. to estimate alloys of gold and silver , and some other metalline mixtures . all this maketh up the philosophical transactions of june 21. 1675. ten new experiments about the weaken'd spring , and some unobserved effects , of the air , where occur not only several tryals to discover ; whether the spring of the air , as it may divers ways be increased , so may not by other ways than cold , or dillation be weakened , but also some odd experiments to shew the change of colours producible in some solutions and precipitations by the operation of the air , communicated in the philosophical transactions of december 27. 1675. an experimental discourse of quicksilver , growing hot with gold , english and latin , communicated in the philosophical transactions of february 21. 1676. experiments , notes , &c. about the mechanical origine or production of divers particular qualities , amongst which , is inserted a discourse of the imperfections of the chymists doctrine of qualities , together with some reflections upon the hypothesis of alcali and acidum , octavo , london , 1676 , 1690. this discourse comprehends notes , &c. about the mechanical origine and production of cold. of heat . of tasts . of odours . of volatility . of fixtness . of corrosiveness . of corrosibility . of chymical precipitation . of magnetical qualities . of electricity . new experiments about the superficial figures of fluids , especially of liquors contiguous to other liquors : likely to conduce much to the physical theory of the grand system of the world , communicated in the philosophical transactions of january the 29th , 1676 / 7. a continuation of the same experiments in the philosophical transactions in february the 1676 / 7. the sceptical chymist , or chymico-physical paradoxes , touching the experiments whereby vulgar spagyrists are wont to endeavour to evince their salt , sulphur and mercury to be the true principles of things ; to which in this second edition are subjoined divers experiments and notes , about the producibleness of chymical principles , octavo . oxford , 1680 , 1690. a second continuation of new experiments physico-mechanical , in which , various experiments , touching the spring of the air , either compress'd or artificial , are contain'd , with a description of new engines to perform them , 1680. the aerial noctiluca , or some new phaenomena , and a process of a factitious self-shining substance , octavo , london . the glaical or icy noctiluca , with a chymical paradox founded on new experiments , whence it may be made probable , that chymical principles may be converted one into another , octavo , london , 1680. memoirs for the natural history of human blood , especially the spirit of that liquor , london , 1684. experiments and considerations about the porosity of bodies , in two essays : the former of the porousness of animal bodies ; the other of the porousness of solid bodies , octavo , london , 1684. short memoirs for the natural experimental history of mineral waters , octavo , 1685. an historical account of a strangely self-moving liquor , communicated in the philosophical transactions of november the 26th , 1685. of the reconcileableness of specifick medicines , to the corpuscular philosophy , to which is annex'd a discourse about the advantages of the use of simple medicines , propos'd by way of invitation to it , octavo , london , 1685. an essay of the great effects of languid and unheeded motion . to which is annex'd an experimental discourse of some unheeded causes of the salubrity and insalubrity of the air and its effects , octavo , london , 1685 , 1690. a free inquiry into the vulgarly receiv'd notion of nature , in an essay address'd to a friend , octavo , london , 1685 / 6. a disquisition about the final causes of natural things . with an appendix of some uncommon observations about vitiated sight , octavo , london , 1688. medicina hydrostatica : or , hydrostaticks , applied to the materia medica , shewing , how by the weight that divers bodies us'd in physick , have in water ; one may discover , whether they be genuine or adulterate . to which is subjoin'd , a previous hydrostatical way of estimating ores , octavo , london , 1690. experimenta & observationes physicae ; wherein are briefly treated of several subjects relating to natural philosophy in an experimental way ; to which is added , a small collection of strange reports , in two parts , octavo , london , 1691. medicinal experiments : or , a collection of choice remedies , for the most part simple and easily prepared , twelves , london , 1692. price 1 s. advertisements . because among those that willingly read the author's writings , there are some that relish those most , ( as most suitable to their genius , addicted to religious studies ) that treat of matters relating to divinity : the publisher thinks fit to gratifie them with a catalogue of those theological books that pass for mr. boyle's , because they were ascribed to him , and never positively disown'd by him ; tho' such of them as are mark'd with an asterisk , come abroad without having his name prefixt to them . seraphic love , five or six times printed but first published in the year , 1660 octavo . considerations about the stile of the scripture , whereof the first edition was publish'd in the year , 1662. in english , and afterward turn'd into , and several times printed in latin , octavo . occasional reflections on several subjects , with a preliminary discourse of the way of meditating there exemplified ; first publish'd in the year , 1665. and afterwards turn'd into latin , but not yet printed in that language , octavo . of the excellency of the study of theology , compared with that of natural philosophy . printed in the year , 1674. octavo . considerations about the reconcileableness of reason and religion . to which is annex'd a discourse about the possibility of the resurrection . printed in the year , 1675. octavo . a treatise of things above reason . to which are annex'd some advices about things that are said to transcend reason . printed in the year , 1681. in english , and afterwards translated into latin , but not yet printed in that language , octavo . of the veneration that man's intellect owes to god. printed in the year , 1685. the martyrdom of theodora , and of didymus . london , 1687. the christian vertuoso : shewing , that by being addicted to experimental philosophy , a man is rather assisted , than indisposed , to be a good christian . the first part ; to which are subjoin'd , 1. a discourse about the distinction , that represents some things as above reason , but not contrary to reason . 2. the first chapters of a discourse , entituled , greatness of mind promoted by christianity , octavo , london , 1690. a catalogue of new physick books printed for sam. smith at the prince's arms in st. paul's church yard . paarmacopeia bateana . quâ nonginta circiter pharmaca , plerâque omnia è praxi georgii batei regi carolo secundo medici primarii excerpta , ordine alphabetico conci●è exhibentur . quorum nonnulla in laboritorio publico pharmacopoeano lond. fideliter parantur venalia : atque in usu sunt hodierno apud medicos londinenses . editio altera priori multò locupletior : cum viribus ac dosious annexis . huic accesserunt arcana goddardiana ex autographo authoris desumpta . item ad calcem orthotonia medicorum observata : insuper & tabula posologica dosibus pharmacorum accommodata . cum indice morborum , curationum , &c. curâ j. s. pharmacopoei lond. in twelves . 1691. praxeos mayernianae in morbis internis praecipue gravioribus & chronicis syntagma , ex adversariis , consiliis ac epistolis ejus , summâ curâ ac diligentiâ concinnatum . londini . in oct. 1690. phthisiologia seu exercitationes de phthisi tribus libris comprehensae . totumque opus variis historiis illustratum . autore richardo morton , med. d. & regii collegii medicor . lond. socio . londini . in octavo . 1689. osteologia nova , or some new observations of the bones , and the parts belonging to them , with the manner of their accretion , and nutrition , communicated to the royal society in several discourses . i. of the membrane , nature , constituent parts , and internal structure of the bones . ii. of accretion , and nutrition , as also of the affections of the bones in the rickets , and of venereal nodes . iii. of the medulla , or marrow . iv. of the mucilaginous glands , with the etiology or explication of the causes of a rheumatism , and the gout , and the manner how they are produced . to which is added , a fifth discourse of the cartilages . by clopton havers . m. d. fellow of the royal society . london . in octavo . 1691. synopsis methodica stirpium brittannicarum , in quatum notae generum characteristicae traduntur , tum species singulae breviter describuntur : ducentae quinquaginta plus minus novae species p●●tim suis locis inseruntur , partim in appendice seorsim exhibentur . cum indice & virium epitome . auctore joanne raio è societate regia . londini . in octavo . 1690. pharmacopaelae collegii regalis londini remedia omnia succinctè descripta , atque serie alphabeticâ ita digesta , ut singula promptius primo intuitu investigare possint , editio altera priori castigatior & auctior : huic annexus est catalogus simplicium tum locupletior tum compendiosor quàm antehàc editus ; accedit in calce manuale ad forum nec non pinax posographicus , curâ ja. shipton phamacop . lond. in t'welves . 1689. the end . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28992-e12710 l ☜ l ☞ l l ☞ ☞ ☜ l l l l l l ☜ ☜ l l ☞ l l ☜ l ☞ ☜ l ☜ l ☞ l ☞ l ☞ l ☞ ☞ l ☞ ☞ * l ☜ * ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ notes for div a28992-e15340 ☞ l * ☞ * ☞ * ☜ * l ☜ * ☜ ☜ vindiciæ medicinæ & medicorum: or an apology for the profession and professors of physick in answer to the several pleas of illegal practitioners; wherein their positions are examined, their cheats discovered, and their danger to the nation asserted. as also an account of the present pest, in answer to a letter. by nath. hodges, m.d. coll. lond. hodges, nathaniel, 1629-1688. 1666 approx. 387 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 126 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a44061 wing h2308 estc r215271 99827190 99827190 31606 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a44061) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 31606) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1888:7) vindiciæ medicinæ & medicorum: or an apology for the profession and professors of physick in answer to the several pleas of illegal practitioners; wherein their positions are examined, their cheats discovered, and their danger to the nation asserted. as also an account of the present pest, in answer to a letter. by nath. hodges, m.d. coll. lond. hodges, nathaniel, 1629-1688. [16], 225 [i.e. 235], [1] p. printed by j.f. for henry brome, london : 1666. with an initial imprimatur leaf. page 235 is misnumbered 225. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. plague -england -london -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-04 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2006-04 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion vindiciae medicinae & medicorum : or an apology for the profession and professors of physick . in answer to the several pleas of illegal practitioners ; wherein their positions are examined , their cheats discovered , and their danger to the nation asserted . as also an account of the present pest , in answer to a letter . by nath . hodges , m. d. coll. lond. in medicis rebus tractandis non solum unusquisque tenetur quantum in se est errores fugere & emendare sed & omnes qui in eos impingunt commonefacere , antequam labes ulterius serpat in hominum exitium , alsar . london , printed by j. f. for henry broom . 1666. imprimatur , to the most reverend father in god , his grace gilbert , by divine providence lord arch-bishop of canterbury , and metropolitan of all england , and one of his majesty's most honourable privy-council . may it please your grace , the neer alliance between divinity and medicine , whose relation is as intimate as the union of soul and body , hath setled such a sympathy in both professions , that they necessarily partake of the infelicity and prosperity happening to each other ; and thence it was , that when the reverend clergy ( during the late rebellion ) suffered according to their sworn enemies implacable fury , the professors of physick also by the prevailing invasion of empericks shared in the common calamity ; and since not without a miracle that storm is over , and the god of order hath moved upon our chaos , so that the heavens are divided from the earth , and our stars shine in their proper spheres , yeilding continually influential vertues in good measure to dispose the feculencies below into a compliance with their refining efficacies : i say , since the restitution of our religion and clergy , physicians do justly congratulate the success of both , and most heartily wish that the church may never fall again into the hands of empirical divines who as rudely treated peoples souls , as the present quacks in physick do their bodies , their crude and extemporary effusions directly answering the others unskilful and dangerous medicaments . and although the condition of physick and physicians is very little bettered , as if it were to be quite excluded from the benefits of the publick deliverance , yet we despair not by reason particularly of your graces readiness and zeal to patronize learning , that the profession of physick and legitimate physicians will after a long confusion be separated and distinguished from the dregs of illiterate practisers : such it seems is the boldness both of our common empericks and upstart pseudochymists , that they presume to entertain as great hopes of their prevailing over all academicks , as the churches enemies impatiently expect a revolution , but i trust god almighty in his providence will utterly disappoint both ; 't is in the mean time our advantage that some of our highest pretending adversaries have made addresses to your grace , whose judgment we esteem as the grand test to discover all those fallacies both in books and men , which by reason of their cunning adulteration pass currantly with others ; but so soon as their mercurial tincture is evaporated , the remain will appear to be only lead or some base mettal . because your grace and many other persons of great honor and worth do approve chymistry as the most probable means to discover a sensible philosophy , and to furnish noble medicines for the benefit of mankind ; some of our mountebanking vulcans have presumed to appropriate these high favors , as if your countenancing all true sons of art did comprehend all who in order to their delusion of the people call themselves philosophers by fire , having neither satisfied the universities nor any other legall judges concerning their abilities and fitness to undertake the most difficult profession of physick : no other construction can be put upon that transaction then a necessary invitation of academical physicians to seek out and prepare the most effectual remedies by art acquirable , and to give the people a just esteem of this way of practice , to which because of the mis-carriages of pseudochymists they are yet utter enemies : but as for ignorant quacks , who being master of reason can suppose that authority will indulge them to abuse the people and oppose a faculty established by law ? as these are diseases in the state , so wholsom edicts in time may happily be provided to deal with their most obstinate complications . i shall not intimate any distrust by the use of many arguments importuning your grace to promote the speedy enacting of convenient lavvs whereby illegal practisers may be restrained and punished ; as medicines when judiciously and according to art applied , are worthily reputed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , so your grace in giving an opportunity of their right use will merit the greatest share in their success and commendations . this small treatise and the author being engaged to encounter multitudes of monsters , like those which pliny mentions whose eyes are fixed in their breasts , their knowledg being naught else but passion , have made bold to shelter themselves under your patronage . may it please your grace to accept this little book on the account of the subjects which it attempts to vindicate , and the author as one who devotes himself to be your graces most obedient servant , nath . hodges . authori clarissimo in vindicias medicinae & medicorum . carmen gratulatorium . ingenium oxonii , dum terrae filius , author protulit , & gratos sparsit ubique sales ; aptius experto erexit medicina theatrum civibus hinc summo parta labore salus : hic liber ingenium sapit oxoniense , stupendum judiciumque artitum medicis dat opem . quum te discipulum clegit turquettus in herba messem conspexit , foenora speque dotum , non instar tumuli condis documenta , magistri funus , at extincti spirat imago senis quicquid spagyrica ars tibi suppeditare valebat calles , galeni scriptaque nota tibi . sic bene miscetur veterum medicina recenti , aetatem inventis ars renovare solet . deficerent laudes si digna encomia tanto authore aggrederer , vel metra digna libro vindicias metuent hostes , calamumque volantem plectere , cum nequeant effugere arte enecem victrices sic quondam aquilas plaga barbara mundi horruit & simili cessit in antra fuga histrio , tonsor , anus , medicaster & omnis eodem succumbent fato , vindiciisque tuis . j. b. m. d. carmina encomiastica ad amicum dignissimum vindicias medicinae & medicorum edentem . non te scribendi cacoethes corripit , urgent sed pia vota , librum facit indignatio , cum tot undique conspicias a crebro funcre doctos depopulaturos patriam ni vindice strictum ostendente ensem , properantia fata pavescant hi mortis socii humanae vitaeque tyranni : audet quisque sacram violare machaonis artem et miscere aegis laethalia pocula , spondens a tumulo vitam , phoenicem suscitat ignis non aliter prolem scintillae , damna salut is vivida spes reparet ; neque morbo pressus ut olim expetat auxilium , cum sola pericula salvum more novo reddant ; medicinae insignia poscunt , carnifices , & quot capitalem infligere poenam officiose optant , scelus illud morte piandum siquis de morbo quaerat , proh ! quanta latronum insidias aegro struat uni turba , crumenam et vitam simul eripiens , his maxima cura est infandis , ut nemo evadat , tollitur ansa tuto occumbendi , ad mortem mors altera ducit . acrius in medicos unita insania frendet quae modo causidicos , clerosque momordit , anhelans doctrinam reduci invidia sub nomine tantum paeoniae artis plectere ; vos exurgite somnum excutite altum , nā fractis ruitura columnis ars asclepiadis jacet , in vos ordine recto odia festinant , medicinae expulsa facultas mox expectandae praedicit signa ruinae vobis causidicis & cleris , quodque dolendum vere , amborum tunc erit immedicabile vulni● qui studia omnino spernunt academic praxi● non volvendo libros certam se discere jacta● ast exercitio , dum pellem quilibet ips●● porrigat infaelix , & ut experiantur 〈◊〉 artes concedat , dum caemeteria dignos testentur , merito doctoratuque 〈◊〉 astrologus , nutrix , obstetrix , 〈◊〉 copol● tonsor , anus , stultus , mendicus , pseudochymaste● perditam eunt medicam conjunctis viribus artem haec malesana cohors sistat vestigia , nondu●● voti compos , hic author ab ipso limin● fat● faelici medicinam languentem arte reduxit . splendescet posthac medicorum famae perorbem non metuens hostes : sic nos servavit apollo . s. i. m. d bella per angliacos plusquam civilia campos grassata , immunis nec stetit ulla domus , per tot lustra suis jacuit medicina medelis , plebs & apollineae surripit arma togae , horum par certamen erat , quot sustulit ensis martius , indocta tot cecidere manu : discrimen superest majus , cessante triumpho mavortis , gliscit perdere saeva cohors , et dum pace fruit liceat , quam poscimus , alta accelerat clades de grege quisque novas ; nulla quies populo , sunt mortis mille fenestrae , certius occidunt pharmaca , quam gladius : sufficit exanguis quae parta est gloria palmae humanum extinguant ne chymica arte genus undique poscit opem gens nostra laborat agyrtis vindiciis pereat noxia turba tuis , nullus inexpertam post hac exerceat artem , pristina compenset damna futura salus ; vindiciae praestant patriae ( vir docte ) perennem pacem , unum exitium morbus & hostis habet : eia agite o cives tranquillam ducite vitam vivere non , sed ab his vita valere dolis j. a. m. d. be pleased ( courteous reader ) passing by literal errors ▪ to correct these following mistakes which escaped observation . page 49. for spermatick , read wo matick , p. 57. lesbian , r. lesbiam , p. 62. proponabit , r. propina●it , p. 84. pilats , r. pilots , p. 62. gradatim est , r. gradatim & , p. 93. arrive , r. arriving . p. 101. firmissa , r. firmissima , p. 109. but chymical , r. but difficult . vindiciae medicinae , et medicorum . or , an apology for the profession and professors of physick . chap. i. of empericks , and their practises . self-conservation acted from an innate principle , most powerfully inclines all creatures , especially mankind , to a full compliance with such injunctions , as may best conduce thereunto ; which being our chiefest natural concernment in point of interest , as well as duty , requires our utmost endeavor in avoiding what may be prejudicial , and choosing what may promote this , so just and necessary intent : external dangers hereupon impressing a deep sense of their destructive events , do incessantly sollicite for suitable helps to rescue from those threatning mischiefs , and by a more cogent propensity all the powers of nature are set on work , and medicine called in to assist with its effectual co-operation to oppugn diseases , in order to an happy restoration to that state which suffered by reason of their invasion . so then , medicine is commended to us as the proper means whereby the proposed end of sanity may most probably be attained ; to which application is naturally made in sickness , from a well grounded confidence of its corresponding efficacy , which good opinion of physick , and the general conformity to those primitive dictates of self-conservation , give advantage and opportunity to very many of insinuating their zeal and forwardness to contribute towards the better satisfaction of this obligation to nature ; and most people being easily convinced of the necessity incumbent on them to seek out for help when seized by sickness , and not discerning the deceits of meer pretenders to the science of physick , from the real abilities of true physicians , are upon this account frequently misguided to imploy those who frustrate the end of medicines , and miserably disappoint their ( otherwise regular ) tendency , to preserve themselves . that this delusion may no longer prevail in affairs of such consequence as health and life ; i have essayed to distinguish between those who without requisite qualifications undertake the practice of physick , and such whom learning and experience have accomplished for the accurate discharge of their noble profession . i shall under the notion of empericks treat of the first sort ; and however the term emperick is notoriously known in respect of the vast * swarm of them which pester all places , confidently pretending to physick : yet to avoid mistakes , i shall explain what i intend by it . i style him an emperick , who , without consideration of any rational method undertakes to cure diseases , whose frequent periclitations ( as he conceits ) surpass the notional theory of physick , and his proof of receipts seem to him more satisfactory then the scholastick odd rules of practice : but what can be expected from such rude experimentings , not respecting any indications , or other circumstances very considerable in the right effecting of a cure ? who questions but that such morbos andabatarum more impugnantes , proceeding blindfold to their attempts , must inevitably err ? indeed the empericks voice up their experience , and think it an authentick diploma , capacitating them to practice physick ; i shall therefore enquire what experience is , and then a right judgment may be made whether these answer their pretences herein . true experience is constituted of reason and sense ; for as a judicial observation of sensible experiments produceth apt theorems , so thereby the intellect forms universal conceptions and essays their confirmation by repeated experimental operations , whence issued what men call science , together with all its eternal and immutable truths ; henceforth unquestionable by sense , which having the royal assent affixed to them are standing laws not subject to future censures : so then there is no cause why we should return to the first more rude and imperfect way , since the science of medicine is not only already invented and discovered , but adorned with intelligible rules and aphorisms , and thereby improved to general use . the experience therefore of these empericks being altogether void of reason and dissentaneous from the known maxims of medicine is meerly the effect of sense , and consequently bruitish ; for the enumeration of their presumed successes because of this defect of principles , is not argumentative to conclude an attainment of experience , in regard that reason did not make due collection from those tryals and periclitations ; but these in their practice act not unlike some who take pains rudely to heap stones together , designing thereby to erect an artificial structure , the event being far otherwise ; for the higher the heap adspires , the neerer is its downfal and ruine : and so when the empericks multiply their inartificial experiments to meliorate their knowledg , and to acquire experience , fruitlesness attends their labors , and destruction those who confide in their promised experience : they in the mean time who have the luck to be the a b c of the empericks first attempts , and patiently submit to their embrio experiments run no small hazard , when their best grown endeavors prove molas-like , unshapen , and monstrous births . it is confessed that the advantages to physick have been very considerable upon the account of dissatisfaction with some old tenents , whereupon just occasions of further search and inquiry were administred to make new and more useful discoveries ; but yet i cannot allow the inference by some late writers in favor of the vulgar experimenters , from hence deduced , as if because the medicinal science by successive discoveries was so much improved , a through alteration of what remains , seemed no less necessary to its compleatment and perfection ; and therefore empericism ought to be encouraged as the likeliest means to advance this hopeful work , for the consequence is altogether illogical , and fallacious to conclude from some particular defects in physick , that the whole art is thereupon impleadable of the same misprision of insufficiency and uncertainty ; and that reasoning equally absurd , which pleads for the empericks to be countenanced as if their experimentings might very much further this pretended reformation in physick : the new doctrines are so far from designing the subversion of the ancient foundations , that they appear considerable additions * confirming and establishing them , and they who have been prosperous in making discoveries , did not in order to their scrutiny devoid themselves of all artificial helps , but proceeded under the conduct of firme and allowed principles to their succesful disquisitions , nay were it granted that not only every age ( as is abundantly evident ) but each person should take notice of something before unobserved , yet would not these hereby ruine the settled constitution of the medicinal science , which notwithstanding all such successes , is still permanent and unshaken : indeed many who applaud their service , have troubled themselves rather to question opinions in physick , which are conjectural and the product of fancy , then well formed aphorisms drawn immediatly from sensible observation on which the science of physick is chiefly founded : and to this purpose , not a few have misplaced their pains in examining and disputing the hypotheses of hippocrates , galen , and their disciples about the humors , qualities , and the like sentiments of those authors who thought fit thereby to express their conceptions , if any quarrel with those notions , they may take the same liberty of substituting others more agreeable to the phaenomena of nature ; but the substantials of physick are not altered by the various dresses wherein they appear suitable to every age. as for the empericks fitness to enterprise this pretended renovation of physick , there seems to be no sufficient ground for any such expectation because they in their experimentings wanting directive precepts , can make no true judgment of their performances ; from whence also no rule can be formed as their natural result : they who would become physicians are not educated as the raw lacedemonian souldiers were wont to be , first learning to fight in the dark , being emboldned to desperate attempts by this initiation in night service ; for gross ignorance is so far from accomplishing to attain the greatest difficulties in physick , that it utterly incapacitates for such undertakings . when i have given an account of the several sorts of empericks , their inabilities to advance physick , may be easily apprehended : of which in the next place . the first sort of empericks are such who try accidental and chance experiments on the diseased , not having any sufficient ground of perswasion that the medicaments thus proved are proper : it may seem strange that any who pretend to reason , should after this manner sacrifice to fortune , * and yet they cannot be numbred whom good luck and presumptuous hopes of success encourage to give physick : the business is not so much , how likely or contrary the applications are to the disease , if a cure is wrought thereby ; and i will not deny but that some of these are very prosperous by the use of medicines , not reduceable to any known rules of art ; if the reason is demanded , i know not how to avoid the attributing of their successes to any other power then the infernal spirits assistance : the divines term this an implicite compact , for that person ( as a reverend and late writer notes ) who applies the creatures to those ends and uses , to which either by its own propensity or by god's institution it was never inclined , is at length taken in the snare of prestigious and diabolical delusion : and the excellent matthias mairhofer is of the same judgment ; quando aliquis assequitur effectum propositum non adhibendo causas legitimas & legitimas causarum conditiones licet sciens & deliberate non expetat diaboli auxilium , dat tamen operam in procurando effectu quibusdam occultis dubiisque modis , qui à viris bonis merito judicantur symbolum diabolicae operationis clam intercedentis ( says he ) when any person designs the attainment of any effect without respect to natural causes , and not heeding the conditions necessary to its production , although he doth not wittingly , and with deliberation implore the divels help , yet working by occult and dubious waies he is most deservedly censured by all good men as guilty of a private and more secret covenant with the divel to co-operate with him . i cannot distinguish between charms and other known and solemn methods of sorcery and witchcraft , and these no less prestigious and hellish practises ; in a business of such consequence , i am willing to speak plain , that the busie and officious people of both sexes may understand their adventure , when either out of an ambition to gain the popular repute of doing good , or for profits sake they give medicines at random , not being able either to satisfie themselves or others concerning the true vertues thereof , and the reason of application ; if what is thus given , succeeds not , then must they answer ( at least to god ) the death of the patient , if the party recovers , then is there just cause of suspition that the evil feind is their adjutor with his long experienced skill , being willing to cure the body of one to destroy the soul of another : when learned and experienced physicians are at hand , what occasion is there that these empericks should hazard their best part , and so highly injure themselves in hopes of doing good to others , or any people be so deluded , as to let the devil practise upon them , and even possess them with health . the common plea of these empericks in respect of the hazard of their fortuitous experimentings is altogether vain , they perhaps thought the medicaments by them thus used at random to be innocent and safe ; but i must rejoyn that not only time and opportunity is lost by the interposition of these empericks with their supposedly harmless medicines , and nature thereby suffers an interruption in her methodical course , on both which physicians most judiciously do lay great stress but granting that the things in respect of their nature are not deadly , yet being indirectly given , the event may possibly prove them such : for when a little saphron ( as a good observator writes ) did immediatly kill , a familiar clyster presently occasioned death , a little oyl of roses ( which i have seen ) threatned the same fate , and an opiate collyrium ( if we credit avicenna ) straight-ways depriv'd of life ; i say , when the safest medicines are by these empericks unduly and at all peradventure applied , though contrary to the true and genuine indications of cure , they are so far inexcusable upon the account of such hazards , as that they deserve the severest censure , who kill with reputedly safe medicines . well then , there is no reason why these empericks should make a lottery of mens healths , and in hope of a prize or cure , hazard natures stock ; for in this business there is not only an extraordinary number of blanks , meer negations of advantage and success , but infinite positive evils destructive , and poysonous to mens bodies , and these are most frequently drawn by the unfortunate empericks : ptolemeus therefore ( as a good historian affirms ) not upon a much different occasion , wisely answered , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , h. e. there ought not to be the same hazard of mens bodies as of dice . i shall conclude this head with a weighty saying of a late writer , fortuita nullo modo censenda sunt remedia ; chance applications deserve not the very name of remedies . 2. they are also empericks who make experiment of any medicine or receipt from an opinion only of its sufficiency and fitness to cure , as chance periclitations prompted on the others , so credulity spurs on these to practise physick , who have no other direction then what proceeds either from fancy or history . geber gives us an apposite description of the first ; qui animam habent opinantem phantasiam quamlibet , & quod credunt se verum invenisse , fantasticum est totum , à ratione devium , errore plenum & semotum à principiis naturalibus , says he , such persons who are wholly guided by fancy , when they please themselves with an opinion of true discoveries , they are meerly deluded and run into error , wanting the safe conduct of reason and natural principles to be the sure foundation on which they ought to build their knowledg . but the profession of physick requires the most improved judgment to a right management and exercise of it , and by no means is the proper business of fancy , which being uncapable of deliberation cannot weigh all necessary considerations in order to a regular cure . 't is true , that the operations of fancy have oftentimes appeared very powerful , so that many wonderful effects owe their production chiefly to their energy ; but yet i deny that the strong conceit of any person can naturally impower any medicine with new vertues to eradicate the disease for which it is to this end directed : the true physicians endeavor to beget a good confidence in their patiens of their abilities , the properness of the medicaments prescribed by them , but the design is only to compose the spirits that they may act uniformly in promoting the efficacy of the remedies , whereas these empericks possess the fancies of the sick by the prevalency of their imaginations , and hope thereby to work something answerable to the impression made upon them ; and i question not but that the effect will resemble its cause , and the presumed cure also prove phantastical and imaginary , yet by all possible means do the empericks strive to credit these operations of fancy , perswading people to obey the strange inspirations and secret impulses , which at any time either they suggest , or else happen to those who give themselves up to follow such delusions : did these consider that their fancies are frequently as diseased as their own , or patients bodies admitting impressions according to the acuteness or greatness of the morbifick invasion , they would seek to physick for help , rather then profess it by the tutorage of fancy , or be matriculated in bedlam before they attempt such kind of practices : i shall produce a sad example to caution others ; a revelation was communicated to one being indisposed , that she must in order to her recovery drink the decoction of an hearb growing in such a place ; but alas ! the hearb proved hemlock , and that impulse of fancy dispatched the patient to another world. i pass over the fond conceit of many who pretend familiarity with their genii or good angels , from whom , as they relate , they learn effectual secrets to remedy most diseases ; for since that the events are not answerable to such extraordinary communications , there is just cause of suspition that these empericks either most pitifully cheat themselves by their easie perswasion , or others by imposture . by history , i intend medicines learn'd by reading and report , for the empericks do sometime study receipt-books to stock themselves with medicines against most diseases , and when they have proceeded so far , they are impatient for an opportunity , to give an account of their ripe abilities ; if also a receipt or medicine is well vouched , many think that they may safely experiment its admirable vertues , and as in some places the execution of the prisoner precedes his tryal , so it is here , for these being fully perswaded that such secrets are not inferiour to the commendation of them , make proof , and afterwards ( oftentimes too late ) reason about their fitness for the disease and patient , because so many employ themselves , their friends and purses , to procure or purchase receipts or secrets in physick : i shall enquire how far not only such as are ordinary , but the extraordinary arcana may enable to practice , and if an ordinary measure of skill by the help of directions and cautions in the use of either may be sufficient for persons not indiscreet . were it not confessed that receipts do little in acute diseases , i would easily prove it , for almost every hour varies the case , nature being in a continual agony to extricate her self by all possible means from the fury of the distemper , and solicitously finding out the most expeditious way , respecting the peccant matter and parts chiefly affected , to free her self from imminent danger , in which sharp dispute sometimes she gains and sometimes loses , altering accordingly all the concomitating symptomes , so that she must be traced in all her anomalous motions , in which hurry what place can there be for a set receipt most commonly fixed to some general intent ? neither in chronical diseases can ever the extraordinary arcana be at the same time physician and medicine , for such diseases are never at a stand , but ( if not interrupted ) do regularly observe their encrease , state , and gradual declination , in which several tendencies though obscure and almost indiscernable , nature is yet highly concerned to promote their methodical completion ▪ and if any defect or obstruction , either delaies or stops this orderly course , it is the physicians business by his experienced skill according to that exigency to remove all impediments , and effectually assist nature in the due prosecution of this hopeful transaction ; but that these arcana should be so fitted to the successive alterations of diseases , as by the same operation to carry on different agencies , seems to me as improbable as the doctrine of elective catharticks ; i rather think that the patrons of these secrets will urge their universal power , as if they were plenipotentiaries , not tied up to a strickt observance of any either private or publick instructions , but left at liberty to act according to the exigency of affairs , and the truth is , these need no physicians if they can rationalize their noble arcana ; but since that these pleaders for such like conceited remedies cannot produce one medicine to verifie and confirm their assertion , we are not obliged to give them credit : fabritius ab aquapendente gives us another account , nihil magis medicos in facienda medicina preclaros reddat , quam distincta differentiarum intelligentia cujusque morbi , & ea accommodata ad singulas remediorum administratio , ubi indicationes potissimum attendendae , says he , the right distinction of diseases , and apt prescriptions according to their several indications , do chiefly advance the repute of physicians . but how can these empericks by the help of their receipts and arcana , and the common directions about the dose , the manner and time of giving them , and such like circumstances be enabled to know the disease to which their secrets are appropriated , distinguishing it from others , which in most of the symptomes agree with it , and exactly discerning the strange intimate complications , of great consequence in the performing of a cure. these empericks with their noble arcana the lawful issue of physicians , but unhappily nursed abroad , seem not unlike him who having procured the pensils of an excellent limner did conceit himself capacitated thereby to draw pictures to the life as the painter was wont to do , whose they were , but upon tryal , he quickly found his error , for it was the direction of the pensil that produced such admirable pieces of work , wherein lay his deficiency : so in physick , an ignorant person may have receipts and noble medicaments which avail nothing without an artificial application by them not acquirable . 3. the most plausible part of the empericks rely on their observation of what doth well or ill under their hand , with a resolution to prosecute or reject according to their success or miscarriage , these herein presume to justle with true physicians , but should people be as prodigal of their lives as these are of their skill , or had they full license for their accomplishment to depopulate whole countreys , yet cannot they make any certain and infallible observation to be a sufficient directory to them in their future undertakings : * i grant indeed that these empericks do rudely imitate their preceding experiments , with what hopes of success i know not ; for should we admit that one of their receipts or medicaments wrought a cure on a patient , yet why should it have the same effect on another , who it may be differs in many respects more from the person so cured , then another disease from that ; and therefore such a preparation or receipt may by the same rule as well respect distinct diseases as distinct persons : whereas a right practice of physick consists in a due appropriation of medicines or methods to the several constitutions and conditions of the sick ; if the same body every moment somewhat varies from what it was , and the repetition of the same medicine upon this account is not alike beneficial , what probable expectation can be had from the same application to all who labour under the same disease , which more disagree amongst themselves , then the clocks in london and paris . the dialogue in plato between socrates and phaedrus is very pertinent : socrat. si quis dicat , ego quidem illa scio corpori admovere quibus & calescat pro arbitrio meo & frigeat , & vomitus & dejectiones perficiantur & hujusmodi plurima teneo , quibus cognitis & medicum me esse profiteor , & alium quemlibet medicum me facere posse dico , quid alium responsurum autumas ? phaedr . nihil aliud quàm percunctaturum nunquid etiam sciat , quibus , quando & quousque singula horum sint adhibenda , quod si nesciat , necessum est eum insanire qui quod ex aliquo medicorum audierit quicquam vel in medelas nonnullas inciderit à se probatas neque artis aliquid intelligat medicum se evasisse putet , h. e. socrat. if any person says i can dexterously apply those things to the body which at my pleasure shall heat or cool it , and i understand emeticks , catharticks , and other ways of evacuation , besides very many medicines , by which i am not only able to profess physicks , but be a fit instructer or tutor of others ; what thinkest thou a stander by would answer ? phaedr . i suppose he would enquire of him whether he knew to whom , when , and how long those remedies might be useful , and if he satisfies not these questions and doubts , although he fancies himself to be an expert physician , yet seems he rather to be besides himself and distracted , who adventures to give physick by the help only of some receipt-books , or a few medicines learn'd from physicians , not being acquainted with the very rudiments of the medicinal science . besides , it many times falls out that these empericks in their strict noting of the events of their medicines , do greatly mistake in not rightly distinguishing between a true effect and cure performed by their vaunted receipts and the succesful labour of nature , to be with the same pangs delivered of their medicine and the disease for which it was appointed : that deplorate diseases may be sometimes cured by such desperate irritations is altogether undisputable ; as also that these * ignorant practitioners do commonly use such medicaments , but let the world judge what will be the issue , if the empericks not apprehending how it came to pass that the patient recovered , shall be invited and encouraged to give the like medicines as having their probatum annexed to them . neither can these empericks tell when their arcana , or receipts infallibly cure , by which the fierceness of the disease may possibly awhile be check'd , and the raging symptomes so becalmed as if all was well , but soon after like flames suppressed , the distemper breaks out again with more violence . i shall instance in the pox , for which every emperick pretends a secret receipt , and if nocturnal pains cease , the gonorrhea stops , and the virulent ulcers heal , 't is immediatly concluded that the patient is rescued from that tyrannical disease , and the excellency of the medicine is cry'd up , as if it was powerful enough to extirpate certainly this foul distemper in all who shall make tryal of it , but within a few months at least a year or two , it becomes too manifest that the cure at first was only palliated , in regard that it returns so notably improved , when many hundreds , thus abused , are witnesses to the truth of this accusation ; i wonder with what face these empericks can pretend from such disappointments of their patients to an observation , emulating the true physicians collection * made by reason and experience . thus much for the brief discovery of the several sorts of empericks , who notwithstanding their insufficiency , would yet be tolerated and have full liberty ( as they phrase it ) to do what good they can ; 't is not to be questioned but that if such an universal license should be granted , these empericks would more boldly impose on the credulous people : when i consider the mischief which would undoubtedly happen in trade , if all persons at pleasure without serving an apprenticeship or allowance of the respective company or corporation , might set up and enjoy the same priviledges as those who were trained up in those callings , this being the directest way to ruine trade ; since that hereby private interest is advanced above the publick ; he who hath but half an eye may foresee of what ill consequence this universal indulgence will be in physick of an higher concernment then trade ; in this he who miscarries doth chiefly ruine his own fortune , but in the other by how much more unfit the person is who practices , by so much more hazard and danger attends all who have to do with him : i cannot resemble the issue of such a toleration in physick to any thing better then to the ocean which rests not because of its community , either one billow continually dashes against another , or many conspire together to croud themselves into a publick storm : so such liberty to practice physick will as surely produce rude clashings amongst those who so earnestly press for it , raise dismal storms endangering the * peoples lives , and shipwrack the most excellent science of physick . i very much wonder that the honorable mr. boile * should so much favor the practise of empericks , he thinks that the knowledg of physicians may not be inconsiderably encreased , if men were a little more curious to take notice of the observations and experiments suggested by the practice of midwives , barbers , old women and empericks , and the rest of that illiterate crew , &c. and in another place wills that we disdain not the remedies of such illiterate people only because of their being unacquainted with our theory of physick , &c. which expressions seem very much to plead for free practice , for should midwives , barbers , old women , empericks , and the rest of that illiterate crew being unacquainted with our theory of physick , be restrained , then might physicians miss of that not inconsiderable encrease of knowledg promised ; verily the accomplishments of physicians are very mean in the opinion of this honorable person , that may not be inconsiderably encreased by such inferior and improbable additions : but the case of physicians as yet is not so desperate , as that to prevent sinking they should grasp at small rotten sticks and straws to be their treacherous support : did i not believe that these lines fell as a casual blot from this honorable persons pen , i should more strictly examine them . and since that not only a toleration to practice physick is so much desired , but an equal liberty to introduce new maxims into the medicinal science , most agreeable to the experiments of these empericks , i shall enquire whether hereby physick may be advanced , and this request may be gratified by authority , as conducing to the publick good . i am so much a latitudinarian as to conceive that learned and experienced physicians are not obliged to credit the dictates of any author against their own experience , not as if i supposed that the private judgment of such dissenters did ballance the authority of a continued and general approbation : but yet none acting like rational creatures ought to shut their eyes against new discoveries , when they have past a severe examination by competent judges : however the empericks and others alike ignorant ought not from this liberty very cautiously used by those who only may lay claim to it , to fancy an enjoyment of the same priviledg , for should such unskilful persons have free leave to publish their rude conceptions , they would vent horrid & destructive notions suitable to their erroneous and preposterous actings , neither would there be any end of their absurd opinions , both in respect of multiplication and possibility of conviction ; for these illiterate empericks will * endeavor passionately to maintain their sentiments right or wrong , whose zeal is the chiefest argument in the propagation of their absurd perswasions : it was a good law which commanded that all monstrous births should immediatly be destroyed , as well to prevent their encrease least also like conceptions should be formed by means of such impressions on the imagination of teaming women ; and there is as much reason that the monstrous products of the brain should by some publick edict or censure be forthwith stifled to hinder their spreading and progress , considering also how much they may influence in the practice of physick , to the great prejudice of mankind . i shall in the next place give some reasons which incline such a multitude to invade the profession of physick , who if the restraint was taken off , would be numberless . 1. the excellency of physick invites so many empericks to pretend to it , even as the value of gold makes it more subject to adulteration , when vile and ignoble mettals are not regarded ; the greatest monarchs and potentates in the world have esteemed the knowledg of medicine an addition to their majesty and glory , and the sublimest wits and most enlarged souls exercising themselves herein , find copious matter adequate to their contemplation ; the meanest people also are ambitious to improve that common natural principle inclining them to a desire of knowledg , apprehending that although they cannot reach the highest and most obscure truths in physick , they yet may gain as much skill as will be necessary to their practice : such indeed is the abstruseness of physick , that few have by their indefatigable scrutiny attained to so much perfection , as that all doubts were satisfied and uncertainties insured ; some mysteries surpassing and baffling humane reason and diligence : the empericks taking notice of these difficulties which puzzle the most learned , immediately conclude that they are in the same condition with the eminentest physicians , being as much admirers of what is concealed from both as they , and thinking themselves equally capacitated to understand vulgar notions in physick as the others : i say , the most ignorant of the empericks despair not in a shorter time then trallianus his six months to commence lucky conjecturers ; and if to profess the knowledg of nothing , in respect of the great improbability of a right conception is the sum of ingenuity , and the shortest cut to true knowledg , these have good hopes to deserve promotion and be as soon graduates in ignorance as any . thus do the empericks insinuate themselves into the common peoples favour , who not being able to understand the fallacy , entertain their suggestions as oracles , and are willing to be deceived ; but although the excellency of the medicinal science may be one cause why so many desire to profess it , yet there is reason why hereupon they should be discouraged , since that they are insufficient to arrive at an ordinary measure of knowledg in these profound mysteries : i might instance in the several parts of physick , but having occasion elsewhere to treat of them , i pass to the next reason of the empericks adventuring to practice ; which is , 2. because the magistrates either want power to punish unskilful practisers of physick , or are remiss in the execution of penal laws upon them : so soon as barbarism was expeld the confines of any nation , and government civilized mens unnatural cruelty into a peaceable deportment to their superiors and an amicable society , respecting the good and welfare of each other ; lawes were timely enacted to restrain the dangerous attempts of ignorant practitioners , but yet physicians in all countreys have not causelesly complained that there still wants another law to command the due execution of the former . i shall not set down the arguments which moved the high-court of parliament heretofore to guard both the people and physicians with fitting laws from the injuries of the numberless illiterate pretenders to the profession of physick ; for the passing of those acts imports the grand concernment and unquestionable necessity thereof for the publick good : and therefore since it appears that those laws by reason of some circumstantial omissions or defects , cannot be effectually observed according to their true intent , we may easily believe that the present parliament being no less careful of the nations welfare then their predecessors , especially in an affair of such consequence , will either vigorate the old statutes with convenient power and enlargements , or make new to prevent such notorious abuses as are now without redress practised on his majesty's subjects . in regard the people claim liberty to employ whom they please , the empericks as well as physicians , i shall enquire whether they ought to enjoy such freedom ; fabritius hildanus thinks it unfit that they use whom they best approve , the ignorant as well as learned and lawfull practitioners ; non licet unicuique ( quod nonnulli objicere solent ) corium suum cuicunque libuerit venale offerre , i know not whether the law will adjudg them felones de se , who take destructive medicaments from the hands of others being well informed of the hazard they run therein , as those who buy and use poysons with intent to destroy themselves ; indeed the first is a more solemn conspiration then the latter , but they differ not in the event , for thereby the king loses a subject and the common-wealth a member ; and however these do not seem to design their own deaths , yet when they take the directest course to it , what good interpretation can well be put upon such practises ; it is at least the highest imprudence wilfully to run upon death in hopes of life . * that all persons ought to be just to themselves will be easily granted , this being their pattern in relation to others in their converse , and wherein can they better express their sense of this duty , then in the use of the best and likeliest means to rescue them from diseases ? they then seem dishonest to themselves who intrust their lives in the hands of those who more certainly kill then cure , whereupon the law which restrains the empericks doth chiefly respect the people , that the opportunities of their harming themselves might be taken away , and all mischief thereby prevented . why the world should so fondly dote on these illiterate , impudent and cruel practisers , as to prefer them before the most learned , modest and experienced professors of physick , he cannot imagine who is unacquainted with the stratagems * by which they insinuate themselves into the peoples esteem . it is my next task to discover the empericks practises , and to strip them naked of their plausible pretences . 1. the empericks undertake to cure infallibly all diseases in all persons ; if we can think that certain news of recovery can be welcom to a dying man , surely the author of those comfortable tydings exceedingly merits an interest in him who is to partake of such an unexpected and valuable a benefit as life : so then the emperick hereupon is entertained , for great expectations do naturally beget confidence , and self-love works easily a through conformity to multiplied assurances of an escape from imminent danger ; pliny hath a very remarkable passage to this purpose , adeo est cuique pro se sperandi blanda dulcedo ut cuique se medicum profitenti statim credatur cum sit majus periculum in nullo mendacio majus , says he , every sick person doth so please and satisfie himself with hopes of a restoration to health , that he readily commits his body to the care of any one who pretends that he is a physician , whereas there is no such cheat in the world as this . however if these universal undertakers can screw themselves into esteem with their patients by promising what is incredible , not within their , nay , many times any humane power , yet they hereby lay a sure foundation of popularity on which they build steadfast hopes that either by well wishing friends and relations , or else by the patients themselves they shall be called in , that it may appear upon tryal whether they fail in their secured performance : so that the contrivance is subtle , for if these empericks are not employed , what ever they presume to say , speaks them to be no less then what they pretend , there being no publick or sufficient conviction of their vain boastings ; and if by the artifice of promising a certain cure they gain such an opinion of their abilities as to be employed then ( be the event what it will ) their design of being entertained is thereby compassed . the digression may be pardonable , if before i take a prospect of the empericks sufficiency to carry on his rash undertakings , i spend a little time in explicating what is commonly understood by incurable diseases : by the learned , diseases are reckoned incurable in respect of themselves , the patient and the physician . of the first kind are those diseases which tincture the very rudiments of our nature and being , which are conceived , born and grow up with us ; he therefore who imagines himself to be such an expert engineer as to turn the microcosm at his pleasure , must have some unmoveable point whereon to fix his instrument ; who ever ( i mean ) attempts a total alteration of any mans constitution and nature , must suppose some parts free by whose assistance he may perform his engagement ; but the deep stain of hereditary diseases not only antidating the moors blackness , who are not unlike the europeans some minutes after they are born , but being as inseparable as that from its subject , cannot by the ocean of pharmancy be washed out and changed : i might to this add the plague , at least that which is most fierce and severe , which being the rod of the almighty to punish mens impieties , cannot by any medicinal means be frustrated of its designed execution , there being a vast disproportion between natural remedies and supernatural causes , and hereupon the same remedies being divinely impowred , prove effectual to rescue some , when left to their own vertues are baffled and become unsuccesful : i urge not this as if i conceived that the same medicines or methods were applicable to all seaz'd by the pestilence with good hopes of the same benefit , for in this sad disease , as well as others , respect must be had to all considerations necessary to a regular cure ; and hence it is that men are not only commanded but encouraged to use all proper and lawful means upon the account of the frequent reprieves which the great majesty of heaven issues out when and to whom he pleases : but fearing least i should transgress the limits of my intended digression , though i might produce many more instances , yet i shall pass to the patients in respect of whom some diseases are incurable ; and i must in the first place very much blame the carelesness and inadvertency of some patients , who enjoying for a long time good and uninterrupted health , when they find themselves only indisposed , the disease as it were by stealth insensibly creeping on them , are not awakened by such distant alarms to prevent their enemies incursion upon them , by which imprudent delay the distemper takes deep root , and the fomes or minera being inconsiderable at first , quickly enlargeth it self to the circumference of the whole body , so that no part neither internal nor external is free from its insinuation , till like ivy it inevitably throws down its kind support . the impatience and refractoriness also of the sick make their diseases incurable , some of them choose rather to sink under a chronical disease , then submit to a methodical cure , being more weary of necessary preparations then the grand seigneour was of the tedious tuning the instruments , when as a piece of high entertainment he was invited to hear a most harmonious consort of musick : did these patients rightly apprehend the strict regard that must be had to the several intricacies of complicated diseases , and that very often contrary symptomes are to be dealt withal at the same time , and many other like circumstances , they might ( i doubt not ) more securely and speedily be recovered from their distempers , otherwise even upon this account incurable . thus the leprosie , quartane agues , the epilepsy , most consumptions , the stone , dropsy and gout , and many others of the same family ( if not hereditary ) are chiefly remediless by reason of the patients obstinacy and irregularities . besides the tenderness and natural weakness of some persons incapacitating them to struggle with very slight and easie distempers , much less with those which are more formidable and dangerous , makes their condition helpless , when robuster tempers affected with the same disease , by the help of convenient medicaments may be cured , to conclude this digression , diseases may be incurable in respect of physicians , who by reason of the * inextricable difficulties which occur in the discovery of the disease and parts primarily suffering thereby cannot make a true judgment , and this may sometimes be the case of those who are most able , not by reason of any deficiency in them , but either from an ill relation or account from the sick , or a strong and perplexing obscurity in the disease ; but however true physicians may ( though rarely ) in such obscure cases be nonplus'd or mistake , yet they will not be over confident and secure , acting as if they fully understood how to direct exactly what was most fit to be done , as in other known diseases : this excuse will not serve the turn of our emperical conservators , who want skill to distinguish between curable and incurable diseases , engaging to cure both alike . let paracelsus who knew very well their devices give the reason ; saith he , quaestus proprii studio aegros suscipiunt omnes quicunque demum offeruntur ipsis undecunque , h. e. hopes of gain prompts them on to undertake all who are willing to put themselves into their hands ; for let the disease be what it will ( that 's not the business ) the caution money not only rewards the boldness of their enterprize , but secures their patient to them ; and besides the advantage made by the empericks of their physick , good store of which must be bought in order to a cure , when the patient is well they expect a * quantum meruit , a reward answerable to their paines and cure ; if they chance to die , they are then satisfied by the gain of their medicines sold at an extraordinary rate ▪ as these empericks wanting the eye of reason difference not a mountain from a molehil , a great disease from an inconsiderable disorder , so do they often respecting their advantage use the microscope in the discovery of diseases , and what is as a mite almost imperceptible ; being thus greatned is rendred most formidable , hence it comes to pass that every stich , qualm or fancy of infection , is esteemed the most dismal effect occasioned by some of the unheard of epidemical ferments . as for this latter stratagem , although the fear into which these empericks put their patients doth so far prevail as that they immediatly are employed , in regard there is such an evident testimony of their skill in discovering a disease not observable by any others , yet most commonly it happens that what was even nothing when the emperick began to tamper , by his indirect courses proves dangerous , and then what remains , but that he make it answer his first opinion of it least he be discredited in not rightly apprehending the disease . 2. the empericks pretend cheapness as a prevalent argument inducing people to employ them , the poor shall be cured gratis to be decoys to some of better fashion , who being crazy even force their diseases to a composition , and make them accept of little least they should have no allowance at all , the whole gang of these ignorant undertakers lay very great stress on this project , being sensible that a cheap market will never want customers , and rightly apprehending how much the meer pretence of charity will commend them , especially when they publish their zeal and affection for the publick good , beyond their own profit . i must confess that the empericks herein have the advantage of the true professors of physick , who ( as affairs now stand ) cannot be so kind to the poor as they most sollicitously desire or reasonably may be expected ; for although they freely give their direction to such necessitous people , yet when their bill comes into the apothecary's hand , since there is no set tax on medicines , it is in his power ( notwithstanding the due care taken to prescribe what might not be too chargeable ) to make the physician seem uncharitable , for if the apothecary exacts because the physician took nothing , then is his friendship abused , and some ground of suspition ( though altogether without cause ) that the physician shares in the apothecaries unreasonable gains ; but i shall have a fit opportunity in the next chapter to discourse of this inconvenience both to physicians and the people , and therefore at present i dismiss it . these empericks ( i say ) ingratiate themselves by taking care that their physick may not be so chargeable as the physicians , hereby preventing the ruine of families ( as they would perswade the people ) and the relapsing of the sick , who are apt when cured , to regret at the great expence , and dislike that life which was so dearly purchased ; whereas price adds not to the efficacy of medicines which are only succesful , as they are rationally , and according to art directed : these empericks may poyson mens bodies for six pence if they please , and people may be executed by the hand of these at as easie a charge as by the hang-man : in earnest i think it is a dangerous thrift that men to save their purses ( i mean they who are able ) should be prodigal of their lives , it is doubtless worthy the consideration of physicians that by some special care , provision be made for the poor , and though i know that every true physician is as willing to help the poor for nothing , as the rich for fees , and cheerfully embraces all publick and private opportunities to express his readiness herein , yet these not taking notice of their charity herein run to mountebanks , who by their unskilfulness make their condition worse then they found it , rendring those miserable patients unserviceable to their families and the publick , and a continual charge to the parishes wherein they live . i remember an expedient proposed not long since to some physicians by an honorable person which then seemed very rational to all present ; it was to this purpose : that either the kings colledge in london would appoint certain of their members , or the physicians by mutual agreement oblige themselves twice every week at convenient places , the hour being prefixed , to receive an account from the poor who should bring tickets of recommendation subscribed by the minister , churchwardens and overseers of the poor , he conceived that three or four at one time in distant places might accommodate the city and suburbs of london , and that these having attended their month , others should be appointed to succeed them , and in relation to the physick that the publick officers of the respective parishes might when they received the bills , take care to provide it at reasonable rates ; those physicians consulting ( with respect had to the patients condition ) the nearest and cheapest ways of cure : the whole company returned their hearty thanks , especially the physicians , that a way was thought on , whereby they might do their countrey service , thinking it no disparagement to wait on the meanest person in the faithful discharge of their calling . as for others , there is no cause why they should be discouraged or hindred from the use of physicians , and run to these empericks when they are sick , because the one expects a better reward then the other ; for the expence is abundantly compensated by that success , which in all probability will be the issue of the skilful professors , whose chargeable education also extraordinary difficulties in the attainment of their art and restless care for their patients , are so many arguments pleading , that they deserve a better esteem and respect then empericks , who most of them are of the meanest rank , gained their practice in two or three days time , * and commit their patient to the good usage of the receipts , and the truth is , the people pay dearly for these low priz'd medicaments , when to boot they cost them their lives : but the able and judicious physicians do wisely manage their trust , endeavoring to procure good and lasting health at as easie a rate as possible they can , they daily experience that a common plant growing in every field which costs no more then the pains of gathering , if the use is skilfully directed , doth oft-times out-do a precious medicine , and frequently exquisite , and elaborate remedies of an higher estimate only conquer the radicated disease . the physicians act prudently more regarding the patients sickness then purse , yet are they no less sollicitous , when safely they may , to medicate according to their patients ability ; let strada determine between physicians and the empericks : medici finis est corporum salus quod si quis secus faciat ac medicamenta contra quam finis artis praescribit , usurpet , improbi civis ac proditoris personam gerit , multo magis , si nulla ad salutem , omnia ad perniciem medicamenta conficiat , suique jactet operis , pestem ubique spargere , cuncta venenis inficere & moliri exitium humano generi , says he , the chief end and use of a physician is to recover the sick , but if any one pretending to physick , shall provide medicines not answering that end , he is a profligate wretch and a trecherous villain , and much more if in stead of wholesom medicaments he vents those which in their nature are destructive , propagating the plague , poysoning all things , destroying his fellow citizens , and attempting the extirpation of mankind . if the people would be so considerate as to weigh the hazard , when they employ these empericks for the cheapness of their physick , i question not , but that they would be more cautious to avoid such specious delusions , since that keen medicines * unskilfully handled will certainly wound if not kill . 3. the empericks as not the least compleatment of their subtle iusinuations into the peoples esteem , do pretend new commanding and secret medicines , exclaiming against all ancient methods of practise as antiquated and obsolete ; these so much extoll'd and even adored receipts either ( as they suggest ) travelled out of some remote countrey meerly out of kindness to be acquainted with those who desire their familiarity , or else they are reported to be no less then the most precious jewels ransack'd out of natures cabinet , when she was by them forced to surrender both her self and treasure into their hands , and to color this design , these empericks do usually bestow strange titles on their medicines , as the planetary extract , the cardiaupnotick spirit , and magnetical balsom ; which tearms are as magical to the vulgar , as agrippa's vionatraba , masgabriel , and abuzana ; hereafter i shall give some account of these , and therefore i pass to the last of their practises . 4. the empericks to advance their own reputation , do perpetually rail at academical and graduated physicians , accusing either their insufficiency , or laziness ; these observe that by how much more they decry and asperse with false calumnies , those whom their just deserts have made their superiors , by so much the more they gratifie the rabble , desiring to vilifie that which distinguisheth others from them , when the idol called learning is removed , and all people are left to their mothers wit and common ingenuity , there being a common road opened to the science of physick , what impedes but that every one may without interruption journey to it ? and certainly there cannot be imagined a more perswasive argument to the vulgar , then that if they will joyn and yield their assistance to undervalue the true professors of physick ; by the same labour they make way for their own interest ; and hence it is that the empericks in their pamphlets and common discourses , talk so dishonorably of lawful physicians , not because of the art they profess , for then they should condemn themselves , but because of their university distinctions and the priviledges thereby derived to them : but until it be thought a fit expedient to put out the eyes of the nation both in order to phylosophyzing , and also a better way of practising physick , the true sons of art may keep on their course notwithstanding the vain barkings of these empericks . some perhaps may expect that before i conclude this chapter of empericks , i say something concerning those now on the stage in this nation , who are as busie and as ignorant as any of their predecessors ; i shall not defile my self so much as to retaliate their abuses , this course being unworthy of a physician , and contrary to the direction of hippocrates ; but i hope they have no reason to take it ill , if i remind them of the several callings in which they were educated , and ought still with care and industry to have exercised : the most eminent of our empericks are heel-makers , gun-smiths , taylors , weavers , coblers , coachmen , bookbinders , and infinite more of the like quality , beside a great number of the other sex , and these for the credit of the business , either make every post wear their livery , or else procure some booksellers and others to be their pimps , on whose stalls are hung large tables with fair inscriptions ; the sympathetick powder made by promethean fire , pilulae radiis solis extractae , famous pectoral lozenges , diaphoretick and diuretick pills , powders for all purposes , and what not : by which means many simple people are trapan'd to buy and use these preparations , supposing they may as safely venture on a medicine out of a booksellers shop , as read a book : but alas ! some too late perceive their error , for what a man reads may be soon blotted out of his memory , but such stuff taken into the body and appropriated to the patient and disease by the printed book or paper only , is not quickly dismiss'd , being oft-times a continual and lasting disease to them : in the chapter of chymistry , i shall more particularly give an account of these medicines and the way of their application : i shall conclude this subject with one brief observation , that whereas it was manifest that some thousands died more in london these last three or four years then the preceding , and it is as well known that the lawful physicians had less employment at those times then formerly , we may rationally infer , that the true reason of such a mortality was not ( as the author of medela medicinae ignorantly suggests ) from the increase and propagation of the venereal , scorbutick and spermatick ferments , but only by the emperick ferment and its pernicious malignity . chap. ii. of practising apothecaries . that physicians did originally provide and dispense their own medicines , will be ( i doubt not ) easily granted by those who are acquainted with the writings of the ancients , wherein it is evident that hippocrates , * galen , and the chief physicians as part of their employment , prepared what physick they had occasion to spend in their practise : and although their strict obligation to conceal their sacred art , least it should be prostituted to the rude invasion of persons unqualified , might be one argument inclining them ( as the most likely way for its security ) to confine their business to their own closets or repositories ; yet i conceive that other reasons might no less perswade their furnishing themselves with all necessary medicines both simple and compound , for these hereby very much improved their knowledg in the materia medica , so that they were not only able to distinguish all plants , animals and minerals , and being abroad ( if destitute of convenient helps ) readily find out what might satisfie the intent in the designed cure , but to prepare and compound them till they become apt medicines for their use , with all diligence observing the several alterations which hapned in tast , smell , or otherwise , by which means they were throughly informed how to change , add or diminish , as there was occasion , to advance the efficacy of the composition ; their patients also shared in the benefit of their industry and care herein , who having committed themselves into the hands of those physicians , looked upon them as the only responsable persons in that undertaking ; wherefore they prudently considering that their reputation lay at stake and the lives of their patients , durst not intrust others in a matter of such concernment to both , but managed all the business themselves to a general approbation . when the credit of physick by the singular caution of these great physicians , had gained almost an universal authority , so that most in their sicknesses applied themselves to physicians , the vast encrease of practise not allowing them leisure both to prepare their physick , and likewise to attend their numerous patients , and consult all things necessary to their condition , constrained them to commit the charge of answering their prescripts , to the care of others , in whose integrity they could safely confide : and soon after when the bounds of physick were enlarged , being limited before to select families ; as physicians multiplied , so proportionably they encreased whose office it was to dispense medicines : at length the profession of physick became a faculty , and being free to all whose laudable proficiency in its study and knowledg deserved academical diploma's ; the apothecaries art was likewise opened to all , who understanding its mystery passed the approbation of associated physicians , continual additions of such who were trained up in this calling made their number so considerable , as that for their better regulation they were constituted an incorporation , and since by means of innumerable accession of apprentices after a certain time of service made free ; this society is advanced to a bulk greater then the body from whence it came and on which it depends , and as it fares when one member doth monstrously enlarge it self , the rest are emaciated ; even so the vastness of this company deprives physicians of their proper aliment . i know that some give another account of the distinction of physicians and apothecaries , as if the magistrate apprehending the trust of life and death too great for one , did thereupon appoint the other that by two different offices all opportunities of mischiefing the people might be prevented ; but quercitans answer is very pertinent to the authors of this conceit ; saith he , quid aliud hi quam omnium medicorum & pharmacopoeorum iras in se exacuant , quos tam improbae fidei notant , ut si seorsim operentur ac medicentur , non saluti aegrotantium , sed morti accelerandae de industria studeant ? h. e. both physicians and apothecaries have just cause to quarrel with those , who by suggesting that neither ought to be solely intrusted , do thereby brand them with unfaithfulness , as if they rather sought the death , then life of patients . another plea is much insisted on by some of our apothecaries , whereby they endeavor to make a perfect separation between physicians and themselves , claiming a free exercise of their trade as members of the grand incorporation , and fully enjoying all the priviledges of the common charter , whereby they are authorized as well to buy and sell , as any other company ; but although they accommodate physicians in making up their prescripts , yet that is a voluntary undertaking , which they may either accept or refuse at their pleasure , it being their proper business to provide such medicines as the supreme power shall allow for the peoples use , and to furnish their customers , although there should not be any physician to write bills : and thus under the pretext of selling their medicines to all who come to their shops , they also take upon them to advise what they think most agreeable to their conditions who are sick : by this slight , ingratiating themselves with the people , and ( as they conceive ) avoiding the just censure of practising physick . i reply , that physicians did never design to hinder the apothecaries in their known and lawful trade of vending medicines , but on the contrary have much promoted it , by giving them daily opportunities to supply their patients with physick according to their prescripts ; yet if these because of their settlement as free traders , shall hereupon destroy the relation between physicians and them , as if their interest did not much consist in the practise of physicians , they will have no cause of complaint , if the professors of physick take their business again into their own hands , and imitate the most succesful practise of their renowned predecessors ; and the apothecaries may as freely as ever attend their trade in selling to those who will buy of them notwithstanding the physicians preparation of their own remedies . but i observe that very many apothecaries are so far from deviding between theirs and the physicians art , that they endeavor to unite them in their undertakings , as much professing to direct physick as to prepare or sell it , and these i call practising apothecaries , although some who would seem more modest and friendly to physicians ; suppose that none of their society ought to practice physick , yet these would not have any one debarred the giving of such medicines as they should think fit , when there is a special occasion : but since that these apothecaries so much favouring their own advantage must necesiarily be judges of those exigencies , i know not how to distinguish this more close and sly way , from that which being acted above board is owned and justified by these practitioners , for by practising of physick , is understood any application to the sick in order to a cure , comprehending not only long methodical courses in chronical diseases , but sudden directions in those which are acute , respecting as well their beginning * as their subsequent alterations . the ordinary account we have out of the best authors , describing the apothecaries office , mentions not a word of their practising physick , omitting what occurs in others , i shall only recite the opinion of renodaeus ; officium solummodo pharmacopaei est medicamentum tractare , & ad usum salutarem medici probati jussu adhibere , quod ut faeliciter consequatur , debet cognoscere , seligere , praeparare & componere , &c. h. e. it is the apothecaries business to meddle with medicaments only , and in relation to their use to follow the physicians prescript , and that he may be fitted to execute his office he must be instructed to know simples , to select the choicest , to prepare and compound his medicines . and if this be the utmost intent of the apothecaries trade wherein they are educated ; whence should these gain sufficient accomplishments enabling them to practise physick ? as for their knowledg of simples and skill in compositions , although these are necessary qualifications capacitating them to be able apothecaries , yet i understand not how these should upon this account any more become physicians , then cutlers and gun-smiths by their judgment of the mettals goodness on which they work , and their making and fitting instruments of war , be thereby rendred most expert commanders : but these practising apothecaries pretend sufficient helps for their instruction in the vertues of simples , and the true use of compositions , from physicians bills which they constantly book ; and by this means ( as they inform the people ) having seen the practice of many physicians , they may be as good doctors as any . i shall enquire whether the prescripts of physicians can so far improve an apothecary as that by their assistance he may be able to practice physick ? indeed the * lord bacon's opinion , that there ought to be a religious observance of approved medicines as well to retain the benefit of tradition , as to direct a more steady way of curing diseases : seems to favour very much these apothecaries , who are well stock'd with such receipts , which they without any alteration transcribe for their patients ; but i shall oppose what the learned alsarius relates , medicinae leges non ad polycleti immutabilem regulam referendae , sed ad lesbian normam , quam pro factorum personarum ac temporum conditionibus magistratus aequitas commutare solet . h. e. the laws of medicine are not like polycletus's unalterable rules , but the lesbian precepts which the magistrates might change and vary according to the nature of the crime , the condition of the offender , and the circumstance of time , &c. that such receipts without any alterations or substitutions may very much conduce to the cure of diseases , is by that noble and learned person rather presumed then proved : to omit what i mentioned in the precedent chapter concerning the insufficiency of those medicines , in respect of the vast difference of mens bodies , and a greater variation of diseases incident to them ; i assert that there is no medicine rationally prescribed , but what particularly relates to the principal indication which ought chiefly to be taken from the cause , and not from the disease , according to the usual design of those prescripts ; which is confirmed by galen , saith he , if diseases indicated their proper remedies , the patients best understanding what is to be done , might be most helpful to themselves : moreover the medicines shew that not diseases , but their causes do indicate their use , as being not primarily adverse to effects but efficients : so then it being the highest concern of a physician to form his medicaments as he sees occasion , of what use can receipts be , which by ignorant undertakers cannot be accommodated to the most prevalent indications respecting the cause ? these practising apothecaries having another employment , which ought to take up their thoughts , pains and time , may well be supposed uncapable of knowing and making a right judgment of the true causes of diseases which not only alter frequently the same disease as to its appearance and symptomes , but much more in relation to its cure : i remember a story which i have read , to this purpose , a patient by the faithful advise of his physician recovered from a most dangerous disease , but it seems not long after was ill again , the apothecary visits him , and apprehending that his condition was the same as in his former sickness , immediatly repeats the medicines which the physician had prescribed , but all to no purpose , the physician was then sent for , and the patient telling him of the apothecaries ill success , demands the reason why those remedies which before cured him , had not the like operation again , the physician wittily reply'd , medicamenta illa non profuere , quia ego non dedi , h. e. those medicines were not succesful , because i did not order the repetition of them ; insinuating that a physician ought to judg as well of the patients fitness for the remedies , as of the remedies fitness for the patients . to say no more , i cannot think that the apothecaries strict noting and transcribing of physicians bills can more inable them to practise physick , then stenography to profess divinity , the penning of a sermon verbatim , and committing it to memory being as infinitely short of the qualifications requisite to a divines preaching and exercise of his function , as the imitation of these prescripts of the accomplishments necessary to the profession of physick . but these apothecaries besides their unskilfulness to practise physick , are most injurious to physicians upon several accounts , who intrust them with their bills , for when those prescripts express their particular use , and as a weighty trust to that end only , are committed to the apothecaries care , if he ever imploys them without the physicians privity and direction , he is unfaithful in that trust ; and if his practise succeeds not , then doth the reputation of that physician suffer , whose prescript originally it was : as another considerable branch of trust , the true dispensation of all medicines directed by physicians is left to the apothecaries , in whose integrity they place great confidence , and therefore a good author tells us , praestat pharmacopaeum esse virum bonum , quam socratem , h. e. 't is better that an apothecary be an honest men then socrates , both physician and patient depending on his uprightness and the punctual discharge of his office : if then this apothecary shall ingage in the practise of physick , he must necessarily spend much time abroad in visiting his patients , and leave his shop to the management of raw apprentices , who wanting instruction by reason of their masters absence , and not understanding the physicians bill , make odd and too often dangerous substitutions ; neither are the physicians secure that such practising apothecaries do not out of design suffer their patients to be neglected or abused , that so miscarrying in their hands , the repute of the others may seem thereby advanced , as if their practise could not be more unsuccesful then the doctors : certainly these apothecaries cannot give a satisfactory account of the trust reposed in them , and therefore to me it is evident that they give timely warning by forsaking their trade and practising physick , that none commit the breeding of their children to them who have business of more concernment to mind , then to spend their time in teaching ( according to their engagement ) their servants the art which they must be made free to exercise , that the people be not hasty to imploy them in either way , who incapacitate themselves for both ; and lastly , that physicians send not any bills to them , lest they be guilty of prejudicing both themselves and patients . if then these practising apothecaries are so kind to physicians as publikely to acquaint them what may be expected at their hands ; i hope no member of that worthy faculty is so stupid but that he will leave them and their patients to the same adventure which both run , and not be either forward to help them out at a dead lift , or take the miscarriage on him for the advantage of one or two fees ; but it is observable that some of these , conceiving that an open breach between physicians and them may be prejudicial to their design , do plead as an excuse to acquit themselves that the importunity of their customers prevailed with them in such cases wherein was no appearance of danger to direct what they thought most convenient ; but let rondeletius give these an answer , pharmacopaeus inconsulto perito medico nihil cuiquam proponabit , praesertim magnarum virium , sed neque quantumvis parcarum , cum vires nesciat , & auxilia haec quamvis ( ut videtur ) imbecilla , tamen quantitate , qualitate , tempore insalubria , magnorum saepe morborum sunt occasio , & legitimam curandi rationem pervertunt , h. e. apothecaries ought not to give any medicines without the foreknowledg and direction of an allowed physician , neither those which are more or less operative , because they being altogether ignorant of their vertues may err in those which seem weakest and most safe in respect of quantity , quality or time , so as they may prove the causes of most dangerous diseases , the opportunity also of a methodical cure is by this means lost . indeed such is the increase of the apothecaries company , that all of them cannot reasonably expect imployment ▪ who therefore hunt abroad after patients , and prey one upon anothers business ; these inconveniencies would be remedied if the counsel of a grave writer was observed , who adviseth the magistrate to be very careful not to tolerate more apothecaries then are sufficient for the discharge of that profession ; implying , that if they superabounded , they would most infallibly injure the publick , and rather then their medicines for want of timely use should decay and grow worthless , choose to spend them by their own practise , and think it a less crime to harm the people then suffer any damage in their shops ; and when these practising apothecaries have by their insinuations inveigled some to take physick of them , as it is not improbable but that these being ignorant of the direct way of curing diseases must necessarily hereupon spend more medicines then physicians who exactly knowing what is to be done , will not multiply prescripts to tire out their patients and advance their charge ; so how can such patients assure themselves that their apothecary-physicians do not make use of that opportunity as much to rid their shop of physick , as them of diseases : however if the whole is cast up , such patients will find no cause to commend the cheapness of their cure in respect of what it had been , if they had consulted physicians ; not to mention that some of these do confidently take and demand fees for their visits , besides the profitable income by their physick ; i may safely affirm that most of them cannot afford to be so charitable as to wait on their patients without some recompence for their time and trouble , which are usually accounted in the price of the medicines : so then , what a delusion do they lie under who seek to these apothecaries , hoping thereby to save physicians fees. i question not but that these practising apothecaries do also discourage the people from seeking to physicians , not only by undervaluing their skill , but by misrepresenting the charge of such advice , exclaiming against their excessive fees for every little distemper , if they are called in : i answer , that if in such little distempers ( as they tearm them ) any thing is to be directed , a physician ought to be consulted therein , for perhaps what these mis-judging did account light and inconsiderable , when better understood by those who are able to look deeply into it , and have a right notion of the causes , may prove a business of great concernment , and being throughly known by the prudence of the physician in his timely applications the danger so much threatned may be succesfully obviated , and the patient restored without any great expence either in the physicians fees or apothecaries medicines ; i must add to vindicate the physicians from the false adspersion of exacting from the people more then the condition of such patients can bear , that no society of men in this nation can in this point so much clear themselves as physicians , who although they have no publick stipends ( some few excepted ) are yet so moderate in their takings , that without a lessening the honour and repute of their faculty they cannot well condescend lower , and if the seniors whose worth merits a greater respect , and age requires more rest and quiet , shall excuse themselves from night calls , and the drudgery of attending ordinary business ; the junior physicians when sent unto , most readily ( desiring to appear conscientious in the discharge of their calling ) take care of the meanest people either gratis expressing their charity , or at a rate suitable to their condition who employ them . moreover these practising apothecaries are injurious to physicians , by encouraging others to the like attempts , who straight-way conclude , that if these whose chief concernment it is to advance the credit of physicians , and to be faithful to them in their profession , shall so disesteem them as to enter the list , & contend with them in their own science ; well may the common empericks be more emboldned to vilifie them ; nay , physicians would have reason to take it ill from such apothecaries , if it appear that most of the quacks are not only supplied , but assisted by them in their undertakings , and that they most approve of these because they help them with their best endeavor to empty their shops : i might proceed to shew how much the profession of physick suffers by such practisers , and give instances of the fatal mistakes of these pretenders to the medicinal science , but i am not willing to prosecute this argument as far as the subject will bear ; i shall insert some edicts published by the magistracy of brussels , to be a pattern to other states , and to manifest that it is not so much the physicians , as the peoples interest that the apothecaries be not allowed to practise physick . statut. vii . admissi pharmacopaeii ( jure jurando se prius adstringentes ad id quod in articulis eos concernit ) cavebunt absque medici praescripto medicamenta elective purgantia vel scammoniata curandis aegris divendere vel medicorum paradigmata immutare , aut quid pro quo substituere quod si vel in lectione , sensu , aut forma compositionis laborent , medicum adibunt , qui eos dirigat , instruatque sub mulcta septem florenorum duplicandorum , & dividendorum ut ante . statut. viii . nequaquam verò absque medici probati & admissi licentia , venena , philtra , opiata periculosiora , aut abortum mensesque provocantia pharmaca cuipiam porrigant , vel per ministros suos tradi permittant sub mulcta , vii florenorum , &c. h. e. statute vii . they who ( being first sworn to observe faithfully the statutes relating to them ) are admitted to exercise the art or mystery of an apothecary , shall not without a lawful physicians prescript sell any purging medicines either elective or scammoniate to cure the sick , neither shall they alter the physicians bill , or substitute one ingredient for another , and if they are deficient in reading or understanding the prescript , or skill not the preparation , they shall consult the physician upon pain and forfeiture of vii florens to be doubled and divided according to the foregoing direction . statute viii . the said apothecaries shall not upon pain of the like mulct without an approved physicians license , sell or suffer to be sold by their servants any poysons , philtrums , opiates , or medicines either provoking the menses or causing abortion . this senate was doubtless no more concerned to enact such laws on the behalf of the people under their government , then any prince for the welfare of his subjects : if then such edicts were only the natural result of reason and prudence , the like general principle commends the imitation of them to other countreys , and certainly if these apothecaries in this nation did observe their own charter , they would not so much transgress as to assume liberty never intended them , when they were made an incorporation . to conclude , these practising apothecaries are injurious to themselves as well as physicians , for when they fail in their cures , which by reason of misapplications are very unlikely to succeed , the people are apt to suspect that such persons despair of excelling in their own profession , upon which account they betake themselves to quacking : i do not think that the example of the author of medela medicinae , is a sufficient encouragement to others that they should be as free as he professeth himself , to instrust their lives in the hands of prudent apothecaries ; since that person hath not scrupled to adventure greater hazards — then others , either in this respect or any like case are obliged to imitate ; and it is very probable that these apothecaries when they fall sick , will not retaliate his kindness , and with the same danger intrust their lives in his hands . that the design of this discourse may not be misconstrued by any , as if there was an intent to reflect on the whole society of apothecaries , i shall in the next place speak of those who utterly dislike these irregularities of their brethren , foreseeing the event that except some effectual course be taken to restrain such unwarrantable actings , the amicable knot between physicians and them will be either untied or broken , to the prejudice and disadvantage of both , at least theirs ; and therefore these being the worthier , and ( i hope ) the major part of that incorporation , taking notice that notwithstanding the late publick disobligements ( the physicians being yet so generous and friendly as to trust them with their prescripts and patients ) have an honorable esteem of their practise and prudent deportment , sufficient to convince their adversaries , if they had not lost all sense both of humanity and their own true interest , for although there are very many arguments which might perswade physicians to prepare their own medicines , particularly to take off those sugillations , as if either they know not how to make their compositions , or that they are unwilling to undergo so much trouble , and to improve their art , &c. yet had they rather lie under a vain conjecture of their insufficiency in that business or laziness , then be guilty of destroying the company of apothecaries , especially such who confine themselves to their own profession , and religiously over-see the dispensation of their medicines . this better part of that society in testimony of their gratitude to physicians , for that excellent skill they have by their direction acquired in the genuine preparations of vegetables , animals , and minerals , wherein they are inferiour to none of the like profession in any nation , do not only publish the physicians abilities , and prefer them before all pretenders , but by their improuement silence the idle calumny of their doctors being unskilful in pharmacy ; these members of that company have diligently promoted an acommodation between physicians and them , and would gladly that the law , to restrain illegal practitioners might reach any offenders amongst their number as others , being sensible how much the whole company is prejudiced by the extravagancies of some who in hopes of a little gain , do not care to ruine their society , there being at length a good correspondence between the colledg of physicians and the incorporation of apothecaries , each member imploying himself in his profession as the law directs , all will go on with more comfort in their several vocations , and the people reap the benefit . chap. iii. of the lord bishops and their vicar-generals power to license physicians . it doth not appear either by the canon law or prescription , that the bishops and their vicar-generals as ecclesiastical officers , had power to license any to practise physick , or that physicians in respect of their profession were subjected to the jurisdiction of spiritual courts ; 't is confessed that the care of hospitals did appertain to the bishops who provided physicians to cure the sick , but it would seem a strange inference to argue that the bishops exercised the like priviledges elsewhere , because to them was committed the supervision of these hospitals , or that they had a legal right to license physicians who entertained them ; wherefore until good evidence is produced to make out their claim to this authority preceding the statute ; i cannot allow the opinion of episcopal right of licensing to practise physick , besides should i admit that they had such a power in them as ecclesiasticks , yet they must demonstrate the force thereof , since the statute took place , but if it be found upon inquiry that neither de jure nor de facto , the bishops and their vicar-generals did license , and that the statute is of full vertue , notwithstanding any pretence of former authority , it is unquestionable but that all persons therein concerned , the bishops and their vicar-generals , as well as the people are obliged to take notice of it , and to the end that the original and extent of their licensing physicians may be fully known , i shall recite part of the statute relating thereunto . no person within the city of london , nor within seven miles of the same shall take upon him to exercise and occupy as physician or chyrurgeon , except he be first examined , approved , and admitted by the bishop of london , or by the dean of pauls for the time being , calling to him or them four doctors of physick ; and for surgery other expert persons in that faculty , upon the pain of forfeiture for every month that they do occupy as physicians and surgeons not admitted , nor examined after the tenor of the said act , of five pounds , to be employed the one half to the use of our soveraigne lord the king , and the other half to any person that shall sue for it by action of debt , in which no wager of law nor protection shall be allowed ; and over this that no person out of the said city and precinct of seven miles of the same , take upon him to exercise and occupy as a physician and surgeon in any diocess within this realm , till he be first examined and approved by the bishop of the same diocess or ( he being out of the same diocess ) by his vicar-general , either of them calling to him such expert persons in the same faculty ( as their discretion shall think convenient ) and giving their letters testimonials under their seal to him , that they shall so approve upon like pain to them that occupy contrary to this act ( as is above said ) to be levied and imployed after the same form before expressed : provided always that this act nor any thing therein contained be prejudicial to the universities of oxford and cambridg , or either of them , or to the priviledges granted to them , &c. thus the high-court of parliament was pleased ( as the statute imports ) to authorize the right reverend bishops and their vicar-generals , as a trust , to license all persons qualified to practise physick , which business of trust intimates an extraordinary confidence in their faithful execution of it according to direction , and that the same authority may demand an account of the discharge thereof , and accordingly either continue it in their hands or alter it , as may best answer their intent in relation to the peoples health and welfare : 't is not to be doubted but that the parliament was moved by very weighty reasons to intrust the bishops , &c. with the execution of this law , being satisfied that they whom singular piety , learning , and other endowments had advanced to those dignities , would act circumspectly and prudently in the management of a publick trust of such consequence to the nation , in the exact performances of which , the people also promised to themselves much happiness , expecting by means of this devolution of power on the bishops sound minds in sound bodies : and the bishop being out of his diocess , the power of licensing descended with the same limitations to the vicar-generals , who may not plead liberty to act otherwise then the statute allows , because there is no penalty annexed , as if thereupon they were not engaged to observe the several conditions enjoyned : methinks the parliaments good opinion of these chancellors integrity should so far prevail with them , as at least not to seek out ways how they may safely break their trust , and therefore offend because the law doth not provide due punishment ; i want words to express the exquisite dis-ingenuity of such practises , which encourage the violation of all publick and private trusts at pleasure , if thereby no penalty is incurred . i shall in the next place briefly consider the injunctions in the body of the statute , according to which both the bishops and their vicar-generals are to be guided in granting their licenses , and although the bishop of london and dean of pauls , may examine , approve and admit , yet they must call to them four doctors of physick , a competent number to avoid all suspicion of favour or partiality , and that the candidate be throughly sifted before he obtain a license : then it follows that the bishop being out of his diocess , his vicar-general may license according to the statute , whence i collect that if the bishop is in any part of his diocess , his vicar-general may not exercise this power , neither can any such interpretation be put on the bishops being out of his diocess , as if this related only to his judicial attendance in court , and so often as he is not there , his vicar-general may license ; for this is contrary to the letter of the statute , and ( as i conceive ) the designment of it , which was primarily to authorize the bishops and their chancellors only in the others absence from their diocess . i further observe that this power of licensing was by the statute placed in the bishops and their vicar-generals , no mention being made of their surrogates or officials , * in regard that this trust of licensing to practise physick is no part of their office by vertue of the bishops patent to them , i quaere whether they commissionating surrogates according to those patents , can legally invest them with the like authority , since it is limited by the statute to the bishops and their vicar-generals ? it is in the last place observable that four doctors of physick must be called in before the person to be licensed can be approved and admitted ; i question then whether certificates under the hands of three or four doctors of physick without such examination in the presence of the bishop , &c. do answer the command of the statute ? in respect of the whole untill these vicar-generals and their surrogates can produce any legal authority constituting them interpreters of such statutes so as to put what sense and construction they please upon them most agreeable to their profit , and till the reverend judges have otherwise determined , i hope it may not be unwarrantable to understand the statute according to the literal meaning thereof , and then all transgressions of the power granted by it seem illegal , as that bishops should license without a previous examination by four doctors , that the vicar-generals if the bishop be in any part of his diocess , should exercise this power , and without the examination by doctors , or that any surrogates should attempt to license , that authority being incommunicable by patent : and lastly , that certificates should be admitted , most of which probably may be counterfeited : besides i shall leave those who are learned in the law to decide whether since the president and censors of the kings-colledg of physicians in london , by other statutes of later date , were appointed to examine and allow all licentiates , unless such whom the universities authorize to practice physick , the power of the bishops and their vicar-generals granted before , * is not void in law ; and although the bishops and their chancellors proceed on the license , yet whether such licentiates without either the universities or colledges examination and approbation can plead their authority , so as to acquit them from the penalty to be inflicted on illegal practisers ? to pass by other points of great importance in this controversy , because i would not seem to intrench on the profession of others ; i shall endeavor to shew the inconveniencies which happen to the faculty of physick and physicians , by reason of this power of licensing placed in the bishops and their vicar-generals : as for the right reverend fathers in god the bishops , if such a weight of business did not lie on their shoulders , much more considerable , by which they may possibly be taken off from looking after this trust , 't is not to be doubted but that they would be very severe and just in this , as in other affairs , respecting a due encouragement of those who have been equally members of the universities as themselves , and thereupon grant out very few licenses to practise , especially in those places and countreys wherein are seated a sufficient number of learned and experienced physicians , who having performed their exercises are graduates in physick : were the bishops ( i say ) at leisure to regard this business , the true professors of physick could not possibly be more secure , or desire a better improvement of that power to the honour of their faculty ; but their vicar-generals are well pleased that their respective bishops do at least permit them to license whom they think fit , and however there is some engagement on them not only to follow the directions of the statute , but to be kind to the faculty of physick and its professors ; yet i wish that there is no cause of complaint , as if too many of these multiplied their licentiates for their own more then the benefit of the publick , and that since his majesty's most happy restoration , every court-day hath not been a physick act , the fees being incomparable respondents , as if the custom of leiden had prevailed . accipiamus pecuniam , dimittamus asinum . his money's currant , and will pass , though he who 's licens'd is an ass . for on the same account by the master of the revels , are licensed the dancing horses and well-bred bares . i do not at present undertake to accuse any particular persons , as if they have already licens'd so many that there are left no more pretenders to physick unfurnished , but i should wonder if all manner of rude and illiterate quacks , should at the charge of a mark or some such inconsiderable rate , be as much capacitated to practise physick , as those who are academical physicians : mantuan affords us a notable description of such licentiates ; his etsi tenebras palpant , concessa potestas excruciandi aegros hominesque impunè nocendi . although the art of physick these don't skill , to them are granted licenses to kill . had these vicar-generals and their surrogates by law an unlimited power to license all who are minded to practise physick , yet should they exercise it in the utmost latitude , the people might suffer as much by the provision of that statute as they did before , there being little difference between the bold attempts of those who then practised , and very many since no less unfit to undertake the cure of the sick ; indeed these last ( pleading the authority of their licenses ) are without much scruple entertained , as if they had been examined by four doctors of physick , and in every respect were allowable according to the direction of the statute , and thereupon may take more opportunities to injure the people then the others , who being well known never could obtain to be trusted as persons of sufficient abilities : certainly the whole nation will be very sensible of a manifest grievance upon the account of numberless licentiates to practise physick , for it would not serve the turn if each licentiate should apply himself to the cure of a distinct disease , as the egyptians did heretofore in the like case , and that each parish should employ one , but every person will have a distinct spy on his body , who being his diaetical genius must order every bit of meat and draught of drink , and after this manner be inslaved to live physically . as it doth not seem probable that the parliament did intend more , then that the people instead of ignorant practisers who abused them , should be provided with learned and able men to help them in their sickness , so neither can we think that any prejudice to the universities was thereby designed , but if notwithstanding that our academies have sent forth a convenient number of true sons of art , to take care of all that concerns their practice throughout the whole nation , these chancellors and their surrogates should at such a rate license as if there were none to practise , unless such whom they pass , taking no notice of the universities provision , what other conclusion can be deduced , then that such persons seek all opportunities to void the priviledges of the universities , to blast the hopes of many excellent physicians , whose abilities for want of exercise contract themselves and wither : and lastly , to disgrace the profession of physick by admitting such who as they cannot avoid the contradicting of their instruments , so perswade the people that they do as much as the art can perform . physicians do not yet despair that both their faculty and themselves may out-live the boisterous storms raised against them , because the lord bishops sit at the helm as most skilful pilates , who ( as before ) being chiefly intrusted , can direct the power of licensing to the best advantage , either taking it into their own hands , least they suffer in the peoples esteem by reason of the mis-application of the episcopal seal , or resigning it up to the universities , whose concern it is to attend such businesses : when church affairs are compleatly setled , 't is not to be doubted but that every bishop will take an account of all licentiates within his diocess , and inform himself of their abilities for such an imployment , by what means they obtained instruments authorizing them to practise physick , and if the conditions expressed in the statute were punctually observed , calling in all licenses illegally granted , and preventing any further abuses of that parliamentary trust by any of their officers : physicians ( i say ) are so well perswaded of the lord bishops good inclination to uphold the honour of their useful profession , and , to prefer those who are skil'd in all kinds of learning before others whose mother-wit and mother-tongue are their chiefest accomplishments , that they cannot harbor in their breasts any thoughts unworthy of the religious care of their answering every just expectation , and of expressing a particular respect and devotion towards medicine of a divine extract , if we credit st. augustine , saith he , * corporis medicina si altius rerum originem repetas non invenitur unde ad homines manare potuerit , nisi à deo , cui omnium rerum status salusque est tribuenda ; h. e. if we strictly enquire after the original of medicine , it will appear that god was the author thereof , to whom every thing ows it conservation . should the time in which that statute was made , be compared with this present season , an argument might be drawn thence to shew , that although there was a necessity ( in respect of the rareness of academical physicians ) that some should be licensed who satisfied the directions of the statute , yet since that the universities can as well furnish the nation with physicians as divines , these right reverend bishops will no more exert what authority they may have to make such physicians then priests , who never had relation to the universities , but spent their time either in following pass-times , in service , or a mechanical trade . chap. iv. of a collegiate way of physicians , and the kings-colledg in london . the chiefest argument inducing several princes most gratiously to institute corporations , was the advancement of trade , all obstructions which hindred its progress , being thereby removed , and apt priviledges granted to promote the interest and reward the diligence of the respective members of such commonalties : and in order to the perfection and dignity of the medicinal science , a collegiate way was thought on and setled as a meet expedient to free it from all those prejudicial incumbrances , which before were invincible lets , and suitably inlarging its power and authority , to render it more publickly useful and illustrious . the general obstacles as well in medicine as trade , preceding their incorporation as self-seeking , envy , discord , and want of government , being taken away , community , union , and a decent regulation have most fitly supplied those defects , and the additional advantages secured both from all extraneous injuries , and established a full and lasting liberty to improve them as far as they be capable of proficiency . i need not acquaint the world with the wonderful success of trade , which by no other way could possibly arrive at such an height , all scattered and distinct professors by an happy coalition combining together to manage their several arts with twisted ingenuity and counsel , that they might eminently flourish ; the growth of physick hath been no less considerable in those nations wherein are founded colledges of physicians , nay , the medicinal science stood in greater need of this course then trade , being more subject to invasion , every * unskilful person ( as is shewn in the first chapter ) undertaking to profess physick , and the people rather applauding , then discouraging such practises , whereas if any one uneducated in a trade should adventure to set up , the people would be quickly sensible of that injury , and exclaim against any such encrochments as most destructive to trading , and openly tending to undo them who have spent much time and pains in the attainment of their art or mystery ; so that the common dislike of all ( who in respect of trade are competent judges ) was more effectual to prevent an inroad into their callings , then severe laws to restrain those who are ignorant from the practice of physick , besides there is no difficulty in the profession of physick ( as they presume to practise it ) which may equally deterr them from this as any other ( though the meanest and easiest ) imployment , for as panarolus well observes , praxis qua ipsi utuntur trium dierum spatio ab homine vel vilissimo acquiritur : h. e. the arrandest blockhead may learn all their skill and practice in three days time . moreover trade in respect of the event not being of such concernment as the science of physick , did not alike want incorporation , for in traffick the buyers understand whether the commodities are well conditioned , and fit for their use , the chapmans skill preventing all manner of circumventions and cheats , more then the particular laws of societies ; and one bad bargain may be recompensed by future caution and vigilancy , whereas it is otherwise in medicine , for very few know what belongs to the medicaments they take , not discerning the impostures of ignorant practisers ; and 't is too late to repent of inadvertency when once the deadly bolus is swallowed , promises of circumspection for the time to come being good warnings to others , but not available to him who is by such delusions surprized ; for this cause king henry the eighth was most gratiously pleased to found his colledg in london , as the words of the charter express ; cum regii officii nostri munus arbitremur , ditionis nostrae hominum felicitati omni ratione consulere : id autem vel imprimis fore si improborum conatibus tempestive occurramus , apprimè necessarium ducimus improborum quoque hominum qui medicinam magis avaritiae suae causâ quàm ullius bonae conscientiae fiducia profitebuntur unde rudi & credulae plebi plurima incommoda oriantur audaciam compescere , &c. collegium perpetuum doctorum & gravium virorum qui medicinam in urbe nostra londini , &c. publicè exerceant institui volumus atque imperamus , &c. h. e. forasmuch as to our princely care and soveraignty belongeth the welfare and happiness of our subjects , which cannot by any means be better secured , then by a timely disappointment of wicked mens evil designs and practises , we judg it expedient and necessary to restrain the bold attempts of impious and unworthy pretenders to physick , who acting from a principle of covetousness rather then conscientiously , do injure and deceive those who are ignorant and too credulous , &c. it is our royal pleasure and command to appoint and establish a colledge of learned and profound physicians in our city of london , &c. dissention also amongst physicians in respect of their opinions , promoted partly through emulation , and partly by the thirst of not a few after gain , transcending what was in this kind observable amongst traders , earnestly called for a speedy and convenient remedy , and since the settlement of a collegiate way of physicians , in the room of animosity , uncharitable emulation , and private inconsiderable designs , are introduced a decent respect of each other with all manner of mutual kindnesses , and the common interest and joynt improvement of the medicinal science for the benefit of the publick ; if the learned johannes de espagenet had reason to affirm , that love was one of the principles to which all bodies owe their original ; i may well assert , that it is no more a principle of bodies natural then politick , especially in the affairs of medicine , by which means the great business of consultation is regularly carried on , distinct abilities concurring to overcome the strange intricacies of complicated diseases : this love is the bond knitting the whole associated body together by its gentle ligaments in due symmetry , so that the juniors do chearfully adhere to what the seniors propose , submitting to their aged reason and experience , and the seniors as candidly communicate their observations , and admit of partnership in their vast stock of knowledg . as in other corporations great care is taken for the education of apprentices to their several trades , so a collegiate way herein may be more profitable , and i might hence take a fit occasion to recommend the practice of the ancients , who undertook the tutorage of young students in physick , which laudable practice is still continued in some countreys , and helps more in the profession of physick , then the bare turning over of voluminous authors , who ( at least many of them ) designed chiefly their own fame by their books ; the junior physicians ( i say ) being after this manner initiated , can more safely fight under such conduct against the desperatest diseases , and the seniors will be forward to transplant their abilities , and even immortalize themselves in the continued series of their successors . i hope now that the tearms doctor and colledge , do not suffer in the opinion of understanding men , by reason of the unworthy language and vain scoffs which the author of medela medicinae vents against them , for , doctor ( as serjeant dodridg well argued ) is no addition , but a degree , quia gradatim est progressione doctrinae provenit , being the universities reward of learning , and the tearm colledg intimates a lawful association or constellation of physicians to preserve the nation by a prosperous influence , and to advance and improve the medicinal science : neither is that idle objection allowable , as if a collegiate way by differencing its members from other practisers , and seeking for an effectual power to punish ill practice in physick , tended only to make the profession of medicine a monopoly , for there is no stop put to the industry of those who take a regular course to become lawful physicians , the universities embrace and cherish all hopeful students , and when fourteen years are expired , being not wasted , but carefully employed in a most exquisite search after the concealments of nature , these having succesfully run through a course of natural philosophy , they are thereby enabled to enter upon the most difficult study of physick , till at length their abilities arrived at a due maturation , and deserving the approbation of the universities , they come abroad , and may ( satisfying the statutes ) be admitted members of the colledg , and by the same rule every incorporation would be a monopoly , but i need not spend more time in answering such an empty argument ; every person may apprehend the reason why not only that pamphletter , but others of his gang do so bitterly inveigh against the order and government of physick , were these capable either to attain degrees in the faculty of physick , or to be licensed by the colledg , they would be as forward for discipline in physick , as now they are for liberty . it remains that i endeavour to vindicate the kings colledg of physicians in london , from the scandalous suggestions of some , as if they had not answered those ends for which their society was founded ; and although i am very sensible of my insufficiency to undertake a just description of the deserts and performances of this colledg , and likewise that what ever i can say will be judged the product of interest , yet i shall rather hazard their censure for my deficiencies , then be guilty by silence of a seeming compliance with their malicious accusers , and that cannot be interpreted vain ostentation , when there is no other intent then to vindicate our society from the indignities of those who would lessen its splendor : well then , since that the necessity of answering such high provocations makes my apology , and prevents the charge of immodesty , i shall attempt to give some brief account of this colledg and its members ; should i begin with the first doctors whose names are recited in the charter granted by king henry the 8th , and confirmed by parliament , and continue the catalogue to this day , the worth and fame of each collegiate would compleatly evidence that they were according to direction profound , discreet , groundly learned , and deeply studied in physick ; nay , i confidently affirm , that the most considerable discoveries which in these later ages have merited applause and credit in the world , were most happily made by some members of this society , witness the renowned doctor harvey 's circulation of the blood , doctor jolive 's first observation of the lymphaeducts , and many others , who , though dead , do yet live in their physical inventions , and not a few of the present members of this colledg have paid the first fruits of their vast attainments , whose books having stood the brunt of humorous contradiction unanswered , are above censure , or my panegyrick , and their second prosperous voyages into the america of medicinal truths , cannot but raise large expectations of further discoveries , many of this incorporation did heretofore warehouse their learning and experience , and hoarded up such plenty of all necessary accomplishments , as if they intended to ingross the medicinal science , who being prevented either by mis-guided modesty or untimely death , suffered their acquirements to die with them , leaving a despair in their successors to retrieve those hidden and buried treasures , and the rest of the colledg when they are secured from injurious blasts , will in due time blow with mature and acceptable performances , these are now giving the world an edition of themselves , and at length will publish their most elaborate works wherein the progress of physick may be most legible . i shall further add , that since his majesty hath most graciously pleased to honour his colledg with his presence , and to take notice of their exercises , the whole society is inflamed to approve themselves worthy of their soveraigns favour and patronage ! the reason why these collegiates do at present conceal their abilities , is , because they would avoid the prostitution of them , observing that even their free converse hath emboldned amazon practitioners to handle the two-edged sword of medicine , since therefore the profession of physick is only guarded by the prudence of physicians , there is good cause why they should so far imitate the ancients as not to disclose those mysteries and depths in physick which distinguish them from others ; and although candor opens their breasts to all sons of art , yet their choicest conceptions will be fast locked up , till law secures them , and their authors from usurpation and injuries . chap. v. of chymistry , and the pseudo-chymists in this kingdom . the fierce digladiations between the galenists and chymists , each party contending not only to advance their opinions , but to vilifie their opposites , have in the judgment of most prudent men rather inconvenienced both , then gained to either more credit or authority ; i shall present some of these hot disputes , by which all may observe the weakness of such ineffectual argumentations , and meerly rude and passionate censures , saith zacutus , sanguineis lachrymis deploranda esset calamitas haec ab iis qui hippocratis & galeni se filios esse gloriantur , & horum magistrorum sanissimam doctrinam ex limpidissimis fontibus exhaustam combibere solent , quod chymici omnino adversam & contrariam hippocratis legibus observantes disciplinam impune , proterue & indecore medicinam , summum-omnipotentis donum , dicteriis , facetiis & preposteris auxiliis infament , medicus fugiat a chymicis & documenta eorum parvi faciat : h. e. the true disciples of hippocrates and galen who have drawn all their accomplishments from their pure fountains of learning , have cause to weep blood seeing that the chymist who profess a contrary way of physick , are permitted without restraint by their malevolent reproaches , scorns , and unartificial remedies to blaspheme medicine which is the gift of the great god : and therefore let every physician take heed of these , and lightly esteem their doctrines . but in answer ro this , nemo docti & sapientis viri nomen aut titulum obtinere potest nisi sit chymista , quia nec principia naturalia , nec vera universalis materia cuipiam unquam innotescent nisi per artis chymicae experientiam : h. e. he is most unworthy the name or repute of a learned or wise man , who is not a chymist , because neither the natural principles nor the universal matter can be known to any who are not skilled in the spagyrick art : what riolanus writes is not behind this , princeps tenebrarum delectatur fumis , & ministros habet fumi vendulos , alchymistas , sufflones , carbonarios quorum scientiam cur non appellem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum proprie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicantur fornacarii chymistae , sed veritas filia temporis perdet gratiam novitatis eorum , & fumus iste disparebit : h. e. the prince of darkness doth affect fumes , and his officers trade in smoak ; these chymists busie themselves in kindling charcoal not differencing themselves from colliers , since that amongst their furnaces they are not unlike chimney-sweepers , i know no reason but that i may compare their art to chimney-sweeping , but truth is the daughter of time , and when the novelty of their practice is over , their smoak will dis-appear . penotus extols chymistry as much as riolanus decries it ; quid jucundius quam ea noscere atque oculis pene cernere manuque tractare quae procul a sensu & cognitione nostra peccatum posuit ? quam in ipsam penitus absconditam naturam descendere , quam partes universi in particulas quasque minutissimas scindere ? ipsaque naturae principia in manu habere ? quid publice , privatimque utilius , quam mortalitati nostrae quantum quidem licet subvenire ? morbosque aliaque corporis incommoda arcere & depellere ? & languentem proximum atque jacentem restituere , haec omnia praestat ea philosophiae atque medicinae pars quam spagyricam vocant : h. e. what can be more pleasant then to know by the sure information of the eye and hand , those things which sin hath so far distanced both from our sense and apprehension ? then to dive into the depths of nature ? then to anatomize the universe , and to handle the first principles of all things ? what can be more publickly and privately useful then to retard death as much as may be ? to vanquish diseases ? to recover our sick neighbour ? and all these feats are performed by chymistry . billichius on the other side tells us , medicamenta chymica membris principalibus corporis pravam dispositionem imprimunt , calorem nativum & spiritus individuos animae satellites destruunt , remediis itaque chymicis , quasi periculosis , inutilibus , & pestiferis , jus civitatis in republica medica denegetur ; and more particularly gluckradius , salia arrodunt & extimulant , spiritus caput petunt , olea ventriculum conviscunt & adherent : h.e. chymical medicines are hurtful to the principal parts of the body , by fixing an ill disposition there , by dissipating natural heat , and overthrowing the spirits which are the life-guard of the soul , and therefore such chymical remedies ought to be expunged the catalogue of medicines , being hazardous , unprofitable , and pestilential : and gluckradius further adds , that chymical salts are corrosive and irritate , spirits injure the brain , and oyls by their glutinousness and adhesion do even plaister the stomach . the author of the pharmacopaeia spagyrica tells us another story , says he , ars spagyrica omnium scientiarum nobilissima , utilissima & praestantissima nihil aeque medicum ornet , nobilitet , clarumque reddat , haec firmissa naturae claustra reseret , ei quandoquidem virtutum omnium , terrestrium , coelestium , animalium , vegetabilium & mineralium clavis conceditur , in qua non modo rei essentiae perpenduntur , verum in lucem conspectumque omnium adducuntur , purum ab impuro segregatur , cortex a nucleo , contrarium a contrario , multa denique miranda praestat , & multo majora , quam quae humanus intellectus excogitare possit : and faber seconds this , * siquid est in natura pulchritudinis nobilitatis & utilitatis , id omne a puro ortum habet , quo sola chymia uti novit , quae jure merito scientias omnes naturales tantum antecellit quantum purum illud reliquum naturae superat & vincit : h. e. chymistry is the most noble , useful , and excellentest of all sciences , nothing doth so much grace a physician and make him eminent as the knowledg hereof which readily admits him into natures recesses , and discovers all true vertues terrestrial and celestial , and the nature of animals , vegetables , and minerals ; so that not only the essences of things are made intelligible , but they are subjected to our touch and view , the pure hereby being separated from that which is impure , the kernel from the shell , one contrary from another ; its effects to conclude are so wonderful , that they surpass mans reach or understanding : and faber writes to the same purpose ; if there is any beauty , excellency , and worth in nature , it is the product of that which is most pure , the ordering of which is the proper business of chymistry , and therefore it doth as much out-shine other natural sciences , as this pure the grossest feculencies . i perceive that i need an apology to excuse this tedious recitation of the absurd mutual * clashings of these galenists and chymists , who most earnestly endeavor to perswade the people that they design the sanity of mankind as the common end of their , though divers , nay , contrary directions and practises ; because most authors engaged in this controversie instead of rational argumentations , do chiefly abound with vain boastings and suspitious commendations of their way , no less deriding all those who are not of their mind ; i thought my self concerned to reflect on this fruitless opposition joyning with angelus sala in his just reproof of both . clamant alii a partibus sumus galeni , alii partes tenemus paracelsi mutuas contentiones & dissidia subinde moventes , & interim paucissimi reperiuntur qui in sinceritate proximo suo succurrere contendunt : h. e. some devote themselves to be galens disciples , others are for paracelsus , jangling amongst themselves whilest very few endeavor in sincerity their neighbors restoration . in my opinion 't is preposterous to conclude that any person is to be therefore accounted a good physician , because he stifly adheres to one or the other party , or thinks fit to conjoyn them ; for to the accomplishment of a true physician is required an exact knowledg of all things belonging to his practise , whether they relate to his right judgment of diseases and their diagnosticks , or the regular applications of medicaments artificially prepared in order to a cure , and so far as any one who undertakes to profess physick is deficient in any part of his business , he personally errs , and falls under the censures of an ill practiser , although he either vaunts himself to be a galenist or helmontian : physicians are truths perpetual candidates , more allowing , nay , improving chymistry ( as part of their profession ) then any pretenders to it , who not only employ themselves in the advancement of pharmacy by its help , but in compleating the sensible theory of philosophy and medicine , of which with indefatigable pains our worthy predecessors have most auspiciously laid the sure foundation ; should i use any arguments inciting physicians by the assistance of pyrotechny to analyze all sorts of bodies , as if this was the probablest way to conduct them to all acquirable knowledg of their nature and vertues , other courses proving unsatisfactory , i might herein seem too much an imitator of some late writers , who take upon them to blame the defects of physicians in the study and practice of chymistry , for no other reason then that they by their experimental essays may be thought their dictators , degrading them to advance their own reputation ; methinks these deal herein very unkindly in attempting to ecclipse their brightness from whom they borrowed all their light : certainly physicians need no advertisement to observe the constitution of bodies in their discovering the principles of them , and that the universe after the creation ( when the spirit moved upon the waters ) in an analogous way to chymistry was methodized , the more subtle and etherial parts ascending , and those more feculent , becoming the footstool of the almighty , that also the grand affairs of generation and corruption seem nothing else but spagyrical processes , which i might illustrate if i did not study brevity ; hereupon ( i say ) physicians wisely trace the true original of bodies in the same order as they were made by an artificial anatomy of individuals , rightly judging of the whole in respect of the congruity of all its parts . although chymistry hath not been so succesful to determine the number of principles some resting in the trinity of sal , sulphur , and mercury , others accounting five , water , spirit , sulphur , salt , and earth ▪ zephyriel , thomas bovius making the number eight , and it being not improbable but that our successors may discover more as simple as these , yet in respect of the apt preparation of medicaments , it hath fully answered expectation , physicians being thereby furnished with noble remedies , which skilfully used , give ample proof of their activity in the extirpation of diseases : but these spagyricks take great care in their opening of bodies , especially such as are most compact that the innate or seminal vertues thereof be not altered or marred by corrosive and poysonous dissolvents , * or by destructive heat or fire , antidating the day of judgment in respect of those things which in order to their preparation it consumes * and utterly spoils ; the imitation of nature in her most perfect operations do best direct an artist in his experiments , and therefore as by the mutual conjunction of the celestial and terrestrial sun together with a due supply of an homogenious and natural menstruum , a vegetable is raised and impowred with medicinal vertues , so if the physician conceives that this vegetable needs a further exaltation , at least a preparation to be unloaded of its clogging feculencies , and desires to make a separation of the pure from that which is impure , by the help of chymistry he performs what he designed , choosing an inlivening heat to advance the signatures of that vegetable , and an apt menstruum to which it may readily resign up all its efficacy and vertue , being thereby freed from its useless excrements ; which course is followed likewise in the preparation of animals and minerals , not as if the same heat and menstruum would serve the turn for all vegetables whose vertues are contrary ( as the pseudo-chymists ignorantly practise ) which need diverse and proper menstruums , and what sufficiently wrought on vegetables will not operate alike on animals and minerals ; for although physicians are better acquainted with the universal dissolvent , then some phantastical pretenqers , yet they aim chiefly in their medicinal preparations at the preservation of the true genuine and seminal vertues , and make not each simple to be alike catholick as the menstruum imployed ; besides they respect the safety of their medicaments as much as their prevalency in the cure of diseases , and when by much industry and sweat such powerful remedies are provided by the true physician , he doth not expect that they should work miracles , help incurable maladies , or raise the dead , but if a just occasion is offered , he makes use of them , hoping that by reason of a right application they may be effectual ; however these do not because of their expertness in chymical preparations , impiously conceit that god hath bestowed on mankind no vegetables , animals , nor minerals as effectual helps to oppugn the irreconcilable enemies of life , unless they are renovated by the hermetick art ; for not only the constant experience of the greatest part of the world contradict this fancy , few nations understanding the use of chymistry , and yet the sick in those countreys by nature ▪ provision of remedies recover ; but an observation may be drawn from bruits , which i urge not , as if i imagined that the medicines curing them may be applicable to men , and that the farriers skill may accomplish a physician ; in this point the opinion of jobertus * seems most rational , saith he , quod in brutis animantibus observare quis potuit ad hominem traducere velle ineptum est , quoniam longe lateque differunt hominum brutorumque naturae vel hoc argumento , sturni cicuta & helleboro coturnices tuto vescantur , quae nobis sunt venena & pharmaca : h. e. 't is absurd to appropriate the physick of bruits to men whose natures are so different , which is evidenced by the starelings feeding securely on hemlock , and the quails eating hellebore , which to our bodies are poysonous and medicinal : bruits , i say , when diseased employ no operators , but supply themselves from natures laboratory with convenient remedies , which succeed so well with them that they out-live the proudest pretenders to the great elixir or panacaea , nay , as seneca * affirms by aristotle's authority , quina & dena saecula edurant , they last five , nay , ten ages at least some of them , having no other medicinal help ; and hence it is that the true physicians do not think fit to employ themselves in gaining the quintessence of every simple they use , well knowing that many simples do irrecoverably loose their seminal vertues by ordinary preparations . the anomymus author * of the pharmacopaeia spagyrica before mentioned , doth very well determine this controversie ; quando morbus non est admodum pertinax simplici medicamenti preparatione subigi & everti queat , in diuturnis autem , gravibusque morbis , in delicatulis & his quibus ventriculus nausea premitur , & qui solo adspectu odorem & saporem perhorrescunt longiori artificio utimur nam crebris coctionibus filtrationibus clarificationibus & distillationibus ea adeo gustui palatoque grata reddimus ut ipsis aegris in delitiis veniant : h. e. if the disease is not rebellious it may be cured by an ordinary preparation , but chymical and obstinate distempers require more exquisite remedies , and if the patients stomach is squeemish , or he cannot endure the sight or tast of the medicine , then by frequent coctions , filtrations , clarifications , and distillations , it may be made so grateful , that the patient may be delighted with it . i shall add solon's counsel , consule non quae suavissima sed quae optima : h. e. the patient ought rather to be pleased with that which most conduceth to his recovery , then mind the satisfaction of his palate , which is vitiated in sickness , and hereupon true physicians are not so sollicitous to prescribe palatable medicines * as those which may most powerfully overcome the disease . if i should launch out into a just commendation of the excellency and usefulness of chymistry , it would i am perswaded , by our pseudochymists ( concerning whom anon ) be interpreted an extorted confession , as if their pamphlets had opened our eyes , or forced us to close with them in the advancement of its repute in the world ; but i need not extoll that in words , which we more suitably praise by practice , and i shall comprehend what i intend to say on this subject under these two assertions . 1. that physicians have been the chief promoters of chymistry , and are best qualified to bring it to perfection . 2. that the lawful physicians in this kingdom are the truest chymists . he is a meer stranger to this science , who is ignorant that the chiefest chymists were physicians ; i should insert a large catalogue , if i did not suppose that the truth hereof is famously known by their learned works , wherein all chymical operations are more perspicuously delivered then in any other authors , but this will further appear when i have shewn that the qualifications of a physician are the principal requisites for the study and practice of chymistry , of which in the next place . i begin with the physicians skill in the tongues and in philosophy , what * hoglandus writes concerning the necessity of knowing the tongues is acknowledged by all true sons of art , saith he , non putet quis libros chymicos ca facilitate aut veritate in aliam linguam , transferri atque aliarum scientiarum libros : h. e. he will be deceived who imagins that chymical authors can be so faithfully translated as books treating of other sciences : he then who is a sufficient linguist is most capable of interpreting truly and beneficially the mystical and obscure writings of the ancients ; and in relation to philosophy as hippocrates requires a physician to be excellent in it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , * so arnaldus and geber thinks this knowledg most necessary to accomplish a chymist , saith the first ; qui vult ad hanc scientiam pervenire & non est philosophus , fatuus est , quia haec scientia non est nisi de occultis philosophiae : h. e. he who is ambitious to attain this science without philosophy , is in plain terms a fool , because this science comprehends the secrets of philosophers : and * geber more fully , oportet artificem in scientiis philosophiae naturalis eruditum & perfectum esse , quia quod per ingenium naturale non adipiscitur , hujus defectui per doctrinam subvenitur : h. e. the artist must be compleatly skill'd in natural philosophy that his learning therein may supply all defects of his ingenuity . sagacity is no less necessary to enable a physician , upon which account the forementioned alsarius * tells us , sapientissimus senex artem longam esse jure merito dixit ut tarda & hebetia ingenia ab ea capescenda deterreret , fervida vero & vivida ad comprehendenda atque retinenda medicinae mysteria magis inflammaret : h. e. hippocrates did most wisely pronounce the medicinal art to be long and tedious , that he might discourage at their onset all those who were stupid and thick skull'd , and provoke the acutest wits to pry into the knowledg and mysteries of physick , and sagacity is as considerable in chymistry , if we credit moresinus , saith he , ut quam ingeniose possint chymici naturae secretos thesauros in usus publicos depromere : h. e. that these eagle-ey'd chymists may pierce into the secrets of nature : indeed there is nothing obvious in the spagyrick art , and therefore answerable to the depths of knowledg sought after , are the difficulties in the disquisition of them ; he who observes himself to be besieged with errors , ought to have his wits * about him , as well to secure him in his right proceedings , as to prevent a surprize by false and erroneous suggestions . to conclude , studiousness and industry do compleat a physician whose knowledg and pains encrease alike , for if minima mundi res totius vitae contemplationi sat superque est : h. e. the most inconsiderable thing in the world may imploy the whole time of a mans life to attain a perfect and unerring knowledg of it . certainly then he hath no leisure allowed him who by his diligence is engaged to understand all the affairs of the greater as well as the little world : and assiduity is requisite in chymistry , according to the advice of an excellent adept in that art , exerceat se artifex donec studendo & experimentando cum laboris instantia ad cognitionem pervenerit : h. e. the artist must continually exercise and busie himself that by his constant study and experiments he may gain knowledg . i need not spend time in running over more qualifications both of physicians and chymists , in which they also agree ; by all which it is very apparant that physicians are best capacitated to be chymists , to whom also the spagyrick art is more advantageous then to any others who spend their time and pains in it : curiosity and covetousness are the general ends propounded by all not engaged in the profession of physick , moving them to erect laboratories , that by the help of chymical experiments , they may satisfie their earnest desire either of knowledg or profit , but upon neither account can these be equally benefited thereby as physicians , not they who seek only to gratifie their curiosity , because these rather hunt after rarities in nature then what is vulgar , and then most applaud their happy discoveries when some strange and unexpected effect doth occur ; quod naturae ludus illis miraculum ; the sportings of nature delight them most : and indeed these may at pleasure , sever , mix , make and marr , behaving themselves lasciviously towards nature and her divine mysteries , and at length if these err , their deceptions are not dangerous , so long as their innocent affectation of curiosity is confined to try conclusions on vile and ignoble bodies , which are then dignified when they afford real discoveries of new truths , in subserviency to the good and welfare of mankind : but physicians are not allowed liberty to pick and choose their work , they difference not the subjects on which they operate so much by their disguised variety , as estimate them according to the true and powerful vertues they afford for the recovery of their patients ; being also obliged to more accurateness then the others , for if they mistake in dissolving the intimate closure of bodies on which they work , in stead of separating by such a preparation between what is sound and the peccant matter , they possibly may part the neer embraces of soul and body : physicians then being satisfied that their enterprizes in chymistry relating to their practice be rational in the discharge of their weighty employment , more benefit thereby then those indagators invited to be spectators only of natures curiosities . as for the alchymists , although these out of an insatiable thirst to gain wealth by the great elixir or philosophers stone , and such like tantalizations do night and day moil amongst their furnaces , yet are not they so much profited by chymistry as physicians , for these being deluded , after an endless search for the true matter , and as idle a quest for the mercury of the philosophers , that these two natures whose essence notwithstanding is one , may , being timely after copulation impregnated , bring forth an aethiopian capable of changing his complection by vertue of the milk he sucks , and a suitable education : i say , these alchymists not understanding such and many more like parabolical expressions after their fruitless expence and pains learn only the insufficiencies of their processes , and howbeit they reiterate their work to try if they can hit right , yet nothing comes on it , their skill at length amounting to little more then a treasonable adulteration of coyn , or a pitiful circumvention of novices who are invited to sow gold plentifully in hopes of a succeeding harvest , or turning desperate quacks in physick ; but on the contrary , a physician is never frustrated in his chymical essays , as one well notes , faelices medici qui materiae differentias circa quas versantur optime tenent . he knows the matter on which he works , and brings it by his endeavors to that perfection he at first designed , powerful remedies to vanquish diseases are the chiefest treasure he seeks after , the spagyrical art which he professes , not being concerned to metamorphize base mettals into gold , but sickness into health , which as far excels that red though adored earth as that the basest mettal . physicians also are best qualified to bring chymistry to perfection ; that something already hath been performed in this kind , will appear if the long and tedious processes set down by the ancients be compared with those of later date ; 't was usual with those primitive operators to spend not only months but years in preparing their medicines which they esteemed according to the labour bestowed on them , and stil'd them precious in respect of their cost , which after all was done recompenced not either their trouble or charge , and if it hapned that any patient stood in need of such medicines , he usually had warning to prepare for death before the medicine could possibly be provided to cure him ; but this inconvenience is in some measure helped by the succesful industry of neotericks , who have found out more speedy ways of preparing their chymical medicines then formerly were used , and questionless when the profession of physick in all its parts and offices is established by law , and the apish pseudochymists stopped in their career , the world will have an account that the present physicians are acquainted with variety of powerful menstruums by which they can sooner obtain the vertue of any vegetable , then by expressing its juice or decocting it , and and so proportionably open both animal and mineral bodies to answer all exigencies how sudden soever in their practise ; this i insinuate not by way of ostentation , but that ( if authority shall require ) a publick proof may be given of it . it remains now that i evidence the physicians in this kingdom to be the truest chymists , for certainly they are most able who make it best answer the ends for which it was invented , set down by sennertus ; finis chymiae internus est corpora naturalia concreta purificare , solvere & componere alterare & exaltare , & ita elaborare , ut vel partes seorsim & singulae vel omnes iterum junctae & compositae sint quam purissimae & efficacissimae , atque ad usus in vita humana peculiares , & necessarios aptissimae & commodissimae , finis externus est praecipue sanitas & corporis humani conservatio : h. e. the internal end of chymistry consists in purifying , dissolving , and compounding , altering and exalting , and so ordering all concrete bodies that both the parts distinct or conjoyned , may be more useful and efficacious to cure diseases , and the external end is sanity . i shall rather choose to prove my assertion by shewing that these physicians are skilful , faithful , and succesful chymists : in the universities and colledg in london have flourished heretofore , some physicians eminent for their knowledg and practice of chymistry , though not in those days valued according to their merits ; but this inquisitive age encouraging learned men to employ themselves in spagyrical operations can not only produce a greater number of such artists , but may boast of their accurate search into the phoenomena of nature , as well making new observations , as experimenting the truth of those doctrines they receive by tradition . did i affirm that the lawful physicians in this kingdom are as knowing in rational chymistry as any society in the world ; i should impose an hard task on him who would undertake to oppose me herein : 't is not improbable but that the dispensatory will be objected to me as a publick confutation of our physicians skill in chymistry ; i answer , that the persons ( at least many of them ) intrusted by the supreme authority to compose the london dispensatory , were excellent chymists , i could instance sir theodore de mayerne , and many others : so then , if these who ( as will be easily acknowledged ) knew more in this art both as operators and practisers ) then our pseudochymists , thought fit to insert no more chymical preparations , certainly then we may conceive that they supposed their dispensatory as useful and compleat without , as with them ; however i must inform these pretenders to chymistry , that no publick dispensatory is so well stock'd with spagyrical preparations as this against which such clamors are raised as if it was insufficient to furnish any prevalent remedies : it is clear , that the colledg were not enemies to the spagyrical art , when they appeared for it before any academy or society of physicians in europe , and owned it in their pharmacopaeia as far then as safely they might , for their dispensatory was chiefly intended as a direction to the apothecaries , who though at that time very capable of dispencing vulgar medicines for ordinary use , yet were they not sufficient operators to prepare the noblest and most difficult remedies , wherefore the colledg most prudently attempted by more obvious operations at first to initiate them in chymistry , reserving to themselves the provision of what other medicines they should need in their practice , and those worthy collegiates were so forward to promote this art , that some physicians have rather blamed them for committing such remedies to the care and use too ( as it since falls out ) of every apothecary , the mistakes in both too often ruining patients , and discrediting physicians ; wherefore it seems more adviseable that they who use spagyrical medicines would not confide in common operators who may disappoint their hopes and expectations , but see to their preparations , whereby they may satisfie themselves and all that employ them , and when physicians take this business into their own hands , they can be fully secured that their remedies are no less faithfully then artificially prepared : the trust and confidence reposed in physicians being as considerable as life , calls upon them to express singular readiness and integrity to discharge their whole office which consists not only in prescribing apt medicaments , but a due regard that they be well dispensed according to direction ; when so many contingencies ( especially in such almost unimitable operations ) may intervene to spoil their vertues , and deceive the confidence reposed in them : the faithful physician , i say , ( unless he is extraordinarily perswaded of his honesty and ability , whom he imploys ) will not be guilty of doing his work by halves ; and being experimentally convinced that many who undertake to be operators , are either defective or fallacious , will not lie at stake for anothers miscarriages which he so easily may prevent by preparing what chymical preparations his patients take : but if we compare the physicians practice of chymistry with the pretences of our pseudochymists , according to the old axiom , contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt , the ignorance of the latter will serve as a foil to set out the eminency of the former : chymistry it seems hath not escaped the common fate of other sciences , and , although by it other things are brought to the test , yet very many illiterate persons , not fearing the subtle exploration of the fire , dare call themselves filios artis hermeticae , hermetick philosophers , and because they erect furnaces , spend charcoal , and break glasses , do fancy and would perswade the world , that they are prime spagyrists , these observe that physicians in some cases do succesfully administer chymical preparations , and hence they take liberty by strange artifices to commend their absurdities to the people , inventing quintessential lyes to carry on their horrid designs , as if they could delude the world by their zeal for the good cause of chymistry , on the behalf of which they express a ready submission to undergo all manner of persecution , and even martyrdom it self , they mean ( i suppose ) by their own furnaces : what ever is produced to justifie or advance the usefulness of chymistry ; these pseudochymists strive to interest themselves in it , as if they were the only qualified persons to renovate the science of physick , and intrust physicians in their profession : because our pseudochymists have dared to sollicite his maiesty to incorporate them , fondly conceiting that they could have deluded authority with the same arguments wherewith they daily cheat their patients : i shall more particularly examine their abilites , answer their pleas , and present the ill consequence to the faculty of physick , and the whole nation if they should obtain a patent or lawful settlement : i shall consider these pseudo-chymists either as university-men or mechanicks , the abilities of the first seem questionable , because they shun tryal , whereby ( if they be found worthy ) they may not only obtain a license to practise physick , but an opportunity of improvement wil be offered them by the friendly assistance of the whole society : and when these procaim most impudently their unjust censures of the learnedst colledg of physicians in the world , i cannot but assent to the comaedians character of insufficiency ; homine imperito nunquam quicquam injustius , qui nisi quod ipse fecerit , nil rectum putat . no person is so censorious as he who is ignorant , thinking nothing well but what he does himself . their association also with illiterate men , shews what may be expected from them , according to our proverb , birds of a feather will flock together : the truth is , these have so mixed with the mass of quacksalvers , that i cannot know one from another , whereupon i am apt to believe that these dealt chymically with the universities when they took degrees , and deluded them with false assurances of their highly volatiliz'd abilities , soon evaporating and taking flight into the land of forgetfulness , where i leave these , and return to the pseudochymists who were educated in several trades suitable to their ingenuity ; can we imagine that he who leaps out of a shop into a laboratory , is fit to mend both philosophy and medicine ? indeed the chymists who are shoomakers may be kind to the peripateticks , and prevent their being gravel'd , and the taylors may patch a mystical garment together taking pity of truths nakedness : but to be serious , what paracelsus said of their predecessors , i may affirm of these ; dolendum graviter tantam artem a tam inscitis , levibusque hominibus tractari , & eo corruptelae agi ut ne ipsi quidem veritati deinceps fides addicatur : h. e. 't is pity that such an excellent art should be practised by such ignorant and unworthy persons , upon whose account truth it self can scarcely be credited . i cannot guess by what means these unlearned pseudochymists should acquire that knowledg they pretend to ? these din in our ears the purity and efficacy of their preparations , but gross conceptions of the phaenomena of nature and medicinal truths , are of worse consequence in the practice of physick then feculencies and excrementitious parts to hinder the full energy of any medicine in the cure of diseases ; should i undertake to discourse of the abilities of these chymists , i should imitate him who attempted to treat de nihilo , for my part i cannot allow them capable of being spagyrical apothecaries , because he ought to be both well read & exercised too in chymistry , who is a good operator & prepares fit medicaments for the physician , a good author alledges , qui in legendis libris deses extiterit , in praeparandis rebus promptus esse non poterit , liber namque librum aperit , & sermo sermonem explicat , quia quod in uno est diminutum , in alio est completum non enim in practica bene assuescere potest , cujus mens in theorica renuit desudare , quoniam procedit ad practicam non secus ac asinus ad coenam ignorans quomodo & ad quid porrigat rostrum & os : h. e. he who is not well vers'd in books cannot be an expert operator , one book comments on another , and one saying interprets anothers obscurity , so that the mysteriousness and abruptness of one is illustrated and compleated by the perspicacity and fulness of another , neither can he excel in the practical part , who hath not by indefatigable industry and pains acquainted himself with the theory , for otherwise he comes to practise , as the ass to his supper , not knowing what choice to make of the things set before him : let me note that by books , arnoldus did not intend shop-books , as if any one skil'd in them , might thereby be enabled to operate in chymistry : if then these pseudochymists are not fit to be allowed the preparations of spagyrical medicines , what qualifications have they to practice physick , the artificial collying of their hands every morning will no longer serve their turn to shadow their ignorance , for experience shews that they are rather nigro carbone notandi ; to be known from black sheep , methinks the blackness of their hands seems a proper emblem or hieroglyphick of death to all who unhappily come under them : let a jew inform us christians concerning these pseudochymists , saith he , multum de arte pollicentur qui eam vix a limine salutarunt unquam , quid mehercle magna remedia aurumque potabile in votis habere , & minimis morbis ne tantillum opis adferre , artis magistros convellere , & inscitiae & supinae ignorantiae incusare , nonne est audax & temerarium facinus ? quorum in pollicitationibus nulla veritas , non modo calumniatores verum insignes mendaces & garruli impostores apud probos merito censebuntur : h. e. these promise much in an art in which they are scarcely initiated , but what do they tell us of noble remedies and potable gold , who cannot rationally cure the most inconsiderable disease ? are not they very impudent and unadvised , who dare boldly censure the ablest professors , accusing either their ignorance or laziness ? there is no truth in their promises , wherefore all good men will account them slanderers , notorious lyars , and pratling impostors ; although the just repulse which these pseudochymists lately suffered when they petitioned for a charter , hath as effectually answered all their arguments as wisdom and prudence can determine for the welfare of the publick , yet because they cease not to make continual addresses both in print and discourse to the people , seeking to elude authority , and to perswade the nation that the design set a foot by them will yet be countenanced ; i shall examine the strength of their arguments which are grounded on the uselesness and imperfection of vulgar methods and medicaments in the curation of diseases , the most certain improvement of physick in all its parts by chymistry , and that there is not any expedient so proper to renovate the art of physick , and to rescue mankind from the tyranny of diseases , as that a society of chymical physicians be founded , who will be obliged to spend their time and pains in promoting this most necessary work altogether unregarded and slighted by the scholasticks or academical physicians : in the next chapter i shall endeavour to shew how far the old methods and medicaments are useful and sufficient , and what rational physicians may expect from them , as also the ignorance of these pseudochymists who undertake to censure them ; as for their commendation of chymistry , the true physicians think them as much unable to express its worth and excellency , as to practice it with credit ; if these pseudochymists by any means can mis-represent the lawful professors of physick to the world , describing them to be mean and dangerous practitioners , they imagine that the common voice will be for them and their preparations , but the colledg did no less heretofore take care to * prevent such injuries , then are still vigilant to secure themselves from their assaults . when these plead a necessity that a corporation of chymical physicians should be instituted , because no particular society takes care to advance the spagyrical art , i must plainly tell them , that their information is notoriously false ; for all academical physicians , especially collegiates ( as said before ) have ever accounted chymistry part of their profession , and if this should be taken from them and committed to the management of others , by the same rule more pretenders may request the like priviledges of exercising distinctly all those offices which joyntly appertain to the accomplishment of a physician , and then one corporation might undertake to feel patients pulses , another to view the water , and a third visit the sick , no more entrenching on the physicians proper business , then these in their presumption to claim the sole use and authority of chymical preparations : but it seems these pseudochymists conceit that their challenge , or appeal to the magistracy is an unanswerable argument , imitating herein their vain-glorious leader , van helmont , to whom his contemporary henricus ab heer affords no better a character then to call him , * semi-virumque asinum , semi-asinumque virum , quo arcadia non peperit asiniorem ; * and in another place rails against his preparation of euphorbium , nay , 't is well known that when he was in england ( where he learned most of his notions ) he generally failed in his cures : but yet his disciples like those of jacob bhemen will presume to understand more then the author , and admire what is not intelligible : the reasons which prevailed with the learned physicians in that age , not to answer him in his folly , hinder us from such unworthy encounters , since that by other ways the impostures of these pseudochymists may be discovered then by tolerating their desperate practice to experiment their unskilfulness ; their strange promises of curing certainly sixteen patiens in twenty laboring of feavers , are intelligible evidences of their deceitful proceedings , seeking only to gain employment by such presumptuous engagements ; if not by chance , but according to a sober expectation two or three more die then they allot , nay , all the twenty , as these cannot make satisfaction for one life , much less for so many , so will not they abate their confidence which stands them in such stead , recommending them to the credulous multitude . furthermore , that no manner of crafty insinuation may be omitted , no stone left unturn'd , these pseudochymists print lists of their pretended cures ; it is not worth any ones pains to examine the truth of them , their expressions and language do sufficiently discover how little they understood the diseases which they treat of , and did not they conceal their preparations , there is no doubt but that the meanest capacity might censure their worthlesness or danger . i having accidentally met with some of their performances , content my self to judg of the rest thereby ; one of this select society of pseudochymists found a patient entred on a course of salivation , to whom ( it seems ) by a chyrurgeon without acquainting either the patient or his friend , an apposite mercurial medicine had been given ; this simple quack looking into the patients mouth and taking notice that his gums were very much tumified , forthwith pronounced that the disease was the scurvy , which was arrived at the height ; and in order to the cure he sends an antimonial medicine which ( not without much hazard ) both vomiting and purging the patient , inhibited the flux by a speedy evacuation & revulsion of the serous humor whereby it was maintained , and this is reckon'd a wonderful cure : another being called to see a large tumour , which by able physicians and chyrurgeons was known to be an aneurisme , and accordingly dealt with by them , most readily undertakes the patient , and promises present help ; then he falls to work , and foments the parts affected with hot chymical spirits and oyls , till the tumour blushed at his ignorance : another when his patient complained that his cough hindred him from sleep , gave a narcotick ; but alas ! expectoration being thereby suppress'd , the patient was suffocated and slept quietly . these few examples may suffice to warn others that they intrust not their lives in the hands of such unskilful practitioners who are altogether ignorant of the causes and symptoms of diseases , right methods of curation , and proper remedies . the ill consequences are so many which would be manifest , if such a charter should be granted , that they cannot be easily reckoned up , for not only physicians would be debarred the exercise of a considerable part ( as hath been shewed already ) of their profession , or two distinct charters grant the same priviledges ; but the apothecaries company will be prejudiced , who are authorized to provide as well chymical as other preparations , and can more skilfully execute both , then these pretended operators , some of them having spent only three or four weeks with mr. johnson operator to the colledg ; others professing chymistry by the assistance of a small crucible or a bal. mariae , and not a few being such titularly , knowing as little in the spagyrical art as in other qualifications necessary to the practice of physick : it was a laudable custom ( expressing the honorable esteem heretofore had of the profession of medicine ) that spurius ad medicinam non erat admittendus ; no bastard might be a physician : if this deserved observation , then certainly no spurious brood of pseudochymists ought to be admitted to practice being neither legitimate physicians or apothecaries : but the universities will mostly suffer if such a corporation should be established , for who will spend their time and pains in those places , when a society calling themselves chymists shall not only scorn and vilifie their book-learning , but be impowred to take in an allotted number of members as they shall think fit , by which means in a few years the most excellent science of medicine will necessarily fall into the hands of ignorant and illiterate practisers ; and as the university will then be deprived of one faculty , so the people ere long would be sensible of their loss , when they must rely on such assistants as gun-smiths , heel-makers , taylors , and the rest , &c. he who pretends not to the spirit of prophecy may foresee what will be the event , for these already slight anatomy , which all true physicians account a most useful and necessary introduction to the knowledg of medicine informing them concerning the admirable fabrick of mans body , its structure , confo●mation and consent of parts , the various liquors and juyces contained in several vessels , their changes and alterations , as also the causes and symptomes of diseases , and the right use and application of medicaments : we as much approve the anatomy of bodies by pyrotechny as they , but judg him an incompleat practitioner who knows not what or where the defect is in the noble engine of mans body , and what remedies whether chymical or others are most convenient to rectifie what is amiss ; and therefore true physicians take especial care to conform their medicaments to this exquisite machine , and when they observe as bausnerus elegantly expresses , in corpore humano nihil sine lege , nihil sine ordine , nihil sine pondere , mensura & numero , nihil deficit , nihil redundat , nihil otiosum aut superfluum omnia summe utilia , semperque operantia : h. e. there is nothing in mans body without law , order , and concord , nothing without proportion , measure and number , there is no defect nor redundancy , nothing idle and unnecessary , but all parts are primarily useful and continually operative : so in like manner , nothing ought to be prepared for , and given to the body without rule and method , without a due correspondency with it , no imperfect or empyreumatical preparation , nothing must be ineffectual or superfluous , but all act vigorously and effectually to set to rights all disord●rs in the body : but these pseudochymists rightly apprehending their deficiency in anatomy to conceal their ignorance , disallow it , at least judg it not of such importance as physicians commonly affirm in the curation of diseasees . also phlebotomy and purgation are by them condemned , the first stiled impious , and the other reputed destructive ; i am sure that botallus was of another mind in relation to phlebotomy , saith he , nos non opinamur , sed cognoscimus & certo scimus in missione sanguinis plus esse opis ad curandā maxmā morbo●ū partem ( si rite usurpetur ) quam in quoquam alio artis auxilio , immo dicere ausim quam in caeteris aliis omnibus simul junctis ; non propterea nos caetera praesidia à medicina excludenda esse censemus , sed omnia suo tempore & modo usurpanda : h. e. i do not guess , but experimentally know that letting of blood ( if regularly ordered ) is more efficacious in the cure of most diseases then any other direction ; nay , i may add then all other remedies put together , and yet i exclude not the use of other helps , which in their season may be beneficial ; because in the next chapter i shall particularly discuss these opinions about phlebotomy and purgation , i shall at present dismiss them . if these pseudochymists shall still prosecute their design and yet dream that a patent may be obtained , i doubt not but that the colledg ( when they shall be called to deliver in their objections against the settlement of such a society ) will offer such weighty reasons , that the expectation of these pretenders will be frustrated . this i thought fit to insert least any one should imagine that my arguments do conclude the colledg , what is observed by me may possibly inform the people concerning the most dangerous project of these pseudochymists ; if i have discharged the duty of a faithful scout in descrying the common enemies of mankind , i return into my rank again , being not engaged to oppose my self to their body drawn up in battalia , my work is done if the intelligence i bring of our adversaries approach alarums every one to arm himself against their publick and private assaults . chap. vi. of the ancient and galenical way of medicine . before i enter upon the examination of the doctrines delivered by the ancients , 't is fit that i remove some stumbling blocks laid by the pseudochymists in our way to imprint a prejudice against the truth and authority of their writings ; the first accusation laid to their charge , that they were pagans , implying that christians hereupon ought not to credit their books ; because all the learning transmitted from them to us , either stands or falls according to the validity or weakness of this censure , i shall spend a little time in discussing it , 't will not be expected that i defend the opinions of these philosophers and physicians relating to religion , the soul and other knowledg distinguishing us as christians from them , but the task i undertake is to evince that hippocrates , galen , and the rest ( though heathens ) were capable of understanding the appearances of nature , and might discover useful truths for the benefit of their posterity ; i am not ignorant that many have taken great pains to prove that most of these both philosophers and physicians saw the books of moses , and many arguments are brought to declare their devotion and piety ; i shall not dispute the reasons urged by these advocates of the ancients , but rather grant that they were heathens : well then , since that the knowledg of which we discourse is acquirable by sense and reason , i scruple not to assert that the heathens might attain it as well as christians , for their sense was sufficient , if not more exquisite then their degenerated posteritie's , and they possess'd rational souls which could readily improve all the communications of their sense ; nay , who doubts but that god endowed these heathens with extraordinary gifts and abilities for the good and welfare of mankind , that their successors might more profitably contemplate the universe with all its admirable furniture ; when the little ant is constituted our tutor , and almost every creature by divine appointment instructs us in natural mysteries , much more may be expected from rational pagans , who diligently observing the causes of things , and their true effects , the several alterations of bodies , and what possibly could fall under their cognizance , might invent and publish those humane sciences we still enjoy ; the most elaborate works of these authors do abundantly express their indefatigable pains , which in spight of opposition to this day continue accurate comments on the book of nature ; considering then that these pagans lay under no impregnable difficulties hindring the success and issue of their studies , what could intervene to frustrate their publike undertakings , or render their industry vain and fruitless ? but i would not be mistaken as if i thought these infallible in their discoveries , if the moon , nay , the sun is spotted , well may these have their imperfections ; yet errorem in homine calumniari , est toti ipsi mortalitati convicium facere : h. e. the exprobation of error in any one is no less then an accusation of all mankind ; but why heathens ? this appellation having neither relation to their mistakes , nor true opinions in natural knowledg : indeed when these ancient philosophers and physicians soared so high in their thoughts , and contended to pierce into the magnalia dei , such profound secrets might disappoint their scrutiny and search , and it is apparent that they never err'd so grosly as in their attempts to discover such close concealments : if these did not make use of the knowledg bestowed on them as they ought , and from second causes ascended not up in their contemplation to an owning and adoration of the first , being unacquainted with the deep mysteries of religion , we ought not to condemn them who have not made the difference between them and us , but gratefully receive their endeavors and carefully avoid any unjust reproaches of those who spent themselves to be promoters of their successors in knowledg , at least pointed out directly the way to us in our disquisition of natural truths . another objection is brought in against the ancients , as if they exercised tyranny over their successors , cramping their industry and strictly confining them to their dictates , the aggravation of this pretended crime stuffs most of the late writers books ; but i must answer , that most of our innovators may be well suspected to condem what they either never read or understood , for hippocrates enjoyns us to make truth the standard of all the notions we entertain ; galen also and the rest are so far from this kind of usurpation , that they not only by example , but by particular direction exhort their readers to examine well all traditions before they give their assent to them : but suppose that the ancients had been so severe as to seek the inslavement of their posterity , yet what restraint could they lay on any physician to conform to their precepts ? if any person who is at liberty will subject himself voluntarily to the government of another , he makes his own condition servile , and the brand of pedantism may possibly reach these who of their own accord swear allegiance to their masters , choosing rather to err with them , then to think right with the neotericks : but i cannot be informed what effectual obligation the ancients can lay on them who follow reason only and are sons of truth , indeed antiquity commands a just veneration when it still triumphs in its mature and aged conclusions only capable of successive confirmations ; but whensoever true physicians cannot be fully satisfied that some old doctrines are true , they as freely and chearfully leave them , as any traveller that path ( though pleasant and easie ) which may misguide him in his journey ; however when these recede from the positions of the ancients , after due reading , and well pondering the arguments on both sides , they adhere to that which affords clear manifestations of its certainty , contrary to the practice of our innovators who are zealous to demolish the ancient structure of medicinal truths under the pretence of a reformation , before they have taken an exact survey of its faults , or laid a new and more rational platform , acting thus not for want of ignorance ; the palace must be turned into cottages suitable to such inhabitants ; the works of these incomparable physicians because they surpass their capacity , deserve their severest censure , and envy prompts them on to poyson these fountains that the reputation at least of all may be destroyed who come thither in order to the satisfaction of their thirst after knowledg ; but true physicians take another course and first inform themselves what progress the ancients have made in their medicinal discoveries , and then note their defects which they supply with new choice observations , and since that by reason of the restless endeavors of physicians in their continuall search after the hidden treasures of nature , no science hath been so considerably advanced as medicine , they candidly and gratefully receive the new doctrines , and expunge the old , but do not imitate him who foolishly commanded that his house should be pulled down because the rain pashed in through three or four faults in the covering or roof , so these do not think fit to cast off the whole science of physick which they received from the ancients for no other reason then because some defects are detected therein : physicians also are not so unworthy as to calumniate the ancients , being ascertain'd that they did not write with design to deceive and abuse their readers or disciples : to conclude these are so prudent as neither to dote on old errors or admire new phrensical hypotheses . did i not avoid prolixity , as also suppose that all sober men are satisfied that the lawful physicians in this kingdom have sufficiently asserted their liberty by forsaking the ancients when they forsook truth , i should here produce all those new opinions which are received as irrefragable conclusions though not consonant to the dictates of hippocrates or galen : that physicians do still savor the old , i mean , the galenical way of medicine no other account can be given , then that it is most agreeable to their reason and experience , and transmitted to them from such skilful practitioners that deserve more to be credited then their antagonists who profess medicine without any rational method , slighting those rules of art which they can't observe by reason of ignorance . i should exceed the intended bounds of this discourse , did i undertake to run over the body of galenical physick , and subject each part distinctly to examination ; it may suffice therefore that i trace our pseudochymists in their opposition of those tenents which seem to them most questionable , relating either to the theory or practice : 't is well known that every scribler thinks himself highly concerned to bawl against the three aristotelian principles ; matter , form , and privation , the four elements ; fire , air , water , and earth ; the four first qualities , hot , moist , cold , and dry ; the four humors , choler , blood , phlegm , and melancholy ; the temperaments and other opinions of galen , and his followers , not unlike these : but when physicians do rightly understand that these terms of art are the products of fancy , and by no means the fundamentals of medicine ( as i hinted before ) these spend their time in beating the air and fighting with shadows which elude their strokes , when other more apposite terms are found out not alike fantastical , we shall soon exchange the old for new : because physicians are obliged in the universities to read aristotle , hippocrates , and galen ; must they needs approve all their notions ? did these apprehend that the mind doth change as much or more then the body , and as this alters by new accessions of aliment , so the other is progressive in its conceptions by further illumination and discoveries , * they would not so peremptorily conclude the physicians knowledg by the books which they are engaged to turn over : if the ancients have not been happy in their expressions , so that their writings are dark and uncertain , yet ought we to esteem them for their noble attempts to reason out and discover the first inclinations of nature ; should i insist longer on these notions , or plead for the necessity of retaining them both in our philosophy and medicine , or repeat the arguments against them , i might deserve as sharp a censure as he who was solicitous to determine whether a crow or goose-quill might be most serviceable in writing . because these terms are by so many accounted prejudicial to right conceptions of natures operations , and thought worthy of no better an appellation then figments ; i shall enquire whether the case is much altered by a substitution of other notions more agreeable ( as our innovators would perswade the world ) to the phaenomena of nature ; and in the first place the term specifick occurs , and although most late writers endeavor to reduce the whole of pharmacy to this notion , yet none have been so kind as to interpret what was intended by it , if they explain themselves by the internal and seminal vertues , that is ignotum per ignotius : i shall guess at what they mean , and i suppose that hereby they would express a peculiar vertue flowing from the essence of any simple , whereby in operation and effect it is distinguished from another , as it is approp●iated to the cure of a particular disease . well then , every simple according to this doctrine is specifical , or else this pretended universal notion comprehends not the true vertues of all simples , but if every simple is distinctly in respect of use specifical , then it necessarily follows that there are as many diseases as specificks , otherwise this defect of a correlate would contradict their chief intent of being specificks ; but let the world judg what an absurd fancy it is to conceive that there are so many different diseases to which mankind is subject , as there are distinct vegetables , animals , and minerals whose vertues are different , as if the great creator did equally furnish the universe with diseases as with simples , and notwithstanding the patrons of the term have not unriddled its obscurity , nor declared the soveraignty of ares , yet do they most confidently assert that diseases may chiefly be cured by their irresistable power , and least physicians should not know where to look for such excellent helps , by good advice they are sent unto illiterate practisers , and common rude empericks , in whose hands ( it seems ) such specificks may be found , because these being altogether ignorant of methods , do wholly rely on them , by frequent experimentings attaining knowledg of their proprieties . but as it is evident that no specifick can be produced which will certainly cure that disease to which it is appropriated , and that if such remedies help three or four , yet failing in the fifth , * the miscarriage is chargeable on their insufficiency , and not on any mistake in application , because the same person might as probably by mistake cure the first , as fail in the last ; so there is no specifick but what may be easily reduced to some common intention as much answering that in divers diseases as the same . the doctrine also of fermentation is as intricate and mysterious as some opinions of the galenists which are laid aside , and thought useless in the explanation of the appearances of nature : i confess that the learned treatise of doctor willis hath fully satisfied very many scruples , and yet they who have made the greatest progress in the discovery hereof , are conscious that they understand little in respect of what is unknown about this doctrine ; before i pass from this subject it may be expected that i take notice of the three notable ferments mentioned by the author of medela medicinae ; if i was appointed to determine , i could not readily judg whether mr. m. n. through ignorance doth more abuse this term then the galenical notions condemned by him , for because the famous doctor willis tell us , that atomical effluviums may act instar fermenti , analogously to ferment : this author disputes not to call them ferments , and because hippocrates acquaints us that there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , morbid expirations which may pass from one body to another , and in other authors he reads that not only the pox , but the scurvy are contagious diseases , and that there have happened peculiar putrefactions of the air producing worms ; hence he wisely infers , that no body is secure from the most subtle insinuations of those active particles as powerfully penetrating another body at distance as by an immediate contact : should i critically set down this authors errors in these assertions , the reader would be tired with their absurdity ; for in the whole i observe he misapplies the design and intent of those learned authors he cites : but that which i chiefly intend is to distinguish between those who are infected with the mentioned ferments , and the rest who are free . i shall in few words state the business , we deny not that the pox and scurvy may be contagious diseases , but a learned author affirms , non omnem luem esse contagiosam , & plerunque minus contagiosā , esse vetustam & confirmatam , quam recentem & mediam & lues quae ex tophis tantum seipsam prodit non est contagiosa , and the same author gives us two or three histories to confirm his opinion , i shall not transcribe them least any should be encouraged to that vice from which they are deterred by the severity of this punishment , and however mr. m. n. hath put a plausible excuse into their mouths who have deserved the pox , teaching them to plead that some infectious air passed only through their pores insensibly which hath so wonderfully wrought upon them by its power that no part is free from pain and torments ; yet as his phantastical ferments reach not those who avoid impure contacts , so all sinners can experimentally difference the time of their health , and sickness when they meet with persons who communicate that horrid disease to them . mr. m. n. should have set down the conditions necessary to contagion , as that there be such little particles continually transmitted from unsound bodies , a fit mediū or vehicle to receive and carry them to their journeys end , a disposition in the other body to receive them , and a due stay there ; for if any of these necessary conditions are wanting , contagious diseases cannot be propagated mediately or at distance . 1. 't is granted that to this kind of infection a sufficient emission of minute substances or corpuscles tinctured with the infection must invade another body ; it is possible that in the french disease , as also the scurvy some venemous effluxes may happen , but by no means such as m. n. fancies rendring these diseases as contagious as the pestilence , because the putrefaction in these being imperfect in respect of that , cannot communicate a venom which it was not capable of producing : what kind of taint arises from the pox and the scurvy , and how forcible it is to transmute a distant body , is a business above the reach of m. n. and not my task at present to inform him , i shall only object against his vast collection , that experience confutes his romance of the most powerful effluxes of such venereous and scorbutick ferments , it being most apparent that they who eat , drink , and familiarly converse with , nay , dress the ulcers and sores of both pocky and scorbutical patients are not infected ; to say no more , if these diseases are generally so contagious as without any corporeal commerce to infect , how comes it to pass that some parts in that body from which these exhalations expire are more free then others . 2. to contagion a fit medium or vehicle is required , authors do very well distinguish inter fomitem perflatum & non perflatum , between contagions which may by the air be diminished , dissipated , and extinguished , and others wherein notwithstanding the several alterations of the air , infectious particles preserve their malignity till they fix in some apt seat or place of abode , and such as pass from body to body directly by reason of ( as it were ) the stagnation of the air ; had m. n. affirmed that no change in the medium could prevent the power of his three ferments from possessing distant bodies , i would have answered him in the words of an author not inferior to him for abilities , si medium tantum aut calescat aut refrigeretur , siccetur aut humectetur aut aliam quamlibet qualitatem nudam suscipiat , alterabitur similiter corpus proximum & non proinde suscipiet morbum corporis longe positi : h. e. if the medium only is hot or cold , dry or moist , or is otherwise qualified then it was , the adjacent body is equally changed , and hereupon not subject to contagion ; and i hope he will not adventure to say , the air may be so quiet between two remote bodies that rays may as indisturbedly pass from one to the other , as between the needle and loadstone , since that the motion or agitation of the air will hinder their operations , which being natural are within their sphere more potent then such preternatural ferments he mentions . 3. there must be a disposition in the body to receive their impression , whereby i do not only mean passages open to let them in , although to atomical penetration such figures are requisite which fit the pores or passages admitting them , but a similitude in respect of impurity in the body to be infected , i now speak of mediate contact for that which is immediate being more prevalent and discharging more venomous or infectious particles needs a less fomes or preparation of matter disposing to receive such a tincture ; whereas by how much more the bodies are distant from each other , which communicate and receive such contagious diseases , answerable to the intermediate space must be the apparatus morbificus , or fomes to entertain the malignity ; if then all bodies do not abound with humors which tend to such putrefactions , 't is vain to imagine that the pretended ferments do prevail upon those which are free from such impurities , as on others , which being loaded with them , do most easily suffer by such venomous effluxes ; i might here question whether a common or peculiar putrefaction of congested and mixed feculencies , or of some particular juice or humor did more especially if not altogether dispose to the entertainment of the pocky and scorbutick ferments , but such speculations would take me off the business at present designed in this chapter . 4. the contagious effluxes must have a due stay in the body they infect , but if mans body in a state of health is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in all parts transpirable , or a thorow-fare , these contagious corpuscles may be as soon passed out as let in , and by this means do no execution on other bodies where they lodg not , but if these vapors ( as some conceive ) are viscous , which cannot well be granted , seeing that they so easily separate from their mine , or rather if they meet with any glutinous humor they immediately are intangled , and may infect that body in which they are long detained . if then so many impediments may prevent these most dreadfull effluxes from affecting ( to use the expression of m. n. ) all the families of mankind , which are not infected by immediate contact , but most by these fine and subtle corpuscles darting into grosser bodies , which there settle somewhat of their nature , tincture , or leaven , disposing them by degrees to be unsound ; as also if experience otherwise informs us , with what confidence can this author broach such opinions ? and with his corrupted ink infect more families then the severest contagion that ever hapned to mankind ? but he explains his meaning , and as he takes good care never to want patients who can so easily perswade the whole world that they are diseased , so is he also very kind to provide remedies , for he writes , that he hath on purpose invented fit remedies , the nature of which is to fight against humors both great and small , in old or young , which have been any way touched with such tinctures either through their own default or by figillation of those seminal principles which contribute towards the being of mankind in the act of generation , &c. and this is the natural result of his design : i cannot divine what the medicines are which he hath invented , but i am confident no slight , and at the long run pernicious preparation of antimony and mercury will perform what he promises . but 't is probable that such pretences both of inventing diseases and new remedies may not seduce the world into a credit of either : if any be of such an easie perswasion as to intrust themselves , and neither of the hazardous preparations by vomiting and purging violently can effect a cure , they may be dispatch'd into the country air with a soveraign and rare chymical cordial made by the infusion of three or four dates in a pint of malago : what this authour writes concerning worms is no news to physicians , because they are fully acquainted with the several products of corrupted matter , and in relation to the cure of diseases , take especial care as to prevent any stagnation and putrefaction of humors so to expel all verminous matter , and worms if any whether in acute and malignant , or chronical diseases are bred in the body . i might produce some other opinions besides these of specificks and fermentation , which not being sufficiently explained and demonstrated continue as liable to exception as some galenick notions very much disliked by those who affect novel errors rather then old truths ; but i shall come to that which is of greater concernment , and endeavor to defend the practice of phlebotomy and purgation , which are accounted by the two champions of the pseudochymists , the supporters of the galenick physick , m. n. page 374. writes that there is seldom any tolerable cause for bleeding in our climate : afterwards in the head of his pretended arguments , p. 383. he pleads only that we ought to be very wary thereof , as if physicians were not of the same judgment being most circumspect in their direction of phlebotomy ; but if m. n. had been as diligent to understand their books as to cavil at shadows , he would never have mistaken cautions and contraindicants set down frequently in their writings , as reasons to abolish its true use : what is alledged concerning our climate proves nothing , and might pass without observation , if the vanity of such triflers did not beget a dotage in the people to imagine that cause to be just which with verbosity is pleaded . his first objection is , because the scurvy is predominant in most of our diseases , and consequently a crude acid serum in the mass of blood , p. 383 , i answer , that neither of his suppositions are apparent in practice , for we see often in most acute diseases , crises , digestions and separations orderly made by nature truly govern'd , nor if they were would they hinder the use of bleeding when its indication happens ; he had done well to explain himself what he means by the words scurvy and scorbutical tincture frequently mentioned , for i do not remember in all his book one sensible sign or symptom set down to discern them by , and am apt to believe that his young studies are not yet acquainted with such speculations ; to say they are signified , when there is in the blood a crude or an acid serum ( which are all one with him ) implies that the blood must be first seen and tasted before that disease can be discovered ; wherefore i may well suppose that he undertaking practice before he understood physick and meeting with difficulties and diseases , not yielding to his opinionated receipts , fathered his failings on this universal disease , thinking to excuse his ignorance of particulars thereby . 2. 't is urg'd that the spirituous part of the blood being but little and less in our northern bodies then those of other climates , it must needs be a pernicious course to make it less , p. 393. i very much wonder by what staticks he measured the proportion to make our spirits fewer then others : we have larger , stronger , and more active bodies , why not then as many spirits ? 't is not good to be fond of an unreasonable opinion , and then dream absurdities to make it plausible , i know not what reason this author hath at this juncture of time to dispirit his native countrey . but the main drift and argument against phlebotomy is , that the letting out the spiritous part of the blood with the rest is a pernicious course , which g. t. urges likewise with a subtle distinction of sanguis and cruor never to be found in any living mans veins , as if hereby many vital spirits were lost , good blood and bad put out together , and the remainder left more liable unto diseases . but what is all this ? by the same arguments they might disswade procreation , suckling of infants , least some vital spirits should be spent , whereas nature is not so penurious of her store , but still furnishes the whole body plentifully to execute all necessary offices whereby life is prolonged , and diseases conquered , and after bleeding like a lamp freed from its choaking snuff shines forth brighter : the want of strength is reckoned amongst the ancients as a contra-indication of phlebotomy , but the loss of a few vital spirits were never accounted a sufficient barr to the practice of physicians who respect the inestimable benefit accruing to their patients by it , though perhaps it may not be approved by empericks and nurses from whom these gather their knowledg and instruction ; and i think that their dislike of phlebotomy because they discern not when it is proper and useful is very commendable , and if they would likewise refrain from other ways of curing diseases upon the same account which are as dangerous , if mistaken , they would free themselves from much guilt not of shedding mens blood , but of keeping it in their veins to their ruine and destruction , and of giving vomits and other medicines unseasonably whereby not a few miscarry . in his other objections are recounted some cases besides the true intention of phlebotomy , when the blood is depauperated who opens a vein ? his conjecture or supposition that our blood in this climate is more inclinable to coagulation proves nothing , neither hath he shewed that sanguification succeeds not well after phlebotomy judiciously directed , every physicians observation overthrows such imaginary prejudices by bleeding ; 't is well known , that some aged persons have for the space of thirty or forty years opened a vein spring and fall , if not oftner , losing seven or eight ounces each time , by which evacuation chiefly they avoided the great inconveniences which otherwise they might justly fear much threatned their lives . i might likewise instance the female sex whose blood is not so spirituous as mens , and yet these suffer not by their customary tribute to nature , but very much when this sanguinary expiation doth not succeed : the physicians by this author termed galenists are so rational , as that they respect strictly the indications of phlebotomy , and if these signifie a necessity of bleeding they stick not to order it even in the small pox , malignant feavers , nay , in the plague it self , as knowing what service the patient will reap by it , and the danger of such a considerable omission : but i am apt to believe that this author and his brethren not understanding the indications of bleeding , may by some miscarriages be deterred from using it ; for my part i think that he deserves a severe censure who lays open the secrets of medicine to such bold practitioners ; had this author been vers'd in the writings of the ablest spagyricks he might have taken notice that some of them being germans commended bleeding in most diseases to their countreymen whose bodies ( as he suggests ) are most like ours in this kingdom ; but perhaps he will answer , that these wanted such arcanums which he and his associates pretend to , as might prevent bleeding : i shall be so charitable as to suppose that he was not ignorant of the practice of these chymists , but rather that he willingly passed them by , least their authority should justifie the galenists in this point . to summ up all , although this author adventures to judg of the state of our blood without any good and warrantable foundation , and thereupon disswades bleeding , and at length plays the mountebank by promising such remedies as may allay the fermentation of the blood , and cure diseases without phlebotomy ; yet cannot physicians by such a weak plea be perswaded to forbear the use of this evacuation which nature directs to by hemorrhages and constant experience confirms , when there is a just cause and proper indication . when so much is said against phlebotomy , it may seem strange that hippocrates should be blamed , because he ( as some interpret the aphorism ) dislikes it in teeming women , i shall recite the aphorism , and then we shall see who is most culpable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 't is urged that physicians being misguided by this aphorism have suffered multitudes of female patients to die under their hands , who probably might have been rescued by a discreet phlebotomy ; but had such censurers of the physicians practice heretofore apprehended the right sense and import of the words , and the construction which hath bin continually put upon them by the ablest commentators , their charity would have preceded their zeal to carp at not only the aphorisms of hippocrates , but the practice of skilful physicians who admired and conformed to these succinct aphoristical sentences ; i shall produce amongst many ( writing to the same purpose ) two authors who explain the meaning of hippocrates , * christoph . a vega says , non putare oportet hippocratem omnino denegare sanguinis missionem utero gerentibus , sed eam esse vult de indicationibus quae dehortantur à sanguinis missione , & est scopus qui viribus correpugnat & docet minori copia sanguinem esse mittendum quàm aliàs : h. e. 't is not to be imagined that hippocrates did absolutely forbid the bleeding of women with child , but only when there happen contra-indications to it , and there is a sufficiency of strength , and he cautions to take away a less quantity in such cases then otherwise might be allowed : and the same author after he hath declared the usefulness of bleeding such patients ratifies his opinion with an eminent example and tells us , that he hath taken away ten ounces of blood twice in the eighth month with very good success and advantage to his noble patient and the child ; but he aptly concludes , non tamen vult hippocrates esse exercendam sanguinis missionem in utero gerentibus nisi magno urgente usu , praesertim ubi faetus est major : h. e. hippocrates advised not to blood teeming women , especially if the child is big , unless there be a necessity or important cause . * heurnius also after he hath affirmed that the upper veins ( as he terms them ) may be opened , more positively gives us his sense of this controverted aphorism , loquitur hippocrates de larga sanguinis missione quae non solebat esse libra minor , hodie autem minorem sanguinis effusionem non aversamur modo vires admittant , morbusque validus id suadeat : h. e. hippocrates did only oppose the exhausting of the veins by drawing a great quantity of blood which in those days was not less then a pound at a time , but we may safety take away a less quanity if the patients strength will permit and the diseases require this evacuation : if then the most excellent hippocrates did not by this aphorism restrain a cautious bleeding of women with child , as well to prevent abortion as to cure diseases to which their condition is liable , and his legitimate disciples have constantly phlebotomized such patients both by their great masters example and authority , when ever a proper indication discovered a necessity of this course ; i understand not with whom our adversaries contend , stigmatizing them with the brand of murderers , and aggravating their crime which at once destroys both the tree and fruit , the mother and child ; what ! must physicians be accused for suffering their female patients to die because their accusers mis-interpret this weighty aphorism ? imitating those who having sore eyes or the jaundice , imagine all others on whom they look to be in their condition ? all that i shall observe from this severe animadversion , is , that such persons do express a great disrespect towards the ancients , who rather then fail will invent a charge against them , and this example gives a sufficient cause of suspicion that other censure of them are as contrary to the common principles of humanity , as besides the sense of their exquisite writings . to proceed , our pseudochymists inveigh also against purgation , which by the galenists is reckoned a medication , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whereby the body is drained from the mass of vitious and peccant humors which are at least the fuel of diseases , and by their timely removal and expulsion oftentimes a cure is performed : the argument urged against catharticks , is , that they purge out of the body both good and bad together : we are sensible that the patient doth very much suffer when he is causlesly purged , and when good and bad are promiscuously emptied , but when catharticks are given to those who need them not , he errs who indirectly prescribes them ; whereas true physicians do imitate and assist nature in her critical elimination of concocted humors , and not in her symptomatical excretions wherein by means of some powerful irritation the alimentary juice is evacuated , and the spirits be exhausted ; 't is confessed that catharticks operate by way of irritation , upon which account also natural dejections are caused , and when these succeed not well , 't is the physicians office to quicken nature in her work , who therefore do artificially graduate their catharticks according to the quantity , quality , seat , and motion of these excrementitious humors , and this is not only effected by varying the dose of some purgers , but by selection and choice of those which may best answer their designment ; acting otherwise then our empirical pseudochymists , who when they are most wary do only alter the dose of their antimonial preparation , and then very much boast of the safety and inoffensiveness of their emetico-catharticks , inviting the people by the smalness of the dose to make use of it , being ignorant that one or two grains may impregnate a mass of humors , and diffuse into them the same emetick and cathartick vertue ; and hence it comes to pass that by such small quantities of that powder most dreadful evacuations are caused , enervating diarrhaeas , hazardous dysenteries and fatal colliquations , nay , sometimes periodical vomitings and purgings ( of which i could produce not a few examples ) these patients continually languishing until they died ; i hint this because many patients are so apt to nauseate wholsom galenical potions preferring * these which offend not the sent and taste , but the event doth sufficiently prove the difference ; our senna , rubarb , cassia , manna , agarick , &c. are benign catharticks , and so safe that they may be given to teeming women , young children , and in such diseases where other purgers may do harm : our colocynthis likewise and scammony , &c. being more prevalent to extimulate when artificially prepared , and rationally directed are sufficient to cleanse an augaean stable ; and whereas these pseudochymists boast their catharticks to be also diaphoretical , i confess that by accident they are so , for most who take them fall immediatly into cold sweats : thus do they deal subtlely who would have such agonies be reckoned an advantage to their patients . i have followed our adversaries in their way of argumentation who first oppose purgation in general , and then considering that they vomit and purge oftner and more violently those who employ them then any pretenders to the practice of physick , admit the use of catharticks which yet they limit to their mercurial or antimonial preparations , * concealed from all others , least they should judg of their malignancy , and justly censure these arrogant pseudochymists then they all those who dissent from them . galenick medicines in the next place are by our pseudochymists condemned as languid , insufficient , and faulty both in respect of their preparation and composition , in relation to their preparation , the galenists do not pretend to that accurateness which the chymists promise , but yet they suppose that their way doth more preserve the true and seminal vertues of the simples used by them then the other , since that 't is questionable whether spagyrical distillations , calcinations , and other like artifices do not destroy the proprieties of those ingredients on which they work and substitute something else effected and produced by their operation ; if this doubt is cleared , and it is demonstrated that by chymistry the vertues of such simples are exalted only , and not altered , i shall willingly fall in with the ingenuous determination of this point by a galenist , nemo inficiatur , remedia chymice praeparata in morbis propulsandis efficaciora , palato gratiora , & in exigua dosi exhibenda , si dextre exhibeantur , ea ratione galenicis palmam eripiunt . hoc tamen asseverare ausim , si qui obtigerint aegri in assumendis pharmacis morigeri , non nauseabundi & delicatuli , quin per vegetabilia aeque galenicorum , praesertim à medico prudente in cognitione morborum & methodo medendi probe exercitato , à gravissimis & desperatis affectibus liberari , & citius in integrum restitui queant : omnia probanda , quae bona observanda , non autem omnia vetera promiscue rejicienda , & cum animi vehementia sceptice traducenda : h. e. medicines chymically prepared are undoubtedly more efficacious and powerful , more grateful to the tast , and may be given in a far less dose then galenical : but yet if patients will be obedient and not so nice and squeemish , by the direction of an able physician who understands the disease and a right method of curing it , they may more securely and certainly be helped by galenick medicines : 't is convenient to experiment all things , and retain what appears most rational , however they err who promiscuously reject and passionately censure all the remedies which the ancients left us as the fruit of their experience . the galenick compositions in respect of the vast and exorbitant number of simples mixed together are likewise esteemed rather pompous then beneficial medicines , treacle by some reckoned a confused mass of ingredients , the dream of waking andromachus , and discordium a fermented heap : much may be said on behalf of these grand dispensations comparing them to a well disciplin'd army , wherein are some field-officers able in respect of their skill in martial affairs singly to conquer the enemy , but these commanding the body of the army , will more probably by their conjunct fortitude and courage become victors ; i might also liken them to a well governed state , in which every member in his place and station acts uniformly to oppose all who endeavor to disturb the publick peace ; what these at first view do think to be only a farrago or hotch-potch of many things jumbled together , when more strictly examined will appear most artificial and admirable compositions to encounter the several complications of diseases : i need say no more in their defence , then that long experience hath given them a repute in the world which cannot be prejudiced by the satyrical invectives of such who like nothing but their own conceited preparations : physicians also in this age may without any imputation of ignorance in the knowledg of simples , and their peculiar vertues , be allowed to form long compositions not only because of complications which are more frequent and intricate * then heretofore , but that they may hereby conceal their skill , for when the medicine is disguised by putting in such ingredients which obscure its intention , but hinder not its vertue , they are puzled who would make an indirect advantage of such a prescript ; there will be no occasion for this stratagem , when physicians to rescue their profession from the abuses of unworthy and illiterate practisers do dispense their own medicaments , who may then more securely use one simple then now a perplexed composition , and when they have occasion to add auxiliary forces to them in complications , prevent those inconveniencies which , as the case now stands , they cannot avoid . but why should i insist longer on particulars when the whole method of physick is rejected by our pseudochymists as useless , and if multitudes of words would prevail , scurrilities were argumentative , as their stiling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , satans device and plot to destroy man-kind , and telling us of vast numbers being methodized into their graves , if aenigmatical hypotheses had power to perswade , or the novelty of their notions to bewitch ; the old galenistical method had long received its doom , and its adversaries had triumphed over its ruines ; but true and rational methods * take deeper root by means of these boisterous agitations . i cannot understand the meaning of some stories which i meet with in our late writers , who give us an account that some physicians were not sollicitous if their patients died secundum artem , by the fairest method in the world ; i cannot excuse any personal miscarriages in physicians , but i should be unjust to the most faithful physicians if i did not vindicate them from the failings of others , these subtle accusers of all methodists would not approve of a retaliation , and that i should affirm that one who professes himself to be a philosopher by fire , is not ashamed publickly to thank god that he is no scholar . if that good law was observed , qui affectat ignorantiam est puniendus : h. e. he who affects ignorance ought to suffer severe punishment ; our pseudochymiaster would fall his crest and cease to be proud of his blindness ; or did i relate the words of a famous pseudochymist , who when the patient did suddenly die after a dose of his antimonial pills , commended the excellency of such medicines * which dispatched without much pain and procured an easie death : it were no difficult matter to parallel any stories they can produce to make the methodists infamous , but the meanest people can discern the sophistry of such argumentations , and may suppose that they observe the same way in their curation of diseases ; as for the methodus medendi , our adversaries complain that by it the cause and nature of diseases are not sufficiently discovered , their symptoms not rightly described , and that the remedies set down are impotent , and rather encrease then cure diseases : certainly they presume that their own bare negation or affirmation of what they dislike or approve , is a perswasive argument to others who expect satisfaction in particulars , and are cautious to escape the cheat and delusion which lies in such universal conclusions ; nay , to assert that because some errors may be found in it , the whole hereupon ought to be proscribed and deserted were alike mad and impious practise , as immediately to bury that man whose toes are sphacelated , when an expert chyrurgeon by a mature amputation of the joynts which are mortified may preserve the life of his patient ; but i shall choose to deliver my sense in the words of a learned author , as i have throughout this treatise done in matters of controversie , saith the experienced seidelius , nullus unquam morbus qui curatus arte humana aliter curatus est quam juxta veteris & verae medicinae fundamenta , methodumque ; objicient hic statim , nonne curavimus nos quamplurimos a vobis pro desperatis relictos ? quibus respondeo , nescire me illud , neque hactenus certo rem ita se habere comperisse , praeter privatas enim praedicationes atque laudes & domestica testimonia in conventiculis clandestinis ad libitum conficta levissime , aliud fide dignum nihil auditu percepi ; quot vero homines diris modis jugulaverint , de quo publicis quorundam scriptis sunt accusati id altissimo silentio obruunt & interim de quintis , atque arcanis essentiis immani precio auri extractis nugantur ut imperitis fucum faciant , &c. h. e. there was never any cure wrought by humane art and skill which derived not its succesfulness from the sure foundations and method of the ancient and true way of medicine : but here they will object , have not we recovered very many forsaken by you , i answer , that i know no such matter , neither am i satisfied that what you speak is true , for besides your vain boastings , self-commendations and forged subscriptions and certificates made in your conventicles , i perceived nothing that was credible , but they are willing to conceal how many men by their most horrid devices have been murdered , they crack of their quintessential medicines and precious extracts with design only to delude and cheat those who want capacity to understand their impostures . this author hath afforded us such a description of our pseudochymical non-methodists , that i need say no more concerning them , nor write a comment when the text is so plain and obvious , but because the opposition both by m. n. and g. t. is made between the writings of galen and helmont ; i am willing before i end this chapter ( in which many things are omitted ) to shew the difference between them according to the judgment of thonerus , whose authority in another case is allowed by m. n. saith he , * plaustris librorum carere facile poterit qui scripta galeni sibi familiaria reddiderit , dum omnes authores exin velut e magno oceano depromant & hauriant , ut qui in galeno non sunt versati , existiment ab eorum ingenio profecta , suam hinc prodeuntes imperitiam dum omnia a galeno sint mutuati , and goes on , quid esset ipse helmontius , ni quicquid boni ex galeni & hippocratis monumentis primitus deprompsisset , sed post omnia corrumpens & invertens suas exin nectens argutias , malam rependens gratiam in eos retorsit , aquam veritatis limpidam ex illorum fonte haustam suis sophismatis inquinavit , & totaliter faeculentam reddere attentavit , fretus arguto & insolenti genio : h. e. he needs no library who is well vers'd in the writings of galen , from whom all authors as from the ocean derive their streams , and they who have not read galen conceit what notions they broach are the products of their own brain and invention , betraying their ignorance , when galen was the author of those opinions ; and what is helmont if strip'd of the most considerable truths , which he transcribed out of hippocrates and galen ? and at length he corrupted them , introducing his own whimsies , like an ungrateful person illy requiting them who informed him in medicinal knowledg , sophisticating their sincere doctrines , being of a subtle and insolent temper . it may be expected that i should vindicate the doctrines of critical days and pulses ( which are opposed by m. n. but since that nothing is brought against them worth observation or an answer , and considering also that these are not of such concernment to patients as to physicians , who daily experience the usefulness thereof in their profession , and can discern the motions and concoctions of the peccant and morbifick matter , as also the strength by the pulse , and what other information they can afford , as also that this innovator who measures the knowledg of others by his own , hath effected nothing by his pains ; so until something to better purpose without the mis-interpretations and abuses of authors is offered , i think my self excused from particular replies to his most impertinent cavils . chap. vii . of the pseudochymists pretended panacaea , or universal medicine . amongst the vain-glorious boastings of the pseudochymists , there is no pretence so universal as their acquirement of a panacaea to cure all diseases , generally deceiving hereby all those who through too much credulity become their patients : for not to repeat what hath been already said concerning the incurableness of some diseases , or to add a discourse of the inhability of subjects and of other impediments which may frustrate the highest and most probable attempts of curation , it doth not appear to a rational inquirer that there can be any such medicine which in respect of its puissance can infallibly vanquish all the enemies of mans health : the great disagreement of authors about the matter of this panacaea sufficiently expresses their uncertainty , conjectural suppositions , or fond hopes in relation to their attainment of it , whilest some place it in the essence of individual vegetables , animals , or minerals , choosing those which are most energetical , and fancying that the more incorruptible part of these being by art separated from all terrestrial impurities , and advanced to the condition of the heavens , is the true phaleia , and as one commends it , poterit vitam servare & quodamodo producere & tum ratione similitudinis quam habet essentia haec cum calore insito , tum quia est quodamodo quoddam incorruptibile & temperatum omnibus morbis medicamentum esse contrarium : h. e. such an essence is not only powerful enough to preserve life , but to prolong it , and because of its likeness to and correspondence with our innate heat , as because of its incorruptibility and temperature overcomes all diseases : but should it be granted that the principles constituting that body from which this essence is drawn were catholick , yet when once they are firmly link'd together , and most intimately united , their artificial resolution may possibly alter the individuum , or substitute another particular product , but not reduce it into its original universality ; and however some individuals are of a more durable nature then others , and these are us'd to imprint their perpetuity on bodies more subject to putrefaction , yet such essences being capable of change by that body into which they are received , do lose their supposed universality in operation . the history related by crollius , that he saw a man with one drop of a certain spirit from a dying condition in the space of one night perfectly restored to health , the celestial heat of that medicine being immediately communicated to the heart , and soon after diffusing its rays throughout the body , this , i say , and such like histories do not prove the effect of it in all diseases , or evidence that the preparation of an individual may not perform as difficult a cure ; i know that some conclude that by the same rule an individual especially if essentiated may change the body from a diseased state to a condition of perfect health , as that which is poysonous may cause such a sudden alteration , as that the person who even now was well , may quickly expire by reason of its destructiveness , but such venom hath the advantage on the bodies proneness to putrefaction , and may sooner dissipate the spirits which are upon the wing , then the other fix them or illuminate their darkness ; so that what promotes the effect of the one is the greatest impediment imaginable to the other : i deny not that an individual may remedy a particular disease , and notwithstanding the proneness of our nature to corruption , act so vigorously as to cure a threatning distemper , and i suppose that very many have seen as much done by laudanum ; and other medicines , as crollius mentions in that patient , but yet it were a vain conclusion to infer that such an essence , or that laudanum would hereupon cure all diseases and perform the like impossibilities as are spoken of the panacaea ; no person can be ignorant of the experiments made on gold , because it ( as many think ) contains in it all necessary conditions to the universal medicine which i need not recount ; but unless something is performed by the diaphoretical vertue of the menstruum , no wonders have been wrought by it , so that billichius calls aurum potabile , aurum putabile ; since that all true philosophers in their preparation of their medicinal stone did not mean the common gold , but that of the philosophers , as they mispent their pains who sought out dissolvents to make our gold potable in expectation of making thereby the elixir , so it would be to as little purpose to discourse the possibility of gaining a dissolvent not corrosive to elicite its medicinal tincture which at length will satisfie only a particular intention . the hyperbolical encomiums which have been given to the essences of individuals , might easily delude those who approve all things according to their commendations ; and doubtless in many respects such noble preparations might deserve a just esteem : but the more prudent and wary of the hermetical philosophers * observing the absurdity to expect an universal operation from a limited agent , did busie and employ themselves to find out the universal matter which is so enygmatically discoursed in the writings of chymical authors , as if they rather designed to encourage humane industry in the search after that which for no other cause they would seem to have known , then give them any hopes of interpreting and unriddling their most obscure , perplexed , and mysterious descriptions of it , saith one , fove fodeam usque ad genua & accipe terram nostram in qua est rivulus & unda viva scilicet universale menstruum & aquam nostram ponticam , in qua habitat sal armoniacum nostrum , & spiritus vivus universi qui omnia in se continet : h. e. dig a pit knee deep , and take our earth in which is a living stream , viz. our universal menstruum , and take our pontike water in which is found our sal armoniack , and the universal spirit which contains all things in it ; and saith bacon , elegant rem supra quam naturae tantum primas operationes incepit : h. e. such a matter must be chosen on which nature hath only done her first work . he who is acquainted with the parabolical expressions of the ancients relating to this subject , will be convinced that although they who write best , hint a necessity of some universal matter which may yield by a philosophical preparation a most noble medicine to cure diseases , may yet apprehend their dissentions about this matter , and the improbabilities of others finding it out by their direction ; but if i should grant that the true sons of art might rightly understand the ancients and gain the knowledg of the universal matter , yet in regard that there is not an universal intention in the cure of diseases , i cannot see of what use it can be in medicine ; to comfort the archaeus and to garrison the heart which is the royal fort with invincible vertues , answers only a particular intention : that all diseases do spring from one root is only the supposition of some who would patronize this panacaea , whereas others more rationally inform us that sanity consists not in indivisibili , but that different members in the body enjoy a different sanity , and having a divers complexion , conformation , and operation , stand in need of a variety of medicines to cure their distinct and sometimes contrary diseases : what though there sometimes happens a metastasis of the morbifick matter , which varying its seat alters the symptomes according to the parts in which it fixeth , it is not proved that hereupon what opposed it in one part is as proper and applicable notwithstanding the remove as before , and that in curation no particular respect ought to be had to the parts constitution which is affected ; it may be , that before the metastasis 't was convenient to use diaphoreticks , and afterwards if the matter lodgeth in the breast , what may evacuate it by promoting expectoration , if in the lowest ventricle catharticks or diureticks which may discharge : he certainly knows little of the causes of diseases who discerns not their difference in respect of the vessels or parts which they seize or most afflict , whereupon the methodus medendi is to be altered , i need not enumerate the several causes of diseases which the galenists reckon , but content my self with an observation that the best chymists do account two grand causes of the constant alteration in mans body , disposing it to diseases and death , which are the consumption of radical moisture and the putrefaction of humors ; it is therefore incumbent on the pretenders to a panacaea , to prove that by the same medicine they can prevent this putrefaction of humors , and hinder the consumption of radical moisture : the universalists have been very sollicitous to appropriate to their medicine such vertues as might answer the indication both of a drying vertue to withstand and resist putrefaction , and of moisture or unctuosity to supply the decaies and spendings of natural heat , and therefore they assert that their panacaea in respect of its activity and solar heat doth brighten , fortifie , and encrease our innate heat , and hereby evaporates and dissipates all morbifick meteors which otherwise would stagnate and putrifie , in respect of its substance is oleagenous fix'd and incombustible , aptly recruiting any loss or spending of the radical moisture : it this panacaea can certainly do what is pretended , it may seem strange that they who were esteemed possessors of such a medicine , did not defend themselves and their patients from the disease of old age , and from death ; for old age creeping on gradually , may more probably be opposed then violent diseases , but when its apparant that neither in themselves nor others they were able to stop the course of old age and disappoint the stroke of death , they would excuse their art and medicine by blaming some great neglects whilest they were young , and tell us that if they had then taken such a medicine it might have effected much in the prolongation of life ; but others well pondering the vertues attributed to it unde fit restauratio corporum per morbos debilitatorum prompte & perfecte ea curans & postea juventutem primumque vigorem diminutum & per frigidum annorum acconitum fere extinctum restituens : h. e. it is sufficient to restore the decaies of mens bodies , most expeditiously and perfectly helping all diseases , changing the ruines of old age into youthfulness . these ( i say ) being convinced by experience that such empty vaunts of the panacaea are ridiculous , do otherwise state the business and make little difference between the polychresta of the galenists and these more noble medicines , and if the panacaeas which have been or at present are pretended to in the world are duly examined , they undoubtedly will be found to answer some more general intention , and by no means deserve the appellation of universal medicines in the common and known sense and notion of the term , i might instance in begwins preparation of vitriol , quercitanus of antimony , &c. but above all others andwaldins panacaea in the highest esteem , which as hoffman relates in sherbius's judgment was poysonous , and another author gives us a more accurate account of it , panacaea anwaldina summopere in propulsandis morbis decantata eum effectum assecuta est , non tam naturam confortando quam vi diaphoretica operando quam libavius per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ignis probavit & deprehendit concinnatam ex hydrargyro & cinnabari quae duo mineralia nullam corroborandi facultatem obtinent : h. e. anwaldins universal medicine of such fame for its wonderful effects in the cure of diseases did not operate by comforting nature but by provoking sweat , and libavius examining it by pyrotechny detected that it consisted of mercury and cinnabar which have no corroborating vertue in them . every true chymist who is acquainted with artificial either simple or compound preparations especially mineral , very well skills their efficacy in the satisfaction of either general or particular intentions as they are skilfully applied , these know that a just mixture of mercury , antimony , and gold , or apt chymical compositions will do more in the curation of some diseases then either of them in like manner singly prepared and given , but to conceive that any medicine can keep off old age , and by the same way cure all maladies , is an opinion which no sober person did ever entertain ; if then by a panacaea is only signified any noble preparation which respecting some general intention which in the curation of diseases is observable , 't is not improbable but that the true chymical physicians do not only assent to them , but are furnished with some as powerful as any yet known in the world ; for we must grant that the polychresta of the chymists do infinitely excel those of the galenists , but yet it is considerable that even those authors who are famed to be masters of these panacaeas , did in most cases both use for themselves and others galenical medicines as they had occasion , or the known rules of art required . but our pseudochymists it may be by purchase obtaining one of these noble preparations , and not understanding the true use of it do in hopes of custom proclaim the vertues of their medicine , as if it would most speedily and certainly cure all diseases , strengthning the archaeus , to whose error and debility they adscribe all the several affections of mans body , and enabling nature to discharge her self by the most convenient ways according to the condition and quality , or seat of the morbifick matter , and if all manner of evacuations or most of them can be caused by the same medicine then a proof ( as they suppose ) is given of the wonderful efficacy of their medicine , and a notable stratagem devised to seduce them that are most pleas'd when they are under the hand of a cheating montebank : hence it is that one cries up his mercurial preparation , another his antimonial remedy , a third spirit of salt which is diuretical , and almost every pseudochymist would be accounted the inventor or professor of one ; but methinks people should be better advised then to give ten shillings for a grain , or five shillings for a drop of that which being either illy prepared or mis-applied , more universally kills then cures , and stake their lives against the brags of such empericks , crede & salvus eris , promissis certa fides , nam cum te interficient morb● curaberis omni . believe , all 's well , trust them , there word is sure , in killing thee they work a perfect cure. although i have pretermitted very much which might be said on this subject , yet i hope that it is sufficiently made out that there is no panacaea to cure all diseases in the vulgar acceptation of the word , and as a confirmation of my assertion i shall produce the testimony of angelus sala , with whose words i conclude , quis non vanitatem eorum agnoscat qui vel ipsi persuasissimum habent , vel aliis persuadere conantur esse in rerum natura vel artis beneficio confici posse medicamentum quod instar universalis cujusdam universalissimi nullis vel limitibus , vel terminis circumscriptum , non tantum qualitates elementares aequali proportione commensuratas in se contineat , sed & omnibus insuper proprietatibus specificis quae vel ex varia illarum commixtione , vel a certa aliqua praedestinatione oriuntur , abundantissime dotatum sit ? quod suppresso calore suo jam refrigerare possit , jam humectare , sicut exiccandi potestate nihil damni faciat , jam adstringat , jam incrasset & contrarias interim facultates plane occultetquod idem interdum pervomitum , interdum per fecessum purget , sudores cieat , urinam provocet , venenis tanquam alexiterium resistat , somnum conciliet : denique ut in unum omnia conferam omnes alios effectus quos causarum morbificarum tam particularium quam universaliū diversitas requirit omni tempore & loco , in omni sexu , aetate , complexione & personarum constitutione praestet , omnibus adeo infirmitatibus medeatur , ac nulla unquam ratione corpus offendat ? h. e. how conspicuous is their vanity who either believe themselves or would perswade others that either art or nature can produce any medicine which shall be impowred with the operations attributed to the most universal medicine being unconfin'd and boundless in its efficacy , not only containing in it all the elementary qualities in exact proportion , but endowed with all specifick proprieties flowing from their mixture or essence , which notwithstanding its heat can sometimes cool and sometimes moisten , not at all suffering in its drying vertue , can adstringe or bind and incrassate , and in the mean while conceal its contrary faculties , that now can vomit , anon purge , sweat , prove diuretical , become an antidote against poyson , and cause sleep ; and to say no more , can certainly remove and take off all effects flowing both from the diversity of universal and particular causes at all times , in all places , sexes ages , complections , different constitutions , curing all these diseases without any prejudice to the body ? finis . a letter to the author from a person of quality . sir , your most wonderful preservation during your late imployment of visiting the infected families within the city of london and liberties thereof , hath justly provoked all your friends in our countrey to congratulate your success in that great and hazardous undertaking ; you have doubtless by a faithful discharge of your duty as a physitian in that adventure , when few were free to engage in such service , highly meritted of those honourable persons on whose behalf you endangered your life , and no less obliged all ingenuous persons to esteem your worth : sir , you may easily suppose how big we are with expectation to receive from your hand , an account of what remarkably hapned in this severe visitation ; your promptness to give rational satisfaction , especially in most perplexed cases , wherein difficulty promotes the birth of your happy products , is the onely argument i shall use inviting you to this task ; be pleased also to acquaint me in your next what is become of them who assume liberty to qualifie themselves chymical doctors , in opposition to the kings colledge of physitians in london ; i crave pardon for this interruption of your more weighty business , and shall earnestly expect your answer , which will be most acceptable unto sir , your humble servant c. w. the authors answer . sir , your candid acceptance of the observations , which i have made on this p●st , is a most prevalent argument to incourage the communication of them in answer to your desire : but before i ingage in this task i must crave your pardon , if i proceed not in that method , which is requisite in an exact treatise ; for in this brief answer i can onely point out cursorily some discoveries , which doubtless will be improved by your most sagacious judgment . to omit therefore all those most obvious notions of the pest in general occuring in every author writing on that subject ; i shall confine my self to a particular disquisition of the peculiar nature of this plague as severe as any recorded in our annals . that london or other populous places are seldom free from malignant and pestilential diseases , is confirmed by the long experience of able physitions , who find that humors upon several occasions acquire a venenate quality , and hereupon prove most pernicious ; it is not pertinent to my business in hand to state the question ; whether such ferments are sometimes generated in mans body , which may be exalted to a condition aemulous of the most exquisite poysons , or of the pest it self ? hence is it that some term such putrified humors , arsenical , aconital , &c. as they seem to correspond in operation with such poysons , i may without all dispute affirm , that where the pest meets with matter so prepared , it more inevitably destroys . the highest degree of malignity flowing from the putrefaction of congested humours , however it may be most fatal to the body , wherein it was produced , being yet but the effect of a private cause , is limited at most to an hereditary propagation , and cannot be imagined the original of epidemical diseases , especially of the pest , whose original is adaequate to its effects : but in regard the cause of the plague is most mysterious , and not yet hitherto plainly discovered , most writers after a disappointment in there scrutining the series of natural causes , do betake themselves to supernatural , and acknowledg a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this disease : i cannot think that because god doth frequently send out the plague as his severe judgment to punish mankind , we ought wholly to desist from all manner of search into natural causes , on the knowledg of which depends the cure , procured both by our devotion , and the commanded use of natural means . amongst natural causes the conjunctions of some planets , eclypses , comets , and such like appearances in the heavens , are by many accused as the authors of the plague , and upon this account some addicted to astrology observing such appearances the forgoing year , have confidently asserted that our pest was the issue of those malevolent influences ; i shall not at present determine how far these have contributed to the spreading , if not the original of our plague , but passing by all other opinions , deliver my thoughts touching its rise . after a most strict and serious inquiry , by undoubted testimonies i find that this pest was communicated to us from the netherlands by way of contagion , and if most probable relations deceive me not , it came from smirna to holland in a parcel of infected goods , whether it began there , or in any other place being unresolved , i shall not intangle my self in a conjectural discussion of its cause , or give a tedious narrative of the nature and effects of pests in those hot countreys ; give me leave to hint , that the same pest grassant in divers regions of a different temperature , may so much vary in its phaenonema , that it may seem totally changed , which i premise least our plague should be judged of another nature from that in smirna or holland , because its symtomes are not exactly the same in all these places . before i proceed , i must advertise that the pest , doth complicate with most maladies which happen during its grassancy , especially such as are contagious , every little disorder at such times ( which i might confirm by many examples ) turning to the plague , and infectious diseases more neerly combining , and symbolizing with it : hence i collect that the scorbute being popular and epidemical in holland , the pest when it fell in with it , did very much partake of its nature , which afterwards invading this kingdom gave ample testimony by its symptomes of this association ; in which condition i shall throughout this discourse consider it : if then the pest by reason of its most subtile and excessive venenate nature is most feral and destructive , when it conforts with another ferment most powerfully ( though not so suddenly ) corrupting the juyces of our bodies , how prodigious must be the issue ! as i have designedly wav'd at present to deliver my theory concerning this pest , so i upon the same account do forbear to intermeddle with the hypotheses of others , but because the learned kirchers late experiments have put most inquisitive searchers into sensible truths upon the quest to discover that animated matter in the air mentioned in his treatise of the pest , i shall transiently deliver my observations touching this particular : i must ingeniously confess , that notwithstanding my most careful and industrious attempts by all means likely to promote the discovery of such matter , and that i have had as good oppertunities for this purpose , as any physitian ; it hath not yet been my happiness ( if such minute insects caused this pest , ) to discern them , neither have i hitherto by the information of credible testimonies received satisfaction in this point ; whereupon i infer , that in regard pests are of a different nature , though i allow that famous authors experiments in that plague at rome , yet it follows not that ours was caused by the like production of worms or insects , as some have rather fancied then demonstrated . the consequences of putrifaction are so well known by an ordinary inspection into the transactions of nature , that the production of worms and various insects upon this account may not be rightly judged a new discovery , considering especially , that malignant diseases do not less then the plague evidence putrefaction by such products ; indeed amongst all that vast number i conversed with during the visitation , i noted very few to have either vomited worms , or by unerring symptomes to have given an indication of verminous matter lodged in any part of their bodies , i onely had a relation of one , who in vomiting threw up a strange figured insect , which appeared very fierce , and even assaulted such as were busie to observe it , whereupon it was crushed by a rude hand , so that its shape is not very discernable ; but t is as absurd from such a particular instance , to draw a general conclusion , as to argue from private causes to universal effects . since that the nature of this pest in relation to its primary cause is most obscure , we cannot more surely arrive at the knowledge of it , then by the discoveries it makes of it self in propagation ; when therefore i do well ponder the wonderful energy of pestilential effluviums , which can instantaneously imprint indeleble characters on bodies before found and healthful , and conform them to the like efficacy in contagious communications , i am induced to think that its principles are chiefly saline , which appears by its activity and power ; i need not produce examples to illustrate the inexpressible vigor of these ferments , it being well known that many have dyed without the least sense of contagion or apprehension of illness thereby : it is reported by such who have seen experiments of the poysoned darts in india , that a fleshy part being prickt or scratched with them , the person so hurt , is not onely killed in very few moments , but his body is so putrified , that one limb falls from the other ; the like is written of some pests in hot countreys by which some places have been depopulated , whether any poisons artificially prepared do in power and activity excel the pestilential tincture which is animal , is besides my business at present to decide . i come in the next place to the manner of the pests invasion , which is unanimously agreed on to be by contagion , viz. when venenate expirations are transmitted from infectious bodies to others working a like change and alteration in them ; whereupon i conclude , that no person is seized with the plague except he receives into his body these pestilential effluxes , which however they do more effectually infect by how much nearer the bodies are , yet it is not to be doubted but that at a very considerable distance where no person is sick , these most malignant corpuscles being carried in the motion of the aire , may so preserve their venome , as to surprize such bodies amidst their greatest securities ; and i am apt to think that such effects are oftimes appropriated to imagination , the operations of which can easily ferment the juices of the body , and raise symptomes not unlike those of the pest ; i was called to three or four affected after this manner , whose conditions at first did seem as bad as theirs who by reason of abode with some labouring of the sickness most apparently took the infection , but upon a strict inquiry into these cases , i addrest my self with success to settle the fancies and bodies of such patients ; whence i opine that pestilential and poysonous emissions or ferments ( as i noted before ) do solely contribute to the spreading of the contagion . notwithstanding that infection is so apparent in the pest , yet some have lately in their discourses and pamphlets , argued that it is not contagious , such persons deserve rather the magistrates censure then my refutation : the order published by queen elizabeth was in those days the most proper expedient to suppress that opinion , which is not otherwise now then by authority to be silenced : these ground their hypotheses upon the escape of some persons who converse with the infected , but this proof is not admittable as sufficient , because there are very many causes why such bodies are not equally obnoxious to contagion as others ; for besides the particular providence of god who is pleased to protect some in the same danger in which others do perish , the security of such persons may be attributed to the shape of their pores not admitting pestilential atoms of a disproportioned figure , or vigour of the spirits to expel this enemy before he can fixe in their bodies , certainly such persons might as rationally affirm that bullets will not wound and kill , because some in the hottest battails amidst showers of small shot walk untoucht by any of them , when as these escape rather upon the account of the various happy postures they are in during the charge , then their fancy of being shot-free . these infectious irradiations flowing from bodies inflamed with the pest , as they constantly issue out by transpiration , and other more open passages , so they diffuse their malignity accordingly as they are more or less subtile and spiritual ; if therefore the snuff of a candle , which emits a gross and visible fume , can in few moments so taint the circumambient air in a large room , so as to render it most offensive to our smell ; certainly pestilential exhalations by very many degrees more fine and subtile , can insensibly and beyond such narrow limits spread their poison , corrupting the air , and making it pernicious to bodies dispos'd to receive such impressions ; the motion of these malignant corpuscles cannot by any help be discerned , neither can any account be given of their sent as some do vainly imagine : touching the steam of infected bodies , i confess that when buboes are opened , carbuncles cast off their eschar , the pestilential emanations being imbodied in grosser vapours issuing from such sores , may possibly be hereupon sensible to the nose , as in opening other impostumes , and dressing common sordid ulcers is evident ; the like reason may be given of their vomitings , stools , and sweats ; hence it is that some have perceived the moment of their seisure , which sent they could not otherwise express , then by a cadaverous , and as it were a suffocating stanch ; but ( although i have been very inquisitive in this particular ) i may confidently averre , that not one in two hundred hath been apprehensive by sent of the infection , the venenate particles communicating their malignity in a way imperceptable to our senses . how these pestilential effluxes do operate on mans body comes next under consideration , supposing that the infection hath newly insinuated it self , the blood and juices do immediately receive the alarum as being to undergo the first assault ; the blood in some by the deleterious quality of the poyson in few moments is mortified , not unlike what happens in the death of such who are kil'd by lightning ; in others the blood is forthwith put into a fermentation , either higher or lower according the state of the blood before infection , or the condition and degree of the contagion , on which also depends the depuration of the blood producing blaines , buboes , and carbuncles , and such patients except something accidentally intervens to contraindicate for the most part escape , but most commonly in this fermentation the blood coagulates in fewer or more vessels , and according to the dissolution and discharge of these grumous parts before further putrefaction , the condition of such persons is more secure or dangerous , if the coagulation encreases , a period at length is put to the bloods circulation ; lastly , the blood doth sometimes suffer a fusion , for when the sulphureous parts are consumed , the pestilential tincture proves a dissolvent , and destroys the fibres of the blood , not onely by way of liquation making it most fluid , but corrupting its saline particles : i have observed that such blood in hemorrhages would not coagulate , but remained like a tinctured ichor , the reduction of such blood to its former state being impossible the case of such patients was most desperate , medicines affording not the least ease or relief : the nervous liquor did also share in this common calamity , and according to its quality suffered as great and many alterations as the blood : in fine those juyces and parts of the body did principally suffer in this pest , in which the scorbute first discovers its self , but i shall have occasion to discourse this more at large in another place . before i proceed to the symptomes of this distemper , it may not seem impertinent transiently to give some remarkable observations which occurred in the propagation of this disease ; as that the infected , were commonly seized after the same manner , and generally had the like issue in respect of a recovery , or death as those from whom they took the contagion , except any thing hapned extraordinary in the case of one more then the other , so that the effects of the plague not onely in relation to the number of buboes , blaines , or carbuncles , but the part and place , did abundantly evince its peculiar and strange designation : physitians in their practice do frequently meet with pestilential ophthalmie's , angina's and pleurisies , which ( as some express it ) specifically communicate their malignity , but these diseases are fixed in this course afflicting alwaies after the same manner all those to whom they are imparted ; whereas although there hath appeared a great variety in this pests propagation in respect both of it self and the subjects it meets with , yet notwithstanding all this difference , there hath been noted a tendency in the malignant corpuscles , as acting by a natural impress , idea or signature to produce their like without any assistance of the fancy , or more immediate disposition of such parts to those particular disafections . furthermore , that opinion that the pest invades no person a second time , if his sores at first sufficiently discharged purulent matter , is now plainly confuted by two many experiments during this sad visitation ; i have known many who although all things succeeded well the first and second time , and each cure was perfected , yet the third seizure upon the account of a new infection , and not a relapse hath proved fatal to them ; some this last year fell the fifth , others the sixth time , being before very well recovered , each of these invasions i supose was not onely from an higher degree of malignity , but a diverse complication of the pest , besides nature being much weakned by preceding assaults , was thereupon more unable to make her defence : such therefore who by gods blessing , and the use of proper remedies are restored to health , may by these examples be duly cautioned , not to run unnecessarily ( according to the practice of some ) into infected houses , presuming that their condition is more safe then others . the symptomes of this pest were many , but i shall content my self , to set down such as were most common and notorious ; most persons upon their first invasion by the sickness perceived a chilness to creep on them , which produced in very short space , a shivering not unlike the cold fit of an ague , which shivering was doubtless an effect of the pestilential ferment insinuating it self into the blood and juices of the body , and rendring them either sharpe , pungitive , or so corrupt by its venerosity that hereupon there happens a vellication of the nervous parts , whence proceeded convulsive motions ; soon after this horror and shaking followed a nauseousness , and stronge inclinations to vomit , with a great oppression , and seeming fulness of the stomack , occasioned by the poison irritating the ventricle , which being a nervous part , is and thereupon most sensible of what will prove so injurious to it ; the pest did sometimes seat it self in the stomack more eminently shewing it self there in carbuncles and mortifications : a violent and intollerable headach next succeeded by reason of the bloods tumultuousness and ebullition exceeding by distending its vessels and convulsing them , hereupon some fell into a phrensie , and others became soporose and stupid , according to the quality and nature of the malignity ; afterwards a feaver began to discover it self , without which no person escaped during this visitation , when therefore the blood was throughly impregnated with the pestilential firment , then the blood fermented and the oeconomy of the body was violated , all parts both internal and external extreamly suffering and expressing their several conditions in this extream agony upon the account either of idiopathy or sympathy . i shall not here dispute , whether the true pest is alwaies accompanied with a feaver , i conceive that in some pests , as also in the highest degree of this , the several parts of the blood have instantaneously been separated , there being no time for any ebullition ; but since that i undertake onely to deliver my own observations , i must ingeniously confess , that during this pest , ( except in the case of such who suddenly died ) i met not with any one patient free from a feaver , which in some was more slow and occult , in others peracute and notoriously apparent , as the blood did more or less abound with sulphureous particles apt to kindle and be inflamed ; and more particularly i noted that those who were over-run with the scorbute , and afterwards took the infection of the plague , had a more obscure and remiss feaver , so as it seemed many times very doubtful whether they laboured of any or no , which i cannot attribute to any thing else then to the state of their blood by reason of its much abounding with a fixed salt , the like assertion will hold true of the several other defects in the blood : in relation to the paroxisms which were observed in this feaver , t is most certain that generally there was some kind of remission so as that the patients could easily find their condition altered thereby , but these fits were altogether irregular and uncertain , however they seemed in some much to resemble a double tertian , i conceive those often exacerbations did proceed rather from the violent impulses and prevalency of the malignity , then from any certain and set ebullitions of the blood , yet in many when the virulency was expel'd and spent , these fits did keep and observe their types , and became either pure or bastard tertians . so soon as this feaver began to appear strange faintness seized the patient , which was seconded by most violent palpitations of the heart ; and hereupon many have suspected that the pest by a peculiar disposition most vigorously bends all its strength to storm the heart which is the most royal fort , but since that we are well assured that the heart doth principally suffer by reason of this heterogeneal matter mixed with blood , and circulating with it through this noble part , i cannot think that the heart is otherwise injured , then in being hindered in its office of animating , and inflaming the blood by its innate ferment to perform its appointed stage of circulation , for if the heart cannot alter or overcome these pestilential ferments mixed with the blood , with its utmost vigour it attempts to expel and dissipate them , and and if the poison of the disease is so powerful as to destroy the ferment of the heart , the blood soon coagulates , the sequel of which is death . here i might particularly take notice of that strange lassitude which was very observable in most affected with this scorbutical pest , as well by reason of the distention of the vessels , as the immediate mixture of the malignity with the serous humours abounding in such bodies , but i shall not any longer insist on the symptomes which are common in pestilential feavers , but descend to those diagnosticks which most peculiarly discover the pest , as blains , bubo's , carbuncles and discolorations , vulgarly called tokens , of which briefly in their order . blains , are pustles , or rather blisters , sometimes greater , or sometime less ; and for number , fewer or more , according to the quantity , or quality , of the pestilential matter segregated from the blood , and other liquors of the body by their fermentation , these were obscurely incircled , and coloured according to the serous humour either flowing to , or discharged upon those parts where they appeared , but as no place could plead exemption , so those parts were most subject to these blaines which did lye nearest to this poysonous humour when it was forced out ; the liquor , contained in these blysters was of the same nature with that which produced carbuncles , but more diluted and dispersed , wherefore the pest was rightly judged not so dangerous where onely blaines were discovered , however if these grew numberless , as i observed in one , who from head to foot was full of them ; as the condition of that patient was most desperate , so a multitude of these blaines do indicate the excess of malignity , and great hazzard thereupon . bubo's are tumours of the glandules , if under the ear they are called parotides , others happen under the armes , and in the groin ; pestilential matter in circulation with the blood being retained in these glanduls whereby they are tumified and inflamed : that some persons without any sense either of the contagion , or any illness by it have complained of these tumors , must be ascribed to the mildness of the malignity , having before upon others spent its virulency ; but most commonly these buboes were an effect of the second sweat promoted by proper alexipharmical remedies , and such risings gave hope of the patients recovery ; some of these tumours were indolent and hard continuing so many months notwithstanding means either to discuss or suppurate them , and when these were unadvisedly opened by incision , nothing else but an ichor gushed forth , and the part wounded was very apt to mortifie : but these risings were generally so painful that most could not endure the fierce and frequent lancinations , and the extream burning they felt until the time of suppuration approached , which upon this account was hastned by suitable applications of cataplasmes and plaisters : the number of these buboes was not certain , some had two , others three , many four , neither was their bigness limited , the risings in some being very large , so as to equal an half-penny loaf , in others not exceeding an hens egg ; very many of these tumors were discussed if the patient at first submitted to effectual sweats , and if afterwards they encreased , great care was taken to further their enlagement , and to break them , the feaver usually going off and declining as these tumours ripened , and were fitted for apertion ; and here i must not omit , to intimate , that according to the condition of the pus discharged , these buboes were more or less secure , but i shall discourse more of these when i come to the method of curation . a carbuncle , is a pestilential sore , appearing at first with a very small pustle , and a circle about it of a red flaming colour , which pustle either opening , or rather the liquor in it being spent by the extream heat of the adjacent part , soon hardens and growes crusty , the incompasing inflammation spreading it self , and by reason of the corrosive quality of the humour cauterizing that place where it fixes : i have seen carbuncles in most parts of the body which proved more or less dangerous in respect of the part affected , and the degree of the malignity ; here i might produce innumerable cases which i have met with during this visitation , but i shall onely relate two or three ; i was called to one patient who had a carbuncle within two or three fingers breadth of a bubo in the groin , though they were differently handled in relation to the cure , yet the business succeeded very well ; also one recovered when there was a large carbuncle directly opposite to the heart , a third with one in her breast , at the same time she gave suck , and the child discovered no other infirmity then a loosness during his mothers cure ; another was afflicted with a large carbuncle very neer the bottom of the stomack , and she lived until cicatrization , but then the malignity retiring within took her away ; my designed brevity in this answer forbids me to relate all necessary circumstances in these histories . carbuncles are sometimes very large , i saw one on the thigh above two hands bredth with a large blister on it , which being opened by the chirurgion , and scarisication made where the mortification did begin , the patient expired under this operation ; but most commonly these carbuncles do not exceed the breadth of three or four fingers , after few hours the skin shrivels into a crustiness of a duskish or brownish colour : at certain times and in some especially scorbutical bodies these carbuncles did mortifie , and except timely care was taken by immargination , scarifications or applications of actual cauteries , the gangreen in few houres overspread that part , and destroyed the patient ; this most saline corrosive humour was not easily and by ordinary means brought to digestion , and consequently not without much difficulty cured , i shall not at present inlarge on the accidents attending these carbuncles , but proceed to the tokens of which in the next place . these tokens are spots upon the skin of a diverse colour and figure , proceeding from chiefly extravased blood , which by reason of its stagnation putrefies and produceth such mortifications discolouring the skin , so then those spots which are the true tokens , are profound mortifications caused by the extinction of natural heat upon the account of highly prevaling malignity , because many spots arising upon the skin were onely cutaneous , and so farre imposed on many searchers and unskilful veiwers of them that they declared them to be true tokens , experiment was alwaies made upon these discolorations by a lancet or large needle to try whether that part so affected was sensible , if not , then it was most apparent that such persons had those fatal marks upon their bodies which were most certain forerunners of death , but if the patient did discover sense upon the pricking or incision , then such spots being onely cutaneous were not esteemed deadly , and i have seen very many recover who were in this condition . anatomical observations have likewise informed us that these tokens have their original and rise from within , and afterwards externally shew themselves , which is evident because the basis of them is larger then their outward appearance , and the internal parts are found very often spotted when there is no discoloration visible on the skin : the figure of these tokens is not alwaies certain , but generally they are orbiculary shaped as i suppose by the pores , to which the extravasated blood most readily tends , and for want of circulation fixing there , corrupts ; the pores thus closed up by any cold check , the dyaphoresis whereupon the malignant corpuscles being retained in the body their attempt to sally out proves unsuccesful , so that they cause a very great putrefaction in the parts where they settle , and soon after , if a speedy vent is not given , these tokens straightwaies appear , foreshewing the event of the distemper , not to number up all those waies by which these deadly mortifications are produced , i shall onely assert that wherever these marks are found , they evidently express a full conquest of natural heat by the highest degree of malignity . these tokens are not of one size or bigness , some being broader then a single penny , others at first very small , by degrees enlarging and spreading themselves , to the touch they seem hard , not unlike little kernels under the skin the superficies being smooth , yet i saw one where these tokens put out with little blisters upon them : very many were puzled to distinguish aright between these marks and the petechiae pestilentiales , or pestilential appearances in spotted feavers , as also scorbutical spots frequently interspersed amongst them , i have taken notice of many mistakes upon both these accounts : some of our mountebanking chymists much vaunted of their in comparable medicines effectual as was pretended to cure such who were stigmatized with the tokens , when as they not for want of ignorance opinionated those little rednesses like fleabites to be these true signs of the pest , which indeed were scorbutical marks and soon vanished , and if other contracted feaver spots were discovered , though these with one sweat usually disappeared , they concluded them to be nothing less then the tokens , and the removal of them an absolute cure of the plague in its worst condition . the colour of the tokens was various , in some reddish with a circle inclining towards a blue , in others they represented a faint blue the circle being blackish , many were of a brownish dusky colour , like rust of iron or moles in some bodies ; that the reddish and blackish tokens were from blood is most evident , but whether the others might not proceed from the nervous liquor extravasated , concreted , and mortified by the malignity , is more doubtful ; when i assayed to prove them , i found them almost impenetrable . i do at present onely mention this , that further experiment may be made by such who have fit opportunities . although no part of mans body is secure from these most pestilential marks , yet the neck , breact , back and thighes are most apt to them , but these things are so vulgar that i may very well spare my pains in giving any further account : that which did seem at first most strange to me , was that many persons who had continued in a delirium throughout their sickness , so soon as the tokens appeared , they came to themselves and apprehended that they were in an hopeful and recovering condition , i might here relate two eminent stories , which i can onely without circumstances mention , one was of a maid whose temper seemed good , her pulse equal and stronge , her senses were perfect at that time when i was called to see her , she complained of no disorder or pain , and concluding her self secure , but when i veiwed her breast and discovered very many tokens , i left her with a prognostick , and within two or three houres she died , not long after i visited an ancient woman and found her at dinner with a chicken before her on which she fed greedily , and had eaten half before i came , after a due inquiry into her case , finding no satisfaction either from her pulse or temper i searching her breast observed the tokens , and she expired within one or two houres : these clear intervals ( as i conceive ) did happen when all manner of fermentations were ceased , the pestilential ferment having gained a compleat victory , and quieted all oppositions which nature made in order to her preservation : that the tokens do sometimes appear after death , is to be attributed to the high ferment in the pestilential matter which vainly seeking to force its way thorow the skin , imprints there indeleble characters of its excessive malignity : to these tokens i might add those oblong stroakes like lashes discovered on the backs of some , but because i saw during the whole time onely one thus marked , and have not been informed of many , i suppose that these are not common ▪ however their cause is the same with the tokens , and they are to be esteemed of the same consequence , the contiguity of these marks not at all altering their nature or effect . what is often mentioned in most authours concerning the flexibleness of bodies kild by the pestilence , hath not been confirmed in this plague , for although such bodies were not so soon rigid and stiff as those which dyed of chronical or common acute diseases , yet due time being allowed , or if the bodies were exposed to the cold air , there appeared no difference between them and others , but i shall not hence conclude that in no pests there is not to be found this flexibleness . the prognosticks in this pest were very fallacious , for oftimes when all things presented fair , and the patient seemed past danger , on a sudden the case was altered by the near approach of death , and on the contrary in some whose condition upon many accounts was judged desperate , an unexpected change at a dead lift hapned , which gave full assurance of a speedy recovery , besides considering that the pest did primarily seat it self in the spirits , it was not easie to determine positively the success of their contest , for the spirits which for a while were almost suffocated and extinguished being almost over-powred with the pestilential venome , did frequently like the fire for some time suppressed , break out into an aspiring flame and thereby evidence their victory ; and many times the spirits which maintained the combate very well the first charge , by the second onset were utterly defeated ; so that the transactions of the spirits are not so certainly foreseen as the progress of diseases fixed on any internal or external member of the body , the best prognostick is taken from the strength of the patient under a skilful hand directing a proper and methodical cure . before i come to the cure of the pest , i shall say something touching the great business of preservation from it , nature instructs us that by all means possible we preserve and safeguard our selves from all things prejudicial to our lives , and art hath most happily by its discoveries furnished apt remedies for this purpose , and the great success of proper and fit preservatives doth irrefragably plead from their use : in this answer i shall not publish any prescripts , but onely hint the intentions which are alwaies to be observed in a true and regular preservation from the plague . care in the first place must be taken to free the body from superfluous humours , which may be a fit fomes for the pestilential ferment , this ought not to be performed by violent catharticks but gentle and yet effectual de-obstructing medicines , and then the noble parts must be corroborated , their ferments and use maintained , and lastly the blood kept in a due and equal briskness ; and hereupon all passions especially fear and anger are worthily censured by physitians as conducing much to the introduction of the pest , a moderate and wholesome dyet must be cauteously observed , and no error committed in the other things termed non-natural , to conclude the society of infected persons is carefully to be avoided , for certainly it is an high presumption , that because some preservatives are and have been effectual to secure some persons , others taking the like antidotes should thereupon adventure into the utmost danger , as this opinion hath cost many their lives , so i fear , if the fire should break out again ( which god forbid ) some will be bold notwithstanding the miscarriage of others , to attempt the like adventures . the therapeutick part comes next in order , but before i enter upon this subject , if the scruple made by some whether the pestilence is curable , was grounded either on authority or reason i would indeavour to remove it , for however medicines do prove alike effectual to rescue all infected persons from the jawes of death , mortality amongst people denoting the plague ; yet since that by gods blessing and the care and skill of experienced physitians very many recover , these living testimonies do suffficiently evidence the absurdity and great impiety of that suggestion ; i rather think that a cogent argument may be drawn from the deadly nature of this distemper provoking all persons concerned to look out speedily for suitable help , especially considering that dispondency is so considerable a promoter of the pests fatality . in relation to the cure of the plague , all the intentions which offer themselves must be diligently observed and truly answered , otherwise no better account can be given of proceedings then what is produced by ignorant nurses , or our pretended chymists , who are arived at such an height of confidence , as that by warranting simple people their lives in order to their entertainment and thereupon advancing some rude and dangerous preparations not fitted to any intention , they do surpass even the pest it self in destructiveness : so soon as any person findes or apprehends himself to be seized by the contagion ( every little illness in time of the plague being justly suspected ) t is adviseable that he forthwith do betake himself to his bed , taking warning by the miscarriage of very many , who if they were not violently sick at first would struggle with the disease , and vainly imagine by walking abroad in the fields to overcome their distemper , until the best opportunities of applying remedies were ircoverably lost ; besides when the patient is in that condition , nature may more certainly shew the waies she designs to expel the malignity and discovering her deficiencies , directs the physitian who is alwaies intent on her motion to succour her by his art : although it is found most convenient that the patient secure himself in his bed , yet t is not allowable that he sleep until a check is given to the venenosity , indeed some not well advised finding themselves drowzy , who perhaps were seized with a stupidness or dulness signifying the worst quality of the contagion committed themselves to rest , and little thought that by calling in the pestilential matter from the habit of the body and fixing it in the brain , such sleep was onely preparative to their deaths ; if then any find themselves thus disposed they must be kept waking and roused up by vesicatories their use , number , and places , the physitian who is called in will advise ; if the patient vomits , judgement must be truly made whether the stomack is clogged and loaded with undigested meat or fruit or ought else taken unseasonably or immoderatly that may burden it , and become a fit fomes for the pest , if the stomack suffers upon this account by carduus posset drink taken in a large quanity with oxymel of squills , not ascending much higher it must be disburdened and cleansed , but if such vomittings are onely symptomatical , as indeed most were , proper remedies must be directed which may stop those inclinations to vomit , and expell out of the stomack that pestilential matter which so strongly irritates , restoring likewise the ferment of the stomack much weakened and injured by this means , for which purpose i cannot too much commend the fixed salts of wormewood , carduus , rue , scordium , masterwort , &c. if likewise symptomes appear of the poysonous ferment fixing in the bowels , and a flux hereupon happens , it is not safe without a most urgent cause to use catharticks , least a dysentery ensue , and the pestilential matter be drawn by such evacuations from the circumference to the center ; our ignorant , but bold practisers , not understanding either this or any other danger in their desperate undertakings , have chiefly dealt in emetocatharticks , not regarding the sad event which generally attended such attempts , and acting herein in opposition to the advice given by the colledge of physicians in their book ; these rash medicasters not so much valuing the lives of the sick , as their appearing in a contradictory way to the skillfullest and most learned society in europe ; and when these chymical cheats have spent the patients strength by such evacuations , they immediately as to a refuge fly to narcoticks ; and if the violent workings of such medicines are a little quieted thereby , and procured sleep alleviates somewhat , and refreshes , they applaud their accomplishments untill the approaches of death do too plainly manifest their unpardonable abuse and delusion of people in the great concern of their lives . but to return unto my business in hand , the chief intention in the cure consisting in an early expulsion of the malignity , proper alexipharmicks did mostly contribute to this end , which by the expert physicians skill were adapted to the constitution and present condition of the patient , their vertue and power perfectly preventing the great danger threatned by delay or the use of insufficient medicines ; for although in the cure of other diseases a progress from lower to higher and more prevalent processes is very allowable , yet in the pest where occasion must be taken by the foretop the slip of one opportunity being infinitely disadvantageous , all true sons of art imployed their utmost abilities to select most proper sudorificks , one dose of which might provoke a seasonable and effectual sweat whereby the blood and juices of the body were depured and freed from that pestilential ferment with which they were lately imbued ; and since that this intention was chiefly to be observed all other directions having respect unto it , physicians were hereupon very cautelous least they should by any means either divert nature from this course , or prejudice her in such designments , hence was it that phlebotomy was justly censured as a matter of dangerous consequence in the pest , by which the fermentation of the blood was abated , the spirits took flight , and nature became so debilitated that she could no longer combate with her implacable adversary . i am not ignorant that in some plagues bleeding hath proved very successful , but in this complicated with the scorbute it was upon every account inconvenient , the confirmation of which truth two many have sealed with their lives , who being easily perswaded by ignorant practisers , did prodigally wast natures treasure , and soon were imprisoned in their graves . it was also matter of great deliberation , to determine , whether in some urgent cases glisters might safely be administred least the poyson of the distemper shall take downwards , and the diaphoreses be thereby interrupted ; of such high concernment it was to maintain a constant and free transpiration , which every fifth or sixth hour , oftner or later , as there was just cause , was to be forced by repetitions of remedies mightily promoting its expected success and benefit , and here another grand difficulty arises , whether during these sweats it is convenient to nourish the patient ? which i shall thus resolve , if by reason of such sweats the patient finds his condition to be bettered , his appetite not much dejected , his thirst abated , and the paroxisme in declination , as also his strength neer spent , in such a case it is most adviseable that the patient be often indulged chicken-broath or what ever may recruit all losses of spirits in the incounter , and by this means that person being refreshed , will be enabled to undergo cheerfully the succeeding paroxisme and to continue his breathings , but if all requisites shewing the necessity of allowing nourishment , do not concur , t is far better to abstain from this course , then adventure its inconveniencies which are so many that i may not at present recite them ; such patients may by taking of cordidials fit themselves for a more opportune season of nourishment . the continuance and length of such sweats were rightly measured by the patients relief and sufficiency of strength to bear them , but unless i should state the several cases which happened in the pest , it is impossible that full directions can be given , especially considering that applications in medicine altogether relate to individuals , and therefore as there is a difference in the same disease seizing many persons , so likewise not onely various methods of cure , but diverse medicines are subservient to that end , upon which account i forbear to set down the remedies , vegetable , animal and mineral , which were used in the curation of this distemper . sir , it is now high time that i should make my apology for this rude entertainment of your with a most imperfect and confused discourse on this subject ; the truth is i have intentionally omitted very much which may seem pertinent to this business , as to assign the reason why the poor were mostly infected which i might have adscribed to the rotten mutton they fed on the preceding autume preparing their bodies for the contagion , their being crowded in little roomes and close alleys , as also their unrestrainable mixing and converse with the infected , and their great want and poverty notwithstanding the magistrates industrious provision for them , i have likewise forborn to express the cause why children were most subject to the plague and so many dyed of it that it may be fitly called the childrens pest ; neither have i touched upon the business of amulets , though many suffered by such as were arsenical , and other things very significant are passed by , as nassalls , issues , fumes , &c. nor have i particularly related any medicines or their designment , or delivered the several waies to treat patients in different conditions , relating to the several complications with the pox , scurvy , &c. but all these pretermissions may fitly serve to inform you of a design in hand to publish a compleat history of this pest in latin , which i hope will recompense the many defaults in this account ; to the end therefore that there may be no deficiency in so great an undertaking , if legitimate physitians , who have made observations , specially our learned friends in your country , would do me the favour to communicate their notes , i shall own their kindness and faithfully insert both their names and such observations . i am so well assured of your candor that you will not measure that work by this loose and hasty essay , pen'd in an hurry and tumult of other businesses , in which great care is taken not to prevent the novelty of those histories and notions which will then be produced : i shall not detain you with any more excuses , least i be forced to supplicate for them also . as to that part of your letter wherein you desire satisfaction concerning our pretended chymists , i can onely make you this return , that the people are now convinced of their designs , their most admired preparations proving altogether unsuccesful , and their contrivances being chiefly bent upon more secret waies and a shorter cut to gain estates , their intituling medicines by strange names , as the quintessence animae mundi , oil of the heathen gods , &c and requiring three pounds for a dose , is a trifling and slow way to grow rich by , when as an estate may be gained by giving one little but most effectual draught ; now the vulgar perceive the practise of the philosophers by fire who can soon upon advantageous accounts sublime mens souls , you will doubtless ere long have a better and more particular information of their transactions , which i at present forbear to recite . these scandalous opposers of the colledg are now for ever silenced , since that so many members of that most honourable society have ventured their lives in such hot service , their memory will doubtless survive time who dyed in the discharge of their duty , and their reputation florish , who ( by gods providence ) escaped : certainly the magistrate will protect and suitably encourage all legitimate physitians who have appeared most ready to serve their countrey in the greatest exigency . worthy sir , i am your most faithful servant , n. h. may 8. 1666. from my house in red lion court in watlinstreet . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a44061-e1990 * omnes homines , viri aequè ac foeminoe , anus aequè ac virgo omnes inquam medici videri pruriunt ut si omnes qui medicae artis cognitionem atque scientiam falso nomine sibi adscribunt , numero comprendere velis , prius quot fluctibus mare à condito aevo agitatum sit sermone atque oratione expedias seidel in praefat . lib. de morb . incurab . * multum egerunt qui ante nos fuerunt , sed non peregerunt multum adhuc restat operis multumque restabit , nec ulii nato post mille saecula praecludetur occasio aliquid adhuc adjiciendi , sen. quod aevum tam rude aut incultum fuit quo non aliquod medicina sive ab ingenio sive ab exercitatione additamentum ceu ornamentum quo locupletior quam ante fieret acceperit , 1 carolus pisc . in praefat . lib. de serosa colluvie . * inexperientia facit fortunam , ut experientia artem. sapienter empedocles asserit nervos sapientiae esse non temerè credere . fabrit . ab aquapend . p. 309. * in medicina cum laude facienda multa & poenè infinita sunt animadvertenda quae à rudi empiricorum popello non annotentur , hieron . b●rd . p. 30. * sibi egregie sapientes videntur tamen in maxima rerum ignorantia versantur , & ignorantiae tenebris circumfusi doctrinae causas intueri mentis suae acie nequeunt , shegk . in epist . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , gal. lib. 3. meth . med . * medicina infamis propter eorum qui eam exer●ent imperitiam . * experim . philos . lib. 2. p. 220 , 221. * quilibet etsi à veritatis s●●p● saepe multum aberrans tot techins f●catisque demonstrationibus suas palliare studet opiniones ut à cunctis cuncta ferè ingenia primo occursu seducantur : gul. du vai● in nov . mund . subl . anat . nullum fere hominum genus est quod non alat rivalitatem cum medicis , freitag . fabritius hild. p ▪ 916. * furor e st nè moriare , mori . * em●irici maximam arti faciunt injuriam infignem inurunt maculam , ut periti apud vulgus non modo imperitum , verum etiam prob dolor ●sanioris judicii homines obtineant authoritatem , seid . * medicina exact● indiget contemplatione & laboriosa in operibus exercitatione , utpote quae tantis rerum difficultatibus scatet , alsat . p. 5. defens . 5. p. 259. * sicut prothagoras sophisista qui discipulis & auditoribus relinquebat estimationem suarum lectionum , ut quisque eorum tantum mercedis ei persolveret quantum existimaret se ex ejus lectionibus profecisse atque didicisse , aristo . ethn. p. 838. * praxis qu● ipsi utuntur trium dierum spatio ab homine vel vilissimo acquiritur , panar . epist . strad . probos . p. 58. * non licet bis peccare in medicina uti nec in bello . notes for div a44061-e13750 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. hippocrat . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . quer● . phar. mac . p. 221. * principiis obsta , &c. renodaei instit phar. p. 6. * de augm . scient . lib. 4. p. 2●3 . alsar . de . quaes . per epistol . p. 309. gal. de opt . secta . l' obell . p. 6. med. medicin . p. 432. notes for div a44061-e20750 ann. 3. hen. 8. * foelix esset artibus si soli artistae de illis judicarent , f●b . * leges posteriores abrogant priores . mant. * aug. lib. 3. de civitate dei. notes for div a44061-e25170 * omnes qui vix communem intelligere queunt sermonem , & opera similiter cum difficultate discunt vulgò communia medicinam exercere ambiunt , geb . lib. de invest . sum . perf . notes for div a44061-e29240 zacut. lus . p. 14. tract . de sal● dom. de neus . riol . in epist . dedic . pharmac . spargyr . p. 2. * fab. propugn alchym . p. 8. * ut turpe esset in senatu patres dum de salute reipublicae deliberatur à votis ad convitia descendere , ita pudend●m est eos qui scriptis editis rem literariam auctam & amplificatam cupiunt rebus missis convitiis certare . sen. p. 844. angel. sal. de error . pseudochym . p. 7. * corrumpunt mixtum perduntque , non autem dividunt in sua simplicia . * accidit iis qui se igne oblectant & exhilarant quod ad extremum omne in luctum vertitur , ignis enim multò subtiliora venena contra eos evomit quam minerae , paracels . cap. 4. tract . 2. de morb . metall . * dec. 2. paradox . 10. p. 523. * sen. de brev . vitae , p. 559. * pharmac . spagyr . p. 3. * medici quidam adulando in pharmacis administrandis aegros interficiunt panarol . p. 135. * de difficult . alchym . p. 6. * hippocrat . de dec . hab . * ubi desinit philosophus ibi incipit medicus . * geb . cap. 7. * de quaes . per epist . p. 434. * debet chymicus errori subvenire inpuncto . sanch. p. 89. mor. de metall . metamorph . sennert . de natura , chym . p. 755. paracels . p. 289. abrah . è port . leon. mant . p. 126. * quò vide ant pseudochymici & metito nomine medici celeberrimum hoc nostrum londinens . collegium singulis praeceptis singulisque instrumentis utriusque philosophiae affluere & abundare in arenam descendo , &c. tho. rawlins in praefat . alphabet : ceu admon . pseudochymic . * observat . medic . in spa. cap. 7. * cap. xxv . leonard . botall . de curat per miss . sanguinis , p. 155. notes for div a44061-e41290 * heroici viri quamvis nullam artem quam humana excogitavit industria absolutam nobis reliquerunt praeclara tamen in omnibus artibus indefessis laboribus longissimisque observationibus in venerum posterisque instar testamenti fideliter tradiderunt , bruel . in pref . * illa habentur specifica quae omnibus differentiis alicujus morbi , omnibus hominibus , & omni tempore prosunt , fab. p. 476. hercul . saxon . de lue ven . p. 3. med. medicinae , p. 37. lib. 5. aphorism . 31. * christoph . à vega , p. 846. * heurn . in aphorism . p. 358. * nihil juvare videtur nisi quod è sanctuariis chymicorum depromptum tamque attonita quorundam animos persuasio occupavit , ut prodesse nisi chymica non putent , billish . in epist . * his parium & superiorum contemptus acsi iis solis cerebrum & cor natura formasset , & reliqui vel in truncos & stipites abiissent , vel peponem pro corde fungum pro cerebro gererent . jonst . * olim non opus erat remediis diligentibus nondum in tantum nequitia surrexerat , nec tam late se sparserat , poterant vitiis simplicibus obstare remedia simplicia , nunc necesse est tant● operatiora esse munimenta quanto valentiora sunt quibus petimur , &c. sen. p. 785. * ubi de salute humana agitur non standum uniuscujusque judicio sed eorum qui authoritatem longo tempore sibi compararunt , caesalp . p. 10. * laudo tuam experientiam qui non finis infirmos computrescere sed eos statim è vita liberas , strat. philos . seidel . p. 133. * thon . epist . medic . p. 32. notes for div a44061-e54940 * multi sunt qui ex particulari materia medicamentum universalissimum clicere volunt frustra tamen omnia fuisse experientia attestatur universalissimum siquidem ex universalissimo elici debet . thon . epist . med . p. 14. angel. sal. de chrysol . p. 422. the wards of the key to helmont proved unfit for the lock, or, the principles of mr. william bacon examined and refuted and the honour and value of true chymistry asserted / by john case ... case, john, fl. 1680-1700. 1682 approx. 55 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 15 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a35573 wing c821 estc r37527 16966840 ocm 16966840 105539 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a35573) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 105539) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1611:15) the wards of the key to helmont proved unfit for the lock, or, the principles of mr. william bacon examined and refuted and the honour and value of true chymistry asserted / by john case ... case, john, fl. 1680-1700. [4], 24 p. : ill. printed for the author and are to be sold by john smith, bookseller ..., london : 1682. imperfect: print show-through. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bacon, william. -a key to helmont. medicine -england -early works to 1800. 2005-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-11 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-08 taryn hakala sampled and proofread 2006-08 taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the wards of the key to helmont proved unfit for the lock : or , the principles of mr. william bacon examined and refuted , and the honour and value of true chymistry asserted . by john case , student in physick & astrology . london : printed for the author ; and are to be sold by john smith bookseller in russel-street in covent-garden . 1682. reader , i do here commend this treatise to thee , and to all the ingenious , as a thing well done and performed ; briefly laying down , and candidly exposing the grounds of physick , with the great mysteries of nature , as yet known but to few . and also several useful and considerable points of philosophy , both dogmatical and hermetical : and indeed he hath neatly and concisely handled all things that ought to be generally known to the young student , who desires to be acquainted with learning of this kind . however , i will say no more , but refer it to thy perusal , not doubting but thou wilt be of the opinion of thy friend , j. partridge . to the highly honoured , and my much esteemed friend , sir thomas gery kt. one of his majesties justices of the peace in the county of middlesex . sir , the manifold kindnesses that i have been so happy in receiving from your hands , have not only obliged , but much encouraged me to dedicate this little book to your view , no way comparable to your worth and goodness , not doubting only of your obliviating this my present offence , but also in obtaining from your real generosity a favourable acceptation of this my first-fruits and labour to the world published , and likewise to wish you all health and prosperity ; which are and shall be the prayers of him who was ever most studious to honour and serve you as your most obsequious , john case . to the judicious reader . most of the time of my minority , i have spent in searching out the things of nature , and the ground and foundation thereof , as you may find was from the beginning of times , as in genesis , viz. when god had perfected that wonderful work of his , i mean the frame of the whole world , and had ascribed to every part thereof his especial duty , namely , to the air , to uphold all feathered fowle , the water to harbour the fish , the earth for all beasts , and to produce and bring forth good and wholesome things , which may be reduced into three words , viz. vegetables , animals , and minerals , and over all these things he appointed man as regent and governour , being the last and most noble creature , and did infuse into him a considerable mind , apt to understand his mysteries , and with his tongue to unfold the arcanaes of his labour and industry : this was that consideration that moved that wiseman solomon to wade so far into the searching out the cause of things and to apply his mind to the study of nature , not only of birds , and beasts , but likewise of trees , even from the cedar of lebanon , to the hyssop that grows on the wall ; it is high time for me to mind that place of scripture , viz. try all things , and hold fast that which is good ; so that being setled and steadfast in the opinion of my study and labour in secret things of nature ; i rest satisfied that the true principles of natural bodies , and the beginning of all things , proceed from fire . there hath lately come forth a book , whose author is mr. bacon , which in perusing , i found lame and defective , so that i thought myself obliged to take some pains in confuting him of his errors , by reason he perswades the world to believe what is not , viz. that water is the principle of all bodies , which is not the opinion of your friend from my house in lambeth , may 12. 1682. john case . chap. i. what are the true principles of natural bodies . i shall not answer with the words of william bacon , which are these : the gross errours of the schools concerning principles , and their useless philosophy , are so well known and exploded by this inquisitive and sagacious age , that it is needless to endeavour to confute them . in my slender judgment these words are erroniously scandalous and abuseful to all schools in general ; especially to the higher forms : for it is never known a child as soon as it is born to go alone , nor those which are to learn a , b , &c. or the grammar-tongue , to meddle with things of this nature ; therefore i look upon it to be their pride , to abuse and scandal the most high and learned schools , colledges of physitians , and many old fathers , who have laid down good reasons for principles of this nature . now with my slender reason , i will endeavour to lay down some arguments concerning what the true principles of natural bodies are ; i will lay a foundation to work upon concerning the three divisions of the world , sublunary , coelestial , and super coelestial . first , to define unto you what the world is , mundus , or the world is in the hebrew tongue , holam , which implyeth thus much , quodiam per aliquot secula subsistat , in quo rerum ortus & interritus sit , which is to subsist and continue for certain ages , and in which shall be the birth and destruction of all things ; the world in the original directly reproving all such as are of opinion that it hath always been , and shall ever last . the greeks call it cosmos , which imports ornament , which the latines for perfect and absolute elegancy call mundus , because there is nothing more neatly polished and beautified ; for so saith pliny : possidonius in meteor calleth that mundus , or the world , which consisteth of heaven and earth , coelestial and terrestrial natures , or of gods and men , and those things which were created for their use . some call it mundus , quasi ornatus mulieris , a womans ornament . he that buildeth a house , doth not only build it to be so called , but hath a farther purpose to make it habitable for some others to dwell in . there is nothing made for a show only , but some service ; even so was the world created by the almighty , not only to be called so , and retain the name ; neither did he frame his creatures for the world it self , as if it either needed the heat or light of the sun , the breath of the winds , the moisture of the clouds , or nourishment from those things which it self yearly produceth : but he made all things for the use of men , and that they in it should magnifie and glorifie his name . i end this with a remarkable saying of st. chrysostome upon matthew , habemus pro mare mundum ; we have for the sea , the world ; for our ship , the church ; for our mast , the cross ; for the sails , repentance ; for our pilat , christ ; for the wind , the holy ghost . aristotle , that great philosopher , saith , non plures mundi sunt , &c. there are no more worlds , nor no more can be , if this consist of the universal matter , as of necessity it must : all things under heaven in time grow old , corruptible , and vile . as concerning the multiplicity of worlds , which divers philosophers believe , as metradorus , and others , whose judgments have been opposed by better experienced sophisters , as by pythagoras , samius , melissus , zeno , and as is more expressed by aristotle , the prince of philosophers , above the rest , concludes upon one world , namely , this we live in : the world , saith he , is that in which all things are contained , and without which there is nothing that is or can be found ; so by consequence , if there were any thing without the world , then the world could not contain all things , therefore no world : but this question may be more fully determined . there is but one world , and that perfect , as there is but one most perfect creator , the absolute prince and governour thereof ; without this world there is neither place nor time ; place there is not , because there can be no place without a body ; if no body , then no motion ; if no motion , all time is excluded , nam tempus est mensura motus : for time is the measure of all motion . i shall conclude with that which was spoken by the mouth of moses , in principio creavit deus coelum & terram ; in the beginning god created heaven and earth . manifest it is then , that there is but one world ; for some have strove to maintain the permanency , as that it was without beginning , and shall always continue without end . the foundatirn being laid , i come now to prove what the principles of natural bodies are , whether unalterable or not , and also the opinion of some learned men in these things ; now i joyn my opinion with that of hipparehis , heraclitus , and ephesius , who give the sole pre-eminence to fire as the beginning of all things ; the reason thus : that fire condensed or moistned , is made air , but a degree more thicker than gross water , and at length made more constrict , turned to earth , so bring them retrograde , earth rarified , converted to water by evaporation into air , and being purified , transmigrateth into the nature of fire , and by reason of the perpetual shifting of this one element , the order of the birth and breedeing of all things do consist , and hence new work to arise . now give me leave to lay down some opinions of philosophers concerning the beginning of the world , as thales milesius , counted to be the wisest man in that age that lived in greece , held opinion , that water was the beginning and breeding of all things ; so aristotle and plutarch report of him : the weak foundation he builded upon was , because he saw and found by experience , that there was a moisture in the seed of all things , and as well in the elements : this cannot be , for water is soon drank up by air ; neither can that argument hold good , that a child not born to turn to water , but corruption . anaximenes , the auditor of anaximander , reasoned that all things were begot or procreated from air , by those reasons that air was capable of all impression , action , and quality , and naturally apt to be transchanged from one form to another ; a property which the rest of the elements cannot challenge . some say the creation proceedeth from two , namely , calor & frigus , heat and cold , the fire which gives the motion , and the earth which supplyeth it with form. i shall not trouble the reader any more with opinions , but conclude with these words : compescat se humana temeritas , id quod non est non querat , ne illud quod est non inveniat : let mens rashness bridle it self , and that which is not , let him by no means seek , lest that which is , he can no ways find . concerning the elements aristotle saith , that the beginning of them , are heat , cold , moisture , and drought : likewise that they have a repugnancy among themselves , and therefore cannot be lasting . ignis in aethereas volucer se sustulit aras , summaque complexus stellantis culmina coeli . the swift fire lifts it self above the air , and mounts aloft to embrace round the fair , and bright roofs of the starry heavens ; it claims prime place , and girts them with a wall of flames . air next with subtile breath it self extends , both through the middle part , and spacious ends of th' empty world , with gentle breathings feeding the fire next to the stars . the third succeeding is that moist element which fills the ocean , ebbing and flowing with continual motion , the moving waves a gentle stem do breed , which so exhal'd from them the air doth feed . the earth remotest from the former height , sits lowest , as supprest with its own weight . drought or dryness is proper to the earth , which challengeth it to it self . cold is inherent to the earth , but not peculiarly , because it hath that quality common with the water ; and as water challengeth coldness , so it hath humidity common with the air ; and as the air claims humidity , so by a kind of fellowship it draweth a heat from the fire ; and as the fire doth vindicate heat as proper to it self , so it participateth of dryness with the earth , which claims that quality to it self . thus it is manifested what is proper to every element distinctly , and what is common among them which they borrow one from another by which they are connext and knit one to another : it was necessary that they should be first distinct and separate , that each of them might preserve its own nature . needful it was also that they should be connext , thence might grow the composition of bodies , so that one might adhere to another , according to their common qualities . the bodily matter and the matter of the four elements were created with the spiritual creatures ; that is to say , with the soul and the angels who were created together , which is proved by the testimony of saint augustine , saying , that by heaven and earth ought to be understood the spiritual and corporeal creatures , created in the beginning of times : from these moveable and changeable elements all things in the world have their beginning and ending . it is likewise observed , that god in the creation of the world began above to work downwards ; for in the first three days he laid the foundation of the world , and in the other three days he furnished and adorned those parts . the first day he made all the heavens , and matter of the earth , and came down as low as the light : the second day he descended lower , and made the firmament or air : the third day lowest , and made a distinction betwixt the earth and water . thus in three days the three parts or body of the world was laid , and in three days more , and in the same order , they were furnished : for on the fourth day , the heavens which were made the first day , were deckt and stuck with stars and lights . the fifth day , the firmament , which was made the second day , was filled with birds and fowls . the sixth day the earth was replenished with beasts ; and lastly , with men. and thus did the almighty accomplish and finish the marvelous work of the creation . i shall not enlarge upon beasts , vegetables , nor minerals here , but come to treat on men , which is my intended business ; only this , all creatures whatsoever ( man excepted ) are bred and born with natural defences against injuries and discommodities , as the tree is preserved by the bark , the birds by their feathers , the fish defended with his scales , the sheep clad with his wool , and man only is brought into the world naked , and altogether unarmed : for needful it was that nature should take care of them who were not able to take care of themselves . chap. ii. a consideration of the action of the vital spirits . it is well observed , that angels were the first creatures god made , created pure as the light , ordained with the light to serve god : the same day was the soul of man created , therefore it is said that man is but little lower than the angels , if he lives after the spirit . i shall not trouble the reader any more concerning the charge the angels have over the soul of man ; but come to treat of the archeos , that is , the place , habitation , &c. wherein the omnipotent power hath lodged the soul of man , viz. the body of man , wherein the soul , the image of god , abideth for a time , which is moveable and changeable , and may be called a tottering tabernacle . these earthly bodies have their assistances and being from a spirit in latine called vita , or life ; the vital spirit which hath its nutriment from blood , and this sanguine or blood is maintained and preserved by nourishment as meat or drink , which we inwardly take . it may be convenient to give you a word or two concerning the blood , how it comes to support the body , or vital spirits , as i have told you before by food ; and after it hath passed that place called the ventricles , or stomach , which is there concocted or digested , it descends into the hungry gut called jejunum ; it is drawn from the jejunum by five of the miseraical or sucking veins , which chuse out the best for blood ; it is drawn into the great hollow vein , called vena porta ; it is drawn from vena porta into the liver , and there 't is converted into blood ; it is drawn from the liver into the hollow vein again the second time to be refined and separated : it is from thence sent each to his natural place and receptacle , as choler to the gall , and melancholy to the spleen , &c. as the principles of the bodies so called of the physitians . now the living or vital spirits stand in need of two things , that it may subsist , convenient motion and aliment , and so is the body of man preserved and kept alive . chap. iii. where , and how the vitals do perform their chief operation . now these spirits , as authors have observed , are the master-workmen in the body , and as the upper wheel which turneth about the lower wheels in the body : therefore whatsoever is healthful , and refreshing to the spirits , works powerfully good effects in the body , and that speedily and suddainly , as the author saith , vapours and affections work compendiously upon the spirits . it is well known that the almighty hath placed in the world all things for the use of mankind , and nothing in vain ; it was appointed by god that mans body should receive nourishment by the fruits of the earth , what is a greater earthly blessing than perfect health of body ? some say , valetudo est summum bonum , health is the chiefest good. first , to shew you how this wheel or vital spirit doth work for or against us ; first for us , viz. for health of body . first , good nourishment causeth health . secondly , good air will revive the vital spirits : but for fear this small volume should be too big , i will only give you two reasons which will give light to the lowest capacity , viz. all bodies are guided and governed by four elements ; not only the bodies of men , but all vegetables , animals , and minerals . an element is a body pure , simple , and unmixt , from which all natural things have their original ; they are held to be in number four , viz. fire , air , water , earth ; since that there is none born into the world but their bodies do participate of all these four elements , and these cause all alteration , and change by reason of these four elements , because of their changing and shifting one with the other , therefore no man stands at one stay , but he is either growing rich or poor , in health or sickness . now when these four elements can be weighed in the balances of uprightness , there can be no sickness , viz. the heat to oversway the cold , or the cold to be prevalent , or over-power the heat . depiction of scales the cause of sickness is when those four elements are unequally balanced , viz. if heat be most prevalent , then it causeth choler , and extream high fevers ; if cold be , then phlegmatick and moist humours . depiction of scales this is the way that our vital spirits strive for us , and against us , so they borrow one from the other , and change this world of four elements , which is produced out of the two inward worlds , and is a glass of them , wherein light and darkness , good and evil , are mixt ; it is not eternal , but hath both a beginning and ending , meant of heaven , which comes out of the midst of the water , viz. of mercury , whence ariseth the male and female kind in the spirit of the outward world , that is the male in the fiery mercury , and the female in the watery . this separation was made all over in every thing , to the end the fiery should desire and long for the watery , and the watery for the fiery , that so there might be a desire and love between them in the light of nature , from which the conjunction ariseth ; therefore the fiery mercury , viz. the over-flowing word , seperates it self according both to the fire and water-nature of the light , and thence comes both the male and female kind in all things , both animals and vegetables . in the third days work , the fiery and watery mercury entred again into composition or mixture , and embraced one another , wherein the salnitre , viz , the separator in the earth , brought forth grass , plants and trees , and that of the first generation and production between male and female . in the fourth days work the fiery mercury brought forth his fruit , viz. the first essence on higher powers , or vertue of life ; then the four elements , and it is in the elements , of it the stars were made . in the fifth days work , the spiritus mundi , viz. the soul of rhe world , opened it self in the first essence , it is here meant of the life of the fiery and watery mercury , wherein god created all beasts , fishes , fowl , and worms , every one from its own peculiar property of the divine mercury . here you see how the eternal principles have moved themselves according to evil and good , for there are evil and good creatures created , every thing as the mercury , viz. the seperator , and yet every kind of life hath its original , in this light of nature , from which it is that all creatures in their kind or property love one another . in the sixth days work god created man ; for in the sixth day the understanding to the life opened its self out of the fiery mercury , and that is out of the inward ground . god created them in his likeness , out of the three principles , and made them images , and breathed into them the understanding fiery mercury , viz. according to time and eternity , so he became a living and understanding soul. chap. iv. what is the object of the digestive faculty . the four administring vertues are , attractive , digestive , retentive , and expulsive . but the digestive faculty is the principal of them all , and the other like footmen and handmaids to attend it . the attractive faculty , draws that which it should digest , and serves continually to feed and supply it . the retentive vertue retains the substance with it , till it be perfectly digested . the expulsive faculty casteth out , and expelleth what is superfluous by digestion . i think no one will deny this ▪ that hath but a spark of reason , but that the object of the digestive faculty is nothing else but this , viz. an earnest desire and eagerness after those ▪ things of nature it self , or vital parts of the bodies after solid bodies , which are digestable or agreeable to its self , and so joyn with its spirit , from whence that old saying may be made good , what is one mans meat , is another mans poyson . to this my good friend william bacon comes very nigh , which is the truest sentence in all his book . in these material matters , viz. the digestive faculty or vertue wherein lyeth the ground-work of the bodies of mankind ; for when this vertue or digestive faculty is debillitated , both spirit ▪ vitals and body decay , and also the fundamental parts on which physitians whet their wits on , viz. in searching out for such medicines and spirits as to strengthen and renew the digestive faculty , things which will best agree and suit with the vital spirits . for if a sick person take never so much nourishment into his stomach , it will not nourish the body , or spirits , but hurt and prejudice the same , and turn to corruption : for prevention of which disastre , incident to most men , i will here lay down a few regulae salutares , or wholsome rules of dyet for advice , viz. mensae ne sint aequales sed coena semper levīor . nu●lus sumatur cibus , nisi priore concocto ad quod octo h●rae●i imbecilli stomacho requiruntur . and withal let them take this rule by the way with them , that nature may not be over-burdened , which is the cause of distempers , and twice worse than robbing it of its accustomed duties . semel in septimana una mensa omittatur cum scilicet natura minus videbitur indigere . there is besides dyet , another preservative for nature , against distempers that may oppose it , that is , by using a rule in sleep , viz. somnus octo horas non excedat , nec septem sit brevior , somnus diurnus omnino fugiatur . the exposition or construction of these few sentences are so plain , that they expose them , in english to the open view of their curteous readers . chap. v. whether there may be an vniversal medicine , or not . mr. bacon declares thus . according to my hypothesis , i conceive there may be ; for if there be but one formal cause of diseases , and also to prove it so , because in womens causes : for he tells us , that the same medicine which preventeth miscrrriages , the same to turn the child in the mothers womb , and to bring it away ; and truly , says he , i have a medecine of mine own may well be called panaceas , and besides it may well deserve the name of polyaceas . i must answer mr. bacon plainly , that he doth not understand the bodies of men or physick . i cannot compare him to any thing , but that great mahomet , who deluded the people by a pigeon which he brought up , and trained to take pease out of his ear , and so made the people believe that it was an angel from heaven which informed him of all transactions , and by that means he was worshipped as a god. now 't is convenient to give some reasons to convince the world that there is no such medicine as a panaceas , or universal medicine for almost all diseases . first , some slender arguments , viz. are all mens children of one substance and constitution ? or can one pair of shooes serve one pair of feet ? and also of all the multitude of people in the world , are not each of them discernable one from another ? sometimes you may see two will resemble one the other at first sight , but bring them together , and discern them both with a strict eye , and you shall soon perceive a great alteration . but some may say that there may be an universal medicine in case of an universal distemper , as pestilence , small-pox , feavers , &c. which generally happens in cities , towns , and countries . no , there cannot be any universal medicinal rules for one particular person : for it is well and often observed in the time of the plague , some are taken with a giddiness in the head , some a pain in the side , some no pain at all before they fall down dead : some persons have the sore break out in one place , some in another . and so in all other general d●seases , which will be tedious here to nominate , which may tend all to one distemper . the reasons why it is so , i will give you else-where . also it is well known that the four complexions do not agree one with the other ; for what is good to cure the sanguine , is prejudicial to the melancholy : experience tells me , that a small portion will purge the sanguine man , but a double portion will hardly purge the melancholy man , because his nerves are very close . i am certain , and do very well know , that many lose their lives by the delusions of such new fellows , and pretenders to an universal medicine . some have a good receipt for the pox ; some have a good receipt for a feaver ; some have a good receipt for the scurvey ; some will say they had it from a very learned person , and that they keep it ( not as it is ) as a rare jewel : i will not deny but that it may be good to its kind , but it may want a true application . i have experience that many dye with the running of the reins and pox , because they put their lives into the hands of such men that do not understand the nature of their bodies , for it is well known by woful experience , that these distempers break out several ways according to the nature and constitution of the bodies of men and women : for in some it remains in the secret places , in some persons in the head , and in other some in the legs , and shin-bones . this one argument should be enough to convince the ignorant , viz. that several natures being mixt together , should make so great a war and disturbance in the bodies of men and women . some seed is very hot , and some very cold , and by consequence your own reason will tell you , that what is good for one body , is sometimes prejudicial to another . there may be an universal and nutrimental assistance to the sick , viz. good cordials , and the quintessence of good things , and these the vitals and digestive faculty eagerly suck in , and revive and nourish more than ordinary ; as in cold , fire is an universal help and assistance : but this cannot be taken in a physical sense . god by his providence hath sufficiently furnished us with natural things , both for nourishment , and physical uses , known to all ; but still they want the true application thereof ; and if it were not so , men would be very unwise to bestow so many pounds in educating their sons , and bringing them up to understand things of this nature or the little world. i am here obliged to give you some account why it is so difficult to know the humour abounding , and perpetual motion of mans body , i have shewn already how the bodies of mankind are nourished and guided in the first chapter , and therefore shall not rehearse here again ; but begin thus : the natural faculty and vertue reside in the liver to nourish the body , and is dispersed through the body by the veins . from this are bred four particular humours , viz. blood , choler , phlegm , and melancholy : blood is made of meat perfectly concocted ; it is by a third concoction transmitted into flesh , the superfluity of it into seed , its receptacle is the veins , by which it is dispersed through the body . choler is made of meat more thin , perfectly concocted , it is the spume or froth of blood , cleanseth all the humours , heats the body , and nourisheth the apprehension as the blood doth the judgment ; it fortifies the attractive faculty , as blood doth the digestive , and moveth man to activity and valour ; its receptacle is the gall. phlegm is made of meat not perfectly digested , it so fortifies the vertue expulsive , as makes it slippery and fit for ejection ; it fortifies the brain by its con●similitude with it : yet it spoils apprehension by its antipathy , the heart thereby sustaining it , and the whole body from the fiery effects , with continual motion ; its receptacle is the lungs . melancholy is the sedement of blood , fortifying the retentive faculty and memory , and makes them sober and stedfast for study , stays the unbridled toys and fooleries of lustful thoughts , and reduces them home to the centre ; it is like a grave counsellor to the whole body , its resident place is the spleen . blood is the chief of all these four humors , yet without the other three , viz. choler , phlegm , and melancholy man connot subsist . these four humours , are the four elements , which mans body is guided by , which i treated on in the first part of this book . reader , view over the nature and consistence of these four humours or elements , and let your reason be your guide , whether one sort of medicine will serve to conquer these four elements : no , not if the world , and the whole frame thereof , could stand or subsist with two only , as you see 't is impossible to be , by the first part of this book . the advice and counsel we ought to have of a physitian is this , viz. physick the sick person ought to take . or what dyet , &c. or what vein to open . or what humour to purge , and how much and what dose , whether in pills or potion , or the like . now there is no physitian , or pretender hereunto , unless he is well skilled in the perpetual motion of these four elements : for without this art the physitian can never safely judge , viz. when to purge or evacuate , either by potion or by vomit , or by letting of blood , or for what humour , or by what quantity , in all which cases astrology prescribes rules : and without these , no one can attain to the art of physick ; otherways they are but like blind men that grope out their way with a staff. i have shewn already in the first part of this book , that the principles of the elements , and natural bodies proceed from fire , but the main principles , and beginning and ending of the life of mankind is taken from the horoscope to be the first motion of time. i will open by example all or most authentique writers , yea , picus himself , attributing the ebbing and flowing of the sea to the moon , as a true and positive cause , according to gallen's . precepts , lib. 1. chapt. 2. de locis affectis , and his practice of the pyoney root in curing the epilepsie , lib. 6. de simplicibus medecis . quo tangente afficimur , & quo seperato cessat affectus , causam esse apud omnes in confesso est , sic enim & ignem ustulationis , & gladium sectionis causam esse credimus . we see by experience that the moon placed in the heavens at such a position , the sea flows , and at such a position it ebbs : after this way may be taken the first beginning of life and motion of mankind , viz. from the horoscope and fixed stars , and from the seven planets , viz. saturn , jupiter , mars , sol , venus , mercury , luna , at the minute of time the child is born , and according to their motion to the square and opposition aspect one with the other , or from the opposite places from whence they were at first . and according to these perpetual motions of the heavens as you see , so are the four elements and humours of mans body changed , saith hippocrates and galen . but because these rules do not lie in my way here , i refer the reader to mr. john gadbury's book of nativities , mr. john partridge his works , or such like ingenious persons . chap. vii . a short accompt of the fixt hermorphrodite . i shall not enlarge upon it , but give a word or two of the meaning of what it is . a fixt hermorphrodite is only , that which consists of two parts , viz. fixed and voluntary body united together . the antients tell us , that it is these two parts , pure and united together . it will be too large here to lay down the full discourse thereof , because i intend to satisfie the world in a short time in full of this hermorphrodite , and also of a seeming potential fire which mr. bacon speaks of . here mr. bacon is pleased to tell us that he can produce a fixt hermorphrodite , which i leave to your discretion to judge of at present ; but in my opinion 't is a meet fancy , or , as they say , to build castles in the air. chap. viii . a word or two in defence of chymical medicines . the word chymical arises from sp●gyria , which is but distillation , of which there are three principals , and cheif distinctions and discriptions . first , it is a certain art of extracting the liquor of the humid part of things by vertue of heat , as the matter shall require , being first dissolved into a vapour , and then condensed again by cold. secondly , distillation is the art of extracting the spiritual and essential humidity from the phlegmatick , or of the phlegmatick from the spiritual . thirdly , distillation is the changing of gross thick bodies into a thinner , and more liquid substance or seperation of the pure liquor , from the impure feces . so by this means you may see what great power and dignity god hath bestowed on mankind , as it is said in the eighth psalm , thou hast made him to have dominion in the works of thy hands ; and in deut. 4. where god hath appointed the service of the stars unto all people that are under heaven , but in particular to the business we are on now , he hath made him king and lord over three kingdomes , viz. vegetable , animal , and mineral , and by vertue of these , what cannot he do ? and how honourable are they that have the command of these ? they may command lead into gold , dying plants into fruitfulness , the sick into health , old age into youth , and what not ? prevail with nature , and the fair diana of the philosopher is at your service . i you cannot prevail with nature for the fairest of her daughters , viz. the mercury of philosophers ; yet there is another of wonderful beauty , as are the essence and magister of philolophers , which are endowed with riches , honour and health , for these you may more easily prevail with nature . this art is more noble than all other arts and sciences , and if it did once truly shine forth out of the clouds , wherewith it is eclipsed , it would darken all the rest , as the sun doth the stars , or at least swallow up their light. this is that true natural philosophy , which most accurately anotomizeth nature , and natural things , &c. as you see in the first chapter , that fire is the grand principle of natural bodies , so by fire and heat we are able to subdue hard bodies , change and separate their souls or spirits from their feces , which are dull earthly mixtures , which do but hinder the efficacy they should have on sick bodies , but by the art of chymistry , we take their purest part of their bodies , which will sooner shew their efficacies and power , viz. to support and heal any of the four humours which the bodies of mankind are supported by , we may by good reasons divide diseases into two parts , chronick and acute , chronick by the sun , acute by the moon ; the acute diseases may be cured in a very short time , but chronick diseases not so soon , for they proceed from obstructions or stoppages in head or viscera , but far sooner by our chymical medicines than those of the gallenical way . mr. bacon is pleased to tell us , in the latter part of his book , strange things , viz. that he cures chronick diseases , as continued feavers , agues , and such like , in two or three fits , and also any considerable disease or sickness within six hours ; and also , saith he , all pestilential feavers . those that believe this , certainly must be of a strange faith and opinion , as to think that mr. bacon is able to alter the creation of the world , and to cause the signs , circles , and stars of heaven , which god hath made fixed , for him to make moveable and common ; surely not so : methinks he is too hasty , the only way in my judgment is , not to disannul , but remember and agree with that wise saying of solomon , tempus est ad omnia perpetrandra , there is a time for the doing of all things ; which must be allowed of , for it is that which brings things to perfection . chap. ix . the character of a true medicine . some will say , how shall we know how to distinguish betwixt good and bad ? that will be too large for me here to lay open to you all the ways to know a good medicine from the bad ; for it is well known that it is very difficult to know some sorts of medicines by an oculary judgment ; therefore it lieth and consisteth in the honesty and uprightness of the operator , or those that sell those medicines ; for there are some who buy of chymists medicines cheaper than ordinary , and the other sell for little profit , when they know that it is not as it ought to be : therefore this lies and consists too in experience . your best way therefore is to confide in an ingenuous and approved chymist , or an honest apothecary , drugster , or the like , by which you will not fail . there is one thing more which casts a great scandal upon our medicines , viz. a mistake of the doctor , or by his unskilfulness ; first , in not administring such of them as ought to be , or in the quantity of the dose , and so it works not the expected effects , for which we bear the blame . secondly , by unskilfulness , for there are many who go under the title of doctor , who know not what humour or disease they are to cure ; neither can they give an accout of what they take in hand . si tu cupis peritus esse in arte medendi , debes in hac oratione sequenti , ( id est ) de medicina & astrologia gnarus esse : nam hic ad studendum satis tibi praebet . scilicit , sympathia & antipathia , nec sunt planulae quibus totum medicinae corpus vertitur & deducitur ; hoc fundamentum tibi datum est ad tuam erigendum constructionem . chap. x. a word of advice to all in general , as well as to chymists . nature hath given to man no better thing than death ; it is meant here that death by which we fulfil the course of nature . non deterret sapientem mors , quia propter incertos casus quotidie immanent , & propter brevitatem vitae , nunquam longe potest abesse : death cannot terrifie a wise man , which by reason of so many uncertain chances is always imminent , and in regard of the shortness of his life can never be long absent . the living spirit is instanly extinguished if it be deprived either of motion , or refrigeration , or of aliment : these three are the proper and immediate passions of the spirit , for all the organs of the principal parts serve hereunto , that these offices may be performed . and again , all destructions of the organs which are deadly bring the matter to this point , that one or more of these three fails . there are divers ways to death , but they end in these three . now the whole fabrick of the parts is the organ of the spirit , as the spirit is the organ of the reasonable soul , which is incorporeous and divine . chap. xi . a word or two how the body of man is supported . by these three intentions , first , the prohibiting of consumptions , the perfecting of reparation , and the removing of oldness . these three intentions to those operations . first is the operation upon the spirits , that they may renew their vigour . the second is upon the exclusion of the air. the third is upon the blood and sanguine heat . the fourth on the juyces of the body . the fifth upon the bowels for their extrusion of aliment . the sixth is upon the outward parts for their attraction of aliment . the seventh is upon the aliment it self for the nutriment thereof . the eighth is upon the least act of assimulation . the ninth is upon the intineration of the parts after they begin to dry . the tenth is upon the purging away of the old juyce , and to the supplying it with new . the four first belong to the first intention ; the four next to the second ; and the two last to the third intention . it may be thought good to propound sundry remedies to the sundry intentions ; but the choicest of these remedies , and the order of them , is left to discretion : for to set down exactly , which of them agreeth best , with which constitutions of bodies , with the several circles of life , and how the whole practice of these things are to be administred and governed , would be too tedious . but it may be convenient to give a word or two , to shew you what a physitian ought to be , and how he ought to understand the whole body of man , viz. the ground and case of all diseases in all sorts of bodies . first of all , it is well known , and undeniable , that those diseases that are to be understood natural , their cure is to be effected in a natural way , and that all diseases have their original from super-abundancies or differency , from heat , coldness , drought and moistness ; and he is a physitian that knows which of these qualities at any time abounds most . and also all time is measured out by motion , and that all motion hath its original in the heavens , by which is caused life and death : for the elementary , world is the womb of the elementary creatures , both animals , minerals , and vegetables . god made but one world , and yet in this one world , a trinity ; first , elementary , which is lowest ; secondly , coelestial , which is next above that ; thirdly , intellectual , which is highest in degree . the cause of all diseases is to be understood to be natural , so also is their cure to be effected in a natural way ; and if you do but consider the universe as one united body , and man an epitomy of this body , it will seem strange to none but to madmen and fools . but that the stars should have their influences upon the body of man , considering he being an epitomy of the creation , must needs have a coelestial world within himself ; therefore all things which belong to man , whether sickness , or any thing besides , may be taken two ways ; first , from the beginning of times , viz. from the horoscope , or the moment of time in which mankind comes into the world ; secondly , by the decumbiture of the sick : it is my business to treat concerning sickness , and so it must be taken : no man can reasonably deny but that the whole prognostick part of physick is governed by astrology , and those physitians who follow hippocrates and galen in making them their principal refuge , do wisely and commendably , it being an art which shews the first natural beginning and proceeding of all motion and mutations of all inferiour things , &c. physitians say that all natural infirmities not coming by outward accidents , prove seeds from four humours , viz. choler , blood , phlegm , and melancholy , which are nothing else but a humidous and vaporative substance , only differing in quality , and therefore if the quality or quantity of the head of the fountain be changed from its usual course , the streams adjacent and belonging must consequently be altered , and differ in quantity or quality ; so it comes to pass that the natural quantity or quality of the influences of the moon , being altered with the different influences of the other planets , doth likewise produce an alteration in some of the four humours , causing the same to augment above nature , or to diminish , or be corrupted or connexed contrary to the first natural constitution of the elementary humours of the body , which causeth sickness and diseases . christian reader , this may satisfie you what a physitian ought to be , and how he ought to cure diseases , unless he will go hand over head , and in the dark , groping out his way like a blind man , and so is not certain whether he kill or cure. seeing it is so , a word of advice to the sick , deceive not your selves in assuring to your selves cure by those many deluding persons who tell you they have an universal medicine , and which far exceedeth all others : first of all , you are not only at the loss of your time , your money , but which is worse , and most pretious , your life ; they also pretend to you that they can do strange things , as to alter the motion of the heavens , and to cure chronick diseases in an instant ; the one as probable as the other , and as much to be credited : alas , 't is meer madness and folly to give car to such persons . it is not to be denied , but that there are many rare and good receipts in the hands of many people at this day : but whoever thou art that followeth the receipts and ways of those pretending persons i afore have mentioned , must needs put thy self to a great hazard ; for perchance they may work their expected effects , and perchance not , the constitution of one body being more easie to be wrought upon than another , and so consequently greatly different . our nation is too much inclined to these phantasms , for many we have in every corner crying out , a good receipt for the scurvy , a rare receipt for the dropsie , pox , &c. but how few of these perform their promised effects ? and how few are cured of those general distempers which reign in our land ? for in stead of curing and abating a distemper , they rather the more increase and augment it , by reason the rise and original of it is not well pryed , searched , and lookt into . as for the scurvy , a disease which seizes on the body of man by several ways and items , so accordingly ought it to be workt upon as you see the person affected , and as you see the distemper seize him , which certainly must be the best way . seeing it is so , that the original of a disease must be first inquired into , before a man ( as he ought to do ) proceed any further , let me invite you to come to me , or to any other that understands the elementary qualities of the body of mankind ; for without that , not any one person deserves the name or title of physitian , which many now adays assume undeservedly unto themselves : there is an old saying , it ought not to be forgot , the disease once known , is half cured , &c. a word of comfort to those who are under affliction : here they may have a speedy help after a regular way of administring physick , and besides a certain accompt of their distempers , and their rise , approved medicines , according to their several diseases , and conditions and humours of their bodies , which ( as i said before ) being once known , a man may the more easily , and with greater hopes of prospering , give his helping hand . i need not enlarge much more , for i think you all have had sufficient experience of medicines composed by those many unskilful persons , and how many lie languishing at this day in a very sad condition : i will go to one particular , that is the pox , for which they think they can effect no cure without a dose of mercury , which in stead of clearing the body , and dispersing the poyson , afflicts the brain , and so consequently at last the whole body with a greater and far more incurable calamity , which is not my way of proceeding , as i hope you will all in good time make experience ; therefore those i desire to repair to me , who are afflicted with any of these following distempers , which by gods help and my own diligence i hope to cure ; namely , the vertigo , er giddiness in the head. the bloody f●ux . the worms in men , women and children . the palsey . the first , second , and third days agues . the intermitting feavers . the burning feavers . the malignant feavers . all vicers , wounds , &c. the dropsey , ascitis . the falling sickness . the weakness of eyes . the running of the reins . the stone in the reins and kidneys . the morbus gallicus , or french pox. the consumption under thirty years . the black jaundies . the scurvey . the dropsie , anasaria . the dropsie , timpanites . also , all distempers incident to the female sex , not here named . as for these distempers , and many more i here insert not , i shall provide such sitting and convenient medicine in my chymical way and practise , as i hope will take effect with all in general , not only to their cure , and perfect recovery , but to my great advancement in the opinion of all , which is the hearty wish and prayers of your devoted and faithful servant , john case , a true christian in the midst of all , and a faithful friend to the diseased body of mankind . finis . there will shortly be published by the same author , another book , intituled , mvscvla , or , a little fly ; being a collection of his twenty years experience in chymistry , physick and astrology . medicinal experiments, or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, for the most part simple and easily prepared very useful in families and fitted for the service of country people : the third and last volume, published from the author's original manuscripts : whereunto is added several other useful notes explicatory of the same / by ... r. boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1694 approx. 74 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 60 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28996 wing b3992 estc r1739 12774108 ocm 12774108 93729 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28996) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 93729) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 707:9) medicinal experiments, or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, for the most part simple and easily prepared very useful in families and fitted for the service of country people : the third and last volume, published from the author's original manuscripts : whereunto is added several other useful notes explicatory of the same / by ... r. boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. [24], 95 p. printed for samuel smith and b. walford ..., london : 1694. 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editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-02 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion medicinal experiments : or , a collection of choice remedies , chiefly simple , and easily prepared : useful in families , and fitted for the service of country people . by the honourable r. boyle esq late fellow of the royal society . the third and last volume . published from the author 's original manuscripts . whereunto is added , several other useful notes explicatory of the same . london , printed for j. taylor , at the ship in st. paul's church-yard , 1694. licensed , novemb. 24th 1693. edward cooke . the preface . the honourable robert boyle esq deceased , bath gratified the whole race of mankind , by his public labours . the world may be divided into the learned and the unlearned part thereof . the former he much obliged by his elaborate discourses on several subjects : the latter , which are far more numerous , he hath condescended also to oblige , by consulting their health in the ensuing receipts . for , whereas the ordinary and inferiour sort of men , either have not ability ( by reason of the tenuity of their estates ) to reward physicians ; or by reason of the remoteness of their habitations , have not opportunity to consult them : here they have remedies provided to their hands , and almost at their own doors ; some of which the learned collector had experience of himself ; and others were recommended to him by credible persons , who had experienced their benefit in themselves , or their friends . and though those ways of probation might be sufficient to justify their publication ; yet such was the scrupulous care and zeal of this author , that he would not suffer them to see the light , till they had been first perused by some eminent physicians of his acquaintance ; to whom he was pleased to commit the supervisal of his medicinal receipts , both galenical and chymical . this century bears the name of parable receipts ; because they may be easily procured and prepared by country people , as their respective diseases do require . what comes forth in the name of mr. boyle , and is genuinly his , needs no farther recommendation . his ipse dixit is sufficient , and such are these praescripts , as being found among his many other papers of like import , which in time may be published also . i shall therefore only recommend them , and their success to the blessing of god , the alone giver , preserver and restorer of health . j. w. the index· a after-birth to bring away page 10 ague to prevent or cure page 13.14.81 agues tertian page 14 ague page 30.44 aching of a hollow tooth page 36 apoplectic fits page 40 astmatic distempers page 43.86 aqua opthalmica page 62 b body bound , to loosen page 35.83 biting of a viper page 29 blood-shot eyes page 6.80 blood to stench page 11.55.57.88 burns page 16.55.88 burns recent page 20 breath shortness page 31 blood to sweeten page 33 bloody flux page 4.36.56.56.79 belly fluxes page 53 blood cleansing by troches of vipers page 67 burn or scald in the eye page 7 bruise of the eye page 46.93 c cataract beginning page 74 cold newly taken , a good medicine page 1 corns , a try'd medicine page 11.54.87 cholic page 15 cholic , a simple remedy page 18 costiveness page 35.83 convulsive fits page 51 cholic , a medicine page 66 cinamon drink for gripes page 37 courses to provoke page 39 contusion of the eye page 46.69.70 d dropsy page 5.80 dentrifice innocent page 7.81 distempers of the genus nervosum page 9 dead child to bring away page 10 defluxions of rheum page 12 deafness page 15 drink for the scurvy page 20 drink for the kings evil page 24.82 dysentery page 4.36.56.56 dysenteric fluxes page 56 defluxion in the eyes page 72 dry inflammation page 76 e eyes that are foul , a good water page 2.62 eyes inflamed page 6.23.38.42.58.80.85 eyes burnt or scald page 7 electuary , purging page 22 erysipelas page 47.86 eye-water , by a famous french man page 60 eye-water , a caution about the vitriolate page 69 eye-water famous page 90 eyes red page 38.58.77.85.89 eyes to strengthen , subject to rheums page 72.91 eye-lids sore page 74 eye bruised page 46.69.70 eyes dry page 63 eyes with hot and sharp humours page 73 eyes pained page 75 f films of the eyes page 71.93 fluxes of the belly page 4.37.53.79.84 fits of a furor vterinus page 19 fits of the head ach page 32 fluor-albus in women page 48 fumigation for pains in the eyes , and over-great driness , and when one fears the beginning of a cataract page 74 fits of the mother page 9.65 furor vterinus to cure page 19 g gravel to expel page 25.83 gleetings , a good liquor page 28 gripes and fluxes page 37.84 gonorrheaa page 45 gums to fasten and help page 8 gums scorbutick page 68.92 h head to clear page 3 head-ach page 17.31 hiccup in fevers ibid. hordeum on the eye-lids page 42 hysterick affections page 9 humours hot and sharp in the eyes page 73 i inflamation of the eyes page 23.42.80 itch , a good medicine page 33 inflammation dry page 75 k kings-evil , a useful drink page 24.82.94 kings-evil , an approved remedy page 26 l leprosy , a specifick . page 16 m medicine for the dropsie page 5 medicine for hysterical affections page 9 medicine for genus nervosum ibid. medicine to cleanse the womb page 18 medicine for the tooth-ach page 21 menses suppressed page 39 medicine to kill tetters page 44 medicine to prevent driness , and some other disaffections of the eyes page 64 medicine for the stone , by a famous emperie page 64 medicine for fits of the mother page 9.65 medicine for the cholic page 66 medicine for scorbutic gums , and to fasten the teeth page 68.92 medicine for a stroke or contusion of the eyes page 69 another excellent medicine for a bruise in the eye page 70 o oculorum propter gravedinem & dolorem page 75 p pain of the teeth , from rheum page 3.36 pain in the eyes page 75 plaister preferr'd to the soap plaister page 28 pericarpium for agues page 14 pleurisie page 36.56 piles page 52 plaister to strengthen the eyes and stop defluxions page 72 pouder styptick page 11 purging electuary for children page 22 r relaxation of the vvula page 59 redness of the eyes page 38.58.77.85.89 remedy for an ague page 13.30.44 rheums a powerful medicine page 12.60 remedy to take off films , and such like things from the eyes page 71.93 remedy for sharp and hot humours in the eyes page 73 rheumatick pain of the teeth page 3 running of the reins to cure page 45 rheums to stop page 60 running of the eyes page 72.73.91 s soap plaister for the gout page 28 sight to strengthen page 19 scurvey beginning page 20 stone in the bladder page 21 strains recent page 41.85 sternutatory to clear the head page 3 shortness of breath page 31 scrophulous vlcers page 40 sores and vlcers page 49 scorbutick gums page 68.92 stroke of the eyes page 46.93 sleep wanting page 50 stenching of blood page 11.55.57.88 stone a famous medicine page 64.91.95 stoppage of vrine page 25.30 t terms to provoke page 39 teeth to fasten page 8.92 tumours , a fomentation ibid. tooth-ach page 12.21.27.36 tooth hollow page 27.36 teeth to fasten page 68 tumors from sharp humours page 8 tettars to kill page 44 u urine to provoke page 25.83 viper biting page 29 vrine supprest page 25.30 vapours of the spleen page 31 vlcers , an excellent medicine page 34 vlcers scrophulous page 40 vvula relax'd page 59.89 vlcers and sores page 49 vitriolate eye-water page 69 w weakness to help page 67 womb-madness to cure page 19 womb to cleanse page 18 womb of a puerpera , to cleanse page 10 wounds green to heal page 39 whites in women page 48.87 these following books , published by the honourable author , and printed for j. taylor at the ship in st. paul's church-yard . 1. a free inquiry into the vulgarly receiv'd notion of nature . 2. a disquisition about the final causes of natural things , with observations about vitiated sight . 3. the martyrdom of theodora and dydimus . 4. the christian virtuoso . 5. experimenta & observationes physicae , with a collection of strange reports . 6. a natural history of a country , great and small , for the use of travellers and navigators . 7. his seraphick love. books printed for j. taylor . dr . salmon's practical physick . dr. yworth's new art of brewing . — his whole art of distillation . logick , or the art of thinking . lord viscount shandon's moral essays . — his characters and discourses . — his letter to an atheist acquaintance . dr. salmon's , with dr. sydenham's and monsieur blanchard's new method of caring the french disease . loue 's whole art of surveying . strodes's easy method for the art of dyalling . plutarch's morals , 5 vol. english'd by several hands . culpepper's directory for midwives . kirkwood's new family-book , with an epistle by dr. horneck . abbady's truth of the christian religion english'd . gouge's words to saints and sinners . — his christian directions . counsellor manner's legacy to his son. ryder's new practice of surgery . evelyn's french gardiner , with cuts . gilbert's florists vade mecum . baxter's call to the unconverted . osborn's works , divine , moral , historical and political . virgilius notis minelii . quintilian's declamations , english . legrand's historia sacra . newton's compleat arithmetician . the modern courtier . miracles perform'd by money , a poem . the humours of a coffee-house , a poem . foxes and firebrands . a defence of their majesties king william and queen mary . strode of combinations , &c. the swordsman's vade mecum , by sir william hope . dyer's works . vanity of the creature . publick devotion , by mr. camfield . a collection of choice and safe remedies . vol. iii. 1. a good medicine for a newly taken , though violent , cold. take about four ounces of spring-water , and in a convenient vessel , put to it three leaves of good tussilago ( coltsfoot ) and a pugil of maiden-hair , and a stick of liquorish , for bigness and length , like the furthest joynt of the little-finger ; make the water warm , and when 't is ready to boil , put in the forementioned ingredients , ( the liquorish being first slic'd and minc'd ) cover the pot well , let it boil for a few walmes , then take it off the fire , and having presently strain'd it , let the patient drink it hot like tea , he being already in bed ; do this three or four nights consecutively , or till there be no more need of the medicine . 2. a good water for eyes that are foul , and pain'd by sharp humours . take prepared pearl and coral , ana one scruple , aloes cabalina finely pouder'd three grains , red rose-water and succory-water , ana one ounce , mix them well ; and if you would have the mixture stronger , put in a very few grains of trochisci alli rhasis in very fine pouder . 3. a good medicine for pain of the teeth that comes from rheum . of the pouder of white helebore , put into a clean linen rag like a nodule , of about the bigness of the largest sort of peas , or somewhat greater and let the patient hold it between his teeth , with his head and face somewhat inclined , that the rheum may run freely out of his mouth . 4. an experienced sternutatory to clear the head. let the patient snuff up in the morning fasting , a small spoonful , or less , of the clarify'd juice of haedera terrestris , i.e. ground-ivy , or of beets , spitting out from time to time as much liquor as comes into his mouth . 5. an often try'd remedy for the dysentery and sharp fluxes of the belly . give from fifteen to twenty grains of carefully made mercurius dulcis incorporated , with about two ounces of catholicon , or else with about one scruple of toasted or somewhat less of untoasted rhubarb . see numb . ( 1. ) 6. a good , though uncommon , medicine for the dropsie . take virginian snake-weed a sufficient quantity , and having cut and slic'd it very small , infuse it into a competent quantity of good sack till the liquor be very strongly impregnated with the plant. of this infusion let the patient take three , four or five spoonfuls at a time ( or more if the case be urgent ) when the stomach is empty . see numb . ( 2. ) 7. an often experienced medicine for blood-shot , or inflamed eyes . cut a new-laid egg boiled hard , into two halfs , ( without taking out the yelks ) and apply one of these considerably warm , but not too hot , to the part affected , and keep it on for some hours ( six or eight if it need so long . ) note well , to the same purpose , you may apply with good effect , a poultis made of a rotten apple , the cold being first quite taken off . see numb . ( 3. ) 8. an excellent remedy for a burn or scald in the eye . take mucilages of quince-seed , fleawort , linseed and fenugreek-seed , of each one scruple ; boil it but very lightly in four ounces of betony-water , filter it , and apply it to the part. 9. a good and innocent dentrifice . take mastich and dragon's-blood , of each a sufficient quantity ; pouder them , and mix them together , and let the patient use them as a dentrifice . see numb . ( 4. ) 10. to correct the laxity of the gums , and fasten the teeth . to a pint of red or claret wine , take about two drams of japan earth , and having dissolv'd so much as you can , pour off the clear , and let the patient wash his mouth therewith from time to time . 11. an uncommon , but effectual , fomentation for tumours accompany'd with sharp humours . to a gallon of spring-water , put as much dry'd sage , as you judg will afford a decoction strong enough of the herb. into this , when it first grows hot , cast about two ounces or some drams of castle-soap , and let it dissolve there till your decoction be compleated . with this and stuphes , foment the part for a good while together . 12. a rare medicine for hysterical affections , and several distempers of the genus nervosum . take one ounce , or a sufficient quantity of volatile salt of harts-horn , ( which need not be exactly pure ) and drop on it as much spirit of tartar as will serve to satiate it , when the conflict is quite ceas'd . digest the mixture for a while , that it may acquire a red colour , and keep it carefully stopt for use , and give four or five drops twice a day in any convenient vehicle . 13. an often prov'd remedy to bring away what is or should not be left in the womb of a puerpera , though it were part of a dead child . with the juice of sheeps sorrel , and some of the strong infusion of the same herb ( unpress'd ) in water , and a sufficient quantity of sugar , make a syrup : of which let the patient take about a spoonful ( a little more or less as need may require ) twice or thrice a day . 14. a try'd medicine to take away corns . the parts being made soft with bathing , and scrap'd , apply to the corn a plaister of shoe-maker's-wax ; but if the part be very tender , your plaister may consist of equal parts of shoe-maker's-wax and diapalma melted together and spread somewhat thin . 15. to make an excellent styptic pouder to stench blood. take of white sugar-candy , roach-allom burnt ( but not too much calcin'd ) and white vitriol , and pulverize them exceeding well , and mix them diligently ; and having dip'd plagets of flax or lint , moistened with the white of an egg into this pouder , apply them to the orifices of the bleeding parts . note well , 't will do very well after the dry ingredients are mix'd , to grind them with as much whites of eggs beaten to water , as will make a paste , which is afterwards to be throughly dry'd in the air , and then again reduc'd to pouder . 16. for a tooth-ach , proceeding from defluxion or rheum from the gums . dissolve one ounce of choice japan earth in a pint at least of good red or claret wine , and let the patient hold in his mouth often , and a good while together . 17. to prevent the fit of an ague , or cure that disease . take of the scraping or gratings of the root of angelica half a dram , and of the flowers of antimony , mix them well , and let the patient take them at the usual times . note here , that the flowers of antimony are not to be given inwardly in substance , but only in infusion ; for in substance they will hazard life , bringing first strong convulsions , and then death : but you may make the medicine thus . see numb . ( 5. ) 18. to make an often try'd pericarpium for agues , especially tertians . take a handful and a half of fresh rue , half a handful of fresh sage , a small spoonful of bay-salt , and a spoonful of good vinegar . beat all these very well together into an uniform mass ; which divide into two parts , and make thereof two wrist plaisters to be apply'd at the usual times before the fit ; and to be renewed , if there be occasion , to keep them on till they grow dry and troublesom . 19. for the cholic . ℞ orange peels dry'd till one may grate them to pouder ; and when they are pulveriz'd , take about a spoonful of the pouder at a time , mix'd with a little white sugar to sweeten it , in or before some spoonfuls of any convenient vehicle . 20. an approved remedy for present deafness . take of the breast milk of a woman that has had her first male child some time before , and drop three or four drops of it warm as it comes from the nipple , into the part affected . 21. a choice medicine for burns . take goose-grease , ( which the country people call the leaf of a goose ) and having softly melted , and a little skim'd it , squeeze into it as much freshly exprest juice of ground-ivy-leaves , as by continual stirring , will bring it to the consistence of a green oyntment . with this anoint the part it self affected ; and afterwards lay on it fine old rags , well dipt in the same ointment . 22. an external remedy , almost specific for the leprosie . take pomatum one ounce , flower of sulphur one dram , sal prunellae half an ounce , and having mixt them very well together , from time to time anoint the part affected therewith , as long as there is need . 23. for the head-ach . take green hemlock , that is tender , and put it in your socks , so that it may lie thinly between them and the soles of your feet ; shift the herb once a day . 24. for the hiccup ( even in fevers . ) give two or three preserved dampsons at a time . 25. a simple remedy for the cholic . in a draught of any convenient liquor , dissolve about one dram of good salt of tartar , and let the patient take it for one dose . 26. an experienced medicine to cleanse the vvomb . take a large white onion , cut it into small pieces , and boil it in about a pint of water , or less , as if it were to be dressed for eating . and of this decoction give seven or eight ounces for a dose , mix'd with about half an ounce of fresh oil of walnuts . 27. to appease the fits of a furor uterinus . take the feathers of partridges ( it matters not much from what part of the fowl ) and burn them for a competent time under the patient's nose . 28. a very good syrup to strengthen the sight . take about a small spoonful of a syrup made of betony-water and honey , twice , thrice or four times a day . 29. an easily prepared , but useful drink for a beginning scurvy . to a quart of small-beer ( of six shillings per barrel ) or small-ale , put over night about a handful of scurvy-grass-leaves , and let the patient drink this liquor at dinner for his ordinary drink for six or eight weeks together . 30. a parable remedy for recent burns . apply as speedily as you can to the part affected an onion , or more , ( if the burnt place be large ) beaten to a mash . 31. for the tooth-ach . apply a plaister of caranna to that part that burns , between the bottom of the ear and the temples , on the same side where the pulsation of the artery is the most manifestly or strongly felt . 32. an excellent medicine , tho not curative , for those that are tormented with the stone in the bladder . take pouder of comfrey-roots an ounce and half , marsh-mallow-roots three ounces , liquorice pouder two drams , seeds of daucus of creet two drams ; seeds of purslane , of winter cherries , of each half a dram ; nutmegs two drams , saffron one dram ; the species diamargariton frigid , six drams ; syrup of marsh-mallows four ounces ; mix and make a soft electuary : of which let the sick daily take the quantity of a walnut . it is profitable against the stone in the reins and bladder , but chiefly against the latter ; as also against the strangury , dysuria , &c. 33. to make a purging electuary , especially for children . take an ounce of choice rhubarb reduc'd to fine pouder , and eight ounces of very good currans , pick'd , wash'd and rub'd dry ; beat these together in a glass or marble mortar for near two hours . of this electuary , let the patient take about the bigness of a small or a large chesnut in the morning fasting , and if need be at bed-time . if the case be very urgent , the medicine may be taken thrice in twenty four hours . 34. an excellent remedy for an inflammation of the eyes . take a pippin ( or other apple ) cut it into two halfs , take out all the core of each of them , fill up the cavities with the tender tops of common wormwood , tie the halfs together , and roast the apple well . then beat it and the herb together to a kind of poultis , and apply it warm ( but not hot ) to the part affected , and bind it thereon , letting it lie all night , or if you use it in the day time , for six or eight hours . 35. an useful drink for the kings-evil , and some affections that have the like causes to it . take a large handful ( or two little physical handfuls ) of the leaves of ground-ivy , green , or ( if the season denies you them ) well dry'd , wash off the dust with beer , ( not water ) and put the herb into a gallon of ale-wort ; when 't is ripe for drinking , draw it out into bottles , and let the patient take a draught of it twice or thrice a day , or if it be thought fit , he may use it at meals . see numb . ( 6. ) 36. an often experienc'd remedy to expel gravel , and provoke supprest urin. kill a black cock or hen , ( rather than one of any other colour ) take out the thick membrane or skin that lines the gizzard or stomach , and having wip'd it clean , dry it cautiously , so as it may be beaten to pouder : with this mix an equal part , or half so much of choice red coral calcin'd . of this mixture , give from twenty or thirty grains to forty or fifty grains . see numb . ( 7. ) 37. an approved remedy for the kings-evil . set a quart of new milk on the fire till it just boils up , then take it off , and put into it two spoonfuls of the best honey , and stir it till it be dissolved : and then set it on the fire again , and let it boil two or three walms : then divide it into four parts , and drink one part warm early in the morning , another about ten of the clock , another about four in the afternoon , and the last a little before bed-time . do this daily for two or three months , except you purge , which must be once a week , taking ( if a grown man ) three quarters of an ounce of caryo-costinum dissolved in posset-drink : dress the sores if they run , with any drawing sear-cloth , or a plaister of burgundy-pitch . the medicine , though not very promising , is very famous , by the many cures done with it , by a charitable lady , of whose ingenious chaplain i procur'd it . 38. a good composition to stop a hollow tooth , and appease the pain . take two parts of fine sugar , ( that of lisbon does best ) and one part of black round pepper , both finely pouder'd and mixt ; put them into a silver spoon over two or three well-kindled coals ; and when the sugar begins to melt , take off the spoon , and whilst the mixture is yet soft , form it into little grains for size and shape , suted to the part affected . 39. a plaister prefer'd by an old physician , that often try'd it , to the common soap plaister . mix about one dram of castle-soap , with one ounce of diachylum , and make thereof a thin plaister , to be worn upon the part affected . 40. an excellent liquor to be used topically in gleetings . take four ounces of spring-water [ or plantane-water ] and dissolve in it about one scruple of the sympathetic-pouder , or so much as will give it a sensible , yet but faint , vitriol-like taste : and of this mixture , inject as much as is usual of a small syringe , every morning and evening , as long as need require , directing the patient to retain the injected liquor as long as conveniently he can . 41. an approved medicine in the biting of a viper . take of white horehound , and apply the plant , well beaten into the form of a poultis , to the part affected , and give the patient a spoonful or two of the juice of the same herb to drink : 't is also very good for the jaundice . 42. an almost specific medicine for the suppression of urin. take of stoechas citrina ( in english , french lavender ) and infuse in a good heat , two handful of the flowers in a pint of good brandy , ( not rectify'd spirit of wine ) and of this infusion , give about a small wine-glass-full at a time [ diluted , if there be great need , with a sufficient quantity of some appropriated liquor . ] 43. for an ague often try'd . boil yarrow [ mille-folium ] in new milk , till it be tender enough to have a cataplasm made of it . apply this to the patient's wrists , just when the cold fit is coming on , and let it lie on the parts till the fit be gone ; and if another fit comes , use fresh cataplasms as before . 44. an useful plaister for those that are troubled with vapours of the spleen , and shortness of breath , when 't is a nervous affection . take two parts of strain'd galbanum , and one part of asafoetida , and make thereof , according to art , a plaister of about the bigness of the palm of one's hand , taking care to leave a broad edg quire round , to prevent its sticking to one's linen and putting a pretty large piece of cotton in the middle , that the gums may not touch the navel ; to which the plaister is to be apply'd . 45. a slight , but excellent , medicine to take off fits of the head-ach . take about a handful of fresh rosemary , and boil it for a pretty while in a quart of common water , then almost fill with it a pint pot [ or rather a mug ] let the patient cover his head and face with a napkin , so that he may receive the steam as hot as he can well bear , and keep the vessel there as long as he finds the steam strong enough . 46. an easie and try'd medicine for the itch , praenissis universalibus . boil four ounces of clean quick-silver in about a gallon and a half of spring-water , and let the patient take of this between a quarter and half a pint at a time , aromatizing it if he pleases with a little lemon-peel . 47. an easie medicine to purify and sweeten the blood. take the minera of hungarian , or other choice antimony , and having ground it to very fine pouder , without suffering it to touch any metal , give of this dry alcohole from ten grains to a dram , giving it once a day , and ( unless some particular reason disswade that time ) let it be at dinner , that it may mingle with the patient's meat in his stomach . 48. a cheap , but excellent , medicine for ulcers . take one dram at least of corrosive sublimate finely pouder'd , dissolve it in a quart of fair water , and let it lie there , if you have leisure , four or five days ( in a light digestion ) that it may be throughly dissolved . then drop in it as much spirit of sal-armoniac , or as much oyl of tartar , per deliquium , as will precipitate it all : then filter it carefully , and keep it stop'd for use , which is to imbibe dorsels or plagets with it , and apply them to the ulcer twice or thrice a day . 49. an easie and innocent medicine for costiveness . boil in as much broth as will serve to fill a large poringer , about half a handful of the leaves of common mallows chop'd , and of this broth ( being strained ) let the patient make the first part of his meal . see numb . ( 8. ) 50. for the aching of a hollow tooth . take oil of wax , and with it moisten well a little cotton , and thrust it up into the hollow tooth , letting it lie there till the pain be sufficiently asswag'd . 51. an often try'd medicine for the bloody-flux , being good also for pleurisies . give the weight of an escu d'or ( or near one dram ) of the seed of sophia chirurgorum , in english flax-seed , in two or three spoonfuls of any convenient vehicle once or twice a day . 52. the cinamon drink , good in gripes and fluxes , &c. take two ounces of calcin'd hart's-horn , pouder it , and boil it in three pints of spring-water , till a pint be wasted ; then take it off the fire , and infuse in it , an ounce and half of good cinamon , setting it upon embers in a cover'd vessel for about an hour . then sweeten it with sugar to your palat , and drink about a quarter of a pint at a time . if taken for prevention only , a fourth part of the cinamon will serve the turn . see numb . ( 9. ) 53. an easie , but useful medicine for redness of the eyes . take a blanch'd almond , and about three grains of camphire , and in a glass or a marble mortar , incorporate them by wary grinding ; and then add to them little by little two or three ounces of red rose-water , still grinding them till the whole be brought to a kind of emulsion . drop a little of this into the part affected . see numb . ( 10. ) 54. a most excellent balsam for any green wound , of what nature soever . oyl of st. john's-wort , and venice-turpentine , of each a like quantity , set them over the fire in a gentle heat , half an hour or less , that they may incorporate . then put them up , and keep it for use as one of the best of balsams . 55. a good medicine for suppression of the menses . give for three mornings together , about the expected time of the monthly evacuation , a dram or dram and half or thereabouts of the gauls and livers of eels dry'd and made into pouder . 56. an experienced remedy to prevent apoplectic fits. make at the crossing of the sutures and issue with diapalma , and oil of vitriol , and keep it open the ordinary way . 57. to dry up , or correct the humour that makes scrophulous ulcers . take of the bone of the cuttle-fish , and having reduc'd it to an impalpable pouder , give about one dram of it at a time in any convenient vehicle . 58. an effectual medicine for a recent strain . take a handful of wormwood-leaves , and boil them in strong ale , till the consumption of about a third , that you may reduce them to the form of a cataplasm , which when you take from the fire , you must strengthen by putting into it two or at most three of brandy , and apply it very warm , renewing it , if need be , in twenty four hours at least . see numb . ( 11. ) 59. for a slight inflammation of the eyes , as also a hordeum growing on the eye-lid . take fresh housleek , and having pouder'd it very well to a kind of cataplasm , cover as much as is needful of it ( for example sake , to the thickness of a half-crown , or a crown-piece ) in the fold of a rag or linen-cloth , that may be so apply'd that the cataplasm may reach the eye , and the rest of the cloth be fastned about the patient's head. let the medicine lie on all night , and be taken off the next morning . repeat this application two or three times , in case there be need . 60. for most astmatic distempers . take of the roots of elecampain , thinly slic'd , one ounce , of the leaves of ground-ivy , a good handful . boil these in three pints of spring-water to a quart , then strain the decoction , sweeten it with a little live honey , and let the patient take it five , six or seven spoonfuls at a time . ( note well , remember the efficacy of saffron in the same disease , as 't is commended by mr. ray , in his catalogue of plants . ) see numb . ( 12. ) 61. for an ague . take of the bone , call'd patella , of the knee of a dead man , and having reduc'd it to fine pouder , give of it as much as will lie upon a groat or a six-pence for one dose , in any proper conserve or fit vehicle , at a convenient time ( before the cold fit. ) 62. an experienced medicine to kill tetters . take of flowers of brimstone , ginger and burnt-allum , of each alike , mingle them well , and of this mixture , incorporate as much with new unsalted butter , as is requisite to bring it to the consistence of an unguent . with this anoint the part affected , as hot as the patient can well endure it , and let it stay on all night ; and the next morning wash it off with celandine-water . but when the patient goes to bed , he is to take a dose of some alexipharmacal medicine , as gascon's pouder , treacle , &c. to keep the humour from being driven into the mass of blood : he is also to bathe the part oftentimes in a day with the celandine-water . 63. to make a good pouder for a gonorrhaea . take of choice red coral , and of mastich , equal parts , reduce them separately to fine powder . mingle them very well , and of this mixture , give about thirty or forty grains for one dose . 64. a choice medicine for a slight stroke or bruise of the eye . take two spoonfuls of fennel-water , or of betony-water , and drop into it three or four drops ( or five at most ) of good clarify'd honey : shake them well together , and use them twice or thrice a day . but you must have a care to make this mixture fresh once in four , or at most in five days , especially in summer ; for if it be longer kept , 't will be apt to grow sowr . 65. an often try'd external medicine for an erysipelas . take the blood of a hare , ( 't is best if kill'd by hunting in march ) and if you can have it fresh , anoint the part affected with it , otherwise apply on it a linen rag that has ( though a good while ago ) throughly imbib'd the fresh blood of that animal , and dry'd in the air. but if the imbued linen be too hard or stiff , it must be softned with a little fair water , and then the cold taken off , apply'd to , and bound upon the part . see numb . ( 13. ) 66. an emperics , much boasted remedy for the fluor albus , or whites in women . make a strong decoction of the herb alchymilla ( in english , ladies-mantle , ) and let the patient drink of it about half a pint every morning fasting ; and if the case be urgent , make an injection of the same plant , boil'd till it be very tender , and let the patient make use of it from time to time . see numb . ( 14. ) 67. an excellent water for ulcers and sores [ try'd with great success . ] to a quart of spring-water , take one dram of mercury sublimate finely pouder'd ; and when 't is quite dissolved , drop into the solution , either spirit of sal armoniac ( which is best ) or oil of tartar per deliquium , till you see that no more will manifestly precipitate . this done , filter the mixture through cap-paper , and reserve the precipitate for other uses . the liquor that passes , you must keep close stopt in a glass-viol ; and when you will use it , you must dip linen rags in it , and being throughly wetted , apply them to the part affected ; single , or doubled , more or less , as need requires . this application may be renewed twice , or ( if the case be urgent ) thrice a day . 68. an experienced medicine for want of sleep , proceeding from great heats of the head. take the palest carrots you can get , and scrape a sufficient quantity of them to afford scrapings enough to make a cataplasm of about two fingers or two inches broad , and of the thickness of a half-crown piece of silver , or thereabouts . let the patient apply this in a piece of doubled [ linen ] to his throat , so that it may reach to the jugular vessels on each side , when he goes to bed , and let it lie on all night ( for it will not easily grow dry , ) if the first application do not prevail , 't is to be apply'd the following night ; and so a third and fourth time , if need require . 69. a parable medicine that has cured very many , especially children , and young boys and girls , of convulsive fits. take of the pouder ( whether made by filing , rasping , or , otherwise ) of the sound skull of a dead man , and give of it about as much as will lie upon a groat , made up into a bolus with conserve of rosemary-flowers ( or any other that is proper ) to a young boy or girl : but in persons more aged and strong , the dose of the pouder must be augmented to double the quantity . the medicine must be given often , if necessity requires it : if the patient be a child , 't will be useful to apply to his throat , a kind of necklace , made of the roots of vervain cut into beads . 70. an easie , and experienc'd remedy for the piles . in four ounces of spring-water , dissolve about one dram of salt of tartar , or as much as will give the liquor a manifest , but not strong alcalisate taste , and apply soft rags dip'd in luke-warm or somewhat more to the part affected , shifting it from time to time . 71. a succcssful medicine for fluxes of the belly . take rice-meal , and mix with it about a fifth part of finely pouder'd and sifted chalk , boil these in water , or which is better , if it agrees with the patient , in milk , and make thereof a hasty pudding , to be moderately season'd with sugar and pouder'd cinamon ; and let the patient eat it at meals , and if need be at some other times . 72. an often try'd remedy for corns . take the juice of housleek , and mix it up with about equal parts of the thick balm or yest , that sticks to the barrel or to the clay that stops it . of these make a kind of plaister , which being kept upon the toe for a while , and then if need be , renew'd , will make the corn very soft and easie to be drawn out and extirpated . see numb . ( 15. ) 73. a good medicine for burns and stenching of blood. dissolve in spring-water , or which is better rain-water , as much sugar as will make it a strong solution , and then with a sufficient quantity of linseed-oil , or oil of olives , beat up this liquor till the oil on it be brought to the consistence of an unguent , with which anoint the part affected , as timely as you can , renewing the application as often as need shall require . see numb . ( 16. ) 74. an approved medicine for the bloody-flux , being good also for pleurisies . give two or three scruples of hare's blood beaten to pouder for one dose , to be taken in a spoonful or two or three of mint-water , or any other fit vehicle . 75. a very often ( though homely ) experienc'd remedy for dysenteric and other fluxes . take the fresh dung of a hog , ( and if you can , whil'st 't is yet warm ) and boil in a poringer full of new milk , as much of it as may amount to the bigness of a wal-nut ; and also an equal quantity of fine mutton suet slic'd very thin : when these are well incorporated with the milk , strain them well through a clean linen cloth ; and if there be need , sweeten them a little with loaf-sugar : let the patient take this warm , once or twice a day . 76. a powerful styptic to stench blood , where it can be apply'd . take the fine pouder of lapis haematites , made by grinding it exactly well with an equal or double weight of sal armoniac : and of this high-colour'd sublimate , put a little upon the orifice of the vessel . 77. for a slight redness of the eyes . take of french barley half an ounce , and damask roses half an handful . boil them but very little in a pint of spring-water , and with this moisten the part affected . see numb . ( 17. ) 78. for the relaxation of the uvula . take blewish pease ( or in want of them , white ones ) and chew them very well , so as to reduce them to the consistence of a poultis . lay this warm upon the crown of the head , to the breadth and thickness of a five-shilling-piece of silver , or somewhat larger , shifting it in the morning , and at bed-time . see numb . ( 18. ) 79. a powerful medicine to stop sharp rheums . take a dram of catechu , or japan earth , and make thereof a decoction in five or six ounces of good white-wine , or else of some distill'd water , or other liquor appropriated to the disease . of this , give two or three spoonfuls at night , and in the morning as much also if need require . 80. the french-man's famous eye-water . take two or three ounces of the water of simple pimpernel , distill'd in balneo , and put this into a little pot or poringer of rose-copper ; then put into it , about the bigness of a hazel-nut , or a filbert , of strong quick-lime : cover the pot , and let the ingredients lie in it till the liquor hath acquired a blewish colour . then very warily pour off tke clear , and add to it as much live honey , as will give a little , or but little , taste : use it after the wonted manner of such waters ; and if you find it too strong , dilate it a little with water of the same plant , or good spring-water , which for a need , may be used from first to last , instead of the water of pimpernel . see numb . ( 19. ) 81. eye-water . take red rose-water , plantane-water , of each an ounce ; tutia prepared , half a scruple ; lapis lazuli prepared , six grains ; red coral prepared , five grains ; mix and make a collyrium or eye-water . this drop'd into the eyes , being first well shak'd , cures inflammations of the eyes , provided there be no great foulness , nor scrophulous disposition in the patient . it takes off the redness of the eye-lids , if with a spunge dip'd in it , the eye-lids be often wetted , it takes off films very well . 82. a safe and useful medicine to prevent driness and some other disaffections of the eyes . take of choice virgin-honey , two spoonfuls , of succory-water , or the distilled water , of each four spoonfuls ; mix them , and in a very clean vessel over a very gentle fire , let them evaporate ( taking off from time to time any scum that may arise ) till the mixture be brought to the consistence of a syrup [ or of honey ] keep this in a glass well stop'd , and make use of it , by letting fall a drop or two , or at most three of it , at a time , into the eye . see numb . ( 20. ) 83. the medicine of a famous empyric for the stone . take amber ( clear and yellow ) sea-horse pizzle and niter , of each a like quantity , ( note well , in case of ulcerated kidnies , put half the quantity of the amber ) and an eighth part of the nitre ( of natural balsam . ) pulverize each apart , and make them up into pills with chios ( or at least clean strasburgh turpentine ) take five , six or seven pills ( of above ten to one ounce ) morning and evening . see numb . ( 21. ) 84. an excellent medicine for fits of the mother . take sagapenum dissolved in vinegar of squills , and strained through a sieve , and again inspisiated or thickned : ammoniacum in like manner prepared : steel prepared , myrrh , fecula of bryony , of each half a dram : english saffron , castoreum , of each a scruple : borax two scruples : syrup of staechas a sufficient quantity ; mix and make pills of a convenient bigness to be swallowed ; of which take three morning and night , with care . 85. a choice medicine for the cholic . take clean white chalk , and having dry'd it with a gentle heat , reduce it to fine pouder ; wet this pouder with the express'd juice of cammomil , and then let it dry in the air , without the heat , either of the fire , or of the sun. this done , wet it again with new juice of cammomil , and dry it the second time as before . wet and dry it again the third time , and , if you please , the fourth time ; and then reduce the dry mass to fine pouder again . of this pouder , let the patient take at a time , as much as will lie upon a groat or a six-pence , in some spoonfuls of wine , or other proper vehicle . 86. troches of vipers , successfully used to cleanse the blood , and to strengthen weak patients . take of vipers reduc'd to fine pouder one ounce , diaphoretic antimony half an ounce , clear yellow amber two drams , of starch as much as of all the rest , and of sugar as much as of starch ; make them to a fine paste , with spirit of wine , and then make them into small cakes , whereof one may serve for a dose . 87. an approved medicine for scorbutic gums , and to fasten the teeth . take of white-wine , a pint , of alum half an ounce , of juniper-berries and of red sage ana one ounce : boil these together till a quarter of the liquor be wasted , then put into the remaining part four ounces of honey , and let it boil till the scum be all risen ; then filter it , and put into it one dram of balsamum vitae . see numb . ( 22. ) 88. a caution about the vitriolate eye-water . take four grains of roman vitriol , not more , to four ounces of distilled water , either of roses , succory , fennel , &c. 89. a good medicine for a light stroke , or contusion of the eye . take half an ounce of celendine-water , and shake well into it , three or four drops of clarify'd honey , and let fall of this into the eye , a drop or two , twice or thrice a day . 90. an excellent medicine for a stroke or bruise in the eye . take of betony-water and hysop-water , of each one ounce , and in their mixture , stir some blades of saffron , till the liquor be pretty well colour'd , and no more . and lastly , add to it four or five drops of clarify'd honey . see numb . ( 23. ) 91. an excellent remedy to take off films , and such like things from the eyes . take choice bole-armonic , and reduce it to very fine pouder , blow this gently into the eye , once , or at most twice a day . but if the patient be subject to , or fearful of , any swelling , heat , or disaffection in the eye-lids , incorporate the pouder with a little clarify'd honey . see numb . ( 24. ) 92. to strengthen weak eyes subject to rheums . take lapis calaminaris four ounces , rose-water a pint , shake them well together two days . then let it settle , pour off this water into a little viol , and drop of it in weak eyes , two or three times a day , &c. 93. a plaister to strengthen the eyes , and stop defluctions on them . take of frankincense two drams , olibanum and mastic ana half a dram ; mix these well , and reduce them into fine pouder : of which , a convenient quantity is to be melted and spread upon black ribbon , or some such thing , with a hot knife or spatula , and so presently apply'd to the temples . 94. an experienced remedy for sharp and hot humours in the eyes . into a quart of new milk already boiling , put about two handfuls or less of green housleek , freshly gather'd , and chopt small , and let the milk boil on till 't will yield no more curd . then strain the green posset-drink , and let the patient take every day , once or twice a pint ( or as near that quantity as he can well reach to ) sweeten'd a little if need be with fine sugar . the drink may be best taken cold . 95. an excellent fumigation for pains in the eyes , and over-great driness of them , and when one fears the beginning of a cataract . take of fennel , hysop , betony , celandine , carduus , of each half a handful , or a handful ; of the seeds of linseed , quinces , fenugreek , fleawort , of each half a dram , of french barley one ounce ; boil these in two quarts of fair water , and half a pint of white-wine : let the patient hold his head over the fumes for about a quarter of an hour every morning . 96. for sore eye-lids . take crums of white-bread half an ounce ; coral , and pearl prepared , tutia , white-sugar-candy , of each half a dram ; pouder of red roses a dram and half ; flowers of st. john's-wort one dram : and with a sufficient quantity of milk make a cataplasm or pultice , which spread upon linen cloth , and bind it over the eye . 97. for heaviness and pain in the eyes . take flowers of melilot , of elder , and of marigolds , of each a small handful ; linseed , seeds of fenugreek , fleawort , cumin , and quinces of each half a scruple ; french-barley half an ounce ; damask roses half an ounce ; spring-water a pint and half : mix and make a decoction with which foment the forehead , temples and eye-brows , being sufficiently warm . 98. for a dry inflamation . take of betony , hysop , rue , worm-wood , vervain , as also of sage-flowers and rosemary-flowers , of each of all these , half a handful . ( to which may be usefully added cummin-seeds , fennel-seeds and carduus-seeds , of each a quarter of an ounce . ) boil these a little in two or three quarts of fair water , and then let the patient hold his head for about a quarter of an hour over the steam of this decoction , making use of a napkin , to keep the smoke from dissipating , and direct it to his eyes . a while after , he may put into them , if it be thought fit , a little clarify'd honey . finis . several necessary notes , explicating , illustrating , or enlarging some of the heads in the preceding volume . numb . ( 1. ) for the bloody flux , or other fluxes . see pag. 4. take japan earth , pouder of rhubarb , of each equal parts : of which give half a dram at a time every morning fasting . numb . ( 2. ) a good medicine for the dropsie . see p. 5. note , an infusion of mechoacan in white-wine , ( an ounce and half thin-sliced to a pint ) being infused 24 hours , and drank off every morning for some days , is a most admirable thing : and if a little mustard-seed be infused in it , it will be so much the better . numb . ( 3. ) a medicine for blood-shot , or inflamed eyes . see p. 6. there is no better a remedy for inflamed eyes , than to wash them every day several times with this . take frog-spawn-water , a pint ; salt of tartar , a dram : mix and dissolve , and wash therewith . numb . ( 4. ) a good and innocent dentrifice . see p. 7. but that which exceeds all , is a fine pouder of red coral , with which you may rub them two or three times a day , and then wash them with water in which sal prunellae is dissolved . numb . ( 5. ) to prevent or cure an ague . see p. 13. take gratings of angelica root , flowers of antimony , of each half a dram ; choice canary three ounces : infuse in a cold place for one or two days , and pour off the clear for two doses : it is a singular good vomit for the cure of agues of all sorts , being given in the morning fasting 4 or 6 hours before the coming of the fit ; and if it be not a quotidian ague , then on the intermitting day . numb . ( 6. ) an useful drink for the kings-evil . see p. 24. there is no better thing in the world for the kings-evil than to give daily some spoonfuls of this following liquor . take white-wine a quart , juice of pellitory of the wall a pint , spirit of wine half a pint , sal prunellae an ounce : mix and dissolve ; then pour off the clear , and sweeten with white sugar : dose 6 spoonfuls morning and night . numb . ( 7. ) an experienc'd remedy to expel gravel , and provoke vrin . see p. 25. take the juice of onions two spoonfuls ; white-wine half a pint or more : mix them , for a draught it gives present ease ; and if repeated for some time , in a short season cures . numb . ( 8. ) an easie medicine for costiveness . see p. 35. a turpentine clyster thus made is admirable , to cause stools in a very great costiveness . take strasburgh turpentine an ounce , yolk of one or two eggs , grind them well together ; then put thereto a pint of fat mutton broth , and exhibit it blood-warm . numb . ( 9. ) a remedy for gripes and fluxes . see p. 37. a most excellent remedy for gripings , is a tincture of corn poppy-flowers made with common spirit of wine : of this you may give from a spoonful to two spoonfuls , in spirit of opium half an ounce , mixt with black-cherry water four ounces : this gives ease upon the spot . numb . ( 10. ) a medicine for redness of the eyes . see p. 38. if the redness be with a fierce hot rheum , it is from weakness of the eyes ; and then the only remedy is to wash them twice or thrice a day with brandy : there is no danger in it , nor will it smart much . numb . ( 11. ) an effectual medicine for a strain . see p. 41. take comfrey-roots beaten to a pulp , half a pound , pouder of japan earth four ounces , spirit of wine a sufficient quantity ; mix , and apply it to the part . numb . ( 12. ) for most astmatic distempers . see p. 43. take juice of hyssop , choice honey , of each two pound : mix , boil , scum , and make a syrup ; of which , let the sick take four spoonfuls or more , morning , noon , and night . numb . ( 13. ) an external medicine for an erysipelas . see p. 47. the blood of almost any living creature is found by many experiments to be a specifick against an erysipelas , being often anointed on the affect , or cloths dip'd in the some , being laid moist thereon . numb . ( 14. ) a remedy for the whites in women . see p. 48. the best of remedies in this case ( after due purging ) is to give two , three or four grains of laudanum , and to inject three , four , or six times a day this water . take spring-water two quarts , white vitriol , roch allum , of each two ounces : being in pouder , mix and dissolve , let it settle , and use only the clear . numb . ( 15. ) a try'd remedy for corns . see p. 54. take ammoniacum strained , emplastrum diapalma , of each an ounce ; arcanum coralinum half an ounce ; white precipitate two drams : mix them them well together , and apply it only over the corn , being first cut as close as it conveniently can be . numb . ( 16. ) a medicine for burns and stenching of blood. see p. 55. but for stenching of blood , there are but few medicines which exceed the colcothar of vitriol , whether wash'd and free'd from its salt , or not wash'd : 't is but a common thing , but will do more than a thousand much more enobled . numb . ( 17. ) for a slight redness of the eyes . see p. 58. one of the best of remedies against redness and inflammation of the eyes , is often to wash them with this water : take frog-spawn-water a pint , common spirit of wine four ounces ; mix them : wash herewith five or six times a day ; and at bed-time apply over the sore eyes a cataplasm of a rotten apple . numb . ( 18. ) for the relaxation of the vvula . see p. 59. this common medicine is found very successful : the throat being first gargled with claret-wine , in which a little roch allum has been dissolved , as hot as it can well be endured ; then anoint it with this . take honey one ounce , pouder of elecampane two drams , pepper in pouder half a dram : mix them , and apply it thrice a day with your finger . numb . ( 19. ) a famous eye-water . see p. 61. take red rose-water a quart ; aloes in fine pouder , half an ounce ; white vitriol , vitrum antimonii , crocus metalorum , of each six drams ; mix and digest warm a month : then use the clear water three or four times a day , it has scarcely any equal . numb . ( 20. ) a medicine to prevent running of the eyes . see p. 63. take white-wine half a pint , dissolve in it white vitriol two drams ; filter or strain , and therein dissolve choice honey two ounces : with this fill the eyes two or three times a-day ; it is good against most distempers of the eyes . numb . ( 21. ) a medicine for the stone . see p. 64. take strasburgh turpentine two ounces , grind it well with yolks of eggs , and then mix therewith this following syrup . take water a pint and half , sal prunellae an ounce and half : mix and dissolve , and with honey a pound , boil it into a syrup , which add to the former mixture . dose two or three spoonfuls morning and night . numb . ( 22. ) a medicine for scorbutick gums , and to fasten the teeth . see p. 68. there is nothing fastens the teeth better than to wash them with this mixture . take claret-wine a pint , roch allum half an ounce ; mix and dissolve , and then add thereto six ounces of a strong tincture of japan earth , made with common brandy . numb . ( 23. ) for a stroke or bruise in the eye . see p. 70. take celandine-water three ounces , spirit of saffron one ounce , mix them , with which wash the eyes several times aday ; and if the eyes be very sore , red , or blood-shot , after washing anoint them every time with a little pure virgin honey . numb . ( 24. ) an excellent remedy to take off films from the eyes . take pouder of coral levigated one ounce , pouder of pearls levigated three drams , crabs-eyes levigated one dram , virgin honey two ounces ; mix them , and anoint four or five times a day , but chiefly morning and night . numb . ( 25. ) a remedy for the kings-evil . take roots of pilewort a sufficient quantity , bruise them , and boil them in hog's lard till they are crisp , after which press them hard out ; and boil in like manner as many more fresh roots , and press out again , doing it the third time : then keep the ointment for use to anoint with , morning and night . numb . ( 26. ) a remedy for the stone . give every morning fasting , and every night going to bed , half a dram of the pouder of winter cherries in a draught parsly or arsmart-water , or in glass of white-wine . finis . the queens closet opened incomparable secrets in physick, chyrurgery, preserving, and candying &c. which were presented unto the queen / by the most experienced persons of the times, many whereof were had in esteem when she pleased to descend to private recreations. 1659 approx. 302 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 155 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a52209 wing m99 estc r24004 07940359 ocm 07940359 40569 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a52209) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 40569) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1210:9) the queens closet opened incomparable secrets in physick, chyrurgery, preserving, and candying &c. which were presented unto the queen / by the most experienced persons of the times, many whereof were had in esteem when she pleased to descend to private recreations. w. m. corrected and revised with many additions [8], 300, [23] p. printed for nath. brooke, london : 1659. "vivit post funera virtus." to the reader: signed w.m. "a queen's delight, or, the art of preserving, conserving, and candying. [s.l.] : printed by r. wood for nath. brooke, 1660": p. 195-300. imperfect: p. 137-140, 147-166 wanting. includes index. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng recipes. medicine, popular. cookery -early works to 1800. 2005-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-01 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-02 rachel losh sampled and proofread 2005-02 rachel losh text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion also the compleat cook 〈…〉 the queens closet opened . incomparable secrets in physick , chyrurgery , preserving and candying , &c. which were presented unto the queen by the most experienced persons of the times , many whereof were had in esteem , when she pleased to descend to private recreations . corrected and reviewed , with many additions : together with three exact tables . vivit post funera virtus . london , printed for nath. brooke , at the angel in cornhill , 1659. to the ingenious & courteous reader . reader , it being at first the general good which caused us to publish this useful and compleat piece , we could not chuse but for the same end give it a new birth ; especially when we heard that we had so well attain'd what we sought , in regard of the benefit which so many have receiv'd from these , which we shall now rather call experiments then receipts , contained therein . in short , we may say that it hath had a general reception , travelling up and down the kingdoms , and like the good samaritane giving comfort to all it met ; neither have we known of any that have bought it , who have not testified their high esteem thereof . and indeed how should it otherwise be , knowing out of what elaboratories it was produced : nor is it without its variety , here preserving the fruits of the earth with such a curious neatness , as if it would shew , that though summer gave those pleasant fruits , yet that art is able to make winter richer then her self : or if this this please not , teaching you to furnish the tables of princes with such a grandezza as befits them . but as for the physicall part , what can be more noble then that which gives the rich such an opportunity of spending upon good works , while they succour the poor , and give comfort to them in their greatest distresses . if we have given it too narrow a praise , for too large an encomium , i am sure we cannot attribute to it , considering its true value ; it is not what we intended , though we are glad to see its own high deserts , carrying it so much above the reach of a more then common repute . 't is true there may be some faults , and those may justly cause us to be blamed : but now we hope your ingenuity will the rather forgive us and them , and with more diligence seek to amend what is amiss , if not for our sakes , yet out of charity to a work which is so charitable to your selves . farewell , w. m. the prescribers , and approvers of most of these rare receipts , their following names are in several pages of this book inserted and annexed to their own experienced receipts . king edward the sixth page 272 queen elizabeth 272 king charles the first 30 queen mary 31 lady elizabeth daughter to king charles the first 256 dr. mayhern , physician to the late king 180 dr. bates 186 dr. king 284 dr. mountford 290 dr. forster 176 , 177 dr. more 178 dr. butler 1 , 2 293 dr. bassa , an italian 7 , 8 dr. adrian gilbert 11 dr. atkinson 17 , 160 dr. goffe 121 dr. stephens 21 , 87 , 140 , 275 dr. price 24 dr. read 39 dr. may 47 dr. blacksmith 55 , 56 , 83 dr. brasdale 59 dr. frier 55 , 173 dr. atkins 65 , 73 , 74 , 83 dr. gifford 3 dr. twine 82 , 288 dr. wetherborn 89 dr. lewkener 134 , 154 dr. eglestone 136 dr. soper 147 mr. stepkins occulist 18 , 130 mr. fenton chyrur . 24 mr. francis cox chyrur . 66 mr. lumley chyrur . 123 mr. thomas potter chyrur . 145 mr. phillips apothecary 296 b. lawd archbishop of canterbury 275 bishop of vvorcester 19 earl of arundel cc. 3 lord treasurer 32 lord bacon vic. of st. albans 281 lord vic. conway cc. 99 lord spencer 283 lord sheffeld 62 sir walter raleigh 274 sir thomas mayner 33 sir edward terrel 40 sir edward bolstward 72 sir edward spencer 28 sir kenelm digby 290 mr. justice hutton 191 countess of arundel 25 , 49 , 168 countess of worcester 69 countess of oxford 156 countess of kent 274 countess of rutland cc. 109 lady mounteagle 141 lady abergany cc. 42 lady nevel 147 , 163 lady spotswood 286 lady drury 44 lady gifford 299 lady hobby 11 lady leonard 158 lady smith 159 lady goring 161 , 162 lady mildmay 164 lady bray 167 lady dacres 168 lady thornborough 267 lady mallet 275 mrs. duke 114 mrs. covet 6 mrs. lee cc. 82 mrs. powel 166 mrs. jones 164 mrs. chaunce 165 mrs. shelly cc. 38 mr. edward houghton 166 mr. lucarello 179 mr. elderton 170 mr. rodstone cc. 51 mr. ferene the queens perfumer 273 the queen's cabinet opened : or , the pearle of practice . accurate , physical , and chyrurgical receipts . doctor butler's preservative against the plague . take wood sorrel , and pick it from the stalke , and pound it very well in a stone mortar ; then take to every pound of beaten sorrel a pound of sugar finely beaten , and two ounces of mithridate , beat them very well together , and put them in pots for your use ; take every morning before and after the infection for some time together of this conserve , as much as a walnut . dr. butlers cordial water . take pimpernel , carduus , angelica , scordium , scabious , dragon , and still these severally in a rose-still ; and when you have a pint of the water of every of these sorts of hearbs , then mingle all these together very well , and dissolve in it half a pound of venice treacle , then still all these together , and mingle the stronger water with the small , six spoonfuls of this water , made blood warm , given to one sick of the plague , driveth all venome from the heart . it is excellent , so used , for the small pox , or for any pestilent feaver . dr. butlers purging ale. take of sarsaparilla two ounces , of polypody of the oak , and sena , of each four ounces , caraway-seed , and aniseed , of each half an ounce , liquorish two ounces , maidenhair , and agrimony , of each one little handful , scurvey half a bushel ; beat all these grosly , and put them into a course canvas bag and hang it into three gallons of strong ale ; when it is three dayes old drink it . dr. giffords amber pills for a consumption . take of venice turpentine one ounce washed , and six grains of the powder of white amber , mixt them together , and set them in a clean pot upon embers , and let it not stand too hot ; to try whether it be enough , take a drop , and let it cool ; if after it is cold it be stiff , and will not cleave to the finger , it is enough : then take of the powders of pearl , white amber , and coral , of each a quantity , as a quarter of an ounce , of the inner bark of an oak , a quarter of an ounce of cinamon , and nutmegs ; of each as much , and three ounces of hard white sugar ; make all these into a powder , and seeth them , and put the pills into them ; before you take them , you must be well purged , after which you must take three of the aforesaid pills wrapped up in the powder , what else you will , and in the morning take the yolk of a new laid egg warmed a little , and put into it as much of the powder as will lie on a shilling , and sup it off ; let this be used some time together , and there will be great benefit found by it . to comfort the heart and spirits , and to suppress melancholly . take of the juyces of borage and bugloss , of each one pint and a half , juyce of pippins , or queen apples one pint , juyce of balm half a pint , clarifie them , then take chochenel made into powder four drams ; infuse it in the said juyces being cold in an earthen pan for two dayes , stirring it often , then strain it , and with four pound of powder sugar , ●or two pound if you mean not to keep it long ) boil it to a syrrup , then take it off , and when it is almost cold , put to it diamargaritum frigidum one dram and a half , diambra four scruples . take thereof a spoonful or two for many mornings together , and when you awake in the night , if there be cause ; you may also adde to some part of it saffron to make it more cordial , by putting some powder of saffron in a linnen clout tied up , and so milking it out into the syrrup , let the substance thereof remain in the cloth , and take thereof sometimes . approved . a cordial electuary for stuffing of the stomach , or shortness of breath . take a pint of the best honey , set it on the fire and scum it clean , then put to a bundle of hysop bruised small before you tie it up ; let it boil well , till the honey taste of the hysop ; then strain out the honey very hard , and put to it the powder of angelica root , the weight of six pence , powder of elicampane root the weight of six pence , ginger and pepper , of each the weight of two pence , l●quorish and anniseed of each the weight of eight pence , all beaten very small severally : put all these into the strained honey , and let them boil a little space , stirring them well together all the time , then take them from the fire , and pour all into a clean gally-pot , stirring it alwayes till it be through cold , and keep it close covered for your use . when any are troubled with stuffing at the stomach , or shortness of breath , let them take of this electuary with a bruised liquorish stick , and they shall sensibly finde much good by it . this was queen elizabeths electuary for these infirmities . mr. covets medicine for the palsie . take a pint of the strongest mustard , set it in an oven for two or three times , till it be as thick as a hasty pudding , the oven must not be too hot to burn it : then set it on a chafing-dish of coals , till it be dry enough to make into powder . take half an ounce of betony powder , and mix it with the said powder , and sweeten it with sugar-candy to your taste . take of this every morning for ten dayes . approved . a receipt to help digestion . take two quarts of small ale , put to it red mints one handful , as much of red sage , a little cinamon ; let it boil softly till half be wasted , sweeten it with sugar to your taste , and drink thereof a draught morning and evening . a singular cordial . take two ounces of dried red gillyflowers , and put them into a pottle of sack , put to it three ounces of fine sugar in powder , and half a scruple of ambergreece in powder ; put all these in a stone bottle , stop it close with a strong cork , and shake it oft . after it hath stood ten dayes , pass it through a jelly bag , and give two or three spoonfuls of it for a great cordial . this way you may also make lavander wine for the palsie , and other diseases . dr. bassa an italian , an approved receipt to break the stone in the kidneys . in the moneth of may distill cow-dung , then take two live hares , and strangle them in their blood ; then take the one of them , and put it into an earthen vessel or pot , and cover it well with a mortar made of horse dung and hay , and bake it in an oven with houshold bread , and let it still in an oven two or three dayes , baking anew with any thing , until the hare be baked or dried to powder ; then beat it well , and keep it for your use . the other hare you must flea , and take out the guts onely ; then distil all the rest , and keep this water : then take at the new and full of the moon , or any other time , three mornings together as much of this powder as will lie on six pence , with two spoonfuls of each water , and it will break any stone in the kidneys . dr. basse's remedy for a bloody vrine , or to break a stone in the bladder . take the distilled water of saxifrage , coriander , parsley , and cod of broom when they be green , the berries of white thorn stilled when they be ripe ; they must be stamped stones and all , and then distilled : the green hulls of walnuts when they be ripe stilled , raysins of the sun stilled ; every one of these waters must be stilled by it self . then take an equal quantity of each , as a pint of aqua spirita ; put them all together , and still them in an ordinary still , or in b. after scum the water nine or ten dayes : and take of this water for ten or fifteen dayes , five or six spoonfuls a time in the morning fasting , and use to take it after a day or two once in a moneth . syrup of turnips . first bake the turnips in a pot with houshold bread , then press out the liquor between two platters ; put a pint of this liquor to half a pint of hysop water , and as much brown sugarcandy as will sweeten it ; and boil it to the consistence of a syrup . it is very good for a cold or consumption . syrup of citron peels . take the outermost fresh peels of citrons cut in small pieces , and pour on them two quarts of water , then wring it through a cloth ; put to the liquor one pound of powder sugar , boil it to a syrup , and when it is sodden , put four grains of musk to it , dissolved in damask rose water . this syrup cooleth not . it defendeth from the plague . a cordial syrup to cleanse the blood , open obstructions , prevent a consumption , &c. take rosemary flowers , betony , clove-gilly-flowers , borrage , broom , cowslip-flowers , red-rose-leaves , melilot , comfrey , clary , pimpinel flowers , of each two ounces , red currans four pounds : infuse all these into six quarts of claret wine , put to it fourteen pounds of ripe elder berries , make the wine scalding hot , then put in the flowers , currans , and elder berries , cover the pot , and paste it very close , set it in a kettle of warm water to infuse forty eight hours , till the vertue of the ingredients be all drawn out , then press it out hard , and put to every pint of the liquor one pound and three quarters of powder sugar , boil and scum it till you finde the syrup thick enough , when it is cold bottle it , and keep it for your use . take two spoonfuls in a morning , and so much in the afternoon , fasting two hours after it . a medicine for a dropsie approved by the lady hobby , who was cured her self by it . take carawayes , smallage , time , hysop , watercresses , penniroyal , nettle tops , calamint , elecampane-roots , of each one little handful , horse radish two pounds , boil them in six quarts of running water , until half be consumed ; then strain it , boil it a new with a pottle of canary sack , liquorish twelve ounces , sweet fennel-seed one ounce bruised , and a quarter of an ounce of cumin-seed bruised ; boil all these above half an hour , then strain it , and keep it for your use , nine spoonfuls in the morning fasting , and as much at three or four a clock in the afternoon , use it for some time together . this the lady hobby proved by her self . dr. adrian gilberts most sovereign cordial water . take spearmint , broom-mint , mother of time , the blossome tops of garden time , red penniroyal , scabious , celandine , wood sorrel , wood betony , angelica leaves and stalkes , set wall leaves , peony leaves , egrimony , tormentil , sweet marjoram , red sage , rue , rossolis , angelica roots , elecampany roots , set wall roots , green peniroyal , comfrey blossoms and leaves , juniper-berries , of each a pound , balm , carduus benedictus , dragon , feaverfew , wormwood , of each two pounds ; steep all these in the lees of strong pure venient claret wine for nine dayes , every day twice turning them to mingle them well in the lees , then distil them in a limbeck with a red clear head , with two pounds of shaved harts horn , and ivory twelve ounces ; draw as long of it as you may in several pottle glasses : the first is accounted the best and uncompounded , and the perfectest against the plague , spotted feavers , small pocks , ordinary feavers , divers times experienced by my self , either to prevent , or in the time of these sicknesses . if you will compound it because the water hath an ill taste , then take the first gallon of the water , and mix it with a pottle of the best malaga sack , and put into them three pounds of raisins solis stoned , figs one pound and a half , the flowers of clove-gilly-flowers , cowslips and marigolds , blue violets , of each two pounds , red rose buds one pound , ambergreece , bezoar stone , clarified sugar , aniseeds , liquorish , and what else you please . these are adrian gilberts receipts , having had experience of them most constantly sure . the uncompounded water is the more excellent : and if in time of infection one take two spoonfuls of it in good bear or white wine , he may safely walk from danger by the leave of god. if any of the former diseases attache any person , then he must take four ounces of the first water , and mix therewith either the syrups of violets , clove-gilly-flowers , or angelica , as the disease is : one spoonful of the syrup is sufficient for four ounces of the water , so take it in three times . for a swoln face . take oyl of elder and plaintain-water , of each one ounce , beat them well together , until they be exactly incorporated , and therewith anoint the tumefied place twice or thrice in a day , until the swelling be chased away . cock water for a consumption . take a running cock , pull him alive , then kill him , cut him abroad by the back , take out the entrails , and wipe him clean , then quarter him , and break his bones ; then put him into a rose-water still , with a pottle of sack , currans , and raisins of the sun stoned , and figs sliced , of each one pound , dates stoned and cut small half a pound , rosemary flowers , wilde time , spearmint , of each one handful , organs or wilde marjoram , bugloss , pimpinel , of each two handfuls , and a bottle of new milk from a red cow . distill these with a soft fire , put into the receiver a quarter of a pound of brown sugar-candy beaten small , four grains of ambergreece , fourty grains of prepared pearl , and half a book of leaf gold cut very small ; you must mingle the strong water with the small , and let the patient take two spoonfuls of it in the morning , and as much at going to bed ▪ a precious cordial for a sick body . take three spoonfuls of mint water , and as much of muskadine and wormwood water , two or three spoonfuls of fine sugar , and two or three drops of cinamon spirit ; beat these well together with two or three spoonfuls of clove-gilly-flowers spirit , and give the patient now and then one spoonfull thereof ; especially when he or she goeth to bed . wormwood cakes good for a cold stomach , and to help digestion . take pure searced sugar two ounces , and wet it with the spirit of wormwood , then take a little gum tragiganth , and steep it all night in rose water , then take some of this and the wet sugar , and beat them together in an alablaster mortar , till it come to a paste like dough , if you please put a little musk to it , then make it up in little cakes of the breadth of a groat or three pence ; lay them upon plates , and dry them gently in an oven , and keep them in a dry place for your use : and upon occasion hold one of them in your mouth to melt , and swallow the dissolved juyce thereof for the infirmities aforesaid . to make water of life . take balm leaves and stalks , burnet leaves and flowers , rosemary , red sage , taragon , tormentil leaves , rossolis , red roses , carnation , hysop , thyme , red strings that grow upon savory , red fennel leaves and roots , red mints , of each one handful ; bruise these herbs and put them in a great earthen pot , and pour on them as much white wine as will cover them , stop them close , and let them steep for eight or nine dayes , then put to it cinamon , ginger , angelica seeds , cloves and nutmegs , of each one ounce , a little saffron , sugar one pound , raisins solis stoned one pound , dates stoned and sliced half a pound , the loins and legs of an old coney , fleshy running capon , the red flesh of the sinnews of a leg of mutton , four young chickens , twelve larks , the yolks of twelve eggs , a loaf of white bread cut in sops , and two or three ounces of mithridate or treacle , and as much bastard or muscadine as will cover them all . distill all with a moderate fire , and keep the first and second waters by themselves ; and when there comes no more by distilling , put more wine into the pot upon the same stuff , and distil it again , and you shall have another good water . this water must be kept in a double glass close stopt very carefully : it is good against many infirmities , as the dropsie , palsie , ague , sweating , spleen , worms , yellow and black jaundies ; it strengtheneth the spirits , brain , heart , liver , and stomach . take two or three spoonfulss when need is by it self : or with ale , beer , or wine mingled with sugar . dr. atkinsons excellent perfume against the plague . take angelica roots , and dry them a very little in an oven , or by the fire : and then bruise them very soft , and lay them in wine vinegar to steep , being close covered three or four days , and then heat a brick hot , and lay the same thereon every morning : this is excellent to air the house or any clothes , or to breath over in the morning fasting . to make saffron water . take seven quarts of white wine , and infuse in it all night one ounce of saffron dried , and in the morning distill it in a limbeck , or glass body with a head , and put some white sugar-candy finely beaten into the receiver for it to drop on . mr. stepkins water for the eyes . take four ounces of white rose water , and two drams of tutia in powder , shake them well together in a glass vial , and drop of it a little into the eyes evening and morning , it is very good for any hot rheum . a precious water to revive the spirits . take four gallons of strong ale , five ounces of aniseeds , liquorish scraped half a pound , sweet mints , angelica , betony , cowslip flowers sage , and rosemary flowers , sweet marjoram , of each three handfuls , pelitory of the wall one handful . after it is for two or three dayes , distill it in a limbeck , and in the water infuse one handful of the flowers aforesaid , cinamon and fennel-seed , of each half an ounce , juniper berries bruised one dram , red-rose buds , rosted apples , and dates sliced and stoned , of each half a pound : distill it again , and sweeten it with some sugar-candy , and take of ambergreece , pearle , red coral , harts-horn powdered , and leaf gold , of each half a dram ; put them into a fine linnen bag , and hang it by a thread in a glass . the bishop of worcesters admirably curing powder . take black tips of crabs claws when the sun enters into cancer , which is every year on the eleventh day of june ; pick and wash them clean , and beat them into fine powder , which finely searce , then take musk and civet , of each three grains , ambergreece twelve grains , rub them in the bottom of the mortar , and then beat them and the powder of the claws together ; then with a pound of this powder mix one ounce of the magistery of pearle . then take ten skins of adders or snakes , or slow worm , cut them in pieces , and put them into a pipkin to a pint and a half of spring water , cover it close , and set it on a gentle fire to simmer onely , not to boil ; for ten or twelve hours , in which time , it will be turned into a jelly , and therewith make the said powder into balls . if such skins are not to be gotten , then take six ounces of shaved harts-horn , and boil it to a jelly , and therewith make the said powder into balls ; the horn must be of a red deer kil'd in august , when the moon is in leo , for that is best . the dose is seven or eight grains in beer or wine . to make spirit of castoreum . take calamints four ounces , orange peels two ounces , nep half a handful , walnut blossoms half an ounce , rosemary flowers , and tops of sage , of each one handful , castoreum one ounce , white wine one quart ; distil them in a limbeck . this water is good for swounding fits , weak stomachs , and rising of the mother . a water for the stone . take a quart of clean pickt strawberries , put them in a glass , pour on them a quart of aqua vitae , let them stand and steep ; and take two or three spoonfuls of it morning and evening with fine sugar , or white sugarcandy . it will keep all the year . approved . to make dr. stephens water . take a gallon of claret wine or sack , cinamon , ginger , grains of paradise , gallingall , nutmegs , anniseed , and fennel-seed , of each three drams , sage , mint , red roses , pellitory of the wall , wilde marjoram , rosemary , wilde time , cammomile , lavender , of each one handful : bruise the said spices small , cut and bruise the herbs , and put all into the wine in a limbeck , and after it hath stood twenty four hours , distil it gently , and keep the first water by it self , and so the second . for a tetter . take water of red tar , and wash it therewith . this is an approved remedy . a special water for a consumption . take a peck of garden shell snails , wash them in small beer , put them into a great iron dripping-pan , and set them on the hot fire of charcoals , and keep them constantly stirring till they make no noise at all ; then with a knife and cloth pick them out , and wipe them clean , then bruise them in a stone mortar , shells and all ; then take a quart of earth worms , rip them up with a knife , and scoure them with salt , and wash them clean , and beat them in the mortar : then take a large clean brass pot to distill them in , put into it two handfulls of angelica , on them lay two handfuls of celandine , a quart of rosemary flowers , of betony and agrimony , of each two handfuls ; bears-foot , red dock leaves , the bark of barberries , and wood sorrel , of each one handful , rice half a handful , funugreek and turnerick , of each one ounce , saffron dryed and beaten into powder the weight of six pence , harts-horn and cloves beaten , of each three ounces ; when all these are in the pot , put the snails and worms upon them , and then pour on them three gallon of strong ale ; then set on the limbeck , and paste it close with rye dough , that no air come out or get in , and so let it stand one and twenty hours , and distill it with a moderate fire , and receive the several quarts in several glasses close stopt . the patient must take every morning fasting , and not sleep after it , two spoonfuls of the strongest water , and four spoonfuls of the weakest at one time , fasting two hours after it . syrup of pearmains good against melancholly . take one pound of the juyce of pearmains , boil it with a soft fire till half be consumed ; then put it in a glass , and there let it stand till it be settled , and put to it as much of the juyce of the leaves and roots of borage , sugar half a pound , sirup of citrons three ounces , let them boil together to the consistence of a sirup . tincture of ambergreece . put into half a pint of pure spirit of wine in a strong glass , ambergreece one ounce , musk two drams , stop the glass close with a cork and bladder , and set it in hot horse-dung twelve dayes ; then pour off the spirit gently , and put as much new spirit on , and do as before , and pour it off clean : after all this , the ambergreece will serve for ordinary uses . one drop of this tincture will perfume any thing ; besides it is a great cordial . dr. price , and m● . fenton the chyrurgion , their excellent medicine for the plague after infection . take assoon as you finde your self sick , as much diascordium as the weight of a shilling , with ten grains of the powder called speciei de gemmis , well mingled together ; and streight after this let the party drink a good draught of hot posset ale made with carduus benedictus , sorrel , scabiosa , and scordium , within eight hours after the first taking of it , the party must take the diascordium , and posset again as aforesaid , and in like sort the third time within eight hours after , but not above three times , nor the third time , if the party mend , after the first or second taking . doctor price doth commend much thereof to be taken for the kinde of cure for the plague after one is infected : and mr. fenton the excellent chyrurgeon , who hath much experience in the cure of the plague , doth highly commend it as a thing in his own experience proved very good . the use of a root called sedour is to be chewed in the mouth , still when one is in the company of such persons as are thought to be infected with the contagition : this root is to be bought at the apothecaries . a drink for the plague or pestilent feaver , proved by the countess of arundel , in the year 1603. take a pint of malmsey and burn it , and put thereto a spoonful of grains , being bruised , and take four spoonfuls of the same in a porringer , and put therein a spoonful of jean treacle , ●nd give the patient to drink as hot as he can suffer it , and let him drink a draught of the malmsey after it , and so sweat : if he be vehemently infected , he will bring the medicine up again ; but you must apply the same very often day and night till he brook it ; for so long as he doth bring it up again , there is danger in him : but if he once brook it , there is no doubt of his recovery by the grace of god : provided then when the party infected hath taken the aforesaid medi●cine and sweateth , if he bring it up again , then you must give him the aforesaid quantity of malmsey and grains , but no treacle , for it will be too hot for him , being in a sweat . this medicine is proved , and the party hath recovered , and the sheets have been found full of blue marks , and no sore hath come forth : this being taken in the beginning of the sickness . also this medicine saved 38. commons of windsor the last great plague 1593. was proved upon many poor people , and they recovered . a syrup for a cold. take penniroyal half an ounce , raisins of the sun stoned one ounce , half so much liquorish bruised , boil them in a pint of running water , till half be consumed ; then strain it out hard , and with sugar boil it to a pretty thick syrup , and take it with a liquorish stick : often proved . an excellent receipt for a precious water . take a pottle of the second water of aqua composita , of balm , betony , pellitory of the wall , sweet marjoram , the flowers of cowslip , rosemary , and sage , of each one handful , the seeds of annise , caroway , coriander , fennil , and gromel , and juniper berries , of each one spoonful , three or four nutmegs , cinamon one ounce , two or three large mace ; bruise all these , and let them lye ten dayes in steep in the aqua composita ; set the glass in the sun , and stir it well every morning , then strain it , and put to it three quarters of a pound of fine sugar , one grain of ambergreese , and two grains of musk. to make an excellent syrup of citrons or lemons without fire . take citrons , or lemons , as many as you will , pare off their rindes , then slice them very thin ; then put into a silver , or glass bason , a thick lay of fine sugar , and upon that the slices of citrons or lemons , and lay after lay of sugar , and the other , till the bason be near full , let it stand all night covered with a paper , the next day pour of the liquor into a glass through a tiffany strainer ; be sure you put sugar enough to them at the first , and it will keep a whole year good , if it be set well up . a salve for the eyes , made by sir edward spencer . take new hogs greese tried and clarified two ounces , steep it six hours in red rose water , after wash it in the best white wine , wherein lapis calaminaris hath been twelve times quenched : it will take a pottle of white wine , for the lapis calaminaris will waste it by often quenching , a piece of the lapis as big as a turkey egg will serve ; when the grease is well washed , adde to it one ounce of lapis tutia prepared , of lapis hematites well washed , two scruples , aloes succotrina , twelve grains , pearle four grains ; all these must be prepared and made into fine powder , put to it some red fennel water , and make it into a salve . if the eyes be very ill , put into each corner of them as much as a pins head of this salve ; and if the eyes be exceeding sore , anoint therewith onely the eye-lids . as the salve drieth , put to it red fennel water to keep it moist . for the small pox or measles . take an ounce of treacle , half an ounce of set wall cut small , a penni-worth of saffron ground small ; mix them , and take thereof in a morning upon a knives point as much as you can take up at twice or thrice , three mornings together . a very good glyster for the winde . take mallow leaves , cammomile , mercury , pelitory of the wall , mugwort , and penniroyal , of each a small handful , melilot and cammomile flowers , of each half a handful , of the seeds of annise , caroway , cummin and fennel , of each one quarter of an ounce , bay-berries , and juniper berries , of each three drams ; boil all these in three pints of clear posset ale to twelve ounces , and use it warm . the kings medicine for the plague . take a little handful of herb-grace , as much of sage , the like quantity of elder leaves , as much of red bramble-leaves , stamp them altogether , and strain them through a fair linnen cloth , with a quart of white wine , and a quantity of white wine vinegar , and a quantity of white ginger , and mingle all together ; after the first day you shall be safe four and twenty dayes : after the ninth day a whole year by the grace of god ; and if it fortune that one be strucken with the plague before he hath drunk the medicine , then take the aforesaid with a spoonful of scabiosa , and a spoonful of betony water , and a quantity of fine treacle , and put them together , and cause the patient to drink it , and it will put out all venome : and if it fortune that the botch appear , take the leaves of red brambles , elder leaves , and mustard seed , stamp them together , and make a plaister thereof , and lay it to the sore , and it will draw out all the venome , and the person shall be whole by the grace of god. a medicine for the plague that the lord major had from the queen . take of sage , elder , and red bramble leaves , of each one little handful ; stamp and strain them together through a cloth with a quart of white wine , then take a quantity of white wine vinegar , and mingle all these together , and drink thereof morning and night a spoonful at a time nine dayes together , and you shall be whole . there is no medicine more excellent then this , when the sore doth appear , then to take a cock chick and pullet ; and let the rump be bare , and hold the rump of the said chick to the sore , and it will gape and labour for life , and in the end dye ; then take another , and the third , and so long as any one do dye : for when the poyson is quite drawn out , the chick will live , the sore presently will asswage , and the party recover . mr. winlour proved this upon one of his own children ; the thirteenth chick dyed , the fourteenth lived , and the party cured . lord treasurers receipt for an ague . take a quantity of plantain , shred it and double distil it , and take six or eight spoonfuls of the water , with as much borage-water , with a little sugar , and one nutmeg ; and drink it warm in the cold fit , by gods help it will cure you . for rheume in the eyes . take one spoonful of commin-seed finely beaten , and boil it in verjuyce till half be consumed , put to it some course wheat bran , and boil it till it be dry , then put it in a small linnen bag , and lay it to the nape of the neck so hot as you can endure it , and it will draw the rhume away . to break the stone , and bring away the gravel . take the inner bark of red filberd-tree , and shave a good handful of it , and take as much saxifrage , and steep them in a quart of ale or white wine , and drink a good draught thereof nine mornings together fasting . a cordial water in the time of infection , by sir thomas mayner . take the juyce of green walnuts shells and all two pound , the juyces of balm , carduus benedictus , and marigolds , of each three pounds , roots of great docks half a pound , butchers broom roots and all , three quarters of a pound , angelica and masterwort , of each three ounces , scordium leaves two handfuls , treacle venice and mithridate , of each four ounces , canary wine three pints , juyce of lemons one pint . digest these in a glass body two dayes close stopt , then put on a glass head , and distill it , and when it is half distilled , strain that which is left in the glass through a linnen cloth , and distill it till it grow thick as honey , which put into a gally pot , and give some of it in the time of infection on a knifes point . the distilled water is also good for the same purpose . china broth for a consumption . take an ounce of china root chipped thin , and steep it in three pints of water all night on embers covered , the next day take a cock chicken deplumed and exenterated , and put in its belly agrimony , maidenhair , of each half a handful , raisins of the sun stoned one good handful , and as much french barley ; boil all these in a pip●in close covered on a gentle fire for six or seven hours , let it stand till it be cold , strain it , or let it run through a hypocras bag ▪ and keep it in a glass for your use . take a good draught of it in the morning , and at four a clock in the afternoon . a comfortable bag for the stomach . take balm , wormwood , rosemary , spearmints , sweet marjoram , winter savory , of each half a handful , dry them between two dishes on a chafing-dish of coals , sprinkling them often with good vinegar ; when they are well dryed , put to them some crumbs of bread , cloves , cinamon , and nutmeg beaten to powder ; put them in a fine linnen bag , quilt it , and lay it warm to the stomach . to encrease womans milk. bruise fennel seed , and boil them in barley water , and let the woman drink thereof often . to expell winde . take a handful of groundswel stripped downwards , as much of sage , and a quarter of a pound of currans , boil these in a pint of ale , and drink it . for the piles ▪ take white lead finely scraped one dram , burnt allum two drams , temper them with hogs lard and plantain-water , and therewith anoint the grieved place . for a thrush , or canker in the mouth . take two spoonfuls of clarified honey , and put a piece of allum between red hot tongs , and hold it till it drop into the honey , and therewith dress the mouth often , until it be perfectly cured . a green oyntment good for bruises , swellings , and wrenches in man , horse , or other beast . take six pound of may butter unsalced , oyl olive one quart , barrows-grease four pound , rosin , and turpentine , of each one pound , frankincense half a pound : then take these following hearbs , of each one handful : balm , smallege , lovage , red sage , lavander , cotten , marjoram , rosemary , mallows , cammomile , plaintain , alheal , chickweed , rue , parsley , comfrey , laurel leaves , birch leaves , longwort , english tobacco , groundswel , woundwort , agrimony , briony , carduus benedictus , betony , adders tongue , saint johns-wort ; pick all these , wash them clean , and strain the water clean from them . these hearbs must be gathered after sun rising . stamp them very small in a stone mortar , then beat the rosin and frankincense to powder , and melt them alone ; then put in the oyl , butter , and hogs grease , and when all is well melted , put in the hearbs , and let them boil half a quarter of an hour : then take it off the fire , and scum it very clean a quarter of an hour , and when it is off the fire , put in the turpentine , and two ounces of verdigreese , stir it well , on else it will run over , and so stir it till it leave boiling ; then put it in an earthen pot , which stop very close with a cloath , and a board on the top , and set in an horse dunghil one and twenty dayes ; and take it out and put it into a kettle , and let it boil a little , taking heed that it boil not over : then strain it through a course cloath , and put to it half a pound of oyl of spike , and cover the pot close till you use it . when you have any occasion to use it , warm it a little for a cold cause , and anoint the place grieved . mix this oyl with the like quantity of the oyl of bayes , when it is for a melander in a horse , or a dry itch in a horse or mare ; then take quick-silver , and beat it often with fasting spittle , till it be killed and look black , and take a quart of comfrey to the quantity of quick-silver , to which put thrice so much of the said oyl ; beat all well together , and use it . for a man it must be well chafed in the palme of the hand three or four times . if you use it for a horse , put to it brimstone finely beaten , and work it altogether , as aforesaid . an excellent sear-cloth for a wound , bruise , or ache. take a pint of oyl olive , four ounces of unguentum populeon , the oyls of cammomile and roses , of each one ounce , virgins wax three ounces , red lead in powder eight ounces ; boil these together , continually stirring them , till they will stick to a cloth , which is enough , then wet your clothes in them , and hang them up to dry . the best time to make it is in march. dr reads perfume to smell against the plague . first take half a pint of red rose water , and put thereto the quanity of a hazle nut of venice treacle or mithridate , stirring them together till they be well infused , then put thereto a quarter of an ounce of cinamon broken into small pieces , and bruised in a mortar , twelve cloves bruised , the quantity of an hazle nut of angelica root sliced very thin , as much of setwal roots sliced , three or four spoonfuls of white wine vinegar ; so put them altogether in a glass , and stop it very close , and shake it two or three times a day together , so keep it to your use ; when you wet the spunge , shake the glass : in the winter you may put to it three or four spoonfuls of cinamon water or sack. a perfume against the plague . divers good physicians opinions are , that to burn tar every morning in a chafing-dish of coals is most excellent against the plague ; also put in a little wine vinegar to the tar. it is most excellent and approved . sir edward tertiles salve , called the chief of all salves . take rosin eight ounces , virgins wax and frankincense , of each four ounces , mastick one ounce , harts suet four ounces , camphire two drams ; beat the rosin , mastick , and frankincense in a mortar together to fine powder ; then melt the rosin and wax together , then put in the powders : and when they are well melted , strain it through a cloth into a pottle of white wine , and boil it together , till it be somewhat thick ; then let it cool , and put in the camphire and four ounces of venice turpentine drop by drop lest it clumper , stirring it continually , then make it up into rolls , and do with it to the pleasure of god , and health of man. the vertues and use of it . 1. it is good for all wounds and sores , old or new , in any place . 2. it cleanseth all festers in the flesh , and heals more in nine dayes , then other salves cure in a moneth . 3. it suffers no dead flesh to ingender , or abide where it comes . 4. it cureth the head-ache , rubbing the temples therewith . 5. it cureth a salt fleam face . 6. it helpeth sinnews that grow stiff , or spring with labor , or wax dry for want of blood . 7. it draweth out rusty iron , arrow-heads , stubs , splints , thorns , or whatsoever is fixed in the flesh or wound . 8. it cureth the biting of a mad dog , or pricking of any venemous creature . 9. it cureth all felons , or white flaws . 10. it is good for all festering cankers . 11. it helpeth all aches of the liver , spleen , kidneys , back , sides , arms , or legs . 12. it cureth biles , blanes , botches , impostumes , swellings , and tumours in any part of the body . 13. it helpeth all aches and pains of the genitors in man or woman . 14. it cureth scabs , itch , wrenches , sprains , strains , gouts , palsies , dropsies , and waters between the flesh and skin . 15. it healeth the hemorrhoides , or piles in man or woman . 16. it cureth the bloody flux , if the belly be anointed therewith . 17. make a sear-cloth thereof to heal all the abovesaid maladies , with very many other , which for brevity sake are omitted . a restorative broth. take a young cock or capon , flea it , and cut it in four quarters , take out the bones and chop the flesh somewhat small , put it into an earthen pot of three quarts with a close cover , and pour on it a quart of good red wine , and a pint of red rose-water , and put to one handful of currans , ten dates stoned and cut small , of rosemary flowers or leaves , and borage , of each half a handful , then close on the cover of the pot very fast , and set the said pot in a big brass pot of water , and let it boil five or six hours , taking heed that the water in the brass pot get not into the other pot : when it is well boiled , let it cool leasurely in the brass pot , and then bruise all with a ladle , and strain out the liquor , whereof take morning and evening four or five spoonfuls blood warm . for the piles . take one spoonful of white dogs turd , as much white frankincense , and twenty four grains of alloes , beat them fine and searce them , then take one spoonful of honey , the yolk of an egg , and as much oyl of roses as will make it to an ointment , mingle them well together , and anoint the grieved place ; if the sore be inward , wet a tent of lint in the ointment , and put it into the fundament , and spread some of the ointments on a cloth , and put that on it . this is a present remedy . for a sore throat . mingle burnt allum , the yolk of an egg , powder of white dogs turd , and some honey together ; tye a clout on the end of a stick wet in this mixture , and therewith rub the throat : or mix white dogs turd and honey , spread it on sheeps leather , and apply it to the throat . to void phlegm from the head , lungs , or stomach . mix pelitory roots and mustard together , and hold it in the mouth , and it will draw out much phlegm from the head ; but if you boil pelitory roots , hysop and mustard in wine and vinegar , and gargle the throat with it , it will cleanse the lungs and stomach perfectly . the lady drury's medicine for the cholick , proved . take a turfe of green grass , and lay it to the navil , and let it lie till you finde ease , the green side must be laid next to the belly . a medicine for one thick of hearing . proved . take the garden dasie-roots , and make juyce thereof , and lay the worst side of the head low upon the bolster , and drop three or four drops thereof into the better ear ; this do three or four dayes together . an excellent drink for the stone . take sussafras and sussaparilla , of each two ounces shaved small , china root and tormentil roots , of each one ounce sliced small , liquorish half a pound beaten , anniseed four ounces bruised ; steep all these in three gallons of running water for twelve hours , then put to them these simples following , picked and washed , viz. columbine , lady mantle , marsh mallow , and moulear-roots slit , hearb robert , ribwort , sanible , scabious , agrimony , coltsfoot and betony , of each two handfuls ; boil all these together on a soft fire , till one gallon be consumed , then strain it out , and keep the liquor in a glass close stopped , then take all what remains in the strainer ; put it into the pot again , and pour thereon two gallons of running water , and boil them till half the liquor be consumed , then strain it out , and put both liquors together , set them on the fire , and put a quart of white wine to it , and let it boil a while gently and scum it clean , then take it off the fire , and put to it half an ounce of rhubarb slit , and two ounces of good sena leaves , and stir them well together , and cover the pot close to keep in the heat , and let it stand all night , and in the morning stir it well , and cover it again , and so let it stand four dayes . take of this liquor in the morning fasting , four a clock in the afternoon , and after supper at bed time ; at each time the quantity of six ounces , and so used it must be till you feel ease . to preserve a woman with childe from miscarrying . put a few cloves and cinamon , with a spring of baulm and rosemary into a pint of claret wine , and burn it altogether , then beat the yolks of six new laid eggs , and put them into the wine on the fire , then take the cock-treading of twelve eggs , and the white of one egg , and beat them to an oyl ; take off the white froth from it , and put this oyl into the wine , and brew all well together with as much powder sugar as will make it of an indifferent sweetness : whereof let the said woman take four spoonfuls at a time , when she feeleth any pain to begin in her back or belly . to make childrens teeth come without pain . proved . take the head of a hare boild or rosted , and with the brains thereof mingle honey and butter , and therewith anoint the childes gums as often as you please . dr. mays juice of liquorish to stay rheum and preserve the lungs . take six little handfuls of the tops of hysop , rosemary flowers one little handful , of the leaves of coltsfoot , four little handfuls , stamp and take the juyce of them , and put to it a pint of hysop-water , or running water ; unto all these put four ounces of liquorish , finely beaten and searsed , then set it on the fire , and boil it till it be as thick as cream , then strain it through a fine strainer , and set it again to the fire , and stir it continually till it boil , and put into it boiling four ounces of yellow sugar-candy ; let it boil till it rise from the bottom , which stirring , and when you may handle it , make it up in cakes and roles as you please . to kill a felon quickly . take a little rue and sage , stamp them small , put to it oyl of the white of an egg , and a little honey , and lay it to the sore . a remedy for the pain in the stomach . take a pottle of white wine , eight ounces of currans , and four ounces of elicampane-roots sliced , a sprig of marjoram and spearmint ; boil all these together till the currans be soft , adding to it one spoonful of sweet fennel-seed bruised . drink of the liquor every morning fasting , at four a clock in the afternoon , and when you go to bed the quantity of six spoonfuls . while you drink this , apply to your stomach one spoonful of conserve of roses , two penniworth of mithridate , cinnamon , cloves , and nutmegs , of each one spoonful , and a penniworth of saffron , mix these together with rose-water and wine vinegar , and put them in a linnen bag , and warm it , and lay it to the stomach . to cure diseases without taking any thing at the mouth . take one pound of aloes hepatica , myrrhe four ounces , both beaten very fine , aqua vitae and rose-water , of each one pinte ; after one nights infusion distil them in sand twenty four hours very softly , and in the end make a great fire , and there will come a balsome , wherewith if you rub the stomach with a warm cloath dipped therein , it will purge phlegm and choler , and all worms which infect the brain , and breed the falling sickness , it expelleth corrupruptions , of the stomach , it helps digestion and appetite , it expurgeth all dross in the bottom of the stomach , it cureth the gout being mixed and well beaten with aqua vitae , and applied warm to the gouty place , and left long on it . to break the stone . take cammock roots , dry them in an oven , beat them to powder , searse it and put as much thereof as will lie on a groat into half a pint of white wine , half a sliced lemon , a top or two of rosemary , and some sugar , let them lie in steep all night , in the morning stir them well together , and drink it off , and walk thereupon a good while . use this three or four mornings together , and it will make the stone break , and void away in gravel : but if the kidneys be ulcerated , then use the medicine following , viz. to help vlceration in the kidneys . take two drams of china-root sliced small , golden rod , maiden-hair , pauls betony , mousear , agrimony , comfrey , scabious , bugle , red bramble leaves , pelitory of the wall , marsh mallows , and plantain , of each half a handful , then take one spoonful of french barley , a stick of liquorish sliced small , one handful of raisins of the sun stoned ; boil all these softly in a pottle of running water to a quart , then take it from the fire , and put to it two ounces of conserve of red roses , stir them together , and let it run through a fine cloth , and keep it close stopt in a glass , and drink thereof blood-warm every morning and evening twelve spoonfuls at a time , for two , three , or four weeks , more or less , as you see occasion , and finde ease or pain . a special medicine for one that cannot swallow , although no inward medicine can be taken for it . take the soiling of a dog that is hard and white , powder it , and mingle it well with english honey , spread it thick upon a linnen cloth , and hold it to the fire , and lay it all over the throat down to the channel bone , use fresh morning and evening , binde it hard to , and by gods grace it will help . to draw up the vvula . take a new laid egg , and roste it till it be blue , and then crush it between a cloth , and lay it to the crown of the head , and once in twelve hours lay new till it be drawn up . a purge for children or old men . take one spoonful of spirit of tartar prepared , with sugarcandy and rose water , put it in a little broth , and give it either of them ; it purgeth gently , it comforts the heart , and expelleth phlegm and melancholly . for a noli me tangere . take the herb called turnsol , cut it in small pieces , and put it in a bottle , and pour so much aqua vitae on it as will cover it four fingers , stop the bottle , and set it in the sun ten dayes , and in the night in the chimney corner , but not too near the fire ; then pour of the aqua vitae , and keep it close , then calcine the dregs remaining in the bottle between two calcining pots well luted , which will be done in a day , then put the calcined ashes into the said aqua vitae , and they will all dissolve . keep this as a great treasure , and give one spoonful thereof to the party fasting , in white wine , and wet a cloth in the said liquor , and binde it on the sore place , and without fail it will dry it up it helpeth also those that are troubled with the gravel and stone , given as aforesaid with white wine : and it is very excellent for those that have the dropsie , palsie , or are taken with a quartane ague . to make the face fair , and for a stinking breath . take the flowers of rosemary , and seethe them in white wine , with which wash your face ; if you drink thereof , it will make you have a sweet breath . for heat in the face , redness and shining of the nose . take a fair linnen cloth , and in the morning lay it over the grass , and draw it over till it be wet with dew , then wring it out into a fair dish , and wet the face therewith as oft as you please : as you wet it let it dry in . may dew is the best . an excellent oyl to take away the heat and shining of the nose . take twelve ounces of gourd-seed , crackle them , and take out the kernels , peel off the skin , and blanch six ounces of bitter almonds , and make an oyl of them , and anoint the place grieved therewith : you must alwayes take as much of the gourd-seed as of the almonds ; use it often . for heat or pimples in the face take the liverwort that groweth in the well , stamp and strain it , and put the juyce into cream , and so anoint your face as long as you will , and it will help you . proved . also the juyce of liverwort drunk in beer warm , is good for the heat of the liver . to take away hair. take the shells of fifty two eggs , beat them small , and still them with a good fire , and with the water anoint your self where you would have the hair off : or else cats dung that is hard and dryed , beaten to powder , and tempered with strong vinegar , and anointed on the place . dr. friers receipt for sweating in the face . take a little handful of penniroyal , and as much cinquefoil , and seethe them in white wine or vinegar ; if you take vinegar , put a little to it when it is sodden ; this done you must hold your head over it , and cast a sheet over your head and keep in the air close as long as you can endure it , and so ten or twelve times a day . an approved medicine taught by dr. blacksmith for the cough . take the roots of folefoot , and dry them in an oven , and powder them , then heat a tile red hot , and strew it thereupon , then set the bottom of a tunnel upon it , and let the patient receive the same morning and evening . an approved medicine for the same , by doctor blacksmith . take a pint of hysop-water , and a quarter of a pound of sugar-candy , a spoonful of anniseed bruised ▪ and a small stick of liquorish sliced and bruised , put them together , and let them stand all night , boil it a quarter of an hour upon a fire : then strain , and take of it two or three spoonfuls at a time warm ; you may take it at any time , best at night when you go to bed , or in the morning . for the kidneys swlon with cold , or other accident . take the oyls of roses and quinces , of each two drams , and warm them in a saucer or porringer , and anoint the place therewith against the fire , lest you take cold in the doing of it . a vomit for an ague . take blue lilly-roots sliced small and bruised , and steep it in as much vinegar as will cover them , and when the patient feels his fit coming , let him drink a draught of it in ale , and keep him very warm while it worketh . a restorative bag for a cold or windy stomach . take rose leaves , rosemary tops , and flowers , red mints , and borage flowers , of each one handful , warm them in a platter on a chasing-dish of coals , and ever as you stir it , sprinkle it with sack and rose water ; and when it is as hot as can be , put it in a cloth or silk bag , and lay it to the bottom of the stomach , as hot as can be endured , and keep your self from studying or musing , and it will comfort very much . a drink for cold rhumes or phlegms . take the roots of fennel , comfrey , parsley , and liverwort , harts-tongue , mousear , horehound , sandrake , maiden-hair , chinquefoil , hysop , bugloss , and violet leaves , of each one handful , wash and dry them very clean , raisins of the sun eight ounces , anniseeds four drams , liquorish two drams , elecampane-root two drams , half a pint of barley washed and bruised ; boil these in a pottle of fair water , until half the liquor be consumed , strain it , and put to it one quart of white or renish wine , and one ounce of sugarcandy , and boil it again till half be consumed take it from the fire , and when it is cold put it into a clean glass , and drink thereof every morning and evening a draught first and last , and by gods grace it will make you well and sound ▪ approved . for rhume in the throat . make a cap of brown paper , perfume it with frankincense , and apply it hot to the head , then take the hard eggs , and lay them hot to the nape of the neck , and anoint the throat with oyls of rice and sweet almonds , and lay your self to sweat and after sweating , mix mell rosarum , syrup of mulberries , plantain water together ; and gargle the throat therewith . in want of the said syrup use woodbin water . a remedy for the stone . take a quart of milk , ale , and white wine , of each four ounces , make them into a clear posset drink , the curd taken off ; to which put parsley-roots , mallow leaves , and pellitory of the wall , of each one handful , water-cresses one handful and a half , all small shred , two sprigs of time , and liquorish one ounce bruised , boil all together to the consumption of a quart , and take a draught thereof in the morning , or at any time before meat , sweetened with sugar to your taste . a broth for the cough of the lungs devised by dr. brasdale , dr. atkinson , and dr. fryer for the lord treasurer . take one paper of the prepared china roots , and steep it in six pints of fair water three hours , then boil it unto three pints in an earthen pipkin , then boil a chicken , and one ounce of french barley together in a pipkin six or seven walmes , and scum it , then put away the water , and put the barley and the chick to the china , with the china in the paper a little green endive , twenty raisins of the sun stoned , a little crust of bread , and a little mace , boil them together unto a pint and half , strain it , and let the party drink every day two draughts thereof , one in the morning fasting , and another at four a clock in the afternoon : use it as often as you see cause . for a burning or scalding . take alehoof one handful , the yolk of an egg , and some fair water , stamp them , and strain it , and therewith wash the grieved place till the fire be out . or boil some alehoof and sheeps suet together with sheeps dung and plantain leaves , till they come to a salve , and apply it . to p●●cure sleep . ●ruise a handful of anniseeds , and steep them in red rose-water , and make it up in little bags , and binde one of them to each nostril , and it will cause sleep . to sharpen a sick mans appetite , and to restore his taste . take wood or garden sorrel one handful , and boil it in a pint of white wine vinegar till it be very tender , strain it out , and put to it sugar two ounces , and boil it to a syrup , and let the patient take of it at any time . a comfortable juleb for a feaver . take barley-water and white wine , of each one pint , whey one quart , put to it two ounces of conserve of barberries , and the juices of two lemons , and two oranges . this will cool and open the body and comfort it . if the feaver be extream hot , take two white salt herrings , slit them down the back , and binde them to the soles of the feet for twelve hours . in want of herrings , take two pigeons cut open , and so apply them . a receipt of the right honourable the lord sheffield , for the cough of the lungs . take of the distilled water of sweet horehound one pint , and adde thereto to make a syrup three quarters of a pound of fine white sugarcandy finely beaten , mix these well together , and set them upon a quick charocal fire , then take some of the best english liquorish , clean scraped and sliced , and put into it , and let it boil in the said syrup ; and when it seems half boiled , take three grains of ambergreece reasonable well bruised , and put it into the syrup , and let it boil altogether , but let any scum that riseth upon it be taken away before : you must have a care that it boil not with much heat by often cooling some of it with a spoon ; when it comes to a little thickness , being cold , it is boiled sufficiently , else will it be all candy and not syrup , while it is hot it must be strained through a fine cloth that is clean , before it be put in a glass . for a cough or stuffing in the stomach . take hysop water one pint , muscadine one quart , four races of ginger , and as much liquorish sliced , two penniworth of sugercandy in powder , put all into a glass , and stop it close , and shake them well together , and let it intermix twenty four hours , and drink thereof morning and evening . a plaister for the cholick . take cammomile , rue , sage , and wormwood , of each one handful , wheaten bran half a handful , cut the herbs small , and boil all in good vinegar till the vinegar be consumed , then put it into a linnen bag , and lay it to the pained place as hot as can be endured , and when it is cold warm it again , and use it daily till you be well . for the rising of the mother . take columbine-seed , and parsnip-seed , of each three spoonfuls ; beat them to fine powder , and boil them in a a quart of ale to a pint , seething with it one handful of sage cut small , strain it , and drink it off warm every morning and evening ; especially when you feel pain . and take two ounces of galbanum , spread it upon a cloth , and lay it upon the womans navil . a drink for the dropsie . take polopodie of the oak six ounces , guajacum one ounce , the bark of guajacum three ounces , sassafras four ounces , sena six ounces , anniseed three ounces , epithymum , stechados , of each half an ounce , raisins of the sun stoned , eight ounces , hermodactyles , three ounces , agarick , rhubarb , china root , of each half an ounce , liquorish four ounces ; put all these to sleep a whole night in two gallons of ale , and six quarts of strong wine , in the morning boil them two hours and a half , the pot being close stopt , then strain it being cold , and give the patient thereof three times a day , half a pint at a time , viz. at six in the morning , and at nine after that , and at three in the afternoon . boil the remnant in the strainer in strong ale as before , and drink this second liquour at meals as often as you will. you must keep a drying diet of roast meat every day , and sup betimes , but drink no other liquors whatsoever but these two . for a tympany or water in ones body , and for the fulness of the stomach . take red fennil and still it , and take thereof in the morning fasting a spoonful or two , and in the evening or any time of the day , when you fell your self not well : by gods grace this will help you . for a stich in the side , proved . take a pretty quantity of oats , and boil them in sack , till they have dried up the sack , and then put them in a cloth , and lay it as hot as you can endure it to your side , and this will help . a receipt of herbs that are to be boiled in broth , according to dr. atkins opinion . take tamarisk , lettice , borrage , bugloss , rosemary tops , sweet marjoram , time , succory , parsley , and fennil ▪ of each a pretty quantity , and when the body is costive , leave out some hearbs , and put in onely tamarisk , borage , bugloss , lettice , succory , parsley , fennil , betony . another by mr. francis cox. take the roots of sparagus and eringoes , of each three or four , cut off the length of a finger , and sliced , maiden-hair , tamarisk , harts-tongue , of ●●ch like much , betony twice as much as any of the rest , binde these and the roots together , take also large whole mace two or three flakes , a quarter of a nutmeg quartered ; take then a young cock , dress him , and slice him , and cut his flesh and so boil him until he be sod all to pieces , but let not the hearbs boil too long in the broth , but when theyhave given a pretty ta●●e to it , take them out , and let the rest boil till the chick be all in pieces ; then beat the flesh of him with dates in a stone mortar , and strain it with the liquor , until you have all the taste thereof in the liquor , then clarifie this broth with whites of eggs as you do a jelly , and then use it ; this broth will strengthen the back , and have respect to the spleen . a preservative against the plague . take one handful of roses , betony , and small fellon , two handfulls of scabious , of dragon , sage , sorrel , rue , bramble leaves , and elder leaves , of each one handful , bole-armoniack as big as an apple , saffron the weight of eight pence , yellow sanders one ounce , sugar-candy two ounces , all beaten into powder ; distil these together , take three spoonfuls thereof , and of treacle or mithridate the quantity of a bean , and mingle it with the water , and drink thereof when you are faint . oxymel compositum , take pure honey a pottle , white wine vinegar a pint and a half , five parsley , five fennel , five smallige roots the pith taken out , the roots of knacholm two ounces , sparagus one ounce , smallage seed four ounces , shred the roots , and bruise the seeds , and steep them in three quarts of conduit water for four and twenty hours , and after boil it all to one quart , strain it , and adde the honey clarified and boil it therein , then put to the vinegar , and let it boil gently to the thickness of a syrup , one spoonful whereof taken every morning fasting cutteth and divideth all gross humours , it purgeth the liver , spleen , reins , and opens all obstructions , it moveth urine , and provoketh sweat . a purging dyet-drink , the proportion for four gallons . take sarsaparilla four ounces , sena six ounces , polypodie of the oak six ounces , rhubarb twelve drams , sassafras roots two ounces , agarick one ounce , sea-scurvey-grass a peck , fennel , caroway and anniseed , of each half an ounce , cloves and ginger , of each one ounce , wilde radish , and white flower de luce roots , of each two ounces , water-cresses , and brook-lime , of each eight handfuls , slice such of these as are to be sliced , and beat those that are to be beaten in a mortar , and put them in a canvas bag , and let it stand eight dayes in a rundlet of four gallons of ten shillings beer , a little lower then the middle of the beer , and so tun it . take thereof in the spring and fall three or four dayes together in manner following , every morning at six a clock fasting , take half a pint cold , and use some exercise after it till you be warm , and fast till nine a clock ; then take such another draught , and fast one hour after it , then take some thin warm broth , and keep a good diet at meals , eating no sallads or flegmatick meats ; after dinner at three a clock take thereof another half pint , thus do for three or four dayes in the same manner . this will purge gently , clear the blood and inward parts , and prevent diseases . if you please you may put to the abovesaid ingredients two handfuls of maiden-hair . the countess of worcesters medicine for the green sickness . approved . take a pint of malsey , and 2 handfuls of currans clean washed , and put them together , also take a little wormwood , and a little crop or two of red mint , either green or dryed , and lay it in the malmsey over night , and in the morning eat a spoonful or two of the currans fasting , and walk after it , eating nothing in an hour ; use this twelve dayes together , and if you shall see cause , also take wormwood and warm it between two tyles , and put it in a cloth , and lay to the stomach when you go to bed , and so fresh every night . proved by the lady worcester . a diet drink for a fistula , or for a body full of gross humors . take sarsaparilla , sassafras , the wood and bark of oak root , of each four ounces cut small , agrimony , coltsfoot , scabious , of each four handfuls , marsh mallow roots half a handful , betony , ladies mantle , sinacle , columbine roots , of each one handful , shred the herbs and roots small , and boil them all in three gallon ; of spring water , or two gallons , then strain them through a cullender , and put thereto one gallon of clear water , and boil it to a gallon and an half , and strain it again till all the moisture be out ; put thereto a pottle of good white wine , and a pint and a half of good honey , and boil it softly , scum it very clean , take it off the fire , and put to six drams of rhubarb sliced small , and two ounces of sena , and keep it in a stone vessel close covered , and drink thereof at five a clock in the morning , and at four a clock in the afternoon till half of it be wasted ; afterwards let the patient drink thereof every morning a draught , and dress the fistula with the green salve , and this will cure it . when this drink is made as abovesaid , let it stand three dayes , onely shaking it together twice or thrice a day . it is fit to be drunk at three dayes end . in the time of taking it , all fish , white meats , fruit , wine , anger and passion must be avoided . for one that hath no speech in sickness . take the juyce of sage , or pimpernel , and put it in the patients mouth , and by the grace of god it shall make him speak . a water good for lightness of the head , and the aforesaid . take the flowers of single white primroses , and still them , and drink of the water , and that is good for the lightness of the head ; and for bringing of the speech again , mingle therewith the like quantity of rosemary-flower water , and cowslip-water , and the same will restore the speech again . sir edward boustwards precious oyntment for aches in the bones or sinews that come of cold causes . take wormwood , red sage , the green and tender leaves and buds of bayes and of rue , of each one pound ; chop them and beat them in a mortar very small , put to them mutton suet well picked from the skins one pound and an half , and beat all well together , and put to them a pint and a half of good oyl-olive , or neatsfoot oyl , mix them all well together in an earthen pot , and set them in a warm oven five hours : then take it out and strain it , and keep the oyntment in an earthen pot , anoint the grieved therewith well by the fire , and cover the place with black wool unwashed . dr. atkins . an excellent medicine for the jaundies . take of rhubarb finely sliced the weight of a shilling , red dock roots sliced the weight of three shillings , one nutmeg bruised grosly , and put them i● a bottle of new beer , or any beer , the bottle being three quarts , or a pottle , let it be close stopped for three dayes , or two at least , and then begin to give him to drink thereof every morning a draught next his heart , and about five a clock in the afternoon , drink this till his stool come yellow ; if his body be loose with it , give him but onely in the morning : if he will not take this , give him two spoonfuls of the sirup of succory , with rhubarb one morning , and every day after give him the weight of six pence of the powder after written in drink , or broth , or alebery next his heart for a week together . dr. atkins . powder . take earth-worms and slit them , and wash them with white wine , then dry them in an oven , and powder them , and put to every shilling weight of their powder , a groat weight of ivory , and as much of harts-horn scraped , and mingle them together , boil in his broth parsley roots and fennil roots , and a little nutmeg ; if he will not take this , give him every morning two spoonfuls of oxymel compositum alone , or in beer , or else burn some juniper , and take one ounce of the ashes , and put in an hypocras bag , with a quarter of a nutmeg beaten , and run a pint of rhenish wine or white wine through it four or five times , and let him every morning drink a draught of the wine with sugar . an approved medicine for the yellow jaundies . take the peels of barberries , and scrape off the outside of it , and take the inner peel of them , a quarter as much as one may hold in their hand , a small reasin of turmerick grated very small , four or five blades of english saffron to be dried and beaten very small , then put all together , and boil in a pint of milk or posset drink , until it be very bitter , then strain it , and drink every morning fasting , and at night when you go to bed nine dayes together , and by the grace of god it will help you ; or else you may lay it asteep in strong ale or beer twenty four hours , and then drink a quantity of it , as you should the other ; and if it be bitter , you may put a little sugar to sweeten it . to make oyl of excester . take sage two handfuls , one of time , one of the wilde vine , two of hysop , one of saint johns wort , two of bay leaves , one of goose-grass , two of rosemary , one of letterwood , two of penniroyal , two of cammomile , two of lavender , two of white lillies , two of dragon leaves , two of rue , two of wormwood , two of mints , one of sweet marjoram , one of pellitory of spain , one of feaverfew , one of angelica , one of betony , stamp well these herbs , and put them into a great pottage pot , and boil them in two quarts of running water till the water be consumed , then put to it two quarts of cowslip flowers that have been steeped in oyl olive four weeks , and have been kept in the sun all that time , and two quarts of white wine , and also two quarts of oyl olive , boil them together one or two hours , till you think it almost dry , then strain in the oyl from the herbs , and put it into a glass , and blow the uppermost of the oyl into the glass , for the very bottom is not so good . a medicine for the worms . take a little fresh butter and honey , melt it , and anoint therewith the childe from the stomach to the navil , then take powder of mirrhe , and strew it upon the place so anointed , cover it with a brown paper , and binde a cloth over it , and so anoint the childe three nights one after another . this mirrhe is also good to swallow in a morning for shortness of breath , and to chew it in the mouth for rhumes . a powder for the winde in the body . take anniseed , caroway-seed , jet , ambergreese , red coral , dried lemon or orange peels , new laid egg shells dried . dates stones , pillings of goose-horns , of capons and pigeons , dried horse radish-roots , of each half a scruple in fine powder well mixed , and take half a scruple thereof every morning in a spoonful of beer or white wine . to make oyl of eggs. take twelve yolks of eggs , and put them in a pot over the fire , and let them stand till you perceive them to grow black , then put them in a press , and press out the oyl . this oyl is good for all manner of burnings and scaldings whatsoever . to make oyl of mustard seed . take two pounds of mustard seed , and four pounds of oyl olive , grinde them together , and let them so stand nine dayes , and then stir it well , and keep in boxes . this oyl is good for the palsie , gout , itch , &c. to make oyl of fennel . take a good quantity of fennel , and put it betwen two iron plates , and make them very hot in the fire , then press out the liquor . this oyl will keep a great while : it is good for the tissick , and for burnings or scaldings . to make oyl of rue . cut rue leaves small , and put them into a pot with some oyl olive , and let them stand twelve dayes , then boil them till they be wasted to the third part , then strain it , and keep it close . this oyl is good to keep away all causes of pestilences in man , woman , or childe . to make oyl of cammomile . stamp a good quantity of cammomile flowers in a mortar , put them in a pot with some oyl olive , and let them stand twelve dayes , then boil it a little on the fire , then take it off , and press it out hard , and put the juyce into glasses , and put to them more cammomile flowers stamped small , and let them stand for your use . a sovereign medicine for a fistula . take pure rosin one pound , sheep suet the bigness of a great egg or somewhat more in winter , and set them on a fire in a pot , till it be ready to boil , then pour it in a pan of cold water , and work it with your hands rubbed with butter till it become so small as packthred ▪ scrape it on a cloth , and spread it thin , then cut it out small and narrow , and when you use it , roul it up small like tents . the powder . take an ox-horn , and steep it nine dayes in water , shift every day into fresh water ; then take it out , and fill it full of black soap , and fry it over the fire in a frying-pan , and the horn will melt away and burn to powder ; dip the end of ten tents in this powder . the water . take allum and white copperas , of each half a pound , beat them into fine powder , and mix them well together , and put them in an earthen pot , and let them boil on a soft fire till they be hard , and will boil no longer , then beat them to powder . two spoonfuls will make a gallon of water , and one spoonful will make a pottle , but let the water seethe first ; then take it off , and at first sprinkle a little of the powder lest it flame up , and after the rest wet a fair cloth , and dress the sore twice a day . if green copperas be used , two pound must be put to one pound of allum . when the sore is dressed , it must be tented as aforesaid if need require , and lay on a cloth still wet in the said water . as the water comes hot from the fire , put in one spoonful of the said powder by degrees . a special medicine for a looseness . burn three nutmegs to ashes in the flame of a wax candle , and when they are thorowly burnt , rub them to powder , and mix it with the like quantity of bean flower and cinamon finely beaten and searsed , then make up into a paste with the white of an egg , and a little red wine ; and make the paste into small round pills fit for swallowing , and dry them hard in a clean fire , and when you take them , drink a little red wine after it . for an vncomb , or sore finger . shred one handful of smallage very small , and put to it one spoonful of honey , the yolk of an egg , and a little wheat flower to make it thick , then spread it on a cloth , and lay it to the sore twice a day . for the same in young children , or any other in the beginning . take celandine , and bruise it well between your hands , and binde to your navil , and the soles of your feet , hang it once in twenty four hours till they be well . a medicine for the purples proved . take purple silk , and shred it as small as you can , and put it into a spoon , and put a little ale or beer unto it lukewarm , and so take it , and drink after it a little ; and so do five mornings together , and fast an hour after it . dr. twines almond milk. take a pot of water when it is boiled , and stood to be clear , then boil therein violet leaves , strawberries the whole herb with the root , of each a pretty handful , sorrel a good root all well washed , a crust of white bread , raisins of the sun stoned two ounces , boil all these from a pottle to a quart , and with fifty almonds blanched , and thirty pompion kernels , all well beaten , draw an almond milk , sweetned with good ●ugar to your liking , and drink a good draught thereof morning and evening towards the quantity of a pint . dr. blacksmiths almond milk. take of the roots of ruscus gramen , sparagus , and succory , each three drams , barley prepared half a handful , of the leaves of mallows , violets , five leaved grass , strawberries , borage , bugloss , maiden-hair , of each half a handful , sliced liquorish two drams : boil all these in three pints of fair running water to a quart or less : then take the weight of a french crown of the kernels of each of the three cold seeds , and beat them with a few almonds , and white rose-water and sugar , and make almond milk. dr. atkins excellen●t receipt of almond milk to cool and cleanse the kidneys . take a pint and a quarter of barley-water , and in that boil althea , iringus , gramen and sparagus roots , each a french crowns weight , strawberries , and five leaved grass , both leaves and roots , each a few , boil them till the barley-water be but a pint , then strain out the barley-water , and take a french crowns weight a piece of the four cold seeds , and peel off the husks , then beat the seeds with the almonds , and strain them forth together with the barley-water , and put to it a little rose water and sugar , and make it an almond milk. a receipt for the stone . take a gallon of new milk , wilde time , sassafras , pellitory of the wall , philipendula roots , saxifrage , of each one handful , parsley leaves two handfuls , three or four radish-roots , and as many parsley roots , anniseeds one ounce , cut and slit the roots , bruise the hearbs and seeds , and put them to infuse in the milk a whole night , the next morning distil it in a rose distiliatory . take ten or twelve spoonfuls of the water , and as much white or rhenish wine , a little sugar , and a sliced nutmeg . it is very good every full and change of the moon to take morning and evening , to prevent sickness ▪ and at any time if need require . for the green sickness . take aloes and rhubarb , of each four ounces finely beaten and searsed , prepared steel four drams ; mix these together with claret wine , and make them into twenty seven pills , and take every morning in three of them , using exercise till all be gone , and drink after them at each time a glass of claret wine . for any sore breasts or paps . take a pottle of running water , sage two good handfuls small minced , and a quantity of oatmeal-greats small beaten ; boil all these to the thickness of white bread dough , but let it not burn to ; then put to it three spoonfuls of honey , and a little saffron , stir it well together , and boil it to a quart somewhat stiff . this pultess will break and heal it soon , and draw away the pain without breaking . it will cure any sore breast or pap , if it be not a canker or fistula . a syrrup lasting many years , good for swounding and faintness of heart , it comforteth the weak brain and sinews , it may be used as much as half a nut at once at your pleasure . take borage , bugloss , white endive , one little handful , of rosemary-flowers , time , hysop , winter savory , of each one little handful ; break these between your hands , and seethe them in three quarts of water to three pints , then strain it , and put to it a pint of good malmsey , one ounce of whole cloves , powder of cinamon half an ounce , powder of ginger a quarter of an ounce , one nutmeg in powder , sugar half a pound or more , let them seethe upon a soft fire , well stirred for burning to , until it come to the thickness of honey : then take it up , and let it cool , and put it in pots or glasses at your pleasure . prescribed by dr. twine . an approved medicine for a woman in labor to make , come , & prove safe deliverance take powder of cinamon one dram , powder of amber half a dram finely beaten , mingle it with eight spoonfuls of claret wine , and so let her drink it . to know how much bezar stone must be taken when one is heart sick . take bezer stone the weight of three barley corns , or five at a time , once in six or ten hours , and give it in a spoon with carduus , bean-water , borage , or bugloss , ale or beer . doctor stevens excellent water , wherewith he cured many diseases following . take one gallon of gascoign wine , ginger , gallingal , cammomil , nutmegs , grains of paradise , cloves , anniseeds , caroway seeds , of each one dram , then take sage , mint , red roses , time , pellitory , rosemary , penniroyal , montanum , cammomil , babin , harts-tongue , lavender , avance , of each a handful , bray the spices small , and let it stand so twelve hours , stirring it divers times ; then still it in a limbeck , and keep the first by it self , for it is best ; then will there come a second water which is good , but not so good as the first , for it is fainter . the vertues of this water is , to comfort the vital spirit greatly , and preserve the youth of man or woman , and helps the inward diseases that come of cold , helpeth the shaking of the palsie , and cureth contractions of sinnews , it strengthneth the marrow in the bones , it helpeth the conception of women that are barren , it killeth worms in the body , and cureth the cold gout , and tooth-ache , and it helpeth the stone in the bladder , and the pain in the reins of the back , and will make one seem young a long time ; one spoonful of this aqua vitae shall do more good to a man that is sick , then four spoonfuls of any other ; and this aqua vitae shall be better if it stand in the sun all summer long . for the falling sickness . take half a peck of peony roots , cleanse , rub , wash , and stamp them , and as you stamp them , put in sherry sack , let them be beaten very small , and then put to them a pottle of sherry sack ; stir all well together , and let it stand close covered twenty four hours , then pour of the clearest into bottles , and take thereof a little draught every change of the moon , for three mornings , one morning after another . a pultess to break a bile or imposthume . take sorrel one handful , twelve figs quartered , half a pint of sorrel juyce ; boil and break these together till it be very tender , and put to it some wheat flower , and when it is well boiled , put to it a good piece of butter , and lay it warm to the place twice a day , till it be drawn enough . a remedy for worms in children . take one spoonful of juyce of lemons , powdered saffron half a scruple , and a little sugar ; and give this same quantity to the patient three mornings together . for worms . dr. wetherborn . take rhubarb one dram , wormwood half a dram , corralline one scruple , currans one good handful , beat them all to a conserve , and mix it with syrup of violets , to an electuary , and give a childe the quantity of a walnut thereof every other morning fasting . an oyntment to heal any bruise or wound . take sage , self-heal , smallage , sothernwood , plantain , time , ribwort , rue , parsley , marigold leaves , mercury wormwood , betony , scabious , valerian , comfrey , lions-tongue , buck-horn , of each one handful ; wash them clean , and put them into a sieve to drain all night , and when they are dry , chop them very small , and put to them two pounds of unwashed butter well beaten , then boil it till half be consumed , then strain it into the pot you mean to keep it in . it is also good for swollen breasts . may is the best time to make it in . for a bruise in a womans breast that is hard swoln . take wood-lice , and dry them between papers before the fire , and make them into fine powder , whereof take as much as will lie on a three pence in a spoonful of grout ale : do thus first and last for three weeks together , and after you may take twice a week , till you finde the breast well . but you must be sure to keep a white cotton fried in goose grease to it constantly , though you leave taking the said powder , until you finde the breast cured . this hath cured breasts that should have been cut off . a medicine for a childe that cannot hold his or her water . take the navil string of a childe which is ready to fall from him , dry it and beat it to powder , and give it to the patient childe male or female in two spoonfuls of small beer to drink fasting in the morning . a. r. c. shred two handfulls of rosemary flowers , and boil them in a quarter of a pint of aqua vitae a little together . at n●ght when you go to bed , and in the morning you must have two little pieces of white cotton , and take some of this liquor , and set it on the embers in a dish , and put in one of the pieces of cotton , and when it is hot , wring out the liquor , and lay it to the grief . do thus three times evening and morning , keeping the last piece of cotton to the grief all night ; and so all day . an electuary for the liver . take cichory roots , wash and rub them very dry in a cloth , then slit them and take out their pith , and cut them in small pieces ; of these roots thus ordered take eight ounces , and beat them small in a mortar , and put to them two ounces of currans well washed and dry rubbed in a cloth , and beat them well together , put one ounce of the best grated rhubarb , and half a pound of double refined sugar , beaten to powder , and beat all well together in the mortar to the consistence of a well formed electuary , and keep it in a galley-pot for your use close covered . take as much thereof as a walnut in the morning fasting , and as much at four a clock in the afternoon . a purging ale for the liver . take scurvy-grass six handfuls , brooklime , water-cresses , of each three handfuls , agrimony , speed-wel , liverwort , of each two handfuls , fennel and parsley roots , of each three ounces , horse-radish two ounces , monks rhubarb one pound as well picked , washed and bruised ; then put to them sena five ounces ▪ polypody of the oak four ounces , nutmegs bruised two ounces , fennel-seed bruised one ounce ; liquorish slit and bruised two ounces , sassafras cut small three ounces : put all these in a bag or boulter , and hang it in five or six gallons of second ale , and after five dayes infusion , drink thereof half a pint every morning fasting , and walk upon it . a medicine for the stone . take the pulp of cassia fistula newly drawn , one ounce and a half , rhubarb in powder , one dram and a half , venice turpentine seven drams , liquorish half a dram , species of diatragacanthum frigidum , one scruple , mix them well together with a sufficient quantity of marsh mallows , and take thereof in the morning fasting the quantity of a walnut , and drink after it a good draught of posset drink ; use it three mornings at every new moon . for the whites and heats in the back . take three or four nutmegs , and put them into the middle of a brown loaf , set it in an oven , and when it is baked take out the nutmegs , and every morning for nine dayes one after another , beat the white of a new laid egg to water , then put to it of plantain and red rose water , of each four spoonfuls , and grate into it some of the said nutmegs , and sweeten it with a little sugar , and drink it off . syrup of ale for the same disease . take a gallon of new ale wort of the first tunning , and hang it over the clear fire in an iron pot , and scum it till no more will rise , and when it is boiled to a pint take it off , and put it into an earthen pot with a cover , and take a little thereof on a pen-knifes point every morning and evening . an excellent artificial balsam . take conduit-water and oyl olive , of each one quart , turpentine four ounces , liquid storax six ounces ; put them in a bason , and let them stand together all night : the next day melt half a pound of bees-wax on the fire , and put to it rosemary , bayes , and sweet marjoram , of each one handful shred small , and also dragons blood ; and mummey , of each one oun●● made small , and let them boil in the wax a while : then put into the bason oyl of saint johns-wort and rose-water , of each two ounces , and boil it together a little more , then put in some natural balsam and red sanders pulverised , and let it boil a little , then strain it into a bason , and when it is cold make a hole in it with a knife to let out the water , & so dissolve it on the fire , and put it up for your use the vertues and operations of this balsam are . 1. it is good to cure any wound inward ; if inward , squirt it in , or apply it with a tent : if outward , anoint the place . 2. it healeth any burning or scalding , bruise or cut , being therewith anointed , and a linnen cloth or lint dipped therein laid to the place warm . 3. it takes away any pain or grief , that comes of cold and moisture in the bones or sinews , anointing the place grieved with this oyl heated , and a warm cloth laid on it . 4. it cureth the headache , onely anointing the temples and nostrils therewith . 5. it is good for the winde cholick , or stitch in the sides , applied thereunto warm with hot clothes four mornings together every morning a quarter of an ounce . and many other cures it doth , &c. to make the green oyntment . take rue and sage , of each one pound , bay leaves and wormwood , of each half a pound , melilot , the herb and flowers of cammomile , spike , rosemary , red rose leaves , saint johns wort , and dill , of each one handful , chop them first very small , then stamp them , and put thereto the like weight of sheeps suet chopt very small , and stamp them all in a stone mortar to one substance , that all be green and no suet appear . then put it into a large earthen pan , and pour on it five pints of pure and sweet oyl olive , and work them together with your hands to one substance ; then cover the pan with paste close , that no air enter , and let it stand seven dayes , then open it and put it in a fresh pan , and set it on a soft fire alwayes stirring it till the herbs begin to grow parched , then strain it into a fresh pan , to which put the oyls of roses , cammomile , white lillies , spike and violets , of each one ounce , stir them well together , and keep it in a glass close stopt for your use . an electuary for the passion of the heart . take damask roses half blown , cut off their whites , and stamp them very fine , and strain out the juyce very strong , moisten it in the stamping with a little damask rose-water , then put thereto fine powder sugar , and boil it gently to a thin syrup ; then take the powders of amber , pearl , and rubies , of each half a dram , ambergreece one scruple , and mingle them with the said sirup , till it be somewhat thick , and take a little thereof on a knifes point morning and evening . a drink for a hot feaver . take spring-water and red rose-water , of each one pint and a half , the juice of three lemons , and white sugar-candy one ounce , and mix them together , and give the patient thereof six or eight spoonfuls at a time often in a day and night , until the unnatural heat be extinguished . for the cholick . take equal portions of honey and wine , put them on a fire , and put thereto ground wheat-meal , and a pretty quantity of bruised cummin-seeds , and as much sorrel , boil all together for a pretty while , then put them into a linnen bag , and apply it to the belly as a plaister . or take a pretty bundle of time , and boil it with a little slice of ginger in a pint of malmsey till the third part be wasted , and drink thereof as warm as you can . for stopping of the vrine . take the shells of quick snails , wash them and dry them clean , and beat them into fine powder ; whereof take a pretty quantity in white wine , or thin broth . for the stone in the kidneys . take a pottle of new ale , and as much renish wine , and put into it two whole lemons sliced with the peels and all , and put to them one nutmeg beaten , and two handfuls of scurvey-grass beaten and strained into the ale , and half a penniworth of grains of paradise bruised ; put all together in a little stand with a cover , and after three dayes drink of it with a taste . it is also good against the winde cholick , proceeding from the stone . to make hair grow thick . take three spoonfuls of honey , and a good handful of vine sprigs that twist like wire , and beat them well , and strain their juyce into the honey , and anoint the bald places therewith . for the rhume , or cough in the stomach . take a pint of malmsey or muscadine , and boil it in five ounces of sugarcandy till it come to a syrup , and in the latter end of the boiling put to it five spoonfuls of horehound distilled water , and so suck it from a liquorish stick bruised at the end . use this onely to bed-ward . for the sciatica . take a pound of yellow wax , six spoonfuls of the juyce of marjoram , and red sage , two spoonfuls of the juyce of onions , of anniseeds , cloves , frankincense , mace , and nutmegs , of each one penniworth , and as much turpentine ; boil these together to the consistence of a salve , and so apply it . for the piles . roste quick snails in their shells , pick out their meat with a pin , and beat them in a mortar with some powder of pepper to a salve ; then take the dried roots of pilewort in powder , and strew it thin on the plaister , and apply it as hot as you can suffer it . to procure sleep . chop cammomile and crumbs of brown bread small , and boil them with white wine vinegar ; stir it well and spread it on a cloth , and binde it to the soles of the feet as hot as you can suffer it . you may adde to it dried red rose leaves , or red rose cakes with some red rose water , and let it heat till it be thick , and binde some of it to the temples , and some to the soles of the feet . a good purge . take diacatholicon and syrup of roses laxative , of each one ounce , mix them well together in a penny pot of white wine , and drink it warm early in the morning . this purgeth choller , phlegm , and all manner of watry humours . for a fellon in a joynt . dry bay salt , and beat it into powder , and mix it with the yolk of an egg , and apply it to the grieved place in the beginning , before the fellon be broken : but if it be first broken , then take the juyce of groundsel , the yolk of an egg , a little honey , and rye flower , mix them well together , and so apply it . to heal a fresh wound with speed . take the leaves of columdine nettles , plantain , ribwort , wilde tarras , wormwood , red roses , betony , violets , of each one handful ; wash them clean , and beat them well with the white of an egg , and strain out the juyce through a cloth , to which juyce put the quantity of two walnuts of honey , and half an ounce of frankincense ; stir them well together , and put it in a box , and use it plaister wise . or take rosin , wax , fresh butter , barrows grease well tried , of each a little quantity , oyl them well , and put it into a bason of cold water , and work it with your hands into little rolls , spread it on a cloth , and apply it . if the wound be deep , tent it with lint . for the pricking of a needle or thorn. take boulted wheat-flower , and temper it with red wine , boil them together to the thickness of a salve ; and lay it on so hot as you can suffer it . this will open the hole , draw out the filth and ease the pain . for to kill a corn. take of the bigness of a walnut of ale yeast that is hard and sticks to the tub side , put to it a little dried salt finely powdered ; work them well together , and put it in a close box , make a plaister of some of it , and binde it to the corn. for bruises , swellings , broken bones . take brooklime , chickweed , mallows , smallage , groundsel , of each one handful , stamp them with a little sheeps tallow swines grease , and copin , put thereto wine dregs , and a little wheat bran ; stir them well together over the fire till they be hot , so apply it to the place grieved . for burning or scalding . take goose dung , and the middle bark of an elder tree , fry them in may butter , strain them , and therewith anoint the burnt or scalded place . to help deafness . take a piece of rye dough the bigness of an egg , and of that fashion , bake it dry in an oven , cut off the end , and with a knife cut out the paste and make it hollow , then put into it a little aqua composita , and stir it ; and so hot as you can endure it , apply it to the deaf ear till it be cold , you must keep your head very warm . if both ears be grieved , make two of them , and use those three times . for the cholick . take half a sheet of white paper , anoint it all over with oyl olive , and strew thereon gross pepper , and so lay it to the belly from the navil downward . for the yellow jaundies . take pimpinel , groundsel , sheebroom , with the tops , of each one handful , boil them in a quart of ale till half be consumed , then divide it into three draughts , and take it morning and evening . for the bloody flux . take bean flower , mingle it with malmsey , and make a paste thereof , and bake it in an oven like a cake , but not too hard , and lay it upon the navil of the belly as hot as can be suffered , and wet it over with malmsey , and keep it warm . it will help in three dayes . a drink to drive the plague from the heart . take a great onion , cut off the top of it , and take out so much of the core as the bigness of a walnut , which hole fill up with treacle , put on the top again , and wrap the onion in a piece of brown or gray paper , roste it throughly , and peel it , and trim it finely , and put it in a clean linnen cloth , and strain it hard into three porringers , and drink the juyce so strained out : for it hath been found most excellent by often proof , not onely for the expulsion of the plague , but also for the eradicating of all poison and venome . the onely receipt against the plague . take three pints of muscadine , and boil therein a handful of sage , and a handful of rue , until a pint be wasted , then strain it , and set it on the fire again , then put thereto a penniworth of long pepper , half an ounce of nutmegs all beaten together ; then let it boil a little , and put thereto three penniworth of treacle , and a quarter of the best angelica water you can get : keep this as your life above all worldly treasure . take of it alwayes warm both morning and evening a spoonful or two , if you be already infected , and sweat thereupon , if not , a spoonful in the morning , and half a spoonful at evening in all the plague time , under god trust to this , for there was neither man , woman , nor childe , by this deceived . this is not onely for the common plague , which is called the sickness ; but for the small pox , measles , and surfeits , and divers other diseases . a good almond milk for the bloody flux . take mutton and boil it in fair water , and scum it very clean , then put to it a handful of borage leaves , as much prunes , some cinamon and whole mace , the upper crust of a manchet ; boil all these well till their strength be gone into the broth , then strain it through a cullender , then take jordan almonds , and parch them as you do pease , and let them boil two or three walms , then strain them through a cloth , and season it well with sugar , and a little salt , and let the patient drink thereof at all times of the day . it is very medicinal . to take fish by angling . take assa fetida , camphire , aqua vitae and oyl olive , bray them together till they come to a soft oyntment , then box it , and anoint your baits therewith . for an ache or swelling . take oatmeal , sheeps suet , and black soap , of each four ounces , boil them in water till they be thick , make a plaister of it , and apply it to the grieved place hot . for a childes navil that comes out with much crying . take wax as it comes from the bee-hive , let it not be altered , but onely strained from the honey , then melt some of it in a sawcer , and dip some black sheeps wool in it , and binde it to the navil . for womens sore paps or breasts . take bean flowers two handfuls , wheaten bran , and powder of fenugreek , of each one handful , one pound of white wine vinegar , three spoonfuls of honey , three yolks of eggs ; boil all till they be very thick , and lay it warm to the breast . this will both break and heal it . crush out the matter when you change the plaister . or take oyl of roses , bean flower , and the yolk of an egg with a little . vinegar , set it on the fire till it be luke-warm and no more , then with a feather anoint the sore places . for an ague in womens breasts . take the leaves of hemlock , fry them in sweet butter , and as hot as may be suffered apply it to the breasts , and lay a warm white cotton on it , and in short time it will drive the ague out of them . to draw rhume from the eyes back into the neck ▪ take twenty catharides , cut off their heads and wings , and beat their bodies into small powder , which put in a little linnen bag , and steep it all night in aqua vitae or vinegar , and lay it to the nape of the neck , and it will draw some blisters , which clip off , and apply to them an ivy or cabbidge leaf , and it will draw the rhume from the eyes . or roste an egg hard , cut it in half and take out the yolk , and fill either side with beaten cummin-seed , and apply it hot to the nape of the neck . for a canker in the mouth . take a pint of strong vinegar , roach allum the bigness of a walnut , as much english honey as will sweeten it , and boil it in a skillet , put it up in a close stopt glass , warm a little of it in a sawcer , and therewith wash the mouth often , and lay some lint wet in the same warm liquor upon the places . to make a sweet breath . take the dried flowers and tops of rosemary , sugarcandy , cloves , mace , and cinamon , of each a like quantity dried and beaten into fine powder ; then take a new laid egg , and put of the powder into the egg , and sup it off fasting in a morning ; do so seven dayes one after another , and it will sweeten the breath . for an old sore leg. take the whitest hard soap you can get , scrape a quantity thereof into a sawcer , put to it some deer suet , and boil them on the fire , then spread it on a clean linnen cloth , and lay it to the sore morning and evening , and in a short time it will heal . for a stitch in the side . take a piece of white leavened bread , and toste it on both sides , then spread one side thereof with the best treacle you can get , and cover it with a fine linnen cloth , and so lay it to the grieved place . a most excellent salve for a wound . take a good quantity of the tops of maiden or unset hysop , shred them small , and beat them very small in a mortar ; then take oyl olive and clarified honey , of each one spoonful , put thereto half a handful of wheat flower , compound them together cold , and make it up into a fine salve , which use to the purpose aforesaid . a pultess to ripen any bile or impostume . take a lilly root and roste it in the embers in a brown paper ; then take figs and pound them small , aud fenugreek , and linseed , of each a like quantity : when the lilly root is rosted , pound it very well , then boil all therein new milk from the cow , till it be so thick that a spoon may stand upright in it , and stir it alwayes in the boiling , and put to it some barrows grease , and apply it to the place grieved . to encrease womens milk. take fennel seeds bruised , and boil them well in barley water , whereof let wet nurses and suckling women drink very often , in winter warm , in summer cold ; and let them beware of drinking much strong beer ale , or wine , for they are hot , and great driers up of milk ; and so are all spices , and to much salt or salt meat . to keep iron from rusting . take lead filed very small , and put so much oyl olive upon it , as will cover it in a pot , then make your iron very clean first , and anoint the iron with the said oyl , after it hath stood nine dayes , and it will never rust . to make golden colour without gold. take the juyce of saffron flowers , when they are fresh on the ground , but if you cannot get them , then take saffron dried and powdered , and put to it yellow and glistering auripigment , that is scaly , and with the gall of a hare , or pike fish , which is better , mix them together ; then put them in a glass vial close stopped , which set in a warm dunghil for certain dayes , then take it out , and keep it for your use . to make golden letters without gold. take auripigment one ounce , fine crystal one ounce , beat them to powder severally ; then mix them , and then temper them with the whites of eggs , and so write with it . to make silver letters without silver . take tin one ounce , quicksilver two ounces , melt them together , then beat them well with gum water , and so write with it . to make the face fair. take fresh bean blossoms , and distill them in a limbeck , and with the water wash your face . a wound drink . take southernwood , wormwood , bugle , mugwort , white bottle , sanicle , plantane , dandelion , chinquefoil , ribwort , wood betony , clary roots , avens called herb bennet , hawthorn buds , agrimony , oak leaves and buds , bramble buds , wilde angelica , mints , scabious , strawberry leaves , violet leaves , comfrey , of each twenty handfuls ; gather them in may , and dry them in a room without much fire , turn them often , that they may not become musty ; and when they are dry , put them up in canvas bags severally . then take of these several ▪ herbs so dried , of each three handfuls , and put them into two quarts of running water , and one quart of white wine , boil them to three pints , strain the liquor from the herbs , and put thereto one pint of honey , which boil again , taking away the froth , then strain it , and keep it in a glass bottle close stopped , and take thereof in the morning fasting , and at night last , two or three spoonfuls at one time . this water wil not continue good above three or or four weeks at the most . it cureth old sores , green wounds , impostumes , fistulas , and stencheth bleeding . tent no wound , but search and cleanse it in a tent , and cover the place with a clean cloth . during the cure , the patient must keep a spare diet , and abstain from wine and strong drink . for worms in children . take three pound of prunes , sena one ounce and a half , sweet fennel-seed one ounce and a half , rhubarb half an ounce ; tie all these in a bag with a stone to it , and put them into a great quantity of water , then put the prunes on the top , and let it stew six or ▪ seven hours , till the liquor be even with the prunes ; so drink of the liquor two or three spoonfuls , and eat of the prunes in the morning fasting , and at four a clock in the afternoon . a green salve . take one pound of butter , bees-wax five ounces , rosin one pound and a half , frankincense four ounces , oyl of bayes two ounces , deer suet one ounce and a half , verdigreese one ounce and a half , boil the butter a little , then boil the wax in it , and stir it now and then , take it off the fire , put in the oyl of bayes , set it on the fire again , then put in the deer suet , and let it boil one walm , for if it have more it will turn black , and when it is off the fire , put in the verdigreese powdered , then strain it into pots , and keep it for your use . a receipt for the kings evil , fistula , sore breasts , legs , or other sores . take samnil , agrimony , avens , wilde bugle , red dandelion , wood betony , ribwort , wilde clary roots and leaves , mugwort , plantain , wormwood and bugle beaten and bruised , of each two handfuls , boil them in six quarts of white wine until their vertue be extracted very softly , then with your hand squeeze all the juyce out of them into the wine , then strain the liquor out , and set it on the fire , and clarifie it with so much honey as will make it dainty , pleasant , and not sharp ; then let it boil a little more , and when it is cold , put it in bottles close stopped , and it will last a year , whereof give the patient six spoonfuls at a time , in the morning fasting , and at four a clock in the afternoon . to ease womens childe-bed throws that are taken with cold a week or two after their delivery . take one or two spoonfuls of oyl of sweet almonds newly drawn , either in posset drink , or in a caudle warm morning and evening it will help . for womens swounding fits after delivery of childe . take the powder of white amber as much as will lie on a three pence , and give it in mace ale warm . an approved medicine to speed a womans delivery in difficult travel , and to send out the after-burthen safely . take cinnamon two drams and a half , one dram and a half of white amber , myrrhe two scruples , castoreum one scruple , borax half a scruple , saffron five grains , powder and mix them , whereof give one dram at a time in white wine and sugar , and sweat after it . this hath been often tried with much good success . an approved medicine for the megrum . take one spoonful and a half of the white of an egg beaten very clear , white wine vinegar one spoonful , of pepper and frankincense , of each two drams powdered , and one spoonful of honey , mix them with so much wheat flour as will make it into paste , whereof make two plaisters , and lay them to the temples of the head , and change it duly every morning and evening . for to ease head pain . take red rose leaves dried , mix them with wheat flowers , vinegar , oyl of roses , and some housleek , boil them till they be thick , spread it on a linnen cloth , and lay it to the forehead and temples , and it will ease the pain . to cure a sheck dog that hath the mangie . take four ounces of tar , mix it with some●fresh greese , so as it may run ; then put to it some brimstone powder half a spoonful of gun powder pouder'd , and two spoonfuls of honey , mix them well , and therewith anoint the dog ; in the summer time tie him in the hot sun , that the oyntment may soke into him , in the winter time lay him on thick fresh hay , and there keep him that the heat of his body may heat and melt it . thrice dressing will cure him . dr. goffes receipt to preserve a woman with childe from miscarrying , and abortion . take a fillet of beef half rosted hot from the fire , then take half a pint of muscadine , sugar , cinamon , ginger , cloves , mace , grains of paradise and nutmegs , of each half a dram , and make thereof a sawce , then divide the beef into two p●eces , and wet them in the sawce , and binde the one piece to the bottom of the womans belly , and the other to the reins of the back , as hot as may be suffered , and keep them on twenty four hours at the least , and longer if need be thereof . for any pain in the stomach . cut a piece of new scarlet in the shape of a heart , put it in a pewter dish , and wet it with the strongest cinamon , or wormwood water , then set it on a chafing-dish of coals , and cover it close , and when it is dry , wet it again , which do so often , until the sent of the hot water be strong in it , ●nd lay it very hot to the stomach , and renew it once or twice in a week . for the winde in the veins . take powder of liquorish , caroway-seed , and sugarcandy beaten small , of each an equal quantity to your taste , to which put rhubarb in powder , a third part or more , with as much cream of tartar pulverised ; put it in a box , and keep it in your pocket , and eat as much of it as will lie on a six pence , twice or thrice in a day for a week together , this will gently purge you , cool the blood , and expel the winde out of the veins . this hath holpen those that have not been able to go . an excellent sear-cloth for a bruise , strain , or wound . take one pint of oyl olive , red lead eight ounces , virgins wax four ounces , oyntment of populeon four ounces , the oyls of roses and cammomile , of each one ounce ; set the oyl on the fire , then melt the wax in it , then put in the populeon and oyls , and when all are molten , put in the red lead , stir them well together , and let it boil till it be black , then dip in your clothes , and apply them to the places ill-affected . mr. lumley , chyrurgeon . his pippin drink for a consumption . take the thick paring of six pippins , boil them in three pints of spring-water to a quart , then sweeten it with sugar-candy , whereof drink the quantity of a wine glass when you go to bed . in a feaver it is very good with a little syrup of lemons . an approved medicine for the spleen . drink for three mornings together pure whey , as it comes naturally from the curd : the first morning two pints , the second morning three pints , the third morning four pints . the best exercise after it is gentle riding , a rare balsam . take venice turpentine one pound , wash it four times with fair water , and as many times in damask rose water , till it be as white as snow , then take an earthen pot of a gallon , make a hole in the bottom of it , which stop with a cork and a rag , and tie a string about the cork , into which pot put five pints of pure oyl olive , and three pints of spring water , boil this half a quarter of an hour , then melt eight ounces of yellow wax in a skillet , which put to the turpentine in the pot , take it off the fire , and stir them together with a spoon , till they be well●mingled , then pluck the cork out of the earthen pot , and let out all the water in a platter , and the oyl and the turpentine into the wax in a large bason , and set them over the fire stirring them well , then pour all out into a large earthen pan , and when it is through cold , melt it again on the fire , so that it wil● slip out , then pour out the water in the bottom , and melt it again on the fire ▪ stirring all well together , and so put it up into galli-pots for your use , and you have a most excellent balsam made by decoction , whose effects follow . the vertues of it . 1. it is good for any inward wound squirted warm into it , and outwardly to it on fine lint , and anointing the place . it also preserveth the wound from inflamation and putrefaction . 2. it heals any bruise or cut being first anointed therewith , and then a piece of lint dipped in it , and laid to the place . 3. it cures all burnings and scaldings . 4. it helps the head-ache , anointing the nostrils and temples therewith . 5. it expelleth the winde cholick , or stitch in the side , being anointed and applied four mornings with warm cloths , and every morning bathing it before the fire a quarter of an hour . 6. it helps a surfet , taking one ounce thereof in warm sack. 7. it preserveth from the plague , onely by anointing the lip and nostrils therewith before the party goeth abroad in the morning . 8. it is good against cancers and worms , applied as before for a cut . 9. it helps digestion and keepeth from vermin , if the navil or stomach be anointed therewith , before the party goeth to bed . the operator that made it , healed himself being sorely scalded . to cure the rickets in children . approved . take a quart of new milk , put into it one handful of sanicle , boil it half away , and give it to the patient childe to drink in the morning for a breakfast , and let it not eat any thing for an hour or two after it ; and at night take a quart of milk , and one handful of red mints , boil it half away as before , and let the childe eat it last at night . this continue for a moneth , or longer , as occasion is . this quantity of milk so made will serve for twice . an vnguent to anoint the ricketted childes breast . take fresh butter , sanicle , red mints , of each one pound , stamp the herbs very small , then mix it with the butter to a perfect unguent , and therewith anoint the childes breast every morning and evening before the fire ; you must anoint it from arm to arm , that it may open the breast , and also anoint the gullet bones , that they may open , for in this disease they will seem to close . to anoint the ricketted childes limbs , and to recover it in a short time , though the childe be so lame , as to go upon crutches . take a peck of garden snails , and bruise them , put them into a course canvas bag , and hang it up , and set a dish under it to receive the liquor that droppeth from them , wherewith anoint the childe in every joynt which you perceive to be weak before the fire every morning and evening . this i have known made a childe that was extream weak to go alone , using it onely a weeks time . a plaister for an ague . take strong leaf tobacco six drams , currans a small handful , and as much bores grease as will make it into a salve , by beating and stamping together in a mortar of stone ; when it is beaten to a salve , take two pieces of sheeps leather , and spread the salve an inch thick on both of them ; and lay them upon the veins of both wrists twenty four hours before the fit cometh . this will cure either a quartane or tertian ague . a dainty cecling drink for a hot feaver . take french barley one ounce , boil it first in a quart of fair water a good while , then shift it , and boil it in another quart of water a good while , shift it again , and boil it in a pottle of running spring water to a quart , then take two ounces of sweet almonds , lay them to soak all night ; then stamp and strain them into the last barley-water ; put to it four spoonfuls of damask rose-water , the juyce of one lemon , and with sugar sweeten it to your taste , drink of this often in the night , or when you are dry or hot . to clear the stomach , and comfort it . take a pint of sherry sack , put in it two ounces of jean treacle , and four ounces of white sugarcandy , boil them into a syrup with a soft fire , and take one spoonful in the morning fasting . a plaister for the same . take a red rose cake , and toste the upper side of it at the fire , stick it thick full of cloves , and dip it in a little quantity of aqua vitae and white wine vinegar warmed very hot in a chafing-dish of coals , lay it to the stomach as hot as can be suffered , and binde it fast on all night . for a rupture . take a sheet of cap paper , wet it in water , and fold it so wet , and lay it upon the rupture , the party lying upon his back , but close up the rupture first with your fingers , and so binde it down unti● it be dry , and then it will hold and grow with the flesh , you may wear a truss upon it if you will. to procure speedy deliverance to a woman in labour with childe . take a pint of ale , and boil it , and put to it a womans milk to make a posset of it , and let the woman in travel drink it ; this hath procured easie and speedy deliverance to divers women in childe-birth . to cure a great flux or looseness of the belly . take a hard egg , and peel off the shell , and put the smaller end of it hot to the fundament or arse-hole , and when that is cold , take another such hot , fresh , hard , and peeled egg , and apply it as aforesaid . for to strengthen weak eyes . mr. stepkins take one pint of red rose water , sugarcandy one ounce , lapis tutia two drams , both finely pulverised , put them into the rose water , and stir them well together , and after it hath stood twenty four hours , wet a bit of new clean spunge in the said water , and wash the sore eyes therewith lying backward , and when the water is almost spent , put into the glass more red rose-water . a rare oyl , or st. johns-wort . take a quart of oyl olive , one pint of white wine , two handfuls of saint johns-wort stripped , seeds and all , bruise them , and put them into the oyl , and put to it oyl of turpentine two ounces ; put all into a great double glass close stopped , and set in the sun ten dayes ; then put the glass , with all that is in it , into a kettle of water , with some hay or straw in the bottom , and let the water boil gently for ten or twelve hours , then strain the hearbs from the oyl , into which oyl put as much fresh saint johns-wort and seeds bruised , and let it stand ten dayes more in the sun : this oyl will be then of a deep red colour , and will last seven years ; it is good to heal any wound , the venemous bitings of dogs or serpents , and for sprains . a glyster for a hot feaver . take one handful of french barley , boil it a while in water till it be red , then pour off the water , and put the barley into a quart of running water , with mallow and strawberry leaves , of each one handful , a few dried cammomile flowers , and a spoonful of anniseeds bruised ; then boil it half away , and strain it out , put to the liquor a sawcer of oyl olive , and four ounces of brown sugar , with four spoonsuls of syrup of violets , use it something more then luke-warm . an excellent drink to keeps ones mouth moist . take of rosemary , cinquefoil , and a stick of liquorish bruised , seethe them in a quart of fair water till half be consumed , then strain it from the hearbs , and put in sugarcandy , and let it seethe a while again , and then take it off the fire , and let the patient drink thereof cold or lu●e-warm . to stay vomiting . seethe a good quantity of cloves in ale very well , that it may be strong of the cloves , then sweeten it with sugar , and drink it warm . an excellent receipt for swounding , and bringing quickly to life . take of the common round black pepper , and bruise it a little , and take half a sheet of white paper , and fold it up together , and between every fold strew some of the same , and burn the one end thereof in the fire , and hold it to the nostrils , it is very good . against fainting . take amber and scrape it , and put it in a spoonful of hot broth , and take it in the morning fasting , or at other time when you finde your self faint , and fast an hour after . dr. lukeners medicine to strengthen the back . take a pottle of fair water , and a cock chicken , then take three french crowns weight of sassafras , as much of china wood , one dram of orango roots , one dram of marsh mallow roots , scrape and cut all these in small pieces , and put them in a close pipkin , and paste it fast , that no air come out ; and let it stand twenty four hours upon the fire and stew , but never boil ; then open the pipkin , and put in one french crowns weight of fennil-seed , and red rose leaves , borage , bugloss , and rosemary flowers , of each a small quantity , of prunes and raisins of the sun , each a handful , the bottom of a manchet , boil all these together very well till it come to a pretty thick broth , then strain it , and let the patient take of this a reasonable draught at eight in the morning , and at four in the afternoon three dayes together . to hold vrine . take the claws of a goat , and burn them to powder , and let the sick use hereof in their pottage a sooonful at once , it will help them . to stay looseness . take sage , and dry it on the fire between two dishes , and then put it in a linnen bag , and sit upon it as hot as you can suffer it , and continue it till you finde ease . a singular medicine that the marks of the small pocks be not seen . take a fat piece of beef being througly powdered , and boil it a great while , then take a good quantity of the fattest broth , and strain it , and put thereto a quantity of red rose water , and beat them well together a good while , and when the pocks begin to itch , anoint two or three times a day herewith till they be clean gone , and when the party is throughly well , let them take the broth of lean powdered beef , and mingle it with white wine , and so let them wash their face therewith , and it shall bring it to smoothness and colour , as it was before ; in any wise keep not the throat nor face too hot . to dry up the small pocks . take half a pint of new cream , and as much saffron as will make it of a deep saffron colour , and boil together half a quarter of an hour , and keep it in a glass , and when the pocks begin to wheal , warm some of the oyntment in a sawcer , and anoint them with a feather twice a day till they be dried up . dr. eaglestones cure for the small pocks or measles . take a quart of ale or beer , and seethe it in a skillet , and put thereto a good handful of fennel , and six or seven figs scraped , and cut in pieces , two good spoonfuls of anniseeds , and a little saffron , put all these to the drink , and let them seethe together till the liquor be more then half consumed , and in the of bores grease half an ounce , of sheeps suet two ounces , of neat-foot oyl two ounces , of plantane and rose water each two drams , of spike water one dram , of dragon water half an ounce , as much of borage water , and dr. stevens water , two nutmegs , twelve cloves , and some mace of the best , beat them small together , and put them into a pot , and boil it over a soft fire , untill it become a salve ; then chafe the place where the party is grieved as hot as he may suffer , and then spread it on a fine linnen cloth , and lay it upon the place six or eight dayes . the countess of mounteagles excellent medicine for the cramp . proved take a handful of the herb called perriwinkle , some of it beareth a blew flower , and some white , and also take a good handful of rosemary tops , put them into a pewter dish , and set them upon coals , dry them and turn them very often , and when they are very hot , lay them upon the place that is so taken with the cramp , and binde a cloth upon them , when you go to bed , and this will help you , take it in the morning , and lay fresh at night . a posset-drink for one that is heart sick to remove it thence , though it be the plague . take ale and make posset-drink thereof , and clarifie it , then take pimpernel , and seethe in it till it be strong of it , and drink often thereof . remedies against the falling-sickness . take powder of harts-horn , drink it with wine , it helpeth that disease : so do ravens eggs taken with the juyce of wilde rue , and the juyce of misletoe . to avoid phlegm . take clarified posset-drink , and put thereto sweet butter , the yolk of an egg , and a little small ginger , hysop , red mints and sugar ; let these seethe all together , and drink thereof first and last as warm as you can suffer it . a very good means to stay a looseness that happeneth in childe-bed . first in the water you mean to use , quench a gad of steel sundry times , then take the inward barks of the sloe , of the bramble , and of the young oak , of each a like quantity , and so much as will suffice according to the liquor you intend to make ; if you use three pints of water , a pretty handful of each bark will serve finely scraped ; when they are well boiled , that one pint is wasted , strain your liquor , and make it into almond milk , with unblanched almonds finely grown , then with well boiled ivy thicken your milk , and other rice broth , and season it with sugar and cinamon finely beaten , let the party forbear drink as much as may be , and eat thereof once in two or three hours , a little at once , as her stomach will serve . if she have any gripe in her belly , i wish this to be used , which i know to be singular good for any stoppage by sudden cold in childe-bed . gather a great deal of cammomile , and heat it well between two chargers upon a chafing-dish of coles , and when the moisture of the herb is somewhat spent , strew in a handful of bruised cummin-seed ▪ and sprinkle it now and then with a little malmsey , and so being a little dryish , put it into a thin bag , and apply it to the belly as hot as may be suffered , and as it cooleth , warm it again , till she have ease : instead of malmsey you may use muscadine . this hath been many times proved . for a knock or bruise in the face . take a piece of brown paper , and wet it in beer , and lay it where the knock is , and as it beginneth to dry , lay on fresh a good while together . for a wen. take stone lime and put it into water , till it have done boiling , then take a quantity of it , and mix it with some barrel soap , laying them both on a cloth , let it be applied to it , and it will eat away the wen. mr. potter chyrurgeon . his cure for a man that is bursten . take the roots of baked fern , and the roots of elecampane , of each a like quantity , wash and pare them clean , cut them as small as you can , and stamp them in a mortr as fine as you can , and temper it with oyl of bay , and two spoonfuls of oyl of exceter , and when you have made the salve , spread it upon his cod to his belly , and lay the plaister upon the hole , and remove it every two dayes , and then use another space of ten dayes , you must use another salve or plaister as followeth . take a quarter of a pound of 〈…〉 and the white of three or four eggs and temper them together ; and when they are well tempered , put in two spoonfuls of pescolion , temper all these together , and use the same as you did the former salve : when you take off the plaister , you must lay fine clothes under the bolster of the truss , until you think the skin be grown . a medicine to destroy warts . take radish root , and shred it thin , and put it in a pewter dish , and cast salt upon it , and cover it with another dish , and shake the slices up and down , and then take a piece thereof , and rub the warts therewith , then throw away that , and use another , so three or four times in a day . to take away corns . take hogs grease that is not tried , and beat it with a pestle , and spread it upon a piece of white cotton on the rugged side , and binde it on the corns , dressing it once or twice a day , and it will wear them away . to take away freckles or morphew . take four spoonfuls of may dew , and one spoonfull of the oyl of tartar , mingle them together , and wash the places where the freckles be , and let it dry of it self , it will clear the skin , and take away all foul spots . rise , about some four times , then take barberries , and take the outside rinde of them , and beat them into very fine powder , and take every morning and evening , and drink either a draught of the said water , or small beer after it : continue this , and it will cure you . for an ague congealed , or fallen into a womans breast . take a quantity of stone honey , and the rustiest bacon you can get , smallage , alexander , red cole , marigolds with black seeds of groundsel , plantane , and sage , of each a quantity ; put all these in a mortar and stamp them as small as you can , then lay the salve upon a piece of white leather , and to the place where you would have the breast break ; the plaister must be spread upon the rough side of the leather . an approved medicine by the lady bray for the ague falling into any part of the body . take of parsley one little handful , smallage and hemlock of each as much , chop them small , then stamp them and put thereto a quantity of barrows grease , and stamp them all together , then boil them a good space , stirring it continually until it wax green , then strain it , and when you use thereof , take some in a sawcer , and anoint the place with a feather against the fire . the lady arundels especial remedy for the stone , back , or stomach , or to make a woman conceive . take the roots of sea-holly , ( it groweth by the sea side , like little trees of half a yard long , some name them eringoes ) and make it in syrup , and eat of it in the morning fasting , and at four a clock in the afternoon , and before you take it , take some gentle pills , but once in the beginning . the lady dacres medicine proved , for the stone and stranguary . take black bramble-berries when they be red , ivie-berries , the inner ●pith of ashen keys , eglantine-berries , the nut keys , the roots of filipendula , of all these a little , acrons , and the stones of sloes , of each a like quantity , but not so much of either of these as half of any of the other , dry all these in platters in an oven , till they will be beaten to powder , then take cromel-seed , anniseed , saxifrage , alexanders , parsley , corianders , fennil-seeds , the seeds of each of these the like quantity of the first , and dried in like sort , then beat all together in the like sort to fine powder , then take liquorish fair scraped the best you can get , as much in quantity as all these , and beat it fine , and mingle it with the powder , and keep it close from the winde , and so use it morning and evening with posset ale , with time of the mount boiled in it , make your posset drink with white wine , or other drink , and when you eat any pottage or other broth , put some of the powder in it if you be sore pained , and if you have any stone , it will come away in shivers , and if it do so when you drink , your water is clear , take this drink following , and it will leave no corruption or uncleanness in the bladder . the drink . take rosemary and wilde time , and seethe them in running water with as much sugar as will make it sweet ; boil it from a quart to a pint , use the quantity of the herbs to your discretion , so that it may savour of them well , and use it nine mornings , six or seven spoonfuls at a time . mr. eldertons medicine for the extremity of the chollick and stone . take ashen keys , and dry them in an oven , take out the kernels from the husks , beat them into powder , and searse them fine , and keep it ; then take eglantine berries , dry and beat them as the other , then take of them with a feather , then searse it as above , take house-leek , dry and searse it as the other , take a little quantity of the three powders , and put them together , take anniseeds , and liquorish , of each a little quantity dry them severally and powder them ▪ being fine searsed , put them with the other three powders , a little quantity of both , and take a spoonful of these powders or less , and mingle all together , and put into it three or four spoonfuls of white wine or ale , and drink it in the morning , fasting one hour after it : thus drink it once in six dayes , or else when you are grieved , and you shall never finde pain of the cholick nor stone . the seed of great nettles must be beaten to powder , and mixt with them , and it will be better . for a pin or web in the eye far gone . take the marrow of a goose-wing , and mingle the powder of ginger therewith , dress the eye therewith two or three times a day . a medicine for the eye aching , or redness thereof . take a vial glass , and fill it full of fair running water , and put into it fine sanguis draconis , the quantity of a hazle nut , it will help the eye . for sore eyes that come from hot humors . take elder leaves , and chase between your hands , and lay it to the nape of the neck . for the pin and web in the eye , so it be taken before the sight be quite extinct . take a little handful of three leaved grass , that hath the sign of the moon in it , as much roots and leaves of dasies , and seven or eight corns of bay-salt , beat all these together , then strain them through a cloth , and take two new laid eggs , and beat the whites of them a good while , then let them stand a quarter of an hour , and then take off the froth clean , and take the clear of the whites , as much as the quantity of the juyce of the said herbs , then take the quantity of two hazle nuts of english honey and stir them together , then let the party be laid upright , and drop three drops with a feather into the eye , and lie still a good while after : this must be used at least twice a day . for red eyes , pearl , pin , or web. take verjuyce that is made of grapes , and put it morning and evening into the sore eyes ; some will put a little salt with it . dr. friers excellent remedy for heat and pimples in the face . take of plantain leaves four little handfuls , and of mallows or tansey one little handful , of cinquefoil half a little handful , and as much of strawberry leaves , there must be this quantity of every sort ; when they are pickt clean , then take a pottle of new milk hot from the cow , and put it in a still with the same herbs until it be dropped a quart , then let it drop no more ; you may keep it a whole year in a glass , when you use it wet a cloth in some of it , and wash your face at night in bed , and often in the day : the best time to still it is in may. for heat or scurf in the face . take a pint of cream , as thick as can be scummed , then take of cammomil one little handful pick , wash , and shred it very small , then put it into the cream , and let it boil very softly till it comes to an oyl , never stirring it after the putting in the herbs at first , but scum it clean when you see the oyl come to the top ; then let it boil a little faster , and then strain it through a fine linnen cloth , and then anoint the face therewith . a very good medicine for a tetter . take red dock roots , wash them , scrape them , and cut them into slices , and lay them in white wine vinegar a night or a day , and then use it to the place grieved , washing the place with the root , and the liquor many times . to skin the rawness of a womans nipple . take a deers foot , and take the marrow thereof , and anoint the nipple therewith . to dry up milk in a womans breast . take a quantity of aqua vitae , and a quantity of sweet butter , melt and temper them together , and anoint the breast therewith , laying a brown paper betwixt them , and so do as often as the paper drieth , till the milk be dried up : this is also good to keep the ague out of the breast . to make a woman have a nipple that hath none , and would give suck take a wicker bottle that hath a little mouth , and fill it full of hot water , and stop it close til the bottle be through hot , then let out the water , and set the mouth of the bottle close to the nipple ; as long as there is any heat in the bottle it will cleave fast . to heal the nipple of a womans breast . take a quantity of cream , and put it into the juyce of valerian stamped and strained , and as much of the juyce of sea-green used in like sort , boil all these together till it come to be as butter ; then take it , and put it into a box , and anoint the nipple therewith three or four times a day , and lay a walnut shell , or some other hollow thing over it to keep the clothes from it till it be whole , or else make a posset ale of alom , and lay the curd to the nipple warm , till the childe doth suck , and then lay on again . a medicine for worms in young children . take a plaister of white leather or brown paper , and spread it with honey , warm it a little against the fire , but first strew some of the best aloes succotrinae thereon , then lay it all over the stomach of the childe warm ; the like plaister is to be laid on the childes navil at the same time ; if you have no honey , mix the juyce of plantain , and lay it on the leather . dr. forsters infusion purging choller . take damask roses two ounces , or rhubarb two drams and a half , of spikenard one scruple , of orcin one scruple , cut all small , and infuse in a quart of clarified whey all night , in the morning strain gently , and put to it one ounce of syrup of roses , or syrup of violets . dr. fosters infusion purging melancholly . take fumitory , epithymum , flowers or leaves of borage and bugloss , of each a good half handful , polypody of the oak one ounce , sena half an ounce , fennil-seed two drams , whey three pints ; infuse and boil to a quart , whereunto adde two ounces of syrup of roses solutive ; the dose is half a pound , you may quicken a draught with a dram of electuary of roses . an opening purging julip , and cooling for choller and hot humors . take of barley two little handfuls , of savory with the roots , maidenhair , liverwort , sorrel , each half a good handful , of roots of grass , of fennil , each half an ounce , of the four cold seeds each two drams , boil them in a sufficient quantity of succory water unto sixteen ounces , in which infuse half an ounce of sena tamarindes , and polypody , of each three drams , jalap and hermodactils , of each two drams , fennil-seed , anniseed , and liquorish , of each one dram , currans bruised half an ounce , of borage , bugloss , and rosemary flowers , of each one dram ; infuse these warm , then boil them until five ounces of the succory water be consumed , then strain it , and adde the expression of four scruples of rhubarb infused in three ounces of manna , and syrup of roses one ounce , of the christals of tartar one dram , mingle them : the dose is four or five ounces every morning . doctor mores powder , or grosly prepared drug to be taken in mornings , and after meals , to mend concoction , comfort the brain , break winde , and make sweet breath . take liquorish cut small , anniseed comfits with one skin of sugar , of each two ounces , sweet fennil seed comfits with one skin of sugar , corianders prepared , and caroway-seed of each one ounce , of white ginger , cinamon , calamus aromaticus , and nutmegs , of each one ounce cut very small , of the lozenges of aromaticum rosatum , of manus christies ▪ with chymica , oyl of cinamon , cloves , and lozenges of d●ambra cut into small pieces , each half an ounce , to be taken about a spoonful at the time aforesaid . lucatello's balsam admirable for all wounds . take venice turpentine one pound , oyl olive three pints , sack six spoonfuls , yellow wax one pound , natural balsam half an ounce , oyl of saint johns-wort , red sanders powdered , of each one ounce , wash the venice turpentine three times in red rose-water ; then slice the wax thin , and set it on the fire in a big skillet , and when it is well molten , put the turpentine to it , and stir them well together till they boil a little , take it off the fire , and let it cool till the next day , then cut it into thick slices , and pour all the water out of it , then set it on the fire again , and when it is molten , stir it well , and put it into the aforesaid oyls , sack , balsam and sanders , and stir them well together that they may incorporate , then ●et it boil again for a short space , take it off the fire , and stir it well for the space of two hours , that it may become thick , and when it is cold , put it up in several gallipots , and when you use it , apply it tented into a deep and hollow wound , if it be onely a slit cut , anoint the wound with it , and binde it fast on with the cloth . a purge by dr. mayhern . take of the best sena six drams , of rhubarb two drams , cream of tart●r half a dram , of sweet fennil-seed as much , and a little cinamon ; infuse all these one night in half a pint of white wine , in the morning let it boil one walm or two , strain it , and put of the best manna an ounce , dissolve it over the fire , then strain it again , then put to it an ounce of salatine syrup of roses ; so drink it , fast two hours after from meat , and drink & sleep , and then drink nothing but thin broth . an approved medicine to beautifie the face , or to take away pimples or heat in the face . take a fair earthen pipkin , and put into it a pottle of clean running water , and an ounce of white mercury beaten to white powder , then set it on the fire , and let it boil until one half be consumed , and keep it close covered saving when you stir it , then take the whites of six new laid egs beaten half an hour or more , and put it into the liquor , after it is taken from the fire , you must put in also the juyce of lemons being very good , and half a pint of new milk , and a quarter of a pound of bitter almonds blanched and beaten with half a pint of damask rose-water ; strain all these together through a strainer , and let it stand three weeks before you use it , and i will warrant you fair , &c. an excellent water for the eyes that are red or full of rhume . take young hazle nuts when they are so soft , that you may thrust a pin through them , still them in a rose still , husks , shells and all , and with the water wash your eyes . to cure a wound though the patient be never so far off . take a quart of pure spring water , and put into it some roman vitriol , and let it dissolve , then if you have any blood of the wound either in linnen or woollen , or silk , put the cloth so blooded in the water , and rub the cloth once a day , and if the wound be not mortal , the blood will out , if it be , it will not . let the patient keep his wound clean , washing it with white wine ; when ever you wash the cloth , the party wounded shall sensibly finde ease : let the cloth be constantly in the water . to make oyl of swallows . take swallows as many as you can get , ten or twelve at the least , and put them quick into a mortar , and put to them lavender , cotton , spike , cammomil , knot-grass , ribwort , balm valerian , rosemary tops , woodbine tops , strings of vines , french mallows , the tops of alehoof , strawberry strings , tutsane , plantain , walnut leaves , tops of young bayes , hysop , violet leaves , sage of vertue , fine roman wormwood , brooklime , smallage , mother of time , of each of these a handful , two of cammomil , and two of red roses , beat all these together , and put thereto a quart of neats-foot oyl , or may butter , stamp them all together , and beat them with one or two ounces of cloves , and put them all together in an earthen pot , stop it very close with a piece of dough round about , so close that no air can come out ; set them nine days in a cellar , and then take them out , and boil them six or eight hours on the fire , or else in a pan of water ; but first open your pot , and put in half a pound of wax , white or yellow , whether you will , and a pint of sallet oyl , and strain them through a canvas cloth . to make lead plaister . take two pound and four ounces of the best and greenest sallet oyl , with a pound of good red lead , and a pound of white lead , beat them well into dust , then take twelve ounces of castle-sope , incorporate all these well together in a well glassed and great earthen pot , that the sope may come upwards , set it on a small fire of coals the space of one hour and a half , alwayes stirring it with an iron ball , or round pommil : then make your fire somewhat bigger until it be the colour of oyl , then drop a little on the board , and if it cleave neither to your finger nor the board , then it is enough ; then take the clothes and make them into what breadth or size you please in searcloth , let not your cloth be course , but of a reasonable new holland , and when you have dipped them , then rub them with a slick-stone , it will last two years , and the elder the better , as long as it will stick it is good . the vertues of the leaden plaister . 1. if it be laid to the stomach , it provoketh appetite , and taketh away any grief in the same . 2. if laid to the belly , it is a present remedy for the ache . 3. if laid to the reins of the back , it cureth and healeth the bloody flux , the running of the reins , heat in the liver , or weakness of the back . 4. it● healeth all bruises and swellings , it taketh away aches , it breaketh fellons , pushes , and other impostumes , and healeth them . 5. it draweth out any running humour without breaking of the skin , and being applied to the fundament , it healeth any disease there growing . 6. the same laid to the head is good for the eyes . 7. the same laid to the belly of a woman , provoketh the tearms , and maketh apt for conception . for the stone and gravel . take and dry the roots of red nettles , make them into powder , and drink a spoonful of the powder in a draught of white wine something warm , and it will break the stone , though it be never so great , with speed , use it every day until the stone and gravel be all broken and consumed . a thing of small price , and great vertue . a drink to purge the body , being very good for them that have the scurvey , or are inclined to it . take a pottle of fine running water , and a pint of rhennish wine for a young body , and for any elder , take a quart , set it on the fire , put into it three or four slices of horse radish , a great handful of water cresses , and a handful of brooklime , both a little bruised , slice in two or three oranges , outsides and insides , let them boil all together better then half an hour , then have ready a greater quantity of scurvey-grass bruised , or a pint of the juyce of scurvy-grass ready strained , and put into the liquor , and set over the fire again , then there will arise a curd , which being taken off , put it into the drink when it is cold , three or four lemons more , or less as best pleaseth the taste , sweeten it with sugar , and drink a wine draught in the morning , and at four a clock in the afternoon , and then walk and use some exercise after it . the party that hath the scurvy , and whose legs are much swelled , may put into the drink some juniper berries bruised , half an ounce , or thereabouts . dr. bates his medicine against a consumption . take liverwort two handfuls , succory six , endiffe , borage , colts-foot , of each six handfuls , shred these finely , put them in a gallon of new milk , let them steep all night , in the morning distil them in a glass still , then take three spoonfuls of red rose-water , three spoonfuls of this water ; with half a pint of red cows milk , and as much sugar of roses as will sweeten it . to make gascony powder . take the black tips of crabs claws , gotten when the sun is in cancer , pick out from within them all the fish , beat them to as fine a powder as you can , then searse it through a very fine searse , take an ounce of this powder , and put to it half an ounce of the magestical of pearl , and as much of the magestical of coral , mix them well together , then put a little rose-water in a glass , in which you must hang a little saffron in a bag , and a little musk and ambergrece in another ; let them hang in rose-water two or three dayes , till the vertue of them be gone into the water , then put your powder either into a silver porringer , or a white earthen one , and put as much of the rose-water as will moisten your powder , then dry it in the porringer by a gentle fire , and so wet your powder three or four times , and as often dry it , after this make a gelly as followeth . take a viper alive in may or june , cut off his head and tail , above the navil pull off his skin , and with a clean cloth rub it dry , and so you may hang them up , and take two of those skins , and slice them small with a little harts-horn ; and make a gelly of them , you need not make much , then when your powder is dry , wet it three or four times with this gelly , and as often dry it , and at last put no more gelly then will moisten the powder , then make it up in balls as big and as little as you please , and dry them in a stove ; and so keep them all the year . take of this powder twelve or fourteen grains , either dry , or in a spoonful of small beer , in which there is a little syrup of clove-gilly-flowers . certain plaisters and their vses . 1. emplast . deminum two pound ; it is good for all kinde of bruises , or biles , or old sores , &c. 2. emplast . mellilot two pound ; it is good for all sorts of green ▪ wounds or bruises or swellings , or to breed flesh being wanting . 3. diapalma two pound ; it is a very fine drying plaister , and a good defensive to defend wounds from inflamation , &c. 4. oxicroceum four ounces ; it is an extraordinary good warming plaister for broken bones , or any cold cause , &c. certain oyntments , and their use . 1. vnguentum dalthea one half pound ; it is good to asswage pain , dissolve swellings or hardness . 2. vnguentum populeon ; it is a great cooling oyntment for fire , or any great inflamation , or any burning . 3. vnguentum album six ounces ; a fine cooling skinning oyntment to mix with others , &c. 4. vnguentum nervinum four ounces ; it is good for all cold causes of the sinnews or joynts . 5. vnguentum tutiae two ounces , good for watring sore eyes . 6. vnguentum basilicon seven ounces , good to fill hollow ulcers with flesh , and apply a plaister on the top of it . 7. balsam two ounces good for all sorts of green wounds , being put in warm . a receipt of the oyl of st. johns-wort . take a quart of the best white wine , infuse therein pickt flowers of saint johns-wort , then stow those flowers very dry , and put in more into the same wine , infuse them again , so long that the wine be very strong and red coloured with the saint johns-wort , then strain out the wine clear from the flowers , put thereto a pint of the best sallet oyl , a quarter of an ounce of cinamon bruised , a quarter of cloves bruised , one race of very good ginger sliced , one good handful of the yellow flowers of saint johns-wort pickt very clean ; boil all these on a very soft fire , till the wine be all evaporated , when it is almost boiled , put in one good spoonful of pure oyl of turpentine , let th●t boil in it a little ; so keep it for your use , the elder the better . a queens delight : or , the art of preserving , conserving , and candying ; as also , a right knowledge of making perfumes , and distilling the most excellent waters . never before published . printed by r. wood , for nath. brooke , at the angel in cornhill , 1660. a queens delight ; of conserves , and preserves , candying and d●stilling waters . to preserve white pear-plums or green . take the plums , and cut the stalk off , and wipe them , then take the just weight of them 〈◊〉 sugar , then put them in a skillet of water , and let them stand in and scald , being close covered till they be tender , they must not seethe , when they be soft , lay them in a dish , and cover them with a cloth , and stew some of the sugar in the glass bottom , and put in the plums , strewing the sugar over till all be in , then let them stand all night , the next day put them in a pan , and let them boil apace , keeping them clean scummed , and when your plums look clear , your syrup will gelly , and they are enough . if your plums be ripe , peel off the skins before you put them in the glass ; they will be the better and clearer a great deal to dry , if you will take the plums white ; if green , do them with the rines on . to preserve grapes . take grapes when they be almost through ripe , and cut the stalks off , and stone them in the side , and as fast as you can stone them , strew sugar on them ; you must take to every pound of grapes three quarters of a pound of sugar , then take some of the sower grapes , and wring the juyce of them , and put to every pound of grapes two spoonfulls of juyce , then set them on the fire , and st●ll lift up the pan and shake it round , for fear of burning to , then set them on again , and when the sugar is melted , boil them as fast as you can possibly , and when they look very clear , and the syrup some what thick , they are enough . to preserve quinces white . take a pair and coar them , and to every pound of your equal weights in sugar and quince , take a wine pint of water ; put them together , and boil them as fast as you can uncovered ; and this way you may also preserve pipins white as you do quinces . to preserve resp●ss . take a pound of respass , a pound of fine sugar , a quarter of a pint of the juyce of respass , strew the sugar under and above the respass , sprinkle the juyce all on them , set them on a clear fire , let them boil as soft as is possible , till the syrup will gelly , then take them off , let them stand till they be cold , then put them in a glass . after this manner is the best way . to preserve pippins . take fair pippins , and boil them in fair water till they be somewhat tender ; then take them out , and peel off the skins , and put them into a fair earthen pot , and cover them till they be cold , then make the syrup with fair water and sugar , seethe it , and scum it very clean , then being almost cold , put in your pippins , so boil them softly together , put in as much rine of oranges as you think will taste them , if you have no orange take whole cinamon and cloves , so boil them high enough to keep them all the year . to preserve fruits green . take pippins , apricocks , pear-plums , or peaches when they be green , scald them in hot water , and peel them or scrape them , put them into another water not so hot as the first , then boil them very tender , take the weight of them in sugar , put to it as much water as will make a syrup to cover them ; then boil them something leasurely , and take them up , then boil the syrup till it be somewhat thick , that it will batten on a dish side , and when they are cold , put them together . to preserve oranges and lemons the best way . take and boil them as for paste , then take as much sugar as they weigh , and put to it as much water as will cover them by making a syrup , then boil them very leasurely till they be clear , then take them up , and boil the syrup till it batten on the dish side , and when they are cold put them up , &c. an approved conserve for a cough or consumption of the lungs . take a pound of elecampane roots , draw out the pith , and boil them in two waters till they be soft , when it is cold put to it the like quantity of the pap of rosted pippins , and three times their weight of brown sugarcandy beaten to powder ; stamp these in a mortar to a conserve , whereof take every morning fasting as much as a walnut for a week or fortnight together , and afterwards but three times a week . approved . to make a conserve of any of these frnits . when you have boiled your paste as followeth , ready to fashion on the pie-plate , put it up into gallipots , and never dry it , and this is all the difference between conserves . and so you may make conserves of any fruits , this for all hard fruits , as quinces , pippins , oranges and lemons . to dry any fruits after they are preserved , or candy them . take pippins , pears or plums , and wash them out in warm water from the syrup they are preserved in , strew them over with searsed sugar , as you would do flower upon fish to fry them ; set them in a broad earthen pan , that they may lie one by one ; then set them in a warm oven or stove to dry . if you will candy them withal , you must strew on sugar three or four times in the drying . to preserve artichocks young , green walnuts and lemons , and the elecampane roots , or any bitter thing . take any of these , and boil them tender , and shift them in their boiling six or seven times to take away their bitterness , out of one hot water into another , then put a quart of salt unto them , then take them up and dry them with a fair cloth , the● put them into as much clarified 〈◊〉 as will cover them , then let the● boil a walm or two , and so let them 〈◊〉 soaking in the sugar til the next 〈◊〉 , then take them up , and boil the sugar a little higher by it self , and when they are cold put them up . let you● green walnuts be prickt full of holes with a great pin ▪ and let them not be long in one water , for that will make them look black ; being boiled tender , stick two or three cloves in each of them . 〈…〉 elecampane roots , being 〈…〉 , and shifted in their boil● 〈…〉 times , then dry them 〈◊〉 ●loth , and so boil them as i● above written , take half so much more then it doth weigh , because it is bitter , &c. to preserve quinces white or red . take the quinces , and coar them , and pare them , those that you will have white , put them into a pale of water two or three hours , then take as much sugar as they weigh , put to it as much water as will make a syrup to cover them , then boil your syrup a little while , then put your quinces in , and boil them as fast as you can , till they be tender and clear , then take them up , and boil the syrup a little higher by it self , and being cold put them up . and if you will have them red , put them raw into sugar , and boil them leasurely close covered till they be red , and put them not into cold water . to preserve grapes . take the clusters , and stone them as you do barberries , then take a little more sugar then they weigh , put to it as much apple water as will make a syrup to cover them , then boil them as you do cherries , as fast as you can , till the syrup be thick , and being cold pot it . thus may you preserve barberries or english currans , or any kinde of berries . to preserve pippins , apricocks , pear-plums , and peaches when they are ripe . take pippins and pare them , bore a hole through them , and put them into a pale of water , then take as much sugar as they do weigh , and put it to as much water as will make a syrup to cover them , and boil them as fast as you can , so that you keep them from breaking , until they be tender , that you may prick a rush through them : let them be a soaking till they be almost cold , then put them up . your apricocks and peaches must be stoned , and not pared , but the pear-plums must not be stoned nor pared . then take a little more sugar then they weigh , then take as much apple-water and sugar as will make a syrup for them , then boil them as you do your pippins , and pot them as you do the pippins likewise , &c. to preserve pippins , apricocks , pear-plums , or peaches green . take you pippins green and quoddle them in fair water , but let the water boil first before you put them in , and you must shift them in two hot waters before they will be tender , then pull off the skin from them , and so case them in so much clarified sugar as will cover them , and so boil them as fast as you can , keeping them from breaking , then take them up , and boil the syrup until it be as thick as for quiddony ; then pot them , and pour the sirup into them before they be cold . take your apricocks and pear-plums , and boil them tender , then take as much sugar as they do weigh , and take as much water as will make the syrup , take your green peaches before they be stoned , and thrust a pin through them , and then make a strong water of ashes , and cast them into the hot standing lie to take off the fur from them , then wash them in three or four waters warm , so then put them into so much clarified sugar as will candy them ; so boil them , and put them up , &c. to dry pippins or pears without sugar . take pippins or pears and prick them full of holes with a bodkin , and lay them in sweet wort three or four dayes , then lay them on a sieves bottom till they be dry in an oven , but a drying heat . this you may do to any tender plum. to make syrup of clove gilly-flowers . take a quart of water , half a bushel of flowers , cut off the whites , and with a sieve sift away the seeds , bruise them a little ; let your water be boiled , and a little cold again , then put in your flowers , and let them stand close covered twenty four hours ; you may put in but half the flowrs at a time , the strength will come out the better ; to that liquor put in three pound of sugar , let it lie in all night , next day boil it in a gallipot , set it in a pot of water , and there let it boil till all the sugar be melted , and the syrup be pretty thick , then take it out , and let it stand in that till it be through cold , then glass it . to make syrup of hysop for colds . take a handful of hysop , of figs , raisins , dates , of each an ounce , of collipint half an handful , french barley one ounce , boil therein three pints of fair water to a quart , strain it and clarifie it with two whites of eggs , then put in two pound of fine sugar , and boil it to a syrup . to make orange water . take a pottle of the best malligo sack , and put in as many of the peels of oranges as will go in , cut the white clean off , let them steep twenty four hours ; still them in a glass still , and let the water run into the receiver upon fine sugar-candy ; you may still it in an ordinary still . to dry cherries . take a pound of sugar , dissolve it in thin fair water , when it is boiled a little while , put in your cherries after they are stoned , four pound to one pound of sugar , let them lie in the sugar three dayes , then take them out of the syrup and lay them on sieves one by one , and set them before the sun upon stools , turn them every day , else they will mould when they look of a dark red colour , and are dry , then put them up . and so you may do any manner of fruit . in the sun is the best drying of them ; put into the syrup some juyce of rasps . to make juyce of liquorish . take english liquorish , and stamp it very clean , bruise it with a hammer , and cut it in small pieces ; to a pound of liquorish thus bruised , put a quart of hysop water , let them soak together in an earthen pot a day and a night , then pull the liquorish into small pieces , and lay it in soak again two dayes more ; then strain out the liquorish , and boil the liquor a good while . stir it often ; then put in half a pound of sugar-candy , or loaf sugar finely beaten , four grains of musk , as much ambergreece , bruise them small with a little sugar ; then boil them together till it be good and thick , still have a care you burn it not ; then put it out in glass plates , and make it into round rolls , and set it in a drying place till it be stiff , that you may work it into rolls to be cut as big as barley corns , and so lay them on a place again : if it be needful strew on the place a little sugar to prevent thickning ; so dry them still if there be need , and if they should be too dry , the heat of the fire will soften them again . a perfume for clothes , gloves . take of linet two grains , of musk three , of ambergreese four , and the oyl of bems a pretty quantity ; grinde them all upon a marble stone fit for that purpose ; then with a brush or spunge rake them over , and it will sweeten them very well ; your gloves or jerkins must first be washed in old red rose-water , and when they are a most dry , stretch them forth smooth , and lay on the perfumes . to make almond bisket . take the whites of four new laid eggs , and two yolks , then beat it well for an hour together , then have in readiness a quarter of a pound of the best almonds blanched in cold water , and beat them very small with bosewart for fear of oyling ; then have a pound of the best loaf sugar finely beaten , beat that in the eggs a while , then put in your almonds , and five or six spoonfuls of the finest flower , and so bake them together upon paper or plates , you may have a little fine sugar in a piece of tiffany to dust them over as they be in the oven , so bake them as you do bisket . to make conserve of roses boiled . take a quart of red rose-water , a quart of fair water , boil in the water a pound of red rose leaves , the whites cut off , the leaves must be boiled very tender ; then take three pound of sugar , and put to it a pound at a time , and let it boil a little between every pound , so put it up in your pots . to make conserves of roses unboiled . take a pound of red rose leaves , the whites cut off , stamp them very fine , take a pound of sugar , and beat in with the roses , and put it in a pot , and cover it with leather , and set it in a cool place . to dry apricocks . first stone them , then weigh them , take the weight of them in double refined sugar , make the syrup with so much water as will wet them , and boil it up so high , that a drop being dropped on a plate it will slip clean off , when it is cold ; then put in your apricocks being pared , whilest your syrup is hot , but it must not be taken off the fire before you put them in , then turn them in the syrup often , then let them stand three quarters of an hour ; then take them out of the syrup , and tie them up in tiffanies , one in a tiffany or more , as they be in bigness , and whilest you are tying them up , set the syrup on the fire to heat , but not to boil , then put your apricocks into the syrup , and set them on a quick fire , and let them boil as fast as you can , skim them clean , and when they look clear , take them from the fire , and let them lie in the syrup till the next day , then set them on the fire to heat , but not to boil ; then set them by till the next day , and lay them upon a clean sieve to drain , and when they are well drained , take them out of the tiffanies , and so dry them in a stove , or better in the sun with glasses over them , to keep them from the dust . to make quinces for pies . wipe the quinces , and put them into a little vessel of small beer when it hath done working ; stop them close that no air can get in , and this will keep them fair all the year , and good . the best way to break sweet powder . take of orrice one pound , calamus a quarter of a pound , benjamin one half pound , storax half a pound , civet a quarter of an ounce , cloves a quarter of a pound , musk one half ounce , oyl of orange flowers one ounce , lignum aloes one ounce , rosewood a quarter of a pound , ambergreese a quarter of an ounce . to every pound of roses put a pound of powder ; the bag must be of taffaty , or else the powder will run through . to make excellent perfumes . take a quarter of a pound of damask rose-buds cut clean from the whites , stamp them very small , put to them a good spoonful of damask rose-water , so let them stand close stopped all night , then take one ounce and a quarter of benjamin finely beaten , and also searsed , ( if you will ) twenty grains of civit , and ten grains of musk ; mingle these with the roses , beating them well together , then make it up in little cakes between rose leaves , and dry them between sheets of paper . to make a very good pomatum . take the fat of a young dog one pound , it must be killed well , that the blood settle not into the fat , then let the outer skin be taken off before it be opened , lest any of the hair come to the fat , then take all the fat from the inside , and assoon as you take it off fling it into conduit-water ; and if you see the second skin be clear , peel it , and water it with the other ; be sure it cools not out of the water : you must not let any of the flesh remain on it , for then the pomatum will not keep . to one pound of this fat take two pound of lambs caule , and put it to the other in the water , and when you see it is cold , drain it from the water in a napkin , and break it in little pieces with your fingers , and take out all the little veins ; then take eight ounces of oyl of tartar , and put in that first , stirring it well together , then put it into a gallon of conduit-water , and let it stand till night ; shift this with so much oyl and water , morning and evening seven dayes together , and be sure you shift it constantly ; and the day before you mean to melt it wring it hard by a little at a time , and be sure the oyl and water be all out of it , wring the water well out of it with a napkin every time you shift it ; then put in three pints of rose-water ; let it stand close covered twelve hours , then wring out that , and put in a pint of fresh rose-water into a high gallipot with the feces ; then tie it close up , and set it in a pot of water , and let it boil two hours , then take it out , and strain it into an earthen pan , let it stand till it is cold ; then cut a hole in it , and let out the water , then scrape away the bottom , and dry it with a cloth , and dry the pan ; melt it in a chafing-dish of coals , or in the gallipots ; beat it so long , till it look very white and shining ; then with your hand fling it in fine cakes upon white paper , and let it lie till it be cold , then put it into gallipots . this will be very good for two or three years . to make raisin wine . take two pound of raisins of the sun shred , a pound of good powdered sugar , the juyce of two lemons , one pill , put these in an earthen pot with a top , then take two gallons of water , let it boil half an hour , then take it hot from the fire , and put it into the pot , and cover it close for three or four dayes , stirring it twice a day , being strained , put it into bottles , and stop it very close , in a fortnight or three weeks it may be drunk ; you may put in cloves , gilly-flowers , or cowslips , as the time of the year is when you make it ; and when you have drawn this from the raisins , and bottled it up , heat two quarts of water more put it to the ingredients , and let it stand as aforesaid . this will be good , but smaller then the other , the water must be boiled as the other . to make rasberry wine . take a gallon of good rhennish wine , put into it as much rasberries very ripe as will make it strong , put it in an earthen pot , and let it stand two days , then pour your wine from your rasberries , and put into every bottle two ounces of sugar . stop it up , and keep it by you . the best way to preserve cherries . take the best cherries you can get , and cut the stalks something short , then for every pound of these cherries take two pound of other cherries , and put them of their stalks and stones , put to them ten spoonfuls of fair water , and then set them on the fire to boil very fast till you see that the colour of the syrup be like pale claret wine , then take it off the fire , and drain them from the cherries into a pan to preserve in . take to every pound of cherries a quarter of sugar , of which take half , and dissolve it with the cherry-water drained from the cherries , and keep them boiling very fast till they will gelly in a spoon , and as you see the syrup thin , take off the sugar that you kept finely beaten , and put it to the cherries in the boiling ; the faster they boil , the better they will be preserved , and let them stand in a pan till they be almost cold . a tincture of ambergreese . take ambergreese one ounce , musk two drams , spirit of wine half a pint , or as much as will cover the ingredients two or three fingers breadth , put all into a glass , stop it close with a cork and bladder ; set it in horse dung ten or twelve dayes , then pour off gently the spirit of wine , and keep it in a glasse close stopt , then put more spirit of wine on the ambergreece , and do as before ; then pour it off , after all this the ambergreese will serve for ordinary uses . a drop of this will perfume any thing , and in cordials it is very good . to make vsquebath the best way . take two quarts of the best aqua vitae , four ounces of scraped liquorish , and half a pound of sliced raisins of the sun , anniseeds four ounces , dates and figs , of each half a pound sliced nutmeg , cinnamon , ginger , of each half an ounce : put these to the aqua vitae , stop it very close , and set it in a cold place ten dayes , stirring it twice a day with a stick , then strain or sweeten it with sugareandy ; after it is strained ▪ let it stand till it be clear , then put into the glass musk and ambergreece ; two grains is sufficient for this quantity . to preserve cherries with a quarter of their weight in sugar . four pound of cherries , one pound of sugar , beat your sugar and strew a little in the bottom of your skillet , then pull off the stalks and stones of your cherries , and cut them cross the bottom with a knife ; let the juyce of the cherries run upon the sugar ; for there must be no other liquor but the juyce of the cherries ; cover your cherries over with one half of your sugar , boil them very quick ; when they are half boi●ed , but in the remainder of your sugar ; when they are almost enough , put in the rest of the sugar ; you must let them boil till they part in sunder like marmalade , stirring them continually , so put them up hot into your warm marmalade glasses . to make gelly of pippins . take pippins , and pare them , and quarter them , and put as much water to them as will cover them , and let them boil till all the vertue of the pippins are out ; then strain them , and take to a pint of that liquor a pound of sugar , and cut long threads of orange peels , and boil in it , then take a lemon , and pare●● and slice it very thin , and boil it 〈◊〉 ten or quor a little thin ; take them out , and lay them in the bottom of your glass , and when it is boiled to a gelly , pour it on the lemons in the glass . you must boil the oranges in two or three waters before you boil it in the gelly . to make apricock cakes . take the fairest apricocks you can get , and parboil them very tender , then take off the pulp and their weight of sugar , and boil the sugar and apricocks together very fast ; stir them ever lest they burn to , and when you can see the bottom of the skillet it is enough , then put them into cards sowed round , and dust them with fine sugar , and when they are cold stone them , then turn them , and fill them up with some more of the same stuff ; but you must let them stand for three or four dayes before you turn them off the first place ; and when you finde they begin to candy , take them out of the cards , dust them with sugar again ; so do even when you turn them . to preserve barberries the best way . first stone them and weigh them , half a pound of sugar to half a pound of them ▪ then pare them and slice them into that liquour , take the weight of it in sugar ; then take as many rasberries as will ●●●lour it , and strain them into the liq●●● then put in the sugar , boil it as fast as you can , then skim it till it be very clear ▪ then put in your barberries , and 〈◊〉 sugar you weighed , and so let them boil till the skin be fully risen up , then take them off , and skin them very clean , and put them up . to make lozenges of red roses . boil your sugar to sugar again , then put in your red roses being fi●ely beaten , and made moist with the juyce of a lemmon , let it not boil after the roses are in , but pour it upon a pye-plate , and cut it into what form you please . to make chips of quinces . first scald them very well , then slice them into a dish , and pour a candy syrup to them scalding hot , and let them stand all night , then lay them on plates , and searse sugar on them , and turn them every day , and scrape more sugar on them till they be dry . if you would have them look clear , heat them in syrup , but not to boil . to make sugar of wormwood , mint , anniseed , or any other of that kinde . take double refined sugar , and do but wet it in fair water , or rose-water , and boil it to a candy , when it is almost boiled take it off , and stir it till it be cold ; then drop in three or four drops of the oyls of whatsoever you will make , and stir it well ; then drop it on a board , being before ●ifted with sugar . to make syrup of lemons or citrons . pare off all the rindes , then slice your lemons very thin , and lay a lare of sugar finely beaten , and a lare of lemons in a silver bason till you have fitted it , or as much as you mean to make , and so let it stand all night ; the next day pour off the liquor that runs from it into a glass through a tiffany strainer . be sure you put sugar enough to them at the first , and it will keep a year good , if it be set up well . to make jumbals of apricocks or quinces . take apricocks or quinces , and quoddle them tender , then take their pulp and dry it in a dish over a cha●ing-dish of coals , and set it in a stove for a day or two ; then beat it in a stone mortar , putting in as much sugar as will make a stiff paste ; then colour it with saunders , cochinele or blew starch , and make it up in what colour you please , rowl them with battle-doors into long pieces , and tye them up in knots , and so dry them . to make cherry-water . take nine pound of cherries , pull out the stones and stalks , break them with your hand , and put them into nine pints of claret wine , take nine ounces of cinamon , and three nutmegs , bruise them , and put them into this , then take of rosemary and balm , of each half a handful , of sweet marjoram a quarter of an handful ; put all these with the aforenamed into an earthen pot well leaded ; so let them stand to infuse twenty four hours , stirring it once in four or five hours ; so distill it in a limbeck , keeping the strongest water by it self , put some sugar finely beaten into your glasses . if your first water be too strong , put some of the second to it as you use it . if you please you may tie some musk , and ambergreese in a rag , and hang it by a thread in your glass . to make orange cakes . take oranges and pare them as thin as you can , then take out the meats clean , and put them in water ; let them lie about an hour , shift the water , and boil them very tender in three or four waters then put them up , and dry them on a cloth : mince them as small as you can , then put them into a dish , and squeeze all the juyce of the meat into them , and let them stand till the next day , take to every pound of these a pound and a quarter of double refined sugar . boil it with a spoonful of water at the bottome to keep it from burning till it be sugar again ; then put in your oranges , and let them stand and dry on the fire , but not boil ; then put them on glass plates , and put them in a stove , the next day make them into cakes , and so dry them as fast as you can . to preserve oranges the french way . take twelve of the fairest oranges and best coloured , and if you can get them with smooth skins they are the better , and lay them in conduit water six dayes , and nights , shifting them into fresh water morning and evening ; then boil them very tender , and with a knife pare them very thin , rub them with salt , when you have so done , core them with a coring iron , taking out the meat and seeds ; then rub them with a dry cloth till they be clean , and to every pound of oranges a pound and half of sugar , and to a pound of sugar a pint of water ; then mingle your sugar and water well together in a large skillet or pan ; beat the whites of three eggs , and put that into it , then set it on the fire , and let it boil till it rises , and strain it through a napkin ; then set it on the fire again , and let it boil till the syrup be thick , then put in yonr oranges , and make them seethe as fast as you can , now and then putting in a piece of fine loaf sugar the bigness of a walnut , when they have boiled near an hour , put into them a pint of apple water : then boil them apace , and half a pint of white wine , this should be put in before the apple water , when your oranges are very clear , and your sirup so thick that it will gelly , ( which you may know by setting them to cool in a spoon ) when they are ready to be taken off from the fire ; then put in the juyce of eight lemons warm into them , then put them into an earthen pan , and so let them stand till they be cold , then put every orange in a several glass or pot ; if you do but six oranges at a time , it is the better . to preserve green plum ▪ the greatest 〈◊〉 plum is the best , which will 〈…〉 in the midst of july , gather them about that time , or later , as they grow in bigness , but you must not suffer them to turn yellow , for then they never be of good colour ; being gathered , lay them in water for the space of 12. hours , and when you gather them , wipe them with a clean linnen cloth , and cut off a little of the stalks of every one ; then set two skillets of water on the fire , and when one is scalding hot put in your plums , and take them from the fire , and cover them , and let them rest for the space of a quarter of an hour ; then take them up , and when your other skillet of water doth boil , put them into it ; let them but stay in it a very little while , and so let the other skillet of water , wherein they were first boiled , be set to the fire again , and make it to boil , and put in you plums as before , and then you shall see them rivet over , and yet your plums very whole ; then while they be hot , you must with your knife scrape away the riveting ; then take to every pound of plums a pound and two ounces of sugar finely beaten , then set a pan with a little fair water on the fire , and when it boils , put in your plums , and let them seethe half a quarter of an hour till you see the colour wax green , then set them off the fire a quarter of an hour , and take a handful of sugar that is weighed , and strow it in the bottom of the pan wherein you will preserve , and so put in your plums one by one , drawing the liquor from them , and cast the rest of your sugar on them ; then set the pan on a moderate fire , letting them boil continually but very softly , and in three quarters of an hour they will be ready , as you may perceive by the greenness of your plums , and thickness of your syrup , which if they be boiled enough , will gelly when it is cold ; then take up your plums , and put them into a gallipot , but boil your syrup a little longer , then strain it into some vessel , and being blood-warm , pour it upon your plums , but stop not the pot before they be cold . note also you must preserve them in such a pan , as they may lie one by another , and turn of themselves ; and when they have been five or six dayes in the syrup , that the syrup grow thin , you may boil it again with a little sugar , but put it not to your plums till they be cold . they must have three scaldings , and one boiling . to dry plums . take three quarters of a pound of sugar to a pound of black pear-plums , or damsins , slit the plums in the crest , lay a lay of sugar with a lay of plums , and let them stand all night ; if you stone the plums , fill up the place with sugar , then boil them but gently till they be very tender , without breaking the skins ; take them into an earthen or silver dish , and boil your syrup afterwards for a gelly , then pour it in your plums scalding hot , and let them stand two or three dayes , then let them be put to the oven after you draw your bread , so often until your syrrup be dried up , and when you think they are almost dry , lay them in a sieve , and pour some scalding water on them , which will run through the sieve , and set them in an oven afterwards to dry . to preserve cherries the best way , bigger then they grow naturally , &c. take a pound of the smallest cherries , and boil them tender in a pint of fair water , then strain the liquor from the substance , then take two pound of good cherries , and put them in a preserving pan with a lay of cherries , and a lay of sugar : then pour the syrup of the other cherries about them , and so let them boil as fast as you can with a quick fire , that the syrup may boil over them , and when your syrup is thick and of good colour , then take them up , and let them stand a cooling by partitions one from another , and being cold you may pot them up . to preserve damsins , red plums or black . take your plums newly gathered , and take a litle more sugar then they do weigh , then put to it as much water as will cover them ; then boil your syrup a little while , and so let it cool , then put in your damsins or plumbs , then boil them leasurely in a pot of seething water till they be tender , then being almost cold pot them up . to dry pippins or pears . take your pippins , pears , apri●●●ks , pare them , and lay them in a broad earthen pan one by one , and so rowl them in searsed sugar as you flower fried fish ; put them in an oven as hot as for manchet , and so take them out , and turn them as long as the oven is hot ; when the oven is of a drying heat , lay them upon a paper , and dry them on the bottom of a sieve ; so you may do the least plum that is . to dry pippins or pears another way . take pippins or pears , and lay them in an earthen pan one by one , and when they be baked plump and not broken , then take them out , and lay them up , and lay them upon a paper , then lay them on a sieves bottom , and dry them as you did before . to dry apricocks tender . take the ripest of the apricocks , pare them , put them into a silver or earthen skillet , and to a pound of apricocks put three quarters of a pound of sugar , set your apricocks over your fire ; stirring them till they come to a pulp , and set the sugar in another skillet by boiling it up to a good height , then take all the apricocks , and stir them round till they be well mingled , then let it stand till it be something cold and thick , then put it into cards , being cut of the fashion of an apricock , and laid upon glass plates ; fill the cards half full , then set them in your stove ; but when you finde they are so dry that they are ready to turn , then provide as much of your pulp as you had before , and to put to every one a stove when they are turned , ( which you must have said before ) and pour the rest of the pulp upon them , so set them into your stove , turning them till they be dry . to dry plums . take a pound of sugar to a pound of plums , pare them , scald your plums , then lay your plums upon a sieve till the water be drained from them , boil your sugar to a candy height , and then put your plums in whilest your syrup is hot , so warm them every morning for a week , then take them out , and put them into your stove and dry them . to dry apricocks . take your apricocks , pare and stone them , then weigh half a pound of sugar to a pound of apricocks , then take half that sugar , and make a thin sirup , and when it boileth , put in the apricocks , then scald them in that sirup ; then take them off the fire , and let them stand all night in that syrup , in the morning take them out of that syrup , and make another syrup with the other half of the sugar , then put them in , and preserve them till they look clear ; but be sure you do not do them so much as those you keep preserved without drying ; then take them out of that syrup , and lay them on a piece of plate till they ▪ be cold ; then take a skillet of fair water , and when the water boils take your apricocks one after another in a spoon , and dip them in the water first on one side , and then on the other ; not letting them go out of the spoon : you must do it very quick , then put them on a piece of a plate , and dry them in a stove , turning them every day ; you must be sure that your stove or cubboard where you dry them , the heat of it be renewed three times a day with a temperate drying heat until they be something dry , then afterwards turn once as you see cause . conserves of violets the italian manner . take the leaves of blew violets separated from their stalks and greens , beat them very well in a stone mortar , with twice their weight of sugar , and reserve them for your use in a glass vessel . the vertue . the heat of choler it doth mitigate , extinguisheth thirst , asswageth the belly , and helpeth the throat of hot hurts , sharp droppings , and driness , and procureth rest . it will keep one year . conserves of red roses the italian manner . take fresh red roses not quite ripe , beat them in a stone mortar , mix them with double their weight of sugar , and put them in a glass close stopped , being not full , let them remain before you use them three moneths , stirring of them once a day . the vertue . the stomach , heart , and bowels it cooleth , and hindered vapours , the spiting of blood and corruption for the most part ( being cold ) it helpeth . it will keep many years . conserve of borage flowers after the italian manner . take fresh borage flowers cleansed well from their heads four ounces , fine sugar twelve ounces , beat them well together in a stone mortar , and keep them in a vessel well placed . the vertues are the same with bugloss flowers . conserve of rosemary flowers after the italian manner . take new rosemary flowers one pound , of white sugar one pound ; so beat them together in a marble mortar with a wooden pestle , keep it in a gallipot , or vessel of earth well glassed , or in one of hard stone . it may be preserved for one year or two . the vertues . it comforteth the heart , the stomach , the brain , and all the nervous parts of the body . conserve of betony after the italian way . betony new and tender one pound , the best sugar three pound , beat them very small in a stone mortar , let the sugar be boiled with two pound of betony-water to the consistence of a syrup , at length mix them together by little and little over a small fire , and make a conserve , which keep in a glass . the vertues . it helpeth the cold pains of the head , purgeth the stomach and womb ; it helpeth stoniness of the reins , and furthereth conception . conserve of sage . take new flowers of sage one pound , sugar one pound ; so beat them together very small in a marble mortar , put them in a vessel well glassed and steeped , set them in the sunne , stir them daily ; it will last one year . the vertues , it is good in all cold hurts of the brain , it refresheth the stomach , it openeth obstructions , and takes away superfluous and hurtful humours from the stomach . conserve of the flower of lavander . take the flowers being new , so many as you please , and beat them with three times their weight of white sugar , after the same manner as rosemary flowers ; they will keep one year . the vertues . the brain , the stomach , liver , spleen , and womb it maketh warm , and is good in the suffocation of the womb , hardness of the spleen , and for the apoplex . conserve of marjoram . the conserve is prepared as betony ; it keepeth a year . the vertues . it is good against the coldnesse , moistnesse of the brain , and stomach , and it strengtheneth the vital spirits . conserve of piony after the italian way . in the spring take of the flowers fresh half a pound , sugar one pound , beat them together in a good stone mortar , then put them in a glass , and set them in the sun for three moneths , stirring them daily with a wooden spathula . the vertues . it is good against the falling-sickness , and giddiness of the head , it cleanseth the reins and bladder . touching candies , as followeth . to candy rosemary flowers in the sun. take gum-dragon , and steep it in rose-water , then take the rosemary flowers , good coloured , and well pickt , and wet them in the water that your gum dragon is steeped in , then take them out , and lay them upon a paper , and strew fine sugar over them ; this do in the hot sun , turning them , and strewing sugar on them , till they are candied , and so keep them for your use . to make sugar of roses . take the deepest coloured red roses , pick them , cut of the white bottoms , and dry your red leaves in an oven , till they be as dry as possible , then beat them to powder and searse them , then take half a pound of sugar beaten fine , put it into your pan with as much fair water as will wet it ; then set it in a chafing-dish of coals , and let it boil till it be sugar again ; then put as much powder of roses that will make it look very red , stir them well together , and when it is almost cold , put it into pales , and when it is throughly cold , take them off , and put them in boxes . to candy pippins , pears , apricocks , or plums . take any of these fruits being pared , and strew upon them , as you do flower upon frying fish ; then lay them on a board in a pewter dish , so put them into an oven as hot as for manchet ; as the liquor comes from them , pour forth , turn them , and strew more sugar on them , and sprinkle rose water on them , thus turning and sugaring of them three or four times , till they be almost dry , then lay them on a lettice wire , or on the bottom of a sieve in a warm oven , after the bread is drawn out , till they be full dry : so you may keep them all the year . to candy or clear rockandy flowers . take spices , and boil them in a syrup of sugar , then put in the flowers , boil them till they be stiff ; when you spread them on a paper , lay them on round wiers in an earthen pan , then take as much hard sugar as will fill your pan , and as much water as will melt the sugar , that is half a pint to every pound ; then beat a dozen spoonfuls of fair water , and the white of an egg in a bason , with a birchin rod till it come to a froth , when your sugar is all melted and boiled , put the froth of the egg in the hot sirup , and as it riseth , drop in a little cold water ; so let it boil a little while , then scum it , then boil it to a candy height , that is , when you may draw it in small threads between your finger and your thumb : then pour forth all your syrup that will run from it in your pan , then set it a drying one hour or two , which done , pick up the wiers , and take off the flowers , and lay them on papers , and so dry them . to candy spanish flowers . take the blossoms of divers sorts of flowers , and make a syrup of water and sugar , and boil it very thick , then put in your blossoms , and stir them in their boiling , till it turn to sugar again , then stir them with the back of a spoon , till the sugar fall from it ; so may you keep them for sallets all the year . to candy grapes , cherries or barberries . take any of these fruits , and strew fine sifted sugar on them , as you do flower on frying fish , lay them on a lettice of wier in a deep earthen pan , and put them into an oven as hot as for manchet , then take them out , and turn them and sugar them again , and sprinkle a little rose-water on them , pour the syrup forth as it comes from them , thus turning and sugaring them till they be almost dry , then take them out of the earthen pan , and lay them on a lettice of wier upon two billets of wood in a warm oven , after the bread is drawn , till they be dry and well candied . to candy suckets of oranges , lemons , citrons , and angelica . take , and boil them in fair water tender , and shift them in three boilings , six or seven times , to take away their bitterness , then put them into as much sugar as will cover them , and so let them boil a walm or two , then take them out , and dry them in a warm oven as hot as manchet , and being dry , boil the sugar to a candy height , and so cast your oranges into the hot sugar , and take them out again suddenly , and then lay them upon a lettice of wier on the bottom of a sieve in a warm oven after the bread is drawn , still warming the oven till it be dry , and they will be well candied . to candy the orange roots take the orange roots being well and tenderly boiled , petch them and peel them , and wash them out of two or three waters ; then dry them well with a fair cloth , then pot them together two or three in a knot , then put them into as much clarified sugar as will cover , and so let them boil leasurely , turning them until you see the sugar drunk up into the root ; then shaking them in the bason to sunder the knots ; and when they wax dry , take them up suddenly , and lay them on sheets of white paper , and so dry them before the fire an hour or two , and they will be well candied . candy orange peels after the italian way . take orange peels so often steeped in cold water , as you think convenient for their bitterness , then dry them gently , and candy them with some convenient syrrup made with sugar ; some that are more grown , take away that spongious white under the yellow peels , others do both together . the vertues , they corroborate the stomach and heart . to candy citrons after the spanish way . take citron peels so large as you please , the inner part being taken away , let them be steeped in a clear lay of water and ashes for nine dayes , and shift them the fifth day , afterward wash them in fair water , till the bitterness be taken away , and that they grow sweet , then let them be boiled in fair water till they grow soft , the watery part being taken away , let them be steeped in a vessel of stone twenty four hours , with a julip made of white sugar , and three parts water , after let them be boiled upon a gentle fire , to candness of penidies or paste ; being taken out of that , let them be put in a glass vessel , one by one , with the julip of roses made somewhat hard , or with sugar ; some do adde amber and musk to them . the vertues . it comforteth the stomach and heart , it helpeth concoction . candied cherries the italian wy . take cherries before they are full ripe , the stones taken out , put clarified sugar boiled to a height , then pour it on them . chicory roots candied the italian way . take chicory new and green , the outward bark being taken away , then before they be candied , let them be cut in several parts , and gently boiled , that no bitterness may remain , then set them in the air placed severally , and put sugar to them boiled to a height . touching marmalets , and quiddony , as followeth . to make marmalet of damsins . take two quarts of damsins that be through ripe , and pare off the skins of three pints of them , then put them into an earthen pipkin , those with the skins undermost ; then set the pipkin into a pot of seething water , and let the water seethe apace untill the damsins be tender . cover the pipkin close , that no water gets into them ; and when they are tender , put them out into an earthen pan , and take out all the stones and skins , then weigh them , and take the weight with hard sugar , then break the sugar fine , and put it into the damsins , then set it on the fire , and make it boil apace till it will come from the bottom of the skillet , then take it up , and put it into a glass , but scum it clear in the boiling . to make white marmalet of quinces . take unpared quinces , and boil them whole in fair water , peel them and take all the pap from the coar , to every pound thereof adde three quarters of a pound of sugar , boil it well till it come well from the pans bottom , then put it into boxes . to make marmalet of any tender plum. take your plums , and boil them between two dishes on a chafing-dish of coals , then strain it , and take as much sugar as the pulp do weigh , and put to it as much rose-water , and fair water as will melt it , that is , half a pint of water to a pound of sugar , and so boil it to a candy height , then put the pulp into hot sugar , with the pap of a roasted apple . in like manner you must put roasted apples to make paste royal of it , or else it will be tough in the drying . to make orange marmalet . take oranges , pare them as thin as you can , boil them in four severall waters , let them be very soft before you take them out , then take two quarts of spring-water , put thereto twenty pippins pared , quartered and coared , let them boil till all the vertue be out ; take heed they do not lose the colour ; then strain them , put to every pint of water a pound of sugar , boil it almost to a candy height , then take out all the meat out of the oranges , slice the peel in long slits as thin as you can , then put in your peel with the juyce of two lemmons , and one half orange , then boil it to a candy . to make quiddony of pippins , of ruby , or any amber colour . take pippins , and cut them in quarters , and pare them , and boil them with as much fair water as will cover them , till they be tender , and sunk into the water , then strain all the liquor from the pulp , then take a pint of that liquor and half a pound of sugar , and boil it till it be a quaking gelly on the back of a spoon ; so then pour it on your moulds , being taken out of fair water ; then being cold , turn them on a wet trencher , and so slide them into the boxes , and if you would have it ruddy colour , then boil it leasurely close covered , till it be as red as claret wine , so may you conceive , the difference is in the boiling of it ; remember to boil your quinces in apple-water as you do your plums . to make quiddony of all kindes of plums take your apple-water , and boil the plums in it till it be red as claret wine , and when you have made it strong of the plums , put to every pint half a pound of sugar , and so boil it till a drop of it hang on the back of a spoon like a quaking gelly . if you will have it of an amber colour , then boil it with a quick fire , that is all the difference of the colouring of it . to make marmalet of oranges , or orange cakes , &c. take the yellowest and fairest oranges , and water them three dayes , shifting the water twice a day , pare them as thin as you possible can , boil them in a water changed five or six times , until the bitterness of the orange be boiled out ; those that you preserve , must be cut in halves , but those for marmalet must be boiled whole , let them be very tender , and slice them very thin on a trencher , taking out the seedes and long strings , and with a knife make it as fine as the pap of an apple ; then weigh your pap of oranges , and to a pound of it , take a pound and half of sugar : then you must have pippins boiled ready in a skillet of fair water , and take the pap of them made fine on a trencher , and the strings taken out , ( but take not half so much pippins as oranges ) then take the weight of it in sugar , and mix it both together in a silver or earthen dish ; and set it on the coals to dry the water out of it , ( as you do with quince marmalet ) when your sugar is candy height , put in your stuff , and boil it till you think it stiff enough stirring it continually : if you please you may put in a little musk in it . touching pastrey and pasties . to make sugar cakes . take three pound of the finest wheat flower , one pound of fine sugar , cloves and mace of each one ounce finely searsed , two pound of butter , a little rose water , knead and mould this very well together , melt your butter as you put it in ; then mould it with your hand forth upon a board , cut them round with a glass , then lay them on papers , and set them in an oven , be sure your oven be not too hot , so let them stand till they be coloured enough . to make clear cakes of plums . take plums of any sorts , raspiss are the best , put them in a stone jug , into a pot of seething water , and when they are dissolved , strain them together through a fair cloth , and take to a pint of that a pound of sugar , put to as much colour as will melt it , and boil to a candy height ; boil the liquor likewise in another posnet , then put them seething hot together , and so boil a little while stirring them together , then put them into glasses , and set them in an oven or stove in a drying heat , let them stand so two or three weeks , and never be cold , removing them from one warm place to another , they will turn in a week ; beware you set them not too hot , for they will be tough ; so every day turn them till they be dry ; they will be very clear . to make paste of oranges and lemons . take your oranges well coloured , boil them tender in water , changing them six or seven times in the boiling , put into the first water one handfull of salt , and then beat them in a wooden bowl with a wooden pestle , and then strain them through a piece of cushion canvas , then take somewhat more then the weight of them in sugar , then boil it , dry and fashion it as you please . to make rasberry cakes . take rasberries , and put them into a gallipot , cover them close , and set them into a skillet of water , aud let them boil till they are all to mash , then rub them through a strainer of cushion canvas , put the liquor into a silver bason , and set it upon a very quick fire ; and put into it one handfull or two of whole rasberries , according to the quantity of your liquor : and as you shall like to have seeds in your paste . thus let it boil very fast till it be thick , and continually stir , lest it burn ; then take two silver dis●es that are of a weight , and put them into your scales , in the one put the raspis stuff , and in the other double refined sugar finely beaten , as much as the weight of raspiss stuff ; then put as much water to the sugar as will melt it , set it upon the fire , and let it boil till it be very high candied , then take it from the fire , and put your raspis stuff into it ; and when your sugar and rasberries are very well mixt together , and the sugar well melted from about the dish , ( which if it will not do from the fire , set it on again ) but let it not boil in any case ; when it is pretty cool , lay it by spoonfuls in plates , and put it into your stuff , keeping temperate fire to it twice a day till it be candied that will turn them , joyn two of the pieces together , to make the cake the thicker . to make paste of genoa citrons . take citrons , and boil them in their skins then scrape all the pulp from the coar , strain it through a piece of cushion canvas , take twice the weight of the pulp in sugar , put to it twice as much water as will melt it , that is half a pint to every pound of sugar , boil it to a candy height● ; dry the pulp upon a chafing dish of coales , then put the syrup and the pulp hot together , boil it with stirring until it will lie upon a pie-plate , set it in a warm stone oven upon two billets of wood , from the heat of the oven , all one night , in the morning turn it , and set it in the like heat again , so turn it every day till it be dry . to make a french tart. take a quartern of almonds or thereabouts , and peel them , then beat them in a mortar , take the white of the breast of a cold capon , and take so much lard as twice the quantity of the capon , and so much butter , or rather more , and half a marrow-bone , and if the bone be little then all the marrow , with the juyce of one lemon ; beat them all together in a mortar very well , then put in one half pound of loaf sugar grated , then take a good piece of citron , cut it in small pieces , and half a quarter of pistanius , mingle all these together , take some flower , and the yolks of two or three eggs , and some sweet butter , and work it with cold water . to make cakes of pear-plums . take to a pound of the clear , or the pulp , a pound of sugar , and boil it to a sugar again , then break it as small as you can , and put in the clear , when your sugar is well melted in it , and almost cold , put it in glass plates , aud set them into your stove as fast as you can , with coals under them , and so twice a day whilest they be dry enough to cut ; if you make them of the clear , you must make paste of apples to lay upon them , you must scald them , and beat them very well , and so use them as you do your plums , and then you may put them into what fashion you please . to make cakes , viz. take a pound of sugar finely beaten , four yolks of eggs , two whites , one half pound of butter washt in rose water , six spoonfuls of sweet cream warmed , one pound of currans well pickt , as much flower as will make it up , mingle them well together , make them into cakes , bake them in an oven ; almost as hot as for manchet , half an hour will bake them . to make a cake the way of the royal princess , the lady elizabeth , daughter to king charles the first . take half a peck of flower , half a pint of rose-water , a pint of ale-yeast , a pint of cream , boil it , a pound and a an half of butter , six eggs , ( leave out the whites ) four pound of currans , one half pound of sugar , one nutmeg , and a little salt , work it very well , and let it stand half an hour by the fire , and then work it again , and then make it up , and let it stand an hour and a half in the oven ; let not your oven be too hot . to make paste of apricocks . take your apricocks , and pare them , and stone them , then boil them tender betwixt two dishes on a chafing-dish of coals ; then being cold , lay it forth on a white sheet of paper ; then take as much sugar as it doth weigh , and boil it to a candy height , with as much rose-water and fair water as will melt the sugar ; then put the pulp into the sugar , and so let it boil till it be as thick as for marmalet , now and then stirring of it ; then fashion it upon a pie-plate like to half apricocks , and the next day close the half apricocks to the other , and when they are dry , they will be as clear as amber , and eat much better then apricocks it self . to make paste of pippins like leaves , and some like plums , with their stones and stalks in them . take pippins pared and coared , and cut in pieces , and boiled tender , so strain them , and take as much sugar as the pulp doth weigh , and boil it to a candy height , with as much rose-water and fair water as will melt it , then put the pulp into the hot sugar , and let it boil untill it be as thick as marmalet ; then fashion it on a pie-plate , like oaken leaves , and some like half plums , the next day close the half hlums together ; and if you please you may put the stones and stalks in them , and dry them in an oven , and if you will have them look green , make the paste when pippins are green ; and if you will have them look red , put a little conserves of barberries in the paste , and if you will keep any of it all the year , you m●st make it as thin as tart stuff , and put it in gallipots . to make paste of elecampane roots , an excellent remedy for the cough of the lungs . take the youngest elecampane roots , and boil them reasonably tender ; then pith them and peel them , and so beat it in a mortar , then take twice as much sugar as the pulp doth weigh , and so boil it to a candy height , with as much rose-water as will melt it ; then put the pulp into the sugar with the pap of a roasted apple , then let it boil till it be thick , then drop it on a pie-plate , and so dry it in a oven till it be dry . to make paste of flowers of the colour of marble , tasting of natural flowers . take every sort of pleasing flowers , as violets , cowslips , gilly-flowers , roses or marigolds , and beat them in a mortar , each flower by it self with sugar , till the sugar become the colour of the flower , then put a little gum dragon steept in water into it , and beat it into a perfect paste ; and when you have half a dozen colours , every flower will take of his nature , then rowl the paste therein , and lay one piece upon another , in mingling sort , so rowl your paste in small rowls , as big and as long as your finger , then cut it off the bigness of a small nut , overthwart , and so rowl them thin , that you may see a knife through them , so dry them before the fire till they be dry . to make paste of rasberries or english currans . take any of the frails , and boil them tender on a chafing-dish of coals betwixt two dishes and strain them , with the pap of a roasted apple , then take as much sugar as the pulp doth weigh , and boil to a candy height with as much rose-water as will melt it : then put the pulp into the hot sugar , and let it boil leasurely till you see it as thick as marmalet , then fashion it on a pie-plate , and put it into the oven with two billets of wood , that the place touch not the bottom , and so let them dry leasurely till they be dry . to make naples bisket . take of the same stuff the mackaroons are made of , and put to it an ounce of pine-apple seeds , in a quarter of a pound of stuff , for that is all the difference between the mackaroons and the naples bisket . to make italian biskets . take a quarter of a pound of searsed sugar , and beat it in an alablaster mortar with the white of an egg , and a little gum dragon steept in rose-water , to bring it to a perfect paste , then mould it up with a little anniseed and a grain of musk ; then make it up like dutch bread , and bake it on a pie-plate in a warm oven , till they rise somewhat high and white , take them out , but handle them not till they be throughly dry and cold . to make prince biskets . take a pound of searsed sugar , and a pound of fine flower , eight eggs with two of the reddest yolks taken out , and so beat together one whole hour , then take you coffins , and indoice them over with butter very thin , then to it put an ounce of anniseeds fine dusted , and when you are ready to fill your coffins , put in the anniseeds , and so bake it in an oven as hot as for manchet . to make marchpane to ice and gild , and garnish it according to art. take almonds , and blanch them out of seething water , and beat them till they come to a fine paste in a stone mortar , then take fine searsed sugar , and so beat it all together till it come to a perfect paste , putting in now and then a spoonfull of rose-water , to keep it from oyling ; then cover your march-pane with a sheet of paper as big as a charger , then cut it round by that charger , and set an edge about it as about a tart , then bottom it with wafers , then bake it in an oven , or in a baking-pan , and when it is hard and dry , take it out of the oven , and ice it with rose-water and sugar , and the white of an egg , being as thick as butter and spreead it over thin with two or three feathers ; and then put it into the oven again , and when you see it rise high and white , take it out again and garnish it with some pretty conceit , and stick some long comfits upright in it , so gild it , then strow biskets and carawayes on it . if your marchpane be oyly in beating , then put to it as much rose-water as will make it almost as thin as to ice . lorenges . take blossoms of flowers , and beat them in a bowl-dish , and put them in as much clarified sugar as may come to the colour of the cover , then boil them with stirring , till it is come to sugar again ; then beat it fine , and searse it , and so work it up to paste with a little gum dragon , steep it in rose-water , then print it with your mould , and being dry , keep it up . to make walnuts artificial . take searsed sugar , and cinnamon , of quantity alike , work it up with a little gum dragon , steep it in rose-water , and print it in a mould made like a walnut-shell , then take white sugar plates , print it in a mould made like a walnut kernel , so when they are both dry , close them up together with a little gum dragon betwixt , and they will dry as they lie . to make collops like bacon of marchpane . take some of your marchpane paste , and work it in red saunders till it be red ; then rowl a broad sheet of white paste , and the sheet of red paste , three of the white , and four of the red , and so one upon another in mingled sorts , every red between , then cut it overthwart , till it look like collops of bacon , then dry it . to make artificiall fruits . take a mould made of alablaster , three yolks , and tie two pieces together , and lay them in water an hour , and take as much sugar as will fill up your mould , and boil it in a manus christi , then pour it into your mould suddenly , and clap on the lid , round it about with your hand , and it will be whole and hollow , then colour it with what colour you please , half red , or half yellow , and you may yellow it with a little saffron steept in water . touching preserves and pomanders . to make an excellent perfume to burn between two rose-leaves . take an ounce of juniper , an ounce of storax , half a dozen drops of the water of cloves , six graines of musk , a little gum dragon steept in water , and beat all this to paste , then roll it in little pieces as big as you please , then put them betwixt two rose-leaves , and so dry them in a dish in an oven , and being so dried , they will burn with a most pleasant smell . to make pomander . take an ounce of benjamin , an ounce of storax , and an ounce of laudanum , heat a mortar very hot , and beat all these gums to a perfect paste ; in beating of it , put in six grains of musk , four grains of sivet ; when you have beaten all this to a fine paste with your hands with rose-water , rowl it round betwixt your hands , and make holes in the beads , and so string them while they be hot . to make an ipswich water . take a pound of fine white castle soap , shave it thin in a pint of rose-water , and let it stand two or three dayes ; then pour all the water from it , and put to it half a pint of fresh water , and so let it stand one whole day , then pour out that , and put half a pint more , and let it stand a night more , then put to it half an ounce of powder called sweet marjoram , a quarter of an ounce of powder of winter savory , two or three drops of the oyl of spike , and the oyl of cloves , three graines of musk ; and as much ambergreese ; work all these together in a fair mortar , with the powder of an almond cake dried , and beaten as small as fine flower , so roul it round in your hands in rosewater . to make a sweet smell . take the maste of a sweet apple tree , being gathered betwixt the two lady-dayes , and put to it a quarter of damask rose-water , and dry it in a dish in an oven ; wet it in drying two or three times with rose-water , then put to it an ounce of benjamin , an ounce of storax calamintae ; these gums being beaten to powder , with a few leaves of roses , then you may put what cost of smells you will bestow , as much civet or ambergreese , and beat it all together in a pomander or a bracelet . touching vvine . to make hypocras . take four gallons of claret wine , eight ounces of cinnamon , three oranges , of ginger , cloves , and nutmegs a small quantity , sugar six pound , three sprigs of rosemary , bruise all the spices somewhat small , and so put them into the wine , and keep them close stopped , and often shaked together a day or two , then let it run through a gelly bag twice or thrice with a quart of new milk . the lady thornburghs syrup of elders . take elder-berries when they be red , bruise them in a stone mortar , strain the juyce , and boil it to a consumption of almost half , scum it very clear , take it off the fire whilest it is hot , put in sugar to the thickness of a syrup ; put it no more on the fire , when it is cold , put it into glasses , not filling them to the top , for it will work like beer . this cleanseth the stomach and spleen , and taketh away all obstructions of the liver , by taking the quantity of a spoonful in a morning , and fasting a short time after it . to make gelly of raspis the best way . take the raspis , and set them over the fire in a posnet , and gather out the thin juyce , the bottom of the skillet being cooled with fair water , and strain it with a fine strainer , and when you have as much as you will , then weight it with sugar , and boil them till they come to a gelly , which you may perceive by drawing your finger on the back of the spoon . to dry fox skins . take your shee fox skins , nail them upon a board as strait as you can , then brush them as clean as you can , then take aqua fortis , and put into it a six pence , and still put in more as long as it will dissolve it , then wash your skin over with this water , and set it to dry in the sun ; and when it is dry , wash it over with the spirits of wine ; this must be done in hottest time of summer . choice secrets made known . to make true majestery of pearl . dissolve two or three ounces of fine seed pearl in distilled vinegar , and when it is perfectly dissolved , and all taken up , pour the vinegar into a clean glass bason ; then drop some few drops of oyl of tartar upon it , and it will cast down the pearl into fine powder , then pour the vinegar clean off softly , then put to the pearl clear conduit or spring water ; pour that off , and do so often until the taste of the vinegar and tartar be clean gone , then dry the powder of pearl upon warm embers , and keep it for your use . how to make hair grow . take half a pound of aqua mellis in the spring time of the year , warm a little of it every morning when you rise , in a sawcer , and tie a little spunge to a fine box comb , and dip it in the water , and therewith moisten the roots of the hair , in combing it , and it will grow long , thick , and curled in a very short time . to write letters of secrets , that they cannot be read without the directions following . take fine allum , beat it small , and put a reasonable quantity of it into water , then write with the said water . the work cannot be read , but by steeping your paper into fair running water . you may likewise write with vinegar , or the juyce of lemon or onion ; if you would read the same , you must hold it before the fire . how to keep wine from sowering . tie a piece of very salt bacon on the inside of your barrel , so as it touch not the wine , which will preserve wine from sowering . to take out spots of greese or oyl . take bones of sheeps feet , burn them almost to ashes , then bruise them to powder , and put of it on the spot , and lay it in the sun when it shineth hottest , when the powder becomes black , lay on fresh in the place till it fetch out the spots , which will be done in a very short time . to make hair grow black , though any color . take a little aqua fortis , put therein a groat or six pence , as to the quantity of the aforesaid water , then set both to dissolve before the fire , then dip a small spunge in the said water , and wet your beard or hair therewith , but touch not the skin . king edwards perfume . take twelve spoonfulls of right red rose-water , the weight of six pence in fine powder of sugar , and boil it on hot embers and coals softly , and the house will smell as though it were full of roses ; but you must burn the sweet cipress wood before , to take away the gross air . queen elizabeths perfume . take eight spoonfulls of compound water , the weight of two pence in fine powder of sugar , and boil it on hot embers and coals softly , and half an ounce of sweet marjoram dried in the sun , the weight of two pence of the powder of benjamin . this perfume is very sweet , and good for the time . mr. ferene of the new exchange , perfumer to the queen , his rare dentifrice , so much approved of at court. first take eight ounces of irios roots , also four ounces of pomistone , and eight ounces of cutel bone , also eight ounces of mother of pearle , and eight ounces of corral , and a pound of brown sugar-candy , and a pound of brick if you desire to make them red ; but he did oftner make them white , and then instead of the brick did take a pound of fine alablaster ; all this being throughly beaten , and sifted through a fine searse , the powder is then ready prepared to make up in a paste , which must be done as follows . to make the said powder into paste . take a little gum dragant , and lay it in steep twelve hours , in orange flower water or damask rose-water , and when it is dissolved , take the sweet gu●● and grinde it on a marble-stone wi●● the aforesaid powder , and mixing some crums of white bread , it will come into a paste , the which you may make dentifrices , of what shape or fashion you please , but long rolls is the most commodious for your use . the receipt of the lady kents powder , presented by her ladyship to the queen . take white amber , crabs eyes , red corral , harts-horn and pearl , all prepared several , of each a like proportion , tear and mingle them , then take harts-horn gelly , that hath some saffron put into a bag , dissolve into it while the gelly is warm , then let the gelly cool , and therewith make a paste of the powders , which being made up into little balls , you must dry gently by the fire side . pearl is prepared by dissolving it with the juyce of lemons , amber prepared by beating it to powder ; so also crabs-eyes and corral , harts-horn prepared by burning it in the fire , and taking the shires of it especially , the pith wholly rejected . a cordial water of sir walter raleigh . take a gallon of strawberries , and put them into a pint of aqua vitae , let them stand so four or five dayes , strain them gently out , and sweeten the water as you please with fine sugar ; or else with perfume . the lady malets cordial water . take a pound of fine sugar beaten , and put to it a quart of running water , pour it three or four times through a bag ; then put a pint of damask rose-water , which you must alwayes pour still through the bag , then four penniworth of angelica water , four pence in clove-water , four pence of rosa solis , one pint of cinnamon-water , or three pints and half of aqua vitae , as you finde it in taste ; put all these together three or four times through the bag or strainer , and then take half an ounce of good muskallis , and cut them grosly , and put them into a glass , and fill them with the water , &c. a sovereign water of dr. stephens , which he long times used , wherewith he did many cures ; he kept it secretly till a little before his death , and then he gave it to the lord arch-bishop of canterbury in writing , being as followeth , viz. take a gallon of good gascoine vvine , and take ginger . gallingale , cinamon , nutmegs , cloves , grains , ani-seeds , fennil-seed , of every of them a dram , then take caraway-seed , of red mints , roses , thime , pellitory of the wall , rosemary , wilde thime , camomil , the leaves , if you cannot get the flowers , of small lavender , of each a handfull , then bray the spices small , and bray the hearbs , and put all into the wine , and let it stand so twelve hours , stirring it divers times , then still it in a limbeck , and keep the first water , for i● is best , then put the second water by it self , for it is good , but not of such vertues , &c. the vertues of this water . it comforts the spirits vitall , and helps all inward diseases that come of cold , it is good against the shaking of the palsie ; it cures the contraction of the sinnews , helps the conception of women if they be barren , it kills the vvorms in the belly and stomach ; it cures the cold dropsie , and helps the stone in the bladder , and in the reins of the back ; it helps shortly the stinking breath , and whosoever useth this water morning and evening , ( and not too often ) it preserveth him in good liking , and will make him seem young very long , and comforteth nature marvellously ; with this water did dr. stephens preserve his life , till extream age would not let him go or stand ; and he continued five years , when all the physicians judged he would not live a year longer , nor did he use any other medicine but this , &c. a plague water to be taken one spoonful every four hours with one sweat every time . take scabious , betony , pimpernel , and turmentine roots , of each a pound , steep these all night in three gallons of strong beer , and distil them all in a limbeck , and when you use it , take a spoonful thereof every four hours , and sweat well after it , draw two quarts of water , if your beer be strong , and mingle them both together . poppy water . take four pound of the flower of poppies well pickt and sifted , steep them all night in three gallons of ale that is strong , and still it in a limbeck ; you may draw two quarts , the one will be strong , and the other will be small , &c. a water for a cons●mption , or for a brain that is weak . take cream ( or new milk ) and claret vvine , of each three pints , of violet flowers , bugloss and borage flowers , of each a spoonfull , comfrey , knotgrass , and plantain , of these half a handfull , three or four pome-waters sliced , a stick of liquorish , some pompion seeds and strings ; put to this a cock that hath been chased and beaten before he was killed , dress it as to boil , and parboil it until there be no blood in it ; then put them in a pot , and set them over your limbeck , and the soft fire ; draw out a pottle of water , then put your water in a pipkin over a charcoal fire , and boil it awhile , dissolve therein six ounces of white sugar-candy , and two penny weight of saffron ; when it is cold strain it into a glass , and let the patient drink three or four spoonfulls three or four times a day blood-warm ; your cock must be cut into small pieces , and the bones broken , and in case the flowers and hearbs are hard to come by , a spoonful of their stilled waters are to be used . another for the same . take a pottle of good milk , one pint of muscadine , half a pint of red rose-water , a penny manchet sliced thin , two handfuls of raisins of the sun stoned , a quarter of a pound of fine sugar , sixteen eggs beaten ▪ mix all these together , then distill them in a common still with a soft fire , then let the patient drink three or four spoonfuls at a time blood-warm , being sweetened with manus christi made with corral and pearle ; when your things are all in the still , strew four ounces of cinnamon beaten : this water is good to put into broath , &c. a good stomach water . take a quart of aqua composita , or aqua vitae , ( the smaller ) and put into it one handfull of cowslip flowers , a good handfull of rosemary flowers , sweet marjoram , a little pellitory of the wall , a little betony and balm , of each a little handful , cinnamon half an ounce , nutmegs a dram , anniseeds , coriander seeds , caroway seeds , gromel-seeds , juniper berries , of each a dram , bruise the spice and seed , and put them into aqua composita , or aqua vitae , with your hearbs together , and put into them a pound of very fine sugar , stir them well together , and put them into a glass , and let it stand in the sun nine dayes , and stir it every day ; two or three dates , and a little race of ginger sliced into it will make it the better , especially against winde , &c. a bag of purging ale. take of agrimony , speedwell , liverwort , scurvy-grass , water-cresses , of each a handful , of monk , of rhubarb and red madder , of each half a pound of horse-radishes three ounces , liquorish two ounces , sassafrage four ounces , sena seven ounces , sweet fennil-seeds two drams , nutmegs four : pick and wash your hearbs and roots , and bruise them in a mortar , and put them in a bag made of a bolter ▪ and so hang them in three galons of middle ale , and let it work in the ale , and after three dayes you may drink it as you see occasion , &c. the ale of health and strength , by visc●unt st. albans . take sassafras wood half an ounce , sarsaparilla three ounces , white saunders one ounce , chamapition an ounce , china root half an ounce , mace a quarter of an ounce , chamapition an ounce , cut the wood as thin as may be with a knife into small pieces , and bruise them in a mortar ; put to them these sorts of hearbs , ( viz. ) cowslip flowers , roman vvormwood , of each a handful , of sage , rosemary , betony , mugwort , balm and sweet marjoram , of each half a handful , of hops ; boil all these in six gallons of ale till it come to four , then put the wood and hearbs into six gallons of ale of the second wort , and boil it till it come to four , let it run from the dregs , and put your ale together , and run it as you do other purging ale , &c. a water excellent good against the plague . take three pints of malmsey , or muscadine , of sage and rue , of each one handful , boil them together gently to one pint , then strain it and set it on the fire again , and put to it one penniworth of long pepper , ginger four drams , nutmegs two drams , all beaten together , then let it boil a little , take it off the fire , and while it is very hot , dissolve therein six penniwoth of methridate , and three penniworth of venice treacle , and when it is almost cold put to it a pint of strong angelica water , or so much aqua vitae , and so keep it in a glass close stopped . a cordial cherry-water . take a pottle of aqua vitae , two ounces of ripe cherries stoned , sugar one pound , twenty four cloves , one stick of cinamon , three spoonfuls of aniseeds bruised , let these stand in the aqua vitae fifteen dayes , and when the watet hath fully drawn out the tincture , pour it off into another glass for your use , which keep close stopped , the spice and the cherries you may keep , for they are very good for winde in the stomach . the lord spencers cherry-water . take a pottle of new sack , four pound of through ripe cherries stoned , put them into an earthen pot , to which put an ounce of cinnamon , saffron unbruised one dram , tops of balm , rosemary or their flowers , of each one handful , let them stand close covered twenty four hours , now and then stirring them ; then put them into a cold still , to which put of beaten amber two drams , coriander seed one ounce , alkerms one dram , and distill it leasurely , and when it is fully distilled , put to it twenty grains of musk. this is an excellent cordiall , good for faintings and swoundings , for the crudities of the stomach , winde and swelling of the bowels , and divers other evill symptomes in the body of men and women , the herbs to be distilled for vsquebath . take agrimony , fumitory , betony , bugloss , wormwood , harts-tongue , carduus benedictus , rosemary , angelica , tormentil , of each of these for every gallon of ale one handful , anniseeds and liquorice well bruised half a pound . still all these together , and when it is stilled , you must infuse cinnamon , nutmeg , mace , liquorish , dates , and raisms of the sun , and sugar what quantity you please . the infusion must be till the colour please you . dr. kings way to make mead. take five quarts and a pint of vvater , and warm it , then put one quart of honey to every gallon of liquor , one lemon , and a quarter of an ounce of nutmegs ; it must boil till the scum rise black , that you will have it quickly ready to drink , squeeze into it a lemon when you tun it . it must be cold before you tun it up . to make syrup of rasberries . take nine quarts of rasberries , clean pickt , and gathered in a dry day , and put to them four quarts of good sack , into an earthen pot , then paste it up very close , and set it in a cellar for ten dayes , then distill it in a glass or rose-still , then take more sack and put in rasberries to it , then when it hath taken out all the colour of the raspiss , strain it out , and put in some fine sugar to your taste , and set it on the fire , keeping it continually stirring till the scum doth rise ; then take it off the fire , let it not boil , skim it very clean , and when it is cold put it to your distilled raspis ; but colour it no more then to make it a pale claret wine . this put into bottles or glasses stopt very close . to make lemon water . take twelve of the fairest lemons , slice them , and put them into two pints of white wine , and put to them cinamon two drams , gallingale two drams , of rose leaves , borage and bugloss flowers , of each one handfull , of yellow saunders one dram ; steep all these together twelve hours , then distill them gently in a glass still until you have distilled one pint and an half of the water , and then adde to it three ounces of sugar , one grain of ambergreese , and you will have a most pleasing cleansing cordiall water for many uses . to make gilly-flower wine . take two ounces of dried gilly-flowers , and put them into a pottle of sack , and beat three ounces of sugar-candy , or fine sugar , and grinde some ambergreece , and put it in the bottle and shake it oft , then run it through a gelly bag , and give it for a great cordial after a weeks standing or more . you make lavander wine as you do this . the lady spotswood stomach water . take white wine one pottle , rosemary and cowslip flowers , of each one handful ▪ as much betony leaves , cinnamon and cloves grosly beaten , of both one ounce ; steep all these three dayes , stirring it often ; then put to it mithridate four ounces , and stir it together , and distill it in an ordinary still . water of time for the passion of the heart . take a quart of white wine , and a pint of sack , steep in it as much broad thime as it will wet , put to it of galingale and calamus aromaticus , of each one ounce , cloves , mace , ginger , and grains of paradise two drams , steep these all night , the next morning distill it in an ordinary still , drink it warm with sugar . a receipt to make damnable hum. take species de gemmis , aromaticum rosatum , diarrhodon abbatis , laetificans galeni , of each four drams , loaf sugar beaten to powder half a pound , small aqua vitae three pints , strong angelica water one pint ; mix all these together , and when you have drunk it to the dregs , you may fill it up again with the same quantity of waters . the same powders will serve twice , and after twice using it , it must be made new again . an admirable water for sore eyes . take lapis tutiae , aloes hepatica , fine hard sugar , of each three drams , beat them very small , and put them into a glasse of three pints , to which put red rose-water and white wine , of each one pint ; set the glass in the sun , in the moneth of july , for the whole moneth , shaking it twice in a day for all that while ; then use it as followeth , put one drop thereof into the eye in the evening , when the party is in bed , and one drop in the morning an hour before the patient riseth : continue the use of it till the eyes be well . the older the vvater , the better it is . most approved . a snail water for weak children , and old people . take a pottle of snails , and wash them well in two or three waters , and then in small beer , bruise them she● and all , then put them into a gallon 〈◊〉 red cowes milk , red rose leaves dried , the whites cut off , rosemary , sweet marjoram , of each one handful , and so distill them in a cold still , and let it drop upon powder of white sugarcandy in the receiver ; drink of it first and last , and at four a clock in the afternoon , a wine glass full at a time . clary water for the back , stomach , &c. take three gallons of midling beer , put it in a great brasse pot of four gallons , and put to it ten handfuls of clarey gathered in a dry day , raisins of the sun stoned three pounds , anniseeds , and liquorish , of each four ounces , the whites and shells of twenty four eggs , or half so many , if there be not so much need in the back , the shells small , and mix them with the whites , 〈…〉 the bottoms of three white l●●ves , put into the receiver one pound of white sugarcandy , or so much fine loaf sugar beaten small , and distill it through a limbeck , keep it close , and be seldom without it ▪ for it re●●eth very much the stomach and heart , ●trengtheneth the back , procureth appetite and digestion , driveth away melancholly , sadness and heaviness of the heart , &c. dr. montfords cordial water . take angelica leaves twelve handfuls , six leaves of carduus benedictus , balm and sage , of each five handfuls , the seeds of angelica and sweet fennil , of each five ounces bruised , scraped and bruised liquorish twelve ounces , aromaticum rosatum , diamoscus dulcis , of each six drams ; the hearbs being cut small , the seeds and liquorish bruised , infuse them into two gallons of canary sack for twenty four hours , then distill it with a gentle fire , and draw off onely five pints of the spirits ; which mix with one pound of the best sugar dissolved into a syrup in half a pint of pure red rose-water . aqua mirabilis , sir kenelm digby's way . take cubebs , gallingale , 〈◊〉 , mellilot flowers , cloves , 〈◊〉 ginger , cinnamon , of each one 〈◊〉 bruised small , juyce of celandine 〈◊〉 pint , juyce of spearmint half a 〈◊〉 juyce of balm half a pint , sugar one pound , flower of cowslips , rosemary , borage , bugloss , marigolds , of each two drams , the best sack three pints , strong angelica water one pint , red rose-water half a pint , bruise the spices and flowers , and steep them in the sack and juyces one night , the next morning distill it in an ordinary or glass still , and first lay harts-tongue leaves in the bottom of the still . the vertues of the precedent water . this water ▪ preserveth the lungs without grievances , and helpeth them ; being wounded , it suffereth not the blood to putrifie , but multiplieth the same ; this water suffereth not the heart to burn , nor melancholy , nor the 〈◊〉 to be lifted up above nature ; it expelleth the rhume , preserveth the stomach , conserveth youth , and procureth a good colour ▪ it preserveth memory , it destr●yeth the palsie ; if this be given to one a 〈◊〉 a spoonful of it reviveth him ; in 〈…〉 use one spoonful à week fasting , in the winter two spoonfuls . a water for fainting of the heart . take bugloss and red rose-water , of each one pint , milk half a pint , anniseeds and cinnamon grosly bruised , of each half an ounce , maiden-hair two handfuls , harts tongue one handful , both shred , mix all together , and distill it in an ordinary still , drink of it morning and evening with a little sugar . a surfeit water . take half a bushel of red corn poppy , put it into a large dish , cover it with brown paper , and lay another d●sh upon it , set it in an oven after brown bread is baked divers times till it be dry , which put into a pottle of good aqua vitae , to which put raisins of the sun stoned half a pound , six figs sliced , three nutmegs sliced , two flakes of mace bruised , two races of ginger sl●ced , one stick of cinnamon bruised , liquorish sliced one ounce , anniseed , fennill-seed , and cardamums bruised , of each one dram ; put all these into abroad glasse body , and lay first some poppy in the bottom , then some of the other ingredients , then poppy again , and so till the glasse be full ; then put in the aqua vitae , and let it infuse till it be strong of the spices , and very red with the poppy , close covered , of the which take two or three spoonfulls upon a surfeit , and when all the liquor is spent , put more aqua vitae to it , and it will have the same effect the second time , but no more after . d. butlers cordial water against melancholly , &c. most approved . take the flowers of cowslips , marigolds , pinks , glove-gilly-flowers , single stock gilly-flowers , of each four handfulls , the flowers of rosemary , and damask roses , of each three handfulls , borage and bugloss flowers , and balm leaves , of each two 〈◊〉 ; put them in a quart of canary wine into a great bottle or jugg close stopped , with a cork , sometimes stirring the flowers and wine together , adding to 〈◊〉 anniseeds bruised one dram , two ●utmegs sliced , english saffron two penniworth ; after some time infusion , distill them in a cold still with a hot fire , hanging at the nose of the still ambergreese and musk , of each one grain : then to the distilled water pat white sugar candy finely beaten six ounces , and put the glass wherein they are into hot water for one hour . take of this water at one time three spoonfuls thrice a week , or when you are ill , it cureth all melancholly fumes , and infinitely comforts the spirits . the admirable and most famous snail water . take a peck of garden shell snails , wash them well in small beer , and put them in an hot oven till they have done making a noise , then take them out , and wipe them well from the green froth that is upon them , and bruise them shells and all in a stone mortar , then take a quart of earth worms , scowre them with salt , slit them and wash them well with water from their filth , and in a stone mortar beat them to pieces , then lay in the bottom of your distilled pot angelica two handfuls , and two handfulls of celandine upon them , to which put two quarts of rosemary flowers , bears foot , agrimony , red dock roots , bark of barberries , betony , wood sorrel , of each two handfuls , rue one handful ; then lay the snails and worms on the top of the hearbs and flowers , then pour on three gallons of the strongest ale , and let it stand all night , in the morning put in three ounces of cloves beaten , six penniworth of beaten saffron , and on the top of them six ounces of shaved harts-horn , then set on the limbeck , and close it with paste , and so receive the water by pints , which will be nine in all , the first is the strongest , whereof take in the morning two spoonfuls in four spoonfuls of small beer , and the like in the afternoon ; you must keep a good diet and use moderate ●●ercise to warm the blood . this water is good 〈…〉 obstructions whatsoever . it 〈◊〉 a consumation and dropsie , the stopping of the stomach and liver . it may be 〈◊〉 with milk for weak people and 〈◊〉 , with harts-tongue and elecam●ane . a singular mint water . take a still full of mints , put balm and penniroyal , of each one good handful ; steep them in sack , or lees of sack twenty four hours , stop it close , and stir it now and then : distill it in an ordinary still with a very quick fire , and keep the still with wet clothes , put into the receiver as much sugar as will sweeten it , and so double distill it . distillings . a most excellent aqua coelestis taught by mr. philips apothecary . take of cinnamon one dram , ginger half a dram , the three sorts of saunders , of each of them three quarters of an ounce . mace and cubebs of each of them one dram , cardamon the bigger and lesser , of each three drams , setwell-roots half an ounce , anniseed , fennil-seed , basil-seed , of each two drams , angelica roots , gillyflowers , thime , calamint , liquorish , calamus , masterwort , penniroyal , mint , mother of thime , marjoram , of each two drams , red rose-seed , the flowers of sage and betony , of each a dram and a half , cloves , galingal , nutmegs , of each two drams , the flowers of stechados , rosemary , borage , and bugloss flowers , of each a dram and half , citron rindes three drams ; bruise them all , and put in their cordial powders , diamber arom●●●cam , diamuscum , diachoden , the spices made with pearle , of each three drams ; infuse all these in twelve pints of aqua vitae , in a glass close stopped for fifteen dayes ▪ often shaking it , then let it be put in a ●●●●beck close stopped , and let it 〈◊〉 disti●●ed gently ; when you have 〈…〉 in a cloth , two drams of 〈…〉 ●alf a dram of ambergreese , and 〈…〉 twelve grains of gold , and so 〈◊〉 it to your use . hypocras taught by dr. twine for winde in the stomach . take pepper , grains , ginger , of each half an ounce , cinnamon , cloves , nutmegs , mace , of each one ounce grosly beaten , rosemary , agrimony , both shred , of each a few crops , red rose leaves a pretty quantity , as an indifferent gripe , a pound of sugar beaten ; lay these to steep in a gallon of good rhennish or white wine in a close vessel , stirring it two or three times a day the space of three or four dayes together , then strain it through an hypocras strainer , and drink a draught of it before meat half an hour , and sometimes after to help digestion . marigold flowers distilled , good for the pain of the head. take marigold flowers , and distill them , then take a fine cloth and wet 〈◊〉 the aforesaid distilled water , and so lay it to the forehead of the patient , and being so applied , let him sleep if he can : this with gods help will cease the pain . a water good for sun-burning . take water drawn off the vine dropping , the flowers of white thorn , bean-flowers , water lilly-flowers , garden lilly-flowers , elder-flowers , and tansie flowers , althea flowers , the whites of eggs , french barley . the lady giffords cordial water . take four quarts of a●●a vitae , borrage and poppy-water ▪ 〈◊〉 each a pint , two pound of sugar 〈◊〉 , one pound of figs sliced , one pound of raisins of the sun stoned , 〈◊〉 handfuls of red roses clipped and dried , one handfull of red mint , half a handful of rosemary , as much of hysop , a few cloves ; put all these in a great double glass close stopped , and set it in the sun three moneths , and so 〈…〉 . a water for one pensive and very sick , to comfort the heart very excellent . take a good spoonful of manus christi beaten very small into powder , then take a quarter of a pound of very fine sugar , and beat it small , and six spoonfuls of cinnamon water , and put to it , and ten spoonfuls of red rose-water , mingle all these together , and put them in a dish , and set them over a soft fire five or six walms , and so let it be put into a glass , and let the party drink thereof a spoonful or two , as he shall see cause . to perfume water . take malmsey or any kinde of sweet water , then take lavander , spike , sweet marjoram , balm , orange peels , thime , basil , cloves , bay leaves , woodbine flowers , red and white roses , and still them all together . finis . the table . a. aches to take away 38 , 41 , 72 , 108 , 110 , 153 , 156 , 157 , 184 abortion to prevent 121 after-birth to bring away 159 , 160 ague of all sorts to cure 16 , 32 , 52 57 , 127 , 161 ague in womens breast 110 , 167 ale to purge most excellent 2 , 280 , 281 ambergreese tincture to make , and 〈…〉 amber pills for a consumption 3. appetite to help ●● ▪ ●84 appoplex to cure 236 aqua mirabilis to 〈◊〉 290 almond milk to 〈◊〉 82 , 83 , 108 b. biting of 〈◊〉 s●●ke 154 〈…〉 cool 94 , 95 〈…〉 str●ngthen 66 , 135 , 184 , 191 , ●89 〈◊〉 most excellent , with its use 95 123 , 125 ●elly-ake to cure 184 belly hard to dissolve 155 biles and botches to cure 81 89 , 112 , 152 188 bloud to cleanse 10 , 148 , 161 biting of a mad dog 41 , 152 , 154 bloudy flux to help , 42 , 106 , 108 , 130 , 184 bleeding at nose to stanch 163 bladder to cleanse 169 , 237 bones out of joynt to set 104 , 153 , 189 breaths shortness to remedy 5 breath stinking to cure 53 , 111 , 196 , 276 brain to strengthen 17 , 86 , 178 , 196 , 236 burning to help 60 , 77 , 78 , 95 , 104 , 125 , 149 , 162 , 189 breasts sore to cure 85 , 90 , 91 , 109 , 110 , 117 , 147 bruises to cure 36 , 38 90 , 104 , 122 , 125 144 , 156 , 184 , 188 bursten to remedy 145 balsam luccatelloes to make , and its vertues 179 bag restorative for the stomach 57 c. canker to cure 36 , 41 , 152 cock water 14 cancer to prevent and cure 36 , 110 , 125 china broth in a consumption 34 choler to purge 49 , 102 , 176 , 177 , 233 childe to bring again when born 159 , 160 consumption to cure 3 , 9 , 10 , 14 22 , 34 , 42 , 123 , 186 , 299 , 278 , 279 , 295 cold to help 27 88 , 164 206 cough to take away 55 , 56 ▪ 59 , 62 , 63 , 100 , 164 conception to help 88 , 168 , 184 , 235 , 276 costiveness to remove 159 chollick to cure 44 , 63 , 96 , 99 , 105 , 125 , 166 , 170 corns to take away 104 , 146 cramp to cure 141 cordials most excellent 7 , 14 , 274 , 275 , 285 , 290 cordial water 2 conserves of all sorts to make , and their vertues 234 , 235 , 236 mrs. chaunce her purge 165 cordial waters for the sick d. drink for the scurvy diet drink for a eisi●la 70 diet drink for one that hath no speech in sickness 71 deakness to help 45 , 105 , 162 dead flesh to prevent 152 dig●stion to procure , 6 , 15 , 50 , 125 , 196 , 244 dr●psie to cure , 11 , 16 , 42 , 52 , 64 , 276 , 295 ●●seases cured without taking any thing at the mouth 49 drink for rhume and phlegm 57 drink for a hot feaver 98 , 128 drink to keep the mouth moist 132 e. electuary for the stomach 5 electury for the poison of the heart , 98 eyes sore to cure 28 , 147 , 148 , 189 , 288 eyes full of rhume 18 , 32 , 110 , 181 eyes weak to strengthen 130 , 184 eyes having a pin or web 171 , 172 eyes redness to take away 171 , 173 , 181 f. face sweld to asswage 13 faces redness and pimples to cure 41 53 , 54 , 55 , 173 , 180 face bruised 144 face fair to make 115 , 180 faintness to take away 86 , 133 , 283 , 291 falling-sickness to cure 49 , 88 , 142 , 237 feavers all sorts to remove 2 , 12 , 25 , 61 98 , 128 , 132 festers in the flesh to cure 41 fellons to cure 41 , 48 , 102 , 184 fire to take out 189 fistula to cure 70 , 79 , 117 , 152 , finger sore to heal 81 flux or looseness to stay 130 freckles to take away 146 fish to take by angling 108 g. g●scony powder to make 187 gout to cure 42 , 50 , 77 88 , 140 , 56 golden colour without gold to make 114 green sickness to cure 69 , 85 gravel to cleanse 185 glisters for a hot feaver 132 glisters for the winde , 30 , 160. h. hair to grow thick 100 , 270 hair to take away 55 hardness to dissolve 189 heart to chear 52 , 87 , 235 head lightness in sickness 72 head-ache to cure 41 , 96 , 120 , 125 , 235 heads breaking out in children 148 hearts passion to take away . 98 , 287 heart-burn to cure 291 hearing 4● hearbs boild in broth 65 , 1●● humors watery to purge ●● , 184 humors hot to cool ●● i. jaundies black and yellow to cure 16 , 73 , 74 , 105 〈…〉 to cure 42 , 89 , 112 , 152 , 184 〈…〉 to prevent 189 〈…〉 to heat 188 〈◊〉 to keep from rust 113 itch to cure 32 , 77 juyce of liquorsh to make 307 julip for a feaver 61 k. kidneys ulceration to cure 50 kidneys swoln to take away 56 kidneys to cool and cleanse 83 kings evil to cure 117 l. labor in women to help 86 , 119 , 130 letters of secrets how to write 270 letters of gold to make without gold 114 letters of silver to make without silver , ib. liver to strengthen and cool 17 , 68 , 92 , 93 , 184 , 268 , 295 looseness to help 80 , 143 lungs to cleanse 44 , 47 , 59 , 62 , 291 lumly's drink for a consumption 123 m. mangie in a dog to cure 120 mead to make 284 measles to cure 29 , 107 , 236 melancholy to suppress 4 , 23 , 52 , 164 , 165 , 177 , 291 , 293 memory to preserve 291 megrum to cure 119 milk in women to increase 35 , 113 milk to dry up 174 miscarriage in women to prevent 46 , 121 mothers rising to prevent 20 , 63 mouth to keep moist 132 morphew to take away 146 n. navels coming out to help 109 nipple to skin when raw 174 , 175 nipple to make when none 175 noses shining to cure 53 noses redness to cure 54 noli me tangere 52 o. obstructions 10 , 68 , 236 , 268 , 295 ointment for a hard belly 155 oyl of excester to make 75 , 156 oyl of mustard-seed , and its use 77 oyl of eggs 75 oyl for a shining nose 54 oyl of fennel , and its use 77 oyl of rue to make , and its use ●● oyl of cammomil to make , and its use ib. oyl of st. johns-wort to make 131 , 190 oyl of swallows to make 182 oyntment grow to ●ake 36 , 97. 117 , 158 oyntments and 〈◊〉 uses 189 〈…〉 to make 67 p. 〈…〉 to cure 6 , 16 , 42 , 52 ; 77 , 88 , 276 , 291 paracelsus plaister to make , and vertues 150 , 152 plaister called leaden plaister to make , and use 183 , 184 , 188 plaster for the stomach 129 pains to asswage 153 , 189 phlegm to void 44 , 49 ▪ 52 , 57 , 68 , 102 , 142 plague to prevent and cure 2 , 9 , 12 , 17 , 24 , 25 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 39 , 40 , 67 , 78 , 106 , 107 , 125 , 142 , 277 , 281 piles to cure 36 , 42 , 43 , 101 , 184 powder of the lady kents 187 , 274 powder most excellent to make 19 , 74 small pox , excellent remedies 2 , 12 , 29 , 107 and to prevent pitting 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 and to prevent infection 140 pricking with a needle or thorn 103 purge for a quartain ague 161 purging ale 2 purge for children or old men 52 pimples in the face 54 pomatum to make 312 purging drink most excellent 68 purge of dr. mayherne 180 purples to cure 82 pushes to break and heal 184 pain in the stomach 121 pills for a consumption 3 r. reins to purge 68 , 88 , 237 , 276 rest to procure 233 rhume to stay 32 , 47 , 57 , 58 , 100 , 291 rickets to cure 126 , 127 rupture to cure 129 running of the reins to cure 184 restorative broth 42 s. saffron water to make 18 scabs to dry up 42 sciatica to cure 101 , 156 salve the chiefest , and its vertues 41 scurvy to cure 149 , 185 scalding to cure 60 , 77 , 78 , 95 , 104 , 125 149 , 162 shingles to cure 153 sinews to strengthen 86 , 88 , 95 , 152 , 189 276 stinging of an adder or wasp . 154 stepkins water for the eyes 18 syrup of ale for the whit● 95 syrup for swounding and the brain 86 syrup of cordinal 10 syrup for a cold 27 syrup of t●●●ips to make , and use 9 , 19 syrup of citron peels to make 9 ; 28 s●●up of pearmains to make 23 syrup of lemons to make 28 ●yrup of hysop to make 206 syrup of gilly-flowers 205 skin to bring 189 silver letters without silver to make 114 serpents bitings to cure 131 sleep to procure 60 , 101 snail water to make , and its vertues 294 spitting of blood of remedy 234 sprains to cure 131 speech in sickness to move 71 , 72 splinters and thorns to draw forth 41 spirits to revive 18 , 88 , 276 , 293 spleen distempers to rectifie 16 , 41 , 66 , 68 , 123 , 164 , 165 , 236 , 268 , 291 sounding fits to cure 20 , 86 , 133 , 283 sounding fits after childe-birth 118 sores of all sorts to cure 111 , 117 , 152 , 188 stopping of the stomach 5. 49 , 63 , 168 , 161 , 235 , 236 , 268 stomach cold to warm 15 , 17 , 35 stomach hot to cool 234 stomach week to strengthen 20 , 57 , 121 , 128 , 179 , 283 , 286 , 295 stone in the kidnies to cure 7 , 8 , 99 spirit of castoreum 20 stone in the bladder 8 , 21 , 33 , 45 , 48 ▪ 50 , 52 , 59 ▪ 84 , 88 , 94 , 163 , 166 ▪ 168 , 170 , 185 , 191 , 376 ▪ stone in the kidneyes 57 strangury to help 168 , 191 strains to remedy 122 stitches to cure 65 , 96 , 112 , 125 sweating to prevent 16 sweating to provoke 67 swallow to help 51 swelling to swage 36 , 42 , 104 , 108 , 157 , 184 , 188 , 189 surfeits to cure 107 , 125 , 292 t. taste to restore 61 terril's salve 40 tetter to cure 22 , 174 tearms to provoke 184 teeth to make come without pain 47 teeth to preserve 192 tooth-ache to cure 88 , 192 thorns to draw out 41 throws after birth to ease 118 thrush in the mouth to remedy 3● throat sore to cure 44 , 233 tumors to allay 42 tissick to help 77 timpany to remedy 65 tincture of amber greese 24 v. venom to drive from the heart 2 vlcers to fill with flesh 189 vomiting to stay 133 v●ine sharp to cure 162 vrine to provoke 68 99 vvula to draw up 52 vomit for an ague 57 w. water for an ague 161 water to hold 91 water very precious 18 , 27 dr. stephens his water 18 , 21 whites and heat in the back 94 , 95 water cordial 8 wormwood cakes 15 water of life 16 warts to take away 145 wen to cure 144 winde to expel 30 , 35 , 77 , 86 , 122. 125 , 160 , 196 , 282 , 283 worms to kill and avoid 16 , 49 , 76 , 88 , 89 , 116 , 123 , 176 , 276 wounds to heal 38 , 41 , 90 , 95 , 103 , 112 , 115 , 122 , 125 , 131 , 152 , 163 , 179 , 181 , 188 , 189 , 36 , 42 wrench to cure 18 women with childe to preserve them from abortion 121 woman in labour a medicine for safe deliverance 86 y. youth to preserve 88 279 , 291 finis . the table to a queens delight . a. a pricocks to preserve when they are green page 204 apricocks to preserve when they are ripe 203 apricocks to dry 210 , 232 apricock cakes 213 apricocks to make of them jumbals 222 artichokes to preserve 201 almond bisket to make 208 ale purging a bag 280 ale strengthening and healthful by sir j. bacon . 281 aqua mirabilis sir kenelm digbie's way 290 aqua mirabilis the vertues 291 ambergreese the tincture 216 b. barberries the best way to preserve them 220 c. cherries to preserve them bigger then they grow naturally 228 cherries the ordinary way of preserving them 245 cherries to preserve them with a quarter of their weight in sugar 217 cakes to make 255 cakes to make after the maner of the princess , the lady elizabeth daughter to king charles the first 257 cakes of plums 258 cakes of rasberries 252 cakes of sugar to make 250 collops to make , like bacon , of mars●●pane 263 clove-gilly-flowers to make a syrup of them 203 conserve for a cough , or a consumption 199 conserve f●r any fruits 200 conserve of roses boild 209 conserve of roses unboild 210 conserve of red roses after the italian manner , with the vertues 233 conserve of violets after the italian manner , with the vertues . 233 conserve of borage after the italian manner , with the vertues 234 conserve of rosemary after the italian manner , with the vertues 234 conserve of betony after the italian manner , with the vertues 235 conserve of sage 235 conserve of the flowers of lavander 236 conserve of marjoram , with the vertues 236 conserve of piony after the italian manner , with the vertues 237 candy cherries 241 candy cherries the italian way 244 candy oranges 241 candy orange ro●ts 242 candy orange peels after the italian manner , with the vertues 243 candy lemons 241 candy citrons 241 candy citrons after the spanish way 243 candy rosemary flowers in the sun 237 candy pippins 239 candy pears 239 candy apric●cks 239 candy plums 239 candy rockandy flowers 239 candy spanish flowers 240 candy grapes 241 candy barberries 241 candy suckets 241 candy angelica 241 candy chycory r●ots after the italian manner , with the vertues 244 d. damsins to preserve them 299 dentifrice by mr. ferene of the new exchange , perfumer to the queen , highly approved of at the court 273 distilled marigold flowers 298 elecampane to preserve 201 f. fruits to preserve green 198 fruits to dry after they are preserved to candy them 200 fruits artificial 263 fox skins to dry 268 french tart to make 254 g. grapes to preserve 196 , 202 h. hypocras made by dr. twine for the winde in the stomach 298 hair to make it grow 270 hair to make it black , though of any other colour . 271 i. italian bisket to make 260 jelly of pippins to make 218 jelly of raspis to make 268 ipswich balls to make 265 juyce of liquorish to make 207 k. countess of kent's powder , the true receipt of it as she presented it to the queen for her private use 274 l. lemons to preserve 199 letters so to write them , that they cannot be read without the directions 270 l●zenges to make of red roses 220 , 202 m. marchpane to ice and gild , and garnish it according to art 261 magistery of pearl to make it 269 mead of dr. kings making 234 marigold flowers distilled 298 marmalet of damsins 245 marmalet of oranges 247 , 249 marmalet of orange cakes 249 marmalet of tender plums 246 marmalet of quinces ibid. n. naples bisket to make 260 o. oranges to preserve the french way 224 orange and lemons to preserve 199 orange cakes . 262 p. pear-plums green to preserve them 204 pear-plums to preserve them when they are ripe 203 plums black or red to preserve 229 plums green to preserve 225 plums to ary them 228 , 231 pears to dry without sugar , and otherwise 205 229 , 230 pippins to preserve them 198 pippins to preserve them when they are green 204 pippins to preserve them when they are ripe 203 pippins to dry them 229 , 230 pippins to dry them without sugar 205 pippins to make a gelly of them 218 peaches to preserve when they are green 204 peaches to preserve when they are ripe 203 pomatum to make 212 prince bisket to make 261 powder sweet the best way to break it 211 powder of the countess of kent , the truest receipt of it , as she presented it to the queen for her private use 274 perfume of king edward the sixth 272 perfume of queen elizabeth 272 perfume to make 212 perfume for cloth and gloves 208 perfume to burn it betwixt two rose-leaves 264 perfume water to make it 300 pomanders to make 265 paste of oranges and lemons 251 paste of genoa citrons 253 paste of apricocks 256 paste of pippins like leaves , and some like plums , with their stones and stalks in them . 257 paste of elecampane roots 258 paste of flowers of the colour of marmalet , tasting of natural flowers 258 paste of rasberries and english currans 259 q. qvinces to preserve them white 197 quinces to preserve them white or red . 203 quinces to order them for pies 211 quinces to make chips of them 221 quinces to make jumbals of them 222 quiddony of pippins , of ruby , or any other amber●solour 24● quiddony of all kindes of plums 248 r. respas to preserve 197 receipt for to make damnable hum 287 s. sweet smell 267 spots of grease or oyl to take them out 271 sugar cakes to make 250 sugar of vvine to make 221 sugar of wormwood to make 221 sugar of anniseeds to make 221 sugar of roses to make 298 syrup of clove-gilly-flowers 205 syrup of hysop water 206 syrup of lemons 221 syrup of citrons 221 syrup of elders by the lady thornburgh 267 syrup of rasberries 284 u. usquebath the best way to make it 217 vsquebath , hearbs to be distilled for it 283 w. wine of raisins to make 214 wine of rasberries to make 215 wine of gilly-flowers to make 286 wine of hypocras 167 wine to keep it from sowering 171 walnuts to preserve them 201 walnuts artificial to make them 263 water by the lady spotswood 286 water cordial by the lady mallet 275 water of cherries by the lady spencer 283 water by the lady gifford 299 aqua mirabilis by sir kenelm digby 290 aqua celestis by mr. philips apothecary 296 water cordial against melancholly by d. butler 293 water cordial by dr. mumford 290 water cordial by sir walter raleigh 274 water of a most sovereign use made by d. stephens , which a little before his death he presented to the archbishop of canterbury , the vertues of it 275 , 276 water for the eyes 288 water for weak children 288 water for a weak back and stomach 289 water for the plague 277 , 281 water for pensive and very sick persons 300 water for a consumption or weak brain 278 , 279 water for the stomach 279 water for sun-burning 299 water for a surfeit 292 water for the swimming of the heart 291 water of time for the passion of the heart 287 water of cherries 282 water cordial of cherries 282 water of lemons 285 water of oranges 206 water perfumed 300 water of poppy 277 water of mint 296 water of marigold flowers 298 water of snails 294 finis . ortho-methodoz itro-chymikē: or the direct method of curing chymically wherein is conteined [sic] the original matter, and principal agent of all natural bodies. also the efficient and material cause of diseases in general. their therapeutick way and means. i. diætetical, by rectifying eating, drinking, &c. ii. pharmaceutick. 1. by encreasing and supporting the vital spirits. 2. by pacifying and indulging them. 3. by defacing or blotting out the idea of diseases by proper specificks. lastly, by removing the extimulating or occasional cause of maladies. to which is added, the art of midwifery chymically asserted. the character of an ortho-cymist, and pseudochymist. a description of the sanative virtues of our stomach-essence. also, giawo-mempsiz: or a just complaint of the method of the galenists. by george thomson, m.d. thomson, george, 17th cent. 1675 approx. 278 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 108 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-08 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a62438 wing t1029 estc r222195 99833411 99833411 37887 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a62438) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 37887) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2199:04) ortho-methodoz itro-chymikē: or the direct method of curing chymically wherein is conteined [sic] the original matter, and principal agent of all natural bodies. also the efficient and material cause of diseases in general. their therapeutick way and means. i. diætetical, by rectifying eating, drinking, &c. ii. pharmaceutick. 1. by encreasing and supporting the vital spirits. 2. by pacifying and indulging them. 3. by defacing or blotting out the idea of diseases by proper specificks. lastly, by removing the extimulating or occasional cause of maladies. to which is added, the art of midwifery chymically asserted. the character of an ortho-cymist, and pseudochymist. a description of the sanative virtues of our stomach-essence. also, giawo-mempsiz: or a just complaint of the method of the galenists. by george thomson, m.d. thomson, george, 17th cent. [14], 220 [i.e.200] p. printed for b. billingsley at the printing-press in cornhill, & s. crouch at the upper end of popes-head-alley, london : 1675. with errata at foo of a8v. p. 200 misnumbered p. 220. copy tightly bound. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic 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understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng diseases -causes and theories of causation -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2004-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-05 rachel losh sampled and proofread 2004-05 rachel losh text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ορθο-μιθοδοσ ιατ●-χεμικη or the direct method of curing chymically . wherein is conteined the original matter , and principal agent of all natural bodies . also the efficient and material cause of diseases in general . their therapeutick way and means . i. diaetetical , by rectifying eating , drinking , &c. ii. pharmaceutick . 1. by encreasing and supporting the vital spirits . ● . by pacifying and indulging them . 3. by defacing or blotting out the idea of diseases by proper specificks . lastly , by removing the extimulating or occasional cause of maladies . to which is added , the art of midwifery chymically asserted . the character of an ortho-chymist , and psevdo chymist . a description of the sanative virtues of our stomach-essence . also , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : or a just complaint of the method of the galenists . by george thomson , m. d. plurimi morbi cedunt per simplicia : ●st ubi morbus in gradum surrexit altiora exiguntur remedia . v. helm . london , printed for b. billingsley at the printing-press in cornhill , & s. crouch at the upper end of popes-head-alley . 1675. the epistle dedicatory to the most illustrious prince rupert , dvke of cumberland , earl of holderness , knight of the most noble order of the garter , and one of his maiestie 's most honourable privy councel , &c. may it please your highness , it was once my happyness in the late wars to be under the martial conduct of your renowned brother , prince mavrice , beloved by all loyal generous spirits for his valour and prudence . now i bless the heavens that promise me the benevolent aspect of your candid mercurial genius upon these chymical labours , which i humbly present to the view of your piercing eye , most able to make an in pection into the verity of things arising from pyrotechnie and manufacture . my thoughts did heretofore seem to be settled never to dedicate , for the future , a writing of mine to any whomsoever : yea , i had continued in that mind , to expose truth abroad solitary to shift for it self ( conceiving it best able to maintain her own propriety ) but that hearing it frequently discoursed in most company i met with ; how ardently your highness was devoted to serve the nation for publick good : what a philomathes and philalethes , sincere lover and defender you were of essential truths and ingenious arts in general , especially mechanical pyrotechnical operations , an assertor of experimental optical and sensible effects , fruits and products of things , and that for this reason you had an extraordinary kindness for our most excellent philosopher van helmont , your country-man ; i fortwith , affected with these rare endowments , altered my former intentions , resolving now to make my address to such a mecaenas ( for the discussion of these our chymical problemes by fact ) whose head is known to be endowed with subtil inventions , indefatigable inquiry after rarities and arcana's , whose heart is full of integrity , heroick designs , magnanimity , and hands most active in contriving exquisite works , and daedalean mechanicks . wherefore , truly noble sir , be pleased to accept of this oblation , which hath its chief original from pyrotechnie ; and according as you find it bear the test entertain or reject it . the sum of this physical tract is a practical discovery of the notable errours of the galenists , avouching that their principles in physiologie are false ; that they are ignorant of the quiddity , essence , or the true radical essential cause of all diseases : that they are grosly to seek in the direct method or shortest way of curing them : that the indications or measures they take from heat and cold , applicating upon that ground ( according to the rule of contraries ) their indicata or remedies are both fraudulent , and pestilent to mortals . that their unacquaintance with the synth●sis or constitution of the vital spirit , the cause of its rage and perturbation from somthing very offensive to it ( wherepon the image of a disease is delineated ) is the reason why they thus neglect to support nature as they ought , to allay its tempests , to deface morbisick idea's by specificks . lastly , being altogether occupied about the cutting off the accidents qualities , epigenomena , symptoms and products of evils , by bleeding and purging , they are insufficient to cure directly , immediately and radically any great malignant feaver , pleurisie , &c. the boon i beg of your highness is , not to suffer the truth to be abused through the collusions , sophistical evasions , equivocations , supplantations , scurrilous language and affronts of our antagonists : but that there may be a plain judicious determination of these controversies according to the clear evidence of fact , and the reality of experiments : for which the genuine professors of this philosophical chymical art will be bound to celebrate your praises to all posterity . your highness faithful servant , george thomson . the epistle to the reader . dear countrey-man , if thou beest a hearty lover of truth , and a solid genuine english-man , no phantastical affecter of the levity of this age , enter upon the reading of this treatise without prejudice or partiality : having perused it , give the world freely thy iudgment concerning it . object what thou canst ( like a candid philalethes , no caviller , or wrangler ) but still let thy most rectified reason , and firm experience be as inseparable as hippocrates his twins , always giving place to the latter . if thou censure me harshly , not giving me leave to clear my self by the assured evidence of action , i shall absolutely deny thee to be one , called a virtuosi pretend it never so much ) or a friend to the lord bacon . here is no hot , fruitless disputation about things indifferent in religion . no subtil pleading by covin , or collusion , as often happens in the law. nothing historical , or traditional to be subscribed to for antiquity , or authority sake . here is no deceitful conclusions , or captious argumentations fitting for the schools : nor acribology an exact discussion of matters , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little serviceable or vseful in the general , becoming some virtuosi at this day . no logomachie , an idle velitation , or contention about words , the exercise of pedanticks : but in this enchiridium is cortained that which will teach you directly to enjoy health of body , and , consequently , more integrity and clarity of mind : for , animi actiones spirituum synthesin , eupathiam vel dyspathiam eutoniam vel atoniam sequuntur . by this means you will learn to be cautious , how you impair nature , either for the present , or future , by the false method of bleeding , caco-stomachick purging , &c. if you be capable to receive this doctrine , not onely your self , but your posterity will fare the better . by virtue of this goddess sanity , thou mayst atchieve noble exploits , either keeping off , or bearing more couragiously all the adverse strokes of fortune ; enjoying hereby a far more happy life in the lowest condition , than they in the most prosperous state , tormented with the stone , gout , &c. in this paper i counsel thee to keep up thy spirits ( the principal efficient cause of health and sickness ) by multiplying them with what is most nigh their texture , by pacifying their rage and fury with pleasing objects , indulging their frowardness , gratifying their ardent appetite , illuminating their obscurity . next , i put thee upon the search of proper specificks , having a dowry bestowed upon them able to fully , marr , or quite expunge the idea , or image of a disease . lastly , i give directions how to banish , exterminate , exclude through the proper door with euphorie , and benefit succeeding that irritating , aculeating , peccant matter , which causes those manifold tumults and disorders in the archeus of the microcosin . all which is to be performed without wronging the ferments , or altering the instruments of any shop of digestion , especially the first . in avouching these substantial verities , thou mayst , perhaps conceive , i have too severely reprehended the galenists , to the eclipsing the illustrious fame of such learned clerks , whom both great and small in all ages have admired . to which i reply , i am fully satisfied within my own breast , that i have in no wise wronged them ( although they have me often-times ) in laying to their charge what they are not guilty of , being ready upon all fair opportunities , to demonstrate what i have here declared . besides , so weighty and precious is the praedicate , or subject we handle , that it would be an offence more hainous in me above others , indangering my immortal part , if conscious what slaughter of mankind is daily made by their pseudo-method of curing , i should be silent , indulge , connive at , extenuate , or palliate such capital crimes : this considered , with their delight in the darkness of galenical falsities ; also their active , obstinate ignorance : now , when the splendid beams of chymical truth appear , they deserve to be handled with far greater rigour than i have expressed . i wish my antagonists would behave themselves as candidly , and ingenuously to me as i to them , they would soon find me alter from an acid to an alkali nature ; from a tart , to a sweet disposition . if they would please to put me to the tryal , they will find me really what i profess , a lover of my king and countrey , upon the foundation of verity and virtue ; a hater of vice , debauchery , lewdness , all irreligion in any whatsoever ; a resolute promoter , to my power , of all good arts and sciences , especially that of healing man's infirmities ; a defender of learning , and an admirer of great abilities and integrity . farewel , expecting , as soon as i can get it well printed , a tract in latine , viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de splenectomia . lithocolo & loimotomiae synopsi . novemb. 4. 1674. from my house at soper-lane , alias queen-street , in well-court , nigh cheapside . geo. thomson . an explanation of some terms of art. chymist , is one who imitates nature in the separating the pure juice from the dross and ●ilth for the use of medicine mechanicks , and the ●dvancement of mettals , spagyrist is the same . therapeutick , i. e. a healing faculty . iatrical , pertaining to physick , healing . chymicophant , one who seems to be a chymist , but is not really . philomathes , a lover of learning . philalethes , a lover of truth . caco-stomachick , hurtful to the stomach . pyrotechnist , in general any workman by the fire , in particular , by way of excellency a chymist . pharmaceutick , physick which cureth by medicines . ortho-method , a direct upright short way . ortho-chymist , the true artist . pseudo-chymist , the ●alse . physiologie the reason of the nature of things , and a searching into their cause . idea , the figure , seal or pattern of things conceived in the imagination . the idea of a disease is the essence of it . archeus of paracel . and enormon of hippo. is the seminal vital spirit , the principal impetuous agent , or spiritual contriver and supporter of every thing , the arch preeminent author of health and sickness . gas , is a wild invisible spirit , not to be imprisoned or pent up , without damage of what conteins it , arising from the fermentation of the concourse of some bodies , as it were eructating or rasping this untamable matter . thermologists and psychrologists , are they who principally treat of heat and cold , neglecting essential properties . ferment ( according to van helm . ) is a formal ens , neither substance , nor accident , but neutral as light , fire , &c. stored or laid up from the beginning of the world in certain determinate places , for the preparing and exciting the seeds o● things . it carries some allusion or similitude wit● the leaven or ferment , bakers or bruers use , whic● is of a contagious diffusive odour , rarefying● dissolving nature , rousing up the spirit to fall t● action , to digest and make separation . alkali , is properly a salt from the herb kali● potash . any lixjviate salt extracted by calcination● or whatsoever volatile salt , having concordanc● or affinity with the former . alcohol vini , is its spirit totally depriv'd of phlegm xeuexton , an amulet against the pest. relollaeu● is a bare quality without a seminal being . liqu● alcahest is the universal dissolvent preserving th● seed of things inviolated . nosopoietick , that causeth a disease . anadrom● a running back . phaenomena , appearances . epig●nomena , supervenients , whatsoever succeed . errata page 10. line 15. read helmontian p. 12. l. 5. r. provocati●● p. 16. l. 5. r. signature . p. 17. l. 8. r. stomach chiefly . p. 18. l. dele the. p. 26. l. 11. r. quot . p. 3. l. 3. r. be careful . p. 32. l. 6. r. dig●●stions . p. 33. l. 7. r. those . l. 8. are . p. 35. l. 18. r. to the. p. 39. l 25. r. de●●ceent . p. 38. l. 6. r. draining . p. 38. l. 22. r. light p. 42. l. 30. r. assista●● p. 49. l. 2. r. and rest . p. 47. l. 6 r. acids . p. 60. l. 24. r. concrete . p. 65 〈◊〉 9. r. channel . l. 13. r. contraction . p. 67. l. 24. r. theorems . p. 68. l. ●● r. pyrotechnical . p. 69. l. 17. r. pyrotechnicôs . l. 29. r. balsamical . ●● 72. l. ●● r. acid meliorated . p. 72. l. 8. r. philalethes . l. 20. r. physio●●ger . p. 73. l 2. r. iterated . l. 14. r. dulcifie . p. 80. l. 11. r. salsi . l. 21. r. ●●tyrous . p. 88. l. 30. r. miss . p. 9. l. 29. r. imbued . p. 103. l. 12. r. tritu●●●tion . p. 110. l. 15. r. of ♁ by the. p. 111. l. 4. r. extermination . p. 21 〈◊〉 l. 9. r. rutilating . l. 21. r. and being . l. 23. r. empyical . p. 116. l. 27 〈◊〉 idealium . p. 118. l. 1. r. defaecated sulphurs . p. 125. l. 16. r. found 〈◊〉 p. 139. l. 27. r. empyical . p. 152. l. ult . r. corrector . p. 157. l. 26. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ps 166. l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 173. l. 6. r. intestinal . p. 174. l. 15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 181. l. 8. r. learned chymical . the direct method of curing chymically . chap. i. a brief examination of the original matter of natural bodies , with their dissolution . i shall first declare what nature is , according to our philosopher ; viz. a power implanted in the creature , to act in such a manner and measure according to the will of the creator , for ends best known to himself . the course and order of producing effects suitable to the first seminal cause , is constant , unless hindered by cross accidents intervening , or by some extraordinary stop put thereto by him , who is the chief mover of all essences . i look upon the materia prima of aristotle as impossible , a meer chimaera . galen and his sectaries are much mistaken in delivering the four elements : earth , water , aire , fire , the material cause of all things : which being ( as they say ) variously mixt and tempered by power of an active form , bring forth bodies of different shapes , and kind , one from another . the late chymical philosophers reject the former opinion , and being frequently conversant in opening all sorts of bodies by the fire ( which they will by no means allow to be an element ) and meeting frequently with salt , sulphur , mercury , have confidently taught , that these are the beginning matter of all things tangible . others add two more ; i. e. water and earth : all which ( as is asserted ) they can at their pleasure demonstrate , or lay open to view when they make separations . this discovery by fire indeed seems far more plausible , and favourable for the foundations and principles of all bodies , than the former conceit ; yet , upon severe search , it will not hold true . for as i have published in haemati . directed by helmonts doctrine , these which they call principles , are made by the fire , not actually existent before in the compound body : neither can salt , sulphur , mercury be extracted by any art whatsoever out of all things tractable . moreover , their unsteadfastness shews them to be no principles , for they are easily changed one into another , contrary to the nature of what ought to be the beginning of things . wherefore dr. willis his doctrine taken from bened . valent. or paracelsus , and trimly polished for sale , is to be rejected , as being not only false in the first instructions concerning nature , but also dangerous and destructive if made use of , according to what he hath delivered for the cure of diseases . learned helmonts discovery of acidum , i. e. sharp , of a binding rough condition , and an alkalie of a lixiviate smooth nature , either volatile or fixed , having a property to scour or loosen , is by tachenius , and some excellent philosophers owned to be the best of sensibles ; whereby we can most experimentally , and effectually , derive the nighest origination of all things endewed with a corporeal being : into which acidum , and alkali , art is able to bring back the same . besides these two luminaries in physick , afford the clearest directions for the cure of the worst maladies ; the only chief end , for which the upright physitian is to put out himself : notwithstanding these ( how specious soever principles reputed ) are not really so ; for they as well as the former may be reduced into water , which by the authority of acute van helmont , and my own proof in some measure , i set down as the principle , and ultimate matter , the beginning , and end of all elementarie bodies . for according to the diversity of ferments , the activity of the seminal spirit , and the peculiar image delineated by it , this liquid matter is moulded into those infinite number of various kinds of creatures . this is that abyss , or deep on which the spirit of god moved at first , now successively the spirit of the world , which out of this never failing treasure of water , frames those innumerable kinds of things obvious to our senses : now of all tangible essences , nothing is more similar or freer from alloy & mixture than water , nothing more capable of impress , nor susceptible of a seminal spirit , and so easie to be brought to this or that form. hence 't is manifest , there is not any thing chiefly more requisite for the production of all corporeal beings , than this material subject , namely water : and an efficient cause , viz. a spirituous seed working ( by means of ferments , or a certain volatile , spreading , swelling , chafing scent ) according as it frames that idea , or picture of the thing it intends to bring by degrees to perfection : till which time , the same agent ( if not impeded by some accidents ) which began makes a constant progress , till the whole be finished , bringing it to the highest state ; from whence , by little and little it declines , at length returning to that , from which it took its first being . what i have here delivered , the sensible seed of animals , plants and minerals confirm : for they all consist of a jelly-like substance , easily to be brought into water . the corporeal seed of all animals are as it were a mucilage , or the white of an egg : the seed of all vegetables may by digestion be turned into the like consistence . as to minerals , the best inquirers into them affirm , that a certain green , glutinous , slimy water flowing in peculiar places of the earth , gives them their first birth . so that an able chymical philosopher hath no reason to doubt what helmont hath set down ; to wit , that all bodies have their beginning from water ; that he could by means of his liquor alkahest , cause them to return again to the same . this is that proteus which being altered by an odorous ferment peculiarly inherent in the seminal matter , or the place where it resides , invites such a portion of the universal spirit ( according as it is capable ) to mould it by degrees into such a species , or individual being , proportionable to the plat-form laid at first . ( all outward conveniencies concurring . ) withal , as concretes or bodies are generated from vvater , so are they likewise chiefly nourished thereby : for the experiment of our philosopher confirms it thus . he took an earthen vessel , filling it with 200 weight of earth dried in an oven , in which , moistened with rain-water , he set the stem of a vvillow of five pound weight . this being for the space of five years irrigated , was nourished only with rain or distilled water as there was need , ( the vessel being covered over with a plate of tin full of holes lest any dust from without should fall into it ) after five years growth the plant put into the scales , weighed 169 pound , besides the quantity of leaves four years every autumn left out . then at last he weighed the foresaid earth dried , and it wanted of the former weight not above two ounces : upon this account 164 pound of vvood , bark , and root sprang from vvater alone . this experiment of van helm . did that excellent searcher into nature , the lord bacon confirm , by the encrease of a shrub kept a considerable time in vvater . the same vvater feedeth 40 distinct plants growing on one bed . also divers animals do plainly arise from a waterish matter : they are likewise preserved principally therewith . in the stomach of the salmon is seldome any solid matter found : neither can the sturgeon take into the stomach any gross matter for nourishment , the passage belonging thereto being so small , that scarse any thing but vvater can enter . some men and vvomen have been reported to live with vvater alone for many dayes . that pretious and viler stones are generated by vvater , and encreased by the same , is manifest , according to the tryal of van helmont . touching those existents which the chymists call principles , they are not really such ; for they have their rise from vvater , and may be specified , yea although they seem to be singular , yet may they be severed into diversity of parts . e. g. sulphur , which to the eye appears to be all of one frame , may be brought into a sharp corroding liquor : the same also may be brought into liquid balsome , or into an earthy pouder . out of sallad oyl a corrosive liquor may be made ; besides , it may without any difficulty be altered into vvater . salts may be turned into an oyly substance , then after become insipid : mercury doth ( as van helmont , and experience testifie ) consist of a double sulphur inward , and outward ; this being capable to be separated from it by art ▪ chap. ii. of the efficient cause , or primary agent of all sublunary bodies . the best philosophy teaches us , that al● constitutes have their material beginning from vvater . how this liquor comes to be diversified into innumerable kind of substances , is further to be enquired . the first alteration of this fluid body is made by a sulphureous ferment , giving a hogo to it , whereby a seminal spirit is excited to dispose and mould the matter into a form agreeable to that image or type i● hath laid . that which doth chiefly occasion and further the fermentation of vvater is , some secret acide , or sharpness proceeding from the aire , or elswhere . this insinuating closely , unites with the alkali in the vvater whence ariseth an agitation or vvorking commonly observed , when these two meet together : consequently the watery particles are exceedingly rarified , acquiring a certain peculiar scent , which they carry along with them , infecting the whole mass , wherein they reside : hereupon the archeus or vital spirit breaks forth into act , containing in it the true seminal idea , or picture of the thing capable to receive its form , and perfection . chap. iii. concerning the aitiologie , efficient , immediate and material cause of all diseases . what the antients generally , and some at this day call the conjunct , or immediate cause of diseases , i shall ( with most knowing helmont ) assign to be the occasional , provoking , or incensing . forasmuch as , whosoever desires to enquire into the nature of things aright , ought to be informed , concerning the very being of the same , as it relates to that which made it so . now no disease can have any subsistence , mansion or lodging place , but in a body endued with a vital spirit ( albeit in the dead the four humours of the galenists , and the three principles of the chymists be not wanting . ) for this reason the archeus or spirit must of necessity be the nighest fundamental beginning of all maladies whatsoever . for as our health depends upon this living spirit , when it is in all respects duly constituted , without any considerable defect in it ; so sickness ariseth when the same preserver of strength , is depraved or estranged from that clearness , proportion , and regularity , which ought to be in it . those degenerate , or bastard juices engendered through manifold errors in the helmontion six digestions , especially the first , are only means to put the living spirit into perturbation , vexation , and inordinate motions , whereby it frames images of evils , according to the condition of the troublesome , abusive intruding guest : so that in short , the seed of this , or that disease , with an absolute pattern how it is to be acted , is planted in this first founder of the whole fabrick : the grief being as inseparable from the vital spirit , as life it self ; yea it is even concentrated or seated in the very middle point thereof , and never to be separated therefrom , till the kernel , wherein this diseased image is drawn , be extinct , and quite abolished . this doctrine may seem strange to those , who are unacquainted with the writings of our profound philosopher ; however so great is the truth thereof , that 't is impossible any one should either prevent or cure diseases to a purpose , unless he be well disciplined in this solid knowledge . hence it is that opinionative doctors do so often blunder and mistake in healing any rooted infirmities ; because they either insist upon their four aristotelian elements and humours , analogous to them , as choler , phlegm , melancholy , blood , with the distemper coming from thence , or take their false measure of curing from the principles ( i mentioned before ) borrowed of the chymists , which some will have to be the next cause of diseases ; whereas they being present , only vex , gaul , bring into divers passions , the archeus : whereupon that which before did perform all things requisite in the body , decently and in order , is now become tumultuous , acting in an inconvenient preposterous manner . by this means the ferment or dissolvent in the stomach produces many raw juices , fretting liquors , which congeal the blood , or melt it into filthy matter , then follows a detention of excrements , or a profuse indiscreet throwing out good and bad ; also a specifick poison is created proportionable to those without : hence a crowd of sad symptoms appear . wherefore i repeat , the great cause why the galenists have been so unsuccessful in their curing is , because they did not truly distinguish between prevocative , occasional , and the essential inseparable cause between the concomitants , accidents , products , and consequents of humane calamities . for while they conclude a feaver to be principally heat , they have thereby taken a false indication or instructions , to free the body from that affliction ; neglecting to blot out the image of the sickness , to appease the enraged vitals , and to remove the vexatious , thorny , degenerate , dead juices , without empairing nature , wronging the stomach , or offering any violence to any shop ordained for digestion . they may plainly perceive ( if sordid gain did not blind them ) 't is labour in vain to purg bucketfuls of choler , and melancholy , ( which they suppose to be the conjunct united cause of the evil ) to let out great quantity of blood from the limbs for the cure of the scurvie , &c. sith generally the patient is more weakened , and his evil oftentimes more confirmed hereby . assuredly did they set nature upon her legs , when she is either sitting , or prostrate under any calamity , she would soon conquer her enemy , which kept her in subjection . would they but follow hippocrates , who taught them that naturae sunt morborum medicatrices , they would speedily renounce bleeding , and feeble , hurtful purgatives , to be looked upon as contrivers , and factors of filthy matter , which the expulsive power stirred up , casts out with the poison : so that in reality , the common way of purging is only like pumping , without stopping the leak . for as hippo. delivers , 't is not how much , but what is cleansed away doth good ; the occasional , exciting , peccant , fermenting matter being often very small as to its bulk . humane sickness hath a spiritual beginning , progress , state , and declination , arising from a seed , as all other things ; therefore they have a real entity , consisting of an efficient and material cause , both seated ●n the spirit of life , active and passive in contriving its own ruine , when at any time it is disturbed through any outward accident . when any thing very injurious to nature approaches from without , or is engendered within our bodies , the archeus , or vital aire takes notice of it , and being incensed , it frames in it self some ill-favoured dark images , agreeable to the cause offensive . according to this model or proportion it acts , never ceasing to follow the copy or draught of the malady made by its own activity , in a certain determinate quantity of it self , even to its own great damage and destruction , unless the character of the disease be blotted out , or the archeus pacified ; and diverted by some pleasing object , or the external vexing occasion removed . those defunct excrements , or superfluities separated from life , never to be rconciled to it , are most tedious and noisome to the vital spirits : wherefore becoming impatient , they rage , fret , chafe at the presence of so unwelcome guests . hereupon they stir upon the ferments , or instrumental transfigurators , to become disordered , sometimes to cause a confusion , tumult , boiling , and huffing in the juices , whereby a feaver is kindled ; sometimes to produce congelation of the blood , otherwhile to turn it into sharp gauling liquor , causing many long calamities . now the filth or dregs lodging in our bodies , are not diseases themselves , but stir up the archeus to create those evils , we are liable to . these are either antecedent causes of our maladies ; or they are products , and consequents , stirring up secondary calamities , accompanied with various symptoms , accidents , dispositions , and alterations . moreover , the miseries of our bodies , do now and then begin from an invisible , immaterial occasion , imprinting in our phansies , a lively character of a disease , which converting the good juices into bad , both foment the present evil , also excite the vitals to procreate more mischiefs through the contagion of a seed implanted in the life . that the phansie can out of a non ens , or nothing , frame hoc aliquid , or something of this or that species , is evident in women with child , who upon earnest longing after fruit , &c. or some sudden terrour , make the idea , or figure of what they greatly covet , or are terrified at in their spirits , which conveied to the womb , is absolutely conformed in that part of the child , which answers to the place , the woman at that instant touched , when she was so passionately affected . withal , this plant or living creature pictured in the skin , shall express all those remarkable alterations , defections , vigour , and maturation that the real type , or example of what is shaped is subject to , at certain times of the year . thus 't is plain , that the spirits being exalted , excited , or put into a vehement motion , through any notable passion can fashion that , ( bringing it to visible light on the superficies of the skin ) which before lay hid within . wherefore i doubt not there is as perspicuous a signaturi of every disease in the spirits , as the platform of the plant to be produced in a bean divided . the principle difference being , that the one is more spiritual , the other corporeal . the seminal figure then of all diseases made in the spirit of life is , the only efficient , active cause of their being . likewise some degenerate portion of the spirit , wherein the calamitie is as it were stamped ( separated from that which remains in its integrity ) becomes the material subject thereof . that 't is the blast of life which conceives and brings forth all manner of evils is most evident , seeing no dead body is capable of sickness ; this being the true only reason to be given , that the principal contrive● thereof , viz. the archeus or vital spirit is wanting . for the forbidden fruit which adam took into his stomach , having a power inserted into it of stirring up lust , or concupiscence ( the omnipotent for that reason giving advertisement to man not to meddle with ) was appropriated ; and applicated by means of the animal spirits to the immortal soul ; whereby it presently sets up images of filthy diseases , forthwith entertaining the sensual soul common to all beasts ; being then , so continuing to this day the fundamental cause of all calamities . i assert ; the irregular imagination of the living spirit of man in the stomach , chiefly the brain , and every part besides , doth first set on work every infirmity seizing upon us ; which at first seems very inconsiderable , but in process , through the uncessant motion of the first mover , it arrives to a great height of malignity , as appears by various sad symtoms , accidents , and products to be distinguished precisely from the substantial being of diseases . for example , a stone in the kidneys , bladder , or elsewhere , likewise any congealed matter , or cancrous hollowness are not diseases , but the products , effects , or fruits thereof . the petrifying imaginary seed , closely seated in the archeus , is that which first laid the foundation of the stone , carrying the same on , as it began , to full growth : so that although the stone be removed out of the kidneys , as long as there remains that stonifying seed , or invisible beginning , the person before rid of this hard concretion , may ere long ( if the idea , the principle of the congealing be not absolutly brought to naught , or blotted out ) be vexed , tortured or crucified with the like deformed matter again . that the archeus should be put into such a disturbance or passion through any disorders in diet , &c. as to frame within its own bowels such a dreadful , unhandsome substance , is to be lamented , but that the seminal character of the stone should be contrived , fomented , born with us , taking deep root , as we grow up , is far more deplorable . for diseased seminal ideas derived from the matrice are hardly to be razed out : they are so incorporated with our constitutes , challenging as great priviledge to act their part upon the stage of this little world in an uniform manner , and dress ; though depraved , as nature in its integrity , directed by wholsome images , performs all things orderly , according to just proportion and approved rules of sanity . at that very time , when the chief author moulds the seed , containing the shadowed likeness of what is to be made capable of a perfect form , doth the same workmaster draw the pourtraiture of those manifold mischiefs , which happen to body and mind many years after . so fixed are those hereditary miseries , that although the whole mass of every numerical part of the body be changed again and again , yet the radical tincture or dye of the congenite disease shall remain , ready to put forth it self , flourish , spread into various branches , and fruits , when the full time is come that it meets with an outward cause to stir it up . this is demonstrable in the gout , the stone , consumption , madness , small pox , &c. whose images for some years lie as it were asleep , till they be roused up through some provocative occasions . the idea's of evils , which the archeus contrives when we are come out of the womb abroad in the open aire are flitting , may easily be blurred , wiped off by a stronger figure : these often interfeering each other , at length clash together , and both become annihilated . infinite are the number of idea's or representations made by a working phansie , some of which are no sooner framed , but strait vanish , becoming non entia : for they are momentany , and easily thrust out by the next successour . but when any object shall often savourly and seriously affect us ; then the representation of the same doth take deep roots in the spirit , altering the texture of the blood , latex or lympha ; so that according to the species of the immoderate passion , and the picture thereof drawn either in the innate archeus , or that continually repaired , different accidents , symptomes , signs and effects arise . that all diseases have a type , copy , or example set , ( according to which the archeus that first moulded it , acts ) may be confirmed by the uniformity , regular motion , inseparable appearances or signs belonging to them , from which they receive a name proper to their nature : those tell us of what kind the sickness is , insomuch a judicious physitian is able as well to make distinction , between one maladie and another , as between a pippin and a pearmain ; an almond and a chesnut ; likewise to sort them into several kinds , classes , forms , degrees ; a thing never to be done , if there were not a certain director , informer , o● first mover , that laid a platsom of whatsoever grief , depending upon an efficient and material cause , as all other sublunaries . again that the archeus doth first make a draught of the evil in self , working afterward accordingly to its own hurt or destruction , may be proved by that intermission , silence , we find in feavers , falling-sickness , gout , stone , convulsions tissick , &c. which as it were sleep for some time , then awake , repeating their former tragical act exactly . certainly if there were not an agent lead by a strict rule , it were impossible such a constant mode and method could be observed in the beginning , progress , height , declension , and determination of maladies . briefly therefore the true efficient with the material cause of all diseases is , not any distemper of the elementary qualites , not any of the supposed four humours derived from the four elements , not salt , sulphur , mercury , &c. not any thing meerly excrementitious , vexatious , ambient : but the vital spirit stirred up to indignation , fear , &c. by some loathsome tedious object present : whereupon it makes the very shape , planting the seed of the maladie in some portion of that aetherial blast , separated from that in integrity : upon which matter , as a patient , the seminal ideal agent works shooting forth those manifold fruits or appearances in sickness . chap iv. of the therapeutick , or healing method . 1. of diet in general , respecting the prevention , and sanation of mans infirmities . the immediate undoubted cause of all diseases made manifest , their cure will become more easie , to the purpose , speedy , with less danger , and loathsomness . there are two capital principal indications , ends or marks , which ought to direct us in the ordering our diet as well as pharmacy . 1. the support of the strength or vital spirits . 2. the declining , or eschewing whatsoever is an enemy to nature , that incenses , and puts it into inordinate passions . laudable diet then both supports the vitals , encreasing them , also clarifies , pacifies , and diverts them from making hurtful images ; yea in some proportion duls , defaces , and eclipses those already framed . now by diet are comprehended all those necessary succours , requisites , or concomitants , without which , the life of man cannot subsist . namely , 1. ingestion or taking into our bodies , whatsoever is alimental , or nourishable . 2. the egestion , or discharge of superfluities arising from our food , and the retention of what is agreeable to our nature . 3. the rectification of the aire . 4. the right ordering of rest and motion by turns , in due measure and time. 5. a just allowance of sleep and watching . lastly , the moderation , or regulation of the passions , aed perturbations of the mind . in the first place , the direct way to uphold , increase the spirits , to keep them clear , bright , and free from unreasonable , sickly , turbulent , melancholy idea's , or impressions , is to have an especial care of the fountain , from whence these subtil particles spring , i. e. the stomach . this noble part is with care and tenderness to be respected above any other : for this purpose nothing is to be taken , offending it , either in quality or quantity . neither is the substance and quality of any nourishable , to be insisted upon so much , as the just quantity we are to observe : for if the stomach earnestly desire what is generally reputed to be hard of digestion , or to afford bad aliment ; notwithstanding if there be an eager appetite to the same , this noble part is to be indulged , or favoured in such a case ; only allowing a lesser quantity . doubtless this most sensible membrane , of exquisite gust doth for the most part best prompt u● to what is for the good of the whole : so that giving a repulse or check to a vehement appetite , hunting after any thing eatable , or drinkable , we oftentimes cause a cloudiness , dulness , sullenness , and darkness in the vital spirits , bringing them into such a disorder , that they coin many foul , black images , whereas , if the archeus of this eminent ventricle were gratified and humoured , in what it extreamly desires , there would be a serenity and lustre in the spirits , and then al● actions executed with more strength . the severity of some physitians in forbidding their patients to eat that to which their appetite is exceedingly addicted , hath caused no small discommodity . neither do they less offend who strictly impose upon them such a diet , as they , according to some general rules , apprehend most fitting , derived from bare qualities of heat and cold , &c. not considering that in all diseases , especially those of long duration , enquiry ought to be made to what diet the sick is most naturally inclined to , and accustomed , what his gust doth best relish , then according to that account to grant him some small portion of what he eagerly covets , although usually reckoned amongst food of hard digestion , of ill juice , of bad quality , or very hot , &c. for none can give better arguments of a diet , more proper for the satisfying the appetite , than a man himself , especially if he be of years , carefully taking notice what doth most agree with the genius of his stomach . i have known posset-drink , out of an intent to cool , prescribed by some doctors , humorists , ( without farther examination of an antipathy thereto ) even to the endangering the life , in malignant , ill-conditioned feavers . such darkness hath forthwith seized upon their spirits , and such loathsome foul shapes have been delineated thereby : that they have approached the shadow of death , undoubtedly perishing , had not prevalent art blotted out speedily those deformed figures . so hazardous it is to withhold what nature doth most sympathize with , or to offer what it bears an inbred hatred to . this certainly is to be known by a man 's own experience , whether he have an absolute dislike to honey , an egg , sider , any spice , &c. for this reason ( methinks ) 't is great vanity in those , who will undertake to be magisterial , and over-rule persons in diet , more able to judge of this matter than physitians : who presume , no less ridiculously , than ignorantly , to enjoyn iohn , thomas , william , the same food , order , season , and measure , of taking it alike , without having respect to any individual or peculiar stamp made upon the spirits in the womb , whence qot homines , tot diaetae observendae : as many men as there are in the world , so many inseparable properties are to be indulged as to the election of eating and drinking this or that . if our galenical physitians ( who stand so much upon their bare qualities of heat and cold in the cure of griefs , according to the rule of contraries , directing them as they say , but upon false grounds , to extinguish one by another ) did rather aim at the cancelling and blotting out these perverse , deformed , crooked impresses or characters born with us , and in process growing up to such a height , insomuch that they become unconquerable , mortals would certainly enjoy both a sounder body and mind , be free from melancholy , enjoying far more clearness of spirit . i am confident that the stomach , whose digestive properly is utterly estranged by a feaver , or long imbecillity , being whetted by a strong affection may alter a red-herring , oysters , a lobster , &c. better than veal , chicken , broth , gellies , or any such contrived cookeries . therefore to urge the sick to eat sodden , when he lusts after roasted ; or liquid , when he requires solid , is to cross nature , supposed either can be made fit for nourishment . in all those states wherein i find the infirm person 's stomach uncapable to make a formal chang of the food , for want of a kindly ferment or dissolvent ( as for example , in all feavers , and very ill habits of bodies ) there i generally injoyn the best liquors , abounding with good spirits , easily to be altered into the vitals , leaving no considerate foulness or dross behind ( the watrish part entering into the vessels carrying off some superfluities it meets with , by urine and sweat ) so that my practice hath taught me many years what hippo. hath delivered , facilius est refici potu quum cibo . the vital steam is with more speed refreshed , and longer maintained by spirituous liquors , than by flesh , or its juices , which for want of , a living dissolvent , requisite for this chief cook-room , become degenerate , dead , and stinking ; whereupon a feaver is added to a feaver , the archeus being encreased in its fury , makes idea's of weakness , despair , and confusion , according to the truth of the old man , siquis in febre cibum de derit , valenti robur aegrotanti morbus . yet the custome and authority of malepracticants is so powerful , that the sick thinks he must be weakned , if he eat not broth of flesh , caudels , water-gruel , &c. which those diet-mongers have justified ( contrary to the aphoris . ) will turn into nourishment whereas the stomach hereby becomes more weakened , excrements engendered abundantly , the rage of the archeus advanced hence arise misty , gloomy representations , eclipsing the sun of life , raising as it were a filthy fog in the archeus , so that it cannot see how to rectifie its erroneous idea's , suffering them to become more fixed . no less mischievous is the galenical doctrine of cooling liquors in feavers , viz. their maukish , spiritless , dull , flat posset-drink , small-beer , barly-water , loathsome decoctions of cooling crude herbs , pippin liquors , and the like , which starve the vital spirit , bringing a numness upon it , that it cannot do any thing effectually for the expulsion of its enemy : they likewise wedge in the ill juices , so that either nature is totally oppressed , yielding to its fate , or led captive by a long disease , the common event of their mortiferous method . whosoever then falls into a feaver , or any other calamity , i advise him ( upon fundamental trials made many years ) to avoid the aforesaid poor starvling liquors , to apply himself to the drinking of that , which will enable the archeus strongly to resist its enemy , to frame benign , clear , lightsome imaginations tending to health , to subdue the detestable filthy matter , holding no communion with life , by sweat , urine , spitting , vomiting , or stool : yet still let moderation be the guide in all things , for the most commendable things may be abused , witness those to whom i allowed to drink now and then a glass of sack in a high feaver , who unadvisedly fortewith poured down a whole quart-bottle to their prejudice . as i never forbid any in a feaver good strong liquors , to quench thirst , to strengthen the stomach and spirits : so i admonish all to make use of temperance : neither do i prohibit broaths , collises , eggs in any maladie , &c. upon any other account , but that they become corrupt in a stomach , whose ferment cannot turn them into a nourishable juice . he that will take a course to obtain iuventutem in senectute , to be young and chearful when old , must have respect to senectutem in iuventute , careful to be temperate , sober , and discreet , as some old men are . could we but know our selves aright so far , as to command our greedy appetite , not to devour more than the ferment of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is able to conquer , we should frustrate the common saying ; plures gula quam gladius : multitude of evils of body and mind might be prevented and remedyed . for sith natura paucis contenta est ; 't is far better in eating and drinking to subsist on this side the golden rule of mediocrity than to transgress beyond : that being more easily corected . a peculiar robust constitution ; the course of life we follow ; the exercise we use ; the region or place we inhabit ; the air we suck into our lungs ; the agility or dulness ; the alacrity or indisposition , we find the morning following the foregoing days diet , dictate what quantity of food , of what quality , and at what time we ought to eat : thus accordingly we are to regulate and reform what is amiss . one of an athletick body labouring hard , living in a mountainous , clear , temperate aire , or much conversant at sea , lively , airy and spiriteful after sleep , may justly challenge a greater share of aliment than a weakly , lumpish , drousie habit , addicted to a sedentary studious life , in a populous city , or any fenny foggy countrey , remote from the sea : for i find ▪ generally that , aqua praecipue marina promovet digestionem . the agitation of the body by neptune's ebullition , the recentation of the aire , those copious volatile particles of acid and alkali in the ambient , do powerfully corroborate the ferments of digestion , carry off insensibly any recrements without any coagulation or dreggy settling left behind : so that many can eat without discommodity quintuple the portion at sea , above that at land. large morning draughts are for the most part very injurious , likewise frequent drinking between meals ; for the kindly dissolution of the food is retarded hereby , the fibers of the stomach by degrees made flaccid , and the tone debilitated . one meal a day discreetly modefied , and with one or two short snaps beside , may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very well suffice most men , using but gentle motion , and living in places where the aire is saturated with abundant exhalations . let him beware to eat unless his appetite invites him , then not till he be glutted ; commedat non quidem ad repletionem cavitatis stomachi ▪ nec ad voluptatis sive gustus dictamen . 't is the misery of many to have better appetites , than nigestions , which is the frequent cause that many raw juices are contracted , the body becoming more clogged , ponderous and indisposed to stir ; for if no more food be taken in than can be throughly altered ( excrementitious superfluitie● being sent packing insensibly ) one will continue the same weight , or little different many mornings togehter : if otherwise any caput mort or dreggy substance remain behind indigested , the spirits become dull , cloudy , and obscure , and the whole mass lumpish and heavy . mastication an exact chewing of what we eat , doth exceedingly avail to a happy digestion : for he that hastily gobleth in his food , had need to have a cormorants or an ostritch's dissolvent in his stomach . variety of dishes is a lure to make us eat more than ordinary , and a means to pester the stomach with more than it can digest , to make a confusion in the separation : so that which is raw being blended with what is duly changed , both are thrown off without distinction . the plainest simple , home-bred food is generally to be preferred for holsomness , before the fine , pampering , curiously-dressed , far-fetched dainties . beef , mutton rightly prepared before partridges , pheasants , &c. brown bread leavened before white . that tyrannical , severe . overbusie precepts the galenists enjoyn their patients , is to be rejected , for misere vivit qui medice vivit . to be rigidly kept from what is lawful and useful ( for want of fitting remedies ) is little better than a turkish slavery . celsus his rule , not to be much solicitous or curious in diet ( supposed some measure be observed ) is to be embraced by every man who enjoys a competent health : yea sith they who are oppressed with any great sickness ( nature becoming prostrate , subject to the dominion of the enemy ) can never be cured by the strictest government in their food : therefore even those ( when the maladie shall meet with remedies able to over power it , ought to take liberty to gratifie their appetite , and sometimes to indulge their genius more liberally than ordinary , with what it is greatly affected : for how often hath it been known the thing the physitian hath sternly forbidden upon pain of death , that the same being either secretly stoln by the patient , or privately offered by the nurse , or some friends , hath proved the unexpected means to make nature mistress of the disease , the vital spirits hereby highly exalted at the presence of that which doth so match their inclination and vehement longing , in so much that they have taken courage , and scattered those black clouds of mischievous idea's , entertaining instead thereof , clear , bright images tending to health . it is no small prudence in a physitian , to examine to what diet the sick person hath accustomed bimself , for saith hippo. quarum rerum inveteravit consuetudo , quamvis deteriores sint illae , minus tamen insuetis male afficiunt . aphor. 5. lib. 2. in this case we ought sometimes not so punctually to stand upon what is holsome , as what is customary : nor is this any argument to allow of poison , chaulk , tobacco , tiles or coles which some to admiration have frequently devoured in great quantity , without a mortal event . but the question is what indifferent food may be commended , dispensed , and afforded to the infirm in relation to custome , and a strong desire , with a capacity of digesting it : for these considerations laid aside , it were by no means to be granted . in conclusion i advise that curiosity , severity , nicety in diet be laid aside ; that the physitian , as well as the patient , insist upon what the importunity of the appetite dict●tes , the custome of any food doth urge , ●nd the largness of digestion may permit : ●or what is earnestly desired , doth conduce to ● better alteration ; what is well altered , doth encrease the vitals , otherwise it doth ●ut strengthen the disease & weaken nature . it is as possible that flesh thrown into the ●ennel should not corrupt lying there long , ●s that food taken into a stomach deprived in greatest part of its dissolvent or ferment , ●hould not cadaverate or putrifie ; whereupon the former calamity is augmented by ano●her . not how much we eat , but what is accu●ately prepared in this vital kitchen , is chief●y to be considered . veins , arteries , nerves , ligaments , gristles , bones are all beholding ●he blood and spirits for their happy subsist●nce , and those to the stomach . wherefore 〈◊〉 any aim at a comfortable life , ut sit mens sa●a in corpore sano , let him avoid excess in ●o●d and liquid diet , but especially the first . ●et him endeavour so far to understand him●elf , or be governed by those who are know●ng her in ▪ that no more ought to be put in●o this membranous body , than what it 's able ●o convert into a laudable substance for the ●ood of the whole . neither let any one ●hink to be rightly instructed by the galenists , sith they prescribe a diet according to false suppositions of heat and cold , recollae● nowhere active of themselves in the producing any vital ens : but let the upright philosophical chymist be heard , who gives counsel according as the spirits and their instruments shall dictate . hereby no considerable eerror can be committed in the superstructure as long as the foundation is so strong . chap. v. the next thing diaetetical to be considered , tending to the bene esse , or wellfare of mans life , is evacuation of what is superfluous or excrementitious , and the retention of a salubrious and friendly matter , for the sustentation of a commodious prosperous health . that all foulness ( in no wise to be taken into the custody of the vitals ) may be discharged , secretion or separation is to be made of good from bad , of pure from impure , by the active separator the archeus : for when any thing rejectaneous is thrown off promiscuously with any laudable sudstance fitting to be conserved , many inconveniencies follow , as is frequently observed by the more acute physitians in haemorrhagies , or fluxes , both natural , and artificial ; for what can be more absurd than ●o cast away the wheat with chaff , the spirit of wine with the stinking dreggy sulphur . now superfluities the more they are rarefied , and volatilized by kindly ferments , the ●ooner they are difflated or sent packing by respiration , and transpiration through the habit of the body , without the least remainder of a gross dregg , in which if it fail , there forthwith follows a declination from integri●y , a brisk sound constitution of body , becoming , according to statica medicina , a little more dull and ponderous ; if then a considerable quantity of this filthy setling be accumu●ated , the occasional cause of a disease is hatching , which if not timely prevented , breaks forth actually , disturbing the oeconomy of ●his admirable frame . wherefore due caution is to be taken that we ingest not any thing not capable to be digested , that excrements be strictly egested , or voided by stool ( for ventris torpor omnium confusio ) urine , expectoration , sometimes easie vomiting or universal cutaneous breathing : for the promo●ion of which , where nature is difficient , art ought to supply . a soluble belly , and easie transpirable skin doth much conduce to a healthful life . for want whereof , pil. polychrest and tinctur . polychrest , not omitting sometimes glysters , and bathing , do much conduce . in women the monthly terms ought to have their just course : if they come short , elix . propri . sulphur . mar. philosophically prepared do much avail . also the inward haemorrhoides or piles opened are to be indulged : for the draning of these , a gentle frication to and fro with a tuft of grass , when the fundament is open , is of singular use where there is any propensity in nature to evacuate foeculent , fretting blood , from the mesentary or spleen ; i look upon this as a most noble emunctory to disburden each . neither ought a supurfluity of seed to be kept too long in peculiar bodies , especially if there be danger it may contract an ill odour to the annoyance of the kidneys , spleen , head : for seeing the testicles have no small influence upon the parts tending to their happiness , if they be in their right tone , certainly then if out of order they dart hurtful beams to the notable damage of that organ where they lights . have a care of transgressing herein too much , for that confounds all . one thing i must by the way urge , that physitians have a special care , how they make a retention of any degenerate , malignant impurities by astringents , or opiates , without removing the cause , from whence they flow . the only way to perform this aright , is to pacifie the arci●●s , to amend the exorbitancy of the ferments , to strengthen nature to carry off at the same time that in a larger quantity with succeeding ease , which before came away by little portions , in a dribling manner , without any redress to the debilitating the vitals . then no doubt the fibers of the stomach , and other parts , will be corroborated , ( the morbisick occasion of their weakness being sequestred . ) to cleanse away every morning with a linnen course cloath any cl●mmy soulness from the three notable emunctories , as the groin , armpits , neck , doth somewhat help to preserve from sickness . the scraping the tongue fasting , ridding it from a viscous impurity , doth not only profit for the keeping from a squinsie , but also other inconveniencies . salt of pot-ash calcined , mixed with five or six times the quantity of almond cake poudred fine , doth scour the mouth , if a little thereof be taken with three or four spoonfuls of water gargarized and rubbed with the finger . note sharp liquors are offensive to the teeth , but alkalies friendly to them . chap. vi. the third diaetetical necessary supportter of a happy life , and restorer of it when impaired , is good aire , which if congruous to the lungs is as welcome to it , as some food to a rightly disposed stomach . what famous cures holsome air , with mineral waters , have effected , is well known to those , whom the galenists have left as desparate : for whereas they at first upon a false supposition that the air did chiefly conduce to the cooling of the heart , and explosion of fuliginous particles generated from excessive heat , did take their indication of cooling more or less according as any febrile disease did invade the patient ( but all in vain having exhausted both the strength and purse of the sick person ) thus missing a sanative end , they at length study to find out some pure aire , to which they commit the patient , although often too late to be cured ) yet is he sometimes beyond expectation revived ( even to their astonishment ) who are ignorant of the true cause thereof . for those coagulations , dreggy grosness in the blood ( rather augmented than diminished by faeculent medicaments enemies to the stomach ) are by the subtil ambient dissolved , rarefied , volatilized and sent packing without any filthy settling left behind . hereby the stomach recovers its digestion , and the blood runs freely in its proper channels , so powerful is the air with the ferments to refine the juices , attenuating all tenacious matter residing in them , or lurking about the spleen or stomach , whose appetite and digestion are much advanced or depressed , according as the ambient is thin or thick , defaecated or dreggy . this great separator of moisture doth in some places so rarefie and consume the solid nutriment of mans body , that although he eat plentifully , quadruple to what he doth at other times in some regions , yet shall he continue in perfect health , obtaining the same weight of body , he had some weeks before : ( few visible excrements in comparison of those insensibly dissipated to be discovered . ) this is the happy effect of subtil , fresh , well clarified , often changed , cold , piercing aire , grateful to the lungs : on the other side , where this ambient is gross , restagnant , stuffed full of foul corpuscles , to which one is confined , misty or foggy , many discommodities of health ensue , as dull appetite , in digestion , crudities , contamination of the of the blood , flatness , heaviness of the spirits , depravation of the ferments , whence troops of diseases invade us . where the atmosphere is well qualified , and constituted , men enjoy length of days , as well as at present a sound body , where 't is otherwise disposed , the thread of life is shortned . in general , the aire destitute of noisome exhalations from the earth and endued with benevolent influences from the heavens is profitable for the lungs . in particular , that air chiefly concerns the preservation from sickness , and the restauration of sanity , which doth best agree with the individual , whose approbation comes from experience . for there is a natural appetite in the lungs of some , to embrace this or that air above another , as it is inhaerent in the stomach to be affected with certain peculiar kinds of meat . where the aire is culpable , art ought to amend it , which is done by imitating nature , ventilating it when restagnant , heating and subtillizing it by good fires when 't is cold or gross , consuming or putting to flight stinking particles by the diffusion of acceptable good odours . if the air abound with excessively acid , or foul nitrosulphurious atoms it is to be rectified with the breath of the most refined askali's and the fumes of well corrected sulphurs . by this means many diseases may be prevented , and in some sort cured . chap. vii . the fourth assistanting to a comfortable life , is exercise and rest , which ought to succeed each other by turns , quod caret alterna requie durabile non est . now motion is previous to rest , for the first symptoms of life arise from a loeo motive faculty . we shall not here examine aristotles definition of nature , i. e. the principle of motion and rest ; but rather insist upon the modification or regulation of motion , as it tends to the health of man. of so great use is motion or exercise , that the wise creator ordained respiration , and pulsation to continue constantly for our vital pre●ervation through the whole course of our life ; so that we live no longer , when the heart and lungs do quite give over the faculty of moving . every one then ought to take singular care that circulation of the blood may be in no wise intercepted , nor free breathing be intermitted : for that purpose the exercise of the muscles of the limbs , gentle and sweet recreation of the mind do avail . moderate equal diaphoretick , alterative and duly excitative labor joyned with pleasant , variable , admirable , rare and desirable objects doth expand and dilate the lungs and arteries , whereby the breast becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the arteries emicant . nothing promotes these actions better than cheerfulness or temparate joy , constant love of what is truly amiable , never to be repented of , a probable hope of some good not long to be deferred , at length a sweet enjoyment of that which is durable , and capable to usher in better things : for i am of a very brave man's opinion ; the comfort of our whole life depends upon expectation of better things . also magnanimity or courage founded upon virtuous enterprizes , aspiring to noble designs , for a publick as well as private interest , do sweetly enlarge the spirits , quickning the ferments , causing an expulsion of superfluities : yea just indignation , kept within its due limits , facilitates respiration , transpiration and pulsation . on the contrary , fear , sorrow , melancholy , hatred , jealousie , envy contract the diaphragme , and the muscles of the breast , hindering legitimate breathing , occasioning an immature importunate systole , or a supine connivence in the arteries . it is not amiss sometimes to be transported beyond the common bounds of moderation ; to be agitated with some extraordinary passion of the mind , and to sustain tedious labor , that the sweeter composition of mind , and most delightful rest of body may follow ; sith one constant strict tenor pertaining to diet is hardly to be obtained , without greater damage , whensoever we offend , not to be avoided by any man , who hath a publick employment , or a secular interest to look after : so that it is better to be accustomed to any exercise or labour of body and mind voluntarily , least we be surpriz'd unawares unwillingly to our notable hurt . i advise those parts should undergo most gentle exercise , which are weakest ; to walk oftner upon the lower limbs when they are somewhat feeble ; to move rather the arms and hands when incident to a debility , lest the stronger by motion defraud the weaker , and so alogotrophia or disproportion in the nourishment of parts follow . i approve frication of all parts , especially three noted emunctories ; the groin , arm-pits , and neck with a course cloath , without curious superstition of rigtht oblique or transverse directions . combing the head every morning is an exercise profitable for the brain and upper limbs encreasing their vigour and opening the pores for the emission of excrements engendred in the sixt digestion , which is not a little depraved by a superfluous covering , so that the brain through too much heat becomes effeminate , soft and imprudent . let every man make choice of that exercise or recreation he is most inclined , most agreeable to his constitution , whereby he is most relieved . chap. viii . the fifth inseparable companion of our life neerly related to exercise and motion is sleeping and waking . these make almost a divident of the life of this microcosm : and happy it is for man , that the first was instituted , sith great are the cares of miserable mortals , that he hath reason to bless his creator that he can fall into a sweet lethean sleep , which , like a short death , deprives him of sorrow and anguish of spirit . pax animi quem cura fugit . albeit great is the comfort of a moderate sleep , as to the refreshment of body and mind , whereby they are enabled to execute their faculties and offices more vigorously awake ; yet no small are the discommodities brought upon us by excess therein , as an indisposition to follow ingenious arts or sciences , a stupidity to comprehend the truth of things , forgetfulness , supinity , or indifferences what becomes of our future state , leaving affairs in a confused condition , indigested and desperate . it heaps up crudities , flats the archeus , hinders the expulsion of superfluities , makes the body woman-like , delicate , tender , wanton , unfit for any noble enterprize , accumulates excrements , yielding abundant matter for all sorts of diseases , &c. excess also in waking is accompanied with multitude of ill consequents , impovrishment and distraction of the spirits , absurd idea's , indigestion , an augmentation of a-aids hypochondriack fits , melancholy and madness . caap. ix . the last inseparable concomitant of life to be insisted upon , whereby our condition is made better or worse , according as we govern them well or ill , is our passions ; which , if they move regularly , produce a sweet tranquility in the mind , and a salubrity in the body : but if extravagant , flying out beyond their bounds , they confound the whole oeconomy of this admirable frame . the stoicks seem to endeavour to deprive themselves of a sensitive life , when they would have a man to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this is all one as not to take notice of any thing adverse to nature : for it is impossible for a man apprehensible and imaginable , not to be moved by the object , he apprehends or imagines ; as it is pleasing or distastful , so he desires it , or abhors it , the affections hereby set on work , great reluctancy , effervescence perturbation arise in the spirits which sometimes strangly alter the texture and crasis of the blood. the idea's or images of sorow , fear , anger , joy , jealousie , hatred , emulation are sometimes so fixed in the animals , that they become indeleble : hence vain imaginations of the whole man , dotage , melancholy and furie are emicant : neither do the absurd conceptions , and vain imaginatiors of the whole man only cause disturbance in the stomack or brain , storms or tempests in the universal archeus , but likewise the spirit of every part frameth particular images of indignation , fear , &c. any spinous , acculeating , or pricking matter in any particular part , presently puts the vital spirit there into a passion , the archeus of the eye is forthwith put into an indignation , when an extimulating fretting liquor is either injected into it , or engendred in it , through a fault in its peculiar degestion : whereupon the lympha , latex , or the wheyish humour is lured or summoned for the ablution of this blot , or defect , which when it cannot perform , the ocular water , as well as the nourishment thereof , is depraved , through the ringing attrition of the sensitive spirit , which ought by all means to be pacified . the like perturbation is observed to be raised in the archeus of the ear , nose , windpipe , &c. when any troublesome cause ariseth there . 't is certainly true , omne vivens mortui impatiens esse solet . whatsoever is alienated from life , engendred either within , assumed or injected from without , brings , sometimes sooner or sometimes latter , the custos of the whole or part into an inquietude . for this reason cantharides applyed , raise blisters in the skin of a living body : from the same cause do virulent animals , vegetables or minerals , taken inwardly , purge violently ; for as much as the sensitive spirit falls into an indignation at the presence of that it abhors , so makes a confusion of the holsome juices by colliquating , and putrefying them . hereupon so little benefit arises from things meerly loosening the body : the principal agent being exasperated by what is contrary to its texture and nature . after this rate did i begin my practice , being taught no better , than to give many stools or vomits , without indulging or pleasing this great president , which , as i have often proved , is the supreme cause of sanity and infirmity . but afterward instructed by a far more able tutor , than the schools , i began to correct my former traditional error , following the sure thread of repeated experiments ; so that at length i never gave any solutive not fitting to corroborate the stomach , not friendly to the ferments and vitals . before i took this course , all frequent laxatives were fruitless , because they did anger and enrage the archeus , stirring up storms and tempest in the microcosm , instead of a sweet tranquility . by this means the idea's of the phantasie ingeneral were rectified and clarified , after that the spirits in particular places were composed aright . he that desires to be free from absurd melancholy thoughts , furious passions and perturbations , let him take eustomachical benign , benevolent remedies , sufficient always to cleanse away impurities , without causing hatred , frowardness or high displeasure in nature , whose genuine course is to be observed without putting her to any violent stress , or compulsion . chap. x. the pharmaceutick , or upright method of curing diseases by medicines in general . how the galenists have been mistaken concerning the four elements , their mixture for the composition of bodies , their contrarieties , qualities , complexions , deduced from thence , how falsly they have delivered them to be principles of natural existences , and the causes of sickness and health , hath been perspicuously detected by our philosophical pyrotechnist : upon this foresaid rotten foundation have they raised their stately and pompous fabrick of curing , obstinately endeavouring still to keep it up . the rule of contraries derived from imaginary supposition of the hostility and reluctancy of the the four elements ( whence they say all concretes have their original by which they chiefly act , for the end to debellate mans infirmities , hath been the bane of many myriads . where they find any notable heat in a feaver , they presently take indication to cool the body , in a degree proportionable to its antagonist , in hopes thereby to reduce the body to an eucrasie . but still with unlucky success : for neglecting the radical cause , and aiming at the abolitions of accidents , products or symptoms , how can it be otherwise , but that they must needs miss the mark , unless they hit it by casualty ? a faithful knowing physitian is unconcern'd and indifferent whether the patient be hot , cold , or temperate ( as to the touch ) in a feaver ; whether thirsty or no. for asmuch as he understands the same agent that sends forth a hot blas , doth also send sometimes a cold from the same matter . he also frequently observes a cold dead splinter or thorn doth vex , gaul , fret the archeus of the finger in such a manner , that the pulse becomes above measure magnified , the colour rubified , the blood incensed , the heat exalted : all which arise from the material cause of the thorn impacted : likewise the eye waters , smarts , abhors the light , looks red or inflamed , from a mote or a small fragment of glass , &c. cold things ; by reason of the passion of the ingenite spirit , much provoked at the presence of the guest so unwelcomed to life . moreover , a spark of fire , essentially hot , lighting upon the hand or elswhere causes a sudden shivering coldness all over the body . what is more frequent than to sustain a grievous rigour or coldness , even to chattering of the teeth , from the abundance of a supposed humor called choller , analogous to fire ( as they will have it ) hot and dry. on the other side , how hot and dry have i known some phlegmatick bodies in feavers , even beyond cholerick ? in this case , how , without contradiction to their theorems , can they without lethiferous mistakes , give cooling things , for the encrease of phlegm , and hot for the advancement of choller : were not this to augment the cause of the disease ? is not this rather the very strait course to relieve the misaffected , to exempt the thorn or splinter out of the finger ? the mote & fragment of class out of the eye by proper instruments ? also to attenuate , rarifie phlegm , to mitigate , edulcorate , retund and alter choller , by what is adaequated operative , for the ablution , abstersion , and carrying away both . sospite stomachi ac naturae robore , through all the most requisite sluces of the body . this done ( like a true philosophical artist ) a sweet tranquility appears in the vitals , all evil symptoms of heat , cold , &c. forthwith or in a very short time vanish . neither in this case is it of moment , whether the remedies bringing this to pass be hot or cold , sith as substracting the fuel from the fire it will quickly be extinguished ; so removing the occasional matter of heat , this is soon annihilated . did the schools rightly comprehend , how fire may be procured by the rapid collision of two cold incombustible solid bodies , as stone and steel , or by the long attrition of an accensible matter , no whit hot to the touch , or by the fermentation , agitation , conglomeration or compression of acids and alkali's : also by concentration of light into a cone , or minute compass , they would be better acquainted with the cause of the aestuation , effervescence , and accension of the vital spirits in feavers ; hereby suitable remedies might be provided . when at any time the genuine , domestick spirits of the microcosm , and a wild exotick gas meeting together do strike or grate one upon another in a confused whirled manner : there strait breaks forth a preternatural heat , to be corrected by pacifying the vitals enraged , and enabling them to profligate or subjugate this hardly tameable , both subtil wild spirit , and the matter from whence it emerges ; which is never to be accomplished by cooling prescriptions , but by that which pleases the archeus , indulging it exceedingly . if degenerate salts , acid or alkali couched in a rotten matter , create thirst , or excessive heat by framing a tumult in the animals , whatsoever doth correct the same is to be embraced indifferently whether hot or cold . 't is enough if i can attain my grand intention , the ablation of the nocuous thermopoietick matter , the substance on which all qualities , accidents depend . if i can compass this fundamentally , why do the galenists wilfully blind , cavil and rail at my elaborate preparations , as violently hot , burning , drying , inflaming , when they cannot but be informed that i , spurning at their silly , insignificant qualities of heat and cold ( as to essential cures ) i extirpate all feavers by amotion , and abandoning the original exciter thereof : but in this state i renounce all dreggy , drossy , indigested , extimulating , fretting saline , unclean , malignant , virulent medicaments which frequently given by them , certainly do often positively disturb the stomach , procuring unkindly heat . 't is not that seeming to be hot ( because it penetrates , rarefies , and affects the parts by its glowing , spirituous particles , as if something fiery were applied ) is rashly so to be censured in effect : but what is impure , corrosive , or venemous , is to be condemned , as burdensome caco-stomachical , clogging , fretting , vexatious , spinous , absolutely hostile to our principles , putrefactive , and so consequently , thermopoietick . it argues great incogitancy in any , to judge of the inward energie of an elaborate pharmacon by the taste , or outward apposition before the ingredients be rightly understood ; and the exquisite manufacture discovered : some things either taste not at all , or pleasantly , yet procreate dyscrasies , deadly intoxicating consequents ; there is also that whose sapour , harsh , nauseating of an excelling gust , notwithstanding vivifick , alexitery , salutary , eucrate in operation . 't is the calamity of our art , that the world knows not how to distinguish between the adulterate and legitimate tractation of chymical works . hereby opportunity is given to the enemies thereof , lying in ambush , to sally out opportunely , and charge it fiercely , with those crimes that their own and vulgar pseudochymical medicaments are guilty of . because the officinal mixtures are inexpertly entred upon , ill-contrived , slubbered over , indiscreetly fabricated , for that respect are too hot , violent , hurtful to the stomach , leaving sad impressions behind of an inflaming , colliquating , tabefying condition ; ought upon this score , our philosophical polyacea's acquired by sweat , long experience , and true sophy of pyrotechnie , be sentenced as vile , and pernicious ? certainly , the best sack is not ere the less to be reckoned a noble cordial , because some vintners sell sophisticated , depraved liquor . what is more common at this day , than to counterfeit the best in its kind , through idleness , self-love , avarice , and wilful inexperience ? if the galenists would take pains themselves , not fearing the choaking fumes of charcoal , nor the arsenical spirits of minerals , taking the fruits of their labour into their own bodies , before they tendered them to their patients : would they spare no cost to the purchasing the best materials ; or be willing to learn of those who are able to instruct them , then would they soon be convinced of their folly , that what i offer the diseased , is neither too hot , dangerous or injurious to nature , though taken in a quintuple dose . assuredly were not the galenists most disingenuous beyond expression , they would never discover their active ignorance thus perpetually , to contradict , oppose , and malign the method which they cannot but be canscious , is the down-right , clear , safe , concise way of healing by suppressing , taming , and profligating what is really the occasional matter of the disease , according to hippocrates , acide , austere , bitter , pontick , not cold or hot. those being altered and discarded by means of powerful , effectual , arcana , an eutaxie , eucrasie , and symetrie in the microcosm follows . the good old man also tells us of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in diseases , which i find common to all great feavers containing a venemous nature more or less , acting in an extraordinary irregular manner , different from meer degenerate matter , as acid , bitter , &c. this sometimes if not maturely prevented , stabs the heart a● it were with a cryptick dagger , no manifes● reason derived from the elements to be alledged . so spiritual , graduated poison is hatched in our bodies , that it pessundates , or knocks down animals in the twinckling of an eye . dares any humourist undertake by means of heat or cold to overcome arsenical , r●algar , aconital , opiate , sardonian , taxea● , cicutarie , viperine , scorpionian , tarantula like poisons forged by the continually moving archeus , and specified according to its fancy ? what a childish conceit is it to wave the oblation of what hath an antidotal virtue implanted in it sufficient to mortifie the foresaid properties , least they be too heating ? what grand do●age , yea madness even to homicide , not to permit a cure for the scruple of an idle , vain qualitie . ? doth any but a dolt fear to give aqua-vitae , or any spirituous liquors to a lipothymical person whose vitals wanze and wain , imagining it may heat too much . were our lukewarm physitians but as well experienced as sea chirurgeons , yea even as some of the more knowing mariners , they would extirpate feavers here , as calentures at sea , by ●ubtil spirits , corrected with better judgment than their punch . for i know no solid ●eason why our seamen should so frequent●y miscarry in their long voyages heretofore ●●so that hardly a competent number were ●eft to bring home the ship ) unless this , that ●hey take and give in causons or burning feavors , apply likewise to inflammations , spiritous liquors , a thousand times to be preferr'd before their flat , dull , vapid , mor●iferous , cold juleps , and other insipids . if these spirits too hot ( as they will have them ) do good beyond their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritless prescriptions , what will they perform in the hand of an adeptus , who knows how to correct and free from impurity , acrimony , tenacity , too much famelick praedatory faculty ( the real cause oftentimes of the indignation , consequently the excessive heat of the archeus ) the best of their spirituous preparations . this demonstrated ex facto without frivolous controversies or cavils , one would think should take these humorists or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from their jejune , cold , torpid , barren opinions , that this or that is too hot , because it seems so to their plebeian rustick taft : whereas in very deed it is only endued with a highly defecated spirit , rectified beyond their vulgar art , not able to free from a cacostomachick dross , or fretting , coagulating , spinous , salt and malignant , venemous sulphur , the occasional causes of all praeternatural heat in the body . let these philosophical reasons suffice for the confutation of their accidental way of curing , by heat and cold , and that calumniating objection that the best chymical remedies are too hot. now shall i proceed in short , to detect how maliciously as well as ignorantly , they impeach our salutary manufactures of danger of evil consequence , of sad impressions left behind , causing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 antedating the life , and bringing it to an immature period . i confess what they make the world believe in relation to our instruments of healing , may be fitly applyed to the medicaments of their dispensatory : for they are either clogged with nauseating , dirty , foeculencies , abound with impure , acrimonious , corrosive salts and sulphurs , or endued with some deletery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ill-conditioned , intoxicating concretes , very adverse to nature . the chymical preparations which they formerly inveighed against as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lethiferous , or dangerous , the galenists have of late entertained into their ill-compiled , worse-managed exemplar . this rhapsodie of chymical pharmacy tran●cribed out of the more trivial authors , is 〈◊〉 rude , indigested , so slightly handled , more fitting the laick , than any sophical clark , so uncertain , yea perilous in their ●ffects . some whereof are virulent , leaving many times stigma's of their malignity be●ind , so that no adeptus but will conclude : the greatest part of them ought to be ex●unged , with a supply made of better things , ●nd what remains to be more discreetly ordered in their manufacture . how do the galenists impose upon us , first ●o cry down most satyrically , even to the persecution of certain honest ingenuous friends to this art , those meaner sort of pa●acelsian remedies , now to make use of them ●o the detriment of many a patient , as well ●s to the keeping up the credit of their tot●ering dogmatical structure , which must of ●ecessity have fallen ere this to the ground , ●ad they not closely foisted in upon a pinch ●ome spagyrical active preparations stolen ●rom us , at that time , when their most dull mixtures would take no place : then boast●ng they tell the credulous that their own gross compositions had the greatest share in ●he cure , whereas in reality , they did no o●her than hinder it . upon this account how subtilly do some pretend to be chymists , stealing theorem● and chymical notions out of van helm . di●●guising , putting them into an elegant dress concealing the authors name . thus 〈◊〉 these plagiaries own that filched from him , whom in publick discourse they eithe● condemn or slight : were they any whit candid , they would blush to do so . this crime may justly be imputed to the author de fermentat . de febri . and others , who make a great noise about lac sulphur . spir. c. c. spir. vitri . ens vene . &c. enough ( they think ) to make them cryed up for rare chymists ; whereas were these men , with their prescriptions , brought to the test of practice , they would easily be discovered to be but smatterers in this philosophical science : then would their egregious defects be obvious to any knowing person . hereby the safety , innocence and vital preservation of manufactures would appear , as much transcending theirs in excellent endowments , as a torch in its bright beams surpassing a small tallow candle . moreover , we are able not only to justifie our operations beyond theirs ; as free from hazard or dangerous consequences : but we dare maintain what we give to the sick , conduces to their future welfare , and lengthning out their life , according as divine ●●ovidence is pleased to allow of the means 〈◊〉 that end . having thus by solid reasons offered to be ●●nfirmed by the true touchstone of expe●●ence , acquitted our chymical pharmacy from 〈◊〉 slanders of our enemies , viz. that our ●ateria medica is so ill handled , that it is ●o hot , burning , dangerous , &c. i shall ●ow describe the direct method of curing ●ifficult diseases by help of a sincere chymi●●l legitimate learned art. the chief indication or scope , which the well-instructed physitian ought continually 〈◊〉 have an eye upon is , to keep in vigour , ●lso to pacifie , indulge , gratifie the archeus 〈◊〉 vital spirit , the achitectonical contriver ●f our first being , the constant conservator ●f our well-being , the author of our health ●nd sickness , weal and woe . this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of hippocr . by its impulse ●ets all the wheels going . if a dysphonie happen in the sphere of this vital aire there a●iseth forthwith a jarring in the inferiour orbs of the microcosm . the second principal indication is the ab●●tion of the inward efficient cause , and the outward occasional irritating matter which ●isturbs the archeus putting it into enor●ous passions and perturbations . these are the two leggs , by which therapeutick or healing faculty is moved . 〈◊〉 that is wanting in one of these is certainl● maimed . whatsoever encreaseth the eutonie o● strength of the vital spirit , ought to have similitude of nature , and symbolize wi●● the same spirit , seeing like doth readily ●●nite with like , embracing each other in●●●mately . that we may find out a compe● with the archeus , the essential knowle●● thereof is to be enquired after . the vital spirit is a most thin aehere ▪ breathing , arising from the blood , perpet●●ally circulated in the veins and arteries ill●minated , framed by virtue of a vital fe●ment in the left ventricle of the heart , of a saline , balsamical constitution , by means o● whose bright beams all spirits generated a new , diffused through the whole body receive their light and vivacity . the original of this ruddy juice where the spirits first begin to flash and glister is from the stomach , where every thing ingested is dissolved ( by power of a ferment , partly ingenite , partly derived from the spleen or arteries ) into a whitish acide chyle ; this passing through the pylorus or neather orifice of the ventricle into the guts called duodenum , iejunum , ileon is there converted ( by a lixiviate like , property of the gaul , mixed with the acid into a saline texture denominated chyme . the more refined part of this juice is conveighed through invisible pores of the guts into the venae lactae or milky vessels , both trained by them , and likewise impelled by the peristaltick motion of the guts . these venae lacteae carry the milky juice into the liver pancreas cava , through whose channels it runs rubified into the right ventricle of the heart , thence it is driven out into arteria pulmon , divaricated into the lungs , by means of the centraction of the heart , then taken up by the vena pulmonica , it falls into the left ventricle , where it is flavefied by the vital ferment of the heart : by the force of whose systole , this spirituous liqor springs into all parts designed for nutrition , procreation , sense and motion . sith then 't is plain that the first foundation of the blood is laid in the stomach according to whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , upon whose good and bad action future digestions depends : so that if the chyle be once depraved in the first shop the chyme and milky juice cannot be made in every respect approved in the second or third laboratories : consequently very laudable blood and spirits can never be fabricated . for as the chyle is , such is the chyme , lacteous liquor , latex , or lympha , cruor , sanguis and spirits . sith then there is such a concatenation , connexion , continued file of the albified mass in the stomach , to the rubified balsome in the heart , and so to the extreme parts : every , knowing upright physitian ought to be sollicitous about the discreet oeconomy or order of this noble part ▪ that defaecated blood and spirits may be created . wherefore that thing ought not to be taken into the body , which is any way offensive to the archeal ferment of the stomach , or the weakening of its tone . whatsoever is dull , flat , dreggy , fretting , rank , corrosive , or virulent must be avoided . things active well purified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a just proportion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exquisitely mixed , endued with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fragrant smell , sympathizing with the constitution of this membrane , benevolent , and antidotal are to be assumed , that clean , bright spirits may be multiplyed springing from this vital balsame . well-rectified spirits of strong liquors i have always found to perform much tending to that end before proposed . for no sooner are they received into the stomach , but part of them are rapt into the vessels , being suddenly carried into the heart and brain , whereby the whole body is invigorated , the vital spirits in a moment encreased and illuminated : hereupon the peccant matter disturbed is profligated by sneezing , expectoration , sweating , or transpiration : by some effloresence or eruption in the skin , as pimples , spots , botches , &c. by stool or urine . the truth of this , as i said before , is confirmed by those who making long and dangerous voyages , recover of grievous maladies , as calentures , scurvie , &c. by force of a quickning drink called punch , made of rack or brandy : whereas formerly they were turned off as fast as rotten sheep , through that nonsensical method of healing , which the doting galenists taught the credulous world , by cooling , and moistning juleps . in such sort hath the authority of these dogmatists domineered over mankind for many ages past ; yea doth yet endeavour to uphold the same amongst us , that millions have perished by this absurd doctrine of heating in cold diseases , as likewise cooling in hot. however many intelligent subtil wits do discover the falacy of their corrupt theorems , or axioms in physick , casting away their slibbersauces , do rather chuse to trust to holsome , well-made strong liquors in feavers , than their ill-contrived insalutiferous weak , drossie mixtures or compositions . i heard a learned gentleman of note declare , that he was cured of a malignant feaver by means of brandy wine well construed taken in a large quantity , when the methodical doctor of the colledge , threatning his ruine thereby , caused him to desist , but for one day , and take his more temperate prescriptions , which had like to have cost him his life , if he had not fallen to his former spirituous liquor again . for my part i am of this judgment , that 't is better ( for the most part ) to cure feavers after the maritine mode , than to walk in the customary road of exhibiting medicines according to the supposed qualities described in the london dispensatory . i le maintain hippocr . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , constant , moderate sumption of strong liquors ( omitting broath , gellies , water-gruel , spiritless pos●et-crink , &c. ) shall be more prevalent to rid away feavers in general , than that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hodg podg of supernumerary ingredients jumbled together without discretion , or serious consideration of the congruity of each one with another , without seperating the precious from the vile by a pyrotectnical analysis of every concrete , whereby the violent ferine powers of some things are mitigated , cicurated , and made friendly to our constitution : also the singular medical dowrie of other concretes are explicated , exalted , graduated , the clog of their terrestrial impurities discharged , hindering their activity . who that is experimentally intelligent , would not in a sudden lipothymie or defection of the spirits , rather confide in the analeptical or refocillating efficacie of good wine , or well distilled brandy , than in diascordium , venice treacle , london treacle , or any of their confections elect. or divers of their potions ? i cannot otherwise believe but that the benign creator , pitying the sad condition of man , made worse by the doctrine of galen ( who never saw aqua vitae ; therefore delivered to posterity , this gross , fulsome , fruitless means of curing ) hath in this later decrepit , infirm age of the world , detected by the mouth of mariners and rusticks , the use of those excellently well distilled spirits , which these thermologists , and psychrologists ( a company of delirous disputants about hot and cold diseaseases , requiring , as they say , instruments of a contrary quality thereto to be applyed , neglecting the essential nature , and radical cure of diseases ) have suppressed , to the infinite detriment of mortals , for many centuries of years . now can the indigent sick-man without fear of over-heating his blood , threatned by these thermologists , confidently swallow a due portion of vegetable spirit potent to augment sometimes to admiration the paucity of the animals , enabling them to exclude some part of the spurious juice offending the body like a thorn in the side now both country-men , as well as sea men , take these spiritouus liquors , withou● scruple that they may quench their thirst asswage burning feavers , keep off a fixe● delirium , and procure rest , to the confusi●on of the rotten precepts of these ignorantly learned galenists . away then with these idle fopperies of taking directions of curing from heat and cold : hereby fancying ap●plications contrary to those accidents wil● prevail ; seeing it is perspicuous , all those endeavours come to nought , unless the vital spirit be animated to exterminate the occasional extimulating cause of heat and cold. it being then demonstrable , that spirits are best multiplied vigorously by spirits , with which they symbolize ; we ought to be solicitous concerning their preparation with a proportion to be allowed to the archeus . i find it frequent among the vulgar chymists to boast , how they can make vinous spirits , that in a considerable quantity will all burn away to the accension of gunpowder in the bottome . having attained thus far in this process , they think , there remains nothing more in our philosophy ▪ for all this , if any study earnestly to 〈◊〉 as an able physitian , those spirits made according to the common tract , seeming to be re●ned contain in them an occult impurity● some clandestine discommodity with some di●gustful tang , sensible by the tast of our vitals . although it be hard for the plebeian to distinguish one from the other , yet an expert distiller knows the difference , and happy effect , of that which is really mundified , above what seems to be so . that spirit of vegetables may be handled knowingly , it behoveth the naturalist to anatomize it pyrotechnicoôs , that he may understand of what parts it consists , and how useful it is . according to our philosophy , an aqua-vitae may be extracted out of all herbaccous plants , i. e. grass , blade , leaf , weed , &c. which contains an alkali ; a sulphur and some particles of an occult sub-acid salt , easily to be converted into vineagar , when it floats with a tartareous matter . the vinous alkali and sulphur together exalted , become a balsamical spirit of great force to preserve things from corruption . taken into our bodies it is immediately changed partly into a vital spirit , suddainly conveighed by the vessels to the head and heart , part becomes acid in the stomach , for the recreation , or emendation of the innate ferment ; as likewise for a previous disposition , in order to a future alteration in the intestines into a volatile alkali , by the eliquating , or scouring facultie of the gaul● afterward transmitted to the kidneys , it is turned into a urinous salt , by a peculiar ferment there implanted . lastly some portion runs into an insipid liquor , called latex or lympha . thus is salt and sulphur of plants , which make up one spirit pliable , subactil , or mutable ( above other ingested things ) into this or that form , according as the ferments of every shop of digestion please . moreover the spirit of plants , if dextrously exercised , is capable to be assimilated into all parts continent and conteining , leaving little or no excrement behind : cherishing , yea . , in some measure , reducing aright exorbitant ferments . the digestive fermenting accid , in the stomach , as well as the alkali in other parts , ( the instruments of formal transmutation ) are exceedingly meliroated , and the spirits forthwith augmented by the access of this seemingly homogeneous liquor . that this compleatly purified liquor so acceptable to the vitals may be obtained , the prudent artist is to make itirated ablutions with what is of a saponary condition that the viscous clammy gummous matter may be purged away . secondly , he is frequently to distill it with a convenient heat : addition being made of those things , which in the bottome of the glass detain ungrateful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , inebriating , noxious sulphur , letting out what is pleasing to nature , innocent , strengthening the head , membranes , and sinews . there is also to be injected that which may retund , or dulifie any secret , unkindly acid , lurking in the spirit , can lenifie , or introvert , any fretting quality latitant in the alkali , tame the gas sylvestre , entangle or fetter it , that it may not too nimbly aspire : to laevigate , as it were polish , any roughness in it . whosoever hath acquired this spirit , can tread under his feet , all those slanders , back-bitings , malicious reports of the galenists , that the spirits of vegetables are too hot , inflaming , consuming the radical moisture , causing delirium , shortning the life ; all which i am sure is verified , concerning some of their rude preparations of aquavitae . poor ignorant souls ( though learned men ) that should be unacquainted with the right manufacture of a liquor so vulgarly known to be useful , sold in trivial shops , &c. how is it likely these vain thermologists , i. e. busibodies about heat and cold , shoull judge of the effects or operations o● chymical enterprizes , sith they ar● unwitting of the due tractation of spirit o● wine . i appeal to any intelligent philale●thes whether they are like to fabricate , o● hammer out the remedies of a superiou● class , who are thus egregiously to seek i● those of an inferiour . 't is no wonder they are so timorous , in the offering to the sick any thing of thin parts , pungitive , penetrating , or exciting the natural faculties , for fear they should be overheated : for as much as they give the foul with the fair , the realger with the mineral , the poysonous sting with the hony ; whereas a faithful well grounded physiologer sequesters , the evil , reserving the good ; which he can securely tender the infirm ( without curious observation of measure , or weight ) from one to ten or more . the greatest misery i know accrewing to man worse than the plague , sword , fire , &c. is from these galenists running upon false suppositions , to wit that their galeno chymical pharmacy is sufficiently instructed with all endowments becoming compleat medicines . this they rather wilfully than unwitting●y suggest to the world , most abominably ●mposing upon the credulous , even for●unes favorites ( by whom they are too zealously imprudently protected to the dammage of mortals ) that they are the most expert chymists , vilifying all others , be they never so legitimate sons of art. these are the spurious chymists , who i will maintain are overwhelmed in clouds of darkness arising from their covetousness , ambition , malic● , laziness , self-love , &c. that they cannot see the right way of making a compleat vegetable spirit . having purchased according to the best rules of our pyrotechnical philosophy , a compleat aquavitae : the next care , is to dispense it aright , to minister such a measure thereof proportionable to the individual crasis , custome , and course of life , of the sick body , the defection of vitals , magnitude , and duration of the disease , the good or bad , condition thereof : here by the way , i am bound to reprehend the busie-bodies about heat and cold severely , who miserably titubate and express extream weakness in the just quantity of their own remedies : for a president of the galenists did not heretofore dare to prescribe above five grains of antimonium diapho , in a feaver : another of the same society was doubtful whether he might with safety give four or five grains of bezoar . orient . or above ten grains of coccus baphic . cochin . above two drops , of spirit of harts-horn , for fea● of overheating , &c. what is the reason of all this supercilious nicety , but meer igno●rance of the true principles of nature mistakes in the causes of our calamities , in discreet manufacture of materia medica ▪ fitting to subdue them . did they tak● pains with their own fingers , they would quickly learn the amplitude of the por●tion of a well adorned remedy , that one small quantity of proper analepticks , or re●stauratives will do good , yet the same multiplied to five six , or seven , to twelve parts ▪ or rates , will really do no harm , but make a far greater improvement of natural vigour . for if they would be taught : these malevolents would not so unworthily , rashly censure my stomach essence , my elixir balsamick tinctur . polyacea &c. to be preternaturally hot , &c. thus it evidently appears that none but an adeptus , one that as his undoubted right can say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. i have found it out , can define and adaptate a just scantling , weight and measure of meet remedies to the languishing spirits , enabling them to destroy the strong-holds of a disease . wherefore a patient having an aversati●n to vinous liquors , ought to be more ●ndulged , to be suffered to imbibe the less , ●nd that mixed and disguised with somthing ●ore grateful . he that hath accustomed ●imself to smaller drinks , ought not to be ur●ed to assume so much , as one used to fre●uent compotation of wine , &c. above all , ●et the physitian give liberally these vegeta●le , active particles to the sick , whose spi●its are weak , and the maladie strong , very malignant , &c. five or ten times the portion of a reviving medicine is but sufficient in some cases , when in another state , a single exhibition ●oth help nature to throw its enemy spee●ily out of doors . long fixed evils are to be ●ollowed close with large quantities , often ●epeated ; likewise the plague , pestilential feavers , whatsoever grief hath in it , much of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of hippo. i. e. a poisonous condition . in all respects 't is better to propose more copiously , than niggardly , when ●he instruments we work withal are safe , admitting an extension not easily culpable . or●inary strong spirits are not to be taken without notable caution plentifully , and that well corrected by some adjuncts , as sugar , ●nd with grateful acids , for they contain much intoxicating stinking sulpur , mixt with a fretting salt injurious to the stomach nerves and membranes , producing preternatural heat : so that in conclusion , 't is no the pure , well corrected spirits of plants that causes those great discommodities , as excessive heat , inflaming , &c. which these thermologists lay to their charge ; but their heedless preparation by a philosophical ideots in our art , as likewise the rash pouri●g into the ventricle , much more than is fitting . from vegetables there may be extracted ; besides an aqua-vitae , certain essential salts holding close concordance with the vitals , some of which harbour specifik gifts for the cure of certain kinds of griefs . in general , these salts absterg glutinous excrements , attenuating viscosites , sweeten preternatural acidity , animate the archeus , help digestion , and strengthen all parts ; causing urine , sweat , expectoration . now these ought to be accurately framed for medical use , otherwise they will come short of what we expect . i find it the most compendious effectual way to separate the sulphurious or oily part from the concrete , than to change it into a pure volatile alkali : this is done by ablution , digestion , repeated distillation . thus much concerning the iatrical virtue of spirits and salts fetched from vegetables , ●s they have affinity with our vital principles : now i shall proceed to shew what pro●inquity there is between the vital spirits ●nd alkali's obtained from animals . i find , according to pyrotechnical trials , ●hat all parts of man , even his excrements , ●bound with urinous alkali's , especially the bones , blood and urine . each of which afford in stilling an alkali or urinous salt much alike , yet different in their effects : for according to van helm . spirit of blood avails against the epilepsie . the spirit of urine is of no force thereto . likewise i find spirit or salt of bones to operate that which the other two fail in : yet may they all be so prepared , that neither taste , smell , colour ●hall distinguish them . i have for many years much toiled with my head and hands , to find out what might directly match the principal agent in our body , the only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , contriver of both health and sickness . after often and serious contemplation , with strict examination of divers concrets by optical analysis , i find nothing more like to do my business , than those subtil saline particles , drawn out of the horny , bony or dental concretions of certain animals , or got out of the dung of some creatures , abounding with volatile salts : but above all i found at length volatile salts or spirits , allured out of divers po●tions of mans body , were most to be prefe●red ; for the augmentation , vigour of th● archeus , to this i was induced by the u●doubted authority of the maxime in phio●sophy , simile simili gaudet , also iisdo● nutrimur quibus constamus . besides , my p●●pose was confirmed by the essential consi●tution of the vital spirit ; viz. saline a●cording to our philosopher : est ipse spirit● vitae de natura salis volatilis & salst . v. ● 136. sextup . digest . the vital spirit is of 〈◊〉 nature of a volatile alkali . moreover , 〈◊〉 blas humanum , p. 113. per motum nempe 〈◊〉 sanguinis non quidem acidi sed salsi exte nutio , neque ideo in pinguedinem sive butyru● vertitur , sed in spiritum vitalem de salis ad●oque de balsami natura . certainly by motio● the blood is rarefied into a saline not aci● spirit : neither is it changed into a fatty bu●tynous substance , but into a vital spirit o● the nature of a sal , for that reason it is balsamical . also pa. 443. auravitae . estque ide● spiritus vitalis salsus , viciniorque spiritui lo●tij quam sali-petrae . the vital spirit is a salt of nigher affinity to the spirit of urine than salt-peter . membro semel stupefacto , si sensus redierit , id sane cum sensibilibus stimulis & punctionibus fit quae & verae salsedinis sunt indicia . if at any time a member benummed , recovers its perfect sense , there is felt prickings , and thorny shootings , which are infallible signs of a salt matter . from the consideration of the saline texture of the vital spirit , i laboured about the alkali's of this microcosm : divers parts whereof i dissected , fetching out by pyrotechnie their volatiles , which i studied to nobilitate by frequent scouring , iterated distillations , even to ten or eleven courses , adding every turn a fitting mundifier , keeping them in digestion three weeks or a month : i then proceeded to correct any harsh , acid quality lurking in them by that which blunts , lenefies , or mollifies the same by feeding their hungry appetite with a pleasing nutriment , that they may not so eagerly prey upon the body , to entangle and clip their wings , that they may not ascend too high , or fly away too nimbly to exalt them , and advance them to a more lofty virtue , by the intermixture of some small portion of salt of tart. volatile , united with a pure vegetable spirit . having thus prepared the highest clarified liquor , i have found it to carry an admirable conformity with the vitals , to symbolize with our constitutes , so that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking it up greedily , forthwith strengthned , musters greater forces for the expulsion of the enemy that hath invaded its teritories . this is really a polyacea : if further graduated it may come nigh a panacea . no sooner do the most defaecated atoms in this active , fluid body , arrive in the stomach , but some portion is strait absorpt , or lickt up by the archeus for its own corroboration ▪ part is made use by the natural archiater fo● the banishment of those burdensome , aculeating , strange apostate juices , absolute enemie● to life , through all the cleansing passages convenient quo natura vergit , whether she pleases by the kidneys , intestines , through mouth , ears , nose , through the pores of the skin , o● by a vigorous extermination of some malignant cadaverous excrements lodging in the center , to the utmost bounds of the body . add to this the archeus enabled makes use of this symbolizing alkali , as an instrument to edulcorate what is acid , to make slick any roughness , to mitigate any biting , or fretting liquor , to suppress , reduce to regularity or explode exorbitant wild spirits , to correct the defects , or obliquities of the ferments , that they may not continually engender the like vitiosity , to deobstruct the vessels stuffed with any congealed blood or viscous , calculous concrete , or phlegm , by attenuating , dissolving , scouring away the same : lastly to polish and confirm the tone of every part . thus can nature act rare feats , when it is animated by a second , when it meets with that which is of the same pedigree with it self : i. e. those saline particles first framed in the stomach , and intestines afterward more refined are destinated for diversity of uses in this mass of flesh . now 't is not the common alkali's used by the galeno-chymists , that are sufficient to satisfie an able chymist for the attaining the foresaid end . although i acknowledge the best remedies they possess are volatile spirits , drawn out of harts-horn , armoni . ivory , &c. yet i must tell them withall , if they would desire to be instructed in the art as it is scientifick indeed : i can demonstrate that their spirit of harts-horn and sal. armoni . are neither rightly corrected nor clarified as they ought : for that reason not so well embraced by the vitals . it is not without cause then that some pronounce it to be overheating , &c. therefore to be given scrupulously , seldom above a scruple at a time : whereas if it be prepared by the hand of a legitimate chymist , it hath no ill property , but is fitting to be administred without the least danger in a large quantity , to the debilitating strong , acute , and long diseases . for the confirmation of what i deliver , if doctor willis , who trusts much to this volatile , or any other , would please to be so ingenuous to make the experiment thereof , i shall order spir. c. c. so technically , that without measuring or weighing it , i will undertake to cure languid person with more speed , security , and pleasin● gust , wholly trusting to this alkali ( al●though i have for many years laid it aside remedies of more excellent form coming to my possession ) than they with their ow● unpolished , imperfect , distilled spirit o● the same kind . the alkali out of mans bones , i mus● commend as an admirable medicine , usefu● both for inward and outward griefs of th● body , if construed by a philosophica● hand . yet i have rarely met with any so compleatly regulated according to those rules before described , but brought to the test , it hath not been altogether so safe insisting upon an ample quantity , nor so efectual respecting the quality , or singular analeptick property , with which such volatiles ought to be endued . spirit of sal. armoniack , if elegantly prepared , that it move in the middle sphere , not soaring wantonly too high ; if its hungry appetite be in some measure allayed , if freed from any impurity , if married intimately to a vegitable spirit , with which it hath similitude , abounding with an abstersive salt , may challenge no small priviledge in strengthning and encreasing the vitals . that volatile alkali's do match the texture of the animal spirits above any besides is certain . however acid spirits , if handsomly framed , want not their eminent use in refreshing the archeus ; wherefore their keen corosive particles , are to be made blunt supple , their foul sulphur cleansed , their fair extraverted , what is gross in them to be rarefied , whatsoever is extraneous savoring of an unkindly , mineral condition , ought to be rejected , their ill odour to be amended , all dross to be separated from them ; and lastly , to be copulated by frequent distillation with a defecated alkali . such an acid avails much in healing , for it is grateful to the stomach raising a kindly appetite : it reforms a preternatural ferment , cherishing what is genuine ; by it , rotten , stinking , spurious saline matter in the stomach , producing extream thirst is tamed , altered , and cleansed away . the vitals having allured to themselves the alkali atomes the acid corpuscles are stamped into another form in the second digestion , where they become by the transmuting faculty of the gaul injected on them , another juice , loosing their acidity , withall assuming an abstersive salt , which easily passing through the kidneys puts on an urinous nature , producing plenty of urine in other shops they purifie the blood and l●●tex , penetrating deep , carry off superfluitie through the whole skin . i admire the galenists who proclaim them●selves chymists should dare to give suc● ill-prepared acids in their juleps or othe● mixtures , such as are so far estranged from the constitution of the parts continent an● contained , that they carry no concordanc● with them . of this sort are oil of vitriol sulphur , or what they nominate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirits of the same : for those are fretting gnawing , biting mortifying : thes● meerly acetous , rough , harsh , stiptick , un●pleasant , flat , dull , unprofitable liquors ▪ plainly detecting , that they were never made by a knowing philochymist , as intended fo● that use which our dogmatical scribes put them to : for hereby they think to take of● heat and thirst in feavers upon the account of their supposed cooling quality , attributed to them by these thermologists : not considering , that those effects of a few drops ; eatting a woollen or linnen cloath quite through in a very short time , cannot possibly arise from a cold temperature , or any other primary quality ; but from the abundance or conglobation of acute saline ponderous particles as it were connexed in a cone , which thus concenterated tear , and rend in pieces any subject capable : wherefore as long as these salts continue in this position or texture , i cannot allow them fitting to be exhibited by an able healer : for being salts colliquated or melted , then forced over by a strong fire , they retain much of their pristine original , easily prone to be reduced into salt of a nauseous unpleasant taste . he that desires to procure a spirit of vitriol or sulphur of a grateful smell and taste , welcome to the ferment of the stomach , capable without difficulty to be altered into an alkali , apt to discharge ●mpurities through all convenient sluces , must extravert the sulphur , so then by a strong fire dilate their fiery beams , that they may become luminous , not burning ; must farther take off their sharp edge , by intervening particles readily closing in with them , whereby their heavy corpuscles are allevated , their opacous consistence made nitid : hereby our spirits comprehend them with joy . moreover , the spirit of salt so much disscoursed of , also applauded by some as made so artificially , i find very deficient , scarse deserving the name of spirit : for that vulgar liquor abounds with phlegm , little saline matter , and that far from a genuine spirit , sith it may by evaporation be brought to a corpulent sal. what is really a spirit is so volatile that it flyeth away ( unless very closly stopped ) incontinently : distilled i● leaveth no gross residue , it is delectable to the taste , of the stomach alike as to the palate : hence it is very medicinable . this requires labour with discreet analysis of the body of the salt by a golden sulphur and an alkali . i shall here opportunely reprehend our galeno-chymists , who affuse oil of sulphur to those three species the matter of elix . propri . supposing hereby both to open their body , correct any ill property , and advance their virtue , whereas they make by this means the excellent dowry contained in them more concluse , hardly to be communicated to their very homely menstruum , they encrease the biting acride fretting quality of the aloe or myrrhe whereupon follows a dyscrasie in the parts , geld or mutilate the species , instead of raising them to be more masculine and compleat . if we contemplate this rude manufacture of elix . propr . 't is no wonder those botching chymists mist of their drift in curing by such imperfect instruments . 't is no wonder they complain they are too hot , unsafe , causing cephalalgie , &c. thus taking measure by their own deformed practice , the reason is plain why such contumelies and disrespect is daily offered to this salutary way by these chymicophants , continually buzzing falsities in the years of the rich as well as the poorer sort , unstable , credulous , admiring the authority of a company of outsides , who have nothing to plead for their errors but antiquity . they have impudently , fictitiously suggested that the best chymical remedies , although fabricated by a most accurate vulcan , are dangerous , excessively hot , leaving a sting behing , not to be prescribed but by the most precise rules of their method , exactly weighing or measuring them . thus these praevaricators impose upon the simple , perswading them that they possess well-prepared medicines above others : when in truth i can prove them to be but meer philosophasters in our sophy : that they are miserably involved in darkness , not only to the handy work of the best innocent means , but also in what belongs to the oblation of them to the patient , in a just quantity & time . these chymicophants certainly ( did they rather chuse to be , than seem ) would uncessantly make a severe scrutiny by protechny into the essence and quiddity of concretes , that having extracted their pure parts , they migh● advance them by adjuncts agreeable to na●ture , avoiding all hurtful acids , circumci●sing or empairing their goodness . where●fore the mass of aloe , myrrhe , saffron being recluded by a proper alkalizate liquor , wil● by digestion freely communicate its more re●fined particles , to a spirit symbolizing with ours , of great efficacy in curing dangerous maladies if given proportionably to their degree of malignity . note some acids , wherein certain concretes pulverized very fine are infused , seem to dissolve them radically , to draw out high tinctures in so much the loborator is much affected therewith supposing he hath obtained his wished desire : when at length upon a stricter test , it is really only a disguise in the liquor arising from the piercing salt of the dissolvent , obsorbing the tenuious corpuscles of the dissolutum , which closely combined , produce this colour . these salts keeping in a fiux , the particles of the matter infused hide them that they are not discerned : till the activity of the salts be somewhat exhausted or grown languid through expiration , or a matter injected , suddenly embracing the dissolvent , makes forthwith a separation of it and the dissolutum , whereby a palpable pouder is precipitated to the bottome , and the colour of the liquor reduced to what it was before . this i made trial of in zwelfer his spirit , of venus pouered upon crabs eyes , seeming to be brought into a mucilage , their primum ens , till upon the coalition of an alkali they returned to their former shape of a powder . the same deception may be discovered in spirit of bread affused to red coral , as likewise in several other acid dissolvents . this may suffice to shew that vulgar acids do neither candidly deal with us , in dissolving concretes radically , neither do they prefer them to higher dignities of efficacy in healing . van helmont's advice is therefore strictly to be observed to endeavour to make the fixed alkali of tartar volatile , for the separation , and improvement of the better part of bodies . doubtless that great segregatour of all concretes into salt , sulphur , mercury , that the pretious may be separated from the vile , and yet it self kept in its integrity without any diminution of its virtue , hath its original from an alkali combined with pure mercury : it behoveth then every physitian to make a daily inspection into these salts , both friendly to the nature of man , and so prevalent in the unlocking materia medica , that so we may carry away what is sanative , and leave the destructive . chap. xi . as the vital spirits are to be multiplyed by their like , that they may be lusty to conquer their enemy : so are they likewise to be pacified , lulled asleep , diverted , treated gently , to be gratified with harmless anodives , sedatives , delightful speculatives , the most lucid objects , and most beautiful idea's . this renowned design is to be accomplished by vegetable animal and mineral sulphurs . nothing in this kind acts better than mineral sulphurs brought to an height of entelechie ; for no sooner are they taken into the stomach , but the vitals are refocillated by their bright rays , a sweet composure follows , their fury and rage taken off , black deformed images of mortality defaced , bright lovely idea's of health taking place . vegetable sulphurs afford us excellent virtue in healing , if freed from an empyreumatick tang , elaborated from an unkind acid lurking in them , either to be altered to a sweetness by what is apposite , or abstracted from them by curious art. add to this , if they abound with store of volatile alkali's , and of good odour : otherwise they put the ferment of the stomack to difficult labour , ●n removing their unctuosity , that they may become fitting for sanguification . those volatile salts which harbour a stinking oleous odour can never be grateful to the vitals . odores oleosi abstracti a suis concretis , inquinando potius afficiunt quam materialiter in arterias subeant . helm . de f●br . p. 90. wherefore i admire how some of our learned chymicophants can pretend to be so knowing in our sophy , yet know not how to rectifie , or to give a better odour to spirits of harts-horn , soot , &c. that they may be more acceptable to the animals . as long as any relique of faetid oil lies couched in the saline particles , it must needs contaminate the more elegant crasis : although some alledge the medicine is robbed of part of its medical endowment if this unpleasant hogo be sequestred : yet dispensing with the frequent employment of about some graveolents , as likewise , what may be requisite in historical affects without controversies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bene olents are most agreeable to the synthesis or constitution of the vitals : witness the essential oils of cinamon , clove , mace , nutmegs , &c. which being odorous plentifully imbued with saline particles , immediately refocillate , illuminate and compose nature . all caution therefore ought to be used , that the fire may not give vegetables or animals an ill odorous impress , scarce somtimes to be expunged : also to exercise 〈◊〉 manner of industry that the foul sulph●● may not rise with the clean spirits or sal● or if it so happen , it may by digestion and ma●nifold distillation with proper adjuncts 〈◊〉 divorced , at least much diminished . there are several sulphurs , balsams o● oyls extracted out of vegetables , of good con●cernment in healing , as aromatick and ma●ny fragrant plants : oyl of aniseed , fennel● marjoram , rosemary , thyme , lavender , sassafras , lemons , &c. are to be commended as they are if nitide and throughly polite ( by reason of the auspicious benevolent aspect on the archeus ) yet if they shall be converted into benign spirits or salts , they far transcend the former , working strange cures . oyl of terebinth spiritualized by a right spagyrical hand will get a physitian credit by its splendid effluviums , but oyl of amber made serene will do better things : also balsam peruvian , and balsam capiviae , arbor . vit. rarefied , or set at liberty from their grosser matter , then changed into a sublime , aethereal substance , will send forth some bright beams for the enlightning this microcosm . oyl of guaicum and box distilled without ●aetid , unsavory , fiery smell , or tast , afterward exalted to a highly volatile spirit are delightful to the archeus , and far to be approved before any diet-drink bochet , &c. offered by the galenists for the cure of the lues venerea , or other stubborn diseases . note , that we ought to be very studious in the hebetating , or withdrawing the acid latitant in most oils , whereby their virtues may become more explicated , as likewise more capable to embrace mineral sulphurs , and fixed alkali's , for their more easie transmutation into a spirituous liquor . what a happy comodity arises from the enjoyment of oil olive separated from its acid is known to most . the sulphur of wine changed into a saline nature serves for multitude of excellent uses , both as preparative and sanative . oyl of tartar distilled dexterously that it may not be so graveolent , next altered into a volatile saline liquor , affords prosperous effects in grievous calamities . the essential oil of myrrh , aloe , saffran intimately united with a pure volatile alkali deserves worthy applause in curing a quartane , and other tedious griefs ▪ for it rarely composes the disorders of the archeus . observe that oils or sulphurs so graduated , that they harbour good store of a kindly well clarified salt colliquated i● them , are more profitable for all intention of curing outward affects then being so●litary . hereby great dolors are allaied pains mitigated , aciditie in the part edu●●corated , asperities levigated , contracti●ons exporrected , tumours discussed , o● maturated , inflammations qualified , node and schirrous concretions dissolved , corruption and malignity in ulcers mortified ▪ but above all : the archeus exceedingly delighted with the application . certain sulphureous juices coagulated , as aloe opium scam . ixia , &c. artificially handled , and duly corrected , that their poisons may be destroyed , solace the archeus , enabling it to profligate the deseased matter , according as an orgasmus thereof directs . gums and resins used as topicks afford great comfort to the part aflicted : yea some hung about the neck emit a splendid virtue for the recreation of the vitals . chap. xii . next to vegetables , let us contemplate the efficacy of animal sulphurs , as they please indulge , and compose the spirits ; these are acquired from the parts of living creatures inward or outward contained within the verge of vitality , or excommunicated therefrom . a great part of our aliment is taken from the sulphurious juices of animals , best maintaining man in vigour , affording a very robust nutriment for augmentation and procreation . i find generally the most able bodies , magnanimous souls , and the stoutest souldiers to be sarcophagi : and the nigher of consanguinity the sulphurious food is to the crasis and constitution of our bodies , the more effectually it corroborates . for this reason swines flesh doth copiously nourish , encreasing the strength of those in health , and quickly restoring those who are emaciated , if the ferment of the stomach be by proper means rectified . the broath of pork , as i am informed , hath done notable things for the reparation of the decayed strength of some , who have suffered an atrophy for many months . doubtless were it by the authority of diaeteticks brought into more frequent practice , many would be better cured of consumptions by help hereof , than by those gummous , clogging gellies , and lacteous excrementitious prescriptions of the galenists . anthropophagi or cannibals earnestly covet mans flesh , esteeming it most delicate food , pittying us as ioh. le●rius the burgandian declares , that we in thi● part of the world are unacquainted with suc● dainty meat , for as much as they find thi● humanum sulphur so nigh kin to their ow● to be earnestly coveted by the appetite , de●lectable to nature : therefore easily convert●ed into their own substance . hereby sanity and longaevity are advanced . creatures of a musculous robust constitution , though ( more than others ) remote from our nature , yet through custome , and seminal participation become familiar , and most grateful : so that the sulphur of the flesh and blood of horses , yield strong aliment to the tartars whereby they are made more fierce , hardy and valiant . in general , the sulphur of the inward parts of living creatures are prized more for nourishment than physick : yet some are not wanting to do us great service , as those taken from the gaul , whose singular gifts in healing are often recorded . the sulphur of the liver and gaul of an adder or eel expedite a slow birth . the gaul of some fishes clarifie the eye-sight , remove a fistula , pin , or web off the eye : it killeth worms , it openeth , cleanseth , attenuates gross matter . the sulphur of the blood of a cat profits in the rickets ; of a goat , in a pleurisie ; of a mouse in the suffocative cough . the exactly purified sulphur of the bones of certain animals , are conducible for divers diseases : did not their foetour annoy us , we should by often taking them find them far more profitable . the dung of creatures , although proscriled from having a share of vitality , yet do their sulphur afford us great relief in sickness : horse dung against a pleurisie whose acute dolour is asswaged thereby : peacocks excrement against an epilepsie : goose dung against the jaundices , &c. the sulphur of the outward parts of animals , as the horns , hair , skin , hoofs , nails , teeth , testicles , also various superfluous excrescences of living bodies is to be had in estimation for physical use . all these if they be so ordered that no igneous stinking taste offend , nor any clammy viscous impurity remain in them , if withal their seminal virtues be preserved , are of notable force to allay in some measure the tempest of the archeus . chap. xiii . above all , the sulphur of metals and minerals challenge the greatest regard from us for their singular endowment i● healing . mettaline sulphurs are solar , lunar mercurial , saturnal , iovial , venereal , an● martial . what the sulphur of gold can act in diffi●cult cases is well known to all legitimat● philosophers . but hic labor hoc opus est : how t● fetch it out aright ; not every aurum potabile which some so boast of , ought to be repute● the anima of this glorious mettal . for tho i● may , after the example of van hel. be brought into the minutest atoms by grinding it fine with cinnaber , and salt , afterwards by often distilling it with sal armoni . stib . & mercu● subli . be turned into a red oyl . notwithstanding the tearing of this solid , ponderous most fixed body into the smallest particles possible , yet may it be easily reduced again to gold , the same in every respect as before . 't is no wonder then that we are so frequently disappointed of the happy effect , which this solar sulphur might afford us , seeing so few are able to attain a key fitting to unlock the cabinet , wherein this pretious jewel is contained . by reason of ignorance herein , those at first great applauders of van helmont , for his profound knowledg in metallurgie , have apostatiz'd from his sincere doctrine of curing the most contumacious maladies , by those compact sulphureous bodies , vaunting that they were furnished with vegetable and animal preparations every way able to conquer the most monstrous diseases in nature with as much certainty activity , as the best instituted metaline , or mineral sulphurs . this the author of vita sana & longa ( i heard ) asserted to the great disparagement of this science , and to the discovery of his evident weakness in pyrotechnie . we dare practically affirm for the defence of our philosophy , that the exalted sulphurs , derived from these most solid concretes , do generally far transcend in iatrical excellency , either vegetable or animal , whensoever any fixed disease comes to be eradicated , able to elude the best parts extracted out of plants or living creatures : yea i aver ( challenging any one of a contrary mind to the test thereof ) that the provision we make for the cure of our griefs , by means of this materia subterranea , is every jot as safe , but of far more generous issue than any desumed from the superficies of the earth . well then , if this be true , let us in especial manner put out our selves in the indagation of that pretious pharmacy which nature hath with great care shut up in these close solid bodies . qui vult nucleum nucem frangat . this solar sulphur no vulgar aqua regi● will reach , neither will the milder and corrosive touch . they may make momentany separation and rarefaction of the massie , close hard , firm constitution of gold taking into their bosome , and there obsconding from the eye , those small pulviscles : yet for as much as no real dissolution is made , the dissolvent upon the contact of what is more desired , leaves the lacerated particles of gold to it self , easily capable without the loss or diminution of its substance , to be reduced to the same ponderous solid constant matter it had before . now the reason why it is so difficult to separate a pure tincture from gold , arises from the ignorance of destroying it ; quod , qui novit aurum destruere , noverit itidem construere , saith van helmont . all these alterations it undergoes by usual corrosives , moist , or dry , are but disguises put upon this solar concrete . 't is not a harsh , boisterous , precipitate course , can make it yield a tincture , but a calm , mild , mollifying , indulging , familiar means , carrying a parity with it's nature , will so work upon this solar genius , that it is prone to expire it's soul or sulphur . the menstruum to be made choice of , must be of a sulphureous nature , upon which gold hath a friendly aspect . this liquor can insinuate into the close compage of this metal sweetly elicitating a splendid tincture . i have always found well mundified ☿ and gold to embrace each other intimately , which hath prompted me to marry them , and keep them in a warm bed together till a most noble issue hath come from them , of excellent use to compose the disorders in this microcosm , and to heal its grievous sores . the way of reserating the body of gold by long triturtion , that the acid air may insinuate into it , and dissolve , is a rare invention . in the same manner i have dealt with luna , though inferior to the former ( yet because more tractable ) hath recompenced my labours with medicines polycrest , whereby the tempest of the archeus is allayed . of mercury , that fluent metal , made nitide , i acquire by frequent sublimations , a sulphureous powder altogether fixed , serving upon all occasions to rally the spirits , when brought into a confusion , by the assaults of morbifick enemies , whereby advantage is given to nature to dis-possess them of their strong holds . of all the manufactures belonging to mercury , i could never yet see the like , being so admirably grateful to the vitals , and s● safe in its happy operation . three or fou● grains of this ruddy pouder strengthens the stomach , pacifies inward uproars , causes sweet rest , attenuates gross matter , opens obstructions , sweetens acidity , mundifies the blood , by profligating the hostile matter every way according to the impulse , inclination of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the commodity of the passages . this it executes without leaving the least evil impress behind . there are several laudable preparations of mercury , as spirit of mercury ; vigo's powder in some measure to be made fixed . although our philosopher detests the praecipitations , vitrifications , of mercury : yet for want of that which is truly fixed , the use of some of them handled dextrously , may be admitted . but i by no means allow of ordinary praecipitates and sublimates of the shops , sith they are generally made meerly for lucre , not for cure. i admire our galenists ( otherwise very scrupulous and over-cautious in prescribing any thing , but what is very safe , as they pretend , endeavouring upon that account to bring an odium upon all remedies in general chymically framed , unless instituted according to their method , dare give scamony , colocynth , elaterium , &c. very poysons : yea , offer to children , for the worms , in a large portion , mercur ▪ dulcis , than which they know nothing better against the lues venerea , exhibited by them seldom with happy event of totally conquering the malady , but often , with manifest misery to the patient . would these chymicophants contemplate how carelessly , rudely , this sweet sublimate is forged , what mischievous mistakes have happened thereby ; how at the best it is none of the most generous remedies , known to true pyrotechnists ; how easily it is remeable into running mercury , they would lay aside this , and other of their in-sufficient , dangerous chymical medicaments , leaving them to quacks , and mountebanks , and entertaining the safe , prevalent , spagyrick instruments worthy of a true philosopher . for my part , i have for many years ago ablegated those plebeian workman-ships of mercury , being conscious to my self how they did delude me , and my patients , although i had then , yea , now possess some of the better sort , as mercury praecipitatus per se , cum auro , cum argento . the splendour , purity , homogeneity , fugacity of mercury , unity , or amity , gravity , duration , indestructibility , multifarious variety ; yet a facile retrogadation to the very same numerical thing indu●ces us to believe , that there are transcendent iatrical excellencies in it . i am fully perswaded that great dissolvent , the liquor alkahest , is fabricated by means of mercury bereaved of its outward sulphur , whereby it becomes immortal , no● afterward to be laid hold of radically , by any sulphur . reperitur namque mercurius postquam est spoliatus isto sulphure nullo igne mutabilis , saith van hel. the most simple , pure , nitid , indivisible , primo enti metallico similis , embryonated mercury , is that which is drawn out of metals , according to our great philosopher . e metallo eductus ita simplex & indivisibilis ut sit impossibile ex eo seperare salem & sulphur . of ☿ are made those singular arcanaes of so general use , as ☿ diaphor . vel aurum horizont ☿ corallat ; which i ingeniously confess , i imitate , but not exactly match : every atom of those mercurial polyacea's , send forth lively illustrious beams wonderfully affecting the archeus , being infinitely delighted with the intuition of them , so that it layeth aside all morosity , melancholy , exhorbitant passions , and the entertainment of deformed ideas : then re-collecting strength , it putteth to flight whatsoever doth annoy the life . the spirit , oyl , or sulphur of saturn made philosophically , applyed outwardly , or taken inwardly , gives much content to the vitals . iupiter , or tin , contains a double sulphur , the cause why it is lighter than any other metal : the one is oyly , the other harbours in it's bosom an odd kind of salt , enclining it to be coagulated . the aporhaea , or effluvium of which entring any metal ( except lead ) makes it frangible and friable . the sulphur of ♃ tinges a diamond , saith our philosopher . if so , doubtless the beams coming from such a sulphur must needs exhilarate the vital spirits in an extraordinary manner . out of venus is got a glorious sulphur , called ens veneris : i mean not the plebeian sublimation of salt 🜹 , and the caput mort of vitriol , but the philosophical adeption of a golden sulphur out of venus by means of a benign dissolvent , and a menstruum sympathizing with it's solar narure . but of venus , floating in it's proper corrosive , i extract by means of an alkali , a sweet sulphur , most acceptable to the archeus . mars affords an illustrious clarified sulphur which doth not only please the animals by illuminating them , purifying the blood , sweetning acidities , but it also prepares many good remedies : for those , not to be used of themselves with safety & efficacy , it nobilitates ; so that they may be assumed in larg● quantity with happy success . this sulphur takes off the corrosive properties of concretes , mortifies their poisonous condition , extraverts their benevolent sulphur , that they become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 catharticks , without offering violence to the vitals . amongst minerals , none is to be had in greater estimation than antimony , for yielding a bright sulphur : either meerly diaphor . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altering , illuminating the microcosm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a pacifier of the fury of the archeus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a destroyer of morbifick idea's , according as you handle it that it may be made very sweet , nitid , splendid , free from cacoethie , any malignant property ; or only gently purging 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what 's digested , separated , orgastick , and hormetick , quo maxime natura viam affectat , which way nature pleaseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through commodious conveyances : otherwise it desists , acting in another pleasing manner , opening the passages obstructed , digesting , attenuating , crude , gross matter , carrying off peccant atoms , profligating evil spirits insensibly , without the least offence to the ferments or vitals . the cordial diaphor . sulphur of ♁ which doth difflate , scatter , alter bad juices , casting a lustre upon the spirits is extracted out of it by calcination , distillation , sublimation , by calcination is made ♁ diaphoret . which although an ordinary medicine , i wish it were fabricated technically , for it is either inperfectly fixed , crude , harbouring some portion of a foul sulphur , or some exotick matter : otherwise it is not throughly exempted from the peter , perhaps containing many impurities in it self , so left behind in the antimony : if these or the like errors were corrected , it would appear one of the best chymical manufactures , the galenists possess in their shops ; and would perform great things for the cure of malignant diseases , acute and chronic , supposed they would be perswaded to give it in a large quantity , which they might do to a quintuple portion if made aright . the best in this kind , is that made by praecipitating the matter calcined , although more difficult to be acquired , yet much to be preferred before the other . out of the oar of ♁ is expedited by calcination , and praecipitation , a sulphureo●● pouder , of an orange , or red colour . th●● digested a considerable time in a spirituo●● liquor , then combined with the sulphur 〈◊〉 ♀ become a bright body , wherein the a●cheus takes pleasure to reflect it self . it clea●●seth the blood powerfully . antimonie turned by calcination into 〈◊〉 glass , of a purple colour , according to b●●silius valentinus's directions , affords a fit su●●phurious matter for distilled vineger to wor● upon , that a splendid deep coloured tinct●ure may be communicated to a genuine me●●struum for exhilarating and quieting the sp●●rits . the dry calcination of by ♁ the beam● of the sun makes it disposed to yield an anodyne sulphur for the setling the disorde● of the archeus . a regulus made out of ♁ , especially signed with a star , by means of a dry calcination is previous to the extraction of a very clean sulphur , which brought to a diaphoretick pouder , or an elegant tincture delights the vitals exceedingly . a regulus of ♁ and ♂ exceed the former ▪ but the electrum , i. e. ♁ conflated with ♂ ♃ and other mettals is to be chiefly valued , as matter most fitting for the elicitation of a cleer sulphur , much vivifying the animals . by the power of a moist calcination with praecipitation , is made bezoard mineral , ●olar , lunar , iovial , sulphureous reme●ies , which accurately handled , compose ●he archeus , animating it to the extermi●f stubborn maladies . in a humid way the sulphur of ♁ is ex●racted by penetrative corpuscles of divers corrosive liquors , whereby it is made capable to impart its most defaecated portion to ● menstruum grateful to nature . the flowers of ♁ prepared by a plain ●imple sublimation , are a subject on which ● good artist working , is able to draw out ●n approved tincture , for the sufflaminating ●he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when it is precipately hurried by immoderate passions . it also expunges ●oxious imaginations . cinnabar of ♁ concreted in the neck of the retort in distillation of the butyrum , contains a sulphur , whose finer particles enucleated by an amicable humid substance , doth eminently clarifie the vital exhalation of the blood. these flowers having imbibed a sublime alkali elixerated , afterward united with the undefiled sulphur of ♂ , cleanse the body by spitting , urine , sweat , causing the spirits at the same time to triumph . out of ♁ is separated by sublimation a sulphur , not unlike to the common , only hath somewhat a greenish cast . this exqu●●sitly refined , maturated , then radically dis●solued , gives an odorous , pleasant , glorious high-coloured tincture to an alkali imbue● with salt of tartar volatile . this remedy seldome deceives my expectation in curing truculent diseases . it sweetly condenses the spirits , entertained by them with great delight , finding thereby repast , after many toilsome hours : it helps nature to dissipate peccant matter , to thrust it out vigorously every way , it resists poison , abates inflammations , breaks abscesses , healeth them , alters bad juices to the better . it leaveth no place unrigged or unransak'd , sweeping every corners , making the whole body polite and trim . by the art of distillation , a sulphureous oyl of ♁ is forced over of excellent use in topical applications , to asswage the dolours of the archeus , to mortifie the corruptor in an ulcer , to dissolve coagulated matter , to discuss tumours in the beginning . the same liquid sulphur graduated may be taken inwardly with good success . from ♁ united with ☿ ♎ distilled is brought to light a gummous liquor , called butyr . antim . a commodious matter in the hands of a philosophical pyrotechnist for processes , leading to noble remedies , favourable to nature , bearing discord with the morbifick excrements . there are multifarious manufactures of antim . besides what are set down , upon which the archeus doth smile , whereby it is quickned to take heart , to subjugate potent , malignant griefs . but what i have mentioned here may suffice to justifie a physitians diploma , if he be industriously capable , likewise gratifie the patient , if he be obedient . cinabaris nativa , called of paracelsus metallus primus sive masculus comprehends , a most radiant solar sulphur . this brought into a red oyl , afterwards into a mercurial juice , named vinum vitae , or dissolved in some aromatick oyl , circulated with an alkali in spirit of wine , doth not onely cleanse away , banishing what is hurtful in the body , but also renovates the strength , ●mpaired in the whole , reducing the tone and vigour of every part to a just proportion and equal action . hence it is deservedly conducible for the protelation of life . the sulphureous particles of lapis haematites extraverted by sublimation , send forth a most fragrant smell like saffron . these flowers immerged in a benevolent menstruuum , digested , often distilled , give a tincture no whit different to a dissolution of gold. great is the power hereof to please the vitals , to illuminate the dark corners of the microcosm . out of bismuth . zink , talk , ludus paracel . and divers other marchasites are extorted good sulphurs , which elaborately refined , united with symbolizing liquors , afford remedies fitting to allay the perturbations of the archeus . there are also certain precious stones ; as the emeral'd saphire , granat , &c. whose rutilating sulphurs , although they are fast locked up , yet may be recluded by means of penetrating dissolvents , whereby ( their shining dowries being diffused in a friendly diaphanous bath ) the rigour of the archeus may be made supple , compliant , and enlightned , when at any time it is obnubilated . for if precious stones be reputed to have a happy influence upon the vitals , by those bright beams darted outwardly : certainly they will perform it much better , when that light imprisoned shall be set at liberty from the grosser part , being united , as it were , in a cone , shall be received into a fluid serene matter , so taken inwardly . those luminous concretions nature seems to have taken extraordinary pains about , to free from heterogene●ty or alloy , namely , unions , or pearls , indigitate to us by their clarified signature , that such ▪ shining sulphureous remedies may be fabricated by analysis of them , which the archeus may esteem as vitae deliciae , feasting upon ●hem with admirable delight . now , this dainty morsel for the archeus to banquet on , is not to be acquired by a trivial affusion of vinegar , ( which doth onely imposie upon our eyes , representing them as truly dissolved , whereas indeed they are no otherwise than masked , no better than pulverized : moreover doth likewise fleece them , castrating these splendid concretions of their real eminent lustre they had before ; but by means of such a dissolvent , able to make them retire to their ens primum . this is verily a great cordial sweetly imbibed by nature , worthy to be called elementum sive lac margaritarum , because it is a great restorer of what is impaired , a disperser of those black meteors darkning the spirits . thus i have , i hope , pro modulo , confirmed one leg of this spacious body of therapeutick physick , viz. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or indication dedueed from the necessary support , augmentation , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 placation , moderation , applause , photism of the vital spirits . chap. xiv . the other leg to be insisted upon , or principal immediate indication to be considered , is the ablation of the inwar● efficient cause of a disease , and the ou●●ward occasional , irritative , morbifick matte● ▪ that the archeus is the prime author 〈◊〉 all sickness , is an undoubted truth . nether can any malady seat it self any where ▪ but in the life , as it 's proper subject ; fo● the body once extinct , all diseases vanish . now , this ens morbosum , as all othe● things , arises from a seminal principle , th● quiddity , or activity of which necessaril● depends upon an idea impressed upon th● spirit . as soon as this idea is formed by the ar●cheus , invested therewith , it forthwith falls to action , uncessantly labouring to pollute part of the vitals ; hereupon an unkindly forreign ferment emerges , which the archeal idea makes use of , to alienate the life more and more from it's integrity . thus from an invisible beginning a real morbous ens , is created , defined by our philosopher , vitalis potestatis actus idealis , efficiens , induens sibi vestem ex ideali materia ; atque a●quirens formam vitalem & substantialem , juxta differentiam tarditatis & celeritatis seminum ide alum . that this depraved efficient act of the vitals may be hindred , frustrated , and deprived of ideal matter to clad it self ; so be disappointed from arriving to , or continuing in a vital formality ; the ideal seed is to be defaced , blurred , and extinct by all means possible . to bring this intention home to a purpose immediately , and speedily , requires the best of van helmont's arcana : yet i doubt not but some of those medical instruments , i have before proposed , will by degrees in some reasonable space , at least cancel , if not totally deface those black preternatural ideas , that the archeus ( disturbed with irregular passions ) hath delineated in the very essence of life . certainly when a supreamly clarified salt and sulp. shall be taken into the body , then conducted into the very bed-chamber of life , shewing the archeus , as in a looking-glass , the ugly shape of the disease pourtrayed ; it cannot but after some re-collection repent of former errors , exceedingly contented at the presence of so beautiful an object offered to the view , whose salutiferous idea causes a composure in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon it falls to razing out the deformed image of mortality , instead thereof limns though rudely at first , the picture of future sanctity . pulv. noster bezoard . vel pestifugus . tinct . bals. solar . polya . sulp. ♂ & ♀ , most defaecated , destroy in some sort , diseased ideas , producing luminous instead of caliginous images . i question not but there are remedies to be purchased , as active in framing health●ful characters on the spirits , as there ar● things noxious framing ( with admirabl● agility ) deadly impresses . did we not too much acquiesce upo● traditional notions , prone to be rathe● credulous through idleness , than to make a narrow indagation into the formal essen●tial virtues given to concretes , we should without question , be better instructed concerning the specifick properties of animals , vegetables , and minerals : we should more directly understand what is to be adapted adequately immediately , for the abolition of contumacious , long maladies : whose difficulty of curing consists in fixed ideas , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which would quickly make a cure. 't is , i say , for want of the knowledge of the seminal endowments of creatures , able to wash away the foul tinctures , or black ideas of evils , and in lieu to ting the body with a vital balsom , creating good images in the spirits , that our calamities are so grievous , and long . how vainly then , foolishly , obstinately , yea , deceitfully , do the galenists obtrude upon their m●serable patients : faint cordials , insignificant juleps , destructive bleeding , pernicious solutives , together with outward butcheries , as vesicatories , &c. for the conquering those radicated maladies , whose essence principally depends upon a spiritual morbifick idea , which once expunged , salutiferous images come in place , nature flourisheth , it 's enemy shortly withers . i grant the dogmatists own the use of specificks , affirming that they substantially , and formally resist the evils of life : for all that , 't is well known to the faithful philosopher , how little they trust to them , being conscious to themselves how ieiune , and barren they are therein , never profoundly to a purpose examining this ideal doctrine , or putting it to the test of solid , learned , repeated experiments , as they ought , but rather trusting to what good-wives have taught them ( who happily deprived of their false methods , slighting their hodg podg , bolmong non-sensical jumbling together of multitude of ingredients , looking ninety nine ways at once , but in no wise at the right mark ) led by their own genius put to some difficulties , moved to pity their neighbours languors , simply looked upon by them with a sincere eye of healing , without that chief sordid , mercenary end , our galenical hucksturs or ingrossers drive at ) have been by divine providence conducted to the knowledge of those specificks , that have beyond expectation made a metamorphosis of the infirmity into sanity . to the rude contingent essays of the plain , candid , immethodical people , are our fine-finger'd , disingenuous methodical galenists beholding , hardly affording a mantissa of their own experimental discoveries , to the weight of direct immediate scheme of curing . this is the reason we have so few patterns of antidotes in this kind , sufficient to annihilate those venemous characters , made by multitude of dayly occurrent occasional causes : such is the laziness of these antichymists , that they will neither labour themselves , nor encourage industrious men . their main study is to disguise themselves , that they may rather seem , than be truly philosophical ; wherefore like the worst of thieves , stealing pretious truths out of van helm . or his legitimate disciples , they conceal them by dressing them in a strang habit , thus bring them upon the stage of the world to be admired , as the off-spring of their own head and hand : whereas indeed they are but meerly surreptitious , for which they ought severely to be animadv●rted , especially for cavilling , and carping at this noble philosopher , to whom they owe what orthodox knowledge they have . of this crime i know some , cryed up by the ignorant for great spagyrists : who ( as i can expressly shew ) hath pillaged our philosopher of substantial physical verities , changed their name , cut out their mark , put on a larg fine coat of rhetorick , to make them look more gaudy , so exposed them to sale at the phantastical fairs of this foolishly affecting , willingly to be deceived world. now let us find out ( if possible ) some rare gifts instilled into the creatures by the conditor of all things . these are fitly to be divided into three monarchies or republicks , each one bound to act according to that power they are subject to , viz. animal , vegetable , mineral , to which is added marine . chap. xv. among the tribe of animals with their parts , the spirit of the blood of man blots out the idea of the falling-sickness , which the spirit of urine ( in every respect besides equal with the former ) cannot effect . the pouder of the skul of a man strangled , is reputed a specifick in the epilepsie . the spirit of the brain is valued after the same rate . to drink his own urine preserveth from the image of the pest. the repeated potation of urine , cures the tertian , and makes the seminal character to fade away . the uterine blood of a child-bed woman drank , hath an excellent faculty to stop immoderate fluxes of the womb , arising from a furious idea . the blood flowing from the nose , stops excessive haemorrhagies , menstruum virginis extinguisheth erysipelas . blood extravsated or quitture hath a sympathetical sense , diffusing beams at a great distance towards the vital blood , causing idea's sanative or corruptive in wounds or ulcers , according as moderate or violent impresses are made upon the matter removed from the body . the gaul of man correcteth deafness . the mumy of mans body duly prepared , acts strangly upon the innate spirits , ferments and idea's , for , saith our philosopher : nec etenim tutum est satis mumiarum ad invicem connexum & concordantiam exprimere : inde nempe tota dimanavit necromantia veterum . a man may presume to dive too far into this abstruse philosophy to his own prejudice , imitating the necromancy of the antients . without controversie , the true mumy operates notably upon the morbifick seal , enabling the spirits to abolish it , to make salutiferous images in place of the former . but it is not to be purchased sincere at this day , nor a succedaneum thereto : for that liquor as it is described , was of a thick mellaginous consistence , of good odour , of singular efficacy , proceeding from the balsome of myrrhe , aloe , cinamon , with which they seasoned mans body . ours at this day is of a different form to the right : being only a cadaverous liquamen , or a piece of flesh condited , and dryed , very little significant for the cure of any great disease . the fat of man wants not its worth as a topick , in removing weak , troublesome , tormenting marks made on certain parts of the body . the fat of man enters into the weapon salve for the advancement thereof . to what nefarious , impious uses , witches put the parts of mans body , for the execution of their horrid enterprizes , is known to those who have enquired into natural magical causes of things . the same parts of man differently handled , may destroy their wicked villanous , bewitching idea's , by introducing good moral divine religious representations . 't is vulgarly known how fasting-spittle doth take off some griefs , not so much by power of a volatile salt in it , as by a gift conferred of spoiling the stigma in the part affected . ear-wax cometh not short thereof in energie . the spirit of hair applyed , causeth hair to grow . man's dung is reported to be an adaequate antidote for mortifying the terrible idea of some poysons . the great tooth of a dead body placed upon an aking tooth , causeth it to fall out by bare contact . van. hel. affirms , morientium sudor mirificas vires mortificandi haemorrhoides & excrescentias possidet . p. 233. the sweat of a dying man destroys the form of the swelling of the outward piles , and other excrescenscies . a dead-mans hand caused to stroke the same , acts in like manner . lice swallowed alive diminisheth ( as is confirmed by some experimentally ) the tincture of the jaundice , and sometimes totally removes the steps thereof . intestinal worms dried , poudered , taken inwardly , destroy the figure of living worms . lice are said to rid away lice . some declare the stone of the kidneys and bladder , prudently ordered by an expert pyrosophist , marreth the fashion of the duelech , loosening the compage thereof , making it become retrograde to the principle of it's first concretion . there are some who have such an idiosyncrasie , or peculiar constitution of body , that upon contact , palpation , or stroaking another living body they change the texture of the same , alter a valetudinary melancholy stamp , to a wholsome , chearful image . and i doubt not but some infected with the venereal poysonous sting of a foul woman , have , making use of one peculiarly wholsom , found them antidotarie , giving interchangeably better for worse ideas . thus great is the benignity of the good creator , who hath not suffered man to be destitute of excellent remedies contained in his own body , for the mitigation , pessundation of the sad calamities , he hath , and doth daily bring upon himself through his exorbitant , lustful phansie . he hath also destinated other creatures to be at his service , to regulate , sufflaminate , amend , consolidate , purifie , and persanate his wandring precipitate , maimed , corrupt , crasie , absurd , filthy , mad imaginations , turning body and soul continually off the hinges . i wish those specificks i deliver upon trust , were throughly explorated , and approved by learned authors , who , i fear , have taken up some of them too credulously for truths , as they came from the mistakes of the plebeian , without examining them by the test of judicious iterated trials . i shall exhort therefore all hearty lovers of verity , that they would make a severe scrutiny into some of those concrets , supposed to have a gift bestowed upon them , of acting in a spiritual manner upon vitiated ideas . for my part , had i leisure ; were i not importunately turmoiled with the accurate facture of pharmacie , i should , long e're this , have given a more satisfactory account of the operation of things , sympathizing with our nature , preserving good sound imaginations , bearing an innate hatred to those that are morbous , crasie , vitiated , extinguishing them . i have thought none more fitting for this work , than those we call virtuosi , if they would lay aside their wanton , little significant , somewhat impertinent ( as to the main matter of sanity , without which nothing can be done aright ( periergies , or over-busie curiosities , seriously setling themselves , ( for the well-fare of their neighbour ) to the inspection and anatomy of essential energies of spirits , lodging in divers bodies , as they delight , or are displeased when they meet with those of their own texture , nearly related , or strangers thereto : in that regard exert respectively their ingenite faculties producing characteristical effects of health and sickness . if they will not vouchsafe to do this themselves , let them encourage others thereto , making a collection of such observations , as other practical philosophers have really found true , being ready to exhibit plain specimens thereof to their senses . this were the direct way to advance the sophical tractation of materia medica , and to rid us of that lumber of fruitless , farraginous , absurd compositions , which do but aggravate our miserable condition . having shewn what excellent properties are comprehended in the parts of man , for the regulation of noxious phansies : i shall now make a progress of the matter in hand , mustering such animals with their continents and contents , reported either to sully , deface , blur , or quite abolish the idea's of diseases , whose action in this kind is called specifick , being destinated ab origine , for that end , to produce such an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or effect , no rational computation of which can be given from the praedicament of meer qualities . the spiritual endowments flowing from animals , vegetables , and mineral concrets , as they are simply , plain , rudely , or curiously prepared : i shall set down as most of them are delivered to me , ex fide , trusting to the bare traditions of some , to the authority , and integrity of others . therefore let no man think all the ingenite virtues , attributed here to the principal triple common-weal of bodies , to be altogether authentick ; but let them take notice of my grand design , viz. that they may come under ( a certain modification with all circumstances observed ) the examination of ingenious experimenters , who are able to testifie the falsity , or verity of the same , as they find them . swallows are commended as powerful to obliterate by degrees the falling sickness : also an elks claw , castoreum . the gaul of a sucking whelp . the liver of froggs prepared . castoreum . blood of a turtle dove . the stone in a carps head , are specifick in the appoplexie , and palsie . likewise fox grease . the smell of a fox . water distilled from ants. the dung of a black cow taken while it is hot , then calcined , and given to infants newly born , to half a dram , preserves them from convulsion fits , and the epilepsie . peacocks dung conduceth against the vertigo or diziness . the brain of a swine avails in a phrensie and a weak memory . a small bone found in snails without shells , profits in convulsions . a toad stops great fluxes of blood ; also the hair , or downie substance about the tail of a hare , taken in march , blown into the nostrils . cats tail , asses , or hogs dung are used for that purpose . the fat of a pike applied to the temples , composes the phansie to rest. a succedaneum to it is the water drawn out of the worms found in the spongy balls of sweet bryar . the juice extracted out of the liver of a weasil , instilled into the eye , removes the idea of a white spot , or cloudiness in the eye . the same is declared of the gaul of a weasil , or hare . the blood of a mouse . and water distilled out of mans dung. the inward skin of egg-shells newly hatched , powdered , and applied , takes away the venemous impress of a cancer in the eye . scarabees , or beetles dryed , and pulve●rised , repose the starting out of the eye . the chrystaline humour of the eye o● an ox distilled , corrects the infirmities o● the eyes . the gaul of a pike mortifies a fistula . the gauls of most fishes , instilled into the eyes , change the dark character of blindness , into the luminous bright image of seeing . the gaul of a pike is most famous for that end. a headless fly rubbed upon a wheal , or mattery swelling of the eye-lid cures it . the juice of periwinckles instilled into the ear , profiteth against the impress of deafness . the like is attributed to the gaul of a hare , mixt with a little honey . the claw of a toad , well dressed , and held to the aking tooth , charms the dolorous pain . the tooth of a dead dog , acts in the same manner , as they say . so doth ( as some affirm ) the gum of ivy and a snakes skin . the powder of lizards put upon the teeth , maketh them to fall out . the blood of a cocks comb rubbed on the gums of children breeding their teeth , causeth them to break forth the sooner . oyl of toads blot out pimples and wheals of the face . the menstruous matter performs the like . an egg boiled hard laid to the crown of the head , takes off the flaccidity and hanging down of the uvula . the grease of a pike rubbed into the soles of childrens feet , afflicted with a tedious cough , puts a stop to it . creatures fresh killed , applyed to the head , have a specifick virtue to mitigate pains and watchings . crabs , dogs dung. swallows , and swallows nest. boars tooth , marr the strangulatorie image of the quinzie . goats blood , mumy , crabs eyes , conduce to the amendment of that deformed figure of a phthisis . the heart , liver , and lungs of a calf , distilled , are of some use for that purpose ( as they say ) vipers , river crabs , pearls philosophically handled , are doubtless of great force . so are snails . ants distilled with honey in spirit of wine , afford an excellent liquor , appropriated for an atrophie , or consumption ; to be used both inward and outward . t' is delivered by some , that a new laid egg boiled in the urine of a consumptive body till it be hard ; then perforated with a sharp stick , that abundance of holes may be made , reaching to the yolk ; afterward this very egg boiled again in the same urine , till it be quite evaporated : at length , buried in an ant-hill , is available in an atrophie ; for as it is consumed by the ants eating it , so is the idea of the consumption of the body obliterated , and the strength restored . that frothy , slimy water slipping out of the mouth of horses , when they are drinking , being taken inwardly , repairs decayed nature millepedes cheslips . bezoar orient . crocus . the broath of an old cock , are accounted powerful to asswage an asthma , or tissick . the heart of a partridge abates the passion of the heart . the heart of a bird , called a wag-tail , the congelation of the spirits . the arterial blood of a goat , the pizzle of a stagg , or bull. boars tooth often given , cross out the sharp pointed character of a pleurisie . also the bright shining pictures in a peacocks tail , cut into small pieces , and given to drink . the fore-said spumous slippery liquor , gliding through the horses mouths in watering , imbibed , doth strangly alter the pleuritical impress . the skin of a wolf , vulture , swan , worn for a stomacher , help , as they say , digestion . hard eggs are reckoned for a specifick in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the dogs appetite . the powder of a secundine of the first born , is recommended for prevention of mischief in the pica , a strange idea of longing in women with child . a stone found in an oxes bladder of gaul , wipes off the tincture of the yellow jaundies . goose-dung , earth worms have the like property . outwardly a tench applyed alive to the navil till it dye . likewise a spider inclosed quick in a little box , hung about the neck upon the pit of the stomack till it dye . the fore-said stone in an oxes bladder of gaul prevails against sadness . the spleen of an ox is a specifick against the evils of the spleen . the worms in dog rose mortifie the worms in the belly . a living toad applyed to the region of the loyns , cancels the character of the dropsie in the kidneys . the gut of a wolf dryed , and the powder taken , lulleth asleep the torment of the cholick . the same is reputed of the inward ventricle of a hens craw , and whiter part of hens dung. likewise the testicles of a horse . the powder of the inward skin of the shell of eggs. portion of the navil string of a child new born , carried about , certainly prevents , or mitigates the torture of the cholick . the blood of a hare cures the dysentery or bloody flix . crabs eyes . the jaw bone of a pike , deface that ugly petrifying image in the kidneys . scorpions are applauded by some for that purpose . cheesils , goats blood produce the same effect in the stone of the bladder . chrystal glass often heated red hot , quenched in very pure water , acts rarely in this kind . the egg-shell of a hatched chicken powdered , profiteth in the stopping of the urine . the urine of a lynx , or spotted beast , give relief in the strangury ; also oyl of wax . the like is said of the pith in a goose quill . anima halecis . goats tallow put into the navil . urine of a goat . earth-worms . the juice of river crabs disturbs the formal cause of an inflammation of the kidneys . not inferior to the former is the urine of a goat newly made . the dung of a yellow coloured hen , mortif●es an ulcer in the bladder . the wind-pipe of a cock torrefied . the bladder of a goat . a fish found in the belly of a pike . invigorate the retentive faculty of the bladder , hindring the involuntary coming out of the urine . the pizzle of a bull , or stag , corroborates the atonie , or flaccidity of a man's yard , stirring up libidinous images . boletus cervinus , or stags mushrom . scincus , or land crocodile , promote venery . the ashes of horse-leeches . the ashes of a sucking leveret , are apprehended powerful to cure the rupture of the guts . a cuttle fish bone . the roe of a red herring are of force for the running of the reins . beetles infused in oyl of lin-seed , stop the exorbitant flux of the piles , and the falling down of the fundament . mumy hath the like credit . sponges growing in bathing places , the ashes of mouse-dung , purple shell-fish calcined , applyed to the fundament , reform the mishapen knaps thereof , warts , and other vexatious excrescences . the powder of the matrice of a hen helps conception . the fume of a dead tooth of man , destroys the idea of sterility . the liver and gaul of an adder or eel dryed , and taken in drink , causeth speedy delivery in child-bed . a girdle made of an adders skin , worn about the loyns , hath the same virtue . the secundine torrefied and drank , wonderfully dischargeth the after-birth . powder of cockle-shells , powder of mother of pearl , crabs eyes , spiders web , a fish , called a tench , do all help to raze out the image of feavers . the spawn of froggs technically ordered , appease the pain of the gowt . swines blood , river crabs , take off in some measure , the impress of a hectick feaver . sal 🜹 seven times sublimed , powder of vipers , the heart of a hare , spoyl by degrees the figure , or type of a quartan . to that purpose conspires a living spider , imprisoned in a little box , placed about the stomack . a red or pickled herring eaten , cures hydrophobie from the biting of a mad dog. a toad , rightly prepared , is a true xenexton , preservative , or curative in the plague , mortifying pestiferous phancies . a wolf's tongue is extolled by paracelsus , as endued with the same virtue . a lizard assists nature to kill the venom of a carbuncle . the fat of a wolf obliterates the picture of a disease , called a wolf , in mans body . vipers flesh frequently assumed , doth overcome that filthy species of a miserable calamity , the leprosie . the blood of a hare extinguisheth the fiery shape of an erysipelas . the fat of the same creature extracteth a thorn out of the flesh. a living worm applyed close to the finger , afflicted with a whitflaw , dissipateth it . the blood and skin of a mole performs the same . the mouse , called a shrew , or ranny , cut up alive , forthwith put to the part bitten , heals the wound . honey , or the bee it self , cure the sting of bees . the liver of a mad dog eaten , is an antidote against his poyson . the head of an adder is alexiterie against it's biting . a scorpion against it's sting . a toad stone agafnst the venom of a toad . chap. xvi . the next class of those things which make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are vegetables , as follow . the root of male piony , missletoe of the oak , a shrub of elder growing on a willow , taken inwardly , or worn as a periapton , are very prevalent for the deletion of the deformed , venemous , epileptical image . lilly conval , the flowers of linden , or teil tree , black cherries , southern wood , valerian , oyl of the wood of hazel , balsam of palestina , spirit of tobacco , spirit of camphire , are according to tradition , specificks against the epilepsie , appoplexie , and palsie . balm , black hellebore prevail against mad phancies . white poppy , nutmeg , help to abate great watchings . serpillum , or wild thyme , vervein , regulate the disorders of the head. the flowers of succory . rochet , applied to the nape of the neck , celandine , the green leaves of tobacco , mitigate the inflammation of the eyes . hieracium i. e. hawkweed , eye-bright , fennel , strengthen weak eyes . wormwood , vervain , diminish the tingling noise in the ear. an onion , pellets of common raddish , put into the ear , have a property to help the difficulty of hearing . the root of gentian amends the idea of an ulcer in the nose . majoram , hors-mint , restore the decay of smelling . the juice of mil-foil , the mushrom of a birch tree , the flowers of daisie the lesser , restrain haemorrhagies , flowers of benzoe , stalks of nigella romana , or gith , dissolve congealed blood. oyl of box , the root of sharp pointed dock , burdock , are reckoned appeasers of the tooth ach : the fume of henbane killeth worms in the teeth . a decoction of veronica mas , i. e. fluellin the male , is said to cure the aphthae , the thrush in sucking children . the root of aron , bryony , valerian , are specified against diseases of the lungs . ground ivy is powerful to do good in those who are empical , i. e. have corrupt matter gathered in the chest : the seed of roman nettle , and the root of comfrey , are also proper . horse-tongue , ladies thistle , appease the pains of the side . wild cresses take off the mark of hoarsness upon the lungs . zizipha lenifie a cough . henbane-seed , the root of stinging nettle , fluellin , bistort , comfrey , burnet , sanicle , check spitting of blood. the lesser housleek is of great force against a quinzie . english saffron , scabious , garlick , horehound , spirit of tobacco , benzoe , deface the character of the tissick . the root of mullein ( before it comes to flower ) hinders the impetuous flux of the latex to any part . the like virtue is attributed to mother of thyme and ground-pine . zedoarie , balm , anacardium , give redress in lipothymie , or fainting fits. oyl of cynamon in palpitation of the heart . hemlock , gum of juniper , afford succour in the inflammations of the breast : likewise rhaeas or wild red poppy , daisie roots , and flowers . the juice of ground ivie , the flower of st. johns wort , reform the mishapen figure of a phthisis or ulcer of the lungs . hemlock , mint , the root and seed of fennel , hinder an overplus of milk , and its curdling . the greater dragon , aron , spoil the filthy shape of a cancer . burnet , bryony root , water of vine branches , abate the phantastical longing of women , hindering the mischief which commonly coms upon it . zedoarie is applauded as an excellent proper stomachick . essence of bread helps digestion admirably well . the seed of columbine , crocus , horehound , strawberry leaves and root , alter the dye or stain of the yellow jaundice . elder berries lenefies the vehemence of the bloody flix . essence of persicaria is excellent against the diseases of the mesentery . gladiolus , sword-grass , fox-glove , are of great importance in the kings-evil . black hellebore , tamarisk , garlick , fern , epithymum , polypodium , seed of roman nettle are accounted remedies for the spleen . gratiola doth good in the dropsie , anasarcha , tapsus barbatus in a tympany . garden scurvy-grass well prepared , brooklime , lesser celandine , horse-raddish herb two penny , the leaves of pine , or firr , help to cancel the virulent idea of the scurvy . rupture wort , hippoglossum , pilosella , semen sophiae , filicula , perfoliata are appropriated for the cure of a rupture of the guts . herb paris reduces the inflammation of the scrotum to an eucrasie . the dead nettle , terebinth , ebulus , much conduceth in a gonorrhaea . satyrium , boletus cervinus , cubebs , the root of dogs stone , umbilicus veneris , quicken veneral phancies . oyl of rue abates the priapism . sweet bryar balls , alkekeng , juniper berries , saxifrage , lignum nephriticum , peach stones , lachrima job , the liquor of birch , drawn from the tree in march , are commended for the stone in the kidneys . decoction of red ciches avails ▪ in the strangury . agrimony , in pissing of blood. figg leaves , juice of onions , aloe , open the piles . linaria , the ashes of vine branches , remove the warts and knubs of the fundament . black hellebore quilted with cotten in form of a girdle worn , stops the excessive flux of the piles . the root of sloe bush , restores the falling down of the fundament . down upon quinces , maiden-hair , thapsia cause the hair to grow . storks bill , called gratia dei , unites broken bones . persicaria , celandine , the lesser bryony , take away black and blew strokes . hypericon , persicaria , are excellent vulnerary herbs . the root of bryony steeped in water with oak ashes , destroys worms in the skin . gladiolus applyed , fetches out thorns and splinters . mushroms of an oak mortifie carbuncles . strawberries are accounted a specifick against the leprosie . the bark of birch , bladders on elm leaves cleanse away freckles . a bath made of osier leaves , refresheth consumptive limbs . lunaria is a special remedy for a cancer . an apple applyed to warts , and buried under ground , mortifies them . chap. xvii . lastly , mineral and marine substances act upon the idea's of diseases , by defacing , or expunging them . the legitimate spir. of vitriol amber , terra sigillata , red coral , natural cinnabar . cinnabar of ♁ . the emeral'd , scatter those black clouds arising from the horrid spectrums of the appoplexie , epilepsie , introducing instead thereof a brightness and splendour in the spirits . our bezoartick powder with ☽ doth notable things to this purpose . it operates rarely well in comatous evils and watchings . balsam of saturn appeases the furious commotion of the brain . the sulphur of vitriol cures the vertigo or diziness . the pure tincture of tutia respects the good of the eyes , causing the species of objects to be seen more plain . sal punella , flowers of brimstone , made as they should be , are doubtless , of commendable use in the quinzie , and tissick . tincture of mars , lapis haematites , and vitriol , stop excessive bleeding . antimonium diaphoreticum is conducible in imposthumes of the lungs . the flowers of ♁ fixed , are so prized in an empical condition . bezoar , mineral , dissolves blood congealed , and is of great validity in a phthisis ; but above all , the anodine sulphur of vitriol is to be preferred . coral revives the vital image in lipothymical persons . powder of crystal encreaseth milk. spirit of ♄ amends the defects of the stomack . emeral'd , coral , sulphur of ☉ are magnified for good remedies in cholera and dysenterie . mars , saccharum ♄ clarifie the spleen , reforming it's peccant idea's . the load-stone applyed to the navil , causeth cholick pains to cease by destroying the image of the disease . the sea spong , sal gemm , is much commended in schrofulous affects . sal gemm artificially prepared , is extolled in bubonocele and enterocele , mercury destroys all sorts of worms . essence of amber , venice borace , revives the image of virility , extinguishing the ill-favoured type of sterility . ludus paracels . reduces the stone of the kidneys or bladder to it's first principles . spirit of mercury causeth the corrupting impress of the sore in the kidneys or bladder to fade away ; revocating a healing facultie . the true tincture of coral , purified sulphur of ♂ puts a stop to diabetes . antimony fixed , restrains the virulencie of a gonorrhaea . the emeral'd red coral , well ordered , gives succour in pissing blood. crocus metallorum , easeth the blind piles ▪ but above all , van helm . ring . aetites , or eagle stone placed in the upper parts above the navil , hinders abortion ; situate below about the thighs , cau●seth timely delivery . osteocolla , or lapis ossifragus taken inwardly , helps to unite broken bones . vitriol healeth wounds at a distance . the stone , called a saphire , wonderfully brings to naught the poysonous form of a carbuncle . arsenick after a peculiar manner , cures ulcers . antimony the eyes . if hydrophobus be soused in sea water , the image of the dog pourtrayed in the phancie of him , who is bitten , becomes annihilated . crystal dug out of the earth , resists the malignity of arsnick , auripigmentum , sandaracha . thus far have i pointed at that pharmacy , which having a gift of healing implanted in it , strikes immediately at the inward efficient cause of our infirmities . in the next place , i shall make a progress in removing the outward occasional , irritating , or exasperating matter , which provokes , enrages the archeus , causing it to fall into inordinate passions , and perturbations , whereby diseases break forth , are encreased , become tedious , or lethiferous , if not timely prevented . chap. xviii . there is not any faculty , or profession hath more imposed upon the credulity of mankind , than physick , considering how precious the subject is to be handled , likewise how easily we might be convinced of the grand errors , and abominable abuses , thrust upon us , to the loss of our lives , yea , our very souls , were we not obstinate , self-conceited unspeakably idle , and malicious . in a comedy , called the cheats , an address is made to a reverend learned doctor , a galenist , for advice in a difficult disease ; who no sooner views the urine , but forthwith gives councel to bleed and purge . i wish this were only comical , and were not indeed tragical . what cruelty , tyranny , torments hath been exercised by the galenists ov●r mankind ? what butcheries and 〈◊〉 hath been made of poor mortals 〈◊〉 ▪ by bleeding , and purging , is practically known to all perspicacious physitians every week , yea , every day . how indirectly do these men assume to themselves priviledges , who , i 'le maintain to their faces demonstratively , are not able to cure any great feaver radically , with judgment worthy of a philosopher . can any deliberate , well advised man think , that it was ever the intent of any prince , to set up a company of men to destroy their subjects , or at least , to suffer them to enjoy any royal priviledge , if they perversely , against the perspicuous light of reason , and clear testimony of fact , should persist in their male-praxis , their active , wilful homicide , at this day , when van helm . like a prometheus , hath by means of fire ( blown up by a heavenly benediction ) discovered , and taught the world the cure of those truculent calamities , which that epimetheus , or protoplastes , by opening pandora's box , hath brought upon it . i have in haematia , offered dr. willis , or any other semi-chymist , or chymicophant , to make it appear by solid experiments , that bleeding ( as there stated ) is an indirect way to overcome any grand disease . se● surdo narro dum sibi plaudunt . 't is all one , as if i should vociferate to neptune that he would forbear to swallow up ships , passengers , and treasure , sith 't is the nature of the ocean agitated with the fury of a tempest , to execute such mischief . so it is equally in vain , for me to cry aloud ( if i had stentor's voice ) that dogmatists would forbear to destroy their countrey-men ; for as much as nature , education , voracious appetite of gain , and honour , hurry them to that end. however i shall always discharge my duty in reprehending their vitious method , detecting how mischievous it is to the life of man. as i have deservedly declaimed against phlebotomie , with arguments , and experiments , sufficient to perswade any intelligent person , that it is a reprobate means of conquering any great infirmity . so i shall at this time make manifest for the satisfaction of the senses of all judicious men , that the common instruments the galenists use in purging , or carrying off the occasional , provoking , morbisique matter are unworthy to be prescribed by those , who own themselves learned doctors . that i may therefore justly reprove those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who keep men in purgatory , without expiation of the errors of life . i shall ( besides most clarified reasons depending upon long experience ) alledge the authority of hippocrates , and galen , for the countenancing what i deliver . that brave heroe hippocrates hath delivered to posterity two aphorisms , worthy to be written in the frontispiece of every honest able physitians house . the sense of the first is mentioned five several times in divers places ; as aphor. 2. lib. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. also lib. 1. aphor. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. again , aphor. 25. of the same book , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. likewise aphor. 3. lib. 4. the same words are repeated . and aphor. 2. of the same book , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : intimating by these repetitions , that physitians ought to have a singular care what they purged out of the body . the second most useful rule he gives , is aphor. 21. lib. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . denoting that in all evacuations we ought to observe the motion , orgasm , inclination of nature , and most convenient passages for that purpose . if these catharsists were legitimate disciples of a master so excellently well versed in healing , they would never thus promiscuously exclude good and bad juices , by their colliquating solutives , without any euphorie or profit to the sick man ; giving purging and vomiting medicines so often repeated , that their patients have complained they have emptied upward and downward 500. times ; yea , some a thousand , yet have found no melioration of their health , but a decay of their vitals . nothing is more common than to meet with those , who ( when for their redress , i commend vomiting , or purgative physick ) presently reply , they have undergone too much of that , desiring me to forbear : when some , upon promise of safety , and efficacy , have taken my emetick tincture , emeto diaphoret , or emeto cathar , powder or pill with benefit : yet having found little sensible evacuation , they have murmured , fearing lest the physick lay in their body to their future hurt ; supposing the same malignity to be in mine , as in the galenical solutives ; and that we were to judge of the patients restauration according to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the largeness and number of sieges . the miserable experience of colliquating purgatives , taken into my own body , the space of seven or eight years , without any solid cure , taught me that the uncorrected catharticks of the dispensatory oftentimes carry off peccant juices , without profit , making as much as they discharge , wronging the ferments , weakning the tone of the stomack , forcing nature to move a way contrary to the stream of her own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the morbifique dross . and when at any time there succeeds any redress after plentiful evacuations by this means , it is by accident in robust bodies , where the disease is trivial , nature standing upon her own leggs , the vessels permeable ; also an impetuous motion in the matter attenuated , ready upon an easie irritation to be sent packing . however this exploit will not nobilitate a physitian , or his art , seeing ( take one time with another ) this way doth double the mischief to the good. neither is he upon this account able to promise the radical cure of any great infirmity , very rarely , when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sitting , but never when she is jacent . then truly this is no more than the good old woman can perform by her simple method ; wherefore for satisfaction of ingenuous lovers of knowledge , let us a little contemplate a beadrol or register of their stronger and weaker solutives , with their correctiors . can any one , who knows what belongs to poysons , believe that gum arabick , tragacauth , bdellium , are in any proportion fitting mortifiers of the poyson of colocynthis , which hath proved death in the stomack of many a man ? is vinegar sufficient to amend the virulency of the roots of esula , lawrel , or mezereum , &c. can milk tame the cacoethie of elaterium , the acid gas of sulphur , scamony ? or the juice of quinces the root of black hellebore ? or water wash away the realgar of lapis lazuli ? i could never find yet by repeated essays , that sanders , violets , ginger , mastick , anniseed , cinnamon , saffron , daucus seed , almonds , penidia , pepper , spikenard , with several gums , have any power to take off , to a purpose , the deleterie nature of grand , boysterous catharticks ; neither do they otherwise than disguise the more gentle poyson of minoratives ( as they call them ) as manna , cassia , reubarb , sena , agarick , myrobal , carthamus , mechoa , soldan , turbith . i grant some have now and than a present ease by uncorrected purgatives ; but 't is no other than what happened to the doctors servant , who , upon eating two or three spiders , discharged her stomack , had a stool or two , so was for a while freed from her grief . for all that , let me give a caution to those , who without scruple swallow down intoxicating compounds , electuaries , potions , pills , or powders ( far worse than a simple spider ) that at length by frequent sumption of the same , they make not an indeleble character or impress upon the stomack , never to be razed out by any art ( as i have known ) the thread of their life being cut short ( according to humane probability ) half in half : withal what they enjoyed had much feebleness and irksomness in it . how can it indeed be otherwise , forasmuch their oracle , galen saith very true in this : omne purgans naturae inimicum . certainly , naturae bellum inferre odiosum . he that offers violence to the vitals , takes a course to dissolve the compage of his body the sooner . neither do i charge their own proper emeticks , or catharticks , as malefactors , but i moreover accuse those they have borrowed of the vulgar chymists , viz. infusio croc. metal . abusively called vinum benedictum , ☿ vit. ☿ dul sublimat , ☿ dul praecipit . turpet miner . vinum antimo . vinum rubel . these are their scandalous chymical medicines , as bad , if not worse , than those which mountebanks , cheating astrologers , or those quacks , who with their ominous bills , make a most doleful noise in the streets , and every corner , worse than scritch-owls , or night ravens . 't is not strange then that the common sort of people , yea , even those of better quality , know not how to distinguish between chymical preparations , real , or counterfeit ; those safe and hazardous : between efficacious and fruitless , elaborately defaecated , philosophically handled , and those slightly contrived , or rudely flubbered over . herein lies the cheat , that the galenists assuming to themselves the name of chymists ; incogitant , unwary persons take it for granted ( by reason of the authority , prevailing credit , they have gained among persons of degree , by seeming to be what they are not ) that men of so many letters , must needs be the only legitimate sophi in our science ; whereas through want of integrity , industry , difficult labour with their own hands , magnanimity , arnauty , a design of noble enterprizes , it is impossible they should arrive to any pitch of knowledge in pyrotechnie . so weak are the judgments of some of our academicks , even those who rank themselves among scholars of the higher class , that i am ready to blush , observing what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in their understanding , how dim sighted their minds are , to make a right distinction of things , and to value them as they are in themselves . these are they , who assent that dr. willis , with certain others , are able chymists , because having stolen a plat-form of more refined philosophy out of van helmont , they have made a large spacious rhetorical superstructure , most part sermocinal , little practically salutiferous . let me tell those , who covet to learn , 't is not a vast library , profound speculations in a closet , an eloquent tongue , a dexterity in writing elegantly , a pretty slight in prescribing after the manner of their boasting method , a concourse of multitude of patients , the applause of great men , professors of the university , virtuosi ( who of all men methinks , should be most cautious how they acquit dogmatical physitians ) nor the vogue of certain altogether interested apothecaries , chirurgeons , midwives , or nurses , can justifie a man as an authentick , philosophical chymist , unless he walk plainly , according to helmontian principles , viz. renounce phlebotomy altogether , according to the indication of evacuation or revulsion ; laying aside all ill-conditioned vomiting , and purging instruments , praedatorie diaphoreticks , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grating , fretting diureticks , and divers torturing palliating ways . he then that will rid the body of those cadaverous , foul , out-lawed , fretting excrements , like thorns or splinters extimulating the archeus , to make sundry ideas of calamities : let him hunt after those remedies that the vitals have a pleasing gust for , which obsecundate and follow the genius of nature in the propulsion of impurities , wheresoever sited , what way soever tending , withal obtain a faculty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to turn by meer contact any thing depraved in the body to a better condition . seeing 't is most difficult to attain , paracelsus his , or our great philosopher van helmont's arcana's , e. g. tinctur lili ab electro minera . mercur. vit stibii proles integra . tinctu lili antimon . mercurius diaphore . element . ignis e cupro , ☿ corallat , &c. let him put out himself to the utmost , using all means possible to purchase such a pharmacy , agreeable to the doctrine of our philosopher , fabricated according to his rules ingeneral , endeavouring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to imitate his illustrious spagyrical secrets , so by degrees let him aspire to greater things . let him study to defaecate throughly the sulphur of ♁ , that it may be at the command and beck of nature , exterminating whatsoever annoys without blemishing the ferments . let him marry the well purified sulphur of ♁ , to the sweet sulphur of a vegetable , entertaining both into a delectable bath . he ought also to digest ♁ with an alkali ; afterward to extract a high tincture , subservient to nature , in cleansing , sweeping away filth or dregs in the body , making a happy alteration in the texture of degenerate juices . the red and citrine sulphur of ♁ made by praecipitation , well sweetned with the alcohol of wine , afterward intimately joyned with a solar sulphur , fulfills the dictates of nature , in proscribing per loca commoda , without damnifying the stomack , whatsoever is rebellious , conspiring against life , stirring up the archeus to indignation . bezoard , mincra , solar , luna , iovial , may be so coyned , and such a stamp set upon them , that they may safely , and effectually agitate the morbifique matter , hunting , chasing it every way , without offering injury to the noble parts , or leaving an evil tang behind . the yellow sulphur of ♁ like the common , likewise it 's cinnabar , worked upon philosophically , will bring to pass the former end powerfully . out of the flowers , regul , glass of ♁ , may be extracted harmless , gentle emeticks , cathart , diaphoret , diureti . always leaving an euphorie and euphrasie behind . ☿ well nigh fixed with ☉ or ☽ doth assist nature to disturb , ferret , profligate , vitious , lentous , stubborn , coagulated foulness , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with relevation . our emetocathar , emeto diaphore powder , or pill ; our bezoar powder , as i can fabricate it by the adjunct of ☉ or ☽ take part with nature to help it to conquer great evils , excluding the nosopoietick thorns and bryars , those goads in the sides of the archeus , extimulating it to extravagant passions , through the sluce , or out-let most patulous and convenient : withal they sweeten 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , any extream acid , mortifie malignant idea's of the scurvy , &c. taming great acute griefs safely , generally affording solace . this they act whether they vomit , purge or no , keeping in it's integrity , what is sound , and meliorating what is depraved . our emetick tincture is endued with the same excellency with the former , but operates more insensibly , and with somewhat more advantage to the vital strength . our pil. polychrest causeth an eutony in the stomack , helps digestion , purifieth the blood , dilates coarctations , or constrictions , opens passages obstructed , dam'd up with gross congealed stuff , which it attenuateth , abstergeth . it allays , edulcorates sharp fretting liquors : it sweetly dischargeth any thing noxious through the intestines , kidneys , gullet , wind-pipe , and skin , with augmentation of the strength , without impairing the ferments , or offending the parts . he that possesseth this pill , need very seldom prescribe a glyster . i my self have taken many thousands , and given multitudes of them to others , to the diminution of that stubborn infirmity the scurvy , the advancement of the vital faculty much suppressed thereby . common sulphur sublimed with ♂ is no contemptible cleanser away of impurities , lodged about the hypochondries , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . colocynth . scamon . elateri . the root of esul , hellebo . alb. digested with a most refined mineral sulphur , and salt of tart volati ; so that their poysons become introverted , evade friendly catharticks , diaphoret , diureti , sufficient to assist the archeus to subjugate ferine refractory diseases . syrma ortho chymicum . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the art of midwifery chymically asserted . what calamity , exorbitant passions , and dreadful pains of the womb succeeded the depravation of the stomack by lustful fruit : how at this day each membranous body darts benevolent , or malevolent aspects one upon another reciprocally , according as they are well or ill affected , is known to the theological physitian . these two membranous vessels contain the seminal cause of those innumerable infirmities belonging to woman-kind double to man ; sith according to plato , she harbours , as it were , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to find out remedies adequately effectual to amend the irregularities and extravagant motions of this uterine animal , requires a most expert philosopher ; but to appease or tame sometimes it 's furious raging commotions , will put one upon the search of something magical . he that thinks any galenist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 professing midwifery , exercising a function herein to be sufficiently furnished with abilities for that purpose , is meerly led by the opinion of the world , not by solid reasons , and repeated experiments . for i can prove it in the general impossible ex facto ( if i were put to it ) that any but the legitimate chymist , can relieve , or cure uterine calamities safely , gratefully , effectually , and speedily . the truth of what i here deliver time will make perspicuous . when i was first called to this science of physick , i was advised to apply my studies in especial manner to the art of midwifery , which i easily listned to , being captivated with considerable gain amounting thereby , apprehending it principally a manual operation not difficultly to be attained . but my modesty , and second thoughts of aspiring to a more ample knowledge in physick , took me off . and well it so happened according to divine providence , sith had i insisted upon that subject , i had neither been any whit an experienced physitian , nor skilful in the feat of obstetricating . for i plainly discovered afterward , that to one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in child-bed labour , who justly called for the hand of any man with his chirurgical instruments , upon the account of a dead child , or the preposterous indirect position of the living , hundreds required the help of a learned chymist ; affording proper remedies for the assistance of the vitals of the mother and child , to the end , that this great work of happy partitude or delivery might be performed as it ought . wherefore the accomplished chymist , who can vindicate his analeptica , antipyreta , antihysterica , and anodyna far transcending the galenical preparations in all stubborn maladies whatsoever , ought to be especially consulted with , when sorrows of bringing forth infest the miserable woman . many remarkable histories to this purpose could i relate , the space of eighteen years , wherein i have observed a constant redress of those grievous unprofitable pangs , to follow the oblation of our pharmacie , without the production of preter-natural heat , or any other bad symptom . moreover , most parturients , or child-bed-women miscarry , by reason of irregular dyet , through malignant feavers arising from the scurvy , retention of the lochia , rash restriction of enormontick sweats , indiscreet management of the milk , as happened to my own wife , who after the pestilential feaver was mastred by proper antidotes , was destroyed by the ignorance of a midwife , applying to the mamillary emunctory a topick , which in a dozen hours caused a total anadrome of the virulent milk toward the center , whereupon a great coagulation of the blood followed , haemoptysis the privation of a commodious universal sweat , dyspnaea , and other direful accidents . in all these exigents the learned iatrical chymist , not the noso-poietick galenist , ought to be sought unto for advice . had i opportunity to enlarge , which i may hereafter , i could demonstrate how insufficient these galenical opinionative men-midwives ( as they call them ) are to prevent abortion in gravids ; to remove the deep impressions of futious unbridled passions and perturbations , the evil consequences of bruises by falls , or strokes ; to rectifie the depraved appetite , to prescribe a salutiferous dyet , before , and after lying in ; to administer competent corroboratives for the welfare of mother and child , and the auspicious promotion of her bringing forth . i could also make it apparent by our theory and practice , how ignorant the galenical obstetricatio●s are of the right method and means of curing the manifold diseases incident to poor infants ; how thousands of children have suffered through the unadvised administration of diascordium , and other opiats . but studying concisenes i must desist at present , being ready upon all occasions to maintain by fact what i have here asserted . the character of a legitimate ortho-chymist . the legitimate philosophical chymist hath laid his foundation in learning . the institutions , notions , axioms , and theorems in natural philosophy delivered to him , he doth not take up on meer trust , without a severe scrutinie into the truth of the same by the test of experience . his theory , and his practice , his ratio and exploratio go hand in hand . he is able to give an account of the beginning , progress , entelechy , declension , and retrogradation of physical bodies ; the aitiologie of the defections , interpositions , eclipses , alterations in nature , principally of the infirmities , and maladies belonging to man's body , according to whose indications , phaenomena , symptoms , fruits , and products , he finds out , and applicates appropriate remedies . he works with his own hands , taking into his own body first for tryal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his manufactures , that he may understand whether they be authentick , or apocrypha before he dares offer them to his patients . he is furnished with some prevalent polyacea's , which he carrieth along with him whithersoever he goeth , ready to be exhibited upon all occasions , either for the sufflaminating , or putting a stop to the full carreir of an acute disease ( till a more eompleat provision of medical instruments can be brought forth ) or for the forthwith breaking the egg , and suffocating the embryon of any ferine calamity . his most preheminent intentions in curing is to uphold nature , to pacifie the fury and perturbation of the archeus , to expunge morbifique idea's , for which purpose he studies by all means to remove the occasional cause of all griefs , without annoying the ferments of the shops of digestion . he is not deficient in a competent necessary knowledge of anatomicks and botanicks , so far as they manuduct him to the cure of miserable man ( being satisfied that the life of mortals , if it were far longer , is too short to anatomize materia medica , that the essential virtues of concrets may be elicitated ) but he deservedly sets at naught , and derides the galenical theatrical periergies , curiosities , in dissecting bodies of little use , unless for ostentation , to get practice and applause among the ignorant vulgar . he operates not according to the express letter of a tyrocinium chymicum , nor gives credit to it further than general philosophical rules ; his own intellect and former iterated experiments direct him . he claims , as his just right , the cure of outward , as well as inward corporal evils . he is seldom but as a man mistaken in the prognôsis , or prediction of life and death . his promises and performances generally accord . he stands not gaping for a critical day , but forthwith falls to his business of animating the vitals , for the expulsion of the enemy without truce . he hates to do any thing wilfully as unworthy of a good moralist , and an elected physitian ; but studies by all means possible , to keep up the credit of the art , without prostituting it to lucre or lust ; and he is indifferent whether he enjoy the favour of great men , unless out of a candid respect for truth ; chusing rather to be then to seem a healer of man's infirmities fundamentally : wherefore he detests an hermaphroditical chymist , & his linsey-woolsey texture halting ( for his unworthy by-ends ) between two opinions , one that by surreptitious means raises his fame , adorned like the jack-daw , with other birds feathers , making the world believe they are his own by birth-right . his integrity makes him daring , the precious value of the subject he works upon zealous , the thoughts he entertains how far short he yet comes of the height of this unlimitted science , makes him humble , ready to learn of any who offers a demonstration : neither doth himself desire to be credited farther than reason and sense shall induce . he rather diminisheth , than enlargeth the virtues of his remedies , by no means attributing to them what they are not able to effect , brought to the touch-stone of iterated tryals ; neither doth he magnifie those as elaborate medicinal arcana's , mustering up a long scheme of them , when in all probability not one deserves that title . he is ready to meet any one of literature to confer with him about the well-fare of a patient , to be informed what is most fitting to be done , supposed all animosity , and all confused passion be laid aside , withal allowing matter of fact to determine the controversie . he hates to supplant another physiitian , by using unworthy means to get a patient out of his hands , or to pass a censure more than he can prove : yea , were not the contest about matters of the highest importance , whose indifferent lukewarm or conniving defence would endanger the soul , he would scorn to hurt or attaint the fame , reputation and honour of his greatest antagonist : however , upon a cordial resipiscence would be the first would cover his lapses , and set him right . a character of the pseudo-chymist or counterfeit . the pseudochymist is an upstart thing , as it were a mushrome , suddenly sprung up , receiving , for the most part , his seminal being from the publick prescriptions of the galenists , their disrespect to the chymical orthomethod of healing , and their gross ignorance in handling materia medica . hereby this fungus animated , having by accident , contract , or another by-way purchased some ordinary medicaments , which he prodigally giving without any precise method at a venture in difficult diseases , becomes more cryed up for his notable feats in physick by the multitude than the dogmatists , both conspiring alike to ruine man. thus farther emboldned , he rusheth in at the back-door disguised , strait falls to act his part on the scene of this microcosm , with a full design to cheat all that he can draw to him . then from a mechanick , as a gunsmith , tailer , shoomaker , he is by the bewitching tongue of nurses midwives , or the like gang perhaps ravished with his jugling astrological prodictions metamorphized into a formal doctor , who created by the rabble at first , and clambring higher by vulgar steps , at length insinuates by his imposture , wiles , craft , impudence , and flattery into some great mens favour : upon this he forthwith passes currant for an approved chymist ; although , if he should be put to the test , he would turn all into dross . to advance his base enterprize the more , he hath in readiness , his emissaries , whom he hires or bribes to trumpet out , magnifie , and extol his rare cures : he endeavours to prostitute this chast art , to make it a very whore to his lusts , pimp or pander to compass his vile ends. he is impudent beyond expression , and because stupid and ignorant , a most sworn enemy to learning : yet will admire van helm . although he never read him , nor is in least able to understand him , though translated into his mother tongue . he boasts of his specious furnaces : but seldome handles a retort himself , yet will tell you what herculean labours he hath undergone ; what he hath atchieved : making comparisons with the best . he and the galenist are herein well met for subtlety , for like apes , they know how to take nuts out of the fire with the paw of the cat. this foul bird such as the poet speaks of ( contactu omnia foedans ) hath a strang faculty by the enchanting melodious tune of his long bill , setting out his wonderful cures , to draw one into his net , hiding the rest of his ugly body , till he hath picked your pocket , wronged your health , or mortally wounded you . he counterfeits the true chymist ( as the hyaena a mans voice ) tempting unwary people to come unto him , and then worries them . he , and the chymical galenist , like davus , confound the whole world , so that few know how to chuse the right , and leave the wrong way of curing . he is still sowing his pseudochymical tares so thick , that orthochymical wheat is in danger to be strangled thereby . although he be really of no religion , yet sometimes he , as well as the galenist , will profess to be of some congregational church , or of some fanatical conventicle , to the end , being changed into an angel of light , he may set a specious gloss of piety upon his fraudulent ways , hereby gaining more reputation amongst the brethren , he may cozen his patients more plausibly . at his first entrance upon pseudochymical devices , he pretends to be a great astrologer , thereby to determine whether the sick shall live or die : yea to make him more notoriously famous , he undertakes to tell fortunes , to instruct the people how they may come by their stolen goods again , whether mariners shall make prosperous voyages , whether men shall meet with good or bad success in marriage , women with the like , &c. but afterward having pretty well feather'd his nest , by plucking those credulous gulls who have stooped to his call , also now his art of casting figures becoming more and more suspected , likewise conscious to himself the heavens will not suffer any longer his impostures ; he begins to lay aside ouranoscopie , thinking it best non altum sapere , sith quae supra nos nihil ad nos , and betakes himself to ouroscopie , where he fixes , pretending to be a notable pispot prophet , to tell by bare inspection of the urine , without farther enquiry , what 's the disease , whether the party may recover , and how long , &c. to this hocus pocus women of all sorts and degrees flock to know whether they be with child ; yea supposed maidens to be resolved whether their tympany be intestineal or uterine , how they may be rid of the last with privacy , whose expectations he says , upon good terms , he is ready to satisfie to all intents and purposes , by means of a secret knack he hath attained . i could acquaint my countreymen if i had leisure , with multitude of gins , traps , and snares this bastard chymist lays to catch the simple harmless man , that he make a prey of his body and purse . in short , he is a most pestilent animal , no more fitting to be tolerated by the magistrate , than wolves and foxes amongst sheep . a short description , or explanation of the happy efficacy , and sanative virtue of our stomack essence . the grand opposers of the ortho-chymical way did put me hard to it at first , by reason of the implicite belief most men have supinely , and in a blind manner of obedience ( without further scrutinie , yielded to their authority and antiquity ) to preserve this most useful , florid , splendid remedy , ess. stom . from being blasted , or extinguished by their malignant breath , more mischievous to the truth of direct healing than any mephitical damp to the life of man. however 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 crescit sub pondere virtus , the more they have endeavoured to suppress it by fastning false weights of defamation to it , viz. that it was too hot , inflaming , burning , too strong , violent , consuming the radical moisture , shortning the life , withal under-valuing it , that it was no better than pepper drops , and that it might be made in half a dozen hours , which dr. merret unworthily reported behind my back , who ( when i came to face him offering to give it under my hand presently to be bound to reward him with a hundred pounds the next morning , if he would teach me to make it in twenty four hours ) replyed by way of collusion , that he could counterfeit it in that time . i say , the more these chymicophants have laboured to sink down this noble remedy , the more it hath sprung up , and flourished to their grand shame : yea , i dare averr upon reasonable experimental grounds , this polyacea will be esteemed by posterity one of the best medicines for it's general utility to the life of mortals , innocent nature , pleasant gust , and easie purchase that ever yet came to light . he that will may read the just vindication of it , published formerly , none of my adversaries daring to oppose it openly , unless a tergo sneakingly below a generous man. what excellency i have here attributed to it , rather comes short , than transcends it's desert . this medicine is not with little labour fabricated , being brought over in glasses above twenty several times , and digested many days . it consisteth of three pure volatiles , united , fetched out of the store-house of animal , vegetable , and marine substances , which produce these salutary effects following . it exceedingly strengthens the stomack , helps it's digestion , encreaseth and maketh active the vital spirits , and their instruments by which they work ( called ferments ) rectifies the spleen , scatters and expels wind , vapours , or any wandring wild spirit , which flies in a moment from one place to another , vexing the parts . it sweetens in some measure the sharpness of the thin liquors in the body , which often-times causes pains , feavers , &c. it subtilly enters the veins and arteries , being carried about with the blood , which it very much cleanses . it carries off to the out-side whatsoever is impure , causing a kindly breathing in the skin . it also causeth urine , conveying gravel from the kidneys , hindring that it may not be engendred and fixed . it is helpful in difficulty and pain of making water , coming forth sometimes by drops . 't is of great service against pains of the side , the colick , griping of the guts . it is a very great cordial , preserving from fainting , and restoring those who are surprized with loss of vital spirits . it is very effectual to keep one from , and to cure surfeits . it is very powerfully good against the scurvy , or any poysonous , ill-conditioned , infectious evils . it prevents , and helps to cure all kind of feavers . it quencheth the thirst to an admiration , above all supposed cooling things whatsoever . it bringeth preternatural heat or coldness to a due moderation , by removing the efficient cause thereof , reducing the parts to their former strength . it is available against fits of the mother ; the whites . it dissolves congealed , curdled matter ; ripeneth raw juices , bringing them either to a better condition for the use of nature , or preparing them to be sent packing out of the body , by convenient ways and medicaments . it abates a nauseons disposition , or vomiting , by confirming the membranes of the stomack , and by promoting the throwing off that which disturbs it . it cutteth , and cleanseth away slimy birdlime-like flegm , giving ease in difficulty of breathing , mitigating the violence of the tissick . it is admirably useful against melancholy imaginations , passions from the spleen , &c. called hypochondriak : an evil state of body arising for want of proportionable nutriment , or from galenical medicaments . it availeth against the dropsie , or consumption . the frequent use thereof strengthens the brain , sinews , loyns , memory , and all the senses . stom . ess. outwardly applyed , challengeth noble effects : for 't is very healing , balsamical , curing green wounds and plain soars , being often touched therewith . i have hitherto found it constant in happily curing burnings , scorchings or scaldings ; some drops being frequently distilled thereon , and forced inward by the bottom of a smooth glass . i cannot but experimentally commend it as one of the best asswagers of the pain of the teeth , i have hitherto met with . it is also of great force to preserve them from corruption , likewise in part to restore them ; resisting the putrifaction of the gums . neither is it to be contemned for the mitigation of the pains of any part , strengthning and quickning the vital spirit thereof . with many more laudable properties is stom . ess. or alexi flomachon endued , which the frequent use thereof , and a longer strict observation , will bring to light . the quantity to be given , is measured by the greatness and st●bborness of the disease : for sometimes ten or twenty times as much as the common portion , ought to be offered : neither is it to be feared that any hurt will arise therefrom . the ordinary dose , or extent of giving it , is twenty , thirty , forty , fifty , sixty drops in a draught of any liquor , as beer , ale , separate or mixt ; sometimes wine , as sack , or whatsoever doth best relish with the person . it may be taken at any time when the stomach is out of orde● , troubled with indigestion , wind , pains , gripes , or any of the foresaid vexations ; then let them take liberally thereof . he that constantly takes every morning thirty or forty drops , shall prevent many mischiefs in reference to his health . i doubt not but the galeno-chymists , or the pseudo-chymists will like apes endeavour to imitate and counterfeit this experienced essence ( which before i am convinced by fact , i shall presume to prefer before any medicament of its rank , yet visibly extant among us . ) of such i shall advise my countreymen to beware , for these adulterators will but disgrace and degrade it ; for i am sure none can find out the true way of making it , unless he be a knowing philosopher , working with his own hands , and taking preparations into his own stomach . thus much i advertise ; he that dextrously can volatilize salt of tart. may do something tending to this purpose , otherwise not . he that desires to be farther instructed concerning the defence of the virtues of this essence , and the disproving of what is spoken against it by mal●volents , ; let him read with integrity the just commendation of it in haematiasis , &c. indefatigable perseverance in opening bodies ●y the fire , and the repeated assumption of what was thence produced , hath brought me to the knowledge of a pill i call polychrest , which consists of three golden sulphurs from minerals well purified , and friendly to nature ; whose innocence , as well as effectual operation , is remarkable , and upon tryal to be justified by any who understands a good remedy . they are conducible in most diseases . they act by cleansing , opening , corroborating and purifying the blood , without leaving the least ill impress behind , for they contain no laxative so noxious as senna or rewbarb . they are of great force to conquer the scurvie : also prevalent against the dropsie . they prevent the stone , and carry off gravel . they sweeten sharp liquors in the body . they overcome the venereal or foul disease , if taken a considerable time : neither is it to be suspected , that one may be weakned by the long frequent use of them ; for they , contrary to other purging concretes , make one more lusty and vigorous , as i have found in my having taken many thousands of them with an advancement of my strength . they reform the spleen ; help to cure feavers , prevent relapses and long maladies . they may be swallowed at any time of the day or night ; neither will they cause injury , but rather benefit , if they loosen not the body in twenty four hours , which is rare , for usually they give a stool or two in that space . the dose is two or three pills a little before supper , or early in the morning . the patient proceeding thus for three or four days , and resting a day or two , and then repeating them . tinct . nost ▪ emetica , is profitable in all malignant feavers , in the griping or loosness of the belly , difficulty of breathing ; pain of the sides , headach , diseases of the stomach & spleen . it leaves the vitals more cheerful and active . it matters not whether it work or no by vomit or stool ; however , it will do good by sweat , or causing urine . if the party be capable , it may be given a week together , at any time of the day or night , i often give it in bed . pul. emeto catharticus is profitable in many diseases , ( as emetica tinctur . ) it searches out the morbifick matter , leaving wholesome juyces untouched : when other vomits are given in vain this profiteth . pil. emeto cathart . are useful for the same diseases , as pulvis emeto , cathar . polyacea , tinctura solaris , or balsamica , are great supporters of nature , the tamers of malignant feavers ; they go into all parts , illuminate and augment the archeus or vitals . they carry off by sweat , urine and expectoration . there are few diseases which will not somewhat yield to these cordials , if exhibited in a just proportion . elixi . proprietat . nost resists putrifaction , opens the spleen , helps digestion , purifies the blood : it is very cordial , expels menf●r●a stopped , and gives a check to them flowing excessively . it is most efficacious to cause an easie and speedy delivery in difficult labour of women . its dose is from ten to an hundred drops or more in strong liquor . with several other salutary remedies could i acquaint the world ; but now i must desist , hoping god may spare my life till the edition of my physical observations : the history , cause , & cure of 3 cholick-stones , of a vast unwonted magnitude : also the history of the exection of the spleen out of a dog , that lived two years and a quarter after very lively and well ; with sufficient reasons to back the experiment : the diseases of the spleen , with preservative and curative instructions of the same . lastly , a synopsis , or abridgment of loimotomia , the dissection of a pestilential body ; all in latine , wherein materia medica and its philosophical management shall be more amply examined . from queen-street , formerly called soper● lane , in well-court , nigh cheapside . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : or a just complaint of the deceitful , dangerous and pernicious method or way of curing , obstinately insisted upon by the galenists at this day , when a far better means is found out by the philosophical chymists : also the advantage or benefit arising from a legitimate learned colledge established by authority : moreover , an invitation to the galenists to become ortho-chymists . to offend , when a man , neither knows nor is taught better , deserves pity . to act amiss through an importunate imperfection , with an earnest desire to reform , argues ingenuity , and a noble spirit : but wilfully to persist in a capital errour , to the ruine of aur neighbour , when one is advertised thereof , and may have better things indigitated to the senses , makes one guilty of abominable wickedness . the time was 26 years past , that following those dogmatical rules received from antiquity , i did help for two or three years to fatten the churchyard , howsoever with many anxious thoughts , much regret and checks of my soul , that i neither did , nor could tell how to perform my duty with more ability in this weighty profession . so disquieted was i night and day upon consideration ( how being sent for in the beginning of an acute evil i suffered a young man in the very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or flower of his strength to be cut off for want of due medicinal provision ) that i resolved to take some other course of life , to get a subsistence , rather than thus conscious of my own insufficiency , to be accessary to the death of my patients : yea i did believe , persevering in this common road of malepractice , i might contract the guilt of plain homicide , to the utter undoing my soul. thus , after many an agony or conflict of spirit , i fell off by little and little from that great dictators method and pharmacie ( reputed by me at first oracular . ) having acquired some furniture of ordinary chymical medicaments , i exhibited them though with a trembling hand and heart ( partly through prejudice , partly through fear of being adulterated ) to those tired out with long sickness , as the scurvie , q●artane , hypocondriak passions , &c. yet with a success happy beyond my expectation . the galenical doctrine becoming at first suspected , and at length less reputed , incited by my tutor and another friend , an excellent chymist , i was fully bent without wavering to purchase van helmont ( one formerly slighted by me for inveighing without cause as i foolishly thought against the schools ) to read him intirely , impartially with a single eye , and a marginal note . in the upshot , after a serious rumination of those physical verities relating to the radical essence and cure of diseases communicated by this incomparable searcher into nature , i forthwith took out a new lesson of theory and practice , renouncing my former mistakes , imploring an influence from heaven that i might be farther informed . wherefore nauseating a hundred treatises of feavers and other 〈…〉 nothing but cramben millies coctam , the same obsolete stuff over and over , i rid my self of the impediments or luggage of a fruitless library , wholy addicting my self to the lecture of initia physicae inaudita , and other of the most authentick authors , coadjuvant to the understanding of the more obscure places delivered by our philosopher . then according to his advice i bought glasses , erected furnaces , fell to labour with my own hands , prepared according to his general direction the materia medica , which i first took into my own body for tryal , afterward tendred it to my patients . in this manner making a progress twenty years compleat from that time to this . having maturely received a farther illumination and confirmation of the solid principles of chymical physiologie , and the rotten foundation of the galenical , abominating bleeding ( as rightly stated ) uncorrected purgatives , &c. i have with convincing predictions been able , auspice deo , to relieve the calamities , languors , and grievous wounds of poor mortals , to the infinite satisfaction of my own spirit . a proof whereof i have tendered to dr. willis , dr. merret , dr. goddard , and divers others of our london colledge ; and am now ready to make good by fact in a publick hospital or private families , that the galenical design of healing is fraudulent , dangerous and deadly : as likewise that our rightly instituted fabrick of pharmacy , with the method of dispensing and distributing it , is upright , safe and sanative : withal , that those allegations of excessive preternatural heat , virulency , violence , consuming the humidum radicale , or shortning the life , imputed to our remedies , are malicious slanders , false accusations , detractions , cavils , and subtil devises contrived by these traders in men's skins , on purpose to keep up their interest , though myriads perish . any but one obstinate , rash , self-conceited , will judge charitably of my proceedings in this kind , sith deserting the galenical usual manner of prescribing i incurred the displeasure , yea , hatred of most apothecaries , a dis-repute among the galenical chirurgeons , because i condemn phlebotomy , and the common way of healing wounds , sores , &c. the rash , incogitant censures , and raillery of midwives , nurses , or such like creatures , with the huffings , s●ibs , tepulses of fortunes favourites ; and the abuses , sarcasms , opprobrious language of the ruder sort . moreover , hereby i haue lost my ease , outward applause , riches and honours , and many secular respects , laid hold by the galenists in oliver's days , and since , without the least touch or scruple of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . besides upon consideration , that had i then plaid my game craftily ( which i could easily have done as well as the best of them ) i should have enjoyed no less temporal advantages than they . but seeing i had more sublime thoughts , esteeming nothing too dear , so that i might attain the gift of healing , as i ought : therefore in all equity and reason i ought to be listned to , who request nothing more than that the helmontian doctrine ( which i assert ) may be accepted , so far as i can make it appear true by repeated experiments . once more i shall entreat those learned galenists , they would be pleased , out of respect to their own souls , commise●ation to miserable mortals , for the dignity , glory , and promotion of this divine science , to put a stop to their profuse effusion of blood , consumption of the strength of the body by tabefying purgations , withal to abandon fruitless , cooling julebs , pusillanimous cordials , poysonous vesicatories . if the galenists ( whose estimation i should abhor to blemish , did not the life of man stand in competition ) still persist to deny me this kindness , of explaining things as they are in themselves , they will constrain me to set forth a catalogue of those patients , with the names of the physitians attending them , whom ( as i 'le make appear by analogism , examples , or instances agreeing ( in every respect possible to the type of the disease ordered by them ) they have sent packing into the other world. if they can as justly accuse me , producing the same evidence , that i am guilty of such indirect practice ( these 16 years i have here resided in london ) i shall willingly submit to be severely animadverted . moreover , i shall detect what a considerable number of sick brought to the brink of the grave by their galenical orders ( some whereof i have urged to try further , if they were able to relieve them ) utterly despairing of their recovery , divine goodness hath cured by his weak spagyrical agent . i hope his majesty , for the love he bears to chymical truth , the benefit redounding thereby to himself , and his subjects , out of a kindness to one , who sincerely and constantly suffered for his royal father , will indulge this honest , profitable enterprize so far , that if i can make good to the senses , that our philosophical way is able ( according to judicious providence and predictions ) to preserve his subjects in health of body and mind , to prevent mischiefs to come , and to restore them to sanity , better than formerly , for many centuries past : withall if it can be proved plainly by iterated essays , and equal tryals , that the galenical , and galeno-chymical method is an imperfect , palliating , treacherous , and pernicious means to overcome , or eradicate any great fixed malady , will be pleased to erect a learned chymical society , which may be a president to foreign nations to imitate ; for which , present and future ages will be bound to bless him . the admirable commodity and benefits accr●ing to mankind by this heroick enterprize of a chymical colledge , are sufficient to move the magistrate to force these anti-chymists to desist from their evil practice . 1. religious . 2. moral . 3. political . 4. medicinal . 5. mechanical . i should not question by means of wholsome chymical physick to make men of more sound 〈◊〉 religion . atheism , hypoctisie , prophaness , debauchery , might in some measure be lessened , quailed , and restrained , by power of a mastring discipline of the intellectual soul made more apt to understand the truth of things , by means of the organs of the body , blood , and spirits well clarified . by virtue of our hermetick physick , the head , heart , and hands of hierophants , might be purified ▪ their exemplary dumb and deaf preaching up of vice throughout all the world , be corrected ▪ circumstances and punctilio's in religion lovingly , calmly proposed , debated , and accepted ▪ and those fierce eager altercations about adi●phora laid aside . by the powerful operation of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quakers , catabaptists , independents , separatists , schismaticks , and multitudes of phanaticks , might be brought to more integrity of mind in religion , be reclaimed far better than by any rigid persecuting-course whatsoever . we should entertain more frequent serious contemplation , or divine idea's of a future world , were not our bodies consequently our souls clouded by black hypochondriack me●eors , and depraved by bad physick . in my minority i have been a little amazed to hear the religion of physitians indifferently , yea , slightingly , ironically spoken of : so that i have not without some indignation , vindicated it ; perswading my self , that there were many , who , like dr. brown , were able to assert it practically . but coming to greater maturity in the observation of things , i found , for the most part , that really true , which before i apprehended was precipitately spoken by the vulgar . for i dare averr , if a man may judge of a tree by it's fruits , or of the nature of any corporeal existent by signatures , impresses , and accidents , products , phaenomena , and effects ; so certainly may a man censure most of the galenical tribe , sitting to be ranked among plato's classes of atheistical , hypocritical wretches ; not only poysoning others by their deletery , virulent , intoxicating physick , but also by their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their profane , loose , voluptuous , intemperate , covetous , proud , blasphemous behaviour , both in word and deed , and most obstinate , active , perseverance in their lethiferous method of curing . how in truth can it be otherwise , sith their minds are corrupted by their malignant physick , through the want of a true benign mundifier of their vitals . besides , how is it possible they should be acquainted in the least mith a deity , who are so grosly ignorant of the aitiologie of things in nature . needs must they be stone blind as to any right apprehension of an omnipotent creator , a wise supporter , disposer ; and governor of all things : sith their understanding is so extremely to seek concerning the material , efficient cause of all corporeal beings . how can they who are so much mistaken concerning the essence of fire , approach him infinitely transcending any consuming fire . ) how is it possible they should have any understanding of the father of lights , who know not whether light be accident or a substance . had they been better acquainted with nature , the first mover of all things , would have communicated himself more clearly . now , sith they have wilfully blinded themselves through vile interest , at the presence of that which is obvious to the senses , 't is but just they should continue in cimmerian darkness , without the true discovery of things invisible . it hath been a curse upon the galenists 1600 years , not to be capable to cure radicated diseases , because they slighted him who is the great healer of all our infirmities , nam deus creavit medicum non homo . this considered , 't is no wonder they are thus accused of atheism . if so , the only way to make them religious proselytes , and to bring them to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to convince them of their errors in philosophy , to demonstrate how miserably they are out of the way of curing their own , as well as others evils . what imperfect , yea hurtful means they use to remedie their own laesam imaginationem by bleeding , tabefying , colliquating , carharticks and duil cordials , &c. and to indicare to them ortho-methodus fanandi chymica , that there may be an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the stomach , spleen and other parts , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a purity in the blood , and an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a firm activity in the spirits : thus the soul obtaining compleat organs , will act as it ought ( for aceording to galen , animi actiones sequntur temperamentum corporis , which is verified of the spirits . ) thus when the doctor is convinced , many discidles will follow his example : this will be the most assured way to make a reformation in the world , and to take us off from unprofitable disputes in religion . the abuses and extravagant practices in divinity , and physick being chymically redressed , the corruptions , prevarications and unjust dealings in the law are like to be quickly voted out of doors : for the irregularities in divinity and physick confound the whole world . moreover , i have observed more ingenuous favourers of chymical philosophy among the students and practicers of the law , than any other profession whatsoever , therefore more inclinable to be taught better things . next our ethicks or morality may by wholsome chymical physick be meliorated : one reason why we are at this day so depraved in our manners , may with plausible reason be attributed to new feral diseases , which rage among us as the scorbutum , lues venerea , single & complicated : likewise to the increase of the cacoethie , or malignity of former diseases now graduated , and guarded with more cruel symptoms , aggravated by cacost●machical medicaments . hereby our off-spring is born valetudinary , sickly in body , and vitious in mind , the seminal idea of those infirmities which lay couched in our body being imprinted iure hereditario on the miserable infants . 't is not to be admired , why we are at this day so melancholy , discontented , distracted with inordinate passions and perturbations , so malicious , perfidious , falshearted , dishonest , full of hatred , pride , vain-glory , hypocrisie , covetousness , faction , rebellion , lightness and phantastical aemulation of forreign nations , unworthy of an english-man : for as much as most of the galenical compositions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 corrupt body and soul. again , 't is singular policie in the magistrate to promote and cherish this chymical method of curing : for his own and the peoples sake . he being by this means enabled to enjoy sounder body and mind , to govern long , making good laws ; and his subjects hereby multiplyed will be ready to embrace them and obey him : both using a direct way to clarifie the organs of the soul for the reception of truth , and the right discretion or election of what is best . by vertue of this art , his subjects will be more magnanimous , valiant , empowered the better to defend him and his territories , to vindicate his rights , to make enquiry abroad for new plantations , and colonies , to prevent sicknesses incident to the climate , to oppose any enemies stoutly that shall invade us , to heal their wounds , to save many limbs from being mutilated or cut off . doubtless had his majesty been throughly acquainted with the excellent efficacie of the stomach essence in healing both inwardly and outwardly , injoyning a large quantity to be made for the use of his fleet against the dutch , many hundreds of those brave men might have been preserved , who perished for want of true chymical remedies . neither would this or the like have only cured their scorbutical infirmities , healed their grievous soars , but also have maturated their stratagems , magnified and animated their spirits for the execution of far greater actions . were there not some among us , who envie that the nation should enjoy such a time of iubilee , or halcyonian days , wherein the state of body and soul might be amended , they would suggest to his majesty the extraordinary emolument or commoditie would arise to him , his posterity and the people , if this enterprize were set on foot . it would appear honest and noble policy to purg the schools by paracelsian physick from capital galenical errours , at this day predominant in physick , to eradicate those corruptions so deeply grounded tam frequentes foedasque in philosophia nundinationes ( as an antient academical antesignanus of learning expresses ) those unworthy respects of conferring degrees on those who deserve to be termed no better than philosophastri , theologastri , idiotae , nugatores , sycophantae , otiateres , compotores , indigni libidinis voluptatumque ministri , hinc rude vulgus , inops , sordidum , leve , melancholicum rebelle , contumax , refractarium ac miserandum . if the magistrate be pleased to cause the helmontian institutions to be introduced into the academies instead of aristotelian , according as one shall be found experimentally true , and the other false , the whole kingdome will by degrees be brought into a far more flourishing condition than formerly : hereupon able physitians will be sent into all parts to keep men in sanity ( the direct way to prosperity in the general ) which before was empaired by galenists , mountebanks , quacks , who giving medicaments noxious , as hemlock instead of parsley , have made the nation brain-sick , phantastical , scorbutical , unconstant , rebellious , idle , full of beggars , querulous , prone to extreams , innovations , affected with outsides and appearances rather than solid worth. thus the trading for mens skins might be abolished , physick , chirurgery and pharmacopoie united , materia medica better improved , better attendance given to the sick in time of the plague , and a prevention made of fugitive physitians in our greatest extremity , whose courage may be encreased by appropriate antidotes against so great a poison . let us but turn over to the chymical page ; his majesty will always enjoy virtuous , prudent , sage , valiant , upright counsellours : good men will still be encouraged with just rewards , and evil punished ; those who have real intrinsical worth preferred , those making an outward seeming shew rejected : for assuredly the reason why we do not esteem things as they are in themselves , proceeds from laesa imaginatio , a crasie phansie to be corrected principally by powerful chymical physick . moreover , the consideration how ready at hand our remedies are upon all occasions , safe and effectual , may plead for their protection by the magistrate : suppose a prince or any great man be surprized with a lipothymie , epilepsie , lethargie , vertigo , in a place remote from any appothecarie , certainly he may himself , or his physitian attending him , carry a few light paracelsian remedies , which may in a moment relieve him ; whereas should he send a prescription so far as the unsupportable bulk of an apothecarys pharmacy resideth there to be dispensed , this noble person might in the mean time perish . i add to this , 't is no small politick satisfaction to a great man , who prizes his life , to see a physitian , or any other in health , to take some chymical arcana without any nocument , which is tendred to the patient for his restauration , which i 'le undertake to make good upon my own body , or anothers . i shall not omit how satisfactory 't is to one , who in his prosperity , loves to breath in this atmosphear , to hear a plain comfortable prediction from an adeptus , that he is capable of recovery , or if not , that he may settle his affairs , while he hath mature judgment . in the mean time the dogmatical guessers , boggle , blunder , juggle , speak as amphibologically , as the orac●e of old at delphos , or else are quite mistaken , altogether over-shoot themselves , as appeared by their prognostick , in mr. colwel , the great banker , his case , and many other , whom i shall make mention of , annexing a large comment on the miscarriages of these improvident galenists , if they do not forthwith endeavour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to forsake their destructive paths . lastly , princes encouraging pyrotechnie may obtain far more active antidotes against poyson , than hath hitherto been known , whereby the thread of their life may be protracted ; they may also discover how , not only vain , but injurious the common catharticks are in stubborn maladies , studying to avoid them as poysons either manifestly hurting at present , or privily shortning their days for the future . 4. the medicinal profit , advantages , and service that will attend a chymical society , established by law , is most remarkable , which the reader shall find described in ortho-methodus iatro chymica . that catalogue of incurable diseases , given in by the galenists , will be cancelled , and an appropriate means found to remedy the most truculent sickness , and atrocious virulent malady . deus omnes nationes fecit sanabiles . the powerful benign father of every good and perfect gift hath created a salve for every sore ; onely ungrateful , sloathful , supine man will not exert his faculties , for the indagation , or narrow search of such precious latrical pearls to be valued above any thing in this world ; yea , so indifferent he is , so paralytical in his desires towards the summum bonum , sanity of body , and soul , so wilfully miserable , that he is loath to put out his hand to receive so great a favour , though he may have it gratis , rather envying , retarding , than furthering those who labour for a publick good . were this iatro chymical exploit indulged and quickned by those in authority , such polyacea's might be brought to light , enriched with virtues abundantly sufficient to conquer , and quite cut off those complicated evils , which like hydra's heads elude the vulgar medicaments . if artists were animated , the epilepsie appoplexy , gout , quartan , lues venerea , scorbute radicated , yea , and the itch ( which i wondred they omitted amongst the list of their incurable diseases , for i am sure their method cannot cure directly ) would not thus tyrannize in this microcosm . an adaequate lithontribon might be detected potent to dissolve the stone in the bladder without cruel , uncertain lithotomie . were the world furnished with compleat , learned pyrotechnists , no man would fail to be cured in due time of a pleurisie , by anti-pleuriticks , ( not bleeding ) expeditely , radically , without relapse , or future danger of being obnoxious to the like pungitive vexation again . all feavers might in a few days be strangled . the measles and small pox might be cured without scandal , in the same manner as other defaults in nature , to the contempt of ignorant and presumptuous nurses , midwives , and the like gang , who in this stare fear to meddle ( not without just reason ) with opinionative physitians , having been so notoriously un-successful in the management of this malignant disease : neither let any one think that their method is more prevalent to cure other malignant feavers , no such matter ; onely their unlucky dealing is more obvious to the common people in this cutaneous affect , who cannot in more obscure passages so easily pry into their egregious imperfections . were there frequent consultations of philosophical spagyrists receiving mutual assistance one from another ; the liquor alkahest and butler's stone might in all probability be enucleated , and set on work for mortals good : the magical , magnetical , and sympathetical mystery of healing might be improved and confirmed . the feat of obstetrication might be far more advanced , to the grand disgrace of certain men , who profess it ; and to the regulating of some self-conceited , rash women . chirurgery made appear to belong principally ( setting aside manual operation ) to the skilful chymists , who have in their custody such mortifiers of the idea's of cacoethick sores , fistula's , cancers , herpete's , &c. such vital balsoms , and sanatives to be taken inwardly and outwardly , that the chirurgion should be forced to confess , that in most cases the physitian is to be sought to ; and that in long voyages , none are to be compared to spagyrical preparations , for duration ; with which being accurately fabricated , he and the apothecary should be furnished upon occasions : a legitimate , substantial , efficacious pharmacy being introduced , the supposititious , aadulterated , trivial , insufficient factures rejected . then will the promiscuous , indifferent , confused comprehension at this day , of the counterfeit , and real ; the apish , and manly chymical exercitations be made plain to mean capacities : how our colluding galenists have imposed upon the world , by owning themselves the best chymists , though worse than the greatest adulterators of sack , for which none can plead but the impudent sophisticator , or compounder . then will the thermologist be either ashamed so much as to mention hot and cold for the cause , or c●re of diseases ▪ or if he should , he might , perhaps , be ridiculously discarded by the friends of the patient , to his detestable shame , as a singular fool. if once the omnipotent encline the hearts of our governours to cherish , and resolutely protect this divine science , cutting holes in the skin will grow out of fashion : epispasticks , blysterings , scarifications will be thought fitting for none but malefactors : common purgation and bleeding , with their dreggy decoctions ( little better than drenches ) will be confined to the cure of horses . if prometheus fire were throughly kindled among us , our eyes would be opened that we might understand , how those very galenists who have declaimed undeservedly , railed at and condemned chymical remedies in general , have been forced at length ( unless they ventured to come off with unsufferable disgrace ) to minister closely the same sleight preparations of the shops , altogether renounced by the spagyrical sophist . yea , it will appear , how in time of their greatest ignorance they have advised their patients to the sumption of mineral waters , thereby implicitly and tacitly denoting against their wills , that natute taught them to be chymists , if they had not been obstinately blinder than bats and owls . lastly , if such a philosophical chymical company be authorized and countenanced , mechanicks will be much promoted , their manual faculties will be more dextrously carried on : the art of gilding , painting , writing , artillery may be wound up to a higher pitch . metals might be more intimately purged , refined , volatile made more fixed , the terrestrial parts more sublimed , their colour and sound exalted , those friable made ductile , the ignobler provected , and generous augmented . mercury precipitated , coagulated , &c. then combined with multiplicity of bodies with which it will shew variety of shapes useful for divers mechanical factures . antimony likewise technically prepared might be employed for the advancement of many handycrafts , sulphur anreum fulminans might be made in greater quantity and cheaper for the atchievement of many rare designs . such electrums might be made which would perform stupendious things . a clearer light of the lapis chrysopoeus might be given . doubtless artificers would find that the compleat learned spagyrist would be able to instruct them for the contriving of several mechanies to his advantage , never to be attained by ideot-chymists . i hope these important motives and persuasive reasons will excite the magistrate to constitute with all expedition , such a learned society of ortho-chymists , that they themselves , and these nations may gather the delicious fruits thereof , and forreigners may be lured to follow their good example . withal , i supplicate the omnipotent to put it into the hearts of the more generous and refined spirits of the galenists , to take for the future right measures for the cure of humane griefs , to wave ( when they are to aim at essential sanation ) those childish fopperies of heat and cold , and to abdicate and proscribe their indiscreet , either secretly noxious or openly lethiferous bleeding , purging , &c. to lay down those pernicious instruments , and to take up salutary . if the juniors ( leaving the old doting fellows to themselves , as a very learned man calls them . who will no more be brought to learn better things in healing , than an old dog to fetch and carry ) will couragiously , and resolutely bend their endeavours to carry on this heroical pyrotechnical enterprize , they shall find me ready to serve them ( according to that little talent i have ) in the detection of those physical verities which have cost me nigh 30 years labour of brain and sinews , besides the hazzard of my life by assassinating realgars of metals and minerals , together with the treacherous gas of charcole ▪ also the dangerous essayes i have made upon my own stomach , for the discovery of the operation of my own manufactures : add to these the continual opposition , the obloquies i have sustained , abuses , slanders , disrespects thrown upon me undeservedly , enough to deter any man from being a sceptick in physick , or to digress from the common road of healing . i shall , i say , communicate real arcana to a certain number of literate candid persons , fitting to lay the foundation of a salutary colledge . then for my part i shall be willing to sequester my self out of secular tumults , uproars and turmoils , thinking it the happiest condition in the world to live privately . i question not but other ortho-chymists will follow this pattern , and contribute to the honour and enlargment of such a scientifick society . the post-script . if the galenists find any substantial remarkable errors in this syntagm , or a late tract , called epilogis . chymic . i am willing to be rebuked as sharply as they please , but not scurrilously : however , i ought to be convinced by matter of fact , as well as reason , which those of the royal society are bound to grant me , without favour , affection , partiality , or obligation to each other . this denyed me , they still persisting to set at naught essential , medical verity , back biting and vilifying us and our remedies : let them be assured i shall in general publish in lively colours a character of them . next in particular i shall attack j. g. j. k. j. b. h. b. t. c. h. g. d. w. j. l. j. d. w. d. t. c. all reputed learned doctors , whom i can undoubtedly charge ex facto , with an indirect method of curing . moreover , the cause of the death of mr. colwel , the great banker , mr. edw. viner , mr. parker , mr. scot , sir george viner and his lady , lord conwallis ; yea , the reason of the shortning the life of divers other great persons ought to be strictly examined , and a history of the management of their sickness to be exposed to publick view for caution to others . i shall especially take to task dr. c. m. who deserves to be handled according to the rigour of the law , for positively slandering me ; that i had killed three patients in one house : neither will his bare denial serve his turn , sith i have sufficient witness to cast him , upon oath . i shall in good time match the cock of our anatomical boasters , who accused me of presumption , for cutting up a pestilential body , when they , for want of a stock of powerful prophylacticks , and therapeuticks , never attempted it but with loss of life . i shall farther vindicate ( as the first ) the credit and propriety of splenectomia , i. e. the cutting the spleen out of a dog ( the animal surviving the operation two years and a quarter ) vsurped by dr. c. s. appropriated by the virtuosi , now set down in the list of their transactions . i shall , in convenient time , call to a reckoning a galenical doctor ( whose name is consonant with stults , a proper etymon for an ignorant physitian ) correcting him to a purpose , for maligning my practice , and offering abuses to this innocent art. i may likewise , in time , comment , and make animadversions on pharmaceutice rationalis sive diatriba , and instruct the world concerning the authors great mistakes , relating to the aitiologie of diseases , method and instruments of healing . finis . of the reconcileableness of specifick medicines to the corpuscular philosophy to which is annexed a discourse about the advantages of the use of simple medicines / by robert boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1685 approx. 265 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 129 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a29016 wing b4013 estc r7218 11799471 ocm 11799471 49353 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a29016) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 49353) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 525:9) of the reconcileableness of specifick medicines to the corpuscular philosophy to which is annexed a discourse about the advantages of the use of simple medicines / by robert boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. [14], 136 p., [2], 137-225 p. printed for sam. smith, london : 1685. reproduction of original in bristol public library, bristol, england. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-07 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion of the reconcileableness of specifick medicines to the corpuscular philosophy . to which is annexed a discourse about the advantages of the use of simple medicines . by the honourable robert boyle fellow of the royal society . london , printed for sam. smith at the' princes arms in st. paul's church-yard . 1685. august 24. imprimatur hen. maurice , rmo . d ●o . w. cant. arch po . a sacris . the preface . the rise of the following tract , intimated near the beginning of it , was not such a fictitious thing as the reader may imagine . but tho' i really receiv'd a visit from a physician , known to me , but by his reputation purposely to propose to me his objections against the corpuscular phylosophy , and he had a long conference with me about them ; yet , because the historical passages of that interview , cannot be circumstantially related in few words , i suppose the reader will willingly allow me , to imploy this preface in giving him advertisements about the scope and design of the treatise it ushers in . i shall therefore advertise him , that he will be much mistaken , if he shall expect , as i perceive several have done already , to find in this book a collection of receits of specifick remedies . for a moderate attention to the title page will enable him manifestly to discern , that the following paper in its own nature , and in the direct and immediate design of it , is a speculative discourse ; since it tends but to show , that , in case there be specifick medicines ( as 't is probable there are some ) their experienced vertues are reconcilcable to the principles of the corpuscular , or ( as many call it ) the new philosophy ; and at least do not subvert them ; if these effects and operations be not clearly explicable by them . and as this is the , avowed scope of the following essay , so i chose to treat of it less like a physician than a naturalist . for physicks being a science , whose large extent invites and warrants its cultivaters , to search into the nature and phaenomina of things corporeal indefinitely ; it must often happen , that the medicinal art and this science will be conversant about the same subject , tho' in differing ways , and with differing scopes . for there are divers hurtful or advantageous accidents and changes of the humane body , whereof the naturalist takes notice , but as they are phaenomina or changes produc'd by natural causes in the body of an animal , whilst the physician considers them as symptoms of diseases , or effects of medicines , the former directing his speculations to the discovery of truth , and the other his theory to the recovery of health . but because i else where particularly consider the cognation and distinction , between the discipline that the naturalist , and that which the physician cultivates , i shall for bear to mention them in this place ; but rather acknowledge , that i scarce doubt but that i might have inrich'd the following discourse with some choice particulars , if i would have perus'd and borrow'd from the learned writings of the famous dr. willis : but besides that i had not his books at hand , i was unwilling to be prepossess'd or byass'd by his notions , and i presum'd the person i wrote to would not be unwilling to see , what , without their help , the consideration of the thing i treated of suggested to me . about this i shall now proceed to observe , that tho' the direct scope of the following discourse , being to explicate the phaenomena of some bodies , which from their use , are call'd medicinal , and declare how possibly they may produce the effects ascrib'd to them , the ensuing discourse is for the main of a speculative nature ; yet the consequences that may be drawn from it , and the applications that in this industrious age are like to be made of some things that it contains , may probably render it practical . for i have more than once observ'd , that divers considerable remedies , and some not unpromising methods too , have either remain'd unthought of , both by many galenical physicians , and divers of their modern antagonists too , or if propos'd by others , have been rejected or slighted , barely upon this supposition , that no rational account can be given of their way of working , or how they should do good , and 't is said to be unworthy of a rational physician ; to make use of a remedy , of whose manner of operating he cannot give a reason . how prejudicial it may be to many patients , that physicians be prepossess'd with a bad opinion of an useful remedy , may be guess'd by him that shall consider , what multitudes of teeming women , that probably might have been sav'd by the skilful use of phlebotomy , have been suffer'd to dye for want of it , upon a dislike of that remedy that physicians for many ages thought to be grounded upon no less authority than a positive aphorism of hippocrates . and therefore if , to remove the specious objection newly mention'd against that whole kind of remedies call'd specificks , the following tract has been so happy as to show , that 't is at least possible , that medicines said to be specifick , may perform their operations by ways , which tho' not explicable by the vulgar doctrine of the schools , are intelligible , and reconcileable , to the clear principles of the mechanical phylosophy : if , i say , this have been done by the theory propos'd in this treatise , it may conduce somewhat to inlarge the minds of many physicians , and invite them to make use of several remedies , of which they did not think , or against which they were prejudic'd . and since specificks , where they can be had , are wont to be free from any immoderate manifest quality , and for the most part to work more benignly , as well as more effectually , caeteris paribus , than other medicines ; i think that to bring them into due request , and invite physicians to search for new ones , as well as imploy those already known , may tend much to shorten many cures , and make them more easy and more safe . est aliquid prodire tenus si non datur vltra . the advertisement of the publisher . the author had occasion to touch upon some of the same subjects that he here treats of , in a book , the usefulness of experimental philosophy , long since publisht ; but he had the misfortune to be reduc'd to write the following discourse about specifick medicines , and the utility of simple remedies , in a village where he had not that book at hand , and could not call to mind all that he had therein published seventeen or eighteen years before : on which account , though he studiously forbore to repeat the particulars that he remembred to have set down in that treatise , how opposite soever they would have been to his present purpose , yet having since the following discourse was sent to the press , got a sight of that other ( which he had not read in many years ) he finds upon a transient view that some of the same things are mentioned in both books : at which discovery , though he be somewhat troubled , yet he is the less so , because they are but few , in comparison of the new ones , and set down on such occasions , or with such other circumstances , that may make a favourable reader look on them , as not bare repetitions . and tho' in the forecited treatise , some of the motives to make use of simple medicines , be lightly touch'd , yet besides , that they are not all that are mention'd in the following invitation , those arguments that are there but pointed at , are here treated of , and both confirm'd , and explain'd by other observations , and receits . and since the printed book above mention'd has been for divers years very scarce , 't is presum'd that those many readers that have it not , will not be displeas'd to find here some few things for which they cannot resort thither : and as the author foresaw he might be oblig'd to consent to the translation of the following papers into the roman tongue , so he thought his latine readers would not repine , tho' a great number of particulars had been borrow'd of a book that is not yet extant in their language . i shall give you no farther account of the particulars contain'd in the two ensuing treatises , since the title pages give a sufficient hint of the noble authors main scope , and chief design , i shall only say , that the first treatise effectually performs what has not been as yet attempted by answering a very considerable objection against the doctrine of the corpuscularian philosophers , namely , that which is taken from what we call specifick medicines , their vertues , and operations being hitherto judg'd by several of the learnedest sort wholly irreconcileable to the principles of the new philosophy ; whereby he gratifieth not only the curiosity of speculative philosophers , but does likewise a notable piece of service to all physicians , ushering in here and there such notions as may be the principles of a sure , and easie practice , yea and enable them too , to give a good account of their own receits ; i mean of those that contain specifick medicines , whose vertues hitherto we could not describe to our patients , but by saying they did work we knew not how , or by some specifick , that is by some occult or hidden quality . the second treatise , which is an invitation to the use of simple medicines , is of such a general use , that mankind is much indebted to this noble author for it , 't is so well grounded both upon reason , and experience , that this as well as the foremention'd discourse , does fully answer the great repute of the author both at home , and abroad , where he is commonly stil'd the english phylosopher . the publisher thought fit to translate for the benefit of every common reader , some latine passages contained in the foregoing treatises . p. 70. from the year of our lord 1645. in the space of fourteen years i cur'd above a thousand frebricitants without bleeding , purging , or sweating , by the help of a single precipitating remedy , without any regard to the nature of the feaver , whether it were intermittent , or continued , whether it were a tertian , or a quartan , which is harder to cure than any other , yea without considering any other circumstance either of time , place , sex , or age , and that in a very short time , without any danger of relapse , and without any considerable trouble of the patient , if through his own . intemperance , he fell not into new fits again . kergerus de fermentati sect. 3. cap. 3. p. mihi 250. p. 130. i have made my self a frequent trial of this stone , having carried several of those little stones tyed together about my neck in such a manner , that the stones did touch the mouth of my stomach , yet they were beneficial , tho they had nothing graven upon 'em , &c. galen . de simpl . med . facul . 1. 9. tit . de lap . p. 131. we have seen sometimes the hemerods cured , as likewise the copious monthly issues by wearing rings made of this stone . nic. monard . simpl . med . histo . c. 36 p. 329. of the reconcileableness of specifick medicines , to the corpuscular philosophy . the introduction , to my learned friend , dr. f. sir , perceiving , by our late conference , that the thing which most alienates you , from the corpuscular philosophy , is an objection drawn from your own profession and experience , namely , that the specifick vertues of medicines are not reconcileable to it ; my unwillingness that an hypothesis , i am so kind to as i am to the mechanical , should continue under the disfavour of a person i so much esteem , as i do dr. f. makes me venture to offer you the annexed paper , thô it be but an inlargement of a dismembred part of what i long since , to gratify a friend , noted about the origine or production of occult qualities . for thô i pretend not , that this trifle should satisfy a man of your judgment and learning , yet it may perhaps serve to keep you from thinking it impossible , that a skilful pen may be able quite to surmount those difficulties , that so bad a pen as mine is capable of lessening . a paper belonging to the writings about the mechanical origine of qualities . among the several kinds of occult qualities that , which is afforded by specifick vertues of medicines , is not here to be pretermitted . for these qualities do not only , like other hidden ones , invite , our curiosity , but concern our health and may hereafter ( if i mistake not ) appear to be of much greater importance , than as yet they are commonly thought . however it may be worth while to take some notice of them in this place , if it were but because divers learned physicians do , as some of themselves owned to me , reject or disfavour the corpuscular philosophy upon this account , that they think it cannot be reconcil'd to the vertues of specifick remedies , or at least cannot , either in a particular or in a general way , give any tolerable account of them . i find three sorts of qualities mention'd in the books of physicians , under the notion of specifick vertues . for by some a medicine is said to have a specifick faculty , because it is eminently and peculiarly friendly to this or that particular part of the body , as the heart , the brain , the eye , &c. by others it is said , by a specifick power , to attract and evacuate some determinate humour , as choler , phlegm , &c but the most usual account , upon which a medicine is said to be specifick , is that it has the vertue to cure , by some hidden property , this or that particular disease , as a pleurisy , an asthma , the colick , the dropsy , &c. and this being the principal and most common sense , in which the word specifick is employ'd by physicians , i shall ordinarily make use of it , in that sense , in the following discourse , but yet without so confining my self to it , as not to consider it in the two other senses , when occasion shall require . but before i descend to particular considertions 't will not be amiss to obviate mistakes by declaring , in what sense in this paper , i shall employ the term specifick medicine , especially in the last of the three foremention'd acceptions . i do not then by a specifick understand a medicine , that will cure the disease it is good for infallibly , and in all persons that take it , for i confess i never yet met with any such remedy . nor do i by specifick understand a medicine that , almost like a charm , works only by some latent and unaccountable property , without the assistance of any known quality , as purgative , diuretick , sudorific , &c. to be found in other medicines : but by specifick i mean , in this discourse , such a medicine as very often , if not most commonly , does very considerably , and better than ordinary medicines , relieve the patient , whether by quite curing , or much lessening , his disease , and which acts principally upon the account of some property or peculiar vertue ; so that if it have any manifest quality that is friendly , yet the good it does is greater , than can reasonably be ascribed to the degree it has of that manifest quality , as hot , cold , bitter , sudorifick , &c. there are two grand questions , that may be propos'd about the specifick vertues ascrib'd to medicines , the first is , whether there be really any such , and the second whether , if there be , the mechanical hypothesis can be accommodated to them . the former of these questions may admit of a double sense , for it may be propos'd with respect , either to the present measure of our knowledge , or to those further attainments that , in future times , men may arrive at . in the latter of these senses , ( to dispatch first the consideration of that ) i shall not presume to maintain , without restriction , either part of the question . for i do not only hope , but am apt to think , that in time the industry and sagacity of men will be able to discover intelligible causes of most of those qualities , that now pass for occult , and among them of many of the specifick vertues ascrib'd to medicines . and yet , on the other side , i much fear that men will not be successful , in tracing out the true and immediate causes of those good effects of some remedies , that depend upon such fine and uncommon textures , and such latent and odly guided motions , as fall not under our senses , thô perhaps assisted by instruments . which conjecture will appear the less improbable , if we consider those admirable idiosyncrasiae , or peculiarities of disposition , whereof the books of eminent writers afford us many instances , to whose number i could , upon my own observation , add several , if i thought it needful . and , thô i am not ignorant that some of these may be plausibly accounted for , as that of some mens aversion to cheese , or to cats ; yet i do not think that the like explications can be extended to some others , that might be nam'd , if it were here pertinent to discuss that throughly . as to the former sense , of the question lately propounded , i confess my self very amiable to the affirmative , as far as i can judge by those writings of physicians i have had occasion to peruse . which limitation i add , because i would not derogate from the knowledge of particular persons , who in so learned and inquisitive an age , may be arriv'd at far greater attainments than those physicians have done , that have entertain'd the publick about the occult and specifick qualities of medicines . i know there have been , and still are , dogmatical physitians , that upon the principles , as they pretend , of the school-philosophy , reject all medicinal vertues that they think not reducible to manifest qualities . but of such galen somewhere justly complains , that they either deny matters of fact , or assign very incompetent causes o the effects they pretend to explain . and , for my part , i am so far from believing these men capable of giving sufficient reasons of the more hidden properties of medicins , that i am not apt to think them able , by their principles , to give clear and particular explications , even of the more easy and familiar vertues of simples . i am therefore dispos'd to think that , in the sense formerly deliver'd of the term specifick medicines , there are some remedies that deserve that name . to this opinion i have been led by several reasons ▪ and first ( to begin with the least weighty ) it has the suffrage of many learned physicians , both ancient and modern , and particularly that of galen himself in several places of his works . and i remember that , treating of a specifick remedy against the biting of a mad dog , which vertue he ascribes to an occult quality , or , as he speaks , to the propriety of the whole substance ; he takes occasion to promise , that he would write a book of things that operate upon that account . which book , if it had scap'd with his other works ( for he elsewhere cites it as having written it ) would probably have furnish'd us with several things to strengthen our opinion . and thô in matters philosophical i am little sway'd by mere authority , yet the concurrent suffrage , of many eminent physicians , may in this controversy be the more considerable , because most of them , being noted practitioners , had opportunity to observe whether or no any remedies deserv'd the name of specificks : and their testimony is , in our case , the more to be regarded , because physicians , especially famous ones , are not wont to be willing to acknowledge , that there are effects , which fall under the cognisance of their art , whereof they cannot give the causes . my next inducement , to admit specificks , is founded upon parity of reason : for 't is manifest , that there are divere formidable maladies , that are produc'd by inconsiderable quantities of poysons , that have not been discover'd to produce such great and dismal effects by any manifest quality , whether first , second , or third , as medical authors ( i doubt not over accurately ) distinguish them . on this occasion i shall add a very odd accident , about which i was advis'd with by an expert oculist , very soon after it happen'd : the case was this . a man lying somewhat long in bed in the morning , and chancing , as he lay upon his back , to cast up his eyes to the tester , saw a great spider , that stood still just over his face : wherefore having reproach'd his wife , who happen'd to be in the room , with gross negligence , she took a broom , and struck it upon the upper part of the tester , to beat down the spider ; but the animal held so fast with his feet that she miss'd her aim , and he , whether frighted or irritated by this rude shake , let fall upon the man , that was staring at it to see what would happen , a drop of liquor that lighted directly upon one of his open eyes . but finding no heat nor sharpness insue , but rather a very sensible coldness , he made nothing of it , but rose and put on his cloth's . but presently after , happening to rub with his finger the other eye , he was sadly surpriz'd to find himself suddenly benighted , and calling for assistance , he found that the eye , which the spider had let fall something on , thô no change were noted in it by the by-standers , was totally depriv'd of sight . upon which score he repair'd to the above mention'd oculists : but whether he afterwards recover'd his sight or no , i cannot tell ; all the endeavours the oculist arid i imploy'd to find out his lodging ( to which it seems he had left a wrong direction ) having been fruitless . this brought into my mind , that i had sometimes wonder'd to see how much more quickly spiders will kill flyes , than the cutting off their heads , or running them quite through with pins or needles will do . but to return to what i was saying , of the great mischief done to humane bodies , by very small quantities of poyson ; methinks one may thence argue that it seems not improbable that appropriated medicines , especially when administred in greater quantity , may produce very notable changes in the humane body to the advantage of it . but on this occasion i expect to be told , that 't is much more easy to do harm , than good , and i confess 't is so in the general , but yet , in the particular case before us , i consider that some poysons , that produce such dreadful symptoms in the body , are frequently cur'd by their appropriated antidotes , which therefore must have a sanative power great enough , with the help but of the ordinary concourse of nature , to surmount the efficacy of the venemous matter . to which i shall add this more familiar instance that as perfumes do often enough produce various , and sometimes frightful , symptoms in many histerical women ; so the fumes of the burnt feathers of patridges , woodcocks , &c. do frequently cure the fit in as little time as the sweet smell procur'd it . and i have often found the smell of strong spirit of harts-horn , or sal-armoniac , recover such women in far less time , than the fragrant odours imploy'd to make them si●● . the third and principal inducement i had , to think there are specifick remedies , is from experience . i might urge , on this occasion , the testimony of galen , who tells us more than once , that he himself therefore confided , in the ashes of burnt craw-fishes , for the cure of the biting of a mad dog , because never any of those that took it dy'd . and to annex that upon the by , for the usefulness of it , he adds , that thô the effect of these ashes be admirable , even when given alone , yet their vertue may be increased , by adding to ten parts of burnt craw fishes five of gentian and one of frank-incense . and the great vertue of these burnt shell-fishes i find to have been taken notice of some ages before galen ; dioscorides much commending them against the same disease that the pergamenian does . i shall in this place purposely forbear to mention such medicines , as , thô by divers learned physicians commended as specificks , are yet by others much question'd , if not flatly deny'd to be so . since it may be more proper , and may perhaps suffice , to mention two or three , whose efficacy is more notorious . 't is known , by almost daily experience , in italy and divers other hot countreys , that thô the stings of scorpions oftentimes produce very acute pains , and formidable symptoms , yet the mischief is easily remedy'd , either by presently crushing the body of the scorpion upon the hurt , or by anointing the part affected with oyl of scorpions , ( for that reason to be almost every where found , ) which being made by suffocating those insects in common oyl , and keeping it long in the sun , the liquor does not at all appear to have any manifest quality , to which its sanative efficacy may be ascribed . the bitings of those serpents , which for the noise they are wont to make , with a kind of empty bladders in their tails , the english call rattle-snakes , are counted much more poysonous and dangerous than the stings of scorpions . of which i remember a learned eye witness , that liv'd divers years in virginia , where they much abound , related to me a very strange instance , which i cannot now stay to set down . and yet the english planters , when they have the misfortune to be bitten by these serpents , are wont to cure themselves very happily by the use of that plant , which from its effects , and the place it grows in , is well known by the name of virginian snakeweed , [ or serpentaria virginiana . that the peruvian bark , commonly call'd here in england the jesuits powder , is a specifick against agues , particularly quartans , divers learned physicians not only grant but assert . and i remember the justly famous dt. willis gave me this character of it in private discourse , ( not without taking notice that some decry'd it , ) 't is the noblest medicine we ( meaning the physicians ) know . but thô i will not dispute , whether it be so certain and safe a specifick for agues , as 't is believ'd by , divers eminent doctors , yet i think it can scarce be deny'd , to be a specifick medicine to stop the fits of agues , ( in the notion of specifick remedies formerly deliver'd ) since it does that far more effectually , than the generality of physicians , for many ages , were wont to do , with their other antifebrile medicines . i might here tell you , that i have my self seen a stone , whose efficacy in stopping hemorrhagies invited my wonder ; and another , which perform'd extraordinary things in more than one distemper thô i could not perceive that either of them did these things by any manifest quality . and i might here add some other particulars , that may be borrow'd from experience , in favour of our opinion , but that 't is like they will be more properly alledg'd hereafter in some places of the remaining part of our discourse . i know those , that have rejected specifick medicines , have confidently urg'd three plausible arguments against them . for some physicians deny there are any effects of medicines so considerable , as to make them deserve the name of specifick . others would probably allow that experience favours our opinion , if they did not think the way of a specifick medicines operating must be inexplicable , and consequently ought not be admitted by physicians . and others again ( being of sentiments very differing from these ) will allow them to be very efficacious , but endeavour to derive their whole efficacy from manifest qualities , as heat , cold , tenuity of parts , faculty of making large evacuations by vomit , siege , &c. but these objections will be more opportunely consider'd in due places , only there is one argument , that may be objected by the deniers of specifick remedies , which i confess is so specious , as to deserve to be particularly examin'd in this place , lest it should , if unremov'd , beget too strong a prejudice against a great part of the ensuing discourse . for it may be said , that a medicine taken in at the mouth must , in the stomach and guts , be at lest very much chang'd by digestion , and the aliments it meets with there , and a good part of it will be proscrib'd among excrements . that alter it has pass'd out of the stomach , it must meet with divers strainers of differing textures , which will probably stop all or most of the medicinal corpuscles that would pervade them . and that if any shal be so lucky , or so penetrating , as to surmount all these obstacles , they will probably either be assimilated unto the substance of the body , or quite chang'd by the parts they will be fain to combine with there . or , if yet any should be able so obstinately to retain their pristine nature , they will in all likely hood be too few to have any considerable operation upon the body . but to this plausible objection i have several things to oppose by way of answer . 1. and first i may represent , that divers specifick medicines , as some some oyntments , plaisters , poultis's amulets , pericarpia , &c. being outwardly apply'd , their corpuscles can get into the mass of blood without passing through the stomach , and consequently are not concern'd in the propos'd objection . 2. against most of the galenical physicians , that are wont to urge the formerly propos'd objection , i see not why one may not argue ad hominem by putting them in mind , that the same difficulties for the main , or others not inferior , may be alledged against a common opinion of their own . for since they believe that purgatives , cordials , diaphoreticks , besides cephalicks , hepaticks , and some other sorts of medicines , do contemperate , and sweeten the blood , and usefully affect the newly mentioned stable parts ; and since these medicines act not by naked qualities but by small particles , of their own substance , if they can give us an intelligible account of the ingress of these particles in considerable numbers , into the recesses of the body , without being , dispoyl'd of their particular virtues , they will at the same time instruct us , how to answer the objection they urge against us . 3. and in regard the generality of physicians hold , that milk , and urine , were materially in the mass of blood , and are separated from it by the breasts , and kidneys ; i think one may by experience shew she invalidity of their ratiocination against specificks . for 't is obvious to observe , and i have several times done it my self , that rubarb will ( perhaps for many hours ) tinge the urine of those that take any considerable dose of it and in some of our english american colonies , there grows a fruit , which the planters call the prickled pear , whose inward substance is exceeding red , and whose being pleasant in tast , as well as colour , frequently invites eaters ; but its juice is of so penetrating a nature , that it passes from the stomach into the bladder , and then into the chamber-pot , with so little loss of its redness , that strangers are wont to be surpris'd and frighted at it , as thinking this unknown fruit had made them void bloody urine , if not blood rather than urine . this is a known thing among those , that have dwelt in our southern plantations , and has been affirm'd to me by unsuspected eye-witnesses , and among them by a famous physician . as for milk , the great hippocrates himself informs us , that if a woman , or a she-goat take elaterium , the cathartick vertue passes into the milk , and will purge the child that drinks it . and i remember that haying occasion to make some stay , in the spring or beginning of summer , in the confines of switzerland and savoy , i had the opportunity to observe this odd phaenomenon , that when the cows , in that district , fed , as they would in that season plentifully do , upon a certain weed , said to be a kind of wild-garlick , that grew copiously in the pastures , the very butter made of their milk had so rank a tast of the herb , that though i was not , yet divers other strangers were , thereby diverted from eating of it , though otherwise fresh and good . and i remember too , that having pass'd a winter on the sea-coast of the county of cork in ireland , i found it a known observation , that a sort of greedy sea-fowl , whose name comes not now into my mind , living almost wholly upon fish , ( upon whose scholes i have sometimes wondered to see such a multitude of ravenous fowls attending ) they acquire a tast that makes some pleasantly question , whether the food they afford be to be reputed flesh or fish . but how constantly the particles of divers bodies may retain their nature in all the digestion , and strainers they pass through , i have more amply discours'd in another tract , about the concealments and disguises of seminal principles . and i presume i have here said enough , to allow me to proceed to the fourth part of my answer . 4. i consider then , in the last place , that whereas 't is objected , that so small a quantity of the matter of a specifick , as is able to retain its nature when it arrives at the part it should work on , must have little or no power left to relieve it . this difficulty will not much stagger those that know , how unsafe it is to measure the power that natural agents may have , to work upon such an engine as the humane body , by their bulk rather than by their subtilty and and activity a sober gentleman , that was governour of a colony in the torrid one , and commanded a warlike english vessel , that sail'd up very far in the great river of gambia or gambra in africk , and staid there some time to trade with the negro's of the inland countrey , being inquired of by me , among other things , about the poysons that are said to be extraordinarily powerful in the parts he came from ; he answered me , that the blacks had a poyson , that was , though somewhat slow , yet very mortal ; in so small a dose , that it was usual for them to hide enough of it to kill a man , under one of their nails , which they wear somewhat long : whence they would drop it so dextrously into the drink , or milk , or broth or other liquid aliment of those they ow a spite to , that 't is scarce possible for a stranger to be watchful enough to prevent it . for which reason , as he told me , though he sometimes eat with their petty princes , or governours , at the same table , yet he would never eat out of the same dish , nor drink out of the same cups with any of them . he added that , in another part of africa , a famous knight , who commanded the english there , and lately died a ship-board in his way home , was so poysoned at a parting treat , by a young negro woman of quality , whom he had enjoy'd and declin'd to take with him , according to his promise , into europe . and though my relator early gave him notice of what he suspected to be the cause of this indisposition , and engag'd him thereupon to take antidotes , and cordials , as treacle , &c. yet his languishing distemper still increased , till it kill'd him . i could name a vegetable substance , growing in europe , and perhaps not far from hence , which though some empiricks employ as a medicine , is so violently , operative , that a learned and famous modern physitian relates , that no more than half a grain would work so violently , as to cause very dangerous hypercatharses , of which though he remedy'd some , yet he was not able to keep all from being mortal . and because many ingenious men deny that out english vipers are poysonous , i shall add in favour of the argument that i have been enforcing that i know a young man , who having been bitten by an english viper , which he too rashly laid hold on , though the tooth pricked but his hand , yet the venom , convey'd by so small a hurt which perhaps equal'd not in quantity the hundredth part of pins head , quickly produc'd in him the bad symptoms that usually follow the biteing of that serpent , ; and among others ( for i particularly ask'd him about that ) a violent vomiting of ill condition'd stuff . i know also a person , that practis'd physick in the isle of iava , where scorpions are held to be more venemous than in italy who having , after he had drank some what freely , provok'd , and bin stung by , a scorpion , thô the hurt was but in his thumb , and was so small that i could not perceive the least scar it had left , that it put him presently to such violent tortures , for some hours , till he had procur'd specifick remedies , that he look'd upon himself a dead man ; and felt so raging a heat within that he thought ( to use his own expression ) that hell-fire was got into his body . nor is it only by mere poysons , that a humane body may be greatly affected , thô the agent be but very inconsiderable for bulk and weight , for we see , that divers women , otherwise strong and healthy , will be cast into sounding fits , and perhaps will complain of suffocation , and be put into convulsive motions , by the fragrant odours of musk , or civet ; though if all the effluvia , that cause these symptomes , were reduc'd into one aggregate , this would not probably amount to a hundredth , nor perhaps to a thousandth , part of a grain . and i have oftentimes speedily suppress'd such fits , by the odour of the volatile salts harts-horn , sal armoniac , or the like , or of destill'd spirits abounding with such salts ; though perhaps all the particles , that actually relieved the patient , and calm'd these frightful symptoms , if pack'd together , would not have equal'd , either in bigness or in weight , the tenth , not to say the fifteenth , or the hundredth , part of a grain of mustard-seed . and as for inward remedies , 't is vulgarly known , that in the infusion of crocus metallorum , corpuscles that render the liquor vehemently vomitive and purgative , are so very minute , that great proportions of wine , or other vehicles may ▪ be strongly impregnated with them without any sensible diminution of the body that parts with them . and of this we have a not less , if not more , considerable instance , when quick-silver is decocted or long infus'd in common water . for helmont observes that , though the liquor be not altered in colour , or tast , nor the quick-silver at all sensibly chang'd , nay nor grown any thing lighter in a ballance , yet the liquor does , by means of these insensible and unponderable effluxes of the quicksilver , acquire a notable virtue against worms ; for which purpose not only helmont , but before him that experienc'd chymist hartman , and another eminent writer , extoll this medicine . and on this occasion i remember that a fine boy , born to be heir to a very illustrious family , falling into a dangerous feaver , which was judg'd to proceed from worms or verminous matter ; a famous and experienc'd physitian , that treated him , confess'd to me , that he was out of hopes of him ; because the child , having been bred to have his will , and tir'd with unsuccessful remedies , was so obstinate and carefull in refusing to take any thing , that smeld or relish'd of a medicine , that he forbore , in spite of all the art us'd to deceive him , even to drink any thing but small beer whereupon i perswaded both the doctor , and the lord , whose son the child was , to impregnate his small beer with mercurial particles , by frequently shaking it with good quick-silver in it . by which means the patient , perceiving no change of colour or tast in the drink , swallow'd it greedily , and through the blessing of god was soon after restor'd to a health , which the parties concern'd ascrib'd to the mercurial remedy . i should condemn my self , for having bestowed so many words upon one objection , but that i hope the answer , given to it in this place , will facilitate and shortens several things relating to my present subject specifick medicines . about which i shall now proceed to offer my thougths in some propositions , and short discourses upon them . having now dispatch'd the first of the two formerly propos'd inquiries , i proceed to the second , namely , whether the mechanical hypothesis can be accommodated to specifick medicines , so as that they may be either intelligibly explicated by a , or at least shown to be reconcilable to it . i presume you will easily believe , that there are few writers more inclinable , than i'am , to confess the dimness of our knowledge , and the obscurity of many things in nature ; or that are more forward than i to grant , that many of the operations , of specifick medicines , are to be reckoned among those abstruse things , whereof nature seems to affect the concealment . but notwithstanding this , when i consider how comprehensive and fertile the principles of the corpuscular philosophy are , i cannot despair bur that it will be found , that divers of the effects of these medicines may be , in a general way explicated by them , and not any will appear inconsistent with them . this i desire may be here taken notice of once for all that , retaining the scope of the following discourse still in your memory , you may not think it strange , that i content my self , on most occasions , to give in general possible explications , and to shew that specifick medicines may operate on some such account as i propose , without affirming that they certainly do so i observ'd soon after the beginning of this paper that there were three sorts of virtues to which physicians ( thô not unanimously ) have given this title of specifick ; namely such as evacuate some particular humour , such as are peculiarly friendly to this or that part of the humane body , and such as in an unknown way cure or much lessen this or that determinate disease . but yet i shall now apply my discourse peculiarly to the last sort of these medicines , as being both more considerable in it self and the chief subject intended in present discourse , giving nevertheless , as occasion serves , such additional hints and observations , as may make the reflections , belonging to this third sort of specificks , easily applicable mutatis mutandis to the other two . and i shall begin with laying here for a foundation what i have in another treatise had occasion to deliver and make out , namely , that a living humane body is not to be look'd upon as a mere statue , or a mere congeries of the materials 't is compos'd of , flesh , blood , bones , fat , nerves , veins , arteries , &c. but an admirably fram'd engine , consisting of stable , liquid , and pneumatick substances , so exquisitely adapted to their respective functions and uses , that oftentimes the effects of an agent upon it are not to be measured so much by the power of that agent considered in it self , as by the effects that are consequently produc'd by the action of the parts of the living engine it self upon one another . this premis'd , i consider ▪ that there is no need to grant that the operations of all specificks , or of the same in differing diseases , must be of one kind ; but that differing specificks may operate in several manners , and some by one of these ways may oppugn such a disease , and others may do good against such another . and of these general ways i shall briefly propose six or seven that now occur to my thoughts . for having first given you this important caution , that the specifick remedy do's not commonly ( though sometimes it may ) relieve the patient by this or that single way of operating , but by a concurrence of two or more , that as it were joyn their forces to produce the desired effect . proposition . i. and first , sometimes the specifick medicine may cure by discussing , or resolving the morbifick matter , and thereby making it fit for expulsion by the greater common shores of the body , and the pores of the skin . 't is known that many diseases , and those oftentimes stubborn and chronical , proceed from certain tough or viscous humours , that obstruct the passages wereby the blood should circulate , or other usefull liquors be transmitted . and these peccant humours are oftentimes so viscid and obstinate , that ordinary remedies will do little or no good upon them . and yet a specifick may , by the smalness , and congruous figure of some of its corpuscles , get through the pores into the recesses of this stubborn matter ; and by their solidity , figure , and agitation , promoted by the heat of the patients body , may dissolve and ruine the texture of the morbifick matter , and render it capable of being proscribed by nature , by urine , sweat , or some other commodious and innocent evacuation . thus the blood , or some other liquor of the body , being ( to use the chymists phrase ) impregnated with the friendly and operative particles of the remedy , becomes an appropriated menstruum in referrence to the pecant matter : impregnated with sal armoniack becomes a menstruum , that by degrees will dissolve both copper and iron , as compact bodies as they are . i said appropriated menstruum , because there is no sufficient reason to suppose , that the menstruum works by any manifest quality , as heat moisture , &c. or even by acidity it self : but rather by virtue of the fitness , which the shape , bulk , solidilty , and other mechanical affections of its particles , concur to give it , to disjoyn the parts of a body of such a determinate texture . for as i have in another paper amply shewn , there are far more menstruums of distinct sorts than are commonly taken notice of , and the operations of these cannot safely be measured by the strength of their manifest qualities , since it may several times happen , that a menstruum , less acid or less strongly tasted , may dissolve this or that body , which another menstruum , that seems far stronger , will not work on . thus cold water will dissolve the white of an egg , which pure spirit of wine will be so far from dissolving , that it will coagulate it ; [ and so will spirit of salt and oyl of vitriol it self . ] thus dephlegm'd spirit of urine will readily dissolve minute filings of copper , which spirit of vinegar will but slowly work upon ; and yet this liquor will speedily dissolve crabs eyes , which spirit of urine will leave entire . thus quicksilver , that is insipid , will in the cold dissolve gold , which aqua fortis it self , though assisted by exeternal heat will not work upon ; and yet aqua fortis will furiously bear asunder the parts of iron , though quicksilver will not so much as adhere to its surface . and thus in fine ( not to accumulate instances ) common oyl , that is so smooth upon the tongue , and will not dissolve so much as an egg-shell , will dissolve brimstone , which yet will resist aqua fortis it self , that will dissolve almost all metals , beside many hard stones and minerals . and i know a liquor , having more than once prepar'd it , which , though so weak that one may drink a wine glass full of it pure without danger , will yet work on some very hard bodies , both stones & metals , in a way that is not to be matched , among the highly corrosive menstruums in use among chymists . and now , supposing that the active corpuscles , of a specifick medicineassociated with the blood , or other vehicle they impregnate , may act upon the morbifick matters they meet with in the body , after the manner of menstruum ; supposing this i say , we may hence illustrate several things that have reference to the operation of specifick medicines . 1. and we may hence derive a guess , why an appropriated medicine will perform things , which will not be done by another , whose manifest qualities seem to be the same for kind , and much stronger in degree . for menstruums do not always act according to the degree of their acidity , or the like sensible quality , but according to the congruity of their corpuscles to the pores of the body they are to dissolve ; and also oftentimes according to a fitness that depends upon other mechanical affections of the acting liquor . and therefore physicians , as well as others , may easily mistake in their argumentations à majori ad minus , & à minori ad majus . for the consequence is not good to argue either thus , water , which is so strengthless liquor , will dissolve gum arabic , therefore highly rectified spirit of wine , which is a much more subtil and penetrateing liquor , will doe the same thing more powerfully ; for experience shews , it will not dissolve it at all : or thus , strong oyl of vitriol is more corrosive in taste , and will dissolve many bodies that aqua fortis will not , therefore it will also dissolve silver as well as aqua fortis , the contrary of which is true . nay 't is not a good inference to argue thus , aqua fortis is dissolves silver by virtue of its acid spirits , therefore the more it abounds with these , the more potently it will dissolve that metal , whereas i have elsewhere prov'd by experience , that if aqua fortis be made exceeding strong , it will not work upon silver , but it will readily do it if it be weakned by the addition of a fit quantity of common water . to this i shall add , that the dissolution of a body may depend , as well upon the peculiar texture of the body it self , as the manifest strength of the menstruum . 2ly . the foregoing doctrine may suggest a reason , why a medicine that does wonders in one disease , may do little or nothing in another , that some may think to be a kin to it , and perhaps too , more easily superable by it . for the presum'd cognation may not be so great , but that some dissimilitude of texture in the morbifick matters , may make one of them unfit to be wrought upon by the same menstruum that dissoloves the other . and though pure spirit of wine will easily enough dissolve gummi guajacum , and also the little portion of resinous matter that are harbour'd in the pores and small cavities of the wood ; yet the same menstruum will not work upon the wood it self of the tree that affords those soluble substances . 3. this may keep it from being thought strange , that specifick medicines should sometimes fail of their usual effects . for , as the bodies of individual patients , may differ very much , either according to their natural constitution , or to that which they acquire by the disease that distempers them , or on both those accounts ; so it ought not to seem strange , that in some sick persons among many , the congruity between the agent ct patient should be alter'd , either by some considerable change in the texture of the morbifick matter , or by some notable alteration that the corpuscles of the medicine receive in their passage through the vessels , by the admixture of some incongruous particles of the blood or other vehicle . thus spirit of salt will , as i have try'd , dissolve copper , as spirit of niter does : which notwithstanding , thô this last nam'd liquor will dissolve silver , yet if you mix with it spirit of salt , which by the like operation of both upon copper , seems to be amicable to it , the spirit of niter will no more be able to dissolve silver , as it could before . 4thly . our hypothesis may also hint to us an answer to one of the main and most plausible objections of the deniers of specifick medicines . for some of them ask in a scornful way , how 't is possible that a medicine should rove up and down in the mass of blood , and neglecting all other things , should single out , and fasten upon the morbifick matter men wish it should proscribe . for if the medicine acts by impregnating the blood , or some other liquor of the body , and turning it into a kind of menstruum , 't is very possible , both that the strainers through which the corpuscles must pass , may keep back the inconvenient parts of the vehicle , and ( which is in our case more considerable ) the menstruum may be either appropriated to the peccant humour , as has been formerly declar'd , or else may at least be qualify'd , to resolve that more easily than any other substance it meets with in the body . as if you take some bone-ashes , and crocus martis , and saw-dust , and powdered sea-salt , and filings of gold , and blend all these together , if upon one half of this mixture you pour common water , it will not meddle with any other of the ingredients except the sea-salt , which it will readily dissolve : & if upon the other half of the same mixture , you put a sufficient quantity of quick-silver , and rub them together , this metalline liquor will neglect all the rest of the ingredients , and the sea salt it self , and fasten upon the gold. and those that work in the spanish gold mines inform us , that when they have well ground some ore , that contains gold and copper , besides heterogeneous minerals , well heated quick-silver will take up the gold much sooner and better than it will the copper , scarce meddling with the latter , as long as there remains any not despicable quantity of the former , to be wrought upon by it . and as for the supposed difficulty , that the medicine should ferret out , if i may so speak , the morbifick matter , in what vessel soever of the body it lies , this objection might have been considerable , before the discovery of the bloods circulation : but 't is not so now that we know , that things that once get into the mass of blood , are presently whirl'd about with it , and may be convey'd by it even to small vessels lying in the remotest parts of the body . 5thly . and this prompts me to take notice , that our hypothesis may help us to answer those many learned physicians , that either reject , or at least despise , most external remedies , especially pericarpia , amulets , and appensa , upon a supposition , both that they neither can furnish the body they do but externally touch , with any store of medicinal particles ; and which is chiefly in this place to be consider'd , that being but external remedies , they must be very unable to do good in internal diseases , especially such as are seated in parts , remote from those which the medicine is apply'd to . but as to the former part of the objection , 't will not be difficult to answer it to him that has read what i have elsewhere written of the subtility , numerousness and efficacy of effluviums . and we need but consider , what plenty of particles sensible to the nostrils , are for a long time emitted by a small quantity of amber-greece , or even of camphire ( which is often externally us'd ) and the multitude of magnetical corpuscles , that for many years constantly effluviate from a small vigorous load-stone , to think it possible that even dry and stable bodies may afford sufficient store of effluvia , to perform considerable things in so curiously fram'd an engine , as the humane body is ; where we see that the odour of musk , or civet , for instance , may speedily cast divers persons into fits , and the smell of castor or assa faetida , and much more that of salt of harts-horn or of sal armoniack , quickly relieve them . and as to the second part of the objection , what i have elsewhere made out , and the best modern physicians grant , of the porosity of the skin , shows , that 't is very possible for the subtil effluvia of several bodies , to get through the pores of the skin ; and when they have once got admittance , so much as into the smaller vessels , 't is easie to conceive how these may carry them into the greater , and consequently into the mass of blood , by whose circulation they may be readily conveyed to all the parts of the body , and among them to the seat of the disease : & perhaps , ( to add that upon the by , ) the efficacy of these corpuscles , that , if i may so speak , get in at the key-hole , not at the door , may be the more considerable , because they get presently into the mass of blood , without passing thrô those digestions in the stomach and other parts , which oftentimes much weaken the vertue of medicines taken in at the mouth , before they arrive at the blood. proposition . ii. sometimes a specifick medicine may mortify the over acid , or other immoderate particles that infest the mass of blood , and destroy their coagulatory or other effects . thô i am not of their opinion , who of late are wont to impute almost all diseases to acidity , abounding in the blood and other liquors of the body , by whose intervention the stable parts also are offended ; yet i readily grant that a considerable number of distempers are , at least in great part , produc'd either by acids themselves , or by their bad effects or productions . agreeably to which doctrine we may very probably conceive , that several maladies may be either quite cur'd , or much lessen'd , by a specifick remedy that abounds in corpuscles fitted to mortify acids . this mortification may be effected by more than one way , and of these wayes the chief that now occur to my thoughts , are two . for there are some bodies , that mortify or disable acids by a positive hostility , if i may so term it ; that is , by such a contrariety as is discernable by the tast , and more by the visible conflict , and manifest tumult , that is produc'd , when they come to invade an acid. of this sort of mortifiers of acids , are the most part of those that are call'd alcalisate salts . whether fixt , as the lixivial salts of plants , or volatile , as the spirits and ascending salts of urine , blood , harts-horn , soot , &c. as may be exemplify'd , when any of these comes to be mingled with aqua fortis , spirit of salt , oyl of vitriol , or the like acid liquors , by which by the way we may see , that those galenists mistake , who ascribe the vertues of spirit of harts-horn , and of urine , only to their tenuity of parts , briskness of motion , and the like affections , that they might not seem beholding to the chymists for so useful a notion , as that of the contrariety of acids and alcalies . the other principal way , by which acids may be mortifi'd , or disabled to bite , is by sheathing them , if i may so express it . for as a knife may be disabled to cut , either by filing off or otherwise blunting its edge , or else by covering the blade with a sheath fit for it , or by sticking it into a loaf of bread , or the like body fit to receive and detain the whole blade ; so an acid corpuscle may lose its power of cutting or pricking , either by having its figure spoil'd by the action of a strong and manifest alcaly , or else by being as it were sheath'd in a porous body , thô perhaps endow'd with no tast , or any other manifest quality , by which one would think it contrary to the acid it disables , as a file is to the edge of a knife . of this way of mortifying acids , chymical operations afford us many instances , as when menium destroyes the acidity of spirit of vinegar , as i have found chalk will do that of aqua fortis it self ; and lapis calaminaris very much lessens , as well as alters , the acidity of spirit of salt , and even of spirit of niter . and i the rather mention this mineral , both because its qualities are less known to physicians , and the generality of chymists , and because it supplies me with an argument to prove that acids may be , thô i do not think they alwayes are , rather sheath'd in , than destroy'd by the bodies that silently mortify them . for , as glauber has truly enough observed , acid spirits ( as i have try'd in some ) may by force of fire be driven in distillation out of the lapis calaminaris , very much dephlegm'd , and stronger than before . i know it may be here objected , that the mortification of acids is perform'd by a manifest quality , and therefore makes nothing for the feavourers of specifick medicines . but to this i answer . 1. that the power of mortifying acids , especially by sheathing them , or if you please , by absorption of them , is none of those qualities , whether first , second or third , that the former physicians took notice of in medicines ; thô the sufficiency of these qualities to cure diseases , has been , and still is , us'd by many as a ground of denying the specifick vertues of remedies . 2. that i have often look'd upon it as an happy mistake , and of ill consequence , that so many learned modern physicians take it for granted , that if a medicine be endow'd with a manifest quality , as acid or alcalisate , the good it does , ( and the like for the most part may be said of the harm ) may safely be abscrib'd to that quality , that is to its being of an acid , or else of an alcalisate nature ; whereas in my poor judgment , there being a considerable disparity , as various tryals have assur'd me , between acid and acid , as likewise between alcaly aud alcaly , 't is fit to distinguish betwixt an acid for instance , as meerly such , and the peculiar modification that may belong to that acid. thus , thô all acid menstruums that i know of , if they be well dephlegm'd , will dissolve copper , yet aqua regis that will dissolve not only that metal , but the much more closely compacted body of gold , will not at all dissolve silver ; as on the other side aqua fortis , as corrosive a menstruum as it is , will not of it self dissolve gold , but if you give it a new modification , by adding to it common spirit of salt , which it self i have often found ( whatever chymists think or have written to the contrary ) will leave it entire , the aqua fortis will easily dissolve that metal . nay a different modification may not only make a disparity between acid , but that which according to the receiv'd way of judging , ought to be call'd a contrariety : for spirit of salt will precipitate silver , which aqua fortis has dissolv'd , and spirit of niter , thô one of the acidest menstruums we have , will not only precipitate an antimonical powder out of that odd substance , that chymists call butter of antimony , but will do it with a wonderful conflict , tumult , and effervesence ; and yet this butter of antimony is so highly acid , that a little quantity of it , put into a considerable one of water , makes it so sour , that many chymists call it acetum philosophorum . and now to apply these things to the lately propos'd objection , i desire it may be remembred , that near the beginning of this letter i plainly intimated to you , that i did not deny , but that a specifick medicine may sometimes be accompany'd with , or even in part operate by a manifest quality , but that yet i thought the good effect was not due , barely to the kind or degree of the manifest quality , but to somewhat superadded which gave it a specifick vertue , against this or that particular disease . and suitably to this it may be said , that , as there are several kinds of acids , and of alcalies too , 't is not every acid that will be mortifi'd by every alcaly ; and have its effects destroy'd by it , which may be illustrated by this , that , thô when copper is dissolved in aqua fortis 't is possible , by the help of meer chalk skilfully apply'd to make the menstruum let go the corpuscles of the metal , yet if upon such a high colour'd solution of copper , you shall pour ( as to convince some ingenious men , i have purposely done a due quantity of spirit of urine , or the like volatile alcaly , thô there will presently ensue a great conflict and manifest ebullition , with noise and store of bubbles , yet between these hostile salts , a multitude of the acid corpuscles of the aqua fortis will not be so mortified , as to let go the metal , but the solution varying its colour , will have and keep a deeper one than before . and when i consider the differences that a skilful observer may find , between vinegar , alum , crystals of tartar , juice of lemmons , juice of barbaries , the essential salts ( as chymists call them ) of those plants that are sour in tast , to omit divers other acids , i am apt to think , that disorder'd nature may have , in a diseased body , produc'd acids of several sorts which are not particularly known to us , and that some of these may be of such a nature , that none of our common alcalies , as such , is able to mortify them , and which yet may be mortify'd , at least by the way of sheathing , by some appropriated or peculiarly modify'd corpuscles of a specifick remedy which may be illustrated by what is elsewhere observ'd , that , thô neither spirit of vinegar , nor spirit of salt , nor oyl of vitriol it self , would , as far as i have try'd , dissolve a stone taken out of a mans body , yet spirit of niter , ( which does not dissolve several podies , that i have found dissoluble in oyl of vitriol ) will readily work upon it , and thereby lose , its corrosiveness . before i leave this subject , 't will not be amiss to intimare a couple of things , that perhaps you will not think impertinent to it . one of these is , that , whereas i not long ago distinctly nam'd acids themselves and their productions , i did it ( not out of inadvertence , but ) because i think preternatural acids do not only disaffect the body whilest they continue sensibly acid , but may in divers cases be the causes of some distempers , whereof most men would think them more likely to be the remedies . for , thô acids be reputed to have an incisive and resolutive vertue , and therefore oxymel and some other acetous medicines are commended to cut tough phlegm , and spirit of vitriol is us'd for the same purpose , and to dissolve coagulated blood ; yet , as i am willing to grant this vertue unto acids in some cases , so there are others wherein i much suspect , that obstructions , and consequently the diseases that usually attend obstinate ones , may be occasion'd by acids , as they coagulate some fluids in the mass of blood , that are dispos'd to be thicken'd by them , and by that consistence made unfit to pass with the rest of the circulating blood , through the smaller vessels and strainers of the body , where upon that account they make obstructions . this i shall exemplify by the coagulation that i have made by some acid salts , as spirit of salt , of the white of an egg , especially if by beating reduc'd to an aqueous consistence . and the like coagulation may easily be effected in milk , which may not only be speedily curdl'd with spirit of salt , but , as is known by bodies not chymically prepar'd , as rennet and juice of lemons . and experiments purposely made have shown , that , if some acids be convey'd immediately into the mass of blood , they will coagulate even that liquor , whilst it continues in the vessels of the yet living animals . the other thing i lately told you , i was to observe , is , that , thô acid corpuscles are those , that modern physicians and chymists are wont to take notice of as hurtful , both in the blood and stable parts of the body , except the stomach , and perhaps some few neighbouring parts , as the spleen and pancres . and , thô some ingenious men proceed so far , as to impute almost all diseases to the bad effects of acids , yet i am very inclinable to think , that divers maladies and ttoublesom symptoms proceed from corpuscles , that , whether they be of a saline nature or not , are different from acids properly so call'd . for i consider , that there may be many bodie , which may as 't were result from the combination of acids with other saline particles , that much alter their nature , as i have elsewhere noted , that spirit of salt will , with spirit of urine , compose a kind of sal-armoniac ; and spirit of niter with salt of tartar dissolv'd in common water , will concoagulate with it into salt petre ( or a body exceeding like it , ) and the same spirit of niter or aqua fortis with spirit of urine , or of blood , or the like , will afford a very fusible salt , differing enough from what either of the ingredients was before their conjunction . and 't is vulgarly known , that oyl of vitriol , and oyl of tartar per deliquium , do by their coalition produce tartarum vitriolatum , in which the acidity of the former , and the alcalisateness of the latter , are very much infring'd , a third body being by resultancy produc'd , that differs much both from the former and the latter oyl , or rather saline liquor . and when , besides instances of this nature , i consider how many differing sorts of corpuscles so fruitful a principle as nature may have form'd , that , without being acid , may yet have notable and hurtful effects upon the blood , or some particular solid part of the body . it seems probable to me , that there may be other qualities requir'd , to mortify or disable these morbifick corpuscles , than a contrariety to acid salts , and consequently , that a medicine that affords corpuscles peculiarly fitted to correct or enervate this particular sort of hurtful ones , may deserve the name of a specifick . and here i further consider , that , as in the body there may be divers coagulations made by saline corpuscles manifestly acid ; so there may be others produc'd by corpuscles , whether saline in tast or no , that are not manifestly acid , but perhaps rather of a contrary nature , which observation , being wont to be overlook'd by physicians , and yet in my opinion of no small importance , may deserve to be a little the more carefully made out . i have sometimes for curiosity made a liquor , that was not in tast either acid or urinous ; to which having put a moderate proportion of a distill'd liquor , which it self was not in tast either acid , or urinous , or lixiviate , it would in a very short time , perhaps in not many minutes , be coagulated into so consistent a body , that , thô the wide mouth'd vessel were held with the orifice downwards , nothing would fall out of it . i have taught in another ( unpublish'd paper , that if upon a certain solution ( which i there show how to make ) one drop some spirit of urine , or anorhet volatile alcaly , there will presently be produc'd a gelly , whose consistence and colour may make it easily be taken for common starch , ready to be imploy'd to stiffen linnen . the like gelly , but more transparent , i have more than once made , without the help of any thing , that is sensibly acid or urinous . i have also , to convince some virtuosi , showed them somewhat to their surprise , a substance i had prepar'd without the help of urine , or any volatile alcaly , ( and sometimes almost in a trice ) that would in very few minutes coagulate above twice , if not thrice its weight of highly rectify'd and inflamable vinous spirit into a stable mass . and to shew you , that 't is not requisite that a liquor be strongly , or so much as sensibly acid , to coagulate an animal substance , as i lately noted , that the spirit of salt did the white of an egg , i shall add , that well dephlegm'd spirit of wine will do the same thing as well , if not better . proposition iii. sometimes the specifick medicine may help the patient , by precipitating the peccant matter out of the blood , or other liquor ( of the body ) that harbours it . thô precipitation be oftentimes a consequent of the mortification of acids , or of alcalies , by corpuscles of a contrary quality , yet i thought fit to say something of it apart : because i have observed that some acids and alcalies may be put together without causing precipitation by their contrariety ; and on the other side , that divers precipitations may be produc'd where there do's not appear any hostility , though i know divers ingenious men , who think this effect it self a sufficient argument , that the hostility of acids and alcalies must be the cause of it . but that should not be taken for granted , but prov'd by collateral experiments , that do not suppose the truth of the hypothesis it self . but to proceed to our exampls , i know ( and elsewhere mention ) several urinous spirits , that i could mix with acid menstruum without making any manifest conflict , or precipitation ; and on the otherside , acids and alcalies , that will make a manifest conflict by their mutual creation , and yet if they be mingled in a just proportion , will have for the consequent of their mixture , coalition instead of precipitation ; as may be exemplified in certain mixtures of spirit of sal-armoniac ( made with salt of tartar , or pot-ashes ) and spirit of nitre or aqua fortis ; and also when spirit of urine and spirit of salt , being mingled in a certain proportion , convene into corpuscles for the making of sal-armoniac , which the phlegm of those liquors will keep swimming . but that which makes most for my present purpose , is , that there may be precipitations , where , whatever may be suppos'd , it does not appear that there is any tumult or contrariety , as when silver being dissolved in aqua fortis , and the menstruum diluted with 30 or 40 parts of distill'd water , or of rain water , if clean plates of copper be immers'd in the solution , the metal will be very slowly precipitated out of it , in the form not of a calx , consisting of metalline , and saline parts incorporated together , but , at least at the beginning in the form of pure shineing scales of silver , almost like the white and glittering scales of some smal fishes . there is also a way , by which i have brought dissolv'd gold to settle about a body , suspended in the solution , in the form of a fine and high-colour'd calx of pure gold. but you may easily see an instance of silent precipitation , if you do but rub a little either roman or dantzick vitriol , upon the well whetted blade of a knife wetted with water or spittle , for you will have the steel , almost in a trice , overlaid with a reddish substance , which by its colour and other signs appears manifestly to be cupreous . and here i shall advertise you , that 't is not only , as is wont to be suppos'd , out of solutions made with acids , that bodies may be thus precipitated , for upon search i have found that there are in nature precipitants , that are capable of silently precipitating some bodies dissolv'd in urinous menstruums , or others not acid . i know it may be suspected , and that not without colour of reason , that such precipitations may be dangerous , by producing heterogeneous corpuscles in the blood , that may be too-heavy or gross to be evacuated . and i look upon this as a suspicion , for whose resolution 't were fit to consult experience . but in the mean time one may represent . 1. that , thô some inconvenience may happen from the bulk of the precipitated corpuscles , yet that may be much inferiour to the danger threatned by the over-active & hostile particles , that produc'd or fomented the disease . 2. that , 't is not necessary that all concretions should consist of corpuscles so bulky , as to be too big to be thrown out of the mass of blood , for we see that stony matter , which , as the chymical analysis of it shews , is of a very compounded nature , may be carryed to all parts of the body . and i remember i knew a lady , who a while before she told me the story , had a stone taken out of the lower part of her tongue . and physicians , that prescribe great quantities of mineral waters impregnated with iron , such as i found those of tunbridge to be , and with sulphur , such as some of the bath waters are , are wont to build their expectations of curing with them , upon a supposition , that they are carryed into the mass of blood , and consequently to the innermost parts of the body . 3. that yet 't is possible , precipitations may be made of matters contain'd in the blood , by medicines that do not get into the mass of it . as physicians give steel in substance sometimes crude , as well as oftentimes prepar'd , to mortify the acidities of the blood , though the metalline corpuscles do not , for ought we know , pass into the mass of it , but are wrought upon by the matter , that in its circulation is thrown out of it into the stomach & guts , where their operation on it is probably inferr'd from the blackness , that chalybeates are wont give the excrements of the lower belly ; and if they will have it , that prepar'd steel , for instance , calcin'd with sulphur , gets through the pores of the bowels , or the extremities of the capillary vessels , into the mass of blood it self , 't will be obvious to demand , why nature should not be able to expel precipitate corpuscles at the same passages , at which such compounded concretions , as those of sulphur and metal , can get in . 4. that some may very speciously pretend ; that experience has been already consulted about the expediency of imploying precipitating medicines . for not to urge , that the learned and judicious sennertus seems to intimate , that in some cases the fibrile matter may be surmounted by being precipitated out of the blood ; there is a professor of physick , who , thô i cannot assent to some of his principles & doctrines , has deliver'd several considerable things about fermentation and feavers : & this professor , by name kergerus , very solemnly declares * , that for fourteen years he cur'd above a thousand febricitants without bleeding , purging , or sweating medicines , ( to which he adds some others sorts ) by a single precipitating remedy . i endeavour'd to obtain from germany an account of the truth of the matter of fact , but did not receive it ; only i found that a physician of this emperours , does , in a lately publish'd book , declare himself inclin'd to believe it to be true . i shall much the more easily be induc'd to think , that great and desireable changes may be wrought in the fluid parts of the body by appropriated precipitants , if that be true which is unanimously taught by a multitude of physicians , who impute many diseases to the putrefaction of the blood and other liquors of the body . for , tho certain reasons oblige me to desire you , not to ask me any questions about the remedy i am going to speak of , because i must not yet answer them ; yet i am willing you should on this occasion know historically , ( what probably you will think strange ) that there is in rerum natura , a certain substance , which is so powerful an enemy to putrefaction , that , when a few grains or drops of it were put into a considerable quantity of water , that had been kept till it stunk so strongly and offensively , that , if i had not known what it was , i should have judg'd the smell to have proceeded from carrion . this medicinal liquor , i say , ( for so i may call it , ) being diffus'd by agitation through this abominably stinking water , ( which did not appear turbid to the eye ) in so very small a proportion , precipitated out of it a very little and light feculency , which being separated , the rest of the liquor was quite freed from all stink ; nor did i observe that the feculency it self had any . and , which is very notable , all this was done in a very few minutes , by a precipitant , whose tast was not at all either bitter , or acid , or urinous , or lixivial . all which are circumstances , that may afford good hints to speculative and sagacious inquirers . proposition iv. sometimes the specifick remedy may work , by peculiarly strenthening , and cherishing the heart , and by that means , or without it , the part affected . this observation can scarce be made good , without entring into the controversy , which for its difficulty and importance , has perplex'd divers modern physicians ; whether there be any medicines , that have a sympathy with the head , heart , liver &c and thereby deserve the name of cephalic , cordial , or hepatic &c. or , to speak somewhat more clearly , whether there be any medicines , that in a peculiar manner do good to this or that particular internal part of the body . in this dispute the affirmative part has been held , but i doubt upon slender grounds of reason , in most of the physick schools for several ages . but in our times , many do not only maintain the negative , but deride the opinion they have forsaken . for some of them object in a triumphant style , that t is ridiculous to fancy such a sympathy , betwixt a dead medicine , and the parts of a living body . as that the physician may send the drug , as 't were of an errand , to find out one in the dark , among a multitude of others , and do it good offices . but notwithstanding this , i think it very possible , that a medicine may so far respect a particular part , as , though not to be beneficial to that only , yet to be friendly to that , in a peculiar manner or degree . and this i conceive it may be , upon one or more of the accounts , that i shall briefly mention . and first , when i consider that the stable parts of the body , as the heart , brain , liver , kidneys &c. have each its particular structure , wherein it differs from others , and probably the fluid parts also , as blood , gall , lympha &c. have their distinct textures , it seems not improbable to me , that the corpuscles of a medicine dissolv'd in the stomach , and carryed too and fro by the liquors of the body , may according to the determinate shape , size , stiffness or flexility , motion , &c. be much more fit to be detain'd by one part of the body , as the brain , the heart &c. than by the rest ; and so , by lodging it self in its pores , or associating with its fibres , may supply it with such congruous particle , as it either does want , or in case it do not , may by their congruity be of advantage to it , by re-establishing or strengthening the tone of it . and by this corroboration , the part may be made able to resist the hostilities of morbifick matters , which physicians usually observe to be wont , by the more vigorous parts , to be thrown upon the weakned or distemper'd ones ; as is manifest in persons that are much subject to the gout , in whom oftentimes peccant humors are very apt , upon several occasions , to be thrown off by the nobler parts , if they be robust , upon the frequently debilitated joints ; on which score the gout , if it be well managed , is , not irrationally , wont to be thought conducive to long life . and on this occasion i remember , that i formerly knew a learned physician , who , though a great traveller , and , as such , accustom'd to great varieties in point of diet , had such a peculiar indisposition in his jaw , that though he could moderately drink wines of several sorts without inconvenience , yet the drinking even of a very little brandy , would soon after give him the tooth ach , of which odd distemper he has sometimes complain'd to me . but this upon the by : for i must now proceed to illustrate and make probable , what i was saying of the possible fitness of some medicinal corpuscles , to associate themselves with those of the part they are to befriend , by observing what happens in nutrition , especially in that of sucking-children . for in these , one single aliment , namely milk , does afford , besides various excrements , such as the grosser faeces of the guts , and the more fluid ones of the bladder , the mouth , the nose , the pores of the skin &c. a great number of corpuscles , that are not only detain'd , but assimilated by parts of differing structures , as the brain , the heart , the bones &c. since otherwise these parts could never be so plentifully nourished by them , as dayly to increase in all their dimensions . and t is considerable , that some parts , which in babes are cartilaginous , do in process of time become boney , which change seems not probably referable to the bare exsiccation , produc'd by native heat , increasing with the persons age. secondly , the friendly corpuscles of a specifick medicine , may not only confirm the good estate of a determinate part , but , which makes most for our present purpose , they may very much conduce to restore it to a sound condition , when it is distempered , and this they may do upon two or three accounts . for in the first place , those friendly particles may dispose the obstructing or other morbifick matter , to be more easily and safely expell'd . and this they may do , not barely as they impregnate the whole mass of blood , and so may be carried by it , as well to many other parts , as to that we now consider ; but as by their particular texture , motion &c. they may in a peculiar manner respect that peculiar modification , which the peccant matter may have acquir'd by being produc'd or harbour'd in that determinate part : and that the distinct structure of an affected part may much diversifie the condition of a morbifick matter , i argue from this , among other things , that physicians are wont to teach ( though i have found the observation rather to hold commonly than unreservedly ) that in those that are subject to this stone , the petrescent matter , when it is bred in the kidneys is reddish or yellowish , but when in the bladder , white , or of a light gray ; and that the stones that are generated in the first nam'd parts , are more friable , or at least of a slighter texture , than those that have their original in the bladder , some of which are exceeding hard , especially in comparison of large ones , that i have had out of the bladder or gall of lusty animals . the aptness then that the corpuscles of the specifick may give the blood , or other liquor that conveys them , to act as an appropriated menstruum , upon the peculiarly modified matter that obstructs , or otherwise disaffects , the liver , for instance , may enable the remedy , to be very helpful to that part , by preparing the molesting matter for expulsion . but it may also succour the same part in another way . for in the second place , it may so work upon the fibres , and stable portion of the part affected , as both to enable it , and excite it to free its self from its enemy . for it may give firmness and strength to the fibres of the part ; it may also contemperate , or correct the immoderate heat , coldness &c. of it : it may mortify the acid , or other incongruous particles , that are lodg'd in the minute intervals of the stable parts , end perhaps , even in the pores of the fibres : it may appease its convulsions , cramps , or other inordinate motions , that hinder it from daily executing its proper functions ; it may relax or widen the pores , according to the exigency of the work to be perform'd . and having thus , by means of its friendly corpuscles , prepar'd the matter to be expell'd , and disposed the part to expell it , it may then also excite the part to do its office , by irritating the fibres , or motive organs , or stimulating them to disburthen the part of the matter that offends it , as a very small dose of cantharides is known by this way of irritation , to be capable of making the bladder forcibly , though not safely , discharge it self of urine , and with that oftentimes expel the sand and gravel , or lesser stones , and the excrementitious slime that molested it before . and this instance may be of use to us , in answering that which we formerly noted to be so confidently urged by the rejecters of specifick medicines . for here we have a medicine , though a dangerous one , whose corpuscles have such a peculiar reference to the bladder , and urinary organs , that though being gotten into the mass of blood , they are carried by it indiscriminately to other parts of the body , as well as to these ; yet oftentimes , without manifestly disaffecting the rest , they exceedingly irritate the bladder , and determine it to the excretion of what it contains . and whereas it may be objected , that the first of the three ways , by which we noted , that a particular part may be succour'd by a specifick , seems contrary to the second ; the former tending to corroborate the part , and the later to relax and irritate it : i answer two things , one , that since the part may be sometimes in a natural , and sometimes in a preternatural state , in the former , a medicine may deserve the name of friendly or appropriated , because it keeps it sound , which is most properly done by strengthening it ; and in the later it may merit the title of a specifick , because it helps to restore it to a state of soundness : and the other , that though to effect this recovery , 't is often very expedient , if not necessary , that the medicine procure an evacuation of some matter that offends it ; yet that evacuation itself is often much promoted and facilitated , by stengthening the part so , as to enable it to disburthen it self . and the same medicine may contain , and communicate to the blood , corpuscles of such differing shapes , sizes , motions &c. as may at least successively relieve the part by both these ways ; as physicians observe that rhubarb does , not only by its finer and laxative parts , purge the liver of choler , but by its more earthy astringent corpuscles strengthen the tone of that part : [ what farther belongs to the illustration of this matter will be met with in due place . ] on this occasion , 't will not be impertinent to add , that in some cases , this very corroboration of a distempered part , may restore it to soundness ; there being some diseases of such a nature , that they are , if i may so speak , almost always in fieri , that is , they could not continue to subsist in the affected part , unless through its debility , and the consequences of it , it were subject to admit from time to time fresh recruits of peccant matter , to foment the malady : and in such distempers , if the structure and tone of the part be re-established by the operation of the specifick medicine , it s acquir'd vigour will enable it to resist the ingress of new supplies of peccant matter , and to turn them off into the mass of blood , to be thence discharg'd by the common shores of the body ; whilst in the mean time nature will be able by degrees to subdue , dissipate , or otherwise dispose of , that comparatively little portion of peccant matter , that was lodg'd in the diseas'd part. we have not in this paper given any example of the peculiar respect of a specifick medicine to a determinate disaffected part , that one would think so incredible , as that a heavy stony substance , being in no great quantity taken in at die mouth , should manifestly contribute to the cure of a broken bone in one of the limbs , as the leg or the hands . and yet , not to urge the testimony of chymical writers , i remember a german physician , that was famous for notable cures , related wonders to me of the efficacy of that stone growing in his country , which from its effect they call osteocolla , especially if it be improv'd by a skilful preparation , which he communicated to me , but i had not opportunity to make tryal of it . but without preparation , the judicious and long experienc'd chirurgeon fabricius hildanus much commends upon his own observation a single dram of it finely powder'd , for the breeding of a callus to soder together the parts of a broken bone : insomuch that he gives a caution to use it but sparingly in young and vigorous patients , lest it breed too great a callus , of which he gives a notable instance . and the like caution was inculcated to me from experience , by the lately mention'd german doctor , because otherwise ( he said ) his preparation would in such persons make the medicine generate a callus too soon and too great . proposition v. sometimes a specifick medicine may do its work , by producing in the mass of blood , such a disposition , as may enable nature , by correcting , expelling or other fit waies , to surmount the morbifick matter , or other cause of the disease . he that shall heedfully observe the practise of divers learned and succesful modern physitians , may discern that many , if not most , of their prescriptions are founded upon a supposition , that a great part of the diseases incident to mans body , and the recovery from them , depends mainly upon the vitiated constitution of the blood , and the restoring it to a sound condition . this advantageous change of the blood may be effected by a specifick , several waies , ( sometimes separately , and sometimes jointly , ) and particularly by those that follow . 1. that which i shall first name , is , by furnishing the blood with some sort of active corpuscles , that it needs to ferment it , or excite an useful commotion or agitation in it . i will not here examine , whether the mass of blood , contain'd within the vessels of a living man , is capable of a fermentation properly and strictly so call'd ; and therefore i employ'd also the word commotion , which will be easily admitted , if the other be disliked . but in regard fermentation is a term that hath generally obtain'd , i shall not scruple to make use of it , after what i have intimated about it . but because many modern physitians , especially since the learned willis's notions came to be in request , have looked upon feavers and agues to consist in , or be produc'd by vitious fermentations of the blood ; i thought fit to add to the fermentation i am about to speak of , the distinguishing epithets of useful . this premis'd , it seems not improbable to me , that , as there is oftentimes a vitious fermentation of the blood , so there may be sometimes a want of fermentation , or a certain sluggishness , upon whose account , either the brisk intestine agitation , that it ought to have as a warm fluid of such a nature as 't is wont to be in sound persons , or a due quickness of circulation through the heart is wanting : to which sluggish state of the blood , if it be obstinate and lasting ▪ several distempers are wont to be consequent . now , although there be divers medicines , such as spices , brandy , and other spirituous liquors distill'd from fermented vegetables , that are usually , and oftentimes succesfully enough , employ'd to correct this dull indisposition of the blood ; yet in regard they are wont to be very hot , being usually pitch'd upon by those that prescribe them because they are so ; there are several constitutions of patients , and divers other circumstances , wherein they are not safe , but may do more harm by their immoderate heat , than good by their spirituosity , besides , that the sluggishness of the blood may sometimes proceed from causes , that this sort of hot medicines will not correct . i remember , that having for tryals sake moderately dry'd a parcel of human blood , a vinous spirit total inflammable would not , at least in many hours that my experiment lasted , make a solution of it , or draw a red tincture from it , though it were well pulveris'd : whereas a well rectified vrinous spirit grew red upon it in less than the tenth , or perhaps the twentieth , part of that time. now a specifick medicine may abound in corpuscles of such a nature , that without dangerously , or incommodiously heating the blood , they may disable those corpuscles , they meet with in the blood , that make that liquor viscous , or roapy , or dispirited ; and also by enlivening the mass of blood , if i may so speak , or puting it into a more brisk and kindly agitation , may make it fit to throw off those heterogeneous parts , or recrements , that were blended with it before , and to permeate , as freely as it ought , the viscera , whose capillary vessels and pores would formerly scarce , and but very sparingingly , admit it . that a specifick may perform this , you will perhaps the more easily allow , if you consider , that the generality of physitians teach , that there are several cordials , which they style some of them temperate , and divers of them cold , ( as in effect 't is not usually observ'd , that they considerably , if at all sensibly , heat the body ; ) as pearls , and some of them , being gratefully acid , should rather cool it , as wood-sorrel ( alleluja ) and goats-rue ( galega . ) and 't is very possible , that the corpuscles , that make the blood thick , and sluggish , may not be of a cold nature , but of a hot , and therefore may have their effects rather befriended than destroy'd by divers hot remedies : as , if the white of an egg be by beating reduc'd to water , ( which is not necessary to the experiment , but shews it better ) if you put to it a certain proportion of well dephlegm'd spirit of wine , instead of destroying the viscosity of the liquor , it will curdle a good part of it , and thereby produce a body far more remote from thinness and fluidity . and i remember , i once for tryal sake made a vegetable liquor , which , from somewhat sluggish that it was before , did presently by the addition of a little spirit of wine , grow surprisingly viscous , and roapy . 2. another way , by which a specifick may befriend the mass of blood , is , by imparting to it a dilatation or tenuity that it wants . this second way is of much affinity to the first , but yet is not the same : because in that , the thing mainly considered was , the fermentation or agitation of the blood ; whereas this mainly respects the consistence of it , which is a thing of no mean importance to health . for if the blood be too thick , as oftentimes it is , it cannot pass so freely and readily , as it ought , through the capillary vessels , which thereby come to be by little and little obstructed , and the circulation inconveniently retarded ; whence 't is easy to foresee , that divers mischiefs must in time arise . and on the other side , if the blood be too thin , especially if it be over much agitated too , t is apt to make its way out of the vessels , and produce hemorrhagies , in case it flow out of the body , or other bad effects that usually attend the extravasation of the blood. which liquor , when it is out of its proper vessels , in so warm a place as a living human body , is very subject to putrefaction , and thereby apt to produce imposthumes and several mischievous symptoms . now a specifick medicine may remedy this faulty consistence of the blood , by furnishing it with corpuscles , fitted by their figure , bulk , motion , &c. to disable those peccant ones that make the blood gross , or else to cut , or divide the parts of the blood it self , and so dispose them to be more fluid : or else they may produce in it such pores , as may , as it were invite the subtil aetherial matter , that abounds in the atmosphaere , to insinuate it self into the mass of blood , and rarifie it . and on the other side , when the blood is too thin , as not only some diseases , but some medicines , especially aloes , are wont to make it ; a specifick remedy may reduce it to a good consistence , either , by furnishing it with corpuscles , apt to combine themselves with the active ones , that did too much attenuate the blood ; or , by helping nature to expel those over-busy particles , by insensible transpiration , or some other undisturbing way . 3 : there is yet another way , by which a specifick remedy may conduce to rectifie the state of the blood and that is , by so working on the heart , as to make it advantageously regulate the transmission of that liquor through it . that a specifick medicine may peculiarly befriend this or that particular part , and consequently the heart , is granted by the generality of physitians , who are wont to reckon up many cordials , ( of which yet i fear , but few deserve that name . ) but , since 't is elsewhere in this paper shewn , that some medicines may particularly respect a determinate part of the body , and consequently the heart ; one may be allowed to suppose , that the corpuscles of a specifick may either dissolve some particles they meet with in the heart , by which that noble viscus is by irritation , or otherwise disturb'd in the regularity of its dilatations , and contractions ; or , so corroborate the fibres , or motive organs of it , as to dispose it to moderate the circulation of the blood that passes through it , in the most advantageous way . and that the disposition of the heart , even when men have no sense of it in the part it self , may be of moment as to health and sickness , will appear credible , if we reflect on two thing . one , that a living human body is not a meer aggregate of flesh , bones , &c. but an exquisitely contriv'd , and very sensible engine ; whose parts are easily set a work by proper , though very minute , agents ; and may , by their action upon one another , perform far greater things , than could be expected from the bare energy of the agents , that first put them into motion . the second , ( which supposes the first , ) that the disposition of the heart , being , though perhaps insensibly , chang'd , it may produce a notable alteration in the motions of the blood , and its passage through the heart , in point of quantity , celerity , or both . how much this change in the circulation may in many cases conduce to sickness or recovery may partly appear by the effects of vehement or durable passions of the mind . as 't is observ'd , that in a deep sorrow , which does in a manner straiten the passages of the heart , the blood being too sparingly dispens'd , the enlivening spirits are not generated plentifully enough ; and ( besides other bad effects of this state of the heart ) the blood is so dispirited , as ( in these parts of europe ) to dispose the body to the scurvy , which does either produce or irritate divers other maladies . we see also , that the passion of shame does oftentimes suddenly alter the motion of the blood , and make it swell the little vessels that lye under the cuticula of the face , and sometimes other parts ; as is very manifest in young maids , and other persons of a delicate complexion , the white part of whose faces in blushing turns red. the like effect i have seen produc'd by a great and sudden joy. and though grief , which is the opposite passion to it , has been usually taken notice of , as a thing that deads the appetite to meat ; yet so much does depend upon a well moderated transmission of the blood , that it has been observ'd in divers persons , and i have known an eminent instance of it , that great joy has very much lessen'd hunger : of which effect mr. des cartes ingeniously attempts to derive the cause , from the vary'd dilatation and motions of the heart . and it seems not absur'd to conceive , that such like motions may be caus'd by the corpuscles of a specifick medicine ; which by affecting the fibres of the heart , after the like manner that joy is wont to do , may produce in it such friendly dilatations and contractions , as are wont to flow from the agreeable passions . in favour of which conjecture , i shall take notice that a lady of my acquaintance has complain'd to me , that the smell of perfum'd gloves is wont to make the blood fly to her face , and continue there for a great while , giving it such a colour as if shame , or joy had cover'd it with blushes . and the like she says she has observ'd in others of her sex. but having in another tract spoken of the power of the passions of the mind , to alter the state of the body , by producing changes in the blood , that is transmitted through the heart ; what has been said may now suffice to make it credible , that a specifick remedy , by peculiarly befriending the heart , may contribute much to introduce , or re-establish a healthy crasis in the blood. and this being thus rectified , and invigorated it self , may both befriend the body in general , and conduce to the removal of some particular diseases , by strengthening , and perhaps too exciting , the particular part , in which the peccant matter resides , to subdue or expel that which it already harbours , and resist any accession of more . and the blood , being it self well constituted , as well as the stable parts corroborated , the specifick medicine that produces these good effects , may be said to cure , tho' perhaps but slowly , divers particular diseases ; such as those elsewhere mention'd in this paper , which to continue , must be frequently supplyed with vitious matter by the circulating blood. experiment vi. sometimes a specifick remedy may unite its particles with those of the peccant matter , and with them constitute a neutrum quid , that may be easily proscrib'd , or not necessary to be expell'd . this i take to be one of the most proper and genuine ways of doing good , that belongs to a specifick medicine , as such , because in this operation an effect is produc'd , either without the assistance , or beyond the meer power , of the manifest qualities ( as physicians call them ) of the remedy ; and the cure or relief the patient finds , is usually attain'd without violence , and without tormenting or much disordering him . this way of working of a specifick medicine is of near affinity with one or two of those formerly discours'd of ; but yet these ways differ in some things , as may be gather'd by the sequel of § this discourse § sometimes when a certain kind of acid has impregnated the blood , or lodg'd it self in some stable part , as the liver , spleen , kidneys , &c. the corpuscles of a specifick may , without any sensible luctation or conflict , which usually happens when acids are mortify'd by sapid alkalies , be so qualifi'd , as both to make coalitions with the small parts of the peccant acid , and with them to constitute little concretions , which differing from the minute parts of the acid , either in bulk , figure , solidity , stifness , motion , or in two or more of these ; may be quite of another nature , and of a much innocenter , than the acid was before 't was so corrected . of this we may be furnished with a notable illustration , by what i have elsewhere taken notice of about aqua fortis it self ; for as corrosive a menstruum as that is , yet by digesting it , and perhaps , distilling it too , with an equal , or rather double weight of ardent spirit , i found the highly acid liquor would be so chang'd , as not to retain any sensible corrosiveness ; and exchange its piercing stink and great acidity , for a not only inoffensive , but pleasant scent , and a grateful and possitively sweetish tast . which brings into my mind the practice of a president of the famous london colledge , who ( as himself told me ) was wont to relieve a patient of very great quality in nephritick torments , by giving her a good dose of an inflammable spirit . ( but this upon the by . ) i have elsewhere given an account of the effects of spirit of wine , upon several other acid menstruums , wherewith i mingl'd and digested it ; by which it may appear , that it does not work upon them uniformly , as they are all of them acids ; but differingly enough , according to the nature and proportion of the acid corpuscles , with which the vinous spirits are brought to be associated . and , to shew that this change and contemperation of the menstruum by the spirit of wine , is produc'd rather by a peculiar fitness of the convening corpuscles of both , than by the contrariety or hostility , that the vinous spirit , which some moderns will have to be an alcaly , has to the aqua fortis as an acid ; i shall add , that pure spirit of wine being mixt in a due proportion with highly rectifi'd spirit of urine ; which is reckon'd by chymists among volatile alcalies , and of which a drop or two is so fiery upon the tongue ; as to be ready to burn it , or to blister it ; this vinous spirit i say , will very much take off the caustick penetrancy of the urinous one , and compose with it a salt much more moderate than the spirit was , and which being sublim'd , or ( which is better but harder to be done , ) reduc'd into a liquor , affords a mixture of no little use in fome fevers and other diseases as a medicine ; and with a small , if skilful alteration , is of great use in divers chymical experiments as a menstruum . a few grains of glass of antimony made without addition , being taken inwardly , will vehemently both vomit and purge . but tho' wine , notwithstanding its copious spirits , will , if it be well impregnated with the corpuscles of this glass , work upwards and downwards violently enough ; yet of spirit of vinegar , that is , of degenerated wine , be for a competent time digested upon this glass finely powder'd , and , when the liquor is sufficiently impregnated with the particles of the glass , be abstracted from it , there will emerge from the antimonial and acetous corpuscles , a multitude of minute concretions , of which many grains may be given without ordinarily provoking either vomits or stools : which correction may hint , that 't is not necessary that all mortifications usefully made by medicines , should be of acids , since here we see , that acids themselves prove correctors . and perhaps it may be by some such kind of combinations , that some poisons ( for i do not think they all work one way , or peculiarly assault the heart ) may be subdued . and i have sometimes suspected , that it may as probably be upon this account , as upon any that has been offer'd , that a man stung with a scorpion may be cur'd , by crushing the animal that stung him upon the hurt , as is prescrib'd by many physicians , and as an acquaintance of mine told me , he try'd upon himself ( as another virtuoso did on a souldier ) with good success : and when i consider what a multitude and variety of figures may fit the corpuscles that are endowed with them , to make coalitions very different from both the component parts ; i can scarce think it very improbable , that in a patients body there may be made , between the corpuscles of the peccant matter , and those of a medicine , such useful combinations as may produce resulting concretions , innocent , if not also beneficial . if i had leizure , and thought it fit , i could easily add a great number of instances , about such changes of colours , odours , tasts , and other qualities , as are produc'd by the coallescence of the small parts of differing bodies , and discourse of the natural consequent of such coalitions : but having done that sufficiently in other papers , it will be here more proper to intimate to you , that when a particle of peccant matter comes to be associated with one of a specifick medicine , that combination may alter it for the better , not only by changing its bigness and figure , but also by encreasing , or lessening its stifness , and its solidity , and giving a new modification to its motion ; as a little attention to the natural consequences of the coalitions of bodies , may easily induce you to grant . and i shall add ( as it were ex abundanti ) that the small concretions , made by the union of some morbifick with some medicinal corpuscles , may not only become innocent , but sometimes also beneficial , which may be illustrated by what happens by a further preparation , to common sublimate ; for though this be a substance so highly corrosive and mischievous , that a few grains of it may suffice to kill a man ; yet by making a coalescence of it with less than its weight of quicksilver , which is a body insipid as well as modorous , the corrosive sublimate will be so alter'd and tam'd , as to be turn'd into what chymists call , because 't is freed from sharpness , mercurius dulcis ; which if it be skilfully prepar'd and given , though in the quantity of many grains , is not only for the most part an innocent thing , but a very good medicine , and that perhaps in more cases than physicians generally know it to be good in . the newly mention'd account may hint to us a probable argument , to show , that , notwithstanding all the digestions and changes that a specifick medicine may receive in its way , it may prove a salutary one , when it arrives at the part it should relieve . for , tho' the corpuscles of the medicine should in their way to the part affected be considerably chang'd , yet 't is possible that these alter'd corpuscles may , by that very alteration , be made medicinal ; since they may be qualifi'd , ( even by those changes ) when they arrive at the part affected , to combine themselves strictly with some corpuscles , whether morbifick or others , that they find already there ; and may with them compose new concretions that may acquire a new nature very friendly to the patient . something analogical to this we may observe in asparagus , which being eaten , afford store of particles , that mixing with those they meet with in the kidneys or the bladder , produce a new odour , very differing , both from that of meer urine , and from that of the plant it self . and so if good turpentine be taken at the mouth , 't is known that arriving at the kidneys and bladder , it will mingle its minute parts with those it meets with there ; whence will emerge corpuscles , that will impregnate the urine with a very differing odour , from that which belongs to either of the liquors , since it oftentimes has a fragrancy somewhat like the smell of violets . before i conclude this paper , 't is like it will be thought fit that i should take notice of a difficulty , that i know maybe objected , if not against the past discourse , yet against the sufficiency of it to answer the design i propose to my self in writing it . for it may be said , that , whereas my arguments and explications suppose all along , that the specifick remedies are taken in at the mouth ; 't is known that divers of the asserters of specificks reckon among them , some that are not by swallowing taken into the body , but only outwardly apply'd , or perhaps do but barely touch it ; as may be observ'd in amulets , rings , &c. on occasion of this considerable difficulty , i have , if i misremember not , represented divers things in another tract . but however it may be fit in this place , briefly to say somewhat , by way of answerto it . we may then take notice , that the confidence with which many physicians reject , and some of them deride , external specificks , if i may so call them , seems to be built upon these two things : the one , that the medicine cannot in part , as 't is certain it do's not in the mass , get into the body ; and the other , that , in case a specifick should have some part of it subtil enough to gain admittance , that part must be too small and inconsiderable , to be able to produce in the body any such notable change , as is necessary to the expulsion of peccant humours , and the conquering of a disease . as to the former of these grounds , i largely enough show in another paper , * that a mans skin , tho' it seems an entire continued body , is really perforated with a great multitude , and perhaps a not inconsiderable variety , of little cutlets and inlets , which we call pores ; many of which are visible , even in the skins of dead animals , by good microscopes ; and others are manifestly inferr'd , from the numerous little drops that cover all the skin , at the first eruption of sweat. and that these little perforations may be inlets to the finer particles of externally apply'd medicines , may appear probable by several phaenomena , such as these . that water will soak through the pores of a fine bladder , and dissolve salt of tartar , or even white sugar , contain'd in it : that i have prepar'd a certain liquor , whose fumes , tho' not agitated by heat , would quickly penetrate divers membrans of dead animals , and manifestly work on metalline bodies wrapt up in them : that 't is a known thing , that quicksilver outwardly apply'd in ointments , girdles , &c. will get in at the pores of the skin , and invade the internal parts of the body , and stay there longer , and perhaps too operate more , than the physician desired . and when once the effluvia of these externally apply'd remedies have gain'd admittance at the pores of the skin , 't is not very difficult to conceive , how they may proceed further . for underneath the cuticula or scarf skin , and close to it , there are so great a multitude of capillary vessels , that you can scarce thrust a small pin into any part , but that the point of it will meet and tear some of these little vessels ; as will appear by a small drop of blood , that will be made to issue out at the new made hole , as small as it is . to which instance , if it were necessary , i could add divers others of the multitude and spreading of the capillary vessels , that lie close beneath the skin , and for the most part carry blood , tho' some of them may contain other juices , and discharge their recrements by sweat , or insensible transpiration , at the cutaneous outlets . now these capillary vessels , as small as they are , having their cavities immediately continu'd with those of less slender ones , and by their intervention with those of the greater , which are branches of the greatest of all ; the corpuscles of the medicine , once got into the capillary vessels , may have an easy passage , by means of the liquors they contain , into these greater branches of the principal veins , and so , by vertue of the circulation , come to be quickly mingled with the mass of blood , and by it may be easily convey'd to all the parts of the body : as it has been divers times observ'd , * that arsenical amulets worn upon the breast , did , tho' they scarce touch'd the skin , produce threatning distempers in the heart , and several mischievous symptoms in other parts of the body . and i find it recorded in good authors , that cantharides , even when but held in the hand , nay sometimes , tho' but carried in ones pocket , transmitted their hurtful effluvia as far as the bladder , and excited great pain and other bad symptoms there . as for the second ground on which specifick remedies are rejected , that , tho' they could get entrance into the body , yet it would be but by their effluvia ; and these are no way likely to prove efficacious enough , to have any considerable effect upon an internal disease : to remove this difficulty , i shall briefly observe ; 1. that the number of the corpuscles , that may pass from the outward medicine into the body , may be far greater , and therefore make them more considerable , than most men are apt to think . this may be rendred probable , by the great multitudes of odorous , and consequently sensible , expirations , that are continually emitted for a very long time together , by ambergreece , musk , civet , and much more by skilfully made compositions of them . and that also subtil effluvia , even without the assistance of heat , may quickly penetrate membrans so plentifully , as to act on stable bodies contain'd in them , i have intimated a little above , and have experimentally made appear to divers curious men . 2. that the corpuscles of a medicine may retain their nature , and not loose their power of operating , notwithstanding their being , as it were , strain'd through the skin ; as may be argued from the mercury , that we not long since mention'd to have been found in the form of quick-silver , in the bodies of some men , that had been too frequently anonited with mercury , mix'd up with unctuous things into an ointment : by which the patient may be as long and violently salivated , as if he had swallow'd a bolus or pills with mercury . and so i have divers times observ'd , as i doubt not but others have oftner done , that a little opium , mix'd up with other ingredients for plaisters , did by outward application take off the acute pains of inward parts , tho' moderately remote from the plaister . 3. and that the corpuscles of a specifick may on divers occasions act more powerfully , by getting in at the pores of the skin , than if the remedy that afforded them had been taken in at the mouth : because if it had , the particles might be divided , or perhaps on other accounts , ( as by dilution , composition with those of the chyle , &c. ) much alter'd , by the ferment or the menstruum of the stomach , by their filtration through the guts , and their long and winding passage through them and the lymphiducts , before they arrive at the heart , to be mingled with the blood ; whereas the corpuscles of the external specifick , presently after they are past the skin , get into the capillary vessels of the blood that lie under it , and by their means are speedily mix'd with the circulating mass of that liquor , and so escape the formerly mention'd alterations , that other medicines are subject to before they are admitted into the mass of blood. by which it may appear , that those physicians are much mistaken , that think a topical medicine can at best relieve but the part 't is apply'd to , because its corpuscles cannot be suppos'd to reach beyond that part of the body , that lies very near the medicine they issue from . but , tho' this reasoning might be excusable enough , if not allowable , before the circulation of the blood was discover'd , yet , now 't is known how great an intercourse that liquor maintains between distant parts of the body , the argument is not seasonable . and on this occasion , i shall add an advertisement , that i remember not i have met with in authors ; which is , that body 's outwardly apply'd may prove specificks for some diseases or distempers , that one would not think them very good for , by the bare knowledge of their effects when taken in at the mouth . thus camphire swallow'd , is , in the dose of a very few grains , a great heater of the blood , and is in some country's , perhaps not altogether without reason , extoll'd by physicians in some kinds of ill condition'd fevers : but outwardly it is apply'd to take off those rednesses of the face , that are thought to proceed from heat of blood ; and 't is us'd in ointments against burns . so spirit of wine , that is so hot when drunk , is a very good remedy to take out the fire , as they speak , in burns , especially if the part be early moistend with it . bread , that is counted so moderate and well temper'd and aliment , when eaten , if it be chew'd and outwardly apply'd , hath considerable vertues in several external affections . and i know an ancient and experienc'd physician , that uses to purge . children , that will not easily be brought to swallow medicines , by applying something to their navels , that do's not offend them by colour , smell , or griping : and this himself more than once confess'd to me , is but an ordinary aliment , that most men , and i among others , have frequently taken unprepar'd , which he freely nam'd to me , but which i have not yet had opportunity to make tryal of . that what we have been saying about the possible efficacy of external specificks , may appear the less improbable , 't will be fit to take notice of soms observations , that comport very well with our doctrine . and though the instances to be brought will not be all of them of remedies that deserve the name of specificks ; yet , besides that some of them may perhaps have a title to it , they will all conduce to show , that simples or druggs externally apply'd , may have considerable operations against internal distempers of the body . 't were easy for me to mention a great many external specificks out of physicians books . but i purposely forbear it , because to speak freely , i suspect that most of those remedies , though greatly extoll'd , have been but little examin'd , by the deliverers of them . and it may suffice for my present purpose to alledge a few instances that have been recommended to me , either by my own experience , or that of some friends . only there is one observation that is so solemnly and expresly deliver'd by galen , upon his own knowledge , & so well back'd , by other eminent physicians , that i shall let it lead the way . this memorable story , that is related by galen , is of a piony root , which having been worn as ah apensum about a boy , that had been epileptick for divers months , kept him from his disease as long as he wore it about him ; but when by an accident he ceas'd to do so , the disease invaded him again , and yet by applying the remedy again , he was the second time freed from it , which galen observing , did for curiosity make the root be laid aside , but finding the fits to return , he imploy'd it again with the former success . i liv'd in the same house with a learned and judicious person , that was subject to be paralytick , who being frequently tortur'd by violent cramps , was ordinarily and speedily reliev'd by wearing or handling the tooth of a true hippopotamus or river-horse . and he affirm'd to me , that upon leaving off , the use of it , for any considerable time , either out of curiosity , or to accommodate some friend , the fits would return with violence upon him . i remember also , that having my self been for some years frequently subject to cramps , and complaining of it to a physician that had been a traveller into cold country's , he told me , that he had brought home with him some rings made of the true elks hoof , from a place where these animals are usually imploy'd , and that with these he had cur'd many of the cramp , and therewithal presented me one to make tryal of , which i the more willingly accepted , because he confess'd to me , that divers rings that were sold for such as his , and look'd like them , were either counterfeit or of no efficacy . and tho' i did not find that if the cramp seiz'd me in the calf of the leg , the ring would much relieve me , yet when the fits were but moderate , and in other parts , especially the hands , i found my self eas'd , so often , and so soon , that i was at first surpriz'd at it , and us'd to have the remedy laid every night by my bed-side , to have it ready when occasion should require . and that which i thought some what strange , was , that several times , when the cramp seiz'd my foot or my toes , the pain was quickly remov'd , tho' i apply'd the ring but to my finger : which made me much regret the loss of it . an eminent physician speaking to me one day of a patient of his , that was subject to a nocturnal incontinentia urinae , that was very inconvenient as well as shameful ; i told him of an empyrical remedy , which is mention'd in another paper , whose success i neither would warrant , nor did altogether dispair of , and which at least seem'd safe , tho' it should not prove effectual . this was only a simple substance , ( belonging to the animal kingdom ) that was to be worn in a sine sarsanet bag between the shift and the skin , for which a good while after the physician gave me great thanks , telling me , that he was surpriz'd at the effect of it , and that he observ'd that when the patient had worn it so long , that probably the vertue began to decay , that is in my sense , that the effluvia were almost spent , the patient found need to take a fresh remedy , to continue the benefit she had found by the former . i do not affirm or expect , that the three fornam'd appensa , nor the other remedy's i am about to mention , will always succeed . and i think , one may assign some not improbable reasons of the want of uniformity in their effects . but for my present argument , it suffices that they do sometimes succeed , since that is enough to show it possible , that outward medicines may operate upon inward distempers . having one day given a visit to one of the skilfullest and candidest physicians of the famous colledge of london , i observ'd in his chamber , a fine new fashion'd clock ; and having taken notice of it to him , as a thing i had not seen there before ; he desir'd me not to think , he was rich and vain enough to purchase , so dear a rarity ; but that it belong'd to a courtier whom he nam'd to me , of whose daughter he told me this story . this young lady had a great tumor in her neck or throat , which being apprehended to be of a scrophulous nature , made her father fear it would oblige him to increase her portion more than his estate could conveniently bear . wherefore at length he address'd himself to my relator , who judging the case to be difficult , and being unwilling to torment the lady with a long course of physick , told the courteour , that if he could animate her to suffer a remedy he would propose , and would assist him to procure it , he hop'd to remove this tumour without weakning her , or putting her to pain . soon after , all parties being agreed , and the desired conveniency procur'd , the patient was brought into a room , where there was yet in bed the body of a man that had dy'd of a lingring disease . this mans hand the doctor took , and laid it upon his patients tumour , keeping it there till she either complain'd or confess'd that she felt the coldness of it penetrate to the innermost parts of her tumour . this application was afterwards repeated more than once , whilst the body continued without smelling : and by this course the tumour was dispell'd , and the patient so reliev'd , that her father , by way of gratitude , knowing how much the physician was a lover of curiosities , made him a present of that clock . the learned doctor ascrib'd this odd remedy to helmont , who is indeed to be thank'd for having mention'd and recommended a medicine , that was unlikely to be good , besides that it was not in use . but the knowledge of it seems to me to have been for the main very much ancienter than our age : since there is mention made of one very like it by so ancient an author as pliny ; tho' since his time till helmonts it hath been generally forgotten or disbeliev'd , save that one physician ( franciscus ulmus ) who , tho' no ill observer , has not had the fortune to be famous , takes notice of a case very like that of our courtiers daughter , affirming , that by that one remedy , after others had been fruitlesly imploy'd , he knew a noble virgin to have been perfectly cur'd . i was one summer , to my great surprize obnoxious to frequent bleedings at the nose ; for which i sometimes us'd one remedy , and sometimes another , for the most part with good , but not still with quick success . but falling once unexpectedly into a fit , whose violence somewhat alarm'd me , i resolv'd to try an unusual remedy : and having easily obtain'd of my sister , in whose house this accident happen'd , some true moss of a dead mans scull , which had been sent her , by a great person , for a present out of ireland , in which country , i found it less rare and more esteem'd than elsewhere : i was going to imploy it after the usual manner , which is to put it up into the patients nostrils , but before i did it , i had the curiosity to try , notwithstanding the briskness of my haemorrhagy , whether the medicine would produce its effect by being only held in my hand , and therefore covering a piece of the moss with my fist , that the warmth might a little actuate the medicine , i found , to the wonder of the by-standers , that the blood speedily stopp'd , nor thanks be to god have i been troubled with a haemorrhagy for some years from that very time . but this is far less strange than what was affirm'd to have happen'd to one of the eminentest members of the royal society . this learned gentleman , who was of a very sanguine complexion , found himself much affected by the use of the moss of a human scull , [ pieces of which i have seen sticking to the roots of the vegetable , when it was genuine ] which had so strange an operation upon him , that sometimes when he was let blood , if for curiosities sake he held a quantity of this moss in his hand , the efflux of the blood would cease , till he laid it by again ; which was not only solemnly averr'd to me by himself , but confirm'd to me by his ingenious physician , with both whom i had a particular acquaintance ; which otherwise i should have thought scarce credible , unless imagination , a faculty very strong in that gentleman , contributed to the strange effect of the remedy . the hitherto mention'd external specificks are afforded by vegetables and animals , which being bodies of a slighter texture , may be suppos'd to have their parts more effluviable : and therefore i shall now add two or three examples afforded by the mineral kingdom , which consisting of bodies that never were living , and which are for the most part very close and compact , are generally thought to have their parts indispos'd to emit effluvia . i knew a person of great learning , and by profession a physician , who enjoy'd a health good enough , save that usually after a few hours sleep , he wak'd in the night with great terrors , follow'd for a long time with such violent palpitations of the heart , as were very troublesom , and sometimes frightful to him . to remove this distemper , he try'd all that his art suggested to him , but without success , whereupon he complain'd of it to several of his acquaintance ; and mentioning it one day among a company of merchants , whereof some frequented very remote country's ; one of them told him , he would easily relieve him , by a remedy that had been found efficacious both upon himself and others . this he told him was , to take divers flat and smooth cornelian stones , such as they bring from the east-indies , to cut rings out of , and to sow eight or ten of them to a piece of scarlet or flannel , to be hung about his neck , so as that the stones may immediately touch the skin over against the heart , and the mouth of the stomach . this remedy the physician procur'd , and in no long time , found the great benefit of it , insomuch that he thought he might now securely leave off the use of these stones , which he did once or twice out of curiosity , as well as for his ease , but finding the distemper to return each time , within very few weeks after he had laid aside his remedy , he resolv'd to keep it always on , as he had long successfully done , when he told me the story . and to convince me , presented me with some of the cornelians , that he had , for fear of wanting them , procur'd in greater number than he needed at once . but since i have not yet had occasion to make tryal of them , i shall not conclude that the remedy will always succeed , but only ( which is enough for my present purpose ) that 't is at least possible that such an external remedy may be very effectual . i afterwards thought ( which i here note , to add to the probability of what i have been relating ) that pos ; sibly those that first made use of the foremention'd remedy , may have had a hint from what galen saith of the jasper : which stone we observe to be various in point of colour , and i have seen in the green mixtures of red almost as deep as that of cornelians . of this stone galen relates that some made rings , in which were graven a dragon having beams issuing from him , and commended it as very friendly to the stomach , being apply'd to the mouth of it . and tho' he omitted ( and found he safely might do it ) the sculpture , he yet approves the stones upon his own frequent experience , applying them almost as our merchant did ; sane hujus ( says he ) ego quo lapidis abunde feci periculum torquem enim ex hujusmodi lapillis confectum collo suspendi ita ut lapides os ventriculi contingerent apparebant , autem nihilominus prodesse etiamsi sculpturam non haberent , &c. i have lately mention'd the efficacy of a cramp ring upon some parts of the genus nervosum . but some will perhaps think it more considerable , if a stone ring worn on the finger shall be able to work upon the mass of blood , and particularly that deprav'd portion of it , that nature relegates to such distant parts as the hemorrhoidal veins . and yet the experienc'd monardes , having desrib'd the blood-stone that is brought from new spain , and represented it as a jasper , not only commends it against hemorrhages , being applyed to the bleeding part , but adds the following words , which declare that he speaks upon experience , vidimus nonnullos haemorrhoidum fluxu afflictos remedium sensisse , annulos ex hoc lapide confectos in digito continue gestando : nec non & menstruum fluxum sisti . i know you will expect here , that i should not on this occasion pretermit the lapis nephriticus ; of which sort of stones , tho' many have been found ineffectual against the disease that gives them their name , and tho' it be scarce possible to choose those few that are good , without having particularly and actually try'd them ; yet that some of them are of great virtue , we have the testimony of the inquisitive and judicious boetius , and that other learned writer about gems johannes de laet , whose praises are confirm'd by the historical testimonies of monardes and others . but none that i have met speaks more home to our purpose than a considerable merchant of leipsick , whose rare observations are recorded by a man of very great reading the learned * untzerus , to whom i refer you , contenting my self to mention in this place two of the ten remarks he sets down , the first , that the merchant affirm'd to our author , that by wearing this stone for some days , the calculous matter was so powerfully proscrib'd , that a multitude of small grains of sand were expell'd , even at the corners of his eyes . the like effect , to which he often observ'd of that remedy in divers other persons . the second , that by wearing the same stone , his wife who was troubled with a great catarrh found it considerably cathartick , insomuch that the first day she was thereby purg'd fourteen or fifteen times , the next nine or ten times , and afterwards had her body kept very open . and he adds , that he found also this stone to operate like a purge , tho' not so strongly upon himself . but enough , if not more than enough , of the vertues of periapta and appensa especially , since more instances of them may be met with in some other papers : and even without them , or at least with them , those particulars i come from mentioning , may furnish a sufficient answer to the objection that has occasion'd them . the conclusion . and now , sir , you have what the consideration of the nature of the things i treat of suggested to me , about the principal ways , by which i conceive specifick medicines may cure diseases , or at least much lessen them . i said the principal ways , because i am far from denying , that there may be many others , that must not here be mention'd , lest i should too much transgress the limits that become an epistle ; especially , this being already far more prolix than i at first intended ; though i purposely omitted the authorities and arguments of divers physicians and chymists , that maintain that there are specifick medicines , bccause they proceed upon principles , ( such as substantial forms , real qualities , ideas , or chaoses and the like , ) which i could not fairly employ , because i do not admit them . but though i forbore to lengthen my discourse , by improper , and i hope needless transcriptions out of others ; yet 't is long enough to prompt me , now at the close of it to remind you of two or three things that i declar'd at the beginning . as first , that i did not pretend that a specifick medicine , or nature by a specifick , does commonly effect the cure by one of the particular ways that i propos'd , exclusively to the rest ; since i rather think that oftentimes two , and sometimes more , concur to the effect . secondly , that i propos'd to my self , to explicate the ways of working of specifick remedies , only in general . and thirdly , that i did not assert , that the ways i pitch'd upon were the true and genuine ones , by which the medicine does act , but only propounded them , as ways by which it may act : so that without being dogmatical , i offer you my explications , but as possible , and perhaps not improbable ; and that may suffice for the occasion and scope of this letter ; in which i presume , you remember i aim'd but at shewing you , that the operations of specifick medicines are not irreconcileable to the principles of the corpuscular philosophy : which i hope you will without reluctancy grant , if , by my good fortune , the difficulties that made you hesitate , seem to you to be lessen'd by so barren an intellect as mine , discoursing of an abftruce subject , which belongs to a prosession that i am not of . upon which account it may be justly presum'd , that you , who have so much more sagacity , and are so much more concern'd than i in the subject i have been treating of ; and who being a profess'd physician , have much more opportunity to discover the various courses that nature does or may take in curing diseases ; will be able to give your self far more satisfaction , than you could hope to receive from me , who have therefore propos'd to you my conjectures very diffidently , tho' i am very poisitive in asserting my self to be sir , your most , &c. robert boyle . the advantages of the use of simple medicines . propos'd by way of invitation to it . by the honourable robert bole fellow of the royal society . an invitation to the use of simple medicines . to the very learned dr. f. §i . sir , since specifick medicines , to deserve that name , must be very efficacious ; and yet are for the most part either simple or very little compounded , what has been said about them in the foregoing tract concerning specificks may afford me a not improper rise to invite you , and thereby others of your profession , on whom your authority and example may justly have much influence , to seek after and imploy , more than they are wont to do , such remedies as are either simple , or , when there happens a necessity to compound , are made up of no more ingredients than are absolutely requisite to answer the indications , and the physicians scope . this sort of simple , or but lightly compounded , remedies , i am induc'd to prefer before those pompous compositions , wherein men seem to have hop'd to surmount diseases by the multitude of the ingredients , upon the following reasons . in all which i desire the advantages ascrib'd to simple medicines , above others may be understood , not in an absolute and indefinite sense , but , as they speak caeteris paribus , which i here give you notice of once for all and the first advantage that i shall mention , is , that it is much less difficult , to foresee the operation of a simple , than of a very compounded medicine . so that physicians may proceed more securely , in imploying the former than the latter sort of remedies . and indeed , if i do not greatly mistake , we often presume too much of our own abilities when we believe that we know before hand , what the qualities and effects of a mixture of many ingredients of differing natures , will be : since many bodies , by composition , and the change of texture consequent thereupon , do receive great and unexpected alterations in their qualities . several manifest instances of this truth may be met with in our history of colours ; in divers of whose experiments , the colour produc'd upon the mixture of bodies , is quite different from that of any of the ingredients . as , when a blew solution of copper made in spirit of urine , does with syrup of violets , which is also blew , produce a fair green. and even since i began to write this section , a tryal purposely made has afforded me a new instance of the same import . for having put together some tincture of iron , made with good spirit of vinegar , and a volatile tincture of sulphur , ( which i elsewhere show how to make ) from a confusion of these two very red liquors , there emerg'd in a trice , a very dark and almost inky mixture , that retain'd nothing at all of redness . the like notable changes i have several times produc'd by mixtures , in divers other qualities of bodies than their colours , as in their odours , tasts , &c. and why such alterations may not be also effected by composition , in some of the medicinal qualities of bodies , i do not yet see . quick-silver it self inwardly taken , does usually cause , either no manifest evacuation , or one that is made at the mouth : but if it be dissolv'd in spirit of niter , and precipitated with sea-salt , this white precipitate being edulcorated , if it be warily given in a just dose , doth ( as far as i can yet learn ) seldom fail of working , and yet seldomer work by salivation , but by siege . on the other side glass of antimony ( made per se ) whereof a very few grains given in substance , are wont to work violently upwards and downwards , being dissolved in spirit of vinegar , ( which is not easily and quickly done ) will not usually either vomit or purge , tho the menstruum be drawn from it , and tho it be given in a larger dose , than that of the uncompounded glass . and tho if crude antimony be flux'd with niter and tartar , as in the ordinary way of making crocus metallorum , there is produc'd , as is vulgarly known , a medicine so emetick and cathartick , that an ounce or less of the wine wherein it has been infus'd , without sensibly loosing its weight , is wont to work strongly enough both upwards and downwards : yet i have known some that would without scruple , take several grains of crude antimony in substance , and one particularly that continued the use of it long , without being vomited or purg'd by it . and tryals purposely made have inform'd me , that if , instead of salt-peter and tartar , antimony be prepar'd with well dry'd sea-salt , and a little salt of tartar , tho both , these amount not to above half the weight of the niter and tartar vulgarly us'd , yet the antimony well flux'd with these ( for about an hour ) is thereby so alter'd and corrected , that it affords an useful medicine , of which one may give from 12 or 15 grains to half a dram , or more in substance , without ordinarily working , either by vomit or siege , but usually by sweat , and sometimes by urine . whence we may gather , that antimony may be either made a more dangerous , or a more friendly medicine , than of it self it is , according to the ingredients 't is associated with , tho these be in themselves innocent , and perhaps of kin to one another . and even chymists , as well as other prescribers of remedies , may be found , tho less frequently , to add to a simple , such things as rather deprave , than improve it . as one of their great patrons ( a happy practitioner ) complains , that flower of sulphur , by being sublim'd , ( as by many it is ) from calcin'd vitriol , and one or two other things , under pretence of purifying and subtillizing it , does really acquire a hurtful corrosiveness . and if i had here the leizure , instances enough might be brought to show , that chymists sometimes mistakingly produce by their additions to a medicine , other qualities , if not also worse , than they design'd or expected . § ii. another advantage of simpler medicines , is , that caeteris paribus , they are more safe than compounded ones , especially if the patients be valetudinary persons . 't is too much the custom , both of many herbarists , and several other writers on the materia medica , to give us rather encomiums than impartial accounts of the simples they treat of ; enumerating and magnifying all the vertues they have , and sometimes more than they have , without taking notice of their ill qualities , upon whose account nevertheless they may be inconvenient , if not hurtful and dangerous , to some constitutions , and in divers cases . we know that divers perfumes , as musk and amber , tho very grateful and refreshing to most mens spirits , are yet very hurtful to many women , and especially to those that are hysterical . and i have known the smell of musk very much disaffect an eminent person , though otherwise of a robust constitution . i have also known several persons , not all of them of the same sex , very much offended by the smell of roses , which yet is very moderate , as well as to most persons , whether men or women , very grateful . i know a very great person to whom honey , whether inwardly taken , or outwardly apply'd , is almost as hurtful as poyson , having several times produc'd strange and frightful symptoms , even when the patient knew not that any honey had been imploy'd , and consequently could not be thus oddly distemper'd by the force of imagination . i think i have elsewhere taken notice of the harm , that both i and others , subject to diseases of the eyes , have receiv'd , even by the moderate use of parsley . on this occasion i shall add what occurr'd to me long after i had dictated what i said of parsley , that worm-wood , tho for many uses , an excellent plant , has been found by many so apt to disaffect the head , and so unfriendly to the eyes , that i have for some years forborn it my self for fear of the head-ach , and forewarn'd others of it that are subject to weak eyes . but i know a very learned man , whose elegant pen has made him deservedly be taken notice of by many , who , tho he have naturally very good eyes , found upon an obstinate tryal , that his curiosity seduced him to make of the plentiful use of worm-wood-wine and beer , that within less than three weeks , his sight was by degrees brought to be so weak , that he could not read a gazet without spectacles ; but by totally leaving off worm-wood , he quickly recover'd the vigour of his sight , without the use of any of the helps that his profession , which is physick , would have plentifully suggested to him . this relation i had from himself soon after the thing happen'd , on occasion of what i told him about parsley , &c. and to speak more generally , i doubt not , but if men were not so prepossess'd with the praises that authors give to simples , that they overlook the inconveniencies they may on divers occasions produce , we should find in many medicines bad qualities , that are not yet taken notice of . and i have more than once hit , but too well , in the prognosticks i made of the hurt , some patients would receive by the use of applauded medicines , prescribe them , even by considerable and learn'd men , when upon their authority my warnings were neglected , and the use of the medicines unhappily persisted in . i remember i once saw in the hands of a learned and curious traveller into the eastern parts of the world , an arabick manuscript about the materia mèdica , which made me regret the loss of the most part of the little skill i once had in that language . for besides that it was written in a delicate hand , and the letters in fit places , curiously adorn'd with gold and azure , the method seem'd to be more accurate than any thing i had seen on that subject . and that which pleas'd me not a little , was , that the author had been so wary , that after the columns wherein he taught , besides many other things , the vertues , doses , &c. of every drug he treated of , he had a distinct column for the bad qualities of it , and the constitutions and diseases wherein the use of it may be dangerous or inconvenient . i think it therefore not unreasonable to suspect , that , where a great many ingredients are blended into one medicine , one or other of them may have other operations , besides that design'd by the physician ; it may awaken some sleeping ferment , and , if not produce a new distemper , may excite and actuate some other hostile matter , that lay quiet in the body before , and perhaps would have been little by little subdu'd by nature , if it had not been unseasonably rous'd and assisted by some ingredient , that perhaps was needlesly put into the medicine . i have had so many unwelcome proofs of this in my self , that it engages me to be the more careful to caution others against the like inconvenience . § iii another benefit accrewing from the use of simpler medecines , is , that thereby the patient may , without burdening his stomach , or nauseating the remedy , take a larger dose of the medicine , or of that ingredient of it wherein the vertue chiefly resides . for , whereas physicians are oblig'd to stint themselves in the dose of the medicine , for fear of disgusting the patient , or oppressing his stomach ; when there are many things heap'd together in a moderate dose of one compounded medicine , these ingredients that are either superfluous , or at least are less efficacious , must necessarily take up a considerable part of that determinate dose , and consequently leave much the less of the more appropriated or useful ingredients . to say , that all the ingredients that are thrust into a great composition , are proper and conduce unto the same purpose , i doubt is not always true . and however is not a sufficient answer , since it does not avoid the inconvenience i have been objecting . if a baker , being to make the best bread he can , especially for a person of a weak stomach , should to wheaten flower add the meal of rye , of barley , and of oats ; tho' all these ingredients be good and nourishing , and each of them is by many us'd to make bread , yet none will take him for a skilful baker , and few would prefer this compounded bread , to that more simple one made of wheat alone . and so to make good gun-powder a skilful man would not to salt-peter , brimstone , and charcole add wax , rosin , and camphire , though these be very inflammable substances as well as sulphur . and thus if one would make an aqua vitae , whereof but one small cup were to be given for the quick recovery of fainting persons , he would not with spirit of wine , or good brandy , mix mead or cyder , and strong bear or ale , tho' each of these be it self a spirituous liquor . gum arabick ( whereof i prefer that which is transparent and colourless ) is prescrib'd in several compositions , as a drug proper to mitigate the sharpness of urine . but by the quantity of the other ingredients that 't is mix'd and clog'd with , no more than a small proportion of it usually comes to be given in one dose . but when i have had the curiosity , leaving out all the other things , to give about a dram , or perhaps more of it at one time , reduc'd by long pounding ( for the best is very tough ) to fine powder , in a large draught of small ale or beer , or some other convenient vehicle , i found very considerable effects of it . and i remember that a gentleman of great note , coming to bid me farewel , because of a long and troublesome journey , he was taking to mineral waters , which he intended to drink for many weeks , to ease him of a very painful sharpness of urine ; i that knew it was not venereal nor from the stone of the bladder ( for when those causes of the strangury , the medicine is not near so powerful ) i desir'd him , before he went to make use of this powder , once , or ( if there should be need ) twice a day . which when he had done , it so reliev'd , him that he thought himself quite cur'd , and forbore his intended journey not only that year , but the next . for the chin-cough , as they call it in children , whose odd symptoms do usually fright the parents and attendants , and oftentimes frustrate the endeavours of physicians , skilful in curing other coughs , i have not known any magisterial composition so effectual , as the simple juice of pulegium ( by many call'd penny-royal ) sweetn'd a little with sugarcandy , and given long enough from time to time , in the quantity of a childs spoonful . ( this plant may be also made to afford a syrup , that will keep , and is useful in coughs , but which i doubt , is not so efficacious as the simple juice . ) there are many and obvious experiments of the great efficay of so simple a remedy as asses milk ; ( which yet in some cases , i think inferiour to goats milk , ) if it be given in a sufficient quantity , and for a competent time , there are also many instances of dangerous and stubborn diseases , that have been cur'd even by common cows milk , when it has been very plentifully taken , and for a long continuance of time , and perhaps it is no less remarkable , that in a far less time now and then , not extending to very many daies , fluxes , as dyarrhaeas , and tho more seldom even dysenterical ones , are happily and easily cur'd , as i have sometimes known by the bare use of so slight a remedy as milk , wherein , whilst it is gently boyling , an equal quantity of fair water is little by little put , till at last there remains but as much liquor as the milk alone amounted to at first . this simple alimentous medicine being liberally taken ( for it should be us'd instead of all other drinks whilst the disease continues ) has been very frequently found to cure fluxes , not all of one sort , in ireland it self , where that kind of disease is endemical . and , tho i have formerly in another paper recommended the use of paronychia foliis rutaceis , against that sad and stubborn disease the kings-evil , yet i presume you will allow me , by the mention of a tryal that was since made with it , to give a notable confirmation of the utility of giving an alterative simple , if need require , in considerable quantity . a physician that i knew , was sent for to a scrophulous patient , in whose throat there was a tumour , so big and so unluckily seated , that much compressing the asophagus it rendr'd deglutition exceeding difficult : so that being likewise so hard and stubborn , that tho the physician was also a famous chyrurgion , he could neither discuss it , or bring it to suppuration ; the patient , tho rich , was in imminent danger of being starv'd . in this strait the physician remembring the character i had given of paronychia , or whitlom grass , sent about the country to to get all that could be procur'd : and at first gave a little of it in form of infusion , in such liquid aliments as the patient was able , with much ado , little by little to get down . and having by this means , after some time , made the deglutition less difficult , he gave the remedy more and more plentifully , to imbue the whole mass of blood and juices of the body with the vertue of the herb , whereby the tumour was at length resolv'd , and the patient secur'd , so much to the physicians reputation as well as profit , that , as he said , he thought gratitude oblig'd him to give me a circumstantial account of his success ; as he very civilly did in a long letter whereof i have given you the substance . and tho i might here entertain you with the vertues of some other simple remedies , plentifully given , yet for brevity sake i shall rather observe in general , that i doubt not but several simple medicines ( i speak of alterative not evacuating ones , would be found far more effectual than they are commonly thought , if they were given in a much larger dose , and continued for a competent time . and probably so many physicians ( especially of the old school , ) would not be so forward to reject either specifick or simple remedies , as having found some of them not to answer expectation ; if they would allow them as fair a tryal , as they give to their own prescriptions , such as the chalybeats of the shops , the spaw , or tunbridge waters , the decoctions of guajacum , &c. which they often give with divers intermediate helps for a month or six weeks , and sometimes for two months together , without expecting that in a few weeks , much less in a very few days , they should perform the cure . § iv. the fourth thing that may recommend the use of simple medicines , is , that caeteris paribus they are more easy to be procur'd then compounded ones . this assertion needs little proof . and where several simples are requir'd , one or more of them may oftentimes be difficult to be got ; and all of them will still be troublesome to be fetcht , and to be made up into a composition . how useful the knowledge of parable remedys may be , i have indeavour'd to show in a distinct paper ; and therefore shall not discourse of it here , but only add this one observation , that some medicines are so parable , that without resorting for them to apothecarys shops ( which are not every where at hand , nor always furnished with them ) we may find them in those of other trades-men . thus among masons and bricklayers we most commonly meet with quicklime ; whose bare infusion in common water [ about a pound of the former , as 't is more or less strong , to about three or four quarts of the latter , ] is of it self a good medicine in divers cases , and as experience has perswaded me , may be made the basis of several good remedys , both inward and outward . among the latter of which may be reckon'd an oyntment , that i usually kept by me for burns , and made only by beating up strong lime-water with as much good lin-seed oyl , as could be made throughly to incorporate with it into a very white unguent . and i shall add concerning linseed oyl , ( since i have mention'd it ) which is to be had in the shops of varnishers and painters ; that of it self , being exhibited in a large dose , as of several ounces at a time , i have known it answer the commendations given it by eminent physicians , for breaking of pleuritical empyemas simple oyl of turpentine also , that may be usually had in the shops of the same trades-men , is in reality a noble remedy in divers affections , not only inward , in which chymists commend it , but outward too . and i have had great thanks , both from physicians and chyrugeons , for recommending the use of it to them in wounds , and particularly , where one would expect little from it in the stanching of blood , if it be seasonably apply'd very hot to the wounded parts , where it also much promotes a good digestion . and i am confirm'd in the good opinion i have long had of this oyl , by the information that 's given me , that very experienced chyrurgeon has lately been so charitable , as to publish a little book , considerable for the useful observations it contains , of notable cures done by him in chyrurgical cases , chiefly with oyl of turpentine . and i shall add , that a chyrurgeon to a great monarch , and one of the skilfullest men i ever met with of his profession , confess'd to me , that in an admir'd cure that he had then lately done of a desperate gangrene , in an eminent person , very aged and almost bed-rid , the medicine he ascrib'd most to , was the oyl we were speaking of . and , because both he and others make much and good use of spirit of wine in gangrens , which yet is thought to be unmingleable with oyl of turpentine , because if it be shaken with it , it will quickly separate again from it ; i thought it might do practitioners some service , to make for them a mixture of oyl of turpentine and spirit of wine , that might probably be more penetrant than the former , and less fugitive than the latter , which of it self does not stay long enough upon the parts 't is apply'd to . which mixture i easily made , by digesting for a while , and strongly shaking from time to time , about equal parts by guess of good oyl of turpentine and throughly dephlegm'd spirit of wine , till this liquor , by imbibing or dissolving great store of the oleaginous parts , have attain'd a yellow colour , for which reason i call it the tincture of oyl of turpentine . and , since my subject has led me into the shops of colour-sellers , i will before i leave them , take notice of one simple that is wont to be found there , which if it were not very offensive to the tast , and somewhat disagreeable to the stomach , would be perhaps preferable for its antinephritick vertue , to the most pompous compositions of the shops , and some of the celebrated arcana of the ( vulgar ) chymists . i procur'd it , not without some difficulty , from a spagyrist , very well vers'd in the school of paracelsus and helmont ; who , tho a sparing commender of remedyes , extoll'd this as the best he had ever met with , to cure the stone where it was not too big to pass , and to prevent the increase of it where it was . i have known it us'd in clysters , with very good success in a fit of that disease . but inwardly i had no occasion to try it but upon my self . and judging it innocent enough , ( as indeed i found it rather anodyne than driving , i took it now and then , mix'd with oyl of sweet almonds chiefly to allay the tast , for otherwise i had long found that alone , insufficient ) as a preservative from grave . and , thanks be to god , i divers times thought it more manifestly effectual to that purpose , by lessening either the bulk of the grains , or the quantity of the sand , or both , than any of the remedyes i had taken for prevention in several years before . and yet i scarce took a quarter of the dose , prescrib'd by the spagyrist that communicated the medicine to me ; which in short is ( for i presume you would gladly know it ) to take from time to time , by it self or in some convenient vehicle two or three ounces of the express'd oyl of walnuts , which , if the great staleness of it he requires be necessary , ( which i mean to examine by tryals ) is scarce to be had but at the shops of artificers , because he would have it at least a year old , and judg'd it the elder the better . before i quite leave the shops of trades-men , i shall take notice of one medicine more , that seems to have been first lodg'd there , and from thence translated into the shops of apothecaries . the medicine i mean is castile or else venetian soap , ( for either is often imploy'd in stead of the other ) which being a body abounding with alcalisite salts and oleaginous parts well combin'd , invited me to make some experiments with it , as a substance that may be applicable to good uses , not only mechanical but medical . of some of tho former sort i elsewhere make mention . and as to its medicinal vertues , i take notice in another paper of its efficacy against the jaundise ; for which i have since been inform'd , that , as nauseous a medicine as it is , 't is in great request among some skilful men in holland . and some fresh , but not sufficient , experience has recommended it to me against the stone . but that vertue of it which i as yet most prize it for , and now intend to communicate to you , you will best gather from the following story . having had some dealings with a considerable merchant ( of cork , in ireland ) he sadly complain'd to me , that he was afflicted with a necessity of making bloody water to that degree , that he fear'd he must soon quit his profession , being already unable to ride about his business , and scarce able to walk a foot the length of a street , without stooping to make red water . hereupon i told him i had a medicine , that , if he could digest the unpleasantness of it , would , i thought , by the blessing of god , do good even in his case . and it was only to scrape with a knife as much castile soap into a spoon , as it would conveniently hold without being press'd , i. e. neat a dram , and having fill'd the vacant part with small ale , or some other , convenient drink , to facilicate the swallowing so nauseous a remedy , wash it down with a somewhat large draught of the same liquor , or other fit vehicle , repeating the dose twice or thrice a day , if need requir'd . the manifest relief he found by this seemingly despicable medicine , within ( if i misremember not ) two or three days , invited him to continue the use of it a while longer , and afterwards to return me solemn thanks for it ; declaring that now for four years together he had liv'd quite free from his distemper , without scrupling to ride journeys on horse back , as his occasions requir'd . to which he added , that in regard i had not confin'd him to secresy , he presum'd i intended the medicine should do as much good as might be , and therefore scrupled not to give it to several others , who were likewise happily cur'd by the use of the same remedy . which account was therefore the more welcom to me , because in the place were i liv'd , i had not opportunity to make further tryals of its efficacy . and on this occasion i shall beg leave to advertise you once for all , in reference to the remedies deliver'd by me , either in this paper or in my other writings ; that i am as sensible as another of the almost insuperable difficulty , of making any certain experiments in physick ; and that , having of a long time ( for reasons given in due place ) studiously , tho not unreservedly , declin'd the occasions of giving ( and consequently of reiterating ) medicines : i justly desire that none of my readers , and especially that dr. f. would too much rely upon them , till they have been more competently try'd , than perhaps some of them , for want of opportunity , have been ; and administred to patients of differing complexions , ages , and other circumstances . you may find other instances of the vertue of parable , and some of them unpromising medicines , in one of my essay's of the usefulness of experimental philosophy ; to which i the less scruple to refer you , because i do not remember what i have there written many years ago , so perfectly , as not to fear that i might by enlarging this section , put you to the trouble of reading some things here that you have met with there already . and yet i am somewhat incouraged both to mention to you that book , and to present you some other receipts in this paper ; because it has pleas'd god so far to bless divers of the medicines i have there recommended , or do there mention , that they have been prosperous to many patients , and not altogether unuseful to some noted physicians ; and have procur'd me from both more thanks than i pretended to ; besides inviting encouragements to further communications . §. v. the last thing in order , but not in importance , that induces me to wish , that physicians would imploy simpler medicines as much as conveniently may be , is , that 't is one of the likeliest ways , ( and perhaps little less than absolutely necessary ) to promote the practical knowledge of the materia medica . for , whilst in one receipt ▪ a multitude of ingredients are mingl'd , if not confounded , 't is almost impossible to know with any certainty , to which of the simples the good or bad effect of the remedy is to be attributed , or whether it be not produc'd by a power , resulting from the particular quality's of all of them , united into one temperament , and by its means acting conjointly , and , as the school men speak per modum unius . so that by this way of heaping up or blending simples into one compounded remedy , i see not how in many ages men will be able to discover the true qualities good and bad , of the particular bodies , that are compris'd under the name of the materia medica ; whereas , when a physician often imploys a simple , and observes the effect of it , the relief or prejudice of the patient , may very probably , if not with medical certainty , be ascrib'd to the good or bad qualities of that particular remedy . and this difficulty of discerning , what ingredient it is of a very compounded medicine , that helps or hurts the patient , is much increas'd to those that affect to write bills , wherein something is prescrib'd , which tho , because it goes under one name , passes but for one ingredient , is yet a very compounded body ; as is evident , in those many pompous receipts wherein treacle , ( that alone consists of above sixty several simples ) methridate , and divers other famous ancient compositions ; that each of them consists of good store of ingredients . i had once thoughts of drawing up a discourse of the difficulties of the medicinal art ; and had divers materials by me for such a work , which afterwards i laid aside , for fear it should be misimploy'd to the prejudice of worthy physicians . but among the difficulties that occurr'd to me , i shall on this occasion mention one , which was ; that 't is a harder work than most men think , to discover fully the nature , or the good and bad quality's in reference to physick , of this or that single plant , or other simple , that has a place in the materia medica . for besides the great difference that there may be in plants of the same denomiation , according to the climate , soil , the goodness of the seeds that produce it , the culture , or the want of it , the time of the year , the seasonableness or intemperateness of the weather , the time and manner of gathering it , how it has been kept , the parts of it that are , and those that are not made use of , together with other circumstances too many to be here enumerated : besides all these , i say , the unheeded textures of parts that are thought of an uniform nature , and the length of time during which they have been kept , without being suspected to be superannuated , and indeed without being so , may so much vary the nature of a plant , that i have sometimes almost in a trice shewn the curious a notable disparity in the parts of the same fresh leaf of a common plant : and ( nb. ) i have found by tryal purposely made , that some seeds of common use in physick ( and not putrefy'd ) will , being distill'd at one time of the year , afford an acid spirit or liquor ; but at another time of the year , tho destill'd the same way without any addition , afford not an acid , but a kind of urinous spirit , that contains a volatile salt , which in smell , tast , and divers operations , i found to be of great affinity to the volatile salt of urine , or that of hartshorn . and indeed so many things may be pertinently and usefully propos'd to be inquir'd into , about this or that particular plant made use of by physicians , that perhaps they would be less inclin'd to compound numbers of them in one receipt , if they were aware how much useful employment the indagation of the quality's of so much as a few single plants would give them : and yet without the knowledg of the properties of the separated ingredients , a physician prescribes , it will be scarce possible for him to know , with sufficient certainty , how the compound made up of them , will be qualify'd and operate , which reflection , i the less scruple to propose , because i am conifirm'd in it by galen himself , who very book , where he largely treats de medicamentorum compositione , hath this assertion ; in universum , nemo probe uti possit medicamento composito , qui simplicium vires prius non accurate didicerit . i presume you will easily allow , that much of what has been said in favour of those simple medicines we owe to natures ( or rather to its authors ) bounty , may be extended to many of the remedy's that are afforded us by the chymists art. for without now entering into the question , whether the spirits , oyls , and salts , that are obtain'd by what spagyrists call analyses by the fire , are principles in the strict sense of the word ; it will scarce be doubted , but that the spirit , or the oyl , or the salt of a mix'd body chymically resolv'd , is so slightly or unequally compos'd , that the ingredient whence it takes its name , is far more predominant , than it was when combin'd with others , in the entire or not yet analys'd concrete . and that such supposed principles , of medicines of a simpler order , may be very efficacious remedys , may be justly argu'd from the great and beneficial effects of such as oyl of vitriol , spirit of urine ( nb. ) a medicine of great use both inward and outward , spirit of harts-horn , spirit of niter , spirit of wine , and oyl of turpentine ; of which last nam'd liquor i shall add , that , besides the vertues already ascrib'd to it in this paper , whilst it retains its simplicity , it may in many cases be imploy'd as a menstruum , and by being combin'd with an ingredient or two , be made to afford divers medicines , which tho but little compounded , are not of little vertue . for i have found it readily enough to dissolve camphire , mastick , and some other gums , of which balsoms may be made , and others may be obtain'd by the help of the same liquor , even from divers mineral and metalline bodies . i will not insist on so known a medicine as the common terebinthinate balsom of sulphur ; tho this be a remedy , with as much as 't is peculiarly extoll'd for diseases of the lungs , ( wherein yet its heat requires that it be very warily given to patients of some complexions ) has vertues that are not confin'd to the distempers of those parts ; since both i and some i commended it to , have found it very effectual ( outwardly apply'd ) in troublesome haemorroidal pains and tumors : and ( nb. ) some experience inclines me to think its vertues may not be much greater in pulmonick than in paralytick distempers : in which ( last ) it may be us'd , not only outwardly , but chiefly inwardly ; and that in a pretty large dose with a cephalick , and , in some cases , an antiscorbutick vehicle . but i shall rather take notice to you , that perhaps it will be found worth while to try , at least in external affects , the use of divers tinctures , and consequently balsoms that may be obtaind by the help of oyl of turpentine from divers solid mineral body's , upon which i have found by tryal , that this liquor may be ting'd ( tho not of the same colour on all of them , ) among which i shall name , besides crude zink , crude antimony , and even crude copper ( in filings ; ) a noble subject , antimonial cinnabar ; from which , tho i found i could ( but not hastily ) draw a fine tincture , i had not opportunity to make tryal of that promising medicine . §. vi. and as for those other medicines , that are not made by bare analysis , but by synthesis or composition ; tho i think an experienc'd chymist may , in many cases , with less uncertainty than a galenist ( who employs crude ingredients of a more compounded nature ) foresee what quality the produc'd mix'd body may have : yet i could wish , that even the spagyrists themselves were more sparing , than many of them are , in the number of the ingredients they imploy to compose one medicine . for most of the arguments , upon which i grounded my invitation to the use of simple remedies , are applicable to chymical ones , as well as others : and on this occasion i shall represent two things . first that in many cases , preparations skilfully diversify'd , may be usefully substituted to composition : since one body dexterously expos'd to differing operations , may acquire as various , or as considerable , qualities , as would accrew to it by the addition of such other bodies , as an ordinary chymist would in probability associate with it . thus , not to mention quick-silver , antimony alone , whether prepar'd without addition , as when flowers of several sorts are made of the more volatile , and true antimonial glass of the more fixt part , or being associated but with one or two ingredients , may afford a skilful spagyrist , medicines numerous and various enough , almost to furnish a shop ; or at least to answer the physicians scope , where he would imploy an emetick , a cathartick , a diaphoretick , a deobstruent , a diuretick , a bezoardick or cordial medicine ; to name now no other qualities , that may be found in some antimonial preparations , in a degree considerable enough to ennoble them . which . instances , and others of the like nature i presume you will allow me to make use of in this discourse , because , though i do commonly , yet i do not always , imploy the term simple medicine or remedy in the strict and absolute sense , but in a comparative one , that excludes compositions of more than two or three , or at the utmost a very few , ingredients . secondly , without bringing together a chaos , or so much as a considerabe number , of ingredients , one or two , or at most three auxilary ones , if judiciously chosen and skilfully manag'd , may oftentimes produce more efficacious remedies , than the admirers of pompuous processes would expect , or perhaps be able to make those processes vye with . the violently emetick and purgative vertue of glass of antimony made per se , may be , as i elsewhere show , more powerfully corrected by mere distill'd vinegar , than by many famous stomachick and cordial elixirs , and other elaborate preparations . and sometimes a seemingly improper addition may not only correct , but give new and unexpected vertues to a drug . thus , though sublimatum corrosivum be a mercurial concrete , so fretting , that a very few grains of it may be able to kill a man ; yet by adding and carefully uniting to it about an equal weight of running mercury , there is obtain'd , when they are well united by sublimations , a compound that is so free from being corrosive , that chymists call it mercurius dulcis , which though some unwary practitioners , as well galenists as chymists , have too often by their misimployment of it , discredited , yet experience shows that in skilful hands it may be usefully imployed , not only in some venereal affections , but in divers other distempers . and i shall now add , that being carefully prepar'd , and well given , it may not only be freed from corrosiveness , but much allay the sharpness both of some emptying medicines , & of some peccant humors . to countenance the latter part of which observation , i shall acquaint you with one use of it , that perhaps you have not yet made . i remember , i had an opportunity to observe the efficacy of mercurius dulcis , in a stubborn disentery , that had baffled the remedies of an eminent physician . but though a reflection on the vertue , i knew this medicine to have , of allaying sharp humors , and resisting putrefaction , may justly increase my favourable opinion of it ; yet not thinking my experience competent , i imparted it to an ancient and expert chyrurgeon , that was the chief of those that belong'd to a famous and judicious general of an army ; who thereupon frankly confess'd to me , that this was his great arcanum , wherewith he had cur'd many scores , or rather hundreds of souldiers in this generals army . only , where as my way is to give from 8 , or 10 , to 12 , or at most 15 grains of mercurius dulcis for a dose , made up with some little rhubarb , &c. or other ingredient that would make it work , once , twice , or thrice with another patient , ( for the disentery it self helps to carry off the medicine ) he , both to disguise it , and to make it more easily takeable , made it up with sugar and mucilage of cum-dragon into lozenges , whereof one might containfrom near a scruple to half a dram of the mercurius dulcis , of which he order'd the souldiers to take one at a time , without hindering their march ; only bidding them have a great care , that nothing should stick between their teeth , or in their throats . 3. but the efficacy of this simple preparation of mercury , is much inferiour to that more simple , although more tedious , preparation of gold , which was made the same way in two differing countries , by two dexterous physicians , both of them of my acquaintance . for though i had long been prejudic'd ( not without specious grounds ) against pretended aurum potabiles , and other boasted preparations of gold ; ( for most of which i have still no over-great esteem ) yet , i saw such extraordinary and surprizing effects of the tincture of gold i speak of , upon persons of great note , that i was particularly acquainted with both before they fell desperately sick , and after their strange recovery , that i could not but change my former opinion , or a very favourable one of some preparations of gold ; and i should have thought that this medicine ( as little compounded as it is , ) could scarce he paid , by a great store of the noble metal that afforded it , if it could have been made in great quantity , or without a great deal of pains and time . i can speak thus circumstantially , because by the kindness of the artists , and the pains i had spent in working on the same subject they make their menstruum of , i so far knew , and partly ( by themselves invited ) saw , the preparation of it , that to bring home what has been said , to the present occasion ) i can tell you , that there is no ingredient associated to the gold , save one , that comes from above , and is reputed one of the simplest bodys in nature , and of which one may take two or three ounces altogether unprepar'd , without the least inconvenience . and yet the dose of this almost insipid medicine , that was given to an old courtier , even in a violent apoplexy , wherein other remedies had by skil'ful men been us'd in vain , was but six or eight drops . in another very ancient and corpulent person the dose was greater , because the tincture was more unripe and diluted ; but the effect was as sudden , tho the patient was not bled , and tho there was not in either of these two cases , any notably sensible , evacuation made . [ both these recover'd persons are yet alive ] the same medicine a while after , saved the life of another gentleman i know , who , having lain above two and twenty days sick of an ill conditioned feaver , was condemn'd by three physicians , whereof one told me with great grief , that he would not out-live the next morning ; and yet upon the taking of a large dose of this tincture , he was presently reliev'd , and from that time found a sensible amendment towards a recovery , which he now injoys ; tho he were then reputed to be about , if not above fourscore years old . some other odd effects of this . remedy i could tell you of : but it has already much swell'd this section , and yet i thought it not amiss to relate these things to you , both , because they are very pertinent to the scope of it , and because you may be , as i long was , prejudic'd against medicines made of so fix'd , and , as is suppos'd , un-alterable a metal as gold. 4. this is not the only medicine made of that noble body , of which i have known very notable effects . but , because they belong to another paper , i shall not particularly mention them in this ; but pass on to tell you , that the preparation of silver , that i have long since deliver'd in another book , tho' it may seem but slight , has been found very effectual , and much us'd , by one of the eminentest physicians of this nation , to whom i recommended it : and who acknowledg'd to me , that he gave it to patients of very high quality , tho' disguis'd , to avoid alarming those that are fearful of chymical medicines . and since that i gave it to a great lady that was hydropical , and judg'd to be dangerously ill , with notable success ; and the cure has already for some years held good . but i confess to you , that i look upon copper , and its magistery blew vitriol , as a much nobler subject to make remedy's of , than silver , and perhaps than gold it self . and if i were to make physick my profession , there is no metal which i should so willingly bestow pains upon as copper induc'd thereunto by the excellent and very extraordinary effects , ( not all of them to be mention'd in this paper , that i have had opportunity to see , of some remedies , which tho' i could never learn how to make , i knew were made of that metal , or vitriol abounding in it . [ but first freed from all cruelticle violence . ] and for appeasing of pains , produc'd even by inveterate maladies , the laudanums ) and other opiate preparations , that are prescrib'd and prais'd in physicians and chymists books , and much us'd ( oftentimes with good success ) in their practice , seem to me , bccause of the stupor , and some other inconvenient symptoms , they are wont more or less to be followed by , far inferiour to the sulphureous parts , as a chymist would call them , of skillfully prepar'd venus ; these being much more harmlesly and friendly anodynous . and i remember that an empyrick , to whom , at his request , i taught a very uncertain way ( for it rarely hits ) of making a kind of sulphur of vitriol alone , in the form of a brick colour'd powder ; came purposely to give me solemn thanks for the reputation he had gain'd by that medicine , of which the first time he had the good luck to make it , he gave , as he was instructed , four or five grains of it , to a woman that could not sleep , but had been for divers months raving mad , [ maniaca . ] which single dose not only gave her a good nights rest , but brought . her to talk sense when she wak'd in the morning . i knew also a chymist , that was much courted even by learned doctors , for an internal anodyne he us'd , and could sell at almost what rate he pleas'd , to take off inveterate pains in the heads and shins of venereal patients ; and the same person cur'd venereal ulcers in a very short time , only by strowing on them an indolent powder . and tho he was so shy , that he would not let even the physicians , i recommended to him , see his medicine , yet having one day been told of a kindness i had done him , unknown to him ; he took it so well , that he not only allow'd me to see and handle his medicine , but when i guess'd by the ponderousness and effects ; of it , that it was some . preparation of mercury fixt with sulphur of venus , he frankly acknowledg'd to me , that , tho it would indure not only ignition , but a strong & lasting fire , that in the former part of my conjecture ( that the body of it was mercurial ) i was in the right ; and in the latter part i shot very near the mark ; but added , that that the true sulphureous parts of venus were in his way so difficult to be obtain'd , and requir'd so much time , that he could seldom prevail with himself , ( who indeed was voluptuous enough ) to go through so troublesome a work . and in effect i found , upon various tryals , the constituent parts of that metal to be much more strictly united than the generality even of chymists imagaine . for the extraordinary effects of this medicine , i can refer you to the testimony of very ingenious men of your own profession , ( and probably acquaintance too . ) and since i know you study helmont , i presume you will the more readily believe them , if i put you in mind of that notable passage , where he says : nihil , aeque victoriose in humidum radicale , agit atque primum ens cupri , vel ad vitam longam sulphure vitrioli est benignius ; ideoque sulphur philosophorum indigitat . but my intended brevity forbids me to insist longer on this metal , or to take notice of more than one other metal . and because that of steel , physicians as well as chymists make great variety of remedies , some of which are produc'd by preparations slight enough ; and the like may be said of mercury , witness the remedy formerly commended against the worms , made of nothing but crude quick-silver barely decocted in common water : for this reason , i say , i shall pitch upon lead , whose calx dissolv'd in spirit of vinegar affords as you know , saccharum saturni , which tho so easy and simple a preparation , is a magistery that has more vertues than every physican knows , or perhaps so much as suspects ; especially in mortifying sharp humours in the eyes , which i have known or made it do sometimes almost in a trice . [ but i do not think it safe to make the plantain or rose-water 't is to be dissolv'd in , considerably strong of it . ] and for burns , i have seldom seen any thing equal to it , and therefore have often us'd it upon my self ( barely dissolv'd in common , or else plantain water . ) but i fear 't is not so safe as effectual , in some inward distempers of the bowels , that are judg'd to be caus'd by acid humours ; unless it be very warily and skilfully given . [ but as to its external use , i presume , i need not tell so skilful a doctor as you ( nb. ) how great it is in healing , and in the mean time appeasing , the pains of divers sorts of ulcers . and therefore i shall mention but one particular , which 't is like you have not met with ; namely , that i know a very ancient and experienc'd person , who , besides a vast practice otherwise , was chyrurgeon to a great hospital ; who professing much kindness , and owning some obligation to me , confess'd to me , that amongst all the medicines he has try'd to stop bleeding , and prevent accidents in amputations , that which he oftenest us'd , and most rely'd on , is a solution of saccharum saturni in plantain water ( or for a need in pure common water : ) for having dissolv'd ℥ j. of the former in about a pint or pound of the latter ; as soon as ever the limb or other part is taken off , he immediately apply's stupes drench'd in this liquor , as hot as the patient can well endure ; and having bound them carefully on , he makes , no hast to take them off , but allows the medicine time enough to perform its operation : to countenance this i would tell you an odd experiment of mine , of the efficacy of a saturnine liquor to resist putr faction , in the bodys of animals , but that the relation would take up too much time . ] 5. perhaps i need not tell you , that i could here mention divers other experiments , as well upon saturn , as the other metals i have nam'd above ; but that my scope confines me to such preparations , as wherein the metaline subject is compounded but with very few others ; and also that of those that are more remote from simplicity , you may meet with several in some of my other papers , which i am not in this to defraud . what has been above noted about metals , may be extended to minerals : namely , that when there is need to compound them , it may of tentimes be sufficient to associate them with one or two , or at most a very few auxiliary ingredients , if i may so-call them ; this is apparent in several useful preparations of antimony , that are vulgarly enough known . to which divers may be added that are made of common sulphure , by slight additions . of which sort , because i elsewhere deliver several , i shall now mention but one , which though i have many years ago describ'd in the history of colours , i shall not scruple to take notice of here , because i there consider not its medicinal vertues , which yet are very great , especially in asthmas and coughs , in which i do not remember that i ever gave it without benefit to the patient ; nor was it less successful in the hands of physicians , that were willing to try it for me , especially in those of a person , who though well furnish'd with choice remedies of his own , often came to me for a supply of this spirituous and penetrating tincture , with which he assur'd me he did notable things in asthmatical cases ; and particularly in one that was very obstinate , and had lasted many years . but not having had quite so many opportunities as i wished of giving it my self , i shall be glad , that further tryal may be made of it by so skilful an administrer as you . and therefore lest you should not have the book lately refer'd to at hand , i shall here repeat , that our medicine is made of flowers of sulphur , exactly mix't with an equal weight of finely powder'd sal-armoniac , and somewhat more than an equal weight of good quick-lime , separately reduc'd to a suttle powder . for these three ingredients being diligently and nimbly mix'd , and put into a retort , to be plac'd in a sand furnace , and fitted with a large receiver very well luted to it . this mixture , i say , being duly distill'd in such vessels , will afford a blood red and smoaking spirit , exceeding sulphureous both in smell and oven mechanical operations . and in this distillation the sulphureous parts sometimes came over accompany'd with such store of saline ones , that a good part of what past into the receiver shot into the form of a volatile sulphureous salt. and i remember that having for curiosity's sake added to the fluid tincture a due proportion of an ardent spirit ( such as that of wine ) exactly dephlegm'd , i had a mixture ( whether in the form of a coagulum or not ) which afforded me some odd phaenomena not here to be mention'd , and which we subled with a gentle fire to unite them into a composition that may for distinction sake be call'd sa trium regnorum , because it contains urinous particles , vinous ones , ( and perhaps some of soot ) and sulphureous ones : whereof the first belongs to the animal , the second to the vegetable , and the last to the mineral kingdom , as chymists are wont to speak . but what vertues this salt ( that would presently gild silver , ) and the spirit that may be made to accompany it , may have in physick , i had not occasion to try . but yet i have mention'd it upon the by , that you may make use of it , if you think it worth while to do so . to whch i shall here present you with no inducements , since i perceive that the particulars above mention'd about simple preparations of gold and other metals , have already made this section enormously great . and yet i hope you will not be displeas'd at it ; since to so sugacious a person as dr. f. these passages may afford some not altogether useless hints : and at least 't is an encouragement to industry , to know that the subjects a man works on are capable of affording excellent things . §. vii . 1. i foresee it may be objected against the frequent use of simple medicines , that oftentimes it happens that a disease , or a morbisick matter , is not the effect of a single cause , but is produc'd by the concurrence of two , or perhaps more , causes , which producing several symptoms , 't is not probable that one simple drag will be able to answer those different indications this objection i confess is considerable , & there are cases wherein i acknowledg it to be so weighty as to invite & warrant a physician , to imploy in them a medicine consisting of more ingredients than one or two ; which i can admit without prejudice to any design , since i formerly declar'd i did not intend to perswade you to consine your self to simple remedy's ( so much as in the late sense above intimated of that term ) but only to imploy them where they may suffice ; and where they cannot to make use of medicines as little compounded as the case will permit , 2. but having premis'd this advertisement , i presume i may offer you two or three considerations , that may lessen the force of the lately propos'd objection and first , tho i readily grant , that there are diseases , whereof each may proceed from differring causes , and that a remedy may be available against it , when 't is produc'd by one of those causes , without being so when it flows from another ; yet it may also easily happen , that in one case the disease may be cur'd by one simple medicine , and in another , by a remedy not compounded . nay , it may also happen , that the same simple may cure a distemper , by which soever of the two causes it is produe'd . this i have in another paper endeavour'd to make out . and what we see of the effects of the jesuits powder , as they call it in different kinds of agues , as tertians , quartans , &c. and of pacating medicines ( most of which indeed owe their vertue to opium , but some are mineral , and have nothing of the poppy in them ) in appeasing pains produc'd by humours , and other causes very differing ; may keep what has been said from appearing improbable , and , if i mistake not , it may divers times happen , that , whatever it were that at first produc'd a portion of morbisick matter , that first produc'd matter , is the cause of the continuance of the disease , by vertue of some peculiar texture or noxious constitution , which if a generous medicine can destroy , the disease will , at least little by little , cease . 3. it not unfrequently happens , that several symptoms that seem very differing , may so depend upon the primary or principal cause of the disease , that if a medicine , how simple soever , be capable to destroy that cause , all the various symptoms will , by degrees at least , vanish of themselves : as we often see , that when mercury , tho perhaps but crude , is skilfully apply'd , and raises a kindly salivation , a great variety of inconveniencies that afflicted a venereal patient , and seem'd to require many differing and topical applications , are remov'd by the same remedy ; insomuch that not only frightful ulcers , but such modes as one would think searce possible to be dissipated by the strongest plaisters , are sometimes happily cur'd by well prepar'd quicksilver , taken in at the mouth , as i have been assured by more than one eminent physician upon his own experience , and tho not unfrequently there be several , & sometimes very different symptoms , that accompany that disease of children that in england we call the rickets ; ( and of which there dye several almost every week in london alone ) ▪ yet that medicine which i have elsewhere describ'd under the name of ens ( primum ) veneris [ made of strongly calcin'd and well dulcify'd colcothar of dantsick vitriol , and elevated with sal armoniack into the form of a reddish sublimate ] has prov'd , by gods blessing on it , so successful , that partly by a sister of mine , ( to whom i communicated it ) and partly by my self , and those i directed to take it , or to give it ; i think i may safely say , that two or three hundred children have been cur'd by it , and that almost always without the help of any other inward medicine , or using any topical application at all . 4. but the main thing that i intended , by way of answer to the foreseen objection , was , that in a simple medince nature her self does oftentimes so well play the apothecary , as to render the compositions made in his shop unnecessary . for , tho we are wont to look upon this or that plant or mineral , as an entire and simple body , yet we may much mistake , if we look upon it as a homogeneous one . in several plants that are organical bodies , this truth is manifest ; as for instance , in oranges the succulent part is soure and cooling , but the yellow rind considerably bitter and hot : and so in lemons the pulp , the yellow part of the rind , and the seeds have their differing qualities and medicinal vertues . and even in such vegetable substances as are homogeneous as to sense , there may be parts , whose operations may be not only differing , but contrary ; as is manifest in the root , we call rhubarb , which affords as well notably astringent , as laxative and purgative parts . and so in minerals themselves good and clean lead-oar , for instance , tho an uniform body as to sense , consists of very dissimilar parts , and affords sulphureous and perhaps other recrements , besides malleable lead , which is it self a compounded body . thus also shining marcasites , tho they appear homogeneous , will by barely being expos'd for a competent time to the moist air , afford an efflorescence , that is perfectly vitriolate , and consequently contains an acid salt , two kinds of sulphur , a terrestrial substance , and at least one metal , ( for oftentimes it holds both copper and iron , tho one predominate , ) which last nam'd substances themselves are neither of them simple bodies . 5. and if we admit the chymical analysis of mixts to be genuine , we shall find that almost all those that belong to the vegetable kingdom , or to the animal , and many that are refer'd to the mineral kingdom , how uniform soever they may appear to the eye , do each of them contain several different , and sometimes hostile substances . thus hartshorn , tho it appears a dry and homogeneous substance , will in distillation afford a volatile salt , an urinous spirit , a waterish liquor , or phlegm , a swiming oyl and a sinking one , a white and porous earth , or terra damnata , and perhaps some , tho but very little , fixt salt. thus also in the vegetable kingdom , tartar , for instance , may without addition be made to afford , as experience hath assur'd me , a volatile salt very like that of urine , a phlegme , an acid spirit , another spirit too which i have elsewhere given the name of adiaphorous , two faetid oyls , whereof one will sink in water , and the other swim on it , an earth or terra damnata , and a fixt lixivial salt , upon which the newly mention'd acid spirit manifests such a hostility , that when they are put together , they tumultuate with noise and bubbles , and in the conflict mortify each other . and thus likewise in the mineral kingdom , not to repeat what i lately said of the compoundedness of vitriol ; nor confidently to urge the opinion of divers eminent physicians , that mars ( as they call steel and iron ) affords parts whereof some are astringent , and other operative , because i am not yet sure these contrary qualitys , do not proceed from the differing degrees of fire , and other circumstances of the preparations of the metal : we see that native cinnabar affords by distillation , besides running mercury , a dry substance , whence i have obtain'd a sulphur that would presently gild silver , and a terrestrial substance , whose nature i had not occasion to examine . and i the rather take notice of these differing parts in native cinnabar , because it is a mineral that i much esteem ; and tho here in england it is very rarely , or scarce at all imploy'd as an inward medicine , yet i know some forraign physicians of several nations , that look upon it , as one of their chief arcanums , and both use it , and conceal it , accordingly . but i do not willingly imploy it , till it has been prepar'd , by grinding it exactly , upon a porphire , or other fit stone , as a painter would do to make a pigment of it , and by freeing it from certain salts , that often undiscernedly adhere to it , and sometimes may be hurtful ; which is done by first washing it very carefully with boyling water , and then , after it has been throughly dry'd , by burning upon it several times , one after another , some vinous spirits perfectly dephlegm'd . [ the dose , if it be to be long continu'd , may be three , four or five grains : but when 't is to be given but seldom , and for an urgent case , it may be from six or seven , to ten or twelve grains . §. viii . 1. what has been said in the foregoing discourse , to manifest , that a simple , whether organical or not , may notwithstanding its intireness or its seeming homogeneity , contain or afford very , dissimilar parts ; may help us to conceive , that being really a compounded body , it may afford parts differing enough to answer differing indications , or attain several scopes , that are wont to be look'd on by physiciaus as necessary , or at least very useful to the cure of this or that disease ; as in many diarrhaeas or fluxes of the belly , whereas , 't is judg'd requisite first to evacuate the peccant matter , and then to give astringents , to hinder the immoderate evacuation wherein the disease is thought to consist ; rhubarb answers both those indications , by its purgative and its more terrestrial parts , whereof the former dispatch their work first , which makes the astringent operation of the latter seasonable and safe . 2. i have divers times observ'd , that so common and despicable a simple as ground ivy , has perform'd things whose variety seem'd to argue , that it contains parts of very differing vertues ( as of opening , contemperating , healing , &c. ) and is thereby capable of answering differing intentions , especially in distempers of the lungs & breast , & indeed partly by the syrup of it , partly by the infusion of the leaves , and partly by medicines made of them in a consistent form ; the happy effects of this simple have procur'd me the thanks of divers considerable persons , some of which had before unsuccesfully us'd many prescriptions of learned men . and i remember i knew an ingenious person , who being master of a considerable manufacture , which was gainful to him , whilst his servants continu'd tolerably well , was very much incommodated and perplex'd , to find them so obnoxious to violent colicks , ( which he imputed to the copious steams of the vinegar his art requir'd , ) that he was forc'd almost weekly to allow them some days of cessation from working , to preserve or recover themselves . and i remember that from this inconvenience , he was at length , as himself confess'd to me , in great part freed by making his workmen frequently use a strong infusion or tincture of the leaves of our ground-ivy made with ( not pure or dephlegm'd spirit of wine , but ) good unrectify'd nants brandy . i could here add divers other uses , both internal and external , of this seemingly despicable plant , there being scarce any one english herb known to me , of which , for its manifest vertues , the experience of others and my own have given me a greater esteem . and i am apt to think , that the efficacy which this and some other simples , that the fear of prolixity makes me silently pass by , would be found both greater and more various than they are commonly thought , if physicians in prescribing medicines would more often either ordain simple ones , or at least associate but very few together , and compensate the small number of ingredients , by the greater quantity of those that are the most appropriated or operative , and by persisting in their use for a competent time . tho 't is not every efficacious simple , or but lightly compounded remedy , that can fitly be imploy'd about the proof of what i am now endeavouring to show , yet i shall subjoyn such instances , as will , i hope , suffice for the present occasion . mineral waters , as well acidubae , as the german spaw , our tunbridge , &c. as thermae , such as those of bath , &c , tho but natural medicines ; and some of them but outwardly administred , are notoriously known in their native simplicity to be able one of them single , frequently to cure several diseases , and consequently to take off a good number of differing symptoms , that afford various indications . it may help much to make it probable that the same simple may comprise qualities fit to answer differing scopes , and thereby cure differing symptoms , if it be consider'd , that there are several poysons that do each of them produce symptoms not only very frightful , but very various , and yet all these have been oftentimes conquer'd by a specifick antidote , that is perhaps but a simple herb or other uncompounded drug . i had once , ( and but once ) the opportunity of making a tryal , whereof i shall now give you a brief account , of the vertue of a stone taken out of the head of an enormously great african serpent ; which stone was affirm'd to the possessor of it , governour of the famous english east india company , to be highly available against the bitings of all venemous animals . the substance of the experiment ( to give it you in short ) was this , i caus'd a young cat to be bitten by a fierce and highly irritated viper , which so inrag'd the cat , that in revenge he endeavour'd to bite off her head , which he took in his mouth , and did not let go , till , as the spectators concluded , she had bit him again , at , least by the tongue ; soon after which venemous hurt , the cats head swell'd very much , and tho he soon grew so weak , that he was not able to stand on his legs , but lay along on the ground , yet he seem'd to be grown quite mad , for he foam'd at the mouth , and snapt at the end of a wand , or such like things , that were but held near him ; and , which was more , in his rage bit one of his own legs , that lay not far from his mouth , much to the surprise of the spectators . but , tho in this desperate condition it seem'd in vain to attempt any thing for his rescue , because one could make him take nothing , and every one was affraid to come near him ; yet having mix'd a little of the powder'd stone with some sponfuls of fair water , it was by the help of the neck of a glass retort , that we imploy'd in stead of a funnel , pour'd by degrees upon the cats mouth ; which lying open , tho he endeavour'd to shake it off , yet some of it was concluded to have got in ; and within one hour or two after , if not less , he did , to the no small wonder of the by-standers , get upon his legs again , and not only seem'd to have much of the tumidness of his head , but readily enough took the medicine i caus'd to be given him ; and would probably have scap'd very well , if , whilst i was at dinner with the company , some unruly people had not hurt him more mortally than the viper had done . physicians and others have observ'd in the plague a great variety of symptoms , among which there are divers , whereof each , if single would psas for a particular disease . and this diversity of symptoms may be not unfrequently observ'd , not only in pestilences that happen at times , or in countries distant from one another , but in the same plague reigning in the same place . and yet 't is possible , that a simple remedy may be available against this so multifarious or manifold ( if i may so call it ) and violent a disease . of which observation ( to omit what might be alledg'd out of some other authors ) i shall give one instance out of galen himself , who , treating at large of the terra samia , takes occasion 'to bring in the vertues of bolarmony ( bolus armena ) which i should guess by his manner of mentioning it to have been little , if at all , known to physicians till his time. this earth , that appears a body so simple and uniform ; he not only commends for sevearal diseases , as spitting of blood , fluxes of the belly , dysenteries catarrhs , defluxions from the head upon the breast , difficulty of breathing thence insuing , and even ulcers of the lungs ; but adds , what makes very much and directly for our purpose , in the following words . in magna hac peste , ( whereof he had spoken before ) cujus eadem facies fuit atque ejus quae thucidydis memoria grassabatur , quotquot hoc medicamen bibere celeriter curati sunt . [ the way of giving it ( which i add by the by , because it may sometime or other be of use ) was this , bibitur , says he , ex vino albo consistentiâ tenui , modice diluto , si aut planè febri careat , aut leviter eâ teneatur , sin gravius febriat , admodum aqueo . ] and so excellent a medicine did this simple one prove in that terrible plague , that our author sayes , quibus non profuit omnes interiere ; scil. cum nec alio quovis medicamine , juvarentur : unde colligiter , concludes he , quòd iis duntaxat non fuerit auxilio qui plane erant incurabiles . 3. there are few diseases that put on so many forms , or are attended with greater variety of symptoms , than that which physicians call affectio hysterica , and whose paroxysus or effects are vulgarly known in england by the name of fits of the mother . and yet we have often remov'd , and not seldom in a quarter of an hour or less , hysterical paroxysus and symptoms , and sometimes such as made the patient swoon or lye along as almost dead , by the bare odour , of well rectify'd spirt of harts-horn , or the mere pungent and powerful smell of a spirit of sal armoniack , which by a peculiar way i made very strong , purposely for external uses . and if i had not out of the experienc'd monardes , physician to the viceroy of the spanish indies , already mention'd in another treatise an antiscorbutical gem ; i would here add another remedy against the same disease , more considerable to my present purpose , since 't is only a simple stone outwardly apply'd . 4. but , because i think not fit in this place to insist on a testimony already alledg'd , tho its credibility , as well as that of the thing to be confirm'd by it , may be much favour'd by what has been related , concerning the vertues of stones outwardly apply'd , in the latter part of the discourse about specificks : for this reason , i say , i shall add a couple of other remarkable instances , of the efficacy of even dry and solid bodies , tho but externally apply'd in diseases attended with several , and divers of them uncommon symptoms , whereof , whatever many think of the harmlessness of our english vipers , i have here known several instances , in men as well as brutes . and yet in these dangerous cases , many that come from east india extol the great efficacy of some of those stony concretions , that are said to be found in the heads of a certain kind of serpents about goa , and some other eastern countreys : for tho most physicians reject or question the power ascrib'd to these stones , for curing the bitings of vipers , and tho i do not wonder at their diffidence , because in effect many of the stones brought from india are but counterfeit ; and of those that were really taken out of serpents , several , for a reason i must not stay to mention , are insignificant ; ( and such perhaps were those that the learned and curious redy made his tryals with ) yet there are others , whose vertues are not well to be deny'd . for , not to build on vulgar traditions , which are but too often deceitful , one of the eminentest doctors of the london colledge assur'd me , that he had , with one of these stones , done , tho contrary to his expectation ; a notable cure , which he related to me at large . and one of our chief english chyrurgeons affirm'd to me , that he had done the like upon another person ; both of these cures being perform'd by the bare application of the stone , to the place bitten by the viper or adder . and a very intelligent person , who had the direction of a considerable company of traders in east india , where he long liv'd , assur'd me that he had with this stone cur'd several persons of the hurts of venemous animals , but , this testimony is much less considerable , as to the number of cures , than that of a great traveller into the southern parts of the same india , who , tho he were bred by a famous cartesian philospher , and were forward enough to discredit vulgar traditions about the countreys he had long liv'd in ; yet being for those reasons ask'd by me , what i might safely believe of the stones i speak of , seriously affirm'd to me , that he had cur'd above threescore persons of the bitings or stings of several sorts of poysonus creatures ; and that he perform most of those cures , by the outward application of one stone ; because , finding it excellent , he was invited to keep to it , especially in difficult . cases . and this same experience of my own , made with a genuine stone of this kind , upon the bodies of brutes , much inclines me to give credit to . but , because this stone is afforded by an animal , i shall add the vertues of another , that properly belongs to the mineral kingdom ; in a disease , whose symptoms , tho not so various , are sometimes dangerous , and too often mortal . to shew you then , that in spite of great closeness and hardness , a simple remedy outwardly apply'd , may be a very effectual one , i shall inform you , that tho the solid i am speaking of past for a bloodstone , yet by its colour and some other visible qualities , i should rather have taken it for an agat . it was but about the bigness of a small nutmeg , and had in it a perforation , by which a stiring past through it , to fasten it to the part affected . this stone had been long kept in the family that possess'd it , when i saw it , being for its rare vertues left by one to another . but , to omit the reports that went of it , the notable case , that makes it pertinent for me to mention it here , was this . an ingenious gentleman , that was a man of letters , and when i saw him , was in the flower of his age , and of a complexion so highly sanguine , as is not usually to be met with , was from time to time subject to hemorrhages at the nose ; so profuse and so difficult to be restrain'd , that his physician , tho a person famous and very well skill'd in his art , told me he often fear'd he should loose his patient , and that he would be carry'd away by this unbridled distemper ▪ but when good method and variety of remedies had been try'd , without the desir'd success , this stone was at length obtain'd from an ancient kinswoman of the gentlemans , to tye about his neck , so as to touch his naked skin . this when he did in the fits , it would stop the bleeding ; and if he wore it for some considerable time together , he all that while continu'd well , as both his learned physician and himself inform'd me . and , because i was apt to ascribe somewhat of this effect to imagination , on , the patient told me , that a while before one of the chief women in the city , ( whom he nam'd to me ) fell into so violent a bleedings , that , tho' it brought her into a swoon , yet that it self , which is somewhat strange , did not hinder her to bleed on , till the stone , having been ty'd about her neck , made her cease to do so , tho' she knew nothing of its having been apply'd to her . and this it self is less strange than what the gentleman affirm'd to me of the power of this gem , as it may deservedly be called . for his complexion inclining him , as was above intimaed , to breed great store of blood , his doctor thought fit to order him , for prevention , to breath a vein , from time to time , which when he was about to do , he was obliged to lay aside the stone for a while , because , whilst he kept it on , the blood would not issue out , at least with the requisite freedom . but how far have i already past beyond the designed limits of this little tract ! wherein i at first intended , but to lay before you the five chief advantages i had observ'd , mere simple remedies to have of very compounded ones ; and briefly to propose the main grounds , on which i ascrib'd those advantages to such remedies . but tho' the better to keep this writing from being prolix , i design'd that it should consist chiefly of such particulars , as i could best spare from other papers ; and tho' for that reason i have purposely omitted many parable , and other but little compounded or elaborate medicines : yet i now perceive that , so many new particulars having offer'd themselves on several occasions , whilst i was writing , my pen has slipt into the mention of many more receipts , and historical passages , than were at first intended . but believing the subject to be very useful , and not despairing but that the things deliver'd on it may not be altogether useless ; i dare hope you will pardon such faults , as only my desire of making the parts of this small writing , rather serviceable than methodical or well proportion'd , drew me unawares into . but whatever were the cause of my prolixity , the bulk which i see this paper has already swell'd to , admonishes me , that i ought to put a speedy period to it , without spending time solicitously to declare in what sense i commend the medicines deliver'd in this invitation , for by recalling to mind , what i have formerly wrote ( in a treatise you have been pleas'd to peruse * ) about the limitations , with which i would have the praises i give of tome remedys understood , and the cautions with which i would have them administred ; you will easily be perswaded , that looking upon them but as fit tools in a skilful workmans hands , i do not pretend that any of them should do the offices both of physick and physician too : and that i propose not the medicines mention'd in this short paper , as sure specificks , but as instances that there are remedies , which notwithstanding their being but simple ones , may be very good ones . i am sir your most &c. r. b. finis . a catalogue of late physick books sold by samuel smith , at the prince's arms , in st. pauls churchyard . fol. boneti anatomia , 2. vol. 1680. — mercurius , 1682. — medicina septentrionalis , 1684. bidloo anat. humani corporis ( 105 fig. illnjirata ) 1685. breinii plantarum exoticar . cent , cum figuris , 1680. bibliotheca anatom . cum fig. 2 vol. 1685. fabriti hildani opera cum severino , 1682. hippocratisopera foetii . hartmanni opera omnia , 1684 , horstii opera med. paracelsi opera , 2 vol. dioscoridis opera , g. lat. saxoniae opera mid. 1680. piso hist . natsiralis de rebus indiae . schenkii observat . med. mentzelii index plant , cum figuris , 1683. lepenii bibliotheca med. 1683. riverii opera , 1679. zwelferi pharmacopeia , 2 vol. pharmacop . angust . renovata , fine notis , 1685. wedelii tabulae . quartoes . alpinus medicina aegypt . borriehius de ortu & progressu chimiae . borrichii hermetis aegyptiorum & chym. sapientia . — de somno & somniferis . baubini pinax cum prodromo . broeckbuysen oeconomia corporis anim. 1683. blasii anatomia , 1681. borellus de motu animalium , 2 vol. 1685. price 12 s. bellinus at urinis & pulsibus . 1685. bohn chymia , 1685. barbetti opera omnia . 1685. blegny zodiacus galen . med. chymic . 1682 — zodaius gal. med. an. 4 & 5. 1685. bartholini acta medica . 4 vol. castelli lexicon med. 1682. per bruno , cardilucil officina sanitatis . clauderi methodus balsamandi . — de' tinctura universali . collectanea chymica leydensia , 1684. clauderi inventum cinnabaricum , 1684. cleyer specimina medicinae sinicae , 1682. coberi observat . med. 1684. charas pharmacopeia regia , 1683. charas theriaca andromachi , 1684. — opera omnia , 1684. diemerbroeck anatomia . davissoni comment , in medicinam severini ettmulleri opera med , 1685. — medicus , 1685. — chimia . dolaei encyclopedia med. 1684. fernelii opera , 1683. van helmontii opera , 1682. glisson de naturae substantia . hoffmanni praxis med. 1680. helwigii observationes med. 1680. hoffmannus in schroderum . joel opera medica . kyperi anthropologia corporis humani . konig regnuim animale , 1682. kunckelii ars vitraria . kirekringii specilegium anatom . licetus de monstris . micaelis de apoplexia , 1685. morhoff de scypho vitreo . museum hermetic . miscellanea curiosa m. physica , 7 vol. an. x — id. decuria secunda anni primi , 1683. — dec. 2. an. 2. — dec. 2. an. tertius , 1685. margravi materia medica . — prodromes . pauli quadripartitum botanicum . — de febribus . plateri praxis . pecblinus de potu theae , 1684. paulini cynographia curiosa , 1685. peyeri merycologia , 1685. regii medicina . rolfinchius de purgantibus , 1683. — ordo & methodus med , specialis — concilia med. — chimia . sacra eleusinia patefacta , 1684. schenckii hist . de humor , totius corporis , 1684 salamandrae descriptio , 1683. sylvii opera med. schrokii pharmacopeia , augustana . — hist . moschi . sturmii collegium curiosum , 2 vol. 1584. du verney de auditu , in fig. 1685. ang. salae opera med , 1682. swammerdam miraculum naturae . vigerii opera med , versaschae de apoplexia . weltheri sylva medica . welschii decades x. med . — observat . & curat , med . — concilia , med . wedelii opiologia . — physiologia med. — pharmacia . — de medicam . facultatibus . — de medicam . compositione . — am aenitates materiae med. 1684. — disputationes variae , 2 vol. weidenfeld de usu spir. vini lulliani , 1684 wepferi cicutae aquaticae . zwelferi pharmacop . octavoes . bartholin de ductu salivali ; 1685. bruelis praxis med. bontekoe de febribus , 1683. tho. bartholini hist . anatomica . becke de procidentia uteri , 1683. borelli observat . med. briggs opthalmo graphin . — nova visionis theoria , barthol . anatomia . beck . experimenta , 1684. beckeri physica subterranea cum supplemento , 1681. brunneri experimenta nova circa pancreas , 1682. charleton de causis catumor , &c. 1685. ent contra parisanum , de circ . sang. 1685. — contra thruston de respiat . 1685. camerarii sylloges memorabilium me. 2 vol. 1683. deckeri exercitationis med pract . dodonaei praxis medica . franchimont lithotomia med. 1683. franciscus de venae sectione . 1685. felicis de ovis cont . malpighi , 1684. funerwalfi anatomia . gockelii concilia & observat . med 1683. de graaf opera . grulichius de hydrope , 1681. — de bile , 1682. grimm compend . med. chym. 1684. gieswin hodegus , med . guiberti opera med. hartmanni praxis chymiatrica , 1682. heide anatome mytuli & observat . med. 1684. hippocratis opera , 2 vol. juncken chymia experiment alis , 1681. — medicus praesenti seculo accom . 1682. inventa nova antiqua med. 1684. le mort pharmacia & chimia , 1684. lossii concil . med. 1684. lister de fontibus med. angliae . — de insectis , 1685. — appendix ad hist . animal . angl. 1685. liseri culter anatomicus : maachetti anatomi meekren observat . med. chyrur . 1682 : merett pinax : oeconomia animalis , 1685. plateri observat . med. peonis & pythagor . exercit. anat. & med. 1682 : plot de origine fontium , 1685. rulandip de phlebotomia . riverii institutiones : — praxis , 2 vol. — observat . rulandi curationes empericae , 1680. sydenhami opera universa londini , 1685. sraussii isagoge physica , 1684. schroderi pharmacopeia : sacchius iris febrilis , 1684. — methodus curandi febris , 1685. sculteti chyrurgia cum append. sthal aetiologia phys . chym. 1683. tilingii lilium curiosum , 1683 : prodromus , med . — de laudano opiato . — de febribus . theatrum chymicum , 6 vol. tulpii observat . med . 1685. versaschae observat . med . welsch rationale vulnerum lethalium , 1685. wepferi de apoplexia : witten memoria medicor . weberi anchora saucitor . zypaei fundamentu med . 1683 : twelves . bayle tract . de apoplexia . — dissertationes physicae . — dissertationes medicae . — problemata physica med. blondel thermarum aquis granen . & porcet . descript . 1685. barbetti chyrurgia : — praxis cum notis deckerii : broen de duplici bile veterum , 1685. barthol . de ovariis : — de unicornu : — de pulmenum substantia : beughen bibliographia med. & physica , 1682 : beguini tyrocinium chymicum : comelini catalogus plantarum , 1682 : closs . de aquis min. & mixtionibus , 1685. drelincurt praeludium anat. — experimenta anat. 1684. — de foeminarum ovis . — de conceptione advers . 1685. — de hum , foetus membranis . p 685. guiuri arcanum acidular . 1682. glissoni opuscula , 3 vol. van helmont . fundamenta med. 1681 : hoffmanus de usu lienis , &c. 1682 : harvey de gener. animal . — de motu cordis : hoffman de cinnabari antimonii , 1685. ab heer fons spadanus & observ . med. 1685. kirchim de peste , 1681. kirckring . in basilvalent . currum triumph . kunckelii observat . chymiae , 1681 : le mort compendium chymicum , 1862. muralti vade mecum anat. 1682. mysteria physico-medica , 1681. maurocordatus de motu pulmonum , 1682. macasii promptuarium materiae med. matthaei experimenta chymica , 1683. muis praxis chyrurgica duabus partibus , 1684. — decus quinta , 1685. morelli methodus perscribendi formulas . remedior . primerose ars pharmae . pecket anatomia . redus de insectis . reidlini observ . med . rivinus de peste lipsiensi , 1680. riverii arcana . st. romani physica , 1684. recuell de curiositez , en medicine , 1685. smitzii compend . med . 1682. stockhameri micocosmographia . severi in synopsis chyrurgio . schraderi observationes , med . schola salernitana . sponii aphorismi hippoc. 1684. swalve quaerelae ventriculi . — alcali & acidum . tilingius de renum structura , verlae anat. oculi . vigani medulla chymiae . du verney traite de l'organe de l'ouvie , 1683. tencke instrumenta curat . morb , 1683. wedelii theoremata med. — de sale volat. plantarum . advertisement . that these afore mentioned books in physick and chymistry , with many other forreign books , are sold by samuel smith , at the prince's arms in st. pauls church yard ; and that he will furnish himself with much variety of new books in that kind , from time to time , as they shall come from franckfort mart ; and likewise he can procure such other books for gentlemen , which perhaps are not to be met with here , from his correspondents , if to be had , beyond sea. books printed for , and sold by samuel smith . the philosophical transactions published by the royal society monthly , beginning january 1683 : jo. goedartius de insectis in methodum redactus cum notularum additions opera m. lister , item appendicis ad hist . animalium angliae , cum 21 figuris aeneis illustrata , 1685. enquiry after happiness by the author of practical christianity , 1685. the duty of servants , &c. by the same author , 1685. boyl's memoirs for the nat. history of human blood , especially the spirit of that liquor , 1684. price 2 s. — experiments and considerations about the porosity of bodys , in two essays , 1684 , price 1 s. 6 d. history of mineral waters , 1685. price 1 s. — of the reconcileableness of specifick medicines to the corpuscular philosophy , with an invitation to the use of simple medicines . tuta ac efficax luis venerea , sepe absque mercurio ac semper absque salvatione mercuriali curandae methodus authore d.a.m.d. 1684. de variatione , ac varietate pulsus observationes , accessit ejusdem authors nova medicinae tum speculativae , tum practicae clavis . sive ars explorandi medicas plantarum ac corporum quorumcumqne faultates ex solo sapore , 1685. the whole art of the stage , &c. translated out of french. in quarto , 1684. price 5 s. a new history of ethiopia , being a full and accurate description of the kingdom of abessinia , vulgarly , though erroneously , called the empire of prester john , in four books ( illustrated with many copper plates ) and also a new and exact map of the countrey , and a preface shewing the usefulness of this history , with the life of gregorius abba , &c. by the learned job ludolphus counceller to his imperial majesty and the dukes of saxony , and treasurer to his highness , the elector palatine . in fol. 1684 price 12 s. guideon's fleece , or a vindication of the colledge of physicians , in answer to a book intituled the conclave of physicians . by dr. harvey , in quarto , 1684. pr. 6. di an anatomical account of an elephant which was lately dissected in dublin , june 17 , in the year 1681. by a. m. med. of trinity colledge near dublin , illustrated with cuts , in quarto , 1682. price 1. s. swammerdami ( johan . ) amst , m. d. miraculum naturae . in octavo . a philosophical account of the hard frost , with what effects it may probably have upon human bodies , as to health and sickness , in quarto . 2 d. stitcht . the true method of curing consumptions . by s. h. med. d. 1683. price 1. s. a discourse about bagnio's , and mineral baths , and of the drinking of spaw water , with an account of the medicinal vertues of them , and also shewing the usefulness of sweating , rubbing , and bathing , and the great benefit many here received from them in various distempers . by s. h. med. doct. 1683. miracles , works above and contrary to naturer ; or an answer to a late translation out of spinosa's tractatus theologice-politicus , mr. hobs leviathan , &c. in quarto , 1683. price 1. s. a treatise of self examination , in order to the worthy receiving the holy communion . by monsieur john claude minister of the reformed church at paris : translated from the french original , in twelves , 1683. protestancy to be embraced ; or a new and infallible method to reduce romanists from popery to protestancy . 1683. pr. 1. s. the art of divine converse , being a new years-gift , directing how to walk with god all the year long , in twelves , pr. 6 , d. the councils of wisdom , or the maxims of solomon , in twelves , 1683. pr. 1. s. the ten pleasures of marriage . in twelves . the dutch rogue : or gusman of amsterdam , traced from the cradle to the gallows , 1683. in twelves . dr. smith's sermon about frequent communion , 1685. mr. fish's sermon on the 9th of may , 1684. history of the original and progress of ecclesiastical revenues , by the learned p. simon , 1685. contra hist . aristeae de lxx interpretibus dissertatio , five responsio ad d. isaac vosfium de septuaginta , &c. per h. hoday a. m. 1685. epigramatum delectus ex omnibus tum veteribus tum recentioribus poetis s accurate decerptus , &c. cum dissertatione , de ver a pulchritudine & adumbrata , in qua ex certis principiis , rejectionis at selectionis epigramatum causae reduntur . adjectae sunt elegantes sententiae ex antiquis poetis parce , sed severiori judicio selectae . 1685. a discourse about toleration , wherein the late pleas for it made by the d. of b. and the nameless author of the considerations concerning toleration are fully answered , and the popular arguments drawn from the practices of the united netherlands stated at large , and shown to be weak , fallacious and insufficient ; in quarto , pr. 1 s. 1685. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a29016-e620 galen . de simpl . medicam . fac. lib. 11. galen . de simpl . med. fac. lib. 11. the essay of the porosity of animal bodies . * ego ab anno 1649. in hunc diem per integros 14 annos ultra mille febricitantes sine ven. , sectione , sine purgatione , sine sudoriseris , sine diureticis , sine alterantibus , sine corrobarantibus , sine topicis , & siquid praeterea unico fere medicamento praecipitante , deo inprimis benedicente , curavi : non considerando , an febris sit intermittens , an continua , an tertiana vel quartana ( quae tamen difficilius curatur quàm aliae ) nec expectatà coctione , nec habito respectu sexûs , ( ne p●erperis quidem exceptis ) aetatis , anni , temporis , vel aliarum circumstantiarum : & quidem paucorum dierum spatio sine recidiva vel aliquo notabili incommodo , nisi ubi aeger ipse per incontinentiam de novo paroxysmos provocarit . kergerus de fermentatione , sect . 3. cap. 3. pag. mihi 250. n. b. * the paper here mean't is the essay of the porosity of bodys . * see this at large proved by the learned diemerbro●●k de peste , lib. 2. cap. 11. in annotat. galen de simp. med. facultatib . lib. ●ono . tit. de lapid . nic. monard simpl. med. hist . cap. 36. p. 329. * untzer . de nephrit . lib. 1. cap. 24. notes for div a29016-e5940 galen . de con. p. sec. gen. lib. 1. the vsefulness of exp. philosophy . galen . de simpl. med. facult . lib. ix . tiul . de terra samia . see nicol. monard simpl . med. histor . cap. 36. p. m. 329. * see the appendix to the i section of the ii part of the usefulness of exper. philosophy . p. 389-390 and of the 2d . edition . every man his own doctor in two parts, shewing i. how every one may know his own constitution by certain signs, also the nature and faculties of all food as well as meats as drinks ... : the second part shews the full knowledge and cure of the pox, running of the reins, gout, dropsie, scurvy, consumptions and obstructions, agues ... / written by john archer. archer, john, fl. 1660-1684. 1671 approx. 134 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 81 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a25754 wing a3608 estc r27652 10066026 ocm 10066026 44488 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a25754) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 44488) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1375:9) every man his own doctor in two parts, shewing i. how every one may know his own constitution by certain signs, also the nature and faculties of all food as well as meats as drinks ... : the second part shews the full knowledge and cure of the pox, running of the reins, gout, dropsie, scurvy, consumptions and obstructions, agues ... / written by john archer. archer, john, fl. 1660-1684. [4], 150 p. printed by peter lillicrap for the author, london : [1671] "the second part, every man his own doctor" (p. [107]-150) has special t.p. imperfect: date of printing is obscured. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-12 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2008-12 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion every man his own doctor . in two parts . shewing 1. how every one may know his own constitution and complection , by certain signs . also the nature and faculties of all food as well meats , as drinks . whereby every man and woman may understand what is good or hurtful to them . treating also of air , passions of mind , exercise of body , sleep , venery and tobacco , &c. the second part shews the full knowledge and cure of the pox , and running of the reins , gout , dropsie , scurvy , consumptions , and obstructions , agues . shewing their causes and signs , and what danger any are in , little or much , and perfect cure with small cost and no danger of reputation . written by john archer chymical physitian in ordinary to the king. felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas . london , printed by peter lillicrap for the authour , and are to be sold by most booksellers , 16●● . to the reader . considering the great damage that comes upon most people daily by not knowing or not regarding there own constitutions of body , whereby they neglect the pretious jewel of health , and so by ignorance do live negligenly , and eat and drink they care not what so it be good in it self , thinking it cannot be bad for them so it please the pallat , but thereby many dig their graves with their teeth , and cut off the thread of their lives sooner then is required by god or nature , besides their uncomfortable living in sickness and disease of body . now for prevention i have to the benefit of all if perused , writ this short compendium ; shewing how every one may know his own complection , and the nature and faculty of most food now used in england , whereby every man may be his own doctor in a dietetical way which may prevent a physical course , and for such as are distempered or diseased . i have mentioned some of the most dangerous diseases now in being , which with their knowledge and dangers , are clearly laid down , and their best cure faithfully propounded , which experience will best testifie , having pitty to all that are so ignorant , that eat they know not what , or that are diseased and know not how to be cured , but with ruine to their credit and name . these reasons made me publish this short tract , for thy good that art willing and hast need of advice least too late thou considerest . j. a. licensed and entred according to order . the contents of this book . first , the epistle to the reader . chap. 1. of the preservation of health . page 1. chap. 2. shews the best temperature . page 4. chap. 3. shews certain signs to know your constitution and complection . page 6. chap 4. shews the benefit to be gathered from knowledge of our own complection . page 10. chap. 5. declaring some common axiomes and maximes to be observed in preserving of health . page 12. chap. 6. treats of the worth of air , and the best and worst air , also difference of air. page 14. chap. 7. treats of meat or food , shewing the difference , also the best and worst . page 23. chap. 8. shews the nature and faculties of every thing we eat in beasts or fowl . page 26. chap. 9. shews the nature and variety of fish . page 40. chap. 10. treats of food taken from living creatures , as milk , eggs , honey , and others . page 48. chap. 11. treats of food from plants and vegetables . as corn , fruits , roots , herbs . page 57. chap. 12. shews the difference of drinks , and nature of waters , wine , beer , ale , honey drinks , coffee and tobacco , for whom it is good . page 80. chap. 13. of passions of the mind , and exercise and rest of the body , sleep , watchings , excretions , retentions and venery . page 96. the second part ▪ chap. 1. the advertisement . page 109. chap. 2. treats of the pox. page 115. chap. 3. shews the signs of infection by the fox . page 118. chap. 4. how to cure the pox. page 120. chap. 5. shews how to cure the running of the reins or weakness of nature . page 125. chap. 6. shews how to know and cure the scurvy page 129. chap. 7. treats of the gout and how to cure . page 132. chap 8. of the different dropsies , their causes and cures . page 135. chap. 9. of an ague or feaver , what it is , and how to cure . page 137. chap. 10. of a consumption and decays of strength , and how to cure . page 140. chap. 11. treating of all sorts of jaundies , and obstructions , and green sickness . page 146. chap. 12. of the prices of the medcines that cures these great diseases and proper for all constitutions . page 149. being to be had at the authors house only . every man his own doctor . chap. i. of the preservation of health . to preserve health when present and to restore if lost is the chief end of phisick and shall be my main design in this small tract . the word medicina being derived amedendo that is healing such as are sick doth properly belong to the theraputicall part only , which part being most necessary was first invented yet afterwards when that part was added which shews the preservation of present health the same denomination was still retained and is now given to the whole art of phisick , therefore for definition phisick is an art of preserving mans health when present and restoreing it when lost as far as it is posible . the subject of phisick is mans body as it is obnoxious to diseases , the scope or end of phisick is to heal — although it is impossible to cure all that are sick ; yet the physitian hath performed his office if he hath omitted none of those things that are in the power of nature and art . health amongst all things called good by mortals is most desired when sick , therefore ought to be highly prized , when in well being , and i think it may not only be acceptable , but very profitable to all , to be sincerely and briefly informed how to keep health and cure themselves ; especially for those that have not patience to read voluminous authours , and those that want time and means for due regulation and government ; although we have an old proverb , that every man is a fool , or a physitian at forty year old . which saying is very true , my meaning is , that every man in prudence should so far be his own doctor as rightly to know his own constitution and complection , and the reasons for the friendly agreement or the antipathy of any food to his own body , and for this end he ought to know the nature of all meat and drink in use as ordinary food ( amongst us in england especially . ) the aforesaid knowledge is the hygenial part of physick , that is rules how present health may be preserved , and how to beware not to fall into a disease , not that i think it necessary that every particular person should be able to read an anotomy lecture upon the parts of his own body , nor study the nature , differences , causes of diseases , nor the various sorts , nor qualities of purgative medicines , but that man is to be pittied that eats for hunger and knows not the nature of what he eats , which negligence in so necessary a knowledge hath occasioned much sickness to many , and death not to few . for preventing of such dangers , you shall now receive brief rules how to know your own constitution and complection , and also the nature and faculty of all the meat , drink , or sorts of food , now used in this kingdom . to the end that every man may be his own doctor , so far as to know as well by reason as experience , that this doth agree with my constitution , and why that doth not . now first i understand the temperature of a sound man , and that of all living creatu●es man is most temperate , so that all living creatures , and food and medicines compared to man are said to be hotter , colder , moister , or dryer , though man be not absolutely temperate for common sense tells us that heat in man is predominant over the other qualities . chap. ii. shews the best temperature . the best temperature for a man to perform his actions , is hot and moist , for our lives consist o● heat and moisture , and the contrary coldness and dryness leads us to death , and by how much sooner a man is cooled and dryed , by so much sooner a man grows old and dyes , yet that heat and moisture have their degrees , for if the heat exceed the cold , the moisture , the drowth , moderately that temper is best and accounted temperate , and all others differing from this , are called either hot and moist , hot and dry , cold and moist , cold and dry , though all in general are hot and moist , these temperaments are commonly explained by these differing names ▪ of sanguine , cholerick , plegmatick and melancholly , which must be und●rstood of the variety of blood , which is the nutriment of the body and not of extrementitious humours . now i will give some signs how and whereby you may judge your complections according to senertus , and whether you differ from the best constitution . chap. iii. of signs to know your constitution or complection . first bodies which are too hot , yet moderate in dryness and humidity , such discover themselves , to the touch hair abounds in the whole body , and is inclining to yellow and thick , they are thinner as to m●tter o● fat , they are swift and strong for motion , prone to anger the colour of the face is r●dder then of a temperate body they are easily hurt by hot things . signs of a hot and dry constitution , viz. cholerick . if moisture be joyned to heat which they call cholerick the body shall be hot , hard , thin , and lean , hairy and the hairs are black curled , the pulse of the arteries are great , and their veins great , they are angry persons , which are endued with such a temperature obstinate lovers of brawlings they desire few things they are fit for the generation of males . signs of a hot and moist sanguine constitution . if moisture be joyned to heat which temperament they call sanguine the bodies , shall be hot and soft abounding with much blood fleshy indued with large veins and those which are so in their youth often have the hemorrhoides , or bleeding at the nose , and if the humidity abound they are apt from their youth to diseases of putrifaction . signs of a cold constitution . if the body be too cold , such a body is perceived by the touch and is white , fat , slow , soft and bald , 't is easily hurt by cold things , it hath a narrow breast without hair , and narrow veins , scarcely appearing , the h●irs thin and of small increase for the most part , they are f●arful that are of that temperament . signs of a cold and moist phlegmatick constitution . if moisture be joyned to the cold not much , nor that coldness great , the body shall be white in colour , fat , thick , soft , reddish hair , inclining to palen●ss , but if the frigidi●y with the ●umidity be more intense the body shall be th●ck , coloured yellow , exceeding bald , the hair smooth , the vein● lying hid , ●uc● ●emp●raments are dull and slow of app●ehension and for the most part altogether ●ol● , no ways ready , simple , no● prone to anger . not that any sca●c●ly may be said to be of a simple com 〈…〉 l●ction , without mixture of som● other , neither do any abide long what they are . of a cold and dry melancholly complection . if frigidity be joyned to dryness , such a body is discerned by the touch , those shall be lean , bald , pale , which are of such a constitution , slow in motion , dejected in countenance with their eyes fixed , as for melancholians in particular , not only whom the vulgar , but whom aristotle in the thirty section , and the first probleme accounts ingenious , wherein the said aristotle writes that much and cold choller is black , such are foolish and idle : wherein there is much and hot choller , those are quick-sighted and ingenious , apt to love , propense to anger and lust . some great bablers — but those whose heat is more remiss , more temperate , and as it were reduced to mediocrity , those are more prudent , and although they less exceed in some matters , yet in others th●y are far better then the others , some in the study of literature , others in arts , others in common-wealths ; namely those melancholians are ingenious , who by nature abound with good and plenty of blood , wherewith some part thicker and dryer is mingled ; which adds as it were strength to the blood , and when attenuated , and as it were poured it is spiritual . chap. iv. the benefit to be gathered from knowledge of our own complection . by comparing what is already said to the present temperament of our own bodies we may find a certain agreement with them and some of the temperaments described which known and well considered it will prove of no small value to all that desire health , or wisdom ; for we say premonitus premunitus , if i know by the fore-written signs that i am a chollerick person , i will resolvedly beware the evils of that temperament , both of body and mind as knowing my inclination to quarrels , wrath , anger , fightings , &c. i will bridle nature for it is truly said . mores sequntur humores , according to the humours of the body , so are the conditions of the mind , and also for food , knowing my temperament to be hot and cholerick , i must avoid those things in meat and drink that increase it , and use things that do allay and cool heat . and so a phlegmatick person ought to avoid cold and moist things especially , both in meat , and drink , therefore his drink may well be more strong , and food hotter , and more drying then the person that is hot and dry already — for the person being hot and dry , ought to correct his heat with cooling and moistning , as the melancholly man who is cold and dry ought to take food both healing and moistning . so sympathy and antipathy must be observed in physick rules for preservation of health , for it is truly said contrariae contrariis gurantur , all remedies are performed by their contraries . chap. v. some common axiomes and maximes , there are to be observed in the method of preserving of health ▪ as , 1. nature doth nothing rashly . 2. too much of any thing is an enemy to nature . 3. nature is the physitian of diseases but the physitian is the servant of nature and ought to imitate her she acting aright . 4. custome is a second nature and those things which he are accustomed to a long time though worse they are wont to be less troublesome then those things we are not used to . doctrine of the preservation of health . doctrine for health is comprehended in these 2 parts , viz. materials of health or wholesome causes . 2. a knowledge necessary for the preservation of health teaching how things called non-natural are to be used for the keeping men in health , they are comprehended under the notion of things non-natural , and ought to be ordered into four ranks . as , 1. first , those things which are taken in . 2. s●condly , those things which are carried . 3. thirdly , those things which are emitted and retained . 4. fourthly , what befalls the body by accident . as , of air , meat and drink , passion of the mind , motion , and exercise of body , rest , sleep and watching , venery , excretions and retentions . chap. vi. of air. air is the most worthy element for the preservation of life in every creature , nay the other elements subsist by it , as for example fire is extinguished if you keep air from it , and water putrifies and stinks if air comes not to it : and the very earth brings forth nothing to maturity , without it . therefore we may well give precedency to its worth in discourse . the air affects our bodies two wayes , viz. extrinsecally as it insinuates through the pores of the skin and as it is attracted by inspiration , so it hath a force upon our bodies and impresseth its quality whether good or bad upon us , according to all writers . the best air . the best air is temperate as to the primary quallities , and is pure and infected , with no pollutions but is serene , moved or stirred with the winds , breathing sweetly with pleasant gales and sometimes moistned with wholesome showers . corrupt air ▪ on the contrary that air is vitious which is infected with exhalations and vitious vapours breaking forth on every side , or is compassed with marish or standing waters after what manner soever it be impure , and such as cannot be purified by the blowing of winds , that air which is troubled , or too hot , or too cold , too dry , or too moist . constitution of air . but the constitution of air may be polluted though divers causes , first the constitution of the air depends on the scituation and nature of places for some regions are hotter then others , others colder , for by how much the more any regions receive the direct beams of the sun ; and by how much the longer the sun remains above their horizon , by so much the country is more hot , the contrary reasons make it so much the colder , yet this cause only doth not suffice , neither is the same constitution of air in all the inhabitants under the same latitude for these ten reasons . first the mold and proper nature of the earth conduceth to the constitution and temperature of the air , wherein is to be observed what the nature of ground is , whether fat , dirty , filthy , gravelly , stony , sandy . whether the place be high , or low , what scituation there is of mountains and valleys , what winds it often admits , and from what climates , whether the sea or any lakes be near it , whether it brings forth mettals from whence malignant air may be exhaled . 2. scituation of mountains . the mountains also change the constitution of the air , according as the blowing of certain winds drive away and admit it , and if the mountains drive away the north wind , but admit the south wind , it comes to pass that the air is hotter and moister , the contrary makes the place colder and dryer . 3. winds . the different winds bring forth great mutations , as the oriental or east winds are more temperate , also the occidental or west , but these are moister , the northern are cold and dry , and have power to bind bodies and dry them , the southern are hot and moist , therefore as the region or scituation is more or less disposed to this or that wind , so it obtains this or that constitution of air , but generaly countrys exposed to the oriental sun are more wholesome then those which are exposed to the septentrional or north winds , and hot winds are more wholesome then those which are exposed to the west . 4. sea and lakes the vicinity to the sea and lakes conduce much to the peculiar nature of the air , unless interjected mountains prohibit , for from moist places of this nature many exhalations are drawn up , which mingle themselves with air and moisten it , and indeed the humidity will be increased if the sea or lake be scituated on the south , but if towards the north fridigity . 5. metallick pits or mines . mines generally communicate their malignant smell and vapou●s to the neighbouring places , also caves exhale venemous air , also woods that are too thick hinder the light of the sun and moon , as also the motion of the air . 6. times of the year . indeed the seasons of the yeer change the air , which astronomers constitute equall according to the motion of the sun , and zodiack , being divided into four parts but physitians regard these times according to the temper of the air , and call that the spring , when the constitution of the air is more temperate , when we grow neither stiff with cold nor sweat with heat : but the summer when the same is hot and dry , winter when it is cold and moist , neither do they appoint these seasons to be equal in all countries . 7. the spring . the spring being the most temperate , or as hypocrates calls it hot and moist , that is when calidity moderately overcomes frigidity , and humidity moderately exceeds driness , it is the most wholesome time of the year , and although diseases are generated ( or rather shews themselves ) in the spring time , yet the spring of its self doth not produce them , but the vitious humors which are gathered together in the winter time are driven out in the spring by the heat o● the sun , and planets . 8. the summer . this quarter is hot and dry , ergo makes bodies more hot and dry , purifies and disolves and renders them weaker , by reason of heat , it attenuates humours and kindles them , from whence cholorick and acrimonius humors are accumulated . 9. autmne . this season is mixed with cold and heat , that is mornings and evenings are cold , the midle part of the day hot , its constitution is hot and cold , and by reason of its inequality in air it is very obnoxious to diseases , and blood at this time of the year is diminished by reason of approach of cold winter makes it dangerous to phlebotomise but upon necessity , for now melancholly abound bodyes are thickned by the retiring of blood and spirits which causeth the pores to close . 10. winter . now the frigidity of the air with moisture makes flegm abounds and procures catarrhs , distillations , rotten coughs . but if the seasons of the year are variable and uncertain it makes the air corrupt , by which means divers diseases are reigning according to the various constitution of the different seasons . the most healthful air and place ▪ from what we have said it is evident that those places , dwellings , countries and region are most wholesome , where the air is temperate , the spring temperate , the heat of summer sufficient to ripen corn , and fruit , autumn colder , winter cold , yet not offending our bodies with extreams , also a fruitful soil , men comely of body , well coloured in the face , laudable in their manners , and joyful in their prosperous health , &c. ingenious in invention , to all which may be added valour , which not only is seen in men in england , but as well in other creatures here , as the mastiff dog , and cock , for which no part of the world can parallel , being no small argument of the excellent temperature of the air of england , for by experience their valour declines in a few years , being transported to other countries . chap. vii . of meat , or food . having now finished our discourse of air , and though we choose to live in the best , it is not sufficient without good food , therefore having already shewed how all may know their own constitutions , and complections , and goodness of air , it will be necessary in the next place , to shew the nature , temper , and vertue of most food is now used in this kingdom , whereby every man may easily see and know by comparing it with his constitution what is friendly and healthful to him , and wherein in it is inimical , and therefore know that all aliment as meat , and drink , wherewith the substance of our bodies is renewed and strengthned , is of vertue to encrease the substance of our bodies , for it is a true saying in a sense , that we our selves have had our selves upon our trenchers . food properly so called is to nourish our bodies if medicinal to alter our bodies . but food is taken from two things , viz. from the animal kingdom , or vegitable , all those things that proceed from living creatures are either parts of animals , or those things which proceed from them as eggs , milk , honey , butter , cheese , &c. difference of food . many things there are for the aliment and food of man , and great is the difference of them in nourishment , for some are very good and some of ill nourishment , and juice , some are of easie concoction , others hard to be concocted again , some will corrupt easily in the stomack , other some not . the best food . the best m●at yeild plenty of nourishm●nt , is easie of concoction , not quickly corrupted , nor hath an ill quality and there remains after it , but few excrements . but the contrary are unwholesome and all that leaves an ill juice and are easily corrupted is the worst . firm food , that aliment which brings forth much nourishment is accounted firm , but it requires much strength of heat for concoction . but that is in firm which is easily concocted and nourisheth , but affords but little nourishment , and such that is soon dispersed and after it the stomack soon calleth for more . chap. iv. of the nature of every food we eat . and because i know that people of all qualities do commonly feed upon what comes to table , be it what it will , without considering the nature or qualities of any thing , or agreement , or disagreement to their constitutions , so it do but please the pallat , by which means divers have and do dig their graves with their teeth , to prevent which i think very necessary that every one should understand the nature and property of his daily food as well as his own constitution , and so by doing himself right , he is truly become his own doctor , which is the thing i aim at for the benefit of all good people , for without doubt , daily experience upon a man 's own body by help of sensation may soon make him ( if observant to these small rules the wisest doctor living in a diatetical way to himself , and so by preventing of diseases , he may not need so frequent use of physick , which many are forced to . but to detair you no longer , i will first begin with flesh meat , and after to vegetables , &c. and for your first dish , and generally approved . beef . beef the best of which is english bred and fed , but there is great difference in this sort of meat , as well as others , it is hard of concoction , thick , flesh , it doth not easily pass through the veins , it doth not participate of viscidity of slymyness , the frequent use thereof causeth dry and melancholly humours , without exercise and labour of body , especially if it be old cow beef , or oxe beef , that with labour and much working hath contracted dryness and hardness of flesh or is hardned with salt and smoak . but above all meats it is most profitable for laborious people being not easily passed away , and gives much strength where it is concocted by labor . veal . veel is temperate and tender , though something waterish , if throughly roasted , affords good juyce , of a pleasant taste , and yeilds a thicker juyce then lamb , or mutton . mutton . the beff mutton is weather the younger is the best meat , and is easily concocted and generates good blood , and agrees both with those that are well and also with those that are sick . — but ewe mutton is evil both by default of the temperature and by frequenting of copulation and bringing forth young , therefore the flesh of ewes is evil and dull and viscid juice is bred thereof . lamb , a lamb before it be a yeer old hath moist flesh , slimy and viscid , but when it is a year old , it is very good nourishment , consisting of good and plentifull juice , and indifferent lasting , and easie of concoction , but with those that are exercised with strong labor it is easie discussed , and not very solid aliment is made thereby . bacon or pork , swines flesh nourisheth very plentilully and yields firm nutriment , and therefore is most profitable for those that are in their flourishing age , sound and strong which are exercised with much labour , but in weak and corrupt stomacks , not labouring very dangerous , for we say optimae corumputur siunt pessimae , the best nourishment corrupted proves most dangerous . sucking pigs . sucking pigs are very nourishing , but they agree not with all constitutions , because too much humidity abounds in it , the fumous vapors ascends up to the head , in many causing pain , and swimings . brawn . of the flesh of tame boars we usually make brawn , being long corn-fed , and young , makes a delicate meat , having not so much excrementitious moisture as bacon or pork , but the hard and horny part is difficultly concocted . food taken from the parts of animals . aliment taken from the parts of animals are many , which both according to the kinds of living creatures , and accordding to their diversity of parts do vary , the feet of animals of what kind soever are cold and dry , they have little flesh , and scarce any blood , they yield a cold juice , dull and glutinous by reason whereof the broth wherein feet are boyled is turned to a jelley . hearts . all hearts of animals are of a hard and dry nature and fibrous , neither is it easily concocted , but if it be well concocted , it yields neither ill juice nor a little , and that very stable and firm , chiefly corroberating the heart by sympathy . liver . the liver is very binding , and yields thick nourishment , but is hard to be concocted , which is slowly distributed . all animals varyin their liver , according to their age and feeding , the youngest and best fed are most delicate , and have the greatest livers and fullest of juice . spleen . the spleen as it is the receptacle of gross melancholly blood affords little nourishment , and is hardly concocted , therefore not fi● for food . lungs . the lungs in substance are light and airy , therefore properly called the bellows of the body , they nourish but little , yet easie of concoction , and afford good nourishment . bowels ▪ the intestines afford not very good but thick aliment , and the powels of younger quadrapeds , as calves are of better juyce and easier concocted then of old . tongue . the tongue excells the other parts in pleasant taste and goodness of alinent , and is also easily concocted . brain ▪ the brain yields petuitous and thick juice , and is not easily concocted , nor distributed , and causeth loathing , except it be well sharpned with vinegar . venison . although venison be in high esteem both by gentry and peasant , yet it is hard of concoction and generates melancholly juice especially if the venison be grown to ripeness of years , it doth obstruct the bowels , the usual way of seasoning it doth much meliorat and make tender the flesh , and by drinking a glass of wine therewith it becomes good nourishment . hare . hares flesh is accounted by physitians for melancholly meat , therefore not so good for those that have dry bodies , yet they are thought to generate a good colour in the face , they are best boyled . goates . goates flesh afford good nourishment , and may well be offered before other sylvestrous animals , for goodness of aliment , facility of concoction , pleasantness of taste , pancity of excrements , yet they are something dryer . conies . conies if they be not old , yeild a good juice , are easie of concoction , and if throughly roasted very drying for the phlegmetick , young are safe food for sick people . of fowle , first turkies . amongst tame fowl the turkie is of the uper ranck , both for the largeness of his body , goodness of food , having good juice , and laudable nourishment , it is most fit for those that are in health . capons and pullets and chicken . hens and capons are accounted the chief among birds , they are temperate easie of concoction , of good juice , and contain few excrements if young , and yield most profitable food to those who are not used to labour , they procreate good blood , yet there is great difference amongst this kind of fowl , the best is the flesh of cram'd capons , next is that of fat chickens , the next are pullets , as for old cocks and hens , their flesh is harder and dryer , and not to be eaten , but by laborious people . geese . the flesh of tame geese doth abound more with exc●●ments , then that of wild , yet the fl●sh of them both are hard of conc●ction , and yield no good juice , but vitious and excrementious , and such as is easily putrified , and in weak stomacks often cause surfeits , but in strong stomacks and if it be well concocted geese affords plenty of nourishment , but the delacacy of a geese is the liver , which if it be well fatted especially with sweet food , as boyled carrots &c. the liver will grow large , and is delicious and temperate meat , easie of concoction , of good juice and much nourishment , and indeed of more valew then the carcass . duck and mallard . tame ducks if not young are very hard of concoction , of ill juyce , and little nourishment , but the young ones are wholesome food , and yeild good juyce for the wild duck and mallard , are much better then the tame , more tender of concoction , and yeilds good nourishment , and do not easily putrifie in the stomack . pheasants . pheasants are most excellent food , and are the best nourishment , for those that are in health , most easie of concoction , therefore safe and good for those that do not labor . partridge and quails . the flesh of partridges are temperate , and drying , easie of concoction , affords excellent juyce , and much nourishment , and few excrements for those that are in health good , and for those that have consumptions , or the french pox , admirable nourishment . quails are excellent food for all in health , it is hot and moist , but the sick must not eat of them , because they are apt to generate feavers . pigeons . there are divers sorts of pigeons , those of the mountains and woods are best , the flesh of all of them are of a melancholly juyce not easily concocted , but most dangerous in a putrid feaver . plovers . the gray plovers , exceed the green , both are very good food , easie of concoction , afford good nourishment , save that they are something melancholly . cocks , snites , thrushes . these winter birds are easily concocted , yeilds good juyce , not excrementitious , and affords nourishent firm enough . black birds . black birds are something harder of concoction , then thrushes , but are firm nourishment . larks . the lark generates excellent juice and is easily concocted and it hath a peculiar qualitiy , not only to preserve one from the chollick , but also to cure it . having now run through most of our english flesh meat , we will now proceed to the fish . chap. ix . fish . fishes are colder and moister food then the flesh of terrestial animals , and scarce afford so good juyce as corn , and fruits , and other vegitables , they do easily putrifie , and if they are corrupted they acquire a quality most dangerously averse to our natures , but there are great variety of fish . a salmon . a salmon in the first place is tender of fl●sh , grateful to the pallate , easie of concoction , affords good juyce , and is not inferior to any , nay 't is the best of fish , but when they are pickled with salt , and hardned with smoak , they are much worse and difficulty concocted . trout . trouts amongst fishes which are bred in fresh waters are the best and are next in goodness to a salmon , easie of concoction , full of much good and thin juyce , but the greater of them of flesh , not a little excrementitious , fat , and full of viscidity , those are commended above others , which have red fl●sh , and many red spots , and have hard flesh , and participates not of vilcidity and fat , those are easier concocted , descend sooner and not so excrementitious , in juyce . soles , plaice , and turbet . these fish is highly commended amongst sea-fishes which hath delicate flesh , and is easie of concoction , being white fleshed , yeilds good juyce , plentiful nourishment and such as is not easily corrupted , but being dryed in the smoak they are much worse and harder of concoction . gudgeons , smelts . gudgeons and smelts are the best amongst the small sort of fish and very wholesome aliment , easie to be concocted and such as remain not long in the stomack , and are profitable both for pleasure and health , and may safely be given to those that are sick , to these other little fish are alike as dace and minners , &c. a carp. for dilicious taste especially if it be fat , is inferior to none , and if it be throughly decocted or stewed with wine as the manner is , makes a princely dish , and yields good nourishment and firm , but is not fit for sick people . pike . a pike especially of the smaller growth hath hard flesh , it is easily concocted and easily distributed , and hath not many excrements , and may also be given to those that are sick . perch . a perch also hath tender flesh , and such as will easily part asunder , and no fat , nor glutinosity , 't is easie to be digested , the juyce is not evil , yet it affords weaker aliment , and such as is easily discussed . bream . a bream hath soft and moist flesh and yeilds a juyce very excrementitious and is to be eaten , for the most part , as all other fish are not , it is not to be mixed with divers kinds of meats . tench . tench is neither of a pleasing tast nor easie to be concocted , nor good aliment , but yeilds a filthy slymy juyce and such as is easily corrupted , neither is easily distributed and it brings forth obstructions . barbel . a barbel whose eggs perchance gave an occasion for some to suppose that he hears very bad , it causes not only the pain of the belly but also vomiting , and disturbs the belly , and stirs up choller , from the use thereof we ought to abstain , but the flesh thereof is very white , easie of concoction and distribution and affords aliment of good juyce . eells . the flesh of eells is sweet but glutinous with fat and abounding , with much moisture it generates ill juyce , and the use thereof is not safe for sick people , nor plentifully taken for those that are well . lamprey . a lamprey is a fish of a grateful and delicious tast , if it be rightly prepared , and sauced , yet it puts not away its slymyness , wholly for which cause physitians , do not number them among fishes of the best sort . herring . a herring hath white flesh apt to cleave into small peices , hath a good taste , easie of concoction , it affords good juice , not thick and glutinous when it s pickled with salt , or hardned with smoak , which we call red herrings , they are harder of concoction , and doth not nourish so much . codfish . codfish and stockfish while it is fresh , hath friable flesh and tender , of good juice , and easie of concoction , yet being dryed it is hard of concoction , and affords thick nourishment , and is not to be eaten without danger to any save those that have healthy strong stomacks , and labor much . sturgeon ▪ , sturgeon commonly called sea-beefe , hath hard fat and glutinous flesh , which yeilds a thick juice , yet safely to be eaten it is hard of concoction but firm : nutriment and very lasting to work upon . lobsters and crabs ▪ lobsters , crabfish , prawns and craw-fish are frequent in most countries near the sea , there is no great difference in their efficacy or nature , they are all hard of concoction , and will not well digest but in a strong stomack yet if they are well concocted , they beget good juice , nourish much and stimulat venus . oysters . oysters and scollops have a soft juce , and therefore irritate the belly to dijection , and cleanse the vereters stimulate venus , they easily generate obstructions , being hard of concoction , and nourish but little . chap. x. meats from living creatures . there be many living creatures which supply us with necessary food , agreeable to our natures , as being nearer and more familiar with our natures , and l●ss exceed in the qualities , and afford better juice , as in the first place we will begin with milk . milk. milk is of a cold and moist , or rather of a temperate and moist nature , and yields nourishment very good , the best by much if it be rightly concocted in the stomack , and the milk be good in its self . parts of milk. there be three parts of milk , viz. the butrious , the caseus , and the serous , the butrious , is of an oyly and hot substance , the caseus is of a cold and dry substance , the serous is of a watry , and indeed cows milk is the fattest and thickest , and contains more milk then the milk of other animals , and therefore nourisheth more , and is most agreeable to us , and hath more of the caseous part then ews milk , goats milk is of a middle nature between these two , sound animals only generate good milk , but sick diseased animals generate vitious and corrupt , dry meat as hay &c. cause the milk to be thick , but green and such as are full of juice make much better , wherefore the milk at the latter end of the spring is best , by how much the thiner it be , and more serous by so much it is the easier concocted , and sooner passeth through the belly , and obstructs least , but nourisheth less , to know the best milk , it is of a good smel , and sweet to the taste , of a middle consistence , ne●ther too thick , nor too thin , neither serous nor caseous , too much of a white colour which yields good aliment , and that plentifully and constantly enough . milk is nourishing enough especially for lean bodies , as being that which is elaboured by so many concoctions , and is thereby made familiar to our natures , that 't is easily and truly concocted , in unwholesome bodies , it is easily corrupted , as in a cold stomach : it soon grows sowre in a hot , it is turned to an adust smell and choller , and causeth pain in the head , wherefore it is hurtful to those that are sick of putrid feavers , and to those that have pains in the head , and sore eyes , or are obnoxious to breed gravel , and to those that are obstructed in the liver , and are inflamed in the hypochondries , according to the apho. 64. but the worst corruption thereof is when it is coagulated , which may be prevented if any salt , sugar or honey be added to it , it is most conveniently taken on an empty stomach , nor are other meats to be eaten presently after , especially the use of wine after milk is very unwholesome . as for the parts of milk , butter is used in england and other countries instead of food , and sawce . butter is hot and moist almost of the same nature with oyl , yet it nourisheth more , and is sawce for most meat , 't is pleasant to the taste , 't is easily concocted , and nourisheth much , yet it agreeth not with those that have a moist and slippery stomach , yet 't is far better to be taken before other meats then after , nor is it so agreeable to hot natures , 't is conveniently eaten with bread . sowre milk is colder , and agreeth not with colder stomachs , but with hotter , especially in the summer and very hot weather , it is refreshing and concocts well . although in consumptions , sometimes is prescribed womans milk , asses milk , or goats milk , yet for food none is so good as cows milk , and of that sort the red cow is best , and in a consumption , i should prefer it before the former , being taken warm while the spirit of the animal is in it . cheese . cheese is good and is agreeable to most and very desireable to whom it is friendly , is hardly concocted , and yeilds thick nourishment , and therefore stops the belly , opens the pores , and affords matter fit for the generation of stones , but that which is old affords ill nourishment , and if taken in quantity , obstructs much it is very useful to close the mouth of the stomach , after a full meal , being eaten to the quantity of a dram or two . new cheese may be eaten more plentifully , because it affords better nourishment , and while new it is cold and moist , and of a flatulent nature , middle age cheese , which is neither hard nor soft , and is moderately sweet and fat , is the best , but of what kind soever it be , it is always to be eaten sparingly , and after other meats , now there is great differences of cheese , according to the nature of living creatures , and diversity of pastures , and countries , that of the ewe is the best , because it is easier concocted then the rest , and nourisheth more , next in goodness is cows cheese , the goats is the worst of all ; but no cheese is good without the butrious part be also included with the caseous . whey . the thinnest part of milk , which is called serum or whey , is more fit for medicine then food , and is most fitly used for the evacuation of serous and adust humours , it consisteth of two parts , the one is salt , and participating of acrimony , and is altogether hot , which is the lesser part , the other is watry , and is the greater part , therefore it is called cold and moist . eggs. eggs and chiefly those of hens , are a food much used and esteemed amongst us , an egg consists of two parts the yolk , and the white , the yolk is moderately hot and moist , and very corroborating , the white is cold and dry , and affords also much nourishment , and that lasting enough , but hard of concoction . the newest eggs are the best , and nourish most and soonest , and yeild good aliment , but the stalest are the worst , and the corruption of eggs is most dangerous , for we say ( optimae fiunt pessimae ) the best food corrupted becomes the worst and most perillous , they do not well agree with those whose liver and stomachs are filled with vitious humours , and in chollerick & hot stomachs they are easily corrupted & turned into choller , as for the cooking of them they are best when the yolk is soft , & the rear hardned to a white colour , and so supt up , being boyled in water , they may easily be given to a weak stomach , they are stronger in tast , boyled in the shell then potched , especially if roasted , but the worst way of dressing them , is to fry them in a pan . honey . honey is of a hot and dry nature in the second degree , but that which is white is not so hot , and is the best and most commodious for those that be sound , but all honey is a medicinal aliment , convenient for old men , and those of cold constitutitions , but it is not fit for chollerick persons , because it turns into choller , therefore not good for the liver , but very good for the lungs , because it hath an abstersive cleansing faculty , and resists putrifaction . sugar . although it comes not from animals , but is made of canes , for its agreement with honey may well be put together , yet it is not so hot as honey , therefore properly mingled with many sorts of food , and medicine , and doth preserve medicines better then honey , and hath the same cleansing quality in the body of man , though not so griping in the belly . chap. xi . meats from plants , or vegetables . wheat . as for grains or fruits , being the most ordinary kind of food , amongst which in the first rank are all sorts of wheat , and grain , which the greeks call by the name of si●●● , and in the first place wheat is hot and moist , and above all vegitables affords much nourishment , and that firm and most wholesome , out of wheat divers kind of foods are made , yet the best among them is bread , and that leavened or fermented , which agrees to every age , and is to be taken with all meats . barley the bread which is made of barley is colder , and yeilds not so good nourishment as wheat , there is a sort of barley cal'd spelt , is next in nature to wheat , and is the middle betwixt wheat and barley , and nourisheth more then barley , but is weaker then wheat ; barley is also made into ptisan or broath , which is a good nourishment for sick people , and those that are well also , and is not viscid or clammy , but easily passeth through and cleanseth the passages and reins , of which all physitians are well acquainted being generally prescribed to the sick . rye . rye of which bread is made in some parts of this kingdom , and for its delicious sweetness and moisture , is frequently mixed with wheat , by nature it is hot and dry , it is hotter then barley , yet not so hot as wheat but the bread which is made of it is harder of concoction then that of wheat , and windy , causing in some griping pains . rice . rice is hot and dry , or rather temperate , it nourisheth much , especially boyled with milk , it increaseth seed . rice doth not easily putrifie , it stops lasks or looseness of the belly , it is hardly concocted and yeilds nourishment somewhat thick , the frequent use of it may easily occasion obstructions . oats . are almost of the same nature , and are cold and dry , oatmeal stops fluxes of the belly , they afford not much nourishment , yet are very useful in pottages and broaths , which may be given to sick or well , it stops the looseness of the belly . beans . beans are cold and dry , flatulent , hard of concoction , and yeild excrementitious nourishment , yet not viscid , and have some cleansing power , they make the senses dull , and noises become troublesome . pease . pease are cold and dry , flatulent , especially the green , yet they yeild better nourishment then beans , but not so plentiful , yet easier of concoction , and very pleasing to stomachs surfeited with overfulness of stronger food . parsnips . parsnips are hot and dry , not very good nourishment have a great force of cleansing , provoke lust , they are more us●ful in physick then food , they provoke urine , and bring down the menses . turnips . turnips afford strong nourishment , stimulate venus , the long turnips commonly are the better , they are safely eaten with meat , or alone buttered , being baked their juyce makes a very good surrup for a consumption . carrots . carrots are hot and dry , flatulent , these as well as the former , are very wholesome and provoke to venery , and are opening , easie of concoction , and yeilds good aliment . radish and mustard . radishes which we commonly use for sawce , afford little nourishment , they heat beyond the second degree , and have a sharp taste , they cut phlegm , attenuate and provoke urine , break the stone , and expels gravel from the veins , yet cause a ructation or belching of wind from the stomach the wild are hotter and more forcible , mustard is much for heat , tast and efficacy like the root of wild horse radish . leeks and garlick , leeks and garlick are near of nature , but the garlick is the hotter and more potent , they are hot and dry , little nourishment and that bad , they have a power of attenuating thick phlegm , and viscid humours , taking away cold , and this is a good remedy for the pravity of waters also against the plague and venemous air. onions . onions also afford but little nourishment , have a heating , attenuating , cutting faculty , inflame the blood , they leave behind them a thick juyce , provoke venus , they are all hurtful to the head , eyes , teeth , and gums , and cause disturbive sleep and turbulent dreams . cabbage . cabbage is generally accounted to be cold and dry , yet the bitterness and acrimony of the juyce is observed to stir the belly 't is hard of concoction , affords little nourishment , and that thick and melancholly , from whence fulliginous vapours fly into the head and produce turbalent sleep , and weakens the sight , and are very dangerous for those are incident to a vertigo , or swimming in the head . being boyled in the broath with fat meat , it is somewhat corrected , yet the stinking coction or broath , shews its danger , and that its only fitting for laborious people . artechoaks ▪ artechoaks heat and dry to the second degree , they afford no good aliment , they are hard of concoction , and stimulate venus , windy , yet the meat of the leaves , stalks , and roots do wonderfully cleanse the reins , sending forth stinking urine , and cures the running of the reins ; if it be decocted in white-wine ▪ and the decoction drank . lettice . letttice is esteemed the best of sallads , affords more nourishment then other herbs , 't is cold and moist , and corrects choller , and good for hot stomachs , it provokes sleep , allays the heat of the reins , but too much doth diminish the natural heat . spinnage spinnage cools , and moistens , affords little nourishment , it generates col● and serous humours in the stomach , unless it be corrected with oyl , pepper , or butter , it is not profitable and begets wind . beets , orach , and mallows . they all loosen the belly by humectation , they nourish little , and yeilds a watry juyce , and unpleasing of tast , except the sawce mends them . asparagus . asparagus and like to them are the young branches of hops , they neither heat , nor manifestly cool , they are grateful to the tast and cause appetite , yet afford little nourishment , they have a detergent cleansing faculty , provoke urine , they cleanse the reins open obstructions of the liver , and other intrails . parsley . parsley is hot and dry , provokes urine , and the courses opens obstructions , purges the reins and bowels , yet it affords but little nourishment . purslain ▪ purslain is an excellent sallad with oyl , it cools the reins , helps such as have a scalding of urine , and pain by heat , also rectifies the teeth being set on edge . mints . mints are pleasing in smell , especially spear mints , which are hot and dry , and very strengthning to the stomach , they stay vomiting and are a most excellent sallad minced in vinegar and sugar for any fresh meat . melones . melones are pleasant in tast , and send forth an aromatick smell , but are of a cold watry moist substance , whereby they quench thirst and cause urine , they cool and cleanse the reins , but are easily corrupted , and being corrupted , become as it were of a poysonous nature , and stir up choller , or generate feavers , whereby many great men are killed , therefore they ought to be eaten at the first course , or before meat that they may the easier descend through the belly , and after the eating of them some good food ought to be eaten , and good wine to be drank that their corrupting may be hindred . cucumbers . cucumbers are also cold , but not so moist , and the juyce not so dangerous nor so easily corrupted in the stomach , they are least offensive to hot stomachs . strawberries ▪ strawberries are cold and moist ; they are profitable to those that are troubled with choller in the stomach , they cool the liver and restrain the heat of blood , and chollerick humours , they allay thirst , therefore profitable to hot constitutions , they have thin juyce purge the reins cause urine , but are easie corrupted in the stomach , therefore ought to be eaten before meat . fruits of trees , first of apples . apples there are divers sorts , which discover themselves by their tast , the sowre are colder then the sweet , and of a thin and less flatulent substance , the austere and sharp are yet colder and of a thick substance , and descend more slowly through the belly and stay it , yet their violence is corrected by boiling and sowre sharp apples are rather to be used for medicine then aliment , they afford ill juyce , but those are worst , which are watry and have little or no tast , the best have a sweet aromatick tast and smell , and such as afford an indifferent quantity of aliment , they strengthen the heart , exhilerate the mind , and are very beneficial to those which are troubled with melancholly , pears . pears there are of divers kinds and faculties , the austere and sharp are astringent and cooling , and hurtful to the stomach and guts , sweat are more temperate , yet almost all are of a cold moist nature , but some are hot and moist , if taken before meat they are apt to stop a looseness , being taken after meat , they loosen the belly , and shut the mouth of the stomach they are better boyled then raw . quinces . quinces are cold and dry , and have an astringent quality they afford little nourishment and are hard of concoction , they strengthen the stomach , stop vomiting , and if they are taken after meat , hinder vapours so that they cannot easily ascend to the head and so loosen the belly , but being taken before meats they stops a looseness , if they are eaten raw , they hurt the nerves and often cause fits of the chollick , and obstructions . peaches . peaches are cold and moist , and are easily corrupted , and afford little nourishment , and therefore are to be eaten sparinly , and warily , and not without danger to cold stomachs , and they are to be eaten before meals not after other meats , neither is water or any cold drink to be drank after them but generous wine , being dryed they are less hurtful , but best boyled in wine , whereby their pravity is taken away and become not dangerous . apricocks . apricocks are far beyond peaches in goodness and are more pleasing to the stomach and are not easily corrupted . medlers . medlers are cold and dry , and are not eaten till they are rotten , they afford little nourishment , and are slowly concocted , they stop the belly and all flux , they stay vomiting and agree well with a chollerick stomach . cherries . all cherries have a cooling faculty , but the sowre especially , they are easily concocted and quickly descend through the belly , and cool the stomach and liver , they quench thirst , and raise an appetite , and are not so easily corrupted , nor of so hurtful a juyce as the sweet ones , which are much inferiour to the sharp in goodness by reason of the moisture abounding are easily corrupted and generate putrid humours , and sometimes worms in putrid feavers , taken by surfeit , and ever-much eating them , yet the black are most wholesome , and indeed medicinal against convulsions . plumbs and prunes ▪ plumbs in general are cold and moist , but there are divers kind of plumbs , the sweet ones are not so cold as the sower in nature , they are chiefly profitable to cholorick stomachs , they are easily concocted and pass through the belly , those that are fresh alter most powerfully , they mollify the belly being taken before meat , but very dangerous taken after by reason they scatter abroad many excrements and that crude , they do not generate good juice those which abound most with a moistcrude juice are the worst , also the white or yellowish are the worst , but the best are of a black or blew colour like damsons and damask prunes , the dry are more fit for nourishment for those that are weak in stomach , plumbs are not convenient because they loosen its strength by a cooling moisture . mulburies . mulburies do very powerfully quench thirst from their moisting and cooling quality , they mitigate choller , but nourish little , they easily pass through the belly , but if they are retained they are easily corrupted and become putred , and acquire an ill nature wherefore they are to be eaten when the stomach is empty only and not stuffed with peccant humours that they may quickly descend through the belly . figs. figs are hot and moist by nature , and nourish very much above any other fruits , they easily descend and pass through the belly , they have a penetrating and cleansing faculty , yet too much use of them begets wind , dry figs are hotter and dryer , then green and are of a very opening and attenuating quality , and do also loosen the belly , and drive humours to the external parts , therefore profitably taken by women near their time of travel they generate blood also but none of the best . grapes . grapes that are sweet , are hot , and therefore cause thirst , sharp , sower , austere are colder , therefore allay drotwh or thirst , the mean between sweat and sowre are best to make wine of , the fresh gathered , ate flatulent , windy , afford little nourishment , and if they are detained long in the stomach , are corrupted and dilate the belly , and stir up chollick fits , and cause the spleen to swell , and fill the stomach and liver , with crude humours , the fresh gathered serve rather for pleasure then health , but the best are the sweet ones , mixt with a little sharp tast , those without stones loosen the belly more , but with stones strengthen the stomach . almonds and nuts . sweet almonds are the best of nuts , and of them the largest and sweetest are most to be desired , they are temperately hot and moist , and yeilds store of nourishment , and of good juyce and moderate , they attenuate and cleanse , for which reason they are the best food for imatiated bodies , and they replenish the intrails , and the whole body with convenient nourishment , and such as is not apt to corruption , they purge the breast , open obstructions of the urinary passage , and cause sleep , but are not so useful for a chollerick stomach , nor good to be given in feavers , proceeding from choller , they are usually given to the sick , dissolved in broaths , which are called emulsions . filberds and hasle-nuts . the best of hasle nuts are filberds and do come nearest to almonds in vertue , but they are hot and dry in quality , hardly digested afford a thick juyce if old the young or newly gathered are the best . walnuts . walnuts if new gathered are hot and moist , the old are hot and dry in faculty , the new are safer eaten then the old , for the old generates choller , offend the orifice of the stomach , and hurt the gullet , or wind-pipe , cause a cough , and causeth pain in the head , the use of them is commended after eating of fish , because their heating and dryness prevent the corruption of fish . chestnuts . gallen that learned physitian believes that chestnuts have no ill juyce , as all other fruits of trees have , they are hot and dry , and if they are well concocted , nourish very much , and affords durable nourishment , they bind the belly , and if they are eaten in too great plenty , generates wind. olives oyle . olives are temperate , and the oyl drawn from them that are ripe , affords nourishment temperate , and agreeable to our nature , and can correct the pravity of other aliments , amends the crudity of herbs , resists poyson , it mollifies and loosens the belly , it takes away sharpness , it helps ruptutes , and such as are bursten bellied , and mittigates pain internally and externally . mushromes and toad-stools . lastly , since the wantonness of some will eat mushromes , yet they are not eaten without danger , they are by nature cold , they yeild a watry and thick nourishment , but oftentimes they are poysonous therefore better let alone then eaten . now we have passed through all eatable things , it is necessary we speak next of all sorts of drink . chap. xii . of drink its use . drink is of so absolute necessity , that without it , the moist substance which is daily consumed , cannot be restored , nor the natural thirst allayed , neither can the fat and thick moisture be carried through the narrow passages , and by drink the meat in the stomach is mingled , concocted , and poured forth , and an inflamation of that fat , which destinated by nature to nourish our bodies is prohibited . kinds of drink . there are divers kinds of drink , as water , wine , strong beer , ale , syder , perry , drinks made of honey , sugar , &c. and divers decoctions . waters how to know good . there is great variety of waters , all which are cold and moist , but the best is that which is pure and clear , by the sight , taste , smell , and offers the sale of nothing to the tast , nor odour to the smell , which upon the fire is soon made hot , and taken from the fire doth soon grow cold , which is light , and wherein flesh and fruit are soon boyled , some is fountain others is river water , some rain water , others lake or pond water , some marish , others snow waters . fountain water ▪ fountain water is the best which hath these marks of good water , that spreads towards the east , and runs eastward , and riseth through sand , and gravel , that carries no mud with it , that is hotter in winter and colder in summer . river water . river water for the most part is fountain water , and ariseth from many fountains flowing together , and therefore is of a mixed nature , and receives also a mixt nature from the earth it passeth through . waters are mixed . and sometimes also they are mingled with snow melted in the mountains , and great showres of water collected together , yet its crudity is corrected by the beams of the sun , whilst it runs through divers parts of the earth , before the use of it , it should stand and settle in cisterns , and tubs , that what impurities it brought with it , may settle to the bottom . rain water . rain waters which falls in the summer time with thunder , is the thinnest and lightest , but since many vapours are lift up by the heat , and mingled with the showers , these waters are not very pure , whence they are obnoxious to putrifaction . well waters . well waters since they are not raised up but by the benefit of art , are thick and heavy , whence they continue long in the bowels , and obstructs them . lakes and marish waters . these waters are the worst , they easily become putrid , they are thick and crude , and oftentimes malignant ▪ and pestilent , from whence the stomach is offended with them , the bowels obstructed , and humors corrupted , and oftentimes putred , and malignant , and pestilential feavers do thence arise , wherefore their use is wholly to be forborn . waters of snow and ice . waters of snow and ice are condemned because they are thick and hurt the stomach , and stir up grievous symptomes and diseases of the joynts , nerves , and bowels . correcting of vvaters . waters are corrected by boyling and their conditions and malignancies are abated , and the terene and vitious parts , are separated , which will settle in the bottom when they are cold . of vvine , its nature . all wine hath a heating and drying quality , but some is hotter and more generous , others less , that it is hot is manifest by the spirit , which is drawn out of it , yet because it nourisheth much , and encreaseth moisture and blood , fit to nourish the body , 't is said to be moist , therefore wine is a medicinal aliment , hot and dry , some in the first , some in the second , and some in the third degree , for this reason the use of it is forbidden , boyes by reason of its drying faculty , many do mix water with their wine , yet there is not a little difference in heating and drying , not only according to the nature of the wine , its sel● , some wine is called windy wine , because it may indure much water to be mixed with it , and be still good . difference of wines . wines diff●r according to smell , tast , colour , and manner of subsistance as for tast , sweet wines properly so called , nourish best , and are not only most grateful to the pallate , but also to the bowels , but because they are thicker , easily produce obstructions in the liver and spleen , inflame the hypochondries , and are easily turned into choller , they are profitable to the lungs , chops and throat , neither do they offend the head , nor hurt the nerves . austere wines . harsh wine have the weaker heat tarry longer in the belly , nor do they easily pass through the veins , nor penetrate through the passages of urine , whence they are good for loosenesses , of the belly , but hurtful in the disease of the breast and lungs , for they detain spittle , the middle sort betwixt sweet and sowre is the best . smell of wine . a fragrant smell is a token of the best wine because it can increase spirits , restore decayed strength , and recreate and refresh those that are suddenly languishing only by the smell , and can exhilerate the mind , and strengthen the whole man , and all its faculties , and principally it is good for old man , & by filling the head hurt the nerves , but wine that have no smell are base , & are not received so gratefully by the stomach , nor so easily concocted , nor do they afford so fit aliment , to engender good spirits , nor strengthen the heart so much , not refresh the body , therefore all such wine , as have an unnatural smell , whencesoever contracted , are all naught , and not fit for drinking . colour of wine . colour of wine , shews much of the natur● of it , for white or pale wines , heat less then deep and yellow wines , and are weaker , especially if besides their paleness , they are o● a thin substance , all black wines , or deep red are of thicker substance , and for the most part sweet , and nourish very much , yet they beget thick blood , and not so laudable , they cause obstructions , and continue longer in the bowels , and fill the head with many vapours , between the white and red , their are middle colours , viz. yellow , reddish yellow , a pale red , and perfect red , a pale red is nearest to white , and if the substance be thin is the best , as such are rhenish wines , the most apt to strengthen the heart , and most beneficial to those that are troubled with chollick pains , and with the flatus of the stomach , red wines for the most part , heat not so much , they generate good blood , and do not load the head , but if they are thick in substance , they are naught for the liver and spleen , because they breed obstructions . wine differ according to age. wines also differ according to age , new wine is thick and flatuous begets the cholick , impeads and hinders urine , yet it loosens the belly , and unless it doth so , 't is the more hurtful , new wine , and that which is as sweet as wine new prest , is not easily distributed into the body , and wine too old may work too much upon the nerves and offend the head , therefore a middle age is best for all uses , in which thing also there is great difference according to the nature of the wine , some will last long , others sooner loose their strength and spirits . beer and ale. beer and ale is the common familiar drink in england , and no doubt but profitable and wholesome it is , as experience shews , but the different preparations , or brewings makes no small difference in drinks , the difference of waters is greatly to be considered , therefore according to their natures , i have taught you before how to judge ; also the different corn or grain is very considerable , as drink made of vvheat malt nourish more , others mix some vvheat , some barley , others mix some oats with barley for malt , generally in ale is used less hops , then in beer , therefore ale is more nourishing , and loosens the belly , all new drink is more unwholesome especially if it be troubled , for it obstructs the bowels , generates the stone , but that which is clear is wholesomer . honey drinks various sorts of drinks there is made with honey , which for the most part , heat and dry more then wine , and easily turns into choller , especially if arromaticks are added as spice , &c. therefore good ●or the phlegmatick , and bad for the chollerick . coffee . lastly , since of late coffee is grown so much into use , it will not be amiss if we touch upon the quality of it , in its nature it is cold and dry , binding it doth very much sympathize in vertue with pease , only it hath this quality above pease , that it will make him that drinks it vigilant , for it doth very much hinder sleep , and therefore good in a lethargy , but bad to be drank near bed time , by those that cannot sleep well , it doth potently resist drunkenness , which makes many after hard drinking , refresh themselves with it , and as it is drank actually hot , and being in it self potentially cold , it is innocent , working no wonders but one , viz. it hath made many poor people by selling it , become very rich . tobacco . and how useful , and because drink and tobacco are seldom at great distance , and it being a common query amongst patients to their doctors is tobacco good for me , i thought it necessary to say something of it , therefore take notice that some that have writ of it , do mu●ter up as many vertues pertaining to it as can be mentioned , which is a common fault in herbalists , to ascribe more praise by much then is due to every herb , but this is certain , tobacco is a good vulnary herb , as may be used to wounds , whether made into oyntment from the green herb , or the leaf it self applyed , it is in nature , hot and dry , very balsamaical , now as used by smoaking in a pipe , it is very attractive of moist and crude humours , as water and phlegm , cut of the head and stomach , and so it makes a pump of the mouth , for the benefit of some and detriment to the health of others . and that i may make some discovery , for whom it is good , and for what : i say it is chiefly proper for those that are of a phlegmatick constitution , and those that abound with humidity , as rhumes , catarrhs , distillations , and hydropick persons , my reasons are it is good for the phlegmatick , because it is hot and dry , and so resists the generation of phlegm , as well exhausts it ; next it is good against rheums , catarrhs , distillations , because it draws sorth by the mouth , and so prevents the distilling upon the lungs , for the acrimony of salt phlegm , falling from the head upon the lungs , is the worst and dangerous symptome in a catarrh , which ulcerates the lungs , and brings the whole body into a cons●mption , and death , therefore whatsoever leads forth the distilling humour , prevents the great mischief it brings . for whom tobacco is not good . first it is not good for those that are hot and dry ; chollerick constitutioned , yet if such have long accustomed themselves to the taking it , it is not safe leaving it of too hastily , but by degrees , neither is it proper for sanguine p●ople , that are not troubled with rheums , because it attracts humours by heat , and brings an influx where would be none without it , and it doth certainly decay the teeth for two causes , from its own heat , which comes with a burning oyl , with the smoak into the mouth , and likewise it destroys the teeth from the frequent flux of rheum from the head to the teeth , which may well be avoided by them for whom it is not agreeable . order in taking tobacco . some directions ought to be given , as to the manner of using this drug , as well as others , as first for the phlegmatick . for phlegmatick persons , it is best for them to take it ordinarly after meats , especially after drinking , and before going to bed and not to drink after it , but rather before they smoak , that the crudities of the drink and stomach may be emited , but for hot constitutioned persons , as the chollerick , it is best for them to drink both before and after , ( except to bed ward ) least their natural heat , with the heat of tobacco may be inflamed , and cause a burning at the heart and in the stomach . chap. xiii . of the passions of the mind , and exercise and rest of the body . the next thing conducible to health , having now sufficiently spoken of wholesome air , meat and drink , &c. is passions of the mind , and exercise of body , the perturbations of the mind do much hurt to the body , as no physitian will deny , and an euthumy or well setled mind , and such as is at quiet , doth very much tend to the preservation of health , for although every man that is diseased in body , is troubled also in mind by the peccant humours which makes men angry and peevish , so that it makes true the saying , there can hardly be found mens sana , but in corpore sano , yet there are some men in perfect health , that wilfully take upon them such a habit or custome of anger that not only disturbs their own house and relations , but thereby bring into their own bodies sickness and death , but contrarywise , moderate joy and a chearful spirit doth preserve the body in health , and sound constitution , for it recreates and refreshes the heart and spirits , and whole body ; but if joy be excessive , it dissipates and consumes the spirits . exercise of body . motion and exercise is of it self , sufficient to keep the body from diseases , because it brings a solidity and hardness to the parts of the body , that they that use exercise moderately , need little other physick , this makes the labouring mans sleep sweet , and pleasant , this shews the justice of divine providence distributing the happiness of this matrocosm in proportion to all ranks of men , for they that are poor and forced to labour , are recompensed with the rich jewel of health , better then which nothing can here be found . exercise doth increase health , and strength , also it moves and agitates the spirits , from whence the heart is made strong , and can resist external injuries , and is fit to undergo all actions , and good nourishment is made , and vitious excrementitious vapours are discussed , on the contrary , those bodies that live idly , are soft and tender , and unfit to perform labors of every kind , as dancing , running , playing at ball , gesture of body , riding , swimming , walking and all others , but divers exercise have different force , and some exercise , some parts more then others , in walking the legs are most exercised , in handling of weapons the arms , in singing speaking loud , and clear reading , with a loud voice the lungs , breast and face , but the playing with a ball , gallen that great physitian , hath writ a peculiar book in commendations of that exercise above any other , by reason it exercises the whole body , also there is a great difference according to strength used , or magnitude in motion , for example , swift motions attenuates the body , thickens it , slow motions ratifies and increaseth flesh , vehement motions extenuates the body , and makes it lean , but with hard flourishing , and firm flesh , too much exercise exhausteth and dissipates the spirits and the substance of the solid parts , and cools the whole body , and dissolves the strength of the nerves and ligaments , and sometimes breaks the lesser veins , and distendeth the membrances . of sleep and watching ▪ watchings that are moderate is a help to distribute aliment and promotes the emission of excrements , it stirs up the spirits and renders them more flourishing , but if watchings are immoderate , they consume and dissipate the animal spirits , and dry the whole body , especially the brain , they increase choller , they inflame , and the heat being dissipated , they stir up cold diseases . sleep being moderate doth refresh and kindle again the decayed strength , and spirits that are wasted by diurnal labours are by it restored , the heat is called back to the internal parts , from whence a concoction of aliment and crude humours is happily performed in the whole body , especially the bowels are sweetly moistned the heat increased , and the whole body become stronger , cares are taken away . anger is allayed , and the mind enjoys more tranquillity , in moderate evacuations , besides sweat are hindred as the diarhea or flux of the belly , sleep is especially beneficial to old men . on the contrary , moderate sleep , obscures the spirits , and renders them dull and causeth an amazedness in the understanding and memory , it sends out the heat , being hindred with crude and superflous humours , accumulated sleep also , that seizeth on our bodies , after what manner soever , when they are empty , dryes and extenuates . of excretions , and retentions . the severral concoctions have their several excrements , but the body may be easily kept in its natural state , if those things which are profitable for its nourishment , be retained , and those things which are unprofitable be cast out , but if those things which ought to be retained in the body be cast out , and those things which ought to be ejected be retained , the health will soon decay the excrements of the belly , if they are not evacuated in due season , hinder concoction , whilst putrid vapours exhale from thence to the stomach and neighbouring parts , and so offend the head , and stir up griping pains , and many evils , too sudden cleansing of the belly doth little hurt , save that it defrauds the body of nourishment , and if it be frequent and of continuance the strength is weakned , and the bowels debillitated . urine , if it be unseasonably made either too often or too seldome shews a distemper present , or will soon procure one if urine be frequently made sooner then it ought or is need for , it brings no small damage , for the frequent stimulation of the expulsive faculty of the neck of the bladder when there is not a sufficient quantity to dilate and extend , the vesica doth make a contraction of the bladder , in a lesser compass , then its due limit , and if urine be retained longer then it should , it brings great damage by oppressing the bladder , and sometimes so fills it that urine cannot be expelled , which causes inflamation , and a violent feaver , great pain and speedy death . of venery man cannot live for ever although he be nourished , therefore the generative power is granted to him and given by the creator of all things for the begetting of his like that mankind might be preserved , which is the proper use of venery . now seed untimely retained , causeth heaviness or dulness of the body , and if it be corrupted stirs up grievous accidents , all which may be avoided by venery , but let it be timely and lawful , for there is no need of the unlawful use of means to preserve health , which is contrary to gods law , for the creator of man is so indulgent to him in this thing as it is necessary for him that is to have on vvoman , more might hinder his health , as i am sure it doth to too many , for too much venery dissipates the natural heat , cools and dibillitates the whole body accumulates crudities , hurts the nerves , generates the gout , and causes the palfie , and debility of the senses and understanding , and by the commission of uncleanness a rottenness in the loins , and if neglected will penetrate the very bones ▪ therefore i advise all to chastity , but if infected to read the ensuing part and follow the directions , and doubt not of cure. but that i may prevent the occasion of disease by venery ; consider there is many a woman , very desireable to look on , yet if you enjoy them , you will less prize them , and you can find no more pleasure in them , but the evacuation of your own heat and vigor , therefore it is downright folly and madness , to run such great hazard of soul , body , estate , and good name , for a toy of no value . the second part. every man his own doctor . treating of diseases and how to cure , viz. pox , running of reins , scurvy , gout , dropsie , consumptions , agues , jaundies , obstructions of all sorts . london . printed by peter lillicrap for the authour , and are to be sold by most booksellers , 1671. chap. i. an advertisement . who ever thou art , thou mayest if not already be assaulted with the common enemy of mankind , sickness or disease , and therefore a way to prevent sickness or an absolute cure if diseased , i think need no strong arguments for acceptation , what i intend by this small treatise , is the benefit of all diseased people , whether noble or ignoble , who it may be have sighed if not groaned many months or years under some obnoxious distemper , which fear , shame , poverty , or it may be unskilful physitians by their faraginious receipts , have rather fixed to then freed their bodies from , or i in my practice and study in physick , which now draws near the prospect of twenty years , in which time having perused many authors and scrutinised into the secrets of physick , both theorical and empirical , have made this observation that most voluminous authors are in use , but flat and dull , and it may be said of too many , nihil dictum , quod non dictum prius , and their elaborate volumns , are chiefly ( actum agere ) and their chief use is but to amuse and confound the vulgar with admiration of the tedious and almost inextricable labyrinth , wherein young physitians are commonly involved , as saith ingenious simpson , how many great volumns of gallen , hippocrates , diascordes , actuarius , rasis , serapio , aetius , averoes , hurnius , fernelius , senertus , riverius , cum multis aliis . what tedious peice of anotamy of vel singius , riotanus , bartholimus , spigelius paraeus , &c. do some peruse , how many unprofitable discourses for argumentation sake in the theory of physick , are they ingaged in , how many hundred plants do they burden their memory with , what a confused jumble of varieties of pulses do they pulse their heads withall , what a multitude of symtomes good and bad , what long discourses of difference of urine , and to confirm all , what long pilgrimages into italy , and the universities there do they make , and after all this cannot as some have ingeniously confessed , and the people experienced , cannot i say cure one poor disease . these things considered , i cannot but wonder and say , quors●m haec omnia , why so much noise and so little wool , i mean so much ado to inform our judgements and nothing the nearer to cure diseases , being only enabled to discourse learnedly of the proceeds of phlegmatick , chollerick , and adust humours and now whilst meer methodists are sufficiently satisfied , when they can say , sie dixit galenus , vel hippocrates , we can with more comfort say , experientia docet , for experience is the mistress of knowledge , and the best knowledge is taken from experience . what i have writ is only to shew that experienced physick is most profitable though some doctors will direct things they have read or heard a good and excellent report of , and so add things as they judge of alike quality according to that maxime , vis vnita fortior , and so confound the medicine with their mixture , and quite spoil the operation of its genuine effication , so that physick is best which is grounded upon observation of successful experiments , not that i disswade or speak against the theorick of physick , nor the true method of the learned , provided they give the upper hand to successful experiments , for nature in the cure of any diseases , is not tyed to any of our prescribed method , not but consideration is to be had to differing causes and persons . and now what i have experienced i shall here insert as to the cure of these great and chronick diseases , being most common and all most difficultly cured , viz. gout , dropsie , scurvy , gonorrhea , consumptions , obstructions , and in speaking of them i shall describe their symptomes , cause , and regiment in cure very briefly , and those that make tryal of my medicines , shall by gods grace find them very effectual , where every one may be his own doctor if they please , observing the rules annexed , the motive that induced me to put forth this little treatise , may well claim charity her self to patronise it , for in my daily practice , how many do i meet with , that have wandred from one physitian to another and yet not cured , nay some , yea very many think the cure as bad as the disease , i mean for fear of having it discored , for too many have receiv'd damage thereby , besides the excessive gain of some physitians , who for every ulcer they cure , will themselves be covered with a rich roab , not to mention the ignorance and dishonesty of many professors , that not being able to give a diffinition of a disease will yet undertake to cure , by default of whom many good people have perished in estate , health , and credit , especially in venereal distempers . therefore i shall first shew what each disease is , and its certain sign to know it , and to avoid all mistake , i have set down certain and safe ways of government , with directions in taking that physick , is most suitable in each disease , which i have here prescribed being certain and safe , all performed by a few medicines as you will find , and for the certainty of their goodness , i will not entrust any to prepare them , nor the delivery of them from my own house , and there only delivered , for the best medicine , not well and truly prepared , may make a failing in cure . so wishing preservation of health to the sound , and recovery of health to the sick , to the poor i shall be willing to give advice freely , and to all that are in any doubt i shall readily resolve them . for oftentimes where the disease is great , dangerous , or a complication of diseases , it is necessary to consult with your doctor , where no prescribed rule can in all circumstances , be adaequate without the sight of the patient in all occasions i shall willingly resolve any doubts or fears and shall manifest my self thy faithful friend . j. a. chap. ii. treating of the pox . in performance of what i have promised and to begin with this fiery dragon , or mr. disease the pox , whose domination or rule begins not like other diseases , lento pede , gently but per saltem , like the bite of a serpent or sting of a scorpion , for most diseases are seated in some particular part of mans body , as the squinancy or plurisie , &c. being confined to the spirits humors or solid parts , but this disease is not confined neither to solid parts nor humors , but comixeth its self to all , being the malignity of all other diseases , and a hell upon earth for mans punishment , bringing at once with a sting of discontent , a cursed pain with loathsome and shameful symptomes and great fear for diffinition , lues venerea malum est contagiosum quod consuetudine veneris magna ex parte contrahitur . it is the corruption of the radical moisture of the body chiefly taken by contact in those tender parts in the act of copulation , yet it may be taken divers other wayes , and though the liver be especially hurt , and doth labor to free it self by sending the putrefaction to the emunctories as to the groins , buboes , also to the arm-pits , and other parts ulcers , yet doth it transform it self proteus like in divers shapes , appearing in some like the scurvy , in others like an itch , in some like the gout , and bringing pain to all , especially to some most exquisite torment , in the night , the pox may be taken several ways without copulation , as by lying in a hot bed with the infected , whereby emission of putrid sweat through the pores penetrates the adjacent body , the pores being then open by sleep , and the warmth of the bed , so one man may infect another , where that abominable sin of sodome is practiced , also drinking frequently with them that have it foul in their throats , or by sitting upon a close stool , whilst the fume evaporates , also a young child born of corrupt parents , may infect the nurse that succles it , or the infected nurse may put it on a sound child , which i have often seen in my practice . i come now to the particular signs if infected . as. chap. iii. signs of infection by the pox , presently after a man hath lain with an infective woman , he shall find a faintness or indisposition , a lassitude over the whole body without other cause , which is occasioned by the infection of the natural spirits , which are the instruments of life and motion , then the next symptome is commonly pain in the head , with a vagrant wandring pain , which goeth into the shoulders from one to the other , also very frequently pain in the groins and buboes , there sometimes in less then a weeks time , also heat of urine , inflamation of the yard , and pustules , with many a running of the reins , with some an itching over all the body , and in some angry pustules , breaking out in head , face , and other parts , with some there breaks forth a great heat in the palms of the hands , and soals of the feet , also some have an interruption , or sudden starting when they begin to sleep , and great drowsiness which is caused of the fiery vapours . oftentimes there appears red or yellow spots upon the body , and sore pustules like the scurvy , and though there be few of the former signs , yet if there is a corrupt matter , though but a weeping about the privy part , when cause for suspition hath preceeded , you may be assured that is the french disease . and i do here declare that i have and do daily cure those that have had it ten or more years , as many can testifie to their comfort . chap. iv. how to cure the pox . shewing all men and women how they may cure themselves of the french disease . before you proceed to the particular cure of the pox , resolve not to do any thing that may hinder thy present cure , or which may bring thee to thy old misery again , after thou art cured , and first observe this general rule for thy dyet , that it might be drying , and easie of concoction , and feed very sparingly , the best meat is rabbets , birds , poultrey , mutton , all throughly roasted , or more then enough , for others stale bread , crusts of bread , or bisket , and you may sometimes eat a few raisins o● the sun therewith , avoid venery and leachery , as the bane of cure in time of physick , and also all salt meats , fish , spiced meats , and sharp things , as vinegar lemmons , fruit , &c , all milk meat , also wine . first begin to purge with our morbus pill so called , because it doth so mightily prevail against the morbus gallicus , take i say in bed and sleep after , the first night 3 pills , next night 4 pills , and if thy strength is sufficient , which you will find by taking the two first doses , take the third day 5 pills , always taking some posset drink made with small ale in the morning , and if the weather be fair and your body strong , you may safely go abroad after dinner , or in the morning if you take them going to bed over night , now after your body is sufficiently cleansed for preparation , if you are young , strong and phlethorick take from the liver vein of the right arm , eight or ten ounces of blood , then begin to take of the dyet drink which doth wonderfully purifie the blood , and restores any decay in the vital or noble parts , and makes the liver firm and sound , and is very cordial , you ought to drink of this 3 half pints every day hot , that is half a pint in the morning in bed an hour or two before you rise , and put your self into a small breathing sweat after it , and take half a pint at four in the afternoon , and walk much after it , and take half a pint at night going to bed , and indeavor to sweat a little after it , and if you can confine your self at meals to it is best , if you cannot , drink some ale , but the less the better , for our main design is to dry . exercise moving to sweat is very proper in the cure. the time of taking this drink must be according to the patients disease , if the disease be newly taken , it cures some in 14 days , others a month , but if it be inveterate and old , it requires six weeks , but it is a sure medicine . it never fails where recovery is to be hoped for , without the patient be irregular , and if he be he must wait the longer for cure , but this must be remembred to purge it least twice a week with the morbus pills , with 3 , 4 or 5 , according to your strength , and that morning as you take the pills , take no dyet drink , but posset drink till the afternoon , then drink again as at other days and leave not off taking your cordial dyet drink , and the pills till you are cured , and all symptomes be gone , whether pains , pustules , spots , issuing at the yard , or otherwise , for if you do it may grow again , after the cure be careful , not to return to a full dyet speedily least there be some remains of the disease , and nature being called from its work , to the digesting of meat , should omit the encounter , this is a sure way , but sometimes when men have a great and sore disease and may keep out of sight for a months time , if convenient for their constitution , i cause a flux or salvation , and i have so great a secret in that way that never fails , being easie to take without any danger to the patient ( not like the vulgar poysonous pill which some use ) i perfectly cure many to their great comfort , however there is a necessity of dyet drink also , i am well acquainted with those ways are used in italy and elsewhere , yet none better then what i have mentioned , for the dyet drink doth corroborate and fortifie the noble parts of the body , and doth perfectly cure that disease , in all that use it is sufficiently experienced . if you are troubled with violent nocturnal pains in this french disease , make use of my cordial pill as directed in the latter end of this book , and you will find speedy ease . chap. v. how to cure the running of the reins , or weakness in men or women . the gonorrhea or running of the reins , if it came without copulation with a woman , as by over-straining or too great fulness of seed , or sharp and chollerick humors , any of which causes imbecile the retentive faculty of the spermatick vessels the cure is easie after gentle purging with my opening and corroborating pills , that are both cleansing and wonderful strengthning , using also the cordial drying drink as before directed , and remember to keep a slender dyet as in the french disease , and at meals the smallest drink or water ( which is better ] forbearing leachery and much motion of the body , and avoid lying on your back in bed , and all sharp , salt , spice , and acrimonous things , and by taking of the pills every day , or as your strength will permit , you will soon be well , commonly in ten days . a foul gonorrhea being taken by copulation is of a different nature from the former , for this proceeds from a venenate quality taken by contact from the poysonous morbifick matter of the pox , and by the corrosive quality thereof , it hath eaten into the yard , neck of the bladder or reins , where it ulcerates and so infects the liver , corrupts the blood and humors , by mea●s whereof it is sent back again from the liver to its emunctories , so frequently there ariseth buboes in the groins , with issuing forth of corrupt matter , pain and heat , from the yard which if neglected infects the whole man and so the body becomes a miserable subject for that loathsome disease to prey upon ( the pox ) although the pox may be taken without the running of the reins , and by several ways without copulation as before intimated , as by lying in a hot bed with the infected , whereby emission of sweat , through the pores , penetrates the adjacent body being then open by sleep and heat , so one man may infect another , where that abominable sin of sodom is practiced , also drinking frequently with them that have it foul in their throats , or sitting upon a close stool whilst the fume evaporates , also a young child born of corrupt parents , may infect the nurse that suckles it , which i have often seen in my practice , but this is a digression . i come now to the cure of this running of the reins , which indeed is nothing less then the pox , though some have it more virulent then others , which they may observe to increase or diminish as they are observant to my rules before directed in the pox , therefore i need not again ( actum agere ) to give more instructions but advize all to temperance , and a strict observation and you may be cured if the disease be small in 14 days at the most , if virulent sometimes longer , this remember leave not taking the morbus pills as your strength will permit and drinking daily of your dyet drink till well , and return not suddenly to a full dyet , after you are well , for the reasons given already . i caution you not to procure a stopping of the issue of the yard , by any other means then by the morbus pills and dyet drink least you stop the morbifick matter there , and dissipate it to all parts of the body . chap. vi. the cure of the scurvy . there is scarce any disease now in being , but some physitians will call the scurvy , and it is true in a sense that every disease is a scurvy companion , but when some are at a loss in the understanding and full comprehending of the cause of distempers in patients , it is common to fly to the sanctuary of the scurvy , like young phylosophers that when they cannot find out the cause or reason of such an effect , will fly to their ultimum refugium , and say it doth it by an occult quality , or some hidden property , my thinks such might ingeniously say i do not understand it , nor can yet find out the reason , but most certain such a disease there is , which is peculiarly called the scorbute or scurvy , which in brief ( not mentioning all the catalogue of distempers entailed to it ) it is a putrifaction of the blood by which sundry diseases may be bred , after which i think it ought to loose the name of the first cause , as the names of small brooks are swallowed in the current of a great river . generally the symptomes are laziness or wearyness without cause , especially in the calves of the leg and thighs , pain , spots , putrifaction of the gums , blackness and looseness of the teeth , for the cure after purging with one dose of our morbus pill , with 3 , 4 or 5 , as the patient is strong or weak , let them drink morning and evening half a pint of our excellent dyet drink , and stir much after it every morning and every night , endeavour to sweat with some in bed after 2 days from taking your purging morbus pills , take every morning before your mornings draught of dyet drink one or two of our corroborating pills and so drink your dyet drink , and walk or stir much after , it presently helps . and for the corruption of the gums , i have often experienced , and i find very certain if you apply a leech to suck them , it will draw away the corrupt blood presently , and the dyet drink and physick takes away the inward cause , so continuing the pills and dyet drink every day till cured . chap. vii . the cure of the gout . the gout is a most grievous pain in the joynts , or est articulorum imbecillitas dolorque ex inter vallo invadens , the cause is an acremonious humour proceeding from the spermatick part of blood , and congealing in the joynts , therefore very seldom women , or eunurches or children are ever troubled with it , it takes its various names from its scituation or place residing if in the hands or fingers it is called chiragra if in the knees it is called genogra , if in the feet podagra , in the hips sciatica ; for the cure it is best cured in spring and fall , although all diseases are then best cured , yet this is especially moved then , in youth it may be perfectly cured but in the aged seldome so throughly , but it will sometimes give a visit to his old mr. especially if they eat plentifully or drink french wine much , or sharp things . for the absolute cure leave off all wine , beer , and ale for a season , and drink every night and morning , for 14 days half a pint at a time of our cordial drink , and one pill of our corroborating pill every morning , after the pill stirring about much take the dyet drink warm . and at meals drink only fair water , take this water at meals constantly , but after you have used about 30 of the corroborating pills , you may leave them off at pleasure , or use them as you find cause . for pains in any part nothing is better then a poultess of milk , bread and marsh-mallows , applyed with some saffron , and put a little oyl of camomile to it , so put it to the pained place , or you may use oyl of camomile , marshmallows , and oyl of turpentine each alike quantity , mixt with some brandy-wine , so anointed by the fire , keeping it warm , avoiding salt meat , sharp things , strong beer and wine , this remember that one of our pills every morning , and drinking nothing but dyet drink , and spring water for a season will be the cure. if pain be extream , use one of my cordial pills , that gives ease in an hours time , you may find its use with directions at the latter end of the book . chap. viii . of different dropsies , for diffinition . hydrops passio est quam aquosi humoris copia comitatur propter sanguificandi facultatem vitiatam . a dropsie is a gathering together of the serous and watry humors from the veins and arteries into several parts of the body , through hurt or imbecillity of the sanguifying faculty , and by want of excretion by urine and sweat , and by weakness of the liver from a cold cause , there are three sorts of dropsies , to wit , the dropsie ascites , timpaintes , and anasarca . when the waterish humor is collected in the abdomen it is called ascites , or the water dropsie , timpaintes , is when much windyness is heaped up between the peritonaeum and the bowels , anasarca is when the ill humors are dispersed throughout the whole body that all the flesh appeareth moist like a spunge , all proceeding from a cold cause and want of fermentation of the blood , the want of which bringeth obstruction of the ureters , and in the pores , by which means what ought to be emitted is retained . how to cure the dropsie . one method may well work the cure of all dropsies , that is let their dyet be easie of concoction , and very d●ying , abstaining as much from drink as possible , and keeping altogether to our cordial dyet drink , and sweating a little morning and evening , with half a pint at a time of it warm in bed , and it will dry up the humors powerfully and speedily even as lime doth water , and for 3 weeks or a month take every day if possible one or two of our corroborating pills , which will cause fermentation , strengthning the liver and ureters , free them from all weakness and obstructions , and by exercising after your dyet drink and pills it safely cures . chap. ix . of an ague , or feaver what it is . a feaver is so called from the latine word ferveo , because it is a fervor , or heat affecting the body , it is a preternatural heat kindled in the heart , as in its proper subject primarily and per se hurting our actions which heat by the meditation of blood in the veins and spirits is diffused through the whole body . the reason of circuits of intermitting feavers , is of no small moment amongst the learned for what one allows , another rejects , and therefore as well from their difference in judgement as their frequent failing in cure , the ague may be truly called approbrium medicorum , but feavers are usually distinguished into putred and malignant , and putred feavers into continual and intermitting , not to enlarge upon all agues , passing under the several denominations or names , though proceeding from putred of quotidian , tertian , quartan , double tertian , &c. but the difference of its fits , shews the humour it came from . how to cure the ague . first take 2 or 3 of our vomiting pills in the morning , then at night take of our cordial dyet drink half a pint hot every night and morning , sweating upon it every time , and forbear drinking of beer or ale for 4 days , taking this drink at meat and else , and take also 3 of our corroborating pills , every morning for a week together , early stirring after them , it will free your body with ease and safety . avoiding the violent sweats , the jesuits powder doth commonly bring upon all that take it . chap. x. of a consumption and decays of strength , or consumptio corporis . i am come now last of all to treat of a consumption , any of which diseases before mentioned if neglected may bring the body into , therefore we say veniente occurite morbo it is easier to prevent then cure the least disease . diffinition tabes . quia partium ingreditur soliditatem & soluit . a consumption so called , because the disease enters into the solid and noble parts and consumes them as fire doth mettles by melting them , though properly it signifieth an ulcer in the lungs which by spreading doth wast and consume them and the whole body , the french call it , le pulmonick by the name of the lungs , and there it doth begin by a putrid corosive sharp humour contained in the mass of blood , which humours become such for want of fermentation and continue such by additional acrimony which is the cause that all salt , sharp rheums and distillations , which usually fall down most by night are so destructive and mortal , and that the venenat quality of that sharp phlegm , distilling doth so continually stimulate the expulsive faculty of the lungs , desiring to free it self by coughing . therefore all sharp , salt , acrimonous things , or things easily corrupted , are most dangerous to consumptive persons , and all things that resist putrifaction , and acrimony are the best preservatives . for cure of a consumption and all decays of strength and nature . be carefull to dispose of your self so that the disease may be oppugned and nature strengthened , and first i shall admonish you to have regard to those things called not naturall as air , food , sleep , the passions of the mind , exercise and to the former may be added excrements , that these may be rectified if amiss and procured if wanting the full directions there to you are taught in the begining of this treatise in the doctrine of preservation of health , be careful of keeping your body from all excess which is hurtfull to nature , also leave not of suddenly what you have been long acustomed to , although worse , except air , which we ought to change though you live in the best , yet change is better , walking mornings to hills or high grounds in the evenings , in summer time by pleasant rivers according to the saying , fons speculum gramen haec dant occulis relevamen , mane igitur montes sed serum inquirito fontes . i caution you not to be out of house after sun set , nor to live in nor adjoyning to old stone walls , nor new buildings , the former being though most before wet wether yet dampishly unwholsome penetrating , and will transmute sound and solid bodies to putryfaction , the latter very suffocating till summer air hath throughly dryed , putrid air is also to be avoided if you live near stinking lakes of water moorish ground &c. for as air is more , or less putred it is better or worse in this distemper for air is obnoxious to putrifaction as well as any thing else therefore it is worth while for all weak , or consumtive people especially to enquire into the nature of the air of the place they intend to live in , for we chiefly live by the air by reason we are continually drawing in and breathing forth . generally the air in cities ( we find by daily experience ) is not so good as the open country because the breath of many people in a close place doth putryfie the air as well the transpiration of the pores of the body , and also the ill smells of divers filth — these things are and may be proved , as also the goodness or badness o● any air , by the keeping of any kind of flesh meat , for the better the air is , the longer it will keep uncorrupt , and so it is with our instruments of respiration as the lungs , will keep longer sound in a good air then bad , small ale is most agreeable at meals and warm . for dyet , your best dyet being meat easie of concoction , not easily corrupted , fine manchet land birds , rabbets , poultrey , &c. also where the stomach is not very phlegmatick , milk hot from the cow , with sugar of roses dissolved , to be drank about 5 a clock in the afternoon , is safely to be taken to the quantity of half a pint . but for the consumption cure. the most effectual remedy you will find is , especially where there is any catarrh , distillation , rheum , or cough , is our cordial dyet drink and corroborating pill , therefore take of the dyet drink half a pint , morning and evening warm in bed , which strengthens the vitals , and resists putrifaction , lying every morning an hour after it without drinking or eating any thing for that space , at night taking as much and sleep upon it , the pill is to be taken one or two in a morning when you rise , either constantly , or as you find your strength , and walk after it , and you may eat or drink within an hour after . it doth cleanse the stomach and body in general , it is a little laxative , but very strengthning , making a due fermentation , and a lively complection , you ought to exercise according to your strength , and to have your legs , arms and body , often rubbed with a soft hand , never drink cold , nor sharp things , which duly observed is the best means for recovery . chap. xi . treating of all sorts of jaundies , and green-sickness , obstructions . icteritia est effusio bilis modo flavae modo atrae subnide , utriusque quod in puellis saepe accidit per universum corpus , or the jaundies is nothing but a diffusion of choller , or melancholly , or both through the whole body , many times happening when the blood is corrupted without a feaver , as in the crisis of diseases , and in maids that have the green-sickness , all oftentimes caused by obstructions of the gall , liver , spleen , &c. it is easily discovered by the yellowness and discoloration of the skin , and deep red tincture of the urine , or pale colour in the green sickness of young women . the cure . be it to men , women , or maids , the cure is very safe and speedy , first vomit with 2 or 3 of my emetick pills , drinking posset drink as they work , then sweat at night and morning with our cordial dyet drink hot half a pint at a time , the next morning after your sweat , take 3 of our corroborating pills , stir much after the taking of them , and half an hour after taking them , drink a large draught of small ale , or posset drink , maids ought to take the pills for 3 weeks time , for the green sickness . if maids take them for the green sickness , let them drink white-wine and continue taking the pills as directed for 20 days though you may be cured before , 't is not safe to leave dregs behind , and walk much every day after your pills , and the cure will speedily be effected , though it be black jaundies , yellow , or green sickness , or any other obstructions in liver , spleen , or reins , in men , women , or children , and doth strengthen the noble parts and reins to admiration . for your dyet in the jaundies , it ought to be tender , cooling , and opening , easie of concoction , as barley , grewel , fresh fish , poultrey , rabbets , and drink freely of small ale or barley broath , with liquorish boyled in it . but maids in the green sickness ought to use hot drinks that are opening as our dyet drink is , also white-wine , spiced meats , &c. because their disease of obstruction riseth from a cold cause , therefore they must avoid all stopping cold things , as milk , cheese , fruit , nuts and such like . one thing i shall say for the comfort of all persons that have lost their complection , that the corroborating pills , being taken every morning for ten days or longer , doth wonderfully revive , and clear the countenance , and make a fresh colour though in aged people , and if ladies once try them they need never paint more , besides it makes the body sound and strong . chap. xii . of the prices of the medicines that cure the diseases aforementioned . first , our cordial dyet drink is 2 s. 6 d. the quart . morbus pill the box containing 30. at 5 s. the corroborating pill the box containing 40. at 5 s. the vomiting pill the box containing 20. at 3 s. the cordial pill giving ease in an hour , and frees thy body from the greatest pain . if pain be great in any part of the body , occasioned by gout , chollick , pox , stone , or otherwise , take one of my cordial pills , at night going to bed and indeavor to sleep upon it , and it will give ease in one hours time , provided you do not eat nor drink any thing after for two hours space , and fotbear speaking , or else that may hinder its efficacy upon the vitals , for it gives ease by corroborating and not by stupifying . it is most beneficial when the patient hath had a stool not long before the taking of it . which may easily be procured by help of any small glister . i need not write more in commendation of it , for he or she that finds release from pain , will not longer doubt of the value and goodness , its price 12 d. each pill , there being three in a box , is 3 s. price . these pills and dyet drink are so well known by all that have used them for their excellent vertues , that they need nothing of pen praise , their benefit in use will shew their worth , and to be had only from my house in winchester-street near gresham colledge next door to the fleece tavern . finis . plano-pnigmos, or, a gag for johnson that published animadversions upon galen-pale and, a scourge for that pitiful fellow mr. galen that dictated to him a scurrillous greek title / by geo. thomson. thomson, george, fl. 1648-1679. 1665 approx. 71 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 33 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-08 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a62440 wing t1030 estc r24128 07952204 ocm 07952204 40704 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a62440) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 40704) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1216:1) plano-pnigmos, or, a gag for johnson that published animadversions upon galen-pale and, a scourge for that pitiful fellow mr. galen that dictated to him a scurrillous greek title / by geo. thomson. thomson, george, fl. 1648-1679. starkey, george, 1627-1665. epistolar discourse to the learned and deserving author of galeno-pale. 63 p. printed by r. wood for edward thomas, london : 1665. an epistolar discourse to the learned and deserving author of galeno-pale / george starkey: p. [33]-63. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng johnson, william, 17th cent. -some brief animadversions upon two late treatises. medicine -early works to 1800 2004-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-04 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2004-04 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion πλανοπνιγμος , or , a gag for johnson that published animadversions upon galeno-pale . and a scourge for that pitiful fellow mr. galen , that dictated to him a scurrillous greek title . by geo. thomson , doctor of physick . london , printed by r. wood , for edward thomas , at the adam and eve in little brittain , 1665. πλανοπνιγμος or , a gag for johnson that published animadversions upon galeno-pale , &c. o brave galenists ! are ye upon that lock● and i doubt not but i shall meet with you there . is this your coming to a fair trial by matter of fact , to let loose your ban-dog at me , clapping him on the back , and spitting in his mouth , while ye in the mean time lie lurking in a den , peeping through a cranny , in hope to see him worry me . have i touched you so to the quick , that being conscious to your selves what facinorous actions ye have committed , none of you dare appear in person to plead directly , whether guilty or no , for the satisfaction of the world ; but are forced to suborn a sneaking reproachful fellow to rail at us , one of those that are spons● penelopes nebulones alctnoique , who ( if he had his desart ) ought to be branded on the front for abusing honest men : a most illiterate bruit as i found him in discourse , when he came on purpose to affront me , instigated no doubt by some of you , who forsooth own him for your chymist ; and indeed fitting for such galeno-chymists , that the common proverb may be verified , patella dignum operculum ; like priest , like clark , good enough for amen . well mr. galen , you and the rest of your gang ( for all this ) are mistaken in your subtil plot ; it will not hold i assure you : for i would have you know , that if ye had fetched the tricipital dog cerberus out of hell to have flown at me , it had been all one , i should not have startled at it , or gone back an inch ; for by power of that unconquerable truth in my art , i am able to stop the mouth of that old grandfather of lies , and all his imps. obsequium amicos , veritas odium parit . it is no wonder therefore if ye take me for your enemy , and conspire against me by under-hand dealing ; sith i have told you downright truth , sine fuco , palpo , vel offaciis , without mincing and tenderly touching your pernicious practice in physick , and your intollerable obstinacy , in still persisting in the same . could i have run with the hare and held with the hound , and undertaken to have been an instrument to have betrayed a just , profitable , and noble design , set upon by some learned chymists , i might have been reputed an able doctor , one of the honorarii if i pleased . could i have blown ho● and cold ( odious to a candid satyrist ) out of the same mouth , then had i been qualified fit for your temperaments and humours . had i like a half-codled chymist declaimed against the extravagant theories of paracelsus and helmont ; had i called you alone the rational chymists ( as one doth in his letter ) and all the rest pretenders , esteeming mountebanks and chymists synonima's , making the world believe that ye are as much conversant in chymical authors as any besides , and best able to judge of them ; had i say against conscience and real proofs thus flattered you , i had got into your favour , but damnified my own soul. now forasmuch i charge you home , and offer to make it appear by optical practice , to any man that is not partial or byassed by sinister respects , or wilfully blinde through ignorance and covetousness , that galen never had the gift of healing , nor none of his disciples at this day ; that they take a quite contrary way and indirect method to cure infirmities , by bleeding , issues , vesicatories , cupping-glasses ; uncorrected purgatives ; by their languid and ineffectual cordials , juleps , apozems , electuaries of the shops , and diet-drinks ; that tyrannical usurpation over the patients course of life , by sending ●hem to the wells to be cured , because they know not what to do more . because i extol helmont as he deserves , in that he hated to palliate your deformities , and would not go behinde the door to call fatuum , fatuum , nebulonem , nebulonem , as they are really so , without any grudge or rancour to their persons . because i heartily congratulate him for pulling down the old ruinous structure of the galenical doctrine , built upon a rotten foundation , and for giving us a model of a new . because i reprove you sharply for your insolent aspiring ambition of domineering over the most ingenious , industrious , honest , and pious chymical labourers in the nation , under a specious pretence of reforming that noble art , which ye principally ( as is obvious to any man that hath the least inspection into things of this nature ) have defaced and deformed by your lazie recipes ? forasmuch i check you for keeping your patients to a tedious course of physick , without any sensible amendment , meerly for your private gain , not resolving them what will be the event of the disease ; or whether or no ye are able to cure them in any reasonable space of time . because i take notice of your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vain curiosity and ostentation in anatomy , without any notable improvement of the sanative part , and your remarkable ignorance in chyrurgery : the plausible shews of being chymists , and yet practice a quite contrary way , as is daily evident by your actions ; so that your damnation must needs be the greater , if ye know what ye ought and do it not . that i dare appear upon the stage of the world with other worthy philosophers , and challenge to make good by ocular demonstration of five several experimental essayes , that those theorems in physick to which ye constantly adhere in the therapeutick intention ( though ye can sometimes dispute for recreation and exercise of your dialectick faculty otherwise ) are false ; that your phlebotomy is plainly destructive to mankinde ; and your officinal solutives extreamly injurious to the body ; and that chymical remedies without equivocation ( unless abused by galeno-chymists and pseudo-chymists ) are no more dangerous then the best canary wine as i offer to indicate by frequent sumption into my own stomack . having thus thrown you flat on your back in galeno-pale , ye rage , fret , storm , and in your mad mood run to the kennel , and take up filthy durt and cast it in the face of most deserving men ; animating and putting reviling terms into the black mouth of a sordid fellow , an operator fit for those physicians that may very well be his masters , or rather a master for such disciples , ( some having hired him to reach them chymistry , himself being ignorant enough ) who doth alike ludere cum chymicis , as the galenists do cum corio humano ; one , that if he were served aright , ought to be catamidiatus in amphitheatro , publickly disgraced according to the roman law , for squandring away his time , and neglect of the discharge of his function . such a coprologos , a dung-hill-like fellow , fitting for a barretor , informer , and promoter ; one that we may suspect will in his necessity hazard his soul to get money , who hath so little of conscience ( like some of the galenists ) that ( if he could do it impune , and undiscovered ) would for some small gain sell mercurius sublimatus corrosivus for dulcis . one of demetrius brats , who more properly may be called demophonos , that is , a destroyer of poor mortals ; who cares not though millions perish , if he and his complices can carry on a gainful trade ; crying down whatsoever is salutary and preservative , if it bring not in notable lucre . this lewd person whom i scorn to touch with my chymical tongs , unless to take him by the nose as st. danstan did the devil , or rather by that his slanderous tongue to pull it out , hath our crafty sophisters the galenists chosen to patronize , and divulge what they have prompted to him . i think it very much below my self to expostulate with such a triobolar sycophant , and i am certain all that know me aright would blame me to foul my fingers about him : i shall onely reflect a little upon mr. galen , who i am confident abetted , instructed , and disciplin'd him in most of his scurrillous and false expressions . in limine these contumelious galenists call those that are of known candor , integrity , and learning , through the hollow trunk of this halophant , or liar for a whetstone ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , circulatores , juglers that go about from place to place , gathering people together to deceive them , or nebulones , knaves , villains , praestigiatores , couzeners . how far i for my own part am guilty of this opprobrious language , all that know me can sufficiently testifie ; and i shall defie the proudest galenist in england that dares speak any such thing to my face ; yea , i doubt not but other learned chymists will take my part , and vindicate themselves , who are as much concern'd to assert their own innocence against these maligners as my self . some of the persons thus abused i presume to nominate ; to wit , doctor jos. dey , will. currer , geo. starkey , john fryer , ever . maynwaring , tho. norton , tho. troutbeck , p. massonet , thornley , tho. williams , febure , and several others . are these such men as your amanuensis , or scribe , deciphers them by the title and the whole tenour of his pamphlet ? what unhandsom things can you lay to their charge in the practice of physick ? did any of them ever bleed their patients that had the small pox ready to appear , and thereby sent them packing into the grave , to the great grief of the nation ? did any of them ever keep a lady sick of an acute feaver one and twenty dayes before they gave a prognostick whether she would live or dye ? have any of us got riches unjustly by the ruine of others ? if any of the forenamed have done these , or the like ugly actions , then speak aloud , and proclaim us at the cross for knaves and villains . for we do not desire , nor can we expect any favour from you , but without any more ado , indict , arraign , and hang us if ye can lawfully . yea , i will go farther with you to clear my self and these worthy gentlemen , i shall ( and i doubt not but they will all joyn with me in order to this useful discovery ) if his majesty be pleased to appoint any perspicacious judicious persons , men that are moderate and no way preoccupated or seduced to this or that opinion , through favour , affection , or any secular interest , such as look upon truth with a sincere single eye ) be obliged to demonstrate by practical instances , that phlebotomy is no proper remedy for any feaver whatsoever ; and that bleeding in the small pox , spotted feaver , and all other malignant diseases , is a ready way to destroy the patient , unless nature be extraordinary vigorous : wherein if i fail , and give not good sound philosophical reasons thereof , for the satisfaction and conviction of those intelligent enquirers ; let his majesty ( according to their report ) forthwith punish me for an impostor and a villain ; and i hope i shall be so ingenuous to say i deserve it . moreover , after that i have made it appear what great mischief this galenical bleeding causes in the world , i shall proceed in the same manner to manifest and certifie to the eye , what detriment and inconvenience happens to mans body through uncorrected purgatives ; and likewise maintain certain other positions and verities set down in galeno-pale , to the confutation of those capital errours in physick that have these many centuries of years been allowed , to the slaughter of mankinde . so much for the freeing us from your scurrillous abusive title ; as to the contents of the animadversions upon galeno-pale , of this base pretended author ( on whom i hope the magistrate will make an animadversion for an example to others , for their own and the nations welfare ) i shall take no notice as to make him any reply , they being as he that sets them down not tant● : for the greatest part of them is made up of notorious lies , scurrility , obloquies , slanders , detraction , sophistry , perversion of the proper sense , misinterpretation , and misapplication ; so that any ingenious well-meaning reader may easily understand the fallacious design of this hyperbolical impostor , and them that set him on work , without any comment or exposition : yet i could not but set an asterisk , or small mark , where the galenists by him call me and other euchymists , in their right wits ( if all the world be not in a dream ) fanaticks ; taxing us that we intend to bring in confusion and disorder into the nation . the words are these : 't is no wonder at all to hear you inveigh bitterly against rule and method in physick , when out of your anarchical principle you are as ready to renounce all order and government in the state. were i not ascertained that some of his masters ( who upon all occasions can seldom afford us any better term then fanaticks ) read him this lesson , and that their principal drift is to bring an odium upon truth , and the defenders of it , by fastning this filthy deformed mark of fanatick upon the kings loyal subjects , that they may thereby disappoint us of our just ends : had not these words i say , or at least the sense of them , proceeded from the mouth of those galenical fellows , who ( whatsoever they pretend to the contrary ) are the most notable misochymici , haters of medicinal truths , next the common illiterate rabble , i should lightly have passed them over without reflection , being content to hear a fool rail without retorting . now sith my own loyalty , fidelity to the crown of england , and a hearty desire to promote the peace , unity , order , and conformity of church and state are engaged , i cannot be satisfied till i wipe off these muddy galenical reproaches , and taking two or three bright chymical stones out of my scrip , fasten them in the impudent forehead of these railing goliahs . where have i in galeno-pale , or any discourse whatsoever , directly and absolutely inveighed against rule and method , unless your contrary rules of healing , and your tedious irregular methodus medendi , or rather periodus , and sathans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which i hope you will not openly stand up for . this is one of your old fallacies to argue , à dicto secundum quid ad dictum simpliciter . all that i reprove is your indirect and exorbitant way of attaining that principal and most desired scope mans sanity . it were equally as absurd in me to cry down all rule and method , as for a traveller to finde fault with , and condemn the ground he treadeth upon , because he deviating through his incogitance or obstinacy , made choice of a long and dangerous way full of thieves and robbers ; whereas had he steered a right course , and been governed by sound advice , he might have taken a short and safe way to his intended journeys end . sub judice lis sit . if our method , rules , canons , or directions do not enable us to perform the business in order to the preservation of mans life better every way then yours , we will straight yield and take yours up for the best . but we assure you it must not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a curious fine texture of empty words that will confute us , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 something done , and by this we 'l stand or fall . and we hope the world will not be so rash to to judge us irregular , fanatick , and immethodical in physick , because you barely affirm it by the mouth of this any thing that is vile . well , all this will not serve our turns to be discharged of fanaticism in physick , unless we be likewise acquitted from the same in the state ; for these subtil argumentators make use of mens personal crimes and vices to maintain their exitious false hypotheses , which plainly shews what they are . for had it not been more for fear then any civil respect ( as appeared by making void a great part of the first impress . ) m. n. ( that wrote medela med. an ingenious treatise full of verity , which mr. sprackling and all the learned coadjutors of that society , if all their brains were comprehended in one skull , were never able to answer to any purpose by way of refutation ) had been soundly lashed by them for what he did amiss in olivers dayes , and all this to justifie their ignorantia medelae , of which they are resolved never to be cured , and that 's a sad thing . aegrotare malum est sed pejus nolle sanari . this obiter . let 's now plead to that bill of treason they bring in against us by this prevaricator , who saith , that we have in us an anarchical principle , and that we are ready to renounce all order and government in the state. how now , is 't possible ? then assuredly i have been in a dream all this while , and beside my self indeed , and am verily and truly a fanatick : if this be so , that i have an anarchical principle within me , yet would not comply with oliver , and other anarchists , and accept of that lucriferous and commodious way which many galenists in their right wits ( as they suppose ) never refused , getting thereby that which they esteem the summum bonum of physick . have you doctor dey , with other chymical gentlemen , been so infatuated too , then without controversie ye are no such wise men as i took you for ; and they may very well call us all fools and fanaticks , to see us a company of beggarly cin●flo's , puffcoals , standing upon a punctilio of honesty and loyalty , to have taken pains to be poor ; and they without wetting or burning their fingers ( for these learned clarks , like the ape , know how to take nuts out of the fire with the paw of the cat ) have per fas aut nef as made themselves ( counting all other fanaticks and witless that are not so ) rich and honourable . gentlemen who would be thus troubled with a medical mendical conscience . had i foreseen this it had been enough to have made me a very knave , to have plaid my game as well as any galenist ; to have made hay while the sun shined ; to have laid up against a rainy day , and never to have suffered what i did for king charles the first , being persecuted and imprisoned for his sake almost to death upon a monarchical principle , though now very unseasonably it is become ( as my enemies will have it ) anarchical : i could but at worst have been called fanatick . o tempora , ô mores ! hósne mihi fructus ? am i thus rewarded for my loyalty ? o misera virtus ego te rem existimabam , sed tu nil nisi verba eras . i thought vertue would have given a man a better reward . well , who can help it ? contra sycophantae morsum non est remedium . i am forced to put it up , what cannot be cured must be endured . adeone res rediit ? i am brought to a fine pass . what ? a bad physician , and a worse subject . parit indignatio versum : methinks i could now condescend insanire , and be willingly a fanatick for some short time that i might be revenged upon these calumniating galenists , that thus accuse loyal subjects of rebellion , when they have been and still are in their hearts . were it not for the act of oblivion how would i claw them away : but i must be silent because my sovereign commands me . onely thus much i shall insert into my letany , from scribes , pharisees , sadduces , and galenists the worst of all , good lord deliver me and all honest men . thus have i sufficiently made it appear what notorious pseudologists the galenical fellows are ; and how they stick not to disgrace any , be he never so upright , by falsly aspersing and representing him to the world the worst of men : so that they may thereby bring into disrepute the noble profession of chymistry , of which they are either grosly ignorant , and deserve to be term'd no better then fools in the science of physick ; else if knowing and expert therein , cannot be imagined any other then — forasmuch as their actions , and chymical knowledge to which they make pretence , stand as it were diametrically opposite , being very inconsistent and different one from the other . now sith it is so that we know not how to judge of any man , but by his operations ( god being the onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , heart-searcher ) we have all the reason in the world to censure and conclude according to these mens fruits , that they are far from being such persons that this hired halophant proclaims them to be ; that is , such lovers of chymistry these twenty years last past . that its improvement hath been their great care and constant study ; and that pitch that this noble art is advanced , is owed to them ; and if it ascend higher , the same hands must lend their assistance . all which is most false as i can make evident . would these fellows if they were improvers and advancers of this noble art thus malign and revile approved artists ? calling honest men knaves ; those that have been loyal subjects and sufferers for his majesty , fanaticks ; those that are philomathêis and polymathêis , imbued with learning as well as themselves , amatheis , illiterate ideots . had they any cordial kindeness for helmont , would they still obstinately maintain those essential capital errours in physick , which the noble author in express positive terms condemns , and by undeniable arguments demonstrates to tend to the ruine of mankinde . surely if they did not commend him onely teeth outwards , hating him in their hearts , they would not still retain that periodical long old beaten method , which he doth directly cry down as destructive ; they would quite lay aside bleeding and colloquating purgatives , which he is utterly against : is it possible that these should have real friendship for helmont , or any sons of art , that are absolutely opposite to his theorems . away with these jugling and hypocritical delusions , and let them not think thus to impose upon our senses ; for they may endeavour as easily to perswade men out of their proper names , as ever to convince them that have aright conformed eyes without defect , whose judgements are not perverted or distorted , that they are philo-chymists , advancers of chymistry , and will ever lend their assisting hand to lay one chymical stone in order to the erecting of such an elaboratory , that may edifie the tottering fabrick of their frail diseased brother , unless they may cement it with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the babble or confused noise of their galenical garrulity and multiloquacity , which puffs them up with pride and self-conceit of their own empty worth , so that like so many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , they wage war against all those that sincerely stand up for the defence of verity and charity in the profession of physick ; in so much , that what these men cannot now compass by real worth and lawful means , they think to attain by their policy , subtil wiles , and deceit : flectere si nequeant superos acheronta movebunt . rather then fail in their unrighteous projects , they will seek to pluto ; and rather then they will be accounted ignorant in pyrotechnie , they will procure him to be their tutor , who is well versed in igne gehennae , being well acquainted with all degrees of that fire , and knows how to distribute to every one a just proportion . he can accommodate them with false fire , and an ignis fatuus sufficient to seduce and deceive the world that is best pleased with shadows rather then substances . 't was that old salamander that moved some of them to send their spy to supplant and trappan me , and to return gross lies in reference to those chymical utensils i possess , the twentieth part of which the forger never saw : with the third part of which i dare challenge any galenist in england to do more for the use and benefit of man , then they ( destitute of the dextrous mysterious encheresis ) with numerous and pompous furnaces . o how it pleased his masters to hear this their lately repaired and new vamped servant to jear at a crackt furnace , tyed together with a rope , which i confess would have done better about his neck , to have prevented such a leaking fellow for the future , ab hac atque illac diffluendo , from being imployed any more by the galenists to tell such abominable falsities for their advantage , to make their imposture the more plausible . certainly now mr. galen i see you are put to hard shifts to uphold the credit of your polyarchy , and being ready to sink , are forced to catch at any twig to buoy you up . these are naeniae , lamentable stories to upbraid me with such a ridiculous thing as a crackt furnace , when ye are non-plust , and are not able to answer me to the main . do ye think this kinde of drollery will satisfie any diligent indagators of truth . desist ye pharisaical hypocrites from thus trifling and deluding our eyes with glittering apparitions , and be more serious and substantial in such weighty matters concerning mans life : shew your art if ye have any , and prove that ye are in the right way or method of curing . i have offered you reasonable and equal propositions , and am resolved ( if i live ) to keep close to them , desiring onely indifferent arbiters to determine our controversies according to the facts of each of us . doubtless , as one said of the dead body that would not stand being set upon its legs , aliquid deest intus ; so may a man conclude that ye are deficient , and all is not sound within , sith ye dare not stand upon the justification of your principles by your works . heu quam difficile crimen non prodere ! ye may set a good face upon it , but i assure you ye have lost much of your reputation among the wiser sort , for this very reason that ye would not endure a test. none hereafter but mad men ( whom some that are little better affirm ye have an excellent faculty to cure above others ) will ever trust such counterfeit ignorant galeno-chymists , that dare not give a taste or trial of their skill . wherefore our faithful advice is , that ye would utterly abdicate your former vanities and fooleries in physick , and openly make a recantation thereof , declaring a hearty sense of your gross errours , and a full resolution to exercise the duties of your profession more sincerely , candidly , and conscientiously , labouring with your own hands as other laudable chymists have done , to acquire those arcana's that compleat a philosopher , and enable him to minister relief to a languid wretch . upon these conditions ye shall finde us ready to instruct you , and teach you how to handle a retort and cucurbite , informing you of the grand mistakes in preparation and appropriation of spagyrick remedies ; to the right knowledge of which your dull servant iohnson and books are never able to direct you yea , we shall honour you so far , as to make you members of our society , so that we be throughly perswaded that ye are become hearty converts , and will never prove false to us , betray , and blab abroad the secrets of our art to apothecaries boyes , good wives , nurses , and such like profane persons , as ye have formerly done , to the great dammage and dishonour of physick . this favour we shall out of commiseration to your low condition vouchsafe to afford you , upon this pinch and strait , to which we plainly perceive ( by those mean beggarly evasions and subterfuges ye seek ) ye are now reduced , being stormed on every side by several powerful veridici and eupractici in physick . it s confessed we have little reason to be so courteous and kinde to you , considering how ye have disobliged us every way , and how wilfully accessary ye have been to your own overthow : however , we shall give a testimony to the nation , that a true chymist is of a most heroick sublime spirit , ready to forgive injuries , and pass by abuses without retaliation . a mantissa , or advantage , cast into the scale , to make the galenical animadverter and remarker appear down-right a n. in grano , for the credit of his worshipful masters . these pharisaical galenists out of a supercilious haughtiness and philauty presumptuously censure all belonging to the iatrical faculty , that are not of their sect , publicans or fools , not fitting to hold correspondence with , or to be touched with their sanctified lady-like hands , lest they should be polluted by such carbonarii , colliers in their art , as the chymists : wherefore these proud self-conceited criticks have passed a rigid ( but unjust ) sentence of condemnation upon me ; and have sent out their wicked commentariensis to suffocate and smother my reputation , because i met with and associated my self with an impudent crew ( as they style them ) of such , that are uttter enemies to learning in general , alledging that i am one of the most considerable champions and ring-leaders of this faction , having been an intimate friend and associate of odowd's , best knowing him ; so bold and dull an ignoramus that he shames the gallows , a wretch that is a disgrace to his most disgraceful party , and withal an atheist . 't is well the galenists have found out a mercenary fellow , that will take upon him to personate what they invent , and for some small reward excuse them , and suffer the lash himself ; being we believe so fit for their humours and complexions , that if they say aestuat , it is hot weather , ( though quite contrary ) he will forthwith protest , sudat , he is all in a sweat : otherwise i would have remitted their venemous arrows , and directly have aimed at the authors that first drew the bowe at me , and have neglected this durty fellow whom they make use of for a sleight bulwark to shelter themselves and their untruths ; however i make no question to penetrate them through his side . mendacium servile vitium . to hire and to be hired to derogate from any by slanders , calumny , and pseudologies , argues a base slavish spirit unworthy any man , but especially a physician . are these dogmatical candidates ? if so , nigro carbone cos posthaec annotabo , i le mark them hereafter for black sheep . have ye no other way to evade the trial of essential physical truths ( which if i maintain not demonstratively let me perish ) but by countenancing your servant wrongfully , and publickly to disgrace and represent me to be companion and copes-mate of those , who ( if they were as they are set down by you ) ought not to have a being in this nation ; accusing me as ring-leader and champion of them in those wicked designs you tax them with . whether those you call ignorant persons , especially mr. odowd , ( whom 't is confessed i did sometime meet with upon a very reasonable and justifiable account ) be guilty of those crimes that are laid to their charge , ( maliciously as i conceive in great part , and upon false grounds ) i shall not undertake to ventilate or discuss , let them plead and vindicate themselves . however , grant them and my self never so bad as you say . yet truth is truth , and will stand firm in despite of all your undermining , cryptick , and subterranean workings , to blow up the propugnators and defenders of it . i desire to appeal to all sober , discreet , honest , and impartial men that know me intus & in cute , whether i ever proposed or joyned with any to carry on any base unworthy thing in this chymical enterprise , above the glory of god , the increase of vertuous actions , the honour of his majesty , the benefit of the nation , the promotion of learning ) as i have sufficiently explained my self in the 20. chapter of galeno-pale ) the melioration and reformation of the state of physick . if this ought to be reputed factious , i desire to be the ring-leader and champion of such a faction . as for that intimate friendship between me and mr. odowd ( which your halophant divulges ) it is as arrant a truth as that you are real friends to chymistry , unless it be per antiphrasin . indeed i alwayes looked upon the gentleman as a queint courtier endued with good natural parts , and might deserve well of his king and countrey , according to his station , without justifying his illiterature , supposing withal that were true ( which i formerly much suspected ) that he had acquired so potent and active an arcanum as he relates , and some do now testifie , above any weak and sluggish preparation in your dispensatory : to your grand shame be it spoken , that such an illiterate person , ( for which defect i have heard him sometimes ingenuously condole himself in the presence of several knowing men ) should outvie your learned ignorance in that which is principally desired by every sick man ; but i never had that favour for him that we could set our horses so together , as to be intimate and throughly to know each other , but alwayes kept a loof to avoid scandal . but now methinks i begin to have a little more then ordinary respect , and to draw a little nigher him , since this remarkable diabolos ( belonging improperly to those of amen , who ought to make good the etymon of the word , with which some i think are resolved never to associate themselves intimately ) traduced , slandered , maliciously and falsly accused him for an unparallel'd knave , villain , and atheist . from that time there came to me a testimonial note of mr. rawlinsons cure , signed with his own hand , i began to think better of him then before , and conceited the devil was not so black as some that painted him . the satisfaction i received in that particular was this . whereas mr. will. johnson hath in print reported ill of doctor odowde's relation , touching a cure performed upon me : i do by these presents attest , that the relation published by doctor odowde is in every circumstance , and in the whole most true . witness my hand the 7 th . of june , 1665. richard rawlinson . signed in the presence of us , will. goddard . mar. nedham . edw. coke . if this fellow ( notwithstanding his masters protection ) deserve not to be whipped about the pig-market , and every chymist in england to have a lash at him , let any judge that is truly sensible of the loss of a good name . i hope no man will be so mad to credit him for the future ; for , qui semel est semper praesumitur esse malus . finis . an epistolar discourse to the learned and deserving author of galeno-pale . by george starkey , m. d. and philosopher by fire . london , printed by r. wood , for edward thomas , at the adam and eve in little brittain , 1665. an epistolar discourse to the learned and deserving author of galeno-pale . after my most real and hearty thanks , for that great favour you were pleased to oblige me with , in bestowing upon me that learned , useful , and seasonable piece of yours , galeno-pale , ( in acknowledgement of which obligation , be pleased to accept the tender of my utmost service , and most cordial love ) i make bold in answer of your request so me , to return you my sense of that tractate of yours , ( which is so highly deserving , as not to need my commendation , and so accurately learned , as not to fear any mans censure or animadversion ) as also of that trivial and contemptible piece of garrulity , pretended as an animadversory reply to your book , and lash for your person ; though in my judgement he hath had the ill luck , to be so far out in the performance , that his ill cookt mess of opprobrious obloquy , will serve onely to polish , and make more amiable the lustre of that your excellent tractate ; and like a black foil , to set out to the greater advantage , that so every way desirable jewel . of my concurrence with you in opinion , my two tractates , viz. helmonts vindication , and pyrotechny asserted , are such undeniable arguments , that i need adde nothing in this place for confirmation of a truth so beyond doubt , apparently evident . to them i referre such as either know not , or will not believe , that i am altogether concurring with you in judgement ; being able to prove beyond rational contradiction , that our opinions herein agree with the truth of nature ; and can practically demonstrate , that our antagonists , in what they differ from us , have onely idle speculations , and unprofitable airy notions , which they embrace instead of real practical truths ; so hugging ( as the poet hath it ) a cloud instead of juno . it is not because we are strangers to the doctrine of humours , that we do not , with the galenists , make up temperaments , and vary complexions and constitutions , according to the divers mixtures of them , and measure all the defects in nature , by their contest , prevalency and victory . what the received opinion herein is , we know , and learned many years since ; but afterward , being convincingly reclaimed by the unresistable force of light and truth , we learned that hard lesson , of making loss of all these imaginary attainments , and were willing to confess that we had drunk largely of muddy and unwholesom waters ; and being thus overswayed with the dictates of a more sound reason , we accounted it no dishonour both to sing a palinode our selves , and sound a retreat unto others ; desiring if it were the good will of god , that as many as are friends to learning and pretend to ingenuity , may taste of the pure streams of truth , and solid learning ; not doubting but if once tasted , they would drink largely , and alwayes desire the same waters , loathing those muddy and infected lakes to which they had been long accustomed . while we resolved on this course , and addressed our selves in earnest to this work of charity , of recovering as many as we could ( all if possible ) from the paths of errour , in which they ( following either blinde or unfaithful guids ) had long wandred : as we really did a work of pious charity towards all , so our pains and labour was candidly interpreted , and acknowledged by some , who by the help of that small candle which we ( according to our mean capacity ) had lighted up , and brought with us , did discover such monstrous deformities and defects in that fabrick in which they were , and for want of a clear distinct light , esteemed a sumptuous and glorious building ; they discovered , i say , such rotten foundations , ruinous arches and pillars , mouldering and tottering walls , a leaky and almost falling roof , that they were quickly prevailed with to quit that dangerous , and most unpleasant abode , fit onely to make a habitation for birds of darkness . but alas ! as there is no action ( of what concernment soever ) that will universally please , so this work of ours , which by many was , and by all deserves to be attributed to pious charity , was misinterpreted , reproached , and reviled by many , and those men of no mean rank or fame . for this old , decayed , rotten structure , of which i speak , is challenged by some of the antients of the fraternity , as a propriety belonging to the professors of philosophy and physick ; of which they as seniors are to have the mannagement and disposing . these to the younger deal out lodgings , and tenements , as also honours and titular preferments , with this caution , that they shall admit them and no other , to be their governours , guids , directors , and counsellors : and because the building was once famous and stately , though now decayed and ruinous , they dawb over these defects with plaistering and painting , and adorn the walls and arches with curious hangings , but will not indure any clear light to be brought in to discover their crazie and tottering habitation , lest their guests and candidates being affrighted at the discovery , should leave them ; and so the repute they have , of being the fathers and dispensers of art and knowledge , should vanish like a shadow before the sun. these are they that are ever learning , but never come to the knowledge of truth ; and the reason is , because they think they have already attained it , and therefore conceive there is no need of further learning , and disdain to be taught , or reproved , but will abuse him that shall attempt it , and load him with opprobrious contumelies . on which score it was , sir , that the late invective against your person ( and in your name all that are assertors of pyrotechny its excellency , beyond the art or mystery of medicine , professed by those who style themselves methodists , as by a characteristical note of distinction ) was vomited up under colour of animadversions upon your deservedly esteemed tractate , with a title befiting the author ( appearingly at least ) of that infamous libel ; which were i in your case i would scorn to answer , but in such a way as might manifest deserved contempt and neglect , not of he author ( pretended ) had he been ( which he can hardly ) more inconsiderable then he is , but of the sheets which he hath blotted , not with any design , ( if he have but the wit to survey the lines he hath fathered with any discretion ) but to let the world know , what a pitiful reply the rational chemists of amen-corner can make to the just exceptions of the true sons of art , against their pretended 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which to english in their sense , is onely a bare subscription to galen ; on which score they are severely culpable , but deserve pity ( to speak the most softly ) for that unlawful marriage , which without consent of both parties , they have endeavoured to make between solid realities and practical verities , on the one part , and aerial speculations , mistaken principles of nature , and ignorant conclusions , and prescriptions taken on trust from their predecessors , without examination , on the other part ; which marriage if they can consummate , so as to produce from it a galeno-chemical off-spring , i hope they will reconcile lazie ignorance , with sedulous diligence and industry , in searching out truth , for bride-men ; and light and darkness , truth and error , adept knowledge , and putaticious uncertainty , for bride-maids ; and let all about town that have skill in the learned languages , logick , and school philosophy , and have read galen and paracelsus , avicen and helmont , riverius and quercetan , the london dispensatory , and scroderus pharmacopoea , &c. be candidates of this new society ; and let the author of those sorry animadversions on your book , be door-keeper to this new-model'd colledge , with order that he admit of none , that is a verier wise-man then himself , as a member among them ; and then no doubt but the art of medicine will be improved , so as to silence the wonder of a minotaure , or the poets pegasus , or a syren . but , sir , i hope as you in your galeno-pale have begun to forbid the banes , and to put a stop to the enterprize of so unequal a match , and have shown most just causes why two parties so disagreeing should not be joyned in matrimony ; so you will continue a vigilant eye that the galenical satyr , whose lust of propagating ( whether in , or out of kinde ) is insatiable , may not commit a rape upon so delicate a nymph as pyrotechny ; such an unlawful mixture is by some reputed and reported the original of apes , monkeys , and baboons ; if or no , truly , i shall not dispute , but surely the unequal commixture before mentioned , will in likelihood , yea for certain , produce as great , or greater monsters in art , then the others are in nature , allowing the supposition of their original for true . 't is granted , of late many rash pretenders have assumed the title of chemists , whom nature not knowing , nor they her , the true sons of art disdain to own , and protest against ; among whose number i know none more fit to be first begun withal , then this fugitive renegado , who never attaining higher honour in the chemical army , then of a pioneer , or dragoon at best , hath proved an apostate from that profession he never was worthy of , and betrayed to the enemy as much as he ever knew , which all that understand any thing in art , are assured , is little enough ; by discovery of which no real artist need fear dammage , nor was there ground of reply to any thing that either hath dropt , or heréafter may fall from his pen , were it not that all who know him are induced to believe , that he doth by that scribble ( how impertinent soever it be ) as many of his minde ( in another case ) are reported to do , father brats which they are sure are none of their own , because they either have received , or hope to receive some beneficial courtesies from the fathers : therefore for sake of the real and not pretended father of that piece , i shall say a little to some passages i observed therein , though very briefly . first , i observe with what a magisterial supercilliousness he censures as illiterate , all that are professors of true pyrotechny , and maintain its principles , both as to the preparation and application of remedies , the judging , distinguishing , and curing diseases , in opposition to those who subscribing to galen , avicen , and others of that gang , own the distinction of dogmatists , and methodists ; and have done for many ages , till of late they have wrought upon the facile nature , or cranium of an easie impression , of a nameless person ( of honour for ought i know ) to become their godfather ; and now at the years of rotten ripe discretion , to give them a new name of rational chemists , as a distinction ( i conceive ) between such , whom his wisdom is pleased to style melancholly operators , and them ; that is , between such who will admit no practical theorems , whose confirmation they have not practically received from the fire ; and those more neat , genteel chemists , who without knowing the names and forms of furnaces , the degrees , and manner of ordering fires , the shapes and diversities of chemical vessels , can by depth of reading , and profound reason , tell what are the best chemical remedies , and when , how , and by whom they are best made ; and the time , manner , dose , and rule , requisite for the most beneficial administration of them . this gentleman i suppose for the honour of the nation , and future benefit of the cadets of the gentry , will shortly distinguish between the rational , and gross mechanical merchant , marriner , souldier , &c. and for the honour and profit of generations to come , introduce and recommend rational pilots , masters and captains of ships , captains and commanders of land forces ; rational mannagers of trafique by sea and land ; as also dealers by exchange of moneys , and the like ; and if he can perswade those in authority to listen to , and approve such a rational motion , we may hope ( in time ) to be provided as well in all these mentioned cases , as we are now with iatrochemical galenists . 't is as possible , and probable , to be an expert chemist , without seriously , sedulously , indefatigably , and constantly attending the mechanical part of pyrotechny , making new daily , pondering also , and amending future operations by past experience , as to be an expert anatomist without knowing the use of the knife , by bare rational speculation . 't is the mechanist informs , instructs , and confirms the theorical speculator , and not on the contrary : but here the operator acknowledges the highest of his attainments , to his profound masters of amen-corner ; and they owe all which they pretend to of chemical skill , to this servant , ( thus one hand washeth another ) while an impartial by-stander may say , it is pity such masters and such a servant should be separated . but why must all that dissent from the nil ultrà , praeter idiotas , of pater noster row , be branded for illiterate ? 't is well the visible father of this peremptory and petulant charge is known not to be guilty of , or overgrown with either wit or learning himself , and therefore is as fit a judge in the case , as midas was of the excellency of musick made by apollo on his harp , or pan on his pipe ; and if he were repaid as well for his judgement as midas was , his masters , in case they should lose him , might finde him , though hid under the covert of a philosopher , by the same marks that the farmer in aesop found a lost servant of his , concealed under the disguise of a lions skin . as to the challenge made by you of deciding the grand controversie by proof , and experimental demonstration , the world will take notice , although you and we should be silent , how he seeks to evade it by scandalous and reproachful quibbles , in which his scurrility will try the utmost of your patience , and will excuse you if you reply with vinegar to his canker'd lines , writ with a pen dipt in gall ; i wish that either side had forborn to discharge your selves like cannons , roaring , and rending each other , yielding much smoke , but little light , yet must apologize for you in the words of the comick poet ; that it is ( on your part ) responsum , non dictum , quia laesit prius ; he first transgrest the bounds of a fair gamester , and plaid such butchers play , as both the pate and shins , that if himself get a crackt crown , he may thank his own indiscretion , and his blustering huffing . i have known an uncivil braving hector so abusive to a sober gentleman , that he hath provoked him at length to cudgel him soundly for his unmannerliness ; and i could not account it otherwise then just , that he who would not be guided by discretion , should be basted into better manners . but of this a word to the wise . but concerning the thing proposed , and that on such fair terms as cannot be refused with honour , nor accepted , without a silencing demonstration on one side or other ; if it be enough to laugh at the proposal as impossible , upon presumption that so many will not be found , that will trust their lives , either in your , or any other hands of your perswasion and principles ; or if they would , that you might easily give a certain prognostick of them all , with a reserve , for this ill-nurtur'd quibble ; that you will cure them all alike , and the earth cover your failing in so rash an attempt ; if , i say , this answer by themselves be judged sufficient , they must account all , to whom that scribble shall come , gross ideots , and stupid dunces ; for will any ( a degree beyond a natural in capacity ) imagine , that if they did really judge that such would , or probably might prove the effect , they would not have made it their prime business , either to have rendred you , by the first ridiculous , in finding none that durst adventure to trust your skill ; or odious , by performing such catachrestical hangman-like cures . this charge might with probability and justice be retorted , but i hate recrimination ; it being unlikely , that if the contest were once begun to be thus decided , after a score of instances concerning the vast difference of the safety of true chemical remedies , and agreeableness of them to nature beyond the galenical prescriptions , and carbonado's of humane bodies , according to their rules of art , scarce any more would be found , that would undergo their methodical course of physick , ( were there no hazarding of life , and impairing the strength , by exhausting the fountain of life , the blood ) if either prayers or tears might move so much compassion in the judges , as to escape their too fatal clutches : but for peace sake i shall drive the bolt no farther , onely this i shall say , and i hope not transgress the bounds of modesty and sobriety , that my self about eight years or more since , publickly challedged them to the like contest , at infinite more oddes , and disadvantage on my part , and will yet make good the same , upon penalty of being infamous , and so publickly proclaimed , and my self will proclaim it with as much ignominy , as to place , time , and expressions , as they shall please to prescribe unto me , and will undertake to procure the patients without trouble to them ; and let them be divided with all equality possible , half to me , the other half to them : let me be certified of their will to accept the contest , and if i decline what i offer'd , i shall willingly beforehand condemn my self to a future prohibition of all practice , till i openly do what disgraceful penance they shall think fit to put upon me , and the like , if i am baffled or worsted in the combate ; onely let able , impartial arbiters judge between us , the relation of fact being first published both in our native , and in a travelling language , the judges then let them give publique sentence , according as the demerits of each side shall appear to them . this may , and i doubt not but will be put off with a sardonian laughter , while in the mean time haeret lateri lethalis arundo , the arrow galls them too much for a hearty smile ; nor will very sober persons fail to laugh at , and deride them , if they can finde no other answer then grinning merriment , for so home , and so close followed an argument ; which if once resolved on , as the final issue of the controversie , would quickly for ever silence one or the other party ; and if we practically get the better of them , ( as i doubt not ) if afterward we do not maintain our own theseis , and oppose theirs , undisputably on our part , and convincingly on theirs , let us be afterwards accounted onely fortunate illiterate empyricks . but if besides this we publiquely give a full account of their theorems , axiomes , maximes , method , and practice , as well in the therapeutick , as theorical part thereof , and then with undeniable arguments overthrow their whole building fundamentally , yet challenge them of ignorance ( even to pity ) in the principles of true pyrotechny , which we will undertake to make as plain as the noon-day sun , to the convincing both of themselves and friends that it is really so : what pretence soever they make to rational chemistry ( this charge i would have understood of the generality of them , and as they are a society ) and we will permit their man johnson to lay his head together with them ; whose chemical dictionary dedicated to them , will speak his ability in pyrotechny , should we be silent . if , i say , after our practical combat , and experimental contest , we perform this , then let the titles of illiterature and empyricisme be given to them that best deserve them ; and if we do it not , we will own our selves empty vain-glorious boasters , nec famâ nec fortunâ dignos . but 't is time to recall my self , these rationally chemical gentlemen may for ought any man in the world ( or they themselves ) knows , be the sans peere chemists of europe , if not of the universe ; for i call to minde , and very seasonably , that in their book of precautions and remedies against the pestilence , they crown their work with ( multum in parvo ) a collection of the choicest chemical medicines attainable ; which they set down for their sakes who are onely affected with chemical preparations , with caution , that they be honestly and faithfully made , according to the prescription of the best authors ; among which , i was not a little pleased , to finde both the philosophical elixirs , for the white and the red , prescribed , leaving the dose , and time of taking them , and in what vehicle , to the discretion of the patients ; upon which i would query , first , that seeing there is a plague of the purse , as well as the person , to which these two remedies should most properly be applied ? secondly , where they are to be had faithfully and honestly prepared ? certainly by their white fixed sulphur , and by their red fixt incombustible oyl of sulphur , they meant the two tinging elixirs of the philosophers , or else they prescribed it at all adventures , any thing unknown to themselves , with a hard name to amuse the vulgar ; like him of their fraternity , whom you instance in your book , who for a long time prescribed mercurius dulcis , upon presumption that it was a vegetable . the other preparations by them advised , if they did but know experimentally , how secret , hidden , and truly difficult their true preparation is ; and how few among artists that search after them , attain them , ( scarce one of ten thousand ) they would not so lightly prescribe them , unless withal , they could advise where , and of whom , and at what rates they might be procured ; and either added directions for their use , or left them , who desired to have them , to be directed by the preparers and disposers of them ; but to give onely a bare catalogue of a few hard what d' yee call ' ums , to be procured god knows where , and when ; and to be used god knows how , or to what end , however at all adventures , with assured success against the pestilence , is for grave old men to turn again to boyes play , and dance a chemical antique , & magno conatu , specioseque sub praetextu nugas agere . the other part of that book i shall not meddle with , being unwilling to thrust my sickle into another mans harvest , onely wish it might effectually answer its title , and the expectation of his majesty and council , especially the poor sick parties , whose skins must pay for its defect , the more the pity ! for my part , i shall allow every bird to sing its own note , and every man to praise or dispraise a bridge , according as it hath carried him over , or failed him . but this i may , and shall not doubt to affirm , that this hand of god , in case it continue upon us , and increase among us , will prove a signal note of distinction , between physicians elected , and sent forth by god , and those mercenary hirelings , who either run unsent , or were created by the schools . the latter having compiled a wonder-doing book , for the prevention and eradication of the pestilence , to shew the confidence they have in their own prescriptions ; in the next place , get as soon , and as far off as they can out of reach of it , except a few of the most confident of them , a very inconsiderable number , considering the large herd of them , who ( shameful to mention , more shameful to practise ) in consideration of an unreasonable summe of money in hand demanded , and a more unconscionable salary by the year expected , with other conditions , arguing a mercenary distrustful minde , will take such care of the sick , and afford them such attendance as they shall think fit ; when as eight times their number would be too few by half , to attend the sick , in case of the increase of this calamity : for if in the most healthful times so great a number of physicians be not supernumerary , there being ordinarily employment sufficient for most , if not all of them ; can it be imagined , that in case the numbers of the sick should be increased ten for one , or upwards , as in some contagions london hath sadly found and felt , a fifth or sixth part of the doctors in and about this city , will be sufficient to attend those whom god shall visit in so unusual a manner , as to the terror and truculency of the disease , where multitudes are swept away with such rigorous speed , as might command pity in any breast that hath left in it the least room for charitable piety ? if the care and cure of the sick be the work , office , and duty of all who conscionably pretend to the art of medicine , this sure is a time in which it is an incumbent duty on all its professors , to double their vigilancy and industry ; yea , unworthy is he the name and title of a physician , who shall then quit his work and station , when his assistance and help is most needful and required : dulcia non meruit qui non gustavit amara . here is a time and occasion of exercising all their care and charity with the most religious observance : if it be the work of doctors , as beyond doubt and denial it is , how can they answer the neglect of it to god or their own conscience ? not but that i judge the pious care of the magistrate highly commendable , in encouraging as many as are conscienciously diligent , at such a time when their work and care is increased , with addition of both danger and hazard to their persons ; but for any doctors to refuse or decline this duty , without prestipulating for a large reward , before either their ability or care hath been made appear to the world , will brand as many as shall be found guilty in this kinde with a black note of infamy , not to be born with honour , nor excused by any apology . the pretence of having other patients , and their unwillingness to affright or endanger them , is too narrow a fig-leaf to cover this their nakedness , and hide their shame : for , first , many ( if not most ) of considerable fortunes leaving the city upon the first alarm of this visitation , as it much diminisheth the ordinary employment doctors had usually at other times when the city was free from this contagion ; so especially the terrour of this severe disease silenceth many others , and swallows up in its larger stream other more inconsiderable rivelets ; so that what they propound in case of the pestilence , might be an adequate expedient for providing at this season against other diseases and maladies ; namely , that a sufficient number of doctors might either by lot , or mutual consent , be set apart to attend such onely as were free from , and were fearful of the plague , but others ( without admitting any excuse ) to attend their calling on this so weighty an occasion ; and in case any through cowardly fear should neglect or decline this their undoubted duty , might they be ( for ever after ) laid aside as unfaithful physicians of no value , fit to be marked publiquely with some note of disgrace , in case they should after the removal of this hand of god , presume to reassume their former practice and profession . for my part i should give my vote that none such might be admitted publiquely to practise for the future , that should now desert their station , and unworthily decline this so great duty , till first he had stood publiquely in some eminent place of great concourse , with a collar of broken urinals about his neck , with a note of his fault , name , and place of abode , that men might know where to finde , and how to beware of such an unfaithful , unworthy quacksalver . afterwards when every mans demerits shall be understood , ( and in so common a calamity , as in all eminent actions of publique concernment , remarkable deserts cannot go undiscovered ) the magistrate , as his prudence shall direct him , may encourage the diligent , that others may be stirred up to follow their example : but a cowardly physician ( like a cowardly captain ) is unworthy of fame , fortune , or life . as for their families , undeserving are they the name of christians , who doing their duty , shall be afraid to trust god in such a matter : but in case any of them be afraid , let them remove where they judge themselves more secure , yet i dare say , seldom will such an obstacle lie in the way of a consciencious physician ? that god who can ( and if it stand with his pleasure , and be for his glory will ) secure the persons , rules and governs the hearts and spirits of all related to such , whom he shall employ in so pious and charitable a work ; let me do my duty , and i will trust god with the rest : this is my judgement , this is , and god willing shall be my practice , and will be of as many as god hath elected and made physicians . the rest that are otherwise minded , i beseech god to convince them of their fault and folly . and , sir , give me leave to tell you , that i was heartily glad for your sake , to finde in you the same spirit ; nor can i think of any in this respect culpable , without regret of minde . if a man be consciencious in this particular , self-preservation as well as a desire to be serviceable in his calling , will make him very studious in his search , and earnest at the throne of grace , that he may be master of real and true , not imaginary , false , and unfaithful remedies , against so truculent and terrible an enemy . and those that ask , seek , and knock out of a pure design of pious serving god , in doing their duty faithfully and effectually , and charitable serving their neighbour , to the comfort of the patients , and credit of themselves , the merciful god will hear . blessed be the almighty who hath fortified us with such resolution , and hath furnished us with such remedies , as may be the clear diplomata and evident tokens of our mission ; and being sent out by the lord himself among such great numbers of languishing and distressed objects of charity , beseeching him , that he would take away , or lighten his hand , as may stand with his infinite good pleasure , and most blessed will. sir , you see how these thoughts and discourses with you have drawn me beyond my first propounded limits , yea , rather beyond the bounds of an epistle ; for which i crave and hope easily to finde your pardon , since matters of no light importance have thus insensibly enticed me , and drawn me out to so unexpected enlargement ; i return now to that pitiful thing , that hath endeavoured to throw durt upon your umblemisht reputation , and to eclipse your bright lustre ; which he hath as unsuccessfully prosecuted , as he did foolishly attempt it . the last thing that i shall take notice of in his scribble , is the contempt he would throw on your ability by the despicable relation he makes of your laboratory , as to which you give me a most satisfactory account : first , that where you at present reside , you are onely a sojourner , and unsettled : secondly , that he neither saw ( nor desired to see ) a third part of those conveniencies which you there have , being admitted but into your first , and most obvious room . but let me adde this as an information to him , and as many as it concerns , that a true son of art makes his furnaces , not they him . i will do that in a small contemptible earthen furnace , which he shall not in any , or all of those which he hath set up in his pompous laboratory , an engine more for shew and ostentation , then real use ; and a true philosopher needs not the half , nay , nor third part of those specious fooleries which he hath erected , of which , some there are , which if he were then ( and not till then ) to be happy , when he could give any , but a most ridiculous account of the use of them , and his intent in erecting them , he would certainly be for ever ( in this world ) miserable . for my own part , although i have ( as you know ) furnaces , for conveniency , usefulness , and neatness , so many , and fit , that i dare compare with any laboratory in , or about the city ; yet for a need i could furnish my self and many others in city and countrey , as i do and have done , for a very ample practice , with half as many , and nothing so sightly , furnaces : therefore in my judgement , that part of his animadversions betrayes in him as arrant wisdom , as can be expected from such a heap of idle garrulity , and dung-hill of opprobrious contumely . perhaps he accounts none furnished with a laboratory as he ought to be , unless like himself , he lay out upon this outside of chemistry , so much of other mens moneys as he can possibly get credit for ; and having erected it , do nothing of remark in it , unless to draw the quintessence of a few spiders , which ( as those who know the constitution of citizens affirm ) that one of thos● animalcula , is for them a dangerous and hazzardous bit to swallow , as they are in their simplicity ; how much more being so subtillized , may they give an essence , after the tasting of which it is an extream hazzard if ever he recover and do well . truly i pity this mans folly and simplicity , and wonder at his unadvised audacity , that knowing in what relation he stands to a gentleman , a great honourer of true pyrotechny , and as great a defier of the galenists ( as they stand in opposition thereto ) a very judicious , sober person , and stout defender of true natural helmontian principles , against any , or all their contemners and opposers ; that i say he ( of all men ) should suffer his name to be put to so unworthy a piece , full of reproaches against that art , and such artists , for whom this gentleman ( to whom he stands so related ) hath a very great , and more then ordinary kindeness ; certainly this verifies the proverb , perdere quos vult jupiter , hos prius dementat . and if i might without consulting the stars , foresee from what corner a storm may arise , that may shake the four corners of his laboratory , and bring it down tumbling about his ears . for my part , i know not what to make of him , except a gudgeon , and as such , i shall at present take leave of him ; and for his further and future instruction and edification , deliver him over into the hands of a worthy friend of mine , a noble heroick spirited cook , to make of him , if not what he pleaseth , yet what he can ; whether fish , or flesh , or red herring . thus , sir , having done with your scribbling animadverter , i take leave of you , wishing you all possible happiness , present and future , here and hereaftet ; and subscribe my self , broadstreet , second dwelling-house from winchester-street june 21. 1665. your most faithful servant , and fellow-labourer for the advancement of true pyrotechny , and fellow-contender for the truth of nature , against all opposers whatsoever , george starkey . finis . the whole aphorismes of great hippocrates, prince of physicians translated into english for the benefit of such as are ignorant of the greek & latine tongs ; vvhereunto is annexed a short discourse of the nature & substance of the eye, with many excellent & approued remedies for the cure of most the diseases thereof ; with an exact table shewing the substance of every aphorism. aphorisms. english. 1610 hippocrates. 1610 approx. 143 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 115 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a03400 stc 13521 estc s122586 38160809 ocm 38160809 29338 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a03400) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 29338) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1928:11) the whole aphorismes of great hippocrates, prince of physicians translated into english for the benefit of such as are ignorant of the greek & latine tongs ; vvhereunto is annexed a short discourse of the nature & substance of the eye, with many excellent & approued remedies for the cure of most the diseases thereof ; with an exact table shewing the substance of every aphorism. aphorisms. english. 1610 hippocrates. grapheus, benvenutus. de oculis eorumque egritudinibus et curis. s. h. [22], 198, [4] p. printed by h. l. for richard redmer and are to bee solde at the great west-doore of pauls, at the signe of the star, at london, 1610. dedicatory epistle signed by s. h., the editor, probable translator of the aphorisms. according to e. arber's a transcript of the registers of the company of stationers of london, 1554-1640 [new york, p. smith, 1950] vol. 3, p. 200, the book was "... translated into englishe, devided into 8 books by ff: b. doctor of phisique." signatures: a¹¹, b-i¹², k⁶ (last leaf blank). reproduction of original in: henry e. huntington library and art gallery. "the life of hippocrates": [4] p. at end. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2007-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-12 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2007-12 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the vvhole aphorismes of great hippocrates prince of physicians : faithfully translated into english for the benefit of such as are ignorant of the greek & latine tongs . vvhereunto is annexed a short discourse of the nature & substance of the eye , with ma ny excellent & approued remedies for the cure of most the disea ses thereof . with an exact table shewing the substance of euery aphorism . at london printed by h. l. for richard redmer and are to bee solde at the great west-doore of pauls , at the signe of the star. 1610. to the worshipfvll and his worthy friend m. timothy chaloner , a great louer of learning . philostratus , a famous philosopher , writing somtimes to a noble young man , vseth these words : cauendum esse ne temporis preciū sine fructu praetereat : and nazianzenus sayth , that our time beeing but short , and yet precious , is not carelesly , and negligently to be let slip ; but that euerie man in his place , and calling , is to doe some good to the countrie & common-wealth wherein hee was borne . for which cause , i haue taken some paines in the publicatiō of these aphorisms ; a worke very needfull to be known , and vnderstood , by all sorts of people : and as leonardus fucchius witnesseth , the best worke that euer hip. compiled ; wishing that all physicians and chirurgions , should carrie them in their bosoms : as it is reported of tully , concerning the comedies of terence , tanquam in sinu portare , & to haue them at their fingers ends . these aphorismes were first of all written in the greek , and since translated into latine by many excellent and learned physicians , and are dailie set forth with large comments : which doth shew vnto vs their excellencie and worthinesse . for a man may by them preserue himselfe from sicknesse being in health , and being sick cure himselfe of sicknesse . accept therfore i pray you of these labours , which i for the benefit of my country haue vndertaken to make common : which if you shall so do , i shall little esteem of the venemous teeth of anie carper . for , to you onely i present them as a token of my loue , & affection , which i beare vnto you : not for many fauours which i haue receiued from you , but for your many vertues and loue of learning which is known to be in you . for ( truly ) i doe not knowe to whome bookes may better be presented , then to those that loue books , whereof i knowe you to haue manie ; a great ritches to you , but little regarded with thousands of your rank . but i leaue to trouble you : and wishing you as many happy yeeres , as you haue vertues , i commit you to the almightie his protection . yours , s. h. to the vnderstanding reader . i doubt not ( gentle reader ) but thou art very well acquainted with the hardnes of translation , and how vneasie it it is to translate a greeke authour into our english tongue , that it should carrie that grace and elegancie , as in the original . for as a fruitfull tree being remoued out of a fertile soyle , into a barren , doth rather wither ●●d become vnfruitfull , then to bring forth such and the like kinde of fruit as formerly it did ; so dooth it happen with a diuerse translation : so that the first translation cannot haue the grace of the originall , nor a second translation , that of the first , but must needs seem more harsh and barraine then the first : so i feare me it will happen with these aphorisms , which were first written in greeke by the authour , and after in latine , and now as thou seest in english . wherefore if thou dost finde any faults committed , or anie mistaking in the translation , my request is that thou wilt rather winke at a small fault , vntill it may be amended , then to carpe with zoilus , and doe nothing thy selfe . well , what the labour hath beene to the translator , sapientum sit iudicium ; this i am sure , it is for thy profit if thou list , and for the benefit of all such as doe not vnderstand eyther greeke or latine . and if thou accept of this worke kindely , thou mayst haue it hereafter in better fashion , and perhaps with a comment . in the meane time vse these , and let the translator haue thy good word : and so fare thou well . an exact table , shewing euery aphorisme per taining to euery disease . of sicknesse of the head. reade aphorisme 71. sect 4. 64 , 5. 67 , 5. 40 , 2. 5 , 6. 7 , 6. 10 , 6. 22 , 6. 51 , 6. lethargie read 20. 7. dead sleep . 1 , 2. ouermuch waking . 3 , 2. apoplexie 57 , 6. 42 , 2. 43 , 2. melancholy , 24 , 6. 56 , 6. 11 , 6. 9 , 4. madnesse , 22 , 6. 5 , 7. doating 53 , ● . sleepe 2 , 2. falling sicknesse 46 , 2. 8 , 5. of the dispositions of the sinewes . palsie 18 , 5. crampe 57 , 4. 66 , 4. 67 , 4. 79 , 4. 1 , 5. 2 , 5. 3 , 5. 4 , 5. 6 , 5. 7 , 5. 18 , 5. 17 , 5. 23 , 5. 39 , 6. 9 , 7. 10 , 7. 13 , 7. 18 , 7. 26 , 7. astonishment 14 , 7. of the wrie mouth , nose , or lips . 49 , 4. of the dispositions of the eyes . 12 , 3. 13 , 3. 14 , 3. 18 , 3. 17 , 3. 22 , 3. 49 , 4. 52 , 4. 17 , 6. 31 , 6. 52 , 6. 47 , 7. of the dispositions of the eares . 49 , 4. of the dispositions of the nose . 2 , 6. 40 , 2. 23 , 3. 14 , 3. 15 , 3. 32 , 3. 36 , 7. 25 , 5. fluxe of bloud at the nose . 37 , 3. 27 , 4. 60 , 4. 75 , 4. 32 , 5. 10 , 6. 9 , 7. neesing . 34 , 5. 12 , 6. 52 , 7. of the diuerse dispositions of the mouth and the tongue . 25 , 3. 32 , 6. dispositions of the teeth 26 , 3. 53 , 4. 26 , 3. of the affects of the throat , read 23 , 3. 34 , 4. 37 , 4. 11 , 5. 37 , 6. 60 , 7. affects of the breast and lungs . 68 , 4. asthma . 46 , 6. the voyce 6 , 5. 51 , 5. 48 , 7. spitting of bloud . 30 , 3. 67 , 4. 47 , 4. 14 , 5. 10 , 6. 15 , 7. 37 , 8. pleurisie 12 , 1. 6 , 3. 24 , 3. 9 , 5. 16 , 5. 16 , 6. 33 , 6. peripneumonia 34 ▪ 6 12 , 7. empiema or spitting of matter . 27 , 6. phtisicke 11 , 3. 14 , 3. 23 , 3. 30 , 3. 8 , 4. 10 , 5. 12 , 5. 13 , 5. 16 , 5. 64 , 5. 16 , 7. affects of the heart . 66 , 4. affects of the paps . 36 , 5. 27 , 5. 38 , 5. 39 , 5. 50 , 5. 52 , 5. 54 , 5. affects of the stomach . 15 , 1. 18 , 1. 33 , 2. difficultie of swallowing 35 , 4. paine of of the stomach 66 , 4. 21 , 2. of thirst 27 , 5. vomiting 2 , 1. 7 , 4. 22 , 4. 10 , 7. of the hicket 4 , 5. 13 , 6. 15 , 6. 17 , 7. affects of the liuer . paine of the liuer 53 , 7. apostumes of the liuer 60 , 5. 18 , 6. 46 , 7. dropsie 23 , 3. 8 , 6. 22 , 6. 11 , 4. 35 , 6. 43 , 6. 5 , 7. 48 , 7. 46 , 7. of the hypocondres 64 , 4. 74 , 4. 64 , 5. 40 , 6. affects of the gaul and splene . iaundis 64 , 4. 63 , 4. 71 , 5. 42 , 6. of the splene 23 , 3. 43 , 6. 48 , 6. fluxes of all kindes . 14 , 2. 21 , 4. 22 , 4. 23 , 4. 24 , 4. 26 , 4. 28 , 4. 49 , 5. 1 , 6. 3 , 6. 32 , 6. 43 , 6. 48 , 6. 5 , 7. 24 , 7. 30 , 7. 31. 7. paines of the intestins . 11 , 4. 49 , 4. 5 , 6. 7 , 6. iliac passion 44 , 6. 10 , 7. affects of the fundament . 11 , 6. 12. 6. affects of the reines . 6 , 4. 80 ●● 〈…〉 7 , 6. 35 , 7. 36 , 7. 37 , 7. 55 , 7. affects of the bladder ▪ 17 , 3. 23 , 3. 27 , 3. 32 , 3. 70 , 4. 71 , 4. 73 , 4. 72 , 4. 74 , 4. 75 , 4. 70 , 4. 76 , 4. 77 , 4. 75 , 4. 80 , 4. 82 , 4. 83 , 2. 84 , 4. 58 , 5. 19 , 6. 44 , 4. 32 , 7. 34 , 7. 35 , 7. 39 , 7. 40 , 7. 49 , 7. affects of the members of generation in men . 63 , 5. 19 , 6. of the affects of the members of generation in women . 13 , 3. 1 , 4. 28 , 5 , 29 , 5. 30 , 5. 31 , 5. 32 , 5. 33 , 5. 34 , 5. 35 , 5. 36 , 5. 37 , 5. 38 , 5. 39 , 6. 40 , 5. 41 , 5. 42 , 5. 43 , 5. 44 , 5. 45 , 5. 46 , 5. 47 , 5. 48 , 5. 49 , 5. 50 , 5. 51 , 5. 52 , 5. 53 , 5. 54 , 5. 55 , 5. 56 , 5. 57 , 5. 59 , 5. 60 , 5. 61 , 5. 62 , 5. 28 , 7. of the affects that do appear in the extream parts . 46 , 2. 20 4. 31 , 4. 33 , 4. 44 , 4. 25 , 5. 21 , 6. 22 , 6. 28 , 6. 29 , 6. 30 , 6. 34 , 6. 49 , 8. 49 , 6. 55 , 6. 59 , 6. 60 , 5. aphorisms , touching feuers . 12 , 1. 14 , 1. 23 , 2. 25 , 2. 26 , 2. 28 , 2. 30 , 2. 34 , 2. 7 ▪ 3 ▪ 8. 3. 10 , 3. 12 , 3. 22 , 3. 29 , 4. 31 , 4. 44 , 4. 43. 4. 46 , 4. 48 , 4. 45 , 4. 49 , 4. 50 , 4. 51 , 4. 52 , 4. 53 , 4. 55 , 4. 56 , 4. 67 , 4. 58 , 4. 60 , 4. 62 , 4. 63 , 4. 94 , 4. 66 , 4. 67 , 4. 68 , 4. 69 , 4. 26 , 6. 54 , 6. 71 , 4. of diet to be obserued in feuers . 4 , 1. 5 , 1. 6 , 1. 7 , 1. 8 , 1. 9 , 1. 10 , 1. 11 , 1. 13 , 1. 14 , 1. 15 , 1. 16 , 1. 17 , 1. 18 , 1. 19 , 1. these aphorisms following , belong onely to the chirurgion . 27 , 6. 31 , 6. 38 , 6. 55 , 6. 24 , 6. 49 , 6. 60 , 6. 67 , 5. 25 , 6. 14 , 7. 20 , 7. 21 , 6. 21 , 7. 26 , 2. 4 , 6. 18 , 6. 45 , 6. 2 , 7. 14 , 7. 24 , 7. 47 , 2. 16 ▪ 6. 46 , 2. 77 , 7. 50 , 6. 19 , 6. 24 , 6. 50 , 7. 20 , 5. 50 , 8. the aphorisms of hypocrates prince of physicions . the argument of the 1. section . this first section of aphorismes dooth handle for the most part the dietarie part of physicke ; prescribing not onely the measure & obseruation in meates and drinks for soūd bodies , but also for those bodies that are sicke and diseased , with a moderation also of labour and exercise . aphorisme . 1. the life of man is short , the arte of physicke long , occasion suddaine , experiēce vncertain , iudgement difficult . neither is it sufficient that the physicion do his office , vnlesse also the patient , and those which are attēdants about him doe their dutie , and that outward things bee as well ordered as those that are giuen inwardly . [ 2 ] in distempratures , loosnesse , flux of the bellie , and vomitings , which do come of their owne accorde ; if those things bee purged which ought to be purged , they are easily suffered , & are profitable : but if it bee otherwise it falleth out contrarie . in like sort if such an emptying of vessells be done as should be , it is well suffered : but otherwise it is hurtfull . wherefore , discreet consideration is to be had , both of the region & the time , as also of the age and the qualitie of the disease for which such things ought to be euacuated , or else not . [ 3 ] the full habit and state of the bodies of wrestlers and champions if it come to the highest degree of fulnesse is dangerous , for it cannot continue or remain in the same state : and when it cannot so remaine , nor growe into a better habit , it remayneth that it must needs decline into a worse . wherefore that ouer-full plight of body must be speedily dissolued , to the end it may take a beginning of new nourishment : neither must we proceed so far that the vessells be quite empty & voyd ( for that is dangerous ) but we must proceed so farre as nature wil beare & tolerate . so , extream euacuations are perilous , & so again extream repletions are likewise dangerous . [ 4 ] a small & slender diet , in long & lingering diseases is alwaies dangerous : & so in sharp sicknesse when it is not conuenient . and againe diet reduced to extream slēderness is as ful of peril as extream repletiō & fulness is laborious & painfull . [ 5 ] the sick may offend in a slender diet : for thereby it hapneth that they growe worse ; for euery error in this case is wont to prooue more daungerous , then should be . wherfore a very slender diet and too precise is somwhat dangerous to a sound & healthfull bodie , because they endure the errors therof with more difficultie . wherefore a thin & exact maner of diet for the most part is more dangerous then that which is a little more full and plentifull then should be . [ 6 ] to extream diseases extream and exquisite remedies are the best . [ 7 ] whē therfore the disease is sharpe , & hath forthwith most extreame paines and passions , we must vse a most exceeding slender dyet when it is so : but in the cōtrarie wee may minister a fuller , and giue more nourishment : and as the disease shall decline wee may remit the manner of thinne dyet , by little and little , & giue the patiēt more meat . [ 8 ] when the force of the disease is greatest , then a most sparing diet is to bee kept and obserued . [ 9 ] but we must coniecture by the sicke-man , whether he be able to hold out , and persist with the prescribed diet , euen to the state and vttermost extreamitie of the disease , or may faint or faile , and being too weake with such diet may yeelde the victorie to the disease , before it retire & be quayled . [ 10 ] in diseases which shall come instantly to their state , we must instantlie administer slender diet , but in the which shal not come so soone to state , wee must a little diminish dyet : both in the time of the vigor , & extremitie , and also a little about the time of the fit : but before wee may allow more liberall diet , that the sicke man may bee able to holde out . [ 11 ] in fits and their fierce inuasions , we must take away meat ; for then to giue it , it is hurtfull : and when diseases do returne by circuit , or course , in the recourse of those fits wee must vse abstinence . [ 12 ] the diseases themselues , & the seasons of the yeer , & the obseruation of the proportion of the periods beween themselues , whether they bee made daily or by certaine daies returning by course , as the second or euery other day , or by greater distāce of time , wil shew the sharp inuasions & state of the diseases . likewise , signes & tokens are taken frō those things which doe appeare afterwards . as for example , in a plurisy , if the corrupt matter auoided by spitting doe presently appeare in the beginning , it declareth the disease shall be but short ; but if it bee longer before it do appeare it declareth to continewe longer . moreouer vrines , the excremēts of the belly and sweats doe declare and shew the diseases to proue either easie or difficult , short , or long . [ 13 ] verie olde men do most easilie in dure fasting , and next to thē those of middle age , young men not so wel , children worst of all ; and amongst thē chiefly those which are of the more chearefull , quicke and liuely nature then the rest . [ 14 ] they which growe and increase haue great store of naturall heate : therfore because they neede plentifull and copious nourishment , we must aboundantly supply the same : otherwise the bodie is consumed . but in olde men there remaineth but little heate : therfore , they need not so much norishmēt to kindle the same , for a small fire is extinguished with aboundance of fewel : for that cause feuers which happen to olde folk are not so sharpe because their bodies are not so hoat . [ 15 ] the venters by nature are most hoat in winter and the spring time & the sleeping most long : wherfore at those seasons wee ought to afford most meat , because they haue most naturall heate : wherby it commeth to pass that they need more aboundant and plentifull food . of which thing the differences of ages and the bodies of champions and wrestlers are manifest arguments . [ 16 ] a moist diet is profitable to all perplexed with agues ; but especially to children & others which haue accustomed to vse such diet . [ 17 ] we must consider whom it may bee conuenient to feede once or twise , more , or lesse , and by little & little : we must attribute something to the season , region , ages and custome . [ 18 ] sickely folke doe most hardly brook store of meat in sommer , in winter most easily , in the spring time not so easily . [ 19 ] nothing must be giuen to them , neither must they bee constrayned to take meat which haue fits returning at certaine determined courses : but we ought to diminish foode before manifest tokens appeare to iudge of the disease . [ 20 ] we ought not to moue , alter , or change those things which are , or haue beene iustly determined by nature , either with medicines or other procurements , but to let them alone . [ 21 ] carry those things which are to be drawne out , thither whither they shall seeme to incline , and bend , by such wayes and places fittest for cōueiance & expulsion . [ 22 ] we must moue with medicine those things which are concocted & digested ; and not those things which are rawe and vndigested : neither in the beginning of diseases vnlesse they be prouoked by their owne force and violence , which verie seldome commeth to passe . [ 23 ] things euacuated and purged are not to be estimated by the multitude , but aduisedly to be considered if those things be auoided & sent forth which should & ought to be , and if also the patient doe easily indure it . also when it is needfull we must euacuate euen to souning & fainting of life , if the patient be able to indure it . [ 24 ] in sharpe diseases , and in their beginning we ought seldome to vse a purging medicine : neither must it be done without great aduise & iudgement . [ 25 ] if those things be auoided and purged vvhich should be , it doth good & the sick can easily suffer it : but if the contrarie be euacuated , they do painefully indure it . the end of the first section of the aphorisms . now foloweth the second . the argument of the se cond section of aphorisms . this second section , of which the vniuersal and ful scope , or intention cannot well be assigned and set downe , hath many things appertayning to the doctrine of ages , signes , nature & purgation . [ 1 ] if sleepe bring paine and labour in the disease , it is a mortall signe : but if it bring ease and mitigation of paine the signe is not deadly . [ 2 ] when a delirium & rauing , is appeased by sleep it is a good signe . [ 3 ] sleepe and watching , if they be immoderat & shal exceed a mean , are euill . [ 4 ] neither satietie , neither hunger , neither anie other thing which shall exceede the measure of nature , can be good or healthfull . [ 5 ] wearinesse and dulness proceeding of their owne accord do signifie diseases to come . [ 6 ] they which suffer pain of any part of the bodie , and doe not almost feele the paine haue their vnderstanding distempered and diseased . [ 7 ] bodies extenuated and wasted with long sickness are to bee restored and refreshed by little and little : but those which haue been brought lowe quickly and in short time are sooner to be restored . [ 8 ] if any man eating meate after a sicknesse , doth not recouer strength ; it argueth his bodie is burdened and oppressed with too much store of food : but if the same happē to one feeding meanely , we must vnderstand that he hath need of euacuation . [ 9 ] by how much the more thou shalt nourish & cherish impure & corrupt bodies , by so much the more thou shalt harme and hurt them . [ 10 ] he which will purge bodies must make them fluxible and apt to flovve before . [ 11 ] it is more easie to be restored with drink thē with meate . [ 12 ] those things which are left behind after the crysis in the bodie after sickness , they are wont to bring forth back-sliding diseases againe . [ 13 ] the night which goeth before the fitte and inuasion is wont to bee tedious and grieuous to them to whom the crysis is caused , but the night following is wont to be more easie and light . [ 10 ] the alteration of the excrementes not made to the worse part , in the fluxes of the bellie is good . [ 15 ] when the vpper parts of the throate or gullet are sore , or a breaking out of wheales do arise in the bodie , it behooueth vs to look vpon the excrements : for if they shall be cholericke the bodie is also sick : but if they shall be like the excrements of sound persons the bodie may bee cherished without danger . [ 16 ] when hunger beareth swaie , wee must rest from much stirring or labour . [ 17 ] when ouermuch meate is receiued against nature , it causeth sicknesse : as the manner of curing diseases , proceeding from repletion doth declare . [ 18 ] the excretions and auoydings of excrements are wont to bee quick , if they come of those things which doe nourish speedily and plentifully . [ 19 ] praedictions and foretellings of death or health in sharp diseases are not altogether certaine . [ 20 ] they which in young age haue their bellie moist and loose , in old age haue it drie and hard : and contrariwise they which beeing young men haue their wombe or bellie drie and costyue , being aged haue the same moyst and laxe . [ 21 ] drinking of strong wine putteth away hunger . [ 22 ] diseases which are bred of sacietie and surfeting are cured by euacuation : and those which proceed from emptiness are cured by fulness : and in other things , contraries are the remedies of cōtraries . [ 23 ] acute and sharpe diseases are iudged and determined within fourteen daies ( and haue their crysis . ) [ 24 ] the fourth daie is the index of the seuenth : the eightth daie the beginning of the week following . also the eleuenth daie is to be considered , for that is the fourth day of the second week . and againe , the seuenteenth day is to be considered , for that is the iiij ▪ from the fowrteenth , and the seuenth from the eleuenth . [ 25 ] the quartan feuers of the summer are for the most part short : but the autumnal long ; especially those which remaine vnto the winter : which are most long . [ 26 ] it is better that a feuer should succeed a conuulsion , then that a conuulsion should succeed a feuer . [ 27 ] we ought not to be too confident , if anie thing more easie & light do happen in sharp diseases without any great reason : neither to be troubled if anie thing more greeuous doe suddenlie fall out . for , manie such things are vncertaine , neyther are they wont to persist ▪ and continew long . [ 28 ] if the body of them which haue a sharpe feuer ▪ doe abide all at one stay , & nothing abated , or else is melted and wasted awaie beyond reason , it is a very euil signe : for the first doth signifie a continuance of the disease , and the latter a great weaknesse and imbecillitie of nature . [ 29 ] in the beginnings of diseases , if any thing seeme good to be moued for euacuation , moue it : but being in their state it is far better to let it alone . [ 30 ] about the beginnings and ende of diseases , all things are more calme and remisse : in the vigour and state more vehement . [ 31 ] if the body thriue not to him that after a disease feedeth well , it is euill . [ 32 ] those which in the beginning of sicknesse doe feede much , and doe not prosper therewith , all such for the most part do at last fall into a loathing of meat . on the contrary , those which in the beginning do vehemently abhorre food , & afterwards desire much meat , are more easily freed from their sickenesse . [ 33 ] in any disease ( similar , instrumental , or common ) if reason be not weakened nor hurt , but that they are desirous of those things which are offered , it is good : but if it be otherwise it is an euill thing . [ 34 ] they are not so dangerously sicke , to whose nature , age , habit , or season , the disease in familiar and agreeable , as they to whom the disease is not agreeable in any of those proportions . [ 35 ] it is better in any disease that the partes adioyning to the nauell and nethermost bellie bee somewhat thicke and grosse : for the extenuation and consumption of them is euill : and then it is not safe to minister purgatiōs working downwards . [ 36 ] those which are indued with health of bodie , doe quickely faint , drinking a purging potion : and so in like maner those are impaired which do vse naughtie and corrupt nourishment . [ 37 ] those which are of sound and perfect health of body doe painefully and grieuously indure purging medicines . [ 38 ] those meats and drinks which are worse yet pleasant , are to bee preferred before those which are better , but yet vnpleasant and distasting . [ 39 ] for the most part olde men are not so often sicke as the young are . but beeing once taken with long diseases they most commonly die of them . [ 40 ] rheums descēding down to the mouth , and falling downe to the throat , doe not come to concoction in those which are very olde . [ 41 ] they die suddenly , which doe often and exceedingly sowne and faint without anie manifest cause . [ 42 ] thou shalt neuer cure a strong apoplexie ▪ and also a weake one very hardly . [ 43 ] strangled and suffocated folk , being not as yet dead , doe not returne to themselues , if about their mouth there shall appeare spume or fome collected and gathered togither . [ 44 ] those that are very gross by nature , doe inioy shorter life then those which are leane . [ 45 ] change and alteration of place and diet , then also most especiallie of age , doth deliuer children from the epilepsia & falling euil . [ 46 ] of two paines at one time not possessing the self same place , that which is the more vehement , doth dull the sense and feeling of the other which is not so vehement . [ 47 ] whiles the filthy and corrupt matter is digesting , paines , and agues doe rather happen , then when it is digested and brought to maturation . [ 48 ] in euerie exercise of the body , when it beginneth to bee wearied , straightwaies rest doth mitigate the wearisomnesse . [ 49 ] those which are accustomed to dayly labours , although they bee vveake or olde men , doe more easilie indure accustomed exercises : then those which are not accustomed to them although they be strong and young men . [ 50 ] things accustomed a long time , although they be worse , are wont to bee lesse grieuous then those thinges vnaccustomed : wherefore also a change is to bee made to vnaccustomed things . [ 51 ] it is dangerous , at one time much and suddenlie either to emptie , fill , heare , or to coole , or by any other meanes to mooue or stirre the bodie : for any thing passing the bounds of mediocrity is an enemie to nature : for that is safe which is done by little and little , both at other times and also most especially when an alteration and change is to be made from one thing to an other . [ 52 ] he must not passe forthwith from one medicin to an other , when all things , fall not out so well as they should to him which doth proceed by good reason , so that remaine still which seemed to him to bee so from the beginning . [ 53 ] those which haue a moist wombe or belly , doe passe their youthfull age more easily then those which haue the same drie : but they passe their olde age more hardly & with more difficultie ; for when they waxe old for the most part it is dried . [ 54 ] as greatnes & talness of of body is comelie to the state of young age , so it is more vnprofitable than littlenesse , & lowe stature , in old age . the end of the second section of the aphorisms of hypocrates . here followeth the third section . the argument . this third book is almost reduced to the discourse of ages or times , expressing vnto vs two common places , that is to say the strength and the forces of ages , and the diuersity of diseases throughout those ages and times . [ 1 ] alteration and variableness of the seasons do most especiallie bring foorth diseases , and likewise great alterations of colde and heate in those seasons , and of other things answering to them in proportion . [ 2 ] some natures are well , or ill in the summer season , and others are well or ill in the winter . [ 3 ] some diseases are well or ill affected , some more to one time , and some to an other ; & some ages more to some one time , place , & kind of dyet , then they are to an other . [ 4 ] autumnall diseases are to bee expected in these seasons , when on the selfe same day , it is some times hot , and some times colde . [ 5 ] the south wind dulleth the hearing , obscureth and darkneth the sight , offendeth the head with aches and rhumes , procureth & causeth heauinesse & faintnesse in the members . whē therefore it is frequent and bloweth often , such things happen and are incident to the weak and sicklie . contrariwise ▪ the north wind causeth coughs , exasperateth and excoriateth the iawes , hardneth the bellie , suppresseth vrine , stirreth vp colde shiuerings , and shakings , ingendreth pains of the side and breast . therfore when this wind beareth swaie , those that are weake and feeble , must expect and looke for such accidents . [ 6 ] when sommer is like the spring time , we must expect much sweating in agues . [ 7 ] sharpe agues are ingendred with great droughts and dryness : and if the yeer proceed to bee such as the state of the season is , which it hath affected , wee must expect such kindes of diseases . [ 8 ] in certaine and moderat times , obseruing their seasonablenesse , certaine and seasonable diseases hauing a happy determination , are ingendred : but in vncertaine , wauering , and vnseasonable times , vncertain diseases are ingendred ( whose crysis is accompanyed with grieuous accidents . [ 9 ] in autumne vniuersally there are most sharpe and pernicious diseases : but the spring time is most wholesome and not dangerous . [ 10 ] autumne is hurtfull to such as are in a consumption . [ 11 ] amongst the parts of the yeere , if the winter shall bee dryer and the winde northernly , and the spring much raining and the wind southernly it must of necessitie fall out , that in sommer sharpe agues , rhtums in the eyes , bloudy fluxes doe happen , especiallie to women and to men being moist by nature . [ 12 ] contrarilie , if winter shal be southernly , full of raine , and warme , and the spring drie & northernly , women whose childebirth and deliuerance hapneth neere the spring doe vpon the least occasion suffer aborsment and vntimely birth : or if they be deliuened at their due time , they bring forth such weak and diseased children , so that either they die quicklie , or liue but leanly and sicklie . to others there hapneth bloudy fluxes and hoat inflāmations of the eyes , and to old men rhumes which do quicklie bring destruction . [ 13 ] sommer being drie and the wind northernly , autumne full of raine and the winde southernlie , vehement paines of the head are to be expected in the winter following . also , coughs hoarsnesse , and rhumes , distillings at the nostrills , & to some pining consumptions . [ 14 ] a northernly and drie autumne is profitable and good to men which are moist by nature , and also to women : to others , it causeth hot inflammations in the eies , and feuers partly sharp and partly long , and some also are troubled with melancholy by 〈◊〉 [ 15 ] of all the seasons thorough-out the whole yeer , drynesse and droughts are more wholsome and lesse dangerous to mans life , then daily showers of raine and moisture . [ 16 ] when much raine showreth downe , these diseases for the most part are ingēdred , that is to saie , long continuing agues , fluxes of the belly , corruption of the humors , falling sicknesse , apoplexies , or the dead palsies , the squinances in the throat : but when there is much drynesse and drought there happeneth consumptions , rhumes in the eyes ●●●ines of the ioints , difficultie in making vrin , and the passion of the intestins . [ 17 ] daily seasons of weather being northernly doe close and strengthen the bodies , they make them more mouable and nimble , better coloured , and more strong and able in hearing : they dry & harden the belly , but they bite & offend the eies : and if any paine haue before possest the brest , they make it more fierce and grieuous . contrarily , southernely constitutions doe loose and moysten those bodies , they dull the hearing , they bring giddinesse of the head , they bring mistinesse , and dimness of the eyes , dulnesse and laziness to the body , they make the bellie loose and laxatiue . [ 18 ] as touching seasons of the yeere , in the spring and prime of sommer , children and those which are neerest to them in age , do liue best in health . but in sommer & in some part of autumn olde men liue best : but in the rest of autumne and winter they which leade a middle age . [ 19 ] any diseases are ingendred in anie times of the yeer : yet many are rather caused and stirred , in someone more then in an other . [ 20 ] in the spring there hapneth madnesse , melancholy , the falling euill , fluxes of bloud , the squinancie , rhumes , distillations of humors , coughs , leprosies , dry scabs , morphues and many vlcerous wheales , pushes , and paines of the ioints . [ 21 ] in sommer there are some of those specified before in the spring : also cōtinuall feuers and burning agues , and manie tertians also and quartan agues , & vomitings , fluxes of the belly , inflāmations of the eyes , paines of the eares , vlcerations of the mouth , rotting and putrifying of the priuie members , and sweatings . [ 22 ] also many summer diseases are in autumn , both quartans & also vncertain and wandring agues , swellings of the splene , hydropsie , consumptions , strangurie , loosnesse and excoriation of the bowels , aches of the huckle bone , the squinancie , shortness of breath , a streight pressing or drawing together of the bowels in some part of them , the falling sickenes , madnes & melancholy . [ 23 ] in winter are ingendred plurisies , inflammation of lungs , lethargie , rheume in the nostrels , hoarsnesse coughs , pains of the breast sides , and loynes , headaches , swymming and gyddinesse of the head , ( causing dimnesse to the eyes ) apoplexies ( or suddaine depriuation of the senses . ) [ 24 ] but as concerning ages , these diseases do happen to little children , and lately borne ; vlcers in the mouth , vomiting , coughs , want of sleepe , great feares , inflammations of the nauill , moist running at the eares . [ 25 ] the time of teeth-breeding comming , there hapneth itching of the gums , feuers , convulsions , fluxes of the bellie ; especially when they bring forth their teeth , and most principallie to those children which are most fatte and grosse and haue their belly hard and bound . [ 26 ] to those children which are a little bigger there doth happen inflāmations of the almondes of the mouth , disioynting & dislocation of the turning ioynts in the nape of the neck inwardly , shortnes of wind , breeding of the stone round worms , gut worms , long hanging warts , vnnatural erection of the yard , difficultie ▪ in making of water , scrophulus in the necke , and other risings , especially those before declared . [ 27 ] moreouer , to those which are greater and comming to ripe age , there happen many of those former diseases ▪ but more often , long continuing agues , and flux of bloud issuing out of the nostrells . [ 28 ] the diseases of children for the most part , some of them do attaine to the crysis , or alteration within 40. daies : some within seauen moneths : some within seauen yeeres , others when they come to ripe age . but those which shal continew longer , and shal neither be dissolued , to men children when they come to ripe age , nor to may den children when their monthly tearmes breake forth , hi consenescere consueuerunt . [ 29 ] to young men ▪ there dooth happen spytting of bloud , consumptions , sharpe feuers , falling sicknesse , and other diseases , but chiefely these now rehearsed . [ 30 ] to those which haue passed beyond this young age , there dooth happeu shortnesse of breath , impostumes of the lungs , lethargies , phrensies , burning feuers , long fluxes of the bellie , cholericke passions , or flowing of the gall , bloudy fluxes , fluxes of the stomach and belly of meates indigested , the haemorrhoides and such like . [ 31 ] to olde men doth happen difficultie & hardness of breathing , rhumes , with the cough , strangurie or auoyding of vrin by drop-meale , disuria & difficultie of making vrin , aches of the ioints , the stone in the kidnies , gyddinesse of the braine , apoplexies , or dead palsies , an euill habit or disposition of the body called cachexia , itching of the whole bodie , watchfulnes & want of sleep , moistnesse and humidities of the bellie , eyes , and nostrills , dimnesse of the sight , glaucoma , and dulnesse of hearing . the end of the third section of the aphorisms of hypocrates . here followeth the iiij . section . the argument . this fourth section is variable ; but for the most part is reduced to euacuation and prognostick signes of future euents . [ 1 ] thou shalt purge child-bearing women if it bee needfull , at the fowrth moneth after conception , and so vnto the seauenth , but those more sparingly : but the cōception being yong or elder thou shalt abstain . [ 2 ] such things are to bee drawn out of the body , by the vse of purging medicines , as they are which issuing forth of their own accord do helpe the same : but those which issue forth in a contrarie manner are to be stopped . [ 3 ] if such things be purged as should be , it doth good , and the patient doth easily indure it : but if otherwise it be done , the patient doth indure it painfully . [ 4 ] in sommer it is more cōuenient to purge the vpper venters , in the winter the inferior by stoole . [ 5 ] vnder the canicular or or dog-star , and before the dog-starre , purgations are painfull anp difficil . [ 6 ] leane and slender men are easie to vomit , & therefore must be purged by vomit , vnlesse it be in winter . 7 ▪ purge those which do not vomit easilie , and being in good plight , downwards by stoole , so it be not sommer . [ 8 ] do not purge them vpwards which are subiect to the phtisick or a consumption . [ 9 ] thou shalt purge melancholicke folke strongly by stoole . in like manner beginning the contrarie waie of purging . ( for , light matter bending vpwards must be drawne out by the vpper parts : but the heauier and grosser matter by the lower parts . ) [ 10 ] we must purge in verie sharpe sicknesses , if the matter do moue to the purging of it ; and that the very same daie wherein the sicknesse doth begin : for delaie in such diseases is very hurtfull and dangerous . [ 11 ] those which haue gripings & wringings in the belly , and horrible paine about the nauell and the loynes , and cannot be eased and dissolued by medicin or otherwise , they shall fall into a drie dropsie called , aqua inter cutem sicca ( which is a timpanie . ) [ 12 ] those are not to be purged in winter by vomite without hurt , whose stomach and belly cannot retaine meate vntil it be digested . [ 13 ] their bodies are to bee made moyst before hand with abundance and plenty of foode and also with ease and rest , which taking a potiō of veratrum or hellebor , do hardly and painfully vomit . [ 14 ] elleborus being drunke , the bodie ought rather to be moued , then to be yeelded to sleepe , or rest : for the sayling in a ship , doth manifest that our bodies are stirred and prouoked by motion . [ 15 ] when you wil haue elleborus or veratrum to work more forcibly , mooue and stirre the bodie : but when you will staie it , procure sleepe , and doe not moue . [ 16 ] elleborus is very dangerous to them which haue sound flesh , for it ingendreth convulsion . [ 17 ] when hee which is not sicke of an ague doth loath his meate , hath a gnawing of the mouth of the stomache , a darksome gyddinesse of the braine , and bitternesse of the mouth , hit signifieth that he had need to be purged vpwards . [ 18 ] whosoeuer hauing need of purging hath paines about the myddryffe , it is a signe that hee must be purged vpwards : but the pains which are vnder the same doe note a purging downwards to be needfull . [ 19 ] those which doe not thirst whiles they are purged with a medicinall potion , shall not leaue purging vntill they shall thirst . [ 20 ] if there be wringings and gripings of the guttes without a feuer , heauinesse of the knees , and paine of the loynes , they : signifie that there is neede of purging downward . [ 21 ] blacke excrements of the bellie like vnto blacke bloud , comming forth of their owne accord , either with a feuer or without a feuer are most euill : and by how much the more those euill colours shal be , by so much the more those excremēts shall be the worse : but such things to bee expelled out by a medicin , is farre better , and that by how much the more colours there shal be of them . [ 22 ] in the beginning of anie disease if blacke ▪ choler come forth either aboue , or beneath , it is dangerous & pernicious . [ 23 ] those which are pyned and brought low by sharp or long diseases , or by woundes , or anie other meanes , and doe auoyde blacke choler , or as it were blacke bloud : doe die the next daie following . [ 24 ] a bloudy flux if it proceed from blacke choler is mortall . [ 25 ] for bloud to be caried vpward of what kinde soeuer it be , is an euill signe : but if blacke bloud be egested & auoided downwards , it is good . 26 if any man being afflicted with a blouddie fluxe doe auoide as it were little peeces of flesh , it is a mortall signe . 27 to those which haue store of bloud flowing , frō what part soeuer in feuers : their bellies become moist , after they haue beene refreshed . 28 those which auoid cholericke excrements downwardes , if deafeness come vpon the same they do then cease frō auoiding of them : and on the other side , those which are affected with deafnes are deliuered from the same , by the auoiding of cholerick excrements . [ 29 ] if cold shakings happē to them which are sicke of an ague the sixt daie , they haue a difficult crysis , and we cannot wel iudge of the disease . [ 30 ] in them which are afflicted with fits of agues , howsoeuer the ague shall leaue them ; if it returne againe the same hower the next day , it is wont to haue a difficult crysis and determination . 31 apostumes are caused neare the ioints , and especially nigh the iawe bones , or mādible , to them which feele wearinesse , and lassitude in feuers . [ 32 ] those which recouering and amending from a disease , and haue some place grieued with payne , shall haue apostums , or botches in the same place . [ 33 ] but if anie part shall be pained before the disease , the seate and abiding of the disease is there . [ 34 ] if a suffocation or stopping of the breath do happen vpon a sodaine to one afflicted with a feuer , no swelling appearing in the iawes , or gullet , it is deadly . [ 35 ] if to one afflicted with a feuer the necke be suddenly turned awrie , and he can scant swallowe , and there be no swelling , it is deadly . [ 36 ] sweats are good to those sicke of an ague , which begin to issue forth the third day , fift , seuenth , ninth , eleuenth , fowreteenth , seuēteenth , one and twentith , seuen and twentith , thirtie one , and thirty fower : for those sweats worke the dissolution of the disease : those which happen otherwise , signifie paine , and length of the disease , or a returne of the same . [ 37 ] cold sweats with a sharp feuer , doe verily betoken death : but with a more mild & gentle ague , length of the disease . [ 38 ] in what part of the bodie the sweat is , there is the disease . [ 39 ] and also in what part of the bodie there is heate , or colde , there the disease is setled . [ 40 ] and when alterations do happen in the whole bodie so that the bodie bee cooled , and heated againe by turns , or one colour arise after an other , they signifie continuance of the disease . [ 41 ] much sweating ▪ caused thorough sleep , doth signifie that the body is sed with store of meate : but if this happē to one feeding sparingly , we must know that there is neede of euacuation . [ 42 ] vvhen there is much sweat , colde , or hot , alwaie issuing forth , the cold doth signifie the disease to bee more grieuous : and the hot sweat doth note the disease to be lesse grieuous . [ 43 ] feuers continuall which afflict euerie third daie more vehemently and doe not cease , are the more dāgerous : but by what manner soeuer they shall cease , and pause , they signifie that ther is no present danger . ( 44 ) swellings and paines about the ioints are caused to them which are afflicted with long agues . [ 45 ] those which haue swellings and paines of the ioints after agues , do feede ouer liberally . [ 46 ] if a colde shiuering fit , the feuer being without intermission , doe assaile the sicke man beeing alreadie weake , it is a deadly signe . [ 47 ] excrements auoided in feuers not intermittent , by vomit or spitting , if they be of a leaden colour , blodie , cholericke , or stinking , are all euill : but if they come forth conueniently , and easilie , they are good . also , the same consideration is to bee had of those things auoided by the bellie , and vrins . but if anie thing be auoided by those places , which dooth not helpe , it is euill . [ 48 ] in continuall feuers , if the outward parts are cold , the inward do burne , and the patient be thirstie , it is a deadly signe . [ 49 ] in continuall feuers , if the lippe , eye , browes , or nose , bee peruerted or turned awrie , if the sickeman do not see , nor hear , which-so-euer of these shall happen the bodie being weak , death is neare at hand . [ 50 ] if there happeneth in a continual feuer , difficulty and hardnes of breathing , with delirium , and doting , the signes are deadly . [ 51 ] apostumes in feuers which are not dissolued in the first crysis , or iudgements , they signifie length of the disease . [ 52 ] it is not absurde to weep and shedde teares in feuers and other diseases , voluntarilie : but to weepe against the will is verie absurde , & inconuenient . [ 53 ] they haue fierce & vehemēt feuers , which haue a tough & clammy moisture about their teeth in those feuers . [ 54 ] those which haue drie coughs prouoking little , are not wont to bee verie thirstie , in burning feuers . [ 55 ] all feuers proceeding from the tumors in inguine and other adenosus parts , are euil , except those feuers which are called ephemerae , and last but one daie . [ 56 ] sweate comming ▪ vpon one sicke of an ague , the ague not ceasing , is euill : for the disease is prolonged , and it signifieth that there is much moysture . [ 57 ] if a feuer happen to the crampe , spasmus , or tetanus : then it dissolueth the crampe . [ 58 ] if a colde shaking fit do com vpon him which hath a burning feuer , then a deliuerance from the disease is procured by it . [ 59 ] an exquisit , and perfect tertian feuer , commeth to his crysis or state in seauen circuits or fits , at the vtmost . [ 60 ] those that waxe deafe and thicke of hearing thorough feuers ▪ are deliuered from that disease by fluxe of bloud at the nose , or by flux of the wombe . [ 61 ] vnlesse the feuer shall leaue the patiēt in the odde daies , it is accustomed to returne againe . [ 62 ] those which haue the yellow iaundis happening vnto them vpon agues , before the seauenth day , haue an euill signe . [ 63 ] those feuers which haue their colde shaking fits returning at a certaine daie , are dissolued the same daie . [ 64 ] it is a good thing for them which haue the yellow iaundes comming on them in feuers on the seuenth day , ninth , eleuenth , or fourteenth day : vnlesse the right hypocondrium bee hard : for then it is not good but euill . [ 65 ] in feuers , a vehement heat about the stomach , & a gnawing about the heart , is an euill thing . [ 66 ] convulsions in sharpe feuers , and vehement pains about the bowels , are euil . [ 67 ] in feuers , great feares through sleep , or convulsion , doe prognosticate euil . ( 68 ) the breath not keeping due course is euil : for it doth signifie convulsion . ( 69 ) vrins with a feuer being thicke , clotted , and little in quantity , do profit them which make them , if afterwards thin vrins , and much in quantitie be auoided of them : but those vrins most commonly become such in which the hypostasis or sediment , shal appear straight after they are made , or not long after . [ 70 ] those which haue their water troubled or vnclean in agues , such as are the waters of cattell , haue or shall haue headache . [ 71 ] those which shall haue their crysis or alteration of the disease the seauenth day , haue a little red cloude in the vrine the 4. daie , and other things therunto belōging accordingly . [ 72 ] vrins verie cleare and white are verie euill , especially if they appeare in those which are afflicted with phrensie . [ 73 ] those which haue an inflation of the hypocondria , and a rumbling pain of the loynes succeeding , haue their belly moystned and loosned , except the windes breake forth downwards , or store of vrine doe issue forth : and these things happen in feuers . [ 74 ] to those that doubt of apostumations to come about the ioints , much vrin thick , and white , doth deliuer from the apostum , such as is wont to be auoided in painfull feuers , the fowrth daie : when also bloud shal issue forth of the nostrels there shall be a dissolution and a deliuerance speedily . ( 75 ) if anie pisse bloud or filthy matter , it signifieth an exulceration of the kidnies or bladder . [ 76 ] those which haue small pieces of flesh , and as it were haires , issuing forth togither with thick vrine , do auoid those excrements from the kidneies . ( 77 ) those which auoid with thicke vrin certain branny contents , haue their bladder infected with an vlcer , or scabbednesse . ( 78 ) it is signified to them which piss bloud vpon the sodaine , that there is some veine of the kidnies broken . ( 79 ) they in whose vrin ther appeareth an hypostasis or sediment full of sand , haue their bladder or kidneies diseased with the stone ; but especially the bladder , because it hath a verie spatious hollownesse or cauity . [ 80 ] if anie one pisse bloud or clotts of bloud & make his water by drops , hauing paine in that part of the belly ( which is betweene the nauell and the secret parts ) named hypogastrion , or at the seame-line of the skinnne of the coddes , called perinaeum , and at the place called pecten ▪ ( where the haire about the priuie members groweth ) then the places about the bladder are diseased . [ 81 ] if any one pisse bloud or filthy matter , or little scales , and there bee also a stinking or strong smell , it doth betoken an exulceration of the bladder . [ 82 ] those which haue an apostume bred in the vrinarie passage , or conduit of the water , they are deliuered from it , the same being brought to suppuration & broken . [ 83 ] voiding of much vrin in the night , doth signifie finall euacuation of excrements by the fundament . the end of the fourth section of the aphorisms of hypocrates . here followeth the 5 ▪ section . the argument . the fift book or section is variable yet almost it doth wholly intreat of the diseases of women , & of the good and badde dispositions of the wombe . [ 1 ] a conuulsion by taking elleborus is deadlie . ( 2 ) a convulsion after a wound , is pernicious and deadly . [ 3 ] the hicket or a convulsion , after a copious flux of bloud , is euill . [ 4 ] after an immoderat purgation ( which the greeks call hypercatharsis ) a convulsion or hicket is euill . [ 5 ] if any drunken man do suddainly waxe dumbe , he shall die with convulsion , vnlesse hee be taken with a feuer , or presently recouer his speech at that hower in which the surfet is dissolued . [ 6 ] those which are taken with the cramp or distention , named tetanus , do die within fowre daies : but if they shall ouerpasse them , they recouer their health . ( 7 ) the falling sicknesse which is before ripenesse of age , is remoued awaie : but that which hapneth after the 25. yeer of the age doth for the most part accompany vs vnto death . [ 8 ] those which are sick of a plurisie , vnlesse they bee purged vpwardes , within fowrteene daies shall haue the disease turned into an impostume . [ 9 ] a consumption most especially hapneth in those ages which are fro the 18 ▪ yeere to the thirty and fift yeere ▪ [ 10 ] those which haue the euill cause of the squinancie conuerted into the lungs , do drie within seuen daies : but if they escape them , they are affected with corrupt and filthy matter ( called empiema ) ▪ ( 11 ) if the spittle which they auoid by coughing that are affected with a consumption , doe stinke strongly being cast vpon the coles , and the haires of the head doe fall off , it is a pernicious & deadly signe . ( 12 ) if a flux of the belly happen to them which haue their haire falling awaie by a consumption , death is neare at hand . ( 13 ) those which cough forth frothy bloud , do ●etch and drawe the same out of the lungs . ( 14 ) if a fluxe of the bellie come vpō him which is in a consumption it is a pernicious signe . ( 15 ) those which are infected with an impostume by a plurisie , if they be purged from the corrupt matter within fortie daies after the breaking of the apostume , are cured , or otherwise they passe into a consumption . ( 16 ) hot water too often vsed bringeth these discommodities ; tendernesse of the flesh , distemperature of the sinewes , heauinesse & drowsinesse of the minde , fluxes of blod , swounings , & faintings of life to which death is incident . ( 17 ) but the vse of colde water bringeth convulsions , the crampes called tetani , blackness & cold shakings vsuall in some feuers . ( 18 ) colde water is hurtfull to the bones , teeth , sinews , braine , and marrow of the backe : but that which is hot is good and profitable . [ 19 ] wee must heate those things which are ouercold ; except those which powre forth bloud , or are inclined to powre forth bloud , in short time ▪ [ 20 ] colde water biteth and nippeth vlcers , hardneth the skinne , hindreth the sorenesse from maturation of the corrupt matter , causeth , blacknesse , bringeth forth colde shiuering fittes of ▪ agues , convulsions , crampes , and distention of the sinewes . [ 21 ] notwithstanding , ther is some time , when in the crampe without an vlcer in a well flesht young man in the middest of sommer , plentifull powring out of colde water doth call back the heate , and so the heate doth dissolue the crampe . ( 22 ) hot water yeeldeth vnto vs a great token of security , and safety in that vlcer and sore in which it causeth ripe and wel digested matter : it softneth and mollifieth the skinne , it maketh it thinne , it dooth appease paine , it mitigateth and asswageth colde shakings , convulsions , & the cramps ( named tetani ) it dissolueth heauinesse and paine of the head , it profiteth broken bones very much , especially if they bee bare without flesh ; and principally in the head : also it profiteth those things which are mortified & exulcerated through colde . lastly , it is profitable to eating vlcers in the sūdamēt , priuie members , wombe , bladder : to all those , hot water is a friend and comforter , but cold water is an enemie and a destroyer . [ 23 ] we must vse cold water to those sores from whence bloud dooth issue , or is about to issue , and not to be applyed in the same place by which it issueth but to those places from whence it floweth . and if anie inflammation or burning of the parts , do incline to a red and bloudie colour with fresh cleare bloud , apply colde things , or cold water vnto them : but if the inflāmations bee inueterate and old , it maketh them black . also it helpeth the fiery inflammation , named erysipelas , if it be not vlcerated . for , being vlcerated it hurteth . ( 24 ) things that are verie colde , as snowe , and yee , are hurtfull to the breast , they procure coughs , they cause ruptures of the veins , and also rhumes . ( 25 ) cold water powred forth aboundantly , doth ease and diminish the tumours and paines of the ioints , which are without vlceration , & also gowty swellings and pains and convulsions for the most part , & dissolueth dolour and pain : for a smal benumming hath the force of dissoluing and putting awaie of paine . ( 26 ) water that is quickely made hot , & quickly cold , is most light . ( 27 ) it is good for them which haue great desire to drinke in the night to fall a sleepe , being verie thirstie . ( 28 ) a fumigation , or perfume , of odoriferous spyces dooth bring forth the terms . it would also be profitable for manie other things if it did not breede heauinesse and pain of the head . [ 29 ] thou shalt purge a woman with childe if it bee needful , the fowrth month after conception , and so forwards vntill the beginning of the seuenth month : but those that come neere the seauenth , month not so much : but the foetus ▪ being yonger or elder thou shalt abstaine . [ 30 ] a woman with child , a veine being opened , aborteth & is deliuered before due time : and so much the rather , if the foetus bee of any bignesse . [ 31 ] it is pernicious & deadlie if a woman great with childe bee taken with anie sharp disease . [ 32 ] a woman is cured from vomiting bloud , her mōthly tearms issuing forth . [ 33 ] a flux of bloud at the nose is good and healthfull to a womā , her flowers failing contrarie to the due course of nature . [ 34 ] if the wombe bee verie laxatiue and loose to a woman with childe , there is danger of aborcement . [ 35 ] sneesing hapning to a woman grieued with suffocation of the wombe , or hauing a painfull and difficult deliuerance is good . [ 36 ] the monthly courses being discoloured , neyther comming forth alwaies in the same maner , and time , do declare that a purgation is necessarie for the woman . [ 37 ] if the paps be suddenlie extenuated and become lanke to a woman with childe , aborcement dooth follow . [ 38 ] if one of the dugs be extenuated and become lank to a woman cōceiued with child with twins , she bringeth forth one of them before due time : and if the right dug becom slēder she bringeth forth the male childe before due time , but if the left dug becom lank she maketh aborcement of the female . [ 39 ] if any woman neither with child nor hauing bin deliuered of childe , haue milke in her breasts , her monthly courses haue failed her . [ 40 ] madnesse is signified to happen to those women in whose dugs or paps there is bloud collected and heaped together . [ 41 ] if you will know whether any woman haue conceiued or no : giue her a potion of hony & water mixed togither going to sleep : & if she feele gripings and wringings of the belly she hath conceiued ; if she doe not , shee hath not conceiued . [ 42 ] if a woman conceiued with childe doe beare a manchilde shee is well and fresh coloured : if she beare a maide childe , she is ill coloured . [ 43 ] if the inflammation called erysipelas be bred in the womb or mother , it is a perniuous and deadly thing . [ 44 ] those women which are verie leane contrarie to nature and doe beare children ; do suffer vntimelie deliuerance ; vntill they come to better plight and be fatter . [ 45 ] those women which being reasonable fat & making abortion the second , or third month , without anie manifest cause , haue acetabula vteri plena mucoris , neither are they able to cōtaine the foetus because of his heauy weight ( but those cotylidons being broken ) it falleth downe . [ 46 ] those which are fatter then nature requireth and doe not conceiue childe , haue os vteri compressed , & closed togither by the omentum and cal of the guts , and therefore they cannot conceiue vntill they waxe leaner . [ 47 ] if the wombe shall apostumate in that part where it lieth neer the hip , or huckle bone , it is necessary to cure it with tents lipped in liquid medicines such as the greekes do call emmota . ) ( 48 ) men children doe lie & are carryed on the right side of the womb , and women children rather on the left side . [ 49 ] a medicine procuring sneesing , put into the nostrills , doth driue and force out the secūdine ▪ so that you stop the nostrils & mouth close with the hand . [ 50 ] if it please a woman to restraine her accustomed courses , apply a very great cupping glasse to her brests . [ 51 ] those women which are conceiued with child , haue the mouth or gate of the mother shut and closed vp . ( 52 ) if milke flowe plentifully out of the dugs of a woman bearing a child in her wombe , it signifieth that the childe is weake : but if the paps be hard and stiffe , they declare a stronger cōception . [ 53 ] the dugges and pappes becom slender and limber to those women which shal loose their foetus . but contrarilie , if the pappes become hard , paine shall eyther molest the pappes , hips , eies , or the knees , but they shal not suffer aborcement . [ 54 ] those women haue the mouth or gate of the womb closed or shut vp ▪ which haue the same hard . [ 55 ] childe-bearing women which are takē with feuers , or are brought to a lowe state without a manifest cause , doe bring forth the birth painfully , and with danger , or are in hazard of life by vntimely & vnseasonable deliuerance . [ 56 ] if a convulsion or swouning happen to a flux of a womans flowers , it is an euill thing . [ 57 ] womens terms flowing immoderately , diseases are ingendred : & being supprest , & stopt of their due course , diseases do likewise happen from the wombe . [ 58 ] the strangurie or dropping out of the vrin dooth happen by the inflammation of the straight gut , & likewise of the wombe or mother , to the reins that be exulcerated : also if the liuer be inflamed , the hicket or yexing doth happen in the meane while . [ 59 ] if a woman doe not cōceiue , and thou wouldest know if she shall conceiue at all , let her be wrapt and lapped round about with clothes , and make a sume vnder the lower parts : and if the sent bee perceiued to passe through her bodie , to her nostrills , & her mouth ; knowe that shee is not barraine , by any default in hir selfe . [ 60 ] if the monthly purgations doe keepe their course to a woman with child , it is impossible that the foetus should be in health . [ 61 ] if a womans monthly courses stop , and she haue neither shiuering cold , nor ague comming vpon her , and shee loath her meate , make account that shee is conceiued . 62 those women which haue their wombe cold & drie , doe not conceiue : and such as haue them ouer moyst ▪ cannot bee conceiued , for the seede is extinguisht & perished in them . also , those women cannot conceiue , which haue those places ouer drie , and hot ; for the seed becōmeth corrupted for want of due n●●rishment . but those women which haue obtained a moderate temperature of the places in respecte of both the oppositions and contrarieties , doe excell in fruitfulnesse . ( 63 ) the same consideration and reason is likewise to be respected in men : for either through the spoungy and poery substance of the body the spirits are dissipated and scattered abroade , so that they cannot cast forth seede , or else the moisture dooth not issue forth because of his grossenesse & thicknesse , or else because of coldnesse it doth not cōceiue any heat , that it may be collected in his proper place : or the verie same thing doth & may happen through heate . ( 64 ) it is not good to giue milke to them which are troubled with headach , or with agues , nor to those which are troubled with the disease called status hypochondriacus , nor to those which are troubled with thirst . it is also nought for them which auoide cholericke excrements downewards , or to those which haue sharpe feuers , or haue had some copious euacuation of bloud . but it is good for those which are in a consumption , so they be not troubled with any vehement feuer . it is also good for long lingring and milde agues , so that none of the signes before spoken be present . it is good also for them which are brought lowe without any apparant reason or occasion . [ 65 ] they are not much trobled with convulsions or with madnesse , which haue apparant and euident tumors with their vlcers or sores : but convulsions , and the crampes ( named tetani ) doe happen to them to whome the tumors shall suddenly vanish awaie , if it shall happen on the hinder part of the bodie : but if they happen in the forehead , or forepart , there hapneth madness , vehement paine of the side , empiema and spitting of matter , dysenteria , if the tumors or swellings shall be red . ( 66 ) if no tumour nor swelling appeare in great and badde wounds , it is a great euell . ( 67 ) soft tumore aregoods but those which are hard and vndigested are euill . ( 68 ) to one which hath pain in the hinder part of the head , the venarecta in the forehead beeing opened doth profit . ( 69 ) colde shakings and shiuerings for the most part doe begin to women from the loines , and through the back do come to the head : but to men they doe rather beginne in the backe part then in the forepart ; as from the hinder parte of the thighes and from the elbowes : the raritie and thinnesse of the skinne is a token ther of ▪ which thing the hayre there growing dooth declare and manifest . [ 70 ] these which are taken with a quartane ague , are not much assaulted with convulsions : but if before they haue bin assayled , vpon the comming of the quartan they are deliuered and freed . [ 71 ] those which haue their skinnearid , withered , and drie , doe dye without sweate : but those who haue their skinne loose , and open , do end their life with sweate . [ 72 ] those that are diseased with the iaundis , are not much molested with windinesse . the end of : the fift section of the aphorisms of hypocrates . here followeth the 6. section . the argument . this sixt section dooth almost altogether concerne that part of the art , which foretelleth good and euill things to happen in diseases . [ 1 ] in a long lubricitie , and slipperinesse of the guts , if a sowrish belching do happen , which was not before , it is a good signe . [ 2 ] those which haue their nostrils more moist then others by nature , and their seede also , doe inioy their health but badly : but those which haue the contrarie properties , doe leade their life more healthfully . [ 3 ] in long difficulties , pains or fluxes of the bowelles a loathing of meate is euill : and with a feuer it is more euill . [ 4 ] vlcers or soares which are smooth and glaber , are maligne , and euill . [ 5 ] in the paine of the sides , and of the breast , and of the other parts , wee must learne if the sicke do differ much , or keepe at a staie . [ 6 ] the diseases and infirmities of the kidneies and bladder , are of hard & difficult curation in old men . [ 7 ] dolours and paines of the bellie being aloft & in the vpper part , are more light and easie ; not being aloft are more tedious and forcible . [ 8 ] vlcers or sores arising in the body of those which are diseased with the dropsie , are not easily cured . ( 9 ) wheales being broade , are not very full of itching . [ 10 ] corrupt matter , water , or bloud issuing out by the nostrils , mouth , or eares , dissolueth and cureth a vehement & grieuous headache . ( 11 ) the haemorrhoids happening to those which are troubled with melancholy and paine of the kidneies , are good and profitable . ( 12 ) vnless in the cure of the haemorrhoids which haue long continued , there be one veine kept open , it is to bee feared that a dropsie or consumption will shortly follow . ( 13 ) the hicket or yexing trobling or vexing vs , is put away by sneesing . ( 14 ) if water flowe , from the veines of him which is diseased with the dropsie , to the bellie , the disease is dissolued ( if nature it selfe make euacuation . ) ( 15 ) vomiting comming by the benefit of nature , dissolueth and riddeth away a long flux or loosenesse of the bellie ( by reason of the retraction & drawing back of the humours which did bend downwards . ) [ 16 ] a loosenesse of the belly happening to one afflicted with a pleurisie , or the disease of the lunges named peripneumonia , is an euill thing . ( 17 ) it is a good thing for him which is troubled with a watrish running of the eies called lippitudo , to be taken with a flux and loosenesse of the bellie . ( 18 ) it is a deadly thing when the bladder is wounded , or the braine , or the heart , the midriffe , anie small gut , the stomach , or the liuer . [ 19 ] a bone perished or cut off , or a cartilag , gristle or sinew , or any little parcell of the eye lid , or the praeputium beeing diminished , doe not growe or ioine together . [ 20 ] if bloud flowe into the belly contrarie to nature , it corrupteth and is putrified of necessitie . [ 21 ] if the swelling of veins in the legs , named varices , or the haemorrhoids , shall happen to them which are madde and frantick , then the disease of madnesse is dissolued . ( 22 ) breaches or fluxes of humors which do descend frō the backe to the elbow , are dissolued by opening of a veine . [ 23 ] if feare and sadnesse doe continéw long , it is a signe of melancholie . [ 24 ] if anie small or slender gut bee wounded or pearced , it dooth not close or grow togither againe . [ 25 ] if the cholericke tumor erysipelas , being outwarde be returned inwards , it is euill : but if being inward it be turned outwards it is a good thing . [ 26 ] those burning feuers are dissolued with dotage , or rauing , in which there are trembling shakings . [ 27 ] if the corruption , matter , or water , do flowe out altogether at once , from them which are burnt , by catire , or cut , by the chirurgion for the cure of the inwarde apostumation betweene the lungs and the breast , or of the dropsie , thē the diseased shall die without all doubt . [ 28 ] eunuches or gelded men are not diseased with the gout , neither do wax bald . [ 29 ] a woman is not troubled with the gout , vnlesse her monthly termes doe faile her . ( 30 ) a young stripling is not troubled with the gout , before he hath vsed venerie . [ 31 ] drinking of strong wine , or a bath , a fomentation , phlebothomy ( or letting of bloud ) or a purgation doth cure paines of the eies . [ 32 ] those which slammer , are taken most commonly with a long flux of the bellie . ( 33 ) those which haue sower belchings , are not much subiect to a plurisie . [ 34 ] great swelling veins , named varices , are not incident to them which are balde : but yet they haue their haire growing againe on their head , to whom the swellings & veins do happen being balde . ( 35 ) if a cough come vpon them which are diseased with a dropsie , it is an euill thing . ( 36 ) phlobotomie , or bloud-letting , cureth the difficultie of making vrine , but we must opē the inward veins . [ 37 ] if a tumour appeare in the neck to him that is diseased with angina , it is a good thing . [ 38 ] those which haue hidden or deepe cancers , are not to bee healed or cured of them : for they which are healed die sooner ; and those which are not cured of them liue the longer . ( 39 ) a convulsion is caused either by repletion , or by euacuation : so is also the hicket or yexing . [ 40 ] those which haue paine at the hypocondrium without an inflammation , are cured by a feuer hapning to them . ( 41 ) if corrupt matter giue forth no signification , nor signe of it self in the bodies of the diseased , the cause that it dooth not disclose it selfe nor appeare , is either for the grossenesse and thicknesse of it selfe , or of the place . [ 42 ] if the liuer vvaxe hard to them which are affected with the yellow iaundis , it is an euill thing . [ 43 ] the spleneticke , which are taken with a bloody fluxe of the bowels , do die of a dropsie , or a slipperinesse of the bowells , called a lientery , following a long fluxe . [ 44 ] they die within seauen daies , to whom the disease named ileos , or pain in the small guts , shall happen after a strangurie , vnlesse a feuer comming vpon them , store of vrine shall issue forth . [ 45 ] if vlcers continew a yeer or longer , the bone of necessitie must growe fowle , and bee corrupted , and so hollow cicatrizes are caused . [ 46 ) those vvhich become crookt backt by shortness of wind , or a cough ▪ before they attaine to ripenesse of age , doe die quickly . [ 47 ] those are to be let bloud or purged in the spring time to whome opening of a veine or purging may do good . [ 48 ] the difficulty of the intestins , and guts , comming vpon them which are diseased with the splene ( viz. with hardnesse ) is good . [ 49 ] goutie diseases , the inflammation beeing asswaged , within fortie daies do cease . [ 50 ] it must needs bee that a feuer , vomiting , and perbraking of choler must come vpon them which haue their braine diuided , or wounded . [ 51 ] those which are in health being sodainly taken with headache and thereupon presently become dumbe , and snort , doe die within seauen daies , vnlesse a feuer come vpon them in the meane while . [ 52 ] but we ought to behold in their sleepes also , if anie part of the eies do appeare vnderneath the liddes : for if anie thing appeare of the white of them , the eye lids not being fast closed , if it doe not happen by a fluxe of the belly or by som medicinall potion , it is an euil and a verie deadly signe . ( 53 ) that doting which is done with laughter , is not so daungerous : but that which is done with earnest sadnesse is more daungerous . ( 54 ) painefull breathings in sharp diseases with a feuer , as it were , of such as sigh , & mourne , are euill . ( 55 ) paines of the gowt doe most commonly afflict & are prouoked in the spring and autumn . ( 56 ) the falling down of humors are very dangerous in melancholicke diseases , at these seasons , and do declare an apoplexie , or a cōvulsion , madness , or blindnesse . [ 57 ] also apoplexies are caused most especially from the fortith to the threescore yeers . ( 58 ) if the call omentum shal hang forth of the bodie it putrifieth of necessitie . [ 59 ] those that are afflcted with long pain of the hips , hauing the huckle bone cōming forth & returning in again into his place , haue clammy flegme collected and gathered together in the hollownesse of that part . [ 60 ] those which haue the huckle bone ( being the hed or vpper part of the thigh ) comming out , and tormented with the ache called sciatica , shal haue the thigh of feeblished and consumed : and they doe halt and are lame , vnlesse they are burned ( with hot iron instruments . ) the end of the sixt section of the aphorisms of hypocrates . here followeth the 7. section . the argument . this seauenth booke is altogether prognosticall and foretelling things to come in which he intreateth of the presagements and foretokens of health and death . [ 1 ] coldness of the extream parts in sharpe diseases is euill . ( 2 ) flesh black , and blew , because of a fowle diseased bone , is an euill thing . [ 3 ] the hicket after vomiting , and also rednesse of the eyes , are euill . [ 4 ] after sweate , colde shiuerings , and shakings , are not good . [ 5 ] after madnes which the greekes call mania , a blodie fluxe , the dropsie , or an extasie or traunce is good . [ 6 ] abhorring of meate in a long disease , and the excremēts auoided downwards without mixture of humors , are euill . [ 7 ] cold shakings , and fond doting , after much drinking , is euill . [ 8 ] after the eruption of an impostume inwardly , faintnesse , and loosenesse of the parts of the bodie , vomiting & swouning doth ensue . [ 9 ] after a fluxe of bloud , delirium , or a convulsion is euill . [ 10 ] after the iliack passion , vomiting , the hicket , doting and convulsion , are euill . [ 11 ] an impostume of the lungs , named peripneumonia , after a pleurisie is euill . [ 12 ] a phrensie with a peripneumonia , is euill . ( 13 ) a convulsion or the crampe ( tetanus ) because of hot burnings , is euill . ( 14 ) astonishment , and doting called delirium , thorough some blowe of the head , is an euill signe . [ 15 ] the spitting out of corrupt matter after the spitting of bloud , is euill . ( 16 ) a consumption , or pthisis , and a flux of the bellie , comming after spitting of corrupt matter , are euill signs : for when the spitting is stopped the diseased doe die . [ 17 ] the hicket , or singult comming through an inflammatiō of the liuer , is euill . [ 18 ] a convulsion or delirium caused through watching , is an euill thing . ( 19 ) after the laying bare of a bone , the inflammation and hot tumor erisipelas is euill . [ 20 ] putrefaction , or impostumation from the inflammation erisipelas , is euill . [ 21 ] a fluxe of bloud after a strong pulse , in vlcers is euill . [ 22 ] after a long paine of the parts belonging to the belly , an impostumation is euill . ( 23 ) after auoyding of vnmixed excrements downewards , a bloody fluxe is euill . ( 24 ) delirium , or foolishness doth insue after the wound of a bone , if it shall penetrate into the hollowe or voide space . ( 25 ) a convulsion after the taking of a purging potiō bringeth death . [ 26 ] a great coldnesse of the extreame and vtmost parts through vehement pain of of the parts , pertaining to the belly , is euill . ( 27 ) if the disease , called tenasmus , shall happen to a woman with childe , it is the cause of aborcement . [ 28 ] if either a bone , cartilag or sinew shall be cut in the bodie , it doth neither increase nor growe togither againe . [ 29 ] if a strong flux or loosenesse of the bellie shall come vpon him that is diseased with the dropsie named leucophlegmatia , it dissolueth and cureth the disease . ( 30 ) they haue a falling downe of flegmaticke humors from the head , which doe auoide frothie and fomie excrements out of the belly in their laxnesse and loosenesse of the same . ( 31 ) sediments in vrins made in the time of agues , like vnto course wheate meale , do signifie that the sickness shall continuew long . [ 32 ] cholericke sediments appearing in vrins , but being before thinne , and waterish , do signifie a sharpe disease . [ 33 ] those which make diuers vrins , haue a vehement disturbance , and vnquietnesse in the bodie . [ 34 ] the vrins , in which bubbles doe swimme aloft , do signifie the disease of the reines , and that the infirmitie and weakenesse shall indure long . [ 35 ] it is a signe that the disease is of the reines , and a sharp disease to be present , to them in whose vrin a fattie and thicke superficies appeareth . ( 36 ) if also paines be caused to those which are diseased with the griefe of the kidnies about the muscles of the backe bone , and haue the signes abouesaid ; if they be felt towardes the outward parts , looke and expect that the apostume shall also bee outwardly : but if the paines bend and incline rather to the inwarde parts , wee must then feare that the apostume shal be inwardly . ( 37 ) vomiting of bloud is wholsome to them which doe it without a feuer : but if it be with a feuer it is an euill thing ; and the cure and remedie of the same is to bee performed vvith things that haue a cooling and a binding qualitie and virtue . [ 38 ] distillations vpon the vpper bellie , doe come to suppuration and ripenesse within twentie daies . ( 39 ) if anie one pisse bloud , or clots of bloud , and bee diseased with the disease named the stranguria , the paine attaining to the part of the bellie , called abdomen or hypogastrion , & the place named pecten ( and also to perinaeum ) the places and partes aboue the bladder are diseased . [ 40 ] if the tong be sodainely become feeble , or anie part of the bodie being astonished , be benūmed without feeling , it is a sign of melancholie . ( 41 ) if the hicket do happen to olde men purged aboue measure , it is not good . ( 42 ) if the feuer be not caused of choler , store of warme water powred vppon the head doth dissolue the feuer . [ 43 ] a woman hath not the vse of both hands alike . [ 44 ] if cleare and white matter doe issue out from them which are affected with corrupt matter betweene the breast and the lunges whē they suffer cauterising or incision , they do escapes but if bloodie , stinking , & filthy matter do issue forth , they die and cannot escape . ( 45 ) if cleare and white matter doe issue from them whose liuer is corrupted or apostumated with filthy matter , and burnt , they recouer health and become sound : for the corrupt matter is contained in the coat : but if that which commeth forth bee like the lees and dregs of oyle , they die . ( 46 ) cure and heale pains of the eyes which proceede from drinking of strong wine , and bathing in hot water , by opening of a veine . ( 47 ) if a cough come vpon one diseased with the dropsie , he is without hope of recouerie . ( 48 ) drinking of nete strong wine , and the opening of a veine , dooth dissolue the diseases stranguria , & disuria : but the inward veines must be opened . ( 49 ) a swelling and rednesse arising on the breast of him which is grieued with angina , it is good : for the disease bendeth and inclineth outwardlie . [ 50 ] they die within three daies whose braine is corrupted & benummeds but if they ouerpass them they shall recouer their health . ( 51 ) sternutation or sneesing is prouoked out of the hed , the braine being much heated , or the voide and wide space of the head beeing much moistned ; for the air inclosed within doth break forth : but it maketh a noise because it passeth through a narrow place . [ 52 ] those that are grieued with vehement pain of the liuer , are deliuered from the paine , if an ague come vpon them . [ 53 ] those which haue occasion to haue bloud taken frō them , must be let bloud in the spring . ( 54 ) those which haue fleagm inclosed between the ventricle and the midriffe , and the same also painefull vnto them , hauing no passage into either of the bellies , are deliuerd frō the disease , the fleagme being turned and cōuaied through the veins into the bladder . [ 55 ] those haue their bellie filled with water , and doe die , whose liuer replenished with water , shal make a breach , and eruption of the same into the belly named , omentum . [ 56 ] wine being drunk with an equal proportion of water , doth put awaie sorrow , yawning , and colde shaking . ( 57 ) for this , looke in the 4. section , and 82. aphorism , where it is expounded . ( 58 ) they must of necessitie become dumbe forthwith , which haue their braine vehemently shaken , and troubled by some outward occasion . ( 59 ) hunger and fasting is to be endured of bodies consisting of moist flesh : for fasting dryeth the bodie . [ 60 ] where there is an alteration in the whole bodie , & the body becommeth cold and hot againe , and changeth from one colour to an other , the cōtinuance of the disease is signified . ( 61 ) much sweate , hotte , or cold , alwaies issuing forth , doth declare , that the moisture in a strong bodie is to bee euacuated , and purged vpwards : but in a weak body , downwards . [ 62 ] if agues become more fierce and vehement euerie third daie without anie intermission , they are dangerous . but in what manner soeuer they shall cease , it signifieth that they want danger . ( 63 ) those which are afflicted with long feuers , haue little swellings or aches in the ioynts . [ 64 ] those which haue long swellings or paines in the ioints after a feuer , doe vse too plentifull a dyet . [ 65 ] if anie giue the meate to one sick of a feuer , which hee giueth to a sound and healthfull person , he shall strengthen the whole person , and increase the maladie of the sicke partie . [ 66 ] wee must looke vpon those things which passe through the bladder , whether they bee such as issue forth in prosperous health . for those which are vnlike thē , are vnhealthful signes : but those which are like thē are healthfull signes . [ 67 ] also whē the sediments if thou shalt suffer them to rest , & shalt not moue thē , doe sinke downe into the bottome like shauings , or parings of guttes : or such like matter : which if they shal befew , do signifie that the disease is little : but if they shall be many doe signify that the disease is great ; then it is necessarie that euacuation & purgation be made downewards : otherwise if the belly being not purged , thou shalt giue broaths and nourishment , the more thou shalt giue , the more thou shalt hurt . ( 68 ) crude , rawe and vndigested excrements , voided downwards , doe proceed from blacke choler : if they be manie they proceed frō a more copious quantity , if they be few they proceede from a lesse quantitie . ( 69 ) spittings in feuers not intermitting , ash coloured , bloodish , cholerick , stinking , are all euil . yet if they come forth conuenientlie and easilie , they are good . also if any thing issue out through the bellie , & bladder , or from any other part of the bodie whatsoeuer , which shall not restore him to health which is purged , then it is euill . [ 70 ] when any one goeth about to purge vnclean bodies , he must make the bodies soluble and fluxible ; and if hee will purge vpwards , the belly must be cōstipated & hardned : but if he wil purge downewards , it must be softned and loosed . [ 71 ] sleepe and watch fulness if they exceede a measure , are a disease . [ 72 ] in feuers not intermitting , if the exterior partes bee colde and the inwarde be burning , and the patient verie thirstie , it is a deadly signe . [ 73 ] in a feuer not intermitting , but continuall , if the lip , nose , eye , or eye-brow , bee peruerted & turned awrie , if the sicke man doth not see , nor heare , whatsoeuer of these things shall happē to a weak sick man , death is neare at hand . ( 74 ) a dropsie is ingendred by white fleagme . ( 75 ) from a laxness & loosenesse of the bellie named diarrhoea , doth proceed the bloudy flux dysenteria . [ 76 ) the flux named lienteria , dooth come vpon the bloody flux , named dysenteria . [ 77 ] after the corruption or putrefaction of the bone ( called in greeke sphacelismus ) ther followeth an impostumation of the bone . [ 78 ] after vomiting of bloud , a cōsumption , & an euacuation of purulent & filthie matter doth follow and insue . ( 79 ) wee ought to beholde what things they be which passe out by vrines , by the belly , or womb , and what things issue out thorough the flesh : and we must also consider and beholde if the bodie do decline or degenerat in any other thing from nature . for if little be auoided , the disease is little , if much be auoided the disease is great , and if verie much then it is a deadlie thing . the ende of the 7. section of the aphorisms of hypocrates . here followeth the 8. section . the argument . the intention and scope of this eight book which is the ▪ last , cannot be assigned : because the aphorisms be variable & different ; yet almost all are reduced to that part of physicke , which foretelleth things to come . [ 1 ] men aboue 40. yeeres of age , being troubled with a phrensie , are not cured at all : for they are in lesse perill and daunger whose disease is agreeable to their nature and age . ( 2 ) it is a good thing in what disease soeuer , when the eyes doe shed teares for some cause or occasion : but when they weep without a cause , it is an euill thing in anie diseases whatsoeuer they be . [ 3 ] in what quartan feuers so euer blood shall issue forth of the nostrils , it is an euill thing . [ 4 ] if sweats be caused in the iudiciall daies they are dangerous , especially such as issue forth from the forehead like drops of water , and bubling water pipes , beeing verie colde and aboundant : for it must needs bee that such sweate commeth forth with much force long labour and strayning . [ 5 ] depression of the bellie after a long disease is euill . [ 6 ] incision doth cure those vlcers which are not cured by medicines : and those which are not cured by incision , are cured by cauterizing : but those which are not cured by the cautier , are iudged incurable . [ 7 ] consumptions are ingendred , from the , 18. yeer of the age , vnto the thirtie and fift yeere . ( 8 ) the tongue blacke and bloudish , when anie of these signes are absent , then the euill and maladie is not forcible , and signifieth lesse paine . [ 9 ] the right testicle being cold and hauing a convulsion , is a messenger of death . [ 10 ] the nailes blacke , the toes of the feet colde , hanging downe , or stooping forwards , doe declare that death is verie neere . [ 11 ] also the extreame parts of the fingers being colde , are a signification of death drawing neare . ( 12 ) also , the lips ashe coloured , resolued , and effeeblished , disordered and peruerted , are deadly signes . [ 13 ] if the eyes bee darkned or cannot abide the light , also he which is oppressed with much sleepe , & great heat , is without hope . [ 14 ] if anie one become raging by little & little , with furious madnesse , if anie one doe not knowe them with whom he hath beene familiar , if he doe not hear nor vnderstand , it is a deadlie signe . [ 15 ] those are more euident signes to them which shall die a little while after , if the ventricles , or cauities bee lifted and heaued vp , swel , and bee puffed vp with winde . finis aphorismorum . a briefe discourse vpon the nature & substance of the ey . an eye is a member , of substance , roūd , whol and hard as a ball ( which may aptly be resembled to a bright bason , full of cleer resplendent water ) fixed in the wel or spring of the hed to minister light to the liuing body by influence of the visible spirit , sent from the cell of phantasie , or cōmon wits by a sinew , that is called nervus opticus , with helpe of a greater light ministred without . right well may the place wherin nature hath placed the eye bee tearmed the fountaine or spring of the eye , in respect of the abundance of waterie humidities , and teares which are often seene to issue & flow thereat ; which happeneth vpon diuers occasions : as somtime of inward sorrow and heauinesse of the disstressed heart , sometimes of ioy and gladnesse immoderate : yea , and otherwhiles it proceedeth of the onlie superfluitie & abundance of humours ingendred of vnnaturall and distemperate coldnesse . and this may suffice to declare briefly what an eye is . it resteth now , that we shew of what parts it doth consist . touching which matter a certain learned writer called iohannicius in his introductiō affirmeth , that the eie hath seuen tunicles , or coates , fowre colours , and three humours . the first of the said tunicles , or coats , he calleth retina : the second secondina , the third sclerotica , the fourth aranea , the fift vuea , the sixt cornea , the seauenth and last , subiunctiua . of the colours , he saith , the first is blacke , the second subpallidus , that is whitish , the thirde niueus , the fowrth glaucus . now of the humors , according to his mind , one is called , vitreus humor . i. a glassie humour : the second is called albugineus . i. resembling the color of the white of an egge : the third is called crystallinus , that resembleth the clearenesse of crystall . and this as i haue expressed is the iudgement & opinion of iohannicius . neuerthelesse , i my selfe vpon knowledge attayned by cutting dead bodies , am moued to dissent from him both in coats , and also in colours . therfore you shal vnderstand my minde also in this matter . i find in the studious dissection of the eye , the tunicle called salua trix , which saueth and keepeth the humors ordeined naturally , to be in the member ; of which duetie it hath that name . secōdly , the tunicle or coat , called discolorata ; so named because that while it remains in the eye , in it self it hath properly no colour , but is varied and diuersly affected according to the diuersities of colours which appeare in the eye . for , when the crystalline humour is neere the tunicle of the eies , then loe they seem of no colour . but whē it is deep within them , it giueth a shew of 3. colours : wherfore i may well conclude , that the eie of it selfe it discoloured , and of no colour properlie . yet this by obseruation is found to be verie true : they which haue the humours very lowe and deepe set in the bodies of their eyes ( by reason whereof they seeme to be of black colour ) haue their sight best for a time : but when they approache vnto thirtie yeeres and vpward , it beginneth to faile and appaire . and such as haue the humours placed in the middle or meane region of the eye , commonly are indued with good sight both young and olde : the colour of their eyes is menable black , which is gray . howbeit , it is seene that this sort of eies is more subiect vnto opthalmies , pannicles , with diuers other euell affects then those that be of other colours . moreouer , i say , those that haue the humors more outwardly , vnderneath the tunicles , as their eyes appeare vnto sight more various and diuers coloured , inclining much vnto whitenesse , so their visible facultie is not very good , neyther in youth nor in age . the reason is , because in such maner of eyes aboundeth humours and teares more then in others . for when the visible spirits descend down , by the hollow optique sinewes , & find about the tunicles of the eye abundance and plentie of vicious humours , they be the sooner scattered & dissolued from the humours , by occasion whereof the sight is more weak & feeble in them then in gray eyes , which before we called menable blacke . and they that haue the sayde graie eyes may seeme to haue their sight more durable , for that the crystalline humour being resident in the midst , maketh the visible spirits to rest and staie there ; which by the glasen humour and the saide tunicle are so preserued and kept , that they may not readily be dispersed . but in them which haue the humours depressed , and kept down ( which as we said before ) maketh the eie to look blacke , the sight is better then in other , because the crystalline humour is deep within : and therfore the visible spirit comming from the optique nerue at hand , findeth the larger space , & possesseth plentifullie all the cauitie and hollowness of the eies , before it passeth out from the glasen humor and the vppermore tunicles . but as i said , it dureth not in manie folke vntill age . for oftentimes in such manner of eyes are ingendred * catharactes , yet more in som sorts of them , then in other . as concerning the humor i willinglie subscribe vnto the opinion of iohannicius and make therein no variance . hereafter followeth the manner of helping the catharact by the needle , out of the same author . a catharact is nothing else but a water corrupt or congealed like a curde , engendred of humours distempered in the eye , betwixt the tunicles , and ●et before the sight of the eye , and the crystalline humour . and of the manner of catharactes be noted seuen kindes , whereof fowre be curable . and the first of the curable sort is light , euen like vnto white chaulke or alablaster , well polished . this hapneth oftentimes with a stroake in the eye , with a sticke or a stone , or anie other outward violence . the second kind curable is somewhat white , and much resembleth the skie colour . it proceedeth from the stomacke ; and is commonlie caused of euill meats , wherof a grosse fumositie resolueth and ascendeth vp vnto the braine , from thence falling downe againe into the eyes . the third kinde curable is also whitish , but enclining vnto the colour of ashes ; and is commonlie ingendred of paine in the head , as megrime and such others . also it is caused sometime thorough great sorrow and heauinesse prouoking great lamentation & weeping . and somtime of much colde , immoderat watching , and such like . the fourth kinde of catharactes curable is of citrine colour , and is commonly engendred of excesse in meate and drinke , euill digestion , great labour , and sometime of melancholick humours . and these which wee haue remembred bee the fowre kindes of catharactes curable , but not vntill they be ripe & confirmed . and the time of their ripenesse , is when the patient cannot see at all anie longer , except it bee the brightnesse of the sunne by daie , and the light of the moone , or a candle by night . now for the cure to proceed orderly first you must purge the braine , with these pills ordained for that purpose , called pillulae hierusolymitanae . and giuing the patient this on the one daie , on the next following about nine of the clocke , while he is yet fasting , cause him to sit ouerthwart a stoole in ryding fashion , and sit thou also on the same stoole face to face , & make the patient holde his whole eye close with his hand , and in that state charge him so to sit stedfastly not starting in any wise . this done , first with thy owne hand lifting vp the ouer eye lidde , with thy other hand put in thy needle made for that purpose , on the side further from the nose ; and finely thrilling the tunicle called saluatrix , writhe alwaies thy finger to and fro , till thou touch with the point of thy needle the corrupt ▪ water , which indeede is the catharacts and then begin to remooue downewarde from aboue , with the point of thy needle , the sayde water which lyeth before the fight : and driuing it downe to the neathermost partes , keepe it there still with the point of the needle , as long space as may serue thee to say fowre or fiue times the lords prayer . then remooue easilie thy needle there from , and if it happen to rise vp againe , bring it eftsoones to the cordes of the eye to the earwarde . but heere you must bevvare that after the needle hath touched the catharact , in anie wise you vvryth no more your fingers to and fro till it bee out . and after vvhen it is all out , cause him to shut his eye , and anone make a playster of cotten or flaxen hardes , vvith the vvhite of an egge , and laie it vpon the sore eye , & cause him to lie downe in his bed , vntill the 9. day , giuing him in straight charge that during all that time he stirre not his eye : & thrise in the daie , and thrise in the night , remoue his plasters , and make him to lie in a darke place ; namely , all that time . for his dyet within the sayd nine daies , let him eate reare egs with bread : and if he be young , & strong of body , let him drinke water , and keepe straight dyet during the time . but being in age , permit him the vse of wine , but well watered . now for the substance of the needle wherewith you worke , let it be of gold , siluer , or at least spanish latten , and in no wise of yron or steele : for yron and steele is hard , and with the hardnesse it dissolueth the substance which it toucheth . or else for this cause , if the catharact be hard , it might peraduenture breake in the drawing downe thereof at the point : for vron & steele be free and brittie , and the breaking therof remaining therein , might be cause of consumption of the same through the aboundance of teares , and greatnesse of paine . furthermore , i giue you to vnderstand , that the first kinde of catharacts curable , are easie and soone holpen : but yet they that bee cured thereof recouer not their sight perfectlie , for as much as the humours in the eye bee vnperfect , disgregate and dissolued , by the bruise and stroake , which at the first caused the catharact . the second kinde of catharacts curable , if they bee well cured vvith a cunning workeman , in this feate , the sight returneth again to his former goodnesse , because of the purenesse of the humors which bee not dissolued , and also for the aboundance of visible spirits reserued in the eye : for these causes , i say , they bee better then other . the third kinde of catharacts curable after they bee holpen , in manner aboue sayde , and the sight restored , it endureth not long time in that estate , vnlesse it bee holpen with medicines , as with our electuarie , which is called dia olibanorum hierusolimitanum , and by wholsom regiment of diet , wherein he must refrain from goats flesh , eeles , & such other● but especiallie those that might engender rawe humours : for certainly i haue proued by experience , the same to bee verie euill and noysome in this wise ; for diuerse haue come vnto me with catharactes not fully confirmed , to vvhome i haue giuen rawe onyons , by eating whereof in short space they haue become ripe and readie to the needle . whereupon i gather that rawe onyons be noysom vnto the sight , and inducers of catharacts . furthermore , let not the patient in the winter season ( if it may be otherwise ) drink any hot wines , in the which bee put sage and rue . let him forbeare ( as much as may be ) the companie of women , forbid him the vse of all common bathes and stewes . but if he will bathe him , let it be with a vessell ordained with the decoction of camomill , and other sweete smelling hearbes : but in any wise let him keepe his head without the vessell that the fume come not into his eyen , for that were noysome . the electuarie of dia olibanum is also good to auoide teares , and to dry them vp , as likewise it is right profitable for all manner paine of the megrime which is caused of fleagme . the fourth kind of catharactes curable is , those that bee of colour citrine more harder then the other , and of forme round : wherefore , it may not be laid right downe in the eie , for it will not abide there , because of the said roundnesse and hardnesse of it : therefore it must be laide in the corner of the eie to the eare ward , & there be kept with the needle a great while as is aforesaid . and thus to conclude . i do you to vnderstand , there needeth not anie abstinence from meats which be clean and healthsome , after the cure is perfectly atchieued ; saue only in the third kind : which thing to be true experience hath taught mee . neuerthelesse , it behoueth oftentimes to vse comfortatiues , & nutritiues for the visible spirits in the eye afterwarde . of the three kindes of catharacts vncurable . the first kinde of catharactes vncurable , is that which the physicians of salerne in italie doe call guttam serenam , and these be the signes whereby yee may knowe it : when the pupil of the ey . i. the place of the middest of the eye , hath the depth of the visible part , blacke and cleare as though it had no spotte , and the eyes are alwayes moouing their lids , trembling , as though it were quickesiluer . verilie , this kinde of catharact is ingendred & caused of a corruption in the mothers wombe : and therfore they that haue these kinds of catharactes , bee blinde euen at their natiuity ; of which sort i haue seen many , and haue assaied by many waies and medicines to cure them : but the successe was not worthy my labour , neither yet haue i heard that any other haue sped better in dealing with that sort . neuerthelesse , in processe of time , i perceiued that of this manner of catharact , ther were diuersities of kinds . for som of those persons which had them might see the brightnesse of the sunne , & went by the way with open eies , as though they had perfectly seene : yea moreouer som of them might see the stature of a man , or a beast or anie other thing , and some enioyed this little portion of sight vnto their liues end , whereas in othersome it doth vanish awaie , and they become starke blinde . therefore assure your selues , they that haue such maner of catharacts , be deplorat and without al possibilitie of cure by mans hand . for why ? the nerue optique is deplorate and mortified , so that there is no manner of helpe in power of hand , or medicine for them : and this aforesaide kinde is called gutta serena , because it is engendred of a corruption , comming downe from the braine , like a droppe of water , which one droppe corrupteth and dissolueth all the humour naturall in the eye : in so much that from thence forwards the concaue & hollow nerues be oppilat and ouerlaid , in that the visible spirits may no more passe downe by them into the eye . the second kinde of catharact vncurable , is that which doth appeare in the eye , of greene colour like water standing in watrie places , not much mooued with running . this sort is yet worse then al the other , and springeth of the immoderate and excessiue coldenesse of the brayne with great beating and diseases of the head , with vnmeasurable fasting & such like . the third and last kind of curelesse catharacts , bee those in which the circles may not bee seene within the tunicles of the eye ; but the eye appeareth all ouer blacke ▪ or all ouer white : and who so busieth himselfe to cure anie of these three kinds of catharacts , he abuseth his time and labour , more worthie to bee reproued for his ignorāce , then any wayes commended for his fruitlesse diligence . here followeth the cure of ophthalmia and other diseases of the eies . this ophthalmia is an inflāmatiō of the whol eye , hapning by som great diffluxion from the brain , and in the tunicle of the eie which is called coniunctiua : this infirmitie is somtimes cured by dropping into the eye womans milke , with the white of an egge , and especially if it shall happen from some outwarde cause , or from bloud . if it chance to happen by some blowe , or through colde , then the yolke of an egge boyled hard and mixed with oyle of roses and a little saffron must be applyed , if it shall happen through dust or smoak , wash the eie with colde water : if from repletion , or fulnesse , open the head veine , which is a present remedie : if the humors be grosse and thicke , administer an euaporation of the decoction of lentiles with water , also wash the eye with sponges intincted in a decoction of foenugraeck . in this disease it is verie good to vse abstinēce from meate and drinke , the dyet must incline to colde and moysture . wine , egs , and all sweete things are hurtfull . an excellent collyrium , which doth mitigate , re presse and beat backe heat , & inflammation . take the muscelage of psyllium , of gum dragant , of quinces , being prepared in rose water , of either 3. drams , of womans milk giuing sucke to a girle fiue drams , of the white of an egge well beaten , two drams : mixe them and instill thereof into the eye . or else vse this emplaster against an hot fluxe of the eye . take of the iuyce of the hearbe vermicularis , of virgapastoris , of plantaine , of nightshade , of endiue , of purslan , & such like ▪ with the flowre of barley and oyle of roses make an emplaster ; which must bee applied to the temples of the forehead : or dippe linnen clothes in the iuyces and applie them to the forehead . the face may be washed with running water , rose-water mixed with a little vinegar : so that will alter the biting humor , flowing to the eye . if the eye happen to bee hurt , or wounded with a thorne , needle , or knife , we must presently make repercussion . take bole armonick , sanguis draconis , tutia prepared gum arabick , & dragant , of either a dram , make a powder & mix therwith 6. ounces of rosewater in a glasse viol , then let it stand in hot water the space of an howr , thē afterwards add 1. ounce of the wine of pomgranats ▪ & so let it stand for 1. whol daie , & then straine it , & of that straining put a little into the eie morn , & euen ; and for to lay ouer , you shall frame an emplaster with the iuices of houslike & niteshade , of either two ounces : or in their place take rosewater , bole armonicke , myrrh , gumdragant and araback ; of either one ounce : make it into pouder and so apply it in the form of an emplaster to the eyes , for it doth both beat back , and cure . for spots or webs in the eie beeing remaining after the cure , we must presently vse this remedie . take young pyes out of the nest a little before they are readie to flie , let them bee cleane puld and cut in peeces , and then distilled : of which water put into the eyes an houre before supper , and in the morning it remoueth away al redness , spots , and cataracts : this remedie is confirmed by experience : some doe affirme the same virtue to be in consolidaregalis . sometimes the eyes do weepe and water against the will , which is caused by the debilitie of the braine , beeing weake and ouer-moist : for which cause thou shalt do no more but drop into the eye for xv . dayes togither , two drops of the water of tapsus barbatus , called in english hagtaper . againe , rue being dryed and beaten into powder , and mixed with hunny and vineger , and boyled and after strained through a linnen cloth and the eyes therewith anointed will restraine the vveeping and teares thereof : the patient must auoide all things that do euaporat & fly vp to the braine : if the cause proceed from choler or from bloud , it shall bee diuerted by bloud-letting : if the cause proceede from fleame , it is good to purge with pilles of aureae , and imperiales ; take heede of gargarisms , masticatories , and apophlegmatismes . bathes of warme vvater are verie conuenient so they bee vsed in the morning fasting : for that draweth the matter to the vtter parts . if the matter be sharpe , applie a repercussiue about the forehead framed with the white of an egge . and bolearmonicke , and so applyed vpon a peece of linnen cloth . if the cause haue proceeded from fulnesse or much drinking of wine , let him vse a spare dyet , and open the head veine , and let him purge with the pils of the 5. kindes of myrobalans : his dyet must bee drie ; for hee must auoid all broaths and liquid things : sower grapes and vnripe , beeing burnt in an earthen pot to powder , and searced verie finelie and put into the eyes , doe remoue awaie the teares and rednesse of them . a singular remedie for the eyes , is to take true frankincense , and melted at the fire , and so seauen times extinguished in red rosewater , and thereof instill into the eye that weepeth . an excellent medicin for the eyes that weep , for a pearle , and dimnesse , is this . take halfe an ounce of tutia , one dram of red corrall , burne them in a vessell of earth , then adde thereunto halfe a dram of sine pearle , and then beat them small into verie fine powder in a stone mortar , and then searce it finely thorough silke , and then put therof into the eye , this is a great secret . how to cure debilitie & weaknesse of the sight . his dyet must be good as in ophthalmia , let his head bee well combd with an iuorie combe , let him behold things that are greene , and beholde himselfe in a steel glasse : the vse of triphera dooth comfort very much , because it hindreth euaporations by reason of the myrobalans . let him take after his meals diacitoniton , the confection of coriander prepared , diapliris , and sugar of roses , in an hot cause . venerie & lust is hurtfull , and all things that are vaporous . rapes either rawe , or boiled are very good . wine vnlesse it be in small quantitie , is verie hurtfull . there must not be made any strōg euacuation , least the spirits be dissolued . an excellent vvater which dooth preserue the sight , and good against all manner of spots , is in this manner . take celendine , rue , endiue , betonie , roses , silermontaine , mallows , maiden haire , of euery one three handfuls , let them be infused in pure white wine for the space of 24. howers and then distilled . a collyrium for the eies which hath bin approued , is to take tutia prepared , 2. scruples , aloes hepaticke one scruple , cloues halfe a scruple , white vitriol sixe graines , and make a fine powder . then take rosewater & fenell water of eyther two ounces , let it warme vpon the hot imbers , then mixe the powder therewith , and after a while straine it and put therof into the ey in the mouing . an electuarie which dooth cleare and comfort the sight . take the flowers of eye-bright and of betony , of either one ounce , fenelseed three drams , cubebs , maces , cinamon , and cloues , of either one dram , long peper halfe a dram let all be made into fine powder : then take of the iuice of rue clarified one ounce and a halfe , clarified hony one pint , boyle the iuyce with the honie to a perfection , and then adding three drams of zedoarie to the former powder make an electuarie . a powder to comfort the sight . take betonie , veruin , eyebright , celendine , hysop , penny rioll , sage , all these being dried in the sunne , of euerie one halfe an ounce , horehound , fenel-seed , wild time , coriander prepared ▪ the seed ▪ of maiotā of euerie a dram , ginger , saffron , cloues , cubebs , nutmegges , cinamon , long peper , galengall , of euery one halfe a dram , rosemary flowers , the citren rynde , of euerie one a scruple , and of fine white sugar three times the weight of all the rest : make all into fine powder , or into lozenges with the water of fenell , eyebright and betony . an houshold receipt for the remouing of any spot or pin and webbe of the eye . take the iuice of houslick the quantitie that will goe ▪ into an egge shell , then put therein 3. graines of pure white vitrioll , let them boile togither on the hot ashes , and then scum the top thereof awaie , and drop thereof into the eye morning and euening , and close vp the eye with a boulster of linen . for all inflammations & bloud shotten eies , take the iuyce of a limon , and drop thereof into the eyes at the entrance into the bed , and close vp the eies as is aforesaide : and remember that for all inflammations proceeding of an hot cause bloudletting , to be the present remedie . finis . the life of hypocrates . hypocrates by the testimony of galen , was the son of one heraclides : but others affirm him to be the sonne of asclepius , borne and brought vp in the isle cos. his master and instructor was the great pythagoras . hee was by his nature inclined to goodnesse : for he hated , loathed and abhorred all pomp & worldly pleasures , and the vse of venerie . hee constrained all his scholers by an oath to vse silence and secrecie , modesty , affabiliti , and humilitie as wel in manners as apparell . he restored the science of physicke ; beeing lost for the space almost of fiue hundred yeeres , euen from the time of esculapius . hee was in body and stature very little ; but fayre , and exceeding well fauoured . he had a good and strong head : he went slowely and softly : he was verie pensiue and of few words : he was no great eater nor glutton : hee liued nintie fiue yeeres , and vsed often this sentence ; hee that wil liue in liberty , let him not desire that which he cannot obtaine : and hee that woulde haue that which hee desireth , let him desire nothing but that which hee may obtaine . in like manner , he that would liue in peace in this mortall life , let him conforme himselfe to him who is inuited to a feast , who giueth thankes for all that is set before him , and grudgeth not at any thing which is omitted . he liued about the times of eliachim , of malachi , of pereno & socrates . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a03400-e1730 meaning bloud-letting . notes for div a03400-e15950 definition of the eye . the cause of teares . the partes of the eye . fowre colors of the eye . 3. humors of the eye . the authors opinion . black eies gray eyes . whitish eyes . note this reason . gray eyes sure of sight . black eyes ●erfect of ●ight . definition of a catharact . diuision of catharacts . the first curable kinde . the secōd kinde . the third kinde . the 4. kinde . tokens of ●penesse . the cure dyet . the subtance of he needle . the first kinde of catharacts . the 2. kinde . the 3. kinde . the vertue of olibanum . the 4. kinde . the first kind of catharacts vncurable . the 2. kinde . the 3. kinde . a good medicin . bloud-letting . collyrium emplaster . a water against in inflammamation of the eye . emplaster . weeping eyes . bathes . a powder for the eies weake sight . an excellent water to preserue the sight . a collyrium for the eyes . electuarie to comfort the sight . the charitable physitian with the charitable apothecary. written in french by philbert guibert esquire, and physitian regent in paris: and by him after many severall editions, reviewed, corrected, amended, and augmented. and now faithfully translated into english, for the benefit of this kingdome, by i. w. guybert, philbert, d. 1633. 1639 approx. 245 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 93 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a02327 stc 12457 estc s118958 99854165 99854165 19574 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a02327) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 19574) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 960:01) the charitable physitian with the charitable apothecary. written in french by philbert guibert esquire, and physitian regent in paris: and by him after many severall editions, reviewed, corrected, amended, and augmented. and now faithfully translated into english, for the benefit of this kingdome, by i. w. guybert, philbert, d. 1633. i. w., fl. 1639. [8], 173, [9] p. printed by thomas harper, and are to bee sold by willliam sheeres, at his shop in coven garden neere the new exchange, london : 1639. the final nine unpaginated pages comprise the contents of the work. 'the charitable physitian, shewing the manner to make and prepare in the house', 'the charitable apothecarie' and 'the charitable physitian shevving the manner to embalme a dead corps', all with separate titlepages, "london, printed by thomas harper, 1639", but with continuous pagination and register. marginal notes. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an 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remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions, -early works to 1800. recipes -early works to 1800. embalming -early works to 1800. 2007-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-04 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2008-04 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the charitable physitian , shewing the manner to make and prepare in the house with ease and little paines all those remedies which are proper to all sorts of diseases , according to the advice of the best and ordinariest physitians . serving as well for the rich as the poor . together with a table of all those medicaments as well simple as compounded , which one ought to have by them both in city and country . with a notable and charitable advertisement to the publicke : by philbert guibert esquire , and physitian regent in paris . translated into english , by i. w. london , printed by thomas harper , 1639. the charitable phisitian . the manner to make clysters . a clyster to purge the belly which you may make at all times . take a handfull of french barly and boyle it very well in a pint and a halfe of water , then straine this decoction being about three quarters of a pint , then boyle in it halfe an ounce of good sene , and two drams of greene anni-seeds , or fenill-seeds , then straine it through a linnen cloath , or sieve the decoction being wel strained , in which you shall dissolve the honey , butter , and red sugar as followeth : having a bason or platter ready , within which you shall put two or three ounces of good honey and an ounce of red sugar , then poure upon them seven or eight spoonefulls of the decoction being very hot , with the which dissolve the said honey and sugar , & after that adde unto them the rest of the decoction stirring them together a little longer , that being done straine it again through a white linnen cloath or sieve in the which you shall mixe five or sixe spoonefulls of oyle of olives , or half a quartern of fresh butter & your clister is done , the which you shall poure into a bladder or syringe to be given luke warme or something warmer : if you have no barly in the house , you may take a quantity of porridge or broath , or laxative ptisan , or whey or common milk as shall be written hereafter ; and if you will not use the said clyster you may make it as followeth . in the said decoction ( being strained ) you shall dissolve the said honey , red sugar and oyle , adding to the same a dramme of salt or a little more , being common white salt . note , that when you have dissolved your honey and all other medicaments in any clisters whatsoever , you must passe or straine them through a sieve or white cloath , for feare there bee some durt or uncleannesse left , that would stop the pipe , and so hinder the injecting of the clyster . to make another clister for the same . take french barly , mallowes , marsh mallowes , pellitory , march violets , mercury , camomill flowers and mellilote flowers of each a handfull ; fenugreeke and linseeds of each two ounces bruised ; cut the said hearbs and flowers with a knife , after that wash them and make them cleane , then take a little kettle or an earthen pot , in the which you shall put three pints of water or a little more , then you shall boyle in it three or foure walmes the barly ; then put in the hearbs , and at the last the flowers and seeds ; being all boyled to a pint and a halfe or a little more which will serve for three clisters . then take halfe a pint of the said decoction being strained , in the which being warme you shall infuse for the space of an houre the weight of three crowns or halfe an ounce of good sene , with two dramms of greene anniseeds , and after the infusion boile them a little , then passe it , straine it as before , in that which is strained dissolve that which the physitian shall appoint . an other clyster . take a quantity of the said decoction strained , and put it into a pipkin with halfe an ounce of sene , and a dramme of green anniseeds , then having boild it a walme or two , you shall stirre into it foure ounces of good common honey , then letting it have a walme or two you shall passe or straine it through a cloath , and dissolve in it two ounces of fresh butter , and then it shall be ready to give being luke-warme . an other clyster . take a quantity of milke , boyle it a little , then straine it , and dissolve in it two ounces of red sugar and your clyster is done : you may also take barly water halfe a pint , dissolve the red sugar in it or a quarterne of good honey , or in the place of the milke you may take whay . to make a detersive clyster . take a handfull of common barly and two drams of greene fenill , boile them in a good quantity of water till halfe be consumed , and at the end put into it a quarterne of good common honey , and then let it boyle a walme or two to dissolve the said honey , and then straine them , and dissolve in them two ounces of fresh butter and your clyster shall be finished . a clyster against the beginning of the dissentery . take a quantity of good milke being boyled , in the which dissolve three or foure ounces of good common honey , and the yolke of an egge , and your clyster is done . a refreshing and detersive clyster . take a pint of new milk and boile it with three or foure lettices and a handfull or two of purslaine , take a quantity of this decoction strained , in the which dissolve foure ounces of honey and your clyster is made . an emollient clyster . take a pint of new milke , in the which being a little boyled , you shall dissolve the yolke of an egge , and then straine it , and in that which is strained you shall mixe two ounces of oyle of roses or an ounce and a halfe of fresh butter . a clyster with turpentine against the stone-collicke . take two ounces of oyle of olives , or fresh butter , warme them upon a chafing dish or upon hot cinders , then take them from the fire and poure upon them halfe an ounce of good venice turpentine , stirring it together with the oyle or fresh butter ; ( which is an easie thing to doe ) being stirred well together you shall dissolve them with any of the aforesaid clysters according to the advice of the physitian . an astringent clyster . take plantaine leaves , shepheards purse of each two handfulls , wash them , cleanse them , and cut them ; a handfull of red rose leaves , boyle them all in smiths water in the beginning the leaves , and towards the end cast in the rose leaves for to take a walme or two untill the decoction commeth to a sufficient quantity , then straine it , and mixe with it two ounces of oyle of quinces one or two yolks of eggs , and your clyster is done . another clyster for the same . take a quantity of good milke , which boyling you shall quench a red hot iron in it three or foure times , then straine it through a white cloath or searce , in the which you shall mixe your oyle of quinces and yolkes of eggs ; you may also dissolve in it an ounce of sugar of roses . note , that to little children you must give halfe the quantity of the said clysters : a clyster for the collicke of the belly . take mallowes , marsh mallowes , pellitory , of the wall isope , rue , calamint , peneroyall , origan ; of each a handfull : fenill-seeds and cumin-seeds of each two drams , bay berries halfe an ounce , camomill and mellilote flowers of each halfe a handfull , boyle them all in three pints of water or a little more , beginning first with the hearbs , and then with the seeds being bruised and boyle them untill halfe be consumed , and this decoction will serve for three clysters . take a quantity of this decoction being strained , in the which you shall dissolve fixe drammes of dia phaenicum , and asmuch of benedict : laxat : two ounces of honey of mercury , and as much of oyle of cammomill or of rue , and your clyster is made , which you shall give luke-warme ; and if the griefe continue , you shall renew the said clyster with the physitians advice . a clister for the apoplexie . for those which are troubled with the apoplexie , if the disease lingers you shall take a quantity of the former decoction , in the which you shall dissolve sixe drammes of benedict : laxat : and as much of hiera diacolocynthidos paschij , with two ounces of honey of mercury , and as much of oyle of cammomill and so make the clyster . but if the disease be forward or dangerous , you shall take a quantity of ptisan common or laxative , and in the said ptisan you shall dissolve the said medicaments . another clyster against the collicke for the poore . take isope , sage , cammomill and mellilote flowers of each a handfull , halfe an ounce of anniseeds bruised , boyle them all in three quarters of a pint of good wine , being boyled to a little more then a quarter of a pint , in the which you shall mixe three ounces of oyle of nutts and as much of good honey . another for the poore . you shall infuse upon hot cinders , or boyle in three quarters of a pint of good wine halfe an ounce of good sene , and as much of green fenil seeds ; then straine it and mixe with it the said honey and oyle of nuts . a natritive clyster . take a quantity of broath or porridge made with the fat of a capon , a piece of veale , and the bloody end of a necke of mutton boyled together , in the which you shall dissolve an ounce of fine sugar and two yolks of egges . another for the same . take a quantity of hen or pullet broath , and as much gelle mixed together , with two yolks of eggs and make your clyster . another for the poore . take a quantity of milke being boyled with two ounces of good sugar , in the which you shall dissolve two yolks of eggs . that before you give any of these nutritive clysters , you must purge the excrements of the belly with an emollient clyster . also that in making of these clysters afore mentioned , you may make all sorts of clysters whatsoever . that for little children you must lesson the dose and quantity of the decoctions and medicaments with the counsell of the physitian . the manner to make and prepare suppositories . take two ounces of common honey , boyle it in a little sauce pan upon a cleare fire untill it commeth to the thicknesse of an electuary solide ; that done , take it from the fire and stirre into it two drammes of common salt or a dramme of sal gemme : in powder mixe them very well together with a spatule , & then poure it on a paper being anoynted over with oyle and forme suppositories , and when you use them , you must dip them in oyle . those which you make for children must be but halfe so big as the other ; and if you will keep them by you , you must put them in suet or in fresh butter , or otherwise the aire will dissolve them . other suppositories which are stronger . take the said honey being boyled and let it coole a little , then mixe in it very well a spatule , common salt and sal : gemm : of each a dramme and make suppositories . another suppository . with the said honey being boyled and a little cooled , you may mixe twenty graines of coloquintida in powder and as much sal : gem : in powder . another suppository . or with the said honey being boyled you may mixe forty graines of scammony in powder . for little children you may make suppositories with sope , or with the hearb mercury , or with a little waxe candle or fresh butter . that in the place of suppositories you may also put three or foure sugar plumbs of verdum , without muske anointed with fresh butter one after another . i would not write any more examples of suppositories , because they are little in use , and of little effect , for the former glysters and laxative ptisans and purging broaths which follow are farre better and of more vertue . a certaine remedy for to loosen the belly of those which are hard bound , and will not take neither clysters nor suppositories . because there are certaine persons that are so cholericke that they will use neither clysters nor suppositories for any good in the world : not so much for a certaine shame as they have , as they are afflicted with their hemerods as well internall as externall and other diseases thereunto belonging , therefore let them use this remedy following which is excellent . take a dramme and a halfe or two drammes of good sene , halfe a dramme of greene anniseeds ; put them into a porringer , and poure upon them seven or eight spoonefulls of water , but if the person bee not troubled with a cough , you may put halfe water and halfe and halfe juyce of lymons , and then cover the said porringer and put them to infuse upon hot cinders or in some other warme place the space of halfe an houre or an houre , then straine and squeeze it through a white linnen cloath , and put it into three or foure times as much of cleare thin broath or pottage , and let it be drunk fasting , and some two houres after let the party eate some warme thing . but if the aforesaid broath or infusion be disagreeable to some delicates because of the taste of the sene , may squeeze into the broath the juyce of another lymon , but if that cannot please them , then you shall make the infusion as followeth ; in this case you shall not put your sene and anniseeds in infusion upon hot cinders , but in another place from the fire , the space of three houres , then straine and squeeze it as before and mixe it with the other broath , putting to it the juyce of a lymon and there shall be no ill taste at all . this said infusion or broath of sene thus prepared , discha●geth the belly , dissolveth and emollifieth the excrements of the belly , which are hard and maketh them passe away without any paine or griefe to the hemerods ( which is a good secret . ) but if it happen that the party being long time bound , this broath doth not discharge the belly : ( which hapneth but seldome ) you must reiterete it at night about foure or five a clocke , or the next morning . also if the party refuse to take the broath of sene , hee may in stead thereof take one good glasse full of laxative ptisan of which i have written hereafter ) taking two houres after some thin warme broath . for the poore which are solid and hard bound . those poore people which have not the commodity to take clysters nor broaths made with sene as is before written , let them use this remedy following . take two pennyworth of sene , that is two or three drammes with a little anniseeds , which they may have at the apothecaries or drouguists , which they shall infuse in a porringer with nine or tenne spoonefulls of water upon hot cinders the space of an houre or two , then straine and squeeze it through a linnen cloath , and put it into three or foure times as much broath or pottage , and take it as aforesaid . the manner to make iniections . injections are made for divers diseases , as vlcers wounds in divers parts of the body , as also for the diseases of the yard and matrix which are used with syringes proper for the same , in the which are put waters , decoctions , oyles or other liquors according to the advice of the physitian to be administred to the sioke . the which injections in composing , there is great difference for the remedies of divers diseases which the physitian ought to appoint according to the discase . but i shall write of some few to content the curiosity of some persons . an iniection for the gonorrhea . you shall make an iniection for the beginning with cleare milke or with barly water warme , and afterwards you shall mixe with it syrup of dryed roses , that is to say to foure ounces of liquor , you you shall mixe an ounce and a halfe or two ounces syrup . or if there be at the beginning any inflammation you shall make an injection in summer with a decoction of french barly , plantaine , betony , and water lillies ; and in winter with their waters , also against the paine of the said part , you shall make an injection with new milk from the cow. to make pessaries . a pessiry is bigger then a suppositorie , and is very proper for the matrix , the which are made of cotton silke or linnen cloath , in the which there are put medicaments ; being wrapped in taffata silke or linnen cloath and well tyed ; then being infus'd in wine , water , juyce , or other liquor convenient , is put into the neck of the matrix . they are made also with hearbs , flowers , seeds , &c. bruised in a morter and wrapped in a cloath fast tyed , which hath a great vertue . that you must tye a little ribban at the end of the said pessarie to tie round the thigh for feare it goeth into the matrix . a pessary to provoke the monethly courses . take the leaves of 2 or 3 handfulls of the hearb mercury , bruise them in a morter with a pestle , then wrap it in a cloath , and bind it fast , and make a pessary the which you shall infuse a little in the juyce of the said hearb being warme and use it . a pessary to stay the monethly courses . take the leaves of these hearbs following , that is centorie mirth , plantain , cinquefoyle or five leaved grasse , of each halfe a handfull ; after you have washt them and made them cleane beate them together in a morter , and make pessaries as aforesaid , which you shall soake in warme juyce of plantaine . to make ptisan simplex to drinke ordinarily . take a handfull of french barly prepared , that is to say , washed and cleansed ; a dramme of anniseeds , boyle them in a pottle of river water or other good water in a pipkin or other vessell being very cleane , being pretty well boyled you shall put into it halfe an ounce of good liquorish well scraped and sliced , then you shall scum it , and when there riseth no more scumme , take it from the fire , and let it coole , and drinke it ordinarily . th●e are certaine persons which love the taste of licorish , and others that love it not , therefore you may augment or diminish the said licorish ; or in the place of the licorish , you may put rasped harts-horn or ivory , or other medicaments according to the advice of the physitian . to make barly water . take a handfull of french barly prepared as aforesaid , and boyle it in a pint of faire water untill a quarter be consumed , then straine it through a white cloath and use it . if it be to drinke you may boyle with it a few anniseeds or a little cinnamon . the manner to take bezoar stone , and what it is worth a graine . forasmuch as we treat of ptisans simple , wee may also shew the manner to take the bezoar stone . take foure , sixe , eight , or tenne graines , or more of good bezoar in powder , the which put in a spoone and powre upon it a little ptisan or juyce of lymons and mixe it together and so take it . also i give you to know , that the best bezoar will cost but two pence the graine ; and i councell those that hold the vulgar opinion , that it is good against small pocks , measells , feavers , purples , and many other diseases to buy it at the druguists , two drams or halfe anounce you may have a dram for seven shillings , & it will serve for your family and to give to the poor seeing it costes so little . the manner to make hydromell simplex . take a pottle of river water , or other good water sixe ounces of good honey , put them into a pipki● or other cleane vessell , and boyle them , and scum i● alwayes untill there riseth no more scum , then take it from the fire , and let it coole , and take a quarter of a pint at a time . to make compounded hydromell . first , boyle the medicaments appointed by the physitian , then straine them , and boyle with them as much honey as shall be needfull . to make laxative ptisan . take an ounce of good licorish prepared , boyle it in a quart of water and scum it very cleane , and when there riseth no more scum , take it from the fire and infuse in it all night halfe an ounce of good sene , and a dramme of fenill seeds inclosed and tyed in a linnen cloath ; the morning following you shall straine it and drinke a good glasse full , taking two houres after a potringer of cleare thin broath . if you will have the ptisan stronger , instead of a quart of water put a pint . another laxative ptisan . take a handfull of french barly prepared , rasped harts horne and ivory of each a pugill , tie the said rasping in a linnen cloath , put them in a pint and a halle of good water and boyle them , and in the end put to them an ounce of good licorish prepared , then being well scummed put to infuse the sene and fenill seeds as aforesaid . in summer you shall take a quantity of river water and put it into a pot or boule with halfe an ounce of prepared liquorish , and two drammes of good sene , and a dramme of fenill seeds , then poure it out of one pot or boule into another many times , and then let it settle and so use it . if you would take this in a morning , it were better to let it infuse all night and the said ptisan would be better . you may also inclose a dramme of rubarbe cut in small slices with a little cinnamon , or as much of agaricke with a little ginger to infuse with it , but let it be with the counsell of your physitian . a laxative ptisan , with sene , rubarbe , and agaricke . take three quarters of a pint of good water , in the which boyle and scum as is aforesaid an ounce of licorish , then take it from the fire and infuse in it all night a little bag with halfe an ounce of sene and anniseeds , in the which inclose also the weight of a dramme and a halfe of rubarbe with a little cinnamon , and as much agaricke with a little ginger bruised , the morning following straine it and presse it through a linnen cloath , and this shall be for twice taking . another laxative ptisan with cassia and sene. take an ounce of licorish prepared , the which being boyled in a pint and a halfe of water and well scummed untill there riseth no more scum , then you shall put into it the cassia with the seeds , being drawne out of two ounces of cassia in the cane , then take it from the fire , and infuse in it all night the bag with halfe an ounce of sene and fenill seeds , the morrow morning straine it and take a good glasse full at a time . that it was spoken of before concerning this , who could not take neither clysters nor suppositories , and if their bodies be very solid , and that they take a good glasse of this ptisan and it doth not cause them to goe to stoole , ( which hapneth but seldome ) they may take another glasse at night about foure or five a clocke , and another the next morning , taking two houres after some thin warme broath . also with the advice of a physitian one might take this ptisan three dayes together morning and evening , take two houres after some warme broath . the excellency of these ptisans . moreover i certifie you that these ptisans are of most excellent vertue , as well for the rich as for the poore , for they cost but little as you see , and they are of great effect serving for purging medicines and for clysters , being easie to take because of the licorish which taketh away the ill taste of the medicaments , without hindring their operation ; therefore you ought to pray for those that invented them , and for those that gives you the knowledge of making them in your owne house with ease , and yet you ought not to make them without the advice of a physitian . to make water of cassia . take halfe a quartern of cassia in the cane , the which you shall open and put it with the seeds into a pipkin with a pint of faire water , and put to it a dramme and a halfe of cinnamon bruised , boyle them a little , then straine them , and let it coole , and take a good glasse full at a time ; you may also boyle with the said cassia and ounce of tamarinds , and a dram or two of rubarbe cut in small pieces . one might easily by this methode make the decoctions of guaicum sursaparillae , and others for those diseases which ought not to be divulged in the curing ; the which for the honour and health of the diseased needeth not so many testifyings , the physitian & chyrurgion are onely those necessaries keeping silence in their mouths : the difference of these things are only for the preparation of the medicaments , and the time they ought to be in infusion and in boyling , which is a small matter and little paine and easily prepared : to make water of rubarbe . take halfe a pint of water , put it into a pipkin or some other cleane vessell , and put into it a dram of rubarbe cut into small pieces with a little cinnamon bruised , boyle them two or three walmes and straine them and use it . you may also boyle in the said water the roots of china and licorish raspd harts horne and ivory , and being a little boyled take them from the fire , and put into it the rubarbe and cinnamon to infuse . also if you will , after the said ingredients are boyled and strained , you may put in the rubarbe and cinnamon to infuse , and take it not out untill the water be very faire and well coloured . to make the said water of rubarbe more purging , you may put into the cloath with the rubarbe a dram or two of good sene. to make a decoction of sene purgative . take halfe an ounce of good sene , a dramme of anniseeds , infuse them all night in a quarter of a pint of water in a porringer neere the fire , and in the morning straine it through a cloath and put into it the juyce of a lymon , and then put it into as much more pottage or broath , and take it fasting . there are those that infuses their sene in verjuyce , but it is better to infuse it in juyce of lymons , for the verjuyce is astringent and hinders the working of the physicke , but the juyce of lymons is laxative . a purging decoction of sene for the poore . the poore which hath not the commodity to prepare it of this fashion , shall take halfe an ounce of sene and a dramme of fenill seed , and infuse it all night in a little hot water or ptisan , and in the morning straine it , and with some pottage drink it . the manner to make and prepare laxative and purging medicines of divers fashions , and with little trouble . take halfe an ounce of good sene , a dramme of fenill seeds , put them into a porringer and poure upon them a quarter of a pint of water , and let them infuse all night neere the fire , and in the morning straine and presse them , and when it is strained mixe with it an ounce of syrup of damask roses , and take it luke-warme fasting in the morning , and two houres after take a porringer of warme broath , and keep your chamber all that day . another laxative medicine . take halfe an ounce of sene with the fenill seeds , being infused all night , then straine it and mixe with it an ounce and a halfe of syrup of damask roses ; you may also infuse the sene and anniseeds in ptisan ordinary . another medicine laxative compounded with syrup of roses , sene , rubarbe and agaricke . take halfe an ounce of sene , a dramme of fenill seeds , infuse them and boyle them a little in a quarter of a pint of ptisan or barly water , then straine it and presse it hard , in the which being strained , you shall infuse in it two drammes of agaricke rasped with a little ginger , and a dramme and a halfe of rubarbe cut in small pieces , and in the morning boyle it a little , and straine it , and in the decoction which is strained , dissolve an ounce of good syrup of damaske roses , the which you shall take in the morning , and two houres after take a porringer of warme broath and keep the house all day . a laxative medicine made with a decoction of roots , hearbs , sene , cassia , rubarb , and syrup of damask roses . take two or three roots of wilde succory , scrape them and take out the pith , take also three or foure roots of fenill and parsley and prepare them in the said fashion , three drammes of licorish prepared . take also agrimony , betony , scolopendry , buglosse , burrage , and purslaine , and lettice , of each halfe a handfull . you may put away the seeds and flowers , and wash them all very well , then boyle them very well in a pipkin or earthen pot in sufficient quantity of water , boyling first the roots , then put in the hearbs , and then the flowers and seeds with the licorish , then take a sufficient quantity of this decoction strained to make this medicine following . take halfe an ounce of good sene and a dramme of anniseeds pu● them into a porringer and put with it the cassia which is taken out of halfe a quartern of the cane , a dramme and a halfe of rubarbe cut in small pieces , then poure a quantity of the decoction seething hot upon them , and cover the porringer , and let it stand all night in the chimney corner , in the morning you shall boyle them a little upon a chaffing dish of coales , and then straine it through a white linnen cloath , and in that which is strained mixe an ounce of syrup of damask roses , and so take it in the morning fasting keeping your chamber as is aforesaid . an easier manner to make the said medicine . take the said sene and fenill seeds , boyle them in the said decoction , or infuse them in the decoction three or foure houres in some warme place ; then straine and squeeze it , and then put in the rubarbe and cassia and let them infuse all night , and then straine it and mixe with it the syrup of damaske roses . you may keepe these medicaments to boyle in a decoction for a clyster , and then straine it , and mixe with it red sugar , honey , butter , or other things proper for the same which is very good . this medicine above written is better then if there were diacatholicon double , or syrup of succorie with rubarbe . that if you cannot get the roots and hearbs before mentioned , you may take barly water or ordinary ptisan . another laxative medicine . take a dramme of anniseeds , and halfe an ounce of sene , boyle them in a quantity of ptisan , then straine it and mixe with it halfe an ounce of diacatholicon doubled with rubarbe , a dramme and a halfe of diaphaeni●um , and an ounce of syrup of damask roses , and take it as is before written . a medicine for those which are strong bodies and rusticke . take halfe an ounce of sene , a dramme of fenill seeds , infuse them all night in a quantity of ptisan or barly water , then straine it and mixe with it three drammes or halfe an ounce of electuarium diacarthum ; with an ounce of syrup of roses . a laxative medicine for those that are soluble . take halfe an ounce of sene and a dramme of fenill seeds , infuse them a in sufficient quantity of water , then straine it and infuse in that which is strained all night a dramme of rubarbe cut in small pieces , then straine it and mixe with it two ounces of fine sugar to make it pleasing , and take it . a laxative medicine for little children at nurse . take halfe an ounce of syrup of succory with rubarb , and let it take it with twice as much ptisan . also you may infuse all night a dramme of sene in a little ptisan , and sugar it a little , and so let him take it . otherwise you may infuse all night in a little ptisan or water sugred , then straine it in the morning and let them take it as aforesaid . to make a bolus of cassia . take sixe ounces of cassia in the cane , draw it , and extract it with the decoction of fenill seeds as followeth . take halfe an ounce of fenill seeds , boyle them a little and poure them into a porringer ; then lay a searce over the porringer , and so pulpe your cassia , through which being done you may take out with a spoone , and then you may wrap them up in bits with sugar , and so put them in wafers soaked in water or wine , and some two houres after take some warme broath or the decoction of sene , which followeth . the night before you take the bolus , put in infusion halfe an ounce of sene , and a dramme of fenill seeds in sufficient quantity of water and juyce of lymons . the morrow morning two houres after you have taken your bolus , you shall straine this decoction and mixe with your broath , and so take it keeping your chamber all day . also you may mixe with the extracted cassia a dram of good rubarbe in powder . that when one mundifieth the cassia upon the breath of the decoction of anniseeds or fenill seeds , it hinders the fuming of the cassia into the head which many times causeth sicknesse . a bolus of cassia to purge the reines , and refreshing . extract as much cassia as is aforesaid , mixing with it a dramme of powder of licorish , and then take it in bits in a spoone , and two houres after take some warme broath in the which you shall put the juyce of a lymon . a bolus of cassia with turpentine for the gonorrhaea . take as much cassia extracted as is aforesaid , and mixe with it with a knife or spatule of wood two drammes of venice turpentine not washt , and wrap it up into bits , and so put it into wafers and swallow it downe , and take some broath as is aforesaid . another bolus of cassiae . take an ounce of extracted cassia , which being extracted mixe with it two drammes of diaprunes , and make it into bits and take it as is aforesaid . another bolus for children at nurse . take three drammes of extracted cassia newly extracted , and dissolve it in a little broath and then let them swallow it . a bolus for the poore . take an ounce and a halfe of electuar : lenetiv : and swallow it two houres before you take broath . another . take an ounce of catholicon doubled with rubarbe , two drammes of di● prun : laxat● mixe them together and take them as afore mentioned . another bolus for the poore . take an ounce of electuar : lenetiv : two drams of dia pran : laxat : or as much of dia phenic : mixe them together with the point of a knife , and then swallow it down two houres before you take broath . to make vomits . that the best time to take vomits is when the stomack is full ; that is two say after you have eaten , for that will cause you to vomit with more case , and to void the excrements from the bottome of the stomacke . a common vomit . take twelve spoonfulls of warme water , and three or foure spoonefulls of oyle of olives , or two ounces of fresh butter melted , drinke them , and now and then , put your finger in your mouth that the vomit shall not stay to long upon the stomack . another vomit . take three or foure radishes , wash them and bruise them ; halfe an ounce of mallow seeds being bruised also , boyle them in a porringer or two of water untill three quarters be consumed , then straine it , and mixe with it a little oyle or fresh butter , and so take it . a vomit which is stronger . take seven or eight greene leaves of cabaret , beate them , and juyce them , and mixe with the juyce two or three times as much white wine , and drinke it warme . to make chewings or masticatories . the ordinariest and easiest of all is to take onely masticke and chew it in your mouth , and you shall feele the rheume fall from your head into your mouth , which you must spit out and use this fasting . another . incorporate the said masticks with a little waxe melted , and never so little oyle with a little powder of pepper , pellitorie , and stafes-acre , and make pills , the which take one fasting as is aforesaid to draw better the humidities from the head . another . take pepper and pellitory of each a dramme and a halfe , put them in powder , and mixe them with honey , and cut them in pieces about the bignesse of a beane , and let them dry in the shade , and then use them as above . to make gargarismes . take ordinary ptisan as before written , wash and gargarize the mouth and throat luke-warme , and if you will you may mixe with it an ounce of honey . another gargarisme . take a quantity of barly water and mixe with it three or foure spoonefulls of vineger and use it . another . take a handfull of barly well pickt and washt : agrimony , plaintaine , dry roses , wash the hearbs and cleanse them , then boyle them in a pint and a halfe of water ; first boyle the barly a little , and then the hearbs untill halfe be consumed , then dissolve in it two or three spoonfulls of honey , and as much of syrup of mulberries , and use it . a gargarisme to mollifie the heart and mouth . take thirty sweet almonds , peele them , and beate them in a morter , pouring upon them by little and little as you beate them a quarter of a pint of warme water , then presse them through a cloath , and put that which is pressed into a porringer , and let it infuse all night in the chimney corner , and then use it if you will have it more agreeable , you may dissolve some sugar in it . an anodine gargarisme for the poore . gargarize your mouth and throat very well with milk hot from the cow. a gargarisme astringent and repereussive . take a handfull of french barly , plaintaine , pencroyall , and bramble tops , of each a handfull , boyle them in a sufficient quantity of water , untill it commeth to halfe a pint , straine it and mixe with it two or three ounces of surup of mulberries and use it . to make and prepare emulcions . an emulcion for to refresh the reines , and for the sharpnesse of vrine . take two ounces of sweet almonds , peele them and put them into a marble morter , and beate them with a wooden pestle , pouring by a little and a little upon them some warme barly water , then put to them two drammes of each of the foure greater cold seeds , beate them all very well , powring still upon them a little warme barly water untill it come to a pint , then straine and presse it very hard through a linnen cloath , and in that which is strained dissolve two or three ounces of fine sugar , and two ounces of juyce of lymons , and take it at three times two houres after you have eaten ; and if the paine of the reines continue , you shall beate with the almonds two drams of white popie seeds , or a dram of lettice seeds , and as much of poppies . that when you make your emulcion , you must beat your seeds very well with a little warme barly water , before you put in your almonds . an easier way to make an emulcion which is ordinary . take halfe an ounce of gourd seeds , and as many of cowcumber seeds , put them into a marble morter , ( being very well picked ) and beate them very well with a wooden pestle , pouring by little and little some warme barly water , then beate two ounces of sweet almonds peeled , powring more water as is aforesaid ; beating of them very well , and straine and presse them very hard , that there may be strained the quantity of a pint strained . to make almond milke . take two ounces of sweet almonds , peele them and beat them in a marble morter as is aforesaid , powring now and then upon them a little and a little warme water , untill there bee a about halfe a pint , then straine and presse it very hard through a cleane white cloath ; then take that which is strained and put it into a little pipkin , and boyle it upon a fier without smoake , that it be neither to thick nor to thin , then dissolve in it two ounces of fine sugar , and a graine or two of salt for to give it a taste , and take it at night at the houre of sleepe about nine or ten a clock . there are those that put ptisan and barly water in the place of common water , but it maketh the almonds more rough , so that it will not be pleasing to some delicates . there are those also that doe beate with the almonds the crumme of a new white loase to make it more white and nourishing , which you may doe if you please . also in great heat of the reines we use to put and beate with the almonds a dramme of white poppie seeds , but you must beate them well before you put in your almonds . to make a hordest or mundified barly . take two ounces of french barly , boyle it upon a cleare fire in three quarters of a pint of water three or foure houres , untill that there bee but a porringer of liquor left , then straine it without pressing the barly ; then peele and beate in the morter two ounces of sweet almonds , pouring this liquor upon them as aforesaid , then straine and presse them very hard , and boyle it a little , and dissolve in it two ounces of fine sugar , and take it when you goe to bed . there are those also that beats their barly in the morter with the almonds , and presse it hard , which you may doe if you please . to make tablets or lozinges of sugar of roses . take halfe a pound of fine white sugar , and foure ounces of good damask rose water , put them together into a skillet and boyle it very well upon a soft cleare fire , untill it come to the consistance ; which you shall know by taking a little upon the end of the spatule , and let it fall downe into the skillet againe , and there will be a long thred ; or put a little upon the handle of the skillet and it will grow hard : secondly , take a trencher and put a little upon it , and when it is cold , if it bee hard it is enough : thirdly , drop three or foure drops upon the ground , and if you can take it up that it stick not to the ground it is enough , then poure it all upon a marble stone or upon a table well rubd , strowing upon the table or stone a little starch in powder through a bolter or linnen cloath , and so forme your lozinges to make them red , you may stirre very well in it two drammes of red rose leaves in powder . to make a frontall or binding for the paines of the head , caused of cold . take leaves of sage , rosemary , betony , and balme , of each halfe a handfull , boyle them very well in white wine , or halfe wine and halfe water , then beate them in a morter , and put them betwixt two linnen cloaths , and bind them hot upon the temples . a frontall or binding to cause rest . take betony , red roses , white lillies , and violets , of each a pugill ; white poppie , and lettice seeds of each two drams , beate them all in a morter to powder ; beginning with the poppie and lettice seeds , and then with the hearbs and flowers , and this powder you may incorporate with oxirrhodin ; and apply it hot betwixt two cloaths as is aforesaid , you may also incorporate them with oyntment of roses . another refreshing to cause rest . take a handfull of new dry roses , or of those of rose cakes if they be not burnt , beate them very well in a morter , and incorporate them with oxicrat : warme that it may bee something thin , then bind it betweene two cloaths warme upon the forehead and temples as before ; if there be any new fresh lettices or purslaine , you may beate halfe a handfull with them . another . take a piece of rose cake which is not burnt , and cut it with a paire of scissers just the length and breadth of the forehead , then soake it in a platter upon the fire with oxicrat : and bind it hot as is aforesaid . another . annoint the forehead and temples with oyntment of populeon ; being well anointed take a cloath and dip it three or foure times in oxicrat : hot , and then squeeze and bind it upon the temples ; the oxicrat : is made as followeth . to make oxicrat . oxicrat is composed of vineger and water , but because the vineger hath not alwayes the same property , for sometimes it is weake , and sometimes to strong , it is hard to write of the quantity , but you may take upon sixe parts of water , one of vineger , but the ordinary use is to take as much vineger as water which is best . to make oxirrhodinum . take foure spoonfulls of good oyle of roses , two spoonfulls of good rose water , and a spoonfull of vineger , mixe them well together , and your oxirrhod is done , which when you goe to use , warme it well in a porringer , and rub the party with it , tying upon it a dry cloath , or soake in the said oxirrhod or oxicrat . another . take three ounces of oyle of roses , and an ounce of vineger , mixe them together , and use them as before written . to make hydreleum . the said hydreleum is made , mixing sixe parts of water and one of oyle together . to make epithemes . an epitheme refreshing the parts which are temper'd with heat . take halfe a pint of oxicrat before written , put it in a basen and set it upon a chasing dish of coales , being hot dip a linnen cloath into three or foure times , and squeeze it , and clap it hot upon the place affected , and lay another dry cloath upon it , and when that begins to be cold , be ready with another , and so do halfe a dozen times . this epitheme is of great virtue , and better then those which are made with distilled water or powders , for they are hot of themselves . a corroborant and refreshing epitheme , for hot bellies in lingring feavers . take suckory , sage , and their roots ; agrimony , purslaine , plantaine , and endive , of each a handfull ; red rose leaves halfe an handfull , boyle them all very well according to order in a pint and a halfe of water , being first washed and made cleane , boyle them to three quarters of a pint of water , then straine it and mixe with it sixe or seven spoonfulls of vineger of roses or common vineger , applying it hot with cloaths upon all the belly as is aforesaid . an epitheme to lay upon the region of the heart in malignant and pestilent feavers . take a citron or lymon peele , cut it in small pieces , and infuse it an houre or two in a quarter of a pint of good rose water , then straine it and mixe with it the juyce of a citron or lymon and it is done ; which you shall apply three or foure times a day with linnen cloaths as is aforesaid ; if you mixe with the said epitheme a dramme or two of venice treacle it will be very excellent . another for the same . take two handfulls of medowsweet , and as much of scabios and divells bit ; seeds of citron , carduus , benedict , and alkekeng , of each halfe an ounce , wash and cleanse the hearbs , and boyle them in a pint and a halfe of water , and a little after put in the seeds being bruised , then boyle them to halfe a pint , being strained dissolve in it the juyce of a lymon , and two or three spoonefulls of vineger of roses , and the said treacle , the which you shall use as before . an epitheme against the coldnesse of the heart . take a quarter of a pint of strong wine , that is to say claret or white wine , warme it very well upon the fire and use it with linnen cloaths as before . you may also instead of wine use good aqua-vitae with the councell of a physitian . to make sternatutories or sneesing powder . take a little white hellibor or euphorbium in in powder , snuffe it up into your nostrills out of a piece of a pen or quill . to make fumes and perfumes . an excellent perfume to cast a sent in a chamber and against the ill aire . take seven or eight spoonefulls of good rose water , tenne or twelve cloves bruised , foure or five little pieces of lymon or orange peele , put them all together upon a chafing dish of coales in a porringer , and put them in the middle of the chamber , or in any other place , and the vapour will rise and give a good sent and throwe out the evill aire . another perfume . take seven or eight spoonefulls of vineger , foure or five bits of lymon or orange peele , fourteene or fifteen cloves bruised , put them together in a platter upon a chasing-dish of coales as before . this last perfume is not so odoriferous as the former , but it is very good . that you must not boyle the said medicament , but put them upon so much fire as will raise the vapour . there are made divers perfumes for divers diseases , with roots , hearbs , seeds , &c. the which the physitian will shew you . to make fomentations and baggs . a fomentation against the pleurisie . take mallowes , marsh mallowes , pellitory , sage , isope , march , violets , cammomill and mellilote flowers , of each a handfull ; cleanse the said hearbs and wash them , and boyle them in sufficient quantity of water , and towards the latter end poure a quarter of a pint of white wine , then presse and straine them all , putting the decoction into a pipkin , and put into it to soake a sponge or double linnen cloath , with the which you foment and bath the party affected ; then when it begins to bee cold squeeze and doe as before . bags or cataplasmes for the same . take the said hearbs and flowers , cut them very small , and put to them an ounce of linseeds , and as much faenugrecke bruised , then put them in an old cloath white and cleane , the length and breadth as shall require , then few it with thred , and boyle it in milke or water , and when the party is well bathed with the former decoction , apply one of these baggs very hot , and squeeze them upon the griefe , and when that begins to be cold , put one the other . a fomentation resolative and emollient . take mallowes , marsh mallowes with their roots , of each a handfull , sage , hysope , of each two handfulls , camomill and mellilote flowers of each halfe a handfull , linseeds , anniseeds , fenill seeds , and faenugrecke , of each halfe an ounce bruised ; prepare them as is written before , and boyle them insufficient quantity of water to a pint , straine it and put halfe of it in a hoggs bladder , and tye it one the top , and apply it one the griefe , and when it begins to be cold , lay the other halfe being in a bladder upon the same place , putting the other into a vessell to bee hot against that which is on cooles . and if you have no bladders , then bathe it with sponges or double linnen cloaths , and if you will make bags of the ingredients , put them between two cloaths as before . an anodine fomentation . take a pint of new milke , and foment with it as before mentioned . baggs for the poore . take three or foure handfulls of bran , fry it in a frying pan , putting to it a little wine that it bee not to dry ; then put it betwixt two cloaths , and apply them one after another as before . baggs for the griefe of the stomacke . take two handfulls of wormewood , cut it in little bits ; as much rose leaves , and put them betwixt two cloaths , and boyle them in wine , water , or oxicrate , and apply them one after another as before : you may also put to them a little isope . a cataplasme for apostumes and tumours . take three or foure lillie roots , wrappe them in a colewort leafe , and rost them upon the hot cinders , then take them and beate them in a morter , and put to them a piece of fresh butter . take a part of this cataplasme hot , and spread it upon a linnen cloath , and apply it upon the tumours if it be either pestilentiall or common . this cataplasme is of little price , but it is an excellent thing against all sorts of pestilentiall and other apostumes , changing it twice a day . if in malignant tumours you will mixe with it a dramme or two of venice treacle , you will make it very good . an emollient and remolitive cataplasme . take mallowes , marsh mallowes , with their roots , pellitory , violets , camomill , and mellilote flowers , of each a handfull ; one lillie root , ●aenugrecke , and linseeds of each an ounce ; wash and prepare them , and boyle them according to order in three pints of water , untill it be almost boyld all away , then straine it through a sieve , and pulpe the ingredients through as you do your cassia , the which being pulpe you shall dissolve in it a piece of fresh butter or a little oyle or suet ; if you please you may put to it some beane meale or bran , and then put in your su●t or oyle . a cataplasme for gangrenes and pestilent boyles . take fresh butter or oyle of olives an ounce , as much good honey , and the yolke of an egge , and a little beane flower , first melt your butter , or heate your oyle , then mixe in it the yolke of a egge and the honey , and afterwards the flower , and your cataplasme is ready to use . to make linements . take an ounce of fresh butter , cinnamon , or nutmeg , in powder a dramme , melt the butter and mixe in it the powder , and the linement is done . another . take two ounces of oyle of roses , and a dramme of cinnamon , and as much of cloves in powder and prepare them as before . if you will make these linements into oyntments , you must dissolve in the said oyle or butter a piece of yellow waxe . an excellent oyntment for a burne , made by a charitable gentlewoman in france . take a penniworth of yellow waxe , and a penny-worth of oyle of olives , cut the waxe very small , and melt it with the oyle , then take it from the fire , and mixe with it two yolks of eggs , and beate it together untill it commeth to an oyntment . to use it , you must take a little of the said oyntment , and spread it upon a linnen cloath as thin as can be , then lay it upon the place being burnt , and in little time it will heale any burne , changing of it twice a day . the said gentlewoman had alwayes of it ready by her , and gave it to all that came to demand it of her . to make a refreshing cerat , and of a good odour . take an ounce of white virgins waxe , and foure ounces of oyle of olives , cut the waxe in small peices and melt it with the oyle , then let it stand till it be cold , then beate and wash it fifteene or sixteene times with faire water , untill the oyntment commeth as white as snow , then after that wash it three or foure times with rose water to give it a good smell , and put it into an earthen pot or other vessell convenient with rose water , that it may be more refreshing and more sweet . to make colyrium or eye-waters . a colyrium against gravell or any filth in the eyes : take three spoonfulls of white wine , and as much water ; the weight of a crowne of aloes hepatic : in powder , mixe them together and make a colyrium , and with some soft linnen cloaths wash and bathe the eyes , and soake the cloathes in the said liquor , and lay upon the eyes . a colyrium for the paine of the eyes . take the quantity of a little beane of white vitreol or copperas in powder , put it into a saucer with three or foure spoonefulls of faire water ; the copperas being melted you shall use it as followeth : take of this water with the end of your finger , and drop three or foure drops into your eye , stirring your eye , that it may runne about your eye , this do two or three times a day . a refrigeretive colyrium for the beginning of a fluxion or blacknesse . take plantaine , and rose water , of each three or foure spoonfulls , the white of a new laid egge , beate and malaxe them together in a dish , and it is done ; in the which being warme soake linnen raggs and bind about the forehead and the eye round , the same side you may also use plantaine water alone , or rose water , or both together . to make vesicatories . take a dramme of the flies called cancharides beate them in a morter to powder and mixe with it the double quantity of vnguent : basilicon : and use it ; take a little of the said confection and spread it upon a linnen cloath or taffetie and so apply it . another . take halfe a dramme of the said flies in powder , and beate with it three drams of good leven and put to it a spoonfull or two of good vineger , and use it as before . another . take a dramme of good mustard , and halfe a dram of the said flies in powder , beate them together in a morter with halfe an ounce of leaven and a spoonfull of vineger , and use it as before . be sure that after you have made these things in in the morter , that you wash the morter and pestle with hot water . an excellent preservative against the plague . take a good citron or lymon weighing foure ounces , cut it in small slices round , then put it into a skillet or other cleane vessell , with halfe a pint of medow-sweet water , or cardus , or scabios water , boyle it untill all the water be almost consumed , stirring of it still with a spoone for feare of burning ; then take it and beate it very well in a marble morter with a wodden pestle , beating and adding unto it foure ounces of conserves of red roses , & two drams of good venice treacle , and as much of confection of hyacinth : all being well mixed together , put them into a galley-pot , and take every morning the quantity of a dramme upon the point of a knife , fasting two houres after : and let children take the quantity of halfe a dramme ; as soone as you have swallowed it , drinke a good glasse of oxicrat , or three parts of water and one of wine : and when you feare you have caught some evill infection , dissolve twenty graines of the said treacle in oxicrat , or in wine and water , and keep your selfe warme . washings for the leggs and feete to provoke sleepe . take tenne or twelve lettices , five or sixe handfulls of vine leaves , five or sixe poppie heads ; being broken and cut , boyle them all together in a sufficient quantity of water ; being boyled take it from the fire and poure them into a large vessell , where let the party wash and bathe his leggs and feete the space of halfe an houre , beginning above , and so bathing downwards with the said ingredients , then let there be warme linnen cloaths bound about the parties legs and feet and so put in bed . of bathes . every one knoweth now adayes to make and prepare bathes , and halfe bathes of hot water ; therfore i will not speake of this much , but only this ; many times according to divers diseases the physitians prescribe many sorts of bathes , made with roots , seeds , hearbs , &c. which being well boyled are poured into a large vessell for the party to bathe with . touching the hot-houses or dry baths , any physitian will direct you to them . a treatise or catalogue of those instruments which the rich ought to have in their houses . first two syringes or bladders fitted with pipes to give clysters , the one for great folks , and the other for children : a little brasse pot to keepe a clyster in , and to warme it in . another bladder and boxe pipe to lend charitably to the poore . two sieves , one very fine to straine medicines , and the other to straine decoctions . but in stead of the said sieves you may use white linnen cloaths fitting . two pulping sieves , the one to pulp cassia , prunes , tamarinds , &c. and the other to pulpt roots , hearbs , &c. for cataplasmes . a set of weights of sixteene ounces in the pound , and a paire of scales to weigh the medicaments . two spatuls of iron , one bigger then another . one woodden spatule . a marble morter with a pestle of wood . a brasse morter with an iron pestle or a pestle of the same . a lesser morter with a pestle as before . pots , pipkins , skillets , basons , &c. to make ptisans , decoctions , &c. a catalogue of those medicaments which the rich ought to have in their houses . a pound of good sene of levant . foure ounces of good rubarbe . foure ounces of good agaricke . two pound of good cassia . halfe a pound of good tamarinds . a pound of electuar : lenetiv : a pound of good catholicon . foure ounces of diaphaenicum : foure ounces of benedict : laxat : foure ounces of hiera diacolocynthid . foure ounces of diaprun : laxat : halfe a pound of lozinges of diacarthami : a quantity of pills of three or foure sorts . foure pound of good common honey . a pound of honey of roses . a pound of honey of violets . a pound of honey of mercury . two pound of red sugar . three or foure pound of fine sugar . halfe a pound of syrup of poppies . a pound of syrup of violets . a pot of syrup of maidenhaire . halfe a pound of syrup of quinces . halfe a pound of syrup of mulberries . a pound of syrup of damask roses . halfe a pound of syrup of succory with rubarbe . a pecke of french barly . foure ounces of anniseeds . foure ounces of fenill seeds . a pound of linseeds . a pound of faenugrecke . foure ounces of each of the greater cold seeds . foure ounces of lettice seeds . foure ounces of white poppie seeds . foure ounces of cardus seeds . an ounce of common pepper . nutmegs and cloves of each an ounce . foure ounces of cinnamon . a pound of sweet almonds . an ounce of pellitorie . foure ounces of azarum root . foure ounces of masticke . halfe an ounce of vitriole or copperas . foure ounces of sal gem . three or foure pound of good licorish . halfe a pound of red rose leaves and as many violets . cammomill and mellilote flowers of each a sufficient quantity . foure ounces of raspt harts-horne . a pint of rose water : a pint of plantaine water : a pint of carduus water . a pint of vineger of roses . two ounces of confect : hyacinth . two or three ounces of good treacle . an ounce of confection alkermes . a dramme of good bezoar . foure ounces of yellow waxe . foure ounces of white waxe . three ounces of unquen : populeon . three ounces of unguen : rosat . foure ounces of venice turpentine . two pound of oyle of olives . a pound of oyle of roses . a pound of oyle of violets . a pound of oyle of quinces . oyle of cammomill , lillies , rue and walnuts of each a pound . a charitable and notable advertisement to the publike . it is necessary for all sorts of people to keepe by them a syringe or bladder , and pipe to give clysters , and to make or cause to bee made the said clysters in their houses ; for what disease soever hapneth or ariveth there , is nothing so proper at the first as a clyster ; but if your servant or any other unto you belonging , should give a clyster to any one sicke of the plague , poxe , measells , purples , dissentery , small poxe , vlcers , sores , boyles , or any other pestiferous disease ; or should lend it to any that should doe the like , and come and give you a clyster with the same pipe without washing and cleansing any of the said dicases , would be upon you in lesse then an houre after , and to all your family ; therefore see the pipe well warmed , washed and cleansed , before you take the said clyster , and lend your pipe to none but to those that you know very well . the price and valve of medicaments as well simple as compounded which are used in physicke by philbert guibert esquire doctor regent in the faculty of physick in paris in france . the price of medicaments simple as they are sold at the druguists .   l. s. d. a cassia the pound 0 4 2 a corus the pound 0 10 0 agaricke the pound 0 18 0 aloes the pound 0 12 0 roche allum the pound 0 3 0 bitter almonds the pound 0 1 0 sweet almonds the pound 0 0 6 amber-greece the dramme 0 10 0 yellow amber the pound 0 2 6 angelica the pound 0 6 8 anniseeds the pound 0 0 10 quick-silver the pound 0 4 0 aristolochia round the pound 0 1 0 aristolochia long the pound 0 1 0 asarum the pound 0 2 6 assa faetida the pound 0 4 0   bayberries the pound 0 0 6 mirtle berries the pound 0 1 0 bdellium the pound 0 6 0 been allum the pound 0 1 8 been rubr : the pound 0 1 6 benjamin the pound 0 6 0 berberis the pound 0 0 8 bezoar the ounce 2 10 0 bithumeis iudaic : the pound 0 4 0 lign : aloes the pound 1 4 0 bol armoniacke pound 0 1 4 borax the pound 0 6 0   calamus aromat the pound 0 1 0 campher the pound 0 6 0 cantharides the ounce 0 2 6 cardamom majus the pound 0 4 0 cardamom minus the pound 0 0 8 carpobalsamum the ounce 0 0 6 cassia the pound 0 4 6 castoreum the ounce 0 1 0 caeruse the pound 0 0 6 white waxe the pound 0 1 4 yellow waxe the pound 0 1 8 china the pound 0 12 0 colocynthidos the pound 0 6 0 colophonia the pound 0 0 4 red corall the pound 0 4 6 white corall the pound 0 3 6 cortex radic : cappar : the pound 0 2 6 cortex radic : tamarisc the pound 0 2 0 cortex media fraxin : the pound 0 1 2 cortex guaiaci the pound 0 0 8 white costus the pound 0 6 0 cremor tartar the pound 0 8 0 christall minerall the pound 0 2 6 cubebes the pound 0 5 0 cyperus roots the pound 0 1 4   dates the pound 0 1 6 dictaum : crets the pound 0 8 0 white ellebor the pound 0 0 9 blacke ellebor the pound 0 2 0 olibanum the pound 0 2 6 common frankincense the pound 0 0 4 epithymum the pound 0 2 6 candied citron peele the pound 0 3 6 euphorbium the pound 0 1 6   fenill seeds the pound 0 1 2 staechados the pound 0 1 8 folium indum the ounce 0 1 6 fragments of pretious stones , of emerauds , grinads , saphirs , and topaz each of them an ounce 0 1 0   gvaicum the pound 0 0 2 galbanum a pound 0 6 0 galingall the pound 0 6 0 gum : armoniacke the pound 0 2 8 gum : arabicke the pound 0 0 10 gum : dragant the pound 0 0 10 grana tinctor : i. kermes the pound 0 6 0   hermodacti the pound 0 1 4 hypocystis the pound 0 4 6   ialap the pound 0 7 10 ireos of florence the pound 0 1 8 iujubes the pound 0 1 4 iuncus odoratus the pound 0 6 0   labdanum the pound 0 3 6 gum-lacke the pound 0 6 0 lapis calaminaris the pound 0 2 0 lapis hematicis the pound 0 10 0 lapis lazuli the pound 0 1 8 lapis spongiae the pound 0 0 6 litarge of gold the pound 0 0 6 litarge of silver the pound 0 0 6 lupius the pound 0 1 4   manna calabrin the pound 0 12 0 masticke the pound 0 8 0 mechoachan the pound 0 7 8 minium the pound 0 0 10 mirrhe the pound 0 12 0 muske the dramme 0 15 0   nvx indica the pound 0 1 6 cyprus nuts the pound 0 0 10 galls the pound 0 0 8   opium the pound 0 12 0 opibalsamum the pound 0 6 8 opoponax the pound 0 10 0 orpiment the pound 0 1 4   penedes the pound 0 1 6 navell pitch the pound 0 0 3 burgundie pitch the pound 0 0 6 pistaches the pound 0 1 6 polipodie the pound 0 0 8 long pepper the pound 0 5 0 piretrum the pound 0 2 6   roots of esula the pound 0 2 6 licorish the pound 0 1 2 rubarbe the pound 1 8 0   saffron the pound 1 12 0 sagapaenum the pound 0 8 0 dragons blood the pound 0 2 0 white sanders the pound 0 1 4 red sanders the pound 0 1 4 yellow sanders the pound 0 6 0 sarsaparilla the pound 0 6 0 sassafras the pound 0 1 8 scamonie the pound 0 10 0 sqults the pound 0 1 3 sebestens the pound 0 1 4 sal gem the pound 0 1 4 sal niter the pound 0 1 2 seeds of agnus castus the ounce 0 0 3 seeds of ameos the pound 0 6 0 seeds of bombas the pound 0 1 8 seeds of daucus greticus the pound 0 2 0 seeds of levistici the pound 0 0 4 seeds of eruca the pound 0 1 0 seeds of seseleos the pound 0 0 6 wormeseeds the pound 0 6 0 carthamus seeds the pound 0 1 4 faenugrecke the pound 0 0 4 linseeds the pound 0 0 6 seeds of pearle the ounce 0 5 0 sene the pound 0 4 6 brimstone the pound 0 0 4 styrax calamit the pound 0 6 8 styrax liquid the pound 0 3 4 white juyce of licorish the pound 0 2 0 blacke juyce of licorish the pound 0 1 8 sumach the pound 0 0 6 spica celtica the pound 0 6 0 spica indica the pound 0 8 0   talc of venice the pound 0 0 10 venice turpentine the pound 0 0 6 common turpentine the pound 0 0 8 tamarinds the pound 0 1 4 terra sigillat the pound 0 10 0 turbith the pound 0 10 0   verdegrease the pound 0 2 0 viscus quercin the pound 0 0 8 xilobalsamum the pound 0 6 0 zedoaria the pound 0 10 0 for the value of roots , hearbs , and other such like you may have them cheape at the herborists . the price of medicaments compounded , and first of syrups . syrup of violets is made divers wayes , but principally in three : the first which is the best , is made as followeth . make three infusions of a pound of violets pickt at a time , in foure pints and a halfe of water , and the last infusion being strained and pressed , dissolve in it five pound and a halfe of fine sugar and it is done ; and there will be seven pound of syrup . the three pound of violet flowers pickt commeth to sixe shillings , the sugar seven shillings tenne pence fire sixteene pence : summe twenty two shillings and sixe pence . the seven pound of syrup abating for the losse , commeth to sixe pound foure ounces , the ounce commeth to two pence three farthings . the second manner to make syrup of violets . take foure ounces of juyce of violets for each pound of sugar , boyled almost as thicke as to make lozinges , abating the scum and losse there will be eighteene ounces , which commeth to two pence halfe penny the ounce . the third manner . take a pound of sugar boyled to the consistance , and passe it through a linnen cloath upon foure ounces of violets well beaten in a marble morter , the violets lying upon the cloath ; and it commeth to two pence the ounce . syrup of colts foote . make three infusions one after another of colts-foot , each time halfe a pound in a quart of water ; the last infusion being strained , clarifie it , and put into it a pound and a halfe of good sugar , and boyle it to the height of a syrup : the which syrup amounteth to penny halfe penny the ounce . syrup of damask roses . there are made nine infusions of rose leaves , a pound each time , in five pints of water ; the last infusion being strained , clarifie with it foure pound of good sugar and boyle it as aforesaid ? it amounteth to two pence an ounce . syrup of poppies simple . make an infusion of seven ounces and a halfe of white poppie heads , and as many blacke heads ; twenty foure houres in foure pints of water , boyle it untill it commeth to a pint and a halfe ; then straine it and boyle in it halfe a pound of sugar , and as many sugar pellets , the ounce penny halfe penny . syrup of red poppies . make an infusion of halfe a pound of red poppie flowers three times , a quart of water halfe a pound each time ; the last infusion being strained put to it a pound and a halfe of sugar , and foure ounces of sugar of roses ; the ounce amounteth to three halfe pence . syrup of water lillies : make three infusions of water lillie flowers or leaves a pound at each time in foure pints of water ; the last infusion being strained , boyle with it foure pound of sugar to the height . the ounce commeth to a penny . syrup of maiden-haire . it is made by boyling and infusing the simples in five pints of water , then it is strained and clarified with foure pound of sugar , the ounce a penny . syrup of five roots . there is a decoction made with the roots , cleansed in sufficient quantity of water , and boyld to foure pints , then strained , and with three pound of sugar it is made into a surup : the ounce a penny . syrup of marsh mallowes . a decoction is made with the roots , hearbs , fruits , and seeds , in sufficient quantity of water , boyled to foure pints , in the which is clarified and boyled to the height three pound of sugar ; and the syrup commeth to three halfe pence the ounce . syrup of succory compounded with rubarbe . the decoction is made of hearbs , roots , seeds , &c. according to art , and strained , in the which is put sixe pound of sugar , and being boyled to the height , there is stirred and tied in it sixe ounces of rubarbe and an ounce of spikenard or cinnamon , the which syrup amounteth to three pence an ounce . syrup of succory simple . take foure pints of the said decoction , and boyle and clarifie with it as much sugar , which commeth to three halfe pence the ounce . syrup of endive simple . boyle with eight pound of the juyce of endive dispumd and clarified five pound of sugar , the ounce a penny . syrup of femmatorie : two pound of the juyce clarified and despumed , boyld with as much sugar maketh the syrup , which commeth to penny the ounce . syrup of the juyce of buglosse . in sixe pound of the juyce of buglosse , boyle a pound of the flowers , then straine them , and clarifie them , boyle with the decoction foure pound of sugar , and the syrup commeth to two pence the ounce . syrup of vineger . boyle foure pints of fountaine water , with five pound of fine sugar ; and when it is halfe consumed , scumme it , and poure in by little and little three pound or pints of good white wine vineger , boyling it to the consistance of a syrup , the which amounteth to a penny an ounce . syrup of mulberries . take a pound and a halfe of the juyce of mulberries , and boyle with it two pound of honey , scum it well , and make it into a surup of one penny the ounce . boyle foure pound of the juyce of quinces , with three pound of sugar , the ounce one penny halfe penny : syrup of apples simple . foure pound of the juyce of apples clarified , with three pound of sugar , which commeth to a penny . syrup of apples compounded . in five pound of the juyce , there is put to infuse foure ounces of sene , and halfe an ounce of anniseeds twenty foure houres , then strained and clarified with three pound of good sugar , which commeth to two pence the ounce . syrup of mints simple . three pound of the juyce clarified , and boyled with as much sugar , the ounce amounteth to sixe pence . syrup of dryed roses . there is infused three or foure ounces of dry rose leaves in a pint and a halfe of water , the space of twenty foure houres , then it is boyled a little and strained , in the which is boyled a pound of sugar , the ounce a penny ▪ iulep of roses . boyle foure ounces of good sugar , with eight ounces of rose water to the height of a iulep which is but a little boyled , the ounce a penny . syrup of wormewood : an infusion is made of the simples in two pints and a halfe of white wine , and as much juyce of quinces ; the which being boyled and clarified , there is put to it two pound of sugar , and made into a syrup , the ounce two pence halfe penny . syrup of staechados . a decoction made with the simpler in tenne pints of water , and boyled to five pints , then straine it , and clarifie it , and boyle with it two pound of sugar , and as much honey , being well scummed and aromatized with cinnamon , ginger , and aromat : rosat : the ounce two pence . syrup of licorish . an infusion made with the ingredients , mentioned in foure pints of water ; and the decoction being boyled to three pints , there is mixed with it sugar , honey , and pennedes , or sugar pellets , the ounce amounting to a penny an ounce . syrup of iujubes : amounteth to sixteen pence a pound , or a penny an ounce . syrup of isope to eighteene pence the pound , or three halfe pence the ounce . syrup of horehound to eighteen pence a pound . oximell simplex amounteth to eighteene pence a pound . oximell squillitic : or honey of squills : the ounce three halfe pence or eighteen pence the pound . oximell compounded , amounteth to sixteen pence a pound , or a penny an ounce . vineger of squills , amounteth to sixteene pence the pound . scum'd honey or dispumd : eight pence the pound . honey of roses , eighteen pence a pound , three halfe pence an ounce . honey of violets and mercury , sixteene pence a a pound . conserves . conserve of violetts two shillings eight pence the pound , or two pence the ounce . conserve of roses eighteen pence the pound , three halfe pence the ounce . conserves of buglosse , burrage , betony , and rosemary flowers , each of them two shillings eight pence a pound , or two pence an ounce . electuaries . electuar : diacassia : amounteth to sixe pence the ounce , or eight shillings the pound . electuar : lenitive , amounteth to five shillings and a groat a pound , that is a groat an ounce . diacatholicon , as the electuar : lenetive . diaprunes , amounteth to foure shillings the pound , or three pence an ounce . electuar : diaphaenicon , amounteth to foure shillings the pound : benedict : laxat : amounteth to foure shillings the pound , or three pence an ounce . confect hamech , amounteth to five shillings foure pence the pound , that is a groat an ounce . hiera picra , amounteth to sixe pence an ounce . hiera diacolocynthidos pachij : amounteth to three pence an ounce . of electuaries solid . diacarthami , amounteth to foure pence an ounce . electuar : de succo rosar : or of juyce of roses , amounteth to foure pence an ounce . electuar : de citro solutiv : amounteth to two pence the dramme , that is sixteene pence an ounce . of pills . stomacke pills amounteth to tenne pence the dramme . pillul : ruffi : amounteth to sixteene pence the dramme . masticke pills , amounteth to eighteene pence a dramme . pillul : imperiales , amounteth to tenne pence a dramme . pillul sine quibus , amount to fourteene pence a dramme . pillul : aureae , amount to three pence a dram . pillul : cochiae amount to ten pence a dram . pillul : agregativae , amounteth to three pence a dramme . pillul : alephanginae , amounteth to three pence a dramme . pillul : de cinoglosso , amounteth to two pence a dramme . of powders and lozinges . powder of diamargarit : frigid : amounts to three pence the dramme . lozinges of diamargarit . frigid : amounts to foure pence an ounce . that to make lozinges , you must put an ounce of powder for a pound of sugar . manus christi , amounteth to three pence the ounce . powder of elect : dianthos , amounteth to three pence an ounce . powder of elect : pleres archontic : amounteth to two ponce a dramme . powder of diatragagant . frig : amounteth to sixe pence a dramme . powder of elect : diacalamint : amounteth to foure pence a dramme . powder of elect : diambra , amounts to six pence the dramme . powder of elect : de gemmis , amounteth to eight pence a dramme . powder of electu . aromat . rosat : amouth to three pence a dramme . powder of elect : diarrhodon abbatis , the dramme amounteth to a penny . powder of the three sanders , amounteth to tenne pence a dramme . powder of electuar : diamoschum , amounteth to three pence the dramme . antidotes . philonium magnum , amounteth to sixe pence an ounce . requies nicolai , amounteth to foure pence an ounce . treacle and mythridat , eight pence an ounce , confect : de alkermes and hyacinth : each of them two shillings sixe pence an ounce . trochisques . trochisque of vipers , amounteth to two shillings eight pence the ounce . trochisque hedicroi : amounteth to sixteene pence a dramme . trochisques of squills , amounteth to three pence an ounce . trochisches of cipheos , the ounce amounteth to five pence . trochisques of capers , amounteth to sixe pence a dramme . trochisques of agrimony , amounts to a penny a dramme . trochisque of diarrhod : abbat : amounteth to two pence a dramme . trochisque of alkekengi , amounteth to two pence a dramme . the trochisq : of myrrhe amounteth to a penny a dramme . trochis : of terra lemnia , amounteth to a penny an ounce . trochis : of campher , amounteth to a penny a dramme . trochis : of gallia moschat : amounteth to a groat a dramme . trochis : of alipt : moschat : amounteth to three pence a dramme . of distilled waters . rose water sixteene pence a pint . treacle water an ounce sixe pence . cynamom water an ounce foure pence . of roses . oyle of roses a penny an ounce . oyle of violets two pence an ounce . oyle of white lillies , dill , rue , marjoram ; each of them two pence , or a penny an ounce . of oyntments and plaisters . oyntments and plaisters are of divers prices as sixteene or eighteene pence a pound , and two shillings and three pence , or foure shillings the pound . finis . the charitable apothecarie . shevving to make medicaments compounded with great ease and in little time . vvritten in french by philbert guibert doctor regent in the faculty of physick in paris . translated out of french into english , by i. w. london , printed by thomas harper , 1639. the charitable apothecarie . the first treatise . chap. i. a catalogue of all instruments necessary to furnish an apothecary . first of all ; a great morter of brasse weighing fifty or sixty pound or more , with a pestle of iron : a little morter weighing five or sixe pound , with a pestle of the same matter . a middle sizd morter of marble , with a pestle of wood , and a stone morter with the same pestle . a great bistort with a lesser . a rouler to roule tablets and lozinges . two great spatules of iron , two middle sizd , and two little ones . a square of wood , with a naile at each corner to hold the strainers . two great copper pannes , one to boyle decoctions , syrups , &c. and the other for oyntments and plaisters . two little possnets of copper . a great raspe of white iron , to raspe apples , quinces , &c. two spoones with holes in them , one great , and the other little . two presses irond with their pins of iron . a refrigetory to distill waters of coperas , two or three platters of iron or pewter . seales and weights . three or foure strainers of a quarter broad hemmed . three or foure blanchets of cotton hemmed . one or two hipocras baggs . halfe a dozen of strong towells , to straine decoctions , iuices , &c. a haire sieve covered . two common pulping sieves , to pulpe tamarinds , cassia , prunes , &c. two other searses or sieves to passe bitter things . an iron furnace . gally pots , or earthen pots , to keepe conserves , electuaries , syrups , oyles , oyntments , &c. two great gally pots , and two great earthen pots . three pipkins , one bigger then another . two vessels of earth , or of brasse to make infusions . a porphyre stone , with a mule or rubbing stone . sufficient quantity of boxes to put in medicaments , where one may put divers in one boxe . a square piece of wood , the thicknesse of one thumb a foot square . a shoomakers knife . vessells of glasse to keepe cordiall powders in . a great iron spoone to prepare lead and other things : of any thing else that the apothecary shall want , the physitian will give him advice . of clarification . chap. ii. the manner to clarifie sugar and honey : good sugar , which is white , hard , solid , and cleare , and of a good smell ; ought not to be clarified , for it will yeeld little or no scumme ; but for sugar which is not cleare , nor hard , shall be clarified as followeth . take ( for example ) two pound of sugar , break it and cut it into small pieces , put it into a pan , and poure upon it a pint of water decoction or infusion to melt it , and while it is a melting , take two whites of egges with the shells , and beate them very well together in another pan or bason , pouring by little and little into it another pint of water or decoction , which being well beaten together with a whiske or little rod ; then take the sugar being melted from the fire , and beate them all together , then put them upon the fire , and when you see the scumme rise and it begins to boyle , then take it from the fire , and straine it through the blancket made fast to the foure corners of the wooden square , with a bason underneath to receave that which is strained . if the said sugar being strained seeme not to be clarified enough , you may passe it againe through the blanket , and so you may doe two or three times , but it must be done while it is hot . when the said sugar is faire enough , one need not take the paines to clarifie it for syrups , &c. but onely at the end of their boyling , take them from the fire and scumme it with a silver spoone , or with a spoone with holes you may take of the scum . that if you clarifie sugar , you must put for each pound of sugar a pint of water decoction or infusion , and one white of an egge with the shell ; but if the sugar bee soule , you must put more of the liquor , and more whites of eggs , according to the dampnesse thereof . that those syrups which are made of iuices , are made with good white sugar ; as those of raspas , quinces , mulberries , cherries , and the like : for if they be often clarified , they loose their strength and vertue . also that to make syrup of lymons , granates , and others , you must have of the best sugar , and it must bee boyled to the height as you make your sugar of roses , but if you cannot get that which is very white , you must first clarifie it , and then boyle it and scumme it as is aforesaid . at the end when your sugar is strained , you must not presse and squeeze the blancket , but let it straine by little and little untill it be all dropt into the rest . for to clarifie honey , take a pound or two , or the quantity you please of the best honey ; put it into a pan with as much water or other liquor , and put it upon the fire , and when it hath boyld a walme or two , straine it through a strong linnen cloath ; and for every two pound of honey take a white of an egge with the shell ; ( as is aforesaid in the clarification of sugar ) and the second straining shall bee boyled to what consistence the physician shall see fitting . if the honey bee very foule , you must put more liquor and whites of egges , as is said of sugar ; note , that when you straine your honey it must bee very hot , but the sugar ought to coole a little before you passe it . chap. iii. the manner to clarifie decoctions and infusions a part without sugar . the decoctions and infusions ought not to bee strained boyling , but halfe cold before they bee passed through the strainer or blancket ; as for example , one putteth the white of an egge with the shell upon two pound of decoction or infusion , doing as followeth . take a white of an egge with the shell , and put it into the pan or bason , and beate it very well with the said whiske or little broome ; then put to it halfe a pint of the said decoction or infusion , beating them very well together ; then poure in by little and little the rest of the said infusion or decoction , then put it upon the furnace , and when it hath boyled a walme or two that you see the durty scum rise , then let it stand untill it be halfe cold , and then passe it thorow the strainer or blancket . that infusions and decoctions are passed but one time through the blancket , for if they be passed any more , they loose a part of their vertue . chap. iv. the manner to clarifie apozemes with syruys and also to clarifie whey . those that are licorish of apozemes , clarifie them in this manner . take a pint and a halfe of the decoction of the simples strained ; which being clarified with the white of an egge and the shell , put it into a pan upon the furnace , and when it beginneth to boyle , put the syrups into it , and when the scumme riseth take it from the fire and let it coole a little , then passe it two or three times through the blancket untill it be cleare . if you will have your apozeme aromaticke , you may aromatize it with some cordiall powder as followeth . before you passe your apozeme , put the powder upon the blancket , and passe the apozeme three or foure times , pouring it upon the powder , and your apozeme will be clarified and aromatized . know that upon foure ounces of decoction you must put an ounce of syrup , and being passed and repassed there will be wanting a quarter or more . take twelve pints of whey , foure pound of good sugar , put them together into a bason or other vessell convenient , the sugar being melted let it boyle a walme or two ; then put into it foure ounces of juice of lymons boyling it a little longer , then take it from the fire , and being a little cold , passe it three or foure times through a white linnen cloath , and it will be cleare and agreeable . if you have no whey , you may make it with milk as followeth . take three or sixe pints of milke , put it into a pipkin or earthen vessell , that done , take a spoonefull of stroakings and mixe it with three or foure spoonefulls of the said milk , then mixe it with the milk and cover the pot with a cover , and let it stand three or foure houres upon the hot coales or cinders , then take away the cheeze or curd , and clarifie it as aforesaid . chap. v. the manner to draw iuices . the juyces of roots , and of hearbs , of plantaine , rue , smalladge , purslaine , lettice , betony , mercury , and other fresh hearbs , are drawne as followeth . the brasse or stone morter , being filled with the roots , or hearbs , well cleansed and washed if need require , then beate them very well with an iron or woodden pestle ; after they are well beaten put them into a strong linnen cloath , tying the cloath on the top with a packthred , and put it into the presse and presse it very well , having a bason underneath to receive the juyce . that when you draw the juyce of any other root or hearb , you must first wash the morter , pestle , and presse , with hot or cold water , for feare the said root or hearb be different in quality , and so loose his vertue ; and you must seeke alwayes to have your hearbs , when they are at their best nature . also there are certaine simples which ought to bee beat in the marble morter , as shall bee written hereafter . chap. vi. to draw the juice of quinces . the quinces must be rasped with the raspe of iron one after another , for by this meanes you may draw more juyce , then if you beate them in a morter whole , or in quarters , thē put that which is rasped into a cloath , and presse it in the presse as is shewed before : chap. vii . to draw the iuice of red and damaske roses . take the flowers of the said roses , and beate them very well in a marble morter , untill they be almost in a paste ; then put them in a linnen cloath and presse them . chap. viii . to draw the iuice of gooseberries . the gooseberries being beate very well in a marble morter , put them into a cloath and presse them in the presse . chap. ix . to draw the iuice of barberries . they are drawne in the same manner as the gooseberries . chap. x. to draw the iuice of mulberries . take a quantity of mulberries , beat them , and tye them in a cloath , and presse them in the presse . chap. xi . to draw the iuice of cherries . take a quantity of cherries , and take out the stones and presse them as aforesaid . chap. xii . to draw the iuice of granates . take the pomgranates , and take away the peele and keepe it ; which is called malicorium , and all the rest is put in a cloth and prest as before . chap. xiii : to draw the iuice of citrons and lymons . cvt the citrons and lymons in the middle , and take away the peele , and put the rest in a cloth and presse it . otherwise cut the said citrons and lymons in foure quarters , and take away the skinne peele and seeds and so presse it ; but because the pulpe will never presse so well but there will remaine some juyce , you may put to it a little fresh water , and so presse it , and you may use it about what you please . chap. xiiii . the manner to clarifie the aforesaid iuices . when you have drawne the aforesaid iuices as is written , you shall put them severally in a double glasse , and set them in the sunne or some other place two or three dayes or more , to the end that they may settle , and all the dreggs may descend to the bottome of the said glasse ; then take them and passe them severally , very softly through the blancket , that the dregs doe not mixe with them , and trouble the cleare which ought onely to passe . and if you will use them presently , you may doe as you make syrups and other compositions , but if you will keepe them , put them into a double glasse , filling the glasse almost to the necke , then fill up the glasse with a little oyle of olives , and stop it , and keepe them in a temperate place . and when you will use the foresaid iuices , you must take a little cotton , and put into the mouth of the glasse to sucke up the oyle , and your juyce will be cleare and cleane , which you may passe through the blancket to make it more clearer . the iuice of mulberries is clarified as followeth ; being pressed boyle it a little in a pan or bason , and being hot passe it by little and little through the blancket : and as soone as it is passed , make it into a syrup with sugar . the iuice of cherries is clarified in the sunne , and strained through the blancket ; and as soone as it is strained , made into a syrup as it is written in the treatise of syrups . chap. xv. to draw the iuice of apples and to clarifie it . raspe the apples one after another , as the quinces , and draw the iuice of the same fashion ; the which being drawne , boyle it a little , and straine it through the blancket , and that which is strained put into a glasse , and set it in the sunne that the dreggs may goe to the bottome , and then straine it againe through the blancket , and make syrup . if you will keepe the said iuice of apples , put it into a double glasse and put some oyle upon it . note , that in winter the said iuices ought to bee kept in the cellar . chap. xvi . the manner to boyle sugar to the consistance ; to make sugar of roses . boyle a pound of sugar , or what quantity you please , that is to say to a pound of sugar , halfe a pint of water into the consistance or height which you shall know by these signes following . first , the summe that riseth from the sugar in the skillet or other vessell will be very little , when the sugar is almost boyled . secondly , taking a little up upon the end of the spatule , and throwing it upon the ground , a little of it will flye away , and that which is one ground doth not cleave thereto : also you may know by putting a little upon a trencher and let it coole ; also in taking a little upon the end of the spatule or spoone , and pouring it down , maketh a long thred by those signes , you may know when it is boyled to the consistance , you shall know also when it is halfe cold by the thicknesse of it . chap. xvii . to boyle sugar to make tablets or lozinges with powders . to make the said lozinges or tablets , if you have not of the best sugar , take some midling sugar , and when it is almost boyled , scum it very well ; this sugar must not be boyled to that height as the sugar of roses , you may know when it is enough by taking a little upon the spatule or upon a trencher , and it groweth thicke and doth not runne , but yet it sticks to the trencher ; also if you take a little upon the end of the spatule , it maketh a thred but not so long as that of sugar of roses . and to tell you in one word , you must have judgement to judge of the boyling thereof , for sometimes there is put two drammes of powder , for two ounces of sugar , and sometimes a dramme for two ounces . chap. xviii . to boyle sugar and honey to the height to make electuaries . take the decoction or infusion with the sugar , and boyle them upon a char-coale fire well kindled to the height that it ought to be boyled unto . the which you shall know by taking a little upon the end of the spatule or silver spoone , and putting it upon a trencher , which being cold , will not scarce runne without you stirre it with your fingers , which will bee very glutinous . also when it stayeth upon the spoon or spatule , and will not runne , but drop out in little bits as it were . the honey will be boyld also in the same fashion , preparing it as followes . the honey being clarified as is written in the first chapter of this treatise , and boyled to the height which you shall know by taking a little and putting it upon a trencher and it stay upon the trencher being cold and doth not runne ; then take it from the fire and use it , or if you will keep it , let it be a little cold , and then put it into a pot fitting , and tye a paper over it being pricktfull of small holes with a needle , that no durt nor flies get into it , and when it is cold tye it over with a double paper , and keep it in a temperate place , and when you will use it , you need but weigh the quantity you shall need and heat it in a skillet or vessell fitting for the same . chap. xix . infusions to make syrups . for to make infusions of syrups which are made of flowers , you must put for each pint of water foure ounces of flowers , as you shall see written hereafter ; the infusions must bee made in pipkins , or vessells of pewter , or silver , having narrow mouthes that they may bee covered , and not in vessells of copper or brasse . that the vessell which the infusions are made in ought to be stopped , that the medicaments loose not their vertue by exhalation . also that in making many infusions one after another , as in syrups , it is necessary that the first infusion should bee made with boyling water poured upon them , and the others which follow onely warmed . chap. xx. to know when syrups are boyled enough . note that to make syrups with infusions or decoctions , there is put sometimes three parts of sugar to a quantity of infusion or decoction , as for example three quarterns of sugar to a pint of infusion or decoction ; also there be those syrups that are put as much sugar as decoction , and some not so much , therefore this is no generall rule . the syrups ought to bee boyled softly upon the furnace upon a charcoale fire , taking it from the fire when it is boyled , and scumming of it with a pierced spoone or silver spoone . when the syrup beginneth to boyle , the fume will goe out very strong ; but when it is boyled or neere being boyled , you shall see the fume very well diminished . to know better , take a little upon the spoone or spatule and let it fall , and if it make a thred it is boyled . also in taking a little between the thumbe and one of the fingers it maketh a thred it is enough , or in putting a little upon a trencher , and it runneth drop by drop and maketh a thred . and when it is boyled , take it from the fire and let it coole in the bason , then put it into a pot and cover it with a paper full of holes made with a needle , that nothing falleth into it , and when it is cold cover it with a double paper , and keepe it in a temperate place . chap. xxi . to remedie syrups that are to much boyled , and those which are to little , and those which are candied . if the syrups be to much boyled , put a little of the decoction , or infusion , or juyce , the which it is made with , and let it boyle a little to come to the true height . if they be not boyled enough , you must put them upon the fire and boyle them to their consistance ; for those syrups which are candied , you must warme some of the decoction or juyce that it is made with , and poure it into the candie , and so dissolve that which is candied , and boyle it to the height . chap. xxii . to draw the pulpe of dates for electuar : diaphaenic : take tenne ounces of good new dates , take the skinne away with your knife and the little white skinne which is within side and put away the stones , then cut them into small pieces , and put them into a skillet or other vessell pouring upon them five ounces of water or more , and let them stand in soake three dayes in winter in the chimney corner , but in summer in some place from the fire , and when they have beene in infusion three dayes take them up , and put them into a marble morter and beate them very well into a paste soluble , then pulpe them through a sieve as you do your cassia , with a vessell underneath to receive that which is pulped or passed : chap. xxiii . to draw the pulps of cassia , prunes , and tamarinds , and to prepare them for molutive electuaries . each one knoweth how to pulpe and passe the cassia by a common sieve . for to draw the pulps of prunes in their times and seasons ; you shall take sweet damaske prunes , or in their stead sweet plumbs the quantity you please , boyle them in sufficient quantity of water till they be boyled enough . then pulpe them through a sieve , and put under them a vessell to receive the pulpe , putting to them a little liquor , and if you have not of the liquor , take a little warme water . to draw pulpe of tamarinds do as followeth : take what quantity of tamarinds you please , put them into a marble morter , and beat them well with warme water or decoction , then pulpe them through a sieve as aforesaid . that when the said pulpes of tamarinds and of prunes are passed , there will remaine some humidity , which hath beene put to them in the passing of them ; wherefore you must put them severall in a pewter dish or platter upon a chaffing dish of coales , stirring it together untill all the humidity bee consumed , so you may doe with cassia , &c. if you put liquor to them , for otherwise they will spoyle the electuaries which they enter into , and make them mustie . that done you may weigh the dose that enters into the electuary , and keepe the best for another use . chap. xxiii . of medicaments which are put into powder , and first of sennae . take halfe a pound of the best sennae , cleanse it from the stalkes and naughty leaves if there bee any , and for every ounce of the said sennae , put a dram of fenill or anniseeds , and beate them to powder as followeth . first , put your fenill or anniseeds which bee the correctives into the morter , and beate them very well , and when they are well beaten put in your sennae ; and when they bee well beaten together put them into a lawne searse covered , and searse them , and that which remaineth put into the morter and beate it againe , and then searse it , and so do while you have searsed it all , but if there be halfe an ounce or so left , you may keepe it to make some medicine . it is good to have five or sixe ounces in a boxe ready in powder to use when there is occasion , as to make pills , powders , electuaries , or such like , it will keepe halfe a yeere together in powder . that in electuaries , pills , &c. it is written hereafter of the quantity of senae ; you must understand the said senae with the correctives . chap. xxiiii . the manner to dry certaine medicaments , which are afterwards put in powder . roses , violets , and saffron , if they be too moyst , and not dry enough , they shall bee dryed in the sunne or before the fire inclosed in a paper , and turning the paper first one side , and then the other , that they may dry one every side and bee not burned , after that beate them easily in powder in the morter . those hearbs and roots which are not dry enough , must bee put into the oven after the bread is taken out , laying them that they doe not burne . otherwise , some certain time before you use them , tye them in little bundles and hang them in the aire in the shade to dry . chap. xxv . how to put in powder , aloes , mirrhe , rubarbe , saffron , and assafaetida . these foresaid medicaments are put in powder severally ; therfore before you put them into powder , you must put two or three drops of oyle of olives into the bottome of the morter , according to the quantity of the medicament which you will put in powder , then stirre it about with the bottome of the pestle , and put in the medicament , which you easily put into powder , without either sticking to pestle or morter . for the rubarbe , before you put it in powder , it is not amisse to cut it into small pieces , and then it will powder the easier and better , and you need not passe it through a sieve or searse . the assafaetida , if it be dry , is put in powder in the same manner . if the aloes be droffie or foule after it is in powder , passe it through the sieve , which is to passe bitter ingredients , and so you may doe by any other medicament , passing them in sieves proper for the same . chap. xxvi . the manner to powder scammonie . it is made into fine powder , anointing the bottome of the pestle and morter with a little oyle ; but it must not be passed by any sieve or searse , as is written before of the rubarbe . chap. xxvii . to put masticke in powder . before you put your mastick in the morter , picke it , and put into the morter a little rose water or common water , and if there be need , pulse it through a sieve covered . chap. xxviii . to put trochisques of agaricke in powder . they must be put in powder according to the same manner as the masticke , wetting the bottome of the morter with a little rose water or common water ; but they must not be scarsed . that the morter is noynted and wetted with rose water , common water , or oyle , because the powder shall not sticke to the morter , nor loose by exhalation . chap. xxix . to put campher in powder . take a scruple of white starch , which you shall beate into powder , then put to it a good dramme of campher and beate them easily together into powder . also take two or three sweet almonds , peele them with your knife , and beate them in the morter , and put to them a dram of campher . chap. xxx . to put cinnamon in powder . cinnamon is put in powder , by beating two or three almonds in the morter because it should not loose the sent , and being in powder is searsed through a sieve , as is written in the twenty three chapter . chap. xxxi . of the infusion of oyles . for each pound of oyle , there is commonly put foure ounces of leaves or flowers as is shewed in the treatise of oyles , excepting some which are compounded . chap. xxxii . to know when oyles are boyled enough . the infusion or infusions of oyles being made , are put to boyle in a vessell as is spoken of before upon the furnace with the fire well kindled ; you shall know when they are boyled by the humidity , that the oyles draw from the vertue of the simples is all exhaled or vanisht away ; then take a little of the oyle at the end of the spatule , and drop it into the fire , and if it burneth cleare and maketh no noyse it is boyled enough ; then take it from the fire and let it coole a little , and put it into a pot and cover it with a paper prickt full of holes , and when it is cold cover it with a double paper , or with a piece of parchment wetted , and use it . chap. xxxiii . to know when plaisters are boyled enough . the perfect boyling of plaisters , is knowne by taking a little of the said plaister and putting it into a little cold water , and if it riseth cleane together without running in the water it is boyled enough , then take it from the fire and let it stand untill it bee halfe cold , and then make it into magdaleons . that when you forme magdaleons of plaister , which have oyle in them , then wet your hands with faire water , but if there be no oyle in them , then anoint your hands with oyle . chap. xxxiv . the manner to wash the barrow hogges grease to make unguent : rosat . take the cakes of barrowes grease , and take away the veines and skin , and cut it into small pieces , and melt it on the fire in a pan , with a little water stirring of it together with a spatule of wood , then straine it , and presse it through a white linnen cloth , then put it into an earthen pot or vessell being twice too bigge for it , but just that the grease may fill it halfe full , and when it is cold , fill the pot almost full with hot water , stirring of it well together with the spatule in the sun , then let it stand untill it be all settled , then poure the water away softly , and do so nine times one after another , and when you have washt it as aforesaid with hot water , then wash it as many times with cold water as before , and the two last times wash it with rose water ; the cause of washing of it so often is to take the smell of the grease quite away , as shall bee written when we speake of the making of oyntment of roses . chap. xxxv . the manner to wash ceruse . take a quantity of ceruse , as a pound or two , or more or lesse ; rub it through the laune or haire of a common sieve , putting underneath a white paper to receive that which is passed , then put it into a pipkin or other vessell , and poure as much faire water as will cover it upon it , and stirre it well together with a woodden spatule , and then let it settle , and poure the water softly from it , and poure in it as much more faire water , and doe so nine or tenne times , and when you have done , put the ceruse into a platter and set it in the sunne or by the fire side to dry , covering of it with a white linnen cloath , and when it is dry , use it or keepe it in a boxe untill you have occasion to use it . chap. xxxvi . to wash and prepare lytharge . take two pound of lytharge , or what quantity you please , beate it in a morter , and searce it all through a searce , and when you have done , put it againe into the morter , and fill the morter almost full of faire water , and stirre the lytharge and the water together with the pestle , and poure the water presently out of the morter into a great bason , and then put as much more water into the morter and stirre it well together and poure it into the bason , and so doe untill all the lytharge bee gone out of the morter with the water into the bason , then let it stand all night to settle , and when it is settled , poure away the water , and dry the lytharge in the sunne , and so use it . chap. xxxvii . the manner to burne lead , and to powder and wash it for the unguent pompholigos . take two or three pound of lead , or what quantity you please , put it into a pipkin or great iron ladle , and set it upon a hot charcoale fire , and when it is melted , stirre it together with a spatule or iron rod untill it commeth into a powder somewhat yellowish , and that you see no more forme of lead , then take the said powder from the fire , and let it stand untill it be cold , and then searce it through a sieve , and when you have done wash it in the same manner as the ceruse in the thirty five chapter , and so use it being dryed in the sunne or before the fire . chap. xxxviii . to prepare tuttie stone . take what quantity you please of tuttie stone , and put it into a crucible , and set it into a furnace of hot fire untill it bee very well burnt , which you shall know by the rednesse of it ; for when it is enough it will looke very red , then take it from the fire and let it stand untill it be cold , then powder it in a morter , and searce it through a searse , and when you have done prepare it with rose water or faire common water in this manner , put your powder upon the stone , and powre some water upon it , and stirre it together with the mule or mallet stone untill it be very well prepar'd , which you shall know by putting it upon your hand and rubbing of it a little , and it doth grace nor scratch , as one doth by pearles and pretious stones , then forme little trochisques and trio them , and when you will use them powder them in a morter . chap. xxxix . the manner to calcine roman vitrioll . roman vitrioll is dryed in the great iron spoone or ladle in a moderate fire , untill it commeth all white , stirring of it continually with a spatule or iron rod , and then augment the fire a little , and it will come all red , and that is called colcothar ; then take it from the fire , and put it in powder as is said of the tuttie , and prepare it upon the stone , for the confection of the emplaster diapalma . chap. xl. to make creame and salt of tartar. take a pound of tartar , beate it in a morter and searce it through a course sieve , then put it into a pipkin , and cover it with water , and make it boyle a walme or two , then passe it two or three times through a hippocras bagge with a bason underneath to receive the liquor , then set it to settle the space of twenty foure houres , at the end of which , you shall take of the creame which swimmeth one the top , with a trencher or silver spoone , and poure the water softly away by inclination , and scrape the salt away which sticketh one the sides with a spoone , and make it fall to the bottome , then wash them , dry them , and prepare them , and keepe them by themselves . the charitable apothecarie . the second treatise of syrups . chap. i. the manner to make syrup of violets with the iuice . take twelve ounces of violet leaves pickt , put them into a marble morter , and beate them very well , then tye them in a linnen cloth and presse them in the presse , and you shall have five ounces of iuice , which you shall put into a violl , then take twenty ounces of good sugar , and halfe a pint of faire water , and boyle it almost to the height of the sugar of roses , then take it from the fire , and mixe your juice with it and your syrup is made ; the which you shall put into a pot and cover it with a paper prickt with holes , and when it is cold cover it with a double paper , and keepe it in a temperate place . chap. ii. the manner to make syrup of violets upon a cloath . take two pound of sugar , boyle it with a pint of water to the height or consistence as before specified , then take halfe a pound of violet leaves , beate them in a morter as before , and put them upon a cloth , two holding the cloth at each end , then poure the sugar very hot three times upon the said violet leaves with a bason underneath to receive the syrup , pressing of it very hard with a spatule or silver spoon , and scraping the outside of the cloth very cleane , and making of it fall into the said bason and your syrup is done , the which you shall prepare and keepe as before . that you must not throw away that which hath coloured the cloth for there is sugar amongst it , but dry it in the sunne and keepe it , which will be good conserve and serve for a binding , as shall be written hereafter . chap. iii. to make syrup of violets of three infusions . take a pound of violet leaves picked and cleansed from the greene leaves , put them into an earthen pot or other vessell , and poure upon them foure pints of water being hot , then cover the said vessell and set it to infuse in the chimney corner for the space of twelve houres , at the end of which warme it very well , and straine it through a strong linnen cloth , and presse them in the presse , and through away those flowers , then warme the infusion , and put to it another pound of fresh violets , letting them infuse twelve houres as before , then straine and presse them in the presse , and put a pound more of fresh flowers to the infusion , stirring them well together , and let them infuse as before , then straine and presse them in the presse , and if you will make it presently into syrup , then take foure pound two ounces of the infusion , put it into the copper pan , and put to it five pound and a halfe of good sugar and boyle them together unto a syrup ; the which let stand till it bee halfe cold , then scumme of the froth or scumme , and put it into a pot and cover it with a pierced paper untill it bee quite cold , then cover it with a double paper or wet parchment . chap. iiii. mucharon of violets and damaske roses . the mucharon of violets and damaske roses , is nothing else but the last infusion strained and pressed , the which will keepe a whole yeere being put into a glasse with a streight necke , then put upon it a little oyle of olives to keep it from being mustie , and when you will use it , take the oyle away with a little cotten . chap. v. to make syrup of coltsfoot . there is made three infusions of the flowers of coltsfoot with the green that goeth round about them , halfe a pound at each time in a quart of water ; you shall take the said flowers and put them into a pot or pipkin and heat the water scalding hot , then poure it upon the flowers , and stirre them well together with a spatule of wood , cover them close , and let them stand in the chimney corner the space of twelve houres , then straine them and presse them , and put as many more flowers unto the infusion being hot , and let them infuse twelve houres as before , then straine and presse them , and put as many more flowers , doing as before ; then clarifie it with the white of an egge and the shell , as is shewed in the second chapter of the first treatise , weigh it , and put to it three parts of sugar , and boyle it to a syrup . chap. vi. to make syrup of damaske roses of nine infusions . there is made nine infusions of a pound at each time of damaske rose leaves being picked , and the yellow which is within them taken away also , the greene that goeth round about them , in foure pints of water ; the last infusion being made , straine them , and let them stand a while to settle , then straine them softly , and there will be about five pints , then clarifie it , and boyle with it as much sugar , that is , five pound and boyle it to the height of a syrup , taking away the scum with a spoone and covering of it , and keepe it in a temperate place . chap. vii . to make syrup of red poppies , rhead : make three infusions of halfe a pound at each time of red poppies in two pints of water , and the last infusion being strained and pressed , put to it as much sugar and boyle it into a syrup , scumming of it at the last , and well covering of it . chap. viii . to make syrup of water lillies . make three infusions of water lillie flowers in a quart of water , halfe a pound at each time , letting them infuse the space of twelve houres as is aforesaid ; the last infusion being strained , boyle it into a syrup with as much sugar . chap. ix . to make syrup of maidenhaire . take capill : veneris , or in his stead adianthe two handfulls , pollitric : scolopendry , of each a handfull and a halfe , an ounce of licorish bruised and scraped , and with sugar make it into a syrup as followeth . the hearbs being washed and cleansed shall bee put in infusion for the space of twenty foure houres in three pints of warme water , then boyle them a little and straine them , and with three parts of sugar clarifie and boyle them into a syrup . chap. x. the manner to make syrup of iujubes simple and compounded , and first to make the simple . take a hundred good iujubes , open them in the middle without throwing away any thing , then boyle them in three pints of water untill halfe be consumed , and with three parts of sugar boyle it into a syrup . chap. xi . to make syrup of iujubes compounded . take french barly an ounce , good iujubes threescore , licorish scraped and bruised an ounce , capill : veneris , politric : of each a handfull , quince seeds , poppie , melon , and lettice seeds , of each halfe an ounce , bruised with sugar , make them into a syrup as followeth . take foure pints of water , set it to boyle ; first with the barly , and when it is a little boyled put in the seeds , and afterwards the hearbs and licorish , and boyle them untill halfe be consumed , then straine the decoction , and with three parts of sage clarifie and boyle it into a syrup . chap. xii . to make syrup of marsh mallowes . take marsh mallow roots prepared , an ounce and a halfe of sparagus roots also prepared , licorish scraped and bruised , of each halfe an ounce , tops of marsh mallowes , common mallowes , pellitory , pimpernell , adianthos , politric : of each halfe a handfull ; mellon , cucumber , and citroll seeds of each halfe an ounce , sugar a pound and a halfe , make them into a syrup as followeth . the roots of marsh mallowes and sparagus being bruised and prepared , boyle first in five pints of water , and when it is a little boyled then put in the seeds being bruised , and then the hearbs , and after that the licorish ; boyle them all to a pint , then straine it , and with a pound and a halfe of sugar clarifie and boyle it into a syrup . chap. xiii . to make syrup of succory with rubarbe . take french barly a handfull , sparagus roots , roots of danderlion , and succory roots of each three ounces ; femmaterry , politric : agrimon : adianthos , of each a handfull and a halfe , mellon , cucumber , and citrole seeds of each halfe an ounce , licorish scraped and bruised an ounce , sugar two pound , make the syrup as followeth , put eight pints of water into a pan or other vessell , & boyle with it very well the french barly , then put to it the succory , danderlion , & sparagus roots prepared , and after that the hearbs , and then the seeds , and at last the adianth : politric : and licorish ; and boyle the decoction to foure pints , then poure it altogether into an earthen vessell to infuse together twenty foure h●ures , having first strained twelve ounces of the said decoction , and poured it upon five ounces of good rubarbe cut into small pieces in a little pipkin , and set it also in the chimney corner being well covered to infuse twenty foure houres . at the end of which time straine the other decoction , and clarifie it , and boyle with it two pound of sugar into a syrup almost as high as your sugar of roses , and in the meane time while that is boyling , straine the decoction with the rubarbe and presse it well in the presse , and when the syrup is boyled to the heigh mixe it amongst it , and if the syrup be not thicke enough , make it boyle a little more , and coole it , and put it into a pot and keepe it in a temperate place . chap. xiiii . to make syrup of rubarbe laxative . take three pints of the decoction made with betony , succory , sage , with their roots , and buglosse ; and in this decoction being hot infuse all night in these medicaments following . that is two ounces and a halfe of good rubarbe cut in small pieces , a handfull of violets , two drams of cinnamon bruised in a morter , as many fenill seeds , and halfe an ounce of licorish scraped and bruised . the morning following boyle them all two or three boylings , then straine and presse it , and with the said expression boyle three parts or sugar into a syrup , and mixe with it foure ounces of syrup of damaske roses . chap. xv. to make syrup of poppies simple . take halfe a pound of white poppie heads , and as many blacke poppie heads , breake them , or cut them with their seeds and put them into a pan or pipkin , and poure upon them foure pints of scalding water , then cover them close , and set them in infusion in the chimney corner the space of twenty foure houres , then straine and presse them , and put to the infusion being hot as many more poppie heads , and let them infuse as before , then let them boyle a little , and straine and presse them , and put to the decoction three parts of sugar , and boyle it into a syrup . chap. xvi . to make syrup of lymons . take a pound of good sugar , and with faire water boyle it to the height of sugar of roses , then mixe with ●t foure ounces of cleare juyce of lymons , to render it into the forme of a syrup . chap. xvii . to make syrup of quinces . take two pound of the juyce of quinces , clarifie it very well , and with a pound and a halfe of good sugar boyle it into a syrup . chap. xviii . to make syrup of sabor or apples compounded . take a pint and a halfe of the iuice of runnet apples or pearemaines , clarifie it very well , and infuse in it twenty foure houres two ounces of sene , and two drammes of anniseeds , then boyle them a little , and straine and presse them , and with twelve ounces of sugar make the decoction into a syrup ; if you will have it more purging , you may put three ounces of sene , and three drammes of anniseeds . also if you please you may infuse the sene with halfe the juice of apples , and halfe juyce of burrage and buglosse , being well clarified . chap. xix . to make syrup of mulberries . take two pound of juyce of mulberries and blackberries together , clarifie them , and with a pound and a halfe of sugar boyle them into a syrup . chap. xx. to make syrup of cherries : take a pound of the iuice of cherries well clarified , and with twelve ounces of sugar boyle it into a syrup . chap. xxi . to make syrup of dryed roses . take three or foure ounces of good red rose leaves , put them into a pan , and poure upon them a pint and a halfe of hot water , and let them infuse being covered the space of twenty foure houres , then straine and presse them , and with a pound of sugar boyle the infusion into a syrup . chap. xxii . to make syrup of wormewood . take halfe a pound of roman wormewood , cut it into small pieces ; take also three drams of nard : indic : which cut also , then take two ounces of red roses , infuse them altogether the space of twenty foure houres hot in two pints of good old white wine and as much iuice of quinces clarified , at the end of which boyle them to two pints , and clarifie it , and with as much sugar boyle it into a syrup . chap. xxiii . of syrups made with honey . to make despumd honey . take a quantity of good honey , prepare and clarifie it as is shewed in the first chapter of the first treatise ; then boyle it upon the furnace in a bason untill it be come to the height of honey , which you shall know by taking a little with the spatule , and put it on a trencher and let it coole , that done , take it from the fire , and when it is cold set it up among the other syrups . chap. xxiiii . to make honey of roses . the said honey of roses is made divers wayes , but the best and easiest wayes is those which followeth . the first is to make three infusions of a pound of red roses as you doe your syrups in foure pints of hot water , each infusion the space of twelve houres ; the last infusion being strained , boyle with it as much honey untill it commeth to the height of a syrup , and when it is cold scumme it . the second manner is to make the said three infusions , with halfe red rose leaves , and halfe damaske rose leaves mixed together , being both together a pound in foure pints of common water as is said before ; the last infusion being strained and pressed , you shall boyle as much honey with it to the consistance thereof . chap. xxv . to make honey of violets . the honey of violets is made like the honey of roses , making three infusions , and the last infusion being strained , boyle as much honey with it , and at the last scumme it . chap. xxvi . to make honey of mercury . take the juice of mercury and common honey , of each a like quantity , boyle them a walme or two , and straine them through a linnen cloth , and then wash the pan cleane , and put into it againe the said juice and honey , and boyle it to the height of a syrup . chap. xxvii . of conserves . to make conserve of violets . take halfe a pound of violet leaves cleane pickt , put them into a marble morter and beate them with a woodden pestle untill they come into a paste , and that in handling of them you feele no roughnesse ; then put to them by little and little a pound of fine sugar in powder or cut in small pieces , and beat them very well together , then put it into a pot and set it in the sunne for thirty dayes , stirring of it two or three times a weeke with a spatule . chap. xxviii . to make conserve of roses . take halfe a pound or a pound of red rose buds , cutting the white and yellow away from them , and beate them in the marble morter with the double of sugar . chap. xxix . to make conserve of water lillie flowers . take halfe a pound of white water lillie flowers and beate them in the marble morter as before , with the sugar doubled , and set them in the sunne as before : chap. xxx . to make conserve of coltsfoote . take onely the yellow of the flower , and make it into conserve as before . chap. xxxi . to make conserves of the flowers of burrage , buglosse , rosemary , and betony . the said conserves are made and prepared as the conserves before written ; if you will have the said c●nserves sweeter , you may put for a pound of flowers three pound of sugar , and for halfe a pound of flowers , a pound and a halfe of sugar . the charitable apothecarie . the third treatise of ele 〈…〉 chap. i. the manner to make electuary 〈…〉 tive for the rich . take polypodic of the oake bruised three ounces , fenill seeds halfe an ounce , betonie , agrimonie , adianthos , politric : scolopendry , of each two handfulls ; leaves of sene cleansed two ounces , anniseeds halfe an ounce ; pulpe of cassia , pulpe of tamarinds , and of prunes , of each sixe ounces ; sene in powder with anniseeds foure ounces and a halfe , a pound of sugar , make it into an electuary as followeth . boyle the said simples cleansed and washed in faire water ; first , the polypodie with the fenill seeds the space of a quarter of an houre , then put in the betony and the agrimony , and after that the politric : adianthos and scolopendry . take a pint of the said decoction strained , in the which infuse the space of twenty foure houres the said two ounces of sene , with the anniseeds , in the which time draw the pulps of tamarinds and prunes , as is shewed in the twenty two chapter of the first treatise , a part . that after you have drawne your cassia , those excrements which cannot be pulped through the sieve , put in infusion with the sene. that done , make your infusion boyle a little , and then presse and straine it , and with the decoction or infusion boyle your sugar to the height as is written in the seventeene chapter of the first treatise : the syrup being done , poure it into a vessell of brasse or pewter from the fire , and mixe with it the said pulpes of tamarinds and prunes , mixing of them well together with the bistorties , and after that mixe with them the pulpe of cassia ; then stirre very well into it the sene in powder as is shewed in the twenty three chapter of the said first treatise , mixing all very well together ; the which being all mixed and incorporated together the electuary is done ▪ if in the mixing of them the syrup should grow cold you must warme it upon the furnace . that you must never mixe the pulps with the syrup boyling hot , for then it will burne , but when it is almost halfe cold . i have written but onely one way to make the syrup , which is very good , and shall serve for these foure following . chap. ii. to make electuar : lenetive for the poore . take a pint of the former decoction of the simples to infuse with the sene and anniseeds as aforesaid . sene cleansed two ounces , anniseeds halfe an ounce ; pulpe of prunes and tamarinds of each nine ounces ; sene in powder with his anniseeds foure ounces and a halfe ; sugar a pound : make it into an electuary in the same manner as the former . chap. iii. to make di●catholic●n . take twenty ounces of the former decoction to infuse with the sene and anniseeds . sene cleansed two ounces , fenill seeds halfe an ounce , pulpe of cassia foure ounces , pulpes of prunes and tamarinds of each sixe ounces , sene in powder with his anniseeds two ounces and two drammes , rubarbe in powder two ounces , sugar a pound and a halfe ; make it into an electuary as followeth . first , put in infusion the sene and the anniseeds as before . the rubarbe must be put in powder as is showne in the twenty five chapter of the first treatise , ●nd is mixed with the powder of sene and anniseeds . the pulpes of cassia , tamarinds , and prunes , being prepared are put asunder , and when the sugar is boyled with the infusion as is shewed before , then when it is halfe cold mixe the pulpes in , and after that the powders as before , and so make it into an electuary . chap. iiii. to make diaprunes simple and compounded . take a pint of the said decoction strained of the said simples to infuse with the sene and anniseeds : sene cleansed two ounces , anniseeds halfe an ounce , pulpe of prunes halfe a pound , pulpe of tamarinds foure ounces , red roses three drammes , sugar a pound ; make it into an electuary : this electuary is made according to the former , and is called diaprunes simple . which if you will make compounded ; while this said electuary is hot , mixe very well with it nine drammes of good scammonie put in powder as is shewed in the twenty sixe chapter of the first treatise ; and then it is diaprunes compounded . that i have not written heere the catholicon for clysters , because you may use for the same any of these former electuaries which are farre better . chap. v. to make electuary of dates or diaphaenicon . take sixe ounces of the pulpe of dates , two ounces of turbith , a few sweet almonds peeled , ginger scraped with a knife , mace , fenill seeds of each two drammes , scammonie fixe drammes , with tenne ounces of despumd honey , as is written in the seventeene chapter of the first treatise ; make an electuary . the pulpe of dates being prepared as is shewed in the twenty one chapter of the first treatise , and put by it selfe , you shall make the following powder : first put the turbith and the ginger in the morter with the almonds too hinder their exhalation , and beate them together , and when they are halfe beaten , put in the mace , fenill and anniseeds , beating them into powder , and searcing them in a coverd scarce as is written in the twenty three chapter of the first treatise , speaking of sene ; having drawne three ounces of powder , put it by it selfe in a paper ; the scammonie also must be put in powder as is written before . then take the pulpe of dates , put it into a bason , and put some despumd honey to it stirring them well together , and then mixe the powders and the rest of the honey , and the last of all stirre in the scammony , stirring them altogether very well and your electuary is done . chap. vi. to make benedict : laxative . take turbith , hermodactills sliced of each sixe drammes , a few sweet almonds peeled , red roses three drammes , ginger sliced , mace of each a dramme ; anniseeds , grummell seeds , saxifrage , and smallage feeds of each two drammes , scammonie five drammes , despumd honey fifteene ounces , make it into an electuary . first , put in the morter the turbith , ginger , and hermodacts , and the almonds which being halfe powdred you shall put in the seeds , and at the last the red roses and the mace , beating them all to powder as before , and searcing them in the scarce , then put your powder in the bason being stirred about with some of the honey , then put in all the honey , and then put in the scammony , stirring them all very well together and the electuary is made . chap. vii . to make tablets or lozinges of mechoacan . take mechoacan , hermodacts sliced , and turbith of each two drammes , red roses a dramme , ginger halfe a dramme , scammonie two drammes with halfe a pound of sugar dissolved and boyled in common water , make tablets the weight of halfe an ounce each of them . the mechoacan bruised in the morter , put in the turbith , hermodacts , and red roses , being all powdred and scarced with two or three almonds to hinder their exhalation , then powder the scammonie and mixe the other powders with it . then boyle the sugar as is shewed in the fifteene chapter of the first treatise , and when it is boyled take it from the fire , and let stand untill it be halfe cold stirring of it together , then mixe your powders into it , and forme tablets as is shewed before . chap. viii . to make trochisques of agaricke . raspe two ounces of good white agaricke or what quantity you please with the great raspe of iron ; put it into a morter of marble and beate it very well , pouring by little and little some aqua vitae upon it , and beate it into a paste , then forme trochisques and dry them in the shade , and when they are dry beate them againe , powring more aqua vitae upon them and dry them againe , and then beate them the third time doing as before and dry them and use them ; you may also in the place of aqua vitae take white wine , in which ginger hath beene all night infused . chap. ix . to make trochisques of athandal : first , put into infusion for the space of foure or five dayes three drames of gum : dragant . in rose water in a little pipkin well covered , in which time take coloquintida purged from the seeds , the which cut into small pieces and put it into the morter having first anointed the bottome of the morter with a little oyle of olives , which being well powdred , forme it into trochisques with the gum : dragant : dissolved ; then dry them , and powder them the second time , and make them into trochisques with the said gum . chap. x. to make trochisques of mirrhe : take cinnamon , seeds of nigella , aloes , mirrhe , of each two drammes , with the juyce of rue despumd , make them into trochisques . the said medicaments being powdered , beginning with the cinnamon as is shewed in the thirty chapter of the first treatise ; then the nigella , and then the mirrhe , and afterwards the aloes , which being all well powdred and searced ; then stirring them together in the morter , powre upon them the juyce , beating and malaxing them well together , and forme them into trochisques , the which dry in the shade and use them . chap. xi . of pills . to make stomack pills or ante cibum . take aloes sixe drammes , masticke and red roses of each two drammes , with the syrup of damaske roses , beate and malaxe them into a masse . first , powder the mastick , wetting the bottome of the morter wtih a little rose water , then powder the roses , and after that the aloes ; then mixe them together , and poure the syrup upon them and make a masse , beating and malaxing them very well , then wrap it in a paper being anoynted with oyle and keep it in a gally-pot . chap. xii . to make pills without the which , or sine quibus . take aloes halfe an ounce , rubarbe , trochisques of agaricke , sene in powder , of each a dramme and a halfe ; scammonie two drammes and a halfe , with syrup of damaske roses ; make them into pills : powder all the medicaments severally , then mixe them altogether and poure to them the syrup , and beate and malaxe them into a masse and put them up as the former . chap. xiii . to make pills of agaricke . take aloes and trochisques of agaricke of each three drammes , sene in powder two drammes , marmalade a dramme , scammonie two drammes and a halfe , with syrup of damaske roses , make them into a masse . the powders being all powdered and mixed together , put the marmalade into a porringer and poure a little syrup upon it and dissolve it , and poure it upon the powders , and with as much syrup as shall be fitting , forme them into a masse keeping it as the former . chap. xiiii . to make pills of rubarbe . take rubarbe an ounce , cinnamon and licorish in powder of each halfe a dramme ; with syrup make them into a masse . the rubarbe being in powder is mixed with the other powders , and with syrup of damaske roses made into a masse as the others . chap. xv. to make somniferous pills . take myrrhe three drams , olibanum two drams and a halfe , henbane seeds and opium of each two drammes , saffron and castor of each halfe a dramme , and eighteene graines with syrup of dryed roses , make them into a masse . the powders being powdered put the opium in the morter , and poure a little syrup into it , beating them together , then mixe in the powders as before . chap. xvi . of powders . powder of three saunders , the which one may use in the place of diarrhodon : abbatis diamargarit : frigid : and de triasuntali . take white , red , and yellow saunders , wood of aloes of each two drammes , seeds of succory , endive , purslaine , and c●rduus ; sealed earth of each a dram ; of these medicaments make a powder as followeth . cut all the saunders in small bits or pieces and beate them in the morter with halfe the seeds and the wood of aloes , and when they are well beaten put in the other halfe of the seeds and powder them very well , and scarce them through the scarce , and that which cannot passe , beate it againe in the morter , and scarce it untill you have scarced all as is shewed before ; then powder the seald earth by itselfe , and mixe them all together and keepe them in a glasse . chap. xvii . to make the powder called diambra , the which you may use in the place of diambra arematicum rosatum , and the trochisques of gallia moschata . take good cinnamon , mace , red , white , and yellow saunders ; wood of aloes , red roses of each a dramme , ambergreece and muske of each twelve graines , make them into a powder . first , put in the morter the saunders and the wood of aloes , with the cinnamon and mace to hinder their exhalation , or if you please you may sprinkle upon them a little rose water being all well powdered and searced as before ; put the muske and ambergreece into the morter , and with a little of the powder , powder it , and mixe the rest of the powder . chap. xviii . to make the powder diatragagant . take gum : dragant : and gum : arabicke of each three drammes , roots of iris , of florence liccorish , seeds of white poppie , purslaine , and endive , of each two drammes , of these medicaments make the powder . when you have pickt the white and the best of the gum : arabicke , and gum : dragant : you must make a cleare fire in the bottome of the morter , and make the morter so hot that you can scarce touch it with your hand , then heat the bottom of the pestle almost red hot , then wipe it with a cleane cloth , and put in your gummes and cover it with a cleane cloth with a hole in the midst to put in the pestle , and so beat them to powder , and if the morter coole before you have powdered and scarced your gummes , warme and heate it againe in the same manner as you did before ; then when your gummes are powdered and scarced , beate the iris roots and the seeds , mixing them all together and cover them close as before . chap. xix . the manner to make powder of licorish . because the physitians often appoint the powder of licorish to be used , i have heere set downe the manner of making it . take two ounces or what quantity of licorish you please ; being dry , scrape it and make it very cleane , then cut it into very small pieces , and beate it in the morter , and searce it into fine powder , and keepe it in a glasse as you doe the other powders . chap. xx. the manner to make tablets or lozinges with the aforesaid cordiall powders . for an example , take two drammes of the said powders , and mixe it with foure ounces of sugar boyled , as is shewed in the sixteene chapter of the first treatise . your sugar being boyled , take it from the fire , and let it stand till it be halfe cold , and then mixe in your powder and forme lozinges as is shewed in the seventh chapter of this same treatise , speaking of the tablets of mechoacan ; your sugar being dissolved first in rose water or cordiall water and boyled to the height . chap. xxi . of confection alkermes and hyacinth : with venice treacle . you may find of these confections at a reasonable rate at the druguists , and venice treacle at the apothecaries , which is made and shewed to the principallest physicians of the city . the charitable apothecarie . the fourth treatise of oyles . chap. i. to make oyle of roses three wayes . the first way is , take a pound of red rose buds , beate them in a marble morter with a woodden pestle , then put them into an carthen pot , and poure upon them foure pound of oyle of olives , letting them infuse the space of a moneth in the sunne of in the chimney corner stirring of them sometimes , then heate it , and presse it , and straine it , and put it into the same pot or other vessell to keepe . the second is , take halfe a pound of red roses , and halfe a pound of damaske , beate them together in a marble morter , and put them into a pot , and poure upon them foure pound of oyle , and let them infuse the space of twelve houres , then poure them all into a pan and boyle them two or three boylings , and straine them , and presse them in a strong to well in the presse , and in the meane time put in the pot as many more roses and poure the oyle upon them , and so heate them and presse them , and put roses to the oyle three times , and then boyle it untill all the humidity bee consumed which is shewed in the thirty two and thirty three chapters of the first treatise . the third is , to take all damaske roses and no red , and make three infusions as before . chap. ii. to make oyle of violets . the said oyle of violets is made but with one infusion , as the first oyle of roses , putting to a pound of the flowers , and that part that encloseth them , foure pound of oyle of olives . chap. iii. to make oyle of water lillies . take a pound of water lillie flowers , and make two infusions in foure pound of oyle as is shewed before . chap. iiii. to make oyle of cammomill . make two infusions of a pound of cammomill beaten in the morter , in foure pound of oyle as before . chap. v. oyle of lillies . take onely the white of the lillies , taking away the yellow , and make two infusions as before . chap. vi. to make oyle of dill , rue , and marjoram , and wormewood . the said oyles are made with two infusions as the former : many chooseth the lesser leaves of wormwood , because they are most astringent . chap. vii . to make oyle of masticke . take three ounces of mastick , breake it in the morter , and put it into the pan , with twelve ounces of oyle and foure ounces of red wine , boyle it untill all the wine bee almost consumed , then straine and presse it , and cover it close in a pot . chap. viii . to make oyle of capers . take the cortex of caper roots , an ounce cortex or barbe of tamarix seeds of agnus castus and ceterach of each two drammes , leaves of rue a dramme , good wine and vineger of each two ounces ; oyle of olives twelve ounces ; make the oyle : first beate your barkes well in the morter , then the ceterach and the ruc , then stirre them with the oyle , wine , and vineger , and let them infuse fifteene dayes in the sunne , then boyle them untill the wine and vineger be almost consumed as is shewed in the thirty two chapter of the first treatise , and straine it and put it in a pot . chap. ix . to make oyle of castor . take dry castor grossely powdered an ounce , wine or aqua vitae two ounces , twelve ounces of oyle , boyle them untill halfe the wine or water be consumed , for the castor will not endure long coction , then straine it and keep it among the rest . chap. x. to make oyle of wormes . take halfe a pound of earth wormes , wash them very well ; first with faire water , then with white wine , then put them to infuse into a pot , covering them with wine the space of twelve houres , then throw away that wine , and put the wormes to infuse in the sunne or in the chimney corner in a pound of oyle and three ounces of claret the space of eight dayes , then boyle them untill the wine bee almost consumed and straine them . chap. xi . to draw oyle of sweet and bitter almonds . take a quantity of almonds , beate them very well in a marble morter with a woodden pestle without peeling of them , untill they be all beaten into a paste ; then presse them softly by little and little in the presse , in a cleane strong linnen cloth , or in a cloth of haire . the oyle of bitter almonds is made after the same manner . chap. xii . of vnguents : or oyntments . to make unguent basilicon . take navell or blacke pitch , good rossin , and yellow waxe , of each sixe ounces ; good oyle of olives a pound and a halfe , make thereof an oyntment . cut the waxe into small pieces , breake the rossin and the pitch into little bits , and melt them all together in the oyle , and when they are all melted , straine them through a strong linnen cloth , and put it into a pot or other vessell untill it be cold , then tye it up and set it away . chap. xiii . to make unguent : aureum . take oyle of olives thirty ounces , yellow waxe sixe ounces , cleare i urpentine two ounces , rossin and colophonia of each an ounce and a halfe ; olibanum , masticke , of each an ounce , saffron a dram , make them into an oyntment . first , put the olibanum and the mastick in powder and scarce them . that you must put more of the mastick and olibanum to powder , because you shall find the quantity scarced , and the rest may be kept . then cut the waxe into small pieces , and also breake the rosin and colophonia into small bits , then melt them them with the oyle , then mixe with them the turpentine , and when it is halfe cold put in the powders of olibanum and masticke , stirring them well together with the spatule , and after that the saffron being dry and put in powder , for to colour it the better , and the oyntment is made , the which put into a pot fitting . chap. xiiii . to make unguent aegyptiacum . take common honey seven ounces , strong vineger three ounces and a halfe , make an oyntment of them as followeth . first , put into the morter to beate to powder some verdegrece , in the beating thereof forget not to stop your nose , then scarce it , and take a quantity of it , and keepe the rest , and poure it into the honey and vineger , and boyle them to an oyntment . that when you have powdered the verdegrece , you must wash the morter pestle and scarce with hot water . chap. xv. to make mundificative of smalladge . this oyntment is made at any time , putting into the juyce what the physitian shall thinke fitting according to the nature and time of the diseased . chap. xvi . to make unguent : album or white oyntment . take white waxe three ounces , ceruse washed sixe ounces , oyle of roses twelve ounces , three whites of egges , camphir a dram ; make the oyntment as followeth . the ceruse being washed and afterwards powdered and searced , then cut the waxe into small pieces , and melt it with the oyle , and when it is melted take it from the fire and stirre it well together with a spatule of wood untill it be halfe cold , then stirre in the ceruse , and afterwards the whites of egges , and so make it into an oyntment . chap. xvii . to make red dissicative . take oyle of roses twelve ounces , white waxe five ounces , lap : calaminaris , bol : armoniacke of each foure ounces , litarge of gold prepared , and ceruse of each three ounces , camphir a dramme ; make them into an oyntment . cutting the waxe into small pieces and melting it with the oyle , and mixing the other things being in powder as is written in the former chapter . chap. xviii . to make unguent pompholigos . take oyle of roses twenty ounces , juice of nightshade eight ounces , white waxe five ounces , washed ceruse foure ounces , burnt lead as is shewed in the thirty eight and thirty nine chapter of the first treatise being in powder , tuttie prepared of each two ounces , frankincense an ounce ; make the oyntment according to art as followeth . the lead and tuttie being powdered with the ceruse and the other powders , then boyle the juyce of nightshade with the oyle , untill the juyce bee almost consumed , then straine it through a strong linnen cloth , and mixe with it the powders upon the fire , stirring them well together , then take it from the fire and stirre it till it be cold . chap. xix . to make oyntment of populeon or poplar buds . take poplar buds nine ounces , hogs lard or barrowes grease eighteene ounces , good vineger and good rose water of each sixe ounces , leaves of nightshade and lettice of each foure ounces , houseleeke three ounces ; make the oyntment as followeth . in the moneth of march take the said poplar buds and beate them very well in a marble morter , then put to them the hogges grease beating of them very well together , and put them into an earthen pot and let them stand untill iune , untill you can get the other hearbs , then when you have the other hearbs poure upon the grease and buds the vineger and rose water , and let them stand in the sunne a day or two , then take the hearbs , picke them , and cut them very small and beate them in the morter and put them into the pot with the grease and buds , and let them infuse in the sunne the space of eight dayes , stirring of them now and then with the spatule , and then poure them all into a pan and boyle them untill the liquor be almost consumed , then straine and presse them through a strong cloath ; and if it happen it be not thicke enough , boyle it a little upon the fire and make it thicker , and then let it stand untill it be cold , and and put it into a pot and cover it , and set it in a temperate place . chap. xx. to make oyntment of roses . take hogges grease or barrowes grease washed as is showne in the thirty five chapter of the first treatise eighteene ounces , as many red roses new ; beate the said roses in a morter , and mixe with them the grease , and beate them well together , then put them into a pot and let them infuse in the sunne the space of sixe dayes , or upon hot cinders three dayes , then boyle them a very little and presse them in the presse , and then beate as many more roses with the said grease , and let them infuse as before , then straine and presse them , and mixe with it sixe ounces of juyce of roses , and foure ounces of oyle of sweet almonds , and boyle them untill the juyce be almost consumed , then straine it and keepe it . chap. xxi . to make plaisters . to make white diachilon . take common oyle thirty sixe ounces , litarge of gold prepared eighteene ounces ; roots of marsh mallowes cleansed , linseeds of each a pound , seeds of faenugreeke twelve ounces ; make thereof a plaister . to make this plaister very white , choose a good faire aire and cleare ; curiously washing and cleansing the marsh mallow roots , and taking away the skin that goeth round them , and the pith that is within them , then put the linseeds and faenugreeke into the morter , and beate them very well with the roots , and put them into a pipkin covering them with water and cover the pipkin , and let them infuse in the chimney corner twenty foure houres , then boyle them a little and straine them , that there may be two pound foure ounces of mucilage , a part of which shall be boyled with the oyle and litarge prepared , as is showne in the thirty seven chapter of the first treatise , upon a midling fire , stirring them alwayes with a spatule of wood , or else the litarge being heavie will burne to the bottome , and when that part of mucilage is almost consumed , which you shall know when it maketh no more bubbles , then put in the rest , and boyle them into a plaister , as is shewed in the thirty foure chapter of the first treatise , then let it stand untill it be halfe cold , and then make magdaleons wetting your hands with a little water . chap. xxii . to make diachalcyteos or diapalma plaister . take roman vitriol foure ounces , hogges grease a pound and a halfe , litarge of gold prepared , old oyle of each thirty sixe ounces , make them into a plaister . the litarge being prepared shall bee boyled with the oyle and the grease , stirring them well together with a wooden spatule , and when the plaister is boyled , mixe with it the vitriol prepared , as is shewed in the forty one chapter of the first treatise , and make magdaleons as before . chap. xxiii . to make emplastrum divinum . take litarge and common oyle of each eighteene ounces , yellow waxe eight ounces , loadstone foure ounces , amoniacke three ounces and three dramms , bdellium two ounces , galbanum , mirrhe of each two ounces and two drammes , frankincense an ounce and a dramme , masticke , oppoponax , long aristolochia root , verdigreece of each an ounce , make of these medicaments an oyntment as followeth . first , put in infusion the gummes , which are amoniac , bdellium , galbanum , and oppopanax , in sufficient quantity of vineger , that the vineger may cover them the space of twenty foure houres , or untill the gummes bee dissolved , then straine them and boyle them upon a chaffing dish till their humidity be consumed , or untill they come to the thicknesse of honey : in the meane time weigh the lytarge and put it in a paper , and then powder the rest and searce them severally ; that is the loadstone , masticke , frankincense , aristoloch : and verdegrease , then boyle your lytarge and oyle with the waxe cut in small pieces , stirring it together with a spatule , and when it is boyled put in the gummes , and then the powders , and last of all the verdegrease , stirring them together , and when it is halfe cold , forme magdaleons or roules as before . chap. xxiiii . to make emplastrum de ianua sive de betonica . take the juice of betony , plantain and smalladge , of each twelve ounces , yellow waxe , black pitch , rosin , and turpentine , of each sixe ounces , make the plaster as followeth . put the juyces into the pan , with the waxe cut in small pieces , and the pitch and rosin broken , and boyle them untill the juyces bee consumed , which you shall know by taking a little upon the end of the spatule , and dropping it into the fire , and it will make no noyse , then put in the turpentine , and make magdaleon as before written . chap. xxv . of the distillation of waters . for the distilling of simple waters , every one hath knowledge , as to put the hearbs being bruised or picked into a still , and covering of it , keeping a moderate fire ; also for the stilling of flowers or hearbs in a limbecke putter water unto them , and putting cold water in the top , and drawing away the first water which is the strength , and throwing away the rest , therefore we shall not need to write any more of this . chap. xxvi . of treacle water . in the place of treacle waters described by divers authors and divers wayes . it is better to take a quantity of venice treacle and dissolve it in wine if there be no feaver , or in scabious or carduus water ; but if there be a feaver , in purslaine , water lillie , or common water , with a little juyce of lymons . chap. xxvii . to make cinnamon waters . take a pound of fine cinnamon , beate it and put it to infuse the space of twenty foure houres in a glasse vessell , with foure pints of good rose water , and halfe a pint of good white wine upon the hot cinders or in some hot place being well stopped , then still it in a limbecke or balneo mariae , and keepe the water in a strong glasse well stopt . chap. xxviii . another cinnamon water . in a necessity for to make cinnamon water , take halfe an ounce of cinnamon and beate it in a morter , and boyle it in a pint of faire water untill halfe be consumed , then straine it and use it . chap. xxix to make excellent hipocras . take a pound of good sugar , an ounce of fine cinnamon , two drammes of ginger , with three pints of good white wine or claret ; make the hipocras , cut the sugar into small pieces , and beate the cinnamon and ginger in the morter , then put them together in a pipkin , and poure the wine upon them , and stirre them together with a spoone or spatule , and let them stand all night in the chimney corner , and in the morning passe them five or sixe times through the hipocras bagge . that if you will have it very cleare , poure into it a spoonefull of milke . chap. xxx . another manner to make hipocras . take a quart of good wine , halfe a pound of good sugar , and an ounce of cinnamon beaten ; infuse it all night covered in the chimney corner , and and the next morning passe it through the hipocras bag five or sixe times . chap. xxxi . to make hipocras of water . take halfe a pound of good sugar , two drammes of good cinnamon beaten , two quarts of water ; infuse them all night as before , and in a morning straine them as before through the bag . the end of the charitable apothecary . the charitable physitian shevving the manner to embalme a dead corps . by philbert guibert esquire , doctor regent in the faculty of physicke at paris . translated into english , by i. w. london , printed by thomas harper , 1639. the manner to embalme a dead corps . first of all let the chyrurgeon make a long incision from the necke unto the lower belly ; opening the breast , and taking out the heart , lungs , and others , or leaving of them within ; but if they desire to hav● the heart embalmed by it selfe , then make an incision in the pericard , in which it is inclosed , and embalme it as shall be showne hereafter . after that you may show the belly inferiour , that is the stomacke and the epipleon ; considering the orifice superiour , and inferiour , and afterwards the bowells , bladder , and other things . all the said parts of the the brest and belly inferiour being observed , must bee all cut round the diaphragma , and cut as neere as possible can be where they are tied and taken all out , and put into a large bason or vessell . those two bellies being emptied and cleansed , that is all the blood that commeth from the veines and arteries , dryed up with sponges : then you must come to the head . the head or cranium shall bee sawed in two , as you doe in an anatomie , and the braines and parts shall be put into the vessell with the bowells , together with the blood that hath been drawne out of the three bellies ; that is , the head , brest , and belly inferiour , and put them altogether into a barrell , and hoope it round , to be buried or put into the ground ; but if they desire to carry them far , or to keep them you may embalme them as followeth . having emptied and squeezed the blood from the excrements , you must wash them with warme oxicrat , made with foure parts of water , and one of vineger compounded , as shall be written hereafter : then powder them all about with one of the balming powders hereafter written , then put them into a barrell pitcht within and without , and hoope the barrell well , and then wrappe it round with ceare-cloth and cord it fast , then put it into a bigger barrell also pitcht and hoopt , and send it whither you please . the head , brest , and belly inferiour being also emptied and cleansed , you shall begin to embalme them : beginning at the head being well washed within with the said vineger compounded , then with pieces of cotton soaked in the said vineger and filled with balme , the head shall be filled , and both the pieces of the skull shall bee bound together with thred . doe also to the brest as you doe to the head , piercing the muscles and flesh with a bodkin , to make the blood runne out , which you must dry up with sponges , then wash and soake it with the said vineger , and fill it up with cotten full of balme , do so also to the belly inferiour . the foresaid parts being embalmed , you must make long incisions in the armes , legges , thighes , and buttocks , and principally in the great veines and arteries , to make the blood runne out , and to dry them up with sponges ; then soake them with the said vineger , and stop them full of pieces of cotton filled with balme . you shall make an incision from the shoulder to the wrist in the arme , piercing it with a bodkin to the bone all about , to make way for the blood , then dry it up with sponges , and wash and soake it well with the said vineger , and then filling it with pieces of cotton soaked in the said vineger and filled with balme , and then sowe it up with a needle and thred ; so doe to the thighes making an incision from the belly to the knee , piercing of it , and stoping and sewing of it up as before , and so the knees and others . you may also stop the holes of the eares and nostrills and mouth , with cotton soaked in the vineger and filled with balme . that done turne the corps upon the belly and make an incision about the ingular veines in the necke , letting out the blood , and so make an incision downe the reines , piercing the backe to let out the blood , taking it away and washing it with the said vineger , and filling it with cotton balmed , and sewing them up as before . also make incisions in the palmes of the hands , and in the soles of the feet , and wash and fill them as before , sowing them up also , the fingers and toes ; incisions being made and stopped as before . the corps being thus embalmed shall be anointed all over with venice turpentine , dissolved in oyle of roses or oyle of spike , and then it shall bee covered all over with seare-cloth and put it into a coffin of lead , the which coffin shall be filled with dry aromaticke hearbs , as rue , wormwood , time , scordeum , marjoram , and others as shall be written hereafter , then cover it and let it be well sodered . to embalme the heart . the heart being washed with the said vineger compounded , shall bee put to infuse in the said vineger in a pipkin being plaistered round the lidde , that the aire enters not the space of five or sixe dayes , then take it out and make an incision in it , and fill it with balme and pieces of cotton balmed , and sowe it up againe , then few it well into a little bag made of scarecloth , and put it into a case of lead , silver , or pewter , fashioned in the forme of a heart , and carry it whither you please . that the simples which enter into the following balmes , as roots , hearbs , seeds , &c. if they bee not dry they must be dryed in the shade or in an oven after the bread is drawne forth , before they be powdered . a description of the vineger compounded , the which is to wash and soake the parts being warme , before you apply any of these balmes following . take wormwood dry or green five or sixe handfulls , cut it into small pieces with a knife oppaire of cizers ; thirty apples of coloquintida , cut them into foure quarters without throwing away the seeds , roch allom , and common salt of each a pound , boyle them together in eighteene pints of good vineger , untill it commeth to fourteene pints ; then straine and presse it , and use it as is aforesaid . if with the said vineger compounded , strained , and pressed , you will put three pints of life water or aqua vitae it will be excellent . to make foure sorts of balmes to powder and put into the parts of the body . the description of the first balme . take dry common salt , allom of glasse , of each a pound , beate them to powder in a morter ; then take balme hearb , or hoarie mints , wormwood , water mints , sage , rosemary , origanum , calamint , time , costus hortensis , the greater and lesser centory , and scordeum of each sixe handfulls ; all these hearbs ought to be dryed as i shewed before , then put into the great morter , and beaten to powder and searced ; so beating and searcing them untill they bee all searced then mixe with them the allum and salt , and so use it . a description of the second balme : take hysope , time , sage , lavender , rosemary , wormewood , marjoram , rue and scordeum of each eight handfulls ; ireos of florence , pepper , ginger , pellitory , and dry red roses , of each halfe a pound , make them into a powder as followeth . the salt being dry shall bee powdered by it selfe , then beate the ireos pepper , ginger , pellitorie , and dry roses with the other simples , beating and searcing them all to powder , and when they are all searced mixe with them the salt and the balme is made , the which use as before written . a description of the third balme . take ireos of florence , gentian , orange and citron peeles ; ginger , iuniper , berries , cyprus nuts , benjamin , frankincense , aloes , mirrhe , cinnamon , cloves , of each halfe a pound , rosemary , sage , lavender , dill , origanum , cyprus , wormewood , balme , time , scordeum , of each eight handfulls , make the balme as followeth . first , beate well together in the morter the ireos gentian , orange , and citron peeles , ginger , iuniper berries , cyprus nuts , cinnamon and cloves , with the other simples , beating them all to powder and searcing them , then powder the aloes , mirrhe , frankincense , and benjamin , with a little oyle anointing the bottome of the morter and mixe them altogether , and the balme is done . a description of the fourth balme in case of necessitie . sometimes one hath not the commodity to get the simples aforesaid , as in armies , townes , and castles assieged : when some man of quality dyeth , and that his parents or friends will have him preserved for some time , to carry to some tombe of his predecessors ; then one must make necessity a vertue : for having emptied the three bellies as is shewed before , wash them , and the incisions with common vineger , if you have not the commodity to make the compounded ; or if you have not common vineger , take salt water , that is salt melted in water , and fill them up with this balme following . take ashes of willow , and lime , of each a sufficient quantity , fift it through a sieve , and use it , but if you have no lime take chalke and doe as before , being thus embalmed , rub and anoint the body over with this linement following , and keepe him in a temperate place not to hot nor to cold . a description of the linement to anoint the body after it is embalmed . take oyle of olives , roses or spike one part , venice or common turpentine two parts , make thereof a linement . warme the oyle upon the fire , then put to it the turpentine , stirring them well together , and anoint the body all over with it being warme . the end of this treatise : a treatise of oyntments . a balme or balsome for all wounds that are newly made . take two ounces of aqua vitae , put it into two violls equally divided , and put into the one two drammes of mirrhe , and a dramme of aloes in powder , and let it stand untill it hath taken the colour . then put two drammes of turpentine into the other violl , and let it stand untill that the aqua vitae hath taken the colour of the turpentine , then put them both together to use it another for an old and new wound . o liban . and masticke of each an ounce , two ounces of verdegrece , asmuch galbanum , an ounce of turpentine , and asmuch rosin , oyle of olives a pound , and halfe a pound of oyle of bitter almonds , and asmuch oyle of poppies , white waxe an ounce , black pitch three ounces ; melt your gummes , and heat your oyle with the verdegrece , and straine them through a strong cloth and keepe it in a pot or boxe . an oyntment for new and old wounds . beate three yolks of egges with the bignesse of a nut of washt turpentine and a little beane meale , it will keepe but a moneth . another for apostumes and boyles . halfe a pound of turpentine , foure ounces of virgins waxe , as much of mutton suet ; a little milke from a woman which hath a male child , and a little from one that hath a female child , boyle them together untill they be thicke . for to eate dead flesh . three ounces of honey put into a new pan or pipkin , a dramme of greene coppras , and asmuch of verdegrece and allom , and halfe an ounce of galls , being all in powder stirre them into the honey , and boyle them untill they become red . for a burne . vvater of nightshade and of plantaine , yolks of egges , oyle of roses , and virgins waxe as much of one as of another , melt them together and anoint the sore . for paine in the head . beate plantaine with the urine of the diseased , and make a plaster and bind it upon the temples . for blacke and blue eyes . salt , honey , and wine boyled together , and the place anointed : against the swelling of the throat . leaven , honey , and juyce of smalladge mixed together and made into a plaister . for to stay bleeding in what place soever . ivyce of shepheards purse , masticke , oliban : bol● armenic : dragons blood , of each two drammes to make a plaister . a washing for a fistula , upon womens brests . long and round plantaine , agrimony , c●●ntorie , and wormewood of each halfe a handfull , cut them small and boyle them in a new pot or pipkin with a quart of wine , untill it commeth to a pint , then straine it , and wash the pipkin , and put into it againe that which is strained , and put to it two ounces of honey of roses , and as much syrup of wormewood , then boyle them a little , and when you will use it , put a little to warme in a saucer and keepe the rest in a glasse . oyntment or unguent : martiatum . take baye leaves three pound , rue two pound , marjoram two pound , rosemary a pound and a halfe , mirrhe a pound , the tops of marjoram and water mints , seeds of ocimum , of each sixe ounces ; butter sixe drammes , storax , harts grease , beares grease , and cocks grease , of each halfe an ounce ; masticke three ounces , frankincense two ounces and a halfe , oyle of nard : an ounce , common oyle sixe pound , waxe foure pound ; make an oyntment according to art . it is good against cold goutes , the palsie , sciatica , and generally against all diseases of the nerves . a stomachall oyntment . take oyle of wormewood , masticke , nard of each an ounce , red roses , red corall , cloves , cinnamon , lign : aloes , mastick , mints , shaenants of each a dramme ; waxe a sufficient quantity , make them into an oyntment . it is very good to strengthen the stomacke , and to appease those griefes which have come of cold , causing an appetite and helping digestion . oyntment of marsh mallowes . take marsh mallow roots two pound , faenugreeke and linseeds of each a pound , oyle foure pound , waxe a pound , turpentine two ounces , rosin sixe ounces ; cut the roots , and beat them with the seeds and make a mucilage , and take of the said mucilage two pound , boyle it with the other ingredients untill it bee all consumed ; this oyntment is good to warme and will keep three yeeres . galens refreshing oyntment . take white waxe and oyle of roses , of each foure ounces , beat them long together ; first with faire water , washing them , then with vineger , and then with rose water , and if you will keep it any time you must wash it often with rose water . an astringent oyntment . take bole armonick , dragons blood , and sealed earth , of each an ounce , oyle of roses sixe ounces , waxe a pound and a halfe , and of vineger , boyle the waxe , oyle , and vineger together , untill the vineger be consumed , then mixe the other ingredients being in powder . the end of the treatise . a treatis of pretious stones . of the bezoar stone . the bezoar stone is such an excellent counter poison , that the physitians have given its name to all the most excellent antidotes , calling them medicaments bezoarties : if it be powdered and put upon bitings of venemous beasts it will heale them ; also being strowed upon byles or plague sores , it healeth them also , there is made lozinges with it , and rose water against all sorts of poison . of the emeraud . the emeraud hung about the necke , hindereth the accidents and assaults of the kings evill , and healeth it also sometimes . of another stone . there is found a stone in the belly of old cockes , or in the gizard ; the which ( as is said ) maketh him that weareth it constant , gratious , hardie , and happie in love , and the same held upon the tongue appeaseth thirst . of the amethist . the amethist hindereth a man from drunkennesse . of the saphir . the true saphir infused in water , and the eyes being washed therewith , draweth away all filth from the eyes . of the turqui stone . the turqui stone groweth in ethiopia and is somewhat of a greene colour , and being infused maketh a liquor as white as milke , and is very good against any paine of the eyes or hinderance of the sight . of christall . christall ingendereth of a pure liquor which hardneth by little and little in the entrailes of the earth ; it is found often with other mettles in mines in holland and spaine : being powdered and mixt with white wine is good against dissenteries , and it stayeth the white fluxe of women , and causeth store of milk in womens brests . of alablaster . alablaster is well knowne of those which have visited the antiquities of rome , alablaster burnt and incorporated with pitch or rosin melted dissolveth hardnesse , and is good against the griefes of the stomacke . of the serpentine stone . the serpentine stone worne about the necke is good against the paines of the head . of the stone of arabia . it dryeth the hemerods being powdered , and put upon them , and it is good to make teeth white . of the stone of iudea : the bignesse of a nut of this stone being powdered and drunke in warme water causeth urine , and and breaketh the stone in the bladder . of the chalcedine stone . the chalcedine hung about the necke hindereth melancholly . of the sponge stone . sponge stone being drunke in white wine breaket● the stone in the bladder . of corall . those children which take halfe a scruple of corall in powder with their nurses milke before they sucke , shall never be troubled with the epilepsie . the end of this treatise . of the vertue of fruits of temperate fruits . of figgs . of all the fruits of autumne the figs are the best , for they are very good to cleanse the breast ; also they are good against a cough and the diseases of the lungs : dry figgs eaten looseneth the belly , and they are good to dissolve tumors being mixed with meale and leaven . of raisons . raisons of the sunne are very good against the diseases of the stomack , lungs and head , being eaten by themselves or with a little pepper . currants are also good for the brest and causeth obstructions . of fruits hot in the first degree . of almonds . the best sweet almonds which are yellow and full and breake white , are very good to avoid grosse excrements , also they are good to cause appetite and for those which have cold bellies . of common nuts . common nuts are hard of digestion and contrary to the stomacke , but being eaten fasting they are very good against the wormes of the belly ; also being incorporated with the leaves of rue , figs , and a little salt , are good against the pestilence and poyson being taken fasting . of fruits hot in the second degree . of capers . capers being taken in broath the quantity of two drammes , and wine the space of fourty daies purgeth away gravell , and bringeth away by urine all bloudy matter , it is also good against the sciatica and palsie , and for women which have not their flowers . of nutmegs . nvtmegs are very good to clear the sight , strengthen the stomacke , to diminish gravell , to provoke urine , and to stay the fluxe of the belly , and is good against all cold diseases of the matrixe . of fruits hot in the third degree . of iuniper berries . ivniper berries taken in broath are very good for the stomacke against all diseases of the brest , against a cough and against stingings of serpents ; also it is very good against convulsions , and against the suffocations of the matrix . of cloves . cloves are very good for the stomack and heart , helpeth digestion , and stayeth the fluxe of the belly , foure drammes taken in milke being in powder , maketh a man valiant , and is good to cleare the sight . of fruits hot in the fourth degree . of pepper . pepper is good against venome , and it is soveraigne against the collick , and against all cold and grosse humors . of fruits cold in the first degree . of citrons . citrons are good to fortifie and strengthen the stomacke , and are very good against melancholy , and their seeds taken in broath and applied without , are good against stingings or bitings of scorpions , and their juyce is good against the pestilence . of quinces . qvinces are good for the stomack and to provoke urine , and are good against the dissentery and fluxe of the belly ; their decoction is singular good to foment the fundament or matrix that commeth forth , and they are good against the inflammation of womens brests and against vomitings . of peares . peares are good against the stomack and are astringent , and are good against defluctions . of prunes . prunes are very good to loosen the belly . of fruits cold in the second degree . of cucumbers . cvcumbers are refreshing to the stomacke and are good for the bl●dder ; the seeds boyled with milk and wine are goo● to provoke urine and against all diseases of the bladder . the leaves beaten with wine healeth the bitings of dogs . of oranges . oranges are refreshing , and are good in feavers ; for to quench thirst the peele is hot and cordiall . of lymons . lymons are very good against hot and pestilent feavers , and the syrup is very good to stay feavers also , the juyce of lymons killeth wormes in the bowells . of fruits which refresh the stomacke . of cherries . cherries are very good to refresh the stomack , and against the paine of the belly . olives . olives are also good to comfort and to refresh the stomacke . respases . respases are very good to refresh the stomacke , to stay vomitings , and are good against the fluxe of the belly . of fruits which engender seeds . figges , pine kernells , nutmegs , and pistaches , are good to augment and engender seeds . fruits which are good against poyson . ivniper berries , common nuts , pepper , citrons , &c. are good against venome and poyson . the end of this treatise . to make preserves dry and liquid . of preserves which comfort the heart . preserv'd oranges . choose the best oranges that have the thickest skins , cut them in quarters and lay them a soake in water five or sixe dayes , then boyle them in honey syrup or sugar to the height . citron peeles preserv'd or candied . take citrons and peele them , and cut them into slices and infuse them in water nine or ten dayes , then take them out of the water , and boyle them in faire water untill they be soft , then put them into iulep or sugar , and boyle them unto the height of sugar candie , you may aromatize them with a little muske or a little ambergreece . in this manner you may candie oranges , lymons , or any other rind or peeling . of apples . tae apples and peele them , and cut out the core , and the pippins within them , and cut them into quarters , boyle them in iulep or sugar and water well , and the next day boyle them againe in sugar and put them with the syrup into a pot , of preserves which comfort the belly . of ginger . preserved ginger or candied ginger is very good for the belly and against all hard humors thereof . preserv'd quinces . qvinces preserved and aromatized , as apples , are very good for the paines of the belly , and to stay vomiting also against the fluxe of the belly , and to strengthen the stomacke and to helpe digestion . to make marmalade . take eight pound of the flesh of quinces , cleansed from their rinde , pippins and stalkes , boyle them in water untill they come into a paste , then pulpe it through a sieve and boyle it to the height with as much sugar , and put it into boxes . there are those which boyle it but with halfe so much sugar ; it is very good for the fluxe of the belly taking it before meales , and good against vomitings taken after meales ; and for the losse of appetite . preserv'd peares . preserve peares , as the quinces and apples , and they are very good to strengthen the heart , and against the paines of the belly . preserv'd wallnuts . gather the wallnuts before they bee hard when they are greene , pare them as the apples , and infuse them in water nine dayes , changing the water every day , then pierce them with a needle or bodkin in three or foure places , and boyle them in water untill they be soft , then take them from the fire and stick them with cinnamon and cloves , and boyle them in sugar and put them into a pot . preserved cherries : gather cherries before they be quite ripe , put them into sugar and boyle them , and put them into pots or glasses . of drie comfits or candies . take the cortex or rinde of citrons , oranges , lymons , or any other barke or fruit , boyle them first in faire water , having first infus'd them , then boyle them in sugar to the height , and then take them and dry them . the end of this treatise . to make all manner of fumes and perfumes . of perfumes and aromatick smells . perfumes are certaine medicaments simple and compounded , the which without putting in the fire will alter the head and hinder all ill smells and corruption of the aire . they are also used divers wayes , sometimes onely one simple medicament is used and held to the nose , as the seed nigella infused in vineger , and wrapped in a cloth or piece of silke ; and at another time there is mixed many medicaments together and sometimes there are made pomanders , oyntments and bullets ; the ingredients which ordinarily enter into perfumes are muske , ambergreece , nigella , marjoram , storax , cloves , ocimum , staechados , spikenard , lavender wood , of aloes , labdanum , roses , violets , saunders , water lillies , camphor and the like . you must observe that in making of pomanders and bullets , you must put the muske and ambergreece the last of all the ingredients . perfumes or suffumigations for the head : a suffumigation to stay and dry catarhes . take coriander seeds , roses , nigella , infused in vineger , of each an ounce and a halfe , masticke , frankincense , of each halfe an ounce , gumme of iuniper two ounces , make them into a powder , the which strow upon a chasing dish of coales , and perfume the cap and clothes for the head you may make them into trochisques with rose water and gumme dragant if you please . another perfume of the same . take frankincense , masticke , labdanum , storax of each halfe a dramme ; beate them together and make them into trochisques with gumme dragant dissolved in rose water . a suffumigation of a good smell to strengthen the head . take trochis : of gallia , muscata a dramme , sage , marjoram and rosemary of each a dramme and a halfe , cloves and cinnamon of each a dramme , wood of aloes a scruple , foure graines of muske , make them into a powder , and use them as before . another perfume . take frankincense , cinnamon and cloves of each a dramme and a halfe , citron peele a dram , wood of aloes two scruples , mirrhe and masticke of each a dramme , trochis : of gallia , muscata two drammes , labdanum two drammes and a halfe : beate them together with oyle of mirrhe , and forme them into trochisques . another . take gumme of iuniper , masticke , roses of each a dramme , cloves , storax of each three drammes , make them into trochisques with turpentine : cordiall perfumes . a perfume against the sincopes or failings of the heart . take frankincense , mastick , of each an ounce , dry citron peele halfe an ounce , wood of aloes , storax , cloves , calamint of each three drammes . make a perfume for those that have paines at their heart : a perfume to strengthen the animall and vitall spirits . take red roses , staechaedos , rosemary of each a dramme , frankincense two drammes , cloves , wood of aloes of each a dramme and a halfe , make them into powder , and make a perfume . a perfume against the corruption of the aire . take red roses , spikenard , wood of aloes , costus , rosemary , masticke , red saunders , bdellium , labdanum , olibanum , saffron of each a dramme and a halfe , dock roots , pepper , yellow sanders of each three drammes , cardamomes , cubebes , camphor , of each halfe a dramme , five graines of muske , put them into powder , and make little trochis : with rose water . suffumigations for the lungs . a perfume against the ulcers of the lungs . take coriander seeds , red roses , mastick , frankincense , mirrhe of each three drammes , benjamin , storax , labdanum , hypocistidos of each two drammes ; auripigmentum a dramme , powder them , and make trochis . with turpentine , and use them being a remedie against the ulcers of the nostrills , eares , and matrix . another when there is any inflammation . take coriander seeds prepared , red roses of each an ounce , labdanum , hypocistidos of each three drammes , white and red sanders of each two drams , poppie heads , cortex , mandragora of each two drammes ; storax , benjamin , of each a dramme , auripigment : halfe a dramme , make them into trochis : with gumme dragant dissolved in rose water : a perfume against the cough : take masticke , frankincense of each three drams , all the sanders of each a dramme , storax , labdanum , red roses of each two drammes , make them into powder to perfume night and morning the cap , and things for the head . suffumigations for the matrix . a perfume against the suffocation . there are made ordinarily perfumes of stinking medicaments against the suffocation of the matrix , as assafaetida , galbanum , castor , and old shooes , because of their smell , they cause the suffocation to descend . a perfume for to dry the matrix . take aliptae moschatae , or gallia moschat , halfe an ounce , benzoin , calamus aromaticus , of each two drammes ; make them into trochis : which put upon a chafing dish , and receive the fume into the matrix with a funnell . a perfume to helpe conception . take labdanum , mastick , gall : moschat , cloves , calamus aromaticus , galingall , of each t●ree drammes , red roses two ounces , hypocistidos , castor of each two drammes , make them into trochisques with mucilage of gum : dragant . suffumigations for the ioynts . a perfume against griefe and paine . take leaves of wormewood , rosemary , staechados , cammomill of each two ounces , mirrhe , storax , benzoin of each three drammes , make them into trochisques , and perfume cotton , and apply the cotton very warme . a perfume against hard tumors . take cinnabaris two ounces , bdellium , mirrhe , storax of each halfe an ounce , make them into bullets with turpentine : a perfume to provoke sweat for the poxe . take cinnabaris two ounces , storax , benjamin , and mirthe , of each an ounce , make them into trochisques with turpentine , and perfume all the body except the head . another for the same . take cinnabaris halfe an ounce , frankincense , mastick , of each halfe an ounce , calamus , aromaticus , zedoarie , of each three drammes ; olibanum , sandarac , of each two drammes ; ceruse halfe an ounce , make them into trochisques with turpentine . another perfume for the poxe . take frankincense two drammes , mastick , iuniper , gumme , hypocistidos , of each halfe an ounce , auripigment , three drammes , cinnabatis an ounce , make trochis : with turpentine . odoriferent suffumigations . trochisques of wood of aloes . take wood of aloes , labdanum , of each two drammes , benjamin two drammes , storax halfe a dramme , sugar candie three ounces , muske three graines , make them into trochis : with rose water . trochis : of gallia moschata . take wood of aloes five drammes , ambergreece three drammes , muske a dramme ; make them into trochis : with gum : dragant dissolved in rose water . an odoriferent bag. take cubebs halfe a dramme , cloves , nigella of each a dramme and a halfe , beate them together , and sow them in a little bag . powder of violets . take ireos root of florence halfe a pound , roses foure ounces , ciprus roots , marjoram , cloves of each an ounce , yellow sanders , benjamin of each foure ounces , storax an o●nce , beate them into powder . another powder of violets . take ireos root of florence foure pound , dry marjoram foure ounces , calamus aromaticus three ounces , roses and violets of each five ounces , cloves halfe a dramme , muske a dramme , make them into a very fine powder . a pomander . take storax an ounce , cloves two drammes , benjamin , halfe an ounce , ambergreece halfe a dram , muske fifteene graines , powder of violets a little ; incorporate them all together with rose water . a pomander against pestilentiall aire . take labdanum , storax of each a dram , cloves halfe a dram , camphor , spikenard , nutmeg of each seven graines , beate them into fine powder , and make them into bullets with gum : dragant dissolved in rose water . a pomander which looseneth the belly by the smell . take scammonie , mirrhe , aloes , of each a dram , esula , coloquintida , of each a dramme and a halfe , beate them well together with the juyce of coriander and make two balls . candles to perfume the aire . take benjamin , storax , of each foure ounces , frankincense , olibanum , of each twelve ounces , labdanum eighteene ounces , nigella an ounce , coriander seeds , iuniper berries , of each halfe an ounce ; liquid storax fixe ounces , turpentine halfe an ounce ; forme them into candles with gum : dragant and rose water . odoriferent candles against venome and the plague . take labdanum three ounces , storax ten drams , benjamin sixe drammes , frankincense an ounce and a halfe , staechados two ounces , red roses , cloves of each three ounces , citron peele , yellow sanders , of each three drammes , iuniper berries halfe an ounce , muske and ambergreece of each halfe a scruple , forme them into candles with gum : dragant dissolved in rose water . musked sope. take foure pound of castle sope , cut it into small pieces ; then take powder of cloves and white sanders of each two ounces , benjamin an ounce , muske twenty graines ; incorporate them all together , and put to them two or three drops of oyle of cloves or nutmegs . finis . a table of that which is contained in the first booke . the manner to make clysters . pag. 1 the manner to prepare suppositories pag. 8 a certaine remedie to loosen the belly of those which are bound , and will not use clysters nor suppositories pag. 9 the manner to make injections pag. 11 to make pessaries pag. 12 to make ptisan simple ibid. to make barly water pag. 13 the manner to take bezoar ibid. to make hydromell pag. 14 to make ptisan laxative pag. 15 to make laxative medicines of divers fashions ibid. to make water of rubarbe pag. 17 to make a purging broath pag. 18 to make a bolus of cassia pag. 22 the manner to make vomits pag. 24 to make gargarismes pag. 25 to make emulcions pag. 26 to make almond milke pag. 27 to make a hordeat pag. 28 to make tablets of sugar of roses ibid. to make frontalls pag. 29 to make oxicrat pag. 30 to make oxirrhodin ibid. to make hydrelium pag. 31 to make epithemes ibid. to make sternatutories pag. 33 to make fumes or perfumes ibid. to make fomentations ibid. to make cataplasmes pag. 34 to make linements pag. 36 an excellent oyntment for a burne pag. 37 to make a refreshing cerat ibid. to make colyriums pag. 38 to make vessicatories ibid. to make washings for the feet and legs pag. 40 of baths ibid. a catalogue of those instruments whith the rich ought to have in their houses pag. 41 a catalogue of those medicaments which the rich ought to have in their houses ibid. a charitable and notable advertisement to the publicke pag. 44 the end of the table . a table of treatises and chapters in the last booke . a catalogue of all the instruments necessary to furnish an apothecary pag. 65 of clarification pag. 67 to clarifie decoctions and infusions a part without sugar pag. 69 to clarifie apozeams with syrups , and also to make clarified whey pag. 70 to draw iuices pag. 71 to draw juyce of quinces pag. 72 to draw the juice of red and damaske roses ibid. to draw the juice of mulberries pag. 73 to draw the juice of cherries . ibid. to draw the juice of citrons and lymons pag. 74 to clarifie the said juices ibid. to draw the juice of apples and to clarifie them pag. 76 to boyle sugar to the height , to make tablets of sugar of roses ibid. of infusions to make syrups pag. 79 to know when syrups are boyled enough ibid. for to remedie those syrups which are to much boyled , or to little , or candied pag. 80 to draw the pulpe of dates pag. 81 to draw pulpes of cassia , tamarinds , prunes , &c. ibid. of medicaments which are put in powder , and first of sene pag. 82 the manner to dry medicaments which are afterwards put in powder pag. 83 how you must powder mirrhe , aloes , rubarbe , saffron , and assafaetida pag. 84 how to powder scammony , and how to powder mastick pag. 85 to powder trochis : of agarick ibid. to powder camphor and cinnamon pag. 86 of the infusion of oyles ibid. of the boyling of oyles pag. 87 of the boyling of plaisters ibid. to wash hogs grease for unguent : rosat : pag. 88 to wash ceruse pag. 89 to wash litarge ibid. to burne and wash lead pag. 90 to prepare tuttie stone ibid. to calcine roman vitriol pag. 91 to make creame and salt of tartar pag. 92 the second treatise of syrups . to make syrup of violets pag. 93 of infusion of violets and damaske roses pag. 95 to make syrup of coltsfoot pag. 96 to make syrup of damaske roses ibid. to make syrup of red poppies pag. 97 to make syrup of water lillies ibid. to make syrup of maidenhaire pag. 98 to make syrup of iujubes ibid. to make syrup of marsh mallowes pag. 99 to make syrup of succory with rubarb pag. 100 to make syrup of poppies pag. 102 to make syrup of lymons ibid. to make syrup of quinces ibid. to make syrup of apples pag. 103 to make syrup of mulberries ibid. to make syrup of cherries pag. 104 to make syrup of dried roses ibid. to make syrup of wormewood ibid. of syrups with honey . to make despumd honey pag. 105 to make honey of roses ibid. to make honey of violets pag. 106 to make honey of mercury ibid. of conserves . to make conserve of violets ibid. to make conserve of roses pag. 107 to make conserve of water lillies ibid. to make conserve of coltsfoot ibid. to make conserves of burrage , buglosse , rosemary and betony flowers . pag. 108 the third treatise . to make elect : lenetive for the rich pag. 109 to make elect : lenetive for the poore pag. 111 to make catholicon ibid. to make diaprunes pag. 112 to make diaphaenicon pag. 113 to make benedict laxat : pag. 114 tablets of mechoacan ibid. of trochisques . to make trochis : of agarick pag. 115 to make trochis : of athandal pag. 116 to make trochis : of mirrhe ibid. of pills . to make stomack pills or ante cibum pag. 117 to make pilul : sine quibus ibid. to make pills of agarick pag. 118 to make pills of rubarbe ibid. to make somniferous pills pag. 119 to make powder of three sanders ibid. to make diambra aromat : rosat : pag. 120 to make diatragagant ibid. to make powder of licorish pag. 121 of confect : alkermes hyacinth and venice treacle pag. 122 the fourth treatise . to make oyle of roses pag. 123 to make oyle of violets pag. 124 to make oyle of water lillies ibid. to make oyle of cammomill pag. 125 to make oyle of lillies ibid. to make oyle of wormewood , dill , rue , and marjoram ibid. to make oyle of mastick ibid. to make oyle of capers pag. 126 to make oyle of castor ibid. to make oyle of wormes pag. 127 to make oyle of sweet and bitter almonds ibid. of oyntments . to make unguent basilicon pag. 128 to make ungent aureum ibid. to make unguent aegyptiacum pag. 129 to make muudification of smalladge ibid. to make unguent album pag. 130 to make dissicative red ibid. to make diapompholigos pag. 131 to make unguent populeon ibid. to make oyntment of roses pag. 132 of plasters . to make diachilon plaster pag. 133 to make diapalma pag. 134 to make emplast : divinum ibid. to make plaster of betony pag. 135 of the distillation of waters pag. 136 of treacle water ibid. of cinnamon water pag. 137 to make hippocras pag. 138 finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a02327-e160 this clyster being very good commeth but to 7. pence . this clyster commeth to 6. pence . this clyster commeth to 6. pence . this clyster commeth to 3. pence . this clyster commeth to 2. pence . this clyster commeth to 4. pence . this clyster 4. pence . this clyster 2. pence ob . this clyster 4 pence . this clyster 3. pence . this clyster 6. pence . this with the sugar of roses 8. pence . note . this clyster 20. pence . this clyster a shilling . this clystes 10. pence . note . note . note . each suppositorie cōmeth to 2. pence ob . each suppositorie a halfe penny . each suppositorie a halfe penny . each a halfe penny . note . note . this infusion commeth to 6. pence . this iniecton with the syrup 10. pence . each injection 2. pence . note . this pessarie 2 pence . this pessarie 3. pence . this ptisan 3. pence . the best bezar 2. pence the graine . this hydromell 4. pence . this ptisan 6. pence . note . each taking will amount to 2. pence . note . this water 4 pence . this water 6. pence . this 6. pence . this decoction 6. pence . this medicine 8. pence . this medicine 10 pence . this medicine 18. pence . this medicine 2. shill . note . note . this 6. pence . this medicine 14. pence . this medicine 2. pence . this 2. pence . this 4. pence . this bolus 18. pence . there will be an ounce and halfe . this decoction 2. pence . note . this bolus 18. pence . this bolus 18. pence . this bolus 12. pence . this 4. pence . this 8. pence . this 8. pence . this bolus 8. pence . note . this vomit 2. pence . this 2. pence . this 2. pence . this 1. penny . this 4 ▪ this 2. pence this 1. pen● halfe penny . this 1. penny this 4. pence this 3. pence . this 9 pence . note . this 6. pence . this 6. pence . this frontall 3. pence . this 2. pence . this 1. penny . this 1. penny . this oxirrhod 4. pence . this 4. pence . this epithem 1. penny . this with the treacle 18. pence . this 16. pence this 1. penny . this 1. penny , or 2. pence . this 4. pence . this 3. pence . note . note . these two bags 6. pence . this 2. pence . this cataplasme 4. pence . note . note . this 8. pence . this 4. pence . this 2. pence . this 4. pence . note . this cerat 9. pence . this colyrium 2. pence . this 1. penny . this 3. pence . each vessicate 1. penny . each 1. penny . each 1. penny . this 6. pence . notes for div a02327-e17020 note . note . note . note . note . notes for div a02327-e19630 note . notes for div a02327-e21010 note . note . notes for div a02327-e22170 note . note . natures explication and helmont's vindication. or a short and sure way to a long and sound life: being a necessary and full apology for chymical medicaments, and a vindication of their excellency against those unworthy reproaches cast on the art and its professors (such as were paracelsus and helmont) by galenists, usually called methodists. whose method so adored, is examined, and their art weighed in the ballance of sound reason and true philosophy, and are found too light in reference to their promises, and their patients expectation. the remedy of which defects is taught, and effectual medicaments discovered for the effectual cure of all both acute and chronical diseases. / by george starkey, a philosopher made by the fire, and a professor of that medicine which is real and not histrionical. starkey, george, 1627-1665. 1658 approx. 345 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 201 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a93809 wing s5280 thomason e1635_2 estc r13346 99859460 99859460 111543 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a93809) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 111543) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 206:e1635[2]) natures explication and helmont's vindication. or a short and sure way to a long and sound life: being a necessary and full apology for chymical medicaments, and a vindication of their excellency against those unworthy reproaches cast on the art and its professors (such as were paracelsus and helmont) by galenists, usually called methodists. whose method so adored, is examined, and their art weighed in the ballance of sound reason and true philosophy, and are found too light in reference to their promises, and their patients expectation. the remedy of which defects is taught, and effectual medicaments discovered for the effectual cure of all both acute and chronical diseases. / by george starkey, a philosopher made by the fire, and a professor of that medicine which is real and not histrionical. starkey, george, 1627-1665. helmont, franciscus mercurius van, 1614-1699. [64], 336 p. printed by e. cotes for thomas alsop at the two sugar-loaves over against st. antholins church at the lower end of watling-street, london, : 1657. [i.e. 1658] actual publication date from wing. annotation on thomason copy: "jan: 16"; the 7 in the imprint date has been crossed out and replaced with a "6". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine, magic, mystic, and spagiric -early works to 1800. 2008-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-12 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-12 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion natures explication and helmont's vindication . or a short and sure way to a long and sound life : being a necessary and full apology for chymical medicaments , and a vindication of their excellency against those unworthy reproaches cast on the art and its professors ( such as were paracelsus and helmont ) by galenists , usually called methodists . whose method so adored , is examined , and their art weighed in the ballance of sound reason and true philosophy , and are found too light in reference to their promises , and their patients expectation . the remedy of which defects is taught , and effectual medicaments discovered for the effectual cure of all both acute and chronical diseases . by george starkey , a philosopher made by the fire , and a professor of that medicine which is real and not histrionical . london , printed by e. cotes for thomas alsop at the two sugar-loaves over against st. antholins church at the lower end of watling-street , 1657. to the right honourable robert tichbvrne , lord maior of the famous city of london ; george starkey a philosopher by the fire , wisheth all temporal and eternal felicity . right honourable , it may be wondred at by many , and censured by some , that i to your lordship so very a stranger , should be so bold as to presume this dedication ; and your honour may perhaps account it as strange , if not rash , that without pre-acquainting your lordship , i should so venturously undertake to do it . the wonder and censure of others i shall let pass , as not esteeming either the applause or censure of the vulgar , which is as uncertain and as changeable as the winde : but for your lordships dissatisfaction , which i only imagine may be caused by this dedication , from him who is meerly a stranger to your honour ; for remeving of that , let me only crave your lordships patience , and i doubt not , but to give such rational excuses of this presumption , as may reconcile your honours ( not offended , but perhaps somewhat amused ) thoughts , toward your unknown , but cordially honouring servant . first therefore let me assure your lordship , that it was not my own motion , that incited me to present your honour with this tractate , ( although the worth thereof may deserve an honourable patron ) for i was sensible what boldness it might be esteemed , for me so unknown to your honour , to dare to engage ( as i may say ) your lordship in my quarrel , by calling on your honour to partronize a polemical discourse ; on which ground , and for which reason i intended to let it pass without any dedication , till at length i was perswaded , by a good friend , one in command at present in the army , to do what here i undertake , be convinced by his solid arguments of the conveniency of the same . among which arguments the most commanding was , when he upon his knowledge of your lordships inclination , having been long acquainted with your honour , assured me how great a lover of ingenuity and art he had ever known you , and by reason of your accomplished parts , how competent and able a judge of the same : which was an unanswerable inducement to me , to take the boldness of presenting this to your lordship , as to an able person to censure the same according to its worth and deserts . hereby ( right honourable sir ) i shall give a greater lustre to the truth for which i contend , when i submit and prostrate what i have done , to yours honours judgement for censure , and at your feet for patronage ; confiding so to the truth of what i have written , as to assure my self , and promise your honour such a foster childe , as will never shame its patron ; and doubt not , but so long as the art of medicine shall continue in esteem , which will alwaies be , so long as it is of use , this short discourse will live with credit , and where-ever it is preserved or kept , there it will make mention of your honours worth and desert , and will prove a more clear and lasting monument , then any statue of brass or marble . for , my lord , i am past doubt assured , that this small treatise will be in esteem not in england only , but in other nations , as being drawn out of the fountain of most undoubted experience : in which though i am severe in reproving common abuses , yet is it not without cause , as if your lordships most weighty affairs will permit you so much leisure , as to look into the epistle following , and the book it self , you will see most evidently . 't is not ( my lord ) all our doctors ( but only such as are so qualified , according to what i reprove ) that i tax , and seek to reclaim ; for several among them ( to my knowledge ) are chymically given , as namely doctor ridgely , dr. gurdane , dr. goddard of oxford , dr. french , dr. bathursts , dr. currar , and many others , who have chosen the chymical for the true way , and would wholly reject the other , were they but ( arcanorum adepti ) masters of those secrets which are taught and preparable by true pyrotechny , after which they seek seriously and sedulously : only some thinking all art with them already , defend their method , against their knowledge and conscience . my lord , who can be a fitter person for this dedication then your self ? whose office cals upon you , and whose power enables you to minde these things here within your honours jurisdiction , whose vigilancy and care in your place hath been already eminent in reforming several abuses in this city , which by being so long undisturbed , could almost have claimed prescription , ( were it not that what is unrighteous cannot claim prescription ) but the subject of my ensuing discourse is a discovery not of an abuse of selling beer , for which if a man give a halfpenny too much , he is only so much the poorer , and that is all , but it concernes the precious life of thousands , and their health , a thing so much beyong estate , that skin for skin , nay all the world ( if a man had it ) oft times would he give for to save the same . this as it is of high concernment to the sick , so ought it to be the principal care of the magistrate to see that nothing be maintained under colour of law , that may really prejudice , and indanger the life and health of any . in vain are men secured from injury done to their goods , estate , credit , and liberty , while the most precious of all , their lives , are monopolized , and by colour of patent , bought and sold . our doctors , ( i mean the major part of them ) maintain a method of medicine , which i impugn ; the controversie concernes the way of restoring diseases safely , speedily , and certainly , in which your honour , as a chief magistrate , is nearly concerned ; in vain are theeves and enemies provided against , if a method be by authority confirmed and defended , which is of more dangerous consequence as to killing of many actually and immediately , of more by not restoring such diseases , which may easily be restored , were but the right way of medicine allowed and incouraged . what their method performes is obvious to , and the by-word of the veriest rusticks in the nation , and the reason why more cannot be expected from that method , is because it is erroneous and defective , dangerous and impotent , partly lame and ridiculous , partly lamentable and desperate : to this method as a remedy of its defects , i have opposed the way of curing and restoring diseases by powerful medicaments , which are adaequate remedies to the causes of the same , and have hazarded the cause in hand , and my reputation on the trial , if they dare to take me up : but i expect a more churlish answer ( by club , or fist arguments ) that they will endevour to suppresse what they cannot overcome , against which violence i humbly entreat your honours interposition , in lieu of whose protection , in what only is just , and christian , i promise that if they will contend with me i will ingage on these grounds , that whatsoever they shall agree to give me for every cure , i will forfeit twice as much for every one not cured in the time agreed on ; that is , in all feavers continual , fluxes , and pleuresies , in four daies ; in agues ( not hyemal quartanes ) in four fits , in hecticks and chronical diseases in thirty ( at most forty ) daies , ( now under continual feavers i comprehend calentures , small pox , measles , &c. which are of that head ) provided they will be upon the same lay with me in as many patients as i have for my share , which let them be divided by tens , they to divde one ten , and i another , and alway the divider to have the five patients which the chooser leaves ; i will engage to perform all my cures without bloud-letting , purging by any promiscuous purge , or vomiting by any promiscuous vomit , that is , which will work on all indifferently sick or no , without vesication , or cautery , without making any issue , or curious rules of diet , without clyster or suppository , and let them perform their cures how they can , by choosing one or more ( nomine omnium ) to maintain the contest ; and if i wave the combate on these terms , let me be suspended from ever practising , as a vain-glorious boaster , and if they win of me , i will recant my opinion with the greatest both solemnity and ignominy they can devise to enjoyn me to . this as a tryal of art or skill is the true touchstone by which i shall stand or fall if they please , but i fear they will not engage , some of them knowing this by my medicaments ( besides my own practise ) one in town here cures more annually , then any of their colledge , the man a known man for honesty and religion , and several others both in this city and the countrey , whom i can call for testimonies of the safety and efficacy of these true pyrotechnical remedies , who by my directions cure many safely and certainly , seldome missing the final cure , ever giving ease , unlesse the ficklenesse of the patient , or his extreme weakness before administration hinder the same ; but i fear to be too troublesome to your lordship , whose serious affairs will scarse permit you leisure to peruse a tedious dedication : which mature consideration cals me off in time , and commands me to make excuse for being already ( i fear ) too long , only i beseech with your pardon your acceptance of this small present , as an acknowledgement of your honours worth and virtue , and an expression of that esteem which he hath of your lordship , who is , my lord , your honours real though undeserving servant , geo. starkey . to the studious lover of truth and sedulous searcher after natures secrets , george starkey ( a philosopher by the fire ) wisheth all success and felicity . this apologetical discourse studious and courteous reader , must expect to meet with three sorts of men , and will finde various entertainment from each sort of them . first , some who are concerned in this quarrel , and will think themselves much engaged by it ; such are those who are by this short discourse reproved , and will be apt to complain , that i am too invective and satyrical against them . to whom i answer , that the discourse is indeed polemical , but the first that entred the list were themselves , whom because they bid defiance to the truth here asserted , with heaps of reproches on such who were eminent in this art ( here defended ) i was bold to meet , & to ingage conflict withal , and let them not complain , if they meet with shot for shot , and blow for blow . 't is true , a midle answer puts away wrath , but that is wisdome where the wrathful party and his anger is to be regarded , but where equal terms are , there i know no reason , but a fool may be answered according to his folly . paracelsus , basilius , valentine , quercetan , suchten , phaedro , helmont , &c. were men for learning and worth as eminent as any the most eminent chieftains on the adverse side ; and though of artists i confess my self the meanest , and most unworthy to encounter , yet so far as concerns the controversie in hand , i will not give back an inch for the stourest of the contrary party . are they physicians by profession ? so am i , educated in the schools as well as they , graduated as well as they , nor was my time idly spent , but in the tongues and course of philosophy usually taught , in logick and other arts read in the schools , though i will not boast my self into comparison with any , yet if any be desirous to assay what i am therein , i suppose i shall give such an account as not to render my self the repute of an idle mis-spender of my time and years . 't is not because i never read the usual philosophy , that i do not embrace it , nor because i am a stranger to the usual method of medicine , that i speak and write against it , and rather choose the true chymical way then it . for the vulgar logick and philosophy , i was altogether educated in it , though never satisfied with it ; at length aristotles logick i exchanged for that of ramus , and found my self as empty as before : and for authors in medicine , fernelius and sennertus , were those i most chiefly applyed my self to , and galen , fucksius , ayicen , and others i read , and with diligence noted , what i could apprehend useful , and accounted this practical knowledge a great treasure , till practical experience taught me , that what i had learned was of no value , and then was i to seek for a new path , in which i might walk with greater certainty , and by gods blessing , by the tutorage of the fire , i attained true medicines taught obscurely by paracelsus , but only explained by labour and diligence in the art of pyrotechny . and that i am a litle severe in reproving abuses in the common way committed , i appeal to themselves , if what i write be not rather too milde then to invective , if so be that what i reprove be true , and that it is true all the world knows , and my reasons to prove by charge will stand firm , till by some of their champions overthrown , which i doubt will never be . i would some of their side would dare to enter into the lists and maintain ( if possible ) their rotten building , their declaimed method , to whom i shall give a short survey of his task . that all diseases ( in kinde ) are curable ; that i affirm , and they deny . that the vulgar medicaments according as they are allowedly prepared ; are not true medicaments , for want of a right philosophical preparation . that he that is a master of true medicaments , may cure any disease , safely , speedily , and certainly , without vesications , fontinels , phlebotomy , catharticks or emeticks . that all feavers continual may be cured in three daies , or four at most ; and also pleuresies ; and he who cannot do that ordinarily , without bloud-letting or purging , is no physician . that all agues , yea though quartans , may be cured in three fits , four at most , unlesse that some hectical addition be , and make the disease harder of cure , or the extreme debility of the patient make him not capable of so speedy recovery , and yet so in no long time may the disease be restored . that salivation in the lues or tubbing is a dotage , and that that disease may be cured though old ( in few weeks ) without either . that gonorrhoea's , though virulent , may be cured by killing the venome , by antidotary remedies , in few daies , without any purgation , save by urine and a gentle sweat . that all fluxes , though bloudy , may be cured in three or four daies , without any clyster , or purge , or the like , by appeasing the inraged archeus of the place , which is soon done , and the peccant occasional matter , will be avoided by urine , and ordinary siege , as also by gentle sweat insensibly . that the true preparation of all vegetals , takes away all the purging virulency , and the vomitive quality of them , except only in opium , whose deleteriall quality is turned into a strong diaphoretick , curing the cough , and all feavers , and agues , except of the highest graduation , which require as powerful arcana's , as the hereditary gout , or inveterate epilepsie . that salt of tartar volatized , or made into a spiritual elixir , with any essential oyle , is an absolute corrector of all vegetal poysons ( none excepted ) and is therefore a key to command the specifick excellency that is in any concrete of the whole vegetable family . that his elixir alone is a better remedy for any either acute or chronical disease , then any preparable according to the common dispensatories , and therefore that way which furnisheth its sons with thousands of other medicines , must needs be the better way . that though opium corrected , after large sweat , the next day cause vomit ( with some only ) yet it is not to be reckoned among the common vomits , because first it works certainly by vomit with none : and secondly the same medicine takes away the vomitive quality in all other medicines or simples , as elaterium , hellebore black or white , cambogia , &c. as also the purgative venomes of scammony , zalap , rhabarb , &c. and having corrected them , loseth its own vomitive quality together with them . that by mean of this key specifick remedies may be had among the nobler vegetals ( imprisoned ( as they are ) under the custody of their virulency ) for all diseases in kinde , though not so speedy , and as universal , as by means of the great arcana's , yet with care , diligence and industry , the cures may by as certain and safe , though ( in the extremest diseases ) in a longer time performed . this is a short summary of my following treatise , which i shall maintain and defend against the most stout adversary , that either by polemical writings , or by actual demonstration , and he that will confute me , let him overthrow those aphorisms by argument and by experiment , & phillida solus habeto . 't is not unlikely but some captious antagonist may censure my aphorisms , as oftentatory , because many of them do lay down what i promise to be the effect of the art by me commended , and many of them describe medicines unknown to their sect , and therefore such which they neither do nor willingly would beleeve to be in nature , and therefore may think to put all off with a laugh , that i should challenge any adversary to fight on ground which for ought they know is only imaginary , like the ground in the moon , and against weapons , which for ought they will believe , are as meerly romantick as the knights errant enchanted spears , swords or shields . to such a merry antagonist , i might ( as soon as he hath done his laughing ) reply in the known verse , fit for the purpose : per risum multum facile est cognoscere stultum . but i shall forbear any such aggravating proverbs , and come soberly to argue the case , and to give an account of my so doing , such as to a man rational may be satisfactory . go too my friend , is not the controverted question concerning the true art of curing diseases ? you say your art is the right , and the art professed by paracelsus , helmont , &c. and commended by me , is wrong : i maintain the contrary sentence , which sentences of ours being contradictory each to other , cannot possibly be both true ; i to make it appear that i am not ignorant of your way and method , oppose your diaeticall prescriptions as foppish , your bloud-letting , scarifications , vesications , fontinels , either by cautery , or knife , to be cruel , needlesse dotages , so far are they from being the prescriptions of true art. i oppose your medicaments as dangerous , provoking nature by their venomous virulency ( as we use to say ) ad restim , and forcing it to play one game for all , hoping that possibly ( for it is no necessary consequence ) in this commotion of the archeus , by being put into such eminent danger , it may forget its former anger , through the present fear , and in labouring to expell so dangerous an enemy , may with it dislodge its former troublesome guest ; this art sometimes takes effect , and often it makes quick dispatch of both disease and life , and therefore is no more to be used according to true reasons dictate , then a man or woman in an ague or fit of the gout is to be thrown into a river , because fear of drowning , or a sudden dangerous fright , hath been known oft to cure , one , and ease the other . i have rejected your cordials , coolers , &c. as ridiculous , ( barely palat-pleasing ) toyes , and your diet-drinks , as non-sensical , fortuitous prescripts , your locks , tablets , species , conserves of fox-lungs , &c. as only mimical jugling feats , to multiply your fees , and swell the apothecaries bils . had i done no more , i know you would have replyed like oyster-women , and sung your triumphs with contumelies and reproaches without allowance ; therefore to cut your combs before you crow , i have propounded the true standard of being each of us judged by , and that is by our work , the only true way of esteeming each workman . for when i have spoken what i can in behalf of my way and medicaments , and you declamed till your lungs be weary , in commendation of your method , this at last will be the searching question to both of us , what is the end of my art , and your method ? and whether of both doth most good ? the end propounded to , and promised by both , is curing and restoring disease ; this if your method can do better then my medicines , it will be applauded notwithstanding my contempt of it , and if not , it will fall , notwithstanding your high commendation of the same . in the comparison of way with way , and art with art , which is better it may be true , that both may be good , but i have proved your method to be erroneous , your art untrue , and your medicaments to be only nominally such , but really poysons ; and yet if i had done no more , you would i doubt not have recriminated , ( a poor way of answering a charge ) though without any proof . now because i did expect from you recrimination , i have to anticipate your objection , rejected all mercurial and antimonial medicaments , either vomitive , purgative , or salivative , as being sallets for your own apparatus , pigs of your own sow , adopted sons of your own method , as also all vegetals , ( so long as either purgative or vomitive ) and their oyles , so long as oyles , and their salts , so long as fixt ; we renounce from our mysterie , and leave them to you , finding them with you , [ ut similes labris lactucas ] . but if any of you shall say , that you know not any such preparations as i mention , and therefore do not mention , and therefore do not believe the commendations of them : then say i , why do you judge and censure an art you know not ? why condemn you and reproach artists , while you understand not what they professe ? for shame cease imitation of the fox , and condemn not those hens for lean , and grapes as sowre , which are too high out of your reach . we knew your art both theorically and practically , before ever we disliked it ; learn at least this candor from your professed antagonist . therefore according to what we know , we come to your own doors , and dare you to combat , we defie your clysters as ridiculous , your purges , and vomits , and bloud-letting , as dangerous ; your issues , cauteris , blistering , &c. as cruell and needlesse ; and in a word , your whole method we have impugned . now because it may truly be replyed to what i have said , that if a cure be never so desperate , or uncertain , or cruell , yet it is good ( if it may do good ) to be used , provided no better way can be had , since ( not only a little bloud ) but skin for skin a man would be content to give to save his life . therefore ( and very seasonably ) did i lay down the efficacy of medicines preparable by that art which i commend , and have instanced in those remedies which will perform my promise therein , which was an absolutely required task , for the making good of my assertion . for if my medicines would only do what your method would perform , as speedily and as safely , yet it were the better , as being more simple , lesse chargeable , not tying the patient to such curiosity in diet , nor by far so cruel , as using none of all your martyrdoms and butcheries . but if my medicaments will perform what your method accounts impossible , and therefore dare not promise , nor give hopes of , as in the cure of the palsie , epilepsie , gout , agues , kings-evill , &c. as also the lues inveterate , without tubbing , or salivation , in gonorrhoea's of all sorts , without purgation or vomiting , or detaining within doors , and will cure all acute diseases , as feavers , fluxes , and pleuresies , calentures , small-pox , and measles , at the utmost in four daies , without blouding , or purging , without suffering the small-pox to fill , but by an antidotary killing the venome , attenuating and avoiding the peccant matter by the pores , and mortifying the venomous corruptor of the bloud , not suffering the archeus to make any purulent matter ; and in all this performance , not tormenting the patient with forbidding drink ( a common cruelty in the vulgar method ) but allowing good beer , and wine moderately , in the most deplorable feavers ; if i say this be made good , certainly , ordinarily , and safely , then it must follow , that your method is but a bloudy cruelty , and a tyrannous cheat , no more to be pleaded for or defended , then baal was to be pleaded for by israel , who were the people of god. what i have said of the medicaments commended by me , i will hazard the cause totally upon making it good , and can give past instances if required ; but if any shall undertake to combate with me , we shall not go to rake up things past , for to finde examples , but hic rhodus , hic saltus esto . if the methodists dare to contend with me , if i do not stand contest , let me for ever be branded for a vain-glorious boaster , and till they do that , they must never expect victory . if their method have done and can do what i promise by true chymical remedies , known to me , and preparable by that art professed by paracelsus , helmont , &c. let them take up the cudgels and come forth ; or if they will only try me , let them only give me as much for each party cured , as i will forfeit for each uncured of a thousand in acute diseases in four daies , that is , in feavers , pleuresies , small-pox , measles , fluxes , calentures , and agues in four fits , not hectical , or if quartan and hecticall , in four weeks , provided the strength be not wasted to despair ; and if i slink the proof of experiment , let me be reputed what they please , and if i cure not six for one , i will recant what ever i have written publickly ; let them do the same if they dare . and as for the dangerousnesse of my medicaments , which i know they will insinuate ; that is but a meer bug-bear , by which ignorant people are frighted without cause , or ground , as the jesuites are reported to affright their deluded catholicks , by telling them that the english since the casting of the popes supremacy , are turned into monsters , which those who know our nation see to be but an invention , to keep their people under restraint , from falling into that religion , which they call and account heresie . i before advised the reader , that by the volatile salt of tartar all vegetable poysons are so corrected , as not to leave the least footsteps of the same , and that without decoction , but only by digestion in a heat answerable to the heat of the sun , in which warmth , they in short space are turned into meer reall salt , which will crystallize like sugar-candy , tincted according to the concrete , and retaining so much of its taste and odour , as the [ magnum oportet , or vita media ] will retain . so far then are these medicaments from being poyson , that my self will take of hellebore , or elaterium ( two churlish poysons ) or any other vegetal , of the most malignant quality , a dram at a dose , and that on a fasting stomach , and fast after it two , three , or four hours ; and let any galenist do the like , and i will lay down the cudgels . but i have sung long enough to deaf men , i shall have done with these captious readers , and shall come to speak a word to those who are better tempered , after i have first given one word of admonition , to prevent a critick . and that is , if that any faults chance to escape the presse , my leisure not permitting me to attend it , they be attributed to their true cause ; one ( in perusing part of this treatise , as it was brought me by the stationer before all was perfected ) i observed remarkable , and that is a large anachronism , which i cannot tell if or no , it were an error of the printer , or a slip of my pen ; this i am sure , it is a fault about of the bottome of the 16. page , where in stead of ( though he viz. aristotle , in many places severely carped at galen , ( read ) be severely carped at by galen ) which was my meaning , not being ignorant of the number of years between aristotle , alexanders tutor , who was son to philip , the first founder of the grecian monarchy , and galen who lived since christ , ( of whom , and moses also he wrote blasphemously enough ) in the flourishing of the roman empire . other faults i observed , and some may be which escaped by observation , where either a word or letter may be defective or redundant , which any candid reader may correct with his pen , by the direction of the sense : and now i come to the second sort of readers , to speak one word to them . and those are such who being indifferent on either side , are apt to incline to that part , which hath and brings the best reason , such perhaps may at first sight blame me for too tart and satyrical to whom i shall answer with the comoedian , in dicendo is operâ plerumque abutitur , non qui argumentum narrat , sed qui malevoli poetae maledictis respondet : i do but answer their reproaches oft and betterly cast on paracelsus , and helmont , and many other worthy artists in the chymical mystery , which if i wipe off , and shew the impartial reader , that they are but spots in their own eyer , which causing their sight to dazle , they imagine to be on other mens garments , ( which how substantially it is proved , i appeal to the reader ) then let no man wonder , if i tax their abuses very sharply , who were wont to make faults in others , and then reproach them is if they were reall . what i complain against in them , is no more then what several of their apothecaries have seriously complained of to me , with protestations how they are tyred out with their method , the effect of medicines being such , that an honest apothecary dare scarce appear with his bils , because he so oft told that such , and such , and other things did not the least good , and yet they must provide and administer what the doctor prescribes , though he be ashamed after to ask his money for it , and seldome receives it without grudging or imprecation . on which account several conscientious apothecaries have been enforced through scruple of their trade , to renounce it , and live in the countrey , on my knowledge ; and several have lamented unto me the languidness of their method , and the burthen that lay on their spirits in the persecution of the same . that satyrically i call them sometimes mr. doctors , as basilius valentine ( domine doctor ) is not because i am ignorant of the impropriety of the speech , but in imitation of the vulgar , and that not impertinently , knowing the rule sentiendum cum philosophis , loquendum ut vulgus ; and therefore whoever will be critical let him spare his animadversion there , since i have saved him the pains , and prevented him . and lastly , i expect some readers of the hermetick family , who wil esteem these lines , as true guides to noble medicines , who i do not doubt will earearnestly expect to hear some tidings concerning the true preparation of the volatile salt of tartar , to operate on , and to prepare metals and minerals ; how by it vegetals may be prepared hath been shewed , which give noble medicaments for the restoring most diseases of all kinds , such to wit , which are not too highly graduated , but where the case becomes too difficult for medicaments of this rank , there let the sulphurs of mineral bodies , such as antimony , or bismuth , be cohobated with an assential oyle , till both be brought over the helm : this volatile sulphur though foetid , turn by a due circulation into an essential salt , and then have you a remedy for most deplorable diseases , which may be further specificated with noble vegetals , as the artist pleaseth , and the strong odor of it by rectification with spirit of wine taken away . yet the spirit of tartar thus volatized with oyles , is the most languid of any , ( there being several waies to perform the same thing ) and each way giving more or less noble spirits ) but one is most noble , and is inferior to none , but the liquor alchalest , by which mercury is so dissolved as to be brought into a sweet oyle or salt , and fragrant , on which though the dissolvent be coagulated , yet it is so noble a preparation of the sme , as may be truly succedaneous to those of the highest liquor ; thus also may be made the anodynous sulphur of venus , and the glorified sulphur of antimony , or of regulus martis , or of the metallus primus , or of any metalline body under luna , and yet on the perfect bodies also , it acts by dissolution , and gets a virtue inferior to few arcana's ; of which operations i have treated in a peculiar treatise entituled , the art of pyrotechny explained and confirmed , &c. to which i remit the reader , as intending ere long to publish it : in the mean time , enjoy these fruits of his labours , who is in all things to serve thee to his power , thine as his own , geo. starkey . nov. 20. 1656. natures explication , & helmont's vindication . the preface or introduction . chap. i. when this question was put to a certain philosopher , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ? what is the best thing ? it was his answer , as is reported of him , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , light : an answer in my opinion no lesse judicious then witty . nor much unlike hereto , was that reply of him who being asked , wherefore he was born ? made this return , ad videndum solem , to behold the sun. for verily there is nothing comfortable , but by reason of its participation of light , darkness being on the contrary a priciple of dread and horror . now what visible light is unto bodily eyes , the same is the light of understanding and knowledge unto the eye of the minde . as then there is no state so solitary and deplorable , as to defect , then the want of light ; so is there nothing more lamentable nor deserving pity , then ignorance and blindness of minde : and of all generations as those were anciently reputed the worst , which sprang out of the corruption of those things which were before the best ; so when the light that is in a man once turns to be darknesse , how great is that darknesse ! as therefore that light is to be accounted the most desirable , and the want of it the most miserable , which concerns the soul or mind ; so of all ignorance , that is the worst , which hath reference to the most noble object ; & by how much the subject of knowledge is better and of more general use , by so much is the deprivement of that knowledge intolerable , and not to be rested in . therefore as he who ( not being able to intercept the light ) shall prevent mens injoyment thereof by putting out their eyes , is worthily accounted most wretchedly cruell ; so he who shall with-hold , or obstruct , or pervert the means of knowledge , in no less , if not far more condemnable . and on the contrary hand , he who shall endeavour to clear those streams of that rubbish and trumpery which hath not only mightily stopt , but also notably pudled the waters of this fountain ; as he attempts a work of more publick concernment , so if he actually perform any thing real herein , he will deserve no less of those who are herein concerned ( which all igenuous men are , or else ought to be ) the saul did of the jabesh-gileadietes , who delivered them from the insulting tyrant , who would put out every mans right eye for a reproach unto israel . now next unto that knowledge which is indeed life eternal , namely to know god the only true god , and whom he hath sent jesus christ ; which knowledge is of everlasting concernment : the most noble is that which discovers the creators wisdom in the creatures , so as to be able distinguish their natures and properties , and to apply them to the use of man , namely , to the restoring of the defects of decaying nature , and the overcoming of diseases , which even unto lamentation do waste and destroy almost in all places the poor distressed members of jesus christ , under which many perish , being in extremity of despair exposed to a sad spectacle , comfortless to the patient , and horrible to the beholders . these diseases and miseries , the fruits of sin , inflicted most justly from the righteous judge , are yet curable by remedies which the almighty hath created , for which end the father of mercies and god of compassion hath also created the physician , that he being an instrument of mercy , in the hand of a merciful father , might make whole and binde up those whom the same god with his hand of justice hath wounded and broken . this in brief is the use of medicinal knowledge , the subject whereof is in the first place , the body and nature of man , to know it both in its integrity and defects : and secondly , all creatures without man , which are to be considered , either more directly ; as they tend to the affording of mediciens , for remedying and preventing defects ; or collaterally , as they serve to elucidate the nature either of defects or remedies . this art or knowledge of all sublunary attainments is the highest , it is the last , and bringeth up the reer , as i may say , unto all the rest ; so that though the geometrician , arithmetician , politician , mechanist , and the like , are not to be despised , yet they fall far short of that dignity which is due to the physician , whose objects is the most worthy of creatures , even man ( who is made little inferior to angles , crowned with glory and honour ) under whose feer all things have been subjected ; yet he for sin is laid under vanity , of which no small part are the distempers and maladies , which his frail life and weak body are subject to . this art or knowledge , as it hath had continual , and shall have perpetual used among men , so god hath been pleased to discover it in some degree and measure in all ages , that in no generation there should be wanting a testimony as of his justice , so of his infinite and transcendent mercy , who is ready as with one hand to chastise and afflict , so with the other to succour and relieve those who are chastised and corrected . those who have been endowed with this skill or science , god endowed also with a heart communicative ; so that they have out of compassion unto those who are in misery , been free in the discovering unto posterity what they understood herein , so far to wit , as might conduce to the stirring up of the ingenuous to a personal further inquiry , and also be a help to them in their search to discover those secrets , which they who were before them found beneficial to the healing of this or that distemper . among whom hippocrates , one of the first and most eminent , who left any thing to us upon record of usefull experimental practice : whose attainments , as they were in reference to the rudeness of his age , admirable ; so his candor in discovering the same was commendable : saving that what he left sincere , hath ( through the abuse of times ) been much corrupted with the placits and invention of such , who not comparable to him in reality , would yet seem to excell him in appa●ency . the excellent vertue of this man as it was alwaies maligned by satan ( to whose malicious disposition it is natural to envie those things most especially , which are or may be of greatest concernment for the good of man , either his spiritual or temporal life ) so through his policy it was soon forgotten by posterity , and his renowned skill , for which he was not without cause named divine hipporates , after his death was so buried with him , that in a short time there was nothing but the bare name thereof retained by his successors . and as nothing strikes a more fatall blow to vertue and verity , then a glorious shew thereof without any reality ; so by this policy satan , that he might , if possible , for ever keep in oblivion this so necessary a science for the use of man , at length about five ages or more from the death of hipporates , galen comes in upon the grecian stage , who as if it were his design to rake up the glowing embers of hippocrates art from under the ashes of forgetfulness , wrote ample tomes concerning this art of medicine ; and that the memory thereof might be kept from future perishing , digested the same into a method , whereby this art might afterwards be communicated by verball tradition in scholastick lectures and disputations . now had satan brought his design unto a full head , which being once on foot , he ceaseth not to prosecute with all possible craft and diligence . for as his chief aim is to sever the shew from the substance , knowing that way to be of all other the most effectual for the fatal suppressing and smothering truth : so this empty shadow was soon had in high esteem , insomuch that being cryed up in the schools it soon got footing all the world over , insomuch that there was no civilized nation or people , how different soever in laws , manners and customes , but with one accord they all submitted to march under galen his banner , and counted it the glory of their studies , and the crown of their labours to receive his badge . and to make this the more plausible , the schools invented their honorary titles , the more to allure students to this their profession , bestowing upon as many as had sucked out by their studies and disputations galens marrow , and learned his method , so as to be able to read a lecture , or make a commentary upon him the title of doctors : insomuch that they drewmultitudes after them ; all , partly through ambition , and partly through pride and sloth , willingly yeelding themselves to be seduced by the common error . by this means the pure fountains of true learning were miserably pudled and poysoned , insomuch that as many as drank of them being lulled into a deep sleep , finding honour and riches in that seeming knowledge which they had drank in , were abundantly contented . yea and to make their station the surer , they decreed , that upon penalty of loss of their gradual titles of honour , nor man should dare to step a step out of the rode-way of galen , whose volumes being by scholastick authority confirmed for text , they left it to the judgment of acute wits to build what they could or would upon this foundation . in the mean time hippocrates , what of his writings were extant , are made use of in subordination to galen , who among his many tedious prattles commented upon hippocrates , drawing him in what he could to his own placits , and where he could not he corrupted him . yea and the arabian writers , both ancient and modern throughout all their books , do all with one neck seem to draw in the yoke of galen . at length this noble science being degenerated into idle speculation , on which was built and edifice looking only to gain and popular applause , first being divided from the truth , was afterwards rent into three divisions , of which each occupied a severall station . first there was the philoslopher or contemplative physician . next the physician or practical philosopher . and lastly , the chirurgion or doctors man , who was to minde things of an inferior rank , as namely , dressing of wounds , setting of bones , the cure or care of ulcers , and the like ; while the doctor who for reverence and profundity of skil deserved a better office , employed himself in the contemplation of diseases and inward griefs : who in the mean time promiseth not to be wanting to the chirurgion in case of any feaverish distempers , which outward miseries and griefs do often cause . thus at length finding this trade to have many clients , through the degeneration of times , the care of medicines and their preparation is judged too sordid a work for master doctor ; and the chirurgion his man , taking state upon him by little and little , waves this work as too mean , or at the least unnecessary for him also : so between them the apothecary is set up as the common shambles , to which both may resort for medicines . the apothecary ( whose work is to be a servant both to the master doctor of physick , and his man doctor of chirurgery , ( who of a barber and wound-dresser which was judged too mean an employment for the doctor ) is by degrees now stept up even to his masters title . the apothecary i say , who is to serve both these in preparing and confounding simples according to their direction by their bils , perceiving his custome to increase , soon waves the one half of his work , namely , the providing of simples ; which gave being to another sort of retainers to this pompous magnificent art , and those are the druggists . thus this blessed science , which in its primitive verity and uncorrupted sincerity , was in great mercy given by a compassonate father for the restoring of poor mortals , whom he in his justice had smitten , and which ought sincerely to be exercised with the same spirit , and for the same end , by which and to which it was given , is contrariwise at length become the engine of oppression , cruelty , and butchery , the prop of pride , and ambition , covetousness and idleness . the philosopher or contemplative naturalist , who , as was before touched , was made a member of this science , as he soon grew distinct both from the doctor , and his man the chirurgion , yea and from his mans man the apothecary , whose work was ( as in a hopsack ) to catch nature , in some one syllogism or other of the three figures ; so also did he soon outstrip both the one and the other in academical esteem , insomuch that his employment being sublimed a degree higher then art , is ranked a mong the liberal sciences . for the schools being indeed the bed of sloth and idleness ( yet adorned with many glorious and painted hangings ) have this perpetual maxime , to esteem those things most highly which are farthest removed from reality , so that soaring into speculations , their station is evermore there , where imagination only hath its being : medicine therefore being made too gross for them by reason of the necessary dependency it hath on practise , they suckt out the universalities of it with the universalities of all other natural practical arts , as geometry , astronomy , uranomancy , geography , arithmetick and the like , which they moulded up into one aery lump of natural philisophy . the standard-bearer of this rabble was aristotle , who though he in many places severely carped at galen , yet forasmuch as they agreed in the main , nemely in point of much apparency with little or no truth , they were both accepted and successively read , aristotle as the father of philosophy , and galen of medicine . thus this mystery of iniquity had its full life and motion , being guarded and graced with a many followers , who though in some things they seem to differ , yet are they but like to samsons foxes looking several waies with their heads , are yet tyed fast by the tails . this pompl of physick and philosophy , it is a wonder how far and how fast it spread ; for according to the proverb , they must needs run whom the devil drives ; it in short space overspread and the known world , so much of it as was in any measure so civilized , as to imploy themselves in learning . yea , and though naturally mens ambition he very great , and the glory of being an inventer of any new ingenuity be much thirsted after in the world , yet was this not able to prevail with any of the succeeding ages , but all with one accord were willing to subscribe , and gloried therein as in a notable deserving trophey . by how much then any one excelled in wit or parts , he was the more ingaged in the maintaining this post with arguments and sophisms , also in epitomizing , illustrating , digesting and confirming galens text , which was accounted the height of scholastick attainments . thus posterity being drawn along as with two coach-horses , with the authority of galen and aristotle , admiration of these was a badge of their academical loyalty ; and whosoever should dare to swarve from these , was branded with a note of infamy ; and so being looked upon as heterodox , was the object of scorn and derision , and what was most grievous of all , was hereby ipso facto , incapble of degrees of honour and preferment , and so conseqeuntly out of the rode-way of serving covetousness , by squeezing money out of the purses of the afflicted , who would willingly give not only their goods , but even skin for skin for the saving of their lives . for from the time that this science degenerated unto the formality of a profession , the schools have alwaies used all diligence to engage the ripest wits fastest unto them ; and for the attaining this end , they have wanted no manner of inviting allurements , as namely honour , respect , worldly esteem , and gain . he then who inclines to ingenuity , soon after he hath some insight in the tongues by education at the grammar school , he is thence transmitted to the academy to be further cultivated . where he learns logically to dispute according to the rules of aristotle ; and withall , exerciseth his oratorial faculty by declamations in turnes ; after that he proceedeth to read physiology according to aristotles doctrine , which is disputed in publick pro and con with a great deal of dexterity . ethicks are added to these studies at spare times , with the principles of metaphysicks and the mathematicks in generall , and some things are performed in hebrew and greek studies . thus at the end of four years upon performing of publick declamations , disputations , and the like , the initiatory title of batchelor of arts is bestowed as a crown of their industry ; from which time till the end of three years , they are to be employed in epitomizing the seven liberal sciences , and reducing them into systemes and synopses , and then with a great deal of honour they are declared masters of the said sciences , and have liberty granted them to apply themselves to the practise of any one or other of them , when ever called unto it . and now the youth stands as a staffe set up , waiting which way it will fall : for this testimony concerning them hath declared them to all the world to be fit to profess any thing . and ( not to speak of the abuse of divinity-profession , which is permitted upon these termes ) if the genius of this arts master ( who hath drunk himself drunk of liberal sciences ) stand toward the profession of physick , ( which he may begin to think of when he is batchelor in arts ) then are there publick professed lecturers , whom he may almost daily hear declaming on that subject ; which lectures if he then attend diligently , and shall peruse anatomists , and read galen over ( at least cursorily ) and collect notes out of him and avicen : if he turn over the herbals , and learn to know some plants by name and sight , and in the mean time in the publick halls shall dispute concerning the use of parts , the generation of man , the elementall quality of some things , as namely , camphire , quicksilver and the like , ( which two simples have , after the discharging of some hundreds , not to say thousands of ergoes , first and last , out of the canons of aristotle and galen , more notably puzled the antagonists , ( who to this day know not on what side to determine ) then ever the devil was puzled to finde the meaning of aristotles entelecheia ) after i say these notable performances , he shall be licensed a practitioner , and dub'd a doctor , provided he will make a great feast , and give store of gloves . by which costly attainment they make sure of these three essential things : first , that none shall be a doctor who hath not so much money to throw away , and they as have , may be concluded to be fine-fingred chubs , who will be more scrupulous of fouling their hands with coals , then careful to keep a good conscience . secondly , that they will not readily despise that honour as trivial , which cost them so dear , which therefore they will readily defend what they can . and thirdly , that upon this score they shall have fat fees , upon which their minds are more set , then how to perform faithfully what they undertake , for gain is the first and last of their intents . and therefore when a physician is to be dub'd a doctor and admitted a brother , the elder brethren to help him in his practice and skill , give him but one general receipt , which is the only one which they have worth communication , and that is , accipe donum , take your fees. and as though counsel in this were not enough , they binde them to it ; and lest they should be out in their receipt , they assign the most convenient time for getting the ingredients , and that is , accipe dum dolet , that is , make sure of your money while the grief is greatest . this is part of the my stery , but not all : for to be sure both from without & from within , they have so far prevailed , as to monopolize the lives of men , ( by which means they know they can command their moneys ) that so they might maintain themselves , their barbers , apothecaries , and druggists after a lord-like way . which patents of monopoly , i i conceive might hence have their original : it may be some of these master doctors have in lieu of vast fees condescended to be very officious about kings , lords , or great persons , in the time of sickness of a wife , husband , brother , son , father , or some near acquaintance or dear friend , to co-work with the providence of god in the quick dispatch of them in their misery by their remedies , who perhaps otherwise might have lingred long , and languished in extremity , or else through the strength of nature , with difficulty recovered that disease , to have possibly fallen into as bad or worse some years after , bothwhich by their medicines they for security it may be also sometimes some such great persons by the good hand of god escape both the disease & their doctors ( yea sometimes when many of them together have consulted by their medicines to make them fat pasture for the worms ) and yet notwithstanding all , god hath restored them from both dangers ( of which that of the doctor is the most formidable , for he either adds load to , or else takes away strength from foyled nature ) and then the physician cries out with the man , who when his followiing friend was struck in the face with a bow ( that he held walking among trees ) and complained of the blow , what a blow would it have struck , quoth he , if i had not held it ? so he , when he sees his miserably enfeebled patient after the disease is gone , what would you have been , had not i let you bloud and purged you , and made you barly water and cooling julips , and given you glysters and cordials to comfort and nourish you ? but as the bow would but have brusht , had not the other held it and bent it , which being held , gave a foul stroke ; so the disease would have come off with less debilitation of the patient , had the physician been further off . thus as well by the not succeding of their remedies , when the patient recovers , whom their nature is to destroy ; and the success of the same when by them a quick riddance is made , credit is gained besides large gratifications : by this means they get favour with princes , of which one notable improvement hath been , that they alone in the world have the priviledge to murther innocent persons , provided they do it according to a methodical way of art. two main grounds of this monopoly are , first , the preservation of their grain and credit , which otherwise gain and credit , which otherwise would much be impaired , were not this provident course taken ; for even old wives and farriers , mountebanks and the like , do with some simple or other , undertake and cure their deserted patients , to their deserved confusion . but secondly , her by they shut the gate to all further search in nature , for as for any among themselves they are sure : for who knowes not the mighty force of education , which being once suckt in ( a teneris annis , as we use to speak ) is so lodged that it is with much difficulty eradicated ; yea , and although an opinion to an uningaged person seem never so absurd , yet to one whom education hath ingaged , it appears not so , yea acuteness makes little to the discovering the weakness of such an opinion , but rather supplies curious and specious arguments to maintain it , and to oppose any contrary . besides in this mystery there is not only a prepossessing of the phantasie and understanding , but also a preoccupation of the will , namely with things by which the will is intangled , as honorary titles of master doctor , your worship , and the like , which together with angels and pieces can as powerfully hush a muttering conscience , and salve a scrupulous breast , when it is stumbled with the frustraneous event of the ridiculous method of medicine , as the same medicine can loose a lawyers tongue and make it rum glib , which would else scarse wag in his clients cause . moreover , truth is not to be catcht with gaping , but with pains infatigable , and serious meditation , which they who are ingaged in many lucriferour visits , cannot attend , they may only read of better things , and say , i would i could see them , but they not coming with a wish , they sigh and say ( audio at vix credo ) and as for their own unsuecessfulness they thus excuse , i proceed according to art , but the blessing is in gods hand , the party was too weak to bear the cure , or was too old , or i was call'd too late , or care was not used in following directions , or the disease was epidemically malignant , or incurable , or some such thing or other is pretended , and so the earth covers their defects . and because they kil not all they meddle with , god by his mercy preventing their endeavours to some , therefore they are not discouraged with the multitudes they either kill or suffer to die miserably under their faithless medicines , while they by their monopolizing patent prevent , lest any with better medicines should shame them . thus i say they have the trade wholly in their own hands , a trade by which they never did nor can cure any , but kill many ; but whatever they have that may do good , they have it from the accidental experiments of old wives , and good folks , who have found or known much good done by this or that herb or simple , which did more good by far when it was simply used by silly women , then when the doctors after had drawn it into receipts , castrating their virtue by confounding with many others in decoction , or otherwise according to their idiotism . whatever then they administer or advise , that doth good , it doth it not upon account of any method or art of theirs , but would work the same effect if applyed by the hand of a rustick , as prescribed by them . yea and often their method of compounding , decocting , and administring both in respect to the dose and time , do notably hinder , if not destroy the working and prevent the good of the applyed remedy , though the doctor little minde that , when once his fee is in his pocket . even the most serious of them will confess , that all their art consists in experimental receipts , which as not being minded by them , i mean the collecting simples in their time , the keeping of them , and ordering in administration , exposeth oft a doctor to scorn , which same simples formerly had commended some well-meaning woman in curing a deserted patient , to the doctors disgrace . whose art , i mean of feeling pulses , tossing urines , and prophesying out of them , stirring of close-stools , letting of bloud , ( at least commanding it to be done ) preaching on the disease , ordering of diet , prescribing purgations and the like , is but a meer imposture , a cheat of the world , a butchering of the sick ( which is even a proverb among the vulgar , yet the doctor minding his sees too much , will not perceive , at least will wink at , being content to bear any thing so he may get money ) for which a dreadfull account will at last be exacted by the just judge , of them who pretending to take the cave of the sick , devour families , and then expect a reward for destroying them . but this only being intended for an introduction , and my propounded scope to discover nature , and withall to vindicate noble helmont from unjust reproaches , i shall leave a while the doctors to their clients , and come to give a brief of this undertaking . first of all let me ingenuously professe , that i have no personal quarrel with any , nor do i upon any such account write prejudicately . secondly , that i purpose not to disparage any thing that is good in them , to make what is bad on my side to appear good , or what is but indifferent to seem excellent , but shall deal as candidly with them as may be . thirdly , that what i write shall not be out of a principle of ( jurandi in verba magistri ) but what i write shall be for explication and for defence , not for repetition sake . now concerning my self it will be requisite that i should speak a little , not out of any content that i take therein , but to give the reader some small satisfaction , in what he may , at least as i conceive , be prejudiced . for mine own part , i know the reward of this my labour will be calumny , yet i will be sure to reproach none , and though i merrily ( and yet not without aversion of spirit ) carp at some things , yet before the close of this treatise , i shall give reasons , i hope , satisfactory for this practise : for — ridentem dicere verum , quis vetat . — if any be troubled at my sporting jests now and then cast , i must needs say there is in my jests nothing scurrilous , immodest , or uncivil , nor any thing bad in them , except it be that they are true , i wish heartily they were not . chap. ii. as touching the art of pyrotechny and chymistry , i must seriously profess , that of all arts in the world it is to me most pleasing , because its principles to an ingenious man are demonstrable by the fire . it was not conceit , nor novelty , nor hope of gain , that allured me , but only love and desire of truth . for i found demonstrably that the foundations of common philosophy were totally rotten . the first suspicion of them was occasioned by a dispute of the possibility of making gold potable , which being by the antagonist held negatively , i , what out of authors and what by study , did so evince the possibility of it , that my arguments were by him unanswerable , and to my self satisfactory . the speculation i confess pleased me well , who above all things in the world prized health , and as my mind was naturally propense to action , i desired much to make it ; and comforting my self with the common maxim , dimidium facti qui bene coepit habet , he who hath well begun hath half done : and remembring that in theory there were but two parts , namely , an sit , & quomodo sit , that a thing may be done , and how . also that the first-could not be irrefragably proved without some knowledge at least in the latter , i collected ( upon this confidence ) out of physick and logical authors , what arguments i could touching the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this subject , whereof i conceived that i fully understood the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . for alas i thought that the logical heads of invention , especially according to ramus , would not sail to unfold to me this whole mysterie . hereupon concluding what i had proved that the thing was fecible , i wrote a congest of methodical arguments which might unfold how ; and here i found my self in a wilde labyrinth , for i was soon by these studies brought to see the rottennesse both of logick and philosophy , and found that he who sought truth of things there , might soon lose himself . this put me upon desire of a more secure path , for now i apprehended ( before years and titles had engaged me ) that besides what i knew in tongues , my skill in logick and philosophy was not worth contemning , yea nothing was in mine eyes more vile . i therefore rejected aristotle and all his fictions , against whose fallacious shew i wrote with a pen dipt in salt and vinegar , yet without gall , a treatise called organum novum philosophiae : but before i could pitch on what way to turn , ( for knowledge i desired too too immoderately ) i wandred through many pensive hours , and waking nights , till at length i got som chymical authors . those then i perused and noted with much diligence , not so much out of desire to rifle their hesperian garden , as to suck out of their principles some solid truth ; for truth i knew was uniform . wherefore as many experiments as i could try i tryed , and took nothing upon any mans trust , so as to build any thing on it , or to draw any conclusion from it : i invented many sorts of furnaces , procured what glasses were possible , with all manner of simples , mineral and metalline especially ( which i most esteemed ) in these i spent my time for several years , and i may say without boasting , that if ever any in the world were an insatigable prosecutor of experiments , i was one . in the mean time the lord was pleased so far to be propitious unto my labours , studies , and many watchings , that he let me see so much of truth , as to make it lovely to me ; for which cause ( next to the glory of god ) i shall prosecute the same during my life . nor was this an imaginary content only , but real , for there is so great variety of objects in nature which are exceedingly delightful to be understood , that the discovery of any of them ( which is usually the crown of serious searches ) is more content , then finding of sought treasure can be to him who in hopes of it digs the earth . and although the wise man by an unerring spirit hath laid all these things under vanity , so that in much knowledge there is much vexation of spirit , yet withall , the scripture teacheth us that the works of god are wonderful , sought out by all that have delight in them ; yea and if a mans heart be not exceedingly out of frame , a man connot behold the excellencies of the creature without a contemplation of the super-transcendent glory , power , and wisdom of the creator , of which all things visible are but emblems . yet do i not deny but that the spirit may be carried forth with too much eagerness after things of this nature , which i have often suspected to be mine own fault , but this is the fault of us , that so immoderately affect outside , as to negnect the inward glory ; and so much admire the apparent glory of things visible , as not enough to adore him who dwelleth in light inaccessible , of whose beauty these are but sparks . there is then on unspeakable benefit may arise to a painful enquirer after the mysteries of nature , in reference to the spiritualizing of the affections , since as civero said of virtue , that if it were to be seen with eyes corporal it would enamo●● the beholders , it may most prioperly be applyed to this case . for who is he who when he beholds gods wonderful wisdom , power , goodness , &c. which all are most obvious in the study of nature , which is one of the books in which the almighty is discovered , that will not cry out with job , i have heard of thee by the ear , but now mine eye soeth thee : and with david , o lord how wonderful are thy works ! the fool conceiveth them not , nor the unwise understandeth them , &c. but considering , that god hath endowed us with a body , in which our soul , which is the divine image , is caged as it were , by means of which we have our place here among natural things . and forasmuch as our life is laid under vanity , of which our diseases to which our body is subject , which are to us the heralds of death , is no small pirt . also since man being by the creators ordaining made lord of the other creatures , and these are made to serve him ; insomuch that there is force concrete which hath not its immediate use applicable to man , either for this necessity or conveniency . and therefore all things are given into his hand , that of them he may take for meat and drink what nature craveth , for raiment what necessity and modesty and decency call for , and likewise for the repairing the defects of decayed nature what is needfull therein : god like a tender father having provided for man in every respect , and on every occasion . i think it a great sottishness in them who cannot see both the nobleness and usefulness that the contemplation of gods works carrieth with it , insomuch that he who shall neglect it , doth neglect in mine opinion a great part ofthe of the task for which he came into the world , and is not to be pityed if he fall short of the comfort , content or benefit that he might reap in the knowledge of the same . now that all creatures have in them a spiritual celestial virtue , i suppose there is none moderately versed in philosophy that will deny , and we shall in its place sufficiently discover , which in concerete bodies is more hidden , most of all in such which are of the most exquisite composition . this celestial spirit is that which is the life , excellency , and perfection of all things in which it is , and though it have received in all specificated subjects a determination , or bounding of its virtue , yet the spirit it self is free to operate upon other subjects , and its operations are received permodum recipientis . now here is the grand fault or defect of those whose office it is more peculiarly to enquire into these things , that they supinely neglect the search of the hiddent spirit , which is in all things by so much the more straightly sealed , by how much the more straightly sealed , by how much it is in virtue more noble and excellent . contenting themselves with an overly view of the oustide of things , although yet they have the care of lives committed to their charge , which fault as it is of high concernment , so it requires a most sharp reproof . for there are in nature most noble and powerful medicines , made by god for the use and relief of the afflicted , which yet are neglected by such , who undertake the care and cure of them , and all because they are not without pains and industry attainable . but go too , my good friends , hath not god laid this burden upon mankinde , that in the sweat of his brow he should eat his bread ? must be toyle for his daily meat , and do you thing that medicines do grow ready made to his hand . or if the ground do of its own accord bring forth some fruits , as apples , cherries , or the like , see you not how ready they are to grow wilde if not cultivated ? nay , is not this vanity laid upon the universe , and doth not the earth grone under this curse , that thornes and thistles it shall bring forth , and all to help forward this sentence which was pronounced against man , that in labour he should eat his bread , and what is analogical to bread , with industry he should provide medicaments ; the one for sustaining , the other for the restoring of nature . i le grant that there are many excellent things which are to be found among simples , but first of all their virtue is more precisely singular , one being properly directed for one or two diseases , and the number of simples being so infinite , and so many of them of little virtue , so many of none medicinal , but being destined for meat for man or beast ; so many being so virulently destructive to nature , that it is no way safe in their crude simplicity to use them , all of them being restrained to some particular distempers , and manner of operations , a mans life would not serve him to be half a physician , in the use of simples , without preparation or correction . when it appears that the art of pyrotechny is indeed most useful , necessary , and delightful , which god willing in the ensuing discourse i shall fully discover . and to close this preface , i affirm and promise to make good , that by the art of pyrotechny , medicines are to be made and prepared ; of which one is of as much efficacy , as all the herbs , roots , trees and animals in the world , all put together , used in their naked simplicity . which art most commendable in it self , useful to mankinde , and delightful to the artist , hath been opposed , slandered , reproached , reviled and gainsaid by the verbous railing galenists . who yet professing themselves the only heirs of medicinal art , do promise that to the world by their method , which for these many centuries of years they have found successeless ; and this notwithstanding they do continue to maintain that by virtue of monopoly , which all the world discovers to be but a meer juggle . what disdain and contumely have they not cast upon paracelsus and helmont , by traducing them and speaking all manner of evil concerning them ? and this only is the quarrel , that these come to discover to the world the unsufficiency of vulgar medicines . this true light of nature these night-birds cannot bear , the true heir these usurpers will not endure , but no sonner espie they him , but they conclude , this is the heir , come let us kill him , and then the inheritance shall be ours . therefore let not any marvel , if i now a little severely carp at errors , for this is the only way that is now left , all other means have been tryed , they by many have been most friendly called upon to awake out of the dead sleep in which they are ; but it were as good to call upon posts or stones , for they only rub their eyes , and reproach such who disturb them , but sleep again as soundly as ever ; it is good then to scourge and prick them , whom jogging will not do good upon . and because they have had a long time that knavish principle of calling whore first , it is not amiss sometimes to answer a fool according to his folly , lest he be wise in his own conceit . who knowes not how common it is for that tribe to inveigh against chymical medicines most bitterly ; sometimes accusing their virulency , sometimes their acuteness in operation ; and for proof they will bring all the mountebanks , empiricks , and rash psudo-chemists on the stage , forgetting in the mean time that they do as much differ from what they would make them to be , as themselves do from true philosophers , that is as much as light doth from darkness . nay , rather the forementioned rabble , as also the scum of brothels , old wives , quacks , and the like , do but usher in their own train : for who knows not , that one apothecary or mechanical chymist doth supply both the one and the other ? let us not content about words , but come to the thing it self , and we shall by it see to which house these villanies are retainers ; & when i have traced them to their own doors , i shall express more candor then ever the galenists in urging this controversie were guilty of : for although they make it their common practise to lay this spurious off-spring at the true chymists doors , and then to revile them as guilty of all their miscarriages , yet we shall first prove this bastardly off-spring to be a galenical brat , of which the father is ( though without cause ) ashamed , unless it be that they oft at random hit the distemper , which the reverend doctor by his bleer-ey'd , purblinde method could not do , and cure the same , though with a desperate medicine which the other despaired of ; and after the true father of this infamous generation is found , we shall not impute the blame of the children unto the fathers , but suffer every one to bear his own blame : which moderation of ours , i hope will for shame-sake teach the galenists for the future to endevour the like , in imitation of our candidness . and first i beseech the impartial reader to consider how , and wherein the followers of paracelsus and helmont , and their like differ from the followers of galen and those who subscribe to him : is not this the main difference , nay the only , that one is the immediate follower of nature , and of his author , so far only as he doth bear faithful witness to her operations : the other is the immediate follower of him whom he makes the captain of his notions , to whose placits if nature will not comply , he will either force her or adieu . is not this evident in all our academical doctors , and hath been so for several successive ages ? is not subscription the top stone of the galenical art ? is not galens method to this day retained and defended , according to which all created doctors are ingaged to go ; and what i pray is this method ? but by rules set down to finde out the disease diagnostically , to discover the danger of it prognostically , and to advise the cure of it according to the precepts of art , that is , according to the judgement of some approved author , in which the doctor readeth when to apply the cardinal remedies of bleeding , scarifying , vesicating , cauterizing , purging , or the like , and when to make use of cordials either cooling or others . now the practick part is that in which the doctor is for the most part but an errand bungler , yet he hath at command his chirurgion and apothecary that can indeed effect what he by his goosequill shall appoint . now that medicines soever are allowably used , they are set down plainly and fully in the dispensatories , with their preparations , use , and dose . and for the regulating of ingenious men in finding out new receipts , the herbals are compiled , in which the form , names , places of growth , and all the like circumstances of herbs , plants , roots , and trees are set down , with their qualifications of temperature , virtues , preparation , and dose . lastly , as every practitioner is of a more happy , wit , some do concinnate the theory , others the practick of the art , so that the world is almost full of the multitudes of volumes which are written concerning this art , some shewing its method , others its practick , a third sort compiling volumes only stuffed with receipts . of such books there is scarce a language barren , so that whoever hath a minde to apply himself to the study of physick , he need not want authors ; in whom he may fully according to the received doctrine , finde the anatomy of the body with every part of it , the systeme of all diseases , with a particular account of every one by it self , and that diagnostically and prognostically , with the remedies of them , corraded out of the most authentick authors , as sennertus , fernelius , fucksius , and the like . the true chymist , is he who by an earnest desire of knowledge is carried on the search of nature , to the discovery of its defects , and the remedies thereof , and from an earnest desire of being profitable to those among whom he lives , he is willing to undergoe any pains , remembring the adagy , virtutem posuere dii sudore parandam . he considers with himself the sad state in which mankinde is , in respect to distempers , of which being truly sensible , and withall remembring , that the same god who had laid this burden upon the earth , that thornes and thistles it should bring forth to man all the daies of his life , untill he should return to the earth from whence he was taken , who being dust was to return to dust , the same god i say had created a medicine out of the earth , which he that was wise should not contemn : considering also how the mercies of the most high were over all his works , whose justice reached to the clouds , but his mercy unto the heavens ; he concluded that god out of his infinite mercy had provided in nature a remedy against all infirmities and maladies , could but we be so wise as to finde it out . hereupon he spareth not his soul from studious search and enquiry , but by knocking at the throne of grace in prayer , and seeking in the creatures without weariness or precipitancy , he makes it his whole work to study and endevour the finding out of those medicines , which may effectually evidence out the possessor of them to be such whom the lord hath chosen for a physician , and whom he hath appointed to be honoured for necessity sake . the evidence of his call is not his ladies hand with a smooth tongue , which is the usual diploma of a goodsequill doctor , who when he comes to visit his patient , after a few methodical queries , and upon them a scholastick declamation extempore upon the symptomes ; cals for his pen and ink , and writes a bill to his apothecary of a foot long , according as the patient is in purse : which being done he expects his fee , and in the mean time is in fee with his apothecary , ( i know what i say ) who annually allows the doctor so much for packing in a company of dear simples into the bill , for many of which he hath an underhand dispensation ( upon the notice of a private mark ) to substitute quid pro quo and some things to leave out : this is a pretty cheat , but very usual in that tribe : but i pass that . on the other hand this true son of art , he considers the vast disproportion between the galenical promises , and their performances , and pondering the reason of it , he findes it can be no otherwise . first , because of their supine neglect of nature her self , contenting themselves with turning over of leaves , and through laziness choosing rather to subscribe , then to undergoe the trouble & pains of search & inquiry . which alone defect , if it were not otherwise aggravated , were sufficient to frustrate both their promises , and the patients hopes , and that in a manifold respect . for who it that is but moderately versed in the principles of nature , that knowes not that diseases new and new do daily come upon the stage ? god punishing , as i may so speak , our unheard of sins with unheard of judgements . which the doctors when they meet with , they are beyond their reading and cry out of a new disease , yet content themselves with the old method . nay what more common , then to have a society of doctors , or consultation called , of whom scarce two will agree together in the stating of the disease , and all at their wits end as to the matter of cure . and besides this , consider how the most of the ring leaders of the galenical rabble , are of different countreys , and of different ages in which they lived , in the which respect they can not be looked on as agreeing to those times and places for which they are made use of . for in several climates , there is not only a great diversity of simples as to their nature and virtue , but also the bodies of men do wonderfully alter according to the soyl they live in , according to the adagy , solo natura subest . what then more absurd , then to make use of the prescription of a grecian , who lived and wrote 1200 years agoe , and to apply it to an english temper ? especially since new diseases have appeared since which never were before , which once having received admittance , never are extirpated ( as to their species ) but by their complication do not only aggravate , but also notably alter diseases , so that what formerly might easier have been cured , become now more obstinate and unmasterable . i may here take notice of the unfaithfulness and abominable neglect committed in the preparing of medicines , only what i before , touched , i would first more fully illustrate , namely , that it is not an exotical medicine , that is or may be proper for an english constitution . and first i need not urge that god hath abundantly provided for mans wel-being , where ever he hath alotted him a place of being , since that only opposeth the necessity , not the efficacy of transmarine simples ; for a man may in any place of the world , if he please , and can get it , eat only what is of englands growth , though he live in spain , but it is not necessary ; so he may use exotick simples , although he be not bound to them : yet thsi i shall not doubt to insert , that as no food , so no medicaments are so proper for our english bodies , as those which england produceth . and so in other countreys , as france , germany , spain , or any other territory , their native simples are sufficicient , as for the conservation of their bodies in its integrity , so for the restauration of its defects , if so that any were so wise as to be able to collect , and to apply the same . but as nothing that is excellent wants its difficulty , so the attaining of the skill of simples is a work of no small trouble ; experience hath taught the world how great a master-piece it is to gather and order tobacco aright , not to speak of the vast disproportion which the difference of climates addes to its goodness ; it is notoriously known to all that are experienced in it , that the ordering , manuring , gathering , and curing of it , and after the making it up and keeping it , may with a smal neglect , make that which otherwise would be very good , to become little worth or quite naught . and let not any imagine , that medicinal herbs require less care in their choice , manuring , climate , soyle , gathering , ordering and keeping , then tobacco doth . i shall not inlarge , the example brought , if considered and applyed , will convince many whom it concerneth , of gross errors committed in this particular . thou knowest , o man , if good or bad tobacco be brought thee , and canst value it accordingly , though it concern only an unprofitable stinking vapour ; but if any herb for thy health be to be procured , thou art in this wholly ignorant , and such as should provide for thee herein are as ignorant as thy self , and the doctor that prescribes it to thee is most ignorant of all . as for simples , are they not collected by women , where they can finde them , without distinction of time when , and season in which they are gathered ? and if any herbs grow in gardens , how are they ordered ? is not the chief care by much watering to make them grow as rank as may be : which if for distillation , i matter it not much , for the unprofitable flegm only is attained by distillation , without previous maceration by ferment , but as for dryed herbs , ( the flowers set aside ) how unseasonably are they gathered , ( oft in rainy weather ) and then how are they dryed oft in the sun , until they be as dry that they may be powdered ; which drying , how much it prejudiceth the virtue , i appeal to such as make hay , which if sear-dryed in the sun , is half in half damnified ; but if cut in rain is much the worse ; but if so the sun be clouded & the air moist , how oft do herbs mould or must before they de dried , either being laid too thick for want of room , or at best done on a dusty floor , where they lie so long untill they be as dry as powder ; and yet if close kept will grwo musty , & be tainted with wormes : therefore many keep their herbs when dryed in an open place , not only to the diminishing , but in short time to the destroying of their virtue . yet the apothecary who buyes them , must not straightway reject them , when insipid , but must put them away in the first place , keeping those last which may be preserved longest . therefore to remedy and prevent many of these inconveniencies , the stupid doctor , who will not stick to borrow his practick from a farrier , with this pretence , that it must be applyed according to his method , learns the good huswifes trade of candying , conserving , and making into marmalet , and syrups as many simples as may be , the rest he commands to be compounded into electuraries , lozenges , or the like ; and with these he vapours and brustles like dametas in his military accoutrements , vowing revenge on any disease that dare look him in the face . and what cannot be performed by these , he hath another course in readiness for such malepert maladies , tormenting the body that dare harbour an insolent distemper in defiance of his reverent gravity , which therefore must suffer the martyrdom of diagridium , alahandal , jalap , euphorbium , or the like , and be punished with phlebotomy , scarifications , blisters , fontinels , &c. and starved with cooling julips , barly broths , and diet drinks , till it shall at last be contented to yeeld up that refractary ghost which could not be scared aut of its extravagancy , with the vengeance of the reverent colleagues of the colledge of doctors , in despite of which many a soul dies of no other mortal disease but of his doctor , who yet because he did it by rules of art is well feed for his pains , and methodical butchery . chap. iii. but to return to our matter whence we digressed , namely to compare a true chymist with our modern goosquil doctors , to see to which the mountebank is nearest of kin . first it must be granted that the whole of a real or pretended physician , may be referred to these two heads , namely , the knowing the discase , and finding out the remedy : the latter of which is either theoretically to know the medicine or , practically to provide and apply the same . as for the mountebanks philosophy , it is usually the same with the old wives , or quacks ; but if it any whitexcell , it is gotten out of galenical authors , which are to be had in almost any language . but let their method speak their original ; is not their intent one , and their progress one , ( only differ in the means ) with the galenical tribe ? they want the distinguishing marks of a true physician , and therefore they tread the same steps , though with a more rude and resolute pace . in bloud-letting , purging , vomiting , cauterizing , vesicating , making carminatives , giving clysters , scarifying , and cordials they allagree , only differ in the purges , vomits , &c. and many of them use the very same things with the other doctors , only differ in the dose , the one venturing the harm in hope to do good , the other for credit sake resolving if he do no good , yet to do no hurt , which he doth notwithstanding , only he that doth least hurt is most commende . what if some of the same tribe , finding the insufficiency of vegetables , flie unto minerals , as saul to the witch of endor , doth this straight make them chymists ? just as if a rustick weary of his calling , should resolve to turn a joyner , and endevour to plain his boards with a howe , his intention will not make him a joyner . tell not of empericks , that is such who prepare by the fire , for what is theordinary preparatiosn made with but by the fire : do not the apothecaries decoct , extract , make syrups , conserves , lozenges , &c. by the fire ? or if you respect distillation , are not waters of all sorts distilled in the common way : or is an emperick he : who deals in minerals and metals , and calcined bodies ? what are then your steel powder , gold in alchermes , vitriol in vomits , antimony in crocus , burnt ivory , &c. and to make up a total reconciliation betwixt empericks and galenists , are not now all vulgar preparations of minerals , prostituted in every apothecaries shop ; and yet the art of medicine among our reverent doctors reputed the same as of old ? what then : o their method ! their method ! this is the hidden stone , and secret mark , which distinguisheth them ; where then the same method is used , there is the same way professed : but mountebaks , quacks , old wives , and all that rabble , use the same method in curing . if it be objected , that they have not skill to discern when this , when that remedy is to be applyed , this accuses their sufficiency , not their profession . it is not then the materials used , but the preparation of the materials , so as to be able to effect what the physician promiseth , and the patient expects , surely , safely , and speedily , that distinguisheth a true son of art from pretending bunglers ; of which some are more crafty and cautious , others more ignorant and rashly venturous , yet both more distinct from true artists , then from one another . if nature had made true medicines ready prepared to hand for every disease , that it were no more then to pluck them as an apple from the tree , then indeed a distinction might be made of professors of the art of medicine , according to the materials wrought upon . but contrariwise it is sadly evident , that very few simples are endowed with a medicinal virtue without virulency , and those also have their excellency obstructed with the gross feculency , which growes together with the spiritual tincture , and as a shell doth hiddenly contain the same , so that without some previous preparations few things are worthy the name of medicaments . now that preparation is usual for vegetal simples ? only decoction , or infusion , or conserving with sugar , or honey whereby the good is not so separated from the bad , but that several crudities remain : but of this helmont hath at large treated , i shall not repeat . it would be a tedious wild-goose chase to trace their medicines , and refute them , for that will be but to ( agere actum ) and i intend here an apology , not a charge ; a defensive , not an offensive conflict : i shall come therefore to state our case , for till that be done in is a vain thing to contend in words . first of all we differ from the goosquil tribe in the theoretical discovery of diseases , and secondly in our practical cure of them . now as to the theory of diseases , and the philosophical contemplation of simples , it is not essential to a physician ; for a man may know the remedies with which to cure all diseases , and yet erre very much in the discovery of causes ; for the remedy being to the disease as water to fire , which will undoubtedly quench it , as a man may know certainly by water to quench fire , and yet erre in the philosophical appre-prehension of the same ; so may a man by a proper remedy , rightly , and in due proportion applyed , certainly cure the disease , and be able to distinguish the same generally , though he be not able to finde our and apprehend the manner of its original , with its occasional causes , progress and variations . nor let this seem a paradox , for it may easily be evinced against the most snarling gainsayer : for consider the forementioned example of quenching fire by water , and it may be made unquestionable . what rustick that doth not know that water is for the quenching of fire , and will give a very near guess how much water will quench so much fire , and yet how many of owr school philosophers can assign the true cause of that effect ? it is now water as water , for milk , whey , wine-vinegar , &c. will do the same ; nor yet as cold , for hot water , and other hot liquors will perform it as well as cold ; nor yet as moist , for oyl and oleaginous moistures , being thrown on fire in one measure encreaseth it , and in another measure will quench it ; as a week of a candle or lamp may be drowned with too much tallow or oyle . so that in very deed the philosophical speculation doth follow practical knowledge , and experience denominates that science , which else would be but bare opinion . but of this i speak sufficiently in my large treatise called organu philosophiae novum , and shall not in this place repeat , what there is sufficiently proved and confirmed . therefore the effects of diseases so far as they are obvious to every observer , can instruct any who make it their work to be conversant therein , that are of capacity , so as to be able to judge and distinguish one disease from another , and by the symptomes to discover if or no it do proceed in the ordinary course of the same malady , or if by complication it doth alter , and how this is as much as is absolutely requisite for a physician in the knowledge of diseases , for this knowledge doth essentially conduce to the cure , but to be able to unfold the quiddity of it , its efficient and continent causes , the material and occasionate , with other curiosities which a philosopher doth contemplate upon , and in which the intellect is occupied , this adornes but doth not constitute a physician . so then the absolute things requisite in one who would conscionably undertake the lives of the sick , are first to know how to unlock those medicines which the almighty hath created , and to prepare them , and after how , and when , and to whom to apply them , and how to order and dispose the patient so , as them which by careful administration of them is expected . mistake me not , i do not deny , nay i confidently affirm , that he who is endowed with wisdom from above , to be so curious and so diligent in his search , as to attain the noble medicines , which the lord hath created , for mans relief , and unspeakable comfort , he , if he prove but so observant in the administration as he was acute in the preparation , cannot but so far be mightned from natures light in these observations , as to apprehend the causes of the diseases , and their whole quiddity or being , which may by arguments ( à posteriori ) be collected from their effects , as likewise he may be able to demonstrate ( à posteriori ) the cause and manner of cures wrought by medicines ( a work most worthily performed by noble helmont ) which contemplation will wonderfully delight a true son of this art ; but yet as i said before , this doth follow and adorn , not precede and constitute a physician . and this i shall adde , that the soul , which is a i may say ipse in homine homo , when once an effect is apparent , and so known , as to become a mechanism , doth no farther any more reap content from it , unless it be in reference to some deduction it gathers from it , to the finding out of some new hidden truth ; nor doth the soul ever feed on it more as upon its object , originally , directly , and in an absolute consideration , no more then in the knowing how to make a fire , or that the fire will burn , boyl , dry , &c. therefore , justly saith the wise man , that in much knowledge is much vanity and vexation of spirit : but this only as a digression . to return therefore , we conclude that to a true physician is required to know if a disease be probably curable , and if so , then how : as for instance , the plague-tokens appearing are rightly judged mortal , and so may any such state be reputed in which nature will admit of no remedy , nor death accept of any truce . the careful observer of these things will by experience learn to distinguish between dangerous and desperate cases , and so may order himself accordingly , but in impossible cases he shall not meddle . chap. iv. and here me thinks i see a galenist beginning to frame a reply , who after a few course complements , doth thus out of his wonted gravity , seek to defend his own faction . do not we ( quoth he ) the like in effect ? for we by our art distinguish between easie , dangerous , and desperate diseases , which we therefore undertake or leave accordingly . for if there be only a light distemper , as foulness of the stomack , or bad humours clogging or obstructing the liver , or the like ; we then by an usual purge , or vomit , and by bloudletting , and glysters remove the same ; but if the distemper be more violent , then by our method we help that , for that is our mystery , which the prating chymists not knowing , cannot therefore do that by their medicines , which we can by our method , which is the master-piece of our art ; for we are like to skilful workmen amid a number of tools , we know our work , and so can , as cause presents , and as symptomes do move , call in for this or that medicine , and as occasion requires we can use external artificial helps , when nature is not in fit case to be provoked by a violent process . this is the good old way , and it is the safe way . but these furnace-mongers would perswade the world , that by medicines prepared by their art , diseases may be cut down as it were with a sithe , which for all their boasting will not be . these with several other things are pretended by them to conceal their ignorance in so blinde progresses . but as it is an easie thing to lie hid in the dark , the mantle of the night hiding that which the sun discovers , it will not be amiss to proceed to the true course of curing diseases , and by it our adversaries will be easily quelled . besilius and suchten , both noble and worthy artists , advise as many as have given their name to art , to be doing , and not to contend in bare words , for it is as impossible to convince the galenists with words without works , as it was for christ & his apostles to have convinced the jewes by preaching without miracles ; therefore i shall first give you the character of a true physician : and secondly , shew you what his work is . a true physician is he whom god hath qualified with a longing desire to know nature in her operations , her integrity and defects , and how they may be amended . for the attainment of which he doth ask , seek and knock with diligence , patience , and constancy , till it be given and opened unto him , his heart is not set upon gain , but out of charity to the distressed he doth persist in this pursuit of knowledge , and the merciful god hears him , and gives him what he seeks for : then having received his talent he doth not bury it in a napkin , but doth improve it , untill with it he gain two , and with them five , and with them ten talents . he knowes that diseases are all in their kinde curable without exception , death only being out of the power of any man or means , the definitive sentence being past irrevocable . he laments the sad catalogues of poor mortals ( the distresse members of christ jesus ) who flying from the lion of sickness , meet with a bear in stead of a true physician , who in stead of bread gives them a stone , and in stead of fish a serpent , and yet these are the fathers of the sick , so pretended to be , but like old saturn they devour and make a prey of their children . he also that is a true physician doth not seek fame and honour so much as the good of those he undertakes , nor doth he startle at the sad catalogue of incurable diseases which the school doctors have most shamefully compiled , which he by his medieines is able to overcome as the vlaiant champion is reported to have conquered the dovouring monster . his work is not to spend his time in turning over of leaves ; but he makes use of authors so as not to conclude any thing upon bare reading without trial . in a word , he so behaves himself as if his great contest proposed were , whether to be more assiduous in discovering nature , or sedulous in conquering diseases : of which the latter is the main end he aims at in the former . now i shall briefly discover the objections , made by galenists against this way of medicine , and shall so fully answer them that there shall be no scruple left . first of all they accuse chymical medicines as virulent , too hot , and therefore unsit to be given , as oft in ftead of curing encreasing the disease ; they are ( say they ) a little too strong for our constirution , being for the most part mineral and metalline , or elese they are faline , which are very sharp and corrosive , or of a fiery sulphurous nature , which therefore in stead of cooling and refreshing , do inflame the body inwardly : therefore say the such medicines are dangerous and desperate , which if they were not , they would ( as they make their patients believe ) use them themselves . in such discourses you shall have them run at random , and their aim in all is to make the sick believe , that their medicameable to nature , the other forcible violent , and desperate , which no man but a mad man would take . this is , to speak the truth , the only main objection which galenists usually produce against chymical medicines ; and this they varnish over with many specious colours to make the patient believe , that to meddle with a chymical medicament , is no other then to cast out the devil by delzebub , or according to the old proveth , to cure a desperate disease by a desperate medicine . therefore i shall briefly , yet fully answer this cavil , and so answer it , that it may appear to the eye of any judicious man to be but a meer morino which the galenists have invented , to scare the rude and ignorant with , as nurses use to affright children with tales of robin good-fellow , raw head and bloudy bones , and the like . and first as to the point of irulency , which is a very great bugbear , and enough to deterthe most confident patient , if once you can perswade him the remedies he is to take to be of an exquisite virulency , for so a very smal error in the dose , will hazard the life in stead of conquering the distemper : poyson i grant is a dangerous , nay a desperate thing to deal with , nor is it good to admit of it into the body upon any pretence , but that chymical medicines are such , that is the point in controversie . calvin in his preface to the king of france , in which he defends his religion from the foul aspersions laid on it by papists , hath this most just plea , namely to call for his advarsaries reasons , before he be condemned by their criminations ; for if it be enough to accuse , who may or can expect to be found innocent ? so say i , our antagonists raise a great dust concerning poyson , vuruleycy and malignity , which they pretend is chymical medicaments , and with this calmour they have filled the world , and buzzed it into the ears adn hearts of as many as by their impudent confident railing they could incline to embrace this opinion , whose aspersions now i shall endevour to wipe off . and here i shall entreat the readers candor in pondering the weight of arguments on both sides , before he proceed to censure : for which end i shall minde thee of one general rule which is in the urging of all controversies , to observe the interest of each party , and then you will confess , that what ever is said on either side and not proved , savours of passion , not of reason , consider that the galenical tribes credit , honour , reputation , and fortures do all depend on impugning this way of chymical preparations : no marvel then if you hear from them demetrius his ourcry , great is the diana of the ephesians , especially since the moving cause is the same , namely , sirs you know that by this art we get our wealth , our honour , and all , and therefore it behoves to oppose that upstart chymistry , which will ( if it once be accepted into the world ) make us to be as contemptible as common fidlers . hinc illae lachrymae . hence it is that you hear such terrible newes concerning this art of pyrotechny ; for this art requireth ( in a sense ) a new birth or regeneration : as then it was an irresoluble riddle to nicodemus , that a man when he was old should enter into his mothers womb , and again be born , so is it an insufferable task for an old putationer , who hath by prescription attained the repuration of all this his imaginary skill , and to employ his time , pains , study , and moneys , in the attaining of that which he either neglecting or slighting in his youth , is in his age as capable of as an asse is to play on the harp ; thereis therefore no way left for him to uphold his own reputation , then by casting durt on that art which is so diametrically opposite to his former way of profit . nor is it any thing of weight that he urgeth his as the old way , and condemns the other as new ; for error wants but a few hours of the age of truth , nor was this old way elder then error , and therefore to pead its antiquity is a fallacious argument of its authority and verity . yet could i ( if it made to my present purpose ) trace this noble art of true chymical philosophy to a far more ancient pedigree then galen or hippocrates either , although hippocrates was as incomparable different from the other , as truth is from error . but as i said before , here lies the very knot of all , the galenists have a trade which is supported by garruligy , performed with ease and idleness , and accompanied with riches , credit , esteem and honour , their work is not attended with any pains , untill they come to practise , and then that only consists in visits , which pains is the key of their wealth . as for the preparation of medicaments , that the doctor little acquaints himself with it , his theory consisting only in turning over of leaves , and his practise in tossing of pisse-pots and writing of bils : this , o! this is their diana they so much admire , and propound to the credulous world to be adored . but now a true son of art he is not so binssed , for his interest doth not hang on such a hinge , but he propounds the workman to be judged by his work , nor can there be too many endowed with this true skil , for in the search of nature there are infinite secrets , and those lucriferous to the artist , so that he need not gape after the practise of medicine for gain , god in mercy dispensing his gifts for the use of mankinde , gives such to whom he imparts this skil , an heart to improve it , without the sordid by-ends of again and profit . but admit that every galenist were indeed a true chymist , what disadvantage could accrew thereby to any true artist ? for every one would have sufficient imployment , so many are the sad diseases to which mortal man is subject . experience sheweth that the galenists envie not chymists as physicians , but as chymists ; for otherwise they can with patience bear the daily swarming of their own tribe , so fruitful is that profession of its clients , that it is incredible what a number there is of them in and about london . now is is not to be doubted , but all or most of them get a living by their art , besides old wives , quacks , mountebanks , barber surgeons and their men , apothecaries , &c. who all as confidently pretend to a patrimony in the art of medicine , as if they were the natural sons of galen and hippocrates . yet sad experience doth teach , that for all this rabble of physicians , there is not a third part of diseases cured , nor a tenth part by the skill of the doctor . if then so many get a living by pretending to that they know not , and undertaking what they cannot performe , this livelihood would not be diminished , but rather encreased if all were holpen that are undertaken , and those moreover who in numberless swarmes lie up and down in hospitals and spitles , and many who languish at home in private both hopeless and helpless . but if once true artists were countenanced and embraced , scarce the tenth pretender but would be thrown under the board : for true medicine is not prostituted in formal receipts , to be prepared by the hand of any blundering apothecary , but it is one of the choide secrets of nature , which she hath with great care locked up , nor will she open them to any who have not the true keyes . it is not an overly reading of fernelius , avicen , galen , that can entitle a man a son of this art , but it requires a mental man , patient , laborious , and one who is not niggardly in expences , such a man must toyl without wearisomness , and although after several years searching , with the expence of many pounds , he hit not what ho aims at , yet must he still partiently proceed , which task is more than herculean for a lazy pisse-prophet . chap. v. but to come to the matter propounded , namely concerning poysons : of which aspersion i shall acquit the right chymicall medicines . poyson properly is that which by an over powering activity in the body , doth destroy the vitals , and is of divers sorts ; some are putrifactive poysons , others corrosive , others narcotic , &c. this in general concerning their nature , but in particular they are all found either in the animal , vegetable , or mineral kingdome . not to speak of those endemical malignant vapours , which infect the air oft-times ; nor of the virulency of the pestilence , leprosie , &c. which oft doth seat it self in the very wals of houses , cloth , paper , &c. but although there are several sorts of malignities , which are properly so called poysons , yet in the common acceptation of the word , it denotes such a thing by which either man or beast is destroyed , and that either by the eating of it , or by its odour or touch , not to mention that poyson of the basilisk which some authors affirm to kill with the sight . so that though a man die of the pestilence , or of the leprosie , pox or the like , which all have their specificated poysons , yet do we not use to say that such died of poyson , the specificateness of the name of the disease swallowing up the generality of the denomination of poyson in such cases . of such things which are reputed poysons , some as the biting of serpents , the biting of mad dogs , &c. are remote from this our purpose , such poysons being only in the power of that angry beast that inflicts it , and such venomes usually die with the creature , according to the adagy , mortuâ , moritur venonum . so that in vain should we get the teeth of dead serpents , or the sting of dead bees or hornets , all their virulency being then extinct . other poysons are which infect man and not beast , others both man and beast . of the first sort are spiders and toads , which apes , hens and ducks will eat familiarly , yet without any effect of poyson : other poysons there are which will not kill dogs , cats , &c. which yet will kill men , not because they are not also , mortal to beasts , but the dog or cat finding the operation , being able to vomit at pleasure , escape the danger ; which man wanting that faculty , fals into . hereto agrees that by sallet oyl given copiously in time , and vomit by it provoked , many poysons are happily escaped , which otherwise would be lethal . those which are mortal poysons in their proper nature , do not cease to be mortall , because they are sometimes , accidentally escaped , but are so to be reputed notwithstanding . before i proceed any farther into this discovery , i shall lay down a few certain and infallible rules , which may make very much to the informing of the candid reader , of the truth in this controversie . the first is , that nothing which is not of its own nature poysonous , can by any true chymical operation be made a poyson . secondly , nothing which is of its own nature poysonous and virulent , can by any true chymical preparation have its virulency advanced , but rather diminished . thirdly , nothing is so poysonous , but by its true chymical preparation , doth wholly lose its virulent nature without the least footsteps of the same . these three rules , though at first they to many may appear paradoxical , yet i shall so explain and confirm them , as that they may evidently appear true . the first rule at first sight may appear untrue , land may by our modern putationers ( who think they have sufficient insight even in chymical secrets to serve their turn , and to denominate them artists ) be thus impugned , do not , say they , your best authors in the science of chymistry , basilius , valentinus , paracelsus , quercetanus , and helmont , all confess that by the art of chymistry many things in their own nature not virulent , are exalted to become dangerous poysons : instance in aqua fortis , aqua regis , mercury sublimate , oyl of vitriol , &c. which of things at least not poysonous become most dangerous , and lethal . to this i answer two wales , first of all , that it is a misconceit that the forementioned things are become poysons by such a preparation : for as for aqua fortis , aqua regis , oyl of vitriol , and spirit of salt-peter , or of common salt , they are not poysons , but spirits eminent in activity , on which ( being distilled with the extream fire of reverberation ) the fire hath instamped a more then ordinary fiery quality , which therefore if given alone , burn and mortifie where ever they touch any thing that is vital , ( so far as their activity reacheth ) yet mingled with wine , beer , or water , may be taken in the same , nay a greater quantity ( then alone would be mortal ) without the least effect of danger , nay rather they become wholsom and medicinal , as namely oyl of vitriol and sulphur for the extinguishing the preternatural heat and drouth in feavers , the spirit of salt for the ardors of the urine is an incomparable remedy : so aqua fortis is not venomous but diaphoretick , if given in wine so mingled that it may only be made acide by it : spirit of salt-peter is much of the same virtue with spirit of vitriol , yea and vinegar it self , may be so rectified from 〈◊〉 feces , as in a small dose given alone to become morval ; so hony , sugar , and almost what not ? but if they were really and formally transmuted into poysons , they could not be so diffused , but though without any taste or perceptible quality , they would certainly be mortal . it appears then that many distilled . spirits made by a strong fire , as also many fixed salts , viz. potassh , &c. being strongly calcined , become really deadly , that is , by being made corrosive , but not venomous , which therefore diffused in sufficient liquor may without prejudice , or rather with much profit be taken , which else would be hurtful , yea and if their activity be by any object on which they will work satiated , they may then be taken alone , as oyl of vitriol mixed with a proportionable quantity of salt of tartar or any other salt becomes almost insipid , and may be taken in ten times the dose , which would be mortal in their simplicity . so aqua fortis if it be poured on silver or iron , and boyled with it so long as its dissolving virtue lasts ; then the metal preciptated , and the liquor boyled up till the salt be dry , it becomes a medicine , though not comparable to many chymical preparations , yet not so contemptible as the galenical drugs . as for mercury sublimate , which may be thought to bear the greatest shew of reason to the contrary of this rule , forasmuch as a whole pound of argent vive crude may safely be taken when as 3 or 4 grains of it sublimed is immediately mortal . to that i answer , that there is a great error in the experiment , which well considered , will carry a clean distinct face from what it at first appears withall . for we know the nature of argent vive to be salivative , and of a strangling quality , affecting especially the throar , jawes and head of him that takes it , yea though taken by dose , or by fume , or by inunction , yet it still betraies it self by that infamous operation , taking its recorse to those parts forementioned , yea though it be precipitated , or dulcified vulgarly , or distilled into a spirit or oyl according the art of common chymists , by which it hath some other operation , as vomitive , purgative , or sudorifick , yet as , the devil is fabled not able to hide his cloven foot , so mercury will still be betraying its salivating quality . as for the corrosiveness of sublimate , that is to be attributed to the saline spirits , which sublime up with the mercury , by which it is not at all intrinsecally altered , and if it have any quality of operation more then its own , that is to be attributed to the salts . as for the large dose of mercury which may be given without any danger , it is to be understood that being a very ponderous body , and fluid , if it be given in so great a dose , it straight passeth all the bowels , and soon voids it self at the siege , and is accounted the last remedy for the twisting of the smal guts . so that its nature in operation is not to be judged by such a cursory experiment , for otherwise if a few grains unprepared , be mixed up in any pill and given , or a small quantity mixed in an oyle and applyed by inunction , it will shew in a short time it s own natural operation , and the same is the operation of mercury any other waies vulgarly prepared , only the corrosiveness of some preparations above others are to be attributed to some saline spirits that are joyned with it , by which the mercury is reduced into small atomes , and the true operation of the mercury is hidden under the operation of the saline spirits that do accompany it . nor yet can mercury by his or any other preparation whatsoever be brought to become a reall poyson , for sublimate being dissolved in water , and the mercury separated from the salts with which it was sublimed by precipitation , or revification , ( as any trivial chymist knowes how ) the salt then decocted to the consistence of oyl of vitriol or dry if you please , is so far from poyson , that it excels the best medicaments the galenists have , as i shall declare in its due place . hereto agrees , that the most corrosive sublimate , being resublimed with other crude mercury , loseth its corrosive quality , and becomes mercurius dulcis , commonly given to the quantity of two scruples , the eighth part of which before dulcification were suddenly mortal . this is my first answer to the objection made against the first rule before laid down . viz. that by no chymical preparation that which in it self is not poyson , will become venomous : which i shall briefly sum up , and so pass to my second and more satisfactory answer . i yeeld that by some preparations many things become corrosive , but not venomous , the one by dilating in any liquor being extinguished being no way dangerous ; the other although infused with never so much liquor , yet still is mortal notwithstanding . but secondly , such operations forementioned , are not properly chymical preparations , nor the distinguishing badges of the son of art ; for the galenists have ravished them into their shops , and use them as commonly as any , nay most of all , for a true chymist very seldom useth any of them , some of them never , the spirits of salts he useth as occasion offers , as also of sulphur , but for any of the vulgar preparations of mercury he abhors them . we deny not but the spirit of vitriol is a noble medicine , but not that which is sold commonly , which is totally adulterated , which a very easie trial will discover : for example , take of it about an ounce , less or more , and rectific it in a glass , you shall see how much is mixed of flegm , and that the tincture of wholly sophisticate , which will therefore remain in the bottom of the glass & discolour it of a black colour , but all that distils over will be clear and white like fountain water . the occasion of which adulteration , is because some true sons of art have used a spirit of vitriol which is made by cohobation , ( a work too laborious for a renegado chymist ) which is of a pure golden tincture , and fragrant , which being a noble medicine , and having by proof been found more effectual then galenical slops , the doctors therefore willing to get that spirit , have employed mercenary chymists , so stiled , to draw both that and such other medicaments , foolishly conceiving , that every one that was a furnace-monger was straight a chymist . these apostates i say are no more to be accounted what they pretend , then the doctors themselves , because they have been dub'd in the university , are to be accounted doctors . therefore let me not be mistaken , to be thought to plead for such vulgar preparations of chymical medicines , for they are no more chymical then any other decoctions , syrups , &c. that the galenical cooks prepare . for as i said before , it is not the subjects wrought upon , that distinguish true chymists from the goos-quill tribe , for they use minerals and metals as confidently as any , and i doubt not but they would scorn that any simple , either animal , vegetal , or mineral , should be accounted alien from their art. chap. vi. consider then their method of preparations of animals and vegetals , and then see if the vulgar preparation of minerals hath not the same stamp . some vegetables they stamp to powder and searce , and this they make into species , as they term them , others they decoct , conserve , infuse , candy , or make into tablets , &c. so animals , as the inward of hens gizard , sheep and goose dung , album graecum . fox lungs , cantharides , and many insects which they use as cochineel , &c. some are powdered and so given , others in electuaries , loch sanum , and boles . so minerals , some are used in powder , as crocus martis , steel powder , gold in alchermes , white vitriol for vomits , bezoar-stone , irish slate ; others made into unguents , as mercury for inunctions , cerusse , minium , &c. others beaten up with other ingredients , as arsenick in one alexipharmacum , &c. others are calcined barely , as vitrum antimonii without borax , burnt ivoty , &c. which is a medium between an animal and a mineral : others are sublimed barely ; as flores sulphuris , antimonii , &c. others are distilled barely , as spirit . vitrioli , salis , sulphuris , saltpeter ; and others are sublimed with mixture , as mercury sublimate , and mercury dulcis , &c. all which operations are but analogical to their usual preparations of vegetals and animals : and all this is done , and used and prescribed in prosecution of one and the same method , with other of their apothecary drugs . and as the galenists may and do use minerals , so we do use both vegetables and animals , only we differ in our preparations , and in our intentions in application . but of this in its place . the second rule may be contradicted and opposed , as for instance in the flowers and vitrum of antimony , the sublimate of arsenick , &c. i answer , that such preparations are no more to be accounted truly chymicall , then the actions of an ape are to be accounted acounted humane ; for it is not every operation indifferently made that is to be accounted chymicall : what hath the sublimation of antimony , arsenick , &c. in it more then vulgar ? the arsenick is the same it was ; besides in the sublimation of arsenick , though it become more corrosive , yet is it not more venomous , but indeed lesse ; for though it kill with a lesse dose , yet not with that drought and swelling as it doth crude ; which frequent sublimation will make more evident . but as i said , such operations are empirical , but not truly chymical ; which i shal therefore , to avoid all misunderstanding , define . chymistry is the art of preparing simples , animal , vegetal , and mineral , so as their crasis or virtue being sequestred from its superfluities , and its virulency overcome , its crudities digested , it may be an apt medicine to perform what god and nature hath granted to it , and this in reference to the healing of the infirmities of man or beast , or metals . i adde this clause of metals , because i know tha it is much opposed by many , beleeved by few , but understood most rarely : so that i may say of this , that those only are heirs of this science , quos meliore luto confinxit jupiter &c. the prosecution of this definition will clearly illustrate the three forementioned rules , and dissolve all the arguments and cavils of our envious adversaries ; i shall therefore conclude this proeme or introduction herewith , intending the full discovery of our cause in our following discourse , which shall be done so plainly and clearly th●● i hope all cause of reproach shall for time to come be cut off from the envious , who , like momus , what they cannot imitate they will not fail to calumniate ; from whose obloquie we shall clear this art , and make it appear to be of all humane arts the most noble and desirable , and to mankinde most profitable . natures explication , and helmont's vindication . chap. i. that all diseases are in their kinde curable . wee have in our preface touched in general the difference between a true son of art , and a school doctor , which so long as we infinited in generals , could not so well be pondered , nor the difference weighed , for ( in particularibus demonstratur generalis enuntiati veritas ) . now we come to the thing in particular , and by it let the cause be judge , as by the other it was stated . our work at present is to explain nature , by which we shall easily discover which are the true witnesses of nature , and which false , the one is a true artist , the other a putationer . for every artist is to be judged by his work , which the way of judging all profession ; for whatever is meerly notional , i account but a vain chymera , unworthy for a serious man to busie his time in learning , lest he embrace a cloud in stead of juno . and this is the misery of our school and academies , that the one teach barely words , the other bare notions , which indeed are nothing , and in application prove but empty shadowes ; for he that seeks to apply them to practise , beyond vain disputations can proceed no farther . but of this in my [ organum philosophiae ] i have largely ventilated , to which i refer the reader . it is a noble saying of cicero , virtutis omnis laus in actione consistit , away with all those foolish ( though specious ) curiosities , by which a man is never the nearer any useful practical verity . the pratical end of theosophy is living to god , of geometry , archirecture , gunnery , &c. of arithmetick , summing up of sums , &c. of philosophy , agriculture and all mechanicks , for the use of mankinde as to the conveniency of life ; and medicine , which is the last and noblest of all earthly arts , the physitian being , as i may say , a second parent to a sick man , giving him under god his life sometimes , and sometimes easing him of such griefs , which though not mortal , or not speedily , yet make the life uncomfortable . the nobleness of this art may hene appear , for that all other things inasmuch as they only serve conveniency , yet this art is of necessity . though agriculture be a noble art , so priezed by the ancients , that the inventors of each part of it were celebrated with divine honors , yet without any agriculture , the indians live as long , as contented , and as healthy as any that abound with the variety of those rarities which that art produceth and multiplieth . so policy , grammar , rhetorick , &c. they do adorn , not constiture mankinde , they keep them in a civil decorum , but not in their being ; for where this is wanting they live , and take a great deal of pleasure from what nature without art affords , not grieved for the want of what they know not . nay rather they delight in their barbarousness , and prefer it to the affluence of all things , and order which civilized people enjoy . i shall not need to insist in comparing all kinds of arts and sciences , with this of medicine , which any man may do at his leisure , since it is plain , that skin for skin oft times a man will give for his life . no nation , no people , no countrey without diseases and casualties , this being part of the curse ; and as man at last is to return to earth whence he was taken , so he never wants the harbingers of death , sometime one , sometimes another sicknesse or casualty warning him of his mortality . so that the most savage nations are enforced to use this art , and where-ever it is more lamely taught and learned , the more is their misfortune ; for no nation or people in which many do not often want the most absolute helps of nature , for want of which they oft have recourse to the devil , to heal them of more difficult diseases , which makes wizards and sorcerers in great price among the barbarous people , and so much the more by how much the art of medicine is less known . how great honour did the ancient grecians and phoenicians to aesculapius , and his sons , so that they after did account them as gods , and all on the account of their dexterous science and skill in this art. but lest i should seem to insist too long on things not to the purpose , i shall come to the matter : and first to speak of medicine , what it is in general , and then to descend a little more particularly into the enquiry of it . medicine is an art by which all the defects and diseases to which mans nature is subject , are so known as to be cured and restored . it is i say an art of knowing , curing , and restoring all those defects which are accidental to man. not that i do exclude other animals , but because man is the proper subject of this art , i do name him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or for dignity sake . it includes a branch of the art of chymistry , which being of a larger extent , i do not yet define it by it as its genus , because that medicine is also employed about simples , many of which are used without preparation , and many are prepared with preparations not properly chymical , yet the noblest of all medicines flow from this fountain ; i therefore define it by the genus of art , and that properly , for art contains both theory and practick , and the knowledge of diseases is required to their cure , as well as the preparation of medicines , which knowledge doth help an artist , first in choice of medicines , and secondly in the administration of the same , which is more then the word chy mistry doth include . yea whatever it is that makes to the art of healing diseases is properly medicinal , yea though it be miraculous , yet it is the gist of healing , or medicine , or infernal and superstitious , it is a satanical imposture in medicine ; both which i exclude from the art of medicine ; the one as being above art , the other as besides art. but that i refer to this art , which by a natural couse doth perform cures , whether by talismans , or by sympathetical remedies , or by proper medicaments , either specifical or universal , whether simply used as nature by the art of the physician , and that either chymistry doth also comprehend the most absolute and perfect medicaments , besides which nothing can be defired for any disease or defect , either inward or outward , except those accidents which necessarily require the work of the hand , as fractures , and dislocations , and pulling out of any thing violently thrust into the body , of what kinde soever it be . so then we need not any medicaments which chymistry doth not supply , yet the art requiring the administration as well as the preparetion of the noblest medicaments ; it followes that chymistry is too narrow a genus to comprehend the whole of medicine ; which art doth , being equally referred to theory and practick . and yet chymistry is larger then to betotaliy comprehended by the art of medicine , for by it are prepared diapasmes , ( which are in a sort medicinal ) and sundry curiosities , some not at all referring to medicine , as the making of jemmes , malleable glasse , &c. others are referred to medicine , and alse transcend it , as the elixir of the wise , the white respecting only riches , the red both riches and health . yea and this supreme medicine both transcend the bare art of reftoring defects of nature ; in as much as it doth lengthen life wonderfully , although i know few do believe it . so then the art of medicine contains these branches , first the knowledge of disenses , and secondly , the way of their cure . and this also contains two parts : first the choice and preparation of mediqines : and secondly , their administration . their administration includes a true knowledge of their virtue , and so a proporitionable and convenient application of them in reference to the cause of the disease and the state of the patient . and this is universally to be noted , that the more languid the medicines themselves are , the greater sagacity is required in the theorical part , and care joyned with dexterity in the practick . i know that according to the received doctrine of the schools , i sholuld now unfold many very unprositable questions , but intending the reality of things , and not respecting the empty bubbles of aerical notions , i shall not meddle with them , i mean questions in reference to the desinition , and division and subdivision of this art. to proceed then to what i intend , i said that medicine is the art of knowing , curing and restoring all diseases and defects to which mankinde is subject to in reference to the body , as theosophy doth the same in reference to the soul , so that next to it , this art hath the first place . i express knowing , curing , and restoring not without cause , as i shall by and by explain . knowing i say because without the knowledge of diseases a man may be a mountebank , but not a physician ; which knowledge of diseases is as it were his line and plumment by which he works . by this he judges the facility or improbability of the cure , for though no disease in its kinde , yet many particular diseases are incurable , as in my preface i touched and explained , nor shall i here repeat . there also i did clearly discover what knowledge was absolute , and what accidental to a physician , the one constituting , the other adorning him ; the one to be required , the other to be desired in him ; i shall also passe that as already spoken fully to . curing is as much as to say , taking care of , and imploying diligence about them ; nor any diligence is not enough or any care promiscuously , for the nurse and cook , &c. docarefully attend the sick party ; but by cure or care , ( which is all one , being but the english of the latine word cura ) of the physician is that which is intended to the recovery of the patient , and that with as much speed and sasety as may be . i add restorng , as the grand mark of a real and true son of art , it is his diploma by which he appears to be one created of god , and not by the schools ; for their creatures they adorn with titles , god graceth his with real abilities . his knowledge is not such as he sucks from the schools , but such as is applicable to action , the other being but empty shadowes of which in its place . his cure and care is not consisting only in reiterated visits , seeling of pulses , and tossing of urines , stirring of close-stooles , and appointing purges , vomits , bleeding , fontinels , blisters , scarisications , leeches , and such enseebling martyrdoms , nor prescribing syrups , distilled waters of green herbs , lozenges , electuaries , and such fooleries , and what is more sordid , he doth not oversee the kitchin , to make this gelly , or that broth , or this glyster or the like , but like a valiant achilles or hercules , he assayles the disease with powerful and prevailing medicines , and for the o precise , provided alwaies meat be not taken immoderately of any sort , and stomack which is of easiest concoction : but of this by the way , we shall insist larger on it in its place . he doth not cowardly sum up a catalogue of incurable diseases , so that as the ignorant academians of old had their ( gracum est , nec potest legi ) so the school doctors have a very large roll of maladies over which they only put this inscription ( incurabiliasunt ) and so leave them with a sad recommendation to god. but as the valiant hercules sought against giants and monsters and ovencame them , so a true son of art makes it appear that all diseases are in their kinde curable . and now may reverend doctors , who perhaps some of you have read galen , at least curforily , and some have read hippocrates , but never understood him ; some have turned over fernelius , sennertus , avicen and others both ancient and modern writers , to you i speak . the art that you think your selves masters of , so that you would perswade your selves to be the very natural sons of asculapius , what is your art ? let us weight it in the ballance , let us consider it and compare it with this art which we commend and admire ; and i dobut not but as a shadow before the sun , so your appearing art before true art will pass away . can you cure the gout ? some perhaps haps of you will finde impudence enough to affirm it , to whom i shall only object , fiat experimentuam . the people deny it according to the adagy , neseit nodosam medicus curare podagram . how then ? you can cure you will say the running gout , speak sostly i pray , lest some of your patients heart you , and object this : and why then did you not cure me ? 't will be a serious check . but i suppose you much mistake the name and nature of the running gout , the gout properly and truly is an arthritical pain affecting the joynts immediately , and some nerves sometimes by a deuteropatheia , a nd according to the situation it is called podagra , cheiragra , and ischiatica ; to these i shall adde two other species , to wit cephalagia , and odontalgia , which are reall branches of the same disease : the head-ach affecting the meninges of the brain , and the tooth-ach the roots of the teeth which are in these two griest equlvalent to joynts . the head-ach if tedious and durable is called commonly a megrim , the tooth-ach retains alwaies its name . now all thse kindes of griefs are either habitual or accidental , habitual either hereditary , or gotten by some disorder or other . the accidental sorts of these griess are of their own nature transtent , as having no fixed root , and are caused by unusual cold , or fals , or strokes , of strains it s healed , or dislocations ill set and restrored , or stactures ill conglutinated , or else through some or other intemperance in meat or drink . for the remedy of the tooth-ach if it come to extremity there is one only capital remedy of pulling them out , which oft proves but an insufficient , alwaies a lame remedy , but our age hath found the way of counterfeiting the teeth , which makes the loss appear the less . for the tooth-ach there are a thousand ( not to say more ) applications and tricks used to heart and abate the present pain , and those sometimes effectual , sometimes , not at all , for they are only topical , and therefore at the best do but ease for the time ; others use spels , charmes and magical enchantmens for this end , and yet for all this how many thousands there are who in their youth have their teeth most rotted out and corrupted with this grief , and all for want of help , well and what saith the doctor to this ? in very deed he is as contemptible as a bag-piper , every old woman and nurse hath as many and as good medicines for it as he . fie on your worship good doctor , with reverence to your gravity be it spoken , are you not ashamed of your own craft , which know not how radically to cure the tooth-ach ? you will say it is a thing too mean for your gravity , which therefore you leave to every barber , he being the only man when all is done ; for what with oyl of cloves , origanum , peper , vitriol , &c. he cannot mend , with his instrument he can end . but good mr. doctor , why is your worship so squeamish , and yet it is not below your worth to toss a piss-pot for a groat , and to tell the patient a long tale of you know not what your self , when perhaps the grief is far of less concernment then the tooth-ach ? what them ? even this is the reason , here the cause is apparent , every one knowes it as well as your self , here is not room to juggle , but you must come to action , which you are as willing to as hocus pocus is to act a puppet-play with the curtain drawn open . in cases that are not evident , you can advise them to bring their water , and this you will view as a fortune-teller the palm of ones hand , and then you have your tale as ready as a jugler that shews his sights in bartholomew-fair , and a bill to the apothecary you can give them if need be , or they desire it , or some good counsel you have in readiness , which if the case were your own , you would think on it twice ere you would take it once . but in such cases which oft experience hath made as notorious to others as to you , there the urinal must be thrown aside , and then you are at your wits ends , according to the adagy , stercus & urina medicorum fercula prima . how then ? marry thus , the academies have dub'd you , and declared you doctors , which though at the first admission you know to be but a formal empty shew , yet you had the knavery to dissemble it , and the title bringing honour you are willing to accept it ; and that you may not make your selves ridiculours , are apt and ready confidently to pretend what you know you have not , that is , skill . and as a lyar by oft telling a lye doth at last come almost to beleeve it himself ; so at last after along profession , you claim prescription , which that you may not expose to derision , you will undertake any thing , and be as busie about any sick man as davus in the comedy , he shall scarse piss , but you will toss it ; nor go to stool , but you will put your nose to it and stir it ; nor have a mess of broth drest , but you will have a finger in its direction ; and as though you scorned nature should stand cheek by joul with you , if the patient be sleepy ( as oft times ) he must be kept waking ( yea and that on pain of death ) massanelloes commands right : if his stomack be indifferent , he must be curbed in his diet ; if he be droughty and thirsty , you will forbid him drink ; in a word , you are of caesars minde in that , aut viam inveniam , aut faciam , so you , aut morbum inveniam , aut faciam if his appetite be to any thing more then other , be sure that he must be restrained of and bound precisely to your broths , your julips , your barley-waters , gellies , &c. in a word , if the disease by too soon drawing to a period prevent you not , you will use all the electuaries , distilled waters , julips , diet-drink , potions , tablets , species , and cordials , as you call them ; all the herbs , flowers , seeds , and roots which you can probably conj●cture may chance to do good , or at least you hope will do no hurt . but if you prevail not here , then as the poet by degrees came to his , sicelides musae paulo majora canamus . and from them to his arma virumque cano — so if your diaeticall cookery prevail nor , as seldome in doth ( though sometimes , for reasons hereafter to be shewn ) then you go a step higher , to gently purges and vomits , as you call them , and if those fail , then by issues , or blecding , or scarification or the like : and lastly , if all fail , then you resolve to cure a desperate disease with a desperate medicine , singing with the poet this palinode . flectere si nequeo superos , acheronta movebo . them must poysons be used in good earnest , helleboro purgandum caput , is an acient adagy , hellebore & euforbium must do what cochipils will not : opium must do what lettice posset will not ; but first it must be mixed up into a ridiculous laudanum ; colocyntida & scammony must effect what manna , sene & rhubarb will not : o brave doctors ! o capita helleboro digna ! yet you are the men that cry out against poysons . as though scammony , colocyntide , elaterium , esula , euphorbium , ialapium , bryony , asarum , aaron , hellebore , and such like , as cambogia , &c. were not absolute poysons . o but they are tempered by the art of the skilful doctor . good words cost no money , i wish it prove so . but i pray mr. doctor if it be so , what means the bleating of the sheep ? i mean , what is the reason your medicements retain their vomiting quality with convulsions of the stomack which have hellebore mixed , and their purging quality with gripings and such symptomes that have scammony mixed : thus you use to correct poysons , thus you intend to cure diseases . minervain crassissimam ! but as a jugler when his feats are discovered , so you by this means become ridiculous , you know the serious check the frog in aesop received , who as you do , would pretend to be a doctor , our tibi ipsi labra livida non curas ? coughs , colds , murres , hoarsenesses , head-aches , tooth-aches , and the like ; nay oft-times the simple itch and scab , doth reproach you at home , and outdare you abroad , and what is your excuse ? they are trivial cases . by which it appears , that if other diseases should become as common as these , they would all be too mean for the doctors reverence ; and good reason , because they are above his abilities . though you name mountebanks with contempt , yet you differ from them obiefly herein : they pretend skill in notorious diseases , obiefly there where they are least or not at all known ; you in a place where you are most known , are most desirous to deal in hidden unknown maladies . how often shall a man finde the doctors worship himself tormented and at his wits end with the tooth-ach , or head-ach , muffled up for a hoarsness , often coughing at every breath ? to whom if you object the common proverb , physician heal thy self , he will thank you heartily as much as if he did , but he knowes he cannot do it , but it must wear away , he will take perhaps some old wives medicine ; and what is the cause ? if another come to him for the same grief , he is straight at his rules of art , the cough , saith he , is caused by a catharr , and therefore first you must purge , and then make an isfue , and use conserves of fox-lungs , and such like remedies ; why doth he not use these tricks himself ? this is the reason , he knows it is a folly , for these remedies are invalid , yet be it as it will , he that hath money , shall have his counsel which he will not take himself , because he wants some body to pay him for it , and other good he expects none , but the patients confidence he hopes will help out the insufficiency of the medicament , which therefore he will confidently prescribe , and count this his counsel worth a fee to another , which to himself would not be worth taking . well , be it so , that according to the proverb , aquila non capit muscas , the doctor is above these petty imployments , which are too vulgar , which might be the better beleeved if he were free from them himself , yet i then desire to be enformed , what they say to the forementioned gout , is not that a disease worthy their care and cure ? yes without doubt , for it is a disease that often followes great men , and heroes , whom it so affects , that he should not be unrewarded and that highly , that could perform that , here the doctor hath proved his skill and method ( ad nauseam ) and at last he concludes it to be incurable . perhaps upon some disorder of the body by sudden heat and cold , there may be caused a running and very sharp pain , which as i said before is accidental , and therefore transient ; the doctor is advised and consulted with , he adviseth fomentations , unguents , plaisters , scar-cloths and scarifications , then he purgeth the body once or again as the fansie takes him , perhaps he will cause blisters to be drawn , and after them cause issues to be made ; then he prescribes a dietory , and perhaps causeth him to sweat , the pain goeth away sometimes , he useth bathing of the part in hot bathes , either wet or dry ; then the doctor strokes his beard , and perswades himself he hath cured the running gout . nesaevi magne sacerdos . oft times a good old woman sweating a party so taken soundly with carduus & camomile-flowers , & batching the place affected with brany wine warm , hath performed the like : amplaspolia ! this , o this is the doctors method , this is the art they so magnifie , in respect of which a chymical physician in contempt is by them termed an emperick , and a mountebank , and what not ? we have seen their mystery in common maladies , which are too vulgar for them , a gallant excuse , and in moe difficult cases in which being convinced by daily experience , and opportunity of being more fully convinece , still presenting it self , hath extorted a confession of their impotency herein , yet palliated with a shameless falshood , that such discases are incurable , which censure they give on a multitude of other diseases , as the phthisick , consumption , strangury , palsie , epilepsie , and many others , which it would be tedious to relate and hame . but a true physician acknowledges none of those shameful distinctions , of trivial and considerable diseases , nor that false distinction of curable and incurable ; but by his art with gods blessing he is able to cure and restore to their integrity all distempers of what kind soever , which i shall briefly yet fully clear up and demonstrate . this task may seem to some very difficult , especially to a pisse-prophet , who i suppose are very desirous to hear it demonstrated . i doubt not but many of the goosquill tribe hope the contrary , having this confidence , that what ever is beyond their capacity is beyond possibility whom therefore i shall principally assail in this demonstration . if any of you desire to know how i prove all disdases to be curable , who am so consident to affirm it , i shall aske you how you prove any diseases to be incurable , which you so confidently affirm to be so . i know that what ever you will answer , though by much circumlocution it will all tend to this , because you never could certainly cure such diseses , there fore you so judge them . in very truth gentlemen , if you from negative experience are so bold to collect a positive maxim , and confidently pronounce that incurable which you cannot cure : i hope you will give the like liberty to a son of art , to affirm those diseases to be curable , which he hath oft and certainly restored . worth derision was that of an ideot , who being asked how many even and seven was he counted it on his fingers and could tell the number ; being asked how many four times seven was , his finger arithmetick failing , he could not tell ; but being asked how many seven times seven was , he said , no man could tell : he thought some men might possibly count up 4 times 7 , but 7 times 7 god only knew . so you , some diseases you think you can cure , others though you cannot , yet some more experienced in your art can , but the knotted gout , stone , strangury , epilepsie , &c. god only can cure . this is your sentence ; somethings often succeed in our hands , and some , though rarely , yet some-times , therefore they are curable ; others never succeed , therefore they are incurable . this logick would make almost all mechanicks to be impossible , if what ever you cannot do must straight be unfecible . can any of you , or all your colledge together , make the tyrian purple ? can you make that refined c●●per which in ezra is spoken of , and is as precious as gold , yet both are not only fecible , but the art was formerly known as appears by the authority of the scripture . but what need i propound such hard cases to you ? can any of you make a sword , or a pair of handsom shooes ? i hope you will not therefore conclude it impossible . is all wisdom with you ? is nature limited to your knowledge ? shall that skill not be accounted true which you have not ? fie on all such arrogrance , and fie on all positive conclusions drawn from negative experience , which is indeed but ignorance ; for what is negative experience but want of experience , and what is that but ignorance ? it is a true saying , qui ad pauta respicit facile pronunciat . tell me seriously , why should you account that incurable which you cannot cure ? what have you tryed , for to give such a resolute sentence ? do you know all natural things , with all their prep ; arations , and the virtue of them both in their simplicity , and what they may be advanced to by a due preparation ? or do you think that this is needless for a physician to know ? do you think that diseases will be scared into conformity by the vengeance of your gravity ? or what is the matter ? for shame confess the truth , and say , it is a refuge only for your ignorance and laziness that you have compiled that catalogue of incurable maladies , and if you be not past all grace and shame , attend to him who offers to inform you better , if the cure of the sick be your aim , and the good of mankinde , do not envie a profitable truth because it is fallen out of your lot , which you might have shared in , had you been industrious in your time and youth . but then being to flothful to learn , and now too proud to confess your ignorance ; i cannot expect but you will be like momi & zoili snarling at what you cannot imitate , verifying the adagy , inscius quae non capit ea carpit doctus & tanta mysteria ridet ambosic pergant , fatnus at unus invidus alter . the truth is , what you affirm to be impossible that i will yeeld to be very difficult , which difficulty respects not the cure , ( for all diseases are alike to a noble medicine ) but the preparation of the medicines ; but you know the proverb , difficilia sunt quae pulchra . but though they be difficult , yet they are not to be despaired of , according to the poer , nil tam difficile est quod non solertia vincat . do you think that science and art will drop down on you without pains and diligence , as diana is fabled to have fell from jupiter , or to be inspired miraculously , as danae was fabled to be impregnated by jupiter coming down into her lap in a showre of gold ? know you not that vendidere dii sudoribus artes ? it is not reading of aristotle that will make a philosopher , or of galen , hippocrates , avicen , mesue , or fernelius , sennertus or the like , that will make a physician . it is not the reading over of herbals , or learning the form and history of plants that will make a true son of art. no verily , it requires a far greater diligence . there are medicines to be made that will cure all diseases , none excepted , which if the health of men and conscionable performing of your duty were a thing you made conscience of , you would seriously attend , and not suffer so many to languish and perish hopeless , and helpless when god hath appointed means abundantly for their recovery . you will say , if we could be sure that there were such remedies , we would not spare for any cost to attain them , but we cannot beleeve any such thing . but why cannot we beleeve it ? doth not the scripture say , that gods mercy is above all his works : it is a great diffiding in gods mercy , to think that there are so many diseases left incurable , and yer this is one of christs attributes , that he took our infirmities and bare our griefs , he went about doing good and curing all manner of diseases among the people , therefore it is a good thing , that all diseases should be cured , and is any good thing impossible ? the saddnest affliction of all that befals mankinde , as to this life , and the most deplorable , god hath not left without a remedy , viz. the possessing of the body by the devil , which is prayer and fasting . and is it likely that he hath left any natural malady destitute of a remedy . again , doth not the lord protest that he doth not willingly grieve nor afflict thé children of men , which would be a paradox to believe , if there were no remedy for such and such diseases , when the lord by the most deplorable diseases would set out the saddest afflicted state of the church for their sins sake , askes this question , is there no balm in gilead ? is there no physician there ? it were a very unapt similitude , if there were such a catalogue of sores for which there is no balm , and such a roll of diseases for which there is no physician . tell me , dis you never read of a medicine created out of earth , which he that was wise should not despise ? but according to your doctrine , if this wise man were either afflicted with the gout , strangury , palsie , epilepsie , or the like , he should despise that medicine , and that justly , if it would do him no good for his distempers . it must needs follow , that that which no wise man should despise , that is , unless he would discover folly in so despising , must needs be or virtue to cure all diseases or any , or else if a wise man may be subject to any disease which that medicine could not cure , he could not without folly but despise it in reference to his own behalf . did you never read that the sick have need of a physician ? to what end i pray thee ? to entreat god for him , and to prove one of jobs comforters , that is to tell him that his sickness was incurable , if then the sick indifferently ( not this sick man and that sick man excluding such and such ) need a physician , it must needs be that the physician hath or should have remedies to help such an one , or else he hath little need of him to take his money and to torment him with his rules of art , which are to no purpose , if he be incurable . did you never read that god had created the physician for necessity , and appointed him to be honoured for necessity sake ; either then such cases which you shamelesly account uncurable , are cases of necessity , and so the physician is created of god in such cases , or no : what honour think you is physician like to receive , that when he is called to some partient , hath this shameful subterfuge ( it in not to be done ) ? nor do there want examples sufficient to convince the truth of this , if you were but as careful to minde true artists , and to incourage them , as you are to hearken out all the vagabond and apostate chymists and empericks to make use of their ignorant rash adventures , to the reproaching of true sons of art. basilius valentinus cures are beyond your cavils notorious , so that he dared all the doctors of his time to the field ( as i may say ) nor was he so contemptible a man , to have exposed his credit so to derision , in making such a challenge , had not his cures been notorious . suchten , a man of no obscure family , and georgius phadro , did both promise and perform the cure of diseases counted incurable . count trevisan in his treatise de miraculo chemico , reckons up all incurable diseases , which by his medicine he affirmed that he had cured . paracelsus to the admiration of all germany , did both promise and perform the like , as is beyond denial testified of him by an hounourable prince of germany , in an honouble epitaph for that end set upon his tomb. quercetan after him did effect most marvellous cures by this true art , whose testimony the quality of the man may make authentical . yea so far was he from studying parties , that his design was to supply the defects of art in the common apothecaries shops , which he endevoured in his pharmacopaea dogmaticorum restituts , in which he did ( exungue leonem ) by those commoner things of chymistry , yet far surpassing the ordinary drugs , do what he could to incite those who were diligent and judicious to a more serious search after secrets , which because he would not prostitute , he declared covertly , yet nevertheless to a son of art plain enough . and in our age the noble helmont did perform the same to admiration , and hath so satisfactorily written of the whole art in his large volume every where extant , that though many sharl and bark at him , yet hitherto none hath appeared that durst take up the buckler against him . what can you say to these men good mr. doctors , are their testimonies true or no ? i suppose this question will prove to you as christs in the like case did to the pharisees and scribes , concerning the baptism of john , when he asked them if it were of heaven or of men . if you confess it to be true , then i aske you why you do not follow them , why do you not beleeve them , why do you reproach the art so signally testified ? if you say it is not true , the people will condemn you , your own chieftains-will convince you , sennertus , fernelius , and many others have been forced to confess that of this art in its commendation , which would make your ears glow to hear it in english . and to deal in good sadness , how come you know any thing concerning the art of medicine ? have you it not from testimony ? are not authors authorities your main pillars ? suppose your selves to be as you were before you had any practise , yet you were dub'd doctors ; and what was all your skill then but on credit ? are not the herbals but so many collections of the judgements of such authors as have written on the subject ? and are the opinions of some men that you fancy , to be believed before the absolute testimony of others ? what partiality is this ? what had galen to induce credit more then paracelsus , helmont , count trevisan , valentinus , quercetan , and those of his art , whose persons were noble , whose learning not contemptible , and who wrote not their placits , but their experiences ; not what they thought , but what they had done , and could do . is a negation to be accounted as an oracle before a positive affirmation ? away with this madness ! if you would desire a reason for the curableness of all diseases , i answer , the effect is to be the proof of the cause : i suppose you are so good logicians as to know that cause and effect do mutually argue each other . if then all diseases in kinde have been , are , and may be cured , then they are curable . the assumption is proved by testimonies sufficient , by experience , and no obscure grounds from the scripture . chap. ii. the insufficiency of vulgar medicines is the cause why many diseases are judged inourable . by the catalogue of incurable diseases it may appear what and how many diseases there be which the doctor confesseth are without the reach of his medicines and method . we shall take them at their word , who grant indeed that they cannot cure them , but that they are not therefore cureable , that we have upon good ground denied . now let us consider the efficacy of their method and medicines in other cases , which they do account curable , and examine what they do perform there . but first i shall adde a word or two of serious reproof to them in reference to the former number of incurable maladies , in that they to me seem not a little culpable . if they would candidly wave the cure of such griefs , and deal ingenuously with the sick patient , it were commendable in them as honesty , although they should much diminish their reputation thereby . but yet though they ( i mean the ablest of the sect ) do confesse their unsufficiency to cure such and such maladies , yet this notwithstanding , if any through ignorance of their abilities come to them , in any such case , they will not turn him away , verifying therein the sordid saying of an unworthy emperor , dulcis odor lucri ex re qualibet . and yet for this they want no a shift , and a poor one too , although say they were know not certainly to cure it , yet we know the causes of it , what breeds it , and what feeds it , these we cannot totally remove , but we can so diminish bad humors which is as fuel to it , that it shall not be so dangerous , nor so troublesom as else it would be , also we can apply remedies to abate symptomes , and this art will do . these are good words , which if they knew not how to give , it is pity but they had been turned to plough when they had been first sent to the school . but as good words alone will never satisfie a hungry belly , so will it less profit in so difficult a case . what our doctors can do in abating the symptomes of the gout , the stone , the epilepsie , the palsie , i desire to know and learn , nay in a less case then those mentioned , in the quartan feaver . i confess , that in the time of misery the patient oft times will admit of any help real or only promised , according to that old saying , a drowning man will catch at a straw . but the doctors ready affording to them their help and counsel when called , in such and other the like cases , and performing nothing in lieu of great fees , doth make them justly at last ridiculous , so that the name of a doctor is as contemptible to many of the most vulgar , as a pupper-player ; and justly , for who sees not how sordidly in these cases he behaves himself ? let a poor man be taken paralytical , or epileptical , or leprous , or with a cancer , lupus , or the like , they will very friendly advise them not to spend their money , for it is in vain ; nay hospitals are not to entertain such persons as being out of hope of cure ; and yet if a great heroe be taken with any of the like cases , no ravens will slie more greedily to carrion then they to him , in this acting very impudently and dishonestly . it is not my purpose here to descend to the particulars of diseases , this being only an apology , i haing elsewhere largely insisted upon many diseases in particular , such to wit which are more common and truculent , which i did , that ingenious men which have not the happiness to attain to the greater arcanaes , may yet have a succedaneum to them , which being of a more precise , nature , are to be used in some cases only , not so commonly , and universally in all . to return therefore to the thing proposed , namely to consider and take a view of the doctors performances in other cases which they count curable , namely feavers , fluxes , pleurisies , &c. and first to begin with the feaver ; is that i pray you certainly by you cured ? no verily , nay the contrary . truth , there are very great varieties of feavers , some are diary , and of their own accord end in a fit for the most part , here perhaps the doctor is called , and prescribes a ridiculous medicine with a severe diet , and the party recovers of the disease , which of its own accord would have ceased , or at most nature being holpen by a sage or a carduus posset , and sweat provoked thereby . the cause of these feavers being a light error in the first digestion , and not affecting the spermatical membrane of the stomack with any malignant impression , is easily avoided by one , and that oft no tedious fit , and not rarely is expelled by vomit , and loosness , but most often by sweat . when the doctor comes to such a patient , finding him very ill at stomack , restless , and oft with much pain in the head , very thirsty , and with a thick pulse , he for the time appoints him some cooling julip , and perhaps some simple cordial , and by this means hindering natures indication , the party who after a sound sweat would the next day be pretty well , is like a sea-sick man , though the rigor of the former day be abated yet he is untoward , with a dejected appetite , and somewhat feaverish ; then the doctor prescribes a purge , to carry away ( as he saith ) the peccant matter , and in a word handles the case so artificially , that he will make a fortnights cure of it , sometimes twice as long . this then he accounts a great cure , and to make it the more esteemed , he will make it costly enough , the apothecaries bils oft times in such cases rising to five , sometimes to ten pounds , and the doctors fees to as much , when as the disease at the first taking in hand was but a plain diary , though before the doctors making an end , it be by his rules of art changed into a synochus . nor may this seem a false imputation , for i have known the like done where no feaver hath been before , yet the doctor by his art of preventing diseases , hath not only caused disease , but also promoted it so far , that by it all furture maladies have been certainly prevented , and the grave hath covered his error . a gentleman of my acquaintance in london , some three years past , in the autumn , was asking me what i would advise him for the purging of his body to prevent diseases , ( malignant feavers being then common ) i demanded of him what moved him to desire physick ; he told me indeed he found no disorder in his body , but thought it were good to use physick notwithstanding for prevention sake . i told him that christs rule therein was not to be contemned , viz. that the whole need not a physician , but such who are sick ; and advised him if he were well , to keep himself well ; but he would needs take the advise of a doctor , and some gentle thing to cleanse his body , hoping by it to be the less subject to the disease of the time . he advised with one , without exception of as great fame and note as any in london , who hath heaped up riches out of the ruines of several persons and families , and for doing it with a grace , hath with them gotten a name : he adviseth him to a gentle purge , which being taken , wrought little or not at all ; whereupon the next day finding himself little the better , the doctor prescribed him a purge somewhat stronger ; for , said he , the humor is melancholick , and so not easily removed : this purge wrought throughly , so that at night he had little rest , and the next day was feaverish , which the doctor handled so well , that in ten daies he rid him both of his feaver and his life . another doctor of no less note , about two years since , came to a gentlewoman of good quality , who had formerly been his patient , and was at that time in good health , only desirous for prevention sake to purge , which he directed her to do , prescribing a purge , which working not at all , he advised another of greater force ; this wrought about 16 or 20 stools , and in the night began to work afresh , nor ceased ( the doctors skill notwithstanding ) till in three dales it fully cured her of all infirmities present and to come . no marvel then since they are so dextrous in causing diseases where none were , and managing them till by them is made an end of all worldly miseries , if they being called to a diary can articially turn it into a synochus , according to the adagy , facilius inventis additur , quàm nova inveniuntur . if i were minded here to insist on instances , i might spend more time then this apology will admit ; i shall therefore pass on to the matter in hand , namely that the doctor with all his medicaments which the apothecaries shops afford , and his so much adored method to boot , is not confident of the cure of any one disease , nor can he assure his patient thereof . so then if there be any accidentall distemper befallen a strong man , or woman , there he will tamper like a tinker , who seldome mends a hole till he makes it twice or thrice as big , that so he may account so many the more nailes ; so the doctor will not spare to play booty between nature and the disease , till it be aggravated to what height it is possible for nature to bear , and then he withdrawes his hand , and expects the critical day , to wit , to see what end nature will make , in the mean time to the disturbance of her as much as he can , he forbids all meat and drink but his cookery , every day peeping in the urinal , and feeling the pulse , and prescribing this or that slop for a cordial ; if the patient die , then he takes himself excused , for he proceeded according to the rules of art , if he recover ( as god in mercy doth recover many , though far less then otherwise through the doctors help ) then he reckons this for a cure , and prides himself herein , whose folly we shall discover fully to the impartial reader . 't is a shameful excuse that doctors usually make when many die under their hands , that they proceed according to the rules of art , if this art be worse then the art of a tinker or a cobler : for let any of these be called to do any job of work that is in their trade , they will tell you straight , if or no it be to be done , and undertaking will perform it , only the doctor if called to a sick patient , will in lieu of a large fee tell you what the disease is ( as least what comes into his minde at the time , which he thinks will satisfie an ignorant patient ) and what is this ? the sick man needs a physician , not a witness of his misery . well , aske him concerning the cure , he will tell you that he can promise nothing , for the blessing is only in gods hand , but he will do his endevour , a religious answer , and as he will garnish it , to the vulgar specious , but it is is but a visard to hide a grievous imposture . for as our life , so all our actions are in the hand of god ; 't is he that buildeth the house , else in vain is the work of the workman . the husband-mans breaking up his ground , fowing his seed , and managing his ground : even this saith the prophet ) is of the lord ; he teacheth him , and helpeth him , else he could do nothing . so in god we live , move , and have our being : and when we speak of ordinary natural things , to be so cautious in speaking as not to promise any thing without mentioning god , is not discommendable , bur rhw contrary ; yet as it may be use , or rather misused , this may seem not only ridiculous , but in a manner an affected taking gods name in vain : as for instance , if a man being desired to make a garment , should promise not absolutely , but with proviso , if god permit , and give life , it is christian-like ; but if he desire gods blessing as to the effect , the causes being granted , that is ridiculous ; as if he should say , i cannot promise to make you a garment , but i wil use all the skill i have and my endevours , but it is in gods hand whether it shall become a garment or no. so of a servant should be bidden to kindle a fire , should say he could not promise to do that , but he would do his endevour , but gods blessing must give the success ; how ridiculous were this ? but much more if for fuel he should take stones , and for fire something of a different nature , and excuse himself , as having done what was on his part but gods blessing not concurring , the effect did not succeed according to desire . not unlike is it in this case : a doctor is called to a patient taken with a feaver , and first orders him to be let bloud , then purged either upward or downward , or both waies ; the disease yet encreasing he gives his cooling julips , pectoral electualries , conserves and syrups , withall he prescribes clysters , or suppositers , lotions for the mouth , and such fooleries ; if notwithstanding the disease continue , and grow more violent , he then expects the crisis of nature , only he will perhaps apply pigeons or the like to the feet , or vesicate the external members for revulsion sake , and yet if the patient die , he holds himself excused , as having followed the rules of art , and done what was to be done , only the success , as he said , being in gods hand , he therefore could not help it , if god did not see good to make the medicines applyed , effectual for the mans recovery . but as it is a sad thing that the grace of god pretended , should be used as a pander unto wantonness , so it is no less hateful , that the providence of god should be misapplied as a cover-slut of idleness , ignorance , and unconscionableness : for who knowes not that our life is so in gods hand , as it is ordinarily preserved ro lost by the use or want of things proper thereto ? even hunger if self would be certainly mortal , if not appeased by meat appropriated thereto by the appointment of god. and if stones were used for food , no man would doubt to impute death in that case to the want of food , as the immediate cause subordinate to the providence of god : so is it in this case . and in truth god can , but rarely doth work miracles ; a man rarely is sarved to death amidst variety of victuals , nor pined for thirst where drink is plenty , much lest where he both may , and doth eat and drink at pleasure . so then as to the starving of a man is required want of meat & drink , or either of them , so to the perishing of a man under a feaver is required the defect of a true medicine , or want fo timely application . it is not every ridiculous slop that is a medicine , nor any promiscuous care of the sick that is the true . art of cure ; that is a medicine indeed , and the art of cure indeed , which hath a power to perform what the physician promiseth , or the patient expecteth . sothen the art and medicines which are required for cure , and not for pretence , are to be related unto actual recovery as a sufficient cause to the effect , which is certainly effectual . 't is as naturall and certain for a right medicine to cure a disease , as it is for fire to inflame combustible things , for the sun to give light , for water to quench fire , and the contrary would be supernatural , yea i am bold to affirm , that it would be as strange for a true medicine rightly applyed to miss the cure of a natural disease , as for the flame not to consume a conbustible object . so that for doctors to pretend that they use the means , and that according to the reles of art , but gods blessing not concurring , the effect did not answer expectation ; is as much as if they should say , that god to render their labour and care frustrate , doth work miracles daily , in denying the natural effect to an adequate cause . and if so , they may justly fear themselves to be highly out of gods favour , if he will cross and pervert the ordinary course of nature , and that daily and commonly to frustrate their endevours ; or else they must confess the truth as it is namely , that their method and medicines are not to be esteemed as an adequate cause to the effect of cure of diseases ; and then what is their art , but a shalmeful imposture and cheat of the world ? i would gladly any of the galenical tribe would salve this argument , by resolving the world to what diseases their art , method , and medicaments , are adequated causes in respect of cure and reference to recovery , if to any , then in such diseases they may as confidently warrant the effect , as a gunner to fire a gun that is charged with good powder , and he with a lighted linstock in his hand ; nor is it presumption in the one more then in the other , but alas is it not evident , that if a doctor be called to a sick man , though at the beginning of the disease , and in his full strength , yet he can promise nothing but to do his endevour , as the man doth who according to the man doth who according to the proverb , thresheth in his cloak ? whence it appears , that when ever any one recovers he doth it only through natures benignity , and not by any art of the doctor , who could not warrant the cure , much less how soon it would be effected . fie on that art , which alone of all arts in the world can not , dare not , will not warrant to perform what it undertakes , when as the most hazarbable art of all agriculture , and the mariners art , are usually warranted , yet we know that the winds which are the directors and accomplishers under god of the mariners design , blow where they list , rarely trade , and the crop of the husbandman ( if the early and latter rains do but fail , either impared , or else quite frustrated , yet both one and the other are warranted by the undertakers , on penalty of loss of all their labour and cost , at the least ; and oft times a voyage by sea is warranted by merchants for a small inconsiderable gain to be paid to them at adventure , in lieu of which they will repay the whole if lost , only the doctor is of another minde , for he will be paid at adventure , nor will he warrant any thing in lieu of his payment , but to do his endevour , which is a ridiculous cheat of the sick , both of their money and lives . if a taylor when cloath is brought him , should demand , pay at a venture , and yet not promise to perform his work , but only to do his endevour , even the doctor himself would think him as well deserving his wages , as they in lubberland deserve twelve pence by the day for sleeping , but especially if such a taylor should spoyl the cloth so brought him by cutting it into shreds , in stead of making it into a garment , and do thus ten times for once making a garment , and yet exact his pay how like a knave would his acting be and yet how like a doctor , who never doth otherwise . contrariwise a son of art , he confidently undertaketh a disease and as certainly performes what he undertaketh ; he comes armed with powerful medicaments , and not with a simple impotent method , which are as effectual to the person that is sick for his recovery , as water would be for the quenching of fire ; not that he attempts any thing without the blessing of god , for he acknowledgeth it a great mercy of him , first to have provided such medicines in nature for such maladies , and secondly , in revealing them to him for the help of mankinde : and lastly , in bringing him to those who finde help by him , for otherwise where god intends a disease shall be fatal to any , he with-holds the means from him , either totally , or so long till it be too late to recover him . for although the consequent which is drawn from the cause to the effect be ceitain and undeniable , yet the cause amy acidentally be trustrated of its effect , by accident , yet so that the cause doth not cease to be a cause notwithstanding . i might instance in all generations , which by accident may be hindred : the fire may not burn what is combustible , if by accident that be made too wet ; so water will not quench fire , if the quantity be too little ; so a man cannot be cured by a medicine , if already death be possest of the principal parts , or if the party be not sensible and so will not take it , otherwise it cannot be but that a medicine indeed must work its effect , alse it is no medicine . but here it will not be amiss to answer a cavil , i doubt not but some adversaries will object to me as of old was objectd to paracelsus : do you cure all ? do none die of your patients ? to these i shall answer , that indeed all do not recover , and yet the truth of what i say nothing infringed ; for against all discases there is a remedy , but against death none , that only is out of the reach of all medicines . now if god hath numbred a mans daies , and finished them , it is not to be objected to the disgrace of a medicine , that it cannot prevail against the irrecoverable decree . if that were all that were to be objected against the galenists method and practise , we should never finde fault with them ; for it is appointed to all men once to die , and all our daies are numbred , every man is not to live ad aetatem decrepitam . but with all this we say , that thought our medicines cannot triumph over death ; yet against the miseries of life . they will prevail over the disease even there where recovery of life is impossible : and therefore a true febrifuge will refresh , abate symptomes , compose , and bring to quiet , even there where the seat of life is possessed by death , which is a ( levamen ) thought not a ( restanratio ) . sometimes the stroke of death deludes with the face of a disease , at least shewing some of the common usual symptomes of a feaver , not easily to be discerned , and that because it is as we say ( preter spem ) not hoped for , and so not so easily beleeved according to the adagy , ( facile speramus quae fieri volumus , facilius quod speramus credimus ) . and so on the other hand what a man would not have , he is not apt to believe . adde to this the commiseration we have to those that are afflicted and in sickness , which would make us desire to be instrumental in any thing which is for their recovery . and lastly , if a man do doubt the worst , yet it is not good to affright the patient with his jealousies , which leave a deep impression on his spirit , and make the hope ( if any were ) oft times desperate . to conclude , as nothing is without a cause , and therefore diseases are curable because medicines are endowed by god with such a virtue , so that some particular diseases are excepted from the rule of the generals there are particular causes , of which it is most true , faelix qui poterit rerum dignoscere causas . yet a son of art by his medicines is able to cure what is curable , ( which all diseases are in their kinde ) though sometimes the disease being heightned almost to its utmost period before he is called , so that death having conquered the chief places , will not accep of any truce ; sometimes the party is struck with deaths stroke at first , which causing a commotion of the archeus , disdaining to be so overmastered by its adversary , doth appear like unto an ordinary acute disease , yet without possibility of cure , unless by his power who can raise the dead ; sometimes the patient hath undergone so much of the galenical tribes methodical butchery , that he hath not strength left to help the physicians medicines , nature having been so exhausted , that for want of strength it faints under its load ; nor hath it strength sufficient left to co-work with the medicine , and sometimes the defect of the highest arcana , which every true son of art cannot command , doth make many hereditary diseases , and some chronical , which are raised to a more then usual height , to be out of his medicaments reach , which otherwise would be cured by a powerful arcanum . and here is the goodness of the most high , that no man can truly boast himself to be a real son of art , but he hath at command medicines to cure the most common and truculent diseases , as for instance , feavers , pleurisies , flixes of all sort , agues of all sort , small pox and measles which are indeed but a branch of feavers , calentures , also which belong to the same head , the jaundies , head-aches , tooth-aches , with all running pains , hypochondrical colicks , affections of the mother , and obstructions of all sorts causing indigestion , palpitations , syncopes , convulsions , vertigoes , &c. which a true son of art can confidently undertake and cure : and though some are past recovery of life as is before said , yet even to such his medicaments will be effectual for ease and comfort , and abating of raging symptomes , which is an effect not to be despised , where more cannot be attained . that therefore may well and truly be account a febrisuge , which ordinarily , speedily and powerfully cures feavers of all sorts , at first or second dose oft times , but never exceeds four daies in continual feavers , if administred in the beginning , and agues oft at one fit , never misseth in three or four at most , perfectly to cure : and although some feavers which have been neglected too long ere remedy be sought , do miscarry , yet of such not one of five , of those that are taken in time not one in a hundred , which doth not disprove the virtue or efficary of the medicine . i know what will be said in calumny against me , though not in answer to me , namely , that i am an emperick , and by an emperick they usually would have understood , one who practiseth by fortuirous receipts , without the knowledge of the cause of the disease , or nature of what he administers , and therefore shoots his shafts at randome . this hath been an old reproach of paracelsus , helmont , quercetan , and all chymical physicians , and therefore i shall not wonder if it be cast upon me . but as a worthy friend of mine , when a great doctor of the galenical tribe , very passionately reproached me to him as an emperick , and mountebank , asked him the difference between such a one and a dub'd doctor ? the galenist answered , the one shot at random , the other wrought according to art and method : to which my friend replyed that to his knowledge i cured not only speedily , but certainly , and constantly , those diseases ( namely agues ) which the other doctors alwaies failed in curing , now if this were the difference between an emperick and a colleague of the colledge , that the first at randome ( as he objected ) never or very seldom missed , but such as himself by art never or very seldom hit the cure , he had rather have an empirical certain constant and safe cure , then an artificial missing of the same . it is known to the most vulgar and ignorant , that not only chronical diseases are out of the doctors reach , but all acute diseases also , which nature doth not of his own accord cure , which may appear by the effect ; how many feavers do they cure ? certainly none , if we judge that for a cure which is indeed so to be judged , where the crisis is prevented by the efficacy of the medicine ; but how many in a year outlive the crisis many daies through the strength of nature , and yet die meerly through the doctors taking part against nature by phlebotomy , purging , &c. who is hited by the patient to oppose the disease , against which their medicines are as effectuall as the priests holy-water is against the devil , or the ringing of bels , and mumbling a pater-noster on their heads ; to both of whom i may say that of the satyrist , ah pecus insipidum , unllo non scommate dignum ! siccine vos decuit fieriludtbria vulgi ? i have oft seriously wondred how it should come to pass that these silly juglers should so long shuffle out , since there is scarce one in the whole nation that ever made use of them , who in health hath not a flout ready in his bag to throw in a galenists dish , and yet in sickness they deifie in a manner those very men whom in health they scorned : and i cannot but ascribe it to the justice and wisdom of god , who is pouring forth his plagues all the world over ( i mean among christians ) by which the third part of the world shall perish , and i think in my conscience , that few less perish by the doctors crast . 't is a sad consideration , that christians only swarm with these caterpillars , the heathens not knowing , nor owning nor following their method ; witness the turks , moores , &c. and then began it to grow to this head of esteem , when the apostacy of christians provoked god to the pouring forth of his plagues , of which the most truculent of all , is the doctors art. the sword and all diseases put together destroy not so many as they , namely such as by natures strength would recover , but are destroyed by the doctors art. without these the romans flourished 500 years , nor found any want of them . now italy and rome swarmes with them , and never did diseases raign there as now ; and of all places where are the yearly burials comparable to those places where doctors are most numerous ? how do they swarm in london ? and yet not a year in which many thousands dye not of curable deseases . 't is sad it should be so , and yet who sees it not ? let a disease be but epidemical , the doctor cals it a new disease , although no other then an epidemical feaver , and here he is the by-word of every water-bearer . in agues , especially autumnal and popular , who more ridiculous , and yet the people though they see and know this , nevertheless submit to them , and adore them in necessity , to the cheating them of their money , and the loss of their lives . by all which it is most most evident that their medicines are but ridiculous , so named , a medendo , as lucus a lucendo ( quod minimè medeantur ) which may scarcely pass as metaphors to true medicines , nor can any good be predicated of them without an irony . if we should take a particular survey of all their medicines , we shall finde them all partly ridiculous , and partly desperate , universally answering to their denomination ; as the rude painters draughts of old did the things they represented , under which if it were not written , this is a dog , this is a cow , this is a stag , this a man , this a cock , &c. no man by the draught could tell what the picture represented ; so if those were not called medicines , a man should never by the effect know that they were so . first , are their catharticks and emeticks , next their diaphoreticks , then their diureticks , then their carminatives , and next their cordials , which are either hypnotick , or pectoral , or bezoardical , or cooling . these are indeed magnificent names , let the things be what they will. and here i cannot but take notice of their artificial imposition of names , in that they call their laxative medicines which are of milder operation lenitives , those of stronger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , catharticks , which is usually rendred in other tongues , verbatim , purgatio in latine , a purge in english , as of old the romans called an enemy peregrinus , that is , a stranger , urbanitate seu lenitate nominis rei atrocitatem sive odium mitigante , as cicero hath it , so they , by sugred denominations would hide the malignity of the things so denominated , according to the adagy , a man that hath a bad name is half hanged , & on the contrary he that hath a good name may lie a bed till noon , intimating the sevity of the vulgar , who will easily be induced to embrace a promising name , both for name and thing also . now of this fort some work precisely one way , others work both waies , both upward and downward ; of the latter sort are , elaterium cambogia , otherwise called gurta , gummi , cen●●●n , housleck , and many others ; of the first sort , are rhubarb . scammony , colocynthis , jalapium , &c. vomitories , because they hear but ill in english , they likewise call by a greek name emeticks , which the common sort not so well understanding , do think that in the name some reverend mystery is contained ; and truly so there is , for as a thief , or seminary ( with us ) to avoid taking , hath a new name for a refuge , so these having deserved but ill under the name of vomits , be changed into emeticks , and will get entertainment under that name , which would be abhorred under their own denomination . so that if a patient say , oh good doctor give me not a vomit , for such a time i took one which had night killed me ; no saith he straight , i will only give you an emetick , but not a vomit : if the party reply , and what do you call an emetick ? saith not a vomit : if the party reply , and what do you call an emetick ? saith he , a medicine that worketh very gently , perhaps once or twice if need be , and thus the patient accepts of an emetick who abhorred a vomit . and the like cause gave scammony , colocynthida and combogia , the surnames of diagridium , alahandal , and gutta gummi , as having by their churlishness deserved ill so often , that they are ashamed of them . so succus cucumeris agrestis , is surnamed elaterium . but to leave the names , and come to the thing , what are all these medicaments but poysons ? if any be desirous to make experiment , let it be on himself first or none , let him i say but treble the doctors dose to himself , and i dare almost warrant him death . but you will say they are corrected by the apothecaries art according to the doctors prescription , if so , let the effect speak . the wilde cucumer is to be sliced with a bone knife when green , and the juyce to be received in a clean platter , which precipitates a light sedimen , this is to be severed from the other juice by decantation and dryed , which is their eleaterium , and is then fit to enter their compositions . can any thing be more ridiculous ? in the juyce indeed is the whole virtue or crasis , and the most eminent in that part which stils out of it self from the apple being cut in slices by degrees over a dish , so far they are right : so opium is the best which distils out from the scape of the poppy so wounded , and may resemble the bloud of the vegetable . but why the juyce when clarified ( by precipitating the powder that is light and feculent ) should be cast away , and the dregs ( themselves call it a fecula ) be only saved , i see no reason , but because the true sincere juice would be too strong , a gallant correction . so hellebore , hyoscyam , aconitum , and all may be corrected , if being stamped green , and strained , and then filtred , that only be saved which remains behinde in the filtring bag , or it dry , macerated by decoction , and then strained ahd filtred , and the light fecula saved . the gross apple is rejected , as being too gross a feces , the subtle juyce also , as being too efficacious a poyson , only the light , fecula ( which being not washed retains a little of the virtue of the juice ) is saved , and it is a proper corrected medicine for a galenist , and yet of this half a scruple would be as effectual as a two-penny halter . but why sliced with a bone knife ? it is a good proviso for the apothecaries wife , and younger apprentice , the one a weak woman , the other a knavish boy , very apt both to cut their fingers , and the doctor not knowing what work the juice of these cucumers would make in a cut finger , provides for them as a nurse for a childe with a bone knife . so colocyntida is corrected by hanging two years or three in the air on a string . if loss of virtue may be called correction , i am sure tobacco that is of as strong a composition as colocyntida , by the same art may may be corrected fitly for the dunghill , which before was of value ; so colocyntida , briony , hellebore , asarum roots , aconitum , aaron , &c. by this art become fit drugs for a galenist , because scarce fit for ought else but the dunghill . as for the confection of poysons in receipts , because many simple people believe , that this composition of the apothecaries by the doctors direction is a correction of venomes , so as to alter their name and nature into medicine , it is a meer deceit ; for they only compound them with hony or sugar , and confound them with other things in such a proportion , that a dose shall contain of the poyson a less quantity then may prove mortal , which they might as well administer alone , nor with so much pains confound those things in composition which are of themselves of little or no virtue . thus opium is confounded with a many simples into a ridiculous ladanum , of which let be given as much as doth contain 6 grains of the opium , and see if the effect be not the same or worse then if so much crude opium were given . these tricks then are but toyes barely to confound simples by beating them together with honey or sugar , into an electuary or a consection , without previous preparation and separation of the good from the bad . medicine is a serious , and hidden thing , i had almost said sacred , nor doth it come to the knowledge of any , but by the special gift of the most high . it is he that hath created the physician and hath set him up to be honoured for necessity sake . nor is it to be thought that the abstruse mysteries of this art lye prostituted in every apothecaries shop , according to the adagy , vix gemmae in trivio . those who were the first heroes of this art , did hide the secrets of it so from the conusance of the vulgar , that they had a divinity ascribed unto themselves in reference to their hidden and secret skill ; only galen to get a name , made a great noyse about the world , taking upon him to unveil medicine , and expose her naked to the eye of the most unworthily sordid , covetous practitioner of the art : but as he who did but dare to gaze upon diana naked , was crowned with horns , and made a prey unto his dogs ; so he who assayed such violence to this chaste and most retired nymph , is worthily rewarded with midas purchase , viz. a pair of asses ears . those who know and see , how studiously any of their own sect doth hide any one receipt or medicine which the finde singular , so that many of them have never revealed it dying , who would imagine them to be such animals , that whatever they read they should straight believe ( provided the author have but had the luck to die famous ) and straightway to draw it into their dispensatory , to be put in practise by the apothecary . as though many who do write , ( aiming at pomp and applause ) do not write meerly conjectures which they account rational . adde to this natures simplicity , which doth that with one or two things duly prepared and applyed , which would not be done by all the doctors pompous receipts , which by hap some or other lighting of either by conference with some good old woman , or having by success found the reality of the thing , which the doctor willing to advance by his method of extracting , candying , or conserving , or compounding ; he finds it to answer his expectation worse in composition , then in its simplicity , with a due preparation , which therefore he keeps to himself as a secret , and perhaps gets much credit by it , ( for that is the doctors craft , that what a good old woman shall do by natures simplicity , shall be judged not worth thanks , yet the same done by him shall be enhanced within a degree of a miracle ) two or three such trivial experiments , yet more effectual then the ordinary slops perhaps he accounts his mystery , which he will not discover , till at last dying he is won to impart them to the world , which he knowing to be so simple , that if told sincerely , would be received with this of the poet , spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ? he therefore garnishes out the naked simple truth with addition of many things , which he hopes or thinks will be but as herb john in pottage , of which some by reason of their dearness , some for the hardness of procurement may raise a reverend esteem of that secret so much esteemed in his life , and which he fears ( if nakedly declared ) would be contemptible after death : and thus what to him was effectual , being by his direction clog'd and perverted with a fortuitous medley , becomes frustrate ; hence it is that so many things which were famous to the inventor , are at this day but contemptible slops . thus the countess of kents powder is since her death brought into usual receipts , which i rather suppose is a spurious receipt forged by others , then left by her ; yet in that she wanted not her costly additions , which added to the price , but diminished the virtue of the simples : the like may be said of gascoines powder , which is by some accounted the ground of the other . but what i particularise these things for i do to this end , that it may appear how sottishly doctors take for granted what ever they read in a book written by any man who was famous in his life , which must needs be believed , and taken thus on credit , is so transmitted unto the apothecaries to be accordingly prepared , when as their secrets which they so esteemed , they concealed in their life what they could , and might have many reasons not to leave candidly written after death . partly lest the naked simplicity of them should bring them into contempt , but it may be chiefly because perhaps to some friends under colour of friendship they have enviously given wrong receipts , which they must not alter at death lest they should brand themselves with a black note of infamy by so doing , or for other reasons , which it is not my design to reckon up or to endevour to conjecture ; only the grand reason i doubt not , is because when a doctor gets such a secret , how simple soever it be , he values it to the patient richer then if made of gold and jems , which therefore when ever published to the world , must have some costly additions , to make his price seem conscionable , lest after his death by his own confession , all that ever have used his medicines should judge him an unconscionable cheat , and so posterity falsly attributed the singularity of the virtue of the medicine to the most costly ingredients , come at last to leave out or neglect at least the due care and choyce of the most effectual ingredient . not that i do judge , or think , or contend for , that a physician is to sell his medicines at the rate they cost him , allowing such or such gain for his pains as a merchant or shop-keeper takes . no verily , for first medicines are not every mans money , the whole need them not , and for their own use ( so long as healthy ) would not value that at twenty pence which might cost twenty pound . the sick only needs them , and to such they are precious , if effectual and applyed in season . as then i do not value ambergreece the less , because it is oft found by chance , and seldom costs the finder more then his pains to take it up , ( the like may be said of jems in their first finding ) so i do not value a medicine by what it costs , but by what it will do , and according to the party to whom it is applyed . as then a poor mans credit is as dear to him as rich mans , yet a defamation which to one may not be valued at six pence , may to another be valued at six hundred pound ; so a medicine which will cure both rich and poor , though given to the poor for nothing , yet doth not argue that it cost the maker of it nothing ; and though the making of it cost not above five shillings , yet this doth not hinder but it may be valued to a rich man at five pound , if it really do him more advantage then perhaps he would be without for five hundred pound . a physician then is bound only to the rules of true charity , and being given of god to help and relieve the lives of many that are endangered , he may , and that piously , so take of the rich , as to be able to help the poor freely , and yet as cordially and as truely affording to them his best help and remedies , for nothing , as he doth to the rich for a reward . yet is it not fit that any reward should be accounted due where the disease is not cured ; for the patient doth not want a doctor for to tell him a tale of his disease , nor yet to pray god for his recovery , but to administer to his disease , what may be effectual : a saylor though he take never so much pains , yet is not paid that performes not his voyage ; yea and all callings whatever are paid for their pains , only with proviso , that they do what they undertake ; only a doctor is paid for his pains though never so little to the purpose , which is unconscionable ; i confess that if the patient finde him to be carefull and diligent he may order him some reward for his good will where he wanted in skill , but this the doctor cannot challenge . the doctor on the patients trial ( where his remedy is frustraneous ) learns ( if he be honest ) not too confidently to trust that medicine in that case again ; but what gets the patient but only his labour for his pains in taking it ? and this hurt at the least , that so much time is lost and his cure never the nearer ( if not the farther off by the diseases having had so long the more time on him ) for which it is most unreasonable , that he should be accounted in the doctors debt . i must ingenuously confess , that as i alwaies reckoned a doctors . art not to be bound to the ordinary rules of merchandise , because it respected the lives of men not to be bought or sold for money , so i could not but alwaies judge it unreasonable for a reward to be there demanded where no good is done : for the art of medicine is a mystery in which the common people have no skill , and when they are ill they want not a doctor for his reverent looks , nor do they desire any thing promiscuously for a medicine , much less any dear thing , but only what may be good for the disease , if they knew a thing were not good for their malady , or that it were appointed only at a wilde random , they would be loath to buy it for themselves , though they might have it for half the worth of it , much less would they give ten times the price for it that the apothecary gives for it at first hand , which is the usual profit which some apothecaries ( on my knowledge ) make of some , nay many of their stops ) . are they the fathers of the sick ? and do they when the childe wants and asks bread , give a stone ; when fish , a serpent ; and over & besides sell these preposterous intrusions at ten , nay oft at twenty times the rate they are worth ? the god of mercy deliver all honest men from the hands of such devouring caterpillers ! when i first gave my self to medicinal practise , i confess i was ashamed to ask a price for a medicine i had not tryed , however commended by authors . i knew it either must answer the patients expectation or no. if so , it then deserved a gratuity above its price ; if not , the patient could not in conscience be charged for that , which might have been equalled , if not excelled , by the advise of some old wife gratis . my usual word then to them was , that they should prove the effect in the first place , and then as the operation did succeed to be thankful . and i must protest , that mine ears were soon dulled with the usual palinode of , it did me no good , notwithstanding all the promises of authors , and their method of cheating , their allowed dispensatories . so that i was ( as helmont formerly ) almost quite out of conceit of the art of medicine , accounting it and judging it to be but a cruel cheat , but at last i found that god had reserved to himself a number who had not bowed the knee to the baal of profit , covetousness , idleness , and ambition , whom therefore i seriously studied , and gave my self in imitation of them to the studious search of nature . at last god was pleased so to bless my studies , and hear my prayers , as to grant me the true keys of chymical preparations , who gives to whom he pleaseth , and with-holds where he listeth , to him be glory for ever . then i could not but contemn the usual vulgar preparations , as being grosly foolish , their compositions ridiculous , their corrections ironical , in a word , the whole art of vulgar medicine , i found to be as if it had been invented by some timon , or misanthropos , on purpose to the destruction of mankinde . they who desire to read more particularly concerning the folly and futility of vulgar medicaments , i recommend them to the noble helmont his pharmacopolium ac dispensatorium modernum , where this subject is handled ad nauseam usque . i shall not inlarge hereon , lest i should seem but to eccho to him , whom my intent is only to defend and vindicate . this i shall only say , that it is an unworthy thing that a doctor should administer things which he knowes not by sight , and yet bless himself that he hath the knowledge of them , when what ever he knoweth of them it is but upon credit by reading , the author perhaps being a grecian , italian , frenchman , or spaniard , and yet he as confidently applying his direction to men in england ( where both simples and constitutions of men are notably altered ) as if no difference at all between place and persons were . 't is an abuse likewise worthy the most biting and sharpest satyr , that a doctor should undertake the cure of lives , and yet commit the preparation of medicaments to an apothecary , and he to his apprentice , not considering into what hazards they cast , and in what dangers they involve the patient by this course ; for who is so stupid as to think , that it is the doctors name that will scare a disease into conformity ? no verily it must be the medicine that must effect the cure , in the preparation of which consists the greatest secret , and in it a small neglect is of fatal consequence : now what can be expected from an apothecary , whose skill for the most part is no more then what an apprentiship hath gotten him , it is to me i confess ingenuously a thing of serious consideration . this i know , that the care of preparation ought not to be lightly set by ; yet what mechanist is there , who prepares venal drugs , that can be confided in , but that he will either buy the cheapest and most rascal ingredients , or substitute quid pro quo , with a thousand deceits , besides the neglect of his apprentice , to whom in the conclusion , the care of the preparation is committed . thus i have not very largely , yet i hope fully apologized for the art of pyrotechny : and supposing a galenist for moderator , i conceive that i hear him discharging me with a [ satisfecisti officio tuo ] supposing an unprejudiced and judicious reader , me thinks i hear him desiring after this apology , a discovery of such medicaments , which may actually convince , and maintain , what is here argumentally proved and asserted . the desire to me seems reasonable , and my spirit to answer the same is much inclined , which god willing shall be performed in an ensuing discourse , which shall fully and faithfully discover the more secret preparations of medicinal arcana's with their true keys , in which i shall be so candid as to leave nothing undisclosed which a son of art may desire , yet so as not to transgress the lawes of nature , and to prostitute her mysterious and secret operations to the eye of every reader , but premising studious search and diligent inquiry , i shall be a faithfull guide to such as by god are elected hereunto , but to the rest i shall be obscure enough . chap. iii. a description of the true method of medicine , and a discovery of such medicaments as may evince the possessor of them to be a physician created of god and not of the schools . having in the two foregoing chapters , on good grounds rejected the vulgar way of medicine , and convinced it ( notwithstanding the brags of our goosequil doctors concerning it ) to be insufficient and dangerous , intended against ( instead of the disease ) the life of the patient , in its purgatives , phlebotomy , vesications , scarifications , fontinels , and starving julips , and barly broths , under the pretence of cooling the body , and giving but ridiculous hope of cure in its dietical prescriptions and cordials so called , made of costly things ridiculously blended together , their clysters , conserves , syrups , lochsana's , distill'd waters , &c. which is so notorious as to become a proverb to the vulgar all the world over , although this foolish method be embraced and hugg'd by our methodists ( as they call themselves , or more truly , goosquil pisse-prophets ) who by long jugling have gotten reputation , which they have improved to what height is possible for the getting of money , without regard to either religion , conscience , or honesty . it will now be convenient to come to the discovery of true medicaments , which may perform that for the cure of those diseases to which mans frail nature is subject , which notwithstanding the boasts of the galenical tribe they could never perform , and yet to see how craftily they have imposed for mnny ages upon the credulous world , ( not in trifles , but in great and vast sums of money , and their lives oft times to boot ) would amaze any judicious observer of the same . yea so confident are they in this their art of jugling , as to glory therein , as in a notably deserving atchlevement : insomuch that a gentleman of my acquaintance , of accomplished learning , and of so much conscience therewith , that he hath for nigh sixteen years through great difficulties , lived in defiance of the vulgar way of practise , to the purchasing of the ill will and reproach of all or most of his friends , and consequently to the involving of himself in many pinching straights , which yet he chearfully underwent , and undergoes , rather then to get a living by an art , which he plainly discovered to be a frivolous cheat , though a cruel butchery to the sick ; he then fearing the judgement to come , ( although , without exception , a man of as able learning as the most cryed up goosquil piss-prophet in london ) refused utterly the practise of medicine in the vulgar way , although for a livelihood , & although as absolutely accomplished for the practise of the same , as the ablest of them for learning , ( and whom the deaths of two or three hundred men would have brought to the same experience with them ) nor was he then a master of nobler secrets , and therefore rather chose an absolute contemplative life , then to be imployed in such a barbarous butcher like practise . this man one day hapning to discourse with one of the colleagues of our london colledge , whom he reported to me , that he found a vain empty bladder , puft only with wind , and who besides his hocus pocus rhetorique applicable to his art of jugling was a meer insipid nothing ; their conference being concerning astral medicines , a thing so unknown to our reverend doctor , that the name seemed to him to sound like the title of an exorcism ; he therefore able to say nothing to him either in way of opposition or for confutation , but that he neither knew nor beleeved any such thing ; at last ( lest he might seem able to say nothing to the purpose ) concludes his discourse with this rhodomontado , that he was able to get fifteen hundred pounds a year by his way of practise , tacitly quipping the other , in that he by his astral medicines ( commended ) was not able then to get one hundred pounds per annum . to whom his gentleman by way of reply objected , but how many patients do you cure for this money ? was snapt up with a frowning check , as though that were an impertinent question to be demanded of him that could and did get money , which according to the logick of that tribe is to be the measure of mens attainments and abilities . and that it may not seem beyond belief , how so much money may be distilled our of mens purses in lieu of a smooth tale ; the same gentleman told me , that a kinsman of his ( an alderman of this city , and his lady ) had both told him , the one by way of complaint , the other by way of boasting , that in short time his apothecaries bill came to three hundred pounds , ( to whom this fifteen hundred pound doctor had been and still is physcian ) and this in short time , and in the mean season no considerable distemper having taken either himself , or lady , or any of his family : now by the apothecaries bils , few men but can judge shrewdly at the doctors fees , & if he be not a verier idiot then many of his brethren , one of them three hundred pounds will come into his pocket , which his bils well deserve for a trick that he both knowes , and probably practiseth , to my knowledge some of his brethren do , and i know the trick likewise , and have hinted it elsewhere , and therefore shall leave it now . and we shall come to the true art and method of medicine , which although ( through the ingrate fulness of the time and this age to true discoveries of nature ) it prove not so lucriferous as the other , yet is it such an art , which is followed with wealth sufficient for a son of art. true , the highest of a son of arts ambition and desire is , to be able to attend future searches , and in the mean while to live as becomes a philosopher in mediocrity , ( not superfluity ) and this without distraction : whereas a goosquil doctor , ( accounting himself only a fit companion for ladies ) must go arrayed in choice silk , plush , and velvet , with a ladies hand , and his coach to attend him , if he but stir our of doors , and therefore must have larger incomes to maintain this pomp . yet i know that although i consume and spend whatever moneys i can borrow from my bare necessity , or at utmost my most absolute conveniency , in furnaces , coals , and glasses , with the bee making hony , but not for my self , yet the experience , which through gods blessing this industry hath brought , doth and will bring me , will make my name live , when the names of hundreds , that bark and snarl at me , and load me with unworthy reproacher , shall lie buried in perpetual oblivion . let not then any think to scare me with the rhodomontado of our forementioned fifteen hundred : pound doctor ( per annum ) for when both we : shall come to give up our accounts to the great judge , i know it will not be objected there as a crime to me , that i cure in a year almost , ( if not altogether ) as many patients that are poor gratis , as he hath for his fifteen hundred pounds ; that to others that are rich , i give both medicins and counsel , asking nothing till the cure is performed , and then by some put off with little , and by some with nothing , because my medicaments are but little in quantity , and the cure ( beyond expectation ) , speedily effected , and yet what ever i do get i lay out in future discoveries , and all to do good to an ungrateful generation : oft times running in debt for conveniencies , and necessaries , and sparing out of my belly to finde out new experiments in medicine ; and yet for all this getting on one hand hatred & opposition , and on the other hand , contempt for performing cures so soon and cheap : yet i know that my reward will be a good name when i am gone , and from god hereafter , whereas they that expect no reward beyond their fees , it is no marvel if they be so sordid in raking them out of even the bowels of their distressed clients , in lieu of which they give them only smooth and fallacious language , and yet are highly esteemed because they cheat them with a grace , and put a high price upon their butcheries . this ! o this ! cryes them up for brave fellowes , and makes them admired & adored by the simpler sort . and to say the truth , there is one thing which as ordered by them , and mude use of to their advantage , they blinde the eyes of the common poople withall , and ascribe very much to themselves on that score : and that is in feavers , which disease , dangerously threatning the life , being indeed mortal to very many , and sadly afflictive to all that are visited therewith , being accompanied with many sad and perplexing accidents , very grievous and troublesome to be undergone , as violent thirst , a tormenting heat and burning of the body causing restlesness , with pain or lightness in the head , an oppression at the stomack , with a dejected appetite , and a loathing of all meats , a disrelish both of meats and drinks , with many other troublesome and dangerous symptomes , rendring the life wearisome to the patient , and in great hazard to the beholders . these symptomes though not alike troublesome to each affected party , are scarce in the course of ordinary providence mortal to the third sick feaverish man , since two in three feavers , if wholly let alone , and the party attended only with carefulness , would after the crisis , end usually in health , though accompanied with much debilitation ; but because that this disease is not to be trusted , proving each year really mortal to many , by its exceeding troublesome symptomes threatens death unto all , and therefore ( because experience hath taught the world for many ages that there ia cure for diseases attainable by art ) each sick party taken ill in places where doctors may be had , consulteth with them , in hope of cure , though in the countrey villages , with far greater successe , they give parties that are taken ill , either a rosemary , or a carduus posset , and so provoke sweat , yea and in cities , the poorer sort , who cannot reach unto a doctors fee use the same course , by which means many feavers very violent in symptomes , thought not so deeply rooted , are speedily extinguished , but where the disease with this old wives medicine will not be abated nor cured , there the party , if possible , will make any shift , to get one of the more conscionable doctors , that is one who being of less note and practise , will be content with less fees , rather then not be imployed , who going in the same rode with his cryed up brethren , will be tampering with cordials as the calleth them , and cooling julips ; by phlebotomy , vesications , scarifications , frications , or the like , till he make many feavers prove mortal by his art , which otherwise attended only with care to keep them from the cold , and giving orderly meats and drink in season , would be extinguished of their own accord after the crisis , and those few feavers , which by all these devices are not enraged even to death , nor yet by their cruel forbidding of beer , and almost all drink , whereby the disease wasts the radical humidity for want of due moisture , yet are they made so dangerous that death is oft expected each hour , not only at the first crisis , but after , even to the twentieth , many times to the thirtieth day ; during which time , the mouth being very foul , and oft sore , the tongue black , the breath nidorous , the visage representing rather a ghost then a man ordained to life ; the doctor is attendant ( if a rich patient ) twice , at least once every day , and each time with an affected pensiveness appointing this or that syrup , or lotion , or julip , or cordial , or lenitive , or what else his phantasie dictates , and in the pitch of extremity sliced pigeons or herrings are laid to the soles of the feet , and a precise diet commanded upon signs of mending : thus maugre the disease and the doctor , through the good hand of god , and the benignity of nature , the party escapes death , yet scare able to go boldly abroad in two , three , or four moneths , and perhaps through this ordering in cure , for an epilogue of his feaver , contracts a chronick disease , which leaves him not during life ; this then is a cryed up , and a very notable cure , for which perhaps the doctors ( if a rich man ) many being called to consultation , share an hundred or two pounds of his money , and the apothecaries bill amounting to half as much . of such a reputed cure as this ( of which had they any grace , they ought to be as asham'd as a school-boy of playing the trewant ) they will boast much , and oppose themselves by way of contempt against any artist , as never having any such cure . truth , i grant that i never had any such cure , and am therefore bound to give eternal thanks to god , who hath chosen me to another , then that fordid , ungodly , unconscionable , butcher-like practice , by which i certainly , and safely , and speedily cure that disease , with the pleurisie , and all agues , even quartan , and autumnal , yea hyemal , without bloud-letting , or purging , without forbidding drink , nay allowing both strong beer and wine with moderation in feavers of all sorts , in agues and in pleurisies , with small curiosity in ordering the diet , and yet my patients soundly cured , without danger of relapse , often at a dose or two , most of all in three or four daies ; pleurisies perfectly cured as soon ; and agues in one , two or three fits , in the spring and summer ; and in the autumn or winter seldome exceeding five or six fits , and through gods blessing the cure never missing , unless the patient prove unruly and not submit to , or fickle and so not abide in my directions . yet can i confidently affirm and make good , that i yearly cure more feavers , agues , and pleurisies , then any one in the galenical way have in nigh twice the time ; but my cures are too contemptible for the rich , counsel and medicine in almost two thirds of my cures scarce exceeding , sometimes not amounting to a crown , not one in forty rising to above an angel. for many hundreds know and can testifie for me , that besides my own cures , many both in city and countrey practise by my medicines , to the cure and relief of some thousands yearly , mine own practise in some years reaching to nigh two hundred agues , as i can make appear , with many more feavers , pleurisies , fluxes , and vomitings , of all which scarce five in a year not perfectly cured , and those only such who hearing of the sudden effect of my medicines , send for some of them , and without observing the difference of season of the year , expect the same speed in cure with others , and not finding the cure perfect , ( although notably abated ) are discouraged , and leave off , whose error herein is not to be charged upon the medicine . nor is it any thing to me of moment , or ought it to be to any judicious man , that galenists rashly and impudently rail and crie out against chymicall medicaments , and yet the most desperate of all in that art preparable , they have ravished into their apothecaries shops , and have accepted , and do own them , as sworn servants to their method . which charge if they deny , turbith minerale , mercuirius dulcis , vitae , praecipitate severall wayes , crocus metallorum , antimonium diaphoreticum , stibium , &c. shall be summoned in , to give testimony to their very faces , which are medicines unfit for an honest man to use , all save antimonium diaphoreticum , which is a trifle , being so oft burnt with salt peter , till it become an insipid calx , of very little vertue , in comparison to wit , of that eminent virtue , and noble excellency which we boast of in antimony . therefore , courteous reader , do not think , that we in commending the noble true chymicall medicines , do mean these rascall , virulent , horribel medicaments , but leave them to the galenicall tribe , ( ut similes labris lactucas ) that with them they may fill up the measure of their iniquity , and do here attest the supreme judge of heaven and earth , that we both abhorre the use of them , and dehort all that are wise to beware of them , as dangerous poysons . for we intend here absolute ingenuity , to speak of professors , and of medicines as they are , and not to plead for this spurious venemous brat , because it may seem to be a chymicall bastard , but we disown it wholly , as an off-spring of renegado , and fugitive apostate chymists , mimicks adn apes to true philosophie , but not her legitimate sonnes , the disgrace of art , and therefore fit to be marked with a black note of infamy . o foolish doctors ! who hath bewitched you , that you will not see , nor abide the truth ? o silly and blind followers of these perverse blind guides ! how long will you be deceived ? attend i pray you for your own good , to him who is ready to teach you better . strange ! certainly a deep sleep from god hath besotted the understanding of our wise men , since our princes of zoan in this one thing are fools , though in other things acute enough , whom so many lost lives as yet cannot make wise , sufficiently to distinguish between reality of truth and an imposture . wo is me , that i am and must be in this thing a sonne of contention , and must contend with almost all the earth : sure it is not for my inward case and contentment , but it is even as a fire to my bowels ; although since it is truth that is to be defended , to betray which in a cause of so high concernment ( as the lives of thousands ) were so high an ingratitude to god , who hath discovered the mysteries of nature to me , ( blessed be his name ) that i might justly fear not only the deprivement of this talent , but the other doom of the unprofitable servant , the dread of whose exemplary punishment doth compell me thus to bring my talent in to the bank , and expose what god hath discovered to me , to the view and censure of a captious generation , of whom i expect reproach , disdain and contumelie full measure , and heaped , yet is there a certain number of the sonnes of wisdom , from whom i shall receive both thanks and encouragement . for whose information and instruction fake , we shall in a brief discourse , so elucidate the nature of true medicine , as to make it appear to any one whom passion or folly , or self-conceitednesse hath not blinded , to be a most safe , speedy and certain way of curing diseases , which three things are required in all medicines , promised to be in the galenicall and pseudochemicall , but to be found only in the true pyrotechnicall secrets . so then , by this our art of medicine , which we commend , we know , and promise the cure of all diseases accidentall to the body of man , speedily , safely , and certainly , and do affirm our medicines to have an adaequate virtue in them to this end , which we shall make good , and permit in the mean time our adversaries in opposition to snarle till they crack their spleen . and for the readers information , i must give him an account , that my purpose is here to give things as in a small mappe , and to represent them as it were in a land-skip , very candidly , though concisely , very lively , though as at a little distance . first then let no man expect from me linear receipts , for that would be foolish in me to perform , and therefore fond in them to expect ; for i shall not write of trifles , but of commanding arcanaes , which require to be discovered in the language of the magi , lest fools and mechanists , bring these so noble secrets into common shops , to be adulterated as all their chymical fopperies are . which pitiful hotch-potch had its roiginall from rare secrets of art , although through ignorance and misapprehension of dult , lazy heads , and searchers , they are under the same names with those renowned secrets of theophrastus paracelsus , become rascally venemous dangerous slops as they are adulterately , and knavishly prepared for sale , and according to the allowed receipts of vulgar tyrocinists and pharmacopaa's , they are at the best either dangerous , as having only a mock ( in stead of a due and true ) preparation , as the vomitive , salivative , and purgative preparations of mercury and antimonie , or trivial , as the commonly venall spirits of salts , the alcalies , waters and oyls of concretes vegetall : to which may be added the newfound silly dotages of some particular sophisters , as the ignis vita of one , the universall medicine of another idle sciolist ; the one , the product of soot , the other of mens bones rotted , whose rash ventosities and aery promises we reject as apostate renegado cheats in art , under the visard or mask of chymistry , as allen the notable theef , is reported to have rob'd in a coach with his complices , under the disguise of a bishop with his attendants . of this i have given caution , and spoken sufficiently , in a treatise concerning this art of medicine , intituled , the art and mystery of pyrotechny , taught , and illustrated . then which tractate the world never yet saw a plainer , and only written from the fountain of experience , which i purpose to bestow as a legacie upon the sons of this art , as i finde this gets acceptance , and therefore i shall not repeat here what is fully delivered and made plain there . however as i hinted , our commonly venal mercurius dulcis , is a fairy changeling intruded upon the world , for the sweet oyl or ladanum of mercury , fixt as gold , and sweet as hony ( in its first fixation ) which corollated , is paracelsus arcanum corallinum , otherwise called mercurius proecipitatus dulcis , which by cohobation with the fire of hell , ( that is , the alchahest ) becomes volatile , and sweet like hony ; and withall being anodynous , is called ladanum mercurii , and not seldom mercurius dulcis , which can never be revived to mercury again , but by the same art which would revive gold , and discover its central mercurial profundity . i need not instance in other mock mimical preparations falsly obtruded upon the world , for paracelsus never sufficiently to be commended secrets , as mercurius vitae , aurum vatae , magisteries of pearls and jemmes , their quintessences of antimony , &c. of which comparing their either desperate efficacy , or ridiculous languidness , with the promise of paracelsus and helmont , concerning their arcanaes of those names , he may say with the poet , spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ? being a true embleme of the mountains travel , or the shearing of hogs , the one after infinite expectation , producing a silly mouse , the others . after the proverb , making a foul squeaking for a little wool . i know that the galenical tribe will whine and hone pitifully , rather then lose to be reputed chymists ; nay if we may believe them , they have prepared for them the choicest of chymical preparations , and some pretend to very great share in the skill of this art themselves . if so , i am glad , for to such i may address my self , as a brother , and without vanity let me speak it , such a one of whom the best accomplised in that way of pyrotechny , may not be ashamed of : for though i am low and vile sufficiently in my own eyes , yet when i must give a true testimony concerning my industry , my searches , and my attainments , to the glory of god may it be spoken , i have learned practically to understand both paracelsus , and helmont , and know what they write to be true ; and though i am an unworthy nothing , yet when the galenists come to vie their mock chymistry , with that which god hath made me to understand by the reading of helmont and paracelsus , through the tutorage , and under the ferula of the fire , then as paul when contesting with the false brethren and pseudo-apostles , would not give way to them one jot ; no more shal i , forasmuch as i do contend and stand up for truth it self , and do not fight nor am engaged in any personal quarrel . thanks be to god then , that i fall not short in mine understanding of ought of the arcanaes of paracelsus and helmont , through the blessing of him who chose me before many who excel me far in parts in the galnical tribe : in which respect , not transgressing the bounds of modesty , confessing what ever i have received to have been from above , i shall yet be more confident , and do affirm that the chymistry of the galenical tribe is a ridiculous partly , and partly dangerous empericism , in stead of so commendable a method and art , as they with confidence and impudence sufficient boast it to be ; and thought i am ol my self a weak and unworthy person , to combate with such an army of philistims , yet as they once fell before jonathan and his armourbearer ; so shall as many as oppose me , fall before the truth which i stand up for , but they have forsaken , and now persecute and resist . when it was first told me that very many of our colledge doctors did pretend to chymistry and to furnaces , think you that i envied them for my own sake ? no verily , but i did then , and do now wish , that not only some , but all of them might equall , nay exceed both paracolsus and helmont , so would much good be done , yet would not i be the author of bringing such a thing into practice , far be it from me ( even to think so ) for god will be the dispenser of these talents to the worlds end , nor hath he left my spirit free but absolutely bound up in this particular , whereby i know that yet these things shall be hid , and that concerning these things between me and the galenists , will be many sharp conflicts , but i shal and must prevail , and shall both by argument and experiment , batter down not only their old way , of which i spake in my apologetical part sufficiently , but also this new way of mimical chymistry , which they presume ( being added to the other ) may prove to their safe standing , as an high wall about a castle or town , i shall lay flat to the ground , and the ruine of this rotten ( though patcht up , and gaudily garnished ) fabrick will be great . the various providences of god and dispensations toward me , are a sure earnest to me , and confirmation of my spirit that i am reserved to , and preserved for more then ordinary imployment in this particular . let us come then to the true art of healing , which is the right and only test for comparing , and trying our skill , it being the best way , to have the workman judged by his work . how long will the world hang between two opinions ? if the galenical way be the truth , let it be established , if not , let it fall , and be brought to ruine . some mightily addicted to the common way , and withall , my very good friends , have spoken to me from the dictates of some galenists , how easily my way might be reconciled to the other , to the making up between both , that which is defective in each , my medicines , to wit , with an able galenists method , being judged a mixture convenient to make up a most admirable art of medicine . this hath been spoken aloud to me by many who were cordial friends to me , as a wise course to be taken ; which counsel proceeded ( as i said ) from some galeniss , or rather of the tribe of goosquil piss-prophets , who finding my cures beyond cavil , and my medicaments so safe , as to admit of no jealousie concerning them , used this as a crafty way of lessening my repute , to make as though they had an art , by which they in their method ( as they call it ) could do much more then i did or could do , with the same things , as for want of method being to seek of the most safe and effectual use of my own medicines , which without art , were accidental with me ( as sometimes choice secrets may be found with old women ) . this opinion having fastned upon the spirits of my immovably favouring friends , to others they pretend no difference between my medicines and theirs , but that theirs are the safer and better , or at least that my medicines are no others then such as all of them know , and use . so then they who ( where they cannot allow me less ) will only allow me ( habnab ) experimental receipts , casually gotten , without art , for methodical applying the same , they to others will allow me nothing but what may be common to any mountebank , or emperick , and so they confidently , and ( would seem to think ) conscionably style me . let us therefore come to take a brief view or survey of diseases in their right way of natural cures , that so we may opportunely make an orderly essay of medicines , such to wit , which deserve that name , and are not ironically , or antiphrastically named so . and as for the galenists ( so cryed up ) method , we shall discover it to be a meer chimera , a groundless opinion , which to the cost of many thousand lives hath gotten reputation in the world , through the just judgement of god , and the penal blindness in this particular of most ( if not all ) of the wise men in all nations , and civilized ( especially christian ) countreys . for medicine is so named ( a medendo , from healing ) and imports as much as that it is an art shewing medicaments that have sufficient efficacy for the subduing and taking away any disease or distemper to which the life of mortal man is subject , though the galenists tacitly confessing their inabilities , have since the invention of the cheat of their ( every where declaimed ) method , changed the name ( medendi , of healing by medicines ) to the notion ( curandi , of taking care of the sick , or using their trifling diligence ) by their method . i shall therefore boldly set foot to foot , and fairly come to cornish-hug with the goosquil champions , and let us see whether of us two will be the strongest , nor doubt i before i have done to give them a fair fall . is our art ( as i have declared ) in its primitive verity , and reality , medicinae ars , the art of healing , non curationis , not of taking care only of the sick ? ( as our modern doctors have found out a new word ) then let us see how each of us perform this , and this we shall instance first in the most common and spontaneously transient , and then in the more unusual chronick diseases . and first for the feaver in its several kinds , of which i gave even now a brief touch , and shall here more largely insist , and yet in as few lines as may be , because i intend this only as a small map of many things , to represent them together here in a brief chapter , which in distinct treatises i have handled severally , and largely enough in several chapters elsewhere , all which tractates , ( being troublesom enough to me to digest into that method they are in , but more troublesom , nay toylsom and chargeable to me to get that experience out of which i then wrote , and do here write ) i shall god permitting make publick , for the benefit of such who have given up their names to art , so soon as i shall finde what entertainment this little tractate shall finde in the world : for after this apologetical discourse hath brought me word what reception it finds , i resolve 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to send out several essays upon helmonts discoveries , and in particular upon that concerning feavers , the gout , and the dropsie , that so the common whine may be taken away from the galenists , ( viz. ) that the helmontian sect only beat down but do not build up ; labour what they can to ruine the old way , never taking care to introduce a better . to proceed at present with our begun discourse concerning the feaver , a sad , comfortless , truculent diease , then which there is none more mortal , insomuch that according to the common adagy , nemo sine febri moritur : which to my understanding , is a position more subtle then true ; yet it speaks aloud , the sad universal afflictive nature of that disease ; of which it is truly said , that it is an epidemical disease , no nation in which yearly ( at all seasons of the year ) there are not sad examples of its mortal rigor and severity , and therefore ought much to employ the studies of such who have given up their names to medicine , to finde out certain remedies for the same . the saddest of all feavers , the pestilence ( called by a general name , the plague among us ) as being reputed and not without cause , the saddest of temporal plagues : that i shall passe over at present in silence , as never having ( to my knowledge ) experience in that disease , though of feavers commonly known by the name of pestilential feavers , and judged to be a degree of the pestilence it self , i have known and cured many , and those with as much ease , speed and certainty as any other malignant feaver ; nor should i doubt , if it should seem good to god to visit us with that washing calamity , ( which my daily prayers shall be against ) but to restore it speedily , certainly and safely , provided the disease had not prevailed unto despair before i took it in hand . but from the opportunity of trial what my medicines , will do in this particular , i desire god would still be pleased to keep me , yet so confident i am in such medicines that i know i should not fear ( if occasion were ) to adventure the visitation of as many as i could possibly relieve by my presence and help . next to the pestilence under this head of feavers may be reckoned the small pox , which are indeed no other then a very malignant sort of feaver , so reckoned by fernelius as able a doctor as ever the academies afforded , and sennertus also of no less fame and repute . this kinde of feaver so baffles physcians , that nurses and midwives are more generally consulted with and relied upon in this case then doctors , and they when ever consulted herein , become at the best ridiculous , and deservedly ; nor are they often made use of in such cases , unless where the beauty of some young nymph or adonis lies at stake , there is the doctor advised , though able to perform less then an ordinary nurse , which common people know , and therefore never trouble the doctor in such cases . bloud-letting , and purging in this condition are desperate dotages , and seldome expiated with ought but death , on which score sir theodore mayherne is reported unwittingly to have kill'd his son-in-law intended , a just reward for a butcherlike phlebotomist . severall upon my knowledge , being blouded by the doctors command in the the beginning of this disease ( being mistaken by them for an or dinary feaver ) have paid the price of the doctors folly with their lives . and as for purgatives , the glyster-pipe family themselves dare not not prescribe them after two or three daies in any violent continual feaver , till the febrile matter be digested , that is , till nature hath overcome the disease , and then they come after all with the irish man to kill a man by cutting off his legs , because his head was cut off before ; but as for the case of the small pox , it is so commonly known to every midwife and nurse , that a lask is therein lethal , that upon the appearing thereof , they do give over the party for lost , unless by restrictives , the loosness may be stopt , and unless that be performed , ( if the party affected be full of those variolae , which the pox sends forth ) certain death follows . the same in pestilential feavers is evident , where phlebotomy & purgatives are very dangerous , nay desperate , by wch it may be strongly concluded , that if in the plague , the smal pox , and pestilential feavers , phlebotomy , a loose belly , and cooling drinks are of very bad consequence , so to wit , as to cause death in many , to indanger life in all , that then the same things can not in reason be of good effect in any feaver , which brings me by the hand to the discovery of my method and medicines for the cure of this disease , the better to compare it with the way commonly practised , by which both of them the better may be judged of , and censured . for feavers are of sundry sorts , either continual or intermittent . the continual are various , of which the saddest is the plague , next the smal-pox , next the pestilential feaver , next the malignant , which is scarlet , purple , &c. to which may be reckoned the pleurisie , which is a real sort of feaver , more violent by reason of an apostemated matter threatned in the side , of which it hath its denomination , this accompanied with a cough , and spitting of bloud , with a tormenting pain , is thought incurable without phlebotomy , and so the vulgar are perswaded by doctors and chirurgeons , though very falsly . intermittent feavers are of several sorts , either ephemerial , or tertian , or quartan , of which the two last sorts are either single or duplicate : and lastly there is the erratick intermittent feaver , called by paracelsus ( febris extranea ) of all which are so many appearances , that it would require a large treatise to describe all the kinds of this disease . but as for the cure , ( or rather the way and means of restoring this kinde of disease ) therein the galenical tribe and i differ very much , we only agree in the names and symptomes of the same , concerning which , let it not be objected that i leave out the names of feavers hemitritean , &c. since it is not my design in this place to make a curious anatomy of that disease , in its kindes , according to its various symptomes ( performed both learnedly , and acurately by many galenists , as fernelius and others , who being professed methodists , were yet honourers of chymical medicaments as their writings do testifie ) which were a work of a peculiar tractate to perform . and to say truth , the disease is sufficiently known , being so common and so truculent , that not only a doctor , but each ordinary nurse can tell when a man or woman is feaverish , although to know certainly the kinde of each feaver is a task sometimes too hard for a professed doctor , and yet that may be known and the disease as far from cure as before ; therefore well said he who sang thus : non opus est morbi testibus , at medice . to the certain , safe , and speedy cure of which malady i shall now come , and that not perhaps without great expectation , which i shall do my endevour to answer to the ingenuous readers satisfaction . in order to which task , i shall premise some positions by way of aphorism very true and certain , however contrary to the commonly practised way of the schools . 1. that the heat which appears in some , nay most feavers , is not originally from the nature of the feaver . this appears first in intermittent feavers , ( commonly known by the name of agues among us ) in which the cold fit in each access , is oft the most afflictive part of the distemper , and torments with a violent thirst , yet without any sensible heat . but nextly , all malignant feavers , ( some more , some less ) begin with a sensible internal cold , and a quivering or shaking withall , after which followes burning . thirdly , castrensian or camp feavers ( a kinde of feaver but lately known among mankind ) from the beginning of them to the end of their tragedy , are without either thirst or heat , and yet as truculent as any malignant feaver whatever . adde to this , that all feavers when they draw towards a conclusion abate of their heat , although the disease be more violent then as drawing nearer to death . to which agrees that the feavers of old persons , and such who are of very weak decayed bodies , manifest far less heat and burning , then far milder feavers do in strong vigorous bodies , and lusty constitutions , and that leads me to the second conclusion or aphorism . 2. that the more sensible the party affected is of heat , and burning , the more strength he may bejudged to have , and the better probability of his recovery . for it is the archeus of the life , whence this rage proceeds , being provoked by some accidental matter , whence the first offence doth arise , or from some ideal character instamped upon the seat of life , or some near adjoyning sympathizing part , either by mean of a virulent endemical fume , or exhalation , or of some passion of the minde , which by its tyrannical impression doth disturb the seat of life , that is its own original habitation , ( the soul and life being originally seated in one and the same part ) whence is caused this or that disease , according as the passive part doth receive the injury . for it is not necessary that a feaver should finde alway an occasional matter ready prepared , since it is evident , that grief , fear , &c. have power to give originall being to this disease , and so an eminent cold ( especially after being throughly warm ) which without controversie only inrage the archeus , by instamping an unusual character on its place of habitation , and so consequently follow febrile excrements , which had not being before . the vital archeus , is that vulcan in man , which doth stir up and feed that heat of life , which from the first hour of life till death goes never our , which in health is orderly and regular , but being provoked , rageth according to the known rule , idem agens laesus edit actiones laesas , qui sanus , edit actiones sanas . proportionable therefore to the provision for life , is the virtue and strength of the archeus , whose rage in burning in feavers , is nothing else but a gathering together its forces to expell its adversary , that is , to blot out that character , which either cold or virulent fumes , or passions of the minde have instamped on its place of habitation , and so proportionable to the strength of nature is the burning in such cases , and this leads me to my third conclusion . 3. that bloud-letting and purgations , and cooling drinks , are unreasonable waies to be used by him that pretends to cure feavers . for nature only is the immediate helper both of feavers and all diseases , which assail the life primarily and in their first intention , now if the provision for life , be the subject cause of heat in feavers , what ever is intended primarily against heat , must impugn the subject principle of life , and this is the master-piece of the galenists method , namely to take part against nature to whose help alone they are called by the sick patient . that the life is in the bloud is most certain , and by how much of it is taken away , by so much is the vitall balsam wasted , and therefore very unwisely taken away , if the disease may be cured without : and that leads me to the fourth conclusion . 4. that all feavers , agues , and pluresies , may be cured without phlebotomy . in the plague , small pox , and pestilential feavers , the question by our antagonists will be yeelded , every year affording sad presidents of galenists dotages in this kinde , as i instanced before in that great doctor sir theodore mayherne , and could instance in above forty , that my self have known and observed , and that very lately , but in the pleuresie it will be a great controversie , because without bloud-letting that disease is commonly reputed deadly without hope or help , although that opinion be altogether groundless and false . truth , the pleuresie is a most dangerous feaver , with a spasmus or convulsion of the side ( especially the left ) among the ribs , a little below the heart , this accompanied with the cough , doth make a forcible dilaceration in that place , and that causeth extravenate bloud , and that threatning apostemation , indangers the suffocation of the party affected , without a speedy remedy , forasmuch as extravenate bloud in such a heat , will not be long uncorrupted , but that the proper , speedy and adequate remedy of this grief is bloud-letting that i deny . that by bleeding in the beginning this disease findes mitigation by mean of the revulsion or diversion made thereby i grant , and yet this notwithstanding phlebotomy is a dangerous often , desperate sometimes , alwaies a prejudicial prescription ( be the prescriber who he will ) which hath its absolute inseparable inconveniencies annexed to it , and following it , on which score it is not a remedy for an honest man to apply or prescribe . that an eminent fright will take away not only agues , but other more deeply rooted and chronick diseases , is a thing very well known to many , and would be believed by more , yet the practise of that way of cure hitherto hath not , and i presume never will prevail in the world . at that sad fire by gunpowder in tower-street , i heard of many cured of rigorous maladies , by being put in a sudden fright to run for their lives , and many on the fright sickned , and there first took the beginnings of those diseases which after proved mortall to them , and many mothers miscarried , and many women fell into uterine ( and those terrible ) passions : the like in other frights may be instanced , as in taking of cities and towns , unexpected alarms , &c. in which cases , many have risen from their sick beds , and come from their sick chambers , and fought stoutly for their lives , and lost their disease they knew not how , others contracted diseases of which they never before were sensible , and of which afterwards they have never been rid . for to say truth , a disease is most of all the fury of the indignation of the archeus , which finding a preterusual character impressed on its place of habitation , straight rages , and acts in its fury beyond all rule and measure ( this is the disease ) whereas that fury being pacified , the product nature can finde waies to evacuate with ease , and the character impressed ( being but transient ) would abide but a short time ( as the smell of garlick in the breath of him that eats it ) only the archeus growing mad , as conceiving its habitation unfit to be indured with that odious idea , sets all on fire , producing a real misery ( from it self effectively ) on apprehension of a conceived injury so verifying the proverb , nemo laeditur nisià seipso . now the life dwelling in the bloud , and the balsam of life being contained therein , the taking of this away doth threaten ruine to the life , and so consequently to the archeus , which is but its immediate servant , by which fear it is oft taken from its fury , to the abatement of symptomes speedily , after which sometimes the archeus repents of its former fury and madness , and so by accident this evil of the losing bloud produceth health , sometimes when the danger threatned by loss of bloud is over , the archeus returns to its former fury , and afflicts , though not altogether with its former rigor , ( the principle of life being wasted ) yet so as to delude afterward the vain art of the doctor , and for its epilogue ends in a tabes , according to galen , who laies down for a maxim , pleuretici nisi restaurentur intra quadragenarian fiunt tebifici . but admit the cure were certain , by bleeding ( as it is not ) yet is it not to be practised by an ingenuous man , since at the best it cures only by accident , and that by fear of greater danger , drawing or rather forcing the archeus out of its rage and fury , by which means the threed of life is cut shorter , by wasting its subject in which it is kept , and by which it is maintainied , especially if it may be certainly , speedily , and safely cured and the bloud preserved , which is a thing promised by paracelsus , helmont , &c. and performable by medicines that are preparable by the art of pyrotechny , of which i shall by and by give an account to the studiour and judicious reader . i shall have don in this place with phlebotomy , because elsewhere i shall have occasion to ventilate it , only this i shall say , that it is an inhumane barbarous butchery , because so much bloud as is taken away , so much is cut off from the threed of life , and so the doctor becomes journeyman to atropos , cutting short the life of many by the rules of his art , or at least impairing their strength , which art so magnified is at the best but a dotage , because that where ever it is used with shew of gooth successe , and colour of necessity , there i know the cure may be performed without loss of one drop of bloud , and so i come to examine purgatives , concerning which i shall propound a fifth conclusion . 5. that no purge ( quatenus purging ) is an intentional remedy against a feaver , or pleuresie , nor vomiting ( as a vomit ) . for purges ( properly so called , or rather improperly ) are absolute venomes confounded by the art , ( sometimes with a little knavery together ) of the apothecary , and so prescribed ignorantly by the doctor , and taken unsuccessefully by the patient . these in the plague , small pox , and malignant feavers , after the appearing of symptomes with rigor , are like fiends that must be conjured down till another seasons , that is , till the matter be digested , or rather in other words , till nature hath foiled the distemper , then comes the doctor to play both the fool and knave with his rules of art , and prescribes his lenitives , & gentle purges , for fear lest the party should seem to recover without his help , & before this ( white purges are too desperate ) he diviseth a clyster , which trade almost every old wife hath got from him , who now a daies , can prescribe clysters as confidently , and as wel as the doctor . here the apothecary , who in this case is groom of the close stool , is as busie as a cut purse , on which score i heard of one , who had his holiday face and band spoyled by one of his patients , for want of a better retentive faculty in his hinder parts : i could wish all posterior-fumblers so served , to teach them a little more wit , while they pretend to so much judgement and skill . purges then ( and justly ) we reject as dangerous febrile medicaments , at some times , or rather desperate , alwaies ( as purges ) intended to the destruction , rather of the man , then of his disease , of which not without cause said the noble helmont , reus sim coram deo , nisi prorsus suasero à purgantibus abstinendum . and as for clysters , they are the filly non plus ultra's of our bumprognosticators , a dotage that it is enough to name it , when to wit , the doctor by his information , findes a distemper in the head , stomack , spleen , or kidneys , of the sick or ill affected patient , he by his profound art findes out this remedy : the apothecary is ordered to make a caudle for the arse-gut , this luke-warm is tyed up in a bladder , not without some superstition , for fear some wind be tyed up with the liquor , and so through a small pipe it is conveyed up at the fundament , with promise in some cases of wonderful efffects . o brave doctors ! o sweet method ! this , o this ! is one of the maiin pillars of your adored method , and as universal a prescription as any next to diet , to which it is not in ferior for its common and general application , whence you may worthily the stiled the glyster-pipe family or tribe . in defence of purgatives , i know much may and will be said , and that partly from experience , and partly from be writing of the adepti ; i shall therefore not pass over that , because many ingenious men may be concerned in the resolution of it . and first for the arcanum corallinum , which is paracelsus diaceltatesson , and is mercury precipitated by mean of the liquor alchahest , and corallated by the water of whites of egges , and is purgative by siege , and a most certain cure for all feavers , agues , pleuresies , &c. yea the hectique it perfectly restores , as also dropsies , with all ulcers inward and outward , and the venereal distemper , with the gout , &c. and its operation is purgative , and that certainly and constantly , so long only as the patient is ill , and no longer . to which i answer , that first it cures not ( quatenus purging by siege ) for the horizontal gold , which is the same essentially with the mercury corallated , cures all the forementioned distempers yet without purgation by stool , and the same doth the ladanum or sweet oyle of mercury ( which is helmont and paracelsus true ladanum without opium ) which is only mercury cohobated so oft and long by that fiery liquor , till it be all made volatile , and then the sweet oyle or tincture of the sulphur separated from the ceneral mercury , is the ladanum of mercury curing universally all diseases ( in tono unisono ) as helmont speaks , yet without purging by siege . so then this purgative virtue that is in this , ( corallatum mercurii ) is a specifick power given to it from god , by which it looseth the belly , not promiscuously , but only to sick parties , and that only so long as the disease remains , but it is not on that score that it cures the gout , pox , &c. but by virtue of its resolutive power , by which it penetrates all the digestions which are capable of excrements , & resolves all preternatural coagulation , in what place soever it is , as also all extravenated bloud , which after by a peculiar priviledge , it causeth to be expelled by stool , and sometimes by vomit , which is accidental to the cure . the same may be said of an antimonial panacaea , which i know , and is a certain cure for agues , feavers , and plcuresie , and is only purgative by siege ; for obtaining which , many that i am acquainted with have been long courting nature in vain , the effect of curing such and such diseases is not to be attributed to the purgative quality , but that is an acdent following the effect of cure , not necessarily as its cause ; for the purgative virtue may be taken away in this panacaea , and it made an insensible diaphoretick with no less success , ( rather greater ) then while it had a solutive virtue . yet here by the way take notice of a true or right purge , it is not like to scammony , colocynthida , jalap , &c. which ( intuitu veneni ) work promiscuously on all that shall take them ( diseased or no ) for a true purge , of which a son of art need not be ashamed , will never purge ought from a sound body , but work only on such as are diseased , and that only so long as the disease lasts ; such is the diaceltatesson of paracelsus , and such is this panacaea of antimony of which i now speak . now as concerning the purging vegetable poysons , commonly known by the name of purges , their name contains a meer imposture , and their manner of working deceives many ( and those learned and ingenious ) men . for they by their fermental virulency do infect the bowels , which being sensible of their hostility , do weep forth their nutritive moisture , together with the latex ( alwaies at command on such an occasion ) which receiving the venemous impression , are by the heat of the body cadaverated , and cast forth in various colours , according as the nature of the poyson is . this with gripings of the bowels , and a nauseous sickness at the stomack , is the effect of the commonly named purges , or rather poysons ( for so they are indeed ) and this is a main pillar of the pompous fabrick of the galenists so adored method . for it is natural , not only to the bowels , but to all the exquisitely sensible parts , if offended to weep forth a large quantity of moisture , to wash away that character or impression made , as the eyes by smoke , the nose by sternutatories , the mouth by pellitory , and so the stomack and bowels by asarum , colocynthida , jalap , &c. which moisture is partly the latex ( ready at call ) and partly the alimentary humour of the part offended , and the judgement given upon the excrements so rejected , is as sottish as if a man should throw pepper or salf into a mans eyes , and then bless himself to see how they water , which if let alone would have been well enough . so that the matter cast forth by excrement , is not what was before in the body , but what was at the time made by the poyson ; and if ought chance to be avoided which was before excrementitious , it is by meer accident , it being he nature of the poyson given , to work only on what is vital , with which of ought that was offensive be cast out , let not the doctor boast of that , for being but accidental , and so hazardable , so great mischief as is threatned by giving poyson into the body , is not to be adventured , in hopes of a casual good . but moreover i shall give the studious reader to understand , that in many vegetable simples under the mask of virulency , great and noble virtues are hidden , which are kept by the poysonous appearance from rash hands , as the apples of the hesperides were feigned to be kept by a watchful dragon ; or as the passage to the tree of life , was guarded by a flaming sword in the hand of cherubims . thus in hellebore under the churlish vomitive poyson caused with convulsion both of stomach and nerves , is hidden a most noble remedy against hypocondriack melancholy , the gout , epilepsie , convulsions , and quartian or third day ague , which so baffles physicians , that it is grown to a proverb , quartanam nescit medicus propellere febrim . so in colocynthida under the laxative venome is hidden an excellent febrifuge : so in asarum roots , a gentle remedy for slow lingring feavers ; and so i could instance in opium and many other simples . but he that thinks that the vomitive , laxative , or deleterial qualities in these simples , are the effective causes of the good done by them , is mistaken , but they are only as a clog to a mastiffe , or as a sheath to a sharp sword , by which their excellency is not only held back , but also notably perverted by this dangerous companion , insomuch that nature abhorring the malignant virulency , doth not admit oft times of the remedy although something in strong constitutions , where the poyson cannot make that impression , which in weaker bodies it would , the vertue of the concrete through the cloud of its venome , doth yeeld some irradiation of its specifick benignity , to the extinguishing a disease , which through gods mercy sometimes fals out , but little to the doctors credit , who gives the bad with the good , being penally blinded with ignorance , only by means of pride and sloth . what is said of purges or laxatives , may in their kinde be said of vomits , which ( quatenus talia ) intend only a violence to nature , which sensible of their hostility , rages and cals for help as i may say , from its neighbours ( that is the latex , and the alimentary humour of the part affected ) which are oft time prodigally spent , sometimes by vomit , sometimes by siege , sometimes both waies , to wash away that odious character impressed , maugre which diligence of the archeus , the impression sometimes perseveres till death , which is effectively caused by this medicine ( falsly so called , being truly the reall poyson ) while the poor butchered patient thinking to have a disease only purged away , loseth his life , either by an obstinate vomiting , or an unconquerable loosness . thus the other day i heard of one in fleetstreet a lusty man , who for some distemper took a purge , which ( when it was thought it had done working ) had left such a venemous tincture in the bowels , as was not washed away with fewer then about three hundred stools , in about three daies time , and so he had like to paid for the doctors folly with the price of his life , besides his money . yet this must be a brave art , and he that cannot do thus in conscience , must ( ipso facto ) be termed an emperick and mountebank . to conclude this venomous vomiting and laxative subject , we yeeld , that vomits and purges ( as such ) may by accident remove a distemper ; inasmuch as they inrage the archeus , by their venome , which growing mad by reason of so odious a guest , rages to and fro without order or reason , falling out with what ever comes in the way , and ( as in case of a fire in the city , the pipes are broke up ) so here the next alimentary moisture is made use of to blot out this tinsture of venom , the stomack turned up & down , the bowels torn and griped for moisture , and in this general hurly burly , perhaps something that before was offensive , is cast out , and thus is the devil cast out as it were by beelzebub , or as if a man should rid his breath of the smell of onions by eating garlick : this is the mystery of the galenists , which is little better then the mystery of iniquity . a patient is troubled perhaps with an ague , and the doctor in the first place ( some i am sure do ) orders bloud-letting , that is , by striking a terror into the archeus , through loss of the bloud , which threatens , and strikes at the root of life , indeavouring to cause it to leave its rage , ( which sometimes it doth on the score of terrefaction ) but if this prevail not , then is either a vomitive or laxative poyson given inwardly ( under the imposed name of a medicine ) and by this the archeus is brought as we may say ( adrestim ) and enforforced to play one game for life and all , hoping that in this commotion that is made , the archeus with the poyson , may cast out what before inraged it , and by being put into a greater danger , may forget or neglect what before provoked it to fury ; as a man in imminent danger of his life , will forget or neglect the loss of his goods , which otherwife would trouble him sufficietly . i appeal to all ingenious men , if this be not a notable performance , and yet it is the whole of the doctors craft ; besides which he hath nothing but juleps , and lozenges , and such trinkets , of which every confectioner and curious huswife is better stored then he . whose method waves still from one extreme to another their potions , and doses ( which they call physick ) being so cursedly loathsom , as if they were made to poyson cerberus , insomuch that the sight of many purging potions is enough to make most men and women vomit , to sweeten which , their method stores them with cordial fopperies , of which may truly be said that of the poet , spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ? syrups of clove gelly-flowers , with all sorts of conserves , and preserves , marmalads , quiddenies , and the like are of this list , which with diascordium , methridate , alchermes , and theriacle , distilled waters , and the like , serve ( if to nothing else ) yet to multiply the doctors fees , and to enlarge the apothecaries bils , and that is enough for them who care for nothing else . well then , if this be not the way of curing diseases , what is ? may a studious and ingenious reader ask of me : i have hinted it before , and shall more fully insist upon it : i say adaequate remedies are to be studied for the cure of diseases , and by study they are to be found , such i mean , which will be to the extinguishing a disease , as water will quench fire . and this i shall be bold to adde , that all the tricks that are used by the galenists , ( as they say according to their method ) viz. bleeding , vesications , scarifications , fontinels , cauteriés ; diaetical prescriptions , &c. are but silly poor shifts analogical to adams fig-leaves to hide his nakedness : childish fopperies to deceive their abused patients , and to make themselves appear diligent ( curendo ) while they want adaequate remedies that might be ( morbum medendo : ) therefore my brethren , as many of you as will be ( medici ) and not ( ouratores ) study and you will attain such medicines as will get you both credit and honor , as also gain , and honest rewards from your patients . god hath not been wanting in bounty , if you will not be wanting in diligence : all his works are mercy and truth , and according to these attributes are the medicines by him created and appointed , they are merciful remedies , which will restore , not cruel drugs , which will only torment the body , and rob the sick party of their money , and sometimes their lives , they are true medicines , which will actually perform what the patient expects , and the physician promiseth , land not faithless remedies , which are only like a broken staffe not only to cause him that leans on it to fall , but also to hurt him with its splinters , this is the difference between those which i commence , and the common medicines . and as i instanced in the feaver , so in this discovery of medicines , i shall have eye to that instance , which is indeed a true touch stone to try any physician by , continual feavers being analogical to the most violent spontaneously transient disease , and the quartan being analogical to the most obstinate chronical disease , ( especially if autumnal , and hyemad ) insomuch that a medicine that will out all feavers , continual land intermittent , at all seasons of the year even in the weakest constitution , yea although hectical , will with the like ease cure all chronick diseases . such affinity is between the feaver and the gout , that the latter is never without the former , a sensible febricula either preceding or accompanying any rigorous paroxysme of the gout ; and few malignant feavers , without pain in the head , back , or limbs , which is analologicall to the pain of the gout . and indeed what are all diseases , but so many and distinct furies of one and the same archeus , which is variously provoked , according to the varieties of the occasionate peccant matter , or impressed ideall character ; on any of the viscera , from whence by irradiation of the anger of the archeus , various parts are variously tormented , as the accidentall occasionate matter shall give distinction . therefore the highest and noblest way of medicine , is by pacifying the archeus , to bring it to absolute quiet and rest , whereby it neglects that provocation by which it was incensed , and so the furious idea being totally blotted out , it repents ( as it were ) of its former madnesse , and do nature disposeth of the excrementitious product insensibly . the preserving therefore in health , consists not in taking of poyson , to the end the archeus , being another way more enraged , by an eminent danger immediately threatning the life , may be put into a hurly burly , in hopes that its fury , with the poyson taken , it may throw out what ever was peccant before , but in keeping it from fury and rage if not already provoked , or otherwise appeasing it . and i appeal to all ingenious men , which of the two is the better method . but this is the height of medicine , and is performable by the glorified , spirituated , and perfected sulghurs , which by their eminent purity and perfection , and by their fermentall irradiation , at once mortifie whatever is malignant in the body , by which the archeus finding such powerfull assistance , begins to repent of its madnesse , that it should so disquiet it self and its whole habitation , about a thing so quickly mastered , and with the joy and jubile conceived upon its speedy help found , it cheers up all its parts , which seem revived , as the earth when after winter it begins to smile with buddes and flowers , and so the strength that a while before seemed decayed , appears in short time renued , this is the noble effect of these ( truly astral ) medicines . but to such who cannot attain to this height of ast , ( as truly all are not elected hereto ) i shall advise other ( more easily attainable ) medicines , lest i should seem only to desire to tantalize , and not really to benefit and profit the reader . the noble helmont on such a question propounded , that if by purgations and by vomits , cures are not to be expected , how then they may be performed ; makes this answer to his own question , to wit , that the ends are to be promoted . if saith he , any filth be in the first rooms or places of digestion , then abstersives only are to be used , nature easily and very safely performing the rest . but if any filth be lodged more deeply , then volatile alcalies are to be used , which cleanse the the body throughly , just as sope cleanseth linnen . the same advice i give to such as would become true sonnes of art. there are noble arcana's in nature preparable by the great dissolvent , the liquor alchahest , which are not for every one to command ; although the liquor when prepared be of infinite vertue , yet would i not advise a young artist so to dote on that search , as to neglect more easily attainable secrets , especially , since by succedaneous secrets the same diseases may be restored , although not with the same speed or universality , ( one of the grand arcana's curing equally all diseases ) yet in a little more time , and with greater care , as certainly . i shall therefore here not speak of any alchahestical preparations , that liquor being difficult to prepare , and rarely possessed , but shall come to the succedaneous keyes of this art , which any ingenious man may with industry ( with gods blessing ) easily attain . although i must ingenuously professe that my mind was so fired with eagernesse after that secret , that i did for nigh ten years make it my main search , which so soon as i knew , and could prepare , my spirit was straightway so satisfied with the knowledge thereof , that i never bitherto prepared it . for the way as i made it was very tedious , and it in making and using subject to chances , so that although it be ( when made ) incorruptible , yet the breaking of one glasse will lose that which otherwise is immortall , nor can it well be used without accurate furnaces both for digestion and distillation , which required to the preparation of medicaments which are to be obtained thereby . of this subject i have spoken largely in a peculiar treatise on that only liquor , and in another treatise , entituled , the art of pyrotechny opened and discovered ; and in a treatise entituled , truth asserted and maintained , or a chymicall and philosophicall resolution of certain questions sent me by one veyling himself under the name of philalethes zeteticus . all which tractates i purpose speedily to send abroad , so soon as i find what entertainment this tractate will find in the world. to which arcanum if you cannot attain , learn saith helmont to make alcalies volatile , that by mean of them you may perfect or make your solutions of bodies . for fixed alcalies according to helmont's doctrine are of wonderfull vertues , insomuch that he equals them in vertue to the great arcana's , as being so penetrative , that wherever they will not reach , nothing else will : whose doctrine i shall not repeat , but rather illustrate . nor shall i here speak but only briefly of this subject , having in a peculiar treatise entituled , de mysteriis alcalium , spoken largely of the same , to which ( as which i intend speedily to make publike ) i shall remit the studious reader for full satisfaction . however i shall in this place discover so much ( though very briefly ) as may serve for direction to him that is industrious , by what he shall find here , to unlock many secrets of nature , and those very noble as to the philosophy of them , and usefull as to the application of them unto mankind . know then that alcalyes are the the fixt salts of combustible concretes , fixed by the activity of the fire , which were ( before burning ) volatile , and meerly fixed in this act of conflagration . in these salts the seminal vertue is totally extinct , ( which is the proper operation of the fire , on whatsoever it can master and overcome ) so that they have only a saline , diuretick and abstersive vertue , which withall from the fire borrowes a fiery corrosive quality , in which respect it contains a little hostility and reluctancy toward the stomack . truth , i know many chymists according to the sentence of quercetan , do hold that the seminal principles are kept and preserved uncorrupt in the fire , but i rather jean to the contrary judgement of helmont , which experience hath often and satisfactorily convinced me of . i grant that alcalies do differ one from the other ( per genera & species ) since the operation of each agent is received by the patient ( per modum recipient is ) and so the uniform act of burning in stones produceth one sort of calx or alcaly , in oyster-shells another , in trees another , in herbs &c. another , and yet this distinction doth not lie in the formal , seminal , balsamick qualities of the concrete , but in another quality , or other qualities , which are determined by the specificated forms , although themselves in this act of determination expire , and leave the salt , as to the first alcalizate intention of kinne to all other salts , than are made effectively by vulcan , yet distinguished from all others according to the capability of reception of the agents activity in the patient , whose specificated form gave the alcaly a certain distinction in determination , although to its own extinguishment . all then that remains in the alcali of the former concrete , is but a very sleight modicum of the magnum oportet , and so alcalies do differ each from other , although all of them in their primary intention , are of one and the same nature and qualities . hence it is that the alcaly of tartar hath deserved and gotten the name of respub . alcalium ; since whatever vertue is to be found in any alcaly , may be found in and demonstrated from the alcali of tartar. for the fire having no seminal power , it makes what proceeds from it effectively , though not efficiently , for the salt to speak philosophically , doth in this act of vulcan's fury , lay hold on its neighbouring sulphur , and both being before volatile , they of their own accord melt together into a salt , and so fix themselves into an alcalizate body . hence it is that alcalies are easily volatized , since their generation proceeds not from seminal beginnings , but is a spontaneous larva , which part of the salt and sulphur of the concrete assume , the better to withstand vulcans fury , as mercury by bare circulation in the fire , will spontaneously assume the larva of a red ( and somewhat fixed ) precipitate . this is the processe of this anomalous generation ; yet is the product very noble , if especially this fixed body by art brought back again to a volatile substance . which is to be done very successefully by mean of vegetable essentiall sulphurs ( that is distilled oyls ) to which alcalies have a very neer , nay an intimate affinity , which may appear first , by the unctuous apperinesse of alcalies . secondly , by their ready mixture with any expressed oyl , between both which is made a sope , being a neuter from both . thirdly , by the greedy mixture of them with sulphurs minerall , which are known to be unctuous , and of neer kin to oyls . alcalies being thus volatized , become noble medicines , and of excellent use both in their own nature , and to the making of other preparations , of which i shall touch briefly , and so draw toward a conclusion . concerning this operation , helmont hat given more light the any that went before him , yet hath he written darkly enough , ( although wondrous philosophically , ) which as many as understand him with me , will don esse i must seriously professe , that for night seven years i made about two thousand experiments to this intent , but was always unsuccessefull , till pondering the words of that old philosopher concerning this subject , i found my errors and the truth likewise . and i do suppose that scarce the hundredth artist will attain this secret , unlesse it be from him only who is the giver of every good and perfect gift , to whom alone be all glory and everlasting benediction . for it is a rare thing to have any of these secrets communicated in form of receipts , or if communicated , yet so that much be left out in the direction , which , without pains , study , and sedulity will never be attained , so i did , and so all have done , who have been masters of secretes , and so i advice each desirous student in this art to do . and for the help of such , i shall be as candid , as the lawes of this art wil permit and allow . now forasmuch as i have undertaken the vindication of noble helmont , and the explication of nature according to those principles which eperience in the fire had taught him , i shall from my own experience also further illustate what was obscurely laid down by him , in reference to the preparation of noble medicaments . and as the fire taught helmont to understand paracelsus , so it hath also taught me to understand them both , and by it must every one that would understand nature truely , and not notionally , have his philosophy regenerated . concerning alcalies , the noble helmont saith , that being volatized , they equall the vertue of the most noble arcana's , inasmuch as being indued with an abstersive and resolutive vertue , they passe even to the fourth digestion , and resolve all preternaturall excrements and coagulations in all the vessels . that they take away all filthy residence , which is in any of the veins , and that they do resolve all ( though never so obstinate ) obstructions , and so cut off the materiall cause of all apostemations , and ulcers both within and without . that their spirit is so penetrative , and efficacious , that whithersoever , it will not reach , nothing else will. and in a word , that as sope cleanseth linnen , so they cleanse the whole body , and cut off , and cleanse away the material cause of all diseases . their spirit is of an admirable dissolving quality , insomuch that it will dissolve any simple concrete body , and dissolving will be coagulated upon it , and borrow from the dissolved body a specificated vertue , which having entrance into the body , will actually cure deplorable and chronick diseases , as well as all feavers . this is the summe of his doctrine concerning alcalies , which is very true , and in which i can be a faithfull witnesse with him , that he hath born true testimony unto nature . of which operation he gives some hints in two or thee places , one , where speaking of the oyl of cinamon , how it may be made into slat , he saith , that if that oyl be mixed with its own alcali , without any water , being circulated three moneths with an occult and secret circulation , it is wholly turned into a volatile salt ; of which elsewhere he saith , that it is a noble remedy for the palsy , epilepsy , &c. and in another place , where he teacheth ( in defect of the alcha-hesticall preparation ) to sever the sulphur from paracelsus metallus masculus ( that is spelter , and is the sulphur glaure augurelli ) and to cohobate it with oyl of mace , anise , or therebinth , till it all come over the helm in a fetid oyl , and then to circulate it with an alcali ( as it ought to be ) till it be turned into an elixir of volatile salt , and after to take away its fetor by rectifying it with good spirit of wine , this he commends , and justly , for a cure of very many ( if not most , or all ) chronicall diseases . for explication of which doctrine , let me admonish the reader , that salt of tartar , or any alcali , may be made severall wayes volatile , and each way yeelding noble medicaments , yet one way far nobler then other . now of all wayes , that is the most inferiour , which is done by oyls , as helmont well notes , that of all salts , those are most languid which contain the vita media of sulphurs , which he oalls ( sulphurum prosapiam ) cap. 3. de duelech , and therefore these elixirs do follow the name of the oyl by which they are made , and are called sal volatile , or elixir volatile , cinamoni , macis , nucis myristicae , therebinthinae , &c. according as the oyls are by which the alcali is made fugitive , and though they are noble medicines , yet are they specificks subordinate much to universall arcana's , to which helmont equalls , and that justly the spirits of salt of tarrar , which are by a far more secret art preparable . such are the volatile salts made of cephalike herbs , as rosemary , sage , &c. which are commended by that philosopher only , as particular remedie in feavers , yet such , that if given due time before the fit , in itermittents , on a fasting stomach , or at any time in continual feavers , and sweat be provoked , they will never put a faithfull physitian to derision . therefore i give all ingenuous artists to understand , that alcalies are noble bodies , ordained by god for great uses to mankind , and may be handled as the artist pleaseth . many simple mechanists know to take oyl expressed , and with the lixivium of alcalies to boy it into a sope , which is a ( tertium neutrum ) from both the oyl and the alcali . but when they have done this , they know not how to proceed further with it , nor do our modern philosophers , although they think themselves wise men . this is the lowest and most inferiour way of preparing salts , viz. with exprest oyls which contain much heterogeneity in them , and are full of fuliginous vapours , ( as may appear by their speedy growing rancid , especially if once heated ) yet notwithstanding , in their union with alcalies , there may be much of philosophy learned , if it were but duly considered , and the effect pondered with its causes . yet this i must say , that though the making of sope be the utmost of the sope-boylers work , it is but the first step of the philosophers work , and indeed is but an abortive in philosophy , caused by violent decoction , by which the oyl and the salt enter each other in some measure , but do not radically penetrate each others profundity , as i shall by instance make to appear . for let the best sope be distilled , with an acute water stinking of an empyreum , will distill of an high coloured fetid oyl , of a greenish ceruleous colour to view in a glasse . the caput mortuum being elixated by warm water will give an alcali , fixed as before ( though giving an high coloured lixivium ) but the quantity both of salt and oyl , less then what was taken to make the sope , and therefore considerable part of both , in this decoction into sope , are turned into an aqueous liquor , which being redistilled , according to helmont's prescription , from a fixt body , becomes insipid like to elemen all water , leaving the volatile salt that was in the spirit coagulated upon the fixt body . by which it is evident that the oyl and salt had not ingresse to each others profundity , and therefore part of each are separable from the other , the salt in its alcalizate , and the oyl in its unctuous nature : by which may be concluded , that a centrall ingression was not made of each into other . but as for essentiall or distilled oyls , as of therebinth , mace , nutmeg , &c. they by reason of their volatility , not abiding decoction , are with difficulty made into a sapo , although by cohobation upon a lixivium , they will yeeld a collostrum like to tarre in colour , which will have the whole taste and smell of the concrete , and the oyl that distills over will be of little vertue , being thus robbed of its specifick odor and taste , this collostrum will dissolve ( in part ) either in water or spirit of wine , leaving part that will not dissolve , much like to shoo-makers waxe : of this operation some make a secret , but it is only triviall , for though by it dissolved in spirit of wine , a good medicine may be made against wind in the stomack , yet it is not the elixir of volatile tartar , but a certain substance of the oyl made by the fretting of the lixivium in decoction , and swims upon the lixivium , nor will be made by any industry to mixe with it ; the lixivium then is highly tincted , and possibly by long cohobation there might be made an union , but my patience would never suffer me to persist to see the utmost of that operation , especially when i knew a better way . for to be ingenuous , i tryed severall wayes in pursuance of volatile alcalies , which upon helmont's commendation , and paracelsus also , i highly valued , and next to the great dissolvent made them my search , which i assayed to make severall wayes , which would be tedious here to tell of . 't is enough for the reader , that he know that it is not sufficient for him to be able to make a sapo with salts and oyls , for that is easie in exprest , harder in distilled oyls , and at the best but trivial , forasmuch as the best sapo , being distilled by a graduall fire , will give , besides a spirit smelling of an empyreum , an oyl of a strong sent , and a salt ( in the caput mortuum ) alcalizate and fixt , which shews that this operation is but an abortive birth in philosophy , nor is the spirit thus got by distillation that noble spirit of tartar , of which helmont and paracelsus glory , but it is a spirit , in which is very little of the nature of the alcali , and that but very languid , the nobler parts of both oyl and salts , being for want of union each with other , separable in their former nature , and qualities . there is therfore a way far more secret , by which is made not a sapo , but a salt in form of sugar-candy , liquable in water or wine , and volatile , in which are these notable and very remarkable things . first , that one parts of alcali will turn two or three parts of oyl into meer salt , without any the least oleaginity , save only a very small portion of the oyl will be turned into a resinous gumme , distinct from that which is salificate . 2. this dissolves in a liquor , not as sope , which makes a troubled suddy water , but as any other salt. 3. this being boyled to a cuticle , will shoot like to any other salt , tincted according to the concretes colour . 4. the sharpnesse of the salt is totally mortified , and it becomes so mild , as not to offend the mouth , though taken alone . 5. the oyls , though hot and of a very acute taste , yet they retain only so much raste and smell , as is inseparable from the vita media , so that the medicine is temperature , diuretick , and insensibly diaphoretick . 6. this salt thus made is totally volatile , without leaving any fixed salt in the caput mortuum . 7. this may be done perfectly in ten weeks or lesse , in very great quatity , provided it be according to helmont's order , done ( sine aquâ , occuliâ & artificiosâ circulatione ) or to speak plainly , that the digestion be made ( in cintro profunditatis matiria . ) 8. the heat required ought never to exceed the heat of the sunne in the spring , that is according to the manner of helmont's essences , in which heat alone , by art , the salt receivoth a fermentall determination from the oyls , and they on the other hand receive the same from the salt , and so is made of both a volatile temperate salt , of the vertue of each patent . for from the alcali , it receives a vertue diuretick and abstensive and from the oyl a balsamick nature , by which it reacheth ever unto our constitutive principles , and in the way resolves whatever preternaturall coagulation it meets withall . 9. this salt thus elixerate is volatile so , as that it may be dissolved in water , and boyled up again without losse of vertue , in manner of cremor , tartari , sal ammoniack , sugar , sugar-candy , &c. 10. by this means the sulphur of any metall or minerall ( that may be separated from the mercuriality and distilled with oyls essentiall over the helm ) may be made into the form of an essentiall salt ; and that by being rectified with spirit of wine ( or with clean water ) will lose its strong odor , and thus may be obtained a medicine for most ( or all ) chronicall diseases . 11. this elixir thus made , contains a communicable ferment to any other herb , which being digested with it ( dissolved in wine ) is by it turned into a volatile salt , ( except only the faeces of the true vertue of the concrete . ) 12. this elixir is an absolute corrector of the venome in all vegetables , which it mortifies immediately , insomuch that hellebore , aconitum , hyosciam , elaterium , &c. by bare mixing with this elixir of volatile tartar , become gentle suddenly , and this done , without any heat stronger then for the hatching of an egge , and by this elixir in a short ( but very artificiall ) decoction may be made volatile salts of such herbs , which will not yeeld an oyl by distilling with water , that is an essentiall oyl , such as hellebore , jalap , briony , enula campana , &c. which are noble medicines thus corrected , having besides their own excellency the united vertue of the elixir , which alone is a balsamicall ens of admirable efficacy in deplorable cases . whoever then thou art that wouldest be a true sonne of art , learn to use salts according to the true philosophicall preparation of them , not as the foolish fort of chymists do , by giving them as they are extracted out of their ashes , thinking no other work to belong to them , then by repeated filtration to make them as crystalline and pure as may be ; for although they are noble subjects , yet their lixiviate acrimony is somewhat hostile , and besides this they are unable in their fixt corporeous nature to passe beyond the vessels of the second digestion , and are cast forth by siege partly , but chiefly by urine . but being volatized , they become balsamical tinctures , and familiar to our natures , and so are easily admitted to have entrance even to our constitutive principles , ( according to the nature of the concrete , whose crasis in its volatility it doth contain ) and in their passage they clear the organs of all offensive excrements , and by their gratefull odor they refresh the veins , and blot out all forain idea's that are impressed on any of the viscera . now among all fixed salts , there is none of greater vertue then salt of tartar , whence it hath deserved to be called alcalium respublica , and among all oyls there is none for its abstersive nature excells oyl of therebinth , which is a limpid oyl , exquisitely penetrative , and of its own nature eminently diuretick . by means of this oyl the salt of tartar is made into a volatile elixir , crystalline very pure , and temperate , retaining so much tast and odor of the therebinth as doth follow necessarily the vita media , so as that it may be barely distinguished , and that by an acute palate , this elixir is mild without sharpnesse , crystallizing like to any other salt. and note , that in making this or any other salt of an essentiall oyl , when the digestion is compleat , and the salt without the least oleaginity , will dissolve in water , that then the water which is first drawn off will seem a notable spirit , which yet is not the spirit of volatile tartar ; for that water being saved so long as the eminent taste remains , and when the salt is nigh drie , put on it again , leaves all its tast behind , and is left insipid , and so at last distilled away without taste , then is that salt to be distilled or sublimed for the obtaining of helmont's noble spirit , by him and paracelsus so highly commended . and thus courteous reader , imagining your self to be master of these clixerated oyls , and essencificated salts ( for all are made by one rule , and therefore learn one and learn all ) you may desire to know what excellency is to be found in these beyond what is and may be seen in common medicines . to answer ; first , the way of making the salts is rather a common place then a single receipt , for make one , and make all the sorts of essentiall salts , so that thus you may commend salt of cinnamon , mace , nutmeg , cloves , &c. for the curing of the palsy , epilepsie , convulsions , and many other rigorous and chronick diseases . but by first cohobating sulphurs of antimony , metallus masculus , &c. with an oyl , till they come over the helm , and then circulating these oyls with an alcali into an essentiall salt , will behad medicines truly succedaneous to alchahesticall arcana's . and thirdly , thus have you a key by which you may enter the closet of the most noble vegetable , suspending its virulency , digesting its crudity , besides which there is no preparation comparable to that of the liquor alchahest , to which this is truly and may be adjudged succedaneous . but that is most solemn , to wit , when the whole concrete is totally and perfectly reduced into a liquid form , with distinction of all its heterogeneities , in their severall colours , among which is alway one liquor , eminently distinguishab'e from the rest in colour , which is in substance but little , yet contains perfectly the very crasis of the concrete : this is the highest of vegetable preparations , especially where the body is resolved in a gentle tepidity , and the oyl ( in such concretes which yeeld oyl ) separated from the mercuriall liquor , and both from the dissolvent , and be after in the same heat decocted into a salt , which is their first ens. however , this preparation made by means of elixerated salts and oyls , although as to the crasis of the vegetable , it advance it not to the dignity of that essence which is made by mean of the alchahest , yet the medicaments thus made are no whit inferior in vertue , excelling them in generality of energy . for the liquor alchahest in its preparations is separated from the body dissolved , and so the medicament expresseth only the vertue of the concrete whence it was taken , which is more precise and singular , but here the elixir of volatile alcali , together with the balsamick tincture of the volatizing oyl , is united with the essence of the added vegetable , ( as for instance , hellebore , black or white , asarum , opium , zalap , &c. ) whereby it is not only endowed with the specifick endowments of the additionall concrete , but also is ennobled by the admirable abstersive , and in a manner universall power of the aforesaid elixir , by which it is enriched with most excellent medicinal qualities , and becomes penetrative and ingressive as balsamick and volatile , abstersive , resolutive , and diuretick , and gently diaphoretick , as saline and alcalizate , and besides this specifically intended and directed according to the particular vertues of its other compounded simple , ( out of which it forms a reall salt , void of all virulency , without any losse of vertue ) by and from which it receives a more peculiar determination . for between the oyls essentiall and salts alcalizate , there is a fermentall appetite , whereby they close each with other radically and in the centrall profundity each of other , which give not a sapo , nor a collostrum , ( which are the triviall products of erring operators ) but a reall salt , mild without corrosivenesse of the alcali ; and temperate without the heat of the oyl , which then being of kin to vegetalls , and thus fitted to them , becomes a due and proper agent to salifie or bring to a sacharine salt any vegetall with which it is mixed and philosophically decocted , that is in a solar heat or rather an an mall warmth , wherein in about ten dayes or more as the quantity is , the whole substance will be transmuted into a reall crystallizing salt , in which the media vita of the concrete only remains , retaining the whole crasis or vertue not in the least diminished , and so the efficacy of the species or concrete contracts an intimate union with the salt or elixir of tartar volatile , and both conspire to the performing of really wonderfull cures . these tincted crystalls if you put into pure spirit of wine , and digest them in a gentle heat , the spirit by reaffusion , and powring off , as oft as it is tincted , will extract the whole tincture of the vegetable , leaving the salt behind robbed of the tincture , by which it may be gathered that the salt and the tincture are centrally distinct , though they have centrally wrought each on other , yet not so as to contract an union each with other . the spirit of wine then distilled off in a gentle heat , the tincture will remain , and is the whole crasis of the concrete , which is a noble preparation for such concretes , which are balsamicall and odoriferous , where the tincture is desired free from the mixture of the salts , as to wit , in such cases , where bare refreshment without abstersion is desired and required . thus is made the most noble aroph of helmont out of satyrion , and may be used either the tincture alone , separated from the salt by extraction with spirit of wine , or mixed with the elixir , which i rather approve and choose , unlesse in case where the back is to be strengthned in women afflicted with wasting , otherwise the abstersivenesse of the saline elixir promotes the cure for the nephritis and stone , or gravell of the bladder , wonderfully . and now my decocting apothecaries , where are you ? come in upon the stage with your decoctions , syrups , electuaries , lochsana's , boles , and the rest of your trinkets , and bring your masters the doctors with you to plead your cause and to mantain and defend you . the doctors say of me that i am a mountebank , and want method , and i say of them , that they are methodists , and want medicaments . not that you want drugges or slops , you are confessed by all to have more then enough , but yet for all that , in comparison to true medicaments , you have nothing that truly deserves to be named so . blessed be god that i am ignorant when it is a sit time to let blood to preserve health , when to take it away to restore health , when to give poy sons to purge , in expectation that nature being forced to play a desperate game , and reduced to a forc't put , may winne that by adventure , which you by all your art cannot ascertain her with safe and speedy remedies . but this i know , namely , to cure those diseases by most certain speedy , and safe medicaments , which you by your method despair of . your method only teacheth you when your medicaments are put to a non-plus , to have recourse to such things which my judgement disapproves , and therefore my conscience abhorres : my method teacheth me what diseases such and such medicines will restore , and where the disease is more deeply rooted and obstinate , it furnisheth me with more commanding arcana's . if the peccant occasionall matter be only in the concave of the first vessels , as the stomack , pylorus , duodenum , &c. although the symptomes be never so violent , yet with abstersive things i undertake the cure , and perform it ; such is the forenamed elixir , either per se , or specificated with any abstersive simple . the most abstersive simple that i ever knew among the whole number of vegetalls , is opium , which of it self is a narcotick deleteriall venome , but by means of this elixerated salt it loseth all those odious qualities , and is a most powerfull sudorisick , anodynous eminently and cures all feavers though never so acute , and all agues , yea , although quartans and autumnall , which it helps by continued taking , in no long time . in the correction of which it is observable , that only a feculent sediment is separated , and the rest is totally turned into a volatile salt , which is not to be excelled in the whole vegetable family . so corrected , it is most safely administred to the quantity of 20 grains , & is so far from causing sleep , compulsively , that it withholds from sleep , especially where the party affected is troubled with a cough , but against a cough it is so powerfull , that very well wrote helmont concerning it . felinem illum medicum qui novit lethalia ab opi● separate cum retentâ potestate agendi in duumviratum . happy is that physitian who knowes how to separate the deadly qualities which are in opium , so as that it may retain its vertue of acting upon the duumviratus . for this simple thus corrected , by its innate specificated quality doth work on the seat of life , pacifying the archeus without the least stupefaction , but rather keeping the patient awake , and provoking sweat either moderate or more strong , as the strength of the party is , and the malignity of the disease . thus it extinguisheth all defluxions ( called catarhs ) and on that score is a certain remedy for fluxes , either bloudy , or not , all coughs ( not brought to their highest exasperation , or most intimate rooting ) in a word , it resolves by sweat and urine the cause of many diseases , which are not too deeply fixed , and where it will not reach , only a great arcanum will. to be brief , many diseases , carrying the face of an ague , or the like distemper , may sometimes be beyond this medicines cure , yet even in such it will give ease , and where it will not throughly extinguish the malady , there let higher arcana's be used . of all vegetable remedies corrected , this only that i know works by vomit , which ( with some only ) it causeth the next day after its taking , i usually advising it after a very light supper to bed ward last , ( because it is diaphoretick ) and the next morning it causeth a spontaneous vomit , with little sicknesse or nauseousnesse . it binds the body for most part , and so not at all times to be administred , but with other advise added , to supply what is defective in it , 't is splenetick in operation , and an admirable remedy against wind in the stomack or bowels , as also against hypochondriatick melancholy . the some way hellebore corrected is a noble remedy against ling ring quartans , and so i could instance in very many simples , but that time will not permit my enlargement here . only this for a close i shall admonish , that this key being had , the noble energy of all vegetables will be at command without the least footsteps of virulency , and so a man may be his own experience ( with very much safety ) trie and satisfie himself , of what my experience will not permit me to write , nor will my time allotted allow me to mention so far as my experience hath gone . and by the way as an admonition to our wise masters of this science , i shall mind them , that in the whole vegetable family there is not a simple comparably so diaphoretick as opium , which they account of all vegetables the most cold , in which let them learn from me , that the narcotick virulency may be separarated , without altering the specifick vertue in the least , and then it is anodynous with much pleasure to the patient , and a help for great maladies , giving case and comfort in most , but prejudiciall in none , ( save only an obstinate costivenesse ) it being the specifick quality of that medicine to bind the belly , which it doth in most , yet so as to appear like a purge to some , but those very rarely . in zalap , rhabarb , and all purgative medicines so called ( or rather vegetall poysons ) it takes away the virulency totally , without the least remain of the same , and is then either diaphoretick or diuretick , or rather both , without any molestation to the patient , and thus a certain remedy for all acute , and many chronicall ( not too highly graduated ) maladies . if any then demand of me an account of my mystery and method , i answer : by the symptomes i judge of the disease , and according to the strength of the patient , and the rigor of the distemper i order my medicines accordingly . acute diseases , and many chronicall not too highly graduated i cure by the elixir of volatile tattar alone , given in wine , or else specificated with some vegetable , as i see occasion . and with the blessing of god can promise the patient cure to their comfort , and perform it to my own credit . but where either the disease is too high , or nature too succumbent , there i volatize sulphurs by essentiall oyls , and make them into elixirs , and after given them a specification from restorative aromatick balsoms . and yet beyond this there is a way to make such a spirit of tartar which is second to none but the great dissolvent , of which i shall not speak here , having already transgressed the bounds prefixt to this treatise , and besides in my other treatise concerning the art of pyrotechny , it is fully handled , and with as much candor as can be expected . i shall at present conclude , advising the captious reader either to mend what i have done , or to forbear his censure ; and the studious artist i shall advise to go on in his begun task with cheerfulnesse and diligence ; for true medicine is a serious and weighty matter , according to the poet , — facilis descensus averni , sed — super as evadere ad auras hic labor hoc opus est . — finis . lector vive , vale ; & si quid sois rectius istis , candidus imperti ; si non , his utere mecum . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a93809-e1540 rule 1. 2. the mysteryes of nature, and art conteined in foure severall tretises, the first of water workes the second of fyer workes, the third of drawing, colouring, painting, and engrauing, the fourth of divers experiments, as wel serviceable as delightful: partly collected, and partly of the authors peculiar practice, and invention by i.b. bate, john. 1634 approx. 208 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 105 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a05657 stc 1577.5 estc s122341 99857492 99857492 23237 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a05657) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 23237) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 575:15) the mysteryes of nature, and art conteined in foure severall tretises, the first of water workes the second of fyer workes, the third of drawing, colouring, painting, and engrauing, the fourth of divers experiments, as wel serviceable as delightful: partly collected, and partly of the authors peculiar practice, and invention by i.b. bate, john. [10], 14, [2], 15-112, [16], 121-192, [2] p. : ill. (woodcuts) [by thomas harper] for ralph mab and are to be sold by iohn iackson and francis church at the kings armes in cheapeside, imprinted at london : 1634. the title page is engraved. "the second booke, teaching most plainly, and withall most exactly, the composing of all manner of fire-works for triumph and recreation", "the third booke of drawing, limming, colouring, painting, and graving", and "the booke of extravagants" each has separate title page with imprint "london, printed by thomas harper for ralph mab. 1634" (with punctuation variations); pagination and register are continuous. the last leaf is blank. the leaf after p. 14 is printed as t4. an imprint variant of stc 1577. identified as stc 1577a on umi microfilm. reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. binder's waste filmed at beginning. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng hydraulic machinery -early works to 1800. fireworks -early works to 1800. art -technique -early works to 1800. medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions -early works to 1800. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-04 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-04 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the mysteryes of natvre and art : conteined in foure severall tretises , the first of water workes the second of fyer workes , the third of drawing , colouring , painting , and engrauing , the fourth of divers experiments , as wel serviceable as delightful : partly collected , and partly of the authors peculiar practice , and invention by j. b ●●●nted at london for ralph mab and are to be sold by iohn iackson 〈◊〉 francis church at the kings armes in cheapeside 1634. to the reader . courteous reader , this ensuing treatise hath lien by mee a long time , penned , but in a confused and undigested manner , as i gathered it , practised , or found it out by industry and experience . it was not in my minde to have as yet exposed it to the publique view : but being sollicited by the intreaties of some , and those not a few , to impart to each particular person what his genius most affected ; i was enforced as well for the satisfying of their requests , as for the avoydance of many inconveniences , to dispose in some order such experiments as for the present i was content to impart . expect no elegancy of phrase , for my time would not afford that , ( nor indeed my selfe to be the transcriber . ) i endeavored as much as i could , to write in plaine termes , that in regard of the easinesse thereof it might suit with the meanest capacity . the whole book consisteth of foure parts : the first whereof treateth of vvater-workes . the second of fire-workes . the third of drawing , painting , graving , and etching . the fourth and last part treateth of severall experiments , as well serviceable as delightfull : which because they are confusedly intermixed , i have entituled them extravagants . now my chiefest ayme and end being the generall good , i could wish a generall acceptance , but that is too uncertaine to expect : i will content my selfe that i am already certaine that these my first and weak endeavours will finde acceptance with some , and i hope also with all honest and indifferent readers ; as for others , hap as hap may me , it is not to be doubted , but that i shall scape as well as many my betters have done before me . farewell . your wellwiller , j. b. to my friend the authour , upon his mysteries of nature and art. vvhen i scan over with a busy eye the timely fruits of thy vast industry , observing how thou searchest out the heart of knowledge , through th' untrodden pathes of art , how easily thy active minde discries natures obscure and hidden rarities , no greater wonder than thy selfe i finde , the chiefest rarity's thy active minde , which so fore-runs thy age . thy forward spring buds forth betimes , and thou art publishing ev'n in the morning of thy day , so soone , what others are to learne till th' afternoone . now since thy first attempts expos'd thou hast to publick censure , and the dy is cast , doubt not of good successe : the early rose ( thou knowst ) is snatcht at , ev'n before it blowes . climbe higher yet ; let thy quick-sighted eyes venture againe for new discoveries : nor be thou mizer-like , so envious , as to detaine what ere thou find'st , from us ; no , make the world thy debtor ; be thou still as open-handed to impart thy skill , as now thou art ; and may thy teeming braine bring often forth such lusty births againe . r. o. of water-works . it hath been an old saying amongst philosophers , and experience doth prove it to be true , non datur vacuum , that is to say , nature will not admit of any vacuity , or emptinesse . for some one or other of the elements , but especially ayre , and water doe insert themselves into all manner of concavities , or hollownesses , in , or upon the earth , whether they are such as are formed either by art or nature . for the one it is so obvious , and manifest , as that it needs not any proofe at all . as for the other , i shall make it manifest unto you by easie demonstration . let there be gotten a large vessell of glasse , or other , having besides the mouth another hole ( though but a little one ) at the top : poure water into the vessell by a tunnell thrust into the mouth of it , and you shall finde that as the water runneth into the vessell , a winde will come forth of the little hole , sufficient to blow out a candle being held over it . this proveth , that before the water was poured into the vessell ( though to our sight it appeared to bee empty ) it was full of ayre , which forced out of the vessell as the water ran in ; and the reason hereof is , because the water is by nature of a massie , subtill , substance ; and the ayre of a windy , light , evaporative nature : the knowledge of this , with the rarifaction of inclosed ayre , is the ground and foundation of divers excellent experiments not unworthy the knowledge of any ingenious artist whatsoever . the order of the things contayned in the first booke . experiments of drawing water by the crane . experiments of drawing water by engins . experiments of forcing water by ayre compressed . experiments of forcing water by engins . experiments of producing sounds by ayre and water . experiments of producing sounds by evaporation of water by fire . experiments of producing sounds by engins . experiments of motions by evaporating water . experiments of motions by rarifying ayre . of vvater-workes . to draw water by a crane . take any vessell , of what bignes you please , fill it with water , then take a crane ( that is a crooked hollow cane ) one end wherof , let be somewhat longer then the other ; put the shorter end of it into the vessell of water , and let the longer end hang out of the vessell , unto which longer end , put your mouth , and draw in your breath , and the water will follow ; then withdraw your mouth , and you shall see the water runne so long , till it come equall to that end of the cane which is within the vessell . another . take a deepe vessell , having two loopes on one of the sides , fill it nigh full with water : then take a hollow cane , like unto the aforesayd , but let there bee fastned unto the shorter end a wooden dish ; put the longer end heereof through the loopes on the side , and that end that hath the dish fastned unto it into the vessell of water , with your mouth as you did in the former , draw out the ayre , and you shall see that as the water runneth out , the crane will sinke lower and lower , and so will continue running untill the vessell bee drawen empty . how to make a conceited pot , which being filled with water , will of it selfe run all out ; but not being filled will not run out . make , or cause a pot to bee made of what fashion best liketh your mind , and make a large hollow cane to stand up in the midst thereof ; having at the bottome 2 or 3 small holes ; let the top of this cane be close : then make a hole in the bottome of the vessell , and put up a little cane hollow at both ends , into the other cane , so that the one end therof may almost touch the top of the great cane , and it is done . note , that if you put into this vessel so much liquor , that it swimme above the top of the cane , it will of its owne accord , run and never cease so long as there is any liquor in the vessell ; but if you fill it below the cane , it will not run at all of it selfe : the reason whereof is this ; the ayre being the lighter element , doth ascend into the higher place , but being drawne as in the two first demonstrations out of the crane , or forced , as in this , by the weight of the water in the vessell , the water then tendeth downewards unto its proper place . how to dispose 2 vessels upon one foot , that 〈…〉 wine may runne out of the one , as you shall put water into the other . let a , b , c , d , be the foot , at each end whereof , place a vessell equall in bignesse , the one to the other ; as d , e ; also let there passe a hollow cane from the one to the other , as a , r , a , the ends wherof must almost touch the tops of the sayde vessels ; in the vessell d , there must bee a hollow pipe , as f , whereby you may by help of a tunnel powr water into the vessell : also in the vessell e , there must be a crane , as g ; now if you fill the vessel e with wine almost unto the top of the crane , and afterwards stoppe the mouth of the vessell , that the ayre may not breath foorth , it will not run of it selfe : but if you put water into the vessell d , the ayre contayned in it , will passe through the hollow pipe , a , r , a , into the vessel e , where striving for a greater quantity of roome , it presseth the wine out of the vessell e , ( by the crane ) answerable in quantity unto the water powred into the vessell d. how to dispose 2 vessels upon one foot , the one being empty , and the other almost full of wine , and yet shall not runne out of the vessell , unlesse you fill the empty vessell with water , and then the one shall run pure wine , the other fayre water . let there bee 2 vessels placed upon one foot , having a hollow cane passing from one to the other ( as i taught in the precedent probleme ) but let there bee 2 cranes as f , g , one in each vessell ; then fill one of the vessels with wine , but not above the crane , so it will not runne of it selfe : but if you powre water into the other vessell , untill it bee full , it will cause that wine shall runne out of the one , and cleare water out of the other . to make that the water conteined in one vessell , shal ascend into another vessell placed above it . let a , b , c , d , bee a vessell having a partition in the middle , as e , f , let there be placed upon this vessell , a cylinder of glasse cleare , and very transparant , that will contayne the same quantity of water , that one of the partitions will , as i , g , h ; in the lowermost partition towards the bottome , let there bee a cocke , and out of the same vessell let two pipes be made to passe , the one wherof reacheth almost unto the top of the cylinder , the other must come out by the side of the cylinder : also out of the upper partition there must come another pipe . moreover there must be a hole , through the top of the uppermost partition as y. fill the lower partition at the pipe , also the upper partition by the hole y : note then that if you turn the cocke as the water runneth out of the lower partition , the water contained in the upper partitiō wil ascend throgh the pipe into the glasse cylinder . when all the water in the lower partition is runne out at the cocke , then the water which before did ascend into the cylinder , will fall backe againe into the upper partition : after this manner may you compose an artificiall water clocke , if you note the howres upon the cylinder , and make the cocke after such manner , as that the water may issue out but by droppes . to make a cup or vessell that so oft as you take the liquor out of it , so oft it shall fill it selfe , but never runne over . svppose a to bee a vessell full of water , having a pipe comming from the bottome , and rising up into a cup of the just height that the vessell is of ; over the vessell fild with water , let there be placed another vessel , as e. from this vessell must come a pipe , and reach with in the other vessell . now ouer this vessell there hangeth , as it were , the beame of a scale ; at the one ende whereof , is fastened a peece of boord , hauing a leather nayled upon the top ; at the other end of this beame must hang a weight , but not full so heauie as the peece of boord lethered is . fill both these vessells with water , and the cup also ; note then , that if you sucke out the water in the cup by the pipe on the side of it , the water in the vessell will come into it , untill it is in both of equall height : now as the water falleth downe in a , the peece of boord that is hanged unto one end of the beame falleth after it ( because it is heauier then the weight ) and so giueth way unto the water in e , which runneth into it ; and when the vessell is filled againe with water , it beareth up the sayd peece of boord against the pipe of the vessell e , so that the water can run out thereat no longer , except the water bee againe drawne out of the cup ▪ of drawing water by engines . before i begin with these , take a word or two by the way . let it bee a generall notion that no engine for water workes of what sort soeuer , whether for seruice , or meere pleasure , can be made without the help of succurs , forcers , or clackes ; euery of which , i haue orderly explayned both by words and demonstratiue figures . a succur is a box , which is made of brasse ( hauing no bottome ) in the middest of which , there is a small bar goeth crosse , the same hauing a hole in the middle of it ; this box hath a lid so exactly fitted unto it , that being put into it , no ayre nor water can passe betweene the creuise : this couer hath a little button on the top , and a seame that goeth into the box , and so through the hole of the aforesayd crosse barre , and afterwards it hath a little button riueted on it , so that it may with ease slip up and downe , but not be taken , or slip quite out . a forcer is a plug of wood exactly turned and leathered about ; the end that goeth into the barrell , is semicircularly concaue . a clacke is a peece of leather nayled ouer any hole , hauing a peece of lead to make it lie close , so that the ayre or water in any vessell may thereby bee kept from going out . how to harden leather , so as the same shall last much longer in succurs of pumps , then it doth unprepared . lay such leather as is well tanned to soake in water , wherein there hath beene store of iron filings a long time , or else in the water that hath lien a long time under a grinstone , into the which such yron as hath beene from time to time ground away , hath fallen and there setled . the making of a pumpe to draw water . svppose a b c were a deepe wel , wherein you would make a pumpe to draw water to the surface or superficies of the earth . first therefore you must prouide a pipe of lead , or a peece of timber bored through , so long as will reach unto the bottome of the well : that part that standeth in the water must bee cut with two or three arches , as it were , if it be wood ; if leade , it must haue somewhat to beare it a little from the bottome , that the water may thereby bee let into the pipe . towards the bottome of the pipe in the water there must bee fastned a succur ; also another of these succurs must be fastned about two foot aboue the top of the ground ; then haue a bucket fitted unto the hole of the wood or leaden pipe ; let it bee well leathered about , and haue a clacke at the bottome of it , and let it bee hanged with a sweepe as the figure sheweth : note that after you haue filled the distance betweene the lower succur , and the bucket with water , that if you lift up the sweepe , it will thrust downe the bucket upon the water , and presse it , the water being pressed upon by the bucket , beareth up the clacke , and comes into the bucket ; then if you pull downe the sweepe , the clacke shutteth , and so the water remaynes in the bucket , which being drawen upward , there being nothing to follow but water , both the succurs open , and there commeth into the pump so much water as the buckets drew out . the making of an engin , whereby you may draw water out of a deepe well , or mount any river water , to be conveyed to any place within three or foure miles of the same . also it is used in great ships which i have seene . svppose a b c d to be a deepe well , and e f to be a strong peece of timber fastned athwart the same , a good way in the water . in this planke let there bee fastened a peece of timber with a strong wheele in it , as g h , hauing strong yron spikes droue athwart the wheele within the creuise , and strongly riueted on each side : let them be three or foure inches distant from each other . let there bee likewise made in the sayde planke two holes , in which set two hollow posts , that may reach to the top of the well , or so much higher as you desire to mount the water ; let them bee made fast that they stirre not . in the bottom of one of these posts , there must be fastned a barrell of brasse , as g h , made very smooth within , and betwixt those two posts at the top ; let there bee fastned unto them both another peece of strong timber to hold them fast , lest they start asunder ; and in the midst of that make a mortice , and in it fasten a strong peece of timber with a wheele like to the former mentioned ; the pin whereof ought to bee made fast unto the wheele , and haue a crooked handle to turne about , that by turning of it , you may turne the wheele also . then prouide a strong yron chayne of length sufficient , hauing on euery third or fourth linke a peece of horne , that will easily goe through the brasse barrell , and a leather of each side of it , but somewhat broader then the horne ; put this chayne under the lower wheele in the well upon both the hollow posts , draw it ouer the upper wheele , and linke it fast and straight . turn then the handle round , and it will turne the chayne round , whose leathers comming up the brasse barrell , will beare the water before them ; this goeth very strongly , and therefore had neede bee made with wheeles and wrought upon by horses , for so the water is wrought up at broken wharfe in london . to make an engin , which being placed in water will cast the same with violence on high . let there be prepared a strong table , with a sweepe fastened at the one end thereof , to lift up and downe ; unto the end of the sweepe , let there be linked a peece of yron hauing two rods of length sufficient ; let there bee made a hole quite through the midst of this table , whose diameter let be about fiue or six inches ; then prouide two peeces of brasse in forme of hattes , but let the brim of the uppermost be but about one inch broad , and haue diuers little holes round about it ; also in the crown of this must bee placed a large succur , and ouer it a half globe , frō the top of which , must proceed a hollow trunke aboute a yard long , and of a good wide bore ; then take good liquored leather , 2 or 3 times double , & put betweene the board and the brims of this , and with diuers little screws put through the holes of the brimme , screw it fast unto the top of the table . note that the table must bee leathered also underneath the compasse of the brimme of the lower brasse . now the lowermost brasse must be of equal diameter ( in hollownesse ) unto the other , but it must be more spirall towards the bottome , and must haue eyther a large clacke or succur fastned in it ; also the brim of this must be larger then that of the uppermost , and haue two holes made about the midst on each side one ; bore then 2 holes in the table , on each side of the brasse one , answerable unto the holes of the brim of the lower brasse , throgh which holes put the two rods , of the yron hanged unto the sweepe through them , and riuet them strongly into the holes of the lower brasse . place this in water , and by mouing the sweepe up and downe , it will with greater violence cast the water on high . experiments of forcing water by ayer compressed . let there bee a large pot or vessell , hauing at the side a peece of wood made hollow , hauing a clacke of leather with a peece of lead upon it , within the vessell also let there be a pipe through the top of the vessell , reaching almost to the botom of it : at the top of which let there be a round hollow ball , and on it a small cocke of brasse . note that if you fill the said vessell halfe-full of water , and blow into the hole of the pipe , at the side , your breath will lift up the clack , and enter the vessell , but when it is in , it will presse down the clack : blow into it oftentimes , so shall there bee a great deale of ayre in the vessell , which will presse so hard upon the water , that if you turne the cock at the top , the water in the vessell will spin out a good while . another . let a , b , c , d , be a great vessell , having a partition in the middle : let there bee a large tunnell at the top of it , e , f , whose neck must go into the bottom almost of the lower vessell : let there be a hollow pipe also coming out of the partition , and almost touch the top of the upper vessell . in the top of the upper vessell let there bee another pipe , reaching from the bottom of the upper vessell , and extending it selfe out of the vessell a good way : let the top of it hang ouer the tunnell . in the top of the upper vessell let there be a hole besides , to be stopped with cork , or otherwise : when you will use it , open the cork-hole , and fill the upper vessel with water : then stop it close againe , and poure water into the tunnell , and you shall see that the water in the upper vessell will run out of the pipe into the tunnell againe . and so will continue running untill all the water in the upper vessell be run out . the reason thereof is this ; the water in the tunnell pressing the ayre in the lower vessell , maketh it ascend the pipe in the partition , and presse the water in the upper vessell , which having no other way but the pipe , it runneth out thereat . the forcing of water by pressure , that is the naturall course of water in regard of its heavinesse and thinnesse , artificially contrived to break out of what image you please . let a , b , c , d , bee a cestern placed upon a curious frame for the purpose , let the bottom of this frame be made likewise in the form of a cestern : through the pillers of this frame let there passe hollow pipes from the bottom of the upper cestern , and descend to the bottom of the lower cestern , and then run all to the middle thereof , and joyne in one , and turne up into the hollow body of a beast , bird , fish , or what your fancy most affecteth : let the hole of the image whereat the water must break out , be very small , for so it will run the longer . fill the upper cestern with water , and by reason of the weight thereof it will passe through the pipes , and spin out of the hole of the image . experiments of forcing water by engins . let there bee an even streight barrell of brasse of what length and bignesse you please : let the bottom of it be open , and let the top be closed , but so that it be hollow on the outside like a basin : in the midst whereof let there bee a straight pipe erected , open at both ends , also let there be another short pipe at the side of it , which let bee even with the top of the basin on the outside , but stand a little from it on the side having thus prepared the barrell , fit a good thick board unto it , so that it may slip easily up and down from the top of the barrell unto the bottom , nayle a lether about the edges of it , and another upon the top of it : on the underside of it let there be fastned a good stiffe , but flexible spring of steele , which may thrust the board from the bottom to the top of the barrell : let the foot of this spring rest upon a barre fastned acros the bottom of the barrell ; let this board also have tied at the middle a little rope of length sufficient . when you use it , bore a little hole in the table that you set it on , to put the rope thorow , and pull the rope down , which will contract the spring , and with it draw down the board : then poure in water at the basin untill the vessell be full : note then , as you let slack the rope , the water will spirt out of the pipe , in the middle , and as you pull it straight , the water will run into the vessell againe . you may make birds , or divers images at the top of the pipe , out of which the water may break . another manner of forcing water , whereby the water of any spring may be forced unto the top of a hill . let there be two hollow posts , with a succur at the bottom of each , also a succur nigh the top of each : let there be fastned unto both these posts a strong peece of timber , having , as it were , a beame or scale pinned in it , and having two handles , at each end one . in the tops of both these hollow posts fasten two brasse barrels , made very even and smooth within , unto these two barrels let there be fitted two forcers , lethered according to art , at the tops of these forcers must be fastned two yrons , which must bee linked unto the aforesaid beam ; from each post below towards the end of the barrels , let there bee two leaden pipes , which afterward meet in one , to conduct the water up to the place desired , which if it bee very high , there will be need of some succurs to catch the water as it cometh . the description of an engin to force water up to a high place : very usefull for to quench fire amongst buildings . let there be a brasse barrell provided , having two succurs in the bottom of it ▪ let it also have a good large pipe going up one side of it with a succur nigh unto the top of it , and above the succur a hollow round ball , having a pipe at the top of it made to screw another pipe upon it , to direct the water to any place . then fit a forcer unto the barrell with a handle fastned unto the top ; at the upper end of this forcer drive a strong screw , and at the lower end a screw nut , at the bottom of the barrell fasten a screw , and at the barre that goeth crosse the top of the barrell , let there be another screw nut : put them all in order , and fasten the whole to a good strong frame , that it may stand steddy , and it is done . when you use it , either place it in the water , or over a kennell , and drive the water up to it , and by moving the handle to and fro , it will cast the water with mighty force up to any place you direct it . experiments of producing sounds by ayer and water . let there bee had in a readinesse a pot made after the forme of the figure following , having a little hole at the top , in the which fasten a reed or pipe , also another little hole at the bottom : presse this pot into a bucket of water , and it will make a loud noyse . another let there be a cestern of lead or such like , having a tunnell on the top : let it bee placed under the fall of a conduit , and at the one end of the top , let there come out of the vessell a small pipe , which let bee bent into a cup of water , and there will be heard a strange voice . over this pipe you may make an artificiall tree with diuers birds made to sit therein . how to make that a bird sitting on a basis , shall make a noise , and drink , out of a cup of water , being held to the mouth of it . provide a cestern , having a tunnell at the one end of the top , and a little cane coming out of the other end of the vessell ; on the top of which let there be a bird made to sit , also at the bottom of the cestern , let there bee a crane to carry away the water as it runneth into the vessell . place this vessell with its tunnell under the fall of a conduit of water , and the bird will sing ; and if you hold a cup of water under his bill , hee will drink and make a noise . a device whereby severall voyces of birds cherping may be heard . prepare a cestern having divers partitions , one above another ; let them all have cranes in the bottoms to carry the water from one to another ; also let each cestern have his severall pipe , all of them coming out at the top of the cestern , on whose tops let birds bee artificially made , with reeds in them : also in the top of the upper cestern let there bee a tunnell . place it under the fall of a conduit of water , and you shall heare so many severall voyces as there are birds . a device whereby the figure of a man standing on a basis shall be made to sound a trumpet . prepare a cestern having within on the lid fastned a concave hemisphere , in whose bottom let there bee made one or two holes : let there also be a hole in the top of the sayd cestern , whereby it may bee filled with water as occasion serveth . also let there bee made to stand on the top of this cestern the image of a man holding unto his mouth a trumpet : this image must likewise have a slender pipe coming out of the cestern unto the trumpet , in this pipe or cane there must be a cock , nigh unto the cestern . also there must come out of the concave hemisphere at the side of the cestern , a little short pipe , having a clack on it within the vessell . fill the cestern about two thirds full of water , and then cork it up fast , blow then into the vessell at the pipe on the side divers times , and the ayer will force the water out of the hemisphere , and make it rise up on the sides of it ; turne then the cock , and the weight of the water will force the ayer out of the pipe , and so cause the trumpet to sound . hercules shooting at a dragon , who as soone as he hath shot , hisseth at him . let there be a cestern having a partition in the midst , in the partition let there bee a deep succur , having a small rope fastned unto the top of it : let the one end of the rope come out of the upper lid of the cestern , and bee fastned unto a ball , the other part thereof let it be put under a pulley ( fastned in the partition ) and let it be carried also out of the upper cestern , and be fastned unto the arme of the image , which must bee made to slip to and againe , and to take hold of the string of a steele bow that is held in the other hand . at the other end of the cestern let there bee made an artificiall image of a dragon , through whose body must come a small pipe with a reed artificially fastned in the upper part thereof . note then , that when you put up the ball , the image will draw his bow , and when you let it fall , the dragon will hisse . experiments of producing sounds by evaporation of water by ayer . prepare a round vessell of brasse , or latin , having a crooked pipe or neck , whereto fasten a pipe : put this vessell upon a trevet over the fire , and it will make a shrill whistling noyse . to make two images sacrificing , and a dragon hissing . prepare a cestern having an altar of brasse or tin upon it , let therebe in the cestern a hollow pipe turning up out of the cestern at each end ; also in the middle within the altar , also on the side of the altar into the body of a dragon artificially made , with a reed in the mouth of it . let there bee two boxes at the tops of the pipes , on the ends of the cestern , having two crooked pipes or cranes comming out of them . fill the boxes with water when you occupy it , also put fire upon the altar , and the dragon will hisse , and the water in the two boxes being wrought upon by the heat of the fire comming thorow the pipes , will drop into the fire . these two boxes ought to be inclosed in the bodies of two images , and the two short cranes comming out of them in her armes and hands . experiments of producing sounds by engins . prepare a vessell after the forme of the figure marked with the letters a , b , c , d , place it upon a frame , as f , g , h ; this vessell must have a hole in the bottom , with a pipe fastned in it , as q , to convay the water conteyned in it into a vessell or tub set under it , marked with the letters r , s , t , also a frame must bee fastned at the top of it , as g , h , l , having so many bels with little beaters or hammers to them ( artificially hanged ) as are requisit to expresse your de-desired tune . lastly provide a sollid peece of timber , whose lower part must bee fitted unto the aforesayd vessell , so that it may easily slip up and down , and so high as that its foot resting upon the bottom of the vessell , the upper part thereof may stand somewhat above all the bels . note likewise that that part of this wood aboue its bottom or foot must be cut away about three quarters of an inch . vpon this wood thus fitted must bee fastned severall pins equall unto each bell , from the top unto the foot thereof , so disposed that they may orderly presse down the inward ends of the hammers of each bell , according as the tune goeth : when you use it , fill the cestern almost with water , and put the fitted peece of timber into it , and as the water runneth out at the bottom , it it will play upon the bels : note that it were very requisit to haue a cock fastned to the pipe on the bottom of the vessell , that therewith you might at your pleasure stay the water . the like engines might be made to play upon wyer strings disposed upon a concavous water , to make the musick resound , but because this description giueth light enough for the framing of diuers other , i thought good here to omit them . experiments of motions by rarifying water with fire . let there be an altar having a pipe comming out of it , and entring the body of a hollow ball , let there come out of the same ball a crane , whose lower end make to hang ouer a bucket fastned to a rope , and hanging ouer a pulley , of which rope the other end must bee wound about two spindles , hauing two doores fastned unto them , and at the and of the same rope let there bee a waight fastned . so the fire on the altar will cause the water to distill out of the ball into the bucket , which when by reason of the water it is become heuier then the weight , it will draw it up , and so open the said gates or little doores . experiments of motions by rarifying ayre by fire . let there be a round vessell of glasse , or horn , and on the top of it a vessell of brasse , and in the midst a hollow pipe spreading it selfe into foure seuerall branches at the bottom : the ends of two of the branches must turn up , the ends also of two must turn down ; upon these foure branches fasten a light cord , with seuerall images set upon it . rarifie the ayre thē by laying a red-hot iron upon the top of the brasse or tin vessell , and it will turn the wheele about , so that you would think the images to bee living creatures . another way . first prepare a round peece of wood , hauing a brasse box in the midst , such as they make to hang the mariners compasse with , but a good deale bigger , round about this peece of wood fasten divers shreds of thin lattin , standing obliquely or ascew , as the figure doth represent ; round about these fasten a coffin of thin pastbord , cut into seuerall formes of fishes , birds , beasts , or what you please . prepare a lantern with oyled parchment , sufficient to conteine it , in the midst of whose bottom must bee erected a spindle with a narrow point , to hang the pastbord cut into formes upon : upon each side let there be a socket for to set a candle in , also let there bee made a doore in the bottom to put the candles in at , and after to be shut , and it is done . if you set two candles in the sockets , the heat of them will turne the whole pastbord of formes round . amongst all the experiments pneumaticall , there is none more excellent than this of the weather-glasse : wherefore i haue laboured to describe the making thereof as plainly as it possibly might be . what the weather-glasse is . a weather-glasse is a structure of , at the least , two glasses , sometimes of three , foure , or more , as occasion serueth , inclosing a quantity of water , and a portion of ayre proportionable , by whose condensation or rarifaction the included water is subject unto a continuall motion , either upward or downward ; by which motion of the water is commonly foreshewn the state , change , and alteration of the weather . for i speak no more than what mine experience hath made me bold to affirme ; you may ( the time of the yeere , and the following obseruations understandingly considered ) bee able certainly to foretell the alteration or uncertainty of the weather a good many houres before it come to passe . of the severall sorts and fashions of weather-glasses . there are diuers seuerall fashions of weather-glasses , but principally two . 1 the circular glasse . 2 the perpendicular glasse : the perpendiculars are either single , double , or treble . the single perpendiculars are of two sorts , either fixt or moueable . the fixt are of contrary qualities ; either such whose included water doth moue upward with cold , and downward with heat , or else upward with heat , and downward with cold . in the double and treble perpendiculars , as the water ascendeth in one , it descendeth as much or more in the other . in the moueable perpendicular the glasse being artificially hanged , moueth up and down with the water . how to make the water . i must confesse , that any water that is not subiect unto putrifaction , or freezing , would serue the turne , but art hath taught to make such a water as may bee both an ornament to the work , and also delectable to the eye . take two ounces of vardigrease in powder , and infuse it so long in a pint of white wine vineger , untill it hath a very green colour , then poure out the vineger gently from the vardigrease : take also a pint and a halfe of purifide may-dew , and put therein 6 ounces of roman vitreoll in grosse powder , let it stand till the vitreoll bee throughly dissolved ; then mix this with the former water , and strain them through a cap paper , and put it into a cleane glasse well stopped , and ' its ready for use . another . take a gallon of rayn water that hath setled , infuse therein a day and a night 4 pound of quick lyme ; stir it about with a cleane stick oftentimes in the day ; in the morning poure the cleere water off from the lyme , into a brasse pan , and adde thereto 3 pound of sal armoniack ; let it stand fiue or six houres , afterwards stir it about untill it be of a perfect blew colour , then straine it through a browne paper rowled within a tunnell , and reserue it for your use . this water is not so good for use as the former . how to make the circular glasse . first you must prepare two glasses , the fashion whereof let be like unto the figures marked with the letters a , b , and c , d. the glasse c , d , is open at both the ends , also in the middle there is a neck comming up of sufficient widenesse to receiue the shank end of the glasse marked with the letters a , b. then fill the glasse c , d , a third part , with either of the waters , and diuide the glasse into so many equall parts as you would haue degrees ; rarifie the ayre in the head of the glasse a , b , by holding it to the fire , which being yet warme , reuerse the shank of it into the neck of the glasse c , d. note that if the water do not ascend high enough , you must take the glasse a , b , out againe , and heat it hotter ; if it ascend too high , heat it not so hot . if it be in the dog-dayes , and extreme heat of summer , 1 and 2 are good degrees ; if the weather be most temperate , then 3 and 4 are best ; if a frost , 9 or 10. when you haue hit an indifferent degree , lute the joynts very close , and fasten a ribben unto the top of the glasse to hang it by . in this glasse the water will with cold ascend the glasse a , b , with heat it will descend the glasse a , b , and ascend the hornes of the glasse c , d. how to make the single perpendicular glasse , whose water ascendeth with cold , and descendeth with heat . prepare two glasses after the fashion of these figures underset , f , g , i , i. alwayes chuse those upper glasses that haue the least heads , else they will draw the water too fast , and presse it too low : also let not the shank of the glasse bee too wide : it is no matter to bee curious in chusing the lower glasse . hauing prouided both these glasses , make a frame for them about one inch longer than the shank of the glasse f , g , hauing a hole at the top to put the same thorow . there ought to be a great deale of care had in making the frame so , that the foot thereof may bee of a greater compasse than the top , to the end that it may stand firm , and not be subject to be turned down , which will distemper the whole work . after you have provided the frame , proceed to the making of it after this manner . put both the glasses into the frame , and then divide the shank of the glasse f , g , into so many equall parts as you would haue it haue degrees ; write figures upon paper , and paste them on ( with gum tragagant dissolued in faire water ; ) then fill the bottom glasse 2 thirds with the water , and rarifie the ayre in the glasse f , g , so often untill you haue hit such a degree as is most fitting for the temper of the weather , put in a little crooked hollow cane for the ayre to passe in and out at , but let it not touch the water : then stop it about the joynts of the glasse with good cement , that nothing may come out . make an artificiall rock about it , with peeces of cork dipt in glew , and rowled in this following powder , and it is done . the powder for the rock . take mother of pearle 2 pound , small red corall di ▪ pound , antimony crude 4 ounces , and make a grosse powder of them . to make the single perpendicular glasse , ascending with heat , and descending with cold . prepare two glasses after the fashion of the figure a , b , and c , d : let the glasse a , b , haue a small pinhole at or about the top of all , and let the glasse c , d , haue besides the hole at the top , another hole at the bottom with a short pipe . prouide such a frame for this as you did before for the other ; then put the glasses into it , fasten the bottom glasse to the bottom of the frame , hauing a hole at the bottom , thorow which the pipe of the glasse c , d , may passe , fit a cork unto it : then lute the two glasses together , so that no ayre may passe between the joyning ; divide then the shank into so many degrees as you please , and figure it as before i taught you , then with the heat of a candle , rarifie the ayre in the glasse c , d , and fill it a third part full of water , and then put the cork fast in . note that if the first heating of the glasse rayse not the water unto your content , you must repeat it over and over , untill it doe : when it is sufficient , then stop the cork in very firm , that no water may come out , and it is made . how to make the double perpendicular glasse . prepare two glasses like unto the figure marked with the letters a , b , the one of them must have a small hole in or about the head thereof . prepare likewise for the bottom a vessell of the fashion of the figure g , h , having two mouthes , at each end one , also a cocke in the middle , as k : divide then the shank of the glasse without the hole in the top , into equall parts , and set figures upon it ▪ next lute them both fast into the necks of the bottom vessell . ( but first remember to put them in a frame : ) when the cement is dry turn the cock of the bottom vessell , and rarify the ayre in the glasse that hath no hole at the top ; then set the bottom vessell a little way into a vessell filled with water , and it will suck up the the water as it cooleth , when the bottom vessell is full , also the water mounted in that top glasse without a vent , up to a fitting degree ; ( the temper of the weather regarded ) then depresse ( but gently ) the glasses into the vessell of water , untill the water be come up into the glasse with the vent at the top sufficiently , that is , so that in both the glasses may bee contained so much water as will fill the shank of one , and about 2 or 3 degrees of the other ; then turne the cock , and take away the vessell of water from under them , let them down , and fasten the bottom vessell unto the bottom of the frame , and make a rock about it , or else what other works you please , that the art may not be discerned . lastly , set figures upon both , but first upon that without the vent , beginning from the bottom , and proceeding upwards , then lay your hand upon the head of it , which will depresse the water , which when it commeth equall to the degrees , paste the same degree on the place of the water in the other glasse with the vent , and it is done . after the same manner is the treble glasse made : but whereas in the double glasse there was but one glasse that had a vent at the top , there is two in this , both whose shanks must contain the iust quantity of water that the glasse without the vent will containe . if you do well obserue the form of the subsequent figure , you cannot goe amisse . how to make the moveable perpendicular glasse . first prepare the glasse a , b , fill it almost top-full of water , provide also the glasse k , l , having a loop at the top of it : divide it into so many equall parts as you would haue degrees , and on the mouth thereof fasten a thin board , that will easily slip in and out of the bottom glasse , make then a waight of lead or brasse somewhat heavier than both the glasse and board fastned thereto ; and then tie a little rope to the loop of the glasse a , b , and the waight at the other end thereof . rarify the ayre contained in the glasse l , and reverse it into the glasse a , b , filled with water , and hang the plummet over two little pulleys fastned in a frame made for the purpose , and as the glasse k , l , cooleth , the water will ascend the same , and so by the change of the outward both the glasse and water will move accordingly . of the use of all the severall sorts of weather-glasses . albeit the formes of weather-glasses are divers , according to the fancy of the artist , yet the use of all is one and the same : to wit , to demonstrate the state , and temper of the season , whether hot or cold ; as also to foreshew the change and alteration thereof . 1 note therefore , that the nature and property of the water in all the glasses that have no vent holes at the top , is , to ascend with cold , and descend with heat . but in them that have vents , it descendeth as much as it ascendeth in these . 2 the sudden falling of the water is an evident token of rayne . 3 the continuance of the water at any one degree , is a certaine token that the weather will continue at that stay it is then at , whether it be fayre , or foule , frost or snow . but when the water either riseth or falleth , the weather will then presently change . 4 the uncertaine motion of the water is a signe of fickle weather . the single perpendicular with a vent , moveth upwards with cold , and downwards with heat , and is quite contrary in quality to the former , only that it moveth uncertainly in fickle and uncertaine weather , and keepeth a constant place in stayed weather . these rules are all certaine and true : now you may according to your owne observation frame other rules , whereby you may foretell the change of the weather the water being at any one degree whatsoeuer . a water-clock , or a glasse shewing the houre of the day . let there be provided a deepe vessell of earth , or any thing else , that will hold water , as a , b , c , d , provide also a glasse made after the fashion of the figure marked with the letters e , f , g. it must bee open at the bottom , and haue also a small hole at the top , thorow which if you can but put the point of a needle , it is sufficient . this glasse must not bee so long as the vessell is deepe , by about two inches . then take a iust measure of the length of the glasse k , ● , g , and set it on the inside of the vessell a , b , c , d , from the bottom towards the top , and then make a rase round about the vessell ; there must bee fitted unto this earthen vessell , a pipe reaching from the top of the outside thereof , ( where there must bee a cock unto it ) and going to the bottom , where it entreth the same , and againe extendeth it selfe almost unto the circle or mark rased on the vessell a , b , c , d. fill then the vessell with fayre water up to the rase , or circle , and turne the cock , and put the glasse into the water , and you shall see that the glasse by reason of its heavinesse , will tend toward the bottom of the vessell , but very slowly , by reason that the ayre contained therein hath so small a vent : turne an houre-glasse , and at the end of each houre make a mark upon the glasse equall with the water , and it is done . when the glasse is quite sunke to the bottom of the water , turn the cock , and with one blast of your mouth at the pipe , it will ascend againe . another fashioned one . prepare a vessell , as a , b , c , d , having a very small cock unto it , whose passage ought to bee so small , as that the water might issue out but by drops . prepare likewise a vessell , as e , f , g , h , having at one end of it a piller of a foot and a halfe , or two foot high : let there be fitted unto this vessell a board , so that it may freely without stay , slip up and down : towards one side of this board , there must be a good big hole , which must bee placed under the cock of the other vessell . then fasten unto the top of this board , the image of time or death , and pointing with a dart upon the piller aforesaid : turn then an houre glasse , and at the end of every houre , make a figure on the place of the piller that the image with his dart pointeth at , and it is made . for note , the dropping of the water out of the cock thorow the hole of the board whereon the image standeth , causeth the same to ascend by little and little . mark the figures . another artificiall water-clock , which may bee set conveniently in a double weather-glasse . first prepare a cestern , as a , b , c , d , partition in the middle , let there bee made two pipes , the one whereof must reach out of the upper cestern , and descend almost to the bottom of the lowest cestern , as i , k ; the other must be a short one , and haue a very small hole , that the water may thereby issue out of the upper cestern but by drops ; also at the side nigh the bottom of the upper cestern , let a small pipe enter . to the upper cestern fit a board , ( with a peece of lead nayled upon it to make it somewhat heavy ) so that it may easily slip up and downe in it ; this board must haue a loop to fasten a rope unto , and you must so poyse the said board , that it being hung up by a line , may hang even , and levell . then prepare a box to put ouer the cestern , which ought to stand about six inches aboue the cestern . in the top of this box let there be fastned a long pulley with a creuice to put a small rope ouer , in this creuice it were fitting to fasten small pins , to the end that the rope might turn the sayd wheele as the water faleth from under the board : let the spindle of this pulley come out at one side of the box whereon there is a dyall drawn , contayning so many houres as you would haue it go for ; unto this end of the spindle let there bee fitted a needle , or director , to shew the houre , then put a small cord ouer the pulley in the box , fasten one end thereof to the loop of the board , and at the other end let there bee tied a waight not quite so heauy as the board , then fill the upper cestern with water , and the board will presse it out into the lower vessell , at the pipe o , drop by drop , and as the board sinketh lower , it will by meanes of the rope upon the pulley , turne the index fastned unto the spindle of the pulley about the dyall ; you may set it by an houre-glasse or watch : when it is quite downe , if you doe with your mouth blow into the pipe at the side of the cestern , the water will all mount up againe into the upper cestern . a wheele which being turned about , it casteth water out at the spindle . let a , b , be a tub hauing in the bottom a brasse barrell , with a hole open quite through one side of it : let d , e , f , be a wheele , whose spindle must bee also hollow , and haue a hole through one side of it , so that being put into the hollow barrell , both the holes may be equall together . note then , that so long as these holes are equall together , the water will run out at the spindle of the tub , but if you turne the wheele to another side , it will not run . a water-presser , or the mounting of water by compression . let there bee prouided a barrell of brasse , of what length and widenesse you please , let it bee exactly smooth within , and very tight at bottom ; unto this barrell fit a plug of wood leathered about , and let there bee made diuers small holes quite through it , wherein fasten diuers formes and shapes of birds , beasts , or fishes , hauing very small pin-holes through them , for the water to spin out at : you shall do well to make this plug very heavy , either by pouring molten lead into certaine holes made for the purpose , or else by fastning some waight unto the top : fill the barrell with water , and put the plug into it , which lying so heavy upon the water , it will make it spin out at the pin-holes of the images placed thereupon . how to compose a great or little peece of water-worke . first prepare a table , whereupon erect a strong frame , and round about the frame make a moat with a leaden cestern to be filled with water ; let the leaden moat somewhat undermine as it were the frame , which ought to be built in three stories , one aboue another , and euery one lesser than another . within the middle story fasten a very strong iack that goeth with a waight , or a strong spring , the ending of whose spindles ought to be crooked , thus z , whereby diuers sweeps for pumps may bee moued to and againe , whose pumps must go down into the moat , and haue small succurs unto them , and convayances towards their tops , whereat the water may be mounted into diuers cesterns , out of some wherof there may be made convayances in their bottoms , by small pipes running down into the riuer or moat again , and there breaking out in the fashions and formes of dragons , swans , whales , flowers , and such like pretty conceits : out of others the water may fall upon wheeles , out of whose spindles , the water turning round , may bee made to run . in the uppermost story of all , let there bee made the forcer by ayre , as i taught before , or else a presser , hauing at the top , neptune riding on a whale , out of whose nostrils , as also out of neptunes trident , the water may be made to spin through small pin-holes ; you may also make diuers motions about this work , but for that the multitude of figures would rather confound than instruct the reader , i haue of purpose omitted them . the second booke , teaching most plainly , and withall most exactly , the composing of all manner of fire-works for triumph and recreation . by i. b. london , printed by thomas harper for ralph mab. 1634. to the reader . courteous reader , there hath a desistance been occasioned since the inception of this work , by reason of the occurrence of certaine authours , that contrary unto my knowledge had laboured so fully herein ; but after consideration had ( that for the most part they were but translations ) i thought it might bee no lesse lawfull and commendable for mee than for others , to communicate unto such as are yet desirous of further information , that wherein i have bestowed both cost and paines . notwithstanding , i haue so used the matter , as that i might not derogate from the estimation had of others to increase mine owne . read it throughly , iudge indifferently , and if thou likest it , practise considerately . if thou art ignorant herein , i am sure it will instruct thee , and though well experienced ( which perhaps thou art ) i make no question , but that thou mayst finde somewhat which thou hast not heard of before ; so farewell . your wellwiller i. b. of fire-workes . i haue euer found ( in conference with diuers desirous of instruction in any art or science whatsoeuer ) that the summe and chiefest end of all hath been , to know the reasons and causes of those things they were desirous to be informed in . wherefore i thought good , before i came to the matter it selfe , to set down some few praecognita or principles ( as i may so call them ) whereby such as are ingenious , upon occasion , may informe themselues , if they stand in doubt of the cause of any thing that is heereafter taught . certayne praecognita or principles , wherein are contayned the causes and reasons of that which is taught in this booke . 1 the foure elements , fire , ayre , earth , and water , are the prima principia ( i meane the materialls ) whereof euery sublunary body is composed , and into the which it is at last dissolued . 2 euery thing finding a dissolution of those naturae catenae , that is , meanes whereby their principia are connected , and ioyned together , their lighter parts ascend upward , and these that are more grosse and heauy , doe the contrary . 3 it is impossible for one and the selfe same body to possesse at one time two places ; it followeth therefore , that a dense body rarified , and made thin , eyther by actuall or potentiall fire , requireth a greater quantity of room to be conteyned in , then it did before . hence it is , that if you lay your hand upon a glasse , hauing a straight mouth reuerst into a dish of water , it rarifieth the ayre contayned therein , and makes it breake out thorough the water in bubbles . also , that gunpowder inclosed in the barrell of a gun , being rarified by fire , applied unto the touch-hole , it seeketh a greater quantity of roome , and therefore forceth , the bullet out of the barrell . this is called violent motion . 4 according unto the strength and quantity of a dense body rarified , and according unto the forme and length of its inclosure , it forceth its compresser further or neerer at hand . thus much shall suffice to haue spoken concerning the praecognita : now i will passe ad majora , & ad magis necessaria : to wit , those necessary instruments , and seuerall sorts of ingredients , that ought to be had in readines . as for the instruments they are these ; morters and pestles , serces , also seuerall sorts of formers , paper , parchment , canuas , whipcord , strong binding thread , glew , rosin , pitch , with diuers vessells meet to contayne and mingle your compositions in . the ingredients likewise are chiefly these , saltpeter , rochpeter , sulpher , charcoale , good gunpowder , filings of steele , oyle of peter , and spirit of wine . instructions for chusing your ingredients . saltpeter is very good , if that being layd upon a board , and fire put to , it rise with a flamed ventosous exhalation , raysing no scum , nor leauing no pearle , but onely a blacke specke burnt into the boord . the best brimstone , is quick brimstone , or li●e sulphur , and that sort is best that breaketh whitest ; if this cannot be gotten , take of the whitest yellow brimstone . the best coales for use are the sallow , willow , hazel and beech ; onely see they be well burnt . euery of these ingredients must be powdred finely and searsed . all kindes of gunpowder are made of these ingredients imposed , or incorporated with vineger , or aquauitae , and afterward grayned by art : the saltpeter is the soul , the sulphur the life , and the coales the body of it . the best sort of powder may be distinguished from others , by these signes : 1 if it be bright and incline to a blewish colour . 2 if in the handling it proue not moyst but auoydeth quickely . 3 if being fired , it flash quickly , and leaue no dregs nor setlings behinde it . a device to try the strength of divers sorts of gunpowder . 1 such as operate in the ayre , as rockets , serpents , raining fire , stars , petards , dragons , fire-drakes , feinds , gyronels , or fire-wheeles , balloons . 2 such as operate upon the earth , as crackers , trunks , lanterns , lights , tumbling bals , saucissons , towers , castles , pyramids , clubs , lances , targets . 3 such as burn in or on the water , as rockets , dolphins , ships , tumbling bals . part of either of the three kindes are simple , and part are compounded ; part also are fixed , and part moueable , first i will treat of the diuers compositions , and then of the formers , coffins , and manner of composing euery of them . of the divers compositions of fire workes . first of the compositions of fire workes , for the ayre ; and therein first i will speake of the compositions for rockets , because that all moueable fireworkes haue their motion from the force of them accordingly applied . compositions for rockets of all sizes , according unto the prescription of the noted professors , as mr malthus , mr norton , and the french authour , des recreationes mathematiques . a composition for rockets of one ounce . take of gunpowder , saltpeter and charcoale , of each one ounce and a halfe , mingle them together , and it is done . note heere , as i told you before , that all your ingredients ought to be first powdred by themselues , and afterwards mixed very well together . a composition for rockets of two and three ounces . take of gunpowder fowre ounces and a halfe , saltpeter one ounce , mixe them together . a composition for rockets of foure ounces . take of gunpowder fowre pounds , saltpeter one pound , charcoale fowre ounces , mingle them together . a composition for rockets of fowre ounces . take of gunpowder fowre poundes , saltpeter one pound , charcoale fowre ounces , brimstone halfe an ounce , mingle them together . a composition for all middle sized rockets . take of gunpowder one pound , two ounces of charcoales ; mingle them . a composition for rockets of five or six ounces . take of gunpowder two pound fiue ounces , of saltpeter halfe a pound , of charcoale six ounces , of brimstone and yron scales , of each two ounces , mingle them . a composition for rockets of ten or twelve ounces . take of gunpowder one pound and one ounce , saltpeter fowre ounces , brimstone three ounces and a halfe , charcoale one ounce , mingle them . a composition for rockets of one pound , or two . take of saltpeter twelue ounces , gunpowder twenty ounces , and charcoale three ounces , quicke brimstone and scales of yron , of each one ounce , mingle them . a composition for rockets of eight , nine and tenne pounds . take saltpeter eight pounds , charcoale two pounds twelue ounces , brimstone one pound fowre ounces . note that no practitioner ( how exact soeuer ) ought to relie upon a receipt , but first to trie one rocket , and if that be too weake adde more gunpowder , if it be too strong let him adde more charcoale untill hee finde them flie according unto his desire . note that the charcoale is only to mitigate the violence of the powder , and to make the tayle of the rocket appeare more beautifull . note also that the smaller the rockets be , they need the quicker receipts , and that in great rockets , there needeth not any gunpowder at all . the composition for middle sized rockets may serve for serpents , and for rayning fire , or else the receipt for rockets on the ground , which followeth heereafter . compositions for starres . take saltpeter one pound , brimstone halfe a pound , gunpowder fowre ounces , this must be bound up in paper or little ragges , and afterwards primed . another receipt for starres . take of saltpeter one pound , gunpowder and brimston of each halfe a pound ; these must be mixed together , and of them make a paste , with a sufficient quantity of oile of peter , or else of fayre water ; of this paste you shall make little balles , and roll them in drie gunpowder dust ; then drie them , and keepe them for your occasions . another . take a quarter of a pinte of aqua vitae , and dissolue therein one ounce , and a halfe of camphire ▪ and dip therin cotten bumbast , and afterwards roule it up into little balles ; afterwards rowle them in powder of quick brimstone , and reserue them for use . another receipt for starres , whereof you may make fiends and divers apparitions according unto your fancie . take gum dragant , put it into an yron pan , and rost it in the embers ; then powder it , and dissolve it afterwards in aqua vitae , and it will become a jellie , then straine it ; dissolve also camphire in other aqua vitae . mixe both these dissolutions together , and sprinkle therein this following powder . take saltpeter one pound , brimstone halfe a pound , gunpowder three pound , charcoale halfe a pound ; when you have mingled and stirred them well together , mixe them well with the aforesayd jelly , and then make it into little balles , or into what fashion else you please , then cool them in gunpowder dust , and keepe them for use . compositions for receipts of fireworkes , that operate upon the earth . for rockets there needeth onely gunpowder finely beaten and searced . likewise for all the other sorts , searced gunpowder will serue , which may be abated , or alayed with charcoal dust at your pleasure . compositions for fireworkes that burne upon , or in the water . a receipt for rockets that burne upon the water . take of saltpeter one pound , brimstone halfe a pound , gunpowder halfe a pound , charcoales two ounces . this composition will make the rockets appeare with a great fiery tayle . if you desire to have it burne cleare , then take of saltpeter one pound , three ounces of gunnepowder , brimstone halfe a pound . a receipt of a composition that will burne , and feed upon the water . take masticke halfe a pound , white frankincense , gum sandrake , quickelime , brimstone , bitumen , camphire , and gunpowder , of each one pound and a halfe , rosin one pound , saltpeter fowre pounds and a halfe , mixe them all together . a receipt of a composition that will burne under water . take brimstone one pound , gunpowder nine ounces , refined saltpeter one pound and a halfe , camphire beaten with sulphur , and quicksilver ; mixe them well together with oyle of peter , or linseed oyle boyled , untill it will scald a feather . fill a canvas ball with this composition , arme it , and ballast it with lead at the bottome , make the vent at the top , fire it well and cast it into the water , and it will fume and boyle up slowly . a receipt of a composition that will kindle with the water . take of oyle of tile one pound , linseed oyle three pounds , oyle of the yelks of egges one pound , new quick lime eight pounds , brimstone two pounds , camphire fowr ounces , bitumen two ounces ; mingle all together . another . take of roch peter one pound , flowre of brimstone nine ounces , coales of rotten wood six ounces , camphire one ounce and a halfe , oyle of egges , and oyle of tile enough to make the mixture into a paste . if you make a little hole in the top of an egge , and let out all the meat , and fill the shell with the following powder , and stop the hole with wax , and cast it into a running water , it will break out into a fire . take of salt-niter , brimstone , and quick-lyme , of each a like quantity , mix them . how to make stouple , or prepare cotten-week to prime your fire-works with . take cotten-week , such as the chandlers use for candles , double it six or seuen times double , and wet it throughly in saltpeter water , or aqua vitae , wherein some camphire hath been dissolued , or , for want of either , in faire water ; cut it into diuers peeces , rowle it in mealed gunpowder , or powder and suphur ; then dry them in the sun , and reserue them in a box where they may lie straight , to prime starres , rockets , or any other fire-works . how to know the true time , that any quantity of fired gun-match that shall doe an exployt at a time desired . take common gun-match , rub , or beat the same a little against a post to soften it ; then either dip the same in salt peter water , and drie it againe in the sunne , or e●se rub it in a little powder and brimstone beaten very small , and made liquid with a little aqua vitae , and dried afterwards ; trie first how long one yard of match thus prepared will burne , which suppose to be a quarter of an howr , then fowre yards will be a iust howre . take therefore as much of this match as will burne so long as you will haue it to be ere your worke should fire , binde the one end unto your worke , lay loose powder under , and about it lay the rest of the match in hollow , or turning so that one part of it touch not another , and then fire it . a water called aqua ardens . take old red wine , put it into a glased vessell , and put into it of orpment one pound , quicke sulphur halfe a pound , quicke lime a quarter of a pound ; mingle them very well , and afterwards distill them in a rosewater still : a cloth being wet in this water will burne like a candle , and will not be quenched with water . take one of these coffins , put it into the former , and take the composition for middle-sized rockets ( mentioned before ) and put thereof spoonfull after spoonfull , untill you haue filled the coffin unto the top of the former , after the putting of euery second spoonfull into the coffin , with a mallet giue two or three blowes upon the head of the rammer , that the composition may bee well rammed into the coffin : euery third or fourth driuing m. norton wisheth ( if the rockets are to be fired in three or foure dayes ) to dip the rammer in gum-dragant , and camphir dissolued in spirit of wine , or good aqua vitae : but if it will bee a month before they will bee fired , then dip the rammer in oyle of peter , or liquid varnish , and linseed oyle mixed together : if you would haue the rocket to giue a report or blow , then within one diameter of the top , driue a bottom of leather , or six or eight double of paper , pierce and prime either of them through in three or foure places , and fill the rest of the coffin with whole gunpowder ; afterwards driue another bottom of leather , and then with strong packthred choak the coffin close un●o it : then take the rocket out of the former , and prime it at the broach-hole with a peece of prepared stouple , and binde unto it a straight rod 6 or 7 times the length of the rocket , and so heavy , that being put on your finger , it may ballast the rocket within two or three diameters of the same : mark the following figure , which represents a rocket ready made and finished , a , b , the rocket , c , the stouple that primeth it , d , e , f , the rod bound unto the rocket with two strings , g , h , i , the hand that poyseth it . how to make serpents . the coffins for serpents are made of paper rowled nine or ten times upon a rowler not much thicker than a goose quill , and about foure inches long . the coffins must bee choaked almost in the midst , but so that there may bee a little hole , through which one may see : the longest part of the coffins for serpents must be filled with the composition specified before : if you would haue it wamble in the ayre , then choak it not after the composition , but if you would haue it wamble , then halfe-choak it , as is demonstrated by the following figure , the shorter end of the coffin must bee filled with whole gunpowder , and choaked quite up , as appeareth at b , in the figure m , n , o , which is the figure of a serpent ready made . how to make rayning fire . take diuers goose quils , and cut off the hollow ends of them , and fill them with the composition before mentioned , stopping them afterwards with a little wet gunpowder , that the dry composition may not fall out . how to make starres . i haue sufficiently taught the making of these in describing their compositions , wherefore i will now onely present the figures of them unto your view ; a , a , signifieth two that are bound up in paper or cloth , and peirced , and primed with stouple : the other two , e , e , signifie those that are made up without paper , and need no priming more than the powder or sulphur dust that they are rowled in . how to make petards . you must make the coffins for them either of white yron , or else of paper , or parchment rowled upon a former for the purpose , and afterwards fitted with a couer , which must be glewed on : these coffins must be filled with whole gunpowder , and peirced in the midst of the broad end , and primed thereat with prepared stouple ; the paper ones must be couered all ouer with glew , and the peirced . the figure of a petard ready made , and primed , is signified by the figure e. how to make compounded rockets . first you must make the rocket i taught you before ; you must not choake the end of it , but eyther double downe halfe the coffin , and with the rammer and a mallet , give it one or two good blowes : then with a bodkin pierce the paper unto the composition , or else drive a bottome of leather fitted unto the bore of the rocket , and pierce it through in two or three places ; then pare or cut off the coffin equall thereunto ; to this end of the rocket you must binde a coffin wider a great deale then the rocket is ; strew into it a little gunpowder dust , that it may cover the bottome of this coffin , and put therein with their mouthes downeward eyther golden rayne , or serpents , or both ; also starres , or petards ; you must put some gunpowder dust among these ; when you have filled the coffin with these or such like , cover the top of it with a peece of paper , and paste upon that a picked crowned paper , balast it with a rod , and it is finished ; the figure followeth . how to make fiends , or fearefull apparitions . these must bee made of the compositions for starres , wrought upon cotton weeke dipped in aqua vitae , wherein camphire hath beene dissolved , and after what fashions your fancy doth most affect . how to make fire boxes . you must make the coffins for fire boxes of paste-board , rowled upon a former , of what bignesse you list ; then binde them about with packthread , and glew over the cords ; also glew bottoms unto them , which must be pierced with a bodkin to prime them at . in these boxes you may put golden rayne , starres , serpents , petrars , fiends , devils . the tops of these fire boxes must bee covered with paper as the compound rockets . note that you must strew gunpowder dust a pretty thicknesse on the bottome of the fire-boxes , and prime the hole at the bottome with prepared stouple . how to make swevels . swevels are nothing else but rockets , having in stead of a rod ( to ballast them ) a little cane bound fast unto them , where through the rope passeth . note that you must be carefull to have your line strong , even & smooth , and it must be rubd over with sope that it may not burn . if you would have your rockets to returne againe , then binde two rockets together , with the breech of one towards the mouth of the other , and let the stouple that primeth the one , enter the breech of the other ; both kinds are expressed by the figures , the uppermost whereof representeth the single one ; a b signifieth the rocket ; d e , the cane bound unto it , through which a rope passeth . the lowermost representeth the double rocket ; a b signifieth one rocket , and c d another ; e the stouple that primeth the one , and entreth the breech of the other ; the cane that the rope passeth thorough is supposed to be behinde the two rockets . how to make gironells , or fire wheeles . the making of fire wheeles consisteth onely in the placing of rockets , with the mouth of one towards the tayle of another , round about certaine moveable wheels ; wherefore i thinke it sufficient only to describe the diversity of their fashions which follow . how to make flying dragons . the flying dragon is somewhat troublesome to compose ; it must be made eyther of dry and light wood , or crooked-lane plates , or of thin whalebones covered with muscovie glasse , and painted over . in the body thereof , there must bee a voyde cane to passe the rope through ; unto the bottome of this cane must bee bound one or two large rockets , according as the bignesse and weight of the dragon shall require ; the body must bee filled with divers petrars , that may consume it , and a sparkling receipt must be so disposed upon it , that being fired , it may burne both at the mouth and at the tayle thereof ; then hang the wings on in such wise , that they may shake as the dragon runnes along the line ; you may dispose divers small serpents in the wings ; marke the figure . how to make fire drakes . you must take a peece of linnen cloth of a yard or more in length ; it must bee cut after the forme of a pane of glasse ; fasten two light stickes crosse the same , to make it stand at breadth ; then smeare it over with linseed oyle , and liquid varnish tempered together , or else wet it with oyle of peter , and unto the longest corner fasten a match prepared with saltpeter water ( as i have taught before ) upon which you may fasten divers crackers , or saucissons ; betwixt every of which , binde a knot of paper shavings , which will make it flie the better ; within a quarter of a yard of the cloth , let there be bound a peece of prepared stoupell , the one end whereof , let touch the cloth , and the other enter into the end of a saucisson : then tie a small rope of length sufficient to rayse it unto what height you shall desire , and to guide it withall : then fire the match , and rayse it against the winde in an open field ; and as the match burneth , it will fire the crackers , and saucissons , which will give divers blowes in the ayre ; and when the fire is once come unto the stoupell , that will fire the cloth , which will shew very strangely and fearefully . how to make balloones , also the morter peece to discharge them . the diameter of the hollownesse of the morter peece must be one foot , the longer it is the further it will carry . let the diameter of the hollownesse of the sacke be the third part of a foot , and halfe a foot deepe ▪ it must have a square foot , and a portfire to strew into the bottome of the sacke on the side of it ; this portfire is to be made like a cane about three inches long , and have a bottome sodered unto the inside of the screw , which bottome must be pierced with a small touch-hole . this morter peece may be made of yron , red copper , or for a neede with pastbord , armed with cord , and glewed ouer , but the sack , and foot of it must bee made of wood , and the pastbord morter must bee nayled fast upon it . a balloone must be made of canuasse rowled eight or nine times upon a former , it must bee made so , that it will easily go into the morter peece ; into this balloone you may put rockets , serpents , starres , fiends , petards , and one or two saucissons to breake the balloone ; then choak it up with cord , and prime it with a little cane rammed full of a slow composition ; fill the stock of the morter peece full of whole gunpowder , then screw on the portfire , o , then put the balloone done to the bottom of the morter with the cane that primeth it , downward into the stock ; then with tallow or grease stop the chinks between the balloone and the morter , and it is ready to bee discharged , which you may do by putting fire to the portfire , and while that burneth , retreat out of harmes way . a , the figure of the morterpeece with its portfire . o , b , c , a balloone ready made . d , an empty coffin for a balloone . of fire-works for the earth . how to make rockets for the earth the moulds for these rockets for the earth are not made like those for the ayre , because that it is required that these should last longer , and haue a more gentle motion : obserue therefore the following directions for the making of them , which may serue for all occasions , without any alteration for bigger or lesser . let the diameter of their hollownesse bee halfe an inch , let their hollownesse be five or six inches long , let the rowler for to rowle the coffins on , bee the third part of an inch thick , and let the rammer to charge it bee a thought lesse , let the breech bee three quarters of an inch long , and let the breech enter halfe an inch into the mould , then fill it with the composition proper for it , obseruing those rules in the ramming it , as you did in ramming rockets for the ayre ; when you haue filled it within an inch of the top of the mould , double down a quarter of the coffin , beating it with three or foure strokes of the mallet ; then with a bodkin peirce it in two or three places , and then put in the quantity of a pistoll charge of whole gunpowder , then double down the halfe of the coffin , giuing it a gentle blow or two with the mallet , and with a strong packthred choak the rest of the coffin , and what remaineth after the coffin is choaked , cut it of , and it is made . how to make crackers . it is well known , that euery boy can make these , therefore i think it will be but labour lost , to bestow time to describe their making : only thus much , if you would make a cracker to giue forty , fifty , a hundred , or two hundred blowes , one after another , then binde so many crackers upon a stick , so that the end of the one may ioyne to the mouth of the other . how to make trunkes . these you may make of paste-board , paper , or wood , and of what bignesse and length you please , and ram them full of the composition of rockets for the earth ; if you would have them to change colour , then alter the composition that is , put in two or three spoonfulls of the composition of rockets for the water , and ramme that in , then put in two or three spoonfulls of the composition of rockets for the ayre , and ramme that in , then put in two or three spoonfulls of gunpowder dust , and ramme that in , doe so till you have quite filled it then tie a bottome of leather upon it , and pierce it and prime it with stoupell ; after the same manner may you make lanternes and lights . how to make tumbling balls . make a ball of canvas , and fasten in it a double rocket for the earth ; you may stuffe the rest of the ball with a slow composition of two parts charcoale dust , and one part of gunpowder dust , mingled together , and put divers petrards amongst it . how to make saucissons . saucissons are of two sorts , eyther to be placed upon a frame , or such like , and so to bee discharged with a trayne of gunpowder , or else to bee discharged out of the morter-peece . the standing saucisson is thus made ; you must roll paper or canvas , nine or ten times upon a roller as a , b , and choake the one end of it : fill it then with whole gunpowder , and then choake the other end also , then cover all the saucisson with cord , and glew it over ; then pierce one end of it , and prime it with a quill filled with gunpowder dust ; place it upon a forme having a a hole for the quill to passe thorough ; then fire it by a traine of gunpowder layd under the frame , it will give a report like a canon : marke the figure f f. how to make the flying saucisson to be delivered out of the morter peece . make a coffin for this , as you did for the former ; first , fill it almost with whole gunpowder , then put upon that gunpowder dust , which you must ramme hard into the coffin , so that it may bee one finger thicke ; then choake it close , and arme , and prime it as you did the former . it is represented by the figure , k m. how to make a fire sword . you must make a sword of woode , having a deepe channell in the backe of it , wherein place first a rocket for the ground ; then two or three serpents upright ; ( with their mouthes inward ) let the stoupell that primeth the rocket come under the mouth of the serpents , so that being kindled , it may set them on fire , and enter the breech of the next rocket , so fill the channell quite full with rockets and serpents , binde the rockets fast into the channell , but the serpents must be placed so , that being once fired , they may fly out of the channell , and it is made : mark the figure g , p. the description and making of three sorts of fire-lances . to make the first fire-lance , whose figure is noted a , you must make a hollow trunk of what length or bignesse you please , either of wood , paper , or pastbord rowled on a rowler , and armed with some cord and glew : first put into the bottom of whole gunpowder about one or two fingers thick ; then ram upon it a pastebord peirced with a little hole in the middle , hauing a quill fastned in it , which quill must be filled with a slow composition , or else with gunpowder dust : this quill must stand up in the lance two or three inches ; then fill the coffin up to the top of the said quill with starres , and strew among the starres some gunpowder dust , then put pastebord ouer them , having a hole for the quill fastned in the former bottom of pastebord to passe ; then upon this pastebord ram gunpowder dust one or two fingers thick , then put a row of serpents in , and in the midst of the serpents put a cane open at both ends , and filled with gunpowder dust ; this cane must be somewhat longer than the serpents , and it must passe through a pastebord , which must bee put ouer : then put some more gunpowder dust , and ram it in upon it , and upon that put another row of serpents , with a cane in the midst of them filled with a slow composition , and upon them put gunpowder dust , or else a slow composition , ramming it in till the lance bee full ; then put a pastebord upon it , and in the midst of the pastebord put a little cane filled with a slow composition , then fasten it upon a staffe of what length you will , and it is made . to make the second fire-lance , you must prepare a trunk like unto the former , first ram in the bottom of it some of the composition of rockets for the earth about two fingers thick , then put a pastebord upon it , having a petard fastned in the middest ; this pastebord must bee pierced in three or foure places , round about the petard , that thereby the powder that is rammed ouer the pastebord may take fire : then ram in some more composition upon the petard , about two or three fingers thick , then another petard , then more composition , so doing untill you have filled the trunk : then fasten it upon a staffe , and and prime it as you did the former , it is represented by the figure noted b. the description and making of two sorts of fire-clubs . to make the first you must make an ovall ball of pastebord , canvasse , or parchment glewed together , which you must first fill with a slow composition , ram it in , and then bore divers holes round about it , and put therein serpents , fire bals , or what you will : fasten it upon a staffe , and prime it in the top with a cane filled with a slow composition : this is represented by the figure a , a. to make the second you must fill divers canes open at both ends ( and of a foot long , or more , or lesse , as you think fit ) with a slow composition , and binde them upon a staffe of foure or five foot long ; prime them so that one being ended , another may begin : you may prime them with a stouple or match ( prepared as before ) make an osier basket about it with a hole in the very top to fire it by , and it is done . the figure f , f , representeth the staffe , with the canes bound upon it . the figure marked g , representeth the staffe having a basket wrought over it . how to make a fire-target . make a target of osier twigs , or else of light wood , & binde upon it divers canes filled with a very slow composition : the canes must bee open at both ends , and primed with stouple , that one may give fire unto another : in the midst of all you may set up a large cane also , if you please , which you may fill with the same composition as you did the others . mark the figure l , m , n , o : of fire-works for the water . how to make rockets for the water . the diameter of hollownesse of the mould for rockets that swim on the water , must be one inch , and eight inches long : let the breech enter into the body of the rocket one inch , and it must have no broach at all in it . let the diameter of the thicknesse of the rowler bee three quarters of an inch , the rammer must be a thought lesser ; then ram it full of the composition of rockets for the water ; joyne to the upper end of it a saucisson : then couer it all over with melted pitch , rosin , wax , or tallow , to the end that the water may not spoyle the coffins ; and to make it float along the water , binde a rod about two foot long , as you did unto the rockets for the ayre : now if you would have the rocket to change his actions , ( that is , to swim one while above the the water , and one while under the water ) then put into it in the filling , one spoonfull of composition , and ram that in ; then one spoonfull of whole powder , and ram that in ; and then another of composition , and after that another of whole gunpowder , so do untill you have filled it quite . if you would have it change colour , then shift the composition divers times , ( that is , put in one spoonfull of the composition of rockets for the water , then another spoonfull of the composition of rockets for the ayre , or rochpeter and gunpowder mixed ) untill you have filled it . how to make a rocket that shall burne a good while in the water , and then mount up into the ayre . first you shall make a rocket for the water , and binde unto the lower end a stick about two foot and a halfe long , having a large hole in the end thereof : then tie unto it ( but loosly , so that it may easily slip out ) a rocket for the ayre , and let the stouple that primeth for the rocket for the ayre , enter into the breech of the water rocket , then let the end of the rod of the rocket for the ayre enter into the hole of the rod of the rocket for the water : besmeare then both the rockets with tallow , grease , or wax , or any oyle colour that the water may not spoyle the coffins of the rockets ; then hang a stone at the bottom of the stick that hath the hole in it , to make it sink down into the water ; then fire the water rocket , and cast them into the water ; the fired rocket will burne in the water , and being consumed , will giue fire unto the other rocket , which being loosly tyed , will slip the bond , and mount up into the ayre . this is represented by the figure g , g. the floating rocket mentioned before , is expressed by the figure noted i , k. the description and making of two sorts of fire bals for the water . for to make the first , you must make a ball of canvas , about the bignesse of a foot-ball , or bigger if you please , and fasten in it a double rocket for the water : if you will , also you may stuffe the rest of the ball with the composition that will burne under the water , and cut holes in the sides , and therein fasten other bals , and petrards in them : then cover the ball over with tallow , pitch , or painting , except the place where the rocket is primed , and it is done . it is represented by the figure noted with a , and it will tumble up and downe in the water . to make the second fire-ball , you must first make a ball of canvas , pasteboard , or such like , and cut a wide hole in the top of it , and place in it a channell of tinne pierced in divers places : fill the channell with the compositions of rockets for the water ; against every hole therof , place a petrard : cover it with a cover , pitch it over , and prime it , then ballast it with leade , or a stone , that the vent may burne upwards , and it is done . it is represented by the figure b. how to make a dolphin . you must make the body of it of pasteboard glued together , fill the body with the composition of rockets for the water , pierce it in the back with divers little holes , wherein put serpents , besmeare the body all ouer with the following pap : take gunpowder dust , foure ounces , camphire , and sulphur , or brimstone in powder , of each one ounce , make them into a soft pap with oyle of tiles , then binde unto it a large rocket for the water , which rocket must be armed ( as afore ) that the water may not hurt it : then ballast it with a wyre , hauing at each end a piece of lead of weight sufficient , and it is done . marke the figure . i might haue beene infinite in the describing of such like with ships , towres , castles , piramides . but considering that it would but increase the price of the booke , and not better your understanding : since all consist of the former workes , which are so plainely described , as that the most ignorant may easily conceiue thereof , and ( if any whit ingenious ) thence contriue others , of what fashion they list . finis . the third booke of drawing , limming , colouring , painting , and graving . by i. b. london . printed by thomas harper , for ralph mab , 1634. the third booke of drawing , painting , limming , graving . the art of drawing is in it selfe most excellent , and most worthy commendations in whosoever it is : yea it is an art so necessarie unto all ingenious artists , as that in no wise they can be without it , and my selfe haue found it to bee true , that the sight of a good draught is more unto an ingenious person , then a whole chapter of information ; wherefore i have , according unto my knowledge and practise therein , faithfully penned the same ; for the use of all such as beare affection unto the art , and are desirous to be instructed therein : and for that divers persons cannot attaine unto it , or perhaps are loath to bestow any time to practise it : whereby they might come to a requisite perfection : for such i have set downe certaine directions , and those so facile , and easie ; that persons altogether unskilfull , may ( having a patterne ) worke very well ; but before i begin , it behooveth that i prescribe what things are to be had in readinesse to worke withall : first therefore provide good smooth and cleare paper , divers plummets made of blacke leade , oker , or blacke chalke , or else charcoals made of ash , sallow , or beech , split in sunder , and pointed ; also a wing : having provided these your implements , you shall thus begin to worke . first , let the thing , whose pourtrature you intend to take , stand before you , so that the light be not hindred from falling upon it , and with a pointed peece of charcoale draw it rustically ; which when you have done , consider a while whether all the parts thereof are proportionable , and whether it carry the semblance of the thing that you drew it from , which if it do not , wipe it out with your wing , and begin anew : but if it be faulty on one part onely , wipe onely that part out , and draw it againe ; whensoever it liketh you , or that you have so drawne it , that you can finde no great fault in it : wipe it over gently with your wing , so that you may perceive the former strokes : then with your blacke chalke , or blacke lead plummets , draw it as perfectly , and as curiously as you can , and shadow it according as the light falleth upon it ; this way is workeman like , and the most difficult of all , yet by a little practice may easily be attained unto : so that the persons stand well affected unto the art. instead of white paper , you may take light coloured blew paper , and draw upon it with charcoale , and white chalke pointed , which will shew very wel : but note , that after you have made your draught , you must wet it in faire water , and let it dry of it selfe ; this will make the drawing to hold fast on , which would otherwise easily be wiped off . this may serve for such as are contented to take some paines to attaine so noble a science . but for others there are divers other helps , which follow in order . how to take the perfect draught of any printed , or painted picture . take a sheete of venice ( or in stead thereof ) of the finest white paper that you can get : wet it all ouer with cleane sallet oyle : then wipe the oyle off from the paper , as cleane as you can , so that the paper may be dry , otherwise it will spoyle a printed picture by the soaking through of the oyle : hauing thus prepared your paper , lay it upon any painted or printed picture , and you shall see the picture through the same more perfectly appearing , then through glasse , and so with a blacke lead pen , you may draw it ouer with ease , and better first with a soft char-cole , and then with a pen. after that you haue thus drawne the picture upon the oyled paper , put it upon a sheete of cleane white paper , and with a little sticke pointed , or ( which is better ) with a feather taken out of a swallowes wing : draw ouer the picture againe , and so you shall haue the same very prettily and neatly drawne upon the white paper , which you may set out with colours , as shall be taught hereafter . another way . having drawne the picture , first open the oyled paper , put it upon a sheete of cleane white paper , and pricke ouer the same drawing , with a good big pin , then from the cleane sheete , that is pricked , pounce it upon another : that is , take some small coale , powder it fine , and wrap it in a piece of tiffanie or such like , and binde it up therein loosely , and clap it lightly ouer all the pricked lines by little and little , and afterwards draw it ouer again with a pen or pencill , or otherwise as you please . another way very pretty and easie to be performed . take some lake , and grinde it fine , and temper it with linseed oyle , and afterwards with a pen , draw with this mixture ( in stead of inke ) all the out stroaks of any printed picture , also the muscles : then wet the contrary side of the picture , and presse it hard upon a sheete of cleane white paper , and it will leaue behinde it all the stroake of the said picture that you draw ouer . another way much like the former . take printers blacking , grinde it fine , and temper it with faire water , and with a pen dipt therein , draw ouer the master stroakes and out lines of the muscles : wet then a faire paper with a spunge , and clap the picture upon it , pressing it very hard thereupon , and you shall finde the stroakes you drew , left upon the faire paper . an easie way to lessen any picture : that is , to draw a picture from another , in a lesser compasse . first , with a ruler , and a blacke lead plummet , draw a line at the very top : also another at the bottome paralell , or equally distant from the other : from the upper line , let fall two perpendicular or plum-lines euen unto the lowermost line , so those foure lines will make a square : now you must diuide this square into diuers equall parts , with a paire of compasses , and draw lines with a ruler and blacke lead plummet , quite over the picture : so the lesse lines will divide the picture into equall parts or squares : then take a faire paper , and make as many squares upon it , as there is in the picture : you may make them as little as you will , but be sure that they are equall , and of just number with those in the picture . having thus crossed your picture , and drawne over your faire paper into squares , take a blacke lead pen , and draw the picture by little and little , passing from square unto square , untill you have finished the whole : still observing the order of the squares as they stand in either : then draw it ouer with a pen , in which second drawing of it over , you may easily mend any fault : when it is dry , rub it over with the crum of white bread , and it will take off all the blacke lead strokes , and your draught onely will remaine faire upon the paper or parchment . here i might have entred into discourse of drawing paralels , perpendiculars , making of squares , and such like : but to deale truely , i was as loth to trouble my selfe , as to wearie you : you shall neede onely to provide a ruler of thin brasse or copper , having a crosse thwart one end of it : the charge will not be much , nor the use tedious : the figure followeth , noted a , b. let a , b , c , d , be a line given , whereon to erect a perpendicular or plumb line : lay the ruler so , that the crosse over the end of it , may lye full upon the line , then draw a line by the side of the rule , and it is done . a verie easie way , to describe a towne , or castle : being within the full sight thereof . for the effecting of this , you must have a frame made , and crossed into equall squares with lute strings , and figured at the end of each string : this frame must have a foot , wherein it must be made to be lifted higher or lower as occasion serveth ; also you must divide your paper that you are to draw upon into so many equal squares as your frame containeth : having the like figures at the ends of each line that there is on the frame ; before this frame must be placed a style or bodkin having a little glasse on the top of it for to direct the sight . note now that the nearer any thing commeth unto the center , the lesser it appeareth : hence it is that a towne of a mile , or more long , or a huge great castle , at a distance may be comprehended , and that easily within the limits of so small a frame ; by the stile direct your sight from one part to another , beginning at one square , and proceeding through the rest in order as they lie ; marke well the following figure . how to make a deske : by meanes whereof you may draw , and that most exactly with great facilitie any printed picture , or sollid image . first let there be a frame made , and with hinges let be joynted unto a board of equall breadth unto it : let this frame also have two stayes at the top , at each end one , by meanes whereof the deske may be raised higher , or lower , as need shall require ; then fasten to the frame a peece of pure cleare glasse fitted thereunto , and it is finished . the figure followeth . the deske . the manner of using this deske is thus , if the picture that you intend to draw be a printed one , then first fasten it next unto the deske with waxe , paste , or such like : upon it fasten a sheet of faire paper : if it be in the day-time place the backe of it towards the sunne ; if it be in the night that you worke , place a lampe behinde it , and so you shall see perfectly every ( even the least ) stroake of the picture , which with your penne you may draw as acurately as any limmer whatsoever . if it be a solid peece , then place it behinde the deske , betweene the light and the deske : then fasten a sheet of cleane white paper upon the deske ; raise then the deske higher , or lower untill you see the perfect shadow of the image through your deske , and paper , and then draw the posture of the image , and shadow it afterwards ( without the deske ) as light falleth upon it . an easie way to take the naturall , and lively shape of the leafe of any hearbe or tree , which thing passeth the art of man to imitate with pen or pensill . first take the leafe that you would have , and gently bruise the ribs and veines on the backe-side of it , afterwards wet that side with linseed-oyle , and then presse it hard upon a peece of cleane white paper , and so you shall have the perfect figure of the said leafe , with every veine thereof , so exactly exprest as being lively coloured , it would seeme to bee truly naturall , by this we learne , that nature being but a little adjuvated or seconded with art , can worke wonders . now for the farther information of such as are desirous of exemplarie instruction , i have set downe in order following the delineation of the proportion of such things as in my iudgement seemed most necessarie for young beginners , and those in such easie demonstrations as for the most part they consist of equall squares , and require no more for their right understanding , then diligent observation , i might have filled a whole booke of such like : but having considered that what i had done , was a sufficient ground for a farther procession , i thought fitting to leave each person to the exercise and practise of his best invention . i thought fitting to give you a word or two , wherefore i have not made the crosse pricked lines to passe through the figures . the reason is , 1 because the figure would have beene thereby somwhat defaced ; 2 because some chuse rather to draw without such rules ; 3 for others with a ruler and black lead plummet they may crosse the figures through , and with white bread crums take out the same againe at pleasure . of painting . the principall end and subject of this art , is to set out things both in proportion of parts , and livelinesse of colour . for the former , the proportion of parts , i have given sufficient information for the meanest capacitie in the precedent part of this tractat : now therefore i will speake of the other , the colouring or setting out in colours . but first provide a frame or easel called by artists , which is very necessary to worke upon , especially in greater pieces of worke : the forme whereof followeth . also you must provide divers little shels to put your colours in , also pensils of all sorts , both for priming and other : a light ruler of one foot and a halfe , or two foot long : and colours of all sorts ground very fine upon a porphire or marble . having provided these , you shall set to worke , observing the subsequent directions . painting may be performed either with water colours , or with oyle colours . first i will speake of water colours , wherein i shall observe two things . first , the diversitie of colours , and preparations . secondly , their mixture , and manner of laying them on the ground . first of the first , the diversitie of colours and their preparation . colours are either simple or compounded , meerely tinctures of vegetables , or substances of minerals , or both : the simple colours are such as of themselves , being tempered with the water or oyle , doe give a colour . the compounded are such , whose ingredients do exceed the number of one . vegetables are rootes , juces , berries , and such like things as grow out of the earth . minerals are such as are dig'd out of the earth , as earth , and stones , &c. all which follow in order , as well their preparations , as description . first note that every colour to be ground , ought first to be ground with the gall of a neat : then let them dry of themselves in a cold place , afterwards grinde them with gumme water for your use . now i am come to the second thing observable ( to wit ) the mixture and laying the colours on the grounds , which is thus : your colours prepared for use , ought to be tempered according unto direction , still observing a meane : and to that end , mixe them by little and little , till the colour please you ; first you must lay on the ground colour , and let it dry throughly : then with a small pensill , pricke on the second colour , else it will be apt to run abroad , nor can you worke it so well , to make it seeme liuely , as you may by pricking it on , especially in small peeces . if you are to paint ouer maps , or printed pictures that haue writing in them , they use to lay on the thinnest colours , and alwaies before you lay any colours upon paper , wet the backe side of it with faire water , wherein store of allum hath beene dissolued , and let it dry of it selfe : after wet it againe , and let it dry : doe it the third time , for this will strengthen the paper , that the colour shall not sinke through it , and moreouer it will make the colour shew the brighter , and last , the better . to make gum water to temper your colours with . take cleane water , and put into it of gum arabicke a little , and let it stand untill the gumme be dissolued . now you must haue a care that it be neither too thicke , by reason of the gumme , nor yet too thin : for with the one you cannot worke well , and the other will not binde the colour fast . a purple colour . take two pound of heidleber , two ounces of allum , halfe an ounce of ashes of copper , halfe a pound of water ; put them into a skillet , and let them boyle till a third be consumed : when it is cold , straine it into a cleane vessell , and let it stand a while , then straine it into another , and then let it stand till it be thicke enough . a crane colour . you must onely grinde blacke lead with gum water . browne colour . take good browne , and grinde it with gumme water : his false colour is made with two parts browne , and a third part white lead , sad it with the same browne . hayre colour . take vmber or spanish browne , grinde it , temper it with gumme water . a blew . boyle mulberries with allum . an emerauld colour . take verdigreese , and grinde it first dry , and put unto it a little of the gall of a neat : also of saffron , and the juyce of rew , of each a little : grinde them together , and put them into a shell , and let it dry there : when you would use it , grinde it againe with vineger or verjuce , and a little neats gall dissolved in either of them . his false colour is two parts greene , and a third ceruse : it must bee sadded with a good greene . a motlie greene . this colour is compounded of red and greene . a blacke colour . first you must lay on a light blacke , mingled with white lead , and afterwards when it is dry , sad it with good blacke ; for sad blacke , mixe indie baudias with gumme water . a marble or ashe colour . this is compounded of blacke and white . a russet or sad browne . this colour is made by compounding a little white , with a good quantity of red . a browne blew . take two parts of indie baudias , and a third of ceruse and temper them with gumme water . a brasse colour . this is compounded of masticot and vmber . a gold yellow for armes . take orpment , and masticot , grinde each by themselves : but in grinding of the masticot , adde a little saffron , and worke with them . note you may alay your orpment with chalke , and sadde it with browne of spain or o ker de luke . azure . take of white lead foure ounces , of indicum two ounces , put them into a leaden pot with vinegar : boyle them well , and that which swimmes on the top is the colour . a purple or violet colour . this is a compounded colour , and it is made either by mixing a quantitie of azure , and a portion of turnsole : or else by mixing a quantitie of russet , and a quantitie of azure : sanguine or blood-colour . this is likewise a compounded colour , and it is made by mixing a good quantitie of cinaper with a little blacke . orange-tawny . this colour is compounded of a bright red , and a bright yellow . a lyon-tawny . this colour is made by mixing red lead and masticot together . a carnation , or flesh-colour . first you must lay on a white colour tempered with gumme-water , and when it is drie you must go it over againe with vermillion or lake , or else you must temper ceruse and vermilleon together , and being dry , go over it againe with lake or vermillion . a peach colour . this is compounded of ceruse and vermillion . a skie colour . this colour is compounded of vermilleon and azure . a blood red . this colour is made of cinaper , and afterwards sadded with vermilleon at the sides , or else with a browne colour . a bloudy colour , grinde cinaper , lake , and cinaper tops , put them into good water , and if they be too light , put to them a little turnsole . a lincoln-greene . this colour is compounded of a good greene and saffron . a poppin-jay greene . this colour is compounded of azure , and masticot . a good yellow . take saffron , or cambugium , and temper it with gum-water , sad it with vermilleon . a sable or blacke . take a torch , hold it under a lattyn bason , temper that blacke with gumme-water . a velvet-blacke . bvrne harts-horne on a colliers hearth ; then grinde it with the gaul of a neat , put it into a shell , and let it dry in the shade : when you would use it , grinde it againe with gumme-water . to write gold with pen or pensil . take a shell of gold , and put a little gum-water unto it , and temper it together , and then you may write with it as with other colours . to make azure , or bise sadder . take blew turnsole , wet it in gum-water , and then wring it out , and mixe it either with bise , or else overshadow the bise with it . red colour . take vermillion , and temper it with gumme water : his false colour is two parts vermillion , and a third part ceruse . another red. take russet , and temper it with gumme-water , clay it with ceruse , and sad it with it selfe . another red. take brassill in grosse powder , allum in powder : steep them in gum water a night and a day : then straine it , and keepe it for use . a greene colour . take copper plates , put them in a copper pot , & put distilled vineger to them : set them in a warme place till the vinegar become blew , then put it out into another leaded pot , and poure more vinegar into it again ; let it stand so till it become blew ; this do so many times till you thinke you have enough : then let it stand till it be thicke . to make good inke . take two handfuls of gauls , cut each gaul into three or foure peeces , poure into them a pint of beere or wine , then let it stand eight houres ; straine it from the gauls , and put vitreoll therein , and to the vitreoll a third part of gumme , set it on the fire to warme ; but let it not seethe , and it will be good inke , and of these gauls you may make inke foure or five times more . to seethe brasill . take an ounce of brasill , twelve ounces of beere , wine , or vinegar , put it in a new pot , let it stand a night ; and in the morning set it on the fire , and let it seethe till halfe be consumed : then put into it two peny worth of allum beaten together , and as much beaten gum-arabicke : stirre them well together , and let them seethe againe ; if you desire to have it somewhat darke , then scrape a little chalke into it when it seetheth : let it not seethe over the pot : when it is cold straine it through a cloth , and put it into a glasse well stopt . aurum musicum . take one ounce of salarmoniack , one ounce of quick-silver of counterfein , halfe an ounce of brimstone , bruise the brimstone , and set it on the fire , but let it not be over hot ( lest it burne ) then take the salarmoniacke , and the quicksilver being in powder : mixe them well together , then mingle with them the brimstone : stirre them well , and quickly with a sticke till the brimstone become hard , then let it coole , grinde it on a stone , and put it in a glasse well stopt with waxe , and set it in a pan with ashes ; make a fire under it , and let it stand halfe a day in that manner ( but not over hot ) till a yellow smoke riseth on it , and when the yellow smoke is gone it is prepared . argentum musicum . take an ounce of tynne , melt it , and put thereto one ounce of tartar , and one ounce of quicksilver , stirre them well till they be cold : then beat all in a morter , and grinde it on a stone ; temper it with gumme-water , and write therewith , and afterward polish it . to write a gold colour . take a new hennes egge , make a hole at one end , and let the substance out , then take the yolke without the white , and foure times as much in quantitie of quicksilver ; grinde them well together , and put them into the shell ; stop the hole thereof with chalke , and the white of an egge , then lay it under an henne that sitteth with sixe more , let her sit on it three weeks , then breake it up , and write with it . to write with gold out of a pensil . take honey , and salt a like quantitie , grinde them well , and put to them a leafe of gold , with a little white of an egge ; put it into a mussell shell , and let it purifie ; then temper it with gumme-water , and write with it , pollish it . or else grinde a leafe of silver , or gold , very small with gumme-water , and wash it in a mussell shell as aforesaid . to temper azure of bise . take azure or bise , and grinde it on a stone with cleane water ; then put it in a broad glasse , or shell , and when it hath stood a while all the dregs will fleet above , and the cleane colour will fall to the bottome ; then poure out the water with the dregs , and poure the azure in cleane water againe ; then stirre the colour and water together , and let it stand , and fine , and after that poure out the water , and dregs againe : do thus till it be well purged ; then grinde it againe on a stone with gumme-water , and put it into a horne , or shell ; when you paint or write , stirre it , and let the sticke drop into the pen , for it will sinke to the bottome as lead . to temper turnsole . take turnsole , and wet it once or twice in cleare water , and let it lye till it be well steeped ; then wring it into a dish till the colour be good , and sad ; with this you may flourish red letters , or vestures , and this colour shall be darked , sadded , or renewed with blacke inke . to make colouring , called vernix : to varnish gold , silver , or any other colour on vellem , paper , timber , stone , &c. take bengewine , and bray it well betwixt two papers , then put it into a viol , and poure on it aqua vitae , that it may stand aboue the bengewine three or foure fingers , and let it steepe so a day or two ; then put to it for halfe a violl of aqua vitae fiue or sixe chieues of saffron slenderly stamped ; this done , straine it , and with a pensil vernish therewith any thing gilded , which will become bright and shining , drying it selfe immediately , and will continue the brightnesse many yeares ; but if you will vernish on siluer , then take the white that is found in bengewine and dresse it with aqua vitae as afore , leauing out the saffron , and the said vernish made with these onely is very good to varnish all things as well painted , as not painted : for it maketh tables of walnut tree and hebene to glister if it bee laid on them , and all other things , as iron , copper , or tin gilded , or not : it maketh bright , preserveth and aideth the colour , and dryeth incontinent without taking dust . to make a double size to lay gold or silver on an embossed ground . take venice ceruse , white lead , plaister of an old image , or chalke , any of these made in fine powder , and ground with the white of an egge , and a little water : this will make a good bottome to lay silver on . but when you use any of these to lay under gold , put to it a little saffron , put not too much water ; mingle it after discretion , and looke the size be thicke standing : put the size thus tempered , in a horne or shell in some celler , or shadowed place , where it may stand moyst seven dayes , till it be perfect clammy and rotten , and once a day stirre it ; the elder the size is , it is the better . if there stand any bubbles on the size , put in eare waxe , for that is a remedy thereto , and before you lay it on your worke , lay the size on a scrow , and dry it , and when it is dry , bend it , and if it bend and breake not , then it is perfect , and if it breake , put to it a little water to make it weaker , and proue if it cleaueth fast to the booke , if not , put glayr thereto , and make it more stedfast : the like size may you make of gipsium , bolearmoniacke , red or yellow oker , orpment or masticot , with browne of spaine , or red lead : if euery of them be ground seuerally , and tempered as afore . of painting in oyle . here you must provide one thing more then you did before : that is , a pallet ( so called by artists ) whereupon you must put a small quantitie of euery such colour you are to use , the forme whereof followeth . the colours to be used , are altogether such dry substances as i mentioned formerly : as oker , vermilion red lead , vmber , spanish browne , lam-blacke , gambugice , masticot , orpment , ceruse , or spanish white , blew and greene bise , verdigrease , and a multitude of such like , which may be had at the rose in cornehill , london . your colours must be ground all very finely , and tempered with linseed oyle ; and to preserve them , put them in little earthen pans , and put water upon them , and cover them , that the dust come not at them : thus they may be kept a great while , and from thence you may take them as your use doth require . there are divers colours which without the admixture of another colour , will not be dry a great while ; as lake , verdigrease , lam-blacke : with such you must temper a little vmber or red lead . divers painters there are , that having haste of worke , doe use to temper their colour with one part of fatte oyle , and two of common linseed oyle , and by this meanes they make the colours dry the sooner : this fat oyle is onely linseed oyle exposed to the weather , and so it becommeth thicker : yea sometimes you shall see it so thicke , that you may cut it almost like butter : it may bee made likewise by boyling of it a little while , but the former is the best . as for the tempering of your colours , i can prescribe no surer way then experience with diligent observation . of graving . it is possible for one to be a good painter , and yet not to be able to draw well with the pen , because there is not required in a painter such a curious and exact carriage of the hand : but it is impossible for one ever to grave or etch well , except he can draw well with the pen. first therefore presupposing you can doe the first before you attempt the second , you must provide divers graving tooles , both long and short : some for hard worke , some for sweet worke , some for smaller worke , and some for greater : also a peece of a beaver hat , and a good oyle stone , smoothed on one side , and free from pin holes , and plates of copper or brasse exactly polished . of gravers . there are two principall sorts of gravers , the long and the short : the long are straight , and for to engrave plates withall , especially the greater , and these are to be held as the figure following doth expresse : where you may note that the pummell of the graver resteth against the ball of the thumb , and the point is guided with the forefinger . and there ought to bee a little bagge of sand under your plate , to the end that you might turne your plate upon it as your worke doth require . the second sort is a short graver , and turneth up somewhat at the end , and that is to engrave letters and scutchions in plate seales , and smaller plates , being fastened in some convenient instrument : this must be held likewise according unto the expression of the figure following : where it is to be noted , that the pummell of the graver is stayed against the further part of the hand , and is guided by the inward side of the thumbe . it were needfull that there were a piece of leather like a taylors thimble , about the end of the thumbe , waxed or glued , whereby to guide the graver more steadily , and stay it upon occasion . how to make gravers . provide some good crosse-bow steele , and cause it to be beaten out into small rods , and softned : then with a good file you may shape them at your pleasure : when you have done , heat them red hot , and dip them straight downe into sope , and by so doing , they will bee hard indeed . note that if in the dipping of them into the sope , you turne your hand never so little awry , the graver will be crooked . these gravers made and hardened after this manner , doe farre exceed all the other gravers . if your gravers be too hard , heate them a little , and thrust them into tallow , and they will be tougher . the oyle stone is to whet your gravers on ; drop one or two drops of sallet oyle upon it , and whet your graver thereon , and it will have an edge presently . how to smooth and pollish copper plates . because that in the printing with copper plates , the least scratch , though it be scarce visible , receiveth its impression , and so many times disgraceth the worke : i have set downe a way to smooth plates for impression . first , take a piece of brasse , or copper , of what bignesse you intend , of an indifferent thicknesse , and see as neere as you can , that it bee free from fire flawes . first beat it as smooth as you can with a hammer , then rub it smooth with a pumice stone that is void of gravell , ( least it race it , & so cause you as much more labour to get thē out ) burnish it after with a burnishing iron , having first dropped a drop or two of sallet oyle on it : then rub it over with a cole , prepared as is after taught , and lastly with a peece of beaver hat dipt in sallet oyle , rub it very well for an houre : thus you may polish it exactly . how to prepare your coales . take beechen charcole , such as when they are broke , doe shine , such as are void of clifts , and such as breake off even : burne them againe , and as soone as they are all through on fire , quench them in chamber lye : after take them out , and put them in faire water , and reserue them for your use . having prepared all things in a readinesse , you must haue a draught of that you intend to cut or engrave . take the plate then , and waxe it lightly ouer , and then either pounce the picture upon it , or trace it , or by drawing ouer the lines of the picture with ungummed inke , reprint it upon the plate : then worke upon it , obseruing the shadow , so that being printed , it may stand right , for it will be backward upon your plate : when you haue cut one stroke , drop a little sallet oyle upon your peece of bever , and rub over the said stroke , for by this meanes you shall better see the stroke , and how to cut the next equall unto it , and so the rest proportionally distant one from another ; but to worke by a candle , you must place a glasse of faire water betweene the candle , and a paper betweene that and the plate , ( which casteth a true light ) or you will never be able to worke truely and aright . of etching . etching is an imitation of engrauing , but more speedily performed . things may be expressed to the life thereby , but not so sweetly as by the graver . it is thus performed ▪ the plate you are to etch upon , must first exactly be pollished , afterwards ouerlaid but very lightly with a ground made for the purpose , ( of which anon ) and thereupon must be pounced , drawne , or traced , the thing that you are to etch : then the said ground is to be pierced with diuers stiles of seuerall bignesse according as the shadowes of the picture doe require : afterwards the edges of the plate are to be raised with soft waxe and strong water , ( for so they terme it : ) ( it is to be had at the signe of the legge in foster lane a distiller ) is to be put upon it , which in those places were the strokes , are required to be lightly performed , is to be abated or alayed with faire water , which hauing dured a while upon the plate , will eate into it , as it were engraven , then put it into cold water , and wash it about , and it will leaue eating further , and then take off the ground and it is done . ared ground for etching . take red lead , grinde it very well , and temper it with varnish . a white ground . take one ounce of waxe , and two ounces of rosin , melt them together , and adde thereto a quarter of an ounce of venice ceruse ground fine , lay it on while it is hot . a blacke ground . take asphaltum two parts , bees waxe one part ; melt them together , and being warme , lay it on very thinly with a fine lawne ragge . if it seeme somewhat red in any one part , hold it over the smoake of a linke or waxe candle , and it will be amended . note that it is a principall thing in this art to lay the ground on aright . another way how to engrave with water . take verdigrease , mercury sublimated , vitreoll , and allum , a like quantity , beate all to powder , put them into a glasse , and let it stand so halfe a day , and stirre it often , then lay on the plate , waxe , mingled with linseed oyle , or red lead with linseed oyle , and write in it that you meane to grave , then put the water on it , and let it so remaine halfe a day , if you will have it very deepe , let it lye longer . if you will engrave images , &c. lay the waxe on the iron or steele , thin , and draw what you will theron , that it may touch the mettall , then put the water into the strokes , and it will be engraven . how to engrave on a flint stone . take a flint , and write on it what you will , with the fat or tallow of an oxe , afterward lay the flint in vineger , foure dayes . finis . place this betweene folio 14. and 15. the booke of extravagants : wherein amongst others , is principally contrived divers excellent and approved medicines for severall maladies . by i. b. london . printed by thomas harper , for ralph mab : 1634. to the reader . courteous reader , forasmuch as there were divers experiments that i could not conveniently , or rather my occasions would not permit me to dispose in such order as i would have done ; i thought it would not bee amisse to call them by the names of extravagants , and so to set them downe as i found them , eyther inserted amongst other my notes , as i put them in practise , or as they came into remembrance . how to make a light burne under the water , being a very pretty conceypt to take fish . let there be a glasse , as a , having a hole at the bottome , to put a candle in with a screwed socket . the socket must have a loope at the bottome , whereunto you must hang a weight of such heavinesse , that it may draw the body of the glasse under water . the necke of this glasse must bee open , and stand above the water ; also about the necke must bee fastened a good broad peece of wood ; round about which ( but on that side of it that is next unto the water ) must be placed divers peeces of looking glasses ; so the light of the candle in the glasse body will bee multiplied according unto the number of them . all the fishes neere unto it will resort about it , as amazed at so glorious a sight , and so you may take them with a cast net or other . how to make an image hang in the middle of a glasse . make the lower part of the image of hard wax , and the upper part of wood , and overlay it with oyle colours ; then put it into a globe glasse filled with fayre water , and which way soever you turne the glasse , the image will still hang in the middle , and stand as it were upright ; which , to my knowledge , hath been a thing causing no small admiration among divers that have not understood the cause of it . how to make five or six dice of the ordinary bignesse of dice , such as you may game withall , and such as would be taken by their lookes to bee ordinary dice , and yet all of them to weigh not above one grain . take a peece of elder , and pith it , lay the pith to dry , and then make thereof with a sharp knife five or six dice , and you shall finde it true that i haue sayd . to lay gold on any thing . take red lead ground first very fine , temper it with linseed oyle : write with it , and lay leafe gold on it , let it dry , and pollish it . to lay gold on glasse . grinde chalk , and red lead , of each a like quantity , together , temper them with linseed oyle , lay it on ; when it is almost dry , lay your leafe gold on it , when it is quite dry polish it . to make yron as soft as lead . take black flints , powder them very finely ; then put the powder in an iron pan , and make it red-hot , then cast it on a marble stone , till it be almost cold , then make it red-hot againe , and let it coole , and grinde it so long till it cleave to the stone , and grinde as it were clay ; then put that in a glasse , and set it under the eaves of a house , where the sunne commeth not nigh in the day , then the night after take out the water that you shall finde in the glasse above the powder , then take that powder and grinde it with the water , and put it in a stillatory , and let it still out the halfe ; afterward poure the water againe on the sayd powder , and still it againe with a soft fire ; then take and seethe that water till the halfe bee wasted , then take some iron blade that is new broke , and put it together , and hold it so a little while ; then take of the water which was sod to the half , and with a feather lay it first to the one side of the blade , and when the water is cold , lay it on the other side , and it will soder fast with this water ; and with this water you may make steele as soft as lead . it is likewise a soveraigne water to help the gout , being anoynted where the griefe is , for it giveth ease very speedily . to colour tin , or copper , &c. of a golden colour . take linseed oyle , set it on the fire , scum it cleane , then put therein of amber , and aloe hepaticum , a like quantity , then beat and stir all well together with the oyle till it wax thick ; then take it off , and cover it close , and set it in the earth three dayes : when you would use it , strike your metall all ouer therewith , and so let it dry , and it will be of a golden colour . to gild iron with a water . take running water 3 pound , rochallum 3 pound , and roman vitreoll one ounce , of vardigrease one penny waight , saltgem three ounces , orpment one ounce , boyle all these together , and when it begins to boyle , put in lees of tartar and bay salt , of each halfe an ounce ; make it seethe , and being sod a pretty while , take it from the fire , and strike the iron over therewith , then let it dry against the fire , and then burnish it . to soder on iron . set your joynt of iron as close as you can , then lay them so in a glowing fire ; then take of venice glasse in fine powder , and the iron being red-hot , cast the powder thereon , and it shall soder of it selfe . if you clap it in clay , it will be the surer way . to gild on iron or steele . take one ounce of argall , three drammes of vermileon , and two drams of bol armeniack , with as much aqua vitae , then work and grinde them all together on a stone , with linseed oyle ; having so done , put there to lapis calaminaris as big as a hazell nut , and grinde therewith in the end three or foure drops of varnish ; take it off the stone , and strain it through a linnen cloth into a stone pot , ( for it must bee as thick as hony ) then strike over your iron therewith , and let it dry , and then lay your gold or silver on , as you would do upon the varnish . a varnish like gold , for tin , silver , or copper . take small pots well leaded , then put therein six ounces of linseed oyle , one ounce of mastick , one ounce of aloes epaticum ; make them altogether in fine powder , and then put it into your sayd pot , and cover it with such another ; yet in the bottom of the uppermost pot make a small hole , wherein put a small stick with a broad end beneath to stir the other pot withall , and when the pots are set just together , close them all about with good clay , and couer them all over also , leaving the hole open above to stir the other pot with the stick : set it over the fire , and stir it as often as it seetheth , and when you will gild , pollish your metall over first , and then strike this over the metall , and let it dry in the sunne . to lay gold on iron , or other mettall . take liquid varnish l. 1. turpentine , & oyle of lynseed , of each an ounce : mixe them all together : with this ground you may gild on any mettall , first striking it upon the mettall , and afterward lay on the gold or silver . when it is dry , polish it . to make ice that will melt in fire , but not dissolve in water . take strong water made with saltpeter , allum , and oyle of tartar , of each , one pound . infuse them together , then put into them a little aqua ardens , and it will presently coagulate them , and turne them into ice . a cement as hard as stone . take powder of loadstone , and of flints , a like quantity of either , and with whites of egges , and gumme dragant , make paste , and in a few dayes it will grow as hard as a stone . to make paper waved like unto marble . take divers oyled colours , put them severally in drops upon water , and stirre the water lightly , and then wet the paper ( being of some thicknesse ) with it , and it will be waved like a marble : dry them in the sun. to make copper or brasse have the colour of silver . take sal armoniacke , allum , and salt , of each a like quantity , and with a little filings of silver , let all be mixt together , then put them into the fire , that they may be hot , and when they shall cease to smoke , then with the same powder moystned with spittle , rub your copper or brasse . how to make glew to hold things together as fast as stone . take of the powder of tile sheard , two pound , unslakt lyme , foure pound , oyle of lynseed , a sufficient quantity to temper the whole mixture ; this is marvellous strong . to make a thinne glew . take gluten piscis , beate the same strongly on an anvill , till it be thin ; after lay it to soke in water , untill it be come very soft and tender : then worke it like paste , to make small rowles thereof , which draw out very thinne , and when you will worke with it , put some of it into an earthen pot , with a little water , over the embers , and skim the same very cleane , and let it seeth a little while , then worke with the same : keeping it still over the fire . with this glew you may fasten peeces of glasse together . to make iron have the colour of brasse . first , polish it well , rub it after with aqua sortis , wherin the filings of brasse are dissolved : the like may bee done with roman vitrioll dissolved in vineger and faire water , of each a like quantity . to make wood or bone red for ever . take the powder of brazill , mingle it well with milke , but so , that it be very red , and put therein , either wood or bone , letting it lye in eight dayes , and it will looke red for ever . how with one candle to make as great a light , as otherwise of two or three of tbe same bignesse . cause a round and double glasse to be made , of a large size , and in fashion like a globe , but with a great round hole in the top , and in the concave part of the uppermost glasse , place a candle in a loose socket , and at the same hole or pipe which must be made at the side thereof , fill the same with spirit of wine , or some other cleere distilled water that will not putrifie , and this one candle will give a great and wonderfull light , somewhat resembling the sunne beames . a cement for broken glasses . beate the whitest fish glew with a hammer , till it begin to waxe cleere , then cut the same into very small pieces , suffering the same to dissolve on a gentle fire , in a leaded pan , with a few drops of aqua vitae , then let some other that standeth by , hold both the pieces that are to bee cemented , over a chafingdish of coles , till they be warme : and during their heat , lay on the dissolved glew with a fine pensill : then binde the glasse with wyre or threed , and let it rest till it be cold . an admirable secret of representing the very forme of plants , by their ashes , phi●osophically prepared , spoken of by quertitanus and angelus salae . take saith hee , the salt both the fixed and the volatill also . take the very spirit , and the phlegme of any herbe , but let them all be rightly prepared ; dissolve them , and coagulate them , upon which if you put the water stilled from may dew , or else the proper water of the herbe you would have appear , close them all very well in a glasse for the purpose , and by the heat of embers , or the naturall heat of ones body , at the bottome of the glasse , the very forme and idaea thereof will be represented : which will suddenly vanish away , the heat being withdrawne from the bottome of the glasse . as i will not argue the impossibility of this experiment , so i would be loth to employ mine endeavours , untill i were expert therein . a device to bend glasse canes , or make any small worke in glasse . let there be a vessell of copper about the bignesse of a common foot-ball , as , a , let it have a long pipe at the top as c. which must be made so that you may upon occasion screw on lesser , or bigger vents made for the purpose . fill this one third part with water , and set it over a fornace of coals , as f , g , h , i , and when the water beginneth to heat , there will come a strong breath out of the nose of the vessell , that will force the flame of a lampe placed at a convenient distance as k : if you hold your glasse in the extention of the flame it will melt suddenly ; so you may worke what you will thereof . there are that instead of this globe make use of a pipe , as a , fastned in a sticke as , f , of which i have made use , but hold it not so convenient for those that are not accustomed thereunto . an excelleut water for any morphue , or scurvinesse in the face . take of quicke sulphur 2. ounces , blacke sope , the rankest and illest favoured that can bee got : binde them up in a cloth , and hang them in a pint of the strongest wine vineger for the space of nine dayes ; herewith wash the morphue in the face or elsewhere , and let it dry in of it selfe . this water will for the present staine the face with a yelow collour , which will weare away in time . how to soften iron . take of allum , sal armoniacke , tartar , a like quantitie of either , put them into good vineger , and set them on the fire : heat your iron , and quench it therein . a good cement for broken glasses . take raw silke , and beat it with glasse , and mixe them together with the whites of egges . another . take of calcined flints , quicke lyme , and common salt , of each a like quantity : mingle them all together with the whites of egges ; then take a linnen cloth and spread it over with this mixture , and put it upon the fracture , and let it dry ; afterwards annoint it with linseed oyle . how to cause that the same quantitie both of powder and shot discharged out of the same peece shall carry closer , or more scattering . take the quantitie of a pease of opium , and charge it amongst the shot , and this will make the shot to flie closer together then otherwise it would . this i had of a sea-man , who had made triall hereof , as he said , and unto whom i sold some for the same purpose . a baite to catch fish with . take cocculus indiae ℥ ss , henbane-seeds , and wheaten flower , of each a quarter of an ounce , hive honey as much as will make them into paste . where you see most store of fish in the river , cast of this paste into it in divers little bits about the bignesse of barley cornes , and anon you shall see the fish swimme on the top of the water , some reeling to and fro as drunken , others with their bellies upwards as if they were nigh dead ; so that you may take them either with your hands , or a small net at the end of a sticke made for the same use . note here , that if you put the fish that you thus take , into a bucket of faire and fresh water , or if it raine after that you have cast this your bait into the water , they will revive and come to themselves to your admiration ; and this was told me by a gentleman of good credit , that hath often made use thereof . i have heard that the stinking oyle drawne out of the roots of polipody of the oake by a retort , mixed with turpentine , and hive-honey , and being anointed upon the bait will draw the fish mightily thereto , and make them bite the faster : and i my selfe have seene fishes , as roches , and taken in the dead time of winter with an angle , bayted onely with paste made of wheaten flowre , but it hath beene in the morning , and when the sunne hath shined . how to write without inke that it may not be seene , unlesse the paper be wet with water . take some vitriol , and powder it finely , and temper it with faire water in any thing that is cleane , when it is dissolved , you may write whatsoever you will with it , and it cannot be read , except you draw it through water wherein some powder of galls hath beene infused , and so it will shew as blacke as if it had beene written with inke . how to make white letters in a blacke feild . take the yelke of a new layd egge , and grinde it upon a marble with faire water , so as you may write with it : having ground it on this wise , then with a penne dipt into it , draw what letters you will upon paper , or parchment , and when they are through drie , blacke all the paper over with inke ; and when it is drie , you may with a knife scrape all the letters of that you wrote with the yelke of the egge , and they will shew faire and white . how to sodder upon silver , brasse , or iron . there are two kindes of sodder , to wit , hard sodder , and soft sodder . the soft sodder runneth sooner then the hard : wherefore if a thing be to be sodered in two places , which cannot at one time well be performed , then the first must be sodered with hard soder , and the second with soft : for if the first be done with soft , it will unsoder againe before the other be sodered . note , that if you would not have your soder to runne over any one part of the peece to be sodered , you must rub over that part with chalke that you would not have it runne upon . note likewise that your soder must be beaten thinne , and then laid over the place to be sodered , which must be first fitted together , and bound with wyer as occasion shall require . then take burras , powder it , and temper it with water like pap , and lay it upon the soder , and let it drie upon it by the fire : afterwards cover it with quicke coals , and blow them up , and you shall see your soder run immediately : then presently take it out of the fire , and it is done . hard soder is thus made . take a quarter of an ounce of silver , and a three penie weight of copper , melt them together , and it is done . soft soder is thus made . take a quarter of an ounce of silver , and a three penie weight of brasse , melt them together , and it is done . how to gild silver , or brasse , with water-gold . first take about ℥ . ii . of quicke silver , put it into a little melting pot , and set it over the fire , and when it beginneth to smoke , put into it an angel of fine gold : then take it off presently for the gold will presently be dissolved in the quicke silver , which if it be too thinne , you may through a peece of fustian straine a part of the quicke-silver from it . note likewise that your silver , or brasse , before you go about to gild it , must be boyled in argol , and beare , or water , and afterwards scratcht with a wyer brush : then rub the gold , and quicke-silver upon it , and it will cleave unto it , then put your siluer or brasse upon quicke coales untill it begin to smoke : then take it from the fire , and scratch it with your wyer brush : do this so often till you have rubd the quicke-silver as cleane off as you can , then shall you perceive the gold to appeare of a faint yellow colour , which you may make to shew faire with sal armoniacke , bole armoniacke , and vardigrece ground together , and tempered with water . how to take the smoake of tobacco through a glasse of water . first fill a pinte glasse with a wide mouth , almost full of faire water : fill also a pipe of tobacco , and put the pipe upright into the glasse of water , so that the end of the pipe may almost touch the bottome of the glasse : then take another crooked pipe , and put it into the glasse , but let the end thereof not touch the water : waxe then the mouth of the glasse , that no ayre may come in nor out , but at the pipes : then put fire unto the tobacco , and sucke with your mouth , at the end of the crooked pipe , and you shall see the smoake of the tobacco penetrate the water , and breake out of a bubble , and so come into your mouth . to colour ivory or any other bones , of an excellent greene colour . take aqua fortis , wherein dissolue as much copper , as the said water is able , then let the bones that you would have coloured , lye in the same all night , and they will be like a smaragdin colour : mizaldus . how to make birds drunke , so that you may take them with your hands . take such meate as they loue , as wheate , barley , and lay the same to steepe in the lees of wine , or else in the juyce of hemlockes , and sprinckle the same in places where birds use to haunt . a way to catch crowes . take the liuer of a beast , and cut it in diuers pieces , put then into each piece , some of the powder of nux vomica , and lay these pieces of liuer in places where crowes and rauens haunt . anon after they haue eaten them , you may take them with your h●nds , for they cannot flye away . how to take crowes or pigeons . take white pease , and steepe them eight or nine daies in the gall of an oxe : then cast the same where they use to haunt . you may make partridges , duckes , and other birds drunke , so that you may take them with your hand : if you set blacke wine for them to drinke in those places whereunto they resort . another . take tormentill , and boile it in good wine : put into it barley or other graine : sprinckle this in those places you haue appointed to take birds in , and the birds will eate the pieces amongst the graine , which will make them so drunke , that they cannot flye away . this should be done in the winter , and when it is a deepe snow . another way to take birds . make a paste of barley meale , onion blades , and henbane seeds : set the same upon seuerall little boards , or pieces of tiles , or such like , for the birds to eate of it . how to make brasse white for ever . take egge shels , and burne them in a melting pot : then powder them , and temper them with the whites of egges ; let it stand so three weekes : heate your brasse red hot , and put this upon it . how to make marble . take ℥ vj. of quicke lime , put it into a pot , and poure upon it , one pinte of good wine : let it stand fiue or sixe dayes , stirring it once or twice a day : then poure off the cleare , and therewith temper flint stones calcined , and made into fine powder , then colour it , and make of it what you please , and let them dry . how to whiten copper . take a thin plate of copper , heat it red-hot divers times , and extinguish it in common oyl of tartar , and it will be white . to make saltpeter . take quick lyme , and poure warm water upon it , and let it stand six dayes , stirring it once or twice a day : take the cleare of this , and set it in the sunne untill it bee wasted , and the saltpeter will remaine in the bottom . how to make corall . take of red lead ground , ℥ 1. vermilion finely ground , ℥ ss . unquenched lyme , and powder of calcined flints , of each ℥ vj. these powders must bee tempered with a lixivium that is made with quick lyme and wine : adde unto the whole a little salt ; then make thereof what you list ; then boyle them in linseed oyle . how to make pearles of chalk . take some chalk , and put it into the fire ; there let it lie untill it break : temper it then with the whites of egs . then make of it divers fashions of pearles , both great and small : wet them being dried , and cover them with leafe gold , and they are done . an approved and excellent plaster for ach in the raines of the back , or in any other part whatsoever . take one pound of black sope , and foure ounces of frankincense , and a pinte of white wine vineger : boyle all together upon a gentle fire , untill it be thick ; spread it then upon a lether , and apply it unto the grieved place . if the ach bee very great and fervent , then adde unto it a little aqua vitae , and it will be much better . an excellent oyntment for the shingles , morphew , tetters , and ringwormes . take a quarter of a pound of sope , and mingle with it two drams of the powder of black ellebor , litharge of silver in fine powder , two ounces , vardigrease halfe an ounce , and a quarter of an ounce of glasse in powder , and as much quicksilver , make them all into an oyntment by stirring them well together ; wherewith anyont the grieved parts . this is approved and true . an excellent balme , or water for grievous sore eyes , which commeth either of outward accident , or of any inward cause . take two spoonfuls of the juyce of fennell , and one spoonfull and a halfe of the juyce of celandine , and twice as much hony as them both ; then boyle them a little upon a chafingdish of coales , and scum away the dregs which will ascend , but first let it coole somwhat , and then let it run through a fayre cleane cloth : then put it into a violl of glasse , and stop it close . put a little quantity of this into the eye . this medicine is approved , and more precious than gold . a speedy way to asswage the paine of any scald , or burne , though never so great , and to take the fire out of it . take old lawn rags , dip them into runnet , for want of it dip them into verges , and apply them cold upon the grieved place , shifting them for halfe an houre together , as oft as they dry : this i have known to give ease in an instant , and quickly to take out the fire . an approved oyle for to heale any burne or scald . take of housleek one handfull , and of brooklime as much , boyle them in a quart of creame untill it turne unto an oyle ; boyle it very gently : with this oyle a little warmed , anoint the grieved place twice a day , and it will soone make it well . an oyntment , very excellent and often proued , for the same . take a good quantity of mosse scraped from off a stone wall , fry it in a fryingpan with a call of mutton suet a good while , then straine it , and it is done . dresse the grieved part therewith once or twice a day , as you shall see fitting . another oyntment for a burne . take one part of sallet-oyle , and two parts of the whites of egs , beat them together exceeding well , untill they come to be a white oyntment , wherein dip the feather of a black hen , and anoynt the grieved place divers times every day , untill such time as the scales fall off , using in the meane while neither clothes nor any outward binding . this , sayth minshet the authour , though it seeme to be a thing of no estimation , yet was there never found any more effectuall for a burn than it is . an excellent oyntment for a green wound . take foure handfuls of clownes , allheale , bruse it , and put it into a pan , and put to it foure ounces of barrowes grease , sallet-oyle halfe a pound , bees wax a quarter of a pound ; boyle them all untill the iuyce be wasted ; then straine it , and set it over the fire againe , and put unto it two ounces of turpentine , then boyle it a little while more , and it is done . put hereof a little in a saucer , and set it on the fire , dip a tent in it , and lay it on the wound , but first lay another plaister round about the wound , made of diapalma mollified a little with oyle of roses . this cureth very speedily all greene wounds , as saith m. gerard. a balsam of wonderfull efficacy . take burgundie pitch , brimstone , and white frankincense , of each one ounce : make them into an oyntment with the whites of egges : first draw the lips of the wound , or cut , as close as you can , then lay on some of this spread upon a cloth , and swathe it ouer afterwards . an excellent healing water , which will drie up any old sore , or heale any greene wound . take a quarter of a pound of bolearmoniacke , powder it by it selfe , then take an ounce of camphire , powder it also by it selfe : also take foure ounces of white coppras in powder : mixe the coppras and camphire together , and put them into a melting pot , and set them on the fire , untill they turne unto water : afterwards stirre it untill it come to be as hard as a stone : then powder it againe , and mixe it with the bole-armoniacke : keepe this powder close in a bladder , when you would use it , take one pinte and a halfe of faire water , set it on the fire , and when it is even ready to boyle , put into it three spoonfuls of the powder ; then take it off from the fire , and put it into a glasse , and let it stand untill it be cleare at the top , then take of the clearest , and wash the sore very warme therewith , and dip a cloth foure double in the same water , and binde it fast about the sore with a rowler , and keepe it warme : dresse it thus twice a day . a water for a fistula take one pint of white wine , 1 ounce of juyce of sage , three penie weight of borace in powder , camphire in powder the weight of foure pence : boyle them all a prettie while on a gentle fire , and it is done : wash the fistula with this water , for it is certainly good , and approved to be true . a water for the toothache . take ground ivie , salt , and spearemint , of each an handfull : beat them very well together , then boile them in a pint of vineger ; straine it , and put a spoonfull of it into that side that aketh , and hold downe your cheeke . another water approved for the same . take red rose leaves halfe a handfull , pomegranate-flowers as many , two gaules sliced thinne : boyle them all in three quarters of a pint of red wine , and halfe a pint of faire water untill the third part be wasted : then straine it , and hold a little of it in your mouth a good while : then spit it out , and take more . also if there be any swelling on your cheeke , apply the strainings betweene two clothes as hot as may be suffered . this i have knowne to do good unto divers in this citie , when as they have beene extreamely pained . to make a water for the eyes . take lapis calaminaris , and burne it in the fire nine times , and quench it in white wine , and beat it into powder , and when you use it , put it into rose-water , and drop the water into the eye . for deafenesse . take a good quantitie of camomill , and two handfuls of greene wormewood , and seethe them in a pot of running water till they be very well sodden , and put a funnell over it , and let the steame go up into the eare , and then go to bed warme , and stop your eare with a little blacke wooll , and a grain of civet : do this morning and evening , and with gods assistance you shall finde ease . an excellent electuary for the cough , cold , or against flegme . take of germander , hissope , horehound , white maidenhaire , agrimony , bettony , liverwort , lungwort , and harts-tongue , of each one handfull : put these to nine pints of water , and let them boyle to three pints ; then let it coole and straine it . to this juyce put of clarified honey halfe a pound , fine powder of liquorice fiue ounces , fine powder of enulacampana root three ounces , boyle them to the thicknesse of an electuary . take of this at any time , but specially in the morning fasting , as also at night when you go to bed , or two houres after supper , the quantitie of a wallnut or nutmeg . a very excellent salve to heale , well proved , for any old sore , or new wound . take of waxe , rosin , sheeps suet , turpentine , of each a like quantitie , sallet oyle also as much : mixe them all together , and take the juyce of smallach , of planten , of orpin , of buglosse , of comfery , of each a like quantitie : let them boyle untill the iuyce of the hearbes be consumed ; and in the seething put a quantitie of rose-water , and it will be a very good salue . a soveraigne water to heale a greene wound : and to stanch bloud . take a pottle of running water , and put thereto foure ounces of allum , and one ounce of copras , and let them seethe to a quart , and then straine it , and keepe it in a glasse , and wash the wound , and wet a cloth , and lay to the sore , and with gods helpe it will soone be healed . for the byting of a mad dogge . take brine , and bathe the wound : then burne claret wine , and put in a little mithridate , and so let the patient drinke it ; then take two live pigeons , cut them through the middle , and lay them hot to his hand if he be bitten in the armes . if in his legges , to the sole of his feet . an oyle for any ach. take a pound of unwashed butter , and a handfull of red mints , and a handfull of camomill , a handfull of rew , two ounces of oyle of exeter : stamp the herbs to a juyce , and boyle them with the butter ; straine them in a cloth , and rub them out very well : this so done , take the oyle of exeter , and put to them , and stir them well together , and put them into a gally pot , and where the ach is anoint the place against the fire , and lay a browne paper on it , and wrap a cloth about the place , and keepe it warme : proved to be excellent . to stanch the bleeding of a cut . take a peece of a felt hat , and burne it to a coale ; beat it to powder , and put it in the cut , and it will stanch the bleeding presently . or else apply linnen rags that in the spring of the yeere have beene often washed in the sperm of frogs , and afterward dried in the sunne . for an ague , to bee layd to the wrists . take a handfull of soot , a spoonfull of bay salt , halfe a spoonfull of pepper ; bruse them together , and temper them with two yelks of egs ; spread it on a cloth , and lay it to the wrists . almond milke for the cough of the lungs . take foure spoonfuls of french barly well washed , and boyle it in three wine pints of faire water , unto a pint and a halfe ; then take it from the fire , and let it coole , and settle ; then take the cleere liquor , and straine therewith a quarter of a pound of sweet almonds blanched , and beaten ; then set it on the fire , and let it boyle a while till it begin to grow thick ; then beat two yelks of egs , and put them to it ; stirre them well together , and put to it as much fine suger as will sweeten it , and a spoonfull of damask rose water , and so let it boyle a while longer , till it be as thick as good creame ; eat of it warm twice or thrice a day , but at breakfast especially . for a scald head . take a pinte of running water , and as much mercury as a good walnut , three or foure branches of rosemary ; boyle these all together till a third part be boyled away , or thereabout , and every morning and evening wash the infected place with some of this water cold , and a quarter of an houre after or lesse anoint the place with lamp oyle , and every morning after the first dressing try to pull up some of the hayre as easily as you can : have care where you set this water , for it is poyson . if you shave the head , and apply a plaster called emplastrum cephalicum cum euphorbio , it is also excellent . for to heale a red face that hath many pimples . proved . take foure ounces of barrowes grease and as much oyle of bayes , halfe an ounce of quicksilver killed with fasting spettle , then take two spoonfuls of wilde tansie water , or honisuckle water , and let all be ground in a morter three houres at the least , untill you see nothing of the quicksilver , and so keep it close in a glasse ; the older , the better ; and when you go to bed anoint the face , and look that you keep it from your eyes . to wash the face , if it be given to heat . take snailes , beat them shels and bodies together : steep them a night in new milke : then still them with the flowers of white lillies . to make vsquebach . take a gallon of the smallest aqua vitae you can make , put it into a close vessell of stone ; put thereto a quart of canary sacke , two pounds of raisons of the sunne stoned , but not washed , two ounces of dates stoned , and the white skinnes of them pulled out , two ounces of cinamon grossely bruised , foure good nutmegs bruised , foure good liquorish sticks sliced , and bruised , tye up all your spices in a fine linnen cloth , and put them into your aqua vitae , and tye up your pot very close , and let this infuse a weeke , stirring it three times a day , then let it runne through a jelly bagge close covered ; keepe it in glasse bottles . to make almond butter . take two pound of almonds , and blanch them , and let them lye all night in cold water : then grinde them in a mortar very small , and put in a blade of mace or two ; then straine it through a strong cloth as neare as you can , that the milke be not too thin , and let it seethe a prettle while : then put in a little rose-water , and a little salt when you take it off the fire , and stirre it still : then take a bigge cloth very cleane , and let two hold it ; then you must take the milke and cast it round about the sides of the cloth that the whay may come from it ; then with a saucer put it downe from the sides : then knit the cloth , and hang it up untill it have left dropping ; then take it forth , and season it with fine sugar and rose-water . to make ielly for one that is in a consumption , or troubled with a loosenesse . take the feet of a calfe , and when the haire is cleane scalded off , slit them in the middle , and cut away all the blacke veines , and the fat , and wash them very cleane , and so put them in a bucket of faire water , and let them lye foure and twentie houres , and in that time the oftner you shift them in faire water it will be the better ; then set them on the fire in two gallons of water , or somewhat lesse , and let them boyle very softly , continually taking off the scumme and fat which riseth ; and when the liquour is more then halfe boyled away , put into it a pinte and a halfe of white wine , and as it boyleth there will come a foule scumme upon it , take it off still cleane , and when the ielly is boyled enough , you may know , for your fingers will sticke to the spoone ; then take it from the fire , and with a cullender take out all the bones and flesh , and when the ielly is almost cold , beat the whites of sixe egges , and put into it , and set it on the fire againe , and so let it boyle till it be cleare : then straine it through a cleane cloth into a bason , and so let it stand all night long ; the next morning put it into a skellet , and put to it a pound of sugar , halfe an ounce of cinamon broken in peeces , one ounce of nutmegs , an ounce of ginger bruised , and a good quantitie of large mace ; boyle all these together till it taste of the spices as much as you desire , and when it is almost cold , take the whites of six egs , and beat them , and put into it , and set it on the fire , and when it riseth wilde it in halfe a pint of white wine ; then strain it through a jelly bag . to stay the flux . take date stones , and beat them to fine powder , and take the quantity of one of them , and drink it with posset drink , or beere ; use these two or three mornings together , and after as often as you finde occasion ; this is very good . in the month of may gather of the reddest oak leaves you can get , and still them , and when need requireth make pap thereof , mingled with milk or fine flower , suger , and cinamom , as oft as your stomack serveth to eat it . to make green ink. take greene bice and grinde it with gum water , and if you will have it a sadder green , put a little saffron to the grinding . to make blew ink. tae fine flower , and grinde it with a little chalk , and allum , and then put it in a violl . for an ague . take a handfull of hartstong that groweth in the field , and a handfull of bay salt , and beat them both together in a morter , and lay this to both the wrists . a water good against the plangs , or to be given after a surfet . take red sage , celendine , rosemary , hearbegrace , wormwood , mugwort , pimpernell , dragons , scabious , egrimony , rosa solis , and balme , of e●ch a handfull , or like quantity by weight ; wash and shake them in a cloth ; then shred and put them into a gallon of white wine , with a quarter of an ounce of gentian roots , and as much of angelica roots ; let it stand two dayes and two nights close covered , and then distill it at your pleasure , and stop the glasse very close in which you keep the same . to avoyd urine that is stopped with the stone . take as much black sope as a walnut , temper it with eight or ten leaves of english saffron , spread it upon a round leather as big as the palme of your hand , and cover the navell of your belly therewithall , and it shall cause you to make water . for the stone and strangury . take the filmes that is within the mawes of geese , and let them bee purely dried , and then make powder thereof , and drink it with stale ale , and it will help him with gods grace . proved . for scald heads . take green coperas , and mingle it with creame till it bee turned yellow , and let it stand three or foure dayes : then take primrose roots , leaves and all , with may butter , and beat the roots and leaves in the butter , and boyle them together with a little beere and butter , and let it touch no salt . to cure an old vlcer . take a quart of the strongest ale that is to be gotten , or brewed , halfe a pint of raw honey , two ounces of roch allum beaten , halfe a pint of sallet oyle , and the quantitie of a tennis ball of common washing sope , one ounce of stone pitch beaten ; one ounce of rosin beaten , two ounces of yellow waxe : boyle all these together , and straine them through a thin linnen cloth ; and this will cure any old vlcer . a water to cleanse , and mundifie old rotten sores and ulcers . take a wine pint of stilled water of planten , as much white wine ; put therein two ounces of roch allum , a dramme of verdigrease , a dramme of mercurie sublimed : boyle all these together , and keepe them in a thicke glasse being stoped with waxe very close that the strength go not out ; this will cleanse and mundifie old sores ▪ it will also heale a fistula if you use a siering , so that the water may come to the bottome of the sore . the medicine of medicines proved for the stone . take a quantity of eg-shels , wash them cleane ; those are the best whereout chickens are come ; dry them very dry in an oven , or betweene two tile-stones ; then make powder thereof , searce it , and mingle it with sugar , or powder of licoras to give it taste , and let him use it as often as hee needeth , morning and evening , either with rhenish wine , white wine , or stale ale , a spoonfull of the powder at a time , and use to make water in a cleane bason , and so you shall see the deliverance hereof . a precious water for the sight . take smallage , fennell , rew , verveine , egrimony , daffadill , pimpernell , and sage , and still them with breast milk together with five drams of frankincense , and drop of it in your eyes each night : often proved . for the fluxe to stay it . take the yolke of an egge , and beat it , then mixe with it one grated nutmegge , and lay it on an hot tyle stone to bake , and eate thereof fasting , and before supper , and after meales , and it will stay it . often proved to be excellent . a good powder for the gout . take fine ginger the weight of two groats , and enula-campane-roots dryed , the weight of foure groats , of liquorish the weight of eight groats , of sugar-candy three ounces ; beat all these into a powder , searce them fine , and then mingle them together , and drinke thereof morning and evening , and all times of the day . approved . a speciall medicine for the collicke . take horehound halfe an handfull , of sage , and hysope of either as much , twelve leaves of betony , of centaury sixe crops , one alexander-root , foure penie weight of enula-campana roots powdered , spikenard of spaine one penie worth ; seethe all these in three quarts of fine wort to a pottle , and draw it through a linnen cloth , and take three spoonfuls at once morning and evening . to take away rednesse of burning of the eyes . take the white of an egge , and beat it very well with a spoonfull or two of red rose-water , then put thereto the pap of a rosted apple , mingle them well together , and spread it upon a little flaxe ; so lay it on the eye , binding it on with a linnen cloth . for the rheume in the eyes . take the white of an egge , and so much bolearmoniacke as will thicken it , and spread it on a round plaister of sheeps leather , and lay it on the temples on that side the rheume is . the oyntment for the same . take lapis tutiae and burne it in a fire-shovell of quicke coales , quench it in a poringer of womans milke , do so halfe a score times , then grinde it in a cleane morter till it be very fine powder , then mingle it with fresh barrows grease till it looke russet : anoint your eyes with a little of it when you go to bed . for deafenesse . take rew , and rub it betweene the palmes of your hands untill it be so brused that you may make thereof a tent ; then dip it in sweet sallet oyle , and put in each eare one , so that you may pull them forth againe . this doe for seven or eight dayes , and change the tent every day . take a quarter of a pinte of angelica water , of cardus benedictus water , and of white wine , of either a like quantity : mingle them together , dividing the same into two equall parts ; drink it in two severall mornings : then the next night after the taking of the second draught of water , take the fish of an oyster , and put it into a fayre linnen cloth , and stop the same into the eare that is thickest of hearing , and lie on that side as long as you can : in the morning pick that eare as cleane as you can , and after that take a draught of the best ale you can get , with a toast of houshold bread toasted very dry , a reasonable quantity of nutmegs ; use the same every morning for five or six dayes , fasting after the taking hereof two houres , every time you take it . for the cough of the lungs . take two handfuls of rosemary , and strip it of the stalk , one of hissop , and seethe them in a pottle of running water , till it come to a quart , and then put a quarter of a pound of fine sugar , and let it seethe a little , and scum it , drink it morning and evening . a present remedie for all manner aches , and bruises in the bones . take a good quantitie of wallwort , and a certaine quantity of balme , and smallach , and stamp them , and take a pound of may butter , and temper them very well together , then make them into round bals , and let them lye for the space of eight dayes after , and then stampe them againe as you did before : then take it , and fry it , and straine it , and put it into an earthen pot : this will helpe the bruise , be it never so blacke . for burning , or scalding . to take out the fire , beat onyons very small , and binde them to the place . to heale it , take halfe a pound of sheeps suet , as much sheeps dung , a quarter of a pound of the inner rinde of an elder-tree , and a little housleeke : fry them altogether , and straine it , and use it as a plaister , or make a serecloth of it , and apply it to the grieved part . for burstnesse of old , or young . take nine red snailes , lay them betweene two tyles of clay , so that they creepe not nor slide away , and bake them in the hot embers , or in an oven , till they may be powdered , then take the powder of one of the snailes , and put it in white wine , and let the patient drinke it in the morning at his rising , and fast two houres after , and drinke these nine snailes in eighteene dayes , that is , every other day one . and if the sicknesse be so old that it will not heale in eighteene dayes , begin againe , and drinke other nine snailes , and he shall be whole . probatum est . a salve for all sores . take a pound of sheepes-tallow , and a pound of turpentine , and a pound of virgin-waxe , a pint of sallet oyle , a quarter of a pound of rosin : take also bugle , smallach , and plantaine halfe the quantitie of the other , or so much as will make a pint just : boyle all these together upon a soft fire of coales , alwayes stirring it till a third part be consumed ; then take it from the fire , and straine it through a new canvas cloth into an earthen pot . for bleeding . take a blacke toade in may , drie it betweene two tile stones , and hang it in sarcenet about the parties necke . to procure sleepe . take betony , roseleaves , vinegar , nutmeg , and the crummes of rye-bread : put this in a cloth warme to the poll of the head . for the cough . two handfuls of last saverie , steepe it five dayes in white wine vineger , put into the vineger halfe an ounce of pepper , at the five dayes end draine out the vineger , and as soone as the bread is drawne , set them in a pewter dish into the oven , and stop it up , and let them stand all night . in the morning take them out of the oven and powder them . take of this powder and drinke it with sacke , so much of it as will lye on a three-pence . a gargill for the ●vula . take a pint of good strong ale , and as much sacke , and a good quantitie of long pepper , and bruise it grossely , and boyle it from a quart to a pinte , and let the parties gargle their mouthes , and throats as warme as they may suffer it . if the pallat of the mouth be downe , it will fetch it up . for deafnesse very excellent good . take the hoofes of the neats feet after they be sodden , and hold them in a cloth so warme as may be to your eare , divers times together one after another . they will last to be warmed in the same they were sodden in some three or foure dayes without sowring . finis . a new method of rosie crucian physick: wherein is shewed the cause; and therewith their experienced medicines for the cure of all diseases, theoparadota; freely given to the inspired christians, by ton aggelon presbytaton, ton archaggelon, logon, archon, onoma theo. and in obedience fitted for the understanding of mean capacities by the adorer, and the most unworthy of their love, john heydon, a servant of god, and secretary of nature. heydon, john, b. 1629. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a86278 of text r207604 in the english short title catalog (thomason e946_3). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 159 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 35 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a86278 wing h1672 thomason e946_3 estc r207604 99866645 99866645 118922 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a86278) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 118922) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 141:e946[3]) a new method of rosie crucian physick: wherein is shewed the cause; and therewith their experienced medicines for the cure of all diseases, theoparadota; freely given to the inspired christians, by ton aggelon presbytaton, ton archaggelon, logon, archon, onoma theo. and in obedience fitted for the understanding of mean capacities by the adorer, and the most unworthy of their love, john heydon, a servant of god, and secretary of nature. heydon, john, b. 1629. [8], 62 p. printed for thomas lock, london : 1658. portions of title, "theoparadota" and "ton aggelon .. theo," transliterated from greek. with an errata leaf facing the titlepage. annotation on thomason copy: "may 22"; "may 22". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng rosicrucians -england -early works to 1800. medicine, popular -early works to 1800. a86278 r207604 (thomason e946_3). civilwar no a new method of rosie crucian physick:: wherein is shewed the cause; and therewith their experienced medicines for the cure of all diseases heydon, john 1658 28947 14 45 0 0 0 0 20 c the rate of 20 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2008-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-11 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2009-01 john pas sampled and proofread 2009-01 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a new method of rosie crucian physick : wherein is shewed the cause ; and therewith their experienced medicines for the cure of all diseases , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ; freely given to the inspired christians , by {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . and in obedience fitted for the understanding of mean capacities by the adorer , and the most unworthy of their love , john heydon , a servant of god , and secretary of nature . penes nos unda tagi . london printed for thomas lock , 1658. an apologue for an epilogue . i shall here tel you what rosie crucians are , and that moses was their father , and he was {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ; some say they were of the order of elias , some say the disciples of ezekiel , others define them to be {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ; i.e. the officers of the generalissimo of the world , that are as the eyes and cares of the great king , seeing & hearing all things ; they are seraphically illuminated , as moses was according to this order of the elements , earth refin'd to water , water to air , air to fire ; so of a man to be one of the heroes of a heros , a daemon , or good genius , of a genius , a partaker of divine things , and a companion of the holy company of unbodied souls and immortall angels , and according to their vehicles , a versatile life , turning themselves proteus-like into any shape . but there is yet arguments to procure mr. walfoord , and t. williams , rosie crucians by election , and that is the miracles that were done by them , in any sight ; for it should seeme rosie crucians were not only initiated into the mosaicall theory , but have arrived also to the power of working miracles as moses , elias , ezekiel and the succeeding prophets did , as being transported where they please , as habakkuk was from jewry to babylon or as philip after he had baptized the enuch to arotus , and one of these went from me to a friend of mine in devonshire , and came and brought me an answer to london the same day , which is four dayes journey , they taught me excellent predictions of astrologie , and earthquakes ; they slack the plague in cityes ; they silence the violent winds and tempests ; they calme the rage of the sea and rivers ; they walk in the air , they frustrate the malicious aspect of witches ; they cure all diseases ; i desired one of these to tell me whether my complexion were capable of the society of my good genius ? when i see you again , said he , i will tell you ( which is ) ( when he pleases to come to me , for i know not where to go to him ) when i saw him then he said ye should pray to god , for a good and holy man can offer no greater nor more acceptable sacrifice to god , then the oblation of himself , his soul . he said also that the good genii are as the benigne eyes of god , running to and fro in the world , with love and pitty beholding the innocent endeavours of harmless and single hearted men , ever ready to do them good , and to help them ; and at his going away he bid me beware of my seeming friends who would do me all the hurt they could , and cause the governors of the nations to be angry with me , and set bounds to my liberty , which truly hapned to me , as they did indeed : many things more he told me before we parted , but i shall not name them here . for this rosie crucian physick or medicines , i happily and unexpectedly light upon in arabia , which will prove a restauration of health to all that are afflicted wh that sickness , which we ordinarily cal natural , & all other diseases , as the gour , dropsie , leprosie and falling sickness ; and these men may be said to have no small insight in the body , and that walfoord , williams , and others of the fraternity now living , may bear up in the same likely equipage , with those noble divine spirits their predecessors , though the unskilfullness in men commonly acknowledge more of supernaturall assistance in hot unsetled fancies , and perplexed melancholy , then in the calme and distinct use of reason ; yet for mine own part , but not without submission to better judgements , i looke upon these rosie crucians above all men truly inspired , and more than any that professed or pretended themselves so , this sixteen hundred yeares , and i am ravished with admiration of their miracles and transcendent mechanicall inventions , for the salving the phaenomena in the world ; i may without offence therefore compare them with bezaliel and aholiab , those skilfull and cunning workers of the tabernacle , who , as moses testifies , were filled with the spirit of god , and therefore were of an excellent understanding to find out all manner of curious work . nor is it any more argument , that these rosie crucians are not inspired , because they do not say they are ; then that others are inspired , because they say they are ; which to me is no argument at all ; but the suppression of what so hapned , would argue much more sobriety & modesty ; whenas the profession of it with sober men , would be suspected of some peice of melancholy and distraction , especially in these things , where the grand pleasure is the evidence and exercise of reason , not a bare beliefe , or an ineffable sense of life , in respect whereof there is no true christian but he is inspired ; but if any more zealous pretender to prudence and righteousness , wanting either leasure or ability to examine these rosie crucian medicines to the bottom shall notwithstanding either condemn them or admire them ; he hath unbecommingly and indiscreetly vetered out of his own sphere , and i cannot acquit him of injustice or folly : nor am i a rosie crucian , nor do i speake of spite , or hope of gain , or for any such matter ; there is no cause , god knows , i envie no man , be he what he will be , i am no physitian , never was , nor never mean to be : what i am it makes no matter as to my profession . lastly , these holy and good men would have me know that the greatest sweet and perfection of a vertuous soul , is the kindly accomplishment of her own nature , in true wisdom and divine love ; and these miraculus things that are done by them are , that that worth and knowledge that is in them may be taken notice of , and that god thereby may be glorified whose witnesses they are ; but no other happiness accrues to them from this , but that hereby they may be in a better capacity of makeing others happy , from my house in spittle fields next door to the red lyon this 10. of may , 1658. iohn heydon . a new method of rosie crucian physick . chap. i. of the accurate structure of mans body . i admire the goodness of god towards us in the frame and structure of our bodies , the admirable artifice whereof , galen , though a naturalist , was so taken with , that he could not but adjudge the honor of a hymn to the wise creator of it . the continuance of the whole , and every particular , is so evident an argument of exquisite skill in the maker , that if i should pursue all that sutes to my purpose , it would amount to too large ( yet an entire ) volume . i shall therefore write all that is needful to be known by all men , leaving the rest to be supply'd by anatomists : and i think there is no man that hath any skill in that art , but will confess , the more diligently and accurately the frame of our body is examined , it is found the more exquisitely conformable to our reason , judgement , and desire ; so that supposing the same matter that our bodies are made of , if it had been in our own power to have made our selves , we should have fram'd our selves no otherwise then we are : to instance in some particulars ; as in our eyes , the number , the scituation , the fabrick of them is such , that we can excogitate nothing to be added thereto , or to be altered , either for their beauty , safety , or usefulness ; but as for their beauty , i have treated largely of it in my youthful merry poems , & now am not minded to transcribe my tender nice subject , and couple it with my severer stile ; i will onely note how safely they are guarded , and fitly framed out for the use they are intended : the brow and the nose saves them from harder strokes ; but such a curious part as the eye being necessarily liable to mischief from smallest matters , the sweat of the forehead is fenced off by those two wreaths of hair which we call the eye-brows ; and the eye-lids are fortified with little stiff bristles , as with pallisadoes , against the assault of flyes and gnats , and such-like bold animalcula ; besides , the upper-lid presently claps down , and is as good a fence as a port-cullis against the importunity of the enemy ; which is done also every night , whether there be any present assault or no , as if nature kept garrison in this acropolis of mans body , the head , and look'd that such laws should be duly observed , as were most for his safety . and now for the use of the eye , which is sight , it is evident that this organ is so exquisitely framed for that purpose , that not the least curiosity can be added : for first , the humor and tunicles are purely transparent to let in light , and colours unfould , and unsophisticated by any inward tincture . and then again , the parts of the eye are made convex , that there might be a direction of many raies coming from one point of the object , unto one point answerable in the bottom of the eye ; to which purpose the chrystalline humor is of great moment , and without which , the sight would be very obscure and weak . thirdly , the tunica uvea hath a musculous power , and can dilate and contract that round hole in it which is called the pupil of the eye , for the better moderating the transmission of light . fourthly , the inside of the uvea is blacked like the wall of a tennis-court , the raies falling upon the retina again ; for such a repercussion would make the sight more confused . fifthly , the tanica arachnoides , which invellops the chrystalline humour , by vertue of its processus ciliaros , can thrust forward , or draw back that precious useful part of the eye , as the nearness or distance of the objects shall require . sixthly and lastly , the tunica retina is white , for the better and more true reception of the species of things , ( as they ordinarily call them ) as white paper is fittest to receive those images into a dark room ; and the eye is already so perfect , that i believe it is not needful to speak any more thereof ; we being able to move our head upwards and downwards , and on every side , might have unawares thought our selves sufficiently well provided for ; but nature hath added muscles also to the eyes , that no perfection might be wanting ; for we have oft occasion to move our eyes , our heads being unmoved , as in reading , and viewing more particularly any object set before us ; and that this may be done with more ease and accuracy , she hath furnished that organ with no lesse then six several muscles ; and indeed , this framing of muscles , not onely in the eye , but in the whole body , is admirable ; for is it not a wonder that even all our flesh should be so handsomly formed and contrived into distinct pieces , whose rise and insertions should be with such advantage that they do serve to move some part of the body or other ? and that the parts of our body are not moved onely so conveniently as wil serve us to walk and subsist by , but that they are able to move every way imaginable that will advantage us ; for we can fling out legs and arms upwards and downwards , backwards , forwards , and round , as they that spin , or would spread a mole-hill with their feet . to say nothing of respiration , the constriction of the diaphragme for the keeping down the guts , and so enlarging the thorax , that the lungs may have play , and the assistance of the inward intercostal muscles in deep suspirations , when we take more large gulps of air to cool our heart over-charged with love or sorrow ; nor of the curious fabrick of the lainix , so well fitted with muscles for the modulation of the voice , tunable speech , and delicious singing : you may adde to these the notable contrivance of the heart , it s two ventricles , and its many valvulae , so fram'd and scituated , as is most fit for the reception and transmission of the blood , and it 's sent thence away warm to comfort and cherish the rest of the body ; for which purpose also the valvulae in the veins are made . but we see by experience that joy and grief proceed not in all men from the same causes , and that men differ very much in the constitution of the body , whereby that which helpeth and furthereth vital constitution in one , and is therefore delightful , hindereth & crosseth it in another , and therefore causeth grief . the difference therefore of wits , hath its original from the different passions , & from the ends to which the appetite leadeth them . as for that difference which ariseth from sickness , and such accidental distempers , i have appointed them for the second part of this book , and therefore i omit the same as impertinent to this place , and consider it onely in such as have their health , perfection of body , and organs well disposed . chap. ii. of the perfection of the body , and then of the nature of the senses ; of delight , pain , love , hatred , sensual delight , and pains of the body , joy , and grief . other things i have to say , but i will rather insist upon such things as are easie ahd intelligible even to idiots , or such physicians that are no wiser , who if they can but tell the joints of their hands , or know the use of their teeth , they may easily discover it was counsel , not chance , that created them ; and if they but understand these natural medecines i have prepared in this book for their example , they will know that they shall be cured of all diseases without pain , or any great cost ; and love , not money , was it that made me undertake this task . now of the well-fram'd parts of our body , i would know why we have three joints in our legs and arms , as also in our fingers , but that it was much better then having but two or four ? and why are our fore-teeth sharp , like chizzels , to cut , but our inward teeth broad , to grind ? but this is more exquisite then having them all sharp , or all broad , or the fore-teeth broad , and the other sharp ; but we might have made a hard shift to have lived , though in that worser condition . again , why are the teeth so luckily placed ? or rather , why are there not teeth in other bones as well as in the jaw-bones , for they might have been as capable as these . but the reason is , nothing is done foollshly , nor in vain . i will shew you how to prolong life , and to return from age to youth ; and how to change , alter , and amend the state of the body ; but that i intend in a treatise entituled the wise mans crown : to keep the body in perfect health is my present design , and to cure all diseases without reward ; for there is a divine providence that orders all things . again , ( to say nothing of the inward curiosity of the ear ) why is that outward frame of it , but that it is certainly known that it 's for the bettering of our hearing ? i might add , that nature hath made the hind-most parts of our body ( which we sit upon ) most fleshy , as providing for our ease , making us a natural cushion , as well as for instruments of motion for our thighs and legs ; she hath made the hinder part of the head more strong , as being otherwise unfenced against falls and other casualties . she hath made the backbon of several vertebrae , as being more fit to bend , more tough , and less in danger of breaking then if they were all one intire bone , without those gristly junctures . she hath strengthened our fingers and toes with nailes , whereas she might have sent out that substance at the end of the first and second joints , which had not been so handsom and useful , nay , rather somewhat troublesome and hurtful . and lastly , she hath made all bones devoid of sense , because they were to bear the weight of themselves , and of the whole body ; and therefore if they had had sense , our life had been painful continually , and dolorous . and now i have considered the fitness of the parts of mans bodie for the good of the whole , let me but consider briefly his sences and his nature , and then i intend more solidly to demonstrate the cause of all diseases , and with that the cure , because i intend a method of rosie crucian physick , promised in my way to blisse . by our several organs , we have several conceptions of several qualities in the objects ; for by sight we have a conception or image composed of colour and figure , which is all the notice and knowledge the object imparteth to us of its nature , by the excellency of the eye . by hearing we have a conception called sound , which is all the knowledge we have of the quality of the object from the ear : and so the rest of the sences are also conceptions of several qualities or natures of their objects . because the image in vision consisting of colour and shape , is the knowledge we have of the qualities of the object of that sence , it is no hard matter for a man to fall into this opinion , that the same colour & shape are the very qualities themselves ; and for the same cause that sound & noise are the qualities of a piece of canon or culvering charged with sulphurous powder , fired , or of the air : and this opinion hath been so long received , that the contrary must needs appear a great paradox . the same qualities are easier in a bell ; and yet the introduction of species visible and intelligible , ( which is necessary for the maintenance of that opinion ) passing to and fro from the object , is worse then any paradox , as being a plain impossibility . i shall therefore endeavor to make plain these points . that the subject wherein colour and image are inherent ; is not the object or thing seen . that there is nothing ( really ) which we call an image or colour . that the said image , or colour , is but an apparation unto us of the motion , agitation , or alteration , which the object worketh in the brain , or spirits , or some internal substance of the head . that as in vision , so also in conceptions that arise from the other senses , the subject of their inherence is not the object , but the continent . that conceptions and apparitions are nothing really , but motion in some internal substance of the head ; which motion not stopping there , of necessity must there either help , or hinder the motion which is called vital ; when it helpeth it is called delight , contentment or pleasure , which is nothing really but motion about the heart , as conception is nothing but motion in the head ; and the objects that cause it are called pleasant , or delightful ; and the same delight , with reference to the object is called love ; but when such motion weakneth or hindreth the vital motion , then it is called pain , and in relation to that which causeth it , hatred . there are two sorts of pleasures , whereof one seemeth to affect the corporeal organ of the sence , and that i call sensual , the greatest part whereof is that by which we are invited to give continuance to our species ; and the next by which a man is invited to meat , for preservation of his individual person . the other sort of delight is not particularly any part of the body , and is called the delight of the mind , & is that which we call joy . likewise of pains , some affect the body , and are therefore called the pains of the body ; and some not , and those are called grief . chap. iii. of the nature of the soul of man , whether she be a meer modification of the body , or a substance really distinct ; and then whether corporeal , or incorporeal , and of the temper of the bodie . here i am forced to speak what i have in my familiar spirit , and it is not impertinent to my purpose ; therefore if we say that the soul is a meer modification of the body , the soul then is but one universal faculty of the body , or a many faculties put together ; and those operations which are usually attributed unto the soul , must of necessity be attributed unto the body : i demand therefore , to what in the body will you attribute spontaneous motion ? i understand thereby a power in our selves of wagging , or holding still most of the parts of our body , as our hand suppose , or little finger : if you will say that it is nothing but the immission of the spirits into such and such muscles , i would gladly know what does immit these spirits , and direct them so curiously ; is it themselves ? or the brains ? or that particular piece of the brain they call the pine-kernel ? what ever it be , that which doth thus immit them , and direct them , must have animadversion ; and the same that hath animadversion , hath memory and reason also : now i would know whether the spirits themselves be capable of animadversion , memory , and reason ; for it indeed seems altogether impossible ; for these animal spirits are nothing else but matter very thin and liquid , whose nature consists in this , that all the particles of it be in motion , and being loose from one another , frigge and play up and down according to the measure and manner of agitation in them . i therefore demand which of these particles in these so many loosly moving one from another , hath animadversion in it ? if you say that they all put together have ; i appeal to him that thus answers , how unlikely it is that that should have animadversion that is so utterly uncapable of memory , and consequently , of reason ; for it is impossible to conceive memory competible to such a subject , as it is how to write characters in the water , or in the wind. if you say the brain immits and directs these spirits ; how can that so freely and spontaneously move it self , or another , that hath no muscles ? besides doctor culpepper tells you that though the brain be the instrument of sence , yet it hath no sense at all of it self ; how then can that that hath no sence direct thus spontaneously and arbitrariously , the animal spirits in to any part of the body ? an act that plainly requires determinate sense and perception : but let the physicians and anatomists conclude what they will , i shall , i think , little lesse then demonstrate that the brains have no sence ; for the same in us that hath sence , hath likewise animadversion ; and that which hath animadversion in us , hath also a faculty of free and arbitrarious fancy and reason . let us now consider the nature of the brain , and see how competible those alterations are to such a subject ; verily if we take a right view of this laxe pith or marrow in mans head , neither our sence nor understanding can discover any thing more in this substance that can pretend to such noble operations , as free imagination and sagacious collections of reason , then we can discern in a lump of fat , or a pot of honey ; for this loose pulpe that is thus wrapped up within our cranium , is but a spongie and porous body , and pervious , not onely to the animal spirits , but also to more juice and liquor ; else it could not well be nourished , at least it could not be so soft and moistned by drunkenness and excess , as to make the understanding inept and sottish in its operations . wherefore i now demand , in this soft substance which we call the brain , whose softness implies that it is in some measure liquid , and liquidity implies a several motion of loosened parts ; in what part or parcel thereof does fancy , reason , and animadversion lie ? in this laxe consistence that lies like a net , all on heaps in the water ; i demand , in what knot , loope , or interval thereof , does this faculty of free fancy , and active reason reside ? i believe not a doctor in england , nay , not dr. culpepper himself , were he alive , nor his men , doctor freeman , and the rest , can assign me any ; and if any will say , in all together ; they must say that the whole brain is figured into this or that representation , which would cancel memory , and take away all capacity of there being any distinct notes and places for the several species of things there presented . but if they will say there is in every part of the brain this power of animadversion and fancy , they are to remember that the brain is in some measure a liquid body , and we must enquire how these loose parts understand one anothers several animadversions and notions ; and if they could ( which is yet very unconceivable ) yet if they could from hence do any thing toward the immission and direction of the animal spirits into this or that part of the body , they must do it by knowing one anothers minds , and by a ioint contention of strength , as when many men at once , the word being given when they weigh anchor , put their strength together for the moving of that massie body , that the single strength of one could not deal with ; but this is to make the several particles of the brain so many individual persons ; a fitter object for laughter , then the least measure of belief . besides , how come these many animadversions to seem but one to us , our mind being these , as is supposed ? or why if the figuration of one part of the brain be communicated to all the rest , does not the same object seem situated both behind us , and before us , above , and beneath , on the right hand and on the left ; and every way as the impress of the object is reflected against all the parts of the brains ? but there appearing to us but one animadversion , and one sight of things , it is a sufficient argument that there is but one ; or if there be many , that they are not mutually communicated from the parts one to another , and therefore there can be no such joint endeavor towards one design ; whence it is manifest , that the brains cannot immit or direct these animal spirits into what part of the body they please . chap. iv. of spontaneous motion ; of the external phaenomena ; of the nature of the essence of the soul her self , what it is , and whether it be corporeal , or incorporeal . now i must tell you , that the brain hath no sence , & therefore cannot impress spontaneously any motion on the animal spirits ; it is no slight argument that some being dissected , have been found without brains ; and this i saw , a captain in chrisley , in arabia that was accidentally kill'd by an alcade , and an arabian , the story is pleasant , but not pertinent to our purpose ; but this man had nothing but a limpid water in his head instead of brains , and the brains generally are easily dissolvable into a watery consistence , which agrees with what i intimated before . now i appeal to any free judge , how likely these liquid particles are to approve themselves of that nature and power , as to be able by erecting and knitting themselves together for a moment of time , to bear themselves so , as with one joint contention of strength , to cause an arbitrarious obligation of the spirits into this or that determinate part of the body ; but the absurdity of this i have sufficiently insinuated already . the nerves , i mean the marrow of them , which is of the same substance with the brain , have no sence , as is demonstrated from a cataleps●e , or cat●chus ; but i will not accumulate arguments in a matter so palpable . as for that little sprunt piece of the brain which they call the conacion , that this should be the very substance , whose natural faculty it is to move it self , and by its motion and nods to determine the course of the spirits into this or that part of the body , seems to me no less foolish and fabulous then the storie of this entituled doctor freeman , so much commended by ignorantly innocent people : if you heard but the magnificent storie that is told of the little lurking mushrome , how it does not onely hear and see , but imagines , reasons , commands the whole fabrick of the body more dexterously then an indian boy does an elephant : what an acute logician , subtile geometrician , prudent statesman , skilful physician , and profound philosopher he is ! and then afterwards by dissection you discover this worker of miracles to be nothing but a poor silly contemptible knob , or protuberancy , consisting of a thin membrane , containing a little pulpous matter , much of the same nature with the rest of the brain , spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ? would you not sooner laugh at it , then go about to confute it ? and truly i may the better laugh it now , having already confuted it in what i have afore merrily argued concerning the rest of the brain . i shall therefore make bold to conclude , that the impress of spontaneous motion is neither from the animal spirits , nor from the brain , &c. therefore that those operations that are usually attributed unto the soul , are really incompetible to any part of the body ; and therefore , as in the last chapter i hinted , i say , that the soul is not a meer modification of the body , but a substance distinct therefrom . now we are to enquire , whether this substance distinct from what we ordinarily call the body , be also it self a corporeal substance , or whether it be incorporeal ? if you say that it is a corporeal substance , you can understand no other then matter more subtile and tenuious then the animal spirits themselves , mingled with them , and dispersed through the vessels and porosities of the body ; for there can be no penetration of dimensions : but i need no new arguments to confute this fond conceit ; for what i said of the animal spirits before , is applicable with all ease and fitness to this present case ; and let it be sufficient that i advertise you so much , and so be excused from the repeating of the same things over again . it remains therefore that we conclude , that that which impresses spontaneous motion upon the body or more immediately upon the animal spirits : that which imagines , remembers , and reasons , is an immaterial substance , distinct from the body , which uses the animal spirits and the brain for instruments in such and such operations . and thus we have found a spirit in a proper notion and signification , that hath apparently these faculties in it , it can both understand and move corporeal matter . and now this prize that we have won will prove for our design in this new method of physick and philosophy of very great consequence ; for it is obvious here to observe that the soul of man is as it were {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} a compendious statue of the deity ; her substance is a solid essigies of god ; and therefore as with ease we consider the substance and motion of the vast heavens on a little sphere , or globe , so we may with like facility contemplate the nature of the almighty in this little model of god , the soul of man , enlarging to infinity what we observe in our selves when we transfer it unto god , as we do imagine these circles which we view on the globe , to be vastly bigger while we fancy them as described in the heavens . wherefore we being assured of this , that there is a spiritual substance in our selves , in which both these properties do reside , viz. of the understanding , and of moving the corporeal matter ; let us but enlarge our minds so as to conceive as well as we can of a spiritual substance that is able to move & actuate all matter whatsoever , never so far extended , and after what way & manner soever it please , and that it hath not onely the knowledge of this or that particular thing , but a distinct and plenary cognizance of all things ; and we have indeed a very competent apprehension of the nature of the eternal and invisible god , who like the soul of man , does not indeed fall under sence , but does everywhere operate so , that his person is easily to be gathered from what is discovered by our outward sences . chap. v. of plants ; that the meer motion of the matter may do something , yet it will not amount to the production of plants . that it is no botch in nature that some phaenomena be the results of motion , others of substantial forms . that beauty is not a meer fancy , and that the beauty and vertue of plants is an argument that they are made for the use of our bodies from an intellectual principle . how weak is man if you consider his nature , what faculties he hath , and in what order he is in respect of the rest of the creatures ? and indeed , though his body be but weak and disarm'd , yet his inward abilities of reason , and artificial contrivance , is admirable , both for finding out those secret medicines which god prepared for the use of man in the bowels of the earth , of plants and minerals . and first of vegetables , where i shall touch onely these four heads , their form and beauty , their seed , their signatures , and their great use , as well for medicines as sustenance ; and that we may the better understand the advantage we have in this closer contemplation of the works of nature , we are in the first place to take notice of the condition of the substance , which we call matter , how fluid and slippery , and undeterminate it is of it self ; or if it be hard , how unfit it is to be changed into any thing else ; and therefore all things rot into a moisture before any thing can be generated of them , as we soften the wax before we set on the seal . now therefore , unless we will be foolish , as because the uniform motion of the air , or some more subtil corporeal element , may so equally compress or bear against the parts of a little vaporous moisture , as to form it into round drops ( as we see in the dew , and other experiments ) and therefore because this more rude and general motion can do something , to conclude that it does all things ; we must in all reason confess that there is an eternal mind and vertue , whereof the matter is thus usefully formed and changed . but meer rude and undirected motion , because naturally it will have some kind of results , that therefore it will reach to such as plainly imply a wise contrivance of counsel , is so ridiculous a sophism , as i have already intimated , that it is more fit to impose upon the inconsiderate souls of fool & children , then upon men of mature reason , and well exercised in philosophy , or the grave and well practised , seraphically illuminated rosie crucians . admit that rain , and snow , and wind , and hail , and ice , and thunder , and lightning , and a star i mention for example , that may be let in amongst meteors , by some called hellens-star , and is well known at sea ; i have seen it melt copper vessels a-board a ship ; it cometh of an heap of such vapors as are carryed by violent cross winds up from the earth ; and such like meteors may be the products of heat and cold , or of the motion and rest of certain small particles of the matter ; yet that the useful and beautiful contrivance of the branches , flowers , and fruits of plants should be so too , ( to say nothing yet of minerals , and the bodies of men ) is as ridiculous and supine a collection , as to infer , that because meer heat and cold does soften and harden wax , and puts it into some shape or other , that therefore this meer heat and cold , or motion and rest , without any art and direction , made the silver seal too , and graved upon it so curiously some coate of arms , or the shape of some bird or beast , as an eagle , a lyon , &c. nay indeed this inference is more tolerable far then the other , these effects of art being more easie , and less noble then those other of nature . nor is it any deficiency at all in the works of nature , that some particular phaenomena be but the easie results of that general motion communicated unto the matter from god ; others the effects of more curious contrivance , or of the divine ar● , or reason , ( for such are the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the rationes seminales ) incorporated in the matter , especially the matter it self being in some sort vital , else it would not continue the motion that it is put upon , when it is occasionally this or the other way moved ; and besides the nature of god being the most perfect fulness of life that is possibly conceiveable , it is very congruous that this outmost and remotest shadow of himself , be some way , though but obscurely vital : wherefore things falling off by degrees from the highest perfection , it will be no uneven or unproportionable step , if descending from the top of this utmost creation , man , in whom there is a more fine conception , or reflexive reason , which hangs on , as every man hath so much experience as to have seen the sun , and other visible objects by reflexion in the water and glasses ; and this as yet shall be all i will say for this reason ; i will give you more then i promised in the contents , by four propositions concerning the nature of conceptions , and they shall be proved ; and also of the main deception of sence , that colour and image may be there where the thing seen is not : but because it may be said , that notwithstanding the image in the water be not in the object , but a thing meerly phantastical , yet there may be colours really in the thing it self , i will urge further this experience , that divers times men see directly the same object double , as two candles for one , which may happen from distemper , or otherwise without distemper if a man will ; the organs being either in their right temper , or equally distempered , the colours and images in two such characters of the same thing , cannot be inherent therein , because the thing seen cannot be in two places . one of these images therefore is not inherent in the object but the seeing , the organs of the sight are then in equal temper or distemper , the one of them is no more inherent then the other , and consequently , neither of them both are in the objects , which is the first proposition mentioned in the precedent number . secondly , that the image of any thing by reflexion in a glass , or water , or the like , is not any thing in , or behind the glass , or in , or under the water , every man may grant to himself ; which is the second proposition of des cartes . for thirdly we are to consider , first , that every great agitation or concussion of the brain ( as it happeneth from a stroke , especially if the stroke be upon the eye ) whereby the optick nerve suffereth any great violence , there appeareth before the eyes a certain light , which light is nothing without , but an apparition onely ; all that is real being the concussion or motion of the parts of the nerve ; from which experience we may conclude , that apparition of light is really nothing but motion within . if therefore from lucid bodies there can be derived motion , so as to affect the optick nerve in such manner as is proper thereunto , there will follow an image of light some-where in that line by which the motion was last derived to the eye , that is to say , in the object , if we look directly on it , and in the glass or water , when we look upon it in the line of reflexion , which in effect is the third proposition , namely , that image and colour is but an apparition to us of that motion , agitation , or alteration , which the object worketh in the brain or spirits , or some internal substance in the head . but that from all lucid , shining , and illuminate bodies , there is a motion produced to the eye , and thorow the eye , to the optick nerve and so into the brain , by which the apparition of light or colour is effected , is not hard to prove . and first , it is evident that the fire , the onely lucid body here upon earth , worketh by motion equally every way , insomuch as the motion thereof stopped or inclosed , it is presently extinguished , and no more fire . and further , that that motion whereby the fire worketh , is dilation and contraction of it self alternately , commonly called scintillation , or glowing , is manifest also by experience ; from such motion in the fire must needs arise a rejection , or casting from it self off that part of the medium which is contiguous to it , whereby that part also rejecteth the next , and so successively one part beateth back another to the very eye , and in the same manner the exteriour part of the eye presseth the interiour , ( the laws of refraction still observed . ) now the interior coat of the eye is nothing else but a piece of the optick nerve , and therefore the motion is still continued thereby into the brain , and by resistance or re-action of the brain , is also a rebound into the optick nerve again , which we not conceiving as motion or rebound from within , do think it is without , and call it light , as hath been already shewed by the experience of a stroake : we have no reason to doubt that the fountain of light , the sun , worketh by any other ways then the fire , at least in this matter ; and thus all vision hath its original from such motion as is here described ; for where there is no light , there is no sight ; and therefore colour must be the same thing with light , as being the effect of the lucid bodies , their difference being onely this , that when the light cometh directly from the fountain to the eye , or indirectly by reflexion from clean and polite bodies , and such as have not any polite bodies , and such as have not any particular motion internal to alter it , we call it light ; but when it cometh to the eye by reflexion from uneven , rough , and course bodies , or such as are affected with internal motion of their own that may alter it , then we call it colour ; colour and light differing onely in this , that the one is pure , and the other perturbed light ; by that which hath been said , not onely the truth of the third proposition , but also the whole manner of producing light and colour , is apparent . as colour is not inherent in the object , but an effect thereof upon us , caused by such motion in the object as hath been described ; so neither is sound in the thing we hear , but in our selves ; one manifest sign thereof , is , that as man may see , so also he may hear double & trebble by multiplication of ecchoes , which ecchoes are sounds as well as the original ; and not being in one and the same place , cannot be inherent in the body that maketh them ; nothing can make any thing which is not in it self ; the clapper of a bell hath no sound in it , but motion , and maketh motion in the internal parts of the bell ; so the bell hath motion and not sound , that imparteth motion to the air ; and the aire hath motion , but not sound ; the air imparteth motion by the ear and nerve unto the brain ; and the brain hath motion , but not sound ; from the brain it reboundeth back into the nerves outward , and thence it becommeth an apparition without , which we call sound ; and to proceed to the rest of the sences , it is apparent enough , that the smell and taste of the same thing are not the same to every man , and therefore are not in the thing smelt or tasted , but in the men ; so likewise the heat we feel from the fire is manifestly in us , and is quite different from the heat which is in the fire ; for our heat is pleasure or pain , according as it is great or moderate ; but in the cool there is no such thing : by this the last is proved , viz. that as in vision , so also in conceptions that arise from other senses , the subject of their inherence is not in the object , but in the sentinent ; and from hence also it followeth that whatsoever accidents or qualities our sences make us think there be in the world , they be not there , but are seeming and apparitions only ; the things that really are in the world without us , are those motions by which these seemings are caused ; and this is the great deception of sence , which also is to be by sence corrected : for as sence telleth me when i see directly , that the colour seemeth to be in the object ; so also sence telleth me when i see by reflection , that colour is in the object . but now i am out of the way from the outward creation of man , in whom there is a principle of more fine and reflexive reason , which hangs on , though not in that manner , in the more perfect kinde of brutes , as sence also ( loth to be curbed with too narrow compass ) layes hold upon some kinde of plants , as in those sundry sorts of zoophyta , but in the rest there are no further footsteps discovered of an animadversive forme abiding in them ; yet there be the effects of an inadvertent forme ( {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ) of materiated or incorporated art or seminal reason ; i say it is no uneven jot to pass from the more faint and obscure example of spermatical life , to the more considerable effects of general motion in mineralls , metalls , nor yet to say any thing of the medicines extracted , mortified , fixt , dissolv'd and incorporated with their proper veagles , because we have intended it our last business to return to mineralls , mettals , and sundry meteors , whose easie and rude shapes have no need of any particular principle of life , or spermatical form distinct from the rest , or motion of the particles of the matter . but there is that curiosity of form and beauty in the more noble kinde of plants , bearing such a sutableness and harmony with the more refined sence and sagacity of the soul of man , that he cannot choose ( his intellectual touch being so sweetly gratified by what it deprehends in such like objects , ) but acknowledge that some hidden cause much a-kin to his own nature that is intellectual , is the contriver and perfecter of these so pleasant spectacles in the world . nor is it at all to the purpose to object that this business of beauty and comeliness of proportion is but a conceit , because some men acknowledge no such thing , and all things are alike handsome to them , who yet notwithstanding have the use of their eyes as well as other folks ; for i say , this rather makes for what we aim at , that pulchritudo is conveyed indeed by the outward sences unto the soul , but a more intellectual faculty is that which relishes it ; as an astrologicall , or better , a geometricall scheam is let in by the eyes , but the demonstration is discern'd by reason : and therefore it is more rational to affirm , that some intellectual principle was the author of this pulchritude of things , then that they should be thus fashion'd without the help of that principle : and to say there is no such thing as pulchritude , and some say , there is no way to felicity ; the first , i answer , is because some mens souls are so dull and stupid . and the second is that they never knew the way to bliss , the first cannot relish all objects alike in that respect ; the second knows not happiness , nor the way to long life , nor the means to health , nor how to return from age to youth , &c. which is as absurd and groundless as to conclude there is no such thing as reason and demonstration , because a natural fool cannot reach unto it . but that there is such a thing as the way to bliss , long life , and a certain way to health , not as yet known in england , i will demonstrate in a treatise by it self ; the way to health i shall shew you anon in this book , the rest in another part , as i promised you . now that there is such a thing as beauty , and that it is acknowledged by the whole generations of men , to be in trees , flowers and fruits , and the adorning of buildings in all ages , is an example , and undenyable testimony ; for what is more and ordinary with them then taking in flowers and fruitage for the garnishing of their work ? besides i appeal to any man that is not sunk into so forlorne a pitch of degeneracy ; that he is as stupid to these things as the basest of beasts , whether for example , a rightly cut tetrae●rum , cube or icosa●drum , have no more pulchritude in them , then any rude broken s●one lying in the field or high-wayes ; or to name other solid figures which though they be not regular properly so called , yet have a setled idea , & nature , as a cone , sphere , or cylinder , whether the sight of these do not gratifie the mindes of men more , and pretend to more elegancy of shape , then those rude cuttings or chippings of free-stone that fall from the masons hands , and serve for nothing but to fill up the middle of the wall , and so to be hid from the eyes of man for their ugliness : and it is observable , that if nature shape any thing neer this geometrical accuracy , that we take notice of it with much content and pleasure , as if it be but exactly round , as there be abundance of such stones upon mesque , a hill in arabia , i have seen them there , or ordinarily quinquangular , or have the sides but parallels , though the angles be unequal , as is seen in some little stones , and in a kinde of alablaster found here in england , and other pretty stones found upon bulverton-hill neer sidmouth in devonshire ; and neer stratford upon avon , and in tyms grove at colton in warwickeshire , are found such stones that grow naturally carved with various works , some with roses , others with lyons , eagles , and all manner of delightfull works ; these stones i say , gratifie our sight , as having a nearer cognation with the soul of man that is rational and intellectual , and therefore is well pleased when it meets with any outward object that fits and agrees with those congenite ideas her own nature is furnished with : for symmemetry , equality , and correspondency of parts , is the discernment of reason , not the object of sence , as i have in another place proved . now therefore it being evident , that there is such a thing as beauty , symmetry and comeliness of proportion , ( to say nothing of the delightful mixture of colours , and that this is the proper object of the understanding and reason ; for these things be not taken notice of by the beasts ) i think i may safely inferre , that whatsoever is the first and principal cause of changing the fluid and undeterminated matter into shapes so comely and symmetrical , as we see in flowers and trees , is an understanding principle , and knowes both the nature of man , and of those objects he offers to his sight in this outward and visible world , and would have man search and finde out those secrets by the which he might keep his body in health many hundreds of years , and at last find the way to bliss ; for these things cannot come by chance , or by a multiranious attempt of the parts of the matter upon themselves , for then it were likely that the species of things though some might hit right , yet most would be maimed and ridiculous ; but now there is not any ineptitude in any thing which is a sign that the fluidnesse of the matter is guided and determined by the overpowering counsel of an eternall mind . if it were not needlesse , i might instance in sundry kinds of flowers herbs and trees ; but these objects being so obvious , and every mans fancy being brauched with the remembrance of roses , marigolds , gelliflowers , pionies , tulips , pausies , primroses , the leaves and clusters of the vine &c. of all which you must confess that there is in them beauty and symetry , and use in physick , and gratefull proportion ; i hold it superfluity to weary you with any longer induction , but shall pass on to those considerations behind , of their seed , signaure and usefullness , and shall pass through them very briefly , and then i shall come to minerall medicines , these observables being very necessary first to be known by way of an introduction , and as ordinary and easily intelligible . chap. vi . of the seeds and signatures of plants , and wherefore god made them . every plant hath its seed ; rosie crucians therefore say there are secret mysteries lye hidden in them , which should be our delight to find out ; for divine providence made all good for the use of man : and this being no necessary result of the motion of the matter , as the whole contrivance of the plant indeed is not ; and it being of great consequence that they have seed for the continuance of propagation of their whole species , and for the gratifying of mans art also , industry and necessitie , ( for much of husbandry and gardening lies in this ) it cannot but be the act of counsel to furnish the several kinds of plants with their seeds , especially the earth being of such a nature that though at first for a while it might bring forth all manner of plantts , ( as some will have it also to have brought forth all kinds of animals ) yet at last it would grow so sluggish , that without the advantage of those small compendious principles of generation , the grain of seed would yeild no such births , no more then a pump grown dry will yeild any water , unless you pour a little water into it first , and then for so many basons full , you may fetch up as many tankards full . nor is it material to object that stinking weeds , and poysonous plants bear seed too , as well as the most pleasant and useful ; for even those stinking weeds , and poysonous plants have their use in rosie crucian physick , as you shall know hereafter ; besides our common physick-mongers often use them as their fancy guides them , grounded upon no other reason then woful and deadly experience ; sometimes the industry of man is exercised by them to weed them out where they are hurtful , which reasons if they seeme sleight , let us but consider , that if humane industry had nothing to conflict and struggle with , the fire of mans spirit would behalf extinguished in the flesh , and then we shall acknowledge that that which i have alledged is not so contemptible nor invalid . but secondly , who knows but it is so with poysonous plants , as vulgarly is fancyed concerning toads , and other poysonous serpents that lick the venom from off the earth ? so poysonous plants may well draw to them all the maligne juice and nourishment , that the other may be more pure and defaecate , as there are recepticles in the body of man , and emunctories to drain them of superfluous choler and melancholy , &c. lastly , it is very well known by them that know any thing in nature and physick , that those herbs that the rude and ignorant would call weeds , are the materials of very soveraign medicines , that aconitum hyemale , or winter wolfs bain , that otherwise is rank poyson , is reported to prevail mightily against the biting of vipers , scorpions , and mad dogs , which sir christopher heydon assenteth unto ; and that that plant that bears death in the very name of it , solanum lethiferum , prevents death by procuring sleep , if it be ayplyed in a fever ; nor are those things to be deemed uprofitable , say the rosie crucians , whose use our heavy ignorance will not let us understand ; but they will teach us as followeth . we come now to the signatures of plants , which indeed respects us more properly and adaequately then the other , and is a key ( as rosie crucians say ) to enter man into the knowledge and use of the treasures of nature ; i demand therefore , whether it be not a very easie and genuine inference from the observing that several herbs are marked with some mark or sign that intimates their vertue , what they are good for ; and there being such a creature as man in the world that can read & understand these signs and characters , hence to collect that the author both of man and them , knew the nature of them both ; and besides divine providence would onely initiate and enter mankind in the useful knowledge of her treasures by the seraphical illuminated rosie crucians , leaving the rest to employ the vulgar that they might not be idle ; for the theater of the world is an exercise of mans wit , and therefore all things are in some measure obscure and intricate ; that the sedulity of that divine spark , the soul of man , may have matter of conquest and triumph , when he hath done bravely by a superadvenient assistance of god . but that there be some plants that bear a very evident signature of their nature and use , for example , capillus veneris , politrichon , or maiden-hair ; the lye in which it is sodden or infus'd , is good to wash the head , and make the hair grow in those places that are bare ; the decoction of quinces , which are a downey and hairy fruit , is accounted good for the fetching again hair that hath been fallen by the french pox ; the leaf of balm and alleluia , or wood-sorrel , as also the roots of anthora , represent the heart in figure , and are cordiacal . walnuts beare the whole signature of the head ; the outward green cortex answers to the pericranium , and a salt made of it is singular good for wounds in that part , as the kernel is good for the brains , which it resembles . vmbelicus veneris is powerful to provoke lust , as doctor culpepper affirms ; as also your several sorts of satyrions , which have the evident resemblance of the genetal parts upon them ; aron especially , and all your orchisses , that they have given names unto , from some beast or other , as cynosorchis , orchis miodes , tragorchis , &c. the last whereof notoriorious for its goatish smell , and tufts not unlike the beard of that lecherous animal , is of all the rest the most powerful incentive to lust . the leaves of hypericon are very thick pricked , or pointed with little holes , and it is a singular good wound-herb , as useful also for de-obstructing the pores of the body . scorpioides , echium , or scorpions grasse , is like the crooked tayle of a scorpion ; and ophioglossum , or adders tongue , hath a very plain and perfect resemblance of the tongue of a serpent ; as also ophioscorodon of the intire head and upper-parts of the body ; and these are all held very good against poyson , and the biting of serpents ; and generally all such plants as are speckled with spots like the skins of vipers , or other venemous creatures , are known to be good against the stings or bitings of them , and are powerful objects against poyson . thus did divine providence by natural hieroglyphicks , read short lectures to the rude wit of vulgar man ; others of the seraphically illuminated fraternity , being entred , and sufficiently experienced of these , found out the rest , it being very reasonable that other herbs that had not such signatures , might be very good for medicinal uses , as well as they that had . rosie crucians have quickned and actuated their phlegmatick natures to more frequent and effectual venery ; for their long lives health , & youthfulness , shews they were not very fiery , to say nothing of their happinesse , riches , wisdom and vertue , because i have in my treatise of the way to blisse , spoken of it largely . chap. vii . of the usefulnesse of plants , and of the works of god . you shal now briefly take notice of the usefulnes & profitableness of plants both for physick and food , and then pass on to the consideration of the inspired rosie crucians , what their medicines are : as for the common uses of plants , herbals teach you something ; but i refer you to the singular medicines of rosie crucians in my book of the way to bliss for the salvation of your health , animals know as much by instinct and nature ; and that which is most observable here , is this , that brute beasts know as much as many physicians do that are taught by herbals onely ; and these deny the power of god in the works of nature , and the power of nature in the skill of man , that it should be impossible to make trees bear fruit in december , and apple-trees to grow to blossom , and bear apples contrary to kind in march . beasts have knowledge in the vertue of plants as well as men , for the toad being overcharged with the poyson of the spider , ( as is well known ) hath recourse to the plantane-leaf . the weasel when she is to encounter the serpent , arms her self with eating of rue . the dog when he is sick at the stomack , knows his cure , falls to his grass , vomits , and is well . the swallows make use of celandine , the lennet of euphragia for the repairing of their sight . and the ass when he is oppressed with melancholy , eats of the herb asplenium , or miltwast & so eases himself of the swelling of the spleen . the raven makes use of cinquefoyle for the prolongation of his life to somtimes six or sevenhundred years ; and therefore i think it is that the rosie crucians prescribe the oyle of ravens , swallows , and harts for the use of man to annoint himself , to continue his flesh and well-complexioned body from wrinkles and lameness ; and dictamnum cretense is much used , as i told you in my wise mans crown ; cretian dittany cures wounds of what nature soever . which thing i conceive no obscure indigation of providence ; for they doing that by instinct and nature , which men who have free reason cannot but acknowledge to be very pertinent and fitting , nay such that the skilfullest physician will approve and allow ; and these creatures having no such reason and skill themselves as to turn physicians , it must needs be concluded by vertue of that principle that contrived them , and made them of that nature they are , enabled them also to do these things . let us now consider the fruits of the trees , where i think it will appear very manifestly , that there was one worker of miracles , and inspirer of rosie crucians ; i might now reach out to exortick-plants , such as the cinamon-tree , the balsome-tree , and the tree that bears the nutmeg , invelopped the mace ; as also the famous indian nut-tree , which at once ( as the rosie crucians say ) affords almost all the necessaries of life ; for if they cut but the twigs at evening , there is a plentiful and pleasant juice comes out , which they receive into bottles , and drink instead of wine , and out of which they extract such an aquae vitae as is very soveraign against all manner of sicknesses , the branches and boughs they make their houses of , and the body of the tree being very spongy within , though hard without , they easily contrive into the frame and use of their canoes , or boats . the kernel of the nut serves them for bread and meat , and the shells for cups to drink in ; and indeed they are not meer empty cups , for there is found a delicious cooling milk in them ; besides there is a kind of hemp that incloses the nut , of which they make ropes and cables , and of the finest of it , sayles for their ships ; and the leaves are so hard and sharp pointed , that they easily make needles or bodkins of them for stitching their sayles , and for other necessary purposes ; and that providence may shew her self benigne as well as wise , this so notable a plant is not restrain'd to one coast of the world as the east-indies , but is found in affrica , arabia , and in all the islands of the west-indies , as hispaniola , cuba , where our men are victorers ; and several other places of the new-found world . but i thought fit to insist upon these things by way of introduction , but to contain my self within the compass of such objects as are necessary for our knowledge , and familiarly and ordinarily before our eyes , that we may the better ( these things understood ) take occasion from thence to demonstrate the rosie crucian way to health , and their ordinary medicines which to us are not as yet known . chap. ix . the rosie crucian way how to get health ; the causes why we eat food ; of the first nature of the world ; a measure of raw and temperate meat , and the cause of the fiery , and soummy gall and needless muddy bowels the melt ; nature careless of making the reins of urine drawers , drinkless animals have none at all ; how to clense your self from these idle bowels and avoid all diseases . do you not consider the weaknesse of man , what faculties he hath , and in what order he is in respect of the rest of the creatures ; rosie crucians observe though his body be weake and disarmed , yet his inward abilities of reason , and artificiall contrivance is admirable ; he is much given to search out the medicinall virtues of plants , wights , and mineralls , and hath found out those that were of so present and great consequence as to be antidotes against poyson that would so quickly have dispatched mankind , it were good for us to demonstrate the rosie crucian medicines , now our land is afflicted with a sickness called the new disease , of which all sorts dye , without remedy , for none as yet have prescribed a medicine , for young men that desire to live , and for old men that wish for health , without which no life is sweet and savory , then let us bend our selves to cure our brethren first , and endeavour to shew the means ( besides the commmon collegian doctors drenches , or culpepers way , how every man may get and keep his health , that is something strange but a vowed truth ; the consent & equall ( i mean agreeable to kind ) temper & dulling our four first beginnings , the staff of our bodies , for if this knot be broken , & they loos towards their former liberty , they wax proud and strong , and fight , for their nature is together by the ears , and put us to pain , and lets the rule of nature , and this they call the disease . then to handle one at once as our manner is , and will keep our custom still , to keep our health and body in temper , seems no such matter to me as the world would make it , even plainly impossible , when i know all the wayes and entries to let in diseases and distempers of the body , may by small heed be stoped and fenced . wee must needs draw breath and eat meat ; for the cause i shall speake of it in its place ; and as this is not all clear and agreeable , so nature hath her leavings ; and again labour and rest are needful , and perhaps we cannot chuse but be moved in mind with joy , greife , fear , hope , and such like passions , though the stoick deny necessity , saith des carte . by so many wayes and gat●s diseases may enter , if they be not well watced and looked unto , which may be done in reason , and hath been done often , as they assure us that have lived long without all disease and sicknesses , as iohn harding relates of a minister called iohn macklaine to have continued for these fourscore years last past together in health , & after his hair , teeth , eys & flesh renued , & became yong again , & such like stories are to be found enough if we might stay to seek them ; some are contented for all but air and meat , but these say they have often seeds of diseases lye hid in them unable to be foreseen or prevented , as we find those meats that make the finest shew , ( as wine and sugar ) and such enticeing baites , to have hid in them most hateful diseases and dregs in the bottom ; so the air when it seems the best and highest , yet is sometimes infected and poysoned with venemous breath sent out and thrust into it either from below or from the scars of heaven , and as the cause is hidden and unknown to us , so the hurt impossible to be avoyed and prevented . if i list to let my speech run at large , especialy in other mens grounds , i could finde that that division is false , first , ( to come to meat anon ) and then if it were true , yet the cause of that infection not unable to be foreseen and warded ; but i am so sorry for the fault above , that i can the better take heed hereafter ; yet methinks it is a grief to hear the harmless and glorious divine things above so defaced with stander , and no man makes answer for them . gentle reader , be pleased to stay a little ; if the stars have no light , and so no power but from the sun , that most wholsome and prosperous creature , then they hurt him most wrongfully , and reprove themselves very rightly . and again , if they be but a piece of the finer part ; and first nature , as it were , of the world , as i have shewed in my book of the the wise mans crown , then they be the wholsomest things in the world ; so far be they from poysoned slander : and so let their lights be never so grosly mingled in their meetings , and thereby that state of the weather changed suddenly , and from thence our bodie 's troubled and turned into diseases , because they were not prepared and made ready for it , yet the things are good and prosperous ; and by knowledge of astrology , or influences of the planets , and races of the stars , we may prepare our selves , and prevent all , if we cannot have that happiness to converse with our guardian genius . now for lower reflexion , it is not worth the answering when there is so much waste ground in the world ; then let us pass over to that other breach ; may we not shun the leaving baits in our dyet , and take such meat as is most temperate and near our nature , and then dress the same after the most kindly and wholsome manner , seasoning it well with labour , mirth and sleep ? and to be plain , i have shewed in another treatise of mine , entituled , the way to blisse , so much noted by our writers , what a jewel of health it were to use all raw & temperate meat , or becaus we be wise & vertuous , and this dyet would perhaps change our nature of fire , but like philosophers , a quite contrary way ; taking the best , when as none is lost , and leaving the worst , which is that we now take , a way i say , to strip of all grossness and foulness of bodies , the only hurt of themselves , and is the food of all diseases . i will tell you another way which you will think strange , but you shall find it true ; if the meat be temperate , as i bid you chuse it , there is no hurt can come thereby , ( if you keep measure in your selves ) save from your leavings ; these in so clear a dyet first will be very few ; but if you would be ruled by my counsel which nature taught me , those few should never hurt you . of all the leavings in the body , there are three which the liver maketh most troublesome unto us , ( for the rest are easily dispatched ) a light and easie , or rather a fiery ( as some call ) choller ; a cold and heavy mud , called melancholly ; and the third is vrine , which i wil treat of in the next chapter but those two the worser , and this fault is not in themselves , but all by reason of the needless and hurtful bowels in our bodies , ( as the seeds-man useth to sow good and bad together ) which being of the same kind and quality with those humors , do draw and pul them stil unto them ( as all other parts and things do ) for their food and nourishment and so by the narrow passages to and fro , their greediness in pulling and holding , and a hundred such means , subject to great mischances , have brought in as many mischiefs , whereas nature the great expeller of her unlike , and enemies , if she had free choice and liberty , would otherwise with case , and without hurt , expel those leavings , especially so small a number of the better sort in so clean a dyet ; nay , set the malice of those parts , ( those parts are melt-gall , and reins ) if there be not sufficient store of other soul meat at hand , like a poysoned or a purging medicine , they use to draw good juices , and to make food of them ; what is not manifested in this chapter , shall methodically be demonstrated in the ensuing , for i intend to be serious in this part of my book , and will shew you what nature taught me . chap. x. rosie crucian medicines made plain by examples , and those are above controlement ; that the wet sun-beams declare some fine and forrain fatness to nourish mankind . how to live twenty yeers without food , as many creatures do . vse and custom a second nature : the bird called manuda diaoa , and the singing dog , and camelian that never eat food . an experienced medicine , and how to apply it , paracelse , and the rosie crucian new art of healing . of aristotle it is reported , that he is the witty spye of nature , and as if he had been made in this matter , he shews the need and use of the greater entralls and bowels of wights , and saith very truly and wisely , the heart and liver as the spring of life and food , to be needful for all vvights , adding to the hotter one , the brain to cool , and the lights to clense the heat , staying there as if he thought the other three unprofitable ; nay for one of them in the same book , ( i say ) telling the stories of the hart and camel , and giving the reason why they be both so swift , healthful , long-liv'd and other good properties above the rest enfeoffed , vouched in plain tearms , the want of the fiery and scummy gall , as a great enemy to them , for the melt that muddy bowel , that it may be left out as needless in the bodies of the better creatures . the meadows near cortinae and muggadore declare when by a strange and hidden vertue they bereave the beasts thereof that graze upon them of it ; the herb is called asplenium ; as i told you in the preceding chapters , nay , that the milt is not onely idle , but hurtful , which all experience , even in our selves hath taught it . the turks light footmen , ( i say , which i know not by what example unless it were the want of the same in the camel , making the beast able to travel an hundred miles a day , and so without drink fifteen dayes together ) being in their childhood purged of their milt , prove thereby the most light , swift , sound and lasting footmen in the world . as for the veins of urine-drawers , as drinkless creatures have none at all , so some men have but one of them , as if nature passed not to make any at all ; if we could forbear our drink ( as these beasts do by kinde , and some men by custom ) we might the better spare them , and avoid many mischiefs in our bodies . therefore the odd man , paracelsus , i know not by what light , if not of the rosie cross , ( cast in i think from seraphical illumination ) not onely sees these faults , but also finds wayes to amend them , and to cut the mischiefs off all these three noysome parts , not with any yeilding craft , but with rosie crucian divine kind of healing , with aurum protabile , &c. so that to avoid all diseases that spring of the leavings , take of aurum potabile , one ounce ; one pound of the oyle of ravens ; two pound of miltwast , or asplenium ; a handful of cinkefoyle , of dictamnum cretense , ophioglossum and scorpioides , echium , of each a like quantity , and observe the ascendent , and his lord ; and the moon , and lord of the sixt , at your discretion , and take the quantity of a walnut every night and morning , and anoynt the face & hands , & ( if you wil ) the rest of the body : rosie crucians have other healing and yeilding medicines , you shall know them in their places ; this is such an experienced medicine , that you know where to find it ; i need not shew you to put out the sway and power of these idle bowels , or perhaps it should not need , and in a stock that easeth our clean dyet nature her self as she doth in those meadows by other creatures would also quite raze and dispatch them within a few generations . but i will go further , hear a rosie crucian new and unheard of opinion , and yet let not your judgement run , before you see good reason ; what if we could fast for ever , and live without all food ? might not all hurt and danger of meat be then forestalled ? if other creatures , whose life hangeth upon the same hold , by the sufferance , nay by the commandement of god and nature , do last for ever , there is no reason but the same common nature will at last suffer it in us ; let us see . and to step over the camelion , because it is a cold and bloodless creature ; what say we to a bird , which is an hot and perfect one ? a bird in the molucco islands , manuda diaca by name , that hath no feet at all , no more then an ordinary fish , as mr. moore saith , and i have seen her ; the bigness of her body and bill , as likewise the form of them , is much what of a swallows , but the spreading out of her wings and tail has no less compass then an eagles ; she lives and breeds in the aire , born up by the force of wind with more ease then archytas his dove , and comes not near the earth but for her burial ; for the largeness and lightness of her wings and tail sustain her without lassitude , and the laying of her egges and brooding of her young is upon the back of the male , which is made hollow , as also the breast of the female , for the more easie incubation , taking no other food , as alas how should she ? then there is found : but whether she lives meerly of the dew of heaven , or of flies and such like insects , i leave to others to dispute . nay , have you not heard of the little dog in the west indies , which singeth so sweetly all the night long , neither night nor day eating any thing ? but there be examples in our kind as well , then it is certain above controlment : sir christopher heydon saith there is a mouthless and so a meatless people or kind of men about the head of ganges , which liveth by the breath of their nostrils , except when they take a far journey , they mend their diet with the smell of flowers : and lest you may think i lean upon bare authorities without the stay of reason , all the matter rests upon this reason i told you before , that our life lay in the hand ( beside a little exercise ) of two like meats , one for the soul and natural heat which is within us , and the finest and first moisture in our body , the others is without any meat , of the same temper with our body as near as may be ; to uphold the frame and building of the same which i said to be a fine aiery and fiery flame . and we are now grown so out of order , and so much estranged from our etherial first moisture and the life of god , that we creep downward towards the earth through diseases , before we can reach the life of the vehicle ; within sixscore years we dye , and are hidden from the sensible approch of renewing life . chap. xi . of nature and her medicines experienced by rosie crucians , and of the occult virtue of mysteries ; of the healing and consuming medicines and of their use ; of the gout , leprosie , dropsie and falling sickness , &c. now the aire it self , especially when it is ever more as the wet sunbeams declare , so sprinkled with some fine forraign fatness , may seem sufficient food to nourish the finer part of our frame , wherein the temper of mankind , and his life ( touching that point ) standeth , which is as much as any meat can do to life , ( for it is not fed by common food , as i said above ) though not enough for strength , because the grosser , sounder , and tougher parts wherein the strength lyeth , shall want food in this dyet , and fail no doubt greatly , yet life shall last still , as long as aire and first moisture holds , in my opinion : or if we think that so spare a diet , we may mend it ( as the mouthless people do ) with smell of flowers : or rather , as we know nature is able to draw aire and other food which she desireth through the skin into all places of the body ; so if she had meat applyed to the stomach , she would no doubt satisfie herself that way most finely , without the heap of hurts let in at the broad and common gates , as we see by example for drink , that all the while we sit in water we shall never thirst ▪ and for meat , i have heard rosie crucians say , by applying of wine in this sort they fasted without all hunger for two years together . and in like manner i have experienced this , and fasted two dayes when i first studied the nature of the guardian genii : but if that would not serve the turn , and we must needs receive in meat at the common gate , yet we may let it pass no further then the gate , and make the stomach in the mouth , which is the use of some rosie crucians when they are seraphically illuminated ; and to provide enough for life and strength , and a great deal better for our health , then we do , because the clearer part alone should be received , and moreover i say , for the clear dispatch of that our ordinary trouble and anoyance which your reverence will not suffer me to name , although i might among physicians , but they know my meaning : but it shall not need to steal shifts and holds if you will believe the rosie crucians , that we may easily fast all our life ( though it be three hundred years together ) without all kind of meat , and so cut off all doubts and dangers of diseases thereof springing ; and for my own part , i know some that have fasted and lived in the holy orders of the fraternity without all food ten years space together . what need we say more ? if you be both so hard of belief , and dull of sight , and reports of good authors , nor my own experience will sink into you , nor yet can you see the light of reason shining before you , take here a few of ordinary matters in the life and use of men , and weigh one with another ; is it not as common in use , and indeed needful , to spit , and avoid another nameless leaving ? and to drink but to sleep especially ? if some of these , nay all may be spared , why not our meat also ? let us see a little , and by example , because reason is both too long and too open to cavil . to leave drink , which many have all their lives left ; elizabeth drewe , a devonshire gentlewoman , is reported never to have spat , nor the whole indian nation . sr. iohn heydon saith , he knew one that kept the nameless matter forty daies together . and although this answereth not the question , yet it sheweth the truth of the former holy story , for if in so foul and gross a thing as dyet is , he could so long want it , why not these men for ever , in so clear and fine adiet , almost empty and void of all leavings ? for the grosser sort , which make up this foul and shameful one we left before , as you heard , and the finer in the passage from the stomach through the former gates were drawn all away to the liver , as the like is ever in us and voided otherwaies . to close up all , i was at sea with one that slept not one wink for these three years last past , and mr. iohn knotsford is a witness to this truth , and capt. windsor . and thus we see these strange things fall our in proof , but how i cannot stand to shew : first , nature suffers them , then use and custome another nature brings them in , yet we may well beleeve the like in this matter of meat we have in hand ; for as the bear ( according to the guise of many beasts that lurk in winter ) fasteth fourty daies , so eugenius theodidactus , the reported rosie-crucian tells of a scottish young man , david zeamons , that waited on him , that by use brought himself to fast three daies together , which by use might have been three hundred as well , if he had ordered himself thereafter by slow and creeping custome , as captain copeland calls it , and by such means as i set down before . so we see , i say , great wordly wonders prove plain and easie truths in the sight of wisdome : you have read of the wonderful works of god in the acourate structure of mans body , of his soul , of his senses , of plants , of minerals ; and rosie crucian medicine shall be that which i will insist upon , and that by the means aforesaid ( where are more than one , if this like them not , they may take another ) it is possible for all men by kind and custome to keep their health for ever : let us come to the next point , that is , aswell to be recovered if it were lost , and that all diseases may be cured . this is a point much harder then the first , even so beset and stopt with all kind of lets and incumbrances , that a man can scarce tell which way to set his foot forwards . first appears aesculapius , hippocrates , and plato , the chief among the grecians , bearing in hand sundry diseases of both kinds ( both come by descent , and gotten by purchase ) hopeless and past recovery , and giving over the men that owe them , for troublesome to themselves and to the commonwealth : then you may see galen , and his soft and fine company with him , and that follow these are gerard and riverius , and culpepper , and these with a long train of hedge-doctours ; and among these stands freeman , with caterers , and cooks , laden after them with all kind of dainty druggs , stand forth and cry , they have these many ages devoured heaps of books , and took endless pains in searching out the nature of single medicines , and making mixtures of the same , and yet could hardly cure some agues , and other less diseases ; but for the four great diseases , viz. the gout , leprosie , dropsie , falling sickness , they could never heal them , and have therefore for oracles set them down incurable . chap. xii . that the knowledge and vertue of medicines are secretly hid from vulgar understanding : how they may be gotten : and of what lies couched in the oil of bodies : of the use , and how to fetch it out by skill , the haven of medicine . vvhat is left to be done in this matter ? what shall we set against the weight of so many great mens authorities ? equally put them in the ballance , as we have done hitherto , and weigh them with truth and reason : but where shall we find it ? say they ; as it is every where , as mr. hobbs said , drowned in the deep , so in this matter it is scattered all about , and largely spread withall ; for there be three things , and every one full of under-branches , belonging to the rosie crucian art and way of healing ; the first is knowledge of the diseases , the second the remedies against them , and the third of the appliance of the remedies , all which should be traversed in this methodical mysterious treatise : but it shall not need i hope , nay we must take heed how we enter into so long and large a race , in so short and narrow a compass of time appointed , especially being never run before by any man but our self , not one of the wise egyptians , nor our ancestours , the holy company of moses and elias , whose steps we strive to follow , and their successours ; for when they have once hit the mark they have shot at , and gotten the great and general medicine caput mortuum a. p. curing with ease all diseases , they think it straight enough , and an empty and needless labour , as it is indeed , to trouble themselves and their children with large rules about innumerable signs and causes of infinite diseases , and about other small particulars in appliance . neither would i have you set sendivogius , paracelse , and their heirs upon me , and say they have taken great and goodly pains in this field ; you will then force me to speak my thoughts . though these men , ( to let philalethes , vaughan , and culpepper , varlet , freeman , and other pretenders , with some schollars goe , as too young and childish yet , ) by great light of wit wherewith they flowed , and by long proling both with eies , ears , and hands , in the mysteries of egypt , saw and performed many of the rosie crucian deep secrets , yea and there got most of their worldly praise , although i think a number feigned , yet paracelse his new art and rules of healing are not good in my opinion ; for first , against the example of the rosie crucians , from whom he had received all things , and then in despight and disgrace of galen , for mis-calling his countrymen , as you have heard , but chiefly carryed away with a mad and raging desire of fame and honour , which culpepper alwaies despised , yet the starres favoured him , when i assisted to set up that new , famous and strange work of physick , now well known and practised , which paracelse when he took in hand , a man unfit to do it , to pull down and raze the old work , and to set up our new experienced secret , which he could never do all his life . then we see how it is performed , he sets down some false rules , some wast , idle , and some wanting , and all unconstant , disordered , and unlearned ; when he doth well ( as he doth sometime ) he doth no more then was done before him , and brings in the same thing disguised with new , odd , cross , and unheard of names , such as may move wonder at the first , but when they be scanned , laughter , as mr. moor saith of eugenius philalethes his like devises in his aula lucis adamica magica & euphrates , and others of his welch philosophie . and that i doe not slander them where there is no cause , i could prove , if this place would admit a volume . wherefore let us follow the true and right rosie crucians , as easily you may know them by their actions , if ever you fortune to see them and be acquainted with them ; and leave paracelse , and the rest in this ill matter , and light and apish , as he makes it ; and why should we spend all our care and thought about a small matter ? you have a good medicine and remedy against diseases , when old wives in the countrey , and some good women , amongst other dr. culpeppers late wife , and simple men , on our side ( i mean simple in respect of the grecian subtilties about nothing ) when these people have healed most , nay , even all diseases , and with which womanish medicines indeed , the german doctour ( let us give him his due praise ) hath quite slain the grecian physick , and here done much for mankind , by describing and dispatching our close and secret enemie , which under colour of friendship and fighting against our enemies hath this long time betrayed us and done us much mischief ; which thing one of their best captains of their state , fernell by name , after he had been a while in egypt , began to smell at last , and began to repent himself of all his former pains ( which we know were great ) bestowed in that kind of healing , saying it to be but words , and the whole force and weight of this art to lean upon the knowledge and vertues of medicines , secretly hid and couched in the midst and oyl of bodies , to be fetched out and gotten by the skilful means of alchymists ; even so of that art , which is so much condemned of his fellows before and since him , have fled and do daily flie from the daily toil and trouble of their fruitless and barren dead sea : now let us shift our sailes , and flie further too , i hope of wind and tide and all ; which we have . but let us mount up to the main-mast top of our knowledge , and see if we can describe the haven of rosie crucian medicines , and see what marks it hath , and how it differs from other creeks adjoining , lest at our journeys end we miss , with more shame and grief , and suffer shipwrack . a medicine is that which kills the face of that which hurts us ; and this it doth many waies , and yet also to one end ( which is is the end of all doing and working as i said before ) for his food and sustenance . chap. xiii . medicines against witchcraft , and to cure those that are afflicted thereby , although their bodies be possessed with evill spirits , that cause them to vomit up needles , thimbles , pots , glasses , hair , and shreds of cloth , which by the divil were conveyed into the body . that winds and tempests are raised by witches upon meer ceremonies of medicines , and of poysons ; with the examples also of other supernatural effects of unclean spirits , and of imagination . how to cure a witch , and to take away her power . a servant of god and secretary of nature , must be well advised of what he writes , especially in this age , and of this matter ( viz. ) of the rosie crucian physick , lest he should , as i said before , fail in this design , and so it may be a shame that he should be reproved , by the pretenders to those wise truths he alone hath opened to publick view ; then let us come again and sort our speeches . a medicine heals us , and kills our enemie , either by dulling or consuming it ; for when it meets with a contrary of even strength ( as when oyl and poyson &c. joyn ) then in strength they neither eat up nor destroy one another , but both are dulled and weakned , and make one heavy thing which nature casteth out for an unlike and unkindly dead thing , which they call an excrement , or ( leaving ; ) but in case it be of more strength and power then our enemie , then it quite destroyes , devours , and turns him into his own nature . and this consumer is either like the thing that hurts us , in which sort even as every herb of sundry qualities draws and feeds upon his own juice in a garden ; so one poyson doth cure another , and all purging and drawing things do heal us , and all rosie crucians hid and divine properties do work by plain reason ; or else it is unlike and contrary to their custome ; after which manner as dry sticks , and tow , and vinegar quench wild fire , or other fat fires , before water , whose fatness feeds it , for the strong contrary quality quelling and eating up the weaker ; so doth any cold and dry thing as bolearminick , terra lemnia , &c. cure a rotten poyson : and so are a great number of cures done ; which onely course , in a word , the rosie crucians use for physick , and not indeed without good success ; we heard even now of two hinderances of healing , which our common physicians did take unawares , and paracelse pretends to have found out before me , gave any hint to the world of our experienced inventions , of gold dissolved and made potable , being incorporated with its proper veyle , which we now use by the name of aurum potabile ; but paracelse straieth much in the making of it , and knows it not no more than that tattered doctor freeman , so shamefully called amongst physicians : whither in their poisons , on the other side , when they think all cures thereby performed . now when the consuming medicines have done their duties , nature expells them for poison and unlike strange things , according to the rosie crucian axiomata , as well as the grecian rules , because all their medicines were not approved by the fraternity , and were by their confession such : but if they had either thought of the dulling nourisher , which as i told you , takes the nature of the leaving or excrement , or had known the rosie crucian wholsome medicine , they would have made another reckoning ; but let them go , and us see out in time towards the haven of health , if the art of healing be nothing but destroying hurtful things , and their stronger enemies ( but equality will sometimes serve the turn ) or likes together ; and the world be full of both these kinds of creatures , following the nature of their parents of four beginnings , which are as we see , some like , and some contrary one to another . then sure the rosie crucian art of healing is not ( as some may say ) impossible , truly it wanteth nothing , but a man well skilled in the nature of things , a servant of god , and secretary of nature by name ; for ( i think ) i need not put in a physician , to know what other part the causes of the diseases , which must be known and matched , because as sr. christopher heydon the seraphically illuminated rosie crucian , and learned astrologer , well saith , he that knoweth the changes and chances of things in the great world , may soon find them in the little . but our nought-healing bill-men , that daub medicines upon every wall and post , and some leaches , will step in , and say , diseases are in some so great , and in all so many , and mans wit is so weak and shallow , and the medicines so hid and drowned in the deep of nature , that it is not possible to find them all ; or if they were found , to apply them with such discretion as nature might abide those poisoned fraies and battels within her . and again , admit all this untrue , yet there be some diseases sent from witchcraft and sorcery , and other means which have their cause , and so their cure . i have read of som that have vomited uppieces of cloth with pins stuck in them , nails , needles , & such like stuff ; and this is ingested into the stomach , by the prestigious sleights of witches ; others i have seen vomit up hair , glass , iron , and pieces of wood with pins stuck in it ; anothers corps was dissected , and ripping up the ventricle , there they found the cause of the disease , which was a round piece of wood , four knives , some even and sharp , others were indented like a saw. others do miracles by casting flint-stones behind their backs towards the west , or striking a river with broom , or flinging of sand in the air , the stirring of urine in a hole in the ground , or boyling of hogges bristles in a pot ; some by whispering some words in the ear of an horse or wild stagg , could direct him a journey according to their own desire . but what are these things available ? to gather clouds , and to cover the air with darkness , and then to make the ground smoke with peals of hail and rain , and make the air terrible with frequent lightning and ratling claps of thunder : but this is from the power of the divel ( as some fancy ) which he hath in his kingdome of the air . for the remedy of these mischiefs , i have seen a man was present , when some have vomited up needles , thimbles , shreds of cloth , pieces of pots , glass , hair ; another would suffer himself for money to be run thorow with a sword when i was not there , but it appeared to me a fable . i have seen a rosie crucian physician cure these afflicted people . but if you will say , there is a touchstone whereby we may discerne the truth of metals , but that there is nothing whereby we may discover the truth of miracles recorded every where in history . but i answer there is , and that is this : first , if what is recorded was avouched by such persons , who had no end nor interest in avouching such things . secondly , if there were many eye-witnesses of the same matter . thirdly and lastly , if these things which are so strange and miraculous leave any sensible effects behind them ; though i will not acknowledge that all those stories are false that want these conditions , yet i dare affirme that it is meer humour and sullenness in a man to reject the truth , of those that hear them : for it is to believe nothing but what he seeth himself , from whence it will follow , that he is to read nothing of history , for there is neither pleasure nor any usefulnesse , if it deserve no belief . another remedy for these supernatural diseases , is , let one watch the party suspected , when they go home to their house , and presently after , before any body goe into the house after him or her , let one pull a handful of the thatch , or a tyle that is over the door , and if it be a tyle , make a good fire , and heat it red hot therein , setting a trivet over it ; then take the parties water , if it be a man , woman , or child , and poure it upon the red hot tyle , upon one side first , and then on the other , and again put the tyle into the fire , and make it extremely hot , turning it ever and anon , and let no body come into the house in the mean time . if they be cattle that are bewitched , take some of the hair of every one of them , and mix the hair in fair water , or wet it well , and then lay it under the tyle , the trevet standing over the tyle , make a lusty fire , turne your tyle oft upon the hair , and stir up the hair ever and anon ; after you have done this by the space of a quarter of an hour ; let the fire alone , and when the ashes are cold , bury them in the ground towards that quarter of heaven where the suspected witch lives ; this mr. lilly saith he hath experienced . if the witch live where there is no tyle , but thatch , then take a great handful thereof , and wet it in the parties water , or else in common water mixed with some salt , then lay it in the fire , so that it may molter and smother by degrees , and in a long time : setting a trivet over it . or else take two new horse-shooes , heat them red hot , and nail one of them on the threshold of the door , but quench the other in the urine of the party so bewitched , then set the urine over the fire , and put the horse-shooe in it , setting a tryvet over the pipkin or pan wherein the urine is ; make the urine boil with a little salt put into it , and the horse nailes , until it s almost consumed , viz. the urine ; what is not boiled fully away pour into the fire : keep your hors-shoe and nails in a clean cloth or paper , and do likewise three several times ; the operation will be far more effectual if you do these things at the very change or full moon , or at the very hour of the first or second quarter . if they be cattel , you must mix the hair of their tails with the thatch , and moisten them being well bound together , and so let them be a long time in the fire consuming . you have heard the cause of some of these diseases , and have heard the cure by sympathie also ; but these are without the compass of nature , and so let them pass with our fickle standing , which is daily and hourely so beset with destinies , that a man can warrant nothing . truly destinies are so deep and bottomless , ( to return straight homer-like upon them , and therefore it were best indeed to let them goe , and the applying of the medicines with them ) the rather because the other , ( i mean the former ) is so slight a matter to a discreet physician , such a one as is pointed out by their old and famous leader hippocrates , who both in this and all other duties of his art made such speed , and so far passed all his fellowes ( as none since , which is a good time , could ever overtake him ) no nor yet come so neer as to keep the sight of him , whom they had in chase and followed . then for those supernatural causes , which i shall not stand here to search ( for so they are called ) if they flow from unclean and wicked spirits ( as some think ) they are not the stuff of the things that hurt us , though somtimes they dwell in and possess the body , but windy matters , much like unto those fierce and sudden changes of the weather , proceeding from the influences of the planets and fixed stars , and working the like effects in mens bodies , so that sith the nearest cause is natural , let the rest be what they will , and the cure be done by natural means , as we see by experience amongst us : and therefore e. a. that pretends this , and puts the fault in the faith of the wicked , which is a thing as far above nature , yet holds its cure with a natural medicine , which we call a quintessence . although i am not willing , that sometimes this sickness is such as he bids us sometimes withstand it with another as strong a belief set against it , but for my part , i cannot reach it with my conceit ( let deeper heads then mine or the vice-chancellor of oxford , doctor owen , think upon it ) how these beliefs and imaginations , and other parts and powers of the soul or mind of man , can so flye out of their own kingdome , and reigne over a forraign body , when we know the soul and minde is so fast bound in the body indurance , and so like to be , untill it be the great pleasure of the omnipotent and the omnissent god , the chief good , who hath committed them , to let them loose at once , and set them full at liberty ; and this may be disputed with grace and knowledge on my part ; let this man therefore buzze against my knowledge , which he would have to be more then grace , i appeal to the naturall faculties of any free judge , whether there be not as much grace in me as there is honesty in him : all men censure as they like of stories ; so let them pass amongst old wives tales for me , we will severely follow our task . that if the effect do not cease which the object hath wrought upon the brain , so soon as ever by turning aside of the organs the object ceaseth to work ( viz. ) though the sence be past ; as the stroke of a stone , a blast of wind , puts standing water into motion , and it doth not presently give over moving as soon as the wind ceaseth , or the stone setleth : so the image or conception remaineth , but more obscure , while we are awake , because some object or other continually plyeth and solliciteth our eyes and ears , keepeth the mind in a stronger motion , whereby the weaker doth not easily appear . and this obscure conception is that we call phantasie , or imagination ; imagination being ( to define it ) conception remaining , and by little and little decaying from and after the act of sense , &c. if some of these diseases spring , as mr. moore , doctor culpeper , and some others hold , and with good reason , from neither of both these two roots named , but from a foul and venomous breath , sent forth from a poysoned temper of the witches body , through the windiness of hatefull eyes : for thought fashioneth the blood and spirits almost at his pleasure ; then all the causes being ordinary , and agreeing to the course of nature , they may be cured and put to flight by the same course and means ; which opinion , if you please to bear with my tarrying , it is worth the handling , taketh hold upon this reason , because ( as rosie crucians do witness ) some beasts of ranker venome , do witch and hurt after the same manner ; as an old toad by stedfast view , not onely prevails , but benums a weasell , but kills a young child . and by the same means the bever hunts the little fish , and takes his prey : but most fiercely and mischieously of all creatures in the world , the two monsters in kind , the cockatrice and apoblepas : again , for that the eye of a menstruous woman ( as all report ) doth spot the glass which it beholdeth ; and moreover eugenius theodidactus , in the wisemans crown , telleth of many folk that through a poysoned prerogative , which a monstrous mark of a double-sighted eye gave unto them , were able to bewitch to death all those upon whom that eye was angerly and surely set and fastned ; but chiefly because we see them that use this wicked trade , to be by kind of a muddy and earthlike complexion and nature , brought by age , as they be most commonly long life , and gross diet , to the pitch of melancholy , that is , to a cold and most dry nature in the world . for certain proof whereof , bring one of them out of that beast-like life , brought unto merry company , and fed full with dainty diet , and within twenty days , as hath by a rosie crucian been tried a truth , the whole state and nature of her body will be so changed , as it shall not suffer her to bewitch and hurt again ; as you may read in my familiar spirit or guardian genius . chap. xiv . the naturall effects of medicine : the force and power of mineralls in diseases ; with examples also that every disease-breeder hath the cure or remedy in it : examples that poyson prepared cures poysoned people : rosie crucian arts : the virtue and power of the planets and heavenly stars poured through the influence of the moon upon the lower creatures : of hot stomachs : of the etherial first moisture of of man : examples also of rosie crucian natural and supernaturall cures : of the understanding of these experienced truths by the wit of man : of paracelsus and culpeper . let us come to the next and chiefest point ; and there we must not say for shame , that these helps and remedies lye hid in nature , too far for the wit of man to find , unless we will accuse our own sloth and dulness : for nature hath brought them forth and laid them open aswel as the poysons and hurtful things , or else she were very cross and ill-willing to him for whose sake it seems she doth all things . nay further ( as mr. hobs saith ) her good will is such , as she hath not only laid them open , but given us wayes to come by them , and means of speech , hands and wit also , far above all other living creatures . and yet she hath not left us so , but lest by chance we might go wide and miss them , to shew her motherly love and affection towards us , she hath guided ( as mr. moor saith ) many witless beasts , even by common sense , unto their speedy helps and remdies in their diseases : that we by the plainness and shame of the example ( as mr. gadbury wisely saith ) might be taught and moved to seek out the mysterious truths of nature in celestial bodies , as wel as beasts that seek and find us medicines helpful in the like diseases , for our terrestial tabernacle . as to name a few not unworthy meaning ; she maketh the beast hippotamus in time of his fulness and fatness to go to a reed , and by rubbing a vain to let himself blood , and to stop it again by laying mud upon it ; a sick dog to seek an herb and purge himself ; and the bear to do the same after his long fast in winter ; she leads the panther , when he is poysoned , to her foul and nameless leaving ; and the tortoyse , after he hath eat a viper , to summer savery : and the hedg-hog is so good a natural astronomer , that he fortifies his hole against foul weather ; the hog will gather moss and straw to cover himself a little before it rains ; the dog knows the influence of mars when he doth sleep by the fire , and will not go out a dores when he is in any evil position : and many such like examples hath nature laid before us for our instruction ; by which at last wise plato , philo , apollonius , pythagoras , and painful men of greece , as they themselves report , be they elias or elisha , from whom the order of the rosie cross came , ( as some say ) or else as others will have it , from moses , or ezekiel , or whosoever , and by laying reason and further proof together , first made the art and rules of healing , to know whence diseases came , and how to recover them . and then seeking all about for remedies to serve each turne , by little and little they matched the most part of the lesser rank with single medicines , and the greater ones they doubled and coupled many together , insomuch as at last , which was in hippocrates time , they were able to heal all ( saving four , ) of the greatest and deepest diseases , the gout , the dropsie , the leprosie , the falling sickness ; which are now healed by the rosie crucians onely . but this race is below the seraphically illuminated fraternity : now not a physician that is lined with plush in england , spain , germany , or france ; but holds that long-life , health , youth , not attainable , they therefore with one consent , amongst the other four , call them impossible . but to come to the point ; what wrong this was both to skill and nature , they do easily see and laugh at , which know that in this labour , they did not onely oversee and skip the minerals , the stoutest helps in the whole store-house of nature ( although they could dig them out well enough to other and worser uses ) but also , which is in all , did let the rosie crucian skill of preparing medicines , whereby weak things are made almighty , quite escape them . wherefore to make up the rosie crucian art of healing , and to make it able ( as they say ) to help and cure all diseases came in , or rather went before them , into mans body ; the egyptians in great savour too with nature both for their soil and bringing up , so notably commended above all nations , ( having for example , to move and teach them even the great weight of the world as sr. iohn heydon saith ) for wits to devise , and bodies to put in practise . whereby in short time they unfolded the knot why the minerals were of greatest force and power against diseases ; and soon after , which was a divine light , and in-sight , they perceived the huge labour of seeking such a huge sort of singles and mixtures to be vain and empty , and pittiful among wisemen . because first , there is nothing hurtful and a breeder of disease , but it hath the heal and remedy for the same about him : for the wings and feet of cantharides , the fruit of the root bezar , the ashes of scorpions , toads , and vipers ; and divers other stronger poysons , both by nature and skill drest and prepared , do cure and heal their own and all other poysons ; nay as all stronger likes do cure their likes throughout the whole world of diseases , even so when a man hath found out the thing that hurts him , he may by easie skill mingle and break the temper of the same further ; that is , make it able to eat up and consume it self as easily , without any further doubt , toil and labour ; but especially because there is no one thing in the world , take what you will , that hath not the vertues of the planets arrested and fastened upon it , and also of the qualities thereof within it self , that is not as good as all , and may serve instead of all , and that is not able to cure all diseases ; which thing weighed , and with discourse of wit and reason fully reached , they went to practise , and by the like sharpness of wit , they found out the kindly and ready way to dress and make fit these three kinds of medicines aforesaid , which contain all the art of healing , all the rest are but wast words and grievous toyl , to tire a world of wits about a bootless matter , as saith des cartes . but especially they rested in the last , which is enough alone , and yet not without great forecast , to chuse one of the best , and that the very best of all , for their ease in dressing . though dr. culpeper of late was not content with this , but ran through the rest , aswell to spite his enemies , the colledge of physicians , as to make himself famous in taverns and alehouses , as paracelse in his time did ▪ whose steps he strove to follow against the rule of rosie crucian wisdom and vertue ; and the example of his ancestors . but hath every thing all the vertues and influences taken from the planets and stars by the moon , to the earth ; that is , all the curing and healing power of all the things in the world ? very well you must remember that i proved above all the vertues and powers of heaven , poured down through the influence of the moon , upon these lower creatures , to be nothing else ( as captain george wharton truly saith ) but one self same life and soul , and heavenly heat in all things , and again , that all diseases flow from distemper , and as it were discord of the natural consent of the body ; then that thing which is endued with store of life , and with exact and perfect temperateness , seated upon both a subtile and strong body , ( which the thing in the bottom is ) able alone by subduing his weaker enemies , those distempered diseases , by strengthening his fellow life , aurum potabile , in our bodies . and lastly , by orderly binding together the frame that was slipt out of order , to do as much as all the powers and forces of all the plants , weights , and minerals in the world , that is , to put to flight all trouble of diseases , and restore the body to perfect health and quierness . but how is all this done ? we talk of high things , and huddle up too many great matters together . it were good for us to work them out distinctly ; when this aurum potabile we speak of , and strong tempered medicines , slip into the stomach , it stayes no long digestion , being already digested , nor look for any ordinary passages to be opened unto it , but as soon as it is raised out of sleep by his fellow , the natural heat , by and by he flyes our , and skowers about , as fast as the dolphine after his prey , or as nature her self , whom mr. booker , as i take it ( saith ) to pierce bounds , and all to the purpose , that is to seek his like food , and sustenance , whereby to preserve his state and being , which is the purpose of all things in the world , as was said above . now there is nothing so like and neer a perfect temperature in the world , as the etherial first moisture in man ; but what this is , you may read in my book entituled {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ventus magnus . this is best and most in the heart , the root of life , then thither it hyeth and preyeth upon that part first , and that is the cause why it presently restoreth a man half dead , and as it were , pulls him out of the throat of death ; then it runs to the rest all about , increasing by that means the natural heat , and first moisture of every part of the body ; when this is done , he turns upon the parts themselves , and by encountring with them in the same sort , according to his might , feeds upon them , and brings them a certain way towards his own nature , even so far as we will by our usage suffer ; for if we take it with measure and discretion , it will bring our body to a middle mean and state , between his own exact temperature and the distemper of diseases , even a better state then ever it had before ; if we use it out of measure , it takes us up too high , and too near his own nature , and makes us unmeet for the deeds of the duties of an earthly life . but in the mean while in the midst of this work , we must know that by his exceeding heat and subtleness which is gotten by rosie crucian skill , and which make up the strength above all things , it divides and scatters , like smoke before the wind , all distempered and hurtful things , and if they cannot be reconciled and turned to goodness , nature throws them out as dead , and unfruitful leavings . but how do we talk , ( as mr william tub the astrological fencer saith ) so much of exact and perfect temper , when by the verdict of all the quest in these cases there is no such thing found in nature , but in heaven onely ? neither heard you me say that it floated aloft , but was sunk to the bottom of all nature ; notwithstanding by a true and holy rosie crucian to be sounded and weighed up . for as heaven was once a gross and distempered lump ( as i told you in my book of the nature and dignity of angels ) by the divine art of god that ordered all things ( as you have read in the introductory part of this book , ) refined and sundred away round to the place and nature where it now standeth ; even so one of our gross bodies here below , being a piece of the same lump also , and all one with that which heaven once was , may by the like art and cunning be refined and parted from all his distempered dross and foul drossiness , and brought into a heavenly nature of the best and goodliest thing in heaven : and yet you must not take me as though i would have 〈…〉 wit of man , which is b●t a spark of the divine g● 〈…〉 in my book called ventus ingens ) to be able to reach the excellency of his work , and to make so great perfection ; if he do but shadow it , and make a counterfeit , that is , if he reach not so far as to make all things , but to mend a few by this his heaven , all is well , it is as much as i can look for at the hand of any man that is not a rosie crucian . now is the time to rest a little , and pray for the good use and practice of those that shall read our writing . chap. xv . of the rosie crucian sun , or spiritual oyl . of the divine works of god not yet observed . how we make aether . examples of medicines rosie crucian and grecian . of poison . of the supernatural miracles of the rosie crucians , with obedience to reason . another medicine of supernatural effect . of the power and secret skill of nature . how to dissolve minerals : and how to prepare them for mens bodies . eugenius theodidactus hath shewed you this heaven , nay this sun of ours , which is nought else , as i told you in one of my books of astrologie , but an oyl full of heavenly spirits , and yet in quality of his body just , even and natural , fine and piercing , close and lasting , able as well to rule this little world , as mr. thomas heydon saith , the great sun is able to governe the great world . but what is he , saies mr. iohn cleeveland , that can see this divine art and way , whereby god made his great and mighty work , viz : {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} as i shewed in my book , intituled , moses speech to god , upon the second chapter of genesis ? or if he saw it , learne and match it by imitation ? i answer , none but rosie crucians , to whom i am a friend , and they god hath enlightned and unsealed their eyes , they have found the way lying open in all places , and in all natural changes , they see them pass and travel , i say still , the course that heydon calls soft and witty , that is , kindly separation : and if he be not swift and rash as many , such as thomas vaughan and street , but will have sober patience , his own skill and labour will be but little if he please ; for nature her self very kindly will in her due time performe all , and even all that heavenly workmanship be easily performed ; and yet i mean not so but that art must accompany and attend upon nature ( though with no great pains and skill ) both forward and backward in this journey ( doctour french knows my meaning , so doth doctour owen , if his angry censure will suffer his natural judgement ) until he come to his wished rest , and to the top of all perfection . if you perceive not , consider the way whereby we made our ether in our book abovenamed , and matched our own first moisture , a thing etherial , i say , and almost temperate ; mark what i say , there is a further end in the matter , hold on the same means whereby you came so far through the wise mans crown , and are gone so far in the way to bliss , which is that i spake of , and you may reach it . then you see the way to cure all diseases by the third way of egyptian healing , which they doe , and we may well call it the egyptians heaven , and yet it is a way far beneath the rosie crucian art of healing , as we shall shew hereafter . but if they will not yeeld yet to reason , but mutter stil thomas street-like , that these heavenly medicines of ours are very high for the reach of mens silly wits , here strowed below upon the ground for other lesser and baser uses , and that no man since the first man , or if i will say moses , was the first , that first found out these inventions as they call them , after adam ; and that none but the successors of moses have been ever yet known to have found and wrought the same ; i will not stand to beat reason into such giddy-braindmen , but go to the other two waies of healing , which the egyptians found out and used , and called the first mineral medicines , and these moses taught the children of israel in the valley of mount sinai , when he took the golden calf which he had made , and calcined it in the fire , and ground it to powder , and incorporated it with a solar veagle , and made the children of israel drink aurum potabile . and the next mysteries and secrets , as may appear by riverius his speaking of rosie crucian secrets , we fitly may call this second , kind , because that is too large a name ( if it be lawful for us as well as for all other learned men , where a fit word wants to make a new ) we may do well i say to call it a cure it self , because it is by that way of healing , whereby every self same thing further broken may cure it self ; and this inward and hidden thing as they say , the outward and apparent by the course of kind , whereby the stronger like eates up in triall and consumes the weaker . if this leave be once granted , we will borrow a little more for the other two likewise , because their names , are not pertinent to our purpose , and call that heaven a cure-all , for so it doth , and the next a cure-the great , because the order of the rosie crucians is alwayes to match the greater and more stubborn sort of diseases with the stout and mighty minerals , and the rest with those hidden cure-themselves , or at least in the lower rank of lighter diseases , with their likes , onely raw , as the grecians use them , without any curious dressing . let us draw nearer a conclusion of the matter ; because grecians themselves are able , and our english physicians that learn of them , to cure the lighter sort of diseases , and to heal all but the four aforesaid , we will leave the rest for them , and so let this second kind of healing go called our hidden cure themselves , and bend all our batteries against these four which they call incurable , and see how by force of our mineral medicines , they may be cured : we see the poysoned spirits and breaths of venomous things , with what force they work upon our bodies , things in nature set against them , and how they consume them ; if you do not see by imagination , reason with your selves , if not remember those above named , that killed with their sight ; hear one or two more that work the same by touch as violently . the hare-fish , a most cold and dry creature ( to omit that she maketh a mans head ake by sight ) if you touch her aloof onely with a staffe , that her venomous breath may go straight and round unto you , you die presently . the root baazam in palestine , as pythagoras writes , kills the man that handleth it , and therefore they used to make a dog pull it up ( as ben. iohnson saith ) who thereby died imediately . to come into the body ; that costly poyson mr. linacre talks of , that is in nubia , and one grain kills a man out of hand yet stay but a quarter of an hours working , and that one grain divided will overcome ten men ; i hope you doubt not but these mighty poysons if they were like in nature to the four great diseases , and by little and little to be born by nature , and set upon them , would be able easily , by their great strength to devour and consume them ; or else sure such heaps of poyson as the physicians give us would not dwell so long within us , but would put out life in a moment . now what are these poysoned vapours , but most cold and dry bodies , wrought and broken up by naturall mingling , unto great fineness and subtileness , by this peircing swiftly all about , and by these contrary qualities overcoming ? then let us take the stoutest minerals , such as are called middle minerals by rosie crucians , or hard juices by mr. berkenhead ( to leave the metals for a better purpose ) be they poysons , as g. agricola saith , but what they be i care not , and after we have by meer working , cleansed them and stripped them of their cloggs and hinderances , broken and raised them to a fine substance , then match them with their likes , the hurtfull things in our bodies , shall they not let all the rest alone , and straightway cleave to their fellows , as well as a purging medicines , and so devour and draw them out by little and little ? if there be no likes , i grant they will as well as that , fall upon their enemies , or good juices , and feed upon them . then what do you doubt is not a mineral body far better ? and therefore if it be raised to as great a fineness , much stronger in working then the gentle and loose temper of a wight or plant : wherefore these our mineral medicines , and some other forementioned medicines , and cure the great , as we call them , shall in any reason , work more violently upon their likes , then the natural poysons of wights and plants do upon their contraries , both because the like doth more easily yield then the contrary , and for that the lighter here is the stronger . but if you cannot see these things by the light of mind , open your eyes , and cast them a little into the school of alchimy , into the lesser and lower school , i mean of germans , and you shall see the schollars , especially the masters , by stripping the minerals , and lifting up their properties , but a few degrees , to work wonders ; as to name three or four , by quenching the loadstone in the oyl of iron , his proper food , they make him ten times stronger , able to pull a nail out of a post , &c. and by this natural pattern they make artificial drawers , not for iron onely , but for all other things , yea and some so mighty , as they will lift up an ox from the ground , and rent the arm of a tree from the body , as mr. comer doth witness ; who reporteth again that he saw a flesh-drawer , that pulled up 100 weight of flesh , and a mans eye out of his head , and his lights up into his throat and choaked him . they make binders also to glew two pieces of iron together , as fast as the smith can joyn them to be short they make eaters also , that will consume iron stones or any hard thing to nought in a moment ; they dissolve gold into an oyle ; they fix mercury with the smoke of brimstone , and make many rare devises of it ; and all these wonders and many more they do by certain reason : i could tell you , if i could stand about it . in the mean time consider , if these or any other such like minerals were raised higher , and led to the top of their fineness and subtleness , and matched with their like companions , or with their contraries , if you will , those great diseases in our bodies , what stirrs they would make among them , how easily they would hew them , pierce , divide , waste , and consume them ? but you mus● alwayes have a special regard , that the medicines be not liker our natures , then the nature of the thing that hurts us ; for then they would first fall upon us , and let the diseases alone , which heed is easily taken in minerals , things very far off our nature , saith des cartes . and with these experience the wonderful vertue of the oyl and water of tobacco wise men i have known do miracles with it . what is to be said more in these matters ? i think nothing , unless through the countenance of an idle opinion that reigns among them , they dare flye to the last , and of all other the most slender shelter , and deny our ability to break , tame and handle as we list , such stout and stubborn bodies : ( what ) because you know not how to do it , will you fashion all men by your mould ? wise men would first look into the power and strength of skill and nature , and see what they can do and measure it thereby , and not by their own weakness ; there shall you understand , that there is nothing in nature so strong and stubborn , but it hath its match at least , if not his overmatch in nature , such is the nature of mans body , of his soul of signatures of plants , of mettals , and minerals , and other things also . but admit somewhat weaker as herbs and plants , &c. yet this , if he get the help of a wisemans art unto him , shall quickly wax great and mend in strength and be able easily to overcome , that other ; mark how the dregs of vinegar , a thing sprung out from a weak beginning , and it self as weak as water , is able if it be but once distilled , to make stouter things then minerals even mettals themselves , all but silver and gold , to yield and melt down to his own waterish nature , nay which is more then mild-dew of heaven , as mr. cooks the vicar calls it , wrought first by the bee that cunning beast , and then , twice or thrice by the distiller , distilled will do the same , you may judge with your self , what not onely these , but other fiercer and sharper things , as salts , &c. more like to do upon minerals ; and by the way consider , if such mild things as wine and honey , so meanly prepared , are able to subdue in that sort the most stiffe and tough things in the world , so minerals cheaper then aurum potabile , in their highest degree of dignity would cure the stoutest disease ( being prepared fitly ) that can grow in our bodies . now let us sit and take our rest a little and then we will conclude our rosie crucian medicines . chap. xvi . how the rosie crucians make a chirurgeons instrument ; that it shall pierce through any part of the whole body , without sense or feeling , and sound the depth of a wound . the difference of common physicians raw , blunt , and herby medicines , and rosie crucians : what a physician ought to be , what they ought to learn , and what they ought to practise , and then i shall love them of the order of the rosie cross . but i wear away time in vain , to speak so much about t is matter ; and yet sith all are not of like capacity , i will adde one yet familiar example ; when a surgeon goeth about to search a wound that is deep , if he thrust at it with a butchers prick he would move laughter ; let him take a thorwe , and it wil pierce somewhat prettily ; but to do it throughly , and at his pleasure he will use , ( though to the great grief of his patient ) a fine and long instrument of mettal . but a right surgeon the common ones are but butchers , such a one as is a physician , and astrologer , nay a rosie crucian also , would touch his instrument , with a loadstone , that is commonly found , to make it pierce throughout the body without all sense or feeling ; even so good physicians such an one , as the lord marques of worcester had , whom he taught many fine inventions : he told me of a golden ball that this lord made , that let him throw it into a river or pool , it would arise aagain from the bottom at what hour he pleased . this noble marques shewed me a key of the lock , that would tell him who touched it . nay if it fortuned to be pickt he could know who did it , and what was taken away ( before their faces ) and many rare things i have seen this princely philosopher do , which his excellency was pleased to shew me ; such as these are hard to be found in this government , where none of these can live without great envie . if one of these rosie crucians be to encounter with our greatest enemies , these four we speak of , he would not i hope , if he were a true rosie crucian be so mad as to thrust at them with the raw and blunt herby medicines such as dr. scarborough , prescribe , no nor although they be sharpened by iacob heydon , by plain distillations : neither would he , i think for pitty , sting the poor patieni with eugenius philalethes martyrdome of rude and rank minerals , and unless they were made into a fine clean natural and temperate quality , which would work mightily , and destroy either of these four great diseases , leprosie , gout , dropsie , and falling sickness : but feed , comfort , or at least not offend , and hurt his patient ; they labour in vain that practise otherwise . these are the medecines which i onely use , and which a good and wise physician ought onely to seek and follow , and if he cannot find it , let him use the cure themselves . but such a thing as this ; i say , brought to this equality , and fineness of frame and temper , ( were it at the first , wight , plant or mineral ) was it which our father and founder moses , ( the chief of the rosie cross ) said is like to heaven , and the strength of all strengths piercing and subduing all things . this was it that warranted his sons the rosie crucians to avow so stoutly , that art was long and life short , and all diseases curable , when hippocrates the father of common physicians , was driven by the infirmity and endless matter of his weak body , and envious mind tinctured with covetousness , and fickle medicines , to cry to rosie crucians , but they would not hear such hard-hearted fellows , nor give him long life , he said therefore that art was long , and life was short . and whereas he and his off-spring were fain to leave many diseased helpless , to the great shame of art and plague of mankind , is it any marvel when as they prick at them ( as i said ) with a butchers-prick ? nay , see what they do by their practice , they be so far from all help and comfort to the patient in greatest danger , that they increase his wiser eys many waies , except the great easer of all pain , and their common medicine death , be quickly administred : first , they make the patient suffer the punishment due to their own slothful idleness , burdening his stomach with that labour of loosnening and sundering the fine from the gross , which they should before have taken into their glasses : and then by doing these often , they clean tire his feeble nature ( as it would tire a horse ) when as by stripping the foul and gross stuff , that dulls the working , and reteining the vertue in a narrow strong body , they might doe as much at one time as they doe now in twenty , and because their medicines applyed are of smaller power and weaker than the things that hurt us , they feed nourish and strengthen the disease and sickness , but for all this if some of this company and side of leeches have been and are yet sometimes able to heal all diseases in our body ( though with much ado , as you have heard ) save the four named remediless , yea and those aswell in their spring as before their ripeness , as they themselves report . is there any proportion in geometry ? let the college of physicians lay measures why the rosie crucian mighty medicines which i call cure-the-greats , passing these in power , as much as the ripeness of a disease is above the spring , shall not overmatch the ripe as well as the green diseases : wherefore there be no doubts left , but this plainly true , that albeit the grecians is weak and halting in this kind of healing , yet is the egyptian , or ( as now they terme it ) the paracelsians and mineral skill sufficient to cure all diseases : then i have paid the whole summe of my promise , touching the second means and helps to bliss and happiness , which is life and health . before i close , i think it very meet , while the time and place very fitly serveth , to do a good deed , and this shall be my intent to admonish and exhort the grecian leaches , and their scholars the english , spanish , and french physicians , whom if they follow hippocrates , plato , pythagoras , and his fellows , i love for their learning , and pitty for their misleading others ( although it be grievous , i know to old scholars , wone in a kind of learning , to unlearne all as it were and begin again , for their own credit and virtue , yea and profit sake also , if they esteem that best , to leave those gilded pills and sugred baits , and all other crafty snares , wherewith the world hath been so long caught and so long tormented , and to seek this onely heavenly society ; as ( to you that are learned ) easily may temper your selves , and be acquainted with the ready , true , plain and certain way of healing diseases . i think in former time they were not greatly to be blamed and accused but of dulness and weakness of understanding , in not applying and seeing this perfection , and supplying of all their wants ; but since they have been so often warned not with words only , but with examples of learned men , matheolus fernelius , severinus danus , philo iudaeus , diodorus siculus , and other such like which have and doe revolt , and flie away from them daily , yea and by the certain deeds of paracelse , it were imqity to sit still : well , few words will serve to wise and vertuous physicians , such as are of themselves forward . but there is another , and i am afraid , the greater sort , less honest , more idle and covetous , full of windy pride and words , but empty of all good learning , and they are no friends to rosie crucians , nor they to them , and these no gentle warning of any , no though a rosie crucian himself should come and bring truth her self along with him in person , would prevail : who care not it seems if half mankind should perish for want of help and succour , rather then lose their gains ; and which not onely speak foully but write foolishly , against this overflourishing vertue , but also like the giddy people of my time , where they catch the state , banish the men that hold and possess it ; whereas if it were a good commonwealth ( quoth aristotle ) the matter would be so far from banishment or imprisonment , as they would esteem such a man as well as the laws ( for he is himself a law ) exempt from all obedience , and judge him worthy to be followed and obeyed as a perpetual king . this untowardness and crookedness in men causod all our alhealing ancestors the rosie crucians from time to time , never to abide their sentence , but to the great hurt and loss of mankind go into willing banishment , you have established a kind of government among you ( to pursue the same , like a little — ) wherein you rule alone over the weak and sorry subjects of mens bodies , then their health and safety you ought to seek onely , besides enough to maintain a contented estate also , which plato allowes his governours , and not profit only ( that were tyranny ) both for humanity and religion sake , for to omit religion , which they do lightly omit , if a physitian begin once to make a prey of men , he is not onely no man , but a most fierce and cruell beast , not fit to be compared and matched and matched anywhere , if you seek all over the world as with the mishapen monster of india , which aristotle describes , and calls martichora , which being by nature or custome , i know not whether , very greedy upon mans flesh , is with manifold and wonderful helpes furnished , and armed unto it . first with a face like a man , a voice like a trumpet , two fit things to allure and call him in ) and then if he flye , with the swiftness of an hart to overtake him , he darts like a porcupine , to wound him afar of ; and with the tail of a scorpion , as it were a poysoned shaft , near hand to sting him : furthermore , lest all this might not serve , by occasion of armour , he hath feet like a lion , fiercely and cruelly to tear him , and three rowes of teeth , on each chap for the in devouring . apply you and the apothecarries , the rest your selves , in secret for my part , as i am not a rosie crucian , so i am as well as they , sorry to see evil done . and i am loath to speak evil of it , and sure were not the great grief and envy i do bear ; and alwayes did , to see desert trodden down by such unworthiness , and some little hopes i have to hear of the amendment , and so of the return of the truth , and good men out of banishment and imprisonment , you should have found me in westminster-hall : as i have been an atturny in terme time , and mean to continue my practise there so long as i live , except in the vacation , which i intend to spend in chimical and rosie crucian medicines for the good of honest plain meaning men and my self eugenius theodidactus . but some may ask what i mean by r. c. the ceremonie is an ebony cross , flourished and deckt with roses of gold , the cross typisies christs sufferings upon the cross for our sins , the roses of gold shew the glory and beauty of his resurrection from death to life . and this is carried to mesque , cascle , apamia , chaulatean virissa caunuch , mount calvery , haran and mount sinai , where they meet when they please and make resolution of all their actions , and then disperse themselves abroad , taking their pleasure alwayes in one of these places , where they resolve also all questions of whatsoever hath been done , is done , or shall be done in the world , from the beginning to the end thereof . and these are the men are called rosie crucians . finis . a short compendium of chirurgery containing its grounds & principles : more particularly treating of imposthumes, wounds, ulcers, fractures & dislocations : also a discourse of the generation and birth of man, very necessary to be understood by all midwives and child-bearing women : with the several methods of curing the french pox, the cure of baldness, inflammation of the eyes, and toothach, and an account of blood-letting, cup-setting, and blooding with leeches / by j.s., m.d. j. s. (john shirley), m.d. 1678 approx. 143 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 70 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a59999 wing s3496 estc r38236 17215760 ocm 17215760 106267 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a59999) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 106267) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1100:26) a short compendium of chirurgery containing its grounds & principles : more particularly treating of imposthumes, wounds, ulcers, fractures & dislocations : also a discourse of the generation and birth of man, very necessary to be understood by all midwives and child-bearing women : with the several methods of curing the french pox, the cure of baldness, inflammation of the eyes, and toothach, and an account of blood-letting, cup-setting, and blooding with leeches / by j.s., m.d. j. s. (john shirley), m.d. shirley, john, 1648-1679. [10], 128 p. printed by w.g. and are to be sold by charles blount ..., london : 1678. attributed by wing to john shirley, 1648-1679. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -england -early works to 1800. medicine, popular -early works to 1800. 2003-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-04 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-05 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-05 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a short compendium of chirurgery : containing its grounds & principles . more particularly treating of imposthumes , wounds , ulcers , fractures & dislocations . also a discourse of the generation and birth of man , very necessary to be understood by all midwives and child-bearing women . with the several methods of curing the french pox : the cure of baldness , inflammation of the eyes , and tooth-ach : and an account of blood-letting , cup-setting , and blooding with leeches . by i. s. m. d. london , printed by w. g. and are to be sold by charles blount , at the black raven in the strand , near worcester-house . 1678. academiae cantabrigiensis liber cambridge university blazon or coat of arms the preface , courteous reader , my parents having ever destined me to be a practical physitian , thought fit to make me begin the studies thereof by learning chirurgery , probably thinking i might thereby acquire a better knowledge of mans body , and its several parts , together with their functions , as also its outward ( at least ) indispositions and cures , than by only reading such treatises of physiologie as were then extant , which modern anatomists and other authors have since found defective . but in the performance of their just desires i found no small inconveniency , for want of some short and compendious principles , that might give me the grounds , and an idea of that art , proportionable to my then mean capacity , almost frighted with the bulk of large and ill digested volumes ; but there being no remedy , i was fain to compile out of them this small treatise , which i have since reviewed altering some obsolete theorems into new ones , and adding some small agreements to render its reading less tedious ; and all for my own use without any thoughts of ever troubling the press therewith . these late years having brought forth several short treatises of chirurgery , specially the excellent principles of barbetty and hornius , the former whereof is lately made english : but finding in mine some things , which are purposely omitted in theirs , as few dislike their own productions , i have resolved to make this short compendium publick , wishing that it may be to the advantage of young beginners in chirurgery , and to the health and welfare of their patients . thine i. s. the contents . chap. i. chirurgery defin'd , pag. 2. it s operations , 3. of temper or complexion , 7. of the humours of the body , 10. the soul defin'd , 25. of diet , 37. of sleep and dreams , 40. of the passions , 42. a disease d●fin'd , 45. chap. ii. of imposthumes . their causes and matter , pag. 53 , 54. their prognosticks . 56. a cataplasm to discuss an imposthume , 57. to resolve an imposthume , 60. to bring an imposthume to s●ppuration , ibid. to mitigate the intense pain of an imposthume , ibid. chap. iii. of wounds . signs of a wound that has pierc'd the skul , 65. whether a wound has penetrated the thorax , ibid. when the lungs are hurt , ibid. when the heart , diaphragm , great artery or vena-cava medulla-spinalis , liver , stomach , guts , kidneys , bladder , and ureters , 66 , 67. when the womb and nerves , 67 , 68. of wounds that are mortal , ibid. to help the extraction of bullets , darts . &c. a receipt , 69. of sutures , 71. a receipt to prevent a too great flux of blood , 72. a receipt to remove pain from the wounded part , 73. an excellent narcotick for the same , 74. for convulsions in the wounded , 75. a palsy defin'd and cur'd , 77. of the cure of wounds made by fire-arms , 80. a receipt to bring them to suppuration , 81. the definition of a gangrene , 82. it s cause and cure , 83. chap. iv. of ulcers . vvhat they are , 86. of the several sorts of ulcers , 88 ▪ 89. of the cure of ulcers , 90 , 91. chap. v. of fractures and dislocations . vvhat a fracture is , 92. the cure how perform'd , 95. chap. vi. of the generation and production of man. of the matter of generation , 98. of the place , 99. the chiefest and surest signs of conception , 100. to know whether the child be male or female , 101. the signs of approaching child-birth , ibid. directions to be observed before the birth , 102. directions to be observed in the birth , 103. a liniment to be used , 104. an excellent powder to hasten child-birth , 105. directions to be observ'd when the child is dead in the womb , 108. an ointment for the hypogaster , 110. for the expulsion of wind , an excellent powder , 111. to stanch milk , an infallible receipt , 112. chap. vii . of the french pox. it s definition and signs , 114 , 115. of its cure , 1. by decoction , 116. to make that decoction , ibid. 2. by plaisters , ibid. 3. by unction , 117. to make the unction , ibid. 4. by suffumigation ▪ 121. the method to be used in it , ibid. chap. viii . of several other indispositions cured by chirurgery . of baldness and its cure , 123. inslammation of the eyes , 124. tooth-ach , ibid. phlebotomy , 125. cup-setting , 126. leeches , 127. a short compendium of chirurgery chap. 1. that part of physick , which is called in greek therapeutick is divided into three others ; namely , diet , chirurgery and pharmacy : yet , although this division be needful , these three sisters , as the graces , are so connexed and linked together , that it is almost impossible for any of them to perform the least operation , without the help of the two others ; but when they conspire and are together carefully reduced , in act ; a most advantagious harmony , for the preserving and restoring of health , doth result of their mixture . amongst these parts of physick , chirurgery is the needfullest , and is therefore by some esteemed the noblest , as being the most ancient and profitable . it is defined , an art consisting in a methodical application of the hand on the body of man , for the preserving of its present health , or the restoring of it , being lost . it s subject is the same body , and its end the health of it . the words etymologie is composed of the greek word cheir , that signifieth ● and , and ergia , operation ; which being joyned together make , as it were , a handy or manual operation . the whole art is divided into the theoretical and practical part ; the first whereof is described the seconds guide and leader , because it contains the the●rems , demonstrations and precepts of it , which the practical part only reduceth in act , and nevertheless hath been so much esteemed , that the heroes and demy-gods of antiquity did not disdain to learn it , for it is , as vincianus saith . quod natum phoebus docuit , quod chyron achillem ; quod didicere olim podalirius atque machaon . what phoebus taught his son , chyron achilles , what learned machaon and podalirius . the operations of it are three , synthesis , diairesis and exeresis ; whereof the first joynes what is separated . the second , separates what is joyned . and the third , takes away what is superfluous . and these operations are to be soon , surely , and pleasantly performed , with manual or medicinal instruments , according to certain indications drawn from the things , 1. natural . 2. not-natural . 3. and against nature . chirurgery is soon performed , when no occasion of doing the sick person good is neglected . surely , if using of known remedies , we prevent a relapse , and avoid all worse diseases than the former . and pleasantly , if , amongst remedies , those are first made use of , wherewith we may obtain our ends , with less molestation of the patient . those things are called natural , which do enter in the composition of mans body , and although its first ingredient may be the universal matter of cartesius , out of whose particles , variously figurated and moved , according to the variety of their figures and motions , those bodies do arise which though they be not the very first , nor can be demonstrated absolutely simple in their dissolution , yet because they are of the first order of sensible bodies , whereof others are composed , they may commodiously , by a chirurgion , who is an artist of sensibles , be conceived in the body of man as its 1. elements , whence do arise its 2. tempers or complexions . 3. humours . 4. parts or limbs . 5. faculties . 6. actions . and 7. spirits . whereunto , 1 age. 2 the sex. 3 colour . 4 commoderation . 5 the season of the year . 6 the clime . 7 and manner of living are annexed . elements are single bodies , out of which the mixt are composed , and into which they may be resolved , but they in none of a singler composition . they are reckoned four . 1 fire . 2 air. 3 water . 4 and earth , whose number and station , ovid hath thus expressed . quatuor aeternus genitalia corpor a mundus continet , ex illis , duo sunt onerosa , suoque pondere in inferius , tellus atque unda feruntur : et totidem gravitate carent , nulloque premente , altapetunt aer , atque aere purior ignis . that is , the eternal world four bodies comprehends engendring all , the heavy earth descends , and water clog'd with weight ; two light aspire , depress'd by none , pure air , and purer fire . which the antient thought to evince by the argument of mixt bodies dissolution , thus given by dubart●s . cela se voit a locil dans le brulant tison , son feu court versle ceil , sanatale maison , son air vole en fumé , en cendre chet sa terre , son cau boult dans ses nocuds , &c. that is perfectly seen , when burning wood doth send its fire to heaven , the place from whence it did des●end , its air then flies in smoak , its earth in ashes falls , in its knots water boyls , &c. but the weakness of this argument is plainly discovered by the learned boyle in his chymista scepticus ; so that , as we said before , these elements can at most be reckoned but amongst the first classes of mixt bodies . the elementary qualities are also four , namely , 1 heat . 2 coldness . 3 moisture . 4 driness . whereof the two first ( though all act in some measure ) compared to the latter , are called active ; the two others passive . 1. fire , is of a hot and dry quality . 2. aire , of a hot and moist . 3. water , of a moist and cold . 4. and earth , of a cold and dry . temper or complexion , is a proportion of the four primary qualities , arising from the mixture of the elements . but if we consider the universal matter , it may be defined , a moderation of the particles endued with contrary qualities . there are four single tempers . 1 hot. 2 cold. 3 moist . 4 dry. and four compos'd , 1 hot and moist . 2 hot and dry. 3 cold and moist . 4 cold and dry. whereunto is added another , called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , temperate , which is distinguished , 1. in a temper according to weight , when the elements are both in mass and quality so proportioned , that none can be said to predominate . 2. and in another according to justice , which consisteth in a temperature convenient for the exercising of all necessary actions . this temper is either of the whole body , by reason of which males are said to be hotter then females , or of the several parts , whose rule is this , whatsoever is red in the body is hot ; whatsoever is white , cold ; that which is soft , is moist ; and that which is hard , dry. whence it follows , that whatsoever is red and hard , is hot and dry , as the heart ; whatsoever is red and soft , is hot and moist , as the flesh ; what is white and hard , is cold and dry , as the bones ; and what is white and soft , is cold and moist , as the brains . childhood , comprehending the first five and twenty years of our age , is of a hot and moist temper . from thence youth , proceeding to five and thirty or fourty years , of a hot and dry ; manhood , consisting in the ten or fifteen next years , is esteemed cold and dry ; and thence old age , till our lifes end , is more or less said to be cold and moist , or according to others , cold and dry ; its moisture being but accidental and excrementitious , though god can yet extend our life to a long durance , as the german poet freinshemius elegantly expresseth . i st schirr nichts ubrig mehr , al 's seelen voller schnen , al 's leber voller thod , al 's leiber voller plag , al 's zeiten voller qual , al 's zungen voller klag . al 's hertzen voller angst , al 's augen voller trahnen . that is , though nothing but a soul full fraught with longing fears , be left , a deathful life , a body full of pain , a time full of distress , a tongue but to complain , a much oppressed heart , and an eye full of tears . the spring is temperate , summer is hot and dry , autumn cold and dry , and winter cold and moist . the spring begins when the sun enters the sign aries , and continues as the other seasons , with small difference do , some three months , whilst the sun runs through as many signs of the zodiack , whose number and order virgil thus describes . primus adest aries 1 , taurus 2 insignibus auro cornibus , & fratres 3 , & cancer 4 , aquatile signum , tum leo 5 terribilis nemeus , atque innuba virgo 6. libra 7 subit , caudaque animal 8 quod dirigit ictum . armatusque arcu chyron 9 & corniger hircus 10 , fusor aqua 11 simul & fulgenti lumine pisces 12. the name of humor is given to whatsoever is perceived flowing in the body of a living creature endued with blood . the same is , first , natural ; or , secondly , against nature . the natural is again divided into primary and secundary , alimentary and excrementitious . the alimentary or nourishing humors were constituted by the antients four in number ; 1. blood. 2. phlegm . 3. choler . 4. melancholly . but the modern esteem that blood only is a fit nourishment of the body , and that the other humors flowing with it , whereunto they have added the lymphatick and pancreatical juice , do only contribute to its effervescency or temperature , as will be said hereafter , amongst whcih humours there is no melancholy , except the thickest and grossest part of the blood as is found in the atrabiliary capsules , or is evacuated by the haemorroids , be taken for it . but before we expound how blood is produced , let us hear how the ancients did conceive it ; it is thus expressed by the danish poet , arocusis . du mauge , gode kock , din mad saa vel for kryder , at derat , kortar hid , en kraftig saft ud flyder , som du til leftueren , vid middel aaren , sender , inarings meening shy , hun den til blod forvender , ocs giffuer det igieu , naar saften ny yder , at samme ferske blod til alle lemmer flyder , ued aarr gangr krum , &c. that is , thou stomack , gallant cook , thy meat so well dost dress , that of it in a trice , thou canst a juic● express full of craft , which is then sent , by the middle vein , to th' liver , that it may the dye of blood obtain , whence it is given out , when th' other sap is wanting and is seen through our limbs , a free passage attempting by crooked channel-veins , &c. this was the antients meaning , but the moderns have found , that the aliments being well chewed in the mouth , are by the oesophagus transported into the stomack , where by the virtue of some acid liquors , proceeding from the reliques of the former concoction , and the vapours of the pancreatical juice , together with the sub●il descending from the maxillar glandules , they are fermented , agitated and calified , almost in the same manner , as mettals are dissolved by aqua fortis . in the mean time the aliments , helped by the warmth of the neighbouring parts , do often contract a spontaneous heat , as we see sometimes hay , too freshly brought in , whereby they are digested , which being done , the stomack straightning it self , and opening its lower orifice , called the pilorus , they are thrust down to the duodenum , where by an effervescency arising from the mixture of choler , descending thither by the biliary conduit , together with the pancreatical juice , and phlegm sticking to the bowels , they are segregated , and their grossest parts precipitated down to be expelled at the seat ; whilst the subtilest , called chylus , are transported by the milky veins , to the common receptacle , where being diluted by the lymphatick humor , the chylus is carried by the thoracick conduits to the subclavicular branch of the vena cava , where it is mixt with the blood , descending from the head and other superiour parts ; of whose nature and colour it begins then to partake , without coming to the liver , which therefore can neither be the seat nor organ of sanguification . the chylus thus mixt with the descending blood , being come into the trunck of the vena cava , is mingled with the blood which ascends by the same vein , from the inferiour parts , and is transmitted into the right ventricle of the heart , where it suffers an effervescency arising from the mixture of the lymphatick spirit , and the lixivious salt of choler , communicated to the blood , out of the gall by the hepatick conduit , whereby the fiery parts of each being freed of their hindrance , do insinuate themselves in the oily parts of the blood , which they rarify , whereby the valvules of the vena cava are shut up , and the blood thus rarified , craving a larger room than before , the heart is compell'd to its expulsion , which it effects by the collected fibres , as another muscle , and the valvules of the arterial vein being opened it is transported into the lungs , cooled by respiration , whereby the heart and the said vein is unswell'd , and the blood is conveigh'd by the usual artery , whose valvules are then open , into the left ventricle of the heart , where it is again heated and rarified , and being carried by the aortal artery , whose valvules then give passage , into the greatest arteries , and from thence into the smaller , the heart and the said arteries leave swelling , and the bl●od is thence received by the anastomoses in the veins , from whence it proceeds , through the vena cava , into the right ventricle of the heart , repeating so a continual circulation , a perpetuum mobile during our life . blood is temperate , of a mean thickness , red in colour , and of a sweet taste , it serves instead of fuel to the vital heat , which it conveys to the several parts , to whose nutrition and increase it alone contributes . the antients did divide it into venal and arterial , though the place of their flowing be their chief difference . phlegm is of a watry nature , liquid , whitish and unsavoury , it serveth to the ●●fervescency in the duodenum , tempers the blood , and renders the joynts slippery . choler is of a fiery nature , a thin consistence , a yellow colour , and a bitter taste , it causeth an effervescency in the duodenum , and another in the heart , as aforesaid ; it provokes the expelling faculty , and thins all phlegm sticking to the inward parts . the lymphatick humour is of a pure watry substance , without any colour , and of a subacid taste . its uses are manifold , but the chief are to promote an easier slowing of the chylus , and to convey the blood through the thoracick conduit to the heart , and there contribute to its effervescency , it tempers the blood and perhaps , together with phlegm , moistens the articulations of the joynts . according to the antients , phlegm predominates from midnight till sun-rising ; blood from that time till noon , thence choler obtains the superiority till sun-setting , and they gave the remaining time till midnight to melancholy , which we have said to be nothing but grosse blood. phlegm is also more copious in autumn , blood in the spring , choller in summer , and melancholy or thick blood in winter . they esteemed also phlegm to be moved every day , choler every third day , and melancholy every fourth ; supposing the quotidian ague to be caused by phlegm , the tertian by choler , and the quartan by melancholy , which de graff attributes to the various obstructions of the lateral branches of the pancreas ; in his treatise de succo pancreatico . the signs of a bloody complexion , are a red colour in the face , a moist heat through the whole body , sleshy muscles , great veins , and a chearful heart . cholericks are of a yellowish colour , a light disposition , and a lean body ; they are witty and liberal , but wrathful and revengeful . phlegmaticks are pale , of a soft flesh , sometimes fat , lazy , sleepy and dull . melancholick or thick blooded men have a blackish face , and a sad look , they are sorrowful , obstinate , fearful and covetous , but withall very capable of doctrine . the arabs instituted four secundary humours , whereof they called the first innominate or implanted , which they supposed to be conteined in the extremities of the little veins , where it begun to take some alteration of the several parts . they called the same daw , when ( as it were ) it bedewed them . gluten , when it stuck fast to them ; and cambium , when it was wholy converted into their substance , but the nutrition and increase of the several parts is better expressed by the moderns , as will be said , when we speak of functions . when the primary humors exceed the bounds of their due qualities , they are deemed against nature , and they may be corrupted in the veins or out of them . phlegm , corrupted in the veins , is of a sower or salt taste , and of no colour ; but out of the veins , it is distinguished in muscous , watry , plastry and glazy , whereunto the lymphatick humour , the salive , and the pancreatical juice may be conveniently referred when they are vitiated . choler , corrupted in the veins , is called vitellin , or like the yolk of eggs , which the antients esteemed to be produced by an intense heat , but is more truly atributed to the mixture of some acid humour , as can be perceived when a little spirit of vitriol is powred into some gall ; it often degenerates in poraceous , rus●y , and glasteous , according to its degrees of acidity . the melancholy humour or thickest blood , is by some thought to turn by adustion into black choler , but according to regnerus de graaf , this last proceeds from the mixture of choler with a too acid pancreatical juice , whereby it is turned into a greenish black colour , as the antients describe the atrabiliary humour . the excrementitious humours are also 1. phlegm . 2. choler . 3. melancholly . 4. and , serum . they are called excrementitious , because they can yield no nourishment to the body , and therefore are expelled , 1. phlegm , not to the brains , as the antients conceived , but to the maxillar glandules , and thence through the mouth and nostrils out of the body . 2. choler , by the cystick arteries to the gall , whence the superfluous part is expelled to the duodenum , and thence evacuated at the seat. 3. melancholly , which is not attracted by the spleen , as the antients supposed , but is an excrement of the grossest blood , which is often evacuated by the haemorrhoides , and is also sent to the atrabiliary capsuls , to be , perhaps , voided with the urine , which therefore appears sometimes of a black colour . 4. serum , which is either evacuated , first , in the form of vapours , by transpiration , whereby , according to sanct●rius , more than the half part of our aliments are dissipated . secondly , or in the consistence of urine which being separated from the bloud in the kidneys , and filtred through the papillar caruncles into the pilorus , is powred through the uriters , into the bladder , and having received the thinnest , and most serous part of the chylus immediately from the stomack , by the gastrick vein , is thence evacuated out of the body . to serum , is also referred sweat and the tears we shed . a part or limb is defined , a body adhering to the whole , and partaking of the same life with it , being created for the exercising of certain functions . they are distinguished in similaries and dissimilaries . a similary part , is that , which cannot be divided in other parts of a different species ; and it is twofold , spermatick and carnal . 1. the spermatick are constructed in the first conformation of the body , out of the grossest part of the seed . 2. the carnal out of the menstrualblood . the similary parts are eleven in number . 1. bones . 2. tendrels . 3. ligaments . 4. tendons . 5. membranes . 6. fibres . 7. a threefold flesh ( the musculous , the parenchyme , and the glandules . ) 8. the skin . 9. the veines . 10. the arteries . 11. and the nerves or sinews . the bones are joyned either by , i. diarthrosis , or articulation with some motion , either by 1. enarthosis , when there is a considerable quantity of the bone received in a large cavity . 2. arthrodia , when the receiving cavity is but supersiciary . 3. ginglime , when a bone receives and is received . ii. symphosis , or coalition without motion . 1. sutures , as in the bones of the head. 2. harmony , as in the bones of the nose and upper jaw . 3. gomphosis , as the teeth . and they are bound either by , first , syncondrosis , or with a tendrel . secondly , syndeurosis , or a ligament . thirdly , sysarcosis , or with some flesh or muscle . note that to the exercising of the similary parts functions , there needs only their due temper and commoderation . a dissimilary part is that , which may be divided in parts of a different species , many do confound them with the organical . nevertheless there is this difference , that all dissimilary parts are organical , but not all organical , dissimilary ; for the bones , veins and arteries are similary , and yet produce organical actions . four conditions are requisite to the perfect exercising of the dissimilaries actions : namely , 1. a due conformation . 2. magnitude . 3. number . 4. and conjunction . whereof the last comprehends two others , to wit , seat and connexion . these parts are distinguished in , first , containing ; and secondly , contained . and then again , in 1. common ; and 2. proper . distinguished in 1. nobles ; 2. ignobles . first , the noble or principal parts , distributing the spirits and faculties to the whole body , are absolutely necessary to it . they are three ; viz. 1. the brains . 2. heart . 3. liver . which being excepted , all the rest are ignoble , as being subservient to them , and they are the other parts of 1. the head. 2. trunk . and 3. 〈◊〉 . 1. the head , is divided in the soul , and face ; the common containing parts whereof are , the thin and the hairy skin , the fat and the ●leshy membrane ; it s proper parts are the scalp , or pericrane , the perioste , the muscles , the bones , and two meninges . the contained parts of it are the brain , the a●ter-brain , and the marrow . the second hath in its upper part the sore-head , in the lower , the mouth , and the instruments of the senses , as the eyes , the eares , the nose , &c. 2. the trunk is distinguished in the breast and lower belly , the proper containing parts of the first , besides , the muscles , bones , &c. being the pap , the midriff , the pleure , and the mediastin . the contained are either bowels , as the heart , with its purse , the lungs , a part of the weazon and of the throat ; or vessels , as some branches of the vena cava , and great artery ; sustained by the thymus in the throat and several sinews . the lower bellies proper containing parts , are the muscles of the panch , and the belly-rim . the contained are either employed to nutrition , namely to chylification , as the stomack , the kall , the sweet-bread , the guts , and the mesentery ; or to sanguisication , as the mesaraick veins , the post vein , and the cava , the liver , the gall , the bladder , and the milt . 3. the ioints are divided in the uppermost , containing the great hand , namely the arm , that is , the shoulder , from the upper shoulder to the elbow ; and the cubit from the elbow to the wrist . the lesser hand , divided in the wrist between the cubit and the palm , and the fist between the wrist and the beginning of the fingers , whose inward part is called the palm , and the outward , the back of the hand . the undermost contain the great foot , comprehending the thigh , from the britch to the knee , the leg from the knee to the lesser foot , which is divided in the foot , pedium , metapedium , and toes . before we come to faculties and functions , it will not be amiss to say what the soul is . they define it the substantial form of a living body , and the inward principle of the actions thereof . for , the soul a substance and a spirit is , which god himself doth in the body make which makes the man , for every man from this the nature of a man , and name doth take . it s connexion with the body is called life , and its separation death : neither is this last greatly to be feared of a christian , since it is but a passage to a better life , and that , as saith the italian poet. altro mal non ha morte chél pensar a morire , e chi morir pur duce , quanto piu tosto more , tanto piu tosto al suo morir sinvola . a faculty is a certain disposition of the body , whereby it can do something , though it may be , it doth it not , so that it is only a power of acting . it s division is needless , since it is but one power , though it produceth several actions , according to the vacuity of its organs . a function , is described , the exercise of a faculty , and is only distinguisted in natural and animal , pulse being referred by the moderns to sanguification , whereof we have spoken in the theorem of blood , and respiring to motion , of which will be said hereafter . the natural function is divided in , 1. nutrition . 2. growth . 3. generation . to the first whereof the antients made four others to be subservient ; for as dykes saith of the soul , here she attracts , and there she doth retain , here she decocts , and doth the food prepare , there she distributes it to every vein : and here expels what she may fitly spare . yet the moderns do exclude from thence all similary attraction and retention , deglution being performed by detrusion only ; the several parts of the mouth , the tongue , the oesophague , &c. contributing thereunto ; retention being also effected by the oblique fibres of the stomack ; but hunger is produced by the sourish vapors of the acid in the stomack , which do gently vellicate its upper orifice , and the apparent cause of thirst is the want of moisture . to concoction three others are subordinate . 1. chylification . 2. sanguification . 3. assimilation . the two first whereof , together with expulsion , are explained in the describing of humours , so that only assimilation and growth are here to be expounded , which take thus . when the arteries begin to swell , as aforesaid , the particles of the blood , which in them are convey'd to the roots of certain filaments , issuing from the ends of the smallest arteries , whereby they compose the bones , flesh , skin , &c. according to the various manner of their application and contexture , or directed by the same plastick virtue whereby the said parts were formed , which they nourish , something distending them , and intruding themselves in their vacancies ; where they remain , when the arteries return to their former state . and growth is likewise effected : the pores of the matter of chi●drens bodies being easily extended , whereby some particles of the blood , a little greater than those whose places they fill , may enter and subsist therein , which cannot be longer done , when their limbs are grown more solid . generation is a function , whereby a man produceth another like to himself , whereunto the antients did subordain two others , 1. alteration . 2. conformation . which the moderns do rather attribute to the plastick virtue of the seed , though denyed by rhegius and other cartesians , who affirm , that the particles of the seed , moved by its own heat , and that of the uterus , because of their various figures , are necessarily turned into the brood of an animal , whereunto they since attribute the whole formation of the foetus , without the function of any intellectual faculty directing it . the animal function is divided in , 1. principal . 2. moving . 3. sensitive . whereof the first comprehends these three , viz. 1. imagination , whereby all objects species offered to the external senses are perceived and discerned . 2. reasoning , whereby a man discourseth and understands . 3. memory , whereby the species of things perceived , conceived and understood are preserved , whereof will be further spoken in the period of sensation . motion is thus performed , the most vivid and quickest particles of the blood , such as we may conceive the vital spirits , do ascend from the left ventricle of the heart , through the caroties and cervical arteries , into the cavities of the brain , where they are turned into a subtile flame or wind , usually called the animal spirits , which being driven by grosser particles , do not enter in the pineal glandule ( steno having shewed us how unapt it is thereunto ) but in some ( yet unknown ) more convenient place of the head , whence they sally out into the cavities of the brain and the pores of its substance , to be thence conveyed into the nerves , where they have a power ( which the learned willis calleth elastick ) to change the figure of the muscles , and so move the whole body . to this manner of moving respiration is also to be referred , for the muscles of the thorax drawing it up , the lungs , to avoid vacuity , are extended , whereby their small cavities are opened , and receive the inspired air , which is again excluded in expiration , when the lungs following the restriction of the abdomen , their said cavities are again straightned . the sensitive function , is the exercise of the five external senses , which comparatively to certain beasts , are comprised in these two verses . nos aper auditu praecellit , aranea tactu , vultur odoratu , lynx visu , simia gustu . that is , the bore excels in hearing , and the spider by sence of touch , is a subtil divider . the vul●ers smell , th' apes taste , and lynxes sight , excells the man by far , that solid wight . their respective instruments are , 1. the eyes of seeing in the retin● . 2. the ears of hearing in the auditory nerve . 3. the nose of smelling , not through the os cribriforme , which is not pierced as the antients conceived , but by the apophysces mammillares , or the extremities of the nerves . 4. the tongue of ●asting , by the papillary eminencies , noted by bellinus , whence savours are conducted to the filaments of the 4 and 7 pair of the nerves that end there . 5. the skin of touching , by the pyramidal papils , observed by malpigius , and esteemed the extremities of the nerves of the sixth pair ending in it . sensation , is performed as followeth , when the small filaments of the sinews are in the least moved by the objects of the senses , they draw to them the parts of the brain from whence they take origin , whereby they open some pores of the inward superficy of it , through which the animal spirits , being derived into the nerves and muscles , do excite those motions , which we perceive our senses , being thus or so affected , which is to be understood of all sensation ; and if the said spirits , having the impression of some id●a conceived or also discerned in some fit place of the brain ( as cartesius esteemed the pin●al gland●le ) do often pass through the same pores of the brains texture , they do dilate them so , that the objects being absent , they may be represented to the soul , whence memory doth depend . but if opening one or more of them , some others are dilated , reminiscency is effected ; and if the traces of the ideas are conveyed by the smal ar●eries to the heart , and diffuse their beams throughout the mass of blood , it may thence proceed , that the foster is sometimes noted with certain markes . sleep is a cessation of motion and of the external senses , and is produced , when the braines substance is not sufficiently ●istended by the spirits aforesaid , or when it is over●whelmed with vapours ; for in these cases it falls together , and oppresseth the nerves of the several sen●es , that their objects cannot be transmitted . and dreams , which happen during sleep have their origin , partly ●rom the inequality of the spirits issuing ●rom the souls domicil , and partly from the occurring impressions of memory . spirits are defined , a thin , invisible , aethere all and most quick substance , arising from the subtilest parts of the blood , t● be the vehicle of all necessary actions . the antients did divide it , in 1. implanted . 2. adventitious . whereof the first is denyed by some who conceive it impossible , that the● same cause acting in the same manner should last so long , and produce so many and often contrary functions . they were formerly divided as th● faculties were , in 1. natural . 2. vital . 3. animal . but sylvius de le boe , admits none bu● the animal , and other moderns the v●● tal , under which they comprehend th● natural and the animal ; taking th● subtilest parts of the blood , arising fro●● the left ventricle of the heart , for th● first , which are turned in the brains int● the animal , serving . first , to sundry motions of the sou● and body . secondly , to the exercising of the internal and external senses . 3. to the alteration of humours . native heat is a proper and special quality to all animated creatures , whereby they live and exercise their functions , uses , and necessary operations . thus i think to have briefly explained , not only the natural things , but also their annexes , except the manner of living , which if it be watry and moist , ●s obnoxious to diseases of that temper ; but if it be hot and dry , the contrary must be expected . in sum , it appears by the premises , that the body of man is a microcosme , composed of several parts , wonderfully effig●r●ted , and adorned with sundry functions , created to be for a certain time , the domicil or dwelling place of the rational soul , so that not without cause , the german poet exclaimes , o edles wundertheir , zur weisheit auserkohren , uoll geist , voll luft , voll got , vom himmel selbst gebohren , du herr , du eben bild , und auszug allerwelt , der unter ies den lauff der hohen sterner stelt , du weise creatuur , &c. o thou noble animal , wonder to wisdom chosen , full of spirit and god , from heaven it self rosen . thou lord , type , and extract of the whole univers , disposing under thee the course of the high stars , thou creature full of wit &c. those things are called not natural , which do not enter in the bodies composition , but by a right use whereof it may long be maintained healthful and sound . they are , 1. air. 2. eating and drinking . 3. motion and quiet . 4. sleeping and watching . 5. repletion and evacuation . 6. the passions of the mind . in the administration of all which we ought to consider , 1. the quality . 2. quantity . 3. manner of using . a free , open , serene , and thin air is to be esteemed the best ; as also the east and north winds ; but the south and western are held unwholsom . the simpler our diet is , the healthful●er it is to be esteemed ; for as hora●e saith , the variety of meat is very noxious , viz. — nam variae res ut noceant homini credas , memor illius escae , que simplex olim tibi sederit , at simul assis miscueris elixa , simul conchilia turdis , dulcia se in bilem vertent stomachoque tumultum lenta feret pituita ; vides ut pallidus omnis coenâ desurgit dubiâ . — that thou mayst know how various things offend , think but what single meat did once defend thee from approaching hunger , but at last , roasted with boyld , and birds with shels thou hast together mixt ; in choler what is sweet will turn it self , and thy stomack surfeit with slimy phlegm : consider then how pale each riseth from his seat , and doubtful meal . meats affording a good juice , and substance , are doubtless the wholsomest , and nevertheless , in expending them , the sicknesses nature , the strength , age , and labour of the patient are to be perspicuously considered , whereunto an inveterate custom is to be added : for country men and labourers convert meats of an easy digestion into choler , but extract a laudable substance of a courser● diet , and thus , consuetudo valet , longos mansura per annos , illaque naturam , vires si sumpserit , aequat . a constant use a second nature proves , and if increast , with equal force it moves . neither did the antients neglect order in eating , for they esteemed that what was easily decocted , should enter first into the stomach , and that lubrick meat ought to precede those that are astringent : but it is now believed that those niceti●s may be omitted , since the aliments are all converted in one mass , whence the chylus is afterward separated . whereunto i shall only add these two verses of drinking . aut nulla ebrietas , aut tanta sit , ut tibi curas , eripiat , si quae est inter utrumque nocet . be never drunk , or so much let it be as to asswage thy cares ; else 't will hurt thee . motion comprehends all kind of exercises ; the same ought to be moderate , and we ought to leave it when sweat begins to break out through the pores ▪ for immoderate labour weakens the body , and is very pernicious , as ovid saith of himself . me quoque debilitat semis immensa laborum , ante meum tempus cogit & esse senem . otia corpus alunt , animus quoque pascitur illis , immodicus contra , carpit utrumque labor . continual toyl weakens my weary limbs , and makes me old before my time be come : body and mind , by rest are fed , it seems , but too much work precipitates their doom . sleep , as we said before , is a cessation from motion and sence , whose office is the restoring of the bodies former strength . it s proper time is night , an hour or two after supper . the first lying not being first on the right side , as many believe , but on the left , where the bottom of the stomach is and the meat ought to lye , and about morning , when concoction is ended on the right ; neither should it exceed the space of fight hours ; wherewith , if some are not satisfied , certainly the sooner , longa quiescendi tempora fata dabunt . the fates will give sufficient time to sleep . dreams do in some manner indicate what ex●retion will be in the crisis , for if red and fiery , they presage a cholerick one ; if moist and watry , a phlegmatick . moderate watching quickens the senses , and diffuseth heat and blood through the whole body . but if it be immoderate , it weakens the same , dries up the spirits , and spoiles the brains temperature . repletion is either of quality or of quantity . the first is seen in the hectick feaver , or marasmus . the second hath a relation to the containing parts , and is measured by their distention ; or to the bodies strength , when the same is fuller of humours than it can well bear . the repletion of a single humour is called cacochimy ; that of more pletora . evacuation , in the strictest sence , is an effusion of such humours as are superfluous and hurtful , and is either of the whole body , chiefly performed by phlebotomy , sweat and purgation , or of the several parts , by their respective conduits , as the brains , by the eyes , nose and eares , the lungs by the wind-pipe , &c. in all evacuation , three things are to be observ'd and considered , the quantity , quality , and manner of excretion , v. g. the empieme being opened , the excluded matter ought to be answerable in quantity to that which is included . the most laudable is white , even , and as little stinking as may be . and lastly , all must be purged out at one time , least the patient suffer too great an effusion of spirits . the passions of the soul , or perturbations of the mind , are very prevalent to alter the bodies constitution ; for as the banished poet saith , unda locusque nocent , & causa valentior istis , anxietas animi ; quae mihi semper adest . the sea and place do hurt , but yet i find a greater cause , the torment of my mind . we wil therefore brie●ly expound their effects . a moderate ioy , dilates the heart , and distributes abundance of spirits to the face , and other parts ; it helps concoction , and renders our habitude more chearful , and pleasant . anger or wrath performs the like effusion , but much more rapid and swift● it kindleth sometimes the humours so much , that it makes them apt to receive a sharp volatile salt , which is thought the cause of putrid feavers , and produceth also other symptoms ; yet it may be profitably used , to quicken the natural heat , and render it more active , when it is almost prostrated . sorrow and fear , draw heat and blood suddenly to the heart , whence the forces do presently fall , and sometimes death immediately follows , the vital faculty being over whelmed with blood and spirits . this i conceive sufficient , since all other passions of the mind may be referred to these three or four . those things are termed against nature , which may procure the destroying and ruine of the body . they are the cause of diseases , disease it self , and its accidents , or symptoms . the cause of a disease , is , whatsoever doth any way contribute to the being , or increase of it . which , though physitians give them many distinctions , may nevertheless all be referred to the efficient , especially divided in 1. external , 2. internal ; for , alas ! how many things may extinguish our light . the humours within us maintain an equal fight ; and least it be too long , death hath a pike , a ball , a sword , a knife , a stone and an arrow , to cut our feeble thred , &c. the external cause cometh from without ; the internal hath its seat in the body , and is either , 1. antecedent , that yeilds aptitude to a sickness . or , 2. conjoyn'd , which immediately , and of it self perfects it . they are also co-ingendred with the patient , or have accesse to him after his birth . a disease is , a disposition against nature immediately , and of it self , hurting the actions . the same is simple or complicated . the first is , when there is no plurality , or composition of diseases . the second , when it is followed of many symptoms , or when the cause is so connexed with it , that it may be lookt upon as a particular sickness . diseases are of a threefold species . 1. intempery . 2. evil conformation . 3. solution of continuity . the first is , an indisposition of the similary parts , caused by the excess of a single humour or the exuberance of more ; the last whereof is called naked , or conjoyned with a vice of the same humours , and is termed equal , as being ●qually spread throughout the whole body , or inequal , as affecting only some particular part of it . there are four sorts of evil conformation . namely in , 1. figure . 2. magnitude . 3. number . 4. scituation . solution of continuity is a common disease , of the similary and organical parts , which hath several names , according to the places where it is incident ; for in the flesh it is called helcos , in the bones , cathagma ; in the nerves , spasma . the symptoms of a disease are the effects and productions of it ; to wit , 1. a hurt action , ( that is 1. abolished . 2. diminished . or , 3. depraved . ) 2. a vice in the bodyes habitude . 3. vitiated excretions . of the aforesaid precepts are collected two intentions . 1. what is to be done . 2. and if it may be done . but the third belongs to art , viz. how it must be done . the practice whereof is better declared in the words annexed , and the following chapters , that do briefly comprehend what doth belong to a chirurgeon . the indications are of three first and principal species , viz. 1. the first is drawn from the natural things which do indicate their conservation , by the use of things like to themselves , and of this kind are the indications drawn from , 1. the strength and forces of the patient , which to preserve , the proper cure is often to be delayed , for without them , the chirurgeon can effect but little . 2. his temper , viz. 1. sanguine . 2. cholerick . 3. phlegmatick . 4. melancholy . 3. the habitude of his body . 1. soft and delicate . 2. lean or fat. 3. tall or short. least he lose that symetry which nahath allotted him . 4. the condition and nature of the part affected . wherein we consider , 1. it s substance , whether if similary , it be , 1. hot. 2. cold. 3. moist . 4. dry. if organical , 1. principal , 2. or ignoble . if it be , 1. of a quick sense . 2. or stupid and dull . and lastly , it s 1. form. 2. figure . 3. magnitude . 4. number . 5. connexion . 6. action or use. 5. the age ; for many diseases cannot be cured in old age. 6. the sex , for women are easier purged than men. 7. the season of the year , for hot meat is convenient in winter , cold in summer , moist in autumn , and dry in the spring . 8. the time of the disease , for what is convenient in the beginning , is not so in the progress , state or end . ii. the second is drawn from the things not natural ; which do indicate their alteration ; as if air does conspire with nature against the disease , it ought to be kept ; otherwise , it must be altered . iii. the third is taken from the things against nature , which indicate their ablation , and are , 1. the cause of a disease . 2. the disease it self . 3. the symptoms . which do often indicate contrary things ; but then this is the rule . when there is complication , the first remedies ought to take away , 1. the most dangerous . 2. the cause . 3. that without which nothing can be done . as , 1. loss of blood. 2. fluxion . 3. intempery . a short compendium of the practical part of chirurgery . chap. ii. of impostumes . having thus far treated of such theorems and institutions , as are wholly necessary to be known of all well wishers to chirurgery , let us now say something of the practical part thereof , since it is almost impossible to treat perfectly of the theorical , unless the same do give some urgent occasion of it , and in this it resembles the three parts of curative physick , that can hardly be separated from one another , for as a french poet doth intricately say ; quand un cordier cordant vent accorder sa corde , pour sa corde accorder , trois cordens il accorde , mais si un des cordons de la corde discorde , le cordon discordant fait discorder la corde . when a ropemaker makes a rope , of smaller ropes he twisteth three , but he cannot attain his hope if one of them do disagree . we shall then divide this small treatise into six other chapters . the first whereof shall give the general documents of impostumes . the second of wounds . the third of ulcers . the fourth of fractures and dis●ocations . the fifth of the generation and production of man. the sixth of the venereal disease . the seventh of some other indispositions that are cured by chir●rgery . an impostume then is defined , a disease , composed of three others . 1. intempery . 2. evil conformation . 3. solution of continuity . the general causes of it are , 1. fluxion . 2. congestion . the subordinate ones of the first whereof are commonly , 1. a lower scituation of the part af●ected . 2. the soreness of it . 3. it s heat , caused by a two violent motion . 4. the outward proximity of some hot body . 5. or the application of sharp medicaments . the causes of congestion are two namely a defect of assimulation in the diseased part . 2. the infirmity of the expulsive function . the difference of impostumes are manifold but they are chiefly taken of their quality , whereby they are termed great , of a mean greatness , or little . or of the part affected , as opthalmys in the eye , varices in the legs . or of their accidents , as their soreness , whence they are called painful , smarting , insensible , &c. or of their colour , by reason of which some are called red , white , livid , yellow , &c. but the chiefest and most necessary difference is that which is taken from the matter whereof they are composed , which the following discourse will more clearly manifest . the matter of impostumes is either , i. natural , which is , 1. hot , as blood , whence is made a true phlegm ; or , choler , whence a true erisipelas is produced . 2. cold , as first phlegm , whence riseth a true oedema . secondly , melancholy , whence is made a schirrus . ii. or against nature , which is either first , blood , whence are made , 1. carbuncles . 2. antraces . 3. gangrenae . 4. istiomene . 5. sphacelus . secondly , choler ; whence are produced , 1. herpes , of the thickest . 2. herpes miliares , of the thinnest . thirdly , phlegm , whence arise , 1. waterish , 2. windy impostumes . 3. scrophulae . 4. knobs , &c. fourthly , melancholy , whence are engendred , 1. a spurious schirrus , 2. all kinds of cankers . the signs of a sanguine impostume are pain in the diseased part , the heat of it , its redness , and tention . coldness , softness and a lesser pain indicates a phlegmatick one . a yellowish and pale colour , and a smarting pain , sheweth it to be cholerick . and tension , hardness and lividity , with some pain by fits , do manifest that it is caused of melancholly , or thick blood. the antients believed also that they had the paroxisms , and moving time of such humours as they are made of . thus the indisposition of an oedema was more intense from midnight till sun-rising ; a phlegmon more painful from sun-rising till noon ; thence to sun-setting , an erisipelas ; and a scirrhus or canker , from that time till midnight . concerning the prognosticks of impostumes , those that are caused of cold humours or thick blood , are of a longer curation , and such whose matter is against nature , are healed with greater difficulty , than those caused of a natural one ; whereunto you may add such as turn themselves in schirres and knobs . there is to be considered in all impostumes four times . viz. 1. their beginning . 2. augmentation . 3. state. 4. decrease . the first whereof is , when the part beginneth to swell and pain . the second when the swelling pain , and other accidents do increase . the third , when they receive no augmentation . the fourth , when they do decrease . they are commonly termined in four manners , namely , 1. by resolution . 2. suppuration . 3. induration of the part , 4. or by its corruption and gangrene ; which is worst of all . the signs of resolution are an itching of the diseased part , with the slacking of pulsation , tension , heat , and other accidents . those of suppuration are the greatness and vehemency of the feavour , pain , pulsation and heat . a diminution of swelling and pain , and a hardness left in the affected part do indicate its induration . and when the accidents of heat , pain , pulsation and tension are greater , than they use to be in suppuration ; when the pain ceaseth suddenly , without any manifest cause , if the part grows livid and blackish , and lastly if it stinkes , gangreen is more than fully signified . the first indication in the cure of all impostumes , is the prohibiting of fluxion by repelling and intercepting remedies . the second is an evacuation of the matter causing it , whether it be by resolution , repulsion or suppuration . if it be caused by congestion , then the part is to be corroborated , and the accidents corrected ; taking alwayes the indication from the most urgent . we ought in this cure to observe three things , namely , whether the matter causing the impostume be ready to flow , floweth , or is yet impacted in the diseased part . in the beginning of all impostumes , we ought alwayes to use repelling remedies , unless it be , 1. when the matter is venenous , thick , s●ow , viscous or deep hidden 2. when the abcess is critical . 3. the fluxion near the noble parts . 4. and falleth on too weak a member . 5. and lastly , when the body it self is wholly plethorical . a chirurgeon , being but the helper of nature , ought chiefly in the increase , state , and declination of impostumes , to attend what she aimeth at , whether it be to resolution or suppuration , without forceing her to a contrary motion , when that which she intends is not wholly perninitious : whereunto to attain i have here added the description of some cataplasms , wherewith one may perform all necessary intention in the general cure of impostumes . the matter causing them is discussed and repelled by the following cataplasm . recipe , barley meal , the iuice of house leek , and plantain , of each , two ounces , powder made of pomegranate rind , and of wild granate flowers , with a like quantity of roses , two drachms , oyl of mirtle , and roses , of each an o●nce ; make a cataplasme . they are resolved by this . recipe , mallows , marshmallows , of each three handfulls ; let them boyl , adding thereunto barley meal two ounces , ordinary honey one ounce , oyl of camomile and melilot , of each an ounce and half ; make a cataplasme . the following brings them to suppuration . recipe , the roots of white lillies , and marshmallows , the leaves of mallows , pellitory and grounsel , of each one handful , let them be boyled in metheglin , stamped and sithed , add to them powder of linseed two ounces , swines fat , and oyl of lilies , of each an ounce and a half ; make a cataplasme . and this last mittigates the pain of them when it is too intense . recipe , crums of white bread dipped in luke-warm milk a pound and half , yolkes of eggs three , oyl of roses two ounces , and one scruple of saffron , make a cataplasme . note , that though this be the general cure of impostumes , they have nevertheless a more proper and particular one according to their several differences , but this is as 't were a rule whereby to proceed in it . chap. iii. of wounds . the general practice of impostumes , being sufficiently treated of in the former chapter , this shall be adapted to expound such notions , as belong to the cure of wounds , whereof this is the definition . a wound is a solution of continuity caused by an external instrument , in any part of the body , but the bones . their causes are all such things as may violate the outward circumference of the body , and unnaturally enter in it ; and they are either animated , as the biting and stinging of beasts , or inanimated , as swords , darts , bullets , &c. the difference of wounds is manifold , and as samoicus saith , tam varia humanae sunt vulnera conditionis , ut nequeant proprias cunctis adscribere curas . the wounds of men are seen so manifold the proper cure of each cannot be told . nevertheless i have endeavoured to include the most general in the following paragraphs . the differences of wounds are drawn either , i. from the nature of the wounded part , which is , first , similary , and that 1. soft , as the glandules and flesh. 2. hard , as the gristles . 3. mean , as the membranes and ligaments . secondly , diss●milary , which is either , 1. principal , as 1. the brains , 2. the heart . 3. the liver . 2. ministring to the principal , as 1. aspera arteria , 2. the lungs . 3. neither of the foresaid , as 1. the eyes , 2. the hands . 3. the feet . ii. from their own essence , whereby they are termed , first simple , when there is no complication of other diseases or accidents . secondly composed , when there is some other disease or accident indicating a peculiar curation . iii. from their quantity , by which they are termed , first , great , that is , 1. long , 2. broad , 3. deep . secondly mean in all dimensions . thirdly , little , that is , 1. short , 2. narrow , 3. superficious . iv. from their figure , whence we call them , 1. strait , 2. round , 3. crooked , &c. when a wound doth pierce the skul , ●s known by these following signs . the wounded party doth presently ●all , lying without sense , as if he were a sleep ; the ex●rements are not retain●ed , and surely , if the blood floweth by the ears , nostrils , or the mouth , and if ●he vomits choler , &c. whether the wound penetrates into the thorax , is known , if the air com●eth forth at the wound , with a difficulty of respiration , if there be a gravative ●ain on the diaphragme , which is caused by much blood lying on that part , that must afterward be rejected by coughing . a little after cometh a feaver , and stinking breath , the patient can lye but on the back , and hath a perpetual desire of vomiting ; it often degenerates in a fistula . when the lungs are hurt , there issueth a spumous blood at the wound with co●ghing ; there is a great difficulty of respiration , and pain of the 〈◊〉 . we know the heart to be wounded , by the great quantity of blood that cometh out at the wound ; by a trembling of the whole body , a little pulse , a paleness of the face , and a cold sweat , and ●requent swounings , a coldness of the extremities , and a hasty death . when the diaphragme is hurt , there is a gravati● pain in that part , with phrensie , difficulty of breath , cough with a sharp pain , and a contraction of the flanks upwards . these signs appearing , one may pronounce death to be near . the vena cava or great artery being hurt , death speedily followeth , because of the great loss of blood and spirits , whence the function of the heart and lungs do cease . when the medulla spinalis is wounded , a paralysis or conv●lsion , presently hapneth , the motion of the lower part is abolished , the excrements of the belly and bladder either flow unwittingly , or are wholly suppressed . the liver being wounded , there cometh a great deal of blood out at the wound , and a pungitive pain is felt as far as the cartilage xiphoides , which death often followeth . when the stomach is wounded , the meat and drink cometh out at the wound , then come sweats and cold of the extremities , fore-runners of death . if the spleen be wounded ▪ there floweth a blackish blood at the wound , thirst troubleth the patient , with a pain of the left side , and the blood flowing into the belly , causeth many accidents , and often death . the gutts being wounded , a great pain torments the bowels , the excrements issue out at the wound , and sometimes the gutts out of the abdomen , which afterwards pain and swell . when the kidneys are hurt , there is a great pain in making water , the blood coming out therewith , and the pain stretching it self to the yard and testicles . the bladder and ureters being wounded , the pain reacheth to the flanks , the parts of the nombril are extended , the urine cometh out bloody , and sometimes out at the wound . when the womb is hurt , the blood cometh out at the privities , the same accidents appearing as when the bladder is wounded . the nerves being prickt or half cut , a sharp pain is felt in the wounded part , with a sudden inflammation , fluxion , tumor , feaver and convulsion , often with gangrene and death ; unless it be remedied in time . those wounds are esteemed dangerous , which do affect some principal sinew , vein , or artery ; whereunto are added those that are in●licted in the privities of man or woman , or in their parts dedicated to natural excretion ; as also those that hurt either end of any muscle ; but such as are in the fleshy parts , according to the length of the fibres are esteemed the least considerable . if a bone , sinew , tendrel , or a portion of the face , or prepuce be cut off , it cannot be repaired . all wounds in the bladder , brain , heart , liver , lungs stomach , and smal● guts are deemed mortal . the general indication in the cure of wounds is the adjunction of what is separated , wherein the chirurgeon ought to be furnished with five intentions . the first whereof is to extract all strange bodies , as bullets , darts , arrows , splinters , &c. if any do hinder the wounds agglutination . the second , to bring the divided extremities together . the third , to keep them so . the fourth , to preserve the wounded parts temperature . the fifth to correct such accidents as may fall out . the first of these intentions is performed , either with the fingers , or some material instrument , at the first dressing , unless the extraction of the foresaid things might occasion an hemoragy , or some other dreadful accident ; for then the safest is to leave their expulsion to nature : but since it may sometimes not little be advanced by medicaments , take this following description . recipe , the root of iris of florence , of panacis and capers , of each three drachms , round aristaloch , manna and frankincense , of each one drachm , beat them to a powder , and incorporate them with honey of roses , and turpentine of venice , of each two ounces . make a salve thereof . the second and third intention in the cure of wounds are performed in bringing and maintaining together their extremities , by bandages and sutures ; of the first whereof there is three sorts , namely , 1. the incarnative , which is adapted to simple wounds , and is composed of two heads , beginning from the part opposite to the wound , and proceeding towards it . 2. expulsive , which consisteth but of one head , beginning from the bottom of the wound upwards to its orifice . 3. the retentive , which is destinated to fasten topical remedies , and is made according to the figure of the part which is to be bound . there are several sorts of sutures , but of the agglutinatives the most approved is made with a needle held in the right hand of the chirurgeon , wherewith he traverseth the two sides of the vvound , opposing a pierced can●lle , held in the left hand to the point of the needle , which passeth through it , with its thread , whereon is made a double knot , cutting the thread a little above it , and thence it is proceeded to the other stitches , remembring always to make the first stitch in the midst of the wounds length . there is also another suture called dry , fit for wounds in the face , and is made by clinging some pieces of linnen upon it , which are , being dry , brought together with threads pierced through them . the third necessary sature is like to that , which skinners make in sowing their skins together , and is appointed for the bowels and gutts , when they receive any hurt . the others i think needless to describe , these being doubtless the best , whereunto the ingenious artist may add what he thinks fit . the temperature of the affected part is preserved by a good diet , and a convenient use of the universal remedies . the first of these ought to be cold and moist , till the time obnoxious to accidents be passed . spiced and salt meats are hurtful ; the patient must drink barley water , in stead of wine ; and wholly abstain from any violent motion of the mind . the most usual universal remedies are phlebotomy and purgation , which hav● virtue to refresh , divert and expel the humours , that might prove burthensom to the diseased part . amongst accidents , the most urgent is a too great flux of blood , which must be carefully prevented , since it is the treasure of life and strength . it is performed by astringent , refreshing , and agglutinative remedies : as , recipe , sealed earth , and bole armenian , of each half an ounce , frankincense mastick , myrrhe and aloes , of each tw● drachms , flying flower , one ounce . make a powder to be applyed with the yolk of an egg well beaten . if then blood cannot be restrained in this manner , the vein or artery must be prest with the thumb , till a thrumbus be made ; but if that sufficeth not , the flowing vessel ought to be bound , and this yet not prevailing , we are to use escarotides ; as are burnt powder of vitriol , and of mercury , with a portion of pure burnt alum , leaving the scars full to mature . the last remedy is the cutting off the flowing vessel , that its extremities , withdrawing in the flesh , the same may stop its flowing . but all these remedies will doubtless come out of use as soon as the stiptick elixir , to be bought at doctor williams's , his majesties physitian , will be known . pain , being commonly the cause of much weakness and fluxion to the wounded part , the sedation of it ought to be carefully procured by expelling and lenitive remedies , such as is the following . recipe , diacalcitheos plaister , four ounces , oyl of roses and vinegar , of each half an ounce . let all be melted together , and applyed . for lenitive , dip the bands and compresses in oxicraton ( water and vinegar is so called ) or use the following irrigation . recipe , oyl of roses and myrrhe , as much as needs , and with a white of an egg make an irrigation . but if the pain continueth and is too intense , we must with some precaution use narcoticks , whereof here is a description . recipe , the leaves of henbane , and poppy roasted under the ashes , of each three ounces , hogs grease and oyl of roses , of each one ounce , saffron two scruples . make a cataplasm . there is often joyned to pain another symptom , called convulsion , which is defined a forced contraction of the muscles towards their origin . it is of two sorts , general , and particular . the first whereof is divided in three species ; namely , tetonos , when the whole body stands stiff , without being able to incline it self . the second is called opisthotonos , when it is forced backward . and the third emprosthotonos , when it is contracted forward . a particular convulsion is when the eye , the tongue , or any other part instructed with muscles is contracted , or deprived of its natural motion . the causes are repiction , emptiness and pain . paul amanus ●●suting the elastick virtue of will is and its defects . that which is caused by repletion , is cured by evacuating remedies , anointing the back , neck , and contracted part , with this following liniment . recipe , oyl of camomile and laurel , of each two ounces , oyl of foxes , one ounce , the salves of althea and martii , of each an ounce , foxes grease , an ounce , strong water , an ounce and a half , wax as much as needs . make thereof an oyntment . that which proceeds of emptiness , or evacuation , is helped by the use of restorative meats , such as is the following broth. recipe , lettice , bourage , purcelane , of each a handful , of the four greater cold seed of each half an ounce , barberries a drachm . boyl all with a good chickin and let the sick party take of it every morning . that which cometh of pain is cured by remedies contrary to the cause of it , and if it be poysonous , the wound must be instantly amplified , that the matter impacted may flow . and this alexipharmacon poured into the wound , viz. treacle and mithridate dissolved in strong water , in a sufficient quantity with a little mercurial powder . scarified cuppings are also very useful to extract venemous matter , taking care likewise that the patient , in that symptom , have not his mouth fast contracted , lest he bites off his own tongue , as it often falls out , but may conveniently be prevented , by an instrument called speculum oris , which ought therefore alwayes to be at hand . next to convulsion , a palsy ought to be prevented , and cured . it is defined , a mollification of the sinews , with the privation of motion and sense , not indeed of the whole body , but commonly of one side . its causes are either inward , as the humours of either ventricle , and especially phlegm obstructing the progress of the animal spirits through the sinews ; or outward , as falls , blows , and such other accidents . it is cured by diet and purgation , whereunto the decoction of indian wood , will be very profitable , with this topical remedy of faventinus . recipe , oyl of laurel and turpentine , of each three ounces , oyl of lavender , and petroleum , of each an ounce , malvesie , four ounces , strong-water two ounces , pyreth . pepper , mustard-seed , iuniper seed , ivy , and anacardium , pure laudanum , of each an ounce and half . let all be pounded and mixed with wine and olives , let them boyl in a double vessel till the wine be consumed , a strong expression being made , add galbanum , bdelium , euphorbium , myrrhe , castoreum , bear , duck , and storks grease , of each two ounces . make a salve in the form of a liniment , whereunto a little wax if needs be , may be added . exercise and frictions are also very powerful to awake the part affected , and cause the motive spirits to flow in . there is another accident , when the patient either by weakness , proceeding from the loss of blood , poysonous vapours , or the sight of dreadful objects , falls into frequent swounds . it is discerned , 1. when paleness invades the face , with a cold sweat. 2. if a coldness of the whole body be perceived . 3. and if the party do suddenly fall , when it is in the paroxysme . it is prevented by casting cold water in the diseased's face ; but if it proceeds from too great evacuation , the patient must be softly collected on the ground , or on his bed , and a little bread dipped in vvine given him to taste , whereat the spirits may return . but if it proceeds from poysonous vapours , let the patient drink out of a spoon a little treacle and mithridate dissolved in vvine . that which comes of fear , is easily cured , the object being removed , with encouraging and comfortable admonitions . the loss of blood , pain , and feaver , whereunto wounds are subject , do often distract the patient , in a temporary phrensy called delirium , which is defined , a tempor ary perturbation of the phansy , and other mental functions . besides the causes above mentioned , poysonous vapours , and a lesion of the diaphragme do not seldom effect its production ; this last having a plain communication with the brain , by the nerves of the sixth conjugation . if it proceeds from an obstruction of the spirits , the same remedies must be used , as when the body is subject to swounding , but if it coms from an inslammation of the brain , diet and purgation must be instituted , and the hair being shaved , the head being bathed over with exorodine , applying upon it the plaister of diacalcitheos dissolved in rose-water and vinegar , and sleep provoked by the use of broths , wherein you must boyl refreshing herbs , and a knot of vvhite-poppy seed ; and pleasant company , diverting the patient from other sad thoughts and representations of mournful things , may also be very conducible to his health and recovery . of wounds made by fire armes . the industry of men ever clear sighted to their own destruction , having for about 200 yeares since , found out a very speedy way to it , namely gun-powder , and fire-armes ; whose hurts being often waited on by other accidents , it obligeth us to treat especially of their curation . they are either simple or composed , with dilaceration , distemper , and tumor . their signs are commonly a round figure , little effusion of blood , a swelling of the part , and a greenish livid colour . in the first apparel , the wound ought to be dilated , if the wounded parts conformation can permit it , that unnatural bodies if there be any , may be sought out and expelled with the matter . in doing which , if it be possible , the patient must be scituated , as he was when he received the wound . after the extraction of strange bodies , we must prevent pain and fluxion . the first by the repelling and lenitive remedies above described , and the cataplasme appointed for its sedation . the last by diet and purgation , whereunto clysters are commonly used , lest catharicks might cause too great an agitation of humours . thence we must proceed to suppuration , as in all other contused wounds whereunto that which is called digestive and the following oyl are most conveniently used . recipe , oyl of violets , four pound , wherein boyl two young cats , new brought forth , till the bones be loosed off , adding earth-worms duly prepared , one pound . let them boyl together on a slow fire , adding turpentine of venice , and strong-water , three ounces . to be kept in a glass , till there be occasion to make use of it . but if there be any danger of gangrene , we use profitably of egyptiacum dissolved in wine , &c. when the wound is brought to suppuration detersive medicaments must be applyed , such as is the following . recipe , water of boyled barley , the juice of plantain , parsley , agrimony , and of the lesser centory , of each an ounce , let them all boyl together , and in the end of the decoction , add turpentine of venice , three ounces , hony of roses , two ounces , flower of barley , three ounces , saffron , one scruple . mix all together , and make a cleansing oyntment . lastly , having care to prevent other accidents according to art , the wound must be brought to a perfect cure and sanation . of gangrenes . but since gangrene is often a concomitant of wounds , made by fire-armes , and other contusions , it will not be amiss here to expound its nature , signs and curation . it is defined , the mortification of a part affected with inflammation . and is only distinguished from a sphacelus by the more or less , this last being only when the part is quite mortified and dead . the onely remedy being then its amputation . the general cause of gangrene , is a corruption of the parts natural heat , by cold , external heat , want of nourishment , stopping of transpiration , or by the dreadful effects of some poysonous substance . its proceeding is two-sold , either with some humours in flowing , or without it . we have deduced the signes of it in the chapter of impostumes . and for its curation , since that which hath its origin from the second cause is the most general , and may in some measure be a rule for curing the rest , take these following precepts . if the body be in the least plethorical , phlebotomy and purgation being celebrated , the air by nature or art , ought to be cold and dry , and the patients diet of the same temper . amongst topical remedies , egyptiacum boyled with some aloes in salted water , adding a little strong water in the end , is deservedly much esteemed ; as also the phadagenick water , or the gray salve , which is made by adding a drachm of corroding sublimate to an ounce of basilicon , in the mean time , to defend the body from the influxion of morbisical humors , and putrid vapours , the following defensive may be applyed on the diseased part , and often renewed . recipe , oyl of roses and myrtle , of each four ounces , the juice of plantain , solanum , and housleek , of each two ounces , the whites of eggs , five ; bole armeny and sealed earth reduced in a subtil powder , of each an ounce , with as much oxycraton as is needful . if it be too intense , and yeilds not to catharticks and topical remedies , we are obliged to use actual causticks . and lastly , if that will not serve , we must proceed to the part 's amputation , which is the only approved remedy in a sphacelus ; wherein observe , that to stop the effusion of blood , actual causticks are almost out of use , the binding of the vessels being found more commodious . of that operation , see fab. ab aqua ●endente , in his chirurgical operations ; but now the stiptick elixir of doctor williams , overcomes all other remedies . where bones are discovered , they use the tincture of aloes , extracted with spirit of wine , and to fortify the part , they boyl aromatick herbs in red wine , &c. chap. iv. of ulcers . according to our intended scope this chapter is dedicated to ex●plicate the theorems of ulcers and the manner of curing them ▪ they are defined , solutions of conti●nuity , caused by the mordacity of corrodin● humours , rather hurting in quality than in quantity . their external causes are the excesse● of cold and heat , for , as saith the physians poet. sunt diversa quidem mala frigoris atque caloris ; sed tamen amborum simili nocet ulcere virus . the pain of heat and cold are different . to make an ulcer yet they both conse●● ▪ whereunto is added the apposition of ●harp medicaments , blowes contusions and the touching of impure things . their disterences are expressed in the following discourse . an ulcer is either , 1. simple , varying either by , first , proper , differences , as 1. figure , 2. quantity , 3. quality . whence it is termed , round , angular , strait , crooked , long , short , broad , deep , &c. or , secondly , by differences common and a●cidentar as 1. it s durance , 2. aspect , 3. generation , 4. affected part . and thus they are , new , old , appearing , hid , incult , burnt , fleshy , nervous , &c. 11. or composed , either with first , a diseases cause , whence it is called , 1. cachochymical , 2. cathartick , 3. poysonous , &c. secondly , a disease it self , as 1. intempery , 2. tumor , 3. incommoderation ; hot or moist , phlegmous or erisipelous ▪ burnt , callous . thirdly , its symptoms , whence it is called , gnawing , filthy , painful , &c. a gnawing ( depascence ) ulcer is discerned by the parts exesion , attrition , cavity and hollowness . the stinking exhaleth a putrid , unpleasant and cadaverous smell . the sordid is discerned by the crassity , and viscosity of its excrements , and the softness of the flesh overgrowing it , whereunto if a hardness of the lips be joyned , it is deservedly termed fistulous . a cancrous ulcer is horrible to look on , its lips being overturned are hard , livid and moist . that which is called discrative , is caused by the humours intempery ; and cacoethes is so termed for the difficulty of healing it . the catherick receives nourishment of some broken or dirupted vessel , or proceeds from an evil disposition of the whole body . ulcers having had their beginning during a disease , or before it , growing livid , pale or dry , plainly indicate the proximity of death , their livid or pale colour being not only the sing of cholerick , or atrabiliary humours causing them , but also manifesting an extinction of the natural heat . that which renders the cure of ulcers difficult , is commonly a penury of blood , the bodies evil constitution , as also that of the air , the sordidness of the ulcer , and the rottenness of some bones . in simple ulcers , desiccation is only required , and the breeding of flesh in them , whereunto the red desiccative salve , and unguentum aureum are convenient . but in composed ones , we must have an eye to the most urgent , then to the cause , and lastly to the disposition , without whose taking away , the ulcer cannot be cured . pain is often an accident of ulcers , whereunto must be provided as is declared in the chapter of impostumes , having a special regard to the humour causing it . if there be any bone corrupted , it must be touched with an actual caustick of hot iron , and such remedies used to breed flesh in the ulcer as are above declared , in doing which , two sorts of excrements do commonly appear , namely a thin matter , and a thick sordity , both which must be purged by drying and detersive medicaments . whereof take that mentioned in the former chapter : but sublimate water or the brown salve of felix-●urts , are more powerful . then the cicatice must be induced over the ulcer , to which end the powder of burnt alum and caleanthum , are wont to produce speedy and wished effects . chap. v. of fractures and dislocations . a fracture or bone breaking , is an accident so dreadful , that not without cause the physitians poet being about to speak of it , makes this deprecation . infandum dictu , cunctis procul absit amicis , sed fortuna potens omen convertat in hostes . that cursed evil light on none but foes , and fourtune keep our friends from the like blows . a fracture is defined , a solution of continuity in the bones ; and its causes are all such things as may break , cut , bruise , and quash ; whereby are also to be understood falls from high places , and the like . their differences are manifold ; for some are termed perfect , others imperfect , some are simples , others composed with hemoragy , inflammation , gangrene , &c. they receive a common difference from their figures , long , transverse , strait or crooked . whereunto are added , that which is called in greek raphanidon , when the bone is broken short in two pieces ; cariedon , when it falls in small fragments loose from one another ; and asphitidon , when it is ground small as meal or flower . a fractures existence is known by a vehement pain of the affected part , the impotency of it , the change of its natural figure , and chiefly by the vacuity which appears to the fingers touching it . for the prognostick ; in moist weather , and in youth fractures are sooner healed than in dry weather and in old age ; but the precise time of the over-growing callus cannot be positively assertained , that depending of the body's , and ambient air 's disposition , as also of the bone's thickness . yet hippocrates saies , the nose is glutinated in three days , the iaws , the clavicles and ribs in six , the cubit in nine , the brachium in twelve , and the tibia in fifteen ; which may be a rule for the rest . when the bones are broken near the joynts , their motion is thereby rendred stiff , and difficult , and if there be great contusions , the part loseth its motion , and the patient is in danger of death . the cure of fractures and dislocations being in many respects one and the same , we shall speak joyntly of them both in the end of this chapter . a dislocation therefore is defined , the detrasion of a bone out of its proper place . and it is either simple by it self , or composed with other diseases . its signes are the same as those of fractures ; the place of indisposition and its cavity being the chief differenees ; dislocations affecting but the joynts , and causing but an imperfect vacuity in the dislocated place . if the h●●d be luxated , death immediately follows . recent luxations are easier and sooner cured than old ones ; those that are invetcrated are wholly incurable ; and such as are not far divided are easier reduced in their seat , than far separated ones . the common and general cure of fractures and dislocations is performed by , 1. setting the bones in their natural position . 2. retaining them there . 3. correcting the accidents . the first of these is performed by extending the broken or dislocated part from its origin , either with the hands or some fit instrument , then setting it in its due place so that no eminency or roughness be found to alter the figure of it . the second point is obtained by the application of restraining , and defensive plaisters , whereof the most common is made of bolarmeni dilayed in wine , and ●he white of an egg ; applying thereupon bands , compresses , and atelles dip●ed in oxycrat , or oxyradinon , fitted to ●he figure of the diseased part ; and the ●atient being in a convenient scituation ●he accidents must be corrected , as is de●lared in the former chapters , accord●ng to the artists best invention and ●olerty . if the accidents do not oblige us to it , 't wil be enough to loosen the bands at the end of three or four days , that fuliginous vapours may be exhaled , and the part a little anointed with refreshing ointments , taking care to give it sometimes a gentle motion , least the joint be rendred stiff and immovable , by the growing of a callus thereon , and thus being sometimes lookt to , the cure is brought to its perfection . chap. vi. of the generation and production of man. having thus far proceeded on our intended scope , this chapter shall briefly express what is requisite to be known in the generation of man , and the way of helping nature in the production of the same , as her chiefest work and master-piece . in the generation of man is exactly to be considered , 1. the matter out of which he is engendred , and the instruments of generation . 2. the place thereof . 3. in what time it is perfected . 4. and by what signs its con●●●tion , difference of sex , and approaching time of being brought forth is know● . 1. the matter of his generation is the seed of both sexes ( whereunto the menstrua were added by the antients ) proceeding from the purest blood , diluted with a great deal of serum ( barbat . pag. 49. ) which is transmitted by ( the instruments of generation ) the preparing artery to the testicles , that are nothing but a conglomeration of spermatick vessels , wherein the serum is separated from the blood , that is wrought and elaborated in the epidydemos , or production of the spermatick vein , incumbent on the testicles ; whence it is carried through the parastates , into the defering vestel , and thence into the spermatick vesseles ; and according to some , the ●rostata's , ending with them in the conduit of the urethra ; where there is extant a valvul , least the seed should involuntarily flow through the yard . the nerves probably serving to render it fertile and vegetative by the eff●sion of animal spirits . there are almost the same spermatick parts in women , except their situation , and the womb , the receptacle of the seed and domicil of the foster ; yet de graass proveth that their testicles are as an ovarium , containing perfect eggs. thus new wonders are daily found in the microcosm . 2. the place wherein he is engendred is the womb ; the foster being found therein commonly gathered in a round , and wrapped in two distinct membranes , the amnios , and chorion , ( the allantoides being only found in brutes ) wherein the three or four first months it is nourished , not of the maternal blood , as the antients conceived , but probably of the chyle , transported by the lacteal vein , and the arteries , to the placenta , where it is further elaborated , and thence partly carried through the umbilical vessels , to the port vein of the foster , whence it floweth into the cava , and finally to the heart . the other part being transmitted by the arteries of the membranes into the capacity of the amnios , constituting there the pure colliquamentum , mentioned by harvey , which the foster sucks after the fourth month , for its sustentation . 3. by the time , which we have said ought to be considered in the generation of man , it is to be understood , first , that of his conception , when the seed of both sexes is mingled in the womb. secondly , that of his formation , which is thought to begin the 7 th . day , and to be perfected , if it be a male , the 30 th . if a female the 40 th . or 42. but it is more probable they are figurated about the same time , which cannot be so exactly determined . thirdly , no more than that of their first motion , which was conceived , if a male , to be in the third month , and , if a female in the fourth . fourthly , neither can that of child-birth be absolutely stated , the usual time being the latter end of the ninth month , or the beginning of the tenth ; though admit a latitude from the seventh month inclusively to the eleventh and above . 4. the chiefest signes of conception , are , first , a little quivering presently after copulation . secondly , the retention of the seed . thirdly , the suppression of the monthly courses . fourthly , a livescency of the face . fifthly , a pain and swelling of the breasts . sixthly , a distaste of meat . which signs , or most of them appearing , one may judge of conception , till a more certain one be discerned , namely the motion of the foster . 5. whether it be a boy or a girle is yet more uncertain ; though some would conjecture by the following signs . if it be a boy the mother hath usually a better colour of the face , and disposition of the body , the heat and good temperature of the child adding something to that of the mother ; for which cause also they sometimes power a drop of the milk upon a looking-glass , or such other even thing , and if it be of such thickness as not to flow easily , they deem it to be a manchild , otherwise not , the time of motion , as is said before , indicating nothing in this . 6. the signs of 〈…〉 the flowing of the excrementitious humours contained in the chorion ; the flanks and rump are thrust outwards ; the secret parts do swell and pain ; the face grows red , a kind of feverish quivering seizeth the whole body . these signs appearing , if the chirurgeon be called , he ought then to prepare all things ready , and exactly observe what is to be performed , 1. before the birth . 2. in bringing forth . 3. and after the birth . 1. before the birth a special care must be had , that the air of the room must be duly tempered with a moderate heat , and then the woman must be setled in a convenient and middle positure , so that she neither lie flat on her back , nor be yet sitting , but have her shoulder and back something raised , that she may have a free respiration , and more powerful endeavour to bring forth , her leggs being as much separated as may easily be , and so bowed that her heels may reflect to her buttocks , which should also be something raised , she holding her self to a staff fitly disposed cross the bed , for that purpose , and when she feeleth the most pain , she must be admonished to strive , as much as she is able , stopping sometime her breath to express her foster , whom the midwife ought in the mean time to thrust gently from above downwards , having though a care not to put her in that labour before the time be come , least her forces might leave her when they should be most needful . 2. in the birth , it is to be considered , if it be according to nature , which is when the foster issueth forth instantly after the waters , either the head foremost or the feet , all other manners rendring the birth difficult , and being deem'd against nature ; but if the birth succeedeth happily , the chirurgeon ought to leave the delivering of the party to the midwife , who ought to proceed in this manner ; the child being brought forth she ought presently to let follow the secundine , but if they do not instantly succeed , she must gently thrust her hand anointed with oyl , or the following oyntment , along the navel in the womb , and draw them out . the said ointment is composed in this manner . take oyl of lin-seeds , one ounce , oyl of castor , half an ounce , nutinge , three drams , laudanum , one dram , and make a liniment thereof . and then free the child of them , to that end , the midwife must bind the navel with a double thred two thumbs breadth from the belly , neither too strait nor too loose , for fear of accidents . the knot being fitly made , the navil must be cut two fingers breadth beneath the knot , and a linnen cloth dipt in oyl of roses or of almonds , wrapped about it , with another linnen yet over , least its coldness , till the time of its falling off , might cause the child some pain and inconveniency . and thus far ought to be proceeded in the birth , when it happeneth without extraordinary difficulty . but because a chirurgeon is seldom called unless the birth be difficult , here followeth the method , which he ought to observe therein . the birth is rendred difficult chiefly by two reasons . first , when the waters which ought immediately to precede it , are evacuated too long before , whereby the womb groweth dry and intractable , which is to be remedied by the following liniment , wherewith the midwife ought often to anoint the natural parts . take fresh butter without salt , washed in water of mugwort , mucilagines of figgs , of lin. oyl , and of althea , extracted with water of sabina , of each half an ounce , oyl of flower de luce , an ounce , make a liniment . the following powder is also esteemed for hastening child-birth . take cinnamon , cassia fistula's burk , and dictamel , of each a dram and a half , and as much as the whole of white sugar , make a subtil powder thereof , and let the labouring woman take half an ounce of it at a time , in a decoction of lin-seed or white-wine . the following drink is also much esteemed for the same purpose . take broken bark of cassia fistula , two ounces , red pease half a handful , boyl them with as much white wine and water as needs , add in the end two drams of sabina , and make a decoction ; in the colature add for each dose a dram of cinnamon , and six grains of saffron , which being taken , provoke the party to sneeze , putting in her nostrils a little pulverized pepper , or white hellebore , and causing her , as aforesaid to stop her mouth and nostrils . the second and chiefest reason rendering the birth difficult is the discommodious figure of the child , coming forth otherwise than the head or feet foremost , which being perceived , the chirurgeon ought to settle the patient in a convenient manner ( as before ) and then gently bind her with a broad and soft fillet ( fascia ) in this manner ; the said fillet must first be applied to the neck , and thence brought cross-wise before over the shoulders to the two feet , where being again crossed , and in many folds about the leggs and thighs it ought to be conveyed thence again to the neck , and there be firmly bound , so that the party can in no wise stir , and to procure it the better , she may set the plants of her feet against the beadstead , a couple of honest servants keeping her knees as much from one another as may easily be , this being so disposed ; to keep out the ambient air , and to perform the operation more modestly , a warm double linnen cloth may cover the natural parts and thighs of the labouring woman , and the chirurgeon , having first cut his nails , and anointed his hand and arm , with the abovesaid liniment , must by degrees gently as may be , thrust it into the womb ; where having explored the position of the child , and whether it be alone or with another , or a mole , he ought to turn it so , that he may come out the head or feet foremost , as aforesaid . but if this do not succeed , or that the child be dead , which is judged , when neither the chirurgeons hand , nor the mother can perceive it to move , and most sure if the waters are flowed out , and the secundines are come forth . then he ought to proceed in this manner , having found one of the feet , he ought to draw it out , and having bound it about with a soft and broad fillet , put it in again , then seek the other , which having found , draw it also out with his hand , and together with it , by the fillet , that which was bound before , then having drawn the child out to the flank , one of the arms must be retruded along the neck over the head , the other being along the side , and so must be endeavoured to be drawn out . it happeneth sometimes that one of the hands doth appear and is thrust out , which must instantly be throst in again , and the child turned to a more commodious figure ; but if the womb's orifice be so swelled that this cannot be done , chiefly if the child be dead , the most convenient is to cut it , the bones as deep in the flesh as may be , least it might hurt the said orisice of the womb , and then so turn the foster , that it may come out as aforesaid . but if the dead child be so swelled either by tumor or winds , that it cannot possibly come out then a hook must be struck , if the head be swelled under the chin , in the mouth , in the hollow of the eyes , or best of all in the pole , if the breast under the claviculis , and if in the belly , in the false ribbs , or in the bowels above the navel ( pubis ) specially if the child cometh with the feet foremost ; others do endeavour to cut the foster in pieces in the womb , with a crooked knife and then extract it by pieces apart , in doing which , or the other operation , if it should happen that the head alone should remain in the womb , a double hook or an instrument called by pareus , a gryphins foot must be thrust in , with a hollow hand , and struck into some part of the head , as aforesaid , drawing it gently forth ; and thus far can art be extended in the birth . after the birth , ought to come in consideration , what must be done first to the mother , and then to the child ; for the first , she must be exactly kept from all cold and ambient air , which to obtain more surely , it will not be amiss to keep her leggs some time a cross , for so the divided parts will besides , be the sooner conjoyned , else ought she to be wrapped with a broad fascia over the epigaster , to the excluding of air and blood , remaining in the womb , and then take the broth of a capon , or a piece of roasted bread dipped in good aromatic● wine , besides , specially in winter , the secundines may be applied to the region of the womb , and in summer the skin of a sheep newly flaid to the whole belly and about the loynes , which must be taken away about six hours after , the patient having rested that time , and the hipp●gaster must be anointed with the following oyntment . take sperma ceti , two ounces , oyl of sweet almonds and hypericon , of each an ounce and half , goats suet , an ounce , oyl of mirrhe , an ounce , and virgin wax as much as needs ; make an ointment to be used twice a day . about the navel may be applyed a plaister of galbanum with some grains of zibet , muscus , in the middle , and about the whole belly gaulbiers cloth , described by ambrose parry . but if the patient be much tormented with wind , the following power is esteemed excellent . take preserved anniseed , two drams , nutmeg and burnt harts-horn ; of each one dram and a half , dates-stones , three drams , aloes , wood and cinamon , of each two drams ; make a subtil powder , whereof give her one dram in a cup of warm white-wine . as for the child , as soon as the same is brought forth , it ought to be cleansed from all impurity , with oyl of roses , or of myrtle , which some do with warm water , and some astringent wine , and then anoint the child with the said oyls , taking special care whether the child be not infected with a chalky matter in the mouth , which is called the white canker , for then it must be carefully cleansed with a little clout fastned to a stick , and dipped in a composition of oyl of sweet almonds , honey and sugar , then having explored whether there be no vice in the conformation or construction of the bodies parts ( for if there be any , it must be maturely corrected ) the child must be gently swadled , and laid in his cradle . if the mother , or a nurse will have her milk stancht , take oyl of roses , and of myrtle , of each three ounces , rose-vinegar , one ounce ; mix them together , and anoint therewith her breasts four times a day , and after the anointing , spread them over with powder of myrtles , applying thereupon the following plaster . take powder of mastick and nutmeg , of each two drams , of cypress-nut , three drams , of myrtle and vvild granate flowers , of each one dram and a half , ireos of florence , half an ounce , oyl of myrtle , three ounces , of venice treacle , two ounces , and virgins vvax , as much as sufficeth . some take a spong dip'd in the dec●ction of cumin seed or coriander laid in very strong vinegar , and apply it to the breasts as a secret . both may be much furthered by applying setting cups between the thighs , and on the sides of the umbilick . as for the rest , which is but little accessary to the doctrine of the generation of man , the reader is remitted to those , that have treated specially thereof , as capuraeins , pareus , &c. chap. vii . of the venerean disease . the just punishment of god upon our sins hath for some hundred years since , produced a disease unknown , as some think , to antiquity , called the venerian or french pox , which may be defined , an indisposition composed of all other diseases and their accidents , engendred by a contagious touch , but most commonly by impure copulation , whence the seed of several men fermenting , ariseth a venenous either fixt , or volatile acid salt , having usually its seat in gross and viscid flegm , whence it procceds to the invasion of the other humours . it is divided according to its time and progress , in — particular , and universal . the first degree of the former being when there appeaes venerean ulcers and cancers . the second , when there is a virulent running of the reins . the universal is , when the virulent salt spreads it self through the whole body , and infects most of the parts thereof . its signes are , an intense and vehement pain of the ioynts ; ulcers in the hidden parts ; an inflammation of the mouth ; pustles over the whole body , and specially on the forehead ; lastly , knobs and roughness of the bones , and a falling off of the hair , with other accidents . if the disease be recent , and the body in youth or young age , the season of the year being favourable , the cure is easily performed , but if the disease be inveterate and complicated with many accidents ; if the patient hath in vain been under cure , and begins to be extenuated by a consumptive leanness , proceeding from a dissipation of the natural moisture , the disease must be esteemed incurable , and only tried to be palliated . the cure of it is performed in four manners ; namely , 1. by the decoction of guaiack wood sarsaparilla , china root , and sassafras which is the gentlest way , and fittest for the first degrees . 2. by unction . 3. by plaisters . 4. by suffumigation , rejecting that 〈◊〉 taking mercury inwardly , as noxious . the first is thus reduced in act , a pound of guaiac being cut in small pieces , is decocted in balneo mariae , with eight pounds of conduit water , to the dissipation of the third part , and in the end some cinnamon being added to it , the patient must take of it something warmed , five or six ounces at his usual meals , keeping himself afterwards very warm , to provoke sweat , which must be instantly wiped off ; and thus using a very spare diet , the same method must be continued , as long as the patients forces can with facility suffer it . the second manner is more effectual , if the disease be recent . the body being well disposed and prepared , the patient is shut up in a warm chamber and closet , and the friction being begun , proceed from those parts which pain less , to those that are more painful , and having a special care to the quantity of medicaments whereof the indication is drawn from the ●emper and srength of the patient , the ●●oynts and emunctories of the noble parts are usually anointed with the following liniment . take prepared quicksilver , six ounces , sublimate half a dram , quick brimstone , half an ounce , fresh porks grease , one pound , the yolks of three eggs , oyl of laurel and turpentine of each two ounces , old treacle ●nd mithridate , of each half an ounce , let ● liniment be made according to art. but i rather approve mercury alone , mixt with hogs grease , since it doth not expel the material cause of this disease , by any occult or specifick virtue , ●eeding correctives , but only by its mo●ion , joyning naturally it self with all acid moisture , and , as mercury dissolved in the spirit of nitre , or aqua fortis , cor●oding the mouth and opening the 〈◊〉 whence the humors flow , till their acidity be evacuated . but before the friction , the body must be judiciously prepared , for if dry subjects be not sufficiently humected , the heat of the stomack sublimates the mercury , whence proceeds a dia●hae● , with gripings of the gutts , and if it be stopt , there follows a constipation , a feaver , inflammation of the throat , or a phrens● with convulsions , and sometimes the party becomes deaf , blind , &c. contrariwise if moist bodies be not well exsiccated by sudorisick decoctions , the mercury draweth with him to the throat a great quantity of humours , with swelling of the upper parts , looseness of the teeth , exulceration of the mouth , and too great a flux of blood. the diarhaea is asswaged by the decoction of guaiac , mixt with a little white-wine , and taken for some days in the morning , whereby the humours acrimony is mitigated and sweetned . but in general those evils are remedied by changing of chamber and linnen , precipitating the mercury downwards by astringent gargarisms , and clysters , by letting blood in the foot , and chiefly by purgations , wherein some salt of tartar must always be added , to sweeten and drive down the humours . some do often swallow a golden pill , which becomes white , but it carries away the mercury in so little quantity , that the other remedies are not therefore to be omitted . the end of friction is to stimulate a chris●s , which doth not proceed from nature , without it be provoked and helped by some medicament , whose quantity ought to be adapted to the vehementness of the disease , and forces of the patient ; least the medicaments being too strong , they cast him into an incurable consumption , or being too weak , they do not eradicate the disease , which afterwards is found much more intense , and incurable than before . the third cure is by plaisters , and cerowins , and is something slower than the former , but more convenient in relapses , and for the mitigation of pain , and the resolution of knobs and hardness , but because it doth not act so speedily , the best of artists do joyn to it some frictions . besides the plaisters of de vigo , the following may be profitably used and applied on the parts mentioned in the article of friction . take of melilot plaister , and saffron-vinegar , of each half a pound , quenched quick-silver , six ounces , oyl of laurel and land lavendel , as much as needs ; reduce all to the form of a plaister . the scope of this remedy , as of the former , is the procuring of a crisis , either by insensible transpiration , flux of the belly , or urines , but oftner and better by a flowing of the mouth , which with the gums and cheeks is thereby as aforesaid , often exulcerated , because of the humours tenacity and acrimony , and these ulcers must by no means be repelled , but be mitigated by gargarisms , composed of decocted barley , cows milk , and the like ; which may diminish the mouths inflammation , and wash off the humours sticking to it ; but if this accident , as it happens sometimes , be too intense , that it threatneth an extinction of the natural heat , we must for some time defer the proper cure to cohibit so pernicious a symptom , according to art. as for the teeths loosness , it is cured by astringent gargarisms , but more powerfully if the gums be touched with aqua secunda of the goldsmiths . the fourth manner by suffumigations is not so much approved , because of many evil dispositions , which it leaveth in the body . they nevertheless thus proceed to it ; the patient being seated under a curtain , well and carefully extended , they cast in a chaffing-dish a good quantity of persume composed of cinabre , mixt with brimstone and quicksilver , whereunto is added iris of florence , frankinsence , mirrhe , iuncus odoratus , assaodorata , terebenthine and theriak , and continue this suffumigation till the mouth begins to flow ; and that is its crisis . this diseases symptoms are so manifold , that i think fitter to remit the reader to such authors as treat of it at large than to say but a part of what is needful to be known , though most may be referred to the general cure of impostumes . chap. viii . of some other indispositions which are cured by chirurgery . having thus far proceeded , we are to treat in the present chapter of some other indispositions cured by chirurgery , whereof some requiring an experienced artist , others yielding themselves to the meanest capacities , and this little treatise being written only for the use of discreet beginners , we shall only speak of the following . of baldness . baldness is a falling off of the hair from the head , caused either by defect of nourishment , or the corruption of it ; that which proceeds from old age , the hectick feaver , burnings or tinea , is incurable ; but that which may be cured is thus proceeded unto . the universal remedies being fitly instituted , the remaining hair must be shaved , resolving fomentations used , and having caused the vitious humours to be digested by the application of cups and leeches , the head must be washed in lye made of iris , and aloes ; lastly , drawing fomentations must be ministred , for the attraction of laudable vapours . if it be caused by want of nourishment , the head must be rubbed with a course linnen cloth , till it grows red , and if it proceeds from the venerean pox , the body must be anointed with quick-silver to a perfect salivation . of the eyes . the eyes diseases are manifold but their inflammation is the most common ; their causes are external , as falls , blows , dust , smoke , &c. or internal , namely a defluxion flowing to the eye . it is known by the heavine●s of the head , the eyes redness , pain , swelling , and pulsation of its arteries . it is cured by the same administration of universal remedies as in phlegmons , and the due application of topical ones , whereof this collire is of a perspicuous effect . take rose and plantain water , of each half an ounce , the mucilage of gum tragacant , two ounces , and the white of an egg ; make a collire to distil luke-warm in the eye , applying upon it a double linnen cloth dipped in the same collire . the blood of doves , pigeons , or hens instilled warm in the eye mitigates the pain of it , and is its proper balm . but if a relapse is feared , cups applied on the shoulders , and an issue in the pole are very fit to divert the fluxion . tooth-ach . there is scarce any pain equal to that of the tooth-ach . it proceeds from the influxion of a hot or cold humour , or the tooth being hollow or rotten , from the entrance of ambient air , and the refrigeration of cold meat , or drink . the internal causes are taken away by a due administration of universal remedies , and if the pain proceeds from a hot cause , which is known by its sharpness and a great pulsation of the tooth and temples , it is mitigated by remedies contrary to it , as to wash the mouth with granate juice , plantain water , and a little vinegar , all being boiled with roses , wild granate flowers , and sumach . if the cause be the fluxion of a cold humour , which is dis●●rned by a heaviness of the head and frequent spitting ; the teeth are profitably washed with garland-libanotis , sage pierethre decocted in wine and vinegar , whereunto is added a little srong-water and dissolved treacle . but if it proceeds from a rottenness of the tooth , there is no better remedy than the drawing of it , and if it be but a root , procure the corruption of it by a cotten dipt in aqua-fortis , having first tried the odontalgick essence of flubault . of phlebotomy or blood letting . phlebotomy being an operation necessary to be known of a beginner in chirurgery , i have thought fit to say here something of it . they define it , an incision of the vein , evacuating the blood and the other humours contained with it . before it be administred , if there be any excrements remaining of the former coction , they must be evacuated by a clyst●r or suppository and thus when necessity requireth , or for precaution in persons neither too old not too young , phlebotomy is celebrated in the following manner . the patient being conveniently scituated , the chirurgeon rubs the part , which is to be opened with his hand or a warm linnen cloth , to cause the bloods attraction , then the said part is bound with a fillet a little above the place of incision , which is designed by a touch of the nail , and the operation is performed with a fit lancet , limiting its evacuation to the strength of the patient and the curative intention . lastly , the incised place must be carefully bound , least an hemoragy might happen . of cup-setting . when the matter is conjoyned and impacted , cupps are commonly applied . i have commonly thus seen some proceed to operation , having something rubbed the destinated place , they set on it some kindled ends of wax candle fastened on a counter or such other thing , and over it apply the cup , which then draws very powerfully the humours up ; then taking them off , incisions are made in their circle with a lancet or instrument called scarrificatory , and they are again applied in the same manner as before , laying afterward plaisters of diapalma , or album rasis over the incisions , till they be agglutinated . of leeches . where blood-letting , or cup-setting cannot be performed , leeches are commonly applied either by making a little incision in the skin , or anointing it with a drop of some other blood or sugard milk , for then they will stick fast , and when you will make them easily fall off , touch but their head with a little aloes , or salt ; and if you will know what quantity of blood they have drawn , lay them in the things aforesaid , and they will revomit it ; besides if you will have them to draw more than their capacity is , cut their posteriour part , when they are well fast , and the blood will run through their bodies , which also is stanched , if it flowes when they are taken away , by the half of a bean or some burnt linnen applied on the little wound . thus i finish , and if the reader takes this short treatise in good part i have my desire , and end . secrets disclosed of consumptions shewing [h]ow to distinguish between scurvy and venereal disease : also, how to prevent and cure the fistula by chymical drops without cutting, also piles, hæmorrhoids, and other diseases / by john archer. archer, john, fl. 1660-1684. 1684 approx. 68 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 40 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a25757) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 44489) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1375:10) secrets disclosed of consumptions shewing [h]ow to distinguish between scurvy and venereal disease : also, how to prevent and cure the fistula by chymical drops without cutting, also piles, hæmorrhoids, and other diseases / by john archer. archer, john, fl. 1660-1684. [4], 70, [2] p. printed for the author, london : 1684. imperfect: title page torn. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-03 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion secrets disclosed , of consumptions shewing , how to distinguish between scurvy and venereal disease also how to prevent and cure the fistula by chymical drops , without cutting ; also piles , haemorrhoids , and other diseases . by john archer , author of the book called , every man his own doctor ; to be sold by the booksellers , and also to be had from the authors house at knightsbridge , or at the sadlers against the mews by charingcross . london , printed for the author , 1684. the epistle to the reader . kind reader , i having about fourteen years since writ a small treatise , entituled , every man his own doctor , with an herbal , shewing every ones constitution , the nature of all food , and to whom agreeable , and of the most common diseases how to cure. which little book was so accepted and well esteemed , that few booksellers shops are now without it ; and no foreign place , where english inhabit , but it is in use , and considering that consnmptions have been of late years so mortal , that they too much furnish the bills of mortality ; and the very name of a consumption is grown so formidable , that few hope for cure , if once sure they are in it ; the cause being evident , the neglect of means proper in the beginning , and not divulging to a skillful physician the original cause , so the physick and means is used in a blindfold way ; it is possible a private distemper undiscovered , may make a good doctor give bad physick : very often discontent of mind is the cause that bodily helps avail nothing ; it being easier to cure the body than mind : sometimes a person is afflicted with a venereal distemper , that for want of a skillful doctor , takes physick from the ignorant , who poysons the body with mercury ; thence i frequently find bad and dangerous symptoms following , as pain in the head , neck , back , teeth , deafness dimness of sight , distillations , at length ● consumption ; and without proper medicines anti-venereal and anti-mercurial , the noble parts are assaulted and overcome , and so the do make the number of them in the weekl● bills of mortality dead of a consumption therefore to prevent death before the accomplishment of our allowed time , is chiefly design'd , in this third part of every man his own doctor , shewing the chief cause of consumptions ariseth from melancholy , scurvy , or the venereal disease , and the original cause being throughly known , the disease is the better and speedier cured ; the want of which knowledge ( i mean the procuring cause ) hath been the reason so many good physicians have had so bad success in cure of consumptive people ; therefore it is my advice to all sick , or inclinable to a consumption , to take timely advice , principiis obsta , and be careful to live in good air , use temperance , and exercise of body , and with good advice and proper physick , you may with gods blessing , be healthy and brisk in old age ; for i may aver , that most persons living intemperately , and dying before they have lived thirty , forty , or fifty years , might as well have lived to fourscore , a hundred , or more years , if they had used ( chiefly ) temperance and exercise , as in my book you may further find directed ; verbum sapienti sat . a way then with that necessity of dying at such a time , when a man is cut off for his wickedness , or by his foolish intemperance ; for the wise man said , be not wicked or foolish over-much , why wilt thou die before thy time ? from my house at knights-bridge , a little mile from charing-cross , aug. 1. 1684. j. a. chap. i. of prevention , and cure of diseases . it is matter of lamentation to see the great distress poor mortals are in by the common enemy of mankind , languishing sickness , with grief of mind , wandring from one doctor to another , and from this receipt to another experiment , for cure of some churlish accident which unfortunate people lie under the pressure of , till the vital and noble parts are penetrated ; and chiefly by despising or neglecting small beginnings , till the enemy of nature gets ground , and by wandring in errors path the cure is more difficult ; to avoid which , let us proceed methodically , to the understanding and benefit of the meanest capacity . first , know that all diseases ought to be prevented , or cured , and that the health of humane bodies do mainly rest upon these two great pillars , viz. the prophylactical , and therapeutical ; the prophylactical part shews how diseases may be prevented , the therapeutical shews how diseases may be cured , when the body hath contracted them : the way and means to prevent diseases , is rightly to understand every ones constitution and complexion , and to keep your self in a right temperament , and you must observe those six things , called by physicians , non-naturals , as air , diet , exercise , sleep , passions of the mind , excretion ; all which you are taught in my book , every man his own doctor . these things being rightly ordered to every ones constitution , and fitted in proportion to our bodies , and so continued in use , as ought to be done by him that treads , via recta , ad vitam longam , though i commend not such rigid staticks as to eat and drink but just to such a weight , because nature may at some time or other be over-charged or lessened , therefore a moderate evenness , without exact severity , is the best rule ; for if you do not ( especially if diseased ) the enemy of nature gets ground , and the cure becomes more difficult , because the blood is vitiated ; so a scorbute , a cachexia , evil habit of the body acquired , which weakens the senses , terrifies the mind , and divers symptoms may arise , as decay of strength , weariness , spots , pains , dimness of sight , cum multis aliis ; for the body being diseased adds grief to the mind , the mind being distracted encreaseth the disease , so both being oppressed , the patient too often despondeth , and before sufficient cause , instead of using good means and advice , do wholly neglect means of recovery , till the noble parts are infeebled , that they cannot perform their office for digestion , fermentation , nor due circulation of the blood and spirits ; thus beginneth a cachectical scorbute , consumptive decays , many ill symptoms , hectick feavers , complicate distempers , and falling , à minori ad majus , till at length you must die ; and this is the cause of lamentation , it might have been prevented for many a year longer , to whom solomon saith , quare morereris ante tempus tuum ? and that you may not die too soon , i will endeavour to set down the chief sign of consumptions , scurvy , melancholy , and the french disease , that so you may prevent them , and knowing the signs and degrees of danger , with the more satisfaction , cure them . chap. ii. before i enter upon the discourse of consumptions in cure , it is convenient to advertise you of some of the chiefest causes which ordinarily lead men and women into it , which firmly observed , you may with ease prevent the approaching enemy , we say , venienti occurrite morbo , for it is much better to prevent than cure ; which that you may do , take good heed to these six harbingers or in-lets to a consumption ; as , first , the scurvy . secondly , the catarrh , or tickling distillation . thirdly , the phthisick cough . fourthly , the hectick feaver . fifthly , the venereal disease , not well cured , or mercury femaining in the body . sixthly , is melancholy or discontent of mind , which breedeth flatus hypochondriacus , or hypochondraick melancholy ; and lest you should not rightly distinguish the fore-mentioned diseases in coming on you , take care to observe if any of these following symptoms are upon you , viz. first , if you have a continual burning in the palms of your hands , or soles of your feet . secondly , if you are weaker than before . thirdly , if you have pain between the breast and belly . fourthly , if you have a continual looseness or purging . fifthly , if you spit corrupt matter . sixthly , if you have fainty sweats . seventhly , if you have a short breath , ill savoured , or a grave-like scent from the whole body ; these or some of these symptoms , speak it high time to look for remedy , and according as the symptoms are , it shews whether the consumption comes from the lungs , liver or other cause . chap. iii. of a consumption , atrophy , or tabes ; which signifies a leanness , decay , or diminution from former strength and vigour , whereby the vital faculties do senescere & tabescere , wither and decay without visible means through want of nutrition . this dreadful disease which is the fatal consequence usually of other diseases , hereditary , or personally acquired ; i think necessary to shew some differences of its kinds as in respect of cause it proceeds from , or the disease that inducted it ; the definition most received is , tabes partium ingreditur corporis soliditatem , & solvit , a consumption so called , because the disease and corrosive humours enter into the noble parts of the body , and doth consume them as fire doth metals , by melting them . the lungs being a soft spongious part , are most easily corrupted by sharp distillations and catarrhs , yet in this disease the liver is principally hurt by a sharp humour in the mass of blood , which humours continue such for want of fermentation , and by additional acrimony ; from which sharpness of humours , a catarrh or distillation , with a tickling defluxion , especially by night , falling upon the lungs , which by ulcerating , putrifying , and spreading , waste and consume the lungs , although there may be a waste and general consumption of the body and strength without an ulcer of the lungs ; yet if it once make an approach , by any disease , it is the most dangerous of diseases ; because it speedily attacques the noble parts , and without good remedies proves mortal ; and now that we may avoid the danger of a consumption , it is best to lay open some diseases that do most frequently and naturally bring it upon us , that so by resisting the beginnings , we may be free from the ill consequence and effects : now i have in my practice observed , that one of these three diseases have been the cause of consumption in the most part of people , viz. melancholy , scurvy , or the french disease , to which may be added mercury as an appendix ; i say one of these are usually the forerunner and cause of the consumption in the greatest part of people , whether personally acquired , or hereditary descended : and now that every one may be his own doctor , that is , to judge by symptoms , whether it be a consumption , from what cause it came , and if curable ; i shall endeavour as clearly as i can to solve all doubts , by shewing the signs of consumption , scurvy , melancholy , and the french disease ; the want of which knowledge have caused many to perish irrecoverably , by using a wrong method , so endeavouring the cure of another disease by mistake , or keeping that private which ought to be considered , till despairing of cure have yielded their weapons ( the means for recovery ) and through inward discontent , shame and infirmity , have fallen into deep consumption , and quickly made their exit : thus many dying before their full accomplish'd time , through want of timely means , and true knowledge of the prognostick part of symptoms , which through fear and shame do keep to their own heart till their disease becomes formidable and deadly ; and finding the world defective to the sick , in consumptions especially , in not giving them some light and guide how to be acquainted with their condition of danger with directions how to get out of that toil , without the usual ill success ; and few doctors do in all points satisfy their patients queries : therefore i thought it useful , acceptable and charitable , to give some light in so dark a distemper ; therefore i advise , first find out and be sure of the cause that first ushered it in ; for the venereal consumption is to be cured one way , and the scorbutick another , and the melancholy another ; that which is most likely to be your bane and death is most considerable , therefore hide nothing from your physician of the disease , or cause , lest you lead him into a wrong method ; and be sure to have regard in the cure of a consumption , to those six things we call not natural , as air , food , sleep , passions of mind , exercise of body , venery , excretions , retentions ; all which are fully set forth in that little book , every man his own doctor , therefore needless here to direct you in ; but now i shall give you the signs ; first , of a consumption , then of a scurvy , melancholy , and the venereal disease , and to judge of the danger of your disease , or recovery , termed the prognostick part , being especially useful , because many are affrighted almost out of life and hope of recovery , by that too common received opinion , that once have a consumption , or the pox , you can never be well again ; which saying or doubts ought to be refuted , because many have been , and daily are recovered out of consumptions and the venereal disease , the fear and doubt of which have caused many to despair , and by neglecting means have consumed and died . the usual question a sick person asks , is , how long will it be before i am cured ; therefore know the more urging and greater symptoms are most dangerous , and require most time for cure , and the less the soonest and easiest cured ; and for satisfying your doubts , if afflicted , you are instructed by the signs in the several diseases as following ; it is likely some may be your case and condition , and that you may not be deceived , consider circumstances , and consult your doctor ; or if you please to take my experience , by word of mouth , at my house , i shall in particulars advise you . chap. iv. further signs of a consumption , and different disease it came from , and the part first assaulted , most worthy to be known by all . as i take sharp acid acrimonious humours to be the chief cause of vitiating the blood , and corroding the lungs , &c. and this sharp acrid humour doth sometimes arise from ill digestion of food , by a bad temperament , disordered constitution , by irregular living , hurting nature in its actings , whereby comes a decay of ferments nutritive , causing ruine to the microcosm . i say though by vitious debauch'd living an ill habit and consumption may be acquired , yet a consumption creeps upon some with a hectick feaver in regular living , shewing a febrile heat in the palms of the hands , and soals of the feet , especially to be found after meat ; it is called hectick or habitual , because it is radicated more in the solid parts than other feavers , for other feavers come in paroxysms , this more continual , wasting the body , as it were by melting it , and this not easily remedied , if not timely considered , and the principal efficient cause understood , for want of which many in juventute pereunt , do perish in the prime of their youthful days , for until the radix of the disease be overcome the food doth no good , but it may be said , optima fiunt pessima , and the common cause of this feaver and consumption to orderly virtuous people , is the scorbute or scurvy , by corrupting the blood and vitiating the humours , therefore not to be cured but by antiscorbutick medicines : you may know a hectick consumption by being continually feavourish , without any paroxysms or remissions , only the heat something greater after meat , and the pulse quicker than after , about two hours returns to its constant usual heat , besides this hectick consumption and signs , you ought to be acquainted with other sure and common symptoms of consumptions , for it sometimes assaults us in one kind of disease , or part , sometimes in another , and by over-coming one part first , the whole body after falls into decay . the common way of consumptive inclination is first insensible ; but to a judicious person , it comes on slowly , lento pede , but having got sure hold will not long be hid , but by making a change in your constitution , it is best to take good advice and timely , lest the proverb be verified , cum serò medicina paratur , when too late the means is used . various ways and with divers symptoms the consumption first assaults with ; in some hard to find the cause from , or what it tends to , except the patients be so wise and ingenious , freely and openly to declare what they know of themselves ; but generally the spiritual vivacity of the eyes and countenance first discovers a defect in the vital spirits , they finding an indisposition after sleep , an ill digestion of food , their strength lessened , mirth declining , not so brisk and airy as usual ; melancholy in some , with vapours to the heart and head , pains of the hypochonder , and sides , a looseness of the solid parts , from the bones , as the calves of the legs , thighs , arms , &c. some have a bleeding at the nose , which shews sharp hot humours to exceed the balsamick virtue ; some falls into a looseness or diarrhoea , with flux of the belly , which may come from the weakness of the liver , having lost its temperament and fermental vertue , the body often falls into a scorbute , or cachectical hydropick , consumptive decay , faint sweats , oftentimes a catarrh or distillation , especially by night , with a tickling stimulation to cough , or a rotten corrupt spitting , or a short phthisicky dry cough , or spitting of blood ; or salt spittle , or viscous or lumpy knots , stimulated with a sharp humour , the breath short and difficult ; earthy smell , the pulse either weak and dull , or frequent and unequal ; the body in general is weak , indisposed to recreations or lively actions , and no better can be expected , when the blood and spirits are vitiated , though i have set down all these signs , and might many more , yet some few of what i have writ , may be too sure signs of a consumption , and according as they are urgent , great or small , complicate or single , they are to be weighed , and that by an able physician ; for people in this disease are most apt to flatter themselves more than in any other , so that many when they are dying believe not themselves to be in danger of death , because insensible of their present weakness and decay . unless a looseness or flux of the belly debilitates them . many are in a consumption by a venereal cause for want of discovering the radix , the doctor shoots beside the mark till the disease marches on to the noble parts , and some of those sad symptoms afore-mentioned come upon them , or worse , as internal ulcers , &c. which i shall not here mention , referring that to the prognostick signs of the lues venerea . chap. v. of the scurvy , and manifest symptoms . the scorbute or scurvy being a corruption of the blood , produceth innumerable symptoms , as may be easily judged ; from putrid blood may arise , putrifaction in the gums , redness in the face , vapours from the spleen , flatus hypochondriacus , sudden flushings , obstructions , difficult breathing , stinking breath , tooth ach , looseness of teeth , straitness of the breast , the body dull and heavy , and many spots , red , yellow or blue , especially in legs or arms ; violent pains in the head , arms , neck , shoulders , legs , thighs , sweats and faintness , troublesome dreams , a watriness in the stomach , and wambling in the bowels ; it often causeth barrenness , wandring pains like a rheumatismus or running gout ; in some a pricking in the flesh as if stung with nettles , itching in the blood , in some like tetters , ring-worms , or dry scabs in head or face , some think it the pox , and indeed it is near a-kin , and where they both meet , as often i have found in my practice , it must be more carefully cured , that the noble parts may be strengthned and the blood purified ; for a complicated distemper requires more skill to cure than some ignorant young practitioners are aware off . the scurvy by corrupting the blood , usually and quickly weakens the vitals , especially the liver , being the coagulum of the body , which causeth fermentation , the want of which causeth obstructions ; for those particles in the blood which are not by fermentation alternated , must needs obstruct , excoriate , and purify ; from whence it is easy to judge what diversity of symptoms and diseases may be produced in our natural bodies from one and the same original cause , viz. want of fermentation in the mass of blood , so the body quickly falls into an ill habit , cachexia , or consumption , if not timely prevented , by good physick , proper food , the best air , but especially exercise . for were the virtue and excellency of exercise truly understood , many that are diseased would not , nay thousands might be happy in the injoyment of health , who by softness , delicacy , effeminacy and idleness , want it ; so that they that moderately use it , need but little other physick . chap. vi. of melancholy . tristitia omnia mala parit , melancholy or discontent of mind is a certain distemper which may be termed the mother of all miseries and diseases , it may arise from internal or external cause , viz. from mind or body ; a grieved or discontented mind may affect the head , heart and blood , and thence many diseases , till consumption and death ; but that you may judge whether the party be much or little afflicted , it is necessary to set down some signs to judge by , and to know what degree they are in . signs , if melancholy be predominant , many doubts and needless fears , with sadness and discontent , and usually very frightful dreams , evil cogitations , without manifest cause , frequently speaking by themselves , confusedly sometimes breaking out into tears ; they delight in solitariness , they are mistrusting of all to mischief them ; their sleep but short and troublesome : some again are as if they always laught , some seem to prophecy and think themselves prophets , some desire death , some fear it ; some think themselves transformed into another form or creature , &c. some think they have no head or arms , &c. some think all they see , come to apprehend them and take them to prison , but most are terrified with thoughts of wanting necessaries for this life , or grieve to see others in more prosperity than themselves ; some do over-busy themselves in studying , or in praying , or in what they have been exercised ; the different effects shew the different causes , & vice versa , and must be cured accordingly , therefore good to resist the beginnings , lest it come to the worst of these symptoms mentioned , and worse might be writ , as despair or madness ; but while life there is hope : therefore i will conclude my advice with that old verse ; rebus in adversis animum submittere noli , spem retine , spes una hominem nec morte relinquit . to adverse things do not submit thy mind , for man in death leaves not his hope behind . chap. vii . of the lues venerea , or french pox. i having now discoursed of the scurvy , melancholy , and consumptions , come next to the other part , viz. to shew what the pox is , and how to know it and distinguish it from the scurvy ; also to set down the chief signs , that every one may be able to judge of their danger , cure , and event of their disease , whether long , or short , curable or not , the want of which knowledge have caused many sick to wander from one doctor to another , to their great damage of purse , persons , and reputation ; and though i shew not the materials for cure , i mean the physick , yet the sick have sufficient benefit , if they understand how to be cured safely , which is to be understood by those physicians which by long and daily practice know how ; for we say truly , nullum medicamentum est idem omnibus , therefore it is safest to keep knives out of childrens hands lest they endanger their lives ; but the knowledge of the disease , and how to judge of your condition , i think absolute necessary for every patient and physician , the want of which knowledge in patients oftentimes makes them doubt of the skill and sincerity of their doctors , and by inconstancy hinder their cure , and often by despair of success and grief of mind do sink under the disease : for want of hope and assurance the heart grows sick by discontent , gets a habit of melancholy joining with the distemper , so falling into a consumption they die . that this may be prevented , therefore use the best means as directed ; now i will tell you what the disease is , that is called venereal or pox , viz. it is an occult and venenate disease , corrupting the radical humours of the body , chiefly taken by contact in those porous parts of the body in the act of copulation , so passing through the seminal vessels and veins , the liver especially , also the brain and reins are hurt ; and that you may know what danger you are in , if you please to consult my knowledge and experience by word of mouth , i will give you further and particular satisfaction . chap. viii . signs of infection by the pox , being the surest rules from my book afore-mentioned . presently after a man hath lain with an infectious woman , he shall find a faintness or indisposition , a lassitude over the whole body , without other cause , which is occasioned by the infection of the natural spirits , which are the instruments of life and motion ; then the next symptome commonly is pain in the head , with a vagrant wandring pain which goeth into the shoulders from one to the other , also very frequently pain in the groins , and buboes there , sometimes in less than a weeks time ; also heat of urine , inflammation of the yard , pustules , and with many , a running of the reins ; with some an itching over all the body , and in some angry pustules and scabs , breaking out in head , face , and other parts ; with some there breaks out a great heat in the palms of the hands and soals of the feet , also some have an interruption or sudden starting when they begin to sleep , and great drowsiness , which is caused from the fiery vapours : oftentimes there happens red or yellow spots upon the body , and sore pustules like the scurvey ; and though there be few of the former signs , yet if there be a corrupt matter , though but a weeping or gleeting from the privy parts , you may be assured this is the french disease ; and i do declare i have cured those that have had it many years , as many can testify to their comfort . chap. ix . how to distinguish the scurvy from the french disease , and to know which is your disease . first , know , though the pox be chiefly taken in copulation with an infected lover , yet there are many other ways that honest and innocent persons of both sexes are and may be infected , as sometimes by the corrupt seed of the parents to the child , and so the disease becomes hereditary , and after they are born it shews it self , first or last upon the child , according to the strength of the disease in the parents ; and although this disease be taken by contagion as well as copulation , and so others may be infected divers wayes , as by sweating with an infected body in bed , being wet with sweat , and the pores of the body being open in the warm bed , and sleep , he may be infected ; also by the filth of ulcers , or drinking with any that have it in mouth or throat ; or kissing , a child sucking an unsound nurse ; or an unsound child may infect a sound nurse , &c. by such means many innocent people think they have but the scurvy when 't is the pox : so sometimes they that are suspitious of the constancy of their bedfellow , may suppose they have the pox , when happily it is but the scorbute or scurvy : now to distinguish , and be certain , i believe there are some would willingly give an hundred guinnies , which i shall here endeavour to satisfy gratis ; then know and consider , whether your self and bedfellow , or those with whom you converse , whether they or you have been sometime before , or have given cause for suspition , or now are troubled with heat of urine , or any spots , ulcers , heat or pustules about those passages , or gleetings , if so , conclude a venereal infection , if there is any pains especially in shins , arms , back , &c. or ring-worms , or red spots about the region of the liver , stomach , face or privities ; or if any skins or feather-like atomes swim in your urine ; and if you find any of those symptoms , having a precedent cause of fear , or formerly infected , and nocturnal pains , be sure 't is venereal ; but if you have no preceding cause of disease , you cannot have that cursed fear which generally possesses the mind of guilty persons ; if only a corruption of the blood , the disease will not be so terrible in afflicting your mind or body , neither will those nocturnal night pains torment you , nor any spots , pustules , gleetings , or issuings be about the privities ; if free from those symptoms fear it not , but if afflicted in body and mind , if you acquaint me with your symptoms , 't is possible my experience may contribute to your satisfaction . chap. x. of fistula's . i having for some years have had more experience in the disease of fistula's and piles than most physicians , it being desired that i should publish my knowledge therein , i have both briefly and faithfully set down their causes , and how to know their difference and cure , which hath been often performed by chymical drops , not cutting . therefore know , a fistula in ano , being the worst of fistula's , and always held to be most difficultly cured by chirurgery , according to an old proverb , fistula in ano semper insano ; but to the praise of god , and comfort of several , i have by my drops cured divers , and some by once dressing . therefore first we will define what a fistula is , secondly , how it is bred . for definition , fistula est ulcus putridum plerumque nervosum cum variis orificiis , unde fistula dicitur : for it hath several orifices either internal or external . this disease is bred from divers causes , as from blood inflamed , or tumours , boils , sometimes from piles and hemorrhoids , not discharging the corrupt blood falling into those parts of the fundament , and ulcers of the anus or piles , not well cured , but most dangerous when a venereal disease lies lurking in the blood and reins , which i have known too often the cause of ulcers and fistula's in ano , and therefore whoever attempts the cure without taking away the original cause , is like another ixion , condemned ever to turn the wheel up the hill , which always runs back again . for by reason of excrements always passing that way , the blood and humours having once found a cavous receptacle admits not a remedy , but by proper and powerful medicines , especially where the patient is of an ill habit of body , irregular ; and the worse if of a costive constitution . of fistula's some are easily cured , some more difficultly ; as those that have newly had it , are easier cured than of long continuance : those that penetrate into the intestinum rectum , where the excrements are voided through the orifice , and liquor injected , comes through the gut out of the anus ; or if it pass into the bladder , for then the water will come through the fistula , therefore conclude , if the fistula penetrates through the intestinum rectum , or into the bladder , or into both ; or if it be in the sphincter muscle , it is most difficultly cured . it sometimes happeneth that a tumour and inflammation is between the scrotum and anus , by bruises in hard riding , which turn to fistula's if not cured . fistula's in the solid parts of the body may be easier means be cured , taking away the inward cause which feeds it ; fistula lacrymalis , and all fistula's near the eyes must be cautiously dealt with , by reason of the vicinity to so noble a part as the eye ; in most of these cases i have by long experience found the most successful means , of which some of my patients have acquainted his majesty , who was pleased thereupon to command me to help some noble persons afflicted with a fistula ; which disease if not prevented , corrupts the blood and humours , vitiates the radical moisture , offends the heart and brain , decays the senses , weakens the memory , and by several ways hasteneth death , if not cured . chap. xi . of the piles , &c. or verucae ani , ragades , &c. and haemorrhoids . having now done with the fistula , it is necessary to speak , and the rather , because this disease is least handled by authors , though a most common affliction to both men and women ; therefore what i write must be more from my experience in practice than prescription : it is therefore i say an evil not to be flighted by any , though not a-like dangerous in all ; for where it is very painful or troublesome , as is usual to child-bearing women , it forceth to look for help ; yet in others , if neglected , may turn to a fistula , &c. therefore better cured being recent than inveterate ; therefore take notice there are chiefly four kinds , viz. i. condylomata . condylomata being very hard and of a callous substance like nuts , bunching out about the anus , but not very painful ; this sort proceeds from a melancholy acrimonious juice , and generally from a costive constitution . ii. thymi . next kind to these we shall treat of , is thymi , a sort of pile rough at top , narrower in the bottom , and large upwards ; if you rub these with a course linnen cloath , they easily bleed , which serves for ease a little time , but soon fill again . iii. crista . the third sort is called crista , excressences of flesh which generally are caused from too much venery , attracting heat to the part . iv. ficus . the fourth sort is called ficus or fig , being a flat sort , growing like a mushroom , or fig , of a narrow foundation , and a broad superficies . now as to the prognostick part or danger of them , as i find by the judgment of authors , and my own experience , the condylomata pile is more troublesome than dangerous , yet it is obstinate to remove , because of a hard and deep rooting . thymi are easier cured than the former , if they degenerate not into worse symptoms : crista have a malignancy , and as authors say , hard to cure , yet by my drops i have cured them at one application . ficus is a dangerous pile , or excressence , because sometimes they prove cancerous ; they are most dangerous if subject to bleed , as bad as any of these piles . ragades . i have found in my practice the disease called ragades or clefts of the fundament , especially if they have been of long continuance , being subject to turn into fistula's they are the worse , if they happen in old age , in a melancholy constitution , where natural heat is wanting ; if women with child are troubled with this infirmity , they are very subject to miscarry ; and in men , where they have been of long continuance , and nature hath disburthened it self that way , it will be difficult in curing by common artists . haemorrhoids . lastly , the haemorrhoids being a flux of blood by the fundament , occasioned by an acrimonious humour , which generates internal piles , call'd blind piles , which by going to stool do send out blood sometimes with pain : if this disease be of long continuance , it sometimes keeps a lunar motion like the feminine sex , and proves dangerous if neglected ; it often degenerates into a fistula ; a worse disease cannot happen . i have been the more careful to declare in all plainness the several sorts of fistula's , piles , haemorrhoids , and other infirmities belonging to the back parts and fundament , which for the most part physicians are negligent to cure , although they are grievous , and the most troublesome ; and i might add , the most dangerous maladies ( if neglected ) belonging to the body of men or women , especially if we include the disease incident to the secret parts , reins and bladder , all which being so nigh to each other they do often communicate the evil effects to their neighbour-parts if not prevented , as a fistula in ano in time , often by its malign quality perforates and eats through the fundament , or intestinum rectum , bladder or sphincter muscle , then it becomes most dangerous , and chiefly by neglect , not meeting your malady in convenient time with good advice and powerful medicine ; so many good people that might have lived many years are cut off by languishing consumptions , decays and death . now i say , as the diseases of the fundament are often sent to the bladder , reins , &c. so likewise the disease of the private parts are more often sent to the reins , bladder , fundament , yea to the liver , heart and brain , all which in time might by safe medicines easily have been cured , if the patient had been so fortunate or wise as to lay open their cause of grief to an experienced and skilful honest physician , and in these maladies i much insist upon experience for , dies diem docet ; and i cannot but acknowledge what some years past i could not effect ; i now can ( deo juvante ) my experience and success in these private diseases hath been eminently known ( laus deo ) for several years , it being about fourteen years since i published the book called , every man his own doctor , with an herbal , which was so acceptable , that few booksellers in england but sold it ; that treating chiefly of the french disease ; but my fistula and pile drops , many physicians and chirurgions have desired to buy from me at a good price , which i parted with but to very few , except my own patients . now considering the great benefit which many afflicted people may have by the use of them . i have now first set down in this treatise the several afflictions of the back parts , whereby every one may judge of their danger , and what their disease is , and then they may send or come to me for those drops and medicines which every day i use so successfully ; for as the disease differs , so do our medicines ; for we have a maxime , nullum medicamentum est idem omnibus . the pile drops are sold at five shillings a vial glass , the fistula drops are at ten shillings a vial , that the world may not longer want them ; and as to the other cure of the private parts , by any distemper by venery , bad cure , old or new , you may freely consult me the author of this treatise , who will give you advice how you may be quickly well , if not quite too late . i shall now advise all persons afflicted with fistula's , piles , haemorrhoids , &c. that they forbear things hurtful , such are all salt meats , spice meats , and sharp things ; as vinegar , lemons , french wine , stale beer , crude fruit , &c. be careful of taking cold , and sit not long upon the close-stool , by which only error many have had the piles , sooner got than cured . the manner of using the pile drops , is to warm about half a spoonful , and dip a fine rag or lint , apply it to the piles , and bind it to the part with a double rag upon it , for they do cure the piles and prevent a fistula , by making sound the part applied to : for the fistula we ought to put the drops into it with lint , or syringe , and bind it to with a plate of thin lead , till well ; and if one glass will not do , it is an argument you ought to use more , and some inward means , as a fistula drink and gentle purging ; which is prepared by the author hereof , who wisheth all health , and hath procured it , by means , ( with gods blessing ) to many afflicted ; to god alone be praise . chap. xii . of the great east-india cordial stone , by some called antonio . this universal cordial , brought from the indies , being now in great use and esteem , by all that have experimented it in health and sickness , being a preserver of health , and a remedy in sickness , and so generally approved , that i wonder none hath writ of its worth and use , giving some directions for the most profitable and proper way to take it ; therefore i have designed in this small treatise , to advertise the world of its most beneficial way of taking , it being pitty so admirable a cordial should be abused . first , for its composition is mostly of bezoar , ambergreece , pearl , unicorns-horn , coral , and such other of the greatest cordial preservatives , corroboraters , and renewers of strength and youth , and of that lively efficacy to the vitals , that nature is soon sensible of its friendliness , so long as there is any sense or life to act upon ; for it preserves nature by procuring due fermentation and concoction , expelling ( per poros ) in a moist breathing sweat , the vitious humours and enemy of nature , which hinder nature in her actings , and turns to a scorbute in the blood ; it hinders and helps those declinings of strength and feavourish heats in palms of the hands , or soals of the feet , which commonly lead people into consumptions , hectick feavers , hypochondriack , melancholy , rheumatisms , and pains that many complain of , and think or fear it may be a worse distemper ; it is a most powerful antidote against all infection of small pox , plague , and other malignant feavers , and a very successful cure in the new feaver and ague , whether tertian , quartan , or quotidian , especially if the stomach is a little cleansed before by a safe vomiting pill for that purpose , which i have by me , and with great success give it ; which doth most commonly cure at first taking , which saves the dangerous use of the jesuits powder ; but that i may profitably direct for the benefit of all the most general uses of this stone , i will mention some of those diseases it is useful in , and those ways it is best to take it , this being but a brief direction ; many may know other uses and good remedies not here named , but to begin with some , it is i say necessary always to carry about one , being so great an antidote against diseases ; being made up in balls , from the magnitude of a large nutmeg or prune to the bigness of four or six ounces weight ; they are most conveniently carried about one , being always ready to refresh our senses and spirits , by smelling to them , and as oft as you please you may shave as much or as little as you will into a glass of wine , beer or water , which makes it most pleasant and cordial ; the seamen that bring it from the east-indies usually put as much powder as will ly on a groat into a bowl of punch , which gives it an excellent scent and flavor ; it is of great use to travellers , because it performs all can be expected from a cordial , ready at hand to be taken at any time without danger , being pleasant to smell to , and not liquid , without danger of breaking glasses as in other cordials , being dry ; it is a pleasant companion which i shall scarce go without . for consumptions , it is conveniently taken to the quantity of a scruple or more three times a day , mornings , afternoons , and going to bed , in a little wine , or ale , or put into a draught of warm milk from the cow , with some sugar of roses , and you will rest the better , with a pleasant breathing , and your food will better concoct . for the ague or feaver . if you desire to sweat away an ague or feaver with it , put half a dram or a dram to an ounce of treacle-water , and dispose your self to sweat . for the small pox , measles , or plague . in these distempers you cannot take a better cordial to drive it out than half a dram of this powder in one ounce or more of treacle-water , or good sack , and every three hours about a scruple in a little sack , till safely come out , and sometimes after to uphold the spirits . for pains , gout , stone , &c. it is good to take half a dram night and morning in a little sack or whitewine , and sweat upon it . it cures the green sickness , and breeds a fresh complexion in young and old ; it is very good for all weakness of the back in men or women , and will remedy issuings or wastings , but for gleetings or weakness of the spermatick vessels , i have another excellent cure that strengthens the retentive faculty in a little time , which i have remedied divers by ; and shall give directions to any gratis in venereal distempers . the use of this cordial stone , or powder , taken in some whitewine or sack , mightily resists the flatus hypochondriacus and melancholy ; it strengthens the memory , and by comforting the brain revives the senses ; it is a great helper to fruitfulness in men and women , inclining all to a pleasant disposition . if taken by those in health it prevents the gout , dropsy , scurvy , all infections , causing strength and a good complexion . for children , it prevents and cures consumptions , rickets , liver grown , convulsions , worms , and other infirmities , and no ways dangerous any way taken , or in quantity also ; it doth wonderfully help the easy cutting of teeth in children . now it is necessary , after acquainting you with some vertues and uses of this great east-india cordial , that i also acquaint you with the prices , there being now some in my hands , sent very lately from india , the smallest sort of balls are at ten shillings price , some at a guinny , the largest of the bigness of a turky egg five pound a piece , they will keep many years without the least decay . the ague pills causing vomiting , two being the usual dose , is one shilling . the anodine pill which gives ease in less than an hour , at one shilling each pill , to be taken in bed , and rest upon it . chap. xiii . of occult qualities , of antipathies , that vulgar magick is witchcraft if maliciously used . to answer expectation to these heads distinctly is my design . first , for occult qualities , we say , it is an usual refuge for ignorance to take sanctuary in , when a reason cannot be given , as to shew why such a cause produceth such an effect ; and the cause for the most part is by reason we do not labour nor search into the nature of things , but for the most part sit down with a contented ignorance ; if we cannot find our questions and doubts resolved in other mens writings , works and labours , then we say by occult quality , it is done ; but truth and knowledge is dear in obtaining , and what our predecessors were short in , we ought to discover to our successors ; for we may better and easier do it than they from their writings , and our own reason with experience . for the general discovery of the nature of things , the doctrine of sympathy and antipathy learnedly discoursed by sir k. digby , and others , doth in some things much facilitate the work , shewing how by sympathy a medicine may work at distance upon a person by the effluviums of the air , which have been experimented by applying to a cruental cloth or weapon , which made the wound one while anodine and sanative medicine , at which time , and during that application , they found ease and amendment ; and the applying of vinegar , or other corrosives to the cloth or weapon , should presently cause pain and anguish , though at many miles distance ; it is related the italians are so well acquainted with this magick and philosophy , that they usually in revenge of him that hath been so unmannerly , as to ease his body at their doors , they presently heat a spit or iron-fork red hot , and many times thrust through the excrements of the absent person , knowing that the bruning iron , acting upon the spirits of the body , in the new made excrements , will corrode the bowels , and very often they find the sad effects of it ; we all forbid our children to piss upon fire , because it breeds a present inflammation in the neck of the bladder , &c. on the contrary some have accidentally been cured of a cold flux of the belly , a looseness , when their nurses have casually cast hot ashes upon their ordure to take it away . it is not unworthy the relating an experiment of my own of this kind , about the year 1660. i being upon practice in dublin , there came to my house there , a rich citizen in the behalf of his wife , who had lain sick about two months , and had made use of most of the eminent doctors in town ; but having no remedy , he desired my assistance and visit ; when i saw her in great agony by an inflammation and burning she complained of in her belly and womb , which she and the standers by said came to her in fits , holding her about two hours at a time , mornings and evenings : i finding her condition very deplorable , enquired of her self , husband and friends , what might be the first cause , which they all being ignorant of , they told me , she being thus left by her doctors , her neighbours , her mother , and all concluded she was bewitched , for the violent fits came so exactly in time , mornings and evenings ; after i had considered the distemper and violent paroxysms of pain , i sent for a chirurgeon to breath a vein , and that no methodical means might be wanting , i directed her cordials to an apothecary , but all signified little , she having used good means before ; about that time i read sir k. digby , and some other books of sympathy and antipathy , which did the more fasten it in my mind , that some strange trick or magick art had been used upon her . her husband being a soap-boiler by trade , it came into my mind to ask the maid servant , and made her shew me where she emptied her mistresses pots of water , so i went with her where was a great heap of ashes made in soap-boiling , this standing nearer to her by much than the necessary house , she usually threw her water upon the ashes to save her labour of going further ; after i saw this cause of her mistresses disease , i told her she was the witch that had bewitched her mistress , and forbad her for the future to empty any more there , and having found the cause , declared it to them , but advised the sick woman for some time after , constantly to urine in a basin half full of fair water , by which only means she was by gods blessing perfectly and presently cured , to their great joy , and my good reward . further to confirm this philosophy of sympathy and antipathy , i knew a midwife that usually came to me for some advice for her women , that got much money by curing of agues , and yet gave them no medicine , only required their waters , which she with flower made a cake of , and gave it to a great dog , she always kept for that purpose , and so she transplanted the ague and fever out of the man into the dog , who was affected with hot and cold fits , that i have seen him shake , and then the sick party grew well , the strength of the dog and his natural heat exceeding the mans , drew the morbid matter from the man by the magnetick quality of the diseased urine into the dogs body ; this is commendable magick for the good of man : but whoever by this art misimploys it to hurt men , it is malice and witchcraft ; but i shall break off from shewing too far of this magick art , least evil disposed persons learn to do mischief , which is too much practised in some foreign parts , which hath been a chief cause we heard so much noise of poisoning lately . this discourse is sufficient to convince those which believe there is no witchcraft , or witches ; making void the law that saith , thou shalt not suffer a witch to live . to confirm it further , that there are witches , i remember a relation i read of the confession of witches , such witches that make a compact personally with the devil , that understand not the magical art which the devil undoubtedly teacheth his followers and imps to practise ; for i believe the devil can do nothing miraculously or above nature , as the maxime is , diabolus non possit efficere supra naturam sed in natura , the devil being an old naturalist knows many secrets in nature which to us are unknown and occult . chap. xiv . of tobacco its use and great strength . of prepared tobacco . tobacco being a drug now generally used , especially by melancholians , and consumptive people , and many are so accustomed to it , that it is become a second nature ; therefore i think it but necessary to acquaint all for whom it is good , and that others may forbear it , if hurtful to their constitutions before it be too late . i know many authors have writ of it , have multiplied the vertues of tobacco , ad infinitum , but always remember the old proverb ( what is one mans meat is another mans poison ) which is very truly verified in this thing tobacco ; yet it certainly is a good vulnerary herb as can be used to wounds in ointment , or the leaf it self applied , and especially good against scab or itch in man or beast ; but it is so forcible a worker upon the brain , as it may be prepared and used , though but only outwardly applied ; it is of that force in its nature , that it can kill some beasts ( as i have seen the experiment of twice ) and for ought i know it may do it to others ; but i forbear to divulge it , lest evil disposed persons may do mischief by it . tobacco in its nature is hot and dry , very penetrating , digesting and cleansing , forceably purging the upper ventricle , viz. the head and brain , and this it performs by its hot , penetrative , attractive quality ; and this it doth , as the custom is , by smoaking in a pipe , to the benefit of some , and great damage of many others : now i shall acquaint you who may profitably smoak tobacco , and others may forbear ; i say if any persons can take it without too great disturbance to their constitutions ( for i know many cannot ) it is most proper for cold , moist , phlegmatick constitutions , especially if they have catarrhs and distillations , because it draws forth by heat to the mouth those rheums , and sharp distillations which distill ( especially by night ) upon the lungs , and often ulcerate them , and brings the body to consumption and death , for that is the worst symptom of a catarrh when it falls upon the lungs , which by drawing it forth it may be prevented , especially if other good things are added to tobacco , it may then be a proper vehicle to strengthen the brain , and cure catarrhs , distillations , and prevent and cure consumptions ; which that it may the better do , i have composed a prepared tobacco , which hath been much approved of , and none beside my self ever published or imparted . chap. xv. tobacco prepared for prevention and cure of most diseases . although common tobacco be not good for all that take it , yet the greatest vertues wherewith this is impregnated , doth merit the greatest rank of esteem ; in use most profitable , and by many years experience approved ; it being near fourteen years since i first published it , being the inventor , and have now much better prepared than heretofore , being most excellent in vertue to fortify the spirits , it resists corruption of blood and humours , preserving the noble parts from decay ; for it is the most convenient vehicle to convey powerful helps to the brain and spirits , renewing strength of nature ( if not quite consumed ) because it sends out the vitious salt acrimonious humours , by spittle and urine , being more delightful than common tobacco ; for where it is taken it purifies the air from infectious malignity by its fragrancy , sweetens the breath , strengthens the brain and memory , cures pain in the head , teeth , &c. revives the sight and other senses in few days using to be found ; in continuance it cures gouts , dropsies , pains of the limbs , scurvy , coughs , distillations , consumptions , and preserves the lungs by drawing forth the crude salt humours ; it strengthens the noble parts , few that use it need issues , because it cleanseth the body , drying up sores , it procureth sleep , if taken near bed time , it opens the body of most by stool , but cleanseth all by urine ; it is found admirable in all venereal distempers : i have reason and experience to commend it , by my daily success upon that disease ; for i● revels to the mouth those ill humou● which cause pain and issuing ; it doth excuss poisonous fluxes , raised by mercury , which is often of worse cons●quence than the disease ; it is a great help in cure of consumptions , and likewise prevents it . the order of taking it is like other tobacco . i formerly sold it two shillings the ounce , now for publick benefit the best sort is but one shilling the ounce , to be had from my self , or servants . such as send for pounds to deliver out to others shall be notified hereafter : this is a safe and pleasant means to cure and prevent most diseases arising from corruption of blood , and all vitious cold humours ; it may be had from my house at knightsbridge , or at the sadlers against the mews , next the black-horse by charing-cross . chap. xvi . a most profitable hot bath by steam , being the vapour or airy parts of vegetables . since many great diseases and infirmities are daily cured by help of sweating , i do publish this profitable invention of mine , being a most delightful hot bath , by steam , which far excels all the common baths as are now used by none as i know of yet , being most prevalent against any disease that sweating can be proper for ; this prevents a necessity of bleeding ; the bath is to be made most agreeable to the disease of the person to be bathed , whether sick or in health , i cause them to sit in a closet above the bath , that nothing but the vapour or steam can ascend , being conveyed by pipes it penetrates more effectually than water baths , or any other way because the vertue of the ingredient penetrate into the pores of the body powerfully by a hot steam , and refreshes the vital parts inwardly ; bathing and sweating especially prevails against all cold diseases coming from cold congealed humours , and do render the stubbornest diseases more curable ; by this means hot and feavourish distempers also are breathed out , because the humours are rarified , and the pores are opened , and causeth transpiration by sweating ; it cures gouts of all sorts , lameness , pains , aches ; it helpeth ill smells , stinking sweats , opens obstructions , strengthneth the womb , maketh fruitful , by refreshing the brain ; it clears the sight and hearing , it prevents and cures the dropsy and scurvy , it compleats the cure of pox and scurvy , and many sad symptoms and reliques after physick ; it cures children of rickets , causing growth , and a smooth clear complexion ; some directions you ought to have before , as for preparation , the body ought to be soluble before bathing , or procure a stool by a clyster , or milk and sugar ; the best time to go into it is the evening , and not to stay so long as to faint , and take care to cool by degrees , after rest and refresh your self before bed time . note the patient may bath as often as strength permits , or the disease requires . for these or any other directions , you may send to the author , at his chamber against the mews by charing-cross , who is certainly there from twelve to four , at other times at his house at knights-bridge , being a little mile from charing-cross , where is a good air for cure of consumptions , melancholy or other infirmities . thus wisheth all health , your friend j. a. the contents . chap. i. of prevention , and cure of diseases . page 1 chap. ii. the causes of consumptions . p. 5 chap. iii. of a consumption , atrophy , or tabes . p. 7 chap. iv. further signs of a consumption , and different disease it came from , and the part first assaulted , most worthy to be known by all . p. 14 chap. v. of the scurvy , and manifest symptoms . p. 20 chap. vi. of melancholy . p. 23 chap. vii . of the lues venerea , or frech pox. p. 26 chap. viii . signs of infection by the pox , being the surest rules from my book aforementioned . p. 29 chap. ix . how to distinguish the scurvy from the french disease , and to know which is your disease . p. 31 chap. x. of fistula's . p. 34 chap. xi . of the piles , &c. or verucae ani , ragades , &c. and haemorrhoids . p. 38 chap. xii . of the great east-india cordiat stone , by some called antonio . p. 47 chap. xiii . of occult qualities , of antipathies , that vulgar magick is witchcraft if maliciously used . p. 55 chap. xiv . of tobacco its use and great strength . of prepared tobacco . p. 62 chap. xv. tobacco prepared for prevention and cure of most diseases . p. 65 chap. xvi . a most profitable hot bath by steam , being the vapour or airy parts of vegetables . p. 68 the end of the contents . medicina magnetica: or, the rare and wonderful art of curing by sympathy: laid open in aphorismes; proved in conclusions; and digested into an easy method drawn from both: wherein the connexion of the causes and effects of these strange operations, are more fully dicovered than heretofore. all cleared and confirmed, by pithy reasons, true experiments, and pleasant relations. / preserved and published, as a master-piece in this skill. by c. de iryngio, chirurgo-medcine [sic] in the army. irvine, christopher, fl. 1638-1685. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a87213 of text r202607 in the english short title catalog (thomason e1578_1). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 265 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 63 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a87213 wing i1053 thomason e1578_1 estc r202607 99862835 99862835 115013 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a87213) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 115013) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 199:e1578[1]) medicina magnetica: or, the rare and wonderful art of curing by sympathy: laid open in aphorismes; proved in conclusions; and digested into an easy method drawn from both: wherein the connexion of the causes and effects of these strange operations, are more fully dicovered than heretofore. all cleared and confirmed, by pithy reasons, true experiments, and pleasant relations. / preserved and published, as a master-piece in this skill. by c. de iryngio, chirurgo-medcine [sic] in the army. irvine, christopher, fl. 1638-1685. [14], 110, [2] p. c. higgins], [edinburgh : printed in the year, 1656. printer's name and place of publication from wing. the last leaf is blank. annotation on thomason copy: "7ber [i.e. september]. 2.". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng medicine -early works to 1800. a87213 r202607 (thomason e1578_1). civilwar no medicina magnetica: or, the rare and wonderful art of curing by sympathy:: laid open in aphorismes; proved in conclusions; and digested int irvine, christopher 1656 43778 17 0 0 0 0 0 4 b the rate of 4 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-06 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion medicina magnetica : or , the rare and wonderful art of curing by sympathy : laid open in aphorismes ; proved in conclusions ; and digested into an easy method drawn from both : wherein the connexion of the causes and effects of these strange operations , are more fully discovered than heretofore . all cleared and confirmed , by pithy reasons , true experiments , and pleasant relations . preserved and published , as a master-piece in this skill . by c. de iryngio , chirurgo-medcine in the army . nullum numen abest . printed in the year , 1656. to the right honourable , generall george monck , commander in chief of all the forces in scotland ; and one of his highnesse council , for the government of that nation . my lord , it is the law of this and other nations , that whatsoever treasure is found , straight to be carried to the supream of that people . wherefore falling on this , no little ( in my opinion , which is the only law that puts value on any thing to me ) treasure , that i might not be guilty of concealment , i present it to your lordship , being chief-captain of those forces amongst whom for diverse years i have served , and prospered . the bulk of the book can crave none of those few moments snatch'd from weighty businesse and letten fall on recreations ; the rarenesse of the subject and handling of this magical-medicine may sometimes commend it to your pastimes . they that are grown big , rather with authority than reason , will , i know , condemn me of confidence , for bringing so small an offering to the altar of thankefulnes , where they , may be to avoid superstition , do seldom worship . but history telleth me , that the greatest monarchs have chearfully accepted the mean gifts of their souldiers and subjects ; and as your lordship in real valour and piety represents that noble emperour ; so in that wherein he exceeded all other , you are no whit short of him ; that is , you never suffered any petitioner to depart sad from your sight ; and ( which is more ) never forsook them whom once you befriended : this is observed by all , this hath been my experience so oft as i had need of favour and protection . this , and this chiefly hath made me approach that presence , who by his prudence hath reliev'd his fainting forces , and made his stoutest enemies fall in their armies and navies : both elements errect trophies to your conduct and courage ; and this nation acknowledge your goodnesse , which being ready to break in pieces by its own envy and divisions , you walked so wisely before , and amongst them , that you forced them to continue a society and people , leaving that knotty work easie for the next labourers . posterity , the best judge of vertue , shall reward your achievements with honourable monuments , the present age ( though ever envious , yet ) entertain your fame with prosperous acclamations ; and that your full happinesse may not have the least stain or blemish , your health is the affectionate desire of , my lord , your humble servant , c. irvine . edinburgh , june 3. 1656. the index of all the chapters , contained in this book . the first book . an hundred aphorisms : containing all the whole body of natural-magick : being the key to open that which followeth in sympathetick-medicine , page 1 the second book . twelve conclusions ; which are proved and explained : and are as so many firm columns , to support the noble frame of magical-medicine . conclusion i. the soul is not only in his proper visible body , but also without it ; neither is it circumscribed in an organical body , page 14 conclusion ii. the soul worketh without , or beyond its proper body , commonly so called , page 17 conclusion iii. from every body flow corporal beams , by which the soul worketh by its presence , and giveth them energie and power of working : and these beams are not only corporeal , but of divers parts also , page 19 conclusion iv. the beams sent out of the bodies of wights , have and enjoy vital spirit , by which the operations of the soul are dispensed , page 22 conclusion v. that the excrements of the bodies of living creatures , retain a portion of vital spirits : and therefore we must not deny them life : and the life is of the same species the life of the wight is of , and propagated from the same , page 25 conclusion vi . between the body and excrements proceeding from it , there is a certain concatenation of spirits or beams , though they be never so far asunder : the like is also between the blood , and any other part of the body separated from the body at any distance , page 28 conclusion vii . the vitality or livelinesse lasts , till the excrements , blood or separated parts be changed into another thing of a diverse species , page 32 conclusion viii . one part of the body being affected or ill-disposed , by hurting the spirits , all the other parts do suffer with it , page 33 conclusion ix . if the vital spirit be fortified in any one part , it is fortified by that occasion in the whole body , page 34 conclusion x. where the spirit is most bare and naked , there it is soonest affected , page 35 conclusion xi . in the excrements , blood , and separated parts , the spirits are not so deep drowned as in the body ; and therefore in them it is sooner infected , page 37 conclusion xii . the mixture of spirits maketh compassion , from that compassion love takes its original . page 39 the third book . the method of curing by sympathy . chap. 1. of the things necessary for a physician before he undertake the practice of magical-physick , page 42 chap. 2. of purges and purging , page 44 chap. 3. of phlebotomie , page 50 chap. 4. of cauteries , page 56 chap. 5. of confortative medicines , page 57 chap. 6. of those medicines that are to be chosen in this art , page 64 chap. 7. of the time as well of gathering , as of application of these medicines , page 66 chap. 8. of the means whereby this art applieth the medicines to bring health into the diseased body , page 68 chap. 9. of transplantation , and of the diverse manners by which it is done , page 70 chap. 10. of the means by which application is done , page 76 chap. 11. of the magnet necessary in this art , and diverse descriptions thereof , hitherto known by very few , page 78 chap. 12. of the use of the magnet in this art , page 80 chap. 13. of the means wherewith cure may be done in this art , without a magnet , page 81 chap. 14. of the excrements of the back-door , page 82 chap. 15. of urine , page 83 chap. 16. of sweat , and insensible-transpiration , page 84 chap. 17. of the hairs , page 87 chap. 18. of the pairing of the nails , and of the teeth , page 88 chap. 19. of the spittle , and excrements of the nose , page 89 chap. 20. of blood and matter , page 90 an appendix . containing diverse practices and operations , necessary to be known in this art . to the reader an epistle , page 95 the magnetick cure of diseases by transplantation , done by the true mummy of paracelsus , page 97 the lamp of life , page 98 the pouder of sympathy , for curing of wounds . the simple pouder , page 99 the compound pouder , page 100 the vertue , page ibid. the vse and application , page ibid. the weapon-salve , according to the description of of the noble chymist , oswald crollius , page 102 the vertue of this oyntment , page 103 the use , in diverse observations , ibid. the magnetick cure of the yellow jaundise , by application , page 105 the magnetick transplantation of the gout , ibid the magnetick cure of ulcers , ibid the magnetisme of asarabacca , page 106 magnetismes in nature . the first , of the vine , ibid the second , magnetick impressions of the breeding mother upon the embrio , ibid the third , a magical magnetisme , out of the famous van helmont , page 107 the fourth , of the magical magnetisme of the tarantula , ibid the fifth , the magnetisme of the magnes it self , page 109 the first book . an hundred aphorismes : containing the whole body of natural magick , being the key to open that which followeth in sympathick medcine . aphorisme 1. the whole world is animated with the first supream and intellectual soul , possessing in it self the seminary reasons of all things ; which proceeding from the brightness of the idea's of the first intellect , is , as it were , the instrument by which this great body is governed , and is the link of the golden chain of providence . aph. 2. while the operations of the soul are terminated or bounded , the body is generated , or produced out of the bounds of the soul ; and is diversly formed , according to the imagination thereof ; hence it hath the dominating power over the body , which it could not have , unlesse the body did fully and wholly depend upon it . aph. 3. in the production , while the soul fashioneth to it self a body , there is some third thing , the mean between them both ; by which the soul is more inwardly joyned to the body ; and by which the operation of natural things are dispensed , and this is called the vital spirit . aph. 4. the operations of natural things are dispensed from this spirit by proper organs , according to the disposition of the organs . aph. 5. the disposition of the organ depends , first and principally upon the intellect ; which disposeth all things : secondly , upon the soul of the world that formed it self a body , according to the semenary reason of things : thirdly upon the spirit of the universe , that continueth things in such a disposition . aph. 6. no bodily thing hath any energie or operation in it self , saving so far forth , as it is sharer of the same spirit , or informed by it : for that which is meerly corporal , is meerly passive . aph. 7. he that will work great things , must take away as much as is possible corporeity from things ; or else he must adde spirit to the body ; or else awaken the sleepy spirit : unlesse he do some of these things , or know how to joyn his imagination to the imagination of the soul of the world , he will never do any great thing . aph. 8. it is impossible to take all this spirit from any thing whatsoever : for , by this bond , a thing is holden back , from falling to the first matter , or nothing . aph. 9. this spirit is somewhere , or rather everywhere found , ( as it were ) free from the bodie ; and he that knoweth to joyn it with a body agreable , possesseth a treasure unestimable . aph. 10. this spirit is reparated as much as may be , either by means of fermentation , or drawn by his brother which is at liberty . aph. 11. the organs , by which the spirit worketh , are the qualities of things ; which meerly and purely considered , are able to do no more , than the eye can see without life , as being nothing else but modifications of the matter or body : aph. 12. all things operating do it to this only purpose , to make things upon which they work , like themselves . aph. 13. the subject of the vital spirit is the bodie ; in it is received , and by it worketh ; neither is it ever so pure , but that it is joyned with its mercurial humour . aph. 14. the humour doth not specifie the spirit ; because it is the common matter of things , apt to be made any thing : neither is it seen with the eyes ; because it is pure , unlesse it be first terminated in a more solid bodie . aph. 15. neither souls , nor pure spirits , nor intelligences can work upon bodies , but by means of the spirit : for two extreams cannot be joyned together , without a mean ; therefore , daemons appear not but after sacrifices used . aph. 16. if the spirits or intelligences wonted , go to the vital spirits specified , which is either discipated by the contrary , or changed into another thing , they cease to work there any longer : and as they are allured by the vital spirits of living creatures , so they are put to flight , or rather do cease to work upon bodies , when sharp and venemous things are used . aph. 17. the stars do tye the vital spirits to the bodie disposed , by light and heat ; and by the same means do they infuse is into the bodie . aph. 18. in generation the spirit is mixt with the body , and directs the intention of nature to its end . aph. 19. the seeds of things are known to contain more plenty of these spirits , than any thing else . aph. 20. the seeds do not contain such plenty , as is required to the perfect production of a thing ; but the internal spirit , alluring the external coming down from heaven , unites it to its self ; and being fortified therewith , at length it begets its like . aph. 21. before the seed do germinate , or bud , it is fermented , and by fermentation disposed to alteration . aph. 22. if the fermentation could be hindred in the advancement of attraction and assimulation ; then a thing might be brought at length , from its seeds to the species of it in a moment . aph. 23. that which is more universal doth more further attraction , and more dispose the seed to attraction : as salt-peter in vegitables . aph. 24. every familie of things hath somewhat universal annext to it , whereby the seed is disposed to attraction and made fruitful . aph. 25. he that knows how to joyn the universal artificially to the seed of the animal family , may produce , even living wights beside the termination , matrix or womb , at least formally ; and the like reason is also for the other thing . aph. 26. he that can joyn light with darkness , may multiply things in their own kindes , and change the nature of them . aph. 27. the universal vital spirit coming down from heaven , pure , clear , and uncontaminate , is the father of the particular vital spirit , which is in every thing : for , it procreates and multiplies in it the body ; from whence bodies borrow the power of multiplying themselves . aph. 28. as the first vital spirit lyeth hid in the mercurial humour that is common and free . so the vital spirit of particular things lyes in that mercurial humour , imbrued with the vertue of that bodie whose it is , which they call radical moisture . aph. 29. he that can joyn a spirit impregnat with the virtue of one bodie with another , that is now disposed to change , may produce many miracles , and monsters . aph. 30. the first varietie of the disposition of bodies , proceed from the various concoction of waters . aph. 31. the second from the various mixture of the three principles , salt , sulphure , and mercurie . aph. 32. these dispositions flow from the position of the stars , especially of the sun . aph. 33. every thing hath so much vitality , as is required to produce the natural actions of that species . aph. 34. nothing beginneth to be made , that doth not receive some vitallity from heaven , by which it can work somewhere . aph. 35. he that knoweth how to infuse the propitious heavens or sun into things , or into the mixture of things , may perform wonders ; and hereupon depends all magick operations . aph. 36. by how much the dispositions , or the subjects are more formal , so much more of this life they receive , and so much more powerfully they do work . aph. 37. as in the eye , the operations are more noble than in the foot , although they both proceed from the same soul ; because of the purity of this organ , apt to receive a greater proportion of life : so the constellate carracters , because of their formality , receive a great proportion of spirit from heaven , and produce nobler actions . aph. 38. the spirit floweth continually from heaven , and back again to heaven , and in the flowing is found pure and unmixt , and therefore may by a skilfull workman , by wonderful means be joyned to any thing , and increase the virtues of it according to the disposition of the subject . aph. 39. the heart of heaven is the sun , and by light distributeth all things , aswell to the stars , as to the earth . aph. 40. opacum is nothing else , but a body either wanting light , or having the light asleep in it . aph. 41. he that can by light draw light out of things , or multiply light with light , he knoweth how to adde the universal spirit of life to the particular spirit of life , and by this addition do wonders . aph. 42. so much light as is added , so much life ; and so much of the one as is lost , so much is lost of the other . aph. 43. this spirit after the first period of maturation , strongly beginneth by little and little to vanish . aph. 44. maturation is nothing else but , the operation of the radicated moisture to the perfection of the individuum , so far forth as it may be perfected , proceeding according to the semenary reasons , propounded or purposed by nature or the soul . or , it is an actuation of the internal spirit , so far as it may be actuated . or , it is the greatest illumination of the matter that can possibly be done by such light . aph. 45. the spirit is discipated when it stirreth to act upon a matter too rebellious : or , when the natural mixture , or crasis of a thing is altered by the stars , somtimes too much excited , it breaketh forth ; or being called forth by its brother spirit it goeth away to it . aph. 46. the matter is rebellious , when by reason of a contrary crasis , or temperature , it cannot be overcome and altered by the spirit : or , when it is in the last period , beyond which it cannot go , nor the spirit convoy it any further : for only so much spirit is given as serveth every thing to the due perfection of it . aph. 47. the temperature of a thing is altered by the stars , when the horiscope of the nativity cometh to the degree of apposition of the planets that be contrary to the beginning of the life . aph. 48. the spirit is too much excited by fermentation , or immoderate agitation : for moderate agitation is necessary to vital operation . aph. 49. the spirit is called out by its brother spirit , when it is too much exposed to it . aph. 50. in certain things it cannot be called out by its brother spirit , because of its strait-society with the body ; but it allureth his brother to him , and is strongly fortified thereby . aph. 51. fermentation is the action of heat upon moisture , by which the moisture is heated and made subject to the spirit , circulating it self in the body , which cannot remain in the same estate , by means of the fluxibility of the body . aph. 52. he that by means and use of the universal spirit , can excite the particular of any to a natural fermentation ; and then appease and settle natures tumults by repeating the operation , may miraculously increase things in vertue , and power , the highest secrets of philosophy . aph. 53. every man knows that by means of fermentation the spirit is as pure as it possibly may be drawn : but almost all of them do want the fruit of multiplication ; because they know not how to joyn one brother with another . aph. 54. every thing fermented worketh more strongly ; because in things fermented the spirits are more free . aph. 55. things do abide in the same state of nature , so long as they possesse so much spirit as is sufficient to perform the due execution thereof . aph. 56. hence is manifest the cause of natural death and destruction of things . every thing tends to maturation , as to the perfection thereof : and when it is ripe , the spirit begins to shew its forces , and so by acting it is discipated and vanisheth , which , at length , is the cause of destruction . aph. 57. he that could lay hold on the vanishing spirit , and apply it to the body from whence it slipt , or to another of the same species , may thereby do wonders . aph. 58. from this fountain all natural philosophy doth flow : for , easily may the spirit imbrued with the qualities of another body , procreate in bodies of the same kind a similtude ; which is the violent cause of love . aph. 59. these things are aptest to intercept this particular spirit , which have the greater similitude of most natural conjunction with the parts : or which being applied to a vegetous body , are by such a contract made more flourishing . these things are to be understood of the bodies of wights , especially of man , where philosophers are of more power . aph. 60. this spirit , where it findeth a little matter disposed , according to that likeness , it makes and seats the compound produced . aph. 61. where the spirit of one body , being married to the qualities of that body , is communicated to another body , there is generated a certain compassion ; because of the natural flux and reflux of the spirits to their proper bodies : which compassion or sympathy is not easily dissolved , as that which is done by imagination . aph. 62. there can neither love nor compassion be generated without the commixture of spirits . aph. 63. this commixture is sometimes done by natural or material application : sometime by imagination , and not seldom by the disposition of the stars . aph. 64. by natural application it is done , when the spirit of one body is implanted in another , by means of those things which are apt to intercept the spirit , and to communicate it to another ; and they are known by their signature ; and by the ancients called amatoria , or such things as love one another . aph. 65. by imagination love is produced ; when the exalted imagination of one doth predominate over the imagination of another , and fashioneth and sealeth it . and this may easily be done , because of the volubility of the imagination . hence all incantations get efficacy : for although , peradventure , they have some efficacy in themselves , yet the vertue cannot be distributed , because of the universality thereof ▪ aph. 66. from the stars , love takes its beginning , either when the disposition of the heavens , is alike at the time of nativity , as astrologers do abundantly teach , and this is most firm , and most to be desired : or when the beneficial beam of the stars , being apt for that purpose , are at a fit time received into matter disposed , and in a due manner brought into act ; as natural magick more fully teacheth . aph. 67. he , that can do these manner of doings , with the universal spirit , may do wonders . aph. 68. thou mayest call the universal spirit to thy help , if thou use instruments impregnate with this spirit ; the great secret of magicians . aph. 69. he that knows how to make a particular vital spirit , may cure the particular body , whose spirit is at any distance , alwaies imploring the help of the universal spirit . aph. 70. he that can fortifie the particular spirit with the universal , may prolong his life very long : unlesse the stars be against it ; yet he may by these means lengthen his life , and health ; and somewhat a bate the malice of the stars , as he must confesse , that doth know the habitation of this spirit . aph. 71. nothing can be putrified , unlesse it feels first fermentation ; but nothing comes naturally to declination , but by stat . aph. 72. putrifaction is the symptome of declining nature ; or of the spirits flying away . aph. 73. there is nothing putrified that hath not great store of the volative spirit . aph. 74. all heat proceedeth from the vital spirit , and is said of motion ; neither can that spirit either subsist without heat , or at least cannot be mingled with bodies . aph. 75. every thing that is putrified , hath lesse heat in it , than it had before its putrifaction : and therefore it is false , that things putrifying do grow whole . aph. 76. as much spirit , so much heat is gotten ; and of the one is lost so much , as of the other . aph. 77. heat can neither be stirred up by nature , nor art , but by the means of light , either external or internal . aph. 78. he that can call light , the spirit of the universe , shall peradventure not far misse the truth : for it is either light , or hath his dwelling or habitation in the light . aph. 79. he that can destroy bodies without putrifaction , and in that very destruction can joyn spirit in spirit by the means of heat , possesseth the principal secret in natural magick . aph. 80. the external heateth , by bringing in a new heat , and by actuating its own heat , whether it be by being light determinat , or indeterminat . aph. 81. the light terminate , produceth a destroying heat , and such a one as burneth all things . so it is compactly actuated as a fire . aph. 82. indeterminate light giveth light , and never hurteth any but by accident . aph. 83. he that knoweth how to make light determinate of light indeterminate , not changing the species , nor receiving it otherwayes , than in a common medium , knoweth exceedingly well how to purge minerals , and all hard bodies , without the losse of a radical moisture . aph. 84. the light which we call indeterminate , and which hath in it the life of things , being the carriage of the universal soul , lyeth hid in the darknesse ; neither is it seen but by philosophy , into whom the center of things is apparently discerned . aph. 85. the internal heat is raised , by reason of the agitation of the internal spirit , whose it is . aph. 86. the spirit is agitated by fermentation , or motion : sometimes they concur both together to agitation . aph. 87. there is a secret mean of agitation , known to philosophers , which is perceived by them in regeneration and generation . aph. 88. when fermentation is distinguished from motion , understand local progressive motion , which cometh from imagination directing the vital spirit to motion . aph. 89. all fermentation finished before due time , is a sign of immoderate putrifaction succeeding . aph. 90. he that knoweth how to hasten fermentation , and hinder putrifaction , by having the spirit of the universe propitious , doth understand philosophers contrition ; and can by means thereof do wonders . aph. 91. putrifaction hath not its original from the body , but from the spirit , and therefore it wars contrary to the spirit . aph. 92. he that knoweth the spirit of the universe , and the use thereof , may hinder all corruptions ; and give the particular spirit the dominion over the body . how much this would avail to the cure of all diseases , let phisitians consider . aph. 93. that there may an universe medicine be given , is now agreed on on all hands : because , if the particular spirit get strength , it can of it self cure all diseases , as is known by common experience ; for , there is no disease that hath not at some time been cured by the vital spirit , without the phisitians help . aph. 94. the universal medicine is nothing else , but the spirit multiplied upon a due subject . aph. 95. he that seeketh this medicine else-where , than in the tops of the highest mountains , shall finde nothing but sorrow and losse for the reward of his pains . aph. 96. the philosophers who say it is to be sought in the corners of the earth , mean the earth of the living . aph. 97. they , who hope to find it in the fornace of the chymists , are desperately deceived , for they know not the fire . aph. 98. nothing hath from the first intention of nature , more spirit , than is sufficient of it self for the conservation of its proper species , yet out of every thing ( nature playing the midwife for him ) the philosopher can produce a son nobler than the father . aph. 99. the first and the last colours of things are yellow ; because the sun and the stars are yellow . those things that are of a looser temperature , as plants appear green after they have toucht the air , which air being naturally and more highlyer cerulious or blue , and working upon them , maketh yellow things green ; but being made harder , resisting the impression of the air , they put on again their first and native colour . out of these things that have been said , thou mayest pick great mysteries . aph. 100. the air is blue , and the horizon appears blue to us in a clear day ; and the air , because of the thinnesse , is not apt to terminate the strong , vegetous , vital beams , until they languish and grow weak by distance , but then the terminated beams shew the native colour of the air . and thus much to have said at this time , by way of aphorism , if you make not very much account of it , is too much . the second book . containing xii . conclusions , which are proved and explained : and are as so many firm columns , to support the noble frame of magical-medicine . conclusion i. the soul is not only in its proper visible body , but also without it ; neither is it circumscribed in an organical body . the proof and explaination . no true philosopher will deny this : the platonists place not the soul in the body , but the body in the soul : and the peripateticks themselves do with aristotle confesse , that the soul doth execute some action without the body : nay , it seems very absurd , to shut up so noble an essence , in so narrow and strait a prison ; neither were there wanting some divines who attributed acerta in ubiquity to the soul ; affirming it to be there where it worketh : for what can be devised more unlikely , than to conclude that most noble essence , as bounded and comprehended in this so exceeding small a prison . the common dictate of reason proveth , that the thing comprehended , so far forth as it is comprehended , is more base and ignoble , than the thing comprehending : and it is manifest to him , who considereth the nature of things , that the thing comprehending , so far forth as it comprehendeth , is more excellent in operation and power than the thing comprehended . that the imagination worketh without it , and beyond its own body , i take it to be manifest , and if any man doubt of it , he will be convinced by experience : for it worketh in the embrio : neither can fascinations be otherwise performed . but is not the imagination the hand of the soul , by which it worketh without the help of the body ? and yet these operations conduce not to our purpose : therefore we must shew more clearly what we mean by this conclusion . we do then under it and by it , mean nothing else but that the soul must necessarily be , wheresoever the vital spirit is found ; for the vital spirit is the bond by which the soul is tyed to the body : or rather it is the undivided companion of the soul , brought by the soul from heaven , by which the soul joyned it self with the body ; by means and mediation whereof , it gives the form of the body ; and if by the frown of the destinies it be forsaken by the particular soul , it returns to its common country : but is never extended further than the soul it self , without which the spirit cannot subsist : then , if a mans body work something without it self , surely it worketh as informed by the soul , and shall it not then work vitally , and produce vital actions ; but how i pray you shall it produce them ? without doubt in and by the vertue and power of the form , that is , the soul . but ( except i be deceived ) there can nothing work by the power of another , and not be partaker of it : therefore the active beams that produce such effects without the body , must needs be partaker of the soul , by which they work . and i think no man can be so senslesse to deny actions extrinsecal , or without the body , to man , the most noble compound , and grant them to plants and stones : but that operations depend on forms , it alwayes seemed true to the most learned . the seed doth ( as some would have it ) beget the embrio in the mother ; which it could not do , were it not upholden and furnished with the presence of the fathers soul . but i hear some whisper , that this opinion can be no way consonant to truth : because that then , if the father should dye assoon as he hath begotten the child , his soul being free from the bonds of the body , goes to its appointed place , and how then can it work in the embrio ? but to him that considereth the matter well , this will appear of no great difficulty ; whether we say , that the soul is not utterly and absolutely free as long as any vital spirit remaineth anywhere safe and untoucht ; for it there sticks and abides as long , and until its subject be quite turned into an other thing ; but because it wants organs ( as in an appoplexy ) it cannot perform any sencelike actions ; or whether we will say rather , the soul is necessarily present at these operations , by a certain presence ; and yet not hindered , but that in another place it may perform other works : for seeing that the soul doth by wonderful and strange means , produce many things in the body , and is after divers manners in divers places , why shall it not , when it is free from the body , do the same things , or the like , so it wants not its instruments of its proper natural heat , which only is fit to produce such an effect ? but of what hath been said the cause is plain , why about the graves of them that die a violent death there are apparitions seen : for the vital heat and natural moisture being not quite dissolved , the soul sticks , and gives sometimes in these exhallations , impregnated with the spirit , the shape and form of a man : and the same may be the reason , why sometimes in church-yards such things appear : and from the same head it is , that the slain corps bleedeth at the presence or touch of the murderer : for , the soul being yet present , doth by the dispensation of providence , work such things . but for the better confirmation of this conclusion , there is enough said in this place , others from these grounds , will invent and finde out things which will be far more sublime and high . conclusion ii. the soul worketh without , or beyond its proper body , commonly so called . the proof and explanation of this . this second conclusion hath nothing which is not manifest in the former , and of it self is clear , and confessed by all men . for , if the soul be without the body , it can and shall without doubt work there : for , the soul in its essence includes act , being ( as one saith , and very well ) an essentiall act proceeding temporally : it works therefore according to the organs informed , or , according to the manner of information , seeing it communicates a form to the subject ; for , peradventure it were more agreeable to simple and pure truth , to call the soul , not the form , but rather , the giver of the form : yet , so giving forms , that both in their beings and operations they shal depend upon it , and whatsoever is , is dispensed and given by it . plato seems to have placed in men a three-fold distinct form , yet depending on the common soul . it is true , that to these inferiour forms , the name of form is sometimes given ; but how truly and properly , let them look to it , that accustomed to speculations , have learned to separate vitall actions from the soul , which proceed onely from it . but we , omitting all these difficulties , will be content to use the common means , which will also peradventure serve our turns . some men will say , if the soul be and work without the body , or besides it , by informing the naturall heat that proceedeth without it , and is inherent in his beams , they must needs be men , consisting of a soul and of a body . when i first began this work , i had thought to have passed over such objections as ridiculous ; but this being one , that may seem of some moment to them that are lesse perspicacious , i am content to answer ; and first i say , it is as absurd , for ought i said , to call the beams , men , as it is to call the feet and hands , men . secondly , every bare information doth not make man , for it is required , that a reasonable soul do inform an organical body ; and thus ; by means of the form , be made fit for organical operations ; but , if the soul inform any compound onely vegetably , or some inferior way unknown to us , it cannot be forthwith called , a man : for , the soul informs according to the merit of the matter , say the platonists , or more clearly , it informs according to the portion of the vitall spirit that is present : for , every proportion of this , is not fit for every operation . hence it appears , that though the soul do for sometime inform a corps with a certain form : for , we see in dead carcases , the vegetative faculty doth for a time exercise its power , which cannot be done without the soul , yet it cannot be called , a man ; for , being deprived of sense and reason , it falls from that dignity ; but it is most certain , that the soul being there present , onely according to the vegetable power , may work elsewhere : for , when it was tyed to the body , according to all the wayes of vitality , it did form many other operations ; why then when it is altogether free from those bonds , or else tyed with them , it should not work things proper to it self , there can no reason be given ; nor can any man in judgment understand . it may then , according to the will of god , either injoy pleasure , or suffer pain , although it be tyed to the dead corps in that manner , seeing that in the vegetative faculty it shall suffer nothing , till it be again re-united to an organical body . but in what things , and how the soul doth suffer , when it is loosed from the bonds of the body , we leave to divines , as too far from our purpose . conclusion iii. from every body flow corporall beams , by which the soul worketh by its presence , and giveth them energie and power of working , and these beams are not onely corporall , but of diverse parts . the proof , &c. the first part of this conclusion will easily be evicted ; for , there is no man that can deny it that considereth the operations of naturall things , and the hinderances of those operations : for , what reason is there , why things more hard and solid , than the nature of the thing requires , work not so freely ; is it not because the pores of the body being shut , the corporal beams cannot finde a due egresse ? now , unlesse they were corporal , no affection that is meerly corporal could hinder them , and nothing but the change of the forms , could destroy the faculties of things : but when we see that the form remains , the operations are hindered , we wonder then if we be forced to consider and resolve of such beams . moreover , unlesse those active beams were corporal , their operation would proceed to any distance , and not be hindered by bodies . if you say , it is but an accident by which things work at distance ; yet an accident must needs be in a subject , and must needs work by the virtue of that subject in which it is ; for , i take it to be certain , that no accident , barely considered in it self , can have any activity : therefore , except such beams be granted , nothing can work at distance by any means ; therefore , these accidents are displayed in corporal beams , possessing all the manners of the body , whence they proceed , yet i would not have you take me for a maintainer of accidents , who could never hitherto see any thing in nature but substance , unlesse any man could make the positions and manner of things something reall distinct from the bodies : but here i speak out of supposition , granting peradventure what some man might ask at my hands . besides what hath been said for our beams , you may add , that adventitious heat doth promote the operations of things ; but how could it do this , but by stirring up more plentifull beams to bring them out ? we see how amber , being made hot with rubbing , drawes the chaff to it more stronglier ; and many other will not work unlesse they be hot ; by which making them hot , the corporal beams are more plentifully drawn out , and so work more powerfully . moreover , closenesse would not long keep the natural power of things unhurt , but that it hinders the dissipations and spending of the beams : besides , unlesse beams were corporal things , they would penetrate though the most compact bodies , the contrary whereof , experience bears witnesse unto : though it be true , that some compound bodies send out beams so thin and subtill , that they can pierce the pores of all bodies ; as doth appear in the loadstone . but , wherefore did nature ordain pores in bodies , but that they may be doors , by which these beams might pass in and out : again , the sences would never perceive sensible things , but that there proceedeth beams from the bodies , affecting the senses , as appears in smelling ; for odour perisheth with age , and yet for no other cause , then that the beams perish which bring the odour to our nostrils ; so from all bodies there goes subtill thin beams , bringing with them the shapes of things , which is possible to demonstrate to the eyes in a dark place , by mean of a translucide convex — glasse : but unlesse these beams were corporal , let any man tell me , how they could affect the senses : rather i have often wondred , how being mingled with so great confusion , in passing through the glasse , they can severally explicate themselves . but let us come to another stronger argument , and more agreeing to our purposes , to prove what we principally intend ; and namely , that such beams do in a continuall motion , go out of the bodies of wights , which we shall easily do , if we first , consider the common natures of all wights : for , every wight , that it may live any space , must necessarily be nourished with food , neither can it live without it , because of the continuall going out of the beams ; the body from its natural disposition , can endure no more vacuity and emptinesse , than nature hath appointed for such a body : that which in food is dry , doth restore and refresh the solid parts ; and that which is moist , the humors : and why this ? but , because every day , nay , every moment , the beams , and those most plenteously , do go out from bodies , and those corporal ; yea , and from every part of the body ; for , were not this so , living wights would grow to monstrous and enormous greatnesse . and this is the reason , why wights fall to destruction , and are not so long-lived as stones ; nay , not as some of the more compact sort of trees ; for , the vitall spirit , and natural heat being in wights freer , and more at liberty , work more powerfully , and produce more plenteous exhalations ; whence it comes to passe , that they are propagated to the greatest distances , the soul all the while knitting them together , lest they should be altogether dissipated : for , they could not else hold the specifical virtue of the body ; neither could they work , except the soul informed them ; for , that hath in it the natural heat , as we shall shew in the chapter following , which produceth a sufficient disposition to receive information from the souls , as we said in the chapter fore-going . but , that those beams are of parts , is clearer than the sun at noon day ; for , that which proceedeth from diverse and heterogeneous parts , conveying also with it self , something from all , even the smallest parts , cannot choose but be of diverse parts : for , from the bones , flesh , nerves , there do flow continually certain particles , of which those beams consist : these carry with them the disposition of the body ; and according to that disposition , taken from the body , work more powerfully than the body it self : hereupon a wise man will take special heed of living and conversing with sick people , the rather if he feel himself disposed to such a disease ; for , a body so disposed , doth more greedily draw to it self those beams , and is sooner changed : and note , that bodies in whom there is a likenesse of nature and complexion do sooner sympathize with one another ; as brothers , sisters , and do sooner take infectious diseases one of another ; because of the radical likenesse , the infected beams are more drawn , and the body more speedily changed . another necessary caution doth by this occasion come into my minde , that great care must be taken to avoid these places where the excrements of diseased persons are laid : both for the reasons aforesaid , and for a more proper and particular cause , it shall be exprest in what followeth . conclusion iv. the beams sent out of the bodies of wights , have and injoy a vitall spirit , by which the operations of the soul are dispensed . the proof and explanation , &c. every compound consisting of matter and form , hath its own proper natural heat , which is derived and propagated , not from the elements , but from heaven , and particularly from the sun the heat of heaven , seeing that by the departure of it , all things grow sad and torpid , and by the return of it are cheared and refreshed ; for , it is the fountain and original of life , making all things fruitfull by its heat , multiplying and preserving them in their own being . whence it followes , that nothing can exist without some manner of heat , it being the bond whereby the form is tyed to the matter , and which , lying hid in them in a viscous mercury , a moisture brought with it from heaven , giveth increase of seed to every body . it is also the instrument which the form useth to produce actions : and it is the immediate cause of the aforesaid beams , which beams it never forsaketh , but accompanieth them in their journey . blessed , and thrice blessed is he , which can multiply it in a fit subject , under the favour of the sun and heaven . this said heat , if it decrease , the body tends to destruction , the beams being fewer and weaker : furthermore , though the form be not united to the matter , but by a certain mean of this heat , which is so required as proper to all things , yet it varieth in every spirit of things , yet it hath in every spirit some latitude ; so that you shall finde in the individuals , that which is altogether the same ; because the heat sometimes is more , and sometimes lesse , which may be the cause of variety of operations , not onely in these of the same species , but even in the same individual : it is after changed , till at last by corruption , it end in that which is altogether another latitude ; for , the matter is not tenacious enough , nor holds the heat fast enough , but lets it ( being volatile ) wander abroad , which according to the impressions of heaven , applyeth it self variously to the matter ; whence depends the whole oeconomie , and every change in sublunary things . but it 's now time to retire our selves , and descend to the body of man , the proper subject of this work . and first , it shall not be amisse to explicate our selves , what we mean by the vital spirit in this conclusion ; whether after the manner of other physicians , that which the schools call by this name ; or , some other thing of far another nature : surely , although we think that received opinion of the spirits animall , vitall , and naturall ( as they call them ) not altogether consonant to truth , yet being besides our purpose , we mean not to meddle with it here ; and therefore , of other manner of spirits . but what new spirit is this brought in into physick , or , by what authority came it in ? truly , i am so supercilious as to affirm this done by my authority : let it not be brought in at all ; i onely require , that i may be spared the use of that name , to expresse the natural heat and radicall moisture both together ; and the reason is , because they are never actually separated : and to call them spirits , because of all corporall things , they come nearest to the nature of spirits , both in their originall and power . it is called vitall , because by mediation of it , life flowes , and is propagated into the body ; and therefore , wheresoever you finde in this treatise the name of spirit , understand it as is said . now then , that this spirit flourisheth in the foresaid beams , i think it appeareth from hence ; this spirit also floweth from the body , and this no wise man will deny ; for , if it flow not from the body , the body would last for ever : consequently , the things that can most fix these spirits , have great power to prolong the life of man : for , it is volatile , and every moment some portion of it goeth out with the parts of the body , resolved into beams : for why it should leave the beams going out , and insinuate it self into bodies indisposed , there can be no reason given , nay , it seems utterly impossible ; and that the beams have a disposition to hold it : for , with them it goeth out in the plague , because the beams ( as is observed ) retain the disposition of the body from whence they go : yea , if the spirit were not there , the beams could not do as they do , nor work in the power of the soul ; for , of it this spirit is the instrument . either therefore the bodies of men shall work at no distance at all ; or , if at distance whatsoever , this spirit must needs reach , and proceed to it : and by virtue of a more potent soul , in the very beginning and principall of life , the body of man ( as of all other wights ) is ordinated to natural actions , as other natural bodies are , by the seminary vertues , which are in their forms ; nay , more powerfull than these are , this spirit that accompanieth the beams , dispenseth their actions , which are far propagated ; and when they grow faint , they are supplied by and from the bodies . conclusion v. that the excrements of the bodies of living creatures , retain a portion of vitall spirits : and therefore we must not deny them life ; and the life is of the same species that the life of the wight is of , and propagated from the same . the proof and explanation of it , &c. that the excrements of the bodies of wights , retain some portion of the vitall spirit , it appears ; for having lurked long in the body , they imbibe the spirit , and joyn it to themselves , intercepting the beams issuing from the noblest parts of the body : yea , having at the least some digestion , they are made like the bodies in which they were concocted ; and therefore do more greedily attract the beams with the spirits , and the spirits do much more willingly insinuate themselves into them , than into any other body , not partaker of the same ; or a greater digestion and likenesse . it is likewise evinced by common experience ; for , doth not the too much flowing of any excrement , produce grievous symptoms , weaknesse , and in the end death ; and that not so much by cutting off the nourishment , as by exhausting the spirits : or else in the dropsy , how could the over-much flowing of the water out of the wound , cause death , but that the water being impregnant with these spirits , carries more of them out with it , than the body can bear in so short a time ? so , in all inward abscesses , when great store of purulent matter hath filled the hollow of the breast , if by the negligence or ignorance of the chirurgion , it be too much and suddenly emptied , it is for the same reason , followed with death or dangerous weaknesse : for , the body , unlesse it be every-where according to the proportion requisite , stored with these spirits , cannot long subsist . this spirit , as long as the body continues in its due symetrie , is nourished from heaven , by the mediation of the air , and by the vital spirit of the aliment . all things therefore that proceed from the bodies of man or beast , after what manner soever , whether naturally , or by the force of disease , are impregnated with the same vital spirit the body hath : and therefore because they are liker the bodies whence they came , than those things that never were in the body , they quickly imprint the qualities drawn from the bodies , upon another like body , which ought to occasion great care , that excrement matter , corruption , nor any of those things that come from infected persons be left unburied ; for , great mischief may come by them , either by nature , or by art , if peradventure they come into the hands of some skilfull , but ill-disposed men . but if the burning of dead carcases , after the manner of the ancients , be not permitted , the magistrates ought to take care , that they be soon , and very deep buried , and that in moist places , if it may be , and far remote from the feeding of beasts : for , from shallow superficiall gravels , there arise unspeakable mischiefs ; and i think this is one of the greatest natural causes , why the plague doth so furiously rage in diverse places : for , i am afraid , that they to whom the charge of burying is committed , are still too negligent and carelesse . i would here take occasion to commend , and that upon good grounds , the funeral fires of the ancients ; but another custome having now prevailed , i am sure my words will not alter it . it is known that witches cannot hurt , without the parts of dead bodies , and the excrements of him that they desire to mischieve ; as therefore magistrates ought to have a care of burials , so every man , if he have enemies , ought to have a care of his excrements . but now let us return to the conclusion , which affirmed , that these excrements do also live , which though at first do seem a little hard , yet indeed to him that will consider it , it is so far from being either hard or unreasonable , that it is impossible it should be otherwayes ; nay , what if i should say , the hair and nails do live a certain life , propagated from the soul . it may be thou wilt say , for they are as certain parts of the body , they live with the same soul they did before , thou wouldst think that more strange ; and yet thou canst not give a reason why thou shouldest think so : well , this only i will say of excrements , that unlesse they live with the same life that wights do after a manner , certainly they would want the vital spirit , of which we spake before , and which we have above proved ; and will not all this clearly demonstrate , that they have and do plentifully injoy it ? moreover , who can deny that the nails and hairs have life , that have observed in them an augmentative or assimulative faculty ? at least who can deny it so long as they remain fastened to the body , though they want sence , as the bones and other necessary parts of the organical body do ? now , if they live when they remain joyned to the body , these shall likewayes live when they are separated from the body , as long as they are nails and hairs , having still the same form as they had before : witnesse the accidents or the substantial moods , which abiding still the same , depend of the same fountains from whence they flowed : but no man can deny , that the very form , or figure , or mood flowed from the soul , draweth thence its life , which is propagated by the presence of the soul , by the mediation of the vital spirit . in conclusion , a man may thus argue for any excrement : all excrements of the body , by means of some manner of digestion , have changed the form they had before that digestion , and put on another , as may be known by their operations and faculties , which are altogether changed . as for example ; the excrements of a dog healeth the diseases of the pallet and throat , which flesh and bones howsoever prepared , could not do , especially if they had been stinking and corrupt ; and this form by which they work such things , they got from the soul of the dog ; and therefore being introduced and brought in by it , it depends wholly of the soul , and consequently cannot want vitality , which vitality or livelinesse is obscure and unperceivable to them which know not the centers of things , which it shall better become a philopher to search after , than suffer himself to be transported with a desire of contradiction . conclusion vi . between the body and the excrements proceeding from it , there is a certain concatenation of spirits or beams , though they be never so far asunder : the like is also between the blood and any other part of the body , separated from the body at any distance . the proof and explanation of it , &c. if we confirm and demonstrate this conclusion , the greatest part of the businesse is done : for , this being established here , is laid a firm foundation of this act , whereupon all the precepts thereof may be built : yet , if what we have said already , abide unshaken , the future difficulty will not be great : but first , it would be known , what concatenation we do here intend , when we affirm a concatenation of spirits or beams between the body and the excrements thereof ; we understand thereby , a perpetual flux of beams , proceeding after a peculiar manner from the body , and terminated as in a body , after a sort in kinne , and like unto it ; as also reciprocally flowing from the excrements of the body . that there is such reciprocall emanations , is easily shewed : for , if you once grant the flux of beams , and impregnation of the excrements by the vital spirits , it will necessarily follow , that both the beams of the excrements and the body , as not differing in nature and qualities , are so terminated one upon another by the aforesaid means , rather than by any other : yea , if the form both of the body and of the excrements do depend in the same soul , it will be amisse to call them excrements , untill they have utterly lost their form they got in the body ; rather a part of the body , or something subordinate to the body , and therefore the vital spirit being affected in the excrements , is also affected in the body , which cannot be done without such a concatenation : but this generall rule is to be observed , namely , that the excrements of any parts , are peculiarly allyed and tyed to the part whose excrements they were ; and that the beams that interchangeably flow from these , do by a peculiar love , imbrace these that flow from the part whose excrement it is , & vice versa ; for , out of that part it hath drawn more plenteous spirits , and therefore hath greater affinity with it ; which may be perceived by manifold experiences : for , if you put any uscerating thing into the excrements , the pudding will be affected with great grief and pain : for example , put pease in a firing-pan , till they be very hot , and put them into hot odure , and how many pease , so many pustules will be on the fundament . so the aculeus pastenacae marinae , stuck in the place where one hath lately pist , restrains it , till you have pull'd it out again . you will finde more experiments of this kinde in the processe of this work . it is not therefore to be doubted , but that the excrements are by reciprocal beams concatenated with the bodies , especially with those parts out of which they last proceeded ; thence arise severall considerations , whereof we will take notice hereafter ; onely take notice of this , that upon this concatenation , depends all magnetical physick , and therefore mark it well , that if any thing in the practice shall seem obscure , that thou mayst addresse thy self to this place , and better consider that which is already said : it is added in the conclusion , that the furthest distance doth not break this concatenation , which is so true , that the virtue of the soul extends it self so largely , that it is scarcely contained in place : for , the concatenation depending on the soul , must needs be extended according to the virtue of the soul ; besides , the other reason ( which we infinuated above ) of this extention where we said , there do most plentifull spirits flow from wights , by reason of the great plenty of vitall spirits , which appear to the sences , in that they need so great store of aliment , to the end that what was spent in propagating beams , might by the conduct of the dispensing spirit , be renewed in the body the fountain of them : there is therefore no small store of those beams , because being thin , subtil , and easily dissipated , they need continual food for the reparation of them ; they extend themselves likewise very far , and work diversly ( we not knowing of it : ) and as diversly are we affected in the hurting of them , when we are fully ignorant of the causes of our diseases : and therefore in all sicknesses the said spirit is to be rectified , comforted and multiplied ; and so may all diseases be easily cured ; which we propound especially , for phisicians to note and consider . now there is no man will deny but that which we have said of the excrements , doth also agree to the parts separated from the body , as also to the blood ; for , there is the same reason in all : in blood it appeareth most evident , because in holy writ it is called the seat of the soul or life , as having greatest store of vital spirits , and hurting more easily , by the too much flux of it . amongst all those things confirm this concatenation , that most famous sympathetical oyntment commonly called , the weapon-salve , and our sympathetical water , do by manifest experience clearly prove it , in despite of the vain and obstreperous noise that some ignorant divines make against it , proclaiming it diabolical and superstitious ; whom many others , and especially the learned helmont hath put to everlasting silence . nor did the wrangling libavius ( though he proudly railed after his manner ) write better against this , than he did of and for the philosophers stone , how ignorantly and audaciously he carried himself in both , to the infinite prejudice of the hermetical commonwealth , is known too well to them that have learned the true knowledge of things from the things themselves : but of this enough . of the parts of the body separated from it , he that doubteth may find in the same helmount , a strange story : i will give you his own words . a certain man of bruxels being at bolonia , did in a fray lose his nose ; he went to tagliacorzo a chirurgeon , living there , to consult how he might have a new nose ; and fearing the cutting of his own arm , hired a porter , that for a great sum of money , was content to let him have a nose cut out of his arm ( as the manner is : ) he did so , and the cure well performed , the man of bruxels returned home into his own country : but about thirteen moneths after his return home , he felt his nose suddenly grow cold , and within a few dayes after it rotted and fell quite off : and where many wondred of this strange change , he inquired into the cause , and it was found , that just at the same instant when the nose grew cold , the porter at bolonia died : and ( saith helmount ) there are many yet living in bruxels that can testifie the truth thereof : thus far he . the like i have heard from a doctor of phisick , a friend of mine , who did swear deeply , that himself was an eye-witnesse of it . is not all our doctrine here confirmed clearer than the light ? was not the inscitious nose , as animated at the first , so still informed with the soul of the porter ? neither had it any from the man , whose nose now it was made , but only nourishment , the power of the assimulation , which it hath from its proper form , it took it not from him , but from the porter , of whom it was yet truly a part ; and who dying , the nose became a dead nose , and did immediatly tend to corruption : but who doth not here see most openly and evidently a concatenation ? otherwise , how could the nose of one that was at bolonia , enform the nose of one that was at bruxels , but by means of a concatenation ? our assertion therefore is confirmed by true and undoubted experience ; from whence , as from a plenteous spring , divers fair rivelets do flow . hence arose that glorious miracle of nature , whereby a man may at distance , and in an instant open his mind to his friend , though they be ten thousand miles asunder , by means of a little blood , flesh , and spirit , a secret not to be revealed to the unworthy multitude . hence that lamp of life , which at any distance sheweth by its light the disposition of the body , and by its voluntary going out , the death of the body whence it was taken . hence also proceeds that salt of blood , which by its colour sheweth the same things , that the lamp did by its light : of which more hereafter . and hence also arose all natural philosophy , by means whereof the affections are moved and after a manner tyed nearly and only naturally : but of this enough . conclusion vii . the vivallity or liveliness lasts , till the excrements , blood , or separated parts be changed into another thing , of a diverse species . the proof and explanation ' of it . all things which have their original from the elements , after they are come to perfection , do straightway go back again to their principals , from whence they took their beginning ; for so it is established by providence , that what is begun by motion , shall never be partaker of state or rest . yet doth not the thing immediately cease to be in that spirit , wherein it is , untill another form be introduced into the matter , which also brings with it new moods , and new operations . i speak not here of subordinate forms , which are known to be common to many spirits , the change whereof is not alwayes required in the change , or corruptions of the presence , or absence of forms ; we can no way judge but by the moods and faculties of the subject . we say therefore , that vitality doth so long last in the excrements , blood , and other separated parts , as they are not changed into other things of a divers species : which being clear of it self , and by that which is abovesaid , needs no other proof ; yet this is to be noted , first , that things have more vertue and energie in their state , than in their declinations , and the nearer they are to their absolute change , the lesse they work . secondly , that every change of the substance doth not change the form ; for in things , where only the superfluities are taken away , leaving the essences which work in a sufficient matter well disposed and digested , and are full of the vital spirit of things , there the form , is not only not changed , but more free than it was , and worketh more powerfully ; moreover , we see that some corruptions are necessary to the furtherances of some operations , though this kind of corruption , if we give it the true name , is rather to be called fermentation ; for by it the spirits are stirred up , and made more able to shew their power ; but there is a mean in things , and certain bounds , beyond which the truth cannot consist : therefore we must proceed very warily , lest while we strive to stir up the spirits , we dissipate them ; which i have seen happen to many men both in this art , and in alchymle . conclusion viii . one part of the body being affected or ill disposed , by hurting the spirits , all the other parts do suffer with it . the proof and explanation , &c. i conceive , that this so common and received an opinion , by all phisicians allowed and confessed to be true , needs little proof : therefore we only say this , that the cause of this compassion floweth neither from the body , nor from the particular form of the part , nor from the likeness , nor lesse likeness , if it be considered only so far forth , as the cause of likenesse is considered which floweth from the same , or the like proportion of spirit ; but from the vital spirit , which goeth through the whole body , and is resident in every part thereof : for , a disease terminatively is not of the body , but of the spirit : for there is no disease of the body however it comes , which happeneth not by the weaknesse of the spirit , neither can any distemper of the body last long , where the spirit ( by which all evils are amended ) flowrisheth and is strong . this spirit is that nature , whereof phisicians ought to be helpers ( upon them the universal medicine is built ) whereas unhappy are those phisicians , and unhappily they speed , who either neglecting or wronging this spirit , destroy all things by their violence , while they think so to cure the disease , which by opening a vein , do exhaust this spirit , and by purging the body from hurtful humours by rank poison , that kill this spirit , thrust with those humours the soul out of the body : and these are they which by their villany and ignorance have dimn'd the glory of physick , which being given over to vain , contentious , and unprofitable disputes , have erred from the simplicity of nature , which , though they be honoured by the hair-brain'd multitude , because of their rich cloathes , coaches , and the like ; yet by the sons of art , who with great labour prying into the centers of things , have found that nothing is to be attempted against natures will : they are esteemed no better , than as their excrements of physick , and so to be cast into the vaults of perpetual infamy ; but the world is full of fools ; we returning to our purpose , do say , that not only the other parts do suffer with the part diseased , but that if any disease , of whatsoever part do last long , the whole body will be at last affected , or else , how could death follow upon a particular disease : the vital spirit is but one , so continuate through the whole body , and propagated through every part of it , that if it be hurt in any one part of it , it is hurt in the whole , as the following conclusions will more clearly shew . conclusion ix . if the vital spirit be fortified in any one part , it is fortified by that occasion in the whole body . the proof and explanation of it , &c. that which in the fore-going chapter we said of diseases , we say now of cures ; for there is the like reason of both . and this conclusion is put for no other reason , than to shew ( caeteris paribus ) there is no great odds , whether you apply the medicine to the part affected , or to an other part ; provided that by this medicine thy intent be , to fortifie the vital spirit : for , if this spirit be fortified in one part , the whole spirit is fortified ; because being of a heavenly and fiery nature , that strengthening is quickly found in the whole latitude thereof ; for it is impossible , that so subtil , active , spiritual , clear and aetherial a thing , should suffer any thing in any part , which it shall not very shortly suffer in the whole . the experiment whereof we see in outward poyson , which infecting the nearest , the spirit straight-wayes , unlesse the spirit be fortified , doth infect the whole spirit in the body : not that the venom goeth through the whole body ; for it 's impossible that by the sting of a scorpion in the foot , the substance of the venom should , as some dream , come to the heart , but because one part of the spirit being powerfully infected , the infection of the whole must needs speedily follow : so by inflamation , there immediately followeth a feaver , though the part that that is inflamed be never so far from the heart . as of diseases , so we may conclude of remedies : but that remedies applied to the parts affected , do more and more speedily help , it is by frequent egression of spirits from the part , the cause whereof look for in the following conclusion : it is very necessary therefore , that thou choose a part fit for thy purpose ; for , except thou do so , thou wilt be deceived and ashamed ; for thou wilt not work every where alike , therefore mark the conclusion following . conclusion x. where the spirit is most bare and naked , there it is soonest affected . the proof and explanation , &c. this conclusion being most necessary for practice , is of it self manifest , and followeth upon the premises ; for doubtlesse , the more intimately and nearly any agent is joyned with a patient , the operation is both more speedy , and better : for what can hinder action but undue approximation , which impediment we here study to avoid , seeking the vital spirit in its nakednesse that it may be the sooner affected , by a due and convenient application , and may be the more speedily freed from things hurtful and extraneous , and so quickly change and rectifie the body slipt into a distemper : for , if where it is most naked , it being there free from extraneous things , because it is not so fettered and cloyed with evils , then certainly there ( if one know the right subject , and use the right instrument ) it may be made to free the body sooner from diseases : for being fortified in one place , it will straight-wayes be fortified throughout : for , as a disease is never truly , but when the whole spirit is infected with a sickly disposition ; for till that time it is but , as some speak , in fieri ; which disposition at the beginning affected but one part , and that affected not hindered , corrupted the whole ; so must we also philosophize concerning the recovery of health ; but there are two things here requisit : first , that thou cease not the application , until the disease be fully cured : for , if thou leave off before that time , the part that is yet infected , will ( if the infection be strong ) again corrupt and infect the part , thou hadst made whole , and so leave thee to begin the same labour again . secondly , that one part answer another ; for he that will happily cure diseases , must begin at the root , and if the root of the disease be in the head , then cure the vital spirit proper to the head : if in the stomack , to the stomack ; for though the vital spirits considered in themselves , have no heterogenical parts , but be every where , and wholly as the light like it self ; yet as it is in the body , by certain adjuncts very considerable ; and therefore the beams proceeding from the head , do in that disposition contain the spirit , as the head doth ; as from the things already said may easily be gathered : the naked spirit thereof affected with the dispositions of the head ( if the root of the disease be in the head ) is to be taken , and remedies applied to that , before we proceed to other things . it will not be a miss to confirm the truth of this conclusion by experience ; there 's no man doubts , but that in the blood the spirit is most naked ; for , if it were more naked , than for fear of death , if it could , it would fly and get it gon to its own country : therefore phisicians know that the naked spirit in the blood is sooner infected with poison , than the spirit of any other part ; for , venom being put into a vein , doth sooner dissolve and loose the whole form of the body , than twice so much taken in meat or drink inwardly , although it be taken fasting , or without any other vehiculum ; which confirmeth the truth of our conclusion . i will not encourage thee to ill : if out of these , or any other writings of mine , thou canst draw any evil consequence : if thou beest a good man , thou wilt not so read them ; if otherwayes , know assuredly that if thou do any evil , god will here , even in this life , take vengeance of thee . so we proceed . conclusion xi . in the excrements , blood , and separated parts , the spirit is not so deeply drowned , as in the body ; and therefore in them it is sooner infected . the proof and explanation , &c. upon this conclusion the whole art is grounded , and this being false all fails ; therefore muse well in thy mind of what hath been said , and what shall be said ; for he that well understands this conclusion , will finde no difficulty in the whole art ; therefore it had need to be confirmed with some reasons : the first whereof is this , the spirit is not so deeply drowned in the excrements , blood and separated parts , as in the body ; because in them it ranges abroad , as more at liberty , in that it doth not so much attend organical operations , that do violently snatch the spirit inward , that being congregated it may work more powerfully in secesse ; but all organical operation being far from the blood and excrements , there is no need the spirit should drown it self so far and so inwardly : moreover , the beams coming from excrements , blood without the veins , and parts separated stick about the surface and outside , and are not allured and drawn internally ; because that is tending to destruction , the spirit retires it self , and makes some stay in the superfices , where also the beams joyn themselves to their fellow-beams , and there rest , untill at last the excrements , blood and separated parts becoming clean another thing , are apt either to receive these beams , and the spirit that accompanieth them , or to return them when they have received them . again , the spirits are more naked in these , especially in the blood , because that when it was in the body , it had the spirits more naked , and scarce tyed to the body , as appears evidently in blood . but some may ask how this reason agrees to parts cut off , for what priviledge have they above parts of the same kind ? i answer , it is to be considered , that now the door is open , by which a more free egresse is granted to the spirits , which now having broken the fetters , begin to wander abroad more at liberty . again , some will object , that if this were true , then by applying things to a wound , we might cure internal diseases . to satisfie this objection , we must consider these things ; and first , that in every wound there is not only solutio continui , but also the part wounded , there is in a part exotick and a strange quality introduced , by means whereof the vital spirit is hurt . secondly , those things that are applied to the wound , have no power to change the vital spirit , labouring of another evil disposition ; yea , the phisician 's expectation is satisfied , if one thing do but perform operation ; and therefore they are content with the cure of the wound . thirdly , if a thing good for another disease , whereof peradventure the patient is sick , should be applied to the wound , it perhaps will hurt this more , than it would help that : now reason perswades , we should first succour that which most urgeth . from these things the answer to the objection is manifest ; for the spirit then labouring of a double distemper , art commandeth to cure that which most urgeth ; therefore we principally attend the wound , lest syderation should follow , or something else bringing assured destruction ; and for the same reason we apply not to it things good for the other disease ; yet this i will here adde , that it is manifest by experience , that many men by wounds have been freed from many other diseases , and so , that they never relapsed into them afterwards ; namely when the part affected being wounded , the things proper to the disease could also perform the cure of the wound : as if the head labouring of a cronical disease , should be wounded , and the wound could be cured with betony and sage , there is no doubt but the spirit being naked , and now being refreshed and cherished with these remedies , would perfectly heal both the head , and the whole body . here also is this to be noted , that they who dig the body with cauteries , and keep the wounds open a long time for the purulent matter to run , are ill advised , they do not apply to the wound remedies proper for that disease , for which they made the issue ; for this being done , the patients would in short time feel very great ease , if that wound were made upon the part principally infected ; especially if all the other things were accordingly done diastatically , and the matter also that issueth out , used as art commandeth . by these means it is certain , and found by experience , that the gout in the hands , feet , and other parts , may most happily and easily be cured . but returning again to the excrements , blood , and separated parts , we say , that this art useth those rather and with better successe than the whole body that is hurt : because the vital spirit being free and naked , easily receiveth impressions , especially from things agreeing with it : therefore the inventers of this art , mingle such things ( though taken from other bodies ) with the medicines , as in the common weapon-salve it is to be seen , where they mingle with the oyntment , the flesh , blood and fat of men for no other cause ; that being endued with these medicaments and qualities of medicaments , they might the more easily help the heart , spirits ; for , by their likenesse , they do the more easily draw the spirits , and being drawn , do the more easily change them , according to the qualities acquired ; but it is not alwayes necessary , that the medicines be mingled with those things that are taken from the body ; for , we see , that the sympathetical water alone , and simple without any mixture , will cure all wounds by means of the blood of the wound : but especiall care must be taken , that you make choise of those things that do cure , not by qualities , but by their whole substances , as they use to speak , that is , by their signatures from heaven ; or else ordained to such affections by the seminary reason of the soul , otherwayes they may easily misse the mark : for , the similitude dispensed from heaven , because it passeth the like spirits , doth much advance the effects ; nay , without this thou wilt scarce do any good , as by daily experience we may see made manifest . conclusion xii . the mixture of spirits maketh compassion , from that compassion , love takes its original . the proof and explanation , &c. this 12. conclusion doth of it self a little or nothing avail to the curing of diseases , being rather directed to endure diseases , and procure love ; it is also the foundation of all implantations : for , where commixtion and compassion is , there is that which is sound , drawing unto it self that which hurteth another ; without question that from whence the thing hurtfull was drawn , will be helped and cured with the losse and prejudice of that thing , that so attracteth and draweth it : and this conclusion , besides that it needeth no long proof and explanation , being clear of it self , it is likewayes not safe to use many words about it , because of the danger that may arise probably from hence ; for , from this fountain floweth transplantation of diseases from one man to another , and from the dead to the living ; it may also do harm , in giving cause of much exorbitant lust , and the means to satisfie it ; nay , if this conclusion were too clearly known , fathers ( which god forbid ) could not be safe from their daughters , husbands from their wives ; nay , nor women from one another : for , they would be turned up-side down with philosophy ; and therefore i shall speak no more of them in this place ; for , to them that are curious and diligent searchers of nature , that which hath and shall be said hereafter , is sufficient : but before i come to handle the precepts of this art , let me ( as an epilogue to these conclusions , and for the better understanding of what follows ) advance one proposition more , and that is this ; the vital spirit is more powerfully drawn out of the whole body , and partaketh of the whole body , by those things that either have the signatures of the whole body , or have a substance like the sulpher of man's body ; so from a part , for a particular operation , those things do more vehemently draw , sooner communicate the spirit to another , which have the evident signature of it , this i say to the end . and by thine own industry thou mayst find magnets ; for every particular operation , by means of this general rule . this further i think good to gratifie thee withall , of all things proceeding from the body , the blood and the sweat are most stufft with vital spirits ; for , of the seed i will say nothing , for , without great incivility it cannot be had : but of one thing take especiall heed , that as soon as they proceed from their bodie , they be committed to their proper magnets : for , as the common load-stone is fortified , and after a certain manner fed with iron , so are these magnets , which apprehend and keep the vital spirit , untill they commit the care of them to another thing : for , if thou strive to keep without their proper and due magnet , two inconveniences will follow : first , they cannot endure any considerable time in their esse ; because every moment they lose somewhat of their vital spirits : secondly , that without a magnet they do not work so mightily : because , for the most part , the magnets do conduce to transplantation and communication ( as we know by certain experience ) for philosophers they will do little or no good without a magnet ; except peradventure somewhat may be done by the fermentation of the blood and seed ; and each is to other in stead of a magnet : but in other things , though haply thou mayst finde some virtue , yet thou wilt never finde so powerfull operations , as if in thy works thou use magnets ; choose them then convenient , and apply them the right way , and thou shalt perform wonders . mundus regitur opinionibus . the third book . containing the method of curing by sympathie . chapter i. of the things necessary for a physician , before he under-take the practice of magicall physick . there are many things necessary for him , that thinks to understand the practice of this art , and do any good by it . first , he must know diseases , for else how can he cure them . it is true , that ignorance of the diseases is not here dangerous as in common physick , because here we use external medicins , always comforting the internal , and for the most part void of poison : but though it be not dangerous to the patient , yet it shall be a shame to the physician , as shall hereafter appear . he that is now well seen in the knowledge of diseases , let him next seek the part first and principally affected ; for , if this be unknown , he shall never do any thing to the purpose . he must likewayes have absolute knowledge of simples , and know as well the internal as external signature of things , whereby the simples are signed , as well to the parts of the body , as to the diseases : for , we use none but signed things in this art . but signature being double , to wit , internal and external , we will use those things that are externally signed , as being most known to us , except experience ( which is alwayes to be obeyed ) be to the contrary . he that knowes the nature of simples , cannot be ignorant of the times for the sowing and gathering of them ; but this science cannot be thought sufficient without astrologie : our physician therefore must be skill'd in the planetary diseases and plants , that so he appease these : yet so that to diseases , whether strong or remisse , he be sure to appose a plant of a superiour degree . in a word , he must understand the secret natures of both men and simples . i do not deny , but that this art one day will be very easie , but as yet it is in the cradle , lyes lurking in the secret desks of some few men : and therefore , he that will attempt it , must from the foresaid conclusions , draw some particulars . yet here i would advise ( by the way ) all men , that in the interim , they would minister things comforting , proper for the disease , that so the cure may the more soon , more safely , more plentifully be performed : yea if peradventure in some diseases , sometimes there are more violent things to be given ( which we must ever avoid all we can ) yet , this comfort we have from this art , that by it , nature is strengthened and kept from being overthrown by violent things ; which , consider with thy self how much it concerns . moreover i would perswade , that untill easier purgatives be found in this art , thou wouldest be content to use these purges following , or the like , as the disease requires : for , those do not much trouble the vital spirit , and work without nauceousnesse , griping , or trouble . i have ever kept secret , but am now content to communicate them unto thee , that nothing may be wanting in this art . chap. ii. of purges and purging . in as much as the vital spirit being fortified , can by its own power free the body from hurtfull humors ; it may be doubted , whether in cures done by this art , purgation be to be promised : and true it is indeed , that the spirit can by its power , expell hurtfull things out of the body : but , if any would quickly , safely and pleasantly cure diseases by this art , it is fit to begin with purgation ; for so , the oppressed spirit is relieved , and is made fitter , being helpt by our medicine to do the other things , and when it is free , it is more easily changed and reduced to its former estate : for , there are some of the philosophers , before they give a dose of a great elixer , first think fit , ( that the cure may be more easily wrought ) to free the body by purgation . how much rather then in this art now , whether it is best to do it , may be doubted . and first , it is to be considered , that there be very few simples , violently purging , that do not hurt the vital spirit by their great proportion of venenosity . secondly , there is not yet any medicine purging magnetically found out , ( except some certain ointments commonly known ) which utterly wants all venemous qualities . and therefore , i would have them quite forborn , because they may be the cause of more mischief , than if they were given inwardly : but magnets and oyls may be commodiously used , if the disease be in the stomach , intestines , or mesaricks : i will give this example of one that doth gently loose the belly ; in other writers thou mayest finde more , or mayest make them according to thine own intention . r. aloes hepat lib. 1. myrrhae unc. 1. pour upon it the gall of bull lib. ss. draw of the oyl in a retore , which thou mayest use either by it self , or in form of an unguent , anointing the stomach , and all about the navell with it , and afterwards cover it with a spunge , wet with the oyl , or in the ointment , thou shalt see the desired effect , namely a benigne and harmlesse purgation , which works without all nauceousnesse or griping . there are many things spoken of an hearb in the west parts of ireland , called by the natives , mackanbuy ; which if any carry about him , it purgeth without griping ; but that it doth not this by corroborating the spirits , it appears : for , if one carry it about him too long , it brings a dangerous flux . some ascribe the like vertue to tobacco , tyed to the flank ; so the milky juice of tithimal , mixt with salt , and put it into the new excrements of the belly , doth violently loosen , but not without pain ; yet these things must be warily used ; neither is it safe to apply any medicine that purgeth violently to the vital spirit nakedly , either by excrement , blood , or any other means ; we will therefore prescribe some things to be taken inwardly , which are benigne , and agreeable to nature , and which thou mayest use , untill by experience there be more healthsome purges found out , examined according to the precepts of this art : and the first shall be the specifical . purge of paracelsus , which is good almost in every disease , whether the operation be after crollius , or no , thou mayst in a disease use mercurius vitae ( if thou wouldst purge by vomit ) precipitate by the powder of tarter , and after precipitation , wash it very well . if afterwards it be sprinkled with the oyl of common salt , and so left in digestion three or four dayes , and then washed one or two times , it purgeth gently and universally , which is an high secret in the dropsie . moreover , if mercur. vitae be well ground with common salt decrepitate and again washed , and this work be thrice repeated , it leaves much of its violence . also mercur. specificus purgans of our own invention , is of no small moment ; for it drawes the humors sweetly out of the whole body , without violence , and opens obstructions . angelus sala his crystallum lunae , freeth the body benignely from all waterish humors , and wonderfully helpeth the dropsie . our mercurius coelestis , of all minerals , most benignely purgeth the body , it is fit for every age , it opens obstructions , it frees the head from humors , it strengthens the stomach : neither are there any symptoms to be feared from it , as there are exceedingly in all others mercurials : the precipitation hereof is after this manner ; take of common mercury precipitate white sweetned with many washings , and dryed as much as thou wilt , oyl of vitriol q. s. to make a paste of it ; put it into a glass , and set it in the sun fourteen dayes ; then take it out , and dry it again , doing as before the third time , then wash it to a pleasant tartnesse , dry it , and keep it for thy use . the dose is from six gr. to ten , according to the age , disease , and habitude of the body : it purgeth onely by siege , neither is there any fear of salivation , or of fluxing , though necessity force thee to use it many times . the glass of antimonie , purging onely by stool , is a most noble remedy in all melancholy diseases and affects of the head , neither is it far from a speciall purger ; and therefore thou mayst easily use it in every disease that requires evacuation ; it is made of the powder of antimonie made by it self , by irroration of the oyl of vitriol , even almost as mercurius coelestis was . prepare it after this manner ; take of the powder of antimonie unc. 1. of oyl of vitriol as much , mix them well together in a glasse morter , and dry them by the fire , this do vii . times , each time drying them well ; at last , the powder being now dry , have in a readinesse the spirit of wine thus made ; take mastick unc. 1. very good spirit of wine xi . digest them together four dayes , then decant the spirit of wine , and macerate the prepared powder of antimonie in it three dayes , then put altogether into an earthen pot , make it hot , and kindle the s. v. ever stirring it with a slice , till the flame cease ; dry well the powder that remains , the dose from four grains , to six . but the desire to do good constraineth me to open unto thee the best preparation of stibium that ever was , it is an universall medicine , curing all diseases ; and if any thing can stand in stead of potable gold , this may , though it be of weaker force : i have written it in dark words , lest it should be known to the unworthy : it is made of hungarian stibium , by the multiplied fire of nature , calcined into most fine white powder , take heed of the fume , which will be much : but if by this calcination thou do not finde the weight increased , thou hast erred ; therefore put it into fire again untill the weight be increased , then is the calcination done ; take of this powder unc. 1. mix them and digest them twenty dayes , or a moneth , decant the liquor , the dose is from drach. 2. to ounces s s. this is a great secret in all diseases . if thou hast a minde to make use of the powder remaining , calcine it as before , the calcination is sooner done , and the powder will be increased both in power and weight ; so hast thou a most perfect minerall of health . i have said much if thou understand me , neither can i speak more plain ; use thou it to the benefit of the poor , and be thankfull to me , who if thou understandest the sense rather than the syllable , i have shewed thee the way to great matters : but to others thou mayst use our minerals pancy-magoger in all obstructions , dropsies , and like affections : it is made of mercur. vitae , glass of antimony prepared as before , ▪ a scr. . ij . mercur. coelestis scr . iiij . let them be well mingled , and then with spirit of common salt saturate with gold , let there be made a paste ; which dry , sprinkle again with the spirit of salt ; do this thrice , at last infuse this powder in the s. v. digesting it three or four dayes , then heat it so , as the spirit may take fire , and stir it with a spatula till the flame cease : then dry the matter , and poure more s. v. and do as before three times , then dry the powder and keep it : the dose is from vj . gr. to x. as seems good to the physician ; in some diseases it may be mixed with the resina scammonii , so wil it neatly purge all the humors of the body , &c. those things have we hither to taken out of the family of minerals , than which there can be no better given out of the vegetable family ; many things may be taken , which are every-where extant . these are those that follow , which i chiefly use : i can never enough commend the resina scammonii , whether it be taken by it self , or with tartar vitriolate , or crystalline in convenient dose , or whether you adde unto it antimony purging downward ; but then you must use lesse of the crystal of tartar : as for example , in an intermitting tertian fever , the body being indifferently disposed to purgation , give of the resina scamonii , gr. 22. of glass of antimony purging downwards , gr. ij . or iiij , of crystal of tartar . gr. vi . and thou shalt surely cure all feavers ; but this medicine must be given before the fits insue that nature & the physick may work together , and if need be let it be repeated : besides , thou mayst vary the dose according to thy judgment . this doth likewayes cure continual burning feavers , if it be given the first or second day , while the patient is yet strong : thou mayst if thou wilt afterwards , give some diaphoretick , especially of those who procure sweat , not by prolatation , but confortation , and the abovesaid preparation of antimony . out of what hath been said , thou mayst learn to make panchimagogon , if thou know how to vary the dose of the ingredients , according to the variety of humors , thou mayst likewayes use the extract of black hellebor , made by white wine , to all melancholy diseases with good successe , especially in the suppressing menstruous , and all diseases arising from thence ; but thou mayst adde to these , resina scamonii , so shalt thou best hasten the operation , and take away the nauceousnesse which often proceeds from the operation of hellebor , that which is by rulandus called , the golden spirit of life , is good for many diseases , it is made with strong s. v. drawn from the trochisci alhandal , or the tincture , the dose of the tinctured liquor , is ounce ss. to ounce 1. thou mayst also in all diseases of the liver , and the meseraicks use with good successe , an extract of rhubarb , it is made with water of cichory , whereunto is added , the oyl rectified from its salt , together with the salt thereof all put in digestion till they be united , it is given in water distilled from the extract , or in the water of cichroy to the quantity of scrup. ij . or drach. i. also our spirit of health helpeth many diseases , especially in obstructions of the spleen , in the hypocondriack passion , in all melancholick diseases , windinesse , aswell of the stomach as of the intestines , and in diseases of the mother , i have used it with successe ; and is thus made : take of the strongest s v. xi . unc. of the leaves of senna elect . drach. iij . of black helebor prepared according to hartman , drach. vi . of oyl of fennel , of aniseeds some few drops : let the senna and the hellebor be bruised and maserated in the s. v. putting often upon them the oyls for fourteen dayes space ; then take them out and presse them , and put as much of the new species as thou didst at first , doing all things as before after the last expression : keep the spirit for thy use : the dose is from unc. i. s. to unc. ij . i have moreover often used cariocostinum prepared chymically very happily , which do you consider of , for i have said enough at this time . for vomitings i do use them also , but common ones , as thou mayest , when necessity forceth thee ; yet i prefer before all others , that truly so called aqua benedicta ruland , described by hartman in his chymia practica , and is made of antimony and vitrio lana , and twice or thrice so much salt niter into a corpus metallorum , which being exquisitely sweetned , is given by infusion in unc. i. or more of white wine as the disease requireth , the vomitorium conradi of crollius is not to be despised . the coagulum assari described by hartman , in diseases of the stomach and mesaraicks , where there is need of vomiting , is very good . the cold purger of angelus sala in continual burning feavers , is an excellent remedy . merc. vitae both vomiting and purging in rebellious diseases , whiles the patient is strong , gives no place to any medicine . likewise the extract of white helebor , given in a convenient dose , cureth all pains in the head , arising from the stomach or lower parts . thy self mayest finde out more , these are enough for us that are in hast . chap. iii. of phlebotomie . before we go any further , something must be said of phlebotomie , and whether it be here to be admitted or no ; and if so , then when and in what cases it may be used ; and first it is generally to be known , that every medicine that may be used in other physick , may be also used here . briefly then let us enquire into phlebotomie in general , and first to them that contemplate the depth of nature , and behold the uncuest frequent causes of things , it may seem strange how so many lettings of blood came into use amongst physicians , especially if the opinion of them be true , both in reason and experience : for , if blood corrupted ceaseth to be blood and degenerateth into unnatural humours , which are to be purged , not by letting blood , but by sweat and purgation , as the matter requireth . or will they say , they do it to loose the body ; surely it is scarce agreeable to reason , that blood should be the cause of a feaverish or praeternatural heat ; unlesse peradventure the spirits that have their seat in the blood , be stirred up by fermentation , which is seldome done , nor lasteth it , except choler be joyned therewith ; which being purged away , the motion and heat are presently quieted and allayed : or may be caused sometimes when too much blood grieveth the body , and begetteth feavers . but to that perhaps they will answer , that such are not to be cured but by phlebotomie ; because a physician must follow nature , and never stray from her laws : but nature hath shewed another , and most natural way , that doth not trouble the body like phlebotomie , and that is nourishment ; for while the body is nourished , the blood is consumed , if it be not repaired by aliment ; therefore take away aliment for the time , and nature will consume the blood without troubling the humours or the body ; and therefore hippocrates prescribes to such , a slender dyet . but if thou sayest the body cannot now be nourished , because of the malignant humours that infect the blood , thou sayest nothing ; for , why doest thou not throw them out by purgation ? thou wilt peradventure say , there is no concoction ; yet hippocrates purgeth the turgid and swelling humours in feavers , which if i affirm with paracelsus , there can be no feavers at all without the fermentation of humours , which is as it were the soul of concoction , do not i speak reason ? for , what else but fermentation could brook such a heat , and stir such troubles in the body ? choler , if it be a humour , yet it cannot grow hot , but either by external heat , or fermentation : they prattle that speak , that putrifaction can stir up heat ; who ever heard such trifles from so great men , let them tell me how putrifaction , which is a certain corruption , can cause heat , and let them tell me if this effect agree to all putrifaction : they dare not say so , for some would convince them ; for it agreeth only with moist things , whom they putrifie , and , yet not by reason of putrifaction , neither is it the adequat cause ; for fermentation causeth heat : for , look how much it putrifieth , so much heat decreaseth , as it is plainly seen in all moist things putrifying ; and the reason is , because , look how much corruption prevaileth , so much fermentation evanisheth . but let us hear these mens distinctions of putrifaction ; it is , say they , the corruption of the proper and naturall heat in every moist thing , by a strange heat , by the ancients or according to galen , it is a change of the whole substance of the body , putrifying to corruption by externall heat : the first supposeth that the proper heat of a thing can be dissipated , by an external heat : but first let them tell me how heat , as heat , can work upon heat , if it do first dissipate natural heat , before it consume radical moisture ▪ for the property of heat is not to work upon heat , but upon moisture : it drieth up ; drying hinders putrifaction . again , if it first work upon that which is moist , proportionably with the moisture , it consumeth the heat ; therefore there is so much heat left , as the moisture left requireth : therefore it seems that external heat is not the cause of putrifaction . look upon other things that putrifie , doth not heat by drying hinder putrifaction ? doth not external cold sometimes advance it ? but surely it ought to cause it , if it consist in the corruption of heat , and that in moisture ; for , what can destroy heat in a moist body , where there is nothing left but moisture , except cold ? moreover , it seems , that putrifaction , if it cannot proceed from the corruption of proper heat : for , if this were so , then the more the proper heat should decrease , the more putrifaction would prevail , and then be perfected , when the heat were driven quite away : but who seeth not the contrary , that putrifaction ceaseth when heat is clean gone ; do not those things that have the best portion of this heat , last longest without putrifaction ? but that we may come to that heat that takes its original from putrifaction ( as these men would have it ) of which is all the controversie , let any may tell me , how external heat can stir up a greater and more intense heat ? how do dunghils putrify ( i speak after their manner ) in the winter time , and have more heat than either the proper heat declining , or the ambient can stir up ; nay , they putrifie sooner in the winter , than in the summer , if they be laid in great heaps . whence is that great inflamation in feavers , not from the internal heat , sayes galen , but from a strange adventitious heat ? but whence it cometh , or what brings the heat into the putrid matter , neither he , nor any man else knoweth , or can tell : but from the definition it is clear , that putrifaction cannot be the cause of heat , because it destroyeth heat , and is introduced from an external heat ; that which is putrid , is only the subject of the heat , not the cause : which heat is only possessed according to the intention and remission of the introducer : neither lasteth it longer than the cause is present ; and how these things can agree , let them look . as to galen's definition , i wonder why he so unadvisedly and ridiculously , made the body putrifying , to be the subject of putrifaction ; whether in bringing in of all putrifactions , is there a putrifying body necessarily prae-required ; and therefore that which is once sound , is for ever free from putrifaction : but externall heat is by him called , the cause of putrifaction ; and therefore it shall be the cause of heat in that which putrifieth ; but putrification it self cannot be called , the cause of heat ; yet i would fain have some of them tell me , how moist things can putrifie without fermentation going before ? and where shall the putrifaction of humors at length stay it self but in corruption , and therefore that which is truly putrified , is not the same which it was before putrifaction be finished , but is changed into another thing of inferiour order ; because of the heat that is gone : choler putrified , is not now choler , but another thing colder than it ; and therefore cannot cause a tertian feaver , which dependeth of choler , as appears by the excrements : besides , putrifaction is alwayes accompanied with stinking : ( by stink i do not understand that odour which is unpleasant to us , but that which agrees not with things in their proper state ) but who ever saw stinking choler voided in feavers , except it were mixt with some things that did truly putrifie ; whereas the excrements of the belly , though they had an odious smell before , yet being putrified , they have a most pleasant odour , as experience sheweth . therefore the putrifaction of humors is not the cause of feavers , but fermentation : which being the height of concoction , doth alwayes ( other things requisite being present ) unite to purgation in summer . i would ask those supercilious masters one thing , what concoction they accept in a putrid humor ? can nature bring back a thing from corruption ? can it ever be in a better state than now it is if it be putrified ? it is nature's duty to perfect the work begun : unlesse her intention be led aside , or be hindered . the truth is , those men are too subtill to see the simplicity of nature ; but , how if all the strife be onely about the name ? how if fermentation be by them called putrifaction ? i will not stand upon this , so be they confess that concoction in feavers needs not to be expected ; and that by a timely purgation they provide for the life of the patient ; which is often lost by needlesse letting blood . but of feavers we shall speak more in our practice ; now therefore let us return to phlebotomie , from which we degressed , against which some do further urge , that considering the whole latitude of nature , they finde no medicine that draws blood : but if blood-letting had been necessary , provident nature would have provided some medicine to that purpose , who rather labours to keep that cataract of life within the body ; moreover they ask , how any dare be so bold as to draw blood from a cacochymick body , seeing themselves ( and that truly ) say , that blood is the bridle of the humors . they will say , that nature being disburdened , will the readier arise up against the humors : but foolishly ; for , if one should take away a souldiers weapons , and then bid him set upon the enemies , promising himself by this means the victory , would you not think him mad ? how much lesse is he who robbing nature of her arms , bids her make head against the enemy ; yea , but many have mended by letting blood ; i deny it not , but neither was then blood-letting the cause of the recovery : but natural heat , or the vital heat stirred up by motion , set upon , and conquer'd the diseases ; which heat by another motion , had been better stirred up , especially by purgation at the beginning , whilest there was strength ; by which means there is not onely endured a motion exciting the spirits , but also the cause of the disease being partly taken away , the patient is much relieved . thus you see the boldnesse and madnesse of them that are so forward upon every occasion , time and age , to let them blood ; whereupon how many dangers follow , i appeal to experience . this is the true cause why feavers are so seldome cured . i would such physicians would one day repent , and take nature for their guide . but is phlebotomie wholly to be condemned ? is it in some cases lawfull for a physician that followes nature , seeing that she in some cases , as by bleeding at the nose , avoiding evil blood that is troublesome . so it is at sometimes , and upon some occasion needfull : but these conditions must be observed , which are by experience fetched out of the cabinet of nature . first , that it be never done but in a sanguine body , not too much filled with preter-naturall humors . 2. that it be done whilest the strength is constant ; under which conditions are comprehended the age , sex , and times of the disease , and of the year , which when they weaken , forbid it . 3. phlebotomie , is never to be done successively ( viz. ) two dayes together ; let avicen say what he will : for , a double commotion is too great , and doth too violently , especially in feavers , trouble nature . 4. in particular irruptions , either in their making , or already made you may do it more freely . 5. if diversion of the disease require it . 6. if feavers , when nature shewes the way by bleeding at the nose , or other passages : provided , that she do not evacuate enough of her own accord . 7. if the natural flux of women be stopped , it is permitted , untill nature can by fit medicines , be brought to her wonted course , for the avoiding of diseases : but there must be great care taken to open the passages ; for , nature knowes how better to govern her self than we do . and in these cases , and with these conditions , it is permitted : but except in a case where a particular irruption urgeth , as sometimes in a plurisie , and in a squinancy , i would alwayes prefer fasting before phlebotomie : yet before this if the indication command , i would free the body from the humors : for so nature would naturally be eased , i would have the physicians , the ministers of nature , to follow nature every-where , plain and simple , and leave their strife and contentions ; what have we , ( that should follow simple nature ) to do with sects ? that one should swear himself a slave to galen , another to avicen , another to paracelsus ; these were great men , but when these gave themselves to contentious disputes to defend their own opinions , they much erred many times from the truth . this much is sufficient to be said of phlebotomie in feavers , we shall speak more large in our practice , where also we shall speak of refrigeration , or cooling of hot bodies . chap. iv. of cauteries . cauteries are used by many that either know not , nor understand not why they use them : and this manner of evacuation , of all these now in use among physicians , is the least materiall , especially when it is used by way of derivation : for , they weaken the member , they open a way to the vitall spirits to go out : they alter the whole body , by wasting the natural heat , so that almost all that use them , either are of short life , or else growing fat , and disable for the duties of life , fall sooner than they should , into old age ; for , whereas nature thought good at first to make so many evacuations to the body of man , these by making more , stir her up too much : hath not god given medicine to purge the ●ocent humors by naturall emunctories , and to make others for our selves ? is this to follow nature , or to go quite contrary to her ? thou wilt say , they do it to evacuate humors , which else would cause a disease ; and have we not other means in imitation of nature to do that ? but , if they be once evacuated , they will come again . they will indeed , if thou know not how to fortifie nature with nature ; they are fools , that intending to cure a disease , are inforced to make one : for my part , i never knew any by this means soundly cured , i have seen many weakened . but are fontenels ( as they call them ) to be utterly rejected ? surely , if the humors be in part of a member , notextreamly weakened , i should admit them , likewayes to intercept a humor coming to a weak part , untill the part be fortified also . in diversion thou mayest use them for a time , but warily : and if thou wouldest altogether forbear them , it were the better : but , if thou have a minde to follow these triviall wayes , yet do it not in a weak body , nor in a child ( except for a very short time ) nor in a body exreamly cacochymicall : the reasons of these observations are manifest from things aforesaid . at the least if yet thou wilt use them , then handle the purulent matter according to this art , and apply to the wound these things that are specifically proper to the disease , and doubtlesse thou shalt do wonders . the same is to be understood of blood that is drawn by phlebotomie , by means whereof thou mayest perform great matters , as shall be said in the chapter of bloud . chap. v. of comfortative medicines . it is a goodly thing to proceed to a work with all the consent of nature , which that we may do in this our medicine ; we have briefly spoken of the famous evacuations : now we must treat of comfortatives to be taken inwardly : which , because they conduce most to our purpose , it being not possible but the disease should be cured , if the vitall spirit be duly fortified as well within , as without . we will for the common good , lay open some most secret and universall things . and first i cannot but admire the true bezoar , which without any preparation , yeelds a singular cordial , comforting the heart and principall members ; yet experience shewes that it is much better when it is reduced to a magisterium . the dose is from gr. iiij . to scr . ss. the same judgment is to be given of the natural white balsome of peru : of which monardus hath discoursed at large , whom thou mayest safely follow . the not vulgar preparation of coral and pearls , we will give hereafter ; for the present take some compounds , and the first shall be a diathenate , called commonly by the inventers name , gascones powder ; which secret he sold to the bishop of worcester for 300 lib. i give it thee freely : take the black toes of sea-crabbs boyled , beat them to powder , which must be done , venus joyn'd with luna , being in cancer : of this powder take , for example , unc. j. magestery of coral and pearls a ▪ a unc. ij . of the true bezoar , unc. j. make rolls of the gelly of viper skins , or , if thou wilt , of the flesh of the whole viper , which is good ; and being dryed , let them be made up again , and dryed with the same gelly , and the oftner they be repeated , the better it will be . the use of it is , to beat it into powder , and give of it from scrup. j. to s . ij . in almost any disease , repeating it often against poyson . but if thou hadst learned to calcine the crabbs claws , corral , pearl and beozar , with the fire of nature , it would be an admirable alexiterion indeed , and more precious than all gold preparations . the second compound shall be our most precious diarhodon : take of pale rose-leaves as much as thou wilt , bruise them well in a morter till they be an masse ; to every ounce whereof put of the extract of cinamon , made with rose-water , of the extract of cloves and mace , made by the same waters a ▪ a unc. 1. of the extract of musk and amber made together , see that the amber be three times as much as the musk scrup. ij . this extract is made by means of a very strong spirit of wine , drawn off in a gentle bath to the consistance of the oyl of salt ; of corral and pearl a ▪ a scrup. iiij . aquae magnanimitatis drach. ss. the burning spirit of roses drach. ss. let them all be well mingled , and inclosed in a vessell of glasse , well stopt , all the rest of the summer : about the end of september , put them in a balneo for a month , then separate the foeces as thou knowest , and thou hast a kingly medicine : the dose is from scrup. ss. to scrup. j. it doth miraculously comfort and strengthen all the bowels , defends the health , strengthens the seminall powers , and brings to a fruitfull disposition . but let us proceed to other things from the floures of caltha hortensis ( marigolds ) and the duskish red clove-gilliflowers , there is made a specificall cordiall extract , especially if you adde the third part of the extract of saffron : let them be all drawn by the spirit of wine according to art . paracelsus hath a great confortative , good against most diseases , it is found described by crollius , with a long relation of the virtue of it . the preparation of queen elizabeths rectified amber is this : take the best amber-greese drach. viij . chosen musk that is not sophisticated , drach. j. of white sugar drach. s s. pulverize them according to art , imbibe them with the burning spirit of roses , and beat them well together till they be brought into a reasonable soft paste , put them into a vessell well shut , set to digest in the sun till it be dry , then imbibe it as before , and again dry it ; the oftner this processe be repeated , the better and stronger will the medicine be : the dose is the quantity of a great pease , in distilled water of satyrion impregnate with its own salt . it comforteth all the inward parts , it moystneth the body , by increasing the radical moisture , and encreaseth the power of generation , and cureth them that are barren of either sex . the spirit of soot is of great force , as no man will deny that hath once used it prepared : the manner of working it is extant in hartman , where he speaks of confortatives in his chymica practica , about the beginning . though the power of these things be not so great , as that they deserve the title of an universall medicine , yet experience shewes , that the powerof them is great , and that they are alwayes used with good successe . but we , that we may inrich this new art , with the addition of an invaluable treasure , will teach the true calcination or dissolution of herbs , stones , minerals , and mettals ; whereby every thing may , according to his nature , become an universal medicine , and being exalted , work according to his subject ; so that no man shall deny them equal to the true aurum potabile ; which , as shall appear , sprung from the said root . here the reader must know , our words are not to be interpreted otherwayes than out of the book of genuine philosophers , and we are not of the number of common men , how great soever , nor like quercetan , though otherwise a great scholer , who , speaking of therica in pharmacopaea dogmatica restituta , calleth the spirit of wine the fire of nature ; and the salt of the earth , the salt and sulphur of nature ; as if nature did use the spirit of wine to the generation of all things , & play the chymick in the salt of the earth . i do not deny but the whole earth , and principally the salt is the receiver of the sulphur and mercury of nature , yet hath it no more than is sufficient for it self , and as soon as it hath it , immediately giveth it to others : we have nothing to do with the salt of the earth , the spirit of wine , or any other salts or spirits whatsoever vulgarly known ; it is far another matter , which the blind , who are hindered by multitude of operations , cannot see : but how the calcination worketh miracles , harken , i will tell thee ; when i laboured about the calcination of corrals in naked fire , in a strong one , continuing four dayes and nights , i could by no means get it to be red , i gave it to the glass-makers to keep it some dayes in their fire , but when i had tried that four dayes more , i found it only a little yellowish on the outside , having in taste a little saltish sweetnesse ; while i was troubled at this , comes to me a most learned and noble gentleman : when i complained to him of my corral , he told me that in eight hours space he had calcined corral into a redish colour , with putting the spirit of wine to it , it yeelded a yellow tincture ; whereas mine would yeeld no tincture at all : which when i heard , i told him the secret was better than aurum potabile , as being so quickly dispatched ; whereas the other required so long time : from thence forwards we gave our selves to natural calcination , trying the several families of things , and learned to multiply the fire by art ; whereas before we had only known ( and that not long ) the calcination of natural gold : so by trying all things , experience taught us one thing after another : therefore work wonders if you know nature , i mean naked , as i have often to my great content seen her ; yet i dare not be so irreligious towards her , as to expose her to the view of the ignorant and unworthy , an offence never to be expiated : but to the judicious and lovers of truth i will shew a spectacle , that shall not like diana change men into harts , but into angels . two things i must only suppose as fore-known , namely the philosophers fire of nature , and water of life , which yet to the punctual followers of nature , will shew themselves out of the context . then to understand the natural abreviated calcination , two things , or instruments , are necessary for thee , if thou wilt gain time ; the first is a great pair of bellows : if thou knowest the fire , thou canst not ( except thou be very dull ) be ignorant of the bellows , by which thou mayest extreamly increase the fire : the second is a collateral vessel made of the osbestos : if you know not this , you may in many things work without it : but in the second preparation of salts of herbs , by which the likenesse of them appears in a glasse , thou canst not be without it ; as also in the whole preparation of plants , and in the calcination of gold thou must use it , if ever thou desire to see a good end . now we come to the practice , beginning with plants ; and because they are all prepared after one manner , we will be content with one example . thus thou shalt then make a truly noble confortative of roses : take roses gathered in their blossoming time , bruised , or not bruised , it makes no matter ; put them into a collateral vessel that is hermetically shut with a knot , first have them three moneths in a digesting fire , with bellows thou mayest shorten the time , but take heed that thou spoil not the callitore vessel with too much fire ; after the third moneth bury it in the belly of a great horse for six moneths space ; afterwards put it again into the fire till the grosse and impure be separated from the pure ; then hast thou a royal cordial indeed , whose vertue yet thou mayest , if thou pleasest , thus augment : take a great quantity of roses dry at our fire , at length increase the fire with thy bellows , until they be burned to most white ashes ; then with simple water extract the salt , vapour the water away , and put the salt into a collitore vessel , whose mouth must be well stopped with a knot , there let it be three moneths ; then , as thou didst the roses themselves , bury it in a dunghill for six moneths ; then take it out , put it again in the fire , till the species begin to appear in the glasse , then take it from the fire , and mix a sufficient quantity of this with the true clismes of roses , so shalt thou have a more mighty cordial than before , exceeding good in all hot diseases and restoring the radical moisture . and by this means thou mayest make the true clissus of all herbs , according to the true doctrine of the ancients and paracelsus : each shall work according to the intention of the herb , from whence it is taken : though the vertue be from the fire of nature , and freedom from their foeces , wonderfully multiplied and inabled : nor are they clensed from their original impurity by any water , but by fire . but come we now to stones and middle-minerals , and because they are all done after one manner , let us take coral for an example . take therefore as much coral as thou pleasest , sprinkle it upon a calcinatory vessel , to the thicknesse of a straw ; put it to our fire , stir it up with thy bellows as thou canst , and so multiply the fire till thou see the colour changed : but see the surface equal , the calcination will be soon done , that thou wilt wonder , and therefore i would advise thee to do it three or four times , untill it let go its tincture into the wine , which when it hath given , if it can give no more , repeat the calcination before , and with a new spirit draw out the tincture , or with the same , till it be extreamly red , then mix all the spirit of wine wherewith thou hast drawn out the tincture together , and draw it off to the consistance of oyl . so must thou draw the tincture of all stones , middle-minerals and salts , infinititly increased in strength ; so that pearls thus calcined , will truly cure hecticks . now let us proceed to mettals , and for an example let us propound , with envie that much talk't of it , aurum potabile , and to them that do understand , clearly , though briefly : put your foliated gold into the calatory vessel , the mouth well shut with our knot , put it to the fire till it be calcined into ashes , and then sublimed into whitenesse , leaving the black terra damnata in the bottom ; then let that which is sublimed be with the same degree of fire united to the caput mortuum , that it may be revived by it , that so they may be all brought into an unguent , which is called the oyl of gold : the dose is gr. ij . or iij . out of this oyl or mercury of gold , thou mayest extract a high redness by the spirit of wine , which contains the perfect cure of all diseases curable : the true aurum potabile of the philosophers , if thou attempt by any other means , thou wilt never bring thy purpose to passe ; and when thou shalt see by this means , that thou canst make any other mettal potable , thou wilt laugh at the vain devices of others , and confesse that i have told the truth : i have spoken ( i assure thee ) more plainly than ever any man did , and if thou understand not what hath been said , thou art utterly ignorant of nature ; and therefore study her better : and if thy intent be pure , to see in these things the wonderful , strange , and praise-worthy works of thy creator , god blesse and prosper thee : otherwise , i beseech him keep thee far from the understanding of my words . concerning laudanum there is no great need to say any thing ; many forms of it are every where extant : in hartman there is an expresse description of laudanum opiate . a learned physician can vary the proportion of things according to his own intent , and the nature of the disease : so all things be magnetically done : but he that knows how to calcine the things to be calcined by the fire of nature , may doubtless do strange things . wherefore hasting to other things , we leave this to the judgment of the physician , meaning one day to speak more hereof , if god shall so please . chap. vi . of those medicines that are to be chosen in this art . having sufficiently spoken of helps taken from elsewhere , we now come to the art it self ; and in this chapter we shall enquire what medicines are chiefly to be chosen in this our art , that we may know the matter of our physick . we said in the first chapter of this book that these things were principally to be taken , that bear the signature of the disease , and of the part principally affected : but because we shall be here often to seek ; therefore , for their sakes that are unpractized , we have added notes out of crollius his book of signatures . but what is to be done in the mean time , surely if thou knowest the specificals , though the signature do not appear , yet thou needest not doubt of them : for they have either such an external signature as we do not perceive , lying hid perchance in their motion , number , or somewhere : or else an internal , unknown to thee ; because thou art ignorant of the anatomy of them : if thou therfore knowest among the plants any specificals contrary to any disease , apply them diligently according to this art , to the diseases in which they are proper , in manner as shall be said . these that help by any known quality , are not so much worth as to be taken into this art ; for the matter of our medicine , unlesse it be when they have a sagacity ( mark well what i said , for these things ought to be precious to thee ) for then if any external quality hurt the body or the spirit most violently , thou must use these sagacious plants , endued with a contrary quality which have more spirit . these herbs or plants i call sagacious , which know how to chase their enemies , and imbrace their friends . and those plants ( said i ) have a signature against diseases , which have some property contrary to them , so the salix or willow is signed to a dry bectick : for it hath the power to grow apace , and though torn or cut from the trunk , if it be but pricked into the earth it dieth not , but growes presently into a tree , and getteth roots of its own . so an oak dieth not in a long time , and therefore use that when and where diurnity or length of time is required ; and so of the rest . but of these more at large in our notes of crollius , whereunto we will adjoyn a small treatise of sagacious herbs , that the work may be perfected . at the beginning it was told thee , that such an herb or plant is to be chosen , as hath in it the signature both of the member and the disease ; but because it is an hard thing to finde a plant with both the signatures , thou mayest take two of divers species , so thou shalt do as much as if thou hadst taken one with the signature of both , if thou beest cunning to the application : this one thing i would especially commend unto thee , as the greatest secret in this whole art , ( viz. ) that medicines from mens bodies , if they be rightly used , can do the greatest matters in this art ; and therefore with great diligence , enquire what parts or excrements of the body conduce to what disease , the catalogue whereof the treatise of sagacious herbs , towards the end of it , shall give thee ; yet know , that to use these simply will not much advantage thee , for they must have a due composition , if thou wilt do any good with them . take example by the weapon-salve ; these compositions i will set down afterward , by means whereof there are wonders performed in chyrurgery , if thou knowest the composition thereof , and canst mix together such , or the like ingredients , fitting other effects , thou wilt be glad to see the operation thereof . chap. vii . of the time as well of the gathering , as of the application of these medicines . i will not enter in general any disputation against them , who in dispute of experiences , deny all astrological elections , it is enough at present to suppose them profitable ; for that which is confirmed by authority of so many learned men , needeth not our arguments : for indeed herbs do not at all times possesse the same qualities or vertues ; for sometimes more , sometimes nothing at all : the most profitable of all are they , which having a signature , are then gathered when the signature is most apparent ; and the moon in such a sign as governs the members signed , especially the planet that is lord of the plants being in his essential dignities , and beholding them more favourably , and let the moon and the lord of the plant be both free ; the moon having the dominion of the plant , or the sixth house ; and take heed the moon be not joyned to any ill planets that are retrograde . those things that have their signature in the root , must be gathered in autumn , but if they have the signature of the disease , they must be gathered when the planet , lord of the disease , is weak in a cadent house , and the lord of the plant fortified : the medicines taken from men , gather assoon as they come out of the living body , and keep them in a vessel well shut , till time require : but yet if thou canst fit the moon and the planet that is lord of the part , if thou intend not for a particular operation , but for a general , make the fortunate ascendant , and in the sixth house ; if you cannot , at the least let him be a friend by aspect to the house , especially he must alwayes be taken , that whether they be excrements , or blood , or ought else , they be not corrupted before they be used : yet do not so take me , as that i should dislike fermentation , which in this art is most necessary , and which some call corruption , though falsly . but if at any time thou wilt use mummy in this art , take it possibly from a body living , or next to life , ( otherwise it will not do so much good as the warm blood ) and set it to dry in the shade : however , amongst the mummy put warm blood , and set it to dry in the shade ; but be sure it do not corrupt before the drying , to avoid which , it is best to cut it small into little square pieces , like dice , for so it will be soonest dry , and better serve the operations required . if thou canst not have it from a living , or from a warm body , it either must be often anointed with warm blood , or steeped in it , and left there for a time , and cautiously dryed ; for so it is fortified with the spirits , drawn from the blood . if at any time you intend to work by fermentation , as soon as the blood , excrements , &c. are out of the body , put them out into a close vessel shut , and mingle with them such things as are to be mingled , if there be an addition of any thing required , as in some excrements there are , and thou set them to digest in a gentle heat , not passing the heat of the body whence they came . note also , that not alwayes the same vessels are to be used , but sometimes glasses , sometimes some things taken from living creatures ; as for example : if thou wouldest digest ones excrement to stay a flux , an earthen vessel : if thou wouldest stay vomiting , the stomach of a swine is the best ; and so of the rest : but when thou intendest implantation in all putrifactions , to this purpose glassevessels are best ; though i would use an egg in some cases , as in digesting blood by it self , or mixed with sweat , &c. now if you seek the time of application generally , take it thus ; all application of these remedies , be it implantation , or simple application of things convenient , ought to be done , the moon being in a sign conveniently fortunate , if it may be in the tenth house , and the lord of the plant of the medicine exalted above the lord of the disease : but of these we will give precepts in every likenesie . and this by the way ; though all things do not agree exactly , yet do not thou forsake or procrastinate the cure , fit those things that thou canst fit , as if when the rest agreed , thou wouldest begin a-new ; for , if there be a due application of things , although the stars do not so exactly accord , the cure may be prolonged , but the effect will not be altogether frustrate , if thou learn well to observe the times to come ; this thou shalt do , if the time be observed in the progresse of the cure : then do as it were set upon the disease a-fresh , applying new instruments of health ; a thing well to be noted ; for ▪ here is the wisedome of a physician most required . chap. viii . of the means whereby this art applyeth the medicines , to bring health into the diseased body . there are many means whereby this art applyeth medicines to the vital spirits : but for methods sake we will contract them into two in generall : the one we will call transplantation ; the other naked application . transplantation is , when by means of a magnetick , we put the disease into a plant , or another living creature , the patient being fully and wholly cured ; for , when the plant , or the wight hath drawn to its self the ill complexion ( troubling the vital spirit ) the spirit is thereby freed , and made able and fit to exercise its due function ; but the wight into which the disease is transplanted , languisheth , and at length ( unlesse it be cured ) dieth . yet this caution is to be observed , that we strive not in vain to transplant the disease into another wight , which hath too strong a spirit ; for , the vital spirits , being sometime very strong , resist vehemently , and then all this preparation availeth nothing . but into plants never strive for to transplant the disease , unlesse it be in some property , contrary to the disease , especially take heed lest it have a quality contrary to the nature of man , or lest by its too much violence , after it hath attracted the disease and evill quality , and as it were digested it , it attract more than it should do ; for , by transplantation , not onely the evill , but the good is sometimes attracted and communicated to another . hence it is , that they which transplant hair into a willow , to make it grow , and leave it there longer than they should do , do make the head weak , and the sight dim ; for , the willow draweth the spirit of the head too violently : from hence it comes , that by transplantation , a man may get himself the strength of a horse or a bull , if it be rightly done . this transplantation is twofold ( viz. ) immediate and mediate ; immediate is , that which is done to any living creatures by mummiall things ; for , so the thing , whereunto it is applyed , appropriates unto it self , and draws to its own nature , the good or evill quality of the mummey ; and either frees the spirit from such a quality , if it be evill ; or appropriates to its self the spirit , if it be hurt by no ill quality , and fortifies it self by this spirit , by means whereof , it can bring in the qualities and temper of the body into the thing , whereunto it is applyed , and that things , by means of these qualities , unites the spirit unto it , and by that , and in the virtue of it can work many things . and lest thou be deceived by the word we call mummey , it signifieth those things or parts of wights which exhibit the spirit nakedly , as thou mayst learn out of the first chapter . mediate transplantation , is that which is done by mediate means ; as if any quality being transplanted into an herb , will be transplanted into the animal to whom it is given , and by this means wonders may be done ; take thou heed thou do not evill here . note , that due putrifaction doth excellently prepare the aforesaid mummy , that any quality may be introduced into an animal ; but it is found by experience , that blood doth best admit of such putrifaction . now , let us come to the other part of the art , which we called application , which we must know is nothing else , than the application of those things to the mummy , which can either correct the evill quality , or can draw the vitall spirit out of it ; by which last means also , mediate application is done , as in some amatories it is very manifest . in this application , these things are further to be noted , first , that nothing endued with any venemous quality , be applyed to the mummy , being hurt by that means , for it easily communicates his hurt to the whole . but if you follow the former doctrine , concerning signatures , thou shalt not easily erre from the mark . moreover , take heed that by evill diet in the time of application thou overthrow not the whole businesse , which is also religiously to be observed in transplantation . and of these things here is enough said at this time . chap. ix . of transplantation , and the diverse manners by which it is done . in the former chapter , we have said what we meant by transplantation ; now it followes , how many wayes it may be done . there be six manner of transplantations , viz. insemination , implantation , imposition , irroration , inescation , and appromination . we will speak in order of them all . insemination is , when a magnet impregnate with mummey is mingled with fat earth , wherein the seed of herbs agreeing with that disease , are sown ; for , the earth being sifted , and mixed with mummey , is put into an earthen pot , and the seeds are sown therein , and watered with the washing of the diseased member , or of the whole body , if it be affected , so in time , all the diseases , are transplanted into those seeds proper to the disease : if the time require it , they are watered every day with the washings of the part , as is aforesaid : this done , expect till the herbs begin to sprout , and when it is time , transplant them into the like earth , and so thou shalt see , that as the herbs increase the disease will wear away , and at length be cured . there be , that when the herbs be ripe , pull them up , and dry them in the smoak , or throws them into a running water , or use them some other way , as best agreeing with experience . and if the mummey wherewith the magnet is impregnate , be not diseased , then the plant will be impregnate with the vital spirit of him whose mummey it was ; wherewith thou mayest do strange things . so then , understand well what i have said : but chuse you herbs fit for the purpose , and be not deceived , for every thing is not good for every thing : but they dispense their spirits every thing according to its proper gifts ; for otherwayes worketh the spirit joyned to vervine , and otherwayes to carduus or angelica . 2. implantation is almost done as insemination is , but here the herbs are to be taken with their roots alone , and implanted in the like earth , as is said ; so prepared , and so ordered and watered ; nay , in this case it is best , if the herbs have no other water at all ; for so they will be as it were constrained to receive and appropriate the mummey with the greater violence , which is also good in semination , except the too much tendernesse , and loose softnesse of the seed command the contrary , which here you need not fear ; but in all things take experience to thy help . one thing is to be noted in them both , that if the plant die , having attracted some ill quality before the disease be fully cured , then another of the same kind must be implanted in the same , or rather the like earth . 3. imposition must be thus done ; take the mummey of the diseased members , or the excrements , or both , ( take as many as thou canst get ) put them into a tree or an herb , between the bark and the wood ; or else put them into a hole , stop it with a pin made of the same wood , and put upon it clammy earth : if thou put the mummey , or the excrements , between the bark and the wood , cover the wound with the bark again , and with earth , as they do in inoculation , and leave the mummey there , and if thou work well , thou wilt quickly see the effect . yet thou must know , that some diseases are sooner cured by insemination , and some by imposition ; namely , the fixed by this , and the volatile by that : but if i might perswade thee , thou shouldest in every disease do all things ; for , nature is not burdened with these , and consider what shall be said in the practice : for there we are resolved to set down nothing , but what we have proved . moreover , some there are , that to very good purpose have used imposition . there is to be noted , that where thou desirest a lasting effect , you use long-lived trees ; and where a speedy effect , them that grow apace . remember the caution given in the last chapter , as soon as thou hast thy will , take out all that thou didst put in , lest too much attraction of the spirit , do hurt the patient . 4. irroration must be done , that by it , transplantation might be perfected . thou shalt water convenient herbs , or a tree ( and that every day till the disease be cured ) with urine , sweat , dung , or the washings of the members , or of the whole body ( as the disease requireth ) either severally , or all mixed together : though no man will deny , but the mixture is better : but this way i would rather use as one help to the other , than alone : howsoever thou do , yet this alwayes observe , that as soon as irroration is done , thou cover all the irrorated earth with new earth , lest the air dissipate the mummiall virtue in the things , before the plants can draw it . 5. inescation is , when the mummie is given to a wight for food ; for , then the vitall heat of the wight unites the mummie to its self : and the onely quality by which the spirit was diseased , and so restores to health the body whence the mummie was taken ; the vitall spirit of the patient being by this means cleansed by the operation of the spirit of the beast : but this especially is here to be noted , that as soon as the beast is fully and wholly infected with the disease , it be then killed , lest it do again begin to hurt that body from whence the mummie was taken ; afterwards if the body be not throughly cured , when that beast is infected and killed ; give another beast a portion of the like mummie , and reiterate the operation untill the patient be whole , and in this case , blood rightly putrified , or to speak more truly , fermented , is especially to be used ; and yet there is no doubt , but the same cures may be done with the mummie extracted by the magnet . there are likewayes some , that with good successe do give the blood yet warm from the vein , to a dog or a swine , which though peradventure they be not infected with the disease , ( for the spirit is here too fast fettered ) yet experience confirms , that it much furthers the cure . by this operation natural philters are done , though we finde by proof , that love may be procured by more applications : but although natural philters may to good men work good effects ; yet here i will say no more , because of those wicked men , that use to pervert the best things to the worst uses . 6. lastly , by approximation , transplantation is done , if to the sick body these things be applyed , which can attract the vital spirit , and the active beams , and having attracted them , unite them to themselves , and correct them : and this is done either by application of plants , and their parts , or of beasts : as if you would lay cucumbers by an infant that hath a feaver , when he is asleep ; the cucumbers will wither , and the child be cured . some lay young whelps to the feet of young children in their cradles , and so are often recovered . after the same sort doves cloven in the midst , and applyed hot to the soals of the feet , do by attraction , rectifie the praeternaturall heat , diffused through all the body , and remove all pains , being after the same manner applyed to the several parts : so the arse of a hen plucked bare , and applyed to the biting of a viper , freeth the body from venome , and the hen swells , and if not cured , dies sooner than if she had been struck with the viper . all which things can be done by no other means , but by magnetisme . moreover , we see that some diseases infect by approximation : for , the spirit insinuating it self into the body , communicates an evill disposition to his brother-spirits ; and who sees not , that love also is begotten by approximation , especially between them who by sweat communicate their spirits , and being in the same bed , by a long circulation as it were of spirits , lead almost the same life : but that this doth not alwayes happen , is long of the reasonable soul , which commands the affections , as superiour to them , yet doth not this overthrow the art ; for , nature cannot force the will , being most free . now i fore-see an objection of some moment : for , it will be said , if diseases may be thus cured by approximation , how happeneth it , that he who gives the infection to another , is not cured himself ? to which i answer ; it is first to be considered what , and what manner of diseases those be that be most communicated to men by infection : neither would i here say , that every disease may by approximation be communicated unto every beast . i would but search here , what disease of themselves , and by their own nature are fittest for it , and commonly so called . such diseases are of three kindes : the first consists in a supernatural heat not venemous , which when it can quickly and suddenly insinuate it self into bodies , in the least space of time , it alters the body , and gives it an evill complexion : ( these properties are here ascribed to heat , in respect of the subject in which it lyes hid ) but this carrying the heat of the vitall spirit , because of the sudden alteration , is not strongly freed , as shall be said hereafter . the second kinde indeed consists in preternaturall heat , but are such as lye hid in subtill venemous breaths , and more vehemently infect , as we see in the plague . the third kinde doth not consist in a meer quality , nor in the meer fluctuating humors , nor lurketh in any particular part , but it changeth all the habit of the body , subverts all the operations , or at least disposeth them otherwayes than man's nature requireth : and this kind doth therefore infect , because it sends forth a habitous , or breathing altogether infected , and in no part sound , which insinuating themselves into another body , do at length overthrow the temperature thereof : of this sort are the leprosies , and the french pox . now , having laid the grounds , i say , that in the two first kindes , why the body , infecting another , is not thereby released , is , because the infection suddenly communicated , doth in an instant change the body receiving it , and then going immediatly through it , when it is wholly infected , it cannot correct another , it rather hurts it : and therefore we see , that when any are sick of the plague in one house , scarce one escapes ; for , the disease is strengthened , being circulated from one to another ; whereby , if there be but one infected , there is more hope of his recovery ; and therefore their care and custome is to be commended , which do allot a severall house , to every particular person infected . next , as i said above , it is required , that assoon as the beast is infected wholly , it be killed ; but who dares be so impious as to kill men being infected ; then it is necessary , to put another beast in his place , and again , till the cure be perfected : but in feavers , where there is not so great violence , we have observed , that if one be infected by another , the infector is often straight freed ; and so sometimes it goes successively clear through houses , till it come to the last , who either scapes not at all , or very hardly . this observation doth exceedingly confirm this doctrine ; and this happens where the weak body falls sick first : as to the third kinde , the reason why the body infecting , is not alwayes cured ; besides what hath been said , is this , because these confirmed diseases , have so changed the whole habit of the body , that it is almost impossible to restore it , especially , where the condition above required , is wanting : but in the beginning that some ( though wickedly ) have been cured from these diseases , it is known by experience : for , he that hath transplanted them by lying with many women , hath been cured , as i have heard it credibly reported , to have happened in the french pox : but these are detestable things , and worthy of grievous punishment ; yet they confirm our doctrine . one thing i will adde more worthy of observation ; if a weak body be infected , there is small hope of recovery : but if a strong body be infected , because there is a greater power of rectifying , there is some hopes , and many times the body infecting is freed from the disease . chap. x. of the means by which application is done . naked application is done two wayes , either by imposition , or application . imposition , is , where something agreeing to thine intention either in quality or signature , is put into the excrements , bloud , &c. or when they themselves are put in some agreeable composition , and there left , untill thou hast thy desire : that such impositions ought to be done in a fit vessel , i have already observed and taught the manner of choosing them , which is needlesse hereto be repeated . but if the mummeal thing be put in some convenient composition , an earthen vessel will serve . whereas if thou wilt put something in the excrements , bloud , &c. then observe the reason abovesaid , or taught ; neither need you any other caution ; but if they be liquid , or be mingled otherwayes , it is enough , that the things to be put in , be stuck in it . the weapon-salve gives thee an example of this for unguents : and for liquid things , our sympathetical water is sufficient ; the composition whereof , we will hereafter communicate to the world , a secret which most men have hitherto kept exceeding secret . application strictly taken , is , when signed things are outwardly applyed to the body , or to the part affected , or when the cure is intended to be done by physical appensions , or wearing things about one ; for , there is one and the same reason of both ; and whether they be hung about one , ground or whole , it little maketh in some things , which have copious and large spirits ; but in others are necessary contaction , fermentation , commixtion , and the like in things complying with the work-mans desire , in the sympathetical medicine , as in the diseases of the bladder in our practice , for the good of the common-wealth , shall be exemplified . medicines of the second condition , are every-where extant among the professors of ordinary physick , though being ignorant of the causes of the same , they know onely the first and second qualities , never seeking further : as we in our practice will give some selected and choice examples of it : but now the time of gathering , and of applying of them , is necessary to be observed ; because experience shews , that there is much virtue in that , as we may see in vervin for the head-ach : but of the manner of gathering them , can scarce be any certain rule given ; onely i will adde this ; if thou wilt gather herbs for pains or diseases of the head , thou mayst gather them as i will teach thee to gather vervin in my practice in the chapter of the head-ach . but if for lower plants , gather them in a contrary manner , or so as thou doest asarum to make a purgative ; howsoever much must be left to experience . note moreover , that if one would cure by magnetick opposition , it will be in vain , except he first let the magnetick herbs putrifie in the ground ; for so the vertue is more free , being loose from the bounds thereof . in operation never use any dry herbs , if thou canst get green ones , remember to macerate and soften them in their own water before application ; and further observe , it is not alwayes necessary to make application to the part affected , but sometimes near it , especially , if the part be pained either by consent , or contagion of another part ; as if the stomach because of pain in the head by sending noisom fumes or vapors up to it , then thou shalt hang the medieine about thy neck ; but if it be a disease , and affected of it self , then it is but making application to the part it self : and this will suffice to have spoken of naked application , the thing it self not being of so great subtilty or difficulty , but that it may easily be understood by any man . chap. xi . of the magnet necessary in this art , and divers descriptions thereof , hitherto known but by very few . now come i to discover the high secrets of this art ( studiously concealed by many ) for the common good , whereto i have dedicated my self and all my labours . i am not ignorant that there may be diverse magnets , all aiming at one work ; the two chief that have come to my hand i will set down , adding a third most consonant to reason , and a fourth formed out by my own experience . use thou which thou wilt , for thou shalt have no scarcity . aurelius out of some words of paracelsus , hath made him one not altogether contemptible ; thus he proceeded : he took the dung of a sound man , and let it be dryed in a shady place , for so it lost the stink and the excrementitious moisture ; a portion of the spirit above-said being left , which he by a word significant , and apt enough , calleth sulphur , which being dryed , he useth after the manner anon to be told . we neither disallow the preparation nor matter ; because experience shews , that a magnet so prepared , will copiously attract the spirits ; neither will we upon the transport of envie , that incurable disease , deter any man from the practice of it , because it is not of our invention , but proceed we to the second . when about two years agoe , i , with my ever honoured friend , being at his house , there grew some discourse upon the argument among us ; my friend ( as he was wont ) spake many things very accutely , but covertly , of this art , and amongst the rest , of this magnet , which i knew before , but had never tryed it , saying , that it was of so vigorous attraction , that being applied to the region of the heart , it would so violently draw , that he could not suffer it long . but when i asked him the use of this magnet , he suddenly held his peace , repenting he said so much . how art thou so much beholden to me , to impart that to thee , my friend would not communicate to me , who , as thou seest , knew something in this art ? but to the point . this magnet is nothing else , but dryed mans flesh , which is certain , hath a mighty attractive power ; but it must be taken , if it be possible , from the body of a man that dies a violent death , and yet while it is warm : but if we were tyed to this magnet , every man sees how extreamly we should suffer for the want of it : if we will therfore hearken to reason , i will before i come to my magnet , conform both to reason and experience , shew you a better magnet , and not gotten with so much cruelty . take therfore the blood of a sound yong man , drawn in the spring ( there are every where fools enow ) as much as thou canst get , it 's no matter whether it be drawn altogether or not , this blood suffered to congeal , pour off the water swimming aloft , and keep it while it is cold , dry it in the shade , and then moist●n it with the water poured off , and dry it again ; repeating this so oft , till the earth hath drunk up all its water ; then dry it , and keep it for thy use . but at length let us come to our magnet , which doth as it were by epitome , comprehend all the body of man in it . take therefore a great quantity of mans dung ( but of a sound man ) mix it with wine to the consistance of a pultis , add to it as much sweat as thou canst get , this may be with linnen cloth taken from sound bodies , put them all together , and in a clean place , in the shade , till they be dry ; then add as much fresh blood to them , incorporate them altogether , and so let them dry again ; and if any water swim again on the top , decant it , but keep it in a vessel very close , and being dry imbibe it again with the decanted water , and dry it , and so till the masse hath drunk up all the water . this magnet , thus prepared , keep in a vessel very well shut ; for so thou hast prepared a magnet , the compendium of all mans body , gotten without any horrour or cruelty , which we altogether detest ; yet he that will follow other mens devices , may let us proceed . chap. xii . of the use of the magnet in this art . if thou hast never so good a magnet , and knowest not the use of it , thou bestowest thy labour in vain . we shall therefore add the use of it , that nothing may be wanting in this art ; and about it , being most needful , and asking little labour , there needs but few words : yet one thing is to be noted in the way ; namely , that although the aforesaid beams do alwayes flow from the bodie , yet there are some parts out of which they flow more copiously : in one word , they are the emmunctories by which the body is as it were cleansed , and the spirit doth accompany the superfluities ; because these parts are more porous and spungie , it wandreth out more freely , finding a larger egresse . now come we to the use of the magnet : apply the magnet to the emmunctory of the part grieved , and procuring the patient to sweat , which is best done by some cordial diaphoretick fitting the disease , leave there the magnet until it be impregnate with the vital spirit , then remove it , and immediatly use it according to the precepts given in the chapter of transplantation : but take heed it be speedily done , for fear the spirit be dissipated by some external more powerful cause ; for then transplantation will be in vain attempted : if the patient be not cured at the first , do it again , and thou shalt see the desired effect . and not only diseases are cured this way , but strange things , even all that are done by transplantation , are this way effected : although transplantation may be done by other means , as shall be shewed by and by . but if thou desire by this means to transplant diseases , read diligently the chapter of transplantation , and observe well the precepts there given , lest if things shall happen not to hit thy desire , thy ignorance do return to the reproach of this art . chap. xiii . of the means whereby cures may be done in this art , without a magnet . by other means also are strange and admirable cures wrought in this art , without a magnet ; yea , and sometimes with better successe than with a magnet ; viz. when the thing it self that carrieth the spirit nakedly , is applied to another thing disposed to receive it : but this must be strictly regulated according to the precept above given ; and for the most part , here is required fermentation , that by means thereof , the spirit being freed and loosed from the bonds , may more easily insinuate it self ▪ and be sooner partaker : and by this means for the most part , particular diseases are more happily cured ; because active beams do more partake of the part from whence they proceed ; as also the excrements after the same manner , and for the same cause of the parts whence they are excerned : experience confirms it , that blood , because it is the seat of the vital spirit , if it be rightly applied , cures the greatest , and almost all diseases of the body , by the excremen●● of the belly ; thereby are all diseases of the intestines cured : by the vein those of the bladder and the reins ; and sometimes all diseases , because of the affinity it hath with the veins , liver and stomach . by spittle , that is coughed up , the diseases of the lungs . by sweat , the parts are cured whence it proceeded . by the nails , the diseases of the hands and feet . by the hair , the diseases of the parts whence they are taken : and finally , by the blood , as is abovesaid , all the diseases of the body are cured . here is to be noted , that if all things that belong to any part be taken , the cure will be the sooner and more easily done . we have determined to speak of them severally . yet we shall be so far from condemning any combination , or joyning two or more of them together , that we rather perswade it , as being most beneficial , if the rules of art be duly observed . chap. xiv . of the excrements of the back-door . by these excrements , as we said even now , are cured all the diseases of the intestines ; the body is purged , and brought into flux ; the diseases of the fundament are both procured and cured , and many things else are done , which thou maiest learn by thy own experience , if thou be diligent : when they are applied they cure old ulcers , carcinomata , and fistulaes ; yea , which some commend as a great secret , they supply the place of the weapon-salve , without any further preparation ; but they must be chosen of a sound man , and a strong body , lest the preparation hurt them that are weak . by the odour mixt with wholsom herbs , much good may be wrought by transplantation : and this i judge among many others , to be the cause why rusticks , and such as live in the country , are sound , and live longer than noblemen and citizens : for these suffer their seiges to rot in stools , or else to be cast into some unholsom places : but the other committing them to the earth nigh wholsom herbs , by means of transplantation , lead their lives for the most part free from diseases . we have above in general bidden to beware of excrements of the diseased people . but here we will give a more particular advice , namely , that thou never ease thy self where diseased folks have ; for much mischief hath come of it : for , we have known some hurt by the smell ; that doing their easement where one had done it that had a flux , themselves got the flux without a procatartick cause preceding . the reason of which so strange a matter , is to be taken from that which hath been said , and shall not be here repeated . furthermore , take heed lest at any time you do your easement upon herbs , that are either malignant , exulcerating , or violently purging ; for hence many times when the cause is unknown , proceeds dangerous disenteries , which , until those herbs be quite putrified , will not yeeld to any medicine . finally , it is not safe to leave these excrements in places where thine enemies can come ; for it is easie to know what violent pains are procured by a kindled coal with spirit of wine or aquavitae put into those excrements . i would have thee to perswade thy self , that if these things were ordinarily known , they be worse and more dangerous matters , than these known to some others ; therefore look wisely to thy self . but of these excrements enough , so far as they pertain to this art in the general : the particular wayes of working with them , we will describe in our practice . chap. xv . of vrine . vrine is an excrement of the second concoction , done in the liver , or rather in the reins ; from whence by the emulgent veins , it is sent to the reins mixt with blood , out of which it is by the uriteres , as it were , percolated or strained , and so sent to the bladder , where it also abides a while , and then it is by the passage of the urine cast out . hence it appears , that the urin hath a great communion with most parts of the body , for it hath great affinity with the liver , reins and bladder ; for by these parts it passeth , and therefore the physicians judge of the disease of these parts by urine : but it hath moreover no obscure consent with the whole body , having been once joyned with the blood ; by it therefore are cured the diseases of the liver , reins , bladder , ureters and passages of the urine , besides the bectick feaver ( a most grievous disease , of the whole body ) is no way better cured , than by the urine ; as shall be shewed in the chapter of the hectick feavers . whatsoever diseases are usually cured by this art , are all cured by the urine ; though it be better there be other preparations , as is to be seen in my practise . now , as in the chapter of the excrements by seige , here it shall not be amiss to put some cautions : the first whereof is , to take heed that children pisse not in the fire ; for it is the constant opinion of many , that by such means they get nephritick diseases , the stone , or gravel , and other great diseases : then that men never pisse upon sharp venemous herbs , and such as by their venemous quality do violently provoke urine : for from hence proceeds the ulceration of the reins and bladder : nor would i willingly make water in a chamber-pot where any man infected of any stinking disease of these parts had pissed , nor give my urine to fermentation with his ; for it cannot be , but to a weak body much evil should come by this means , though to the sick man by that means might come good : nay , hence with specificals added against the disease , might his cure be done , with the addition of fermentation , which ought to be done in a bladder of a beast of the same kind , adding those things that have the signature both of the disease and the member , as shall be said more at large in my practise ; where you shall have medicines fetched from urine , whose forms if you follow , thou mayest invent others of thy self . chap. xvi . of sweat and insensible transpiration . sweat is not only an excrement of the third concoction , but it may also be , as it were , the melting of the whole body ; for , no otherwise doth the body come to destruction , than by resolution procured by nature , or some adventitious heat ; for , except every part should lose something of his substance and greatnesse , the bodies of living wights would grow infinitly , if by continual nourishment there were alwayes added something unto them : nay , if this resolution were not , wights would not desire nourishment at all : sweat therefore , and that which is by physicians called insensible transpiration , are not only excrementitious , but ( as it is above proved ) carries off with them of the resolved particles of the body : hence it is , that in magnetick or diastatick physick they are of exceeding great use ; for , by them innumerable wounders are done , whilest diseases are as well cured , as caused ; passions both of the mind , and of the body are violently procured , and changed : by these a wise physician may do much good ; and by these a prying wissard may do much harm , and cause death , madnesse , anger , and overthrow all the goods of the mind . this is the devil , or familiar spirit by which they are thought to have done wonders . hence it is that they , ( as appears by their own confessions ) without these , could never hurt the bodies of men : for , the devil himself cannot constrain nature ; who ( if he do any miracles ) doth them only by application of actives to passives , as some , too vainly credulous , scarce believe : for , these poor wretches , defiled with superstition , fain many things , and mix much follies and lies with the truth , which was done by the ancients , whence they took their tradition , that because of the opinion of a deity present , their imaginations might work violently , and also all natures conspiring , the effect might be produced : which i leave to thy consideration , whether thou canst get any good from these few words : yet whatsoever they do , they do it naturally ; but let us go to these things that are to our purpose . by sweat , or insensible transplantation , first in a body , or in a subject fitting , all diseases being in the habit of the body are cured , whether they be fixed ; as the leprosie , gout , french-pox , &c. or whether they be volatile , as the scab , morphew , scurf , or the like skin-deep sicknesses , and of the utmost parts : yea , without these it is scarce possible to do any thing in this art . by the impregnation of these thy magnets are specified , by which all manner of transplantations are done : by means of these the hectick is cured , the body is long preserved strong and able ; and the passions of the mind are stirred up . of all which we will discourse at large in our practice . now as a wise physician can by these means , do all these and greater matters ; so there is no doubt , but by the abuse of them , as much mischief may be done ; and therefore take these cautions and premonitions . it is not unknown , that almost all infusion floweth from the said insensible transpiration and sweat ; for being impregnate with much spirit , and holding it fast , according to the disposition thereof , they work violently ; therefore take heed we be not partakers of the sweat , or exhalation of an unsound body : that we touch not the sheets so impregnate , nor put on the shoes or stockings , or gloves , or the like : but in a special manner , that we be no bedfellows with them . hence on the otherside , was the health and long-life of our first parents who slept upon herbs ( wholsom ) and from them drew no small part of their long-life , as we may probably conjecture : for it is certainly very wholsom in summer time to sleep upon chamomile , rosemary , washed sage , betony , balm , and the like : and of the same herbs to make beds for sick folks , according to their diseases ; and i would likewise advise thee to sleep without thy garments in the summer time , covered over with wholsom herbs ; and thou shalt draw from thence an excellent comfortative . it is good also for a weak body , to use the company and garments of strong and sound men ; for from thence he may draw such spirits as will fortifie weak nature : we hold it a commendable custom for such people , to have their garments and linen worn by them that are lusty and healthfull , before they put them on ; but this is safest done by them that are very strong , lest evil come to him that first put them on : therefore also we must take heed , that we suffer not our garments to be worn by them that are diseased ; and that we cast not our cloathes , impregnate with our sweat and transpiration in stinking and unwholsom places : and above all take heed , that they come not into the hands of evil men ; for there is a great deal of invisible mummy lyeth hid in them , of which paracelsus ( though obscurely ) makes often mention ; from whence , if that thou doest but understand it well , and consider what is above-said , thou mayest of thy self find out many more things . but i sweat and insensibly transpire . thus much for this chapter , and for this time shall suffice . chap. xvii . of the hairs . out of almost all the parts of the body , do hairs grow , and they are made not only of visciditie of the excrements of the fourth concoction , growing in the pores which by addition of new matter , grow in length ( as some do falsely imagine , ) but they take also not the least part of their matter from the resolved parts of the body , as appears by this experiment : for , if by diastatick art thou wouldest increase hair , by means of a willow tree ( as shall be taught in the practice ) and if thou continue the medicine longer than it is fit , thou wilt assuredly bring a weaknesse upon the part , which can be by no other means , but because by the violence of the medicine , the parts being resolved further than nature doth suffer , are lost . and for the confirmation of this truth , hairs are seen to grow long after death , whereas there is no concoction . so , as there can be no excrements of the fourth concoction ; and therefore , they must needs come from the body resolved ; which resolution is added to the hairs by the vital spirit , which is still there remaining : for , by any other means this addition cannot be : whence also our assertion of the remaining spirit is confirmed . hence appears how great agreement hairs have with the body , and whereupon we use them as instruments in this art . it is well known what strange things the ancient magi did by hairs ; and why the like may not be done , i see no reason . it is also a thing well known by hear-say , how love hath been procured by means of hair burned in a candle , astrologically made ; which though it be not ( as no reason it should ) ordinarily known to the vulgar , yet to some it is : and though it be mingled with filthy superstitions , yet i , that am wont to reduce all operatious to the possibility of nature , never thought them absolutely and precisely necessary to the producing of the effect . so likewayes we have known many diseases , otherwayes incurable , cured by hatrs , especially taken from the part affected , if being duely putrified and mixed with things signed , they be implanted into plants , as every man may prove according to our doctrine . so if hairs be taken from the four principal emunctories , no doubt , but well prepared , they will cure all diseases . i would counsell the readers , that in consideration hereof , they do not so carelesly scatter their hairs up and down , which may be the cause of much mischief ; nor yet burn them , for ( that ) as-experience showes , hinders the growth of them , but bury them in some wholesome ground , adding unto them things to strengthen the head , which will much conduce to your health . chap. xviii . of the pairings of the nails and the teeth . the nails as well as the hairs have their original from the excrements of the fourth concoction , separated from the nourishment of the bones and the harder parts , and get thence their hardnesse which we see , and grow in the outmost extremities : for , the body doth not very plentifully exhale such matter as proceeds not but from the whole compacted parts : therefore the ancients used the pairing of nails against some most rebellious diseases : because it cannot be denied , but fixed diseases lurk in the fixed parts of the body : and therefore most antiquity used these : and we also prescribe them against quartans , leprosies , gouts in the feet and hands , and the like diseases ; but we have something altered the manner of proceeding ; for they tyed them about fishes , or other beasts , and so let them go alive ; which preparation seems too rare , to have any transplantation done by it , but in a very long time , and many things agreeing thereto : and therefore we , not omitting them , adde some specifick by way of fermentation , which will attempt both sooner , and more certainly . of the teeth you may ( for the art ) say as of the nails ; but because they do not alwayes grow in bignesse , they rather seem meet to prevent , than cure : for , they are made of a most fixed and strong substance , as we may see by them who have been long buried , whose teeth are sounder than any other bones : therefore they send out but few spirits , and scarce multiplicable by art ; yet because they last long sound , and send always out some portion of the spirit , they are fit for such curable effects as require no great plenty of spirits : and such precaution especially is required ; but the place sheweth thee diseases of the mouth : how therefore by means of these thou mayest prevent diseases of the teeth , it shall be spoken of in the practice : the rest we leave to thy consideration . chap. xix . of the spittle and excrements of the nose . there is a threefold spittle : for , it either falls by distillation from the head to the pallat ; or is brought up by coughing from the lungs ; or by nouceousnesse from the stomach , which is spit out of the mouth : but that which is domited up , deserves not the name of spittle . that which comes from the lungs , hath almost alwayes the originall from the head , and by distillation slides into that part , and there digested a while , is spit out . i am not ignorant , that from the lungs sometimes there proceeds bloud , and purulent matter : but these are to be referred to bloud and matter . we in the mean time will speak of spittle , which is nothing else , but the crudest part of the meat and drink , which nature cannot digest and concoct into good nourishment , sent first from the stomach to the head by vapours , and then distilling again from the head to the inferior parts , then sent out by the mouth , is called spittle . sometimes there comes a waterish and indigested matter ( which is sometimes sowr ) immediatly from the stomach to the mouth , which containeth sowr parts of a corrupted nutriment , being otherwayes inspired , and hath the name of spittle ; these all , because they have made some stay in the body , do according to the former doctrine , carry some vital spirit with them : therefore we may use them in some lighter diseases , according to the portion of spirit which they hold . of the excrements of the nose , as much may be said : but this must alwayes be remembred , that you use them to the diseases of the parts whence they proceeded onely : this i will tell thee , there is nothing comes from the body weaker , or of a lesse spirit , than those which praecede , partly for the little stay that they have made in the body ; partly from the few places they have gone through ; and partly from their indigestion : yet i would have thee take heed of them , especially if they be new voyded , and the disease be in these parts whence they proceed , lest thou shouldest repent thy carelesnesse , especially take heed of the foam coming from the mouth of epilepticks ; and of the froth of a mad dog , or one bitten with one ; for , here , by the violence of the disease , the humors are thrust out impregnate with the infected vital spirit : by which means thou mayest overcome that so rebellious a disease : the rest i leave to thy consideration . chap. xx . of blood and matter . omitting those many disputes concerning blood , which makes not to our purpose : as of the original organ , circulation , and the like . so far forth as concerns our art , i do briefly say , that first , the scriptures say , and teach us , that blood is the principal chariot of the spirits , by placing the soul in the blood : but , if the spirit is the bond , by which the soul is tyed to the body , then where the spirit most resideth , there shall the soul most powerfully work . the blood then , which so plentifully possesseth the spirits , and communicates them to the body , is surely the fittest instrument to cure diseases , and do all the other things which the art requireth and promiseth : for , here the spirit is free and not bound up , as elsewhere . therefore in the blood , the spirit is soonest affected , because there it is naked , as is aforesaid . yet we must not immediatly conclude , that it may be taken and used presently , without any fermentation or putrifaction : for , they are both usefull here , as in the practice shall be showen : onely take heed that thou corrupt not the blood with too much fermentation ; for then the spirit is driven away so , that peradventure it will do nothing . but that thou mayest know the fit time of fermentation , i 'le teach thee a secret ; let the blood with the most excellent parcell of the whole body , be joyned in a true proportion , by the best way possible , and put them into a natural vessel , well shut up , and set under a hen to hatch , and in the product thou wilt finde a thing performing many miracles , coagulated in the shape of a man : and the oyl or liquor swimming about it , with the proper sweat mixed , doth change mans mindes with the touch of it . many things more may be done by blood , which are better concealed , than spoken : but if thou perfectly understand the things aforesaid , and canst diligently search nature , thou mayst by thine own industry attain unto them . we will in the mean time give thee some cautions : after the blood is drawn , thou must take heed how thou usest it ; for thereby may be done both good and hurt . there be some that put the blood into the ground , which i counsell may be done in a clean place , mixed with wholesome herbs ; for if it should be buried in a stinking or infected place , it might hurt the body whence it was taken : there are others that give it to dogs and whelps to eat , which i like best of all : for , so it may happen to transplant the disease , and so cure it wholly , or at least help the physician ; but it would do a great deal better , if it were given the dog either warm , or putrified in a close vessell with a temperate heat . but here i cannot but tax the villany of some , who with an execrable boldnesse , dare give the blood , yea monthly flours , for a philter , not considering the mischief issuing from thence : for blood , though never so pure , is an enemy to the stomach , and before it will be digested , is corrupted and turned into matter , and what effect will it then work ? besides , here lyes not the loving force which they seek ; but there must be another manner of preparation , before thou come to that : for , it must be loosed before , that the spirit may work more freely and busily to incline minds : because of the will ruling , there is required a greater force , and the conspiring of many causes : which because the multitude knowes not , it can never attain the truth , but calumniates the certainty of these things , calling them either false or devilish . for although blood , of all things in the body , contain the loosest spirits , yet will it work more mightily , being digested , as the former considerations , and experience it self teacheth : and therefore they are surely to be punished , that work so infernally . but , i fore-see an objection ; for , if the power of love rest in the blood , then how happens it that ravenous beasts , that do so greedily drink blood , and so well digest it , are not to be brought to be in love with those things that they eat , being the reason of the individualls , and the species , & c ? i answer , first , in particular operations of the whole species to the individuum , or of one individuum to another , there is not the same reason . secondly , that they eat unprepared blood , which is not so powerfull as to change nature : for , by it duely fermented , one individuum may be reconciled to another , though it be a dog to a hare . thirdly , flesh and blood filled with the commotion of an angry spirit , and retaining still a portion of it , doth rather whet ravenous beasts into rage , and make them seek the destruction of others the like . and hence thou mayest learn , that it is impossible by any means or preparations to cause love , by blood violently shed ; but it is more likely to cause hatred . therefore the ancients never drank the blood of one anothers fore-head vein , before perfect reconciliation . before i go any further , i will adde one parergon : the salt of blood , if it be dissolved in the menstruum of the world and philosophers , is the excellentest remedy of all others ; and by this means the salts of herbs , will shew the species of the herbs whence they are taken , in a glasse : so the salt of blood , will by the help of the beasts heat , shew the shape of a man in a glasse : and this i believe was paracelsus his homuncio : but of medicines taken from blood , i will give examples in my practice ; therefore here this shall suffice . of matter , ( which is nothing else but blood putrified without the veins , or flesh loosed with rottennesse ) a man may philosophize as of blood ; if he speak of it as a means to cure diseases , saving that it hath lost much of the spirits , which are in the sound blood , by corruption : yet by means of it , ulcers and old sores may be cured by the sympathetick water , or ointment , whether they be inward or outward . there are that an oint the inside of a nut shell with the balsom , then put the pus or matter into it , and then hang it up in the dry air , or mundum coelum , and by this medicine cure all ulcers . yet this is to be noted , that pus or matter may be two wayes considered , according to which consideration it is sound in the body : for , it either simply ariseth from blood , by means of putrifaction , corrupting without the veins ; or , it ariseth from some venemous quality in some foul disease , as in the french pox ; or , it is infected with some simple diseased quality , as in pthisis . and from the touch of all these , experience shewes , that much harm may come . but if thou wilt , by thy sympathetical either water or ointment , cure any such ulcers , the extraneous qualities sheweth , that there must be some alexipharmaca , or specifick to that disease added : for , it is manifest , that the qualities must be taken away , before the ulcers can be cured . of those things that are cast up by vomit , it boots not to speak much ; for , we may think of them as of other excrements , using alwayes the same cautions : but , if the vomit be by nature , not by physick , it will be fitter for our purpose , as we may think of other things . but yet if they be procured by physick , they are not altogether unprofitable ; but , the quality of the vomitorie would be known ; which if it be contrary to the disease , must be corrected ; and things signed , added unto it , to correct it . and this much is enough for us , that make so great haste to the practice . finis . an appendix : containing diverse practices and observations , necessary to be known in this art . to the reader . that not any thing might be deficient in so noble an art as this , i have unfolded diverse of the most famous magnetick-medicines and cures that are known this day in the world . i intended to have gone through every disease ; but being called upon necessary occasions to ireland , i am forc'd to break off this work , and onely to give these as a mercuriall statue , to direct thee into the right way of practice ; and shall be willing , when occasion doth offer it self , to serve thee according to my abilities in this art hereafter . accept therefore of my good-will and pains , and make not thy self by ingratitude , uncapable of other favours . speak of this book , as the great philosopher did of another's work : those things i understand , are good ; and i believe , those things i understand not , are also such . if thou use it otherwayes , i care not for thy kindnesse ; for , i live not by thy esteem or opinion ; neither did thou ever put such a favour on me , as should oblige me to dance attendance to thy humor . if thou be candid , i am glad to serve thee , and am confident , in these books thou shalt finde things both rare and delectable : but if thy nature or principle make thee froward , tecum habita , injoy thy self , and provide such kick-shows as will fit thy pallat : for christie hath served up this dish only for his own fancy , and his friends recreation . neither doth he fear the clouds ( may be the naturall ornament ) of thy countenance : though a little more of black bile , or wind , than ordinary , haerbour under the sinister part of thy diaphragme : he thinks he ought to be allowed his folly , as well thou art permitted gravely , insanire cum ratione . but enough of this . i proceed to my purpose . the magnetick cure of diseases , by transplantation ; done by the true mumia of paracels us . any that is sick of the jandise , hydropsie , leprosie , or of any such kind of disease , let him in the month of may , open , be sure the median vein in the right arm , and receive into a glassvial with a stroop , so much blood as wil fill the shels of two hen eggs emptied , and whilest it is yet hot , put it into the empty shells of the eggs , thus prepared : take two or three new laid hens eggs , make a small hole in both the ends of each egg , empty them both of white and yolk , then close up one of the holes in the ends with the striffin of the yolk or white , with glew , or some tenacious matter ; then let it dry , and after make it fully up with chalk , mix'd with the white of an egg , and let it dry again . into the shells thus prepared , the blood warm as it floweth from the arm being put , is to be suffered to stand a little : then the hole which remains in each egg is to be shut up after the same manner , as before it was in the other end , and let it dry . then two or three of these eggs full of the sick-mans blood , and thus shut up , are to be put under a hen that bringeth forth young ones ▪ either with other eggs that are to be hatch'd ; or with eggs full of other sick-mens blood , prepared as before , which will have the same effect . the hen having sitten upon them fourteen or twenty dayes , according to the custome ; take out from under the hen , the magnetick eggs , lay them apart for a day ; then open them , and thou shalt find the blood of the sick-man by that digestion become monstruous , and of a most vile smell : mix this with new bread , or other meat , and give it to a sow , or a dog to be eaten , which hath been kept up from meat two or three dayes . then thou shalt perceive sensibly the disease to leave the man , and infect the beast : which beast , after it hath been kept secure some weeks , is to be killed , lest if it get loose , it hurt other men . by this true mumia of paracelsus , may be cured leprosies , jaundise , gouts , hydropsies , consumptions , cancers , and other diseases : and it will work other great effects ; which for fear of the ill , i shall be loath to discover in this treatise ; sed verbum sapienti sat est . onely take notice , that putrifaction , or rather fermentation , is here , as it were , the key in the hand of nature , to open the circumference , that is , the ports of their destinat mumie to forms , which before lay shut up , and hid in the center of quietnesse . the lamp of life . take of man's blood warm as it floweth from the vain ▪ and the like quantity of the vegetable-dew of the ampbibious jupiter , being purified , put it in a pellican placed in the belly balnei , suffer it to rise till the third part of the pellican fill the whole pellican : for mans blood in the philosophical preparation thereof , is ever dilated in quantity , though not in weight . this digestion is accomplished in , or about fourty dayes time ; in which , that which is precious goeth apart from that which is vile : for , you shall see that which is white , phlegmatick and unprofitable , swimming above ; but a golden substance in the bottom . so soon as it cometh to this passe , rectifie it in balneo ; by this means the phlegm shall withdraw it self , and the mysterious substance shall remain in the bottom . this being done , thou shalt by degrees raise it to its own exaltation , nine times , in retorts fit for the quantity of the matter , and sealed hermetically : then make of it a lamp , which cannot be extinguished . this must be fired with the fire of nature , and not the fire of vulcan ; which is the great mysterie in this matter . this lamp burneth so long as he liveth of whose blood it is made , and expireth with him . if it burn clearly and quietly , it sheweth his condition to be such ; if sparkling , dim , and cloudie , it sheweth his griefs and languishings . the pouder of sympathy , for curing of wounds . the simple pouder . take what quantity you think fit of alcaleadis romani , and after first dissolution in clear spring-water , then filtration through gray paper , with evaporation on a clear fire , and coagulation in a fit place : and all these operations so oft reiterated , till being purged from its drosse , its clear greennesse bear witnesse of its purity : beat this into grosse pouder , and expose it to sun beams , the sun being in leo , for the space of three hundred and sixty hours ; that is , as some believe , for the space of fifteen or eighteen days , till it be calcin'd into a fine white pouder , which is the surest mark of its right preparation ; and therefore is to be kept in the sun , till it come to this smalnesse and colour ; though it be longer than the time appointed . the sun enters leo about the twenty fifth day of july , 't is better to begin your operation two or three dayes after , that you may be sure the sun is in the right signe . expose it onely to the sun in clear and dry dayes ; lest if the day be moist or misty , it spoil the medicine with humidity : neverthelesse , if after it is fully prepared , it by mischance become moist or liquid , you are with a gentle heat , to reduce it again to its own form . this pouder , being kept in a dry place , endureth many years in its full force and vertue . the compounded pouder , is made of the simple pouder , and gum tragacant , subtilly pulveriz'd , and mixt with it almost in the same quantity . some artists mix also the pouder of comfory dryed in the shade : but of this , consult experience . the virtue . the simple pouder cureth all wounds whatsomever , yea , of gun-shot it self : and those wounds that have been esteem'd deadly , have been cured by it , as wounds of the guts , bladder , &c. the compound pouder cureth wounds that have joyn'd with them the fracture or fissure of a bone . the use and application . take a piece of linen cloath , or any other cloath , and in necessity , take any stick , stone , &c. and dip in the bloud as it floweth out , if the wound be externall ; but , where the wound is internall , put it into the wound , that it may touch each part thereof : then sprinkle the cloath , or other water besmeered with the blood of the wound , with the sympathick pouder , then lap up the said cloath thus dressed , into another clean cloath , and keep it in a temperate place , as near or far from the patient as you please ; but a moderate distance is best . wash the wound immediatly with warm wine , or with the patients own urine ; then apply clean cloaths to the wound each other day , or oftener , as the flowing of the matter requires ; and keep all the cloaths that are fouled with the matter , lapped up together in a place likewayes of good temperature . if the wound be become ulcerous before the artist see it , he is to follow the same method with the pus or matter that floweth out of the wound , that is appointed in a recent wound . if the wound be with a fractured bone ; if any place thereof be bared of the periost , he must remove it . after having besprinkled a cloath dip'd in the blood with the compound-pouder , and having lap'd it up , as aforesaid , he must set the bones , and use the apparell fit for fractures . if the wound be inflamed with a hot temperature , you must put the cloaths that are infected with the blood or matter of the wound , into a cold place , as under the earth , or into a peuter-box set in cold water , till the wound come to its own habit again : but , if the wound be of a cold temperature , you must put it in an hot place , &c. if the wound be very sordid , you must mix greater quantity of the sympathick pouder , than of the gum : but if it smart , you must mix more of the gum than of the pouder . some hold the pouder may be calcin'd by fire ; but i have not seen it to do good . others , and with more reason , hold , it may with good successe be calcin'd with the heat of a mans body , by carrying it in his pocket , &c. but i leave these to every mans experience , having set down faithfully and fully this receipt , which used to be sold for twenty pounds . i know some will envy to see their secret laid open : but i esteem more of the publick good , than any private interest . the weapon-salve ; according to the true description of the noble chymist , oswald crollius . take of the fat of a wild-bore : of the fat of a bear , of each four ounces : the older the beasts are , so they be within seven years , the better the fat is . let both of these fats boil in claret for the space of half an hour on a gentle fire , then pour out the fats upon cold water ; gather that with a spoon , which swimmeth above , but what goeth to the bottome , is not at all to be used . afterwards , take of red-worms , gathered after rain , ( which are of great use in the affections of the nerves ) wash'd in wine or water lib. ij . let them be dryed in an earthen pot in a bakers oven , but beware they burn not ; afterwards reduce them to powder . then take the brain of a wild-bore , first macerate a little in his own bladder and urine , and afterwards dryed : take of this pouder : of sweet-smelling yellow-sanders , of mumie of aegypt , of blood-stone , of each one ounce . lastly take of usn●a , or the mosse which grows on the scull of a man that hath died a violent death ( he that is hanged is best . ) this mosse must be gathered in the waxing of the moon , and when she is in a good house , viz. if possible , in venus , not in saturn or mars , of this one drachm . of all these , being beat and mix'd with the fats , an ointment is to be made according to art : which is to be kept in a close glasse or box for your use . if , through processe of time , the ointment become dry , it is again to be relaxed with the foresaid fat , or virgin honey . the ointment must be prepared while the sun is in libra , that is , in the harvest-time . the vertues of this ointment . this ointment cures all wounds whatsomever , whether by thrust , stroak , gun-shot , or whatsomever way else they be got ; if you can but get the weapon that gave the wound , though the wounded person be many miles distant from the artist . and because this ointment is of a conglutinative , suppurative , and incarnative faculty , it hindereth any hurtfull symptom to arise , if it be rightly applyed . the use in diverse observations . first , anoint every day once , the weapon wherewith the party is wounded , if necessity requires it , and the greatnesse of the wound : otherwayes , it will be enough to have anointed it each second or third day : keep it in a clean linen cloath , or allumed goats-leather , keep it in a warm place , but not over hot , neither ugly , lest it hurt the patient : also have a care that no dust fall on the weapon , nor that the wind blow thereon in a cold place , otherwayes the patient will be much troubled . secondly , if the wound be made by a thrust , anoint the weapon , beginning at the point , and proceeding to the handle , otherwayes the patient will suffer : but if the wound be by a cut , the weapon is to be anointed from the edge to the back . 3. anoint the part of the weapon that entered the wound ; if thou know not this , for more security , anoint it all . 4. it is not needfull to sew up the wound , as barbitonsors do , it is enough every day to tye it up in clean linen , moistned in the patients urine , or in warm wine or water . 5. let both artist and patient abstain from venery , that day the weapon is anointed . 6. the blood in the wound is to be stopped , before the weapon be anointed . 7. in a compound-wound with fractures or fissures of the bone , you must adde to the ointment , either some of the pouder of comfry , or osteocoll , or of the roots of black hellebor . 8. to know if the patient will die or live : upon clear coals warm the weapon , so , that thou may hold it in thy hand , then besprinkle it with the subtill pouder of sandals , and of a blood-stone : if it sweat drops of blood , he will surely die : if not , he will escape . 9. if the patient keep not a good diet in his cure , spots of blood will appear on the weapon ; if they appear not , he observes your precepts . if you cannot get the weapon wherewith the wound was made : 1. then , put a sallow stick in the wound ; which being imbrued in the blood thereof , let it dry of it self , without the help of the sun or fire : then stick it in a box of this ointment , and let it remain there untill the wound be fully cured . 2. the stick once dip'd in the blood will suffice : if the wound be big , it must each day be dressed with clean linen . 3. one stick will suffice but for one wound : each new wound must have a new stick . 4. if the wound will not bleed , scarifie it with the stick till it bleed . 5. in the tooth-ach , scarifie the gum of the pained tooth till it bleed ; then let the blood dry on the fleme with which you scarifie , and after anoint it with your ointment , and it shall cure the pain . 6. if a horse be pricked in the quick , draw out the nails , anoint it , and the horses foot shall be quickly cured , without coming to suppuration . after the same manner may all other wights be cured , that consist of flesh and blood . take notice . 1. this ointment is of no efficacy , except it have the mosse of his scull mixed with it , that is violently put to death . 2. except the weapon be besmeared with the blood of the wound dryed on it , the operation is in vain . 3. the artist at his pleasure , may put ease or pain upon the patient , by the weapon . 4. fractures and fissures are not well cured , except the pouder of comfry or osteocoll be mixt with the ointment . 5. the weapon is diversly to be anointed in thrusts and cutts . 6. the intemperance of the patient is discovered by the artist in the weapon . the magnetick cure of the yellow jandise by application . take of the urine of the patient , as much as thou wilt , mix it with the ashes of an ash-tree , bake it into dough , and make little cakes thereof ; then make a little hole in each cake , and put therein a little saffron , with a little of the patients urine ; let it evaporate at the fire ; and as the urine consumes , the disease shall evanish . a magnetick transplantation of the gout . take of the hairs , and the pairings of the nails on the feet and hands of the patient ; bore a hole in an oketree to the pith ; put them therein , and closing up the hole , cover it round about with cow-dung , and within three months the disease shall evanish . the magnetick cure of ulcers . take either arsmart , or comfrey , or flix-weed , &c , dip them in cold water , and apply them cold to the ulcer , till they become warm ; then bury them in a clayish ground , as they rot , the ulcer cures . the magnetisme of asarabacca . if a man pull the leaves of asarabacca upward , it will cause the person to whom he gives it , to vomit : but if he pull them downward , it will onely cause him to purge by the siege . this same magnetisme is found in the tops of the alder or boor-tree ▪ this far have i set down some magnetick cures , which may serve to direct thee in the rest , i have not touched : now i shall set down some of the most common magnetismes in nature , which every man may put to tryall , and find out the truth thereof , if he will but allow a little cost and labour . the first , of the vine . it 's well known by the vintners of france and other places ▪ that when the vine beginneth to put forth her flowrs , all that time the wines in the hogs-heads are troubled : and as the flowrs are earlier or later , according to the diversity of the climates , so this troubling of the wine observeth their seasons : and , which is most wonderfull of all , in countreys where vines grow not , the wine is not at all troubled . the same cometh to passe in ale , when the barley flourisheth . the second , magnetick impressions of the breedingmother upon the embrio . women , having strong affections , whether of desire or fear , give frequently impressions to the child in the womb ; whereof i will tell you two magnetick historeis . a belgick woman being big-bellyed , had a desire to a cherry which another was eating ; and in time of her greatest longing , she touch'd her brow with her finger ; the child being come to age , retain'd the impression of the cherry on his fore-head . this kept such a magnetick harmony with cherries , that it was greenish , whitish , yellowish , and red , as the cherries chang●d their season and colours : and , which is most admirable and magnetick , in spain , where the cherries sooner ripen than in flanders , it sooner became red than at home , still observing a sympathie with cherries of the countrey where he was . the second is this ; when in the last northern scots expedition , in my imployment i attended that vertuous and valiant gentleman , colonel william mitchel ; in a village within three miles of rothymay , i found one henderson , whose mother being big of him , was affrighted at the sudden shining of the moon into a dark room where she was ; and he thereby received an impression of a moon on his thigh , which doth not onely change with the moon its figure , but with the weather his colour . a day before wind it becometh reddish ; before rain , pale ; and in fair-weather , it keepeth its own colour . and this , the next adjacent farmers observe , as a certain prognostication , how to dispose of their future labours . the third , a magicall magnetisme , out of the famous van helmont . take the heart of a horse , which is by a witch killed ; take it hot out of him , and strike a nail thorough it ; then broil it on the coals , or on a spit rost it : and the heart of the witch shall be so tormented with heat and pain , that she will come in all haste to the fire , and use all means to take away the heart . the fourth , of the musicall magnetisme of the tarantula . the tarantula is a kind of spider found in apulia in italy ; they are of diverse dyes , spotted and waved with diverse colours : these by their bites , cause the person whom they wound , to affect those colours , which are most seen in the wounding tarantula : yea , the patients are so taken up with a cloth of that dye , that they have oft been seen to embrace it , to kisse , to flatter it , lay their face , their cheeks , and body to it , not omitting any mimick gesture that is used by those that are lovefrantick . and , as one poisoned by a tarantula , cannot be cured but by musick ; so , each instrument of that art , and each lesson doth not please them : but analogous to the nature of the spider that bit them , the musick and tone must be : and , which is very admirable , one lesson scarce ever cureth the bites of two of these spiders ; as was seen at tarentum in a spaniard , who not believing this , caused himself to be bit by two tarantula's ; and having called the musicians , could not at all be recovered : for , when that tone that agreed with the nature of the one was playd , he would move his head and arms , and endeavour to raise his body , till the poison of the other did check this motion , and cause him suddenly fall down ; and though all musick and means had been used , he perished miserably : for , the poisons of the two tarantula's , being ( as themselves ) of contrary qualities , were onely to be cured by contrary tunes , which was not possible . they that are venomed by the bite of a tarantula , at first think it no more than the bite of an ordinary flye ; but in procesle of time , their infection produce diverse diseases ; as losse of appetite , burning feavers , pain of the joynts , and a colour like the jandise over the whole body ; and the next summer after the bite , some of them that are poisoned , become stupid ; others frantick ; some alwayes weep , some laugh ; some sleep , some wake , &c. and in a word , there is no gesture used by fools or mad-men , but some or other of the diseased are infected with it . in the cure ( wherein the magnetisme is most seen ) they thus proceed : they call musicians , who tuning up their instruments , play diverse tunes ; at which the patient sits as he were a statue , or immoveable : but , if once that tune be hit , which sympathiseth with the nature of his infection , he beginneth to move his head , feet and hands , and on a sudden falleth a-dancing , till with motion and sweat he fall down wearied : and thus they proceed at sundry times , till the poison be evaporated . if the musician play false , or alter the magnetick tune , the diseased by gestures , shew both pains and dislike : and it hath been observed , the spider will dance to his magnetick tune . the fifth , the magnetisme of the magnes it self . this art is called magnetick from the magnes , ( the load stone ) so called from the sheep-herd , that found it out first in the mount ida , by seeing his sheep-hook armed with iron , stick fast to the magnetick stones . this is a mineral stone , indued by . nature with determinate points of its vertues , whereby it both draws iron to it ; and disposeth the situation of the iron , according to its own situation , that is , maketh the situation thereof polar : it s two great magnetisms then , are , first to draw iron at a distance from it , to it self : and secondly , to direct the situation of this iron to be polar : so , it operateth without an immediate physical contaction , by a certain hidden vertue therein ; which cannot be found out , nor performed by elementary qualities . and for this reason , we call those motions in nature , magnetick : which by a hidden consent , move locally one towards the other , or remove from the other . and after this manner of speaking , all sympathies and antipathies are called magnetick motions . this is wonderfull in the load stone , that it draweth hot iron as well as cold , and doth not onely communicate his vertue to iron to draw other iron ; as you may see a needle taken up by the magnes , to take up an other at its point , and so to proceed in others , till it represent a chain : but also hath a spiritual force , which never faileth ; which is in every part thereof : for , it being broke , each part hath the same vertue with the whole ; which penetrateth all things , not hurting any ; for , nor any thing hindereth its operations , though placed betwixt it and its object ; which worketh at distance , as is said , and that without a mean or meddle ; for , it moveth all things distant from it , though not troubling what is intermediate : yea , it giveth that to another it hath not it self ; for , it giveth vertue to the needle in the compass to move to the pole , which it cannot do it self . this is that miracle of nature , that hath defatigated the bravest wits : this is that , that directs the tallest ships in their greatest deviations or darknesse : this is that , that hath been discovered in so many learned volums . and , to conclude , this is that , that vindicates our noble art from the blemishes of vanity or superstition ; and patronizeth this singular gift of the first intellect , from the calumnies of the ignorant and malignant , who should not contemne , but be thankfull for the revelation of great and usefull mysteries ; sed , suum cuique ordini vulgus est , & semper optima paucissimis placuerunt . finis . a discourse setting forth the unhappy condition of the practice of physick in london and offering some means to put it into a better, for the interest of patients, no less, or rather much more, then of physicians / by jonathan goddard ... goddard, jonathan, 1617-1675. 1670 approx. 70 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 31 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42892 wing g914 estc r18769 12875699 ocm 12875699 94829 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42892) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 94829) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 380:27) a discourse setting forth the unhappy condition of the practice of physick in london and offering some means to put it into a better, for the interest of patients, no less, or rather much more, then of physicians / by jonathan goddard ... goddard, jonathan, 1617-1675. 62 p. printed by john martyn and james allestry ..., london : 1670. errata on t.p., verso. reproduction of original in union theological seminary library, new york. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng pharmacy -england -london -early works to 1800. pharmacy -early works to 1800. medicine -england -london -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. medical ethics -england -early works to 1800. 2007-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 pip willcox sampled and proofread 2007-10 pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion imprimatur , rob. grove , r. p. domino episc . lond. à sac. dom. jan. 19. 1669-70 . a discourse setting forth the unhappy condition of the practice of physick in london , and offering some means to put it into a better ; for the interest of patients , no less , or rather much more , then of physicians . by jonathan goddard d r of physick , fellow of the college of physicians , and of the royal society ; and professor of physick in gresham-college . london , printed by john martyn and james allestry , printers to the royal society . mdclxx . errata . the reader is entreated to take notice of these more considerable faults in printing . page 10. line 17. for their read other . p. 13. l. 14. for withal r. with all . p. 16. l 12. leave out him . p. 41. l. 11. for known r. unknown . p. 49. l. 11. for peculiar r. particular . a discourse setting forth the unhappy condition of the practice of physick in london , and offering some means to put it into a better ; for the interest of patients , no less , or rather much more , then of physicians . the art of physick hath had in common with other arts and professions , the infelicity to be abused by the professors thereof ; who , either out of insatiable avarice to make the utmost advantage of gain to themselves thereby , or out of pride and state , or humour , have given just occasion to the world to judge , that they had not that care and consideration of the lives and healths of persons with whom they had to do , as , in humanity , reason and conscience , they ought to have had . admitting this to be inexcusable , as to the persons guilty of it , yet it may be said , as to the present professors thereof , having the legal right to practise in the city of london ; and undertaken on their behalf , that there was never in any age , less greivance or cause of complaint upon any such account . however , that distinction between the vices of persons , and of arts or professions , is so cleer and obvious , that whosoever transfers those of the one upon the other , must needs appear deficient in the use of his reason , or else partial and injurious . as to the art it self , though it cannot be denied , that it is , as all humane knowledge in other kinds , imperfect and defective ; yet , that it should be an imposture ( as ignorance in conjunction with confidence may surmise or charge upon it ) the world doth so much abound with persons learned and judicious , and ( though not professed physicians ) competent to judge thereof , as to render it superfluous to go about to vindicate it from such an imputation . neither is the imperfection and defect of knowledge in things relating to , or comprehended in the art , so great , as to render it an empty or meer notional speculation ; but though it , as all other arts and sciences ( the mathematicks excepted ) hath too much abounded with notions and speculations wanting foundation in nature and experience ; yet it may vye with any other for number of real truths and discoveries , sufficient to imploy and take up the best intellectual abilities and studies of any person addicted to it , for his whole life : and especially in this age , after great improvement lately made therein , by many happy discoveries in nature , of great advantage and concern thereto . according to the grand importance of this art , imployed in the conservation of the life and health of mankind , it hath been the wisdom of princes and states , to provide for the encouragement of the professors thereof , by liberal maintenance , privileges and powers , honorary and advantageous for the exercise thereof , whereby persons of eminent learning , education and abilities , might be induced to betake themselves to an art standing in need of such accomplishments ; without which , in an inferiour way of education , persons could not attain to any such improved judgment , as is requisite to the understanding and comprehension of the vast variety and exquisite subtilty of the things constituting the subject of that art , or relating thereto . accordingly , it hath been no less the wisdom of the princes and parliaments of this kingdom , to provide for the encouragement and good regulation of the profession of physick therein , especially in london : insomuch that by law and custom , it hath had as great advantages in the kinds before-mentioned , with us , as in any country in the world. and therefore it is the more to be taken notice of , that at this time it should be reduced , probably , to the worst condition that it is in , any where ; more then probably , to such a condition as cuts off all hopes of honourable or free maintenance of the professors thereof , or the most part of them , and of improvement in the art it self , for the future ; as may in some measure appear by what followeth . the dividing and separating of that part of the art of physick , which concerns the preparation and composition of medicaments , from the body of it , so as to put the practice of it into other hands , was never heard of in the ages of hippocrates , galen , and other ancient physicians ; and hath been judged by some of the cheif authors in physick , to be of unhappy consequence to it , upon several accounts . hence many physicians , while there was a good understanding between them and the apothecaries ( these keeping within their own bounds ) thinking it became them , in civil respect , to leave all to these , that belonged to their art , and so not concerning themselves to be judicious and versed therein , became strangers to the materials and preparations of medicines ; and by consequence , less able to prescribe the making of them , to the best advantage . and this the aporhecaries have not been wanting to make their advantage of , to the disparagement of the physicians : so that it is justly to be accounted an error and neglect in such physicians ; who if they had given their minds to it , might have been as conversant in , and as well acquainted with the materials of remedies , whether vegetables , animals , or minerals , and all the more considerable ways of preparations thereof , as many other physicians , or any apothecaries ; by frequent viewing , inspection and observation , and chiefly by experimenting and exercising themselves in preparations more accurate and of greater importance , chymical , or other : which are the ways that enable a physician authentically to prescribe . and yet , notwithstanding such an error and neglect of some physicians occasioned by it , the distinct practice and exercise of that part by apothecaries , as it hath been used in london , had its advantage ; and was looked upon as a great ease and happiness to the practice of physick . for by this means physicians were freed from some troublesom and inferior employment ; and they had the advantage of giving account , and making appear , upon occasion , all that was done on their part , by their prescriptions extant in writing , in case of any ill success , ( which might happen by error upon other account ) or suspition of hurt done to a patient by any thing advised by them . but these are really , and upon the whole account , advantages to the profession of physick , only upon this supposition , that apothecaries keep within the limits of their work and trade , not medling with the practice of physick themselves ; the prescriptions of physicians being faithfully and safely lodged with them , to the use of their patients , and the benefit of the apothecaries in their trade . otherwise , neither the advantages before mentioned , nor any other , can ever compensate the disadvantage and detriment , not only to the profession and professors of physick , but to the publick : in consideration whereof , it were to be accounted a small inconvenience , for physicians to put themselves to the drudgery of making all the medicaments they have use of in their practice , if need were ; and to depend upon their own single reputation and credit with their friends and patients , for their vindication , as the case should require . in comparison to physicians , it may easily be made out , what advantages apothecaries taking upon them to practise , may have in london , upon their particular communication of all their remedies , to them , to get the whole , or somuch of the practice from the physicians , as shall not leave a competency for them to subsist upon . for the apothecaries being bred up all the time of their youth as apprentices in london , ( while physicians are studying at the universities ) and having so much the more advantage to get a numerous acquaintance ( besides that by keeping open shops , more general notice may be taken of them ) when they shall be able to pretend to , and make ostentation of being masters of , or knowing all the secrets and practice of all the physicians in london ; it is obvious , how much this must take with the vulgar , and with all such persons , as being not bred up to learning themselves , cannot be sensible of the advantage of a generous education in all kinds of learning , for improving the mind and understanding , and enabling of it to exercise such a piercing judgment and large comprehension of so subtile and numerous natures and things , as the knowledge whereof is requisite to the art of physick . and therefore though there be not so much danger of such ostentation prevailing among the nobility , gentry , and persons of learning and parts in the city ; yet how far it may , amongst others , who are the great number and bulk , is not hard to conceive by what hath been experienced . for , allowing a physician , in his youth , to have had the reason , parts and ordinary capacity of another of his age ; and then to have been bred up in learning of languages , to render him master of the knowledge contained in books written in those languages ; then , in arts , some whereof minister advantages to the understanding of the nature and causes of things ; all do improve the mind and understanding , by exercise at least , to discern and judge of things : then supposing him to apply his study to natural philosophy , such as is more real and solid in this age , by many happy experimental discoveries in nature : and lastly to the art of physick , and the knowledge of the body of man , withal the parts of it , by anatomical administrations , experiments and observations ; of the actions and uses of the same ; the diseases to which they are obnoxious ; with the remedies thereof : and admitting a physician to make it his continual work , to improve in the knowledge of all these ( which his interest must incline him to do ) by the study , practice and experience of twenty years or more : now supposing all this , in the common reason of mankind , he must have a manifold advantage to the understanding of the nature , cause , and cure of a disease , above another , whose education hath rendred him uncapable of any of the accomplishments before mention'd , or of any considerable share thereof : and yet many times it is found , that one that is illiterate and can speak no reason of any thing , but only make ostentation with a few canting terms ; yea sometimes a nurse , or such kind of woman , by a confidence arising out of ignorance , shall arrogate more knowledge or ability to themselves , and shall be better thought of among the unlearned and incompetent to judge , than such a physician as hath been described before : and how much more may an apothecary , upon the pretensions before mentioned , carry a reputation with such people , above such a physician ? and if the art of physick , or one half of it , were the knowledge of receipts or forms of medicines to cure diseases , apothecaries might have more pretence to vye with physicians ; but , to be sure , that is far the least part of it ; and a manifold greater proportion of judgment and skill is requisite to discover the disease , than to apply the remedy ; and without such discovery , abundant and frequent mischief may be done , even to the destruction of life , by applying medicines in themselves safe , and ( according to the vulgar term ) wholsom : and not only so , but by the omission of the proper remedies in their seasons , through the same want of judgment ; which mischiefs by omissions , as well as otherwise , whoever pretends to the practice of physick , hath to answer for . in such cases , how can that be a sufficient plea ( which passeth for currant generally ) that nothing was done , but only some cordial given , or what was very safe ? ( though at best nothing to the purpose ) whereas in the beginning of many diseases , while the opportunities of applying the great remedies , and doing to the purpose , are either only , or to the best advantage to be taken , that doing nothing but &c. is the undoing of the patient , if loss of life be so to be accounted ; there being so much difficulty and danger in many diseases , that carry the least appearance of either , as to require the first and earliest opportunities for a physician to act towards their cure. this communication of medicines by physicians to apothecaries ( whereby they come to be so great masters of receipts ) is in the plain reason and nature of the thing , a trust , whereof they are free to make the advantage or profit that belongs to their trade , by selling such medicines at valuable rates , according to their costliness or elaborateness in their preparation : but the advantage of directing and prescribing their use in all cases , belongs to the physician : and the hindring him herein , to the impairing him of his practice , is a breach of trust , and unworthy , as well as injurious dealing by him , as may farther appear by the following consideration . all laws of n●ture and nations , all justice , equity , and reason of mankind , do allow to every person the benefit of his own invention ; which , if it be of that nature , that the bringing of it into use and practice , doth necessarily import the discovery of it , according to our laws , patents for terms of years are granted : but if an invention be of such a nature , that it may be concealed in the use and practice , no limitation for private advantage or profit thereby , is set by law ; it is only honesty , ingenuity or interest , that can restrain from making unreasonable or unconscionable advantages in such case . now any medicines or receipts for cure of diseases , invented by physicians , or coming to their private knowledge only ; or any new use or virtue of an old known medicine , discovered by any physician ; in relation to those physicians by whom they have been invented or discovered ( as far as they are of any consideration or value ) are of this nature , that is , inventions that may be kept secret by them ; and whereof nothing hinders them from making the advantage ; the laws of the land ( as well as in other countries ) allowing and authorizing physicians to practise their art in all its parts and members , and so by consequence to make any medicines , themselves . the case being thus , how unreasonable and unequal is it , that when a physician hath by his industry found out , or by some felicity lighted upon a discovery that hath proved remarkably successful in some particular disease or case ; upon his communication of it to an apothecary , he shall have only an inconsiderable matter ? ( not worth the owning many times ) in case the patient come or send to him ; or at most an ordinary fee in case of visiting the patient ; whereas the apothecary being one that takes upon him to practise , shall not only repeat the same medicine many times over , to the same patient , but also give into any other patients , whose case he judges to be the same , or of affinity to it ; and drive a trade with it all his life time ; and so gain ( as it is well known , and hath been upon occasion , by some confessed or boasted of ) by one receipt , an hundred times as much as the physicians reward or fee for prescribing it : so that he only cures the patient once for an ordinary fee at most , and teaches the apothecary , when the same case occurrs , to do it ever after . the consequence of this to physicians , must be the impoverishment of many ; who , in regard of the charges of their education , and the use and consequence of their profession , deserve to get as great estates , as are gotten in any profession or way of trading , and yet shall scarce be able to subsist , though as learned and able in their profession , as their predecessors , who thirty or forty years ago , got great estates , when the apothecaries kept within their own bounds , or inconsiderably incroached upon the physicians . for now a physician will be of use only amongst great persons , or persons of learning and parts to value him : whereas others that are of ability enough for estates , and would be ready to entertain him , are so amused by apothecaries , their ostentations and pretensions before mentioned , their canting upon the common notions and terms of humours , fumes , obstructions , &c. ( which an empty illiterate pretender , having confidence enough , may so manage , as to make a more graceful sound , than the most solid and able physician ) that they are generally entertained in the beginning of sicknesses , and made judges whether or no , and when any , and what physician shall be sent for : ( being accounted a check upon the physician by such a sort of people ) who for the most part , is not called , till the other is willing to go no farther , because it is not his interest , that the person should die under his cure ; and then he says it is work for a doctor ; who shall have nothing to do amongst these people but in desperate cases : whereas ( as hath been hinted already ) in difficult cases , the best physician may stand in need of all advantages , especially timely opportunities to apply proper and effectual remedies for cure. and where the apothecary hath the nomination of the physician , it is easily judged , what one he is like to be , that is one between whom and him a design is driven of mutual furtherance , or one that he knows will comply with him , that is content to succeed him , and approve of what he hath done before ; or one that is noted in general to prescribe most for the apothecary's profit . upon such accounts some physicians are cryed up , and others decryed ( if not traduced ) of no less , or of much more and longer approved ability , worth , and honesty . to be sure no physician taken notice of to have and give any medicine of his own preparation , shall be called in , if the apothecary can hinder it . persons may if they please be undeceiv'd upon this account , and understand how little reason they have , and how little it may be their interest to be ruled by apothecaries in their choice of physicians . and if patients understood their interest , they would take no such satisfaction , as they seem to do , in the visits of apothecaries ; but rather wish them in their shops to make , or oversee the making of their medicines prescribed by physicians , which are left to their servants , many times raw and slovenly apprentices , while the masters spend their time abroad , physician-like , in visiting . another consequence must be utter discouragement to study , or endeavour after , or to make use of , by prescribing to apothecaries , any more excellent or effectual medicaments ; since the advantage will be so inconsiderable to the physicians themselves , in comparison of what it may be to others , who have so little right thereto , and deserve so little from them . so that all encouragement to , and hope of improvement of the art it self , by the present physicians is cut off : and for a succession , if the present state and condition of the profession continue , how can it reasonably be expected or supposed , that persons of considerable learning parts , or abilities , will ever apply themselves to the study of physick ? and what the consequence of all may be to the publick , is submitted to their estimation , who are most competent to judge of the great concerns thereof . the profession of physick being under so hard a condition , and not to be exercised in the ordinary way , but upon the disadvantages before set forth ; the remedies of the same , and the means to reduce it to a better state , must needs deserve serious consideration , being of importance , not only to the physicians , but also to the publick good and safety , as the lives and healths of persons are considerable thereto . these may be several and of different kinds ; some relating to the higher powers , as provision of good laws in this behalf , &c. and indeed in this kingdom , the wisdom of princes and parliaments hath not been wanting , in providing for the regulation of the profession ; according to which , no person not legally authorized , can practise without breaking the laws in that behalf , or incurring the penalties of them ; which , according to the times wherein they were set , were very high ; but in these times , they are easier to be born , rendring the adventure so much less , which is a great imboldening of persons having no legal right to practise , to run the hazard of those penalties : besides , the difficulty of discovery and proof , the tediousness in processes , and prosecution of the advantages by those laws against delinquents , not without uncertainty in the issue , as in other cases never so just , do much more encourage such persons ; till there may come a time and opportunity for supplying any defects in the laws already made . but if there be any advantage in the power of physicians themselves , which they may lawfully , honestly , and fairly make use of , to put themselves into a better condition for the exercise of their profession , it may be of good consequence to consider thereof . since all law , equity , and reason allows them as well as others ( as was touched before ) to make advantage of their own inventions , and since they are of such nature , as they may keep them secret to themselves , in the use and practice of them , they being not bound to discover them to apothecaries or any others , but free to prepare them themselves , as hath been made appear : whether may not this course set upon , though attended with some trouble and inconvenience , be an effectual means , at least in reasonable time , very considerably to advantage and better the condition of physicians in their practice ? in this undertaking it is not at all necessary , that any physician should be put to the drudgery or trouble of making , or overseeing the making of every medicine , that he may have occasion to use ; or to have a magazine furnished with all common things , as distilled waters , syrups , conserves , &c. for the practice of physick , may easily by able and judicious physicians be managed with the tenth part of the things commonly in use , and the remedies reduced accordingly , and this reduction so far from being a detriment , that it may be a great improvement of the art. the college of physicians of london , in compiling their dispensatory , following the example of other societies of physicians abroad , have set down the ancient forms and compositions of galen and the old greek physicians , of mesue and the arabians , with some other of later authors ; in consideration of the reverence due to the antiquity of some , with the approved use and experience of all . and it may vye with any publick dispensatories in forreign parts , as to choice and usefulness of the prescriptions it contains , being as little redundant in superfluities , and deficient in necessaries , as they : but it was never intended or pretended that it should contain all medicines necessary to practice , or the best of them ; and therefore the invention and use of others was ever allowed to able physicians ; considering withal , at what uncertainty the translators and interpreters of those authors , especially of the arabians , are concerning some words and the ingredients thereby signified ; and at what disadvantage we must have and use the medicaments produced in their countries , upon transportation so far , or production in colder climates ; all which must render those compositions less certain and efficacious : wherefore they did not think themselves concerned to make that book so much their own , as that there might be no impertinencies , irrational prescriptions , or ( perhaps ) errors therein : whence it is no wonder , that such a foul mouth'd impudent scribler as the translator of it ( for want of better employment to relieve him in his necessitous condition ) should take occasion to make such work as he hath done about it ; and the more , through his ignorance and confidence , calumniating falsly in divers particulars . this being the condition of that book , the physicians of the college have no such cause as the common people may think , to envy them the translation of it ; nor have they any such treasure of it , as they may suppose themselves : nor is it the translating of all physick-books extant into the vulgar language , that will edifie much , or inable persons of other employments to be their own physicians ( whatever may be thought otherwise ) or the reading of them in their own language by apothecaries , who have latine enough so to do , that will make them physicians , since there are innumerable particular cases , that fall out every day , requiring answerable remedies , to be discovered and made out upon an habit , and principles , enabling to judge and discern , not to be found in book-cases , all which put together do not reach or comprise them . and the dispensatory before mentioned , or any other , is far short of prescribing remedies for them all . and as to the forms or receipts of which it is made up ; it was never judged otherwise by able physicians , but that there are in them many ingredients impertinent , and some contrary to the main intentions for which they are in use : besides irrational proportions and quantities , though upon the whole , they have been successful ; and that such physicians are far from being tyed to them in their practice , as being able to invent better , more easie to be prepared , more grateful and convenient for use . for a multitude of ingredients ( wherein many of those ancient receipts are luxuriant , upon a design to bring in every good thing into our medicine is so far from bringing a comparison , that it is , at the best and for the most part , an alloy to it , and renders it less effectual ; whereas a judicious choice of a few ingredients , is the greatest advantage to the virtue and use of it . whoever with judgment peruseth the london dispensatory , may soon estimate , to what an epitome it may be reduced , how many compositions may be spared , how many ingredients , almost in every composition : and whoever with the like judgment considers and casts up the main intentions and indications that occur in practice , it will not be hard for him to state the remedies adequate and proper to such intentions as are of greatest importance ; and by consequence to be stored with preparations and compositions ready made of the choicest materials , to the best advantage for use and practice , more grateful and effectual , and every way more considerable than the shop-medicines ; as purges , cordials , antidotes , &c. which by judgment and chymical art , as the case may require , may be so prepared as to last long without impairing the virtue by keeping , and therefore to be always ready ; to be of such form as is convenient to be given , either alone , or with some vehicle , which may easily be had , or prepared by the patient , or any about him . and if patients knew all , they would not be best satisfied in the greatest number and variety of the medicines administred , & the most frequent plying of them therewith : for this may be ( as was hinted before ) of design in some physicians , to render themselves the more acceptable to apothecaries in general , as using to prescribe much physick ; or upon some combination between the physician and apothecary mutually to advantage each other ; or an intention in the physician to oblige some apothecary in hope of some answerable return : as on the contrary it hath been the complaint of the apothecary sometimes , that the physician , of ill will , hath prescribed little , and chargeable things ; both which are great disadvantages to their bills : whereas when they are made up of numerous particulars of things less chargeable , how much soever is gained thereby , they appear more reasonable to the patients . now though in some cases , there may be need of more medicaments , in greater variety and more frequently plyed : yet in most other cases , a rational and judicious choice of one , or a very few medicines , may signifie much more to the good of the patient , than a luxuriant variety . and it will not be hard for a physician , making use only of a servant or servants ( who shall be no ways capable of discovering his secrets , but only fit to kindle fires , tend a still or furnace , beat at a mortar , &c. ) to oversee and with his own hands prepare and compound what is necessary for himself to do ; and by this means , though he be in full practice , at the expence of a few spare hours , to store himself sufficiently for all his occasions , of such great remedies and secrets of importance : and for other medicines of less value and consequence , they may be had at the apothecaries , or taught the patients or those about them ( as was said of vehicles ) without any considerable prejudice to the practice of physick . to be sure , it were far better to teach patients any medicines , then practising apothecaries ; for those , if they have any ingenuity , will be sensible of the benefit , and at most , but use it again for themselves , some friend , or the poor for charity ; whereas these will not only use it toties quoties to the same patient , but make a trade of it to all others , whom they have to do with , and judge in the like condition . nor can it be any dishonour to a physician , thus to employ himself between whiles , in the making of such choice and important medicines ; as it is upon record and clearly appears , that hippocrates and his sons , galen , and other ancient physicians , did the like : nor is there the least appearance that they had any apothecaries , or ever wrote bills to any . and to be sure , in our times , we see , how worthy ladies and gentlewomen of quality , do employ themselves in making confections , and medicines internal and external : and it is known , what countesses and great persons of both sexes have done the like ; ( whence some medicines have their names ) to none of which it was ever reputed a dishonour : and how then can it be to physicians ? whose employment in this kind need not be more troublesome or laborious , and in respect of the neer relation of it to their profession , must be to the greater advantage , and more general concernment of the life and health of mankind . if it be thought , that this expedient of physicians making their own medicaments , comes now too late for the securing of the practice of physick to themselves ; the apothecaries being already so stock'd with innumerable receipts for all cases , upon the communication of the practice of physicians for so many years , or some ages , that they need no more : it is to be considered what great variety of new cases do daily emerge , what diseases , and new faces and conditions of diseases , every year almost produceth , not to be found described in all physick books extant ; for which they may not have one proper receipt in all their store , or if there be any such , it may be long enough before they find it : nor is there any other way but by principles and habit of judging and discerning in a physician to come to the knowledge of such diseases and cases , their nature , causes , and cure ; so that , without father communication to apothecaries , they must come to be at a loss , for all their great stock and store of old receipts . and it is farther to be considered , that the consequence of physicians exercising themselves in the preparation of medicines will be the invention of such as shall be more effectual , pleasant and convenient for use than the shop-medicines , and shall among those that have experienced them , beget a nauseating of and aversation to the other , and beat them quite out of use or esteem . and considering how apothecaries may and do censure the whole practice of some physicians , and of those in the fullest employment , to be upon a few ordinary or inconsiderable prescriptions ; and pretend their own to be upon rare secrets or choice prescriptions of some most eminent ancient physicians , and such as have proved most successful : it is high time for physicians to go out of the road , and do something extraordinary to secure themselves from such imputation . if upon the consideration of the great variety of diseases and cases , it be questioned how a physician will be able to apply proper remedies , out of a few choice and effectual medicaments of his own preparation ; it is answered , by composition , and by addition of others , in some cases , though of less importance of themselves ( easily to be directed to apothecaries , or any about the patient , if the physicians do it not himself ) sufficient variety of medicaments , accommodated to the particular diseases and cases , may be produced ; as we see what infinite variety of articulate sounds are , by various compounding or placing the twenty four letters of the alphabet . and to be sure one may be at a greater loss , by confusion amongst a multitude of superfluous , impertinent , luxuriant and inconsiderable medicaments , than amongst a small number of choice and effectual ones : with which a small closet furnished , may afford more to answer all intentions , than many of the greatest shops of apothecaries , as they stand now furnished , put together ; and may better inable physicians to make good that distich , et quoniam variant morbi , variabimus artes ; mille mali species , mille salutis erunt . besides the securing of the practice of physick to physicians , and the preventing its falling into other hands , which is a more necessary advantage ; there is another of happy consequence and more honourable , which , by this course of physicians making their own medicaments , may be attained ; that is , a great improvement in the art it self , hinted before . for when judicious physicians come to be more familiarly acquainted with the materials of medicaments , and also to experiment and observe operations and processes upon them ; especially the more accurate and artificial , as in chymical preparations ; they will discover the most advantagious ways of preparation , and the most rational proportions in order to composition ; and come to contrive and invent new medicaments , exceeding others in their kinds , and improve , beyond what they can imagine of themselves , before they have entered this way , and what they can ever otherwise attain ; as some learned and ingenious physicians have done . nor can it be denied , that in this course , some empiricks have stumbled upon very considerable and effectual medicaments , wherewith in some particular cases , they have outdone learned physicians : and by the advantage of making their own medicaments , they bear up , and will do , till they be outdone in the same kind by such physicians . nor hath a physician any way of vying upon equal terms , with an empirick , but by giving his own medicines , as well as he ; and by concealment , securing them from censure or undervaluing , as the other doth : and much less can he vye with a practising apothecary , when called in to a case , after he hath undertaken and administred according to his skill : for in this case , it is not his interest , that a physician should have better success than himself : and therefore , how faithfully and accurately the physician 's prescriptions will be prepared , may be a doubt : but to be sure , nothing is more obvious , than for the apothecary to undervalue them , and to say , that the same , as good , or better have been given already ; which suggestions , how false soever , cannot but raise a diffidence or prejudice in the patient to disadvantage of the success . there is one farther advantage of great importance , by the physician 's giving his own preparations ; that is , the certainty he shall be at in all his medicaments , as to their efficacy , strength and operation ; much beyond what can be in the way of writing bills to apothecaries . it is sufficiently known , and most frequently experienced , that , let a physician write the same bill to several shops , the medicine shall be very different in the sensible qualities , scent , taste , colour , strength , pleasantness , &c. according to the goodness of the ingredients , or the cleanly and accurate making ; which may cause great difference , and in reason cannot but cause some in the operation , while in the mean time the physician must answer for all , and all reflects upon him : whereas a physician using always the same preparation or composition , will be at a certainty of the effect , on the part of the medicine ; and any difference must be , in the disposition of the body on which it operates . but how can it be honourable for a physician to sell medicaments , may be a question : to which may be answered , that for a physician to drive such a trade for its own sake , or meerly for profit that might accrue to him thereby , could not be of credit ; but in order to so necessary an end , as the securing of his practice , and the benefit of his own industry to himself ; and to so good an end as the improvement of his art to the benefit of others , it can be no more dishonourable to him to sell physick , than to persons of honour , and great estates to sell their corn , cattel , wooll ; or forreign princes their wines . but another question may hereupon arise , how it may appear to satisfaction , that he deals reasonably and honestly in the prices and rates of his medicines ; it may be answered , that in the ordinary dealing of apothecaries with their customers ( whom they call their patients , but very improperly , except when they take upon them to be their physicians ) by their bills and the names of the particulars therein , it doth not at all appear , how reasonable their rates are ; all the satisfaction is in the good opinion of their honesty , and in their assertions and protestations concerning the reasonableness of their prices ; which indeed are arbitrary , and can hardly be other , because of the endless variety of medicines prescribed , not being of the cognisance of others ( except physicians and apothecaries , upon perusal of the receipts ) as are the wares and commodities wherein other tradesmen deal . and if physicians have the happiness to be thought honest men , amongst their friends and patients , they may give them as good satisfaction concerning their usage of them in this kind . to be sure , the apothecaries , upon this account , that the medicines prepared and vended by them , are not of the cognisance of the patients , or , however , are concealed from them , may make several advantages to themselves , not only of unreasonable profit to the burdening of the patient , but also of undue reputation among the injudicious , to the injury of the physician . that they may set unreasonable rates on their medicines is obvious to conceive , and that they have done , is not unknown , upon discovery whereof , they justifie all , by alleaging their expence of time , and attendance ; and this clearly infers , that they may in effect , by such means arbitrarily set unreasonable value upon their time and attendance , and such as may amount to more than the physicians fees come to , all put together , when he hath been entertained and daily attended from the beginning of the disease to the end : and if , when by occasion of complaints of patients to physicians , notice hath been taken of such prices set upon some medicines prescribed by them ( requiring no great time or trouble to prepare ) as may make the apothecary a gainer at the rate of ninety in the hundred ; with as good reason when they are sole physicians , may they set yet higher prices on their medicines , in consideration of their advice into the bargain , if they be not allowed distinctly for it . whence it is the less wonder , how so many young apothecaries as set up anew , and open shops in every corner almost of the city , should subsist : for it requires no great sum to purchase fine painted and gilded pots , boxes , & glasses ; and a little stock is improveable to a manifold proportion of what it is capable of in other trades . and it is as little wonder , if many apothecaries in any considerable time grow rich ; and more great estates be gotten among them , in proportion to their number , than among physicians ( upon such advantages beyond them , and incroachments upon their rights ) contrary to what was ever known of old . and they may take upon them to censure or pretend against the prescriptions of physicians ( as it is easie to carp or find fault with what is most perfect or innocent , and most obvious , out of ignorance or self-conceit so to do ) and by this means puzzle and dis-satisfie the injudicious ( while no opportunity is afforded to the physician to give satisfaction , or vindicate himself ) and by raising prejudice , hinder the good effect of the medicine , or divert the patient from the use of it . and they may ( and whether they have done so , is not known ) vary from the prescription of the physician , to impose upon him ; and so , if the medicine have a good success , they can tell the patient , that it was not as the physician prescribed it , but as they have altered it for the better , knowing his constitution , &c. or in plain english , none of his , but theirs ; if it prove not successful , they can be silent ; and by this means arrogate to themselves all good successes , and leave the other to rest upon the physician , which latter , by such a practice they may be the authors of : so that at this rate , all the reputation and success of the physician may be in their power and at their mercy . such most injurious and intolerable abuses , there is reason to expect from practifing apothecaries , who are emulators of physicians , and indeed no better than enemies unto and a party against them ; as some sufficiently discovered themselves in publick when time served , by their vilifying and disparaging the physicians before a committee of the house of commons . now how much it concerns physicians , and what reason they have to take any course , rather than so to be imposed upon by them , let the world judge . they that can vary from the physicians prescript upon such an account , may with less dishonesty do it for saving , by leaving out in whole or in part , some chargeable ingredients , which in many compositions cannot be missed to sense , though in reason they cannot be abated , pretending , if it be discovered , that the medicines may be more proper for the patient , without them . and as to the goodness of their drugs ( on which the due estimation of their rates depends ) which doth no more appear to others , than the unreasonableness of the rates , they may ( whether they do or not ) put off such as are defective , decayed , impure , &c. and in such respect , of little value : for , as hath been said , all failure of success , or ill success , is imputed to the physician , whence it clearly may be inferred , how much better satisfaction and security against defectiveness in medicaments , there may be in dealing with the physician , than the apothecary ; since the perfection of any medicine , is of such concernment to the success , which is the great interest of the physician ( and the more , while he acts alone ) unless he be supposed so wicked , as to be corrupted to do mischief to the patient : and in such case the apothecary being corrupted , not only when he practiseth himself , but when imployed under a physician , by adding to , or altering what is prescribed , or giving one thing for another , may easily do the like mischief , undiscovered , with the great advantage of imputation to , or reflection upon the physician . for it often falls out in practice , that medicaments in themselves safe and gentle , have rough and violent operations upon the body , meeting with some cause thereof within ; and much more may stronger and churlish physick have the like , which a physician may sometimes be necessitated to prescribe , except he will meerly trifle with the patient and let him dye : now a little alteration of such a medicine by the apothecary may be the death of a patient ; wherein he cannot be detected , and therefore it must rest upon the physician . for avoiding suspition , where the physician may gain by the death of a patient , as of a parent , wife , or relation to whom he may be heir , or any other by whose death some apparent advantage may accrue to him , it hath been the prudence of physicians to decline acting alone , though no jealousie or caution on the part of the patient hath given occasion thereof : and by this course it is in the power of physicians to secure themselves from the suspition , and of patients , from the practice of any such wicked design against them , whereby those may become accessory to their death . in other cases , upon consideration it may clearly appear how much more the life and recovery of a patient is the interest of a physician , than of an apothecary who only prepares the physick for the patient by the physicians prescription . the apothecary may lose a customer and friend , by whom in time to come he might have made good advantage ; the physician answerably may lose a patient and friend , who , in reason , might have been at least as beneficial to him . but this may be the least part of his loss , for , besides this consideration , upon the death of a person , especially of note , esteem , or interest in the world , all neer relations , friends , and dependants take notice of , or are inquisitive after the physician , and ( though he be of eminent general repute , yet except he have the happiness to be well thought of among them , or the advantage to give them a satisfactory account ) are ready to suspect some want of ability or judgment in him to discern the disease or apply proper remedies , or some want of care , consideration , or diligence requisite to the case ; and thereupon to censure either the doing , or the omission of something as dangerous or fatal . hereupon they have an aversation unto , or prejudice against that physician for the future , so as to be inclined to make use of any other rather than of him ; which consequence upon the death of a patient may much more impair the physicians practice , than all he can be supposed to lose by such a particular patient . now there is no such consideration or suspition concerning the apothecary ( except any thing notorious be discovered against the goodness of his medicines ) whence it is seen amongst passionately affectionate persons , upon the loss of children , neer relations , or dear friends , that they are averse to the sight of the physician that took care of them ( though there hath not been the least ground or cause in reason so to be ) and yet the apothecary is in as good esteem with them as ever . hence it is rational to infer , that whoever engageth a physician in an action so much against his interest , as the being instrumental to procure the death of any person , must bid very high for it : and since his opportunity is only while persons are sick or taking physick ; and since it is so feasible towards persons in sickness or health , by the ways and artifices of poyson to dispatch them ( wherein others are more versed than the physicians of england were ever known to be , and which are usually managed and dispensed in dyet , toward which a cook , butler , other servants , or any that may be frequently about the person , have more opportunity than a physician , and in reason may be corrupted at easier rates ) it may be presumed a physician will not be made use of to such a purpose ; according as there is little extant in history , and little reported of physicians imployed in such work , which others may so easily do , and have so frequently done . as to the rates of medicines , if the physicians did to all patients , that do not undervalue them in their fees ( though giving but according to the ordinary and accustomed rates time out of mind in england ) give all the medicines of their own preparation they should need to use ; the condition of the profession must be better , than by communicating to apothecaries to give them such advantages against themselves as have been set forth : whence it is clear to infer , at how much cheaper rates a physician may afford medicaments , than an apothecary ; and therefore in all reason , supposing them to be men of honesty , or understanding their own interest , they will do so . and no doubt the event will shew it , upon dealing with physicians that take this course , when the difference shall appear , by comparing the charges , upon entertaining such a physician alone , with what hath been usual , upon making use of a physician and apothecary both together , in like cases ; or upon making use of an apothecary alone , whereby many cannot but think that great matters must be saved ; whereas if the medicines brought in by him amount to ten shillings , he may get little short of a physicians fee ; but how much they multiply , and ply the patient with medicines , in such cases , is ordinarily seen ; and a physician that hath no end in favour of the apothecary , may do the work with that which amounts to far the least part of what is usually obtruded in such cases ; and though he receive some fees , yet may be less chargeable to the patient , than an apothecary entertained , as well as more satisfactory all such as allow more ability to a physician in his profession , than to an apothecary . it may be an objection against the course of physicians preparing medicines for their own peculiar use , that it will cut off all free communication between physicians , and render consultations insignificant . to this may be answered , that those physicians engaged in this work , between whom there was a good understanding and a free communication formerly , may as freely communicate upon their peculiar preparations ; or at least such account of them may be given , as shall be sufficient for judgment , whether they be proper in the peculiar case before them , or not . but it is not to be expected that all the considerable physicians should engage in this course , some being in full practice in combination or conjunction with apothecaries , from whom it is not to be expected they should trouble themselves about preparing medicines ; and some depending upon apothecaries to bring them into notice and acquaintance ; who must therefore comply with them not only in writing bills to their best advantage , but also , as occasion serves , enter on their leavings of practice , and perhaps consult with them . in such cases indeed it is not reasonable to expect that any physician should communicate a peculiar preparation of his own to another , that can make no use of it but by divulging it to an apothecary . but as to consultation it may be said , that any such physicians meeting may proceed upon the shop-medicines to as good advantage as formerly ; neither is any physician that prepares his own medicines the less able ( to be sure ) to write bills to apothecaries , but rather the more , in that respect , as far as he is free thereto . there remains one grand objection , that this course of physicians making their own medicines , must ruine the apothecaries , who are numerous , and a company of the city of london , incorporated by charter : to this it may be answered , that the apothecaries are become so numerous in the city of london , very probably , upon encouragement by the advantages taken against physicians , to practise themselves ; and against patients or customers to set as high prices as they please : and it is easily granted , that without such courses a great part of them cannot subsist : whereas it may be said of all the physicians in london , having any legal right to practise ; that they might live well on their practice , in the old course of writing bills to apothecaries , were it not for the practising apothecaries and other empiricks : however , the numerousness of apothecaries , doth not justifie illegal and injurious advantages taken against physicians , ( no more than the numerousness of necessitous persons doth their indirect and unwarrantable courses of living ) during which the present course of writing all in bills to apothecaries , must ruine the physicians , whose education doth cost a good estate or stock , and a great part of the time of their lives , before they can arrive to get any thing ; and who in london are a society incorporated by charter , having that charter and other priviledges established by acts of parliament , as the authority or priviledge of them and others to practise elsewhere depends upon the charters and priviledges of the universities , which are also established by acts of parliament : so that for a legal establishment , the apothecaries can no ways vye with the physicians . and as to the merits of the cause , and equity , let it be considered , that the physicians did part with , and freely allow one part of their profession to be exercised by others , yet never quitting the right of exercising that also themselves ; whence , as elsewhere , so in england , it hath been always free ( and the law expresly allows it , and there is an express reserve in the apothecaries charter to that effect ) for physicians to exercise their art in all its parts : that upon this , advantage is taken by apothecaries to invade the whole , by giving advice as well as making and selling medicines ; and so by consequence , if the physicians should not resume the other , they themselves must be ruined , upon the abuses and advantages taken against them before set forth : and it will soon appear , whether it be not more equal , that the physicians should preserve themselves by recovery of their own , than the other by invading theirs , and getting all from them ; to which the former have all the right , and the latter none at all . but supposing such a course universally taken up , of physicians making their own medicines of importance , for their use in practice ; a ruining of apothecaries would not necessarily follow ; they would yet practise upon the meaner sort , and perhaps many others , whom for want of judgment , they would by their canting and ostentation , and by raising prejudice against physicians , draw into a better opinion of themselves ; beside the trade of their shops : but because such practice of theirs must be gained by false suggestions upon the ignorance and credulity of the people , and is illegal , and may do more mischief than good in the kingdom ; this answer is not to be accounted satisfactory , therefore , it is to be taken notice of , that though the making of all medicines for his own use in his practice do of right belong to a physician ; yet no such thing hath been here absolutely propounded or intended ; but only of some choice ones of great importance and efficacy , and so many as may secure the practice of physick to the physicians , which may be far the least part of what there will be occasion to use in the whole practice of a physician : and so ( besides the sale of shop-medicines not only by retail , but whole-sale , whereby it is known many have gotten great estates , without dispensing physicians bills ) all other medicines directed by physicians may be had of apothecaries ; who according as they approve themselves fair and faithful to physicians , will have the more furtherance in this kind from them . for what was said before of teaching medicines and vehicles to patients , was intended to shew , how a physician , if he were put to it , might go through in a cure , without an apothecary , notwithstanding which , it is free for him to prescribe all such medicines to any apothecary that he is satisfied in . and it is far from the intention hereof to brand all apothecaries ; many of whom are allowed to be honest and conscientious , as well as eminently able and skilful in their profession , and such as may be trusted by physicians , any of whom , as they appear to be such , for all that hath been said , may have as much to do in their own proper work and trade as formerly , or within a small proportion , while physicians engage no farther in giving any thing of their own preparation , than the practise of apothecaries hath necessitated them unto . and even as to those medicaments to be prepared by physicians , they also may be lodged with such apothecaries , to be used by the physicians prescription , or allowance , and not otherwise ( for preventing mis-application by such as are ignorant of them , and ill success or fail of success thereupon , to the detriment of the patients , and undue defamation of the medicines ) and vended at such rates , as may make him a saver ( which ought to satisfie him since concealment in his design ) and the apothecary a reasonable gainer , and yet not be burthensome to the patient : by which means , when there is a good understanding between the physician and the apothecary , and no cause or provocation given , there need be no notice taken to the patient of any such medicine of the physician 's preparation administred , but all things may be supposed prepared by the apothecary . and this transaction between such physicians and apothecaries as shall agree upon it , will bring this whole affair into as good a condition for the benefit of the latter , as to their own work and trade , as ever it was heretofore when they kept within their own bounds , and as of right it ought to be : and therefore should seem very desirable and readily to be imbraced by them , for avoiding greater inconveniences and disadvantages , which by transcending their bounds , and undertaking above their capacities , while they injuriously invade the rights of the physicians , they may most justly bring upon themselves . a postscript . this discourse was written above five years since , not in any haste to be made publick , but to give vent to and discharge the mind of the author , of some working thoughts , wherewith it was frequently occupied , by occasion of what he had long observed , and could not but take notice of , tending to the ruine of the profession of physick , by the practice and designs of the apothecaries , if they should hold on the course they have used these many years , and nothing should be done to undeceive the world concerning them and their actings to the disadvantage of physicians . it was some satisfaction of mind to make out in any rational deduction and coherence of things , what had so much exercised and taken up his thoughts , though it were but to lye by , or be communicated to private friends at most : and there being at first little thought or inclination to publish what was so conceived in writing , the plague and the fire did successively for a long time after divert from any such thoughts . if an account be demanded , why this discourse comes forth in publick at this time ; there shall no necessity of it be pleaded , as the manner is with some authors to make the world believe them upon some account or other necessitated to publish their works : neither shall importunity of friends be insisted upon , though something in that kind might be alledged . and , if the author may be believed , it was no design of private advantage by gaining profit or credit , that induced him to the publishing hereof . they have been far different ways ( and especially compliance with apothecaries ) that have been in use hitherto , to improve a physician 's practice : and therefore this , in reason , may be a course to ruine it ; except he be one that hath the advantage of some reputation for approved ability and honesty , attended with some considerable success . all that the author alledgeth for this publication , is , that the causes exciting and provoking him to exercise his thoughts this way , and to put the same in writing , continuing and increasing ( that is the invasion of the practice of physick by apothecaries , and their actings to the prejudice of physicians ) begat a presumption in his weak judgment , that such a discourse as this might do some right to the profession of physick , & might give occasion to physicians of acting somewhat towards the securing of it from utter ruine ( especially while it might be coincident with the honour of the art ) by improvement of that part which concerns the preparation of medicines ; without prostituting or exposing what they may attain thereby , to those that have no right to make such advantage thereof , as hitherto they have done against physicians , upon their communications to them on the behalf of patients . another presumption was , that it might undeceive the people in reference to the supposed advantages of good received , or charges saved , by making use of such apothecaries in place of physicians , as take upon them to practise physick . it hath been far from the intention of the discourse to hinder apothecaries , much less to ruine them ( if that were possible ) in the trade that they have any right to exercise , that is the making and sale of medicines ; or to advantage the practice of physick , by the sale of any , of the physicians own preparation : but ( according to what was before expressed ) to give occasion to physicians to consider how much it concerns them in this age to endeavour the invention of better than the shop-medicines ( toword which their own exercise and experience in the preparation will give great advantage and reserve them to themselves , that they may have something more than any apothecaries can pretend to be masters of , in order to improve the art , as well as secure the practice to themselves ; which by this means it is both lawful and fair for them to do . and though it be free for them to be so furnished as to be able to go through with any cure without imploying an apothecary ( as the apothecaries do , without physicians ) yet this is not insisted upon , except in case of just provocation or necessitating thereto : otherwise , the hinderance of the apothecaries in the trade that of right belongs unto them , may be inconsiderable or in a small proportion , according to what is offered in the conclusion of the precedent discourse ; and that it should be any at all , is but what they have deservedly brought upon themselves . as to empiricks swarming so numerously in the city of london , and all parts of the kingdom , it hath not been the work of the discourse to animadvert upon them ; because though many of them may be less fit to be tolerated in the practice of physick than some apothecaries , yet their practice is more obvious to publick notice , and they having no such relation to physicians as apothecaries have , are in no such capacity of betraying any trust committed unto them by physicians ( which the communication of their practice to apothecaries , in the nature of it , is ) or of fighting against physicians with their own weapons . in the discourse there hath been no affectation of style or language , only an endeavour after expressions adequate to the things intended : neither hath there been any strict observation of method ; whence some things or passages , in effect the same , are more than once , upon several occasions , brought in ; but all in this kind amounts not to so much , as to carry an appearance of a design'd inlargement . if the main intention thereof prove grounded , and of any good importance to be publickly taken notice of ; the defects or faults are presum'd not to be more or greater than a candid reader , may connive at , or pardon . finis . animadversions on the medicinal observations of the heidelberg, palatinate, dorchester practitioner of physick, mr. frederick loss by alius medicus. alius medicus. 1674 approx. 307 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 84 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a27335 wing b178 estc r5485 11893053 ocm 11893053 50464 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a27335) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 50464) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 50:4) animadversions on the medicinal observations of the heidelberg, palatinate, dorchester practitioner of physick, mr. frederick loss by alius medicus. alius medicus. b. t., 17th cent. loss, friedrich. [21], 123, [22] p. printed for william willis ..., london : 1674. "epistle dedicatory" signed: t.b. "mr. loss, his letter to alius medicus": p. [2]-[16] at end; "alius medicus his answer to mr. loss": p. [17]-[20] at end. errata: p. [22]-[23] at end. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng loss, friedrich. -observationum medicinalium libri quatuor. medicine. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-10 john latta sampled and proofread 2006-10 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion animadversions on the medicinal observations , of the heidelberg , palatinate , dorchester practitioner of physick , mr. frederick loss . non omnes falles , scit te proserpina canum , personam capit● detrahet illa tuo . mart. responsum non dictum est , quia laesit prius . ter. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . socrat. by alius medicus . london , printed for william willis next door to the goat , in kingstreet westminster . 1674. frederico lossio heidelbergensi , palatino , dorchestrensi medico , salutem & sanam mentem . iniquissimus fores in me judex , frederice mi , si non aequi bonique feceris meam hanc professionem publicam , contra alium medicum , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & sine ratione practicantem . nulla re magis inquit crato , quam exemplo docemur atque confirmamur : praesertim cum rationibus instructi actionum causas intelligimus , & aliorum factis , nobis quod ex usu sit , admonemur . de te igitur exemplum capiens , & ad eandem oculos collimans metam ; seu virtutis ea , seu veritatis , sive etiam artis nostrae ergo fuerit : in hasce quidem ingenii exercitationes quales quales , me , a mea tandem indignatione abr●ptum , permisi . si quidquam in iis fuerit , quod te urat , ( urent autem plurima ) non est propterea ut mihi merito succenseas , quando id omne culpa factum est tua : — pudet haec opprobria nobis , et dici potuisse , & non potuisse refelli . ovid. impresentiarum quidem , ob rationes alibi memoratas , paginas aliquot genti publicae conscripturus , eas & meo , & suo idiomate implevi . noli tamen subirasci , bone vir , neque hoc animo nimis iracundo f●ras , dehinc enim , si quidquam rescripseris , quod opera & oleo dignum fuerit , lingua etiam latina quam calles sane , quamque in deliciis plurimis habes , non defuturum tibi aliquando responsum fovet . medicvs alivs . to the religious , vertuous , and discreet lady , mrs. elizabeth moore of spargrave . madam . some authors call their books their children , all sure must own them for their conceptions . this of mine is but a daughter , begotten then , when yours lay sick at dorchester ; and born , by the help and midwifery of your obliging and testimonial letter , from spargrave . but , having been sick almost as long as yours hath been well , she is but slenderly grown , and none other but a plain english girle . but i hope what she wants in learning , she will make up with commendable simplicity ; and that although her worth may come short , yet her honesty will hold out . i know very well , madam , that you need neither her ▪ nor my service . 't is both of us that want your testimony , or rather , that give you our humble thanks that we want it not . my daughter is now going abroad to service , and she most gratefully acknowledgeth , that nothing could have more encouraged her , to seek her fortune , than the hope she hath , of her being the better accepted where-ever she comes , because so grave a matron , and so honourable a lady , as you , madam , have passed your word , that hitherto she hath been just and true in her dealing . the hebrews , madam , do express the female sex by a word whose root signifies to forget , and the male by memory . and ( whatsoever mr. loss his judgment of me may be ) i was willing so far to have approved my self masculine , as remembring that i also am a man , and do erre , to ha●e devoted my daughter ( though she speaks of wrong , and injuries done to myself , and their just vindication ) unto oblivion and forgetfulness , and hence ( which would have been monstrous in naturals , but is frequent enough in artificials ) this child stuck at the birth above twelve months ; and if my threatning to be out against him in print , if my showing unto my adversary himself what it was that i had against him ; if my leaving my papers with him three or four weeks together , many months since , and that before any body had perused them ; if my answering of his latine letter , in latine , as they are both appended at the end of this book ; if my imploying others to speak with him ▪ and to demand satisfaction ; if my sending for himself , but to no purpose ; if my speaking with his own son , and making him sensible , but in vain ; if my offering to refer it to whom he pleased ; if my naming his nearest & best friends ; if my readiness to appeal to four physicians , my naming them , the time , the place , and giving him notice of it , but he would not come : if any , if all of these could have prevailed to have made him sensible of a publick shame like to befal him , or could have awakened his conscience , and made him sensible , that in justice he ought to have given me all the satisfaction he could for my wounded credit ; this daughter of mine had proved abortive , and had never seen light : but when my patience and forbearance could work nothing , not so much as a visit from him , or once speaking to me about the business , when i perceived that he still justified himself , and that my not-coming out against him , was interpreted as proceeding rather from the consciousness of my own impotency and guilt , than of his . at this throw at last the child was born ; and whether she will prove a plague to her parent , and a dishonour ; or may serve to cherish , and nurse up his wounded reputation and credit , time will show . mr. loss is angry with her , that she is not a scholar , and doth not speak latine , perhaps it is because she speaks too plain english : but i have promised him a son hereafter , that hath been at school and can write latine . in the interim , i tell him , that in my opiniom , one mother-tongue is enough for a daughter ; besides , she is to wait upon you , madam , and therefore she must not speak an unknown tongue , she pleads more for truth than learning ; and appeals rather to your vertues , than the abilities of some great scholar . she designs not any feast unto the learned , nor to visit the universities , as mr. loss his latine observations , who himself yet never was there , at least as a member of either of them , but determines to make out matters , fact , and to prove by witness , that he hath not truly stated your daughter's case . to contend with him whether he or i can write best latine , would be pedantick , and too much like himself , for he hath the wit to tell us that formerly he was a petty school-master at dantzik ; and he wisely relates this himself , upon as wise an occasion , in his 26th obs . and 1st book ; that the world may know , that he cannot only write latine , but teach it for a need ; and that physicians may see the reason , why he is so magisterial in consultations . to vie with him , whether he or i be the abler physitian , would be as unworthy me as him ; for this is a query too particular , and very unhandsome between any two , and is not wont to be agitated but between envious and proud persons : for scholars disputes should be about things , and not about persons . yea , and although in the case of a particular person , physicians may differ in their opinion , and perhaps each think he hath all reason on his side ; yet it is very base , for either of these to begin to print this case , and to condemn the other , were he never so guilty . for example , this gentleman , without giving me the least item thereof , calls me to a publick account , for a private consultation , and says of me , that in the particular case of your daughter , my practice had neither method nor reason in it . for , though it be against the laws of logick , to infer a general conclusion , for a particular instance . yet how prone are people , and apt to conclude that all my practice is such ? until i some ways vindicate my self from this aspersion ? answering his objections , and chastising his insolency , by canvasing his art and method , in my animadversions : and divulging either his , or my own ignorance therein . the matters of art , which i have toucht on in this book , they are not very intricate or disputable : i am confident , madam , you your self can easily understand , and judg of them , as they are presented to you in english , much more scholars , if any of them think them worthy of their perusal , though they be not here in latine . for , the matters of fact which i am to prove , by your self , your daughter , and all that were with her in her sickness , to countrey people in a countrey town , these of necessity were to be put in english ; and to have put the other in latine , would have made the book a linsey-woolsey piece of work . any one that reads , may judg , though he understand no latine , whether mr. loss hath writ truth or falshood ; whether he doth not often mistake , and sometimes contradict himself ; whether he understood some of those authors himself quotes ; whether he hath done prudently , or so much as honestly , so to divulge all his patients names , as he hath done ; courting and flattering some , shaming others , and grosly abusing some others : whether he loves and always honoured medicus alius , that hath privately so many times slandered him , and at length publickly put him ( as far as in him lay ) to an open shame . these things , madam , are as plain , and as easie to be understood here , as the english tongue ; they need not be judged by a conclave of the learned , or a colledge of physicians . alas , our private concerns put together , are not worthy of their taking notice of , and therefore i have not dedicated my book to any of them , but to you , madam ; whose testimony will be most prevalent before a jury of good men and women in and about dorchester : the very same , that but a little while since , when that most worthy gentleman your husband thomas moore esq was high sheriff of our county , were witnesses of both your magnificence and bounty , and how handsomly ye managed and carried off with applause that publick solemnity , with what nobleness and grandeur it was acted , and yet with what courteous affability likewise , and prudence . to you , madam , that are a gentlewoman of no ordinary abilities , and that have a ladyes skill in physick also , and that make use of better physicians than either of us ; to you , who have done nothing else towards our controversy , but given me a civil answer unto a letter which i sent unto you , touching particulars in your daughter's sickness ; to you , that by better parts , and a greater reach , can pierce deeper , and see farther into the depth of a physicians parts and honesty , than many others , who are easily imposed upon , with the formality of some self-will'd and self-conceited gentleman , who must be adored and bowed unto , whether he be right or wrong ; to you , that are in your self alone a complication of witnesses ; for many that were then about you , when your daughter lay sick , both friends and servants can witness , if there were need thereof , that what you have writ in your letter to me , is truth ; to you , that being the tender and very affectionate mother of our patient , made it your business to look after your daughter , and to attend unto what we said or did : you were present therefore , and would be so to all our consultations and discourses ; and heard both parties , and considered them well . to you , that when i beg'd of you , rather to follow mr. loss his advice , than mine ; urging , that he was an elder physician , and your older acquaintance of many years standing , whereas until that day wherein you sent for me , you had never seen my face ; answered that you would side with me because you thought i spake most reason ; which was probably the foundation of mr. loss his writing this observation of your daughter's case against me : to you madam , whom the whole country round about do honour and respect ; to you , of whom mr. loss himself hath given this character in print , in his 25th observ . and 3d book : that you are a lady not only of great birth , but of greater vertue , being fully accomplished and adorned with all the comliness of vertues : in which he hath spoken so much commendation of you , that he hath left nothing for me to add , but that i believe you highly deserve it . lastly , to you madam , whom while every body honours , i am much more bound so to do , and whilst i live , readily to acknowledg my self , madam , your most highly obliged , and very humble servant , t. b. the preface to the reader . reader : well may physick be acknowledged by all , a most pleasant & delightful study , because it opens the door & gives us entrance into one half of that celestial knowledg , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the understanding of our bodies , whose matter was indeed but earth , yet materiam superavit opus , and none but an heavenly artist could of it have made so wonderful a fabrick . many have almost grown mad with the bewitching pleasantness of the outside only , which they call beauty , but how great are their raptures , that can pass beyond the shell , and come unto the kernel ? that can open this cabinet , and look in upon the jewel ? that can wind up this watch when it is almost down ; and when it is foul , can make it clean and set it again in order ? that know all the wheels of this sort of automaton , and how it comes about that they move each other , what ballanceth their motion , what regulates it , and what is the spring and original of all ? and , as physick gratifies our inquisitive knowledg with these rarities , that are no impertinent curiosities , but highly necessary , as well as inviting and pleasing objects : so , by preserving and continuing of our health , and sometimes restoring it when lost , it gives us the more time to enjoy them ; and leads us further on , and further into the inward recesses , and secret laboratory of operating nature , there shewing us her utensils , and how strangely and wonderfully we were made : and besides all this , physick is more or less the foundation and cause of all other arts and sciences whatsoever : for if the body be distempered , the soul can no more find out or work these , than an artist can shew his skill without his instruments . and yet for all this , it is a truth i think , ( and pitty it is it should be so , but there is no help for it ) that there is no profession of any art whatsoever , that in its practice is more uncomfortable , than physick it self is , to some ingenuous and modest physicians ; not that any one need to regret or nauseat , more nicely than wisely , these first entertainments which we commonly meet with when we are sent for to a sick patient ; for who knows not , that his own body was cast in the same mould , homo , sum humani nihil a me alienum puto , may every man say . nor that we ought to be so voluptuous , or self-delighting , as to be unwilling at any time , when we are called thereunto , to sit down and stay by a sick or dying patient , and to compassionate in the house of mourning , his sighs and groans , and many sad complaints : neither need we be much concerned , that the astrologer and fortune-teller , the cunning cheat or suspected wizard , the chirurgion , the apothecary , the hold confident , whether farmer , groom , shepherd , or cobler , the mountebank , or the cordial or pill-doctors , that are always to be spoken with all most ever-ywhere at some book-seller's shop , in any part of the kingdom , and do practise without seeing their patients , or feeling their pulse , or knowing their disease , or age , or sex or strength , or any thing : that the midwife , the nurse , the neighbour gossip , persons of all sorts , and of both sexes do turn doctors , and find a nearer way to physick than going about to the universities , and many times far more profitable , but at no time so honourable , nor yet so satisfactory unto their consciences , if they have any : for i would ask any of these intruders into our faculty ( i do not mean such charitable gentlewomen or ministers of a parish , as do bestow their skill gratis upon their poor neighbours , when no better help is to be had , but those that make gain of physick , and upon boasting their skill , do prevent patients from sending for others that have more understanding in the art ) i say , i ask these , how they satisfy themselves from being guilty of their patients blood , when they happen to dye under their cure ? and how they can approve themselves for humble persons , yea , or excuse themselves from the height of pride and impudence ; that , condemning the modesty and practice of these men , that being bred scholars from their youth , study first many years in the universities , and afterwards go not forth to practise , before they have submitted themselves unto the tryal of the learned , and by them are approved and sent forth as fit for the imployment , in a year or two , perhaps as few months , do take up to practise physick , and do out hector the other , who know more , than to be so able as they are , to bluster and brag , as if they were the only knowing persons and skilful in the art ; though they have no other testimony thereof , than their own , and yet the people believe them , and so let them . but this would grieve one indeed , but its helpless also , that when an honest , and perhaps able physician , hath done all he can for his patient , hath discharged his conscience , his friendship , his kindness , his good nature , and all his art ; he should yet miserably be obnoxious , and lie open unto the obloquies and slanders of all sorts of people ; censured many times , and slighted when he cannot so much as study what his fault was ; and condemned without being permitted first to answer for himself ; neither indeed can he , for who can talk and reason his own case , with the hundredth part of the people , that will censure and condemn him ? physicians when they once go forth to practise and leave the university , they seldom or never meet with any opportunity in the places where they dwell , of making any publick proof that they understand their art. if a divine be a deserving gentleman , and one eminent for learning , he need none other help than his own to publish this unto the world ; for every sermon he delivers , is not only an exercise of his function , but a demonstration of his abilities , whilst his auditors that are always numerous , even every one of them that understands him , is at once a witness both of his piety and of his parts . if a lawyer speaks handsomely and pertinently unto a case , it is done in the audience of those learned in the law , and commonly before a judg ; and although the clients case goes against him , yet the counsellors credit goes nothing the less , for the whole court witnesseth , that he spake as much to the purpose as could be said , and pleaded like himself . but the physician is exposed naked unto every ones lash , and be he never so good , if the success proves bad , he hears generally ill , and there seldom wants some unhappy pickthanks or other , who perhaps to bring in a friend of their own , into a family that may be advantageous , can easily disparage and blast a man's reputation , with groundless surmises and suggestions . we have not only to do with the apothecary and chirurgion , and both their boys ( for patients will sometimes ask even these , of what value the physician is ) ; but with the nurse likewise , and the midwife , with the tender upon , and the hanger-on , the twatling gossip , and the skilless busie-body ; in effect , every one is judg in our case , and most commonly those that have the least knowledg have the greatest confidence if not impudence in their verdicts . let but any such an one say , this was too much , or that too little , this strangely neglected , or that venturously acted ; though it be but a fool that finds the fault , yet he is the wise man , and the physician condemned for the fool ; and notwithstanding the proverb says , every one is either a fool or a physician , the latter alone must be both . yea , good success will not alwayes ward a physician from others bad opinions , and i do not remember that i ever succeeded worse than when i succeeded best , and that by this stratagem , which is the fundus nostrae calamitatis , and the worst of all that hath yet been said , other physicians , that either do or should understand the art , and be best able to vindicate both the profession and its professors , some of them are so self-conceited , envious , and covetous , that when they are called into a consultation , they are often the first that fling the stone at their fellow-physicians ; and if the patient dye , they slanderously and privately suggest , that he took a wrong course , and killed him ; if beyond their prognostick he recovers and lives , that he was so dangerous and venturous , he would have killed him , but that nature was so strong as to contemn all the effort of his immethodical and irrational practice . for my own part , i could never hitherto so highly flatter my self into so good an opinion of my parts or proficiency in learning , as to harbour any thoughts , much less resolve upon any means of coming forth into print : alas ! i am hardly so learned , as to know that the whole of what i know , is not the tenth of what i am ignorant of ; and if i should come abroad as standing upon my own legs , my stature is but low and my abilities lower , and i might justly be afraid , that i should be so far from appearing like a saul among his brethren , taller by the head than other physicians ( as me thinks all those should be that voluntarily put themselves in print ) that rather i should seem like a pigmey among the giants . and , if in any thing i should pretend , dwarf though i am , to stand upon the great ones shoulders , and by that means to see farther than they , so as to enlarge the horizon of our art , by making discovery of some terra incognita , some new things in physick not treated of before ; alas ! there are many things new to me , which may be old to othe●● , and well enough known long before i was born ; for i cannot boast to have read over , much less fully and deliberately digested all things , which all authors both ancient and modern have already treated of in our faculty ; neither can i demonstrate that there is anything new under the sun , though there are many things that seem so to me . besides , this age is fertile of great wits , by whom truths as well as persons , have got their changes of attire ; and indeed , what else are new books generally but old verities new drest up , and set forth to sale ; with such ornaments and embroyderies , such spangling trimmings , and such sparkling jewels , as the best language , fancy , and wit of each author could put upon them , to make them of the mode , and so acceptable ; for the sceleton of common notions , which they thus fill up and flesh , which they thus smooth and skin over , which they thus paint and beautify , is like the earth we live on , through all our generations the same . vpon these considerations i have hitherto passed my days in a recluse , being much of his opinion , that a man lives not the more unhappy , for being the less taken notice of ; judging that it was enough for me , for one of so mean endowments , to sit still and be quiet , to live and learn , to read others books , and to leave it to the great masters of our art for to write and teach . but a kind of spiteful hap , hath disturbed my quiet peace , and a sort of hurricane hath driven my poor bark out of a calm harbour into a tossing and tempestuous ocean , a sea of strife , and quarrelsome contention , which i neither love nor like ; for to put forth a book , is in some sort to put forth to sea , and to commit ones self to the rude waves , for what else are the moveable and uncertain censures of the people ? i thought often upon the beginning of that ode in hor. o navis referent in mare te novi fluctus , o quid agis ? fortiter occupa portum , nonne vides ut — &c. applying what he speaks upon another occasion , unto my sending forth this small bark my book ; and surely nothing but a bare necessity , could have forced me out in such hard weather : stay i would , but stay i cannot , without i would be content to be ship-wrackt in the haven . the reasons of this undertaking are elsewhere mentioned , and must be passed by here , lest the porch should grow so big , that the little house might run out at it : thus much only shall suffice to be here added ; that private and publick slanders were the occasion , and that the vindication of others as well as of myself , is my apology for what i have written : for though i bear the brunt , yet there is scarce any one neighbour physician or apothecary , which hath not suffered by the same slanderer . and if this gentleman , that would not privately be convinced of his fault , nor answer or satisfy me , until i published my papers , as one told me from him , be made truly sensible of the evil of his old wont , so as to mend it ; and if others receive a small check , whose consciences do tell them , they are guilty of this bad practice , in that they see , the backbiter may chance some time or other to pay for it , i have my end : for i should have been ashamed , to have given myself , much more my reader , the trouble of these sheets , if , besides my private concern , some publick good , designed at least , had not been wrapped up in them . animadversions on mr. loss , and on his medicinal observations in general . mr. loss is a gentleman of ingenious parts , but not ingenuous ; a good scholar , but not so good as he esteems himself ; one that writes smooth latin , and knows it too , and hath made good use of it , and for it hath been highly esteemed for a great physitian by these that understand his latin better than his art ; in which yet , he might have done much better , had his modesty been equal with his skill : but he is best understood in the parts where he lives , and is there diversly accounted of . if some of his neighbours were to draw his portraiture , it would be with a black coal , others with a white , reputing him for a very honest man , and mighty able in his art : whether he best deservs this , or that character , let the reader judg . he stiles himself the heidelbergh , palatinate , dorchester physician , being hard put to it for an honourable title , because he is neither doctor of physick , nor yet a licentiat that i know of , other than by the bishop's officer of the diocess ; and yet how he comes forth in print and in pomp too , with an affected bombast title , full indeed in the mouth , but in the ear empty ; it makes a loud noise , but to little purpose , much like the hard words of some outlandish prince's titles of honour , and yet belonging to none other , than an alien practitioner of physick in england . what i pray are we , or he , the wiser that he was born at heidelberg , or that heidelbergh is a city in the palatinate , or that he now lives in the town of dorchester . 2dly . it is more to the point , that he was formerly a petty school-master at dantzick . that afterward , because of the german wars , he fled over into england for safety and subsistence , and applyed himself to one mr. olivian of blandford , famous in his time for chirurgery and physick , who took him into his house , as mr. loss himself tells us lib. 1. obs . 2. and upon what terms any one may easily conjecture , and some do know . that afterward , he was recommended to an honest apothecary of dorchester ; one whom he hath required since his death , by publishing him by name , lib. 1. obs . 22. for one debauched in his youth , and therefore melancholy in his old age , and pursued with impious and blasphemous thoughts against god. taking up his quarter in this town , and with this apothecary , after a few market-days , as many before him , and since have done , at an easy labour and price , indeed none at all , and without any trouble of performing any university exercises , the country market-people , do by and by dub him , and he commenceth doctor in the no-university of dorchester ; where he hath raigned as a dominus fac totum these many years , adding to the repute of his art , as great a profession of religion , and yet unworthily slighting and slandering all english physicians that have lived by him , or have been joyned with him ; i could name their names , but its needless . pass we on from our grave author , but he is not è coo senex , to his worshipful medicinal observations ; and if they be not likewise as empty almost as his title , excepting the latin only , let any one judge . that i may not seem to cavil with him , or to be more willing to make faults in his book than find them , i desire the reader to take notice , that whosoever he be that puts forth medicinal observations , he doth witness unto the world the truth of these three things . 1. that his observations are medicinal , that is , such as do belong to physick , and of which a physitian ought to take cognizance in his patient , or to use this gentleman 's one words , in his epistle dedicatory , in dignoscendis & curandis morbis . 2. that they are choice , & observatione dignissima , as himself also says ; things that highly deserve to be taken notice of , as being no rubbish , but finely searced and selected out of the mass of common and ordinary medicinal matters . 3. that they are true , not taken up upon trust from others , credulously , and by too easy a belief , much less meer forgeries in the author's brains , but such as he hath had experience and proof of . relictis enim ( saith he again ) inani logomachiâ , & sutilibus disputatiunculis , in quibus multi consenescunt , maximi semper feci experientiam , tantum enim novit medicus quantum aut vidit aut probavit . and yet notwithstanding all this , either i am grosly mistaken , or our observator is culpable in all these three particulars . his forgeries i shall prove in my animadversions on the 15 th observ . and 2 d book . his trivial remarks , and inobservable observations , do fill up his book almost every where ; a taste whereof i shall give the reader in my animadversions on his 1 observ . and 1 book . his non-medicinal medicinals , i shall now give an account of ; and that the ordinary reader may be able to judg better of what i say , and to determine whether i deal fairly with mine adversary , i shall first set down , what those medicinal things are , of which medicinal observations ought to consist : & afterward , i shall present the reader with a catalogue of our observator's non-medicinal impertinencies . what things are medicinal . all things that are medicinal seem to me compendiously reducible unto these two general heads . 1. who. 2. what. to the first . who the patient is , i refer all such accounts of him , as may contain whatsoever is in him observable , and may give light , either to the knowledg of his disease , or to its cure. not , that all the particulars which i shall mention , need to be taken into consideration in all patients ; but that every one of them may be observable in some one or other . not again , that they will give light to every one , but that they may give light to any physician , that hath read natural philosophy , anatomy , and the institutions of physick , and understands them . in the patient there are these three sorts of observables . 1. his naturals . 2. his non-naturals . 3. his former praeter-naturals . to his naturals , belong ; 1. his parentage , what the stock is he comes of . i do not intend by this his pedigree or gentility , but whether his parents were wholsom or not , healthy or unhealthy : for such as the tree is , such is the fruit. yet my meaning is not again that if the patient hath an hereditary disease , because the physician ought to take notice of it himself , that therefore it is fit for him to publish so much to all the world. 2. his age ; for our temperament changeth much with our age. youth is hot and moist . man-hood hot and dry ; middle-age cold and dry , and old-age cold and moist . and by the temperament we in part come to know what humour abounds most in the body . there are also diseases proper to some ages , and there are other considerations proper to this head. but my purpose is not , that a physitian should publish a register of all his patients ages : for neither do the old ladies desire to be told that they are so , nor yet the very young , that they are ladies yet too young ; or if at present they do not concern themselves that their age is spoken of , because they are young , yet ten or twenty years hence , when the printing in this gentleman's book , will be as legible as now it is , they will not be overpleased , especially if they have not yet got husbands , to have their age so easily lookt into , at every booksellers shop . 3. the sex : for males ordinarily are hotter and dryer , females colder and moister . males are more active generally , and their manner of life is more laborious and abroad , more exposed to dangers , and to company . females are more sedentary and retired , and adapt to melancholy . there are also many diseases that are appropriated to each sex. but i do not perswade any physician to lay aside the modesty due to each sex , & to publish the names of persons that are yet alive , troubled with this or that disease , proper to their sex ; but not proper to be taken notice of by all of the other sex. 4. his natural constitution ; to which i refer , 1. his complexion , which is wont to shew it self principally in the countenance , whether that be fair , black , ruddy , or yellow . and this helps also to discover what humour is most predominant in the body . 2. his temperament ; whether that of his whole body , or more observable in any of the particular parts of it , as the head , stomach , lungs , liver , spleen &c. that of the whole body may be much guessed at by the complexion . 3. his disposition ; whether he be morose , or affable , weak , or pettish and angry . hitherto also may belong what his other passions are , how he moans and how he dreams . 4. his habit of body , by which i understand not his bulk only , whether he be fat or lean , fleshy or thin , but also whether the vessels appear in the skin large and conspicuous , or little and small ; whether the contextures of the skin it self be with wide and open pores , or with narrow and close ; whether the skin feels soft or hard , rough or smooth ; whether the hair be of this colour or of that , much or little , harsh or soft , curled or straight , quick of growth or slow , long-lasting or that soon falls off , and decays . by these his naturals , as by so many helps , the physitian may understand what humour is most predominant naturally in his patient's body , and whether the present peccant humour , and the disease be nearer or farther off from his natural constitution , and what measure of health is to be aimed at in his recovery , and what probability there is of it . to his non-naturals , belong these queries . 1. what is the air he breaths in ? to this belongs the country he dwels in , the situation of his habitation , the time and seasons of the year , the wind , and weather , the influences of the sun , moon , and stars , and the neighbourhood of any thing that is contagious or noxious . 2. what dyet hath he kept ? to this belong the substance , quantity , quality , manner of preparing , order of using , and the time of taking either his meat or drink . but it is not convenient , though the patient should be a drunkard , or glutton , or great tobacconist , to follow this gentleman's example , and publish them for such in print . 3. what exercise doth he use ? to this belongs whether he useth any exercise or none ; what its kind is ; when the time , before dinner , or presently after , and upon a full stomach ; as also how long it is continued , whether only until the body begin to swell a little and grow florid , or until it sweats and is weary . 4. what hath been his sleeping and waking ? to this belongs the posture he sleeps in , the time how long , the time when he begins , as also the benefit or hurt which is received thereby . 5. what are his excretions or retentions ? to this belongs very many things , even all the particular sensible evacuations of the body , or non-evacuations , and above all the insensible transpiration , which as sanctorius observes in his medicina statica , by many degrees exceeds all the sensible . 6. what are the passions of his mind ? his love , or joy , or grief , &c. to his former praeter-naturals , belong an enquiry after such sicknesses as at any time heretofore he hath suffered in any remarkable manner , what they were , by what causes extraordinary they came about , what symptoms did follow them , and what did formerly do him either good or hurt . for these things many times will much contribute to the understanding of the present case , and its desired cure . and thus much briefly of the first general , who the patient is . to the second what , in the stating of cases already past , of which medicinal observations are made , do belong these two parts . 1. what the patients complaints were ? 2. what the physitian did fore-see or prognosticate , what he did do , and what was the effect of all ? to the first of these belong the patient's praeter-naturals in the case proposed , and they can be none other , than either his disease , or its causes , or symptoms , and because these are accidents , quae adesse vel abesse possunt sine interitu subjecti ; but which cannot subsist without their subject , therefore hereunto likewise belong the disquisition of the part or parts affected . i shall not reckon up all diseases and what belong to them , their causes , or the parts affected ; that would be to transcribe physick and anatomy , but forasmuch as the patients complaints are generally symptoms , and by symptoms principally are found out the disease , the causes , and the parts affected , it will be no great digression to such as i write unto , if i set them down here the heads of symptoms . all the symptomatical complaints which any patient can make , they must belong to one of these three heads . to his injured actions or functions , whether such as are diminished , or depraved , or totally abolished : and whether again they be , 1. animal : whether 1. principal , as reason , imagination , &c. or 2. less-principal , as sense and motion . to sense belong all a patients complaints of pain , whether heavy , pricking , shooting , corroding , beating , &c. to motion belong all gestures and postures of the body , as also tremblings , shiverings , convulsions , &c. 2. vital , whether belonging to his 1. respiration , be it weak or strong , free or stopt , short or long ; or 2. pulse , be it strong or weak , quick or slow , &c. upon the respiration of the pulse do depend the circulation of the blood. 3. natural , whether belonging to 1. the formation of the faetus in the womb , done wonderfully and strangely , when neither we , nor our parents think on 't ; a meditation , which alone methinks is enough to convince an atheist . 2. his nutrition and accretion , subservient whereunto are vulgarly reputed , attraction , retention , concoction , and expulsion . i am not ignorant of some men's finding fault with this ancient division , who do reduce it unto the dichotomy of animal and vital , because the natural is supposed to be nothing else but involuntary animal : but , as far as i can yet understand , there seems then to me no necessity at all of any division in us , for all our actions may be accounted animal , since i cannot conceive what vital is , if i abstract from it sense and motion , which belong to animal : and if the formation of us in the womb , be involuntary animal , as also our nutrition and accretion , why may not all our actions be animal voluntary , involuntary , or mixt ? 2. to his excretions or retentions , whether 1. vniversal , by the pores of the skin , or 2. particular , by the eyes , ears , nose , mouth , bladder , belly , womb , &c. the things which belong to this head are very large . 3. to his altered qualities , whether 1. of the first sort , as hot , cold , moist , dry , and their compounds ; or 2. of the second sort , as hard , soft , rare , dense , light , weighty , subtile , crass , arid , slippery , friable , glutinous , rough , smooth , &c. 3. of the third sort , as belonging to colour , smell , taste , or sound . and thus much of the first part of the second general , what. to the second belong the physician 's judgment on the case , what is the part affected ; what the disease ; and what the cause is of the disease . his prognosticks touching the event ; his method of cure , and all his instruments for the satisfying his indications by a right use of remedies dietetick , chirurgick , and pharmaceutick . these and all things belonging to these , are the limits and boundaries of all such medicinal things , of which medicinal observations ought to consist . a catalogue of mr. loss his impertinencies . if i should go about to mention all the particulars of his non-medicinals in his book of medicinal observations , i doubt whether i should not transcribe a great share of it ; i shall therefore content my self with mentioning some of the chief heads , to which they all seem reducible . as , 1. divine or moral meditations are not medicinal , i do not say they are not good , yea most willingly i do acknowledg that divinity and morality do treat of the most excellent things ; such as so far exceed matters of physick , as the soul is in worth above the body . and forasmuch as the world are generally apt to brand physicians more than other men , with the abominable sin of atheism , i do heartily wish , that every physician would vindicate his profession and himself , as much as may be , from that most ignominious slander , by demonstrating his piety towards god , his charity towards his neighbour , and his sobriety in his life and conversation ; that the world may see that although his studies lead him further than others , into the inward recesses and dark secret operations of nature , yet even therefore is the god of nature by him much the more admired , and most worthily adored . but what hath a physician to do with these things in a book of physick ? the cure of souls doth belong unto an other faculty , the cure of bodies is sufficient for ours ; and although many parsons turn physicians , yet i would have no physician turn parson , except it be then , when there is none other to be had , to comfort or pray with a sick or dying patient . but to mix matters of the soul , in a book of medicines for the body , is fanaticism ; and what wise man will condemn medicinal observations in print , for not being larded with divine meditations ? 2. geography is no part of medicine . indeed the region or country a patient dwels in , the situation of his habitation , its being exposed to injurious winds and weather , or too much shut up from the access of free and open air : the having in its neighbourhood the sea , or some lake , ponds , or fens , or any thing else that may be noisom or infectious . these things do belong to air , one of the six non-naturals ; but i pray to what part of physick belong these observations following , gravely set down by our author in his book ? that dewlish is six miles from dorchester . that frampton is a smal town four miles from dorchester . that milburn is six miles from dorchester , in the road to blandford . that haw-church is three miles from lime . that athethamston is four miles from dorchester . and to put an end unto this sorry stuff , that winston is three miles from dorchester . one would think that in these and such-like observations , our author were ambitious of shewing himself a petite geographer , one very well skilled in the situation and distance of the places about dorchester ; not a village there , or gentleman's seat , but as he hath occasion he mentions them , and tells you more exactly than any map , which way these lye , and how far they are from his cittadel or metropolis of the town of dorchester , where he hath lain as it were perdiu , like a spider in the center of his web , for near fourty years ; and i believe when he is sent for there abroad , he is able to instruct the messenger himself , which is the best way , and how far it is unto his patient , for in all this time , he hath been all about the country , even over and over ; and he seems emulous in his book , in those matters , to out-vie the post-boy and the carrier . 3. heraldry is no part of physick , and yet how many lines doth this gentleman imploy to tell us who are the gentry of dorsetshire , whose true worths and qualities needed none of his blazoning . how busie is he to tell us who are knights , and who are esquires , which of these are in his account heroes , and what gentlewomen are his heroinae ; of what honoured stock and pedigree they are , what their most illustrious descent is , who their fathers were , and who their ancestors , and of what noble family came their mothers . he seems in those to have had a small design or plot upon them , by a sort of fawning flattery , to win them over to make use of him , or else , to buttress up his falling reputation amongst them ; compensating unto himself their now neglect , by publishing what a great physician he hath already been , by having been interested in so many great families , as his book makes mention of . 4. encomiums and commendations of people is no medicinal observation , and yet how industrious in this particular also is our gentleman ? he tells us this is an honest man , and skilful in his art , that a most reverend minister and vigilant pastor . and in his commendations he spends the best part of the observation , which it self contains in it little remarkable , and less that is praise-worthy ; for he seems to have written it only , that thereby he might have occasion to name the patient , and commend him . such a gentleman says he , was as eminent for vertue , as high by birth , and he dyed piously . such a young-man plaid excellently upon the lute . such a gentlewoman was pious , and accomplished with the gracefulness of all sorts of vertues . another was much given to read the bible , a third was fair and beautiful , a fourth an extraordinary good housewife . i do not in the least either envy or deny any of these worthy persons their deserved praise , but buying the book for medicinal observations , amongst all those commendations which this author bestows upon others , me thinks i find little or none at all owing unto himself , for having in part thus deceived me , by putting into my hands a sort of academy of complements . 5. publishing and divulging of other mens faults , errors , or sins , ought to be no part of a physick book , and yet how the same man that commends some to the height , condemns others no less , ventilating their actions , censuring them , and making his own patients examples of god's vindictive justice ; but i will not name them in english , it 's too much that he hath named them in latin. 6. mens trades or way of lively-hood , when they contribute nothing to the knowledg or cure of a disease , it is impertinent to mention them in a physical case . and yet with what a catalogue of the victum quaeritantium in and about dorchester , doth this gentleman furnish us ; telling us who is a carter , a brewer , a grocer , a glover ; and what not ? so that if any one hath a child to put forth to apprentice thereabouts , or some occasion for himself to make use of any of these trades , no register-book that had been kept in an office for the purpose could better inform him in this matter , than this gentleman's book of medicinal observations : there he may find the several ways of getting ones living ; and who the persons are that have applyed themselves unto each trade ; what their christian and sirnames be , where the place of their abode : if out of dorchester , how far from it ; as also how they are to pass in the world : some he tells us are rich , some poor , and some indifferently accommodated with the goods of fortune . lastly , not to be tedious . it is impertinent to physick , that in all cases , the names of patients , especially such as are yet alive , should be affixed unto the narratives of their diseases . some good authors have indeed sometimes set down their patients name , and it is fit it should be so , if they be no ways injured thereby , & the case be so strange & rare , that otherwise it will not easily be believed . but this gent. spares none , neither male nor female , be the disease what it will ; and be the persons liable or not liable , to be sham'd or wrong'd ; as if he had purposed to give the world a catalogue of his patients , more consulting his own credit , in having the repute of a physician of so great practice , than the reputation of his patients whom thereby he hath diversly injured . for , there are many diseases which prudent persons do not desire that every one should know that they are taken with . because , although we have all the same comely and uncomely parts , so that no man can reasonably mock another , for what is incident unto himself ; yet it is too often seen that people in a pet , or passion , or to gratify some unreasonable fantasie or humour , do many times scoff and laugh at , or otherwise abuse their neighbours ; even upon such slight accounts : and therefore wise men what they can , prevent this , by concealing some diseases ; and surely they cannot but think otherwise of them that publish them . besides , the infirmity of the body , is not always the only concern of the patient when he is named . for sometimes his credit and reputation is likewise brought upon the stage , perhaps his imprudence and follies are examined : yea , his very sins and wickednesses raked into . i will not quote these observations , yet i say thus much ; suppose our author himself were guilty of some such things as are not fit to be named , and should fall into the gout , or some other disease that might give occasion of a seeming just defamation , and of making him an example of god's just judgment upon him , in punishing him in his age , for the sins of his youth ; i am perswaded he could not take it well ; and yet for reasons best known unto himself , thus , even just thus , doth he serve some , who certainly never sent for him , or gave him a fee , thus to defame them . what though some men have palsies and weakness in their nerves , who did in their youthful time drink strong ale and generous wines , more perhaps than enough ; is it therefore a necessary and undeniable consequence that from thence only , or principally , they contracted their palsey ? are there not hundreds that have drank as much , and yet were never so paralitick ? or what if a physician privately and with himself alone should conclude that this were the only or chief cause , must he needs therefore tell all the world his patient's name ; both his christian and sirname , his trade , and the place where he dwels , that nothing might be doubtful in the stigmatizing of the man ? alas ! we are all of us more sinners than we desire publickly to be told of ; and this sort of open reproof , especially without first trying private , is likelier to increase sin , by stirring up strife , than to work the sinner unto a true repentance ; and will sooner harden him with impudence , than soften and melt him into tears . and at length , this is the business rather of a divine , than of a physician ; and it s a piece of charity much fitter for a closet than a printing-press . and lastly , he that undertakes it also , must be sure not to be guilty of the same himself , or of as bad . what if any one hath got an unseemly disease ? though it be with never so much innocency contracted , may not his modesty yet oblige him perhaps to be ashamed of it ? and may he not be unwilling that his neighbours , his servants , yea so much as his own children should know it ? and can such an one take it well , when he finds it put forth in print , with his name appended , and the witness of his physician to attest it ? there are many women so modest , that unwisely and incautelously , they do sometimes sacrifice their lives to that mistaken vertue : concealing so long their feminine diseases from their physician , until it is too late to discover them . would not some such bless themselves and blush , when having told them to him , they should hear that he hath told them again unto all the world , and here put both their diseases and their names in print ? these , and some such as these have been the effects of this gentleman 's publishing all his patients names ; a thing not only impertinent , but injurious , proving a discomfort , if not a discredit to several of them : and before he printed his book , he was advised of the imprudence of the action , but in vain . having thus reckoned up some heads of impertinencies , i cannot easily imagine any other cause why our author should patch up hippocrates his sleeve , with pieces and patterns of all sorts of stuff , unless he had been ambitious of a party-coloured coat , to have something of every thing in his book , with this motto , omne tulit punctum . but he may call to mind these two verses ; grammaticus , rhetor , geometres , pictor , aliptes : dum dubitas quid sis , jam potis esse nihil . and i do seriously question whether his book , which by these and other stuffings he hath swelled up to the bulk and price of half a crown , if all this garbish were out , and with it all his vulgar medicinals and trivial remarks , might not be sold at near its worth , for half a shilling . observatio prima . contra-fissura . vita humana non tantum angusto circumscripta termino , sed & plurimis miseriis & periculis obnoxia , & est quidam calamitatum oceanus , non tamen idem omnibus . quocunque te vertas , quae circa te sunt omnia non modo ambiguae fidei sunt , sed aperte fere minantur & praesentem mortem videntur intentare ; ut nescias quid serus vesper vehat . conscende navem , uno distas a morte pede ; incede per vrbis vias , quot sunt in tectis tegulae , tot discriminibus es obnoxius ; equo inside , in unius pedis lapsu vita tua periclitatur . exemplo sit vir hic , sexagenario proximus cui nomen erat michaeli , in rheda quadrigis gubernanda & promorenda a multis annis egregie versatus ; & hoc ipso opere victum quaeritans . hic nullo lethi imminentis metu , a caballo sternaci , cui aquatum ituro insidebat excussus , frontem pavimento , durissimis lapidibus constrato , allisit ; acceptoque eo loci ex lapsu vulnere , aliorum subsidio elevatus , semianimis domum suam defertur . mox bilem eructat , & nares ei cruentae ; certo si hippocrati fides habenda cerebri concussi , & venulae alicujus ruptae indicio . accersitur mecum chirurgus in arte sua peritus , & vir probus ; instituto diligenti scrutinio , vulnus vix cutem penetrasse invenimus . chirurgus itaque sine ulteriori examine vulnus ex artis lege obligat ; interim , elotâ alvo enemate , sanguinis aliquid in corpore plethorico a chirurgo de cephalica detractum . sequenti die omnia deprehendimus graviora , & prorsus lethalia . corpus è febri incaluit cum obstupescentia & desipientia , atque ad interrogata omnimoda obmutescentia , quae summus noster in medicina dictator 1. aphor. 14. in capite laeso mala pronunciat . vnde pessime de eo sperare coepimus ; nihilominus manum tanquam deplorato admovimus , & chirurgus , ne quicquam eorum , quae in his casibus ars praescribere solet , omisisse videretur , quo certius pateret si quae noxa frontis ossi inflicta esset , quod hippocratis oraculo moniti verebamur , vulnus in fronte inflictum , dilatavit ; sed os integrum & noxae expers inventum , neque sedula capitis contrectatione aegro planè stupido & muto , quicquam animadvertere potuimus , quanquam fracti cranii multa erat conjectura . itaque de aperienda per trepanum calvaria consilium initum ; sed quid fit ? misellus iste senex , cum per totum fere diem quasi comate quodam correptus esset , sub vesperam horrendo spasmo convulsus , paucarum horarum spatio , mortalitatem exuit . aperto a morte cranio , in opposita fronti occipitis parte rima , seu contrafissura , quam graeci 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocant , reperta , & magna cruoris sanie permisti copia , crassae meningi incumbens ; unde mors : ut vere dixerit celsus , medicorum ille cicero , even●e interdum solere , ut alterâ parte ictus insederit , & altera fiderit . the first observation . a counter-cleft . the life of man , is not only circumscribed within narrow bounds , but obnoxious likewise to many miseries and dangers ; and it is a certain ocean of calamities , but not the same to all . which way soever you turn your self , all things that are about you be not only uncertain and not to be trusted unto , but for the most part , they threaten openly , and do seem to intend a present death : so that you know not what a night may bring forth . go a shipboard , and there is but one foot between you and death ; walk in the streets of a city , and look how many tyles there are on the houses , so many are the dangers you are obnoxious unto . get a horseback , and if but one foot faulters , your life is in danger . take this man for an example , near threescore years old , whose name was michaeli ; for many years much accustomed to govern and drive forward a cart with four horses , and by this very labour earning his living . this man , little fearing that death was so near ; being cast from a stumbling jade , which he rid upon going to water , dash't his forehead against a stony ground , and receiving there a wound by the fall , by others help he was taken up and carried home half-dead . by and by he vomited choler and fell a bleeding at the nose , a sure sign if we may believe hippocrates , that the brain was shaken , and some small vein was broke . there was called with me a chirurgeon , one skilful in his art , and an honest man. having made diligent search , we find that the wound was hardly skin-deep . the chirurgeon therefore without more ado binds up the wound according to art : in the interim , the bowels being first washed with a glyster , some blood in his plethorick body was taken away by the chirurgeon from the cephalick vein . the next day we find all things worse , and plainly deadly ; for his body was in a fever with stupidness and deliring , and being mute unto all that was asked , which our chief dictator in medicine , in the 1st of his aphorisms , and the 14th tells us are very bad in hurts of the head : whereupon we begin wholly to despair of him . nevertheless , we give him our helping hand in his deplorable condition . and the chirurgeon , that he might not seem to omit any thing which in such cases art is wont to prescribe , & that it might more certainly appear whether the forehead-bone had any hurt , which we were afraid of , instructed by the oracle of hippocrates , dilated the wound inflicted on the forehead , but that bone was found whole and without hurt : neither could we observe any thing by our diligent feeling about his head , the patient himself being plainly stupid and mute . yet there was great conjecture of a broken skull : and therefore we took counsel about opening it with a trepan . but what fals out ? this miserable old man , having been almost all the day seised with a sleepy disease , towards evening fell into an horrible convulsion , and within few hours died . his skull being opened after his death , in the hinder-part of his head opposite to his forehead , there was found a fissure or counter-cleft , which the greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; and great store of gore mixed with corruption , lying upon the dura matter , which was his death . so that celsus said true , that cicero of physicians , that it is wont sometimes so to fall out , that the blow lights upon one part , and the fissure happens in another . animadversions on this first observation . had not mr. loss highly incensed me with such vilifying expressions behind my back , as did not only report me for no doctor , but no scholar likewise ; i should never have been so pragmatical or busie as to have concerned my self with him or his book . but , since besides his private slanders , he is pleased to publish an harsh censure of me , in his 15 th obs . and 2 d book . before i answer what he hath objected against me in that observation , i think it honest and fit , a little to examine the depths of his worship's learning ; taking to task what comes first to hand , and what , himself being judg , seems best to deserve to be the captain and leader of these medicinal observations , which he hath been fourty years a gathering . i confess i once thought to have followed this gentleman on , as his observations lye , but i found it too fulsom a task . his learning appears so full in this observation , and his learning and honesty in the 15 th and 2 d book , that for my part , i have enough in these two . the life of man is not only , &c. ] it is indeed a grave and serious meditation which this gentleman begins his book with , and it takes up the first page thereof , further than which , if one reads not , he may well suspect that he is mistaken , and instead of medicinal observations , hath bought a book of divine meditations . but let him but have the patience until he comes to the story of the carter , and then he will find how ingeniously from his fall , came the rise of this excellent meditation . the knock over the carter's pate , did very likely beat it into the physician 's brains ; it mindeth us of being always prepared and in a readiness to dye , because our life is every way hazardous ; some of those hazards the author hath reckoned up , but amongst his casualties , he hath not named this , which yet flows naturally from the observation , that if it should be any of our chances by a blow in the forehead , to have a counter-cleft behind , and we happen to fall into the hands of such an artist as our author , that suspects something , but understands nothing of our disease , before we are dead , it is not only hazardous , but certain that we have lost our lives . but to divert us from these thoughts , he hath subtilly practised their craft , who have learnt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and cunningly turns divine , that he may some-wayes expiate his fault as a physician , making his dead patient , whom for want of skill he could not cure , to become yet a sort of living example of the calamities and casualties of the life of man. thus by a new sort of contrasissura , the physician receives the blow , and the divine sends forth at the fissure , the meditation . near threescore years old. ] it 's true , the age of a patient is so generally mentioned by all that write cases of physick , that it is almost never forgot , and the reason is , because the knowledg of a patient's age , may upon several accounts be very useful to the physician ; it helps very much to understand the patient's temperament , which varies according to his age , and withal the predominant humor in his body ; which will always be some ways answerable to the temperament . it also helps to understand the strength of the patient , when we are to pass our judgment what the event will be ; it likewise helps to indicate or contra-indicate bleeding or strong purging , and the rules of dyet , and the right ordering of the six non-naturals varies much according unto our age. besides , in this particular case of a counter-cleft , there is scarce any thing that deserves so much to be considered of , as the patient 's old age ; for if by it the futures of the skull be obliterated , great reason there is upon such a knock on the pate , to expect a counter-cleft . but this author of course reckons up his patients age , but who can shew in all the observation , where he makes any use or advantage of it ? whose name was michaeli . ] i suppose there was some mistake in the printer , and that his name was either michael , or michel , but not michaeli . this observator is very punctual in setting down the names of all his patients , but i admire that this good man did forget the christian name of this same michel ; he did remember well enough all his four cart-horses , and yet that he should so unluckily forget the carter's name , whether it was dick or jack , or tom , names that they are more often called by than by their sir-names . but i 'll say that for our author , that i do not know of any such another neglect in all his four books of medicinal observations , where we have thomas , and robert , and william , and john , and katharine in abundance . but here indeed , the christian name was forgotten , whether out of the abundance of his divinity , in his many lines preamble to this observation , he forgot christianity ; or that being conscious of his having digressed too long , he would now make the more haste and speed to the matter in hand : or that because it was but a poor carter , there was not any thing to be gotten by these formalities which he bestows upon the rich . i say , what-ever the cause was , the matter is not great , nor indeed any thing material to the medicinal observation . but i see if men will be wise , they must be wise unto themselves , for on a death-bed , others will leave us to our own christianity , touching this , we alone must answer for our selves . accustomed to govern and drive forward a cart with four horses . ] how this author came so well skilled in the carters trade i cannot tell ; but from him i learn , that our english phrase , to drive a cart , is in a manner as preposterous , as to place the cart before the horse ; the hind may whip the cart long enough before it will drive , but he must first drive the horses ; and whilst they draw forward the cart , it is his office to guide and govern it in its progressive motion . it is likewise observable that although this carter fell but from one horse , ( and it would have been an observation of observations , if he had fallen from more ) yet forsooth this carter had three more which he used to water , for he had four horses to his cart , and yet all four little enough to draw this one remark into a medicinal observation . a sure sign if we may believe hippocrates . ] this inference is true , but trivial , and it doth not reach the case in hand . the carter's disease was a fissure in the skull , a part containing , this speaks of a concussion of the brain , and the breaking of a vein , parts contained , and yet how formally are these inductions made ; they are verities almost as plain as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , truths that no body hears mentioned , but he forthwith grants them ; so evident and beyond all doubt , that methinks it is ridiculous to go about to prove them by authority , and yet our grave author brings in the name of the great hippocrates to confirm their truth . these sort of consequences , are much like those which make up a merry ballad , which serves not to teach , but to cause laughter . there was a mouse crept up a wall , when she fell down , she had a fall , &c. to which may be added these two somewayes suitable . when as this carter first was taken , his skull being crack't , his brains were shaken . there was called with me a chirurgion , one skilful in his art and an honest man. ] i perceive then that every one is not a pittiful chirurgion in this author's account , so he be not likewise a physician , one thought so well of , as to be joyned with him in a medicinal consultation . all his spight is at another physician ; and i think he never gave so honest a character of any physician that was his neighbour , much worse i am sure he hath : neither do i believe that he doth deserve it himself ; for sure i am , i had never been put to this trouble of writing animadversions on him and his book , if he had quitted himself as one skilful in his art , and an honest man. having made diligent search . ] what search might have been made with diligence , and to what good purpose i shall anon declare : and indeed now was the time , now the opportunity for this so to have been done , as that the poor patient might have received benefit thereby , and the neglect of this opportunity was for ought i know , the miscarriage of the carter ; for had not our observator been a fore-right artist , one wholly taken up with the scratch in the forehead , he might easily have reflected with himself , that it was impossible that these bad symptoms above mentioned , which befel this patient by and by after his fall , could ever have proceeded from so slight a wound only in the forehead , as was hardly skin-deep ; and if he had considered the patient's age , and the probability of a counter-cleft , he would never have rested satisfied with so slight a search , and yet this must pass for a diligent enquiry : what could be more formally said , what could be less done to the purpose ? binds up the wound according to art. ] not a scratch in the forehead , which any good woman might have dressed , but it is bound up according to art , if this observator hath the over-looking of it ; so worshipfully formal is he in all things . in his plethorick body . ] believe it who will , that this poor old man , that laboured hard every day and fared hard , was yet overcharged with good blood in his body ; i rather think that this is another piece of the same formal gentleman , who knew well that plethora indicat venae sectionem , and therefore being to tell the world that he bled an old man , whose age was otherwise a contra-inditation to venaesection , he makes up the reasonableness of his act , by telling us , that his body was plethorick ; whereas good man , whether his body had been plethorick or not plethorick , the bleeding of him might have been requisite for revulsion from the head ; and to prevent as much as might be , the inflammation of the brain , and the coming on of the feaver , and other symptoms . from the cephalick vein . ] and what more proper in a disease of the head , than to bleed the patient in the cephalick vein ? that which indeed carries the name and shew of some art , but as far as i can yet understand , it is but a shew only , and may therefore pass for another piece of outside skill in our formal observator ; for since the head-vein , the liver-vein , and the median , are all branches of one and the same trunk , what reason can there be given , why one should more respect the head than the other ? the next day we find all things worse , and plainly deadly . ] as negligent and ignorant as our observator was yesterday , when the poor man's life was only in hazard , and required some effectual and speedy means for his recovery ; for beyond the binding up the scratch according to art , and the exhibiting of a glyster , and bleeding him in the cephalick-vein , all which was but as a bulrush instead of a leaver ; yet to day , now that his own credit was in hazard , he desires to appear very diligent and knowing ; to salve therefore his own reputation , when he saw the patient was going , he is not only content to acknowledg that all things were worse ; for what efficacy could there be in his inefficacious means ? which came far short of the disease ? but he says plainly the case ▪ was deadly , that the world might think , that it was not want of skill in him the physician that the patient died , but because there was an impossibility of his recovery ; and to prove this , he huddles together as many bad symptoms as he thought might serve the turn ; though he doth it without either method or reason : and to use his own words against medicus alius ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & sine ratione . 1. without method , for he reckons up this patient's being dumb , his obmute scentiam omnimodam ad interrogata . in the last place ; whereas his being speechless should have been the first thing taken notice of in the first visit . the words of hippocrates in his 58 aphorism and 7 th section are these , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . such whose brain hath been shaken by some manifest cause , of necessity they must forthwith grow speechless . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not signifie to morrow , the day after the fair , but instantly and forthwith , even the first moment the blow is given . and therefore this ought not in order to have been mentioned last , even last in the second day's narrative , and after other symptoms , which were subsequent to it as the feaver , &c. 2. without reason , for in his haste that he might be sure to lay load enough upon this man of carriage , and thereby take off the burthen of reproach from his own shoulders , for having done so little good in so great a danger ; he inconsiderately packs together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and will have it , that this poor man said never a word , and yet talked idly : because deliriums are many times fatal signs , he thought , that to tell this patient did delire , would add unto the great dangerousness of his sickness ; but he forgot that it was nonsense to say he did delire , cum obstupescentia & omnimoda obmutescentia . this gentleman is wont to say of his practice , that in it he follows still the authority of the best authors : but , good man , he doth not always understand them . let any one read the aphorism which he here quotes , and tell me whether this gentleman understands greek as well as latin , and whether he cannot put up with non-sense as well as sense , so he doth but think he hath authority for it . the aphorism is not right quoted in our author's book ; but that i suppose was the printer's fault , but that it was not misunderstood by our observator , whose fault was it ? the words are these , sect . 7. aphor. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; vpon a blow on the head , stupidity or foolish deliring is bad . it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as our author would unreasonably have it in this his patient : for , if this carter was stupid , and neither did nor spake any thing , how could he do or speak things incongruous and without reason ? if he did or spake things that had no reason , how was he stupid and mute ? i presume that one horn or the other of this dilemma , will goad our observator , and that rather than he will attempt to make good the truth of contradictions , he will himself be a little infected with his patient's disease , and upon such a blow on his head , he must needs also either be mute , or talk idly . whereupon we begin wholly to despair of him . ] the ground of this utter despair , our observator takes from the fore-cited aphor. whereby appears a second mistake of his in the meaning of one of hippocrates his aphorisms : for although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is many tim●s taken in hippocrates for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , such a case , upon which death often follows : yet it cannot be construed in this aphorism for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a case utterly desperate and past all cure , as our observator seems to intimate this was , for which purpose he hath these various expressions , omnia deprehendimus gravior a & prorsus lethalia , and then he reckons up bad symptoms , and quotes this aphorism and says , vnde pessime de eo sperare coepimus , which yet is a sort of tacit acknowledgment , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not deadly ; and therefore afterwards yet once again , manum tanquam deplorato admovimus : thus often , and thus variously doth he labour to possess the reader with an opinion of almost an impossibility of this patients being cured ; and yet so simple is he , as to subjoyn in the very next observation an example of one cured in such a case : which notwithstanding the blind of a ridiculous title he puts upon it , is easily discernible to a judicious eye . mr. hawl's case was not indeed a counter-cleft , but it was a cleft ; or else the gentleman rid a hunting with an helmet on his head , and kept it on , to safeguard his skull from cracking with so many blows , whilst his horse drag'd him near a mile knocking his head against the ground . we give him our helping hand . ] this was that helping hand , which afterwards we find so busie to no purpose , in feeling about the carter's head ; and exploring whether there was any hurt in it besides that in the forehead . but one would think it had been better imployed , in scratching the observator's forehead , and rubbing up his wits and memory ; that he might have be thought himself of some more suitable and better means ( such as might have been made use of ) for the discovery of the fissure , which certainly it was impossible his fingers alone should do , whilst the cleft-bones were yet so close , and the skin and coverings of them not at all wounded . that he might not seem to omit any thing which in such cases art is wont to prescribe . ] there was scarce any thing of art made use of to find out the place of the fracture in this patient's skull , and yet what a pretence is here of having done all that art is wont to prescribe in such cases . this vaunt of our observator is an imitation of the shaving of hogs , where there is a loud cry , and but litle wool. whether the forehead-bone had any hurt . ] this observator was so led by sense , that because the blow was there given , he could not yet forbear puddering again in the poor man's forehead-bone ; seeking for the hurt before , which was in truth behind : an evidence to me , that he no more dreamt then of a contrafissura , or understood it probably , than perhaps he now thinks many do , that first meet with the word in the title of his observation . instructed by the oracle of hippocrates . ] if all this gentleman's errors be oracles , what are his truths ? we have already seen how simply he understands the oracles of hippocrates : but , he is at it now again , and tells us , that he had not put this old and sick patient to the trouble of a second search in his forehead , and a further dilating of the wound , but that he had the best authority for what he did : for hippocrates had bid him be afraid of a fracture there , or some other hurt than he could yet meet with . but any one may justly admire and wonder , how it 's possible for this gentleman , be he of never so great parts , thus easily to gather things out of authors , that were never in them . let him name the place in hippocrates out of which he was thus advised or instructed ; that there was some hurt in the forehead-bone , for assuredly there was no such matter ; even by his own confession the forehead-bone was without hurt . one would think that this observator did not yet know , that the forehead might be knockt , and yet the forehead-bone not hurt . there was great conjecture of a broken skull . ] now first doth our observator mention something of a fractured skull ; but even now it is only by way of conjecture , and not absolutely concluded . therefore we took counsel about opening it with a trepan . ] was not this a wise consultation ? wherein our observator , upon a conjecture alone that there was a fracture , without examining what sort of fracture it was , whether such as requires a trepan or raspatories only , without being satisfied of the place where this fracture should be ? for he had hunted for it in a manner until he was weary , but could not find it ; always like himself , a safe physician . he was about , and could have found in his heart to have trepan'd this poor old man , but where , who can tell ? most likely in the forehead ; for that was the place he had been twice so busie about , and so much concerned and unsatisfied with ; whilst yet there was no mention made of any suspicion of a cleft behind . this gentleman , artist-like , having mr. olivian's practice in the next observation for his president , he would let out the gore , but where to go to work he knew not ; though by a good chance he might have hit on 't , if he had done it likewise in the same place as olivian . but this forward gentleman could not forget the forehead , hippocratis oraculo admonitus . but what falls out ? this poor patient that had already too much of misery , was in this only happy , non tam claritate vitae , quam opportunitate mortis . that his death was so opportune , that it prevented the further torture of this grave consultation held to trepan him , before ever the disease was nearer known than by conjecture ; and not so neither as a counter-cleft , but only as a fracture in the skull , whose place yet was wholly to seek . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 · ] some indeed do call it so , but more properly others name it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and therefore also is contrafissura , otherwise called resonitus . a fissure or counter-cleft . ] a fissure or countercleft are not words synominous , the latter being a species of the former ; and there may be a fissure or chink without a counter-cleft . now at length the great conjecture was come unto a direct knowledg of the thing , and not before . after the patient's death , when the chirurgeon had opened the skull , and shewed unto this knowing physician , what the matter was that had so puzzled him , pointing unto him as it were with his finger where the place of the contra-fissura was , then at last , first began our most intelligent observator , to understand a counter-cleft , and to light upon the subject of this first grand observation , which marcheth indeed in the front of all the rest , as having much to do with the forehead of the carter , but little with the brain of the physician , except that with some help thereof , this gentleman having the blessing of his eye-sight , did then and there when it was shewed him , behold a contrafissura . having thus given some piece-meal animadversions on this first observation , i shall from the whole draw some conclusions , and so dismiss it . 1. that mr. loss did not understand this patient's disease before he was dead . we have an english proverb , that a disease once known is half cured , but it turns little to the reputation of that physician whose patient is throughly cured of all diseases , before his disease be half known : neither will a seeming hard word , contrafissura perhaps sought out since , mend the matter much ; or excuse this gentleman who after so great a blow which an old man , heavy and helpless , received by a violent fall from his horse , upon his bare forehead dash't against a stony place , whereby he became forthwith speechless and almost lifeless ; by and by vomiting up choler , and bleeding at nose , passeth none other judgment upon the disease , than that the patient's brains were shaken , and some small vein broke ; certo indicio si lossio fides adhibenda , that he knew not yet what the disease was : and this appears further in that the first day , the wound in the forehead being bound up according to art , there was no further search made , nor any intimation of a suspicion , as if there were any where else any hurt done . the second day there is mention made of such symptoms , as hippocrates says are bad when the head is hurt ; and every one that knew he had the fall , knew also that his head was hurt . and what more doth mr. loss mention yet of the disease ? yea , so little did he think of the os occipitis , that it was cleft , that the second time , though he had once diligently searched it before , he directs his enquiry after the disease , in the os frontis . but what need we any further proof of this point , for after this second search likewise , habemus confitentem reum , and he says plainly , neque quicquam animadvertere potuimus , quanquam fracti cranei multa erat conjectura : so that the nearest that he came unto the knowledg of his patient's disease before he was dead and his skull opened , was a general conjecture only of a fracture , but no direct knowledg of a counter-cleft . 2. that mr. loss might have understood his patient's disease before he was dead , if he had been more an artist . forasmuch as this proposition will be more doubted than the former , and some may be apt to plead an invincible ignorance in vindication of this gentleman , i shall therefore take somewhat more pains to prove it , than i did to prove the former ; and i shall do it gradually by these three assertions . 1. he might have absolutely concluded , that this carter had some fracture or fissure in his skull at first . i know of but three fountains of signs from whence a physician may have the knowledg of a disease , and they are its essence , causes , and effects . diseases are sometimes so plain and evident of themselves , that every one can tell them ; thus any one as well as mr. loss might have told that this old man had a cleft in his skull , when they saw it ; but then is it , that a physician 's skill is seen , when by its causes and effects he makes discovery of a disease , whose essence by it self doth not appear . therefore , 1. here were the causes of a fracture or fissure in the skull , as fully and clearly set down as if any one had made it his business to describe them : viz. here was a sudden violent blow upon the head with some hard thing . had this carter walked only , and tripping faln with his head upon a stone he might have broke his skull , much more then , by a blow more violent at a greater distance from the ground , and by a fall from a horse , his feet being wholly from the ground ; so that by them , he was not able to help himself , by stepping forward , or otherwise bearing up part of his body , that it might not have faln with its whole weight in a lump . his hands likewise , whilst he was in the air lesser time than to bethink himself where he should fall , and whilst his eyes could not direct him , nor but probably so providentially strecth't forth as toward the blow and keep off the violence of the stroke upon his head. besides , he was an old and therefore impotent man , and being slung off with a force from a cart-horse , he must needs fall heavy ; thus the blow was both sudden and violent , and it was likewise upon his bare forehead ; for if he had an hat on , its probable that it fell off : and lastly it was with an hard thing , for he dash't his forehead against the stones . 2. here were also the effects of a crack't skull ; which i shall reduce to these two heads , immediate and subsequent . 1. here were the immediate effects which are wont presently or by and by to fall out after a skull is crack't , for presently upon the blow his eyes failed of their sight , his speech was taken from him , and if he had not faln before , he must needs have faln upon the blow , for he could not rise , but was taken up by others half dead , and so brought home . by and by also he vomited up choler , and his nose fell a bleeding . these symptoms are of so great concern in this disease , that from them we may not only conjecture that the skull is fractured , but likewise absolutely conclude it . and because this makes home to my purpose , i shall back it with the authority of celsus , an author not only generally approved of by physicians , but particularly quoted by mr. loss in this observation ; and ( which is strange , for why then did he not read or understand him ? ) in the same chapter , viz. the 4 th of the 8 th book , he writes thus ; vbi calvaria percussa , protinus requirendum est , num bilem is homo vomuerit , num oculi ejus obcaecati sint , num obmutuerit , num per nares , auresve sanguis ei effluxerit , num conciderit , num sine sensu quasi dormiens jacuerit , haec enim non nisi osse fracto eveniunt . if the skull be crack't , you must forthwith make enquiry , whether the patient vomited , whether his eyes failed of their sight , whether he was dumb , whether blood came from him at his nose or ears , whether he fell with the blow and lay without sense as one asleep : ( all which are plain and evident in this carter's case ) for these things cannot be , except the bone be broken . an evident proof that mr. loss might at his first visiting this patient , have absolutely concluded , that he had some fracture in his skull . but , 2. here were the subsequent symptoms , which are wont to follow a fractured skull some time after it 's done ; and which authors do make mention of , as a feaver , a stupidness , a sleepiness , and a convulsion . and thus much for my first assertion . that mr. loss might at first have absolutely concluded that this carter had some fracture in his skull . 2. if mr. loss had so far wisely understood the case , as at the first visit , by the immediate effects to have absolutely concluded , that somewhere there was a fracture in the skull ; he must of necessity have known before his patient's death , that the disease was a counter-cleft : for , although the word seems to intimate a fracture in a part opposite to that which received the blow , yet it is a counter-cleft if it be in any place else besides there where the blow was given . and dr. read in his treatise of wounds lecture 22. writes thus . a resonitus or contrafissura falls out when the craneum is stricken upon one part , and fractured in another ; and this happens either in the same bone , or in divers ; in the same bone either sideways on the right hand , or on the left , or perpendicularly from the upper to the lower part ; in divers bones , as when the right side of the head is beaten , and the left fractured , or when the left side is beaten and the right fractured ; or , as in the case in hand , when the forepart is stricken , and the hinder part cleft . but that there was no fracture in this carter's forehead , the place where the blow was given , mr. loss himself witnesseth after a double search ; had he therefore known there was a fracture , he must necessarily have known likewise that the disease was a counter-cleft . i do not say it had been a very easie business , to have found out positively where the fracture was , for whilst the skin is unbroken , the cleft may so ly lurking under it , especially if it be capillary or small , as may puzzle a very good artist to find it out . and had mr. loss shewed himself so skilful , as positively to have declared before his patient dyed , that it was his judgment that this carter had a counter-cleft , he had much saved his credit , though in the shortness of the warning , and hurry of the danger of his life , he could not have well found where it was : and yet , because this gentleman boasts that nothing was omitted which in these cases art is wont to prescribe , i shall add this third assertion . 3. if mr. loss had known that there was a counter-cleft , most probably he might have also found out the place where , before his patient's death : if he had wisely considered his patient , and made use of all means which art is wont to prescribe to find out a fracture . for , 1. he would have found his patient a very fit subject in whom he ought to have reasonably expected an opposite counter-cleft . for , this sort of fracture happens when the party struck , hath no sutures at all , or as good as none , they be so close , and so very obscure . herodotus and some others do write , that skulls have been found in persia undistinguished with sutures . aristotle also speaks of one such found in his time , at neither of which saith vesalius do i admire , for very old mens skulls shew nothing of the figure of the sutures , and but very obscurely so much as the place where they have been . that which we may the more easily believe , if we know and take notice that even the very backbones of aged people do unite and grow together , that old men cannot move them as formerly . whether this patient's skull had sutures or no , i do not know , that mr. loss , ( curious enough in impertinencies ) did so much as enquire after . this i know , here was one near three-score years old , and in such a dry skull , drier yet by hard labour , and it may be harder fare ; what could mr. loss upon such a fall , after a double search in the forehead bone , which both times was found whole , more reasonably have expected , than a counter-cleft behind ? the force of the blow strongly forcing the air and spirits within the minute parts of his skull from his forehead on both sides , by an intestine violent motion to change their places and pass forward , that is , backward towards the hinder-part of his head . these little bodies or globuli , like these that from a gun driven violently by the blow on each side his skull , and having little or no vent given them at the sutures , did pass on unto the farthest place they could recede unto in the os occipitis , and there meeting each other full-butt , and forcing each other violently and suddainly back in their recession or resilience they cleft the bone , and with it some vessels of the dura mater appended to it , some of whose blood came forth after by the nose . i say , what less in reason could mr. loss have expected than all this ? but , 2. there are several means whereby art will help us to find out a fracture , which will not shew it self . dr. read in his newly cited lecture , says thus . if signs of a fracture do appear ( as here they did ) and no chink appear in the wounded part , ( as here there did not ) then you are to take a view of the opposite part ; if you find any tumor there or softness , you may be sure that the fracture is in the skull subjacent : if you find no tumor , then you must shave the head , and apply such a plaister , as he there prescribes spreading it upon leather , and applying it to the opposite part to that place where the knock was given ; if when you take it away the cutis musculosa be in any place more soft than other , moist , or swelled , it is likely that there is the fracture . ; these things ought to have been done in this case very speedily , but i question whether any of them were done at all . but besides these , i shall offer at two things more that might have been done for the discovering of the fractured place . 1. there is a slight and familiar way , speedy and easie , known almost to every chirurgeon , though not practised in this case by this grave physician , viz. a lute-string might have been fastned to this patients teeth in his upper jaw , that jaw which moves not , and is therefore not only contiguous but continuous with the skull : if the chirurgion straining this string with one hand , had as it were plaid upon it with the other , the continuation of that vibration , motion , or sound , which the fingers would give the string , and which the string would communicate to the teeth , and they to the upper jaw , and that again per motum nexus unto the skull , might at length have arrived unto the fractured place , and there jarring by an unpleasant rough and interrupted motion , it would have given such a disturbance to the weak , yet sensible part ; and caused so much pain , as might have forced the patient , mute though he was , to have spoken by signs , and by putting his fingers to the place , vbi enim dolor ibi digitus , he might have told or at least himself pointed out where the fracture was . 2. if mr. loss had been sure there was a fracture in the os occipitis , and upon view or feeling could not have found it , because the cutis musculosa was whole , he might have been so couragious , having a skilful chirurgion by him , to have commanded him to have made incision unto the os occipitis , about the middle of it , and the wound as occasion required might have been dilated this way or that ; and the bone laid more open for further search . such a wound would not likely have been mortal , nor could any justly have called this cruelty upon so necessary an account , in so stupid a patient . and if the cleft had been invisible , by being so hair-like and small ; it might have yet been made visible by applying a rag dipt in ink , or done with ivory half burnt , and mixed with a little vinegar to make it more penetrating , and after a while taking it off , and gently washing or wiping away the black , for the cleft part of the skull , would have yet retained so much black in its chink , as would have discovered the place . but thus much shall suffice for my second general conclusion , that mr. loss might have understood this patient's disease before his death . 3. that mr. loss did little or nothing material towards the cure of this patient's disease . and indeed how should he ? whilst he had no other knowledg of the disease , than that his brains were shaken , some small vein broke , his head hurt , and great conjecture of a fracture ; but where it should be he knew not . all that i read of what he did , was a glyster , a searching the forehead-bone twice , a feeling about his head , the letting him blood in the cephalick vein ; and the binding up of the scratch . i do not deny that a glyster and bleeding are good general remedies for hurts in the head , but there was little reason to expect that they should bring away the gore and extravasated blood , which lying upon the aura mater , perhaps penetrating both dura and pia , and obstructing not only the vessels , but the very pores of the brains themselves , thus infecting , contaminating , irritating , and yet stopping the free passages of the spirits , caused those direful symptoms above mentioned , and in short time death it self . something therefore mr. loss did ; ne nihil fecisse videretur , to use his own words of alius medicus who had yet better success with his patient . but that something was in effect nothing , for the next day he was found no whit the better , yea much worse , and at night died . 4. that it was not impossible for mr. loss to have cured this patient , had he taken a right course with him . this gentleman is reputed to have a very ready faculty of censuring other physicians when their patients dye , that they took a wrong course with them , though he was not there , nor knew any thing more than by hear-say of what was done . what he did for this patient is by himself put in print ; and i have proved that it was nothing to the purpose : i now add , that he might have done something to the purpose , if he had taken a right course . if he had first speedily satisfied himself that he knew the disease , and the part affected ( as i have proved he might ) and had then caused a section to be made through the soft parts over the middle of the os occipitis , to discover the cleft , and what place would be convenient for the trepan , and had then by opening of the skull let forth that extravasated blood and filth , which himself says was his death . it 's true , the warning was very short , and the opportunity of cure quickly gone , but the cure was not therefore impossible , and the greatness and fearfulness of the symptomes should not have discouraged but quickned an intelligent physician , to have set about it , and not to have put up the first day with the binding up according to art the scratch in the forehead , and the second day , with a pretence of doing whatsoever art in such cases is wont to prescribe , when he did little else but fumble about the head of him , by which himself confesseth he could discover nothing : thus letting slip the opportunity of action , and deferring the consultation of the trepan , until the patient was a dying . that in which mr. loss was the more to blame , because he had before this seen a patient so cured , as appears in his next observation , where the gentleman's case , in the most essential circumstances , is parallel with this of the carter's . and this also is a further argument to prove this fourth conclusion , for ab esse ad posse valet consequentia . 5. that after all this adoe , a counter-cleft is no such news in physick , as to have deserved to be the subject of the first of these observations , which have been fourty years collecting . that a counter-cleft is no news in physick , let these authors witness for me . hippocrates in lib. de vulneribus capitis . soranus in scriptis de vulner . capitis . aurelius corn. celsus de re medicâ , lib. 8. cap. 4. nicholanus florentinus serm. 7. sum. 2. tract . 4. cap. 1. valeriol . append. loc. com. cap. 5. fallop . comment in hippocrat . cap. 14. paraeus in his 8th chapter , and 9th book . doctor read in his treatise of wounds . james cook in his marrow of chirurgery . and in a manner every chirurgeon else . now , after all these , of what moment is this chirurgo-medicinal observation ? which is only an addition and overplus added unto the scale , sufficiently already weighed down by the gravity of so many good authors as have written on it . and although paulus did oppose soranus , and gorreus in his medicinal definitions , doth side with paulus , and that chiefly , because galen says that the skull was not made one solid intire body without sutures , lest being struck on one place , a great portion of the skull should be broke , which is prevented by the intervening sutures stopping the violence of the blow from passing over these lines , and doing hurt on the other side of them ; yet probably gorraeus did not know that some skulls have had no sutures ; and that age many times obliterates them in these that had them : and perhaps he did not consider , that the same force of a violent blow upon the skull , which would quite break it , if it had no sutures , in some distant place , may yet instead of a fracture , make a fissure there , though there be sutures , if by old age those sutures are more than ordinary united , and dried up . so that besides the authority of numerous authors , reason also seems so well satisfied with the possibility of a counter-cleft , that it would be almost as ridiculous for any one to question or doubt it , as it would be in me , to doubt whether there be any such place as new-castle , because i never yet saw it : and indeed , what else doth mr. loss in all this observation , but carry coals to new-castle , tells us what we knew before , and brings us the proof of his testimony , for that which i know no body doubts of : and this very discreetly having prepared a book of medicinal observations for a treat and banquet to be set before physicians , as a taste of the fare which they are to expect afterwards , he presents them for the first dish of the feast , with a colewort more than twice sodden . observatio 15 , lib. 2 d. pleuritis benigna intra septimanam resoluta . nobilissima puella elizabetha nobilissimi viri dni . thomae moore armigeri filia natu maxima annos decem plus minus nata , gracilis & biliosa ac rarissimae constitutionis , dorchestriae in gynaeceo hospitans melioris educationis gratiâ , catarrhis obnoxia , autumnali tempore , quo alias eventilatio minor est , ut ea propter ad internas partium inflammationes suscipiendas pronius sit corpus , praecedente quodam rigore , corripitur febri , mitiori quidem , sed continuâ , & quotidie sub vesperam excandescente , cum dolore punctorio lateris sinistri , ad jugulum usque extenso , & spirandi difficultate , cum tussi & sputo cruento . ad hanc vocatus , consideratis modo dictis , nobilem hanc puellam pleuritide laborare judicavi , cujus causae externa in refrigeratione consisteret , cum tempore frigido , multa vespera , nudo pectore , pro more nobilium virginum , prodeambulasset . vt enim calor humores colliquans ; sic etiam frigus eosdem compingens , pleuritidem facilè introducere solet ; sanguine scil . propter refrigerationem , circa vasa intercostaliae collecto , membranaeque costas succingentis , pleurae dictae , cum vicinis internis musculis , inflammationem producente . mox itaque cum vires utcunque perstarent , de venâ secandâ cogitavi , ut quae summum in pleuritide commodum afferre soleat : cum vero venaesectionem galenus in pueris ante decimumquartum annum vix suscipiendam suadeat , praesertim in corpore molli & raro , atque ad dissolutionem prono , quale erat hujus puellae , siquidem internam habent copiosam & perpetuam vacuationem ab actione sui innati coloris excitatam , qui substantiam humidiorem facilè digerit , & abs●mit , unde timendum ne huic liberali vacuationi altera addita vires prosternat . itaq : sanguinis uncias quinque , sic jubente doctissimo sennerto , hirudinibus ex internâ sinistrï cubiti vena emungendas curava ; praemisso enemate emolliente & refrigerante . hoc facto dolorem lateris fotu & unctione lenire studeo . fovebam autem malvarum , florum camomillae , meliloti , anethi , & seminum lini decocto , admota insuper inunctione ex unguento dialtheae , pectorali & oleo amygdalarum dulcium ; superimposito cataplasmate dolorum lenitivó . recipe , malvae , florum camomillae , ana m. 1. meliloti , anethi , violariae , ana m. s . floram violarum p. 1. seminum foenugraeci , lini , ana unc . s . decoquantur in aqua , & contusis adde olei amygdalarum dulcium unc . i. pinguedinis gallinae unc . s . farinae hordei & fabar . ana q. s . fiat cataplasma ; quibus continuatis , dolor plurimum alleviatus . hinc ad promovendum sputum conversus , mane in jusculis exhibui oleum amygdalarum dulcium , recenter sine igne extractum , quo alvus quoque fluidior reddita , subsequente promtâ & facili anacatharsi ; interdiu verò utebatur linctu ex syrupo violaceo , capillorum veneris , diatragacantho frigido , diaireos , & saccharo cando , atque penidiis . in principio morbi assumpsit tincturam florum papaveris erratici cum aqua cardui mariae & scabiosa , cum spiritu sulphuris , addito pugillo uno vel altero florum violarum , extractam . postea etiam decoctum pectorale officinarum hausit ; & pro potu ordinario bibit decoctum hordei cum passulis , liquoritia , & seminibus anisi . his summâ diligentiâ administratis , aspirante gratiâ divinâ , & natura cooperatrice , intra paucos dies puella haec a lateris dolore & sputo cruento liberata , ut e lecto surgeret , remanente tussi non admodum molestâ , cui removendae phthiseos vano metu visum est nobilissimae matri , instigatione avunculi , alium medicum in concilium adhibere . hic acta pro more multorum accusans ; maxime veró quod venaesectio neglecta , & quae sanguinis per hirudines detractio instituta fuisset , nullius sit momenti : venaesectionem instituit sexto morbi die cum febris & reliqua symptomata cessassent ; detractis , ne nihil fecisse videretur , quatuor circiter unciis sanguinis , ex basilicâ dextrâ oppositi scil . lateris , id quod inter errores medicorum a doctissimo . fuchsio numeratur qua plures rationes in contrarium allegat . die septimo , exhibet pulverem senae , quo sexties vel septies fuit purgata . sub vesperam ejusdem diei , incidit in sudorem spontaneum copiosissimum , a quo omnino convaluit , assumpto tamen aliquandiu balsamo peruviano . haec licet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & sine ratione instituta nullo tamen aegrae damno ; quod vires ubi valentes sunt , quales erant in hac puellâ , omnia contemnant & tolerent ; ubi infirmae fuerint , a quovis offendantur . observation the 15 th , book 2 d. a benign pleurisie resolved in a week the most noble damsel elizabeth , eldest daughter of the most noble gentleman , mr. thomas moore esq aged more or less about ten years , thin and cholerick , and of a very rare constitution , boarding at dorchester at a school-mistress's house for her better education , subject to rheums ; in autumn when eventilation is less than at other times , for which cause the body is more prone to admit of the internal inflammations of parts , after a precedent rigour was taken in a fever mild indeed , but continual , and worse every day towards evening , with a pricking pain in the left side reaching to the throat , a difficulty of breathing , a cough , and spitting of blood . being called unto her , and considering what has been said , i judged that this noble maid was sick of a pleurisie , whose external cause was by catching cold , seeing that in a cold season late in the evening , she had gone forth a walking , with naked breasts , as is the manner of noble virgins . for as heat melting the humors easily causeth a pleurisie , so doth cold likewise by compacting them , the blood being gathered by reason of cold about the intercostal vessels , and causing an inflammation in the membrane compassing the ribs called the pleura , and the neighbouring internal muscles . presently therefore , for as much as her strength was yet pretty good , i was thinking of opening a vein , as being that which uses to give great relief in a pleurisie . but because galen adviseth hardly to admit of bleeding in children not yet 14 years old , especially in a body soft and spare , and prone to dissolve , such as this damsels was ; for these bodies have a continual and plentiful internal evacuation , caused by the action of their innate heat , which easily digests and consumes their moist substance ; so that there was reason to be afraid lest her strength should fail , if to this liberal evacuation an other should be added : wherefore , following therein the command of the most learned sennertus , i took care to evacuate by leeches five ounces of blood from the internal vein of the left arm , having first ordered an emollient and cooling glyster . afterwards i made it my business by fomentation and unction to asswage the pain of her side . my fomentation was a decoction of mallows , chamomile-flowers , line-seeds , and dill ; after which she was anointed with althaea and pectoral ointments , and oil of sweet almonds ; and this cataplasm was applyed . take of mallows , camomile-flowers , of each one handful ; of dill and violet-leaves , of each half one handful ; of violet-flowers a pugil , of faenugreek and line-seed of each half an ounce : boil them in water , and when hey are bruised , add to them one ounce of oil of sweet almonds , half an ounce of hens-grease , and as much meal of barley and beans as is enough . make a pultess . these things being continued the pain was much asswaged , applying my self therefore to promote expectoration , i gave her in the morning in her broth , oil of sweet almonds fresh-drawn without fire , by which she was also more soluble ; and a ready and easie expectoration followed . but in the day she used a linctus of syrup of violets , maiden-hair , diatragacanth , frig . diaireos , sugar candy and penidice . in the beginning of the disease she took a tincture of wild poppy-flowers extracted with waters of card. marand scabioso , spirit of sulphur , and a pugil or two of violet-flowers . afterwards she drank the pectoral decoction of the shops , and for her ordinary drink , a decoction of barley with raisins , loquorice , and aniseeds . these things being most diligently made use of by the blessing of god and cooperation of nature , within few days this virgin was freed from the pain of her side and spitting of blood , so that she could rise out of her bed ; a cough remaining , but not very troublesom ; to remove which out of a vain fear of a consumption it seemed good to the most noble mother , through the instigation of the vncle , to call into counsel another physician , who after the manner of many others accusing what had been done , and especially that a vein had not been opened , and that her having been bled by leeches was of no moment ; orders on the sixth day of the disease , that a vein should be opened , then when the fever and other symptoms were gone . so taking away some four ounces of blood that he might not seem to do nothing , from the basilick vein of the opposite side , that which by the most learned fuchsius is accounted an error in physicians , who alledgeth many reasons to the contrary . the seventh day he gives her powder of sena , by which she was purged six or seven times . about the evening of the same day , she fell into a plentiful voluntary sweat , by which she grew altogether well , excepting that for some time afterwards she took balsam of peru. though these things were ordered without method or reason , yet they did the patient no harm ; for strength when it is good , as it was in this virgin , it contemns and tolerates all things , but when it is weak , every thing offends it . i have already above mentioned what the medicinal materials are , with which a physician is to build any medicinal work ; i shall now offer at the method of ranging these into a medicinal observation , which according to what i yet best understand , ought to consist of these five parts . 1. a title , which is to invite the reader to peruse it , telling him what it is he may expect in the observation , and therefore it ought to contain either the sum of it , or somthing very remarkable in it , and commonly it speaks the patients disease . 2. a narrative of the case , containing its history or the matters of fact , which the physician met with in that case , such as are these three especially . 1. his natural , viz. his parentage , age , sex , and natural constitution , in which i include his temperament , complexion , predominant humor , and his habit of body . 2. his non-naturals , which some thus in short express . aer , esca quies , repletio , gaudia , somnus ; haec moderata juvant , immoderata nocent . 3. his former praeternaturals , what disease he hath formerly had , from what causes , and with what symptomes , as likewise the juvantia and laedentia , what did formerly do him good or hurt . 3. the judgment of the physician founded upon this narrative , and this judgment ought to be the delivery of his opinion , touching these three particulars especially . 1. what the part affected is , and whether it be primarily affected , or by sympathy . 2. what the disease is , i mean the principal disease , and that in regard of its essence , accidents , or mutation . 1. in respect of its essence , whether it be a similar disease , a distemper only , or an organical ; consisting in some default , of 1. the conformation of the part affected , respecting its figure , its roughness , or smoothness , or cavity , in its being compressed , obstructed , or dilated . 2. the magnitude of it , when the part is either bigger or less than it should be . 3. the number , when in a greater organical part , there are more or fewer lesser organs . 4. the connexion , when a part doth not cohere where it should , or cohere where it should not ; or is otherwise faulty in its site . 2. in respect of its accidents , of which four are especially considerable ; as , 1. it s magnitude , whether it be a great disease , such as being very intense , afflicts the body with a great force ; or a little disease , that receding but little from the natural constitution , doth but little impair the strength . 2. it s motion in respect of its quantity , in its parts , as being in its beginning , increase , state , or decrease ; or in the whole , whether it be an acute disease , or a chronical . 3. it s motion in respect of its quality or manner , whether it be a benign disease , or a malign . 4. it s event , whether it be likely to be salutary or mortal . besides these accidents taken from the properties that do accompany the essence of a disease , there are also other accidental differences , that a physician may judg of : as 1. whether in respect of the subject or part affected , the disease be idiopathick or sympathick , protopathick or deuteropathick . if sympathick , whether positive or privative , whether sympathick by reason of neighbourhood , society of the same kind , communion of office , site , or connexion . 2. whether the efficient cause of the disease , or peccant humor , be legitimate or bastard . 3. whether in respect of the causa sine quâ non , especially the region or place where the patient lies sick ; the disease be endemick , epidemick , or sporadick . 3. in respect of its mutation , whether it will change into another disease , or it self terminate either by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; in life or death . 4. the practice of the physician , according unto his judgment of the case ▪ his method of cure , and his remedies made use of , whether dietetick , pharmaceutick , or chirurgick . 5. the event and success of what was done . i do not undertake to prescribe to any one this method for his framing of any medicinal observation , but because i think it doth contain whatsoever needs to be taken notice of by any physician in any particular patient's case ; according to it , i shall follow my examination of the newly mentioned 15 th observation of mr. loss his second book of medicinal observations ; supposing that my having premised it , hath not been any fruitless digresson , since by it the reader may be informed , unto what head each particular that shall be spoken unto belongs , and thereby himself become a more competent judg both of mr. loss his observation , and of my examination . this 15 th observation is more than ordinary remarkable , in that there is a double case to be taken notice of in it . the first did belong to young mrs. bridget moore , the sickness of her body . the second doth belong unto my self , her other physician , who was sent for to consult with mr. loss in her sickness , and it is the wounding of my reputation , by his private whispers , and now publick slander . the first of these patients , by the blessing of the almighty , grew well in a short time , and she may now say to me , physician cure thy self . to which my answer shall be , the very same that when she lay sick it was unto her honoured mother , upon somewhat the like question . the case is indeed very dangerous , but i 'll do the best i can for the cure. and although it is not in my power to perswade any one , contrary to what they themselves please , yet it shall be my fault , if what i have writ and proved , be not enough to vindicate me to any indifferent reader . and i hope , that the almighty , who knows the wrongs and injuries , which for several years last past i have suffered by this gentleman's means , will so far favour the innocency of the cause , now that it must needs become publick , that he will prosper me in this cure also . in mrs. moore 's case i shall examine . 1. the title of the observation . 2. the narrative of her case . 3. mr. loss his judgment both of her disease , and of the cause of it . 4. his method of curing her . 5. the event of what he did ; which i shall refer unto the second case . 1. in my own case , i shall insist on these particulars . his preface thereunto , being a pompous but false narrative of his wonderful success in the first case ; and a plotted and studied piece of forgery to perswade the reader by a plausible tale , how it came about that notwithstanding his great cure , alius medicus was sent for . here likewise , upon occasion of his naming me alium medicum ; what i could not put into the preface of my book , for fear of swelling it too much , i shall here insert , viz. my answer unto some objections against it . as , 1. that it is not seemly for one physician , to write against another . 2. that wise men love neither to be pattern , nor patron of any controversy . 3. that mr. loss having not named me , i needed not to have been concerned at his book . 4. being his book is in latin , my answer ought to have been in latin also . 5. that writing in english , i needed not to have spoke so plain . 6. that after i have done all , uncharitableness and envy will be the censure of my undertaking ; and more strife and trouble the fruit of it . 2. his narrative of my case , containing all his charge of accusations against me . 3. his judgment of my disease , that it was want of method and reason in my practice ; and of its external and moving cause , i did what i did , that i might not seem to mrs. moore or others to do nothing , being sent for to the patient . it is not to be expected that i should here mention in the fourth place his method of cure , for he did not wound me , but on purpose that i might bleed . 4. his relation of the event , that by accident i did the patient no harm . 5. instead of his , my method of curing this disease . 1. by sufficient witnesses , proving matter of fact. 2. by reason and authority , vindicating matters of art ; and answering every particular observation . and because his first accusation is , that i accused what he had done ; i shall there take occasion of aggravating that most unworthy trick of some bad physicians that make it their practice to backbite and slander others of the same profession : then i shall give instances of mr. loss his thus dealing with me ; and lastly , a direct answer to this and every other accusation against me , as it lyes in order . 1. of the title of the 15th observation . a benign pleurisie resolved within a week . ] there is little in this title remarkable that should invite the reader to take the pains of perusing the observation , and when examined , let any one judg if there be not as many errors in it , as there are words . for , 1. this patient's disease , to speak properly , was not a pleurisie , but an acute fever ; whereupon symptomatically followed a pleurisie . 2. that pleurisie that was , was rather malign than benign . these two propositions i shall prove , when i come to examine mr. loss his judgment of the disease . 3. this title doth not answer the observation unto which it is prefixt ; for according unto that , it should have been thus . a pleurisie and no pleurisie cured before the sixt day , and yet lasting until the seventh . these pretty contradictions of our off and-on , in-and-out gentleman , would have made any reader admire the writer ; and above all his book to have pitch't upon this observation , where ( to prove what i have said ) in his judgment on the disease , he says , considering what hath been said , i judged that this noble maid was sick of a pleurisie ; and his method of cure , and medicaments do all speak the same thing . but in his narrative of the case , he says , after a precedent rigour , she was taken with a fever , mild indeed , but continual , and worse every day towards evening , with a pricking pain in the left side , &c. a plain demonstration that the disease was not a pleurisie with a fever , but a fever with a pleurisie . and yet again , on the sixth day of the disease , the disease was no pleurisie ; no , nor fever neither : for before alius medicus was sent for , mr. loss tells us , these things being most diligently made use of , by the blessing of god , and cooperation of nature , within few days this virgin was freed from the pain of her side , and spitting of blood ; so that she could rise out of her bed , a cough only remaining , but not very troublesome . this gentleman had cunningly packt away the disease before i was sent for , ( that i might have nothing to do , and that if i did any thing , he might say of me , that i did it , that i might not seem to do nothing ) not the pleurisie only , but the fever also and other symptoms ; for so he says : medicus alius orders on the sixth day of the disease , that a vein should be opened , then when the fever and other symptoms were gone . this augments the contradiction , and makes the observation still more wonderful ; that there should be a pleurisie and no pleurisie , a fever and no fever , a disease and no disease : for how could there be a sixth day of the disease , when the pain of her side , her spitting of blood , the fever and other symptoms were gone ? but our observator is still more wonderful ; he says , this pleurisie was resolved within a week , if he means that it did not last a week , but was gone before the sixth day , he contradicts himself in saying , about the evening of the seventh day she fell into a plentiful voluntary sweat , by which she grew altogether well ; a proof that she was not well before . if it be said , that some remains only lasted until the seventh day at night , but the pleurisie it self was gone before the sixth , i deny this assertion ; for the pleurisie was not gone on the sixth day , much less the fever , which was her principal disease ; and whose conjunct cause was not yet discussed until after the sweat ; and whilst the cause remained , the effect did also remain . if he means , that it did last a week and no longer , how doth he contradict himself in this again by saying , he had cured this pleurisie before the sixth day ? this gentleman , that hath been noted for one that almost perpetually contradicts what another physician , or his patient offers to have done , though many times soon after he prescribes the same thing himself ; and in so much , that some play with him as with a child , and work him to consent , by urging for that which is contrary to what they would have . i say this gentleman , that hath many times uncivilly contradicted others , is so civil , as here and elsewhere to contradict himself . 4. this pleurisie was not resolved within a week , for the great sweat which did resolve it , befel not the patient until the evening of the seventh day , and the seven days were out before the sweat was off . 5. it is no news nor worthy observation , that a benign pleurisie should be resolved within a week ; for of all the five ways by which a tumor may terminate , resolution is not only the safest , but the nimblest ; for the morbisick matter is not probably very great in quantity , if it passes off by discussion , nor very thick ; for then it would rather end in suppuration , or induration ; neither doth it make any great stop of the circulation of the blood in the part affected ; and nature is still mistress in this way of termination , neither is she wont then to be long about her work . if he had told us of a pleurisie that ended by induration , or corruption of the part , and yet passed off in seven days , he had given us an observation indeed , but to tell us of a benign pleurisie resolved in seven days , is trivial . there is scarce any disease that admits of so speedy a cure , as this doth sometimes . i have heard a patient presently upon bleeding , before yet his arm was tyed up , tell with rejoycing how he plainly felt his pain go off , and such a discussion of the disease hath followed , that it returned no more : what then is the great observable , that this gentleman seems ambitious that the world should take notice of from him ; is it , that of his certain knowledg a pleurisie was resolved within seven days ? alas ! almost every body can tell , that such a thing may sometimes happen in less than seven hours . 2. the narrative of the case . this begins with the observation it self , and reacheth unto these words ; with a cough and spitting of blood. elizabeth . ] this old gentleman did forget that his young patient's name was mrs. bridget : this would have been a gross mistake in a law-case , but in physick , notwithstanding all the ado mr. loss makes in the naming of every patient , it little concerns him that readeth the observation , to know what the christian or the sir-name of the patient was . in the autumn . ] this second mistake is a little more material , because the time of the year when a patient lies sick , is medicinal ; but the third mistake of this patient 's getting this sickness by taking cold in her breast , whereas it was by violent heating of all her body , and drinking cold beer whilst she was hot , was yet grosser , as we shall by and by see : in the interim , have we not just reason to admire this author for a very trusty observator ? a faithful historian in matters of fact , upon whose authority and verity , the reader may securely build his belief and confidence of the things he writes , that they are true and certain ? such , as ( he would make us believe in his epistle dedicatory ) he either saw himself , or sufficiently examined ? this patient had but two names , and he hath hit right in one of them ; and hath some reason why he mistook the other , for the mother's name being mrs. elizabeth , who would have thought that her eldest daughter's name should have been mrs. bridget ? but he recovers himself a little from this ominous stumbling in the beginning ; he tells us truly , whose daughter she was , and how she was his eldest daughter , things very medicinal no question : that she was about ten years old , and she might have been 12 , or 20 , or almost of any other age , and yet have been taken with a pleurisie . that she was thin and cholerick , and of a very rare constitution ; this disease might have befaln her , had she been full and fat , phlegmatick , and of a very thick constitution , as he will have it , taking constitution for the skin . it 's true also that she was at a boarding-school for her better education , but little to our better notification ; and that this school was in dorchester , a place he could not easily forget , for he hath lived in it above thirty years . but as for the time when , & the occasion whereupon this young gentlewoman fell sick , these must be look't upon as less material than those above mentioned , and as faults easily pardonable in a gentleman of his gravity . but what ! may he mistake the disease likewise , the cause of it , the cure of it , the success and event of it ; and all the forgeries he hath invented and vented against alius medicus ? let others think what they will , for my part i shall not easily confide in such a mistaking author , but rather think that he did not begin to write , before he began to dote , giving us a mighty formal account from the time of autumn , of his patients disease that lay sick in the spring . when eventilation is less . ] that it is so in autumn , it is confessed , but this patient'ts sickness was in april . these words make nothing to the observation , they serve only to convince the reader , that this mistake can with no reason be attributed to any fault in the printer , since mr. loss himself builds upon it , and gives a reason why the autumn did contribute unto this patient's sickness ; imitating in this the forwardness of some young philosophers , though himself be old , who will readily give you a reason of any thing , even before they know whether the thing be so . but if he had ever read my lord herbet's zetetick questions in his book de veritate , he would have found that an sit , is the first , neque enim tutò in reliquarum profundum solvitur , nisi exploratâ istâ . after a precedent rigour . ] this cold shrug in the beginning or first on-set of a fever , is one of the signs that shew that it 's putrid ; for when the blood begins to boil through putrefaction , the sowr , crude , and nitrous parts of it , which have not yet arrived unto maturity and sweetness , the bond of mixtion being much loosned , naturally they get together as birds of a feather , and unite particles , and so make up a body of crudity and sowrness , which at first smothers the fire in the blood , and hinder much the circulation of it ; in which yet , those cold sowr particles do associate themselves most willingly to the comparatively cold membranous parts of the body ; which membranes , partly through the absence of the influential natural heat , which the heart , all this time oppressed , cannot send forth vigorously enough ; and partly by the over-much presence of these cold sharp particles , do suffer that chill and general vellication , which i suppose is the rigour , or cold shrug . but why should mr. loss i pray , be so busie to inform us that this fever was a putrid fever , which in its very essence is dangerous , though not always mortal ; seeing that in the title , he tells us that the disease was benign ? with a pricking pain in her side . ] it is no hard task for any physician to reckon upon his fingers the five pathognomonick signs of a pleurisie , but then the spitting of blood is none of them ; and why the pulsus durus , which is one of them , should not be here mentioned , mr. loss can tell . we have seen something of the narrative of the case , there is yet one thing more taken notice of by mr. loss , but both mistaken and misplaced ; it appertains unto the patient 's non-naturals , her walking late in the evening in a cold time with naked breasts . this i conceive should have been mentioned in the narrative , and before he had come to pass his judgment of the disease . there were also other things belonging unto the narrative , which mr. loss hath not mentioned at all , viz. that formerly she had an issue in the left arm : to which humors flowed so fast , that becoming troublesom , by some advice or other it was shut up . that not long after the shutting of it up , she began to have a pain in the left side of her breast , which had continued more or less some two years time when she fell sick , with such soreness as would not easily suffer an ordinary impression of ones hand . that just before her sickness , she over-heat her blood at play , and then drank cold beer ; things as material i suppose , as many of these which mr. loss hath mentioned . 3. mr. loss his judgment on the case . this judgment concerns the disease , or the cause of it ; touching the disease his judgment is double . 1. that it was a pleurisie . 2. that it was a benign pleurisie . touching the external cause of it ; that it was her taking cold in her breast by walking forth late . if i do not mistake , all these three are false . it seldom happens that any one falls sick , so as to lie by it , and to be in great danger , but there is a complication of diseases in the case ; and then the physician is not to rest satisfied with the naming of some disease or other which may be in the patient , but his art requires of him to find out that which is the principal , and upon which the other do depend , and from it to name the case , denominatio enim est a potiori ; otherwise he will shew himself an emperick , and must needs make mad work in his method of cure. this patient 's principal disease was not a pleurisie . if her side was neither the first part ill-affected , nor the principal part that suffered , then a pleurisie was not her principal disease . i do not see any reason to go about to prove this major proposition . but her side was neither the first part ill-affected , nor the principal . ergo. i prove the minor in both its parts . 1. it was not the first part ill affected ; for upon her drinking cold beer when she was hot , the stomach must first suffer before the side : but because this was not considered of , nor perhaps known to mr. loss , i add that her heart and all its vessels were first ill-affected with a fever in her mass of blood , before the pricking pain in her side , and other symptoms of her pleurisie ; and this is made out both by the reason of the thing , and by a double authority . 1. i prove it by mr. loss himself in this very observation , who says , she was taken in a fever , with a pricking pain in her side . if he meant that the pleurisie was her principal disease , he should have said , she was taken in a pricking pain in her side with a fever ; for a fever that went before , though but some few minutes , could never be the effect and symptom of a pleurisie that came after ; though mr. loss says afterwards , that on the sixt day of the disease the fever and other symptoms were gone , as if the fever were the symptom of a pleurisie , which followed after it . 2. i prove it by sennertus , who in his chapter de pleuritide observes , that although the ancients did call these fevers , that do accompany the inflammations of the internal parts symptomatical ; yet of a truth they are nothing so , si quis enim rem diligenter perpendat , animadvertet , non febres ab hisce inflammationibus , sed potius inflammationes istas a febribus originem habere ; if any one , saith he , considers the matter well , he shall find that these fevers have not their original from the inflammations of the internal parts , but rather that those inflammations have their rise from the fevers . and if so , the fevers are the principal diseases , that which also the method of cure shows plainly , and did shew in this particular patient . 2. it was not the principal ill-affected . amongst other rules which physicians give to know what part is principally affected , these three are very considerable . 1 that which suffers most grievous symptoms , is the part principally affected . but it is plain that the effects of this young lady's putrid fever , were much more grievous in her heart , than these from the pleurisie in her side . 2. that part which is continually affected , and never at ease , is the part principally affected ; but her side was much at ease : and if you will believe mr. loss , her pleurisie was gone , then , when alius medicus was sent for , and then , when all the family where she lay sick despaired of her life . and her heart was never at ease , but still troubled more or less with a continual fever , until at length the universal sweat compleated the cure ; and the fever once gone , there was no news of the pleurisie . 3. that part which receives no benefit by these remedies which do help another part , is the part principally affected ; but her heart was but little benefited by all mr. loss his emperical cure of her side . therefore . this patients pleurisie was not benign . a benign disease , is such an one as goes on in a gentle mild manner , not much troublesom or offensive to nature , nor yet so dangerous as to hazard life . and i do admire that mr. loss should title this disease benign , for i am sure that before i was sent for , the good lady the patients mother was sent unto , that she might make haste to come twenty miles out of the country , to see her daughter that lay very sick in town ; so little belief was there then of the benignity of the disease : and i am sure , that when i propounded to purge her , after she had been bled ; madam moore told mr. loss , who was against it , that she would try the purge ; for my child , said she , is a dead child in your account . but afterwards , when mr. loss saw that the patient was able to bear both bleeding , purging and sweating , and in few days was strangely recovered , to my credit , and his no little disturbance ; being to write this observation , which i think he put forth on purpose to honour himself , and shame me what he could in this particular case , the good man changeth his note of the great danger our little patient was in , and out of a malignity to the other physician , benigns the disease . that which is also the more ridiculous , because this gentleman in the immediately preceding observation , viz. the 14 th of his 2 d book , says thus of a pleurisie in general ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 graecè , a loco affecto , nimirum pleurâ , latinis morbus costalis seu lateralis dicitur , estque inflammatio membranae costas succingentis , quae pleura nominatur ; haec inter morbos acutos & lethales , vel imprimis numeratur , gravia symptomata , & pericula secum adfert , & morbus est gravissimus : a pleurisie is called in greek pleuritis from the part affected , to wit , the pleura or side ; in latin it 's called the rib , or side-disease ; and it is an inflammation of the membrane that covereth the ribs within , which is called pleura ; amongst acute and mortal diseases a pleurisie is especially reckoned , it brings with it grievous and dangerous symptoms , and is a most grievous disease . a pleurisie then is a most dangerous disease when mr. loss cures it ; but when alius medicus cures it , it 's a benign pleurisie . the nature of an acute disease consists in two things , in its being a great disease , and in its moving nimbly with vehemency and danger . young mrs. moore 's fever was peracute , putrid , continual , worse every night , it had joined with it an inflammation of an internal part , next neighbour to the heart . it was occasioned by choler , in a bilious thin body , it caused bad symptoms and threatned death ; and if notwithstanding all this , it must pass for one of mr. loss his benign pleurisies , so let it . mr. loss his judgment of the cause of this patient's pleurisie , examined . the conjunct cause of her pleurisie was inflamed blood. the antecedent-causes were of two sorts , some did cause the blood to be inflamed , as her plethora quoad vires , and her cacochymia : some did cause her inflamed blood to fall upon her left side , as the the weakness and debility thereof , that side being weakned first by an issue , and afterwards by an afflux of humors causing a soreness in her left breast some years before her sickness . the procatarctick causes were her being obnoxious to catarrhs , her cholerick constitution , her over-heating her blood by play , and her drinking cold beer whilst she was hot ; that which sennertus takes especial notice of for a cause of a pleurisie . but mr. loss mentions no other cause , but an external only , her catching cold by walking forth late in the evening , in an autumnal cold season , with her breasts naked , as is the manner of most noble virgins . this is but a vulgar account , any one that comes in to see such a sick patient , can readily suggest that she might get her sickness by taking some cold , and being too late out in the evening . it is too general an account , and although it gives sometimes very good satisfaction unto ordinary persons , that understand little of physick or philosophy ; yet , how will any wise man acquiesce , if asking after the cause of a particular disease , his physician tells him he hath got cold , which is in a manner a general cause of all diseases ? it is an illogical inference ; she got cold , therefore she got a pleurisie : for we may predicate of an individual , the species , and next genus , and so upwards ; for example , peter is a man , a man is an animal , an animal is a corporeal substance , &c. but we cannot invert this order , and go downwards , saying , a corporeal substance is an animal , an animal is a man , a man is peter . thus we may say , that a pleurisie may be caused by catching of cold , but we cannot say , catching of cold is the cause of a pleurisie ; because a genus cannot be confined to one species , and catching of cold might as well have caused other diseases , as a pleurisie . the consideration of such a cause , is useless to a physician , he can make no benefit of it : for , causa transiens non indicat , because it is one of the conditions of an indicans , that it be manens in corpore , for how else can it indicate its ablation from thence ? what though this young lady did catch cold ? that was past before mr. loss was sent for ; and the need a patient hath of a physician is to find out and remove the cause that doth actually cause the sickness , not to talk of that which is already gone . if mr. loss had understood , that the division of causes of diseases into external and internal , is an error among some physicians ; because it may so fall out , that against the rules of logick , both members of the division may be predicated ▪ of one and the same thing ; as when a dagger is stuck into the flesh , he would not have called the cold air an external , but a procatarctick cause of her disease . besides all that hath been said , this only account which mr. loss gives of this patient's sickness , is also false ; either this young lady was too hard for this old gentleman , by concealing her over-heating her self at play , and then drinking cold beer ; or else our trusty observator , according unto his manner of seeing and proving things in his observations , never troubles himself to examine the business , but easily takes upon trust , what as easily he puts forth in print . but suppose we that what he says were true , let 's a little dive into his profound philosophy . i know this old gentleman is no friend to the new philosophers , he had rather that those that went before him should be accounted wiser , than any that come after him . antiquity he reverenceth , but he doth not consider that the younger generation of men is the older world ; and that as all things else here below , so knowledg and learning cannot but grow and increase by time and the daily experiments and inventions by which it is improved and advanced ; or else ( for which i see no reason ) he must conclude that learning is past its zenith , and upon the decline . i shall not therefore trouble him with questioning whether heat be an accident or a substance : i mean that heat , which he saith so easily causeth a pleurisie , by melting the humors ; but i ask him in what subject it is ? it 's plain that he means by cold , the cold air , that which caused as he says this gentlewoman's sickness ; and therefore i presume he means by heat the hot air. but how hot air can insinuate it self into , and single out the pleura , a membranous and colder part , and yet there by melting the humors easily cause a pleurisie , i cannot easily understand ; i acknowledg it may help to increase choler in the body , which abounding may take fire and inflame the blood : and i can easily imagine that some of this inflamed blood may strike to the pleura and inflame that ; but then this is contrary to what mr. loss would have , for thus the fever must needs precede the pleurisie , whereas he says positively that the fever is a symptom of the pleurisie , as appears by these words ; sexto morbi die , cum febris & reliqua symptomata cessassent . if the humors be melted by the hot air , then they were not melted before , and if not , how were they fluid and humors ? one would think that heat should rather dry up and consume moisture , than make it more fluid ; and that if it did make humors more fluid , they should therefore the rather pass more easily within their own vessels , than break forth into the pleura : why should hot air cause a pleurisie so easily , and not as well a phrensy or any other hot disease ? if it causeth any other hot disease as easily as a pleurisie , mr. loss is but a pittyful philosopher , that can , or doth give , none other but a general cause for a particular effect . if he means by melting of the humors , nothing else but their rarefying by the ingress of hot air , whereby they cannot now be contained within their former bounds , what directs them to break forth in the pleura ? and what philosophy calls the rarefaction of humors , their colliquation ? frigus humores compingens , pleuritidem facilè introducere solet . cold ( saith he ) easily causeth a pleurisie by compacting the humors . who can imagine that the cold ambient air can compact and congeal the humors in a living body , especially in the breast or side , parts so neighbouring unto the heart ? why did not the extreme parts grow rigid and stiff with cold at the same time ? how can the humors be supposed to be an ice , and the solid parts yet be warm and move ? how can such a cold do less than quite stifle the insensible transpiration , especially in the part most exposed thereunto ? and if so , why did not her naked breasts gangrene , the natural heat being wholly suffocated ? and besides , who can imagine that a freezing cold should cause a melting inflammation , especially in a cold membranous part ? his meaning sure was , that the cold by constipation of the pores , by accident caused heat . but this falls out then only , when the pores of the skin are lessened , but not quite shut with the cold ; but such a cold as can congeal the humors within , must needs quite shut the pores without , and so stifle and put out the innate heat , not raise it into a flame . lastly , who can understand the reason of this antithesis ? as heat , says mr. loss , makes the humors get out of their vessels into the pleura , by colliquation , and so inflames it ; so cold makes them get thither also ( for so they must if they cause a pleurisie ) by congelation , and also inflames it ? mr. loss his method of curing her . in the cure of a disease are two things considerable . 1. the method . 2. the means or instruments . the method is , by attending unto the indicantia , to find out the indicata ; what it is that must be intended or designed to be done . the means are all those remedies which will help to bring these things to pass , whether they belong to dyet , chirurgery , or physick . mr. loss seems to have been a meer emperick , in respect of the method he made use of for this patient's cure ; as will appear in these three things . 1. he did not concern himself what part was principally affected , or what was the principal disease , it was enough to him she had a pleurisie . 2. he did nothing material towards the removing of the antecedent causes , for he was wholly against bleeding of her by lancet , and purging her . 3. all his applications were to a symptomatical disease , and without satisfying first the indications from the cause , his first and whole business was after a few leeches applied to the arm , which did not remove the cause , to cure the disease , by his fomentation and vnction of her side , his cataplasm , linctus , tincture , barley-water , oil of sweet-almonds , pectoral decoction , &c. of all which medicines he hath given us not only a narrative , but their recipes . i do not blame his medicines , had they been with art applied ; neither yet do i know any thing extraordinary in them , for which they deserved to have been printed : but i do blame his playing the emperick , and his labour in vain , attempting to cure a disease , without first removing the cause ; and i do say , that for ought i know , if no other method had been made use of for her cure , this patient must have perished . the event of what he did ; i shall refer unto the now following preface of the second case . the preface mr. loss makes unto the second case . these things being most diligently administred , by the blessing of god , and the cooperation of nature , this damsel was freed from the pain in her side and spitting of blood. one would almost laugh at this gentleman , to see with how much gravity and formality , he sets forth at large , his doing of little , or not much to the purpose , for this his patient . but i dare not make sport of , or laugh at his mockery , in calling as it were god and nature to witness an untruth , that she was freed from the pain in her side ; whereas mrs. moore says positively , the pain in her side continued very violent . some one may think perhaps that this untruth was some mistake , or came some-ways inconsiderately from him ; but it would be strange that he should light by accident upon that , than which nothing though designed and plotted , could make more for his purpose : for if she was freed from the pain in her side , the reader takes it easily for granted , that her pleurisie , her disease , was gone ; and then he easily consents that the sending for alius medicus might be upon such an account as mr. loss tells him ; and that alius medicus was guilty of the faults are laid to his charge , and that he did nothing to the cure , for that was done before he was sent for ; and that what he did was without method or reason , and done only because he would seem to do something . thus the relation of the event in the first case , is a very convenient preface to the second ; for it argues the great art and skill made use of , besides the blessing of god upon it , to the honour of mr. loss who so speedily and safely had wroughte cure ; and è contra , the ignorance and madness of alius medicus , that should bleed and purge a patient that had no need of either , but was recovered before . the main business mr. loss had to do in this preface , was , how he should so handsomly and conveniently bring alius medicus upon the stage , as to rob him of the credit he had got of this cure , and to take it to himself , and cast dirt upon him . first therefore , he gives the reader a plausible story of what he had done , and for the better credit of the business , he tells him what intentions he followed to cure this pleurisie , and sets down also the recipes of his medicines ; both which , an indifferent physician might have easily translated from many books , that write the praxis of a pleurisie , into his own . then he boldly and positively says , that by these means she was in effect cured : but thinking with himself that it might be objected , why then was another physician sent for ? surely so discreet a lady as this patient's mother is , and held so by me that know her , will not easily be thought one so empty i' th brain , though full i' th purse , as to take hastily a journey from spargrave to dorchester , and after she comes there , to send for another physician , when her daughter was recovered . to obviate this , he is forced to recede a little from his first brag ; and to acknowledg that notwithstanding all that he had done , there remained yet a cough , but this must not be thought to argue any substance of the disease in being , which should make this shadow or symptom ; and therefore , lest this should take from his cure , he takes from it , and says , though there was a cough , yet it was not very troublesom . and yet to remove this forsooth , it pleased the mother , who might do what she pleased in this case , to send for another physician . but he seems to fear and doubt that this motive was yet too weak by it self , and therefore he strengthens it with a double prop : on the one side he suggests , that the mother was afraid of a consumption , but he tells the reader , this was a needless fear ; and indeed the mother says plainly that at that time she had no fear of a consumption : on the other side , he says , that the mothers sending for another physician , was because of the instigation of her uncle . now what else can be the meaning of all this winding and turning , this studied and forged preamble , but only to ward off and fence himself from having the imposture discovered of his pretended cure , as also the dissatisfaction of the mother in what he had done ; which might reflect either want of care , or art in him : and lastly , to bring in with advantage the scroll of accusations against alius medicus , who yet ( say some ) must not answer them . objections answered against my writing this book . obj. 1. it is not seemly for one physician to write against another . resp . let the blame therefore lye at his door that began first ; se defendendo , self-preservation is the other's sufficient excuse . it was very unseemly in him , especially without any warning , or just provocation , to publish me in print for one that had neither skill in a disease , nor did understand the method of cure ; but is it unseemly for me to shew my skill and method , if i have any ? no man can deny , but that it was very unhandsom in him , to throw dirt upon me , either privately , or publickly ; and is it any unhandsomness in me to wipe it off ? he ought not to have vented slanders ; but will any one say , that i ought not to vindicate my reputation , or that it is unseemly , because by doing it i write against another physician ? which of necessity i must do , if i will write for my self . i confess , it is with much regret that i come forth at all , and i have given my adversary the advantage of some seeming reproach , though it deserves rather commendation , that my answer was not out sooner ; it might have been , but my unwillingness to write against him that i knew was obnoxious , made me wait many months , to see if he would use any means to prevent me , but in vain ; and therefore now at last that i do write against him , it is the less unseemly . and since there is no profession whatsoever , that can boast of all its professors , that they are good , i hope no man will think the worse of physick if by this book i make discovery , that even amongst physicians themselves , there are some sometimes sick of this epidemick disease ; whose cause yet doth not belong unto the art they study , but unto the corrupt and depraved nature of mankind in general . obj. 2. wise men love neither to be patern , nor patron of any controversie . resp . as i need not fear my being at any time patron , so , all things seriously considered , i hope i am not yet a patern of any controversie ; for , if i had not thought , that what i have writ is so home and plain , and so fully proved , as probably to end our controversy , i would not have printed it . though of necessity i have touched upon some points controverted in physick , ( or else i could not have answered his accusations ) yet matters of fact are that which i contend for with mr. loss ; whether he or i speak truth in what we have writ ; matters of dispute are endless and foolish : and i have so little pleasure in beating the air , and so small confidence of my opinion being better than his , or any others , that i should hardly have shript cross or pile for the mastery in a wrangling dispute ; much less should i have taken these pains meerly to have spun out a fine thread , wherewith to make a cob-web to catch flies . obj. 3. mr. loss having not named me , i needed not to have been concerned at his book . resp . he neither doth , nor can deny he meant me , if therefore i should shufle off my answer , upon this frivolous pretence , prudens sciens vivus vidensque pereo , i see the snare , and go into it , and am willingly taken in the very gin that he hath set for me . this is it that he would be at : he would have me beholden , to him forsooth , to save my credit , who seems to me the only adversary that hath made it his business to ruin it . alius medicus is a vizard-mask of his making , and he wisheth none other than that i should be so much a fool , as to wear it , for when he please he can look under it , and when he lists he can pull it off , and discover who this alius medicus is . but because mr. loss himself hath made this objection , and several of his friends at dorchester ; i shall be somewhat large in my answer thereunto . had mr. loss named truth , and not named me , i should have had good reason to have acknowledged his great civility , in suffering my guiltiness to have passed incognito ; but if any one commends his charity , for thinking thus to conceal my reproach ; let him if he can , excuse his folly in so doing . he names the patient , and her parentage , the town , yea the house where she lay sick ; and with what wit could he imagine to cover me with this net , which every one could look through ? he should not have medled with me at all ; for , faintly to shadow me over , was the only way to make the people the more inquisitive , and the discovery the more acceptable ; for publick slanders , as well as private whisperings , never spread more , than when they are delivered by way of secret . if this alius medicus were as much a stranger to me , as is he whom i never saw or heard of , yet being i am able to prove , that the matters of fact whereof he is accused , are false , and that the errours laid against him in his art , are false likewise ; i ought in charity to him , and out of a just indignation against mr. loss , to write against him , if it were but only to defend truth , and to be vertuously angry with falsehood , and with so base an act and injury , as is not sufferable to be offered , no not to the shadow of another physician , though he had in him no substance to defend himself . but i find that alius medicus is very near me , and my very good friend ; one that i am confident would have scorn'd to have dealt thus with mr. loss ; and therefore i have no reason to see him injured , neither ought i to desert his cause . if mr. loss was so civil to name me alius medicus , i have likewise been as civil to put forth my book under the same name , and i think the courtesy of each is much alike . there are many reasons why , out of respects unto himself , mr. loss would not name me . it would have been too gross and palpable , and have smelt over-rankly of his own malice , if he should have told the world by name which of his neighbours was so ignorant in his art. it would have some-ways necessitated him to have named my degree also , with which probably he did not care to honour me ; because himself had never taken any ; and formerly said so of me also . it would have been too high a provocation , not to have been suffered without a reply . it puts courage even into a very coward to fight , when there is no way to escape ; lest therefore i should be forced to answer , and might discover his falsehood and dishonesty , having done my work for me as he thought , that he might hear no more of me nor be troubled with me , he craftily leavs open a rat-hole , for me and my credit dishonourably to creep out at , and this was in not-naming me . it would have made his accusations , which probably he knew too weak to bide a test , more strictly examined , and enquired into ; whereas laying them against an ignotum caput , they are better passed over , and easier consented unto . it might have disobliged others as well as me ; worthy gentlemen , justices of the peace , and persons of good repute and estate , many of them in and about dorchester , to whom i have had the honour to be related by the marriage of my wife , and for whose sakes , ( not leaving the city , before that first left me no house or home ) i have been contented with a retired life . i say , some of these , upon such an open and bare-fac't affront , might not only have been angry with him , but have sit upon his skirts for the abuse . but besides all this , i ask any one that would not have me answer mr. loss , whether then , my silence will not more condemn me with most , that have or may take notice of it , than his speech ? for notwithstanding his accusations , i may yet answer for my self and be heard ; but if i do not appear to answer , i therein bear witness for him , against my self ; either that his accusations are true , or that i am as pittiful as he represents me , if having truth on my side , i cannot yet answer for my self : for who will not say i would , if that i could ? obj. 4. being his book is in latin , my answer ought to be in latin also . resp . this i confess hath been objected unto me not only by mr. loss ( in his latin epistle to me , which i have printed , where he sticks not to tell me in a manner to my face ( as he hath also vapored over others ) that i cannot write latin ) but by others also : to whom i reply ; besides what i have said in my epistle dedicatory , that i had rather that any one who please , should think me not able to write latin , ( because i know i could have done it when i was but yet a kings-scholar at westminster , ) than that any english-man should so much as hear of such accusations against me in print , for my ignorance in the faculty i profess , and not be able to read a full answer unto him in english . it 's true , to write latin well is an accomplishment very desireable and commendable , and that by which mr. loss i think hath principally got the credit of being a scholar , sending abroad upon all occasions his latin epistles , to such as he thought might understand better than answer them ; and hereby publishing himself , for no low hedg-doctor , or pittiful pretender to physick , that knows not well perhaps how to write true english ; but for an highdutch-man rather , that can write true latin. but for all this , i say , that it is not the sibboleth or shibboleth , of a scholar or no scholar , to be able to write latin , witness any one that please to read this gentleman's latine medicinal observations . depth of learning hath not always , yea , it seldom hath readiness of utterance , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and eloquence , are often wanting to the profoundest clarks . a grave professor of physick , that was my tutor beyond sea , told me , that he had once a patient which in her sickness when the heat of her fever had elevated her spirits , talked so elegantly and learnedly about various subjects , as they came into her phantasie , that he went many times on purpose to sit by ▪ and hear her , who when she grew well again , was a very dolt . and which is yet stranger , i am told of one in dorset-shire , that in a fever spake a language never understood before , nor since , nor then i think : and look , as i am not able to give a full and rational account of these instances , no more can i describe that particular crasis or temperament of brain , whereby germans do generally more naturally as it were write and speak latin . and look as poeta nascitur non fit , so i am prone to think some are born more adapt to this or that language than others . but when all is done , language is the shell only , and not the kernel of learning , from which it differs as much , as speaking from doing . and since mr. loss hath as it were sent me a challenge by scandalizing me in print , for one ignorant in my faculty , and guilty of several errors ; i think it is of right due to me to make choice of my weapon ; and why should i choose that which he should be most skilful at , and contend with a school-master about a piece of latin ? it will serve my turn , if in any language i can be too hard for him . yet even in latin also i have promised to him an answer to his reply , if it doth deserve it ; for these things i write in english , deserve not to be told in latin to scholars , they are so ordinary : in the mean time , whilst the innocency of my cause makes me not ashamed to plead it before all , even any one that can but understand english ; let mr. loss brag , that he hath covered the guiltiness of his , by writing only unto some english , in latin. obj. 5. writing english , i needed not to have spoke so plain resp . if i do it not to the purpose , it is to no purpose what i do : the dorchester-world will not believe any thing amiss in their saint and oracle , who had his tripos near fourty years amongst them , unless it be spoken so plain , that neither he nor they can excuse it , and perhaps not then neither . and mr. loss , if fair means would have brought him to a private treaty , and a giving me satisfaction for the wrongs he had done me , i should never have attempted it by storm , and to take what satisfaction i could my self , by coming forth in print . some men when they err , they do but nod a little and forget themselves , such are easily awaked with a word or two , and they come to themselves quietly and without noise : but others , like this gentleman , are lethargick and apoplectical in sin ; and there is no making of such sensible of their faults , without incisions and causticks ; ad ignem enim & ferrum confugiendum est : when such a viper stings a man in his credit and reputation , i know no better cure , than to catch him if one can , and pound him , and clap him to the sore , until he hath sucked back and reimbibed the poison , which himself first spit forth . obj. 6. after i have done , vncharitableness and envy will be the censure of my undertaking ; and more strife and trouble the fruit of it . resp . if it proves so , i shall be sorry , though it is not my fault , that people will censure as they please : but let me instance a little against such censure of my being uncharitable in this undertaking . is an honest traveller uncharitable , that pursuing a dishonest thief that robb'd him of the best of his goods , such as he had no mind to lose ; brings him to open shame and condign punishment ? is a defendent uncharitable , if by telling his story , and producing his witness to clear himself , the injurious plaintif , that perhaps hath passed many years for a very honest and godly man , be proved to be quite another in open court ? is a chirurgeon uncharitable , that finding an imposthume ripe , lanceth it ; because forsooth by this means the corruption comes forth , appears , and shews it self , even to the nauseousness of the beholders ? if any of these be uncharitable , then am i. but if this gentleman suffers no more than his guilt deserves , if he falls into that very pit which he digged for another ; if with his own hands he hath pulled down upon his own head , that mischief which no man intended him , and which no man could have brought upon him , but with his own assistance ; if climbing higher than his reach , he hath missed his footing and got a fall ; if talking too eagerly and too open-mouth'd against another , he hath let slip the bead and his vizard-mask be fallen off : if by robbing the neigbouring bees of their credit , sweeter unto them than honey , he hath got a swarm about his ears , and whilst some others buz only and strike at him , some one perchance stings him ; whom hath he to thank for all this but himself ? for my part , i do not think that charity unto my neighbour doth in all cases oblige me to be uncharitable unto my self , and suffer my own reputation unvindicated ; what charity requires of me , to sacrifice my credit and my practice , as an offa unto cerberus , as a morsel to be devoured , and eaten up by the envy of an ill-natur'd person ? charity says i must not vaunt my self , but must i not therefore vindicate my self ? i must think no evil , what , not when i see it in legible characters and in print ? when i hear it , and know it , and feel it ? i must be without dissimulation ; therefore as real love needs no counterfeit , so real hatred of evil practices needs no cover , and i publickly own it . i must not seek my own , not by a huckstering kind of way projecting for gain , without love to vertue ; but may i not seek my own when it is lost , or keep my credit from his ravishing , that would unworthily wrest it from me , and deflour it ? i must bear all things , that ought to be born , not that can be born ; charity is not an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a sottish insensibility , but a meek and well-grounded suffering of such things as are an exercise of vertue : but what vertue is it i pray , to let another stab me , or rob me , or defame me , if it be in my power to help my self ? i must not revenge — quippe minuti semper & infirmi animi est exiguique voluptas , vltio . juv. but i suppose such a revenge is only spoken against , when i do another hurt , and my self none other good than that which results from the poor and low satisfaction , of having done another hurt . but had it not been to have vindicated my self , i would never have ventured my credit to have hazarded his . i must not envy . but here i presume ought to be remembred , that there is a double envy , the one a vertue , the other a vice , and yet both are compounded of sorrow and hatred . the verruous envy is a natural passion implanted in us by the god of nature , whereby we condole the undeserved sufferings of a good man , or the immerited prosperity of a wicked man ; and this is a branch of justice , for whatsoever is undeserved is unjust ; this is properly that which is called indignation , and this sort of envy i own . the wicked envy is a sorrow at , and a hatred of another man's happiness , be it never so much deserved , or honestly acquired . and from this let mr. loss quit himself if he can , in what he hath writ in this observation concerning me . touching the further strife and trouble which my writing this book may occasion , it will be i hope only between mr. loss and me ; and as he likes of it , so am i likewise resolved to comport with it . 2. his narrative of the second case the charge that he brings in against alius medicus , is either for 1. what he said ; or for 2. what he did . the particulars against what he said are three . 1. that he accused all that had been done . 2. that he blamed in particulrr the neglect of bleeding her by lancet . 3. that he should say , the bleeding of her by leeches was of no moment . the particulars against what he did , are these that do relate either to his bleeding or purging of her . in his bleeding of her , he is condemned in no less than all the four requisites unto the right administration of that noble remedy . as ; 1. that the time was not seasonable ; for he did it on the sixth day of the disease , when the fever and other symptoms were gone . 2. that the place was mistaken , it should have been in the left arm , but he did it on the right . 3. that the manner was erroneous ; it ought to have been done by leeches , and he did it by lancet . 4. that the quantity of the blood taken away , was either too much or too little . in his purging of her were these faults . 1. that he did purge her at all ; for he was against it . 2. that he purg'd her on the seventh day . 3. that the purge was so slight a business , as is powder of sena . 3. his judgment on the second case . having seriously considered , gravely and judiciously weighed all those bad symptoms above-mentioned in the narrative , mr. loss passeth a double judgment upon alius medicus . 1. that the disease he was sick of , was the simples ; for he had neither method nor reason for what he did . 2. that the external cause , was , ne nihil fecisse videretur . the motive was , that he might not seem to do nothing . the truth is , this gentleman lost the reputation of curing this patient , both in the family where she lay sick , and with her mother and other relations ; and therefore to heal himself , he makes alius medicus to be sick , and this he doth in latin , which he wot well few or none of them that knew my innocency could understand . his design seems to have been to make out to scholars , the unreasonableness of their opinion who attributed the cure to alius medicus , and did not side with him in his judgment ; for this purpose he patcheth up a relation according to his phantasie , concealing some things , and forging others , that it might pass plausibly with persons that knew no more of the case , than what he hath set down : and i must confess ingenuously , that if i were my self a stranger to these matters , and had known no more than what mr. loss hath told , i could not deny , but that alius medicus must pass for an ass ; for what less can he be , that practiseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & sine ratione . but what an ass mr. loss hath found him , let him hereafter publish at large . in the interim let him read over that of the wise man : he that is first in his own cause seemeth just , but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out . touching the procatarctick cause of the ilness of alius medicus , mr. loss fetcheth it from one of the six non-naturals , his passionate desire to appear to do something , and his great unwillingness to seem to do nothing . ne nihil fecisse videretur , hath in the belly of it the spawn of many other accusations ; as if alius medicus was so covetous , that rather than not let in a fee into his own purse , he would let out his patient's blood , though the fever and other symptoms , and pleurisie were gone ; and rather hazard her life , than her money : as if alius medicus had such base and low thoughts of this patient's friends , who were nobly generous , that he feared being sent for , that if he did nothing he should have nothing : as if he were in a manner knavishly cunning ; some slying report or other had encouraged mrs. moore to send for him , and lest she should repent herself , by finding that he was a person that could neither say nor do , craftily he resolves upon both , and says this and that against mr. loss , and does this and that , and tampers with the patient when there was no need , for she was cured before : as if , as cunning as he would seem , he was in truth but a simple fool that would venture gold against counters , his patient's life and his own credit , to have the reputation of a cure which was wrought before he was sent for : as if he were cross-grain'd and self-will'd , and loved to be opposite ; galen and mr. loss said , she must not be bled by lancet ; but therefore he will have her bleed by lancet , and put her to the trouble and smart of it , without any need : as if he were very unhandsome , if not right-down dishonest towards mr. loss . he good man , with great diligence and lucky success upon his industry , had upon the matter cured this patient ; the mother indeed , out of a mistaken fear of a consumption , and to gratify the importunity and instigation of her uncle , did send for another physician ; but there was nothing for him to do , and yet to lessen mr. loss his reputation , and cunningly to to share in the cure , if not also to run away with all the credit of it ; alius medicus under a pretence of doing something , unworthily undoes what mr. loss had done , and no question had injured the patient as well as the physician ; but that her strength of body , and his strength of wit and parts , scorned it . i do not doubt but mr. schoolmaster thought that this was a rod made up of many twigs , a whip of several cords , and that with it he hath lashed and paid off alius medicus to the purpose . but the best is he doth not feel it smart yet , for in these mr. loss hath only beaten the air and himself . ne nihil fecisse videretur , in all these senses is still sensless by being false . — has lossie culpas , emendare omnes una litura potest . mauger these many faults , with ease a pen , by one cross dash , sets all to rights agen . and i know , that when alius medicus was sent for , there was great necessity of doing something , and that all that mr. loss had done before was in effect nothing . 4. his relation of the event . he could not help it , he was forced to pass this favourable report of what alius medicus had done , that it did the patient no harm : for he could not well invent what harm to name it ; and he thought he could not easily be believ'd , because in less than a week , the patient that was thought dying when alius medicus was sent for , was so well as to come down into the dauncing-school , and her mother carried her home in the country , where for ought i know she hath been well ever since . but mr , loss is by no means willing that the reader should mistake this event , as if it were caused by any thing that alius medicus did ; and therefore he hath provided a treble bolt and double lock to shut him out from any such interpretation , as is observable in these five particulars following . 1. he benigns the disease , and is content rather to abate a little of the brag of his own cure than that this patient's recovery should be an occasion whereby alius medicus should by any body be thought worthy of being taken notice of . the nature , saith he , of this disease was benign , and it was so mild and gentle , that in a manner it went off of it self . 2. he attributes the main of that cure which was unto himself , and that before he makes any mention of alius medicus . 3. he will have the great sweat , which indeed perfected the cure , to be spontaneous ; forgetting that it was occasioned by his allowing her to drink beer after her purging , against my order , and that there-upon she fell sick again , and that by bleeding and purging a great portion of the burden which she groaned under being remov'd , nature became mistress of the disease , and drove the remains forth by sweat. 4. he passeth a direct sentence against alius medicus , that all his proceedings were immethodical and irrational , enough to satisfie the reader fully , that he had no share in the cure. 5. he magnifies the strength of nature in this young lady ; had it not been for this , alius medicus was so far from doing good , that he had done her hurt . it seems he would have hurt her but she would not be hurt . it seems also that by continuation of her sickness , whereas others grow weaker and weaker , until they be upon recovery ; she wonderfully grew stronger and stronger : for in the beginning of her sickness mr. loss says she was too weak to bear bleeding by lancet ; and yet on the sixth day , though it was done irrationally , her strength was greater than to prize it . on the seventh by no means would he admit , if he could have helpt it , that she should be purged ; no question he thought it very dangerous for so weak a body , and in such a disease , and at such a time ; but afterwards , notwithstanding such mad bleeding , and purging , and such voluntary large sweating , enough one would think to have made a well body sick ; she was so strong , she contemned all , and of sick grew well . if here be not contradictions , let the reader judg . 5. alius medicus his method of cure. he knows but of two ways of answering his adversary . 1. to produce sufficient witness to prove matters of fact. 2. to answer unto every particular accusation with reason and art. it hath been a custom with me , especially in patients or diseases of more than ordinary remark , to keep a diary of my practice , partly for my patients sake , that i may the better understand what should be done for them , or what at any time i have done that they found good in ; partly for my own sake , that i might have the surer foundation to build my experience upon in physick . but i little dreamt of making this further advantage in my journal of this case of young mrs. moore , as by it to help to prove particulars very material unto my own case ; and to satisfie both my self and others that what i depose , is not out of my memory , whose unfaithfulness might betray me unto mistakes , but out of my papers , which i then writ , even the day when i was first called unto this patient , which was thursday the 29 th of april 1669. examining them and mr. loss his book , i find our notes did not agree , and although i do not know why my papers produced , should not be as authentick for me , as is a shop-book for a trades-man ; yet in this case , i thought it more prudent to get some other testimony , than to confide in the evidence of my own papers alone . for i did not know but mr. loss might have taken notes too , and if so , what stranger could judg whether his or mine were true ? knowing therefore that it would be to no purpose to go about to build without a foundation , and to vindicate my self from his slanders , without i could produce sufficient witness for matters of fact ; i bethought my self of writing this letter to mrs. moore to whom i have dedicated my book , because she is a witness not to be excepted against , as appears by what i have said of her in my epistle dedicatory . madam , i humbly beg your pardon , if for my satisfaction i give you the trouble of returning me a particular answer unto these few queries concerning your daughter's being sick at dorchester . is her name elizabeth ? was she sick in autumn ? was her pain in her side and her cough in a manner gone when i was sent for ? was your sending for me , for fear of a consumption , and at the instance of your vncle ? did i accuse what mr. loss had done ? was her fever and other symptoms gone when i bled her ? was the purge i gave her powder of sena ? your resolves unto these questions will highly oblige madam , your very humble servant . the answer . sir , yov may well think me very ungrateful , that i have so long been silent ; had i received your letter sooner than last night , i should have before this time answered your reasonable desire . my daughter's name , which the lord made you an instrument of preserving from the grave , is bridget . her sickness to my best remembrance , was either in march or april . the pain in her side continued extreamly violent , her cough as those that have a touch of a pleurisie continued very much , in so much as i was highly displeased that she had never had any pectoral drinks ; and i ordered the apothecary's servant to make some and bring it me , before i got any rest my self . my sending for you , was not to satisfy my vncle ; but to discharge my duty : not being satisfied with what had been done before your coming . i did not at all at that time fear a consumption . i must profess you never to my knowledg censured mr. loss , or accused him of any thing : but did very modestly desire me not to employ you , telling me you feared what would happen . i know you met with some discouragements by language , but you granted my request in taking no notice of it . the day when you bled her , she was so ill , as i and all the family despaired of her life ; and i remember i asked both your self and mr. loss , if no more were to be done ? you told me , that unless a purge relieved her , you could not tell what to say ; only you had hopes that the scurvy was much of her distemper , and that gave you hopes that she might do very well again , if mr. loss would consent unto a gentle one , that you might try her . he was very stifly against it , and i remember i thus said , i will try it , my child is a dead child in your account , and i will do my utmost for her . the purge was a small quantity of holland powder , with half an ounce of manna ( in a draught of pectoral decoction ) mr. loss was so angry that he went from me and left her when she had taken it , which was no small trouble to me ; you stayed with me . within half an hour she fell into a quiet sleep , and slept one hour and a half ; she then awoke , and vomited and purged , and then slept again ; and so after that she had two or three stools more : she presently revived , but being admitted to drink a draught of beer with a toast , ( this she hath told me since her letter , was by mr. loss his order ) grew ill again for two or three hours , then fell into a very great sweat , and did never burn after , or had any light speeches ; and her vrin was much better . i bless the lord i brought her home with me in one week : she hath confessed since , that she got her distemper , by an extraordinary over-much heating of her blood at play , and drinking cold beer . she is yet alive , and with my self gives you her thankful service for your very great care of her . your very humble servant , elizabeth moore . alius medicus his answer unto all mr. loss his accusations . to the first . he after the manner of many others , accusing all that had been done . i conceive that there may be two reasons , why he hath set this in the front of all his other accusations . 1. that he might imitate the craft of some females , who cry whore first , and thereby make me the aggressor and first beginner of the quarrel ; which is a matter of no small consequence in the case . 2. that disarming me of my innocence , he might usher in a more easie belief of my being guilty of what he had to say against one that was so undeserving a person . forasmuch as backbiting and slander , were the true impulsive cause that drove me with indignation to write this book ; not only against this gentleman , but all other high , and yet low-spirited false and selfish physicians , that are guilty of this uncharitable and base practice . before i give my direct answer to this first accusation , i shall take leave ; 1. to aggravate the fault , and shew a little its unhandsomness and unworthiness . 2. to give some instances of mr. loss his thus dealing with me ; whom yet he thus accuseth . the unhandsomness of any one physician 's backbiting or slandering another physician . it was but a little since urged , that it is unseemly for one physician to write against another ; but how great is the unseemliness when they backbite and slander one another ? to speak ill of another behind his back ; it is a cowardly trick , it comes behind a man and strikes him , as those do that are fuller of malice than manhood ; with this advantage , a coward may conquer the stoutest champion , and be sole victor when he thus fights alone ; though indeed this is not to fight but to destroy . it is a treacherous perfidious trick , this gentleman tells me in his latin letter , that he loves me , and honours me , and what not ? and yet behind my back , he not only slights , but slanders me . an open and bare-faced hostility , is like it self , always held commendable , for its fortitude and valour , strength and prowess ; but whisperings and backbitings are a treacherous poison , deadly , but not seen ; felt to the purpose in the evil effects , but not easily found out ; for what is delivered as a secret , must be kept as such ; and those that are willing to entertain evil thoughts of any one , will never go and tell him out of love , who suggested them ; and if by bandying , it comes about to the ears of him that is slandered , they that tell it him , probably cannot , at least commonly will not , prove it , and produce witness for what they hear say : for who will be so faithful as to give himself the trouble or inconvenience of making the slanderer his enemy , by discovering and proving him such to his face for another's good ; for few i think are so conscientious as to think themselves concerned in their neighbour's credit ; and that in charity they are bound when they can , as much to vindicate his reputation as their own . it 's below a gentleman of any parts or abilities . he that can work out his own fortune and raise himself , what need he take the advantage-ground to stand upon another's ruine ? it 's below a physician that hath but common honesty and ingenuity ; his business is to do what he can towards the saving of his patient's life , not to do what he can towards the stabbing of another physician 's credit ; his practice should lead him to the charity of curing sick bodies , not to the uncharitableness of making sick minds , by wounding men in their reputation . it 's infinitely below a christian , and gives that man the lye , notwithstanding all his loud noise and profession of godliness and piety , that thus wants charity to his neighbour . it is unreasonable ; for why should one condemn another before he hath answered for himself ? and what doth the censurer know what worth may be in the censured ? if he be sure he be ignorant , is it reasonable therefore to divulg it , and to shame him for that which perhaps he cannot help ? no ; let him rather pitty him , and help him up , than stamp upon him because he is already on the ground ; let him commend him in what is commendable , and let the other alone ; he wants buoying up of his reputation , which of it self without loading will sink fast enough . if one doth not well , well is it for the other if he can do better in the profession ; let him mend the others faults what he can , not make them worse : if he be so able , let him rectify the other in his judgment , that he may do more good in his calling , not vilify him that he may be able to do none at all , neither to himself nor others . and why should it not be as well one mans due to live by his profession as anothers ? why should not either , have as good a repute in the world as he can get ? and he that will labour doth he not deserve his bread ? and why should he not eat it ? if either be the better deserving , it should be so in others opinion , not in their own ; and he that hath received most should be most humble , as being most endebted , and as sitting higher than those that deserve as well . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . every sin is an act of ignorance : and it is pitty , but it cannot be help't , that any physician should be esteem'd of as the better physician for being the worser man ; for bragging and vapouring of himself , and vilifying others ; whereby he plainly manifests that he is more wickedly ignorant . it is a villanous trick . private slander is a sort of civil gun-powder , that blows up whole families at once ; he that thus robs a man of his practice , ( though i thank god it is not my case ) may sometimes with him famish his wife and children ; and he deserves their curses against him , as well as their cryes . lastly , it is a dangerous trick both to the slandered and to the slanderer . to the slandered , because it strikes at his credit , which is precious , easily lost , and hardly if ever recovered . 1. it 's precious ; life is precious , but a good name is better than life , especially if livly-hood also goes away with it , as it is many times seen , when a slander falls upon a man in a profession , and for it : for external repute is many times of far greater consequence than internal worth . how many are there that with small parts make a great bustle in the world ; if their reputation stands but fair , and they themselves be but industrious in their way , affable and obliging in their carriage ; whereas great parts if they be once cried down by slanders , they can hardly hold boat to wind , or keep their heads above water . 2. it 's easily lost . credit is indeed of great worth , but it is very delicate . it is like a flower , delightful to look on , pleasant to smell to , and it may be of excellent medicinal use , but it is easily sullied and deflowred , and when once whithered , for 3. the most part it is gone , and lives no more : it is like a venice-glass , bright and clear ; but withal fragile , and if once crackt , though it may be sodred or plaistred and serve for some use , yet it is despised , undervalued , and in a manner fit for nothing . credit to men in a profession , is like virginity to women ; it enhanseth their price and just esteem mightily ; but if it once be lost , how shall it be retriev'd ? people are as ready to catch at slanders , as slies are to light upon a gal'd place ; and they have their impudence to come again , be they never so often beaten off . when a slander hath once taken air , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , who is able to stop or stay its wild-fire from doing mischief ? it 's like a poisoned arrow , if it once fetcheth blood , who can keep it from infecting or tainting the heart ? a man can never therefore be too careful of his credit , he must keep it as the apple of his eye , many times guarding it when there is no hurt near , but always defending it when it is in danger . to the slanderer ; for it 's fourty to one , but sometime or other murder will out , and slander also . i cannot easily sit down and imagine with my self any person so impregnable , so next to impossible to be discovered and convicted , as was mr. loss : for being near fourty years a practiser of physick in one place , he hath had the opportunity of doing courtesies and kindnesses to most about him , and hath thereby gained their good will , and being all along a great professor of religion amongst those that are perhaps really good , and apt to think others so likewise , he hath gained an easie belief , that whatsoever he says is true ; and yet this oracle of physick , this piece of starch't honesty and religion , to speak against whom one told me , was all one as to set my shoulders to heave an house-end , will probably in any place besides dorchester , and possibly there also be reputed for another person than he was taken for ; for if i mistake not , his passions have so at length befool'd him , that his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , his meash of denying things being now stopt , quia litera scripta manet , what no man else possibly could have done , he himself i think hath effected , in the discovering of his own slanders , not of me only , but of many other physicians also , and apothecaries . instances of mr. loss his slandering of alius medicus . some six years since i was sent for to a person of quality not far from dorchester , mr. loss his patient ; who notwithstanding all that was done for her , continued many days under the torturing pains of a scorbutick collick ; i then told him , that in my opinion it was high time to give her some ease by an opiate medicin , for which she was not yet too weak : he opposed my advice , for fear forsooth that any thing which had opium in it should further impact the morbifick matter . i argued that symptoma urgens did indicate as a cause impairing her strength , which without ease given could not well hold out , until the conjunct cause of the disease should be removed ; and besides , that whilst nature was thus on the rack and in a rage , no physick that should remove the peccant humor , could work or have its due operation ; for nature must first work on it , and she was at present otherwise employed : but to take off all doubt , i told him that my purpose was to have respect at once both to her strength & the morbifick matter , for i purposed that she should take the laudanum in a purging bolus ; with some reluctancy he at last consented ; the event was , that it calmed the enraged archaeus , as the chymists love to speak , and stopped the violent fermentation of the humors , and having first given her great ease , it afterwards gently carried off good part of the morbifick matter , but not all ; for within a small time , the remains , and what was new generated , began again to ferment afresh , and her torments did return , insomuch , that early in the morning whilst we were both of us in bed together , she sent up her servant to acquaint us with the sadness of her condition ; mr. loss that had intimated unto me a little before , that i need not be too diligent , my pay would not be answerable , speaking thus of a family he hath got many a score pounds by , begins now to give me himself for an example of that rule he would needs instruct mein ; let the lady therefore toss & tumble and cry out for pain , i saw he could lie q●ietly and at his ease in bed and let me get up in a cold winter-morning , though it was to mind our patient's ease more than my own . i found her very ill , and by such means as were at hand in her closet next her chamber , reposited there i suppose chiefly for charitable uses , she her self by the blessing of god received such help and so great benefit in this her extremity , as pleased her so well , that she bade me write down her name in my book for the best patient i ever had , being a sort of promise that she would be so : and some hours after , when mr. loss was got up and come into her chamber , in my hearing , she bade him get out of her sight , she could not endure him ; if this gentleman , said she , had not arose and come to me , i might have perished for all you . and this i think was the foundation and first beginning of his quarrelling with me : for finding how things went , and what an interest i had gained in this patient , he begins to think it high time to look about him ; and reflecting with himself that some of her nearest relations were still his fast friends as well as old acquaintance , for he had been about twenty years a physician to the family , and i never there before ; he takes the opportunity of the next returning of her pains , for neither yet was the disease wholly extirpated , and then when grief and sadness had again seized the family , whilst i was yet in the house , behind my back he makes his complaint to the husband and mother-in-law , of my irrational proceedings ; insinuating , as if what i had done that morning when he kept his bed , was the repeating of some opiate which had impacted the morbifick matter , and was the cause of these her returning torments , adding more expresly words to this purpose , that i had already done more than i could answer , and that if they did not set a spy upon me , i would kill her , i was so venturous : and accordingly forthwith a spy was set to see that i medled not , or mixed any thing for the patient . no question but this good man saw in his bed , if not in his sleep , what medicines i took down in the ladies closet , and how i ordered them ; or else the nurse guessed at them , and told him . but a gentleman of good credit , whom i can name , told me , that he heard him speak to the husband and mother , these things he said of me behind my back . whereupon i went to her mother , and told her , that i understood what mr. loss had said of me , and that as her daughters life was in hazard , which was dear to her , so was my credit also which was dear to me ; upon both accounts i desired her to send for a third physician . he when he came approved of what i had done , but the husband would not believe him , so much had mr. loss frighted him with my venturousness , until that third physician brought with him the next day dr. willis his book de scorbuto then newly come forth , and shewed therein the medicine in effect which i had given , with this commendation , that nothing was like it in such a case as this was , to preserve life ; and then the husband told me i was in the right , but still my spy was continued upon me , though it 's like the young lady knew it not , so much i think were her relations afraid , lest the physician , whom yet probably for the patients sake who applauded me , they would not let go , should yet hurt her by his stay . but although mr. loss had thus manacled my hands , yet i was not so disingenuous towards him , but helped to contrive a way how to give him his liberty of acting what he had a mind to , which otherwise he could not have had . nothing was so proper in his judgment , as fomenting of the part ; i asked him , in what time he thought this would give her ease ? in four or six hours replied he , if she will lie quiet , who yet , alas , would hardly lie still so many minutes . but to further his satisfaction , and to help forward the use of his fomentation , i used this stratagem . the young lady had found so much ease by the opiate medicine , that nothing now would satisfie her , but she must have opium . i asked therefore her mother , if she had no pills in the house , and she brought me some mastich-pills , of some whereof i made very little pills , supposing with my self that the young lady would take them for laudanum ; as soon therefore as the fomentation was laid on , i gave her a pill , enjoyning her to lie as quiet as possibly she could , and compose her self to sleep , promising her another pill , if within one hour she slept not . thus beyond all expectation we kept her tolerably quiet , but not finding the effects of laudanum , she did find out i presume the honest cheat , and afterwards was disgusted with me also , as i then thought . not long after , the fomentations were again prepared , and that night mr. loss watch't ; the next morning very early , her servant comes up and awakes me , and tells me positively that her mistress was dead , but however i must rise and come to her master , and finding him not in his own chamber , i went unto his ladies , where i find the mother staying her daughter's head , which was quite limber , with one hand , and with the other rubbing her temples . mr. loss standing at the bedsfoot , and dooming that this was not syncope but mors. i that was prepossessed with her being dead , though i saw some little life ; yet looking upon it as the glimmering only of the sun going down : i took her husband aside into the next chamber , using such discourses as i thought i had been called unto : after a good while returning , and finding all things in their postures as before ; i began to think with my self that the case was not altogether desperate , and therefore went about to the other side of the bed and felt her pulse , and called up mr. loss and told him , if this were the pulse of a dying lady , i would never trust pulse more . he owned that it was not so very bad , but yet this was mors. i then asked leave , to lay my hand where her pain use to be , and she started ; calling therefore for two silver-spoons and the glass of cordial , i got some of it into her mouth , and by degrees she revived and is yet alive ; but neither she nor her husband did ever make use of me afterwards , though they had several times occasion for two physicians . not long after , i was called to a young maid in dorchester , not quite ten years old : when i came there , i learned that she was mr. loss his patient , but the mother would fain have had me undertaken her cure alone , but i would not do any thing before he was first sent for . her disease was a pleurisie , and i was for bleeding her , to which he would not give consent because she was not fourteen years old , perhaps because it was his fault it had not been done already . i modestly urg'd my reasons , but he uncivilly broke from me , and left me with this threat ; that i should take it upon my own shoulders . she did bleed , and did recover , but when he could not fasten any ill event upon me in the case , he yet possesses the parents with the unreasonableness of my practice , and how that their daughter would hardly ever recover my bleeding of her ; and i was never made use of more in that family . within a short time hapned this case of young mrs. moore , in which i met with some discouragements by language from mr. loss , but i passed them by ; yet after this patient was recovered , in which still he could not fasten any unluckiness of success behind my back again , he tells mrs. moore , ( for she her self told it me again , and will witness it , ) that she had great reason to give god thanks that her daughter fell into her great sweat , ( mark the piety of the man ) for otherwise i had killed her , ( mark his charity unto his neighbour , in one and the same breath ) : but she , better like a christian and a physician too , made this answer ; nay doctor i am not of your opinion , for if my daughter had not been bled and furg'd , how should nature have been able to have discharged the remains by sweat ? these cases , and another of a young gentleman , whom he had given over , that was afterward my patient , and is yet alive , following one the other so successfully , made mr. loss so heartily angry with me , that a while after , mr. baynard of cliff being ill , and not finding so much benefit as he wished for by what mr. loss had done for him , told him , ( for mr. baynard himself told it to me again ) that upon a settlement of but one piece of land , he used to have the advice of two or three lawyers ; and his life being more dear to him than his estate , he did desire , having heard a good report of me , that i might be joined in consultation with him : he answered , that he would not joyn with me any more , i had so abused him in the case of mrs. moore 's daughter ; he added also such vilifying words as mr. baynard cannot deny , and which i do not think fit to print , having by this book i hope sufficiently proved them false : but they prevailed then so , as to make me lose my patient . i could add other instances , but these are sufficient to prove mr. loss his slanderings of me , and the dammage i sustained by them in my practice , though i do not much matter that , for else i would never have lived thus retired ; and in my reputation also , but this i will not so easily part with , except i lose it in my vindication . and now after all this , to answer directly to this first accusation , i say ; i am not conscious of any unworthy slandering of this gentleman , and i have now owned in print more against him , than ever i related to any one in private , and i am ready to answer unto any particular wherein he shall say i have wronged him . touching this case , i knew his temper by those experiences above mentioned , which were before this young gentlewoman was sick , and therefore was so far from provoking him , that i desired mrs. moore to have me excused from medling in the case , for i was rather willing to have lost the profit of so generous a patient , than to have to do with her first physician : but it being the mother's earnest desire we should consult , i modestly proposed , and not magisterially , what i thought best , and told mrs. moore that i should not be honest , if being sent for to consult , i should not freely deliver what my judgment was ; but having so done , i did not desire that my opinion should out-ballance his , yea i pressed her not to follow my advice , but rather his ; urging that he was both an elder physician , and her old acquaintance : but she protesting before us both that in her judgment , i spoke more reason than he , sided with me against him whether i would or no , telling him then unto his face , that he must lay aside his prejudice ; which angred him i believe the more , and put him upon falling thus upon me in print . but this first accusation is evidently and plainly proved to be false , by witnesse , for it is matter of fact ; and who can better tell , whether i accused all that mr. loss had done than mrs. moore her self , who was present , and would be so to all our consultations ; and who says in her letter which i have yet to shew : i must profess , that you never to my knowledg censured mr. loss , or accused him of any thing ; that is , of what had been done . to his second accusation . especially that bleeding by lancet was neglected . though i did not accuse what was done , yet i could not advise bleeding of her by lancet , without tacitly blaming what was left undone . turning therefore this accusation of mr. loss from me upon himself , what i did not uncivilly before , i do now directly accuse him for , even that bleeding by lancet was neglected ; and the reasonableness hereof will appear in these three propositions well understood and prov'd . 1. a child under fourteen years old may be bled by lancet . 2. this gentlewoman , young mrs. moore , might have been bled by lancet . 3. mr. loss was to blame that she was not bled by lancet before the sixth day . 1. that a child under fourteen years old may be bled by lancet . this i prove three ways , by reason , by authority , and by experience . by reason . where there may be a plethora , be it quoad vasa , or quoad vires , there bleeding by lancet may be appointed , if weakness of strength do not contraindicate : but there may be a plethora , whether ad vasa or vires , in a child under fourteen years old , and yet no weakness of strength to contraindicate ; therefore a child under fourteen years old may be bled by lancet . if the strength do not contraindicate by being too weak , the age cannot , for that is a consideration subservient to strength , and it never prohibits bleeding but upon this account , that a person of such an age , is not able to bear so noble a remedy as bleeding by lancet . now some persons of ten , are as strong as others at fifteen ; and some at sixty as others at fifty . although therefore the consideration of tender age , and of evacuating much by insensible transpiration , ought to take place in a physicians enquiry after the strength of his patient ; yet if the strength be still good , the age is inconsiderable . sicut enim unum tantum ab una indicatur , it a unum uni tantum contraindicat ; and since , virium imbecillitas is the one contraindicans to venaesection , the age cannot be another contraindicans . by authority . riverius in his institutions lib. 5. part 1. sect. 3. cap. 3. answers directly unto mr. loss his quotation of galen touching this point , viz. vires in pueris sunt it a debiles , ut vix ferre queant venaesectionem , pueri enim corpus habent molle , tenerum , & patens , quod sponte suâ assidu● digeritur , & diffluit . ideo hippocr . 4. de victus ratione in morbis acutis , aetatem florentem cum magnitudine morbi & virium robore , ad sanguinis missionem requiri praecipit , quem sequutus galenus 11. meth. cap. 14. ante annum decimumquartum venam secare vetat . quod de pleniori illâ veteribus consuetâ vacuatione audiendum est , nam moderatam quae viribus & plenitudini aut par aut inferior sit omnis fere aetas ferre potest : si vegeta & robusta sit aetas enim non tam annorum numero , quam habitus & virium robere metienda est , quod eleganter celsus confirmavit lib. 2. cap. 10. antiqui , inquit , primam aetatem sustinere non posse hoc auxilii genus , judicabant , postea vero usus ostendit , potiores observationes adhibendas esse , ad quas dirigi curantis consilium debeat , interest enim non quae aetas sit , sed quae vires sint ; ideo firmus puer tuto curatur ; sic avenzoar filio suo trino se utiliter venam secuisse commemorat & nos plerunque experimur pueros 4to aut 5to anno aetatis a gravissimis morbis venaesectione liberari . strength in children is so weak that they can hardly bear opening of a vein : for children have a soft , tender , and patent body ; which daily and of it self digests and dissolves : therefore hippocrates in his 4 th of dyet in acute diseases , commands that there be required to the opening of a vein a flourishing age with the greatness of the disease and the strength of nature : and galen following him in his 11 th of meth. the 14 th chapter , forbids such bleeding before fourteen years of age . but saith riverius this is to be understood of that large bleeding so much in use amongst the ancients . for almost every age can bear that moderate bleeding , which is equal if not inferiour to the strength and plethora in the patient , if he be strong and lusty of his age. for age is not so much to be reckoned by the number of the years , as by the habit of body , and its strength . that which celsus elegantly confirms in chap. 10. book 2. the ancients ( says he ) were of opinion , that the first age of man could not bear this sort of remedy , but use afterward shewed , that there were other considerations more eligible , according unto which the advice of the physician ought to be directed . for the concern is not what a patient's age is , but what his strength is : therefore a strong child is safely cured . thus avenzoar makes mention of his successful bleeding his own son at three years old ; and we find by experience , that children of four or five years old do by bleeding most commonly escape dangerous diseases . the same author likewise , in his praxis and chapter of a pleurisie , says thus : adeo necessaria est venaesectio in principiò , ut nunquam omitti debeat , nedum in sene , puero , gravidâ puerpera , & menstruas purgationes patienti , docuit ènim experientia , hisce omnibus utilissimam fuisse venaesectionem presente hoc morbo . so necessary is opening of a vein in the beginning of a pleurisie , that it must never be omitted , no not in an old man , or child , or woman with child , or that hath her terms : for experience doth teach us , that in all these in this disease , opening of a vein hath been most profitable . by experience . it is not long since that i knew a girle not five years old , that fell into an atrophy , a meer wasting and pining away , without any symptoms of a consumption or phthisis ; she was too young forsooth to be bled , and all other means were to no purpose , for she died , and upon the opening of her body , her liver was found so largely grown , as to out-weigh the spleen seventeen times . now whether the liver be the fons sanguinis , or the heart , or neither , but that every bowel contributes its office towards the making of the blood , yet since the liver by separating the choler into the gall , sweetens the blood much , and that sweetness helps to increase both liver and blood , as also doth the absence of the acid ferment from the spleen ; and i am prone to think , that the helluo the blood eat her up , and caused such an over-fast growing of the liver , as starved the spleen and other parts . should another such a case offer it self of such a plethora , would any rational man forbid bleeding until the child were fourteen years old , of which there is no likelyhood it should live until seven ? i am sure i did not in a brother to this sister , about seven years old , that not long after was treading in her steps , and making haste apace unto the same end ; but being forwarned , i bled him , and i never saw more advantage by bleeding befal a man , than hapned unto this child ; his recovery was so speedy and his health so good ever since , as those then about him can witness . i might instance also in the two above-mentioned experiences , wherein mr. loss himself can bear me witness of successfulness of bleeding under fourteen years of age. yet by all this which i have said , i do not mean that i would encourage any physician to be rash and venturous , one that should hand-over-head pell-mell bleed all younger patients as readily as men , without due consideration of their tender age : but i only urge from what i have written , that there may be a time , wherein it may be necessary to bleed a child by lancet under fourteen years old . 2. that this gentlewoman , young mrs. moore might be bled by lancet . here were several indications for bleeding , and co-indications , and there were no contraindicantia nor correpugnantia . the indications . here was plethora quoad vires , such a fulness of humors in the mass of her blood , as nature could not rule well or manage , so as to preserve them in their due temperament and mixture , from separating and corrupting , and therefore to remove this morbifick cause , and to disburden the body of a good share of that load it was pressed under , that so nature might the better comport with the remainder , and by degrees master and subdue the disease ; opening of a vein was requisite . here was also need of revulsion from a weak part , and revulsion did indicate bleeding : for this patient was represented to me when i first visited her , as a child always sickly , splenetick , and scorbutick ; and having her left side weak by being splenetick , and pained in her left breast more or less for two years before she fell sick . formerly she was obnoxious to catarrhs , and now also there was a flux of humors in the mass of blood flowing to her left side , part of the inflamed blood had already got thither , and lodging it self within the pleura and vicine muscles , caused in her a symptomatical pleurisie , and there was great fear lest that inflammation should increase farther , and therefore as bleeding was principally indicated by the plethora , so was it likewise accidentally indicated by revulsion . here was heat likewise , that did indicate accidentally the opening of a vein , in order unto the cooling her whole body which was in a flame , she having a putrid scorbutick feaver for her principal disease . now this preternatural heat and fire was to be put out , and bleeding would help upon two accounts . 1. by it , part of the fire , even part of the inflamed blood might be taken away . 2. by it , insensible transpiration ( whose evacuation alone , is greater far than all the sensible together , as sanctorius observs in his medicina statica ) might be promoted , the pores of the skin opened , whereby the heat might breath forth , and perhaps the cold air get some ways in . these pores were before as it were wedged up with the plenty of humors , as is sometimes a church-door by a throng of people , each hindering another from getting forth ; but bleeding might unwedg them , by letting some out another way , and giving nature room to drive forth what was superfluous by an open and free transpiration , as was also effectually done in this patient , who not long after fell into a great universal sweat , which completed her cure. the coindications . some were taken from her naturals , and some from her non-naturals . to her naturals did belong her 1. strength : this was good even mr. loss himself being judg : so good , as nothing could hurt . 2. habit of body : for lean people are generally fuller of blood , and have larger vessels than those that are fat and gross ; their blood also wants more sweetning : and 3. her age : though it was not fourteen , yet was it about four . it seems noways unagreeable to reason , to assert that one and the same thing , may both contraindicate and coindicate bleeding , as it is diversly considered . for example ; he that considers of age under fourteen years that it is tender , and wasts very much by the pores , or habit of body , may so far look upon it as a contraindicans , as not to bleed in such an age , except there be great need and good strength , for fear the patient should not be able to bear two large evacuations at once . and thus mr. loss seems to have considered this patient's age : but notwithstanding this , if need requires and strength will bear bleeding in a patient not fourteen years old ; this age as it intimates predominancy of blood , it may coindicate bleeding ; and this mr. loss seems not to have considered of at all ; though it be evident , that this age is one sign of the predominancy of blood , for riverius in cap. de signis sanguinis in corpore predominantis , amongst the efficient causes of it , reckons this age for one , aetatem a pueritia usque ad pubertatem . now childhood in a large sense is one of the four stages of the life of man , youth , middle-age , and old-age being the other three . and this stage of childhood is subdivided into four parts : infancy lasts till four years old , some say until seven : pueritia or boy-hood lasts from seven to fourteen : puberty from fourteen to eighteen , and adolescency from eighteen to twentyfive . pueritia therefore from seven to fourteen years old , is an efficient cause of the bloods predominancy in the body , for the temperament now is hot and moist , and so is the bloods ; children also do eat much , and being full of play and exercise , they generally digest well , and they have neither cares nor fears nor any inordinate passions to waste or drink up their blood , at least its life and spirits ; so that this patient 's not being fourteen years old , at which mr. loss hath ignorantly made all this stir , did in truth more coindicate than contraindicate her bleeding . 4. her part affected , which besides her heart , was her pleura or side ; which being a membranous part , in its substance and temperament spermatick , not sanguifick , having exquisite sense , and in its situation being neighbour unto the heart , a part that upon all these accounts was very unfit to have any blood , much less inflamed blood poured out upon it , did also coindicate bleeding ; partly that it might be relieved from what it already suffered , by having strength to discuss or concoct it whilst it was not much ; partly that it might be delivered from the imminent danger of new hot blood flowing unto it , by a revulsion of it with bleeding . to her non-naturals did belong ; 1. the air to which belongs the time of the year when she lay sick , it was in the spring , a season most seasonable for bleeding ; for like the sap rising in the trees , our blood also ferments afresh ; the time it self being hot and moist , and the return of the sun towards us gives us a sort of new life and spirits . besides , the approaching summer gives something of encouragement to venture bleeding , because in it we may the better hope for a fit time to recover in , if we should lose a little strength by bleeding . 2. eating and drinking . this young lady drank cold beer when she was hot , by which sudden alteration , that motion which nature was then in , a centro ad circumferentiam , her body being in a sweat , was inverted a circumferentia ad centrum , the spirits retiring upon this alarm inwards , whither also by this means were carried all , or most of those superfluities , which before were reaking forth and passing per habitum corporis : hereupon she fell into a fever , and because her left side was weak , by default in her spleen by catarrhs falling on her left breast , and by use and custom of humors falling formerly to the issue in her left arm : with the fever she fell into a pleurisie in that side , which doth coindicate bleeding , as the cure of it . 3. motion and rest . to her motion did belong her over-heating of her blood at play by too violent exercise : this also as a cause of her fever and pleurisie , did coindicate the remedie of them , bleeding . 4. passions of the mind . her being merry and cheerly and full of play , did contribute also unto the increase of her blood , and in some small measure coindicate bleeding . contraindicantia , here were none . the reader may please to take notice , that indicantia and contraindicantia , do belong to things preternatural , which can be none other than these three ; the cause of the disease , the disease , and the symptoms . i have already above shewed , that the disease , and the cause of the disease did indicate bleeding by lancet ; let mr. loss shew how either of them did contraindicate bleeding by lancet in this patient . what concerns the symptoms they do never indicate or contraindicate as such ; indeed when they urge , they are considered of as a cause ; and so weak strength , as a cause of increasing the disease , doth many times contraindicate bleeding , but that cannot be pleaded here . coindicantia and correpugnantia , do belong to things natural or non-natural , even unto all such as are either causes or signs of a patient's strength . i have shewed above , that there were coindicantia of bleeding this patient ; let mr. loss again produce the correpugnantia . juvantia and ledentia , are very good topicks , by which may be proved in a good measure , the agreeableness or unagreeableness of any remedy made use of , and the success in this case is not to be disputed . and by this time i hope i have sufficiently proved my second proposition , that this young gentlewoman might be bled by lancet . 3. that mr. loss was to blame that she was not bled by lancet before the sixth day . to quit himself i think from this fault , was i suppose , the main reason he opposed my bleeding her . the sooner one bleeds in a disease that doth require it , the better ; for why should a disease be suffered to take rooting , or to grow to an height and hazard a patient's life , if it may be prevented ? but this patient's disease did require opening a vein . therefore mr. loss was to blame , it was not done before the sixth day . i do not know that the major needs any proof . the minor hath been proved already . and mr. loss doth confess that he did think of bleeding this patient in the beginning ( if we may believe him ) for , saith he , venaesectio summum in pleuritide commodum afferre solet ; bleeding in a pleurisie , useth to be very advantageous . his only obstacle was , that the patient was not fourteen years old : but that was in truth no obstacle , as hath been proved . in the beginning of this young ladie 's sickness , there was none other physician but mr. loss : there was then no animosity or prejudice against any other physician , for to his cure alone her life was recommended , and no body disturbed or hindred him from doing what he thought best ; that he did not therefore bleed her by lancet , cannot be well attributed unto any thing else , but to his ignorance ; he did not know that a vein might be opened in a child under fourteen years old , or if he did , he was yet more to blame . and thus much for his second accusation . to his third accusation . that the bleeding of her by leeches , which had been appointed , was of no moment . we have an english proverb , better is half a loaf than no bread ; and it is true also , if we cannot do as we would , we must do as we can : where the lancet may not be had , i never said bleeding by leeches was of no moment ; but i do say in this case it was but of little moment . for it was not a salve large enough for the sore , nor a remedy answerable and proportionable to the disease , whose greatness and nimbleness did not require bleeding for simple evacuation only , but for speedy revulsion also ; which could not so answerably be performed by the faint droppings of a leech , as by the full stream of a lancet . the inflamed blood was in a carreir , flowing on apace with a full tide , to this patient 's weak side ; some had got already into the pleura , and there caused a pleurisie , and more was following , called thither by the anguish of a pricking pain in a very sensible membrane , sent thither by the opening of a vent that way ; would any one think that the fleabite of a leech in the arm , would turn such a course of blood ? or that nature ( though in a mistake ) being in her haste upon an errand of life and death , would probably stay to take notice of the little barkings or bitings of the small curs the leeches . no , but if by a lancet such a breach be made , or so wide a door opened , that within a small time the blood , and with it the life , might quickly run out ; upon such an alarm indeed it may be reasonably supposed , that by letting forth but four or five ounces , the stream may turn , and nature be so highly concerned , as to neglect a lesser danger , the relieving of the side , to prevent a greater , the losing of life ; or quà data porta ruit ; the blood running out faster by the arm , than into the side , the stream must needs go that way where there is most vent : whereas by leeches , a man's life may leisurely and insensibly drop away without any notice almost . and i pray of what great benefit could be mr. loss his bleeding of this patient by leeches , when-as notwithstanding she continued so ill , that all the family despaired of her life ? to his seventh accusation . taking away , that he might not seem to do nothing , about four ounces of blood. it is evident that he condemns me for not observing that requisite in bleeding , a due quantity ; but it is not so evident whether he finds fault that it was too much or too little . if the fever and other symptoms were gone the sixth day before i bled her , there was no need of bleeding at all , and then four ounces was too much ; but it lies upon mr. loss to prove that the fever and other symptoms were then gone . i ●●ther think he means it was too little , because he adds that it was done meerly to appear to do something : and to this i answer three things ; 1. that mr. loss himself the day before did acquiesce in so small a quantity as five ounces , taken away by the leeches which he applied to the left arm. and the having lost five ounces then , i think according unto his own proportion , abating but one ounce of as many more , the day following four ounces were enough . 2. for the same reasons for which mr. loss durst not bleed her at all by lancet , it was reasonable that i should not by bleeding take any great quantity from one that was not yet fourteen years old . 3. as little as four ounces seems to be , being let out by lancet in the right arm , it is reasonable to believe they might make some revulsion from the left pleura , which was the very intention for which they were , there , and so let out . to his sixth accusation that the manner of bleeding was amiss . it ought to have been done by leeches , but it was done by lancet . there needs none other answer to this , than what is already given to the third accusation : for if his bleeding by leeches , neither in reason could , nor in fact did do much good , the lancet was evidently more eligible and preferable . to his fourth accusation . that the time of bleeding her was not seasonable , it was on the sixth day of the disease , when the fever and other symptoms were gone . the time of bleeding a patient , ought to be determined by the presence of the indicantia , and by the absence of the prohibentia ; for one may then bleed a patient , when bleeding is requisite and indicated , when strength will bear it , and when nothing forbids it , so as to threaten a likelyhood of more hurt than good by it . it 's true , nearer the beginning of the sickness , had been the best time to have bled this patient upon several accounts , and mr. loss might have done it , but i was not called before this sixth day ; and therefore could not do it earlier . but bleeding in a pleurisie is not forbidden after the first five days , as if it might not be done so late as the sixth day : for saith riverius in his chapter of a pleurisie . venaesectio in principio morbi praecipuè confert , si tamen omissa fuerit , aut insufficienter celebrata , etiam post septimum , novem , aut undecimum diem venam secare licet . bleeding especially profits in the beginning of the disease , but if it be then omitted , or not enough performed , you may bleed after the seventh , ninth , or eleventh day : that is , if the patient be able to bear it . now this sixth day she had not at all been bled by lancet , and mr. loss his bleeding her by leeches was not sufficient , the indicantia and coindicantia did still remain , and there was no such decay in her strength as to forbid bleeding ; therefore even now the sixth day she might be bled , unless a crisis had been towards health expected the next day , but there was no reason to hope for any such thing , the dies indices did not forwarn , nor mr. loss mention , that he expected a crisis , for indeed nature still groaned under the burden of the disease , so far she was from being mistress of it ; for the disease was likely to grow stronger every day , and more and more to threaten the hazard of the patient's life . and why i pray did i do amiss to bleed her on the sixth day , since i could not do it sooner , and durst not put it off longer ? touching the other part of this accusation , that i bled her then when the disease was gone . it is an egregious untruth : mrs. moore , and all the family where she lay sick , can witness , that all that time she was so sick that they all despaired of her life . and let mr. loss blush when he reads this , that a gentleman of his age and gravity , so great a professor of religion and companion of good men , so ancient a practitioner of physick , so curious and formal in punctilioes and trifles ; should be so wicked as to invent , so foolish as well as impudent , as to put sorth in print such a material forgery to honour himself and dishonour alius medicus , as can be contradicted and proved a ly , in the town where he hath lived near fourty years , by several persons that were then with this sick patient : and that he should be so simple , as to contradict himself in the delivering of it : for , if this patient had now no disease , how was this the sixth day of the disease ? to his fift accusation . that this patient was not bled in the right place . from the right basilick vein of the opposite side , that which fuchsius says is an error . that i bled this patient in the right arm , i do not deny , nor yet that mr. loss opposed me ; in the consultation i told him , that to satisfy revulsion , ( meaning proper revulsion , not that which is a sort of derivation ) it ought to be in the contrary arm , but he told me , that whether it were for revulsion or derivation , it must be in the same side where the pleurisie is . and because i was not of his opinion , he urged against me the authority of sennertus , at which i wondered , and told him , if i understood latin , sennertus was against him ; and the next day , mr. hern a divine , at whose house the patient lay sick , coming to my study to ask if she might drink beer with a toast after her physick : i then shewed him sennertus , and in him the figure engraven on purpose to shew the difference of bleeding for revulsion and for derivation , and we did both admire that he should so mistake an author which himself quoted . but it seems , having since studied upon the point , though he quoted sennertus , his meaning was the most learned fuchsius . for my part , i do not intend to trouble my self or the reader , with a dispute so well and so largely handled by sennertus , who hath taken the pains to relate the opinions of near thirty several authors touching this point , and amongst them fuchsius is one , and yet sennertus holds for me . i shall only tell the reader what reason i had to bleed this patient in the contrary arm. i took my indication for bleeding her , from the putrid fever which was her principal disease , and not principally from her pleurisie which was symptomatical . now the putrid fever did not indicate bleeding , either for revulsion or derivation , but evacuation only ; that part of the putrid and corrupt blood might be carried off , which did burden nature , and make her unable to manage the mass of humors in the vessels : and this evacuation might be performed as well in the right arm as in the left . but beside the putrid fever , i had to consider of in this patient a symptomatical pleurisie in her left side , and that which made mr. loss so fierce for bleeding on that side was in my judgment a main reason for the contrary : for seeing bleeding for the fever , might be indifferently done in either arm , who would have chosen to have done it in the left , thereby drawing the humors more to the weaker side , weak formerly as hath been mentioned , and now much more so , by the inflammation of the pleura on that side , and not rather in the right arm , by which at once revulsion was made from the pleura inflamed , and evacuation of the putrid and inflamed blood fully as well , if not better performed , than in the left side : so that what mr. loss alledgeth as my fault that i bled her in the right arm , would have been my fault , if following his counsel i had done it in the left . i know well that bleeding in a pleurisie is usually in the same side , and i have many times so practised , when i had no fear of any great plethora , or of the flowing of humors to the part especially weak before , and when the pleurisie was more urgent than the fever . but at this time , here was no pleurisie at all , if we may believe mr. loss , and yet angry he is , that i would not help to bring it again , by drawing the humors what i could to her weak side , i could fill up much paper upon this subject , but i am not willing to anticipate mr. loss his reply , he may perhaps pick much meat out of this goose-eye : yet my comfort is , that although i am for the opposite side , hitherto , as luck would have it , it hath been for the right . to his eighth accusation , that i purged her . he gave her powder of sena , by which she was six or seven times purged . this is the first of those faults he finds concerning purging of her . that i did purge her . in the consultation he would by no means give way that this patient should be purged , for fear a diarrhaea should happen ; and he was so angry when the purge was given , that he went from mrs. moore and left her to her great discomfort . there can be no greater reasons to be given that i know of , why a physician should purge his patient than these . here were indications , coindications , and there were non-considerable contraindicantia or correpugnantia . as plethora quoad vires did indicate her bleeding , so did cacochymia her purging , that the foulness of the first region , and her abundance of choler might not still add fuel to her inflamed blood , but be removed ; her strength and bilious temperament did coindicate . i need not be so punctual in this particular of her purging ; because i have been so above in that of her bleeding . mr. loss seems to oppose two contraindicantia unto this which i did . obj 1. the disease it self inasmuch as he judged that it was a pleurisie , did forbid purging . resp . i do readily acknowledg that a pleurisie as such doth forbid purging ; for that is not the immediate way to remove the inflamed blood from the pleura , nor yet any corruption that is there gathered . the conjunct cause of a pleurisie must be either evacuated by bleeding , dispersed or expectorated , and purging seems a contrary motion . but yet i say , that in the cure of all diseases , the first indication that is to be satisfied by them that understand the art , though sillily neglected here by mr. loss , is the removing of the antecedent cause . he spent all his shot at the conjunct cause , the asswaging of the pain in her side , and the helping of her expectoration , and was so far from bleeding her by lancet and purging her , that he did not only neglect them himself ; but was so ignorant , as to find fault with another in print for doing them ; & thereby discover his own want of skill . had he understood himself aright , he would not have been so mad , as to have hazarded his patient's life , by acquiescing in his safe medicines ; his emollient and cooling glyster , fomentation , cataplasm , linctus , &c. & in the interim to suffer the opportunity of cure , and the strength of his patient worn out by sickness , to pass away . but this is his safe way of practice for which he hath been long famous ; storing his patient with juleps , almond-milks , pearle-water , that is , a little cordial-water with a little cinnamon-water , & sweetned with manus christi perlata : and let these that thus admire him , use him still . but with what reason can any physician approve his this way curing of a pleurisie , whilst the fever was yet permitted to rage ? or who besides him , could have been so confident of success in expectorating the conjunct matter , whilst yet the antecedent cause was so busie ? when nature concocts , she is at leasure , and is mistress of the disease , that which i cannot understand imaginable , until the burden of humors be first taken off by purging . and therefore it is , that they which please to read the practice of physicians in the cure of a pleurisie , will find that in it they many times prescribe purging as well as bleeding , though it be not the principal remedy , and respect not the conjunct cause but the antecedent . obj. a diarrhaea might happen . resp . i am yet to learn what great reason mr. loss had to be afraid of a diarrhaea ; there was here no real fear of a consumption , mr. loss says so , and blames the patient's mother for it ; neither was the patient so weak , as if a loosness , if it did befal her , should make an end of her , alas , she was able to bear any thing , and contemn it . and why i pray should possibile contingens , that is both future and uncertain , weigh-down the indication of a present morbifick cause , that doth actually endanger the patient's life ? this is all one , as to leave a patient whilst an enemy is upon him , and stabbing him , and to run forth to meet forsooth another enemy that is afar off , who if he comes , may possibly do him some mischief ; — furor est ne moriare mori . and it is not reason , but madness , to let a patient die of this disease without rescue , for fear he should die by a future contingent symptom . to his ninth accusation . the seventh day he purged her . it is confessed purging is forbid on a critical day . when nature is both busie and able about her own work , she ought not to be interrupted and disturbed by art , which like an handmaid ought to wait upon her motions , and not to prescribe her which way she shall walk . but it is not confessed that the seventh day of every disease is critical ; for in many diseases there is no crisis at all ; and although the seventh day of a fever is many times critical , it is not therefore always such a sabboth that it is a profaning of it , if a physician gives then his patient working physick ; for if nature on a seventh day be not able but impotent , and the disease prevails , what disturbance i pray is it to help her off with her burden , especially whilst she is able to comport with the trouble of removing it ? otherwise indeed a physician ought not to defame so noble a remedy , but to leave that patient to his destiny , whom to help it is as much in vain , as it is to pull-up a snuff in a lamp that will go out if you touch it . but that was not the case here , for here was excellent and invincible strength ; only the number of the enemies that were upon the patient were too many . but we must not forsooth help nature , no not on her own day when she would willingly help her self if that she could , but then , when she most needs , treacherously leave her unto her self , and the enemies with all their force upon her and against her . had nature had the better of the disease , so that this seventh day i was to have expected a crisis , mr. loss should have told me , that on the fourth ●ay , ( for i was not there ) which is dies index septimi , there were signs of concoction , and a forewarning of a crisis , and that therefore i must not purge her : but not a word of any such thing in the consultation ; and had there been , the bleeding of her the day before , might have altered the case ; only he had a mind to publish me for so ignorant a practicant , as on the seventh day to give a purge , as if critical or not critical , all days were alike to me , that had neither method nor reason in my practice , as mr. loss observes . to his tenth accusation . he gave her powder of sena . the precedent accusation respected the time when , this medicine wherewith ; all whose fault is , that i know of , that it 's so simple : for this gentleman seems to have designed to have set me forth every way for a most pittiful physician , one that had neither method nor reason in his practice , and as to the materia medica , the height of his skill was to arrive unto no more knowledg , than that a little powder of sena would purge ; which weighed with the many recipes , which himself hath set down at large in his book , and which particularly he prescribed for this patient , are in no ways comparable . my answer is , that how mean soever it was , it did the work , and the slighter the means , i think the greater was the art. frustra fit per plura , quod fieri potest per pauciora . and in my opinion , that physician is most judicious and best understands himself , and learns more experience by his own practice , that confines himself ordinarily to a few medicines , and that never makes use of a compound , where a simple will serve turn . it 's true , people are apt to slight all things which they know , and to admire those things only which they do not understand , and this fills the apothecarie's shops ; but were there more honesty in some physicians , and less simplicity in some patients , a less pompous way of prescribing would serve turn . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . it is not great that is always good , but good is always great . and mr. loss hath no great reason over much to slight so simple a medicine as sena ; for besides that it hath helped him to get many a fee from others , he may also chance to want it to purge away his own melancholy . if this answer of alius medicus doth not satisfy mr. loss or others , he cannot help it , and must rest content , that for the present it satisfies himself , who resolves yet to conclude very amicably with his adversary to whose person he bears no ill will , and in his own words , the tables changed ; haec licet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & sine ratione instituta , nullo tamen alterius medici damno , quod vires ubi valentes sunt ; quales oportet sint in alio medico , omnia contemnunt & tolerant ; ubi infirmae fuerint , a quovis facilè offenduntur ? finis . mr. loss his letter to alius medicus . clarissime d ne . doctor . certis autoribus non semel ad me perlatum est , te conscripto contra me vernaculâ linguâ nescio quo libello , stomachum in me erumpere , quod obliquo te in observatiunculis meis , ut putas , calamo perstringam . mirantur mecum omnes , quotquot libellum istum viderunt , & ne unus quidem probat praeceps hoc consilium tuum , summopere tibi obfuturum , & nomini tuo , si recte consideraveris , plurimum detracturum . tibi enim respondere & reponere mihi necesse erit . ut ut sit , immodici amoris argumentum est , temere de amico suspicari . equidem te amo , & honorifice de te semper sensi & locutus sum , rerumque tuarum studiosissimus famam & existimationem tuam pro virili sum tuitus ; nemo sane est omnium , in quem magis , quam in te , mea sit & semper fuerit propensa benevolenti● . utinam eodem modio mihi responderes , qui nescio quo malevolo & depravato in me affectu , vehementer semper conatus es , famae meae , quantum in te est , detrectare , clientes meos alieno in me animo reddere , meque si fieri possit praxi mea medica , exiguâ quidem & admodum frigida , totum exuere , dum operam meam desiderantibus persuades , me cum aliis medicis in consultationem venire penitus recusare . inique sane . etsi enim quandoque praestet unico saltem medico uti , nunquam tamen cuiquam , quod sciam , multa minus tibi , imo nec aliis teipso doctrina & judicio vel inferioribus , vel superioribus etiam , hoc ipsum quo me immerentem accusas , denegavi . opinionem saepe aliorum , fateor , magisterie obtrusam , illotis manibus sine debito examine recipere , recusavi , consultationes nunquam . forsan ex tuo ingenio me judicas . tantum sane abest ut eas averser , ut eas non tantum necessarias , sed & tum medicis , tum aegris semper summe utiles judicarim . his docti ab indoctis discernuntur . siquidem venerandus noster e coo senex , primo acutorum dicit , quod materiis iisdem , ad victus rationem pertinentibus , tam boni , quam mali medici utantur , sanguinem quoque mittant , purgent , cordialia exhibeant , & alia ; ob id quis melior sit , vulgus discernere nequit , neque novit , quinam tempestive & debito modo praesidiorum materias aegris adminis●re●t , & quinam citra haec . imo , quod magis est , observant nullum esse medicum in cujus manu non sanentur aut moriantur aegrotantes . qui vero vel medici diligentia sanatus fuerit , vel ejusdem culpa perierit , discernere nesciunt idiotae . consultationes itaque necessariae , ut appareat , qui sint artis periti , qui imperiti . his adde , quod cum consultationes fiant de rebus illis , quae ut plurimum eveniunt , incertae tamen sunt , quomodo evadant , qualia sunt remedia , quae licet ut plurimum prodesse consueverint , saepe tamen ob materiae medicae varietatem , morborumque conditiones , quae saepe multiplices sunt , graves , obscurae , confusae , quandoque novae , imprimis vero individuorum proprietates , quis non videt consultoribus opus esse , ut in aliis magni momenti rebus , in quibus nobis ipsis diffidemus . plures prudentes simul convocati longe melius percipiunt , quae agenda sunt , quam unus , juxta tritum illud , plus vident oculi , quam oculus & poeta inquit , quod tu nescis , fortassis novit ocellus . sic medicus sese internecionis crimine purgabit , aegri vero obtemperando facilius convalescent . palmarium sane est omnium medicorum , praesertim vero summos in salutis humanae praeside arte medicinae honores adeptorum munus , ut aegros communi consilio adjuvent . unde & in ipso inaugurationis actu pileo capiti imposito donantur , intus quidem , qua parte caput ambit , rotundo , quod ea figura capiti conveniat , ut scil . in eam capsulam non solum immensos doctrinarum thesauros reconditos habeant , sed & opibus nunquam perituris indies adaugeant ; extra vero quadrata figura conspicuo , ut a quatuor angulis in idem centrum convenientibus , tanquam symbolo admoneantur : ut quando opus plures medici convocentur , & convocati bene invicem conveniant , quodque in aegri salutem cedat , concordes citra livorem cogitent & sedulo exequantur . certe , quod multi collegia hujusmodi aversentur , id inter alia evenit , quod in artis operibus minus sunt exercitati , nec faciendae medicinae habitum perfecte sunt adepti . non enim facile est , nisi sis solide doctus , de aegra parte , morbi natura & vero schemate , causis morbificis , signis , corporibusque aegris , nec non aptis remediis disserere , idque serie , ut decet , certa , & validissimis rationibus de his suam munire sententiam , hisque adversa labefactare ; melioribusque semper cedere . quotusquisque est , qui hoc aevo his par sit ? sed de hac re satis superque , ad alia propero ; siquidem ad omnia , quae ad aures meas pervenerunt , breviter respondere , tibique , si fieri possit , satisfacere constitui . ut acrius me oppugnes & famae meae maculam inuras , astute admodum anglicana lingua contra me calamum stringis , ut cum doctis nequeas , vulgo me odiosum reddas , qui quaevis facile credunt ; & insuper etiam nescio quas a domina moor obtinuisti literas , libello tuo praefigendas , omnibus viribus utens , ut existimationi meae deroges , meque quantum fieri potest , abjectissimum reddas . equidem ejus in scribendo , tuam vero in producendo eam in scenam imprudentiam & temeritatem satis mirari nequeo . nec enim vel minimum contumeliae & injuriae aculeum patiar , sed nomen meum ad aras usque defendam . sed qui animi magnitudine prestant , prudentia ut plurimum minus valere solent . quid illa quaeso de medicis judicet , colo & rei domesticae administrandae assueta ? quid illa de pleuritide , cujus essentiam ignorat , de qua saepe medici ipsi contendant , non quod signa sint incerta & conjecturalia , sed quia illi falluntur , neq , conveniunt circa exactam eorum cognitionem ? multa sunt in literis illis , si vera audivi , insignem erga me animositatem redolentia , quaedam etiam veritati injuria , id quod accidit , quia filiae non adstitit nisi quarto a prima morbi invasione effluxo die . possem facile ad singula respondere & tela ejus adeo facile evitare ut priami telum pyrrhus , rauco quod protinus aere repulsum , e summo clypei , nequicquam umbone pependit . sed nolo cum faeminino sexu in arenam descendere , quem si vicero vincar . hoc saltem dico , nullum sub lunae concavo odiosius esse crimen ingrati animi culpa . hùic ego matronae & toti familiae medicinam faciendo fidelem operam per plures annos locavi , idque fausto apolline & felici successu , ut mirer animum ejus per te adeo alienatum esse , ut ab eo tempore omnem meam operam neglexerit , imo & contra me scriptitare ausit , nulla alia de causa , quam quod acriter pro salute filiae ejus contendi . haec scil . sunt industriae meae & laborum praemia , hi fructus . sed quid ego ? varius fuit omni aevo & mutabilis semper sexus hic , hodie amans cras odio habens . eo itaque valere jusso ad te me converto , qui vitio mihi vertere videris , quod sim peregrinus & advena , quasi ideo non debeam praxin medicam exercere , aut medicinam facere . vix credo hoc ulli unquam a quoquam objectum . sum peregrinus fateor . at non sine autoritate a serenissimo rege derivata praxin sum aggressus , in qua per quadraginta annos , & quod excedit ultra , medicinam faciendo subditis ejus , sine invidia aut remorsu cujusquam , singularem fidem operamque meam indefessam omnibus probavi . an non deus ipse in sacra pagina peregrinos & advenas amari , beneficiis ornari , suscipi & nutriri jubet ? an tu panem invidebis , quorum deus ipse singularem curam gerit & victu atque amictu providet ? adi , si lubet , pentateuchum , & plura in hanc rem invenies praecepta . ut unum e multis producam , vide , quaeso , levit. cap. xix . si peregrinus fuerit tecum , in terra tua inquit non opprimes illum , sed erit tibi instar indigenae , amabis eum ut teipsum , quia & vos peregrini fuitis in egypto . sic & deut. x. & aliis in locis . his adde , quod , si non lauream apollineam & doctoratus insignia , quibus ornatus es , maximam saltem eruditionis & doctrinae tuae partem peregrinis debes , ut iniqua sit ista tua obtrectatio quemadmodum & aliae . imprimis vero te mihi iratum esse & aegerrime ferre intelligo , quod te medicum saltem in observationibus meis , non vero doctorem nominem . ecquis quaeso novit , quis sit medicus iste , cum nulla fiat nominis tui mentio , aut quis otio suo abutens inquiret facile , quisnam sit , imo quis rem ipsam observabit ? vix unus e mille . multi summo doctoris titulo insigniti reperiuntur , qui non sunt medici , & multi inveniuntur medici , qui doctoris axi●ma non retulerunt ; medicus est , qui medicinam facit , cumque hanc artem exerceas , non est , ut medici nomen dedigneris . hic omni semper aevo omni honore dignus fuit judicatus , utpote ab altissimo creatus . unde graeci olim hippocrati , ut medico , eosdem honores , quos herculi , decreverunt . hunc omnes velut praesidium aliquod & numen tutelare vitae , salutisq , suae omni aevo coluerunt , & venerati sunt . idem divini hippocratis judicio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aestimatus , ut sine causa vitio mihi vertas , quod te medicum , non doctorem vocarim . multo minus sum culpandus , quod aegram puellam nobilissimae titulo insigniam , quasi hic titulus sit altior quam ei competat . civilitatis est honoribus blandiri , quos amamus & in quibus virtutis aliquod specimen apparet . sed ut tibi satisfaciam in hoc etiam , sciendum tibi ; vocem hanc aliter apud anglos , aliter apud latinos accipi , in quorum lingua scripsi . his ex nosco notum , nobilis , quasi noscibilis , vel notabilis dicitur , & graecis eodem plane sensu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellatur , id est , notus , cognitus , praeclarus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , illustris , excellens , clarus , qui scil . in hominum notitiam ex aliquo seu turpi seu illustri facinore venerit . saepius tamen accipitur in meliorem partem . ita nimerodus , consceleratorum manu stipatus , nobilitatem sibi scelere paravit . marius vero & tullius , arpinas uterque magistratus adeptione & rebus bene gestis nobilitatem acquisiverunt . apud classicos sumitur vel pro generis claritate , vel quacunque alia celebritate , imprimis vero virtutis , unde euripides , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; bonus vir mihi quidem nobilis , improbus vero etiamsi jove ipso meliore patre editus sit , ignobilis tamen videtur . et certe nobilitas atque decus non tam proavorum stemmate & imaginibus , quibus tamen aliquid dandum , quam virtute , quam vitae integritate , quam morum probitate metienda . unde & democritus olim interrogatus , in quibus nobilitas consisteret , respondit , pecudum nobilitatem in bono validoque corporis habitu sitam esse , hominum vero in morum probitate . cum itaque virtutis & proborum morum plurima specimina in puella hac appareant , eam non sine causa nobilitatis honore ornavi , siquidem virtutem possidere est vere nobilem esse . sed & aliud quid his accedit . romani , a quibus hic nobilitatis honor ad nos derivatur , illum definiebant nobilem , ut asconius orat. in toga candida observat , qui novi hominis filius esset . novum autem qui primus in sua gente magistratum curulem adeptus statuae sibi erigendae jus habebat . et cur non liberi , qui hujus comitatus vicecomitis munere perfunctus est , nobiles vocari non deb●ant , nullus video . possem plura in hanc rem in medium proferre , sed nolo in his minutulis contra me objectionibus tempus conterere . ad rem ipsam accedo , unde omnis inter nos contentio oborta . ac primo quidem mirari subit inconstantiam tuam , dum a sententia tua de aegrae puellae morbo omnino desciscis , ut quam , cum convocati essemus ut aegrae communi consilio opem ferremus , pro pleuritica habebas , jam non pleurisi , sed febri saltem cum lateris dolore laborasse affirmes . revoca quaeso in mentem disceptationem nostram de vena in pleuritide secanda acriter inter nos agitatam , qua contra me contendebas , non tantum phlebotomiam esse instituendam , sed & quoad locum sanguinem e dextro cubito , sennerti de pleuritide authoritate , detrahendum esse . imo ut aegrae puellae matrem in tuam sententiam adduceres , digito ex sennerti figura in pectore ejus depinxisti trun●um venae cavae cum utriusque brachii venis , & surculis inde oriundis ; ita ut tui oblitus in aliam sententiam abeas , & quae membranae costas succingentis inflammatione laborabat , febri cum lateris dolore affligi perperam judices . dolor lateris punctorius , membranis proprius , ad jugulum usque extensus ; febris continua acuta , sanguine in venis ebulliente in membranam costas succingentem effuso & inflammationem pariente ; respiratio difficilis & crebra , partim ob usum auctum , calorem scil . febrilem , partim ob impeditam sufficientem partium inflammatarum ad magnam aeris copiam attrahendam distensionem ; tussis , pleuritidis inseparabilis comes , natura , quod molestum est , expellere nitente , commota etiam a materia in pulmones residente facultate expultrice ; pulsus durus ob membranae tensionem , qua arteriae etiam distenduntur : omnia haec ab ipsa pleuritide ortum ducunt & sunt essentialia & scientifica ejus signa . quae quidem cum in aegra puella concurrerint , necessario pleuritica erit judicanda . his adde sputamen cruentum ab ea excretum , quod etsi neque in omnibus pleuriticis , neque in omnibus morbi temporibus appareat , ideoque inter signa pathognomonica non recenseatur , attamen ubi cum dictis conspirat , pleuritidem indubie indicat , eamque legitimam , a sanguine bilioso in membranam costas succingentem effuso . erras itaque qui aegram nescio quam febri cum lateris dolore conflictasse dicis . possem hoc pluribus probare , siquidem in notha pleurisi , ab inflammatione musculorum intercostalium & externa thoracis parte pronata , vt & in aliis pectoris doloribus , febris vel nulla adest , vel saltem non acuta ; tussis , nisi catarrhus coincidat , est nulla , & nihil , praesertim cruenti , excernitur , dolores sunt mitiores nec pungitivi & ejus generis alia . sed cum supra probaverim aegram pleuritidis tyrannidi succubuisse , idque per signa ideam ejus complectentia , non est opus , ut his pluribus insistam . caeterum absurdum tibi videtur , quod puellam aegram benigna pleuritide laborasse dicam , cum pleuritis sit morbus acutus ; quasi vero acuties & benignitas sint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aut contraria . sed plurimum erras . acutus enim morbus est , qui cum brevitate junctam habet magnitudinem . ideo celeriter movetur cum vehementia & periculo . huic vulgo non benignus , sed chronicus opponitur . ut hoc tibi manifestum faciam , sciendum quod variae sint pleuritidis differentiae , quae desumuntur ab idea ejus , a causis efficientibus , a magnitudine seu vehementia , a more , & partibus affectis , & tandem ab eo , quod est per essentiam vel per consensum . quae a more ejus desumitur , vel est maligna vel benigna , vel inter utramque media . et moris ratione non tantum pleuritis , sed & alii morbi dicuntur vel maligni vel benigni , hoc est mites & nulla inferentes saeva symptomata . ut vero morem cognoscas , supervenientia symptomata sunt cognoscenda , quae a galeno medicorum praeceptore , desumuntur ab exeuntibus per sputum in pleuritide & a modo exeundi . si igitur sputamina sint nigro aut viridi colore praedita , si non exeant omnino vel cum difficultate excernantur , corpus jactetur , cibum aversetur patiens , male se habeat ad oblata , deliret , saepe in animi deliquium incidat , haec omnia malignam arguunt pleuritidem . e contra si anacatharsis sit facilis , si quae expuuntur rubicunda sint aut flavo colore tincta , nec prava appareant symptom ata , benigna judicatur , quae cum in aegra contigerint , non sum culpandus , qui eam pleuritude benigna laborasse affirmo , idque non mea , sed saxoniae , cortesii , foresti & aliorum autoritate innixus , apud quos hanc ipsam pleuritidis in malignam & benignam differentiam invenies . sed his missis , de quibus nemo vel mediocriter saltem in medicina versatus ambigit , ad alia progredior inter nos maxime controversa . imprimis vero doleo quod ob bimula verbula , dum te in casu aegrae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & sine ratione egisse dico , adeo mihi succenses , ut & librum contra me intendas . quodsi rem pacato animo consideraveris , res non est tanti , ut adeo graviter annotetur . ordinariae sunt hujusmodi inter disputantes , & doctos quoque in omnibus universitatibus , locutiones , huic etiam duriores , quae tamen a nemine observantur aut a quoquam sinistre interpretantur . quis quaeso medicorum est , qui non saepius relicta vera curandi ratione & methodo experientiam saltem ducem sequatur , ut mirer te offendi , praesertim cum nominis tui nullam mentionem faciam . si rem aequo animo ruminaveris , invenies me nihil aliud egisse aut intendisse , quam ut methodum meam in curanda aegra susceptam , a te vero oppugnatam , pro virili probem & defendam . justitui in aegra , pleuritidis carnificina efflictim emacerata , sanguinis detractionem per hirudines , internae cubiti venae in eodem latere , in morbi principio , dum humores fluerent , applicatas , idque fausto apollinis numine , magno aegrae commodo . qua in re imitatus sum clarissimi sennerti consilium , qui in pueris ex galeno ante decimum quartum aetatis annum vix tentandam esse venaesectionem monet , cum vires ea aetate debiles sint & ob mollitiem ac raritatem dissolutionem alias insignem patiantur . quodsi vero morbus urgeat , praesente plethora circa annum nonum , aut decimum aetatis , hirudinibus sanguinem elicere jubet . hanc methodum tanquam praeposteram , inutilem & nullius momenti coram puellae matre accusasti , & suasisti cubiti phlebotomiam , quam ea consentiente mox instituisti , quicquid in contrarium afferebam , idque in cubito contrario , non vero ejusdem lateris , sennerti autoritate , ut dicebas , fretus , quem hac occasione eadem hora perlustraveris . sed non videris mentem ejus assecutus . probat ille quidem , arabum doctrinam secutus , venae sectionem in contrario latere institutam , ut sanguis affluxurus a parte inflammata , quam longissime revellatur , sed hoc in plethoricis & principio tantum morbi , dum fluxus humorum durat , faciendum consulit . si vero inquit , paulo post , medicus in primo morbi principio non fuerit vocatus , & sanguis , qui morbi vehementia , febrili calore & inedia minui solet , non abundet , nec magnus amplius sit affluxus , aut si pleuritis sit mitior , statim in loci affecti latere venam aperire licet , ut humores divertantur . vide n' ut sennertus nihil pro te faciat , qui progresso morbo , sexto scil . a prima invasione dic , sedata inflammatione & dolore punctorio● inde orto , nullo amplius sputo cruento apparente , nulla praesente plethora aut affluxu , venam in contrario lateris affecti cubito aperuisti . certe ubi nulla est venae sectionis indicatio , nulla etiam instituenda , praesertim in pueris & puellis , quibus alias non convenit venae secti● , galeno teste lib 2. method med. cap. 14. si in puerum , inquit , febris incidat , qui decimum quartum aetatis annum hactenus non attigit , mitti illi sanguis non debebit , propterea quod tantillis , cum praesertim calidi & humidi sint , plurimum corporis substantiae quotidie defluat , ac digeratur . ita quod ex incidenda vena moliendum nobis fuerat , id ultro nobis ex curati corporis natura praestatur . his de causis venaesectioni opposui , ut & purgationi , die critico instituendae , corpore etiam cacochymo existente . galenus enim lib. quos & quando &c. inquit , observandos optime esse dies criticos in exhibendo pharmaco praesertim subductorio , quia nescimus , an natura , morborum medicatrix , sit factura crisin necne , nec per quam partem & ad quam viam vergat materia . ut plurimum tamen natura & facilius facit crises bonas per superiora , licet & per inferiora interdum faciat bonas . ne igitur impediamus naturam , crisin per hanc aut illam viam intendentem , abstinendum est a pharmaco in die critico , tum subductorio , tum vomitorio , sed usque ad finem diei decretorii spectatoris persona induenda . quodsi tunc natura nihil egerit praesentibus signis concoctionis , pharmacum exhiberi poterit . sed de his docta medicorum cohors judicet . possem plura adjicere , sed haec spero tibi fatisfactura . tu in me aequo sis animo , & quae a me facta sunt in meliorem partem interpreteris , qui nullo animi morbo aut livoris aliquo stimúlo , sed nudae veritatis amore scripsi , quae scripsi , meque in favorem tuum recipe & in amicorum numero habe , qui tibi omnia opto & auguror felicissima . e. t. sudiosiss . fred . loss . dorchestr . xvi . cal. nov. mdclxxiii . alius medicus his answer to mr. loss . clarissime observator . die saturni ultimo , multâ vesperâ literas tuas accepi , scriptas & a tergo nec dum finitas , imo , qùod mirandum , neque adhuc etiam , rem ipsam attingentes . authores vestri verba non dederunt , sic est profectò ut dicunt . tu verò verba dedisti plurima , & ad rhombum nihil facientia . festinans canis coecos parit catulos , & responsio tua , parte inauditâ , aut saltem non recte intellectâ , alterâ ; praecox nimis & praepropera est . descendis quidem in arenam , verum tota haec tua digladiatio epistolaris , verbo dicam ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est . minutiarum enim quas memoras , isto in libello , cujus scribendi satago , nihil ferò quidquam invenietur . non meus rumor est , sed vox populi , te , a consultationibus semper alienum fuisse , ea propter iniquè culpam in me unum confers , praesertim vero , quasi ex meo te ingenio in eâ re judicem , in quâ falsus es non minus quam in figura pilei quo donantur doctores in ipso inaugurationis actu , qui non est extra quadratâ , uti refers , sed rotundâ figurâ conspicuus . quantum valeam tam doctis quam indoctis , te , ob multa merito odiosum reddere , maculasque plurimas tuae famae inurere , brevi fortè , plus satis experiêre . interim , totus gaudeo quod hac in re tuâque hac epistolâ , me omni culpâ de libelli mei futuro eventu , quantum spectat ad famam tuam , evolvis ; quandoquidem te murum aheneum praedicas , neque uspiam telis meis penetrabilem , literatis praesertim , & viris edoctis coram . quis te audacior & confidentior ? qui , cum libellum meum nondum videris , quia tamen vernaculâ linguâ conscriptum audis , quam docti aequè , atque indocti intelligunt , praelium ante de victoriâ gloriaris , quod cum doctis nequeam , vulgo te odiosum redderem . age verò , & perge inquam , neque amittas tuam banc confidentiam , nomenque , si potis es ▪ ad aras defendas ; rectè enim tenes , tibi respondere , & reponere necesse fore ; atque ostentare quantis sis viribus , quantisque virtutibus . de meâ vero imprudentiâ , temeritate , aut nominis aliûs jacturâ , in oculum uirumvis conquiescito . interim tamen ex iis omnibus qui tecum mirantur , & quorum ne unus quidem probat meum hoc praeceps consilium , siste si placet , unum , aut plures , permagni enim nostrâ interest , illos paucis velle , & lubentissime aurium operam illis dicerem . de domina moore , si quicquam ulteriùs mussitare ausis , perlegas suadeo tuam ipsius observationem medicinalem 25. lib. 3. & te pudeat : eam ibi omni virtutum decore cumulatam praedicasse , de qua , in hisce literis , ingratam cum dixeris , omnia dix'ti . quis vero , te obsecro , hoc tibi commentum in animum tuum induxit ; me vitio tibi vertere , quod sis advena ? aut ille certe , aut tu egregiè fingis , quando 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ego maximo semper in honore habuerim . neque ignobilem quampiam , contra nobilitatem virginis , controversiam faciam . quod attinet vero ad medicum alium , pleuritidem aegrae puellae benignitatem morbi , venaesectionem sexto morbi die institutam ▪ in puellâ nondum quatuordecem annos natâ , purgationem exhibitam die septimo ; & instituta mea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & sine ratione : quod attinet ad professionem vestram , quantum me amas , quam honorifice de me semper locutus sis , quam pro virili tuitus sis famam meam & existimationem ; quam propensa in me , prae omnibus aliis , tua semper fuit benevolentia ; de his omnibus in libello meo . cujus institutum si desideras ; rursum adeas ( si placet pentateuchum ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , dixit socrates , & licet id ad rem meam faciat , maximè tamen faciet autoritas divina , quam legere est ) cap. 19. v. 16. deuteronomi , his verbis ; si quis in quenquam iniquus testis extiterit , & falsum contra illum protulerit ; ambo homines , quos inter controversia est , apud jovam stanto , coram sacerdotibus & judicibus , qui tunc temporis erunt , judices autem sedulò inquirunto . quod si falsum illum testem esse deprehenderint , & falsum contra alterum dixisse : facitote ei quod ipse in alterum commentus erat , malumque de medio vestrum tollitote . quod cum reliqui audiverint , timeant deinceps ejusmodi facinus apud vos suscipere , nève miserescitote : vitam pro vita , oculum pro oculo , dentem pro dente , manum pro manu , pedem pro pede . quid opus est multis , te paenitentem , non defensorem agere expectàssem ; verum rem multo aliter evenire intelligo ; ut ut sit , vestram secutus humanitatem , ea omnia quae tu mihi , ego etiam & tibi , opto atque auguror felicissima : observationum tuarum studiosissimus , alius medicus . datae frampton , die lunae ; xi . cal. nov. mdclxxiii . errata . whereas several errors have crept into the impression of this book , which the author saw not , until it was too late to mend them in their proper places ; the reader is desired for what he will there meet amiss , to read here as followeth . in the title-page , read practitioner in physick — proserpina canum — personam capiti detrahet . in the epistle dedicatory , r. to make out matters of fact . — it is very base for either of them to print the case . — to infer a general conclusion from a particular instance . — to country-people . — though he understands no latin. in the preface , read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 — nauseat those first entertainments , stercus & vrina medicinae fercula prima , which we commonly meet with — homo sum , humani nihil a me alienum puto — condemning the modesty and practice of those men — fling the stone at their fellow-physician . in the book it self , pag. 1. line 11. read by those that understand his latin better than his art. lin . 23. a licentiate . p. 2. l. 7. blot out 2dly . l. 31. slandering almost all — p. 3. l. 8. own words . p. 5. l. 35. meek or pettish . l. 36. he moves . p. 11. l. 12. for winston r. muston . p. 12. l. 1. r. seems in these . p. 13. l. 28. f. name , r. names . p. 14. l. 26. he could not take it well that any one should publish this , and yet — p. 15. l. 32. and hath put both their diseases and their names in print . p. 16. l. 6. unless he had been ambitious of a party-coloured coat , and , by having something of every thing in his book , of this motto — p. 18. l. 32. a chirurgion . p. 23. l. 24. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 25. l. 31. far beyond the binding up — p. 26. l. 16. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . l. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 — p. 27. l. 10. but that it was misunderstood . l. 13. blot out foolish . p. 28. l. 36. r. shearing of hogs . p. 29. l. 12. he understood the oracle of hippocrates . p. 30. l. 33. words synonymous . p. 33. l. 23. his hands were not probably so providentially stretch'd forth as to ward off the blow . p. 36. l. 36. like those shot from a gun. p. 41. l. 30. gorraeus — p. 42. l. 24. and thus very discreetly . p. 47. l. 14. scabious . p. 48. l. 23. his naturals . p. 55. l. 17. leave out and. p. 62. l. 2. the principal part ill-affected . l. 9. than those from the pleurisie in her side . l. 21. by those remedies . p. 63. l. 12. blot out and. p. 70. l. 32. held so by all that know her . p. 73. l. i should hardly thrip cross or pile . p. 76. l. 16. a full answer unto them . p. 78. l. 5. and if fair means would have brought mr. loss to a private treaty . l. 33. is a defendant uncharitable . p. 80. l. 14. such a revenge is spoken against , as doth another hurt . l. 23. the vertuous envy is — p. 84. l. 14. in all those senses is still sensless by being false . l. 30. into the dancing-school ; l. 31. carried her home into the country . p. 86. l. 24. this further advantage of my journal in this case — l. 32. i found our notes did not agree — . p. 90. l. 21. high-spirited , and yet low ; selfish , and yet self-abasing physicians — p. 92. l. 20. he wants buoying up — p. 93. l. 3. that he is wickedly ignorant ; l. 33. blot out 3. the , and put at l. 38 before credit to men in a profession — p. 96. l. 6. mind my patients ease more than mine own — p. 99. l. 13. her disease was with a pleurisie — p. 102. l. 34. unum tantum ab uno indicatur — p. 112. l. 27. for quà port a ruit — p. 113. l. 3. here and elsewhere the number of the accusations are misplaced , but their order may be seen p. 81 ▪ — p. 113. l. 21. she having lost five ounces then — l. 32. the intention for which they were let out . p. 115. l. 30. at that time she was so sick . p. 120. l. 30. die of his disease . p. 122. l. 14. this the medicine , wherewith . l. 23. is no ways comparable . finis . the test and tryal of medicines and the different modes of medical practice. shewing what hopes of help, from physick and physicians. by e.m. med. d. maynwaringe, everard, 1628-1699? 1690 approx. 36 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a50455 wing m1515 estc r217778 99829421 99829421 33860 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a50455) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 33860) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1919:11) the test and tryal of medicines and the different modes of medical practice. shewing what hopes of help, from physick and physicians. by e.m. med. d. maynwaringe, everard, 1628-1699? 8 p. printed for thomas basset, at the george in fleetstreet; and thomas horne, at the south-entrance of the royal-exchange, [london : 1690] caption title. imprint from colophon. signed on a4v: e. maynwaringe. includes an advertisement at the foot of a4v. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-02 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 taryn hakala sampled and proofread 2007-02 taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the test and tryal of medicines , and the different modes of medical practice . shewing what hopes of help , from physick and physicians . by e. m. med. d. mundus errore tenetur . medicines being of the greatest importance , and the principal part of the art of physick : they require the greatest consideration , serious care , and strict examination , for an assurance of their validity and worth ; for as much as the reputation of the physician , and life of the patient , doth depend thereon : an errour or neglect herein , frustrates and baffles all the physician 's learning ; and if he be not skillful ( not by book reading , but manual operation ) in this grand work , all his other learned qualifications are but deceit , and avail little in curing . and since the import of medicines is so great , as being the immediate instruments contending with diseases ; and from their power and excellency , curing is performed or frustrated ; it mainly behooves the physician ( and as much it concerns the patient ) that he be compleatly provided with a stock of elaborate , excelling medicines , reformed and well proved ; such as he may confide in ; to oppose the secret intestine enemies , that prey upon health and life ; and with which he may repair and support the fabrick of humane bodies , unto the period of their term , by the common course of nature : else it may be said , this or that person came to an untimely end ; as many do , for want of good means , or due administration . this premised , i proceed to the matter proposed . all medicines , that are designed and formed by art , in respect of their latitude , comprehension , and adaption ; may be divided into three ranks or classes : and then they are either catholic , specific , or appropriate . the catholic ( or universal ) is a medicine of large extent and comprehension , applicable to , and useful in many and various diseases , and also in divers persons . the specific medicine is such , as nature or art hath specificated and designed for the cure of one particular disease only ; and that in divers persons . the appropriate medicine , is yet narrower and more restrained , being prescribed for , and adapted to the particular case of one single person only ; under such circumstances and complicated infirmities . now to compare these three sorts of medicines , of different extensions ; as touching their worth , usefulness and certainty in curing ; my judgment and experience determines thus . the catholic medicine , that hath been studiously formed , oft revised , reformed and meliorated , by a skilful artist in pharmacy ; long and often proved , and thereby approved , for its amicable , steddy , and certain operation ; and most frequently attended with success : this excels all other ; for its generous latitude , and comprehensive virtues ; being a ready , most confiding , and advantageous assistant against many diseases ; very useful , and fitly applicable to divers persons , though differently seized and afflicted ; but requiring such manner of operation as this catholic performs : whether it be cathartic , diaphoretic , diuretic , &c. thus allowing a plurality of catholiks , distinct in their operations . the specific medicine ( that is truly so ) having been frequently experimented , and seldom failing to do its work ; is a rare good medicine for a single disease ; but then it is bounded within that narrow compass of one particular malady ; and its virtues are not of that generous , useful , and extensive nature , like the catholic medicine ; and is therefore inferiour in excellency and worth , excepting only against that disease , for which it is specificated , or peculiarly adapted . the appropriate prescribed medicine , adapted to person and case ( in the new mode of practice ) though seemingly sounded upon much learning , by traditional book assistance ; yet is much more casual , hazardous , uncertain in operation and success , much less to be presumed and relyed on , than the two former medicines : for this is but a prescript designed by conjecture and probability , and an experiment to be made at a venture , or at best by analogy , which is no certain rule : and therefore this appropriated chance-medicine , must come far behind the two former , in dignity and safety , because they are medicines proved and approved ; this never was proved , but waits for sentence until the tryal be past ; and whether this appropriated recipe will prove good or bad , the doctor cannot tell , but he hopes well : and this he will say for himself , the ingredients are all good and harmless : but that is not sufficient ; for granted that all these things be innocent and good in themselves , as you say , it does not therefore necessarily follow , that they must needs make a good medicine , for such a purpose , and to operate so and so ; but it may happen much otherwise . now the reason why this appropriated medicine , though contrived and appointed by learned men , should be thus uncertain and dubious to rely on , are these : first , because every new association of ingredients , or variety of preparation and manner of composition ( to form an appropriate medicine ) so much alters the ingredients , in their properties and virtues , by acting and re-acting upon each other , that their single natures and virtues are not the same in this , as they were in another conjunction : and every new mixture , or different preparation , makes such a change in their harmony and agreement , that the result or product is not foreknown by the best guessing judgment ; but tryal and use must declare , whether it be good or bad : whether these things will yoak , and draw amicably together ; whether they will all concur and conspire with the intended operation : and if they will be subjugated , unite and comply with the form of the medicine ; and whether a disproportion in their quantities may not appear afterwards , and some ingredient may be unduly exalted , and prevail over the rest , to a disgust at least , if not a greater injury ; in biassing the medicine from the operation intended . he that can make all these requisites , so evenly to fall in with the medicine , and hit it so rightly , upon the first projection ( of an appropriated medicine ) is a wonderful lucky man : and to do all this , in a quarter of an hour , at the sick man's chamber , with pen and ink ; and i cannot design and compleat a medicine at home in a quarter of a year , with the use of a laboratory , to be well satisfied therein ; this is strange , very strange . but look into these appropriated recipes , filed at the shops , and the mystery of this does plainly appear ; that they are not such as the world does believe them to be ; but a sort of squinting , discordant , uncertain , unreformed medicines , upon the view of an expert operator in pharmacy . secondly , no certainty of knowledge in the patient you design the appropriated medicine for ( surer than the catholic and specific adaption ) in as much as no idiosyncratical , or individual propriety of person is foreknown ; in point of operation and agreement of medicine , farther than the tryals and experiments made upon the humane nature of bodies , with many other persons : and therefore every new invented , untryed medicine , adapted to person and case , are but presumed , uncertain and unsafe ; and it necessarily follows , that the catholic and specific medicines , are much to be preferred , and more to be relied on , because sufficiently tryed and proved , to agree and perform with many . and thus much in short ( yet much more is to be said ) concerning appropriated recipe's or prescripts , untried new medicines , contrived with pen and ink , and transmitted to the shops to be made up : being compared with the catholicks and specificks , the pharmaceutick arcana's , standing medicines , reposited in the physicians closet , being the result and perfection of long labour , industriously and carefully prepared in their own laboratory , well proved and compleated , ready for practice . and this determination , upon the comparison of medicines in this triple division ; i make from reason , and my experience in both the modes of practice , having first been conversant near ten years together in the prescribing practice , making experiments with appropriate medicines , pro re nata ; and since , for above twenty years , operating in medicinal preparations ( to be master of catholic and specific medicines , more secure and certain in their operations ) and practising therewith . having thus shewed you the several distinct and bounded latitudes , the aim and scope of medicines , in their design of adaptation to persons and cases , and my judgment thereupon ; next we shall consider medicines , in their different manner of operation or working ; how they assist nature against all the diseases that assault and afflict her ; and what effects we may rationally expect from their power and virtues . and here you will have before you , natures directory , for performing of cures in all diseases that shall present ; and how she is to be relieved in her praeternatural state , and deviations from her right and regular course . there are six cardinal operations , or principal wayes , by which medicines do operate , for the discharge and throwing off all excremental , morbific matter , that is bred or received into the body , viz. by purgation , transpiration , vrination , salivation , expectoration and corroboration ; hereby to preserve or restore health decayed : and these are promoted and used in nature's method , which she performs in the constant work of nutrition ; casting out the relicks , and superfluous matter of our food , not fit to be retained ; she works by stool , transpires , urines , salivates , expectorates ; and lastly corroborates , with the quintessence extracted from aliment ; and this enables nature to perform all the rest . now these evacuations , and roborating assistance , are to be promoted by medicine , as nature oppressed or decayed , doth chiefly require and stand in need of ; sometimes the one , sometimes the other . in some cases , one of these operations , duly prosecuted , with an excellent good medicine , is sufficient ; as purgation alone sometimes doth all that is needful to restore the person complaining : other conditions of body may require two : as purging , and also roborating the faculties . sometimes three several operations are required by turns : to restore lost health , and sometimes four are needful ; as in contumacious and complicated diseases , in difficult and decayed bodies . and by this method all physicians ought to go with secure well proved medicines ; and thus all cures are regularly to be performed , and not otherwise , by various , uncertain , invented medicines . now these being the certain ways , and only chief methods of curing ; the frustration and failing herein ( as to the physician 's part ) is from the insufficiency and defect of medicines , to operate compleatly those intentions . and since the design of curing , most safely and most certainly , falls under such a method and management as this ; then it mainly concerns the physician , to be furnished with a stock of such choice medicines of his own elaboration , formed , reformed , and sufficiently proved , wherewith to dispatch his undertakings satisfactorily , and with credit : and it as much concerns the sick and diseased , to find out such physicians , from whom they may expect the greatest help and relief , they are capable of ; especially in difficult and deplorable cases ; and not to be patient sufferers , and tryers of conjectural new invented recipe's , and uncertain traditional book medicines , taken up upon trust , collected from authors , and transcribed from one another . there are three principal things which concerns a physician to know , when he is sent for to the sick or diseased ; in any of which , if he fails , the patient may miscarry or linger . first , by questions , and by the symptoms that present , what the disease or complication of diseases the patient labours under . secondly , what operation , or operations of nature in man's body , are to be promoted , or assisted ; for relief in the present case ; and which to precede . thirdly , with what medicine , or medicines , this operation , or operations , are to be performed by . for the first , that is to be done at the patient's house , in his presence . the two latter , at the physician 's house : he must make no medicines with pen and ink in the patient's chamber ; but return home , and there consider of the operation indicated , and most rational to give help in that case ; whether purging , sweating , corroborating , &c. otherwise : which having determined , the medicine is to be sent away immediately , if so requiring : and this medicine ought to be ready prepared ( by himself and servants ) and well proved , long before the use of it was wanted , or required . but the prescriber , he makes medicines upon a piece of paper in the sick man's chamber ; and would have the patient believe , that all his complaints are put into the medicine ; something for this , and something for that , and another ingredient for the other ailment : but alas , here is a great mistake , medicines will not be designed and formed after this manner ; medicines are not to be made by indications , though they are to be exhibited by indications . you must not mix this and that together , as proper and suitable ( in your phancy ) against this and that complicated infirmity ; the medicinal composition may then prove as discordant and disorderly in it self , as the diseases in the patient's body were repugnant , and exasperating one another . because ( you will say ) the ingredients are all very good ; therefore the medicine must needs be very good : that 's a non sequitur . you must steer by another compass , if ever you will arrive at the true knowledge of medicines , or the right method of curing . after your mode of guessing at medicines , many an unlucky medicine hath been invented ; the effects whereof are too bad : but all must then be father'd upon the disease , that was so intractable and malignant , as to produce such unexpected strange symptoms : pertinent to this matter , take the following story . calling at a house , where formerly i had a patient , there was one sick at that time there ; the people of the house , being my acquaintance , desired me to go up , and give my opinion of the sick person , which i refused , because under the charge and cure of another physician : but being importuned , i was prevailed upon , and did go into the chamber ; i viewed the sick , and asked some questions ; understanding who the physician was , a man of good learning and repute , i gave him his due , and said , he well knew what he had to do ; and seeing some glasses upon the table ; i tasted of one , with a label , inscribed , the cordial : of a maukish , flat , and sweet tast , more likely to make a stomach sickish , than to refresh and cheer a faint languishing stomach . i took another bottle , and tasted a few drops upon the pallat , turning it about in my mouth , but swallowed none ; yet this so drew my chaps together , with such vehement astringency , that my breath was stopt a while , until i could recover my self : if any one would give me a hundred guineas , i durst not take a spoonful down , for fear of suffocation . i said little ; only that i did not like that medicine ; but my thoughts were full . two or three days after , meeting a servant of that house in the street , i asked how that patient did ; the answer returned , she was dead . now these medicines were prescribed by guess , at a venture , and ill composed : or else the apothecary , or his servant , was highly in fault : but where the miscarriage was , did not belong to me to examine ; and so it past off . the doctor was an able man ; the apothecary was an honest man ; and the patient was become a dead woman : and there is an end of the story . but not a few such casualties do fall out in the prescribing practice ; and many people can tell such melancholy tales , something like to this . the diseases , and unhappy casualties thereupon , in and about london , if a true account could be had , would make a weekly bill , not inconsiderable , but worth remarking . i see , and do hear of many learned men , and yet i can see but a very few learned medicines : either they fail in the association ; ( an ox and an ass cannot well draw together ) or by disproportion in quantities , or in the manner of process , and finishing . if learning be not brought down into the medicine , what signifies learning in point of curing ; only a varnish , and a flourish , to set off and dazel folks eyes : let me see the medicine , i 'll tell you what the doctor 's learning is worth , in the design of curing . the great men of the world , that can command all the assistance and help this art can afford ; and therefore deem themselves the more secure ; are oftentimes the most unfortunate , under physick , of all others ; chiefly at the times of the greatest danger , in acute and peracute sicknesses : having three or four , or more physicians to attend them : each of them must put in for a share , in designing and forming the medicines : one will have this , another that ingredient , and a third , something else to be added : then the form of the medicines , and the modus praeparandi , is not readily agreed upon , but dissent and thwarting arises there , each man stiff in his opinion , and loth to yield ; but the urgency of the case , admitting no delay , sometimes forceth an abrupt conclusion ; not a free consent , and general concurrence . now what can you expect from these consultations , and excogitated new compositions , though designed by men of learning ; for they themselves can have no assurance in them , but an uncertain conjecture ; no well grounded hope : and so long as practice thus depends upon the invention of remedies , whose operations will be very casual , and then success must needs be very dubious . and now , my lord , you have but a chance medicine for all your guineas ; but that 's not all the loss ; here is a cast thrown for your life : it may happen well , by the benign aspect of your stars ; the good providence that protects you ; but not the doctor 's skill : they put it upon the venture ; they can have no true knowledge of such appropriated medicines ; and what the result of their mixture will be , is but strangely presumed , and groundlesly hoped ; being formed without a rule , and not confirmed by experimented proofs : for although the single ingredients be good and innocent in themselves , yet what their concord will be in composition , and what concurrence to the intention aimed ; nothing but experience in the tryal can determine . if then dubious medicines be put upon dangerous diseases , the attempt seems desperate , and the event looks fatal . if this be the practice of physick , then physick shall never be practised ( after this manner ) upon me : then rather give me the countryman's pepper posset , and i 'll venture it that way . i don't like to die by physick : then i shall know , whether my disease be mortal or not : but he that dies in the other chance practice , who can tell , whether his disease , or his medicines , let him slip , or thrust him out of the world. 't is a known saying , plures gula quam gladius : and i wish it were not as probably true , plures medicamenta quam morbus . i have a farther charge to exhibite against the prescribing practice , which you may expect at my next opportunity : then the world shall see what they have doted on , and what they have trusted their lives with . in my former sheet called , a serious debate , relating to health and sickness : having there set forth and aproved , that from the beginning , and for many hundred years after , physicians were all preparers of medicines for their own practice . that medicines were then celebrated with the author's names and places , for the people to resort thither . that of later times , physicians have imprudently departed from that laudable and exemplary custom ; and taken up the new mode of prescribing to the shops : an innovation hazardous to the patient , injurious to the progress and performance of this art ; rendring it uncertain and unsafe : and in the end will prove the ruine of the professors . that although illiterate empericks have defamed the publishing of medicines , by spreading their trifles abroad ; yet the legal physician is not to decline his duty , because such interlopers incroach upon his priviledges and right ; for such abuses will happen in the best of things . and as for my self , having deserted the prescribing practice near thirty years , and adhered to the practice of the antie●ts ; i there made mention of some medicines of my own preparation , conform to the ancient custom of the most renowned physicians , and there gave an account of their virtues , dose , and manner of use ; that those who stand in need thereof , may know where such help is to be had : which perhaps elsewhere , the like may not to be purchased . in vain it is diligently to labour a long time , and earnestly pursue the acquiring of extraordinary means ; and being attained , then to bury the success in obscurity , and deprive the world of that relief , which many have languished for want thereof , and now are dead . the medicines named , were such as most generally are wanted ; viz. scorbutic pills , and a restoring elixir . the pills , by their purgative and diuretick operations , radically cleanse and purify the body , from all scorbutic and degenerate humours : which being evacuated and drawn forth , the various diseases bred from those causes , must needs wither , and will daily lessen , if duly prosecuted : they fitly apply to most cases , requiring purgation and urinary evacuations , and readily serve upon all emergent occasions , or seasonable preventions ; operating with great ease and safety , in young or aged , and the tenderest or weakest persons , the dose being suitable . and being of such great use , and durable in keeping ; some provident people , do keep them as necessary provision , to be ready , and not to seek them at the time of need . the restoring elixir performs a different operation from the pills ; but is frequently used by turns with them : for as they by cleansing carry of the impurities and noxious humours that oppress , clog , and obstruct the functions of several parts of the body , from performing their office ; so this assisting elixir is very useful , to quicken , strengthen , and raise up the faculties that are languid and weak ; to rectify and reinforce them , when declining and deviating ; giving an additional strength , for reducing them again into the true execution of their offices . ☞ i there also mentioned a medicine very useful and proper for ireland , against the disease frequent in that country , and other diseases usually attending camps and navies , which have proved so mortal to many now of late ; which gives me cause to think , the medicinal help hath not been so fit , and efficacious , as ought to be . if people of the best rank be meanly serv'd at home , though purchased at a considerable charge ; what will not serve to fill up a chest , to be sent abroad for the use of souldiers and seamen ? the formality of physick is enough ; they did not die without the use of medicines ; and to alter this course , is against some mens interests ; therefore any thing else proposed , though ten times better , it shall be opposed and stifled . i wish so well to the publick service , that my zeal makes me bold to offer my sentiments , which i hope will not be resented ill , because intended well . but i hear , there is care taken for a better supply ; that ten physicians are put upon the work . if they be pharmacopoeians , operators in medicines ; i shall expect something extraordinary from them ; but otherwise , if readers of medicines , and only book learned ; i expect no more than the result of other consultations ; conjectural , presumed , chance medicines . i cannot well think , how a compleat , adapt medicine , should be made by consultation , unless the occasion requiring , could wait upon many adjournments , and days of tryal ; to prove , reform , and meliorate their first invention : for many a medicine that hath been thought very good and promising upon the projection , hath been found mean upon the tryal , and rejected . one mans experience in a medicine , is better than ten mens invention of a medicine : take that for an aphorism . and one man sometimes finds out that , which a hundred cannot ; and thousands never did . here are ten mens heads , but where are the hands ? the apothecaries are to find hands : if heads and hands do not go together , i doubt the medicines will be spurious . but farther , you 'l say , here will be ten mens experience , and that 's surer than one mans : but then consider how hard a thing , and almost impossible it is , that the experience of many in the form , and methodical use of medicines , should run so even , and represent each other in uniformity and likeness ; but there must be some grains of allowance for disparity here and there , to piece them together , for an accord and union of parity ; to stamp the certainty of one homogeneous experience upon them ; and when that is done , i say , all these experiences , so modelled , and reduced into one masse , cannot be truly called concurring experience , in omnibus , that deserves a probatum est , and a true copy to form experienced medicines by ; but you must call it a probable experiment to be made ; and as yet wants confirmation by proofs . if it be so , as in reason it is ; then i must say , that a comprehensive single medicine , well approved by one mans experience ( si sit artifex ) is more to be relied on , than a method of medicines , from such a compounded experience of many . but if i prove , you can make no true observation in your new mode of practice , and your experience not grounded thereupon ; your judgment must needs appear fallacious , and the essential part of your ability taken away : for what is it that makes a physician able and secure in practice , but experience founded upon true observations : and without this knowledge , he is but as a novice , an uncertain conjecturing man in the methods of curing , although an ancient practiser . but this i must prosecute in my next . since all learning , reasoning , and designing of medicines , must give way , and yield up to experience ; than which nothing so certain to depend on ; i must then prefer my single tryed remedy , before the methods of any learned consultation whatever . having seen the proofs thereof , and manner of operation , in various , difficult , and deplorable cases : one whereof was my own , and the condition so desperate , as i would not wade through the like again , for a heap of gold and diamonds : when all hopes in other medicines failed , this alone rescued me ( deo juvante ) performing the whole course , and answering all the indications that remarkable cure required . the story too long to insert here ; or the contumacious diseases of others , in which this medicine hath relieved . one part of its usefulness and excellency lyes here ; that it is easily managed ; whereas methods of medicines , being various , both in method and medicine ; they always require the attendance of a physician , upon each particular sick person , which cannot be allowed to an army marching , or dispersed into quarters , or a fleet at sea. and as for internal ulcers , or wounds made by gun-shot , or instrument , where the surgeon's hand cannot come to dress , but must depend upon internal means ; this promotes digestion in the wounded part , and also dischargeth the purulent matter , or quittour ; performing the office of a balsam , and disposeth to healing : and if a surgeon hath such an expedient as this to work with , it facilitates and sets forward his business with all imaginable safety . this is no new invention ( to allure ) contrived upon the present expedition and juncture of affairs ; but i can prove it was fortunately designed some years since , upon an extraordinary emergent occasion ; with its use and successes in various cases afterwards in practice . so that i offered nothing upon bare projection and rational probability , but grounded upon matters of fact , the greatest assurance that can be given to support the credit of a medicine . i am the more free upon the character of this medicine ( yet not the half of what i have to say ) because i mentioned it as most advantagious for the publick service ; that you may not think i offered a trifle , or what is ordinary : i wish there may be such a medicine found in the medicinal apparatus , for army or navy ; but i do not expect it . as for contagious diseases , which oftentimes do infest armies and fleets ( the causes whereof i could assign ) and begets great mortality , and this for want of a right understanding thereof , good , preventive , and curative means , and due administration ; but few are fitted for this work . i have seen the highest contagion that hath been known in england ( plague at london , 1665. ) and voluntarily ingaged therein from first to last ) when most physicians ran away , and deserted the people in that calamity : but i being provided with antidotes preventive and curative , and knowing it was my duty , i therefore feared nothing ; and visited those people , seized with the pestilence ( as i do now any other disease ) my self remaining in good health during the contagion . i wish for a sight of the catalogue of medicines designed for the service ; then i could say something more in this matter . quibusdam remedia . monstranda sunt , quibusdam inculcanda . senec. from my house in old southampton buildings , over against grays-inn , jan. 1690. e. maynwaringe . finis . advertisement . a treatise of the scurvey : shewing the various nature , and care of that disease . by everard maynwaringe , dr. in physick . the history and mystery of the venerial lues , gonorrhoea's , &c. resolving the doubts and fears of such as are surprised with this secret perplexing malady , &c. a treatise of consumptions , scorbutick atrophies , hectick feavers , phthises , s●ermatick and venereous wasting , &c. of pains , inflammations , tumours , apostems , vlcers , cancers , gangrens , and mortifications , internal . therein shewing the secret causes and course of many chronick and acute mortal diseases , rarely discerned . with a tract of fontanels or issues , and seto●s . the compleat physician , qualified and dignified ; the rise and progress of physick , illustrated : physicians of different sects and judgments distinguished . the ancient and modern practice of physick , examined , stated and compared : the preparation and custody , of medicines ; ( as it was the primitive custom ) asserted and proved to be the proper charge , and grand duty of every physician successively , &c. the method and means of enjoying health , vigour , and long life : demonstrated from the causes of abbreviation and prolongation . a serious debate , and general concern ; relating to health and sickness . the second impression with a postscript . all writ by the same author . licensed and entered according to order . london . printed for thomas basset , at the george in fleetstreet ; and thomas horne , at the south-entrance of the royal-exchange , 1690. a brief defence, of the old and succesful method of curing continual fevers in opposition to doctor brown and his vindicatory schedule. forrest, james, fl. 1694. 1694 approx. 151 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 82 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a39992 wing f1588a estc r219817 99831264 99831264 35727 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39992) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 35727) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2049:2) a brief defence, of the old and succesful method of curing continual fevers in opposition to doctor brown and his vindicatory schedule. forrest, james, fl. 1694. 160 p. printed by george mosman, and are to be sold at his shop in the parliament closs [sic], edinburgh : m. dc. xciv. 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some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng brown, andrew. -vindicatory schedule -early works to 1800. fever -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-01 jason colman sampled and proofread 2007-01 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a brief defence , of the old and succesful method of curing continual fevers ; in opposition to doctor brown and his vindicatory schedule . quae ducere oportet , quo maxime vergant , eo ducenda , per loca convenientia . hip. s1 . a. 21. concocta purgare & movere oportet , non cruda , neque in principiis , nisi turgeant . plurima vero non turgent . idem s1 . a. 22. quo magis adstrictam illi alvum prastitero , tanto magis eum extra periculi aleam colloco . sydenham de febr. cont. p. 29. edinbvrgh , printed by george mosman , and are to be sold at his shop in the parliament closs . m. dc . xciv . to the right honourable , sir robert sinclair of stevènstoun , shirreff of the shire of haddingtoun : and one of the members of their majesties most honourable privy council . right honourable , my design in presenting to you this small and mean essay , is neither to keep it or my self from censure ; nor yet to take occasion to divulge your praises . as for the former it is ordinarly spoke in a complement , without all cause , and passeth as such without any effect : for it neither preserveth the author from reproach , nor the book from an answer , when any of them are deserved . and if i intended to do the latter , i could hardly say that which would be thought too litle , to such as know you ; but i must of necessity run the risk of being esteemed a flaterer , by them , who are neither acquaint with you , nor your excellent enduements and great desert . my purpose is only to shew both to your self and others , how sensible i am of the manifold favours , i have received at your hands , in a countrey where i was a stranger , and you are , amongst the gentlemen , the most eminent . yea further , you may challenge some right to it as a domestick , it being both conceived and brought forth within your walls , while i had the honour to attend your incomparable lady , and some of your excellent children . take it then , sir , as an evidence of my gratitude & thankfulness , and yet be pleased to honour him with your favour and friendship , whose great ambition it is , to subscribe himself , right honourable , your most humble , and much obliged servant james forrest . the preface . it may be thought no small presumption in me , a stripling , to enter the lists with this man of gath ; he being a seven years older physician as i am a man. for in the 36 page of philander's second letter , published two years ago , he boasteth himself to have been a physician , for near thirty years ; whereas i as yet have never seen twenty six summers . however , i shall say no more for my vindication in this : but , that if i chance to over-come , my victory will be the more glorious , and if it be my ill luck to be foiled , the cause for which i fight , will suffer the less prejudice ; he being one of the youngest , as well as meanest , of its patriots , who hath undertaken the defence . i am more solicitous to satisfy my reader , why i , whose young years , small experience , and weak ability , might have been a sufficient disswasive from such an attempt : do yet nevertheless undertake that , which seems to have been declined by far abler pens . and my reasons are the following two , first , i thought it not unfit that so weak a brother , as i am , should enter the combat , that so the world seeing what can be done against him , by so mean and obscure an author ; might thereby judge , what would have been the event , if any of the more learned had engaged in the quarrel : yea , i looked on the book which i was to consider , as altogether unworthy the spare hours of an experienced man : and i was afraid lest it might give the doctor too just cause of boasting , if any other as a young physician had given him an answer . secondly , my resentments for learning in general , and for physick in particular , are so great ; that i could hardly think to see any of them suffer so much , as they both do , by the vindicatory schedule , without endeavouring my outmost , to procure its relief from his rapacious hands , who , providing his own interest may be advanced , careth not suppose it be upon the ruines of all others , yea of learning it self . i am abundantly sensible , with how much greater advantage it could have been managed by any other man whatsomever : but i think when a house is on fire , it becometh the weakest therein , to do what he can to extinguish the flames . it was no vain conceit of my own knowledge , my pretensions to learning being as few as my right can be small , that prompt me to undertake this youthly essay . i had far rather had the satisfaction , to have seen it well done by others , as to have run the least hazard , of either wronging it , or exposing my self . however , albeit i have not the happiness to be learned my self , yet i have the equity , both to value it , and such as profess it . nor yet was it any contradicting humour , or prejudice at it , or its author , that caused me prosecute the undertaken design . for i know no honest nor ingenuous man , who will not embrace a truth , especially in physick , vbi luditur de corio humano , albeit presented by a mean hand . seing the ordinary proverb tells us , and reason with daily experience confirms it : that a fool may give a wise-man counsel at a time . so that if either reason or experience could perswade us of the advantage the new method hath to the old , nothing should deterr us , at least me , from its thankful acceptance and constant practice . i ever having ( and i hope with god's assistance still shall ) preferred the safety of my patient and the quiet of my conscience , not only to my gain and advantage ; but even to my credit and reputation . i am so far from promising either advantage or esteem to my self , by this small and abortive essay : that had it not been my design to leave the countrey in a short time , it had never seen light : and were it not to take all occasion of glorying from my antagonist , as if i durst not discover his adversary , i had concealed my name . i know there is so litle either of learning or experience therein , that perhaps i may only hereby discover my weakness to some , who had conceived a better opinion of my studies , as ever they deserved . nay , it cannot otherways be , it being begun and ended in some five or six days , when i was obliged to attend in an honourable family , and so was denied that help , i might otherways have expected from my books . neither could i afterwards have the time , or be at the pains , to lick my own bleeding and untimous birth , but suffered it to creep into the world in the same dress , in which it had slipped from my negligent pen. if it be not good , i have given as litle of it as possibly i could , noways imitating doctor brown , who hath transcribed a large book consisting of 14 sheets , besides dedication and prefaces , from authors , ( sometimes expressing , but oftner concealing their names ) whereas all that any way relates to fevers , which is the subject of his book , may be easily contained in four. i hope nothing herein is repugnant to anatomy or physiology in particular , nor yet to any of the known rules of physick in general : for smaller matters , wherein men may have different opinions , without being in any great errour , i am not much concerned . all who know me , know also how far my humour is from boasting , and i know my self how very good reason i have so to be , my parts either natural or acquired , being but very sober : yet i 'll boldly affirm , that the arguments here brought for sudorificks , are such , as the doctor shall never solve , till nature shall change her course . and as often cure fevers by stool , when left to her self , as now she does by sweating . no doubt my language will be censured , and i confess deservedly , as course and barbarous : i shall not labour to excuse it , but shall only add some three things , which may serve somewhat to apologize for its roughness . first , the subject is such , as altogether refuseth a handsome dress : for here i am not only obliged to adhere to , and frequently use again the same terms of art , which nevertheless found pretty harshly in our mother tongue , but also i am necessitat to keep closs to the author , whom i endeavour to refute , so that i may say with the poet : ornari res ipsa negat , contenta doceri . secondly , i resolved to instruct , not to complement the doctor , therefore i was not scrupulous in choosing my words , providing they were proper and did express my meaning . and thirdly , as i said before , it was only the hasty product of some five or six idle days , while i was removed from that assistance i might otherways have had , both as to its mater and form. some perhaps may think it very unexcusable , to obtrude upon the world a book , which i acknowledge to be so unpolished . i readily confess , that without any great loss to learning both the vindicatory schedule and this defence might have been a wanting : and had it not been for the one it should never have been troubled with the other . but seing the offence was given , it was necessary to do somewhat to remove the scandal . and for as litle as this answer may contain , yet i hope , by the judicious and learned , it will be found a sufficient refutation of the new method : as for the vulgar , i never esteemed their applause , however , seing the very writing of a book is enough to prevail with them ( otherways certainly the vindicatory schedule had never taken much ) who knows but this , being the last , may be thought the best ? others may probably say , why do i now , after the elapsing of near three years , first give that book an answer ? to which i reply , that all along the v. s. displeased me , and so much the more , when i considered the design upon which it was write , which could be no other , as to purchase a name amongst the ignorant vulgar , and thereby to be the easilier twisted into the larger imployment . i was not a litle confirmed in this my opinion , when some short time after my arival to the kingdom , in a coffee-house the vindicatory schedule was shufled into my hands . i knew not the author then , neither do i yet , but i instantly concluded him some empty emperick , who , it not being the custom here as in london and elsewhere , to affix their libels and advertisements to posts and corners , did choose the next ordinary , as well as effectual way , of distributing it through taverns and coffee-houses . i was heartily sorry , that one who carried the honourable name of a doctor in physick , should abase himself so far , as to join hands with the scum of mankind , naughty quacks ; who to cheat simple people of some money , do not care to rob them of their lives . this made me ever desirous that some person or other should chastise the author's impudence as well as ignorance . and accordingly i am informed it was done ( i never having seen it my self ) in a very fit , and the only deserved way , in a dialogue betwixt d. brown and d. black : for a book that contains neither learning nor reason , should only be answered with mockry and scorn . nevertheless the doctor glorying in that which should have been his shame , insulted the more , as if his book were altogether unanswerable . therefore i thought it not amiss to give some reasons why we imploy this old and reasonable method : although the authority and experience of physicians in all ages , might be proof enough against him , who really , for the defence of his new method , brings no other arguments , as , that he sayes it . but farther , that which engaged me at this time , was this , a fortnight ago being in the company of a grave and judicious minister , who as he is a near relation of the doctor 's ; so he is a great admirer of his new method : where among other things , happening to speak of the doctor and his book , and he observing me not much to value it , did freely offer to lend me ( for it seems the author is careful to disperse them ) the v. s. with the two letters ( i having told him , that i had never seen only heared thereof ) thereby designing perhaps to proselite me . and some few days after , i being obliged , as i said before , to attend a week in an honourable family , did for my divertisement , write this answer , and return the books to their worthy owner . but now i think i may be at the expence to buy the book , which i have been at the pains to confute . for to this moment i do not possess it . i have altogether shunned personal reflections , for i love to speak of things freely , but of persons honourably . and if any person , either of the one party or other , shall be herewith offended , i shall be extremely grieved : for all that i say , is only for love of the truth , i noways inclining to engage in any man 's privat quarrel . only that attestation annexed to the tail of his book , i cannot away with : for surely any knowing man will think these persons , though otherways sensible and intelligent , very unfit judges in such a case ; yea i say , that both doctor brown and i , ought to give ear , when such eminent men as doctor burnet and doctor bruce speak . i have the honour to be acquaint with sir thomas burnet , and i remember he was pleased to inform me , that it was not a fever , but an other distemper which then afflicted the honourable person : and as his great candor and ingenuity will never suffer him to be capable of making a lye ; so his great learning and knowledge in physick , do abundantly free him from the necessity of flying to any such base and mean refuge . and now to draw to a close , if the d. shall think this defence worthy of any reply , i hope he will also grant me the following requests , otherways i 'le hardly think my self obliged to return him any answer . first , to oppose reason to reason , still consulting anatomy and physiology : and neither insisting on experience , which is nothing to the purpose , while i can oppose a thousand to one ; nor yet using railery and cavills , which are by me all along declined , they being most averse to my humor , and i often have observed , that in stead of uniting mens opinions , they rather separat and disjoin their minds and affections . secondly , i wish it may be in the latine tongue in which the controversy cannot only be better managed , it being very hard to express terms of art in the english language ; but also our debates will be thereby concealed from the vulgar , who seing us blame one another , may be apt to conclude us both in the wrong . and thirdly , i hope he will do it shortly , left when he is pleased to appear , i may perhaps be removed . finally , let not the frequent use of the word nature , offend the learned reader . i have read boyle on that subject , and means nothing thereby , save the different figure , structure , texture , &c. of the parts , by which they are enabled to act as second causes . a brief defence of the old and succesful method of curing continual fevers , &c. although it be a work of no small pains , and require the knowledge of no few things , rightly to act the part of a physician : yet not a few there be , aiming more at their own profit than their neighbours safety , who , as they find it most easie , so they think it most safe , to acquire in some few years , i had almost said months , some general compend and universal method of curing , which they ignorantly and dangerously apply to all distempers . not unlike to that medicaster spoken of by the learned wedelius in the preface to his pharmacy , who shufling all the physical receipts he had heired from his father in a bag , desired the patient to try his own fortune : and if the cure chance at any time to be as successful as his was , when called to a countess lying sick of a squinancy , who trying her luck , did obtain a clyster , which causing her laugh , did break the imposthum ; immediatly they set up for masters , and are not satisfied to use the same remedy in all other distempers , though never so different , themselves ; unless it be also imployed & approven by others . it 's far from my design to apply this to the person , against whom i am now engaged , at whom i have neither any prejudice , nor of whom i know any evil , save the writing of the vindicatory schedule . my intention being only to endeavour the vindication , not only of these excellent physicians who have gone before us ; but also of such who at this day , do either at home or abroad practise their method , and that , blessed be god , with both credit to themselves and advantage to their patients , from thē calumnious imputation , of either ignorance as if they knew not the right , or wicked maliciousness and horrid murder , that knowing the right would yet do the wrong . from one of which , providing it be true , what the author of the v. s. most falsly alledges , they cannot be absolved . among all these miseries and diseases , unto which man by his fall was made liable , a fever perhaps , is the most frequent . a fever it is which in all countries , and in all seasons , without respect to either sex or age , does daily invade , afflict , yea and kill many persons . neither can it other ways be , seing our life seems no depend upon the circular and intestine motion of our blood : which motion can hardly be troubled , without the production of one sort of fever or other . so of necessity a fever must be of all distempers , the most frequent as well as most dangerous . i am not ignorant my self , far less i 'm sure any of these in whose defence i write , how many and great debates there be among authors concerning the definition as well as division of fevers : however i shall concern my self in none of them here , where i only resolve to give a short , and for what appears to me , the most probable account of the disease , in so far as it may serve for clearing its method of curing . for as i am very far from presumiug ( being abundantly conscious of my own weakness ) to usurp the part of a teacher . so i ●ould never much value that vain and ostentive way of some , who force all they can find rare and learned in authors , though never so remote from , and alien unto the subject they treat of , into their own books , and thereby make them as ridiculous as the picture described by horace , in the first book of his art. poet. which is a thing not unfrequent in the v. s. where all that concerns fevers and their cure might remain ; suppose the largest half of the book , had got the desert of the whole , which is either the fire or the s — and how happily this plagiary hath succeeded with the doctor , we shall perhaps afterwards have occasion to show , in an instance of anatomy , physiology and chymistry . to me then it seems not improbable , that the formalitie , essence , or if you please a term of art , the continent cause of a fever , consists in a commotion or exagitation of the intestine as well as circular motion of the blood : whereby the oéconomie of the body is disturbed , with divers and sometimes right grievous symptoms . which commotion , for the most part , may arise from some heterogeneous body conveyed into it . that the blood is the subject of fevers , i suppose will be called in question by none , seing not only the changes , and sometimes advantages , which do accrue to the patient by its evacuations , are very observable ; but also the crudity and coction of the morbisick matter in the urine is discernable : in a word , the jaundice which sometimes solves the disease . the alterations of the pulse , &c. are sufficient to perswade the morosest of antagonists . i look upon it as needless , either to trouble the reader or my self here , with that more curious as useful question : which of the blood 's two parts is most frequently affected : it being , in my opinion , not unreasonable to acknowledge in the same , a more liquorous and crass substance which is moved , besides another more spiritual or aetherecal which moves . all the arguments alledged in favours of the aetherecal portion , such as the power of opiats in curing fevers , and these continual as well as intermittent , the effects of the fancy and apprehension in the same case , the unchangableness of the urin and pulse in malign fevers , and the like : by any judicious and skilled physician will be as soon answered as they can be proposed . yea , it seems to me highly probable , that sometimes the one , sometimes the other , but most frequently both , may be the theatre of this unlucky tragedy . it was not unadvisedly that i preferred the word exagitation or commotion to that of fermentation : for by this means i not only evite all these debates and altercations , which i have observed betwixt willis , bontekoe , and others . but also i am fully convinced , that fermentation properly taken , is very improperly , either in a natural or praeternatural state. adscribed to the blood. for to let alone many other reasons , reiterate experience hath taught me , that no ardent or sulphureous spirit , can be distilled from the blood of feverish persons : which nevertheless the same authors tell us , should always be obtained from fermented liquors . however if these learned men who delight in the word fermentation , understand only an extraordinary commotion , ebulition , &c. i assent to what they say , and think as they write , never loving to contest about words ( my humor being most averse to disputes and debates ) when we can agree in things . some there be , and these none of the unlearnedst , as particularly that excellent anatomist and physician , barbette , who maintain the essence of a fever to consist solely in the circular motion augmented , but besides some arguments to be had from barbette himself : not only the slowness of the pulse in the beginning of all fevers , and through the whole course of malign ones : but also the very nature of a fluid body , consisting in the perpetual intestine motion of its minute or small particles ( which clearly appears by the dissolution of sugar , salt , &c. in any menstruum , the gathering together of the dissolved particles of silver to the injected copper , besides several other experiments , to be met with in the immortal boyle his history of fluid : and firm , ( does sufficiently , in my opinion , overturn this ingenious hypothesis . howbeit , i shall adventure to say , that the intestine motion of the blood being troubled ) with its circulation sometimes diminished , but oftner augmented , does constitute that disease which is known to the vulgar , by the name of a fever . from this exagitation or commotion , it will be no hard matter , to derive all the other symptoms which in different subjects do differently invade : yea , which is no small argument to confirm the truth of what i have said , with this exagitation they ordinarly increase and remit . i do not incline to treat of them all , therefore shall only take notice , as the most frequent and principal of the following four. and to begin with heat , in which the ancients either sought the pathognomonick sign , or placed the essence of a fever ( for betwixt these two there is no small difference , which were easie to show , if my intended brevity did not forbid me ) it especially deserves our consideration . the opinion of the schools placing the formality of fevers in heat , albeit it prevailed long with physicians , yet at length it was exploded by helmont , sylvius , and other : and that ( 1 ) because in the beginning of fevers , which by all is acklowledged as one of their parts , cold creats greater trouble as heat , yea ( 2 ) some malign fevers there be , in which the patients are never heard to complain of heat , but rather at sometimes do tremble with extream cold. nevertheless by admitting a distinction betwixt the beginning and status of fevers , and betwixt internal and supprest , and external and manifest heat , i had far rather grant to the ancients that the formality of a fever consisteth in heat , as say with d. brown , that heat is the genuine effect of slow motion in the blood. whether it be the sublimity of his discourse , or my shallow capacity , i shall not rashly determine but forced i am to confess . that i can hardly understand what he there intends , only by the title of the 8. § . p. 111. i find he resolves to prove heat to be the genuine effect of slow motion in the blood : the contrary of which i have ever been taught , and shall here endeavour to evince . and first , i would have it observed , that the intestine motion of any fluid , or body whatsomever , deserves as well the denomination of motion , as the progressive does ; yea the doctor himself , in the end of the section , by his instance of the breath and hand , seems also to acknowledge it : and if i thought he doubted thereof , i could send him to cooks , to behold their boiling liquors , not now to mention the experiments afforded us by the incomparable boyle in his mechanical production of heat . now consequently heat cannot be the effect of slow motion absolutely spoken , since the intestine , which is most properly so called , is with it and in it exceedingly intended . the doctor ought at least to have distinguished betwixt the two , and not to have attributed indefinitly to both , that which experience denies properly to any of them , and he himself , as i noted before , to one . secondly , the cause why by swift progressive motion the heat is abated , as i think , is not because that motion is intended , but rather that the determinate intestine motion , sursum deorsum & ad utraque latera , is thereby diminished , or at least not proportionably therewith augmented : so that if the intestine , can be conform to the local , as you shall intend the progressive motion , proportionably you shall increase the heat . thirdly , i cannot enough admire , how the doctor comes to assert , that heat is the genuine effect of gross blood , since , with all others , he himself will acknowledge heat to be produced with intestine motion : for sure i am the more gross and thick any body is , the more unfit it is for motion whatsomever , and consequently rendered the more innept to procure heat . this is a thing so clearly demonstrat by philosophers , that it were but a consuming of time , to insist in its probation , and had it come from some old peripatetick i could easily have pardoned it , but in the doctor who pretends so much skill to the new and experimental philosophy , i can hardly forgive it . nay i have a greater esteem of our author's knowledge , than to think him ignorant of this common and perpetual truth : but the matter is , his false and precarious hypothesis does necessarly extort it : for grant one absurdity a hundred will follow . more excusable had he been to have said . that crassness of blood was the native product of heat , although that be but also accidental . for whatsomever causeth heat in the body v. g. volatile salts , the sun , commotions of the body and mind , do all of them immediatly and necessarly bring along with them thinness of the blood , and only accidentally crassness , viz. by accelerating its motion they do augment transpiration , by which the thinner particles are exhaled , and the remainder consequently turns thicker , and so much the thicker , so much the unfiter to produce heat . hereby it is clearly evinced how falsly the doctor philosophizeth ; when he would perswade us that crassness of the blood is the cause of heat : when on the contrary it is rather the effect , and that but accidentally too : for whoever can stop or impede the consumption of the thinner particles in transpiration , shall also prevent the thickness of the blood , notwithstanding its heat . fourthly , so far is it from being true what the doctor averrs , p. 111. that heat is caused by the attrition the muscles make on themselves and the adjacent parts ; that the doctor , nor none for him , shall ever by rubbing or attrition , procure heat to a sphacelat member : where nevertheless there be muscles and bones both , but wants blood and spirits . yea fifthly , i humbly think that not only motion , but the motion of determinat , sulphureous , oyly , &c. particles , is requisite to excite heat . which in my judgement may hence be proven : that not only sulphureous bodies are most ready to contract heat , flame , &c. and according as there is more or less sulphur in the body , so the heat will be the greater , lesser or none at all ; but also the intestine and confused motion of the minute particles , may sometimes be intended without the increase of heat , yea with the production of a sensible degree of cold to the very same hand , as may be learned from boyle in his mech . orig. of heat and cold : i being at the time removed from my books , can neither instance the experiment nor page , but sure i am severals are there to be found , and here by the by , i would seriously advise to the uniting of these two , ( viz. the new philosophy and chymistry ) which to the great prejudice of solid learning , have too long been unluckily separat : for the former being mainly taken up about motion , has almost intirely neglected the matter : while the latter on the other hand , being as much concerned with the matter , have wholly over-looked the motion . what is said i think may suffice to evert our author's position : when in his 8. § . he engages to prove heat in fevers to be the genuine effect of slow motion in the blood. it being rather produced , while the motion thereof , especially intestine , is intended , and the sulphureous particles do move , as it were , from the center to the circumference . i proceed to the second and ordinary symptom of fevers , vix . a frequent and hard beating pulse , which the experienced slyvius , to whom the hypothesis of the ancients was unsatisfying , made enter the definition of fevers , as the genus . nevertheless this his opinion is lyable to the same censures with the former . for neither the beginning of fevers have still the pulse augmented , nor yet can we always call it a fever where it is accelerate : as in congrumate blood , commotions of the mind , worms contained in the heart , &c. is easily demonstrable moreover , by the by , i cannot but observe , that these further discoveries made in anatomy about the bile , succus paner , &c. do noways destroy this hypothesis , which are nevertheless given by the doctor as the only reasons why he rejects it : for it can very well stand without that prope , and hath been , and still is maintained by these , who never adopted his triumverat . the cause of this frequency of the pulse , i take to be nothing else , as the frequent and violent contraiction of the heart , by which the contained blood is squeezed out , and so distendeth the arteries . thirdly , it is also to be noticed , that cold is not only a symptom of all intermittent fevers : but frequently also it is observable in the beginning of continual ones . which cold , any person acquaint with the experimental philosophy , the doctor pretends to be so much versed in will think to be a more native product of the slowness of the blood 's motion , as heat . in a word , the coldness of the members in persons troubled with sounding , where the motion of the blood , as well circular as intestine , together with the pulse , is sensibly diminished , does abundantly prove it . the fourth and last of these symptoms i purpose to speak of is a change in the urine , ( and it admits of the same exceptions with the former , as to malign fevers ) which in respect of their consistence , generally turn thicker , seldom thinner : as to their colour the natural or citrin is often turn'd red and fiery , and sometimes pale and watry , but especially in the beginning these are remarkable , while in the progress and status they appear still red and thick . in rendring causes for these phaenomena , i noways incline to follow them , who run instantly to acids and alkalies . albeit i readily grant this hypothesis to be of pretty large extent , and conveniently applicable to several cases ; yet i cannot in all acquiesce in their sentence , for reasons , perhaps to be afterwards rendred . i shall suppose now with the excellent bohn and experience : that the elemental parts of urine are water , salt , sulphur , and earth . so that the urine whose watry and limpid portion is most saturate with these saline and sulphureous particles , is always observed the thickest and crassest : hence i conclude the cause of thick and turbid urine , to consist in the confused admistion , and unequal dissolution of the solid particles in the aqueous vehicle . so sometimes we observe the urine to be clear when voided , and afterwards to turn thick , crass and turbide : which is commonly called , vrina turbata . and , in my opinion , ariseth hence : that these saline and earthy particles being more closly and naturally insinuate , in the pores of the watry part when first voided , do permit the rays of the sun to penetrat , and so it appears diaphanous : but if afterwards either by their own gravity and looser cohesion , or by the constriction and straitning of the pores of the serum , by the ambient frigid air , they chance to be turnèd out , the passage to the rays is thereby intercepted , and the urine turns turbide and opack , as i formerly said . again it is sometimes evacuate turbide , and persisteth in that confused condition , whence it is named , vrina confusa , and this is ordinary in the increment and status of fevers : perhaps , there being many heterogeneous and terreous particles , unequally mixed with the watry portion , which nevertheless are so firmly adjoined to the serum , all being yet in a state of crudity , that neither by their proper weight , nor by the help of the external ambient , can they be thence separate . and thirdly , the same urine is sometimes , especially in the end of the status and beginning of the declination emitted thick and turbide , but does shortly after become clear and limpide : probably the concoction being then approaching , these heterogeneous minima , which being kept in motion in the body , did still run up and down the containing liquor , whereby if seemed confused , do now being voided and acquiring rest , yea some two or three , or more of them joining together , become heavier inspecie as the serum , and consequently , of necessity must seek to the bottom , where they constitute the sediment : but if they hang in the midle , they are called suspensio , and if they swime above , go under the name of nubecula : upon the other hand , that urine , which should ordinarly represent and a ly mid-way boiled , does sometimes turn thinner , and this especially in the beginning of acute fevers is observable . for the explaining of which , it will not be impertinent , to distinguish betwixt vrinam potus , and vrinam sanguinis , for the urine of the drink , being never digested in the ventricle , nor assimilate to the blood in the veslels , passeth the reins without all alteration . but the cause of this thin consistence in the urine , as we speak of the blood , may be a twofold crudity : first , that in the stomach , where the aliments being frustrate of their due , digestion , cannot supply the serum with its ordinary salts . and the second is that in the reins , whose tubult being thereby obstructed , admit only the thin and watery , excluding the gross and terreous particles . the citrine or natural colour of the urine , as it depends in a natural state ( which i think none will deny ) from the saline and sulphureous particle of the chyle , in the different digestions extracted , and more intimatly therewith commixed : so from the greater or lesser quantity of these minima admixed in a praeternatural state , their colour is sometimes highned , sometimes darkned : however i never intend to exclude other causes , such as congrumate blood , the use of rhubarb &c. and this shall suffice for the changes of the urine , upon which i have insisted the longer , because they are wholly neglected in the vindicatory schedule , suppose of all others they give us the greatest light , both as to the prognosticks and cures of fevers . neither was this omission of the doctors altogether without reason , for not only the signs of crudity and coction , which ever have , and still will be observed by learned physicians in fevers , and by which the new method is intirely destroyed , from them , and them only are to be had ; but also few or none of the moderns , from whom the doctor might expect help , have write any thing tollerably of them . having briefly handled some few of these symptoms , with which a fever is ordinarly attended , i come next to enquire after the antecedent causes , which may , and ordinarly do produce this exagitation or commotion , in which i have been labouring to prove the continent cause of fevers to consist . and these i think , for the most part ( never intending to exclude all others ) will be found the following four. viz. obstruction , too violent motion , natural evacuation suppressed , and especially crua●ties transferred into the mass of blood. by obstructions i would have nothing else understood , as the coagulation of that limpid and serous humour , which being secerned in the subcutaneous or miliar glands , is excerned through the pores of the the whole habit , and that in no small plenty , under the name of insensible transpiration . which excrement being condensed and coagulate by the cold ambient air , or any other cause , does interrupt , not only the further transpiration : but also disturbs the whole circulation in the capillary vessels , or rather muscular fibers . by which means the motion of the subsequent blood being intercepted , the fibres of the muscles , as well as these of the vessels are irritate , and thereby urged into frequent and irregular ( not unlike to convulsions ) contractions , by which both the circular and intestine motions of the blood are notably intended , and that which we call a fever produced . it being enough here , for brevities sake , to suppose from pathologie , that the motion of fluids is augmented , either by the movent , mobile , or canals . and this account seems to me , and i hope will also to others , far more reasonable , than with the learned author of the v. s. p. 106. & seq . to attribute sense and reason to gross and stupid matter . concerning obstructions more may perhaps be found hereafter , when i come to consider our author 's new and mechanical hypothesis : for of all other causes i look upon them as the most seldom , it is easie to gather , from what is immediatly said , that these anastomoses or inosculations of the arteries and veins . which with the ancients , some of the learned moderns do admire as very convenient , if not absolutly necessary , for the explication of the animal functions , are not by me admitted , i desire to move a debate to no man , therefore shall suffer them to abound in their own sense who embrace them , providing they will only allow me to give some reasons why i reject them : without which i never have ( neither i think ever shall ) adopted or repudiat any opinion , because it was defended by this , or impugned by the other man. and to let alone secretion and nutrition , which to me , these inosculations being granted , seem altogether unexplicable : there be two experiments to be found in some place of the learned bohn his cire anat. ( i not having the book by me cannot design the page , but sure i am of them . having oftner as once seen them tryed ) which do clearly evince the bloods extravasation . as first , inject with a syphon tepid water into an arterie , v. g. of the arm , of any subject whatsomever , a knot being cast upon its fellow vein : the water will never run out at the wounded vein ( it being lanced betwixt the ligature and the arterie ) till the whole arm and hand be exceedingly distended : i. e. the pores of the muscles be all replenished . secondly , injection being made of melted wax into an arterie , as also of the same , but of another colour , into its neighbour vein : they will be found to have penetrate to the extremities of both the capillary vessels ( but especially in the arteries , the valves hindring much in the veins ) but we shall never discern any intermediate canal , communicating with both . the grand , yea only objection , formed against this opinion , is , that this extravasation being admitted , a continual hemorhagie must of necessity follow , and that the blood would rather diffuse it self through the flesh , as enter the small capillary veins . this objection indeed appears to be plausible , and to create some difficulty : but yet there is nothing in it what serious and after reflection will not easily remove , which were no hard matter to shew , if my design and leasure did not hinder me now . i shall at this time only desire the objectors to consider and say , whether or not there be any difficulty in the extravasation of the blood , which is not in each of the following three observations i offer to their consideration . the first of which is , that ordinary way of separating waters from oyls , commonly called , filtratio per elychnium , where the water or oyl , any of them in which the cotton is dipped , will by means of the wool be carried from one glass to another , without the loss of so much as a drop : and why pray may not the blood be carried the very same way by the fleshy fibers from one . vessel to another , especially since the tonick motion of the parts , and influx of the artereal blood do help much : whereas the experiment with the oyl , hath no other assistant , than the gravity of the air. secondly , that experiment first tried by burnerus de paner . and afterwards succeeding to others , as also to my self , does , in my weak judgement , not a litle confirm what i am saying : and it is this , blow with a tub into the weazand of a goose , whose intestine being tyed nothing can descend , the flatus will enter the open extremities of the mesaraick veins , and tend to the vena porta . from which experiment , without any constraint , the following conclusion i think may be drawn : that the capillary veins may be open , and yet no hemorhagie or effusion of blood will follow . thirdly , this is further made probable per purgationem menctruam , where no doubt the capillary vessels , by which that excretion does happen , are always patent . there being none , i think , who will affirm , that they , being otherways closed , should at the due and set time get open . if that were objected , i know no other cause that could , with the least appearance of reason , be assigned for their so doing , save the blood it self , which being yielded , it could hardly be refused , that whatever gave the cause the first being , would beyond all question still endeavour its perpetuation , from whence there must of necessiry arise a continual hemorhagie , the contrary whereof is nevertheless dayly experienced , what needs more , these anastomoses are repuggnant to reason , and they yet never appeared to the senses , the second of the antecedent causes , i alledged to be too violent motions of the body , i may perhaps also add these of the mind . it were needless to produce observations , for proving this my assertion , there being abundance to be had from the general collectors , i mean forrest , schenkins , hildanus , and others . i shall rather explain the ways by which they seem to produce their effects : which may be the following two. first , by attenuating the blood , and accelerating its motion , as well circular as intestine : which is done either by rarefying it self , or by opening the pores , and admitting calorifick atoms . though this last chances very rarely , for it rather happens that the pores being dilated , cold particles get entry , by which these obstructions formerly mentioned are procured : and this , i think , may be the other way too violent motions work in exciting a fever , in the third place , ordinary evacuations suppressed come under our consideration , whose concurrence , i expect , by none will be denied : seing that not only blood-letting prevents , yea sometimes cures continual fevers ; but also nature it self does frequently endeavour , and sometimes obtain its own relief , by bleeding at the nose and elsewhere . but this , as a thing conceded by all , i shall leave , and rather consider the description afforded us by our author , of insensible transpiration , ( it being of all most frequently suppressed ) in which he shews nothing of that knowledge and exactness , that might reasonably be expected from an author of a new method . it 's needless to mention how impertinently and prolixly he insists not only upon the invention , utility , and greatness of this secretion : but he must needs discourse also of chylification , respiration , and fixed salts , ( how skilfully shall be afterwards shewn ) all which are transcribed from sanctorius , majou , etmuller , &c. and for any thing i can see , upon no other design , save to enlarge the bulk of his book : for all that can any ways concern fevers in that large 9. § . consisting of 14 pages , may be easily contained in seven lines . yea surely it must argue no small folly in a man , to bring in such stuff as neither the subject requires , nor he himself understands . first , how he makes the air the principal efficient of transpiration , i cannot understand , for to any considering man it is evident , that the ambient , by its gravity and elasticity , will rather impede as promove it . but that i may shew him all the favour i can , i suppose it is rather that , which according to him , is mixed with the blood in inspiration , he here intends : yet in the mean time it is no small debate , whether the air be mixed with the blood in respiration or not ? as he may see in harvey de circ . san. higemore disq . anat. needham de form. fort. &c. and really it must be confessed , there want not reasons on both sides . however grant it were so , none who hath the least knowledge in physiology , will call it the efficient cause of transpiration : that being acknowledged by all , to be nothing else , as the circular motion of the blood , which nevertheless noways depends upon respiration , as maurocordatus would have it . the doctor may make the experiment in himself , it being in his power , to stop his breathing , though not the bloods circulation . ay there is no school boy in the kingdom but knows , that by runing the circulation is accelerate , the pulse augmented , and insensible transpiration intended to sweat. secondly , by what figure our author comes to call that no natural excretion in the 128 page , which in the 119 , he says , and that truly , does twise exceed all other evacuations whatsomever , perhaps he himself hardly does know : unless it be for the reason immediatly after page 128 subjoined , viz. that sweat is only profitable in so far as it shuns a greater evil , was ever such reasoning heard ? for what pray are all other evacuations natural ! or are any whatsomever natural . nay , really by this new method of reasoning they are not . thirdly , who will ever believe , that insensible transpiration suppressed , condenseth and thickneth the blood , while in the mean time , except what goes to the spirits , its thinnest and subtilest portion is thereby retained , and so by its abode does rather render it thin and aqueous , than crass and viscid . yea all practitioners whatsomever advise sweating as a fit and proper expedient to render the blood thick , and consequently its suppression ( insensible transpiration and sweating differing only secundum majus & minus ) must have the contrary effect in making it thin , will the doctor answer . these condensed particles being absorbed and carried back , do of necessity render the other more viscid . but to this i reply , these by their being suppressed , do not only impede the excretion of twenty times as many thinner and watry ones , and thereby abundantly compense their own thickness ; but also it will appear no great paradox to say , that these crass and absorbed ones , are by the far greater quantity of the blood and its continual motion , reduced to their former and limpid condition . by all which it is clear , that insensible transpiration suppressed , rather attenuates as thickens the blood , contrary to the mind of the author of the v. s. p. 126. and hence i conclude , that all or most part , the stoping of insensible transpiration does in procuring fevers , is only , by creating obstructions , and so disturbing the blood in its motion . the last , and by far the most frequent , of the four named antecedent causes of fevers , viz. crudities conveyed into the mass of the blood , do as yet remain . to insist in proving of this , which is universally acknowledged , were a meer consumption of time and paper . yea , from hence it is , that the generality of the moderns have perswaded themselves , that the formality of a fever consisted in a fermentation : conceiving this heterogeneous body under the notion of a ferment , which , when it could not be assimilate to the mass of blood , did therein raise an effervessence . i gave my reasons before , why i could not fight under their banner , who delight in the terms of ferment and fermentation , therefore shall not repeat them here . i think then , in few words , a fever may not be ineptly conceived , as a wrestling or strugling betwixt nature and what is heterogeneous thereto , under which it does either succumb or expel whatever is offensive and injurious to it . there are two things here to be noticed ere i further proceed : first , when i speak of crudities transferred to the blood , i understand not only crudities proceeding from the first ways ( though i easily grant these to be the most ordinary , which may be inferred not only from the great efficacy we find in emeticks in the cure of continual as well as intermittent fevers ; but also from the great hurt daily observed in them both , by errors committed in the first digestion ) but admits also morbisick atoms or effluvia , which may enter either by the pores or respiration , from the ambient air : as likeways raments from ulcerous , scirrous and gypseous ( pardon these uncouth terms , for i can give none more plain ) viscera . secondly , i must own my dissent from these , otherways learned men , who are pleased to call this ferment , as they speak , always acide . for as i could never forgive them , who endeavour to build all upon no surer fundation , as an acid and alcali ; so i can hardly either pardon these , who trouble us so much with them in physick . and that for many reasons , ( without which i 'le deny no mans hypothesis ) but especially the following three . 1. their expeperiments and arguments prove noways what they are brought for . 2. in their explication of both acid and alcali , they are still very obscure , and could never satisfy me , yea i believe hardly themselves . and 3. a great many phaenomena , ex . gr . gravity , levity , colours , &c. are by them unaccountable . but besides these reasons against the hypothesis in general , i shall endeavour to obviate the arguments produced for it here in particular . the chief of which i take to be the following two : first , according to the different degree and increase of the fever , the urine is also observed to intend and heighten its colour , and that not unlike to those who are impregnat with acids , v. g. vinegar , spirit of salt , &c. to which i answer , by granting the whole , though not always , yet frequently to be so ; as also that it may perhaps be , that this ferment may sometimes prove acide : yet that this change of colour is always , and only the effects of acids , i positively deny , seing by saline and sulphureous agents the same may be wrought , and dayly is in statu sano , in which , nevertheless no acid has ever yet been obse●ved . in a word , they commit that general error in physick , as well as in philosophy , of forming from particular experiments general hypotheses . so observing acids and alcalies to ferment , they have laid it down as an universal axiom , that wherever fermentation is found , there must of necessity an acid and alcalie exist ; while yet succeeding experiments inform us , that very high acids . v. g. oyl of vitriol , butter of antimony , besides many others , which can be instanced by such as are aquaint with chymistry , will effervesce together . their other argument , which is of the same force , is taken from the great and good effect of salts , ( salia salsa i mean , which are composed of acids and alcalies , and constitute a third very different from both ) testaceous and alcalick powders in curing of fevers : which being contrary to acids , makes them conclude ( dum contraria contrarus curantur ) the morbifick cause to be always soure : to this it may be replyed , that they fall into the same fault , which was reprehended in the former : viz. of drawing universal conclusions from particular premises . for i can safely say , that acids themselves , v. g. spir. salis , elyxir vitrioli mynsichti , &c. are frequently , and that not without desirable success imployed in fevers . it were very easie yet further to move a great many arguments against this hypothesis : such as an artificial fever excited by the inunction of the oyl of beetls , fevers not unfrequently owing their arise to fear , anger , &c. but i suppose it needless . having already insisted longer on this as i designed , i proceed to the division , after i have told , what every person , at least physician , knows , that the procatartick causes , which give occasion to the antecedent , and set them a working , be the sex res non naturales . i shall neither trouble my self nor my reader , with that infinite division of fevers , to be had in sylvius and others , thinking it enough to consider the following four , under which all others may be easily comprehended . and first , they are divisible into continual and intermittent : which continual may again be divided into these called continentes , which from the beginning to the end , without all exacerbation , observe the same schem : and into these called continuas , which never leave the body without a fever , but yet have exacerbations , sometimes once a day , and then they are called , continuae quotidianae , sometimes once in two days , when they go under the name of continuae tertianae , &c. and to me they appear nothing else , as a continent and intermittent fever joined together . secondly , fevers are devided into benign and malign . thirdly , into acute and lent. and fourthly , into primary and secundary or symptomatick . all that hath already been said is concerning continual fevers , and applicable to them : so i proceed to consider these called intermittent , which have created as great trouble to physicians in this age , in assigning them a true and congrous cause , as they did to these in the former , in finding a proper and successful cure. i cannot now stay to cribrate the various sentiments of different authors , but shall propose what to me seems most probable , which in few words is this : every paroxism of an intermittent fever , is analogous to an intire continual one , and hath its arise from crudities carried through the first ways and vasa lactea into the mass of blood , in which , they being thereto hardly assimilable , raise and excite these tumults before described . and do now constitute a quotidian , now a tertian , now a quartan , &c. at one time an erratick , at another time a periodical fever . first , because of the matter , which is now more copious , now more scant , now crasser , and thicker , now thinner and fluider , in one person at certain , in another person at uncertain times , thither transferred . secondly , because of the diversity of the subject , the blood of one being easilier set a working as that of another . in a word , when ever there comes so much matter to the blood , as can raise a strugling therein , a paroxism is produced . but after all , i think no shame to confess , that there occurrs to me somewhat here which seems unaccountable , and therefore i shall never obtrude upon others , what i do not enough understand my self . benign fevers are these called continual , but not accompanied with these horrid symptoms , which being present , do give them the name of malign . and such are great anxieties , inquietude , sudden prostration of the strength , spots , cold sweats , tumors about the glands , called parotides , &c. in enquiring after the cause of these malign fevers , i can find nothing save obscurity in the different opinions of authors : while some , with willis , fancy to themselves a great coagulation of the blood : again others who follow sylvius , strive as much for a lixivious and urinous acrimony of the same . de la font pleads hard for an arsenical and corrosive poyson inspired with the air. for me , in such ambiguity , i willingly profess my ignorance : but still enclines to look upon their cause as always epidemick , coming either from the air , meat or drink : and whenever it effects , seazeth especially upon the head ; we ordinarly observing symptoms of the brain to insult , whilst pulse and urine suffer small or no change . and hence i suppose is the proverb , good pulse , good urine , and the patient dies . acute fevers are such , as terminate against the 9 , 14 , 20 , or 21. day : but continuing no longer as the 7 , they are called peracute : yea , sometimes they kill in the third and fourth day , and so get the name , ( and that deservedly ) of peracutissimae : while these , who extend themselves to the 40 day , are termed acutae ex decidentiâ . and all that exceed this term whether fevers or other distempers , have obtained the general denomination of lent or chronick diseases . it is certainly beyond all question , that this diversity ariseth from the weakness or strongness of the morbifick matter , which in lent diseases , at the beginning , brings litle or no alteration to the humane body , but through process of time , partly by defatigating the body , partly by rendring more of the blood like unto it self , proves exitial to the patient : which is too frequently seen in a hectick , it being of all lent fevers the most formidable . lastly , fevers were divided into primary and secundary or symptomatick . the first are such as have their cause within themselves , and own their being to no other disease , as do the others called secundary or symptomatick . which be sometimes excited by pain , as in the gout , gravel , &c. sometimes they accompany wounds , inflammations , ulcers , and many other maladies : by all which the motion of the blood , as well circular as intestine may be augmented , and that which we call a fever produced . in the page 185 of the v. s. the doctor 's exactness , and great skill in physick is very conspicous : for there he asserts fevers and tumors ( i suppose he means inflammations , tumors being of a large extent ) to be perpetual companions : so that according to his pathology , the one cannot exist without the other . whereas all the world knows , yea dayly finds it , that fevers can exist without his tumors , yea not one of ten thousand , without all hyperbole , hath them . true it is indeed , that inflammations are ordinarly ( yet not always ) followed by fevers , and they are among the number of these i called secondary or symptomatick . many things appertaining to fevers and their theory : as symptoms , prognosticks , &c. do as yet remain . but i being far from presuming to give a particular account or description of that disease , knowing it to be a load too heavy for my young and tender shoulders , finds my self nowayes obliged to mention them here : my purpose being only to give a general , and for what appears to me , the easiest and best description of the malady , into whose method of curing i resolve to inquire . neither will i labour ( it being more my desire to do well my self , than to discover that others have done ill ) in refuting the opinions of others , as the doctor doth , though with arguments i confess . sometimes against , but as often for them . yet i must pass some reflections upon the doctor 's new and mechanical hypothesis , left my passing it by should offend its author . and to speak ingenuously , his description of the disease is as obscure , as his method of curing is dangerous . have then the scheme of the new and mechanical hypothesis in the author 's own words , p. 104. seing then ( for the five pages which go before , contain only the fundation , though very unproportionable to the noble building afterwards erected in little more as one ) the returns of repararation to the parts and functions ought to be made , both in time and quantity in proportion to the waste , by the efflux of the arterial blood from the heart as the vehicle , and thorow the arteries , as the conduites of these recruites : when this is done vegetly , integrally , without any stop or delay , then redounds felicity ease , and integrity , of the functions and life : but when that efflux is retarded or stopt , either by reason of the blood it self , or some stopage in the extremities and small channels of the vessels ; or by reason of immoderate and unusual waste , beyond the proportion of the ordinary supply , ( as falls out in immoderate exercise and motion ) and , so i say , when by reason of any of these causes , the heart cannot convey and lay in the desired supplement in due proportion and timously , by stroaks repeated at the usual intervals , then it does , by precipitating the stroaks , and straitning the intervals of the pulsations , endeavour , what in it lyes , to overcome the slowness of the motion of the blood , and to come so near as it can to the due and proportionable distribution of nutriment , in respect of the waste : but if , notwithstanding of these sedulous endeavours of the heart by redoubling of the pulsations , that slowness of the blood , shall by a gradual encrease of the thickness , and of obstructions in the capillary vessels , prove yet so obstinate as still to be augmented , then this leads straight to the porch and gate of death ; death being nothing else but a total and permanent cessation , and defect of this distribution . behold the description of a disease , and it never once named ! is this doctor because it is so clear , that who runs may read it ? surely then my capacity is very shallow : for had not the title of that 7. sect. promised a new and mechanical hypothesis , i should from this description never have inferred it , and had not the very next paragraph proposed an objection , i should further have looked back for it . yea i believe it would puzle your self , were it not for these marks , to find it . for my part , i see nothing here described save death , and that perhaps not undeservedly , for by means of the new method death and fevers are become synonima , and so the one with you , may safely go for the other . but thanks be to god , it is otherways with us , who walk in the good , old and experienced path , where it becomes but sometimes a passage unto it . but why , pray , a new hypothefis ? it being as old as since bontekoe write de febribus . it is indeed very hard to know that author's proper opinion , he being more taken up in refuting others , as in explaining himself : and what he hath said is so harsh and obscure , that he can scarcely be understood , yet , if i be not deceived , he endeavours to evince a thickness of blood in continual fevers . leaving this i go to things more serious , where it seems to me not improbable , that one of the fundamental errors into which the doctor himself hath slipped , is that which i have noticed before , viz. the drawing of universal conclusions from particular propositions : for by what i can learn from this description , it being indeed very hard , at least for me to draw any thing therefrom , he would gladly perswade us that obstructions and only they , are the antecedent ( and for what i can see the conjunct to ) cause of fevers . the contrary of which , not only innumerable authors with infinite examples have evinced : but i my self have shewn above , that there can be , and frequently are other three , besides many moe by me over looked . this is indeed a rock upon which many excellent men have split , therefore to be pardoned in our author , and to disswade him therefrom , to the observation i gave before , i shall now join other two. and first , there was nothing more ordinary , as upon the seeing acids coagulate , to assert , that wherever coagulation hapned , there must of necessity exist an acid : while yet after experience did teach us , that alcalies can crudle milk , and spirit of wine coagulate humane blood. in the like manner , practitioners having found the good success of acids at some occasions ( for they do it not always , as poterius observes ) in quickning the digestion , precariously they conclude an acid humor the principal agent in chylification : yea , as moebius observes , it was received with so general applause and consent , that it became almost heresie to call it in question : albeit later anatomists have not only demonstrate , that alcalies and urinous bodies may have the same , yea greater effect , but have intirely banished the famed acid its fictitious office. to shut up all , it is this , that hath given occasion to a great many errors in physick as well as philosophy , viz. that phoenomena peculiar to this or the other subject , have been generally applied to all kinds , and so from particular experiments and observations , we have formed universal hypotheses . secondly , i cannot conceive how obstructions can be either so efficacious or so frequent as the doctor insinuates . i shall not make use of the ordinary objection , which nevertheless of no small force : that there can be no obstruction without a subsequent tumor . however i wish the doctor had told us , in which of the vessels , i mean arteries or veins , these obstructions fall out . for first it is to me unconceivable how they can be in the arteries ; seing nothing enters them , that hath not first run through the small milky vessels , from thence to the ductus thoracicus , which empties it self in the subclavial vein , and that again by the vena cava , into the right ventricle of the heart , out of which it is conveyed to the lungs by the pulmonal artery , and from thence to the hearts left ventricle by the vein of the same name , from which , as from a fountain , it is dispensed to the whole body , by the great artery and its branches . all which being considered , may not i reasonably argue : that surely , whatsomever hath passed these small lymphaticks , commonly called the milky vessels , and the capillary branches of the pulmonal vein ; will never stick in any part of the great artery , especially when its strong and frequent vibrations , do afford great assistance to this its motion . yea without stopping the course of the blood in the whole branch , it is altogether impossible , that any obstruction can happen in the minutest artery . the same difficulties , if not greater , will meet us in the veins , which are the other kind of vessels : for if we consider their figure , we find it a cone inverted ; now no man of sense will alledge , that what hath entered the small end of a cone , as the blood does in the veins , will stop in the great : ergo , the doctor 's obstructions must be denied . several other observations might safely be made on this paradoxical , as he himself , p. 109 , justly calls it , hypothesis : but i shall detain the reader no longer . only i cannot omit , that in the beginning of the 8 sect. he perswades himself , that the rapid circula●ion of the blood , is wholly overturned , and yet p. 105 ▪ where he is giving that which he would have us digest for a new scheme of fevers , he boldly , and as i think , contradictorly , affirms the heart to redouble its pulsations . which how it can happen , ingenuously i , nor i suppose none else , can conceive : yea it is clearly repugnant to reason and the circulation . nevertheless i see by the 27 p , of philanders second letter , that the doctor will needs defend it . what d. black , or any who carries that name , may have said against it , i am wholly ignorant , these books having never come to my hands . but what i shall do , shall be only this , to give a brief account of the hearts motion and its cause , and so leave the doctor and others to judge , how reconcilable these two are : for the heart to double its pulsations , and yet not to accelerate the bloods circulation . the blood that enters the right and left ventricles of the heart from the vena cava , but especially pulmoners , does stimulate its fibers : by which stipulation the animal spirits are brought from the brain by the eight , or wandring pair of nerves , and being deposed in its lax fibers , do contract the samen , and straiten its ventricles with so great a force , that whatever is contained therein , is expelled , and thrust into the arteries in this its systole , by which they are distended and acquire a diastole : after which the same fibers are laxed , and these of the auricles contracted , whereby the blood , these auricles had immediatly received from the veins , is dismissed to the heart , which now , by the relaxation of its fibers , is in the diastole : which blood does a new stimulate as formerly , and so procures to the heart a new systole , under which the blood is again thrust forth into the arteries , and occasioneth in them a diastole or beating . so that the arteries will never be distended , except the blood be admitted , for they can be the cause of their own systole , but never of their diastole . now how can a man averr , that the heart can double its pulsations , and yet not render the circulation more rapid : seing except it emit what blood it had received in its last diastole , it can never obtain a new systole . the systole being nothing , save the contraction of the fibers , and expulsion of that blood , it had received in the former diastole . in a word , it is as impossible for the heart to be contracted in the systole , without expelling the contained blood , which must of necessity go into the arteries and cause their dilatation ; as it would be for the doctor to press together the two sides of a bladder filled with water , without expelling the contained liquor . by which brief and true account of the hearts motion , it may excellently appear , how fitly it is compared by our learned doctor , in the 27 p. of philand : second letter , to the ascension of water in pumps . the true cause of which phoenomenon , adscribed to the ancients to a fug● vacus , being only this : that by the retraction of the embolus or sucket , the place which it deserts is left void , or at least the air therein contained , is noways proportionable to the external , and so not able to resist its pressure . in the mean time the air having no access to the cavity of the pump , does necessarly gravitat upon the water in which it stands , whereby it is forced to ascend in the pump , in which , by the retraction of the sucker , it meets with no opposition , till such a height , as is able ( and beyond which it will by no means go ) to keep an equilibrium with an equal column of the external air , which hath the same superfice , wherein the pump stands for its basis , and the atmosphaere for its height . in a word , there needs no more to make water ascend in pumps , save to free it from the impediment if found by the suckers leaning upon it . how bravely this grees with the hearts 〈…〉 ation , doctor brown himself may be judge : however it quadrates as well as the most of his simile's . and now while i 'm yet upon his theory , it may be a fit time to give a specimen of his exactness in anatomy , physiologie , and chymistry . to begin then with anatomy , his great skill herein is excellently shewn p. 178 , where he pretends to give a reason , why hurtful to lye with the head low : which is , that then , the grosser blood does ascend , whereas it being higher , the more spiritous only gets up , while the more crass seceeds at the ( n. b. ) axillary branches excellent indeed ! from whom i wonder did d. brown learn , but that whatever enters the branches of arteries , is carried foreward to their end , yea how can it otherways be , seing continually , by the help of their second coat , which is tendinous , they are constringed , and so at every place and in every moment , give a new impetus to the contained blood. but yet better anatomy , for ay till d. brown did write , we have been in a general error , when we used to say , that the subclavial arteries , after they had demitted from themselves , three superiour intercostals , the mammariae vertibrales , cervicales & musculae , did go out of the thorax or trunck , and tend to the artus or arms , where they got the new name of axillares but now d. brown hath discovered our ignorance , by shewing , that they have their arise from the carotides ( otherways it were folly and nonsense to say , that the grosser blood seceeds by them , for except they arise from the carotides , how shall it enter them ? ) had the doctor said instead of the axiliars , that it seceeds to the larynx and pharynx , they indeed receiving a share of that blood , which tends to the head ; he might have concealed his ignorance , though not given any great proof of his knowledge . for so far is it from being true , what the doctor says : that the great artery is not at all , according to the ancients , divided into the trunck ascending and descending ; but rather according to the learned and excellent anatomist d. highmore , it is immediatly upon its egrefs from the left ventricle of the heart , divided into the two subclavial branches . nevertheless it is not all true , what he alledgeth , when he affirmeth that from the right subclavial both the carotides do arise : for frequent experience hath taught me , and no doubt will also do any , who will be at the pains to try it , that from the right subclavial does only arise the right carotis , and the left ( which , to my knowledge , was never noticed by any ) comes neither from the right subclavial , nor yet from the left ; but is a third branch arising from the heart it self , and hath no communication with any of the subclavials , but far less with the axillary branches . i know the doctor hath this from des cartes , but really it is too well known , that this great wit and subtile man , was none of the best anatomists , and perhaps it was his greatest fault , to assert things he thought consonant to reason , never much careing or considering how they might be favoured by experience , nevertheless the doctor when citing him , should have known to discover his error . good physiology is still the companion of accurate anatomy , as is also to be seen in the doctors new and ingenious hypothessis of chylification , which p. 131. is most dextrously explained , by a grinding and attenuating the aliments , their parts one against another by the contraction of the ventricle whereby it seems the doctor would grate them to chyle . but i would willingly know , if ever he , or any man else observed a solid body turned into a fluid , except it were ice , butter and and such like , which have been fluid before , by meet attrition : when ever the doctor affoords me one instance ( for that of a plume looks likeer expression as attrition ) then , and never till then , i 'le grant his whole hypothesis . moreover for what end is all that apparatus of glands in the stomach , and why do physicians advise the swallowing of the spitle with large drinking at meat , as great helps to the digestion , if it happen by meer attrition : for certainly the harder any thing is , it is so much the sitter for grinding ; or else the authors idea thereof , must be quite different from the vulgar ▪ and really what is brought from the ingenious papins digester does rather refute as confirm , what it is brought for : the gelly being produced , not by the bones mutual attrition , but by the waters dissolving and extracting . yea if i remembor right ( it being now a good time since i read that book , and not being at home i cannot consult it ) the ingenious author himself calls it extraction , which all the world knows is quite different from attrition . of the same kind is that account of sanguification , which in the 18● page of his v. s. he is pleased to communicate with us . we are indeed extreamly obliged to him , at least for his good intentions , for labouring in a few lines to accomodate that difference , which hath caused almost bloody contests for so many ages . i cannot enough admire the policy of the doctor , who prudently ( knowing most debates to be about words ) conceals these invidious terms of organical and similar functions , they having given occasion to no small strife : whilst some with the ancients , plead hard for the former , others , after glisson , cry as loud for the latter . however , albeit our author hath not been so ingenuous as to confess it , the aetiology he gives , makes it purely organical , only what some adscribed to the heart , others to the liver , the doctor attributes allennerly to the lungs . but pray , what does the duty in the foetus , where during nine months , the lungs lye intirely idle : for i doubt nothing , but the doctor knows the foramenovale ( which does not go from the vena cava to the vena pulmonalis , as is generally affirmed , but rather terminates in the left auricle it self ) and canalem arteriosum . now i hope the doctor will never say , that sanguification is the work of the lungs , when the blood is made for nine months in the foetus , and they never once concurr . after the doctor hath considered and soundly answered this objection , if i can raise no other against it , i shall adopt his new hypothesis . but till such time , i expect he 'll not be offended , if i shall assert sanguification to be a function partly organical , and partly similar . i. e. in the liver , reins , pancreas , &c. such particles as could not turn into blood , are deposed , and so its organical : also by the continual motion thereof , the sulphureous and nobler particles of the chyle , are assimilate to the blood , for which it is called similar . yet i am so ingenuous as to grant to the doctor , that sanguification hath more help from the lungs ( the blood descending always more florid and brisk by the vena pulmonalis , as it did ascend by the artery ) as from any other part whatsomever : nevertheless they concurr only as an instrument with many others , albeit they may perhaps be the principal . as for that argument so much insisted on , by the learned glisson , it creates me no great difficulty : for albeit i cannot but grant , ocular inspection having demonstrat it to me , that the blood appears in the embryo , before any organ , and so consequently cannot be made by that , which is posterior to it self . yet i still think , there is great difference betwixt sanguification in the foctus and in an adult person : for in the former , it is not simple chyle that is converted into blood , but that which already circulating in the mothers body , hath demitted its bile in her liver , its urine in her reins , &c. by which it is disposed to turn into blood. so that if it had not experienced already the organical part from the mother , the similar action in the foetus should hardly have produced the effect . for , which i hope none will deny , as the same subject may be differently affected by diverse agents , so the same agent will produce divers effects upon various subjects . as expert seems the doctor to be in chymistry , as either anatomy or physiology . in all his book there occurs nothing , that savours of that noble art , save one passage from helmont and tackenius , which without any prejudice to either author or book might have been omitted , it being beyond all debate now , that alcalizate or fixed salts , are not formerly preexistent in any body , being only produced by the acting of the fire , so cannot as the doctor would have it , be dissolved and extracted by the aire , before they exist . he ought rather to have said , that the saline ( there being a great difference amongst salts ) and sulphureous atoms , which by joining together , do constitute fixed ( they not being natural but factitious ) or alcalizat salts , while the herbs are a drying , exhale and fly away . after having dwelt so long upon the theory of fevers , it 's time to proceed to their method of curing . which indeed is the principal thing , it being no great matter how wild a mans opinions be in speculations , providing he do not apply them to practice . no man must expect here a description of all the various indications , which may , and ordinarly do require attention in a dogmatick and methodical cure. my design being only ( as i often said ) to propose the good , old , rational and successful method , and to vindicate it from d. brown's objections : who hath not himself , albeit the author of a new one , noticed the half , of what deserves consideration in a rational cure. which nevertheless i 'le readily grant in some epidemick constitutions or seasons , and in certain subjects , especially where the critical motions of nature happen per secissum , which is not once in a hundred times , to prove unsuccessful . this only i would say , that it is the most frequent , and therefore deserves the name of the best method : and where nothing happens about the patient that is singular ; it ought always to be practised . before i go further it will not be impertinent to lay down some general axioms , which being founded upon sound reason , and frequent experience , have extorted assent from , and credit with physicians of all ages : nevertheless they are not understood , or rather not much regarded by our learned author . i. cures are threefold 1. cura curatoria , which respect the continent cause , as in fevers and all acute diseases . 2. praeservatoria , which especially regards the antecedent cause ; ex . gr . in a person troubled with gout , gravel , &c. after the removal of the paroxism , we purge , bleed , &c. to prevent the accession of another . and 3. cura paltativa , v. g. in a patient troubled with incontinency of urine , which cannot be cured , the sphincter of the bladder being lacerate , we apply such an apparatus , as van heer in his observations provides for such a strait . ii. indications ordinarly ( sometimes they be moe , but they are only particular ) are three . 1. indicatio curatoria , which levels at the disease and its continent cause . 2. conservatoria , preserving the strength , that being by all means to be cherished . and 3. mitigatoria , for it is principally occupied against the urgent symptoms : such as thirst , pains , watching , &c. which being sometimes more troublesome as the distemper it self , do require attention , even with the neglect of the primary disease . some indeed there be , who have denied this any room among indications , alledging that the one being removed , the other will necessarly cease , symptoms following only the disease , as a shadow does the body . but to this moment , i never heard of any , who refused an indication to the continent cause and disease it self , as dr. brown in the 71 page of the v. s. hath precariously done . where leaving the essence of the disease , he prosecutes the antecedent cause . can any person that knows or hath a respect for physick and physicians , read or hear this , without offence ? and this really is the fountain , from which many of his errors do flow . but consider doctor , and i intreat you , as you love your neighbours safety and your own quiet do : continual fevers are not intermittent , in which the antecedent cause continues in the first ways , and from thence is gradually and successively carried in to the blood ; so that whoever can take away the fomes , may expect in all reason , to prevent the accession of a new paroxism , though never hinder the present . whereas in continual fevers , the whole antecedent cause is semel & simul carried into the blood , and excites the fever : which we must especially regard , and not the antecedent cause , which now is not , it being turned into the continent . further when the doctor is called to a patient , is it to cure the present fever , or to prevent a future ? if it be to prevent a future , then he does well , to look to the antecedent cause , which still respects the future ; and so he institutes that cure , in the first axiom , called praeservatoria : but if it be to cure the present , then sense and reason require that he should level at its continent cause and essence . whereas according to the new method , the present distemper is committed to nature , while the doctor only labours to prevent a future evil , which really , as i am informed , he does sometimes very successfully , by putting them beyond all fear of misery , as well as happiness , except what 's eternal . iii. the third of our axioms is : that contraries are cured by contraries , and the like preserved by the like . by some a controversie is here again moved , as if diseases were sometimes cured by the like . v. g. an hemorhagie by bleeding , a flux by purging , &c. but it ought to be considered , the question is not about the disease and its remedy , which may indeed sometimes prove alike : but betwixt the indicans and the indicanus , or that which indicates , and that which is in dicated , they still being oppositite : loosness ever indicating binding , it matters not much , by what mean it be done . iv. whatever is natural ought to be preserved , and that which is preternatural must be removed . v. of two evils the least is to be chosen . vi. critical evacuations are wisely to be discerned from symptomatical . the not distinguishing of which , is a mater of great moment , and of bad consequence , while it brings the physician into the greatest of difficulties and errors , as well as the patient into the greatest of hazards . out of which nevertheless both the physician and patient may be easily extricate , by rightly ponderating the following four 1. the times of the disease are prudently to be noticed , the coction and crudity of the humours , discernable especially in the urin , must exactly be observed : the evacuation which happens in the beginning of a distemper , with the signs of crudity being still symptomatick . 2. the place where the evacuation happens signifies much , for if it chance in a place , whither nature in that malady useth to tend , other things concurring , it is still convenient . so a loose belly is alwayes more suspected in a feaver as , sweat , this being natures ordinary path in that distemper , whereas a flux is still looked on as dangerous : and if there were no more as this : natures own course , it is sufficient to evert the whole new method . 3. the quality of the humour voided , if such as it ought , is to be noticed : and 4 , neither should the quantity be neglected , for larger evacuations make us still affraid . vii . whatever is to be evacuat , drive it to the way it most tends , according to the 21. of the first section of hippocrat's aphorisms . viii . concocted , not crude humours are to be expelled by the 22. aphorism of the same first section . ix . the times of diseases are precisely to be noticed , it being safe to do at one time that , which is perfect death at another . which times are four the beginning , the increment , the status and declination . x. the vast difference betwixt purges , is also worth the considering . some being so gentle that they only evacuat the ventricle and first ways , never reaching the mass of the blood , and are ordinarly designed by laxantia . others tend farther in the body , precipitat the serum , and properly are called purges or catharticks . which division of purges , acknowledged and admitted by all , will , i hope , stand us in no small stead . at length i come to the method of curing , wherein , to keep close to the matter , according to the second axiome , a skilful physician proposeth to himself these three indications . 1. to remove and expell the disease and its continent cause , as preternatural . 2 , to preserve as much as he can , the strength , it being natural : and 3. to mitigat the urgent symptoms if any such appear . i am abundantly sensible , that there occure many other things in a feverish person , which require attention : but , as i said before , these are the ordinary and general indications , and under them most others may come , therefore can only be treated of in a general method ▪ for the removal of the disease and its cause , it will be convenient to remember , what was formerly said concerning the nature of fevers in general : when i asserted their formality to consist in a preternatural exagitation of the blood , being most frequently thereto excited , by heterogeneous atomes transferred into it . therefore to ende vour the removal of the disease , is to lay this commotion , and to expell the cause , is to banish the body , whatever it is that sets the blood thus a working . and this we labour to accomplish by several means and medicaments , as well alterants as evacuants , but concerning the last , i am now especially engaged . as to the second indicant , of preserving the strength , and the third of mitigating the symptoms , the doctor and i do agree , at least his book contains nothing of them . therefore i , whose only purpose it is , to defend as much of the old method , as d. brown does molest , and to refute his , wherein it goes opposite thereto , am no ways engaged to treat of all , that in an accurate and exact method , ought to be practised . especially i said by evacuants we remove the disease and expels it's cause . among which the first that offers its self to our consideration , is that noble and excellent remedy , if duely and skilfully applied , of bleeding . which as the doctor observes p. 143. is granted by all as very beneficial . and if this be true , as certainly it is , the doctor hath given us no new method as to this part , and so might have spared his labour in writting a book , to convince the world of that , of which never nan doubted . when and how often the doctor useth this remedy , which was absolutly necessary in an accurate method ( there being four very different times as the 9th . axiome observeth ) he does not inform us , and therefore i can say nothing against him . however i must not omit , to reprehend that vulgar as well as pernicious error , of bleeding all persons and in all fevers . for so long as a plethory is the only indicant of bleeding ( of revulsion , derivation and exploration , which do frequently call for and allow of the same , i am not now speaking ) it can never safely , and with advantage to the patient be administrat , but where that plethory is . so that if a fever fall out in a young and robust person , where any natural evacuation is suppressed in one using a good and laudable dyet , in a word , where the way of living , or any other circumstance may perswade us of abundance of blood , no doubt the physician does wisely , who adviseth it's eventilation , if he cannot set a working the natural evacuation it self : providing it be in the beginning and increment of the malady , otherways when nature is endeavouring her own liberation , he may be apt to disturb her motions . but that rash and inconsiderat course of bleeding , without any difference , subjects of all ages , constitutions and sexes ; is a practice which neither reason perswades to , nor experience allows of . we all acknowledge , and not without cause , that our life and strength consists in our blood. it 's also confessed , that nature and strength do cure diseases : the physician only assisting where nature is weak , and directing when she 's wrong . why then do we evacuate that blood , which we expect should cure the disease and relieve the patient ? ay but say some , with the doctor : the ill blood comes away and leaves the good behind . i answer , this is a reason so ridiculous in its self , and so repuguant to the laws of the circulation , that hardly any save gardners , old-wives , &c. to whom that noble invention is a mystery , will ever pretend it : for whatever comes to the vein , good or evil , is also evacuate . yea the evil is so intermixed with the good , that till it self have made a separation , no art can disjoin them , for example , suppose a sick man having in his body twelve pounds of blood , eight of which are good , and four evil : now being all circulate through the heart , at least twise every quarter of an hour , is there any man so absurd as to affirm , that only the evil , and only at that time , will come to the vein which is wounded , while the good , being strangely sagacious , and desirous to stay in the sick persons body to restore him his health , will go to the other and remoter places ? is there , i say , any man so absurd as to maintain this prodigious fancy ? nay i think it is far more credible , that of the whole twelve , one pound being evacuate , two parts will be good , and one evil , just as it was in the body . and all the advantage , which the patient by bleeding does reap , is only this : that before he had twelve pounds of blood , eight whereof were good and four evil , but now he hath only eleven in all , whereof seven pound with four ounces are good , and three pound with eight ounces are evil. however , the doctor for his timous assistance to this decaying opinion , deserves to be listed with , if not to get the precedence among the forenamed medicasters . for , says he , p. 151 , as in a river we observe the heterogeneous body still to tend towards the brink , so in the veins , the feculent and ill blood runs to their sides , and runs first out , while the finer returns to the heart . a notable invention indeed , to preserve this feculent and exploded figment ! what way , pray , can the fine blood return ? not by the arteries , that being absolutely impossible , for grant their motion should invert , which yet no man of common sense will imagine , the three semilunar valves do still hinder . neither by the vein , for your band put betwixt the orifice and the heart stops the passage : so that of necessity , whatever enters the vein , good as well as bad , runs out at the wound : for do we not see , that the ligature being removed , and passage being granted , neither good nor bad appears , a sure evidence , that it being present , both of them evacuates . when doctor brown finds the third way , he hath gained the point . if the doctor had only given this , as an answer to some of the impertinent questions of a patient , i could have forgiven him and applauded his wit ; but seriously to propose it in a printed book , is absolutly inexcusable . the chirurgical fountain , does further supply us with vesicator platsters , from which , in fevers whatsomever , we obtain no small advantage : but especially in malign , and where the head is affected , yea in all cephalick distempers , their use , by reiterated experience is approven . but there being no debate about them and their use , i proceed to pharmacie , which assists us with moe weapons , to strugle against this destructive enemy . the first whereof shall be vomiters , which , providing they be timously and warily administrate , do oftentimesnip the evil in the very bud , and by stricking at the root , do with one blow dislodge this unkind guest . from what hath been said , i suppose , that for the most part , the antecedent cause of a fever , comes from the ventricle . if then in the beginning of the malady , before the antecedent cause , be all transferred to the mass of the blood , and there become the continent , we use this remedy ; we do thereby purge the stomach , withdraw the matter , and either extinguish , or at least so notably asswage the fury of the fever , that after it is hardly ever able to make great disturbance . nevertheless they are not to be given indiscriminatly , but with great wariness , as all other remedies whatsomever : albeit the d. in his whole book , hardly ever mentions one caution . and first , we are to consider where the matter does lodge : for if the antecedent cause should be any evacuation supprest , great motion and the like : there could be nothing more ridiculous than to advise vomiting . but if it be in the stomach , which is easily known , by the hypocondria swelling , frequent rifting , nauseating , &c. they can hardly be neglected , but with the patients eminent danger . providing his constitution , age , shape of body , and other distempers , v. g. hemorhagy adjoined , do not disswade it . all which being carefully observed , they are most innocent , as well as powerful remedies , in the beginning of fevers . it is likeways to be noticed , that if the circumstances require bleeding , it ought to preceed vomiting . lest by the shaking of the body , some small vessel burst . next i come to diaphoreticks , which i may truly call the universal cure of fevers . nature pointing with its finger to their use , while in the universal declination of continual , and in the parricular declination of intermittent fevers , sweat breaks forth in a very great plenty . this nevertheless is the method which our author rejects , wherefore i shall take the more pains to confirm it : which i 'le endeavour to do by the following three . first , by declaring how they work . secondly , by giving some reasons why we use them . and thirdly , by answering the seeming objections instanced by d. brown against them . about the first , i need not be very prolix , for if we consider what conditions are requisite to insensible transpiration and sweating in a state natural : betwixt which there is no greater difference , as that in the former , the matter is excerned in a lesser quantity , and so absorbed by the cloaths or ambient air , under the name of vapour ; whereas in the latter , or sweat , it chances in a greater abundance , and so cannot be sweept up , but rather constitutes drops called sweat. i say , whoever will be at the pains to consider the conditions requisite for this insensible transpiration and sweating , while they are natural : which are fluxibility in the liquor , a due amplitude in the pores , and a briskness in the circular motion ; will easily understand how diaphoreticks work , when given according to art. whatever can either attenuat the blood in its consistence , quicken it in its motion , or dilate and amplify the miliar glands and pores , will certainly procure sweat. and such are either heterogeneous bodies mixed with the blood , which by stimulating the ventricles of the heart , the interiour coats of the vessels , and muscular fibers of the parts , cause frequent contraction , and consequently swiftness of motion : or inciding and volatile medicaments , which partly attenuating and inciding the mass of blood , partly amplifying and inlarging the pores and passages , produce the same effect with the former when i speak here of intending the circular motion , i mean only that of the arteries , for both reason and experience teach us that the acceleration of the returning motion by the veins , would rather prove a hinderance as a help to this , as well as to all other secretions . first , it is clear from reason , for if the blood were as readily taken up by the capillary veins , as its is brought in by the arteries , it must necessarly return again to the heart from whence it came : whereas admittance being denied by the veins , it seeks another way or passage , which is that of secretion . neither does experience deny its assent to this perpetual truth : for if you will tye the social vein of any artery , by which blood is carried to the secerning organ , v. g. the vena emulgens , you shall quickly observe the secretion to be far more copious , than when the regressive motion was allowed . so that i may reasonably affirm , the slowness of the refluent motion of the blood by the veins , to be none of the least among the efficient causes of secretion . and this much for the first . secondly , i come to give some reasons , why in the cure of continual fevers , physicians of all ages , have adopted and practised this method of sweating : as also why we at this day , especially while d. brown offers a surer and better , do imitate them in that , which , to speak in his language , is pernicious and destructive to mankind . indeed if without reasons , and these weighty ones too , we should do that , which according to the v. s , can be nothing but horrid murder , and devilish malice . in stead of being cherished , honoured and entertained , as in all ages , and among all civilized people , physicians have been ; we ought to be taken and hanged , for villains and publick murderers . but if i can prove our method to be right , which i 'le endeavour now , and his to be wrong , which is to be done hereafter , when discoursing of purging : then let him judge , upon whom the punishment ought to be inflicted . it were easy to accumulate arguments in favours of diaphoreticks , but i shall satisfy my self , and i hope my reader to , with the following three , let us then first , according to the seventh axiome , consider the motion of nature , i mean the course it takes when left to its self , as in many mean and indigent people it ordinarly is : and this is continually to seek its own relief by sweating , so that not one fever of a hundred and that of all sorts , is cured another way . is there any country clown so foolish , but in a fever , he 'll cry for a sweat , and if either by art or nature he can procure it , he will promise himself speedy relief and certain safety . now this being granted the dr. himself not darring deny it , should not the physicitians , who have taken to themselves that modest , denomination of natur 's servants , and whose duty it is to assist her when doing right , and to correct her when doing wrong ( as by all she is looked upon to do when endeavouring to ease her self by seige in a fever , except perhaps once in a hundred times , when it comes critically ) should not they i say , imitate her , in curing fevers by diaphoreticks , the ordinary , yea i i may say , the only way by which she removes that distemper , yea certainly they should , and that according to good old hippocrats excellent aphorisme : whethersoever nature enclineth to go , thither lead her and it conduceth . besides this , it becomes us secondly , to consider the seat of the morbifick matter in fevers , which none will deny to be in the arteries & veins ▪ likeways the conformation of these vessels deserves our attention : their roots being in the heart , while their branches tend to all parts of the body ( that i may shun all occasions of objections , i know that properly speaking , the origine of the veins is in the parts , and they terminate with one root in the heart ) now let us consider by what way , that which is contained in these vessels may be best and easiliest expelled : surely any man of sense and reason , will freely confess , by their extremities or ends ( of anastomoses or inosculations i have said what i thought necessary before ) which acknowledged , we can not but also grant , that whatsomever part of the body , manyest of these extremitie● run to , or where most of the arteries end in , there will be the readies● and most natural way , providing i● be as patent as others , to discharge whatsomever is contained therein : but most of these extremities do terminate by far in the habit , and that this way is as patent , as any other insensible transpiration , which by the doctors own concession , exceeds all other evacuations of the body , no less as three times , does clearly evince : therefore from these premises , i may lawfully conclude , the habit to be the readiest and best way , to expell whatsomever is contained heterogeneous in the blood , it was not unadvisedly that i said , where most arteries end , there will be the readiest way to expell , the morbifick matter . for whosoever is not altogether ignorant of anatomy , will easily allow , that whatever once enters the veins , can never be eliminate , till such time as it again run through the arteries . at their small end it cannot be , seing what once enters there , can by no means return , first , because of their valves secondly , because of the tonick motion of the parts . and thirdly , because of the continual influx of the arterial blood. and as it cannot happen at their small ends arising from the parts , so far less can it be at the great end , which terminats in the heart : nothing entring its ventricles in the diastole , but what is again thrust out into the pulmonal and great artery , in the systole : from all which it is clear , that neither secretion nor excretion can be of the venal blood yet here , i 'll present the doctor , with a stronger argument for purging in fevers , as his whole book hath done to his readers . and it is this , being i assert , what no physician , if he be not destitute of anatomy and physiology ( the want of which bring inexpressible damage to physick ) will deny , that , wherever arteries end , and depositate what is in them contained , there must needs happen the expulsion of the morbisick matter : but the arteries , some of them at least end in the intestines , ergo , there in these intestinal glands must happen the secretion of the morbifick matter . all which i grant and acknowledge , yea farther confirms , by avowing the faces ani to be not only excrements of the first , but also of the third and second digestion , which may be proven by several observations , one of which at this time shall suffice . viz. in the foetus the meconium is still observed to have its beginning , and greatest quantity in the crass intestines . nevertheless all this concludes nothing against what either hath already , or shall hereafter be said : because first the arteries are but very few ( in respect of that infinit number which direct their course to the habite ) from the coeliack and two mesenterick branches , which tend to the intestines . secondly , neither do we altogether , for as little as it is , neglect it , but partly by applying clysters , partly by giving these medicaments , in the 10 and last axiom , called laxantia , drive away what may be lurking in the first ways . but we never give purges , properly so called , which by entring the mass of the blood , do play therein their unlucky tragedy , except we intend ( which god forbid so wicked a thought should ever enter a physicians heart ) to send the patient to the house of all living . yea farther , it is with respect to this , that after the recovery we ordinarly advise purging . my third and last argument shall be , the general practice and constant observation of physicians in all ages , in all countries , and of all perswasions ; yea of the excellent sydenham himself , as shall afterwards be shewn . who as one man , acknowledge not only the great advantage of diaphoreticks , but exclaim against the constant use of catarticks , in the curing of fevers . what , would the doctor have all these so ignorant , as that they should not know how to cure the most ordinary of distempers ? or so malicious and wicked , as when they knew it , yet neither to practise it themselves , nor communicat it to others ? or were they so stupid , as not to have known what they used , neither from whence the cure did proceed ? were there never physicians so conscientious in the world , before d. brown came to it , as to confess the damage of diaphoreticks ? or were they so blind that they could not see it ? was hippocrat , was galen , fernelous , sennert , harvey , and all the rest of these brave souls , who have enriched the noble and useful art , with their curious observations , excellent inventions , and judicious reasonings , were all these , i say , besides many others , who practised this method themselves , and recommended it to their successors , fools or ignorants ? nay , nay , it is far better to say that d. brown is both . but of experience more hereafter : therefore i go on to the examination of the arguments urged by the doctor against this old and long practised method : which we find in the 71 page of the v. s. where the common and diaphoretick method is considered and rejected forsooth ; and they be neither moe nor stronger as the following two. first . we have no specisick in continuat fevers , therefore must not level at the continent cause , which is truly the disease . according to which way of reasoning i will go on and conclude : we have no specifick in any disease , save intermutent fevers ; therefore except them . none must be cured . the consequent of the one is as native as that of the other , and truly in both it is none at all . physick and physician are obliged to the doctor , for bringing the imployment to this weak pass . is not this a strong argument , to destroy a theory of some thousand years standing ? yet it is as strong as the other to be found in the same 71 page , where he farther inveighs against this our approved method , in these words : this indeed were no unfit design , &c. i look upon it as needless to resume , what is formerly said anent : fevers and their causes , which i hope do sufficiently prove the doctor 's hypothesis to be none of the best . i shall rather here observe , that the force of this sham argument drives at these two. first , that sudorificks translate the morbisick matter or antetecedent cause , from the ventricle , mesentery and intestines , into the muss of blood , and by that means turns the antecedent cause into the continent . and secondly , that by the same we drive it to the head , whereby we produce these terrible symptoms , under which , nature not being able to overcome , must of necessity succumb . to which i answer these three : 1. all , save d. brown , do know and confess , that in continual fevers , the morbisick matter is in the beginning translated to the blood , and so does procure the disease , which otherways we should never have , but only an apparatus to it . yea in this seems to me , to consist the difference betwixt continual and intermittent fevers : that in the former the morbisick matter is translated all at once and so produces one great and continual fever ; whereas in the latter or intermittent fevers , it is conveyed at several times and so constitutes several paroxisms , which may be said to be as many continual , but shorter fevers . by which we may clearly discern , how falsely the doctor alledges , that by diaphoreticks we carry the matter from the first ways to the blood , that being a thing already done , else there could be no fever . and really all along it appears , that it is not a fever , but an apparatus thereto , the doctor would cure. so that instead of intituling his book , a new method of curing fevers , he should rather have named it , a new method for preventing them . secondly , how any thing can be more urged on the head by the use of sudorificks , i suppose if the doctor were asked , he could not well tell , it being a meer precarious assertion , grounded upon no foundation , and he might with as good reason , have said the same , of the hands , feet , or any other part of the body . for , as they were only the artertae carotides and vertebrales , which furnished the brain with blood before ; so , for ought i know , by the use of sudorificks no other are added : neither is there any other way , by which any thing whatsomever can be carried to the head , save by the forenamed arteries . i hope the doctor is not come to that pitch of lgnorance to averr , that diaphoreticks by some occult quality are offensive to the brain . true it is indeed , that sudorificks , by intending the motion , as well circular as intestine , put all the humours , and perhaps the spirits too , in a little confusion : but this carries nothing to the head , rather as to other places , which went not before . but thirdly , where learned the doctor , that sudorifick medicines , had their operation in the ventricle , mesentery and intestines : can any man read this without laughing . surely this is another errour , in which physians till this time have been in , for they still taught , that diaphoreticks did work in the blood , and not in the first ways . so then to grant , what the doctor desires , which nevertheless so long as physicians are masters of reason will never be : that the continent cause ( for the antecedent is no more , it being converted into the continent ) lodges about the forenamed places ; it will profit him nothing , since diaphoreticks will never awake it , they working only in the blood , not in the first ways . in the 165 page , the doctor inculcates a new the damage of meer diaphoreticks ( for i shall do him the justice to conceal none of his arguments ) and the reason is this : because thereby the vascous matter is impelled to the pores in great abundance , and so begetteth new obstructions . and , which is wonderful , to prevent this inconveniency , he adviseth the use of paregoricks , which , as all the world knows , do incrassate extremely , and so instead of weakning the malady he strengthneth its hands . however i would have the doctor to know , this fear of his to be vain and groundless , we never forcing the matter till once incided , and till we observe the signs of coction in the urine , as shall afterwards ( god willing ) be said . neither is the philosophick comparison which he brings to illustrate this his argument , beyond all exception : for the greatest fool in the kingdom does know , that the church doors can be no way dilated or widned ; whereas we know certainly , that occasion requiring , the pores of the body may be double enlarged and distended . it is in the 167 page , where the doctor runs to that pitch of boldness , as to exclaim against a method direct to a crisis , boldness i must call it , and the reader will perhaps judge worse of it , when he considers with me , that there be only four ways by which diseases are terminate● whereof a crisis is ever desired as the best . which happens , when after ●wrestling betwixt the disease and nature , the last at length obtains the victory , and with one blow ejects this its hostile enemy . which is done sometimes by bleeding at the nose , sometimes by purging , sometimes by vomiting , but an hundred times for one , by sweating . the second solution of diseases , is that by physicians called lysis : when there comes no critical motion ( which is still desired by all , it being beyond all question the best ) but rather the malady decays slowly and gradually , and this is most frequent in thir our cold countries . thirdly the morbifick matter , is sometimes discussed or translated from one place to another per metastasin , which if it happen to be from a nobler to a meanner , it is good ( although it were better to have it altogether expelled the body by a crisis ) but if it chance contrary , is most dangerous . the fourth and last way of diseases terminating , is by death , when the morbisick matter subduing nature , renders the organical body uncapable of obeying the inclinations of the reasonable soul , so that it must needs forsake its mansion , and leave it a dead cadaver . if there be any other way of diseases terminating , they do not to me now occurr , yea after sometimes thinking , i cannot conceive them . now let my reader , yea d. brown himself judge , how good reason he hath to cry out against that method which aims at a crisis . before i leave diaphoreticks , it will be necessary to inform the reader , that neither in the beginning nor increment of the fever , we imploy them ; yea never , till we have once incided and attenuate the matter with proper and convenient medicaments , do we use them . and then , when we behold the signs of coction in the urine , we hasten away the malady , sometimes with weaker , sometimes with stronger medicines , just as the circumstances allow and advise . it is also worth noticing , that there is no material difference , betwixt inciders and diaphoreticks : for every incider , providing its dose be augmented , will prove diaphoretick : and whatsomever provokes ▪ sweat , given more sparingly does , only incide . wherefore , whatever hath been said ▪ in defence of sudorisicks , may also be applyed to inciders : especially since they are repudiate by the doctor , for one and the same cause , which to speak the truth , is none at all . purging comes next to be discoursed of , for neither can the cure of fevers , always want their assistance , which nevertheless are not to be advised , as d. brown does , at all times , and of all kinds . wherefore ▪ i shall here shew first , when and how they are and have been imployed ▪ by physicians , in all ages . secondly , bring some arguments against the perpetual use of such of them , as properly go under the name of purges . and thirdly , endeavour to obviate any arguments afforded by the doctor in their behalf . before i go farther , i am necessitate to observe and complain : that the author should have printed a new method , and yet never so much as once inform us , when , and to what patients it is , and safely may be applyed : nor yet does he mention the medicaments he then imployeth , none of which , besides many other things ought to have been neglected by him , who presumed to write an intire method , but far less by the author of a new one. for whoever hath the least knowledge in physick , cannot but be sufficiently acquaint with the difficulty of purging , where a few hours , some few grains , or some conttrary indicants , may readily bring death to the patient . and really for my part , suppose i were sufficiently convinced both of the reasonableness and success of d. brown's new method ( which nevertheless without other arguments as i have yet seen , i never will be ) yet i durst not upon that trivial and superficial account he gives of it , adventure to use it . but to return to the things proposed , in prescribing of purges to persons in fevers , we are to consider 1. the division of purges , as it in the 10 and last axiome , in laxantia & propriè purgantia . 2. the different times of the disease , also above in the 9 axiome specified , are carefully to be observed . and 3. the malignity sometimes adjoined , is by no means to be neglected ; for at certain times to give a purge when it is present , it is not without great and imminent danger . so that by physitians of all ages not only the begninnig but also in the increment and status of the disease , where there is no malignity present ( in which condition the very giving of a clyster was still suspected ) these purges called laxantia , which go no farther , as the first ways have over been advised ▪ which laxantia are sometimes given at the mouth , and so respect the ventricle with the rest of the intestines : but oftner they are applyed in the form of a clyster , which reaches no farther as the valves of the intestine colon , nevertheless by there stimulating , augment the peristaltick motion of the whole , and help the excretion of the faeces , contained therein . yet sometimes in the beginning and before the antecedent cause be turned into the continent , by its going from the ventricle and first ways to the mass of the blood , it may not be improper to advise a purge : however were i the physician , i had rather ( if all circumstances allowed thereof ) and for the most part , make use of emeticks , which do ordinarly cause also three or four stools . but the use of purges properly so called , is frequently delayed till the solution of the whole distemper , if critical motions advise not the contrary , when ( concluding some of the morbifick matter to be desposed in the itestines , and adhering to , or in their glands ) strength being somewhat recovered , we use first the help of that medicine which we could not safely imploy before : for which our reasons are the following five . first , in obedience to the eight axiome , concocted not crude humours are to be evacuat : where again , nature her course is worth the noticing , which being left to its self , never expels humours till once digested , unless with great hazard to the patient . and then it becomes the skilful physician , to stop and hinder her wrong & symptomatick proceedings ▪ it is not meerly hypocrates his authority that makes us decline them in this condition , but because we see it confirmed with strong reason and sad experience : for while the humours are crude and indigested , the heterogenities are so wrought in with the good and laudable matter , that the one cannot be extruded , without the expulsion of the other : wherefore we rather expect , yea helps their digestion , that so we may have the evil separat from the good. neither is this all the evil , that redounds to the sick , by advising purging in a state of crudity , but secondly , when given , they either operate none , or by their working extremly , do intend the fever . this is not said gratis , for daily experience confirms it , and that not only in persons troubled with intermittent fevers , where purges being given shortly after the ceasing of the disease , do infallibly make the paroxism return : but even in sound persons , in whom catarticks never do their duty , without raising a great commotion and exagitation in the blood. yea by injecting gummi , or rather succus go●●● a must ordinary and common purge , into the veins of a living animal , we can procure an artificial fever . thirdly , by these strong and frequent purges , the serum which is the vehicle of the blood , and by which the morbifick matter should be diluted , that so it may be the better and easilier excluded , is altogether spent and consumed . fourthly , by these same reiterat purges , nature is extremly weakned and the strength mightily dejected , which nevertheless as a thing natural , the fourth axiome tells us ought to be preserved . and fifthly , hereby again are the motions of nature disturbed , she seldom or never tending this way , except when perversely and symptomatically , in which case , art , as it is in the sixth axiome , adviseth rather to stop as encourage her . may other arguments , such as the hazard of superpurgation , the inconveniencie of purging when affixed to bed &c. could easily be urged against this preposterous method : but they being of less moment , i leave them , till i see the doctors answers to the five insisted on . which being rightly considered and pondered , i think it will be no hard matter to guess , with what advantage to the patient , purges properly so called , in fevers are used if the doctor meant only such as i have called laxantia , then he hath given us no new method : their use under the cautions , i gave , being as old as since hippocrats days . lastly , i come to the arguments , by which he endeavours to confirm this his method : which i find p. 76. to be the diaphoreticks are not successful , ergo we must purge : but the consequent of this , doctor , especially its antecedent being truer , is as good : purges are offensive , ergo sudorificks are necessar . none of them follow , there being no reason , why , supposing them both unsuccessful , a third may not be chosen . but , proceeds the doctor , without the help of specificks we cannot level at the continent cause : therefore we must endeavour the extirpating the antecedent , that thereby we may starve that enemy we are not able to attack . all which is most false , ridiculous and dishonourable to physick and physicians , as is formerly proved , therefore needs not be here again repeated . his other motives ( to be found in the first sect. ) advising to the embracing of this his precarious hypothesis , are as destitute of good and real conclusions , as any of the two arguments just now considered . doctor sydenhame was no doubt , a man of great ingenuity , candor and experience and if i thought an encomium from so mean and despised an author as i am , could contribute any way to his praise , i would as willingly confer it , as the doctor himself . for i think that both this and future ages , are , and will be extremely obliged to his candor and great sagacity , which he hath all along manifested in his excellent writtings , but especially for his historia morbi & regimen aegri . and i would to god that d. brown had been more of his temper , who , without all reflections on other physicians , wrote what he had observed in the latin tongue . not that i envy the knowledge of any , for as moses wished all the people of the lord to be prophets , so i am much indifferent , suppose all patients ( which in a short time i think may be ) were physicians . yet sure i am , the publishing of physick books in our mother tongue , does much hurt but no good : for thereby gardners , old wifes &c. acquire as much knowledge as to kill , but seldom as much as to heal. in a word , as our proverb speaks , it is the putting a weapon in a mad-mans hand . however i being no more concerned as others , wishes them success in their laudable attempts . but how d. brown comes to make d. sydenhame his defender , or rather how he comes to writ a book , to vindicat d. sydenham in that , which he seems never to have practised , is that which i cannot conceive . the schedula monitoria is not in my hands , neither am i in a place where i can procure it : yet his method of curing continual fevers , printed at amsterdam an. 1666. is ; wherein all along he practiseth the good old and approven method : for in the page 27. he adviseth the use of a clyster only every other day , p. 29. he expresly affirms , that the more bound he can make the patients belly , the more he puts him beyond hazard : his words are so express they deserve to be here inserted , and they are , quanto magis obstructam illi alvum praestitero , tanto magis eum extra periculi aleam colloco : p. 36. at length upon the 15 and sometimes 17. day , for the first time he prescribes a purge , and that none of the strongest . now was not d. sydenhame as candid , as ingenuous and skilled , when he wrote this as when he wrote the sched . monitoria : if he was , then what reason can there be for prefering this new method to the old , seing both are commended . if he was not , then no man can blame me , for denying assent and credit to him , who did once so egregiously cheat me . nay i doubt nothing , but he was ingenuous in both : the matter being only this , in this schedula monitoria ( to my best remembrance it being some years since i read it ) he gives only a description of an epidemick constitution , which beyond all question , sometime may extremely alter the scene , and may require a method contrary to what is ordinary , and which he in his treatise de curand . febr : con. had both practised himself and commended to others . and by this time i think it is clear , how little reason d. brown hath to boast of sydenhams authority : no it is a meer fiction of d. browns to apply to all occasions , what d. sydenham meaned only of particular constitutions . how can d. brown think to impose upon us at this rate , he must thinke us all very negligent , and so we do not read , or else very ignorant , and so cannot understand what we do read : truly it seems we must be both according to his calculation . but grant d. sydenham were of this mind , as it is clear he is not , what then does follow : for we all know and believe , that no honest nor ingegenuous man , will wittingly and wilingly cheat or deceive , yet we count it no heresy to think and say both , that out of ignorance and uncircumspectness he may . what concerns the unparalelled danger he was saved from : i fear least in using that as a cogent argument , the doctor prove himself as ill a divine , as all along in his book he he appears to be a physician . there being no doubt , but that gods good providence is still exercised about all things , good as well as bad ( permiting and suffering them to his own wise and good ends ) and small as well as great . yet that special acts of preservation , will either prove the person himself , or the end for which he is preserved , to be good in its self ( for i know and believe that god does nothing , but what some way or other , tends to his own glory , as also to his peoples good eventually , as the permitting of an impostor , &c. ) and intentionally ; is a thing which i very much doubt : for we know they are the wicked who prosper in their way , while the righteous are chastened every morning : and suppose he , and all the episcopal clergy in the kingdom should swear , that the french king's deliverance from his fistula , was for some good end and great benefit to mankind ; yet i shall ever look on him as the scourge of the true reformed religion , which god at length will , i hope , cast into the fire . and by this way of reasoning the doctor will answer epicmus his objection against providence : cur males benè & bonis malè , by granting the whole . it is no small evidence of the doctor 's desperate cause , when he flies to such arguments for the maintenance thereof , as the commendations bestowed by learned men upon the person , whom he would perswade us , though falsely , to be the author thereof : but especially considering that these encomiums were given before the hypothesis was known . for etmuller died at lypsick , anno 1683. sponius write his epistle an : 1681. dalaeus his encyclopaedia . an : 1685. whereas the schedula monitoria , never saw light till the year 1687. if then there be any strength in that argument , as i think there is none , it militates intirely against the new method : their commendations being given upon account of the old , professed and practised in his book de meth : curand : febr : the schedula monitoria not being at that time published . doctor morton is indeed a great man , and deservedly esteemed by our author , for his excellent treatise written formerly de pihisi : as also for his late book de febribus , wherein , as i am informed ( i not having indeed perused it as yet , which i am almost ashamed to profess ) he does noways follow our doctor 's new method , which is no great proof of his overvaluing it : nevertheless upon other scores he might , and that deservedly too , applaude d. sydenhame . concerning these excellent men , goodall , harris , &c. i have nothing to say , but perhaps it might be , that in some epidemick and anomalous fever , they did find that method successful , and so did imploy it : but surely therefore it must not be applyed to all . and now i think , i have sufficiently answered our doctor 's arguments , as also confirmed the contrary hypothesis . yet there remains one , which both in his books , but especially among his admirers and patients , he principally insists on : viz. his great and successful experience . this is a thing the greatest empericks boast most of ; yea they will hardly grant a patient ever to have died in their hands . i have nothing to say against experience it self , it being , with reason , the foundation of physick . neither will i here in an english book , discover the fraud of some mens experience , but i will offer to the reader 's and the doctor 's consideration , the five following things . 1. i wish the doctor were as ingenuous to tell us how many died , as he is careful to publish how many recovered , by this his new method . 2. to one , i can oppose a hundred , not only of such as were cured by old and antiquated physicians ; but of such as live and practise in this very age. 3. as , blessed be god , all our patients do not die , so neither , i suppose , do all the doctor 's recover : and surely if any of these two were , it would be a far more effectual mean to gain the doctor imployment , as his writing of the vindicatory schedule . no , thanks be to the physician of souls , we have no reason to complain . 4 , how many persons recover , not only when no mean is used , but even when that which is certainly evil is applyed : so that a litle success in a few patients , deserves not the name of sound experience in physick . especially when 5. we are sometimes right uncertain , whether the apothecary hath rightly dispensed , or the patient rightly used , that which the physician prescribed : none of which doubts are without all ground , as too frequent experience tells us , and i could easily evince : but i have no inclination to discover my father's nakedness . as for what he brings in the 14 sect. for corroborating his theory of fevers from the helpers and hurters , &c. as things of small moment , and savouring nothing , save ignorance in anatomy and physiology , i pass them . as also the solutions he gives of difficulties moved against it , are of the same mettal , as hath clearly been shewn , in his account of sanguification , chylification , &c. only , it deserves the reader 's attentation , that page 77. where he proposeth that true and most probable method , as he is pleased to call it : i find mention , and only mention , of paregoricks , without any advertisement , how and when they ought to be used , albeit of all medicaments whatsomever , they should be advised with the greatest cautions . i shall neither insist on them nor their use : they be these unto which both he and we are forced to flie , when other refuges fail . and they be of two sorts : first , such as either by obtunding the acrimony of the humours , or laxing the tone of the fibers , do really mitigate the pain , by removing somewhat the cause , and they are commonly called auodyns . and the others are these , who do not remove the cause , but lay it a sleep , and renders it quiet by stupefying the senses , and they go under the name of narcoticks . concerning the first , or anodyns , there is here no question , they being frequently applied outwardly : but for narcoticks , i cannot conceive , upon what account he adviseth them in fevers , ( except when symptoms grievously urge ) unless it be to stop critical evacuations , there being hardly any thing , which does it more happily . and if this be a good design , whatever the doctor may pretend , let the world judge . now to shut up all , i shall lay down a brief scheme of that method , which we dayly , and , blessed be god , with good success practise , and i have been here labouring to defend . i say a brief one , for i noways pretend to play the dictator , but only to shew in few words , what it is i have been wrestling for . yea there are so many circumstances and accidents , which both may and frequently do occurr and fall out about feverish persons , that they make it absolutly impossible , to commit all to paper , what a skilled and judicious . physician will find expedient . when then called to a patient , in the first , second or third day , after he hath found a coldness and grewing through his whole ▪ body , which is ordinarly accompanied with , or at least is shortly after followed , with a pain , in the head and lassitude of the whole , together with a frequent pulse , red and thick urine , great thirst , dejection of appetite , watching , heat , &c. by which we easily conjecture a fever to infest . i say when called to such a patient , immediatly , if his age , sex , evacuations suppressed , kind of life , &c. do allow , we advise bleeding , more or less as the several circumstances permit , however , if need so require , we think it still safer to evacuate at different times as all at once : but the prohibents exceeding the permittents , it ought to be totally neglected . after that , if the patient hath been , or is yet troubled , with nauseating , rifting , &c. a vomiter , providing nothing disswading the same be present , is next advised . and then through the whole course of the cure , our principal aim is levelled at the continent or conjunct , cause of the disease , which , by giving inciders and aperients , ever till we observe the signs of coction in the urine , we labour to incide and digest ; which signs appearing , with stronger sudorificks we assist nature endeavouring its own liberation , and so we bring the malady to a crisis , or rather lysis . in the mean time we neither neglect the consideration of the strength according to the second axiom : nor yet do we forget the antecedent cause , as is in the first ; but partly by clysters , partly by laxants given at the mouth , we absorbe and cleanse the first ways , and so prevent the further accumulating of crudities , which by running into the mass of the blood , might increase the fever . and while these are a doing , with proper and fit medicaments , we provide ( yet even sometimes , as it is in the fifth axiom , with the neglect of the primary disease ) against the urgent symptoms , such as thirst , watching , &c. after this method , god assisting , we cure tutò , citò , & jucunde . finis . anatomia sambuci, or, the anatomy of the elder cutting out of it plain, approved, and specific remedies for most and chiefest maladies : confirmed and cleared by reason, experience, and history / collected in latine by dr. martin blochwich ... blochwitz, martin. 1677 approx. 227 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 128 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28386 wing b3201 estc r29895 11217730 ocm 11217730 46874 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28386) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 46874) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1436:4) anatomia sambuci, or, the anatomy of the elder cutting out of it plain, approved, and specific remedies for most and chiefest maladies : confirmed and cleared by reason, experience, and history / collected in latine by dr. martin blochwich ... blochwitz, martin. [19], 230 p. printed for h. brome ... and tho. sawbridge ..., london : 1677. includes index. reproduction of the original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. botany, medical. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-03 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion 61 the anatomie of the elder , cutting out of it plain , approved , and specific remedies for most chiefest maladies , by dr. martin , blockwich , recommended by the royal society ; octavo . london , 1677 anatomia sambuci or the anatomy of the elder : cutting out of it plain , approved , and specifick remedies for most and chiefest maladies ; confirmed and cleared by reason , experience , and history . collected in latine by dr. martin blochwich , physician ordinary of oshatin . translated for the benefit of all , and recommended by the royal society . nullum numen abest , si ●it prudentia — london , printed for h. brome , at the gun at the west end of st. pauls ; and tho. sawbridge , at the three flowers de luce in little britain , 1677 ▪ the printer to the reader . the ornaments of nature are so many and marvellous , that they not only submit the mind of man in a devote honour to that being that preserveth this variety in so sweet a consort ; but force also our thoughts to pursue the inquest of the several ties and dependencies of this beautiful proportion , that at last we may come to the knowledge of things in their causes and connexion . this pythagoras most properly termed philosophy . and indeed nature hath not been in this , neither in any other of her works , empty : but hath bestowed on us largely all means fit for the accomplishment of our wishes . amongst which experience and reason deservedly challenge precedency : experience , being beholding to chance and imitation , is pleased to impart her observations to reason ; who not being discourteous , doth assist her with her own principles , and so mustereth in the fields of learning noble squadrons of conclusions against their common enemy ignorance . this is vigorously illustrated by the relation of famous galen ; a viper by chance being stifled in wine , and a leprous person drinking it , was cured . a philosopher hearing it , used the same means , and was rid of the same malady . chance in the one , and imitation in the other , asserted the experience : which reason now in others makes plausible use of . from this base is the noble frame of medicine raised to so great a magnificence : for the ancients , being by event or advice delivered from their sickness , hung up votive tables in the chapels of their gods , drawn with the lineaments of their disease and remedy . out of these approved , yet scattered , records did the divine hippocrates gather those theorems , which all posterity adore and embrace as the highest masterpiece of this skill . and our author seems in this his treatise of the elder to tread the foot-steps of that more than mortal old man : for here , as in a curious landskip , he hath clearly and methodically represented to your view the experiments and vertues of this humble shrub ; whether by chance discovered to the commons , or by improvement to the rational . in whose ragged cote are contained , i dare aver , rarer and safer medicines , than the rob'd indies enrich us with ; and though they seem but homely , and the products of peasants ; yet are more safe and effectual for our bodies and diseases , than the most renowned exoticks : for nature , with a plentiful horn , hath provided each climate proper medicines . this being considered by the ingenious , it will not only inforce upon them a grateful remembrance of the author for collecting , but of the translator also for imparting his experiments to us in our mother tongue . for my own part , though i might put in for my share , if not of thanks , yet of acceptance , for this bill of revival , if i may so term it , which brings you at present a new sight of that translation , which , with many other things of great value , seem'd lately buried in the rubbish of our cities ruines , i shall content my self with performance of a work conducing to the service of my countrymen : and hope that this second apparence of so useful a piece will be no less acceptable to them , than the first . i am sure it cannot be less useful , if the frequent and urgent enquiries with which the book was demanded , when out of print , deceive me not , but without peradventure , the great experience which hath lately justified the vertues of the elder tree ( such , i dare say , as hath far exceeded the knowledge of elder times ) will make for me with them that know , as many do , that from its berries is drawn a spirit of such use and request in some parts of the land , that not only shops , but private houses also , are thought ill furnished without it . i will not therefore by a tedeous preface detain you any longer from the benefit of this excellent discourse , of which it is not the least commendation , that it can sufficiently commend it self . novemb. 1. 1669. for his honoured friend , alexander pennicuik of new-hall , sometime chirurgion to general bannier , and late chirurgion general to the auxiliary schotch army . sir , the ornaments of nature are so many and marvellous , that they not only submit the mind of man in a devote honor to that being that preserveth this variety , in so sweet consort ; but force also our thoughts to pursue the inquest of the several ties & dependencies of this beautiful proportion , that at last we may come to the knowledge of things in their causes and connexion . this pythagoras most properly termed philosophy . and indeed nature hath not been in this , neither in any other of her works empty ; but hath bestowed on us largely all means fit for the accomplishment of our wishes . amongst which experience and reason deservedly challenge precedency : experience being beholding to chance & imitation , is pleased to impart her observations to reason ; who not being discourtious , doth assist her with her own principles ; and so mustereth in the fields of learning noble squadrons of conclusions , against their common enemy , ignorance . this is vigorously illustrated by the relation of famous galen ; a viper by chance being stifled in wine , and a leprous person drinking it , was cured . a philosopher hearing it , used the same means , and was rid of the same malady . chance in the one , and imitation in the other , asserted the experience : which reason now in others makes plausible use of . from this base is the noble frame of medicine raised to so great a magnificence : for the ancients being by event or advice delivered from their sickness ; hung up votive tables in the chapels of their gods , drawn with the liniaments of their disease and remedy . out of these approved , yet scattered records , did the divine hippocrates gather those theorems , which all posterity adore and imbrace as the highest master-piece of this skill . and our author seems in this his treatise of the elder to tread the foot-steps of that more then mortal old man : for here , as in a curious land-skip , he hath clearly and methodically represented to your view , the experiments and vertues of this humble shrub ; whether by chance discovered to the commons , or by improvement to the rational . in whose ragged coat are contained , i dare averr , rarer and safer medicines , then the rob'd indies enrich us with ; and though they seem but homely ; and the products of pesants ; yet are more safe and effectual for out bodies and diseases , then the most renowned exoticks : for nature with a plentiful horn hath provided each climate proper medicines . this being considered by the ingenious , it will not only press upon them a thankful remembrance of the author for gathering ; but of you also for procuring the translation of these experiments . this translation owes you its life , and lies prostrate at your feet , to be exposed , or cherished . if it please you , 't is all the translator desires ; if not , 't is all he could do in these rough and rugged hils , where even the common elements are barbarous . but he knows you are ready to entertain any foundling of his , though full of deformities , thereby to encourage him for better births : wherefore he beseecheth ; you will take this paper-indeavor , as a fragment of the great duty he owes you , till he be able in more worthy expressions , to declare himself , sir , your sincere clyent , c. de iryngio . at the camp in athol , june 30. 1651 , the index of the anatomy of the elder . sect. i. of the names , kinds , form , place , & qualities of the elder , page 1 sect. ii. of the medicines made of the elder , 10 chap. 1. of the medicines of the berries , 11 1. the rhob , tincture , extract . ib. 2. the wines 13 3. spirits and waters 14 4. syrups and trageas 16 5. the oyle pressed from the stones , ib. chap. 2. of the medicines of the flowers . 1. conserves p. 18 2. syrups and honey ib. 3. water and spirits 19 4. vinegar and oxymel 21 5. wines 22 6. oyles by infusion , distillation 23 chap. 3. of the medicine of the buds 26 1. powders ib. 2. conserves ib. 3. syrups 27 chap. 4. of the leaves , middle-bark , roots , jews-ears , &c. 28 1. waters ib. 2. syrups 29 3. oyles and liniaments ib. chap. 5. of the salt and its spirit 32 sect. iii. shewing the practice and use of the elder medicaments 35 chap. 1. of the cephalalgia page 36 2. of ravings and wakings 38 3. hypocondriack melancholy 40 4. of the epilepsie 45 5. of the apoplexie and palsie 56 6. of catharres 61 7. of the toothach 63 8. the diseases of the eyes 66 9. the dregs of ears and hearing 70 10. of the nose and smelling ib. 11. of the face and head 74 12. of the mouth and throat 76 13. of dispnea and astmate 79 14. of the host and hoarsnesse 82 15. of the plurisie and pthisis 85 16. of the diseases of the dugs 89 17. of swouning and faintnesse 91 18 of feavers , and 1. of intermitting 93 2. of continued and burning 104 19. of the pest , and pestilential feavers 106 20. of the small-pox and measles 118 21. of the diseases of the stomach 120 22. of the diseases of the intestines of the collick 125 worms 128 leienterie and coeliack fluxes 130 dyssentery 131 constipation of the belly 135 hemorrhoides 136 23 of the obstructions of the mesentery , liver , lien , from whence proceed both the jaundies and scurvie 138 24. of the hydropsie 144 1. ascites ib. 2. anasarca 158 3. tympany 161 25. of the stone in the reins ; of the dysury , and iscury 163 26. of the diseases of the matrix 170 retention of flowers ib. fluxion 173 suffocation of the matrix 174 27. of arthritical diseases 183 28. of the scab , and its kinds 192 29. of the erysipelas , or rose 201 30. of inflammations , oedemas , and schirrous tumors 208 31. of wounds , ulcers , and contusions 211 32. of burning and congelation 219 33. of poyson outwardly and inwardly 224 medicines set down in the practice . 1. an amulet epileptick . sect. 3. cap. 4. for the rose 29 2. a balsam vulnerary 31 3. a bath for the scab 28 4. a cataplasm for a spreading herpes . ib. 5. a decoction for host and hearsnesse 14 6. a decoction against philtres , and other poyson 33 7. the experiment of countess emylia 24 8. extract granor. actes , quer. 26 lithontribon 25 antilemick 19 9. lac aureum 29 10. a liquor of snails and elder-kernels , which is anodine 27 11. oyle topick in the plague 19 12. oyle of elder-sugar 13 13. misture uterine 26 14. powder traumattick 31 15. polychrestick of the buds 3 16. rob antimelick of the elder 19 17. a specifick in the rose the spirits of the elder . 24 18. apoplectick 5 19. bezoartick 19 29. epileptick 4 21. hysterick 26 22. lythonthriptick 25 23. pneumatick 13 24. stomachick 21 25. the syrup acetous of the elder 19 26. sugar candid of the elder 14 27. tragea granorum actes 22 28. trochiscation of elder-stones 3 29. a water anodine , &c. 27 30. a water-purge of the berries 24 31. the wine of the berries of quercetan ib. mundus regitur opinionibus . of the anatomy of the elder or boor tree . sect . 1. of the name , kinds , form , place , and quality of the elder tree . seeing the elder is a tree most known even to the rudest of the commons , it seems a matter not worth the pains to describe it in many words ; nevertheless , lest in this respect our treatise should seem lame , some things are to be prefaced out of the ancient and modern botanicks . i. the name . 't is called by dioscorides , and other greeks , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because it is a lover of brinks , and shadowy banks , as is thought by pena and lobel , in their advers . of plants , p. 434. which name theophrastus paracelsus hath retain'd , in whose , and the modern chymist-writing , you will find frequent mention of granorum actes , and of medicines prepared of them . 't is called of the latins , sambucus , or by others , chiefly of q. serenus , as witnesseth hugh frida , val. l. 2. de tuend . san . c. 26. sabucus , from the likeness the musical instrument called sabuc , or sambuck , hath with its hollow and pith-emptied rods ; pena and lob , in the place before cited . whence till this day 't is called by the spaniards , sabuco , or sabugo ; by the germans , holunder ; or by contraction , holder , albeit there be some which imagine 't is from the many vertues thereof called holder , as it were deduced from hulder , or hulderich ; but in this we will not contend with any . the italian names it sambuco ; the french , susier , suyn , and susau ; the bohemians , bez ; the english , the elder tree ; the scots , boor tree , or bore tree ; the low dutch , ulier . see tabernomontanus herbal , part . 3. sect . 1. c. 62. ii. the kinds . matthiolus and others speak of four kinds thereof : the domestick , the mountain , the water elder , and the little elder or danwort ; whereof the first and last are most commended in medicine by physicians , who herein follow dioscord . viz. the elder tree , properly so called , and the ebulus called the less , dwarf , or low elder . but because both these kinds , as we will hear anon out of dioscorides , differ little , or not at all , one from the other in vertue , i will describe here the domestik , or elder tree , properly so called , by which you may easily judge what is to be thought of the ebulus . iii. the form. the elder tree in figure is like the ash , sendeth forth long , small , reed-like branches , covered with an outward bark of an ash colour ; the next rine to it is green , and that is yellow and succulent which next clotheth the wood ; within which is contained a white and fungous pith ; the leaves are like those of the walnut tree , but less , growing by intervals by threes , fours , yea if you look to both the sides of the branch , by fives and sevens , incompassing it together ; of an heavy smell , lightly cut in edges . in the tops of the branches and twigs there springeth sweet and crisped umbels , swelling with white , sweet smelling flowers ( in june befor st. johns eve ) which by their fall give place to a many branched grape , first green , then ruddy , lastly of a black , dark , purple colour , succulent and tumid , with its winish liquor . of all the wild plants 't is first covered with leaves , and last unclothed of them . we omit other descriptions , this being full . iv. the place . the place of its nativity is every where , and scarce can you find any place where any other tree or shrub enmantle themselves in their green garments , which the bountiful enricher of nature hath envyed this treeling . but it most delighteth in hedges , orchards , and other shadowy places , or on the moist brinks of rivulets and ditches , unto which places 't is thrust by the gardeners , lest by its luxury and importunate encrease , whereby yearly it doth spread and enlarge it self , it should possess the place of more honourable , as they conceive , and of more pretious plants . v. the qualities and vertues . the qualities in general are described by galen , lib. 6. simpl. medic. facul . sect . that it hath the force of desiccating , conglutinating , and digesting moderately ; which word for word is repeated by the galenick physician paulus of aegian , lib. 7. medic. ● . 3. dioscorides ? who , as galen witnesseth , hath of all others written most accurately , most truly , and most learnedly of plants ) did long agoe in more proper colours limn them in his fourth book , and 175 chapter , of the matter of medicine . these are his words . the faculty and use of both ( he meaneth the elder and ebulus ) is the same in exiccating , and drawing water from the belly : they are indeed troublesom to the stomach , nevertheless their leaves being boyled as pot-hearbs , will purge bile and pituite : their tender stalks being boyled in pot or pan effect the same . the root being boyled in wine and given in meat , helpeth the hydroped ; yea it helpeth those that are bitten of a viper , drunk after the same manner . being boyl'd with water for bathing , it softneth and openeth the vulva , and corrects what enormities are there abouts . the berries thereof drunk with wine work the same effect . anointed on the hair , they make them black . the recent and tender leaves mitigate inflammations , being with polent anointed thereon . their anointing helps burning and the bitings of mad dogs . they conglutinate profound and fustulous ulcers , and helps the guttish , being together with the fat of a bull or hee goat anointed . these vertues so nobilitate the elder , that if after ages had not found out any , yet they are enough to commend it to us . but as in all other things ( as seneca witnesseth , quest . natur. l. 7. c. 31. ) nature doth not at once discover her mysteries , neither are her secrets promiscously laid open to all , being withdrawn and shut in her inmost cabinets , out of which , some in this age , some in another , is received and unfolded . even so here , one day hath taught another . and the later physicians with more intent thoughts , falling into the contemplation both of other herbs , and of the elder , they have tryed it in many affections to be most wholsom ; so that not undeservedly they esteem it a panacaea , or all-heal : for what is given to others apart , experience proves together to be in the elder . that i may say nothing of its wondrous and hid operations in expugning epilepsies , plague , erysipelasses , and other malign affections , which shall be spoken of afterwards : it hath a wonderfull force in purging out of the body all hurtfull , bilous , pituitous , and especially serous humors , from which bud such troops of sicknesses , as is to be seen in that famous and learned treatise of the ingenious piso de serosa colluvie . besides 't is anodyne , and by rarifying the skin , and digesting the humors and vapours , it lulleth the pain , it provokes urine , sweat , expelleth the stone , provoketh the stopt flowers , and doth other rarities , according to the parts and preparation thereof . that not without cause , what the more sober and learned chymists have attributed to their manifold medicinal mercury , antimony , vitriol , we may admit , admire , and acknowledge in our elder , though i willingly confess with some difference ; yea , we are more to admire this , seeing what is got in that triad of minerals , is got with such sweat and pains , by those indefatigasearchers of the many works and windings of nature ; but we attain our desire in this with light and little labour . sect . 2. of the receipts of medicaments drawn out of the elder . before we come to the diseases cured by the elder , 't is worth our labour first to explain the medicaments , which out of each part thereof , ought , and can be prepared , lest in divers affections the same with a great deal of loathing and labour be repeated , we will here set down the more curious and common , beginning with the berries , as the best and last product of that simple . capi . of the medicaments from the berries . 1. of the rob , tincture , extarct , or essence , take the ripe berries of the elder picked from their stalks , press the juice out of them , which being strained is to be thickned on a soft and clear fire . some in time of their inspissating add a little sugar , that the pallat may rellish it the better ; and this is called the rob of elder berries with sugar . of the rob , or inspissat juice of the berries without sugar , the tincture and extract is prepared after this manner . take a pound of this rob , put it in a long and capacious glass , called by the chymists a cucurbite , put thereon the spirit of wine , or the proper spirits of the elder , described in this chapter , so that it be a handful high above it . the glass being well closed , that the spirit may not exhale ; digest it in balneo four or five days , shaking the glass twice a day : after that strain the whole matter contained in the cucurbit , through gray paper . take the strained liquor ( which is obscurely reddish , and is called of some , the tincture of the elder or granorum actes , and may be kept without further distillation to good purpose ) put it in a glass cucurbit , and having put on the alembick , distil it on a slow balnean heat , till the menstruum , or that spirit , drop by drop separate , and the extract of the berries remain in the bottom like hony . if the menstruum be not totally extracted , that which remains in the cucurbit is called by the modern chymists , the liquid extract of granorum actes . you shall find another extract taken out of quercetan in the third section , and 26 chapter . ii. wines . take the elder berries cleaned of their stalks , beat them in a stone mortar , or earthen vessel , with a wooden pestle , till all the kernels be well bruised ; with this succulent matter fill the 8 , 10 , or 12 part of a little barrel , as you will have it of more or less efficacy , fill up the rest with must , or new wine , that they may work together . some boyle equal parts of this succulent matter and must together , till the consumption of a third part of the whole , on a slow fire ; then straining it through a thin linnen cloth , they put it ( as is said ) in a greater quantity into a barrel , put must thereon , and so suffer them to work . quercetans receipt thereof is set down in seat . 3. cap. 24. this is an excellent way . r. of elder berries well dried in an oven , lib. 1. cinnamon , the strongest and sharpest , unc . 3. caryophill . aromatic . ounc . 1. and an half . being all grosly pulverised , sow them loosly in a knot ; put them in a vessel that holds twelve english quarts , or thereabouts , fill up the rest with the best and most fragrant white wine , and place it a fortnight or above in a wine cellar ; which is to be used in time of repast , for t is an excellent stomachical drink , most delicious in colour , taste , and smell . iii. the spirit and water . take the ripe berries , express the juice , at least break them together , and let them stand in a wood vessel till they begin to ferment ; and that they may work the sooner , some add a little of the yiest of beer or wine : some add none , but keep the same process . d. finck . keeps in the extracting of the spirit of black sweet cherries , enchiridii , c. 6. after the fermentation let them be distilled in a vesica , and rectified acording to art. the rectification is best accomplished first in a vesica , and then in balneo ; where in place of a concurbit use a long-necked viol , then the most spiritous part will de abstracted , the phlegm beating again the sides of the viol will again fall down . others prepare it thus ; take the ripe berries of the elder dryed in the weak heat of an oven , being pulverised grosly with a third part of barley meal with them ; being well mixed , put them in an oken barrel , and put boyling water on them , in which some hops have been before macerated ; stop the vessel close , and suffer them to ferment some four or five days : to hasten the fermentation and digestion add some dreggs of wine or beer , ( as we have said before ) distill and rectifie it . but the first way is preferred deservedly by most , as more simple and pure : the purging water , as it is extracted by quercetan and others , out of the berries , is set down sect . 3. c. 24. iv. the syrup and tragea . the syrup is thus prepared : take of the juice extracted from the new gathered ripe berries , and clarified , lib. 1. sugar clarified , lib. 1. boyl it a little on a soft fire in a double vessel , or in bal. mar. to the consistency of a liquid syrup . you shall find the tragea granorum actes , or the tragea of the bore-tree-berries set down in the 22 cap. of the third sect . v. oyle drawn out of the stones or kernels . take the grains , or stones of these berries left in the cloth after the juice is strained from them , wash them well , and dry them in the aire , bedew them with odoriferous white-wine , and then in a press strongly squeeze out the oyle of them , as you do out of the seeds of the flaxes or line , rocked poppy or henbane , and such like ; that being purified by residency , keep it for your use in a glass ; for 't is an excellent vomitive , and a good balsam in externals . the dose to take it inwardly , is a drachme , or a drachme and a half in hot ale , or some other convenient liquor . this oyl may be more hematick and cathartick , if instead of the wine , the kernels be bedewed with malago , wherein crocus metallorum hath been infused , and then oyl expressed out of them ; which in the same dose will be much more effectual . cap. ii. of the medicines made of the flowers of the elder . 1. conserves . take the fresh flowers , pull them in little pieces , and to each ounce of them add two ounces of the whitest sugar , incorporate them well together in a marble morter with a woodden pestle : expose it afterward in a glass , or earthen vessel to the sun for some dayes ; it being thus prepared , reserve it for your use . ii. the syrup and honey . take of the recent flowers lib. 1. let them macerate 12 hours in lib. 6. of warm fountain water ; having exprest and strained the liquor , put in again recent flowers , yea do it the third time . add four ounces of the whitest sugar to each five ounces of the liquor that is last strained , boyle them up to a syrup according to art . but if in place of the sugar you add the same quantity of honey , and boyle it to a fitting consistence , you have mel sambucinum , which is commended by some . iii. the water and spirits . there is sundry wayes of distilling waters from herbs and flowers set downe by wecker , euonimus , quercetan , and others ; this is the easiest . takes as many of the flowers of the elder as you list , put a sufficient quantity of warm water thereon , let them marcerate a night , and then distill them per vesicam . that which distilleth first is excellent , the next is worse , beware then thou urge them not too much ; poure the water on fresh flowers , distil them the second time ; yea reiterate it the third time ; so you shall have water fit for the uses set down afterward in the practice ; for that which is extant in the apothecaries shops , is nothing but meer phlegm , not worthy the name of distilled water . no wonder then the sick so seldom find the wished and expected fruits therof . if from a part of this water in a long necked viol , in a soft balnean heat , you extract the more spirituous part , in quantity about the twelfth part thereof , you will have a most fragrant and penetrating spirit . or prepare the spirit as quercetan hath set down in lib. 1. pharm . dogm . restitut . cap. 7. and d. sennertus way , inst. med. lib. 5. part . 3. sect . 3. cap. 5. is it not much different . the cake which remains in the vesica after the distillation of the water , called of the chymists caput mortuum , is not to be thrown away , but to be reserved for the uses set down in the practice . iv. the vinegar and oximel . pour upon the fresh , or half withered flowers of the elder , the vinegar of white wine ; let them stand in a close stopped glass vessel in the sun , or some other hot place ; that the vinegar more exactly may draw out the vertue of the flowers , let the flowers remain in the vinegar , till it have drawn out fully all the vertue from them , which you may easily know by its fragrant smell , and golden colour . after strain the vinegar , and reserve it for your use . an excellent and red vinegar may be prepared of the flowers and juice of the branches , which is frequent in france , as lobell and pena witness in their advers . stirpium nov . p. 434. take instead of the juice of the branches , the berries of the elder dryed in the slow heat of an oven or furnace ; and upon them put the vinegar of the flowers , well purified by straining and subsidency ; which being impregnant with the shining transparent purple , i pour it off , and put on new still , so long as they are able to give it a purple tincture . the sowre syrup of the elder is described sect . 3. c. 19. the oximel of the elder , which quercetan . in pharm . dogm . restit . lib. 1. c. 10. mentioneth , is thus prepared . take of honey scummed well lib. 1. of elder vinegar lib. 5. of simple water , or water of elder flowers lib. 1. being mixt , put them in a cucurbit , and let them be boyled in balneo to a fit consistence . you may use here the simple vinegar , either of the flowers , or that which is by the infusion of the berries of a purple die , as it shall please the phancy of the physician or his patient . v. winf . take of the umbels of the elder dryed in the shadow , as much as you will ; which being pulled in little pieces , put them in a knot of fine thin linnen , with some little clean white stones ( to make the knot sink ) throw it into a vessel full of must ; let the wine work . some bid take a pound of the flowers , rightly dried and picked off their stalks , to 60 congions or 70 gallons of wine , and promise after the working of the wine it shall be of an excellent muscadel taste and smell . mark , that whatsoever apples or fruits are covered and wrapped in the flowres of the elder tree , shall acquire a taste and smell much like muscadel pears . vi. the oyle . 1. take as much as you will of the fresh flowers beaten , put them in a vessel of glass , pour on them a sufficient quantity of clear sallet oyle , macerate them in the sun , or some other hot place for 15 dayes ; then decoct it in a double vessel ; strain the flowers , cast them away ; put in fresh ones ; proceed as you did before , reiterate your practice the third time , and having strained it , keep it in a convenient vessel . mark , that those gross dregs of the flowers , and of all other things that are macerate in oyle , and strained from it , is called of the physicians , stymma , which take notice of now , that you may remember it when 't is mentioned hereafter . 2. the following oyl of the flowers is commended of many . take a cucurbite or glass of middle capacity ; fill a third part thereof with elder flowers gathered in a clear pure day ; put so much malvatick wine thereon , that the third part at least of the glass may remain empty ; having stopped the mouth well , expose it to the sun a fortnight : then putting the whole matter in a glaspot on a slow fire of charcole , heat it a little ; then strain it with great force into another clean vessel , above which within a little while you shall see a yellowish oyl to swim , which by a funnel or separatory , you are to separate from the rest of the liquor according to art . the liquor that remaineth will serve for the maceration of fresh flowers , which you are to reiterate sometimes , and in divers vessels , seeing at one time you will get but little oyl . 3. the oyl is prepared by distillation , after the manner sennerte and others prepare the oyl of roman cammomile flowers , and of other sweet smelling flowers ; thus , take the flowers of the elder dryed betwixt two linen cloaths in the aire , being pulled in little pieces , put them in an earthen vessel , or large cncurbite ; to every pound of flowers add an ounce and half of common salt , and having a span high covered them with warm water , leave them in digestion ten dais , or more , after distill them in vesica ; and according to art separate the oyl from the water . cap. iii. of the medicines of the buds or breakin gs of the elder . i. the powder . take as much as you will of the buds , or first breakin gs forth of the leaf of the elder ; being dryed in the shadow , pulverise them : either keep this powder by it self , or mix it with equal parts of sugar . the many medicinal powder of the buds is described sect . 3. cap. 3. ii. the conserve . take the fresh tender buds smally cut , lib. 5. of the purest sugar , lib. 1. upon a slow charcole fire , mix them well together with a stone pestle , and expose them in an earthen pan eight days to the suns rayes . iii. the syrup . take of the juice prest out of these first buds and breaking of the bore-tree out of the tree and ground , and by subsidency purified from the dregs lib. 11. of fine white sugar lib. 1. s . or q. s . let them be concocted with a slow balneal fire to the consistency of a syrup ; which being aromatised with half an ounce of choice cinnamon , and two drachmes of cloves , is to be reserved in a glass vessel . cap. iv. of the medicines taken from the leaves , middle bark , roots , pith , and spunge . i. the water . take the fresh leaves of the elder , and they being grosly beat or cut , fill the half of a vesica with them , and put a sufficient quantity of warm water on them ; macerate them therein for a night , and distill them ; put the distill'd water on fresh leaves , distill them again . after the same manner , of the green and succulent bark water is prepared . there are some that of the succulent roots , pith , and spunges by themselves , or mixed together , doe distill waters , which they much commend in hydropsies , which first are to be well shred and macerated a night inconvenient liquor , that their vertues may be more easily drawn out of them . ii. the syrup . as of the juice of the buds , so from the juice of the middle bark , or roots , a syrup may be prepared for the nicer sort , if a sufficient quantity of suger be put to the juice , well clarified , and on a soft fire boyled to a syrup ; and after the same manner aromatised . these syrups indeed are esteemed less efficacious then the crude juices , seeing in their boyling they lose something of their cathartick faculty , which fernele observed . nevertheless they are more safe , and less noysom to the stomach , and the rest of the intrals . therefore their dose is according to their strength to be augmented . iii. oyles and liniments . 1. an useful oyl is prepared of the middle bark , macerated in old clear let oyl , and expressed , as was spoken in the flowers . 2. of the bark and leaves prepare them thus ; take of the middle bark and leaves , equal parts , fry them in may butter and linsed oyl , or in any one of these , with a soft fire ; when they are a while fryed , press out the leaves and bark ; put in fresh leaves and bark again , fry them , and express ; do so the third time . 3. the liniment or unguent which is set down in matthiol . super diosc . l. 4. c. 168. take of the green bark of the elder which is next the outward ash coloured rine , being of an hearb colour , lib. 1. of oyl washed off in the water of elder flowers lib. 2. let them warm a while together , then strain and press them ; to this add of new well smelling wax , of the juice of the twigs of the elder ounce 4. then suffer them again to boil till the juice be consumed . take it then from the fire , stirr and mix all together ; and at last add of liquid varnish ounc . 2. of white frankincence beat to dust , ounc . 4. likewise add two whites of eggs , first well beat ; mix all diligently , and keep it in a clean vessel . 4. another liniment wich the most happy plater . used to prepare . take of the middle bark of the elder one ounce and half ; of the juice of its more tender leaves one drachme , linsed oyl washed in the water of elder flowers two ounces ; of barrowgrease so washed onu . 1. of good yellow wax one ounce and half , of frankincence one ounce , boyl them in the water of the flowers of the elder , in a closed pot and when they ; are cold , gather and keep the oyntment that swims above . of all these we will speak in burning , and other external affects . the rest of the medicines that are prepared of the parts of the elder , are copiously set down in the places that handle the diseases to which they are appropriate , and there they are to be found . cap. v. of the salt and its spirit . i. the salt . salt is prepared not only of the flowers and leaves after the distillation of waters , and expression of juice ; but of the bark and whole tree for all are to be dryed , burned in a clear and open fire , reduced to ashes ; of these ashes make a lie with pure and clean water , still pouring on firesh water , till all the saltishnes be extracted ; boyle the lie , being filtrate , in an earthen vessel on a soft fire , till the water exhale , and the salt be left ; which by a reiterate solution , filtration , and coagulaion , is to be purified . the most gallantway of purifying such like salts , by the means of the spirit or oyl of common salt , is set down in the 19 chapter of finckius enchirid. hermet . some praise this process , r. of the burned ashes of elder and sulphure , equal parts , being mixt , calcine them with a reverberatory fire , or in a potters furnace ; after extract a lie with the water of the flowers of the elder ; which being filtrate and boyled to a half on a slow fire , is to be placed in a celler , that the salt may run in christals . ii. the spirit of the salt of the elder . r. of the salt of the elder , lib. 1. of common bole lib. 3. being well powdered and mixt together , put them in well luted retort , fit to it an ample recipient , and having closed the commissures , add fier by degrees . first there shall still a waterish liquor , then the spirits shall follow ; augment the fire , and keep it in the same degree , lest the spirits remit , so long till no more spirits flow , and the recipient become clear ; the vessel being cold , and the clay that luted them together being with a wet cloth for an hour together softened , that the recipient may be separate without breaking the glasses , you shall find the spirit of the elders salt , which is separate from its phlegme by distilling in balneo . the lute , for arming your glasses , and luting them to their recipients , is set down by begwine , l. c. 6. tyrocin . chym. by libavius l. 1. epist . 24. epist . chymicarum , and others . others use other ways of distilling the spirits of vegetable salts , which the famous senart . mentions by the by , instit . medic. pag. 1215. but we may use all things we use in distilling the spirit of common salt : of which see sennert . and begwine , l. 2. c. 6. tyros . chymio . and others . sect . iii. shewing the practice of the elder , and medicines belonging thereto . vve have considered already the nature and qualities of the elder , and in a most short and clear way set down its medicines . it remains we briefly shew the practice thereof , and how 't is a safe medicine for most diseases that follow our frailty ; and of other preparations specifick to each part . we begin with the affections of the head . cap. i. of cephalalgia . in mitigating the pain of the head , and removing the distempers thereof in women , we use happily the cake of the flowers of the elder , left in the vesica after the distillation of the water ; it must not be burned ; which being dedewed with the vinegar of the flowers we apply it to the head , and with the besprinkling of frech vineger , renew it . it rarifieth the skin , and by digesting the vapors . dispels them . some use rose cakes bedewed with the vinegar of the elder , which where the heat is more vehement , the brain more sensible , and more offended with the piercing smell is far better . or , r. take of recent elder leaves two handfuls . of rose and water lillie flowers , of each one handfull . being shorne and pounded , poure on them a like quantity of elder vinegar , and the water distilled out of the flowers , press out strongly the juice ; mix with it expressed two whites of eggs well beat ; in which dip a double linen cloth , and apply it to the head oft in the day . the water of the flowers mixt with the white of an egg and a littile vinegar , is most comfortable in any cephalalgia ; chiefly in a feaverish , being applyed to the brows , temples , and crown of the head . the vinegar by it self is fitly used in the pain that proceeds or follows drunkenness . or draw out with the vinegar and distilled water of the flowers , from the kernels of the peach and bitter almond , amilky emulsion , wherein dip a linnen cloth , and apply it oft to the brows and crown of the patient . pliny saith , that the juice of the elder helps the collections of the brain , and especailly mitigateth the tunicle wherein it is next inwrapt . this decoction is excellent to dispel the vapours of the brain , and make one sleep soundly , if the legs and arms be soundly rubbed therewith when you go to sleep . take six umbels of the elder flowers when they are full , of anise umbles , of roman camomile flowers one handful , six poppy-heads with their seed ; being put together , beat them in rain water : if the evil hath its fewel from the stomach , matrix , or other parts , they are first to be remedied after that manner as is declared , particularly in each part . 't is enough here to have touched this topick . cap. ii. of raving and wakings . the same things are profitable here , that are set down in the remedy of the cephalalgie ; seeing it oft these riseth to forerun or accompany maladies , adding ever to these some grainsof opium , or a little of the seed of white poppy , to mitigate and allay the furious and fiery spirits . for example , take of the best water of elder flowers 4 dr . of water lillie and rosewater of each 2 drach . of thebaick opium half a scrup . of elder vinegar to dissolve the opium 6 scrup . mix them for an epithenie , wherein a double or treble linnen cloth being wet , is to be applyed warm to the brows and crown of the head . or in place of the opium , an ounce of the seeds of white poppy ; and by baking according to art , make an emulsion , unto which you may fitly add the white of an egg well beaten . if the belly be bound , dissolve of the syrup or juice of the berries , and also of the infusion of the flowers of the elder , ounc . 3 , or 4. in the water of the flowers , and give it when the patient is dry like a julip ; for it will not only open the belly , but sweetly quiet the spirits . when in anno 1626. the plague was raging in haina , and many of the infected were troubled with head aches , ravings , and wakings ; a worthy man told me , he found no readier help to dissipate those venomous vapours , and bring sleep in his own and others bodies ; then after the giving of several medicines , to bind their heads about with the flowers of the elder . cap. iii. of melancholy , and chiefly hypocondriack and flatulent . in hypocondriack melancholy 't is profitable first of all , if the diseased be prone to vomit , to provoke it by the oyl of the infusion of the flowers and bark of the elder ; lest by preparing and purging medicines , those crude and excrementitious humors , which oft are gathered in the stomach be carried to the more principal parts of the body , and augment the obstructions . or give of the syrup made of the sap of the buds and berries an ounce , br . 1. s. with some grains of the extract of scammonie , and 3 guts of the oyl of elder flowers distilled , in the distilled water of the flowers thereof . or use the clyster that is described in the 22 cap. following . after this , the wine which is drawn out of the berries and flowers , is not of meanest worth , for it opens obstructions , cuts gross humors , and by little and little thrusts them to the dore moreover it refresheth the vital and animal spirits . drink a cup full thereof each morning for a month , taking before a spoonful or two of fresh broth , or a saft egg . that it may work more safely , you may each week mix with the use of these , once or twice , the manyfold working powder of the buds of the elder ; wich is thus prepared ; take of elder buds dried in the shade , half an ounce . of elder kernels trochiscated , of sennie leaves , of christallised elder salt , of each three drachmes , of the extract of scammonie , two drachmes , of galengale , of macer , of each half a drachme , being all subtilly pulverised , distill upon them . of the oyl of cloves , of fennicle , of each six drops , of cinnomon , of carvi , of each three drops . let them be mixt exactly in a marble morter for a powder , whose dose is from a scruple to a drachme . the trochiscation , or preparation of the seeds or kernels of elder is thus ; take one ounce of the lesser esula , prepared as is known in infusion in vinegar , and grosly pulverised . infund it in the spanish wine of peter simons , lib. 5. let them macerate 8 days in the sun , or in winter in the chimny corner , the mouth of the glass being well stopped ; after strain them through gray paper , and purifie them . take the clean arillas of the elder berries , dry them , pulverise them , and with a sufficient quantity of the infusion of esula , make them in paste ; dry it ; being dryed , bedew them with the same infusion , and again work it into paste ; of which from your trochisces ; dry them , and keep them for your use . and because those excrementitious humours lurking about the stomach , and vicine places , and much troubling both the physician and patient , in all hypocondriack diseases , are more easily evacuate by vomit then purge , you may use commodiously the oyl of the kernels of the elder , prepar'd by bedewing them with the infusion of antimony , as as hath been shewn in the second section ; a little after drinking warm water , vomit is pvovoked ; and that obstructions may be sooner dissolv'd , and the matter drawn out of the meseraick veins into the intestines ; besides these internal things , use this fotus . take of the bar ; of elder roots , ounce 1. s . of well dried elder flowers , m. 3. make a decoction in equal parts of wine and water ; and that it may penetrate the more , add as much as you think fit of the vinegar of the elder ; in which fomentation dip a sponge , and therewith foment the whole belly , but chiefly the left hypochondre . see the other hereafter in the 23 chapter of the misenteries obstruction . for the altering of the bloud and spirrits in the true , and in the hypocondriac melancholy ; after generals , the syrup of the juice of the berres , and infusion of the flowers of elder , is praised ; of each of which , in the morning fasting , every day , let the patient take oun . 1. in the water of the flowers of burrage . you are likewise to take a care that the belly be kept open ; which is to be done by the syrup and the clyster mentioned in the 2 cap. in the paroxisme of your hypocondriac melancholy give a spoonful of the spirit of the flowers of elder in a draught of malmsey , for it dissipateth the ascending vapours , and strengtheneth the spirits . cap. iv. of the epilepsie . as this is a grievous , and a disease much to be lamented ; so i may say , it expects its most specifick cure , almost from the elder . the cure of children . to infants new-born , before you give them any thing to swallow , you may give them with great profit . a spoonful of the syrup of the infusion of the flowers , or juice of the elder-berries , to evacuate that putrid , yellowish , and sometime blackish water gathered in the stomach , and parts about , while the infant is in the mothers belly . for these syrups do not only change and evacuate , but they also preserve from , and resist malignity . macerate a handful of elder flowers well dried in the wine , which the best sort use to wash their new-born babes in ; for it consumes the humors gathered about the joynts , and comforts the members . this is also commended , take of the powder of the simple buds 1 drach . of the whitest sugarcandie 1 drach . of the berries of herb paris number 6. pulverise them most subtilly , of which give half a scruple for 9 days together , in the water of elder flowers , or any other convenient liquor you please . in the paroxisme , the least spoonfull of the spirit of the flowers given with three or five of the seeds of peony excorticat , is praised . or , of peony excorticat 2 drach . of the best water of elder-flowers one ounce and a half , of linden flower-water half an ounce . make an emulsion according to art , which being edulcerate rotalis manus christi perlatis , give it by spoonfuls . let the nurse sometimes take the conserves , syrup , or water of elder flowers , or having taken the spirit , juice , or extract of the berries , let her provoke smell , that thereby her milk being clear of the sharper and more malignant serosities , may be the more wholsom . i knew an infant , which being taken sometime with epileptick fits , each day , with a great deal of crying , and pain of belly , did dung a yellowish greenish matter ; whom neither clysters , nor cleansing linctussies did any good . i counselled his mother , seeing i saw her milk more serous and thin , that she should twice or thrice a week take the rhob , or juice of the elder-berries , mixt with burn'd harts-horns ; and drink a draught of the water of the flowers above it , and provoke her self to sweat in her bed , or couch : which being done , not only the epileptick fits , but also those painfull wringings of the childs belly did cease ; and by little and little , the excrements came to their natural form . the cure of those that are come to age . in those that are come to age 't is first necessary above all things , to purge the body well . in the spring time macerate the bark of the roots of elder in the whey of cows milk , which being dulcerat with sugar , let him each morning take a hearty draught thereof . or , take the polichrestick powder of the buds two scruples , or one drachme . of recent rob of the elder , well thickned with good sugar , as much as will make a bole . or take the prescribed bole ; dissolve it in the whey of milk , add thereto the syrup made of juice of the buds and berries , ounce i. mix it ; prepare a draught : but if the patient be prone to vomit , give him the oyl expressed out of the kernels . the spirit of the flowers and berries of the elder in , and out of the paroxysm , is of great power ; but it may be made more efficacious thus : r. take of the middle bark of the elder , of the roots of poeonie , of each six drachms , of dried elder leaves and buds , of lynden-tree flowers , of each one handful . of rew-seed two drach . of the berries of herb paris , numb . 20. of jews-ears , numb . 6. this being cut and pounded , put as much of the spirit of the elder thereon , as will be a hand broad high above them , and in a hot place , and well stopped vessel , macerate them eight daies ; distil them in glass vessels in b. m. till they be dry ; mix with them the distilled spirits , the salt drawn out of its dregs , and keep it for the anti-epileptick spirit of the elder . whereof give a whole , or half spoonful to the epileptick in the time of his paroxisme ; afterwards using it every quarter of the moon , to dissipate the epileptick corruption by sweating ; or insensible transpiration ▪ and to guard the brain . with this same , in the time of the fit , rub the nostrils , gums , and pallat , adding thereto a grain or two of castor . herein likewise excels the tincture and extract of granorum actes ; the preparation and using of which is set down in the 31 chapter out of quercetan . or , take of granorum actes scrup . 1. of the berries of herb paris , pulverised , half a scrup . mix them , and form pils thereof , numb . 15. or being dissolved in the anti epileptick spirit of the eldergive them in the paroxisme . mark by the way , that the berries of herb paris , called by some bear or wolf grapes , is held by some matrons , as a great secret against the epilepsie : and they give them ever in an unequal number , as 3 , 5 , 7 or 9 , in the water of linden tree flowers or of the roots of squamaria ; which i my self have found effectual in some children . seeing these berries are mixt with some antidotes , especially with the saxonian , and half a drachm of the seeds of these berries , as matthiolus relates , being given , avail much against long sickness , and witchcraft , it should not seem strange to any man , that they much help in the epilepsie , if they consider seriously the maligne nature of the epileptick vapor , and its enmity with the brain . some affirm , that the water of the flowers drawn up into the nose prevails much against the epilepsie and vertigo . in the same affects the eyes and face are to be washed oft with this water . anoint gently , in the fit it self , the contracted members , with the oyl of the flowers of the first description , that thereby the acrimony of the humors and vapors may be mitigate , that the matter may be dissipate , and the nerves comforted . the oyl of the second and third description , or the distilled oyl , is much commended ; if the palmes of the hands , and soles of the feet , if the temples of the head and nape of the neck be anointed therewith . amulets . there is likewise set down a singular amulet , made of the elder growing on a sallow . if in the month of october , a little before the full moon , you pluck a twig of the elder , and cut the cane that is betwixt two of its knees , or knots in nine pieces ; and these pieces being bound in a piece of linnen , be in a thred so hung about the neck , that they touch the spoon of the heart , or the sword-form'd cartilage ; and that they may stay more firmly in that place , they are to be bound thereon with a linnen or silken roller wrapt about the body , till the thred break of it self . the thred being broken , and the roller removed , the amulet is not at all to be touched with bare hands , but it ought to be taken hold on by some instrument , and buried in a place that no body may touch it . petraeus nosilog . harmon . l. 1. dissert . 6. finkius ench. harm . c. 5. the cause of which is not absolutely hid , seeing the elder and its grains help this disease . these are the words of petraeus in the mentioned place . there are some that ascribe the same effect to the bore tree , growing on the tylia or linden tree , seeing both by a peculiar property are anti-epileptick ; some hang a cross made of the elder and sallow , mutually in wrapping one another about the childrens neck , petr. loco allegat . albeit there be some that deny all specifick operation to amulets of the elder growing on the sallow and linden tree , and to all other amulets . nevertheless their reasons are not of such weight , that they satisfie the mind of a desirous learner ; 't is not impossible that so little a piece of the elder bound to the skin should break the force of so stubborn a disease : for though it do not draw out sensibly the vitious humors , yet it may act against the morbifick cause , and rout it some other way , by alluring , and some other way expugning those vitious humors , and that malignant miamse , most noisom to the brain , it having in little bulk great force ; which being or removed , 't is likely the epilepsie will cease , though the humors remain ; if they be not altogther corrupt : which humors are to be purged , according to the diversities of constitutions , before you use such amulets . read sennert . l. de cons . & dissen . gal & . chymic . whereas they object , that in all these amulets do not hold : this will not prove that they are not indewed with an anti-epileptick faculty ; otherwise many famous medicaments should be called in question , seeing many times they are disappointed of their actings in some subjects ; because it may be they are not used in fit quantity , time , or after due prepration , or some other errours are committed , which may hinder the best , and most approved medicine to take effect ; neither is it in the power alwaies of the physician or medicine , that the diseased should be releived : some times the evil excels the cunningest art . cap. v. of the apoplexie and palsie . as preservative a against the apoplexie and palsie , the salt of the elder is much commended , if it be mixt with a third part of the volatile salt of amber ( which volatile salt useth to stick to the neck of the retort , in the distillation of the oyl of amber ) and given in the time of the new moon , or full moon , in a convenient liquor , in the weight of a scruple , or half a drachme . the salt of the elder must be first excellently crystallized in the water of sage , as you know . amwald desires that three parts of the extract of black hellebore be mixed with the rob of elder ; which he commends as a gallant specifick against the apoplexie , and all noysom affections of the brain . the receit is set down in his treatise , panacea amwaldina , fol. 23. pulvis tureonum polychrestus , doth not only purge the stomach and nearest vessel , but likewise the brain from its gross , pituite , and serous humors , whereof give a drachme thereof when it is needful in form of a pill . oxymel samb . is likewise useful in these cold distempers of the brain ; whereof give oft in the water of sage , a little masted before purging , at least two or three ounces for the cutting and preparing that gross matter . the spirit likewise distilled from the berries is excellent , if once a week , or at least each quarter of the moon , a spoonful thereof mixt with crums of wheat bread , and a little sugar , for it consumes the phlegmatick humors , and drieth and comforteth the brain , and 't is taken in place of a simple anti-epileptick , as we have said in the former chapter , or. you may prepare it new thus , only for this affection , in what quantity you please , thus ; take of sage , marjoram , ivy arthritica , of each two drachmes . of couslip flowers , conval lilly flowers , of each one drach . and an half . of rochet seed , two drachmes . which , all being cut , and grosly pulverised , are to be macerated in a sufficient quantity of the spirit of elder , and after eight daies to be distillid in b. m. till they be dry ; for the apoplectick spirit of the elder ; in a part of which castoreum may be dissolved , and oft times transcolate ; of which mixture a spoonful , chiefly in the time of the paroxisme , should be instilled , as the cause is of exigency , and with the same rub the pallat , nostrills , crown of the head , and nuke of the neck . two or three drops of the oyl of the second or third description , or distilled , being instilled in the ear , or anoynted on the pallat , after the manner the spirit is thought to help the rest . mark , that those things we have now commended , have chief place in that apoplexie that proceeds from pituite or other gross humors , and is familiar to old men ; but that which proceeds from depression of the scul , or inflammation of the brain , is to be cured by other medicines , that is not our part here to handle . of the palsie . but if the apoplexie end in a palsie of the sides , or other members , as it useth , having observed those universals , for the provision of whole body and brain , 't is necessary oft in the week to provoke sweat . half an ounce of the apoplectick spirit of the elder is useful here ; also two drachms of the rob of the berries in sage water . or , of the extract of the rohob of the elder , drach . 5. and an half . antimony diaphoretick , most white , half a drachm . of which every morning give to the paralitick , they being exactly mixt , 1 drachm in 2 or 3 ounces of the decoction of the root of the great burdock , and command him , that being well lapped in his bed , he swet for half an hour ; and that he may sweat more freely and fully you may mix with the potion half an ounce of the apoplectick spirit of the elder . topicks . the enervat , or hanging members are twice a day to be rubbed , first with hard sharp clothes ; afterward with the spirit drawn out of the berries , and inebriate with the essence of cephalick herbs . so those gross and viscid humors that trouble the nerves , and compresse them , and stop the passage of the animal spirits , will be attenuate , and dissipate , and the stupified spirits will be raised and allured . nevertheless , lest by these hot , and much drying spirits , the matter it self and nevres should be hardned , you are to mix with the oyl of the infusion of the flowers of the elder a third of the oyl drawn from the kernels of its berries , and this will attemperate the too too much exsiccating heat , and nevertheless digest and consume the matter . in this case likewise , the decoction of the root of the elder and ebulus in simple water is much praised . and seeing oft times the palsie of the tongue , and difficulty of speaking remains , the tongue is oft times to be rub'd , and humectated with a sponge , dipped in the apoplectick spirit of the elder . cap. vi. of catarrhs . in this the wine prepared of the flowers and berries , is much commended , because it excellently purgeth the body of that serous inundation , of which , after you have taken a little broth , drink a cupfull in the morning . the simple powder of the buds of the elder , taking a scruple thereof in a soft egg , or in some syrup , or in a spoonful of the oximel of the elder in the spring , or harvest , for 14 daies each morning , and fasting two hours at least after it , doth mightily consume the catarrhous matter . or instead of the powder use the conserve of the buds , mixt with the third part of the conserve of the flowers ; the dose ounc . s. if the body stand in need of greater evacuation , exhibit once or twice the polichrestick powder of the buds . the salt of the elder by it self , or mixt with the third part of the volatile salt of ambre , dose scrup . 1. is esteemed likewise the spirit of the elders salt , taking weekly six drops thereof , or more in broth made of flesh . also , a spoonful or two of the spirit of the berries and flowers , taken with crums of bread and sugar . concerning other things , especially sweetning , which is sometimes conducible to consume the matter in this disease , read the precedent chapter . cap. vii . of the toothach . seing this disease oft flowes from defluxions , those things are to be first used that are set down in the former chapter . topicks . we will onely prescribe here topicks made of the elder . raymund minder , in his military medicine , cap. 10. commends much the decoction of the roots in wine and vinegar , used to gargarise with , and protests that no one medicine sooner easeth this great pain . for example , take of the roots of elder cut in slices , two ounces and an half . of elder , or simple vinegar , of white wine , of each six ounces . boyl them for a water to wash the mouth , which is oft to be spit out , and renewed . or , take of the middle elder bark , of elder flowers , of each an handfull , of jews ears one . boyl them likewise in a sufficient quantity of vinegar and wine , and use it . where there is a suspicion of worms in the hollow tooth , the hollowness is to be filled with the spongiola of the elder ; at last it is to be held hard betwixt the teeth : likewise the vapor of the former decoction may be received through a funnel at the mouth . they make tooth-pickers , and spoons of elder , to which they attribute much in preserving from this pain . the common people take these tooth-pickers , being bloudy with pricking and picking the tooth , and glew them to the trunk of an elder , which is irradiated with the morning sun beams ; they pull away the bark , and cover the place with rosin of the pine : and thus they cure all tooth-aches . 't is not apparent by what vertue this is done ; when , may be , that is attributed to the incision , which ought to be attributed to the blooding , or time of continuance , wherein most diseases are eased . but we leave every man to his judgement , scal. exerc. 183. sect . 11. if from a defluction , the gums and cheeks do swel , anoynt them with the oyl of the infusion of the flowers of the elder , and put the dregs or crassament of them to it , for they will digest and resolve it . cap. viii . of the affects of the eyes . platerus tom. 2. praxeos . hath observed , that chirurgeons used to apply to sore eyes a pill of the elder , macerated in common , or rose water , or other convenient , to mitigate the pain . the water of the flowers of the elder , mixt with a like proportion of rose water , wounderfully mitigateth ophthalmike pains , and strengtheneth the sight ; into which sometimes prepared tutty in a knot is to be put , to ease the itch , and a spunge of the elder , macerated in pennyroyal water , to be applyed to the nuke or hollow of the neck . this following liquor anointed on the eyelids with a feather is profitable . r. elder flowers gathered in the month of june , before the rising of the sun , and picked from their stalks as much as you will ; beat them in a marble morter ; and in a glass well stopped , expose them for a month to the rayes of the sun ; them let then be involv'd in a leavened rie loaf , and baked with other bread in an oven ; which being taken out and opened , you shall find an oleaginous liquor , which you must carefully preserve in another glass for your use . the tender and recent leaves , with polent or barly meal , applyed to inflammations , doth mitigate them , by dissolving and digesting , as was taught before by dioscorides ; which may be used externally in ophthalmies , general medicines being premised . or rather use this cataplasme , which did much help in a more vehement tumor of the eyelids , whereby the whole eye was hid . make of the mucilage of the seed of psyllium , and linseed , extracted by the best water of elder flowers , of each six drachmes , add of elder oyl half an ounce , and as much meal of the flowers as will suffice . make thereof a cataplasm . the little spunge of the elder macerate well in the best water of the flowers til they swell great , do wipe away gallantly the dirt and matter in those blemishes , and in all other wounds and ulcers of the eyes , immediately laying thereon a tender and recent elder leaf . they say that the ashes thereof blown in the eye , hath consumed a beginning panincle . cap. ix . of the diseases of the ears and hearing . foments of the decoction of elder , and camomile flowers , mitigates the pain of the ears . the oyl of the infusion of the flowers may be with profit anointed ; or adding the meal of the flowers , make thereof a cataplasm , which is to be applied hot to the whole region of the ears . the difficulty of hearing , through gross humors and vapors that possess the auditory organs , is greatly helped after you have used universals , and the polychrestick buds of the elder , by the vapor of the decoction of the roots and leaves of the elder , made in a fit lixive , in the which lixive , if you add origanum , the ears are to be oft washed , and still well dried . the same vapor takes away the tingling , whistling , and other sounds of the ear , which are also remedied by a drop or two of the oyl of the flowers of the second or third description , being put on a bombaceous tent , thrust in the ears , for it consumes and dissipates the flatuosities , from which these arise . some who suspect the unctuosity of the oyl , use after the same manner the spirit of the flowers and berries ; chiefly the apoplectick , which by its penetrating force doth discuss them egregiously . the juice prest out of the recent leaves , with a little wine , and instilled in the ears , doth cleanse the filth of the exulcerate ears , and kill the worms . it doth likewise cleanse and consolidate wounds and ulcers ; of which in his proper chapter . cap. x. of the defects of the nose , and smelling . the best water of the flowers of the elder , oft drawn up in the nose , doth help the smelling , that is diminished by some great sickness . in the exulceration of the nose by a salt defluxion , the water of the flowers and bark are profitable , seeing they deterge , dry , and conglut inate . in a greater exulceration , where the flesh is too proud , the spirit of the salt is needful , which being mixt with the rest , it consumes the proud flesh , and hindreth further putresaction . see the chapter of curing ulcers . gabel rover doth commend the spunges that grow on the stock of the elder , being dryed , pulverised , and given in a fit liquor , for staying the hemorage of the nose . tragea granorum actes , which is described in the cure of the dyscentery , is good in this case . the dose half a drachme , or two scruples , in a spoonful or two of quercetans corralline syrup , or in the styptick red wine , or in the distilled water of the sperm of frogs , shepherds purse , or purslain , &c. or make a powder of the equal parts of tragea , and the little sponges , which is both to be taken in the mentioned liquors , and lightly and easily to blown into the nostrils . cap. xi . of the blemishes of face and head. if you wash the face oft with the distilled water of the leaves and flowers of the elder , it cleanseth and drieth up all pimples and pustles of the face . dispensatories affirm , that the oyl of the infusion of the flowers mundifieth and makes clear the skin . in lentiginibus , commonly called freckles , by signature , a decoction of the flowers in water is commended ; for the flowers of the elder are spotted , oswald croll . de signaturis . dioscorides teacheth , that the juice anointed , makes the hair black . this will be a profitable experiment to those that endeavour to make their red hair black ; albeit the colour be more comely in many , than ill favoured . what we must allow to those old ruffins that are ashamed of their white locks , galen hath taught hath taught us , l. 1. de compos . medicament . secund . loc. c. 3. and this transcursorily occasioned by dioscorides his words . take elder roots cut very small , adding a little of the seed of staphis agriae made in a lixive , wherein wash the head that is full of scales & lice . the same decoction heals the tineam or favum in children , if it be over strong and painful , dilute it with the decoction of the flowers and leaves . the pain is likewise mitigated by the anointing of the oyl of the infusion of the flowers , if after washing it be anointed . the oyl expressed out of the berries and kernels , and mixt by stirring , with a third part of turpentine , and anointed , doth cure by drying and cleansing , all ulcers of the head , the whole elder leaf after being applyed . oleum saccharo sambucinum is likewise commodious . cap. xii . of the diseases of the mouth and throat . the common women , so soon as they suspect any disease in the throte of their young ones , they steep the sponge of the elder in their drink , and when it is sweld , they therewith carefully wipe away all the filth of the pallat , gums , and tongue . the expressed juice of the leaves mixt with simple or elder honey , doth absterge and exsiccate egregiously all the ulcers of the gums and throat : if therewith they be anointed by a pencil , or if it be disolved in the water of the leaves and bark , and gargarised therewith . you shall add more vertue thereto in deterging , in purifying , if you mix a little of the salt of the elder therewith , or dissolve the said juice in a weaker lixive , and use it as a gargarisme . if the ulcers be more malignant , and the product of the great pox , 't is necessary that twice or thrice a day you rub them with a sponge or pencil dipped in the spirit of elder berries , wherein a little of the flowers of sulphur hath been dissolv'd , and immediatly after wash them with the decoction of the leaves , and besprinkling them with the small flower of the elder pith . the tonsils being tumefied by a thin and saltish defluxion , let them be gargarised with water , or decoction of elder flowers , wherein a little elder-hony hath been mixed ; for licking the rhob of the elder , inspissated with sugar , is commodious ; which is our womens common and used medicine ▪ you may use the syrup of the juice of the berries , or infusion of the flowers , or the hony of either . outwardly anoint them with the oyl of elder flowers infusion , which doth resolve it . in the squinancy , having first used universals , to the foresaid gargarism add some leaves of self-heal , with one or two of the sponges of the elder , called by many jews ear , which is a sure experiment . lob. in advers . novis stirp . p. 434. the linctus must be the former , only add some pulverised jews ears ; or make this eclegme ; take jews-ears two or three , let them sharpen an hour or two in a sufficient quantity of the water of elder flowers ; then let them boyle lightly , and them in a marble mortar , and put them through a setace ; add unto this musilage as much as is needful of the syrup of the juice of the flowers and sugar , as will make a linctus , which you may oft use ; besides , it opens the belly . outwardly apply an anadyne cataplasm , which doth digest and resolve , made of elder leaves , and reddish stalks , pounded and boyled in the oyl of the infusion of elder flowers , to the consistency of a pulticle . the acetoses syrup of the elder , dissolved in the decoction of barley , and given as a julap when 't is necessary , tempereth the heat of the blood and whole body . see afterward the cure of the continued fevers . in spitting of blood tragea granorum actes is profitable ; whereof we have made mention in the tenth chapter , which being taken in some convenient syrup , is to be used for a linctus . cap. xiii . of dyspnei and asthma . that those things may be remov'd in these diseases , and expectorat , which are gathered through the proper imbecility of the lungs , use the water of the flowers , in which a third part of elder oximel is dissolved , and as julap twice a day drink two or three ounces thereof , it cuts the gross matter , and facilitateth the expectoration thereof . the same oximel thickned with sugar-candy , and taken off a liquorice-stick like a linctus , and swallowed leasurely , worketh well in expectoration . the syrup of the flowers of the juice of the berries and buds , &c. are wholsome taken after the same manner . the bark of the elder entreth that famous oximel , helleborat of gesner . the spirit of the berries in a great dispnoea is profitable , half a spoonful , or a spoonful thereof taken with sugar . use this following asmalick , or pneumatick spirit , if you please . take of the middle elder bark liquorish , well shaven , six drachms . of the roots of allacompaine , of florentine ireos , of each two drachms . of the whole herb erysimum , two handful . of fennel-seed half an ounce . being cut , and shaked together , infuse them in a sufficient quantity of the spirit of granorum actes , in which let them stand seven days , every day twice stirring all together ; afterward let them be distilled in bal. mar. for the pneumatick spirit of the elder , which in time of necessity is to be taken either by it self , or dulcerat with a little sugar , or the syrup of violets . or with the same with canary-sugar , or of madara , prepare the oyl of the elder-sugar as followeth . take of this pneumatick spirit rectified , as much as you will , mix with it half the quantity of sugar ; fire the spirit with a wax-candle , or light paper , stir it hither and thither with a knife , till all turn to a thick and oily liquor , and the flame cease of it self . use it as an eclegme with a stick of liquorice by it self ; or mix with an equal part of elder oximel , it mightily moves expectoration , &c. 't is profitable to anoint the breast in the greatest difficulty of breathing with the oyl of elder-flowers of the first description ; you may mix therewith some drops of the oyl of the flowers of the third description . in suffocating catars , besides these abundantly declared , it availeth much , if in the time of the fit , you put a sponge dipped in elder-vinegar to the nose , and therewith wet the crown of the head . cap. xiv . of hoasting and hoarsness . vvomen with great success , give to their coughing unquiet children , the recent rob of the elder , which is more liquid . in older , the linctus of the oyl of elder-sugar is profitable . in that wild cough , where corrupt matter is exercat , and more corruption feared , this is much praised . take of the elder-leaves recent , or dried in the shadow , m. i. boil them in a quart of fountain , or clear river water , to the consumption of a third part ; the strained drink is to be sweetned with sugar-candy , or scummed hony , of which every day , morning and evening , drink a warm draught . the same is commended in hoarsness proceeding from a catar , that fils the inequalities of the wind-pipe , or arteriae asperae . or where more detersion in necessary for the same effect , there is a fit lixive prepared of the ashes of the leaves with the water of the flowers , which being sweetned with sugar or hony , is to be oft taken by spoonfuls in the day . this , if any thing , will take away hoarsness , & is a great secret amongst women , as the giving their own proper urine to the diseased to drink , which is loathsom to many . to make a clear voice , this is a secret of alexis . take of elder-flowers dried in the sun , and pulverised , of which drink a little every morning in white wine fasting . the cough and hoarsness proceeding from heat in feavers , is excellently remedied by a linctus of the syrup made of the juice of elder-berries , with equal parts of the syrup of violets . if you list , and have leasure , you may make elder-sugar in imitation of violet-sugar-candy , cinnamon , or rose-sugar ; of which in these pectoral diseases , hold some still to be dissolved in your mouth , that by little and little it may descend into asperae arteriae , or wind-pipe . 't is thus made . take of the best canary-sugar lib. 6. let it melt and boil in the fragrant water of the flowers , till it acquire a fit thickness , for making up tablets : then infuse the fresh juice pressed from the berries , well purified , or the frequent infusion of the flowers , as vou please to have the colour , lib. 2. on a soft fire boil them to the consistency of a syrup , then in a glass , or earthen pot , put sticks in order , two fingers broad asunder , and pour the liquor hot thereon , and in a warmed shop , the vessel being bound up in a thick cotton cloth , leave it there to congeal . see more of this in the famous botanicks pena and lobel p. 20. advers . nov. stirpium & cas . bauhine , lib. i. c. 19. de comp . medicam . cap. xv. of the pleurisie and phthisis , in a bastard pleurisie 't is a very safe and us'd medicine , if there be no fever , to provoke sweat , by taking the rhobob granorum actes in the water of elder-flowers , or cardui benedicti , seeing it ariseth from the serous and flatulent humors that fall betwixt the pleura , and intercost all muscles , &c. in a true pleurisie , where there is a continual fever adjoyn'd , proceed more warily : for after the use of universals , the rob , water , and spirit of elder-flowers are not to be much feared here , seeing with success we use hotter sudorificks of the blessed and milky thistles of the simple and composed spirit of vitriol , &c. for many expert men acknowledge a malignity in these humors , which paracelsus likeneth to auripigmentel poyson which doth corrode the life like a fire . diosc . lib. 5. c. 121. pectorals . for the expectoration of the matter in the lungs , use them that are weak , as the syrup of the flowers and berries inspissat with sugar , or elder candied-sugar , likewise the water of the flowers inspissat , & supped down , you may mix with these some of the tragea gran. actes for the spitting of blood . topicks . externally anoint with the oyl of the infusion of the flowers with the fat of a capon , or saltless may-butter , or foment oft the side with linnen dipt in the water or decoction of the flowers and leaves of the elder ; for by ratifying the skin and parts , they digest & resolve those sharp vapors and humors : or take elder-leaves and flowers camomile , of each an handful ; make a decoction in milde beer , which put in a cows-bladder , and after the opening of a vein , being oft in the day applyed warm , it did wonderfully ease a smith in my country , whose wife i counselled to do so . of the phthisis . in preserving and curing the phthisis , besides other things , the decoction for the wild cough , being taken by spoonfuls , and by little & little swallowed , is used with success , seeing it proceeds from the ulcer of the lungs , which requires detersion , exsiccation , and consolidation ; and the leaves and flowers of the elder mixed with a little sugar or honey , work these effects ; they think to satisfy all the indications by this decoction . but i had rather in this case , instead of simple sugar & hony , use tabled sugar-roset , or honyroset strained , and mix a scruple , or half a drachm of this following powder , chiefly were much arterious blood with the spittle is cast up . take of tragea gran. actes drach . 1. of jews ears dryed in a furnace . oculorum cancri praep . an . drach . and half , saffron oriental , scrup . 1. sugari rosat . tabled , drach . 2. being all pulverised well , mix them together exactly ; in the mean time you are to have an eye to the prime cause of this ulcer , whose knowledge is to be found elsewhere . george amwald in his panacea , p. 29. commends the unction of the oyl of elder-flowers in a phthisis . cap. xvi . of the affections of the duggs . seeing the duggs of women oft-times , by reason of the sudden and abundant affluxion of blood , for the generating of milk , chiefly after their delivery , use to be inflamed ; or as the blood is of thinner consistence , and hotter , use to have an erysipelas , or rose ; the following receipts may safely and securely be applyed . in inflammations , the caput mortuum , or the cake of the flowers of the elder with the red vinegar thereof , in one erysipelas , let it be bedewed with the distilled water of the leaves and flowers of the elder , and so applied warm : for it digests and resolves that which hath flowed in , and is compacted , and doth moderately by reason of the vinegar repel the inflammation , & extinguish the heat of the blood . anoint he hardened kernels of the dugs with the oyl of the infusion of elder-flowers , and put the leaves of the elder thereupon . for the exulcerat , the lac aureum , or golden-milk is most fitting , being made of the common or elder lixive , and the oyl of the infused flowers and bark , mixed by hard shaking and stirring together ; in which linnen being dipt , and wrung afterward , is to be applied warm to the ulcers : 't is also profitable , for the more hasty and happy perfecting of the cure , to blow on it the powder of elder-leaves . so the ulcer , whatever it be , shall be cleansed , dryed and dighted ; view these in their proper places . i knew a woman , whereof i made mention in the fourth chapter ; which oft being taken with the rose in her paps , who having taken the rob of the elder , and provoked sweat moderately in her bed , useth to apply no other medicine to the diseased part , but a knot of red fine linnen , wherein elder-flowers are sewed so ingeniously to avoid all the exulceration which would have ensued . cap. xvii . of swouning and faintness . the vinegar of elder-flowers , imbib'd in a sponge , recovers those , as it were , from death , that are subject to swounings and faintings upon every the lightest cause or occasion ; for it excellently refresheth the spirits ; for which physicians highly prize it , being mixt with other cordial epithemes . in this alone dip linnen cloths , and apply them to the pulses of the temples of the wrists , & near the ankles . or make this epitheme , where-with the face and the palms of the hands are to be washed . take of the water of the flowers of the elder , 3 ounces . of incarnation roses , 2 ounces . of the vinegar of elder-flowers , half an ounce . the vinegar of red berries , two dra . mix them . tragea granorrum actes made after this manner , is much commended . take of the tragea of the grains of the elder . of choice cinnamon , of each one drach . of cloves , galangale , of the flowers of the elder without the stalks , of of each one scruple . of sugar rosat , of anthosat tablets , of each two drachms and an half . make all into a fine powder , of which give to the diseased half a drachm in wine , or some other convenient liquor . how women that faint by reason of the matrical diseases , are to be helped by the medicines of elder , i have set down in the 26 chap. cap. xviii . of fevers in general . and 1. of intermitting fevers . the common people , as soon as they find the first touch of a fever , they take the rob of the elder in the vinegar , spirit , or water of the flowers thereof ; and so in their beds , being well covered with cloths , dispose themselves for sweating , which the physicians do not disapprove , seeing experience proves , that fevers by these are many times prevented and dissipated . this seems to be the most probable reason thereof , that that putrid filthiness is by this means discussed without delay , and the body rarified ; which , if it had been left longer in the body , without doubt would have daily encreased the corruption , & given vigor to the fever ; as is learnedly discoursed by the famous sennert . in his treatise of fevers . but have a care that this be only done in the beginnings of fevers , and in such bodies as are not full of the rubbish of corrupt humors , otherwise 't is more safe and sound to open the parts and passages of the whole body by emetick and cathartick medicines . emeticks and catharticks . the purified oyl expressed out of the kernels of the berries , is commended in strong and lusty bodies , 1 dra . or a drac . and half thereof , being taken in the broth of flesh ; for it gently moveth vomit , and loosneth the belly , not without a singular good temper of the body . for the same use , the juice expressed out of the bark of the roots , are commended , being taken in the same , or a greater quantity . bernhard gordon in his treatise of preserving mans life , biddeth us take so much , as the half of an egg shell will contain . concerning the wine made of the infusion of the bark of elder roots , which provoketh vomit , and emptieth the belly of corrupt humors , read the 28 chapter . the oyl made of the infus'd flowers and bark of the elder , being drank from one ounce to three , provoketh vomit , and purgeth the belly ; the same alone , or in a decoction , may be given in a clyster . the polych●est powder of elder buds , doth not only purge both the biles , but also phlegm and serous humors ; whereof drink in hot and tertian feavers , in whey ; but in cold and quartanes ; in wine a scruple , or a drachm or 4 scrules , as the strength of the diseased will admit . or let pils of tragachanth be fomented with this , or some syrup or musilage , so that above them the mentioned liquor be drank . in young ones , the syrup of the juice of the berries , of the buds or bark , &c. suffice . the commons praise this , take a cup full of goats milk whey , which holds about four ounces , macerate therein half an ounce of the middle bark of the elder dried in the shadow ; being strongly prest out , drink it warm in the morning , in which a few things are to be observed : that the commons are fully perswaded , and call experience to witness , that if those middle barks be pulled downward from the tree , it emptieth the body of evil humors by purge ; if they be pulled upward , it worketh by vomit . the truth of which , as i dare not call in question seeing i know the same thing is asserted of assarum by some physicians ; if notwithstanding it be free for me to give my opinion without prejudice to others , and the truth , i believe we ought rather to ascribe the effect to the constitution and peculiar property of the receivers , or to the nature of present humor . i will say nothing now of the imagination , whereby the receivers perswade themselves , the medicine will work downward or upward , which they endevour to help by sundry waies , by motion , compression of the belly , suppositors , thrusting their fingers in their throats , and so forth . nevertheless i will not deny that the bark , and whole elder also , hath divers vertues in purging the noxious matter , by divers places ; nevertheless i doubt that these are rather to be ascribed to the divers pulling it off the tree , then to these causes mentioned , and other more weighty , which i leave to the serious consideration of the learned , and proceed . that the stalks and leaves of the hearbs , being boyled , doth purge phlegm , is manifest out of dioscorides ; to which nevertheless the sprigs or sprouts are preferred , if in the spring time , in which they are to be found , they be macerated a little in hot water , and prepared with oyl and vinegar , and be eaten sparingly before supper , in place of a sallet ; for they gently loose the belly , unlock the obstructions of the mesentery , and being frequently eaten , deliver and preserve from contumacious feavers . instead of these the conserve of buds , mixed with the conserve of the flowers , is profitable ; of which take daily an ounce , half an hour before supper , in the water of the bark . cutting medicines . in such feavers , which are lengthened from the cramming of the meseraick veins , and from the grosness and toughness of the humor , oxymel sambucinum , dissolved in the distilled water of the flowers , or barly water ; and daily on the intermitting daies drank an hour or two before supper is commended . the crystallized salt of the elder , taken from half a scruple to a whole is profitable ; also six drops of the , spirit of the same , taken in the broth or flesh ; for all these do powerfully open obstructions and cut asunder the grosness and toughness of the humor , they cleanse the bowels and vessels , and both by urine and sweat dissipate the feverish matter . see more in the 23 chapter . before the fit. internal medicaments . those which are used before the fit are of two sorts ; for some of them move vomit and the belly , others provoke sweat . when in time of the fit the matter tendeth upward , which is known by the sudden straitness of the brest , by the stretching of the hypocondriac , by nauciousness and propensity to vomit , give him a spoonful or drachm and a half of the oyl pressed out of the berries kernels in warm ale , and by putting your finger in his throat hasten the vomit . joseph quercetan in his 1 book , and 8 chapter of dogmatick pharmacy , asserteth that this following decoction is excellent in intermitting fevers , quotidan and quartan . take elder-roots and bark , of each ounce 1. of asarium drachms 3. of good cinnamon drachm 1 and an half , boyl them in milk . this decoction at one and the same time moves vomit and sedge . let it be taken at the beginning of the fit , and reiterate if it be needful . if the body be evacuate , and nature encline to sweating , before the fit use these following . the rob of elder in greatness of a walnut , being mixed with half a drachm of the powder of the blessed thistle , and swallowed and drinking vinegar above it , and afterwards , two hours before the fit , provoking sweat in bed , is an usual medicine . or make this mixture ; take half a drachm of the extract of the rob of the elder , and half a scruple of the salt of the elder ; mix them , and form of them with the powder of hearts-horn , pills ; which are to be taken in a spoonful of the syrup of the berries : two hours before the fit give the half thereof to the younger and weaker complexions . in fevers less hot , especially quartans , two or three spoonfuls of the spirit of the elder-berries , given before the fit , is commended . there are some which dissolve this following powder in it before , and they cannot praise enough this medicine in more obstinate quartans , especially if the day before the fit the stomach , and other vessels nutritive , be well purged by the oyl pressed out of the stones of the elder-berries . take of hearts-horn prepared , without burning of the finest antimony diaphoretick , of each half a scruple ; let them be exactly powdered . neither is the heat of this spirit here to be feared , seeing in the same fevers , galen , and other famous physicians , prescribe theriack , methridate , myrrh , the spirit of wine , the water of zedoary ; for a hard knot must have a hard wedg : and experience proves , that these medicines , being administred before the fit , do not only stop the fierceness of the fit , but likewise quite overthrow the fever ; which before would neither yield to preparing nor purging medicines ; the reason is , because the feverish matter at that time is more moveable , and being prepared by nature it self , more easily followeth the course of the medicine . externals or topicks . this topick is commended to be applied to the pulses . of elder & lavender leaves , of each half an handful , of salt half as much . they being pounded well , incorporate them with the oyl of elder , that they may become a paste ; whereof apply one half to the wrist of the right hand , and the other to the wrist of the left , and bind them with a rowler wet in elder-vinegar . foelix plater , in the second part of his practice , hath this , take of elder , rue , marigolds , and nettle-leaves ana m. 1. let them be pounded with salt and vinegar , and let them be applyed . a double linnen cloth dipt in the spirit of granorum actes is applyed with a great deal of comfort to the belly , chiefly to the stomach before the fit , in a quartan ; for seeing the fuel of the evil is setled in these places , if it be not altogether routed by the application of this epitheme , yet it will be much weakned . to take away the shaking , and mitigate the chilness , the back-bone is to be rubb'd with the same spirit being hot . 2. of continual and burning fevers . in continual and hot tertian and burning fevers , where the heat is more intense , and great drought tormenteth the patient , make this julap . r. of fountain or river-water , lib. 3. of elder-vinegar ounces 3. of the finest sugar ounces 2. let them boyl together a little in a fit vessel ; unto which , being warm , add one drachm of cinnamon in powder ; let them cool of themselves in a close vessel , and strain them through hyppocrates sleeve for a julap . of which give the patient oft in the day , it extinguisheth the feverish heat , cuts the gross and tough matter , cleanseth the thin and bilous , unlocks obstructions , it purgeth humors that offend through their convenient places , and by its acceptable acidity it sharpneth the appetite , and refresheth the strength . this same is performed by the acetory syrup of the elder , described in the next chapter , which is to be dissolved in barley-water , till it come to the consistency of a julap . for example , take the sharp elder-syrup ounc . 3. simple barley-water lib. 1. mixed , or oximel of the elder ounc . 2. clear fountain-water lib. mix them , give four ounces or more of this , and such like , at each time ; otherwise if you give less , and only once or twice a day , they rather encrease than diminish heat . p. egineta lib. 2. cap. 36. for as charcole in a smiths forge , being besprinkled with water , burneth more ardently ; so the feverish heat is rather kindled than quenched by drinking sparingly . that you may extinguish the intemperate heat , and refresh the vanquisht strength , instead of an epithem apply to the pulses the vinegar of elder-flowers mixed with rose-water , and imbibed by double or treble linnen cloths . to loose without danger in these fevers the bound belly , the syrup of the juice of the berries is convenient , of which dissolve two or three ounces in the water of elder-flowers ; use it instead of a julap , and drink it , for it gently looseth the belly , and evacuateth the feverish matter . cap. xix . of the pest and pestilential fevers . in curing and preserving from the plague , great is the use of the elder . a little sponge being wet in vinegar of the elder , and carried in a hollow globe made of juniper-wood , and smell it , it mightily strengtheneth the spirits against the impression of the infectious contagion . red hot bricks , being besprinkled with this vinegar , and a vapor raised , it doth dissipate the contagious virulency , so that it cannot insinuate it self in mens houses and cloths . by what means it may be indued with an antilemick force more efficacious , shall appear by what i will now say . rob of the elder and the extract prepared of it , here are excellent : the first whereof is named by many . the country-mans theriack , of which each week to swallow the bigness of a walnut , and drink above it its proper vinegar , and so to sweat in bed , is a commonly received preservative . this may be fitly used by those who are infected with the plague , especially if you mix with it some of the anti-pestilential powders ; or at least drink above it three or four spoonfuls of antilemick vinegar of the elder . the same rob chiefly it that is most recent , being spread more thickly on a shive of bread , and eaten an hour or two before your meat , loosneth the belly ; in whose place you may give a spoonful or two of the syrup of the juice of the berries . it is enough to swallow sometimes in a morning before you go out the greatness of a pease of the extract . rohob , and the extract antilemick of the elder . r. roots of tormentillae , buterdock , of pimpanels , of angelica , leaves of scordium , berries of juniper , of each half an ounce . macerate the roots 24 hours in elder vinegar , afterwards dry them at leasure , and being powdered by themselves , add the leaves of scordium , and berries of juniper , likewise in powder ; mix them all together , and with the vinegar that remained besprinkle them , and work them most exactly with a pound of rob sambuci , in form of an opiat : of which give to the infected person two drachms in a convenient liquor , to provoke sweat , and thrust out the poyson from his heart . of which also besprinkled with the spirit of elder , you may prepare the extract that is set down in the second section and first chapter of this book . the dose given to the infected is one scruple or drachm in convenient liquor . the spirit of the elder by it self is here very powerful , both in preserving , a few drops thereof being taken with a little white bread in a morning , and likewise in the beginning of the disease , a spoonful or two being taken thereof before the feverish heat be powerful . but that spirit is far more noble , which is drawn off by an alimbeck in the preparation of the antilemick extract ; seeing from the volatile essence of those bezoartick simples it hath carried much with it . or at least infufe those simples in the spirit of the elder ; & being macerated therein for a few days , let it be strained , for the antilimbeck spirit of the elder , whose vertues in curing and preserving cannot be praised enough . by the same alexitaries , and chiefly by the roots of angelica and juniper-berries , if the red elder-vinegar of my description be impregnat with them , it becomes antilemick elder-vinegar ; which is not only a vehicle to other alexipharmacal medicaments , but moreover it may be taken by it self , when the intense heat and fever will not admit of the spirit , or other more hot medicines . some drops of the spirit of elder-salt given in the broth of flesh is a preservative . neither is it unwholsom , if once or twice a week in the morning , an hour or two before dinner , a cup full of the wine prepar'd of the berries be taken but remember to take before it a little broth ; for it loosneth the belly , hindreth putrefaction , and by reason of the bezoartick vertue of the berries , it preserveth the body from contagion . at supper drink a cup full of the wine prepared of the dried berries , which strengtheneth the stomach . a special topick oyl . some greatly commend in the pleague this oyl . take the flowers of the elder , fill therewith a cucurbit , or a more ample glass , to the middle ; strew upon them marsh mallows , and tops of hypericon , of each so much as only the fourth part of the glass shall remain empty ; powre thereon so much sweet clear oyl-olive as will cover the flowers ; close exactly the mouth of the glass sigillo hermetico , or lute it ; and through all summer or for three months set it in the sun , that the heat of the sun may draw the vertues out of the flowers into the oyl ; then having strongly pressed the flowers , strain the oyl , and being purified by setling , reserve it in a well closed vessel ; unto each ounce of which , before you use it , add a scruple of sal nitre . some prepare it suddenly thus , they take the oyl of infused elder-flowers , as much as is necessary , in it they immerge the flowers of the marsh mallows and hypericon , and boil them together in bal. mar. for some hours ; afterwards they express strongly the flowers , and strain it ; in the strained oyl they immerge recent flowers , boil them , press them , and strain them ; and afterward add nitre . the way of using it is this ; the whole body of the infected person within 24 hours is to be anointed with this oyl warm , and being wrapt in warm sheets , he is to be laid in a warmed bed to sweat ; for they affirm that it is proved , that by this only remedy many have safely escaped the fierceness of this poison : which unction , as it is not disapproved , seeing it openeth the pores of the skin , and by them draws out and dissipates the pestilential infection and malignity , and by consequence is used commodiously , not only in the plague and pestilential fevers , but also in other malignant and chiefly spotted fevers : so we are to be very wary , lest in this sharp and dangerous disease , we neglect to use the internal bezoarticks & alexiterix already mentioned ; but rather ought to join them with these , that with united forces both ways , internally and externally , they may vanquish the malignity . it seems this hath come from the egyptians , of whom alpinus in his 4 book and 15 chapter relates , that they use this medicine in pestilential fevers , in which the spots are either begun to appear , with great profit , at least once a day using this hot linament , after which , without delay , they cover the feverish with many cloths , endeavouring to draw the poisonous humor from the bowels to the skin . comforting and altering medicines . lest the diseased in sweating altogether faints , we ought to hold often to his nose a sponge dipt in the antilemick vinegar of the elder ; for this vinegar doth powerfully dissipate these narcotick vapours , and recreate the strength . it is likewise to be applyed to the temples with linnen cloths . to ease the heat and thirst you are oft times to give to the diseased , in and after his sweat , some spoonfuls of the julap which is set down in the cure of burning fevers ; or prepare this acetous syrup of the elder , which in provoking sweat , in resisting putrefaction and contagion , in strengthening the heart and other intrails , is far more excellent than the common acetous syrup , by reason of the alexiterous vertue of the elder . take clear fountain-water lib. 3. white sugar lib. 2. and an half . boyl them on a clear fire of charcole , till the half be consumed , scumming them well in time of boiling : after add sharp elder-vinegar lib. 1. and an half , boil them again on the consistence of a syrup : you may , to procure a more sweet smell , in a knot of fine linnen infuse in it an ounce of cinamon grosly powdered , and sometimes wring it . the syrup being cold , let it be kept in a galli-pot ; of which give oft some spoonfuls by it self , or dissolve it in the distilled water of burrage , sweet roses , elder , scabious , or such like . the cure of the buboes and carbuncles . apply to buboes pestilential , and carbuncles , a plaster made of the meal of elder-flowers and hony , which is excellent in ripening these tumors . or take of the oyl more special , which just now was set down , of crude hony , of each half an ounce ; of salt ammoniac drach . 1. of the meal of the flowers and leaves of the elder , of each as much as sufficeth , let them all be exactly wrought , till they become like a plaster . some apply the feces of the flowers macerated in oyl , and press it out , which they call stymma . some rost onions under the ashes , and pound them , and mix them with the rob of the elder , and apply them as a cataplasm to the risings of the skin . amongst other vesiccatories , which is applied happily to these contumacious lumps , the famous sennert . recites these following . take of mustard-seed , of middle elder-bark , equal parts , pound them with vinegar in form of a cataplasm which is to be spread on a white linnen cloath . or , take of the leaves of the elder , of burrage , of mustard-seed , of rancide nut-kernels , equal parts . let them be pounded and applied , having first anointed the place round about with theriack . the apostume being open , and become an ulcer , a linament made of hony and the juice of elder-leaves is to be applied ; which every day , twice a day , being put in with lint tents , it dighteth away the quittous , and mundifies the ulcer : the oyl pressed out of the berries kernels , and mixt with the third and fourth part of turpentine oyl , is much praised . see the rest in the cure of ulcers . cap. xx. of the small pox and measles . seeing these spots and pushes depend upon that putred and malign humor , which nature , troubled with it , doth expel to the skin and external parts ; it is commodious to commit the whole business to nature , if she work righly and effectually . but seeing , before they break out , a fever doth possess those tender bodies , which is unknown whether it be a token of the pox and meazles , or of pituite putrefying in the stomach , or neighbouring parts : it is commodious to give to infants a spoonful or two of the infused flowers : for if it be the pox , it causeth them to strike out ; if it be putred pituit in the stomach , it gently purgeth it . if it be to one of riper age , give him one or more ounces , adding according to his strength , yea on the first day , & before nature go about to expel the pox , of the polichrestick powder of the elder-buds , a scruple or half a drachm , whereby nature being disburdened of the sinck of the first region , more happily and easily may expel the rest , which is mixed with the mass of blood . after this , the water of the elder-flowers given in spoonfuls is good : for it strengeheneth the heart , and thrusteth forth that putred and malign humor , both in children and in those that are older ; it may be sweetned with syrup of the berries . which , if they come forth more slowly or sparingly , besides internals , we must use unctions ; of whose matter and manner we have spoken in the former chapter . alpinus testifies , that the egyptians have none more excellent and familiar in all their pox and malignant spots than these . and our women would do well to follow their foot-steps , forsaking old wives fables , which oft times bring not so much help as hazard . nevertheless we are to have a care , that a little after we wipe the whole body with soft and warm linnen cloths , in a warm place , free of all cold . to quench thirst where the feverish heat is more vehement , and the strength more vanquisht , use those julaps we have mentioned in the cure of fevers . but if you perceive by the continued host , that the pox hath seized on the lungs , abstain from these sharp things , and instead of them , use the syrup of the flowers or of the juice of elder-berries , being thickned with sugar , for a linctus : the distilled water of the flowers of the elder , sweetned with the same syrups , is to be used for a julap to strengthen the intestines , and prevent a flux ; mix with it tragea granorum actes . cap. xxi . of the diseases of the stomach . a weak , cold stomach , and of hard digestion , is helped by the spirit of granorum actes , which doth greatly strengthen the same , consumes corrupt phlegm , and helps concoction : being taken with a little fine white bread and sugar , in quantity a spoonful or two . the stomatical spirit of the elder . is more efficacious , and is this : take of our acorous roots and ginger , of each half an ounce . of mynt crisped , one handful . of fennel-seeds and anise-seeds , of each two drachms . being cut and pounded , pour upon them the spirit of the grains of the berries of the elder , that it may be four fingers deep above them . let them infuse twelve or fourteen days , every day stirring them about . afterward strain or distil from them the stomatical spirit , whose uses are many : for it is not only to be taken inwardly , as we have said ; but likewise externally to be applied to the cold and weak stomach with linnen ; for it helps difficulty of concoction , stops vomit , and mitigateth all pains and sobbings , which proceed from a cold temper or windy humor . if there be nauceousness or vomit , with oppressing of the heart , and difficulty of breathing ; it is suspicious that these effects proceed from tough phlegm , or some other putred humor gathered there ; then give two ounces of the oil of infused flowers , or bark of the elder , with black water ; and by thrusting the finger in the throat provoke vomit ; or give a drachm of the oil drawn out of the berries and kernels in a draught of warm ale , & hasten vomit . by which means any thing that 's trouble to the stomach will be cast up , which being done , give a spoonful of the stomatical elder-spirit or simple , well sweetned with sugar , and imbibed in the heart of the rie-bread for strengthening the stomach . that wine which is prepared of the dried berries , as we appointed , is altogether stomatical , and greatly helpeth the weak and windy stomach ; whereof you must drink oft , chiefly in time of supper a cup full or two . neither is it to be objected that dioscorides says , that elder is hurtful to the stomach , seeing he speaks there of the crude and unprepared , which we acknowledge is hurtful to the stomach , as some preparations thereof likewise are ; but experience it self doth attest , that this wine , and other medicines thereof , have great vertue in corroborating and comforting the stomach . the spirit of elder-salt , taken in six grains or more , weekly in flesh-broth , doth cleanse the stomach , and stir up appetite . in the burning of the stomach and cardialgia , proceeding from hot bilous humors , which hath flowed into it from other parts , or hath been ingendred and corrupted there , if it be needful , you may give a vomit of the oyl pressed out of the kernels . the acetous syrup of the elder described in the 19 chapter , is profitable ; whereof give an ounce for a dose , dissolved in two or three ounces of barley-water . or make this powder : take of tragea granorum actes , ounces 2. oculi cancrorum prepared dr . 1. sugar rosat . intablets . sugar perlat . half an ounce , mix them . of which give a drachm in two spoonfuls of the syrup , which we now commended . cap. xxii . of the diseases of the intestines . 1. of the colick . because , besides a bare distemper , a pituitous humor , a vitrious or flatulent useth oft to be the cause of the colick ; therefore their encrease are to be cut off . wine prepared of the berries or flowers work this effect leasurely : likewise the water of the bark and roots , mixt with a third part of the syrup of the juice of the buds and infusion of the flowers ; which wonderfully mitigate pain ; whereof take oft an hour before meat , for preserving you four ounces . or where nature is more strong , give a half or whole drachm of the polychrestick powder of the buds in the syrup of the flowers made thin with wine . to dissipate wind , mitigate pain , and loosen the bound belly , use this clyster . take of elder-leaves two handfuls . of elder-flowers and cammomile-roman-flowers , of each an handful . of the stones of elder-berries dryed drach . 2. being cut and pounded boil them in pure wine , or wine of the elder , till the colature come into eight ounces ; add , the oyl of the infused flowers three ounces . of elder-hony two ounces . the yeolk of one egg ; mix them , and make a clyster , apply it hot . the spirit of the berries is of great vertue here , because it dissipateth not only in the stomach , but in the intestines also , all mescusness of pituite and other viscid humors . by its great diaphoretick vertue , it dissipateth all thin and serous humors in the intestines ; it warmeth by its penetrating heat the intrails , made cold by drink , air , &c. and so taken , both inwardly , and anointed , it stilleth the huge pains that arise thence . i know a church-man , who by this spirit in a short time dissipateth the collick , which is familiar to him , and upon the least occasion bred . in place of this use the spirit of the flowers well purified from its phlegm , &c. the distilled oyl of elder-flowers imbibed in silk , and applied to the navel with a ventose , is a most gentle paregorick . whereof also give four drops in a spoonful of the spirit of flowers or berries . the spirit of elder-salt , given in the water of the flowers , or in broth in the quantity of six , or seven , or eight drops , by his cleansing and dissipating vertue , preserving from the collick : but if you perceive by the thirst intense heat , and constitution of the patient , that these pains arise from the abundance of hot and sharp boylous humors , or some other hot cause ; you are to use these things which i have set down in the former chapter , in the heat of the stomach ; unto which add the syrup of elder-flowers , which is either to be taken alone , or made thin with the best stilled water of elder-flowers . ii. of worms . the chrystaline salt of the elder preserveth and freeth from worms : it robs them of their nourishment , kills them , and purgeth them out . the dose is , from half a scruple to half a drach or two scrup . for those of riper years , which are troubled with worms , you are to prepare in the spring-time a dish made of elder-buds , delivered from their bitter naucious taste , by the effusion of boyling water , with oyl , salt , and vinegar , which is to be used as a sallet before supper : for the oyl closeth the breathing places of the worms , and maketh the belly slippery : salt and vinegar cleanse , cut , and kill the worms . the elder-buds do loosen the belly , purge the worms and thrust forth their fuel . that this sallet may be more pleasant , you may add some tender leaves of sorrel , which likewise resist worms . at other times the powder of the buds taken in the morning for a few days , a scruple at once in broth , is commendable . give to more delicate persons frequently a spoonful of the syrup of the juice of the buds ; with which mix half a scruple of prepared hearts-horn . some press out the juice of the recent leaves , and mix it with honey , or honey-roset , and give it sometimes before other meat , and by this means kill and purge out worms . where the stomach and intestines are furred and filled with a greater quantity of tenacious putrid pituit mucilage ; give twice or thrice the polichrestick powder of the buds in their syrup . 3. of lienterick and celiaick fluxes . albeit at the first sight the elder seem not fit for fluxes ; notwithstanding in lienteries & celiaick fluxes , where the meat and drink are either in that form in which they were received , or else half concocted , and not much altered , voided out of the body sooner than was fitting , by reason of the weakness of the retentive faculty of the stomach and intestines , proceeding for the most part from a cold and humid distemper , the spirit of granorum actes , both simple and stomatical , is used with a great deal of profit . therefore a spoonful or two of it is oft to be given with rie or wheat-bread ; or being imbibed in a double linnen cloth applyed to the stomach or abdomen . moreover , tragea granorum actes , & the cordial powder prepared of it , is profitable ; whereof give twice a day , viz. morning and evening before meat , a drachm in three or four spoonfuls of generous wine . for drink in time of meat you may use wine prepared of elder-berries dried , cinnamon and cloves . 4. of the dissentery . in the dissentery , which is a bloudy and painful emptying of the belly . oswald crollius , from their signiture , commends the elder-berries ; of which the chymists , but chiefly quercetan , in lib. 1. cap. 2. of his dogmatick pharmacy , describes this tageam , communicated to him by d. vvolfius , professor in the university of marpurg , so often mentioned and commended by me in this treatise . press the juice out of the elder-berries when they are ripe , which is in autumn ; of which juice and rye-flower make paste , work it well , and thereof make little cakes , which in a oven are to be baked to the hardness of bisket , that they may be reduced to a subtile powder ; which powder is again to be imbibed in the juice and made in paste , baked and pulverised as before . and this is to be done the third time . at last , all being done , reduce it again to a subtile powder , it will keep long , and is a hid specifick against a dissentery . take a drachm of this , and as much of the powder of a nutmeg , incorporate them well with a soft rosted egg , and sup it up . this is called tragea granorum actes , that is , a powder of the grains of elder . and thus far quercetan . others prepare it thus : take rie-bread hot out of the oven , moisten it with the juice of elder-berries , and bake it again in the oven ; being dry again , moysten it with the juice of elder-berries , and do so four or five times ; then reduce this bread into powder , whereof take a drachm alone or a half , with as much nutmeg-powder . of which see the famous sennert . in the 10 chapter of the treatise of the dissentery . but a care must be taken that the belly be not over soon stopped , but place must be left for the evacuating of sharp humors , lest that befal which hapned to the maid mentioned by the learned fernel . in lib. 6. cap. 9. pathol. therefore to purge the sharp humors , and mitigate the cruel pain , give two or three days before you use the astrictive , in the morning , one ounce or one ounce and half of the syrup of elder-flowers , prepared by three infusions in three ounces of barley-water , or in the water of elder-flowers . you may with profit add to this one scruple or half a drachm of white mechoacan subtilly pulverised ; for it gently purgeth and bindeth the belly . after three days are past , and we have used all necessary evacuations , & clangings , and pain for the most part is ceased , then we may more safely use our tragea ; for it doth not only restrain the belly ; but together with this gives a contrary motion to these sharp and salt humors , by little and little disposing them for sweat , if it be taken twice a day , morning and evening , mixt after this manner , yet with a fasting stomach . r. tragea gran. actes , drach . 1. the spirit of the flowers of the elder gutt . 35. they being well wrought together in a marble mortar , pour on it by little and little ; the water of tormentil-roots an ounce and half . the syrup of the juice of plantain half an ounce . mix them and use them hot , they will dissipate the malignity by sweating and evaporation , and will bind the belly by stopping the flux of the humor . the same things may be used in a diarrhoea or white flux . 5. of constipation or boundness . the leaves of the elder are commended to those that are in health to open their womb , by egineta , and hippocrates in his second book of diet. this same is performed by the distilled water of the leaves and bark , with which a third part of the syrup made of the infused flowers , or of the juice of the berries or buds , is to be mixed with it , to make them of a more pleasant taste . the same syrups being taken alone loosneth the belly ; or drink a draught of wine at your breakfast , or in the morning , having taken a little broth ; or take a drachm of the powder of the buds in plum-broth or a soft rosted egg : or use in the place of this the conserve of the buds . the recent rob of the elder spread thick upon a slice of bread , and eaten before other dishes , is our wives domestick medicine , which they use likewise in their infants and children whose bellies are stopt longer than ordinary ; for this juice is most pleasant and familiar to children , chiefly if in time of thickning of it you do add a little sugar , as hath been told . vi. of hemmorhoides . there is nothing more excellent to ease the pain of the hemmorhoides than a stove or fomentation made of the flowers of elder and verbasie or hony-suckle in water or milk : for in a short time it easeth the greatest pain . i experimented this first in a countrey miller , then in a city baker : which both did wonder at the sudden ease , and have great quantity of the flowers in readiness beside them , to use when necessity shall require . the anointing with the oyl of the infused flowers , mixed with a third part of unguent populeon , is anodine . or take of the infusion of elder-flowers , half an ounce . of elder-kernels and yeolks of eggs , of each two drachms . of white wax enough making , according to art an unguent . to stay the hemmorhoides in a night a singular cataplasm is made of elder-leaves boiled in water , to the consistency of a poultice , and mixed with oyl-olive spread on a scarlet cloath , and apply it warm to the hemmorhoides : being oft renewed through the whole night , the patient lying on his face , is commended by alexis in his secrets . by what means their flux is to be stopt is set down in the stopping of the hemmorhoides in the nose , and monthly terms , and in stopping the blood in wounds . mark , that for the falling of the anus , amongst other things , the outmost bark of the elder is commended by mindererus , cap. 7. m.m. cap. xxiii . of the obstructions of the mesentery , liver , milt ; from whence proceed both the jaundies and scurvy . to hinder and cure the obstructions , drink in the morning and the beginning of the repast , a cup full of the wine of elder-berries , for some days and weeks ; for it cutteth the thick , tartarous , serous and bilous matter , it cleanseth , evacuateth , and by opening obstructions and purifying the blood , gives the body a more fresh colour ; especially if once at least of the week you mix with it a half or whole drachm , according to the parties strength , of the polychrestick powder of the buds . in these diseases this following powder is commended . take of the elder-buds dried in the shade drach . 2. of crystalline elder-salt scrup . 8. of wormwood scrup . 4. make of all a subtile powder , and give a scruple , or half a drachm thereof in broth in the morning for many days , commanding him to fast four hours , and use moderate exercise . those that are not pleased with the powder may form it into pils , with the rob or juice of the berries , & drink broth above it . a lixive made of elder-ashes , prepared with wine or the water of the flowers , powerfully unlocks obstructions , and attenuateth and changeth bilous and tartarous humors . whence it is a profitable medicine in the jaundies , some spoonfuls thereof being taken morning and evening , dulcerat with sugar , hony , or elder-hony . oximel sambucinum taken in an ounce and half weight dissolved in the water or flowers of the bark is more meek and pleasant . or where the heat is greater , and a fever joyned , an ounce and a half of the acetous syrup of the elder , dissolved and given at one dose . some commend four or six drops of the oyl of the flowers of the second description in a spoonful of the spirit or best water of the flowers ; give it twice a week , and command moderate exercise . in this case the spirit alone , the rob and its extract are safe medicines . for whilst the sink of the belly is emptied by the polychrestick powder of the buds , they provoke sweat by their penetrating vertues , they unlock the obstructions and crammings of the mesentery , liver , milt , and gall ; and cut and prepare the thickness of humors . the yellow middle bark is commended by his signature for the yellow jaundies ; by crollius de signaturis rerum . 't is therefore to be macerated in wine with two or three jews ears ; of which strained , drink a sound draught morning & evening . or you must use the distilled water thereof ; or the syrup made of its juice : for besides that they open the belly and evacuate hurtful humors , the medicines prepared of this bark , have great vertue to open all obstructions . six drops of the spirit of elder-salt taken in broth , is commended . in the scurvy , having premised these purging and cutting medicines , the greatest hope of health and helps is placed in evacuating the serosities by sweating : whence plater affirms the rob of elder-berries or walwort to be very convenient , adding to three ounces of these one ounce of the syrup of popie . the dose drachms 2. the extracts of these are more convenient and penetrating , of which give one scruple , or one drachm , in a spoonful of the spirit of elder-flowers , or of carduus benedictus , or of scurvigrass ; and then let him provoke sweat in his bed , or in a dry bath . topicks . externally anoint frequently the hypocondriacks , where those bowels are placed , with the oyl of the infused flowers ; which the ordinary and us'd dispensatories affirm to cure the jaundies , and help the stopt liver . in a hard and scyrous milt boyl the leaves of elder in wine and oyl , to the consistence of a poultice , which are to be put through a searse or setace , then mix therewith as much of the meal made of the flowers of elder and cammomile as will suffice ; then apply it hot like a cataplasm . this cere-cloth , or serat , is commended for mollifying and digesting scyrous tumors . first , boil twice or thrice recent elder-leaves in the oyl of the infusion of elder-flowers , still pressing the leaves well , before you put in new ones . then , take of the oyl so prepared ounc . 3. of the powder of tender elder-leaves one ounce and half . of turpentine and yellow wax , enough . of which apply every day to the place affected some of this spread on a piece of leather , cut like a cowes tongue , and covered with a fine linnen cloth . the scorbutick persons , amongst other symptoms which i have neither time nor place to mention , are troubled with a pain in the soals of their feet and tops of their fingers , which the famous sennert . affirms to be cured by this : take of elder-flowers two handfuls , boil them in wine , adding two drachms of sope spread on a cloth , and applied to the diseased part . cap. xxiv . of the hydropsie , and its kinds . 1. of ascites . seeing this depends of serous humors , fallen into the abdomen ; and seeing the vertue of the elder is to exsiccate and draw water from the belly by the consent of dioscorides and all physicians ; there is no man that doth not perceive that the elder is of great vertue in this disease . purging medicines . first then boil in wine , in a close vessel , those middle barks of the elder , with one or two jews-ears ; sweeten the decoction ; and for some days give it to the diseased party morning and evening to drink . some praise this ; take of the middle bark subtilly grated , as much as you will , boiled in a sufficient quantity of goats-milk , that being put through a searse , it may acquire the consistence of a syrup or honey ; of which give an ounce , or an ounce and a half , for certain days in white wine . the water of the succulent middle-bark , distilled in the spring-time , and given with a third part of the syrup made of the juice of the buds , or roots , is used in two or three ounces weight . quercetan in the first book and seventh chapter of his dogmatick pharmacy commends this purging water of the berries ; take the seeds or berries of the elder and ebulus , perfectly ripe , which is in autumn ; out of these with a press draw out the wine or juice , shaking out the inmost kernels , and mixing them with the rest , distil them . this water , which is cohobat thus upon the dregs , hath a notable efficacy in purging , & chiefly of serous humors ; let it be aromatized with cinnamon , coriander prepared with the juice of lemmons , and such like ; it may be given to hydropick persons from one ounce to two . thus far quercetan . for example , r. of the water preserved ounces two , syrup or juice of the berries and buds , of each one ounce and half mixed . of this composed water you may see more in the cited place of quercetan . of the wines we have often made mention before , chiefly in the second section ; nevertheless we will set down this of quercetans , in his first book and ninth chapter , because it differs little from others ; the seeds are to be prest , and the juice drawn out , which being mixed with a double quantity of the must of the best white wine , is to be put in a hogshead of convenient bigness , till it be fully digested and fermented . note , that it is better if it be done in a close hogshead , that is , if the hogshead be not altogether full ; but at least the third part be left empty , and be well closed that nothing do exhale . which being done , and the fermentation being in a moneths time finished , the hogshead is to be opened , and to be filled up to the brim with wine , wrought after that manner with the juice of berries in another hogshead . this wine doth purge all serous humors , and much helpeth hydropick persons ; the dose is a cup , less or smaller as the strength of the person is . dioscorides writeth , that the root being boiled in wine , and given to hydropick persons in their meat , doth help them . whose juice being pressed out , doth purge upward and downward like antimony , as mindererus witnesseth in his military medicine , cap. 6. so that we are to use it warily , and only so much in quantity as the half of a walnut-shell will hold , as he honestly informs . he commends there likewise a sallet made of the buds , oyl , salt , and vinegar , which we have set down in the cure of the intestine diseases . forestus lib. 19. observat . 44. affirms , that by long experience he had learned , that the leaves of elder being put in hydrogogick decoctions , do excellently purge water , chiefly in the hydropsie . the same forestus in the same book and 87 observ . hath this , the bark of the root of the elder reduced in a succus , the dose is two ounces , in fragrant wine . benedic . veronensis writes , that some give four drachms of the juice of the bark of elder-roots . others give for 9 days together the juice of elder-bark-roots in a pretty quantity , or an ounce in the waning of the moon , and so cure hydropick persons : for it bravely purgeth water , as the middle bark of the elder doth likewise . nicholas at one time gives six ounces of the decoction of middle elder-bark : the same man giveth two or three drachms of the juice of the elder , and of the juice of ebulus four drachms to an ounce . some give the juice of the middle-bark of the elder with oximel . thus far forestus . and this i have set down , that all may know there was great difference of the dose amongst the ancients . nevertheless let him observe faithfully mindererus his dose , till he know the vertues exactly of each . muller in his medicinal mysteries saith , this is the perfect cure of the hydropsie ; r. of the juice of the recent roots of the white lilly , and of the juice of the green middle-bark of the elder , of each one spoonful . take it in common water or thin oximel ever after three or four days : this purgeth the belly strongly . for the tumors that are left about the knees , feet , &c. lay to them the leaves of the great bur-docks , for they draw out the water . the polychrestick powder of the buds in a drachm , given in white wine sweetned with oximel of the elder , or syrup of the juice of the berries is commended in this disease . or , take of the polychrestick powder of the buds four scruples . of gum of peru of galingale , of each half a scruple . make an exact mixt powder , it is to be given in what liquor you please , at two times to a patient that is not yet weak ; for it powerfully evacuateth serous humors . if the form of powder displease you , work it with the syrup of hony of elder in form of pills , or with the rob of elder in form of a bole. hydroticks or sudorificks . if by these catharticks the body be emptied well enough , then you may safely proceed to sudorificks & diureticks : for if we proceed otherwise , the whole stream will be devolved on the reins and ureters , whereby the gathering together thereof grievous symptoms will arise . the rob of the elder and its extract are sudorificks . the first whereof given in two drachms weight is commended by the augustans for this purpose . the second is to be in as many scruples , dissolved in the water and vinegar of elder-flowers for one dose . or where the liver is more cold , and the urine less red , give a spoonful or two of the spirit of the berries or tincture of the elder , made thin with the water of the flowers , and sweetned with the syrup of the juice of the berries . then in bed or in a dry bath provoke sweat . the spirit of the flowers is more gentle , nevertheless it excellently provoketh sweat , and dryeth strongly the water of the hydropick person , especially if it be well rectified . diureticks , and which move urine . besides those rehearsed , these that follow are diureticks . the salt of the elder with a third or equal part of the salt of wormwood . the dose from a scruple to half a drachm . the spirit distilled from the salt powerfully moveth urine , and drieth moisture ; six drops thereof are to be given in broth some days . where the bowels are more hot , and the urine more red , which is oft-times a deadly token in hydropick persons , instead of these give three or four ounces of the acetous syrup of the elder dissolved in the water of the flowers and leaves , of each half a pound ; whereof four or five ounces are to be drank before meat twice a day morning and evening . the poor mans euporist , viz. a lixive prepared of elder and juniper-ashes , with one part of white wine , and three parts of simple water , or the distilled water of elder-flowers ; whereof give a cup full twice a day to the patient fasting , and command moderate exercise for half an hour or longer , if it be possible ; add to it a sufficient quantity of sugar and cinnamon , to make it smell and taste more sweetly . the experiment of emylia , countess of isinburg . and seeing we have made mention here of diureticks , i will not pass by this receipt of the countess , by which alone she cured many poor people of the hydropsie ; in which , albeit much is to be attributed to the potion it self , nevertheless i ascribe the chief effects of this happy medicine to the wine prepared of the elder-flowers and sponges , which the hydropick use in time of their cure ; therefore i have set down the whole course of the cure , as it is faithfully communicated to all the true sons of this noble art , by the famous finck , in the 26 chapter of his enchirid. take of the old acorns unshelled , of the old roots of parsley , of white oculi cancrorum , of each two scruples and an half . of sugar , of cinnamon , of each one drachm . all are to be subtily pulverised and searced . before the diseased person altogether lye down , first let him moisten three shives of wheat-bread in strong wine ; may be it would not be beside the purpose , if before in that wine he had macerated some elder-flowers ; then presently let him sprinkle upon these shives 4 scruples down weight of that powder , and at night before he go to bed , let him eat it , and go to bed and sleep above them . secondly , on the day next following , early in the morning , let him eat as many shives of bread so prepared , and fast one or two hours after . thirdly , on the same day at night let him eat the same preparation , eating and drinking nothing above it , and so go to sleep . in the mean time this diet is to be observed ; let the diseased person abstain from fish , swines-flesh , herbs , cheese , cold water , thin and superfluous drink : let him use wine prepared after this manner , which i esteem to be the chief part of the cure . take of the whole dried umbels of elder-flowers , three , of jews-ears exsiccate in a dry air , two , of white wine two quarts ; or for the use of a middle-child , one quart . let them stand all night in infusion , and the patient may drink thereof at his pleasure ; but let him abstain from all other drink till the tumor be evanished . mark , if the patient by this cure find not an evident alteration , & abating of the tumor , he may after a fortnight renew the cure ; and without doubt , by divine assistance , he shall recover his former health . topicks . apply outwardly to the tumified parts a cataplasm of the juice of the elder incorporate with goates-dung , which hath an eminent vertue in digesting those salt & waterish humors . or anoint the tumified parts with the oyl of the bark and leaves , prescribed before in the second place ; unto which add this same dung to give it consistence . the tincture drawn out of the rob and juice of the berries doth excellently discuss and dry , if it be rubb'd on the belly and legs . or , take a sufficient quantity of the leaves and bark , boil them in a common lixive , wherewith foment the belly and tumified parts twice a day . the vapour of which decoction , held under the hydropick legs , draweth the serosity from thence , and discusseth it by sweat ; it must be poured on hot bricks in a close vessel , that the vapour may come to the heat . others bid the feet and legs only to be bathed in a decoction of the leaves , wherein a handful or two of common salt hath been dissolved . note , that the pith of the elder being pressed with the finger , doth pit , as hydropick feet do ; therefore the juice of the elder , and the distilled water of jews-ears , are profitable . crollius de signaturis rerum , hither you may transfer the example of the hydropick and gravelly clown , as it is set down in the chapter concerning the stone , who was cured by the use of the pith of the elder . 2. of anasarca or leucophlegmatia . in anasarca or leucophlegmatia , having prescribed lighter purges , you are immediately to proceed to sudorificks and cutting medicines , which we have set down , made of the juice , extract , and spirit of the berries , and so forth . for by these the serosity that resides in the musculous flesh , and swels the members , are discussed ; and the desired heat is restored to the cold and weak members , and the intrals appointed for nutrition are opened and strengthened . the wine of the flowers of the elder is excellent for ordinary drink . by which alone'tis manifest , that some after long fevers , and other chronical diseases , becoming leucophlegmatick did in an instant untumifie : wherefore may be that experiment of emylio the countess were more fit to be used in this than in the ascites . note , there was a certain citizen of haina , who for two years being vexed with a continual falling again into fevers , and after that became leucophlegmatick through his whole body , by my advice he was cured by these following ; first , i desired him to use wine wherein the elder-bark and flowers , and the tops of wormwood in equal parts were infused , thereby to open the obstructions of the meseraick vessels , & to purge the serous & pituitous inundations of the first region . of which every morning , after he had taken a little broth , he was to take a good draught . from which time , after the belly had for a few days answered the medicine , i desir'd him to swallow a pretty spoonful of elder-rob , mixt with hearts-horn ; and having drank vinegar of the elder , mixed with wine , go to sweat in bed ; which being done twice or thrice , his whole body did detumifie ; a more lively colour , and laudable appetite did return ; neither to this day hath appeared any residity of fevers . while i was writing these things , a grave matron told me this history ; she was almost threescore years old , being troubled for some weeks with a white flux of the belly , she fell into an hydropsy , so that her belly & flesh wonderfully swelling , her strength marvellously decayed ; her daughters being amazed and doubtful of their mothers health , they went to a physician their kinsman , then famous in this country , they earnestly desired his counsel & help ; who , albeit he was terrifi'd by her weakness proceding from her age & sickness , to use any cure ; yet nevertheless through their intreaty he appointed some comfortablethings amongst which he chiefly commended the conserve of elder-flowers , and commanded each morning half an ounce should be given her thereof , by which alone , through divine assistance , she was in a short time recovered , and lived till she was fourscore years old , to the great wonder of all those that saw and heard it . 3. of a timpany . seeing of this disease the belly is so swelled of flatuosities , that it sounds like a drum , if it be beat on ; and that these flatuosities do proceed from no other cause than from a weak stomach ; the stomach is to be strengthened , and the flatuosities discussed . these indications , a purge being premised , if needful , are well satisfied by the spirit of granorum actes simple and stomatical , commended much before for a weak stomach , seeing it not only strengtheneth , but likewise by his subtile faculty penetrateth the most subtile passages of the body , and discusseth all flatuosities ; chiefly if the dose of the carminant-seeds , of anise and fennel-seeds , be augmented : give every day a spoonful , and anoynt the belly with the same . or , take of the spirit of the stomatical granorum actes , two ounces , of the elder-flowers , one ounce and an half , of white sugar candy pulverised , one ounce : mix them . the dose , one or two spoonfuls . benedict victor favorin . in 25 cap. of his empyricks hath these : i saw a wonderful effect in curing the flatulent hydropsie ; every morning in the dawning this drink was given to the patient , take of the water of the roots of danewort , two ounces . of the elder , four ounces , mix them . continue without interruption this drink for thirty days , and a wonderful effect will follow . but i would ever add some of the syrup of the berries or flowers , seeing the distilled water given alone much troubleth the fasting stomach . cap. xxv . of the stone . in the stone of the bladder a laxative of the elder locusts , which is most useful in this and other diseases , because it only helps nature naturally to go to stool , petraeus nosolog . harm . diss . 40. thes . 53. the wine made of the flowers and berries help greatly here ; for first they disburden the stomach and intestines of that serous and mucid humor , whereby pure chyle , and less impregnant with those tartarous tinctures is brought to the liver . whence it is that the serous comes not so impure & muddy to the urinal passages . and besides , if any slip be committed here , and the tartarous humor be gathered together in these vessels , this wine changeth them , and with the urine thrusts them out of the body : drink it fasting in the morning , the dose a cup full , having supt a little broth before it . an anodyne and emollient clyster may be made of the decoction of the flowers and leaves of the elder ; unto every eight ounces of the strained decoction , add three or four ounces of the oil of infused elder-flowers ; if we will change more , pour this decoction through the ashes of elder-leaves a little , and mix with it , besides the oyl , two ounces of elder-hony . the pith being cut and swallowed , is commonly much praised for moving urine , and purging those dregs . and i know a man , who being troubled with the ascites and stone , by the perswasion of a country-woman , used only this pith ; having avoided these dregs , and much serousness daily by his urine , was cured of his nephritick pains and hydropsie . there are some that cutting it in thin shaves , infused it in the spirit of the berries ; and after a fortnight , press the pith strongly and strain the spirits , and give a spoonful of the colature , which they commend much . the lithonthryptick elder-spirit . take two ounces of the elder-pith cut as is said : put thereon as much of the spirit of the berries well rectified as will cover it . let them stand seven days in a hot place , in vessels well closed , that nothing evaporate . after pressing the pith , strain hard the spirit a few times : put into the colature some bruised juniper-berries , viz. two ounces . leave it likewise for two days in infusion , in a hot place , in a close vessel : afterward press it again , & strain it . again infuse as much juniper-berries into the colature , and leave it for three days in the infusion , and again press it , and strain it , and purifie it from all the feculent grounds , as much as you are able . and so you have the stone-break spirit of the elder indued with the essence of elder-pith , and juniper-berries ; which you are to keep in a stopt close glass , whose use is excellent in breaking and expelling the stone , especially if it be used as followeth . first , the nefritick person is to purge his belly with polychrestick powder of the buds , or with the clyster prescribed a little before ; and having anoynted his loynes with elder-oyle , he must go into a 〈◊〉 made of pease-straw and mallows ▪ the flowers of elder and cammomile ; afterward let him drink a spoonfull of this spirit in white-wine , and stay in the bath till he avoid the stone . and to avoid swouning , let him hold to his nose a sponge dipt in elder-vinegar , and let him moisten his pulses with this same vinegar , or some cordial epithem . this medicine hath its original from the experiments set down in the dutch matthiolus , and is called a wonderfull medicine by muller in his mysteries medicinal . nevertheless this is to be preferred to that in respect of the vertues it hath from the pith , or spirit of the elder , to break the stone . a stonebreak essence , or extract . he that pleaseth may prepare an excellent essence , or extract , against stony & tartarous diseases , as followeth : take of the pith of the elder one ounce , of the dryed berries of the elder , of recent juniper-berries , of each an ounce and half ; of liquorice mundified , six drachmes . the pith and liquorice are to be cut in small pieces , and the berries grosly powdered ; being mixed , let them be infused in a sufficient quantity of elder spirit ; and let them stand in a hot place for a fortnight together , stirring each day the glass , and stopping the mouth thereof well ; that time being ended , put them in a linnen bag , and in a press press them strongly ; put the strained liquor in a cucurbit , and putting to the alimbeck thereof , distil that spirit in balneo , till that which remains in the bottom become as thick as hony , having mixed before with it two drachms of the magisterie or salt ocular . cancror . being mixed , keep them in a glass vessel : whereof give from a scruple to a drachm dissolved in a spoonful of that spirit that was distilled from them , and in the water of linaria distilled with rhenish wine ; observing those things which were prescribed before in the administration of the stonebreak spirit of the elder . the salt of the elder is commendable in salt & tartarous diseases , given alone or mixed with the former extract in a convenient liquor , 8 or 6 grains of the spirit of salt doth cleanse these tartarous muddinesses . dysuria and ischuria . in the difficulty of making water , and in the not making water at all , these medicines are excellent ; seeing these symptomes arise from a muddy and mucid humor , or from a glewish toughness that obstructeth the urinal passages . but chiefly the stonebreak extract of the elder is good in this case ; whereof give a scruple in the water of the flowers of vinaria , and the diseased is to be fomented about the secrets with the decoction of the radish and vinaria . pliny saith , that the stones being drank in two ounces weight move urine . cap. xxvi . of the affections of the womb. to mollifie and open the secrets of a woman , and cure the diseases about them , it is affirmed by dioscorides to be done by incession , made of the roots of elder boyled in water . 1. of the stopping of the monethly terms . many medicines made of the elder are to be used in the defect of the monethly termes ; which for the most part proceeds from a gross bloud , or tough humor , closing or obstructing the orifices of the histerick veins . first then you are to use things which open the belly , and disburthen it of that putrid filth ; give them therefore to drink the wine of the berries , which looseneth the belly , and maketh thin the bloud and grosse humors . the distilled water of the middle-bark , mixt with the purging water of the berries , prepared as quercetan directs , serves for both ends : the dose is three ounces , with one ounce of the syrup of the berries , bark , or buds . which if you desire to be more cathartick , add to it half a drachm , or as much as sufficeth , of the polychrestick powder of the buds . the elder-rob , with the powder of the white dittany , or of pimpinel , is the womens medicine . gabel shover hath this : take of ripe elder-berries , of rosemary , of each one handful , of pimpinel-roots , half an ounce , boyled in a quart of strong old wine ; whereof drink a good draught warm each morning for three days , before the time of their courses , and let them fast two houres after . the spirit of the berries is likewise usefull , which by its subtility passes through the whole body , and through the least vessels thereof , cutting and attenuating the grosness of the humors ; it may be taken the same time before the courses use to flow : the dose is a pretty spoonfull in wine , or some distilled water ; in place of the simple spirit , you may take the hysterick described hereafter in the same quantity and manner ; for his vertue is great , in moving the courses . the oyle of the second description is commendable , if two or four drops thereof be added to these spirits . in the scyrrous disposition of the matrix , where the cram'd humor is hardened into a scyrrous , closing the orifice of the veins , and stopping the courses , besides these medicines you must make incessions of the leaves and root of the elder boyled in water , as dioscorides commands . let there likewise be an oyntment made of the oyle of the infused flowers and leaves , mixed with the fat of a hen . this same fat dissolved in the decoction of the roots and leaves is to be injected into the womb . 2. of the flowing of the courses . tragea granorum actes excelleth in stopping these ; whereof give half a drachm , and as much nutmeg in a soft egg , or red wind , singed by the quenching of red hot gold in it . take of tragea granorum actes half an ounce . of nutmegs , a little roasted , of the roots of tormentil , of red coral prepared with rosewater , of each two scruples . of sugar-rosat in tablets , six drachmes . let them be mixed for a tragea ; whereof take morning and evening two drachmes for a dose in the former liquors . if the bloud be too serous and fluid ; that serousness is either to be purged gently by the belly , or by weak hydroticks by sweating ; whereof we have spoken largely in another place . gabel shover hath this ; give to the woman in the morning three spoonfuls of the best water of elder-flowers , and command her to fast three hours after . 3. of the suffocation of the matrix . seeing this most perillous disease dependeth from a malignant and cold air , exhaled from the womb and uterine vessels to the midriff , heart , and brains , the womb is to be purged of all malignant and putrid humors , and the strength is to be corroborated . apply here those things which were set down in the stopping of the courses ; both because these used not to be the least and seldomest cause of these malignant vapors ; and likewise because the medicaments purge and dissipate these uterine filths gathered upon whatsoever occasion . a half or whole spoonful of the spirit of the flowers or berries of the elder , greatly availeth here , both out , and in time of the fit , for both powerfully discuss these cold and poysonous vapors , evacuate out of the utrenal sink , and vindicate the more nobler intrals from their infection , and restore freer breathing . gabel shover taketh a handful of jews-ears , and infuseth them in a quart of the spirit of wine ; of the which he giveth the diseased a full draught in time of her fit . the antiepileptick elder-spirit , if it be used instead of the juniper , is good ; and with it anoynt the belly below the navel toward the secrets . or prepare for this , and such diseases , this that follows . the histerick spirit of the elder . take of the middle bark of the elder , one ounce , of the roots of white dittany , of round birthwort , of each three drachmes . of the dried leaves of the elder , one handfull . of red artimesia . or mugwort , of prrsley , of each half an handfull . of the flowres of white lillies , two drachmes . of clean jews-ears , three in number . being cut , infuse them in a competent quantity of elder-sprit , that it may be a hand-breadth above them . let them stand in infusion for ten daies ; & every day stirr them twice ; afterwaad distill them in balneo , foa the histerick spirit ; of which give a half , or whole spoonfull in time of the fit , and with the same anoynt the lower belly , by rubbing it in , as hath been prescribed . not only in the suffocation of the matrix , which by excellency is called the histerick passion ; but also it is excellent for the stopped flowers , and other cold and moist diseases of the womb . it helpeth likewise to expel the dead child & secondines , if after universals , and topicks , a spoonfull thereof be given in white wine , or some distilled water , three or four drops of the oyle of the flowers of the second description , being mixt therewith . extractum granorum actes hystericum . of the ripe grains of the elder dried in the shadow , quercetan forms an extract , which is a specifick histerick , and is called of the chymists , extractum granorum actes . it is thus prepared : gather a great quantity of the grains of the elder well dried in the shadow ; & having thrown all the rest of the berry away , reserve the grains only ; with which fill a long-necked great cucurbit to the middle ; put upon it the strong spirit of wine , made acid with the acid liquor either of vitriol or sulphure , that it may be three or four fingers broad above the matter ; the vessel being closed , that nothing may breath out : digest it for five or six days in b.m. till the spirit of the wine receive the tincture of a ruby , which you shall separate by inclination , having a care that none of the dregs or troubled matter go with it . of which tincture not having separated its menstruum , that is , the aqua vitae , which without any corruption or alteration will be kept long ; unto which you may add a little sugar , if you will make it have a more pleasant taste ; you may give a half or whole silver spoonful to women troubled with the suffocation of the matrix , shall be unexpectedly , and as it were miraculously weakened , and restored to their perfect health . again , if you will separate from it the aqua vitae by an alimbeck in balneo vaporoso , till the extract remain in the bottom of a most excellent red colour , whereof give a scruple for a dose in its own proper distilled water , or in other convenient waters , or in white wine , and it will become red . thus far quercetan . the uterine mixture which i used to prepare is this ; first i take the berries of the elder dried in a flow heat of the bake-house ; of mugwort and of castoreum as much as i please ; i put upon each of them by themselves in a viol some of the rectified spirits of the elder , and draw out the essence according to art ; and i purifie each one of them by themselves , and keep them in glasses . afterwards , take of the essence of elder-berries six ounces . of balm-mint three ounces . of castor , of the spirit of vitriol well rectified , of each one ounce . being mixed , i put them in a glass of a narrow throat , and i digest them for ten days in a warm balneo , that they may be well united ; and if any dregs be in them , they may go to the bottom ; from which i separate that which is clear , i strain it , and keep it in a well-stopped glass . the dose is a little spoonful alone , and dissolved in some appropriate water ; but if the body be full of ill humors , i first purge it with the polychrestick powder of elder-buds . in place of appendix i thought fit to joyn hereto the medicines made of the elder long ago , commended and commanded by our great chieftain and master hippocrates , in uterine affections . in the hydropsie of the matrix , he commendeth the fruit of the elder , given fasting in wine , lib. 1. de morb . mulier . he saith , this purgeth things to be purged in child-bed ; boil the leaves of the elder , and give the water thereof to drink , ibidem . if the womb be inflamed in child-birth , let her sup hot the tender leaves of the elder lightly boiled with the grossest part of recent wheat-meal , ibid. in the same place he commands us to put into the secrets a long piece of elder-pith , the tenderer part being shaven . in ulcers of the womb pound linseed and elder-berries together , mix hony with them , and make a plaster , and use it , ibid. or the leaves of the elder , and of the lentisk , being boiled in water and strained , are to be injected warm , lib. de natur . mulier . the same things being likewise pounded with muss , may be outwardly applied , ibid. in a filthy ulceration of the matrix , boyl the berries of the elder and lawrel , in equal potions in wine , afterward inject that wine , lib. 1. d. m. m. or take the berries of the elder , anice , franckincense , myrrh , wines , and inject their juices , ibid. whereby the courses are likewise provoked , ibid. to expel the secondine , first apply a foment made of the decoction of elder-leaves , and then that which is made of cantharides , ibid. in very great fluxes of the courses apply a cataplasm made of elder and mirtle-leaves , lib. 2. m. m. or boil in water the leaves of elder and lentisk , and with the colature warm wash the matrix , ibid. in the strangulation of the matrix , r. three half quarts of oyl , and a handful of elder-leaves ; boil this , and make a fomentation therewith , or with hot shels put in it , make a stove , placing the woman in a chair , and covering her with cloths . or boil the leaves of elder and mirtle , and in the strained water boil barley-chaff , and make a stove ; if she can endure the heat thereof , ibid. if the pain be vehement after her purging boil in black wine the lawrel and elder-berries , and wash it therewith , ibid. or boil the elder in water , and having strained the water , put to it sweet wine , and wash therewith . of which , and many others , you may view hippocrates in those books and places mentioned . cap. xxvii . of the arthritick disease . how stiff this disease is , and how miserably it tormenteth the patient , is known even to children ; notwithstanding it expects ease , if not full cure ; which sometimes is done by the medicines of our elder . and seeing nothing is more able to preserve than that great encrease of serous humors being hindred , & those that are sprung be evacuated : seeing from these , if not only , yet most commonly , arthritick pains have their beginning ; as experience can testifie . these medicines therefore that follow are convenient . viz. the wine of the berries , of which he is to drink a cup full oft in the week , in the morning or in the beginning of dinner : but that is of most force , which we have set down in the 24 chapter out of quercetan . the water distilled out of the succulent bark in the autumn , or spring , is oft to be drank . let it be sweetned with the third part of the syrup of the berries or buds ; the dose is four ounces . that it may purge more forcibly , mix therewith a half or whole drachm , according to the patients strength , of the polychrestick powder of the buds . vomits are good to preserve from this disease , if it be provoked once a moneth by those that are used to it . in cure of the arthritick , chiefly of the sciatick or gout , seeing vomit doth revel , and derive by the upper parts , it performs more than any downward purge . therefore you are to reiterate it two days and more , if the evil persevere . the oyl pressed out of the kernels of the berries , and half a drachm thereof taken in the broth of ale , doth excel in this disease . the oyl of the infused flowers or bark is good ; the dose is one or two ounces in warm water . you shall repress the arthritick assaults , if you once or twice in the moneth sweat , having first purged the body : for the serous matter gathered in the body is easily discussed by sweat ; and as soon as natural or artificial sweat appears , there is great hopes of safety . see hildanus , centor 5. observ . 3. give then of the rob of the elder two drachms with a scruple of harts-horn prepared ; or half a drachm or two scruples of the extract granorum actes ; or one spoonful or two of the spirit of the berries or flowers . this is uporist of some , the roots of the elder or walnut , half an ounce . of the pulverised kernels , drachm 1. let them macerate for a night in white wine , whose colature being a little sweetened with sugar , is to be given in the morning in bed , to provoke sweat . if it be given a little before the fit , it disappoints it . in the spring-time the buds prepared with oyl , vinegar and salt ; and frequently being eaten before supper , being mixed with other sallets , is commendable ; for they gently purge the belly and purifie the blood from serosity . the powder of the buds dried in the shadow , is good for preventing of gouts and all arthritick diseases ; whereof take in the spring-time or harvest , for a whole month together in the morning , half a scruple in a soft egg with a little salt . or take the conserve of the buds alone , or mixed with the conserve of the flowers in equal parts . the dose is the bigness of a walnut or chesnut , morning and evening before meat . drink above it some of the water of the flowers , sweetned with a little of the juice of the berries . topicks . a linnen cloth dipt in the distilled water of the leaves and flowers of the elder , and applied warm , wonderfully asswages the pain , unlocks the pores , digests the matter , and strengthens the nervous parts . that it may more penetrate , and where the colour and heat is greater you may add in equal quantity elder-vinegar . where the matter is colder , and the pain longer , you may dip the same clothes in such a liquor as this , and apply them hot . take of the spirit of elder-berries , three ounces . the spirit of the flowers , drach . 2. of opium of thebes , scruples two , mix them . by its narcotick vertue it mitigateth the pains , and discusseth the more stubborn matter , and refresheth the members . the goutish anodine water . quercetan in the first book and seventh chapter sets down this podagrick water ; take of the green leaves and flowers of elder , of each lib. 1. more or less , as you please , to make it greater or less quantity ; pound them , and macerate them well in b. m. then distill them in a glass , or copper vessel , till they be dry ; with this water forment the pained place twice a day ; yea you may use it constantly in that gout , which proceeds from hot humors . so far he . the oyle , wherein the roots of the elder or ebulus , and the leaves or fine extract from them , hath been boyled , chiefly the oyle of the dwarf-elder-seed , from which the seeds of the greater differ little , is much praised here . it is prepared thus ; beat the ripe and clean seeds in a paste , boyle it in water , and gather the scum thereof , put it in a long glass , in a warm place for three or four daies , till the oyle , which is greenish , go to the bottom ; the same oyle pressed out of the seeds is most powerfull . these are the words of plater , in the second part of his practice . or , take oyle of infused elder-flowers , ounces two ; and of it pressed out of the kernels , half an ounce . being mixt , apply them warm to the grieved place . dioscorides affirms , that the recent leaves applyed , with the fat of a goat or bull , doth help the goutish . i know a man , that whensoever he is troubled with the gout useth only this unction ; he taketh new cream of milk , and he mixeth with it the powder made into fine meal , of the and leaves of the elder , till it acquire the consistence of a poultice , or cataplasme , which being spread on a linnen cloth , he applyeth it hot to the diseased part ; and from this easie and simple medicine he exspects , and experiences with happy successe , great ease . gabel shover , amongst others , hath this ; take the water of the elder , and the spirit of wine , of each ounces 2 ; mix them , and apply clothes moystened therein : some take two ounces of elder-water , and one of aqua vite , and mix them . the same man much commendeth in pains of the joynts , and other cold defluctions , from which the resolution and palsie of the joynts do proceed , this : take a good quantity of elder-pith , a quarter of a pint of rhenish-wine , and as much of your own urine , being mixed , boyle them in a new pot , till half be consumed . then anoynt the grieved place with the spirit of wine , and rub it well in . afterward apply a woollen-cloth hot , dipt in the former decoction . and when it is dry , dipt it and apply it again . and this is to be done before you go to bed . some praise this that follows , in arthritick diseases , chiefly which are hot . a mucilaginous andonyne liquor . r. of quick snails , newly taken whole out of their shelly cottages ; of elder-berries dried in the oven , and pulverized ; and of common salt , of each as much as you will ; put it in the straining bag called hippocrates sleeve , making one row upon another so oft as you please ; so that the first be of the snails , the next of the salt , and the last of the berries , continning so till the bag be full ; hang it up in a cellar , and gather diligently the glutinous liquor that distils out of it by little and little , even to the mucilage ; and being put in a stopt glass , expose it four days to the sun ; and therewith anoynt gently the grieved part . cap. xxviii . of the scab , psora , itch , herpes , and other cutaneous diseases . t is a golden saying of our divine master , aphorism 21. sect. 1. that we carefully observe the motion of nature and its course , and with our medicines assist it as much as we are able . seeing in most of these out-breakings in the skin nature doth thrust the hurtful matter from the principal parts to the more ignoble and less principal , viz. the cutaneous , it seemeth best here to use sudorificks , and those that expel to the circumference of the body . because many times a great heap of putrid humors are seated about the stomach , mesentery , liver , and melt ; that sink , as far as is possible , is to be emptied by emetick and cathartick medicines , lest omitting and neglecting this evacuation , the putrid and salt humors , by the unseasonable use of sudorificks , being drawn out of the jacks of the first region , be thrust into the greater and nobler veins , and so raise more dangerous damages . purges and vomits . in delicate bodies and children , the water distilled from the succulent bark , by two cohobies , and sweetned with a little syrup of the juice of the berries , doth work this effect , being given in a few spoonfuls . also the syrup of the berries juice , being given alone , from an ounce to an ounce and half . in those of riper age , give the purging water made according to quercetans descripton , from two ounces to three , with an ounce of the syrup of the buds or bark . or use twice or thrice the polychrestick powder of the buds in whey . or incorporate it with the conserve of the flowers for a bole ; or reduce it into the form of a pill , with the syrup of them , or such like ; for it is a good medicine to purge the body from salt and feculent humors . or take a cupful of whey , macerate in that , half or a whole ounce of the middle bark of the elder ; the colature being strained in the morning , let it be drank warm . the wine of the infusion of the bark and root of the elder , subtilly grated , is good to provoke vomit , and empty the belly of evil humors ; it doth this when they have infused together for a night . these are the words of vigo in his chirurg . part . 1. lib. 7. or take a drachm of the oyle pressed out of the berries kernels , more or less , according to the strength of the patient ; give it in a cup of luke-warm ale. it were likewise profitable for the scabby , if they made a sallet of those young buds , who in the beginning of the spring , together with those out-breakings and pustles of the skin , by the singular favour of nature , as contemperanious , doe bud forth ; being first macerated a little in hot water , with oyle , salt , and vinegar ; and sometimes eaten , it purgeth the belly , and freeth the bloud from salt and serous humors . sudorificks . these things being premised , that which remains yet in the skin , or mass of blood , is to be emptied by sudorificks . the water of elder-flowers and the clearer spirit of them may be given even to children . for to make it of a more pleasant taste sweeten them with a little syrup of the infusion of the flowers . these medicines following agree to those that come to years . take of the rob of the elder two drachms . of harts-horn burn'd and prepared one scruple . of the water of elder-flowers three ounces . of oximel of the elder half an ounce . mix them , & make a draught of them . or , take of the extract of elder-berries two scruples , of elder-salt half a scruple , of the water distilled from its flowers two ounces , of the vinegar of the flowers half an ounce . mix them for a draught . after taking of these sweat is to be provoked in bath or bed. the conserve of elder-flowers with the conserve of cicory-flowers is commodious to change , alter , and strengthen the intrals or inward parts . or make this julap , which you must use every day an hour or two before supper ; or after you come from bath or sweating , drink four ounces thereof . take of the conserve of elder-flowers , of burrage , of cicory , of each half an ounce . dissolve them on a soft fire in a quart of elder-flowers water ; to the strained colature add of the sharp elder-syrup two ounces , mix them . topicks . in a more universal , filthy , and continuing scab , tetter or psora , &c. prepare this sort of bath . take of recent elder-leaves , ten handfuls , six whole umbels of the flowers , of quick-sulphure , two ounces , of crude-allum , one ounce . boyle it in a sufficient quantity of rainwater , unto which afterward add a sixth part of the lixive . let the diseased every day sit once in a bath , to provoke sweat , not neglecting in the mean time the former internals . or where only the hands or feet are scabby , the same decoction ; but in less quantity is to be prepared ; wherein daily the feet and hands are to be washed ; yet nevertheless you may add other things , as the roots of sorrel , and alacampain . after the bath , the exulcerate and clift places are to be anoynted , to mitigate their pain , with the oyle of the infufed flowers ; to which you may give a more drying and healing vertue to the leaves of the elder , subtilly pulverised till it come to the consistence of a liniament . or , use the liniament of matthiolus , or plater . or this : take of the oyle of the infused flowers and bark of the elder , of each 3 drachms , of washed ceruse , one drachm , or four scruples , of wax , enough . make thereof a liniament . those black , round , and about very red pustles , which break forth frequently in the feet , chiefly of women , are oft to be washed with the water of the leaves , and mitigated with the foresaid unctions . mark , there was a bakers wife in heyna , which could not go out of dores by reason of the abundance of those pustles , and was greatly disquieted by their heat , having premised what was fitting , she used for a topick milk , wherein the flowers were macerated , in which , clothes being dipped , were applyed warm with great ease . where the heat and redness is more intense , instead of simple milk , take sowre or butter-milk . only sweating by taking the rob of the elder sometimes doth cure the simple herpes by the abstersive and siccative quality . in this the oyl pressed out of the kernels of the berries reduced in form of a liniament with sugar of saturn , is much praised by some : if it be anointed on the pustles , after they are opened with a needle , and cleansed from the matter , putting thereon a green leaf of the elder , or one dried in the shadow . in an eating herpes , having purged , sweat , and breathed a vein , this cataplasm is commended , wherewith she-montebanks have gained largely . pound in an earthen vessel , with a woodden pestle , the green leaves of the elder , adding to them in the time of pounding a little elder-vinegar , after that manner that women make sawces of the watercress , sorril , and such like : mix with this pounded and succulent matter one part of the ashes of elder-leaves , and two parts of the powder of the leaves , that it may become like a paste or thick cataplasm . add to it , that it may stick the better , a little turpentine dissolved with the yeolk of an egg ; apply it twice a day to the ulcerous places , being first wiped with clean linnen . neither is this a mere new invention , for john de vigo in the first part an 7th . book of his chirurg . saith , that elder-leaves pounded with hellebore and oximel scillitick , doth cure ringworms , itches , and scabs . cap. xix . of the erysipelas or rose . it is usual as soon as the rose invadeth , to take those medicines whereby nature is helped to thrust the matter from the inward to the outward parts : for which end the rob with the water-vinegar of the elder-flowers are applyed ; for learned physitians do acknowledg that this matter wanteth not its own malignity . wierus useth this potion : of the water of elder-flowers , three ounces , of parsley-seed , half a drachm , of t. sigillata , half a scruple . mix them . there are some , that in all erisipelas , even in that which followeth oft-times the scurvie , doe swallow this bole , and drink the water of elder-flowers above it , to discuss the malignity by sweating . take of the rob of the elder , two drachmes , of mineral bezoartick six grains , mix them . or , take of the extract of elder-rob , two scruples , of sulphurat nitrate antimony , half a scruple , mix them . but if the belly be bound , give the syrup made of the berries juice , which looseneth the belly , and resisteth malignancy . in more strong bodies , and where evil humors stick in the first passages , you may give a half , or whole drachm , according to the patients strength , of the polychrestick powder of the buds . to temper the heat of the bloud in the intrails , these things are set down in the cure of the hot feavers . topicks . the topicks here should not be cooling , repelling , or fat , which obstruct the pores of the skin , lest that sharp and malignant matter be thrust to more noble parts , or closed up in the diseased ; whence oft times the part hath been gangrenat : for which cause the common people by all means avoid moystening of the part , & when any evil here ariseth , ascribed it to it , though not rightly ; for all moystening is not to be avoided , but only that which is made of restringent , repellent , & things that obstruct the pores ; but those which unlock the pores and digest the humors and consume them . though they be liquid , they are so far from hurting that they greatly help . john de vigo testifieth , that the elder hath the vertue of resolving , drying and opening , by reason of the subtilty of its parts : wherefore these following made of it may be safely used . shave the bark from the trunk , and apply it every day three times round about the part diseased of the rose . or , r. of white sope ounce 1. dissolve it in lib. 3. of the water of the flowers of the elder , apply it warm to the diseased part , and when it drieth renew it . some dry them before , and apply them dry , that they may satisfie the peoples desire , that much fear moysture in this disease . this is commended : take of the water of elder-flowers five ounces . of theriack of andromache one drachm . mix them . dip linnen cloths in it , and wring them in your hand , and apply them warm to the place , and when they are dry dip them in the liquor and apply them . or , r. the dried berries of the elder ounce 1. the flowers of the same m. 1. having pounded , cut them , boil them in lib. 2. of the simple-water , to the consumption of the third part . add to the colature ounces 3. of a thin lixive ; mix them : dip a linnen cloth in them , being warm , wring it a little and apply it to the part , as hath been shewn . taberna montanus saith , he hath tryed , that the rose being anointed with the rob of the elder doth ease and discuss it . lac aureum , which is prepared of the lixive and oyl of the elder well stirred together , till it acquire a milky colour , is commended much ; chiefly here when the rose enclines to ulceration and gangrenates : for by its drying and cleansing vertue , it hindereth further putrifaction and corruption ; and by mixing the oyle , it mitigateth the pain , and cureth the ulcer ; apply it hot . those that avoid all moysture , let them use clothes dipt oft in these liquors , and dryed ; or which is common , sprinkle upon the diseased part , small bran , mixt with the like quantity of the powder of elder-flowers . specificks . to prevent this disease , many wonderfully praise this following ; r. of new elder-flowers , or in defect thereof , of those well dryed , m. 1. of milk of a red cow , or at least with red spots ; boyle them in a close vessel , and upon a slow fire . let him drink once , twice , or thrice , when the moon waineth ; or if they will , through every month in the year , of this colature in the morning ; and they shall be afterward free of this disease . see dr : sennert . de febrib . lib. 2. cap. 16. neither is this medicine destitute of reason ; for it is probable that the fluxibility and accrimony of the bloud , being taken away by this medicine , nature is less afterward pricked by it ; yea those malignant impressions stampt on the liver & reins , defiling the bloud by their contagion , are altogether wiped off , by the frequent use of this specifick medicine . an amulet made of the elder , on which the sun never shined , if the piece betwixt the two knots be hung about the patients neck , is much commended ; some cut it in little pieces , and sew it in a knot in piece of a mans shirt , which seems superstitious . i learned the certainty of this experiment first from a friend in lipsick ; who no sooner err'd in diet , but he was seized on by this disease ; yet after he used this amulet , he protested he was free ; yea that a woman to whom he lent it , was likewise delivered from this disease . notwithstanding i leave the whole matter to other mens judgments , who may easily try it , seeing there is so many secret works in nature , whose operation is evident ; yet their causes are hid in such deeps of obscurity , that they cannot be searched out by the sharpest sight of mens reason . cap. xxx . of inflammations , oedema's , and schirrouses . 1. of inflammation . dioscorides writeth , that the green and tender leaves , being applyed with polent , mitigate inflammations . the cakes of the flowers and leaves left after distillation , if it be wet with the oyl of infused flowers , is applyed fitly to an inflammation . or , r. of elder-leaves m. 3. of barley polent m. 1. boiled in simple water , to the consistency of a poultice : being put through a serce , add of the oyl of infused elder-flowers ounces two ; of the meal of the leaves and flowers of the elder , of each enough . make a cataplasm , for it digesteth , resolveth , and if the inflammation apostemat ripeneth , the aposteme being opened , cure it as an ulcer . of which afterwards . 2. of an oedema . it s known by the cure of the ascites how the elder helpeth oedematous tumors , chiefly in the feet . see there the fomentation for the feet made of the decoction of the leaves in a lixive . but seeing these fomentations are tedious , it is enough to carry the green and dry leaves of the elder in the stockings . a great lawyer was delivered by the use of this simple medicine , which he oft applied , at the desire of a worshipful knight of misnea . 3. of a schirrus . the cure of a schirrus is known by cure of the obstruction of a schirrus melt . there are some that say the leaves only of the elder doth mollifie and discuss schirrus tumors by signature ; because it groweth in dark and shadowy places : for which reason in the 23 chapter , we set down a splenetick searcloth of them : which may be fitly applyed here , the tumors being anoynted with this following . take of the oyle of elder-flowers , ounce 1. of amonick dissolved in elder-vinegar , drachms 2. boyle it on a soft fire , to the consumption of the watrishness . add white-wax ; and according to art , make an oyntment . cap. xxxi . of wounds , ulcers , and contusions . no man that ponders well the rehearsed words of dioscorides and galen , will deny the elders vertue to be great in these diseases ; especially in wounds and ulcers . the cure of wounds . the common people keep as a great secret in curing wounds , the leaves of the elder , which they have gathered the last day of april ; which , to disappoint the charms of witches , they had affixed to their dores and windows ; but seeing the elder-leaves of themselves are found efficacious enough to heal wounds , this superstitious opinion of the people is to be laughed at . a vulnerary balsam . to cure wounds safely and suddenly , take the green and tender elder leaves ; stamp them ; and having put a little wine on them , wring out the juice strongly . take of this juice , being purified , as much as you will , add thereto in equal quantity , the oyle of the infused flowers ; boyle it on a clear fire , still stirring it with a spatula , till the wateriness be consumed ; afterwards take of oyle so prepared , four or five ounces , of it pressed out of the berries kernels , two ounces , of clear venice-turpentine , three ounces , of verdigrease , three drachms . being well mixed together on a slow fire with a spattle , let them stand eight days in the sun , or some other hot place , that the dregs may go to the bottom ; from which separate the pure balsam ; which is to be applyed hot to the wound with lintcotton , and the wound to be bound up with linnen clothes ; it doth imitate the vertue of the most precious balsams ; half an ounce of the sugar of the elder may be added . a plaster of the balsam . if you mollifie wax with a sufficient quantity of this balsam , and apply it according to art , it cureth wounds suddenly . to stop a great hemmorage . tragea granorum actes being mixed with an equal part of jews-ears , is commended in stopping of bloud . or make this powder ; take of tragea granorum actes , of dryed jews-ears , of each three drachmes , of the white of an egg dryed in the sun , two drachmes , of the pith of the elder , of the purest gum-tragant , of each one drachm . pulverise subtilly every one by it self , and afterwards mix them exactly . the use . the bloud being drank up of a sponge , and the wound being dryed as much as is possible , put therein a sufficient quantity of the powder ; if it succeed not at first , dry the wound again with the sponge , and put in the powder , and keep it in with torne pieces of cloath put thereafter . the puncture of nerves . in the puncture and wounds of nerves , the learned surgeon de vigo in his seventh book , together with daily experience doth attest , that the oyle of the infused flowers is much praised . the oyle of the flowers of the second description ; and the balsam , or plaister made of the balsam , being put thereon , worketh effectually . the cure of ulcers . dioscorides hath taught us , that the leaves of elder do cure deep , perverse , and fistulous ulcers . an uporist . apply then here either the juice alone , put in , being nevertheless wrung out with a little wine or urine ; and afterward lay upon it the pounded leaves like a plaster ; which is a country-remedy . or make this liniament ; take of elder vulnerary balsam , one drachm , of the leaves of the elder subtilly pulverised , one drachm . of verdegrease , two scruples , of elder-salt , one scruple . mix all together exactly for a liniament ; of which daily you are to put some in with tents in impure and fistulous ulcers , and a convenient plaster above it . injections and washings of deep and putrid ulcers , when need requireth , are to be made of the leave sand bark ; which do excellently cleanse and hinder corruption . apply them before you make a new binding , that the filth cleansed , and washed by the former medicine , may be together with them washed out . in those ulcers which cast out that icor , which paracelsus calls synovia ; the vulnerary balsam chiefly availeth , being hot put in ; seeing it drieth moderately , and keepeth the substance of the wounded part temperate . you may sprinkle afterwards above it the powder of the dried pith and jews-ears , which are much praised by many . gabel shover hath this r. of elder-pith drachms two , of orenge-pills scruple half ; mix them for a powder , which are either to be sprinkled in , or to be taken with a fasting stomach in a morning . the same man taketh as many elder-flowers as is needful ; he fryeth them in butter and applyeth them twice or thrice . or , instead of a vulnerary potion in these and other ulcers over-flowed ; he giveth daily a drachm , or a drachm and half of following powder in warm buttered ale. take of elder pith three ounces , of dryed jews-ears , of prepared oculi cancrorum ; of each two ounces , of orenge-pills , of citron pills , of nutmegs , of each one scruple . make a subtil powder of all . in dilating of wounds and ulcers , and in keeping issues open , the pith of the elder is convenient : for while that sponge-like substance drinks in the humors , it is dilated , and so distendeth the lips of the wounds and ulcers . the cure of contusions and bruises . in contused parts , the juice of elder-leaves , pressed out with wine , and anoynt on the place , or linnen dipt therein and applyed , doth discuss the black bloud , and strengthens the part . or take of the meal of elder-flowers , ounces two ; of camomile and wormwood-flowers , of each half an ounce ; mix them with elder-oyle , and work them together , that they may become like a cataplasm ; which is to be applyeddaily to the contused part . to take away the marks and impressions , anoynt them with oyle of infused flowers . in intertrigoes , when the flesh , and not the skin , is infected , the unction of plater or matthiolus his liniament , besprinkling it with the subtile powder of elder-leaves , is profitable . or make this magisterial powder , which with great commodity is sprinkled on the emunctories of new-born babes , viz. behind their ears , in their armpits and groines : take of elder-leaves half an ounce , of the flowers of the same , of red-roses , of each two drach . mix them for a powder , which being sprinkled , consumeth the moysture , and drieth the place . cap. xxxii . of burning and congelation . topicks . dioscorides , saith , that the green and tender leaves , being applyed with pollent , helpeth burning . these following are commended by authors : first , the oyle of infused flowers and bark : secondly , the oyle of the leaves and bark fryed in butter and oyle ; thirdly , the two liniaments of matthiolus and plater ; the receits of which are set down in the second section in the second and fourth chapters . the uses . a member being burned with fire , gun powder , boyling water , &c. is to be easily anoynted with these warm , and afterwards to be wrapt in soft and warm linnen : for each one of them hath the vertue of rarifying the skin , of drawing out hot vapors , mitigating pain , digesting and drying of serosity , and of curing the raised blabs in ulcers , and in restoring the diseased place , as much as is possible , to its wonted beauty . if the burning pierce more deep , so that the blabs being broken , and the skar taken a way , it degenerateth into an ulcer ; besides these oyles and oyntments , you must sprinkle easily and lightly every day , the powder of the leaves and pith ; which doth excellently dry , and , by cleansing moderately , doth fill ulcers with flesh . in this case oyles are more profitable then liniaments , as will be easily found by any that use them . this following unguent , as a singular experiment , is commended in all kinds of burning by the famous don●relius , for easing pain , or quenching the force of the heat , and soon and safely curing the ulcers ; also it is happily applyed to herpes miliaris , and other out-breakings , which come from yellow bile , or salt humors . take of the middle-bark of the lynden-tree , of the elder , of each one handful , of linseed half an ounce . the barks are to be cut in small pieces , & infused together with the seed in a sufficient quantity of the water of elder-flowers , for the space of three hours warm ; then add half an ounce of sheeps dung ; mix them , and boyle them in a double vessel in may-butter unsalted , washed oft in fountain water , and at last in the water of elder-flowers , till the humidity be perfectly consumed . strain them : and add of yellow wax , as much as sufficeth ; mix them : and according to art make an oyntment . they are donerelius his words . if the ulcer become more sordid , use the things in the precedent chapter . lac aureum drank up in linnen clothes , and applyed , is profitable , of which we have spoken in the cure of erysipelas . internals . when many parts , or those situated next the nobler parts , are burned , and then the unnaturel heat spreadeth it self over the whole body , you are to use those things set down in the cure of the hot feaver . or make this julap : take of the water of elder-flowers , half a pound ▪ of the acetous syrup of the elder , two ounces , of hearts-horn burned and preparred , two scruples . mix them for two doses : for it cooleth the heatned spirits , it extinguisheth the thirst , dissipateth the empereum , and roborateth the strength . the cure of congelation or brosting . apply to the frosted parts , the middle bark of the elder , or linnen moystned in their decoction . when they clif ; the powder of elder-bark , pith , and flowers , reduced to a liniamenth with the oyle of infused flowers , in commended , the parts therewith being anoynted daily . apply upon it linnen moystned in the golden milk of the elder , for it drieth and hindreth a gangreene . see more in the cure of ulcers . cap. xxxiii . of poysons . inflicted outwardly , or taken into the body . in the stinging of venemous beasts , the green leaves of the elder being applyed , are praised , because they draw out the poyson , and dry the wound . dioscorides especially commends the same pounded leaves applyed to the bite of a mad dog . george amwald in his panacea bids us dissolve rob of the elder in vinegar and wine , and rub therewith the stung or bitten place , and wash it therewith . in the stinging of wasps and bees anoint the place with the oyle of the infused flowers ▪ or with that which is prest out of the kernels of the berries , and put a leaf thereon ; it mitigateth the pain , and in a short time causeth the tumor to fall and evanish . to stop the poyson of the vipers bitings , besides these topicks , dioscorides bids us boyle the roots of elder in wine , and drink the colature . he attributeth the same vertue to the berry drank in wine . 't is better to use the wine of the berries , to take two drachmes of the rob ; or as many scruples of the extract in the water of elder-flowers , and provoke sweat . in philtrums , or those potions wicked whores use to give for love , or in other poysons taken inwardly nothing is better , then upon the suspition immediately to cast all up by vomit , that is in the stomach . give two ounces or three of the oyle of the infused flowers or bark of the elder in warm ale , and accelerate vomit . or , take an indifferent spoonful of the oyle pressed out of the kernels ; give it in warme ale : for by this means all venom that is in the stomach , is happily excluded , and the corrosive acrimony of the poyson is qualified ; use it again , if it be needful . which being done , provoke sweat , that that which sticketh in the veins ( for the more maligne the humor is , the more it penetrateth , and like ferment , infecteth the whole bloud ) must be evacuated by sweat . those things which were brought for the plague , are profitable here : rob simple , and antilemick , their extracts , &c. of which give as much as is convenient to the age and strength of the patient , dissolved in the distilled water of elder-flowers , of other convenient liquor . and seeing seldom the force of the poyson is daunted by once or twice ; but rather under the subtile shew of a servant , as being overcome , and obeying natures command , by secret mines lurketh and worketh to overthrow the strength of nature , and overcome it by little and little . therefore the use of these alexitericks is not to be intermitted but to be continued , till all the poyson and maligne impressions that remain be extirpate out of the body . this mixture is profitable . take of the conserve of elder-flowers , of the flowers of burrage , as much as you will ; mix them . give half an ounce thereof daily , an hour or two before dinner . drink a spoonful of the juice of the berries above it . give two drachmes every week of the rob of the elder , in the water of elder-flowers , and provoke sweat in bed , or bath . after the sweat , the heat to be tempered with a spoonful or two of the sowre syrup of the elder . this experiment is praised by many ; take of the middle elder-bark , subtilly shaven , and dry it lightly in the shadow , a little more then a handful ; put on it three quarters of a pound of goats milk , boyle it on a soft fire till the half be consumed ; of whose colature drink morning and evening . they say that this doth absolutely out-rout all poyson given by whores and knaves , though it were given three years before . if it do not succeed at first , the patient is to use it often ; and by divine assistance he shall obtain the wished event . the conclusion . these things , courteous and kind reader , i thought fit to set down of the elder , and the use thereof , and medicines . those dishes which may be prepared of the flowers and berries , at that time , when they are to be had in great abundance green : for the preventing of many diseases ; seeing they are well known to cooks by daily experience . to what diseases they agree , is known by what is said . if there occur any thing here which doth not please you , it is your part favourably to construct it , and to withhold the censure , till you try all things more exactly in the infallible ballance of reason and experience . i leave , for praise ▪ nor crave ; for praise enough i have ; if not contemned by thee , courteous reader , i be . if those things that are omitted , obscure , or not rightly delivered , be by thy more pollisht judgment added , illustrated and corrected , thou shalt deserve infinite favours from me , and all those honorers of medicine and nature : for nothing can be more happy then to know much ; and we are to learn , that we way know . neither at any time was there any of such qualified reason , but things , age , and use will afford-him some new objects , some new observations : so that what thou thoughtst thou knewst , thou unknowst ; and despisest that upon thy tryal , which thou didst most trust . for there was never any thing more unrighteous then an unjust man , which holds and believes nothing right , but what he fathers . farewel , and what ere thou art , favour these endeavors ; and together with me in this wonderful and unexhaustible variety of things , devoutly admire , and piously worship , the unsearchable depths of divine wisdom and goodness . finis . the sixth book of practical physick of occult or hidden diseases; in nine parts part i. of diseases from occult qualities in general. part. ii. of occult, malignant, and venemous diseases arising from the internal fault of the humors. part iii. of occult diseases from water, air, and infections, and of infectious diseases. part iv. of the venereal pox. part v. of outward poysons in general part vi. of poysons from minerals and metals. part. vii. of poysons from plants. part viii. of poysons that come from living creatures. part ix. of diseases by witchcraft, incantation, and charmes. by daniel sennertus, n culpeper, and abdiah cole, doctors of physick sennert, daniel, 1572-1637. 1662 approx. 179 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 63 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a59200 wing s2541a estc r221050 99832430 99832430 36903 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a59200) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 36903) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2058:17) the sixth book of practical physick of occult or hidden diseases; in nine parts part i. of diseases from occult qualities in general. part. ii. of occult, malignant, and venemous diseases arising from the internal fault of the humors. part iii. of occult diseases from water, air, and infections, and of infectious diseases. part iv. of the venereal pox. part v. of outward poysons in general part vi. of poysons from minerals and metals. part. vii. of poysons from plants. part viii. of poysons that come from living creatures. part ix. of diseases by witchcraft, incantation, and charmes. by daniel sennertus, n culpeper, and abdiah cole, doctors of physick sennert, daniel, 1572-1637. culpeper, nicholas, 1616-1654. cole, abdiah, ca. 1610-ca. 1670. [14], 108 p. printed by peter cole, printer and bookseller, at the sign of the printing-press in cornhill, near the royal exchange, london : 1662. with an initial section of advertisements, and a table of contents. the author's names are bracketed together on the title page. imperfect; pages faded and stained with slight loss of text. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on 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illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. witchcraft -england -early works to 1800. medicine, popular -england -early works to 1800. poisonous snakes -early works to 1800. 2003-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-11 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-11 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the sixth book of practical physick . of occult or hidden diseases ; in nine parts part i. of diseases from occult qualities in general . part ii. of occult , malignant , and venemous diseases arising from the internal fault of the humors . part iii. of occult diseases from water , air , and infections , and of infectious diseases . part iv. of the venereal pox. part v. of outward poysons in general part vi. of poysons from minerals and metals . part vii . of poysons from plants . part viii . of poysons that come from living creatures . part ix . of diseases by witchcraft , incantation , and charmes . by daniel sennertus , n culpeper , and abdiah cole , doctors of physick london , printed by peter cole , printer and bookseller , at the sign of the printing-press in cornhill , near the royal exchange . 1662. books printed by peter cole and edward cole , printers and booksellers of london at the exchange . several physick books of nich. culpeper , physitian and astrologer , and abdiah cole doctor of physick commonly called , the physitian 's library , containing all the wor●s in english of riverius , sennertus , platerus , rio a●us , bartholinus . viz. 1. a golden practice of physick : after a new , easie and plain method of knowing , foretelling preventing , and curing all diseases incident to the body of man. ful of proper observations and remedies , both of ancient and modern physitians . being the fruit of one and thirty years travel , and fifty years practice of physick . by dr. plater , dr. cole , and nich. culpeper . 2. bartholinus anatomy , with very many larger brass figures , than any other anatomy in english. 3. sennertus thirteen books of natural philosophy : oi the nature of all things in the world . 4. sennertus practical physick ; the first book in three parts . 1. of the head. 2. of the hurt of the internal senses . 3. of the external senses , in five sections . 5. sennertus practical physick ; the second book , in four parts . 1. of the iaws and mouth . 2. of the breast . 3. of the lungs . 4. of the heart . 6. sennertus third book of practical physick in fourteen parts , treating , 1. of the stomach and gullet . 2. of the guts . 3. of the mesentery , sweetbread and om●ntum . 4. of the spleen . 5. of the sides . 6. of the scurvey . 7 a●d 8. of the liver . 9 of the ureters . 10. of the kidnies . 11. and 12. of the bladder . 13. and 14. of the privities and generation in men . 7. sennertus fourth book of practical physick in three parts . part● . of the diseases in the privities of women . the first section . of diseases of the privie par● , and the neck of the womb. the second section . of the diseases of the womb. part 2. of the symptoms in the womb , and from the womb. the second section . of the symptoms in the terms and other fluxes of the womb. the third section . of the symptoms that befal al virgins and women in their wombs , after they are ripe of age. the fourth section . of the symptoms which are in conception . the fifth section . of the government of women with child , and preternatural distempers in women with child . the sixth section . of symptoms that happen in childbearing the seventh section . of the government of women in child-bed , and of the diseases that come after travel the first section . of diseases of the breasts . the second section . of the symptoms of the b●e●sts . to which is added a tractate of the cure of infants . part 1. of the diet and government of infants . the second section . of diseases and symptoms in children . 8. sennertus fifth book of practical physick , or the art of chyrurgery in six parts . 1. of tumors . 2. of ulcers . 3. of the skin , hair and nails . 4. of wounds , with an excellent treatise of the weapon salve . 5. of fractures . 6. of luxations . 9. sennertus two treatises . 1. of the pox. 2. of the gout . 10. sennertus sixth and last book of practical physick in nine parts . 1. of diseases from occult qualities in general . 2. o● occult , malignant , and venemous diseases arising from the internal sault of the humors . 3. of occult diseases from water , air , and infections , and of infectious diseases . 4. of the venereal pox. 5. of outward poysons in general . 6. of poysons from minerals and metals . 7. of poysons from plants . 8. of poysons that come from living creatures . 9. of diseases by witchcraft , incantation , and charmes . 11. idea o● practical p●●sick in twelve books . 12. twenty four books of the practice of pay●●●k , being the works of that learned and renowned doctor lazarus riverius physitian and counsellor to the late king ▪ &c. 13. veslingus anatomy of the body of man 14. a translation of the new dispensatory , made by th● colledg of physitians of london , in folio and in octavo . whereunto is added , the key of galen's method of physick . 15. a directory for midwives , or a guide for women 16. galens art of physick . 17. a new method both of studying and practising physick . 1● . a t●eatise of the ri●kets . 19. medicaments for the poor : or , physick fo● 〈◊〉 common people . 20. health for the rich and poor , by diet without physick 21. one thousand new , famous and rare cures , in folio and octavo . 22. a treatise o● pulses and urins . 23. a treatise of blood-letting , and cures performed thereby . 24. a treatise of s●arification , and cu●es performed thereby . 25. riolanus anatomy . 26. the english physitian enlarged . the london dispensatory in folio , of a great caracter in latin. divinity books printed by peter cole , &c. mr. burroughs works , viz. on matth. 11. 1 christs call to all those that are weary and heavy laden , to come to him for re●t . 2 christ the great teacher of souls that come to hi● 3 christ the humble teacher of those that come to him . 4 the only easie way to heaven . 5 the excellency of holy courage in evil times . 6 gospel reconciliation . 7 the rare jewel o● christian contentment . 8 gospel-worship . 9 gospel-conversation . 10 a treatise of earthly mindedness , and of heavenly mindedness , and walking with god. 11 an exposition of the prophesie of hoseah . 12 the evil of evils , or the exceeding sinfulness of sin. 13 of precious faith 14 of hope . 15 of walking by faith , and not by sight . 16 the christians living to christ upon 2 cor. 5.15 . 17 a catechism . 18 〈…〉 twenty one several books of mr. willi●● 〈◊〉 , collected into two volumes , viz. 1 scripture light , the most sure light. 2. christ in travel 3 a lifting up to the cast down 4 sin against the holy ghost . 5 sins of infirmity . 6 the false apostle tried and discovered . 7 the good and means of establishment . 8 the great things faith can do . 9 the great things faith can suffer . 10 the great gospel mystery of the saints comfort and holiness , opened and applied from christs priestly office. 11 satans power to tempt and christs love to , and ca●e of his people under temptation . 12 thankfulness required in every condition 13 grace for grace . 14 the spiritual actings of faith through naturall impossibilities . 15 evangelical repentance 16 the spiritual life , and in●●●ing of christ in all beleevers . 17 the woman of can●●h . 18 the saints hiding place , &c. 19 christ coming , &c. 20 a vindication of gospel ordina●ces . 21 grace and love beyond gifts . the contents of the sixth book . of occult or hidden diseases the first part . of the diseases from occult qualities in general . page chap. 1. whether there are actions from the whole substance , or from occult qualities 1 chap. 2. of the names and nature of occult diseases 2 and venemous diseases that arise from humors 17 chap. 5 of the differences of diseases that come from the internal fault of the humors 19 chap. 6 of the signs of diseases that come from malignant venemous humors that are bred in our bodies 20 chap. 7 of the preservation from , and cure of these diseases ibid the contents of the third part . of occult diseases from water , air , and infections , and of-infectious diseases . chap. 1 of occult and malignant diseases , and venom that arise from waters 22 chap. 2 of malignant diseases from the air 23 chap. 3 of 〈◊〉 24 chap. 4 of the differences of infectious diseases 26 the contents of the fifth part . of outward poysons in general . chap. 1 of the naure of poyson 27 chap. 2 of the differences of poysons 2● chap. 3 of the signs 32 chap. 4 of the prognosticks 33 chap. 5 of preservation from poyson 34 the contents of the seventh part . of poysons from plants . page chap. 1 of opium 54 chap. 2 of mushrooms . 56 chap. 3. of napellas . 57 chap. 4 of aconitum 58 chap. 5. of toxicum and pharicum ibid. chap. 6 of hemlock 59 chap. 7 of the colchian ephemerum . ib. chap. 8 of fleabane 60 chap. 9 of mad nightshade and dorycnium ibid. chap. 10 of the mandrake . 61 chap. 11. of smallage of laughter , or the sardonick herb. 62 chap. 12 of coriander ibid. chap. 13 of ixia and camaleon . 63 chap. 14 of taxus the ewtree . ibid. chap. 15 of euphorbium . 64 chap. 16 of the nut called m●tella ibid. chap. 17 of spurge 45 chap. 18 of hellebore 66 the contents of the eighth part . of poysons that come from anim●ls , or living ●rea●ures . chap. 1 of poysons from animals in general 67 chap. 2 of serpents in general 69 chap. 3 of the aspi● or adder . 71 chap. 4 of cerastes 72 chap. 5 of haemorrhous ibid. chap. 6 of dipsas 73 chap. 7 of amphisbena and scitale ibid. chap. 8 of a basilisk 74 chap. 9 of the viper ibid. chap. 10 of the scorpion 76 chap. 11 of a crocodile 77 chap. 12. of stellio or a lizard so called ibid. chap. 13 of the salamander . 78 chap. 14 of the spider . ibid. chap. 15 of cantharides , or span●sh-flies 79 chap. 16 of flies , bees and waspes 80 chap. 17 of the poyson of a mad dog 81 chap. 18 of the brain and blood of a cat ibid. chap. 19 of diseases and symptoms which poysons leave behind them . 82 the contents of the ninth part . of diseases by witchcraft , incantation , and charmes . page chap. 1 of fascination or witchcraft , and whether any diseases come thereby . 84 chap. 2 what inchantments , poysonous witchcraft , and magick are 86 chap. 3. many affirm that diseases may be from witchcraft and charmes 88 chap. 4. uv●erus denies that diseases may come by witchcraft . 90 chap. 5 the controversie is decided , and it 〈◊〉 shewed whence diseases are made that are from witches ibid. chap. 6 of the signs of diseases from witchcraft 96 chap. 7 of preservation against witchcraft 96 chap. 8 of the care of diseases made by witchcraft , and first of the magical cure 97 chap. 9 of the natural cure of witchcraft 98 chap. 10 of the divine cure of witchcraft 100 also two eistles of that excellent and famous man balthas●● han doctor of physick , and chief physitian to the elect●r of saxo●y . the sixth book . of occult or hidden diseases . the first part . of the diseases from occult qualities in general . chap. 1. whether there are actions from the whol substance , or from occult qualities . some confess that there are in nature hidden faculties : but how many sorts , and from whence they come is not sufficiently explained . galen calls them the qualities of the whole substance , and reproves the teacher p●lops , that bragged more ambitiously then learnedly , that he knew the causes of all things . for they who endeavor to know that , bring foolish rediculous reasons , or deny things confirmed by experience . fernelius in the last age learnedly defended occult qualities . and iulius caesar scalig●r saith it is great impudency to bring all things to manifest qualities , and i suppose that there is no more foolish and detestable opinion in physick , then to determine that the causes of all things which happen naturally , are to be fetcht from manifest causes and elements . for who is so foolish or impudent , that will impute the action of the loadstone drawing iron to qualities fetcht from the elements ? some hate cats , that if they be present ( though they see them not ) they fall into cold sweats , and faint , and cannot endure any cupboard that contains them ▪ also purging medicines that purge much in a small quantity , and the action of poysons testifie the same . and the meanest physitians know of what narcotick quality a few grains of opium are . from which , and six hundered more arguments , i conclude that these actions are far different from the actions of manifest qualities . chap. 2. of the names and nature of occult diseases . they are called occult qualities , because their force is known only by their operation and effect ; but we know them not by sense , because they affect the body privately . by galen they are said to act from the whole substance which valeriola saies , is when there can be no reason given of the acting , but the substantial form , as the elementary qualities flow from their forms . nor a●e occult qualities to be contemned , therefore as the refuge of ignorance , but rather our weakness of understanding . and as he that knows that fire warms from its heat , knows truly , and is not ignorant . so he that knows that a loadstone draws iron , because it hath a vertue so to do , is truly knowing , and not ignorant . and in this our darkness , the form of fire and of the loadstone , is alike unknown unto us , for the form is a divine thing , and works , whole exquisite knowledg is hid from us ; therefore it is the part of a fool to search after it . for it is a part of humane wisedom to be content to be ignorant of some things . and the true knowledg of all things is only in eternal wisdom . chap. 3. of the original of occult qualities . it is hard and tried by few , to know the original of occult qualities : for they come not from the first qualities , which way soever mixed or tempered , for they cannot produce such actions as are in purges , poysons and antidotes , either being simple or mixed , so that occult qualities should produce effects above the power and condition of the elements . nor are they from the peculiar mixture or unknown measure of the temper of the elements , for these mi●●ures do not change nature , nor exalt the essence : for it is an undoubted truth , that nothing acteth beyond the strength of its kind . therefore occult qualities flow from their forms , which must be sought for . let us search into the differences of the substances in which these qualities are , and then it will appear that all have not the same original : for some are alive , others not , of those that live not , some have had life , as rhubarb , wormwood . some have not , as stones , metals . 1. therfore occult qualities that come frō living creatures , are in all the particular individuums of every kind , only as long as they live ; as force to stop a ship , is the remora , while alive , not dead . this quality is from the form of the fish living , and so it is in the torpedo . 2. there are other occult qualities proper to some living , but not to all of that kind , as some hate cheese or wine , or cats present , though not seen . these qualities depend not upon the form , but upon the peculiar disposition of the body . 3. occult qualities are in things without life , & depend upon their specifical form , as the force of the loadstone to draw i●●n , or 〈◊〉 it in the air , or to move towards the pole , or the vertues of jewels , metals and minerals . 4. there are occult qualities in natural things that have lived , and do not , as in plants and animals which are used in physick , as in rhubarb to purge choler , in the elkes hoo● against the epilepsie &c. 5. there are occult qualities bred according to nature in living things , both plants and beasts , as the venom of a scorpion , adder , tarantula . 6. they are in living creatures against nature , as the venome of a mad dog , and of the plague . these are the divers subjects of occult qualities . chap. 4. whether do occult qualities belong to health ? not only the elementary qualities concern mans health , but the occult ; for whatsoever conduceth to the natural disposition of the parts of mans body , belongs to the health of it . for health is as a natural power to exercise natural actions , depending upon the constitution of the parts according to nature ; or a natural disposition of the parts of the body , that hath power to exercise natural actions . but to the constitution of the parts of mans body , occult properties do belong , and many actions are done by them . therefore occult qualities belong to the health of man. chap. 5. whether are there other diseases then distemper in the similar parts . fernelius only ( as i know ) said that similar parts had other diseases besides distemper , for three reasons . 1. in a similar part , besides the distemper , are found things that make up its constitution , for there is matter and form which may be the subjects of a disease , as temper ; for the whole substance is the perfection and integrity , by which every thing subsists . therefore whatsoever destroys the matter and form , are diseases of the whole substance ; some are manifest , some are hid . the manifest demolish the substance of the parts by manifest qualities . the occult oppose the whole substance from occult causes . but fernels reasons onely prove that there are diseases from occult qualities , and to be cured by the same . as for the first kind , the change and corruption of substance causeth not a disease , but the destruction of the part , but a corrupt thing neither suffers a disease nor health . if the corruption is not perfect , but beginning , it is a disease of distemper or alteration . if this destruction of substance come from an occult cause , it belongs to diseases of occult qualities therefore it is not the corruption of the form . the second reason of fernel , is from curing : medicines are given , that work by occult qualities , that is from the whole substance ; therefore there are diseases answerable to them : for if there were no occult diseases , remedies had been invented in vain , which oppose the actions of them with their whole substance , as vonemous diseases , and the plague . to this i answer , a preternatural disposition from an occult quality , is more properly to be called diseases of occult qualities , then diseases of the whole substance or form : for it is not affected immediately , onely the noble qualities are affected , which the form useth for to act by . fernels third argument is from actions hurt : for saith he , all actions hurt , are either from the disease of the part acting , or from an external error , but there are actions which are neither referred to diseases of distemper , nor to external error . it follows that there are others from whence these actions arise , as in malignant and pestilent feavers , in which there is often no distemper to be observed , and yet strength is so dejected , that they often kill . therefore every poyson of it self , as it is poyson , works by an occult force , and puts an evil disposition into the body , that cannot be cured but by antidotes but it must not be called a disease of the whole substance , but a disease of occult qualities . chap. 6. what diseases are in similar parts , besides distemper ? some learned men having examined fernels reasons mentioned for diseases of matter ●nd form , have seen some falsities in him , and therefore have rejected his truths also . i shall give my opinion . if any with fernel wil cal them diseases of the whole substance or form , that have a hidden cause , because they destroy the substance and form of the part , it cannot be allowed , because they affect not the form immediately , as i shewed . but they shall say truly , if they shall say that they change those noble qualities , which the form useth besides the first qualities , and bring in the contrary . that there are such occult qualities and evil dispositions appears by what is said , and they bring the same into our body , and so alter it , that after many years that malignant quality hath been observed to revive . they say so of the english sweating disease , that many which scaped it , had a great palpitation of the heart two or three years after , others all their lives . the same you may see in other venemous diseases , and the french pox . for many have been seemingly cured , and after twenty or thirty years have relapsed , which shews a malignant disposition that remained . gal●n knew this saying . the least part of deadly poyson getting into the body , changeth it all in a moment , and alters it with a disease like it self . chap. 7. of the causes and differences of occult diseases in general . occult diseases are preternatural dispositions , stampt upon the body of man from occult qualities , acting otherwaies then by the first qualities , and are cured by remedies that act occultly . these occult causes are divers , and produce divers diseases , as feavers with a cough , not deadly , but contagious ; so there is an occult venom in the french pox , that kils not presently ▪ but tormenteth men long . so the lepers die not presently : and there are malignant feavers , with , or without the p●●gue . the causes of occult diseases , are sometimes without the body , from the air corrupted by vapors , and corrupts the humors , which causeth occult diseases ; or when they stay with them that have an infection , as the scurvey , elephantiasis , and venom of a mad dog , the pox , and the like , by which , contagion is carried to others . also poyson from plants , minerals , animals taken in do the same . or conveighed by a bite or sting of a beast , as of a scorpion , tarantula , basilisk . to these you may refer diseases by witchcraft . there is another difference taken from the parts in which the occult qualities lie , by which a man is not presently killed , because poyson doth not suddenly go to the heart , but to some other part , as spanish flies go to the bladder , opium and evil malignant air to the brain , making an epilepsie ; the sea-hare to the lungs , and the french pox to the liver . some differences are from the manner and force of the action : for-deletery poysons have forms , which are the principles of acting , but the instruments are the hidden vertues that flow from these forms , which are unknown to us , except only by the effect . also they act without the help of the first qualities , and cure distinguished from them . chap. 8. of the signs of occult and venemous diseases in general . if he have been with them that have a contagious disease , or hath taken poyson , or been bitten or stung by a venemous beast . 2. if no sympto● can be referred to the quality . if they be gre●● , and not usual in other diseases . 3. if they ●e onely cured with antidotes that work by an occult quality . you may know if the cause of an occult disease be bred in , or brought to the body by the die● before , and by his conversing with such as had the like disease . the symptomes shew what part is chiefly affected . if the heart he suddenly smitten , the vital faculty is dejected ; the pulse is weak , the heart beats , the mind is troubled , there is fainting . if the brain be affected , there is hurt of sense and motion presently , watching and raving . if the liver , the colour all over is changed there are spots and pustles all over , the urin is changed in colour and substance . the stronger the malignant cause acteth , the shorter is the disease . whatsoever gets quickly to the heart , is dangerous . every occult disease is to be suspected , and also malignant and venemous are worse then such as act by manifest qualities . the greater the symptoms , the more the danger . chap. 9. of the cure of malignant , venemous , and occult diseases in general . you must preserve or cure . preservatives are excellent in contagions , of which hereafter . in diseases that come from humors gathered inwardly , you must evacuate presently . poysons that come by chance , can scarce be prevented , except you do as mithridates king of ponius that used mithridate often , of which cardanus . if the malignant venom hath pressed the body , take it presently away , or abate its force : if it be by a humor bred in the body , use purges or sweats ▪ if poyson be drunk , and still in the stomach , vomit it up with oyl or fat. if it be gotten from the stomach to the guts , purge , or give clysters : if it be in the liver , sweat : if it come by a little sting or touch , draw it out presently , that it pierce not in , of which before . give antidotes in all cases , or proper or common , if it be not known . in sharp poysons taken it , use fat oyls , but in such diseases , look more to the occult then the manifest qualities . if there be other diseases also , as plethory , cacochymy or obstruction , give not antidotes before those causes be removed , and it must be done very quickly in great poysons . for those causes nourish the hidden venom , and oppose the strength of antidotes . this was the opinion of eustach rudius , which i suspect , for you must oppose what is worst and urgeth most ; therfore give things at first against poyson . against venemous diseases , we give antidotes simple or compound , called alexiteria . simple are angelica roots , valerian , swallow-wort , contrayerva , tormentil , zedoary , burnet , scorz●●era , white dittany , masterwort , snakeweed , citron peels , ashen bark , carduus , rue , scordium , sorrel , galangal , pauls bettony . compounds are mithridate , treacle , pouder of saxon , diascordium . mathiolus his antidote . amulets by fernel and palmar , and the like . the second part . of occult , malignant , and venemous diseases , arising from the internal fault of the humors . chap. 1. of malignity and venom in general . that is malignant that hath worse symptoms , and is harder to be cured then ordinary . malignity is an adventitious quality to a disease that makes beyond its nature more difficult or dangerous . it is from manifest or occult qualities , as when an ulcer is in a part only distempered by a manifest quality , it may be cacoethick , or of an ill condition , but that is only from manifest qualities . on the contrary , if a part be stung by a venemous beast , or bitten , there wil be an ulcer also , but such as is from an occult quality : here we shal speak only of malignity that flows from occult qualities . hence it is cleer that malignity differs from poyson , for malignity comes after another disease , but poyson by i●s pernicious force brings a hidden disease without another disease , so the plague poyson can kill without a feaver of it self , and so wil hemlock , napellus . poyson therefore is that which of its own force by an occult way doth vehemently and immediately afflict the body and endanger life , but the doubt is whether it be a quality or a substance , therefore distinguish it , somtimes it is taken for the thing poysoned , somtimes for the form of action and hurting our bodies privately . if it be taken for the thing poysoned , it is of a double nature : some are bodies and act by a bodily contract , and though they touch not all with their own body , yet they send forth atoms and small bodies that infect , and move to & fro in the air in the time of contagion . others act by intentional species , that is , spiritual qualities that kill , as the poyson of the torpedo that ben●●●s the hand of the fisher through the spear . if poyson be taken for the venemosity it self , it is an occult and dangerous quality . the differences of malignant and venemous diseases are from the effects and causes , for we are ignorant of their forms , therefore we shall describe every poyson in its proper place by it● proper signs : but here we shall propound the differences of occult diseases fetcht from their causes ▪ they are bred in or without the body ; from evil humors bred in the body are divers sorts of malignant feavers , and pestilent feavers , and the plague . the causes without the body are divers both malignant and venemous . 1. the air drawn in , inspiration sent out by transpiration . 2. bad water drunk . 3. contagion or infection any way communicated to the body hurts secretly . 4. poysons taken have power to corrupt the body . 5. the stingings and bitings of venemous creatures , either piercing the body , or any other waies hurting , as by sight , hissing , venemous breath , or spiritual species . also venemous oyntments with which darts or swords are infected : all these poysons are taken from plants , animals , or minerals ; of which in order . chap. 2. whether malignant venemous humours are bred in our bodies . mercurialis denies it , fernelius affirms it ; and they both bring unsatisfying arguments . but rudius decides the controversie in saying , they are properly poysons which are such of their own nature , and not such as by conception become enemies to our bodies . and true poyson is only that which is bred without the body . galen seems to favour fernel ▪ against mercurialis , when he saies that poyson is bred in dogs when they are mad , which is very infectious , and a pestilent venom breeds of dead carkasses , and if poyson breed in a dog , why not in a man ▪ nor is the external agent only requisite for generation , but the disposition of the matter is more then the outward acting instrument . chap. 3. how are malignant and venemous humors bred in mens bodies ? therefore since poyson is bred in our bodies the difficulty is , how it is bred . note first that all the corruptions of our bodies are not to be imputed to the matter alone , or to the efficient . somtimes the efficient produceth it , when the venemous quality or disposition is so fixed that it infects the humors that flow to it : but usually venemous humors are bred in respect of the matter , and they afterwards turn malignant . note secondly that there are divers concoctions in our body , in which new mixtures are made , nor is there a resolution as far as the first matter in every mutation or corruption , but when any thing corrupteth , only the form , and the determinate temper of that form , or the subjects with its accidents perish , and others that are subordinate remain , some with their accidents : hence it is that often some form is manifest which lay hid before . and what hippocrates spake of the powers of humors i find true in the nature of poyson . in man ( saith he ) there is bitter , sweet , salt and sour , and six hundred more qualities , which according to their plenty and strength have other faculties , by mixture of the mutual contemperation , nor are these seen , nor do they molest , but any of thes● are separated , and is alone , then it is evident , and molesteth a man , &c. thus must we dispute concerning poysons . a man feeds upon divers creatures and plants ; the plants are fed by dung of animals and showers , or by floods , and we may find every-where things contrary to our bodies in the dung and excrements of animals , in the earth , rain and rivers , which are carried with the nourishment into the body , and there exercise their force . hippocrates gives an example of this , as when a woman or a goat eats wild cowcumbers , the child or the kid will be purged , because the milk is made purging . and though it be first made chyle , then blood , and thirdly milk , yet the purging quality is kept after so many changes , when the infant hath suckt . from whence it is easie to conclude , that many things get into our bodies with the nourishment , that have venemous and malignant qualities . for how many men do feed upon mushrooms , melons , and the like , which breed bad juyce ? how many malignant showers fall upon the plants that feed the cattel ? how many beasts that are mans food , eat venemous plants and creatures ? the stork eats hemlock , the quail hellebore , the ducks toads which nourish them . hens eat scorpions and serpents , and when man eats these meats , it is no wonder if that poyson which feed them ( though after divers concoctions it took divers forms ) become hurtful unto man , and be a kind of poyson in him . chap. 4. of the causes of occult and venemous diseases that arise from humors . these causes are efficient or material . as to the efficients , in regard divers concoctions are made , there must be divers excrements , according to the variety of the parts , one in the liver , another in the heart , another in the stones , womb , and the veins and arteries that contain blood and spirits , when they are distempered , suffer the blood and spirits to corrupt , and they are distempered by excess or occult malignity , by which the solid parts are often corrupted , as appears in soul ulcers , gangrens and sphacels . this evil disposition is somtimes from the parents to the children , and they produce evil humors , which cause the malignant scab or elephantiasis . somtimes it is from meat and drink , and venemous medicines that exceed in the first qualities , and secretly hurt the body . the stars may do the same . for though they usually nourish the earth with benigne influences , yet by accident they may hurt this or that person by occult influences , except they keep a proportion , of which hereafter . hippocrates shews how much the air conduceth to the breeding of diseases , saying : that change of seas●ns doth chiefly breed diseases , and they are either breathed in , or sent into the body by the pores , and the plague comes from the air . also imagination and passions may be counted efficient causes : for frights and anger have caused great diseases . and i observed about six times , that when the plague was here where i live as professor , that many fell into the plague by anger , which ( though it be hard to be explained ) is probable to me . for many bodies are of constitutions subject to the plague , either by the air or other cause , rather then to another disease ; and if imagination , fear or anger come upon them , this disposition is easily brought into act , and the good humors may be corrupted by those passions , as mercurialis shews . cardan mentions hatred among these causes , it is a passion made of anger and sadness , and corrupteth the humors . the other cause that corrupteth the humors is material , and makes them malignant or venemous , and the plague is often bred from bad diet in time of famine , which galen saw under commodus the emperor . also cowcumbers and pompions produce humors as bad as poyson , if they lie long in the body . also good meat not well digested in the stomach , may cause bad chyle , and good blood is never made of bad chyle , but a humor or green choler , which is burnt and corrupted in the liver , and mixed with the blood , and when it rests in the veins , it is scarce perceived , but when it is stirred by the motion of the body or mind , it is worse , and corrupts more , and is separated from the good humors , and brings great diseases , and sudden death . but meats that have in themselves a malignant venemous quality , as mushrooms ▪ froggs do this much more . chap. 5. of the differences of diseases that come from the internal fault of the humors . there are two chief differences of diseases from internal humors . the first are malignant , but kill not , onely cause greater symptoms then the first qualities can produce , with these a man may live long . the second are such as presently kill , and are well called venemous . of the first sort are the humors that cause an epilepsie , fear of water , dancing , madness , scurvey , colick , and malignant dysenteries , elephantiasis , gangrene , and simply malignant feve●s . of the second sort , are the humors that beget pestilent feavers , and the plague . as for the first sort , the epilepsie and the other diseases are not the evident causes , or from obstruction of the ventricles of the brain , nor is fe●● of water , from the biting of a mad dog. but this epilepsie is from a humour or vapor that hurts the membranes of the brain , and the nerves especially . and fear of water may come from internal humors without the biting of any mad creature . mercellus donatus hath five examples of this , and the diseases mentioned are not from manifest qualities , but from malignant , occult and venemous causes . as for the second kind , the humors are so corrupted , that they do not only turn malignant , but breed deadly diseases , that kil like poyson , as pestilent feavers and the plague , buboes and carbun●les , of which before . chap. 6. of the signs of diseases that come from malignant venemous humors that are bred in our bodies . the signs of these diseases are from the causes mentioned in the fourth chapter , especially from the air , which if it keep not its natural constitution , the humors must needs be corrupted , as experience confirms . another sign is when famine hath been either by scarcity or siege , and men have had an ill diet , the inward humors are corrupt . the third is , when no manifest cause went before , and the man had not to do with any man of the like disease , and there are the signs of malignity and venom , it shews that it is from the internal fault of the humors . and by comparing the strength with the disease , you may know the event of the disease . chap. 7. of the preservation from , and cure of these diseases . wee have shewed the cure largely before , only if there be a malignant or epidemical disease stirring , either from air or bad diet , or the like , let it be removed by convenient evacuations , lest the humors corrupt . and observe from what cause the fault is , that you ma● apply sit remedies : as pills de tribus , rhubarb , and syrup of roses , and the like . these must be repeated at a distance , and good antidotes used . after purging , it is good to sweat , and take heed of anger , fear or passions , which stir up the hum●●s that he stil and close , and make a plague without any society with them of the plague . see for the cure lib. 4. de feb . cap. 6. the third part . of occult diseases from water , air , and infections , and of infectious diseases . chap. 1. of occult and malignant diseases , and venom that arise from waters . many diseases come from bad waters , as dysentery and dropsie and malignant diseases also , as the scurvey . marsh standing pools easily corrupt , and the drinking thereof in armies , causeth malignant pestilent feavers , because they are infected by froggs , toads and serpents , and other venemous creatures . also waters are unwholsom , in which flax or hemp are steeped . and some fountains have killed them that have drunk thereof , and therefore the waters of the river styx are so odious , among poe●s . pausanias and other historians mention of many poysons that wil infect waters you may cure these waters by boyling thē or quenching steel , or stone , or iron in them when you are in armies , or on a journey , and cannot boyl them , at least you may strain them . and if any have drunk such waters , let him presently take an antidote . chap. 2. of malignant diseases from the air. air as it is a pure element , neither corrupts , nor is infectious ; but it may be corrupted by other things . paris is seldom free from the plague , by reason of inundations , for besides the stink of the mud , all the jakes of the city are full of stinking water , that go not into the common-shore , but to the gates of the city , and cause a stink , especially in hot weather . also malignant vapors arise from dens and caves , saith mercurialis , he had seen many caves near rome , into which , if either man or beast go , they presently die . the air becomes pestilent , when the smal bodies that use to be in the air ( that of themselves are not venemous ) do corrupt . these are all dangerous diseases , and none can be secure from them , for none can live without air . therefore let such as by reason of their imployments , or the like , cannot flie , never go abroad , but with good antidotes in their mouths and anointed about their noses . chap. 3. of contagion . in contagious diseases . 1. there is the disease which is called contagious , because it infects another with the same disease . 2. there is the medium by which the like disease is produced in another . 3. there is the action by which the like disease is produced in another . and lastly the disease which is produced in another ▪ a contagion is an infection , or a body sent from a sick body , that can produce the like disease in another . to clear this . 1. consider the contagious body . 2. the infection by which it doth infect another . 3. the body that is infected . 1. the contagious body is not onely a man , but an ox or sow , or the like . and that is only contagious that can breed any thing in it self , which being sent to another of the same kind , produceth the like disease . 2. when that contagion passeth to another body , with which it hath some likeness , the passage is by infection or seed , in which there is force to act by the quality that flows from the force . but we are ignorant of that quality and the form from whence it flows : therefore it is truly called an occult quality . for this quality and form are in as smal a body as an atome , and is so called ; and as one saith , the infection of diseases is multiplied by little bodies , that like seeds , comprehend the whole essence of the disease . now the quality by which the infection acts so powerfully , is not manifest ; for no manifest quality hath such force ; but it is occult , and not sensible , but known only by the effect . nor can you say that this infection is the effect of rottenness , for that putrefaction be made many alteration are required , and long time . but contagion taken in suddenly infecteth , and often kills , and begets the like contagious humor in the party ; and works like contagious poyson before there is any putrefaction wrought , as appears in the plague . this miasma or contagion is spred and sowed about , by the pores of the skin . somtimes it comes forth with the sweat , or sticks to the skin with a thicker excrement or filth . somtimes it goes out of the body by the breath : somtimes by matter or quittor that comes out of the ulcers . somtimes those atomes flie about in the air , and therefore the seeds of the plague are sowed far about . a contagion or miasma is sowed and spred abroad two waies , either by fewel alone , or by the air , and by its fewel . this fewel is not the subject of that form , but gives a place to the contagi●● . such are all things that are porous and thin , as wool , flax , cotten , feathers , hairy beasts skins , and walles may receive contagion , as experience shews : and some solider things , as stones and metals , but then they are soul , for when they a●e clean from silth , they cannot receive it so easily . 3. the body that is infected , and receiveth the same disease thereby , is somwhat like it . for it is received into garments , wool , but the like disease is not produ●ed in them , because they have no analogy with the body infecting . nor doth the same contagion infect all alike , for the plague which in sows infects not men nor ox●n , and that which infects men , in●ects not ●ogs nor oxen. and all men , and are disposed to receive all contagions , but the kindred are most sit to receive , by reason of the agreement of humors . chap. 4. of the differences of infectious diseases . in cōtagious diseases there is an excremēt bred which like a vapor or little body , or by silth , infects another body with the same disease . catarrhs are often contagious , and malignant pestilent feavers , sore eyes , consumption , dysenteri●s , scurvey , scabs , itch , scald heads , arabian leprosie , dogs madness , the french pox , of which we spake before in a treatise in folio in english. the fifth part . of outward poysons in general . chap. 1. of the nature of poyson . i had thought to have concluded this epitome with the french pox ; but when i found many things remarkable concerning poyson , i thought good to set them forth . there are many authors of the same , but they follow not the method of sennertus . first , what things are accounted poysons ? some think bezoardick medicines and purges are to be reckoned among poysons . for the understanding of this : observe first , that galen used the word deadly for that which may kil , or that which may do good somtimes , though it may kil by accident . note secondly , that some medicines alwaies hurt , and never do good ; these are poyson , and so must be called . but they which somtimes do hurt , are not to be accounted poysons , and they which somtimes do good , are not to be excluded from the number of poysons . for there is a difference of things hu●tful in general , as saffron chears the heart . but if you take too much of it in meat , it hurts . as a merchant who bought a great deal of saffron , & cast a great deal into the porridg-pot against supper , and after he had supped , sel into such a laughter , that he almost died thereby . the same is to be thought of some purges and bezoardicks , that have no occult quality against the body , which by the excess of good qualities , do hurt : these are not to be counted poysons . therefore poyson is whatsoever is apt to hurt us much by an occult quality . or thus , it is that which corrupts the complexion , not only by a quality , but by a propriety ; for it is necessary to the nature of poyson alwaies to kill men , but to hurt much only . they define not poyson rightly , that say it is that which can kill a man presently by an occult quality , or that can by a property corrupt the heart suddenly . some are enemies to the brain , and cause madness : others are enemies to other parts . but how comes poyson to the heart ? it is either drawn by the heart , or goes to it being carried by its hurtful quality , or by both . it is probable that all poyson being active from the destructive form it hath against the heart , turns every thing it toucheth in mans body into poyson , and multiplies it self , for spiritual things have great force to multiply by species or atomes , as appears in musk ; but it chiefly hurts that part with which it hath the g●eatest antipathy . have poysons power to nourish ? some deny it , and bring reasons against experience . for the aegyptians eat vipers ; and there are a people that are serpent-eaters near the red sea called candaeans . and the maid that fed upon napellus , that she might kill kings that lay with her , and the like shew the truth of this . and he that takes these for fables , makes himself a fable . there are divers poysons , some have no nourishment at all , but are wholly contrary to nature , as arsenick . some have nourishing parts that are taken with the poyson , these may nourish , especially if they be accustomed by degrees to them . and galen gives no other reasons , but that nature may be made acquainted with poyson by degrees , and be nourished by them . chap. 2. of the differences of poysons . some are poysons in their own nature . others are so by corruption , as rotten fish and stinking flesh . 3. there are poysons made by art , by boyling and sublimation , we shall speak only of those that are of their own nature poysons . some are minerals or metals , as arsenick . others are plants , as napellus . others are from animals , as scorpions , vipers . secondly , they either act by the ●irst qualities , or by hidden qualities , or by both together , but this division i●●●lse . for poysons are not to be judged by their first qualities , but by their contrariety in the whole substance . moreover they are all enemies to the heart or some determinate part , but as they are hot , cold , moist or dry , they hurt all , but not as poysons . for though manifest and occult qualities may be in the same subject , yet their effects must not be confounded . for with their manifest qualities they heat , cool , dry , or moisten , but kill with the occult qualities , or hurt very much . the third difference , is from the effects , for their forms are hidden from us , and shew them● selves by their operations hence some are enemies to the heart , and kill men presently . others are enemies to the brain , as furious nightshade , dogs poyson . others hurt the liver , as the plant that purgeth blood . and some poyson hath antipathy against all parts . the fourth difference ; some poysons are deadly , others not . nor is it true , that all poysons either kill or make fit for death , for as it is in chap. 1. many do but hurt greatly , and cause onely folly and doting , so that with them they may live long . some kil sooner or later , by hurting greatly a member that is simply necessary to life , as the heart , liver , lungs or stomach , &c. fiftly , some kill presently , others at distance , as a grain of nubia , which being divided among ten men , kills them all in a quarter of an hour , such is arsenick and the poyson of an adder . among them that kill at a distance , is the poyson of a mad dog that often lies hidden many yea●● . question . whether are there such poysons by art or nature , that can kill a man at a certain time ? i think it cannot be , for though all natural things have their circuits , and that there are the beginnings and ends of actions , they are for the most part unknown , and cannot be determined in this darkness of mans mind . moreover the agent and patient concur in every action , and because the actions of active things are not out in a disposed patient , and the mans body , in respect of the circumstances , hath more or less power to resist , it cannot be that the same poyson should kill somtimes sooner , somtimes later . the sixth difference , is from the manner of poysons getting in : some are taken at the mouth with meat : some come from without , many waies . some venemous beasts leave their poysons upon plants ; as it was reported of a young man that was talking with his sweet-heart , and rub'd his gums with sage , and fell down dead . the gardner found a great toad under the sage that infected it . some poysons hurt by touch , rubbing , or anointing . the turks have a poyson so strong , that by touching onely , it kills a man the same day . it is reported of the son of the king of cambaia , that was nourished with such poyson , that he was all over poyson , so that the flies that touched his skin ▪ swelled and died . it is a que●●i●n how poysons should kill only by the vapo● : it is either from the material qua●●ty , or the s●●rital species that poyson , kils . for 〈◊〉 poysons , like atomes and little bodies , exercise their force , whether it be in fume , vapor● or dust , or in a juyce or oyntment , and the venemous quality is in that little body , as in a subject . for when such a quality depends upon its form , it cannot be moved but with the same . chap. 3. of the signs . poyson is either taken unawares , or given by subtility and stealth by wicked men . and this is a common sign , it presently makes a great change in the body , by which it differs from those that are bred from humors in the body by putrefaction . for in poyson bred in the body , the symptoms arise by degrees , not altogether , but by succession ; but in poyson taken from without , many symptomes appear together from nature stirred up by the poyson with horrid and turbulent vomiting , overturns all that she may send out her enemy . and we may suspect poyson , when a sound man bred up well without foul humors , shal suddenly have his actions and things voided , and retained , altered , and the qualities , presently the motion of the heart and pulse is disorderly , without any other apparent cause . the strength fails , the pulse is either depraved or abolished , with beating of the heart , fainting and death . some have megrims , convulsions , trembling , hickets , biting , stomach-pain , and guts griping-stoppage stoppage of urin , vomiting of choler , or the like , somtimes loosness of belly . cold sweats , and chilness , swollen tongue , black and inf●amed lips , swollen belly , and body often , with spots . all these symptomes are worse then such as come from poyson bred with in . poyson from biting or stinging of venemous beasts have other signs , there is presently pain in the part . it is inflamed , and rots , and mortifies , except you have present remedies . poysons at a distance called temporary , have their conjectures , though no certain signs , by the effects . there are often long diseases without reason : or folly , madness , or epilepsie , running pains , and consumption . but the poysons that affect the lungs , cause a dry cough and tongue , thirst , spitting of blood , and consumption , and other poysons that hurt other parts , are known by the actions of those parts hurt . whether may one killed by poyson be discovered certainly ? galen thought they might be known to be poysoned , when he writes thus : a man of his own nature abounding with good humors , and well educated , and fed , when he dies suddenly ( as they use to do that take deadly poyson ) if his body be blew or blackish , or of divers colours , 〈◊〉 stink , they say he is poysoned . from which words we may gather , that galen thought that men poysoned , might be discovered . but the best way to make it manifest , is to open the body , and have an expert and wise physitian . chap. 4. of the prognosticks . to prognosticate artificially , consider the nature of poysons , and differences . some hurt more , others less ; some sooner , some later . 1. they that set upon the heart kill presently , or are overcome . they that assault the liver or lungs , last longer . they which hinder breathin● , quite kill presently . the second difference is from the great , mean or small quantity of the poyson . 3. the more and the greater the symptoms , the sooner and certainer is death , as sounding , chilness , cold sweat , turning of the eyes . if these come together , there is no hope , and the more they increase , the worse it is . if they decrease , there is some hope . 4. it is a sign of death , if after the poyson is taken , there is no vomiting , or purging , or voiding any thing , though means have been used . there are other prognosticks which are manifest from what hath been said . chap. 5. of preservation from poyson . they that will be preserved from poyson , let them keep close to cardans rules . the safest way is to use antidotes , as mithridates did mithridate , so that he could not be poysoned . there are divers antidotes internal and external . albertus magnus speaks of the external , as the diamond , topas , smaragd worn constantly upon the bare skin , no poyson can hurt that man. some precious stones keep men from infectious air . these are worn for amulets : and if poyson be near , they sweat . treacle and mithridate are the best inward , and galen saith that none can be poysoned that take as much as a bean every day of treacle and bids them use it in time of health . and experience shews that you may safely give preservatives against poyson to sound bodies , and by them they get an incredible propriety to resist poyson some of these antidotes are without any excess of quality , as bezoar stone , sealed earth , bole , harts-●orn , smaragds , and the like . these are given safely to all bodies . mithridate and treacle , though they be less hot , by reason of the fermentation , yet take heed that by the too much use , you do hurt thereby . chap. 6. of the cure of poyson in general . some make differences between bezoardicks and antidotes , and say that bezoardicks act not against poyson , but only strengthen the body to expel it : and they help only by accident . some say that bezoardicks fight against poyson , and are wholly against them . antidotes are hurtful in too great a quantity , and are in some sort against the heart , but both by use are good in venemous diseases ; us all cordials , bezoar stone , harts and unicorns-horn , &c. some antidotes are proper against some peculiar poysons , and all strengthen the heart to resist poyson : as tormen●il roots , white dittany , borage , bugloss , sorrel , scabious , borage and bugloss ●●owers , violets , roses , waterlillies , gilli●●owers , citron and basil seeds , wood-alo●s , juyce of citrons , pom●granates , oranges , quinces , saffron , cinnamon , cloves , harts-horn , bone of a stags heart , ivory , pearl , musk , amber , coral , hyacint●s , smaragds , saphirs , sealed earth , bole. many of them resist poyson , and compounds made of them . and though h●t must be given against cold and cold against hot poysons , yet you must not so much look at the manifest qualities as to that force which is in medicines , to oppose poyson in the whole substance . therefore in hot poysons you may give treacle and mithridate : and if the poyson will give leave , first abate the cacochymy . lastly , let him that hath taken poyson , either at the mouth , or other waies , sleep but little ; for he must constantly take medicines , and observe whether the symptoms increase , or abate by the bezoardicks , more of which hereafter . chap. 7. of the cure of poyson taken in at the mouth . when any one thinks he hath taken poyson , let him presently have a vomit , before the poyson exercise its cruelty , and let it be repeated often , and made of things that may dull the sharpness of the poyson ; as of fat broaths , oyl , butter-milk boyled , broom , dill , iesamine flowers , radishes , and the like , to which you may add bezoardicks , so that they stop not vomiting . therfore make choice of things that bind not , as harts-horn , bezoar stone . if the poyson get to the stomach and guts , give clysters . as , take mallows , pellitory , althaea , each two handfuls ; boyl them in water , strain them , to a pint and half , add oyl six ounces , electuary of fleabane two drams , make a clyster . and purge thus : take scorzon●ra roots two drams , sorrel half a handful , agarick two drams , zedoary , citron seeds , each a scruple ; cordial flowers a pugil : hoyl them , strain , and ad to four ounces , manna two ounces , strain it again , and add syrup of citron-peels . while these are doing , anoint every third hour the heart , feet , hands and temples , and places where you feel the arteries beat , with oyl of scorpions , of which mathiolus , it is excellent . let the reliques of the poyson be driven from the heart and bowels by sweats , and leave not sweating til the evil disposition be quite conquered . for diet , give milk for meat and drink , and fat meats , butter and oyl , borage , bugloss , figs with cordials , harts-horn , coral , pearl , hyacinths , smaragds , zedoary , saffron , citron peels . chap. 8. of the cure of poyson from without . that poyson may not creep in , draw it out presently by medicines and chirurgery . as , take galbanum , sagapenum , mirrh , pellitory , each half an ounce ; pigeons dung three ounces , calamints a dram , dissolve the gums in vinegar , and with honey and oyl make a cataplasm . or apply chickens or kids cut in two hot to the part where the poyson is . these laid on , work by a hidden quality , oyl of scorpions , spiders , and the creatures that poysoned applied to the part . galen saith that he knew the biting of a crocodile cured by the grease of a crocodile , and the sting of a scorpion , by the scorpion applied to the part . these act by the likeness of substance . you must continue the use of things that draw out poyson , till pain , evil colour , and other symptoms cease , and there is laudable quittor in the part . and to keep the poyson from runing inward or about , tie the vessels above : then cut off the part that is poysoned , if it may be done with safety . give antidotes at first to drive poyson from the heart , and kil it , and to take away the venemous quality that is in the body . and 〈…〉 ulcer follow a bite or venemous sting , keep it long open , scarifie it , and burn it as shall be shewed . poyson taken by scent , must be opposed by contrary scent , as mirrh , amber , musk , ambergreece , civet , rue , asphaltum , wood-aloes , sanders , cloves , saffron , storax , and the mouth being shut , you must take the scent of these at the nose . of these we shall speak in the special or particular cure of poysons . sennertus concludes this general doctrine of poysons , with relation of diseases that come from fear and frights , because they are like poysons , and he reports out of cardan , that when a man is frighted by ghosts , or the like , the heat is drawn in , and the mind is troubled , and he becomes dumb ; and if the fright be great , the outward parts are cold , and contracted , and the hair falls off , and if the body be cacochymick , he is very sick , and if strength fails , he dies . this he confirms by many histories which i have left out , only i shal relate one of which i was an eye witness . when i studied in physick in oxitan , anno 1617. a woman that grew melancholick from anger , hung her self , the crowner sitting upon her , sentenced her to be hung in gibets , about a mile from the city . another woman that was her familiar acquaintance , seeing her ●ut of a window , neat the place , cryed out , and fell into a great diarrhaea suddenly , with a constant dotage that could not be cured . from whence i conclude , that in these diseases from terror , the heart is not only affected , as cardanus thought , but the brain also . hence they usually give epileptick waters : this is good for children . take tile-flower water , piony , black cherry water , each an ounce and half ; ●earl prepared , coral and har●s-horn , each a scruple ; fecula of piony half a scruple . the sixth part . of poysons from minerals and metals . chap. 1. of unsleaked lime . vnsleaked lime hath some venom in it , though it is a stone , and may be reckoned among poysons for its malignant quality ; also it hath fire in it , that wil burn . symptoms and signs . this taken into the body , afflicteth grievously , for it corrodes and vexeth the stomach and guts , and causeth unquenchable thirst , bitterness of mouth and tongue , ●oughness , cough , want of breath , dysentery , stoppage of urin , swounding and choaking . a child of eight years old supposed it to be chalk , and eat much , and died the sixth day with these symptoms . provoke vomit with things that abate the sharpness of the lime : give the warm decoction of violets , mallows , althaea , lineseed , rice , oyl , fresh butter , and mucilages of lineseed , mallows , althaea , fleabane , and keep the belly open with cassia , or a clyster with barley water , and mallows roots and all ▪ mucilage of fleabane , cassia lignea , waterlillies , and the like . the antidotes are , the gal of a kid , from a scruple to a dram , and the gall of an hart or deer a scruple drunk with warm water , earth of lemnos two drams with milk. give fresh butter and sat broaths in which mallows is boyled . chap. 2. of gipsum . they who have drunk of this or eaten it with wheat flour , have all died . the signs and symptoms . a great cough , driness of tongue and jawes , great pain about the stomach , hickets , stretching of the hypochondria , binding of the belly , dulness and dotage , fainting , and they die choaked . give warm water with much butter , or oyl of sweet almonds , or oyl of lillies which will make them vomit it up . but because it sticks fast , give stronger vomits , as hellebore . if it be gotten to the guts , give emollient clysters . some give a dram of scammony , with two drams of fleabane in a iulep . then give fat 's to make the passage slippery ; as the decoction of mallo●s , althaea , faenugreek seed , fat broaths , goats milk , juyce of mallows , decoction of dates and figs. these are specifick , organ given in vinegar and honied wine , li●ivium of vine ashes or fig-tree ashes , with sweet wine and treacle , or mithridate , from half a dram , to two drams in sa●k . chap. 2. of vitriol . among salts we reckon vitriol , chalcitis , misy , sory , melanteria , it participates of the nature of brass or iron , and mineral clay : this is not properly poyson , for good medicines are made of it , in which there are no signs of venom , and if it be given a dram with honey it kils the flat worms , and with water it is the antidote against mushrooms . the symptoms and signs . it causeth loathing and vomiting , and corrodes the stomach , except it be perfectly cast up it torments the guts , and causeth a dysentery and great thirst . let it be presently vomited up with the decoction or oyl of dill , or wormwood water , after vomiting , take much butter or warm milk with sugar ; if there be a gnawing in the guts , give clysters of barley water , mallows and oyl of roses . if you suspect malignity , give earth of lemnos or sealed earth , with mucilage of quince seeds a dram , with barley water , or red coral with wine . chap. 4. of aqua fortis . this kils by corroding rather then by poyson , it is used by gold-smiths to seperate and corrode metals . symptoms and signs . it pierceth so that it burns the tongue like fire , and corrodes the tunicles of the stomach and guts , a maid died by it in great torment . the mucilage of quince seeds is good , for it lenifies and keeps the parts from corrosion by its sliminess . or the eclegma of the mucilage of althaea and quince seeds , gum traganth made with rose water , honey of roses and violets : or a gargarism of quince seed , althaea , cowcumber seed , roses , violets and moulin , and of self-heal , lungwort , sanicle boyled in water with honey of roses . by this a mariner was cured when he had dangerous symptoms from aqua fortis . chap. 5. of antimony . antimony is reckoned by many among poysons from its moving of such horrible vomiting of water , and because it leaves such great weakness after it , but good medicines are made of it though it be not free from malignity , as appears by the vapors that fly from it when it is melted . the signs and symptoms . for when the chymists melt it , if the vapor be taken in at the nose , it causeth suffocation , palsie , and epilepsie , and other symptoms : if it be taken crude , it causeth vomiting , convulsion , colicks , and fainting ▪ to keep evil vapors from hurting such as use antimony , let them eat bread and rue . or , take bezoat water with bole. or this , take walnuts a handful , beat them with honey , add treacle an ounce , zedoary half an ounce , clov●● , nutmeg , each two drams ; with honey make an electuary , this is a preservative , and it may be used to anoint the nostrils . if it be given crude or ill prepared , it causeth evil symptomes , then give bailey water with syrup of roses , to clense , and clensing clysters : then strengthen the guts and stomach , with wine wherein cloves and mastich is boyled : the antidotes are treacle and bole armeniack two scruples . chap. 6. of the load-stone . some reckon the loadstone among poysons , others say it makes people youthful , but that i believe not ▪ because it is a mineral and hath the nature of a metal : and if it lie long in the body , you must do as hath been shewed in other cases ; as if it stop in the stomach , vomit ; if in the guts , use lenitive clysters , and then give antidote , as the smaragd to be drank in wine thrice in nine daies , with harts-horn and coral . also treacle is good . chap. 7. of the diamond . there is the same reason for the diamond , as for the loadstone of which we spake but there are more that think it not to be poyson , of this we spake lib. 3. part 2. sect. 2. ch. 7 ▪ quest. 2. now i shal speak of the symptoms and cure of such as have taken diamonds into their bodies . signs and symptomes . after taking diamonds there is a vehement pain in the stomach and guts , and then follows fainting and death . it is by vomiting , as the other , then give goats blood , with fat broath , and then from a scruple to two drams of natural balsom , and if these prevail not , use the general antidotes . chap. 8. of lapis lazuli . many say that lapis lazuli burneth and ulcerates , and putresies , it is therefore not to be reckoned among things that are simply poyson , but among those purgers that are not without malignity , because they are vehement . the arabians say it purgeth melancholy , strengtheneth , and cleereth , and therefore it is put into confection alkermes , but then it must be wel prepared . symptoms and signs . this stone not wel prepared , or taken in too great a quantity , causeth turning of the stomach vomiting , want of appetite , and pain of the belly , sadness and sorrow . it is cured as other corroding poyson , by vomits and clensing emollient clysters . the corroding quality is taken away by asses milk warm drunk for seven daies together . two drams of amber is the bezoar or antidote against this stone . chap. 9. of arsenick , orpiment , sandarach , and realgar or ratsbane . arsenick both natural and artificial , yellow and red is of the same faculty . yellow arseni●k and sandarach by sublimation make white arsenick or ratsbane . realgal and risagallum are made of orpiment and sulphur with quick lime and salt. signs and symptoms . all the kinds of arsenick bring grievous symptomes , which kill presently except they be opposed , as griping of belly and guts , vomiting , unquenchable thirst , driness of tongue , jaws and throat , and roughness , and then dysentery and stoppage of urin , cramp and palsie , and death , the white arsenick is most dangerous . histories confirm that arsnick doth not only destroy by being taken in but hurts by being carried about . therefore they that have taken it are in great danger , or they that handle it carelesly or apply it to cure the itch , or for other causes , for they either die , or run mad , or have a cachexy . provoke vomit presently and often , with fat things , and such as obtund or allay the sharpness of the poyson as butter , with warm water , or decoction of turnep seeds , arrage , with fresh butter , oyl of linseed or roses , or other fat broath in great quantity . if the belly be griped , give clysters of mallows , althaea , violets , vervain , line seed , with cassea and oyl of violets , or of fat broath , cream of p●isan , asses milk , and mucilage of fleabane seed . and after give milk in great quantity and butter and oyl of sweet almonds , fat broath , rice boyled in milk. the specifick antidotes against arsenick are a dram of pouder of crystal with oyl of sweet almonds , or three drams of oyl of pine kernels or ▪ take pine nuts beaten four ounces , infuse them in a pint of water ; strain and give it to be drank , or give ten grains of oriental bez●a● . chap. 10. of brass , and its verdigreece , and burnt brass . if meat be kept in a brass-vessel ( with vinegar or wine ) and eaten , it disturbeth the stomach , causeth vomiting , and driness of tongue , and corrosion , and fluxes . and brass it self taken , causeth moreover difficult breathing , ul●ers of the guts , and suffocation . burnt brass , flour of brass , scales of brass , and verdigreece , are all poysonous ; for burnt brass taken , turns the stomach , makes fluxes , and pain . and so doth flour of brass , and also it straitneth the lungs , and suffocates . verdigreece taken , is a deadly poyson , as arsenick , it causeth pricking , grievous pain and corrosion in the throat , and stomach , and guts , and constant vomiting , and dysentery , and stoppage of urin , and straitneth the throat , and stops the wind , and suffocateth . it kills in one day , in the quantity of a dram . it must be cured by vomit , with warm water , and oyl of dill , or butter ; and by clysters ; of mallows , violets , barley , althaea , faenugreek seeds , fleabane , with honey , oyl of roses and sweet almonds . then give milk , fat broath , fresh butter , faenugreek , lineseed , fleabane , althaea and mallow seeds . some commend sheeps suet , and advise that the bottom of the belly be anointed with hot oyl of roses , and of mastich . for antidotes , use a dram of bole , or sealed earth , with wine , juyce of mints , or small age two drams . or juyce of acorus roots two or three drams with 〈◊〉 ▪ or two drams with treacle . chap. 11. of aurichalcum , and bell-metal . it is most of brass , and therefore is poyson , and communicates to meat and drink boyled in it , which eaten , brings the same symptomes , and must have the same cure. bells are made of brass and other metals , and the rust of them doth the same . horstius writes that a noble woman that had taken the filings of bells in red wine , by the advise of an old woman that promised her health by it , vomited violently , and her belly rose up , and swelled her body as if poysoned , and then she had headach , megrim , and pricking , and fell into a frenzie , and when she came to her self , her stomach was corroded , as if there were needles in it . the rust was purged out of her , which many saw . and if this happen , you must cure it as you cure brass . chap. 12. of iron , and its rust and scales . iron is not poyson , except you take it in too great a quantity , or stay too long in the body , and then it hurts not as poyson , but causeth belly-ach , and driness of mouth , and inflammation of the body , and vomiting . it is as that of brass by vomits and clysters , that are lenitive and clensing , and by manna , and stomach-pills , and then milk , butter , and fat broath . the loadstone is instead of bezoar against it . chap. 13. of lead . if lead be swallowed whole , and voided , it doth no hurt ; but if it be small , and stay in the body long , and melt , it causeth great symptoms . fernelius shews how it hurts . in lead not burnt , when it gets to the guts , and shews its malignity , it is sufficient to abate sharpness , and clense by asses milk , and other milk. or the decoction of mallows , althaea , linseed , hydromel , oyl of sweet almonds . the antidote against burnt lead , is quince seeds bruised after they are husked with wine two drams , and two drams of treacle every day with honied water and wine . chap. 14. of ceruss . it is made of lead by corrosion , with the vapor of vinegar , and causeth the same symptoms , which are these . if it be taken into the body ; the tongue , gums and teeth are white , there is hickets , and desire to vomit , driness of tongue and roughness of the mouth , a cough , pricking in the stomach and belly , stretching at the heart , difficult breathing , bleeding by stool , needing , the head is troubled , and strange things flie before the eyes . they are drowsie and dull , cannot move hand or foot , the urin is black or bloody , the limbs are cold , and they die . vomit presently with the decoction of arageseed and rape seed , mallows , figs , water and honey , o●l of lillies , orris , iesamine , &c. and give clysters of coleworts , pellitory , cardu●● , centaury , diaphaenicon , oyl of lillies . then allay the sharpness of the poyson , with hot milk , decoction of figs , mallow seeds , althaea , mucilages of line and faenugreek seed , fleabane , mallows , oyl of sweet almonds , lillies , iesamine . then use clensers and diureticks with antidotes . a lye of vine ashes , and ash leaves , walnuts , oyl of angelica , treacle , mithridate . chap. 15. of red lead . it is made of common lead , and is of the same force with it , and ceruss and litharge , and causeth the same symptoms . symptoms and signs . it hurts the stomach and guts , causeth belching , loathing , vomiting , fluxes , and other symptoms mentioned . give a vomit presently , of rape seed , arage with butter and oyl . then give the clysters mentioned ; or two drams of the antidote of burnt ivory in wine , or treacle , or mithridate . chap. 16. of litharge . a gricola mentions five sorts of litharge , but we have only white and red , and from their colour are called litharge of gold and of silver . symptoms and signs . dioscorides shews the signs from litharge taken ; as heaviness of the stomach and guts , with great pains . the guts are wounded , the urine stopt , the body puffed up , and like lead . the joynts burn , the guts are ulcerated , and there is a flux of blood , sometimes the gut comes out . the tongue is heavy , there is iliack passion , and the tongue is faltering . they foam at the mouth , the breath is stopt , the tongue inflamed , the body is blew , and the patient is choaked . vomit presently to prevent corrosion , and oppose malignity , with the decoction of dill f●gs , dates , with butter or oyl : do it often . then give clysters of hydromel , centaury , dill , st. iohns-wort , hiera picra , oyl of rue , hens grease , &c. resist malignity , and provoke urine with mirrh , wormwood , hysop , smallage seed . or , take smallage seed , mirrh , each equal parts , wormwood half as much with wine . chap. 17. of quick-silver , crude or sublimated , or precipitated . vvee have spoken of the occult and manifest qualities of quicksilver , we shall here shew how it is poyson . it may be taken in crude , sublimated , or precipitated : to the crude belongs a vapor that riseth from it . symptoms and signs . if quicksilver taken in , stick in any cavity , or be mixed with any medicine that may keep it in the body , it causeth great evils , and death . so doth the fume of it taken in at the mouth : or if it be anointed outwardly , and pierce into the body , it doth hurt . precipitate is worse , but sublimate worst of all . for quicksilver not killed , by its corroding malignity causeth wind , and pain of the stomach and guts , heaviness of body and stomach . if it be kept long , there is stoppage of urin , and the whole body swells , and the colour is of a lead blew . it causeth palsie in the member where it is , epilepsie , apoplexy , syncope and death . by its fume comes trembling , contraction of nerves , weakness of joynts , palsie , hurt of senses , especially of the sight and hearing , stinking breath and ulcers of the mouth , and the like , as the quicksilver doth produce . precipitate causeth the same , but worse , and sublimate the worst of all , and by its touch like fire , it destroys whatsoever is near : with inflamation , burning of tongue , and swelling of the mouth , fainting , stoppage of urin , difficult breath , bloody-flux , and death . some vomit first . i think it best to purge first , for if it rise upwards , it is easily divided into smal parts , and so cannot be expelled by vomit : therfore purge strongly . first , give a clyster of hiera picra , oyl of hydromel , and hens grease . then purge , and give filings of gold , or leaf-gold ; or costus with wine , juyce of burnet , or three drams of mirrh , with honey ; wine after it . when the fume of quicksilver is taken in at the nose or mouth , give sage or zedoary water . sweat in a hot house , and rub the parts that are weak , with a bag of sage , groundpine , bettony , lavender , and iuniper-berries boyled in wine . if sublimate or precipitate be taken , they are cured as corroding poysons by vomit , clysters , and new milk , with fleabane seeds . the pouder of cristal is the antidote against quicksilver , a dram with oyl of sweet almonds , or oyl of tartar , or two drams of salt of wormwood . strengthen the heart with diamargariton frigid , and de gemmis . if urin be stopt ( as it is often ) use a bath of hot water for the pecten , with a spunge wet in the decoction of iuniper berries , and smallage seed . and anoint after with oyl of rue or iuniper . chap. 18. of cinnabar . i speak of that cinnabar which is made of quicksilver and sulphur sublimed , and is common . the symptoms caused by it ▪ are the same with those of quicksilver . fernel in his book of the pox , chap. 7. and schenk●us in his 7. book of observations , speak of it from the relation of dr. iohn physitian ●amic . cure it as quicksilver , for the same symptoms require the same helps . spodium is held the best antidote against cinnabar , made of burnt ivory , and given , two drams . others say spodium of cane roots two drams , is better . also the other antidotes mentioned in the former chapter , are good . the seventh part . of poysons from plants . chap. 1. of opium . i shall speak of four things cōcerning opium . 1. whether opium may truly be reckoned among poysons ? 2. whether it be hot or cold , whether it cause sleep , or do hurt by manifest or occult qualities ? 3. what are the signs and symptoms of opium taken in ? 4. how they are to be cured that have taken too much opium ? and how opium may be corrected , that it may be a profitable medicine . the learnedest writers say it is poyson . the new juyce of the black poppy being crude , and not corrected , must be counted a poyson . for experience shews it , though many , as turks and aegyptians eat opium without hurt ; for men by custom may be so familiar with poyson , that it may not hurt them . but hence it follows , not that opium is not poyson , and works as poysons by hidden qualities , though i shall shew , it may work also by manifest qualities . for the second : there are many arguments that opium is hot , which scaliger exercit. 175 ▪ affirms , calling it by the name of amphiam or aphioure , and also vesalius mercurialis , and capivaccius , and erastus , and they confirm it by reasons . 1. it s inflaming and burning quality . 2. it s strong scent . 3. the bitter tast . 4. it s burning the mouth and lips . 5. it s causing thirst . 6. its heating the mind . 7. it provokes venery . 8. it causeth itching . 9 it causeth sweat . all these are signs of great heat , as the learned shew in their tractates of opium . therefore in regard opium is not cold , and doth not cause sleep or death from thence , nor from heat , because other hot things have not the same effect , we conclude that opium doth it by an occult quality and propriety . first , they that work by manifest qualities , are not more contrary to one part of the body then another . but opium is chiefly hurtful to the brain , nerves , and animal spirits ; therefore it doth not work by a manifest , but hidden quality . secondly , the effects of opium are so wonderful ( as shall be shewed ) that they can●ot be referred to manifest qualities . it kills a man in so small a quantity , as no pure element can do the like , much less a mixed body ▪ lastly , if opium hurt onely by its coldness , or by its quality ▪ as pepper and saffron . the physitians and chymists need not study so much to correct , but only give it in a less quantity , as they do ginger and pepper . thirdly , let the symptoms be reckoned that follow ; after opium is taken , none can give opium unknown to the receiver , by reason of its unpleasant scent , though it hath been taken instead of another medicine . after it is taken , there follows great sleep , and a megrim , and itching over the whole body , which is so great , that it raiseth a man from sleep : there is a strong scent over all the body like opium ; the lips swel , there is hickets , little breathing , the eyes are dim , the nose is awry , & there are convulsions somtimes . if it be not prevented speedily , it ki●s suddenly , as histories mention . after general evacuation , as in other poysons by vomits and sharp clysters , give the proper antidotes against opium , as assa ferida , castor or organ , and castor boyled in wine : of these dioscorides . chap. 2. of mushrooms . some mushrooms are venemous by experience , for some have died by them , and even whole families . seneca called them a voluptuous poyson . they kill not onely when they are eaten , but when they are smelt . the symptomes are when they are taken in too great a plenty , they cause strangling , or when they are not not well boyled or prepared ; they also puff up the belly , cause hickets , ulcerate the guts , suppress the urin , and cause horror , cold sweat , syncope , and somtimes epilepsies , pain , and madness , and death . those mush●ooms that of their own nature are poyson , are more dangerous then such as by plenty eaten , or by ill preparation do hurt . vomit presently : take broom flowers , elder-flowers , each two pugils ; bark of dan●wort two drams , radish , dill , arage seed , each a dram ; agarick half a dram : boyl them in hydromel , add to the straining , oyl of rue an ounce , make a potion . make clysters of organ , hysop , rue , calamints , scordium , hiera , with agarick , honey of roses , oyl of rue . these resist malignity , calamus , organ , hysop , rue , watercresses , wormwood , birthwort , garlick . treacle , mithridate , oxymel simple , and of squils . but honey is the proper antidote against mushrooms . chap. 3. of napellus ▪ it is sudden poyson ; for after it is taken , the lips and mouth swell , and are inflamed , with the tongue also , so that it can scarce be thrust out . there are convulsions , faintings and megrim ; the eyes are twitched , the legs are weak , the pulse is faint , and death follows . few escape after it , and if they do , they fall into a consumption . after vomiting and clysters , give b●oarstone , sealed earth , with butter and aqua me●s , or two drams of smaragds , or bo●● arme●nc● : this is excellent . take the flies of napellus twenty , 〈◊〉 , bole , each a dram ; make a pouder , give it with rue-water ; oyl of scorpions of mathiolus must anoint the head . chap. 4. of aconitum . a conitum , cycoctonon and lycoctonon so called , because it kills dogs and wolves , is like pardalianches , which kills the panther . to these the other kinds may be referred : the juyce of the root is worst ; and they are like napellus . symptoms and signs . it is sweet upon the tongue , then it grows brackish , and stricks into the head , and causeth heaviness , megrim , convulsion of the temporal muscles , dotage , trembling , involuntary tears , red eyes , side-pain , heaviness of breast , difficult breathing , biting at the pilorus , swelling as in a dropsie and death . pliny saith it is the worst of poysons . others think napellus worse . they are worst in the indies . first vomit , if it be gone lower , purge or give clysters , then give antidotes , as rue , southornwood , centaury , organ , horehound , groundpine , long birthwort , hares and kids runnet , with wine and vinegar , eryngus , castor , treacle , mithridate , opobalsom a dram , and use oyl of scorpions outwardly . chap. 5. of toxicum and pharicum . vvriters do not explain these ; they are plants , with the juyce of which they poyson their arrows . some have used napellus and aconitum for the same . chap. 6. of hemlock . they record that socrates was killed with hemlock : for it acts not only by cold , but by its whole substance and occult quality ; therefore it causeth dim sight and madness , somtimes difficult breath , hickets , astonishment and death . it is more deadly in some countries then in others . after vomiting or purging give proper antidotes , as , rue , dictany , young laurel leaves , carrot , gentian , pepper , amomum , cardamons , ne●●e seed , wormwood , castor , with wine , treacle or mithridate two drams . give wine , warm the body , especially the heart , make him move and run . chap. 7. of the colchian ephemerum . it is called so from the ephemerum that is not poyson : it is a plant in every part of it hurtfull to man , and grows much in colchos . the symptoms . if taken , it presently corrodes and ulcers the lips and stomach , and choaks as the mushroom , if it go to the guts , it ulcerates and inflames them so that shavings of the guts are voided , like washings of flesh , and makes the whole body itch . after vomiting and purging , give milk to drink . dioscorides saies that alone wil cure . chap. 8. of fle●bane . there are divers sorts , and all enemies to the animal spirits , they cause madness like d●●cards , and they rail and think they are whipped , and they cry , and bray like asses , or neigh like horses , and have a giddiness and trembling of the whole body : they toss to and fro or fall in an epilepsie , or faint , they breath not , and are seldom suffocated . it yeilds easily to medicines while the party is strong , and the medicines proper . vomit with hydromel and oyl of r●e : or give a clyster , and then the antidotes , as pistacha●s , castor , rue , wormwood , bay leaves and berries , ne●tle seed , garlick , treacle , mith●id●●e : give with meat radishes , mustard seed , garlick , oni●ns , watercresses , fresh butter , pepper , pistachaes , drink wormwood-win● and provoke 〈◊〉 chap. 9. of mad nightshade and dorycnium . two boyes were killed with b●rries of nightshade . and though there are many sorts of it , they are all poyson , especially that called bella donna , but mad nightshade is worst . symptoms and signs . a dram of the root of mad nightshade , caus●th strange imaginations not unpleasant , if you take as much more , it alienates the mind , and four times as mu●h kils . honey'd water drunk plentifully , or milk , and then bole , sealed e●rth , rue , treacle and mithridate : and things good against opium , and use castor and rue to the nose . dorycnium is not the same , for that is like milk , sweet upon the tongue , and when it is in the stomach , it causeth constant hickets and fainting , the guts are ulcerated , and they vomit blood . you must vomit here as in other poysons , but honey water is best here , and milk , sweet wine warm , with aniseed ; and all shell-fish are good raw or boyled . chap. 10. of the mandrake . the mandrake and its apples are also dangerous , and though they hurt only by cold as some think , yet their bitter tast , and strong scent , itching and burning in the skin , and driness of the mouth , perswade the contrary : for all these are from venom : besides they cause sleep , lethargies , and when they are awaked , they roar and and sleep again presently , they ar● sad and dull , and somtimes mad , their eyes swel , they are red with swollen faces : there is ●urning the whole body , the mouth and tongue a●e dry . as for the prognostick , it kils slowly , but if 〈◊〉 be not opposed , they die by convulsions . ● et the mandrakes be presently vomited or void●d by stool , then give p●nnyroyal , wormwood , o●g●n , r●e , s●●rdium , castor , ●it● vinega● 〈◊〉 a d●●●ction , or in pouder ▪ o● give treacle , 〈◊〉 , with salt three daies . 〈◊〉 ●ouse hi● , ●ive 〈…〉 e●thi●s of castor , rue , as in a lethargie . let the drink be sweet , or wormwood wine . chap. 11. of smallage of laughter , or the sardonick herb. these being taken , because they hurt the nerves , they make the mouth awry , for the muscles that move the lips , are contracted , so that they seem to laugh . there is a heat in the guts , and stomach , and throat , and the whole body ; they are mad , and some laugh constantly . after vomiting and purging , give hydromel , milk , butter , and fat broaths plentifully . emulsions of sweet almonds , the great cold seeds , poppy seeds , with barley and lettice water , and plantane water . the antidote is juyce of balm , with vinegar , bole and whey . anoint the neck with oyl of costus , castor , foxes , st. iohns-wort , aragon oyntment , &c. some make them drunk , that they may sleep it out . chap. 12. of coriander . the venom of coriander is not to be sought in the first qualities , for it is hot , but you must consider its malignity : when green , and the ripe seed is not without fault , and must be prepared for physick , for it causeth a mad dotage , so that they talk like drunkards obscoenly , with a shrill voice , they are sleepy , and giddy , and their body smells like green coriander . vomit with warm water , or decoction of dill , oyl of orris , or lillies , wormwood wine , : give fat broaths , with salt and pepper . the antidote is root of smallow-wort , with win● or treacle . give rear eggs , with p●pper and salt. chap. 13. of ixia and camaeleon . the symptoms and signs . ixia smells and tasts like basil , it inflames and exasperates , causeth madness and want of breath , binds the belly , causeth pain , itching , and fainting . give the decoction of wormwood , goats-organ , in wine or vinegar or hydromel , ●ft●r a vomit or a clyster . or give the roo● of silphium , or indian spikenard , castor , treacle and mithridate . then strength●n the vital spirits , as in chap. of swounding , l. 2. p. 4. c. 6. chap. 14. of taxus the ew-tree . the symptoms and signs . they that sleep under this tree , or eat of its fruit die ( though in england it is innocent ) yet they that are infected in other countries , are all over , and fear choaking , have a dysentery , and often die suddenly . after vomiting and fitting purging , give ●ormwood wine plentifully , or ge●●ian , and orris roots , with oxymel or treacle . against the dysentery give sealed earth , bole , bezoar , coral , tormensil roots , iuyce and syrup of pomegranates , and of currans . chap. 15. of euphorbium . though euphorbium be used physically , yet if it be given in a great quantity , or not corrected , it is poyson : and doth not only hurt by its burning , but by an occult quality . for it causeth sudden fainting that kills suddenly . the symptoms and signs . it being taken , burns the stomach , and corrodes the guts , causeth hickets and vomiting , inflames the body , and causeth thirst , and over-purging and dysentery , cold sweats , fainting , and oftentimes sudden death . give a vomit of warm water , or the decoction of violets or mallows , with oyl of violets , or roses , or sweet almonds , and a clyster of althaea-roots , violets , mallows , endive , lettice , plantane , flowers of chamomil , moulin , cold seeds , mucilage of fleabane . and then give now milk and fat broaths . the proper antidote is seeds of citro●s in win● , & roots of elicampane boyled , or sealed earth , smaragds , crystal calcin●d , species liberantis , treac●e . chap. 16. of the nut called metella . cardan writes that it is of a mean , between opium and hemlock , and kills in a day , being taken in the quantity of a d●am . it causeth deep sleep , from which the party that took it can scarce be roused ; cold breath , swollen lips , pale body , blew nails , cold sweat , and death . vomit with walnut shells green boyled in wine . give a clyster of centaury , rue ▪ sc●rdium , castor and hydromel : and then a d●coction of wormwood , organ , wild rue , gentian , elicampane in wine ; or castor , pellitory ba●berries , cinnamon , treacle , diagalangal , diagingiber . raise him from sleep by strong ligatures , errhins ; and if he can walk , let him stir till he sweat . let him drink new milk , or new wine . chap. 17. of spurge . the symptoms and signs . it is not simply poyson , for being rightly prepared and given in a small dose , it is a purge , otherwise it causeth loathing and vomiting , and troubleth the heart , and destroys the temper of the liver , makes the belly-ake , and flux , which produceth convulsions and death . provoke vomit : after they begin to vomit , that the whole venom may be evacuated , with warm barley water , oyl of dill or violets then give a cooling clyster of emollient herbs , cold seeds , mucilage of fleabane , oyl of roses and violets , and the yolk of an eg. give antidotes as against euphorbium , and gum arabick , traganth , fresh butter , cream of ptisan , sweet almonds , and the like . chap. 18. of hellebore . the question is chiefly of white hellebore . some would have it not to be mustered among medicines . others highly commend it , but this controversie may be ended thus . poysons are either simply so , and hurt all men alwaies : or they are given by art and made physick . hellebore is of the last sort , and though many have perished by the use of hellebore , yet it was by reason of the great quantity , or want of preparation . symptoms and signs . if it be taken in ●r●at quantity without preparation ; it purgeth violently upwards and downwards , and causeth great pains in the stomach and guts , hickets , suffocation , difficult breathing , trouble of mind , sudden weakness , heart-beating , and they die by convulsions or suffocation . though hellebore cause vomiting , it must not be suddenly stop● , but furthered with a decoction of radishes , dill and arage seed in hydromel often given . give a clyster of the decoc●ion of small c●ntaury , rue , plantane , althaea , with oyl of dil , and yolks of egs. for antidotes , give pouder of ●aterlilly roots or flowers , or parsnep seed two drams , with wine , or treacle and mithridate . to prevent strangling , give half a dram of galbanum . against the bellyach , make a bag of bran , salt , cummi● , pennyroyal , mints , rue , bayberries boyled in wi●● or milk. we have shewed elswhere how over-purging hi●kets and convulsions are cured . the eight part . of poysons that come from animals , or living creatures . chap. 1. of poysons from animals in general . animals do conveigh poyson to men divers waies . first , by biting , as the viper , and all kinds of serpents ; the mouse , the spider , scolopendra , and dogs and all mad cr●atures . by stinging , as the scorpion , spider , wasp , and the fish called pastinaca marina . oth●rs by spittle , as ptyas . others by urin , as dormice that make malignant ulcers by pissing . others communicate poyson by a me●ium , as the torpedo by the spear of the fisherman , benumes or stupisies his b●●d ▪ so mathiolus reports a vine-dresser was killed by a serpent , others by touching the body with poyson : but poyson is most dangerous when malicious people give it in meat or drink . also the gall of venemous beasts is deadly ; for all venemous beasts , or beasts that live upon poyson have the poyson chiefly in the gall. animals are either of their own nature venemous , as the scorpion , toad , or become such by their venemous food , of which sort was the king of cambaia of whō we spake . therefore you may well suspect creatures that feed upon poyson , as the ducks that eat water-toads , and the quails that feed upon hellebore : for in athens they who sed high upon quails , died of convulsions , and others also . hence we may conclude that venemous creatures , if they live upon poyson are worse ; so the stinging of wasps is worse if they have lived upon serpents : hence we may w●l question whether it be lawfull to eat creatures that have been killed by poyson . galen saies that the daci and dalmatians rub'd the points of their weapons with elicampane , with which they killed deer , and then they never hurt them that eat them ; therefore disting●ish thus : if the poyson that the weapon is touched with , is only a poyson that kils a beast and not a man , the beast may be eaten . the symptoms and signs . you may know it from the patients relation , or by a part stung or bitten , that swels presently , is inflamed , and hath great pain , with other symptoms that poyson . i● a bite or sting hurt the artery , the wound is worse , because the poyson gets sooner to the he●rt , and there is a deadly syncope : a●so if a nerve be hurt the brain consents and there is the like danger ; if a vein be only hurt there is less danger , for it threatneth only the corruption of humors . we spake of the cure : but now i shal shew the proper antidote against every venemous creature . chap. 2. of serpents in general . the serpents are such as have egs , or bring forth quick serpents , as the vipers . we shal not dispute the temperamēt of a serpent because his poyson is not in the first qualities : but the serpents communicate poyson to men divers waies , 1. by a horrid look that frights them , and by a deadly bite . 2. by spittle . 3. by breath though they touch not , but by a medium as a spear . 4. by touch only without biting , as gesner writes hist 1. 4. of the poyson of german darts . 5. their blood poysons when they are cut or wounded . moreover they creep in at the mouth when people lie sleeping . the symptoms and signs there is from the biting of a serpent a tumor , pain and heat in the part , first good blood flows out , then matter or serum that stinks , the face is yellow and blew , after two or three daies the whole body is whiter , and the hair fals off , and commonly they die on the fou●th day . also many die that are poysoned by breath , when a part is infected by spittle or blood , there are red spots and the flesh is corroded . first let the part be bound hard above the bite , and the part bitten be s●a●i●ied deep , and c●pped to draw out the blood and poyson , then wash the wound with spirit of wine , with treacle and mithridate dissolved in it , or apply yong pigeons split to the part , or fi●s , or garlick bruised ▪ : or serpents grease , ● or the head of the serpent bruised ; or the gall of the serpent , which is best . also in the mean time give antidotes , and provoke sweat with treacle and mithridate . some give strawberry roots and leaves , and pauls bettony boyled in wine , or a dram of castor with cardus-water or , take gentian , long birthwor● , bayberries , myrrh , each two drams ; bitter costus , rue , each a dram ; spike two scruples , saffron a scruple , make a pouder , and with honey an electuary give a dram or two , keep the patient from deep sleep , least the spirits being drawn in , the poysō go with them . if poyson be from breath do accordingly . if any part be infected by spittle or blood , sprinkle this pouder often upon it . take herb cancer gathered in june an ounce and half , ashes of a mole an ounce , two snakes skins make a pouder , sprinkle it often upon the part . if a serpent get in at the mouth , or be in the guts or stomach , you must tempt him out with the vapor of sweet milk , and he wil come up by the gullet , if the patient bend forward with his head down ; when he is in the guts , give a decoction of ash roots , small centaury , carduus , wormwood and scordi●m , and other bitter herbs , and clyster of warm milk . chap. 3. of the aspi● or adder . vvhether he be hot or cold . i shall not argue , for he hurts by an occult quality ; the wound is no bigger then that made with a needle , yet it kills a man presently with little pain , and he kills not only by biting , but by spittle . gal●n writes ●hus . the adder called ptyas lifts up his neck , and with a pause as if he were rational , without any fear spits venom upon you . symptoms and signs . they who are bitten by an adder , have heaviness of head , dim sight , dull senses , astonishment , slowness , sleepiness , pale faces , chilness of body , cramp , convulsion , and die in three hours time except they have remedies . the symptoms that follow the spitting of a viper are the same but more gentle . the swallow-adder kills presently , the earthy adder kills in three hours , and the ptyas or spitting adder kills slower or at longer distance . draw the poyson out at the wound by ligatures and scarifications , and apply green centaury bruised with mirth : or treacle beaten with rue ; or a clout dipt in spurge milky juyce . give treacle also . or , take round birthwort , gentian , each a dram ; rue two pugils , castor , cassia lignea , each two drams ; anise , citron seeds peeled ▪ ea●h a dr●m and half , make a pouder , give a s●ruple or a dram with wine or vinegar . if the par● be spit upon , wash it with spirit of wine and treacle . let them that are bitten by adders , sleep little . chap. 4. of cerastes . th●s serpent hath two horns like a snail , the ●ound he makes is not painful but deadly , by the violent poyson though it continue nine daies . symptoms and signs there is a tumor like a nail and matter comes out at the wound , pale or black , there are blew pustles and somtimes the whole body is blew , the lips swel , the mind is troubled , the strength fails , the yard stands , and death follows . if it may be , the best way is to cut off the member hurt , otherwise cut off the flesh about the p●rt , scarifie and cup , and wash it with spirit of wine and treacle . or use a cataplasm of orobus meal , squils , figs , garlick , salt and pitch , give things internal as before . chap. 5. of haemorrhous . the name signifies a flux of blood , and he gives a deadly wound , which is known by a violent flux to be from him , for the wound doth not only bleed , or the haemorrhoids , nose , womb , but the ears and corners of the eyes , the gums , the roots o● the nails , the mouth , by vomit and coughing and all the p●res of the body , as lucan shews , the veins in all the members are full found , and all the body is but one great wound . also the part bitten is black , and there is great pain at the stomach , difficulty of breathing , the voice is stopt , the teeth fall out , and at length they faint and die . there is little hope , therefore take off the member if it may be , or cup and scarifie : or burn the part : or use a pultis of vine leaves boyled in honey and purslane with bran. apply medicines to stanch blood , as , tormentil , shepheards-purse , purslane , plantane , bole , sealed earth , bloodstone , with a little treacle . or use garlick ▪ treacle , raisons and raspberries , or bramble berries . chap. 6. of dipsas . they that are bitten by this have a great thirst , and all parts are inflamed , and though they drink much , they find it not quenched . because the uretery passages are dried up , and the drink cannot pass , but lies in the cavity of the belly , so that it breaks to the groyns , and the patient dies thirsting . it is as that of other serpents ; only give diureticks also , of the cold seeds , and opening roots , restharrow , chervil , shepheards-purse , peach kernels , barley , and the like ; and clysters to purge water , see aetius chap. 7. of amphisbena and scytale . these serpents are so like that they are scarce to be distinguished ▪ only amp●ishena moves forward and backward , but ●●●tale only forward , both hurt the same way , with a very little wound , which makes inflammation , pain and redness , and somtimes an imposthume and other symptoms like those of a viper . see the cure of the biting of a viper . chap. 8. of a basilisk . galen in his book of treacle to piso c. 8. describes him thus . he is a s●rpent a little yellow , with tumors in his head , and kils those that see or hear him when he hisseth , and if any creature touch him when he is dead it dieth presently . cardan saith th●se are fables , because galen 1. simpt . med . f. c. 1. saith he never saw it , and knew none that did . but dioscorides lib. 6. cap. ult . describes the biting of it , and saith the wound is a gold-colour , and was cured by three drams of castor drunk . therefore let none deny that there is such a serpent , though not so bad as reported , yet very venemous , that if any touch him with a spear he kils him . the symptoms and signs . after the biting of a basilisk , there follows great inflammation of the whole body , and the part affected is yellow , the flesh melts away and falls off by piecemeals , & he dies in a short space . aetius thinks it in vain to prescribe medicines against such a sudden killing poyson . chap. 9. of the viper . though a viper be a kind of serpent , yet he differs from them all , because they lay egs , but the viper brings forth young , the male viper differs from the female , for she hath four teeth with whi●h she squirts out poyson when she bites , but the male hath only two ; & they are hollow , and lie at length in the gums , and are only lifted up when they void the poyson by biting . symptoms and signs . after the wound is made , the first blood is pure , the next is mattery froathy like verdugrease : the part bitten and the whole body swel suddenly , red , or green , or black , or purple , as the humors are : there is pain that runs about , great heat , with black pustles about the part : there is vomiting of choler , hickets , megrim , astonishment , feavers , stoppage of urin , bleeding , cold sweats , trembling , fainting , difficult breathing , and death . in some countries it is not very deadly , but in ●ot countries and in summer , and when the viper is provoked and angry , it kils in seven hours . if any swound or bleed at the ears , or be struck as with hail , death is at hand presently draw out the poyson at the part bitten , as before with the same remedies : the flesh of the viper is the best remedy inwardly or outwardly taken , treacle or troches of vipers , or oyl of vipers , rue , garlick , give antidotes presently . costus is the bezoar against this poyson , a dram with wormwood-wine . to all antidotes , add rue to make them stronger . treacle and mithridate are good , two drams with four ounces of strong wine mathiolus lib. 6. see dioscorides for his famous water against all poyson . chap. 10. of the scorpion . there are many sorts , and all kill by a sting which squirts out poyson , they are more dangerous in some countries then in other . symptoms and signs . the sting is small , but very deadly , for pain , inflammation and tumors follow in the part affected and the whole body , pustles arise about the wound like warts , and all the body is as struck with hail , there is cold sweat , with paleness and sweat , the hair stands an end , the face is drawn aside , they weep , filth comes from the eyes in the corners like glew , they foam at the mouth , and the body somtimes hath black spots all over . women and virgins chiefly are killed by scorpions , and men when they are stung in the morning . i have found by experience that if the same scorpion be bruised and laid to the part , or if it be anointed with oyl of scorpions , it is speedily cured ; which is done by similitude , for like wil to like , a garden-snail bruised with the sh●l and applied allaies pain presently . or earthworms , calamints , garlick , wild rue , scorpion-grass , bruised often , renewed after the part is washed with the decoction of wild rue , sulphur , bay-leaves , and the like , of compounds the best ar● venice treacle diatessaron . aetius commends this . take castor , succi ciren●ici , pepper , each half an ounce ; costus , spikenard , saffron , juyce of centaury , each two drams ; with clarified honey make an electuary , take the quantity of a walnut . let him eat butter often , and drink old wine as much as he can , and eat no smallage . chap. 11. of a crocodile . he hath a large mouth , and causeth great pain by tearing . first the blood that comes out is pure , then it is mattery and stinking , and there is tumor and inflammation , with black pustles , vomiting , ●eaver , cold sweat , fainting , and great symptoms , and death . first , draw out the poyson , then wash the wound with pickle , or spirit of wine with treacle or mithridate , or vinegar and salt-peeter . anoint with crocodiles grease , or apply niter , deers suet , or goose grease , putte● and honey , and use the antidotes mentioned . chap. 12. of stellio or a lizard so called . it is a lizard with star-like spots on his back , and the poyson of it is conveighed by biting or taken in , to the hurt of man or beast . signs and symptoms . if his flesh be eaten or the liquor drunk in which he hath been , the stomach and guts are afflicted , as the bladder is by spanish flies taken , with pain and burning , with vomiting , the tongue is inflamed , the sight is dim , the head akes , and there are spots in the face , and the flesh is blew about the hurt if there be a bite , with other symptoms . giv● vomits and clysters presently , if there be a bite , apply onions and garlick , and let them be eaten and wine drunk after , and use antidotes as before . chap. 13. of the salamander . it is a deadly destroying poyson , for if he get into a tree , ●e in●ects the fruit , and kills them that eat it ; for the poyson infects herbs and waters , if he fall in , as well as when he bites . symptoms and signs . the part bitten loseth natural heat , and is black , stinks , and voids filth , and the hair falls off , the internal parts a●e inflamed , the speech falters , and the senses fail , the body swels , and trembles , fainting and death follows . scarifie presently , and draw out the poyson with garlick , onions , rue , salt and honey , or ●ith a hogs dung or goa●● , with vinegar hot . ●f you eat any thing the salamander hath spit upon , vomit . omit not antidotes , as mithridate , treacle , pine rosin is good , or galbanum with honey . or , take iuniper berries , assa f●●da , black pepper , each two drams ; with honey make an electuary , give a dram or two with old wine , which may be his drink , or new milk chap. 14. of the spider . there are divers sorts , some are worse poyson then others , one sort hurts if he be burnt , by the scent of him , and in vasc●nia , the spider sends venom through the soles of their shoes . symptoms and signs . if the poyson be taken in , or you be stung , there is a numness in the part bitten , with chilness , the belly swells , the face is pale , there is wind in the guts , cold sweats , a desire to piss , but in vain ; they vomit or piss things like spiders . if a spider be taken in , first vomit thus . take spurge roots , asarum , each two drams ; dill and broom flowers , each a pugil : boyl them , to four ounces straine● , add a dram of honey , make a vomit . then give antidotes , provoke sweat , by a hot house , with two drams of treacle , and carduus , or scordium water and wine . or give bole and vinegar : this cured a man that was stung in the neck , and was swollen , and could not speak . or , take assa faetida two drams , mirrh , ga●lick , pepper , castor , each half a dram ; make a pouder for four doses with wine before bathing , every day . if th●re be ● bite , wash it with salt-water often , or with a spunge dipt in warm vinegar , or the milkie juyce of fig leaves , and give antidotes . chap. 15. of cantharides , or spanish-flies . this poyson is chiefly against the bladder ; it corrodes all parts from the mouth to the bladder , and inflames , and causeth a feave● , loathing , dysentery , ●ainting , megrim and madness . but the chief burning and excoriation is in the bladder , the yard stands , and there is a strangury : and then a gangrene and death . vomit , and give clysters , vomit with hogshead broath , or of a lambs or goats head , with oyl of violets often . give clysters of barley , mallows , mercury , pellitory , faenugreek , linseed , rice , oyl of lillies , and diaphoenicon . for the passage of urin , a decoction of althaea , linseed and mallows , with oyl of violets . then give goats mil● ▪ fat broaths rice with milk , fresh butter , fat meat , lettice , purslane boyled with barley . emulsions of the four great cold seeds , and lettice water . pennyroyal is the proper antidote . or , take troches of sealed earth , alkekengi , each half a dram ; give them with breast-milk . use baths of mallows , althaea , violets , lettice , purslane , seeds of faenugr●ek , line , and epithems of lettice , purslane , cowcumber , melón , juyce● and oyl of violets laid to the parts pained . chap. 16. of flies , bees and waspes . great flies are poyson , if ●hey set upon the carkasses of venemous beasts . waspes that have fed upon serpents , are most dangerous . bees sting worse when they swarm , and fall upon any creature , they have killed a horse . symptoms and signs . great pain till the sting be drawn out with swelling , redness and pustles . draw out the sting , with a plaister of ashes , oyl and leaven ; if they do not , then suck long , & wash with salt-water . then use a pultis of barley meal , mallows , and plantane , and vinegar , or bole , and vinegar , and oyl : the bees stampt and applied , draw out all venom . if there be heat , cure it as in malignant feavers . chap. 17. of the poyson of a mad dog. see lib. 1. pract. p. 2. c. 16. chap. 18. of the brain and blood of a cat. some are frighted at a cat in the room , though they see her not , and have cold sweats and faint , if the cat be not removed . some say the brain and blood of a cat are poyson , and a history confirms that a girl that had an epilepsie , was perswaded to take the blood of a cat , which made her of the nature of a cat in voice , mewing , and leaping , and creeping , as a cat when she mouseth . avenzoar saith that the breath of a cat infects the spirits , and causeth marasmus . symptoms and signs . after the taking of the brain of a cat , there is a megrim , astonishment and madness . if it be in the stomach , vomit it up ; if it be distributed , purge with a scruple of the extract of hellebore , then give half a scruple of musk every week , or give diamoschu dulce . or , take conserve of rosemary flowers two ounces , piony-seeds , caraway , cubebs , each half a dram ; diamoschu dulce , a dram , with syrup of bettony , make 〈◊〉 chap. 19. of diseases and symptoms which poysons leave behind them . some poysons have greater antipathy to some parts : and therefore the evil disposition remains somtimes in one part , somtimes in another , as cardan mentioneth . somtimes there is after poyson an evil habit of the whole body , leucophlegmacy , jaundies , consumption , strangling and quinzie ; the teeth drop out , there is melancholy , sadness , watching , madness , bad concoction , the belly bound , pain in the guts and stomach , dysentery , spleen swollen , difficult breath , resolution of members , or palsie , hardness of joynts , feavers , fainting , weakness of eyes , or stareing , convulsion , pain of the whole body , burning of urin , and stoppage , megrim , loathing , forgetfulness , and the like . the cure consists in two things . 1. by giving proper medicines to the evil disposition , if it be known . 2. by taking away the venemous quality , which cherisheth that evil disposition , or correcting it at the least . for the reliques of the poyson are to be taken away , before you use the ordinary cure. so after the french pox there are symptoms , as dropping of urin , and the like , which cannot be cured , except you regard the malignant disposition . if the kind of poyson be ●ot known , give ordinary antidotes , with things that oppose the manifest disease . the ninth part . of diseases by witchcraft , incantation , and charmes . the preface . amatus lusitanus shews that physitians ought to know these diseases , because such come to them for cure. i shall from philosophers , physitians , lawyers , and divines , take such things as concern us ; and divide thi● tractate into four chapters . 1. whether there are diseases from witchcraft ? 2. how they come ? 3. how they are known ? 4. how they are cured . chap. 1. of fascination or witchcraft , and whether any diseases come thereby . first the word fascination is to be explained , it comes from the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies to envy , because the vulgar people suppose that envious people hurt others by their looks chiefly . it is a sort of inchantment by which through looks or by commendations , not only infants and men , but also lambs , hens , horses , and other beasts , and also flourishing corn and plants are praised , till they are killed , or grow weak and feeble . this witchcraft is extended also to other things , some fear when they eat g●eedily , and others look stedfastly upon them , and give part of their meat to them that so look upon them , saying , do not bewitch me . some extend this to things without life . secondly , fascination is not onely by sight , but by tongue and voice , of which the latin poet virgil , eclog. 7. when thou art prais'd , let baccar crown thy head for evil tongues have prophets murthered . this pliny observed , writing that in africa there are families of witches , by whose praise and commendations hopeful things perish , trees grow dry , and infants die . hence i gather a threefold fascination ; the first is poetical or vulgar ; the second is philosophical ; and the third magical . the two first i deny , for the poetical witchcraft is fabulous , and delivered from hand to hand , rather superstitiously then truly , according to which infants are said to be bewitched , and other things , only by the active look of the witch , as when any one praised another , or looks malitiously upon him whom he hates : mothers and nurses hang amulets about their childrens necks to prevent this . and the poet theotritus teacheth against this fascination , that they should spit thrice into their own bosomes that fear it . spit thrice in thy breast , and witches detest . i suppose this fascination is not only fabulous but superstitious , and divines have cursed the users and the allowers of it . and reason shews , that there is no force in this fascination , for nothing is sent out of the eye that may carry it , because sight from the best philosophers , is not by sending forth any thing from the eye , but by receiving of species into the eye ; though another poet hath writen thus . i know not what eye made my lambs for to die . certainly the horrid aspect of an ugly old woman may terrifie an infant , so that the humors being raised , they may complain as if displeased . so tiberius the emperor by a terrible look , as●●nisht a soldier , and killed him with trembling , but this from the event , and therefore i conclude that this witchcraft is plainly fabulous . 2. the philosophical witchcraft is not properly fascination , but to speak properly a● infection or contagion , for one is hurt often times by anothers looks : so that saying is true . if ●hou on sore look with sound eyes , infection from the same shall rise . for the opinions of avicen and algaselis agree , that is , that no alteration can be made in another by sight , as it is meerly sight ; but the alteration is made by a venemous quality that remains in t●e putrid humors , or in the distemper of him that beholds . this evil quality infects the air about it with its poyson , and one part of the air in●ects another , and so it comes to the eye to be infected ; and this according to sound philosophy . but these being left , we shall come to the third kind of fascination , which is our business . chap. 2. what inchantments , poysonous witchcraft , and magick are . incantation and veneficium signifie in general an action by which a man that hath made a league with the devil , doth somthing above the course of nature , by the help of the same devil . these actions , and they that practise them , have divers names by the latins , incantationes , veneficia , artes magicae ; inchantments , poysoning , and magick arts , and they are called incantatrices enchanters , veneficae poysoners , maleficae evil actors , magi magicians , sagae , lamiae , striges , witches of divers sorts . the first are called inchanters and enchantments . these are either verses , good or bad : the good verses or spells , or charmes are such as are used for curing diseases , as when they speak certainwords in the time they gather herbs to make them more powerful . the evil charmes and charmers are such as hurts men and beasts . 2. they are called veneficae , because they gather poysons or hurtful herbs to do mischief . 3. they are called maleficae , because they have a desire to hurt , by the instrument of the devil , either man or beast . 4. they are called magi or magicians which belongs not to them , for in the scripture the magi were three wise kings that worshipt christ at his birth ▪ and somtimes it is used to signifie such as are led by evil angels ; for it cannot be denied , in regard the mind of man is not to be satisfied with knowledg , that the chaldaeans and aegyptians when they could not understand all things they desired , sought to the devil for aid , hence the name of a magician is infamous , although those men do labor to destroy diabolike operations by the strength of nature . 5. they are called sagae from knowing much , these profess to know and do much , and from a league with the devil , can raise storms , and hurt man and beasts and corn . and for this purpose they use charmes , images and characters . 6. they are called lamiae from the heathen-gods which could hurt or do good by the divers shapes they took : therefore because witches in our daies feast and sport with ghosts , and have also copulation with them , they are called lamiae . 7. they are called striges from a bird so called , which poets say would by night take children out of their cradles : and because the witches were thought to do the same they have that name . and these are the chief names that are given to such as from a contract with the devil and by his help can do things above the strength of nature , whether this contract be express or plain , or implicite . they are such as are so mad , that forswearing the omnipotent lord of all things , make a covenant with the devil , and deliver themselves wholly to his power : and though some enter not into an express covenant with the devil ; yet they use those things that implicitly shew the same , namely characters , words , or the like , which are received from others who have been in covenant with the devil . chap. 3. many affirm that diseases may be from witchcraft and charmes . the question then is , whether it be so or no ? if any doubt it we have eye-witnesses to prove it : and besides the reports of iohn langius of things done 1539. in the bishop of eistetens street , and the relations of anthony benivensis in his book of hidden causes of blood and diseases chap. 8. who reports that a woman o● sixteen years old fell suddenly into a horrid skreeking , & her belly so swelled , that she seem to have been eight months gone with child , and she was so taken with convulsions , that her soals of her feet would touch her neck , and at length she vomited wood , crooked nails , and brass needles with wax and hair mixed in balls , and a piece of bread so big that none could swallow it whole this she did often . cornelius gemma mentioned another , of which he was an eye-witness , beyond all admiration , so that there is no doubting of this question . forestue reports that he saw a cloth , nails , bits of iron , hair , and bones vomited . and francis heidelshem page 186. reports that a melancholick man vomited iron , bullets , gun-powder , and other strange things . and what is more wonderful , some have lo●● their privities by witchcraft , of which baptista codronchius , who saies a young man envied a young woman , and desiring to leave her , lost his privities . and when another woman had taught him to use fair words and promisses , and if need required , threatnings and force to compel her to restore them . he took her counsel , and at evening in a convenient place found out his mistriss , & when neither by prayers , nor any fair promises he could not perswade her , he put a towel about her neck , and almost choaked her ; nor did he lose till she promised him help . then she put her hand between his thighs , and took away the enchantment . there are so many histories to confirm this from credible authors , that it would be tedious to relate all . and it is manifest every where that witches have confessed before the judges , that they have made some blind , others lame , others to have the palsie , and others great pain , and to have caused many diseases . hence it is manifest that diseases may come by witchcraft . chap. 4. vuierus denies that diseases may come by witchcraft . from what hath been said , you may easily see the vain defense by vuierus of witches ; he takes all these for fables , and cannot be brought to believe that there are witches . and he supposes that all things which witches think they do , are meer dreams and phantasmes : and he affirms that the fancy of witches is onely deluded by the devil , so that they confess they have done , which they neither could , nor nature could suffer to be done : and he saies many other things which will fall of themselves by what shall be written hereafter . chap. 5. the controversie is decided , and it is shewed whence diseases are made that are from witches . to decide this controversie in short , we must do it by some conclusions . the first is , it is the witches purpose to hurt men by diseases , and many men have been so hurt . the histories in chap. 3. prove this conclusion : and sprengerus hath many more in his hammer against witches . and though vuierus takes these for fables , yet history is not so rashly to be deluded : that the witches do act therein is manifest , because the instrumēts of witchcraft being takē away , or the witches burnt or dead , the patients grow sound , and the charmes cease . the second conclusion , although witches determine to hurt men , yet neither do it , nor can they do it . the witches are not the first causes of such operations , but the devil : the witches are his work-fellows , at whose request by gods permission , he afflicts men with such diseases . therefore the devil and the witch must agree to cause witchcraft formally . we deny not but the devil may in dreams suggest what the witches may think true when awake , as appears by many histories in baptista porta and vuierus , as that of a woman which anointed her self and slept , and awaking , affirmed that she had been at sea , and flew over mountains . there are many the like of women , which stirr'd not out of their bed that night , yet affirmed that they did wonders in strange places . moreover , it is pleasing to the devil to have witches obedient to him , and he perswades them that they may do good or hurt to whom they please : to this end he gives them instruments , as pouders which may cause diseases or death , by putting them into meat or drink , or rubbing their bodies therewith ; which if they cannot do , it will be sufficient to sprinkle them only upon their cloaths . to kill , it is a black pouder ; to cause a disease , it is ash-coloured , sometimes red , to cure it is white , either to be sprinkled upon them , or to be given in meat or drink . nicolaus remigius proves this by divers histories . the third conclusion , the devil by gods permission bringeth diseases by natural cause● . for he well understands all the force of sy●pathy , and what is good or bad for a mans ●ea●●h . but how are these diseases brought upon men ? if the disease be in the humors , the devil by the command of the witch moveth the internal causes , especially melancholy , and so causeth melancholy diseases ; therefore ●he rejoyceth at the disposition of epilepticks , and gets into them : for first he gathers all the black choller together , and then moves it , and sends the smoak of it into the cells of the internal senses , and if they be sharp as usually they are , it causeth the falling-sickness , when he gathers a thick slimy matter into the inward substance of the nerves he causeth a palsie , deafness and blindness , by putting evil excrements into the organs . : oftentimes hatred and love and other passions . hence the poet. thou makest the dearest brothers for to jarr . that he may hurt speedily , he taketh the spiritual substance of the blood , and purgeth it , and separateth it from the gross . or he makes a quintessence of poysons , as chymists do of gold , and with that infects the vital spirits , which works so strongly that it cannot be overcome by natural means and causeth death certainly . it is wonderful what he doth by witches to disturb wedlock , to hinder propagation of mankind , to which he is a deadly enemy , this is called , the tying of the point , this he doth by prohibiting the breeding of seed , or hindering of erection of the yard , while it drieth and wil not be spent . he doth the same to women by making a preternatural disease in their privities , so that they cannot receive a man. to this are referred the philtres or love potions which may cause lechery , but cannot cause the love of any particular man , but instead of love causeth madness , of which see martin delrio , and of which the poet. in threefold colours knit three knots , and cry ( o amarillis ) venus knots i tie . the fourth conclusion . somtimes the devil without causes and natural means in mans body , hurts men only by his own power and sudden violence at the request of the witch . for the witch wil not do it her self for fear of discovery or the like , but commits the whole matter to the devil , and what she commands he presently doth . this is plain from a story in nicolas remigius , that one cursed another that wronged him , and he was taken up with a wind , and thrown down again , and made lame of one leg , so that he could not go ; this he told the shepheards that brought him home . he mentions two other stories which clear the truth of this . the ●ifth conclusion . somtimes the devil deludes men and perswades them to diseases they have not . this is proved chap. 3. out of baptista codronchius concerning the taking off of the privities ; for it is not in the devils power to restore members when taken off . the sixth conclusion . although diseases and other evils which witches think they lay upon men come from the devil as the imediate cause , and the witch doth nothing ; yet are they in fault , by reason of their covenant with the devil , that hurts men at their request , and by reason of their will to hurt , they are gulty of it . this is contrary to uverius who defending witches , as in chap. 4. we shewed , saith that what the witches do is but a phansie and meer delusion , and whatsoever is spoken of contracts with the devil from the best authors . it is a wonder i cannot conceive how a christian should so cast off all piety , that he should forget his creator and redeemer , and his covenant with them in baptism and go into the devils waies , and profess himself an open enemy to his creator and lord who can presently destroy him in hell fire , and joyn himself to the enemy of mankind the devil : this hath been and is yet done , as appears by many histories and confessions of witches without torments . and how can these be meer phantasms when the witches have marks of their slavery which they willingly sufferred to be made by the devil upon their bodies , visible to all mens eyes . and it is plain that the devil made them , for if you prick them with needles they feel no pain , nor do they bleed the least drop , as nicolas remigius affirms by histories . the sixth conclusion . though the power of the devil be great , yet he can hurt none by the witches power with him but by gods permission . this is manifest from the history of iob , whom the devil never afflicted without gods consent and permission . 2. the gospel shews that he could not enter into the swine or hurt them without gods permission , nor doth a hair fall frō the head without gods will and permission . therefore the devil promiseth to do what th● witch commands him , they cannot have their desire except god permit . and bodinus writes there are not two in a hundred that witchcraft can hurt . and it is known to be true from the voluntary confe●sion of witches . chap. 6. of the signs of diseases from witchcraft . it is very hard to know these diseases , and we must be very industrious to discover them . this is because the devil doth so warily get into natural causes that it is not easily discerned , what comes from natural causes and what from the devil . fernelius gives an example of this in a young knight which had a shaking and convulsion by fits ; which by divers remedies given for some months could not be removed , but in the third month the author of the disease was known , by voices and unusual words and sentences , greek and latin , which was the devil , and more plainly when he discovered the secrets of those that stood by , and of the physitians , scoffing at them for their vain medicines , by which they had almost killed the party . the first sign then is of diseases from the devil , when practised physitians doubt of the signs , and cannot satisfie themselves , and all things are given in vain and to no purpose . another sign is , because ordinary diseases come by degrees and have their times and seasons , and come to their state , but these are in their vigor without any apparent causes . thirdly they have extraordinary symptoms and convulsions , no cause aforegoing that appears : some say that if the witch comes to see the patient he is worse , and trembles or is otherwise altered : but the certain sign is when a knife or a needle , or the like is ●o ●i●ed or purged forth , or come from ulcers t●at breed not naturally in the body . some have another sign which to me is superstitious , they wash the patient with the decoction of vervain , and if nothing be sound in the decoction , or its colour not changed , they say there is no witchcraft : but if many of his hairs be found in it , it is a sign of witchcraft , this i say is superstitious though vervain is commonly thought to discover witchcraft . one think i suppose proves witchcraft when married people formerly loving very well , hate one another without any evident cause . there are many histories to confirm this . from whence we may gather this prognostick . that all diseases from witchcraft are long and uncurable but by the great mercy of god. chap. 7. of preservation against witchcraft . i can say nothing to this certainly , nor can heathenish medicines please me that are used against it , as that of rhamnus whose branches in the windows or doors they say defend from witchcraft : nor doth lions foot take away the force o● love-potions : nor a horse-shoe nailed to a threshold , nor a thousand other things which are used against witchcraft , for how can these being natural drive away diseases which are caused by the devil , who is without a body and hath no organs of sense , and therefore can neither be touched with natural bodies nor can be either pleased or disturbed thereby . although we wll not deny that god who is above all nature , can give power to natural things to work upon incorporeal . nor is it lawful for a christian by any means to go to any witch , and pray her or perswade her that she hurt not , or that she should take away any mischief done ; for so he should pray to the devil who did the mischief , and not the witch , as i shewed at large . it remains therefore that we only turn to almighty god heartily , and implore the good angels his ministers , to defend us from those evils which the devil besets us with both sleepin● and waking . chap. 8. of the cure of diseases made by witchcraft , and first of the magical cure. albeit witches promise to cure such diseases by words , characters , inchantments and adjurations : yet these and the like have no force , as we shewed , against paracelsus and others which we shall not farther declare . and since it is certain , that the devil chiefly causeth these evils , it is wicked and unbeseeming a christian , to desire any thing from him who is the implacable enemy of mankind . concerning this , there are two questions : first , whether it is lawful upon suspicion of ●itchcraft , to ask or compel witches to remove ●itchcraft and diseases which they , or others have caused ? o● this there are divers opinions , and they desire to resolve it by divers distinctions , which well examined , i think thus : he that desireth by force to compel a witch to cure a disease , believes in , and hopes for help from the devil , which he should seek from the lord , who severely prohibited asking counsel of magicians . the soul ( saith he ) in leviticus that goes after witches or soothsayers , i will set my face against , and cut him off from the midst of my people . hence st. chrysostome writes , that a christian had better die then redeem his life by bondage to the devil . for there are other remedies , and the devil is not stronger then god : and though there be no hope of life , it is better to die , then to be cured by sin ; for the salva●i●n of the soul is better then the health of the body . and the glory of god which by so doing is neglected , is to be preferred before all things . another question is , whether it be lawful to sear●h into any means or instruments used by witches to cause diseases , and to remove them when found , burn them or any waies destroy them ? this question little concerns physick , of which see martin delrio , that decides the reasons on both sides very well , and confirms his own judgment by histories : but we shall speak of things more profitable . chap. 9. of the natural cure of witchcraft . therefore it is not lawful to seek help from the devil or witches , because we have lawful mea●s sufficient , na●ely natural and divine : of divine we shall speak in the chapter following ; in this only of the natural . and since in part ix . chap. 1. we shewed three sorts of witchcraft , namely poetical or vulgar , philosophical , and magick . the poetical is no waies witchcraft . the second which is philosophical , comes by natural causes , somtimes with the devil concurring , who corrupts and alters the constitution o● the body ( god so permitting ) that he may please the witches that desire it of him ▪ diseases so caused , may be wel cured by natural remedies , but not simply ; for in such diseases there are two causes namely natural and diabolical , and if the devil cease no● to act or hurt , there can be no perfect cure . the natural medicines are twofold , either such as evacuate foul humors , which the devil useth to cause diseases , or alterers and antidotes which are against the dispositions brought in by the devil . for evacuation vomits are good●punc ; for experience shews that stubborn diseases , whose cause is in the stomach mesentery , and about the liver and spleen ▪ which could not be evacuated by ordinary purging , have been cured by vomits . and so ruland cured diabolical diseases , and it is observed that some have been so cured that have vomited knives , hair , glass , and the like with putrid humors ▪ but let the vomit be proper , and purges must not be neglected ▪ also use alterers and antidotes , external and internal ; the internal are mentioned , as herb true-love , round birthwort and long , st. iohnsor ● , and many others . the outward are oyntments , and fumes , and baths , as oyntment of viscus colurus or misleto , experienced in a maid bewitched ▪ thus made take dogs grease four ounces , bears grease eight ounces , capons grease twenty four ounces , viscus colurus mislero green three branches , cut and bruise them till they are moist , wood-leaves and berries , 〈◊〉 is them all into a glass ; set it in the sun nine weeks , and you shall have a green balsom ; with theis b●dies bewit●hed , especially in the pained parts & the joynts are to be anointed , and the patient shall be cured , it is a certain experiment . the ancient and modern physitians used fumes of bayes , rue , st. iohn wort , sage , rosemary , roses , wood aloes , asphalium . sanders , citron peels , frankincense , mastich , storax calamite , labdanum , musk , sulphur which strengthen the heart and brain , and discuss malign●nt and cold humors . baths do both , by insensible evacuation and altering , in which boyl rue , st. iohns-wort , mugwort , vervain , palma christi , and the like mentioned . but these are mixed without superstition or ceremony , pronouncing of words , and the like , and we must trust only to natural means , and leave the rest to god. chap. 10. of the divine cure of witchcraft . because the devil can hinder the force of natural things , if god permit , we must have recourse to a divine cure , not only in diseases from witchcraft , but also in all the calamities of this miserable life . and for this cause , for the prevention and cure of these diseases the church which is the spouse of christ , hath constituted exor●ist● , which every one knows have power in this thing : ther●fore we must put our whole confidence in god , & call upon him by a firm & sincere faith ; yet we must take heed least under the shew of a divine cure , any thing be done supe●stitiously , or against the honor of god. it is good against the same to appoint a perigrination to a holy place , that we may obtain that by the merits of the saints , which we cannot immediately by our selves obtain from god. this is approved by daily experiēce amōg christians and true catholicks : therefore to him be praise , honor , and glory , and thanksgiving for ever . two epistles of that excellent and famous man balthasar han doctor of physick , and chief elector of saxony . the first epistle . most renowned , excellent and most experienced sir , my godfather and much honoured friend . i prefent thee with a miserable but admirable physical history ( which i lastly told you in short ) as i had it chiefly from mine own observation written with mine own hand . a certain honest godly woman twenty two years old , of a laudable temper , somwhat inclining to melancholy , in the year 1634. the 8 th of november being saturday , was troubled at evening with an unusual stopping and heaviness at the breast , she went to bed at her accustomed hour with desire to sleep , and though she obtained her desire presently , yet was grievously troubled , by which means after twelve of the clock , she was heard often to groan sadly , but they supposed she dreamed , and called her ; but she awaked not til she had often groned : being awaked she often lifted up her eyes , but kept them not long open , but presently composed her self for sleep again , and spake not above three words . in the morning being sunday , and the the 9 th of november , she arose at six of the clock thinking upon the church , and how she might according to her promise bring a yong maid to be married to a minister of the church . but on a sudden she beheld two blew spots in both hands , which crept up from the wrists to the bending of the arm , not in one continued line , and above both the bendings of the arms , there were divers letters , among which were these two n b. joyned together , and many crosses of this form ✝ she being undaunted continued her holy resolution , and by gods assistance she went to church at 8. in the morning , and was very merry at the wedding-dinner , til four in the afternoon , and perceived no disturbance that day nor that night , but munday morning following being novem. 10. she observed the number of crosses increased about her neck , breast and belly to the bottom of it . and all that day she felt great straitness and troubles , one fit followed another , and she had so great a desire to sleep , which was the forerunner of a fit , and more works and crosses that she could not be kept awake , at which time ( to the terror and admiration of the beholders ) the characters mentioned most like crosses were in most parts of her body , so that in seven daies time she was all over before and behind , from head to foot , marked as if sh● had been whipt with rods or thorns ; at first her face was not marked , but afterwards it was with the same , but smaller , and more superficially in the scarf-skin , at night she went to bed and slept an hour after which she was troubled , & groaned , and folded her hands close . the standers by observing that awaked her , and parted her hands , and they sound a needle stuck in the palm of her hand , and they drew it out ; they bent it & put it in the fire unknown to her ▪ and keep it stil. the 11th of november being tuesday she was better but not without some fits , but gentle : this night she dreamt that she should find a needle under her bed , which she should put into the fire presently and so be cured . the 12th of november being wednesday at noon she remembred her dream , and commanded her maid to search diligently for a needle under the bed , the maid returning brought a long taylors needle , she cast it into the fire , often , this done she went to bed at her usual hour , and espied a ghost like a woman going into a study , and hiding her self in a corner , at which she was much frighted , and trembled , and began to be sleepy as formerly , which by reason of her pain she resisted , and lo an illfavoured old woman very terrible with her wrinkled face stood by her bed side , having a thick cudgel with which she smote her violently upon the legs , and being very angry she repeated these words , give me my needle , give me my needle . at which she cried out aloud , and the old woman vanished , and from that night , till saturday after , which was the 15th of november●he ●he did not suffer any thing , but then about night walking about she pulled out another needle from the soal of her foot with great pain , lamentation , and loss of blood , and shewed it to the standers by , she slept wel that night , and the following day being sunday the 16th of november , she put on her b●st cloaths and went to church chearfully , from which day she was not troubled , only she was somtimes found under the table at night taken out of her bed , to which she went every night at her usual hour , after prayer and signing her self with the sign of the cross , without any hurt , and at certain times the third , fourth , sixth and tēth day , she had new marks of crosses with other marks as of hearts and astronomical characters of the planets and cōfigurations , as ♂ . ⚹ ☍ and of planets ♄ . ♃ . ♂ ☉ ♀ . ☿ . ☽ . and some of chymical medicines , as 🜕 . 🜔 . ☉ . ( for she was not ignorant of astronomy and chimistry with which she refreshed her self by reading and calculating beyond ordinary women ) were as it were cut in the skin , she continued ind●fferent well in this state to the twenty seventh of ianuary 1635. and her fi●s were very little , and in a manner quite gone , at which time she went to see her neighbour to pa●s her time with her in reading or sewing , or discourse : in the midst of their discourse she had on her right hand the shape of a rose , and on her left , of three-leaved grass , with the year of our lord 16●● , gently painted and so artificially that ap●lles the best of painters could not mend it . under these figures without pain were painted to the admiration of the beholders a wounded heart , the picture of a fool , and the german word narr . and nescio with divers crosses . the 27th of february just at noon her trouble returned with more greater fits : and from that day to this , by gods grace she never had any , whom i desire by prayer to defend her from these delusions of sathan , and to give her health , and be with us all to whom be praise , honor , and glory for evermore . this is that miserable history which i promised you , read it with your divine ingenuity , and consider it ; and leave your opi●ion of such passions to posterity . for you● books of practical physick , written from long and infallible experience , with great pains and ingenuity , which all learned men admire , may well contain it . in the mean while farewel , and be certain that i am most ready to serve you . dated from the electors camp , the 5. of november . 1635. the second epistle . in my last letter , renowned sir , my most experienced godfather , and very good friend , i sent you a lamentable history of a physical case : now i send you the opinion of the famous and excellent physitian dr. ioachimus colbius concerning it . but by your leave i shall a little digress , and a little mention what was done , and what medicines were given without many flourishing words . that this trick or delusion was from satan , there is no doubt in me . some suppose that she gave him this opportunity by givin● a smock to an old woman which was manifest to be the witch . for this is a maxime , not only among the devils slaves the witches ▪ but also among common people ; that if a witch get any silk or linnen that hath been worn next the skin of any ▪ then she can hurt any part of them that wore it , by pricking , striking , tying , twisting more or less when , and where she pleaseth . the crosses of which i spake , were not alwaies of the same form , but some longer , some shorter , somtimes very long ; some were deeper , and caused pain and itching ; some came to matter ▪ and left marks behind them above a month , in some did not . but why crosses , roses and three leaved grass so artificially painted , and characters which she knew , and things she delighted in ? the cause of these , was the devils hatred to mankind for she signed herself with the sign of the cross , morning and evening against satans force , and loved needle-work , and astronomy , and chymistry , which by her friend leave she learned of a famous doctor that live● in the house ; the devil therefore labored to tak● off her faith , and the force of her prayers , an● mock them with the sign of the cross , and mak● her melancholy by scoffing at her recreations and so to destroy body and soul together . thi● may be probably and religiously supposed t● be true , in regard we cannot pierce more into the inward causes . the medicines applied we●● few and gentle , which purged the belly of melancholy , and did alter the humor , with some temperate cordials , and things experimentally good for the womb , she had sent her from hala an amulet of herbs , and seeds rightly gathered at certain times , which had much . camphire in it ; but she refused it , least she should purchase the displeasure of almighty god , by vainly labouring against the hatred of the devil , wh● is a spirit , and cannot be touched by corporeal medicines . she used nothing to drive the devil , but prayer and divine worship , and sacraments very cheerfully and couragiously . let this be sufficient to be spokē of this matter in the time of war , & while the guns roar and thunder , where the muses in vain seek for their friend silence . accept of it kindly , and suspend not your judgment , but give your opinion concerning these things ▪ and declare them speedily to the learned . farewel worthy sir , and continue to be my friend , who am much your servant . given from the electoral army , november the 30th 1635. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a59200-e4540 ● . de nat . fac . c. 14. lib. ●1 . d● sumpt . facult . libris de abed . rerum cau . exer . cit . 218. 5. simpl. c. 1. com. in lib. gal. de const . art . avi●en . de virib . cord . scali . exer . cit . 307. sec. 29. 3. path. ●● 2. de abd . rerum c●● . c. 10. 1.2 . de abd . rer . ●●u . 〈◊〉 the signs . the prognostick . eust. rud. l. de morb . occult . &c. 12. notes for div a59200-e5720 6. de lo. aff . c. 5. lib. de vet . medici . 6. epid. com . 5. tex . 25. lib. 4. de febr . c. 4. 3. apho. 1. in lectionibus de pestil . c. 22. 1. de ven . c. 6. gal. lib. de cib . lo. & . mal . suc . lib. de hist. med . mirabil . gal. lib. 1. c● diss . seb . ● . 4. notes for div a59200-e6710 paraeus lib 10. c. 13. de ven . c. 13. notes for div a59200-e7130 eusiach . rud. lib. 1. de morb . occul . c. 40. card. 1. de ven . c. 1. & 4. avicen . doctr . 2. c. 15. lib. de ven . c. 3. aerr . lib. de ther. c. 2. avic . l. 4. fen. 6. ●r . gal. de temp . c. 4. & alibi . gal. de purg . med . fac . c. 4. mercuria . lib. 1. de vene . c. 5. s●alig . & 〈◊〉 . mizal. memo . cen● . 1. é ioa. bocatio . card. l. de ven . c. 15. scal. e●er . 157. gal. 5. de lo. affec . ● . 1. ioan. baptist . sylvat . lib. 3. de ven . c. 1. anthelmus boet. lib. 2. de gem . c. 175. lib. dethe . ad . pis . c. 16. & ad pamph . eustach . rad . de morb . oc . lib. 2. c. 7. gal. de ●● pis c. ●0 . lib. 3. de ven . c. 14. notes for div a59200-e8770 ama. lusit . c. 5. cur . 91. the cure. the cure. rhas . ad almans . c. pr. diof . li. 5. c. 74. dioscor . the cure. epist. 9. the cure gar. ab hor. aro . lib. 1. cap. 56. t●e cure. mosu . lib. de simpl . the cure. conciliat . foras . lib. 3. obs . 8. amatus lusit . cent . 2. cur . 34. the prognostick . the cure. pet. appon . g avne . ma diosco . lib. 5. c. 47. bases in conti . c. 2. the cure. in commēt . ad sem . de occul . nat . miracul . the cure. de lue . ven . c. 7. the cure. the cure. the cure. lib. 7. c. 27. aetius & avic . the cure. to conquer all infirmities study my sennertus , platerus , riverius , bartholinus and riolanus , of the last editions . ferd. ponzetus 2. de ven . c. 21. fern. de lue ven . c. 7. fondr . bac in proleg . vin . valer . lib. 1. ob . the cure. concil . & guayne . the cure. pet. appon . to . de ven . notes for div a59200-e11910 dios. lib. 6. gal. 3. de tem . c. 4. avic . l. 4. fen . 6. tr . 1 & omnes fere in eum comm . & alij plur . dr. michael dor. & daniel vuinckeerus . the prognostick . the cure. dios. lib. 6. c. proprio . the prognostick . the cure. mathi. in . dios. lib. 4 the prognostick . the cure. the prognostick . the cure. the prognostick . the cure. the prognostick . the cure. hiero-tra-gus hist. stir . l. 3. c. 24. dios. lib. 4. c. 69. the cure. the signs . the cure. signa & sympto . the cur● . aeti . & dios. lib. 6. c. 27. the cure. petr. p●na in a●ver . p. 490. the c●re . the cure. lib. 3. de ven . c 5. symp●o●●at●● . the 〈◊〉 esulae symptomata & signa . the cure. the cure. lib. 3. pract . p. 2. & p. 1. & lib. 1. p. 2. ● . 28 , notes for div a59200-e14800 gal. 5. de symp . med . facul . gal. lib. de therc . ad pis . the prognostick . par. 5. c. 7. avic . l. 4. f●u . 6. math . in praef . ad l. 6. dios . the cu●● lib. de theriac . ad pis . c. 6. the prognostick . the cure the cure. the cure. aetius . the cure. the cure. the cure. the pr●gnostick . the cur● . gal. de lo. aff . c. 5. the prognostick . the cure. the cure. the cure. the cure. the cure. fracast . lib. 2. d● morb . c●nt . c. 2. the cure. the cure. ponzet . lib. 2. de ven . tr . 6. c. 3. mathio . in 6. dios. in proemio lib. 1. thenz . the cure. cardan . lib. 3. de . ven . cap. ult . notes for div a59200-e17710 cent. 6. cura . 87 arist. sect . 20. c. 34. probl . lib. 7. c. 2. virg. in egl●gis . lib. 1. epist 38. lib. 2. de divi . nat . car . lib. 18. obser . 16. in scho . lib. 3. de mor. vexe . c. 5. lib. de lamiis c. 5. daemonosag . lib. 1. lib. 1. c. 2. lib. disguis magi● . 3. lib. dem●nola . saga . c. 12. demonosag . lib. l. cap. 5. mag. demon . lib. 2. c. 28. 2. de aba . re . caus . c. 16. dios. lib. 1. c. 104. libro de cons. & dissen . levit. 20. vers . 6. homi. 8. in epist. ad coloss. henr. ab hoer . in obs . med . raris obs . 8. ●o con●er all ●firmities ●udy my ●nnertus , ●laterus , ●overius , ●artholi●us and ●iolanus , of the last ●ditions . a discourse wherein the interest of the patient in reference to physick and physicians is soberly debated, many abuses of the apothecaries in the preparing their medicines are detected, and their unfitness for practice discovered : together with the reasons and advantages of physicians preparing their own medicine. coxe, thomas, 1615-1685. 1669 approx. 281 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 147 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a34855 wing c6727 estc r25356 08940149 ocm 08940149 42016 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a34855) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 42016) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1281:12) a discourse wherein the interest of the patient in reference to physick and physicians is soberly debated, many abuses of the apothecaries in the preparing their medicines are detected, and their unfitness for practice discovered : together with the reasons and advantages of physicians preparing their own medicine. coxe, thomas, 1615-1685. coxe, daniel, d. 1730. [16], 333 [i.e.269], [1] p. printed by c.r., london : 1669. attributed variously to thomas and daniel coxe. identifed on umi microfilm as c6727. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng pharmacist and patient. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-06 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a discourse , wherein the interest of the patient in reference to physick and physicians is soberly debated . many abuses of the apothecaries in the preparing their medicines are detected , and their unfitness for practice discovered . together with the reasons and advantages of physicians preparing their own medicines . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . max. tyr. dissert . x. london , printed for c. r. mdclxix . imprimatur , sam. parker , r. domino ac domino gilberto archi-episcopo cantuariensi à sacris domesticis . ex edib . lambeth , novem. 2. 1668. the preface to the reader . it being usual for authors in prefaces to render an account of the occasion which gave birth to their writings , and to acquaint the reader with the design or scope of their discourses , i thought it convenient to continue a custom approved by many illustrious examples . let me therefore give thee to understand , that it is not desire of applause hath engaged me in this controversie . the care i have taken to conceal my name will , i suppose , free me from such suspicion ; but besides , let me assure thee i am too far from promising my self any addition to my repute from this scrible , that i do rather apprehend it will lessen my esteem with many of those excellent persons , who are now pleased to honour me with their friendship : and do expect from me discourses very different from those i here present thee . which considerations surely will gain me credit , when i affirm that no motive besides that of publick advantage could ever have prevailed upon me , to exchange my darling studies of experimental philosophy , and physick ( most pleasing and profitable imployments ) for barren controversie , which i ever declined . and among all , if i had consulted my own quiet or interest ; i should have avoyded this wherein i have now engaged ; which may occasion me much trouble , but cannot possibly bring me any advantage , besides that satisfaction which is alwayes the result of actions well intended . which pleasure i must confess will be much heightned , if this endeavour of mine meets with good entertainment and work the desired effect ; which that it may have , i will particularly address my self to all the persons concern'd with me in this debate : who are the people or patients , and physicians . this discourse is chiefly intended for the first , it being they ▪ who are most highly injured by the unwarrantable practices of those we have therein accused ; for although many understanding persons among the people are sufficiently sensible of the abuses we have manifested ; and that it is of absolute necessity some reformation be made : yet all are not thus perswaded , for we may daily observe , that many who are less discerning , being deceived by an imaginary good , covet their own ruine ; and unless they be given to understand which is the evil and which the good , by persons in whom they have reason to confide , they must necessarily run much hazard . i have here endeavoured to undeceive them , which i should dispair of , did i only foresee inconveniences a far off ( the vulgar being led by sense , and not by probable conjectures ) but since they do now actually labour under many , and those obvious inconveniences , how short soever their sight be , the sense of feeling being no less acute in them , than in others i perswade my self they will readily give their assent to those truths i have here discovered . now there are many things whereof most apothecaries are highly guilty , as carelesness , vnskilfulness , vnfaithfulness on the one hand , and intrusion into the physicians imployment ( i mean the practice of physick ) on the other : on all which accounts as i have fully demonstrated , they are exceedingly injurious to the publick . in order to the prevention of such unpardonable abuses of the people i have made this proposal , that physicians prepare and dispence their own medicines ; and at large shewed that the advantages of such a constitution will be many and great . for it will much abate the charge and expence of physick , and the medicines themselves will be more safe and effectual than now they are , interest obliging physicians to have their physick as good as they can contrive or prepare ; and certainly such a state of physick of all other is most desirable , wherein no man having the interest can have the power , nor any having the power can have the interest to prepare medicines unfaithfully : wherein bad men shall be made good , and those that are good never be tempted to become dishonest . and in that constitution of pharmacy for which we contend , suppose men be never so bad ; yet nevertheless their wickedness cannot have any ill influence on physick , as is manifested at large in this following discourse : so that if the sick have regard , either to profit or safety , they will address themselves to those persons who supply them with the best remedies , and ●at cheapest rates . and as for physicians , they must necessarily put their affaires into some such method , as this we have commended ; if they have any concern for their patients , or intend to improve pharmacy it self . for as it hath been well observed , if we depend only upon that we read in books , we shall never promote this art beyond its present limits ; and if physicians in former times had not been knowing in simples , examined their vertues , and tempers , enquired into their effects , and mixed them with their own hands , there had been no such science as physick . now according to the antient axiom , ex quibus constamus , ex iisdem nutrimur , those things which gave a being to this noble faculty must help to make it compleat ; towards which as nothing can contribute more than the improvement of pharmacy : so neither can any thing promote that , more than physicians taking it into their management . but besides all this , it is fit that they who exercise themselves in the practice of physick , be satisfied their medicines are good ; whereby their mind will be free , and without any clog : which would add more difficulties and dangers to a thing by it self hard and dangerous . these and other considerations mentioned and insisted on in the following discourse will i assure my self , perswade all physicians who have respect to the good and benefit of their patients , honour of their mrofession , or own reputation , to put pharmacy into other hands , and into better methods , than those wherein at present it is ; whereby they who now dishonour it ( i mean the apothecaries ) will either be reduced to a sense and performance of their duty , or sufficiently punished . for notwithstanding that they do now vnanimously resolve with associated endeavours to oppose all reformation ; yet i am perswaded that if physicians take some such courses as those i have mentioned , the event will be the same with that of mutinies . where if the commander be resolute he makes some of the mutineers exemplary , and threatens others ; of fierce , that they were in general , each one out of his particular fear becomes obedient : so how insolent soever the apothecaries now are when they see their punishment neer and certain , not trusting to one another , they will hasten all to obedience ; especially if good encouragement be given to those who return to their duty , and become reformadoes . and now ( to hasten to a conclusion ) if any fancy , we have too rudely attaqued the apothecaries , let them consider ( and then certainly they will excuse us ) that what we have done is only in our own defence ; for we had never interrupted their quiet , could they have contained themselves within due limits and not invaded our profession . so that if the case be stated rightly , it will appear most evident , that we are on the defensive part , they the aggressors ; and that we cannot justly be blamed , if in our own defence we offend them : or if being forced , we take violent courses , whose end yet is not ( as may be pretended ) destruction and confusion , but order and redress . nothing now remains but that i apologize for the defects of the ensuing discourse . it may be objected , that the method is not exact , the expression rude , the style unpolished and abrupt , the parts not closly cemented by handsom and sutable transitions . all which i readily acknowledge : but withall desire the readers to consider that this book was begun and finished within the space of six or eight dayes at the most ; and even then i was not free from diversions of many kinds : so that being penned in so short a time , the subject it self unpleasant , and the writer various●● distracted , it is scarcely possible 〈◊〉 should be compleat in method or expression . besides , this discourse was not calculated for scholars , but for the vulgar to whose capacity it is adapted ; for if i had intended to instruct the former , i would have taken more time and pains , digested the matter better , disposed it more advantageonsly , and endeavoured to cloath it in more handsome expressions . i must not here forget to acknowledge , that i have borrowed several passages from the judicious author of a late excellent discourse concerning the state of physick , and the regulation of its practice . i suppose it will be easily imagined that i could have spoken the same things in other words ; but my respect for that worthy person disposes me to believe they will sound better and be more effectual in his own language ; although i must crave his pardon for transposing some , and accommodating others to a proposal , he did not then think fit to mention . for faults in printing &c. the printer must be responsible ; and particularly for that formall beginning of the 177. page , which was never so intended by the author . this is all with which i thought fit to acquaint thee , i shall therefore now end with this request . that thou determine nothing in the behalf , or to the prejudice of this performance , till thou hast impartially examined all that is contained therein ; and then if it appear that i have spoken truth , i expect it should be owned and promoted by thee : if i be in any thing mistaken i am content to hear of it , and ready to retract whatsoever is not consonant to truth and reason . a discourse wherein the interest of the patient in reference to physick and physicians is soberly debated , &c. in all ages , and among all nations , health hath obtained the repute of being the greatest among earthly felicities , in the absence whereof we cannot relish any of those numerous enjoyments which the bountifull creator hath plentifully bestowed on us ; so that the most sublime antient philosophers , who excluded all other external good from being necessary to the well-being of man , placing happiness onely in those things whereof we cannot be deprived : yet out of them they excepted health , knowing there was so near a connexion between the soul and body , that this could not be disordered in its functions , but that would be disturbed in its operations . hence it was , that even among the wisest , that science or art , whereby those defects we call diseases were repaired , was always accounted divine ; and the ministers or dispensers of this skill were looked on as the hands of the gods : and some of them held the first places among their deified mortals . it is well known how great a name hippocrates obtained , not onely in greece ( which he delivered from a depopulating plague ) but in remote parts ; so that the greatest monarch in the east , and his vice-roys , were suitors to him to free their country from that devouring disease , which threatned to exhaust those populous regions of their inhabitants : unless the same person which freed greece , interposed , whom they esteemed divine , and descended from the gods , because so successfull in such great undertakings . neither did the reputation of physick die with that excellent person , but was afterwards in such high account , that the greatest kings were its chief professors , and cherishers ; and thought to render themselves more famous ( as indeed they did ) by finding out the virtues of some single plant , or by the contriving of some noble composition , and leaving their names entailed on them : than by their acquists of countries , or enlargement of empire . and the profession of physick , although neglected by the rude antient romans ; yet with the increase of civility , arts and sciences , this noble faculty made a proportionable progress in the esteem of that then judicious people : and it hath ever since been most honoured , and encouraged in the most civilized thriving nations and times ; neither was it ever exploded , but where barbarism or ignorance prevailed . so that , when i consider , what reverence hath been paid to this profession , and the professors thereof , in all times whereof we have any particular account , i am amazed to find that in this latter age , wherein it hath received a greater improvement than in two thousand years before , and daily makes a considerable and sensible progress ; that nevertheless it should be by many neglected , by others slighted , and by some even contemned . after a diligent enquiry into the causes of so strange and suddain an alteration , i could not in my opinion so justly ascribe it to defects in the profession , as to those of its professors . not that i deny physick to have its desiderata , for i believe it is capable of receiving great improvements ; but howsoever , all this notwithstanding , it might to this day have been maintain'd at least in the same degree of honour and esteem which all ages have justly had for it , if the imprudence of the real , ignorance and baseness of the pretended , artists had not interposed . under the former i comprise the physicians , under the latter their dependants the apothecaries , who i am confident have caused many of the inconveniences , under which the practice of physick now labours ; and will occasion others , if not prevented , whereof physicians are ( not without reason ) apprehensive . perhaps i shall hardly find credit among superficial observers , when i affirm , that the greatest enemies physick or physicians have at present , are the apothecaries , who should be , and are thought to be their fast friends ; but this assertion will easily gain belief with more discerning persons , who know that a false friend is more dangerous than an open enemy : of which the italians are sufficiently fensible when they desire to be delivered from their friends , they being always upon their guard against their professed adversaries . and indeed it is much more easie for any one , who is acquainted with the thoughts , designs and affairs of him , to whom he pretends friendship , to injure him in his person , estate , or blemish his reputation , than for another who is not privy to his intentions , nor intrusted with the management of his affairs . hence it is , that physicians cannot sustain much dammage from common quacksalvers , or mountebanks ; and that they cannot promise themselves the same security from apothecaries , will appear so evident in the ensuing discourse , that every unprejudiced reader will readily conclude physicians were either very facile , credulous , or else extremely improvident , when they committed so great a trust to the apothecaries , in whom they reposed such confidence , that the short-sighted vulgar were sensible of their danger before they themselves could imagine that , those whom they had so highly obliged , would prove unfaithfull to physick and physicians : but now they are forced , though late , to acknowledge , that the great indulgence they shewed to them , and their notorious abuse of privileges , wherewith had physicians been circumspect , or suspitious , they had never been acquainted , have occasioned those inconveniences , to which they now endeavour to bring a timely remedy . it is not without a great deal of regret , that they are necessitated to proclaim the crimes of those whom they have too much , too long countenanced , too often vindicated ; and they still retain to much kindness for them , that if a private opposition could have reclaimed them , the physicians would never have used so severe and violent a remedy , as is the exposing their unworthy principles and practices to the view of the world : but since they are both so mischievous , that to conceal , would be to permit , and allow them ; and thereby to betray their patients , themselves , their profession and successors , they are therefore forced to declare how much themselves , their profession , and the sick are injured by those vile arts of the apothecaries , which we shall here display . it is well known they have great pretences ( how fair we shall soon examine ) to the practice of physick ; and are now arrived at that degree of confidence ( not to say worse ) that they are not ashamed to publish this before all men , whom by most unworthy , and illegitimate artifices , they endeavour to alienate from the physicians , and assure to themselves . and besides , they are not more fraudulent in their practice , than unfaithfull in their preparations , few physicians having the satisfaction they desire , and it is fit they should receive , that the medicines they prescribe are prepared after their direction ; nothing being more frequent than for the apothecary to employ bad druggs , add , substract , or substitute at pleasure one ingredient instead of another . now how consistent these actions are with the ends of their institution , we desire not to be judges our selves , but appeal to all that have the exercise of reason ; and if after such unpardonable abuses , the physicians do not desert them , and make better provision for themselves , and their patients , they would be unworthy of the trust reposed in them , betray their profession to the scorn of the world , and themselves soon become contemptible . but yet although the physicians might with justice wholly reject the apothecaries , and are highly censured by many for their forbearance ; and though the apothecaries themselves have little regarded their frequent admonitions : yet such is the tenderness of those generous persons , that they are determined once more to invite them to entertain a sense of their duty , and to return to that state from which they are degenerated . it s true we have little hopes of their reformation , an almost infallible symptom of incorrigibleness , seeing their scandalous reflections on physicians in most companies , their entring into competition with them , nay , sometimes preferring themselves before them ; their associations , not to endeavour the improving their trade otherwise than by the decay of physicians , their resolution to stand by each other , and keep the ground they have got by treachery , resolving with united counsels and purses to withstand any reformation the physicians shall attempt among them . these are their ordinary discourses , and they do not scruple to give them forth , even in the presence of sober physicians , who cannot certainly be blamed if they do ill resent such unhandsome and so ingratefull a carriage . but charity obliges them to endeavour their amendment rather than their inevitable ruin , which they can when they please , effect by dispensing of their own physick ; the conveniences of which will be found so great by the people ( as we shall manifest ) that they would soon utterly desert the apothecaries and leave them in solitude to bewail their wretched improvidence ; who when they might have had a comfortable and honest subsistence neglected it , that they might obtain a greater : though thereby many lives were hazarded , most of their benefactors disobliged ; and how could they expect that building should be lasting , whose foundation was laid in blood , and ingratitude . yet how notorious soever matters of fact are , least they should pretend innocence , and thence promise themselves impunity , we shall first declare their enormous abuses of physicians and their patients . secondly , lay down certain propositions , wherewith if they comply , we will oblige our selves yet to retain them . thirdly , if they refuse to submit to such reasonable terms , we shall acquaint the world with some methods whereby the practice of physick can be more successfully managed by physicians without the apothecaries than it can possibly be with them , as they are now constituted . the grounds of our complaint against the apothecaries are these . that no physicians can be certain , medicines are made up according to their prescription . so that after they have taken much pains to inform themselves of the symptoms of the disease , to understand the causes of the distempers , and have duely deliberated what are likely to prove the most proper remedies ; which being judiciously prescribed , they promise themselves that success which usually attends solid counsel : but after all this trouble , either from the design , ignorance , carelessness , or unfaithfulness of the apothecaries , they are often frustrated , not so much to their own prejudice ( which yet is not inconsiderable ) as to the patients , which shall be here demonstrated . 1. physicians are subject to suffer from the malice or design of apothecaries . now although charity obliges us to think well of all men , till their actions discover them to be bad ; yet such hath been the demeanour of the apothecaries towards the physicians , that they have reason to stand upon their guard , and hazard as little with them as they can . for some apothecaries having been , as they pretend , highly disobliged by physicians ( i suppose , because for their own advantage , they would not permit them to injure their patients by bad physick ) what assurance can the physician have , that they do not meditate revenge ; especially since , if they have an opportunity , they can execute it , and be so far from being suspected themselves , that they may make a great advantage of their own miscarriages . ( which indeed they often do ) as suppose a physician with whom the apothecary is disgusted , prescribe a purge , the apothecary may make it with worm-eaten superannuated druggs , wherewith most of them are well stored ; which very probably will not work according to the physicians promise , and the patients expectation : the apothecary may be ready at hand to tell him that this was no ways accommodated to his temper ; nay , perhaps he before-hand presages to him , that it will not work sufficiently , ( as he may without conjuring or astrology ) whereby he obtains the reputation of a person more judicious than the physician , and makes way for this proposition , that he will prepare a purge for him which shall work more effectually than the former . this perhaps is the same the physician before prescribed , but assuredly made up of better druggs ; and so the apothecary at once executes his malice , and effects his design which is to exclude the physician , and introduce himself . this is , indeed , a supposition , but i fear such as is often practiced ; and there are many physicians who have found it true to their cost : yet these are some of the more innocent cheats . i wish we be not often exposed to others of worse consequence , than a slight disgrace of the physician , and abuse of the patient . charity forbids me to suspect worse than i know , but what will not a dishonest mind intent on revenge or gain , scruple ? howsoever , i think it behoves physicians to take such care , that they and their patients lye not exposed to the designs of wicked apothecaries ; and that there either are , or may be some such , they have reason at least to fear , and consequently provide , that they be not injured by them . 2. another thing physitians find fault with , in many apothecaries , is their ignorance in the latin tongue , which is of very ill consequence ; for physicians , for good reasons , not here to be mentioned , have been long accustomed to write those prescripts , they send to the apothecaries , in latin : which not being rightly understood , hath often occasioned , not only innocent , but also fatal mistakes . and that a great part of the apothecaries are very illiterate , is so evident that they themselves dare not deny it . nay , i have heard them often divert themselves with the mistakes committed by the younger apothecaries at their hall ; where it is the custom before they make an apprentice ( that hath served seven , or eight or nine years ) free of their company , to put him to construe a doctor 's bill , or something in the dispensatory ; which is the only mark of respect they have left for physicians ▪ and if the probationer escapes this dangerous tryal , he is admitted with great applause . but i do not hear of any , whom they exclude ; and they have been highly offended at physicians , excepting against them : yet many by their own relations , are guilty of gross mistakes ; which though they may be pleasant to talk of , yet are sad and serious ones when they come to cost people their lives , or so much as hazard them , which they frequently do . this assertion i could confirm by an innumerable company of instances ▪ and there is scarce any physician , who hath not been troubled with several of them in his practice . now if the masters themselves are subject to these miscarriages , what can we expect from the servants , who we may presume are in every respect , their inferiours . these mistakes are either of one material for another , or in the quantities of the materials ; especially , when physicians write them at length in latin : for many of the apothecaries understand the numbers only in figures , so that some of them know little difference between sexdecem sexaginta and sexcenta ; and of duodeviginti they will make at least twice twenty . and so for measures , sometimes mistakes proceed from their ignorance in the names of the materia medica . among many other instances of this kind , that most unfortunate one recorded by an eminent physician , is notorious , of an apothecary , who instead of a dose of mercurius sublimatus dulcis , exhibited so much common sublimate , a mortal poyson ; which was scarce ever given inwardly , instead of an innocent medicine , approved by all physicians . sometimes they mistake one operation for another , of which i could give a large account ; but the mentioning of them will be sufficient , since every physician is able to make a fair catalogue of them : and there are not many apothecaries whose consciences will not at the mention of this , reproach them with the remembrance of many such mistakes , the meanest and most innocent , of which cannot but be a great injury to the physician , and patient . the first expects his medicines should have such operations as he might promise himself from them , if rightly prepared ; the other waits for relief , which in these cases is usually the effect of counsel , rarely of chance : or if the miscarriage prove fortunate , which hath sometimes happened , the patient is no more beholding to the apothecary , than he was to the enemy that cured him of an inward ulcer ( under which he had long languished ) by a thrust with his sword. for as that salutary wound would have proved mortal , if it had been in another place ; so these lucky mistakes might be dangerous , if the apothecary had lighted on another material : which that he did not employ , cannot be ascribed to his knowledge , care or sagacity , whatsoever he may afterward pretend . 3. another complaint against the apothecaries , is , that they are not well acquainted with the materia medica ; the knowledge whereof is an essential part of their profession : but take the words of druggists who themselves are sometimes mistaken , and differ about the names of several druggs ; and which is worse , they trust to herb-women , who obtrude almost any thing upon the greatest part of them . and that these women do often mistake one thing for another , sometimes ignorantly , otherwhile designedly , is well known to many physicians ▪ who have seen them sell the apothecaries , herbs , roots , and seeds , under oher names , than those they do really bear . i do not affirm this of them all , for i am not ignorant that some apothecaries are good herbarists , whose diligence i cannot sufficiently commend ; and our industrious country-men , parkinson and johnson , to whom we are beholding for their elaborate herbals , were apothecaries : although they have not wrote , especially the former , with that judgment which is requisite , and found in the writings of many physicians , from whom indeed they derive the greatest part of their knowledge , as they themselves acknowledge . but the generality of apothecaries are of another humour , they will eat the kernel , but give not themselves the trouble of cracking the shell ; take no pains to inform themselves in those things which are absolutely necessary to the faithful discharge of their trust , many among them cannot distinguish between ingredients , noxious and salutary : so , that we have not patients daily poysened , is rather from the care of herb-women , than apothecaries . now physicians depending almost wholly on such vegetables as our own country affords for the cure of diseases ; which if rightly apply'd , are more proper , cheap , fuller of vertue and efficacy , than those that come from remote parts ( excepting a few whose vertues are kept pretty entire ) and some of them specificall for diseases , which others substituted in their place , may exasperate , though even they also upon another occasion may prove effectual : so that hence proceed many inconveniences . the patient is not relieved , who perhaps might have been perfectly restored to former health ; the physician who would thereby have acquired repute , is neglected , if not disgraced : and which is worst of all , he distrusts ; nay , perhaps wholly rejects remedies , commended in the books of experienced physicians , or communicated to him by judicious faithful friends , through the fault of the apothecary , which might have proved conducive to promote the recovery of many sick people , who after languish all their lives for want of some proper generous medicine . 4. most of the apothecaries trust to several for compositions , in whom ( how charitable soever the apothecaries may be ) physicians have little reason to confide . there is it seems a great trade driven by many in this city , of selling medicines by whole-sale . one makes treacle , mithridate or diascordium , in great quantities ; unguent's plaisters , and what not : now many of the apothecaries can buy such compositions cheaper of these persons , than they can prepare them for , after the prescription of the colledge in their dispensatory . this is a good thrifty course , but suppose a dissatisfied physician ( of which not without cause , there is a great number ) suspect , that these compositions are not made of sound druggs , and other choice ingredients ; especially since they afford them cheaper than other honest men can make them . and besides , these men for the most part are not apothecaries , or bred in that trade ; but operators , who casually have taken up this way of living : so that their skill as well as honesty is liable to be questioned . to these objections the apothecaries readily answer , that buying their ingredients at the best hand , and in quantities , they have them cheaper than those that deal for smaller parcels ; and besides they have some peculiar knack in composition , which saves them much trouble and expense . the first signifies somewhat , yet is not a sufficient answer ; but of what kind this latter should be , an honest apothecary , that surmises no worse of others than he is conscious of in himself , cannot easily imagine . to expend sixpence less in fire in the making two hundred or three hundred pound weight of plaister , or unguent , is not very considerable ; so neither is expediteness or dispatch , which at most cannot save much more in the same quantity : so that what this knack should be , unless leaving cut some of the most costly ingredients , substituting others in their room , or using only such as are perished and may be procured at easiy rates , i cannot conceive . and that thus it is , i am rather induced to believe , from what i my self have often observed in the shops of the apothecaries among other abuses , too many to mention . they ordinarily vend to those that pay a price for the best than can be made , emplastrum oxycroceum sine croco ; which in down right english , is the plaister of saffron , without a grain of that noble ingredient , from which it derives its name and most of its vertues : which for the most part they borrow of their corresponding plaster-mongers . in short , most of the plaisters and unguents of the shop , compared with those that are made by skilful and honest hands , are so unlike , that they may be easily distinguished by the naked eye , or some other of the senses which argues a sufficient difference : but there is a much greater and more sensible in their effects , as hath been often experimented . and i have sometimes heard some curious chyrurgions grievously complaining of the shop-trash ( they could bestow no better title on it ) and professed , that if they used the unguents and plaisters of the apothecaries , their employment would keep pace with their cures , and be as little , as they few ; whereas preparing those medicines they use themselves , their success is conspicuous , and their patients numerous . if physicians did in this imitate the chyrurgions , they would not have occasion to complain so often , as now they do ; and that , i fear , not without cause . i cannot dismiss this subject , before i take notice of an observation i have often made and admired at , which is , that the apothecaries who are very tender of their priviledges ( to give them their due ) and who pretend to have a charter of large extent , should yet nevertheless permit these unguent and plaister-sellers to follow that way of traffique ; whom yet they are so far from prosecuting and dissallowing , that on the contrary they seem to approve of them by keeping a correspondence with them , and buying their commodities . now what should dispose them to this tenderness and forbearance , of which they are not often guilty , i cannot imagine , unless it be interest ? these persons furnishing them with those compositions at such easy rates , that i have my self over-heard some of them question , whether they could possibly make them faithfully , since the very ingredients , would cost as much as the plaisters , &c. were sold for ? which i confess is to me , a deep mystery : whether of iniquity , let others judge . there is another custom among apothecaries , whereof all physicians do not approve ; that is , there are some who make mithridate , others treacle , a third diascordium ; perhaps one , all these : another , that noble preparation , pulvis è chelis cancrorum , commonly known by the name of gascoign's powder ; others alchermes , lenitive electuary , confectio hamech ; some , syrups ; other , cordial waters ; and they drive a trade of exchanging with each other , it being to be supposed , that making great quantities , they can sell cheap : which dealings render their preparations suspected to the physitian , who often finds these medicines to be as bad as they are cheap ; and therefore most decline the use of preparations , if they have not first an assurance that they are made by the apothecaries themselves , whose word we only have for it . but let us suppose they do really make all the physick they dispense , yet still the sceptical physician will not be satisfied , having still some scruples remaining ▪ which , i fear , will not be easily removed . 5. it is therefore objected by many physicians , who are somewhat more concerned for the good of their patients , than the apothecaries , as yet appear to be ▪ that these in the compounding of physick employ bad druggs , and use superannuated medicines which are fit for the dunghill , without any previous preparation ; that if they want any simple or composition that is prescribed , they substitute in its place some other , which ( in their profound judgments ) they apprehend , approaches nearest thereto . besides some of them have been found to add to some prescriptions , and substract from others ; one or the other , according to the suggestions of a petulant fancy . these are grievous charges , and deserve to pass a severe examen , that if true , some remedy may be found against such unpardonable abuses ; or if false , that the innocent may be acquitted , and the scandal removed . it s commonly said , vox populi , vox dei : so that the apothecaries being accused by both physitians and their patients , it is to be feared they are criminal . but they will not permit us the testimonies of physicians , which they endeavour to render invalid ; for being conscious that they have grosly abused them , they are perswaded these will unanimously condemn them : therefore they are excepted against , as interested persons , and their plea must not be allowed of . if we appeal to events , and tell them of persons that have been , either manifestly injured by bad physick ; when that which was prescribed , if it had been duely prepared , would in all probability have given them great relief : or if we mention others , on whom strong purging , vomiting , or sweating physick , or such , as if prepared after the physicians prescript , would have proved such , hath had little or no sensible operation , when the same faithfully prepared by other hands , or by the same , the physician supervising , quickly displayed its nature according to his intention . all these things they ascribe to chance , and pretend that when physick hath not the desired or promised effect , the physician to excuse his own defects , lays the blame on apothecaries , or bad druggs . since therefore we are excluded from these ways of proof ( which yet no indifferent or unconcerned person will deny us ) nothing remains , but that we accuse them out of their own mouths . i remember a great philosopher tells us , that if we would know what actions are vitious , we should enquire of the vulgar , whose consciences force them generally to condemn what is bad in others , if they have no concern in the action ; for though they may approve of it in themselves , when they apprehend , it 's for their own advantage : yet they will endeavour so to disguise and excuse it , that it may not appear in its native colour , but pass current under the notion of good , honest , or convenient . this is verified in the apothecaries . there is no particular person that will acknowledge himself to be in the least faulty , they all faithfully prepare their medicines ; but if we will give credit to what they say of each other , we shall hear the contrary : for if the people urge against them , as well they may , the dearness of their medicines ( which frequently happens ) i have often heard them reply , that they were faithfully prepared ; and therefore deserved a greater price than those which others vended ( its true ) cheaper , because they were made with bad druggs , that surely none , who had any respect for their health , would grudge to give a small matter more , for good remedies than the worst would cost them : thus they generally exclaim on each other . and perhaps there are some who apprehend that few of them are wronged by these mutual accusations . but howsoever , either the apothecaries are an envious , malicious sort of people , to traduce each other in affairs of so great consequence as those wherein the lives or welfare of many thousand men are at stake ; or these taccusations are true : either of which being allowed , must necessarily render the apothecaries unworthy of any great trust ▪ at least till they reform their words ▪ or actions . but truly i am inclined in this particular to believe what the apothecaries affirme of each other , it being seconded by common fame , and the observation of physicians whose duty and interest obliges them to discover the intrigues of a profession which hath so immediate a dependence on them ▪ as indeed they on it . it were an endless task to enumerate all the fraudulent tricks , which are used by those ▪ apothecaries who are not conscientious ; for some i perswade my self there are , who keep strictly to the end of their institution , the faithful and careful preparation of medicines : but i fear these are so few , that they are scarce observed in a croud of men so bad , that to endeavour to render them worse then they are , were to throw ink in the face of an aethiopian . and indeed i cannot say worse of them then barely to relate their practices . i shall not take much notice of their buying bad druggs , which they apprehend to be good , ( and that they are often over-reached seems not impossible to those who have been much conversant with many of them ) these being mistakes of ignorance , and therefore pardonable , so that i do not more blame then pitty them ; and if many did not suffer for their unskilfulness i should entertain a pure compassion for them without an alloy of anger or animosity . but there remains other manner of miscarriages than these , to be considered ; and they are not innocent mistakes , but designed cheats , and such as not only the all-seeing god , but i hope man also will call them to an account for : such are some of these . a great copper ●embick at one distillation ( o wonderful accurtation ) supplies a whole shop with simple waters ; for it 's but flinging into a great quantity of water in the stillatory a handful of twenty or thirty sorts of herbs , as much of the water being drawn off as is thought sufficient , a due proportion is put into each glass with its title . now 't is well known that most simple distilled waters have neither sensible smell , nor taste ; and differ as to appearance no more from each other than the fixed salts of plants , though we find both them and these have somewhat ( at least a few of them ) different effects : so that this cheat is not so easily detected , as an unskilful person would be apt to imagine . but to give our apothecary his due , i cannot say he vends any of those waters , whereof he hath not put a handful into the still , his conscience is not so large as to permit him to impose so grosly on his patients ; nay , perhaps the vertue of each herb keeps it self distinct in some portion of water , without being confounded with its neighbour , as several chymical liquors , though never so much shaken , each retires to the station assigned by those various degrees of gravity and levity nature or art hath bestowed on them ; so that the sagacious apothecary may perhaps restore each water to its proper receptacle . but how possible soever this may seem , it doth not appear very probable ; and till it can be demonstrated , we shall look upon this as a deceitful practice , and such as no physician will dispense with . the same thread runs through many of their other preparations , as in making pectoral syrups , one made up with a handful of each ingredient serves for all . some after that they have extracted the best of the tincture out of saffron with spirit of wine , to make the extract and spirit ; then they pour more spirit on the remaining dreggs , which being strongly expressed , the vinous spirit is a little tincted : and this is often substituted in the place of that noble tincture on which physicians sometimes depend too much , unless they could have it better prepared . another just cause of complaint the physicians have against the apothecaries , are their old medicines ; for suppose them as faithfully prepared as they can pretend , or we desire : yet length of time will make some changes in them , which are not often improvements . thus syrups grow acid , and waters full of mother ; electuaries , and pills dry , and deprived of their most active parts ; powders themselves are not free from this fate , whose vertues in time we find marvelously diminished . but let the physicians inculcate this and much more to them , they may with as good success preach to stone-walls ; for not a dram of any medicine will the apothecaries part with but for sale : so that they many times sell their preparations five or six years after they were made ; and whether their medicinal properties are not much impaired , if they have any left , we leave to others to determine . and indeed the apothecary hath many things in his shop which are not called for in many moneths , yet these must be vended with the rest . all which when they have lost their vertues , should they be rejected , it would be much to the prejudice of the apothecaries ; and they have a fundamental maxim , that no such thing should be allowed of : for 't is much better that the patient should suffer somewhat in his body than the apothecary in his estate . and if he injured by the bad physick he took , perhaps he will have pitty on him , and the next prescription shall be faithfully prepared ; whereby he makes him abundant recompense for the hurt he received by that which was bad : and he himself makes an advantage of both . although perhaps , if he had consulted the patient , he would rather have chosen to keep his head sound , than have it broken , that a proper plaster might be applied for the cure. this is so notorious a truth that all the world , even their best friends exclaim against them for it ; and till they amend this among many other peccadilloes , the physicians desire to be excused that they scruple to employ them . another property they have of substituting one ingredient for another , which how pernicious a thing it is , unless the apothecary were equal or superiour to the doctor in judgment , is very apparent . this is a subject , on which every physician can expatiate ; but i omit it , not that 't is less material than the others , but because it is better known : so that here to be particular were as great a soloecisme as to carry coals to castle ; for i should acquaint people , especially those who have been conversant with the practice of physick with nothing , which they were not sensible of long since . i shall therefore wave this discourse and proceed to another complaint against the apothecaries , which is , that apothecaries and their servants are so careless , slovingly , and slight in preparing of dispensatory , or prescribed medicines , that neither physicians or the diseased have reason to repose that trust in them which they challenge as their due . as for slovenliness they may i confess plead the old proverb ; that , vvhat the eye sees not , the heart rues not . i confess of all the rest it may be best dispensed with , but should patients but once behold how their physick was prepared in some shops , they would so nauseate it , that perhaps they would undergo much , rather than take the least dose so ordered . but lest i offend nice queasie stomachs , i shall dismiss this subject ; and proceed to another , which is the carelesness of apothecaries and their apprentices : on which i can never reflect without fear and indignation ; indignation to think what numbers have been destroyed and injured by such proceedings ; fear , lest it should be my own misfortune to suffer in my repute , and in my patients ( for whom every honest physician is passionately concerned , abstractedly from his own interest ) from the rashness or carelesness of some giddy apprentice or indiscreet master . that this is not a groundless apprehension many families can witness ; and you can converse with few persons , who are not able to give an account of some such miscarriages . now although in these cases the patient is chiefly injured , yet it reflects also somewhat on the physicians ; if for nothing else , yet that they imploy persons who are so little concerned for that precious merchandise , the lives of men , that they will not be at the expense of a litttle care , pains and trouble to secure them . in vain is it for a pilot to direct the course of a ship skilfully , if persons shall make leakes in it under water ; the wisdom and care of the governour will not bring them to their desired haven : but even he with the ship will suffer shipwrack in his reputation , especially if what was transacted in darkness be not discovered ; for then it will be supposed that through his unskilfulness it split upon some rock , struck on some sand which might have been avoided . now if physicians and their patients will not make provision against such dangers , they have no reason to complain when they suffer ; since it is nothing but what they might easily have remedied . now the last complaint of physicians against the apothecaries on the account of their medicines which i shall mention , is their being most of them strangers to chymistry , which is no inconsiderable part of pharmacy ; whose preparations at least many of them are of great efficacy and come frequently in use . it 's true indeed phycians were formerly very shy of these remedies , used them with great caution , and that not without good reasons ; for although the physicians were satisfied , that being faithfully prepared they were endowed with great vertue : yet not being at leasure themselves to prepare them , and being earnestly admonished by helmont and other eminent experienced spagyrists not to trust to venal medicines made by common operators , who for their private gain scruple not to adulterate , as indeed they ever did , and still do , most of their medicines ; therefore those that consulted the good and welfare of their patients , did rather wholly decline practice with those sophisticated medicines than expose their patients to a manifest hazard . but of late years chymistry is again come into request , for physicians curiosity prompting them to prepare some particular remedies themselves , others were bestowed on them by persons of quality who prosecuted chymistry ; only that they might oblige the publick with useful discoveries , especially in medicine , such as that honourable person mr. boyle : and some few honest industrious apothecaries preparing others for them , finding these medicines of unusual efficacy , they were so far from decrying them ( which some falsly object ) that they were of frequent use among such whose good fortune it was to meet with these advantages . others making use of those preparations they had from unfaithful apothecaries or mercenary chymist , sand finding they had seldom good , frequently ill effects , they cannot be blamed for desisting from the use of what they found attended with so bad consequences ; which how injurious it hath been to the practice of physick both in reference to the physician and the patient , will appear in the sequel of this discourse . which that it may be more distinct , i shall proceed after this method , first , shew what chymistry is ; and that its medicines are of great efficacy , and safe . secondly , that very many chymical medicines ill prepared , are dangerous , and cannot be safely used . thirdly , that the apothecaries are not furnished with such chymical medicines as the physicians can confide in . as to the first , we say that chymistry is an art which teaches us how to divide bodyes into several parts ; and being seperated , to purifie and again compound them according to the pleasure of the artist . indeed according to the vulgar acceptation of the word it is an art of making gold and silver out of baser mettals ; and that even some who before had the repute of being wise , have entertained such favourable thoughts of it . in this respect i am apt enough to believe , having known many learned mens hopes and expectations swelled up to a high pitch by promising experiments or fine-spun speculations , for which they were beholding to the writings of some eminent alchymists . but supposing this to be an extravagant notion , and an abuse of chymistry ; yet the art it self is not therefore to be exploded , it being acknowledged by all ingenuous unprejudiced persons that an excellent use may be made thereof , either as it discovers to us the nature of most bodies exposed to its analysis : and in that by its means many noble productions may be made , which encrease our knowledg of nature and our power over her ; so that at this day nothing is in more esteem with the greatest philosophers then chymistry . but i shall wave this vse of it , as not pertinent to our present discourse ; and proceed to another , which is the preparing of various subjects in order to the rendring them noble medicines . for in many bodies which are of great use in physick , that vertue which makes them so , consists in few parts which by chymical art may be separated from the useless though greater portion , and further refined or exalted ; and then they do more freely , much sooner , and in less quantity display their salutary effects . thus we see that a small quantity of a vegetable spirit made by fermentation or of chymical essential oyles , are a compendium of a great quantity of the vegetables that afforded them , retaining exactly the genuine odours and tasts of their mother plants ; and a few drops of spirit of harts-horn are more effectual than some ounces of the horn any other way prepared . we could instance in a thousand other things which i omit designing brevity . there are also among minerals , many subjects which are ennobled with excellent medicinal properties ; but they are most of them noxious , unprepared : and the useful part is lockt up or closely united to the bad from which it is not easily freed . now here chymistry assists us , for by it we are enabled to separate the pure from the impure , the good from the bad , that which is of use from the more copious part , which would either have none or ill effects . i will mention but two minerals which are acknowledged by all , duly prepared , to afford noble remedies . they are mercury and antimony . mercury admits of various preparations , and there is not one of these that are commonly known ( as for instance those in our own dispensatory ) which faithfully prepared do not answer many intentions of a judicious physician which could not be any other way satisfied , such are mercurius dulcis , mineral turbith , the red and other precipitates ; and that not only in venereal distempers , for which alone they were formerly in use ; but also in many other chronical diseases ; which are sometimes cured by these , after they have baffled many other promising methods , and medicines . as for antimony it is sufficiently known , that scarce any vomits are prescribed , throughout not only england , but europe that are not prepared out of this noble mineral ; which ordered after other methods is an excellent and safe purge , working without gripes : and if we proceed after another way we may render antimony diaphoretick . as in that which is commonly so called , and in mineral bezoara medicine highly commended by those who in the vogue of the people have went for great galenists . i might instance in vitriol , lead , tin , iron , silver , many of whose preparations have obtained much credit in the world : such are salt and sugar of steel , its astringent and aperitive crocus , diaphoreticum joviale , sugar of lead , lunar pills spirit and oyle of vitriol , ens the veneris of mr. boyle . to these we may add many preparations of vegetables and animals , as the volatile spirit , salt , oyle and balsom of amber , flowers of benzoin , the cremor or chrystalls of tartar , its spirit and fixt salts refines of jalap , and scammony , extracts of hellebore , rhubarb , the fixed salts of vegetables , tincture of saffron , and castor , with many others , which when duly prepared are used very success fully ; and therefore it is great pity every physician cannot be supplied with such of these preparations as he hath occasion to use : which he that consults the welfare of his patients dares not do , unless he either prepares them himselfe , for which few have leasure and conveniences , or receive them from persons in whom he can perfectly confide . for chymical remedies though as innocent or any that are made , if prepared by those who are careful , skilfull and honest are of more then ordinary vertue and efficacy ; yet if by others of contrary dispositions , nothing more pernicious : the consideration whereof unfolds that riddle which hath puzled so many . whence it is that some sober and modest physicians do so highly exalt chymical remedies ; and at the same time others of candid tempers as loudly decry them : the one pretending that they are usually attended with good effects : the other confidently pronouncing , that either they have had bad success with them , or that they have proved wholly ineffectual . the difference may be easily reconciled , the one either prepares himself , or supervises the making of his own medicines ; the other trust to apothecaries , and common chymists ; whom i shall evince in this particular to be as great cheats as are now extant in the world : and do deserve more severe punishment , than those that pick-pockets or rob on the high way ; for by these abuses man only deprived of a small part of his estate ; by those sometimes of life , often of health which is alwayes by their medicines extreamly hazarded . in the third place , i come therefore to manifest that we ought not to trust the apothecaries for chymical remedies . there are indeed some few that are very skilful and curious in this kind , whose care and industry deserves encouragement ; but these are not many , and are so obscured by the far greater number of those that act otherwise , that they are scarcely visible . the remainder ( if i may so call almost the whole company such , without being guilty of a soloecism ) are not instructed in the very rudiments of chymistry : many among them never saw a chymical glass or furnace , are wholly unacquainted with the very names of the operations ; and yet these persons are well provided with all sorts of chymical remedies which they buy of the mercenary chymists . whom though otherwise undisposed to sophisticate their remedies , ( to which i think them naturally marvellous prone ) they tempt to adulterate by offering them such low prizes , for which indeed they cannot afford them , if genuine and right ; and have an handsome subsistence out of the gain which certainly their labour and industry deserves : yet these cheap prized medicines are retailed by the apothecaries at unreasonable rates , at least six times the value they cost them . now what trust there is to be had in the venal chymists will appear by the ensuing account , which i protest is most true and faithful , being free from any other designe than that of having such enormous abuses redressed . since chymistry came into the request it hath been subservient , not only to medicine , but also to trades ; and hath found employment for many searching busie heads : some of which engage therein only , that they may gratifie an unbounded curiosity , by observing an infinite variety of changes in the subject they expose to the action of fire , and solvents , delighting themselves greatly in the contemplation of the causes of those pretty appearances : others promise to themselves golden mountains , either from the general great work as they style it , or from some particular lucriferous experiments . now they that are intent on any of these , make use of many materials which are ordinarily vended by a sort of men , whose sole imployment it is to prepare them . and we know by sad experience , that the greatest part of mankind are not acted by principles of reason , honesty , or religion , it being interest which swayes most ; few regarding how it fares with the publick , so that they thrive in their private concerns . these operators therefore having ready vent for their preparations , they contrive the cheapest methods of preparing them , not regarding how injurious they are to the sick , and those that dispense their medicines ; or to those curious persons who deal in nice experiments : which differences in the same materials do often exceedingly vary , these unworthy selfish people being highly satisfied , if the substance , they vend , resemble the genuine in all sensible properties . now those that are well acquainted with chymistry , know that most of the ordinary preparations which are the grounds or ingredients of others , may be variously prepared ; and yet all of them approach so near unto the true , that the most judicious eye , nose , or palate , cannot distinguish between them . as for instance , there is no venal preparation comes more in use than sublimate made of salts and mercury , whether to make mercurius dulcis , butter of antimony , in order to mineral , and jovial bezoard●ca , that precipitate of it , which is abusively called mercurius vitae , or liquid emetick remedies ; and yet it is too well known that this is often sophisticated by sublimation with arsenick : and certainly we cannot expect , that remedies wherein this is an ingredient , can be very innocent . there are so many other known methods of preparing sublimate amiss ; which yet shall be no less fair to sight than the best , that it is to me a greater wonder we have any good , than that we have so much , adulterated by vile impostors and covetous operators . some only re-sublime common sublimate twice or thrice , and then vend it for that famed harmless remedy mercurius dulcis , it becoming almost as insipid as that ; which whether it doth exactly emulate in internal as it doth in sensible properties i leave to experience to determine . but this is none of the most profitable succedanea , therefore many only dissolve the mercury in common aqua fortis , or other corrosive liquors ; which abstracted from the precipitate , that being sublimed the result is said to be mercurius dulcis and sold for such , and it may be so : but yet such preparations are ( not without reason ) liable to suspicion , it not being advisable to permit processes of this nature to be varied at pleasure by any ignorant , conceited , covetous operator ; for although the medicines may possibly prove more effectual than when prepared after the common method , yet i fear they are often sufficiently noxious . and this perhaps is the occasion of so many miscarriages in the use of the shop-chymical remedies ; which prepared after the usual method , would have displayed salutary , rather than such pernicious effects . i am unwilling to discover more of these fraudulent tricks , lest i should inform some of them , whom a happy ignorance only hath kept from putting them in execution : yet the sophistication of the cremor , or crystals of tartar ( which come so frequently in use ) with alom , and the vending common copperas or english vitriol for the salt or vitriol of steel are such notorious cheats that i cannot but mention them . and to pass over the rest , chymical essential oyls which are so often sophisticated , that i never met with any venal which was not so abused ; and my skilful friends have often complained to me that they never found , any sincere unmixed chymical oyl , in the shops either of the druggists , chymists , or apothecaries . i remember that formerly i made many of those which were of daily use in medicine , keeping some parcels by me ; that comparing them with the venal oyls , i might learn whether i was imposed on . this precaution was thus far useful to me , as it instructed me that unless i would injure my patient , i ought not to make use of any of these oyls ; unless presented me by my own laboratory , or by friends in whom i could absolutely confide : those which we , and the apothecaries , or druggists borrow of the chymists enjoying little of the taste , and less of the vertues of those subjects , out of which they are pretended to be extracted , being usually mixed with a far greater portion of the oyls of turpentine , spike , or rotten decay'd limons , of which as i and others have observed many of the chymists make great quantities . which recals into my mind what once happened to me : having occasion once to buy a great number of limons , i enquired of the merchant how he disposed of those that were rotten , and unsound ; who answered me , that nothing was lost , the chymists and apothecaries buying all that refuse trash which he could not otherwayes vend , to make oyls and syrups ▪ which did not a little confirm me in my suspicions of their unworthy practices . and surely such as these i have mentioned , will deter those physicians that have any respect for their patient's health and own reputation , from trusting to those remedies of the shops , which the apothecaries have of mercenary chymists , or common operators . but suppose these chymical vulgar medicines are prepared with the greatest care and honesty , there are besides them , many noble remedies , which do as much exceed them , as they , the common syrups , or electuaries ; such are those which great chymists call the lesser arcana , the greater being it seems no less then their renowned elixir , the universal medicine , and the alkahest or great solvent which they affirm many have actually possessed . how true this latter assertion is makes not for our purpose : but as for what concerns the former , i my selfe can affirm it . these generous remedies have been hitherto industriously concealed by their possessors from the apothecaries and common chymists , knowing that they would make a preposterous use of them ; but should physicians put themselves in a method that they can have any chymical preparation , which shall be discovered to them , faithfully and skilfully prepared , they would soon be divulged : which would be much to the benefit both of the physician and patient , they being more sure and sudden in their operation than any other whatsoever , and are of much greater extent , one single remedy often curing many diseases that have any affinity with each other . such are the essences of plants made by the union of their volatile spirits , essential oyles , and fixed salts , volatile salt , or spirit of tartar , tincture of corals , essences of pearles , and valentinus's tincture of antimony , his mineral helmont's elixir proprietatatis , his laudanum , his aroph , the volatile spirit of vitriol , the anodine sulphur of vitriol , its essential oyle the tincture of gold : &c. all which i have seen , and can witness that they have had extraordinary effects : and there are many such or better in the hands of discreet persons , who are nothing so reserved and invidious as the generality of chymists ( how deservedly i know not ) are taxed to be . for i have heard several of them , persons of great note and honour , profess their readiness to communicate what they know in this kind , to any society of sober , industrious physicians that would oblige themselves to use , as they see occasion in their practice , such noble remedies as they will direct them to prepare . now is it reasonable physicians should neglect these advantages of improving their faculty , only to gratify an ingrateful , idle , careless generation , by whom they and their patients are so highly injured that no persons who have any sense of honour or honesty can further trust them , till they give sufficient testimony of their reformation : which what it is , shall be anon mentioned . another remedy may be applyed , and which perhaps were most advisable , that is , for physicians to prepare their own physick , whether chymical or what is commonly called galenical : but of this more hereafter . another thing the physicians deservedly blame in the apothecaries , is their enhauncing the prizes of medicines so much above what they might in reason expect ; about which the physician doth not so much concern himself , because it hath a bad influence on him : as on the account of his patient ; though certainly if apothecaries were more modest in the prizing their physick , the patient could be more liberal to the physician . whereas on the contrary the apothecary holds them at such unreasonable rates that in most courses of physick , he gains more then his master , how deservedly let others determine ; though in my opinion were their pay proportionated to their care and honesty , i doubt they would gain little besides shame and reproaches . but the apothecaries bills must be paid without abatement ; otherwise there shall be more clamour than if twenty physicians went unpaid : but with how much regret they are discharged , almost every physician can witness , most of them being daily troubled by their patients with complaints of their apothecary , which it is not in their power to redress . now several things contribute to , or are the occasional causes of this universall grievance : the number , pride , or covetousness of the apothecaries ; and that prizes are not set on their medicines . for apothecaries , the physicians procuring it being reduced into a company were at first few ; and therefore having full employment could afford their medicines at moderate prizes : but being since that time increased to a great number , each person bringing up two , three or more , that imployment which was before in a few hands became more dispersed ; so that a very small portion thereof falls to the share of some ; and indeed very few of them , have more than they can manage . now the sick must maintain all these , for although there be no occasion for a sixth-part ; yet they must all live handsomly , as those that account themselves physicians fellows : to supply which expense they have no other way than to exalt the prizes of their medicines ; and stil the less they are employ'd the higher they must prize them : otherwise they could not possibly subsist , unless they become physicians and prescribe as well as prepare , to which practices they are not only propense but are initiated in them , as we shall see in the sequel of this discourse . now would it not be much better , if it were with us as in some parts of germany ? where the magistrates of many cities , and i think territories , agree upon a certain number of apothecaries , so many as they can apprehend are necessary , all the rest being excluded ; and must either seek other seats , or be content for a small salary to work under those that are allowed . the number of the apothecaries thus limited , is beneficial to themselves in that they never want imployment ; and to the patient , who for the same reason hath his physick at cheaper rates . i hope so manifest an advantage will invite us to imitate them which would not only be a great ease to the patient ; but also should be desired by the apothecaries themselves if they consulted their own interest . for if the future increase of their number bear any proportion to what is already added therto since they were constituted a company , the physician need not oppose them , they must necessarily fall of themselves ; unless they meet with some extraordinary support which cannot be at present foreseen nay scarcely imagined : but they are so intent on their private gain that i do them an injury in proposing to them the good of the publick or of their company , especially when it will diminish their present profit . therefore , since here is so little 〈◊〉 that they will reform themselves , others must take upon them that troublesome and ingratefull task ; and next to the magistrate i know not who are more capable of this than the physicians : as will be seen when we come to the remedies which shall be proposed in order to the prevention of this and other inconveniences , of which they are the causes another bad property the apothecaries have , is their insinuating many things to the prejudice of an honest physician among their patients ; to whom the apothecary endears himself by the frequent access he hath to them , and some little pieces of officiousness , as applying of blisters leeches , plasters , or some such trivial business , which might be as well performed by any nurse that is used to attend sick people : so that a physician , whose name and interest is not very considerable , is in a great measure at their mercy ; which is such , that he may rest assured if he be a stranger to the patient ▪ or have not so great an interest in him as the apothecary , and if this have no immediate dependance on him , that if he be never so little distasted , he will employ all his skill and interest to ruine him in the opinion of his patient , and introduce himselfe or another physician that shall be more compliant in his stead . now one thing which touches an apothecary to the quick , is detracting , as they call it , from the goodness of their medicines ( although how speaking truth should be detraction , i understand not ) against which no exception must be made , though the patients lives lye at stake ; another cause of their displeasure is , if they are reproved for setting immoderate prizes on their medicines : or which amounts to the same thing ( i mean the lessning of their gain ) if the physician prescribes a few medicines ; and those either commonly known to be cheap , and especially if he gives the patients directions to make their own physick , as if it be the decoction or infusion of a simple or two : or if he cures them by a regular diet. for by this means , little profit coming to the apothecary , you cannot blame him that he thinks himself highly injured , or affronted , and seeks to be revenged on that unworthy physician , who prefers the good of the patient before the benefit of the apothecary . whereupon he suggests to the patient , that this physician is a man of mean parts , of moderate knowledge , of little repute ; that the things he prescribed are very slight , and altogether unlikely to effect what the physician designes ; that if he would be advised by him , some other physician should be consulted , which yet is not very frequent : for they do most of them redeem opportunities , of imposing themselves on the patient , who certainly makes a goodly exchange when he parts with a sober , judicious physician for a confident , daring , empty , bragadocio apothecary . this consideration brings to my remembrance another particular , which is the last complaint we shall make of apothecaries ; and that is their taking on them the practice of physick , quis credet haec ? it will seem hardly credible to sober , judicious people that have not observed the course of the world : and i confess it amazes me when i behold a company of such ignorant persons , dare at so great an undertaking . i wonder , first , how they had the confidence to attempt it ; and having made so fair an essay , that they did not clandestinely manage those unwarrantable practices , creep into corners and oblige to secrecie : but to commit all this in the face of the sun , when challenged , be so far from excusing and retracting that they should publiquely avow , acknowledge , and glory in their shame , is a piece of insolence that i could never have imagined a society of men should ever have been guilty of . that a private man should so far degenerate , is no unusual thing ; but this is the first rank of men that ever in england did generally revolt from their masters , and greatest benefactors ; and they are indeed so rare an example , that they deserve to be registred in the black catalogue , if not of perfidious , yet at least of ingrateful persons , from whence without some general repentance and reformation , their names will never be cancelled . but amongst all these prodigies nothing doth more excite my admiration , than the consideration tht anay persons dare confide in them , for whence can it be imagined they should derive this skill , to which they are such high pretenders , that especially the more antient among them , boldly affirm they have many advantages over young unexperienced physicians , and stand on even ground with the elder . did ever those physicians that were a means of constituting them a company , and procuring for them such priviledges , suspect that in the same century , some of their own profession should be forced to take pen in hand and determine the controversie , whether they or the apothecaries are more fit for the practice of physick ? one would think this should be like those common notions which are said to be imprinted in the minds of all men , as that the whole is more than the part , &c. so methinks every man that is asked of the question in hand , who understands what physicians , and what apothecaries commonly are , should as easily determin which is fitted for , and which ought to be excluded from practice , as to tell us that one and two makes three ; or that if we add equal parts to equal they are still equal . but lest we should be thought to assume rather then prove , or it be objected that we are precarious in our assertions , we shall give this question a fair debate ; and then we shall manifest the unworthy artifices that apothecaries use to depretiate and exclude the physicians , to introduce , and ingratiate themselves . as for what refers to the first , apothecaries have this to plead for themselves . that it is unreasonable to deny them the liberty of practicing , who understand the symptoms , and cures of diseases ; if not as well as some physicians , yet better then many , at least than the young and unexperienced . they have been present at the death , and recovery of many patients ; and therefore have had opportunity to observe the course of the distempers , and procedures of physicians : that they have kept exact diaries of these transactions , what medicines the physician prescribed ; especially if they proved succesful : that they want nothing of a doctor but the bare title : that they are not destitute of this , amongst the people , the most competent judges ; who if they were not satisfied with their abilities and success , surely they would not salute them by that name , which is conferred by the universities , rather upon those who have read books than cured diseases . not to answer to these frivolous allegations , that on the account of some of these pretensions old wives , or nurses , and others , farriers and smiths , may pretend to the name or thing they are so ambitious of : nor to tell them which is most certainly true , that the knowledge they derive from doctors prescripts is very uncertain , and fallacious : it being absolutely impossible for the best physician to calculate a medicine that shall be proper for all that are , or shall be subject to any one disease ; unless he were possessor of the universal remedy , so great in the variety of complexions , so many are the complications of distempers , and so infinite are the variations of circumstances : all which the judicious physician attends to , and which few apothecaries are capable of comprehending . the former being commonly men of more smart , piercing , natural parts ; and their brains farther refined , purged from prejudices , and well furnished with excellent , clear , and distinct conceptions of things , for which they are beholding to an excellent education : so that notwithstanding i have heard several of the apothecaries confidently , ( not to say impudently ) affirm they were so throughly acquainted with such mens practice , naming some eminent physicians , that if they knew the case , they would lay a wager they did exactly predict before they took pen in hand what they would prescribe ; when to my knowledge there is not so much difference between a shallow river and the profoundest sea , as between these empty , light fellows and those grave admired physicians , whose depths such light shittle-cocks , cork and feathers , are so unlike to sound , that it is not without much difficulty that they are made to penetrate the very superficies . in short , to compare them with sober , judicious physicians , is as preposterous , as to parallel the faint glimmering of an expiring candle with the beauty and luster of the sun in its noon-day glory . but we shall more clearly and distinctly perceive the vast difference between them , by comparing them both with the idea of medicine ; and see which is the more likely to have it imprinted in their minds , and display it in their actions . the design of the physician , ought to be the preservation of health and cure of diseases . the preservation of health is best effected by a regular diet , and the due use of those things which are called non-naturals ; to which may be added some small matter of physick when there is a slight propension to a disease rather than a disease formed . now in this part certainly the physician is more understanding than the apothecary , being bred a philosopher ; and must therefore probably ( or he is much to blame ) understand more of the nature and properties of meats and drinks , of air , sleeping and waking , exercises , and passions of the mind , than the apothecary who never addicted himself to these enquiries . then as for the cure of diseases , it seems highly probable that they who are best acquainted with the causes and symptomes of diseases , will apply medicines more properly than others that cannot so well distinguish although possessed of the same remedies . but we will wave this , although it would be very proper for our present purpose ; and examine which are best furnished with methods and medicines in order to the cure of diseases . diseases are removed , either by method , specificks , arcana , chiefly chymical ; or by a practice mixed of two or more of these . that cure by method which doth not interfere with the other by specificks , is when by vertue of medicines that have a sensible operation , such are vomits , purges , salivating , sweating , diuretick , vesicating , cordial anodyne and narcotick remedies , ( with the helps of phlebotomy &c. ) used in such a method as the physician apprehends most proper , the diseases are removed . and that most distempers might be radically or perfectly cured by these judiciously prescribed without either specificks or chymical arcana , i am so far from doubting that i could name some excellent physicians , who have eminently signalized themselves only by method . but then these ( and indeed whosoever insists in this way must be such ) were men of most quick apprehensions solid judgements , knew when , what , how much , and in what order to prescribe , a little mistake hazarding the patients life in acute distempers , either in over , or under doing ; and how fit a hair-brained , careless or ignorant apothecarie is for this practice , is easily discerned . as for specificks by which we mean such simples as being appropriated to a disease , cure without any sensible operation ; probably by changing the ill texture of the morbous matter into another more innocent and less incongruous with those parts which before were extreamly disaffected thereby . now the great question is , how physicians come by the knowledge of these admirable properties . surely they have it not by natural instinct , much less can any pretend to divine inspiration . i am not ignorant that some talk of a medicina adepta , but the boldest and most talkative apothecary i ever yet met with , had not the slightest pretensions to it ; and no wonder for till they leave off their fraudulent unworthy practices , of all men i know in the world , they have the least reason to expect revelations in this kind , supposing there were such . well then , since there are no other means besides , physicians must derive this knowledge from communication , either of living or dead physicians ; or from their own experience and observations , and indeed i believe they are not a little beholding to the writings of those that preceded them : wherein yet this knowledge is so scattered , that great labour , industry and sagacity must be imployed before any physician can arrive to an ability of curing most distempers by means of specificks . now that the apothecaries are like to be possessors of this treasure , will appear very improbable , if we consider that they do not trouble themselves to search any other records than they themselves have made of physicians , prescripts ; and besides they are great enemies of cures by specificks , because that notwithstanding they personate the doctors : yet their gain comes in by the trade of an apothecary , which this way of cure doth much impair . and therefore by their good-will they would neither allow of it in others , nor practice it themselves if they were able ; from which they are so remote , that al the physicians in england , can hardly beat it into most of their heads , that any thing should effect a cure without evacuating sensibly the material cause of the disease : and therefore they deal chiefly in purges , vomits , &c. and how judiciously they manage these instruments , we shall hereafter make inquirie . a third course whereby diseases are said to be cured , are chymical arcana : such were the mercurius diaphoreticus of helmont and paracelfus , the ignis or sulphur veneris , the highly exalted tincture of gold , the mineral laudanum of paracelsus , and other great medicines which those renowned chymists , b. valentinus , r. lully , r. bacon , paracelsus , helmont and others were said to have had in their possession ; and to have used with incredible success . these noble remedies curing without any evacuation ( besides ordinary diseases ) those that had then the repute of being incurable : such were the gout ; dropsie , stone , leprosie , and other formidable distempers . it is not my intention at present to spend time in inquiring after the truth of this tradition , whether these persons were actually possessed of these remedies , and whether by their means they effected such great cures : or whether such medicines may be procured . i shall only insist on this that if any of them can be obtained by labour , skill , and industry , the physicians are much more like to be possessed of them than apothecaries , triffling chymists , or mean operators . many of them having been long conversant with chymical operations , and having ●ot spared for any expence of money , time , or trouble , are now so throughly acquainted with the principles of that art ; and have rendred nature so familiar , that they design few things which they do not effect : and i can say from my own knowledge that the productions of their furnaces , have been as considerable as of any sort of men whatsoever that do publickly appear in the world. so that if there be any thing in chymistry useful and noble , what should hinder their bidding fair for the possession thereof ? besides , there are many antient , and younger physicians who dayly ingage in these enquiries ; and the whole colledge of physicians is so concerned for the promoting this usefull part or appennage of medicine , that they do intend publickly to promote it by associated endeavours . and notwithstanding what hath been said to the contrary , i am confident there is not a society of men in europe more considerable ; not only for that knowledge which we owe to books , for their insight into philosophy , skill in anatomy , and all natural history which is allowed by most : but even for an intimate acquaintance with chymistry , which though some have denyed them , yet how unjustly the world will be soon ( if it be not already ) convinced . now it remains that we discourse of the fourth and last way of practice , which we said was composed of those already mentioned , and indeed this is the most frequent ; for , although i know there are some few , who confine themselves to that which i call strict method , others to cure by specificks , a third sort who only use chymical medicines , which they are pleased to dignifie with the glorious title of arcana ( although i fear they are far from being so ) and perhaps there may be some persons in the world , who have those that are really such ; yet i have observed that the generality of sober judicious physicians , compose out of all these a practice which pertakes somewhat of every one : yet so , that medicines which have a sensible operation , specificks and chymical remedies , have all a subserviency to method , that is , they observe a certain order in the use of all these , which is so advantageous , that inverted or transposed , they have not the same effect . thus perhaps first they premise some general evacuations , whereby the body being freed from impurities , the stomach after strengthned with digestives , the vital spirits invigorated by cordials or a regular diet ▪ specificks then easily perfect the cure , which perhaps would be compleat neither without them , nor with them only , without the mentioned helps . now he that hath but half an eye must necessarily discern , that much of judgment , much of contrivance is requisite in these cases ; and indeed so much , that it is well known many ( and i hope that it may be affirmed of most ) physicians , make a history of the patients condition , or case : and then after due consideration of all circumstances , determine to proceed after a certain method from which they do not recede without great occasion given them , as the intervening of some accidents , which humane , wisdom , and care , could neither soresee , nor prevent . now how apothecaries , or indeed any others that have not a solid judgment , quick apprehension , and fixed indefatigable mind , can sustain so much labour be capacitated for so great undertakings i cannot imagine . and they that know them did never suspect they would give themselves so much trouble to obtain what they can purchase at a cheaper rate . for they design not so much the doing good , as that the people should entertain an opinion that they do it , which is no hard matter to arrive at , being in this like machiavel's politician ( though in other things silly enough ) who is to make a profession of vertue and piety ; but not to be really so , for many things will be swallowed that are proposed under the pretence of vertue and piety , by unwary , well-meaning people , who are not apt to suspect others because free from designs themselves : whereas a strict profession of religion and vertue will hinder the politician from doing many things which might prove highly advantageous to him . the parallel is easie and obvious . besides , as it is easie to obtain an opinion of vertue or piety , but to be really and truly vertuous , requires much sweat and great diligence ; so it is with learning , nothing being more easie then to impose on the incautious , credulous vulgar , who believes he knows most , who makes the largest profession . and at this the apothecaries are excellent ; good success so rarely anticipating their promises , that i scarcely ever heard such a thing happen'd ; but how devoid they are of solid knowledge , how free from care , and empty of skill , or whatsoever is requisite for the making good their pretences , is so well known to them that dive into the depth of their silly intrigues : and they are so numerous , that it is needless to repeat what is imprinted on so many memories . but we shall now proceed to enumerate and descant on the particulars , wherein the physician seems to have some advantages over the apothecacaries , and indeed all other whom nature and a good education have not fitted for so great an employment . 1. it seems very probable that diseases will be better cured by them that are acquainted with the frame and fabrick of man in his sound constitution , with the nature and properties of the humors and ferments in the body , that understand ( which they chiefly do by analogy from what they have observed without man ) how these are depraved and perverted , what was the occasion , or instrument . whereby certainly they may neerly conjecture what is most fit to oppose the cause of these irregularities , and to remove their effects . this is no new notion , it having been the perswasion of former , and later ages , that the physician is to begin where the philosopher ends ; and that the physicians have made great advantages of experiments and observations , is most evident from their own confession : but chiefly manifested in many of those noble productions of their brains , which will perpetuate their names , and oblige all mankind that shall succeed them . of how great use was that admirable invention of harvie's concerning the blood 's circulation ? and , what great advantages may we derive from the inventions of pecquet , glisson , ent , wharton , bartholine , willis , needham , lower , and other excellent anatomists ? some have gained to themselves immortal renown by their voluminous , yet judicious histories of plants , animals , and minerals ; and indeed natural history , and philosophy have been scarcely cultivated by any besides physicians : who were so considerable that the deservedly admired des-cartes , not long before his death , was deeply engaged in the study of anatomy , chymistry , and other appendices of medicine ; designing all his philosophical toyl , only for the good and benefit of man ; intending to imploy his later time in the investigation of the nature of diseases , and their cures . neither did a high birth , and quality , an excellent education , a plentiful estate , and great reputation , dispose that noble experimental philosopher mr. boyle to think himself above the profession of physick ; which cannot be questioned , after he hath given so publique a testimony , as the accepting a degree therein , freely proffered him by one of the most famous universities in europe : whose expectations he hath not deceived , having ever since applied himself to improve that noble faculty , with such success , that notwithstanding what some few in their mistaken zeal urge to the contrary , it is well known that most acknowledge themselves highly obliged to him for what he hath already published ; and wait not without some impatience for what he hath promised in the same kind . and how great advantages a physician skilled in philosophy hath over others , he hath so clearly , and copiously evinced in many parts of those excellent discourses concerning the usefulness of experimental philosophy , ( to which i refer the reader ) that he hath saved me a labour of saying more on that subject , which would be only a recapitulation of what he hath there at large delivered , and which will be better understood in his own words ; and probably make a deeper impression than any thing i can add . so that now nothing remains for me to do , but to draw this corollary , that till apothecaries become better philosophers its very probable that there will be better physicians : but to proceed . 2. it is not unlikely that they who in their cures attend to the age , sex , strength of the patient , time of the year , their constitution or complexion , antipathies or aversions , diseases preceding in them or their parents , and the present complication of diseases ( for they are not frequently solitary ) that they , i say , who attend to those circumstances , should be more succesful in their cures than those that have little regard of them ; for whatsoever the apothecaries think , the physicians are of the mind that all these are material , if not necessary to the cure of diseases . and although the apothecary not hearing the physician enquire after all those particulars , himself also neglects them ; yet nevertheless the physician considers them , having such a habit that he doth it intuitively rather than discursively , especially if he were formerly with the patient : but the apothecary looks on this as work of supererogation , and thinks 't is only to please and humour the sick , and perswade them of their care . but that this surmise is grounded rather on ignorance than sagacity we shall now manifest . to avoid prolixity i shall instance only in one particular , and that is the complication of diseases ; about which the physician is ( not without just cause ) marvellously solicitous . and indeed this is so nice a speculation , that it sometimes almost puzzles the most perspicacious physicians ; and is far out of the apothecarie's ken , who yet presumes he can see into a milstone as far as another man , and so he may : but in this case it is with the physician and apothecary , as 't is said to be with two persons diversly qualified looking into a magical glass ; where the one sees a great variety of objects , and the other nothing but a transparent glass , and will not believe but what the other sees is by the help of imagination's spectacles ; which objection , how true soever it may be in that case , is not in this . or , ( to make a comparison less liable to be censured ) it is with apothecaries and physicians as with two persons that contemplate the galaxy , or milky way , the one with his naked eye , the other by the assistance of a telescope ; that to the former seems only a confused white cloud , which to him who veiws it through his tube appears to be a great company of stars : which he perceives little less distinctly , than he doth by his unarmed eye , those that are most conspicuous among that innumerable company , wherewith the heavens aremost gloriously bespangled . but that i may render this more manifest , i will descend to particulars , and shew first that there is frequently if not usually a complication of distempers in the diseased . secondly , that the apothecaries are not often sensible thereof . it hath been judiciously observed by piso , bontius and others that in brasile , &c. where their way of living is most simple , the temper of their air constant , their exercise much , and their hereditary distempers few ; that their diseases also are few , and short , for the most part simple ( being scarcely ever complicated ) seldom dangerous , the crisis certain and visible , so that they rarely dye , except of accident , or old age : wheras on the contrary , in these northern regions our diseases are many and various , crisis uncertain , and oft-times scarcely sensible ; and which i chiefly aim at , diseases are variously complicated . and indeed how can it possibly be otherwise when we are generally very irregular in our diet ; so that i know not whether we are more injured by the great quantities , or ill qualities of the food we live on : when we sometimes too much indulge our selves in sleep , at other times allow our selves too little , and that at unseasonable times , when we lead for the most part sedentary lives , exercising either too little , or immoderately ; not to say how intemperate some are in their passions , and insatiate in their lusts : besides the air in which we breath is as uncertain as the winds that blow which suddenly changes from heat to cold , moisture to dryness ; and on the contrary , cannot but leave ill impressions behind them , to which we may add hereditary distempers . for what is more frequent than for weakly diseased parents to be further tormented by seeing their children labour under the same infirmities ; which are either rivitted into the principles of their constitution , or sucked in with their milk : from which dispositions they are hardly , if ever freed . now any one of all these is sufficient to change the nature of a disease , which in their absence would have appeared in a much different form : so that there being in most of those who are surprized with any distemper especially acute a previous , ill diathesis , or constitution of the blood , a depraved ferment in the stomach , and these very various , we must apply our selves after different methods to cure diseases , which spring from different causes . thus for instance in feavers , agues , and many other distempers , it is not sufficient to remove their occasional cause , and to allay the inordinate commotion of the blood ; but he that will approve himself a true physician must ( in a great measure at least ) free the patient from that ill habit of body , which exasperated the former distemper , and disposes still to the same , or worse . for when the blood is depauperated or the spirits oppressed by more numerous saline , or earthy parts , on every light occasion the whole body is disordered ; and indeed the great skill of a physician is seen in the cure of chronical diseases , which is too far out of an apothecaries reach : that although i have made strict enquiry , i solemnly profess , i never heard of any one cured by them . if then they are unable to cure chronical diseases , which are those that chiefly reign in england ; and if they are absolutely unfit to deal with any acute distempers where there is any complication , why are they allowed to practice physick ? with which if they must be conversant , let them addict themselves to the cutting of corns , and drawing of teeth , which do resemble the cure of diseases ; and that may perhaps in some measure gratifie their petulant fancy at a cheaper rate by spoiling a part , than hazarding the whole , which is now their daily practice . 3. it is no inconsiderable part of a physician 's office , to know when nothing is to be done , but the whole matter committed to nature , the physician supervising , and taking care to correct all nature's aberrations ; and if there be occasion , to give her some little assistance . for diseases seize on many in whom nature is so strong that after some conflicts the aggressor is expelled without any assistance from physick , according to the aphorism of hippocrates : naturae sunt morborum medicatrices . whereas should a physician in these cases administer any active medicines , or make use of other pretended helps ( suppose phlebotomy ) unless by his great sagacity , or the obviousness of the distempers cause , he applyes a remedy very sutable ( for which there is yet little occasion ) we cannot imagine otherwise , than that nature being weakened by evacuations , or diverted from her usual methods by medicines ; which if not appropriated , will rather disorder or debilitate than bring relief , in the interim the distempers will proceed by insensible , degrees and at length may become so powerful , that nature with the help of the most generous remedies cannot prevail : where if she had not been unseasonably weakened or diverted she would have obtained an easy victory . as for example there is a well-known disease , wherewith children are as frequently afflicted , as by agues or the rickets ; which soone deprives the poore infants of their colour ; makes them lose their appetite ; they sleep little , and that unquietly ; they will be exceeding thirsty , froward or peevish , and seem to have greivous sick or fainting fits : and after they have long laboured under this distemper , they have usually great swellings or hardness of the belly , and are so emaciated that they seem not much unlike to little skeletons ; and yet notwithstanding all these threatning symptoms i have seldome , if ever , known children miscarry who were forbidden the use of physick till freed from most of them ( for they vanish of themselves ) and then gently purged for a few dayes successively , they not only recovered their former health but have often given me occasion to dispute with my self , whether they were not rather better than worse for the distemper thus managed . whereas on the contrary others that have been disordered and weakened by evacuations , cordials , or fuges , appointed by the apothecaries or other unskilfull practicioners , ( who are very ready to prescribe and impose physick on these occasions ) although to appearance they are freed from their troublesome companion ; yet withall soon after , many exchange this life for a better : and those that survive , are usually weakly , more subject to rickets , convulsions , and other distempers , than those in whom the disease was permitted quietly to take its course without interruption . the same hath also been observed in elder persons labouring under quartain agues . neither is it without a great deal of trouble that physicians observe so many miscary of acute simple feavers , who committing themselves to the care of apothecaries , and rather unskilful pretenders to medicine , often receive dispatches out of this world , by food , or physick preposterously administered , rather than from their distemper ; which will appear evident to them who consider that a feaver is usually natures instrument , or an ebullition of the blood , caused by the vital principle , in order to the expelling of some substance mixt with the blood , or other humors in the body : whose presence perverts natures regular actions , and thereupon is opposed by those active parts , through whose mediation she performes her operations . now in most of those conflicts nature would be victorious , subdue or expel her intestine enemy ; if she were recruited sparingly with the liquid part of her ordinary and daily supply : and be not diverted by gross food , whose digestion while the spirits attend the morbous matter , exceeding the remainder in quantity or energy , may gain great advantages , either by vitiating the organs , or by reducing the humors to their own nature by a depraved ferment ; and the stomach wanting spirits copious enough to assist it in digesting the food , dismisses it crude : or being it self disaffected , imparts thereto some noxious qualities , which are again communicated to the blood , whose impurities it thereby encreases , extreamly hazarding , and sometimes over-powring the principle of life . the same happens by medicines unsutable to the distemper , or unseasonably exhibited ; as if in the height of a feaver one should advise to hot medicines , whereby more fuel is added to the fire , and the disease rendered more formidable and difficult of cure than ever : or if in the declination of the same distemper , when the patient should be supported by cordials , and relieved by opiates , whereby the crisis , or separation of the peccant matter is most certainly and easily affected ; if instead of these refrigerating medicines , juleps , clysters , or other coolers which weaken the blood , depress the spirits , and disable nature for her intended separation , whereby the distemper runs into a diuturnity , and if life chance to be secured for the present , howsoever the patient continues weak : and without great regularity , or exact observation of diet , exercise , and the other non-naturals , will become subiect to some chronical distempers , whether consumption , scorbute , dropsie , jaundice , scyrrhus , tumors , or ulcers , which frequently succeed acute diseases , ill managed , and are seldome perfectly removed ; at least not by the apothecaries , who were the occasion of these , and are daily of many other miscarriages , when they are consulted about persons who would recover without the use of any , or with the help of little physick . but as it is above their skill to know what persons are thus affected , so it is contrary to their interest to manage them aright ; and therefore they neither can , nor will do it . that they cannot , the faithful character or description we have given of them will render sufficiently probable ; that they will not , may be easily believed , if we consider that this way of proceeding would diminish their profit , which they do by no means approve , but will rather charitably obtrude store of physick on all their patients : and that sometimes so much to their prejudice , that they had better hire them at a dearer rate to be less officious . 4. oftentimes persons seem to labour under several diseases , when as really the whole tragedy is acted by the same peccant matter , which is either translated from one part to another ; and affecting them after different manners , the symptoms are various and their denominations different : or from differences in age , sex , previous habit of body , complexion or constitution , strength of the patient , season of the year , and other circumstances . matter which hath the same nature and properties , may diversly affect the persons thus discriminated ; also according to quantity and degrees in the same qualities it may diversly affect the body : and thereby occasion different symptoms , which to the unwary or unskilful seem distinct diseases , when as it is but one and the same matter variously displaying it self ; and which may be removed or otherwise disposed of by one and the same method or medicine . thus for instance a great number of diseases are caused by the redundance of acidities , which acid noxious juyce being mortified , all those troublesome effects of its presence cease . many diseases there are which proceed from the obstruction of some part , such are apoplexy's , lethargy's , carus , catalepsia , gutta serena , palsy's , &c. now those methods and medicines which will cure the most obstinate and dangerous of these , will seldom fail to remove the rest . the same happens in convulsions , epilepsy , madness , hysterical and hypochondriacal passions , vertiginous affections , and melancholy , &c. we also daily observe that many violent fluxes , wherein the blood or other humours have the same cause and cure , all which proceed mostly from sharpness , thinness , or heat of the blood , are removed by medicines answering the indications of cooling , dulcifying or incrassating . some of the diseases thus cured , are immoderate fluxes in women , spitting and vomiting of blood , periodical , or other copious evacuations thereof at the nose , haemorrhoids , with the urine , or by stool in the flux , commonly called hepaticas , and dysenteries ; to which we may add several sorts of diarrhea's , fluor albus , incontinentia urinae , much spitting , weeping , coryza , and rheumes , of divers kinds . further , most simple , continued and intermittent feavours have very nearly the same way of cure ; although the body seems diversly affected by them : an evident argument that their causes are little different . we might instance in colical , and iliack pains , and many other torments in the stomach and bowels , which seem to have their rise from the same causes , and have almost the same cure ; nay to proceed still higher , what analogy doth there seem to be between the palsie and the colick ? yet this often degenerates into that which also many other diseases do ; whereof i could give a large account : but shall refer it to a more convenient opportunity . we might proceed to shew how great an affinity , there is between many outward affections in their causes and cures : but because the care of such diseases is denied by some to belong to physicians ; and because the apothecaries do scarcely ever intermeddle with the chyrurgeons imployment ( which yet it is much less intricate then the physicians ) i shall pass over this ponsideration . thus we have given a superficial account of those opportunities judicious physicians have to discriminate themselves from ignorant pretenders , by their discerning with great celerity , and sagacity , how to act where all these are allwayes grievously perplexed , and often perfectly confounded ; as is manifest in their wayes of proceeding , which are usually so ridiculous and irrational that they would give intelligent physicians a full and pleasant divertisement , if they could indulge themselves therein : which they can by no means do , where their errours and miscarriages are so far from innocent , that they do often exceedingly hazard , and sometimes occasion the misery , or destruction of the unhappy credulous patient . which sad accidents dispose those generous physicians , they neglected , rather to pitty and compassion than to disport themselves , or look with malicious smiles on misfortunes ; which they in some measure deserved , for being guilty of so egregious a piece of folly , as committing themselves to ignorant , and unskilful practiciooners , altogether unfit for so great a trust . and indeed it will excite admiration in any judicious person to observe what a wild-goose-chase they go in most of the cases we lately mentioned : sometimes applying a remedy they have learned is proper for the head-ach , then another for the tooth , stomach , or heart-ach , gripes , flux , heats in the head , and burning in the habit of the body , vartigo asthma , and other semblances of distempers which one and the same matter will often occasion . now the sagacious physician soon detests this cheat , and immediately by a stroke or two at the root , intercepts the depraved nourishment ; so that all the other ill effects cease with the removal of their cause : whereas should he only attend to every particular symptome as the less discerning do , there would be no end , either of physick or the disease , which , 't is very probable will receive a great aggravation by so many improper remedies . for physick is , or ought to be active ; and if not appropriated to the distemper , it must necessarily work an effect contrary to that for which it was designed , so that if it do not abate of the disease , 't is more than likely to exasperate it , if it do not strengthen nature actually , or consequentially ; i mean by removing impediments , it will certainly weaken her. v. it seems most evident , that many diseases may be cured by a convenient diet. and if this be so great a truth as physitians have hitherto generally esteemed it to be , then he that is acquainted with the nature of aliments , and the process of nutrition , will probably cure diseases with greater certainty and less trouble to the patient , than him that is utterly ignorant of both these : and who is more like to be a possessor of this knowledge , than a judicious learned physitian ? for , 1. he understands the nature of aliments , whether animal or vegetable ; he knows that such among them as are most temperate , and have no sensible operation are more agreeable to the body , and nourish more than others which abound with active parts , whose purging vomitive , sweating , diuretick , or other qualities , render them unfit for nutrition . as also , that most , if not all things that are used for food , although they be not active in so high a degree as others which come commonly in use for medicine , that yet they often cause great alterations in the body , according to the quantity , quality , right , or unsutable application thereof ; and find that the cause and cure of many , if not most diseases , have their dependance on a good and regular , or a bad inordinate diet. but this will be made more evident by descending to particulars . i think nothing can be more plain and evident , than that onions , shalutes , horse-radish , capers , olives , broom-buds , pepper , cinnamon , nutmegs , salt , sugar , butter , vinegar , wine , and oyl , are active alterative substances ; and yet they are often taken alone , or variously compounded to make savory picquant sauces which are supposed to promote digestion by rendring the food more grateful , and by strengthning the ferment of the stomach . but besides these there are many vegetables which come frequently in use among all people , and in some countres with bread , cheese , and milk are almost their only food , such are melons , pompions , cucumbers , as also turneps , carrots , parsnips , skirrets , radishes , pease , beans , artichocks , and other thistles , asparagus , hop-tops , cabbages , coleworts , cauleflowers , comfry , lettuce , purslain , parsly , sage , leeks , &c. ( not to mention various kinds of fruits ) these are either boyled , or eaten crude ; alone , or variously compounded according to pleasure , being rendred more grateful , or as is thought wholesome , by the addition of butter , vineger , pepper , or other of the mentioned active substances . i shall not insist on the great difference that there is in substance and qualities , between flesh and fish , the variety of both being unimaginable ; especially if we consider the various wayes of preparing them for food , and the additaments that are used to render them more agreeable to the palate : concerning which physitians have wrote intire volumns . now the body partaking of the nature of the aliments ( which i suppose no one will deny , or if they should , i could demonstrate it by unquestionable experiments and observations ) they having such various qualities , and there being so great a variety in the complexions and constitutions of men , it will necessarily follow , that some of those aliments may be contrary to a good sound constitution of body ; & if a person indulge himself much in the use of them , his health will by degrees be impaired , and a bad texture or disposition of blood superinduced , which would have been prevented : and if recent , easily removed by sutable nourishment , especially if this regular good diet be long continued . now the physitian being better than any other person acquainted with the properties of most things that are commonly eaten , and with the temper of his patient , can teach him what to eat , and which to avoid ; what will prove beneficial to him , which are hurtful . besides , he gives him some general rules in reference to diet , yet not so strict and severe , but that they may be easily without any trouble or inconvenience observed . these rules may respect men either in a healthful , neutral , or diseased state . 1. for a man in health , the physitian prescribes him not any set time or hours whercin he should take his repasts , only that he should not eat another plentiful meal , till what he eat before be well digested , and passed out of his stomach . then for the quality of his food , that it be such as is most agreeable to his constitution and imployment ; a gross food being most sutable to those that are of a strong robust , a more fine and delicate to such as have a more spare and weakly complexion : he allows them also such food as being long accustomed to , they find agreeable to them , there being idiosyncracies or peculiarities in some men , whereby some food agrees well with them , which would be noxious to others seemingly of the same constitution . as for quantity , that they should eat only so much as abates , not gluts their appetite ; and after which they find themselves rather more than less lightsome than they were before eating : that its better to eat little and often , than much and at once ; that as near as they can , they keep to an equality for substance , not quantity , making allowances for meats that have little nourishment , as substracting from what are very nutritive , as swines flesh , &c. and if they live temperately , to exceed once or twice in a month in eating and drinking their ordinary stint , which is found to promote perspiration the great preserver of health , and enables the stomach to bear any accidental overcharge , there being few persons that can at all times command their appetites ; and such a surplusage is dangerous to those that have long observed exactly a regular diet , not varying the quantity of their food . then lastly for order , he advises that they should not eat immediately after any great exercise of body or mind , and that they avoid all those things which hinder the concoction or distribution of the nourishment , and use whatsoever promotes it . some such general rules as these observed ( abating hereditary and contagious diseases which yet are in a great measure prevented by an orderly diet , and are less dangerous when we lapse into them ) will keep them in perfect health : for then the food will be readily converted into good chyle , which conveyed into the veins , the blood not being overcharged with quantity , and the food being before well prepared and opened by the ferment of the stomach , becomes upon reiterated circulations , a most noble generous liquor , and in its passage through the brain a pure unmixed spirit will be sublimed or seperated from it , free from preternatural acidities which cause many diseases . this subtle and sincere liquor or spirit supplies the nerves and muscles with what is necessary for animal actions , the lungs , stomach , spleen , and other viscera , and the parts destined for the propagation of the species with so much as is necessary to keep them in a due tone and enable them to perform all these actions for which they were instituted . the rest of the blood visiting the most extream parts of the body , and others retired from sight , where percolated through parenchymous fibrous or bony substances , it leaves with each part what is congruous to it : and so long as this course is continued without interruption , health also will be uninterrupted . whereas on the contrary high compounded nourishment , whose quantity and substance is often varied , especially if it be more then the stomach can well digest , must by a mechanical necessity cause diseases . for if the quantity be greater then the ferment of the stomach can dissolve the chyle will enter the blood crude , and being more then that is used to assimilate at once , and not well opened by a previous digestion , it by insensible degrees depraves the best constitution , for then the blood supplies the brain , nerves , viscera , and musculous parts with unsutable spirits , and nourishment which affecting them after an unusual manner , pain or somewhat worse , is in time the result of this bad or irregular diet. then for the quality of the food if it abound too much with oyly and spirituous parts , it puts the blood into that great commotion or ebullition we stile a fever , if with cold crude juyces as melons , cucumbers or cherries , it sometimes extinguishes the native-heat , and if the sick escape they are usually stigmatized by blotches or eruptions all over their bodies or in some particular parts , whereat the morbous matter is excluded . lastly , if salt be predominant in the nourishment it causes various maladies , especially of the genus nervosum often occasions strange disorders in the whole mass of blood and sometimes corrodes the external parts which it deforms and and tortures in ulcers , fistula's , cancers and other painful , loathsome and formidable diseases . all which might have been prevented , and if timely care had been taken , cured by a sutable and orderly diet. for an ill crasis or constitution of the blood doth not always , presently , display it self in such bad syptoms as to deserve the denomination of a disease , this by physitians is called a neutral-state which may be first checkt , and then redressed by diet. for although if we will examine things strictly there is no middle between sickness and health , yet because it is so hard to find a standard for either of them ; therefore physitians have agreed on this third , as an expedient the better to express their thoughts : so that we apprehend a man is in perfect health who is free from pain or any indisposition , performs in his own and the physitians opinion all animal and natural actions as well as if he were in perfect health , we account a neutral state to be a slight propension to a disease , when the ferment of the stomach begins to be perverted , the blood somewhat depraved , and yet no very ill symptom appears , no function of the body is much hindered or interrupted at least not very sensibly ; as when by too strict and severe a diet the body begins to be emaciated , the nerves disaffected , or when by drinking to freely the body is inclining to a fever , dropsie or consumption , to the same or other diseases , by eating frequently too much , or such food as suits not with the stomachical ferment being to it hard of digestion , or meat endowed with any other ill quality : by frequent excesses crudities being accumulated which if they increase will display pernicious effects ; but if timely discerned may be conquered without the help of physick . as to avoid repetition i shall manifest under the next head . but suppose that a disease is sensibly formed : let us examine then what diet can contribute to the cure , moderation , or palliation of the distemper . to avoid prolixity , i shall mention only some general wayes of cure by diet , on which any understanding person may expatiate in his mind . it 's so well known that many indispositions are cured by fasting or a spare diet , that i need only mention it . others are cured by a diet axact for the quantity of food which hath laudible qualities , for what is taken being no more then can be well overcome and dislolved by the stomach , this conveyed into the blood soon renders it more spirituous , whereby what is crude is either digested , or carryed off in perspiration ; so that nature being duely ▪ fed with a constant supply of good spirits , the bad texture of the blood is soon exchanged for one more innocent . thus consumptions and other chronical distempers have been frequently cured . many diseases are overcome by a diet contrary to the peccant matter ; as hecticks by a milk diet ; fevers by ptisans ; some consumptions by snails , and other glutinous substances ; hot diseases by moist cold , cold and moist by a hot and drying diet. some diseases are alwayes moderated and often cured by substracting from the liquid part of the nourishment , as catarrhs ; others by allowing it more plentifully , as in that dreadful disease called by physitians cholera morbus , wherein if the patient take great quantities of posset-drink , or thin weak chicken-broath , those affrightful symptoms of vomiting and looseness soon cease , the liquor dilating that corrosive saline matter , which pricking the coats of the stomach , and intestines , caused those violent workings upwards and downwards . and this is a remedy so certain that i never yet observed it to fail , and others who have had longer time and more opportunities to make observations than my self , and particularly he whom i take to be the first inventor of this easily parable effectual remedy , do unanimously affirme , that it hath scarcely ever frustrated their expectations ; and yet we know that many miscarry of this distemper , even where the pretended generous remedies of the chymists , and best methods of those whom they style galenists have been imployed . but to proceed : another way of curing diseases by diet , and the last i shall mention , is with some sorts of food , which by a hidden or specifical property cure diseases . our instances shall be only in the vegetable kingdom , whose simples are numerous , and they differ from each other in many sensible properties , as taste , smell , figure , colour , and their internal qualities are far more numerous ; and between them also there are great differences and contrarieties . some are of a hot , others cooling , moist , or dry nature ; some are saline , others oyly , &c. and most of them have several of these properties in some degree , all which may be suted to the removal of whatsoever is contrary to , and less powerful than themselves : now diseases , if simple , are only an excess in one quality or other , which an appropriate nutritive simple judiciously applyed , if the quantity be sufficient , and especially if often reiterated , doth usually redress . to make this more cleer , i will give one or two obvious examples of the same disorders caused and cured by different vegetables . it 's well known , that parsly eaten in a small quantity is apt to exasperate diseases of the eye , and there are other plants which prove more healing than that is hurtful , witness eybright : and it hath been observed that even turneps render the sight more acute , cure moderate inflammations , and are commended by physitians to be of frequent use while persons are under cure for the gutta serena , recent cataracts , & other diseases incident to that tender part . but this will appear most evidently in the sea scorbute which is contracted usually by a bad diet , salt meats , and nastiness ; sometimes extremity of heat or cold combining to exasperate it . 't is hardly to be imagined how deplorable a condition those persons that are highly afflicted with this distemper seem to be in , being to appearance absolutely incurable by the most generous medicines , helped with the advice of the greatest physitians ; yet such slight things as the juice of limons , fresh meat , but especially plenty of green herbs presently dispell all these horrid threatning symptomes , and that so suddenly that they seem to be cured by a charm , those who were not able to stir a limb , were exercised with many grievous maladies , in a week recovering perfectly their former health ; which perhaps long courses of physick would never have restored to them in a much longer space . and we find , that not only the sea scorbute , but that also which . is on land contracted by eating salt meats , is more certainly and suddenly cured by a convenient diet , then by physick . and an eminent physitian in this city assured me , that most ill habits of body occasioned by feeding much on salt meats , are soon cured by eating daily for a few weeks a good quantity of almost any edible green herbs . and another no less considerable , who hath great dealing with seamen , protested seriously to me , that he cures all those among them that are scorbutically affected , only with young pease , ordred all manner of ways ; eaten crude , boiled with , or without their shells , whose juice is to be plentifully mix'd with their broth ; that this remedy never failed him , nor the seamen of cure : and this sometimes after the disease had eluded many very promising methods and medicines . we have hitherto treated of meats , which physitians , as i have shewed , can render medicinal . i now proceed to mention , drinks , which are no less , nay more capable of being improved , by being impregnated with the virtues of simples animal , vegetable , and mineral , or their preparations , and not become considerably distastful to the palate , or nauseous to the stomach . there are myriads of such prescripts in the books of authors . i shall only mention that method which is of general use in order to the extricating the virtues of simples or compositions , which is this : the ingredients are to be hung in fermenting liquors , whether wine , ale , beer , or cider , &c. and that their medicating properties are extracted by this method , dayly experience doth attest , many who either will not , or cannot use other physick , being recovered by ingredients thus prepared . for the fermenting liquors being in a brisk motion , and abounding with active parts chiefly spirituous , insinuate themselves into the most private recesses of the simples or other materials , give motion enough to their active parts to loosen them from the more gross , and drive them into the liquor , and these freed , associate with their deliverers to unloose the rest . and that the crasis , or chief parts and properties of simples are by this method obtained , is evidenced by the effects and tasts of the drinks exactly emulating those of the materials which were thus fermented . as for what refers to cures effected by these means , i dare boldly affirm , that there is scarcely any chronical disease , that is cured by the shop medicines , which may not be cured with more certainty , ease , and pleasure , by drinks thus ordered , joyned with a regular diet. thus have we shewed of how great advantage a convenient diet is in order to the cure of diseases . i have spoken more largly to this particular , not that i design to learn physicians any new notion , they having many of them better digested thoughts on this subject , then these which are the product of two hours meditation ; but i mention these things partly on the account of the vulgar , that they may have other apprehensions of understanding physicians , then they have hitherto entertained ; as also that i might learn the apothecaries to know themselves , and their own insufficiency ; or if they will not acknowledge it , to expose them so nakedly to others , that , unless they will shut their eyes , they cannot but behold unpardonable weakness and great defects in most of those confident blind bayards , the quacking apothecaries ; who before i have dismissed them , will appear lean and scrannel , though now they seem plump and juycy . i shall therefore proceed to polish the mirror : wherein if impartial spectators do view and compare them with learned honest physicians , they will find without any delusive catoptrical trick , no less difference between them , then there is betwixt admired beauty , and hated deformity . therefore lastly , a physitian will appear to be superior to other pretenders , if we reflect on those many advantages he hath , whereof they are wholly destitute . he is accounted to to enjoy a great piviledge , who hath been educated by an eminent practicioner of physick , who hath been free in his communications to him ; and this is by the vulgar accounted sufficient to constitute a person , who hath been in such circumstances an able physitian : and the best plea the apothecaries have , is , that they have collected the practice of some worthy physitian for most diseases ; now there is no physitian but injoys the benefit of the writings of many hundred excellent persons , that were eminent in the same faculty before him : these have faithfully communicated their experiements and observations of the causes and symptoms of diseases , and of their cures ; what methods and medicines they found most beneficial , what things are injurious and to be avoided : and there are others who have left us their writings concerning the virtues of most simple and compounded medicines , in what cases they have been found effectual ; and many ( which is perhaps the most profitable way of writing ) have left us intire books of medical observations , to which physitians , who have a scheme of them in their memories have recourse in difficult cases , and by analogy know how to proceed , as do the lawyers , on other occasions . now let us suppose with some that physick is altogether empyrical , being rather a mass of experiments then a science perfectly formed & established on sound unquestionable verities ( which is the most plausible plea apothecaries or other pretenders can use ) yet still it must needs follow , that he ought to be esteemed most able and sufficient , who is furnished with most and best experiments , either from his own observation , or by reading of books which afford him the experiments of all the rest of the world , and can best conclude and argue from the analogy , correspondence , and harmony , they have one to another . so that a studied physitian must , in all consideration of reason , have far the advantage of any other . indeed it hath been objected by some that the diseases of one country & age are so vastly different from those of others , that what is profitable to those thar live in one age , or to the inhabitants of one country is not so to another . which is not only a great mistake as i have else where demonstrated , but of bad consequence , leading us to the neglect of the writings of many excellent persons , from which we do dayly derive great assistance : for although i will not deny but that there may be some uncertainty , and the analogy may not be altogether so exact , as we could desire ; yet it is no otherwise then the variation of the needle , touched by the load-stone ; which although it doth not always directly point to the poles , but in some places considerably varies , so that the most skilful mariners cannot certainly , though they can neerly determine where , and in what degree of longitude they are ; yet it is such a help that they cannot without great hazard ingage in long and dangerous voyages without it ; and by it's direction , if no other ill accidents intervene , they usually arrive at the desired ports , though very remote from the place whence they set forth . so a physitian by the help of his own and others observations , for which he makes allowance , or abatements , as he sees occasion , pilots most of his patients almost , as surely as if his course were chalked out for him or directed by a line ; so that patients , who venture themselves in dangerous cases with physitians and apothecaries , do it only with this difference , the one ( as it were ) imbarks for a long voyage in a leaking skiff , with an ignorant pilot without sayls , compass , and other due provisions , the other in a stanch fair ship , well riggid , provided with a skilful pilot , good compasses , and all other requisites for navigation : and which is like to make the most short and fortunate voyage , which is most secure from storms , foundring , or holding uncertain courses , is , i suppose easily determined ? 't is true we read of some , that in a little boat set out from new-england , and made a quick and safe voyage to ireland ; and of others , who no better accommodated sailed from the bermudas to virginia ; yet these accidents are not frequent , and if they are registered , it is under the notion of extarordinary events . and besides none of these were so mad as to have neglected any helps they could have procured , it not being choice but necessity , that put them on such strange adventures , and to run so great a risque to escape dangers , which they could not otherways avoid . but this is not the case of any that are sick , there being choice of means , so that for a man advisedly to hazard that , which is so precious and valuable as life , by committing himself to the care of ignorant unskilful empericks , when he might in a great measure secure it by consulting a sober learned physitian , is to put an affront upon his reason , or to disesteem his life ; but certainly there are not many , who after so fair a warning given them , will expose themselves to dangers , which they may so easily avoid . i will therefore now proceed , in compliance with my promise , to give an account of some of those numberless unworthy practises , the apothecaries are manifestly guilty of , in order to the disgracing physitians , and insinuating or confirming a good opinion of themselves . they will often commend to persons as preventive physick , a gentle purge , and at night a little dose of diascordium , mithridate , treacle or somewhat else , in so small a quantity that it shall not disorder them ; so that their patient , for so they call them , finding that he hath received no prejudice by this physick , and the purge possibly working kindly , ( of which they among the physitians prescriptions may have enough ) apprehends that he may be somewhat better , and so begins to have some confidence in the apothecary ; who doth not loose any hold he hath got . for soon after the patient perhaps hath occasion for a physitian , himself or some of his family being ill : if it be for any distemper they were formerly subject to , for which the apothecary hath any of the doctors prescriptions ; he then suggests that there is no necessity he should give himself the charge of sending for a physitian who would prescribe the same things he ordered formerly , which prescriptions he hath by him , and is ready to make up for them ; although now , as i shewed before , the case may be so altered by complication or otherwise , which the physitian would presently have discovered , that this , which did once give relief , may be either highly prejudicial or ineffectual . thus they do ordinarily obtrude themselves and their medicines on the sick especially if the disease be frequent and obvious , as the measles , small-pox , fever , scurvey ; and some among them soar so high as the venereal lues : for they have seen persons often under courses for these diseases , and , having the prescripts still on the file , they know no reason why they should not cure them , as well as the doctor : they therefore tell them that it is a great expence to gratifie the physitian , and pay the apothecaries bill , which in these courses they assure them , will amount to much ( as indeed they do by their ordering ) that they are throughly acquainted with the physitians method : which as i have already shewed , is a gross mistake and high presumption . but i cannot dismiss , without a further check this frivolous pretence of the apothecary , that because he hath most of those medicines which the physitian otdinarily imploys , therefore he ought to be allowed in the practice of physick , it being a way of argumentation not much unlike that , some silly fellow might make , who seeing a lutinist play well to admiration , is there upon desirous to please himself , and gratifie the company with the like musick : but upon tryal although he have the same instrument , as many fingers as the musitian , & the notes prickt down before him ; yet can produce no other harmony , then what is the result of discord : and would he not render himself yet more ridiculous , should he perswade himself his musick is not inferiour to that of the excellent artist , and becomes highly difpleased with the company , because they do not bestow on him the same applause they gave to the person , he vainly endeavours to imitate ? there being requisite to the best performance of musick , not only a hand & instruments , but also an exact knowledge of the rules of that art , and frequent exercise . so that for any to promise themselves the art or habit without the use of the right means , which conduce to it's attainment , is the highest folly , and hath as little foundation in reason as an attempt ( according to our common homely proverb ) to make a velvet purse of a sowes ear , or any other unsuitable matter . but to leave this , and proceed in the account of our quacking apothecaries , who by some such artifices as we mentioned having scrued themselves into families , that they take especial care of them according to their mean ability , i am willing to admit , their interest , obliging them so to do , and you may be sure , they ply them with store of physick ; which how fatal it proves to those that have the measles or small-pox , is too well known . but if by good fortune the patient escape , then they sufficiently celebrate themselves in all companies , rendring the case somewhat more dangerous & difficult , then really it was : whereby they make way for their introduction into other families . but if ( as is most likely ) by their ill management , the patients lapse into a dangerous condition , so soon as they are sensible thereof , they immediately advise them to send for a doctor , who is oftentimes so civil as not to animadvert on what hath been done amiss . if they recover , then he endeavours to perswade them , that the physician proceeded in the very same course he intended to have followed ; and that it was only for their satisfaction he was desirous to have the physician advised with . but if the person dies before the physician was sent for , he cryes out with a wide mouth on malignity , which is for the most part no other then the effect of his ill management ; yet being dead he sparingly suggests that he fears the physician took not a right course ; and wishes that he himself had proceeded after his own method , which for any thing he knew might have recovered him : which suggestion taking with the humour of the people , who are very prone to accuse the last medicines of any strange symptomes which are often fore-runners of death , the treacherous apothecary makes a great advantage of his own miscarriages . which double dealing having been detected by some physicians , hath so highly displeased them that they have often been ready to take up a firm resolution never to take care of any patients who had before been managed by apothecaries ; and had actually performed it , did they not apprehend it would be a breach of christian charity to punish people so severely for imprudent actions extorted from them by an others over-bearing perswasions and confidence . these are some of those many artifices the apothecaries employ , i speak not at randome what they may do , but what they have often actually done , many of which have fallen under my owne observation , others i have received from the patients or physicians themselves , on whom they have thus imposed . now i appeal to the whole nation , whether such great mischiefs and inconveniences as these i have already enumerated , ought not to be redressed ; and that we may not think they are beyond the reach of any remedy , i shall now proceed to the mention of those proposals the physicians make to the apothecaries : with which if they comply , they will save themselves from ruine , which otherwise is at their heels . i have also thought fit to let the world know that we can subsist without them , and that probably much better then with them ; i mean more to our own and the patients satisfaction or security , as in it's due place shall be made manifest . notwithstanding that physicians and their patients have been so highly injured by apothecaries , that they might with the greatest justice utterly reject them ; and although the nature of their crimes seem to be such , that they cannot safely keep any further correspondence with them : yet this is so far from being the design of the physicians , that if any expedient can be excogitated ( and such they apprehend they have found out ) which may prove a fair ground for an accommodation , they are willing to forgive and forget all former miscarriages , and give them such encouragement as reasonable and honest persons can desire . now all that the physicians expect of them , is that they keep in their own station , and endeavour to answer the end of their institution . that is , first they shall give the physicians sufficient security and assurance , that they will carefully and faithfully prepare their medicines ; and secondly , that this shall be their sole imployment , they no more intruding themselves into the physicians , which is the practice of physick . if these be not reasonable requests , let the apothecaries themselves propose such as are , which the physicians are ready to receive . now that the physicians can be satisfied with nothing less , if they have regard , either to their own credit and subsistence , or the welfare of the patient , is easily evinced by a recapitulation of what was said before . for if it be true which i think was demonstrated , that many apothecaries are not well acquainted with the materia medica , and liable to be imposed on by herb-women , druggists , and others ; if they trust to those for medicines , that prepare them unfaithfully as 't is manifest they do ; if they themselves use bad drugs in their compositions and vent medicines which have lost most if not all their medicinal vertue ; or if they are fraudulent in their compositions , leaving out frequently the chief ingredients ; if they substitute , add , and subtract at pleasure ; are negligent , slovenly , and superficial in their compositions , subject to mistakes , either from their own or apprentices ignorance of the latine tongue ; and besides utterly unacquainted with chymistry , a most material if not necessary part of pharmacy ; and instead of those noble remedies , imploy such as they have from unfaithful persons , who ordinarily adulterate and sophisticate them . if all these may be affirmed ( as they may most certainly be ) of most apothecaries , would not physitians expose themselves and their profession to the scorn of the world , and might not their patients deservedly load them with reproaches , should they still make use of their medicines ? and further , if the apothecaries be absolutely unfit for the practice of physick , why are they allowed in it ? and that they are , was proved from the nature of diseases , and those several wayes whereby they admit of cure . where we shewed , that the apothecaries are masters neither of the cure by method , specificks , arcana , or any other compounded of these ; that they understand not physiology , and are not capable of attending to all those circumstances , which ought to be duely considered by a true physician ; that they understand not when nature is to be left , to manage things after her own conduct : but on the contrary , that they disturbe her orderly motions , and distract her in most regular operations ; that they are not acquainted with cure of diseases , or preservation of health by diet ; that they ordinarily mistake simple diseases for complicated , and these for such as are simple ; that they are not furnished with those helps which are of great use to the physician , such are the observations of the ancients concerning the rise , symptoms , progress and cure of diseases ; and therefore deserve not the denomination of physicians , nor can without extream prejudice to the publick , be permitted to follow the practice of physick till they are better qualified for it . i hope then after such a manifesto of grievances , the physicians may either endeavour their reformation , or desert them ; and entertain such as will be more faithful to themselves , and to their patients . but they are very unwilling , though highly provoked , to be an occasion of the ruin of so many as will upon their deserting them , be exposed to miserable exigencies ; they will not therefore promote their downfal , till they deserve it by rejecting verbally or implicitly the succeeding modest proposals . it will therefore be expected : that they do faithfully and carefully prepare all the medicines they send out of their shops , not trusting to whole-sale either apothecaries or other medicine-mongers ; that all the drugs they use shall be viewed and approved of by one or more physicians before they enter compositions , as also the drugs that are of dayly use ; that once in three months a solemn scrutiny be made by physicians , deputed for that purpose , of all their drugs and compositions : who shall be impowred immediately to cause to be destroyed all such as are found unfit for use . we also require , that they either themselves prepare their chymical remedies , or give the physicians such assurances , that they are faithfully and skilfully made as shall satisfie them ; and that care be taken for the future , that no apothecary entertain any for an apprentice that is not competently skilled in latin tongue ; and that they be first examined and approved by such apothecaries as the physicians shall depute . further , physicians observing the great inconveniencies which have ensued on apothecaries having access to the patients , which is not allowed of in many countries , do also think it unreasonable that apothecaries here should take that liberty , which for reasons mentioned is thought fit should be denyed them ; especially having found upon due deliberation , that there is no need of them out of their shops , where they are to look to the composition of their medicines : which in their absence often suffer through ignorance of their young apprentices , whatsoever is commonly performed by them among patients , being otherwayes easily effected . further , that they contract their number , or at least take care for the future , that it be not increased . and lastly , that such prizes be set on medicines by physicians as they shall think fit , who will take care that the apothecaries have reasonable gain ; that these be printed , as in the amsterdam and other pharmacopoeia's , so no person can be cheated . the substance of what i have here delivered , is comprized in the last proposition mentioned , and insisted on by the judicious writer of that rational discourse concerning the state of physick , in these words , or to this effect . that physitians send bills to be made up by apothecaries , as now they are ; provided only that the time and manner of using them , be not set down nor the name of the patient , that it be not sent by the patient , but by their own servants ; that it be returned to the physitians again with the physick it self , to be filed up by them or entred into a book with the patients name and the time : the physick so made and provided by the physitians order to be fetcht at their own houses ( as it is now at the apothecaries shops ) or from thence sent home by their own servants to the patient . and because we cannot safely trust to apothecaries for chymical remedies , they usually buying them of common chymists or operators , it is desired that the colledge would erect a publick laboratory , where all chymical medicines fit to be used , shall be well and faithfully made upon the faith and authority of the colledge ; and that they shall expressly appoint those , whose physick they shall think fit to buy , to provide all their chymical preparations from thence ; nor to permit the use of any other chymical preparations to any of their number , except he himself make and prepare them , or have them from such apothecaries as the colledge being satisfied with their abilities and honesty shall approve of . and lastly , that the colledge of physicians ( who herein will be soon imitated by others ) enact , that none of their number send bills to , or buy physick of , any apothecary who takes on him the practice of physick , till they are fully satisfied he is sensible of the injury done to them , and cease to do the like for the future . now how severe and unjust soever these limitations may seem to the apothecaries , yet in reality this is but a fair and moderate course between them and physicians ; for it hinders not the apothecaries making and selling of physick to any that shall please to buy of them : which thing only belongs to their trade . to visit the patient , feel his pulse , and consider his urine , discourse of the state of the disease , and prescribe proper remedies for it , is the business and care of the physician : so that by this method the interest of both will be preserved , and all causes of jealousie between the physicians and them will for ever cease . the physicians practice and profession will be so absolutely and intirely secured to himself , that the apothecary cannot invade it ; for he will never see a physicians bill ( from which they alwayes take direction ) nor the patient himself , and so be utterly ignorant of that case for which the physick was prepared and used ; nor will he hear the physicians reason and discourse of the due times and manner of administring it , or explain the nature and cause of the distemper , nor have occasions of officious intervening between the physician and patient , nor dispence the physick with praise of his own great care and pains in preparing it as he is wont to do , all this the physician obtains by only concealing his bills ( the writing of a bill being as it were the mystery of his trade ) in which therefore he doth nothing , but what is held reasonable among all men . besides , this will insensibly lessen that exorbitant number of apothecaries , which makes the trade scarce a competent subsistence . for as things are now , while the master or their servants , are imployed by the physitian to visit his patients , and carry physick about , they will be under a necessity of taking several apprentices ; else they cannot perform such attendances abroad , and the business of their shop too : and this hath made so vast in increase of the trade within few years , as has rendred it but a mean way of livelihood to a great many , and very dangerous to the sick . now as their number will by little and little grow less , so the trade will become better ; and they who are of it , both for skill and estate much more considerable : and , which is of much greater consequence , physick will be better prepared , for the apothecaries will be more in their shops , and not leave things to raw , negligent servants , as is now often done ; they not being sent about by physitians to their patients , or with physick , no● engaged in any quacking practice of their own , will have more leisure to attend making good medicines , which is their proper business . this in short , is the summary of what we expect from them ; and if it be not granted us , nothing remains , but that physitians take pharmacy into their own hands , supervise the making of their own medicines , and dispense them themselves . and we have reason to apprehend that physitians will be put on a necessity of acting thus , it being highly improbable , that the generality of apothecaries should be reduced to a sense and practice of their duty , having been so long accustomed to such bad courses . for custom , we know , is a second nature , and where bad , they are not easily subdued by those that heartily desire and design it , how much less by immoral men who if they amend , 't is from a principle of fear ; and therefore they will redeem every opportunity of infranchising themselves and getting loose from a restraint so troublesome , and contrary to their inclinations . besides , how unwilling will they be to moderate their gain , lessen their number , which must necessarily be done , unless we will allow the mentioned inconveniencies , which cannot otherwise admit of a remedy . besides , 't is natural for some to be ambitious of practice , not only as it is gainful , but because it adds to their credit and repute , conciliates them more respect , than people think ordinarily due to simple apothecaries ; and therefore to part with their imployment in this kind , will not be without unspeakable regret and vexation . and besides , supposing , which is yet very improbable , that they should promise to keep within due limits , reform abuses , what other security can they give us besides their bare word or promise , which is so much the more unlikely to be valid ; because , as i before intimated , it is not free but extorted : and 't is absolutely impossible for any besides their own consciences to detect all their fraudulent practices . for though physicians see and allow of their ingredients , behold them mixed , what should hinder them , if any of the old ferment remain , from increasing the quantity with bad materials ? and indeed , neither laws of god nor man , good instructions , excellent examples , or strict observance of their actions , can hinder those that are ill disposed from acting that secretly , which sinister respects keeps them from doing in publick . therefore such a constitution of pharmacy is desirable , where bad men shall be made good and faithful , rather that where those that are innocent meet with daily temptations to be dishonest . this will be accomplished by physicians taking it into their own hands ; for then suppose them as bad as malice , or the apothecaries can render them , how little sense soever they retain of their duty , that of interest will strongly oblige them to have good medicines . machiavel somewhere prudently advises , that if you would understand what mens designs or intentions are , learn what will conduce most to promote their interest ; and that they will chiefly aime at , although to the unwary spectator , they may seem to look another way , and act another part then they intend . there are but two cases where this maxim is rendred invalid . the one is , when men are over-awed with such a sense of religion , as will not allow them to practice what they apprehend would be highly for their temporal advantage : but this is so far from hindering the physitian , that it is or ought to be the greatest incouragement he can meet with , the applauses and acquittances he will daily receive from his own conscience , proving an abundant recompense for the unusual trouble he will meet with in compounding and dispensing his own remedies . the other occasion of invalidating the fore-quoted maxime , is , when men mistake their interest and do not see it ; which here is morally impossible for a physitian 's credit , and consequently his profit depending on the goodness and success of his remedies , the better his medicines are , the greater will be his gain , the higher his repute : whereas the apothecary , let his medicines be never so bad , runs little hazard , the physitian only being usually blamed if they cause people to miscarry ; especially if the apothecary can confidently affirm , that his materials were choice , carefully and skilfully prepared , which they are never backward to do : adding , sometimes such insinuations as have a tendency to disparage the physitian , and introduce themselves , as was before intimated . therefore now we proceed to shew that physitians can manage pharmacy . secondly , that if they proceed in such methods as we shall mention , or some other analogous great conveniencies , and advantages to the physician , and patient ; nay , even to the publick , will be the result of such procedures . the proposals that we make , are , that either every physitian prepare and dispense his own physick ; or that they enter into associations : either of which will be of great advantage to the publick . nothing can in my opinion be objected against the first , unless the physitian himself pretend that it will be too great a trouble , and divert him too much from his other imployment , of visiting and advising the sick , or consulting in private with his books , reason , and experience , ( as every honest physitian doth ) in order to the recovery and relief of his patients . now to him that considers things attentively , this can be urged only by such physitians as have a full imployment , which will afford them to keep in their own houses ; or to have near them persons skilful in pharmacy , whose only business it should be to provide such medicines , whether compound or simple , as they shall have occasion to use in their practice , the physitians directing and supervising them . so that supposing the apothecary skilful , there will be little reason to fear miscarriages ; for the apothecary will have no temptation to be unfaithful , because it will not benefit him , his gains not being contingent ( as now ) depending on the quantity of physick he sells , his salary being we suppose fixt and certain . but rather on the contrary it is his interest to have the physick as good as he can make it ; for the greater success the physitian hath , the more will be his imployment : and consequently he will be the better able to gratifie the apothecary for his care and trouble in preparing the medicine he imployes so successfully . but suppose the apothecary should have bad designs ( which yet he can never have so long as he is in his wits ) he will want opportunities to effect them ; himself , and his medicines being almost continually under the physitians inspection , who allows no bad drugs admittance into his operatory , and may if he please , see them mix'd and duly prepared . but physitians will be freed from much of this trouble , if they take the advice of that late judicious writer we have already cited , which is , that the most eminent among them entertain in their houses persons of three or four years standing in either of our universities , who are to be received in the capacity , not of servants , but of young students , friends , or vertuous companions , to be instructed in their worthy profession ; and brought up in the exercises of anatomy , knowledge of herbs , mixing and compounding of medicines , ( the drudgery resting on servants ) and visiting the sick under their direction : who when they are a little advanced , and studied in this art , may be appointed by the physitian to observe patients in his absence , and give him an account of their cases ; by which means he will be ignorant of nothing material , although he be not there himself . they may also visit their laboratories , and look after the preparations of those medicines the physitians prescribe ; which as it will much ease the antient , so it will be of great advantage to the young physitian , who while he imployes his industry in such services as these for the elder gains ( besides what is learnt from books and authors ) his long experience sees his patients , hears him discourse of their several cases , considers the medicines provided for them , and observes their several effects : all which advantages are now given away in vain to apothecaries , to whom the practice of physick does not belong . and if this has been the course that all mankinde has ever taken to raise and propagate practical arts , and trades of daily use in humane life , why should it not be used in physick , which is a practical art of much greater consequence ? especially if we consider how dangerous the errours of this profession are , and how necessary a practical education is for any man that intends the exercise of it . and though some through pride or weakness disgrace this method as mechanical ; yet without doubt there are many ingenious young men in england , who would be very glad , and take it for a great honour to be thus received by some of the grandees and great practitioners : and their friends think them well and honourably imployed . but ( to proceed in our discourse , which was interrupted by this seasonable digression ) because young physitians , and such as have little imployment cannot allow an apothecary maintenance out of their small gain ; it being therefore proposed , that physitians enter into societies or combinations , ( which indeed they do naturally , and many such there are now in this city ) more or fewer in a company , according as they have greater or less imployment : that these provide a place which shall be the publick laboratory , for the preparing of all physick , chymical and galenical . that they also procure one or more skilled in the operations of both faculties ; these to have , either the profit profit of all the medicines that shall be prepared : or to have a certain salary or allowance from the physitians , yet to proceed to register bills , and receive money , as if they were concerned only for themselves . so many physitians frequenting the laboratory , will be a double advantage ; for if they meet with any new and extraordinary way of preparing any sort of medicines , they will readily communicate it for the benefit of the society : and so many supervising drugs and operations , it will be almost impossible to erre , and difficult to cheat , if the operator should have such a design , which would be the highest folly and madness in him who makes no benefit thereof , but is rather to his prejudice ; as it will be also eminently of the physitians , who therefore will not connive at , much less incourage , any practices of that nature . but to be more particular , the reasons and advantages of these proposals are very many , and of great consideration . for first , if this course be taken , it will free the physician from much anxiety and hazard , from which , he cannot plead exemption ( if an observing considerative person ) while he depends on the honesty , care , and skill of an apothecary , in whom perhaps he hath little reason to confide , upon some or all of those accounts , i have already mentioned : whereas now in this constitution of pharmacy , the physitian will be satisfied his medicines are good ; and that he cannot be injured by the malice or designe of unworthy , miscarriages or mistakes of ignorant or careless apothecaries . 2. this will also free the patient from fears , jealousies , and dangers ; to which , they will be subject so long as the physitian shall repose so great a part of their trust in persons , who do seldome faithfully discharge what is committed to their care . how great a satisfaction will it be to them , for physitians to put their affairs in such a method , that all the physick is prescribed , be prepared exactly after the physitians direction ? and that it will be very unlikely they should suffer from any of those mistakes and miscarriages , which have heretofore often happened ? for the patient knowing it is the physitians interest to take care that his medicines be prepared aright ; that they are immediately under his inspection ; that the operators have no bias clapt upon them , which should make them run aside , will throughly acquiesce in all that shall be done : which quietness , composure , and satisfaction , will promote the cure , according to that of galen , plures sanat , cui plures fidunt . there is greatest success where people have most confidence . which in this case is far from presumption ; for i see no reason , why they may not promise to themselves , and expect better success from medicines , that are contrived with skill , and are prepared with the greatest care ; than from such as are carelesly and slightly made , or which is worse , adulterated . which brings to my mind a third advantage . 3. if this course be taken , it will render physick more successful . for medicines will be better prepared , than now they are , the physician taking care himself to have nothing but what is good ; which he could not so well do , when it was made up out of his sight . besides , he is under a necessity of taking greater care to have all he uses very good , and most exactly prepared ; for no man can now lay any miscarriage on the neglect or ignorance of an apothecary . it rests altogether on himself , and he becomes responsible for it . further , the profession of physick will be exercised with greater success , if physitians prepare and dispense their own medicines , than now it is ; because then , all sorts of men would apply themselves immediately to the physitian , whereby he will have opportunities of seeing the disease in its first rise , which gives him a mighty advantage , for the true understanding and cure of it . whereas now it is the unhappiness of the physitian ( and indeed chiefly of the patient ) that he is never almost sent for , till things are brought to extremity , and all opportunities of curing neer lost ; whereas if the disease had been encountred in the first rise of it , with powerful and convenient medicaments , the patient had been again restored to health : whose life it may be must now answer for the first omission . besides , that the disease if met in the beginning , is often carried off with a little matter ; which neglected , requires a long and troublesome course : not to insist on this , that more coming than formerly to the physitian , enlarges his business , and experience . neither is it a mean convenience , that physitians will have no temptations , to recede from experimented methods and medicines , which i fear now they sometimes do , especially if they are easie , or obvious , lest they should bring themselves into contempt with apothecaries , and discover their practice ; so as they might use it to their prejudice , which is now frequently done . neither need they adde more ingredients than are necessary , or those that are of great price , and little efficacy to serve dishonourable interests . and preparing themselves the physick they give , will help them better to remember what had a good effect , and which had not , ot failed ; and how to accomodate themselves to the same persons at other times . 4. this will mightily abate the charge and expense of physick , the physitians being contented with such moderate prices for their medicines , as will discharge what they expend for drugs in their laboratories , among servants and operators ; so that if at the years end their receipts for medicines amount to so much as they have expended on them , it is all they promise themselves , or expect from others . for the physitian will not , as the apothecary now doth , depend upon the gain of the physick he sells to such as come to him ; but as he did before upon the fees which he receives from persons of condition and ability , when he is sent for out of his own house : for the trouble of selling his own physick , he takes upon him only to advance the publick interest , satisfie himself more in his own profession , minister to the necessities of the poor , and consult the greater security of all . now the charge of pharmacy ( upon a modest compute ) if this course be taken , will not arise to a sixth part of what is now paid towards it ; for we can buy druggs as cheap as any retail , apothecaries , and every physitian or association of them , knowing what compositions they shall chiefly have occasion for , such only are prepared , and so much of them , as they conjecture may be sufficient , till they have an opportunity again to make them , which shall always be when the ingredients are fullest of vertue and vigour . by which means they will avoid that great loss of medicines which is frequent in an honest apothecaries shop , where many compositions are made , that are not used six times in a year ; may perhaps not once in six years , as i have heard many of them seriously protest : which must necessarily occasion great losses , unless they are kept till they have opportunities to vend them , as most of them do , although they retain nothing of the medicine , they once were , besides the name . so that in this case the apothecary is inevitably exposed either to be a looser , or become dishonest , this is to the prejudice of the patient , the other of himself , who must endeavour to repair his losses , by inhauncing the prizes of those that remain ; which doth also obliquely reflect on the patient , although of the two 't is more excusable , and both of them are avoided , by the expedient we have proposed ; where the medicines will be assuredly good , the physitians interest obliging him to look to that , and withal afforded cheap , i mean at the same prizes they cost him ; physitians being abundantly requited for their care and pains in seeing to the preparing their own medicines by the success they will have , and by it's necessary concomitant , a full imployment . but suppose a physitian should sell his physick to the meaner sort of people , who give him nothing for his advice , as dear as the apothecary now doth , it is still a great benefit to them , they having advice and physick too for the same rate they paid for physick alone . 5. the leaving off the common way of sending patients to the apothecaries , will be a great case to the publike ; especially to the poorer sort of people , to whom now the physitian will have a fair advantage of being charitable , and exceedingly helpful as he will be : either if he let them have their physick at the same price it cost him , bestow it on them freely or ( which i suppose will be most usual ) teach them how to prepare it themselves . for it 's well known that physitians who are masters of method , and well acquainted with the medicinal properties of simples , do often effect great cures , by means , which to an injudicious person will seem slight or trivial . and indeed if we seriously consider things , we cannot but conclude that nature hath made perhaps no less plentiful provision of remedies for the poor than for the rich , that diseases may be cured in the absence of aurum potabile and costly elixirs ; without magisterial syrups , apozems or other chargeable compositions . we have i perswade my self medicines at our doors ▪ or neer us ; we need only gather , and slightly prepare them , and certainly 't is no great labour or trouble to make an infusion or decoction , to express the juyce , or dry the herb ▪ and employ the powder : and yet these easie and obvious preparations are oftentimes ( perhaps usually ) no less effectual then those which are more elaborate . now of how great advantage is it to the poor to be adopted apothecaries by the physitian ; and instructed how to make their own physick , which costs them nothing but a little labour ? these otherwise by reason of poverty must commit all to nature , whereby they are often exposed to a manifest hazard ; and many die who if they had seasonably consulted the physitian might have been rescued with some common familiar remedy . besides we shall frequently have opportunities of obliging the poor in another way ; for physitians having for their patients many ladies , gentlewomen and other persons of consideration or qualitys , whose charitable inclinations dispose them not only to feed and clothe the poor , but also to supply them with physick , if they knew what was proper for their diseases , now a physitian knowing what distempers are most frequent in his neighbourhood , can instruct them what provision they should make in order to their cure , of drugs , simple distilled waters , syrups , conserves , spirituous or cordial-waters ; and those much better then any which are made in the apothecaries shops . for i should suppress truth , if i did not acknowledge to the honour of that curious sex , that all those preparations they themselves make , are much superior to any the apothecaries can produce . now what i have mentioned , is not a meer supposition , or a thing desirable ; but is daily practiced by many tender , sweet-natur'd creatures : and if all physitians improve the interest they have in wealthy , generous patients , i perswade my self it will become a general practice . which if it should , as these gallant persons will be commended by all men , and beloved by those towards whom they exercise this beneficial charity ; so without doubt these actions will be acceptable to god , and have their reward in this life , and in that which is to come . 6. this will be of high advantage to physitians , and those patients of theirs that live in the country , where multitudes miscarry , ( and many even among the gentry , ) either under bad or for want of good physick . for the country apothecaries not having certain vent for their medicines , and few among them being well skilled in their composition , to avoid charge and trouble , buy such things ▪ as they have most frequently occasion for , of london apothecaries who sell medicines cheaper than the others can make them ; and well they may , they being either the refuse of their shops , or fraudulently compounded , i mean , made either with old or perished drugs : or else they leave out the most costly , which are often the most effectual and active ingredients . now physitians in the country comporting with the common way of sending prescripts to the apothecary , especially those that concern persons of quality ; which physick , what effects it is like to have , i leave to others to conjecture ; for my own part i will not affirm , that any are dispatched by it ( though we have little reason to believe bad physick can have good effects ) but of this i am most certain , that it lets many die ( which is little better ) whom probably it would have restored , had it been such as the physitian presumes the apothecary is furnished with . and but that it is contrary to my nature , and the design of this discourse , to divulge any thing which might be a reproach to particular persons , i could name several gallant gentlemen , exceedingly beloved in their countries , wherein they were very useful ; who miscarried , as is verily thought ( by those that are competent judges ) between the neglect and baseness of the country and city apothecaries . whereas , when it shall be once declared by the colledge of physitians , that it shall be accounted to disgrace for any to prepare their own physick ; this will be the most pleasing news that can come to physitians who live remote from great cities , and have hitherto abstained from that practice , only to maintain their reputation , the apothecaries and their adherents , endeavouring to blast the repute of those that provide , and give their medicines themselves ; branding them , in all companies , with the ignominious titles of empirick , and mountebanck : which injurious design often takes effect among those half-witted people , that are greater admirers of formality , than realities . but the colledge having published such a declaration , as i have mentioned , physitians will receive greater encouragement from discerning persons , who certainly will be best satisfied with their physick , when they have it from the physitian himself , which surely will be as good as he can contrive or ●●ke ; otherwise he will ruine his patient , his reputation , and indeed himself by the loss of his livelyhood , and subsistence : for now if the sick miscarry , from any defects in the physick , the physitian only can be blamed , it proceeding from his ignorance , or neglect , that he provided not better . besides , in many parts of england , there are no apothecaries , or the people are so poor , that the expense of physick is intolerable to them ; and therefore the physitian cannot help them , if he prescribe only shop-medicines . now , is it not a great shame , that physicians should not be able to teach the poor , how to provide themselves with sutable remedies ? especially in the country where nature hath open so rich and large a shop , stored with all those materials physitians can have occasion for , who want only the knowledge of their virtues , or how to prepare them : with both which they will better acquaint themse●●es , when they leave off the apothecaries , and take pharmacy into their own hands , which brings to my mind , those other advantages that will attend such a state of physick . 7. physitians preparing their own medicines , and giving or selling them to the poor , without expecting any thing for advice , is a great advantage to the publick , as it overthrows the practice of persons that are ignorant of the art of physick , who now take on them to administer it , to the great prejudice and dammage of the people ; especially the meaner sort , who now the charge of advice is taken away , and that of physick lessened , will much more willingly address themselves to sober intelligent physitians , than to apothecaries , and other quacks or mountebanks . 8. this improvement of physick will be of great advantage to philosophy . first , because thereby the practice of physick being taken from those who have hitherto usurped it , and intirely secured to sober , learned physitians , will afford them somewhat more than an handsome subsistance ; which of all persons living , they are most capable of improving , and most ready to imploy in physiological researches . this overplus will enable them to be much conversant with anatomical experiments , not only about man , but other animals ; that by comparing their structures , they may attain to the knowledge of the true and natural uses of each part : they will also busie themselves more about the investigation of the nature and properties of simples , and be more frequent in the practice of their composition ; and some it's probable will engage deeply in chymistry , a most noble invention , which seems equally calculated for the benefit of medicine , and advantage of philosophy . but secondly , pharmacy being in the hands of physitians , will give them many and great opportunities of advancing the knowledge of nature ; because ( as a learned person hath judiciously observed ) physitians will then be frequently invited to take notice of many excellent phaenomena , for the use and service of philosophy , which now pass unregarded in the hands of apothecaries and their servants . besides , that by observing the several mutations which happen in the preparation of medicines , as well simple as compound , they will be assisted to consider what effects may happen upon their mixture with the blood or other juyces of the body ; and give a great light to the reasons of all the appearances of health and sickness . but above all other parts of pharmacy , chymistry will most transcendently manifest its usefulness , in reference to the improvement of philosophy ; which it doth most signally promote , by discovering the nature and properties of those subjects , which are exposed to its operations : as it gives us a great insight into the nature of those simple affections of bodies , we call qualities , the knowledge whereof is the basis of a solid natural philosophy ; as it acquaints us with the constitutive principles of most bodies , whether vegetable , animal , or mineral ; informes us what are the great principles or springs of action in the production , preservation , and destruction , or dissolution of all concretes . in a word , there is no part of natural philosophy , which it doth ' not highly illustrate and enrich , with many noble experiments and observations which would pass unheeded by common , incurious chymists or operators : but will be highly improved by judicious , observing physicians , in order to the increasing our knowledge of nature , and our power over her , which are the main intentions of philosophy . 9. physitians taking pharmacy into their own hand , will be a profitable means of improving it . for first , it may be a means of inlarging the extent of the materia medica ; and therein chiefly our knowledge of their specifical virtues . for then , there will be a more immediate converse between physitians , druggists , and merchants ; which will be an occasion of bringing into use many excellent drugs we know nothing of , but what we read in authors : by whose directions , physitians can give them advice where they may be procured ; how to discriminate the good from the bad , the genuine from such as are spurious , and sophisticated ; they can also inform the merchants or druggists how to preserve many of them , which for want of a little care or skill , loose most of their virtues , before they arrive at these parts . and as to what belongs to the specifick properties of simples , it is generally acknowledged , that of late they have been too much neglected . now this is the only way to retrieve and improve that knowledge , which will , i am perswaded , be greatly enlarged by some new ways of analyzing vegetables lately invented ; and which will be suddenly communicated . from which we may derive fair conjectures , not only what their constitutive principles are , and what proportion of each principle is in every concrete ; but some other hints will be given by some , of these methods of operating on them , which will not meanly conduce to discover their hidden properties : of which i must say no more at present . whereas it 's well known that the apothecaries have very little of curiosity , being rarely tempted to make any experiment , out of the road of our dispensatory : so that pharmacy may degenerate , as it doth daily , every one striving to make medicines cheaper , but few being concerned to have them better than others . now physitians , as they are more judicious ; and understand the grounds of pharmacy much better than the apothecaries , as may appear by some of their accurate writings on this subject ; and may be seen in their ordinary prescriptions ; many whereof are as exact , and the ingredients no less judiciously dispos'd , than in those processes we find in pharmacopoeas . they are also acquainted with many excellent chymical and galenical preparations which have been either invented , or published , since our dispensatory was last revised ; and most know better methods of preparing many of those medicines that come frequently in use , as of simple distilled waters , syrups , spirits , extracts , tinctures , magisteries , as also of several elaborate preparations which may be made in less time , and with less expense then they now are , some ingredients being superfluous , adding nothing but trouble , and expense to the goodness of the preparation . farther it being , as i have shewed , the interest of every physitian to have his medicines well made , there will arise a generous emulation between combinations , who shall exceed in that kind , which will put them on contrivance and experiments . the result whereof must necessarily be of publique advantage ; for somewhat amiss in former preparations will daily be discovered and corrected , instead of which , additions and improvements may be made : so that probably in a few years , pharmacy will be very different from what it now is , and greater success will attend better medicines , which will heighten the honour of that noble profession which seems now to languish for want of some such remedy ; add to the repute of physitians ; and be highly beneficial to the patient , whose diseases will be cured more certainly , speedily , with greater security , and more pleasure ( if there is any in courses of physick . ) and here , since i have taken the liberty to reflect ( a little unhandsomely , it may seem to some ) on our own dispensatory , i am forced to make a digression . the substance whereof is , that 't is not my opinion only ; but the perswasion of most physitians who are but indifferently acquainted with those methods of preparing medicines , which are of recent invention , that our dispensatory is so far from being arrived at the highest degree of perfection , that on the contrary it is most manifestly , and in many respects very defective , abounding with pompous prescriptions , some whereof seldom , if ever , come in use ; and many compound remedies have been recently invented or divulged , which are of greater efficacy and larger extent than the best our dispensatory can boast of . besides in many of the prescriptions that are of frequent use , there are superfluous ingredients , which add indeed to the trouble and charge we are at in compounding them ; but little to the vertues of the medicines , which would be better displayed , if they were omitted , the preparations being rather clog'd than improved by them . and besides , modern industry , and invention , hath found our better manuals or methods of compounding medicines , whereby the ingredients are better opened , more exactly mixed , and in some more highly depurated ; i mean , where the active parts are freed from those gross useless portions of their bodies , which hindred them from exerting their salutary properties . and there are many natural , genuine , easie methods of preparing simples , especially vegetable , whereby their whole crasis is preserved intire , their vertues being rather heightned , then in the least impaired ; which taken in a small dose are more effectual than whole pounds of the vulgar waters , syrups or electuaries . and as they are not ingrateful to the palate ; so neither doth the stomach nauseate them . and they have this further priviledge , that in some years their vertue doth not sensibly decay , not are they subject to corruption , as the shop-preparations ; and yet neither honey , sugar nor any saccharine substance is imployed to preserve them , their own simplicity or their being exactly freed from gross unsutable parts , which are usually the occasional causes of fermentation and putrefaction , rendering them less liable to these destructive operations . besides it hath been the complaint of physitians for many ages , that flowers which seem to be made up of the most fine and active parts of the whole vegetable , and are probably enobled with extraordinary vertues , do , in most of the operations they are exposed to , loose those subtile portions of matter , from which we might promise our selves great effects . and i confess it seems highly probable to me , that flowers are the compendium of the whole plant , and possess more of their medical vertues in a little room , than is contained in a far greater quantity of leaves , stalk , root , or fruit ; and the wise contriver of the universe seems to have destined them chiefly for medicine . i shall not here mention those reasons and experiments which inspire me with this perswasion ; only this i dare affirm , that they afford more noble medicines , if truly prepared , than any other part of the vegetable : at least so far as i have made tryal . now the shops employ the flowers , either dried , and then a great part of the volatile active parts are exhaled , which being after decocted leave behind them a scarce sensible impression of their prefence ; or else they are beat up with sugar into conserves , which doth , as i could manifest at large , almost wholly change the properties of these otherwise active substances : the same happens also in syrups and all other preparations , where sugar is imployed . for although many perswade themselves that sugar is a most innocent thing , keeping simples and their parts from putrefaction ; and that it doth not make the least change in the vegetables , it is imployed to preserve : yet by their leave i do assert that it is highly questionable , whether simples mixed therewith do not loose many of those properties , with which by nature they were endowed , sugar being an active body , a sweet salt ( for so it may be styled without a soloecisme , i having often made a salt sweeter then sugar of ingredients either very acid , or exceeding fiery ) and is a potent menstruum or dissolver of bodies . and though metals are commonly reputed indestructible , it being well known that they are recovered from all ordinary solvents , the same metals without any alterations that they were when first exposed to their actions ; for notwithstanding that they are sometimes disguised , appearing in the form of volatile salts , lovely crystals , or are brought over in the form of an oyl swiming on water ( both which i have had my self from them ) nevertheless after all these operations , the metals are easily reduced into the same for weight , colour and other properties : and yet the calces of these seemingly indestructible bodies , by a slight manual with sugar over a kitchin fire are so strangely altered , that none of the ordinary ways of reduction will recover them their metalline form . and so mild an ingredient of medicines as honey , only by distillation is made , as corrosive and pernicious as any aqua fortis made with salt-peter and vitriol , dissolving metals much after the same manner . if then sugar and honey may , and do probably often superinduce another texture , and other qualities than they found in vegetables , destroying the former , it were advisable , that besides these preparations we used others , at least on extraordinary occasions ; wherein the vertues of the simples are preserved more intire : and wherein much is concentred in a little room . i will not deny but there is more trouble in making the latter , than the former ; but extraordinary success will be an abundant recompense for the expence of time and trouble , the charge being rather inferiour , or at least but equal to what the vulgar shop-medicines now cost : a small dose of those being likely to prove more effectuall then a great quantity of these . and as for flowers which occasioned this digression by a most facile and natural method without any additament , or so much as the help of culinary fire , they may be converted into liquors exceedingly spirituous ; and which may be kept without loss of vertue many years . but of this the world will shortly , i suppose , have a more particular account ; and therefore i shall let it pass without any further illustration . ut if it be enquired , what preparations of vegetables they are , which are pretended to retain the whole crasis and vertues of the vegetables intire ? b i answer , the essences made by distillation , per descensum , in the sun , which by other easie operations , are further purified and exalted : the essential salts of vegetables , i mean not the vulgar , but such as have the exact tast and smell of the vegetables that afforded them , whose active parts are most evidently united in the crystalline salts , as appears by the effects ; as also from this , that if the capious faeces be distilled , they yield only an insipid phlegm , and a very small portion of gross faeculent empyreumatical oyl : and afterwards the caput mortuum calcined never so long , yields no fixed salt , which is in another form in the essential , united with the active principles of spirit and oyl , as appears upon distillation . but besides these , the essences of vegetables made by the union of their pungent vinous spirits , essential oyles , and highly depurate fixed salts , which by iterated cohobations become a similar liquor , wherein the principles are inseparably united , are noble remedies ; and though i do not affirm , that they retain all the specifical properties of their vegetables : yet i perswade my self , that if they want any , this defect is abundantly supplyed by the acquest of new , which perhaps in many cases are much superiour to what we could expect from the crude plant , most exactly appropriated . and that in a word i may manifest , how great alterations may be made on vegetables by slight means , i will mention one method more of dealing with them ; whereby without any other additament than what they may receive from the air , the leaves of all vegetables being duly fermented and distilled , yield copiously a liquour which rectified , is not to be distinguished from spirit of blood , soot , harts-horn , or other urinous spirits or salts : and mixed with highly dephlegmed spirit of wine , they concoagulate into the offa alba . and though some herbs , as wormwood , carduus benedictus , mugwort , &c. yield it more plentifully then others ; yet all yield so much that a large retort filled only with common grass thus ordered , gives at least a pint of this subtile , volatile spirit : which if often rectified , appeares in a saline form , and is as penetrating and fugitive , as the salt of fermented urine . as for the caput mortuum , in vain do you expect a fixt salt in it ; that being made such by the action of the fire ; it being volatile not fixed in the vegetable , as this natural way of analysis evinces . i have by me an intire discourse on this subject ; wherein there is a great variety ( i had almost said infinity ) of experiments and observations . and sometimes i am apt to flatter my self into a belief , that this is the true , genuine , and universal way of extricating the component principles of vegetables ; and that it will give us a greater insight into their nature , than any thing which hath been hitherto made publick . besides , there appear during these operations many things , which will prove highly instructive to those that philosophize on other subjects . but to return into the way from which we were diverted , i affirm . that , physitians preparing and dispensing their own medicines will be of great advantage to the publike , as it confirms the health of the weak , and rescues many from diseases , who would otherwise faint under them , this addition to the number of the living , and increase of their strength , being of no mean importance , the honour and prosperity of a nation consisting in a multitude of sound minds animating healthful bodies ; whereby they are rendred fit for the arts of war and peace . and therefore , we may presume that publick persons , whether the most supreme or subordinate magistrates , will be so far from opposing such a reformation as this we design ; that they will give us all the encouragement and assistance we can desire . and questionless , if there be any impediments or obstacles , which physitians themselves cannot remove , as i hope there are not many , they have reason to rest assured ; that our great and wise counsel will in such cases interpose their authority , which will extirpate whatsoever opposes it self to so just and advantageous designs . for where any thing is of publick advantage , what should hinder its proposers from expecting publick countenance ? it being well known , that in all well founded constitutions where there is a union of interests , there will be united counsels and endeavours . and we may farther encourage our selves from hence , that they who are so tender of every mans propriety , that they account every invasion thereof , an injury done to themselves , will not deny their assistance to physitians , whose propriety also is strangely invaded , the usurpers now being almost ready to plead prescription . and besides , we suppose that they who are so much concerned to keep every man in quiet possession of his own estate , will not be wanting to those who would endeavour to render them more secure of their lives ; which are of somewhat greater value . and that the lives of many are frequently indangered by ignorant , bold , daring apothecaries and empiricks , hath been made sufficiently manifest . but besides all this , if physick be really , as is pretended , a useful science , the publick ought to take care it do not degenerate ; and that its worthy professors be not discouraged , or deprived of an honourable subsistance . for it hath been ever observed , that where any art receives greatest encouragement , there it usually arises to its highest perfection ; and where it s much slighted , there it soonest declines : the artists either leaving those places , or applying themselves to the study and exercise of more profitable imployments . this will be exactly the case of physick , which whilest it is established in that degree of honour and esteem it may justly challenge , and the professors thereof are liberally rewarded , and duly respected : this countenance will exceedingly heighten their industry , and put them on actions which may manifest to the world , that they do , in some measure , deserve the favour it shews them . so that some will cultivate the anatomy both of the body and its humours , endeavour to acquaint themselves and the world with the admirable fabrick and use of those parts whereof man is composed , and the nature of those humours which produce such admirable effects as are dayly observed . they will never cease till they have investigated the nature of the stomach's ferment , a menstruum so universal , that there is scarcely any animal vegetable , nay , even mineral substances , which can elude its dissolving property , they being all by it reduced into a seemingly homogeneous milky liquor ; they will then enquire how this comes to be tincted with a noble purple dye , which they find it puts on soon after its admission into the bloud , and how that nourishes all parts , leaving with each what is suitable to its nature , and then returns again for fresh supplies , running this round without intermission till death puts a period to its course . they will further examine the frame of the lungs , the nature and properties of that air whereby they are dilated , its use in reference to respiration , and whence it is that we cannot subsist a minute without it . they will also more attentively consider the nature of the nervous liquor , and that truly admirable effect thereof , muscular motion ; where small chords , by means of a little spirituous juyce , helped with an advantageous situation , perform actions which would appear stupendous if they were not common : and are a subject which hath hitherto sufficiently exercised the greatest wits later or former ages ever produced : but nothing will more deserve their attentive consideration than the propagation of the species , in which process there is not a greater or more pleasant variety than obscurity : the one serves to excite desire , the other to heighten industry ; and there is no physician , who hath any spark of curiosity , or sense of his duty , and sufficient encouragement , but will endeavour to acquaint himself with these great processes of nature ; i mean , the preparation of the food , its distribution , respiration , muscular motion , and generation : to which we may add , the exclusion of what is useless or burdensome . and then he can be no longer a stranger to her regular actings , and knows what are most likely to continue them such without interruption . but before this excellent person we would here characterize , i mean , a true physitian , attains to this knowledge he is at the expense of much money , time , and trouble ; for howsoever providence might deal with the protoplast , the wisest of kings , or others in former ages , and whatsoever some now pretend to the contrary , we cannot find that this skill comes by inspiration , but is the result of innumerable experiments and observations . one dissection of a dead man is not sufficient to inform him of his frame , doth not learn him the use or function of each part ; he converses with many other animals living or dead , whereon he makes numerous experiments , which by analogy and induction he aptly applies to man. neither doth his learned toyl here end , this is but the praeludium and most pleasant part thereof . he is forced therefore to consider the body of man , not only as an engine of curious and admirable contrivance , of unmatchable workmanship , wherein nothing besides beauty and order appears : but also as a machine , which consisting of many parts , and having great variety of motions , is often out of order , seldom long performing them all with the greatest exactness , but sometimes gives the skilful artist an opportunity to manifest that he knows much of its nature and contrivance , by redressing what was amiss , and some waies supplying its defects . it is needless to mention those many diseases man is subject to , there being no person that understands himself , and others , who hath not a scheme of them in his memory ; and yet , although the anomalies mans body is subject to are so numerous , and many among them appear exceedingly formidable to most spectators ; they may be all removed by the skill of a judicious physitian . but how great is his care , how unspeakable his trouble , before he attain to the knowledge of the symptomes and cure of diseases ? how often is his mind upon a rack , and he frequently perhaps too anxiously solicitous for his afflicted neighbour ? he makes it his business to enquire into all those helps nature or art can afford him , which may prove conducive to promote their recovery ; he many waies examines simples , and uses all means to extort from them a confession of their nature , deliberates whether he should imploy them in their simplicity , slightly , or more elaborately prepared ; and when he hath determined , administers them with all due circumstances . now , surely to inform himself of the medicinal properties of simples , to know how skilfully to mix , compound , and sutably apply them , as it is no mean art , so neither is it an easie labour , or an ordinary trouble , whether he derive his knowledge from those that have preceeded him in the same faculty , or from his own personal observations . and if physitians , who are of so clear judgments , so unparallel'd for industry , have no more respect or consideration than mean , empty , shallow pretenders , we have reason to fear that hereafter persons of great abilities and liberal education will scorn to look towards a faculty which , though noble and honourable in its own nature , is so low and mean in the esteem of the world ▪ that every person who hath the confidence to affirm he is a physitian , although perfectly ignorant of the rudiments of physick , shall yet have no less countenance from the publick , than those gallant persons , who after a long courtship have rendered nature familiar , are acquainted with the causes and cure of diseases , and who have so well deserved of mankind , that i cannot but marshal them next to those divine persons , who also , as these , are often slighted and neglected , although of them the world is not worthy . but it is now fit i should leave these idle melancholy speculations , and presage better things of the publick , and to sober learned physitians . for i perswade my self , i may promise them from authority encouragement , and assistance proportionable to their care and success ; both which will be more conspicuous , if they prepare their own medicines : which i most passionately commend to their consideration . and that this proposition may meet with a kind reception , and be more readily entertained , i will endeavour to return satisfactory replies to to whatsoever can be objected against it , by either apothecaries or physitians : for the most noble designs have ever met with great opposition , and sometimes a proposal , which was made with a sincere intention of publike benefit , hath occasioned the ruine or been otherwise prejudicial to the propounders ; which would happen in this case , supposing the event of affairs did depend on the will of apothecaries . but howsoever if they are resolute , and determine unanimously to oppose all reformation , ( which is sufficiently probable ) they , and most of those that are tied to their interests by alliances , will endeavour to possess the people wheresoever they come , with an opinion of the injustice , and unreasonableness of the physitians cause , and as plausibly as they can maintain their own pretensions ; whereby they may possess many with prejudices against a most honest and honourable design , who would otherwise have promoted it : for hearing the plea , but of one party which , if they proceed at the usual rate , will be well stuffed with falsities , denying many matters of fact , which are notoriously scandalous , and producing things in their own behalf , which almost every physitian can easily disprove . so that those persons , whom they shall thus abuse , apprehending they are engaged in a good cause , may unawares oppose truth and equity , contrary to their intention ; which they had never done , but through misinformation . besides the apothecaries may urge ( where they have not confidence to deny truths as visible as the sun ) that these designs of reforming them are indeed fine spun speculations , but can no ways be reduced to practice ; that if the hedge be once broken , and the apothecaries discountenanced , it will occasion greater inconveniences then those , for which the physitians design a remedy . the inconveniences are some such as these , first , it will be an act of great cruelty , advisedly to design the ruine of so many persons , who have most of them families to make provision for . besides that it will be a great injury to the publike . to this we answer , that the physitians design no mans ruine , their intentions are innocent , rational , and such as will approve themselves to all the world ; and i suppose they are so far from deserving blame for endeavouring to reform abuses , which have crep't into their faculty , that , on the contrary among wise people , they will meet with great commendation and encouragement : and for the apothecaries to oppose them , because their credit by such proceedings will be eclipsed , and their dishonest gain diminished , is , ( pardon the comparison ) like demetrius and the silver smith's opposing the apostle , because , if the people hearkned to his wholsome counsels , their trade would fall to decay ; a worthy way of argumentation , and such as is in the mouth , only of selfish persons , who are more eager on their private gain , then the publike good . and the apothecaries being so little concerned for that , i admire with what confidence they can expect the publike should be so deeply engaged with them in a quarrel against those who are it 's best friends , and fall out with the apothecaries , only because they are enemies to the publike ; as most certainly they are if the least part of that be true we have affirmed of them which whether it be , let the world first examine , and after determine . so that if the mentioned plea of the apothecaries pass for legitimate and valid , what sort or profession of men is there so base , and vile , which may not use the same argument ? coyners , robbers , cut-purses , sophisticaters of wine , who all pretend necessity of acting as they do , that otherwise they cannot subsist , but the law is so far from approving of such idle pretences , that it deservedly , orders severe punishments , for such as shall by fraud or force deprive men of their propreity . and shall we animadvert with so great severity on those that take away unjustly an inconsiderable portion of a mans estate , without which he can well subsist , and at the same time take no notice of him , that shall deprive men of health , and sometimes life ? this were like fishing with that strange net , which keeps little fish and dismisses the greater : there is no reason we should punish offenders for slight faults , and find excuses and evasions for such as are guilty of greater crimes . in short where the continuance of a few disorderly persons in any place , employment , or publike capacity , is inconsistent with the good and welfare of the community , it is so far from injustice , and cruelty to reject them , that it were both , should we do otherwise , which is the very case of the apothecaries , if their medicines and practices be so dangerous , as we have reported them . but to be more particular in our reply , because some deceit may be concealed in universals ; first , i say if it be so great cruelty to ruine many men in their estates , how much greater is it to expose as many , not once in an age , but every year , to a manifest hazard of loss of health , or life which are so much more considerable , that the estates and wealth of all the apothecaries put into the balance against the life of the meanest person in these nations , the latter will surely preponderate . therefore when we are in such straits , that of two inconveniences we can avoid but one , none but an imprudent or mad person will make choice of the greatest : but this is not our present case . for all such apothecaries , as are found to be upright and honest , shall be well provided for ; and the remainder may addict themselves to other professions : if they pretend unskilfulness , no one will regard that frivolous allegation , who observes their frequent intrusions into the practise of physick . for which , by what hath been said ▪ they appear more unfit , then for any mechanical or other imployment ; to the knowledge of whose mysteries and intricacies they may certainly much sooner arrive , then of so profound a science as physick . but to put a period to this reply the apothecaries may consider , that there are in this famous city , and many other parts of england a great number of ingenious persons , whose ill fortune it was to addict themselves to the study of physick , ( for the event plainly shews it was their unhappiness ) these after great expense of money , after long and intense study , being become well qualify'd for the practice thereof , cannot have a subsistence , the apothecaries having more in their own hands then would be a sufficient maintenance for some hundred such persons , who are under so great discouragements , through the coveteousness and injustice of the apothecaries , as none can imagine , besides those that converse with them . now to retort the apothecaries argument upon themselves with advantage , we say , that it is a high piece of cruelty and injustice for the apothecaries to deprive so many learned , ingenious persons of a means to subsist . and i make full account that the practice which is in the apothecaries hand is as much their due , as an inheritance , which is held from the right owner by the artifice of some usurper , and to take the practice out of their hands , and turn it into the right channel , deserves no more blame , than he that shall restore an inheritance long withheld to the true owners ; for since but one can possess it , 't is fit surely , that he to whom of right it appertains should enjoy it , rather than any other , how urgent soever his wants may be , how great his necessities . thus all circumstances duly weighed , it appears evident that the inconveniences , some few persons will deservedly labour under , is not comparable to the advantages the publike will receive from their seclusion or reformation . another thing the apothecaries plead in their own behalf against the physitians , is , that they are like aesop's dog in the manger ( for such an irreverent expression i heard one use ) who could not eat hay himself , and yet would not permit the ox to feed thereon . so the physitians will neither take care of the poor themselves , nor permit the apothecaries so to do , who are chiefly conversant among them , advising and assisting those who would meet with little other help , they not being able to gratifie physitians ; who are ( as one of their worthy authors says ) like balaam's ass they cannot speak till they see an angel. these being neglected ( as they would perswade the world ) by physitians , have recourse to them ; and they it seems being prevailed on ( tender hearts ! ) by sentiments of pity , let them have such medicines as they think most apposite to their distemper . whosoever reads this plausible story which the apothecaries set off with greater advantage than their advocate can , will look on the physitians as churlish levites , passing by their distressed brother , not vouchsafing him a single regard ; who there lies in misery and danger till he is rescued from both , by such as vaunt themselves to be so many charitable samaritans : but how well that title becomes them , and how grosly and palpably they have calumniated the physitians , will appear by the ensuing discourse . first , suppose the physitians should say to them ( which yet they neither do nor ever will ) we cannot but approve of your charity , although we do not intend to imitate it ; therefore we give you free permission to concern your selves as much as you please for the poor , we allow you to advise , and give them physick , either freely : or to afford it at such prises as you may be no gainers , so neither loosers . this and a greater liberty we will allow you , so that you tamper not with the rich , to whom we will give better advice and greater assistance than any they can receive from you . can any man think , understands who the genius of the apothecary , that such language will be very agreeable to him ? no , the contrary is well known , they make it more their business than the tending of their shop is , to insinuate themselves into the most wealthy families , and find this imployment more beneficial then their observance of physitians . but let us imagine , that our apothecaries shop is like an hospital , to which there is great resort of poor distressed people , all which he supplies with sutable remedies ( we will suppose the best ) but upon what terms ? truly on such as are very beneficial to himself . for , not a dose of any thing goes out of the shop , which is not twice paid for ; i mean is sold for double the value or price , for which they might afford it , and yet be gainers . so that by this time we see the charity of the apothecary is not so conspicuous , as his collusion in gratifying of others at their own expence . and that what i have said , are no fictions will be attested by great numbers of physitians , whose repute was never yet stained by unhandsome practices ; and are so far from being such covetous , uncharitable persons as they represent them , that they have on the contrary often given their advice freely , refused money when it was offered them , if they knew or suspected the condition of the person to be very mean. and it 's well known , that scarce any physitian exacts mony of his patient , what comes , is free gift , not extorted ; whereas the apothecarie will be paid by the poor immediately : and he alwaies gains more of them by his physick , than the physitian hath ever for his advice . nay i am well acquainted with several physicians , who pay their apothecaries every year out of their own purses , for a large catalogue of medicines they cause to be bestowed freely on poor patients . i fear the apothecaries cannot produce many such examples of persons in their own faculty . and besides , there is a great company of physitians , of whose number i own my self to be ( and i am confident many others , with whom i am not acquainted , have the same intentions ) who have solemnly obliged themselves to go at all times to all patients , poor as well as rich , whensoever they are called ; and if they are in a necessitous condition , to give them their advice freely : only they will be called by the patients or their friends , not by the apothecaries , who will endeavour to give them much unnecessary trouble , and put them to as many inconveniences as they can , that they may make a benefit of their well-grounded refusals . if any person be taken apoplectical with convulsions of any kind , violent pains , or any other dangerous disease or symptome , we will not at midnight decline giving them visits , although they dwell with poverty it self ; but it 's unreasonable a physitian should be called out of his bed on trivial occasions , and endanger himself to do that , which without any danger to the patient , might be deferred till morning . to invite a physitian to visit them at unseasonable times upon the aking of a tooth or corn , a slight pain or lask of the belly , or to cure diseases which are extant only in a depraved fancy , is a most unreasonable request , and such as the apothecaries themselves will not comply with . and indeed physitians have been ever more ready ( if i flatter them not , which i would not willingly ) to visit and advise the poor , where it has been only a deed of charity , and abstracted from interest , than the apothecaries . another objection i have heard some apothecaries make against physitians dispensing their own physick , and deserting them , is , that the publick cannot with safety allow thereof ; for then physitians might prescribe their patients poyson instead of salutary physick : and all this without any danger to themselves , if they have any command of their tongues and consciences . that this is prevented by sending bills to the apothecaries , which besides is a great convenience to the physitians ; for should they be suspected upon some horrid symptomes or ill accidents attending the physick they prescribe ( which the apothecaries well know sometimes happens , rather from their own carelessness , unfaithfulness or ignorance , then the physitians as i have shewed ) these surmises are presently quelled by the physitians , appealing to his bills on the file , which on examination being found to contain nothing of that kind , for which he is suspected , he is without any more ado acquitted . this objection is so fraught with malice , and design , that i cannot consider it without some indignation . this is the first time that ever i heard physitians were in danger of turning poysoners ; and i do not remember that ever any were suspected for that fowl crime , although it 's well known the apothecaries have not escaped so well . but howsoever this is a most frivolous objection on many accounts , for first , if physitians were so wicked , as this objection supposes some of them to be , that they should design the destruction of that life , they ought to preserve , is any man so sensless as to think they could not meet with apothecaries , as ill minded as themselves ? yes , i dare say ten for one , besides , is it not very apparent that all people lie now more at the mercy of apothecaries and their apprentices or operators , then ( supposing the design we have proposed take effect ) they can ever at the physitians ? for although we send bills to the apothecary we can have no assurance , they are made up according to our prescription , but the master or servants may add what they please , without any but their consciences , being able to detect them . therefore since they are so malicious as to start so unworthy an objection , we might retort it upon themselves , and argue ; since physitians and their patients are in danger of being poysoned by every apothecary or their apprentices , were it not much better that physitians should supervise those that make their physick , whereby they may prevent this danger ? and since the trust must be reposed in some , whether doth not the physitian more deserve it ; than the apothecary and his apprentices ? but we will not insist on this , for i hope that all english men have so strange an antipathy against this horrid crime , that i am perswaded there are few amongst the worst of them would be guilty of it , although to save their own lives ; and therefore we will acquit the apothecaries , and others from suspicion of a crime , of which should they entertain the least favourable thought , they would deserve to be excluded from humane society . but these vices i hope have not passed the alps , and i wish they may ever keep within those bounds ; and that they will never pass the seas to us , so as to become epidemical , my mind doth strongly presage . but yet nevertheless , that no ground may remain for suspicion we shall send bills or prescriptions to our laboratories , as duly as we now do to the apothecaries , which necessity will oblige us to , many being concerned together ; otherwise instead of that order , and conveniency we promise our selves , we shall have discord and confusion : but i shall relinquish so nauseous and ingrateful a subject , whereunto physitians might have returned the same answer the lacedaemonian did to him that asked , what was the punishment among them for parricides ? viz. that they could not imagine any person should arrive to so high a pitch of wickedness , as to be guilty of so enormous a crime ; therefore they had made no provision against it . another thing they are ready to object to us , is , that if physitians reject the apothecaries , let them contrive their business never so prudently , medicines will be more unskilfully prepared , than whilest they imployed them . to which we answer , that the contrary will happen ; for physitians will imploy , as i shewed before , such sober industrious apothecaries , as are willing to be engaged by them , to which shall be associated , ingenious operators : all these combining , certainly medicines will be better prepared , than they have been hitherto ; for physitians the inventours of pharmacy have ever since been the great improvers thereof , and not the apothecaries : among the ancients mesue , among the moderns renodoeus , schroder , zuelfer , quercetan and others . besides , it s well known that most physitians are masters of some excellent compositions , which are not extant in our dispensatory , with which only the apothecaries are acquainted ; and many of them there are , have found out better general methods of distilling waters , making syrups , electuaries , and other forms of medicines than are commonly known : which if this design succeed , they will put in practice highly to their own , and the patients advantage . and indeed there are few physitians , but would prescribe ( if they knew where to have it ) physick more pleasant , less nauseous for quantity , and quality , than any is in the apothecaries shops . so that we see this objection returns upon them to their prejudice . and indeed , if we impartially examine things , it will readily appear , that many physitians have greater skill in pharmacy , or the ways of compounding and preparing medicines than any apothecaries . for if no persons are so well acquainted with the nature , and vertues of simples , or with the ways of finding them out as physitians , which is acknowledged by all ; it will thence follow , that they in all probability must know best , how to prepare simples , how to dispose them to operate with the greatest advantage , which are most effectual with , and what without elaborate preparations ; whereby the vertues of many simples are often destroyed not improved . and in compositions they know the true methods of mixing things together , that some may not annihilate the force of others ▪ and so become altogether ineffectual . but if it be further objected by apothecaries , that the materia medica is so copious , compositions so numerous , that it will be an unspeakable trouble to physitians to provide the one , and see to the preparing of the other . to this we answer , that a good method with little trouble , will dispatch much business , which in a hurry and confusion , will require a far longer time , greater expence , more labour ; and perhaps at last be more perfunctorily , and slightly performed then the other . but further it s sufficiently known that few physitians , use a tenth part of what is in the shops ; & perhaps if they made their own medicines they would find a convenience in a farther contraction of their practice ; i mean confining themselves to fewer compositions , making amends for the number in the goodness and extent of those they use , and they can at any time supply the want of a composition ▪ ( which yet will seldom happen ) with simples which as i have already manifested , would be so far from an inconvenience , that it would be a priviledge to physitian and patient , and conduce greatly to the encrease of our knowledge of the specifical properties of concretes ; wherein i fear we are very defective . and every physitian knowing what medicines he shall usually employ , may have them only made , which perhaps are different from those made in other combinations , where he enjoys a double benefit ; making fewer medicines , he hath the more time to prepare them , and is likely to take care they be such as they ought to be : and making only such as he is sure he shall have occasion for to dispence , thereby having little loss in their medicines they can afford them cheaper ; whereas the apothecaries who make all the dispensatory medicines , loose many , ( they being never called for ) and are put on the temptation of selling others , when they are old , ineffectual , and have lost their sanative properties . another thing the apothecary objects against the physitians new model , is , that the patients will suffer , they not having made provision of persons , that are acquainted with many operations , about sick people which the apothecaries perform with great skill and facility ; such are the administring of clysters , applying leeches , vesicatories , plasters , pigeons , cupping-glasses , tending them whilst under salivation , making fomentations , &c. and that otherwise they are very helpful to , & officious about the diseased . to this we answer , that most of these litle pieces of officiousness , whereby apothecaries do so much endear themselves to patients ( of which favour , we have seen , they make no good use ) are either such , as may be altogether as well performed by nurses or others that attend the sick , by the apothecaries of our laboratories , or others we shall breed up to these easily learned operations ; which have nothing of difficulty , but that a child of ten years old by the physitians directions shall accurately perform : looking to people under salivation only excepted ; whom the apothecaries for the most part less understand how to manage , than many whom the physitians having instructed shall depute for that service ▪ but to proceed . the apothecaries may further object , that neither physitians nor patients have much reason on their side , when they find fault with the dearness of their medicines ; which if the physitians upon complaint find too high prized , the apothecaries do make such abatements as they think just and fit . this will be a fair pretence , although i never heard it urged by any of them , neither do i believe they will trust to the physitians arbitration ; but on the contrary i know several have flatly refused it . but supposing they should all agree , let us examine whether this will give much relief to the abused patient . for , first the english are known to have so generous a humour , especially the richer sort ; that they will rather pay the whole bill without deduction , especially if the sum be not considerably great , rather than give the physitian the trouble of enquiring into this affair , which is indeed unreasonable , especially if such complaints were frequent : and nothing more certain , than that if all who were abused , should appeal to the physitian , he would hear daily as many complaints of apothecaries , as he now doth of diseases . and that an endeavor to relieve the plaintiffe would give the physitian sufficient diversions from more serious employments , will appear , if we consider that apothecaries bring in their bills but once every year , when all circumstances are forgot ; which gives them a fair opportunity of adding to the true number and heightning the prices of medicines , the physitian not remembring what he prescribed so long before . neither is it to be imagined that a physitian will , or indeed can have leisure to examine twenty or thirty bills , and set down the true value of the prescriptions , not to urge how unfit an imployment it is for the professors of so noble a science as medicine , to decide such controversies . besides that there would be no end of this trouble , some of the original bills being lost , only the common title of a cordial or purge being registred with their prices in the book . so that it will be impossible to make an estimate of the value of compositions , whose ingredients we do not know . the last objection we shall think worthy an answer , is made by such apothecaries , as will not acknowledge ( which we have so largely proved ) their unfitness for the practice of physick . all they have to plead is , that surely people would not trust their lives with them , were they not satisfyed with their abilities and success . that physitians indeed , may be better vers'd in the theory ; but that they are as well acquainted with the experimental , practick part , which is the most material . to this i answer , first , let them prove that any person who is not master of the greatest chymical arcana ( for that somewhat may be done by them extraordinary , though exhibited by illiterate , unskilful persons , i dare not absolutely deny ) can successfully exercise physick ; and yet have none of those qualifications , i have before enumerated : some of which seem not only conducive , but necessary , to the right administration of physick . and for the vulgar to entertain a marvellous good opinion of many , who little deserve it , hath been observed by wise men in all ages ; and hath of later years been confirmed by many almost incredible examples . i shall instance only in some of recent memory : although i might without exhausting the store , in many hundred . it 's well known that a pretended chymist who calls himself lockier , hath gained by a pill many thousand pounds ; which yet is one of the vilest and most contemptible among all the mineral preparations , i ever yet knew tryed in medicine . the ingredients being certain proportions ( it 's needless to mention , though i have often made it ) of antimony , saltpeter , common sea-salt and charcoal ; whereof more may be made in one laboratory , by two men in twenty four hours , than i believe he hath ever disposed of in the space of a year : and is so dangerous a medicine that no honest person skill'd in chymistry , who is acquainted with it's composition , durst venture to exhibit it . it 's true the gums and sugar wherewith the yellow powder is made up , do add considerably to it's bulk ; but the chief and only active ingredient is taken in so small a dose , that i know few things which can poyson in so little a quantity and this hath been fatal to many , who never spake after it had begun it's operation , and others did long repent their use of so rough a medicine . i could give the world a large catalogue of its mischievous effects : but i think they are generally satisfyed in that point ; which is the reason that it is now disused . but formerly what crouding , what enquiring was there after it , and how highly did they extol it whose good fortune it was not to be prejudiced thereby ? now if this were so admirable a remedy , why is it not so still ? wherefore lies it neglected , if so effectual as was once pretended ? but it seems long experience hath given the generality of people such proof of it's noxious qualities , that thereupon , they have desisted from it's use , and learned a lesson of abstinence , which some have offered to teach them at a cheaper rate . but the wit of the vulgar is most of it bought , and many of them cannot avoid any other inconveniences , than those they have suffered by . thus time the mistress of truths , often discovers many of great importance , and the vulgar , though not so quick-sighted to discern dangers at a distance ; yet they can feel pressures when they labour under them : and having cast their burden , will never again admit of it unless so disguised , that it appears different from what it was before . and thus my mind presages it will be with the apothecaries , if their ruin or reformation do not anticipate it ; for this encroachment of theirs on the physitians profession , is of no long standing . so that people are not yet well aware of what they suffer by them , but time and some more experiments will open their eyes ; then the tide will turn , and that same water which carried them so merrily down the stream , will return them to the place from whence they set forth ; and it 's well if they be dealt so favourably withal . but further , that we are not to take our measures of things from the opinions , and perswasions of the vulgar , will be yet more conspicuous , if we consider , how many resort to be basest pretenders to physick , that ever yet appeared ; which may serve to abate the pride , and confidence of apothecaries , who urge this is an argument of their own worth . there is scarce a pissing-place about the city , where many bills are not fastned ; among which the most modestly penn'd , promise great matters . one undertakes a long catalogue of diseases , and among them ( can any be blamed for laughing thereat ) of those that are incurable . another performs wonderful cures by vertue of medicines extracted out of the souls of the heathen gods ( by which i suppose he means tinctures of metals which he never saw ) many cure by direction from the stars : some by phisnomy and palmistry can foretell events ; and i wonder none undertake to make the heavens more propitious , for if they should i suppose there are many credulous enough to believe them . and how likely are most of these people , who make such large promises to perform them , when they are not instructed in the rudiments of any single art or science , being most of them mean , ignorant mechanicks ; who not being ingenious or industrious enough to subsist by the calling in which they were brought up , engage in another , the meaning of whose name they scarcely understand , and whose first principles they are utterly unacquainted with : and yet the world flows in a pace to them they shrowding themselves from the discovery of the ignorant , under the covert of pretended secrets , which are usually some ridiculous , sordid preparations , whose effects if they have any good cannot possibly be made out unless we have recourse to the imagination of him that takes it . and if either they or the apothecaries brag of any particular success ; we may answer them , as he in lucian did the priest ; who shewing him the offerings of those that had invoked neptune , when they were in danger of shipwrack , boasted of the power of his god which was manifested by the number of his donaria , but how shall we know replyed he , how many notwithstanding they invoked thy god , have nevertheless suffered shipwrack , which he suspected to be far the greater number . i wish the application were not so easie as i fear it is . thus we see that popular approbation is not sufficient to authorise practicioners of physick , even by the apothecaries own concession ; who in all companies do most bitterly inveigh against these pretenders , and disswade all people from consulting them : which whither they do from a sense of their duty or interest is soon determined . i shall therefore take my leave of them , with this request that they would exchange the motto of their arms for another , which will better sure with their actions . it is this eadem probamus , eadem reprehendimus ; for the quacking apothecary can plead little in his own behalf , which the mountebanks will not make use of in their defence : and urge few things against those quacksalvers , their profest enemies , which these , if they have so much latine may not again retort on them , in the saying of the poet ; — mutato nomine de te fabula narratur . — now having displayed at large though not at full the injuries medicine it self , the physitians , and most sick people do dayly receive from the unwarrantable practices of apothecaries , nothing remains , but that i add a proviso , which i have had in my eye all along this discourse . i would not therefore have any apprehend that , what i have said against the apothecaries , is intended against them all , being affirmed only of the greater number ; for it would be the highest injustice to comprehend them all in the character i have given of their unworthy associates : whose actions the physitians do not dissallow of , or declaim against more , than some among themselves . i dare not , i say , accuse them all of dishonest practices , there being several on whom there is impressed so true a sense of their duty to god , and their neighbours , that they are not capable of actions which will so highly dishonour their christian profession , or injure their neighbour . others there are , whose skill in pharmacy , and chymistry , secure physitians from those fears they would be otherwise subject to , from their unskilfulness or ignorance , in one or the other . and here i must necessarily acknowledge , that i have met with some apothecaries that for knowledge in chymical affairs , have been much superior to professed chymists ; and of all that i have hitherto met with , i account them the most faithful and industrious : and which may seem strange , they do prepare galenical physick , better than most others , who have no other imployment ; and therefore of all others in a new constitution of affairs , they will deserve the greatest incouragement , as being most likely to be serviceable , and faithful to the profession of physick , and physitians . who are so far from designing any thing which will be to the prejudice of such honest skilful apothecaries ( who are all sufficiently known to some physitian or other ) that on the contrary they intend them more good than they can in the present way , promise to themselves ; and will make such provision for them that they shall never have cause to complain , or occasion given to betray , as the greatest part of their company have done so noble a profession as that of physick , or such generous friends and great benefactors as they will find the physitians to be , so long as they keep in those due limits which shall with their own consent be prescribed them . but here i foresee , some objections may be made , by physitians themselves , against the design of preparing their own medicines ; which although they are weak , and of little import , and deserve not to be named after the mention of those many reasons , and high advantages , wherewith that proposal is attended ; yet we shall give them a fair debate , and so put a period to this discourse . it may be pretended by some that are guilty of delicacy , sloath , or ignorance ; and by others , who are either proud , or imprudently zealous , for their own honour , and that of their noble profession ; that it is below a physitian to make his own medicines , or give himself the trouble of supervising those whom he shall appoint to prepare them . to this i answer , that i would gladly learn , whether they are galenists or chymists that object this ; not the latter certainly , for then they desert the principles of their great masters , paracelsus , and helmont , who do anathematize all those that trust to mercenary chymists for their medicines . and as for those who are the followers of the deservedly admired hippocrates , or galen , i wonder with what confidence any among them can scruple , as beneath them , those offices wherein their great dictators were so much exercised . hippocrates hath left recorded in many of his writings , the care and pains he took to provide simples , preserve , and prepare them for medicinal uses ; not only dispensing them himself , but making them in his own operatory . and galen visited many parts of asia , which were renowned for famous remedies ; as palestine for it's noble balsome , lemnos , for it's earth , and cyprus for it's minerals , bringing away quantities of them ; exposing himself to great hazards , labour , and expense , only that he might furnish himself with the genuine simples , and provide against the cheats and abuses of impostors . he had also a repository where his medicines were always , either under his eye , or in his hand . he himself made treacle , and never gave any medicine of which he had not first tasted or smelt . now could these great persons give themselves so much trouble , and publickly acknowledge it , as apprehending it would rather enhance than derogate from the esteem the world had justly for them ? and shall their pretended admirers , and followers plead exemption from such imployments , because dignified with some empty title ? for so indeed it is , where not accompanied with reall intrinse call merit , although it conciliates more respect and esteem to those gallant persons , who honour their titles and dignities , by a diligent pursuance of those noble ends , on whose account they were conferred on them ; not neglecting any means which may make their profession more effectuall for those great ends of preserving life and restoring health : which if any neglect , it is not their formalities will gain them repute , or enable them to cure diseases . they must therefore in this imitate those great physitians , they do so highly magnifie in their discourses , who did not refer to apothecaries the preparing of medicines , but made it their own care ; neither did they think it too mean , or below them to do with their own hands , most of those things which are now accounted ( by those , who in their own and the worlds opinion are much beneath them ) the ministery of inferiour persons . i have by this time , i hope , returned satisfactory answers to all those objections i can foresee apothecaries , or others , will make against physitians preparing their own medicines ; which is a proposal more free from exceptions than any i have hitherto met with . but let us suppose that it is attended with some slight inconveniences ; yet since there is a necessity of a change , in the opinion of all honest judicious persons , i know no expedient like this i have offered , which in my opinion promises so well , that although through difference of opinions among physitians and patients , it may prove a difficult taske to introduce such a change as this we plead for , many perhaps not understanding the good of it : yet i am very confident , that having once made tryal , both physitians and patients will generally agree , not to quit , upon any slight , frivolous pretences , what both one and the other find experimentally to be highly advantageous . i would therefore perswade them to deal with this proposition , as they do when a fair new suit of clothes is brought them ; which they put on , knowing , that though it be not exactly fit at first , it will either fit it's self to the body in wearing , or thereby more plainly shew wherein it may be mended . but if i flatter not my self and the world ( which i do not if i know my self , or understand the things i have been debating ) not only few or no difficulties , and inconveniences will accompany the mentioned proposition ; but on the contrary , as i have fully demonstrated , many and great advantages : whether we have respect to the patient or physitian . and indeed , what can be more desirable to either , than to have pharmacy put in such hands , and in such a method , that none having the interest can have the power , nor any having the power , can have the interest to prepare medicines unfaithfully ? therefore if physitians regard the honour of medicine , or good of the diseased , they will not neglect the means which answer these noble ends . and as it has been well observed in government , that the safety of a kingdom , or common-wealth consists not wholly in a prince that governs wisely , while he lives ; but in one that so orders it , that he dying , it can preserve it self : so the safety of the people ( in reference to health ) being cast upon physitians , it is not sufficient that they are honest men , addicted to all the good ends of their profession , unless they be also skilled and careful to put their affairs in such a method , that these ends may be certainly attained to , not only by themselves , but also by others that shall succeed them . which will most infallibly happen , if it become the custom and fashion for physitians to look after the preparing of their own medicines ; for then the common interest will oblige all physitians to have them as good as they can contrive or make them . and let their servants , apothecaries , or operators , be never so bad or wicked ; although i will not say , if this course be observed it will make them good : yet it is attended with the great convenience of being sufficient to prevent any influence their wickedness can have on physick , it being highly improbable that they should sophisticate or adulterate medicines , when they make no benefit thereof . and besides , it will be almost impossible to effect such designs , should they be so mischievously disposed ; for they would be soon discovered , and for the future prevented . nothing therefore remains , but that i address my discourse to the physitians ; and certainly i need not use many more words to engage them in a design which duty and interest ( the most perswasive and powerful arguments in the world ) must necessarily oblige them to promote . that it is our duty to reform such enormous abuses as those we have mentioned , i suppose no one will question ; and that it is also no less our interest , the arguments i have produced , will render to those that are free from prejudices , sufficiently probable : so that as i am most certain , no honest persons who will allow themselves the liberty of reflection can be ignorant of their duty , so neither can they mistake their interest . it is true indeed , the apothecaries give forth in most companies , that they are not at all apprehensive of any danger from the designs of such physitians , as shall endeavour their reformation , who they pretend are but few , and those inconsiderable persons ; that the greater number , and they the most eminent physitians , have their interest so interwoven with the apothecaries , that they cannot be separated from them , and will never desert them : but repute all such persons their own enemies , who shall attaque the apothecaries , and all injuries that are done to these , as intended against themselves . all which is a meer fiction , of their own devising , to deter physitians , from engaging against so great a number , so potent a faction , as they would perswade the world they are . but how gross and palpable a cheat this is , will then appear , when all honest , industrious physitians shall unanimously agree to confute them ; and i dare assure the world , that this will most certainly and suddenly be effected , unless there happen the most unlikely change in the humours , intentions , and resolutions of men that was ever yet known : and for the apothecaries to expect such an alteraon , were to promise to themselves little less then impossibilities . besides , suppose any physitians should stand neuter , or appear publickly concerned for them , they will be such as will rather discredit their cause , than add to it any honour or repute ▪ for they that stand neuters in this quarrel , or vindicate the apothecaries must either be such who look on the profession of physick , as a meer cheat , a craft , rather than an art or science , who believe , that as much is performed by those that are reputed the meanest physitians , as by any other ; the difference arising only hence , that some being more prudent and fortunate than the rest , obtain a repute proportionable to their pretended success , affable obliging demeanour , or cunning management of the people , working more upon the humours of their minds , than on those of their bodies . and if there be any thus minded , i do not wonder that their zeal should not transport them too far against the apothecaries ; for if physick doth so little influence diseases , what matter is it whether the medicine be made up of bad or good drugs ? whether it be recent , or of a longer standing ? whether made up of the same or different ingredients from what were prescribed ? neither will a person thus perswaded , apprehend he is in conscience obliged to reform these abuses , which as i have shewed , are frequent among apothecaries ; nor can he have the least pretence against their exercising the practice of physick . for if all cure alike , and so little good be done by the professors of that faculty , then why may not the apothecaries be allowed as well as any others ? so that these , should they oppose them on an account of interest , their consciences rather reproaching than encouraging them , they cannot with any confidence accuse the apothecaries for actions , which if they be faults , they themselves are guilty of the same ; and if they be not , the same principle which acquits them , must also free the other . these probably , if there are any such , will stand neuters , and not much concern themselves in a quarrel de lanâ caprinâ . but perhaps there are some of another humour , who make great advantages of the apothecaries in wayes i could mention ; which for many reasons , i forbear to manifest . now if there be any physitians of this latter sort , who shall endeavour to uphold the apothecaries , notwithstanding they do not relinquish their former ill courses , only because they make some benefit of them ; whosoever , i say , they are that have such sordid spirits , so unworthy the name they bear , the noble science they make profession of , and the great trust reposed in them ; that for a little gain , shall betray their profession to scorn , and their patients to most manifest hazards , these dishonest and unfaithful persons will have so good espial kept on them , that all their prudence shall not secure them from having their sordid actions displaied in genuine colours : which will render them so odious and despicable , that most will desert them , and apply themselves to those worthy physitians who are so far from countenancing the apothecaries in their fraudulent courses , that they had rather give themselves the trouble of preparing their own physick , than expose the sick to manifold inconveniences : as they do who compromise with the apothecaries in their unworthy practices , and share with them their dishonest gain . finis . errata . page 10. line 14. read being , p. 15. l. 23. dele not , p. 16. l. 1. dele such , p. 21. l. 19. for of r. in , p. 23. l. 15. add another , l. 19. dele for , p. 29. l. 1. dele still , p. 30. l. 24. for such r. so , p. 40. l. 4. r. newcastle , l. 24. dele but , p. 46 l. 4. dele the period , p. 50. l. 2. r. the ens veteris , p. 51. l. 1. r. and are , p. 53. l. 20. dele the , p. 61. l. 12. r. that seem not to have any affinity , p. 65. l. 24. dele can , p. 72. l. 18. for in r. on , p. 108. l. 7. for pffections r. affections , p. 110. l. 7. for ponsideration r. consideration , l. 14. dele all , p. 112. l. 3. r. detects , p. 190. l. 16. r. dilating , p. 193. l. 25. dele long , p. 209. l. 6. for dyes before r. dyes , although before , p. 216. l. 14. dele shall , p. 218. l. 19. after physick , add and its regulation , p. 233. l. 13. for it being r. it is , p. 254. l. 24 for profitable r. probable , p. 255. l. 5. for converse r. commerce , p. 226 l. 5. dele and , p. 267. l. 3. r. copious , p. 273. l. 7. dele in some measure , p. 291. l. 8. r. who understands . a choice manual of rare and select secrets in physick and chyrurgery collected and practised by the right honorable, the countesse of kent, late deceased ; as also most exquisite ways of preserving, conserving, candying, &c. ; published by w.i., gent. kent, elizabeth grey, countess of, 1581-1651. 1653 approx. 328 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 169 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a47264 wing k311 estc r11656 12254286 ocm 12254286 57281 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a47264) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57281) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 152:3) a choice manual of rare and select secrets in physick and chyrurgery collected and practised by the right honorable, the countesse of kent, late deceased ; as also most exquisite ways of preserving, conserving, candying, &c. ; published by w.i., gent. kent, elizabeth grey, countess of, 1581-1651. w. j. (w. jar) [16], 176, [16], 128 p. printed by g.d., and are to be sold by william shears ..., london : 1653. first ed. cf. wing. "a true gentlewomans delight" ([16], 128 p.) has special t.p. "the epistle dedicatory" of second work is signed by the editor: w.j. 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(qc) and xml conversion a choice manval of rare and select secrets in physick and chyrurgery ; collected , and practised by the right honorable , the countesse of kent , late deceased . as also most exquisite ways of preserving , conserving , candying , &c. published by w. i. gent. london , printed by g. d. and are to be sold by william shears , at the sign of the bible in st. pauls church-yard , 1653. to the vertuous and most noble lady , letitia popham , wife of the honorable and truely valiant colonell alexander popham . thrice noble and truely vertuous lady , after mature deliberation , what to tender unto your acceptance worthy your patronage , nothing occurred more probable , than this small manuall ; which was once esteemed as a rich cabinet of knowledge , by a person truely honorable . may it auspitiously procure but your honours like friendly estimation , and then i doubt not , but it will find a universall acceptance amongst persons of greatest eminency . sure i am , it may be justly deemed as a rich magazene of experience , having long since taught the world its approved excellency , yea , even in many dangerous exigencies . all i humbly crave for tht present is , my bouldnesse might be favourablely excused , since t was my lawfull ambition , thereby to avoid ingratitude for the many singular favours i have already received from your endeared truely honorable husband , my always true noble friend , and most happy country-man . god multiplie his blessings on all your noble family , and make you no lesse honourable heer on earth , than eternally happy hereafter : which shall be the daily prayer of him , whose highest emulation is , in all due ways abundantly to honour and serve you . w. j. to the reader . courteous reader . well remembring , that we are all born for the weal-publique good : i here tender to thy perusall this small , and yet most excellent treatise , entituled , a choice manuall of rare and select secrets in physick . if thereby thou suck abundance of profit , i shall be superlatively glad , but if any , or perchance many unlook'd for mistaks , for want of a due application , bids thee entertain contrary thoughts , the effect not answering thy curious expectation , upon a more serious reflex , know , that nothing is absolutely perfect , and withall , that the richest and most soveraign antidote may be often missapplied : wherefore the fault not being mine , excuse and cease to censure : for which just , and but reasonable favour , thou shalt deservedly oblige me , thine , w. j. a table of the contents . aqua mirabilis , and the vertues thereof , 4 , 5. another way to make the same water , ibid. for an ague , 26 131 139 147 for an ach , 27 38 57 59 121 123 141 155 for an ague in the breast , 34 116 to cure the bone-ach , 60 for the sting of an adder , 148 mr. ashleys ointment , 153 b. for a bruise under the rib , 10 29 51 55 74 100 106 142 a restoring broth , 18 a cordiall break-fast , 20 a restoring break-fast , 21 for gripings of the belly , ibid. to keep the belly lapintine , 22 for boiles . 25 124 to clear the bloud , 30 for burning in the back , 32 for weaknesse in the back , 33 75 76 99 111 a plaister for a sore breast , 37 for a stinking breath , 38 a water to preserve the health of the body , 43 for spitting of bloud , 45 69 70 71 for one that pisseth bloud , 46 against the biting of venomous beasts , 67 for a burning caused by lightning , 80 to stanck bloud inwardly , 82 to comfort the brain , 99 for a burning or scald , 120 to make balm water , 137 for a blast , 159 c for a consumption , 1 19 24 94 for a cold or cough , 11 13 158 168 china broth for the consumption , 22 to make cammomill oyle , 25 a water for a consumption and cough of the lungs , 28 to make pectorall roules for a cold , 33 for cornes , 49 to make a strong water for the canker , 51 991 45 for convulsions , 54 to cure wounds that be cankered , and doe burn , 60 for cods swoll'n , 65 to cure them that have pain after their child-bearing , 65 for the collick , 78 98 for a dead child in a womans body , 87 149 aqua composita , 110 121 130 a water for the canker , 113 for the dry cough and ptisick , 116 to prevent a consumption , 127 to cool choler , 130 for the collick passion , 131 for children that are troubled with a great cough , 141 a sear-cloth against carbunkles 156 the powder of crabs clawes , 174 d how to make horse-radish drink , 7 for the dropsie , 3 to cure the biting of a mad dog , 61 70 148 to deliver a child in danger , 127 e an eye-water for all the infirmities and diseases of the eyes , 29 31 48 105 162 164 165 for a pin and web , and rednesse in the eyes , 35 72 104 for the emeroids , 92 122 144. to prevent rheume running into the eyes , ibid. a pouder for sore eyes , 125 for sore eyes caused by heat , 140 142 f for the falling sicknesse , 3 54 162 cordials and restoratives for the same , ibid. against flegm that stops the throat and stomack , 11 how to know whether he that hath the flux shall live or die , 46 a fomentation , 54 to cure the bloudy flux , ibid. 132 163. flos unguentorum , 55 to break or kill the felon , 62 117 one bruised with a fall , 91 oyle of foxes or badgers , with the virtues of them , 100 for a felon of the finger , 124 jelly of frogs , 167 for a red face . 171 g. to make a glister , 14 for the gout , 42 88 89 to cure the garget in the throat , 86 for one burn'd with gunpowder , 92 to make gascoin powder , 172 the apothecaries gascoin powder , 173 h. to take away hoarsnesse 13 to take away headach , ibid. to make a jelly of hears-horn , 14 a cordial to cheer the hearte 15 to make a cap for the pain and coldnesse in the head , 33 for such as cannot hear , 43 heads of children breaking out cured , 53 for bunches and knots in the head , 67 for a new hurt , 69 to cleanse the head , 71 to drive infectious diseases from the heart , 84 for the hearing , 87 117 for rheume in the head , 91 for a singing in the head 94 to make oyle of hypericon . 160 for heat of the soles of the feet , 172 i for the itch , 10 91 164 for the yellow jaundies , 36 for the black jaundies 85 a felon in the joynts , 117 for joynts nummed , 124 k. for kibes , 25 162 the countesse of kents powder , 175 l for the liver , 11 29 109 for the lask , 66 91 107 113 for grief in the lungs , 70 127 to cause easie labour , 174 to keep ones body-loose or soluble , 170 m. against melancholy , 468 108 for such as are sick after meat , ibid. a sirupe against melancholy , 8 a strengthning meat , 19 to prevent miscarrying , 25 for the mother , 114 145 p. against the plague , 9 95 103 104 132 146 147 166 a cordiall for the same , ibid. a gentle purge , 23 39 a receipt for the plurisie , 25 71 pectorall roules , 36 for the palsie , 37 98 a syrupe to purge , 57 to make the leaden plaister , with the virtue of it , 101 102 to break the plague sore , 104 146 to make the best paracelsus salve , 149 plague water for three several times , 157 a defensive plaister , 158 lapis prunellae , 162 to preserve against the plague , 169 r. restoratives 16 17 for running of the reins , 34 65 79 119 159 for the reines in the back , 59 for one that hath a rupture , 96 112 for rheume , 125 s. sir john digbies medicine for the stone in the kidneyes , 26 for a stitch under the ribs , 10 59 95 for foul scabs , ibid. for the spleen , 27 143 to make a searcloth , ibid. for the scurvy , 30 a sirupe to strengthen the stomack , 31 for sun-burnt , 34 to preserve the sight , 35 117 for swellings , 38 50 51 69 110 for one that hath surfeited , 47 38 106 165 for sinewes shrunk , 61 doctor stevens his water , 62 137 a remedy for a fit of the stone , and when that the water stops , 72 85 90 108 109 a syrupe for pain in the stomack , 73 a cordiall for the sea , 75 oyle of st. johns wort. 77 a salve for an old sore . 77. 82. 86. 90. 97. 114 for the green sicknesse . 80. oyle of sage good for any grief . 83 for a scald . 93. 118. 144. 163. oyle of swallows . 111. for one that cannot sleep . 114. 118. for one that hath a heat in his stomack . 115. burning and pricking in the soles of the feet . 120. to break a sore . 123. an electuary to comfort the stomack . 125. a powder for the stone . 128. 129. for stiffnesse of sinews . 131. for a strain in the joynts . 128. 152. t to distill triacle water . 12. to cure a tetter . 54. 94. 170. to keep the teeth clean . 82. for the tooth-ache . 84. 167. to heale a prick with a thorn. 93. 103. 112. to quench or slack thirst. 115. to make teeth stand fast . 168. for one that hath lost his taste . ibid. v to stay vomiting . 32. to stanch bleeding of a vein . 46. for a vein that is evill smitten . ibid. to clense vlcers . 53. for the falling of the vvula in the throat . 172. w a cordial for wind in the stomack or any other part of the body . 16. 27. 40. 139. a balme for green wounds . 26. 52 104. 119. a broth for one that is weak . 38. 40. to stanch the bleeding of wounds . 44. for a woman travailing with child . 47. for a wen. 53. dr. willoughbies water . 63. to draw an arrow head , or iron out of a wound . 66. a plaister for a wound . ibid. 68. 79. 126. for women that have had a mischance . 76. for a woman that hath her flowers too much . 88. to cause a woman to have her sicknesse . 90. to kill worms . 91. 145. a water for one that is sick and weak . 107. to take away warts . 116. against wind in any part . 148. for to cause a young childe to make water . 171. a choice manuall , or , rare and select secrets in physick , by the right honourable the countess of kent . a very good medicine for a consumption , and cough of the lungs . take a pound of the best honey as you can get , and dissolve it in a pipkin , then take it off the fire , and put in two penniworth of flower of brimstone , and two penniworth of pouder of elecampana , and two penniworth of the flower of liquorice , and two penniworth of red rose-water , and so stir them together , till they be all compounded together , and put it into a gallie pot , and when you use it , take a liquorish stick beaten at one end , and take up with it as much almost as half a walnut , at night when you goe to bed , and in the mornings fasting , or at any time in the night when you are troubled with the cough , and so let it melt down in your mouth by degrees . st. john digbies medicine for the stone in the kidnies . take a pound of the finest honey , and take seven quarts of conduit water , set them on the fire , and when it is ready to seeth , scum it , and still as the froth doth rise scum it , and put in twenty whole cloves , and let it seeth softly for the space of half an hour , and so bottle it up for your use , and drink it morning and evening , and at your meat , and no other drinke untill you are well . a medicine for the falling sickness . take a penny weight of the pouder of gold , six pennie weight of pearl , six pennie weight of amber , six pennie weight of corrall , eight grains of bezar , half an ounce of pionie seeds ; also you must put some pouder of dead mans scull that hath been an anatomie , for a woman , and the pouder of a woman for a man , compound all these together , and take as much of the pouder of all these as will lye upon a two pence for nine mornings together in endive water , and drink a good draught of endive water after it . for cordials and restoratives use these things following . in any faintness take three drops of oyle of cinnamon , mixed with a spoonfull of sirrup of gillifloures , and as much cinnamon water , drinke this for a cordiall . against melancholie . take one spoonfull of gillifloures , the weight of seven barlie corns of beverstone , bruise it as fine as flour , and so put it into two spoonfuls of sirrup of gilliflours , and take it four hours after supper , or else four hours after dinner , this will cheer the heart . if you be sick after meat , use this . take of the best green ginger is preserved in sirrup , shred it in small peeces , put it into a gallie pot , and put cinnamon water to it , then after dinner or supper , eat the quantity of two nutmegs upon a knifes point . aqua mirabilis . take three pints of white wine , one pint of aqua vitae , one pint of juice of salandine , one drachm of cardamer , a drachm of mellilot flours , a drachm of cubebs , a drachm of galingal , nutmegs , mace , ginger and cloves , of each a drachm , mingle all these together over night , the next morning set them a stilling in a glass limbeck . the vertues . this water dissolveth swelling of the lungs , and being perished doth help and comfort them , it suffereth not the bloud to putrifie , he shall not need to be let bloud that useth this water , it suffereth not the heart burning , nor melancholy or flegm to have dominion , it expelleth urine , and profiteth the stomack , it preserveth a good colour , the visage , memorie , and youth , it destroyeth the palsie . take some three spoonfuls of it once or twice a week , or oftner , morning and evening , first and last . another way to make aqua mirabilis . take galingall , cloves , quibs , ginger , mellilip , cardamonie , mace , nutmegs , of each a drachm , and of the juyce of salledine half a pint , adding the juyce mints and balm , of each half a pint more , and mingle all the said spices being beaten into pouder with the juyce , and with a pint of good aqua vitae , and three pints of good white wine , and put all these together into a pot , and let it stand all night being close stopt , and in the morning still it with a soft sire as can be , the still being close pasted , and a cold still . a medicine for the stone in the kidnies . take a good handful of pellitorie of the wall , a handfull of mead parsley , or saxifrage , a handfull of wilde thime , a handful of garden parsley , three spoonfuls of fennel seeds , six horse raddish roots sliced , then shred all these together , and put them in a gallon of new milk , and let them stand and steep in a close pot one whole night , and then still them milk and all together , this must be done in may or june , for then hearbs are in their best state , and when it is taken , you must put to two or three spoonfulls of this water as much white wine , as rennish , and if you please a little sugar , and so take it two dayes before the change , and two dayes after , and two dayes before the full , and two dayes after , continuing taking the same all the yeare , and the patient undoubtedly shall find great ease , and void many stones , and much gravell with little pain . to make horse raddish drinke . take half a pound of horse raddish , then wash and scrape them very clean , and slice them very thin , crosse wayes on the root , then put them into six quarts of small ale , such as is ready for drinking , which being put into a pipkin close covered , set on the embers , keeping it little more then bloud warm , for twelve hours , then take it off the fire , and let it stand to cool untill the next morning , then pour the clear liquor into bottles , and keep it for your use , drinking a good draught thereof in the morning , fasting two houres after , and the like quantitie at four in the afternoon , this drink is excellent good against winds , as also for the scouring , and dropsie being taken in time . an excellent sirrup against melancholly . take four quarts of the juyce of pearmains , and twice as much of the juyce of buglosse , and borrage , if they be to begotten , a drachm of the best english saffron , bruise it , and put it into the juyce , then take two drachms of kermes small beaten to powder , mix it also with the juyce , so being mixt , put them into an earthen vessell , covered or stopt forty eight houres , then strain it , and allow a pound of sugar to every quart of juyce , and so boyle it to the ordinary height of a sirrup ; after it is boyled , take one drachm of the species of diamber , and two drachms of teh species of diamargariton frigidum , and so few the same slenderly in a linnen bag , that you may put the same easily into the bottle of sirrup , and so let it hang with a thread out at the mouth of the bottle ; the species must be put into the sirrup in the bag , so soon as the sirrup is off the fire , whilst it is hot , then afterwards put it into the bottle , and there let it hang : put but a spoonfull or two of honey amongst it whilst it is boyling , and it will make the scum rise , and the sirrup very clear . you must adde to it , the quantity of a quarter of a pint of the juyce of balm . an excellent receipt for the plague . take one pound of green walnuts , half an ounce of saffron , and half an ounce of london triacle , beaten together in a morter , and with a little carduus , or some such water , vapour it over the fire , till it come to an electuary : keep this in a pot , and take as much as a walnut , it is good to cure a fever , plague , and any infection . an excellent cordiall . take the floures of marigolds , and lay them in small spirit of wine , when the tincture is fully taken out , pour it off from the floures , and vapour it away , till it come to a consistence as thick as an electuary . for a bruise , or stich , under the ribs . take five or six handfuls of cabbage , stamp it , and strain it , after it is boyled in a quart of fair water , then sweeten it with sugar , and drink of it a wine glasse , in the morning , and at four in the afternoon , for five or six dayes together : then take a cabbage lease , and between two dishes stew it , being wet first in canary wine , and that lay hot to your side evenings and mornings . an excellent receipt for an itch , or any foule scabs . take fox gloves , and boyle a handful of them in posset drink , and drink of it a draught at night , and in the morning , then boyle a good quantity of the fox gloves in fair running water , and annoint the places that are sore with that water . a receipt good for the liver . take turpentine , slice it thinne , and lay it on a silver , or purslane plate , twice or thrice in the oven with the bread till it be dry , and so make it into powder , every day take as much as will lie on a six-pence in an egg for flegm , and stopping in the throat and stomack . d. t. take oyle of almonds , linseed oyle , buds of orange floures , boyle all these in milk , and annoint the stomack well with it , and lay a scarlet cloth next to it . for an extream cold and a cough . take of hysop water six ounces , of red poppy water four ounces , six dates , ten figs , and slice them small , a handful of raisins of the sun , the weight of a shilling of the powder of licorice , put these into the aforesaid waters , and let them stand five or six houres upon warm embers close covered , and not boyle , then strain forth the water , and put into it , as much sugar of roses as will sweeten it , drink of this in the morning , and at four of the clock in the afternoon , and when you goe to bed . to distill triacle water . take one ounce of harts-horn shaved , and boyle it in three pints of carduus water till it come to a quart , then take the roots of elecampane , gentian , cipresse , turmentill , and of citron rindes , of each one ounce , borrage , buglosse , rosemary floures , of each two ounces , then take a pound of the best old triacle , and dissolve it in six pints of white wine , and three pints of rose-water , so infuse altogether , and distill it . it is good to restore spirits , and speech , and good against swouning , faintnesse , agues , and wormes , and the small pox. triacle water . take three ounces of venice triacle , and mingle it in a quart of spirit of wine , set it in horse-dung four or five dayes , then still it in ashes or sand twice over , after take the bottome which is left in the still , and put to it a pint of spirit of wine , and set it in the dung till the tincture be clean out of it , and strain the clear tincture out of it , and set it on the fire till it become to be a thick consistence , it must be kept with a soft fire . and so the like with saffron . to take away a hoarsnesse . take a turnip , cut a hole in the top of it , and fill it up with brown sugar-candy , and so roast it in the embers , and eat it with butter . to take away the head-ach . take the best sallade oyle , and the glasse half full with the tops of poppy floures which groweth in the corn , set this in the sun a fortnight , and so keep it all the year , and annoint the temples of your head with it . for a cough . take sallade oyle , aqua vitae , and sack , of each an equall quantity , heat them altogether , and before the fire rub the soles of your feet with it . to make a jelly of harts-horn . take a quart of running water , and three ounces of harts-horn scraped very fine , then put it into a stone jug , and set the jug in a kettle of water over the fire , and let it boyle two or three houres untill it jelly , then put into it three or four spoonfuls of rose-water , or white wine , then strain it : you may put into it musk , or ambergreece , and season it as you please . to make a glister . take half a quart of new milk , or three quarters , set it on the fire , and make it scalding hot , then take it off , and put into it a yoalk of a new laid egg beaten , two ounces of brown sugar candie , or black sugar , give it the party bloud-warm . to make a glister . take the bone of a neck of mutton , or veal clean washed , set it on the fire to boyl in three pints of fair water , and when it is clean scummed , then put in the roots of fennel and parsely clean washed and scraped , of either of them the roots bruised , a handfull of cammomile , and mallows a handfull , let all these boil together till half be wasted , then strein it , take three quarters of a pint of this broth , brown sugar candie two ounces , of oyle of flaxseed two ounces , mingle all these together , and take it for a glister bloud-warm , when it is in your body keep it half an hour , or three quarters of an hour , or an hour if you can . a comfortable cordial to cheer the heart . take one ounce of conserve of gillifloures , four grains of the best musk bruised as fine as flower , then put it into alitle tin pot , and keep it till you have need to make this cordiall following ; viz. take the quantitie of one nutmeg out of your tin pot , put to it one spoonfull of cinnamon water , and one spoonful of the sirrup of gilliflours , amber-greece , mix all these together , and drink them in the morning , fasting three or four houres , this is most comfortable . a cordial for winde in the stomack , or any part. take six or eight spoonfuls of penny-royall water , put into it four drops of oyle of cinnamon , so drinke it any time of the day , so you fast two houres after . restoratives . take a well flesht capon from the barn-door , and pluck out his intrals , then wash it within with a little white-wine , then flea of all the skin , and take out his bones , and take the flesh , onely cut it in little peeces , and put it into a little stone bottle , and put to it an ounce of white sugar-candie , six dates slit , with the stones and piths taken out , one large mace , then stop the bottle up fast , and set it in a chafer of water , and let it boil three houres , then take it out , and pour the juice from the meat , and put to it one spoonful of red rose water , and take the better part for your breakfast four hours before dinner , and the other part at three a clock in the afternoon , being bloud-warm . another restorative . take half a pint of claret wine , and half a pint of ale , and make a caudle with a new laid egg , put in half a nutmeg , cut into two peeces , then take it off the fire , and put in seven grains of ambergreece , drinke this for two breakfasts , for it will increase bloud and strength . another restorative . take two new laid eggs , and take the whites clean from them , and put the yolks both in one shell , then put in two spoonfulls of claret wine , seven grains of amber-greece small bruised , and a little sugar candie , stir all these together , and make them bloud-warm , and sup them up for a breakfast three or four hours before dinner . another restorative . take a young leg of mutton , cut off the skin , and the fat , take the flesh being cut into small peeces , and put it into a stone bottle , then put to it two ounces of raisins of the sun stoned , large mace , an ounce and half of sugar candie , and stop the bottle very close , and let it boil in a chafer three hours , and so put the juice from the meat , and keep it in a clean glasse , it will serve for three breakfasts , or if he will , he may take some at three a clock in the afternoon being made warm . a restoring broath . take two ounces of chene roots , first slit very thin , then put it in a new pipkin with five pints of running water , being close covered , and so set it upon embers all night long , where it may be very hot , but not seeth , then put to that water , a great cock chicken , and when it is clean scummed , put into it two spoonfuls of french barly , six dates slit , with the pithes and stones taken out , two ounces of raisins of the sun stoned , large mace , let all these boyle together till half be consumed , then take out the cock , and beat the flesh of it in a clean morter , and a little of the broth , then strain it altogether throughout a hair collender , then put in two spoonfuls of red rose-water , and sweeten it with white sugar-candy , drink of this broth being made warm half a pint in the morning early fasting , and sleep after it if you can , drink a good draught at three of the clock in the afternoon ; this broth is very good for a consumption , and the longer they taste it , it is the better . a strengthening meat . take potato roots , roste them , or bake them , then pill them , and slice them into a dish , put to it lumps of raw marrow , and a few currans , a little whole mace , and sweeten it with sugar to your taste , and so eat it in stead of buttered parsnips . broath for a consumption . take three marrow bones , break them in pieces , and boil them in a gallon of water till half be consumed , then strain the liquor through a collender , and let it stand 〈◊〉 it be cold , then take off all the fat clean , and put the broth into a pipkin , and put to it a good cock chicken , and a knuckle of veal , then put into it the bottome of a white loaf , a whole mace , two ounces of raisins of the sun stoned , six dates slit , let all these boil together till half be consumed , then strain it , instead of almonds take a few pistaties kernels , and beat them , and strain them with your broths as you doe allum milk , and so sweeten it with white sugar , and drink half a pint early in the morning , and at three a clock in the afternoon , and so continue a good while together , or else it will doe you no good . another cordiall . take a preserved nutmeg , cut it in four quarters , eat a quarter at a breakfast , and another in the afternoon , this is good for the head and stomack . a cordial for a breakfast fasting . eat a good peice of a pomecitron preserved , as big as your two fingers in length and breadth , and so at three of the clock in the afternoon . a restoring breakfast . take the brawn of a capon , or pullet , twelve jordan almonds blanched , beat them together , and strain out the juyce , with a draught of strong broath , and take it for a breakfast , or to bedward . a medicine for any gripings of the belly . take a pint of claret wine , put to it a spoonful of parseley seed , and a spoonful of sweet fennel seed , half a dosen cloves , a branch of rosemary , a wild mallow root clean washt and scrapt , and with the pith taken out , with a good peece of sugar ; set this on the fire , and burn the claret very well with all these things in it , then drinke a good draught of it in the morning fasting , and at three a clock in the afternoon . to keep the body lapintine . take half a pint of running water , put it in a new pipkin with a cover , then put into the water two ounces of manna , and when it is dissolved , strain it , and put to it four ounces of damask prunes , eight cloves , a branch of rosemary , let all these stew together while they be very tender , then eat a dosen of them with a little of the liquor an hour before dinner or supper , then take a draught of broth and dine . to make the china broth for a consumption . take china root thin sliced two ouncs , steep it twenty four houres in eight pints of fair water , letting it stand warm all the time , being close covered in an earthen pipkin , or iron pot , then put to it a good cockrell , or two chickens clean dressed , and scum it well , then put in five leaved grasse two handfuls , maiden-hair , harts tongue , of either half a handful , twenty dates sliced , two or three mace , and the bottome of a manchet , let all these stew together , untill not above one quart remains , then strain it , and take all the flesh , and sweet bones , beat them in a stone morter , and strain out all the juyce with the broth , then sweeten it with two ounces of white sugar candie in pouder , and take thereof half a pint at once , early in the morning warm , and sleep after it if you can , and two houres before supper at your pleasure , when you steep the root , slice two drachms of white sanders , and as much red sanders , and let them boyl in the broth . a gentle purge . take an ounce of damask roses , eat it all at one time , fast three quarters of an hour after , then take a draught of broth , and dine . another purge . take the weight of four or five pence of rubarb , cut it in little pieces , and take a spoonfull or two of good currants washt very clean , so mingle them together , and so eat them , fast an hour after , and begin that meal with broth , you may take it an hour before if you will. broth for a consumption . take a course pullet , and sow up the belly , and an ounce of the conserves of red roses , of the conservs of borage , and bugloss flours , of each of them half an ounce , pine apple kernels , and pistaties of each half an ounce bruised in a morter , two drachms of amber pouder , all mixed together , and put in the belly , then boyle it in three quarts of water , with egrimonie , endive , and succorie , of each one handful , sparrowgrass roots , fennel roots , caper roots , and one handfull of raisins of the sun stoned , when it is almost boiled , take out the pullet , and beat it in a stone morter , then put it into the liquor again , and give it three or four walmes more , then strain it , and put to it a little red rosewater , and half a pint of white wine , and so drinke it in a morning , and sleep after it . to prevent miscarrying . take venice turpentine , spread it on black brown paper , the breadth and length of a hand , lay it to the small of her back , then give her to drinke a caudle made of muscadine , and put into it the husks of twentie three sweet almonds dryed and finely poudred . for boils or kibes , or to draw a sore . take strong ale , and boil it from a pint to four spoonfuls , and so keep it , it will be an ointment . to make cammomile oyle . shred a pound of cammomile , and knead it into a pound of sweet butter , melt it , and strain it . a receipt for the plurisie . take three round balls of horse-dung , boil them in a pint of white wine till half be consumed , then strain it out , and sweeten it with a little sugar , and let the patient goe to bed and drink this , then lay him warm . for an ague . take a pint of milk , and set it on the fire , and when it boils put in a pint of ale , then take off the curd , and put in nine heads of carduus , let it boil till half bee wasted , then to every quarter of a pint , put a good spoonful of wheat-flower , and a quarter of a spoonful of grosse pepper , and an hour before the fit , let the patient drinke a quarter of a pint , and be sure to lye in a sweat before the fit . an excellent balm for a green wound . take two good handfuls of english tobacco , shred it small , and put it into a pint of sallet oyle , and seeth it on a soft fire to simper , till the oyle change green , then strain it , and in the cooling put in two ounces of venice turpentine . for an ach. take of the best gall , white wine vinegar , and aqua vitae , of each a like quantity , and boil it gently on the fire , till it grow clammie , then put it in a glasse or pot , and when you use any of it , warm it against the fire , rub some of it with your hand on the akeing place , and lay a linnen cloth on it , doe this mornings and evenings . to make a searcloth . virosius wax , spermaceti , venice turpentine , oyle of white poppie , oyle of ben , oyle of sweet almonds . for wind in the stomack , and for the spleen . take a handfull of broom , and boil it in a pint of beer or ale , till it be half consumed , and drinke it for the wind , and the stomack , and for the spleen . a most excellent water for a consumption , and cough of the lungs . take a running cock , pull him alive , then kill him when he is almost cold , cut him abroad by the back , and take out the intrals , and wipe him clean , then cut him in quarters , and break the bones , put him into such a still as you still rosewater in , and with a pottle of sack , a pound of currants , a pound of raisins of the sun stoned , a quarter of a pound of dates the stones taken out , and the dates cut small , two handfulls of wilde thyme , two handfuls of orgares , two handfuls of pimperball , and two handfuls of rosemary , two handfuls of bugloss and borage flours , a pottle of new milk of a red cow , still this with a soft fire , put into the glasse that the water doth drop into , half a pound of sugar candie beaten very small , one book of leaf gold cut small among the sugar , four grains of amber greece , twelve grains of prepared pearl , you must mingle the strong water with the small , and drink four spoonfuls at a time in the morning fasting , and an houre before supper , you must shake about the glasse when you drinke it . a medicine good for the liver . take turpentine , slice it thin , and lay it on a silver or purslane plate twice or thrice into the oven with the bread till it bee dry , and so make it into pouder every day , take as much as will lye on a sixpence in an egg. for a bruise . take six spoonfuls of honey , a great handful of linseed , bruise these in a morter , and boyle them in a pint of milk an hour , then strain it very hard and annoint your breast and stomack with it every morning and evening , and lay a red hose upon it . the eye-water for all the infirmities and diseases of the eye . take of the distilled water of the white wild rose , half a pound of the distilled water of celendine , fennel , eyebright , and rue , of each two ounces , of cloves one ounce and a half , of white sugar-candy one drachm , of tutia prepared four ounces , pulverise all these ingredients each by themselves , saving that you must bruise the campihre with your sugar-candy , for so it breakes best , then mix all the pouders together in a paper , put them in a strong glasse , pour the distilled waters upon them , and three pints of the best french white wine that can be had , shake it every day three or four times long together for a moneth , and then you may use it ; remember to keep it very close stopt ; this is verbatim , as it was had from the lord kelley . a medicine very good for the dropsie , or the scurvy , and to clear the blond . take four gallons of ale , drawn from the tap into an earthen stand , when the ale is two dayes old , then you must put in four handfuls of brooklime , four handfuls of watercresses , four handfuls of water-mints with red stalkes , half a peck of scurvy-grasse , let all these be clean picked and washed , and dried with a cloth , and ●hred with a knife , and then put into a ●ag , then put in the ale , and stop it close , so that it have no vent , stop it with rie ●aste ; the best scurvy-grasse groweth by the water side : it must be seven dayes after the things be in before you drink it . take two quarts of water , and put in four ounces of guaiacam , two ounces of sarsaparilla , one ounce of saxifrage , put it into a pipkin , and infuse it upon the embers for twelve houres , and then strain it , and put it into the ale as soon as it hath done working , this being , added makes the more caudle . for sore eyes . take half a pint of red rosewater , put therein four penny of alloesuckatrinay , as much bole armoniack in quantity , let this lie four and twenty houres in steep , then wash your eyes with it evenings and mornings with a feather , and it will help them . a sirrup to strengthen the stomack , and the brain , and to make a sweet breath . take rindes while they be new one pound , of running water the value of five wine pints , then seeth it unto three pints , then strain it , and with one pound of sugar seeth it to a sirupe , and when you take it from the fire , put to it four graines of musk. for the burning in the back . take the juyce of plantain , and womans milk , being of a woman child , put thereto a spoonfull of rosewater , and wet a fine cloth in the same , and so lay it to your back where the heat is . a very good medicine to stay the vomiting . take of spare mince , wormwood , and red rose leaves dried , of each half a handfull , of rye bread grated a good handfull , boyle all these in red rosewater , and vinegar , till they be somewhat tender , then put it in a linnen cloth , and lay it to the stomack as hot as you can indure it , heating it two or three times a day with such as it was boyled with . for weaknesse in the back . take nixe , and clary , and the marrow of an oxe back , chop them very small , then take the yolks of two or three eggs , and strain them altogether , then fry them , use this six or seven times together , and after it drink a good draught of bastard , or muskadine . to make a cap for the pain and coldnesse in the head. take of storix , and benjamine , of both some twelve pennyworth , and bruise it , then quilt it in a brown paper , and wear it behinde on your head . to make pectorall roules for a cold. take four ounces of sugar finely beaten , and half an ounce of searsed licorice , two graines of musk , and the weight of two pence of the sirupe of licorice , and so beat it up to a perfect paste , with a little sirupe of horehound , and a little gum-dragon being steeped in rosewater , then toul them in small rouls , and dry them , and so you may keep them all the whole year . a proved medicine for any one that have an ague in their breast . take the patients own water , or any others that is very young , and set it over the fire , put therin a good handfull of rosemary , and let it boyle , then take two red clothes and dip them in the water , then nip it hard , and lay it on the breast as hot as it may be indured , and apply it till you see the breast asswaged , then keep it very warm . for the running of the reines . take the pith of an oxe that goeth down the back , a pint of red wine , and strain them together through a cloth , then boyle them a little with a good quantity of cinnamon , and a nutmeg , and large mace , a quantity of ambergreece , drink this first and last daily . for sun-burnt . take the juyce of a lemon , and a little baysalt , and wash your hands with it , and let them dry of themselves , wash them again , and you shall find all the spots and staines gone . for a pin and web , and rednesse in the eye . take a pint of white rosewater , half a pint of white wine , as much of lapis calaminaris as a walnut bruised , put all these in a glasse , and set them in the sun one week , and shake the glasse every day , then take it out of the sun , and use it as you shall need . a speciall medicine to preserve the sight . take of brown fennell , honeysuckles of the hedge , of wild dasies roots picked , and washed , and dryed , of pearl-wort , of eyebright , of red roses the white clipped away , of each of these a handfull dry gathered , then steep all these hearbs in a quart , or three pints , of the best white wine in an earthen pot , and so let it lye in steep two or three dayes close covered , stirring it three times a day , and so still it with a gentle fire , making two distillings , and so keep it for your use . a proved medicine for the yellow jaundies . take a pint of muscadine , a pretty quantity of the inner bark of a barberry tree , three spoonfuls of the greenest goose dung you can get , and take away all the white spots of it , lay them in steep all night , on the morrow strain it , and put to it one grated nutmeg , one penniworth of saffron dried , and very fine beaten , and give it to drink in the morning . to make pectorall roules . take one pound of fine sugar , of licorice and annise seeds two spoonfulls , of elicampane one spoonful , of amber and corrall of each a quarter of a spoonfull , all this must be very finely beaten and fearsed , and then the quantity that is set down must be taken , mix all these pouders together well , then take the white of one egg , and beat it with a pretty quantitie of musk , then take a brasen morter very well scoured , and a spoonful on two of the pouders , and drop some of the egg to it , so beat them to a paste , then make them in little roules , and lay them on a plate to dry . a plaister for a sore breast . take crums of whitebread , the tops of mint chopped small , and boil them in strong ale , and make it like a poultess , and when it is almost boyled , put in the pouder of ginger , and oyle of thyme , so spread it upon a cloth , it will both draw and heal . a medicine for the dead palsie , and for them that have lost their speech . take borage leaves , marigold leaves or flours , of each a good handfull , boil it in a good ale posset , the patient must drinke a good draught of it in the morning and sweat , if it be in the arms or legs , they must be chaffed for an hour or two when they be grieved , and at meals they must drink of no other drink till their speech come to them again , in winter if the hearbs be not to be had , the seeds will serve . an approved medicine for an ach or swelling . take the flours of cammomile , and rose leaves , of each of them a like quantitie , and seeth them in white wine , and make a plaister thereof , and let it be laid as hot as may be suffered to the place grieved , and this will ease the pain , and asswage the swelling . an approved medicine for a stinking breath . take a good quantity of rosemary leaves and flours , and boil them in white wine , and with a little cinnamon and benjamin beaten in pouder , and put therein , and let the patient use to wash his mouth very often therewith , and this will presently help him . a good broth for one that is weak . take a part of the neck of lambe , and a pretty running fowl , and set them on the fire in fair spring water , and when it boyleth scum it well , so done , put in two large mace , and a few raisins of the sun stoned , and a little fennel root , and a parsley root , and let them boil , if the party be grieved with heat or cold in the stomack ; if heat , put in a handfull of barlie boyled before in two waters , and some violet leaves , sorrel , succorie , and a little egrimonie ; if cold , put in rose●●●y , thyme , a lillie , marigold leaves , bo●●ge , and bugloss , and boyle this from lour pints to lesse then one . a receipt for purging , d. t. take the leaves of new sene six ounces , of chosen rubarb one ounce and half , leaves of sage , red dock roots of each an ounce , of barberies half an ounce , cinnamon and nutmegs of each an ounce , annise-seeds and fennel seeds of each six drachms , of tamarisk half an ounce , cloves and mace , of each half a drachm , beat them into a grosse pouder , and hang them in a linnen bag , in six gallons of new ale , so drinke of it fasting in the morning , and at night . to comfort the stomack , and help windiness and rheum . take of ginger one penniworth , cloves four penniworth , mace seven penniworth , nutmegs four penniworth , cinnamon four penniworth , and galingale two penniworth , of each one ounce , of cubebs , corall , and amber , of each two drachms , of fennel seed , dill seed , and carraway seed , of each one ounce , of liquorice and annise seeds of each an ounce , all beaten into fine pouder , one pound and a halfe of fine beaten sugar , which must be set on a soft fire , and being dissolved , the pouders being well mixed therewith till it bee stiffe , then put thereunto half a pint of red rosewater , and mix them well together and put it into a gallie pot , and take thereof first in the morning , and last in the evening , as much as a good hasell nut , with a spoonfull or two of red wine . to make a callice for a weak person . take a good chicken , and a peece of the neck end of lamb or veal , not so much as the chicken , and set them on the fire , and when they boyl and are well scummed cast in a large mace , and the piece of the bottome of a manchet , and half a handful of french barlie boyled in three waters before , and put it to the broth , and take such hearbs as the partie requireth , and put them in when the broth hath boyled half an hour , so boyl it from three and a half to one , then cast it through a strainer , and scum off all the fat , so let it cool , then take twenty good jordan almonds , or more , if they be small , and grind them in a morter with some of the broth , or if you thinke your broth too strong , grinde them with some fair water , and strain them with the broth , then set it upon a few coals , and season it with some sugar not so much , and when it is almost boyled , take out the thickest , and beat it all to pieces in the morter , and put it in again , and it will doe well , so there be not too much of the other flesh . for the gout . take six drachms of cariacostine fasting in a morning , and fast two houres after it , you may roll it up in a wafer , and take it as pills , or in sack , as you conceive is most agreeable for the stomack ; this proportion is sufficient for a woman , and eight drachms for a man , and take it every second day untill you find remedie for it , it is a gentle purge that works onely upon winds and water . the poultesse for the gout . take a pennie loaf of whitebread , and slice it , and put it in fair water , two eggs beaten together , a handfull of red-rose leaves , two penniworth of saffron dryed to pouder , then take the bread out of the water , and boil it in a quantity of good milk , with the rest of the ingredients , and apply it to the place grieved as warm as you can well indure . for them that cannot hear . put into their eares good dried suet. a soveraign water good for many cures and the health of bodies . take a gallon of good gascoign wine , white or claret , then take ginger , galingall , cardomon , cinnamon , nutmegs , grains , cloves , annise seeds , fennel seeds , carraway seeds , of each of them three drachms , then take sage , mints , red rose leaves , thyme , pellitorie , rosemary , wild thyme , wild majoram ; organy , pennymontain , pennyroyall , cammomile , lavender , avans of each of them a handful , then beat the spices small , and the hearbs , and put all into the wine , and let it stand for the space of twelve houres , stirring it divers times : then still it in a limbeck , and keep the first water by it self , for it is best , then will there come a second water which is good , but not so good as the first ; the vertues of this water be these , it comforteth the spirit vitall , and preserveth greatly the spirit vitall , and preserveth greatly the youth of man , and helpeth all inward diseases coming of cold , and against shaking of the palsie , it cureth the contract of sinnews , and helpeth the conception of the barren , it killeth the worms in the belly , it killeth the gout , it helpeth tooth ach , it comforteth the stomack very much , it cureth a cold dropsie , it breaketh the stone in the back , and in the reins of the back , it cureth the canker , it helpeth shortly the stinking breath , and whosoever useth this water oft , it preserveth them in good liking ; this water will be the better if it stand in the sun all the summer , and you must draw of the first water but a pint , and of the second as farre as it will run , untill the whole gallon of wine and hearbs be all done out , but the last water is very small , and not half so good as the first ; if you doe draw above a pint of the best water , you must have of all things more , as is before said . to stanch the bleeding of a wound . take a hounds turd , and lay that on a hot coal , and binde it thereto , and that shall stanch bleeding , or else bruise a long worm , and make pouder of it , and cast it on the wound , or take the ear of a hare , and make pouder thereof , and cast that on the wound , and that will stanch bleeding . for spitting of blood , after a fall or bruise . take bittanie , vervain , nosebled , and five leaved grasse , of each alike , and stamp them in a morter , and wring out the juyce of them , and put to the juyce as much goats milk , and let them seeth together , and let him th●t is hurt drinke of that liquor seven dayes together , till the waxing of the moon , and let him drink also osmorie and cumferie with stale ale , and he shall be whole . for to heal him that spitteth bloud . take the juyce of bittanie and temper that with good milk , and give the sick to drink four dayes , and he shall be whole . for to know whether he that hath the flux shall live or die . take a pennie weight of trefoyle seed , and give it him to drinke in wine or water , and doe this three dayes , and if it cease , he shall live , with the help of medicine , if not , he shall die . for to stanch the bleeding of a vein . take rue and seeth it in water , and after stamp it in a morter , and lay it on the vein , then take lambs wooll that was never washed , and lay that thereon , and that shall stanch bleeding . for a vein that is evill smitten . take beanes , and peel away the lacke , and seeth them well in vinegar , and lay them on the vein hot in manner of a plaister . for one that pisseth bloud . take and seeth garlick in water , till the third part be wasted away , let him drinke of the water , and he shall be whole . for a woman travelling with child . take and give her titany to drink in the morning , and shee shall be delivered without peril , or else give her hysop with water that is hot , and shee shall be delivered of the child although the child be dead and rotten , and anon when shee is delivered give her the same without wine , or binde the hearb argentine to her nostrils , and she shall be soon delivered , or else polipodie and stamp it , and lay that on the womans foot in manner of a plaister , and she shall be delivered quick or dead , or else give her savorie with hot water , and shee shall be delivered . for one that hath surfeited , and cannot digest . take the bottome of a wheaten loafe , and tost it at the fire , till that be very brown and hard , and then take a good quantity of aqua vitae , and put that upon the same so tosted , and put that in a single linnen cloth , and lay that at the breast of the patient all night , and with the help of god he shall recover , and he shall vomit or purge soon after . a water to comfort weake eyes , and to preserve the sight . take a gallon and a half of old wheat fair and clean picked from all manner of soil , and then still it in an ordinary still with a soft fire , and the water that comes of it must be put in a glasse , then take half a pound of white sugar candie , and bruise it in a morter to pouder , and after three dayes when the water hath been in a glasse , then put in the pouder candie , then take an ounce of lapis stewsie prepared , and put it into the glasse to the rest of the stuffe , then take an ounce of camphire , and break it between your fingers small , and put it into the glasse , then stop the glasse close , and the longer it stands , the better it will be . for tender eyes , or for children . take a little piece of white sugar candie , as much as a chesnut , and put it into three or four spoonfulls of white-wine to steep , then take it out again , and dry it , and when it is dry bruise it in a clean morter that must taste of no spice , then put it upon a piece of whitepaper , and so hold it to the fire that it may be through dry , and then fearce it through a little sieve . for hot eyes and red . take slugs , such as when you touch them will turn like the pummel of swords , a dozen or sixteen , shake them first in a clean cloth , and then in another , and not wash them , then stamp them , and put three or four spoonfuls of ale to them , and strain it through a dry cloth , and give it the partie morning and evening , first and last . for cornes . take fair water half a pint , mercurie sublimate , a penniworth , allum as much as a bean , boyle all these together in a glass still , till a spoonfull be wasted , and alwaies warm it when you use it , this water is also good for any itch , tetter , ringworm , or wart . a searcloth for a sore or sprain , or any swelling . take vervain seven ounces , of siros seven ounces , of camphire three drachms , of oile of roses ten ounces , let the wax and the oyle boil till the wax be melted , then put in your siros tinely beaten , stirring it● one the fire till it look brown ; then put in the camphire finely beaten , and let it boil two or three walmes , and then dip in your cloths . a poultess for a swelling . take a good handfull of violet leaves , and as much groundsel , half a handfull of mallows , and half a handful of chickweed , cut all these with a knife , and so seeth them well in conduit water , and and thicken it with barlie meal , being finely sifted , and so roule it sure , and lay it to the swelled place , and shift it twice a day . to make a strong water good for a canker , or any old sore , or to eat any lump of flesh that groweth . take of celandine a handfull , of red sage a handfull , and of woodbind leaves a handfull , shred all these together very small , and steep them in a quart of white wine , and a pint of water , letting it stand all night , and on the morrow strain it , and put therein of borex nine penny-worth , of camphire nine pennyworth , and of mercury four pennyworth , and set them on a soft fire , boyling softly for the space of an hour , and when you will use it warm a little of it , dip it in a cloth , and lay it to the sore , or in any cotten . to heal any bruise , sore , or swelling . take two pound of wax , and two pound of rosin , and two pound and a half of butter , and four spoonfuls of flower , and two good spoonfuls of honey , put in your wax , rosin , and your butter altogether , boyle all these together and clarifie it , then put in two ounces of carmerick , and when it hath thus boyled a quarter of an hour , put a little water in a dish , and put it in , and let it stand till it be cold , and when you will use it , you may melt it on a soft fire , and put in your clothes and make searcloth , and you may spred it plaisterwise to heal any wound . a medicine for any wound old or new . take a pint of sallade oyle , and four ounces of bees wax , and two ounces of stone-pitch , and two ounces of rosin , and two ounces of venice turpentine , and one pennyworth of frankincense , and a handfull of rosemary tops , and a handfull of tutson leaves , and a handfull of plantain leaves ; these hearbs must be stamped , and the juyce of them put to the things aforesaid , and let them boyle altogether about a quarter of an hour , or thereabouts , this being done , put it into an earthen pot , and when it is cold you may use it as you have occasion , and keep it two year a most excellent medicine . a medicine for a wen. take black sope , and unquencht lime , of each a like quantity , and beat them very small together , and spread it on a wollen cloth , and lay it on the wen , and it will consume it away . for breaking out of childrens heads . take of white wine , and sweet butter , a like , and boyle them together till it come to a salve , and so annoint the head therewith . for to mundifie , and gently to cleanse vlcers , and to break new flesh . take rosin eight ounces , colophonia four ounces , era , & olia , ana . one pound , adipis ovini , gum amoniaci , opoponaci , ana . one ounce , fine eruginis raris , boyl your wax , colophony , and rosin , with the oyle together , then strain the gums , being first dissolved in vinegar , and boyle it with a gentle fire , then take it off , and put in your verdigreece , and fine powder , and use it according to art. a fomentation . take the liquour wherein neats feet have been boyled , with butter , and new milk , and use it in manner of a fomentation . for the falling sicknesse , or convulsions . take the dung of a peacock , make it into powder , and give so much of it to the patient as will lie upon a shilling , in succory water fasting . for a tetter , proceeding of a salt humour , in the breast and paps . annoint the sore place with tanners owse . for the bloudy flux . take the bone of a gammon of bacon , and set it up an end in the middle of a charcoal fire , and let it burn till it looks like chalk , and that it will burn no longer , then powder it , and give the powder thereof unto the sick . a plaister for all manner of bruises . take one pound of mede wax , and a quartern of pitch , half a quartern of galbanum , and one pound of sheeps tallow , shred them , and seeth them softly , and put them to a little white wine , or good vinegar , and take of frankincense , and mastick , of each half an ounce in powder , and put it to , and boyle them altogether , and still them till it be well relented , and spread this salve upon a mighty canvas that will over-spread the sore , and lay it thereon hot till it be whole . to make an ointment , called flos unguentorum . take rosin , perrosin , and half a pound of virgin wax , frankincense a quarter of a pound , of mastick half an ounce , of sheeps tallow a quarter of a pound , of camphire two drachms , melt that that is to melt , and powder that that is to powder , and boyl it over the fire , and strain it through a cloth into a pottle of white wine , and boyle it altogether , and then let it cool a little , and then put thereto a quartern of turpentine , and stir all well together till it be cold , and keep it well : this ointment is good for sores old and new ; it suffereth no corruption in the wound , nor no evill flesh to be gendered in it ; and it is good for head-ach , and for all manner of imposthumes in the head , and for wind in the brain , and for imposthumes in the body , and for boyling eares and cheeks , and for sauce-flegm in the face , and for sinewes that be knit , or stiffe , or sprung with travall ; it doth draw out a thorn , or iron , in what place soever it be , and it is good for biting or stinging of venomous beasts ; it rotteh and healeth all manner of botches without , and it is good for a fester , and canker , and noli me tangere , and it draweth out all manner of aking of the liver , and of the spleen , and of the mervis , and it is good for aking and swelling of many members , and for all members , and it ceaseth the flux of menstrua , and of emeroides , and it is a speciall thing to make a sumed cloth to heal all manne of sores , and it searcheth farthest inward of any ointment . an ointment for all sort of aches . take bettany , cammomil , celendine , rosemary , and rue , of each of them a handful , wash the hearbs and presse out the water , and then chop , or stamp them very small , and then take fresh butter unwashed and unsalted a quart , and seeth it untill half be wasted , and clarified , then scum it clean , and put in of oyle olive one ounce , a piece of virgins wax for to harden the ointment in the summer time , and if you make it in the winter , put into your ointment a little quantity of footsenne instead of the virgins wax . an excellent syrupe to purge . take sena alexandrina one pound , polipodium of the oak four ounces , sarsaparilla two ounces , damask prunes four ounces , ginger seven drachms , annise-seeds one ounce , cumminseeed half an ounce , carraway seeds half an ounce , cinnomon ten drachms , aristolochia rotunda , peonia , of each five drachms , rubarb one ounce , agarick six drachms , i amarisk two handfulls , boil all these in a gallon of fair water unto a pottle , and when the liquor is boyled half away , strain it forth , and then put in your rubarb and agarick , in a clean thin handkercher , and tye it up close , and put it into the said liquor and then put in two pound of fine sugar , and boil it to the height of a sirrup , and take of it the quantity of six spoonfulls or more , or lesse as you find it worketh in you . to make drinke for all kind of surfets . take a quart of aqua , or small aqua vitae , and put in that a good handfull of couslip flours , sage flours a good handfull , and of rosemary flours a handful , sweet majoram a little , pellitorie of the wall , a little bittanie and balm of each a prettie handful , cinnamon half an ounce , nutmegs a quarter of an ounce , fennel-seed , annise seed , colliander seed , carraway seed , gromel seed , juniper berries , of each a drachm , bruise your spices and seeds , and put them into your aqua or aqua vitae , with your hearbs together , and put to that three quarters of a pound of very fine sugar , stir them together , and put them in a glasse , and let it stand nine dayes in the sun , and let it be stirred every day , it is to be made in may , steeped in a wide mouth'd glasse , and strained out into a narrow mouth'd glass . a medicine for the reins of the back . take housleek , and stamp , and strain it , then dip a fine linnen cloth into it , and lay it to the reins of the back , and that will heal it . a medicine for the ache in the back . take egrimonie , and mugwort , both leaves and roots , and stamp it with old bores grease , and temper it with honey and eysell , and lay it to the back . for a stitch. take roses , and cammomile , of each a handfull , and oyle of roses , and oyle of cammomile , of both together a saucerfull , and a quantity of barlie flower , boil all these together in milk , and then take a linnen bag , and put it therein , and lay the plaister as hot as may be suffered where the stitch is . to make a salve for wounds that be cankered , and doe burn. take the juyce of smallage , of morrels of waberd , of each alike , then take the white of eggs , and mingle them together , and put thereto a little wheat flower , and stir them together till it be thick , but let it come nigh no fire but all cold , let it be laid on raw to the sore , and it shall cleanse the wound . a medicine for bone-ach . take brooklime , and smallage , and daises , with fresh sheeps tallow , and fry them together , and make thereof a plaister , and lay it to the sore , all hot . for sinews that are shrunk . take young swallows out of the nest , a dozen or sixteen , and rosemarie , lavender , and rotten strawberie leaves , strings and all , of each a handfull , after the quantity of the swallows , the feathers , guts and all , bray them in a morter , and fry all them together , with may butter , not too much , then put it into an earthen pot , and stop it close nine dayes , then fry it again with may butter , and fry it well , and strain it well , when you shall use it chase it against the fire . a water for the biting of a mad dog. take scabios , matsiline , yarrough , nightshade , wild sage , the leaves of white lillies , of each a like quantity , and still them in a common still , and give the quantity of three or four spoonfulls of the water mingled with half a spoonfull of triacle , to any man or beast that is bitten , within three dayes after the biting , and for lack of the water , take the juyce of these hearbs mingled with triacle , it will keep the sore from rankling ; take dittanie , egrimonie , and rustie bacon , and beat them fine together , and lay it unto the wound , and it will keep it from rankling . to kill a fellon . take red sage , white sope and bruise them , and lay it to the fellon , and that will kill it , to breake a felon . take the grounds of ale , and as much vinegar , the crumbs of leavened bread , and a little honey and boil them altogether till they be thick , and lay that hot to the joynt where the felon is , and that will heal it . doctor stevens soveraign water . take a gallon of good gascoign wine , then take ●●●ger , galingal , cancel , nutmegs , grains , gloves , annise seeds , carraway seeds , of each a drachm , then take sage , mints , red roses , thyme , pellitorie , rosemary , wild thyme , cammomile , lavender , of each one handfull ; then bray both the spices and the hearbs , and put them all into the wine , and let them stand for twelve hours , divers times stirring them , then still that in a limbeck , but keep that which you still first by it self , for that is the best , but the other is good also , but not so good as the first . the vertues of this water are these , it comforteth the spirits vitall , and helpeth the inward diseases which come of cold , and the shaking of the palsie , that dureth the contraction of sinnews , and helpeth the conception of women that be barren , it killeth worms in the body , it cureth the cold cough , it helpeth the toothach , it comforteth the stomack , it cureth the cold dropsie , it helpeth the stone , it cureth shortly the stinking breath , and who so useth this water enough , but not too much , it preserveth him in good liking making him young . doctor willoughbies water . take galingal , cloves , cubebs , ginger , melilot , cardamome , mace , nutmegs , of each a drachm , and of the juyce of celendine half a pint , and mingle all these made in pouder with the said juyce , and with a pint of good aqua vitae , and three pints of good white wine , and put all these together in a still of glasse , and let it stand so all night , and on the morrow still it with an easie fire as may be . the vertue is of secret nature , it dissolveth the swelling of the lungs without any grievance , and the same lungs being wounded , or perished , it helpeth and comforteth , and it suffereth not the bloud to putrifie , he shall never need to be let bloud that useth this water , and it suffereth not the heart to be burnt , nor melancholly or flegm to have dominion above nature , it also expelleth the rheum , and purifieth the stomack , it preserveth the visage , and the memorie , and destroyeth the palsie , and if this water be given to a man or woman labouring toward death , one spoonfull relieveth : in the summer time , use once a week fasting the quantity of one spoonful , and in winter two spoonfuls . a medicine for them that have a pain after their child bed . take tar and fresh barrows grease , and boil it together , then take pigeons dung , and fry it in fresh grease , and put it in a bag . for the drinke , take a pint of malmsey and boil it , and put bay berries in it , and sugar , the bay berries must be of the whitest , and put therein some sanders . take some fair water , and set it over the fire , and put some ground malt in it , when they use these things they must keep their bed . for running of the reins . take venice turpentine rolled in sugar and rosewater , swallow it in prettie rouls , and put a peece of scarlet warm to your back . for codds that be swollen . stamp rue , and lay thereto . to draw an arrow head , or other iron out of a wound . take the juyce of valerian , in the which you shall wet a tent , and put it into the wound , and lay the same hearb stamped upon it , then your band or binding as appertaineth , and by this meanes you shall draw out the iron , and after heal the wound as it requireth . a plaister for a green wound . take flower and milk , and seeth them together till it be thick , then take the white of an egg , and beat them together , and lay it to the wound , and that will keep it from rankling . for a laske . take an egg , and aqua vitae , and boil it with the egg till it be dry ; the● take cinnamon and sugar , and eat it with the egg. for him that hath a bunch or knot in his head , or that hath his head swollen with a fall . take one ounce of bay salt , raw honey three ounces , turpentine two ounces , intermingle all this well upon the fire , then lay it abroad upon a linnen cloth , and thereof make a plaister , the which you shall lay hot to his head , and it will altogether asswage the swelling , and heal it perfectly . against the biting ●f any venomous beast . as soon as the person feeleth himself bit with any venomous beast , or at least , as soon as is possible , let him take green leaves of a fig-tree , and presse the milk of them three or four times into the wound : and for this also serveth mustard-seed mingled with vinegar . a perfect remedy for him that is sore wounded with any sword or staffe . take taxus barbatus and stamp it , and take the juyce of it , and if the wound bleed , wipe it and make it clean , washing it with white wine or water , then lay the said juyce upon the wound , and the hearb , whereof you take the juyce , upon it , then make your band , and let it abide on a whole day , and you shall see a wonderful effect . a bag to smell unto for melancholly , or to cause one to sleep . take dry rose leaves , keep them close in a glasse which will keep them sweet , then take powder of mints , powder of cloves in a grosse powder , and put the same to the rose leaves , then put all these together in a bag , and take that to bed with you , and it will cause you to sleep , and it is good to smell unto at other times . for spitting of bloud . take the juyce of bettony tempered with goates milk , and drink thereof three or four mornings together . an ointment for all sores , cuts , swellings and heat . take a good quantity of smallage , and mallowes , and put thereto two pound of bores grease , one pound of butter , and oyle of neats foot a quantity , stamp them well together , then fry them , and strain them into an earthen pot , and keep it for your use . a salve for a new hurt . take the whitest virgins wax you can get , and melt it in a pan , then put in a quantity of butter , and honey , and seeth them together , then strain them into a dish of fair water , and work it in your hands , and make it in a round ball , and so keep it , and when you will use it , work some of it between your hands , and strike it upon a cloth , and lay it upon the sore , and it will draw it and heal it . against the biting of a mad dog , and the rage or madnesse that followeth a man after he is bitten . take the blossomes or floures of wild thistles dryed in the shade , and beaten to powder , give him to drink of that powder in white wine half a walnut shell full , and in thrice taking it , he shall be healed . against the greif in the lungs , and spitting of bloud . take the hearb , called of the apothecary vngula caballina , in english coltsfoot , incorporate it well with the lard of a hog chopped , and a new laid egg , boyle it together in a pan , and give it the patient to eat , doing this nine mornings , you shall see a marvellous thing , this is also good to make a man fat . against spitting of bloud by reason of some vein broken in the breast . take mise-dung beaten into powder as much as will lye upon a groat , and put it in half a glasse-ful of the juyce of plantam with a little sugar , and so give the patient to drink thereof in the morning before breakfast , and at night before he goe to bed , continuing the same , it will make him whole and sound . for to cleanse the head. take pellitory of spain , and chew the roots three dayes a good quantity , and it will purge the head , and doe away the ach , and fasten the teeth in the gummes . a good remedy against the plurisie . open a white loaf in the middle new baked , and spread it well with triacle on both the halfes on the crown side , and heat it at the fire , then lay one of the halfes on the place of the disease , and the other half on the other side of the body directly against it , and so bind them , that they loose not no● stirre , leaving them so a day and a night , or untill the imposthume break , which i have sometimes seen in two houres or lesse , than take away the bread , and immediately the patient will begin to spit and void the putrefaction of the imposthume , and after he hath slept a little , yee shall give him meat , and with the help of god he shall shortly heal . for a pin or web in the eye . take two or three lice out of ones head , and put them alive into the eye that is greived , and so close it up , and most assuredly the lice will suck out the web in the eye , and will cure it , and come forth without any hurt . a remedy to be used in a fit of the stone , when the water stops . take the fresh shels of snails , the newest will look of a reddish colour , and are best , take out the snails , and dry the shels with a moderate heat in an oven after the bread is drawn ; likewise take bees and dry them so , and beat them severally into powder , then take twice so much of the bees powder as the snails , and mix them well together , keep it close covered in a glasse , and when you use it , take as much of this powder as will lye upon a sixpence , and put it into a quarter of a pint of the stilled water of bean ● ures , and drink it fasting , or upon an empty stomack , and eat nor drink nothing for two or three houres after . this is good to cause the party to make urine , and bring away the gravell or stone that causeth the stopping , and hath done very much good . a syrupe for the pain in the stomack . take two good handfuls of young rue , boyle it in a quart of good white wine vinegar till it be half consumed , so soon as it is thorough cold strain it , and put to every pint of the liquor a pound and a quarter of loaf-sugar , and boyle it till it come to a syrupe , when you use it , take a good spoonfull of this in the morning fasting , and eat nor drink nothing for two or three houres after , it is good for pain in the stomack that proceeds of windy vapours , and is excellent good for the lungs , and obstructions of the breast . receipts for bruises , approved by the lady of arundell . take black jet , beat it to powder , and let the patient drink it every morning in beer till he be well . another for the same . take the sprigs of oak trees , and put them in paper , roast them , and break them , and drink as much of the powder as will lye upon a sixpence every morning , untill the patient be well . to cause easie labour . take ten or twelve dayes before her looking six ounces of brown sugar-candy beaten to powder , a quarter of a pound of raisins of the sun stoned , two ounces of dates unstoned sliced , half an ounce of annise-seeds bruised , a quarter of an ounce of cowslip floures , one drachm of rosemary floures , put these in a fine lawn bag with a flint stone , that it may sink into a pottle of white wine , let it steep four and twenty houres , and after take of it , in the morning , and at four in the afternoon , and in the evening , the quantity of a wine glasse full . a cordiall for the sea. take one ounce of syrupe of clove-gill floures , one drachm of confectio alebernis , one ounce and a half of borrage water , and the like of mint water , one ounce of mr. mountfords water , and as much of cinnamon water , temper all these together in a cordiall , and take a spoonfull at a time when you are at sea. a plaister to strengthen the back . take eight yolks of eggs new laid , one ounce of i rankincense beaten into fine powder , mingle them well together , put in as much barly flower as will make it thick for a plaister , spread it on leather , lay it to the small of the back , letting it lye nine houres , use four plaisters one after another , you must slit the 〈◊〉 in the midst , so as it may not lye 〈◊〉 the b●ck bone . a present remedy for a woman with child , that hath taken harm by fall , or fright , or any mischance . to stay the child and strengthen it , take one ounce of pickerell jawes , fine beaten and searsed , of dates stones , and bole armoniack , of each one ounce , of sanguis draconis half an ounce , give of these , being well searsed and mingled together , a french crown weight in muskadine or malmsey , and let the woman keep her very warm . for a weak back . take of red lead half a pound , of white lead half a pound , boil these in three pints of sallet oyle in a pipkin , stirring them continually with a peece of iron , untill it be of a gray colour , then roul it up in rouls and keep it for your use . oyle of saint johns wort. take a quart of sallet oyle , put thereto a quart of flour of s. johns wort well picked , let them lye therein all the year till the seeds be ripe , the glasse must be kept warm , either in the sun , or in water all the summer untill the seeds be ripe ; then put in a quart of s. johns wort seeds whole , and so let it stand twelve hours , then you must seeth the oyle eight hours , the glasse being kept open , and the water in the pot full as high as the oyle is of height in the glasse , then when it is cold strain it , that the seeds may remain , not in the oyle , and then put up the oyle for your use . a green salve for an old sore . take a handfull of groundsell , as much housleek , of marigold leaves a handfull , pick and wipe these hearbs clean , but wash them not , then beat all these hearbs in a wooden boul , as small as is possible , then strein out all the juyce , and put in a quantity of hogs grease , as much as two eggs , beat all these together again , and then put in the juyce again , and put in 10 eggs , yolks and whites , and five spoonfuls of english honey , and as much wheat flower , as will make all this as thick as a salve , and so stir it very well together , and put it close up in a pot , that it take no ayre , and so keep it for your use . a most excellent pouder for the collick and stone . you must take it morning and evening before you goe to bed , sperma ceti one ounce and half , cloves and mace one quarter of an ounce , annise seeds and ●●●stone of each two ounces , cinnamon and small pepper , of each one quarter of an ounce , date stones a quarter of an ounce , liquorice , fennel , red sage , bay berries , of each three quarters of an ounce , acornes one quarter and half of an ounce , lillie roots two drachms , the white of oyster shels burned in the fire one quarter of an ounce ; beat all these into fine pouder , and drinke as much thereof in ale or beer , as will lye on a sixpence , and fast one hour or two after it : if the part●e be so●e grieved , take one handfull of parsely , and seeth it in ale untill half be s●d away , with twentie or thirtie prunes therein streined , and put thereto two spoonfulls of this pouder , and drinke it mornings and evenings somewhat warm . a present remedie for the running of the reins . take an ounce of nutmegs , half an ounce of mastick , then slice the nutmegs , and put them in steep in rose vinegar all one night , then lay them in a dish to dry before the fire , then take the mastick and lay it in papers , and beat it with a hammer very small and put a little corral well beaten unto it , and as much ambergreece , then mingle these things together with sugar , and make it pleasant to eat , and so take a good quantity morning and evening . a salve for a green wound . take two handfuls of water dittanie , two handfuls of rosemary shred very small , a quarter of a pint of turpentine , half a pound of yellow wax , a quart of sallet oyle , half a pint of white wine , boil all these together , while the white wine be quite consumed , then it will bee green , and come to the height of a salve . a proved medicine for a burning or scalding by lightning or otherwise . take hogs grease , or sheeps treacles , and alehoose , beat these very well together , then take more hogs grease , and boil it to a salve . to use it . annoint the place grieved with this ointment , and then lay upon the sore so annointed colewort leaves , which must be boyled very soft in water , and the strings made smooth , with beating them with a pestel . a pouder for the green sicknesse , approved with very good success upon many . take of cloves , mace , nutmegs , of each one quarter of an ounce , beat them severally , and then altogether very well , fine sugar very small beaten one quarter of a pound , and then mix and beat them all four together , pearl the fixt part of half an ounce very finely beaten , mingle it with the rest , and beat them altogether again , the filing of steel or iron one ounce and a quarter , sift it very fine , and mingle it with the rest , but if so small a quantity will not serve , adde a quarter more of the mettall , let it be sifted before you weigh it , but if all this will not serve the turn , put in a little rubarb , or a little alexakatrina . the manner of using this pouder . in the morning when you rise take half a spoonful of it , take as much at four a clock in the afternoon , and as much when you go to bed , walk or stir much after the first takings of it , i mean every morning and evening , fast one hour after the taking of it , or more , and then eat some sugar sops or thin broath . the patients diet. she must forbear oatmeal in broth or any other thing , cheese , eggs , custards , or any stopping meat . take care that this be not given to any woman that hath conceived , or is with child . a drink to stanch bloud inwardly . take the juyce of one handfull of shepherds purse , of parsley , and five-finger , of each as much , take five flips of egrimony , strain all these juyces into the milk of a red cow , and drinke thereof early and late warm . a pouder to keep the teeth clean , and from worm-eaten . take rosemary burned to ashes , cuttles bone , harts-horn burned to pouder , sal gemmae twelve pennie weight , the floures of pomegranets , white coral , of each six pennie weight , make all these in pouder , and with a little rosewater and a sage leaf rub the teeth . a salve to heal all manner of sores and cuts . take one pint of turpentine , one pint of oyle olive , a quarter of a pint of running water , nine branches of rosemary , one ounce of unwrought wax , two ounces of roset , seeth all these together in a little pan over the fire , let it seeth untill there arise a little white scum upon it , then stir it with a stick , suffering it to boil untill one quarter be consumed , then take it from the fire , strain it through a course cloth , but it must be done quickly after it be taken from the fire for cooling , after you have strained it into an earthen pot , let it cool , and keep it for your use . to make oyle of sage good for the grief in any joynt , or for any ach . take sage and parsley , seeth them in oyle olive , till it be thick and green . a medicine to purge and amend the heart , stomack , spleen , liver , lungs , and brain . take alexander , water-cresses , young mallows , borage , and fennel roots pared , mercurie , harts tongue , and clarie , and make of these pottage . to drive infectious diseases from the heart . take of mithridate , and centurie , of each two ounces , eight spoonfuls of dragon water , one pint of white wine , seven spoonfuls of aqua vitae , boil altogether a little , strain it , then set it on the fire again a little while , and drinke of it morning and evening . for the tooth-ach . take pepper , and grains , of each one ounce , bruise them , and compound them with the water of the diseased , and make it of a good thicknesse , and lay it outwards on the cheek , against the place grieved , and it will help it for ever after . another . take dryed sage , make pouder of it burnt allum , bay salt dryed make all in fine pouder , and lay it to the tooth where the pain is , and also rub the gums with it for the strangullion or the stone . take the inner rind of a young ash , between two or three yeares of growth , dry it to pouder , and drinke of it as much at once , as will lye on a sixpence in ale or white wine , and it will bring present remedie : the partie must be kept warm two hours after it . for the stone . take the stone that groweth within the gall of an oxe , grate it , and drink of it in white wine , as much as will lye upon a sixpence at once , for want of white wine make a posset of ale , and clarifie the ale from the curd , then boil one handful of pellitorie therein , and drinke of the pouder with it . for the black jaundies . take earthen wormes , wash them in white wine then dry them , and beat them into pouder , and put to a little saffron , and drinke it in beer . a drawing salve for an old sore . take rosin half a pound beaten to pouder , sheeps tallow , one quarter of a pound , melt them together , and pour them into a bason of water , and when they begin to cool a little , work them well with your hands in the water , and out of the water , drawing of it up and down the space of one hour till it be very white , then make it up in rouls , and reserve it to strike thin plaisters upon old sores . a water to wash sores withall . take wormwood , sage , plantain leaves , of each one handful , allum two ounces , honie two sawcers full , boil all these together in three pints of water , till half be sod away , then strain it , and reserve that liquor to wash the sore withall . a medicine to cure the garget in the throat . take a pint of may butter , and put it on the fire in a postnet , and put into it of the inner bark of elder one good handful , and some daisie roots , seeth it to half the quantity , and strain it , and so keep it cool , take this ointment , and annoint your throat , then take the ointment , and strike a long plaister with it very thick of the ointment , then strike upon the ointment the best jane triacle , and upon that strew grosse pepper very thick , strike it on with a knife , warm the plaister , and bind it round your throat t● your eares , renew it once a day with the ointment , and the triacle and pepper , and lay it on again ; before you use this ointment , scour the mouth and throat with the pouder of roch allom burned , mix it with the pouder of madder or pepper . for the hearing . take one onyon , take the core out of it , fill it with pepper , slice it in the midst , being first wrapt in paper , and rosted in the embers , lay it to each ear . for a dead child in a womans bodie . take the juyce of hysop , temper it in warm water , and give it to the woman to drink . for a woman that hath her flowers too much . take a hares foot , and burn it , make pouder of it , and let her drinke it with stale ale. a medicine for the gout . take tetberrie roots , and wash and scrape them clean , and slice them thin , then take the grease of a barrow hog , the quantity of either alike , then take an earthen pot , then lay a lane of grease in the bottome , then a lane of roots , then the grease again , and so roots and grease till the pot be full , then stop the pot very close , and set it in a dunghil one and twentie dayes , then beat it altogether in a boul , then boil it a good while , then strain it , and put in a penniworth of aqua vitae , then annoint the place grieved , very warm against the fire . a diet drinke for the running gout , ach in the joynts , and for all infections . set seven quarts of water on the fire , and when it boileth , put therein four ounces of sarsaparilla bruised , and let it boil two hours very softly , close stopped , or covered , then put in four ounces of sene , three ounces of liquorice bruised , of st●●ados , hermodactill , epithymum , and of cammomile flours , of every one half an ounce , and so boil all these two houres very softly , then strain it , and keep it in a close vessel close stopped : when it is cold , then boil again all the aforesaid ingredients in seven quarts of water , four hours with a soft fire close covered , then strain it , and keep it as the other by it self , and take of the first a good draught one hour before you arise in the morning , and a draught at the beginning of dinner , and another at supper , and going to bed , and and at all other times , drinke of the latter when you lift , and eat no meat but dry rosted mutton , capon , rabbet , without salt , and not basted , but to your breakfast , a poched egg , no bread but bisket , or dried crust , and at night raisins of the sun , and bisket bread , drink no other drinke but this . a plaister to heal any sore . take of sage , herb-grace , of each a like quantitie , ribwort , plantain , and dasie roots , more then half so much of each of them as of the other , with wax , fresh grease , and rosin , make it a salve , if the flesh grow proud , then put alwaies upon the plaister , before you lay it to the sore , burnt allum , and it will correct the flesh . to cause a woman to have her sickness . take egrimonie , motherwort , avens , and parsley , shred them small with oatmeal , make pottage of them with pork , let her eat the pottage , but not the pork . for the stone . take the green weed of the sea , which is brought with oysters , wash it , and dry it to pouder , drinke it with malmsey fasting . to kill worms . take alexakatrina two ounces , let it stand in a quart of malmsie eight houres , drink of it morning and evening . for a hot rheum in the head. take rosewater , vinegar , and sallet oyle , mix them well together , and lay it to the head warm . for a lask . take the nether jaw of a pike , seeth it to pouder and drinke it . for an itch or dry scurs of the body . take elecampane roots or leaves , stamp them and fry them with fresh grease , strain it into a dish , and annoint the patient . for one that is bruised with a fall. take horse dung , and sheeps suet , boil them together , and apply it to the same place , being laid upon a cloth . for the emeroids . take hops and vinegar , fry them together , and put it into a little bag , and lay it as hot as it may be endured to the fundament , divers bags one after another , and let one continue at it . for one that is burned with gunpowder , or otherwise . take one handfull of groundsel , twelve heads of housleek , one pint of goose-dung , as much chickens dung , of the newest that may be gotten , stamp the hearbs as small as you can , then put the dung into a morter , temper them together with a pottle of bores grease , labour them together half an hour , and strain it through a canvas bag with a cleft stick into an earthen pan , and use it when need requireth , it will last two year . to heal a prick with a nail or a thorn. take two handfuls of salendine , as much orpen , cut it small , and boyl it with oyle olive , and unwrought wax , then strain it and use it . to stop the bleeding of a cut or wound . take hop , stamp it , and put it into the wound , if hop will not doe it , then put to it vinegar with the hop . for a scald . take the leaves of ground ●●ie , three handfuls , housleek one handful , wash them , and stamp them in a stone mortar very small , and as you stamp them , put in one pint of cream by little and little , then strain it , and put it in a pot with a feather , take of this and annoint the scalded place , and then wet a linnen cloth in the same ointment , and lay it on the place , and over that roul other cloathes . an ointment for a tetter . take sal armoniack one ounce , beat it into fine powder , then mix it with sope , and fresh grease , of each two ounces , make an ointment , and annoint the place . for the singing in the head. take one onyon , cut out the core , and fill that place with the pouder of cummin , and the juyce of rue , set on the top again , and roast the onyon in embers , then put away the out-side , and put in a cloth , wring out the juyce , take black woll and dip it in , put this in thine c●re where the singing is , and if it be on both sides , then serve one after another . a drink for one that is weak , and misdoubting a consumption . take three handfuls of rosemary , bruise it a little , and close it in paste , bake it in an oven untill it be well dryed , then cut the paste , and take forth the rosemary , infuse it in two quarts of claret wine , with two ounces of good triacle , one ounce of nutmegs , of cinnamon , and ginger , of each half an ounce bruised , let them stand infused two nights and one day , then distill it in a limbeck , drink hereof one spoonfull or two next your heart . a drink for the plague . take red sage , hearb-grace , elder leaves , red briar leaves , of each one handful , stamp them and strain them with a quart of white wine , and then put to it aqua vitae and ginger , drink hereof every morning one spoonfull nine mornings together , and it will preserve you . for a bruise or stitch. take the kernels of walnuts and small-nuts , figs , rue , of each one handfull , white salt the quantity of one walnut , one race of ginger , one spoonfull of honey , beat them altogether very fine , and eat of it three or four times every day , make a plaister of it , and lay it to the place grieved . a drink for one that hath a rupture . take comfery one good handfull , wild daisie roots as much , and the like of knotted grasse , stamp all these together , and strain it with malmsey , and give it to the patient to drink morning and evening nine dayes bloud-warm : if it be a man that hath been long so , he must lye nine dayes upon his back , and stir as little as he can : if he be a child , he must be kept so much lying as you may for nine dayes ; if you think the drink too strong for the child , give it him but five dayes in malmsey , and the rest in stale ale ; have care that the party have a good trusse , and keep him trussed one whole year at the least . a plaister for a rupture . take the juyce of comfery , wild daisie roots , and knotted grasse , of each a like quantity , fresh butter , and unwrought wax , of each a like quantity , clarifie them severally , then take of the root of comfery , dry it , and make pouder of it ; take the pouder of anniseseed , and cummin-seed , but twice as much cumminseed as anniseseed , boyle these pouders in the butter and unwrought wax upon a soft fire a good while together , then put in your juyce , and let it boyle one walm or two , then take it from the fire , and stir it altogether till it be cold , take hereof , and spread it , and lay it to his codds as hot as he can suffer it , and use this till he be whole : this plaister is most excellent for a child that is burst at the navill . gratiosa cura . a water for a cut or a sore . take honeysuckles the knots nipt off , floures of celendine , floures of red sage , of each three spoonfuls , five-finger , camphery such as is to knit bones , daisies with the roots thereon , ladder of heaven , blossomes of rosemary , setwell , hearbgrace , smalledge , red roses with the knots on , or else red rosecakes , adder-tongue , of each of these one handfull , seeth all together in six gallons of water that runneth towards the east , untill two gallons be sod in , then strain them , and put to the water three quarts of english honey , one pound of roch allum , one pennyworth of madder , one pennyworth of long pepper , seeth all together untill one gallon be consumed , then cleanse the water . for the wind collick . take the floures of walnuts , and dry them to pouder , and take of them in your ale , or beer , or in your broth , as you like best , and it will help you . to make a soveraign oyle of a fox , for the numme palsie . take a fox new killed , cased , and bowelled , then put into the body , of dill , mugwort , cammomil , campits , southernwood , red sage , origanum , hop , , staecad , rosemary , costmary , cowslip floures , balm , bettony , sweet-majoram , of each a good handfull , chop them small , and put thereto of the best oyle of castor , dill , and cammomill , of each four ounces , mix the hearbs and oyles together , and strew over them aphronitum a good handfull , put them all into the fox , and sow up his belly close , and with a quick fire roast him , and the oyle that droppeth out is a most singular oyle for all palsies or numnesse . approved . to comfort the brain , and procure sleep . take brown bread crums the quantity of one walnut , one nutmeg beaten to pouder , one drachm of cinnamon , put these into a napkin , with two spoonfuls of vinegar , four spoonfuls of rosewater , and one of womans milk . for the weaknesse in the back . take the pith of an oxe back , put it into a pottle of water , then seeth it to a quart , then take a handful of comphelly , one handful of knotted grasse , one handful of shepherd spurse , put these into a quart of water , boyle them unto a pint , with six dates boyled therein . for a canker in any part of the body . take filberd nut leaves , lavender-cotton , southernwood , wormwood , sage , woodbine leaves , sweet-bryar leaves , of each a like quantity , of allum , and honey , a good quantity , seeth all these till they be half sodden , wash the sore with it . for an old bruise . take one spoonful of the juyce of tansie , and as much nip , two pennyworth of sperma ceti , put it into a little ale , and drink it . oyle of foxes , or badgers , for ach in the joynts , the sciatica , diseases of the sinews , and paines of the reines and back . take a live fox , or badger , of a middle age , of a full body , well fed , and fat , kill him , bowell him , and skin him , some take not out his bowels , but onely his excrements in his guts , because his guts have much grease about them , break his bones small that you may have all the marrow , this done , set him a boyling in salt brine , and sea water , and salt water , of each a ●●nt and a half , of oyle three pints , of salt three ounces , in the end of the decoction put thereto the leaves of sage , rosemary , dill , origany , majoram , and juniper berries , and when he is so sodden as that his bones and flesh do part in sunder , strain all through a strainer , and keep it in a vessel to make linaments for the ach in the joynts , the sciatica , diseases of the sinnews , and pains of the reins and back . to make the leaden plaister . take two pound and four ounces of oyle olive of the best , of good red lead one pound , white lead one pound very well beaten into dust , twelve ounces of spanish sope , and incorporate all these well together in an earthen pot well glased before you put them to boil , and when they are well incorporated that the sope cometh upward , put it upon a small fire of coals , continuing the fire for the space of one hour and a half , still stirring it with an iron ball upon the end of a stick , then make the fire somewhat bigger , until the redness be turned into a gray colour , but you must not leave stirring it till the matter be turned into the colour of oyle , or somewhat darker , then drop of it upon a wooden trencher , and if it cleave not to the finger it is enough , then make it up into rouls , it will keep 20 yeares , the older the better . the virtue of the plaister . the same being laid upon the stomack provoketh appetite , it taketh away any grief in the stomack , being laid on the belly is a present remedie for the collick , and laid unto the reins of the back , it is good for the bloudie flux , the running of the reins , the heat of the kidnies , and weaknesse of the back , the same healeth all swellings , bruises , and taketh away ach , it breaks felons , pushes , and other imposthumes , and healeth them , the same draweth out any running humour without breaking the skin , and being applied to the fundament , it healeth any disease there growing , being laid on the head is good for the vvula , it helpeth the head-ake , and is good for the eyes . for a pricking of a thorn. take fine wheat flower boulted , temper it with wine , and seeth it thick , lay it hot to the sore . a medicine for the plague . take a pint of malmsie , and burn it well , then take about six spoonfuls thereof , and put to the quantity of a nutmeg , of good triacle , and so much spice grains beaten , as you can take up with the tops of your two fingers , mix it together and let the partie sick drink it bloud-warm , if he be infected it will procure him to cast , which if he doe , give him as much more , and so still again and again , observing still some quantity , till the partie leave casting , and so after he will be well , if he cast not at all , once taking is enough , and probably it is not the sickness ; after the partie hath left casting , it is good to take a competent draught of burnt malmsie alone with triacle and grains , it will comfort much . another medicine for the plague . take of setwel grated one roo● of jane triacle two spoonfuls , of wine vinegar , three spoonfuls , of fair water three spoonfuls , make all these more then luke warm , and drinke them off at once well steeped together , sweat after this six or seven houres , and it will bring forth the plague sore . to break the plague sore . lay a roasted onion , also seeth a white lillie root in milk , till it be as thick as a 〈◊〉 , and lay it to the same , if these ful , launce the sore , and so draw it , and heal it with salves for botches , or biles . to make a salve to dresse any wound . take rosin and wax of each half a pound , of deer suet , and frankincense , of each one quarter of a pound , of mastick in pouder one ounce , boil all these in a pint of white wine half an houre with a soft fire , and stir it in the boyling , that it run not over , then take it from the fire , and put thereto half an ounce of camphire in pouder , when it is almost cold put there ● one quarter of a pound of turpentine after all these be mingled together , then put it into white wine , and wash it as you wash butter , and then as it cools make it up in rouls . a most excellent water for sore eyes . take a quart of spring water set it upon the fire in an earthen pipkin , then put into it three spoonfuls of white salt , and one spoonful of white coperas , then boil them a quarter of an hour , scum it as it doth boil , then strain it through a fine linnen cloth , and keep it for your use . when you take it you must lye down upon the bed , and drop two drops of it into your eye , so rest one quarter of an hour , not wiping your eyes , and use it as often as need shall require . if the eye have any perle or film growing upon it , then take a handfull of red double daisie leaves , and stamp them and strain them through a linnen cloth , and drop thereof one drop into your eye , using it three times . a plaister for one that is bruised . take half a pint of sallet oyle , or neats-foot oyle , half a pint of english honey , two or three penniworth of turpentine , a good quantity of hogs grease , two or three penniworth of bole armoniack , half a pint of strong wine vinegar , half a dosen of eggshels , and all beaten very small , one handfull of white salt , put all these together into an earthen pot , and stir and mingle them together exceedingly well , then as much bean floure , or wheat flour as will thicken it plaister-wise , then with your hand strike it on the grieved place once a day , and by gods help it wil ease any sore that cometh by meanes of striking , wrinching , bruising , or other kind of swelling that proceedeth of evill humours . balm water for a surfet . take two gallons of strong ale , and one quart of sack , take four pound of young balm leaves , and shred them , then take one pound of annise seeds , and as much liquorice beaten to pouder , put them all into the ale and sack , to steep twelve hours , after put it into a limbeck , and so still it , it is good for a surfet of of choler , for to comfort the heart , and for an ague . a restorative water in sickness , the patient being weak . take three pints of very good new milk , and put thereto one pint of very good red wine , the yolks of twenty four eggs , and beat them together , that done , put in as much fine manchet as shall suck up the milk and wine , then put the same into a fair stillatorie , and still it with a soking fire , and take a spoonfull of this water in your pottage or drinke , and this in one or two moneths will prevent the consumption . to make a candle to prevent the lask . take half a pound of unblanched almonds , stamp them , and strain it into a of ale , and set it on the fire , then take the yolks of four eggs , and make it for a candle , and so season it with a good quantity of cinnamon and sugar , and eat it every morning at breakfast . for one that cannot make water , and to break the stone . pare a raddish root , and slice it thin , and put it into a pint of white wine , and let it infuse six or seven hours , then strain it , and set it one the fire , and put thereto one parsley root , and one spoonful of parsley seed , and half a handful of pellitorie of the wall , and seeth it untill half be wasted , and give it lukewarm to drinke . the diet against melancholly . take sene eight ounces , rubarb six drachms , po●podie of the oke , sarsparilla , and madder roots of each four ounces , annise seeds , fennel seeds , epithim●m , of each one ounce , mace , cloves , and nutmegs , of each two ounces , egrimonie , scabies , and red dock roots , of each one handful , make them all small , and put it into a long narrow bag of boulter , hang it in a vessel of ale that containeth six gallons , when it is a week old , drinke it morning and evening for the space of one fortnight , keep you all that time warm , and a good diet . a sirrup to open the liver . take lungwort , maidenhair , egrimonie , scabios , of each one handful , chamepitis , hysop , of each a dosen crops , endive and succorie , of each three or four leaves , of young fennel and parsley , of each one root , one stick of liquorice , one spoonful of barberies clean washed , one spoonful of annise seeds , twenty raisins of the sun stoned , boil all these in a pottle of water to a quart , then strain it , and put thereto of the best sugar one quarter of a pound , conserve of violets one ounce , and so boil it as long as any scunt ariseth , then strain it again , and use this very warm . for one that cannot make water . take the seeds of parsley , of red fennel , of saxifrage , of carrawayes , of the kernels of hip berries , of each a like quantity , put in some pouder of jet , mingle these , being beaten to powder , well together , and drink it in stale ale luke-warme . to make aqua composita . take of anniseseeds , and licorice bruised , of each half a pound , thyme , and fennel , of each half a handful , calamint two handfuls , coriander , and carraway-seeds bruised , of each two ounces , rosemary , and sage , of each half a handful , infuse these a whole night in three gallons of red wine , or strong ale , then still it in a limbeck with a soft fire , an ointment for any swelling . take of marsh mallowes , of wormwood , of smallage , of each one handful , boyle it with one pound of the grease of a barrow hog until it be very green , then strain it , and keep it very close . lady pawlet . a plaister for the back . take half a pint of oyle of roses , four ounces of white lead ground into fine powder , put your oyle into a clean posnet , and set it on the fire , and when it is warm put in your white lead , ever stirring it , then put into it of your wax one quarter , stir it untill it be black , then take it from the fire , and in the cooling put thereto two pennyworth of camphire , of white sanders , and yellow sanders , of each the weight of fourpence , fine bole , and terra sigillata , of each two penny weight in fine pouder all , still stirring it till it be almost cold , and so make it up in roules : use it as need requires , for all weaknesse , wasting , or heat in the kidneyes . cranish . to make oyle of swallowes . take one handful of mother-thyme , of lavender-cotton , and strawberry leaves , of each a like , four swallowes , feathers and altogether well bruised , three ounces of sallade oyle , beat the hearbs , and the swallowes , feathers , and altogether , until they be so small that you can see no feathers , then put in the oyle , and stir them well together , and seeth them in a posnet , and strain them through a canvas cloth , and so keep it for your use . for a thorn , fellon , or prick . take the juce of fetherfew , of smallage , of each one saucer full , put to it as much wheat of flour as will make it somewhat thick , and put to it of good black sope the quantity of one walnut , mingle them together , and lay them to the sore a drink for one that hath a rupture . take of comfilli , otherwise called bonesel , a pretty handful , of woodbitten as much , bread , plantain , and leaves , of cammock somewhat more than a handful , of vervoin as much as of the cammock , of daisie roots a small quantity , of elder tops , or young buds , the least quantity , stamp all these together , and put unto them , being stamped , one pint of pure white wine , then strain it , and drink of it morning and evening , one hour or more before breakfast or supper , a good draught bloud-warm . if it be a sucking child , let the nurse drink posset-ale of the aforesaid drink , and let the childe suck immediately : if it be an old body , let him take it lying in his bed nine dayes , if it may be conveniently , or otherwise to use no straining . for the lask , or flux . take one quart of red wine , as much running water , one ounce of cinnamon , seeth these half away , and give the patient six spoonfuls to drink morning and evening , if you think it be too harsh , put in a piece of sugar . a lotion water for the canker . take one gallon of pure water , four handfuls of woodbine , of marigolds , and tetsal , of each two handfuls , of celendine , rue , sage , and egremony , of each one handful , boyle all these to a quart , then strain it , and put thereto two great spoonfuls of the best english honey , and one ounce of roch allum , boyle them all again as long as any skum ariseth , then take it off , and put it in a close bottle , and use it bloud-warm when need requireth . for the mother . take three or four handfuls of ferne that groweth upon a house , seeth it in renish wine till it be well sodden , then put it in a linnen cloth , and lay it to her navel , as hot as she may suffer it , four or five times . a water for an old sore . take honeysuckles , water bettony , rosemary , sage , violet leaves , elder leaves , cut them all small together , and seeth them in a quart of running water , put thereto two spoonfuls of honey , and a little allum . for one that hath a great heat in his temples , or that cannot sleep . take the juyce of houseleeck , and of lettice , of each one spoonful , of womans milk six spoonfuls , put them together , and set them upon a chafingdish of coales , and put thereto a piece of rose-cake , and lay it to your temples . to quench or slack your thirst . take one quart of running water out of the brook , seeth it , and skum it , put thereto five or six spoonfuls of vinegar , a good quantity of sugar and cinnamon , three or four cloves bruised , drink it luke-warm . for one that hath a great heat in his hands and stomack . take four eggs , roast them hard , peel them , lay them in vinegar three or four houres , then let the sick man hold in either hand one of them , and after some space change them and take the other , and it will allay the heat . against all aches , and especially of a womans breast . take milk , and rose leaves , and set them on the fire , put thereto oatmeal , and oyle of roses , boyle them till they be thick , and lay it hot under the sore , and renew it so till it be alwayes hot . for the ptisick and dry cough . take the lungs of a fox , beat them to pouder , take of licorice , and sugar-candy , a good quantity , a small quantity of cummin , mix these all well together , and put them in a bladder , and eat of it as often as you think good in the day . to take away warts . take snailes that have shells , pick them , and with the juyce that cometh from them rub the wart every day for the space of seven or eight dayes , and it will destroy then . a perfect water for the sight . take sage , fennel , vervin , bettony , eyebright , pimpernel , cinquefoil , and hearbgrace , lay all these in white wine one night , still it in a stillitory of glasse , this water will restore the sight of one that was blind three yeares before . to restore the hearing . take rue , rosemary , sage , vervin , majoram , of each one handful , of cammomil two handfuls , stamp them , and mould them in rie dough , make thereof one loaf , bake it as other bread , and when it is baked break it in the midst , and as hot as may be suffered bind it to your eares , and keep them warm and close one day or more , after it be taken away forbear yee to take cold . for a felon in the joynts . take rue , fetherfew , bores grease , leaven , salt , honey , six leaves of sage , shred them altogether small , then-beat them together , and lay it to the sore place . to comfort the brains , and to procure sleep . take a red rose cake , three spoonfuls of white wine vinegar , the white of one egg , three spoonfuls of womans milk , set all these one a chafingdish of coals , heat them , and lay the rose cake upon the dish , and let them heat together , then take one nutmeg and shew it on the cake , then put it betwix● two clothes , and lay it to your forehead as warm as you may suffer it . a medicine for a sore head with a scald . take one peck of shoomakers shreds , set them over the fire in a brass pan , put water to them , and seeth them so long as any oyle will arise , and evermore be scumming off the oyle , then take plantain , ribwort , housleek leaves , ground ivie , knotted grasse , wild borrage , tutsan , hearb bennet , smallage , setwel leaves , of every one a like quantity , and beat them in a morter and strain them , then take half a penniworth of rosin , half a penniworth of allum , a little virgins wax , beat them , and put them into a pan , and set it over the fire , put thereto the hearbs and the oyle , let them seeth till all be melted , then strain them into a pan , and stir them till they be cold , and put it into a box for your use , when you dresse your head , heat a little in a saucer , annoint it every day twice , pull out the hairs that stand upright , and with linnen cloth wipe away the corruption . a salve for a green wound , or old sore . take the leaves of green tobacco two pounds , of valerian two pound , beat them very small , then strain them , and take the juyce thereof , put one pound of yellow wax , one pound of rosin , one pound of deer suet , boyl them together till they be very green , and when it is half cold , put to it a quarter of a pound of turpentine , and keep it for your use . for the running of the reins , approved . take the rows of red herrings , dry them upon the coals , till they will beat to pouder , then give it to the patient to drinke in the morning fasting , as much as will lve upon a shilling in five spoonfuls of ale or wine , be he never so weak . for the burning and pricking in the soles of the feet . take half a pound of barrows grease , two good handfuls of mugwort chopped very small , boil it with the barrows grease upon a soft fire , by the space of four hours , then strain it from the mugwort , and put it up in an earthen thing for your use , and annoint your feet as you go to bed . a medicine for any heat , burning , or scalding : approved . take half a pint of the best cream you can get , and set it in a fair posnet upon the fire then take two good handfuls of daisie roots , leaves and all clean washed , and very finely shred , put them into the same possnet , and boil it upon the fire , untill it be a clear oyntment , then strain it through a cloth , and keep it for your use . to make aqua composita to drink for a surfet , or a cold stomack , and to avoid flegm , and glut from stomack . take one handful of rosemary , one good root of elecampane , one handful of hop , half a handful of thyme , half a handful of sage , six good crops of red mints , and as much of pennieroyal , half a handful of horehound , six crops of majoram , two ounces of licorice well bruised , and so much of annise seeds , then take three gallons of strong ale , and put all the aforesaid things , ale and hearbs into a brasse pot , then set them upon the fire , and set your limbeck upon it , and stop it close with paste , that there come no air out , and so keep it with a soft fire , as other aqua vitae . for an ach in any joynt . take clarified butter a quarter of a pound , of cummin one pound , black sope a quarter of a pound , one handful of rue , sheeps suet ℥ ii . bay salt one spoonful , bray these together , then fry them with the gall of an oxe , spread it on a plaister , and lay it on as hot as you can , and let it lye seven dayes . a plaister to lay to the head , for a rheum which runneth at the eyes . take the pouder of rose-leaves , rose-water , and betonie water , of each a like quantity , and a little vinegar , put your pouders into the water and vinegar , stir them and temper them , and make them in a plaister , and put to it a little pouder of terra sigillata . a water to be used with the plaister abovesaid for the same purpose . take one quart of new milk , two pound of green fennel , a quarter of a pound of eyebright , put the hearbs and milk into a stillatorie , cast half an ounce of camphire thereon , and with this water , wash your eyes and temples . for the emeroids , approved . take a peece of tawnie cloth , burn it in a frying pan to pouder , then beat it in a morter as fine as may be , searce it , then lay it on a brown paper , and with spittle make it plaister-wise , and lay it to the place , and trusse it up with clothes . to break any sore . take hot bread to the quantity of a farthing loaf , grate it , put thereto sallet oyle three or four spoonfuls , and a pint of milk , and seeth them together to a good thickness , spread it on a cloth and lay it to the sore , in stead of sallet oyle , you may use deer suet . a bath for an ach in the back , and limbs . take mugwort , vervin , fetherfue , dill , rosemary , burnet , ●unhoof , horehound , and white mints , senkil and sage , of each one handful , seeth all these in four gallons of running water , and let it seeth till one gallon be wasted , then bath your leggs with it five nights together . a medicine for any joynt that is numme with any ach , approved . take virgin wax one ounce , verdigrease half a quarter of an ounce , brimstone , sope , oyle of eggs , of allum , of honey , of each a like quantity , temper them altogether , and lay it upon the place grieved somewhat warm . a medicine for a felon of any finger . take as much gray salt as an egg , wind it in gray paper , lay it in the embers a quarter of an hour , then beat it in a morter very fine , then take the yoalk of a new laid egg , beat it with this pouder , untill it be very stiffe , spread it upon a cloth , lay it upon the joynt grieved twenty four houres , and so dresse it three times . for a boil or push . take the yolk of a new laid egg , a little english honey , put it into the shell to the yolk , put in as much wheat meal as will make it to spread , then take one branch of rue , and one of fetherfew , shred them very fine , and put it to the same medicine , stir them very well together , spread it upon a peece of leather , and lay it to the place gieved . an electuarie to cause good digestion , and to comfort the stomack . take setwel , and galingal , of each three slices , nutmegs , ginger , and cinnamon , of each two slices , three berberries sliced fine and husked , three slices of liquorice , half a spoonful of annise seeds clean dusted , one long pepper cut small , white pepper six grains , as much black pepper , beat them all into a grosse pouder , then put thereto two grains of musk , one grain of amber greece , then take mint water and sugar , boil them together , and when they are come to the right perfection of thicknesse , put in those pouders above mentioned in the cooling , with a little conserve of rosemary floures , of this cake the quantitie of a nutmeg , half an hour before you eat or drinke at meals . a powder for the rheume , or sore eyes . boyle one pint of hop-water , when the hop is in the flower , till it be scalding hot , then put into it half a pound of licorice in very fine pouder , the water being taken from the fire , for the licorice must not boyle in the water , stirre them together till the water be clean consumed , then adde to them , of anniseseeds , and fennel-seeds , of each half a pound made into very fine pouder through a searce , angelica roots , elicampane roots , and leaves , and flowers , of eyebright made into very fine powder , of each one ounce and a half , mingle these together , and so keep it close , and when you eat of this pouder weigh out of the whole quantity two ounces , whereunto adde as much good aqua vitae as will moisten it , or angelico-water , or rosa solis , to keep it from being musty , set it near the fire ; eat of this pouder at any time as much as you may take up with a groat , and it is special good for the rheume , for cold , or for sore eyes . mr. bendlow . a salve for any wound . take rosin , perrosin , wax , of each eight ounces , of sheeps suet , and frankincense , of each four ounces , one ounce of mastick made in pouder , boyle all these in a pint of white wine half an hour , then take it from the fire , and put thereto half an ounce of camphire in pouder ; when it is almost cold put thereto four ounces of turpentine , and make it up in roules , but before it be rouled you must wash it up in running water . a. t. to deliver a child in danger . take a date stone , beat it into pouder , let the woman drink it with wine , then take polipody and emplaister it to her feet , and the child will come whether it be quick or dead ; then take centory , green or dry , give it the woman to drink in wine , give her also the milk of another woman . a most singular sirupe for the lungs , and to prevent the consumption . take egrimony , scabias , borrage , buglosse , of each twenty leaves , folefoot , lungwort , maidenhair , of each half a handful , suckory , and endive , of each six leaves , of carduus benedictus , horehound , nip , of each four crops unset , hop half a handful , fennel roots , parsly roots , smalladge roots , of each three roots sliced and the piths taken out , elicampane four roots sliced , iris roots half an ounce sliced , quinceseeds one ounce , licorice three good sticks scraped and sliced small , twenty figs sliced , raisins of the sun one good handful sliced , and the stones taken out , boyle all these in a gallon of running water till half be consumed , then take it from the fire and let it settle , then strain it , and boyle it again with as much white sugar as will make it thick as sirupe , that it may last all the year . a pouder for the stone . take hawes , and hips , of each a good handful , ashen keyes half a handful , three or four acorns , the shels of three new laid eggs , grounwel seeds , parsly seeds , of each half an ounce , perstone a good handful , camock roots half a handful , make all these in fine pouder , then put thereto two ounces of sugar-candy beaten something small , take a sixpenny weight of this pouder at a time in the morning fasting , and drink not after it one hour . for the collick and stone . take one handful of philipendula , of rosemary , of saxafrage , of ivy growing in the wall , of harts-tongue , of thyme , of parsly , of scabias , of each four handfuls , of marigolds one handful , of majoram three handfuls , of brown fennel , of longdebeefe , of spernits , of borage , of each two handfuls , of maidenhair three handfuls , still all these in may , keep it in a glasse till you have need of it , then take of it five spoonfuls , and three of white wine , and of clean pouder of ginger half a spoonful , put these together , and warm it luke-warm , and let the patient drink it in the morning two houres before he rise out of his bed , let him lay more clothes upon him , for it will provoke him to sweat , after the sweat is gone let him rise and walk whither he will. a good water to drinke with wine , or without to cool choler . take borage roots , and succory roots , of each two , wash and scrape them fair and clean , and take out their cores , then take an earthen pot of two gallons , fill it with fair spring water , set it on a fire of charcoal , put the roots in it , and eight pennyworth of cinnamon ; when it beginneth to seeth , put into it four ounces of fine sugar , and let it seeth half an hour , then take it off , let it cool , and drink hereof at your pleasure . to make aqua composita for the collick and stone . take of strong ale one moneth old as many gallons as your pot will hold , and for every gallon take two ounces of licorice , and as much of annise seeds , and of these hearbs following two handfuls of each to every gallon , of birch leaves , burnet , pasphere , pellitory of the wall , water-cresses , saxifrage , crumwel , philiponula , pennyroyal , fennel , half a root of elicampane ; of hawes , of hips , of berries , and brambles , and berberries of each half a pint , distil them as you doe other aqua vitae . a medicine for the collick passion . take the smooth leaves of holly , dry them , and make them into pouder , of gromwel seed , and of box seed , of each a little quantity , let the patient drink hereof . to take away the fervent shaking and burning of an ague . take of the rind of the wilding tree , with the leaves in summer , of each half a handful , as much bettony , three crops of rosemary , seeth them in a quart of posset ale to a pint , and let the sick drink of this as hot as he can , and so within three times it will ease him . for the hardnesse and stiffenesse of sinewes . take twelve fledgd swallowes out of the nest , kill them , beat them feathers and all in a morter , with i hyme , rosemary , and hop , then seeth them with may butter a good while , then strain them through a strainer as hard as you can , and it will be an ointment , take the strings that grow out of the strawberries and beat them amongst the rest . to stay the flux . take white starch made of wheat two or three spoonfuls , and take also new milk from the cow , stirre these together , and let them be warmed a little , and give it to the party grieved in manner of a glister : a present remedy . an approved medicine for the plague , called the philosophers egge , it is a most excellent preservative against all poysons , or dangerous diseases that draw towards the heart . take a new laid egg , and break a hole so broad as you may , take out the white clean from the yolk , then take one ounce of saffron and mingle it with the yolk , but be careful you break not the shell , then cover it with another piece of shell so close as is possible , then take an earthen pot with a close cover , with warm embers , so that the shell be not burned , and as those embers do cool , so put in more hot , and doe so for the space of two dayes until you think it be dry , for proof whereof you shall put in a pen , and if it come out dry it is well , then take the egge and wipe it very clean , then pare the shell from the saffron , and set it before the fire , and let it be warm , then beat it in a morter very fine , and put it in by it self , then take as much white mustard seed as the egge and saffron , and grind it as small as meal , then searse it trough a fine boulter , that you may save the quantity of the egge so searced , then take a quarter of an ounce of dittany roots , as much of turmentil , of nuces vomicae one drachm , let them be dryed by the fire as aforesaid , then stamp these three last severally very fine in a morter , then mix them three well together , after that take , as a thing most needful , the root of angelica , and pimpernel , of each the weight of sixpence , make them to pouder , and mix them with the rest , then compound therewith five or six simples of unicorns horn , or for want thereof of hartshorn , and take as much weight , as all these fine pouders come to , of fine triacle , and stamp it with the pouders in a morter until all be well mixed and hang to the pestle , and then it is perfectly made , then put the electuary in a stone pot well nealed , and so it will continue twenty or thirty yeares , and the longer the better . how to use this electuary . first when one is infected with the pestilence , let him take , so soon as he can , or ever the disease infect the heart , one crown weight in gold of this electuary , and so much of fine triacle , if it be for a man , but if it be for a woman or child , take lesse , and let them be well mixed together , and if the disease come with cold , then give him this electuary with half a pint of white wine warm , and well mixed together ; but if it come with heat , then give it him with plantain water , or well water , and vinegar , mixt altogether , and when he hath drunk the same , let him goe into his naked bed , and put off his shirt , and cover him warm , but let his bed be well warmed first , and a hot double sheet wrapped about him , and so let him sweat seven , eight , or ten houres , as he is able to endure , for the more he doth sweat the better , because the disease fadeth away with the sweat ; but if he cannot sweat , then heat two or three bricks or tiles , and wrap them in moist clothes wet with water and salt , and lay them by his sides in the bed , and they will cause him to sweat , and as he sweateth , let it be wiped from his body with dry hot clothes being conveyed into the bed , and his sweat being ended , shift him into a warm bed with a warm shirt , and all fresh new clothes , using him very warily for taking of cold , and let his clothes that he did sweat in be well aired and washed , for they be infectious ; and let the keeper of the sick beware of the breath or air of the party in the time of his sweating , therefore let her muffle her self with double old cloth , wherein is wormwood , rue , fetherfew , crums of soure bread , and vinegar , and a little rosewater , beat all these together , and so put it into the muffler , made new every day while you doe keep him , and let the sick party have of it bound in a cloth to smell on while he is in his sweat , then after doe it away and take a new , and because he shall be faint and distempered after his sicknesse , he shall eat no flesh , nor drink wine the space of nine dayes , but let him use the conservatives for his health , as conserve of buglosse , borage , and red roses , and especially he shall drink three or four dayes after he hath sweat , morning and evening , three ounces of the juyce of sorrel mixed with an ounce of conserve of sorrel , and so use to eat and drink whatsoever is comfortable for the heart ; also if one take the quantity of a pea of the said electuary with some good wine , it shall keep him from the infection , therefore when one is sick in the house of the plague , then so soon as yee can , give all the whole houshold some of this receipt to drink , and his keeper also , and it shall preserve them from the infection , yet keep the whole from the 〈◊〉 as much as you can , beware of the clothes and bed that the sick party did sweat in . to make balm water . take four gallons of strong ale and stale , half a pound of licorice , two pound of balm , two ounces of figs , half a pound of annise seeds , one ounce of nutmegs , shred the balm and figs very small , and let them stand steeping four and twenty houres , and then put it in a still as you use aqua vitae . to make doctor stephens water . take one gallon of good gascoign wine , of ginger , galingal , nutmegs , grains , annise seeds , fennel seeds , carraway seeds , then take sage , mints , red roses , garden thyme , pellitorie , rosemary , wild thyme , penniroyall , cammomill , lavender , of each one handful , bray your spices small , and chop the hearbs before named , and put them with the spices into the wine , and let it stand twelve houres , stirring it very often , then still it in a limbeck , closed up with course paste , so that no air enter , keep the first water by it self , it is good so long as it will burn . an ointment for any strain in the joynts , or for any sore . take three pound of fresh butter unwashed , and set it in an oven after the bread be drawn out , and let it stand two or three houres , then take the clearest of the butter and put it into a posnet , then take the tops of red nettles as much as will be moistned with the butter , and chop them very small , and put them in the butter , set it on the fire , and boyle it softly five or six houres , and when it is so boyled , put thereto halfe a pint of the best oyle olive , and then boyle it a very little , and take it off , and strain it into an earthen pot , and keep it for your use . if you thinke good instead of nettles , onely you may take these hearbs , cammomile , rosemary , lavender , tun-hoof , otherwise ale-hoof , five finger , vervain , and nettle tops . for an ague . take the inner bark of a walnut tree , a good quantity , boyl it in beer untill the beer look black , and then take a good draught and put it into a pot , then take six spoonfuls of sallet oyle for an extream ague , brew it too and fro in two pots , then drinke it , and let the party labour to any exercise untill he sweat , then let him lye down upon a bed very warm untill he hath done sweating , this doe three times when the ague cometh upon him . a pouder against the wind in the stomack . take ginger , cinnamon , and gallingal , of each two ounces , annise seeds , carraway , and fennel seeds , of each one ounce , long pepper , graines , mace , and nutmegs , of each half an ounce , setwel half a drachm , make all in pouder , and put thereto one pound of white sugar , and use this after your meat or before at your pleasure , at all times it comforteth the stomack marvellously , carrieth away wind , and causeth good digestion . for a pin and web in the eye . take the white of an egg , beat it to oyle , put thereto a quarter of a spoonful of english honey , half a handful of daisie leaves , and in winter the roots , half a handful of the inner rind of a young hazle not above one yeares growth , beat them together in a morter , and put thereto one spoonful of womans milk , and let it stand infused two or three houres , and strain all through a cloth , and with a feather drop it into the eye thrice a day . for bloud-shotten , and sore eyes , coming of heat . take tutty of alexandria , or lapis tutty one ounce , beat it into fine pouder , and temper it with a quart of white wine , put thereto one ounce of dried rose leaves , and boyle them altogether with a soft fire until one half be consumed , then strain it through a fine linnen cloth , and keep it in a glasse , and use it evening and morning , and put it into the sore eyes with a feather or your finger . if the tutty be prepared it is the better , which is thus done , steep the tutty in rose-water , and let it lye half an hour , then take it forth , and lay it on a white paper to dry , then take it when it is dry , steep it , and dry it again , as before , twice or thrice , and then use it as before . for an ach in the bones . take southernwood , wormwood , and bay leaves , of each one handful , one oxe gall , one pint of neat-foot oyle , put all these together , and let them so stand two or three dayes , and let them boyle upon a very soft fire , then put in of dears suet a good quantity , strain them , and put them into a pot , and so annoint the patient , put to this a good quantity of farre , and as much pitch as the bignesse of a walnut , and of the juyce of pimpernel a good quantity . for children that are troubled with an extream cough . take hysor●●ain water , and fennel water , of each half a pint , of sliced licorice , and sugar , of each a pretty quantity , seeth them easily over a good fire , strain it , and let them take a little hereof at once , and often you may dissolve pellets therein , and you may annoint their chest with oyle of almonds , and a little wax . a medicine for sore eyes . take red fennel , and celendine , of each one handful , stamp and strain them , that done , take five spoonfuls of honey , and white copperas the quantity of one pea , rosewater five spoonfuls , boyle all these together in an earthen pot , skum it well , and clarifie it with the white of an egge ; this is an excellent medicine to clear the sight of the eye if there be any thing in the eye superfluous to hinder the sight , but if there be nothing but heat , it is nothing so good . to help one that is inwardly bruised . take of borrage , and red sage , of each a handful , stamp these together , and strain them , and put thereto as much claret wine , as the juyce therof , and let the party drink it warm , and if it keep within him four and twenty houres , after he will recover ; if he be bound in the body , let him take three spoonfuls of sirupe of damask roses , and two spoonfuls of sallade oyle , and drink it fasting , and an hour after let the party take some warme broth . for the spleen . take of lavender , fennel , parsly , cammomil , thyme , wormwood , angelica , of each one handful , of sage , and rue , one handful , of annise seeds , and fennel seeds , of each one handful , of cummin seeds two handfuls , of cloves four spoonfuls , and of mace two spoonfuls , gather these hearbs in the heat of the day , and dry them in the sun two dayes , laying them very thinne on a sheet , and bruise the seed grosly , and steep them in as much sallade oyle as will cover all these things , and somewhat more , and so set them in the sun ten dayes , which being done , strain your oyle from your hearbs and your spices , and then infuse it new again as before , with hearbs and spices in like manner , and to that oyle thus infused or strained , adde bitter almonds , and oyle of capers half a pint , then take a quarter of a spoonful of the said oyle , and put it in your hand , your hand being warm , rub them together , and annoint and rub the patient grieved with both your hands , the one on the right side , the other on the left , from the loines down to the bottome of the belly , drawing your hands as hard as you can , and make them to meet at the bottome of the belly , and continue in continual rubbing , about a quarter of an hour . for a burning or scald . take a quantity of sheeps suet , the white of hen dung , and fresh grease , boil all these together , strain it , and annoint the party with a feather . for the emeroides and piles . take juyce of elder , may butter , and deares suet , melt them , letting the juyce and the butter simper , and then put the suet to them , make them into pills , and if you make a suppositor , you must put in more deeres suet. for the canker in the mouth or nose . take the ashes of green leaves of holly , with half so much of the burnt pouder of allum , blow with a quill into the place greived , and it will help man , or child , or beast . a remedy for the mother . when the fitt beginneth to take them , take the pouder of white amber , and burn it in a chasingdish of coales , and let them hold their mouths over it , and suck in the smoak , and annoint their nostrils with the oyle of amber , and if they be not with child , take two or three drops of the oyle of amber in white wine warm or cold , but the oyle of amber must be taken inward but once a day , and outward as often as the fitt taketh them . a medicine for the wormes . take one penniworth of alloes with the like quantity of oxe gall and mithridate , mix them together , and lay them to the childs navel upon a plaister . a preservative against the plague . take one dry walnut , take off the shell and peel , cut it small , and with a branch of rue shred fine , and a little wine vinegar , and salt , put all into a sliced fig , take it up fasting , and then you may drink a little wormwood after it , and goe where you list . a pill for those that are infected . take of aloes succatrine half an ounce , of myrrh , and english saffron , of each a quarter of an ounce , beat them into small pouder with malmsey , or a little sack , or diascordion , make two or three small pills thereof , and take them fasting . a poultesse to break a plague sore . take a white lilly root , and seeth it in a pennyworth of linseed , and a pretty quantity of barrowes grease , beat the linseed first very soft , afterwards beat altogether in a morter , make thereof a plaister . an electuary to be taken for the plague . take the weight often graines of saffron , two ounces of the kernels of walnuts , two or three figs , one drachm of mithridate , and a few sage leaves stamped together , with a sufficient quantity of pimpernel water , make up all these together in a masse or lump , and keep it in a glasse or pot for your use , take the quantity of twelve graines fasting in the morning , and it will not onely preserve from the pestilence , but expel from those that be infected . against a tertian ague . take dandilion clean washed , stamp it , and put it in beer , and let it stand all night in the beer , in the morning strain it , and put half a spoonful of triacle into it , make it luke-warm , and let the patient drink of it fasting upon his well day , and walk upon it as long as he is able , this hath been approved good for an ague that cometh every second day . against the wind. take cummin seeds , and steep them in sack four and twenty houres , dry them by the fire , and hull them , then take fennel seed , carraway seed , and annise seed , beat all these together , and take every morning half a spoonful in broth or beer fasting . against wind. take enula campana , grate it , and drink half a spoonful fasting . for the sting of an adder . take a head of garlick and bruise it with some rue , adde some honey thereto , and if you will some triacle , and apply it to the place . for the biting of a dog. take ragwort , chop it , and boyle it with unwashed butter to an ointment . a medicine for a woman that hath a dead child , or for the after-birth after deliverance . take date stones , dry them and beat them to pouder , then take cummin-seed , grains , and english saffron , make them in pouder , and put them altogether in like quantitie , saving lesse of the saffron then of the rest , then searce them very finely , and when need is to drinke it , take a spoonful at once with a little malmsie , and drinke it milk-warm , it is good to bring forth a dead child , or for the after-birth , or if the woman have any rising in her stomack , or flushing in her face during her childbed , the datestones with round holes in the sides are the best , if you put a quantity of white amber beaten amongst the pouder , it will be the better . to make the best paracelsus salve . take of lith●rge of gold and silver of each three ounces , and put to it one pound and half of good sallet oyle , and as much of linseed oyle , put it into a large earthen vessel well leaded , of the fashion of a milk boul , or a great bason , set it over a gentle fire , and keep it stirring till it begin to boyl , then put to it of red lead , and of lapis calaminaris , of each half a pound , keep it with continuall stirring , and let it boil two houres , or so long till it be something thick , which you may know by dropping a little of it upon a cold board or stone , then take a skillet , and put into it a pound of yellow wax , as much black rosin , half a pound of gum sandrach , of yellow amber , olibanum , myrrh , of aloes hepatica , of both the kinds of aristolochias round and long , of every of these in fine pouder searced one ounce , of mummia one ounce , and a half , of oyle of bayes half a pound , of oyle of juniper six ounces , dissolve all these together in the aforesaid skillet , and then put them to the former plaister , set it over a gentle fire , and keep it with stirring , till it boile a little ; then take your five gums , popanax , galbanum , sagapenum , ammoniacum , and bdelium , of each of these three ounces , which must be dissolved in white wine vinegar and strained , and the vinegar exasperated from them before you go about the plaister , let there be three ounces of each of them when they are thus prepared , then when the plaister hath gently boyled , about half the bignesse of a nutmeg at a time , continuing that order untill all the gums be in and dissolved , then set it over the fire again , and let it boyl a very little , but before it boil , be sure that the gums be all dissolved , for else it will run into lumps and knots , after it hath boiled a little take it from the fire again , and continue the stirring of it very carefully , and put to it these things following , being in readinesse , take of both the corals red and white , of mother of pearl , of dragons blood , of terra lemnia , of white vitriol of each of them one ounce , of lapis hematitis , and of the loadstone , of each of them one ounce and a half , of the floures of antimony two drachms , of crocus martis two drachms , of camphire one ounce , of common turpentine half a pound , mix all these together , but first let those things that are to be poudred , be carefully done , and fully searced , then put them altogether among the former things , and again set it over the fire with a moderate heat , and gentle , to boyl , till it be in the form of a plaister , the which you may know by dropping it on a cold peece of wood , or stone , or iron : you must above remember to keep it with continuall stirring from the beginning to the ending , when you make it up , let your hands and the place you roul it on be annointed with the oyle of s. johns wort , and of earth worms , and juniper , cammomile and roses together , wrap it in parchment or leather , and keep it for your use . memorandum , that the camphire bee dissolved in the oyle of juniper , mix them together with the gum sandrach , and put them in towards the latter end . an ointment for any strain in the joynts , or for any sore . take three pound of fresh butter unwashed , and set it into an oven after the bread be drawn out , and let it stand two or three hours , then take the clearest of the butter , and put it into a posnet , then take the tops of red nettles , and chop them very small , and put so many nettles to the butter , as will be moistned with the butter , and so set it on the fire , and boil it softly five or six hours , and when it is so boyled , put thereto half a pint of the best oyle olive , and then make it boil a very little , and take it off , and strain it into an earthen pot , and keep it for your use . mr. ashleys ointment . take six pound of may butter unsalted , one quart of sallet oyle , four pound of barrows grease , one pound of the best rosin , one pound of turpentine , half a pound of frankincense ; to this rate take these hearbs following , of each a handful , viz. smallage , balm , lorage , red sage , lavender , lavender-cotton , herb-grace , parsley , cumferie called boneset , sorrel , laurel leaves , birch leaves , lungwort , majoram , rosemarie , mallows , cammomile , s. johns wort , plantain , allheal , chickweed , english tobacco , or else henbane , groundsell , woundwort , betony , agrimonie , carduus benedictus , wild wine , or white wine called bryan , adders tongue , mellilot ; pick all these hearbs clean , wash them , strain them clean from the water , all these must be gathered after the sun rise , then stamp all these hearbs in a stone or wooden-morter , so small as possible may be , then take your rosin , and beat it to pouder with your frankincense , and melt them first alone , then put in your butter , your hogs-grease and oyle , and when all is melted , put in your hearbs , and let them all boil together half a quarter of an hour , then take it from the fire , and leave stirring of it in no wise a quarter of an hour after , and in that time that it is from the fire , put in your turpentine , and two ounces of verdigrease very finely beaten to pouder , and when you put in your turpentine and verdigrease , stir it well , or else it will run over , and so stir untill it leave boyling : then put it in an earthen pot , stopping the pot very close with a cloth and a board on the top , and set it in a dunghil of horse-muck twenty one dayes , then take it up and put it into a kettle , and let it boil a little , taking heed that it boil not over , then strain all through a course cloth , into an earthen or gally pot , and when all is strained , put to it half a pound of oyle of spike , and cover the pot close untill you use it , and when you use it make it warm in winter , and use it cold in summer . an approved medicine for any ach in the joynt whatsoever . take half a pound of rosin , half a pound of frankincense , of olibanum and mastick , of each one ounce , wax , deer suet , turpentine , of each two ounces , camphire 2 drachms , beat the olibanum , mastick , rosin , and frankincense , and camphire in pouder , then put it in a brass pan with a pottle of white wine , and put in the wax and deer suet into it , and when it doth boil , put in your turpentine , and let it boil a quarter of an hour , then take it from the fire and let it stand and cool untill the next day , then work it with your hand to work out the wine , annointing your hands first with oyle , then make it up in rouls , then as need shall serve , take thereof and spread it with a warm knife upon a fleshie side of a sheeps skin , and apply it warm to the grieved place , and take it not off untill it fall off of it self , pricking the plaister full of holes . a searcloth to be used against carbuncles , red sores , biles , swellings , or any hot causes . take a wine pint of pure sallet oyle , and put it into an earthen pot that is very large , and set it upon a very soft fire of charcoal , and when it beginneth to boyl , stir it with a hasel stick of one yeares shooting , then put into it two ounces of venus sope , that is pure white , half a pound of red lead , one quarter of a pound of white lead , letting it boil very softly , stirring it continually with this hazle stick for the space of two or three houres , you shall know when it is boyled by this , drop one drop thereof upon a board , and it will be stiffe , when it is enough , then take it from the fire , and put into it half an ounce of oyle of bayes , then let it boil again a little , then let your cloathes be readie cut of a reasonable size to dip them in it , then you must have two sticks which must be hollow in the middle , to strip the cloathes through , then lay them abroad , untill they be cold upon a board , then roul them up and keep them , and when you use them lay them upon the place grieved , and let them lie twelve hours , then take it off and wipe it , and lay the other side , and let that lye as long . plague water to be taken three times , for the first helpeth not . take a gallon of white wine , ale or beer , and to that quantity take a quarter of a pound of each of these hearbs following , rosewater a quarter of a pint , rue , sage , vervain , egrimonie , betonie , sallendine , carduus , angelica , pimpernel , scabios , valerian , wormwood , dragons , mugwort , all these hearbs must you shred in grosse together , and steep it in the aforesaid liquor the night before you distill it in a rosewater still , and then keep the first water by it self being the weaker , and therefore fitter for children , it helpeth all fevers , agues , and plagues , being thus taken seven spoonfuls or thereabout of the strongest bloud warm , and give it to the partie to drinke , in an ague or fever an hour before the fit come , and so to sweat either by exercise , or in your bed , but your stomack must be emptie , and if it be taken for the plague , then put into it a little diascordium , or methridate . a defensive plaister . take the white of an egg , and bole-armoniack , spread it on leather . a sirrup for a cold. take coltsfoot , water hysop , water and honey , put liquorice , annise seeds , and elecampane , put thereto the juyce of fennel , and boil them well . to stay the bleeding of a wound . take a charcoal red hot out of the fire , and beat it to pouder . a poultesse . take milk , oatmeal , and red rose-leaves , and a little deers suet. for the running of the reines . take cups of acornes , and grate them , and grate some nutmeg , put this in beer , and drink . for a poultesse . take linseed , and beat it to pouder , boyle it in milk with mallowes and sheeps suet. for a blast . take a good quantity of vervin , and boyle it in milk , and wash the blast therewith very well , then bind the hearbs very close to it some few houres , after wash it again the milk being warmed , and so bind it up again , the oftner it is done the better , and in a day or two it will be well , if it be taken before it fester . for a blast . take a good quantity of vericon being green , with as much dill , chop them together , and boyle them in bores grease as much as will cover them , and for want thereof so much may butter , and when they be boyled together , let them stand two or three dayes , and then boyle it a little , and so strain it through a cloth . a balsamum . take in the latter end of september good store of honeysuckle berries , and put them in a body of a glasse still stopped , and set it in hot horse-dung eight dayes , distil it in balm , then when you have drawn the water forth , pour the water into the stuffe again , stop it close , and put it in the dung four and twenty houres , then set it in ashes , and distil both water and oyle with a great fire as much as will come forth , and at last separate the water from the oyle in balm . to make an excellent oyle of hypericon . take floures , leaves , and seeds of hypericon as much as you list , beat them together , and infuse them in white wine that they may be covered therewith , and set them in the sun for ten dayes , then put thereto so much oyle olive as all the rest doth weigh , and let it stand ten dayes more in the sun , but look that you weigh the oyle to know how much it is , then put thereto for every pound of oyle two ounces of turpentine , and one drachm of saffron , and of nutmegs , and cloves , of each half an ounce , of mirrh , and rosin , of each an ounce , and of the root of briony two ounces , put them all in a vessel of glasse , and mix them well together , and set them in a vessel of hot water , and then set thereto a head of glasse and receiver well shut , and boyle it so long until no more will distil from it , which will be about four and twenty houres , then take it out , and strain it whilest it is hot , and keep it in a vessel of glasse , and when you use it first heat it well , and apply it upon a wound without using any tent at all , this is excellent for a green wound , especially if there be vaines , sinews , or bones offended or cut , it keepeth wounds from putrifaction , it cleanseth them , and easeth pain , and doth incarnate and skin them ; it helpeth bruises , paines , aches , or swellings in any part , and is wonderful good against venome or poyson . for the falling sicknesse . take the roots of single pionies , grate them , drink them , and wear some of them about your neck . for kibed heeles . take a turnip , make a hole in the top of it , take out some of the pith , infuse into that hole oyle of roses , then stop close the hole , roast the turnip under the embers , when it is soft , apply it plaister-wise warm to the kibe , bind it fast . lapis prunellae . a medicine for sore eyes . take one pound of saltpeter , boyle it in a goldsmiths earthen pot , with a very hot fire round about it , let it boyle till it be very black and melted , then take a quarter of an ounce , or sixpenny weight of roch allum , and a quarter of an ounce of brimstone , break them , and put them in the saltpeter by little at once as it boyleth , and let it burn till the flame goe out of it self , then pour it into a brasse ladle , or into a chafer , and so let it stand till it be cold , and when you will use it , s●rape it very fine with a knife , and put a little of it to the sore eyes , hold down the eye-lid till the pain be gone , then let water drop out of the eye : this medicine taketh away the pearle , the pin , the web in the eye , and all sores and bloudshed ; it also helpeth the tooth-ach , being put into the hollow tooth with a little lint , if the tooth be not hollow rub it outward ; finally , it helpeth a stincking breath , being eaten in the morning fasting . for a scald head. take a handful of glovers shreds , and a handful of dock roots , the pith taken out , and boyle them in strong ale until they be reasonable thick , and annoint the head therewith . for a bloudy flux . take rubarb and toast it , then grind it to pouder , and take as much as will lye upon a sixpence , and keep warm that day , the next day eat conserve of roses mixed with corral , and drink that day if yee will posset ale made of cammomil . for the itch. take one pound of butter unwashed and unsalted , three good handfuls of red sage , and as much brimstone beaten into pouder as a walnut , boyle these well together , and strain it , and put in half an ounce of ginger beaten small . for sore eyes . take new hens dung out of the nest , and put it into an oven almost cold , let it lye there all night , then take the white of it , and beat it being dryed , and take as much of the pouder of ginger finely beaten , and put to that half the like quantity of sugar-candy , all which must be beaten very well and fearced , then put it into the sore eyes every night , and in the morning wash it out with the water . a water for sore eyes . take a pint of fair running water , of wild daisies , and three leaved grasse , of each a good handful , wash the hearbs very clean in a collender , and put them into a clean skillet of water , let them boyle very well over the fire , until the water look green , then take a little piece of allum and put into the water when it is boyling , then taste of the water , and when it sticks to the mouth , take as much honey as will make it very sweet , then after it hath boyled a little while take it off the fire , strain it , and drop a little every night into the eyes . an approved application against any surfeit . take the bottome of a muncorn loaf , cut it about an inch thick , and as broad as the palm of your hand , toast it very well , then take of sallade oyle , and claret wine , of each a like quantity , as much as will wet the toast well and throughly , warm it hot , then put the toast into it , when the toast is well soaked , strew the pouder of cloves and mace thereupon thick , then apply it to the stomack of the patient as warm as he can indure it , it will purge upwards and downwards so often as you apply a fresh toast made as aforesaid , this may be applyed so often as any one findeth their stomack ill at ease , although then it will not purge , except in case of a surfeit . a medicine against the plague . take of the root called setwel to the quantity of half a walnut , and grate it , of triacle green one good spoonful , of fair water three spoonfuls , make all these more than luke-warm , and so drink them off in bed , and sweat six or seven houres , and in your sweat drink small posset ale made of small drink as you need , but not till an hour and half after the taking of the potion , and it will bring forth the plague , for if you cast the medicine , you may take it the second , third , or fourth time by the whole half , or lesse measure , as your stomack will bear it : if any doe take it , and thereupon happen presently amendment , or a rising , or sore , you may think it to be the sicknesse , for the nature of the medicine is to prevent the plague , and in others , to expel the sore , if it be not taken too late , in which case the stomack will not break it easily , nor after two or three times taking , if you minister it to any , let it be at their first sicknesse , least if their disease be other , they may receive harm thereby . jelly of frogs . take the jelly of frogs in march , and still it in a glasse still , it is a good medicine to stop bloud , and for the heat and rednesse of the face , and good to cure green wounds . for the tooth-ach . take of sparemints , and ground ivy , of each a handful , and a good spoonful of bay salt , stamp all these very well together , and boyle them in a pint of the strongest vinegar that you can get , let these boyle altogether until they come to a quarter of a pint , then strain it , and put it into a glasse , and stop it very close , when your teeth doth ake , take a spoonful of it bloud-warm , and hold it in your mouth on that side the pain is . for to make teeth stand fast . take roots of vervin in old wine , and wash the teeth therewith . for the perillous cough . take white horehound , and stamp it , and wring out the juyce , and mingle it with honey , and seeth it , and give it the sick to drink ; or else sack , and garlick seed , and rost it in the fire , and take away the peelings , and eat the rest with honey , or else take sage , rew , cummin , and pouder of pepper , and seeth all these together in honey , and make there of an electuary , and take thereof a spoonful in the morning , and another at night . for a man that hath no taste in meat or drink . take a pottle of clear water , and a good handful of dandilion , and put it in an earthen pot , and seeth it till it come to a quart , and then take out the hearbs and put in a good quantity of white sugar , till you think it be somewhat pleasant , and then put it into a vessel wherein it may coole , and then take twenty or thirty almonds , blanch them , and beat them in a morter , and when the water is cold put it to the almonds , and then strain it through a clean cipris bag without compulsion , and if it he thick let it run through again , and so keep it in a vessel , and drink of it often , at all times as you please . to preserve a man from the plague . take aloe epaticum , and aloe succatrine , fine cinnamon , and myrrh , of each of them three drachms , cloves , mace , lignum aloe , mastick , bole armoniack , of each of them half a drachm , let all these things be well stamped in a clean morter , then mingle them together , and after keep them in some close vessel , and take of it every morning two penny weight , in half a glasseful of white wine , with a little water , and drink it in the morning at the dawning of the day , and so may you , by the grace of god , goe safely into all infection of the air and plague . for a tetter , or ring-worm . take mercury a quarter of an ounce , camphire one penny weight , make them into pouder , and rub them in a fair porrenger , then take and mix them with the water of the vine four or five spoonfuls , stir them well together , then put as much more water to that , then strain it through a cloth , and take poppey seeds one quarter of an ounce , beat that in a stone morter with a spoonful of the water of the vine , putting a little and a little , till you have spent the quantity of a pint , then put to half an ounce of the milk of coker-nut , so mix them well together with your first receipt , and strain them as you make almond milk through a fair cloth , then keep it in a glasse for your use . to keep ones body loose whensoever you need . take two ounces of sirupe of roses , one ounce of sine , one pennyworth of annise seeds , one stick of licorice , one pint of posturn water , seeth them altogether till it seeth to half a pint , then strain them forth , then boyle the two ounces of sirupe of roses , and drink it warm . for a red face . take brimstone that is whole , and cinnamon , of either of them by even proportion by weight , beat them into small pouder , searse it through a fine cloth upon a sheet of white paper , to the quantity of an ounce or more , and so by even proportions in weight mingle them together in clean clarified capons grease , and temper them well together until they be well mollified , and then put them to a little camphire to the quantity of a bean , and so put the whole confection in a glasse . for a young child to make water . boyle organy in fair water , and lay it warm to the childs navel . a medicine for the falling of the vvula into the throat . take a red colewort leaf , whereof cut away the middle rind , then put the leaf into a paper , and let it be burnt in hot embers or ashes , then take the leaf out , and lay it hot on the top or crown of the bare head , and it will draw it up into his place , and rid you of your pain . a medicine for the heat of the soles of the feet , that cometh by rheume or bloud . take a quantity of snailes of the garden , and boyle them in stale urine , then let the patient bath and set his feet therein , and using that often , he shall be cured . gascons own pouder . take of pouder of pearl , of red corral , of crabs eyes , of harts horn , and white amber , of each one ounce , beat them into fine pouder , and fearce them , then take so much of the black toes of the crabs clawes as of all the rest of the pouders , for that is the cheif worker , beat them , and fearce them finely as you doe the rest , then weigh them severally , and take as much of the toes as you doe of all the rest of the five pouders , and mingle them well together , and make them up into balls with jelly of hartshorn , whereunto put or infuse a small quantity of saffron to give them colour , let them lye till they be dry and fully hard , and keep them for your use . the crabs are to be gotten in may or september , before they be boyled . the dose is ten or twelve grains in dragon water , carduus water , or some other cordial water . the apothecaries in their composition of it , use to put in a drachm of good oriental bezar to the other pouders , as you may see in the prescription following . this is thought to be the true composition invented by gascon , and that the bezar , musk , and ambergrice , were added after by some for curiosity , and that the former will work without them as effectually as with them . the apothecaries gascon pouder , with the use . take of pearles , white amber , harts-horn , eyes of crabs , and white corral , of each half an ounce , of black thighs of crabs calcined two ounces , to every ounce of this pouder put a drachm of oriental bezar ; reduce them all into very fine pouder , and searce them , and with hartshorn jelly with a little saffron put therein , make it up into a paste , and make therewith lozanges or trochises for your use . you must get your crabs for this pouder about may or in september , before they shall be boyled ; when you have made them , let them dry and grow hard in a dry air , neitheir by fire nor sun. their dose is ten or twelve graines , as before prescribed in the former page . the pouder prescribed by the doctors in their last london dispensatory , 1650. called by the pouder of crabs clawes . take of prepared pearles , eyes or stones of crabs , of red corral , of white amber , of hartshorn , of oriental bezar stone , of each half an ounce , of the pouder of the black tops of the clawes of crabs to the weight of all the former ; make them all into pouder according to art , and with jelly made with the skins or castings of our vipers , make it up into small tablets or trochisces , which you must warily dry as before prescribed , and reserve for your use . the countesse of kents pouder , good against all malignant and pestilent , diseases , french pox , small pox , measels , plague , pestilence , malignant or scarlet fevers , good against melancholy , dejection of spirits , twenty or thirty grains thereof being exhibited in a little warm sack or hartshorn jelly to a man , and half as much , or twelve graines to a child . take of the magistery of pearles , of crabs eyes prepared , of white amber prepared , hartshorn , magistery of white corral , of lapis contra parvam , of each a like quantity , to these pouders infused put of the black tips of the great clawes of crabs , to the full weight of all the rest , beat these all into very fine pouder , and searce them through a fine lawn searce , to every ounce of this pouder adde a drachm of true oriental bezar , make all these up into a lump or masse with the jelly of hartshorn , and colour it with a little saffron , putting thereto a scruple of ambergrice , and a little musk also finely poudered , and dry them ( made up into small trochises ) neither by fire nor sun , but by a dry air : you may give to a man twenty graines of it , and to a child twelve graines . finis . a true gentlewomans delight . wherein is contained all manner of cookery : together with preserving , conserving , drying and candying , very necessary for all ladies and gentlewomen . published by w. i. gent. london , printed by g. d. and are to be sold by william shears , at the sign of the bible in st. pauls church-yard , 1653. to the vertuous and most hopefull gentlewoman , mis. anne pile , eldest daughter of the honorable sr. francis pile barouet , deceased . most accomplisht lady , the many singular favours , which i have received , not onely from your worthy self , but also from your thrice noble progenitors , justly oblige me by all the due tyes of gratitude , to tender a just acknowledgement : i wish the same heart , that for many and just causes truly honours you , had any present worthy your acceptance . now shall it be your singular goodnes to patronage this small treatise , which ( if i mistake no● ) carries with it two parts , delight , and utilitie . i doubt not then , but that it will find a generall acceptance among all those , who are any way the least lovers of such pleasing and all delightfull studies . i intend not to paraphrase upon its worth , its use , and singular profit , which abundantly speaks it second unto none that have been published of the like nature : so hoping you will accordingly esteem of it , i begg pardon for my boldnes , and rest ever , a true and faithfull honuorer of your transparent vertues , w. j. to the reader . friendly reader . heer thou hast a small treatise entituled , a true gentlewomans delight , presented to thy view : be so courteous as to read before thou censure it . if then the effect be answerable to it's name , i shall be right glad : if their be any errors , it will be no error , but a singular token of thy exemplar humanity to pass it by , and sign it with thy pardon ; for which i engage my self , thine on the like occasion w. j. a table of the contents . to make an excellent jelly . 1. to make a christ all jelly . 2. to make apple cream . 3. to make a trifle cream . ibid. to make clouted cream . 4. to make a quince cream . ibid. to make a fresh cheese . 5. to make a codling cream . 6. how to make a goosbery foole. ibid. how to make a white fool. 7. to make a goosbery custard . ibid. to make a foole. 8. to make cheese-cakes . 9. to make a sack posset . ibid. to make leach . 10. to make yellow leach . ibid. to make a slip-coat cheese . 11. to make cheese-loaves . 12. how to make a good tansie . ib. to make black tart stuffe . 13. to make yellow tart stuff . ibid. to make a made dish . 14. to make sauce for a shoulder of mutton . ibid. to frie aplepies . 15. to make curd-cakes . ib. to make furmenty . ibid. to make an artechoke pie . 16. to make a chicken pie . 17. to bake beef like red deer . 18. to rost a shoulder of mutton with thyme . ibid. to rost a shoulder of mutton with oysters . 19. to make angelets . ib. to make black puddings . 20. to make white puddings . ib. to make almond puddings . 21. to make a pudding to bake . 22. to make a pudding to boyle . ib. to make a cream pudding to be boyled . 23. to make a whitepot . 24. to make a forced dish of any cold meat . ib. to make a forced dish of a leg of mutton or lamb. 25. how to boyle a calves head with oysters . ibid. to frie a coast of lamb. 26. to strew saucedges . ib. to boyle ducks . ib. to make white broth with a capon . 27. to make stewed broth . 28. to make gallendine sauce for a turky . ibid. a good way to stew chickens . 29. to boyle a leg of mutton . ibid. to keepe quinces all the year . 30. to pickle cowcumbers . 31. to pickle purslane . ib. to doe clove-gilliflowers for salleting all the year . 32. to pickle broom-buds . ibid. to pickle oysters . 33. to make grout . 34. to make jelly of marmalade . ib. to make jelly of pippins . 35. to preserve oranges . 36. to preserve green wallnuts . ib. to preserve white quinces . 37. to make goosberry tarts . ib. to preserve rasberries . ib. to preserve currans . 38. to preserve medlers . ib. to preserve goosberries . 39. to make goosberry-cakes . 40. to do goosberries like hops . ib. to preserve apricocks . 41. to make apricock cakes . ibid. to make mackaroons . ib. how to preserve white damsons green . 42. how to preserve mulberries . ibid. how to preserve pippins white . 43. to make white quince cakes . ibid. which way to preserve grapes . 44. how to preserve damsons . ib. how to make cakes of lemons or violets . ibid. how to preserve quinces red . 45. how to make bisket bread . ib. how to preserve grapes to looke clear and green . 46 how to candie apricocks . 47. how to make paste of barberies , or english currans , or goosberries . 48. how to make paste of oranges and lemons . 49 how to make paste royall in spice . 50. how to candie pears , plums , or apricocks , that shall look as clear as amber . ibid. how to make paste royall white , that you may make court bowles , caps , gloves , shoes , or any pretty thing printed in moulds 51. how to make fine diet-bread 52. how to preserve apricocks . ib. how to preserve damsons . 53. how to make pap of barly . 54. how to candy lemons and oranges . 55. how to make cakes of almonds . 56. how to make white lemon cakes . ibid. how to make oyle of violets . 57. how to preserve pomecitron . ib. how to candy ringo roots . 58. how to candy all kind of fruitrages , as oranges and lemons , &c. 59. how to candy all kind of flowers in ways of the spanish candy . ibid. how to make essings . 60. how to make sugar cakes . 61. how to make a calves-foot pie. ibid. how to make a very good pie. 62. how to make simbals . ib. how to preserve angelico roots . 63. how to boyle a capon with brewis . ibid. how to make a spice cake . 64 to make broth for a neats-tongue . 65. to souce a carpe or gurnet . ib. to make a fine pudding . ibid. to make a broth to drink . 66. to boil a chicken , partridge , or pyton . ibid. a broth to eat on fasting days . 67. to make ponado . 68. to make a candle . ib. to make almond butter . 69. to stew beef . ibid. to souce a young pig. 70 to boyle flounders or pickerels after the french fashion . ibid. to make flesh of apricockes . ibid. to make flesh of quinces . 71 to dry cherries . 72 to dry peaches . 73 to boyle veale . 74 to boyle a capon in white broth ibid. to boyle a capon or chicken in white broth with almonds 75 to boyle brawn . ibid. to boyle a gammon of bacon 76. how to boyle a rabbet . ibid. how to boyle a mallard with a cabbage . 77. how to boyle a duck with turnips . ibid. how to boyle chickens and sorrell sops . 78. how to boyle a pike in white broth ibid. how to boyle divers kind of fishes . 79. how to make sallet of all manner of hearbs . 80. how to stew steakes between two dishes . ibid. how to stew calves-feet . ibid. how to stew a mallard . 81. how to stew trouts . ibid. how to stew smelts or flounders 82. how to stew a rabbet . ibid. how to stew a pullet or capon . 83. how to stew cold chickns . ibid. how to make paste for a pasty of venison . ibid. how to make paste for a pie to keep long . 84. how to make paste for a custard . ibid. how to make paste for buttered loaves . ibid. how to make paste for dumplins . 85. how to make puffe-paste . ibid. how to bake a gammon of bacon . 86. how to bake fillets of beef , or clods , instead of red dear . ibid. how to bake calves-feet . 87. how to bake a turkey . ibid. how to bake a hare . ibid. how to bake quinces or wardens , so as the fruit look red and the crust white . 88. how to bake chucks of veal . ibid. how to bake a chicken pie. 89. how to bake a steak pie. ibid. how to make an italian pudding . 90. how to bake a florentine . ibid. how to roast a breast of veal . 91. how to roast a hare . ibid. how to roast a shoulder of mutton . 92. how to roast a neats-tongue . ibid. to roast a pig with a pudding in the belly . 93. how to roast a leg of mutton . ibid. how to roast a neck of mutton . 94. how to roast a shoulder , or haunch of venison , or chine of mutton . ibid. how to roast a shoulder or fillet of veal . 95 how to roast a gigget of mutton . ibid. how to fry bacon , 96 how to fry chickens . ibid. how to fry calfes-feet . ibid. to fry tongues . 97. to make fritters . ibid. to souce brawn . 98. to souce a pig. ibid. to souce eeles . 99 to souce a breast of veal . ibid. to souce a tench or barbell . 100. to souce a fillet of veal . ibid. to marble beef , mutton , or venison . 101. to marble fish. ibid. to make a tart of wardens . 102. to make a tart of green pease . ibid. to make tart of rice . 103. to make a tart of medlers . ibid. to make a tart of cherries . ibid. to make a tart of strawberries . 104. to make a tart of hips . ibid. to make a pippin tart. ibid. to scald milk after the western fashion . 105. to make a junket . ibid. to make bonny clutter . 106. to make a whitepot . ibid. to make a pudding in haste . 107. to make a pudding in a dish . ibid. to boil cream . 108. to draw butter . ibid. lady of arundels manchet . ibid. to boil pigeons . 109 a florendine of sweet-breads or kidnies . ibid. a pork pie. 110. a chicken pie. ibid. a lamb pie. 111. sauce for a shoulder of mutton . ibid. a lumber pie. ibid. an oyster pie. 112. a hartechoak pie. 113. a calves foot pie. 114. a skerret pie. ibid. a calves head pie for supper . 115. a lark pie. ibid. a hot neats tongue for supper . 116. a cold neats-tongue pie. 117. a potato pie for supper . ibid. pigeon or rabbet pie. 118. to make a puffe paste . ibid. a pudding . 119. a frigasie of veal . 120. a frigasie of lamb. ibid. a frigasie of chickens . 121. a frigasie of rabbets . ibid. to harsh a shoulder of mutton . 122. to make a cake . ibid. to make a leg of mutton three or four dishes . ibid. to souce an eele . 124. to souce a calfes head . 125. a stewed rabbit . 126 to boyle chickens . ibid. to boyle a rabbit . 127 to boyle a duck. ibid. a roasted shoulder of mutton . 128. a true gentlewomans delight . to make an excellent jelly . take three gallons of fair water , boyl in it a knuckle of veal , and two calves feet slit in two , with all the fat clear taken from between the claws , so let them boyl up a very tender jelly , keeping it clean scummed , and the edges of the pot , alwayes wiped with a clean cloth , that none of the scum may boyl in , then strain it from the meat , and let it stand all night , the next morning take away the top and the bottome , and take to every quart of this jelly , half a pint of sherrie sack , half an ounce of cinnamon , and as much sugar as will season it , six whites of eggs very well beaten , mingle all these together , then boyl it half an hour , and let it run through your jelly bag. to make a christall jelly . take two calves feet , fley them , and lay them in fair spring water with a knuckle of veal , shift it in half a dosen waters , take out the fat betwixt the claws , but doe not break the bones , for if you doe , the marrow of the bones will stain the jelly , when they are soft and pickt very clean , boyl them very tender in spring water , when they be boyled tender , take them up , and use them at your pleasure to eat , let the broth stand in an earthen pot or pipkin till it be cold , then take away the bottome and the top , and put the clear into a fair pipkin , put into it half a pound of fair sugar candie , or other sugar , three drops of oyle of nutmeg , three drops of oyle of mace , and a grain of musk , and so let it boil leasurely a quarter of an hour , then let it run through a jellie bag into a gallie pot when it is cold , you may serve it in little careless lumps being taken out with a childes spoon , and this is the best way to make your christal jelly . to make apple cream at any time . take twelve pippins , pare and slit them , then put them in a skillet , and some claret wine , and a race of ginger shred thin , and a little lemon pilled small , and a little sugar , let all these stand together till they be soft , then take them off , and put them in a dish till they bee cold , then take a quart of cream boyld with a little nutmeg a while , then put in as much of the apple stuffe , to make it of what thickness you please , and so serve it up . to make a trisle cream . take some cream , and boyl it with a cut nutmeg , and lemon pill a while , then take it off , cool it a little , and season it with a little rosewater and sugar to your taste , let this be put in the thing you serve it in , then put in a little runnet to make it come , then it is fit to eat . to make clouted cream . take three gallons of new milk , set it on the fire till it boyleth , make a hole in the middle of the cream of the milk , then take a pottle or three pints of very good cream , put it into the hole you made in the middle of the milk as it boyleth , and let it boil together half an hour , then put it into three or four milk-pans , so let it stand two dayes , if the weather be not too hot , then take it up in clouts with a scummer or slice , and put it in that which you will serve it , if you like it seasoned , you may put some rosewater between every clout as you lay one upon another , with your slice in the dish you mean to serve it in . to make a quince cream . take the quinces and put them into boyling water unpared , and let them boil very fast uncovered that they may not colour , and when they are very tender , take them of , and peel them , and beat the pap very small with sugar , and then take raw cream , and mixe with it , till it be of fit thickness to eat like a cream , but if you boil the cream with a stick of cinnamon , i thinke it the better , but it must stand till it be cold before you put it to the quinces . to make a fresh cheese . take a pint of fresh cream set it on the fire , then take the white of six eggs , beat them very well , and wring in the juyce of a good lemon into the whites , when the cream seeths up , put in the whites , and stir it about till it be turned , and then take it off , and put it into the cheese-cloth , and let the whay be drawn from it , then take the curd and pound it in a stone morter with a little rose water and sugar , then put it into an earthen cullender , and so let it stand till you send it to table , then put it into a dish , and put a little sweet cream to it , and so serve it in . to make a codling cream . after your codlings be throughly cooled and yeelded , put them into a silver dish , and fill the dish almost half full with rosewater , and half a pound of sugar , boyl all this liquor together , untill half be consumed , and keep it stirring till it be ready , then fill up your dish with sweet cream , and stirr it till it be well mingled , and when it hath boyld round about the dish , take it up , sweeten it with sugar , and serve it cold . how to make a goosberrie fool. take your goosberries and pick them , and put them into clean water , and boyl them till they be all as thick that you cannot discern what it is to the value of a quart , take six yolks of eggs well beaten with rosewater , and before you put in your eggs season , it well with sugar , then strain your eggs , and let them boil a little while , then take it up , and put it into a broad dish , and let it stand , till it be cold , thus it must be eaten . how to make a white foole. take a quart of cream , and set it over the fire , and boyle it with whole cinnamon , and sliced nutmeg , and sugar , then when it is almost ready take the whites of six eggs , well beaten with rosewater , and skum off the froth from them , and put it into the cream , and boyle it together a pretty while , then season it , and take the whole spice out of it , and put it up in a broad dish , and when it is cold then it must be eaten . to make a goosberry custard . take as many goosberries as you please , boyle them till they be soft , then take them out , and let them stand and cool , and drain them , draw them with your hand through a canvas strainer , then put in a little rosewater , sugar , and three whites , and stirre them all together , and put them in a skillet , and stirre them a pace else they will burn , let them stand and cool a little while , and take them off , and put them in a glasse . to make a foole. take two quarts of cream , set it over the fire , and let it boyle , then take the yolks of twelve eggs , and beat them very well with three or four spoonfuls of cold cream , before you put the eggs into the hot cream , take three or four spoonfuls of the cream out of the skillet , and put it into the eggs , and stirre it together , and then strain the eggs into the skillet of hot cream , stirring it all the time to keep it from turning , then set it on the fire , and let it boyle a little while , but keep it with stirring for fear of burning , then take it off , and let it stand and cool , then take two or three spoonfuls of sack and put it in the dish , and some four or five sippits , and put them in the sack in the dish , set the dish and sippits a drying , and when they be dry that they hang to the dish , sweeten the cream , and pour it in the dish softly because the sippits shall not rise up , this will make three dishes , when it is cold it is fit to be eaten . to make cheese-cakes . for the crust take half a pint of flower , and four spoonfuls of cold water , and three parts of a quarter of a pound of butter , beat and knead these together , and put the paste asunder several times , then roule it square , and turn it over , then take a pint of cream , and seven eggs , and a quarter of a pound of sugar , and a quarter of a pound of currens plump before you put them in , and a whole nutmeg grated on a knife , the pepper must be beaten but not too much , it must be gently boyled and stirred as you doe buttered eggs , the stuffe must be cold , and then put in the coffin and so bake it . to make a sack posset . take two quarts of pure good cream , a quarter of a pound of the best almonds , stamp them into the cream , and boyle amber and musk therein , then take a pint of sack in a bason , and set it on a chafing-dish till it be bloud-warm , then take the yolkes of twelve eggs , with four whites , and beat them very well together , and so put the eggs into the sack , and make it good and hot , let the cream coole a little before you put it into the sack , then stirre all together over the coales till it be as thick as you would have it , if you take some amber , and musk , and grind it small with sugar , and strew it on the top of the posset , it will give it a most delicate and pleasant taste . to make leach . make your jelly for your leach with calves feet , as you do your ordinary jelly , but a little stiffer , and when it is cold take off the top and bottom , and set it over the fire with some cinnamon and sugar , then take your turnsele , being well steep in sack , and crush it , and so strain it into your leach , and let it boyle to such a thicknesse , that when it is cold you may slice it . to make yellow leach . your yellow leach is just the same , but instead of turnsele you must colour it with saffron , and when it is boyled enough then put in your saffron and not before , it must not boyle in it . to make a slipcoat cheese . take five quarts of new milk from the cow , and one quart of water , and one spoonful of runnet , and stirre it together , and let it stand till it doth come , then lay your cheese cloth into the vate , and take up your curd as fast as you can without breaking , and put into your vate , and let the whey soak out of it self ; when you have taken it all up , lay a cloth on the top of it , and one pound weight for one hour , then lay two pound for one hour more , then turn him when he hath stood two houres , lay three pound on him for an hour more , then take him out of the vate , and let him lie two or three houres , and then salt him on both sides , when he is salt enough , take a clean cloth and wipe him dry , then let him lie on a day or a night , then put nettles under and upon him , and change them once a day , if you find any mouse turd wipe it off , the cheese will come to his eating in eight or nine dayes . to make cheese-loaves . take the curds of a tender new milk cheese , and let them be well pressed from the whey , and then break them as small as you can possible , then take crumes of manchet , and yolkes of eggs , with half the whites , and some sweet cream , and a little fine flower , mingle all these together , and make a paste of it , but not too stiffe , then make them into little loaves and bake them , when they be baked , cut off the tops and butter them ; with sugar , nutmeg , and melted butter , and put it in with a spoon , and stirre it altogether , then lay on the tops , and seare them with scraped sugar . how to make a very good tansie . take fifteen eggs , and six of the whites , beat them very well , then put in some sugar , and a little sack , beat them again , then put about a pint or a little more of cream , then beat them again , then put in the juyce of spinage , or of primrose leaves , to make it green , then put in some more sugar if it be not sweet enough , then beat it again a little , and so let it stand till you fry it , the first course is in , then fry it with a little sweet butter , it must be stirred and fryed very tender , when it is fryed enough , then put it in a dish , and strew some sugar upon it , and serve it in . to make black tart stuffe . to a dozen pound of prunes take half a dozen of malligo raisins , wash and pick them clean , and put them into a pot of water , set them over the fire till all these are like pulpe , and stirre them often least they burn too , then take them off , and let them be rubbed through a hair sieve hard with your hands , by little and little till all be through , then season them to your taste with searc'd ginger . to make yellow tart stuffe . take four and twenty eggs , and beat them with salt together , and put into a quart of seething milk , stirring it until it caudles , then take it off , and put it into a napkin , hanging it up till all the whey be run through , when it is cold , take it and grind it in a stone morter with sack and sugar to your taste , and otherwise to make it look white , leave the yolks , and instead of sack put in rosewater . to make a made dish . take a quarter of a pound of almonds , beat them small , and in the beating of them put in a little rosewater to keep them from oyling , strain them into cream , then take arterchoak bottomes , and marrow , and boyle the rednesse of the marrow out , then take a quart of cream , and boyle it with dates , rosewater , and sugar , and when it is boyled to a convenient thicknesse take it off , and take your arterchoak and pare of the leaves , and lay them into the dish , and some marrow upon them , then pour some cream upon them , then set it upon coales till you serve it in . to make sauce for a shoulder of mutton . take a few oysters , and some sweet hearbs , and an onion , and a pint of white wine , and a little beaten nutmeg , a little salt , and a large mace , a little lemon pild and a little sugar , a little leaker posset , if you have no oysters take capers in the room of them , and some gravie of the mutton . to fry applepies , take apples and pare them , and chop them very small , beat in a little cinnamon , a little ginger , and some sugar , a little rosewater , take your paste , roul it thin , and make them up as big pasties as you please , to hold a spoonful or a little lesse of your apples , and so stir them with butter not to hastily least they be burned . to make curd-cakes . take a pint of curds , four eggs , take out two of the whites , put in some sugar , a little nutmeg , and a little flour , stir them well together , and drop them in , and fry them with a little butter . to make furmentie . take a quart of sweet cream , two or three sprigs of mace , and a nutmeg cut in half , put into your cream , so let it boil , then take your french barlie or rice , being first washed clean in fair water three times , and picked clean , then boyle it in sweet milk till it be tender , then put it into your cream , and boil it well , and when it hath boiled a good while , take the yolks of six or seven eggs , beat them very well , and thicken on a soft fire , boyl it , and stir it for it will quickly burn , when you thinke it is boyled enough , sweeten it to your taste , and so serve it in with rosewater , and musk sugar , in the same manner you may make it with wheat . to make an arterchoak pie. take the bottome of six arterchoaks , being boyled very tender , put them in a dish , and put some vinegar over them , season them with ginger and sugar , a little mace whole , putting them into a pie , and when you lay them in , lay some marrow , and dates sliced in , and a few raisins of the sun in the bottome , with good store of butter , so close the pie , and when it is half baked , take a dish of sack , being boyled first with sugar , and a pill of orange , put it in your pie , and set it in the oven again , till you use it . to make a chicken pie. make your paste with good store of butter , and yolks of eggs and sugar , then take six chickens small , taking out the breast-bone , and trussing them round , take two nutmegs , and a good quantity of cinnamon , and put it in in little pieces , take two yolks of eggs , and beat them with six spoonfuls of verjuyce , then take your juyce and verjuyce , and a little salt , stir them well together , take a good deal of butter , and wet it in the verjuyce , and put it in the bellies of the chickens , so lay them in the pie with butter under them , then take half a pound of currants washed and dried , so lay them on the top of the chickens , with a little piece of marrow , barberies , grapes , and good store of butter and sugar as will season it , a little before you draw out your pie , put in verjuyce and sugar boyled together . to bake beef like red deer . take a pound of beef , and slice it thin , and half a pint of good wine vinegar , some three cloves , and mace above an ounce , three nutmegs , pound them altogether , pepper and salt according to your discretion , and a little sugar , mix these together , take a pound and half of suet , shred and beat it small in a morter , then lay a row of suet , a row of beef , strow your spices between every lain , then your vinegar , so doe till you have laid in all , then make it up , but first beat it close with a rowling pin , then presse it a day before you put it in your past . to rost a shoulder of mutton with thyme . draw your shoulder of mutton , and when it is half roasted , save the gravie , and cut a good deal of the inside of it , and mince it grosse , and boyl it in a dish with the gravie , and time , claret wine , and sliced nutmeg , and when your shoulder is rosted , lay it in the dish with sliced lemon , but remember to scorch your mutton in rosting , as you doe when you boil it . to rost a shoulder of mutton with oysters . when you open the oyster save the liquor , then season them with pepper , and a little cloves , and mace , and hearbs finely chopped , and the yolk of two or three eggs chopped small , and some currans parboiled a little , then stuffe your shoulder of mutton thick with your oysters , then season it , and lay it to the fire , and rost it , then take the rest of your oysters and boil them with a little white wine , and some butter , this is sauce for your shoulder of mutton , when your oysters are opened , you may perboil them in their own liquor , then take them out and season them . to make angellets . take a quart of new milk , and a pint of cream , and put them together with a little runnet , when it is come well , take it up with a spoon , and put it into the vate softly , and let it stand two dayes till it is pretty stiffe , then slip it out , and salt it a little at both ends , and when you thinke it is salt enough , set it a drying , and wipe them , and within a quarter of a year they will be ready to eat . to make black puddings . take your bloud when it is warm , put in some salt , and when it is cold throughly , put in your groats well pickt , and let it stand soking a night , then put in hearbs , which must be rosemary , large savorie , penniroyal , thyme and fennel , then make it soft with putting of good cream hot , untill the bloud look pale , then beat four or five eggs whites and all , and mingle it , then season it with cloves , mace , pepper , fennel seeds , then put good store of beef suet in your stuffe , and mince your fat not to small . to make white puddings . after the humbles are very tender boyled , take some of the lights , with the hearts , and all the flesh and fat about them , picking from them all the sinnews and skin , then chop the meat small as can be , then put to it a little of the liver finely searced , some grated bread searced , four or five yolks of eggs , a pint of very good cream , a spoonful or two of sack , a little sugar , cinnamon , cloves and mace , a little nutmeg , a few canary seeds , a little rosewater mingled with a good deal of swines fat , a little salt , roul it in rouls two houres before you goe about it , let the fat side of the skin be turned and steeped in rosewater till you fill them . to make almond puddings . take a pound of almonds blanched , and beat them very small , with a little rosewater , boyl good milk with a flake of mace , and a litle sliced nutmeg , when it is boyled take it clean from the spice , then take the quantity of a penny loaf grate it , and searce it through a collender , and then put it into the milk , and let it stand till it be prettie cool , then put in the almonds , and five or six yolks of eggs , and a little salt and sugar , what you thinke fit , and good store of beef suet , and marrow very finely shred . to make a pudding to bake . take a pennie loaf , pare it , slice it in a quart of cream , with a little rosewater , and break it very small , take three ounces of jordan almonds blanched , and beaten small with a little sugar , put in some eight eggs beaten , a marrow bone , and two or three pippins sliced thin , or any way , mingle these together , and put in a little amber greece if you please . to make a boyld pudding . take a pint of cream or milk , boyl it with a stick of cinnamon a little while , and take it off , & let it stand till it be cold , put in six eggs , take out three whites , beat your eggs a little before you put them into the milk , then stir them together , then take a pennie roule and slice it very thin , and let it lie and soke , and then braid it very small , then put in some sugar , and butter your cloth before you put it in , it will take but a little while seething , and when you take it up , melt a little fresh butter and a little sack , and sugar , beat all these together , and put it ●nto the dish with your pudding to be served in . to make a cream pudding to be boiled . take a pint and a half of thick cream , and boil it with mace , ginger , and nutmeg quartered , then put to it eight eggs , with four whites beaten , and almonds blancht a pound , and strained in with the cream , a little rosewater and sugar , and a spoonful of flour searced very fine , then take a thick napkin , wet it , and rub it with flour , and tie the pudding up in it where mutton is boyled , or in the beef-pot , remember to take out the whole spice out of the cream when it is boyled , the sauce for this pudding is a little sack , and sugar , a prettie piece of butter , you must blanch some almonds , when they are blanched , cut every almond in three or four pieces the long way , and stick them up an end upon the pudding very thick . to make a whitepot . take a pint and a half of cream , a quarter of a pound of sugar , a little rose-water , a few dates sliced , a few raisins of the sun , six or seven eggs , and a little large mace , a sliced pippin , or lemon cut sippet fashion , for your dishes you bake in , and dip them in sack or rose-water . to make a forc'd dish of any cold meat . take any cold meat and shred it small , a little cloves and mace , and nutmeg , and two yolks of eggs , a spoonful or two of rosewater , a little grated bread , a little beef suet shred small , make it up into balls or any fashion you please , and boyl them in fried suet between two earthen dishes , your suet must boil before you put in your meat ; for sauce , a little butter , verjuyce , and sugar . to make a forc'd dish of a leg of mutton , or lamb. take a leg of mutton , or lamb , cut out the flesh , and take heed you break not the skin of it , then perboyle it , and mince it with a little beef suet , put into it a little sweet hearbs shred , three or four dates sliced , a little beaten nutmeg , cloves , and mace , a few currans , a little sugar , a little verjuyce , three or four eggs , mix them together , and put them in the skin , and set it in a dish and bake it . to boyle a calves head with oysters . take the head , and boyle it with water and salt , and a little white wine or verjuyce , and when it is almost enough , then cut some oysters , and mingle them together , and a blade or two of mace , a little pepper , and salt , and a little liquour of the oysters , then put it together , and put it to the calves head , and the largest oysters upon it , and a slit lemon , and barberries , so serve it in . to fry a coast of lamb. take a coast of lamb , and perboyle it , take out all the bones as near as you can , and take some four or five yolkes of eggs beaten , a little thyme , and sweet majoram , and parsly minced very small , and beat it with the eggs , and cut your lamb into square pieces , and dip them into the eggs and hearbs , and fry them with butter , then take a little butter , white wine , and sugar for sauce . to stew saucesedges . boyle them in fair water and salt a little , for sauce boyle some currans alone , when they be almost tender , then pour out the water , and put in a little white wine , butter , and sugar . to boyle ducks . when they be half boyled , take a quart of the liquour and strain it , and put a quart of white wine , and some whole mace , cloves , and nutmegs sliced , and cinnamon , and a few onions shred , a bundle of sweet hearbs , a few capers , and a little sampire , when it is boyled put some sugar to season it withall . to make white broth with a capon . trusse your capons , and boyle ●●em in fair water , and when they are half boyled , take out three pints of the liquour , and put it to a quart of sack , and as much white wine , and slice two ounces of dates half or quarter wise as you please , a little whole mace , cloves , and cinnamon , a nutmeg shred , of each a little quantity , boyle the broth in a pipkin by it self , untill the dates begin to be tender , then put in the marrow of two bones , and let it boyle a little , not too much for fear , then when your capons be near ready , break twenty eggs , save the yolkes from the whites , and beat the yolkes untill you may take up a spoonful and it will not run beside the spoon , then you must put a little cold broth to them , and so strain them through a cloth , then take up some of the hot broth to heat your eggs , because else it will turn , let it have a walm or two after your eggs be in , but not seeth too much for fear it turnes , then dish your capons , and pour your broth on them , and garnish your dish as you please . to make stewed broth. take a neck of mutton , or a rump of beef , let it boyle , and scum your pot clean , thicken your pot with grated bread , and put in some beaten spice , as mace , nutmegs , cinnamon , and a little pepper , put in a pound of currans , a pound and a half of raisins of the sun , two pound of prunes last of all , then when it is stewed , to season it put in a quart of claret , and a pint of sack , and some saunders to colour it , and a pound of sugar to sweeten it , or more if need be , you must seeth some whole spice to garnish your dish withall , and a few whole prunes out of your pot . to make gallendine sauce for a turkey . take some claret wine , and some grated bread , and a sprig of rosemary , a little beaten cloves , a little beaten cinnamon , and some sugar . an exceeding good way to stew chickens . take chickens , fley them , and cut them in pieces crosse way , then put them in a pipkin or skillet , and cover them almost with pepper , and mace , and water , so let it stew softly with a whole onion in it till part of that liquour be consumed , then put in as much white wine as will cover them again , take parsly , sweet majoram , winter savory , with a little thyme , and shred them very small , and put them in , and let them boyle till they are almost enough , then put in a good piece of butter . to boyle a leg of mutton . take a leg of mutton and stuffe it , for the stuffing take a little beef suet , and a few sweet hearbs , chop them small , and stuffe it , and then boyle it , and put in a handful of sweet hearbs , cut them small , mingle a hard egg amongst the hearbs , and strew it upon the mutton , melt a little butter and vinegar , and pour it into the dish , and send it in . to keep quinces all the year . first you must ●ore them , and take out the kernels clean , and keep the cores and kernels , then set over some water to boyle them , then put them in when you set over the water , then let them boyle till they be a little soft , and then take them up , and set them down till they be cold , then take the kernels and stamp them , and put them into the same water they were boyled in , and let them boyle till they be thick , see you have as much liquour as will cover the quinces , and if you have not enough , take of the smallest quinces and stamp them to make more liquour , and when it is boyled good and thick , you must strain it through a course cloth , and when the quinces be cold , then put them into a pot , and the liquour also , and be sure the liquour cover them , you must lay some weight upon them to keep them under , so cover them close , let them stand fourteen dayes , and they will work of their own accord , and they will have a thick rind upon them , and when they wax hoary or thick , then take it from the liquour , for it will have a skin on it within a month or six weeks . to pickle cowcombers . take the cowcombers , and wash them clean , and dry them clean in a cloth , then take some water , and vinegar , and salt , and some dill tops , and some fennel tops , and a little mace , make it fast enough , and sharp enough to the taste , then boyle it a while , and then take it off , and let it stand and be cold , and then put in the cowcombers , and lay a board on the top to keep them down , and tye them close , and within a week they will be fit to eat . to pickle purslain . take the purslain , and pick it in little pieces , and put it into a pot or a barrel , then take a little water , vinegar , and salt to your taste , it must be pretty strong of the vinegar and salt , and a little mace , and boyle all these together , and pour this liquour in seething hot into the purslain , and when it is cold tye it close , but put a little board on the top to steep it down , and within a week or two it is fit to eat . to doe clove-gilliflowers up for salletting all the year . take as many clove-gilliflowers as you please , and slip off the leaves , then strow some sugar in the bottome of the gallipot that you doe them in , and then a lane of gilliflowers , and then a lane of sugar , and so doe till all the gilliflowers be done , then pour some claret wine into them as much as will cover them , then cut a piece of a thin board , and lay it to them to keep them down , then tye them close , and set them in the sun , and let them stand a moneth or thereabouts , but keep them from any rain or wet . to pickle broom buds . take as many broom buds as you please , make linnen bags , and put them in , and tye them close , then make some brine with water and salt , and boyle it a little , let it be cold , then put some brine in a deep earthen pot , and put the bags in it , and lay some weight upon them , let it lye there till it look black , then shift it again , so you must doe as long as it looks black , you must boil them in a little cauldron , and put them in vinegar a week or two , and then they be fit to eat . to pickle oysters . take your oysters and pick them out of the shels , and save the liquor that cometh from them , then take your oysters one by one , and wash them clean out of grift , then strain the liquor , then take a quantity of white wine , and a large mace or two , and two or three slices of nutmeg , and pepper grosly beaten , and salt them , boyl it together , then put in your oysters and boil them , then take the yolke of an egg , and beat it well with wine vinegar , then take up your oysters , and let them cool , then put in your egg and let it boyl , hang it off , and let it cool , and put it up together . to make grout . take some wheat and beans , and when you have made it into malt , then rittle it , then take some water , or some small wort , and heat it scalding hot , and put it into a pail , then stir in the malt , then take a piece of four leaven , then stir it about , and cover it , and let it stand till it will cream , then put in some orange pills , then put it over the fire and boil it , keeping it stirring till all the white be gone . to make jellie of marmalet . take quinces and pare them , cut them into water in little pieces , and when you have done all , then take them out of the water and weigh them , and to every pound of quinces , take five quarters of a pound of sugar , and half a quarter , then put it into the skillet , and put as much water as will make it pretty thin , then set it on the fire , then clarifie it with the white of an egg , and scum it off cleer , then put in your quinces , and let it boil a prettie pace , and cover it close , till it is prettie thick , then leave stirring it till it is thick enough for marmalet , then take it off , and put it in your glasse , and doe it with your knife in little works , when you have done let it stand , your costly must boyl all the while , you must put in as much water as will make it prettie thin , when it is boyled to a prettie good colour , then stir it , and weigh it , then take of loaf sugar as much as it weighs and boil it altogether to a jellie , then pour it into your marmalet glasse , then put it in a stove , and put some fire in every day . to make jelly of pippins . take pippins and pare them , and quarter them , and coar them , lay them in water , and when you set them on the fire , shift them in another water , and put them in a skillet , put as much water as will cover them and a little more , set them over the fire , and make them boil as fast as you can , when the apples are soft , and the liquor taste strong of the apples , then take them off , and strain them through a piece of canvass gently ; take to a pound of juyce a pound of sugar , then set it on the fire , when it is melted , strain it into a bason , and rince your skillet again , set it on the fire , and when it is boyled up , then scum it , and make it boyl as fast as you can , and when it is almost boiled , put in the juyce of three lemons strained through a cloth , if you will have orange pill , pare it thin , that the white be not seen , and then lay it in the water all night , then boil them in water till the pill be soft , then cut them in long peeces , then put it into the sirrup , and stir it about , and fill your glasses , and let it stand till it be cold , and then it is ready to eat . to preserve oranges . take a pound of oranges , and a pound of sugar , pill the outward rind , and inward white skin off , take juyce of oranges , put them into the juyce , boil them half an hour , and take them off . to preserve green walnuts . take walnuts , and boil them till the water doe taste bitter , then take them off , and put them in cold water , and pill of the bark , and weigh as much sugar as they weigh , and a little more water then will wet the sugar , set them on the fire , and when they boyl up , take them off , and let them stand two dayes , and boil them again once more . to preserve white quinces . take a pound of quinces , boil them with the skins on , but core them and pare them , take a quarter of a pound of sugar , with water no more then will wet the sugar , put the quinces into it presently , boil them as fast as may be , and skin them , when the sirrup is thick take it up . to make goosberrie tarts . take a pint of goosberries , and put them into a quarter of a pound of sugar , and two spoonfuls of water , and put them on the fire , and stir them as you did the former . to preserve resberries . take as many as you please , a lay of sugar , and a lay of resberries , and so lay them into the skillet , and as much sugar as you thinke will make sirupe enough , and boil them , and put two spoonfuls of water in , boscom it , take it off , and let it stand . to preserve currans . part them in the tops lay a lain of currans , and a lain of sugar , and so boil them as fast as you doe resberries , doe not put in the spoon , but scum them , boyle them till the sirrup be prettie thick , then take them off , and let them stand , till they be cold , and put them in a glasse . to preserve medlers . take the just weight of sugar as they weigh , to a pound of sugar put a pint and a half of water , scald them as long as the skins will come off , stone them at the head , put the water to the sugar , and boil it , and strain it , put in the medlers , boil them apace , let them stand till they be thick , then take them off . to preserve goosberries . take the fairest goosberries you can get with the stalks one , prick three or four holes in every one of them , then take the weight of them in sugar , lay the best part of the sugar in the bottome of a silver or peuter dish , then lay your goosberries one by one upon it , strew some of the rest of the sugar upon them , and put two spoonfuls of the water into half a pound , then set the goosberries on a chafing dish of coales , and let them stand uncovered , scalding upon the fire a prettie while before they boil , but not too long , for then they will grow red , and when they be boyled , let them not boyl too fast , when they be enough put them up , you must put the rest of the sugar on them as they boil , and that will harden them , and keep them from breaking . to make goosberrie cakes . prick as many goosberries as you please , and put them into an earthen pitcher , and set it in a kettle of water till they be soft , and then put them into a sieve , and let them stand till all the juyce be out , and weigh the juyce , and as much sugar , as sirupe ; first boil the sugar to a candie , and take it off , and put in the juyce , and set it on again till it be hot , and take it off , and set them in a press till they be dry , then they are readie . to doe goosberries like hops . take pricks of black thorn , then take goosberries , and cut them a little a crosse , and then take out the stones , and then put them upon the pricks , and weigh as much sugar , as they weigh , and take a quarter or a pint of water and put into the sugar , and let it boil a while , then put in the hops , let them stand and scald two houres upon the coales till they be soft , then take out the hops , and boil the syrupe a while , then take it off , and put in the hops . to preserve apricocks . first stone them and weigh them , and take as much sugar as apricocks , put it in a bason , some in the bottome , and some on the top , let them stand all night , set them on the fire till they be scalding hot then heat them twice more . to make apricock cakes . take as many apricocks as you please , and pare them , put as much sugar as they weigh , take more water then will melt the sugar , then boil the sugar and it together till they be pretty stiffe , take them off , and put them in saucers . to make mackeroons . take half a po●nd of almonds , put them in water , stamp them small , put in some rose-water , a good spoonfull of floure , four eggs , half a pound of sugar , in the beating of the eggs , put in the almonds , heat the oven hot enough to bake a custard , put them in , when you have taken them out , let them stand till they be cold , they must be baked in earthen pans round , and buttered very thin . how to preserve white damsons green . take white damsons , scald them in water till they be hard , then take them off , and pick as many as you please , take as much sugar as they weigh , strew a little in the bottome , put two or three spoonfulls of water , then put in the damsons and the sugar , and boyl them , take them off , and let them stand a day or two , then boil them again , take them off , and let them stand till they be cold . to preserve mulberries . take as many mulberries as you please , and as much sugar as they weigh : first wet the sugar with some juyce of mulberies , stir your sugar together , then put in your mulberries , then boil them apace , till you thinke they are boyled enough , then take them off , and boil the sirupe a while , and put it into the mulberries , let them stand till they be cold . to preserve pippins white . take some pippins and pare them , and cut them the crosse way , and weigh them , and to a pound of sugar , a pint of water , then put the sugar to the water , and then let it boyl a while , and then put in the pippins , and let them boyl till they bee clear at the core , take them off , and put them up . to make white quince cakes . take quinces and let them stand till they be cold , but not seethed till they be tender enough , then take them off , and pare them , then scrape off the softest , and doe it through a sieve , and then weigh as much sugar as it doth weigh , and beat it , and sift it into the quinces , and stir it altogether , and set it on the coals , and stir it about , but let it not boil at all , but let it stand and cool , till it be pretty thick , then take it off , and put it in glass saucers . to preserve grapes . stamp and strain them , let it settle a while , before you wet a pound of sugar , or grapes with the juyce stone the grapes , save the liquor , in the stoning take off the stalks , give them a boyling , take them off , and put them up . to preserve damsons . take as many as you please , and weigh as much sugar as they weigh , and strew some in the bottome , and some on the top , and you may wet the sugar with some sirupe of damsons , or a little water , then set them upon the fire , and let them stand and soke softly about an hour , then take them off , and let them stand a day or two , then boil them up , till you think they be enough , take them off , and put them up . how to make cake of lemons or violets . take of the finest double refined sugar , beaten very fine , and searced through fine tiff●nie , and to half a silver poringer of sugar , put to it two spoonfuls of water , and boil it till it be almost sugar again , then grate of the hardest rinded lemon , then stir it into your sugar , put it into your coffins of paper , and when they be cold take them of . to preserve quinces red . take your quinces and weigh them , to a pound put a pound of sugar , and half a pint of water , put your water to your sugar , and let it stand , your quinces must be scalded till they be tender , take them off , pare them , and core them , but not too much , then put them in the skillet where the sugar is , then set them on the fire , and let them boil two hours , if it be not enough , boil it a little more , pour it to the quinces , and stop it close . to make bisket bread. take a pound and a half of white loaf sugar , and so much flower , as much annise seed , coliander seed , and carraway seed as you please , and twelve eggs , three whites lest out , take the sugar and sift it fine , and the flower also , and beat your eggs a little , then mingle them well together with four spoonfuls of damask rose-water , beat them well together , and put in two spoonfuls more , and beat it again about an hour and a half in all , then butter plate trenchers , and fit them with stuffe , scrape some sugar on them , and blow it off againe , heat your oven hot enough to bake a pie , and let the lid stand up a little while , to draw down the heat from the top , then take the lid down again , and let it stand till it be cool , that you may suffer your hand in the bottom , then set in the plates , and set up the lid again , untill they rise , then take them out and loose them from the plates , and scrape the bottoms , and let them stand four houres , then they be fit to eat . to preserve grapes to look cleer and green . take a pound of grapes with no stalks on them , when they doe begin to be ripe , then weigh as much double refined sugar beaten small , then take the grapes that were weighed , stone them at the place where the stalks are , pull off the skins , and strain some sugar in the bottome of the thing you doe them in , and so lay them in the sugar you did weigh , till you have stoned and pilled them , and so strew the sugar upon them , then set them on the fire , and let them boil as fast as can be , till the syrup be prettie thick , then take them off , and put them up till they be cold . to candie apricocks . take your apricocks the fairest , and scald them , and peel them , between two clothes ●rush the water softly out of them as dry as you can , without too much flatting them , then take as much searced sugar almost as much as they weigh , and boil it altogether to a candie height then take it off the fire , and lay the apricocks in it one by one , with a feather annoint them over , then set them on a chafingdish of coales , and let them be through sod but not boil , then take them off the fire , and set it in a stone or bloudwarm oven , and twice a day set them on a fire , and turn them once at every heating , annointing them with a feather , and the same sirupe every time you take them off the fire , this doe untill you see the sirupe begin to sparkle , and full of eyes , then take them out of the sirupe , and lay them on glasse plates , and dry them in a stone or oven , turning them a day or two , till they be dry , white pear plums may be done thus . to make paste of goosberries , or barberies , or english currants . take any of these tender fruits , and boyl them softly on a chafingdish of coals , then strain them with the pap of a rotten apple , then take as much sugar as it weighs , and boil it to a candie height , with as much rosewater , as will melt the sugar , then put in the pap of your fruit into the hot sugar , and so let it boil leasurely , till you see it reasonable stiffe , almost as thick as for marmalet , then fashion it on a sheet of glasse , and so put it into the oven upon two billets , that the glasse may not touch the bottome of the oven , for if it doe it will make the paste tough , and so let it dry leasurely , and when it is dry , you may box it , and keep it all the year . to make paste of oranges and lemons . take your oranges and lemons , and have on the fire two vessels of fair water at once , boyl them , and then shift the water seven times , that the bitterness may be taken from them , and they very tender , then cut them through the midst , and take out the kernels , and wring out all the water from them , then beat them in an alablaster morter , with the paps of three or four pippins , then strain it through a fine strainer , then take as much sugar as that pap doth weigh , being boiled to a candie height , with as much rose-water as will melt the sugar , then put the pap of your oranges and lemons into the hot sugar , and so let it boil leisurely with stirring , and when you see it stiffe as for manchet , then fashion it on a sheet of glasse , and so set it in a stove or oven , and when it is throughly dry , boxe it for all the year . to make paste royall in spice . take sugar the quantitie of four ounces , very finely beaten and searced , and put into it an ounce of cinnamon , and ginger , and a grain of musk , and so beat it into paste , with a little gum-dragon steeped in rosewater , and when you have beaten it into paste in a stone morter , then role it thin , and print it with your mouldors , then dry it before the fire , and when it is dry , box and keep it all the year . to candie pears , plums , or apricocks , that shall look as clear as amber . take your apricocks and plums , and give every one a cut to the stone in the notch , then cast over sugar on them , and bake them in an oven as hot as for manchet close stopped , bake them in an earthen platter , let them stand half an hour , then take them out of the dish , and lay them one by one upon glasse plates , and so dry them , if you can get glasses made like marmalet boxes to lay over them they will be sooner candi'd , this is the manner to candie any such fruit . to make paste royall white that you may make court bouls , or caps , or gloves , shooes , or any prettie thing printted in moulds . take half a pound of double refined sugar , and beat it well , and searce it through a fine lawn , then put it into a fine alablaster morter , with a little gum-dragon steeped in a little rose-water and a grain of musk , so beat them in a morter , till it come to a prettie paste , then roul it thin with a rouling pin , and print it with your moulders , like gloves , shooes , or any thing else , and some you may roul very thin with a rouling pin , and let dry in an ashen dish , otherwise called a court cap , and let it stand in the dish till it be dry , and it will be like a saucer , you must dry them on a board far from the fire , but you must not put them in an oven , they will be dry in two or three houres and be as white as snow , then you may , guilt box and cap. to make fine diet-bread . take a pound of fine flower twice or thrice drest , and one pound and a quarter of hard sugar finely beaten , and take seven new laid eggs , and put away the yolks of one of them , then beat them very well , and put four or five spoonfuls of rosewater amongst them , and then put them into an alablaster or marble morter , and then put in the flower and sugar by degrees , and beat it or pound it for the space of two houres , untill it be perfectly white , and then put in an ounce of canary seeds , then butter your plates or saucers , and put into every one , and so put them into the oven ; if you will have it glosse and icie on the top , you must wash it with a feather , and then strew sugar very finely beaten on the top before you put it into the oven . to preserve apricocks . take your apricocks , and put them into a skillet of fair water , and put them over the fire , untill they be something tender , then take them up out of the water , and take a bodkin and thrust out the stone at the top , and then peel off their skins , and when you have so done put them into a silver dish or bason , and lay sugar very finely beaten over and under them , then put a spoonful or two of water unto them , and set them over a very soft fire until they be ready , then take them up , and lay them into another dish a cooling , and if you see good boyle the sirupe a little more , when they are cold , and the sirupe almost cold , put them up in a gally-pot or glasse altogether . to preserve damsons . take a pound or something more of pure sugar finely beaten , and then take a pound of damsons and cut one scotch in the side of each of them , then put a row of sugar in a silver dish or bason , and then lay in a row of plums , and then cover it with sugar , and so lay it in till they be all in , and then take two spoonfuls of clean water , and make a hole in the middle of them , and set it over a very soft fire , and look to it carefully , for fear the sugar should burn , and when the sugar is all dissolved , shake them together , and stirre them gently , and then set them down and cover them till they be cold , and when they are cold , set them upon the coales again , and then let them boyle gently till they be ready , and when they are ready take them down , and take them every one by its stem , and cover them with the skins as well as you can , and then put them all one by one in a dish , and if the sirupe be not boyled enough , set it over and let it boyle a little longer , and when the plums be cold , put them in a gally-pot or glasse , and pour the sirupe to them while it is a little warm , you must not forget to take away the skin of the plums as it riseth . to make papp of barly . take barly , and boyle it in fair water softly untill it begin to break , then put that liquour out , then put as much hot water to it as you put forth , and so let it boyle till it be very soft , then put it into a cullender and strain it , then take a handfull of almonds , and grind them very well with your barly and some of the liquour , so season it with sugar , and a little rosewater , a little whole mace , and cinnamon , and boyle them well together . to candy lemons and oranges . take the peels of your oranges and lemons , the white cut away , then lay them in water five or six dayes , shifting them twice every day , then seeth them till they be very tender , then take them out of the water , and let them lye till they be cold , then cut them in small pieces square , the bignesse of a penny or lesse , then take to every three two ounces of sugar , put to it a quantity of fair water , and a lesse quantity of rosewater , and make a sirupe thereof , then skum it very clean , and put in your peels , and let them boyle for the space of an hour or longer , if you find your liquour wanting you may put in more water at your pleasure , then boyle them a little space after with a little sharp fire , stirring it alwayes for burning , then take it off the fire three or four times , stirring them all the while , and set them on again untill they be candied . to make cakes of almonds . take one pound and a half of fine flower , of sugar twelve ounces beaten very fine , mingle them well together , then take half a pound of almonds , blanch them , and grind them fine in a morter , then strain them with as much sack as will mingle the flower , sugar , and almonds together , make a paste , bake them in an oven not too hot . to make white lemon cakes . take half a dozen of yellow lemons the best you can get , then cut and pare them , leave none of the yellow behind , then take away the sowre meat of it , and reserve all the white , and lay it in water two dayes , then seeth it in fair water till it be soft , then take it out , and set it by till the water be gone from it , then weigh it , and take twice the weight in sugar , mince the white stuffe very fine , then take an earthen pipkin , and put therein some fair water , and some rosewater , if you have a pound of sugar , you must have half a pint of water , of both sorts alike , let your water and sugar boyle together , then skum it , and put in the stuffe , and so let them boyle together , alwayes stirring it till it be thick , it will shew very thin , and when it is cold it will be thick enough . to make oyle of violets . set the violets in sallade oyle , and strain them , then put in other fresh violets , and let them lye twenty dayes , then strain them again , and put in other fresh violets , and let them stand all the year . to preserve pomecitron . take pomecitron and grate off the upper skin , then slightly cut them in pieces as you think good , lay them in water four and twenty houres , then set over a posnet with fair water , and when it boyles put them in , and so shift till you find the water be not bitter , then take them up and weigh them , and to every pound of pomecitron put a pound and quarter of sugar , then take of your last water a pint and quarter , set your water and sugar over the fire , then take two whites of eggs and beat them with a little fair water , and when your sirupe begins to boyle cast in the same that riseth from the eggs , and so let it boyle , then let it run through a clean fine cloth , then put it in a clean posnet , and when your sirupe begins to boyle put in your pomecitron , and let it boyle softly three or four houres , until you find your sirupe thick enough ; be sure you keep them alwayes under sirupe , and never turn them , take them up , and put them into your glasse , and when they be cold cover them . to candy ringus roote . take your ringus roots and boyle them reasonable tender , then peel them , and pith them , then lay them together , then take so much sugar as they weigh , and put it into a posnet with as much rosewater as will melt it , then put in your roots , and so let it boyle very softly until the sugar be consumed into the roots , then take them and turn them , and shake them till the sugar be dryed up , and then lay them a drying upon a lattice of wyer until they be cold , in like sort you may candy any other roots , which you please . to candy all kind of fruitrages , as oranges , lemons , citrons , lettice stockes , the sugar-candy such as the comf●t-makers doe candy the fruits . take one pound of refined sugar , and put it into a posnet with as much water as will wet it , and so boyle it untill it come to a candy height , then take all your fruit being preserved and dryed , then draw them through your hot sugar , and then lay them on your hardle , and in one quarof an hour they will be finely candied . to candy all kind of floures in wayes of the spanish candy . take double refined sugar , put it into a posnet with as much rosewater as will melt it , and put into it the papp of half a roasted apple , and a grain of musk , then let it boyle till it come to a candy height , then put in your floures being pick'd , and so let it boyle , then cast them on a fine plate , and cut it in wayes with your knife , then you may spot it with gold and keep it . to make essings . take one peck of oatmeal grots , the greatest you can get and the whitest , pick it clean from the black , and searce out all the smallest , then take as much evening milk as will cover it and something more , boyle it , and cool it again till it be bloud-warm , then put it to the oatmeal and let it soak all night , the next morning strain it from your milk as dry as you can through a cloth , then take three pints of good cream , boyle it with a mace and the yolkes of eight eggs , when it is boyled put it into your stuffe , then put in six eggs more whites and yolkes , season it with a good quantity of cinnamon , nutmeg , and ginger , and a lesse quantity of cloves and mace , put in as much sugar as you think will sweeten it , have a good store of suet shred small , and forget not salt , so boyle them . to make sugar cakes . take one pound of fine flower , one pound of sugar finely beaten , and mingle them well together , then take seven or eight yolkes of eggs , and if your flower be good , take one white or two as you shall think good , take two cloves , and a pretty piece of cinnamon , and lay it in a spoonfull of rosewater all night , and heat it almost bloud-warm , temper it with the rest of your stuffe , when the paste is made , make it up with as much hast as you can , bake them in a soft oven . to make a calfes-foot pie. take your calfes-feet , boyle them , and blanch them , then boyle them again till they be tender , then take out all the bones , season it with cloves , mace , ginger , and cinnamon , as much as you shall think good , then put in a good quantity of currans and butter , bake your pie in a soft oven , and when it is baked , take half a pint of white wine vinegar , beat three yolkes of eggs , and put to the coals , season it with sugar and a little rosewater , alwayes stirring it , then put it into your pie , and let it stand half a quarter of an hour . to make a very good pie. take the backes of four white herrings watred , the bones and skin taken away , then take so much wardens in quantity pared and cored , half a pound of raisins of the sun stoned , mince all these together , and season it with cinnamon and ginger , and when the pie is baked put in a little rosewater , and scrape sugar on it , if you put in butter then put in a handful of grated bread . to make simbals . take fine flower dryed , and as much sugar as flower , then take as much whites of eggs as will make it a paste , and put in a little rosewater , then put in a quantity of coriander seed , and annise seed , then mould it up in that fashion you will bake it in . to preserve angelico roots . take the roots and wash them , then slice them very thin , and lay them in water three or four dayes , change the water every day , then put the roots in a pot of water , and set them in the embers all night , in the morning put away the water , then take to a pound of roots four pints of water , and two pound of sugar , let it boyle , and skum it clean , then put in the roots , they will be boyled before the sirupe , then take them up , and boyle the sirupe after , they will ask you a whole dayes work , for they must boyle very softly ; at saint andrewes time is the best time to doe them in all the year . to boyle a capon with brewis , take a capon , and trusse him to boyle , set him on the fire in a good quantity of water , skum it very clean , before you set on your capon put a little winter savory and thyme into the belly of it , and a little salt and grosse pepper , when you have skummed it clean , cover it close to boyle , then take a good handfull of hearbs , as marigolds , violet leaves , or any such green hearbs , as you shall think fit , wash them , and set them on the fire with some of the uppermost of the broth that boyles the capon , then put into it good store of mace , and boyle it with the capon , when the hearbs be boyled , and the broth very green , and almost consumed away , take the uppermost of your capon and strain it together , and scald your brewis , and put it into a dish , and lay the capon on them . to make a spice-cake . take one bushel of flower , six pound of butter , eight pound of currans , two pints of cream , a pottle of milk , half a pint of good sack , two pound of sugar , two ounces of mace , one ounce of nutmegs , one ounce of ginger , twelve yolkes , two whites , take the milk and cream and stirre it all the time that it boyles , put your butter into a bason , and put your hot seething milk to it , and melt all the butter in it , and when it is bloud-warm temper the cake , put not your currans in till you have made the paste , you must have some ale yest , and forget not salt. to make broth for a neats-tongue . take claret wine , grated bread , currans , sweet butter , sugar , cinnamon , ginger , boyle them altogether , then take the neates tongue , and slice it , and lay it in a dish upon sippets , and so serve it . to souce a carp or gurnet . take fair water , and vinegar , so that it may be sharp , then take parsly , thyme , fennel , and boyle them in the broth a good while , then put in a good quantity of salt , and then put in your fish , and when it is well boyled put the broth into a vessel , and let it stand . to make a fine pudding . take crums of white bread , and so much fine flour , then take the yolkes of four eggs , and one white , a good quantity of sugar , take so much good cream as will temper it as thick as you would make pancake batter , then butter your pan , and bake it , so serve it , casting some sugar upon it , you must shred suet very small , and put into it . to make a broth to drinke . take a chicken , and a little of the neck of mutton , and set them on , and scum it well , then put in a large mace , and so let it to boil while the chicken be tender , then take the chicken out , and beat it all to pieces in a stone morter , and put it in again , and so let it boil from four pints to a little more then half a pint , then ca●● it through a strainer , and season it . to boil a chicken , partridge , or pyton . take your chicken , and set it a boiling with a little of the neck of mutton , and scum it well , then put in a mace , and 〈◊〉 let it boil down , and when it is almo●● boiled , have some few hearbs perboiled as lettice , endive , spinage , marigo●● leaves , for note these hearbs are usual●● used to be boiled , which by course wi●● hold their colour in boyling , and put so●● of these foresaid hearbs to the chicken and mutton , if you thinke your broth strong enough , take out your mutton , if you see it not put a little piece of sweet butter , and a little verjuyce , and a very little sugar , and salt , so serve it in with sippets . a broth to drinke . take a chicken and set it on , and when it boils scum it , then put in a mace , and a very little oatmeal , and such hearbs as the partie requires , and boil it well down , and bruise the chicken , and put it in again , and it is a prettie broth , and to alter it you may put in half a dosen prunes , and leave out the hearbs , or put them in , so when it is well boyled , strain it , and season it . a broth to eat on fasting dayes . take fair water , and set it a boyling , and when it boileth , put to it so much streined oatmeal as you thinke will thicken it , and a large mace , a handfull of raisins of the sun , as many prunes , and as many currants , if your quantity require it , so boil it , and when it is boiled , season it with salt and sugar , and a piece of sweet butter if the time will allow it , and for an alteration , when this broth is boiled , put in a quantity of cream , and it will doe well . to make ponado . the quantity you will make set on in a posnet of fair water , and when it boyles put a mace in , and a little piece of cinnamon , and a handfull of currants , and so much bread as you think meet , so boil it , and season it with salt , and sugar , and rosewater , and so serve it . to make a caudle . take ale , the quantity that you mean to make , and set it on the fire , and when it is ready to boil , scum it very well , then cast in a large mace , and take the yolks of two eggs for one messe or one draught , and beat them well , and take away the skin of the yolks , and then put them into the ale , when it seeths , be sure to sti● them well till it seeth again for a youngling , then lel it boil a while , and put in your sugar , and if it be to eat , cut three or four tosts of bread thin , and toste them dry , but not brown , and put them to the caudle , if to drinke , put none . to make almond butter . blanch your almonds , and beat them as fine as you can with fair water two or three houres , then strain them through a linnen cloth , boil them with rose-water , whole mace , and annise seeds till the substance be thick , spread it upon a fair cloth draining the whey from it , after let it hang in the same cloth some few houres , then strain it , and season it with rose-water and sugar . to stew beef . take a good rumpe of beef cut from the bones , shred turnips and carroots small , and spinage , and lettice , put all in ●pan , and let it stew four houres with so much water , and a quart of white wine ●s will cover it when it is stewed enough , then put in a wine glasse full of elder vinegar , and serve it in with sippets . to souce a young pig. take a young pig being scalded , boil it in fai● water , and white wine , put thereto some bay leaves , some whole ginger , and some nutmegs qua●tered , a few whole cloves , boil it throughly , and leave it in the same broth in an earthen pot . to boyl flounders or pickrels after the french fashion . take a pint of white wine , the tops o● young thyme , and rosemary , a little whole mace , a little whole pepper , seasoned with verjuyce , salt , and a piece o● sweet butter , and so serve it ; this brot● will serve to boyl fish twice or thrice in or four times . to make flesh of apricocks . take apricocks when they are gree● and pare them and slice them , and ta●● half their weight in sugar , put it to the● so put them in a skillet , and as much water as you thinke will melt the sugar , so let them boil , and keep them with stirring till they be tender , and so take them off , and scum them very clean , so put them forth of the skillet and let them stand , take as much sugar as you had before , and boil it to a candie height , and then put in your apricocks , and set them over a soft fire , but let them not boyl , so keep them with oft stirring , till the sirupe begin to jellie , then put them in glasses , and keep them for your use . to make flesh of quinces . take quinces , pare them , and core them , and cut them in halfs , boyl them in a thin sirupe till they be tender , then take them off , and let them lye in sirupe , then take quinces , pare them , and quarter them , take out the cores , put as much water to them as will cover them , then boil them till they be very tender , and then strain out the liquor clean from them , and take unto a pint of that liquor , a pound of sugar , put as much water to the sugar as will melt it , then boyle it to a candie height , then stir the quinces that are in the sirupe as thin as you can : when your sugar is at a full candy height , put in a pint of the liquor , then set it over a soft fire stirring it leisurely till the sugar be dissolved , then put in half a pound of your slices , keeping it still stirring but not to boil , you must take the jellie of quince kernels , that have lain in water two or three hours , take two good spoonfuls of it and put it to the flesh , so keep it stirring leisurely till it begin to jellie upon the spoon , then put it into thin glasses , and keep it in a stove . to dry cherries . take the fairest cherries , stone them , take to six pound of cherries a pound of sugar , put them into a skillet , straining the sugar amongst them as you put them in , then put as much water to them as will boil them , then set them upon a quick fire , let them boil up , then take them off , and strain them very clean , put them into to an earthen pan or pot , so let them stand in the liquor four dayes , then take them up and lay them severally one by one upon silver dishes , or earthen dishes , set them into an oven after the bread being taken out and so shift them every day upon dry dishes , and so till they be dry . to dry peaches . take peaches and coddle them , take off the skins , stone them ; take to four pound of peaches a pound of sugar , then take a gally pot and lay a laier of peaches , and a laier of sugar , till all be laid out , then put in half a pint of water , so cover them close , and set them in embers to keep warm , so let them stand a night and a day , then put them in a skillet , and set them on the fire to be scalding hot , then put them into your pot again , and let them stand four and twentie houres then scald them again , then take them out of your sirupe , and lay them one silver dishes to dry , you may dry them in an oven , when the bread is taken out , but to dry them in the sun is better , you must turn them every day into clear dishes . to boil veal . take veal , and cut in thin slices , and put it into a pipkin with as much water as will cover it , then wash a handfull of currants , and as much prunes , then take a court roul , and cut it in long slices like a butchers skiver , then put in a little mace , pepper , and salt , a piece of butter , a little vinegar , some crumbs of bread , and when it hath stewed two houres , take it up and serve it . to boil a capon in white broth. trusse a capon to boyle , and put it into a pipkin of water , and let it boil two hours , and when it is boiled , take up a little of the broth , then take the yolks of eggs , and beat them very fair with your broth that you take up , then put it by the the fire to keep warm , season it with grated nutmeg , sugar and salt , then take up your capon , and pour this broth on it with a little sack , if you have it , garnish it with sippets , and serve it , remember to boil whole mace with your capon , and marrow , if you have it . to boil a capon or chicken in white broath with almonds . boil your capon as in the other , then take almonds , and blanch them , and beat them very small , putting in sometimes some of your broath to keep them from oyling , when they are beaten small enough , put as much of the uppermost broath to them as will serve to cover the capon , then strain it , and wring out the substance clear , then season it as before , and serve it with marrow on it . to boil brawn . take your brawn four and twentie houres , and wash and scrape it four or five times , then take it out of the water , and lay it on a fair table , then throw a handfull of salt on every coller , then bind them up as fast as you can , with hemp , bass , or incle , then put them into your kettle when the water boyleth , and when it boileth , scum it clean , let it boil untill it be so tender that you may thrust a straw through it , then let it cool untill the next morning , by the souced meats you may know how to souce it . to boil a gammon of bacon . water your gammon of bacon twenty four houres , then put it into a deep kettle with some sweet hay , and let it boil softly six or seven houres , then take it up with a scummer and a plate , and take off the skin whole , then stick your gammon full of cloves , strew on some gross pepper , then cut your skin like sippets , and garnish your gammon , and when you serve it , stick it with bayes . to boil a rabbet . fley and wash a rabbet , and slit the hinder leggs on both sides of the back-bone , from the forward , and truss them to the body , set the head right up with a sciver right down in the neck , then put it to boyling with as much water as will cover it , when it boyls , scum it , season it with mace , ginger , salt , and butter , then take a handful of parsley , and a little thyme , boil it by it self , then take it up , beat it with a back of a knife , then take up your rabbet , and put it into a dish , then put your hearbs to your broth , and scrape in a carret root , let your broth boil a little while , put in salt , pour it on your rabbet , and serve it . to boil a mallard with a cabbage . half rost your fowl , then take it off , and case it down , then put it into a pipkin with the gravie , then pick and wash some cabbage , and put to your mallard with as much fair water as will cover it , then put in a good peece of butter , and let it boyl an hour , season it with pepper and salt , and serve it upon sops . to boil a duck with turnips . half rost her , then cover it with liquor , boil your turnips by themselves half an houre , then cut them in cakes and put them to your duck , with butter and parsley chopt small , and when it hath boiled half an houre , season it with pepper and salt , and serve them upon sops . to boil chickens , and sorrel sops . trusse your chickens , and boil them in water and salt very tender , then take a good handful of sorrel , and beat it stalks and all , then strain it , and take a manchet , and cut it in sippets , and dry them before the fire , then put your green broth upon the coals , season it with sugar , and grated nutmeg , and let it stand untill it be hot , then put your sippets into a dish , put your chickens upon them , and pour your sauce upon it , and serve it . to boil a pike in white broth. cut your pike in three pieces , and boil it with water and salt , and sweet hearbs , let it boil untill it stain , then take the yolks of half a dozen eggs , and beat them with a little sack , sugar , melted butter , and some of the pikes broath , then put it on the fire to keep warm , but stir it often , least it curdle , then take up your pike , and put the head and tail together , then cleave the other peices in two , take out the back bone , and put the one piece on the one side , and the other piece on the other side , but blanch all , then pour on your white broth , garnish your dish , with sippits , and boyled parslie , and strew on pouder of ginger , and wipe the edge of the dish round , and serve it . to boyle divers kinds of fishes . bat , conger , thornback , plaice , salmon , trout , or mullet , boyle any of these with water , salt , and sweet hearbs , when they boyle skum it very clean , then put in vinegar , and let it boyle till you think it is enough , your liquour must be very hot of the salt , then take it off , you may let it stand five or six dayes in the liquour , then if you will keep it longer , pour that liquour away and put water and salt to it , or soucing drink , you must remember to let your mullets boyle softly , and your thornback and other fish very fast , you must blanch your thornback while it is warm , and when you serve any of these fishes , strew on some green hearbs . to make sallet of all manner af hearbs . take your hearbs , and pick them clean , and the flowers , wash them clean , and swing them in a strainer , then put them into a dish , and mingle them with cowcumbers , and lemons , sliced very thin , then scrape on sugar , and put in vinegar and oyle , then spread the floures on the top , garnish your dish with hard eggs , and all sorts of your floures , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to stew steakes between two dishes . you must put parsly , currans , butter , verjuyce , and two or three yolkes of eggs , pepper , cloves , and mace , and so let them boyle together , and serve them upon sops , likewise you may doe steakes of mutton or beef . to stew calves feet . boil them , and blanch them , cut them in two , and put them into a pipkin with strong broth , then put in a little pouder of saffron , and sweet butter , pepper , ●●gar , and some sweet hearbs finely minced , let them stew an hour , put in salt and serve them . to stew a mallard . rost your mallard half enough , then take it up , and cut it in little pieces , then put it into a dish with the gravie , and a peice of fresh butter , and a handfull of parsley chopt small , with two or three onions , and a cabbage-lettice , let them stew one hour , then season it with pepper and salt ; and a a little verjuyce , then serve it . to stew trouts . draw your trouts and wash them , and then put them into a dish with white wine and water , and a piece of fr●sh butter , then take a handful of parsley , a little thyme and a little savorie , mince these small , and put to your trouts with a little sugar , let them stew half an houre , then mingle the yolks of two or three hard eggs , and strew them on your trouts with pepper and salt , then let them stew a quarter of an hour , and serve them . to stew smelts or flounders . put your smelts or flounders , into a deep dish with white wine and water , a little rosemary and thyme , a piece of fresh butter and some large mace , and salt , let them stew half an hour , then take a handful of parsley , and boyl it , then beat it with the back of a knife , then take the yolks of three or four eggs , and beat them with some of your fish broth , then dish up your fish upon sippets ; pour on your sauce , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to stew a rabbet . half rost it , then take it off the spit , and cut it in little pieces , and put it into a dish with the gravie , and as much liquor as will cover it , then put in a piece of fresh butter , and some pouder of ginger ; some pepper and salt , two or three pippins minced small , let these stew an houre , then dish them upon sippets . to stew a pullet or capon . half rost it , then cut it into pieces , and put it into a dish with the gravie , and put in a little cloves and mace , with a few barberies or grapes , put these to your pullet with a pint of claret , and a piece of butter , let these stew an hour , dish them upon sippets , and serve it . to stew cold chickens . cut them up in pieces , put them into a pipkin . of strong broath , and a piece of butter , then grate some bread , and a nutmeg , thicken your broth with it , season your meat with gross pepper and salt , dish it upon sippets , and serve it . to make paste for a pasty of venison . take almost a peck of flower , wet it with two pound of butter , and as much suet , then wet your pastie , put in the yolks of eight or ten eggs , make it reasonable lithe paste , then roul it out , and lay on suet ; first lay a paper under your paste , then lay on your venison , close it , pinke it , baste it with butter , and bake it , when you draw it out , baste it with butter . to make paste for a pie to keep long . your flower must be of rye , and your liquor nothing but boiling water , make your paste as stiffe as you can , raise your coffin very high , let your bottome and sides be very thick , and your lid also . to make paste for a custard . your liquor must be boyling water , make your paste very stiffe , then roul out your paste , and if you would make a great tart , then raise it , and when you have done , cut out the bottome a little from the side , then roul out a thin sheet of paste , lay a paper under it , strew flower that it may not stick to it , then set your coffin on it of what fashion you will , then dry it , and fill it , and bake it . to make paste for buttered loaves . take a pottle of flower , put thereto ginger and nutmegs , then wet it with milk , yolkes of eggs , yest , and salt , then make it up into little loaves , then butter a paper , and put the loaves on it , then bake them , when they are baked , draw them forth , and cut them in cakes , butter them , then set them as they were , scrape on sugar , and serve them . to make paste for dumplins . season your flower with pepper , salt , and yest , let your water be more then warm , ●●en make them up like manchets , but let them be somewhat little , then put them into your water when it boyleth , and let them boil an hour , then butter them . to make puffe-paste . take a quart of flower , and a pound and a half of butter , and work the half pound of butter dry into the flower , then put three or four eggs to it , and as much cold water as will make it lithe paste , then work it in a piece of a foot long , then strew a little flower on the table , and take it by the end , beat it untill it stretch long , then put the two ends together , and beat it again , and so doe five or six times , then work it up round , and roul it up broad , then beat your pound of butter with a rouling pin , that it may be lithe , then take little bits of your butter , and stick it all over the paste , then fold up your paste close , and coast it down with your rowling pin , and roul it out again , and so doe five or six times , then use it as you will. to bake a gammon of bacon . you must first boil it two hours , before you stuffe it , stuffe it with sweet hearbs , and hard eggs chopt together with parsley . to bake fillets of beef , or clods , instead of red deer . first take your beef , and lard it very thick , then season it with pepper and salt , ginger , cloves , and mace good store , with a great deal more pepper and salt then you would doe to a piece of venison , then close it , and when it is baked put in some vinegar , sugar , cinnamon and ginger , and shake it well , then stop the vent-hole , and let it stand three weeks before you spend it . to bake calves feet . season them with pepper , salt , and currans , when they be baked , take the yolks of three or four eggs , and beat them with verjuyce or vinegar , sugar , and grated nutmeg , put it into your pie , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to bake a turkie . take out her bones and guts , then wash him , then prick his back together again , then perboil him , season him with pepper and salt , stick some cloves in the breast of him , then lard him , and put him into your coffin with butter , in this sort you may bake a goose , feasant , or capon . to bake a hare . take out his bones , and beat the flesh in a morter with the liver , then season it with all sorts of spices , then work it up with three or four yolks of eggs , then lay some of it all over the bottome of your pie , then lay on some lard , and so doe untill you have laid on all , then bake it well with good store of sweet butter . to bake quinces or wardens so , as the fruit looke red , and the crust white . your wardens must be stewed in a pipkin with claret wine , sugar , cinnamon , and cloves , then cover your pipkin with a sheet of paste , and let it stand in the oven five or six houres , then raise a coffin of short paste , put in your wardens with sugar , and put it into the oven , when it hath stood an houre , take it out and wash it with rose-water and butter , then scrape on sugar , and put it in a quarter of an hour more , and it will be red upon the top , then scrape on sugar and serve it . to bake chucks of veal . perboil two pound of the lean flesh of a leg of veal , so it may be eaten , mince it as small as grated bread , with four pound of beef suet , then season it with biskay dates , and carraways , rosewater , sugar , raisins of the sun and currants , cloves , mace , nutmeg , and cinnamon , then mingle them all together , fill your pies , and bake them . to bake a chicken pie. season your chicken with nutmeg , salt , and pepper , and sugar , then put him into your coffin , then take some marrow and season with the same spice , then roul it in yolks of eggs , and lay it on your chicken with minced dates , and good store of butter , then bake it , and put in a little sack , or muscadine , or white wine and sugar , then shake it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to bake a steak pie. cut a neck of mutton in steaks , beat them with a cleaver , season them with pepper and salt , and nutmeg , then lay them on your coffin , with butter and large mace , then bake it , then take a good quantity of parsley , and boil it , beat it as soft as the pulp of an apple , put in a quarter of a pint of vinegar , and as much white wine with a little sugar , warm it well , and pour it over your steaks , then shake it , that the gravie and the liquor may mingle together scrape on sugar and serve it . to make an italian pudding . take a manchet , and cut it in square peeces like a die , then put to it half a pound of beef suet minced small , raisins of the sun the stones picked out , cloves , mace , minced , dates , sugar , marrow , rose-water , eggs , and cream , mingle all these together , and put it into a dish fit for your stuffe , in lesse then an hour it will be baked , then scrape on sugar , and serve it . to bake a florentine . take the kidney of a loin of veal , or the wing of a capon , or the leg of a rabbet , mince any of these small with the kidney of a loin of mutton , if it be not fat enough , then season it with cloves , mace , nutmegs , and sugar , cream , currans , eggs , and rosewater , mingle these four together , and put them into a dish between two sheets of paste , then close it and cut the paste round by the brim of the dish , then cut round about like virginal keyes , then turn up one , and let the other lie , then pinke it , cake it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to roast a breast of veal . take parsley and thyme , wash them , and chop them small , then take the yolks of five or six eggs , grated bread and cream , mingle them together with cloves , mace , nutmeg , currants , and sugar , then raise up the skin of the breast of veal , and put in your stuffe , prick it up close with a skiver , then rost it , and baste it with butter , when it is roasted , wring on the juyce of lemon , and serve it . to roast a hare . case your hare , but cut not off her eares , nor her leggs , then wash her , and dry her with a cloth , then make a pudding and put into her belly , then sow it up close , then trusse her as if she were running , then spit her , then take some claret wine , and grated bread , sugar , and ginger , barberries , and butter , boyle these together for your sauce . to roast a shoulder of mutton . roast it with a quick fire that the fat may drop away , and when you think it is halfroasted , set a dish under it , and slash it with a knife acrosse as you doe pork , but you must cut it down to the bone on both the sides , till the gravy run into the dish , baste it no more after you have cut it , put unto the gravy half a pint of white wine vinegar , a handful of capers and olives , five or six blades of mace , and a handful of sugar , and stew all these together , and pour it on your meat . to roast a neats-tongue . boyle him , and blanch him , cut out the meat at the but end , and mingle it with beef-suet as much as an egge , then season it with nutmeg , and sugar , dates , currans , and yolkes of raw eggs , then put your meat to your tongue , and bind it with a caul of veal or mutton , then roast it , baste it with butter , save the gravy and put thereto a little sack or muskadine , let it stew a little while , then pour it on your tongue , and serve it . to roast a pig with a pudding in his belly . fley a fat pig , trusse his head looking over his back , then temper as much stuffe as you think will fill his belly , then put it into your pig , and prick it up close , when it is almost roasted wring on the juyce of a lemon , when you are ready to take it up , take four or five yolkes of eggs , and wash your pig all over , mingle your bread with a little nutmeg and ginger , then dry it , and take it up as fast as you can , let your sauce be vineger , butter , and sugar , the yolk of a hard egge minced , and serve it hot . to roast a leg of mutton . cut holes in a leg of mutton with a knife , then thrust in slices of kidney suet , and stick it with cloves , roast it with a quick fire , when it is half roast cut off a piece , underneath and cut it into thin slices , then take a pint of great oysters with the liquour , three or four blades of mace , a little vinegar and sugar , stew these till the liquour be half consumed , then dish up your mutton , pour on the sauce , and serve it . to roast a neck of mutton . cut away the swag , and roast it with a quick fire , but scorch it not , baste it with butter a quarter of an hour , after wring on the juyce of half a lemon , save the gravy , then baste it with butter again , wring on the other half of the lemon , when it is roasted dry it with manchet and grated nutmeg , then dish it , and pour on your sauce . to roast a shoulder or haunch of venison , or a chine of mutton . take any of the meats and lard them , prick them with rosemary , baste them with butter , then take half a pint of claret wine , cinnamon , ginger , sugar , and grated bread , rosemary , and butter , let all boyle together until it be as thick as watergruel , then put in a little rosewater and musk , it will make your gallintine taste very pleasantly , put it on a fitting dish , draw off your meat , and lay it into a dish , strew it with salt. to roast a shoulder or fillet of veal . take parsly , winter savory , and thyme , mince these small with hard eggs , season it with nutmeg , pepper , currans , work these together with raw yolkes of eggs , then stuffe your meat with this , roast it with a quick fire , baste it with butter , when it is roasted , take the gravy and put thereto vinegar , sugar , and butter , let it boyle , when your meat is roasted pour this sauce on it , and serve it . to roast a giggit of mutton . take your giggit , with cloves and rosemary , and lard it , roast it , baste it with butter , and save the gravy , put thereto some claret wine , with a handfull of capers , season it with ginger and sugar , when it is boyle 〈…〉 to your giggit , and pour on your 〈◊〉 . to 〈…〉 take bacon and slice it very thin , then bruise it with the back of your knife , and fry it with sweet butter , and serve it with vinegar . to fry chickens . boyle your chickens in water and salt , then 〈…〉 with sweet butter , and 〈…〉 surely , then , ●ut thereto a little verjuyce , and nutmeg , cinnamon , and ginger , the yolks of two or three raw eggs , stirre these well together , and dish up your chickens , pour the sauce upon them . to fry calfes-feet . boyle them , and blanch them , then cut them in two , then take good store of parsly , put thereto some yolkes of eggs , season it with nutmeg , sugar , pepper , and salt , and then roul your ca●●●●-feet in them , and fry them with sweet butter , then boyle some parsly and beat it very tender , put to it vinegar , butter , and sugar , heat it hot , then dish up your feet up●n sippits , pour on your sauce , scrape on some sugar , and serve it hot . to fry tongues . boyle them , and blanch them , cut them in thin slices , season them with nutmeg , sugar , cinnamon , and salt , then put thereto the yolkes of raw eggs , the core of a lemon cut in square pieces like a die , then fry them in spoonfuls with sweet butter , let your sauce be white wine , sugar , and butter , heat it hot , and pour it on your tongues , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make fritters . make your batter with ale , and eggs , and yest , season it with milk , cloves , mace , cinnamon , nutmeg , and salt , cut your apples like beanes , then put your apples and butter together , fry them in boyling lard , strew on sugar , and serve them . to souce brawn . take up your brawn while it be hot out of your boyler , then cover it with salt , when it hath stood an hour , turn the end that was under upward , then strew on salt upon that , then boyle your soucing drink , and put thereto a good deal of salt , when it is cold , put in your brawn with the salt that is about it , and let it stand ten dayes , then change your soucing drink , and as you change your soucing drink put in salt , when you spend it , if it be too salt , change it in fresh drink . to souce a pig. cut of the head , and cut your pig into two fleikes , and take out the bones , then take a handful of sweet hearbs and mince them small , then season your pig and hearbs with nutmeg , ginger , cloves , mace , and salt , then strew your hearbs in the inside of your pig , then roul them up like two collers of brawn , then bind them in a cloth fast , then put them a boyling in the boyling pot , put in some vinegar and salt , when they are boyled very tender , take them off , let them stand in the same liquour two or three dayes , then put them into soucing drink , and serve it with mustard and sugar . to souce eeles . take two fair eeles and fley them , cut them down the back , and take out the bones , and take good store of parsly , thyme , and sweet majoram , mince them small , season them with nutmeg , ginger , pepper , and salt , strew your hearbs in the inside of your eeles , then roul them up like a coller of brawn , put them into a cloth , and boyle them tender with salt and vinegar , when they are boyled , then take them up , let it be in the pickle two or three dayes , and then spend them . to souce a breast of veal . take out the bones of a breast of veal , and lay it in water ten or twelve houres , then take all manner of sweet hearbs and mince them small , then take a lemon and cut it in thin slices , then lay it with your hearbs in the inside of your breast of veal , then roul it up like a coller , and bind it in a cloth , and boyle it very tender , then put it into soucing drink , and spend it . to souce a tench or barbell . first cut them down the back , then wash them , then put them a boyling with no more water then will cover them , when they boyle , put in some salt and vinegar , scum it very clean , when it is boyled enough , take it up and put it into a dish fit for the fish , then take out the bones , pour on as much liquour as will cover it , with grated nutmeg , and pouder of cinnamon , when it is cold serve it to souce a fillet of veal . take a fair fillet of veal and lard i● very thick , but take out the bones , season it with nutmeg , ginger , pepper , and salt , then roul it up hard , let your liquour be the one half white wine , the other ha●● water , when your liquour boyleth put in your meat , with salt , and vinegar , and the peel of a lemon , then scum it very clean , let it boyle untill it be tender , then take it not up untill it be cold , and souce it in the same liquour . to marble beef , mutton , or venison . stick any of these with rosemary and cloves , then roast it , being first joynted very well , then b●ste it often with water and salt , and when it is throughly roasted take it up and let it cool , then take claret wine , and vinegar , and as much water , boyle it with rosemary , bayes , good store of pepper , cloves , salt , when it hath boyled an hour take it off and let it cool , then put your meat into a vessell , and cover it with this liquour and hea●bs , then stop it up close , the closer you stop it the longer it will keep . to marble fish. take flounders , trouts , smelts , or salmons , mullets , makrels , or any kind of shell fish , wash them , and dry them with a cloth , then fry them with sallade oyle or clarified butter , fry them very crispe , then make your pickle with claret wine , and fair water , some rosemary , and thyme , with nutmegs cut in slices , and pepper , and salt , when it hath boyled half an hour take it off , and let it cool , then put your fish into a vessell , cover it with liquour and spice , and stop it close . to make a tart of wardens . you must first bake your wardens in a pot , then cut them in quarters and core them , then put them into your tart , with sugar , cinnamon , and ginger , then close up your tart , and when it is almost baked doe it as your warden pie , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a tart of green pease . take green pease ad seeth them tender , then pour them out into a cullender , season them with saffron , salt , and sweet butter , and sugar , then close it , then bake it almost an hour , then draw it forth and ice it , put in a little verjuyce and shake it well , then scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a tart of rice . boyle your rice , and pour it into a cullender , then season it with cinnamon , nutmeg , ginger , and pepper , and sugar , the yolkes of three or four eggs , then put it into your tart with the juyce of an orange , then close it , bake it , and ice it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a tart of medlers . take medlers that are rotten , then scrape them , then set them upon a chafingdish of coales , season them with the yolkes of eggs , sugar , cinnamon , and ginger , let it boyle well , and lay it on paste , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a tart of cherries . take out the stones , and lay the cherries into your tart , with sugar , ginger , and cinnamon , then close your tart , bake it , and ice it , then make a sirupe of muskadine and damask-water , and pour this into your tart , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a tart of strawberries . wash your strawberries , and put them into your tart , season them with sugar , cinnamon , ginger , and a little red wine , then close it , and bake it half an hour , ice it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a tart of hips . take hips , and cut them , and take out the seeds very clean , then wash them , season them with sugar , cinnamon , and ginger , then close your tart , bake it , ice it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a pippin tart. take fair pippins and pare them , then cut them in quarters and core them , then stew them with claret wine , cinnamon , and ginger , let them stew half an hour , then pour them out into a c●llender , but break them not , when they are cold lay them one by one into the tart , then lay on sugar , bake it , ice it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to scald milk after the western fashion . when you bring your milk from the cow strain it into an earthen pan , and let it stand two houres , then set it over the fire untill it begin to heave in the middle , then take it off , but jog it as little as you can , then put it in a room where it may cool , and no dust fall into it , this milk or cream you may keep two or three dayes . to make a junket . take ewes or goats milk , if you have neither of these then take cowes milk , and put it over the fire to warm , then put in a little runnet to it , then pour it out into a dish and let it cool , then strew on cinnamon and sugar , then take some of your aforesaid cream and lay on it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make bonny clutter . take milk , and put it into a clean earthen pot , and put thereto runnet , let it stand two dayes , it will be all in a curd , then season it with some sugar , cinnamon , and cream , then serve it , this is best in the hottest of the summer . to make a whitepot . take a quart of cream and put it over the fire to boyle , season it with sugar , nutmeg , and cinnamon , sack , and rose-water , the yolkes of seven or eight eggs , beat your eggs with sack and rosewater , then put it into your cream , stirre it that it curdle not , then pare two or three pippins , core and quarter them , and boyle them with a handful of raisins of the sun , boyle them tender , and pour them into a cullender , then cut some sippits very thin , and lay some of them in the bottome of the dish , and lay on half your apples and currans , then pour in half your milk , then lay on more sippits , and the rest of your apples and raisins , then pour on the rest of your milk , bake it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make a pudding in haste . take a pint of milk , and put thereto a handful of raisins of the sun , and as much currans , and a piece of butter , then grate a manchet , and a nutmeg also , and put thereto a little flower when your milk boyleth , put in your bread , let it boil a quarter of an hour , and put in a piece of butter in the boyling of it , and stir it alwayes , then dish it up , pour on butter , and serve it . to make a pudding in a dish . take a quart of cream , put thereto a pound of beef suet minced small , put it to your milk , season it with nutmeg , sugar and rosewater , and cinnamon , then take some seven or eight eggs , and beat them very well , then take a cast of manchets and grate them , and put unto it , then mingle these together well , then put it into a dish , and bake it , when it is baked , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to boil cream . take a quart of cream , and set it a boiling with mace , whilest your cream is boyling , cut some thin sippets , then take seven or eight yolks of eggs , beat them with rosewater , and sugar , and a little of your cream , when your cream boileth , take it off the fire , and put in your eggs , and stir it very fast that it curdle not , then put your sippets into the dish , pour in your cream and let it cool , when it is cold , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to draw butter . take your butter and cut it into thin slices , put it into a dish , then put it upon the coals where it may melt leisurely , stir it often , and when it is melted put in two or three spoonfuls of water , or vinegar , which you will , then stir and beat it untill it be thick . lady of arundels manchet . take a bushel of fine wheat-flower , twenty eggs , three pound of fresh butter , then take as much salt and barme , as to the ordinary manchet , temper it together with new milk prettie hot , then let it lie the space of half an hour to rise , so you may work it up into bread , and bake it , let not your oven be too hot . to boil pigeons . boil them in water and salt , take a handful of parsley , and as much thyme stript , two spoonfuls of capers minced altogether , and boil it in a pint of the same liquor a quarter of an hour , then put in two or three spoonfuls of verjuyce , two eggs beaten , let it boil a little , and put to a little butter , when you have taken it off the fire , stir this altogether , and pour it upon the pigeons , with sippets round the dish . a florendine of sweet-breads or kidnies . parboil three or four kidnies , and mince them small , season them with nutmeg , one stick of cinnamon , beat as much sugar as will sweeten it , and a pennie loaf grated , and the marrow of three bones in good pieces , and a quarter of a pound of almond paste , a glass of mallego sack , two spoonfuls of rose-water , a grain of musk , and one grain of ambergriece , and a quarter of a pint of cream , three or four eggs , and mixe it altogether , and make it up in puffe paste , and bake it three quarters of an hour . a pork pie. boil your leg of pork , season it with nutmeg , and pepper , and salt , bake it five houres in a high round pie. a chicken pie. scald and season your chickens with nutmegs , as much sugar as cinnamon , pepper and salt , then put them into your pie , then put three quarters of quartered lettice , and six dates quartered , and a handful of goosberries , and half a sliced lemon , and three or four branches of barberies , and a little butter , you may use to four chickens three marrow bones , rould in yolks of eggs , and ringo roots , and some preserved lettice ; make a candle , and put in when the pie comes out of the oven , an hour and a half is enough to stand in the oven . a lamb pie. take the same ingredients you did for the chicken pie , onely leave out the marrow , the ringo roots , and the preserved lettice , make your caudle of white-wine , verjuyce and butter , put it in when your pie comes out of the oven . sauce for a shoulder of mutton . take a spoonful of hearbs , and as many capers , half a pint of white wine , half a nutmeg , and two eggs , when it is boiled put a piece of butter to the gravie , when 't is boiled , take it off , and put the butter in . a lumber pie. take three or four sweet-breads of veal , perboil and mince them very small , then take the curd of a quart of milk , turned with three eggs and half a pound of almond paste , and a penny loaf grated , mingle these together , then take a spoonful of sweet hearbs minced very small , also six ounces of oringado and mince it , then season all this with a quarter of sugar , and three nutmegs , then take five dates , and a quarter of a pint of cream , four yolks of eggs , three spoonfuls of rose-water , three or four marrow bones , mingle all this together , except the marrow , then make it up in long boles about the bignesse of an egg , and in every bole put a good piece of marrow , put these into the pie , then put in a quarter of a pound of butter , and half a sliced lemon , then make a caudle of white wine , sugar and verjuyce , put it in when you take your pie out of the oven , you may use a grain of musk and ambergriece . an oyster pie. season your oysters with nutmeg , pepper and salt , and sweet hearbs , your oysters being first thrown into scalding water and parboiled , season them and put them into the pie , put two or three blades of mace , and half a sliced lemon , and the marrow of two bones rouled in the yolks of eggs and some butter , then let your pie stand almost an hour in the oven , then make a caudle of verjuyce , butter , and sugar , put it in your pie when you take it out of the oven ; you may use two nutmegs to one quart of oysters , and as much pepper as the quantity of three nutmegs , but lesse salt , and one spoonful of sweet hearbs . a hartechoak pie. take the bottomes of boyled hartechoaks and quarter them , and take the meat from the leaves , season it with half an ounce of cinnamon , and half an ounce of beaten nutmegs , and two ounces of sugar , and put them into your pie , and boild marrow rold in yolks of eggs , and six blades of large mace , lemon sliced , six quartered dates , and a quarter of a pound of ringo roots , half a pound of fresh butter ; then let it stand in the oven one houre , and when you take it out put a caudle into your pie , made of white wine , sugar , and verjuyce . a calves foot pie. mince your calves feet very small then season them with two nutmegs , and three quarters of an ounce of cinnamon , one quarter of a pound of sugar , half a pound of currants , two lemon peels minced , and ten dates minced , three spoonfuls of rose-water , and half a pound of fresh butter , bake it an hour , and put a caudle into it , made of white wine , sugar and verjuyce . a skerret pie. take a quarter of a peck of skerrets blanched , and sliced , season them with three nutmegs , and an ounce of cinnamon , and three ounces of sugar , and ten quartered dates , and the marrow of three bones rouled in yolks of eggs , and one quarter of a pound of ringo roots , and preserved lettice , a sliced lemon , four blades of mace , three or four branches of preserved barberies , and half a pound of butter , then let it stand one hour in the oven , then put a caudle made of white-wine , verjuyce , butter , and sugar , put it into the pye when it comes out of the oven . a calves head pie for supper . boil your calves head almost enough , cut it in thin slices all from the bone , season it with three beaten nutmegs , a quarter of an ounce of pepper , and as much salt as there is seasoning , then take a spoonful of sweet hearbs minced small , and two spoonfuls of sugar , and two or three hartechoak bottoms boyled , and cut them in thin slices , and the marrow of two bones , rouled in yolks of eggs , a quarter of a pound of ringo roots , and a quarter of a pound of currants , then put it into your pie , and put a quarter of a pound of butter , and a sliced lemon , three or four blades of mace , three or four quartered dates , let it stand an hour or more in the oven , then when you take it out , put into it a caudle made of sugar , white wine , verjuyce , and butter . a lark pie. take 3 dosen of larks , season them with four nutmegs , and half an ounce of pepper , a quarter of an ounce of mace beaten , then take the lumber pie meat , and fill their bellies if you will , if not , take half a pound of suet , and one pound of mutton minced , half a pound of raisins of the sun , and six apples minced altogether very small , then season it with a nutmeg , pepper and salt , and one spoonful of sweet hearbs , and a lemon peel minced , one penny loaf grated , a quarter of a pint of cream two or three spoonfuls of rosewater , three spoonfuls of sugar , one or two spoonfuls of verjuyce , then make this in boles , and put it into their bellies , and put your larks in your pie , then put your marrow rold in yolks of eggs upon the larks , and large mace and sliced lemon , and fresh butter , let it stand in the oven an hour , when you take it out , make your caudle of butter , sugar , and white wine vinegar , put it into the pie . a hot neats tongue for supper . boil your tongue till it be tender , blanch it , and cut it in th●n pieces , season it with a nutmeg , and a quarter of an ounce of pepper , and as much salt as seasoning , then take six ounces of currants , season altogether , and put it into the pie , then put a lemon sliced , and dates , and butter , then bake it , and let it stand one hour and a half , then make a caudle of white wine , and verjuyce , sugar , and eggs , and put it in when you take it out of the oven . a cold neats-tongue pie. your tongue being boyled , blanched , and larded with pork or bacon , seas●● it with the same ingredients the deer hath , that is three nutmegs , three races of ginger , half an ounce of cloves and mace together , and half an ounce of pepper , beat your spices altogether , more salt then seasoning , and likewise lay in the liquor , bake it two houres , but put one p●●nd of butter in your pye before you lid it . a potato pie for supper . take three pound of boyled and blanched potatoes , and 3 nutmegs , and half an ounce of cinnamon beaten together , and three ounces of sugar , season your potatoes , and put them in your pie , then take the marrow of three bones , rouled in yolks of eggs , and sliced lemon , and large mace , and half a pound of butter , six dates quartered , put this into your pie , and let it stand an hour in the oven ; then make a sharp caudle of butter , sugar , verjuyce , and white wine , put it in when you take your pie out of the oven . pigeon or rabbet pie. take one ounce of pepper , and more salt , then season your pigeons or rabbets , and take two nutmegs grated with your seasoning , then lay your rabbet in the pie , and one pound of butter , if you heat the pie hot , then put in two or three slices of lemon , and two or three blades of mace , and as many branches of barberies , and a good piece of fresh butter melted , then take it , and let it stand an hour and half , but put not in the fresh butter till it comes out of the oven . to make a puffe paste . break two eggs in three pints of flower , make it with cold water , then roul it out pretty thick and square , then take so much butter as paste , and lay it in rank , and divide your butter in five pieces , that you may lay it on at five severall times , roul your paste very broad , and take one part of the same butter in little pieces all over your paste , then throw a handful of flower slightly on , then fold up your paste and beat it with a rouling pin , so roul it out again , thus doe five times and make it up . a pudding . take a quart of cream , and two eggs , beat them , and strain them into the cream , and grate in a nutmeg and half , take six spoonfuls of flower , beat half a pound of almonds with that cream , and put it into the cream , and mix this together , boil your pudding an hour and no more ; first flower the bag you put it in , then melt fresh butter , and take sugar and rosewater , beat it thick , and pour it on the pudding , you may put to a little milk , and stick blanched almonds , and wafers in it ; add to the same pudding , if you will , a pennie loaf grated , a quartern of sugar , two marrow bones , one glasse of mallago sack , six dates minced , a grain of amber-griece , a grain of musk , two or three spoonfuls of rosewater , bake this pudding in little wood dishes , but first butter them , your marrow must be stuck to and again , then bake it half an hour , five or seven at a time , and so set them in order in the dish , and garnish them with a sprig in the middle , and wafers about it , strew sugar about the branch , and sliced lemon , set four round , and one in the top . frigasie of veal . cut your meat in thin slices , beat it well with a rouling pin , season it with nutmeg , lemon , and thyme , fry it slightly in the pan , beat two eggs , and one spoonful of verjuyce , and put it into the pan , and stir it together , and dish it . frigasie of lamb. cut your lamb in thin slices , season it with nutmeg , pepper , and salt , mince some thyme , and lemon , and throw it upon your meat , then fry it slightly in a pan , then throw in two eggs beaten in verjuyce and sugar into the pan , also a handful of goosberries , shake it together and dish it . frigasie of chickens . kill your chickens , pull skin and feathers off together , cut them in thin slices , season then with thyme & lemon minced nutmeg and salt , a handful of sorrel minced , and then fry it well with six spoonfuls of water , and some fresh butter , when its tender , take three spoonfuls of verjuyce , one spoonful of sugar , beat it together , so dish it with sippets about . another frigasie of chickens . take the former ingredients , and adde to it , boyled hartechoak bottomes , with the meat of the leaves , and a handful of scalded goosberries , aud boiled skerrets and lettice toss'd in butter when they are boiled , adde two spoonfuls of sugar , two eggs and verjuyce beaten together , and lay your lettice upon your chickens , as before , and sliced lemon upon it , and sippets about the dish . a frigasie of rabbets . cut your rabbets in small pieces , and mince a handful of thyme and parsley together , and a nutmeg , pepper and salt , season your rabbets , then take two eggs , and veerjuyce beaten together , and throw it in the pan , stick it , and dish it up in sippets . to harsh a shoulder of mutton . half roast your mutton at a quick fire , cut it in thin slices , stew it with gravy , sweet majoram , and capers , and onions , three anchovies , two oysters , half a nutmeg , half a sliced lemon , stirre this altogether with the meat , let it stew till it be tender in a dish , then break three or four yolkes of eggs , and throw it in the dish with some butter , toss it well together , and dish it with sippets . to make a cake . take half a peck of flower , two pound and half of currans , three or four nutmegs , one pound of almond paste , two pound of butter , and one pint of cream , three spoonfuls of rosewater , three quarters of a pound of sugar , half a pint of sack , a quarter of a pint of yest , and six eggs , so make it , and bake it . to make a leg of mutton three or four dishes . take a leg of mutton , cut out the flesh and the bone , but save the skin whole , divide the meat in three pieces , and take the tenderest , and cut it in thin slices , and beat it with a rouling pin , season it with nutmeg , pepper , and salt , and mince thyme and lemon peel , fry it till it be tender , then beat two eggs with a spoonfull of verjuyce , throw two anchovies into the pan , shake it altogether , and put it into the dish with sippets round the dish , being drest with barberries scalded , parsly and hard eggs minced . another part of the same meat stew in a dish , with a little white wine , a little butter , and sliced lemon , one anchovy , two oysters , two blades of mace , a little thyme in a branch , and one whole onion , take out the thyme and the onyon when it is stewed , doe it altogether on a chasing-dish of coales till it be tender , then dish it , garnish your dish with hard eggs , and barberries , and sliced lemon , and sippets , round the dish . take another part of the same meat , mince it small with beef-suet , and a handfull of sage , to three quarters of a pound of suet adde one pound of meat , you may use a spoonfull of pepper and salt , mix this altogether , and stuffe the skin of the leg of mutton , hard skiver it close , and spit it at a quick fire , and well roast it in an hour . take another part of the same meat , then put in the pepper and salt , with a grated nutmeg , some sweet hearbs , and a lemon peel minced , a penny loaf grated , one spoonfull of sugar , a quarter of a pound of raisins , and a quartern of currans , mince altogether with the meat , and the suet , and the rest of the ingredients , put too two spoonfuls of rosewater , and as much salt as spice , then make it up in little long boles or roules , and butter your dish , and lay them in with a round bole in the middest , set them in an oven half an hour , then pour out the liquour which will be in the dish , and melt a little butter , verjuyce , and sugar , and pour upon it , garnish your dish , stick in every long roul a flower of paste , and a branch in the middle . to souce an eele . scoure your eele with a handful of salt , split it down the back , take out the chine ●one , season the eele with nutmeg , pepper , and salt , and sweet hearbs minced , then lay a packthread at each end , and the middle roul up like a coller of brawn , then boyle it in water , and salt , and vinegar , and a blade or two of mace , and half a sliced lemon , boyle it half an hour , keep it in the same liquor two or three dayes , then cut it out in round pieces , and lay six or seven in a dish , with parsly and barberries , and serve it with vinegar in saucers . to souce a calfes head . boyle your calfes head in water and salt so much as will cover it , then put in half a pint of vinegar , a branch of sweet hearbs , a sliced lemon , and half a pint of white wine , two or three blades of mace , and one ounce or two of ginger sliced , boil it altogether till it be tender , keep it in the liquor two or three dayes , serve it , the dish upright , and stick a branch in the mouth , and in both the eyes , garnish the dish with jelly or pickled cowcumbers with saucers of vinegar , and jelly , and lemon minced . a stewed rabbit . cut your rabbit in pieces , and season it with pepper , and salt , thyme , parsly , winter savory , and sweet majoram , three apples , and three onions minced altogether , stew it till it be tender with vinegar and water , put a good piece of butter in , stir it together in your dish , put sippets in the bottom , then serve it up with the head in the middle of the dish , with sippets in the mouth . lay your pig in the same ingredients you did for your calfes head , use the same for a capon , and the same for a leg of mutton . to boyle chickens . boyl your chickens in water , and salt , and wine vinegar , a blade of mace , a good handful of endive , and as much succory , two handfuls of skerrets boyled and blanched , when the chickens and these things are stewed , take a pint of liquor up , and put to a quarter of a pint of white wine , and one ounce and half of sugar , and three eggs to thicken it , a piece of butter to lay them in the dish , and pour it on . to boyle a rabbit . boyle them in water and salt , mince thyme and parsly together , a handful of each , boyle it in some of the same liquor , then take three or four spoonfuls of verjuyce , a piece of irish butter , two or three eggs , stir the eggs together in the liquor , set it upon the fire till it be thick , then pour it upon the rabbit , so serve it in . to boyle a duck. half roast your duck with a quick fire , take as much wine and water as will cover them , take some thyme and parsly , and one handful of sweet majoram , two blades of mace , half a lemon sliced , stew these together half an hour without onions , take some of your liquor and thicken it with three or four eggs , two or three spoonfuls of verjuyce , a piece of butter , and as much sugar as will lye upon it , dish your duck , and boyle three or four slices of lemon by it self , and hard eggs minced , put this upon your duck , then pour your liquor upon it with barberries ; so you may boyle pigeons with the same ingredients , or plover , or teale . a roasted shoulder of mutton . when it is roasted slash it , and carbonado it , take two spoonfuls of capers , and a little thyme , and lemon minced , half a nutmeg , two anchovies , a quarter of a peck of oysters , mixed altogether , boyle them one hour in strong broth and white wine , then pour it upon the meat , with hard eggs minced , and sippets round the dish , throw first salt on the meat , then the hard eggs , sliced lemon , and barberries . finis . the art of preserving and restoring health explaining the nature and causes of the distempers that afflict mankind : also shewing that every man is, or may be his own best physician : to which is added a treatise of the most simple and effectual remedies for the diseases of men and women / written in french by m. flamand ; and faithfully translated into english. flamant, m., fl. 1692-1699. 1697 approx. 158 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 70 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a39637 wing f1129 estc r24327 08121975 ocm 08121975 40916 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39637) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 40916) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1229:13) the art of preserving and restoring health explaining the nature and causes of the distempers that afflict mankind : also shewing that every man is, or may be his own best physician : to which is added a treatise of the most simple and effectual remedies for the diseases of men and women / written in french by m. flamand ; and faithfully translated into english. flamant, m., fl. 1692-1699. [18], 110, [7] p. printed by r. bently, h. bonwick, and s. manship, london : 1697. includes index. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. health. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2007-02 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the art of preserving and restoring health . explaining the nature and causes of the distempers that afflict mankind . also shewing that every man is , or may be , his own best physician . to which is added a treatise of the most simple and effectual remedies for the diseases of men and women . written in french by m. flamand , m. d. and faithfully translated into english . london , printed for r. bently , in covent-garden ; h. bonwick , in st. paul's church-yard ; and s. manship , at the ship in cornhill . 1697. the french author's preface . i shall have all the reason in the world to complain of the injustice of the public , if my charitable design in publishing this little treatise be look'd upon as an effect of my vanity , or an arrogant undertaking to prescribe rules to physicians . i am sensible of the vast acknowledgments we owe for the daily and important discoveries they make in that useful art ; and that they do not stand in need of any light to direct 'em , but what they acquire by their own experience and studies . i never entertain'd a thought of controverting the just right they are possess'd of , to give laws to the rest of mankind ; nor was ever guilty of the least intention to disswade my readers from following the instructions of their lawful guides : my only design was to serve the necessities of those , who , tho' they are not profess'd physicians , are nevertheless masters of a sufficient stock of sense and judgment , and are neither too scrupulously fond , nor unreasonably negligent of their health ; for 't is eertain that the two opposite extremities are equally to be avoided upon all occasions . i hope i shall easily obtain pardon for retaining some terms of art , when the subject cou'd not be distinctly handl'd without 'em , especially since i have always taken care to explain ' em . i never intended to court any approbation but that of the candid reader ; and i shall think my self abundantly recompens'd for all my labour , if there be any thing found in my book that may deserve it . a table of the principal matters contain'd in the following treatise . the art of preserving health , and preventing diseases by instinct , assisted by the light of reason , page 1 observation i. that man is endu'd with instinct . ib. the definition of instinct , according to the ancient philosophers , ibid. of the nature of instinct , according to des cartes , and other modern philosophers , 2 the doctrine of instinct confirm'd by reason and experience , ibid. cato the censor was physician to himself and to his whole family , 3 montaigne relates the same of his ancestors , tho' he was a profest admirer of medicine , 4 that man may be assisted by reason in the choice of proper remedies , 5 that a man cannot make use of a better physician than himself , ibid. observation ii. of the temperaments or constitutions of bodies , and of the causes of diseases in general , 6 of the nine sorts of temperaments , according to the doctrine and definitions of the schools , ibid. that the knowledge of the temperaments serves to discover the inclinations of men , and the distempers to which they are subject , 7 that there are two sorts of persons ; the one strong and healthy , the other feeble and tender , 8 chap i. of the principal causes of diseases in the general . ibid. that there are four causes of diseases , two remote , and two more immediate , ibid. of melancholy , the first remote cause of diseases : of the bad effects it produces both in the body and mind ; and of the remedies that may be us'd against it , 9 what ought to be done in order to prevent the effects of vexation and melancholy , 12 that there are two sorts of cures , the one perfect or eradicative , and the other imperfect or palliative , ibid. that melancholy is a distemper both of the mind and of the body , ibid. the cure of melancholy or vexation , 14 of debauchery or intemperance , the second remote cause of diseases , 15 chap. ii. of excess in eating and drinking , ibid. how distempers are occasion'd by excess in eating and drinking , ibid. rules to be observ'd with respect to eating and drinking , by those that are in health , 17 the signs of good and wholsome food or nourishment , ibid. chap. iii. of the immoderate vse of the pleasures of love , 18 that the immoderate use of amorous enjoyments is prejudicial to health , and for what reason , ibid. what ought to be done by such as live single , in order to subdue their lustful inclinations , 19 , 20 of the diseases that may be occasion'd by a rigorous abstinence from the pleasures of love , when care is not taken to prevent 'em by the use of cooling and opening medicines , ibid. that the excessive use of those pleasures is more dangerous than an entire abstinence from 'em , and for what reason , 20 chap. iv. of the quantity or abundance of the blood , the first immediate cause of diseases , 21 how diseases may be occasion'd meerly by the quantity or abundance of the blood , 22 an account of the distempers that proceed from the redundancy of the blood , 23 chap. v of the depravation of the blood , consider'd as an immediate cause of diseases , occasion'd by the retaining of the excrements in the body ▪ 24 how the digestion of the aliments is perform'd by the stomach , ibid. how a cacochymy or ill dispositition of the blood is produc'd , 26 two objections answer'd , 27 , 28 the excrements compar'd to a heap of dung , 28 that the liver alone is not able to free the blood from all its impurities , and for what reason , 29 how that little quantity of blood that passes thro' the small vessels of the gut colon , may infect the whole mass of the blood , ibid. chap. vi. of the cure or removal of the first immediate cause of diseases , by lessening the quantity of the blood. 30 two ways to lessen the quantity of the blood ; abstinence or a spare diet , and bleeding , ibid. how the quantity of the blood is lessen'd by abstinence , and in what cases this method is most proper , 31 of bleeding , and when we shou'd have recourse to it , ibid. chap. vii . of the ways to remove the second immediate cause of diseases occasion'd by the too long continuance of the excrements in the cavities of the great guts , 32 four ways with which animals are inspir'd by instinct , to hasten the expulsion of the excrements , 32 , &c. diet is the first expedient that contributes to the evacuation of the excrements , 33 the ill consequences of an irregular diet , ibid. what use ought to be made of this expedient , in order to prevent distempers , 34 bleeding is the second way to facilitate the voiding of excrements that are too long retain'd , ibid. the vsefulness of bleeding in defluxions , wounds , child-birth , &c. ibid. how bleeding promotes the expulsion of the excrements , 35 that bleeding ought to precede the use of purging medicines , and for what reason , ibid. of the most proper times for bleeding , 36 of the rules that are to be observed in order to make a right use of bleeding , 37 , 38. the ill consequences of bleeding without necessity , 38 chap. viii . the signs by which every man is forewarn'd by his own instinct , of an approaching distemper , 39 the bad effects of purging without necessity , 42 when a man is threaten'd with sickness by many and pressing signs , he ought to prevent the danger by a speedy use of proper remedies : but if the signs be few and inconsiderable , he may defer the use of remedies , and for what reason , 43 tho' 't is dangerous to use medicines too much or too often , yet the strongest and most healthy persons may sometimes stand in need of remedies , and why , 44 chap. ix . of clysters and other medicines ; the third expedient which instinct has taught animals to forward the expulsion of their excrements , 45 that we ought not to make a custom of taking clysters , and why , 46 how to know when we ought , or ought not to use bleeding by way of prevention , ibid. chap. x. of the way of using remedies for the preservation of health , 47 that clysters ought to precede the use of medicines , and why , 48 that the effect of clysters is very irregular , and what must be observ'd on such occasions , 49 that a purging medicine shou'd rather be taken by way of infusion than in substance , and why , 49 four observations concerning the right use of purgatives , 50 chap. xi . of purgatives , and how they operate : of the time and manner of using them . 53 of a common property of all evacuating medicines , 54 chap. xii . of the purgatives that ought to be used for the preventing of diseases , 56 medicines that purge by stool ought to be preferr'd before all other evacuating medicines , and why , ibid. what manner of persons those are who may expect benefit by the use of vomits , ibid. who may use sudorifics , ibid. who may have recourse to diuretics ; and so of the rest , ibid. a rule of great importance to be observ'd in the use of all remedies whatsoever , 58 that nothing can be more uncertain than the effect of purgatives , ibid. that the most gentle purgatives , and such as are most agreeable to our constitution , are of two sorts , 59 what our opinion is concerning the effect of remedies , ibid. chap. xiii . the solution of certain difficulties that deter most persons from making use of purging remedies for the preventing of distempers , 61 the first objection , against clysters and purgatives answer'd , 61 the second objection answer'd , 64 the third objection answer'd , 65 the fourth objection against bleeding answer'd , 66 the end of the table . books lately printed . the present state of persia : with a faithful account of the manners , religion and government of that people . by monsieur sanson , missionary from the french king. adorn'd with ●igures . done into english . the present state of the empire of morocco : with a faithful account of the manners , religion , and ●overnment of that people . by monsieur de s. olon , ●mbassador there in the year 1693. adorn'd with ●igures . the life of the famous cardinal-duke of riche●●eu , principal minister of state to lewis xiii . king 〈◊〉 france and navarre . in two volumes . 8vo . letters , written by a french gentleman ; giving a ●●ithful and particular account of the transactions 〈◊〉 the court of france , relating to the publick inte●●st of europe . with historical and political re●ctions on the ancient and present state of that ●ingdom . by the famous monsieur vassor . the roman history , from the building of the ●ity to the perfect settlement of the empire by ●ugustus caesar : containing the space of 727 years . ●esign'd as well for the understanding of the ro●an authors , as the roman affairs . by laurence ●chard , a. m. of christ-college in cambridge . a new voyage to italy : with a description of the ●hief towns , churches , tombs , libraries , palaces , ●●atues , and antiquities of that country . toge●●er with useful instructions for those who shall travel thither . by maximilian misson , gent. do●● into english , and adorn'd with figures . in tw● volumes . 8vo . the life of the famous john baptist colbe● late minister and secretary of state to lewis xi● the present french king. done into english from french copy , printed at cologn this present year 169● a new voyage to the levant : containing 〈◊〉 account of the most remarkable curiosities 〈◊〉 germany , france , italy , malta , and turkey ; w●●● historical observations relating to the present 〈◊〉 ancient state of those countries . by the si● du mont. done into english , and adorn'd with ●●●gures . the compleat horseman : discovering the su●● marks of the beauty , goodness , and vices of h●●ses , and describing the signs and causes of their ●●●eases ; and the true method both of their pre●●●vation and cure. with reflections on the reg●● and preposterous use of bleeding and purging . t●gether with the art of shooing , and a descrip●●●● of several kinds of shooes , adapted to the var●●● defects of bad feet , and for the preservation 〈◊〉 those that are good ; and the best method of br●●●ing colts ; with directions to be observ'd in bac● 'em , and making their mouths , &c. by the ●●● de solleysell , one of the heads of the royal acad●●● at paris . the eighth edition , review'd and ●●thodically augmented ; done into english , 〈◊〉 adorn'd with figures . folio . the art of preserving health . observation i. that man is endu'd with instinct . the word instinct may be consider'd , either according to its signification or etymology . instinct , according to the etymology , comes from the latin word instigo ; which in english signifies to incite , stir up , &c. according to the signification , instinct in beasts is an impulse , which moves them towards those things that are useful , and makes them shun those things that are hurtful . this is the opinion of plato , socrates , aristotle , and , in a word , of all the ancient philosophers : but , according to des cartes , and other modern writers , the instinct of beasts is a certain principle , which is the cause of all their actions , just as the wheels of a watch make it point out and strike the hours ; for , according to the moderns , beasts are nothing but a sort of clock-work , or meer machines : but this opinion begins to lose ground , as well as others . this being premis'd , we may define the instinct of animals to be a power of acting ; which is , as it were , the cause of the actions that contribute to their preservation , which we commonly ascribe to their instinct and may not man then have such a principle , which in him may be the cause of the like actions ? if we consider him purely as an animal , for , abstrahentium non est mendacium , say the philosophers , we may presume that man , as well as the beasts , acts by instinct for his own preservation . reason and experience confirm this truth ; for it cannot be deny'd , that man in his infancy , while reason is clogg'd and obscur'd by the imperfections of the organs of his body , does many things which are advantageous to him , and which can not proceed but from that principle which is common to him with the beasts , since at that time he has no use of his reason ; for we find that an infant , assoon as 't is born , applies it self to the nipple which is presented to it by the mother or nurse , and sucks out the milk , without considering that it wants it for its nourishment . and soon after , when the organs of his senses are strengthen'd , and when he begins to fix his eyes upon such objects as present themselves to his sight , do not we see that he endeavours to avoid those that are disagreeable to him ; that he cries and is troubled when an unknown or deform'd person takes him out of his nurse's arms ? and is it not plain that these are the effects of instinct , since beasts do the same , without the light of reason . but we are not only guided by instinct during our infancy , for we are sensible of it even in the vigour of our age. how often does it happen that while our thoughts are ●ntent upon some important affair , we approach the fire in the winter , or eat a hearty meal , and do several other things without thinking on them . cato the censor , one of the wisest persons among the romans , was physician to himself , and to his whole family ; and he who writes his life , tells us , that that illustrious roman was wont to boast that he always kept himself and his family in per●ect health , by the help of such physick as he prepar'd himself ; which is as much as ●f he had intimated to us , that he was a di●igent observer of the dictates of nature . montaigne , one of the most refin'd wit● of our age , relates the same of his ancestors , in the second book of his essays , chap. 3● my father , says he , liv'd seventy four years my grand-father sixty nine , and my great grandfather near eighty , without so much as tasting any medicines ; for whatsoever was not commonly us'd , serv'd them instead of drugs . nevertheless , 't is certain that he did no● write this because he had an aversion to physick , for he was too wise and judicious no● to have a particular value for so useful a● art ; as appears by another passage of hi● works , where he expresses himself in the●● words , health is a precious thing , which rea● deserves that a man shou'd employ not only b● time , but every thing else , for its preservation . if men will join reason to their natural instinct , they may know themselves be●ter than the beasts can possibly do , whic● perhaps have no knowledge , or at le●●● are incapable of reflexion . i am not ignorant that monsieur de 〈◊〉 chambre , a very learned and eminent physician , hath written a particular treatise co●cerning the reasoning of beasts : but t●● reader will give me leave to own that 〈◊〉 am neither of his opinion , nor of that 〈◊〉 some other philosophers , who affirm th●● beasts act formally and directly for the a●taining of their end , tho' in an imperfe●● manner ; since , according to the philosopher● the distinction of degrees , or more and le●● does not imply a special difference ; and since there is no effect that does not depend upon , or proceed from , an internal cause , which can hardly be allow'd to beasts . besides , reason enables a man to choose , out of many remedies , that which he knows to be the most proper for himself ; whereas all other animals of the same species , use the same remedies , because they are not capable of making so nice a distinction . to conclude ; as 't is plain that certain junctures of time , and other circumstances , have a considerable influence upon the effect of medicines , it must also be acknowledged as wholly owing to reason , that a man who has made use of the same remedies at different times , when he comes to reflect upon their various effects , is able with more exactness and judgment to choose fit opportunities to secure or promote their success . 't is thus that many husbandmen , labourers , and other country people preserve their health for the space of seventy or eighty years , and live to a great age , without having need of any but their own internal physician , that is , their natural instinct , and the light of their reason , which admonishes 'em to avoid debauchery , excess , and ambition . 't is certain then that we can make use of no better physicians than our selves , provided we wou'd seriously apply our selves to the preservation of our health and strength , and di●igently follow our instinct and the light of our reason . observation ii. of the temperaments or constitution● of bodies , and of the causes of diseases in general . 't wou'd be needless to trouble th● reader with the definition or etymology of the word temperament or constitution and its division into nine different species which are the common subjects of disputation in the schools ; since there are ver● few who know not that a temperament ● nothing else but a mixture of the four qualities , viz. heat , coldness , moisture and dryness . and on the other hand , tho' a man shou●● know that there are nine species of temperaments , viz. one temperate , and the other eight intemperate , he wou'd not , perhaps , b● the more learned ; nevertheless , lest my silence shou'd be imputed to ignorance , i wi●● give such an account of 'em , as may in som● measure satisfie the reader 's curiosity . the temperate constitution is that which is composed of a due and convenient mixture of the four first qualities , either according to the quantity , which we call a temperate constitution ad pondus , i. e. to weight ▪ or according to the quality , ad justitiam , fit for every faculty to perform its operations aright . i leave it to be decided by my more learned and experienc'd brethren , whether they ever met with such a constitution in their practice . an intemperate constitution is that in which there is an excess of one or more qualities above the temperate ; and it is twofold , viz. simple and compound . the simple is that which is caused by the excess of any one quality , viz. hot , cold , dry , or moist separately . the compound is that which is produc'd by the excess of two or more qualities : thus heat and moisture conjunctly make a sanguine constitution , which answers to adolescency and the spring ; heat and dryness agree with youth ; choler , and the summer ; and so of the rest . an intemperate constitution , as well simple as compound , may be either healthful or sickly , equal or unequal , with or without matter , &c. but since these distinctions wou'd engage me in unprofitable debates , i refer the reader to those authors who have treated on that subject . and tho' the knowledge of the constitutions may be of some use , to discover the inclinations of men , and many diseases to which they are subject , i will chuse rather to say with a late author , that there are but two sorts of persons , one that are endow'd with a healthy and strong constitution ; and the other with a feeble and weak constitution , who are almost always sick , and enjoy but very little health . 't is a great advantage to be naturally well-disposed both in body and mind ; for such a person may enjoy a perfect health by leading a regular life : but when one is naturally of an ill constitution , he loses his health as often as he neglects the admonitions of his instinct , and consequently must lead a very troublsome and uneasie life . chap. i. of the principal causes of diseases in the general . there are four causes of diseases viz. two remote , which are melancholy or vexation , and debauchery ; and two immediate , which are an excess of blood , and the too long continuance of the excrements in the great guts . of melancholy , the first remote cause of diseases : of the bad effects which it produces both in the body and mind ; and of its remedies . there are very few persons who are not acquainted with melancholy , either by reason or experience , since the life of man is a continual revolution of prosperity and adversity ; and the oppositions betwixt those two conditions , excite in us contrary motions , and very different passions . that tranquillity of mind which accompanies good fortune , is very proper to preserve the health ; for tho' the mind and the body are of a different nature , yet they have an affinity , which keep 'em in such dependance one to the other , that there is nothing regularly done in the whole composition , unless it be carry'd on by an equal combination of the two parts . all our actions are perform'd by the assistance of the vital and animal spirits ; and 't is their commerce which maintains that perfect union , between the heart and the brain , which are the principal organs of the body . for 't is plain that the brain cannot produce the animal spirits , unless the subtil parts of the blood be convey'd thither through the arteries ; and that the heart , which is a muscle , hath not power by its continual motion , to diffuse the blood through the whole body , but by the assistance of the animal spirits : now when the mind is serene and undisturb'd , that all the parts may be sensible of her impressions , she furnishes 'em with a sufficient quantity of spirits , to enable 'em to perform their respective actions . but , on the other hand , when the mind is agitated with a croud of dismal apprehensions , that give entrance to grief and melancholy , she is perpetually ruminating on the causes of her disasters , and endeavouring with all imaginable application , to remove 'em , which must needs occasion a vast expence of spirits . so that all the animal spirits which are generated in the brain , are scarce able to supply those parts which are subservient to the designs of the soul , in the performance of those hasty motions she requires from 'em ; and consequently since so large a quantity of the spirits flows into the nerves , that are bestow'd upon those parts , there are but few left for the other nerves : now the parts which help to change or digest the aliments , and are subservient to all the actions which are call'd natural , being of no use to the passions , 't is plain that the nerves which go to those parts , receive but few spirits from the brain , and consequently that their fibres are very weakly mov'd , and their actions disorderly and irregular ; so that the excrements can hardly be expell'd ; and their too long continuance in the guts is the immediate cause of diseases . we may add , that the great dissipation of the animal spirits , when the soul is vex'd and disturb'd , is the occasion that a greater quantity of blood than usual is sent from the heart to the brain , to make up the loss of those spirits ; and consequently the nourishment of all the other parts is both much lessen'd and chang'd as to its quality . for 't is always the best part of the blood that runs to the brain , and the body is depriv'd of its best nourishment , particularly the membranous parts , which are weakned and dry'd up , for want of fit matter to preserve them ; and this inconveniency reaching the intestines , as well as all the other parts , 't is certain that they cannot expel the excrements with vigour , by their vermicular or peristaltick motion , being depriv'd of the animal spirits , by whose assistance they were moved . we also see , that those who are naturally of a melancholy and peevish humour , who apply themselves to study , or to other employments , which require much application , are usually lean , and subject to be often costive , and commonly fancy themselves to be extremely sick , before they have the least disposition or tendency to sickness . what ought to be done in order to prevent the effects of grief or melancholy . all diseases , as well of the body as of the mind , may be cured either perfectly or imperfectly . a perfect cure consists in the entire destruction of all the causes of the disease , which must necessarily cease when the causes are remov'd ; sublatâ causâ tollitur effectus : this sort of cure is call'd cradicative . grief is not only a disease of the body , but 't is one of the most considerable distempers that can possibly afflict the mind . it cannot be always cur'd by an entire removal of its causes , since they are not always in our power ; and the best reasons that can be alledged , to persuade a man to raise himself by the strength of his mind , above the reach of ill fortune , may serve indeed for a fine amusement to a contemplative genius ; but are rarely able to allay the torment of an afflicted mind : for as it is easie for those on whom fortune smiles , to comfort the miserable , so it is hard for those who are in trouble not to feel the weight of their misfortunes . as for example ; if a man was entirely ruin'd , or reduc'd to extreme want by a litigious action enter'd against him by his enemies ; a grave philosopher might indeed admonish him that the estate he had lost was transitory and perishable , and that he ought not to have settl'd his affections on it , neither as a man , because he shou'd have consider'd that he must have left it sooner or later ; nor as a christian , because as such he ought not to look upon such fleeting enjoyments as his portion , but upon those which are everlasting ? these are certain and undoubted truths , but wou'd not , in all probability quiet the mind of a person in such circumstances , or make him forget his loss . and 't is no less certain that the recovery of his estate wou'd be the most effectual expedient to restore the tranquility of his mind . grief may be also occasion'd by many other causes , which are no less without our power , and beyond the reach of medicines , than the former . but that which seems to be peculiar to this troublesome distemper , is , that whereas other distempers are commonly cur'd by things that are contrary to 'em ; that which is contrary to this , commonly augments , rather than abates the distemper . for a man who is drowned in sorrow is incapable of taking pleasure in any thing ; and joy , which is opposite to his grief , is so far from easing him , that he cannot endure to perceive the least appearance of it in another . ' twou'd be needless then to attempt the cure by endeavouring to divert his thoughts ; and therefore , ( in expectation that time , which is the only physician in such cases , may heal the wounds of his mind , or some of those unexpected revolutions , to which all the world is subject , may put an end to the cause of his sorrow ) we must content our selves with persuading him at least to resist the fatal influence which this passion may have upon his bodily health , because of the strict union that is between those two parts which compose the man. 't is certain that grief may be the spring and fountain of many diseases , by causing the excrements to remain too long in the great guts : and therefore we must endeavour to make the best use of the signs by which the internal physician acquaints us with the stoppage of those impurities in these passages , lest the mind shou'd by degrees communicate the infectious contagion of its distemper , to the body ; that is , we must expel those excrements as soon as we perceive any signs of fulness ; and in order to this , we must chuse the most convenient medicines . for , as i intimated before , we must either entirely remove the causes of a disease , or at least endeavour to prevent their fatal effects . of debauchery or intemperance , the second remote cause of diseases . debauchery consists chiefly in two things , viz. in excess of drinking and eating , and in the immoderate use of the pleasures of love ; for 't is by this means that the most healthy persons destroy themselves , and shorten their days , even tho' they be otherwise of a stronger constitution than others . chap. ii. of excess in drinking and eating . that we may comprehend the manner how diseases are occasion'd by excess in eating and drinking , we must examine the action of the stomach and guts in converting the food into chyle : for if we consider that all the fibres which compose the contexture of those parts , are as it were so many small springs , being which successively slacken'd and contracted , keep the food in a continual motion , which , with the assistance of dissolving acids , attenuates , bruises , and entirely changes its nature . now 't is plain that these springs may lose their force and activity by a continual pressure and distension , occasion'd by an excessive quantity of food , which fills the spaces that are formed by their turnings and windings , even as the springs of our machines are stopt when their relaxation is hinder'd by a strong pressure : for as a bow cannot long retain its spring if it be kept continually bent , and the finest machine in the world will decay insensibly if it be not diligently kept in order , so the most vigorous stomach may be spoil'd by an over-proportion'd quantity of food , because the fibres both of that and of the other parts which help digestion , are either broken , or so weaken'd by a continual extension , that they cannot afterwards contract and expand themselves , either to concoct the food , or to expel the excrements that are separated from it : now indigestion and the stoppage of the excrements in the body , are , in a great measure , the immediate causes of diseases . but let us suppose that the stomach , tho loaded with food , may nevertheless be able to digest it when the body is very strong and vigorous , what must be the consequence of such a digestion , but that the redundant chyle flowing out of the stomach , and not being admitted into the milky-vessels of the mesenterium , must remain in the small guts , and afterwards pass with the excrements into the greater , where it must quickly be corrupted , for want of a sufficient ferment to keep up its motion , and consequently must of necessity corrupt the excrements , and occasion all those disorders which shall be mentioned in the chapters that treat of the immediate causes of diseases . we ought therefore diligently to avoid excess in drinking and eating ; and for that reason 't is necessary that every one should be acquainted with his own constitution : as for example ; the cholerick have occasion to eat oftener than the phlegmatick , because those are much hotter than these , and the heat not meeting with matter to digest , takes hold of the alimentary juice , and thereby insensibly weakens the principal parts of the body . whoever enjoys a perfect health , ought to use indifferently every thing that is fit to nourish him , especially when he has observ'd that any particular sort of food is endu'd with all the necessary qualities ; as first , when it is agreeable to the taste ; for when the stomach loaths any particular kind of meat , tho' at the same time it be very good and wholsome , we ought to abstain from it , because it will infallibly either cause indigestion , or provoke vomiting . secondly , when 't is easily digested , without occasioning either a slackness or straitness in the belly : these are the surest marks of wholsome food ; and there remains nothing more to be observ'd , but that the quantity must always be moderate . we must then , to preserve our health , eat when we are hungry , and drink when we are thirsty , whatsoever is proper to be eaten or drunk , without forcing nature , and without either starving or cloying our stomachs . chap. iii. of the immoderate vse of the pleasures of love. this sort of intemperance is no less dangerous and prejudicial than the former : i need not mention those infamous marks and effects of lechery , the gonorrhaea both simple and virulent , phimosis , paraphimosis , excrescencies , bubo's , and in a word , the disease which is commonly entertain'd by all nations , tho' none of 'em are willing to own it as a native , these are the usual consequences , and the just rewards of unbridl'd lust . but besides , it is certain that the immoderate use of those pleasures dissipates the spirits , extremely weakens the brain , robs the nerves , and membranous parts of their proper nourishment , is fatal to those who have a weak breast , heats and drys up the whole body , and makes way for a whole army of diseases , by weakening the action of the great guts , by dissipating the spirits , and by drying up the fibres . it is therefore necessary to moderate the pleasures of love , if we wou'd preserve our selves from irrecoverable ruine ; and consequently in our amorous inclinations , we ought to consult our strength , and never to give a full career to our eager desires . we must be entirely masters of our selves , that we may be able , upon occasion , to curb the heat of a passion which has in all ages fooled the wisest heads , and baffled the severest vertue ; since the wisdom of solomon , the holiness of david , and the strength of sampson , could not moderate the sallies of this ungoverneable passion : and 't was this that made the modest virgil say , omnia vincit amor , & nos cedamus amori . reason , which ought to guide us in all our steps , is never less obey'd , nor more strangely puzzl'd than when she attempts to calm the impetuous motions of love , that are stirr'd up in us by an infinite number of objects , and after a thousand several ways . to make our selves masters of this passion , we must not only be possest of an unshaken firmness and resolution , but be furnish'd with constant supplies of grace ; for chastity in youth is a sort of martyrdom , or as a father of the church terms it , martyrium sine sanguine . this consideration obliges me to advise all unmarry'd persons to abstain entirely from the pleasures that are propos'd to them by this passion , provided their ordinary food be not too juicy and provocative , such as new-laid eggs , capons , partridges , woodcocks , pigeons , artichokes , asparagus , celery , all sorts of salt and pepper'd meats ; as also some kinds of pulse , because of their windiness , as pease and beans ; and therefore such persons must content themselves with less nourishing food , and cool their bodies more or less , according to their age and constitutions ; which they may do very easily by consulting their physicians ; for otherwise they may , by abstaining entirely from the pleasures of love , render themselves obnoxious to many diseases , as stoppage of urine , the gravel , stone , vapours , faintings , the jaundice , and green-sickness . 't is certain that an excessive use of the pleasures of love is more dangerous than an entire abstinence from them ; for the ebullition of the blood ending sooner or later with age , the passions are extinguish'd with it , and the calm we enjoy after the storm , makes us soon forget all the pain we suffer'd to resist it : whereas the inconveniencies that remain after the immoderate use of those pleasures , such as the trembling of the nerves , palsie , shortness of breath , phthisis , gout , &c. make us pay very dear , in a long and infirm old age , for the transitory charms we enjoy'd , and the frivolous amusements of our youth . what has been said may suffice to give us an idea of the remote causes of diseases ; and therefore in the next place we must proceed to consider their more immediate causes . chap. iv. of the redundancy or too great abundance of blood , the first immediate cause of diseases . the blood , which is the treasure of life , when it exceeds either in quantity or quality , may prove the cause of death when there is more than a sufficient quantity of it in the body , which we call a plethora , or a fulness of blood ; or when it hath acquired some bad quality , which we call cacochymia , or a depravation of the humours : bleeding destroys or removes the former , and purging the latter . we may easily comprehend how diseases may be occasion'd meerly by the quantity of the blood , if we reflect upon the disposition of the organs which contain and convey the blood , and conduce to its motion . in order to this we may compare the veins and arteries of our bodies to the pipes of a fountain , the first of which , or those that are next the spring-head , are very big and large , but grow insensibly smaller as they spread themselves into branches ; supposing , for example , that the first gives passage to a foot of water , and that the last do not give passage to above an inch. the same observations may be apply'd to the blood-vessels . the arteries which proceed from the heart are very large , and are divided into others of a middle bigness ; these again are divided into smaller branches which are successively subdivided , till they become so small , that they are usually call'd capillarie ( or hair-like ) and invisible . and in all parts of the body where these invisible arteries are found , they meet with very small veins , which grow larger as they meet , and join with one another , and return at length to the heart , where they terminate , and are as large as the arteries at their coming out of the heart . now the blood flows thro' all those pipes , and the heart directs its motion , as a conduit-maker directs that of the water in the pipes of the fountain . and as it often happens that the water-pipes are either stopt or broken when a body that is bulky enough to fill up the passage enters with the water , or a greater quantity of water than they can contain ; so the blood-vessels are frequently obstructed , and sometimes broken , when the liquor they contain is either redundant , or thicker than it ought to be , from whence proceed fevers , ebullitions of the blood , abscesses or impostumes , both in the inward parts , and upon the surface of the body , bleeding at the nose , and other parts , apoplexies , suffocating defluxions , and obstructions of the intrals , which make way for an infinite number of diseases . but if the abundance of blood may be look'd upon as the cause of so many distempers , 't is certain that the depravation of it may produce a far greater number of more stubborn and dangerous diseases . chap. v. of the depravation of the blood , consider'd as an immediate cause of diseases , occasion'd by the retaining of the excrements in the body . since the retaining of the excrements in the great guts is that which most frequently makes the blood lose that good disposition in which our health consists , and occasions a cacochymia which we have already intimated to be the cause of the most stubborn diseases ; 't will be convenient to give the reader a comprehensive view of this fatal source of distempers . the meat which we eat receives its first change in the mouth , by the help of the teeth , which are as it were small natural knives , to mince it ; and of the spittle , which may not improperly be said to serve instead of salt , to help its concoction . from the mouth 't is carry'd through a long chanel , which anatomists call the oesaphagus or gullet , into a spacious cavity , call'd the stomach , where either by a proper and peculiar vertue belonging to that part , or by the help of an acid , or some other ferment which it meets with there , 't is chang'd into a liquid and greyish substance , which they call chyle . then continuing its journey downwards , it goes out of the stomach by its inferiour orifice , and slips into the upper part of the intestines , to the several parts of which anatomists have given different names , according to certain remarks and observations they have made upon these parts . the first part , which in the dissection of several animals , they found to be about twelve inches long , is call'd the duodenum ; that which follows , which some pretend is not so full as the rest , is term'd the jejunum ; that which consists of most folds is call'd the ileon ; and so of the rest . the greatest part of this intestine is fasten'd about a part , which by reason of its folds or plaits , resembles those ruffs that were formerly worn about the neck , and is call'd the mesentery : its figure renders it very apt to retain in a small space a considerable part of this intestine , which is variously wound or twisted about its folds . 't is in this part of the intestines that the most useful part of the chyle insinuates it self into the mouths of certain vessels , call'd the lactean or milky , which run along between the membranes of the mesentery . and the grosser particles , which cannot enter into the branches of those vessels , continuing their course , descend from that part of the intestines which is fix'd to the mesentery , and enter into the great guts , where they are stopt . this being premis'd , i proceed to shew that the remaining part of the chyle , which is properly an excrement , after its entry into the great guts , infecteth the blood , by its too long continuance in that part wit● a cacochymia , which , as i intimated before , i● the immediate cause of most of our indispositions : for since the excrements are unfit for nourishment , and are of no use in the great guts , they cannot continue there long without corruption . now there can be n● corruption of any matter without fermertation , by which some subtil particles a●● loosen'd and separated from the corrupte● matter , which meeting with a porous substance , are easily disperst thro' it by the i●petuosity of their motion . thus the cacchymia is at last communicated to the h●mours ; for the excrements that remain lo●● in the great guts are fermented , after whic● the subtil particles that are separated by th● fermentation , striking against the sides 〈◊〉 coats of the guts , find the pores of th●●● vessels which surround them , fit to receiv● them , and slipping into those passages , communicate their corruption to the blood th●● circulates thro' those vessels , which , co●tinuing for a considerable time , they inf●●● the whole mass of blood ; and this inf●ction proves the source of many diseases . it may by objected , that it does not seem probable that the excrements shou'd be corrupted by remaining in the body , since it has been observ'd , that those which have remain'd long in the body are not so stinking , as those that have lain there only so long as they ought to do naturally ; that stench is the most certain mark of corruption , and that consequently the longer they stay they ought to stink the more , if they corrupted proportionably to the time of their continuance in the guts . but the reason why the excrements stink less when they have remain'd long in the guts , is , because their humidity is dissipated by the continu'd action of the heat ; for the moist particles being rarify'd and subtiliz'd by the heat , exhale from the mass of the excrements , and finding , as i observ'd before , the pores of the vessels which environ the great guts , disposed to receive 'em , they slip into these small passages , and produce an alteration in all the blood that passes that way , which makes it degenerate from its natural state ; and therefore it will not follow that the excrements which are retain'd are exempted from corruption , because their smell is not so offensive , but that the heat having consum'd all the moisture that was on their surface , and having dry'd , or rather burnt it up , they cannot be suppos'd to yield so noisome a smell as before those steams were exhal'd . the same alteration may be observ'd in a heap of dung , which after it has been long expos'd to the sun , casts forth no bad smell , provided it be not mov'd or agitated ; but if it be turn'd or mov'd to the bottom , it will smoak , and cast forth a more noisome smell than when it was first brought to the dunghil . after the same manner the excrements that have remain'd long in the body , are dry'd up in their surface , and are scarce offensive to the smel● when expell'd naturally ; but when they are agitated by the bile , as in a dia●rhoea or loosness , their stench is insupportable . it may further be objected , that the vei●● and arteries which environ the great guts are so inconsiderable , that 't is hard to conceiv● how that little quantity of blood which pass●● thro' them , can spoil the whole mass , because th● small portion of blood being forthwith carry●● back from those vessels into the trunk 〈◊〉 the vena porta , is freed from all its impurties ; and even supposing that there remain● some ill quality in it , it may be presum●● that so small a quantity of ill blood passi●● from the roots of the vena porta into th● vena cava , and from thence to the heart , 〈◊〉 so at last mingling with all the blood of 〈◊〉 body , can no more corrupt the whole ma●● than a glass of water thrown into a hogshe●● of wine can weaken that spirituous liquo● for a satisfactory answer to this objection , we must examine whether the liver is able to purge the blood of all its impurities : now 't is certain that the liver alone is not able to perform so great a task , since the spleen , reins , and other parts , are appointed for the same use , and since the liver serves properly to purge the blood only from the bile . it will not then follow , when the blood is infected with corrupt particles , that slip into the vessels which environ the great guts , that in its passage thro' the liver , it throws off all its infection upon that entral , because that part being only proper to separate the bile , 't is probable that the corpuscles which insinuated themselves into the vessels of the intestines , being of another figure than those of the bile , may pass thro' the liver with the rest of the blood , without any stoppage or separation . in the second place we must consider whether the small quantity of bad blood which passes thro' the minute vessels of the gut colon , is able to communicate its ill qualities to all the blood of the body . to this second difficulty , i answer , that since the blood circulates thro' the whole body , 't is plain that a great quantity must pass in one day thro' the smallest vessels , and consequently that the fermentation of the excrements which are not unfrequently retain'd eight days , and sometimes longer , in the great guts , giving occasion during all that time , to a continual efflux of subtil particles , which are receiv'd into the pores of the vessels of that intestine , may in many circulations corrupt so large a quantity of blood , that it may in a short time infect the whole mass ; and by the same hypothesis we may give a natural and satisfactory account how the venomous particles that are darted by a poysonous insect into one of the capillary vessels , and that even in the extremities of the body , may , in less than an hour , spread their infection thro' the whole mass of the blood. chap. vi. of the cure or removal of the first immediate cause of diseases , by lessening the quantity of the blood. there are two general ways by which we may lessen the quantity of blood , viz. by preventing its increase , and by evacuating with all convenient speed , what is already generated : and to answer these indications there are two great remedies , viz. fasting and bleeding . we may have recourse to the first , when we perceive some inconsiderable symptoms of diseases that proceed from the excessive quantity of the blood ; in which case we may content our selves with a very regular diet , which tho' it has not so quick an operation as bleeding , at last it produces the same effect , and that without occasioning any remarkable weakness ; for abstinence hindering the production of new blood , does , for the same reason , occasion a dissipation of part of that which is already generated ; and consequently answers both the indications that were propos'd . but if the disease requires a speedy cure , which cannot be perform'd by abstinence , as it oftentimes happens , we must have recourse to bleeding , which by a present evacuation of the blood , destroys the cause of the approaching disease . ' twou'd be ridiculous to object that bleeding causes greater alterations in the body than abstinence , or a thin diet , that it occasions a sudden dissipation of the spirits , and consequently is attended with a much greater decay of strength ; for that loss will be much sooner and more easily repair'd , than the disorders that are occasion'd by diseases . chap. vii . of the ways to remove the second immediate cause of diseases occasion'd by the too long continuance of the excrements in the cavities of the great guts . ' tho the excrements that are retain'd in the great guts are meer impurities , and extremely prejudicial to health , yet we must proceed with caution in the means we use to expel them . we must not begin with the quickest ways , because they occasion great disorders in the body , and it has been too often observ'd , that inconsiderable distempers have been exasperated and confirm'd by an over-hasty cure , and therefore gentle remedies are both safest and most successful . instinct has furnish'd animals with two sure and effectual expedients to procure the expulsion of the excrements that are retain'd in the cavities of the great guts , viz. clysters and purgative potions , which , 't is probable men began to use when they observed the great advantages which animals receiv'd from them . bleeding and abstinence , which second the effects of the former remedies , are also lessons which men owe to the brutes ; and these four expedients acting either jointly or separately , are the safest and most effectual means that can be made use of , to hinder the stoppage of the excrements in the great guts , and consequently to prevent the diseases which proceed from such obstructions . it is easie to conceive how abstinence or a regular diet may contribute to the evacuation of the excrements , if we consider that those excrements are the remainders of our nourishment ; that the more we eat and drink , the more excrements are bred in those parts , so that the evacuation of those excrements wou'd be an endless work , if the empty'd guts were presently fill'd with the superfluities of a greedy stomach . but in the mean time , a diet which is only prescrib'd for prevention , ought not to be so regular or thin as that which is enjoyn'd to sick persons . it is known that too nice or sparing a diet is prejudicial to health , and is so far from assisting nature in the evacuation of the excrements , that it renders her unable to expel ' em . besides , the liquor which serves to dissolve the food , not finding matter to work upon , acts upon the parts that contain and receive it , by drying and consuming them . it may be further added , that a man who takes physick only for prevention , does not abstain from labour and exercise , and therefore stands in need of nourishment to repair the expence of his spirits . wherefore , to prevent diseases , one ought only to fast moderately ; at the same time he ought to avoid as much as he can , eating in company , because people are usually wont to eat a little more than is necessary ; and besides , he ought to chuse such aliments as will leave but few excrements in the body ; and especially he must take care never to eat to satiety . the second expedient we propos'd to facilitate the passage of the excrements , is bleeding , which is doubtless one of the best methods that nature cou'd suggest to animals ; for it is certain , that besides that there is no remedy which depends more absolutely upon the pleasure of the person who either orders or performs it , so there is none which in most cases gives more speedy relief to the patient . every surgeon knows how useful bleeding is to put a stop to defluxions , and the falling down of humours , which are always apt to fall upon wounded parts , how effectual it is to dissolve large tumours , with which wounds are frequently accompany'd ; how powerfully it stops the inordinate flux of blood in the wounds of the vessels ; and both surgeons and midwives know how helpful it is to facilitate so difficult a work. our business at present is to enquire how it may contribute to the expulsion of the excrements out of the cavities of the great guts . the expulsion of the excrements retain'd in the cavities of the great guts , is perform'd chiefly by the contraction of its moving fibres , assisted by those of the muscles of the lower belly , and by the continual inspiration which obliges the diaphragma to press all the guts . all these actions are perform'd by means of the animal spirits , which upon such occasions flow plentifully to the parts which are the organs of these actions . now these spirits are continually dissipated , and that expence must be repair'd by the blood of which they are compos'd , provided there be a reasonable quantity in the vessels which are appointed to contain it ; for when there is a redundancy of blood , the spirits are as it were suffocated and drown'd in the abundance of their matter ; so that the best office we can do to nature on such occasions , is , by bleeding , to reduce the mass of blood to a moderate quantity , in order to ease her of an unnecessary burthen which obstructs the liberty of her actions . bleeding ought always to precede purgations when both these remedies are indicated by the signs of a redundancy , excessive heat , or corruption of the blood : for we find by experience that purgatives operate both more gently and effectually , when the vessels are empty'd , and the excessive heat of the blood allay'd , and its depravation corrected by bleeding . 't is further observable , that we ought rather to bleed early in the morning , than at any other hour of the day ; and that when we are oblig'd to have recourse to this remedy in very hot weather , we ought to be let blood before the rising , or after the setting of the sun ; and in very cold weather , at noon : but , in the general , we ought to avoid bleeding as much as we can , when the season is either excessively hot or cold ; for 't is certain that bleeding is always attended with better success when these cautions are observ'd than when they are neglected , with respect to the age of the patient , we ought to bleed infants less frequently , and to take less blood from them than from other persons , because a great part of their blood is consum'd in the nourishment and growth of their body in all its dimensions : so that from six weeks or two months after the birth of an infant , which is the time at which we may begin to let him blood , if there be a pressing occasion , to the age of five or six years , i wou'd not take away more than from three to six ounces of blood : from six to ten or twelve years , you may take six or eight ounces : from twelve to fifteen , and so to fifty , you must observe the signs of repletion , and the strength of the patient , and accordingly you may take away from nine to twelve or fifteen ounces of blood. after fifty years of age , we must be more cautious and moderate both as to the frequency of bleeding , and the quantity of blood we take away , for fear of causing too great a dissipation of the spirits , which from that age to extreme old age are daily decaying both in quantity and quality . the visible signs of a redundancy of blood in the vessels , are the large or frequent evacuations of it by the nose , or other parts of the body , the swelling or distension of the veins , boils , pimples , or other eruptions , frequent ebullitions or flushings towards the skin , erysipela's , inflammations of the eyes and throat , a continual desire to sleep , and a weariness and heaviness of the whole body , not occasion'd by any labour or violent exercise . when you perceive all , or most of those symptoms , and when they continue for some time , you must immediately open a vein , and take away a large quantity of blood ; for the superfluous blood which is not employ'd in the nourishment of the body if it be not evacuated , will soon putrefy , and occasion a fever , obstructions in the small passages of the intestines , or an accumulation of humours in some part of the body . in fine , that we may make right use of bleeding , we ought to consider how the patient usually bears it ; for those who undergo it easily , may be let blood oftener , and more plentifully than those who cannot bear it without trouble and difficulty . thus one who commonly finds himself weak or faint after bleeding , ought rather to bleed twice , and in small quantities , than to put himself in danger of fainting or swooning away , by a large evacuation : for 't is certain that fainting and swooning do extremely disturb the whole oeconomy of the body , notwithstanding the ridiculous opinion of those who imagine that bleeding can never be effectual , unless it be continu'd till the patient faint away . bleeding without necessity , that is , when there is no superfluity to be voided , no excess of heat to be allay'd , and no putrefaction to be corrected , robs nature of the pure blood , which is necessary for the nourishment of the body , and the production of spirits , which are the principal instruments of the soul in all its actions . 't is plain from hence , that after such unnecessary evacuations , nature acts slowly and feebly , that the entrails are heated , and that all the parts are dry'd up , which makes way for a long train of diseases . it is not therefore pertinent to use remedies at all times for the preservation of our health : but 't is necessary before we take 'em , that our instinct shall let us know the necessity of 'em by the presages of some future distemper . chap. viii . of the signs by which instinct makes every particular person foresee most of his diseases . the most usual symptoms of an approaching distemper , are a weariness and heaviness of all the body , without having been fatigu'd by any violent exercises . a yellowness all over the body . an erysipela , or ulceration all over the skin . the itch or scab . boils or inflammations in divers parts . a sudden pining away , or leanness of all the body , and of the face . wandering and frequent rheumatical pains , accompany'd with irregular shiverings . an almost continual desire to sleep , but chiefly after eating ; or , on the other hand want of sleep , or an interruption of sleep by frightful dreams and vain fears . an unaccountable dulness and melancholy , which will not give way to any sort of pleasure . nocturnal sweating . frequent pains of the head , vertigo's , and a numness of the part when one puts on his hat. a redness all over the face . a languishing and sinking , or an unusual shining of the eyes , a tincture of yellow or black on the eye-lids . bleeding at the nose , or any other part of the body . a singing or hissing noise in the ears . redness or dryness of the cheeks and lips. yawning , and involuntary sighs . little whitish ulcers on the palate , and in all the inside of the mouth . the clamminess or foulness of the tongue . dryness of the throat , especially in the morning ; unless the excess of the foregoing day be the cause of it . kernels about the ears , necks , and arm-pits ; and painful tumours in the groyne . stinking breath , not proceeding from any corruption of the teeth , or from any ulcer or impostume in the mouth . loss of appetite , or a rising of the stomach against meat . vomitting of sweet , bitter , or salt water , especially in a morning . rheums or defluxions , a cough and difficulty of breathing , without a sharp pain of the breast , but rather proceeding from oppression or stoppage . the distension and swelling of the belly , with a noise and griping in the guts ; and small loosenesses which return frequently . a hardness and heaviness in the stomach , as if it were a great stone ; and a troublesome sensation , as if the belly were squeez'd with a cross-bar . piles or emerods of long continuance and painful . great heat in the palms of the hands . a swelling of the veins in the face , and in all the extremities of the body . all these symptoms , and many others , of which every one may have had experience , are so many signs to give us notice that our health is in danger of yielding to the insults of a disease , if we do not take care to support it . the inquiry wou'd be more curious than necessary , to examine for what reasons those symptoms give us notice of approaching distempers ; for as it is sufficient for a pilot to have a needle touch'd with a load-stone , and to know that it turns always towards a certain pole , without being oblig'd to know the natural cause of so surprizing a phaenomenon , so 't is also enough for any body to know that the signs of which we have spoken , are so many fore-runners of distempers , without troubling himself to examine particularly why every one of these symptoms is an effect of this general cause ; wherefore we are forewarn'd sometimes by some of them , and sometimes by others ; sometimes by one alone , and sometimes by many : but it being generally known that one or many of 'em , or this and that symptom , are certain marks of a depravation of the health , we may chuse either to wait till the disease appears , and afterwards cure it with difficulty , or to prevent it easily before it is form'd : now 't is most certain that a man shou'd rather be his own physician , while the disease is yet unform'd , than to wait till it appear , that he may avoid fallling into those extremities to which it may reduce the stoutest heart , by excess of pain , impatient uneasiness under the cure , and perpetual fear of death . from this principle we may infer that 't is not only unnecessary , but even dangerous to take physick when we are not troubl'd with any of those symptoms , because nothing that is able to cause an alteration in the body can be taken without making some impression on it , either good or bad : for example ; the food which we take in too great a quantity , or which is of hard digestion , engenders a great quantity of crudities and excrements , which are , as we have already intimated , the cause of most diseases . purgative medicines taken without necessity , drive the useful liquors or juices towards the places where they are expell'd , and not finding any that are superfluous or deprav'd , weakens the fibres of the intestines , veins , and arteries , by unnecessary irritations , and produces an unusual heat in the whole body . when we are forewarn'd of diseases , either the symptoms are many and pressing , or few and inconsiderable : when they are many and our instinct seems to redouble its admonitions , we must lose no time , but without having regard either to the season of the year , the age of the moon , or the temperature of the air , take such physick as we think necessary to preserve us from falling into any disease . but if these symptoms are but small , and few in number , since we know by experience that purgatives work more mildly and easily in a temperate season , as in the spring and harvest , than during the excessive heat of the summer , and great cold of the winter ; when the moon is in her wane or declination , than during her increase ; in dry rather than moist weather , and that they weaken the body much more in the dog-days , the solstices and equinoxes , than at other times ; we may defer the use of physick for some days , that we may take it at a time when all those circumstances , or most of them will be in a condition to make it succeed the better . 't is commonly believ'd that only weak and sickly persons ought to take care to preserve their health , that those who are of a strong or healthy constitution , ought not to trouble themselves about it , because nature can in strong bodies remove and destroy , by its own force , the causes of all their distempers ; and because physick disturbs the oeconomy of our body much more than it is of use to support it ; since we see by experience that most of those imaginary sick persons , who spend all their time in the preservation of their health , die sooner than those who never have recourse to physick but when they are absolutely forc'd thereto by some pressing distemper . i know that it is dangerous to be too fond of medicines , that is , either to take too much , or too often ; but i may venture to affirm , that there is no man , let him be never so strong and healthy , but has sometimes need of the help of physick ; for as the best water in the world leaves always some dregs in the pipes thro' which it passes , which gathering insensibly , obliges those who stand in need of the water , to cleanse the pipes , and to hinder their being quite stopt ; so it is certain that the best blood that can be imagin'd to flow in a perfectly sound body , will leave some dregs and filth in the vessels thro' which it passes to all the parts of the body : and these dregs gathering by degrees in the vessels , hinders the free motion of the blood , the interruption of which occasions those premonitory disorders which we call presages of instinct ; and in this case 't is plain we ought to take physick to prevent sickness : for it happens at last , that most of those obstinate people , who despise all sorts of remedies under pretext of the healthiness of their constitution , are attack'd with diseases which are so much the more troublesome and dangerous , as their health seem'd to be perfect ; so that oftentimes their aversion to physick costs 'em their life . and tho' they escape , they must expect to suffer all the incommodities of a tedious languishing distemper , and will never be able to recover what they have lost . chap. ix . of clysters and medicines . as for the way of purging by clysters , 't is certain that they may be us'd at all times when we find any symptoms of the stoppage or retention of the excrements in the great guts ; for it being impossible to make these injections ascend higher than the intestine call'd caecum , because of the obstacles they meet with there , they cannot be suppos'd to occasion a great irritation in that passage , whose structure is not so sine as that of the small guts , unless they be impregnated with very violent purgatives . we must not make the taking of clysters a setl'd practice or custom , as many people do , who wou'd fansie themselves sick if they shou'd omit 'em two days ; for the too frequent use of clysters , makes nature lazy , and the laziness of nature is the fatal cause of many diseases . yet i will not pretend to censure those who bleed and purge constantly in the spring and in autumn , especially if they be young , vigorous , and of a full body , if they eat much , or live a sedentary life , without motion or exercise , or if they are already habituated to that custom ; for it is certain that many diseases may be prevented by this means , and that one exposeth himself almost infallibly to very dangerous distempers , by interrupting this practice after he has once accustom'd himself thereto . it may also be proper to take physick after a long journey , or extraordinary labour ; and , to conclude , we ought always to purge once a year , if our instinct discovers any symptoms of a future disease ; for thereby we may prevent the great collection of excrements in the great guts , where they are always apt to stick , unless they be expell'd by the irritation occasion'd by purging remedies . chap. x. of the way of using medicines in order to the preservation of health . since health is no less preserv'd by the right use of meat and drink than by medicines that are able to remove the causes of our distempers , the reader must remember what we hinted about diet , that we must avoid all manner of excess , and abstain from all sorts of crude aliments , and such as are apt either to make the belly too loose or too costive ; that every man is able to make a right choice and judgment of the medicines that are most proper for him , and that after he has found some that are agreeable to those rules , he ought to prefer them before any remedies that may be recommended to him by others . i will not repeat what i have already said about diet , or the use of aliments , which do not deserve the name of medicines , but briefly consider the two general ways of attaining to health , viz. bleeding and purging . and since i have also deliver'd my opinion concerning bleeding , and the rules that ought to be observ'd in that case , i shall content my self with referring the reader to what i have already said on that subject , and only treat of the use of laxatives , or purging medicines . ' tho' the purgatives of which clysters are compos'd , cannot much disorder the body , yet there are some measures to be taken in order to the right use of these remedies . first , they ought to precede the use of such purgatives as are to be taken by the mouth , because they facilitate their operation by procuring the expulsion of the excrements that are retain'd in the great guts , which wou'd oppose their passage , and that of the excrementitious humours which they draw from the stomach , small guts , veins and arteries ; for as in a woodmonger's-yard when people come to buy wood for fuel , when one pile is sold , and the woodmonger designs to sell another , since it wou'd be a needless trouble to climb up to the top of the pile to serve every single customer , he overturns the whole pile , by drawing out five or six pieces of wood at the bottom ; the same effect is produc'd by clysters , which , by voiding the greatest part of the excrements and filth retain'd in the cells of the intestines , facilitate the operation of purging potions , which finding the passage free , are easily able to carry off the matter they have squeez'd out of the arteries , and the slimy and gross humours which they bring from the stomach , and from the small guts , and besides , expel the rest of the gross excrements which they find lodg'd in the cells of the great guts . we must further observe , that the operation of clysters is very irregular ; for in some persons a clyster of oxycrate will procure wonderful evacuations , which in others wou'd be altogether unprofitable ; and in some the strongest clysters will not produce the least effect : and that which operates well at one time , will not work at all at another ; wherefore we must learn to prepare several sorts , observing , nevertheless , to chuse always such as are mild and simple rather than such as are violent , and hard to be prepar'd . as for purgatives that are taken by the mouth , 't is better to take them by way of infusion than in substance , that we may spare the parts thro' which they must pass , a double labour ; for besides , that they must suffer the operation of the medicines that are taken in substance , they must also unfold and disentangle the particles in which their purgative vertue consists , from many others of which they are compos'd ; whereas the liquor in which they are infus'd , imbibes only their purgative particles , and , by reason of its fluidity , infinuates it self more easily into the small passages of the body , than the gross substance can be suppos'd to do . in order to the right use of these medicines , there are four observations to be made . the first is , to take 'em by degrees , that is , to begin with the most mild and simple : but if their weakness hinder their operation , we must augment the dose , or take a stronger medicine , till such time as the evacuation be made proportionable to the symptoms we perceive of a greater or smaller fulness or redundancy of humours . the second observation concerns the quickness of their passage , which is of great importance , because they cannot remain long in the body without occasioning a violent irritation of the parts they touch , which may be attended with very dangerous consequences ; for a purging medicine has almost the same operation on the parts of the body thro' which it passes , as a spur has upon a horse ; because as the horse goes faster when the rider spurs him but once , and kicks and winces when he keeps the spur constantly in his sides , so the purgative by its first irritations , moves the parts thro' which 't is carry'd , to expel the excrements that are contain'd in 'em ; but when it stays too long , it enflames the parts , and renders the humours hot and dry , and consequently unfit for evacuation ; so that its operation is both inconsiderable , and extremely troublesome to the patient . to avoid this inconveniency in the use of laxatives , they ought always to be accompany'd with some vehicle , that is to say , a substance fit to insinuate it self into the closest parts of the body , notwithstanding all the obstructions it may meet with in the parts that are appropriated for separating the humours , as the liver , spleen , pancreas , and all the entrals . these vehicles may be made of decoctions impregnated with the subtil parts of certain plants that are proper to slip into the smallest pores of the capillary vessels , as are , for example , the decoctions of the roots of wild succory , strawberry-leaves , dog-grass , agrimony , sorrel , chervil , and many other herbs which are endu'd with the same virtues . instead of these decoctions , you may use the juice of a limon , or orange , verjuice , white-wine , whey , and many other remedies , which every one may chuse from his own private experience , to facilitate the operation of purgatives . the third rule to be observ'd in the use of purging medicines , is , to chuse such as do not make you costive after the use of 'em ; for this is the surest mark that the physick is proportionated to the strength of the patient on whom it works , especially since 't is but too frequently confirm'd by experience , that the more violent the medicines are , the patient is the more costive after the use of them . one might inferr from hence , that the same thing happens on these occasions to the moving fibres of the intestines , as to persons who being forc'd to undergo involuntary labour , are so wearied and jaded with their forc'd exercise , that they work no longer than while the rod is over their heads ; so the fibres of the intestines having been too roughly and frequently shaken by the operation of the medicine , are so weary'd with these forc'd contractions , that they cannot afterwards perform the motions that are necessary for the expulsion of the excrements which gather daily in their cavities ; so that we are obliged either to accustom our selves to physick , or , if we neglect to use it , must expect a new accumulation of excrements , which will soon after be the cause of a new disease . to conclude ; the last observation in the use of purgatives relates particularly to those weak medicines that produce little or no effect , when they are often repeated in a little time ; for the moving fibres of the intestines are soon accustom'd to the impression of such remedies , and become perfectly insensible of such feeble irritations : just as the organs of the senses are not sensible of the impression of these objects to which they are accustom'd . in this case we must change the remedies , because even the weakest purgatives remaining in the body , cannot but occasion some disturbance in it . chap. xi . of purgatives , and how they operate : of the time and manner of using them . it is certain that the operation of purgatives destroys the most immediate causes of the greatest part of our diseases , whether they be taken inwardly , or injected by way of clysters . however , it must be acknowledg'd , that the way of administring 'em occasions some difference in their operation ; for since clysters reach no further than the great guts , they can only facilitate the evacuation of the excrements that are retain'd in those intestines ; whereas , when they are taken inwardly , they not only cause the same irritations in all the parts which they touch , and consequently by augmenting their natural motion , hasten the expulsion of the matter which they contain ; but many of their particles mingle with the chyle in the vessels which carry it to the heart , in which , as well as in the arteries , they excite divers fermentations , that promote the separation of the different particles of the blood , in the several parts of the body where they are usually separated from its mass , according to the disposition that each of those remedies has , to put certain parts of the blood in motion , rather than others . thus we may observe that a visible fermentation or ebullition is produc'd in certain liquors , when they are mix'd with other fluids that are dispos'd to put 'em in motion , whereas they remain undisturb'd when they are mixt with others . and from the operation of purgatives on different parts of the blood , there arises a distinction of names : for example ; some are call'd simply purgatives , which are again divided into hydragogues , cholagogues , melanagogues , and phlegmagogues ; or medicines that purge watery humours , choler , melancholy , and phlegm : others are call'd emeties , sudorifics , errhines , &c. now those names are very fitly impos'd , either with respect to the parts of the body thro' which they procure the evacuations , or to the parts of the blood which they are particularly apt to put in motion . from hence we may observe , that all those remedies are endu'd with one common property , that is , to excite a motion in the blood ; and that their different ways of operating proceed only from the different figure or contexture of their parts ; for by reason of their peculiar configuration , they are more easily admitted into certain parts of the body than into others , and by the irritation they occasion in the parts , they promote the separation which is perform'd there , of some particular excrements from the blood. and upon this score we may reasonably say , that they are proper to purge such and such parts ; as for example , such as are proper to purge the liver , we call hepatics ; and those that are peculiarly adapted to the spleen , are term'd splenetics . besides , according to the various situation or contexture of their parts , they are disposed to agitate certain particles of the blood , to which they unite sooner than to others : and upon this account we may say that such a medicine is proper to purge such a humour . this observation is confirm'd by experience , particularly what relates to hydragogues , or medicines that purge watery humours ; for the evacuation of serosities is much more sensible than that of the other particles which compose the blood , because that which the purgative drives into the intestines , whether it be separated by the glands of their inward membrane , or squeez'd out of the biliary and pancreatic ducts , being mixt with the slime and excrements which it finds in the intestines , it is very hard to determine what humour hath been chiefly wrought upon or expell'd by the purgative medicine . chap. xii . of the purgatives that ought to be used for the preventing of diseases . pvrgation by stool ought to be preferr'd before all other evacuations , because 't is the most natural and ordinary way , and that which best answers the design we ought to have in order to the removal of the cause of diseases , speedily to expel the excrements that are stopt in the great guts , and to correct the ill quality of the blood , which is the consequence thereof . nevertheless emetics or vomits may be useful to some persons when they are troubl'd with an inclination to vomit , such as those who have a strong and large breast . and others may profitably use sudorifics , namely , those who are choleric , and whose pores are very open . diuretics , or medicines that provoke urine , are proper for those who feel a heaviness and heat in their kidneys , such as are subject to the gravel , live unmarried , and abstain from the use of women . some may make use of such as occasion spitting , and others of those which expel the excrements by the nose . those who have a weak breast , and wet brain , may find benefit by the use of these remedies , provided they have no polypus , or other impediment in the nostrils . in a word , every man ought to be directed by his own experience , and either have recourse to , or abstain from such sorts of evacuations , according to the good or bad effects which he finds they produce upon him . for example ; a person who is apt to vomit without any considerable trouble , when he finds his stomach over-charg'd , will receive greater benefit by a vomit than by ordinary purgations ; whereas those who cannot vomit without an unusual disturbance , ought rather to use simple laxatives , least the fibres of the stomach be weaken'd by such over-violent motions . others who labour under faintness or weariness , provided they be not naturally too dry or lean , will find themselves eased if after bleeding they take a medicine to procure a moderate sweat. the people in the levant by this means prevent a great number of diseases . those who are troubl'd with pains in their kidneys , and whose urine is of a high colour , or thick , may , after the use of cooling remedies , have recourse to medicines that provoke urine , either alone , or mixed with laxatives . those who are naturally inclin'd to spitting , and have a moist brain , may both prevent and cure their distempers by raising a salivation by the use of remedies that are proper to produce that effect . in fine , every man ought to consult his own experience , and study the constitution of his body ; and afterwards use those remedies which he finds to be most useful and agreeable to him . there is one important rule to be observ'd in the administring of all those remedies , and that is , to begin always with the gentlest and most simple . it is certain that when we use remedies meerly for prevention , we ought to be our own physicians ; for since the bare presages or signs of a future disease cannot be suppos'd to have depriv'd us of the use of our reason , we may chuse those medicines which upon trial have formerly succeeded , and which cannot be so well known by a stranger as by our selves . besides , it ought to be observ'd , that there is nothing more various or uncertain than the operation of purgatives on humane bodies . some persons are violently purg'd by weak medicines , when a stronger remedy wou'd not produce the least effect upon 'em : there are others on whom mild physick will not work at all , and even the strongest medicines are scarce effectual : on the other hand , some are so easily purg'd , that a decoction of herbs will suffice ; and to others half an hours conversation in an apothecary's shop : some are purg'd by strawberries , cherries , gooseberries , peaches , pears , &c. some by sour milk , fresh pork , &c. and others by a moderate entertainment with jovial companions ; for mirth contributes as much to the passage of the excrements , as melancholy or sadness does to their stoppage in the guts . some are purg'd by a simple cooling decoction when they begin first to drink it ; and in others clysters produce a plentiful evacuation , tho' they are hardly mov'd by internal medicines . to conclude ; there is nothing less regular than the operation of purges on different bodies ; and it is impossible for the most expert physician in the world to discover this variety in every particular person : and therefore , as i intimated before , we ought to study our selves , that we may be able to chuse out of so great a number of remedies that have been often try'd , those that are most agreeable to our bodies . the gentlest purges , and those that are most agreeable to our constution , are of two sorts , viz. some are brought to us from forreign countries , aud others grow in our own climate . the safest foreign purgatives are senna , cassia , tamarinds , rubarb , manna , &c. and the mildest that grow in our own climate are roses , peach-flowers , violets , our garden ruburb , the great and small centory , briony , asarabacca , mint , bawm , spanish broom , thyme , polypody of the oak , black maiden-hair , ceterach , wall rue , betony , lettice , purslane , sorrel , chervil , black hellebore , the tops of hops , the yellow-flower'd flagg or flower-de-luce , the bark of elder , the black plum or prune , wallwort , wild cucumbers , and many other plants . you may press out the juice of these herbs , or infuse 'em , or make 'em up into powders , syrups , conserves , tablets , pills , troches , or any other form whatsoever . besides , tho' i prefer simple remedies before such as are compounded , i do not pretend to blame the use of certain mixtures that are common in pharmacy ; for the addition of sugar , or some other such ingredient , cannot take away the vertue of the simples . in the mean time , 't is certain that we ought to abstain from all violent remedies , especially chymical preparations , when we only take physick for prevention . i am persuaded that the most simple remedies are the best , and that all the secret lies in the right use of them ; for as the colours upon a painter's pallet are of themselves only fit to make a confus'd and disagreeable mixture , so medicines , especially purgatives , are in their own nature only fit to weaken the patient , and to cause a violent motion in his blood : but , on the other hand , as the same colours placed upon a cloth by an ingenious painter , make a very valuable and beautiful picture , so the same remedies , tho they are contrary to nature when misapply'd , may assist her to overcome a distemper when they are rightly administer'd . chap. xiii . the solution of certain difficulties that deter most persons from making use of purging remedies for the preventing of distempers . those who refuse to admit of purgagatives , excuse their obstinacy by one of those three reasons which shall be propos'd and answer'd in this chapter . object . i. against clysters and purges : you advise me , sir , says one to his physician , to take a clyster , or a purging medicine , but i have no occasion for such remedies ; i go daily and regularly to stool , and why shou'd i be tormented with clysters and purgatives ? i answer , that tho a man goes daily and regularly to stool , yet it does not follow that he ought to be exempted from purgation either by clysters and medicines , since 't is frequently observ'd that those who go naturally to stool every day , do , notwithstanding , perceive by the above-mention'd symptoms , that there are some excrements left behind in those passages which serve for their expulsion : now 't is plain that their excrements must be evacuated , to prevent the diseases that proceed from the corruption of these impurities . if any person desire to be satisfy'd how when a man goes daily and regularly to stool , any excrements can remain in the great guts ; the answer is easie , if we remember what has been already said of the structure of the great intestines , the parts of which are as it were so many bags or cavities fasten'd at certain distances to those intestines . now 't is sufficient for the passage of the greatest part of the excrements which are separated from our daily nourishment that the middle part of the gut be open and free ; but in the mean time , some of the excrements may slip into the bottom of those cells or bags , and by degrees fill up their cavity ; so that at last the middle passage may be almost entirely stopt by those distended bags ; and 't is then that we perceive the signs of an unusual load and obstruction in those parts . this doctrine may be further illustrated by comparing these obstructions in the great gut to the stoppages that happen frequently in the conduits that are made to convey the filth from our streets ; for the dirt sticks by degrees to the sides of the pipes , and fills up all the holes and cavities it meets with , tho' it does not immediately hinder even some of the thickest mud to slip away ; so that unless they be sometimes scour'd by a pretty violent shower , that may force a great quantity of water into the cavities of the pipes , and by the rapidity of its current , carry off the filth ; they must be open'd from time to time , and the stagnant dirt loosen'd , and driven forwards into the common sink , by the help of convenient instruments . the same observation may be apply'd to the great guts , both with respect to the excrements that are detain'd in its cells , and which pass daily through its cavity ; for when a great quantity of em is gather'd in these bags or cells , and begin to corrupt there , the pressure of these distended cells upon the neighbouring parts , and the corrupted corpuscles which slip into the vessels that environ them , produce the symptoms of an approaching indisposition tho a considerable part of our daily nourishment having still a free passage through the cavity of the gut , may furnish sufficient matter for stools . 't is plain then , that we have need of clysters and purging medicines , to draw the excrements out of the places where they are stopt ; and that consequently tho' we go to stool naturally every day , we may sometimes stand in need of an artificial evacuation . object . ii. another will perhaps be apt to say , you order me a clyster , or a purging medicine , tho' i have not tasted any sort of nourishment these four or five days : how can there be any matter left to be evacuated in a body so empty as mine must be after so long an abstinence ? but this seeming difficulty may be very easily answer'd , for when a man for some days has been troubl'd with a constant ▪ aversion to all sorts of nourishment , 't is an evident sign that there is a great collection of impurities in the place where we have made it appear that they are usually apt to stop . nor will it appear strange that a person should lose his appetite when the bottom of the stomach is drawn downwards by such a load of excrements , if we consider that the unusual weight that hangs like a clog upon the stomach , may be reasonably suppos'd to produce the same effect upon it as if it were fill'd with a hearty meal . so when we advise a man in that condition to take physick , our design is not to evacuate the remainder of his meat , since we suppose he has fasted for some days , but to procure the evacuation of those impurities which being insensibly stopt and gather'd in those parts , wou'd otherwise occasion those disorders in the body , of which i have already discours'd . object . iii. one that is troubl'd with a looseness will perhaps be extremely surpriz'd when he is order'd to take a clyster , or a purging medicine , and will be ready to look upon that advice as a sure way to encrease his distemper , which in his opinion has purg'd him but too thoroughly already , without the assistance of physick . this objection will appear as groundless as either of the former , if it be consider'd that a looseness is usually either the effect of indigestion , in which case it ceases after some time , and hardly requires the use of remedies ; or 't is a sign that the excrements are stopt in the great guts , and then if there be a copious evacuation , we must recruit nature , and repair her decay'd vigour , by good nourishment taken in small quantities : on the other hand , if the flux be inconsiderable , or if the patient be frequently troubl'd with a desire to go to stool , without voiding any thing , since 't is evident from thence , that the motion of the intestines is not sufficient to expel those impurities that cause such frequent irritations , we must in the first place by the use of clysters endeavour to dissolve that corrupt and biting matter ; and afterwards when the irritation ceases , we must take some purgative medicine to expel the remainder of that excrementitious matter that may be lodg'd in some places , which the clysters cou'd not reach . object . iv. against bleeding . 't is the usual cant of those who are profest enemies to bleeding , that the blood is the treasure of life , and consequently that we ought rather to furnish the enfeebl'd patient with a fresh supply of that precious liquor , than to rob him of what he is already possest of . but i must beg those gentlemen's leave to put 'em in mind , that the blood can never deserve so noble a title if it be either deprav'd or redundant : for if it exceeds either in quantity or quality , it is so far from preserving our health , that it exposes us to the most dangerous distempers . as our life is manifestly endanger'd when too large a quantity of blood is lost , so it is secur'd and supported when a moderate quantity of impure and corrupt blood is taken away ; however , it must be acknowledg'd that this evacuation ought always to be perform'd with a great deal of caution , according to the age and strength of the patient , the nature of his disease , and the seasons of the year . and therefore those who are desirous to be their own physicians , ought to try seveveral remedies , and to make choice of such as produce the same effects upon them which in the foregoing chapters are ascrib'd to safe and useful remedies . a treatise of particular remedies . the preface . when i form'd the design of publishing the preceding treatise , i did not intend to have added a collection of particular remedies , because i look'd upon that as a subject that had been sufficiently handl'd , and even almost wholly exhausted by so many authors who have compos'd entire volumes of this nature . but since i have been desir'd by several persons whom i wou'd not willingly disoblige , to compleat my vndertaking by subjoining an account of such remedies as i had observ'd to be most esteem'd , and found to be most useful and effectual , i cou'd not deny 'em so small a favour . and that i might render my performance in this kind more serviceable to the public , i thought fit to add some short reflexions , according to the variety of the subject . a treatise containing an account of the most simple remedies , and such as are most frequently used for the curing of several diseases . of medicines in general . medicines or remedies are mix'd bodies , which , being taken by the mouth , if they are internal , or applied outwardly , if external , serve to restore our health , by altering the bad disposition of our bodies . they differ both from our usual food , and from poyson ; the first of which preserves and supports our health , and the latter destroys it . we ought not to have recourse to purgatives unless the intestines be stuff'd with clammy and thick humours , or the mass of the blood be full of salt or bulky particles , that hinder its circulation , which may be known by a hardness or swelling of the belly , drowsiness , weariness , &c. 't is expedient to make use of clysters some days before purgation , that the purging medicine not meeting with any obstacles , may operate more strongly and quickly , and occasion less disturbance in the body . an ounce , or an ounce and a half of extracted cassia dissolv'd in a glass of whey , or mixed with an equal quantity of compound syrup of apples , moistens and cools the body , loosens the thick humours that are lodg'd in the breast , and helps one to spit freely . feeble and weak persons , such as those who are extremely lean , whom we usually call phthisical or consumptive , as also women with child , may be safely purg'd with an ounce or two of manna , taken in veal or chicken-broath . when we design to purge , scour and wash away the slimy matter that sticks in the intestines , we may profitably use the juice of roses , from one ounce to two . and 't is also a good remedy for a looseness . rhubarb taken in substance , from half a dram to a dram , purges choler , helps those that are troubl'd with a looseness , and serves to kill worms . it may be also us'd by way of infusion , from a dram to half an ounce , according to the age and strength of the patient . to evacuate hydropical humours , or bring down women's monthly courses , we may use the root of briony , from half a dram to a dram , or its juice to half an ounce . i will not speak of agaric , scammony , jalap , mirabolans , and mechoacan , because they operate too violently ; nor will i trouble the reader with an account of chymical medicines , which ought not to be used but with a great deal of precaution , nor without the advice of a physician . of diuretics . diureticks serve to augment the serosity or fluidity of the blood , to agitate the serous , and coagulate the fibrous part , and to retard the course of the humours . we ought never to use them without an antecedent preparation of the body by purgation , least the gross particles which they agitate , and drive towards the reins , shou'd breed an obstruction in those parts , and occasion a stoppage of urine . river-water , mineral-waters , and white-wine , are the mildest opening medicines we have . the five great opening roots , viz. asparagus , fennel , parsley , smallage , and butcher's-broom , provoke urine , and even sometimes procure sweating ; but i shou'd rather chuse to make use of those which are call'd the lesser opening roots , because they do not occasion so great an agitation in the blood , and consequently open a freer passage to the serous and saline particles . those roots are dogs-grass , capers , eringo , madder , and rest-harrow . you may prepare a decoction of 'em , adding , if you please , a sufficient quantity of sal prunellae . a spoonful of the juice of roses in a little spanish wine , or in two or three spoonfuls of brandy , is also a very good remedy for the colic , occasion'd by the pain of the kidneys . a simple bath of lukewarm water is diuretical , because it dilates the passages of the urine , and augments the serosity of the blood. of emeticks or vomits . vomitting is a contraction of the fibres of the stomach , by which the matter contain'd in that part is forc'd upwards thro' the oesophagus or gullet . emeticks may be profitably used when the stomach is burden'd with ill-digested food , or full of corrupt humours , in which case we are troubl'd with an aversion to meat , frequent reachings , bitterness in the mouth , dimness of sight , and sometimes with a lienteria , that is , when we void what we eat or drink by stool , without any signs of digestion . melancholic or phthisical persons ought to abstain from the use of these remedies , and likewise women with child , unless in some cases to hasten their delivery . a large draught of warm water proves emetic to those who are naturally enclin'd to vomiting , because it slackens the fibres of the stomach , and agitates the saline particles that are lodg'd in it . asarabacca taken in substance , from half a dram to a dram , provokes vomiting ; but if it be infus'd in wine , you may take from one dram to three . black hellebore taken from four to eight grains , purges upwards and downwards somewhat violently ; and , according to the opinion of paracelsus , cures the apoplexy , gout , dropsie , and epilepsie . of sudorifics and diaphoretics . we call a medicine sudorific when it procures sweating , and diaphoretic , when it works by insensible transpiration . they are both endu'd with a power to drive the serosities outwards , by putting the mass of blood in motion . guaiacum , sarsaparilla , butter-burr , carduus benedictus , wild marjoram , penyroyal , thyme , sage , sweet marjoram , bay-berries , corn poppies , treacle , and brandy , are sudorifics . the dose of the roots is from half an ounce to an ounce and a half to each quart of the decoction ; and the dose of the leaves is a handful . the shavings of harts-horn , from one dram to two , is both sudorific and cordial ; as are also those of ivory , from a dram to a dram and a half . they must be taken in two ounces of carduus and baum-water ; and the patient must be kept very warm in bed. of sneezing medicines and errhina . sneezing being occasion'd by the irritation communicated from the inferiour membrane to the dura mater , by the mediation of the olfactory nerves , causes a contraction by the reflux of the spirit into the carnous fibres ; so that the motion of the spirits being almost entirely stopt for some time after the pressure is over , they run most impetuously into the freest and openest passages , which are those that are bestow'd upon the muscles of respiration . and therefore when one sneezes after the contraction is over , he finds always some difficulty in breathing . from hence it may be inferr'd , that such remedies as provoke sneezing are very useful in the obstructions of the substance of the brain , because the dura mater pressing the spirits , communicates to them a sufficient degree of motion , to make way for themselves . the most common sneezing medicines are betony , tobacco , pellitory of spain , sage , sweet marjoram , ginger , and all other plants which abound with a sharp salt. these remedies must be avoided in the epilepsie , convulsions , and in the hysterical passion , because they encrease those distempers which consist in a disorderly motion of the spirits . errhina are medicines which bring forth mucous and impure humours from the nose without sneezing . they may be made of the juice or decoctions of those plants which i have already recommended for sneezing . of incrassating or thickening medicines . they are such as fix and put a stop to the inordinate motion in the mass of the blood , occasion'd by the eating of such things as are full of sharp and volatil salts . decoctions made of the roots of succory , sorrel , marsh-mallows , water-lily , &c. are of this nature . the dose of the roots is an ounce or an ounce and a half to each quart of the decoction . the leaves of purslain , lettice , sorrel , and of wild and garden succory , produce the same effect , if a handful of all together be added to each quart of the ptisan or decoction . the four greater cold seeds , viz. cucumbers , gourds , citruls , and melons , and the four lesser cold seeds , viz. lettice , purslan , and both sorts of endive , produce the same effect . the dose of all together may amount to half an ounce in emulsions . they are useful in heat of urine . the juice of limons , from half an ounce to an ounce , may also be reckon'd an incrassating remedy . of narcotics , or medicines that procure sleep . they quiet the unusual and preternatural motion of the muscles , and the violent convulsions of the nervous parts , by procuring a peaceable and quiet sleep . when they reach the mass of the blood , they unite themselves to the spirits , and hinder both their action and separation ; for these medicines are compos'd of volatile sulphurs mixt with terrestrial and oily particles . they are frequently given to those who are delirious or light-headed ; as also to such as are troubl'd with violent and obstinate evacuations . the four cold seeds , either greater or lesser , taken from a dram to half an ounce , in any convenient liquor , may be used for this purpose . the roots of henbane applied externally , by way of cataplasm , may also serve to procure sleep . opium may be also taken , from half a grain to two or three grains . of styptics or astringents . binding or astringent medicines dissipate the serous particles of the blood , and render it less fluid . they must not be us'd in the beginning of evacuations that are set on foot by nature , which must not be stopt for some days , according to the age and strength of the patient . rhubarb may be profitably us'd in such cases , from a scruple to a dram. nor ought claret to be omitted on such occasions . of carminative medicines . they are such as dissipate and expel wind. the most natural and most common carminatives are cloves , the seeds of anise , fennel , and coriander ; and 't is to be observed , that they are more agreeable to the stomach when they are confected and crusted over with sugar , or mixt with comfits . if you are troubl'd with wind in the lower part of your belly , you must prepare a clyster of a decoction of those seeds , with an ounce of the oil of walnuts . having given you a short account of medicines in general , i shall proceed in the next place to mention some specific and particular medicines , which in the schools are call'd topical remedies . 't is to be observ'd , that before the use of those particular medicines , you must evacuate the grosser impurities by clysters , and lessen the excessive quantity of the blood by bleeding . of particular remedies . a remedy for the head-ach . when the head-ach proceeds from phlegm , or from a cold cause , which is known by a drowsiness and heaviness of the head , the brain must be purg'd thus : take the leaves of rosemary , thyme , betony , and sweet marjoram , of each a handful ; dry them in the sun , or in an oven , beat them to powder , and sift 'em thro' a searce . take a convenient dose of this powder every morning and evening , about an hour or two before you eat . it mitigates the pain of the head by purging the brain . but when the distemper proceeds from heated choler , you must provoke sleep with some of the remedies mention'd in the chapter that treats of narcotics . against the apolexy . you must immediately open the patient's teeth with a spoon , and put into his mouth several large corns of salt ; then bleed him in the arm , and apply cupping-glasses with all convenient speed . against the palsie . take two ounces of rectified spirit of wine , three ounces of oil of bays ; mix them with an ounce of balsam of peru , and having incorporated 'em together , make a liniment , with which you must anoint the part affected , and wrap it up with a linen-cloth as hot as you can . a remedy for the rheumatism , hard swellings in the joynts , for all cold swellings , and to strengthen the nerves . take four or five handfuls of sage , beat it with a pound of fresh butter ; then boil all together for a quarter of an hour ; after which strain it through a course cloth , and rub the parts affected with the straining ▪ melting the ointment every time you use it . to purge melancholy . take polypody of the oak and tops of hops , of each half an ounce , and boil 'em with two or three rennet-apples cut in slices , in a sufficient quantity of water . then strain the decoction thro' a linen-cloth , and infuse in it two or three drams of sena , with as much beaten anniseeds as you can take up between your fingers and your thumb . take this medicine in the morning , and about two hours after drink some broath . to purge choler . make a broath or decoction of lettice , purslane , and succory ; infuse in it according to the season a handful of march violets , peach-flowers , or pale roses , and take it in the morning fasting . you may also take half an ounce of conserve of pale roses fasting , and a little after take a broath made of cooling herbs . to purge phlegm . boil fifteen grains of asarabacca-leaves in a-sufficient quantity of wine , with a little mint or baum. take three or four spoonfuls of the strain'd liquor in the morning fasting , and an hour or two after drink a little broath . for the itching of the eye-lids . take an ounce of white-wine , as much rose-water , a dram of hepatic or liver-aloes in powder , mingle 'em together , and apply a piece of fine linen dipt in this liquor to the eyes . for an inflammation in the eyes . take a spoonful of rose , and of plantain-water ; drop the mixture into the corner of the eye , and keep your eye shut . for deafness . take juice of onions , and brandy , of each an ounce and a half ; mix them together , and put some drops of the mixture luke-warm into the ears , and afterwards stop 'em with cotton . to stop bleeding at the nose . lay a key upon the patient 's back , betwixt the shirt and the skin ; or throw a glass of cold water in his face . a stone of cyprus-vitriol put into the nostrils , stanches the blood. the same vitriol is also good to cure ulcers in the mouth , by touching them two or or three times with it ; but you must not swallow your spittle after it . to cure a red face , and take away the pimples . dissolve a sufficient quantity of cyprus-vitriol in plantain-water ; and when you go to bed , wash the pimples with a little cotton dipt in the solution ; and in the morning wash your face with river or fountain-water . for shortness of breath . drink a glass of mead in the morning for eight days ; and if that be not sufficient , put into it five or six drops of spirit of tobacco . for obstructions of the lungs . take jujubes , sebestens , dry'd figs , damask-raisins , and ston'd dates , of each half a pound ; dogs-grass , liver-wort , hyssop , the leaves and flowers of colts-foot and scolopendria , of each a handful ; the four capillary herbs , of each half a handful ; liquorice four ounces ; and three pounds of sugar . make a syrup of all ; use it often , and swallow it as slowly as you can . for the pleurisie . take half an ordinary glass-full of the juice of bugloss or borage , and an equal quantity of the juice of broom ; mix them together , and drink the mixture warm before you go to bed ; lying upon that side where you feel the pain , or upon your back . for a cold. take a spoonful of oil of sweet almonds , two spoonfuls of syrup of violets , and a glass of ptisan ; mix them together , and drink off the whole when you go to bed. to stop vomitting . take a spoonful of the juice of pomegranates or of limons , and half a dram of salt of wormwood ; mix them for a draught . to strengthen the liver . take a pound of the juice of endive , and an ounce of the juice of burnet ; mix them well together , and take half a glass every morning for eight or fifteen days . for the spleen . take two handfuls of the leaves of harts-tongue , chop them , and put them into a strong bottle , with two pints of white-wine ; cover the bottle with a piece of thick cap-paper , making several holes with a pin in it ; then boil the wine softly till it sink a few inches in the bottle . take half a glass of this liquor in the morning fasting , for eight days . for the jaundice . take the dung of a young goose , chicken , or hen , dry it in the sun , and beat it to powder . take from half a dram to a dram of this powder every morning in a glass of white-wine , with a little sugar and cinamon , for eight days . for the dropsie . take half a glass of juice of chervil , with an equal quantity of white-wine , and about two hours after drink a little broath . you must continue the use of this medicine till the swelling be abated ; and in the mean time drink very moderately . infuse burnet in water , and mix it with an equal quantity of white-wine for your ordinary drink . for the nephritical colic , or stone in the kidneys . take two ounces of oil of sweet almonds drawn without fire , with a like quantity of juice of limons , or citrons ; or , if you please , you may take the oil in two ounces of white-wine . for the bilious colic . take rose-water , and oil of sweet almonds , drawn without fire , of each two ounces ; mix them for a draught . for the wind colic . take a greasie dishclout , and apply it pretty hot to the belly , or where you feel the pain . renew it often . another . dry a handful of common salt , put it in a linen cloth , and apply it pretty warm to the place affected . for all sorts of colics . take a dram of walnut-flowers in powder , in a glass of white-wine . for a looseness . take every three hours a pint of cow's-milk boil'd with the yolk of an egg , about half an ounce of sugar , and as much white-bread as you think fit : you must neither eat nor drink any thing else ; and besides you must keep your self in bed , or at least in a dry and warm place . for a dysentery . take two ounces of oil of sweet almonds drawn without fire ; or , if that cannot be had , take the like quantity of sweet oil-olive , two ounces of rose-water , and one spoonful of sugar . mix them all together for a draught to be taken in the morning fasting . the signs of a dysentery are a looseness accompany'd with a griping pain , and the voiding of blood , or excrements mixt with blood. about two hours after the taking of the above-mention'd medicine , you may drink some broath , and eat a new-laid egg. you may make your broath with a leg of mutton , or a cock. so long as the distemper lasts , you must take a clyster every day made only of the decoction of barley and bran ; and when you are just ready to take it , add the yolks of two raw eggs , with a little sugar , and beat them well together . you must be let blood once or twice in the arm , and must drink nothing but a ptisan made of the decoction of barley and liquorice . you must not take a purging medicine till eight or ten days after the cure. then you may take half an ounce of catholicum dissolv'd in about four ounces of rose-water . for the worms . take two spoonfuls of the juice of limons or citrons , with the like quantity of sweet oil , or of white-wine , and mix them for a draught to be taken in the morning fasting . for the worms in little children . chafe the belly about the navel with oil of bitter almonds , and lay a plaister of aloes over it . for the piles either internal or external , whether they void blood or not . take small male sengreen , or prick-madam , and fresh butter a sufficient quantity , beat 'em together in a mortar , and apply it to the part , renewing it three or four times a day . for the pain of the kidneys . dip a linen cloth in oxycrate , and apply it to the part affected . oxycrate is a mixture of six parts of water , and one of vinegar . for the stoppage or suppression of the vrine . infuse an ounce of linseed in a pound of river or fountain-water , for twenty four hours . if it be in the summer , you must infuse it in a cool place ; and if in the winter , in warm ashes . afterwards strain it off , and put it into a glass bottle . drink a glass of it every morning , noon , and night . for the diseases of women . to bring down the courses . beat two or three heads of garlick , and make a plaister of them , which must be apply'd to the lower par● of the back , on the right-side . to stop the immoderate flux of blood which happens to women in labour , or after they are brought to bed. inject two or three clysters of oxycrate every day . for the suffocation of the womb. take an ounce of cinamon cut into small pieces , three ounces of fine sugar in powder ; mix them , and add four ounces of rose-water , and six ounces of strong brandy ; let them stand twelve hours in infusion , strain it two or three times thro' a woollen cloth , and keep the liquor in a glass-vial . the patient may take two or three spoonfuls of this liquor , to prevent the return of a paroxysm ; and even during the fit , that she may be the sooner delivered from it . for fits of the mother . take a handful of the herb call'd avens , beat it , and infuse it for the space of an hour or two in a pint of white-wine , and let the patient drink a little of it when sh● is thirsty . for a woman in labour , to hasten her delivery . take the liver and gall of the fattest eel you can procure , dry 'em in an oven after the bread is drawn out , and beat 'em to powder . the dose is one dram in three or four spoonfuls of the best wine . to expel a dead child . give the sick woman an ounce of the juice of hyssop , in half a glass of warm water , with a spoonful of brandy . for the colic , or griping pain of the belly , which frequently assaults women that are newly deliver'd . take orange-flower-water , and syrup of maidenhair , of each two ounces ; mix and 〈◊〉 a draught . to bring milk into the breasts of women that are newly deliver'd . give the woman a dram of the powder of fennel-seed in cabbage-broath , or in a glass of white-wine . for those who have too much milk. take rose-water and verjuice , of each two ounces ; mix them together with five or six grains of salt ; heat the mixture upon a chafing-dish ; then dip a linen cloth four or five times doubl'd , in the liquor , and apply it warm to the breast , laying over it two pieces of linen well heated . you must renew the application twice a day ; and if the distemper continue , you must apply it also the day following . to dry up the milk in those who are not willing to suckle their children . take a bitter orange , pierce it in several places with the point of a knife , or with a bodkin , squeeze out the juice , and put the orange into a little earthen-pot , which you must fill with oil-olive ; boil away two thirds of the oil , and then rub the breasts with it very softly , and as warm as it can be endured . for the inflammation of the breasts . take the crum of a white-loaf , boil it in a sufficient quantity of milk ; add an ounce of oil of lilies , and make a pultiss , which must be apply'd to the breast . for the fits of a tertian-ague . in the beginning of the third and fourth fit , take half a glass of the juice of borage , mixt with the like quantity of white-wine ; but you must take a clyster , and be let blood the night before . for an intermitting fever . take a handful of the leaves of burnet , infuse them twelve hours in a pint of white-wine ; then strain out the wine thro' a linen cloth , and give the patient half a glass of it at the beginning of the cold fit , continuing after the same in the three or four succeeding fits. for a quartan ague . dissolve the yolk of a new-laid egg in a glass of wine , and drink it at the beginning of the cold fit. for a purple fever . take the leaves of wood-sorrel , scabious , carduus benedictus , and queen of the meadows , of each one handful ; boil them in a sufficient quantity of river or fountain-water . to the strain'd liquor add four drops of the spirit of vitriol , and half an ounce of sine sugar . let the patient take half a glass of this liquor before or during the fit , continuing after the same manner five or six days . let him drink a ptisan made with barberries and scorzonera-roots . let him not take a purging medicine till the fever disappear . for the plague . melt an ounce of old hogs-grease , with a like quantity of honey ; then remove the vessel from the fire , and add an ounce of rie-meal , and two yolks of eggs , stirring them all the while . spread this ointment upon leather , and apply it to the bubo's , changing it twice a day . when a carbuncle or bubo is suppurated , and breaks , put into it a tent dipt in the same ointment , and lay a pultiss over it . for carbuncles or plague-sores . take the ointments populeon and basilicon , of each one ounce ; mix them , and spreading a sufficient quantity upon a piece of leather , apply it to the sore till the scab or eschar fall off . a remedy for corns . boil a sufficient quantity of the crum of brown-bread in milk , to the thickness of broath ; and after you take it off from the fire , add to it a proportionable quantity of vnguentum rosatum , spread it upon linen , and apply it to the corn. to preserve the face from being mark'd by the small-pox . dip a feather in oil of sweet almonds , drawn without fire , and anoint the pocks as they come out for the space of nine or ten days . to preserve the sight in the small-pox . put a little saffron in plantain-water ; mix them well together ; then drop it into the patient's eyes . another . take a piece of gold , heat it red-hot in the fire , quench it several times in plantain-water , and pour some drops of the water into the eyes of the patient . you must continue in the use of this remedy from the first appearance of the small-pox , ●or the space of three weeks or a month. for the sciatica . take mustard-seed and figs , of each two ounces ; beat 'em to a mash , which must be apply'd like a plaister to the part ●ffected , and often renew'd . for the itch. after you have been let blood in the arm , and purg'd , according to your strength and constitution , rub the palms of your hands , your wrists , the soles of your feet , and even your whole body , with an ointment made of two ounces of fresh butter , and half an ounce of the flower of brimstone , well mixt together : warm it every time you use it : and that it may work more effectually , you may anoint your self near the fire . for a tetter or ring-worm . take three drams of new wax , melt it with four ounces of oil of roses , and two ounces of honey of roses . when 't is all melted , take it off the fire , and put to it an ounce of soot , and half an ounce of ceruss in powder ; stirring it till it be cold . when you have occasion to use it , spread it upon a linen cloth , and apply it to the part affected . for a cut or wound . take a red-hot coal out of the fire , beat it to powder , and put some of it into the wound . it will immediately stanch the blood. for burning . take four spoonfuls of water , in which unslack'd lime has been quench'd , the like quantity of oil of nuts , and beat them up to the thickness of a liniment ; then anoint the burnt part with a feather , and cover it with brown paper . to open all sorts of tumours without a lance. take fresh butter and verjuice , of each two ounces , mix and boil them together : dip a fine linen rag , or piece of brown issue-paper into the liquor , and apply it pretty hot to the place affected . for all sorts of inflammations that happen either before or after the breaking of a tumour . take a fine linen rag , dip it in oxycrate or water ; then spread a little of galen's ceratum upon it , ( which may be found at any apothecary's shop ) and apply it to the inflamed part. for bruises . take a quarter of a pint of thick red-wine , two ounces of fresh butter , two pugils of provence roses , and one pugil of wheat-bran ; boil all together to the thickness of broath , spread it upon a linen cloath , and apply it to the part affected . for all sorts of wounds . take a pound of fresh butter , a quarter of a pint of the juice of sage , the like quantity of the juice of wall-wort , an ounce of bay-berries in powder , with a quarter of a pint of good wine . boil all together in a vessel upon the fire , to the thickness of an ointment , or till the moisture be consum'd , and reserve it for use . for all gun-shot wounds . take two ounces of birth-wort , either long or round , put it into an earthen pipkin with three quarters of a pint of wine , and boil away one half ; then take the pot from the fire , and put in two ounces of sugar . keep this liquor for use in a glass-bottle . when the wound is large , lay on the first dressing with the whites of two eggs beat up to a froth , to which add a dram or two of bol●-armenic in powder ; then spread the whole upon the tow of fine hemp , and leave it upon the wound till the same hour next day . after twenty four hours you must take away the first dressing , put some of this water into a spoon , heat it lukewarm , dip a linen rag in it , and wash the wound ; and lay upon it another piece of linen dipt in the same water : taking care to keep the wound always moist . for all sorts of vlcers . take burgundy-pitch , rosin , and new wax , of each two ounces ; put them all into an earthen-pipkin , and melt them on the fire ; then add six ounces of fresh butter , with a dram of vardigr●ase in powder , stirring 'em all the while . put this balsam into an earthen pot , and keep it for use . for a gangrene . infuse half a pound of vnslak'd lime for the space of six hours , in a pint of smith's-water ; then pour it off softly , without ▪ removing the vessel . in this water infuse a dram of sublimate for the space of a night . then add a sixth part of rectified spirit of wine , and pour it all off without stirring the sediments . wash the gangren'd parts every morning , noon , and night , with this water a little heated . of ptisans or decoctions . they may be prepar'd several ways , according to the various uses they are made for . the most common are purgative , laxative , cooling , and pectoral ; tho' many other sorts may be made , according to the different distempers that attack human bodies . but i shall only mention those that are most frequently us'd , and most easily prepar'd . a cooling , opening , and pectoral ptisan . take half a peck of good oats well cleans'd , wild succory and burnet , of each one handful ; boil them softly in a gallon of river-water , for a large half hour , or three quarters of an hour ; after which add half an ounce of sal prunellae , with a quarter of a pound of the best honey you can procure ; and boil it again softly for half an hour : then take it off the fire , strain it thro' a linen cloth , and pour the liquor into an earthen pot. take a draught of it two hours before , and two hours after meals . a purgative and laxative ptisan . pour two quarts of river or fountain-water , into a close pot , and set it near the fire ; put into it half an ounce of sena , four or five roots of wild succory , two little sticks of liquorice , more or less , according to the palate of the patient ; and a dram of green fennel-seed ; then tye a dram of the raspings of ivory , and the like quantity of harts-horn in a linen rag ; boil 'em a little longer with the rest of the ingredients in the pot , and afterwards strain out the liquor . drink a glass of it every morning fasting for eight or ten days . a pectoral ptisan . take jujubes , sebesten , and damask raisins , of each one ounce ; a stick of liquorice beaten , and a quarter of a pound of honey ; boil them softly in two quarts of river-water , for a quarter of an hour ; and afterwards strain out the liquor thro' a linen cloth. you may drink a glass of it every morning , and another at night when you go to bed ; it must neither be too hot nor too cold when you drink it . of syrups , and their vertues . the syrups that are most frequently us'd , are the syrup of pale roses , the syrup of peach-flowers , compound syrup of apples , compound syrup of succory . syrup of violets , syrup of maiden-hair , and the syrup of corn-poppies . the syrup of pale roses serves to evacuate all sorts of serosities , either phlegmatic , bilious , or melancholic ; it strengthens the stomach , and opens obstructions in the capillary vessels of the liver , and of the rest of the entrals . the syrup of peach-flowers is good for those who are hydropical , and is particularly adapted for expelling serous humours . compound syrup of apples evacuates the melancholic humour which infects the mass of the blood. it is also very good to purge the spleen . compound syrup of succory , prepra'd with rhubarb , purges the redundant bile , strengthens the liver and stomach , and opens obstructions in other parts of the body . syrup of violets purges choler , cools , and promotes expectoration : you may take an ounce or a spoonful of it in a glass of water ; but you must have two glasses , and pour it out of one into the other several times , to dilute the syrup . syrup of maiden-hair is of excellent use in diseases of the breast ; it frees it from the corrupt humours that are log'd in it , and helps the sick person to spit . syrup of corn-poppies procures sleep : the dose is from an ounce to two ounces at night . for the tooth-ach . after eating , you must gargarize your mouth , and wash your gums with wine and water ; then take the ashes of the second bark of the ash-tree ; mix 'em with a spoonful of brandy , and make a plaister , which must be apply'd to the temples on that side where you feel the pain . another . put a clove or two upon the aking tooth , then shut your teeth , and hang your head on that side where the pain lies ; this will draw out abundance of water , and by that means give you ease . if the tooth be rotten or carious , you must pull it out , or else put a drop of aqua-fortis into it . of clysters . a cooling clyster . make a clyster of oxycrate , that is , mix a pint of lukewarm water with six spoonfuls of vinegar . a clyster for one who is costive . take a quarter of a pound of oil of nuts , and the like quantity of common honey , put them into a pint of water , and if you are troubl'd with gripes , add as much powder of anise or fennel-seed as you can take up between your fingers and thumb : if not , add half a quarter of a pint of vinegar , and boil it as usually . a clyster to stop a looseness . make a decoction with white mullein , provence roses , and plantain , of each one handful ; lin-seed and quince-seed , of each a dram ; half an ounce of starch , and the yolk of an egg. in the beginning of a looseness you ought not to make use of astringent medicines , but must let nature act without disturbance for some days , according to the age and strength of the patient . finis . an index of the principal matters contain'd in the treatise of remedies . of medicines in general , 73 of diuretics , or medicines that provoke urine , 75 of vomits , 76 of sudorifics and diaphoretics , or medicines that procure sweating and insensible transpiration , 77 of sneezing medicines , and errhina , 74 of incrassating or thickening medicines , 79 of narcotics , or medicines that procure sleep , 80 of styptics or astringents , 81 of carminatives , or medicines that dispel wind , ibid. of particular remedies . for the head-ach , 82 for the apoplexy , 83 for the palsie , ibid. a remedy for the rheumatism , hard swellings in the joynts , for all cold tumours , and to strengthen the nerves , ibid. to purge melanch●ly , 84 to purge choler , ibid. to purge phlegm , ibid. for the itching of the eye-lids , 85 for an inflammation of the eyes , ibid. for deafness , ibid. to stop bleeding at the nose , ibid. to cure a red face , and take away pimples , 86 for shortness of breath , ibid. for obstructions of the lungs , ibid. for the pleurisie , 87 for a cold , ibid. to stop vomiting , ibid. to comfort and strengthen the liver , ibid. for the spleen , 88 for the jaundice , ibid. for the dropsie , ibid. for the nephritical colic , or stone in the kidneys , 86 for the bilious colic , ibid. for the wind colic , ibid. another , ibid. for all sorts of colics , ibid. for a looseness , 90 for the dysentery , ibid. for worms in the belly 91 for the worms in little children , ibid. for the piles , either internal or external , whether they void blood or not , ibid. for a pain in the back or kidneys , 92 for a stoppage or suppression of urine , ibid. remedies for the diseases of women . to bring down the courses , 93 to stop the immoderate flux of blood which happens to women in labour , or after they are brought to bed , ibid. for the suffocation of the womb , 94 for fits of the mother , ibid. for a woman in labour , to hasten her delivery , ibid. to expel a dead child , 95 for the colic , or griping pain of the belly , which frequently assaults women that are newly deliver'd , ibid. to bring milk into the breasts of women that are newly deliver'd , ibid. for those who have too much milk , ibid. to dry up milk in those who are not willing to suckle their children , 96 for an inflammation of the breasts , ibid. for the fits of a tertian-ague , ibid. for intermitting fevers , 97 for a quartan-ague , ibid. for a purple fever , ibid. for the plague , 98 for carbuncles or plague-sores , ibid. a remedy for corns , ibid. to preserve the face from being mark'd by the small-pox , 99 to preserve the sight in the small-pox , ibid. another , ibid. for the sciatica , ibid. for the itch or scab , 100 for a tetter or ring-worm , ibid. for a cut or wound , 101 for burning , ibid. to open all sorts of tumours without a launce , ibid. for all sorts of inflammations that happen either before or after the breaking of a tumour , 102 for bruises , ibid. for all sorts of wounds , ibid. for all gun-shot wounds , 103 for all sorts of ulcers , ibid. for a gangrene , 104 of ptisans or decoctions . a cooling , opening , and pectoral ptisan , 105 a purging and loosening ptisan , ibid. a pectoral ptisan , 106 of syrups , and their vertues , ibid. syrup of pale roses , 107 syrup of peach-flowers , ibid. compound syrup of apples , ibid. compound syrup of succory , ibid. syrup of violets , ibid. syrup of maidenhair , ibid. syrup of corn-poppies , ibid. remedies for the tooth-ach , 108 of clysters , 109 cooling clysters , ibid. a clyster for one that is costive , ibid. a clyster to stop a looseness , ibid. the end of the table . a new and needful treatise of spirits and wind offending mans body wherein are discovered their nature, causes and effects / by the learned dr. fienns ; and englished by william rowland ... flatibus humanum corpus molestantibus. english feyens, jean, d. 1585. 1668 approx. 178 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 69 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a41254 wing f841 estc r40884 19526399 ocm 19526399 108994 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41254) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 108994) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1686:3) a new and needful treatise of spirits and wind offending mans body wherein are discovered their nature, causes and effects / by the learned dr. fienns ; and englished by william rowland ... flatibus humanum corpus molestantibus. english feyens, jean, d. 1585. rowland, william. [14], 115, [5] p. printed by j.m. for benjamin billingsley and obadiah blagrave ..., london : 1668. translation of author's de flatibus humanum corpus molestantibus. added t.p. advertisement: p. [3]-[5] at end. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-05 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a new and needful treatise of spirits and wind offending mans body . wherein are discovered their nature , causes and effects . by the learned dr. fienus . and englished by william rowland a. m. for the improvement of physick , and more speedy cure of diseases . london , printed by j. m. for benjamin billingsley and obadiah blagrave , at the sign of the printing-press at gresham-colledge-gate , near the church in broad-street . 1668. to the royal society the virtuosi . since the evening preceded the morning in the account of the first day , and the most precious of lights sprung out of darkness : as it much countenances th●●… philosophers privation and their veritatem in puteo , so it seemeth to tax their presumption , who speak frequently of the light , seldom of the darkness that is in them . whilst you the true off-spring of the first and purest virtue , in your noble and masculine humility ( though you had very large accomplishments to boast of ) deemed it your highest glory to obtain a royal commission from the most heroick spirit of england , to dig ( unitedly ) for truth and knowledge , as for hidden treasure . and this ( not like those envious monasticks , who what they found , would ever have confined soly to their reclused cells ) but most ingeniously for dispersing of it to the universal benefit of all mankind without exception . if then small things may hold resemblance with greater , and the least addition of knowledge to your own country cannot but be matter of rejoycing to your goodness . i shall not cease to hope but this translation and contribution of this kind of knowledge to the english , and its humble dedication , will have a fair and kind acceptation with your wisdoms . not in the least supposing either the subject ( being of wind and spirits ) or this discourse , can be strangers to your general reading ; but some what to stir up your joynt and inspective minds , to the advancement of these studies to farther degrees of perfection : and if possible , to reduce them to the needful use of physick . not only all diseases , pains , and distempers , being of late imputed to venomous spirits generated in mans body , but their cure also , to the efficacy of those undescernable forces in nature , benigne spirits . but may some reflect , what must we now dig for winds as for hidden treasures ? seriously you may without disparagement , it being no solecism to admit of flatum as well as veritatem in puteo . and indeed ( in the sense of this worthy author ) where may not you find them ? or is it not rather a question , what can be performed without them ? or rather ( if once throughly understood ) in their various differences and properties , what may not be done by their assistance ? and that the spirit of spirits may constantly be your guide , shall ever be the earnest desires of the admirer of your generous aims and intentions , william rowland . a new and excellent treatise of wind offending mans body . in which is described the nature , causes , and symptoms of wind : together with its speedy and easie remedy ▪ by w. r. m. d. london , printed by j. m. for benjamin billingsley and obadiah blagrave , at the sign of the printing-press at gresham-colledge-gate , near the church in broad-street . 1668. to all those whose bodies are troubled with wind , or any diseases caused thereby . it is confessed by all , that no temporal blessing is better then health ; therefore it is to be admired , that most men should so much slight and neglect it : the worth whereof , if we consider , we must say with the poet amphion : o blessed health , with thee 't is ever spring , and without thee there is no pleasant thing . she is the cherisher of all wisdom , science , and arts , and the only solace that we find in this troublesom life . by the presence of health all humane actions , and strength of body , beauty , riches , and whatsoever is esteemed among men , do flourish : she failing by malignity of evil causes , all other things fail , which were before in request , and a disease follows , which is the fore-runner of death . now who can expel a disease but by avoiding and excluding the causes that breed and feed it ? nor can the causes be avoided , or excluded before they are known . therefore the chief way to cure a disease , is to know the causes . and if we carefully consider them , it will appear , that no thing in the whole world is more miserable then man , and ( if you except his diviner part , the soul ) nothing is more frail and obnoxious to the injuries of all things . for what is there in the whole creation , by which a man is not assailed and opposed , and sometimes hurt ? for the heavens and the stars by their conversions and malignant aspects bring plagues , heats , and extreme colds , and divers inconveniences to mankind : and the elements are plainly perceived to be more injurious then they . for the air hath been infinite ways pernicious to mankind , as by hail , rain , storms , thunder , and lightning : and the earth by terrible motions , and quaking , and opening of it self , and by breathing forth pestilent vapours from its dens and caverns : and the water with stinking vapours from inundations , fens , and standing pools : and the fire also by many conflagrations . moreover all sorts of living creatures by one unanimous consent , seek the destruction of mankind : nor are the herbs , shrubs , and trees with their fruit , freed from that pernicious spirit . besides all these , as if they could not do mischief enough to mankind , man himself is enemy to himself , by thefts , brabling , murther , and wars , and many innumerable wicked actions : and which is worst of all , man is so cruel to his own nature , and so mad , that he torments his weak body by inordinate lusts , daily and nightly riotings and surfeits ; so that he runs head-long into all manner of diseases , and defiles his divine part , the soul , and brings the wrath of god upon himself . therefore he said well , that compared mans life to a warfare upon the earth . hence it is , that wise men to oppose so many mischiefs , desired nothing more then to invent some art to preserve them and theirs from the injuries of the things mentioned , and free them from diseases . therefore apollo gave noble principles at first to the art of physick , which were after celebrated by aesculapius , and then by machaon and podaleirius ; so that all did highly esteem them as homer writes : the learn'd physitian that can cure well , doth all professions in the world excel . the sons of aesculapius delivered this art to their posterity , not by writing , but by traditional instruction to the time of hippocrates . hippocrates that came from hercules and aesculapius , grew so excellent in physick , that he got great renown by his works in coos , and among the thessalians and athenians , that gave him divine honour next unto hercules . he was the first that committed this art to writing , and left us his works , which galen purged from thorns and weeds , and put it into such order and method , that he made it almost compleat . but nothing in the world of this sort can be so exact , that it admits no farther industry : therefore the ages following and ours , according to the ingenuity of the best in the time , did refine and digest into order those parts of physick that seemed imperfect : they cut off what was superfluous , and supplied what was defective , and did all with such industry , that the art seemed to have a new face . for no part of physick , though obscure and hard , can now be concealed . for famous men have not ceased to study the heavens and stars , with their motions , and the nature of the elements , and to search into the bowels of the earth , and to find out by great labour the force of herbs and all plants , and to know all sorts of living creatures ; nay to search into the bowels of mankind by a kind of cruelty , that they might be preserved against the storms of so many malignant causes . this is the reason why we bestow our labour and study for the common good , in writing this book and others , and in perusing authors , out of which we have gathered this treatise of wind that troubles the body of man. men are of divers ingenuities , and every one follows that which his nature and heat of spirit draws him unto . some follow musick and the mathematicks ; others morality ; others religion , without any respect to other sciences : some in obedience to their god , belly , follow head-long after lust , and spend more time and pains in pleasure and luxury , then in honesty , and lay up treasure by any means , good or bad , to maintain their lusts . these vain wretches ( having nothing but a body which shews their manhood ) pass away , and their memory rots : but such whose souls dwell more nobly in them , and think of the adorning of their divine part , lose no time for meditation , that they may declare things more clearly to posterity , and be famous to eternity . of this sort there are many in our age , chiefly physitians , who have so laboured to purge and adorn their science , that no age hath done more . for no science is so absolute in all things , but there is something new that the ancients did not take notice of , or leave unfinished . for humane industry is fed by meditation , and grows hot by an unwearied force : and a generous soul submits his private studies to the judgment of the learned , and grows more studious afterwards . for if his works are approved by them , he is more inflamed to go forward ; if not , he labours to recover his honour , and to hit that the second time , which he missed at the first . fall how it will , an ingenious generous spirit loseth nothing , but gets much . this is the cause why we have taken in hand to clear that part of physick which treats of wind , and is of great consequence to mankind , that we may not live in silence , as if born for our selves : and the rather , because there is no disease more usual and vexatious , chiefly in the north , and less understood by physitians , though indifferently learned , then those of wind. and there is no part of physick more neglected by authors ; for none hath written exactly of wind but hippocrates , and he hath written so , that little benefit is to be gotten thereby . we confess the reverend old man had a wonderful spirit in shewing the cause of every disease : but he useth arguments far fetcht , and such as teach rather the wit of their author , then the knowledge or cure of the diseases that come from them . and he handles but slightly the breeding of wind from meat , drink of flegm . he only speaks of the force of the air breathed in . nor is it a wonder : for his age was very temperate , and no ways given to luxury ; also the country he lived in , chiefly cous , was a temperate island , and did not breed these torments from wind. but our age , from gluttony and drunkenness , affords few that are not tormented with wind. therefore we shall provide that such as are troubled therewith may be cured , and that by bad diet they do not relapse , and be again troubled therewith . and we shall leave hippocrates , who wrote on this subject more learnedly then profitably , and discover for the common good those principles that we know by experience to be profitable . farewel , w. r. a short treatise concerning wind in mans body . chap. i. that wind is a spirit ; and of the division of spirits . i suppose none doth question , but that that substance , whether it be air , wind , or blast , which is strong , & to be heard or felt , though not to be seen , is called a spirit . for so hippocrates calls them in his book of winds . and galen saith they are spirits , epid. 1. com. 3. and in his book of the difficulty of breathing , and differences of breathing , and in his prognosticks ; and that a belch is a kind of spirit , and doth after a sort communicate with the spirits of breathing . thus it appears by these sayings of galen , that wind is a spirit : now there are differences of spirits : therefore i shall shew the nature of all spirits , and begin from the chief to the meanest . spirits are either within or without our bodies . they without are of three sorts . there is the spirit of the living god , and of universal nature , and of the soul. the spirit of god shews his hidden majesty and power , and goes through all things , and is every where comprehending all things : it hath the minds and souls of all in its power , and can carry them where it pleaseth . the spirit of nature is that which all the philosophers and poets so commend : plato calls it the soul of the world : galen calls it a mind brought hither from above . aristotle , lib. de mund . ad alex. sets it forth more plainly by this definition , saying , this spirit is an animate substance that generateth in plants and living creatures , belonging to all ; being largely extended , it contains all , rejoyceth all , carrying the vital soul of the world with it , and nature it self , and making all things live that it gets into . also there is a spirit under the form of every mortal and concrete thing , which knits it to its thick body , being of a mean condition between both ; it joyns things different , being like unto both : and this spirit is governed and preserved by the other , which is the universal spirit of all nature . to these three differences of spirits arist . lib. de mund . adds a fourth ; saying , that wind ariseth from a dry exhalation , when it is cast off by cold , so that it spreads abroad it self : so that wind is only much air stirring about , and forced ; and this is called a spirit also . for air is strong , though not visible , but known by its effects and our apprehensions : and hippocrates in his book of wind , saith that all that is between heaven and earth is full of spirits . also the spirits in the body are comprehended in their several members ; for they are natural , vital , or animal . all these are called by the name of innate or imbred spirits : wind , or the flatulent spirit ( that the great and little world man , might be alike ) is joyned to these . the natural spirit is made when the more pure or aerial part of nourishment turns by concoction into thin blood , like a vapour . this takes force from the imbred spirit in the liver , and goes to the heart by the hollow vein with the rest of the blood ; then by heat being more refined , it turns to a sort of air , and becomes a vital spirit , which spread through the whole body by the arteries , gives life : part of this carried by the arteries of the neck into the net-work of the brain , and so into the ventricles , increaseth by the air received at the nose , and by force of the spirit imbred in the brain , becomes animal ; and being sent to the whole body , gives sense and motion . the spirit we shall speak of , differs much from these , and is the fourth spirit in our bodies , of the same nature with wind , and it is so called . it is gross and not so aery or thin as the other . you may best know the nature of it , if you consider the air in a south or north wind . the windy spirit in us is like the south wind , and the natural is like the north. let us leave the innate or imbred spirits , which are well described by others , and speak of the flatuous or windy spirit . chap. ii. of the analogy or proportion between the flatuous spirit and wind , or the wind in man and in the earth . there are two things that chiefly blow up our bodies , and prepare them for diseases ; diet and the air . food , though at first unlike , is at length made like us , and turned into the substance of the body : therefore by long use the body will be of the same nature . for all diet , though well concocted , keeps it in a natural and genuine condition : therefore lettice and other cold things , though they be overcome by concoction , yet cool the stomach and whole body , and produce cold blood . so wine and garlick produce hot blood : fish , cheese , and salt meats , gross blood . by which it is clear , that not only the spirits and humours by which we are preserved , are changed , but the constitution of the whole body . therefore a cool diet prepares the body to breed wind , by oppressing the native heat . also too much of the best meats and drinks , such as burdens nature , cannot be well concocted or turned into good blood , but many crudities will be , which will cause obstructions and rottenness , or corruption , by which the natural heat is suffocated , as the wiek of a candle by too much grease . this crudity and abundance of humours is gathered in all , chiefly the northern inhabitants : these , as if it were too low a thing to slay with a sword , or hang with a halter , or fight publickly , kill themselves with kindness , they contend in drinking healths , and riot night and day , and add new surfeits to the former , and leave not off , till they vomit what they take in , or are ready to burst ; forgetting the saying , that gluttony and drunkenness kill more then the sword . when too much food is taken , it causeth a disease . it is no wonder , if such have many excrements and wind , which for their abundance are not easily voided . also the country and air is of much force . for a hot country , as the summer , inflames the spirits , dries the humours , and increaseth choler , which causeth most acute diseases . but a cold and moist air , as it is in the north , is like the winter , stupifies the spirits , stops the pores , and burdens the body with many superfluous humours , and oppresseth the native heat . hence the concoction is weakned , and there are crudities , and fluctuations of food in the stomach , distillations , chronick diseases , stones , worms , wind , and the like . these breed in man the little world , as in the great , unto which aristotle compares him . for as in the great world there are four elements , fire , air , water , earth ; so there are the same in the little : and as in all those elements are divers substances bred , as in the earth stones and trees ; in the water , divers creatures ; in the air , thunder , lightning , rain : so in man there are bred bones as stones ; and worms and lice as living creatures ; and distillations as rain , and wind , or a flatus like the wind in the earth . to be short , the image of the universe is clear in man. for god , when in six days he had wonderfully made the world , and set all things in order , so that nothing seemed to be wanting , made man as the abridgment of all the rest , to extol his divine power and wisdom , and admire his works . moreover , there is nothing in heaven or earth , the like whereunto may not be found in man , if you diligently search and consider the soul is his god , the understanding and will are his angelical spirits ; heat , cold , moisture , and driness answer to the outward elements . in the heat appear divers flashes and fiery representations , frenzies , inflammations , erysipelas , feavers . in the moisture are distillations and nodes , that come from thence like hail . also the humours ebbe and flow in the veins and arteries . but the earthy element of this little world is most like the great , in which are stones , which our bones do resemble : and ovid calls the stones the bones of our great mother earth . as the plants , corn , and trees are in the earth , so are the hairs in man. as galen saith , hairs grow as plants . for as some grow by the art of the husbandman , others by natural causes only : so in animals the head is like a wheat or barley-field , and the hair in other parts is like other plants in drier ground . what shall i say of the earthquake ? when many exhalations are bred in the bowels of the earth by force of the sun and stars , from a moisture that is sunk into the earth , and from the matter of the earth ; when they cannot get forth by reason of the earths closure or the grossness of the wind , there must needs be an earthquake in part . so when flatuous spirits or wind is shut up in the cavity of the body , and strives to get out , there is great trembling ; as langius saith , if we may confer great things with small , as wind shut up in the bowels of the earth , makes it tremble when it strives to get out ▪ so a flatulent air or wind being kept in by the covers of the muscles and other parts that may be stretched , shakes them till it breaks through the membrane that covers them : the vulgar ignorant of this , suppose this to be the soul or life-blood . while it goes forth without doing hurt at the pores , there is no trembling ; but if they be stopt , it hunts about and gets into cavities , and strives to break through : so the wind striving to get out , shakes the body . there is another reason of this trembling . the wind shut up in the cavities , being beaten back by the heat of the bowels and natural motion , grows hot by reason of the want of freedom , and so thinner . this insinuates it self into any part , even the principal parts , and falls swiftly upon sensible places , and doth not only disturb them with its quality , but pricks them with its thinness , and stretcheth , tears , or wounds them : for all biting or sharp causes that are moved , whether hot or cold , bring horrour and shaking to a living creature . thirdly , this spirit running to and fro , troubles the expulsive faculty , and the parts , which provoked , contract themselves speedily to expel the offender , and so shake and tremble . therefore this wind in man being like other wind , produceth the like effects . now we shall shew what it is . chap. iii. what this wind in man is . none wrote better of this wind then galen lib. 3. de symp. causis , who saith it is a vapour raised from a humour , or flegmatick meats or drinks , or from weak heat . but this is an imperfect definition : for divers vapours go to the brain from food in the stomach , as in drunkards , and in sore eyes , from consent of the stomach , which are not called winds ; nor are they such . but that flatuous spirit that is bred in the hypochondrion from a melancholy humour , is truly wind . therefore i would have this wind to be thus described more exactly : a flatus or wind is an abundance of vapours from spirits or meat or drink , or flegm or melancholy raised from a weak heat in the body . i say an abundance , because a small vapour , which the best constitution is never free from , is not a wind , or can puffe up . as galen lib. 5. in aph. 72. saith they are windy ; according to hippocrates , that have much wind in their bellies , that is voided upwards or downwards , or stretcheth the parts that hold it . and aristotle saith , wind is only much air fluctuating or moving , and stopped . you shall know from aristotle , and what i shall say after , why i call it an halitous spirit , and not a vapour ; for none can get any certainty out of galen in this , that calls a spirit , vapour , wind and blast , all one without distinction . therapeut . 14. he saith , a vaporous spirit is from juyces heated by degrees , and that a vapour is an humour extenuated , de sympt . caus . lib. 1. de simpl. med . fac . lib. 1. and halitus is a mean or medium between the thinnest spirit and blood that is finished , lib. 3. de nat . fac . all these signifie the same thing , therefore i shall not dispute them . nor is that against my definition that galen saith , if a greater heat fall upon a gross glutinous flegm , it turns them into a thick or gross wind . for though heat be strong , yet in comparison of the quantity and quality of the humour , it may be weak ; such as can raise a spirit , but not lay it or dissolve it . it is so in those that by intemperate drinking oppress the strongest heat . we shall now shew in what parts this wind is bred . chap. iv. of the place where wind is bred . in the former chapter we shewed from galen and hippocrates , that those were windy bodies that gathered much wind in their bellies , which is voided upwards or downwards , or that stretcheth the parts that hold it . hence it appears that the stomach and guts are the place of its breeding ; otherwise it could not go forth upward or downward . so wind is bred in the earth , which after rain being warmed , as aristotle saith , from above and from it self , smoaketh ; and in this is the force of wind . for when the earth takes greatest force from water , there must be most forcible vapours , even as green wood burnt affords most smoak . the stomach most resembles the earth in man. galen comparing them , saith , that nature made the stomach in stead of an earth to animals , to be a store-house , as the : earth is to plants . for the veins that go to the stomach , such chyle out of it to nourish the whole body , as the roots of trees do from the earth : it is a natural action in both . they are alike , but the earth of it self is dry and sapless ; except watered , it produceth no fruit ; but being moistned , as virgil saith , it produceth winds also . so our stomach is membranous and dry , and except it be moderately moistned with meats and drinks , it defrauds the body of its nourishment , and it consumes : if too much drink be taken , there is fluctuation and wind ; for too much food oppresseth the natural heat , and makes it weak ; but yet it will fall to work , or concoct : but being not able to do it exactly , it raiseth vapours which it cannot discuss . then by degrees the first concoction being hindered , there are gross and flegmatick humours , both in the stomach and guts , chiefly the colon. if the wind be thick , it stretcheth only the stomach and belly ; but when by degrees it is made thin by heat of the bowels , that which was shut up begins to move and enlarge it self , and take up more room , and stir about to get forth , and then all is well . but if a costive body by hard excrements or tough flegm in the guts hinder its passage , it runs back and roars , rumbles , and pains the guts , and labours by force to get out . for when the heat of the guts extenuates the vapours , they move readily and of themselves , and so are thinner , and can pierce farther : they run about like thunder swiftly , and open small passages , and make solution of unity , and cause pain in any solid part by their passage being thin . what seneca lib. 6. nat . quaest . c. 8. saith of other wind , agrees with this , that its force is not to be withstood , because a spirit is not to be conquered . they only can judge of this wind who have been troubled with it , therefore as the other wind is only bred in the earth , so this is bred only in the stomach and guts , as the caverns of the earth , and from thence goes to any part : for the body is thin and previous , full of passages for the wind to go through ; which when it is much , and gets not forth , shakes the body , causeth chilness , and great symptoms after to be mentioned . chap. v. of the manner how wind is bred in the body . wind is bred from heat , which is sometimes great , sometimes weak ; and is raised from the matter , after the same manner it is discussed . for the strong heat of the bowels discusseth it before it get force , and hinders it from breeding at the first . absolute cold raiseth no spirits , as appears in extream crudities . therefore hippocrates lib. 6. saith , that in a long dysentery or flux , if there be sowre belchings , it is good ; because before belching there was no sign of concoction , by reason of the decay of natural heat ; which beginning to revive , being but yet weak , by reason of the small concoction , it raised wind which was belched forth . therefore not great heat nor great cold , but a mean between both makes wind , according to galen de sympt . caus . lib. 6. cap. 2. who saith it breeds in the vacuities of the stomach , when flegm there contained , or food , is turned to vapours by weak heat . for as absolute cold raiseth no vapours , because it cannot extenuate , nor dissolve , nor concoct ; so vehement heat overcomes for the most part what is comprehended , extenuates the food beyond the generation of vapours , except it be such as easily turns to wind . if the heat be weak , it dissolves the food , but doth not concoct perfectly , and hence comes wind . and as in external things , as a cold season , chiefly when the north wind blows , makes the air clearer ; and a very hot season makes the air pure , but the middle constitution of air produceth clouds : so it is in animals heat when very weak or very strong , doth not cause wind , but the mean between both . but galen 12. meth. med . saith , that wind is not only from a mean but vehement heat : as appears by their generation there mentioned , and by his way of cure . for he saith , if by any accident a vaporous spirit be joyned with gross glutinous humours , that cannot break forth of the body , there is very great pain ; and that from two causes , obstruction or heat . for obstruction keeps the wind in , and gross glutinous matter , when it is hot , causeth wind . and a little after : how then , saith he , shall we cure those pains which a cold humour shut up in the guts , hath caused ? not by cataplasms and fomentations which heat violently : for all clammy humours that are gross and cold , are discussed into wind by things that heat , except they also strongly digest . therefore they must be cut and concocted at the same time by attenuaters which are not too hot . from these words of galen , it appears that a vehement heat doth not hinder breeding of wind , or discuss them being bred , but will cause them from the subject matter to breed anew when they were gone . therefore lib. 3. cap. 43. he saith , we must beware of nothing more in the abundance of such humours , then immoderate heat that will melt them , and turn them into wind , but not digest them . the italian doctor knew this well , who ( as paul aegineta saith ) cured almost all colicks with cold remedies : and paul knew it when he wrote , that pains from cold , clammy , and tough humours , are to be cured with respect that the medicines be not vehement hot ; for so they will be melted , and turned more to winds . also strong heat doth not only make wind of flegm , which it cannot consume , but also of any over-much moisture received ; as in such as have drunk too much wine , or beer , or broth , or stuffed themselves with any gross or clammy food , which the heat cannot consume . so vehement heat also raiseth wind . this is clear in feavers also , in which , though preternatural heat abound , much drink swells the belly , because nature is thereby restrained . therefore three things are required in the breeding and understanding of wind ; heat naturally too weak , or so by oppression ; that the part be sensible and fit , and the matter proper to produce wind . chap. vi. of the differences of wind bred in the body . the wind is of divers natures : one sort is quiet , another moved . the quiet is gross , and of flow motion , cloudy and cold , that brings seldom any symptoms but a swollen belly and hypochondria , without much pain . this troubles such commonly that drink thick sweet ale , or milk , or water , between meals chiefly : for that corrupts concoction , and weakneth the action of the stomach , as if you should pour cold water into a boiling kettle ; and thence there will be cloudy vapours and fluctuations that will swell the belly like a drum , which will fall with sobriety and a stool or two . but if it stay long between the tunicles of the guts , it threatens a dangerous colick . a moved wind , because it is thin , and running about with great pain , is like a changeable proteus : it is either cast out or retained , goes forth with or without noise , by the mouth or fundament . by the mouth the belch is sour , or smoak-like , and unsavory : by the fundament it is with or without noise . these are of so much concernment in the body of man , as the stoicks according to cicero lib. 9. epist . epist . 22. said , that a fart ought to be as free as a belch . and claudius caesar made an edict to give leave for any to fart at meat , because he knew one endangered by refraining through modesty . suet in vita claudii , cap. 23. but when wind is sent out at neither part , but detained , it causeth a swelling : a symptom of the stomach not able through weakness to expel the abounding cloudy spirit . also galen 3. symp. caus . lib. 6. cap. 6. saith , there are divers parts of the guts in which the wind moves , which though they have not distinct names ; yet may they so be declared , that any ingenious person may understand what kind , and how much the excrement is , and in what part it chiefly moves . for if it sound sharp and shrill , it is carried through the strait gut , and is more pure and aerial . if it puff up , it will make a small noise while it goes through the small guts , but not so sharp and shrill . all these noises are in the spaces of the empty gut usually , & make the less noise the lower they go . other noises are humming , like that of pipes , which cannot give a pure sound , by reason of the matter they consist of ; and the passage being large , makes the sound greater . such winds are in the thick guts , when they are empty ; and if any moisture be contained in them , it will cause a kind of bombus , which is a rumbling , which shews a moist stool to be at hand , because it is from nature moving ; and it is moist , because it rumbled before . also the noise that follows the stool , if it rumbles , signifies more stools : but if it be pure and clear , it shews that either the gut is empty , or that hard excrements are in its upper part . that which is shrill , is from the straitness of the passages and little moisture . we might here add the different sounds of the wind in the ear : but we shall reserve that for the eleventh chapter , where we shall speak of the pains of the ears . chap. vii . how many kinds of diseases are produced by wind. galen made three chief sorts of diseases , a similary , instrumental , and a common , which is the solution of unity . a similary disease is that which overthrows the natural constitution . an organical or instrumental is that which hinders the fashion in conformation , number , magnitude , or composition . the common is , when unity is dissolved in part . let us see which of these wind will produce . hippocrates , lib. de flatibus saith , when a body is full of food , and much wind prevails , and the meat lies long in the stomach , and cannot get out for abundance , and the lower belly is stopt or bound , wind goes over all the body , and gets chiefly to the parts full of blood , and cools them : and if the parts be cooled where the blood comes , there is chilness over all the body . for when all the blood is cold , the whole body must be chill . galen meth. med . 12. confirms this saying , that such diseases are in those that are stuffed with gross clammy food that is cold , when the wind in the tunicles of the guts cannot get forth . for the tunicles are double , and the humour being between them is turned into wind , it is gross and cold , and of slow motion . when it is detained , it stretcheth the tunicles , and the juyce whence it comes cools the guts it toucheth , and they are doubly afflicted . by these instances it is plain , that wind by its coldness can make a similary disease that consists in distemper , and also the solution of unity . for there is pain and stretching of the tunicles , which cannot be without laceration . for there are two universal causes of pain ; one is an unequal distemper which comes suddenly , and another when continuity is dissolved . for parts dissolved by a humour or wind , are pained by the separation . because if hippocrates say , cold is biting to ulcers for no other cause , but it contracts , and condenseth , and constringeth all parts it toucheth , and so twitcheth the soft parts of the continuity , and dissolves it . also if in acute fevers nervous bodies are most dried , and therefore have convulsion ; and if too much repletion that pulls it up and down , and makes it shorter , and so separates continuity , how much more difficulty of solution of continuity will wind cause , which for that only cause produce such strange symptoms that require the whole care of a physitian . thirdly , it will appear by what follows , that the whole abdomen or panch swells by wind , as in a tympany ; and the liver and spleen are wonderfully stopt thereby , and hard as a schirrhus and swollen , as also the stomach ; and all these are instrumental diseases : therefore organical diseases are also from wind . also galen de diff . morb . saith , when any part is swollen , and so its passage stopt , if that part hath no proper operation , that stoppage is only called a disease : but the tumour is not , but only is the cause of obstruction . but if the part affected hath any proper office , then the obstruction and the tumour of the part are both diseases . therefore the three sorts of diseases , distemper of simple parts , and disorder of instrumental , and solution of united parts , are from wind . chap. viii . of the causes of wind. there are few or none in the world but are troubled sometimes with winds : for the stomach , which is the kitchin for the first concoction , attracts the meat by the gullet as by a long hand , and embraceth and keepeth it , and changeth it , separating ▪ the pure from the impure , casting the one into the guts ; but the meseraick veins sucking the other , carry it to the liver . when the stomach through weakness embraceth not the food attracted , nor contains it , it rumbles and tosseth about , and then it cannot well concoct . for it must be strong , as galen saith , which consists in an excellent temper of the four qualities , by which it turns the food into the proper quality of that which is nourished , by help of the bowels about it , the heart , liver , spleen , reins , midriff , which lye about the stomach , as a great fire under a caldron . but sometimes a bad diet ( for none can be always punctual in the rules ) or some external force dissolves its strength , or weakens the fire , and then the virtue of the stomach abates , and it alters according to the greatness or smalness of the cause . also outward cold , as in cold countries and in northern winds , piercing to the inward parts , in thin and weak bodies , offends the native heat . also too hot air casts out & disperseth the natural heat , and takes it from the bowels , and then concoction is hindered , and wind bred . but strong natural heat overcoming for the most part things comprehended by it , extenuateth the meat more then that it can produce vapours , except it be of its nature windy . for the stomach , though strong , and force of nature flourisheth , and the heat not decayed , is offended often by food that ▪ is proper to breed wind . therefore all physick and food that is properly by its nature windy , or by its coldness or multitude dissolves the strength of the stomach , and oppresseth its natural heat , is the cause of wind ; as pulse , raw corn , and fruits . all these galen de alim . fac . lib. 2. saith , and such as we eat before they are ripe , are windy , but they are soon digested : therefore he argues thus in the beginning of that book : all the food mentioned in the first book were the seeds of plants , little differing from fruits : but all horary fruits are windy , and all seeds more or less . and boil beans as much as you will , they are windy : some add onions to prevent it , because hot and attenuating things correct wind . but fry them , or any other pulse , and they are not windy , but very hard of concoction , and pass away slowly , and make gross juyce . but any way dressed , they swell the body . he that will observe the distempers that follow every sort of food , shall perceive a stretching of the whole body , as by a wind after eating of beans , chiefly if he have not used to eat them formerly , or eat up not well boiled . pease , though like beans , are not so windy . these are with us plentiful and usual , and therefore we perceive less the hurt they do . for what we eat freely , and with pleasure , the stomach embraceth closer , and retains better , and digests easier . fetches are windy also , but few desire them : it is good with any of these to boil calamints , onions , dill , or pennyroyal . lentils puffe up the stomach and guts . also all summer-fruits are like these : for they are crude and full of excrements and unprofitable juyce , especially when not ripe ; they are also flegmatick and windy . also if immoderately taken , by their cold and moisture they abate the natural heat , so that the stomach cannot discuss the wind it raiseth . mulberries and plums are the worst of these , chiefly green , and after meat . all sorts of cherries , chiefly the spanish cherries , and melones , pompions , cucumbers , gourds , apples , pears , are alike : but boiled , they are less windy , chiefly if eaten with seeds , or hot and dry extenuaters or expellers of wind , anise or coriander . figs , saith galen , lib. de aliment . nourish more then other autumnal fruits , but are windy : but the wind soon vanisheth , because they are laxative . chesnuts eaten plentifully , cause headach , swell the belly , bind it , and are hard of concoction . also roots , turneps , radishes , and the like , are windy ; and corn , milium , wheat , chiefly boiled barley , but rapes and radishes are most windy . all fish are the like , flegmatick and windy , chiefly the great ; and the less that are slimy , as the eel and salmon , lamprey , tench , chiefly if boiled , broiled , or fryed , they are not so windy , chiefly if the flesh be soft , as the brook-fish . though celsus , lib. 2. c. 26. saith , they are not windy . all pulse and fat meats do swell with wind , and sweet things , and broths , new wine . also garlick , coleworts , onions , and all roots , except a parsnip and schirroots . leeks and dry figs are windy , but the green most . green grapes , all nuts , except those of the pine-tree ; milk , all cheese , and whatsoever is taken crude . hunting and hawking are good against wind . celsus saith , all fat things are windy ; for galen saith , they overthrow the stomach , and are hard of concoction , fill and swell either by wind that comes from them by a weak concoction , or by rarifying the fat , and make it run thin . also sweet things , chiefly if gross , are windy , and new wine , unless it pass soon through , fills with wind , is hard of concoction , begets gross moisture , and causeth headach . therefore aristotle in his problems asks directly why it is dangerous for the stomach to drink new wine ? answ . because it is undigestible , and therefore puffes up the stomach , and causeth a kind of dysentery . milk is an enemy to a weak head , and to the hypochondria that are blown up with wind from a small offence ; it puffes the bellies of most that eat it , as hippocraies saith . and galen saith , that people in health have headach and wind from eating milk ; therefore it must needs be bad for such as are so affected before . therefore let windy bodies avoid milk above all things . also mead , and perry , and sider are windy , chiefly if not boiled . hippocrates , lib. 5. aph . 41. bids you give mead to women at bed-time , to know if they be with child : for if her belly be griped thereby , she hath conceived , otherwise not : the pain is from wind that cannot get out , the mead causeth it ; for raw honey swells the belly . ale which is usual in the north is also windy , it is near that which dioscorides , lib. 2. cap. 80. called zythus : it is worse new , or when not well boiled . the thinner or cruder it is , the less it nourisheth , but it swells and cools more , being but a little hotter then water . such are the drinks of brabant , holland , and england , they are commonly thick and ill boiled , so that they stop the ureters , and cool and cause stranguries , breed the stone , and short breathing , increase flegm , breed wind in the belly , and pains and colicks . but old ale that is clear , well boiled , and well malted , which is made in private houses ( not to be sold ) do more cast off those pernicious qualities , the nearer they resemble wine . but when it is carelesly brewed , being it is daily used , and very much , the symptoms it causeth are wonderful , but chiefly great swellings and puffings up with wind : so that few or none that drink this ale , but are much oppressed with winds . but if the belly be loosned by much of it taken , or by its sharpness , and that which is superfluous be sent downward by stool or by urine , or vomited up , then you need not so much fear inflation by wind . for it is better then water , being moderately taken to quench thirst only , and wash down food , but not so good as wine . also galen saith , that all the faults of water are from its coldness , by which it lies long in the stomach , and causeth fluctuations , and turns to wind , and corrupts and weakens the stomach , so that it concocts worse . but wine hath a nature adverse to these faults in water , it neither puffeth up the belly , but takes it rather down , nor stays long there , by reason of its moderate heat . therefore common ale and beer are a medium between wine and water , but nearer to water : for they puff up , and stay long , being thick , but do not so much destroy the natural heat as water , or weaken the stomach . the clear old beer that is well boiled is most near to wine ; for it opens the ways of digestion , and quickly goes down , is of good juyce , and fit to mix and concoct things in the stomach and veins ; it puffs up little , it is better then new or crude wine , and the liker it is to wine , the farther it is from the faults in water . for water , whether of snow or pond is not good , chiefly for cold stomachs , not for galens reason only , because if taken presently after meat , makes it swim by putting it self between the meat and the stomach , and making a separation and fluctuation : for wine and the best drink may do that : but because it is heavy and very cold , and choaks the natural heat , and hinders concoction , and hurts the stomach , breast , and lungs , stops the urine , causeth side-pains , dropsies , colicks , and iliacks . but wind is not bred only by this or that way , but too much wine , or beer , or milk , or broths , or water , though otherwise wholesome , may cause wind , or any slimy matter that cannot be overcome by the native heat . for too much weakens the stomach ; and galen saith , the sign of a weak stomach is noise and fluctuation . for the stomach being right , is close , and keeps every little it takes in close wrapt , so that there is no space between . and when there is a rumbling , there is vacuity , and it doth not exactly embrace the food : and this is a loose space which suffers the moist things received to pass to and fro , and make a noise . then the belly swells , and the hypochondria , and there is much crudity , flegm , and gross humors bred . if this crudity be joyned with trouble of stomach , and the patient cannot sleep , it is evil : for watching and pain of stomach cause a tossing in bed , and wind , and belching . therefore crudity is from immoderate eating and drinking , and from crudity , come gross slimy humours ; upon which , if hot medicines , simple or compound , are given ( as often by ignorance they are ) they cause wind from the matter . also wine , though of the best , and such as by its nature expels wind , and any liquid thing , if not by its force , yet by its abundance may oppress the natural heat , or by the nature of the things it is mixed with in the stomach , may cause wind . moreover , of all things mentioned as causes of wind , none are worse then nightdrinkings upon a full stomach , and going to bed with a belly full of drink , or drinking between meals , or presently after meat . aristotle , meteor . lib. 4 cap. 3. saith , that such concoction is like boiling , chiefly when it is done by heat of the body in a hot and moist subject ; and some crudities are like meat half boiled . for as when we cast much cold water into a boiling kettle , the boiling is stopt , and the heat interrupted , and thereby crudity remains ; so if you drink presently after meat , the concoction is interrupted , and there will be crudities , which will cause fluctuation and inflation , and stretching of the belly like a drum. as galen saith , you must not presently drink after meat , before it be concocted : for then the food will swim , and the stomach cannot embrace them , by reason of the moisture between . therefore ( to be short ) inflations are from three causes , obstruction , heat , and a cold and moist distemper of the stomach . for obstructions stop the wind , that it cannot pass forth , and gross and clammy things , when made hot , breed wind ; gal. meth . 12. and all that are so have swollen bellies , and whatsoever they take , is easily turned into wind ; and they are puffed up . a cold and moist stomach , whether by nature , or acquired by oppression of the native heat by repletion , breeds only wind . therefore defend the stomach outwardly from cold air , and keep the feet from cold ; for nerves go from them to the stomach , and presently cool it , and the colick and all inflations are caused thereby sooner then any can imagine . we have shewed the causes of wind , we shall now shew the signs . chap. ix . of the signs of wind. the signs of wind are taken from the constitutions and matter therein predominating , from flegmatick diet , and windy , and stretching of the hypochondria without heaviness ; from belching , rumbling , farting , swelling , and wandring pain coming suddenly , and suddenly vanishing ; from a clear tumour that yields to the touch , and that sounds like a drum. often belching and farting are also signs , and ease after breaking of wind doth usually follow . or if from any cause the passage of the wind be stopt , it flies back , and there is a stretching pain that runs about the body , and pricks like needles under the breasts between the shoulders or membranes of the ribs , or other parts . but these last not long , because they are thin , and easily turn to air . they dream of flying or leaping over rivers , sometimes of thunder and tempests . there is often noise in the ears , beating in the flesh , yawning , and cramp in the legs , arms , and fingers , and inclination to the colick , and other windy diseases : pain about the navel , loathing and vomiting of corrupt humours , chiefly of flegm . the belly is bound , and will not let out so much as wind . sometimes glassie flegm , with great straining , is voided alone , or with some few hard excrements . the dung is sometimes like that of an ox , full of wind , and water is on the top . also the pain is not fixed to one part , but comes by fits , and to many parts more grievous in one then an other . the same signs are not in all . some are tormented about the navel , and the belly loose , having three stools a day , and yet the pain abate not . it is a sign then that the wind hath gotten into the tunicles of the colon , or that it is bred of the cold distemper of glassie flegm , or it is from its sharpness that comes from putrefaction , and twitcheth the guts , or of mixture of choler with flegm , which doth provoke the expulsive faculty . moreover , when the passages are stopt from much flegm , the excrements cannot pass , and then the obstruction increaseth , and the wind runs about in the guts , and causeth much pain , which we must not meddle with for cure , except we first purge the glassie flegm with clysters , or flegm-purgers at the mouth . but if the colick come from wind without matter , there is greater stretching and rumbling , quick pains , wind running to and fro to seek passage forth , and they used windy meats and drinks . if gross and clammy humours do melt by heat , and turn to wind ( which is usual ) the signs will be mixed of both , and the pain will be greater , according to the cause . for the force of conjunct causes is more then that of simple causes ; and there will be , besides that pain which is like a stake fixed , and comes from the coldness of the glassieflegm , another vehement pain from stretching of the part that runs through all the cavity of the belly , and disturbs the stomach as well as the guts . for when the wind cannot get forth , by reason of the stoppages , nor exhale or breathe forth , by reason of its thickness , or the thickness of the body , or the coldness of the pores , and the guts cannot contain its abundance , it goes back to the stomach , and hinders its concoction , by putting it self between the meat and the stomach , and leaving a vacuity , which causeth the stomach not closely to embrace the meat . hence comes fluctuation , and greater swelling then the former , and heaviness and difficult breathing , the stomach pressing upon the midriff . this trouble and restlesness increaseth , if they take meat or drink , chiefly milk or water before they are well ; for then the stomach is more distempered , and the fluctuating humour stretcheth and puffs it up more . they are at ease when the meat descends to the lower parts of the belly , and the wind is sent forth upwards or downwards ; but it is seldom sent forth while the distemper lasts , but kept in both ways : and if there be a belch by chance , then it gives no ease . sometimes the mouth of the stomach is swollen : and the pain is sometimes in the back about the spondiles , sometimes about the breast , sometimes in both . we shall speak of the other signs , chiefly the particular , that shew the parts troubled with wind , among the symptoms of wind . chap. x. of the symptoms coming from wind. there are also divers symptoms produced from the divers places where the wind is , being a large off-spring of a fruitful parent , the solution of continuity . this causeth pain . all pain , chiefly of the head , is in the membranes , which if not offended by distemper , heat , or cold , stroke , or bad scent , or sharp humours , must needs be hurt by wind bred in the part ( which is seldom seen ) or sent from other parts where it abounds ( which is usual . ) this wind gets between the skull and the pericranium , or between the skull and the dura mater , or hard film , or between both the meaninges or films , and twitcheth and pulleth them from the bone . hence is intolerable head-ach . sometimes this wind stretcheth the ventricles of the brain and the whole inward membrane called pia mater , like a bladder , and causeth unspeakable pain . they complain that the head is sometimes stretched , sometimes slackned . this gets into any part quickly by its thinness ; and if it hath any malignant quality from the humours putrefying below in the body , it disturbs the mind and reason , and causeth terrible dreams , melancholy , dotings , shakings of the head , and sometimes death . the vertigo or megrim is , when the head seems to turn round . the scotoma is , when there is not only a turning round , but a mist before the eyes . both are from divers causes . we shall speak only of that vertigo which is from wind in the fore-ventricle of the brain , that moves disorderly . this wind causeth mists , and perverts the imagination ; hence things seem to run round , and think they run round themselves and fall . for a vertigo is a turbulent commotion of thick flatuous spirits in the fore-ventricles of the brain . this wind sometimes breeds in the brain from an uneven distemper thereof ; sometimes it is sent from the stomach and hypochondria , which you may gather from the chapter afore-going . sometimes wind gets from the brain to the nerves , and fills them , and twitcheth , and causeth a windy cramp in the fingers and toes , or arms and legs , extending or contracting them . also this wind causeth great pain in the ears , when it is straitned about the membranes in the organ of hearing for finding no passage out , it stretcheth them vehemently , and tears them from the bone . this distemper is known from others ; for there is neither heat nor heaviness ( except there be flagm there ) but only a stretching with noise or ringing . also it is of much concernment , if it be much or little , thick or thin , move quickly or slowly . for if it be much , thick , and move quick , it will be perceived like swift flowing water , or like a drum , or such an instrument as makes a shrill noise , with a large blast of wind . if it be little , or thick , and move quick , it is like the breaking and falling of a tree , or an house , or a conduit . if it be much , but thin , and move quick , it causeth jingling or ringing , or ringing , or like the whistling of wind in at the cranny of a door . if it be much , gross , and move not quickly , it causeth rumbling . if it be little , thick , and move slowly , it causeth a whistling , or susurrus , whispering . when it is much , thin , and moves slowly , it causeth hissing . they that have it , are commonly dull both in the inward and outward senses , chiefly in the hearing , by reason of the grossness of the spirits , impurity and coldness , and the pain is not constant , but by fits . also wind gets into the roots of the teeth , and stretcheth their nerves , or the membrane of the cheek-bone , and causeth wonderful pain , almost not to be asswaged . it is easily known , for it is not constant , nor alike all the fit , as when humours logde there ; but it is by fits worse , and hath a quick motion like a dart . though , as galen saith , the lungs feel no pain ; yet being stretched , there is pain felt in the breast and back , from the membrane that compasseth them , which hangs from breast to back by fibres . as often then as wind stretcheth this membrane by its abundance or quick motion , there wil be a pain in the breast or back ; and which is worse , it sometimes breaks the veins , and causeth a flux of blood , and so a consumption , though seldom . wind often causeth a bastard pleurisie , and sometimes difficult to be cured , as when it is between the skin and the ribs , or between the membranes under the ribs , and pulls them from the parts they cleave to . this stops the breath , and keeps it from large and free passage , because the side and the breast are stirred up to move in breathing . sometimes from pain it causeth a dry cough and a feaver , and it resembles a true pleurisie , which is from a phlegmon : and many ignorant physitians that are content with a few signs , and such as shew not the disease , are deceived thereby , and cause dangerous symptoms by false directions . but this pleurisie differs far from a true ; and to shew the signs of a true , is not to our purpose : but the pleurisie of wind is with a wandring pain , not long in the same place , except it be a very gross and cloudy vapour . it is milder by heat and fomentations , and is dispersed ; it comes from too much cold drink or milk , chiefly a great draught after exercise ; from cold and wet feet , or other windy causes , as we shewed before . also palpitation of the heart is from wind , when it gets into the pericardium through invisible passages , and cannot get out ; it tormenteth by a vehement systole and diastole , contraction and dilatation , so that when it extends the heart , it intercepts the motion of the artery . we shall know when this is from wind , and not from a humour . for the humour will be much or little , thick or thin . that which is much and thick cannot get through the thick membrane , and be dissolved into air through the habit of the body . if it be much and thin , though it may at length be dissolved and dryed up ; yet it requires longer abode , it cannot quickly come and go , be violent and cease : this is a plain sign , that then the palpitation of the heart is from a windy substance . but if it were little and thin , it would easily vanish , and not make that kind of palpitation . therefore it is probable , that there is a thick substance or a cloudy wind , which the heart labours to shake off , because it oppresseth the vital faculty ; and by its heat and continual motion extenuates the thickness , and so disperseth it , and then the palpitation ceaseth , which comes from surfeits , idleness , bashfulness , or too much or sudden fear , as the evident causes . but the palpitation which is from humours contained in the pericardium , is different . for it is perpetual , seldom intermitting ; but in time of rest it grows worse from motion , and continues often for many years , even till death . fernelius saith , that sometimes it hath broken the adjacent ribs , and put them out of their place , and dilated the artery outward as big as the fist . the other from wind is troublesom ; but comes by fits , and is not so dangerous . there are no oftner or greater symptoms from wind , then those that trouble the stomach and gut colon : the first is called inflation , the second , the colick , from the part affected . inflation is from a fault from the retentive and embracing faculty of the stomach . for the goodness of the stomach consists in the time of the embracing of the food , being equal with the time of concoction , and when it so binds up the food , that there is no empty space between it and the meat . but quick evacuation and corruption of meat in the lower belly , follow an unfit time of retention ; and a weak retention causeth inflations . these torment the stomach , and the pain descends to the back . for the stomach lies under the midriff , and begins at the malum punicum or pomegranate , and so tends to the left side : for the upper part bends chiefly thither ; but the lower part bends more to the right side . the hinder part lyes upon the back-bone , to which it is bound , cleaving as far as the first spondil of the loyns . the mouth of it is united , not to the back-bone , but to the diaphragma , liver , heart , spleen , guts , and other parts , by membranes , nerves , arteries , and veins . hence when the stomach is stretcht with wind , those parts are pained that are joyned to the stretched part of the stomach . therefore when the back parts are stretched by wind , there is chiefly pain in the loyns and kidneys , as if it were the stone , which deceives not only the vulgar , but the learned sometimes , so that they think them to have the stone , which are stretched with wind in the stomach . but this is chiefly in such as have the colick , as shall be proved . when the upper part of the stomach is extended , there is pain over the breast , chiefly on the left side . when the lower parts are stretched , the liver is sometimes pained , or the other side . if the mouth of the stomach be stretched , the gullet hath a convulsion , as if it were contracted with hands , so that they say , it is like a stick fixed , and they can scarce swallow . for as galen lib. 6. aph. 39. saith , as fulness stretch the body , receiving it side-ways , and downward , and make the length of the part shorter ; so it is in the inflation of the stomach , the gullet is contracted , and the sides and the bottom stretched . erasistratus saith , that if the muscles be filled with wind , they grow broader , but shorter . moreover , when from plenty the whole is stretched , the effect of distension is perceived all over ; and because the diaphragma is compressed ( for it is an instrument of respiration ) the breath is difficult from the stomach puffed up ; and so this inflation sometimes so increaseth ; that it makes a tumour on the mouth of the stomach . these are allayed by stools , and breaking wind upward or downward . the colick is next , which is not always in one part of the belly in all , but as the colon is moved , so it removeth , now to the right , then to the left side , sometimes to the kidneys , navel , or over all the belly , but chiefly the left side . for the colon is a thick gut , through the hollow of the liver on the right side is carried to the left hypochondrion upon the bottom of the stomach , and lyes upon the spleen ; then bending backward , it adheres to the left kidney . therefore in what part the wind chiefly gets , there is greatest pain ; but when it fixeth in one part , it is raised from a crude and cold flegm shut up in the turnings of the gut ; nor is the wind then wholly included . this flegm corrodes the gut , and tears it , and is like an auger that pierceth it , which causeth great pain , and loathing and vomiting of flegm , and it departeth not after breaking of wind . but a pain from wind without flegm , is wandring in divers parts of the belly , and rumbles often , and being shut up close , will not break forth above or below . this useth to breed much in the colon ; for nature hath made no other receptacle for wind , which the first concoction in the stomach hath bred : therefore wind is lodged in this gut with great pain , chiefly when by reason of obstruction from gross flegm or hard and dry excrements , it cannot get forth . the dung is hardned from divers causes , chiefly from idleness , and labouring to keep from the stool . rest makes retention , as motion evacuation , and binds , as motion opens ; rest makes things unmoveable , and motion moveable : it causeth vomiting , stools , sweat , urine , and all natural expulsions ; and rest hinders them . some women complain that they have not a stool in five or six days , some in eight days : these are idle , cold , gluttonous , and obstructed , so that motion doth not help , nor choler , by reason of cold , provoke the guts to expel . also the obstructions hinder the choler from the cuts , and a perverse order in eating , binds the belly . therefore it is no wonder women are more windy then men . also costiveness doth not only cause the colick , but other great accidents ; for the dung sent down by nature , and by its heaviness falling to the lowest parts , if from other business or urgent occasion it be detained , it will grow hard , because being kept long , it drys by heat , and the meseraicks do always suck some juyce from it , for they are in the thick as well as the thin guts . so the excrements being by degrees very dry , stop the passage against themselves and the wind , and cause the ileon or convolvulus sometimes , but the colick often , and other great symptoms . for when the wind cannot get out , it flyes from the bottom of the belly again to the stomach , and stretcheth it , and twitcheth so the weasant , and contracts it , that they can scarce swallow or speak . also because the mouth of the stomach is very sensible , it is pained with convulsion , so that the heat of the outward parts goes in to expel what hurts nature ; and then they wanting their heat , are chill , and the nerves are contracted , the legs weak , and the body in a great strait . who would think that such deadly and cruel symptoms should come from a little wind ? but i know it to be so by long experience . the excrements voided in this fit are windy ; for they swim upon water , and are like ox-dung , and there was crudity , loathing , and vomiting before . this disease is like the stone in the kidneys fixed in the ureters , and hard to be distinguished from it : galen was deceived by it in his own body , and knew it not but to be the stone , till he injected oyl of rue , and voided glassie flegm , and was freed presently from all pain . we shall speak next of windy melancholy ; it is bred from three causes , from heat of the liver and the meseraicks , coldness of stomach , and a crude and gross humour of flegm or melancholy . a cold stomach desires too much , and digests too little . a hot liver attracts crude and gross meats before perfect concoction . and because the second concoction , which is in the liver , cannot correct the defect of the first , the veins of the mesentery are obstructed by gross chyle , and much crudity is gathered in them . this boils by preternatural heat , and sends forth filthy vapours that are not easily discussed , and there are rumblings , and breaking of wind . also galen from diocles saith , there is another disease in the stomach like the other , called melancholy or windy , as when meat of hard digestion and hot , is taken , there is much spitting , belching , sowre wind , heat in the sides , not presently , but after retention . sometimes great pains of the stomach that reach to the back in some , cease after concoction , and come again after meat . when the fit comes , the stomach and hypochondria are mise rably tormented , and not freed till the matter be voided by vomit or stool , that extends the hypochondria with wind . that which is vomited because the stomach is cold and weak , is flegmatick , clammy , and crude , white , and sometimes without taste , or sowre , or bitter . that which is sent down is black and windy melancholy ; from this sometimes a black vapour ariseth , and hurts the brain , causeth troublesom dreams , and disturbs the mind with doting . this wind shut up in the stomach and guts , and striving to get out , gets into the small veins and membranes of the liver , on both sides cavous and gibbous , and is like a schirrus ; or so stretcheth , that there is a tumour like a schirrus , only it is bred in a shorter time . it is so great sometimes , that it fills the hypochondrion , and you cannot feel the ribs there , nor put a finger under it , and there is no shape of the liver . this is known to be from much gross vapours , because there is not only heaviness , but distention , as galen lib. 5. de loc . affect . saith . the spleen is in like manner stretched with wind , as trallianus , saith : as in other parts , so in the spleen , there is wind that grows to a tumour ; it is like a schirrus , but thus distinguished : in a schirrus , there is hardness not yielding , tumour and heaviness in the left hypochondrion : in a tumour from wind , it doth not strongly resist the touch , but yields to the finger , and the spleen is pricked and extended , but without heaviness , and it comes sooner . when vulgar physitians understand not these two tumours of both liver and spleen , how blindly do they go to work with thousands of juleps ! and they protract the cure , that they may be largely rewarded , and when they have done more hurt then good , they affirm it to be a schirrus , and from galen , incurable . but they are very ignorant ; for this cloudy wind fixed on the bowel , in time by the natural heat , somentations , fasting , an extenuating and hot diet given by women and empericks , being discussed , the humour vanisheth , and the pain also , and the foolish doctors contemned . i exhort therefore the ingenious that love their honour and the truth , to search narrowly , and learn to know symptoms from those of other diseases . it is hard , but excellent : for many patients , as ready to dye for pain , cry out only from wind , which if corrupted , and come from a putrid and venomous matter , and run through the members with intolerable pain , needs an exact artist to know the wind and the matter producing it , and distinguish the disease from others . to this belongs the tympany , dropsie , when wind gets into the membranes of the belly with pain , and so into the spaces . hippocrates aph. 2. sect. 4. speaks of this thus . they that have pain about the navel and loyns , that will not be cured by medicines , will have a dry dropsie . there are three sorts of dropsies ; anasarca , ascites , and tympanides , which hippocrates calls the dry dropsie . anasarca is a preternatural increase of the bulk of the body ; here the feet swell first , at night chiefly , after exercise , or when they have long hung down ; they pit with the finger , the body is all soft , loose , and pale , weak and tired with the least pains ; it is like the green-sickness in women , only the dropsie swells the body , but in the other there is paleness , and trembling of the heart in motion , and shortness of wind going up stairs , and the body is heavy and sluggish . the cause is the same in both , too much cooling of the liver and veins . the liver cooled , the sanguification is hurt , then comes crude and watry blood , which taken into the hollow vein , goes over all the body , and there is anasarca ; and if the water from the liver stretch the skin , without there will be bladders . if these break , the water gets into that part of the peritonaeum which is by the lower belly , and then there is the second kind of dropsie called ascites . with this by degrees the belly is filled , and it swells unmeasurably , the skin being loosned , and the rest of the body pines away . if the body or the belly be turned , the water makes a noise . but in a tympany there is no fluctuation of water , but the sound of a drum when you strike or fillip the belly with your finger . for galen aph . 12. sect . 4. saith , in these the air is beaten which is contained by the skin ; as in this kind of disease , the wind is struck by the skin which is below . cold of the bowels and veins is cause of all these dropsies . the ascites or watry dropsie is from more cold , the tympany from less ; for water cannot be turned to wind without heat . great thirst follows all , chiefly ascites and tympany : the first because the water is salt and putrefied that is detained ; and the other , because there is seldom wind alone in the belly without water which putrefies ; also the wind takes away the moisture of the stomach , and then it is dry , and desires drink . this is thirst , the desire of moist and cold , or both . in externals we see , that though the earth be very wet with rain , yet when wind comes , it dryes it wonderfully in a short time , and consumes the moisture . the same is done in the body ; for one in a tympany hath a thirst beyond tantalus , the more he drinks , the more he may , and to satisfie the enemy in his bowels , he destroys himself with much drink . also they in the colick thirst from the same cause . also wind swells the cods and the womb , it gets by invisible passages into the cavity of them , or after child-birth by the orifice of the womb , or after bathing or fomenting ; or it breeds there from some other cause , and there is straitned , and so it stretcheth the womb . if the stretching be in the upper part of the womb , by force of the wind sent thither , it ascends and goes to the midriff and stomach , and lyes like a ball there , and oppresseth it . hence it is often driven down by the hands or fists , or by other solid bodies into its proper place . but if either side of the womb be distended or stretcht more then the rest , it gets by a convulsion into the right or left croyn , the pecten and the lower belly are blown up and pained ; sometimes a noise is heard all over the body , there is belching , and swelling of the loyns , and pain in the reins and hips , and when the belly is smitten with the fingers , there is a sound like a drum , and the wind breaks forth at the mouth of the womb . soranus said , this was called a flatuous cold . as wind gets into the womb of a woman , so it gets into the cods of a man , with a disease or without , and is a disease by it self . i have seen in a tympany the cods of a man swollen as big as a hogs bladder . for the wind which at first was only in the membranes of the abdomen and peritonaeum , being now increased , and requiring great space , breaks them , and gets into the cods , and fills also the whole body . wind also extends the cods without a disease in man , and chiefly new born children , and makes the hernia called pneumatocele , or windy rupture . sometimes it gets within the common membrane of the stones , and puffs up all the cods alike ; but when it gets between the tunicles of either stone , called erythroides and dartos , then one side of the cod is only tumified . this tumour is transparent , and not heavy as that of you may try it in the dark with a wax-candle held on the part opposite to your view . priapismus a symptom of the yard , hath two causes ; one is the fulness of the arteries of the privities ; the other is wind bred in the fistulous nerve . this fills the nerve , so that it swells and makes the yard stand without a venereous desire . galen meth . med . 12. saith , there is another kind of priapism , when the yard extends against desire : for the nerve that makes the proper substance of the yard , being hollow , and filled with wind , causeth it . so priapism is a permanent enlargement of the yard in length and thickness , without desire of venery ; and wind is the cause , as appears by its quick rise and sudden fall , which no humour could make . but palpitation goes before this priapism of wind , but not before that which is from the dilatation of the artery . we have shewed how wind fills the internal parts , and what evils it causeth ; we shall now shew what symptoms it produceth in the habit of the body : for it is thin , and not only fills vacuity , but dissolves continuity , tears the membranes in themselves , and from the bones , and swiftly strikes like a dart upon any part , causing great pain . sometimes like cold air , it affects the sensible nervous parts without great pain ; but this is little and very thin , and easily vanisheth by the natural heat , and fomentations . but it is harder to be discussed , when it gets under the skin or membranes of the bones , being thicker , and more , and swells them to a windy impostume . galen distinguisheth this from oedema , which is from water , and yields to the finger , and pits deep . but an inflation is from wind , either under the skin or membranes of the bones , or under the muscles . this pits not with the finger , but sounds like a drum with a fillip . sometimes it causeth no tumour ; but lying under the skin , through which it cannot breathe , being thick , it only beateth : this the vulgar call the life . and langius in an epistle wittily shews the arrogancy and ignorance of some chirurgions , that when they see the muscles of the temples , forehead , cheeks , or jaws tremble by wind in the skin , and to swell , they say , there is the soul or life , as in a prison : also without purging , which is less dangerous then bleeding , they let blood , and beholding the blood to tremble in the porringer by reason of wind , they fear that life is gone forth with the blood ; and therefore they make the patient drink it off hot . silly fellows ! that know not that air feeds the vital and animal spirits , gets not only into the arteries of the brain , lungs , and heart , but into all parts by inspiration , and the pores ; and is mixed with the blood by the anastomosis of the arteries with the veins ; and wind will breed from clammy humours , not only in the muscles and all parts that may be stretched ( as the stomach , guts , liver , spleen , midriff , and womb in teeming women ) which move the womb , so that they think the child moveth . and it causeth a trembling , not only in the muscles and other members , but chiefly in the heart . and as wind shut up in the bowels of the earth , shakes as it is ready to get forth ; so wind in the body , being comprehended in the muscles or other stretchable parts , shakes them till it gets forth . thus langius and galen lib. 2. de art. curat . ad glauc . confirms him , saying , that that sort of wind which is gross , sometimes lyes under the membranes of the bones , sometimes under the peritonaeum , sometimes in the guts and belly , sometimes under the membranes about the muscles and the membranous tendons , and the spaces of the muscles and other parts . therefore the force of wind is wonderful , that like thunder passeth through insensible passages into private places , even into the bones and marrow , and causeth pain ; but being between the bone and the periostium , it teareth them asunder with great pain . hence many complain of pain of the shins by fits , when there is no distemper external , neither tumour nor pain when it is pressed , except there be much gathered . so much of the symptoms , now we shall speak of the prognosticks of wind. chap. xi . of the prognosticks of wind. all diseases of wind in any part , are hard to be cured , if it cannot get forth ; the thicker and more close it is , the longer it remains , and causeth worse symptoms . when it separates the parts , it causeth pain , and pain causeth flux of humours , and the humour getting into the crannies of the part stretched , causeth a tumour , the tumour distends the skin and membranes , and contracts them : hence , the blood being not cooled , comes corruption and increase of preternatural heat . if this tumour be hard , and yield , red and beating , it is an inflammation ; if it be white , yielding to touch , and pit , it is an oedema ; if it be white , yielding , and transparent , it is an inflation . sometimes wind makes a dropsie , as hippocrates lib. de flatibus saith , wind gets through the flesh , and makes thin the pores , and then follows moisture , to which the wind before had made a passage ; and the body is moistned , the flesh melts , and the humours fall down to the legs , and then comes a dropsie . they in whom wind hath long remained , are subject to all these diseases , as the aphorism saith . they who have pains about the navel and loyns , that will not away with physick or other ways , will have a dry dropsie . this wind is not discussed by medicines , or other things , by reason of the habitual distemper of the part , which persevering , causeth a tympany , the worst of dropsies : i never knew it cured when confirmed . if then it be so dangerous , because the wind will yield to no remedies , by reason of the cause that feeds it , hippocrates prognost . lib. 1. said well , it is very healthful for wind to pass forth without noise ; but it is better to break with noise , then stay and move about , and cause pain . if any from modesty , when they are sound , will rather dye then fart , let them know that they dote , or must endure pain . if one fart willingly , it signifies no ill , but only it were better to be voided without noise : for a noise shews much wind or straitness of the vessels ; but that noise which is heard in new diseases in the hypochondria , pains or swellings , is not bad . hippocrates lib. 2. prognost . saith , new pains and swellings in the hypochondria without inflammation , are dissolved by noise , chiefly if there be stools and urine ; and if the wind goes not forth , it is good that it goes downward . these tumours being only of wind , are dissolved by their rumbling , it shews wind joyned with a humour , and sign fies good , that is , that the wind will go forth with the humour it is mixed with ; or if not , that it will go downward , and the pain and tumour will cease . and hippocrates aph. 73. lib ▪ 4. saith , they who have stretched hypochondria with rumbling , and after that a pain in the loyns , will have a moist belly or loosness , except they fart or piss much . the hypochondria rumbles and swells from wind alone , or mixed with humours ; and if it alone breaks forth upward or downward with the humour , it is without danger , and the pain and tumour suddenly depart . for the liver and spleen lying in the hypochondria , if they be much pained , it is from strong inflammation or wind ; if from wind , a fever coming , removes the pain . as hippocrates aph. 52. lib. 7. saith , they whose liver is much pained , are cured by a fever ; for the heat of it doth discuss the wind . now a fever doth not follow an inflammation , but comes with it ; nor doth it take off pain , but increase it . it appears that the heat of a fever discusseth wind , because they in the jaundice seldom have fits of wind , because they are hot of constitution , as hippocrates aph. 78. lib. 5. saith , they in the jaundice are not much windy : for they are cholerick , and choler will not suffer wind to raign , but discusseth it . but phelgmaticks , and they of a moist and cold stomach , and the sanguine , are troubled with wind , and easily have the colick . and all know that great pains of the colick are more dangerous then less , and a total collection of excrements and wind into one part of the colon , is worse then when they run about many parts . therefore there is less danger when wind is broken by clysters , and the stools take away the pain , then when not . but if wind cause a a doting , contraction of nerves , fainting , cold limbs , cold sweat , constant vomiting , stoppage of all excrements , as it doth when it comes from venomous matter , it is deadly , and there is a convolvulus . it is best to be without wind , or easily discuss it ; but this cannot be without diligent caution and good diet in the use of the six natural things . chap. xii . of diet to be observed by windy bodies . to prevent breeding of wind by diet , or discuss it when bred , four things are to be observed , chiefly in such as have bodies apt to breed it ; order , manner , time , and substance . the order is , that they begin not dinner nor supper with drink , nor drink a great draught , as the custom is after they have eaten a bit or two : drink is best , when you have taken most part of the food . also let liquid things be eaten before hard , and loosners before astringents , and those of easie concoction before those of hard . the manner is , that more food be not taken then can be concocted without difficulty , by rising with an appetite , and not drinking more then to quench thirst , and wash down the meat , which will make the body lazy , and oppress the native heat . some are never satisfied , except they carouse exceedingly when they eat ; some drink so , that they can eat little or nothing : this causeth fluctuation and inflation , because the stomach cannot embrace the quantity . time also must be observed , that they drink not fasting nor between meals , or after supper , or in bed . nor eat before the former is digested , nor sit long at meat . they must abstain from gross meats , they stop the narrow passages , such as produce a clammy juyce , hard of concoction , salt beef and pork , from cold , and sowre , and sharp things ; and all summer-fruits , crude or boiled , pulse , sallets , milk , and all milk-meats , all junkets , as fritters , pancakes , sweet-cakes , &c. chiefly that which our women call white-pots , or that made of eggs , butter , and honey in a frying-pan or an oven : and from that of green cheese , beets , paste , eggs , and oyl , which the italians call a tart. also the italian dishes are very hurtful , turtellae , lasaniae , macaroons , worms , and the like , made fit for the palate . these fill the body with gross humours , and so oppress the natural heat , that the stomach concocts worse after , being not able to overcome the tough and clammy humours . but some will devour such trash and junkets , and contemn better food , and yet find no inconvenience , or very little . to which i answer : that all food made of paste causeth gross and clammy humours , and many excrements , and obstructions , and matter fit to breed wind . but if they be taken by a good and firm stomach , and well concocted ( which i think scarce can be ) and they find no hurt thereby worth notice ; it doth not therefore follow , that they are of themselves without harm : for all know , that to drink great draughts is an enemy to nature ; and that a medicine of hemlock presently killed socrates . therefore he concludes nothing that saith , therefore these things are not hurtful , and not to be dispraised ; because some drunkards will drink off great bowls , and the athenian old woman used to eat hemlock , and because one or two make food of paste that nourisheth . for the stomach embraceth sweet things , and such as are eaten with great delight , more close , and easier digests them . therefore three things make food , which is of its own nature hurtful , to be innocent and milder ; use or custom , pleasure , and a strong firm stomach : for the best nourishing food hurts the stomach , if it loath it ; and brook-fish cause trouble to it , if it be weak . and let these men , if they will not be admonished by me , be moved with the threatning ▪ of constantine , with which he affrighteth gluttons , let them not rejoyce when they eat bad food ; for though they are not hurt by them at the present , afterwards they will not escape . to this belongs variety of meats , which causeth many crudities and winds in the body : for many things of divers natures are confounded , and these being unequally concocted and distributed , the natural heat must needs be put to it . you must avoid all great and fen-fish , and such as live in mud on putrefaction ; their flesh is slimy and clammy , cold , and hath much excrement . also let windy people abstain from wine too much cooled , from water , and from great draughts of drink drawn from a cool cellar , chiefly when they are hot out wardly , or weary after exercise or labour , and from all excess of air , chiefly cold , which presently reacheth the stomach , if not kept warm-clothed ; and from cold and moisture at the feet . sitting long upon cold stones hath often caused great symptoms from wind . let him avoid idleness also and sleeping in the day ; these raise vapours , but discuss them not ; set upon concoction , but bring it not to perfection : whence comes crude flegm , the true material cause of flegm . when the stomach or guts are distended or stretcht with wind , let them abstain from meat and drink , and feed very stenderly , and be sober . for when the usual diet is taken from the body , or abated , the native heat is not so put to it to alter and concoct food ; but is active , and flourisheth , and spreads it self , and shews its strength : first it concocts crudities , and attenuates the gross humours , cleanseth the tough , takes away the cause that will breed wind , sends them for that the right passages , and disperseth such wind as is bred , and keeps it from breeding . and to be short , fasting alone is sufficient to cure any disease from crudity or wind . it is true that there is more trouble from the flying about of wind in the body that is empty , in such as fast and use a spare diet ; but this will not be long , for they will presently break forth , and free the patient from all pain , and the sooner by use of exercise . for it is the doctrine of hippocrates epid. 6. agreeable to this my opinion , fit to be written in gold in every house , that we ought not to eat to fulness , and to be ready to take pains . and galen de sanit . tuend . lib. 2. reckons up many sorts of exercises , wrastling , fencing , running , &c. which we shall not speak of , only let this suffice , that moderate exercise at ball or fencing , running or walking , fasting , and after the body hath discharged the excrements , doth wonderfully recreate all the faculties , and spread the native heat through the body , concoct humours , and make the members active for their duties , loofens the belly , and sends forth wind so powerfully , that there is no remedy like it , and nothing safer nor better then seasonable exercise with a spare diet . eat therefore little , and that with mustard , or other attenuating and heating sauce ( except the constitution be sanguine or cholerick ) sage , hysop , savory , fennel , marjoram , pennyroyal , calamints are to be used , and roasted meat with spices , sage or rosemary . let his bread be well leavened , and with fennel , anise , parsley or gith seeds . his wine strong , when wind breeds from weak heat . if the body be cholerick or plethorick , drink little wine , and that with water . let the powders following be taken after meat presently , they do very much good : they strengthen and constringe the stomach , and suffer not the vapours of the food to flye into the head , stir up the natural heat , quicken concoction , digest the chyle , drive excrements downwards , and discuss wind exceedingly . as , take aniseeds candied three ounces , fennel seed an ounce and half , coriander prepared an ounce , cummin , caraway , seseli steept in white wine , each a dram ; dryed citron peel , gross cinnamon , each four scruples ; white sugar twice as much . take a spoonful after meat , and drink not after . or thus , take coriander prepared , caraway , aniseeds , each an ounce ; red roses , mastich , each a dram and half ; dryed mints a dram , nutmeg , cinnamon , cubebs , each half a dram ; make a fine powder , and add sugar of roses eight ounces : give a spoonful after meat . at night when concoction is almost finished , chew elicampane candied , or ginger a dram , and swallow it , or gentian roots , or masterwort , candied cubebs , or two or three grains of white pepper , only broken , they wonderfully help a slow , weak concoction , and expel wind ; and they do the like in the morning fasting after going to stool . if the belly be bound , give lenitives , as three drams of turpentine washed in white wine , in wafers before dinner , or half a dram of rhubarb chewed and swallowed , or a scruple of washed aloes an hour afore supper ; or carthamus seeds husked with figs : i allow not cassia , it is windy . thus much for diet ; if it be tedious , and do not cure , take these medicines . chap. xiii . of the common cure of windy diseases . some will wonder , that i shall order the cure of symptoms mentioned , which of themselves admit no cure. but we do it for the profit of the reader : for he that discusseth wind , takes away the cause , he that corrects the distemper , and mends the faults in conformation , and restores the solution of unity , cures the disease : but he that cures the pains that come from the diseases , looks at the symptoms . therefore we have called windy diseases symptoms , looking at the pains they produce , for the better method , and then we have ordered the mitigation of symptoms , and the cure of diseases . the knowledge of the disease gives the indication of cure . the disease is the distraction of the parts by wind that stretcheth them , which pain doth follow , as a shadow , and the disease vanisheth with the cause , and the parts come to their old natural habit . therefore diseases from wind are to be cured by three sorts of remedies . 1. by diet that is attenuating , hot and dry . 2. by medicines that open obstructions , and cut gross clammy matter , and purge , which you shall find in every chapter . 3. the discussing of wind speedily before the strength abate by pain ; which is done by medicines of thin parts , which if there be pain , will abate it , and strengthen the weak heat , and extenuate the thick spirit , and open the thickness of parts . also according to the difference of parts , the medicines must be altered , because the faculty is stronger or weaker . chap. xiv . of the cure of the pain of the head from wind. wind tyranizeth in divers places , as galen de compos . med . secund . loc . lib. 2. saith , wind breeds in the stomach and guts for want of heat , sometimes from the nature of the food , and the organs are so filled and puffed up , by reason of the weakness of the comprehensive faculty , that they stretch , and thereby have pain ; the same may be in parts of the head ; for a vapour or clammy humour that feeds it , may be so fixed in the strait passages of the brain , that it will require a long cure . first therefore , whether it be wind alone in the passages , which is known from the motion of the pain from place to place , and by stretching without heaviness and beating ; or if there be much flegm that feeds it , and so there is heaviness with stretching , and sense of cold ; or if it flye to the head from parts below , it is much concerned as to the cure . yet we begin in all windy diseases the same way ; partly by revelling from the head to the body ; partly by applying remedies to the part affected : we revel by clysters and purges . you may make clysters thus . take mallows , mercury , red coleworts , calaminth , each half a handful ; chamomil flowers , bran , each a pugil . boil them to a pint and half , add diacatholicon , red sugar , each an ounce and half ; species hierae simple two drams , oyl of dill three ounces , salt a little , make a clyster . give it before meat , not luke-warm , for such things puff up , but hot , and that by degrees , lest by force it drive the wind more upwards , and cause more pain . this is an excellent medicine which without trouble opens obstructions , and empties out the hard dung and wind , and draws it from the head . after this , give one of the carminatives or wind-breakers . take althaea roots two ounces , mallows , calamints , pennyroyal , rue , sage , each a handful ; flowers of chamomil , stoechas , rosemary , each a pugil ; anise , and wild rue seeds , and cubebs , each three drams ; coloquintida a dram . boil them to a pint strained , add electuary of dates an ounce , hiera logodii two drams , red sugar an ounce and half , oyl of rue three ounces , sal gem a dram : give it before meat . it revels strongly from the head , expels wind with the excrements . but if the piles or distast will not allow a clyster , give this laxative in costiveness . take diacatholicon an ounce , species hierae simple a dram ; with sugar make a bolus , or a potion . take lenitive electuary six drams , electuary of the juyce of roses a dram , syrup of rose solutive an ounce and half : dissolve them in the decoction of flowers and cordial fruits . after laxatives , if the head be full of gross humours , give potions that attenuate and cut , of hysop , pennyroyal , calamints , sage , french lavender and rosemary-flowers , with syrup of stoechas , honey of rosemary . or , take hysop , sage , calamints , each a handful ; flowers of stoechas , rosemary , chamomil , each a pugil ; male piony-seeds an ounce , anise , carrot , parsley-seeds , each two drams . boil , and to a pint strained add syrup of stoechas , honey of rosemary , each an ounce and half ; cinnamon a dram : make an apozem for divers draughts . the humours thus prepared , and the wind attenuated at least , purge with these pills . take pilulae aureae a dram , troches of alhandal three grains , with syrup of stoechas ; make five pills : give them at midnight . or thus , take agarick two drams , sal gem , ginger , turbith , each half a dram ; infuse them in hysop and sage-water , each two ounces ; strain and add elect ind. maj. two drams , electuary of juyce of roses a dram , syrup of stoechas an ounce . this done often , and the pain cease not , let us use topicks , as galen lib. de compos . med . sec . loc . saith ; sometimes wind or clammy matter is sometimes so fixed in strait passages , that it requires long cure : therefore it must be attenuated , and the part dilated , and the part strengthened , that no more come or breed . therefore after preparatives and purges , use cupping to the head without bleeding , if blood abound not : or scarifie the shoulders , if blood abound . this is very good . or roast a turnep , and take off the top , and apply it hot behind the ears , and then another , and so till the wind and pain pass away : apply it to the side of the part pained , or to both , if the pain be all over . this is good also for the toothach from wind . or use castor or scents that pierce and extenuate , or gith-seed steept in vinegar : or anoint the nostrils and ears with oyl of castor or spike , or oyl in which were boiled castor , rue , calaminths , piony-seeds . then use masticatories to take away the reliques , and discuss the wind . take mastich , pellitory-roots , white pepper , bark of capar-roots , each half a dram ; with vinegar of squills make troches to be chewed after a stool in the morning . or , take roots of pellitory , stavesacre , each two scruples ; nutmeg , ginger , white pepper , each half a scruple ; mastich two drams , with vinegar make balls : or discuss wind , and evacuate with neesings . take white hellebore two scruples and half , stavesacre , white pepper , each a scruple ; ginger , cloves , gith seed , each half a scruple ; with turpentine and wax make errbines like great cloves . or snuff up the juyce of red coleworts or danwort roots , orris , with marjoram or bettony-water and honey . when we think the brain is cleansed , then dry and strengthen , and discuss wind with a lixivium . as galen lib. 7. de facult natural . it is made of water and ashes , one pound of ashes to three pints of water , take most ashes of willows and vines , and fewer of colewort and bean stalks . this cleanseth , dryes , and consumes wind and tumours of flegm , with marjoram , bettony , asarabacca , bay and juniper-berries , and rosemary boiled in it . or , take wormwood , sage , dryed rosemary , each a pugil ; frankincense , milium parched , red roses dry , chamomil flowers , each two drams ; juniper-berries and piony seeds , each a dram ; cloves , long pepper , cubebs , wood aloes , each a scruple ; make a quilt of silk . then give diacyminum , diatrionpeperion , diacalaminth , or confection of bay-berries fasting , chiefly if the wind be cold , or from a cold cause . but if it be hot , as galen lib. 2. de compos . med . sec . loc . first repel with cold things , then mitigate and concoct with repellers , then discuss with few repellers , by degrees ceasing from them till the medicine be most digestive and attenuating , and less anodyne , and then discuss . vinegar is a repeller , attenuater , and a discussive , it is cold and thin like a clear north-wind : but it must not be used along , being too strong , but with oyl of roses , purslane juyce , or nightshade : or use oyl of roses with the white of an egg and vinegar , with stuphes to the forehead . chap. xv. of the cure of the noise in the ears from wind. if wind gets into the organof hearing , and sticks there strongly ( as by the ringing , hissing , rustling , cracking , and murmur is gathered ) after general and particular evacuations , as in the chapter before , use cutters and dryers to the ears , as oyl of bitter almonds , of castor , cummin , rue , spike , with vinegar and honey , if you will more discuss and attenuate . aetius saith , castor and spike oyls with vinegar and oyl of roses , do wonders , dropt into the ears , and juyce of leeks with breast-milk , or oyl of roses . or , take nitre , mirrh , each a dram ; white hellebore half a dram , castor a scruple : grinde them with oyl of roses and vinegar , and drop it in . but first sume with a funnel evening and morning with this decoction . take calamints , marjoram , centaury the less , rosemary , each a handful ; juniper-berries a pugil , bayes and wormwood , each half a handful ; lupines ten or twelve , earth worms washed in wine and tyed in a clout half a pugil , water one part , white wine two parts : boil and keep it for a fume : then drop in the former . or this of solenander , and stop with black wool. take oyl two ounces , oyl of leeks , bitter almonds , each an ounce , juyce of rue , radish , each half an ounce ; sack an ounce and half : boil them in a glass till the wine and the juyces be almost consumed . then add powder of lavender , coloquintida , castor , and mastich , each two grains : then stop the glass , and set it three hours in balneo : then set it in another vessel in the sun till it be clear : then strain it , add a grain and half of musk. while the fume is used , chew beans or pease to open the passages of the ears , that the fume may penetrate . or thus , take juyce of garlick , calamints , each an ounce ; aqua vitae , oyl of bayes and bitter almonds , each half an ounce ; aloes , mirrh , each a scruple ; saffron four grains : make a fine powder ; fill two great hollow onions therewith , cover them , and roast them under the embers , and strain out the juyce , drop often some into the ears , chiefly morning and evening after fuming . also wine with flowers of chamomil and lavender boiled therein , discusseth wind very well , if dropt hot into the ears , and often , or a bag made of the same , and rosemary and lavender flowers , wormwood and calamints , and quilted , and applyed after the fume and oyntment for all night : lying upon it all the time of the use of these , use clysters that are gentle at seasons to keep the belly open , lest the binding in of the excrements should heap up more new matter to cause the disease . chap. xvi . of the cure of the toothach from wind. we shewed that wind would move very swiftly , and in a moment go through the thickest bodies : it is no wonder then , if it get into the nerves under the teeth , and cause intolerable pains by stretching and by its coldness . therefore the cure is to being with common evacuations by emollient clysters . as , take diacatholicon an ounce and half , red sugar an ounce , oyl of dill and of chamomil , each an ounce and half ; salt a dram : dissolve them in the common decoction for clysters a pint . if after the excrements are discharged , you desire to dissolve more the thickness of the wind and revel , make this . take rue , french lavender , beets , centaury the less , each a handful ; flowers of elder , st. johns-wort , chamomil , each a pugil ; bay-berries , cummin seed , each half an ounce ; agarick , senna , each half an ounce : boil them , and to a pint add electuary ind. maj . hiera logodii , each four drams ; honey of roses two ounces , oyl of bayes three ounces , electuary of bayes two drams : make a clyster . if they will not take clysters , give pills of washed aloes , of hiera , aureae cochic . after preparation and abatement of pain . but if pain be great , and the matter small , omit preparation and evacuation , and fall upon that which most disturbeth : therefore asswage pain speedily : apply a small cupping-glass without much flame twice or thrice to the shoulder , then take gith , cummin seed , pellitory and parsley roots , each half an ounce ; boil them in wine to the consumption of half , wash the teeth with it hot , it will discuss , and attenuate , and amend the cold distemper , and draw out much slimy matter which breeds wind . or boil pellitory roots half an ounce , white pepper a dram in vinegar , and wash the mouth therewith : or you may make a bag , and apply it to the tooth thus . take calamints , hysop , chamomil , each a handful ; milium parched , bran , salt , each a pugil ; cummin half an ounce : make a bag. then put a red hot iron into an earthen jug , and pour into it three or four spoonfuls of vinegar , and let the bag take the fume at the mouth of the jug . the women hold it for a great secret to apply a roasted turnep behind the ears , for it revels strongly , and abates pain , to my knowledge . i never allowed narcoticks in this disease , for they thicken the wind too much , and make it fix like a cloud upon the nerves and roots of the teeth , and congealing makes a little ease , but increaseth the disease . but if the pain be intolerable , to refresh nature you must use narcoticks with hot things to abate their force , and look both at the symptom and cause . thus , take pellitory , pepper , each a scruple ; opium half a scruple : bind them in a clout , and infuse them two or three hours in vinegar , and apply it to the tooth . or , take henbane seed , stavesacre , and pellitory , each a scruple ; and with vinegar make a pill : hold it at the tooth for an hour , it abates pain wonderfully , and doth no hurt , yet i could wish that only discussers might remove pain . chap. xvii . of the cure of a windy pleurisie . the pain is great which is from wind in the side , when it gets into the cavity of the breast , or between the membranes that are under the ribs ; for then , as in a true pleurisie , there is a cough , restlesness , and sometimes a fever , thirst , and stretching pain , which may be distinguished from a true pleurisie by many signs : yet hippocrates for better security , bids us soment with hot things ; and if the pain increase , it is certainly from a defluxion , and chiefly of hot matter ; if it abate , it is from wind , or a small defluxion which easily breaks forth when the skin is made thinner by the fomentation . it is not good to use fomentations only , but to give clysters to make passage for the wind ; for in this disease the excrements are hard by idleness or driness , when the moisture is gone to the veins , or from much flegm that is gross , which stops the passages : therefore give a common clyster first , then a stronger to purget see the precedent chapter . if he will not take a clyster , give this medicine . take diacatholicon four drams ; electuary of dates two drams , species hierae s . half a dram : with sugar make a bole. or give this powder in cock-broth or wine . take senna four scruples , rhubarb half a scruple , diagredium two grains , aromaticum rosatum eight grains , sugar a sufficient quantity . after evacuation , open the liver-vein on the side affected , if there be much blood or great pain ; otherwise not : then use fomentations , and the like , to the part . take calamints , pennyroyal , rosemary , each one handful ; rae , bayes , each half a handful ; juniper berries and chamomil flowers , each a pugil ; seeds of foenugreek , line , and bran , each three ounces . boil them to half , then put the liquour and herbs in a bladder , and apply them ; or use a cloth or a sponge dipt in it : do this often . this concocts the thick and crude spirit , extenuates and discusseth : after this anoint with oyl of chamomil or bitter almonds , and apply a hot cloth . or make a bag of rue , thyme , wormwood , lavender , rosemary , chamomil , gith seed , cummin , carrot , bay-berries , as in chap. 16. when the wind is thus discussed , it is good to apply a great cupping-glass six fingers breadth below the part without scarification , but with a great flame twice or thrice : this will discuss the wind easier , it would not at first be discussed by a cupping-glass . if this will not do , but the wind is bred still from clammy flegm , prepare it thus by inciders and extenuaters . take roots of orris , parsley , elicampane , each an ounce ; bark of dwarf-elder roots , and of tamarisk , each four drams ; sage , rosemary , hysop , roman wormwood , each half a handful ; dodder a handful , of the four great hot seeds , each two drams ; raisons stoned a pugil , liquorish four drams : boil them to half , to a pint strained add syrup of the five roots two ounces , of french lavender , oxymel of squills , each an ounce ; and sugar , and a dram and half of cinnamon : make an apozem for four draughts to be taken twice a day . then purge flegm thus . take agarick four scruples , ginger half a dram : infuse them in fennel-water and white wine twelve hours , strain and add benedicta laxativa three drams , electuary of the juyce of roses half a dram , syrup of calamints an ounce . or , take turbith a dram , ginger half a dram , sugar two drams : give it in powder with white wine or broth. afterwards repeat the fomentations , oyntments , and cupping-glasses , and use diacyminum , or electuary of bay-berries , or this confection . take conserve of borage flowers , candied elicampane , each half an ounce ; species of diacyminum , dianisi , bay-berries , each a scruple ; cinnamon half a scruple , with syrup of citron peels make an electuary : give a dram fasting in a decoction of chamomil flowers and aniseeds in white wine . it is good also to foment with spirit of wine and oyl of bitter almonds , and apply a hot clout . you must do the like in inflations of the lungs . chap. xviii . of the cure of a windy palpitation . a palpitation is a symptom of the heart , namely an elevation and depression of it preternaturally caused by wind , and it is more dangerous then another palpitation , because the part is most noble . for if it be strong , or last long , it so weakens the vital faculty , that it turns to fainting or sudden death . therefore presently strengthen the heart with good diet and physick , discuss wind , and remove the cause . let the air be clear , hot and dry , not stinking or cloudy : make it so by art , if it be not naturally clear , and sweet by sweet cordial things . let him abstain from strong passions of mind , chiefly from sudden fear and shamefulness , and from much wine ( but moderate doth well ) and venery , and sleep in the day , cold drink , and from all things mentioned in the chapter of prevention . keep the belly loose by clysters , or suppositories . take marsh-mallow roots two ounees , the five emollients , each a handful ; aniseeds an ounce , chamomil flowers a pugil , agarick , senna , each four drams : boil them , to a pint strained add diacatholicon , red sugar , each an ounce ; hiera with honey half an ounce , oyl of chamomil , dill , each two ounces ; salt a dram : make a clyster . or make a suppository of boiled honey , and a scruple of hiera simple ; or for the tender sort make one of the yolk of an egg and salt , a candles end , a fig turned inside outward , or the like : all know ( i suppose ) that little food is to be used , not too moist or windy , of good juyce , and easie concoction , chiefly roasted with hysop , fennel , balm , borage , cloves , and other hot and dry cordials . some object against bleeding that it weakens the vital strength , which is weak before ; nor can the disease be cured by it , being not in the blood : but i answer with galen lib. de loc . affect . 5. that bleeding is a wonderful help in all palpitations . and he saith , that this palpitation comes often suddenly upon young and old , without any manifest accident , and bleeding doth always good to such , and cures them if they use an extenuating diet afterwards . for bleeding doth good , more by revulsion of humours from the heart , then weak and attracting by its motion , then by any other way , in regard there is then a cold distemper , and the wind is cold . open therefore the liver-vein in the right arm , and bleed by degrees for revulsion ; except there be any hindrance from age , strength , or the like . then use extenuating diet and cutting medicines that expel wind , to correct the cold distemper of the heart , and strengthen it , and consume flegm that breeds wind , and stir up natural heat , and restore the animal and natural actions . let medicines be hot , and such as strengthen the vitals , as diacinamomum , diacalaminthum , dianisum , aromaticum rosatum , diamoschu dulce and amarum , mithridate , treacle , with wine , or in electuaries . as , take citron peels candied an ounce and half , conserve of borage flowers an ounce , aromaticum rosatum a dram , diamoschu dulce , diacalaminth , each two scruples ; citron and melon seeds blanched , each half a dram ; red coral and coriander seeds , each a scruple ; with syrup of borage make an electuary : give as much as a walnut in wine three hours before meat . or make these lozenges . take aromaticum rosatum , electuary of bay-berries , each half a dram ; cardamoms , citron seeds , and red coral , each half a scruple ; diacyminum a scruple : make lozenges with sugar dissolved in balm water of a dram weight : give one three hours before meat , and another at bed-time , with four ounces of wine : or this hippocras . take white sugar four ounces , cinnamon three drams , ginger half a dram , electuary of bay-berries and grains , each two scruples ; strong wine two pints . filter it , or give every day four hours before meat half a dram of treacle , with wine wherein mace and cinnamon are boiled . anoint the heart , or make an epithem of oyl of spike with amber and musk ; or with wine in which balm , rosemary , cummin , bay-berries were boiled , with oyl of sweet almonds , and cloves powdered , nutmeg and cinnamon . this is for the richer sort . take water of balm and citron flowers , each half a pint ; sack three ounces , mace , cloves , nutmegs , each a dram ; diambra four scruples , citron and basil seed , each two drams ; saffron a scruple : make an epithem , apply it hot before meat . or use this bag. take rosemary flowers , borage and chamomil flowers , each a pugil ; citron seeds , wood aloes , cinnamon , each a dram ; cloves , cubebs , cardamoms , each half a dram ; saffron a scruple . beat them gross , and make a quilted bag , sprinkle it with sack , and apply it to the heart . thus must you cure a palpitation only from wind without a cause that feeds it . if there be gross flegm that breeds the wind , first prepare thus . take balm , borage , bettony , calamints , rosemary , each half an handful ; stoechas , peach flowers , each a pugil ; aniseeds , cardamoms , each two drams ; raisons stoned a pugil . bruise them , and steep them twelve hours in rhenish wine and balm-water , each half a pint in a glass ; then boil them in balneo mariae three hours , stopping the glass . clarifie it , and add syrup of citron peels and bysants , each two ounces ; cordial species a dram : give it for four mornings . then purge thus . take agarick a dram and half , ginger half a dram . infuse them twelve hours in the decoction of balm , dodder , calamints , and hysop : then give it three or four boils , and strain it , add to four ounces an ounce of syrup of stoechas , elect. indi . maj . benedicta laxativa , each two drams : give it at five in the morning . if the matter be so clammy and thick , that these will not do , prepare it four days longer with such as do more extenuate and cut , as with oxymels , syrup of the five roots , water of balm , scabious , hysop , or with the decoction of organ , calamints , hysop , pennyroyal , bettony , rosemary ; or give with the syrups two scruples of treacle or mithridate , or a dram of dianisum or diacalamints , and then purge against thus . take turbith a dram , diagredium two grains , ginger half a dram , sugar two drams . powder them , give it with chicken-broth : in the morning after these preparatives and purges , give the former strengtheners . if the wind that causeth palpitation come from a melancholy humour , as in the hypochondriack melancholy , prepare it with syrup of fumitory , apples , juyce of borage , epithymum , or of citron peels in the decoction of fumitory , pennyroyal , borage , dodder , tops of hops , wormwood , roots of polypody and bugloss : and purge with confection of hamec , diasena , and diacatholicon : or with the syrup of john montanus that is very excellent , which is here described . take of all the myrobalans , each half an ounce ; polypody , senna , epithymum , each an ounce ; liquorish , cloves , seeds of citrons , each two drams ; black hellebore half an ounce . bruise and steep the myrobalans twenty four hours in seven pints of fumitory water , or in seven pints of the juyce : then add the rest , and boil them to half , strain , and divide it into six parts , and add to each of syrup of fumitory an ounce and half , syrup of citron peels half an ounce , so that there be six ounces of the decoction , and two of syrups . this is montanus his apozem against melancholy . give the other things mentioned , electuaries and lozenges , and epithems in the order before mentioned . chap. xix . of the cure of the puffing of the stomach . the inflation of the stomach is a preternatural extension of the membranes of the stomach by wind , with pain . in this the proper action of the stomach is frustrated , which is concoction , in regard the faculty of embracing the food doth not every where compass it , by reason of weakness ; but there is a vacuity between the stomach and the meat . this pain is sometimes before meat most , sometimes after . before meat , because there is a gross clammy flegm , with a cold distemper , which oppresseth the heat , and it laboureth to conquer it , and so causeth wind that stretcheth , and is disturbant . this pain is allayed by belching , or vomiting flegm . it is worst after meat , when it is only from a cold distemper without matter . for the natural heat being weak , or oppressed with cold or windy meats , doth dissolve them , but yielding to the burthen , doth not concoct them , and thence ariseth wind . for the cure of this , the first intention is to evacuate what is preternatural . the second is with thin and hot medicines that extenuate wind to abate it : and after good diet , the first thing is to keep the belly loose by a lenitive or a suppository : then if there be gross flegm at the bottom of the stomach , vomit with oxymel of squills , or the decoction of radish , dill , arrage , sometimes before , sometimes after supper , as the patient is easie or hard to vomit . as , take radish two ounces , stamp them , add mead , or decoction of dill , strain , and drink it warm ( for luke-warm things provoke vomit by relaxing . ) or , take dill seed , radish seed , each an ounce and half ; agarick a dram in powder . boil them in water to half , to six ounces strained add syrup of vinegar or oxymel of squills ( if the matter be very thick ) an ounce , then give , and tickle the throat with a feather . if by straitness of breast , or the like , he cannot vomit , prepare the flegm with honey of roses , oxymel , syrup of stoechas , and the decoction of rue , pennyroyal , calamints , hysop , organ , great hot seeds , and purge flegm with pil. aureae , of hiera with agarick , or simple hiera , electuary indi major . benedicta laxativa , or the like : after flegm is purged , use to chew ginger or elicampane candied , but chiefly roots of masterwort , to which i give the prerogative in this disease . then use diatrionpipereon , diacalaminth , dianisum , diacinamomum , electuary of bay-berries , mithridate , treacle , or the powder of cummin with a little salt and chicken broth or wine ; or chamomil boiled in wine with anise , cummin , nutmeg , and oyl of sweet almonds . i suppose there is no remedy like it : also castor half a dram , cloves half a scruple drunk in wine , or poli montane in wine , or oxymel or vinegar of squills , which cuts vehemently , given an ounce twice in a day in wine . aegineta saith , that the bone of a hogs foot burnt and drunk , discusseth wind . also cinnamon water of mathiolus alone or with aqua vitae : or sack with cinnamon , galangal , or wine with rosemary , carrot seed , cummin , caraway , bay and juniper-berries : or give this hippocras to dainty palates . take sugar four ounces , cubebs , grains of paradise , galangal , ginger , each a dram ; long pepper half a dram , cinnamon four drams , sack two pints : strain them . but remember to use very hot things very seldom , whether simple or compound , before the gross flegm be purged or vomited : for all sharp things or that are very hot , if they fall upon clammy flegm , do raise wind , which they cannot discuss ; and instead of cure will do hurt : and that which is good after purging is bad before . beware then you use not too weak remedies that cannot overcome , or too strong out of order ; and so cast the patient into a tympany . it is good outwardly to bind the stomach strait , to hinder wind , and further concoction , and to foment the stomach with oyl , with rue , calamints , rosemary , cummin , anise , smallage , carrot seed , bay-berries boiled in it : or boil them in wine , and foment , or use oyl of mace or cloves . these by their thinness open the skin , and extenuate , discuss the wind , and strengthen , and warm , and restore the suffocated heat , and refresh by a propriety of substance . you may make of these an excellent oyntment , thus . take oyl of mace by expression six drams , oyl of wormwood , mastich , each four drams ; wood aloes , nutmeg , cubebs , cloves , each half a dram ; musk , benzoin , saffron , each six grains . make a powder , and with wax make an oyntment : anoint with it hot before meat : after the former fomentation and oyntment , apply a bag of feathers , or this . take organ , wormwood , mints , each half a handful ; milium , aniseeds parched , each half an ounce ; chamomil , lavender , rosemary flowers , each a pugil ; bay-berries a dram , nutmeg half a dram . powder them grosly , and quilt them in thin red silk , sprinkle wine on it , and apply it hot to the stomach . also a large cupping-glass applied three or four times without scarification to the belly , so that it may comprehend the navel , doth often make a perfect cure. or a hot tile in a double cloth wet in wine , changing it when cold . thus much of the inflation of the stomach . chap. xx. of the cure of windy melancholy . this is hard to be cured for divers causes . for besides the vehement obstruction of the meseraicks with gross crude melancholy and flegm , which constantly send up wind , there is a great distemper of the bowels . hence come great accidents , namely stoppage of excrements from a hot liver that drys and sucks up the moisture , difficult breathing from the stomach swollen and pressing the midriff , pain of stomach from wind that stretcheth , and a cold distemper ; belchings , vomitings , and putrefaction from obstruction in time , by the venomous vapours whereof the soul fainteth , and there is a doting . this inequality of parts hath contrary indications for cure. for the heat of the liver requires cooling , and the cold of the stomach heating . and it is plain , that the medicines that cut gross humours , and extenuate and prepare , and evacuate and discuss wind , must be very hot , and hot things increase the heat of the liver and the veins ; and heat abounding , disperseth what is thin in the humours , and thickens the rest , and fixeth it more , and makes more wind from that humour . on the contrary , cold things by congealing to thicken the matter , stop the passages , and abate the natural heat of the stomach , hinder concoction , cause crudities and wind . therefore the only way is to cure by moderate preparatives and purges , and because moderation doth little good in so great a disease , it is very hard to be cured . but let not difficulty frighten , but begin valiantly with this clyster . take polypody roots , senna , each an ounce ; mallows , pellitory , beets , red coleworts , each a handful ; chamomil flowers a pugil , aniseeds six drams : boil them to half , to a pint strained add diacatholicon and red sugar , each an ounce ; oyl of dill two ounces , with a little salt make a clyster . or give this potion . take senna four drams , agarick a dram , ginger and asarum roots , each half a dram . infuse them twelve hours in succory water , then boil them with aniseeds bruised , to four ounces strained add two ounces of manna , syrup of roses an ounce : or if he be poor , confectio hamec , electuary of dates , each a dram ; syrup of roses an ounce : give it in the morning . the next day , if there be no hindrance , open the basilica on the right side , or on the left , if the spleen be stopt , to five or six ounces , or according to strength . then prepare the matter with this apozem against melancholy and flegm . take succory roots , elicampane , polypody , each an ounce and half , germander , dodder , ceterach , hysap , each a handful ; flowers of elder , chamomil , each a pugil ; cappar barks and tamarisk , each six drams ; liquorish half an ounce , anise four drams , raisons a pugil : boil them to a pint and half , strain and clarifie , and add syrup of succory with rhubarb , oxymel , each two ounces ; diatrionsantalon , cinnamon , each a dram : make an apozem for four doses in the morning : after this preparation , purge thus . take rhubarh and agarick , each a dram ; senna two drams , ginger and spike , each half a seruple ; cardamoms half a scruple : infuse them in chicken-broth twelve hours , and strain and add confectio hamec , diaphoenicon , each a dram ; syrup of roses solutive an ounce . or give this powder . take senna four scruples , rhubarb half a scruple , diagredium two grains , aromaticum rosatum eight grains , sugar two drams : give it in cock broth . the next day give half an ounce of this electuary , and four ounces of mead , or capon-broth after it ; or make it into lozenges . take dialacca a dram , confection of bay-berries , diarrhodon , each a scruple : with sugar dissolved in borage water and wine , make tablets of a dram weight : give one in the morning : at noon give cock-broth made with polypody and borage flowers , rosemary , calamints : or half an hour before dinner this ptisan . take barley four ounces , smallage , fennel , succory roots , each three drams ; red pease , pistacha's , currans , each an ounce ; hysop half a handful : boil them to a pint and half , strain it with six ounces of white wine , and add cinnamon a dram , and sugar . this is good also before supper . four days following prepare with the apozem mentioned , in a strong body give it twice a day , and if there be a very soul body , give every other night two or three of these pills . take pill aureae foetidae , each half a dram ; troches of alhandal four grains , with oxymel make five pills . these do wonders in carrying of the prepared matter . when the syrups are spent , purge with confectio hamec , pills of agarick foetidae , &c. also montanus his syrup , chap. 18. is excellent . after the body is sufficiently purged , correct the distemper of the bowels outwardly : if the liver be too hot , foment the right side with oyl of roses two parts , oyl of wormwood one part , and a little vinegar : or with wormwood , plantane , waterlillies , red roses , sanders boiled in oyl . if the obstruction of the spleen be the chief cause , foment with this . take dwarf-elder roots , madder , each two ounces ; calamints , pennyroyal , ceterach , bayes , chamomil flowers , each half a handful ; agnus castus seeds , bay-berries , each an ounce ; wormwood a handful . boil them in forge-water , and foment , then anoint with oyl of capars and bitter almonds : or this liniment . take ammoniacum , bdellium , each two drams ; galbanum half a dram : dissolve them in vinegar , and with oyl of capars , dill , and goose grease , each six drams , make a liniment . and while these are done , regard the stomach , and wind there , from the chapter of the inflation of the stomach . or thus , take mints a handful , calamints , organ , each half a handful ; chamomil , rosemary , stoechas flowers , each a pugil ; wormwood half a handful , mastich a dram , cinnamon , cloves , wood aloes , galangal , red coral , each a scruple : make a quilt for the stomach , sprinkle strong wine on it , and apply it hot . give every day a lozenge prescribed with the syrups , to open and expel wind , and clysters that extenuate wind , and open . chap. xxi . of the cure of the colick . i shall speak by way of presace . first , expect not any other cure then that of wind alone , or joyned with glassie flegm . secondly , be careful , lest it turn to a joynt-gout , as hippocrates lib. 6. epid . part . 4. aphor . 3. saith , one that had the colick had a gout , and then his pain of the colick ceased , but returned when the gout ceased . thirdly , bleeding is good , if the disease be vehement , and there be plethory or fever . fourthly , beware of strong heaters , chiefly before flegm is evacuated . fifthly , let the chief means be clysters . sixthly , cupping doth little good , but in season and in a fit body . therefore consider first whether the pain be from a flegmon in the guts , or choler that corrodes the inward membranes , or glassie flegm , or from wind that stretcheth . if so , then observe if the pain be vehement or moderate , with or without a plethora or fulness . if there be much blood with great pain , presently after a clyster open a vein , lest great pain attract blood , and cause an inflammation or a fever . then use strong clysters of hiera indi major , hiera logodii : for no medicine can better purge flegm from the guts . for galen lib 5 meth . saith , that nothing taken at the mouth can come with its full force to the guts , but a clyster without trouble reacheth them : therefore a clyster is best ; for things taken at the mouth must needs be hot ( for the disease is cold , and contraries are cured by contraries ) and must be given in great quantities at the mouth , if they do good . but all hot things being of thin parts , easily pass through the meseraicks , and bring hot distemper to them and to the liver , and make the blood flow . also heat melts the clammy flegm , and makes more wind , and a good medicine abused , becomes venom . therefore i advise physitians to be wary in the use of mithridate , treacle , diacalamints , and other heaters in colicks , before she glassie flegm fixed in the guts be purged , and then use them not often . the best way is by clysters first emollient , to carry the common excrements . as , take diacatholicon ten drams , hiera simple with honey half an ounce , sugar an ounce , salt a dram and half : dissolve them in a pint of the decoction of mallows , and the five emollients , chamomil flowers , bran , and red pease . then , as galen lib. 2. ad glauc . saith , inject oyl of rue , bayes , or common oyl , in which are boiled heaters that extenuate , as cummin , smallage , parsley , aniseed , seseli , lovage , carrot seed , rue , and bay-berries , adding bitumen . or this which is stronger . take calamints , pennyroyal , and tansey , each a handful ; chamomil flowers a pugil , cummin , carrot seed , each three drams ; bay-berries half a pugil : in a pint of the decoction strained , mix oxymel of squills an ounce , oyl of ru● three ounces , electuary indiamajor six drams , hiera logodii a dram : make a clyster . if these do not cure , repeat them , or others , according to the greatness of the disease , plenty of flegm or wind , or weakness of the patient : remembring that still after the clyster , he lye on the side pained . in the mean while give things moderately hot at the mouth , as the decoction of chamomil flowers in white wine , or of cummin , which are excellent ; with an ounce or two of oyl of sweet almonds , lineseed , or common oyl . or give new oyl of sweet almonds warm three ounces . or , take rhenish wine four ounces , oyl of nuts a dram or two scruples , common oyl a spoonful : give it hot with sugar . oyl is anodyne , and supples the parts , and stops the mouths of the vessels , and weakens the attractive faculty , and makes the anodynes and correcters of cold , and discussers of wind to pierce sooner to the part ; nor can they be so soon taken in by the veins . for this disease is loathing , and many do vomit : for such , take tops of wormwood half a pugil , cummin seed two drams , chamomil and rosemary flowers , each a pugil ; cubebs half a dram : boil them in wine , strain , and give it with cinnamon and sugar , or half a dram of castor in wine with cinnamon and saffron . such as have the belly much swollen , and are tormented , and have the hickets from cold clammy humours or gross wind , must take it in vinegar and water . if the disease be very stubborn , and they will take no clysters , or flegm falls from the whole body into the guts , use flegm-purgers after preparatives ; they are mentioned before . if you will use narcoticks with purgers , take six drams of electuary of indi majoris , troches of alhandal , castor , opium , each four grains ; with sugar make a bole. or give this infusion . take agarick four scruples , ginger a scruple : infuse them in the decoction of pennyroyal , hysop , rosemary , chamomil twelve hours , strain , and add diaphoenicon three drams , philonium persicum a scruple , or half a dram if it be old , with sugar . or , take pills of hiera with agarick two scruples , cochy one scruple , diagredium , castor , opium , each three grains : with wine make seven pills . by this means flegm is purged , wind discussed , and pain abated . galen lib. 2. ad glauc ▪ gives narcoticks alone : if , saith he , pain remain , give opium ; you may not fear it , though it may do some hurt to the part afflicted : you must oppose that which most urgeth ; it is good to save a dying man with a small hurt , for the day following you may repair it . you may give half a dram or two scruples , or a dram of philonium persicum in wine , or the pills of rondelet , which are these . take powder of galangal , aromaticum rosatum , each two drams ; castor half a dram , euphorbium ten grains , opium prepared with a hot pestel , and dissolved in sack , a scruple and half , pepper , saffron , mirrh , each half a scruple ; make ten pills of a dram : give four or five ; or if the pain abate not , nine or ten . they must be small and soft , that they may be the better dissolved , and sooner give ease , and stay less while in the stomach . but give no opiats before evacuations , and that before meat fasting , and in extremity , and when other anodynes do no good . a colick from wind only requires neither preparatives nor purges , but only clysters that allay pain , and discuss wind : as , take lineseed oyl , decoction of chamomil flowers and cummin seed , each half a pint ; confection of bay-berries two drams , diacatholicon and red sugar , each an ounce ; sal gem two scruples . this is good against pain , but this expels wind more . take elicampane roots three ounces , calamints , pellitory of the wall , each a handful ; anise , cummin , cardamoms , each three drams ; juniper and bay-berries , each a pugil : boil them to a pint , strain , add sack four ounces , diacolaminth three drams , oyl of rue or nuts three ounces . or , take white wine with cummin , aniseeds , and bay-berries boiled in it a pint : give it hot . in this of wind the medicines at the mouth may be hotter then in the colick from flegm ; as confection of bay-berries , diacyminum , diatrionpipereon . cupping-glasses are good , if the pain be from wind only , and the belly not fat and swollen . i have a thousand times found them in vain , where there is much glassie flegm : for the pain which is like a fixed stick , is from a cold flegm , which will not away while the flegm is there . but a cupping-glass evacuates no flegm , therefore takes not away the pain . in a fat belly the cupping-glass is soon filled with flesh , and cannot reach to attract the guts , & the passage of the wind is stopped ; and when there is a tympany , the hardness hinders the attraction . but if it be seasonably applied , being large , and with much flame , it will do wonders . also make bags of milium , bran , lavender , chamomil flowers , dill , calamints fryed with wine or vinegar sprinkled on ; apply them one after another : or make a pultis of horse-dung with lineseed , chamomil , or dill , oyl , dregs of oyl , wine , and lavender-cotton in a frying-pan , apply it hot : or apply hot tiles in cloaths dipt in wine ; or hot bread. but fomentations , baths , cataplasms , if not used in season , they do hurt : as galen meth . med . lib. i. saith , it is not always safe to heat the belly with cataplasms and baths , but only in such whose bodies are clean ; it is very dangerous to others , & how is the pain in the guts from a cold humour fixed in them , cured ? not by cataplasms and baths that are very hot ; for all tough humours that are gross and cold are melted to wind by hot things , except they digest strongly . therefore they must be cut and concocted with attenuaters , chiefly if they be not very hot . and such are best that most discuss wind , and dry , the forms of which are declared . there are also amulets that help by propriety of substance , as galerita , a swines ankle-bone burnt and drunk , the guts of a wolf dried with wine , his skin applied to the belly ; also girdles made thereof ; and the white dung of a wolf drunk in wine , or hung about the neck to the belly in a nut-shell . i shall name no more , though authors abound with them . chap. xxii . of the cure of the flatuous obstruction of the liver . obstruction is common to all bowels , but most to the liver and spleen . it is when a gross humour , flegm , or melancholy stuffes the small branches of the gate which are in the liver ; also a gross vapour sometimes swells the liver , that it is like a schirrus . and it is no wonder , that wind should so swell the liver , when it cannot get out , because the veins there are very small , in regard the largest guts are so stopped by wind , that nothing can pass by stool . therefore the arabians say , that a very gross vapour is thinner then chyle , as wind is thinner then water ; but thin chyle concocted as it ought , doth not obstruct the liver ; therefore wind cannot : but this is simple ; for hence then it should follow , that the guts should never be obstructed by wind , which is against experience , when they send forth the thickest dung . therefore the liver is obstructed by wind alone , or mixed with clammy humors . but we must beware , lest we take the liver to be obstructed with wind , when the fault is in the colon : for the colon lyes on the right side , and is sometimes so stretched with flegm and wind , that the whole hypochondrion is swollen but it is hard to distinguish these ; therefore for brevity sake we shall shew the cure. if then it be from flegm with wind , prepare the matter with this apozem . take elicampane roots , madder , and asarabaccaroots , each six drams ; bark of danewort roots , and capar roots , each four drams ; germander , ceterach , hysop , each a handful ; roman wormwood half a handful , carrot and aniseeds , each three drams ; juniper-berries and currans , each a pugil : boil them to half , to a pint strained add sugar , and a dram and half of cinnamon for four doses . or , take the decoction aforesaid four ounces , syrup of calamints an ounce , oxymel of squills two drams : and so for the other three doses . then , take dialacca two scruples , species of the electuary of bay berries , diarrhodon , each half a scruple ; with sugar dissolved in fennel-water and wine make tablets of a dram weight : give one with the syrups . after preparation purge flegm thus . take turbith two scruples , ginger one scruple , senna powdered half a dram , sugar two drams : give it in broth fasting . or , take agarick four scruples , ginger half a dram : infuse them fourteen hours in three ounces of bettony water , strain and add electuary indi major , three drams , syrup of the five roots an ounce : give it in the morning . the day after give this electuary . take old treacle half a dram , conserve of rosemary flowers and of borage flowers , each a dram . if any matter remains , prepare and purge again : in this way of acting you shall cure the wind , and strengthen as well as evacuate the flegm . moreover the stretching of the hypochondrion is not long without flegm ; for pain attracts it , and the extension of the passages receives it , and its coldness hinders the liver , so that crudities are by degrees laid up : therefore consider both , but that chiefly which urgeth most . when it is from wind only , give a clyster , or a lenitive rather then a strong purge , and cutting apozem , and the tablets mentioned , to unstop them : and discuss wind with wine wherein cummin , anise , cubebs , juniper-berries , cardamoms , and cinnamon were boiled , or in which diacurcuma and treacle , each half a dram are dissolved : or this hippocras . take treacle a dram , cardamoms , cubebs , each two scruples ; cinnamon three drams , sugar four ounces : strain them . but use hot things warily , if there be plethory or a hot liver . foment the liver with the decoction of wormwood , pennyroyal , bay-berries in wine , or with oyl wherein rue , wormwood , cypress roots , and galangal are boiled , and apply bags , and apply large cupping-glasses twice or thrice with much flame , but not before flegm is perfectly evacuated , otherwise the flegm will be more fixed , and cause a true schirrus . chap. xxiii . of the cure of the flatuous obstruction of the spleen . galen saith , the spleen doth often return to the touch , although it be not schirrous but windy : this is cured as the liver ; but it is often more stubborn , and requires peculiar medicines , and stronger , both apozems and purges , if there be gross humours , as often there are : as bark of capar roots , tamarisk , and dwarfe-elder , inward bark of the ash-tree , ceterach , harts-tongue , centaury the less , polypody ; hot seeds , as agnus castus , epithymum , senna , vinegar of squills , oxymels , syrup of fumitory , and the like : of which you may make cutting apozems that discuss wind , and then purge with confectio hamec , diasenna , and electuary indi majoris . use strong fomentations , chiefly if the vapours be gross , of strong wine with wormwood , bay-berries , rue , and hot seeds boiled therein ; or of vinegar ( as i do ) with agnus castus seeds , rue , calamints , bay-berries , horebound , centaury , broom flowers , roots of danewort or orris boiled in it . if these do not suffice , foment with a lixivium of the ashes of coleworts , oak , or beans , adding aqua vitae and oyl of bitter almonds : then apply a plaister of a mixed faculty , as that of sulphur and allum . but if the wind be not much , and that thin , and without matter to feed it , and the body thin , you must use gentler medicines both inwardly and outwardly : and sometimes a cupping-glass alone will do the work . if you desire more , read the former chapter . chap. xxiv . of the cure of the tympany . the tympany is the third sort of dropsie , and is from wind bred from a weak natural heat . it is superfluously gathered between the peritonaeum and the omentum or cawl , and gets into the other membranes of the abdomen or paunch , and stretcheth it violently all over , till it be very great , and is known by the noise , rumbling , and sound like a drum when struck with the finger-nail . at first it was only a wind that could not be discussed , then it grows thicker like a cloud , and at last turns to water , whence a humour is gathered with the cloudy wind . the cure , after good order of diet , which you may find before , is by concoction of the humours and their evacuation , bewaring lest with strong remedies , as mesereon , chamelaea , coloquintida , briony , spurge , or antimony , which many use , you destroy the natural heat . for it is manifest , that such medicines do shake the strongest bodies , if afflicted with a long and old disease , and bring dangerous pains , destroy strength , and disperse the spirits . but labour to strengthen the natural heat , that it may overcome and expel what hurts nature : therefore prepare the matter thus . take roots of masterwort , elicampane , madder , bark of the roots of dwarfe-elder , each three drams ; roots of orris , asarabacca , each two drams ; organ , calamints , each a pugil ; soldanella or sea-bind-weed an ounce , gratiola or hedg-hysop two drams , aniseeds and bay-berries , each half an ounce . boil them in two parts of wine and one of water , or in wine alone three or four hours in balneo , strain , and add sugar , drink a glass morning and evening ; then purge with these pills . take pills of hiera with agarick , turbith , rhubarb , each two scruples ; soldanella a dram , asarum roots a scruple , troches of alhandal , elaterium , nutmeg , galangal , cinnamon , pepper , cubebs , each half a seruple . powder them , and with juyce of orris make a mass , and with oxymel of squills make five pills of a dram : give them at midnight : or give our pills of soldanella good against all dropsies : as , take pills of agarick a dram , troches of alhandal half a scruple , tops of soldanella , gratiola , cinnamon , each a scruple , with juyce of orris make five pills of a dram : give two or three at the most at midnight , and repeat the apozem before mentioned , sometimes with the pills ; for the one discusseth wind , making it thin , and the other prepares and purgeth the humours : and let the stomach and other parts be strengthned with these electuaries . take juyce of orris four drams , cinnamon , galangal , each two drams ; cloves and mace , each a dram ; zedoary two scruples , soldanella half an ounce . powder them , and with honey make an electuary : give as much as a nutmeg every day , or other day . or this . take electuary of bay-berries four drams , conserve of elicampane roots two drams , dianisum , diagalanga , diacyminum , each a scruple ; oyl of juniper a dram , with syrup of stoechas make an electuary . or give this potion . take cinnamon water two ounces , aqua vitae four drams , some drops of oyl of aniseeds : give it fasting . there are also powders to be taken after meat , to warm the stomach , and make it concoct , and discuss wind : as , take aniseed comfits three ounces , fennel seed an ounce and half , coriander prepared half an ounce , cummin , caraway , seseli steept in wine , each an ounce ; citron peels , cinnamon , each four scruples ; sugar of roses as much as all the rest . make a powder , give a spoonful after meat , and let him not drink more at that time . after the humours are purged , and the strength restored , discuss the wind with this decoction , which doth wonders . take album graecum , barley , each an ounce and half . boil them gently in three or four pints of french wine till the barley break , strain it , and pour off the clear part , then boil it to half , then clarifie it , and add cinnamon and sugar : give five ounces thereof thrice a day fasting , and he shall break wind wonderfully , and his belly fall . also the confection of bay-berries , diacyminum , diagalanga , diatrionpipereon , diamoschu dulce , discuss wind . but as i said , use these moderately , or they will do much hurt , as may appear by this example . a woman had a tympany , and went to her physitian , he only minded the discussing of wind , without giving other things before , gave a hot electuary , she felt a greater rumbling after , and worse pain , and breathed worse , and her belly swelled more , and it was all over her breast , and the tumours were divers at distance . i coming , said , death was at hand , and therefore no more was to be done , and she died the third day after . i judge the hot extenuating medicine made the cloudy vapours thin that were in a little place , and they made larger room . for such is the force of heat , that by attenuating gross bodies , it makes them moist , and they turn to vapours . for gross things contained in a small place , if they grow hot , take up more room , as appears by milk , half a skillet full hot and extenuated , swells to the top . so it is in the tympany , when they use much heat . therefore use moderate hot things which strengthen within and without , and stir up natural heat . anoint the stomach with this liniment . take oyl of spike , of mastich , each three drams ; oyl of nutmegs and of mace , each a dram ; dry mints , red coral , mastich , cummin , each a scruple , with wax make a liniment : anoint the stomach hot therewith . then chaff the belly with hot clothes , or hands , till it be red , that the pores may be opened for the wind to get out , then bathe with brandy-wine and oyl of rue : or apply this plaister . take emplaster of bay-berries half a pound : mix it with goats or cow-dung and wine , apply it hot . or make bags of wormwood , mints , rue , hot seeds , bay-berries , lavender , elder , chamomil , rosemary , and stoechas , milium , bran , and salt. fry them with wine , apply them hot ; when they cool , heat them over a vessel with a hot iron and wine in it , and apply them again . i shall add nothing more of cupping , they are famous against all wind , but here i value them not . carminative clysters expel wind sometimes ; but i shall omit these , and admonish this , that exercise , if strength permit , thirst and sweat , are chief cures for this , and the other two sorts of dropsies . chap. xxv . of the cure of the inflation of the womb. inflations or windy swellings in the womb , do use sometimes to cause abortion in the second or third month , and wind in the guts doth torment women with child , because the weight of the womb compresseth the strait gut , and suffers no wind to get forth hippocrates lib. de nat . mulieb & lib. de morb . mulieb . saith thus of the wind in the womb : if there be wind in the womb which rumbleth , and the feet and hollow parts of the face swell , and the colour be lost , and the terms stopt , and the seed flow , and she be short-winded , and sad , and when she wakes from sleep , she breathe with a straight neck , and whatsoever she eats or drinks , troubles her , and she sigh , and her nerves are contracted , and if her womb and bladder be pained , and will not be touched ; these are the symptoms of an inflation of the womb : all which come from these three , distension , compression , and consent with principal parts . therefore when it is thus ( saith hippocrates ) give a purge . take syrup of mugwort three ounces , syrup of stoechas two ounces , decoction of mugwort , motherwort , pennyroyal , savin , juniper-berries , anise and carrot seed a pint : make an apozem to prepare with two drams of the confection of bay-berries . then purge thus . take pills of agarick two scruples , pil. aureae a scruple , troches of alhandal four grains , with syrup of mugwort make five pills : give them at midnight . or if she cannot swallow pills , give some potion above-mentioned , and repeat , if need be . the day after purging give a dram of treacle or mithridate . and then anoint the stomach and womb with the oyntment in the former chapter to strengthen , or foment with oyl of rue , or this liniment . take oyl of bitter almonds , oyl of rue , and brandy-wine , each an ounce . or use the bags , cataplasms , and plaisters in that chapter , of smallage seeds , fennel , carrot , caraway , cummin , bay-berries , bean flour , sheep or cow-dung with wine and oyls . or electuaries , lozenges that heat and strengthen , and hippocras wine with spices , or sack with oyl of juniper or of aniseeds . or a pessary of figs bruised a dram , cummin two drams , nitre a dram , steep it first in milk : or syringe into the womb the oyl of rue with the decoction of hot seeds , and roul the belly . also cupping is here good , as in all windy diseases . chap. xxvi . of the cure of a windy rupture . as we said in the eighth chapter , a windy rupture is with or without a dropsie . if it be with it , it is cured with the cure of the dropsie . if without it , it hath two intentions curative : the one belongs to the antecedent cause , which is flegm : the other to the conjunct cause , which is wind in the cods or tunicles of the stones ▪ the first intention is performed by medicines that evacuate superfluous humours , and strengthen : see for them chap. 17. and 18. the latter intention is performed by topicks , chiefly by fomentations : as , take organ , calamints , pennyroyal , each a handful ; the four great hot seeds , agnus castus seeds , bay-berries , each two drams ; salt two ounces . boil them in french wine to half , foment twice a day . or , take lixivium , or sudds of barbers four pints , cummin , bay-berries , each two ounces ; bayes , rosemary , each half a handful ; salt four ounces . boil them , and foment the part with a new sponge twice or thrice a day hot , dry it , and anoint with this . take oyl of castor , rue , euphorbium , each six drams ; vnguentum martiatum half an ounce . or lay on this plaister . take bean flour half a pound , cummin and carrot seed , each half an ounce ; bay-berries three drams , flowers of chamomil and lavender , each a pugil ; salt a pugil and half . boil them in wine to a pultis , and apply it . or this . take cow-dung two pound , sulphur , cummin , each three ounces ; with honey make a cataplasm . i have cured many children by often heating them against the fire , and with dry fomentations with hot clouts often applied . chap. xxvii . of priapismus , taken out of aetius . i shall add nothing of mine own , because i never cured this disease , and none writes shorter and better of it , as galen lib. 4. meth . saith . he saith , that priapismus is a standing of the yard swelling in length and breadth , without lust from heat , and wind with pain . it is called priapismus from priapus the satyre , who is painted with such a yard as natural . it is from the mouths of the veins and arteries stretched in the privities , or from wind . galen saith , it is from both , but oftnest from the orifices dilated . some have it from want of venery , having much seed , and that used venery , and abstain from it , and do not by much exercise abate the blood . it chiefly comes to such as dream of venereal fancies , and the pain is like the cramp ; for the yard is as in a convulsion , being pufft up and stretched , and they dye suddenly , except cured , and then the belly is swollen , and there is a cold sweat ; as in other convulsions when they dye . therefore against the pain and inflammation , presently open a vein , and use a small diet three days , and foment the parts about and the yard with wool dipt in wine and oyl : give a gentle clyster not sharp , and feed him with a little corn and water . if it last long , cup and scarifie : if there be much blood , use leeches to the part , and cataplasms of barley flour : loosen the belly with beets , mallows , and mercury boiled . and give the decoction of shell-fish : use no strong purges , and beware of diureticks or provokers of urine . use corn-food that attenuates gently without manifest heating . lay coolers to the loyns , as nightshade , purslane , housleek , henbane . let the space between the fundament and the yard be cooled with litharge of silver , fullers earth , ceruss , vinegar , and water . a cerot of rose-oyntment washed often in cold water , and applied to the loyns and privities , doth much good . he must lye upon one side , and lay under him things against the emission of sperm : and he must see no venereal pictures , nor hear no wanton discourse . chap. xxviii . of an inflation or windy impostume . inflations come from wind under the skin , or the membranes of the bones or muscles , or gathered in fleshy parts . now ( as aegineta saith ) it is either from the thickness of the members , or grossness of the wind . a gross vapour distends the place that contains it , by its plenty , and makes a tumour , not such as is loose , or will yield to the finger when pressed , or pit like an oedema . the common way of cure of these tumors , is to evacuate what is preternatural , wheresoever contained . now it cannot be evacuated , except that which is gross be relaxed , and the thickness of the vapour be extenuated . both are done by extenuaters , and things potentially hot . i have shewed that oyl which is of an extenuating quality , wherein rue or hot seeds are boiled , doth cure the stomach and other bowels stretched by wind . now i shall shew how other parts , as joynts and muscles , or membranes about the bones , are cured when stretched with wind . this is sometimes with pain , sometimes without , and that from a single cause , namely a weak heat , or a contusion . for an inflation without pain ( according to galen lib. 4. meth . ) a lixivium with a new sponge will cure it . as , take rain-water or wine , let ashes of a fig-tree or juniper be infused therein twenty four hours . or thus . take bay-berries , orris roots , each an ounce ; bay leaves , rosemary , nip , each a handful ; lavender flowers a pugil , cummin six drams . boil them in water to half , in four pints infuse ashes of fig-tree , beans , or coleworts ; foment therewith with a new sponge hot . it cleanseth , drys , consumes , and discusseth wind , and the tumour . if there be pain , use no lixivium ( for by sharpness it will increase it ) but use relaxing oyls , as that of dill , rue , or chamomil . if diseases come from contusions , when the muscle or the membrane of the bone is bruised , then lay the sponge aforesaid upon the membrane of the bone. but when the muscles are pained , use a more mitigating or asswaging remedy . to these we use not lixivium alone , but add to it boiled wine and oyl . it is best at the first to use no lixivium , but wine and a little vinegar and oyl with wooll , to foment the part . and if pain be great , use more abaters or asswagers of it . if there be no pain , oppose the inflation by stronger medicines , as lixivium , vinegar , and then wine : and when you are not to asswage pain , put in more lixivium and vinegar . for such inflations as by neglect are worse , first use things made of a lixivium , then some plaister , such as that which is made of sweat from mens bodies : but the use of that being forgotten in our age , we order instead of it the plaister of bay-berries , or this . take melilot plaister and that of bay-berries , each three drams ; nitre , cummin , sulphur , unslak'd lime , salt , each a scruple ; oyl of bayes and wax as much as will make a plaister . if the wind that makes this inflation be smoak-like , evil , and corrupt , and from a venomous matter , with great pain and heat running through the members , it is best when it is setled , to tye the part above and beneath , and to open the inflation with a lancet or hot iron , that the venomous vapor may get out . then fill the orifice with aloes and bole armenick dissolved in oyl of roses and vinegar . after three or four days , fill the wound with flesh , and heal it up . and in this case of a venomous inflation , use a slender diet , and purge , and give a little treacle sometimes . hitherto ( courteous reader ) i have shewed according to my abilities , the nature and effects of winds , and the diseases from them , and their cures , for the good of the ignorant , and help of the diseased , and that learned and ingenious persons may take occasion from hence to write better . therefore take it in good part , for it was written for profit to all , & not for contention . if you accept of these first fruits , expect better hereafter . the contents of the chapters of this book . chap. 1. that flatus is a spirit ; and of the division of spirits . fol. 1 chap. 2. of the analogy or proportion of flatus with wind. 4 chap. 3. what the wind in man is . 9 chap. 4. of the place where wind is bred . 10 chap. 5. of the manner how wind is bred in the body . 13 chap. 6. of the differences of wind bred in the body . 16 chap. 7. how many kinds of diseases are produced by wind. 18 chap. 8. of the causes of wind. 21 chap. 9. of the signs of wind. 30 chap. 10. of the symptoms coming from wind 33 chap. 11. of the prognosticks of wind. 52 chap. 12. of the diet to be observed by windy bodies . 55 chap. 13. of the common cure of windy diseases . 62 chap. 14. of the cure of the pain of the head from wind. 63 chap. 15. of the cure of the noise in the ears from wind. 68 chap. 16. of the cure of the toothach from wind. 71 chap. 17. of the cure of a windy pleurisie . 73 chap. 18. of the cure of a windy palpitation . 76 chap. 19. of the cure of the puffing of the stomach with wind. 82 chap. 20. of the cure of windy melancholy . 86 chap. 21. of the cure of the colick . 91 chap. 22. of the cure of the flatuous obstruction of the liver . 98 chap. 23. of the cure of the flatuous obstruction of the spleen . 101 chap. 24. of the cure of the tympany . 102 chap. 25. of the cure of the inflation of the womb. 107 chap. 26. of the cure of a windy rupture . 109 chap. 27. of priapismus , taken out of aetius . 111 chap. 28. of an inflation or windy impostume . 113 finis . an advertisement of books worth buying , sold at the printing press in broadstreet , london , by benjamin billingsley and obadiah blagrave . 1. the history of the world , or an account of time , compiled by the learned dionysius petavius , and continued by others : together with a geographical description of europe , asia , africa , and america , in folio . 2. mr. nicholas culpeper , physitian and astrologer , his last legacy left unto his wife , being the choicest of his secrets in physick and chyrurgery ; 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(whose contents follow in the next page.) / written by t. vicary, esquire, chyrurgion to hen 8. edw. 6. q. mary. q. eliz. vicary, thomas, d. 1561. 1651 approx. 425 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 177 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a95902 wing v335 thomason e1265_1 estc r210472 99869270 99869270 121645 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a95902) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 121645) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 253:e1265[1]) the surgions directorie, for young practitioners, in anatomie, wounds, and cures, &c. shewing, the excellencie of divers secrets belonging to that noble art and mysterie. very usefull in these times upon any sodaine accidents. and may well serve, as a noble exercise for gentle-women, and others; who desire science in medicine and surgery, for a generall good. divided into x. parts. (whose contents follow in the next page.) / written by t. vicary, esquire, chyrurgion to hen 8. edw. 6. q. mary. q. eliz. vicary, thomas, d. 1561. [16], 332 p. printed by t. fawcet dwelling in shoo-lane, at the signe of the dolphin. 1651. and are to be sold by j. nuthall, at his shop in fleetstreet at the signe of herculus pillers, london : [1651] title page printed in red and black. annotation on thomason copy: "may. 11.". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an 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text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng human anatomy -early works to 1800. medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions -early works to 1800. surgery -early works to 1800. 2007-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-02 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2007-03 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the surgions directorie , 〈◊〉 young practitioners , 〈…〉 shewing , 〈◊〉 excellencie of divers 〈◊〉 belonging to that noble art and 〈◊〉 very usefull in these times upon any sodaine accidents . and may well serve , as a noble 〈…〉 for gentle women , and others ; who desire science in medicine and surgery , for a generall good. 〈…〉 ( whose contents follow in the next page . ) written by 〈…〉 esquire , chyrurgion to hen. 8. edw. 6. q. mary . q. eliz. london , printed by 〈…〉 dwelling in shoo-lane , at the signe of the dolphin . 1651. and are to be sold by j. nuthall , at his shop in 〈…〉 at the signe of 〈…〉 pillers . the contents of this booke , with its severall parts . viz. part . i. of chyrurgerie , and anatomy of mans body , &c. by t. vicary esquire . and published by w. clowes , w. beton rich. story , and ed. baily , chyrurgions ▪ to st. bartholmewes hospitall , london . ii. of the theorick and practicke parts , and observations for letting of blood. iii. of the judgement of divers urines , &c. iv. the definition of wounds in severall parts of the body , and their cures . v. of the making of severall emplaisters . vi. the making of divers unguents . vii . distilling and making of waters , with their severall vertues and uses . viii . the excellency of our english bathes , and the use of them , written by d. turner , doct. of physicke , and published by w. bremer ▪ practitioner in physick and surgery , for the benefit of the poorer sort of people , &c. ix . for perbreaking and flux . as also , the g●eat operation and vertue of severall herbes , plants , and drugs &c. for divers uses in physick and surgery , &c. x. of medicines , remedies and cures , belonging to severall diseases and infirmities , incident to all parts of the body of man &c. as also remedies for the french p. otherwise called morbus galicus ; and , preservatives to bee used against the plague , in the time of divers visitation , &c. to all the vertuous ladyes and gentlevvomen , of this common-wealth of england , whose goodnesse surpassing greatnesse , and desires to exercise themselves ( as nursing mothers ) in the art of medicine and surgery , ( especially in the remote parts of this kingdome ) w ere is neyther physitian nor surgion to bee had when ●od●ine accidents happen ; whereby the poorer sort of people many times perish for want of advice . courteous ladyes , and gentlewomen , as this little treatise is a messelin of divers hidden secrets ; so likewise you must observe the use of them in practice . as first , the use and knowledge of the severall parts of anatomie ; so likewise doe of the rest , as physicke , surgerie , medicine , waters , vnguents , emplaisters , remedies , &c. the rare vertue of our english bathes , the iudgement of divers vrines ; the vertue and operation of divers herbes , plants , and drugs , &c. all tending to the benefit and use of man ; yet various and different in their effects and workings , according to the severall humours and dispositions of men in their cures . for as st. paul doth say , the guift of healing is the guift of the holy spirit . which thing may partly satisfie any rationall judgement from despising of all for the failings of some , it being the gleanings of divers who made tryall of them for good , and hath left them to posterity . thus leaving you ladies and gentlewomen , to your charitable acting and doing good when need shall require , the lord no doubt will requite you or yours with a blessing . farewell . t. f. a table to find the severall contents of this booke . part . 1. containing the anatomy of mans body , &c. chap folio . 1 the anatomy of the simple members , folio . 9 the anatomy of the compound members , &c. folio . 17 of five things contained within the head , folio . 22 the anatomy of the face , folio . 27 the anatomy of the necke , folio . 44 the anatomy of the shoulders and armes , folio . 48 the anatomy of the lungs , folio . 60 the anatomy of the haunches and their parts , folio . 75 the ana●omy of the thighes , legs , and feet . folio . 8● part , 2 of severall things belong ng to yong practitioners in surgery , to have in a readinesse , &c. folio 96 , 97 times convenient for ●etting of b lood , folio . 101 dyet after blee●ing , folio . 104 of the nine tastes . folio . 105 signes of sicknesse by egestion , folio . 108 signes of life or death by the pulses , folio . 109 of the foure humours , folio . 111 ▪ 1. signes of sicknesse by blood , folio . ibid 2. signes of melancholy sicknesses , folio . 112 3. signes of cholerick diseases . folio . ibid 4. signes of flegmatick diseases . folio . 113 cer●aine observations for women . &c. folio . 114 part , 3. of vrines , a briefe treatise of vrines , aswell of mans vrine as of womans , and to judge by the colour which betokeneth health , and which betokeneth weaknesse , and also death . folio 115 part. 4. definition of wounds by their causes , folio 121 an the curing of greene wounds consists a five-fold scope o● intention , folio . 124 how man should dyet himselfe being wounded . folio . 126 o● wounds and their cures happening in severall places of the body , folio . 127 of infirmities incident to souldiers in a campe , folio . ibid. a rare 〈◊〉 the which this author did send to a very friend of his being in the warres : the which helpeth all wounds eyther by cut , thrust , galling with arrowes , or hargubush shot , or otherwise , folio . 129 of wounds in the head , with fracture of the bone , folio . 130 wounds in the head , where the bone is not offended . of concussions or bruises , as well in the head as any other place , folio . 132 of wounds in the necke , and the order to be used in curing ●hem . folio . 133 of wounds in the armes , and their importances and medicines , folio . 134 of wounnds in the legs , and their parts , folio . 135 a discourse upon old wounds , which are not thorowly healed , with their remedies , folio . 136 a rare secre●●o heale wounds of gunshot , &c. folio . 137 to heale a wound quickly , folio . ibid. to heale a wound quickly , that is in danger of any accidents , folio . ibid. to stay the fluxe of bloud in wounds , folio . 138 a defence to be laid upon wounds , folio . 140 a secret powder for wounds , folio . ibid. a composition of great vertue against all vlcers and sores ▪ folio . ibid. a note of a certaine spanyard , wounded in the head at naples . folio . 141 for to heale hurts and wounds , folio . 141 to stanch the blood of a cut , folio . 142 for to staunch the blood of a wound , folio . ibid. a healing salve for any greene wound , folio . ibid. the lord capel salve for cuts or rancklings comming of rubbings , &c. folio . 143 for to draw and heale a cut , folio . ibid ▪ a salve for fresh wounds . folio . 144 a salve that cleanseth a wound and healeth it , folio . ibid. to kill dead flesh . folio . ibid. a playster for old sores , folio . ibid. for a canker , fistula , or wounds , new or old , folio . 145 a salve for any wound , folio . ibid. to helpe the ach of a wound , folio . 146 to heale wounds without plaister , tent or oyntment , except it be in the head , folio . ibid. to heale a wound that no scarre or print thereof shall be seene , folio . ibid. part , 5. emplaisters , folio 60 of severall emplaisters . from folio 147 , to 169. part , 6. vnguents , folio 50. of severall vnguents . from folio 169. to 185. part. 7. waters , folio 40. of severall waters . from folio 185 , to folio 206. part , 8. the vertue and excellency of our english bathes , written by d. turner doctor of physicke , &c. from folio 207 , to folio 228. part , 9. of herbes , and drugs , &c. folio 229 the vertue of certaine herbes , and drugs , &c. folio . 230 the excellent vertues of cardus benedictus , folio . 241 a good drinke to strengthen the heart and all the members of a man , to drinke halfe an egge shell full of it morning and evening , with as much good wine , folio . 243 a speciall medicine to cause sleepe , folio . ibid. a discourse concerning cornes in the feet , or elsewhere with their remedies , folio . 144 part , 10. medicines . of medicines , remedies , and cures &c. folio . 145 the cause of our sciatica , and how to help it , folio . ibid for hoarsnesse , folio . 146 if a man stand in feare of the palsie , folio . ibid. a medicine for the goute , folio . ibid. stubbes medicine for the goute , folio . 147 another plaister for the goute , folio . ibid. another for the same . folio . ibid. for a pricke of a thorne , or any other thing , folio . 248 a remedy for burning and scalding , folio . ibid. to kill a tetter or ring●worme , folio . ibid. for a winde or a collicke in the belly , folio . 249 against the shingles , folio . ibid. to heale a wound in ten dayes , &c. folio . ibid. for ache in the backe , folio . ibid. to heale scalding with water , or other liquor , &c. folio . 250 to heale the itch , folio . ibid to heale sores or tetters , folio . ibid. for the hardnesse of hearing , folio . 251 an easie remedy for the tooth-ache ▪ folio . ibid. for the swelling in the throat , folio . ibid. to cause a womans speedy deliverance , folio 252 to make a womans milke increase , folio . ibid. for the rickets and weakne●se of children , &c. folio . ibid. to fasten the gums or loose teeth , folio . ibid. for one that cannot hold his water , folio . 253 for the dropsie by d. adryan , &c. folio . ibid. for the stinging of waspes and bees , folio . ibid. for the falling downe of the tull , folio . ibid. for the swelling of the legges , folio . 254 for the canker in the mouth , folio . ibid. to make the face faire and cleare &c. folio . ibid. a remedy to qualifie the coppered face , folio . 254 a speciall good dyet for all fiery faces . folio . ibid. an easie remedy to make the teeth white , folio . ibid. to take away the stinking of the mouth ▪ folio . 254 a remedy , for sore eyes , folio . ibid ▪ a medicine for the bleeding at the nose , &c. folio . ibid. against a stinking breath , folio . 255 for an evill breath , folio . ibid. for the head ache , and clensing of the fame , folio . ibid. to heale a swolne face , &c. folio . ibid. to make an aking tooth fall out of himselfe , folio . 256 to kill lice and nits in the head , folio . 257 to helpe blood shotten eyes &c. folio . ibid. to take away the tooth-ache . folio . 258 a medicine to purge the head , folio . ibid. a medicine for a scald head , folio . 259 for the head ache , folio . ibid. for paine of the head , folio . ibid. for deafenesse in the eares , folio . 260 to make honey of roses , &c. folio . ibid. for the pockes , folio . ibid. a true medicine for the iaundies , folio . ibid. for the liver that is corrupted and wasted , folio 261 for heate in the liver , folio . ibid. remedies for the collicke , folio . 262 another for the same , folio . ibid a most excellent medicine for the colick , &c. folio . 263 for the collicke and stone , folio . 264 for the collicke and stone , folio . ibid remedy for the stone , folio . ibid a powder for the stone , folio . 265 to make the stone slip downe &c. folio . ibid a posset drinke against the stone , folio . 266 to make haire g●ow ▪ folio . 267 for to take away haire , folio . ibid to make a barren woman beare children , folio . ibid to make a woman have a quicke birth , folio . ibid for all manner of lamene●●e of swellings , folio . 268 for to stay the laxe or fluxe , folio . ibid for the sweating of sicknesse , folio . 269 for him that pi●●eth blood , folio . ibid for the canker in the mouth , folio . ibid a powder for the same , folio . ibid to know the fester and canker , folio . 272 for canker in the body , folio . ibid for a canker in a womans pappes . folio . ibid a good powder ●or the canker , folio . 271 to kill the canker or marmo●e , folio . ibid for the canker in the mouth , folio . 272 to make red water to kill the canker , folio . 273 to take away the canker , folio . ibid a powder for the canker , folio . ibid a good medicine for the canker and sores , folio . 274 for a canker old or new , or marmole , folio . ibid for the canker , folio . 275 for a canker in a mans body , &c. folio 275 for the head-ache , folio . ibid for the head ache , and tooth-ache , folio . 267 a d●inke for the head-ache , folio . ibid for the he●●-ache , folio . ibid for the head-ache , folio . 276 to cleanse the head , folio . 277 for the head-ache comming of the stomacke , folio . 280 for ache in the hinder part of the head , folio . ibid a principall medicine for the head , folio . ibid for a man that is diseased in the liver &c. folio . 281 a drinke to be used after this oyntment , folio . ibid a plaister for the spleene , folio . ibid a drinke for the spleene , folio . 282 to dissolve the hardnesse of the spleene , folio . 283 a soveraigne medicine for the spleene , &c. folio . ibid for ache in the backe folio . ibid to stay the backe , and helpe a consumption , &c. folio . 284 to take away the paine of the reynes &c. folio . 285 for ache in the backe and legges , folio . ibid for the bladder and the reynes , folio . 286 a plaister for the reynes , folio . ibid for all diseases , in the backe , folio . ibid for paine in the bladder , &c. folio . 287 against running of the reynes , folio . ibid a syrope for the backe , folio . 288 remedies to provoke menstruum mulieris , folio . 289 to stop white menstruum and red , folio . 291 another for the white , folio . ibid the vertue of fearne , folio . 292 to take away heate and inflamation , &c. folio . ibid a locion for a sore mouth , folio . 293 a preparative , folio . ibid to make vergent milke by d. y●xley . folio . ibid a comfortable powder for the heart , folio 294 a remedy that breaketh the stone , folio . ibid another remedy for the stone , &c. folio . ibd a proved medicine to avoid the vrine &c. folio . 29● a very good water for the stone proved , folio . ib●● to breake the stone , folio . ibid doctor argentines medicine for the stone , folio . ibid divers medicines for the stone &c. folio . 296 excellent remedies for the stone &c. folio . 297 for the stone in the reynes , or bladder , folio . 298 an injection for the stone , folio . ibid for any evill in the bladder , folio . ibid a powder to breake the stone , folio . 299 to ●ase the paine of the stone , folio . ibid against the new ague , by doctor langdon , folio . 301 for an ague . by doctor turner , folio . ibid a very good drinke for an ague , if one shake , folio . ibid for a cold ague , folio . 301 a plaister to take away the ague &c. folio . 303 to kill the palsie , folio . ibid a remedy for the dropsie , folio . ibid against stopping of the pipes , folio . ibid against hoarsenesse , folio . ●04 for the yellow iaundise . folio . ibid for wormes in the bellie , folio . ibid a proved remedy for a womans throvves &c. folio . 305 a powder for the strangury , folio . ibid for the collicke and stone , folio . ibid for a megrim in the head. folio . i●●d for the tooth-ache , folio . ●06 for a sore brest , folio . ibid for a fore eye that burneth and is watrie , folio . ibid for to stoppe the bloody fluxe , folio . ibid a remedy for a fellon , folio . 307 a medicine well proved for the megrim , folio . ibid for to heale a sore eye , hurt with small pocks . folio . ibid for a sore eye with a pinne or a web , folio . 308 for a sore eye that itcheth and pricketh , folio . ibid for a sciatica or ache in the bones , folio . ibid for sore eyes ▪ folio . ibid to stoppe a great laske , folio . 309 to cause one to make water , folio . ibid for the wind collicke . folio . ibid for to make a water for the same , folio . 310 for to bind one from the laske , folio . ibid for to skin a sore finger , folio . ibid for a vehement cough in young children &c. folio . ibid for a broken head , folio . ibid for chilblaines in the feete or hands , folio . 311 to kill the tooth-ache , &c. folio . ibid for a stitch , folio . ibid for an ache or a bruise , folio . ibd to make white teeth . folio . 312 for a swelling in the cheeke , folio . ibid to make a perfume suddenly in a chamber where a sicke man lyeth , folio . ibid to make a cleere voyce , folio . 313 for the mother , folio . ibid for the stitch or bruise , folio . ibid for the bloody fluxe , folio . 314 remedies for the i●c● , folio . ibid to kill lice or itch , folio . 315 to cure the crampe , folio . ibid for a paine or swelling in the privie parts , folio . ibid remedies for burning or scalding , folio . ibid remedies for the piles , folio . 316 to cure the cappes , folio 316 to kill a tetter or ring-worme , folio . 317 remedies for the shingles , folio . ibid fgr griping● in the belly , folio . 318 a pla●ster for the same , folio . ibid for a scurfe in the body , folio . ibid for a wilde running scab , folio . ibid for a timpany , folio . 319 for one in a consumption , folio . ibid for one tha● is broken bellied , folio . 320 for the shrinking of the sinewes , folio . 321 for the staying of the fluxe , folio . ibid a medicine for a sore throat , folio . ibid for weaknesse in the backe , folio . ibid for the carbunckle or impostume &c. folio . 322 to take w●y pock-holes , or any spot &c. folio . ibid for faintnesse in the stomacke , or the morphew , folio . ibid to care the french pox , &c. folio . 323 preservatives against the plague , &c. folio . 327 the svrgions directory : or , an exercise for gentlewomen . part . i. containing the anatomie of mans body , compiled by t. v. esquire , for the use and benefit of all unlearned practitioners in the art and mystery of chyrurgerie . chap. i. 1. to kn●w what chyrurgerie is . 2. how a● hyrurgion should be● chosen . 3. with what properties hee should be indued . for the first , which is to know what chyrurgerie is . herein j doe note the saying of lanfranke , whereas hee saith ; all things that man would know , may be knowne by one of these three things : that is to say , by his name , or by his working ; or else by his very being and shewing of his owne properties . so then it followeth , that in the same manner we may know what chyrurgery is , by three things . first , by his name , as thus : the interpreters write , that chirurgerie is derived out of these words . apo tes chiros , cai tou ergou ▪ that is to be understood : a hand-working , and so it may be taken for all handy arts : but noble hypocrates saith , that chirurgerie is hand-working in mans body , for the very end and profit of chirurgerie is hand-working . now the second manner of knowing what thing chyrurgerie it , it is the saying of avicen ; to be knowne by his being , for it is verily a medicinall science . and as galen saith , he that will know the certainty of a thing , let him not busie himselfe to know onely the name of that thing , but also the working and the effect of the same thing . now the third way to know what thing chirurgerie is , it is also to be knowne by his being or declaring of his own properties , the which teacheth us to worke in mans body with hands , as thus : in cutting and opening those parts that be whole , and in healing those parts that be broken or cut , and in taking away that that is superfluous , as warts , wennes , skurfulas , and other of like effect . but further , to declare what galen saith chirurgery is , it is the last instrument of medicine : that is to say , dyet , potion , and chirurgery : of the which three saith he , dyet is the noblest , and the most vertuous : and thus he saith . whereas a man may be cured with diet onely , let there be given no manner of medicine . the second instrument , is potion : for and if a man may be cured with diet and potion , let there not be ministred any chirurgery , through whose vertue and goodnesse , is removed and put away many grievous infirmities and diseases , which might not have beene removed nor yet put away , neither with diet nor with potion . and by these three meanes , it is knowne what thing chirurgery is . and this sufficeth us for that point . now it is knowne what thing chirurgerie is , there must also be chosen a man apt and meete to minister chirurgery ▪ or to be a chirurgion . and in this point all authors doe agree , that a chirurgion should be chosen by his complexion , and that his complexion bee very temperate , and all his members well proportioned . for rasis saith : whose face is not seemely , it is vnpossible for him to have good manners . and aristotle the great philospher , writeth in his epistles to the noble king alexander ) as in those epistles more plainly doth appeare ) how he should choose all such persons as should serve him , by the forme and shape of the face , and all other members of the body . and furthermore they say , hee that is of an evill complexion , there must needs follow like conditions . wherefore it agreeth , that he that will take upon him to practice as a chyrurgion , must be both of a good and temperate complexion● as is afore rehearsed : and principally , that he be a good liver , and a keeper of the holy commandements of god , of whom commeth all cunning and grace , and that his body be not quaking , and his hands stedfast , his fingers long and small ▪ and not trembling : and that his left hand be as ready as his right , with all his limmes , able to fulfill the good work●s of the soule . now as here is a man meete to be made a chirurgion : ( and though he have all those good qualities before rehearsed ) yet is he no good chirurgion , but a man very fit and meete for the practice . now then to know what properties and conditions this man must have before he be a perfect chirurgion . j doe note foure things most specially , that every chirurgion ought for to have : the first , that he be learned : the second , that he be expert : the third , that he be ingenious : the fourth , that he be well mannered . the first ( j said ) he ought to be learned , and that he know his principles , not onely in chirurgery , but also in physicke , that he may the better defend his chirurgery ; also hee ought to be seene in naturall philosophy , and in grammar , that he speake congruity in logicke , that teacheth him to prove his proportions with good reason : in rhetoricke , that teacheth him to speake seemely and eloquently : also in theoricke , that teacheth him to know things naturall , and not naturall , and things against nature . also he must know the anatomie : for all authors write against those chirurgions that worke in mans body , not knowing the anatomy : for they be likened to a blind man , that cutteth in a vine tree , for he taketh more or lesse then he ought to doe . and here note well the sayings of galen , the prince of philosophers , in his estoris , that it is as possible for a chyrurgion ( not knowing the anatomy ) to worke in mans body without error , as it is for a blind man to carve an jmage and make it perfect . the second , j said , he must be expert : for rasus saith : he ought to know and to see other men worke , and after to have use and exercise . the third , that he be ingenious and witty : for all things belonging to chirurgery may not be written ▪ nor with letters set forth . the fourth , j said , that he must be well mannered , and that he have all these good conditions here following . first , that he be no spouse-breaker , nor no drunkard . for the philosophers say , amongst all other things , beware of those persons that follow drunkennesse , for they be accounted for no men , because they live a life bestiall : wherefore amongst all other sorts of people , they ought to bee sequestred from the ministring of medicine . likewise , a chirurgion must take heed that he deceive no man with his vaine promises , for to make of a small matter a great ▪ because he would be accounted the more famous . and amongst other things , they may neither be flatterers nor mockers , nor privie back-biters of other men . likewise , they must not be proud , nor presumptuous : nor detracters of other men . likewise , they ought not to be covetous , nor no niggard , and namely amongst their friends , or men of worship , but let them be honest , courteous , and free both in word and deed . likewise , they shall give no counsell except they be asked , and then give their advice by good deliberation , and that they be well advised before they speake , chiefly in the presence of wise men . likewise , they must be as privie and as secret as any confessor , of all things that they shall either heare or see in the house of their patient . they shall not ta ke into their cure any manner of person , except hee will be obedient vnto their precepts : for he cannot be called a patient , unlesse he be a sufferer . also that they doe their diligence as well to the poore as to the rich . they shall never discomfort their patient , and shall command all that be about him that they doe the same , but to his friends speake truth as the case standeth . they must also be bold in those things whereof they be certaine , and as dreadfull in all perils . they may not chide with the sicke , but be alwayes pleasant and merry . they must not covet any w oman by way of villany , and specially in the house of their patient . they shall not for covetousnesse of money , taken in hand those cures that be uncurable , nor never set any certaine day of the sicke mans health , for it lyeth not in their power : following the distinct conusell of galen , in the aphorisme of hypocrat●s ▪ saying : oporter seipsum non solum . by this galen meaneth , that to the cure of every sore , there belongeth foure things : of which , the first and principall belongeth to god : the second , to the surgion : the third , to the medicine : and the fourth , to the patient . of the which foure , if any one doe faile , the pa●ient cannot be healed : then they to whom belongeth but the fou●th part , shall not promise the whole but be first well advised . they must al●o be gracious and good to the poore , and of the rich take liberally for both . and see they never praise themselves , for that redoundeth more to their shame and discredit , then to their fame and worship . for a cunning and skilfull chirurgion , need not vaunt of his doings , for his works will ever get credit enough . likewise , that they dispi●e no other chirurgion without a great cause : for it is meete , that one chirurgion should love another , as christ loveth vs all . and in thus doing , they shall increase both in vertue and cunning , to the honor of god , and worldly fame . thus farre for his parts . of the anatomie . chap. ii. the anatomie of the simple members . and if it bee asked you how many simple members there be , it is to be answered , eleven , and two that be but superfluities of members : and these be they , bones , cartilages , nerves , pannicles , ligaments , cordes , arteirs , veynes , fatnesse , flesh and skinne : and the superfluities bee the haires and nailes . j shall begin at the bone , because it is the foundation and the hardest member of all th● body . the bone is a consimile member , simple and spermaticke , and cold and dry of complexion , insensible , and inflexible : and hath divers formes in mans body , for the diversity of helpings . the cause why there be many bones in mans body , is this : sometime it is needfull that one member or one limbe should move without another : another cause is , that some defend the principall members , as both the bone of the brest ▪ and of the head : and some to bee the foundation of divers parts of the body , as the bones of the ridge and of the legges : and some to fulfill the hollow places , as in the hands and feet , &c. the gristle is a member simple and spermaticke , next in hardnesse to the bone ▪ and is of complexion cold and dry , and insensible . the gristle was ordained for sixe causes or profits that j find in it : the first is , that the continuall moving of the hard bone might not be done in a juncture , but that the gristle should be a meane betweene the ligament and him . the second is , that in the time of concussion or oppression , the soft members or limbes should not be hurt of the hard . the third is , that the extremity of bones and joynts that be grisly , might the easier be foulded and moved together , without hurt . the fourth is , for that it is necessary in some meane places , to put a gristle , as in the throat-bowle for the sound . the fifth is , for that it is needfull that some members be holden up with a gristle , as the lids of the eyes . the sixt is , that some limbes have a sustaining and a drawing abroad , as in the nose and the eares , &c. the ligament is a member consimple , simple , and spermaticke , next in hardnesse to the gristle , and of complexion cold and dry , and is flexible and insensible , and bindeth the bones together . the cause why hee is flexible and insensible , is this : if it had beene sensible , he might not have suffered the labour and moving of the joynts : and if it had not beene flexible of his bowing , one limme should not have moved without another . the second profit is that he be joyned with sinewes , for to make cordes and brawnes . the third helpe is , that he be a resting place to some sinewes . the fourth profit is , that by him the members that be within the bone be sustained , as the matrix and kidneys , and divers other , &c. the sinew , is a consimilier member , simple and spermatick , a meane betweene hard and soft , and in complexion cold and dry , and he is both flexible and sensible , strong and tough , having his beginning from the braine , or from mynuca , which is the marrow of the backe . and from the braine commeth seaven paire of nerves sensative , and from mynuca commeth thirty paire of nerves motive , and one that is by himselfe , that springeth of the last spondell . all these sinewes have both feeling and moving , in some more , and in some lesse , &c. a corde or tendon , is a consimple or officiall member compound and spermaticke , sinewie , strong and tough , meanely betweene hardnesse and softnesse , and meanly sensible and flexible and in complexion cold and dry . and the corde or tendon is thus made : the sinewes that come from the braine and from mynuca , and goe to move the members , is intermingled with the lygaments , and when the sinewes and lygaments are intermingled together , then is made a corde . and for three causes j perceive why the cordes were made . the first is , that the sinew alone is so sensible , that hee may not suffer the great labour and travell of moving , without the fellowship and strength of the ligament that is insensible , and that letteth his great feeling , and bringeth him to a perfit temperance . and so the cordes move the limbes to the will of the soule . and this corde is associated with a simple flesh , and so thereof is made a brawne or a muskle , on whom he might rest after his travell : and this brawne is called a muskle . then when this corde is entred into this brawne , he is departed into many small threeds , the which be called will : and this will hath three properties : the first , is in length , by whose vertue that draweth it hath might . the second in breadth , by whom the vertue that casteth out hath might . the third , in thwartnes , in whom the vertue that holdeth hath might : and at the end of the brawne those threeds be gathered together to make another muskle , &c. now j will begin at the arteir . this arteir is a member consimile , ●imple and spermaticke , hollow and sinowie , having his springing from the heart , bringing from the heart to every member , blood and spirit of life . it is of complexion cold and dry . and all these arteirs have two coates , except one that goeth to the lungs , and he hath but one coate that spreadeth abroad in the lungs , and bringeth with him to the lungs , blood with the spirit of life to nourish the lungs withall : and also that arteir bringeth with him from the lungs ayre to temper the fumous heate that is in the heart . and this arteir is he that is called arteria venalis , because he hath but one coate as a veyne , and is more obedient to be delated abroad through all the lungs , because that the blood might the sooner sweat through him : whereas all other arteirs have two coates , because one coate may not withstand the might and power of the spirit of life . divers other causes there be , which shall be declared in the anatomie of the breast , &c. the veyne is a simple member , in complexion cold and dry , and spermaticke , like to the arteir ▪ having his beginning from the liver , and bringeth from the liver nutritiue blood , to nourish every member of the body with . and it is so to be understood , that there is no more difference betweene these two vessels of blood , but that the arteir is a vessell of blood spirituall or vitall . and the veyne is a vessell of blood nutrimentall , of the which veynes , there is noted two most principall , of the which , one is called vena porta : the other is called vena celis , of whom it is too much to treat of now , untill we come to the anatomy of the wombe , &c. the flesh , is a consimile member , simple , not spermaticke , and is ingendred of blood congealed by heat , and is in complexion hot and moyst . of the which is noted three kinds of fleshes : that is to say , one is soft and pure flesh : the second is musculus , or hard and brawny flesh : the third is glandulus , knotty , or kurnelly flesh . also the commodities of the flesh , be indifferent , or ●ome be common to every kinde of flesh , and some be proper to one manner of flesh alone . the profits of the flesh be many , for some defend the body from cold as doth cloathes : also it defendeth the body from hard things comming against it : so through his moysture he rectifyeth the body in summer , in time of great heate . wherefore it is to be considered , what profitablenesse is in every kind of flesh by himselfe . and first of simple and pure flesh , which fulfilleth the concavities of voyd places , and causeth good forme and shape : and this flesh is found betweene the teeth , and on the end of the yard . the profits of the brawny flesh or musculus flesh , shall be spoken of in the anatomy of the armes . the profits of the glandulus flesh are these . first , that it turneth the blood into a colour like to himselfe , as doth the flesh of a womans pappes turne the menstruall blood into milke . secondly , the glandulus flesh of the testikles , turneth the blood into sparme . thirdly , the glandulus flesh of the cheekes , that engendreth the spettle , &c. the next is of fatnesse , of the which j find three kinds . the first is pinguedo , and it is a consimiler member , not spermaticke , and it is made of a subtill portion of blood congealed by colde : and it is of complexion cold and moyst , insensible , and is intermingled amongst the parts of the flesh . the second , is adeppes , and is of the same kind as is pinguedo , but it is departed from the flesh besides the skin and it is as an oyle heating and moystning the skin . the third is auxingia , and it is of kind as the others be , but he is departed from the flesh within foorth about the kidneyes , and in the intrailes , and it helpeth both the kidneyes and the intrailes , from drying by his unctiosity , &c. then come wee to the skin . the skin is a consimile member or officiall , partly spermatick , strong and tough , flexible and sensible , thin and temperate : whereof there be two kinds : one is the skin that covereth the outward members : and the other the inner members , which is called a pannicle , the profitablenesse of whom , was ●poken in the last lesson : but the skin is properly woven of threeds , nerves . veynes , and arteirs . and he is made temperate , because he should be a good redeemer of heate from cold , and of moystnesse from drynesse , that there should nothing annoy or hurt the body , but it giveth warning to the common wits thereof , &c. the haires of every part of mans body , are but superfluity of members , made of the grosse ●ume or smoake passing out of the viscous matter , thickned to the forme of haire . the profitablenesse of him is declared in the anatomy of the head , &c. the nayles likewise , are a superfluity of members ▪ engendred of great earthly smoke or fume resolved through the naturall heate of humors , and is softer then the bone , and harder then the flesh . in complexion they be cold and dry ▪ and are alwayes waxing in the extremity of the fingers and toes . the utility of them are , that by them a man shall take the better hold : also they helpe to claw the body when it needeth . lastly , they helpe to divide things for lacke of other tooles , &c. chap. iii. the anatomie of the compound members , and first of the head. because the head of man is the habitation or dw●lling place of the reasonable soule of man , therefore with the grace of god , j shall first speake of the anatomie of the head . galen saith in the second chapter de juvamentes , and avicen rehearseth the same in his first proposition and third chapter , proving that the head of man was made neither for wits , nor yet for the braines , but onely for the eyes . for beasts that have no heads , have the organs or instruments of wits in their breasts . therefore god and nature have reared up the head of man onely for the eyes , for it is the highest member of man : and as a beholder or watchman standeth in a high tower to give warning of the enemies , so doth the eye of man give warning vnto the common wittes , for the defence of all other members of the body . now to our purpose . if the question be asked ▪ how many things be there contained on the head , and how many things contained within the head ? as it is rehearsed by guydo , there be five containing , and as many contained , as thus : the haire , the skin , the flesh , the pannicles , and the bone ; neither rehearsing veine nor artier . the which anatomy cannot be truly without them both , as thou shalt well perceive both in this but especially in the next . and now in this lesson j shall speake but of haire , skin , flesh , veynes , pannicles , and bones , what profit they doe to man , every of them in his kind . of the haire of the head , ( whose creation is knowne in the anatomy of the simple members ) j doe note foure utilities why it was ordained . the first is , that it defendeth the braine from too much heat , and too much cold , and many other outward noyances . the second is , it maketh the forme or shape of the head to seeme more seemelyer or beautifuller . for if the head were not haired , the face and the head should seeme but one thing , and therefore the haire formeth and shapeth the head from the face . the third is , that by colour of the haire , is witnessed and knowne the complexion of the braine . the fourth is , that the fumosities of the braine might ascend and passe lightlyer out by them . for if there were a sad thing , as the skinne , or other of the same nature , as the haire is , the fumosities of the braine might not have passed through it so lightly , as it doth by the haire . the skin of the head is more lazartus , thicker , and more porrus , then any other skinne of any other member of the body . and two causes j note why ; one is , that it keepeth or defendeth the braine from too much heat and cold as doth the haire . the other , that it discusseth to the common wits of all things that noyet h outwardly , for the haire is insensible . the third cause why the skinne of the head is more thicker then any other skinne of the body , is this ; that it keepeth the braine the more warme , and is the better fence for the braine , and it bindeth and keepeth the bones of the head the faster together . next followeth the flesh , the which is all musculus or lazartus flesh , lying upon pericranium without meane . and it is made of subtill will , and of simple flesh , sinewes , veynes and arteirs . and why the flesh that is all musculus or lazartus in every member of a mans body was made , is for three causes . the first is , that by his thicknesse ▪ he should comfort the digestion of other members that lye by him . the second is , that through him every member is made is the formelier , and taketh the better shape . the third is , that by his meanes every member of the body , drawing to him nourishing , the which others with-hold to put forth from them , as it shall be more plainlyer spoken of in the anatomy of the wombe . next followeth pericranium , or the covering of the bones of the head. but here it is to be noted of a veyne and an arteir that commeth betweene the flesh and this pericranium , that nourisheth the utter part of the head , and so entreth privily thorow the commissaries of the skull bearing to the braine and to his pannicles nourishing : of whose substance , is made both duramater , and also pericranium , as shall be declared in the parts contayned in the head. here it is to be noted of this pannicle pericranium , that it bindeth or compasseth all the bones of the head , vnto whom is adjoyned duramater , and is also a part of his substance , howbeit they be separated , for duramater is neerer the braine , and is vnder the skull ▪ this pericranium was made principally for two causes : one is , that for his strong binding together , hee should make firme and stable the feeble commissaries or seames of the bones of the head. the other cause is , that it should be a meane betweene the hard bone and the soft . flesh . next , is the bone of the pot of the head , keeping in the braines , of which it were too long to declare their names after all authors , as they number them and their names , for some name them after the greeke tongue , and some after the arabian : but in conclusion all this to our purpose . and they be numbred seven bones in the pan or skull of the head . the first is called the coronall bone , in which is the orbits or holes of the eyes , and it reacheth from the browes unto the midst of the head , and there it meeteth with the second bone called occipissiall , a bone of the hinder part of the head called the noddle of the head , which two bones coronall and occipissiall , be divided by the commissaries , in the middest of the head. the third and fourth bones be called parietales , and they be the bones of the sideling parts of the head , and they be divided by the commissaries , both from the foresaid coronall and occipissiall . the fift and sixt bones be called , pet rosa or medosa : and these two bones lye over the bones called , parietales , on every side of the head one , like skales , in whom be the holes of the eares . the seventh and last of the head is called paxillarie or bazillarie , the which bone is as it were a wedge vnto all the other seaven bones of the head , and doth fasten them together . and thus be all numbred . the first is , the coronall bone : the second , is the occipissiall : the third and the fourth , is parietales : the fifth and the sixth is petrosa , or mendosa . and the seventh is paxillarie , or bazillarie . and this sufficeth for the seven bones containing the head. chap. iiii. in this chapter is decl●red the sive things contayned within the head. next under the bones of the head within forth , the first thing that appeareth is duramater , then is piamater , then the substance of the braine , and then vermi formes and letemirabile . but first we are to speake of duramater , whereof , and how it is sprung and made : first , it is to be noted of the veyne and arteire that was spoken of in the last chapter before , how privily they entered through the commissaries , or seames of the head , and there by their union together , they doe not onely bring and give the spirit of life and nutriment , but also doe weave themselves so together , that they make this pannicle duramater . it is holden up by certaine threeds of himselfe , comming through the said commissaries , running into pericranium or pannicle that covereth the bones of the head. and with the foresaid veine and artier , and these threeds , comming from duramater , is woven and made this pericranium . and why this pannicle duramater is set from the skull , j note two causes . the first is , that if the duramater should have touched the skull , it should lightly have beene hurt with the hardnesse of the bone. the second cause is , that the matter that commeth of wounds made in the head piercing the skull , should by it the better be defended and kept from piamater , and hurting of the braine . and next unto this pannicle , there is another pannicle called piamater , or meek-mother , because it is soft and tender unto the braine . of whose creation , it is to be noted as of duramater : for the originall of their first creation is of one kind , both from the heart and the liver , and is mother of the very substance of the braine . why it is called piamater , is for because it is soft and tender to the braine , that it nourisheth the braine and feedeth it , as doth a loving mother , unto her tender childe or babe , for it is not so tough and hard as is duramater . in this pannicle piamater is much to be noted of the great number of veines and arteirs that are planted , ramefying throughout all his substance , giving to the braine both spirit and life . and this pannicle doth circumvolue or lay all the substance of the braine : and in some plaec of the braine ▪ the veynes and the artiers goe forth of him , and enter into the divisions of the braine , and there drinketh of the braines substance into them , asking of the heart , to them the spirit of life or breath , and of the liver nutriment . and the aforesaid spirit or breath taketh a further disgestion , and there it is made animall by the elaboration of the spirit vitall , and is turned and made animall . furthermore , why there be no more pannicles over the braine then one , is this : if there had beene but one pannicle onely , either it must have beene hard or soft , or meane , betweene both : if it had beene hard , it should have hurt the braine by his hardnesse . if it had beene soft , it should have beene hurt of the hard bone. and if it had beene but meanly , neyther hard nor soft , it should have hurt the braine by his roughnesse , and also have beene hurt of the hard bone. therefore god and nature hath ordained two pannicles , the one hard , and the other soft , the harder to be a meane betweene the soft and the bone : and the softer to be a meane betweene the harder and the braine it selfe . also these pannicles be cold and dry of complexion , and ●permaticke . next is the braine , of which it is marvellously to be considered and noted , how this piamater divideth the substance of the braine , and lappeth it into certaine selles or divisions , as thus : the substance of the braine is divided into three parts or ventricles , of which the foremost part is the most . the second or middlemost is lesse : the third or hindermost is the least . and from each one to another be issues or passages that are called meates , through whom passeth the spirit of life to and fro . but here ye shall note , that every ventricle is divided into two parts , and in every part god hath ordained and set singular and severall vertues , as thus ; first , in the foremost ventricle , god hath founded and set the common wittes , otherwise , called the five wits , as hearing , seeing , feeling , smelling , and tasting . and also there is one part of this ventricle , the vertue that is called fantasie , and he taketh all the formes or ordinances that be disposed of the five wittes , after the meaning of sensible things . in the other part of the same ventricle , is ordained and founded the imaginative vertue , the which receiveth of the common wittes the forme or shape of sensitive things , as they were received of the common wittes without-forth , representing their owne shape and ordinances unto the memorative vertue . in the middle sell or ventricle , there is founded and ordained the cogitative or estimative vertue : for he rehearseth , sheweth , declareth , and deemeth those things that be offered vnto him , by the other that were spoken of before . in the third ventricle and last , there is founded and ordained the vertue memorative : in this place is registred and kept those things that are done and spoken with the sences and keepe them in his treasury vnto the putting forth of the five or common wittes , or organes , or instruments of animall workes , out of whose extremities or lower parts springeth mynuca , or marrow of the spondels : of whom it shall be spoken of in the anatomy of the neck and back . furthermore , it is to be noted , that from the foremost ventricle of the braine , springeth seven paire of sentative or feeling sinewes , the which ●e produced to the eyes , the eares , the nose , the tongue , and to the stomacke , and to divers other parts of the body : as it shall be declared in their anatomies . also it is to be noted , that about the middle ventricle is the place of vermiformis , with kurnelly flesh that filleth , and retemirabile , a wonderfull cau●e vnder the pannicles , is set or bounded with arteirs onely which come from the heart , in the which the vitall spirit by his great labour , is turned and made animall . and yee shll understand , that these two be the best kept parts of all the body : for a man shall rather dye , than any of these should suffer any manner of griefes from without forth , and therefore god hath set them farre from the heart . heere j note the saying of haly abba , of the comming of small artiers from the heart , of whom ( saith he ) is made a marvellous net or caule , in the which caule is inclosed the braine , and in that place is laid the spirit of feeling , from that place hath the spirit of feeling his first creation , and from thence passeth other members , &c. furthermore yee shall understand , that the brain is a member cold and moist of complexion , thin , and meanly viscous , and ● principal member , and an officiall member and spermaticke . and first , why he is a principall member , is , because he is the governour or the treasury of the five wittes : and why he is an officiall member , is , because he hath the effect of feeling and stirring : and why he is cold and moyst , is , that he should by his coldnesse and moystnesse , abate and temper the exceeding heate and drought that commeth from the heart . and why it is moyst , is , that it should be the more indifferenter and abler to every thing that should be reserved or gotten into him . and why it is soft , is , that it should give place and favour to the vertue of stirring . and why it is meanly viscous , is , that his sinewes should not be letted in their working , through his overmuch hardnesse . heere galen demandeth a question , which is this : whether that feeling and moving be brought to nerves by one or by divers ? or whether the aforesaid thing be brought substantially or rather judicially ? the matter ( saith he ) is so hard to search and to be understood , that it were much better to let it alone and passe over it . aristotle intreating of the braine , saith : the braine is a member continually moving and ruling all other members of the body , giving unto them both feeling and moving : for if the braine be let , all other members be let : and if the braine be well , then all other members of the body be the better disposed . also , the braine hath this property , that it moveth and followeth the moving of the moone : for in the waxing of the moone , the braine followeth upwards , and in the wane of the moone , the braine discendeth downewards , and vanisheth in substance of vertue : for then the braine shrinketh together in it selfe , and is not so fully obedient to the spirit of feeling . and this is proved in men that be lunaticke and mad , and also in men that be epulenticke or having the falling sicknesse , that be most grieved in the beginning of the new moone and in the latter quarter of the moone . wherefore ( saith aristotle ) when it happeneth that the braine is either too dry or too moyst , then can it not worke his kind , for then is the body made cold : then are the spirits of life melted and resolved away : and then followeth feeblenesse of the wittes , and of all other members of the body , and last death . chap. v. the anatomy of the face . the front or the forehead , containeth nothing but the skin and musculus flesh , for the pannicle underneath , it is of pericranium , and the bone is of the coronall bone . howbeit there it is made broad as if there were a double bone , which maketh the forme of the browes . it is called the forehead or front , from one eare to the other , and from the rootes of the eares of the head ▪ before unto the browes . but the cause why the browes were set and reared up , was , that they should defend the eyes from noyance without-foorth : and they be ordained with haire , to put by the humor or sweat that commeth from the head . also the browes doe helpe the eye-liddes , and doe beautifie and make faire the face , for he that hath not his browes haired , is not seemely . and aristotle sayth , that over-measurable browes betokeneth an envious man. also high browes and thicke , betokeneth cowardise : and meanly , signifieth gentlenesse of heart . incisions about this part , ought to be done according to the length of the body , for there the muscle goeth from one eare to the other . and there if any incision should be made with the length of the muscle , it might happen the brow to hang over the eye without remedy ▪ as it is many times seene , the more pitty . the browes are called supercilium in latine , and under is the eye-lids , which is called cilium , and is garnished with haires . two causes j find why the eye-lids were ordained . the first is , that they should keepe and defend the eye from dust and other outward noyances . the second is , when the eye is weary or heavie , then they should be covered and take rest nnderneath them . why the haires were ordained in them is , that by them is addressed the formes or similitudes of visible things vnto the apple of the eye . the eare is a member seemely and gristly , able to be holden without , and is the organ or instrument of hearing : it is of complexion cold and dry . but why the eare was set up out of the head , is this , that the sounds that be very fugitive , should lurke and abide under his shadow , till it were taken of the instruments of hearing . another cause is , that it should keepe the hole that it standeth over , from things falling in that might hinder the hearing . the sinewes that are the organs or instruments of hearing , spring each from the braine , from whence the seven paire of sinewes doe spring , and when they come to the hole of the eare , there they writhe like a winepresse : and at the ends of them , they be like the head of a worme , or like a little teate , in which is received the sound , and so carryed to the common wits . the eyes be next of nature unto the soule : for in the eye is seene and knowne the disturbances and griefes , gladnesse and joyes of the soule ; as love , wrath , and other passions . the eyes be the instruments of sight . and they be compound and made of ten things : that is to say ▪ of seven tunicles or coates , and of three humours . of the which ( sayth galen ) the braine and the head were made for the eye , that they might be in the highest as a beholder in a tower , as it was rehearsed in the anatomy of the head. but divers men hold divers opinions of the anatomy of the eyes : for some men account but three tunicles , and some sixe . but in conclusion , they meane all one thing . for the very truth is , that there be counted and reckoned seven tunicles , that is to say , selirotica , secondina , retyna , vnia , cornua , araniae , and conjunctiva : and these three humours . that is , to say , humor , virtus , humor albigynus , and humor chrystallinus . it is to bee knowne how and after what manner they spring : you shall understand , that there springeth of the braine substance of his foremost ventricles , two sinewes , the one from the right ●ide , and the other from the left , and they bee called the first paire ; for in the anatomie , they be the first paire of sinewes that appeare of all seven . and it is shewed by galen , that these sinewes be hollow as a reede ▪ for two causes . the first is , that the visible spirit might passe freely to the eyes . the second is , that the forme of visible things might freely be presented to the common wittes . now marke the going forth of these sinewes . when these sinewes goe out from the substance of the braine , he commeth through the piamater , of whose substance he taketh a pannicle or a coate : and the cause why he taketh that pannicle ▪ is to keepe him from anoying , and before they enter into the skull , they meete and are united into one sinew the length of halfe an inch : and then they depart againe into two , and each goeth into one eye , entring through the braine-panne , and these sinewes be called nervi optici . and three causes j finde why these nerves are joyned in one before they passe into the eye . first , if it happen any diseases in one eye , the other should receive all the visible spirit that before came to both . the second is , that all things that we see should not seeme two : for if they had not beene joyned together , every thing should have seemed two , as it doth to a worme , and to other beasts . the third is , that the sinew might stay and helpe the other . but hereupon lanfranke accordeth much : saying , that these two sinewes came together to the eyes , and take a pannicle both of piamater and of duramater , and when they enter into the orbit of the eye , there the extremities are spread abroad , the which are made of three substances : that is to say , of duramater , of piamater , and of nervi optici . there be engendred three tunicles or coates , as thus : of the substance that is taken from duramater , is engendred the first coate that is called secondina : and of nervi optici , is engendred the third coate , that is called retina : and each of them is more subtiller then other , and goeth about the humours without meane . and it to be understood , that each of these three tunicles be divided , and so they make sixe : that is to say ▪ three of the parts of the braine , and three of the parts outwards , and one of pericranium , that covereth the bones of the head , which is called conjunctiva . and thus you may perceive the springing of them , as thus : of duramater springeth clirotica and cornua . of piamater , springeth secondina and vnia . and of nervi optici , springeth conjunctiva . now to speake of the humours which be three , and their places are the middle of the eyes ; of the which , the first is humor vltrus , because he is like glasse , in colour very cleere , red , liquid , or thin , and hee is in the inward side next unto the braine ; and it is thin , because the nutritive blood of the christaline might passe , as water through a spunge should bee clensed and made pure , and also that the visible spirit might the lightlier passe through him from the braine . and he goeth about the christaline humour , untill he meet with albuginus humour , which is set in the ●ttermost part of the eye . and in the middest of these humours , vltrus and albiginus , is set the chrystaline humour , in which is set principally the sight of the eye . and these humours be separated and involved with the pannicles as aforesaid , betweene every humour a pannicle ; and thus is the eye compound and made . but to speake of every humour and every pannicle in his due order and course , it would aske a long progresse , and a long chapter ; but this is sufficient for a chyrurgion , at present . now to begin at the nose ; you shall understand , that from the braine there commeth two sinewes to the holes of the braine-pan , where beginneth the concavity of the nose , and these two be not properly sinewes , but organs or instruments of smelling , and have heads like teats or paps , in which is received the vertue of smelling , and representing it to the common wits : over these two , is set colatorium t hat which wee call the nosthrils ; and is set betweene the eyes , under the upper part of the nose . and it is to bee noted , that this concavity or ditch was made for two causes ; the first is , that the ayre that bringeth forth the spirit of smelling might rest in it , till it were taken of the organs or instrument of smelling . the second cause is , that the superfluities of the braine might be hidden under it , untill it were clensed : and from this concavity there goeth two holes down into themouth , of which there is to be noted three benefits . the first is , that when a mans mouth is close , or when he eateth or sleepeth , that then the ayre might come through them to the lungs , or else a mans mouth should alwayes bee open . the second cause is , that they helpe to the relation of the forme of the nose ; for it is said , a man speaketh in his nose , when any of these holes be stopped . the third cause is , that the concavity might bee clensed by them , when a man snuffeth the nose , or draweth into his mouth inwardly . the nose is a member consimple or official , appearing without the face , somewhat plyable , because it should the better be clensed . and it is to bee perceived ▪ that it is compound and made of skin and lazartus flesh , and of two bones standing in manner tryangle-wise , whose extremities bee joyned in one part of the nose with the coronall bone , and the nether extremities are joyned with two gristles , and another that divideth the nosthrils within , and holdeth up the nose . also there be two concavities or holes , that if one were stopped the other should serve ; also there is in the nose two muscles to help the working of his office . and gal●n saith , that the nose shapeth the face most ; for where the nose lacketh ( saith he ) all the rest of the face is the more unseemly . the nose should be of a meane bignesse , and not to exceed in length or bredth , nor in highnesse . for aristotle saith , if the nostrils be too thin or too wide , by great drawing in of ayre , it betokeneth great straitnesse of heart , and indignation of thought . and therefore it is to be noted , that the shape of the members of the body , betokeneth and judgeth the affections and will of the soule of man , as the philosopher saith , the temples are called the members of the head , and they have that name because of continuall moving . and as the science of the anatomie meaneth , the spirit vitall is sent from the heart to the braine by arteirs , and by veynes and nutrimentall blood , where the vessels pulsatives in the temples be lightly hurt . also , the temples have dents or holes inwardly , wherein he taketh the humour that commeth from the braine , and bringeth the eyes a sleepe ; and if the said holes or dents bee pressed and wrung , then by trapping of the humour that continueth , hee maketh the teares to fall from the eye . the cheekes are the sideling parts of the face , and they containe in them musculus flesh , with veynes and arteirs , and about these parts be many muscles . guido maketh mention of seaven about the cheekes and over-lip . and haly-abbas saith , there be twelue muscles that move the neither jaw , some of them in opening , and other some in closing or shutting , passing under the bones of the temples : and they be called temporales : and they be the right noble and sensatiue , of whose hurt is much perill . also , there bee other muscles for to grinde and to chew . and to all these muscles commeth nerves from the braine , to give them feeling and moving . and also there commeth to them , many arteirs and veynes , and chiefly about the temples , and the angles or corners of the eyes and the lips. and as the philosophers say , the chiefe beauty in man is in the cheekes , and there the complexion of man is most knowne , as thus : if they be full , ruddy , and medled with temperate whitenesse , and not fat in substance , but meanely fleshie ▪ it betokeneth hot and moyst of complexion : that is , sanguine and temperate in colour . and if they be white coloured , without medling of rednesse , and in substance fat and soft , quavering ▪ it betokeneth , excesse and superfluity of cold and moyst : that is flegmaticke . and if they be browne in colour or cytron , yellow , redde and thinne , and leane in substance , it betokeneth great drying and heate : that is cholericke . and if they be as it were blowne in colour , and of little flesh in substance , it betokeneth excesse and superfluity of drynesse and cold : that is melancholy . and as avicen saith , the cheekes doe not onely shew the diversities of complexions , but also the affection and will of the heart : for by the affection of the heart , by suddaine joy or dread , he waxeth either pale or red . the bones or bony parts , first of the cheekes be two : of the nose outwardly two : of the upper mandible , two : within the nose three , as thus : one deviding the nosthrils within , and in each nosthrill one , and they seeme to be rowled like a wafer , and have a hollownesse in them , by which th● ayre is respired and drawne to the lungs , and the superfluity of the braine is purged into the mouthwards , as is before rehearsed . but guido and galen saith , that there be in the face nine bones , yet j cannot find that the nether mandible should be of the number of those nine : for the nether mandible accounted there , proveth them to be ten in number : of which thing j will hold no argument , but remit it to the sight of your eyes . the parts of the mouth are five , that is to say , the lippes , the teeth ▪ the tongue , the uvila , and the pallet of the mouth . and first to speake of the lips , they are members consimile or officiall , full of musculus flesh , as is aforesaid , and they were ordained for two causes , one is ; that they should be to the mouth as a doore to a house , and to keepe the mouth close till the meat were kindly chewed . the other cause is , that they should be helpers to the pronouncing of the speech . the teeth are members consimile or officiall , spermaticke , and hardest of any other members , and are fastned in the cheeke bones , and were ordained for three causes . first , that they should chew a mans meate , ere it should passe downe ▪ that it might be the sooner digested . the second , that they should be a helpe to the speech : for they that lacke their teeth , doe not perfectly pronounce their words . the third is , that they should serve to beasts as weapons . the number of them is uncertaine : for some men haue more , and some lesse : they that have the whole number , have two and thirty : that is to say , ●ixteene above , and as many beneath , as thus : two dwallies , two quadripulles , two canniens , eight morales , two causales , the tongue is a carnous member , compound and made of many nerves . ligaments , veynes and artiers , ordained principally for three causes . the first is , that when a man eateth , the tongue might helpe to turne the meat till it were well chewed . the second cause is , that by him is received the tast of sweete and sowre , and presented by him to the common wittes . the third is , that by him is pronounced every speech . the fleshie part of the tongue is white , and hath in him nine muscles , and about the roote of him , is glandulus , in the which be two welles , and they be ever full of spettle to temper and keepe moyst the tongue , or else it would waxe dry by reason of his labour , &c. the uvila is a member made of spongeous flesh , hanging downe from the end of the pallet over the gullet of the throat , and is a member in complexion cold and dry , and oftentimes when there falleth rawnesse or much moystnesse into it from the head , then it hangeth downe in the throate , and letteth a man to swallow , and it is broad at the upper end , and small at the nether . it was ordained for divers causes . one is ▪ that by him is holpen the sound of speech : for where the uvila is wanting , there lacketh the perfect sound of speech . another is , that it might helpe the prolation of vomits . another is , that by him is tempered and abated the distemperance of the ayre that passeth to the lungs . another is , that by him is guided the superfluities of the braine , that commeth from the coletures of the nose , or the superfluities would fall downe suddenly into the mouth , the which were a displeasure . the pallet of the mouth containeth nothing else but a carnous pannicle , and the bones that bee underneath it hath two divisions , one along the pallet from the division of the nose , and from the opening of the other mandible under the nether end of the pallet , lacking halfe an inch , and there it divideth overthwart , and the first division is of the mandible : and the second , is of the bone called pixillary or bazillary , that sustaineth and bindeth all other bones of the head together . the skinne of the pallet of the mouth is , of the inner part of the ●tomacke and of myre , and of isofagus , that is the way of the meate into the stomacke . the way how to know that such a pannicle is of that part of the stomack , may be knowne when that a man is touched within the mouth , anon he beginneth to tickle in the stomacke , and the neerer that he shall couch unto the throat , the more it abhorreth the stomacke , and oftentimes it caufeth the stomacke to yeeld from him that is within him , as when a man doth vomit . also , in the mouth is ended the uppermost extremity of the wesand , which is called myre , or isofagus : and with him is contayned trachia arteria : that is , the way of the ayre , whose holes be covered with a lap like a tongue , and is griftly , that the meat and drinke might slide ov er him into isofagus : the which gristle when a man speaketh is reared up , and covereth the way of the meate , and when a man swalloweth the meate , then it covereth the way of the ayre , so that when the one is covered , the other is uncovered . for if a man open the way of the ayre , when he swalloweth , if there fall a crum into it , hee shall never cease coughing untill it be up againe . and this sufficeth for the face . chap. vi. the anatomie of the necke . the necke followeth next to be spoken of . galen proveth , that the necke was made for no other cause but for the lungs , for all things that have no lungs , have neyther necke nor voyce , except fish . and you shall understand , that the necke is all that is contayned betweene the head and the shoulders , and betweene the chin and the breast . it is compound and made of foure things , that is to say , of spondillis , of servicibus , of gula , and of gutture , the which shall be declared more plainly hereafter : and through these passe the way of the meate and of the ayre , but they be not the substance of the necke . the spondels of the necke be seaven : the first is joyned unto the lower part of the head called paxillary , or bazillary , and in the same wise are joyned every spondell with other , and the last of the seaven , with the first of the backe or ridge : and the lygaments that keepe these spondels together , are not so hard and tough as those of the backe : for why ? those of the necke bee more feebler and subtiller . the cause is this , for it is necessary other while that the head move wtthout the necke , and the necke without the head , the which might not well ▪ have beene done if they had beene strong and boystrous . of these aforesaid seaven spondels of the necke , there springeth seaven paire of sinewes , the which be divided into the head and into the visage , to the shoulders and to the armes . from the hole of the first spondell springeth the first paire of sinewes , between the first spondell and the second , and so forth of all the rest in like manner as of these . also these sinewes receive subtill will of the sinewes of the braine : of which the will , and sinewes , and flesh , with a pannicle , make the composition of muscles lazartes , and brawnes , the which three things are all one , and be the instruments of voluntary moving every member . the muscles of the necke after galen , are numbred to be twenty , moving the head and the necke . likewise it is to be noted , that there bee three manner of fleshes in the necke : the first is pixwex , or servisis , and it is called of children , goldhaire , or yeallow haire , the which are certaine longitudinals , lying on the ●ides of the spondels , from the head downe to the latter spondell . and they are ordained for this cause , that when the sinewes be weary of overmuch labour with moving and travell , that they might rest upon them as upon a bed. the second flesh is musculus , from whom springeth the tendons and cords that move the head and the necke , which be numbred twenty , as is before declared . the third flesh replenisheth the void places , &c. the third part of the necke , is called gutture , and it is standing out of the throat boll . the fourth part is called gula , and the hinder part cervix and hath that name of the philosophers , because of the marrow comming to the ridgebones . it is so called , because it is as it were a servant to the braine : for the necke receiveth and taketh of the braine , influence of vertue of moving , and sendeth it by sinewes to the other parts of the body downewards , and to all members of the body . here you shall understand , that the way of the meat , mire , or isofagus , is all one thing : and it is to be noted , that it stretcheth from the mouth to the stomacke , by the hinder part of the necke inwardly fastned to the spondels of the neck , untill he come to the first spondell , and there hee leaveth the spondell and stretcheth till he come to the foremost part of the breast , and passeth through diafragma , till hee come to the mouth of the stomacke , and there he is ended . furthermore , it is to be noted that this weasand is compound , and made of two tunicles or coates ( that is to say ) of the inner and of the outer . the outer tunicle is but simple , for he needeth no retention but onely for his owne nourishing : but the inner tunicle is compound , and made of musculus longitudinall will , by which he may draw the meate from the mouth into the stomack , as it shall be more plainly declared in the anatomy of the stomacke . furthermore , cana pulmonis , via , trachia , arteria , all these be one thing ( that is to say ) the throat-boll , and it is set within the neck , besides the wesand , towards gula , and is compound of the gristle , knit each with other ▪ and the pannicle that is meane betweene the wesand , and the throat-boll , is called i●mon . also yee shall understand , that the great veynes which ramefie by the sides of the necke , to the upper part of the head , is of some men called gwidege , and of others , venae organices : the incision of whom is perillous . and thus it is to be considered , that the neck of man is compound ▪ and made of skinny flesh , ligaments , and bones : and this susficeth for the neck and the throat . chap. vii . the anatomie of the shoulders and armes . and first to speake of the bones : it is to bee noted , that in the shoulder there be two bones , ( that is to say ) the shoulder-bone , and the kannell-bone , and also the adjutor bone of the arme , are joyned with the shoulder-bones , but they are numbred amongst them , but they are not numbred amongst the bones of the armes . in the composition of the shoulder , the first bone is ; os spatula , or shoulder-blade , whose hinder part is declined towards the chine , and in that end it is broad and thin , and in the upper part it is round , in whose roundnesse is a concavity which is called the box or coope of the shoulder , and which entreth the adjutor bones , and they have a binding together with strong flexible sinewes , and are contained fast with each bone called clavicula , or the cannel-bone . and this cannell bone stretcheth to both the shoulders ; one end to the one shoulder , and another to the other ▪ and there they make the composition of the shoulders . the bones of the great arme ( that is to say ) from the shoulders to the fingers ends , bee thirty ; the first is , the adjutor bone , whose upper end entreth into the concavitie or box of the shoulder bone : it is but one bone ( having no fellow ) and it is hollow and full of marrow , and it is also crooked , because it should be the more able to gripe things ; and it is hollow , because it should be lighter and more obedient to the stirring or moving of the brawnes . furthermore , this bone hath two eminencies , or two knobs in his nether extremity , or in the juncture of the elbow ( of the which , the one is more rising then the other ) and are made like unto a pulley to draw water with , and the ends of these bones enter into a concavitie proportioned in the uppermost ends of thetwo focklebones , of which two bones , the lesse goeth from the elbow to the thumbe , by the uppermost part of the arme , and the greater is the nether bone from the elbow to the little finger . and these two bones be contained with the adjutor bone , and be bound with strong ligaments , and in like manner with the bones of the hand . the which bones be numbred eight , the foure uppermost bee joyned with the foure nethermost towards the hands : and in the third ward of bones be five , and they are called ossa patinis , and they are in the palme of the hand . and to them be joyned the bones of the fingers and the thumbes , as thus ; in every finger three bones , and in the thumbe two bones , ( that is to say ) the fingers and thumb of every hand fourteen , called ossa digitorum : in the palme of the hand five , called patinis ; and between the hand and the wrist eight , called rasete : and from the wrist to the shoulder , three bones : all which being accounted together , yee shall find thirty bones in each hand and arme. to speake of sinewes , ligaments , cords , and brawnes : here first ye shall understand , that there commeth from mynuea , through the spondels of the necke , foure sinewes , which most plainly doe appeare in sight , as thus : one commeth into the upper part of the arme , another into the nether part , and one into the inner side , and another into the outer side of the arme , and they bring from the braine , and from mynuca , both feeling and moving into the armes , as thus : the sinewes that come from the braine and from the marrow of the backe that is called mynuca , when they come to the juncture of the shoulder , there they are mixed with the ligaments of the same shoulder , and there the ligaments receive both feeling and moving of them , and also in their mingling together , they are made a cord or a tendon . three causes j find why the finewes were mingled with the lygaments . the first cause is , that the littlenesse of the sinewes , which many wayes bee made weary by their continuall moving , should bee repressed by the insensiblenesse of the ligaments : the second is , that the littlenesse of the sinewes should bee through the quality of the ligaments : the third is , the feeblenesse of the sinew , that is in sufficient , and too feeble to use his office , but by the strength and hardnesse of the ligaments . now to declare what a cord is , what a ligament , and what a muscle , or a brawne , it is enough rehearsed in the chapter of the simple members : but if you will through the commandement of the will or the soule , draw the arme to the hinder parts of the body , then the outer brawne is drawne together and the inner inlarged , and likewise inwards , when the one brawne doth draw inwards , the other doth stretch : and when the arme is stretched in length , then the cords be lengthened : but when they passe the juncture of the shoulder and of the elbow , by three fingers breadth or thereabout ▪ then it is divided by subtill will , and mingled with the simple flesh , and that which is made of it is called a brawne . and three causes j finde , why that the simple flesh is mingled with the chord in the composition of the brawne . the first is , that the aforesaid will might draw in quiet through the temperance of the flesh . the second is , that they temper and abate the drought of the chord with his moystnesse , the which drought he getteth thorow his manifold moving . the third is , that the forme of the brawne members should be the more faire , and of better shape : wherefore god and nature hath cloathed it with a pannicle , that it might the better bee kept : and it is called of the philosophers , musculus , because it hath a forme like unto a mouse . and when these brawnes come neere a joynt , then the chordes spring forth of them , and are mingled with the ligaments againe , and so moveth that joynt . and so yee shall understand , that alwayes betweene every two joynts , is engendred a brawne , proportion●d to the same member and place , unto the last extremity of the fingers , so that as well the least juncture hath a proper feeling and moving when it needeth , as hath the greatest . and after guido , there be numbred thirteene in the arme and hand , as thus ; foure in the adjutor , moving the upper part of the arme ; and foure in the fockles moving the fingers . now to speake somewhat of the veynes and artiers of the arme : it is to be understood that from venakelis there commeth two branches , the one commeth to the one arme-pit , and the other commeth to the other . and now marke their spreading , for as it is of the one , so it is of the other , as thus ; when the branch is in the arme-pit , there it is divided into two branches : the one branch goeth along in the inner-side of the arme , untill it come to the bough of the arme , and there it is called bazilica , or epatica , and so goeth downe the arme till it come to the wrist , and there it is turned to the back of the hand , and it is found betweene the little finger and the next , and there it is called salvatella . now to the other branch that is in the arme-hole , which spreadeth to the outer side of the shoulder , and there he divideth into two , the one goeth spreading up into the carnous part of the head , and after descendeth through the bone into the braine , as it is declared in the anatomie of the head. the other branch goeth on the outward side of the arme , and there hee is divided into two also , the one part is ended at the hand , and the other part is folded about the arme , till it appeare in the bought of the arme , and there is called sephalica , from thence it goeth to the backe of the hand , and appeareth betweene the tumbe and the foremost finger , and there it is called sephalica ocularis . the two branches that j speake of , which be divided in the hinder part of the shoulders , from each of these two ( j say springeth one ) and those two meete together and make one veyne which appeareth in the bough of the arme , and there it is called mediana , or cordialis , or commine . and thus it is to be understood , that of vena sephalica , springeth vena ocularis , and of vena bazilica , springeth vena mediana , and in ramefying from these five principall veynes springeth innumerable , of the which a chyrurgion hath no great charge : for it sufficeth us to know the principals . to speake of arteirs , you shall understand , that wheresoever there is found a veyne , there is an arteir under him : and if there be found a great veyne , there is found a great artier , and whereas is a little veyne , there is a little artier : for wheresoever there goeth a veyne to give nutriment , there goeth an artier to bring the spirit of life . wherefore it is to bee noted , that the artiers lye more deeper in the flesh then the veynes doe : for they carry and keepe in them more precious blood then doth the veyne , and therefore hee hath need to bee further from dangers outwardly : and therefore , god and nature have ordained for him to be closed in two coates , where the veyne hath but one . the breast or thorax , is the arke or chest of the spirituall members of man , as saith the philosopher : where it is to bee noted , that there be foure things containing , and eight contained , as thus . the foure containing , are , the skinne , musculus flesh , the pappes and the bones . the parts contained , are , the heart , the lungs , pannicles , ligaments , nerves veynes , artiers , myre , or isofagus . now the skin and the flesh are knowne in their anatomie . it is to be noted , that the flesh of the pappes differeth from the other flesh of the body ; for it is white , glandulus , and spongeous , and there is in them both nerves , veynes and artiers , and by them ▪ they have coliganes with the heart , the liver , the braine , and the generative members . also , there is in the breast ( as old authors make mention ) lxxx , or xc . muscles ; for some of them be common to the neck , some to the shoulders , and to the spades ; some to diafragma or the midriffe ; some to the ribs , some to the back , and some to the breast it selfe . but j find a certaine profitablenesse in the creation of the pappes , aswell in man as in woman ; for in man it defendeth the spirituals from annoyance outwardly , and another by their thicknesse they comfort the naturall heate in defiance of the spirits . and in women , there is the generation of milke ; for in women there commeth from the matrix into their breasts many veynes which bring into them menstruall blood , the which is turned through the digestive vertue , from red colour into white , like the colour of the paps even as chilley comming from the stomack to the liver is turned into the colour of the liver . now to speake of the bones of the brest : they be said to be triple or three-fold , and they be numbred to the seaven in the brest before , and their length is according to the bredth of the brest , and their extremities or ends be gristly as the ribbes be . and in the upper end of thorax is a hole or a concavity in which is set the foot of the fockle-bone or cannel-bone , and in the nether end of thorax , against the mouth of the stomack , hangeth a gristle called ensiforme , and this gristle was ordained for two causes . one is , that it should defend the stomack from hurt outwardly . the second is , that in time of fulnesse it should give place to the stomack in time of need when it desireth , &c. now to speake of the parts of the backe here following ; there bee twelve spondels through whom passeth mynuca , of whom springeth twelve paire of nerves , that bringeth both feeling and moving to the muscles of the brest aforesaid . and here it is to be noted , that in every side there bee twelve ribs , that is to say , seaven true and five falfe , because these five be not so long as the other seaven be : and therefore called false ribs , as it may be perceived by the sight of the eye . likewise , of the parts that bee inwardly , and first of the heart , because hee is the principall of all other members and the beginning of life : hee is set in the middest of the brest severally by himselfe , as lord and king of all members . and as a lord or a king ought to bee served of his subjects that have their living of him ; so are all other members of the body subjects to the heart : for they receive their living of him , and they all doe service many wayes unto him againe . the substance of the heart is as it were lazartus flesh , but it is spermatick , and an officiall member , and the beginning of life , and hee giveth to every member of the body , both blood of life , and spirit of breath , and heate : for if the heart were of lazartus flesh , his moving and stirring should be voluntary and not naturall , but the contrary is true : for it were impossible that the heart should be ruled by will onely , and not by nature . the heart hath the shape and forme of a pine-apple , and the broad end thereof is upwards , and the sharpe end is downewards : depending a little towards the left side . and heere it is to be noted , that the heart hath blood in his substance , whereas all other members have it but in their veynes and arteries : also the heart is bound with certaine ligaments to the backe part of the breast , but these lygaments touch not the substance of the heart , but in the over-part they spring forth of him , and is fastened as is aforesaid . furthermore , the heart hath two ventricles , or concavities , and the left is higher then the right , and the cause of his hollownesse , is this : for to keepe the blood for his nourishing , and the ayre to abate and temper the great heate that hee is in , the which is kept in concavities . now heere it is to be noted , that to the right ventrickle of the heart , commeth a veyne from the great veyne called venakelis , that receiveth all the substance of the blood from the liver . and this veyne that commeth from venakelis , entreth into the heart of the right ventricle , as j said before , and in him is brought a great portion of the thickest blood to nourish the heart with , and the residue that is left of this , is made subtill through the vertue of the heart , and then this blood is sent into a concavity or pit in the midst of the heart , betweene the two ventricles , and therein it is made hot and purified , and then it passeth into the left ventricle , and there is ingendred in it , a spirit , that is cleerer , brighter , and subtiller , then any corporall or bodily thing , that is engendred of the foure elements : for it is a thing , that is a meane betweene the body and the soule . wherefore it is likened of the philosophers to be more liker heavenly things , then earthly things . also it is to be noted , that from the left ventricle of the heart springeth two arteirs : the one having but one coate , and therefore is called arteria venalis : and this arteir carryeth blood from the heart to the lungs , the which blood is vaporous , that is tryed and and left of the heart , and is brought by this artery to the lungs , to give him nutriment , and there he receiveth of the lungs ayre , and bringeth it to the heart to refresh him with . wherefore galen saith , that hee findeth that mans heart is naturall and friendly to the lungs : for hee giveth him of his owne nutrimentall to nourish him with , and the lungs rewards him with ayre to refresh him with againe , &c. the other artier that hath two coats , is called vena arterialis , or the great artery , that ascendeth and descendeth , and of him springeth all the other artiers that spread to every member of the body ; for by him is united and quickned all the members of the body . for the spirit that is retained in them , is the instrument or treasure of all the vertue of the soule . and thus it passeth untill it come to the braine , and there hee is turned into a further digestion , and there he taketh another spirit and so is made animall ; and at the liver nutrimentall , and at the testicles generative : and thus it is made a spirit of every kind , so that hee being the meane of all manner of operations and workings , taketh effect . two causes j find , why these artiers have two coates . one is , that one coat is not sufficient nor able to withstand the violent moving and stirring of the spirit of life , that is carried in them . the second cause is , that the thing that is carried about from place to place , is of so precious a treasure that it had the more need of good keeping . and of some doctors , this artier is called the pulsative veyne , or the beating veyne ; for by him is perceived the pow●r and might of the heart , &c. wherefore god and nature have ordained , that the artiers have two coates . also , there is in the heart three pellikles , opening and closing the going in of the heart blood and spirit in convenient time . also , the heart hath two little eares , by whom commeth in and passeth out the ayre that is prepared for the lungs . there is also found in the heart a cartilaginous auditament to helpe and strengthen the same heart . the heart is covered with a strong pannicle , which is called of some capsula cordes , or pericordium , the which is a strong case , unto whom commeth nerves as to other inward members . and this pannicle pericordium , springeth of the upper pannicle of the midriffe . and of him springeth another pannicle called mediastinum , the which separateth the brest in the midst , and keepeth it that the lungs fall not over the heart . there is also another pannicle that covereth the ribbes inwardly , that is called plura , of whom the midriffe taketh his beginning . and it is said of many doctors , that duramater is the originall of all the pannicles within the body , and thus one taketh of another . chap. viii . the anatomie of the lungs . the lungs is a member spermatick of the first creation , and his naturall complexion is cold and dry , and in his accidentall complexion hee is cold and moyst , wrapped in a nervous pannicle , because it should gather together the softer substance of the lungs , and that the lungs might feele by the meanes of the pannicle , that which hee might not feele in himselfe . now to prove the lungs to bee cold and dry of kind , it appeareth by his swift stirring , for hee lyeth ever waving over the heart , and about the heart . and that hee is cold and moyst in operation , it appeareth in that hee receiveth of the braine many cold matters , as catarres and rheumes ▪ whose substance is thin . also , j find in the lungs three kinds of substance . one is a veyne comming from the liver , bringing with him the crude or raw part of the chylle to feed the lungs . another is , arteria venealis comming from the heart , bringing with him the spirit of life to nourish him with . the third is , trachia arteria , that bringeth in ayre to the lungs , and it passeth through all the left part of them to doe his office . the lungs is divided into five lobbes or pellikles , or five portions , ( that is to say ) three in the right side , and two in the left side . and this was done for this cause , that if there fell any hurt in the one part , the others should serve and doe their office . and three causes j find , why the lungs were principally ordained . first , that they should draw cold wind and refresh the heart . the second , that they should change and alter , and purifie the ayre before it come to the heart , lest the heart should be hurt and annoyed with the quantity of the ayre . the third cause is , that they should receive from the heart the fumous superfluities that hee putteth forth with his breathing &c. behind the lungs towards the spondels , passeth myre or isofagus , of whom it is spoken of in the anatomic of the neck . and also there passeth both veynes and artiers , and all these with trachia arteria , doe make a stoke , replete unto the gullet with the pannicles , and strong ligaments , and glandulus flesh to fulfill the voyd places . and last of all , is the midriffe , and it is an officiall member made of two pannicles and lazartus flesh , and his place is in the midst of the body overthwart , or in bredth under the region of the spirituall members , separating them from the matrix . and three causes j find , why the midriffe was ordained . first , that it should divide the spirituals from the nutrates . the second , that it should keepe the vitall colour or heat to descend downe to the nutrates . the last is , that the malicious fumes reared up from the nutrates , should not annoy the spirituals or vitals , &c. the wombe is the region or the city of all the intrailes , the which reacheth from the midriffe downe unto the share inwardly , and outwardly from the reines or kidnies , downe to the bone peeten about the privie parts . and this wombe is compound and made of two things ( that is to say ) of syfac , and myrac ; syfac is a pannicle and a member spermatick , officiall , sensible , sinewie , compound of subtill will , and in complexion cold and dry , having his beginning in the inner pannicle of the midriffe . and it was ordained , because it should containe and bind together all the intrailes , and that he defend the musculus , so that he oppresse not the naturall members . and that he is strong and tough , it is because he should not be lightly broken , and not those things that are contained goe not forth , as it happeneth to them that are broken , &c. myrac is compound , and made of foure things ( that is to say ) of skinne outwardly , of fatnesse , of a carnous pannicle , and of musculus flesh . and that it is to bee understood , that all the whole from syfac outward , is called myrac , it appeareth well ( by the words of galen ) where hee commandeth , that in all wounds of the wombe , to sewe the syfac , with the mirac , and by that it proveth , that there is nothing without the syfac but mirac . and in this mirac , or outer part of the wombe , there is noted eight muscles ; two longitudinals , proceeding from the shield of the stomacke , unto os pecten : two latitudinals comming from the back-wards to the wombe : and foure transverse , of the which , two of them spring from the ribbes on the right side , and goe to the left side , to the bones of the hanches , or of pecten : and the other two spring from the ribs on the left , and come over the wombe to the right parts , as the other before doth . heere is to be noted , that by the vertue of the subtill will that is in the musculus longitudinall , is made perfect the vertue attractiue : and by the musculus transverse , is made the vertue retentive : and by the musculus latitudinall , is made the vertue expulsive . it is thus to be understood , that by the vertue attractive , is drawne downe into the intrailes , all superfluities , both water , winde , and dyet . by the vertue retentive , all things are with-holden and kept , untill nature have wrought his kind . and by the vertue expulsive is put forth all things , when nature provoketh any thing to be done . galen saith , that wounds or incisions be more perilous in the midst of the wombe , then about the sides ; for there the parts be more tractable then any other parts bee . also he saith , that in wounds piercing the wombe , there shall not bee made good incarnation , except sifac be sewed with mirac . now to come to the parts contained within : first , that which appeareth next under the sifac is omentum , or zirbus , the which is a pannicle covering the stomacke and the intrailes , implanted with many veynes and arteirs , and not a little fatnesse ordained to keepe moyst the inward parts . this zirbus is an osficiall member , and is compound of a veyne and an arteir , the which entreth and maketh a line of the outer tunicle of the stomacke , unto which tunicle hangeth the zirbus , and covereth all the guts downe to the share . two causes j find , why they were ordained . one is , that they should defend the nutratives outwardly . the second is , that through his owne power and vertue , he should strengthen and comfort the digestion of all the nutrates , because they are more feebler then other members bee , because they have but a thinne wombe or skin , &c. next zirbus appeareth the intrails or guts , of which galen saith , that the guts were ordained in the first creation to convey the drosse of the meate and drinke ▪ and to clense the body of superfluities . and here it is to be noted , that there be fixe portions of one whole gutte , which both in man and beast beginneth at the nether mouth of the stomacke , and so containeth forth to the end of the fundament . neverthelesse hee hath divers shapes and formes , and divers operations in the body , and therefore he hath divers names . and hereupon the philosophers say , that the lower wombe of a man , is like unto the wombe of a swine . and like as the stomacke hath two tunicles , in like manner have all the guts two tunicles . the first portion of the guts is called duodenum ; for he is 12. inches of length , and covereth the nether part of the stomacke , and receiveth all the drosse of the stomacke : the second portion of the guts is called iejunium , for he is evermore empty , for to him lyeth evermore the chest of the gall , beating him sore , and draweth forth of him all the drosse , and clenseth him cleane : the third portion or gut , is called yleon , or small gut , and is in length fifteene or sixteene cubits . in this gut oftentimes falleth a disease called yleaea passio . the fourth gut is called monoculus , or blind gut , and it seemeth to have but one hole or mouth , but it hath two , one neere unto the other , for by the one all things goe in , and by the other they goe out againe . the fift is called colon , and receiveth all the drosse deprived from all profitablenesse , and therefore there commeth not to him any veynes miseraices , as to the other . the sixt and last , is called rectum or longaon , and he is ended in the fundament , and hath in his nether end foure muscles , to hold , to open , to shut , and to put out , &c. next is to be noted of senterium , the which is nothing else but a texture of innumerable veynes miseraices , ramefied of one veyne called porta epates , covered and defended of pannicles nnd lygaments comming to the intrails , with the back full of fatnesse and glandulus flesh , &c. the stomacke is a member compound and spermaticke , sinnowy and sensible , and therein is made perfect the first digestion of chile . this is a necessary member to all the body , for if it faile in his working , all the members of the body shall corrupt . wherefore galen sayth , that the stomacke was ordained principally for two causes . the first , that it should be to all the members of the body , as the earth is to all that are ingendred of the earth , that is , that it should desire sufficient meate for all the whole body . the second is , that the stomacke should bee a sacke or chest to all the body for the meate , and as a cooke to all the members of the body . the stomacke is made of two pannicles , of which the inner is nerveous , and the outer carneous . this inner pannicle hath musculus longitudinals , that stretcheth along from the stomacke to the mouth , by the which he draweth to him meate and drinke , as it were hands . and hee hath transverse will , for to with-hold or make retention . and also the outer pannicle hath latitudinall will ▪ to expulse and put out : and that by his heate he should keepe the digestive vertue of the stomacke , and by other heates given by his neighbours , as thus . it hath the liver on the right side , chasing and beating him with his lobes or figures : and the splene on the left side , with his fatnesse and veynes , sending to him melancholy , to exercise his appetites : and about him is the heart , quickning him with his artiers : also the braine sending to him a branch of nerves to give him feeling . and he hath on the hinder part , descending from the parts of the backe many lygaments , with the artiers joyned to the spondels of the backe . the forme or figure of this stomack is long , in likenesse of a goord , crooked : and that both holes bee in the upper part of the body of it , because there should be no going out of it unadvisedly of those things which are received into it . the quantity of the stomack commonly holdeth two pitchers of water , and it may suffer many passions , and the nether mouth of the stomacke is narrower then the upper , and that for three causes . the first cause is , that the upper receiveth meate great and boysterous in substance , that there being made subtill , it might passe into the nether . the second is , for by him passeth all the meates , with their chilosity from the stomacke to the liver . the third is , for that through him passeth all the drosse of the stomack to the guts . and this sufficeth for the stomacke , &c. the liver is a principal member , and official , and of his first creation spermatick , complete in quantity of blood , of himself insensible , but by accidence he is insensible , & in him is made the second digestion , & is lapped in a sinowie pannicle . and that he is a principal member , it appeareth onely by the philosophers , by avicen and galen . and it is officiall as is the stomacke , and it is of spermatick matter , and sinowie of the which is ingendred his veines . and because it was like in quantity , nature hath added to it cruded blood , to the accomplishment of sufficient quantity , and is lapped in a sinowie pannicle . and why the liver is crudded , is because the chile which commeth from the stomacke to the liver , should should be turned into the colour of blood . and why the liver was ordained , was because that all the nutrimentall blood be engendred in him . the proper place of the liver is under the false ribbes in the right side . the forme of the liver is gibbous or bunchie on the backe side , and it is somewhat hollow like the inside of an hand . and why it is so shapen , is , that it should bee plyable to the stomacke ( like as a hand doth to an apple ) to comfort her digestion , for his heate is to the stomacke , as the heate of the fire is to the pot or cauldron that hangeth over it . also the lungs is bound with his pellikles to the diafragma , and with strong ligaments . and also hee hath coliganes with the stomacke and the intrailes , and with the heart and the reynes , the testikles and other members . and there are in him five pellikles , like five fingers . galen calleth the liver messa sanguinaria , containing in it selfe foure substances , naturall and nutrimentall . the naturals is sent with the blood to all parts of the body , to be engendred and nourished . and the nutrimentals be sequestrate and sent to places ordained for some helpings . these are the places of the humours , the blood in the liver , choller in the chest or gall , melancholy to the splene , flegme to the lungs and the junctures ▪ the watery superfluities to the reynes and vesike . and they goe with the blood , and sometime they putrifie and make fevers , and some bee put out to the skinne , and be resolved by sweat , or by scabs , by pushes , or by impostumes . and these foure naturall humours ( that is to say ) sanguine , choler , melancholy , and flegme , be engendred and distributed in this manner : first , yee shall understand , that from the spermaticke matter of the liver inwardly , there is engendred two great veynes , of the which , the first and the greatest is called porta , and commeth from the concavity of the liver , of whom springeth all the small veynes miseraices : and these miseraices , be to vena porta , as the branches of a tree bee to the stocke of a tree . for some of them bee contained with the bottome of the stomacke : some with duodenum , some with jejunium , some with yleon , and some with monoculus , or saccus . and from all these guts they bring to vena porta , the succosity of chiley , going from the stomacke , and distribute it into the substance of the liver . and these veynes miseraices , be innumerable . and in these veynes begins the second digestion and endeth in the liver , like as it doth in the stomacke the first digestion . so it proveth that vena porta , and vena miseraices , serve to bring all the succosity of all the meat and drinke that passeth the stomacke to the liver , and they spread themselves thorough the substance of the liver inwardly , and all they stretch towards the gibous ( or bowing part of the liver , ) and there they meete , and goe all into one unity , and make the second great veyne , called vena vlis , or concava , or vena ramosa : all is one , and hee with his roots draweth out all the bloud engendred from the liver , and with his branches ramefying upwards and downewards , carryeth and conveyeth it to all other members of the body to bee nourished with , where is made perfect the third digestion . and also there goeth from the liver veynes , bearing the superfluites of the third digestion to their proper places , as it shall be declared hereafter . now to speake of the gall , or of the chest of the gall : it is an osficiall member , and it is supermaticke and sinowie , and hath in it a subtill will , and it is a purse or a panniculer vesikle in the hollownesse of the liver , about the middle pericle or lobe , ordained to receive the cholericke superfluities which are engendred in the liver : the which purse or bagge hath three holes or neckes ; by the first he draweth to him from the liver the choller , that the blood be not hurt by the choler . by the second necke hee sendeth to the bottome of the stomacke choler , to further the digestion of the stomacke . and by the third necke hee sendeth the choler regularly from one gut to another , to clense them of their superfluities and drosse : and the quantity of the purse , may containe in it halfe a pinte , &c. and next is the splene , or the milte , the which is a spermaticke member , as are other members : and osficiall , and is the receptory of the melancholious superfluities that are engendred in the liver : and his place is on the left side , transversly linked to the stomacke , and his substance is thinne . and two causes j ▪ find , why hee was ordained there . the first is , that by the melancholious superfluities which are engendred of the liver which hee draweth to him , hee is nourished with . the second cause is , that the nutritive blood should by him be made the more purer , and cleane , from the drosse and thickning of the melancholy , &c. and next of the reynes and kidneyes : it is to be understood , that within the region of the nutrites backwards , are ordained the kidneyes to clense the blood from the watry superfluities , and they have each of them two passages or holes , or neckes ; by the one is drawne the water from venakelis , by two veynes which are called vencae aemulg●ntes , the length of the ●inger of a man , and issueth from the liver : and by the other is sent the same water to the bladder , and is called p●ros vrithides . the substance of the kidneyes is lazartus flesh , having longitudinall will , and their place is behind on each side of the spondels , and they are two in number , and the right kidney lyeth somewhat higher then the left , and is bound fast to the back with lygaments ▪ the philosopher saith , that mans kidneyes are like the kidneyes of a cow , full of hard concavities ; and therefore the sores of them are hard to cure . also , they are more harder in substance , then any other fleshly member , and that for two causes . one is , that hee be not much hurt of the sharpnesse of the urine . the other is , that the same urine that passeth from him , might the better bee altered and clensed through the same . also , there commeth from the heart to each of the kidneyes , an artier that bringeth with him blood , heat , spirit , life . and in the same manner there commeth a veyne from the liver , that bringeth blood to nourish the kidneyes , called blood nutrimentall . the grease of the kidneyes or fatnesse , is as of other members , but it is an officiall member , made of thin blood , congealed and cruded through cold , and there is ordained the greater quantity in his place ; because it should receive and temper the heat of the kidneyes , which they have of the byting sharpnesse of the water . now by the kidneyes upon the spondels passeth venakelis , or venacua , which is a veyne of great substance ; for hee receiveth all the nutrimentall blood from the liver , and from him passeth many small pipes on every side , and at the spondell betweene the shoulders , hee divideth himselfe whole in two great branches , the one goeth into the one arme , and the other into the other , and there they devide themselves into many veynes and branches , as is declared in the armes . chap. ix . the anatomie of the haunches and their parts . the haunches are the lower part of the wombe , joyning to the thighes and the secret members . and three things there are to be noted thereof . the first is , of the parts containing : the second is of the parts contained , and the third is of the parts proceeding outwards . the parts containing outwardly , be myrac and syfac , the zirbus and the bones . the part contained outwardly , are the vezike , or bladder : the spermaticke vessels , the matrix in women , longaon , nerves , veynes , and artiers , descending downewards ; the parts proceeding outwards , are the buttocks and the muscles , descending to the thighes , of which it is to bee spoken of in order . and first of the parts containing : as of myrac , syfac , and zirbus , there is enough spoken of in the anatomy of the wombe . but as for the bones of the hanches , there bee in the parts of the back three spondels of ossa sacri , or of the hanches : and three cartaliginis spondels of ossa cande , called the taile-bone . and thus it is proved , that there is in every man thirty spondels , and thus they are to be numbred : in the necke seaven , in the ridge twelue ▪ in the reynes five : and in the hanches sixe : and it is to be noted , that every spondell is hollow in the middest : through which hollownesse passeth nuca from the braine , or the marrow of the backe . and some authors say , that mynuca is of the substance that the braine is of : for it is like in substance , and in it self giveth to the nerves both the vertue of moving and feeling . and also every spondell is holden on every side , through the which holes , both artiers and veynes doe bring from the heart and the liver both life and nourishment , like as they doe to the braine ; and from the pannicle of mynuca , or the marrow of the back , through the holes of the sides of the spondels , springeth forth nerves motives , and there they intermingle themselves with the strong lygaments that be insensible , and so the lygaments receive that feeling of the nerves , which the nerves taketh of mynuca . and by this reason many authors prove , that mynuca is of the same substance that the braine is of , and the pannicles of the nuca is of the same substance of the pannicles of the braine , &c. and each of these spondels bee bound fall one with another , so that one of them may not well bee named without another . and so all these spondels together , contained one by another are called the ridge-bone , which is the foundation of all the shape of the body . they with the la●t spondell be contained or joyned to the bones of the haunches , and they be the upholders of all the spondels . and these bones bee small towards the taile-bone , and broad towards the hanches , and before they joyne and make os pectinis . and so they bee broad in the parts of the jles , and therefore some authors calleth it ylea . and each of these two bones towards the liver hath a great round hole , into which is received the bone called vertebra , or the whorlebone . also besides that place there is a great hole or way , thorow the which passeth from above musculus veynes and artiers , and goe into the thighes . and thus it is to bee noted , that of this bone pecten , and the bone vertebra , is made the juncture of the thigh . now to speake of the parts contained , the first thing that commeth to sight is the bladder , the which is an officiall member , compound of two nervous pannicles , in complexion cold and dry , whose necke is carnous , and hath muscles to with-hold , and to let goe : and in man it is long , and is contained with the yard , passing through peritoneum , but in women it is shorter , and is contained with the vulva . the place of the bladder , is betweene the bone of the share and the tayle-gut , called longaon , and in women , it is betweene the aforesaid bone and the matrix . and in it is implanted two long vessels comming from the kidneyes , who●e names be porri vrikcides , bringing with them the urine or water from the kidneys to the bladder , which privily entreth into the holes of the pannicles of the bladder , by a naturall moving betweene tunicle and tunicle , and there the urine findeth the hole of the nether tunicle , and there it entreth privily into the concavity of the bladder , and the more that the bladder is filled with urine , the straiter bee the two pannicles comprised together ; for the holes of the tunicles , be not even one against another ; and therefore if the bladder be never so full , there may none goe backe againe . the forme of it is round , the quantity of it is a pitcher full , in some more , in some lesse , &c. also there is found two other vessels , called vaza seminaria , or the spermaticke vessels . and they come from venakelis , bringing blood to the testikles , as well in man , as in woman , the which by his further digestion it is made sperme or nature in men : they be put outward for the testikles be without ▪ but in women it abideth within , for their . testikles stand within : as it shall be declared hereafter . next followeth the matrix in women : the matrix in women is an officiall member , compound and nerveous , and in complexion cold and dry : and it is the field of mans generation , and it is an instrument susceptive , that is to say , a thing receiving or taking : and her proper place is betweene the bladder and the gut longaon , the likenesse of it , is as it were a yard reversed and turned inward , having testikles likewise , as aforesaid . also the matrix hath two concavities or selles , and no more , but all beasts have as many selles as they have pappes-heads . also it hath a long necke like an urinall , and in every necke it hath a mouth , that is to say , one within , and another without . the inner in the time of conception is shut , and the outer part is open as it was before : and it hath in the middest a lazartus pannicle , which is called in latine tengit● : and in the creation of this pannicle , is found two utilities . the first is , that by it goeth forth the urine , or else it should bee shed throughout all the vulva : the second is , that when a woman doth set her thighs abroad ▪ it altereth the ayre that commeth ▪ to the matrix for to temper the heate . furthermore , the necke that is betweene these two aforesaid mouthes , in her concavity hath many involusions and pleates , joyned together in the manner of rose-leaves before they be fully spread or ripe , and so they be shut together as a purse mouth , so that nothing may passe forth but urine , untill the time of childing . also about the middle of this necke be certaine veynes in maydens , the which in time of deflowring , be corrupted and broken . furthermore , in the sides of the outer mouth , are two testicles or stones , and also two vessels of sperme , shorter then mans vessels , and in time of coyt the womans sperme is shead downe in the bottome of the matrix . also from the liver there commeth to the matrix many veynes , bringing to the child nourishing at the time of a womans being with child : and those veynes , at such time as the matrix is voyd , bring thereto superfluities from certaine members of the body , whereof are engendred womans flowers , &c. and forasmuch , as it hath pleased almighty god to give the knowledge of these his misteries and workes unto his creatures in this present world. heere j suppose to declare what thing embreon is , and his creation . the noble philosophers , as galen , avicen , bartholmeus ▪ and divers others , writing upon this matter , say : that embreon is a thing engendred in the mothers wombe , the origin all whereof is , the sperme of the man and of the woman , of the which is made by the might and power of god , in the mothers wombe a child : as hereafter more at large shall bee declared . first , the field of generation called the matrix , or the mother , is knowne in the anatomy , whose place is properly ( betwixt the bladder and longaon ) in the woman , in which place is sowne by the tillage of man , a covenable matter of kindly heate : for kindly heate is cause efficient both of doing and working , and spirit that giveth vertue to the body , and governeth and ruleth that vertue : the which seed of generation commeth from all the parts of the body , both of the man and woman , with consent and will of all members , and is shead in the place of conceiving , where thorow the vertue of nature , it is gathered together in the celles of the matrix or the mother , in whom by the way of the working of mans seede , and by the way of suffering of the womans seed mixt together , so that each of them worketh in other , and suffereth in other , there is engendred embreon . and further it is to bee noted , that this sperme that commeth both to man and woman , is made and gathered of the most best and purest drops of blood in all the body , and by the labour and chafing of the testikles or stones , this blood is turned into another kind , and is made sperme . and in man it is hot , white , and thicke : wherefore it may not spread nor runne abroad of it selfe , but runneth and taketh temperance of the womans sperme which hath contrary qualities : for the womans sperme is thinner , colder , and feebler . and as some authors hold opinion , when this matter is gathered into the right side of the matrix , then it happeneth a male-kind , and likewise on the left the female , and where the vertue is most , there it favoureth most . and further it is to bee noted , that like as the renet of the cheese hath by himselfe the way or vertue of working , so hath the milke by way of suffering : and as the renet and milke make the cheese , so doth the sperme of man and woman make the generation of embreon , of the which thing springeth ( by the vertue of kindly heate ) a certaine skin or caule , into the which it lappeth it selfe in , wherewith afterwards it is tyed to the mothers wombe , the which covering commeth forth with the byrth of the childe : and if it happen that any of the skinne remaine after the byrth of the child , then is the woman in perill of her life . furthermore , ( it is said ) that of this embreon is ingendred the heart , the liver , the braynes , nerves , veynes , arteirs , chords , lygaments , skins , gristles , and bones , receiving to them by kindly vertue the menstruall blood , of which is engendred both flesh and fatnesse . and as writers say , the first thing that is shapen , be the principals : as is the heart , liver , and braine . for of the heart springeth the artiers : of the liver , the veines : and of the brain , the nerves : and when these are made , nature maketh and shapeth both bones and gristles to keepe and save them , as the bones of the head for the brain : the breast bones , and the ribbes , for the heart and the liver . and after these springeth all other members one after another : and thus is the child bred forth in foure degrees , as thus . the first is , when the said sperme or seed is at the first as it were milke . the second is , when it is turned from that kind into another kind , is yet but as a lumpe of blood , and this is called of hypocrates , fettus . the third degree is , when the principals be shapen , as the heart , liver , and braine . the fourth and last , as when all the other members bee perfectly shapen , then it receiveth the soule , with life and breath , and then it beginneth to move it selfe alone . now in these foure degrees aforesaid , in the first as milke , it continueth seven dayes ▪ in the second as fettus , nine dayes : in the third , as a lumpe of flesh engendring the principals , the space of nine dayes : and in the fourth , unto the time of full perfection of all the whole members , is the space of eighteene dayes : so is there fixe and forty dayes from the day of conception , unto the day of full perfection and receiving of the soule , as god best knoweth . now to come againe to the anatomy of the haunches : then come wee to longaon , otherwise called the taile-gut , whose substance is pannicular , as of all the other bowels : the length of it is of a span long stretching nigh to the reynes , his nether part is called annis , ( that is to say ) the towell : and about him is found two muscles , the one to open ▪ the other to shut . also there is found in him five ve●nes or branches of veynes , called venae emoraidales , and they have colliganes with the bladder : whereof they are partners in their grieves . and when this longaon is raised up , then ye may see the veynes and artiers , and sinewes , how they bee branched and bound down to the nether parts : the parts proceeding outwardly , are didimus peritoneum , the yard , the testikles , and buttocks . and first , it shall be spoken of the yard , or of mans generative members , the which dureth unto that part that is called peritoneum , the which place is from the coddes , unto the fundament , whereupon is a seame . wherefore saith the philosopher , mans yard is in the end and terme of the share . the yard is an officiall member , and the tiller of mans generation , compound , and made of skin , brawnes , tendons , veynes , arteirs , sinewes , and great lygaments : and it hath in it two passages , or principall issues , one for the sperme , and another for the urine . and as the philosophers say , the quantity of a common yard , is eight or nine inches , with measurable bignesse proportioned to the quantity of the matrix . this member hath ( as avicen saith ) three holes , through one passeth insensible polisions and wind , that causeth the yard to rise : the other two holes is declared before . also the yard hath a skinne , and about the head thereof , it is double , and that men call praeputium ; and this skinne is moveable , for through his consecration the spermaticke matter is the better , and sooner gathered together , and sooner cast forth from the testikles ; for by him , is had the most delectation in the doing . and the foremost part of the head of the yard before , is made of a brawny flesh , the which if it bee once lost , it is never restored againe , but it may be well skinned , &c. the coddes is a compound member , and an officiall , and though it bee counted amongst the generative members , yet it is called a principall member , because of generation . this purse was ordained for the custody and comfort of the testikles and other spermaticke vessels : and it is also made of two parts , of inner and of the outer . the outer is compound and made of skinne , and lazartus . longitudinall and transversall , in like manner as the myrac . the inner part of the cods is of the substance of the sifac , and are in similitude as two pockets drawne together by themselves , and they differ not from the syfac : and there bee two , because if there fall any hurt to the one , the other should serve . the testikles or stones bee two , made of glandulus flesh , or curnelly flesh . and furthermore , through the didimus , commeth the testikles from the braine , sinewes , and from the heart artiers , and from the liver veynes , bringing unto them both feeling and stirring , life , and spirit , and nutrimentall blood , and the most purest blood of all other members of the body , whereof is made the sperme by the labour of the testikles , the which is put forth in due time , as is before rehearsed . the groynes bee knowne : they bee the empty junctures , or purging place unto the liver , and they have curnelly flesh in the plying or bowing of the thighes . the hippes have great brawny flesh on them , and from thence descend downwards , brawns , chords , and lygaments , moving and binding together the thighes , with the haunches themselues . chap. x. the anatomie of the thighes , legges , and feet . the legge reacheth from the joynt of the thigh unto the extremity of the toes , and j will divide it in parts , as the armes were divided . one part is called coxa , or thigh , and that is all that is contained from the joynt of the haunch unto the knee . the second part is called tibia , and that reacheth from the knee to the ankle . the third is the little foot , and that is from the anckle , unto the end of the toes . and heere it is to bee noted , that the thigh , legge , and foot , are compound , and made as the great arme or hand , with skin , flesh , veynes , artiers , sinewes , brawnes , tendons , and bones whereof they are to be spoken of in order . of the skinne and flesh there is enough spoken of before . and as of veynes and arteirs in their descending downwards , at the last spondels they bee divided into two parts , whereof the one part goeth into the right thigh , and the other into the left : and when they come to the thigh , they be divided in other two great branches : the one of them spreadeth into the inner side of the legge , and the other spreadeth into the outer side , and so branching , descend downe to the legge , to the anckles , and feet , and bee brought into foure veynes , which be commonly used in letting blood , as hereafter followeth . one of them is under the inner ankle toward the heel , called soffena , and another under the outer ankle , called siarica , and another under the hamme , called poplitica , the fourth , betweene the little toe , and the next , called renalis . and it is to be noted of these foure great veynes in the legges , of the manifold dangers that might fall of them as oft it happeneth . there bee many other branches which a chirurgion needeth not much to passe upon . the sinewes spring of the last spondell , and of os sacrum , and passeth through the hole of the bone of the hippe , and descendeth to the brawnes , and moveth the knee and the hamme , and these descend downe to the ankle , and move the foot , and the brawnes of the feet move the toes in like manner , as is declared in the bones of the hand . the first is called coxa , that is the thigh-bone , and he is without a fellow , and he is full of marrow , and is round at either end . the roundnesse that is at the upper end , is called vertebrum , or whyrlebone , and boweth inwards , and is received into the concavities of the bone of the legge at the knee , called the great fossels . there is also at the knee a round bone , called the knee-panne . then followes the legge , wherein is two bones , called focile major , and focile minor , the bigger of them passeth before making the shape of the shinne , and it is called the shin-bone , and passeth downe , making the inner ankle . the lesse passeth from the knee backwards , descending downe to the outer anckle , and there formeth that ankle , &c. the bones of the feet are sixe and twenty : as thus . first , next the ankle bone , is one called in latine orabalistus : next under that , towards the heele is one , called galeani : and betweene them is another bone , called os nauculare . in the second ward there be foure bones called raceti , as be in the hands . in the third and fourth wards be foureteene , called digitori : and five called pectens , at the extremities of the toes , next to the nailes . and thus be there in the foot , sixe and twenty bones , with the legge from the ankle to the knee , two in the knee , and one round and flat bone , and in the thigh , one . and thus you shall find in the whole leg and foot thirty bones . and this may serve for young practitioners in the anatomie . veynes in mans body perfect , is — 365. bones 217. teeth 32. for that in us all things may vaine appeare , a veyne wee have for each day in the yeare . for practice . it is necessary to know what letchcraft and chyrurgerie is , with their severall parts thereto belonging in the theorick and practick . very usefull for young practitioners . part . ii. letchcraft is chyrurgerie ; that is , to heale a man of all manner of sicknesse and to keepe him whole , so farre as craft may . know that in letchcraft , is contayned two things ; that is , both physicke and chyrurgerie . likewise , letchcraft and chyrurgerie , hath each of them two parts , viz. theoricke , and practicke . theorick to know , and practicke to worke . the ground of the theoricke , is to know the elements , and humours that proceedeth from them , which is for mans health or against it . letchcraft , teaches us causes , effects , and signes : signes to know the causes and effects ; and therefore j treat of signes , and many signes doth belong to physicke and chyrurgerie , as crisses , urine , pounces , vomits , sege , and other , &c. chyrurgerie , is in wounds , impostumes , and algebra ; and chyrurgerie holdeth foure parts , viz. wounds , and impostumes , algebra , and anatomie . and antidotary is the fift ; which is a kind of salves against all kind of sores that belongeth to chyrurgerie . algebra is broken bones , and bones out of joynt . antidotary of chyrurgerie , is in waters , powders , oyles , oyntments , and emplaisters most principall , some must bee repercussive , some moleficative , some maturative , some generative , and some corosive . anotomie is to know the body of man throughout , and all his members within and without . two members hath every manner of man , viz. principall , and officiall ; and foure principall every man hath , viz. braine , heart , liver , and stones ; the braine hath the head and necke : the heart , hath the lungs , brest , and midriffe : the liver hath the stomacke , and other members downe to the reynes , as guts , gall , and the kelle veyne , and milt , the milt upon the left side , and the gall upon the liver : the stones , hath reynes , bladder , and other privities : and these are the foure principall members , braine , heart , liver , and stones ; and without braine , heart and liver , no man can live ; and without stones can no man engender , three things in the stones is cause of engendring ; heat , wind and humours , heat commeth from the liver , spirit from the heart , and humours from the braines that man is made of , if any of these foure be faulty , that man can not as he should kindly engender . these sixe vertues are rooted in the liver , viz. attractive , digestive , diminusive , expulsive , retentive , and a simulative , that is in our english tongue ; drawing , and breaking out , putting , holding , and liking : for first , nature draweth in that which it needeth to live by , and then all to breake it ; and then departeth the good from the bad , and holdeth to it the good , and then dispierseth the good to all the members of the body . officiall members bee those that have certaine offices in mans body , where ever they be ; as the eye to see , the eare to heare , the hand to touch , the mouth to speake , the feet to goe , and many such other , &c. also such are called members as branches from the principall to the officiall , as the arme , or legge , that rooteth in the principall and brancheth to the officials : and so nerves , artiers , veynes , lygaments , chords , bones , pannicles , and gristles , flesh and skin to teach them ▪ their office : but nerves , veynes , and artiers bee most needfull , for they bee wells and rootes of all other nerves comming from the braine , and artiers from the heart , and veynes from the liver into all the body : nerves giveth to the body feeling , and moving , and artiers leaving , and veynes increasing . a veyne hath but one tunacle , and an artier hath two , in the one runneth bloud , and in the other spirits , and all beating veynes bee artiers , the which j call pulses , and all other be simple veynes ; and all such members saving flesh alone are melancholious , and their nature is sperme , but flesh is sanguine ; and therefore it may be sodered be it never so much cut , but the other said members because their matter is sperme , may never be sodered if they be much cue . now will j speake of wounds , which is the second part of chyrurgerie . one of these intentions hath every surgion . the first is , to containe that , that i● evill , loosed ; the second is , to loose that , that is evill contained ; the third is , to take away that , that is too much ; the fourth is , to increase that , that is too little . in these foure entents standeth all chirurgery . the first is in wounds , the second is impostumes , the third and fourth alg●br● holdeth . wounds be in many manners simple , and compound : simple in the flesh alone , and compound in seven manners . there be seven things that letteth a wound not lightly to heale , viz. empostumes discrased , hollownesse , or bitten by a venemous beast ; and these letteth a chirurgion suddenly to heale a wound ; and if a sinew bee cut or pricked , or wounded to the bone , or if the wound bee hollow , or else discrased with a fever , or bruised , or made by venemous beasts , then mayest thou not as thou wouldest close up a wound . and if a wound lacke all these seven things , then it is simple . thus medicine is letchcraft ; that is both physicke and chirurgery . and every one of them hath first his theoricke , perfectly to know , and afterwards his practique , cunningly to worke : the grounds of both which qualities , are elements , and humours , and ●●●nes most needfull both of urine and pulses . thus much for the theoricke . divers things very necessary for every practitioner in surgerie to have in a readinesse . and first , for instruments , viz. novacula . sp●●ill●● . s●alp●ll●● . lat●● sp●●ill●● ▪ for●icis . stylu● . volsell● . acu● . ca●●li●ula forata . fas●i● . hab●●● ad membra laqu●● intepcipi●●d● . panni●uli linei ad v●l●●ra abliga●●● . lint●a conc●rpta . a●ris●alpiu●● . forcip●s ad d●●tes ●v●ll●nd●s . ferra●entu● qu●●r●●i d●ntes , ●rad●●tur . ●n●inus , or ( as c●lsu● calleth it , ) hamul●●●●●●sum . 2. for sodaine accidents . he must have in readinesse , powders , unguents , and emplasters ; they serve to stop bleeding , to conglutinate wounds , to clense foule and rotten ulcers , to mollifie hardnesse , to produce a cicatrix , and skinne , to remove away all excrescent and corrupt flesh , to cease paine , to strengthen fractures and luxations . 3. for powders . they are of three sorts : the first , is to stay ▪ bleeding , as that which is framed of bolus ▪ armoniae , of rosis , of mastickes , and pollin . the second is , for fractures of the scull , and hurts of other bones , and is called pulvis cephalicus , and is framed of radicibus ir●os , of arist●l●●●iae , of myrrhe , aloes , and such like . the third is , to remove away excrescent and corrupt flesh ; as alumen ustu● , of pul ▪ prae●ipit . mer●urii , and such like . 4. for vnguents . he must have vnguentum basilicon , which doth humect , digest , and cease paine . vnguentum album ▪ rhasis , which doth refrigerate , coole and dry . vnguentum aureum called of some regis , which doth incarnate and conglutinate wounds together . vnguentum dialthea simplex , which doth calefie , soften , humect , and also cease paine . vnguentum apostolorum , which doth deterge , mollifie , dry , and remove away corrupt and superfluous flesh : and of like faculty almost is mundificativum ex api● , and aegyptiacum . 5. for emplasters . diachilon compositum , which doth ripen apostumes , and doth mollifie and resolve hardnesse , and doth digest , and also absterge . diacalciteos , commonly called diapalma , which doth conglutinate ulcers , produceth cicatrix and skinne , and according to the opinion of galen , is very fit for the curing of phlegme . emplastrum de betonica , which is also called de janua , it doth unite and joyne together the fractures of the skull , it covereth the bones with flesh , it draweth out spels and splinters of bones , it doth also absterge , digest and dry , with the like . of five h●arbes which a good chyrurgion ought alwayes to have . there be five herbes that a good chirurgion ought to have all the yeare , and they be good for wounded men ; and these herbes must be dryed and made into powder , and so kept all the yeare , viz. mouse-eare , pimpernell , avence , valerian , and gentian , of each a like quantity , but take of mouse-eare the weight of all the other hearbes , when they be dryed , take d●mi . spoonfull in untiment , or in some other liquor which is according to the sicknesse , and let him drinke it , and the medicine is as good as a salve for any wounded man , as may be had for to heale him . also the herbes that draweth the wound , are o●●ulus christi , mather , buglosse , red coleworts , and orpine . these be the soveraigne pepper hearbes for the fester , h●arbe robert , buglosse , sannacle , hempropes , morrell , rew , and savorie , but sake good heed of these hearbes in the use of them , and yee shall worke the better . some physicall observations tending to physicke and surgerie , and times convenient for letting of blood. to preserve health . if a man will observe , hee may governe himselfe at foure times in the yeare , so that hee shall have little need of let●hcraft , as thus ▪ in the spring , from march till may at which time increaseth the good sweet ▪ 〈…〉 blood , through good meates and 〈…〉 good wholsome savours . in summer , from may till june , at which time beginneth the bitter juyce of choller ▪ then use coole meats , and drinkes , and bee not violent in exercise , and forbeare women . in harvest , from june till november , at which time increaseth melancholy ; then bee purged by a medicine laxative , and afterward use light meats and drinkes , such as will increase good blood. in winter , from november till mar●h ▪ at which time increaseth flegme , through weaknesse of humours , and corruption of ayre ; then the pose beginneth to grow , then heat is in the veynes , then is pricking in the sides , then is time to use hot meats and good drinkes ▪ and spices , as pepper , ginger , &c. but doe not wash thy head. for as a learned physitian saith ; hee that taketh much physick when he is young , will much repent it when he is old . for letting of blood. as in all other parts of physicke so great care ought to be had in letting of blood. first , skilfully and circumspectly is to be considered and certainly knowne the cause . as whether it be needfull and good for the patient , to purge his body of some unnaturall and naughty , and superfluous humour . for otherwise , letting of bloud is very dangerous , and openeth the way to many grievous infirmities . and note generally ▪ that it is not convenient , eyther for a very leane and weake man , or for a very fat and grosse man to be let bloud , neither for a child under 14. yeares of age , nor an old man above 56. especially , in decrepit old age . now there remaineth to be considered , how it standeth with the patient inwardly , for his complexion and age , and outwardly , for the time of the yeare , time of the day , and also for dyet . for complexion . let bloud the phlegmatick , the moone being in aries or sagitarius . let bloud the melancholick , the moone in libra or aquarius . let bloud the cholerick , the moone being in cancer or pisces . let blood the sanguine , the moone in eyther of the aforesaid signes . for age. let blood youth ; from the change to the second quarter . middle-age , from the 2. quarter to the full . elder-age , from the full to the last quarter . old-age , from the last quart ▪ to the change . time of the yeare . spring good . autumne different . time of the moneth . let not blood , the moone in taurus , gemini , leo , virgo , or capric●rne . the day before nor after the change and full . twelve houres before and after the quarters . the moone with jupiter , or mars , evill aspected . time of the day . morning after sun-rising fasting ; afternoon , after perfect digestion ; the ayre temperate , the wind not south , if it may be . dyet after bleeding . sl●●pe not presently , stirre not violently ; vse no venery , feed , thou warily . notwithstanding , for the phrensie , the pestilence , the squinancy , the plurisie , the apoplexi● , or a continuall head-ach growing of cholerick blood , a hot burning feaver , or any other extreame paine ; in this case , a man may not tarry a chosen time , but incontinently with all convenient speed ▪ hee is to seek for remedy ; but then blood is not to bee let in so great a quantity , as if that a chosen and fit time were to be obtained . good to — prepare humours , the moon in gemini , libra , or aquarius . vomit , the moon in aries , taurus , or capr. purge by neezing , the moone in cancer , le● , or virgo . take clysters , the moone in aries , librae , or scorpio . take gargarismes , the moone in cancer , or stop rheumes and flux , the moon in taurus , virgo , or capric●rn● . bathe for cold diseases , the moone in aries , l●● , or sagitarius . bathe for hot diseases , the moone in cancer , scorpio , or pisces . purge with electuaries , the moon in cancer . purge with potions , the moone in scorpio . purge with pilles , the moon in pisces . for an unguent or plaister , is best to bee applyed , when the moone is in the imaginary sig●e attributed to the members whereunto it is applyed . of the nine tastse . salt , sharpe , and bitter , sower , savory , and eager , sweet , walloweth , and fatty-three of them bee of heat , three of cold , and the last three be of temperature . a cut chafeth , heateth , and fleyeth : temperature delighteth , lycorise , annis , ginger , wormewood , and suger : these bee examples : a cut raweth , heateth , and fleyeth , and nature there against ripeth , and twineth , and putteth out : make your medicine such , that for one putting out , double twining , and foure riping . melancholy is dry and cold , sower and earthly coloured , his urine is thinne and discoloured , his pulse is straight , and short in digestion , and a full stomacke , loathsomenesse , and sower belching , a swelling wombe , and sides , heavie , dead , and sluggish limbes , and melancholious urine commeth of a young wench that faileth in her flowers , or have them not as shee ought to have . fleame , cold and moyst , white , and weake in colours , his urine is discoloured and thicke , his pulse is short and broad ; raw stomacke ; and full , loathsome , and unlusty , watry mouth , much spitting , heavy head , sluggie , and slumbry , with cold hands and feete , and chiefly in the night . sanguine is moyst , and hot , sweet , and ruddy coloured , alway his body is full of heate , namely in the veynes , and they bee swelling , and of face he is ruddy , and in sleepe hee seemeth fiery : medicine for him is bloud let upon the currall or liver veyne , and simple dyet , as tyson , water grewell , and sower bread . choller is hot , and dry , yellow , greene and bitter , urine is discoloured , and thinne , his pulse is long and straight , much watch , heavy head ache , and thirst , bitter mouth , and dry , singing cares , and much gnawing in the wombe , and other while costiffenesse , and burned sege , and vomit , both yellow and greene , as is that colour . each humour may cause a fever or an impostume , and then the urine is more coloured , and the liquour thinner : and ever as that sicknesse defieth , the urine waxeth thicker , and the colour lower , till it come to cytrin or subrufe . melancholy causeth a quartaine , and fleame a quotidian . sinec and causon have ever continues , the other three may be so , and otherwhile interpolate , continue ever holdeth on , and interpolate resteth otherwhile ; continue is with the veynes , and interpolate is without the veynes , both two wayes may bee simple and also compound , simple of one matter , and one place , or compound of divers places . the tertians of these fevers be such , as the same humors be of , and also urine and pulse : all saving they bee stronger in fevers and impostumes then they be without , and therefore their medicine must bee more discreet , but generally dyet thus : sowre bread , and water-grewell , and tyson , and fleyed fish and wine , and almond milke , and all white meate saving whay , generall digestive in summer , and in hot time , as in oxizacia ; and generall digestive in winter and all cold time , as oxcineil● : and generall expulsive is , d● s●cca r●sarum , a cut with turbit , and scamony , ana . scruple two , and generall dormitary is insquiamany , and double medled with populions , and foment him with roses , ●●a , double sugar flaketh thir●● . signes of sicknesse by eg●stion . if the meat come from a man in manner as hee did eate it , the stomack is weake , and the bowels be lubricated , it is an evill signe . if the egestion looke like earth , it is ● s●gne of death . if the egestion doe not stinke , it is an evill signe . if the egestion doe looke like lead , it is an evill signe . if the egestion bee blacke as inke , it is an evill signe . if the egestion bee blacke , and looke like sheepes trickles , there is abundance of adu●● choller , and paine in the spleene . if the egestion be yellow , and no saffron eaten before , the body is r●pleat with choller and cytren water . if the egestion have straines of bloud , there is impediment in the liver and the bowels . if the egestion bee bloudish , there is ulceration in the guts . if the egestion looke like shaving of guts , beware then of an extreame fluxe and debility of the body . if a man be too laxative it is not good , for in such persons can be no strength but much weaknesse . if a man be costive and cannot have a naturall egestion once a day , he cannot be long without sicknesse . signes of life or death by the pulses . spigm●s is named the pulses , and there be twelue pulses the which doe take their originall at the vitall spirits : three of which belong to the heart , the one is under the left pap , the other two doe lye in the wrists of the armes directly against the thumbs . the braine hath respect to seaven pulses , foure be principall ; and three be minors , the foure principall are thus scituate ; in the temples two , and one going under the bone called the right furkcle , and the other doth lye in the corner of the right side of the nose , one of the three minor pulses in the corner of the left side of the nose : and the other two lye upon the mandibles of the two jawes , the liver hath respect to the two pulses which lye upon the feet . by these pulses , expert physitians and chyrurgions by their knocking and clapping , doe judge what principall member is diseased or whether the patient be in danger . if any of the principall pulses doe beate truely , keeping an equall course as the minute of a clocke , then there is no perill in the patient , so be it they keepe a true course ; or pulse without any pause or stopping ; which is to say , if the pulse give five knockes and cease at the sixth knocke : or else seven and pause at eight , or else knocke tenne and lea●e over the eleventh , and begin at the twelfth , the patient is in perill , else not ; for it is not in the agility , as too swift or tardie beating of the pulse , but in the pausing of the same contrary to its course , that the patient is in perill . in such causes let the physitian be circumspect , and carefull , for sincopies in the patient , let him sit upright in his bed with pillowes , and let one sit at his backe to give him drinke , and let the patient smell to amber greece or rosewater and vin●ger , or else rub the pulse with aqua vitae . also , when you touch the pulse , marke under which finger it strikes most strongest , as thus ; if the pulse under the little finger , be feeble and weake , and under the rest more weake , it is a token of death : but contrariwise , if under the little finger strong , and under every finger stronger it is a good signe . and if you feele the pulse under the fore-finger strike untill the eleventh stroke and it faile in it , is a good signe , but if he beate swift and unorderly , an evill . of the foure humours . 1. signes of sicknesse by blood. slownesse , idlenesse , dulnesse , yawning or gaping , stretching forth the armes , no delight or pleasure , sweet spittle mingled with bitternesse , much heavie sleepe with dreames of red colour , or bearing of burthens great and heavie , perturbation of the sences , red face with much sweat , little or no appetite to meat with red grosse stinking urine . of these signes are knowne , stinking feavers , pestilence , squinancie , and bloody-fluxe . for remedy , if the blood be distempered , helpe it with things cold and dry ; for blood is moist , hot , and sweet . 2. signes of melancholy sicknesses . pale colour in the face , sowrenesse in the mouth , belching wind , little sleepe , that horrible , and infernall dreames , much thought , pensivenesse and care , a desperate mind , more leaner then before in the body , straitnesse in the stomack ▪ elvishnesse in countenance , snappish in words ; starting , coldnesse , and fearefull , white and thin urine . these signes testifie ▪ quartaine , morphew , lepre , canker , madnesse , and hardnesse of the spleene . for remedy , if it bee of red choller , give things cold , moist and sweet ; for red choller is bitter and fiery . 3. signes of cholerick diseases . yellow colour in the skin , bitterness in the mouth , pricking in the mouth of the stomacke , supernaturall heat , loathsomnesse to meat , lamentation or great griefe of mind . drinesse , coveting drinke of divers kinds , vomits of yellow and greene , small or no sleepe , but fearefull and fiery dreames of strife . these bee signes of the jaundies , tertians , plurisies , madnesse , and collicks . for remedy , if it bee of blacke choller , or melancholy , give things hot and moyst , and sweet ; for adust choller is sharpe and cold . 4. signes of flegmatick diseases . sluggishnesse and dulness of memory , forgetfulnesse , much spitting , 〈…〉 , paines in the head , especially in the hinder part , swelling in the face and cheeks , evill digestion ▪ white dropsie-like in colour , patience with doltishnesse , lacking lively quickne●se , dreaming of going naked , drowning , or of snow . the diseases , quotidians , dropsies , palsey , and the falling sicknesse . for remedy , if the disease be of salt flegme give things sweet , hot and dry , thus saith soramis . and thus much for remedies against the distemperance of each humour . notwithstanding , where there is abundance of cold flegme not mixt with choller , there things very sharpe and hot bee most convenient ; as tart vineger with hot roses and seeds , or wines , strong and rough honey , being boyled in the one and in the other . or where choller is mixt with flegme , sirrop made with vineger and suger , boyled sometimes with seeds , herbes , and rootes , which may dissolve flegme and digest it is very good . certaine observations for women . when womens brests diminish being with child , is a token the child is dead . if a woman with child bee sodainly taken with any grievous sicknesse , her life is in great danger . if a woman with child be let blood , it killeth the child , the nearer the birth the greater is the danger . it is perilous for a woman with child to have a great lax , or loosenesse . a woman having a convultion in temperate times of her termes , is perilous . the c●alx of egge-shels ministred in broth asswageth the paine and griping in a woman , after her deliverance of child . of urines . a briefe treatise of urines , aswell of mans urine as of womans , to judge by the colour which betokeneth health , and which betokeneth weaknesse , and also death . part . iii. of bubbles resident in vrine . it is shewed , that in the fore-parts of the body dwelleth sicknesse and health : that is , in the wombe , in the head , in the liver , and in the bladder , in what manner thou maist know their properties and thereof mayest learne to judge the better . when bubbles doe swim on the top of urine , they proceed of windy matter included in viscous humidity , and signifie rawnesse and indigestion in the head , belly , sides , reynes , and parts thereabouts , for in these especially , hu●ours are multiplied and doe ascend to make paine ▪ in the head. re●ident bubbles doth signifie ventositie in the body , or else a sicknesse that hath continued long and will continue , unlesse remedy be found ; but bubbles not resident but doth breake quickly , signifieth debility or weaknesse . bubbles cleaving to the urinall , signifieth the body to be repleat with evill humours . bubbles doth also signifie the stone in the reynes of the backe . a circle which is greene of colour of urine , doth signifie wavering in the head , and burning in the stomacke . this colour in a feaver doth signifie paine in the head , comming of choller . and if it continue it will cause an impostume , the which will ingender the frenzi● . a blacke circle in urine , signifieth mortification . if any filthy matter doe appeare in the urine , it commeth from the lungs and sometimes from the liver , and it may come from breaking of some impostume , but for the most part it commeth from the vlcers of the bladder or the reynes , or from the passages of the urine , then the urine is troubled in the bottome and stinketh , he hath a paine in his lower parts and especially in the parts aforesaid , when he maketh water , and chiefly in the end of the yard , and commonly there is with this the strangurie which is hardly to be cured , unlesse it be in the beginning . if it come from the reynes , there is paine in the loynes , the backe and the flanke . if from the liver , the paine is onely in the right side . if in the lungs , the paine is from the brest with a cough and the breath stinketh . if from the bladder , the paine is about the share . if a mans urine be white at morning , and red before meate , and white after meate , he is whole : and if it be fat and thicke it is not good . and if the vrine be meanly thicke , it is not good to like : and if it be thicke as spice , it betokeneth head ache . vrine that is two dayes red , and at the tenth day white , betokeneth very good health . vrine that is fat , white , and moyst , betokeneth the fever quartaine . vrine that is bloody , betokeneth that the bladder is hurt by some rotting that is within . a little vrine all fleshie , betokeneth wasting of the reynes : and who pisseth bloud without sicknesse , he hath some veyne broken in his reynes . urine that is ponderous , betokeneth that the bladder is hurt . urine that is bloody in sicknesse , betokeneth great evill in the body , and namely in the bladder . urine that falleth by drops , above , as it were great boules , betokeneth great sicknesse and long . if white gravell doth issue forth with vrine , it doth signifie that the patient hath or shall have the stone ingendred in the bladder , and there is paine about those parts . if the gravell be red , the stone is ingendred in the reynes of the backe and kidneyes , and there is great paine in the small of the backe . if the gravell be blacke , it is ingendred of a melancholly humour . note , that if the gravell goe away , and the patient find no ease , it sheweth that the stone is confirmed . also know yee , that if the gravell goe away , and the paine goe away likewise , it signifieth that the stone is broken and voydeth away . womens vrine that is cleare and shyning in the vrinall like silver , if shee cast oft , and if she have no talent to meate , it betokeneth she is with child . womens urine that is strong and white and also stinking , betokeneth sicknesse in the reynes , in her secret receipts , and her chambers is full of evill humours , and sicknesse of her selfe . womens vrine that is bloody and cleere as water underneath , betokeneth head-ache . womens urine that is like to gold , cleere and mighty , betokeneth that she hath lust to man. womens urine that hath colour of stable cleansing , betokeneth her to have the fever quartaine , and shee to be in danger of death . womens urine that appeareth as colour of lead , if shee bee with child , betokeneth that it is dead within her . to know a mans urine from a womans , and a womans or mans from a beast urine . first a mans water the nearer you hold it to the eye the thicker it doth shew , and when you hold it further off the thinner it doth appeare ; but in beasts urines it is not so ; for the nearer you hold it to the sight the thinner it is , and the further the sight the thicker , also beast water is more salter and of a stronger savour , and of a more simple complection , and smelleth more raw , then the urine of a man ; also mixe the water of a beast with wine and they will part a sunder . hereafter followeth all the vrines that betokeneth death , as well the vrine of man as of woman . in a hot axes , one part red , another blacke another greene , another blew , betokeneth , death . urine in hot axes , blacke , and little in quantity , betokeneth death . urine coloured all over a● leade , betokeneth the prolonging of death . urine that shineth raw and right bright , if the skin in the bottome shine not , it betokeneth death . urine that in substance having fleeting above as it were a darke sky , signifieth death . urine darkly shyning , and darke with a blacke skin within , betokeneth a prolonging of death . urine that is the colour of water , if it have a darke sky in an axes , it betokeneth death . urine that hath dregges in the bottome medled with blood , it betokeneth death . urine blacke and thicke , and if the sicke loath when he goeth to the stoole , and when he speaketh overthwart , or that he understandeth not aright , and these sicknesses goeth not from him , it betokeneth death . of vvounds ▪ part . iv. a definition of wounds by their causes . a wound is a solution , seperation and recent breach of unity , of that that before was a continuity with out putrified matter , which corruption giveth the name of an ulcer to the solution , and no more a wound . the causes of wounds are duall , viz. first by the violence of bodies without life , as we simply call an incised wound , as when it is caused by edged instruments . secondly , we call it a stab or puncture , caused by theforce of daggers and the like . thirdly , we call those contused wounds , caused by violent use of the object , being some weighty thing ( cast as a stone , or stroake with a staffe , or their similies ) against the subject receiving their forces , differing in their appellations by the diversity of their causes . or secondly , wounds are caused by living things , as a wound that is of biting , scratching and the like , and for these causes they differ in their appellatious . also the differencie of wounds , are taken eyther from their causes by which they are inflicted , or from their accidents , viz. the indication of the place wherein they are scituated . also , the place maketh difference thus : eyther they happen in the similar parts , as the flesh , artery , veyne , &c. or in the organicall or instrumentall parts , as some intire and whole bulke , truncke , or fully compleat member , or limbe , viz. the head , necke , brest , belly , &c. wounds of the head grow more particular , because that parts belonging thereto be of more note ; as the face , nose , lippes , eyes , and eares : wounds of the limbes , arc of the shoulders , armes , thighes , and legs . of the similar parts also , some are sanguine , as the flesh , whose wounds are eyther simple , deepe , hollow , plaine , or proud with flesh . the spermaticke likewise , are eyther hard or soft ; the soft parts , as the veynes , arteries , and sinewes , being wounded , we call them wounds of the hurt part ; the hard are the bones , a breach of which , we call a wound in the bone. so wounds derive their nominations from the cause , place and simisitudes thereof . what wounds are . wounds are these , which in latine are called vulnus , of the vulgar vulner , and they are of two kinds , that is , simple and compound : the simple are those , that are onely in the flesh : the compound are those , where are cut sinewes , veynes , muscles , and bones , and these are of divers and sundry kinds , and the difference that is among them , is by the variety of the place where they are wounded , and by the difference of the weapon wherewith they were hurt . for some goe right , some overthwart , that offend divers places of the body : the simple are of small importance , if they keepe them cleane and close shut nature will heale , them , without any kind of medecine : but those where veynes are cut , had neede of some art or practise , with the which they must stop the blood , and in any wise not to suffer the wound to remaine open but to sow it up very close , so that the veyne may heale , and those where sinewes are hurt are of great importance , and would be healed with great speed , so the sinewes may joyne with more ●ase . but those where bones are hurt , are of great importance , for if the bone be seperated from the other , of necessity it must be taken forth before the wound be healed : so that by this meanes every one may know , what wounds are and their kinds . in the curing of greene wounds consists a five-fold scope or intention . the first , is to draw out that which is sent into the body , whether by bullet , wood , bone , or stone ; or arrowes , darts and such like . the second , is a conjunction and united of parts divided . the third , is a retaining of those parts united in their proper ▪ seate . the fourth , is a conservation of the parts of the substance . the fifth , is a prohibition and mitigation of accidents . for the first intention , it is performed eyther with fit and convenient instruments , or with attractive medicines , whereby things that are infixed are drawne out . which medicines are these . radix aristolochiae , ammoniacum . arundis . saga poenum . anagallis . dictamnum . thapsia . ranae combustae , or emplastrum avicennae , so much commended by guyd● . the second and third intention , is performed by binding and ligature , if the wound be simple and small , and in a place where it may fitly be performed , yea , although it be large , so it may be easily bound , as in the muscles of the arme , and such like ; but if it happen that ligatute will not serve , then must be added the helpe of the needle , being very carefull to handle the party gently , and to place it in his due seate . the fourth intention , is performed and accomplished , by appointing of a fit and convenient dyet , according to the strength of the patient , and greatnesse of the affect and disposition of the whole body : for a thin dyet and cold , doth very much availe in resisting of symptoms , we also adde blood-letting and purging of humors to avoide accidents , also the part is to be contained in his due place , and a cataplasme framed with the whites of egges , and other cooling things , are to be applyed , and sometimes to be fomented with astringed wine . the fifth intention , is the correcting of accidents , which is flux of blood , dolour , tumor , paralysis , convulsion , fever , syncope , delerium , and itching . but this is to observed in the fluxe of blood : whether it hath flowne sufficiently or no ; if otherwise the fluxe is to be suffered ; for after a sufficient fluxe , the wound doth remaine dry , and is so much the neerer cured and the lesse symptomes follow , as phlegmon and such like : and if the wound bleed not sufficient , we must open a veyne for revulsion ▪ according to the greatnesse of the affect , and the nature of the wound : especially when through paine or other cause wee feare inflamation or a feaver . how a sicke man should dyet himselfe being wounded . a wounded man , or a man sore beaten being sicke , must be kept from milke , butter , cheese , hearbes , fruites , fish , ( except fre●h-water fish ) women , garlicke , onions , leekes , peason , &c. also divers sorts of meats must he not eate , as fresh beefe , water fowles , goose , or duck , nor drinke too much strong wine . but he may eate porke , mutton , chicken , henne , or capon . of wounds and their cures happening in severall places of the body . and first , of infirmities incident to souldiers in a campe. commonly , there are three infirmities that offend souldiers in a campe above all the rest , the which are these : feavers , wounds , and fluxes of the body ▪ the which thou mayst helpe in this order following with these medicines . quintessence of wine , balsamo , magno licore , quintessentia , and spice imperiall ; and as for the order to use them is thus . when any hath a feaver or flux , then presently when the disease beginneth , let him blood in one of the two veynes underneath the tongue , cutting it overthwart , and this thou shalt doe in the evening , then the next morning , take a doze of your imperiall powder mixt with wine , and this you may doe without any dyet or strict order : that being done , give him three mornings together , halfe an ounce of our quintessence solutive , with broath : but if it bee a fluxe , and that the patient is not cured , let him stand in a cold bath of salt-water of the sea , three or foure houres or more , and he shall be perfectly ho●pe . then as concerning wounds , as well as cuts as thrusts , and as well galling with arrowes , as harquebush shot , and other sorts , thou shalt cure them thus . the first thing that thou shalt doe to them is to wash them very cleane with wine , and then dry them well , then put thereinto quintessence of wine , and presently joyne the parts together , and sowe or stitch them close , then put thereupon five or sixe drops of our balsamo , and upon the wound lay a cloth wet in our magno licore as hote as yee may suffer it , and this yee shall do the first day : then the next day follow this order . first , put thereon our quintessence , and a little of our balsamo , and then our magno licore very hote , and never change that medicine . and this done , the wound shall be whole with great speed and in a quarter of the time that the common chirurgions is able to doe it , by the grace of god. a rare secret , the which this author did send to a very friend of his being in the warres : the which helpeth all wounds eyther by cut , thrust , galling with arrowes , or hargubush-shot , or otherwise . the first thing that yee shall doe , is to wash the wounds very cleane with urine , and then dry it very well : then put therein quintessence of wine , and presently joyne the parts close together , and stitch or sow them well ; but in any wise sowe nothing but the skinne : for otherwise it will cause great paine : then put thereon five or sixe drops of our balsamo , and upon the wound ▪ lay a cloth wet in our magno licore ▪ as hote as they can suffer it , and this doe the first day . then the next day follow this order . first , put thereon our quintessence , and then a little of our balsamo : and then annoint it very well with our magno licor● , as hot as it may be suffered : never changing this medicine untill it be whole . this is very certaine and approved . of wounds in the head , with fracture of the bone. vvounds of the head with fracture of the bone , of the common physitians and chirurgions , are counted difficile to be healed , because thereunto belongeth great art or cunning : for they open the flesh , and raise the bone , with many other things , of which j count it superfluous to intreat of , because that many be holpen without them . for alwayes when the physitians or chirurgions doe offend the wound for alteration or corruption ▪ nature it selfe will worke very well , and heale it without any ayde . but with our medicines they may be holpen with much more speed , because they let the alteration , and defendeth them from putrifaction , and mittigateth the paine . and the order to cure those kind of wounds are thus . the first thing that is to be done in those wounds , is to joyne the parts close together , and dresse them upon the wound with our oleum benedictum , and upon the oyle lay cloathes wet in our magno licore , as hot as you can suffer it : and so with the remedies thou shalt helpe them quickly : because our oleo benedicto taketh away the paine , and keepeth it from putrifaction and resolveth . our magno licore digesteth , mundifieth , and incarnateth and healeth . and therefore this is the best medicine that can be used in these wounds . for hereof j have had an infinite of experiences , the which hath beene counted miracles : and therefore j have let the world to understand thereof , that they may helpe themselves if need shall serve . of wounds in the head , where the bone is not offended . vvounds in the head , where the bone is not hurt , are not of such importance , but are easily to be holpen : for you shall doe nothing , but keepe it from putrifaction , and defend it from inflamation , which are easie to be done , and so nature will worke well with great speed . to keepe the wound from putrifaction , you must annoynt it round about with our oleum philosophorum , deterebinthina , and sera . and to keepe it from inflamation , you shall wash it with our quintessence , and upon the wound dresse it with our magno licore ; thus doing , thy cure shall prosper happily , and shall not need to take away any blood , nor yet to keepe any dyet , no● yet to keepe the house , but to goe where you thinke good , without any perill or danger : and this order have j used a long time , as divers of my friends can testifie . of concussions or bruises , as well in the head as any other place . concussions or bruises in the head or any other place of the body , of the antient physitians hath beene counted dangerous to heale , for they say , that concussions must be brought to putrifaction , and turned into matter , which opinions j doe allow , for by me those concussions or bruises is very easie to bee dissolved without maturation : and that j doe with our oleo benedicto , and magno licore , as much of the one as of the other mixt together , and made very hote as you can suffer it , and then wet cloathes twice a day , and in three or foure dayes at the most they shall be dissolved : and this it doth , because this remedy assubtiliateth the humours , and openeth the pores , and draweth forth the matter that is runne into the place offended , and so by those meanes they shall be holpen with this remedy : j have cured hundreds , when j was in the warres of africa , in anno. 1551. when a whole city was taken and destroyed by the campe of charles the fifth , emperour . of wounds in the necke and the order to be used in curing them . vvounds in the necke are very hard to be cured , and long before they heale , and this commeth , because next are all the ligaments of the head , as bones , sinewes , veynes , flesh , and skinne , all instruments that hold the head and the body together , without the which a man cannot live ; and therefore those wounds are so perillous to be healed , seeing thereunto runneth so great a quantity of humours , that they will not suffer the wound to be healed . the true way therefore to helpe those wounds , is to stitch them well in his place , and dresse it upon the wound , with cloathes wet in oleum benedictum one part , and magno licore three parts , mixt together , as hote as you can suffer it . and upon the cloath lay the powder of mille-foyle , and this thou shalt doe once in 24 houres , and so that shall helpe them quickly : giving you great charge that you change not your medicine ; for it mundifieth , incarnateth , and healeth the wound without any further helpe , for j have proved it an infinite and many times . of wounds in the armes , and their importances and medicines . vvounds in the armes are dangerous , for that there also are a great number of sinewes , cartylagines , veynes , muscles , and other dangerous things , as it is well seene in wounds in that place , how that thereunto runneth abundance of humours , and there commeth alteration , inflamation , and impostumation which hurteth the patient much . therefore in this case , j will shew thee a rare secret , where-with thou shalt helpe any sort of wound in the arme , without any alteration , and with a little paine , and the secret is this , dresse the wound upon the upper parts with our magno licore , very warme , without any tenting at all , and this doe once a day , and no more , and in no wise change your medicine ; for with this thou mayest helpe all wounds in the armes with great speed ▪ and it is one of the greatest secrets that can be used for the wounds in the armes : and proved by me infinite times . of wounds in the legs , and their parts . vvounds in the legs are in a manner of the same quality as those in the armes , because the legs are of their proper quality and nature , compounded of the like substance that the armes are : that is , in skinne , flesh , muscles , veynes , sinewes , and bones : and these , when they are offended or wounded , are very perillous , because unto them runneth great quantity of humours , and in the legges are certaine places deadly ( as men say ) as the hinder part of the calfe of the leg , nnd the middle of the inner part of the thigh , the ankle , and the foote , are all places troublesome and curious to heale when they are wounded , and therefore to heale them according to the manner of the antients , it were great trouble to the chirurgion : and pity to see the paine of the patient . wherefore in any wise use not the medicines of the antients . but when thou hast occasion , joyne unto the skill of thy art the use of these medicines , our quintessentia , balsamo , magno licore , oleo di rasa , olea benedicto , ole● philosophorum . any of these , or such like , which are incorruptible , which by their proper quality assubtiliateth concussions , pierceth to the bottome of the wounds , keepeth the flesh in his naturall caliditie and humidity , perserveth from putrifaction , and naturally maketh the flesh to joyne and grow together , and that in a short space . therefore consider well , which worketh better effect , ours , or the antients , and use them at thy discretion . a discourse upon old wounds , which are not thorowly healed ; with their remedies . vvhen that wounds are ill healed , and that therein commeth impostumations , and that the part of the wounds be indurated and full of paine , then use this secret of our invention , which was never yet seene nor heard of the antients , nor yet of our time , but of us . when thou findest such a cause , wash the wound well , and make it cleane round about , and then wash it with our quintessentia vegetabile , and bathe it well thorow , for that the said quintessentia doth open the pores , and assubtiliateth the matter , and causeth the humour to come forth . this being done , annoynt it all over with our magno licore ▪ and this done , within three dayes the patient shall feele great ease , and in short time after he shall be whole . this is one of the most noblest medicines that can bee made : for it takes away the hardnesse healeth the wound , and comforteth the place offended . a rare secret to heale wounds of gunshot , arrowes , or such like , in the wars , when hast is required . if thou wilt cure these wounds presently , joyn the parts together with speed , washing it with aqua coelestis , and oleum balsam● , of our invention , and lay a cloath wet to the same very close thereon . to heale a wound quickly . vvash the wound well with our aqua balsamo , and close it up , and thereupon lay a cloth of the oyle of frankensence , and so by this meanes thou shalt heale any great wound quickly : for j have proved it infinite times to my great credit . to heale a wound quickly , that is in danger of any accidents . wounds in some parts of the body are very dangerous of life , and especially where the sinewes or veynes bee ( cut or pierced ) or veynes or muscles be hurt , or bones broken , and by an infinite of other particulars , which being open or ill healed , the patient may be in danger of life , because the winde entreth in , and causeth paines and inflamation ; and therefore to avoyd all these aforesaid matters , so that the wound shall have no detriment use this remedy . first joyne the parts close together , and put therein our quintessence , and lay a cloth wet in our baulme , and binde it fast that the ayre come not in , for it is very hurtfull . you shall understand that these be two of the best experienced medicines that may be found : because our quintessence doth assubtiliate the blood , and taketh it forth , and taketh away the paine . and the baulme doth warme and comfort the place offended . and will not suffer any matter to runne thereinto by any meanes : for this is most true , as j have proved it divers and sundry times , and alwayes have had very good successe . to stay the fluxe of bloud in wounds . vvhen there is a fluxe of blood in any wound by reason of some veyne that is cut , and that the chirurgion would stop it , it is necessary , that he put into it our quintessence , and then to stitch it up very close and hard , and upon the wound strow the blood of a man dryed , made in powder , and lay upon the wound a cloath wet in our baulme artificially , very warme , and upon that binde the wound very straight with ligaments , and twice a day wash it with our quintessentia , and round about it annoynt it with our baulme , and also cast thereon our secret powder for wounds , and that doe , morning and evening every day without opening the wound , and in short time it will remaine well , giving you charge that the wounded person doe keepe no straight dyet , because nature being weake relaxeth the veynes , and that causeth the fluxe of blood . another for the same . first , stitch the wound close , then cast thereon mans blood , and bind it somewhat hard , so let it remaine 24. houres : and when you unbind it , take heed you remove nothing , and cast thereon more dried blood , and annoint it round about with oleum philosophorum , deteribinthina and cera , and bind it againe other 24. houres , and bind it gently , and annoynt the wound with oyle of frankensence , and in short time it will be perfectly whole . a defence to be layd upon vvounds . take perfect aqua-vitae of good wine , what quantity you will , and put therein hipericon , mill-foyle , viticella , and bitony , and then let it stand certaine dayes close stopped , and when ye will use it , wet a cloth therein and lay it round about the wound , and thou shalt have thy intent , to the great satisfaction of the patient . a secret powder for wounds . take hipericon flowers and leaves , millfoyle , and viticella , and stampe them well together , and so strew it upon the wound , and round about the wound , when it is dressed , and that doth defend it from accidents . a composition of great vertue against all vlcers and sores . take the oyle of vitrioll that is perfect , as much as you will , and put it into a glasse , with as much oyle of tartar made by dissolution , and so let it stand ten dayes : then take one scruple of that , and one ounce of pure aqua vitae , and mixe them together , and therewith wash the hollow ulcers and they will heale in short time . it helpeth any crude kind of scab or sore that is caused of the evill quality or nature . a note of a certaine spanyard , wounded in the head at naples . there was a certaine spanyard called samora , of the age of 34. yeares , of complexion cholericke and sanguine , the which was wounded in the left side of the head , with incision of the bone. now yee must understand , that in naples the ayre is most ill for wounds in the head , by reason that it is so subtill , and for that cause the doctors did feare the cure : neverthelesse , j dressed him with our magno licore , and balsamo artificio , keeping the wound as close as was possible , annoynting it onely upon the wound , and so in 14. dayes he was perfectly whole , to the great wonder of 2 number of chyrurgions in that city . for to heale hurts and vvounds . take mallowes and seeth them well , and when they be boyled , take and stampe them , and take old barrowes grease and clean barley meale , and mingle the juyce , the meale and the grease all together , and make a salve thereof , it is a ready healer . to stanch the blood of a cut. take a good handful of nettles and bruise them , and then lay them upon the wound hard bound with a cloth , and it will stanch it presently . another for the same . take hogs-dung hot from the hog , mingle it with suger and lay it to the wound will stay the bleeding . for to staunch the blood of a vvound . take a linnen-cloth , and burne it to powder , and bind it to the wound or veyne that is hurt , and it helpeth . a healing salve for any greene vvound . take two yolkes of egges , halfe a pound of turpentine , half a quarter of an ounce of mastick , half a quarter of an ounce of nitre and halfe a quarter of an ounce of wearick , two ounces of bucks-tallow , halfe a gille of rose-water , and half a quarter of an ounce of saffron , mixe all these together and make of them a salve , and keepe it for your use . the lord capels salve for cuts or rancklings comming of rubbings : it is also a very good lip-salve . take a pound of may-butter and clarifie it , then take the purest thereof : also take three ounces of english wax , and two ounces of rozine , and clarifie them by themselves , then boyle them all together , and when it is well boyled , coole it , and after keepe it in the cake , or otherwise as your salve . for to draw and heale a cut. take the juyce of smalledge , the juyce of bugle , of each a like quantity ; take also waxe , rozen unwrought , sheepes suet , deeres suet , of each a like quantity , of sallet oyle ▪ and turpentine but a little ; fry them all , and scrape a little lint , and lay a little salve upon the lint , and put it in the cut , and then lay a plaister over it . a salve for fresh wounds . take harts-grease and turpentine , of each foure ounces : oyle of roses , frankensence and masticke , of each one ounce , and so make your salve , and lay it to the sore . a salve that cleanseth a wound and heal●th it . take white turpentine unwashed foure ounces , the yolke of an egge , and a little barley meale , and so make a salve . to kill dead flesh . take the juyce of smalledge , and the yolke of an egge , wheaten flower , a spoonfull of honey : and mingle all these together , and drop it into the sore , or otherwise make a plaister : fine suger scraped into powder will doe the same . a playster for old sores . take litarge of gold , one pound , oyle of roses two pound , white wine a pinte , urine a pinte , vineger halfe a pinte , waxe , frankensence , and myrrhe , of each two drams , and so make your plaister according . for a canker , fistula , warts , or wounds , new or old . take a gallon and a halfe of running water , and a pecke of ashen ashes , and seeth them , and make thereof a gallon of lie , and put thereto a gallon of tanners woose ▪ and powder of roch allome , and madder a pound : and seeth all these , and let your panne be so great , that it be little more then halfe full , and when it riseth in the seething , stirre it downe with a ladle , that it runne not over , and let it stand three or foure houres till it be cleere , and all that is cleere straine it through a good thicke canvasse , and then wet therein a ragged cloth , and long lint , and lay it on the sore , and this is good for all the diseases aforesaid . a salv● for any wound . take housleeke , marigold leaves , sage ▪ betonie , and garden mallowes , of each one handfull , stampe them , and straine them , then take the juyce , and half a pound of fresh butter , one penny worth of fine turpentine , ●ery well washed , one penny worth of aqua composita , and an oxe-gall , mixe them all together , and boyle them moderately upon the imbers , and so make a plaister . to h●lp● the ach of a wound . for ache of a wound , stampe fennell , with old swines greace , and heate it and binde it thereto , r●cip . the juyce of smallage , honey , old swines greace , and rye meale , and apply it plasterwise . to heale wounds without plaister , tent or oyntment , except it ●e in the head. stampe fennell , yarrow , buglosse , an● ▪ white wine , and drinke it 2. or 3. times a day till you be well . mixe swines greace with honey , rye meale , and wine , and boyle it and use it , but if it heale too fast , put in the juyce of bryonie a little , or bruise jsop and put in while the wound is raw is very good . to heale a wound that no scarre or print thereof shall be seene . rost lilly roots , and grinde them with swines greace , and when the wound is healed , anoynt it therewith often . thus much for vvounds . of plaisters ▪ part . v. to make a resolutive plaister of great vertue . this plaister is to resolve tumours and hardnesse , if it be laid thereon very hot , and when it cold , to lay on another , and this you shall doe till the hardnesse be resolved : and it is made in this order . take common wood ashes that are well burnt and white , and finely searced one pound , clay beaten in fine powder , halfe a pound , carab one ounce : mixe all these in an earthen dish , on the fire , with oyle of roses , in forme of a liquid unguent , and that yee shall lay upon the place grieved , as hot as yee may suffer it , and change it morning and evening ▪ and yee shall see ▪ it worke a marvailous effect . moreover , when the pelichie commeth forth a diseased , let him bee folded in the same remedy very hot , and in foure and twenty houres yee shall be holpe , if yee be first well purged : for this is a great secret which j have revealed . this word pelichy , is ( as it were certaine spots ) like those which we call gods tokens , the which commonly come to those that have the pestilent feaver . to make a maturative plaister of great vertue . this maturative doth open an impostume without instrument and paine : and the order to make it , is this . take the yolkes of egges , two ounces , white salt finely ground , one ounce , hens dung that is liquid and red like honey , one ounce : mixe all these well together without fire , and when you will bring an impostume to seperation , and breake it , lay on this plaister morning and evening , a little , and in short time it will draw forth the impostume , and breake it , and heale it without any other helpe . keepe this as a great secret , for j have oftentimes made proofe thereof , and it never failed . a plaister called bessilicon . take white waxe , rozen , pine , cowes suet , stone-pitch , turpentine , olibany , of each of these one ounce , and of good oyle as much as will serve the turne , and make it into a plaister another plaister for the same . take balme , bittony , pimpernell , of each of them a handfull , lay them in a fuse in a pottle of white-wine vinegar two dayes , then let them be boyled strongly , till the third part be consumed , put thereto rozen one pound , white waxe foure ounces , masticke one ounce , turpentine one pound , and so make your plaister . the mellilote plaister . take mellilote tenne handfuls , let it be small stamped , and laid in fuse foure dayes in a pottle of white wine , and then boyl it strongly , till the third part bee consumed , then let it coole , and put thereto rozen two pound , perosine one pound , and waxe one pound , deere suet one pound , masticke one ounce , frankensence foure ounces , and so make your plaister according to art. the musilage plaister . take march mallow rootes , fenecricke , and linseed , of each one pound , lay them in fuse in three quarts of water three dayes , then boyle it over the fire a little , and so straine it to a musilage , and then take thereof one pound , and of lytarge of lead foure pound ▪ of good oyle sixe pound , put all over the fire in a great vessell , and so let it boyle with a soft fire , ever stirring it till it come to the forme of a plaister accordingly . another plaister for the same . take the juyce of bittony . planten , and smalledge , of each one pound , waxe , rozen , and turpentine , of each one pound , pitch foure ounces , and so make your worke and dissolve it to a plaister . a plaister of camphere . take common oyle one pound , waxe foure ounces , seruse one ounce , camphere one ounce , and so make it into a plaister , it is a very soveraigne thing . a spiced plaster . take white waxe one pound , perosine one pound , colophony foure ounces , rozen one pound ▪ deere suet one pound , cloves and mace foure ounces , saffron one ounce , red wine and water of each a quart boyle these altogether till they come to a plaister . a plaister called apostolicum . take white lead and red , of each one pound , oyle foure pound , stirre them altogether , and boyle them with a soft fire , to the forme of a plaister , according to art. a drying plaister . take oyle of roses , deeres suet , of each one pound , terra sigillata , lapis calaminaris , seruse , of each one pound , sanguis draconis , three ounces , and incense of each one ounce , turpentine foure ounces , camphere halfe an ounce , and so by art make a plaister . a plaister for the gowt arteticke . take oxium , and saffron , of each one dram in fine powder , tempered in the yolkes of three egges hard boyled , and oyle of violets , or roses , plaister-wise , applyed to the painfull place upon a little sheeps leather , and let it lye on till it come off of it selfe . probatum est . a plaister to stake paine . take crummes of white bread foure ounces temper them with sweet milke , and the yolkes of foure egges hard boyled : and take of oyle of roses three drams , and in the making put thereto a little turpentine and saffron two drams in fine powder , and so use it . a plaister against the coldnesse of the nerves . take waxe two ounces , euforbium , castoris , of each halfe an ounce , sheepes suet , and pitch of each one ounce , turpentine a dram : and so make your worke according to art. a good cold drying plaister . take oyle one pound , waxe ten ounces , seruse and lytarge of gold , of each foure ounces , boyled with a soft fire in a furnace , will turne to a plaister . a red plaister . take waxe , deeres suet , of each one ounce , lapis calaminaris , bole-armony of each one ▪ dram , turpentine one ounce , camphere a dram : mixe all these together , and so make a plaister . a blacke plaister . take of waxe and oyle , of each a pound , ceruse and litarge , of each five ounces ; terra sigillata , one ounce : boyle altogether till it be blacke , and like a plaister . a blacke plaister for old sores . take litarge of gold , and ceruse , of each one ounce , the cinders of jron , quilled story fererie , fixe drams , oyle of roses foure ounces , new waxe one ounce , strong vineger two drams : mixe them well together , and so make it according to art. a plaister to dissolve hard things . take gum armoniack , serapine , bdelium , oppoponacie , of each one ounce , oyle of spike five drams , turpentine two drams , the mell of fennicrick , and linseed , of each one ounce , the mell of lupianes , as much as needs , and so make your plaister . another blacke plaister for the same . take oyle one pound , waxe and ceruse of each halfe a pound , and so make a plaister according to art. a plaister against old sores . take oyle twelve ounces , litarge of gold halfe a pound , vineger sixe ounces , ceruse , colophonie , perosine , pitch , goates suet , of each two ounces , dragons bloud , terra sigillata , of each one ounce , waxe two ounces and a halfe : and so with a soft fire make a plaister , it is an approved remedy . a cooling plaister . take litarge of lead one pound , oyle foure pound , wine vineger two pound , and so boyle them to a plaister and apply it . a plaister to draw an impostume . take galbanum and gum armoniack , of each one pound , dissolved in vineger and foure pound of suger , for foure dayes together , and then boyled untill the vineger bee consumed with a soft fire , and so make your plaister . a plaister made for the lord marke de wise . take virgin-wax two pound , of perosine so much , galbanum and gum-armoniack , of each halfe a pound , pitch foure ounces , deeres suet and ceruse , of each halfe a pound ▪ cloves and mace foure ounces , saffron to the weight of twelve pence , red wine and water of each two pintes ; boyle all these things together till the liquor be wasted away , and so make a plaister thereof , it is very good for to breake an impostume . the white musilage plaister . take pure good oyle eight pound , litarge of lead five pound and a halfe , musilage of march mallow rootes , of fennicrick and linseed two pound ; boyle all these together to the forme of a plaister with a soft fire , ever stirring it well , then take and wash it in three or foure waters and it will be very white , it is good to ripen and draw . a spiced plaister for the same . take wax and perosine of each one pound cressine halfe a pound , colophonie two ounces , frankinsence and goats suet of each foure ounces , cloves and mace , oyle of turpentine , and oyle of spike of each one ounce , saffron halfe an ounce , red wine two pound ; dissolve them over a soft fire , and so make your plaister . an excellent plaister for old sores . take litarge of gold one pound , oyle of roses two pound , white wine a pint , urine a pint , vineger half a pint , waxe , frankensence and myrrhe of each two drams , set them on the fire to boyle , and so make your plaister according to art . a sparadrope for the same . take oyle of roses a pound , white waxe three ounces , litarge of gold foure ounces , boyle all these in forme of a plaister . a very good drying plaister . take of jacobs plaister halfe a pound , of vnguentum lapis caluminaris one pound , mixe them and so make a plaister . oliver wilsons plaister . take a pottle of oyle , wax two pound and a quarter , white lead in powder 2. pound , of storax callamitick one ounce , bengawin one ounce , labdanum one ounce , mastick one ounce , of camphere foure drams , dissolve them and so make a plaister . to make another sparadrope . take oyle a quart , white lead one pound , the grounds of urine foure ounces , of white copperas two ounces , white wax three ounces , vineger a pint , camphere three penny-worth , boyle all these together , and so make a plaister . to make the mellilote plaister . take rozin eight pound , wax two pound , sheepes suet one pound , the juyce of mellilote a gallon cleane strained , let your rozen and sheepes suet be molten , and cleane strained into a faire panne , and then put to your juyce of mellilote , and set it over the fire and stirre it well together till it be like a plaister , then take it off the fire and put unto it a pottle of red wine , by a little and a little , ever stirring it till it bee almost cold , and then labour it well in your ●ands for feare of heaving out the wine , and so make it up in rolles and keepe it for your use . to make a seare-cloath . take waxe one ounce , and a dram of euforbium , and temper it with oyle olive at the fire , and make thereof a seare-cloath to comfort the sinewes . to make a plaister called flowesse . take rozen , and perosine of each halfe ● pound , virgin-wax , and frankensence of each a quarter of a pound , mastick one ounce , harts-tallow a quarter of a pound , camphere two drams , beat all these to a powder , and boyle them together , and straine it thorow a faire cloth into a pottle of white wine , and boyle them all againe together , and letting it coole a little , then put to it foure ounces of turpentine , and stirre them all together till it be cold , and so make it in rowles according to art. another plaister for the same . take two pound of waxe , two pound of rozen , foure pound of perosine , a quarter of a pound of deeres suet , two ounces of cloves , two ounces of mace , a quarter of an ounce of saffron , one pound and a halfe of olibanon , and a gallon of red wine , and put all these into a faire panne , and set it over the fire foure or five houres , till yee suppose that the wine be sodden away , and then take it off the fire , and stirre it till it be cold , and rowle it in balls and keepe itto use . to make the playster occinicione . take a quarter of a pound of comin , as much waxe as much pitch , as much rozen , and of saffron one ounce and a halfe , of masticke one quarterne , galbanum halfe a quarterne , turpentine one ounce , incense halfe an ounce , myrrhe but a quarter , sal-armoniac a little ; first take the salt , and let it lye in good vineger , and stamped in a morter till it be well moystned all night and more , then take the vineger , and the gums therein and set it on the fire , till the gummes be well melted , then straine it and set it on the fire againe ▪ and let it seeth untill the vineger the second part thereof be wasted , and so that there be but the third part left , then melt the pitch and scumme it , and put thereto the liquour that is left , then melt the waxe and put it to the rozen , and the turpentine , and then take the masticke incense , and myrrhe : but looke that all the gums be beaten into powder , before that you cast it in , and see that you stirre it apace ; when that they be well molten and medled , looke that you have a faire bason of hot water , and sodainely cast it in , then wring it out of the water , then chafe it against the fire as if it were waxe : and annoynt your hands with oyle of bay , and looke yee have the saffron in fine powder : and the other that was not put in before , and when you have put in all the eight powders , make it up in rowles , this is an excellent plaister for divers occasions . to make a plaister inplumhie . take oyle one pound , litarge halfe a pound : and looke that the litarge bee fine , then set it on the fire : and let it boyle untill it waxe browne , but not so long that it waxe blacke : then take it from the fire , and make it in balles and so keepe it . a plaister of camphere . take camomill oyle halfe a pound , white waxe foure ounces , ceruse one pound , camphere ▪ halfe an ounce , and so make your plaister . to make a noble plaister , that as soone as th● plaister is warme and laid to the place th● paine will be gone , and it is called a spic● plaister . take waxe two pound , deere suet one pound , perosine foure pound , cloves and mace two ounces , saffron one ounce , rozen two pound , pitch foure ounces , now melt that which is to be molten , and powder and serse that which is to be powdered and sersed , and melted altogether over a soft fire , except your cloves and saffron ; and then take a quart of red wine , and by a little and a little poure it to the salve , stirring it well together , and when it is cleane molton , straine it into a cleane pan , and then put to it your powder , of cloves , mace , and saffron , casting it abroad upon the said ingredience , and stirring it well till it be cold , then make it into rolles . this is a very comfortable plaister . to make a speciall plaister for all manner of cold aches . take perosine foure pound , rozen , and waxe of each two pound , galbanum as much , olibanon as much , masticke , and myrrhe , of each two ounces , red wine foure pound , put in your masticke , myrrhe and wine , in the cooling , it hath beene often times proved , and when you need it , spread it on a leather and let it lye on a day or two before you change it . to make a plaister that sir william farrington let a squire that was his prisoner goe for , quit without ransome . take one pound of litarge of gold , and make thereof small powder , and serse it well , then take a quart of oyle of roses , and a pinte of white wine , and halfe a pinte of old urine , very well clarified , and halfe a pinte of vineger , and boyle all these on the fire , but put in the urine last , this plaister will heale a marmole , or a canker , and a fester , as also wounds , and all other sores , if thou put thereto one ounce of waxe , ollibanon , and myrrhe , of each a dram . probatum est . to make coulman plaister . take oyle olive foure pound , red lead , and white , of each one pound , boyle them together till it waxe blacke , and then put thereto pitch one pound , and make it into rolles for your use . to make the mellitote plaister . take the juyce of mellilot , and camomill ▪ of each one pound , of waxe one pound , rozen three pound , sheepes suet a pound and a halfe , white wine two pound and a halfe , and so make them all in a plaister according to art , for it is good . to make the deaguloune plaister . take oyle two pound , strong vineger one pound and a halfe , litarge of gold one pound , verdigreace one ounce , boyle them together till they be red , and so make it into rolles for your use . a plaister for all manner of sores , and especially for all greene sores . take of fine suger and burnet , of each of them alike much , and bruise them in a morter , and wash the wound with the juyce of the same , then take the hearbes finely beaten , and mingle with them and the juyce , a quantity of english honey , and unwrought waxe , so boyle them together till it be allof one colour , then take them from the fire , and let them stand a while : then put it into a bason of faire water , and so worke it out into rowles , and lay it on plaisters once or twice a day . another for the same approved . take the hearb sellendine , and houseleeke , of each equall quantity , then bruise them in a morter ▪ and take the juyce of them , and put it into the wound , and annoynt the same therewith : that done , fill the wound with part of the bruised hearbe , and so bind it up , and in short time it will heale the sore , as by proofe hath beene seene . a plaister for the stitch. anoynt your side with the oyle of mellilote , then make a plaister of the same mellilote upon a piece of leather , and change it but once a weeke . a playster for the plurisie . stampe well in a morter , foure ounces of the roots of wild mallowes well sodden , put to it an ounce of butter ▪ and an ounce and a halfe of honey , of pigeons dung two drams , mingle all together , and lay it very hot upon the paine , and soone after the corruption will breake out . a plaister for the collick and stone . take peritory , camomill , ground-ivie leaves , cummin : stampe them , and boyle them in white wine , and make a plaister thereof , and put it about the reines of the back as hot as may be suffered , and see that it lye close round about behind and before and you will find great ease in it . a plaister for the head-ache , and for hot agues . take red mintes , leavened bread of wheate , and white vineger : make thereof a plaister , and lay it to your fore-head , for it helpeth diseases in the head , and also hot agues . a hot drawing plaister , called flowis . take rozen , perosine , of each halfe a pound , white wax four ounces , and frankensence foure ounces , and mastick one ounce , deere suet foure ounces , turpentine foure ounces , camphere two drams , white wine a pottle : and so make a plaister and give him time to draw . a plaister called the vertue of our lord. take oyle olive one pound , white waxe two drams , galbanum , ermony , and opponacke two ounces , litarge halfe a pound , almonds one dram , verdigreace one ounce , aristoligiam longuam one dram , myrrhe , and mastcke , of each one ounce , lawrell bayes two drams , incense white one dram : make the plaister in this manner : take and temper the galbanum , opponack , and ermony , in good vineger , two dayes naturall , and the other things to bee provided each by himselfe : then take the wax , and melt is with the oyle in a kettle , and the gummes dissolved in vineger , in another vessell upon the fire , till the vineger be sodden away : then straine it upon the said oyle , as strongly as you can stirre it well : and then put in the verdigreace , the astrologium , and the other gummes that were not put in before , then it is made . it healeth all wounds new or old , and it doth heale more then all other plaisters , or oyntments doth . a plaister for weaknesse in the backe . take the juyces of comfrey , plantane , and knotgrasse , mingled with bole-armoniack , and made in a plaister spread upon a piece of sheeps leather and layd to the backe . a plaister for any ache , lamenesse , or sciatica . take a pound of the leanest part of a leg of mutton , put to it a quart of the grounds of muskadine , or sweet sacke , and one pound of oyle de bay , mince your mutton very fine , and boyle them together into the forme of a plaister , and so apply it to the place as hot as you can suffer it . d. r. a plaister for a sore brest that must be broken . take one handfull of groundsill , a pinte of sweete milke , and a handfull of oate-meale , and seethe them together . make a plaister thereof , and lay it to the brest as hot as the patient may suffer it , and at every dressing put to more milke : this use no longer then it breakes . a plaister to heale it . take one pound of bores-grease , and three garlick heads , stampe them in a morter till they bee fine , put them both into a box , and put thereto of beane flower , the quantity of two egges , beat them well together and so lay them to the brest . to make another seare-cloath . take rozen , and perosine of each foure ounces , wax two ounces , ollibanum so much ▪ masticke half an ounce , turpentine two ounces , dissolve them on the fire and so make your seare-cloath . of unguents . part . vi. the making of oyntments , and first of vnguentum aegyptiacum . take honey a pint , vineger a pint , allom half a pound , verdigreace foure ounces in fine powder ; boyle all these together till they bee red ; for if you boyle it too much it will be blacke , and if you boyle it too little it will be greene ; therefore when it is boyled enough it will be perfectly red , and so make your unguent . to make vnguentum apostolorum . take yellow rozen two pound , verdigrease three ounces , wax one pound , oyle a pint , you must set the oyle , wax and rozen over the fire , then put to your verdigreace made into fine powder ▪ and stirre it till it be cold , and so it is finished . vnguentum basilicum . take oyle halfe a pound , waxe , colophonie , of each two ounces , turpentine , pitch , perosine , and cowes suet , of each two pound and a half , frankensence , and myrrhe , of each halfe an ounce , and so make your unguent . the golden vnguent , called vnguentum aureum . take yellow waxe foure ounces , oyle one pound , turpentine , colophonie ▪ and rozen , of each one ounce , frankensence and masticke , of each halfe an ounce , saffron a dram , and so make an unguent . to make a drying vnguent , called vnguentum calaminaris . take the stone called lapis calaminaris , deeres suet , and waxe , of each foure ounces , oyle of roses halfe a pound , camphere two drams , and so make your unguent according to art. to make the white oyntment , called vnguentum album rasis . take oyle of roses halfe a pound , waxe two ounces , ceruse sixe ounces , the whites of three egges , and camphere a dram : and after these things be melted and commixed together , you must wash it with rose-water . to make vnguentum lytargerii . take oyle of roses one pound , litarge of lead one pound , vineger halfe a pound , camphere two drams : and so make your unguent . to make vnguentum lypeione . take the juyce of honey-suckles a quart , honey a pinte , white copperas halfe a pound : and so make your unguent . to make the incarnative vnguent . take oyle of greene balme two pound , waxe , and perosine , of each halfe a pound ▪ deeres suet foure ounces , frankensence and myrrhe , of each two ounces , of turpentine foure ounces , the yolkes of foure egges , and so make your unguent . another incarnative vnguent . take deeres suet , oyle of roses , rozen , pitch , litarge of gold , frankensence and myrrhe of each foure ounces , and so make your unguent . to make vnguentum viride . take ossingie porsine one pound , verdigreace two ounces , sall gemme , halfe an ounce , and so make your unguent . another vnguent . take burnt allom and vineger , of each two ounces , ossingie porsine sixe ounces , and so make an unguent . a drying vnguent . take oyle of roses one pound , waxe sixe ounces , litarge of gold and silver , bdelium , gum armoniack , red corall , dragons bloud , deeres suet , masticke , of each two ounces , camphere halfe an ounce , and so make your unguent . an vnguent against the morphew . take quicke brimstone sixe drams , oyle of tartary , foure drams , ceruse , unguentum cytrium , of each two drams , oyle of roses , sixe drams , the white of an egge , as much vineger as needs , and so make your unguent . an vnguent called rosye . take rozen , turpentine , and honey , of each halfe a pound , linseed and fenecrick ▪ of each one ounce , myrrhe one ounce . sercoll one ounce : let them all be made in fine powder , and so make an unguent thereof . an vnguent for vlcers in the arme. take litarge of gold and silver , ceruse , of each two ounces : bole-armoniac half an ounce , lapis calaminaris , dragons blood , of each one ounce , frankensence , and mastick , of each halfe an ounce , tartarie , sall-gemme and camphere , of each two drams : turpentine washed in rose-water , and waxe , of each two ounces , oyle of elders , half an ounce , oyle of bayes two drams , oyle of violets and of poppie , of each foure drams : and so make your unguent , it is an excellent oyntment . an vnguent against cabes . take storax liquide , two ounces , bay-salt in fine powder , and oyle of roses , of each one ounce , the juyce of orenges , as much as shall need , and so make your unguent according to art. an vnguent called the gift of god. take orras powder , sall-gemme , sall-nitrie , of each one ounce , a stone called lapis magnates , two ounces , lapis calaminaris , two ounces , waxe one pound , oyle three pound : and so make your unguent according to art. a precious vnguent . take ceruse washed one ounce , in an ounce of vineger , burnt lead foure ounces , litarge two ounces , myrrhe one ounce , honey , of roses two ounces , oyle of roses sixe ounces , the yolkes of sixe egges , and waxe as much as needs , and so make your unguent . another vnguent against cabes . take the juyce of sallendine , femitary , borage , scabious , and dockes , of each three ounces , litarge of gold washed , ceruse , burnt brasse , brimstone , bay salt , burnt allom , of each halfe an ounce , oyle of roses two ounces , storax liquide , turpentine , of each one ounce , vineger foure ounces , ossingie perosine , one pound and a halfe : and so make your oyntment . to make the greene oyntment called vnguentum viride . take waxe one pound , perosine one pound , frankensence halfe a pound , gum arabic halfe a pound , verdigrease two ounces , honey foure ounces , oyle olive two pound : and so make your unguent . an vnguent to increase flesh . take the gum dragagant , and dissolve it in rose-water , and make an unguent . an vnguent to heale the serpigo . take pepper , bay-salt , tartary , verdigreace , allumines ynke , of each halfe an ounce , ceruse , litarge , and quicksilver well killed , of each two drams , of ossingie perosine , as much as needs . an vnguent for fistulaes . take myrrhe , masticke , alloes , and epatick , of each two ounces ▪ the juyce of salendine , planten , honey , of roses , and vineger , of each a like quantity , and make it an unguent . an oyntment for a greene wound . take oyle of turpentine one ounce , the oyle of vulpinum one ounce , oyle of camomill two ounces , and make thereof an unguent . a cold vnguent . take oyle of roses , and waxe , of each two ounces , the juyce of red gowrd leaves , night-shade leaves , of each two ounces , ceruse washed , burnt lead washed in rose-water , or planten water , of each halfe an ounce , frankensence two drams , melt all together , and decoct it a little : and then take it from the fire , and put it into a leaden morter , wherein you must labour it a good while , and so make your unguent . an vnguent for a sawse-fleame face . take may butter one pound , hony-suckle flowers three handfuls , stampe the flowers , and the butter together , and lay it in fuse for sixe dayes space ; then melt it and straine it , and put thereto quicke brimstone , the weight of twelve pence , finely powdered , and so reserve it for your use . an vnguent for the piles . take mollene , archangell , red fennell stamped small , of each a like quantity , and as much ossingie as of the hearbes : mixe all these together , and lay it ● rotting a weeke space : then straine it and keepe it for that use . another vnguent for the piles . take yarrow , and may butter , and stampe them together , and apply them as hot as may be suffered . to make vnguentum lipcium . take a quart of juyce of honey suckles , and a pinte of hony , and halfe a pound of white coperas , and seethe them on the fire , and let them boyle till it waxe blacke : then put in your copperas in fine powder . to make vnguentum fanscome . take waxe one pound , rozen , colophonie , of each two pound , pitch one pound , cowes suet one pound , may-butter halfe a pound , honey two pound , oyle two pound , turpentine foure ounces , verdigrease and ceruse foure ounces : and so according to art worke it . to make vnguentum dunsinnitive . take two ounces of litarge of gold , two drams of lapis calaminaris , and foure ounces of terra sigillata , and powder them small : then take a pinte of oyle , and put thereto halfe a pound of waxe , and melt it with your oyle , and then take it off the fire , and put in your powders , and when it is cold almost , put in foure drams of camphere in fine powder , to make an vnguent for the skerby . take a gallon of red vineger , and one pound of the roote of briony , and seeth therein till it bee consumed : then take the roote thereof and beate it with oxsingie , and beat it very fine : then take one ounce of arguentum vivum well killed , and labour them altogether very fine , and so annoint therewith . to make an vnguent for vlcers in childrens faces . take litarge and ceruse , of each five ounces , the leaves of ashe , and vine leaves of each three ounces , oyle of roses one ounce , waxe halfe an ounce : relent your oyle and waxe together , and beate your litarge and ceruse , and mingle them with two yolkes of rosted egges , and so use it . to make the sinnitive oyntment . take turpentine foure ounces , hartsgreace , or the marrow of a heart two ounces , oyle of roses one ounce , white frankensence halfe an ounce , oyle of spike two drams , and halfe a dram of mynium , and so worke it . to make an vnguent for the itch. take three handfuls of allecompanerootes , seethe them in three gallons of water till they be soft : then take the roots and scrape them , and take the white of them to the quantity of a pound , and beate them with one pound of barrow-hogges greace , and a quantity of salt , and a little saffron ; and so bring them to an oyntment . to make an oyntment for the morbus . take two ounces of vermillion , two ounces of quick-silver , two ounces of oyle of bay , two ounces of bores-greace , halfe an ounce of vineger , foure yolkes of egges : and let them all be wrought , very well together before you use them . to make the dunsymitive vuguent . take oyle olive one pound , rozen one pound , lapis calaminaris one pound , waxe halfe a pound , turpentine and sheepes suet , of each a quarter of a pound , and 〈◊〉 use it . to make vnguentum dulsum . take sheepes suet five pound , rozen in powder one pound , roch allom in powder one pound , and a quart of white wine , boyle them altogether : and if you will make it red , you may put into it one ounce of vermilion in powder . to make vngnentum basilicon . take waxe one pound , the best pitch one pound , rozen halfe a pound , colophonie one pound , cowes suet one pound , oyle two pound , may-butter halfe a pound turpentine foure ounces , the yolkes of foure egges , make all these in an unguent and so use it . to make a mundifigitive . take smalledge a little bagge full , one pouad of oxingie , three pound of rozen , a quarter of a pound of waxe : stampe your smalledge and oxingie together in a stone morter : then put it into a panne ▪ and set them upon the fire till it be hot : then straine them through a cloth into a faire panne , till they begin to waxe cold , then fleete it off with a slice , till you come to the water : then put in the rose-water and waxe all together upon the fire , and let them boyle altogether , then straine them through a linnen cloth , and so make your mundifigitive . to make vnguentum rosine . take honey two pound , rozen one pound and a quarter , turpentine two pound , frankensence one ounce , fenecrike semminis ben , of each two ounces , myrrhe and seacole , of each two ounces in fine powder . to make gibsons incarnative . take greene broome two pound , waxe and rozen , of each halfe a pound , deere suet foure ounces , frankensence , and myrrhe , of each two ounces , turpentine and the yolkes of egges as much as neecs . to make a yellow incarnative . take one pound of rozen , halfe a pound of frankensence , a quarter of a pound of waxe , halfe a pound of sheepes suet , halfe a pinte of oyle olive , halfe a pound of turpentine , and so make your unguent . to make another inearnative . take oyle of roses twelve drams , rosen two ounces , turpentine eight ounces , waxe sixe ounces , melt the waxe , rosen , and oyle together , and in the boyling put in your turpentine , and the juyce of valerian , and so let it bee cold , and as you occupy it put in oyle of turpentine , and so keepe it . to make an vnguent for the piles . take barrowes grease halfe a pound , burnt allome one ounce , and the yolke of an egge hard rosted , put these together , and make an oyntment , and annoynt your sore as hot as you can abide it . another fumetive vnguent . take halfe a poond of deere suet , a pound of waxe , one pound of oyle of roses , halfe a pound of oyle olive , of lapis calaminaris and camphere two ounces , and so make your vnguent according to art. to make vnguentum foscovem . take oyle olive one pound , saffron foure drams , colophonie , pitch , naviles , gum , and seropine , of each two ounces , mastick , olibanon , and turpentine of each one ounce , wax a quarter of a pound , melt your oyle and then your wax , and then put in the colophonie , and after stirre your pitch , naviles , and your gum and serapine together , and last of all your turpentine , masticke , and olibanon , every thing being bruised , except your pitch and turpentine ; when you put in your powders bee ever stirring it with your spittle till it be full dissolved , and so use it . an oyntment for the stone and collick to bee made in may. take the buds of broome-flowers , neare the shutting , half a pound of them picked from the stalkes , and beat them in a morter very small ; that done , mingle them with clarified may-butter , as much as you shall thinke fit , and so keepe it close in a vessell eight dayes , then seeth it and straine it ; and therewith annoynt the patients griefe very warme , evening and morning . of waters . part . vii . here followeth the making of divers precious waters , but more especially of tenne , and their vertues . i. and first , of the philosophers water . take hysop , penny-riall , avence , and centurie , and breake them in a morter , then put them under the cap of a stillatory , and distill them , and that water hath many vertues as hath beene proved by experience . as first , take pimpernell , rew , valerian , sedwall , alloes , and the stone called lapis calaminaris , and breake them , and lay them in the water of philosophers , and let them be boyled together , untill the third part of the water be wasted , and after let the said water be strained thorow a linnen cloath , then shutit up close in a vyoll of glasse the space of nine dayes . this is a precious water to drinke foure dayes together with a fasting stomacke for him that hath the falling sicknesse , but let him bee fasting six houres after ; and this medicine is in our judgement the truest medicine against all manner of gouts , and against palsies , as long as it is not dead in the limbes or members of a man. item , this water drunke in the morning , is much helping to wounds that is festered , so that they be washed therewith . item , this water drunke fasting , will destroy all manner of feavers or aches , of what kind soever they come to a man. therefore trust to this medicine verily ; for it hath been oftentimes approved of for a very good water for these diseases aforesaid , by many who have made experience of it . 2. the second water is called poetalis , et aqua dulcedimus occulorum , and is made in this manner following . take egrimonie , saturion , selendine , and tuttie , and the stone called lapis calaminaris , and beat it all to powder ; and then put them under the cap of a stillatorie , and distill thereof water by an easie fire , and this water hath many vertues in it ; for be the eyes never so sore , this water will cure and heale them . item , this water drunke with a fasting stomacke , destroyeth all manner of venome or poyson , and casteth it out at the mouth . item , this water quencheth the holly fire , so that there bee linnen cloathes wet therein and layd on the sore , but you must also note , that this water in fire is of blacke disposition . 3. the vertue of the third water . take mustard-seed , pimpernell , crow-foot and the clote of masticke , and let all these be well bruised and mingled together with the blood of a goat , and put thereto good vineger a little , and so let them stand three dayes , and then put them under the cap of a stillatorie , and still it , and this water will helpe a man of the stone if he drinke thereof : and if he drinke thereof every day fasting , the stone shall voyd from him as it were sand . jtem , this water drunke fasting maketh good blood and good colour both in man and woman . jtem , this water drunke with castorie , destroyeth all manner of palsies , if it be not dead in the sinewes or members . jtem , it will heale a scald-head , and make the haire to grow , if it be washt therewith . jtem , if a man be scalded wash him with this water , and in nine dayes he shall be whole , and of all other medicines it comforteth best the sinewes for the palsie . 4. the vertue of the fourth water . take young pigeons , and make them in powder , and meddle them well with castorie in powder , and a little aysell , and lay it under the cap of the stillatorie , and distill water thereof , this water drunke with a fasting stomack , helpeth the frensie and the tysicke , within nine dayes it will make them whole . jtem , this water drunke fasting , is a very good medicine against the falling evill , if the sicke have had it but few yeares , it shall helpe it on warrantise : give it him to drinke three dayes in the morning fasting , as is aforesaid , and he shall be whole by gods grace , of what manner of kinde soever it come . jtem , this water drunke fasting , maketh a good colour in the face of man or woman , and it clenseth the wombe , the stomacke , and the breast of all evils that is congealed within them , and comforteth all the veynes , and draweth the roote of the palsie out of the sinewes , and out of the joynts and nourisheth nature in him . jtem , if a man or woman before failed in a sinew or joynt it healeth them againe . jtem , this water being drunke fasting , healeth any man or woman of the continuall fever , but take heed that no woman with child drinke of this water . jtem , this water drunke with isope , putteth away all sorrow from thy heart , and causeth a man or woman well to sleepe , well to digest his meate , well to make water , and well to doe his ●ege . jtem , if a man will wash himselfe with this water , it will draw away the haire from any place of man , and destroy it . 5. the vertue of the fift water called aqua lasta . take isope , gladion , avence , sothernwood , of each a like quantity , and stampe them in a morter , and put them in a stillatorie , and still them to water , and this water drunke in morning fasting , is good against all manner of fevers hote or cold . jtem , this water being drunke fasting , is the best medicine against the fluxe of the wombe , and clenseth the belly of all ill humors , and keepeth a man in health , and helpeth the palsie , but it must be drunke fasting , and as hot as may be suffered . 6. to make the sixt water called dealbantium . take molewarpes and make them in a powder with brimstone , and take the juyce of selondine , and so let them stand certaine dayes , and after lay it in a stillatory , and still water of the water of it , and this water will make any black beast white , that is washed therewith nine times in nine dayes , or any place in him , that a man will have white : also this water medled with waxe and aloes , it healeth all manner of gouts , if the patient be annoynted therewith . also this water helpeth the sicknesse called noli me tangere , but a plaister thereof must be laide to the sore . also it helpeth a man of the strangle , if a plaister thereof be laid to the sore . jtem , it healeth scald heads , if they apply a plaister thereof to the sore . jtem , a plaister thereof healeth burning with fire . jtem , this with lapis calamniaris , helpeth perfectly a ●icknesse called the wolfe , but the plaister must be changed two times in a day , but let no man nor woman drinke any of this water . 7. this water is called aqua consuitivae . take pimpernell , and stampe it in a morter , and lay it in a stillatory , and still water thereof . jtem , this water washeth away all wounds in a mans body . jtem , this water drunke fasting with ginger , is a good medicine against the tysicke , and will cleanse the breast from all evill humours . 8. the eight water called aqua huplaciam , the double water . take mustard-seed , pepper , and sinamon , of each a like and beat them in a morter , and put therto aqua consuetudo , and lay them under the cap of the stillatorie , and distill water thereof , and these be the vertues therof ; and if it be drunke fasting it is the best medicine against the tysicke , and all diseases of the brest , and it must be drunke in the morning cold , and at evening hot as yee may suffer it , and it will make one to sleepe and take good rest that night . jtem , this water being drunke with castorie is good against the sicknesse called epilenti● , viz. the morbus galicus . jtem , this water being drunke fasting , comforteth all the members that be strucken with the palsie , and comforteth the sinewes of the head and the braine . 9. water of pimpernell , the ninth water . take the seed of pimpernell , and put it in red wine , and then after put it in the sunne , and then breake it in a morter , and then presse out the oyle through a cleane cloth , this water or oyle being drunke fasting , healeth a man of the sand or gravell in the bladder , for it will breake the stone within him . jtem , this water being drunke , sustaineth and lightneth all the members of man of what disease soever he be grieved with . 10. to make water of sage , the tenth water . take sage , and pollyon , of each a like quantity , and breake them in a morter , and put them in a stillatorie , and distill water sthereof this waterdrunke fasting , eateth away all manner of sicknesse . item ▪ this wate r sodden with castory and drunke fasting , of all medicines in the world , it prolongeth most a mans life . item , if a man be fore-spoken , doe this nine dayes and he shall be whole , but it must be taken with warme water . item , this water being drunke fasting , draweth away all evill in the stomacke or wombe . item , it is good against the scabbes , and causeth a man to have good blood , and good colour in the face . item , this water being drunke hote in the morning , or in the day , healeth any manner o● evill in a man within three dayes , if the patient be in any wise curable . to make aqua vitae . take isope , rosemary , violet , verven , bitony , hearbe-iohn , mouseare , planten , avence , sage , and fetherfoy , of each a handfull , and washing them , put them in a gallon of white wine , and so let it stand all night cleane covered , and then on the morrow distill it , and keepe the water well . this water is good for the megrim in the head , and for the impostume in the head , and for the dropsie in the head ▪ and for the fever in the head , and for all manner of aches and sicknesse in the head. to make aqua magistralis . take the rootes of pyonie , the rootes of turpentine , the crops of fennell , of egrimonie , honysuccle , celondine , rewe , chickweed , pimpernell , phillippendula , the tender leaves of the vine , eufra●e , sowthistle , red-roses , strawbery leaves , and verven , of each alike quantity , and bray them in a morter , and put them in good white wine nine dayes , and then put thereto a pinte of womans milke that doth nurse a man-child , and as much urine of a man-child of a yeare old , and as much pured hony , and put them all together , and let them stand three dayes so , and then distill them in a stillatorie , and keepe well this water in a glasse vessell , that no ayre come thereto , and if you will occupie this water , wash thine eyes therewith , and use it , and if ever man be holpen of the disease of the eyes , this will helpe him in short time . a precious water for eyes that seeme faire , and yet be blind . take smalledge , red fennell , rew , verven , byttony , egrimony , sinck-●oile eufrase , sage , pimpernell , and selondine , of each a quarterne , and wash them cleane , and stampe them small , and put them in a brasse pan and powder of tuttie , of pepper , of ceruse , and a pinte of white wine , and put it to the hearbes , and two or three spoonfuls of hony , and seven spoonfuls of the water of a man-child , and temper them together , and boyle them over the fire a little , and straine it thorow a cloth , and put it into a glasse , and stop it well , till you will occupy it , and when you will use it , put it into thine eyes with a feather ; and if it waxe thicke , temper it with white wine , and then use it often . a water that will helpe on● , that is troubled with sore eyes being debarred of sight . take of rosemary , smalledge , rewe , verven , mather , eufrase , endive , houseleeke , fulwort , red fennell , and selandine , of each a like half a quarterne , and wash them cleane , and lay them in white wine a day and a night , and then distill them in a stillatorie , the first water will be like gold , the second like silver , and the third will be like balme , and that is good for all sores of the eyes . to make another aqua vitae . take nutmegs , gallingale , spikenard of spaine , of each two penny-worth , and of cloves , graines , ginger , of each one penny-worth , two penny worth of annys take and bray them all in a brasse morter , and then take a handfull of wild sage , and of the other sage , rosemary , isope , savery , puliall royal , puliall of the mountaine , sothernwood , hore-hound , worme-wood , and egrimony , bettony , jvie leaves , of each a like handfull , and two pennyworth of quibebes , and bruise all these in a morter , then take three gallons of good red wine , and put it into a brazen pot , and then put the spices and hearbes therein , and set the stillatory above , and close it well , and take faire paste , and put it about the brinkes hard with thy hand , and make it cleave well and sadly thereto , and when it doth begin to waxe hot , put cold water above in the stillatorie , and when it doth waxe hot , let the water runne out at the conduite , and put in new cold water , and so doe as oft as yee shall thinke good , but looke that the fire be not too great , for if it be , then will the water come up , and if there come up smoake of the stillatorie with the water , then is the fire too much , and if it be not , then it is well tempered . the making of waters in colours , and first of greene waters . take white wine a pinte , the water of roses , and planten , of each sixe ounces , orpiment one ounce , verdigrease halfe an ounce , &c. another greene water . take the waters of honey-suckles , planten , and roses , of each halfe a pinte , orpiment , allome , ceruse , and verdigrease , of each two drams , white wine , juyce of planten , of each halfe an ounce , and it is done . waters for old vlcers . take white wine , and running water of each a pinte , frankensence , and allome , of each one ounce , decocted in balme for three houres space , and it is done . a good drinke for the gummorium passio . take bursa pastoris , planten , of each two handfuls , take the juyce thereof in a pinte of good ale , and drinke it three times in a day , for three dayes . a water for old vlcers in the armes . take smiths water a quart , burnt allome one pound , salarmoniac one ounce , galls two ounces , tartary , copperas , of each one ounce , distill all these with shreds , so keepe the water to your use . a water for a canker . take bugle , fennell , and rosa-solis , of each a like , and take as much in quantity of honey suckle flowers , as of all the other hearbes , and let them be cleane picked and so distilled in a stillatorie , and keepe it close , for it is a precious water . a femitorie water . is to be drunke in the morning , at noone , and at night , it is much worth against dropsies , and sweating sicknesse , it purgeth fleame and choller , and melancholy , and it bringeth forth heate , and dry sicknesse , and it is good for the paine of the head , to wash it and drinke it . a water of rosemari● it hath more vertues in it then a man can tell , one is if a man have an arrow or jron within him , wet a tent and put into the wound , and drinke the same water , and it shall avoyd out , and it helpeth all wounds inward and outward , the canker , the fester , and it killeth the wormes in man or child , and all manner of impostumes inward and outward , it helpeth the tysicke , and fluxe white or bloody , it is a great helpe for a woman with child to drinke thereof , also it maketh cleane the face , or any where if yee wash it therewith . water of verven . if if it be distilled in the later end of may , it hath vertue to spring choller , and to heale wounds , and to cleere the eye-sight , it is a principall thing to compound medicines . a locion for a sore mouth . you must take of honey-suckle-water halfe a pinte , planten and rose-water , of each foure ounces , honey of roses two ounces . alloes one ounce , white copperas and vineger , of each halfe an ounce and so use it . a water for a sore mouth . take lapis calaminaris beaten into fine powder , and put in a pinte of white wine , then take a pottle of water , and rosemary , boyle it in the water till it be halfe sodden away , then straine the water from the rosemary , and put it into the white wine , and so it is done . a compound water . take first pimpernell , rew , valerian or sedwall , alocelipis cap , and breake them , and lay them in this said water following : take isop , pulyall royall , anniseedes and centorie , and beate them in a morter , and after put them in a stillatory and distill water of them , which is very vertuous : and let them boyle together , and after that straine them that the water may goe from them , and close this water in vials of glasse , the space of nine dayes , and give it to him that hath the falling-evill , foure dayes , fasting after it six houres : and this is the truest medicine for this disease that wee can sinde , except the mercy of god ; and this water drinking is good for the palsie ▪ if it be drunke fasting : also it is good for all gowtes likewise ▪ in the time that they be mortified in the members and limbes of a man : it is very helping to wounds that are festered , if they be washed therewith , it destroyeth all manner of fevers . behly water . take water a pottle , suger-candy foure ounces , let them seethe : then put in foure ounces of verdigrease in fine powder , and let it seethe . a good barley water for all diseases of the lungs , or lights . take half a pound of faire barly , a gallon of water , half an ounce of licorice , fennell-seed , violets , and parsley-seed , of each a quarter of an ounce , red roses a quarter of an ounce , dry hysop and sage , of each a penny-weight , sixe leaves of harts-tongue , a quarter of an ounce of figs and raysins ; boyle all these in a new pot of cold water , and then straine them cleare from it and drinke it ; the same cooleth the liver , and all the members , driveth away all evill heat , slaketh thirst , is the cause of much evacuation , it purgeth the lights and spleene , the kidneyes and bladder , and it causeth to make water well ; and more especially , it is good for all agues that come of heat . a good drinke for the pox. take selendine and english saffron , the weight of a halfe-penny , and a farthing-worth of graines , a quarterne of long pepper , a penny-weight of mace and a little stale ale , then stampe your herbe and pound your saffron , and mingle them well together , and so drinke it next your heart . a very good drinke for the cough . take a quart of white wine , and boyle it with lycorice , anniseeds , and suger-candy of each a like quantity , putting therein tenne figs of the best , and boyle it untill it be halfe consumed , and so preserve thereof to drinke evening and morning three or foure spoonefuls warmed . a restorative made of the herbe rosa solis , with other things , but they must bee gathered in june , or july . this herbe rosa solis , groweth in marish ground , and in no other place , and it is of a hoary colour , and groweth very lowe , and flat to the ground , and it hath a meane long stalke growing in the middest of it , and seaven branches springeth out of the roote round about the stalke with leaves coloured , and of a meane length and breadth , and in no wise when this hearbe should be gathered , touch not the hearbe it selfe with your hands , for then the vertue thereof is gone , yee must gather and plucke it out of the ground by the stalke , yee must lay it in a cleane basket , the leaves of it is full of strength and nature , and gather so much of this hearbe as will fill a pottle pot or glasse , but wash it not in any wise , then take a pottle of aqua composita , and put them both in a large pot or vessell , and let it stand hard and fast stopped , three dayes and three nights , and on the fourth day open it , and straine it through a faire linnen-cloath into a cleane glasse or pewter pot , and put thereto a pound of sugar small beaten , one pound of licorice beaten to powder , and one pound of dates , the stones taken out , and they cut in small pieces , then mingle them altogether , and stop the glasse or pewter pot well , so that no ayre come into it in any wise . thus done yee may drinke of it at night when yee goe to bed , one spoonefull mixt with aqua vitae , or stale ale , and as much in the morning fasting ▪ and there is not the weakest body in the worl● that is wasted by consumption or otherwise , but it will restore him againe , and make him to be strong and lusty and to have a good stomacke , and that shortly , and hee or shee that useth this three times together , shall finde great remedy or comfort thereby , and as the patient doth feele himselfe , so he may use it . how to make doctor stevens precious water , which dr. chambers and others , made tryall of and did approve the vertue of it . take a gallon of gascoigne wine , then take ginger , galingall , cinamon , nutmegs , graines of paradise , cloves , mace , anniseeds , fennell-seed , and carraway-seed , of every of them a dram , then take sage , red mints rose leaves , tyme , pellitory of spaine , rosemary , peny-mountaine , otherwise wild tyme , camomill , and lavender , of every of them a handfull , then beat the spices small , and bruise the hearbes , and put all into the wine and let it stand the space of twelve dayes , stirring it divers times ; then distill it in a limbeck , and keepe the first pinte of the water , for it is the best , and then will come a second kind of water , keepe that close in a violl of glasse , and set it in the sun a certaine space . the vertues of this water be these , it comforteth the spirits , and preserveth the youth of a man , and helpeth the inward diseases commeth of cold , and against the shaking of the palsie . it cureth the contraction of sinewes , and helpeth the conception of women that be barren . it killeth the wormes in the belly . it helpeth cold gouts . it helpeth the tooth-ache . it comforteth the stomack very much . it cureth the cold dropsie . it helpeth the stone in the bladder , and the reynes in the back . it cureth the canker . it helpeth speedily a stinking breath , and whosoever useth this said water , it shall preserve him in health long take but one spoonefull of it once in seaven dayes , for it is very hot in operation : it preserved doctor stevens very long , who lived a hundreth yeares lacking but two , and tenne of them hee lived bed-rid . the doze is to bee taken in white wine or ale fasting , and last to bedwards . this soveraigne water dr. chambers long used and therewith effected many cures , and kept it secret till a little before his death , and then gave it to the bishop of canterbury . the vertue and excellencie of the english bath of bathe in england . written by william turner , doctor of physick . collected and published for the benefit and cure of the poorer sort of people , who are not able to goe to the physitians . by william bremer , practitioner in physick and chyrurgerie . part . viii . although there be a very excellent and wholsome bath within the realme of england , yet for all that , j am certain that there are many in the north parts , which being diseased with ●ore diseases , would very gladly goe to the bath of bathe , if they knew the vertue and benefit thereof whereby they might receive ease and remedy . wherefore , seeing that j have writ of the baths that are in foraigne countries , therefore j thought good to make knowne the vertues of our owne bathes ; for if they bee able to help and cure mens diseases , to what purpose shall men need to goe into farre countries to seeke for that remedy there which they might have at home . the bath of england is in the west countrey in somerset-shire , in a city called in latine bathonia , and bathe in english , of the bathes that are in it . this city of bathe is 15. miles from welles , and 15. miles from the noble city of bristow . the chiefe matter whereof these bathes in this city have their chiefe vertue and strength , after my judgement is brimstone , and of my judgement are divers other , which have examined them as j have done ; when j was at the bathes with a certaine man diseased of the gout , j went into them my selfe with my patient , and brought forth of the place next unto the spring , and out of the bottome , slime , mudde ▪ bones , and stones , which altogether smelled evidently of brimstone , if that a man may judge the matter by the effect ; may gather that brimstone is the onely matter in these bathes , or at least the chiefe that beareth rule in them ; for they dry up wonderfully , and giveth great ease and cureth the gout excellently and that in a short time , as with divers others ( and gentlemen of quality ) can beare witnesse thereof : which things are no slight manifestations that brimstone beareth the predominancy and chiefe rule ; seeing that neyther by smelling nor tasting , a man can perceive any other matter or minerall to raigne there . if there bee any thing else lightly mingled with the brimstone ( which j could not perfitly distinguish ) it must be copper ; for in my abode as j walked about the mountaines , out of the which the bathes doe spring ▪ j found here and there little pieces of marquesieth and stones mingled with copper , but j could by no sence or wit perceive , that the bathes had any notable quality thereof . then seeing that there cannot bee found any other minerall or matter to be the chiefe ruler in these bathes then brimstone , wee may gather , that these bathes are good for all those diseases , which all learned physitians write , that other bathes , whose chiefe ruler is brimstone , are good for . aetius writing of naturall bathes , wherein brimstone is eyther the only minerall or matter of them , or chiefe ruler thereof , saith thus as followeth . the bathes of brimstone soften the sinewes , swage the paine that a man hath in desiring to goe oft unto the stoole , and when hee commeth , he can either doe litle or nothing at all . they scowre and cleanse the skinne ; wherefore they are good for the white morphew and blacke , for the leprosie , and for all scabs and scurffes , for old sores and botches , for the falling of humours into the joynts , for an hardened mylt , or the cake in the left side , for an hardened mother , for all kind of palsies , for the sciatica , and for all kind of itch or itching . but the bathes of brimstone hurteth and taketh away the stomack for the present . thus much also writeth avicen . agricola in his bookes of those things which flow out of the earth , writeth thus of bathes of brimstone . the bathes of brimstone doe soften the sinewes and doe heat , they are good therefore for palsies , for places shrunke or pulled in too much , or stretched too farre forth ; for the shaking or trembling of any member , and they swage ache , and drawes out the swelling of the limbes , and drive and dissolve them away ▪ they are good therefore for the gout in the hands , for the gout in the feet , and for the sciatica , and all other diseases in the joynts : they swage also the paines in the liver and milt , and drive away the swelling of them both : they scowre away freckles , and heale morphewes , and scabbes . but they undoe and overthrow the stomacke . then seeing ( as j said before ) our baths of bathe , have their vertue of brimstone , they that are diseased in any of the above-named diseases , may goe thither , and by the helpe of almighty god be healed there . though those bathes have of long time beene knowne , even about a thousand yeares , either unlearnednesse , or the enviousnesse of the physitians , which have been in times past , is greatly to be rebuked , because either for lack of learning , they knew not the vertue of those bathes , or else for enviousnesse , would not send the sicke folkes , whom they could not otherwise heale unto the bathes ; for all men can tell , very few in times past have beene by the advise of the physitians sent unto the bathes , but now in this our light and learned time , after that so many learned physitians have so greatly commended these bathes . j doubt whether the niggardly liberality , or the unnaturall unkindnesse of the rich men of england is more to be dispraised , which receiving so many good turnes of almighty god , now after that they know that the bathes are so profitable , will not bestowe one halfe-penny for gods sake upon the bettering and amending of them , that the poore , sicke and diseased people that resort thither , might be better and sooner holp●n when as they are there . he that hath beene in jtalie and germany , and had seene how costly and wel-favoredly , the bathes are trimmed , and appointed there in divers and sundry places , would be ashamed that any stranger which had seene the bathes in foraigne lands should looke upon our bathes , for hee would thinke that the stranger would accuse us englishmen of three things . of grossenesse and brutish ignorance ; because we cannot trim our bathes no better . of unkindnesse , because we doe so lightly regard so high and excellent gifts of almighty god. of beastly filthinesse , because we make no partition between the men and the women , whilest they are in bathing , but suffer them contrary both unto the law of god and man , to goe together like unreasonable beasts , to the destruction both of body and soule of many . first , and before all other things , my counsell is , that every bath have an hole in the bottome , by the which , the stopple taken out , the bath should be cleansed and scowred every foure and twenty houres , at the least once , and that i would advise to be done at eight a clock in the afternoone , that against the morning it might be full of fresh and wholesome water against the time the sicke folke come to it in the morning , and so should they be a great deale sooner healed of their old diseases , and in lesse jeopardie in taking of new , which may easily come unto a man , if he goe into a bath , wherein a sicke man ( namely if hee be sicke n a smiting or infective disease ) hath continued . and for the dyet that men should keepe at this bath of bathe , hereafter ensueth ; with divers other necessary rules needfull to bee observed of all those that enter into the said bath , or drinke the water of any bath . certaine rules to bee obferved in dyet for all them that will enter into any bath , or drinke the water thereof . the counsell of learned and wise physitians is , that no man should at any tim● goe into any bath to seeke remedy for any sickneffe , except it bee such a one as that the learned physitians almost dispaire of the healing of it . if god have smitten you with any disease , before you goe to any bath for the healing of it , call to your remembrance how often and wherein you have displeased god , and if any of your sinnes come to your remembrance , exercise the same no more but be heartily sorie for it , and desire of god forgivenesse for it , intending and promising by his mercy and grace never to fall into the same againe . this counsell is agreeing with that which is written in the 38. chapter of ecclesiasticus ▪ which saith in this manner , vers . 9 , 10 , 12. my sonne in the time of thy sicknesse , faile not to pray unto the lord , and hee will make thee whole . leave off from sinne , and order thy hands aright , and clense thy heart from all wickednesse . then give place to the physitian , and let him come unto thee , as one that god hath sent unto thee . and a little after hee doth plainly declare , that sicknesse commeth from the punishment of sinne , where hee saith , vers . 15. hee that sinneth against his maker , let him fall into the hands of the physitian . as christ in the 5. of john doth also manifest ▪ when he said unto the blind man he had healed ; goe and sinne no more , lest worse things chance nnto thee . howbeit , wee may judge no man to bee a greater sinner then another , because hee is oftner sicke then the common sort be ; for god sendeth unto good men oftentimes sickne●se , not for the sinnes they have done more then other men , but to keep them in good order , that the flesh rebell not against the spirit . for if that many infirmities had been a sure token that such a man were a greater ●inner , then should timothy , which had many infirmities and sicknesses ( as paul writeth ) been a very great sinner ; but hee was not so , therefore that argument is not true . but whether sicknesse come for to punish sinne , or to hold a man in good nature and obedience , all sicknesse commeth from god ; therefore , for whatsoever cause it commeth of , before ye aske any helpe of any worldly physitian , yee must make your prayers to almighty god , ( as the good king ezechias did , ) and if it be meet for you to be healed , you shall be healed as he was . then before yee goe into the bathes , in any wise ye must goe to some learned physitian , and learne of him , by the helpe of shewing , what complexion you be of ▪ and what humour or other thing is the cause of your disease ; and there after his counsell , use such dyet as shall be most fit for your complexion and sicknesse . let no man enter into any bath before his body be purged or cleansed after the advice of some learned physitian , for if any man goe into the bath unpurged , he may fortune never come home againe : or if he come home againe , he commeth home most commonly with worse diseases then he brought to the bath with him . yee may not goe into the bath , the first day that you are come to it , but you must rest a day or two , and then goe into the bathe . there is no time of the yeare that is more fit to goe into the most part of all the bathes , then are the moneths of may and september : but the spring time is better then any other time is . the best time of the day is an houre after the rising of the sunne , or halfe an houre : but before yee goe into the bathe , if your disease will suffer you , yee must walke an houre , or at the least halfe an houre before you goe into the bath . but you must at no time goe into the bath , except yee have beene at the stoole , either by nature or by art ; yee may take a suppository , or a glister , and for a great need savanorolla suffereth pils , but hee will not suffer that he that is so purged , enter into the bath , for the space of foureteene houres . the same author also , would at the least every bather should have a stoole once in three dayes : wherefore if any man be hard of nature , and cannot abide suppositories and glisters , he pardoneth the patient , if he be once purged , or goe to the stoole in three dayes , which thing scarcely any other writer that j have read will doe , neither would j counsell any patient to deferre the going to stoole so long , if there be any meanes possible to make a man goe to the stoole , without his great paine . if that he be counselled to goe twice on a day into the bathe , he must see he goe not into it , till seaven houres be past after your dinner , and tarry not so long in it in the afternoone as you did before . the common time of tarrying in the bath , is commonly allowed to be an houre or more or lesse , according to the nature both of the bath , as also of the patient . let no man tarry so long in the bath that he be faint or weak , but let him come out before that time . yee must alwayes goe into the bath with an empty stomack , and as long as you are in it , you must neither eate nor drinke except that great need require the contrary . some grant that a weake person may eate a little bread steeped in the juyce of pomegranats , barberries , or rilts , or in the syrups made of the same . some physitians suffer a man that cannot abide hunger so long , to take ere he goe in , two spoonfuls of raisons well washed oftentimes with two parts of water , one of wine , or so much of delaied or watred wine , as much as can be holden in a spoone , or a few prunes sodden and steeped in water , or two spoonfuls of crummes of bread , washed oftentimes with water or wine , tempered as j told before , or a toste put into such water : but let no man drinke in the bath , except he swound in the bath , or bee in danger of sounding , or else ye must all the time that ye be in the bath , abstaine from all meate and drinke . as long as you are in the bath , you must cover your head well that you take no cold , for it is very perilous to take cold in the head in the bath , as divers reasons may be laid to prove the same . when you come out of the bath , see that yee cover your self well that ye take no cold , and dry off the water on your body with warme clothes , and goe by and by into a warme bed , and sweat there if you can , and wipe off the sweat diligently , and afterwards sleepe , but yee must not drinke any thing untill dinner time , except ye be very faint : then ye may take a little suger-candy , or a few raisins , or any such thing in a small quantity that will slake thirst : for galen in the 14 de methodo medendi , commandeth that a man shall not eate nor drinke by and by after the bathe , untill he hath slept after his bathing . after that yee have sweat and slept enough , and be clearely delivered from the heate that you had in the bathe , and afterwards in the bed , then may you rest and walke a little , and then goe to dinner ; for by measurable walking , the vapours and windinesse that is come in the bath is driven away . if the patient cannot walke , then let him be rubd quickly , and if hee can suffer no rubing , then at some time it were good to take a a suppositorie , either of roote , or of a beete , with a little salt upon it , or a suppository of honey , or a suppositorie of a flower deluce , or of salt bacon ▪ or white sope. after all these things , then shall you goe to dinner , but you must neither eate very much good meate , nor any evill meate at all . wherefore you must rise from the table with some good appetite , so that you could eate more if you would . the meates that are commonly of all physitians allowed that write of dyet that belongeth to bathes , are , bread of a dayes baking , or two at the most , well leavened , and throughly baked , small birds , and other birds of the fields and mountaines that are of easie digestion , ( but waterchanters yee must not touch ) kids-flesh , veale and mutton , or a lambe of a yeare old , new laid egges , pheasants , partridges , capons , chickens and young geese . the meates that are forbidden , are salt beefe and bacon , pidgeons , quailes , pyes , and pasties , and such like meates ▪ cherries , and all such fruits , garlicke , onions , and all hot spices , and all cold meates , as are the most part of fishes : howbeit , divers may be well allowed , so they be well dressed . milke is not to be allowed much : but if that the patient be so greedy of it , that in a manner he long for it , then let him take it two houres or thereabout , before he take any other meate , and he must drinke after it . white wine that is small is allowable , or wine delayed with the third or fourth part of sodden water , according to the complexion of the patient : some use to steepe bread in strong wine , when as they can get no other wine . beware that in no wise ye drinke any water , and especially cold water , and so should yee forbeare from all things that are presently cold ▪ namely , when ye begin first to eate and drinke . let therefore both your meate and drinke be in such temper , that they be not cold but warme , lest when as yee are hot within by your bathing and sweating , the cold strike suddenly into some principall member and hurt it . they that are of a hote complexion , and of an open nature , and not well fastened together , ought not to tarry so long in the bath , as other ought that are of colder and faster complexions . if that any man betweene meale times be vexed with thirst , he may not drinke any thing , saving for a great need he take a little barley water ▪ or water sodden with the fourth part of the juyce either of sowre or milde sweet pomgranats , with a little suger : a man may use for a need , a little vineger , with water and suger , if he have no disease in the sinewes , nor in the joynts . a man that is very weake , or accustomed much to sleepe after dinner , an houre and a halfe after that he is risen from the table , he may take a reasonable sleepe . all the time that a man is in them , he must keepe himselfe chaste from all women , and so he must doe a moneth after , after the counsell of divers learned physitians , and some for the space of forty dayes , as pantheus and aleardus would , namely , if they come out of the cauldron . it were meete that in every foure and twenty houres the bath should be letten out , and fresh water received into the pit againe , for so shall you sooner be healed , and better abide with lesse jeopardy , abiding in the bath . it is most meete for them that have any disease in the head , as a catliaire or rheume , comming of a moyst cause and not very hot . for them that have palsies , or such like diseases , that they cause a bucket to be holden over their heads , with an hole in it , of the bignesse of a mans little finger , about foure foote above their heads , so that by the reed or pipe made for the nonce , the water may come downe with great might upon the mould of the head , if they have the cathaire ; and upon the nape of the necke , if the patient be sicke of the palsie , or any such like disease . the clay or grounds of the bath , is better for the dropsie then is the water alone : it is also good for shrunken , swelled , and hard places , and for all old and diseased places , which cannot well be healed with other medicines : the matter is , to lay the grounds upon the place , and to hold the same against the hote sunne , or a warme fire , untill it be something hard , and then to wash away the foulenesse of the clay , with the water of the bath : this may a man doe as oft as he list . some physitians counsell , that betweene the bathings , when a man is twice bathed upon one day , in the time that the patient is out of the bath , to use his plaistering with the clay : but if the person be any thing weake , j counsell not to goe twice into the bath , but either once , or else to be content with the plaistering of the mudde or grounds of the bath . it were good wisedome for them that cannot tarry long at the bathes , either for heate or for cold , to take home with them some of the grounds , and there occupie it as is afore-told . there are certaine learned men , which reckon that the hote breath or vapour that riseth up from the bathe , is much more mightier then the water of the bath is , and it is true : therefore it were well that they which have any dropsie , and especially a tympanie , should sit over such a place of the bath , that they might receive into the moyst diseased place , the vapour of the bathe , either by an holed stoole , or by some other such like manner of thing well devised for that purpose . if any poore man by the heate of the drynesse of the bathe cannot sleepe enough , let him eate lettice , or purslaine , or the seedes of poppy , called chesbowle , in some places of england , or let him eate suger and poppy-seed together , let this be done at night . hee may also if he cannot get the aforesaid things , seethe violet leaves and mallowes , and bathe the uttermost parts with that they are sodden in . these are remedies for poore folke that are not able to have a physitian with them to give them counsell : let the rich use such remedies as their physitians shall counsell them . if any poore man be vexed with any unsufferable thirst , let him take a little barley and seethe it long , and put a little suger unto it : or let him take the juyce of an orange , or take a little of it with a little suger . if any poore man catch the head-ache , let him take a little wormelade if he can get it , or coriander comfits : or if he can get none of these , let him take the white of an egge ▪ and beate it with vineger , and rosewater , or with the broath of violets , or nightshade , or with any of them , and a little vineger , and lay them in a cloath unto the temples of his head , and forehead . if any poore man be burned too much , let him take a glister made with mallowes , beetes , and violet leaves , or let him seethe prunes with barley a good while , and raisins , putting a way the stones , and eate of them , or let him use suppositories sometimes , made of rootes , either of beetes , of flower-de-luce , or of white sope , or of salt bacon . if any man sweat too much , let him use colder meates than he used before , with vineger or verjuyce , and let them also eate sheepes-feete , and calves-feete , with verjuyce or vineger . if any man have the burning of his water when he maketh it , let him an houre after he is come out of the bathe , annoynt his kidneyes with some cold oyntment , as is infrigidus galeni : or if you cannot come by that , let him seethe violet leaves , poppy-heads , raisins , licorice and mallowes together , straine them , and put some suger in the broath , and drinke of it a draught before supper . if any be troubled with the rheume which he hath caught in the bath , let him parch or bristle at the fire nigella romana , and hold it in a cloath to his nose , and let him set cups or boxing glasses to his shoulders , without any scorching , and let him drinke sodden water with barley , and with a little suger . if any man have any appetite to eate , let him use the sirrups of ribles or barberies , or the sirrup of unripe grapes , or use verjuyce or vineger to provoke appetite in due measure , and now and then if ye can get it , let him take a little marmalade , or of the sirrup of mynts , or worm-wood raman . ( these have i written for poore folke . ) those that are rich , by the advice of the physitians , may have other remedies enough against the fore-named accidents , that chance in the time of their bathing . if thou be rid of thy disease by thy bathing , offer unto christ in thy pure members , such offering of thankesgiving , as thou mayest spare and give him hearty thankes , both in word , minde and deed , and sinne no more , but walke in all kindnesse of life and honesty , as farre as thou shalt be able to doe , as long as thou shalt live hereafter . but if thou be not healed the first time , be patient , and live vertuously till the next bathing time , and then if it be to the glory of god , and for the most profitable , thou shalt the next bathing time be healed by the grace of god , of whom commeth all health both of body and soule . some if they be not healed whilest they be in the bathing , cry out both upon the bath , w●ich healeth many other of the same diseases that they are sicke of , and of the physitian also that counselled them to goe to the bathe , such men must learne , that they must not appoint god a time to heale them by the bathe , and that when as the bath hath dryed up , and washed by sweating , and made subtill through blowing the evill matter of the disease ; that it is one dayes worke or two , to make good humours to occupie the place of such evill humours as have beene in them before . therefore let such be patient , and for the space of a moneth keepe the same dyet that they kept at the bath , and if god will they shall have their desire , but not onely these , but all others that are healed for a moneth at the least , the longer the better , must keepe the same dyet that they kept in the bath , as touching meate and drinke , and if it be possible also from the use of all women . when as you goe homewards , make but small journeyes , and beware of surfetting and of cold , and when you are at home , use measurable exercise daily , and honest mirth and pastime , with honest company , and beware of too much study or carefulnesse . and give god thankes for all his guifts . thus much for the bath . of herbes , and drugs . hereafter followeth divers medicines , remedies , and cures to heale divers diseases curable , by the grace of god ; as also the nature and property of certaine herbes , plants , and drugs , belonging thereunto . part . ix . and first of marte mylletare , to stop the flux of the body . divers times , the flux of the body proceedeth of superfluous heat contained in the stomacke , the which maketh a continuall solution inwardly , as yee may see by experience of those that are troubled therewith ; for so long as the cause is not taken away , all their meat doth turne into the matter , the which if it be so , that is true which j doe say ; that the fluxes are a distemperance of the body , caused of hot and corrupt humours in the stomacke ; and therefore if thou wilt cure it , it were necessary to extinguish the heat , and so take away the corruption , the which thou shalt doe with the rednesse of marte mylletare , as is hereafter following , for that is the most soveraigne remedy that can be found . first , yee shall take twelve graines of petra philosophalla , with half an ounce of mel rosarum , and then take foure mornings together one scruple of marte mylletare , with half an ounce of suger rosate , and therewith thou shalt worke very strange effects . also for perbreaking and for flux , seethe roses in vineger , or tamarindes , or galls , and while it is hot wet therein wooll , and lay it on the stomacke for vomit , and on the navill for flux , and on the reynes for appetite . the vertue of certaine herbes , and drugs . mallowes , the leaves boyled being eaten doth take away hoarsnesse , and being pounded with sage , they make a singular plaister for wounds and other inflamations . st. johns-wort , the seed thereof being drunk with wine voideth the stone out of the body . wormwood , is good against the dropsie , taking often the leaves thereof confected with suger . hysop , being boyled with figges , water , honey , and rew taken in drinke , is good for inflamation of the lungs , it avoydeth flegme , and easeth an old cough . sage , is good against all cold and flegmatick diseases in the head , and against all paines in the joynts , being taken in drinke , or applyed in fomentation ; it is good for great bellied women to eate , which are subject to travell before their time . mynt , beaten and made into a plaister comforts a weake stomack , it is very good to restore the smell , or the feeling , if it bee often held to the nose ; the leaves dryed and beaten to powder kill wormes in children ; also it applied to the forehead , helpeth the head-ach . time , taken in drinke is good to purge the intrailes , or to make one spit out the evill humours of the lungs , and in the brest . rosemary , is very good against the collick and casting up of meat , by eating it in bread , or drinking it in powder in wine . camomill , the leaves beaten and put into white wine , is good drinke against quotidian and quartern agues , the decoction thereof drunk , healeth paines in the side , good against feavers , and also to avoyd urine . lillyes , the leaves thereof being boyled , heale burnings , and confected in vineger and mingled with saffron , and cinamon , is good for women that are delivered of child with great difficulty and voydeth the after burden . baulme , the property of it in wine is to comfort the heart , to helpe digestion , to heale the feeblenesse of the heart , especially if the weaknesse be such that it causeth to breake sleepe in the night , it stayeth the panting of the heart , and drives away cares ; the leaves thereof taken in drinke is good against the biting of a dog , or outwardly applyed is good to heale the wound with the decoction of it . dogs tooth , the decoction of the leaves taken in drinke , helpeth the wringing of the belly , hard making of water , and breaketh the stone or gravell in the kidneyes ; the seed thereof doth greatly provoke urine . periatory , or pellatory . gathered in winter hath vertue to dissolve , consume , and draw ; and while it is greene it breaketh wind in the stomack . the juyce thereof held within the mouth allayeth the tooth-ach , the leaves thereof being applyed healeth burnings , swellings , and inflamations , being fryed with fresh butter , or capons grease , and layd unto the belly , it cureth the collick , and being mixed with goats or kids grease , is good to ease the gout ; the juyce also mixed with like quantity of white wine , and oyle of sweet almonds newly made , is very good against the stone , and dropped into the eares with oyle of roses helpeth the paine . aleanet , is to sooder wounds . aspaltum , is tarre of india , it hath vertue to draw and sooder , for if the powder thereof be strowed on a dry wound it will presently close it , though it be both broad and deepe . oates , hath vertue to abate swelling , and to soften things , being made hot in a pan . asarum , maketh women to have their termes , openeth the veynes of the urine , and maketh one to pisse freely . it mixed with honey killeth wormes ▪ dissolveth winds , and warmeth the stomacke , clenseth the liver and veynes of the guts , and reynes of the mother , it putteth away feaver quotidian , and cureth the stinking of venemous wormes . bole-armoniacke , if it be good , is as it were white redded . ballestianes , is the flower of the pomgranet and p●idia is the rinde , and it hath vertue to restraine as bolle hath . brancha vrona , hath vertue to make soft , or to rypen empostumes . bistorta , or tormentill , hath vertue to straine together , comfort , and confound . bedellion , hath vertue to constraine together , it helpeth the impostume , both within and without , it breaketh the stone , and breaketh the cough . cadamen , is the rootes of parcely , that hath ●ertue to dissolve , to consume and to draw . camfere , ought to be kept in marble , or alablaster , lynseed , or anniseed , is good for the gomora , and to abate a mans courage . coloquintida , hath vertue to purge flegme and melancholy , and for the tooth-ache seethe it in vineger . c●ssia fi●tula , a gargarisme made thereof , and of the juyce of morell , dissolveth the empostume in the wezend , and also swelling in the cheekes . ceru●e , is good to engender good flesh , and to fret away evill flesh . capers , is good to defie cold humours , in the mouth and stomack . con●ube and quibebes , the powder heereof with the juyce of borage , is good for the cold rheume and to comfort the braine . dragagant , is of three kinds , and the white is the best in cold medicines , and the red in hot . euphorbium , his vertue is to dissolve , to draw , to allay , to consume , to purge fleame , and melancholly . esul● , is the rinde of eleborus albus , or peritory of spaine , it hath vertue to purge fleame and melancholly , and it is the best that purgeth nekt to scamonie . take esula , five drams , canell , fennell-seeds , any seedes , and use this with warme wine , or other broth , is a very good purge . gum arabic , the white is cold , the red is hot in medicines . gariofiolate , is avence , his vertue is to open dissolve , and consume , whilest hee is greene , it helpeth the collicia passio . hermadactilus , the whitest is the best , it hath vertue to dissolve , consume , and draw , and principally to purge fleame . jarus , barba , aron , calves feet , cuckoopintell , the leaves , and the rootes , and the gobbets about the rootes be of good vertue , and the rootes being cloven , and dryed , they have vertue to dissolve and asswage . ipaguistidos , is gobbets that are found by the roote of the dog bryer , it hath vertue to draw together . jempus , is the fruit thereof , it hath vertue to dissolve , and consume ; for the strangury and illiaco , drinke wine wherein it was sodden . licium , is good with the juyce of fennell for sore eyes . litarge , is good to close together and to clense . lovag●-seed with cinamon , is good for the liver , and spleen , and wind in the guts and stomacke . mamia , is good to make bloud cleane . mumia , hath vertue to straine together . medeswete , greene or dry bringeth menstruum , and clenseth the mother . mora , is the fruit of the cicomore tree ▪ it hath vertue to dissolve , consume , and make cleane , it is good for the ovinsie , and for costivenesse . nitrum , the whiter the better , it hath vertue to dissolve , and drive away filth . opponax , if it be cleere , and draw to cytrin colour , it is good , it hath vertue to dissolve and consume . oppium , that which is not hard nor soft , is good , it hath vertue to make one sleepe . organum flowers , is good powdered to make laxe , to dissolve , and to consume , and the powder put within and without , abateth swolne cheekes . oxificicentia , phenicon , dactilis indie , tamarindus , they that bee good , be neither too moyst nor too hard , and be somewhat blacke , and somewhat sower , the rind nor the seed , must not be used in medicines , it hath vertue to purge choller , to clense the blood , and to abate unkind heat . os de cord● cervi , is the bone of the harts heart , on the left side , it is good to purge melancholy blood , and cardiacle , and sinicapos or sincapos , with the juyce of borage , and os sexi , will make the teeth white . dog-fennell , the root is good for the strangury , oissury , and stopping of the liver and spleene . pine apples , the kernels doe moysten and open , and is good for the disease in the brest , or cough , or eticke , or consumption , and to increase good blood . damsons , bee cold and moyst , in the third degree , gather them when they be ripe , and cleave them in the sun , and spring them with vineger above , and then yee may keepe them two yeare in a vessell ; their vertue is to cool● a man , and make his guts light , and therefore they be good in fevers , against the costivenesse that commeth of drynesse , or of cholerick humours in the guts , when they be ripe to cut , and when they be dry , soke them in water ; and eate the prune , and drinke the water . psilium , is cold and moyst in the third degree ; his vertue is to make soft and light , and to coole a mans body , and to draw together . purslene , is good both raw and sodden , to abate unkind heat in cholerick men . pitch-liquid , hath vertue to dissolve and consume . ponticum , is good for the stopping of the liver and spleene , that commeth of cold . storax , hath vertue both to comfort and consume , and to fasten teeth , and comfort the gummes . squilla , is a sea-onion , and that is found by himselfe is deadly , his vertue is to purge and to dissolve , but the outer and inner parts must be cast away , for they bee deadly ; and that which is in the middest , may bee put in medicines , and it hath more vertue raw than sodden . seeds within the berries of elder , is good to purge flegme . stavisacre , hath vertue to dissolve , consume , draw , and purge flegme , and litargie ▪ and to put away heavinesse from the heart , if it be taken and put in the nose . s●apium , is good , and hath vertue to dissolve consume , draw , and laxe , and heale , it is good for fallings downe of the mother , with suffumigation , or supositor , and for the tearmes of the secondine or dead child . saracoll , if it be right , it is good , it hath vertue to straine together and to sooder . drinke calamint sodden in wine , for coldnesse of the stomack , and for stopping of the liver and spleen , the reynes and bladder , and illiac● passio . saterion , his root is green , and hath vertue to unloose mans nature . saligem , his vertue is to dissolve , and consume . scabius , while hee is greene , hath vertue to dissolve , consume , and cleanse . dragons , take the roote , and cleave it , and dry it in the sun , yee may keepe it two yeares , mingle the powder of dragons with sope , and wet a tent therein , and put it deepe into a fester , and it will clense and enlarge it , and if there be a bone in it , it will draw it out , or else loose it that yee may take it out lightly . sene , is to purge melancholy and epilencie , and fever quartaine , and emerodes ; for the spleene and liver , take cardiacle sodden in water ▪ and put to sage , and make a syrope , or the juyce of borage and suger , is very good . terra sigillata , terra sarasincia , terra argenta , is all one manner of earth , his vertue is to constraine together . turbith , if it be hollow , small , and of an ash-colour , and gummie , it is good , it hath vertue to dissolve , and draw humours from the uttermost part of a mans body , and namely fleame ; for the gout , and illiaca , and podegra , and chiragra , give him foure scruples of turbith mingled with some other medicine , and it will doe the like . taplia , or faiters hearbe , his vertue is to purge above and beneath , both greene and dry , for it is never given by himselfe , he that stampeth it let him hide his face and eyes that he see not , also keepe close his testacles , or else they will swell . with this hearbe beggers doe make themselves seeme to have the dropsie upon them . tartar is the lees of wine , and hath vertue to dissolve , and dryeth away filth , and to abate a mans fatnesse . terbentine , a fugimation thereof , is good for the subfumigation of the mother . virga pastoris , or shepheards rod , hath vertue to straine together , to coole , and to fill that is empty , and is good for the fluxe . bryona , or wild neppe , is hot and dry , the roote thereof maketh a woman to have her tearmes , and delivereth a dead child or secondine . flower-de-luce , the root of it washt and scraped cleane , being dryed and finely beaten , and put into a pint of new milke , made hote upon the fire and given the patient to drinke , it helpeth the greene sicknesse . d. b. ginger , comforteth the heart , and maketh good digestion . sugar , is temperate hot , and moyst , his vertue is to moysten and nourish , and to loose , if it be mingled with cold things to coole . the excellent vertues of cardus benedictus . it is very good for the head-ache and the megrim : for the use of the juyce and powder of the leaves , preserveth and keepeth a man from the head-ach , and healeth it being present , it quickneth the sight if the juyce of it be layd on the eyes . the powder stanches blood that flowes out of the nose , or commeth out of the lungs : the broath of it taken with wine , maketh an appetite . it is good for any ache in the body : it strengtheneth the members of the body , and fasteneth loose sinewes and weak . it is also good for the dropsie : it breaketh also the stone , and breaketh an impostume : it preserveth one from the pestilence , if the powder be taken in water foure and twenty houres before a man come to the infected place . it is good for the dizzinesse of the head : it helpeth the memory : it helpeth thicke hearing : it is good for short winds , and the diseases of the lungs : some write , that it strengtheneth the teeth : others write , ●hat it bringeth down flowers , and provoketh sleepe , and helpeth the falling sicknesse . it is also good for falls and bruises : the leaves provoke sleepe : the powder is good against all poyson , the same put into the guts by a glyster : it helpeth the collicke , and other diseases of the guts , and the wounds of t he same . they write also , that the water of cardus benedictus helpeth rednesse , and the itching of the eyes ; and the juyce doth the same , for burnings , and for carbunckles . there is nothing better for the canker , and old festering sores : the leaves are good for fomentations : and to be sitten over , being sodden in water , that the vapour may come to the diseased places , also it is good against the stone and stopping of the flowers . a good drinke to strengthen the heart and all the members , if a man drinke halfe an egge shell full of it morning and evening , with as much good wine . take the best aqua vitae that you can get , and take a piece of fine gold , and make it glowing hot ten times , and squench it again , the more you squench it , the stronger waxeth the water and better . then put it into the same aqua vitae , and halfe a quarter of an ounce of saffron , and a quarter of an ounce of cynamon , both beaten : let them stand foure dayes well stopped , and stirre it every day once : but when you will take it , then let it stand still unstirred that it may be cleare . this water warmeth a cold stomacke , giveth strength to all the members , specially to aged folkes that have beene over long sicke , whose strength is consumed : for it comforteth and strengthneth the heart out of measure . a speciall medicine to cause sleepe . take a spoonefull of oyle of roses , a spoonefull of rose-water , and halfe a spoonefull of red vineger , and temper them all together : then with a fine linnen cloth annoynt the patients head . a discourse as concerning cornes in the feet , or else-where with their remedies . this callowes matter is a certaine hot humour , the which nature would discharge her selfe of , and when that humour is driven forth of nature , it goeth into the lower parts into the end of the toes , for in that part of the toes , that skin is called epidarma , is hard , and will not suffer it to passe or exalate , and there many times it engendreth a tumor in the skin with great hardnesse , and many times that tumor doth increase and cause such paine that it doth not onely hinder their going , but hinder them from their sleepe in the night , and this kind of tumor is called commonly , callo , or cornes in english ; and j thought it good to call them crest , because they are alwayes growing and is of great importance among chirurgions ▪ for an infinite number of persons are troubled therewith ; and therefore j will shew thee our secret to helpe them quickly and with great ease , which secret was never knowne of any . first ye shall pare them with a sharpe knife unto the bottome , and there ye shall find a certaine thing like matter , ye shall pare it untill bloud doth appeare , then touch it with the oyle of sulphure , and then dresse it with balsamo artificio , once a day untill it be whole . keepe this as a secret . of medicines , remedies , and cures of divers diseases of severall kinds ; as also the making of powders , and plaisters , &c. part . x. the cause of our sciatica , and how yee helpe it . sciatica is a disease so called , because it commeth in that place of the body called scio , and it is caused of an evill quality and grosse humors that are strayed in that place ▪ because they cannot passe downe . and this is seene by experience dayly ; for where that paine is , there is alteration , and the cure thereof is with glysters , vomits , purgations , and unctions , because the glysters doth evacuate those places next unto it , and so easeth the humour : the vomit cleanseth the stomacke , the purgation doth evacuate the body downwards , the unctions dissolve the winde , and by these meanes thou mayest helpe the sciatica , as j have done many times to my great credit and satisfaction of my patient . for hoarsnesse . against hoarsnesse , goe into the hot-house , and when thou hast halfe bathed , drinke a good draught of warme water : this is often proved . another . garlick sodden and eaten , maketh a cleare voyce , and driveth away hoarsenesse and the old cough . if a man stand in feare of the palsie . let him eat every morning two or three graines of mustar-seedes , and two pepper cornes : the same is assured for the same dis●ase by many . a medicine for the goute . take a pinte of white wine , a quart of running water , a quantity of barley flower and let them boyle together : then put thereto halfe a pound of blacke soape , and let all seethe till it be thicke , then put thereto the yolkes of foure egges , and when yee will use it , spred it on a cloth plaister-wise , hot . stubbes medicine for the goute . take a quart of red wine lees , a quarter of a pound of beane flower , half aquarter of a pound of commine fine beaten , a spoonefull of bole-armoniacke , halfe an ounce of camphere , which must be put in at twice , and boyle them all together , till they be somewhat thicke : then make it plaister-wise and lay it to the paine . another plaister for the goute . take occy cronium galbanum , and melitonum , of each one a penny-worth and distill them : take a pound of stone pitch , and another pound of fine rozen , one halfe ounce of camphere , one quarterne of deeres suet , halfe a quater of a pound of commin , and boyle them on a soft fire together , and thereof make a plaister , upon a piece of leather using it as the other . another for the same . take the gall of an oxe , and aqua composita , of each a like quantity , as much of oyle of exeter , as of both the other , and labour them all together in a pot with a sticke , the space of halfe an houre : when you have so done , annoynt your palme therewith , then wet a linnen cloth therein , and as hot as you can suffer it , bind it to the sore . for a pricke of a thorne , or any other thing . take honey , and a good quantity of chalke , and of the gall of a beast , and boyle them together , and make a plaister of it , and as hot as you can suffer it , lay it thereunto . let the chalke be scraped , very small . approved . a remedy for burning and scalding . take the white wooll of the belly of an hare , and if it be raw , lay it thereto , and it will never away till such time it be whole . another . take a thistle called st. mary thistle , stampe it and strain it , and take thereof two spoonfuls , and put to this three spoonfuls of creame , mixe them together , and annoynt the patient therewith . to kill a tetter or ring-worme . take the root of a red dock , the roote is very red , and slice it , and lay it in vineger a night , and after lay it upon the tetter , and tye it with a cloth hard , and it will kill the tetter . approved . for a winde or a collicke in the belly . take a rose cake and toast it at the fire , with vineger throwen upon it , and lay it as hot to your belly as you may suffer it . another . take mustard , figges and vineger , stamped together , and lay it to the belly of the diseased , cold , in manner of a plaister , and it shall helpe ▪ against the shingles . annoynt the shingles with the juyce of mynts , and it will heale them . to heale a wound in ten dayes , as by proofe hath beene seene . stampe camphere with barrowes greace , and put it into the wound , and it will heale it . approved . for ache in the backe . take egremont and mugwort , both leaves and rootes , and stampe them very small , then mingle them well with old decres suet , then besmeere or annoynt the grieved place therewith very warme , and after rowle it up hard . to heale in foure dayes the scalding with water , or any other liquor , without plaister or oyntment . take an onyon and cut him overth-wart , and wring out the juyce upon the scalded place doing so every day twise , it will heale it quickly . probatum est . to heale the itch. take of lapacinum acutum , or of sorell , and boyle it in water , and wash therewith the diseased person : or else take the rootes of lawrell , and being well brayed with salt and bread , annoynt therewith the body . the like effect is done with the decoction of egrimony and sage , made with raine water , and washing therewith the sicke person . to heale sores or tetters . take of waxe of ganabrinum , in powder , and of oyle of roses , as much as shall be sufficient ? make thereof an oyntment . or else bray cockle and brimstone , and mixe them with vineger , and make an oyntment . for the hardnesse of hearing . take an onyon and coare it , and fill it with the oyles of rew and bitter almonds , then rost it soft , and drop thereof into the contrary eare , lying still after one houre keeping your selfe warme , it will both purge the head and quicken the hearing . an easie remedy for the tooth-ache . take a slice of the root acorus , of some called in english gladen , of other galanga , which groweth in waters and marishes , this must be laid green upon the tooth . or a piece of the greene roote of tormentill doth it likewise . for the swelling in the throat . take white frankensence , and cast a piece of it upon hot coales , then put a funnell over it , and let the smoake thereof goe into the throate : that helpeth , and is oft times experimented and proved . to cause a womans speedy deliverance . take whites of egges and castle sope , and make pills , adding to every pill one drop of the oyle of savin ; and in time of need give her five pilles of it . to make a womans milke increase . take fennell-seed , and seethe it in barly-water , and give the woman of it to drinke , and her milke will increase abundantly . for the rickets and weaknesse of the limbes in children . take a little quantity of the best english honey mix it with beere , and let them use no other drinke till they recover their strength . this hath bin tryed and approved . to fasten the gums or loose teeth . take a little myrrhe , temper it with wine and oyle ▪ and wash your mouth therewith and you shall see a rare experience ; myrrhe also killeth the wormes in a mans body , and chew it in the mouth , ma kes the breath sweet . for one that cannot hold his water . take the clawes of a goates feet , burne them to powder , and take a spoonfull of it in pottage or broath , wherein a little knotgrasse and hypoquistidos may bee put , and take of it twice a day . for the dropsie made for the queen● , by d. d. adryan . take polipodium , spikenard , calamus odoratus , marjerum , galingall , selwall , ana . vj. d. weight , anniseeds , saxafrage , plantane , vij . d. weight , cynamon , xij . d. weight , seenie so much as of all the rest , put them into a bagge hanging in two gallons of ale , cover it with new yest every fourth ▪ day , and drink no other drinke for a weeke , and be whole . for the stinging of waspes and bees ▪ take mallowes and rub them on the place where it is stung or else take flyes stamped with a little durt . for the falling downe of the tuell . sit over the fumes of ginger and frankensence . for the swelling of the legges . take the juyce of walwort , of waxe , of vineger , and of barley meale , of each a like quantity : boyle it , and make a plaister , and bind it upon the sore . for the canker in the mouth . take halfe a pinte of ale , and a sprig of rosemary , and seeth them together , and skim your ale. and then put in a piece of allom as much as a nut , and a spoonefull of honey , and two spoonefuls of honey suckle water , and wash the mouth with it . to make the face faire and the breath sweet . take the flowers of rose-mary ▪ and boyle them in white wine , then wash your face with it , and use it for to drinke , and so shall you make your face faire , and your breath sweet● ▪ a remedy for a red face or a red nose . take litarge of silver , and brimstone , of each like much , and seeth them in rose-water , and vineger , and then with a linnen cloath wet in the said vineger ▪ lay it to the sore . a remedy to qualifie the coppered face . make a bath with the flowers of cammomell , violets , roses , and flowers of water lillies , then annoynt the place with vnguentum album , champherarius , and mixe that oyntment with a little yellow brimstone , and quicksilver killed with fasting spittle , and annoynt the face withall . a speciall good dyet for all fiery faces . abstaine from all salt things , spiced , fryed meates , and rosted meates : also from drinking of wine , for it is very evill : also onyons , mustard , and garlicke are very naught : in steed of which ▪ you must take purslaine , sorrell , lettice , hops of borrage , with succory or endive in pottage , or otherwise : also it is necessary to be laxative , and in sleeping to lay your head high . an easie remedy to make the teeth white ▪ take vinger of squiles , and dip a little piece of cloth in it ▪ and rub the teeth or gummes withall : the said vineger fastneth the gummes , comforteth the rootes of the teeth , and maketh a sweet breathe . to take away the stinking of the mouth . yee must wash your mouth with water and vineger , and chew masticke a good while , and then wash thy mouth with the decoction of annis-seeds , mints , and cloves , sodden in wine . if the stincking of thy mouth commeth of a rotten tooth the best is to have it drawne out . a remedy for sore eyes . take the juyce of fennell , and drop thereof into the eyes , evening and morning , and it shall heale the griefe and paine . a proved medicine for the bleeding at the nose , called the ladie maries medicine . take the shell of an egge , the meate being very cleane out ▪ and put it into the fire till it be burnt very blacke and ready to breake , then take it out , and make thereof fine powder , whereof yee shall blow through a quill part thereof into the nose that bleedeth , and it shall stanch . against a stinking breath . melt hony , salt , and rye flower well together , and therewith rub the gum● twice or thrice , then wash it with faire water ▪ and it will helpe thee . for an evill breath . seeth two ounces of commin in fine powder , in a pottle of white wine , unto a quart : then keepe it , using to drinke a little thereof warme at night , the space of fifteene dayes , and it will helpe . for the head-ache , and clensing of the same . chew pellitory of spaine in thy mouth , it will cleanse the head , and also take away the ache or paine . to heale a swolne face , that is hurt by reason of some strange scorching . take the juyce of barba jovis , ( in english singreene ) and rub your face with it twice or thrice a day . you may doe the like with ●he juyce of purflaine : but if your face 〈…〉 ●oo much marred or hurt , take forty or 〈◊〉 yolks of egges , and put them in a frying 〈…〉 upon a great fire , and get some oyle out of them wherewith you shall annoynt your ●●●e . to make an aking tooth fall out of himselfe . take wheate flower , and mixe it with the milke of the hearb called in latine herba lactaria ▪ in french tintamaille , or herbe alerte in english spurge , that hath milke in it : in greeke , tithimales , which is an hearbe well enough knowne , and thereof make as it were a paste or dow , with the which you shall fill the hole of the tooth , and leave it in a certaine time , and the tooth will fall out of it selfe . and if you wash your mouth every moneth once with wine wherein the roote of the said hearbe hath beene sodden , you shall never have paine in your teeth . also the decoction or powder of the flowers of a pomegranate tree , being put in your mouth and betweene your gums fasteneth teeth . to kill lice and nits in the head. take the powder or scraping of harts horne , and make the patient to drinke it , and there will no lice nor nits breed in his head , but if you will straw the said powder upon his head all the lice and nits will dye . to remedy or to helpe blood-shotten eyes comming by any rheume , fluxion , or such other like cause . take the tops or ends of worme-wood , which is an hearb well enough knowne , and stampe it , mixing it with the w●ite of an egge and rose-water , and make thereof as it were a plaister , and spred it upon a linnen cloth , which you may lay upon the eye w●ere the blood is , or else upon both , and doe this at night when you goe to bed , and the next morning take it off , and you shall see that t●is plaister shall have drawne ▪ to it selfe all the bloud , and all the rednesse that was in your eyes , and so you shall be quit of it . for the tooth-ache . take the rootes and leaves of chickweede , and boyle them in water , with the which you shall wash your mouth well , and hold it in your mouth a certaine space , and it will take away your paine . to take away the tooth-ache . take hysope , and make thereof a decoction with vineger , and it being hot , wash your mouth withall , and the paine of the teeth shall goe away . the hysope also being stampt and incorporated with honey , and a little nitrina , killeth the wormes in a mans body . against the crampe . take and beat brimstone and vervine together , and so binde it to your arme , or other place grieved , and it shall helpe it , for having the paine againe . a medicine to purge the head. take masticke , peritory of spaine , tame cressis seede , cockle-seede , stavisacre , both the kindes of neesing powder , white and blacke ▪ ginger , sinamond , of each halfe a dram in fine-powder , and mixed together , and put it in a little bagge of fine linnen cloth , and let the patient hold one of these bagges in his mouth a good space , but these bagges must first lye in fuse a pretty while in vineger , and it will draw out rheumes from the head wonderfully , and when he hath done , he must wash his mouth well with wine or ale ▪ a medicine for a scald head. take daysie rootes , and ale , and stampe them with as much may-butter as needs , and annoynt the sore head therewith . for the head-ache . take a good handfull of red-rose leaves dryed , and a good quantity of cummin grossely bruised , and a good handfull of camomill grossely shred , and a quantity of browne leavened bread : then mixe them ▪ and put it into a linnen ▪ cloth , then quilt it , and set it into a hot dish , upon a chafingdish , and sprinckle the bagge with rose-water and vineger , and turne it in the dish till it be as hot as may be suffered , to be laid to the noddle of the necke : and let it be cold , and so use another , and keepe his head so hot as he may sweate . for paine of the head. take marjorom and presse out the juyce of it , and let the patient , take of it in his nose . for deafenesse in the eares . take the juyce of coleworts , and mixe it with warme water , and droppe it into thine eares , and it will helpe . to make honey of roses , called mel rosarum . take foure pound foure ounces of honey clarified , and two pound of the juyce of red roses : and let them boyle together till it be like a sirrope . another making thereof . take a pottle and halfe a pinte of honey well clarified , with a pottle of white or red wine , two pound of red-rose leaves : boyle the rose leaves and wine till halfe be wasted , and then put in your hony : and let it boyle till it bee somewhat thicke , and in colour like a syrrope . for the pockes . take the juyce of peny-roiall , and young tansie , and give the sicke party to drinke . a true medicine for the jaundies . take a handfull of chery leaves , seeth them in a pinte of milke , and let them boyle well : then straine it , and drinke a good draught thereof to bedwards , and in the morning fasting , and the jandies shall avoyd from you by siege : or else drinke in the morning this following . take the wood of bayberries , pill the upper shell with the leaves from it , and take the second shell that is yellow , put thereof as much as a walnut into a cloth , and seeth it with a pinte of water , let it be well boyled , and let it coole , and then driuke it , this hath beene experimented . for the liver that is corrupted and wasted . take a good quantity of liverwort and bruise it a little , and then seethe it in good strong wort ▪ with a quantity of ruberb , and use this medicine , and thou shalt be whole . for heate in the liver . take the juyce of sower apples , and sweet apples , of each a pound or more , as much as you thinke best , and two pounds of sugar , mingle these things together , and let them boyle on a simple fire till it be thicke as a syrrope , and vse this course every day fasting , with luke-warme water . remedies for the collicke . take parcely , water-cresses , pellitory of the wall , unset time , of each a handfull , a dish of sweet butter , let the herbes be cleane washed , and seethe them in a quart of running water , let your water bee taken up against the streame , and let them seethe till you make a plaister thereof ▪ then temper them together with a handfull of wheat branne , and let the plaister bee layd to the patients belly beneath the navill , and let him put in his pottage some pellatory of the wall ; and when the patient makes water straine it thorow a faire cloath , and thereby ye shall know and perceive , whether it doth him good or not , and let him use this three or foure times together . another for the same . take a quantity of broome-seed , grouncel-seed , parcely-seed , alexander-seed , ashenkey-seed , lepthorne-seed or berries , phillipendula dryed , saxifrage dryed , mouseare dryed , growobicke dryed , mixe all these together in your drinke , and drinke it morning and evening , fasting . another . take civet and rub your navill therewith , and champe rosemary in your mouth , and it easeth the collick incontinently ▪ a most excellent medicine for the collicke and stone , with other vertues . take pimpernell , mustard , crowfoot , gauriophe , mastick , and bruise them all well together , and then mingle them with the blood of a goat , and put thereto good vineger or a little alligre , and let them stand certaine dayes after your discretion , and put them into a stillatory and distill a water thereof ; this water is good for the stone , or gravell , whether that it be red or white , plaine or sharpe , or if it be hardened ; if the patient doe drinke thereof every day fasting , the stone will breake and goe away like sand . also , if scald heads bee washed therewith , it will heale them ▪ and there shall grow new haire ; and if the scabs be washt therewith , of what nature soever it bee , hee shall be whole with three dayes or nine at the furthest . also , this water drunke fasting , makes a man to have a good colour , and good blood . also , this water drunke with castorie twice in one day ▪ destroyeth all palsies ▪ which is not dead in the sinewes and members before , for it comforteth the sinewes principally . this water is very much approved . for the collicke and stone . take halfe a pint of white wine , and a good quantity of white sope , scrape it , and put it into the wine , and make it luke warme , and then drinke it once , twice , or thrice , or as often as the patient needs . a powder for the collicke and stone . take parcely-seed , saxifrage , alisander , and coriander-seeds , the kernels of cherry-stones , smallage-seed , lovage , the rootes of phillipendula , of each a dram , bay-berries , and ivie-berries , of each a dram ; put to all these as much ginger as they all weigh , and adde thereto half an ounce of commin ; this powder is to be taken in ale , halfe a dram at once , thrice a day . a speciall remedy for the stone . take the stones of medlers , lay them upon a hot tyle-stone , and after that you have rubbed and dryed them in a faire linnen cloth , then being thorowly dryed , beat them into a powder , and put to it a quantity of time and parcely , and place it upon the fire with beere and butter , and throw in halfe a spoonefull of the said powder ; and hereof you must drinke a good draught fasting in the morning ▪ and eate nor drinke nothing else for the space of three houres after . another . take a quantity of anniseeds , lycorice , fennell-roots , and parcely-rootes , raysins , and currans , and let all these be boyled in whey , from a pottle to a quart , and so strained and drinke it . a powder for the stone . take the seed of gromell , broome , saxifrage , alisander , parcely , and fennell , of all these seeds a like quantity , beat them very well together , and so drinke halfe a spoonfull of that powder , or a spoonfull at a time in a draught of good ale , making it luke warme in any wise , before you drinke it . to make the stone slip downe the narrow passages betweene the kidney and the bladder . take a great handfull of pellitory of the wall , and the like quantity of mallowes , boyle them in a frying-pan with a good quantity of fresh butter , so that they be not parched nor dry . and when you see by the frying that some good part of the vertue of the herbes is gone into the butter , take the hearbes so fryed somewhat fat with the butter , and lay it the length of halfe a yard or more betweene the fold of a napkin , and in bredth about 6 , or 7. inches , then clap the fattie side of the napkin all along from the back-bone to your flanke above the hippe , especially on that side where the paine is , as hot as may be suffered , when it is cold apply a fresh one , and in three or foure times doing , the passage will bee inlarged , whereby the stone will slip downe , and the paine cease . a posset drinke against the stone . take pellitory of the wall , three crops of lavender cotton , three parcely roots , and one fennell root , the pithes taken out , and they scraped and washed , stampe the hearbes and rootes together , then put thereto one pinte of rhenish or white wine , straine the wine from the herbes , and with a pint of new milke make a posset thereof , drinke freely of it morning and evening first and last , at the new and full of the moone , and walke well upon it . also , take the hearbe hartshorne boyled in white wine , and drunke in the morning fasting is good against the stone and strangurie . to make haire grow . take and seeth mallowes rootes and all , and wash the place where haire lacketh , and it shall grow . for to take away haire . take horsleeches and burne them to powder , and mingle it with eysell , and touch the place where the haire groweth , and it shall grow no more there . approved . to make a barren woman beare children . take of these little sea fishes called in latine pollipodes , and roste them upon the coales with oyle , and let the woman eate of them , and it shall profit and helpe very much , having in the meane time the company of a man. to make a woman have a quicke birth . take leaves of dictarij , and stampe them ▪ or else make powder of them , and give the woman that laboureth drinke of it with a little water , and she shall be delivered incontinent without any great paine or griefe . for all manner of lamenesse or swellings . take a handfull of time , a handfull of lav ender cotten , and a handfull of running strawberies that be like to a string , and so cut them small , then beate them in a morter , with foure or five young swallowes taken out of the nest very fligge and quicke , beat them together untill ye see never a feather of them whole : that done ▪ take a penny-worth of may butter clarified , and mingle it in the morter with hearbes , and so let it stand foure and twenty houres before they sceth : when you ha ve sodden it , use it as before you are taught , as well in preserving of it , as in using of it . for to stay the laxe or fluxe . take plantane , otherwise called weybred-leaves and rootes , and wash them in faire water , and then stampe them , and take a good quantity of the juyce and put it to old ale , and make a posset therewith , and after take the ale posset , and clarifie it upon the fire perfectly , and then let the patient drinke it blood warme , in the morning and evening , without taking of othtr drinke the space of two houres either before or after . for the sweating sicknesse . yee must take a good spoonfull of treacle three spoonfuls of vineger , five spoonfuls of water , and two spoonfuls of the juyce of sinckfoyle , swing them together , and drinke them luke warme . for him that pisseth blood. take a good quantity of rew , otherwise called hearbe grace , and dry it so that you may beate it to powder , and then take the powder and and drinke it with ale : and it will change the urine . for the canker in the mouth . take white wine , and a penny-worth of ginger in powder , and let them seeth a walme together , and wash the sore place with a feather , and drinke not in one houre after , and yee shall have helpe in seven dayes or warrantise . a powder for the same . take sage , pimpernell of each a like and quantity ▪ and halfe so much parcely , as of them both , shred them , and stampe them small , and put thereto a little burnt allome ▪ and then take it up drie it , and beate it to powder and keepe it , for it never failed . to know the fester and canker . heere you may learne whereof , and of what manner the fester commeth , and also the canker , it commeth of a sore that was ill healed , and breaketh out againe , and if it bee in the flesh , there doth come out water , if it be in the sinewes , there commeth out browne lie : and if it be in the bone , there commeth out as it were thicke blood . a fester hath a narrow hole without and within , and a fester is seldome seene , but it hath more holes then one , and the canker hath alwayes but one hole . for a canker in the body . take the rootes of dragons and cut them in small pieces , and lay them to dry , and make powder thereof , and take a penny weight of that powder , and put it in water all night , and on the morrow powre out that water ▪ and put thereto white-wine and then seeth it well , and let the patient drinke thereof warme , and in three day es he shall be whole . for a canker in a womans pappes . take the dung of a white goose , and the juyce of salendine , and bray them together , and lay them to the sore , and it will kill the canker , and heale the pappe . a good powder for the canker . take copperas , and roch saunders , and verdigreace , and sal-armoniac , and beate them to powder in a brasen morter , of each ● like quantity by weight , and put the powder in a vessell , and seethe it on a charcole fire till it glowe , and then take it downe , and let it coole and after make powder thereof , and that powder shall destroy the canker , on warrantise . to kill the canker or marmole . take a pecke of the ashes made of ashen-wood , and ashes of oate straw , and put hot water on them and make a gallon of lye , and put thereto two handfuls of barke-dust , and let it stand a day and a night , and then straine it thorow a canvasse ; then take the same dust and put it in againe , and put thereto as much allome , and halfe as much of madder crops , and put them in a pot and let them boyle almost to halfe , and ever stirre it that it grow not to the bottome , nor run over , and after clense it through a cloth , and let it coole , and when it is cold , take a quantity thereof and wet a linnen cloth therein and lay it to the sore place . for the canker in the mouth . take seaven spoonefuls of honey , and clarifie it in a pewter dish , then put to it one pint of white wine vineger and roch allome , the quantity of a hazell nut , and a spoonefull of bay-salt , and let all these boyle together a quarter of an houre , and then take of dryed rose leaves and sage a handfull , letting them seethe together for the space of a quarter of an houre , and let the patient wash his mouth therewith , and lay the leaves to the sore , and if the liquor bee too thicke to wash your mouth with , then take running water and white wine vineger , and a spoonfull of honey , and boyle them well as before , and then use it . another . take hearbe grace , lavender-cotton , sage , honey-suckle leaves , of each a like quantity , wash them and stampe them with a little roch allome , and a little english honey , and put them into a faire dish , and when yee dresse a sore mouth therewith , take as much as yee thinke will serve , and take a few sage leaves and wash thy mouth , and lay it to thy gums , and if yee put thereto a little pepper and bay-salt , it will be the better . another . take plantane , bittony , egrimony , violets , and woodbine , boyling them in wine or water , with hysop , piony , pimpernell , and greene walnuts , and therewith wash foure times in a day , and hold it in your mouth pritty hot , and therewith wash it . to make a red water to kill the canker . take three handfuls of rew , bray it in a morter , and put thereto a quart of vineger , and madder one ounce , and take halfe a penny-worth of allome , and beate it to powder and put thereto , and let it so rest nine dayes or more , and then take them out , and so straine them through a cloth into a cleane glasse , and stop the vessell close , and keepe it . to take away the canker . take martlemasse beefe that hangeth in the roofe , and burne it to powder and put the powder into the sore , and it will kill the canker . a powder for the canker . take one quarter of a pound of roch allome , and burne it in an earthen vessell that there come no ashes thereto : then take arg● , one halfe ounce , and one quarter of an ounce of bolearmonracke , and make all these in fine powder alone , and then mixe them altogether , and put them into a bladder , and keepe it close : and when yee will minister it , wash well the sore with the water , and then lay on the powder , and so dresse it once in the day , and it shall helpe him . a good medicine for the canker and sores . take a pottle of cleane running water , or white wine , sage , rosemary , and sinkfoyle , of each a handfull , allome one ounce , boyle all together till halfe a quarter be consumed , and if it be for the canker put in a little white coperas and camphere . for a canker old or new , or marmole . take smalledge , wormewood , greene walnuts , lillies , broome croppes , white hazell , red nettle , sage , selfe-heale , pimpernell , the roote of floure-de-iuce , planten , ground ivie , wall-woort , mouse-eare , celondine , mintes , bittony , egrimony violets , charvell , colwortes , and avence , stampe all these together and fry them in barrowes grease , sheepes tallow , and honey , and make thereof an oyntment with turpentine , waxe ▪ rozen , pitch , gum frankensence , burnt allome , and powder of tanners barke and so use it . for the canker . take the powder of saven , honey , and creame , and white wine , and mixe them altogether , and melt them over the fire , and when it is hot , with a linnen cloath wash therewith thy mouth , and when the sore is well washed , put thereof into the griefe , with lint , as hot as may be suffered two times a day , and bee whole . for a canker in a mans body , and to save the man. take the rootes of dragons , and cut them , and dry them in gobbets , and make powder of them , and take a 9. d. weight of that powder , and seeth it in white wine , and let the sicke drink thereof warme fasting , and in three dayes he shall be whole . for the head-ache . take hemlockes , and seeth them , till they be as thicke as pappe , and lay them where the paine is : let them lye all night , and on the morrow lay another of the same heat , and doe so three or foure times , and it is done . another ▪ also take and make lye of verven , or bytton , or wormewood , and therewith wash thy head thrice a weeke , and it shall doe the much good , and take away the ache. for the head-ache , and tooth-ache . take the hearbe called bursa pastoris , and bruise it and lay it to the hart of thy foote , and it helpeth both the head-ache , and the tooth-ache . a drinke for the head-ache . take bitton , verven , selondine , waybroad , rewe , wall-woort and sage , and a quantity of pepper , and hony , and seeth them all together in water , and straine it through a cloath , and drinke it fasting . another . stampe bittony , and lay it on thy head under thy cap or bind it last to thy head . for the head-ache . take sage , bittony , and rewe , with worme wood , seeth these in faire water , then put out the same water into a vessell , and beat the same hearbs in a morter very small , and then take of them and of the liquor , and temper them with wheat branne , and with the rest of the liquor wash thy head , and then lay a plaister thereof upon the mould , and let it lye there a day and a night , and do so three or foure times . also , ye may take rootes and leaves of primroses , fresh butter , and tarre boyled together is very good . another . take avence , pigeons dung , and wheate flower , one ounce , and temper them with the white of an egge , and bind to thy griefe . another . take bittonie , and camomill , a handfull , and seeth it in a pottle of wine to a quart , and wash thy head with the liquor , and if it be the megrim , it shall helpe the. another . take frankensence , doves dung and flower of wheat , one ounce , and remper them together with the white of an egge , and lay a plaister thereof where the griefe is . another . take the white of an egge and beate it well , and take away the froth , and put thereto rose-water , and the powder of alablaster : then take flaxe and wet therein , and lay it to the temples ▪ and when it is dry , wet it againe : use it thus three or foure times ▪ for the head-ache . take , verven , bittony , worme-wood , seeth them well , and wash the patients head , and after that make a plaister , and lay on the upper part of thy head on this manner : take the same hearbes beforesaid when they are sodden , and wring out the juyce of them , then take the hearbes and stampe them in a morter , and temper them with the water they were sodden in , and put thereto wheate branne to cover the juyce of the hearbes that it goe not out , then take a garland of linnen cloth , that will goe about thy head , and bind the plaister in it , as hot as the patient may abide it , and then put on a cap over that . another . if the paine come of hot humours , take a quantity of houseleeke , and distill it as much as you please , and with the same water wash thy temples , and thy forehead and then dip a linnen cloth therein , and lay it on thy fore-head , or thy temples . another . take margerom , and greene juy leaves , bittony ▪ and verven , of every one two handfuls , cut them small , and beate them in a morter and seeth it in two penny-worth of fresh butter , and stirre it till it waxe very greene , and so let it stand nine dayes in an earthen pot ; then seeth it againe , and stirre it well and straine it , and keepe it in a faire vessell , and when you need warme a little thereof in a sawcer , and annoynt your temples therewith . another . take a quart of white wine , and horehound , two handfuls , and camomill one handfull , and boyle them together , and therewith wash thy head : then take wheate-bran , and put to the hearbes , and boyle it , and make a plaister and lay it to thy head . another . take the juyce of selondine , and good vineger , mingled and made hot , and with a spunge or a linnen cloth lay it to thy fore-head , it quencheth great heate , and purgeth it that it will come no more . another . take the juyce of pimpernell , and put thereto may-butter , and frye them together with a soft fire , and keepe it , and therewith annoynt thy head and temples . to cleanse the head. take alloes one ounce , myrthe halfe an ounce , garlicke foure drams , saffron in powder , halfe a penny worth , and mingle them together in fine powder : then take the juyce of coleworts , and put them to your powder , and make it as thicke as pappe , and somewhat more stiffer , and make pills thereof , as bigge as small pease , and when you goe to bed , take foure of them , and roll them in fine powder of lycorice , and put them into your mouth , and swallow them downe . for the head-ache comming of the stomacke . take fumitory , camomill , and roses , and seethe them in white wine , and make a plaister , and lay it hot to the stomack . for ache in the hinder part of the head. stampe sage with the white of an egge , and temper it with vineger , and lay it thereto . a principall medicine for the head. take commin a quantity , and lay in vineger one night , and on the morrow put out all the vineger , saving a little to keepe it moyst , and fry it in a pan , and bind it in a linnen cloth about thy head , and by the grace of god , yee shall be whole . for a man that is diseased in the liver and spleene . take barrowes greace , and ashes made of ashen wood one pound , and running water a gallon , and seethe them till they bee halfe wasted , then straine them thorow a cloth into a vessell , and let it stand so all night , and then on the morrow scum off the greace and cast away the water , and melt the greace , and stirre it oft and put it into boxes , and when ye have need annoint the spleene therewith . a drinke to be used after this oyntment ▪ take the roots of young ashen plants clean washed one handfull , and wormewood as much , seeth them in wine from a gallon to a pottle , and let the patient drinke thereof in the morning cold , and evening hot . a plaister for the spleene . take dry lillies , march mallow rootes , and alexander seed , of each an ounce , of the barke of an elme tree , the barke of an ash , and broome seed , of each two ounces ; all these being beaten to powder , let them be sodden in strong vineger , and so let them seethe till they be sodden dry ; then put thereto the powder of commin one dram , powder of the barke of capers one ounce , powder of rew three drams , then afterward put thereto gum armoniacke one ounce or thre drams , dissolved in vineger , then with waxe , and turpentine , as much as shall suffice , make thereof a plaister for the spleene . another . take the tops of acornes , rose leaves , coriander seed , and commin seed prepared , of each one ounce , strado arabiae , galanga of each two ounces , salinter , i. saltpeeter one ounce terrified , mixe them and put them in a bagge , quilted , or basted , quadrantwise , and lay it to the place grieved . another . take camomill flowers , wheat bran , and a pint of white wine , boyle them all together and put them in a bag , then take oyles of violets , of linseed , and of lillies , of each a penniworth , annoynt therewith , and put your bagge hot thereto . a drinke for the spleene . take the juyce of licorice one ounce , fennell-seed , anniseed ▪ and juniper of each an ounce , pound them all in a morter together , and so drinke it in your drinke . another . take three spoonfuls of the juyce of ivie leaves in white wine , or else of the juyce of egrimony , and drinke of it three or foure mornings fasting , and it will helpe you . to dissolve the hardnesse of the spleene . amoniacum dissolved in very sharpe vineger , and spred upon leather plaister-wise , and applyed to the spleene will mollifie the hardnesse thereof , and it may lye thereto seven weekes and never be removed . a soveraigne medicine for the spleene , and to clense the body . take harts-tongue , wilde hoppes , lettice , and borage , with the flowers of fumitory , and parcely rootes , seethe all these in whay , and clarifie it with whites of egges , straine it , and drinke it first in the morning and last at night during the space of a moneth , and by gods helpe , it will cure your spleene , and clense your blood , and comfort you many wayes for your health . for ache in the backe . take a great onyon or two , and roast them in the embers , then stampe them and straine them out of the ju yce , and mix it with as much malmesie as juyce , and drinke thereof blood warme , first and last . probatum . to stay the backe , and helpe him that consumeth . take the rootes of parcely , fennell , camphere , and of borage , planten , bursa pastoris , and knotgrasse , and make broth with them of young hennes , capon , mutton , rabbets , and veale , and put thereto a date or two , and yee may seethe them in posset ale made of white wine . another . take white archangell , cumfrey flowers , white lillies , white roses , white holly hockes , knot-grasse , and clary , stampe them , and take a pottle of muskadine , and a pint of ale , with the pith of an oxe backe , and three capped dates , the stones taken out and beating them in a morter small , then put in some of your muskadine and grind it with some of your ale and stirre it , and boyle the rest thereof , take also the yolkes of three new layd egges , the strings taken out , and beat them well together , and put thereto of sinamon two penniworth , and of whole mace one penniworth , and seethe all these to a quart , and so use it . another . take the pith of an oxe backe and scald it , then straine it out of the skin and shred nippe , and beat it in a morter very small , putting thereto a quart of milke and straine it , and then seethe it with five or sixe dates , and a graine of amber-greece , and the powder of ginger , and let the patient use it very often . it is proved . to take away the paine of the reynes of one that is low brought . take three quarts of white wine , and boyl therein a red cocke , and put thereto a handfull , of red nip , a quantity of clary , and the rootes of red fennell , harts-tongue , a sticke of synamon bruised , dates , great and small raisins , with a few prunes , seeth all these together , till the strength of the cocke be in the broath , and put therein one ounce of manus christi , and use this morning and evening luke warme . for ache in the backe and legges . take the marrow of an oxe , and oyle olive three spoonefuls , and the yolkes of egges , and butter , pepper one ounce , then take the milke of a woman , and mingle it together , and anoynt the sicke therewith . for the bladder and the reynes . take the seedes of planten beaten in a morter , and seeth them in wine , and drinke thereof alone . a plaister for the reynes . take callamint , camomill , wormewood , peritory , holyhockes , and bray them in a morter with oyle , butter , or deere and sheeps suet , and grease of a boare , or barrow hogge , with a quantity of commin , and lay it on a plaister both behind and before . for all diseases in the backe . take the rootes of daisies , of planten , of bursa pastoris , of centimodum , and the cups of acorns a handfull , and of bole-armoniack two ounces , and of harts-horne burnt , and also a bucke conie that is fat , and let all these be sodden together in white wine and water , as much wine as water , till the cony be consumed , from the bones of the flesh , then take away the flesh and the bones from the broth , and so let the broth stand till it come to a jelly , and when you are in your bed , cause your backe to be therewith annoynted by a chafingdish of coales , three nights together , and lay thereon a warme linnen cloth , and it shall helpe you by gods grace . for paine in the bladder , and to make it whole for ever . take three rootes of smalledge , and wash them faire and cleane , and cut them small , and seethe them in a quart of faire water , till three parts of the water be consumed , then straine it , and take foure drams of the powder of bittony , and put thereto , and drinke the said water . against running of the reynes . take one pound of jordaine almonds , and blanch them , and parch them , and grind them very small and make almond milke thereof , with a pinte of rose-water , and a pinte of planten water , and then seethe it with suger , and sina mon ▪ and when it is cold put thereto a dramme of masticke in fine powder , and use thereof to eate and be whole , probatum est . a syrope for the backe . take the rootes of ennila compana cleane scraped , and slice them thin , and lay them in faire running water three dayes , and shift them every day , then at three dayes end take them out ▪ and put them in a gallon of faire running water , with a quart of honey , of lycorice one ounce , scraped cleane and sliced , and of anniseeds one ounce , cleane rubbed from the dust , let all these be boyled with a soft fire , and take out the rootes out of the liquour , washing them one by one , and when they be cut lay them on a faire dish , and so let them lye 24. houres , and then take the rootes and weigh them , and for every pound of your rootes , take a pottle of muskadine , or white bastard , and put your rootes therein , and put thereto two pound of fine white suger , two or three whole maces , boyle all these to a syrope , with your rootes , and then put it into a pot , and when you will use it , let the patient eate of the rootes , and drinke a spoonfull of the syrope with your rootes , after it , morning and evening . probatum est . remedies to provoke menstruum mulieris . take powder of peeter , bittony , yarrowseed , in white wine and drinke it . another . take mugwort , selondine , marigold , verven , nippe , of each nine crops three dayes before the change , and three dayes before the full of the moone . another . take germander , and the rootes of red madder , and seethe it in ale , and give it her to drinke , or else take radishes ▪ et semen pionae , red sanders and suger , and use it as aforesaid . another . take cotula fetuda , the which is like camomill , but it stinketh , and make a fomentation thereof . another . take the juyce of mercury , and honey , and flower of cockle , as much as will incorporate it , and make thereof little balls , and give her one or two of them , and she shall have menstruum , also it shall after dispose her to conceive , for it hath seldome failed , and is well proved . another . take the blacke seed of pionie , and bruise them one by one to the number of nine , and picke of the blacke huskes , and in a morter breake them to powder , eate and drink the said powder at times afore said , in the second medicine . pro eadem . another . take the rootes of gladion , and arsmart , and seethe them in good white wine , or vineger , and when they be well sodden , take them from the fire , and let the woman sit over it , so that the ayre may strike up , and none goe away , for this is proved . another . take bittonie , puliall royall , centory , of each a handfull , seethe them with wine or water , till the two parts be wasted , and then clense it thorow a cloth and drinke it . another . take balme , margerom , isope , and marigolds , a handfull , seethe them from a pottle to a quart upon a soft fire , and so take it and drinke it every morning fasting , and if it be bitter , put thereto suger , and use it . remedies to stop menstruum mulieris . take the blackest holly-hocks that yee can get , and take the flowers thereof , and make them in powder , and drinke them , and wash the place with the water of lovage . another . take the water of oake leaves distilled , halfe a pinte of rose-water , and syrrupe of quinces sixe ounces , and let her drinke thereof first and last . another . take horse-dung , and seethe it in good vineger , and put it into little bagges of linnen cloth , and lay the one upon the reines of the backe , and the other betweene the navill , and the privie place , as warme as shee may suffer it , and let her drinke it every morning and evening with a little synamon till shee be whole . another . take the rootes of gladium , and seeth them well in wine , or water , and receive the fume thereof : it never failed ▪ to stop white menstruum and red . take the juyce of planten , and of bursa pastoris , and two whites of egges well beaten among the juyce , and put thereto bole-armoniack one ounce , and of terra sigillata , one ounce , and a portion of beane flower , and make it thicke upon the fire , and draw thereof a plaister upon thin cloth , and lay it to her backe and navill . another for the white take the inner rinde of the sloe ▪ tree , sumatch , balestianes , the rinde of the pomegranate , planten , knot-grasse , the inner rinde of the red bryer , and a little french-bolearmoniack , and boyle all these in red wine , till halfe be consumed , and let her drinke it fasting , et restringet fluxum menstruum . another . take the foote and legge of a hare , and bake it to powder haire and all , and drinke it , and it restraineth the same . the vertue of fearne . the root is good to be drunke , and laid to plaister-wise , for the wounds that are made with reedes ; and in like manner , the roote of the reede drunke , and laid plaister-wise to the sore , where fearne sticketh . the powder is good to be strowed upon moyst sores , which are hard to be covered with skin , and ill to be healed : the juyce pressed out of the fearne roote , laid to with rose-water , or other cold water , is good for all manner of burning or scalding , perfectly and sure . to take away heate and inflamation of a member . take the waters of planten and purslaine , of each two ounces , and the water of a little hearbe called vernicula●is , two ounces , litarge and ceruse , in fine powder , of each foure drams , and camphere three graines : mixe all these together and so use them . a locion for a sore mouth . take running water a pinte , vineger halfe a pinte , honey foure ounces , bay leaves one ounce , galingale one dram : let all these be decocted to the forme of a syrope . a preparative . take syrope of violets , endiffe , and of femitory , of each two ounces , and of common decoction foure ounces . to make vergent milke by d. yaxley . take litarge of leade one pound , with vineger a pinte , laid in fuse three dayes , and then drawne with woollen shreds , and so keepe it in a viall by it selfe close : then take foure ounces of conduit-water and one ounce of allome , and one dram of camphere : and melt all over the fire , and keepe the water by it selfe in another viall , and when you will use it put both these waters together , of each a like quantity , and it will be like milke . it taketh away the spottes and freckles in the face , if it be often applyed thereto . a comfortable powder for the heart . take synamon , ginger , of each three ounces , graines of paradice , long pepper , of each two drams , saffron one dram , suger foure ounces : and so make your powder . a remedy that breaketh the stone . take a pound of gr●mmell , a pound of saxifrage seed , and a pound of coriander , with a quarter of a pound of soras , white and red , and grinde all these in a morter very small , and so keepe it , using to eate thereof in your pottage every day a spoonefull . another . take time , damsons , beane-cods , pellitory of the wall , saxifrage , a like quantities , and sleepe them one night in white wine , then distill them , and use to drinke thereof . another remedy for the stone , and to cause the voydance of vrine . take pellitorie of the wall , sothernwood , and seeth them in water or white wine , with a quantity of sheepes suet , till it bee tender , then put the hearbes and tallow in a linnen bag , and lay it warme to the bottome of the belly , using this , you shall finde remedy . a proved medicine to avoid the vrine that hath beene long stopped . take radish rootes , one if it be of bignesse and strong , is sufficient , and scrape it very cleane , and lay it in white wine , a night in steepe , then straine the wine , and give the patient to drinke , and he shall voyd water . a very good water for the stone proved . the water of strawberries ▪ with the leaves distilled , and so used by draughts , as other drinke . to breake the stone . dry the stones of a cock a yeare old , and ●eate them into fine powder , and give the diseased thereof to drinke in white wine , but if he have the charward , then give it to drink with good water . doctor argentines medicine for the stone . take the red barke of an ivie tree dryed , and beaten into fine powder , and after s●arse it through a fine searse ; also take a like quantity of blacke jeat , beaten and searsed in like manner , and being mingled together , drinke thereof with wine or ale , blood warme , five or sixe times . divers medicines for the stone and strangulion . take a quart of milke , and a handfull of bay leaves , another of time , of red sage , and of parcely , of each a handfull , and a quart of malmesey , a little rosemary , and boyle them all together from a quart to a pinte ; but yet let the milke and the herbes be boyled all whole together , from a quart to a pint , before the malmsey come in , and then use it . another . take reddish leaves , and seethe them in ale , and give it the patient to drinke , and it will cause him to make water . another . take red bramble-berries before they be blacke , and ivie-berries , and acornes , put them in a pot and dry them untill they be ready to be beaten to powder ; then take alisander seed ▪ parcely seed , gromell seed , coriander seed ▪ broome seed , and the seed of the nut-tree , the inner pithe of ash-keyes ; take of all these a like quantity also , and beat them to powder , and mingle them together with liquor of a double quantity ; then use to drinke it evening and morning sodden in posset ale , made with white wine ; and put of this powder often in your pottage when you eat them , and so use it continually till you find ease . excellent remedies for the stone in the bladder , and to provoke vrine . take life hony and rhenish wine , of each a quart , saxifrage , phillipendula , and pellitorie of the wall , of each a handfull , distill all these in balma maria , with a very slow fire , keepe it in a cold place in pewter or earthen vessels , and drinke thereof the quantity of halfe a pint every morning fasting , and afterwards eate the quantity of a walnut of life honey , and use to fast and walke an houre after it . another . take a pint of milke and put into it a pint of wilde mallow leaves , let them boyle together a quarter of an houre , then make a posset drinke of ale or beere , take off the curds and mallow leaves , then set your posset to boyle againe , and put into it a good stick of licorice well bruised , one spoonfull of anniseeds , and halfe a spoonfull of parcely seeds well bruised , and so of suger candy the quantity of a small walnut , boyle all these to the quantity of half a pint or lesse , then straine it , and at your going to bed drinke it blood-warme , putting into it a quarter of a grated nutmeg . it is approved . another . take a pottle of ale and a flint stone taken from the chalke and beaten to powder , and a pennyworth of reddish rootes , boyle all these together to a quart , then straine it thrice and drinke thereof evening and morning . another . take saxifrage , and rosemary , of each a like quantity , and seethe it in white wine till all the herbes bee throughly sodden , then straine it and drinke it cold evening and morning . another . take gromell , parcely , violets , and red nettles , put them into a morter and bray them ; then take the kernels of cherry-stones and bray them by it selfe , and seethe all together in white wine , and drinke it morning and evening . another . take perstone , unset leekes , and damsons , of each a like qu antity ; boyle them and clarifie them with the whites of egges , then take the juyce and drinke it with wine or ale , in quantity double so much as the juyce is . another . take a handfull of bay-berries , and the shell of an egge when the chicken is new hatcht out of it , and beat them together ; then take the powder and ▪ put it into ale or wine , and give it the patient to drinke , and by the grace of god it shall helpe him . for the stone in the reynes , or bladder . make a bath with parcely , alisanders , pellitory , fennell , and saxifrage , and let the patient sit therein up to the navill , then let them drinke the powder of these seeds , and the herbes , with warme white wine ; for this is a principall practice for this disease . probatum est . an injection for the stone . take a quart of barley water , and boyle therein a handfull of mallow leaves , and as much of violet leaves , till halfe the water be consumed , then put thereto three spoonfuls of mel rosarum , and let the party take it as an injection with a searinge . for any evill in the bladder . take ashe , parcely and fennell , of all alike : put them and temper them with water and drinke it ; and it shall helpe thee well to pisse , and it shall cast out the stone , and heate well thy stomacke . a powder to breake the stone . take the blood of the heart of a kid , and of a foxe the blood of the heart , of both a like quantity : take the bladder of a boare , and all that is therein , and put this blood thereto , take the juyce of saxifrage , and juyce of parcely , of each a like quantity : and put these in the bladder also , and hang up the bladder in the smoake over the fire , untill such time it be congealed together as hard as a stone , and make powder thereof : and drink it with hote licour , when thou wilt , first and last ; and this shall breake the stone to powder , and make it voyd away . to ease the paine of the stone . beate the stones of medlers into powder , and drinke it with stild milke , or with white wine . another . take turpentine of jeane , make it in little balls , and rowle it in fine suger , and swallow it downe whole . against the new ague , by doctor langdon . take sorrell , sowthistill , endine , dandelion , succorie , croppes of fennell with mallowes , with violet leaves of each one handfull , and seeth them all in a gallon of stale ale , to a pottle , with skimming , that done , straine out the liquor , and make thereof an ale posset , and let the patient drinke thereof as oft as he is a thirst , putting into every dra ught as much treacle as the bignesse of a beane ▪ and ye shall be healed . for an ague . by doctor turner . take featherfew , worme-wood ▪ and sorrell , of each a good great handfull , stampe them and straine them ●ard , and put thereto as much suger in weight as the juyce weigheth , and put them in a strong glasse in a skillet of warme water , the space of foure and twenty houres before you give it to the patient , and then give it twice a day two spoonefuls at a time in ale or posset-ale . a very good drinke for an ague . if one shake . take a quart of strong ale , and put therein nine bay-leaves , and seethe it till it come to a pinte and then take out the bay-leaves , and put therein one penny-worth of treacle , a halfe-penny worth of pepper , stirring it well together , and let it then seethe againe one walme , and so take it off the fire , and let the patient drinke it as hote as he can , and be covered as warm as he may abide , the space of sixe or seven houres . probatum est . another . take a pinte of ale and put therein one penny-worth of long pepper , and foure or five field daysie rootes and then seeth the same well together , and then let the patient drinke the same as hote as he may ●uffer it , and walke till he sweat if he be able , or else layd downe and covered very warme that he may sweat well . also burre-leaves , and baysalt beaten together and bound about the wrist of the patient is good for the same . another . take a quart of red-wine , and a quart of milke , and still them , and give it to the patient to drinke , when the axis come upon him , but the milke must be taken as it commeth from the cow. for a cold ague . take a spoonefull of vineger a spoonefull of aqua vitae , and a little treacle with long pepper and warme this blood-warme , and so let the sick person drinke it , when the fit commeth , and let him walke if he be able , if not , laid downe and made to sweate . a plaister to take the ague or any other ache out of a womans brest in the time of her child-bearing , if it come . take the yolke of an egge , and a little quantity of wheate flower , and a quantity of honey , as much as the yolke of the egge , and beat these together , till it be like a salve : then make a plaister thereof , and lay it to the brest that is grieved ▪ and it will heale it without doubt . probatum est . to kill the paulsie . drinke the roote of valerian in powder , and it will destroy the palsey , so that ye eate no hogge flesh . a remedy for the dropsie . scrape an elder roote very cleane , and breake it in many pieces , or shred it into white wine , and let it steepe therein , then drinke the wine , and it will heale your disease whole . against stopping of the pipes . take hisope , mintes , rose-mary , dai●ies ▪ and consond , of each like quantity , and seeth them with ale in lycorice , and use it morning and evening . against hoarsenesse . take a good quantity of verven , and seeth it with lycorice in faire water , then straine the water , and use no other drink with yonr meate untill you find remedy . for the yellow jaundise . take the reddest docke rootes that ye can get , and being washed cleane , put them into a vessell of good ale , and when it is stale , let the diseased drinke no other drink to his meate but ale and it shall helpe . for wormes in the bellie . against the wormes in the bellie , take onyons and pill them , cut or slice them small , powre spring-water over them : let it stand all night , and in the morning drinke that water , and it driveth away all wormes : powre the same water upon the earth where the wormes are , and within halfe an houre , they will all creepe out of the earth . another . likewise if one eate garlicke fasting , it killeth and driveth out wormes out of the body . or else drinke distilled water of knot-grasse , or shanie-grasse , the same killeth wormes also : how beit it worketh more in young then in old folkes . another . take mares-milke , and drinke it as hote as you can have it from the mare in the morning fasting . an approved remedy for a woman that hath her throwes before her time . seeth a good handfull of whole chervill in a quart of claret wine , and when the hearbes bee well sodden , wring them into the wine , and clense it , and make thereof an hypocras with sugar , cynamon and ginger , and give her thereof to drinke warme at times needfull . and it shall expulse the paine , approved . a powder for the strangury . take ivie berries dryed over the fire between two stones , and alisander seedes , of each a like quantity : and make a powder thereof to be used in a draught of good ale. for the collicke and stone . take unset leekes , unset time , and parcely , and make pottage of it with mutton : it is also good for the mother . for a megrim in the head. take a cloath and warme it very hot , and chase the nape of your necke , and your temples , a mornings . for the tooth-ache . take nine pepper-cornes , and five cornes of bay-salt , and some english honey , and breake your pepper-cornes , and beate them all in an oyster shell , then make little balls of lint , and dippe them in the honey , and lay it unto your tooth , or rub your teeth with allome beaten . for a sore brest . take a red-rose cake , and white wine in a dish , and set it on a chafingdish of coales and turne the cake up and downe in the dish , and lay it to the brest as hot as may bee suffered , and use this three or foure times , till it be whole . for a sore eye that burneth and is watrie . take hemlockes and distill them , and take the watet and lay it to your eyes ▪ and take a little lint , and dippe it in the water , and so lay it unto your eyes as you lye upright in your bed . another . take ground ivie beaten , c●reth the web in the eye , putting it in once a day . for to stoppe the bloody fluxe . take a pinte of milke , and a pinte of water , and let them boyle together over the fire , untill it come all to a pinte : and let the patient drinke it morning and evening . a remedy for a fellon . this infirmity doth come of a venemous matter , and other while it commeth of an interiall cause , or of an exteriall , the interiall cause commeth of some evill humour , the exteriall cause doth come of some venemous stinging of an evill humour eate treacle , and make a plaister of treacle and lay it upon the place : or take the white of a rawe egge , and put in salt to it , and beate it well together , and make a plaister thereof . another . take rew , and soape , soote , and boares greace : and stampe them together , and lay it to the fellon . a medicine well proved for the megrim . take the juyce of night-shade , and as much vineger , with crummes of leavened bread , and the white of two egges , a quantity of bolearmoniac , a quantity of sage , and dragons tayle : all these are to be made plaister-wise upon flaxe , and lay it upon your griefe ; also village to be stilled is very good . for to heale a sors eye , hurt with the small pockes . take the marrow of the pinions of a goose-wing cold , a quantity of honey , new taken out of the combe , in the hive , and mingle it together , and lay it on the patients eye-lidde , and it will heale it . for a sore eye with a pinne or a web. take white allom , and running-water , and boyle it together in an egge-shell , till it be halfe consumed . for a sore eye that ●tcheth and pricketh . take running water a quart , and put in white copperas , a rose-mary sprigge and a spoonefull of hony , and let it boyle to a pinte , and then drop a little into the eye : and keepe it after from rubbing or touching . for a sciatica or ache in the bones . take of rew , and red nettles , of each a a handfull , commin , blacke sope , and frankensence , of each a quantity , boyle all these together , and make a plaister thereof , and lay it to the griefe . another . take a lapfull of nettles , another of neppe , seethe them in chamber-lye , and put therein a handfull of bay-salt , and a quantity of blacke soape , and let them boyle well together , and lay it to the griefe . for sore eyes . take fennell rootes , white daisie rootes and leaves , and lay it in white wine , and wash your eyes with it . to stoppe a great laske . take a pottle of faire water , and put therein a cony fleyed , well washed , and quartered , and let it be well skimmed when it doth seethe : then take a good handfull of almond● unblanched , and the stones of great raisins , and beat them in a morter with some of the broth in the pot , and un●trained put them in ▪ then take halfe an ounce of whole cinamon , a handfull of blackberry leaves , a handfull of planten with the rootes thereof , the pot being cleane skimmed : put the aforesaid gredience therein , and let all boyle till it come to a quart , then straine the broth , and let the patient drinke thereof morning and evening , or at other convenient times in the day . analliter , if the aforesaid broth be warmed with a gad of steele , when it is cold , it is so much the better . to cause one to make water . take parceley and seethe it in white wine , and drinke it morning and evening . for the wind collicke . take commin-seede , or fine cod seede , and beat them to powder , and put it into ale , beere , or white wine , and drinke it , and it will make one laxative . for to make a water for the same . take broomeseed , and beate it to powder , and drinke it with muskadine , or any other wine . for to bind on from the laske . take a penny-worth of roch allome , and seeth it in a pinte of white wine , and drinke it . for to skinne a sore finger . take nervall oyle , or rose oyle , or camomill oyle , or pompilion , and annoynt your finger or shinne with it , and it will be whole . for a vehement cough in young children . take the juyce of parcely , powder of commin , womens milke , and mixe them together ; then give the child to drinke thereof , and afterward make this oyntment following : take the seed of hempe or flaxe , and fennycrick , and seethe them in common water , then presse out with your hands the substance of the hearbs , which you shall mingle with butter , and so annoynt the childes brest with it as hot as may be . for a broken head. take unwrought waxe , and a little sugar , and running water , and boyle it in a sawcer , and make a plaister , and be w ho le . for chilblaines in the feet or hands . take sheeps suet , and unwrought wax , and rozen , and boyle it in a sawcer , and make a a salve , and it will heale them . to kill the tooth-ache , or a ring ▪ worme , or a tetter . take oyle of broome , and annoynt the gums at the roote of the tooth where the paine is : it must bee used after this manner take a piece of old broomesticke , the older the better , and light it , and hold it downeward , and it will drop that which is yellow , and annoynt your gummes with it , or put it in the hollow tooth . for a stitch. take groundsill and dry it , and put sweet butter into it , and put it where the paine is , as hot as may be suffered : or take oates ( the blackest that you can get ) and fry them with red vineger , and lay it as hot as may be suffered where the paine is . for an ache or a bruise . take oyle of peeter ▪ it must be used after this manner : take a stoole , and when that you are rising or going to bed , sit with your backe towards the fire ▪ you must have a great fire , and where the paine is , you must rub it with some of the oyle all downewards , and they that doe dresse you , must dry their hands well against the fire and chafe it . to make white teeth . take lemmons and make stild water of them , and wash your teeth with it , for it is a soveraigne thing : or if you will not make the water , take the liquor of them , which is also good for the same purpose , but the water is better , because it is finer : so that in the stilling it lose not his force . a medicine for a swelling in the cheek● . take a pinte of white wine , and halfe a handfull of camomill flowers , and seethe them in the white wine , and wash your cheeke , both within and without , as hote as you can suffer it . to make a perfume suddenly in a chamber where a sicke man lyeth . take a little earthen pot , and put into it a nutmeg , two scruples of the sticke of cloves , and two of the sticke of cinamon , and foure of storax calamint ▪ rose-water , or water of spike , or some other sweet water , and seethe it : then put it into a pot-shard , with a few hot ashes , and coales under it , and set it in the chamber , and the smoake thereof shall give a sweet , amiable , and hearty savour . to make a cleere voyce . take elder-berries , and dry them in the sunne , but take heed they take no moysture : then make powder of them , and drinke it every morning fasting with white wine . a medicine for the mother . take a pinte of malmsie , a little quantity of commin-seede and coriander-seed , and a nutmegge , beate these together , and then seethe them to halfe a pi●te , with a little white suger-candie , you must take a spoonefull at a time . a medicine for a stitch or bruise . take three quarts of small ale , and one penny-worth of figs , and one pennyworth of great reisons , and cut the stones out of them , and one penny-worth of licorice , of isope , of violet leaves , and of lettice of each one handfull , and seethe them from three , quarts to three pints , and straine it , and so let the person drinke it , and after make this plaister following , take a quantity of horse dung , and a quantity of tarre , fry it , and put a little butter and vineger into it , and make a plaister , and lay it to the side . for the bloody fluxe . take of suger rosset made of dry roses , of trissendall , of each one ounce and a half , mixe these together , and eate it with meat or drinke it with drinkes ; but the best remedy j could find , is to take three handfuls of st. johns woort , as much planten , and as much cressis , and seethe these in a gallon of raine water or red wine to a pottle and straine it , then put to it two ounces of sinamon beaten , and drinke thereof often . also , take a spunge and seethe it in a pint of muskadine , and wring it , and let the patient sit over it close , as hot as they can suffer it , and cover them warme . remedies for the itch. take of salt-water a gallon , and seethe it with three handfuls of wheaten bread crums that is leavened , and wash your body with the water : or , wash your body in the sea two or three times . or , else take the bran made of cockle-seeds three handfuls , and of the powder of brimstone two ounces ; boyle these in a pottle of white wine vineger , and wash your body therewith three or foure times . or take a quantity of brimstone , and a quantity of allome ▪ and burne them on a fire-shovell over the fire , beat them very small and boyle them with bores-greace , and so annoint the itch. to kill lice or itch. take quicksilver two penniworth , and kill it with fasting-spittle in a dish , beating it well together , and put thereto foure penny-worth of oyle of bayes , and so annoint the place ; this receipt will kill both itch and lice in the head or body . to cure the crampe . make a ring of an oxe or cowes horn , or of a sea-horse tooth , or of the pizle of a sea-horse and weare it . it is proved . for a paine or swelling in the privie parts . take white wine vineger and cow-dung , boyle them to a poultis , and when it is ready put thereto oyle of roses ; and if the griefe proceed of a cold cause , put thereto some camomill flowers applyed very hot . another . take commin-seeds beaten into to powder , barly-meale , and honey , of each a like quantity , then fry them together with a little sheeps suet , heat it and bind it as a plaister to the cods . remedies for burning or scalding . take five or sixe spoonefuls of sallet oyle , and as much of running water , beat them together till they bee well incorporated , then anoynt the place therewith and lay thereon a doek leafe , it will both coole and heale . another . take of the herbe periwinckle , fry it in a pan with fresh butter , fresh greace , and sheepes dung newly made ; when it is well fryed straine it through a cloath and it will be like salve , then spred it on a linnen cloth as broad as the sore is and apply it thereto . it will cure it , though it were scalded and burnt to the bone , if it be taken in time , renewing the plaister morning and evening . remedies for the piles . take martlemasse beefe , dry it and beat it to powder , then put it into a chafingdish of coales , and set it in a chaire , and sit over it . another . burne two or three brickes red hote , put them into a pan in a close stove and sprinckle vineger upon them , letting the party sit close over it that hee may receive the fume thereof into his fundament , doing this three or foure times if need require , will helpe it . a remedy for the cappes . take the oyle of sweet almonds one ounce , and anoynt the place therewith ; or any of these things following is good , the powder of the rinde of pomegranets , the marrow of a calfe , or a hart , the fat of a capon , goose , or ducke , and such like . to kill a tett●r or ringworme . trose d● arsmeg is good , and if it come of blood exhaust two or 3. ounces of blood or more if need require , and that age , time and strength will permit ; and if it bee lupte , cut off the heads of them , and rub them with salt and garlick stampt together , and then lay over them a plate of lead . approved remedies for the shingles . take rose-water , planten-water , and white wine , of each of them halfe a pinte , put all these together and wash the place often therewith . or else take of red wormes that come out of the earth , and bray them in a morter , and put to them a little vineger , and so make plaisters , &c. or else take flowers of camomill , rose-leaves , and violets , the weight of each of them one ounce ; of myrtles , and sumack , of each of them an ounce and a halfe ▪ seethe all these in white wine and make a plaister and lay it to the place , or else make a● oyntment of ceruse . j have taken hous-le●k and have stampt it with a little camphere and put to it white wine , and have layd it to the place and have healed the patient ; also , the oyle of roses , or the oyle of violets is good for this impediment , mixt together with th● whites of egges , and the juyce of planten . for the colli●ke and gripings in the belly . give the patient jeane treacle , and pow●er of cloves well sodden in good wine an●●●t them drinke it very warne . or , take the root o● lilly , and horehound , and seethe it in wine , and give the patient . probatum est . a plaister for t●e same . take lynseed and st●mp it ▪ and dock leaves and seethe them well in water and make a plaister , and lay it to the griefe very warme . for a scurffe in the body . this infirmity doth come of a cholericke and melancholick humour . for this cure j take two ounces of bores grease , then j doe put in one ounce of the powder of oyster shels burnt , and of the powder of brimstone , and three ounces of mercury mortified with fasting spittle ; compound all these together , and annoynt the body three or foure times , and take an easie purg●tion . a remedy for a wild running scab . take mercury mortified with fasting spittle three ounces , incorporate it with oyle of bayes , and anoynt the body , or else take mercury mortified three ounce● , and of the powder of brimstone two ounces , the powder of enula campana two ounces , & confect these together with barrowes grease , and anoyn● often therewith . for a timpany . take a pinte of broome ashes , eyther of greene or dry , and a quarter of an ounce of sinamon bruised , sift the ashes , and let a pinte thereof and the bruised sinamon lye in steepe all night in a pottle of white wine , then let it run through a gelly bag twice or thrice till it run cleere , put in some sugar , and a tost unto it , drinke thereof thrice a day , in the morning fasting , and an houre before supper , and an houre after supper . for one that is in a consumption . take foure ounces of shavings of harts-horne , one ounce of the shavings of ivory , put it in a pipkin with a gallon of faire water , let it stand on the fire twelve houres in fusing and boyling softly close covered , then take twenty egges in their shells , crack their shells , and put them in a dish with salt , and let them stand an houre , and purge themselves then pull them from their shells , washing them till they be cleane ▪ then put them in the pipkin to the harts-horne , and let it boyle two houres , then put in a good handfull of raisons of the sun stoned , halfe an ounce of ●iquorice scraped and sliced , and a blade or two of mace , boyle all these till it come to a quart of liquor , then put in halfe a pinte of white wine , sixe spoonfuls of rose-water , two penny-worth of saffron powdered , boyle all a little while , then straine it , or run it through a gelly bag , if you please you may sweeten it as you like it , put a little salt in it , when it is cold it will be a jelly , you may take it cold or warme three or foure spoonfuls at a time , in the morning fasting ; at foure of the clock in the afternoone , and when you go to bed . if you doe think this too troublesome you may boyle the egges in broth or milke , so you boyle them a good while and so drink the broth or milke as you like best , they are exceeding strengthning and will do you great good if it please god to give blessing to it . a medicin● for one that is broken . take a quantity of comfrey , a quantity of knee-home , a quantity of knotted grasse , a quantity of ribervorum , and a quantity of polipody : stampe them altogether , and straine them in ale , and then give the patient the same to drinke cold , and trusse him up with some bolster and let his dyet be but competent , eschewing all slippery meats , as butter and such like ; provided alwayes , that the p●tient keepe his bed sixe or seven dayes , lying upon his backe , and sometimes hold his belly with his hand . for the shrinking of the sine●●s . take the marrowe of a horse-bone and the crops of elders , and as much of sage , and chop them together , and boyle them in the marrow , and then straine out the hearbes , and put to the liquor one spoonfull of honey , two spoonefuls of aqu● composit● , and a quantity of pepper , and boyle it againe , and keepe it for your use . for the staying of the flux● . take a new layd egge , and take off a little of the top of it , and powre out a little of the white , and fill up the egge with aqua-composita , and stirre it together , and rost it , and sup up the egge in the morning fasting : till you be well use this . a medicine for a sore thr●at . take a pinte of milke , halfe a handfull of collumbine leaves , halfe a handfull of gasell , a dozen leaves of sinkefoyle , and two jewes-eares ; ( and boyle them ) and so the partie must use it evening and morning , and gargale it in his throate . for weakenesse in the back● . take clary and dates , and the pith of an oxe , and put them together , and then put to them creame , and egges , and grated bread , and fry them together , and strew suger on it ; and eate it in the morning fasting , and you must put some white sanders in it also , when you temper it together . for the carbunckle or impostume in the head. take worme-wood , origanum , mayron ▪ by even portions , and seeth them in sweet wine , and after that wring out the juyce , and lay it to the eares of the sicke , with two spunges as hot as hee may suffer it ; use this two o● three times , and he shall be whole . to take away pock-holes , or any spot in the face . take white rose-water and wet a fine cloth therein , and set it all night to freeze , and then lay it upon your face till it be dry : also take three puppies , the reddest you can get , and quarter them , take out the garbage : then distill them in quart of new milke of a red cow , and with this water wash your face . for faintnesse in the stomacke , or the morphew . take a quantity of amber beaten to powder , and a quantitie of english saffron in powder likewise , and put it into white wine , and drinke it seaven or eight times . a good fumigation for the french poxe ▪ confirmed . take synaper two ounces , of frankensence , of liquid storax , a dram and a halfe , and mingle them : the manner how to minister this suffumigation is this ; you must set your patient naked under a straight canopie , and you must lay upon the coales the first part of your aforesaid receipt , and the patient must enforce himselfe to receiv● the smoake , keeping the fire betweene hi● legges till he begin to sweate : and so doing the space of foure dayes , till his teeth beg●n to ake . pilles against morbo . take of all the mirabulines three drams , of troskes , of colloquintida , of masticke of digredium two drams , of nigula ▪ of organy ▪ of cummin , two drams , of blacke elibore one dram , of spike , of euphorium , of h●rts-horne burnt , of sall-gemme halfe a dram , of mayden haire , of the coddes of s●ney , of pollytricon , of galitricon , of the flowers of rosemary , of harts-horne , of epithiam one dram , of coryanders , of anniseed of polipodium ▪ sixe drams , of good treacle sixe drams , of agaricke in traskes , and of washed aloes ▪ tenn● drams , of the spices of hier● ▪ de octo r●bijs of the spices of diarodam albatis , eight drams : make a paste of pilles , with the juyce of femitory , and honey of roses , one dr●m . to make your drinke . tak● twenty ounces of pock-wood , being turned of a turner very small , which put into an earthen pot of two gallons , and put thereto eight pound of running water , the best you can get , and let it stand in soake foure and twenty houres , the pot being covered , then take and stop the pot with paste , so close that no ayre may goe out , you must keepe the ●tre●gth in it , and that is your chiefest helpe , ●nd with the point of your knife make a hole in the paste , and therein put a peg of wood , which is to give it ayre , at times in the boyling for breaking of the pot : and thus let it boyle on a soft fire of coales , the space of sixe houres , in which time it will be consumed to a pottle ; and that will serve you for your drinke , to take morning and evening for foure dayes , against which time you must make more . after the first seething , seeth the same wood againe , with the like quantity of water and time likewise : and that is for your common drinke , to serve at all times till you make new . to make your bisket . take foure and twenty pound of the purest wheat-flower , which you can get , and put thereto one pound of fine sugar , and so make your bisket , which will serve for your turne all the time of your dyet . a receipt , and a soveraigne dyet for the french pox● ▪ proved . first , prepare a chamber , which make so close that no ayre ●●ter into it , and defend all ill savours out of it , and therein to bee twelve dayes together , before you doe begin your dyet , every day forbearing of eating , of flesh and drinking leese : on the thirteenth day you must begin your dyet , and then to take a purgation of gassia fistula , or of scamonia , to make your body empty , keeping your bed , sweating temperately , without any provoking : which sweating is your greatest remedy , in the which your sweate , you shall drinke of your second drinke as often and as much as you list : and of your first drinke you must drinke every morning at five a clocke , and evening at eight a clocke , eight ounces at a gulpe warme , saving on the daye , you take your pugation : on which dayes , drinke all of your second drinke , desiring alwayes to be merry and light-harted , in using often to smell to dryed orenges , hot bread , vin●ger of roses , mustard , and apples : and after this manner , you must keepe your chamber thirty dayes together , and never to take ayre , and at fifteene dayes you must take another purgation like to the first , and that day to drinke all of your second drinke : and in like manner , another purgation the thirtieth day : on which day , you may take broth of a chicken ▪ or of mutton , and by little and little take the ayre , and drinke good drinke . the order of your fare . every day take a quantity of a chicken , and seethe it in water , and put thereto borage leaves , or borage flowers without other spices or salt , or any other thing ▪ which chicken eate to thy dinner , and every day eate three ounces of bisket , and no more ; that which y●u leave of your bisket , eate at night , with a few raisins of the sun ▪ and your dinner must be at tenne a clock before noone , and your supper at five a clock at afternoon : and at your dinner you may dip your bisket in your broth ( if you will ) and so drinke your drinke as aforesaid , and this is your fare and dyet for the space of thirty dayes , and no other . a marvailous secret to preserve a man from the plague , and hath bin proved in england , of all the physitians , in that great and vehem●nt plague in the yeare 1●48 . which ●rept through all the world : and the other in the yeere 1625. and there was never any which used this secret , but hee was perserved from the plague . take aloe epaticum , or sicotrine , fine sinamon and myrrhe , of each of them three drams , cloves , mace , lignum aloes , masticke , bole-armoniack , of each of them halfe a dram : let ▪ all these things be well stamped in a cleane morter , then mingle them together , and after keepe them in some close vessell , and take of it every morning two penny weight , in halfe a glasse of white wine with a little water , and drinke it in the morning at the dawning of the day : and so may you ( by the grace of god ) goe boldly into all infection of the ayre and plague . a soveraigne drinke to preserve one against the plague or pestilence . take the quantity of a dram and an halfe of powder imperiall , a dram of triakle and of dragon water , and sorrell water , of each of them an ounce , and drinke it with ale in the morning fasting , and if one have the infection within 24. houres before , yet by gods grace he shall escape it . this hath beene truely proved in the last great visitation . another . take a dram of methridatu● , and give it the patient with dragon water , white wine , or some other liquor to drinke , when he supposeth himself to be first infected . another preservative against the plague . take seven or eight leaves of sorrell , and wash them in faire water and vineger , and steepe them in the said water and vineger a good while , and eate them fasting . the lady gath , her medicine against the plague . take abaunce , turmintell , sage , speremint , and violet leaves , of each one handfull , and stampe them in a morter very small , when you have so done , straine them through a strainer with red wine , claret or white , whether you can most easily get , and luke-warme , and give of this water to the dito drinke seased . an excellent antidote against the plague or poyson . take two walnuts , two figs , twenty leaves of rew , and one graine of salt , stampe them and mixe them all together , eate it in the morning fasting , and you shall be safe from the plague or poyson that day . an excellent preservative against the plagu● . take sage , hearbe grace , elder leaves , and bramble leaves , of each a handfull , take also a quart of white wine , and a good race of ginger beaten small or grated , stampe the hearbs with the wine and the ginger , then strain it through a cloth , take a spoonfull of this medicine every morning fasting , for nine dayes together ; after the first spoonfull , you shall be safe for twenty foure dayes , and after the ninth spoonfull , you shall be safe for two moneths . but if it shall happen that you be stricken ere you drinke of this , then take a spoonefull of the water of bittony , with a spoonfull of it mingled altogether and drink it ▪ it will expell the venome , and if the sore dore appeare , then take bramble leaves and elder leaves , of each a like quantity , stampe them and make a plaister thereof , and lay it to the sore , and it will heale it with gods helpe . a good drinke to be used to those that are infected with the plague . take berries of ivie ( that are ripe , gathered on the north side of the tree ) and dry them in the shadow : then stampe them to powder , then take a dram of the same powder , and temper it well with two ounces of planten-water , or white wine , and let the sicke person drinke a good draught thereof , and remaine in his bed , and sweate as much and as often as he can , after hee hath taken it , then warme a cleane shirt for him to put on ▪ ( and if his shirts may be shifted often , it will bee the better after his sweating ) and likewise his sheets and bed-cloathes , if it may be , if not , at the least his sheets and shirt : and in using of this for the space of three dayes together , he will dye or mend without all doubt , ( by gods helpe . ) this hath beene often and truely proved . to provoke sleepe to the sicke person : take a good quantity of womans brest milke , and put thereto a little quantity of aqua-vitae , stirre them well together , and moysten the temples of the head of the patient , and the nostrils well therewith , and let it be laid on with some feather , or some ●ine linnen cloth , and this will doe much good . it hath bin often proved . and if it happen , that the sicke person find himselfe greatly grieved , and that any swelling begin in any place to grow sore , then take elder leaves , red bramble leaves , and mustard seed , and stampe them all together ▪ and make a plaister thereof , and lay the same to the sore , and this will both draw and heale . or take two hand●uls of scabious , and stampe it in a morter , then temper it well with two ounces of swines greace , that is salted , and the yolke of an egge , then stampe them all together , and laid thereto plaister-wise , will draw exceeding well . how to breake a plague sore . take blacke snayles and leavened bread , stampe them very well together , make a plaister thereof and apply it to the sore , and it will br●ake sodainly by gods helpe . when medicines effect , give all the glory to god. a prayer . o eternall god , and most sure comfort and consolation in all afflictions , which he●lest the sicke soules oppressed with sin , which ministrest mercifull medicines to the repentant heart , and doest refresh the sinfull sinn●rs , that thirst after thy precious goodnesse , most humbly we beseech thee have respect to our deadly diseases , and purge them with that spilling of thy most precious blood , that we may be made cleane and found in thy sight , to receive the healthfull salvation of our soules , ●●d to rest with thy holy congregation , and heavenly fellowship in thy glorious and everl●sting kingdome , already purchased for us , by thy onely sonne christ jesus , our onely lord and saviour . amen . a character of a true physician, or, a true chymist compared with a goose-quill pedant with a short view of the frauds and abuses in physick, committed by the confederate prescribing doctoral methodists, with their combinators the apothecaries ... : being a vindication of such physicians as follow not their method but make and administer their own medicines, being the honestest, safest, cheapest, and speediest way of practice, both for physician and patient / by r. fletcher ... fletcher, r. (richard), fl. 1676-1677. 1676 approx. 43 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 16 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a39814 wing f1357 estc r376 12685861 ocm 12685861 65768 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39814) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 65768) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 354:1) a character of a true physician, or, a true chymist compared with a goose-quill pedant with a short view of the frauds and abuses in physick, committed by the confederate prescribing doctoral methodists, with their combinators the apothecaries ... : being a vindication of such physicians as follow not their method but make and administer their own medicines, being the honestest, safest, cheapest, and speediest way of practice, both for physician and patient / by r. fletcher ... fletcher, r. (richard), fl. 1676-1677. 30, [1] p. printed for the author, london : 1676. advertisement: p. [1] at end. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng physicians -england. quacks and quackery -england -history -17th century. medicine -early works to 1800. medical ethics -early works to 1800. 2005-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-08 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2005-08 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a character of a true physician ; or a true chymist compared with a goose-quill pedant . with a short view of the frauds and abuses in physick , committed by the confederate prescribing doctoral methodists , with their combinators the apothecaries : that is to say , such apothecaries only as debase themselves to truck and truckle under him in his dull method , to the extream abuse and hazard of their patients . being a vindication of such physicians as follow not their method , but make and administer their own medicines , being the honestest , safest , cheapest , and speediest way of practice , both for physician and patient . by r. fletcher , a true englishman . ecclesiast . 10. 5 , 6. there is an evill , which i have seen under the sun , folly set in great dignity , and the rich in wisdom and vertue set in low places . london , printed for the author 1676. a character of a true physician . a true physician is one unto whom god hath opened the eyes of his mind , and demonstrated the properties of things , as he did to adam , before the fall ; and to solomon , upon his begging of wisdom ; and unto bazaleel and aholiab for the glory of his name , in israel . ii. or a true physician is one whom god hath qualified with a longing desire to know nature , in her operations , integrity , and defects , and how they may be amended . for which he doth ask , seek , and knock in a right way , not at the doors of aristotle or galon , with diligence , patience and constancy , till it be given and opened unto him ; his heart is not set upon gain , but out of charity to the poor distressed , he doth persist in this pursuit of knowledge , and the mercifull god hears him , and gives him what he seeks for : then having received his talent , he doth not bury it in a napkin , but doth improve it , untill with it he gain 2 , and with them 5 and with them 10 ; and then he doth not seek to get worldly honour , riches and fame , so much as the good of those he undertakes ; nor is he startled at the sad catalogue of incurable diseases , which the proud fond usurping school-doctors have most shamefully compiled ; but he by his noble balsamic medicines , is able to overcome , as the valiant champion is reported to have conquered the devouring monster . he , viz. ( a son of art ) knows how by his chymick art , to prepare either animal , vegetable , or mineral , so as their vertue be separated from all gross adherents , that it may be an apt medicine to perform what god in nature hath granted to it . but this his art and knowledge , is not such as he sucks from the schools , but such as is applicable to action , the other being but mere empty shadows or meer ornaments at best . but this his art consists in the knowledge of corruption and generation ; for , he that knows the wayes of generation , will easily come to be acquainted with the true menstruum of bodies , which in the art of preparing medicines is most usefull . for every thing that nature affords for the subsistence and health of man , is crude , and needs a further digestion , before it can be converted either into the substance of man , or into a wholesom medicine ; so that a physician ought to be so skill'd in nature's path , as to imitate and assist nature , that all crude bodies , in order to medicine , may without the kitchin of the stomach be set to putrify , to be digested and so dissolved , that their spiritual nature may after that solution , be easily extracted and taken out of them ; and so transmitted to the several parts of the body . and to this purpose chymistry serves ; for , by the help of this art , we know how to digest , to dissolve , to putrify , to separate the pure from the impure , and so to come by perfect medicines : for all bodies , more or less , partake of the grosness and terrestriety of their matrixes ; but after their principles are separated from that terrestriety adhering , which they drew from their matrixes , they make it plain enough by their powerfull effects , that it is to this state they ought to be reduced , before they can work with efficacy , and yet they still retain their character , and internal idea . thus will a little quantity of such a well prepared medicine manifest its self , in the powerfull operating and assisting of nature , to cast off her enemies ( viz. diseases ) with speed and safety . but verily so great and precious a blessing as this , god never bestows nor imparts to any of those fraudulent tyrants , who would limit the holy one of israel , and stop and stifle those noble improvements in physick , which themselves neither do , nor can understand , whilst they remain proud usurpers and worshippers of mammon . then give ear , you pedantick galenists , and chymicophants , of the pretended colledge , who persecute this divine science , and the professours thereof ; give ear , i say , and tell me with what conscience can you prosess your selves to be physicians , seeing that all medicines or physick are without chymistry , imperfect ; without that chymistry , i say , which out of the manifest light of nature hath its invincible grounds and canons , laid down in those , excellent writings of the hermetick philosophers ; for , this is the only art ( which by supplying us out of the light of nature , with convenient means and particular natures to separate the pure from the impure ) will teach us ; first how to heal all the diseases of the macrocosmicall substances , and afterwards by examples and experiments deduced from those exteriour cures , will shew us the right and infallible cure of all diseases in our own bodies . he that knows not how to purge and heal metals , how can he restore the decay'd or weakned radical balsam in man , and repair it by comfortable and concordant medicines , to perform perfectly all its appointed functions ; which must necessarily be put into action , before any disease can be expelled : he that knows not what that is in antimony , which purges gold , how can he come by an effectual and wholesom medicine that will purge and cast out those extrarious peccant causes that afflict and destroy he body of man ? he that knows not how to fix arsenick , or to take away the corrosive nature of sublimate , or to coagulate sulphureous spirits , and by a convenient specifical medium to break and dissolve stones in the greater world , will never in the body of man allay and tame the arsenicall spirits of the microseomic salt , nor take away venemous indispositions of sulphur , nor dissolve the stone in the bladder , and drive it out being dissolved . now , as the antient philosophers , who knew nature indeed , obtained their noble medicines by the strict & exact observations of nature in her own path ; how that kind was multiplied by kind , and without putrefaction there could be no generation ; and as they found out excellent medicines , by doing all things in the metallick kingdom , according to the possibility of nature : so if you would have a medicine , indeed , although inferiour to theirs , whether of the mineral , animal , or vegetable kingdom , you must proceed in the same method ; for as i said before , as kind is multiplied by kind , and not without putrefaction ; so if we will exalt any concrete to make it a friendly medicine , whether vegetable , animal , or mineral , it must be in nature's path , kind with kind , and that by putrefaction , &c. now , let me compare notes , and examine the modern goose-quil doctor by the chymist , to see unto which the name quack belongs ; for , so they call all other physicians , that are not of their tribe of pedants . and for this , give me leave to make use of that worthy philosopher dr. g. starkey , in his preface to nature's explication , and helmont's vindication , &c. first , saith he , the whole of a real or pretended physician , may be referr'd to these two heads , namely the knowledge of the diseases , and the finding out the remedy : the latter of which , is either theoretically to know the medicine , or practically to provide , prepare , and apply the same . then first of all , we differ from the goose-quil doctor or tribe , in the theoretical discovery of diseases ; and secondly , in the practical cure of them . now , as to the theory of diseases , and the philosophicall contemplation of simples , it is not essential to a physician ; for a man may know the remedies by which a disease is cured , and yet erre very much in the discovery of the cause . and now i think on 't , i must desire the pedantick methodist , to tell me where the seats and seeds of diseases are ; and whether they do not mistake , and take a cause for an effect , and an effect for a cause . but to our former discourse ; the remedy being to the disease , as water to fire , which will undoubtedly quench it : and as a man may know certainly by water to quench fire , and yet erre in the philosophick apprehension of the same ; so may a man by a proper remedy , rightly prepar'd , and in due proportion apply'd , certainly cure the disease , and he able to distinguish the same generally , though he be not able to find out and apprehend the manner of its originall , with its occasional causes , progress , and variation . so then the absolute things requisite in one that would conscionably undertake the sick , are first to know how to unlock those medicines , which the almighty hath created , and how to prepare them , and when , and to whom to apply them ; and how to order and dispose the patient so , as that he may reap that good from them , which by careful administration of them is expected . for every artist is properly to be judged by his works , and not by his words ; for , whatever is meerly notional , are but vain chymeras , unworthy for a serious man to busy his time in learning , lest he imbrace a cloud for juno . and this is the misery of our schools and academies , that the one teach barely words , and the other bare notions ; which indeed are nothing but empty shadows ; for he that seeks to apply them to practice , beyond vain disputation , can proceed no further . away then with all those foolish , though specious pretences and curiosities , by which a man is never the nearer any practical verity . so then , medicine is the art of healing and restoring all defects , to which mankind is subject to , in reference to the body . and healing or curing , is taking care of the sick , and applying such medicines , with directions for ordering the patient , that recovery may be with speed and safety . and this restoring of the sick , is a grand mark of a true son of art ; it 's his diploma , by which he appears to be one created of god , and not by the schools ; for their creatures they adorn with empty titles , and god graceth his with real abilities . but as dr. huybert saith in his book , called the corner stone , there is such adoe about this feather in the cap , called a doctor of physick , that i could wish , saith he , that it might be despised , by the people of england ; for if they knew so well as i do , of how light esteem it is beyond sea , and how easy to be gain'd , so many would not dote , as they have done , upon so many that run loose from being school-masters , or preachers , or university men , in england , to be made doctors at leyden , and the like places beyond sea ; and by reading of a few books and prating , intrude into a calling , which is not to be acquired but by years of labour and study , of experimental , not school philosophy . and truly such men ought to be ordained of god in nature for that purpose ; for , of the other tatling book doctors , the world is too full of . and too many of them have crept in , from time to time , to be principal fellows ; of the pretended colledge , to which they have been , and are admitted , upon producing a diploma , with good store of white and yellow metallick seals to it , besides the publick seal of the university to the parchment , which they obtain for about ten pound , and the answering of a few slight questions about doctrine and method . and now , to set up his trade , he begins to consult nurses , midwives , and the interests of families , and acquaint himself with an apothecary , * who usually furnishes him a room or two gratis , ( and this must be consider'd in the apothecary's bills ) he must also be attended on by his servants , and by the mistress into the bargain , if necessity urgeth : and now , besides his fees , he must go-snips with the apothecary in his gains , as about 5 shillings or a noble the pound . and this way the pedant may come by money to buy a little coach and pair of horses ; and thus going to visit a patient , the half piece is but ill taken , and pop'd into the left pocket , and possibly may cause the patient to send to his worship , before he shall see his face again , to the hazard of another angel : but this must be done with a diploma in his pocket to authorize the fop. but it becomes not them ( as worthy dr. marchamont nedham saith ) to set their hands to work , to attain a true knowledge of mixt bodies by chymicall anatomy . no , no , their sectators imagine they should wrong their gravity , and doctoral state , to defile and foul their fists with the blackness of charcoal . no , now he must make it part of his business to inquire what practitioners are about the city , and who hath most imployment , and whether such men are chymists , and who are of the tribe , and who not . and as many as they can hear of , that are any whit eminent for doing good in their generation , then to mark such men on the back with the black coal of ignorance and envy , in all ale-houses , coffee-houses and taverns , where they frame discourses of such men ; and the best word they have for them is , quack , empirick mountebanck illiterate cheat , &c. and if there be any notorious ignoramus , professing that noble faculty of physick about the city , other men must becompar'd with them , and reckon'd all alike . but , by your leave , mr. pedant , 't is apparently manifest , that the greatest part of your colledge , are equally ignorant in the materia medica , to your brother dunce jones of moorfields , and hatten garden , and gray the q. with which paper sculs , some of your brethren have folded me in their pittyfull broad-side , intituled some reasons of the present decay of the practise of physick in learned approv'd doctors , by a. b. c. d. doctor and apothecary truly so called . and thus the younger fry spend their time , never seeking any further into the knowledge of things ; but rest in their meer received traditional doctrine , and phantastick opinions wrap'd up in general conclusions and definitions , grounded upon meer pretended principles , &c. but the courses of the chymical philosophers have been , and are quite contrary ; their learning lies not in philosophical maxims , raised by meer contemplation , but are perswaded , that operation ought to be joyn'd to it , to attain full delight and satisfaction , and lay firm , sound and sure foundations to their reasonings , being unwilling to build upon the quick-sands of vain , frivolous and phantastick opinions ; which makes them willing to undergo the charges , toil and labour of practical chymistry , the sooner to attain to a solid knowledge of the works of nature , and find out by several experiments of their works and process , the abstruse causes of her wonderfull effect . for , it is a very difficult matter for any to attain to the exact knowledge of things natural , without the guidance of chymistry , and an acquaintance therewith : neither can any be reckon'd a perfect physician , without the help of hermetick philosophy ; since it is the truest ground of physick , without which no practitioners can deserve any other name or title , than that of emperick , or quack ; for it is not a gown , nor degrees taken in a university , which makes a man a physician , but a solid knowledge in nature , grounded upon reason , improved by long practical experience . and as the lord bacon in his preface to the advancement of learning makes sense the surest guide for our understanding , in discovering the secrets of nature , and proves at large , that if we will have any sound knowledge of nature , there is a necessity of deriving philosophy from sensible experiments , we must use our own industry , and trust our own eyes and observations , because they produce to us somewhat that is certain , &c. but let me a little inquire into some of the writings , and complaints of some of your brethren of the colledge , when the great fudes were between them and the apothecaries ; for they pretend they speak the sense of the whole . doctor merret in his short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries , pag. 7. thus writes : in these ensuing papers , i hope to prove ( saith he ) that these abuses complain'd of by all sorts of persons , arise from this cause ; viz. that physicians dispence not themselves such medicines as they use for the relief of the sick , but commit this work to the apothecaries , or rather to their servants . [ pag. 27. ] the desire of most persons , and the censure of all wise men , is towards us , who say we are wanting to our own interest , if we make not use of the remedies in our own hands , performing our art in all its members , whereof making medicines is a chief one . the kings physicians formerly made the kings medicines ; as 't is manifest by the lord coke in his institutes , book the fourth , part fourth , pag. 251. [ pag. 36. ] he may so contrive his medicines , first , that they may be taken in small quantities , and be made more gratefull to the tast and stomack , and perform more then those of the apothecaries , commonly slovenly made , and themselves nauseous and sluggish . [ pag. 41. ] physicians will strive who shall exceed each other in noble remedies , and from thence render a full and happy improvement of whatsoever god hath created for the recovery of man's health . [ pag. 44. ] he will gain reputation to his art , by restoring it to its first institution and practice . [ pag. 45. ] by constant practise with such medicines , he will find out a better method of cure , and thereby arrive at the true causes of diseases . the patient will have a better opinion of the medicines , and confidence in the use of them , and the physician will be more satisfied in conscience , and better assured of the success . [ pag. 46. ] he will have more scope to be charitable to the poor , and may cure them gratis , and other persons for little charge . and another of your colledge tells us thus ; viz. dr. goddard in his discourse , p. 36. there is one further advantage of great importance , by the physician giving his own preparations , that is , the certainty he shall be at in all his medicaments , as to their efficacy , strength , and operations , much beyond what can be in the way of writing bills to apothecaries ; for , a rational and judicious choice of one , or a very few medicines , may signify much more to the good of the patient , than a luxuriant variety . and the same dr. sayes pag. 29. if the patients knew all , they would not be satisfied in the greatest number and variety of medicines , and the most frequent plying them therewith . for this is done of design in some physicians , to render themselves the more acceptable to apothecaries in general , or upon some combination between the apothecary and physician , mutually to advance each other ; for the principal art of all is , for the apothecary to cry up , and bring into the patients such physicians , who through design must comply with the apothecaries interest ; and such practisers they extol , and cry up for good physicians , ( as indeed they are for their advantage , but not for the patient's health , ease , or purse , unless to empty it . now this good apothecaries doctor they describe by his frequent , though needless visits , and multitude of bills , to be a very careful , diligent , and painful man , for he visits twice or thrice a day , and still is writing of new bills for more medicines ; when perhaps not half or none of the former have been used , making the patient's house like an apothecarie ' s shop , planting the cupboards , tables , and windows , with pots and glasses ; and thus the physician never goes away from his patient without a bill , lest the apothecary should grumble , or himself want his fee. and thus burdening the sick with multiplicity of medicines , often contrary and destructive one of another . but then the worst mischief of all is , if we may believe what drop'd from a quil pluck'd from the right wing of their own body ; viz. their brother merret , who tells us , that these apothecaries counterfeit their medicines , both simple and compound , and sell one thing for another ; viz. they sell myrtle leaves for sena , a binder for a purger ; mushroms of the oak rubb'd over with chalk for agarie ; hemlock , dropwort roots , for paeony roots , poysons for wholesome medicines , dog-berries , for buck thorn ; no purgers for streng ones ; sheeps lungs for fox lungs ; the hone of an ox , for that of a stags heart , damsons for damase prunes , syrup of limons , for syrup of citrons ; briony roots for mechoacan . they falsify the grand compositions of the london dispensatory , it being a common trade with the apothecaries to buy unsound and decay'd drugs , and to return back to the drugest so much of the composition , as will pay for the simples . 't is common with them to load medicines , with great quantity of hony and other cheap ingredients , and to leave out the whole , or part of them , of greater value in ruffus ' s pill and oxycroceum plaster , they colour with turmeric and sanders instead of saffron ; diascordium made only with honey and bole armonick . many of the london , and most of the country apothecaries , buy of the whole salemen in london , who affirm , that they cannot sell their medicines honestly made at so low a rate as they do , but the retail apothecary will give no better price , and they must have them to keep custom . but if it were true , that all medicines in the london dispensatory were truly made ; yet if 〈◊〉 may believe another of the colledge brethren ; viz. dr. goddard in his discourse , setting forth the unhappy condition of the practise of physick in london , tells us thus , pag. 28. who ever with judgment ( saith he ) peruseth the london dispensatory , may soon estimate to what an epitome it may be reduced ; how many compositions may be spair'd , how many ingredients almost in every composition . and as to the forms or receipts of which it is made up , it was never judged otherwise by able physicians , but that there are in them many ingredients impertinent , and some contrary to the main intention for which they are in use , besides their irrational proportions and quantities , &c. this being the condition and state of that book , the colledge of physicians have no such cause ; as the common people may think , to envy them the translation of it ; nor have they any such treasure of it , as they may suppose themselves . is it not high time then for people to be well advised what physicians they make use of , seeing these grand abuses are committed by those which pretend a law , to impose upon all people such medicines , and do sue and molest at law all persons better informed , that make it their sole business to serve their generation , with a better method and medicines than themselves understand ; and if such men have a law to molest such men , is it that good reason that magistrates , be informed ●●at such monopolies are injurious to the publick , and that they may with good reason make such void and of non effect ; but i highly question , whether there be any such law or not , as these men pretend ; for their brother doctor goddard pleads thus , speaking for liberty for improvers , pag. 16. all laws ( saith he ) of nature and nations ; all justice , equity and reason of mankind , do allow to every person the benefit of his own industry ; which , if it be of that nature , that the bringing of it into use and practice , doth necessarily import the discovery of it , according to our laws , patents for terms of years are granted ; but if an invention be of such a nature , that it may be concealed in the use and practice , no limitation for private advantage or profit thereby , is set by law ; it is only honesty and ingenuity , that can restrain men from making unreasonable or unconscionable advantage thereof in such a case . now , any medicine or recepts for cure of diseases , invented by physicians , or coming to their private knowledge only , or any new use or virtue of an old known medicine discovered by any physician , as far as they are of any consideration or virtue , are of this nature , that is , they are inventions that may be kept secret by them , and whereof nothing hinders them from the advantage . the law of the land ( as well as in other countries ) allowing and authorizing physicians to practise their art in all its parts and members ; and so by consequence to make any medicine themselves ; and to administer them to the good of the poor for nothing ; and to others for reasonable reward . and now you persecuting colledge , what can you say for your selves ? are not your own members witnesses against you ? are you not like your fathers , who persecuted the worthies of old ? are you not like the jews , who killed the prophets , and when the great physician appeared , killed him ? did not they cry , we have moses and the prophets ? and do not you boast and cry , we are the learned colledge , we have diplomas , and we have been dub'd doctors , we have gallen and hippocrates ? are you not as the pope , to compell all men to obedience to you ? for , he cryes out , we are the church , we have the keyes of heaven and hell , i am christ's vicar the infallible , and all that are not within the pale of this church are hereticks ? and do not they persecute all as much as in them lyes that are better perswaded ? do not you persecute all at law that are not of your tribe , or owne not obedience to you ? but thanks be to god , millions are better perswaded ; but i cannot but wonder at many worthy persons of this city , that they should be so blind as to make use of these persons : but they will tell me , the reason why they advise with them , is , because they believe them to be learned men : but by the same parrallel line , why do you not advise with the conclave of cardinals of rome , for the health of your souls , as well as with the pretended colledge , for the health of your body ? for , they have but one and the same traditional education and root , and if you abhor the one , how can you , if you do but well consider , be satisfied with the other ? would they not bind all people to make use of them , and no other ? do they not go about to prohibit all people from consulting with , or making use of those whom they are satisfied , are both honest and able ? oh monsters in nature ! good people look not only to your purses , but to your lives also : for , what pretenses can these men have for their persecutiing dr. huybert's and the worthy dr. m. nedham , but their own covetous ends ? if they pretend they only design to suppress the ignorant , they betray themselves , for they trouble those men at law , more learned then themselves , in that shadow of a substance , which they call learning . and for that part of learning , which themselves are ignorant of , these men are worthy proficients ; viz. in the art of healing , &c. but least these papers should swell beyond my intention , i shall briefly end . refering you for farther information and satisfaction in these matters , to the writings of that worthy dr. m. nedham , in his medela medicinae , and his preface to sylvius's new idaea of physick ; and to dr. g. starkey's natures explication , and helmout's vindication ; dr. g. thompson's learned piece , called ortho methodus jatro chymica , and dr. huybert's corner stone ; in which books you may find those men well dissected . i must expect the censure of the ignorant , and the envy of the colledge ; but i am satisfied in that i inform the honest how to avoid the knavish , &c. finis . a postscript to the reader . lest the reader should be mistaken , & think , that i speaking against those pedantick usurping prescribing heteromethodists , and such apothecaries as are in combination with them : that thereby , i mean all manner of persons that profess physick and phylosophy , that have been educated in universities , or that i mean apothecaries in general . no , many of these men have been studious and elaborate inquirers into nature by practical philosophy ; these men , i say , with many of our london chirurgians , are better persuaded than to follow the old pedantick way : and such worthy men as these , i both owne and honour , as persons fit to undertake the sick. but i only mean those envious ignorants , whether physicians or apothecaries , who being bewitch'd by the authority & custom of other blind guides , and who having been beguil'd with their covetous crafty deceits , are clearly of opinion , that there is no more truth to be found in hermetick philosophy , than in the pretended philosophick principles of aristotle and galen ; such as doctor cox-comb , the late chymick renegado by virtue of matrimonial contract , & most of the prescribing pretended colledge , with their confederates , such apothecaries , who perversly maintaining of , and persisting in the great and manifest errours of aristotle's physicks , and the evident imperfections of the galenical medicines , out of a leud disposition or malignity of mind , and wilfull dotage , do persecute and bespatter those better informed ; and disswade other growing and hopeful wits , from applying themselves to the study of the hermetick science . those are the men whom i aim at , as being sophisters and deceivers in physick ; a sort of pedants , being bred up like a carrier's horse to foot it in a common road , and if he goes besides it , he then loses his way , and is in amaze ; and by way of distinction from those that are indeed physicians , let them be called pedants , for such they are indeed ; therefore let that be the word throughout england for ever . but one word more to the reader : and that is to inform him what a pedant is in phylosophy and physick : he is a creature half learned , and half unlearned ; that is to say , learned in letters , old rules , and speculations of old authors , so far as he has conversed with them , yet that is usually not very far ; and were he never so far or profoundly studied in them , it would be to little use or purpose , for the benefit of mankind ; so that the other half of the ridiculous monster , after he hath been trickt up with all the trappings of his academick authors formalities and notions , appears to be unlearned in things , realities , essentiall forms , intimate vertues , and powers of natural subjects , and ignorant which way to educe and reduce them to practice for a publick good : so that for the honour of this university way of education , and of his doctorships diploma , he and his old doctrine , are fit for little but to make good the old proverb , merus scholastious merus asinus ; for , trimed up with his gayeties of very little latine , and less greek rhombus , through all his purple-habiliments you may spy what sort of creature 't is ; especially if you turn your eyes upwards , you will be more evidently informed , when you view his ears peeping through his velvet-cushion-cap-case . talk he can , and prate as a man : so could balaam's ass ; but he poor animal lived out his time , then died , and for all his talk and jogging on the road , could never make a physician . — i met t' other day with a gentleman , who bad me salute all the doctor pedants thus in greek and latine , logiatri , valete ; and tell them , that not many of them are able to construe the english of it without much conning and thumbing of a lexicon . one word yet more to the reader . i am newly informed , that the collegiates , being all sick of the stone , i mean of that notable book called dr. huybert's corner-stone , lately published , & not daring to venture to cure themselves with any things of their own , have apply'd themselves to the use of goddard's drops in good-ale , in clerkenwell , where dwells that pittyfull distiller , a smal quack , that would fain curry favour with the greater ones , to gain their custom : where note , that the pedants will ( as they ever have done ) kiss the breech of any quack , so it be in private , that can help them with a medicine ; but if their disease were curable , as 't is not , alas ! what can good-ale wit drops doe , after they have been smiten under the fifth rib by the hands of huyberts ? their next fate will be , to be buried by the city , without lamentation : * and does he think they will be satisfied with good ale , instead of wine at such funeral ? but more planly thus , dr. huyberts , in his book ( which is a book that concerns every man in this nation to read ) having stript naked their doctorships , and their fallacies , their imperfections , and their arrogant persecuting of him , and other meritorious persons , without reason , or ground of law , he then saluted them with two remarkable challenges , which are these . 1. he challenges them ; to nominate any one particular of improvement , that their society hath made in the art of curing , since their first incorporation , to this day : and thereupon he will prove the contrary . 2. whereas they pretend to have done much in discovcries by anatomy : and whereas mr. boyle , in his book of experimental philosophy , saith ; he doth not see wherein by those new discoveries , they have done any thing to better the cure of diseases . dr. huyberts also saith ; that if the masters of the anatomical stage , please to justifie themselves , he is ready to refute them , and manifest publickly in print , that they have not done any thing worth a straw beyond what was done by the ancients . these are the challenges ; but why do they not accept and enter upon the combate ? is it for the honour of their worships , to admit a puny drop-seller to be their champion , and then under hand to supply him as i am told with materials , to patch up a pamphlet with a bold face of a lame answer ? this is their way of answering ; and thus i remember , they served worthy dr. marchamont , nedham's book ten years ago called medela medicinae ; which remains yet unanswered , and approved by all but themselves : for instead , of returning a solid and through answer by some of their grandees , which was a task becoming the best heads amongst them , they employed four of their puny members to whisle with some pareels , and sentences , instead of an orderly demolition of the ground work , the design , and structure of the whole book , as becomes men that would pretend to be scholars . those puny scriblers were men scarce known , and so could lose no reputation , in case they made , as they did , very frivolous answers to some parts , without considering the entire composition of the whole : and doubtless the grandees dealt very warily , to decline an engaging themselves , and to set on their underlings to write against a book which they well knew was not to be answered yet they had the impudence to cry in all places , that they had confuted the doctor in four several answers . this was the art used then to save their credits , with the injudicious & weaker sort of people . and now seeing i hear they are upon practising that same trick again , by employing against huyberts ; one goodale from whom is not to be expected any tolerable answer ; and he being none of the colledge , dr. huyberts is not concerned to make any reply to ought that shall be written on that account , unless it shall appear in print owned under the name of the colledge , or of some one of their number , on their behalf . for , the doctor is resolved not to take notice of that drop-seller , but will commit the care of a reply unto a man of his own , whose name is jack straw . a fit man to foile such a champion , being able to deal with mr. goodale , and his good masters too ; in case they deal with him now , as formerly they did with dr. nedhams book , that is , if they shall cry up this their new treatise , which is now forming by that incompetent adversary , to be a sufficient answer . before i conclude , i cannot but take notice , by way of admiration , of the condition of that worthy and ancient company of chirurgeons of london , what a base thing it is , that such persons as they , should suffer so long a time as they have done , under the insolence and pride of the pedants , who have for a hundred and fifty years past , made attempts from time to time to inslave and debar them from the practise of physick , in following their profession ; which to do , is absolutely a great burthen to the subject , and disgrace to the kingdom . there being no reason why a chirurgical patient , should be put to the charge of a fop doctor ; ignorant of chirurgery ( as most of them are ) when as if occasion require a doctor , the chyrurgeon may be chyrurgeon and doctor too ; for so they are , and ought to be at sea ; or else his majesty , and the merchants , may lose their men that dayly go forth in their services . and how shall they be fit for sea , if they and their masters that breed them , have not a freedom to practise both ways by land as well as by sea. besides , physick and surgery were everheretofore in one hand , till the idle pride of pedants made a distinction : from which arose the destruction of physick in all its concerns . and it will never be well till they run both again in on channel . farewell , courteous reader , and favour the attempts of him whose aime is thy good , whilst he is r. fletcher . from the sun in gutter-lane , london 1676. advertisement . there will be speedily printed , a commentary upon the learned preface , which was written by the worthy dr. mar. nedham last summer , and set forth in print before dr. richard gowers translation of sylvius the dutchman's new idea of physick . being a piece worthy to be perused by all men in the nation , that they may see , how they have been gulled , with the title of university doctor , instead of real physician : it will be printed in octavo in 4. sheets ( the very marrow of things ) to avoid the pedantick way of tiring the world with long discourses . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a39814-e200 * see the book lex talionis , written by an apothecary against the pedant doctors . notes for div a39814-e4040 * m. bayes may do well to crown their funeral , and marvel not , if you find on their tombe-stone for a memorial ( because most of them are pretended scholars ) these words , this is golgothamgemulam , which if mr. franckland p. d. solliciter happen to survive , he may interpret if he be able . an examination of mr. john colbatch his books viz. i. novum lumen chirurgicum, ii. essay of alkalies and acids, iii. an appendix to that essay, iv. a treatise of the gout, v. the doctrin of acids further asserted &c. vi. a relation of a person bitten by a viper &c. : to which is added an answer to dr. leigh's remarks on a treatise concerning, the heat of the blood : together with remarks on dr. leigh's book intituled exercitationes quinq. ... : as also a short view of dr. leigh's reply to mr. colbatch &c. / by richard boulton of brazen-nose college in oxford. boulton, richard, b. 1676 or 7. 1698 approx. 448 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 162 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28877 wing b3829 estc r35778 15560595 ocm 15560595 103742 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28877) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 103742) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1586:6) an examination of mr. john colbatch his books viz. i. novum lumen chirurgicum, ii. essay of alkalies and acids, iii. an appendix to that essay, iv. a treatise of the gout, v. the doctrin of acids further asserted &c. vi. a relation of a person bitten by a viper &c. : to which is added an answer to dr. leigh's remarks on a treatise concerning, the heat of the blood : together with remarks on dr. leigh's book intituled exercitationes quinq. ... : as also a short view of dr. leigh's reply to mr. colbatch &c. / by richard boulton of brazen-nose college in oxford. boulton, richard, b. 1676 or 7. [18], 291, [1] p. printed for a. and j. churchill ..., london : 1698. each part has special t.p. errata following p. 291. imperfect: pages stained, with print show-through and loss of print. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng colbatch, john, -sir, 1670-1729. leigh, charles, 1662-1701? medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-07 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an examination of mr. john colbatch his books , viz. i. novum lumen chirurgicum . ii. essay of alkalies and acids . iii. an appendix to that essay . iv. a treatise of the gout . v. the doctrin of acids further asserted , &c. vi. a relation of a person bitten by a viper , &c. to which is added , an answer to dr. leigh's remarks on a treatise concerning the heat of the blood. together with remarks on dr. leigh's book intituled exercitationes quinque printed at a private press in oxford , without the license of the vniversity . as also a short view of dr. leighs reply to mr. colbatch , &c. by richard boulton , of brazen-nose college in oxford . london , printed for a. and j. churchill , at the black swan in pater-noster-row , 1698. liber coll. omnanim . fidel. defunct . in oxon. to the learned and ever honoured charles goodall doctor in physick , physician to the charter-house and censor to the college of physicians london . learned sir , as no one can be more concerned than your self , in vindicating learning , and discouraging it's opponents ; so without presumption , i may say , no one is more able to take upon him such a task ; of which you have long ago satisfied the world , by appearing publickly in the defence of that college , of which you are now a very worthy member . and as you have given a very full proof , that you are sufficiently qualified to defend learned men from the attempts of those who endeavour to oppose them ; so it consequently follows , that i could not possibly make choice of a fitter patron for this book , which is a vindication of all learned physicians , from the vain and false pretences of an ignorant man. and tho' , i presume , to ask your patronage of this book , yet it is not because i think the adversary i appear against , nor all his adherents formidable opponents ; but because , any thing that carrys with it a vindication of that learned society , of which you are a member , cannot have a more proper name prefixed to it than yours , who have so signally appeared in their defence . but tho' it be an honour to appear in such a cause , yet it is not that which bears the highest place in your character : for religion and vertue which are the measures and rules of all your actions , make you useful both to the church and state , it being part of your continual care to instil into young men a just veneration for a deity and noble and great notions of the extraordinary merit of so great a king. and your prudence is not more remarkable in respect of the publick , than your own private affairs , where judgment and learning are the sure guides of successful practice , and vertue and tranquility extend themselves throughout your family . these are but short hints of so great a character as the conduct of your life affords materials for ; a character which claims a better pen , than mine to take a draught of , and which one that is intimately acquainted with those vertues , in their utmost extent can only describe . for which reason i fear , that whilst i only endeavour to shew my self sensible of those obligations your favours have laid upon me , and for which gratitude can be the least return , i shall rather be condemn'd by those who know how far i come short of your merit , for undertaking to mention any thing that belongs to a character so much above my reach . yet from your self i can easily hope for pardon , since you are so free to give it to all those that transgress not too far divine and human laws , nor unreasonably triumph in their ignorance , to the dishonour of learning and learned men , for all which you have so great a veneration , and therefore i am more hold humbly to subscribe my self , learned sir , your most obliged servant at your command , r. boulton . the preface to the reader . the doctrin of acids and alkalies hath been so long since rejected , as false and erroneous , by the famous and honourable robert boyle esq ; and others , that it is a wonder , any man should have so much impudence , as to advance it afresh ; without answering those objections , which have sufficiently proved the insufficiency of it , much more to dare with so much boldness to contradict all learned men , upon such false grounds as mr. colbatch hath done . and therefore i think it fit to acquaint my reader briefly , with the true state of the controversy , that he may more clearly judge , how far he is from truth in what he hath writ ; and what reason i had to write in the method i have . in short then , they must understand , that mr. colbatch hath endeavoured to account for , and to cure most distempers , upon so false a bottom as the doctrin of acids and alkalies , which hath been long since rejected and laid aside , by all the most rational physicians ; and that herein he hath been so bold , as not only to tell all the world , that they were mistaken ; but hath taken upon him to call university-learning , nothing but fusty philosophy , and all rational physicians all the ill names he could invent , impudently complaining , that he was sorry to see physick a scene of slaughter . these imputations , with a great many more , hath he laid upon the world , and if we look into his books we shall see very little reason for it ; for he hath not only err'd with the vulgar , in building all his writings on a false doctrin ; but to shew how grandly he is mistaken , he hath proved himself two removes from truth ; for granting the doctrin of acids and alkalies true , what he hath said will not hold , so that he must needs be doubly mistaken . and therefore in answering his books , and laying open his faults , i all along proved , that granting the doctrin of acids and alkalies true , what he says it false . and here it is not amiss to declare a little more clearly , that tho' i have argued against his books , as if the hypothesis he built upon were true ; yet , i don't at all grant it to be so , only to shew how widely he is distant from truth ; for to have shewn that he only erred in assuming the doctrin of acids and alkalies , would but have proved him guilty of a fault , that hath been common to others as well as himself ; but his faults are of a more absurd kind ; for which reason , it is excusable , that i have treated him in such a proper manner , as to represent the man , as well as the physitian . however , i must confess , that tho' i have proved him guilty of such grand faults , both in physick , and his behaviour towards the learned world , yet it wants an apology , and perhaps may be no small disadvantage to my arguments , to mix such remarks as i have amongst them ; for which reason i desire my reader to consider the state of the controversy , and the person against whom i write ; it is not a man who hath the good opinion and approbation of learned men , but ( like a mountebank ) the cry of a few of the rabble , and one that hath done his utmost , to cast all the aspersions he can upon learning and learned men , and therefore he ought to be used in his kind ; to be serious with such weak nonsence , would be to betray learning , and to expose my own understanding to the censure of the learned ; and to compliment such a vain person would be to make no distinction betwixt men of sence and merit , and the most notorious block-heads , which would be a greater affront to learned men , than any he hath given : but without doubt men ought to be used according to their merit ; and it would be ridiculous as well as unjust to put learned and ingenious men upon a level , as to treat a common offender and a just man alike ; how ridiculous and weak would it be for a lawyer , when a prisoner is indicted for heinous crimes , to moderate his pleading , as if he were a just innocent man ? but that what just reflections i have made , may be no disadvantage to my arguments , i would desire my reader to consider the arguments , and them apart , and so he will have the advantage to see how my arguments confute him , and how my remarks are grounded upon conviction of his grand errors , and tho' it be common to say , that remarks , tho' just , cloud arguments , and prejudice the readers , yet i would not lay such things to their charge ; i believe , rational men who have the use of their reason , can distinguish betwixt remarks and arguments , and can without prejudice consider the former as the merit of the man , and the latter as against his books . and here i think it necessary to let the world know that dr. coward having lately writ a book against some part of mr. colbatch his books , mr. colbatch hath been pleased to put an advertisement in the latter end of a book published soon after , wherein he says dr. coward 's book is not worth an answer ; i therefore shall tell him , that he only says so because he cannot answer it ; and for that reason , i shall conclude , that if he does not answer mine , he really cannot ; and because i have made so many remarks on him , which perhaps may be too severe , i shall put him in a way to prove , that he does not deserve them , which will be by shewing , that the reasons i have given against his books are not valid , but if he does not do that , the remarks properly belong to him , being grounded upon his errors . there is one thing more which i must acquaint my reader with , which is , that in answering his novum lumen chirurgicum , his essay of alkalies and acids , his appendix to that essay , and his book entituled the doctrin of alkalies and acids further asserted , &c. i have all along quoted the first impression of those books , that the reader may , if he pleases , turn to those quotations , which will save those that have the first impression the trouble of looking into the second . all that i have further to say is , that if there be any faults in the following sheets , i must beg the reader to ascribe them to the haste in which they were writ , the whole being writ in a month's time when i was in london the last spring , except the last concerning the person bit by a viper , which book of his being not published before i return'd to oxford , a few vacant hours there were employed in an examination of it . and now least the reader should think that i publish the haste they were writ in , rather to be taken for a quick writer than to excuse my faults , it may not be amiss to tell him , that my chief reason , is , that i would not have the world to think that the confutation of so weak an adversary required longer time than was necessary to write it ; for i would by no means have the world to think the following sheets the product of a longer consideration , mr. colbatch his faults being easily discern'd at the first sight , by any one that hath made a progress in physic sufficient to enable him to distinguish betwixt truth and error , and therefore i humbly submit them to the impartial reader , hoping they will convince the world of his mistakes , and deter young and less judicious practioners from following his absurd methods , in doing of which , if they may be serviceable to young physicians , i have my desire , i say young ones , because men of riper judgment are already convinc'd of his mistakes . candid reader , your very humble servant r. boulton . an examination of mr. john colbatch his novum lumen chyrurgicum . wherein his absurdities and false opinions in physick and chirurgery are truly represented and fully confuted . london , printed in the year 1699. an examination of mr. john colbatch , his novum lumen chirurgicum , &c. pride and incivility are such natural concomitants of ignorance and self-conceit ; that wherever the latter and naturally imbred in a man void of common sense ; the former unavoidably flow from them , as natural consequences of a depraved reason . it is on this account , that i have undertaken to correct the insolence of this author , by shewing how weakly he manages his erroneous and invalid assertions ; and also how widely and uncivilly he his mistaken , contrary to experience and reason , and the authority , as well as the private opinions of learned and judicious men. but before i proceed to lay open his absurdities , i must make an apology to the world , for taking that liberty in my expressions , which most properly represents him in his character : as for himself , all i shall say is , that if what i shall write of him displeaseth him , he must blame himself for it , and not me ; it is from what he hath published that i draw his demerits , and if he hath published asurdities , he can best apologize to himself ; and must not blame me , for saying only , what he himself hath laid publick grounds for . however , it is not without some reluctancy , that i engage my self in such a cause , where the ignorance and base designs of a self-conceited man obliges me in justice to his character to make use of language i should otherwise be ashamed of . but the undoubted merit of that very unlearned mr. colebatch , never too much admired for his wonderful genius , in scribling nonscence , and his dogmatical positiveness in laying down falsities , to the great satisfaction of all those who love nonsense in a homely dress , i say , this mighty hero hath taken such pains to write down such specimens of his profound disabilities , and his assuming boldness , that should i not study for such expressions , i should be guilty of misrepresenting him . but before i engage my self in a confutation of such mean and indigested nonsense , i think it may not be unfit to let the world know , that it is not with a design to get victory , credit , or applause , that i oppose such a mighty champion , since all judicious and learned men laugh at his childish , crude and shallow notions ; and are amazed at his impudence ; but it is partly to undeceive those people , who are overcome by his weakness and misled by him , who want judgment and knowledg to perceive his errors , and to arm themselves against large pretences . for the greatest part of mankind know so little of physick , nay are so ignorant of it , that when a man is bold and positive , they cannot imagin that he can have so much impudence , to pretend to knowledg , if he was really ignorant : that this is the case of mr. colbatch i shall take pains to shew , what he writes being an inconsiderate piece of confused and incoherent assertions . i shall therefore lay open his errors so fairly , that the world may be no longer imposed upon , in a matter that is of such consequence , as the health or destruction of some , tho' a small part of mankind ; for if such fatal absurdities , as those which mr. colebatch hath broached , were not corrected ; what mischief might be done ? or rather what might not be done ? by such methods as he irrationally and injudiciously asserts , and practises , by his own hands , as well as other physicians who are too easily credulous , and misguided by him . but it is not only to undeceive the vulgar and unlearned , that are thus easily imposed upon , that i engage my self in this cause : but to defend and vindicate the royal learned and judicious society , the college of physicians , and all other learned men , from his ungrounded impudence , his rude assuming behaviour , and the aspersions he hath boldly cast upon all rational and regular physicians ; daring to assert without reason or foundation , what is repugnant to the most celebrated writers , whose writings are backed and confirmed by the daily experience and universal consent of those members , who are not byassed by interest , or that dont value the cry of the vulgar , above the approbation of learned men ; and that have not engaged themselves to cry up one another , tho' by never so dishonourable methods or absurd means . and the consideration of the greatness of such a design , encourages me to slight and contemn all the aspersions that may be made by such bold impertinent pretenders ; for i am so far from valuing the displeasure of half a dozen of such , above the meritorious cause of a whole body of learned men ; that i profess i had rather deserve the good opinion of one ingenious learned man , than oblige a hundred block-heads . and now if a reason should be asked , why i should be so zealously concerned , in defending a body of men , who are much more able to vindicate themselves ; i must also answer for them , that it is below them to take notice of such mean and weak assaults ; and to appear in disputes with such impotent assailants ; where so little is contained , that the most suitable answer to such an insolent vain person , from men placed by eminent learning and judgment so far above him , would oblige them in justice to themselves , and him , as well as the cause they defend , to reprimand him and correct his folly , with words and language more severe , perhaps , then what their manners and civility would permit them to make use of . for if such men as the greatest part of that learned society is made up of , should so far condescend as to use civil language to him , where he deserves the contrary , they would by that means bring reflections by the learned , upon their own judgments ; and too much demean themselves in such sordid company , for should they convince that small part of mankind ( who are so easily captived by mountebanks and such vain pretenders , ) that his methods and practice were never so distructive , the conquest would be no advantage to them , nor tend to their honour ; it being below them , to take notice of a man unlearned , ignorant and vain ; yet rude , self-conceited , and impertinent . and truly had i any great opinion of my self , i should think my self no gainer by such a victory ; which the least degree of true sence and reason can assure any body of : and as the matter now stands , i should think my time ill spent , and should blame my self , for making no better use of it ; if the reasons i have already given did not prevail with me , viz. to undeceive the vulgar , and to vindicate the honour of so many learned men ; for what strange notions must those that admire him frame of the college of physicians and him ; and what hard thoughts must they beyond seas have of our english physicians , to see such a poor patch of a phylosopher , that hath but three words of any thing that looks like phylosophy in all his scribling , and those nonscence , set up for a champion ; and one that boldly asserts without reason or any shew of it , undertake to be a reformer of physick in england ; a nation , that hath always abounded with the most sagacious learned men and the greatest improvers of physick . i say , what must these think ? should not his vanity be corrected and deservedly exposed ; so that the honour of such a profession will yet be another addition to my apology for using him according to his desert : and it will be yet more excusable when by representing truly his character and behaviour to all learned men , and his erroneous absurdities , in contradiction to all reason and experience , it appears how ill he deserves not only of physitians , but mankind ; and how impudently he is mistaken . i shall therefore give a true account of his character and behaviour , which i shall do by way of remarks on his writings , that they may not seem to be without grounds ; and i shall unvail his weakness and mistakes , in what he hath asserted and writ , and shall prove that he hath more reason to be ashamed , than boldly fond of such mistakes ; in which , all i have said of him already or can , will be but the same measure that he hath measured others ; and tho' he did not at all deserve it , i might have more reason to take any liberty , in the worst sence , with him , and might make a better apology for it , than he can , for what he hath said to men to such his superiours . but this being a public accusation , and the charge i have laid to him being also public , it is fit the proof of it should be so too ; to which end , it is necessary to take a view of those things he has wrote ; wherein the grounds of this charge is laid by his own pen. the first elaborate piece of service this famous author was bold enough to do the world , was , to pass away two or three hours time for those that had two much leisure , in reading about six sheets of paper to which he perfixed a title , and would have the book to be thought novum lumen chirurgicum , a title that made very fair promises , and might probably raise ones expectation ; but when i look'd a little further upon the title , and saw his name writ in latin , and withal his book in english , i was very impatient to read it over ; which when i had done , i began to think , that there was more sense and learning in the title page than the whole book ; for it was not only a neat composition of capitals ; but learnedly writ in latin , and which signified something , tho' very insignificant , i mean himself , whereas his whole book was but a composition of a greater number of letters , which signifie nothing at all but incoherent blunders . but he was not only cheat enough to sett a false light in the beginning of his book , to mislead people in their expectations , and to second that , with his name in latin ; but also , had the pride and vanity to fix the name , of so great and illustrious a monarch , as our present king before it ; either because he thought it a noble present , or that the greatest of princes , and the patron of all europe would be pleased to take notice of such erroneous and grand mistakes ; which dedication was sufficient to shew , that he had very ill designs , or very foolish and vain thoughts . but to come to the treasure , and to lay open this fountain of light , we may take notice , that pag. 2d . he acknowledges his account of his discovery maimed and imperfect , without premising an account of nutrition . so that if his account of nutrition be false by his own mouth , his own discovery is confest maimed and imperfect , that he may first then be judged by the words of his own mouth , i shall now shew him that that is not only false , but ridiculous . for , pag. the 3d. he says , the solid food we eat , being well chewed in the mouth , is the remixed with a juice contained in the glands , dispersed all over the mouth . before i go any further , i shall here observe , that he neither understands what he says , or that nonsence is so homogenous to him , that his dull sence can taste nothing else ; for how can we suppose , that the saliva in the glands , can possibly be mixed with meat in the mouth ; he might as well say , that water in a cestern being mixed with meat in his stomach , would dilute it ; for before that saliva can be mixed with meat in the mouth , it must be forced out of those glands , into the mouth ; for as long as it is in them , it is kept from mixing with the meat , by the mediation of those parts that lie betwixt the glands and the mouth ; but this is only a lapsus liguae , and an absurdity in speech : i grant it , but then , is not he the greater blockhead that understands a thing no better , than to speak one thing , when he should say another : had the notion been his own , he might indeed have misexpressed it , by being too intent and thoughtful ; not that the difficulty or abstruseness of the thing , would have inclined him to such a fault , but his dullness of apprehension , it being easy for any one to think , that the saliva must be in the mouth or could not be mixed there without much intentness ; but since it was , not his own , and he had only borrowed it from others he might have easily expressed it , as those had done before him , without turning sence into nonsense , in order to a well performance as he calls it pag. 2d . pag. 4th . the meat being well chewed , and afterwards conveyed to the stomach , and there diluted with a proper vehicle ( the more generous the better ) is by means of the aforesaid spirituous saline liquor , divided into such minute particles , which constitute that viscid liquor , we call chile . that a hard crust of bread , is usually well chewed before it is swallowed , and then goes into the stomach , is no discovery , but what a plowman , or a ballad-singer might have made , and as for his ( more generous the better ) it 's what all hot heads usually argue for ; they had rather have the ( more generous , ) tho' any one that understands reason , will say , moderation is better : and yet further physitians will tell him , that too high a digestion raised by the ( more generous — ) is dangerous , and is the cause of some very violent distempers : and then , here he hath committed just such another absurdity , as he did before ; for instead of saying chyle is made or compounded of solid meat dissolved , and a proper vehicle , he says , it is made of solid meat dissolved , which is diluted by a saline humour and a vehicle , and that those particles so dissolved , constitute chyle ; so that chyle consists according to him , of solid particles , and that chyle , is only diluted by a vehicle ; but this is a fault against his will , he meant it as it should be , i warrant ; but still that shews , what simple , clowdy notions he hath of things , that he cannot tell a story after another man , without misrepresenting it , and is he , vain silly creature , a reformer of physick ? is this his novum lumen ? in one sence indeed it may be said to be a novum lumen , it being the first of this kind of sence , obscured by nonsence , and he may call it light made new , by being made obscure and ridiculous . but he goes on and says ; which chyle is discharged out of the stomach so fast as it is made , by means of the liver . but here he is to learn , that that which he calls chyle , is properly called chymus , and that becomes chyle by being further digested by a mixture and mutual fermentation of the pancreatick juice and choler with it , in the guts ; he is also to be taught , that the chymus is not forced into the guts by the liver , but by the muscular coats of the stomach , and partly disposed to that protrusion , by it's own weight ; for the liver is so far from pressing upon it , since it is suspended to those parts to which it's ligaments are fixed , that the stomach rather presses upon the liver , when it is distended , by taking up more room in the abdomen . pag. the 5th . he says , it is carried by a large vessel from the receptacle of chyle to the subclavian vein ; here again , poor man ! our author mr. colbatch hath gravely in the midst of his dull dogmatical positions , forgot himself ; for the chyle is not carryed thence by one , but by two vessels , which communicate with one another in their ascension ; so that all he hath hitherto said is made a novum lumen or new kind of light by his unlucky lapsus linguae or rather errores calami , but here for once , his memory hath fail'd him . he says further , that it is driven by the systole of the heart , through the arterial vein into the lungs ; where by the contraction and dilation of the lungs it is there mixed with the blood , and that part which is fit for that purpose is made blood. he did well to say , that part which is fit for that purpose , but i am perswaded none is fit for that purpose as soon as mixed with the blood. neither is mixing with the blood enough to turn fresh chyle into blood , if it were , we should never be so long recovering lost strengh after great evacuations ; but here our novum lumen hath found out too quick a way to make blood ; for chyle requires a long digestion and fermentation , and undergoes many considerable changes , before it is turned into blood. pag. 6. he says , the remaining part of this serum is made use of for nutrition . i shall not here inform him how nutrition is carried on , neither shall i spend time in making remarks upon it ; but all i shall say is , that since he says it is so , i think it a sufficient answer to say it is not so , and had he given reason for what he says , i would have likewise given reasons for what i say , but as it is , my word may be taken for it , as well as his . but here i cannot but admire how he hath demonstrated nutrition , since like an injudicious ignoramus , he hath only given a false , simple imperfect account of what others have given clear and intelligible accounts ; neither can i imagine how we must understand any thing that is to come after , the better for this dull praeludium ; since none that can pretend to the least degree of knowledge , can be so ignorant of what he foolishly thinks he demonstrates , as he himself is . having laid his absurdities open to the view of the most short sighted thus far , i could willingly decline traceing this ignis fatuus any further ; and conclude , that since he hath not explained nutrition , what he hath further to say is lame and imperfect , being tired with such dull and impertinent stuff . but least he should vainly think , ( since vanity so essentially belongs to him , ) that i declined it upon any other consideration , i shall shew him , that what is behind , is altogether as obscure , as what hath gone before . pag. 7. he is not ashamed to say , that he kept blood as it came warm out of the veins , in a continued violent motion , and instead of hindring , it facilitated it's cooling . this is so ridiculous an experiment , and so much below a rational creature to make , that one would never suspect any one that pretends to sence or reason , should ever be guilty of trying such ; for the circumstances of the blood agitated in an organized body are so different , from those of blood agitated in an artificial vessel , that there is not the least probability of the success of it ; but as it shews what a deep profound blockhead he is , and what good anatomist he is , so from hence we may gather , what a fit man he is to advance hypotheses in physick , and search into the secrets of nature ; and as one would never think one so eminently dull , should have a face to appear in publick ; so one would scarce believe that one guilty of such an absurdity , should pretend to sense or reason . he goes on . that fire which i judge to be in the blood , i suppose is quite different from culinary fire . a pretty supposition for a judge to make : but he must consider , that his judgment will pass but a little way , since he is only a judge of his own making ; but with a less degree of judgment and supposition too , one that is ignorant of physick would agree in the same opinion with him ; but i suppose there is no such fire as he supposes , and the reason i shall not give ; because i see he gives reason for nothing that he says ; which makes me believe , he scarce knows what reason is . pag. 8. there is an old maxim , nihil dat quod in se non habet , which is very pertinent to the point in hand , from whence he infers , that if there were not fire actually in the blood before , he cannot understand how a fiery substance can be obtained from it . truly that old maxim is no where more verified than in himself ; for as i see nothing of sence come from him , so i really believe he hath nothing in him , and i think it very pertinently pointed at him , but before he inferrs any thing from it , i must tell him , that he ought not to make any advantage of a maxim , that is learnt in universities , where nothing is taught but fusty philosophy , as mr. colbatch has learnt to call it , in his preface to his treatise of the gout ; but as fusty philosophy as aristotle's if he did but understand how to limit that maxim a little better , he would not be so ignorant ; for it implies , that nihil de novo creatur , but mutatio formae non est creatio , and the form of matter may be changed so as to make even water combustible , which if he had read the famous mr. boyl or cartesius , he needed not be ignorant of , or did he understand aristotle ; but he owns he does not understand it , and truly i am sorry one that understands so little , should pretend to so much ; but if he will take pains to read those books i recommend to him , or come to me , i shall be willing to inform him ; provided he does it with a desire to learn. i say , come to me ; because it is scarce worth any bodies while , to take the trouble upon them of teaching one so dull of understanding ; so that i may more boldly bespeak such a scholar , as one too mean for great masters . in the next place , he supposes a simple objection , and makes as simple an answer , which i think not worth my while to take notice of . there are some things in the same paragraph he says he does not understand , and indeed i believe him , but why is he so ignorant , and is bold enough to say so , yet pretends to knowledge ? but if he 'll take advice , he may understand all these things with a little pains . pag. 10. he says , the confused mixture of blood and serum , is carryed back from the lungs , by the venal artery , into the left ventricle of the heart . here he is again mistaken ; for i must tell him , that blood cannot be properly said to be carryed back to the left ventricle , except it was carryed from the left ventricle to the lungs ; for carrying back implies . a motion of the same blood , through the same vein , contrary to the tendency of that blood before ; but this is a fault , whith is perhaps but metaphorically spoken , and in respect of the heart . he goes on , and from thence protruded by means of the great artery , which is immediately divided into a great many branches , to all the parts of the body . here he hath again forgot himself ; for the aorta is not distributed to all the parts of the body , and consequently cannot carry blood to all the parts , since the liver is chiefly supplyed by the vena porta . pag. 11. he pretends to explain nutrition , of which account , nothing belongs to him , except one sentence , which is , that the parts of bones are discharged by insensible transpiration ; but to sweat bones is so ridiculous , that with the whole world i cannot forbear laughing at him , and i hope every body is satisfyed , that he either does not express and explain himself right , or that he is not only a bold , but very harsh asserter , of what his cobler would laugh at him for . but p. 12. he says he hath not arrogance enough to pretend to , &c. tho' he had impudence enough for it the page before . from pag. the 12. to the 17. he hath filled his book with quotations , unworthy to be placed in his book , all which prove , that the maxim , nil dat quod in se non habet , as he used it before , is false ; and that several sorts of liquors are made out of one ; but he confesses , pag. 12. he knows not how . pag. 17. ( i think there is no difference , only secundum majus & minus , between those wastes made by transpiration , which are natural , and a wound made by force , which is preter-natural . ) what he hath hitherto writ , i have proved to be made up of nothing but mistakes in speech and memory , but here we have an instance , that his memory is not only very bad , and his tongue worse , but withal , he is worse at thinking , and these imperfections must needs qualify an apothecary for an eminent physician ; but as for his thought , i think it as foolish a one as ever i reard , and truly if it had not been placed in his book , i should have guessed , it could have been properly applyed to no body but himself , it essentially agreeing with him secundum majus & minus ; for the difference betwixt a consumption of the parts of the body by transpiration , and a wound , is so great , that there is no comparison to be made betwixt them . besides wastes by transpiration are not natural , but preternatural . pag. 18. suppose a wound be made , and it is no matter where it is , for what will cure a vvound in one place will do it in another . indeed imaginary wounds are as easily cured in one part as another , and it is no matter where they are ; but with real wounds it is not so ; for in some parts they are incurable , and that the same thing that will cure one wound will not cure another , any old woman that knows how to plaster a cut finger , would have told him . pag. 19. he says , there is no wound made by incision , but may as properly be called a contused one : but here i must inform him , that as the word incision is only proper to signify a wound made by a sharp instrument ; so contused , signifies a wound made by a blunt one , and the distinction is proper and necessary ; for when i say a wound is made by incision , it implys , that the labia of the wound are not jagged and torn ; but when i say a wound is a contused one ; it signifies that besides a division of parts , there is a sort of dilaceration of the parts so separated ; and the difference betwixt a contused wound and a wound by incision , is more than what he says , viz. a larger space betwixt the labia , for in a contused one the labia are not only more separated , but are hindred from growing together again , by the bruised parts that lie betwixt them ; but indeed , if he would signifie a bruised wound by the word incision , and a wound commonly called by incision , by the word contused , then it would but be the same thing as to call him an ass instead of a man , and an ass a man , and both those wounds cannot with so great conveniency be signifyed by one word , viz. incision , as an ass and a man , as far as the latter relates to him , might be expressed by the word ass . but as by the word ass being applyed both to mr. colbatch , and a pedlar's ass , there would follow some difficulties ; and it would be a hard thing to know by that word , whether of them was meant ; so it would be inconvenient to signify a wound by contusion , and an incised wound , by one word without distinction . pag. 20. i stick not to call a fibre a vessel . truly it is manifest , that he will stick at nothing , that would go down with one , that hath lost both their sense and taste ; but he ought if he had understood any thing , to have stuck at it ; for a fibre is used to distinguish those vessels , that are subordinate to others , and of which others are made ; but if he will make no distinctions betwixt things , he may stick at nothing , be it never so absurd , but call black white , and white black . pag. 21. he very learnedly tells people , that whenever they receive any wound it presently pains them . this is such a mighty discovery , such a wonderful piece of his novum lumen , that it is scarce to be thought , he was in his senses , when he wrote it ; for if he were , could he ever imagine , that he made any discovery , when he tells people they have pain , which they know themselves better than he does . pag. 22. he says , that a fever in the terms of many great men , is nothing else but a nixus naturae or endeavour of nature , or a sanguipurgus and purifier . but here i must tell him , that those great men are mistaken , and speak improperly when they say so ; for instead of being a nixus naturae , it is rather a preternatural affection of nature ; and sometimes it is such a sanguipurgus that it leaves the mass of blood , a dull effete mass ; the best spirits being spent , and the sulphureous particles of the blood almost consumed ; for which reasons , some people after long fevers , are subject to abscesses and hard swellings . he in the same page says , a late learned author in his treatise of intermitting fevers , the one only rational piece , in my opinion , that ever was writ upon that subject , plainly makes it appear , that the seat of agues is in the cortex of the brain . here i must tell him , that his learned author will do him very little service towards his nova lumina , should he use all the flattery he can think of ; but as for that very rational piece , it is never the more so , for being so in his opinion ; for it appearing from what he hath hitherto said , that he is always mistaken in his opinion , it will be but a sorry recommendation to that book , that it hath his opinion along with it ; but to say it is the only rational piece , is to say , he knows not what reason is ; for the very learned and most ingenious dr. willis hath writ a far more rational piece on that subject ; and the learned dr. morton hath said more on that subject , than his learned author ; who hath not demonstrated the seat of it ; but suppose he had , what 's that to his credit ? he bears no share in the performance i suppose . pag. 23. he says , i could bring many more arguments to prove that not only symptomatick fevers , but all sorts of continued ones , do proceed from heterogeneous particles . truly , what arguments he could bring , prove nothing till they are brought ; but i have not seen any one yet ; for before the 22. page , he said , a fever was nothing , but a sanguipurgus and a nixus naturae ; but now in contradiction to that , it 's come to heterogeneous particles ; but if his memory is bad , who can blame him , yet one would think he might easily have look'd back to the page before ; but there is yet an excuse to be made for him , that empty and shallow heads , like hungry dogs , who have empty stomachs , so eagerly pursue , and are so taken up with what 's before them , that they scarce take notice of what they have swallowed . pag. 24. i don 't at all see or understand , that she ( i.e. nature ) is assisted by the medicines they afterwards use . really i don't know how he should ; for the methods the generality of prudent chirurgeons use , are above his understanding ; but because he does not understand them , are they ever the worse for that ? is that an objection ? having given an account of nutrition after a simple and incoherent manner ; an account made up of nothing but mistakes ; and forgetfulness ; and having made some rude reflections on a body of worthy and experienc'd chirurgeons , from pag. 26 , to pag. 40. he goes on to applaud and cry up a medicine to that height , and to endeavour to cry down a whole body of ingenious men , that all the world might think him the only valuable man in his trade ; and would fain make the world believe , that he can do more with his medicines than all of them ; and this most ridiculous piece of insolence , he endeavours to confirm by a few pretended instances of cures . as for his account of nutrition , i have sufficiently laid it open ; so that it plainly appears to be nothing , but a confused , dull lump of mistakes and blunders ; so that for such a man , that cannot write common sense , in a matter too where he needed only to follow what was ready to his hand , for such an ignorant , short-headed man , to pretend to huff and abuse , and set himself above experienced men in their business , is a piece of insolence , so unpardonable , that i can scarce be blamed for using him no harder than he deserves ; for had he had reason to boast of his medicine , might he not have taken a fair and honest method to make the best advantage of it , without endeavouring to captivate the common people , and to raise in them a great opinion of him , by being saucy and rude to his betters . ingenious men are so far from discouraging improvements in the arts they profess , and have always such an esteem for them that make them , that they give them all the honour and applause due to their merits ; so that he might , though civil and modest towards his superiours , had justice done him without so much noise and impertinence ; but he himself being conscious of his own weakness , and of the small value of his medicine , takes all the pains he can to applaud himself , and because he knows it would not answer what he pretended , and might of consequence be justly exposed for his vain pretences ; he takes care to tell the world , the chirurgeons were all his enemies , when at the same time himself alone was to be blamed for giving them just reason ; but this was only done , that people might think them so much his enemies as not to believe what they said : but can he think that the world will be long so imposed upon , and so easily ? perhaps a sort of people , that are easily drawn aside by a parcel of mountebanks and vain pretenders may , but surely wise people will sooner believe a great number of honest and sober men , than one silly , vain , conceited man , that hath folly enough to contradict them . as for his medicine , that he so much boasts of , it is but an old preparation new vampt up ; whose effects are so small , that sea water and urine have oftentimes done greater cures , and common salt , or a solution of vitriol will as soon cure a fresh wound , where no large vessels are cut , as his powder . and though in some fresh wounds , where musculous parts are divided , it is of use ; yet i am assured by a very ingenious chirurgeon's own , as well as the experience of others , that it is of no use , or very little , where tendons are divided , in which and such like cases , they are furnished with better medicines of their own , than any he can pretend to . i need not say any thing to those experiments , he fills up his book with , since they have been sufficiently confuted , and the falsness hath been proved in a book called novum lumen extinctum , &c. he would indeed endeavour to defend them , by a few more , as notoriously false as the former , which he has laid together in his vindication ; but one falsity is altogether unable to prove another true ; and though he pretends , they have always succeeded , when he had fair play , yet since when he tryed his experiments before witnesses , they did not succeed , the world hath reason to believe , that he used the joint assistance of some common medicine , when he used it by himself . but i have sufficiently tired my self , with such nauseous stuff as this book is filled with ; and when i reflect on 't , cannot imagine , how much conceit and vanity he must have to call such rubbish and weak inconsistences , a novum lumen ; and i wonder how he could boast so much , since the weakest in that profession might be ashamed , that they knew no more . as for his medicine , there was no need to write a book about it ; since a gazette was too good for it ; but if he would needs let the world know , that he had found out something of some small use , to chirurgeons , he might have taken the same method as daffy hath with his elixir , and people would have made as much use of it as they do now , provided it answered expectation ; but there was no need for impudence , except in a bad cause , and he had no reason to boast of a thing , that cures nothing , but what was cured by the use of other medicines , equally as good as his . an examination of mr. john colbatch his essay of alkalies and acids . wherein his absurdities and erroneous opinions , in the small pox , scurbey , gout , rheumatism , consumptions , &c. are demonstrated to be very dangerous and highly prejudicial ; and are therefore truly represented and fully confuted . london , printed in the year 1699. an examination of mr. john colbatch his essay of alkalies and acids , &c. chap. i. contains remarks on his preface to this essay . having gone through his novum lumen chirurgicum , clouded and stuffed as it is , with nothing but incoherent mistakes and notorious blunders ; i should now go on to shew , that he not only hath the impudence to boast of , and value himself upon , the most unreasonable grounds in chirurgery ; but also , finding that the world will not be imposed upon one way , he endeavours to do it another ; but he must expect that physicians are not to be more easily deceived with pretences then chirurgeons . he has pretended to such miracles in chirurgery , as might justly encourage ingenious men to make tryals of his skill , but his pretences being but vain and false , and all that plentiful stock of impudence which he made use of in vindicating his folly , being not sufficient to procure him business amongst chirurgeons , he now is resolved to turn physician , and use all the base and insolent means he can , to make himself taken notice of by those that are too easily credulous to specious ▪ promises , cloaked with dogmatical and resolute positiveness . but from what he hath already said of nutrition in his former book , any one that understands common sense so much as to be able to distinguish it from nonsense , will be satisfied , that he is by no means qualifyed for a physician : yet tho' he hath given the world , one would think , a clear specimen of his ignorance , and that he is a mere vain pretending emperick ; he hath still the face to appear not only against chirurgeons , but a whole body of learned physicians , and tell the world , that no body knows any thing besides himself , when it plainly appears , that he is altogether ignorant , shallow and widely mistaken in those things he most pretends to . to make it appear , i shall in the next place take a view of what he says of acids in the cure of distempers , and shall shew , that he neither understands the nature of alkalies , nor of those acids he so much extols , and also , that what he irrationally and so dogmatically asserts , contrary to all learned writers and common experience , is very foolishly advanced ; and that the consequences of such absurd practice are very dangerous as well as the practice it self very pernicious , and not to be followed without the greatest hazard of the lives of those that are so much misled as to make use of him , and to commit themselves to the irregular and unreasonable methods of such an absurd practicer . and before i examin the grand mistakes of his book , i shall take notice of some things he hath premised in his preface , which will lay open his design ; and the method he takes to impose upon those , that want judgment to discover his faults . the first thing i shall there take notice of , is , that in the fifth page of his preface he says , there are some particular preparations of steel and antimony , the which giving as alkalies , and as they are generally believed to be , did me very great service ; but since i have well examined them instead of alkalies i find them to be most noble acids , and the distempers cured by them did not proceed from acid , but alkalious particles . here we may see what methods this short sighted reformer intends to take ; for where he hath not the least pretence that acids are useful in the cure of distempers , there we must expect that rather then he will not promote his doctrin of acids , he will change the very names of things , and call alkalies acids and acids alkalies ; for those medicines that are used in the cure of distempers , and now called alkalies , he must needs call acids ; by which rule , i would think him never the wiser , if he could prove , that bitter medicines will cure such distempers as alkalies are generally used in ; for it is but calling those alkalies bitters , and then the business is done , and by the same sort of reasoning ( for it is all the reasoning he can pretend to , ) i might prove to the world , that he is worse then the very beast of the field ; for it is but changing his name and instead of calling him mr. john colbatch , a wooden statue : but this is a way to raise new opinions indeed ; if a man must be no longer called so , but a horse , and a horse a man ; it would not be an improvement of knowledge , but an unnecessary alteration of the names of animals ; at this rate there might be as many books writ , as foolish men could invent names for things . but that steel is not an acid when it is used for an alkalie , i shall hereafter shew , and that alkalies are not the causes of those distempers , that are cured by such medicines ; in the mean time it is altogether sufficient for me barely to contradict him , since i have all learned and judicious men to confirm what i say , and he barely asserts without proof or authority . a little after , having made a confession that he was an apothecary in worcester , a little after that he endeavours to give an account of the qualifications of that profession ; that people may judge whether he was not by that means qualified for a physician ; but who would he have to judge ; if he describes the qualifications of an apothecary , that physitians might judge , whether that profession had qualified him for a physician or not ; he might have saved himself the trouble ; for they know better what will qualify one for an apothecary , and how far that comes short of a physician , than he can tell them ; but if he designed those that do not understand physic should judge of him , he ought also to have informed them what qualifications are necessary for a physician , otherwise they are not capable of judging ; but by his writings it is plain , he is not acquainted with those qualifications ; neither indeed if we must judge of him by those rules he hath laid down , as qualifications for an apothecary , is he qualified for an apothecary ; for , first , he says ; an apothecary must be well acquainted with the vegetable kingdom , not only to know the faces of plants , but their natures and manner of operation upon human bodies : otherwise how can they tell how to handle them , so as to make compositions as they ought to be . now that he wants this first qualification is very plain ; for if he does not understand human bodies , it is impossible he should know how they operate upon those bodies ; that he does not understand human bodies is manifest from the account he hath given in his novum lumen , which i have shewed to be false and absurd . but under this first qualification he further says ; every physician supposes the apothecary so qualified , when he prescribes to his shop . but here i must tell him he is mistaken ; for as it is not necessary that apothecaries should be so qualified , so such qualifications are not expected by physitians that prescribe to them ; for an apothecary may compound medicines without knowing the nature of those medicines that he compounds ; for all apothecaries make up their compositions according to receipts in which they are directed , how to mix them , and what quantity of each is to be mixed ; so that it is enough for one that makes up a receipt to know weights and measures , and what directions are writ before him , and to be acquainted barely with the faces of things : for it not belonging to apothecaries , to apply or prescribe any medicines , except by the order of a physitian ; it is enough for them to know how to follow a physitians directions ; which they are enabled to do , by knowing how to chuse simples and compounds , so as to distinguish them by their names , and how to mix them according to art. he further says , let a phisitian prescribe like an angel , &c. i would willingly know how he comes to be acquainted with angels prescriptions ; and whether he has learnt them or not : i am afraid they are seldom catched in apothecaries shops , and consequently he hath been very little acquainted with them . but , as i believe , angels are always imployed in divine affairs ; so they chiefly are concerned in spiritual prescriptions ; and here mr. john colbatch hath fetch'd his metaphor too far . secondly , he says ; the second qualification for an apothecary , is , that he understand the nature and operation of minerals and mettals . to understand the nature of minerals is the business of a chymist , not of an apothecary , and as for their operations , that chiefly belongs to a physitian ; whose business it is to apply them : but he would needs have apothecaries to understand every thing , because he hath been one himself . thirdly , he says , they must understand the nature of animal bodies ; but i am sure they may be as good apothecaries , tho' they do not ; for what business hath an apothecary with human bodies , since it only belongs to him to be serviceable to physicians in preparing his medicines and obeying his orders , and not in administering : he might as well say a clerk who only writes according to the directions of his master , and whose business it is to do nothing else , must understand those things that don't belong to him , viz. his masters business . what some apothecaries know i won't say , but i am certified by his writings , and also by the rules he hath given for the qualifications of an apothecary , that he is so far from being qualified for a physitian , that he is by no means qualified for an apothecary . but to understand how faintly he is qualified for either , i shall pass on to his book , and shew what grand mistakes he is positively and boldly guilty of . chap. ii. of the small-pox . the first distemper he there takes upon him to give an account of , is , the small-pox ; and here contrary to truth and all experience he would suggest , that the small-pox do not proceed from acids but alkalies . and , page 4th , he says , now i could never hear of any one , that by analizing the blood of persons in the small-pox , could ever find the least foot-steps of acidity in it ; though on the contrary , it doth appear , after many tryals , that the blood of such persons doth more abound with alkalious particles , than that of sound people . that no acidity can be found by analizing the blood of persons in the small-pox , is not sufficient to determin , whether there be acids in the blood before analized or not ; for in analizing blood , as the chymists call it , the volatile particles of the fire , which is the agent in the operation , may soon destroy those acidities ; for if when our stomach abounds with acids we find by taking of volatile alkalies , that that acidity is soon destroyed ; and if we find that those effects , which are produced in our blood , upon a plentiful use of crude acids , or astringents which are acids in potentia , are taken away on the contrary by the use of alkalies ; we have much reason to believe , that the particles of fire , being more powerful when in action than those alkalies , will soon destroy that which is called acidity in the blood ; so that the fire volatilizing that acid matter , and exalting it to a higher degree of maturity , it quite looses it's pristine qualities , the fire and it being united into a quid tertium , and that united and again embodied in a vehicle , looses it's old form , and is modified anew . but to determin , whether there be acidity in the blood or not , there would be no need to analize it , tho' by that means it would not be destroyed ; for when a person in the small-pox is let blood , we may see a manifest ropy viscocity in the blood , which is a certain sign of acidity , it being the nature of acids to coagulate and thicken those humours with which they are mixed . and to understand in what sense the blood may be said to have more alkalies than the blood of healthful people , we must consider what is the cause of that distemper ; but as my design here is not to give an account of the cause of this distemper , any further than tends to shew how far he is mistaken , and how little he understands it ; so i shall only take notice , that the first onset of this distemper is accompanyed with the initia of a feaver ; where we may observe that the mass of blood being naturally impregnated with a great deal of sulphur ; and that sulphur being as if it were depressed , or rather inviscated in a viscous mucus ( whose viscocity proceeds from acids ) these sulphureous particles are by some accidental cause ( whether it be internal , or by the influence of circumambient bodies , i shall not now determine ) exalted in some measure , and caused to exert themselves ; by which exertion they endeavour to clear themselves of that mucus phlegm ; which being separated from them , the whole mass does , as if it were , run into two parts ; just as we see sweet milk and eggs mixed together , and heated over a fire , begin to break , as it is usually termed ; i mean just when it begins to break so little that we can scarce discern it with a microscope ; and then that mass in some measure cleared from the viscocity , hath more sulphur in it , and more fierce volatile parts in it , than the blood of a healthful person . but as for alkaly , i cannot find any in it , except alkalies are sweet and balsamick . but yet if the whole mass of blood , and serum together , be compared with the whole blood , and serum of a healthful person ; there is more acid in the blood of a person in the small-pox , and less alkaly , than in a person that is healthful . but this new reformer of physick sets about his work , like one that neither understood common sense nor reason ; all that he says against a truly rational and confirmed opinion , is , that it is not so as they say ; and the grounds upon which he concludes so , are an observation nothing at all to the purpose ; but to shew that he neither understands the works of nature nor art ; so that thus far he wants the qualifications of an apothecary . but to proceed ; page the 5th . he says ; the cause of the small-pox , i suppose , to be from a quantity of such particles , being some way or other admitted into the blood ; which being of a quite different texture from that of the blood ; and so not capable of being mixed with it , cause a hurry and disorder there . what a very fine account this is of the reason of the small-pox ; and who will be the wiser for it , by such a method as this ; we may answer all the questions that can be asked in physick , geometry , mathematicks , astronomy , navigation and geography without any other qualification than the assistance of nature ; and a common plow-man , if this be knowledge , might give as good an account of things as he does : for ask a plow-man what is the cause of the small-pox , and he will give just such an account as he hath done , viz. that the small-pox proceed from something that causes them , and disorders the person that hath them ; nay , a nurse knows more than he can pretend to ; for they will give a physitian a better account of a distemper , than hurry and disorder . but there are two words in what he says ; that women perhaps are not well acquainted with , viz. particles and texture ; but taking away those ( which he does not understand , and which only serve to amuse people that are ignorant ) and then what he says will come to no more but what i just now expressed in words different from his only in sound , not in signification , as he hath used them . and here again , i could willingly pass by a great many of his faults , being almost tired with so many , and such gross mistakes ; but should i not trace his impertinency and ignorance , he is so apt to be proud of his folly , that it would make him but fonder of what he already is so zealously panting after , as one scarce able to make his way through clouds and obscurity . page the 6th , he says , now to assist nature in throwing these heterogeneous particles out of the blood , to the extreme parts ; which they pretend to be mightily hindred , by a great quantity of acids in the blood : they give repeated and large quantities of testaceous alkalious powders , which indeed seldom fail of answering their intentions , in throwing out large quantities of pustles , even more than nature is able to supply and bring to maturity . here he only hath put sense into his own philosophic dress ; so that when first i read it , i could scarce imagin what he meant , till i had put that mask of it ; and then it appears to be that physicians usually give acid-absorbers , to attenuate that viscid distempered humor , that it might be thin enough to pass off by the pores of the body , in order to carry it out of the mass of blood ; and that this they endeavoured to do by such medicines as correct its acidity ; which method truly is , if used with moderation , very reasonable . for since by the viscocity of blood , it appears that acids cause that coagulation of the fomes morbi , which we see in the habit of the body ; what can be more reasonable , than to use such means as promote the carrying off of this fuel , by attenuating it , and correcting that acidity which makes it too thick to go off . but he says it throws out too much of this humor to which i answer ( tho' it is so simple and inconsiderate , that it deserves correction , rather than a rational answer ) that no more of this distempered humor can be driven out , than there is in the whole mass , and the less is left behind the better ; for it is not that matter in the habit of the body , that kills those that suffer by this distemper ; but that which is not driven out ; and the reason why some dye , notwithstanding a great deal is driven out , is because a great deal is still behind ; for that in the habit of the body , which he , like a block-head , calls the extream parts , is out of the way of circulation , and is less offensive to nature , than that which is left behind , which consumes and mortifies the spirits before it can be driven out . but this method , it seems , spoils angelic faces : this endearing expression must certainly oblige the tender parents of pretty children to make use of mr. colbatch by all means ; that pretty gentleman that loves them so passionately , will be so careful of their beauty , and spoiling of angelic faces ; that before one of his patients shall have its pretty face spoiled with heterogeneous particles , he will resolutely give acids , and so thicken that heterogeneous humor , that very little shall be driven out . but then let good mr. colbatch ( since he must be a master , right or wrong ) consider what the effects of his tenderness towards angelic faces will be ; for if that heterogeneous humor be thickned and not thrown out , and the quantity of it be so great , that nature cannot conquer it , the poor child out of tenderness to it's beauty must submit to common fate , and unavoidably dye ; whereas , if he endeavour'd to drive it out , it might more reasonably hope for life ; tho' the quantity of that matter is sometimes so great , that the habit of the body is not able to receive it all . and let him know , that if by his tenderness , or rather foolish ignorance , his patients dye , he must once answer for it , and might as well be guilty of cutting their throats . and here i have taken a little pains to give reasons against his , and in vindication of the contrary practice ; not because what he says in defence of his own requires it , since he only possitively asserts without reason ; but because in a matter of this consequence , i should almost in some measure think my self guilty of the death of those that suffer by him , if i did not give such reasons against his method , as people might plainly see the absurdity of it . but before i proceed any further , i shall make bold to ask my gentleman one question ; whether he by the use of his glass , hath in some critical enquiry or other , found to his great regret ; that this distemper hath spoiled pretty features or not in his own face ? if it hath , then there is one sort of an excuse to be made for his adhering to such practice , and just such a one as there is for those people , that had rather keep poyson in their stomachs , than spoil their mouths by taking a vomit . but there is another question i would ask him , but dare not ; and therefore shall only submit this weighty matter to his profound judgment , by way of supposition , viz. suppose a man should be an ill man , and frequent ill houses ; whether in the enjoyment of his pleasures , he might not pitty , that so many faces should be spoiled by this distemper , and in that soft humor , take such a sting against all rational practice , as ever to abhor it . page the 7th . he says , the spoiling of faces is not all , but besides they throw out the ( distemper , which he calls ) many pustles by breaking of the globules of the blood , &c. here i need give him no other answer , but that i pitty him ; he fain would be a philosopher ; and for all his stretching and straining he cannot reach it ; but he ought to have try'd his strength in private , and not to have exposed himself with his philosophical scraps , for breaking the globules of the blood is such nonsense , that had he not made a simple experiment , by mixing oyl and water , to explain his notions of globules , no body could know what he meant by it ; and it looks so aukward ; that philosophers cannot but wonder what the man thought of , when he wrote it ; for his mechanical head sure could never hope to explain any thing , by breaking of globules , too large to circulate through capillary vessels . for what mischief would breaking of those globules do ; since the blood without any damage , must needs be divided into much more minute particles , to circulate through the vessels . all he says , page 8 , 9 , 10 , is to enlarge what he here so obscurely delivers , to which i need give no other answer . page 10. he says , in like manner , the globules of the blood being broken by means of alkalious medicines , together with too great a quantity of alkalious particles , being before admitted into it , are , by that means made capable of being received into the cutaneous glands , which is the only occasion of those purple spots upon the surface of the skin . what effects alkalies have upon the coagulated humors , i have before shewn , viz. they thin them and make them capable of passing through those pores , they would otherwise be too thick for , and as for his globules , if he means only , that the mass of blood is dissolved and attenuated ; i answer , that the blood being so dissolved , would circulate through it's vessels only with more ease ; so that it would be less subject to be coagulated in the vessels of the skin ; but since by taking notice of the blood in such people , it appears to be more clammy than it is usually in healthful people ; and since that clamminess depends on a mixture of acids , we have reason to believe that it would be less apt to run into vessels ▪ that it ought not ; and it is also rational to conclude , since the distemper depends on acids which coagulate the blood ; that when the distemper is more violent , it abounds with more acids ; and consequently that they don't only cause the serum to coagulate in the pores of the skin , but also sometimes the blood in the capillary vessels ; which coagulated , causes those purple spots . but least i should not seem sufficiently to prove , that those symptoms are caused by acids ; i shall further observe , that , since it is the nature of acids to coagulate , and of akalies to prevent and hinder coagulation , and those symptoms appear to be coagulated humors ; we must needs conclude , that they do proceed from acid , and not alkalizated humors . page 11th . he says , but this is not all ; for by the aforesaid breaking of the globules of the blood , these small broken globules getting into the small meanders of the brain , hinder the motion of the animal spirits through the nerves . but i here ask him , hath he ever found any of those globules in the brain ? if he has not , there is no reason to believe what is contrary to reason and experience . for deliriums are more likely to proceed from viscid matter affecting the brain ; it being plain , that there is not only a great deal of viscid matter in the blood , but that there is a viscid phlegm observable in all people inclinable to lethargies , and such like distempers of the brain . from page the 11th to the 16th . he keeps a long harangue to no purpose , and about nothing at all to this distemper ; where he begins to preamble about the use of acids , to the 19 page , to which i need not say any more , having said enough of the use of acids and alkalies at the beginning of this chapter . but here he tells us that , he hath retrieved a great many from the jaws of death by acids ; but he hath told so many down-right falsities in the beginning of his book , that we have the same reason to believe he does now ; what he says , being contrary to reason and experience ; and i rather believe so , because he mentions not one that acids cured , where he had used alkalies . page 20. i shall proceed to the method i take in the cure of it ; which being according to natures dictates , is short and easie . here he would persuade us , that nature is short and easie , because there is very little to the purpose in what he says about her ; but as easie and short as she is , she is too long and too difficult for him to trace ; but now he begins to give us an example of his dexterity in the cure. and , page 21. tells us , that he begins with a vomit . but here he ought to confess what learned men's examples he hath followed . for so , if the stomach be soul ; those learned and experienced men , dr. sydenham , and dr. morton begin , therefore for this the world is not obliged to him ; he not being the author of that method . page 22. at night he gives syr. de meconio ; for this still he ought to make an acknowledgment to dr. sydenham , it being what he hath learnt from him . but sometimes in the beginning , page 25. he lets blood ; for this likewise he must make a thankful acknowledgment to dr. sydenham ; it being nothing of his own invention . page 23 , and 24 , 26 , and part of the 27th , he reckons up a parcel of acids which he makes use of ; but he mixes so much simple waters with the acids , that what he gives is scarce more cooling than small-beer ; and truly , if they had not worse effects in the blood , i should commend him for following so good a president as dr. sydenham ; but here he varies from dr. sydenham , to the disadvantage of his patients , and the destruction of their lives , though preservation of the beauty of 'em . and he so much depresses their weak feeble spirits , that page 27. he is forced to give them a cordial again to take off the ill effects of his bad and absurd usage . page the 28th , he purges them several times . and truly , if he abuses them with acids at this rate , he had need to purge them soundly , to carry off those dregs that he hindred from going off before ; whereas did he manage them as those learned men dr. sydenham or dr. morton do , once purging does as much good and more , than his five or six times . page 29 and 30. all he says is to deter people from using any other means than his ; and to tell people that know better how to manage children than he does , that they may safely use his method , if they won't send for him , but let him know that it is experience that is valuable , above a method that hath neither reason nor success ; and surely they had rather depend on those that have their characters from judicious men , than one that only commends himself . page 31. he begins with his former supposition concerning the cause of the small-pox , and giving a short account of what effects he laid to the charge of alkalies , and continues a repetition of his complaint to page 36. but i having already answered that sufficiently , there is no need i should repeat it here again now , and indeed all the reason he has , is only to lengthen his book ; for he cannot think other people are so forgetful as himself , as to need to have it over again so soon ; and if they had , it would have been the same thing to have read the first account over again , for it was altogether as large as this , and this is equally void of , and without , reason or proof , page 36 , he assigns but one general cause of fevers , yet owns the particles causing them , may be somewhat different . which is to say and unsay , and at the same time to contradict himself , for if the cause differs it cannot be the same , and that the cause is not the same is plain , because the same cause would have the same effects , i mean the same formal cause . page 38. he says ; in most continued fevers i have found alkalies equally as pernicious as in the small-pox , and acids equally as beneficial . that acids are useful in most continued fevers , is not of his finding , it being the common practice of most physicians : and it is as generally known , that strong alkalies , except in malignant fevers , are very hurtful and not at all used , except by absurd practisers ; but that alkalies are highly to be preferred before acids , in the cure of the small-pox , i think i have given reason enough to prove , except people value beauty before their lives ▪ and had rather hazard their children in the hands of a fool , than commit them to the care of sober and wise men. chap. iii. of the scurvey . having therefore run over what he hath said of the small-pox , and shewed , that it is neither consonant to reason nor experience ; i shall in the next place make it plain , that he hath also mistaken in the scurvey , which will yet be a furthor demonistration , that he is not qualified for an apothecary . page 42. but here i expect the cry of all mankind against me : what say there is no acidity in the blood in the scurvey ? what ▪ is it but an acidity in the blood that is the occasion of breaking out of scabs &c. upon the skin ? what! but a sharpness and acidity in the blood occasions those wandring pains , &c. and page 43. says he ; my friends , have a little patience , and i will presently make it appear to you that those symptoms are not occasioned by acids , but from acrid lixivious and alkalious particles . behold ! how sharp witted he is grown of a sudden ? and , it lasteth for a whole page together ; what a true picture of a short head ? and what an excessive rapture of zeal , my friend mr. john colbatch is falen into ? truly , if i could believe he were of any religion , i should perswade my self , he were inclining to quakerism , as well as quackerism ▪ for here he seems to have a mighty glimps of the spirit , and speaks in a very agreeable form. but i wonder why he should expect all mankind to cry against him ; he must either have a very ill opinion of all mankind or himself ; if he thought he had reason for what he did , then he spoke very harshly of all mankind ; for to say they would cry against , was in effect to say , they either did not understand reason , or that they were such enemies to learning , that they could receive nothing but what was suited to their own heads : a very heavy charge , and much becoming such an ignorant man to lay upon all the world ; but i rather think he had a self-consciousness of his own falsness , and , like guilty persons , did not know how to conceal it . but the scurvey , he says , proceeds from alkalious ! particles , and not from acids , to which i answer , that it being the nature of alkalies to thin and attenuate those humors , that cause coagulations in the skin , it is unreasonable to say , that alkalies cause those things , which their own nature inclines them to cure : but those bloches which appear in the scurvy , rather proceed from acids joyned with acrimony ; the acids cause the humors to stagnate in the skin , and the acrimony by causing a ferment there , makes that matter corrupt and corrode . page 43. he says , the blood of scorbutick people abounds more with alkalious parts than healthful peoples when analized . but as i said before , what is drawn from blood analized , proves nothing what was the temper of that blood before it was analized : of which , if he would but take pains to look into the famous mr. boyl's sceptical chymist , he may be fully satisfied . for those acrid acid parts of the blood , being spiritualized by the fire , loose their pristine state , and are carryed along and embody'd with other alkalious particles . page 45 , and 46. he tells a story of a parcel of seamen , that landing at cadiz , were cured of the scurvey by the use of lemmons and oranges . the less reason then hath he to be fond of , or value himself , where he owns his knowledge to seamen ; but it is no news in physick , that acids joyn'd with alkalies cure the scurvey , it being common practice to mix acids and volatile salts in scorbutick diet drinks , and a method long used by the famous dr. willis and others ; so that there was no need for him to have said any thing here of the scurvey , since it is only what others have done before , to more advantage , and incomparably better . page 47. he says ; as for alkalies , i don't believe that any was ever cured by them of this distemper . but i am sure that a great many are , and though a great many are cured by a mixture of alkalies and acids , yet as many are cured by alkalies alone . page 48 , 49 , and 50. he mentions a preparation of antimony and spirits of tartar , and would have these which page 51 , and 52 , he says are panaceas , to be acids ; but as they have been generally termed alkalies , and are known to be so by their effects ; he must not think to change their names , since he cannot change their natures : for by their effects we know that they correct acids , because they take away obstructions , and dissolve coagulated humors which are thickned by acids . but as i took notice in his preface , we see he will use all the means imaginable to make his design good ; and having said enough on this purpose there , i shall not need to repeat it again . page 53. he thinks he answers an objection against him , which is , that there is a manifest saltness in the blood of scorbutick people . but he like a man as dull as ignorant , cunningly would turn it off , and says , if they will strictly enquire into it , they will find it not an acid but an alkalious taste . but does he think no body can taste besides himself ▪ people are sensible , that for the sake of his own cause , his reason , if he may be said to have any , will byass his taste ; whereas other people in such cases have their reason steady and their taste too . but to conclude this second specimen of his ingenuity : he must be informed that the blood of scorbutick people does not only taste salt , but those that spit much , and who know what a salt taste is , find a manifest salt taste in that saliva . chap. iv. of the gout . the next thing , that this eminent man undertakes to give an account of , is , the gout . and truly , this i must needs say in his praise : that though his merit be extraordinary , and cannot place him amongst those men who are eminent for good works , yet he hath this mighty chance , that it will undoubtedly eternalize him for an eminent vain pretending impostor , and an emperick extraordinary . for , page 54. he says ; — though i must confess the gout to be a distemper , i have not had much to do with ; but by that little i have seen of it , i am fully convinced that it is not from acids , &c. he does well to make an ingenuous confession , and be modest in some things , in order to expose himself the more effectually . for if this man can make a conclusion contrary to all the learned world , upon a little that he hath seen , which he does not understand ; it shows , that he is very bold and unreasonable ; for will he pretend by a little to contradict a great deal ; and will he pretend to write universal rules , from a little and singular observations ; but it seems by this little he is convinced fully , which to me only signifies he hath a very narrow head. but that this distemper does not proceed from acids , i shall easily evince ; and first let us see , what he says in proof of his own assertion , and what reasons he gives for them . page 55. i have observed considerable large nodes in which are sometimes contained a hard chalky substance , which by many experiments i have found to be as much an alkaly as either carbs-eyes , corral , &c. this is an argument indeed would perswade one to believe much , upon a very little observation , and really , if we may believe he writes in this point as he does in all the rest , it will be feared , that little is none at all for he hath hitherto so magnified a little , as to make it a great deal of nonsense ; that here we may suspect , if what he hath seen in this distemper be little when magnifyed , 〈◊〉 must be very little in truth . and as for this argument it shews that his head is a lump of clay without any distinction ; for tho' 〈◊〉 might be admitted , that the nodes in the gout were like a chalky substance , yet would they not be as much alkaly , as crab eyes , there being a great deal of difference betwixt chalk and crabs-eyes , as to the muchness of alkalie ; but what if i should say it is neither an alkaly nor acid , but sort of mealy mucus hardned by acids , are made porous by the heat , causing those parts of it to close and condense so as to leave pores betwixt them . i shall not he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enlarge nor bring arguments to prove the possibility , but shall leave him to consider 〈◊〉 it , and also desire him or rather advise him in order that he may comprehend this , that is so much above him , to read and consider mr. boyl of alkalies and acids ; and if he does not understand that book , if he will come to me i 'll explain it to him ; for i would spare no pains to undeceive and instruct him , i see he hath a mind to learn , and perhaps , if he were put into a good way , though he be dull industry might make something of him ; so that i would not have him discouraged , though he hath lost his labour in travailing so boldly and so far in a bad way . in the next paragraph . page 55 , he says , now it being granted that the matter contained in the aforesaid nodes to be an alkaly , how is it possible for this distemper to proceed from acids ? he does well to ask questions ; for that is the way to be informed ; and that he may learn , i shall tell him , that though that crusty substance were an alkaly , which i only suppose , that the answer may be direct ; it is possible that acids may be turned into alkalies ; for all the difference betwixt acids , being as far as relates to our present purpose , that the one hath no pores , and that the other hath pores , to imbibe and receive the parts of the other into them ; it will be very easily conceived , that a great many of these being embodyed in a mucilage , and that mucilage being hardned , so as to link the acid particles together ; i say , it will be very easily conceived , that that substance being made porous , hath so far the nature of an alkaly . pag. 56. says he , but if men will still persist to assert , that this distemper proceeds from acids , and at the same time own the chalky substance beforementioned , which is only , &c. they must tacitly believe the doctrin of transmutation , though they openly are ashamed to own it ; that noble sentence , doctrin of transmutation had so raised his phansy , that truly he hath expressed this paragraph very nobly ; but i see he cannot speak in fine words , but he must express non-sence , for where men assert the doctrin of transmutation , how can they be said tacitly to believe it , except asserting be holding ones tongue ; but though , my gentleman , thinks it a thing , that one ought to be ashamed of , and to be laugh'd at for and ridiculed ; i am not ashamed nor afraid to say ▪ i own the doctrin of transmutation , and so does he , or else he hath quoted no less than three experiments in his novum lumen chirurgicum ( which i have proved to be obscurum ) which he does not understand ; and which fill that book from page 12. to the 17. but perhaps the gentleman means , the doctrin of transubstantiation and hath wittily called it transmutation , least he should strain his mouth , with such a thundering word ; but there is a great deal of difference betwixt owning transmutation in philosophy , and that which is called transubstantiation in divinity ; the former only asserting the texture of matter to be modifyed anew , when it visibly appears to be so ; and the latter when it is apparent , that it is not ; so that if any body hath reason to be ashamed he wants none , and he alone deserves to be ridiculed . pag. 57. supposing the acid matter causing this distemper to be transmuted into a chalky , alkalious substance , the distemper must never more pretend to come near that part ; this is a very good argument indeed , and truly when i looked upon the whole page together , here seemed to be a fault with an ominous index over it , viz. ashamed , laugh and ridicule , which words begin the page just before this paragraph . but to answer his supposition , we know , that the best alkalies cannot operate beyond their power , and though that substance were an alkaly , it would soon be so impregnated with acids , as to loose it's power of absorbing more ; for such alkalies no longer correct acidity , than their pores are open , and ready to receive acid particles into them , and then they can correct no more , which is plain by putting of alkalies into any acid liquor , which as soon as their pores are filled , have no further effects . but he says further ; pag. 57. and 58. nay , the blood at times , must all , or at least great part of it , pass through the part or parts , where this chalky substance is lodged , by which means , a man would think it should be sufficiently guarded from any more growing acid ; and so by consequence , when the chalky nodes are once setled , people have not the least reason for the future , to be in fear of the return of the distemper . to this , though what i said in the last paragraph is a sufficient answer , i shall add , that though the blood should sooner than he can suppose it , run through that part , yet the substance he calls alkaly , when it is once sufficiently impregnated , could cause no alteration in the acidity of it ; besides , though it had it's full force active and vigorous so much as makes up the nodes , would no more prevent the acidity of the blood , than a grain of alkaly would prevent a hogshead of drink from growing stale . moreover , so little blood could be laid down at once in those parts , that the whole mass being depraved , we must conclude , that that little blood , as soon as it was mixed with the ma●● of blood again , would be again depraved and tainted ; all these objections , i say , would occur , if we would suppose , what he says to be true , concerning the blood circulating through those parts ; but he should take notice , that the blood vessels have no communication with those nodes , they being , as it it were , matter extravasated , and out of the way of circulation ; but one hath always more trouble to confute one blockhead that three ingenuous men ( i don't mean convince one , for that is a thing not to be expected but the reason why it is so difficult to confute such a one , is , because fools make such blunders , that have neither sense nor meaning , and are so widely absurd , that one must run out of method , and order , to trace them . pag. 59. he says , it may not be amiss to take notice , that few people are troubled with the gout , but those who drink large quantities of wine or some other generous liquors , abounding with vinous spirits , so that the blood and other juices , being impregnated with the said vinous spirits , these spirits meeting with the volatile alkalious salt , of which , even the blood of sound people , is never destitute , by means of which salt the vinous spirit is coagulated , &c. what is the reason that drinking of wine is so hurtful , i shall not here explain , but shall only shew , that he is so far from explaining it that , he confutes himself , and that he is at a loss how to make even trifling explanations of it . and first i ask him , if it be caused by drinking of much wine , and that being coagulated by the alkalies in the blood , why does not those alkalies also coagulate his acids , that he would cure it by ; and how comes it to pass , that they sooner coagulate spirituous acids than more crude ones ? but this objection he did not foresee , and truly no body can blame a man to be thus bold , that 's so short sighted and inapprehensive of danger , but certainly if an alkaly in the blood would cause so spirituous an acid as wine to coagulate , it would much sooner coagulate a more crude one , and consequently his medicine must do more harm than wine ; so that here i leave him to condemn himself . a second question i ask him , is , whether it is not impossible to cure this distemper by acids , if acids cause the alkalies in the blood to coagulate , to which , the true answer is , that it is impossible ; for as long as the blood is so impregnated , according to him , all the acids we can take , must be coagulated , so that they would increase coagulations , and not cure them . but not to ask a man any more questions , who does not understand common reason , i shall prove from what he says , and also from reason , that acids cause this distemper , and first , from what he says it is plain ; for if he says upon taking of acids the alkalies coagulate them , it implies there was no coagulation in the blood before those acids were taken , now if our blood when so full of alkalies can be without coagulation , and upon the taking , of acids , it presently thickens ; it must needs follow that those acids cause this distemper , there being no coagulation before those were taken ; so that the acid coagulates the alkalizated blood , and not the alkaly the acids ; for that is said to be the cause of a distemper , or a coagulation , whose mixture with the blood produces such a distemper , and in whose absence there is no such effect , so that here he is judged by his own words . for as a man's head is not the cause of it's being cut off , till the instrument is applyed that separates it from his body ; and when water is thrown in the fire , the water is properly said to extinguish it , so acids taken into the body , cause the coagulation and not those humors that are vitiated by the mixture of it , and these instances i have given , that it may be plainer to people that understand not physick , i mean those gentlemen he so oft makes his appeal to . besides , acids being of a cold nature , and cool bodies naturally coagulating those bodies , that are subject to coagulation ; and it being the nature of alkalies to take off coagulations , and to prevent them , it would be absurd to say that they cause such effects as are quite different from their nature . and , that it is the nature of acids to coagulate , is not only plain from what he hath said , but it is also manifest , that phlegmatick constitutions are injured , and that indisposition increased by them ; whereas by alkalies , that phlegm is attenuated and made fit to be carryed off . the next page he would suppose , that the coagulations in the stone proceed from alkalious particles coagulating acids ; but it appearing from-what i have already said , that alkalies are not , and that acids are the causes of such effects ; i need not say any more to this , the same being an answer to both . i shall only here take notice of the strain and humour of our philosopher , who when he found it would be necessary for his purpose , does not only change the names of things ; but also calls those humours that are passive , active ; and on the contrary . chap. v. of rheumatisms . the next distemper that he gives us an instance of his weakness in , is , a rheumatism , where pag. 74. he says , having by the fire analized the blood of rheumatic persons , i have found it to abound more with alkalious particles than that of sound people . but as i said before , the analized blood is not sufficient to determine what blood was , before it was analized ; but if by mixing those substances together , which he draws from blood , by analizing it , they will make just such a composition , as blood ; then i will believe he takes the right method to discover the causes of distempers , but if they will not , then it is evident that the fire modifies the parts of the blood anew , and rather destroys than discovers it's principles . pag. 75 , and the 76. he would suggest , acids are not the cause of the bloods viscocity , and says those that affirm that they are , don't prove it ; and i say , neither does he prove , that acids are not ; but it appearing from what i have said the chapter before , that acids cause viscocity , there is no need i should make a repetition here . page 77. by what i have said , i hope , i have freed acids from occasioning the viscousness of the blood in rheumatisms ; which viscocity if it can be once taken of , every one knows that the distemper immediately vanishes , but this is not done by alkalies but by acids as tincture of antimony and chalybeates . what he hath said , he hopes is sufficient , but truly i don't see that he hath said any thing to the purpose , as grounds of such hopes ; but if we believe him , that rheumatick peoples blood abounds with alkalies more then healthful peoples , which is false , it does not therefore follow , that this distemper is caused by alkalies , because alkalies according to him , cannot coagulate without acids ; so that it thence follows , that as acids differ in quantity more or less , so the blood is accordingly coagulated , and then we must conclude , that the coagulation depends on the acids , and then as i said before acid medicines would increase it : but here to prove that acids cure this distemper , he calls two medicines eminently alkalious acids , by which rule he may say with as much reason , that a company of statues took barcellona from the spaniards , and if any body should contradict him and say that they were men , he must answer but they ought to be called not men but statues , as i call them , and this is just his case , to which , i having before said enough , i shall here say no more to it , but refer the reader to what hath gone before . pag. 79 , 80 , and 81. he makes an harangue , that steel is turned into a vitriol , before it can be carried into the blood , and consequently acts as an acid upon it . but granting it so , i have already shewn what would be the effects according to his supposition , viz , to encrease the distemper , but as he is not the first that hath supposed it to work upon the body by that means ; so he is not the first mistaken in that point , for chalybeats don't cause such effects , as we see they do , by being turned into a vitriol , but by absorbing those acids in the stomach and pancreatick juice ; by which means , the ferment of the liver is more powerful , and helps to correct the acidity of the chyle ; and the blood not being supplyed with acid chyle , those acidities in it's mass , are soon altered and digested to a higher degree of maturity ; by a long continued circulation and fermentation . pag. 82 , 83 , 84 , and 85. are filled up with two preparations of steel which he account acids , and a story to tells us , that cinnaber which he once thought an alkaly proves to be an acid. but it only proves so for his conveniency , for there is no reason that he gives for it , and therefore we have reason to believe that it is , what all learned men know it to be ; for it does not only correct acids in the stomach , but is of very great use almost always where the mass of blood hath a manifest viscidity . and here , before i leave this chapter i shall observe , that those acids in the stomach which he says page 80 , cannot get into the blood till vitriolized , is a mistake ; for we may take notice , that some people , if not most , that are subject to rheumatick pains and the gout , feel a manifest acidity upon their stomachs sometime before their paroxysms ; and when that acidity is carryed off , they feel the dreadful effects of it in the mass of blood. but supposing it to be turned into a vitriol , a vitriol is but a stronger acid , than that in the stomach , and consequently would do more mischief than if it were not turned into a vitriol as i have elsewhere shewn . chap. vi. of consumptions . the last distemper that this gentleman pretends to give an account of , is , consumptions ; but if he had consider'd and understood what an ingenious and learned tract dr. morton hath writ on this subject , he might have been ashamed to offer such a small parcel of nonsense . but as there is no reason in what he says , so there is as little he had in writing . page 89. he says , my reasons in short for the use of acids are as follow . the globules of the blood being broken , and confusedly mixed with the serum , by reason of so many acrid alkalious particles mixed with it , and together with the serum , admitted into the small glandules of the lungs , and not being capable of being discharged , cause inflammations there , and by consequence hectick fevors . what he means by broken globules thrown into the glands , i profess is such a peice of philosophy , that i neither see that it hath any meaning or sense in it ; for i have already shewed , that those particles of blood , which he takes notice of , swim in the serum confusedly , must be divided into an innumerable small particles before they can pass through the capillary vessels , and consequently can do no prejudice by being broken ; but suppose they were forced into vessels which they ought not ; acids by coagulating the alkaly , would rather fix them there , than remove them . nay allowing his own way of assertion , which i have before confuted , viz. that alkalies coagulate acids , it would not help him , because those alkalies in the glands could not be removed , according to his own assertion , but by acids , and what a removal would it be , when as his acid medicines were laid down in the glands , the alkaly would coagulate the acid and so fix it there , as much as the alkaly . as for what he says page 90 , and the 91 , of the use of alkalies , i don't believe any rational physician would ever give any alkalies in such a case ; so that here he might have kept this advice to himself . page the 92 , and 93 , he makes a very simple objection against his foolish assertion , and makes an answer to it agreeable to so great a peice of nonsense ; but both of them being not worth while to take notice of , i shall leave them to the consideration of those , that think they deserve any thing else , besides a sharp reprimand . page the 94 , he tells us a story that riverius cured one of a consumption by conserve of roses and oyl of sulphur by the bell , but any one may guess what a consumption it was , since the same remedy , will scarce cure an ordinary cough . from page the 94 , to the 100. he tells a long story of an old man and a pot of oyl of sulphur : but that being nothing at all to this distemper , but a story by the by , to fill up his book ; and least he should seem to say , not only , nothing to the purpose , but to little for a chapter of consumptions ; i shall take notice of it no further . page the 100 , 101 , and the 102 , he tells another story of a man , who that being bit with a viper , could not be cured by alkalies and no wonder ; for no rational man would depend upon a medicine he knew not the effects of , in such a case , but would have immediate recourse to a proper medicine . but to conclude this chapter , it will give us no little light into the strange insolence of this man , who notwithstanding such ingenious books , as the learned dr. willis , dr. morton , &c. have writ concerning consumptions ; and what the ingenious and truly honourable theod. mayern , and dr. willis have wrote of the gout , and also dr. lister , with a great many more , who have largely handled those subjects , this man can have the impudence to write , not only contrary to them , but also common experience ; and that too neither with any method or reason ; for whereas those learned men have observed a great deal of variety as to the cause and cure of those distempers , and that the cure is to be varyed according to the different tempers and constitutions of men ; he boldly and very irregularly says little or nothing to the purpose , but that , without any regard to the difference of causes , or the several peculiar constitutions of men's bodies ; but it is not strange , that one that hath so much ignorance , should have an equal share of impudence ; for vain pretending quacks and mountebanks have no other way to cheat the world , but by incredible relations of cures , that were as unlikely as false . but i shall not here enlarge on a subject so copious as his vanity and boldness makes this ; but shall go on to consider the remaining part of his book , there being matter enough and too much , for me to mispend my time upon . chap. vii . his conclusion examined . page 103 , he says , for all sort of flesh abounding with large quantities of volatile alkalious salts , if the said alkalious salts were in some measure locked up and mortified by means of the sea salt ; what then ▪ nothing at all of a conclusion , i here expected some inference or other would be drawn from it ; but his profound phansy , being lost and overwhelmed in a salt rock in cheshire , no less than twenty yards thick , he forgot himself , or rather overlooked what he was writing ; so that this page and the next is a speech , without applying it to any thing . page 105. there is some reason to believe , that people before the flood did not eat flesh , but lived altogether upon vegetables , as fruits , herbs and roots , which i suppose was one great reason of their longaevity , and it may be observed in herefordshire , and other countries abounding with fruit , the people are longer lived then in those countries that want them . this truly is a sign the man's thoughts have run a little further then his wit , and then his shallow head is capable to go with any steadiness ; and truly by the incoherent style of his book , one would guess , he was no little way out of his depth ; but i suppose this noble addition to dr. burnet's theory was no otherwise designed , but that people might know he had heard of such a book ; whose arguments , he says , are to him unanswerable ; but why so ? because they are too noble and curious for him to understand , and much more to answer ; but however ingeniously that book is writ ( which truly i think , for the nobleness of the thought , the elegancy of his florid style , and the command which he seems to have of his thoughts , and expressions , with the greatest ease , and without straining , for them , makes it one of the most valuable books our english language is adorned with ) yet it 's not exempt from that fate , which all books on that subject have hitherto had ; and it is only a sign of mr. colbatch his shallowness , and not of the reality of what 's contained there , that makes the arguments unanswerable to him , though this must needs be said of them ; that though they are not really true , yet they are delivered in such a method , that they would insensibly wind one into a favourable thought of 'em , if one were not sufficiently armed with judgment and reflection ; but so ingenious and so learned a man , as dr. burnet is , being too good company for such ignorance as he is eminent in ; i shall not mix their names together any further , least the lustre of dr. burnet's name should so dazle peoples weak eyes , as not to perceive the obscurity of the others , and shall only consider the latter separately ; that the light , which might be borrowed from the former , may not increase the faint obscureness of his ; but that he may appear in his proper colours . and how absurd and ridiculous it is ; for to assert that eating fruit preserves peoples lives , and is the cause of longaevity ; whereas the generality of our english people , as well as physicians , are certain , that fruit causes more distempers in children ; than any one thing amongst non-naturals besides . from page 107 , to page 112. he tells a long story of a child that was cured of a tympany by being bathed in sea water , but what is that to his credit ? or what does this signifie to the use of acids in the small-pox , scurvey , gout , rheumatisms and consumptions ? the common people certainly would laugh at him should they hear him affirm , that they all proceed from the same cause ; he might as well expect fire to cool , heat , moysten and to dry the same body : but as for that case of the childs , had he had the luck to have advised , that girl to bath in sea-water , it would have been something for him to have talk't of , but as it is , an old woman would have told a story that she had heard from another , as well if not better than he hath done , and now should he cure one by that same means , it would be no credit for him , since he would do no more , than what had been done in hereford-shire . page 112 , he tells us what helmont hath found by experience in the strangury , viz. to cure it by cool diureticks , and what discovery is this pray , any rational physician would have given either that , or a medicine much better in the same case , but helmont's observations are none of his ; and he hath no share in the small credit of it . page 113 , he says , an eminent man took off heart of urine by juice of oranges ; and what then , do not other physicians give cold diureticks upon the like occasion , neither do they value themselves upon such things at all , as are common and every where practised , but this it seems induced him to try tincture of antimony in the like case ; which since i have already shewed to be an alkaly , and that he only calls it an acid to serve his turn , i need not enlarge any more now . but the reason why he thinks it acid , i believe , in this case , may be , because he observed that acids cured this distemper , and could give no other reason why tincture of antimony should , except it were an acid , and therefore concluded it was not an alkaly ; but to help him over that difficulty , i shall tell him , that whether that acrimony , which causes heat of urin , be corrected by acids , or dispersed and carry'd off by sweat upon the use of alkalies , it is all one , and since a decoction of diaphoretick wood will cure that acrimony as well as diaphoretick antimony , there is the same reason to be given for both , and as acids correct the humour , and alter it , by dulling and taking off the edges of it ; so antimony carrys it off by sweat , and the acrimony by being so diverted , the symptom ceases . page 125 , he says , i have only brought my doctrin of acids upon the stage as a general one in opposition to the general and pernicious doctrin of alkalies . a very fine man truly , and much to be admired ! he asserts only for the sake of contradiction , and really in this point he speaks truth ; for with what other design would he change the very names of things , but to seem to differ from others , in trivial matters ; for the names of things are so indifferent , that it matters not what they are called , so they have but a name to distinguish them , and when he says tincture of antimony will take off such a heat of urin , whether the name of it be alkaly or acid , it matters not , if it were generally , as well as all other things of the same nature , known by that name , but when the names of things are given them , and generally received , it is absurd to alter them without reason . from page 116 , to 132 , he heaps up a parcel of incoherent stories , of specifick medicines ; but to what end , except to fill up his book , i cannot imagin ; for he neither gives reason for them , neither can they any ways confirm the truth of any thing he hath asserted ; but , if to tell a parcel of tales is sufficient to make a man an author , old women are fitter to write books , then he , being stocked with a greater variety of storys . as for what he hath said of the cortex peruvianus , i shall take another opportunity to give my thoughts of it , when i have time to propose something concerning the reason of agues , and to examin what his worthy friend hath said on this subject . but to apologize for telling us all these stories , he furnishes us with many more ; which may indeed be grounds for an excuse for him ; if we would change that old maxim ( which is all relating to the aristotelian philosophy , which he understands , ) nihil dat quod in se non habet ; in english what can one expect more in a calves head than brains , or as the proverb usually runs , what can one expect more of a cat than her skin . page 136 , he says , that acton , epsom , dullage or northall waters , &c. are allowed to be acids , and according to the difference of the acid contained in them , they have different operations , but i must ask him , by whom they are allowed to be so ? by no body that i know of ; for dr. grew hath extracted that salt and it appears to be so far from an acid , that it is evidently in taste a bitter pene trating salt , and i never heard that a bitter salt could be allowed to be an acid , except gall differed not in taste from sevil-oranges . an examination of mr. john colbatch his appendix to his essay . wherein his absurdities and false opinions in physick , are truly represented , and fully confuted . london , printed in the year 1699. an examination of mr. john colbatch his appendix to his essay , &c. thus far i have shewed the absurdities of what this man delivers , and what little reason he hath , to be so insolent , and saucy with his superiors , infinitely so in knowledge and learning , as well as fortune : but it is but common for fools to think themselves wise men ; whereas wise men are more subject to suspect themselves ; and not to appear , especially in print , with that impudence , which is the only support of ignorance . i shall now proceed to examin his appendix to this essay , and all that i shall take notice of in his preface to this , is , that he says , i don't at all pretend to arrive at so much certainty , as by the methods i take , to make people immortal , and that no body shall die . here methinks he begins to be sensible of his weakness , and is conscious , that he wants to make an apology for the frequent departures of his patients ; which guess of mine is confirmed by the large strain of divinity that follows it . but to proceed ; the pretence of this appendix , is , to explain and make his terms alkaly and acid more intelligible , and to answer some objections made against his essay : as for the terms , they have been explained sufficiently already , every body knowing what is meant by alkaly , and what by acids , and what medicines are ranked under each ; though some ignorant men have misused those words : but , without doubt , to serve a particular turn , we must expect from him , a particular explanation . but before he goes about his explanation , page the 3 , he says , i have not published the doctrin of acids and alkalies , out of any design of appearing singular , or of being the head of a faction , but out of mere pity and compassion to mankind , my fellow creatures , whose deplorable circumstances under mistaken methods , i have long bewailed , to see physick made the scene of slaughter , &c. but if he does not write out of a design of being singular , there is no such thing as being singular ; for does he not cure some distempers by medicines that have been all along used in rheumatisms , and the scurvey ; and only varies from others by a foolish method , and boast of a new one , and only , because he hath changed the names of those medicines : but this is done out of compassion to his fellow creatures ; pray , where sies the compassion ? might not steel and antimony do as much good , when called alkalies as when called acids ? does changing names alter the vertue ? or increase the value of a thing ? is not a dog as valuable or contemptible equally , whether it be called a dog or a horse ? but he said a little before he hath advanced this general method , in opposition to alkalies ; but i 'll assure him he hath not ; for though in the small-pox he hath altered dr. sydenhams practice absurdly enough ; yet in the scurvey , rheumatism , &c. he hath only altered the names of some medicines : and come short of others by the help of his ignorance , and yet bewails physick to see it a scene of slaughter ; but if it was , it would be so still ; will steel or antimony cure a distemper , nay and the same distemper , better for being called an acid , than if it were an alkaly ? and how can this man with such boldness , reproach reason and experience , and tell the world , that they are sent to their graves , by that which he in some cases follows as well as he can , like a man that hath lost his way by running into the dark , and only masks it , with a new name . page the 4 , and 5 , he begins to explain the term alkaly , and says ; it derives it's name from the herb kaly , from the ashes of which is extracted a large quantity of salt , and the ashes of most herbs affording a salt of the same nature with those of the herb kaly are equivocally called alkalies , and all other things of the same nature , as crabs-eyes , oyster-shells . now what he here says being granted , it is plain , that those medicines , that he alters the names of , and calls acids , are properly by this rule of his own , to be called alkalies ; they being of the nature of crabs-eyes , oyster-shells ; and that they are of the nature of crabs-eyes is very evident , because as crabs-eyes cure acidity in the stomach , so do they , only more powerfully , and also acidities in the blood ; so that he here undermines himself , and contradicts his own judgment , but it is a good while since he wrote the last , and his treacherous memory , as he calls it , is to be blamed ; but yet one would think that the same that is truth now , would have been so then , when he thought of the same matter . page the 6 , he supposes acid to be derived from the arabian word acaid , which signifies acetum . upon my word a mighty profound schollar ! he understands no less than a whole word of arabick , and it 's a wonder he did not write his whole book in it ; but lest he should be too proud of himself , and value himself too much upon this mighty piece of scholarship ; i shall do him a kindness , as to keep his stomach from rising , and tell him ; that vinegar or acetum is not acid , but acrid , and had he understood one word of latin , along with his arabian word , he would have found that vinegar takes it's name from vinum acre , or sharp wine , and that acrimony is derived from acre ; so that he is mistaken if he calls those things that are like vinegar , acid ; for they are acrid ▪ and , as for fruits and the natural juices of plants , there are but very few acid ones , like acrid except that sweet be like bitter . page 7. all metaline sulphurs are to be ranged amongst the number of acids . but if we compare the effects of sulphur , with the effects of acids , there is so little reason to call sulphur acid , that acid is as like alkaly ; as sulphur , is like acid , the effects being quite contrary ; for whereas acid cools and abates the heat of the blood , sulphur exalts and encreases it ; so that sulphur is a body of as distinct a nature from acid , as bitter and sowre . but to what purpose would it be to reason with a man , who calls oyls and balsoms and bread acids ; since any body that can taste , will tell , that balsam hath a different taste from juice of lemmons . and one might as well say , iron is wood , because one may make a chair of it , as that bread is acid ; because an acid spirit be made of part of the substance of it . page the 10th . in order to a well performance of i know not what , he begins to compare sal kaly , as he calls it , with vinegar , and here page 11 and 12 , he takes care to mention a mischievous sort of alkaly , to represent the whole class of alkalies , which is never at all used in physick ; and takes no notice of all those alkalies , as steel , antimony , cinnaber , &c. with many more , which are the best and most valuable medicines supplyed by nature or art , for their universal success in physick ; and then he says , alkalies by breaking the globules of the blood , cause scurvey , rheumatisms , gout , &c. whereas , before in his essay , he told us , that the coagulations of the blood in these distempers proceeded from alkalies coagulating those acids , which were taken into the blood ? but contradictions , forgetfulness , and mistakes are so natural to him , that he must not be blamed poor man ! that this is a mistake of the first magnitude is as plain , as that coagulation and dissolution , two opposites , can make it . having thus represented alkalies from page the 12 , to page 17 , he takes all the care he can , to represent acids with all possible advantage , by vinegar , of which he takes care to say all the good he can , but not a word of the mischief it does , to scorbuticks , phthisicks , and sore throats , &c. so that if we reckon up but what mischief vinegar might do , if it were made ill use of , they would out-ballance all the good , and more than the ill effects of alkalies do their good ones . but now he hath made his comparison betwixt alkaly , and acid , i might take the same liberty , and compare the best of alkalies with the worst of acids ; which would represent his acids worse than he can do alkalies ; but we are not to judge of any thing , by the ill use that may be made of it , but by the good effects ; and every thing is valuable for the good which it does , though in different cases ; and by the same method he takes to perswade people from using alkalies , we might perswade people from the use of fire ; for it will burn and cause ill effects , worse than the sal kaly ; yet if moderately , is almost of universal use : so that though sal kaly should have such effects , there are a great many alkalies ; as steel , crabs-eyes , &c. which do as much good. but by the method he takes , christians would be represented worse than heathens , for if he should compare seneca with a christian who is a thief , a murderer , and the worst of men ; how odiously must christians be , if all were to be judged , by that one ; but what ill will not a man do to carry on a bad design ? from page the 17 , to the 21 , he reckons up all the ill effects he can of arsnick , as an alkaly , but what poysonons design he hath in it , he best knows ; for this can signifie nothing to the crying down of alkalies , though it were alkaly , since none are so wicked , as to give , such without a design to poyson people . but since he thinks it a way to cry down alkaly , by shewing that arsnick is an alkaly i shall hear only two witnesses against him , who writ long before his simple books were writ , to prove that it is a dangerous , and a pernicious acid. and first the ingenious sir john floyer , in the first of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , page 27. says , arsenick is like common sulphur , and is compounded like it of an oyly part ( which in arsnick is more peircing ) and an acid. and again page 231 , of the second part. arsnick is corrosive by a particular texture of sulphureous particles and acids . and secondly , the famous ettmuller in his schroderi dilucidati mineralogia says , arsenicum quod reverà est minerale volatile & sublimatione exaltatum . recte vocatur arsenicum ab authore , fuligo quaedam mineralis pinguis & inflammabilis . nam reverà est sulphur summe volatile , & propter volatilitatem , valde corrosivum & valde venenosum . arsnic , which is really a volatile mineral sulphur , and exalted by sublimation . arsnic is truly called by the author , a kind of mineral soot , fat and inflamable ; for it is really a most volatile sulphur , and by it's volatility very corrosive and a strong poyson . now by the former of these authors it is asserted to be an oyly acid , and by the latter , who was a profound judicious man , it is affirmed for the most part to be a mineral sulphur ; from which two , according to page the 7. of his own appendix , it is proved to be an acid ; because he there classes all balsams and sulphurs amongst acids ; so that all the prejudice that a sublimed acid can do , may be done by mr. john colbatch his acid. from page the 21 , to the 25. he reckons up all the good effects of oyl of vitriol ; but mentions not the mischief , that might be done with it , which is a great deal more , for it corrodes and eats away the flesh , causes an intolerable heat . page the 28 , he says as for balsams if i should take upon me to describe their excellencies , it would be fitter for a volum than an appendix ; but if he had cast out a great deal of his stuff , that he hath put in , and which was brought in by the head and shoulders , and hath no relation to his discourse , only to fill it up , he might have had room enough for balsams , which makes me believe he had very little towards a great volum . from page the 39 , to 71. he lays down several objections , to shew , that he cannot answer them ; and that it may appear , he hath not done it , i shall take notice of them in that order , he has laid them . the first objection is how comes it to pass those people that live upon nothing almost but highly salted meat , are more troubled with the scurvey . to this he answers , that it is not because they eat more salt , but because they eat more flesh than other people , which abounds with alkalious particles , and as for the sea salt is most carried off by urin. but to this i answer , that if it were not the acid sea salt , then fresh beef would sooner create the scurvey than salt ; because according to him , it being alkalious altogether , and not being tempered with the sea salt , it would increase the alkalies of the blood i think more ; but , for my part , i am sure beef is nothing like an alkaly , ( for as much as i , and all the world besides , can discern , ) it abounding with a sweet balsamick juice , the mass of blood ; but that mass of blood abounds with alkaly , he 'll say ; but then he must remember what he said the seventh page of his appendix , viz. that all oleaginous balsamicks are to be reckoned amongst acids , and then it will follow that the taste of the blood being sweet and balsamic , it must be reckoned amongst acids , so that our quick-sighted reformer of physick , hath once more contradicted himself . but suppose beef to be alkaly , it will be no more for his purpose , because page 59 , of his essay he says , that a mixture of acids with alkaly causes a coagulation ; so that acid and alkaly thus carried into the blood together must thicken the blood ; but then , that this distemper may by all means proceed from alkaly , he will suppose the accid to run off by urin ; stil he is never the better ; for in that same page of his essay , it appears , that as long as the alkaly is not mixed with acid , there is no coagulation , till it is impregnated by drinking wine ; from whence it appears , that if the acid were so carryed off , there would be no such coagulation in scrobutic serum . having shewn how he contradicts himself backwards and forwards , in answer to this first objection , i shall pass to the second ; the second objection is , how it comes to pass , that when the stomach abounds with acids , the blood does not . he answers , the meat we eat being dissolved by a spirituous acid juice , it is turned into a substance for the nutrition of our bodies , and that this , in people that live a sedentary life , lying too long in the stomach , is turned acid : but this is no answer to the question ; it only tells us , how the stomach becomes full of acids ; but how comes it to pass then , that when the stomach is emptyed of this acid stuff ; part of it is not squeezed through the lacteals into the blood ? truly he can give no reason for it ; so that the blood must needs , according to the course and tendency of chyle , be tainted with that acidity . the third objection is , that this acid being kept from going into the blood would , according to him , prevent distempers . he answers , that people who are troubled with acidity in their stomach , make great quantities of water , are very lean and costive , which he will prove to be , because acids are not carried into the blood. and first when we make water , much , the attenuated chyle runs off by vessels , which carry it from the stomach to the kidneys through the omentum , which prevents it from going into the blood. and from page 39 , to the 40 , he would suggest , that there are such vessels for it to pass off by . secondly , the reason why people are so lean , is , because the acid chyle so diluted is carried off , and the oyly particles of the blood want acid to thicken them , and to turn them into fat. thirdly , the reason why they are costive , is , because , so much moisture turning off by urin the excrements are hardned , and the guts want moisture to lubricate them . to this objection he gives no direct answer , no not so much as a false one ; for what he offers for an answer , is so far from being one , that it has not the least relation to the objection , as he explains it ; for the objection relates to distempers in the blood ; whereas , as he explains those three phaenomena , they are not distempers of the blood ; for he makes acidity in the stomach , the cause of too much urin , and of costiveness ; and as for leanness , the more oyly and sulphureous the blood is , the fatter is the body ; and according to him , in the beginning of this appendix , page the 7th , the more acid it is , and consequently cannot find any inconveniency by his new reason of making too much water ; for though the acids run off by urin and never come into the blood , yet since the blood abounds with fat particles , accoding to him it would not want acids . but as i have often taken notice of him already , so i may still , that contradictions and incoherency are natural to him , and we may expect nothing else from him ; but i shall not only shew , how that his answer is not direct to the objection ; but that he explains those symptoms he mentions very falsely . and first the reason , why people who have acidity on their stomachs , make much water , cannot be , because , the acid chyle is carried off , by such passages , as he supposes , because there are no such passages , to be discovered ; for not all the anatomists , nor glasses , could ever as yet discern the least foot-steps of them ; and if there were such vessels , as he supposes , to convey so much urin into the bladder ; they must be of a considerable size ; but should we suppose such vessels , i am affraid he would scarce explain how acid chyle comes to be lixivious , and to have an urinous taste barely by running through a short vessel ; for urin and chyle are bodies so distinct from one another , that such a conveyance would scarce turn the acid chyle into urin , but that people whose stomachs abound with acids , make much urin , shews that this acid is really carryed into the blood ; for the chyle being tainted and impregnated with this acidity , as soon as it comes into the blood , the acidity presently precipitates the watry part of the serum , which is the reason , they make so much limpid clear water . secondly , as for his reason , why such people are lean , this is as unlikely as the former ; for how can we think that chyle is carried off , since such peoples urin is as clear as water , whereas , if what he says were true , it must be as thick as milk ; but this he hath borrowed from dr. willis his reason of a diabetes , only he lept upon it , and forgot where he found it ; and also what use to make of it ; but perhaps i wrong him , it may be he 'll say he did not read dr. willis ; should he give me that answer , i could almost believe him , and then i should think , that some body had told him the reason of a diabetes , and that upon such a deep hint as that , he framed this wonderful hypothetical nonsence . that such peoples blood does not want acids , i have already shewed , and that what he says is false , were he to be judged by this 7th , page of his own book , but justice hath not always thought fit , that a man 's own confession should be evidence against him , except at his tryal ; and therefore i shall shew him that leanness does not follow for want of that acid ; but is caused by the blood being too much impregnated with it ; for the fat of an animal is not a concrete of oyl , and such a crude acid , as that which abounds in distempered peoples stomachs , is the common observation , and suffrage of learned men ; but from a more nitrous and spirituous one ; for that acid is so far from being a part of fat , that nothing more powerfully checks the preter-natural fermentation of the blood , than acids ; and the more the blood abounds with acids , the more it's sulphur is depressed , and consequently cannot yield oyly parts , for an ingredient of fat ; since it scarce supplies nature with sufficient refreshment . besides , this acid , which he supposes would cause the chyle to run off by urin , through some private ducts , would have the same effects in the blood , and by that means cause a continual diabetes , by forcing away the nutritious juice along with it . but thirdly , the reason he gives , why such people are costive , is also false ; for , the intestines don't so much want moisture , as something to raise the peristaltick motion sufficiently , and by irritating their nervous coat to put the musculous parts into a stronger nixus ; for when acids too much abound , the ferment that is laid down by the ductus colidocus , is always too small in quantity , or else too mild in quality , and the reason why they are costive is , because they have too little choler , and that too , is temper'd and depressed by the preter-natural acidity of the stomach , and pancreatic juice , so that the intestins want their natural stimulus . the next objection he pretends to answer is , why , if acids cause such a dissolution of the chyle , steel does not also make it run off by urin. the answer he gives to this , is , that iron cannot be conveyed into the blood , before it be turned into a vitriol . but to this , i answer , that the attenuation of the chyle , he supposed just before , was in the stomach , and that it was conveighed through vessels from thence to the kidneys ; but here he hath forgot , what he had before said : and like one that had neither memory nor knowledge , but always talked , like a parrot , what was next his tongue , and what was immediately in the view of his fancy , without considering what it was ; but supposing steel to be an acid , i don't then see what difference there is betwixt the effects it would have to his advantage , though altered , as he says , in the stomach ; for vitriol is an acid and a very strong one ; so that if steel would have such ill effects , if acid , he , instead of answering the objection , and removing the difficulty , makes it stronger against himself ; for by being turned into a vitriol it would be a stronger acid , and consequently do more mischief by being so changed ; but i have before shewn , that he is mistaken ; for steel is not an acid but an alkaly , and the good effects it hath are by absorbing the acidities of the pancreatick juice . and now having gone through his appendix thus far , and shewed the inconsistency of this part of his book , with what had gone before ; and also , how he is incoherent and mistaken throughout the whole , i come next to examin two or three cases which he brings to close up his book ; as to the truth of the cures we have reason to suspect him ; being already assured , that he will tell the world he cures , tho' those same persons dyed ; which we have sufficient instances of in his novum lumen chirurgicum : but as to that point , one that will tell lyes , may say what he will , yet people know how to trust him ; and therefore , i shall examin the nature of those medicines , and shew , that he is mistaken , and that those he cured , he did not know how , for he says he cured them with acids ; but the nature of those medicines is so far from acidity , that they are quite opposite , and appear to be what he so much rails at , viz. alkalies ; or other medicines , which are generally used to destroy acids . the medicines mentioned in the first case are , cinnaber of antimony , gum gujaci . bad. bardan . sem. bardan . fraxin . bacc. junip . sassafras . tartar. vitriolat . as for the first , viz. cinnaber it is by all the learned ▪ world and the most eminent writers found to be of use , where the blood and serum have a manifest viscidity ; and it is by experience found to take off such viscidity , which is caused by acids ; but this learned loger-head hath the confidence to think , that the world will be imposed upon , and believe him before men of sense and learning , who could have no prejudice to him , nor did not do it to oppose him , they having given the world an account of what it was , before he was old enough to understand them , or knew what it was to go to school . and as for the rest , they so far differ from acids , that they manifestly taste oyly , sweet , and are odoriferous ; and since i write this for those that do not understand , whether he writes lies or truth , i shall tell them , the english names of those medicines , and then let them taste sevil-oranges , and see , whether juniper berries , burdock and ash seeds or sassafras , which almost tastes like mace , be of the same taste with those oranges ; the same method they may take with all the medicines he uses ; and if they find juniper berries , &c. taste like oranges , then mr. john colbatch is in the right , otherwise they know he is mistaken . but the last medicine he mentions is tartar. vitriolat . but there is so little in that medicin of it , and the effects of it will be so small , that it is not much matter whether it be alkaly or acid. in his third case , for convulsions he gives vitriolated tartar. crem . tartar. and costor ag. paeon . rorismarin . and puleg . all of which are known to be absorbers of acids , and correcters of them , except the two first ; for they manifestly abound with a volatile and spirituous oyl ; and if the two former were acids , yet the latter being of a quite contrary nature , and more in quantity , all that can be said of this medicine is , that it neither did good nor harm , the one part of it answering the other , and obstructing the force of it , and it was all one , as if one should mix hot and cold water together to cool ones thirst , and if that patient recovered , it was not to be ascribed to the vertue of his medicine , but the mildness of the cause of that distemper ; which would have gone off as soon without it . the remaining pages of this book are filled up with a catalogue of distempers sent to him by dr. jones ( who , because colbatch hath imposed upon some part of the kingdom , would needs be seen in so meritorious a cause ; but what will not some men do , when they value a private design before truth and honesty , ) and an account of the use of beverage at sea ; but this being not at all to the purpose , but to fill up his book . i shall only further take notice , that pag. the 86th . he says , he could never hear , that the peruvian bark cured one consumption , neither from apothecarys nor phisicians , but i can tell him , that i knew more than one cured of a very violent hectick fever , only by the use of that bark , and balsamick syrup in which it was given , and a composition of laudanum pil. de styrace , with safron ; which the learned dr. morton hath in this phythiologia . having hitherto travailed through clouds , ignorance and absurdities , through contradictions , mistakes and forgetfulness , through an indigested mass and a confused congeries of incoherent rubbish ; which , though it is nauseous , yet i shall not think a little time ill spent , to undeceive the world , from such a vain pretending impostor ; that knows nothing but nonsense , and who , and whose sole support , is impudence and boldness . all that i have now to do is to examin his treatise of the gout , and to shew what absurdities and mistakes he is guilty of there , and the ill consequences of his erroneous practice . an examination of mr. john colbatch his treatise of the gout . wherein his absurdities and false opinions in physick are truly represented , and fully confuted ; as also , it is made evident , that the experiment he there alledges , in vindication of his hypothesis , is strong proof against himself . and lastly , that his practice is very dangerous ( though his ill grounded and erroneous hypothesis were allowed . ) london , printed in the year 1699. an examination of mr. john colbatch his treatise of the gout &c. chap. i. in which are contained remarks on his dedication and preface with an application to dr. cole . the next and last part of this nauseous task , that i have undertaken , is , to examin and lay open the mistakes of his book , concerning the gout ; but before i set about that , there are two things which lie in my way , and which i must take notice of , viz. a dedication and a preface . the first thing i shall take a view of , is , his dedication where he begins and says ; my love to truth and the good and welfare of mankind , have ingaged me in publishing of the following piece . but however specious this pretence is , it appears , that it is not for the good nor welfare of mankind ; but on the contrary , will tend to their great destruction and the ruin of their constitutions ; since it will easily appear , that it is made up of the same materials that the rest of his books are , viz. notorious mistakes and blunders , and such plain ones too , that one can scarce think , but that he was either conscious of them or very ignorant ; but as i would not have him thought to be quite so ignorant ; so i rather think , that he was conscious of the falsness of what he asserted , and only did it with a design to get a reputation amongst the injudicious , which he designed to impose upon ; how much soever he exposed himself , to the ridicule and contempt of the judicious and learned , by his weak and inconsistent falsities . and truly , thus far he is in the right , it wants a much better champion ( tho' he 's pleased to call himself a champion ) to assert and defend a false cause against so many potent adversaries , who have truth on their side ; for were he in the right , all that could be said of his book is , that he is dully and foolishly in the right ; but since it will presently appear , that he is so much mistaken ; he is much less to be valued , for daring and endeavouring to impose on the world. but the remaining part of his dedication , being most of it a compliment to dr. cole , which were it true would but sorrily recommend dr. cole to the learned world : i shall make remarks on what follows , and then make my apology to dr. cole , for presuming to shew the absurdities of a book , which the author tells the world , tho' i believe falsly , is agreeable with his practice ; the compliment bestowed on dr. cole , is , i presume to prefix your name before it , knowing , that if you but please to espouse it , my business is done and the conquest gained : but i dare venture to say , that though dr. cole should espouse his cause , which i believe he will not , the victory would not be gained ; since the cause hath neither truth nor reason on it's side , and here i shall , for some reasons , make a short apology to dr , cole . an apology to dr. cole . learned sir , it is now almost a year and half ago , since i was brought into your company by a very ingenious and experienc'd chirurgeon , mr. geeke , living in salisbury-court : and sir , that civility you were pleased to shew me , and the freedom you took in conversation with me , who was both a stranger , and so much inferior to your self , both in learning and judgment , as well as reputation , gave me reason to entertain such thoughts of you , as , i believe , one of your years and character might deserve : and truly i had such an opinion of you , that i could not then imagin , that you would ever be concerned in patronizing of a book , that is not only false and absurd , but weak and inconsistent , and not only so , but rudely contradictory to all learned men , whose private designs do not byass their sentiments ; and what is more , without any shew of reason , or appearance of truth . and i could rather have believed that you would not be concerned , in such a cause , for this reason ; because it is below any man of sense or learning , to appear at the head of such a cause , which is against both . and i fain would have such thoughts of you still , and conclude , that you only did it to satisfy the importunities of one , that had been formerly your apothecary in worcester . this sir , is the interpretation i would willingly put upon it , in favour of your reputation , which must needs be lessened otherwise , especially amongst the learned , by patronizing any thing which directly and manifestly is repugnant to learned men and truth ; since the common interest of the former , so far as it is consistent with the latter , should incline you rather to defend both , than patronize their opponents , viz. ignorance and falsity ; upon any consideration whatever . this , i say , is the interpretation i should put upon it ( though if it were so , it would not be blameless to oppose truth and learned men , to serve a friend or your self ) were there not something in that dedication , so plain and evident , as to suggest some other reason for your patronage . for mr. colbatch says , the doctrin advanced in his book , is not new to you , it being what you long ago practised , even before he knew you , how he came to know what your practice was before he knew you , looks to me like contradiction , and i am inclined to believe he strained to say so much beyond truth , only that your name might the better recommend his book ; so that it seems , if your name will serve him by adding authority to his book , he 'll tell an untruth to serve you ; so that i am apt yet in favour of your reputation , to understand , that you have permitted him to say , it is your practice , to recommend it to the world , that his applause of you might go the farther . and the truth is this , either your practice agrees with what he says , or you can make no good excuse for permitting him to say so . and truly sir , if what he says be not true , you 'd do your self justice to tell the world , in vindication of your judgment and practice , that he hath imposed upon you ; but if you allow what he hath said , i am sorry the absurdities and falsness of his book obliges me to lay open the groundless and unreasonable assertions there laid down ; because they are , tho' falsely said to be , so agreeable with your practice . but in this particular , i must beg your pardon , for as i shall never write for the sake of writing , but truth ; so i shall always endeavour to detect falsities , and vindicate the latter ; and though i shall ever have all that respect for you , and all learned men , that i think due to learning and qualities , so i must ever shew as little respect to those , that make it their business to run down learning , learned men , and truth , and without reason , tho' not some base and private end , for tho' i have learning or knowledg little enough , to make me so zealous in their defence , yet i shall ever think it worth my while to defend that , which i am willing to spend my time in the search of . and were i in your case , i should never condescend so far , as for interest , to patronize that , which i could give no reason for . but , sir , the simplicity and falsness of his other books , i have already shewn , and when i have laid open this , i hope the world will see the shallowness of mr. colbatch , and the falsness of what he says , so plainly , that it will be no longer misled by him , in a matter that relates to the future ruin of their constitutions . and sir , it , at the best , will be but little credit to profess your self of the same opinion with mr. colbatch , an apothecary , and much less is it honourable , to joyn in a cause with such a one , that hath neither knowledg nor learning , but arrogancy and boldness to support his ignorance ; and to forsake the cause of truth and learning to make a party with such . for all the cry and noise he can make of you , will tend less to your honour , than your reputation amongst learned men ; tho' it may help to captivate those who are easily deceived . but sir , as i had formerly a great opinion of your merit ; so i would fain perswade my self still , that you only permit him to say , what he does , in compliance with his too earnest requests , than any opinion you have of the truth of what he says , and therefore when i have run over his preface without any other apologies , i shall proceed to detect his errors , and shew the falsness of what he there asserts , without entituling you to so weak and open errors ; and profess my self as ever , your very humble servant r. boulton . the next thing that comes in view after his dedication is his preface ; where page the 11th he says , the history of the blood is to be fetched out of the fire , there being not one page in it , that does not cost me near a days labour and attendance at home in my laboratory . that he fetches it out of the fire , i am afraid is ominous ; and that it will scarce be fit for any thing else , but to return to that element ; for there is so little analogy betwixt chymical preparations , and the parts of a mans body , that he 'll discover little to the purpose there , to make the use of them more intelligible ; and sorry i am , he takes so much pains to no purpose . page the 12 he says , the following piece is a composition of observations and speculations at coffee-houses , and such places . a very fit place for such compositions ; for any thing may serve for a news-house , for want of better ; but it would have been better for him , to have considered it at home in his study ; for i am afraid he drank his coffee so hot , that he was scarce qualified for what my lord bacon says , viz. that a cool head is fittest for consideration . but how came he to take observations of the gout in coffee-houses ? those i thought had been only to be made with his patients ; but perhaps he had as many patients there , of that distemper , as any where else ; and consequently it might be as fit a place to make observations in . but why not rather in his study ? i warrant he had taken notice , that the ingenious sir richard blackmore had writ his heroic poems in coffee-houses , and such like places ; and because he thought it sounded well to say so , he must needs be a wit too ; nay in time he may do well ; but i would have him think of the old saying , nosce teipsum ; for if he were sensible of his own weakness , it would be better for him to take a private thought at it , if he knows how to think . in the same page , he says , the expence of his experiments is so chargable , that it would be fitter to be carryed on at the expence of the nation . nay , and he states the charge too , a thousand pound a year would not be felt by the nation : o! what a mighty projector ? he has a thought as extensive as the nation ; 't is a wonder he is not sent for to court , he 'd put them upon ways and means with a witness , if not to raise money , yet to lay it out . but o! vanity of vanities , verily every thing in mr. john colbatch is vanity ; no less than a thousand a year must be spent upon experiments , made by a man , who hath neither discretion nor judgment to make them , nor philosophy to direct him how to make , and how to apply , them ; truly it is a wonder , and a great one too , that the nation does not take notice of him ; for he would be a mighty jest were he known to the bottom . pag. xvth . he says , we do now grope most miserably in the dark , and it grieves me to the very soul , when i see people in distress , and know not how to help them . poor soul ! but i hope he hath a cordial , and a most noble acid by him , to take a lick of now and then , or else he might pine away ; for he looks very thin ; and what must then become of all those angelic faces , that brought such a mighty qualm over his stomach , in the small-pox ; ah! beauty and distress are two great causes of his grief ; but i believe money is the root of all the evil. really , if turning his books would do good , poor man ! though he does not understand them , he 'd never cease to do it ; but it hath proved in vain , and now he confesses himself ignorant ; and truly , i think not without reason , for through all his books , i have yet examined , he hath groped so miserably in the dark , that i had sometimes much ado to find where he was , or what cloud he was lost in , he was so far from truth , and the light which ought to be in his expressions ; but ( god be thanked ) he 's come to moon-shine at the last ; but his misfortune is , that glimmering light has led him into a wilderness , where he is no better then in the dark , having lost his way in experiments , that he misapplies and makes bad use of , because he does not understand them . but why must it be , we grope in the dark ? is mr. john colbatch more then one , or does he speak for his companions ? as for rational physicians , they are not so miserably in the dark , but that they have reason for what they do , and know what to do , tho' distempers are sometimes so violent , as not to yeild to proper medicines . but well may apothecaries grope in the dark , when they pretend to things they don't understand , since even in the light they mistake their way most miserably . pag. xvi . he says , he hath grounded his hypothesis upon plain experiments , and he expects an answer should be backed with experiments . and so far i shall satisfy his curiosity by and by . pag. xvi . he says , he remembers he said in his essay of alkalies , he had not had many patients , and really the number has not been much increased yet ; what little reason then hath he to write upon a subject ; where , were what he says true , as to his pretensions in the cure of distempers , general rules are not to be made by a particular constitution ; but since what he says is false , he had much less reason to be so bold ; and it is but a sorry recommendation to his book , that he grounded it upon such small reason . pag. xvii . if people are once satisfy'd , that the bloods abounding with alkalious particles is the cause of the gout and other distempers , it necessarily follows , that acids are only proper to correct the said alkaline particles . and further , pag. xviii . he says , i do assert , that the cause of the gout is not the bloods abounding with acids but alkalies . but in opposition to this assertion , i say , i assert , that it is not from alkalies , but acids ; and this i shall prove , from what he hath said of the gout in his book of alkaly and acids ; and because he desires that arguments against this book , should be backed with experiments , i shall bring as substantial experiments against his hypothesis , as he hath for it , to wit , the same , and shall shew , that he hath so overlooked these experiments , and understands them so little , that he hath drawn false conclusions from them , and this i shall do , when i come to his book in its proper place . page xix . he asks , if acids abound in the blood , how comes a dead body to stink so soon ; every body knows that acids preserve animal substances from stinking and corruption . but this relating to the cause of the gout , i should answer it when i come to that cause , which he hath laid down in his book . but for once i shall answer this question , where it is asked ; for that a dead body stinks so soon , only shews , that a body in a natural state abounds with alkalies ; for a body that is killed by some sudden accident will stink , as soon as one that dyes by a distemper ; so that this proves nothing at all in relation to distempers . page xxiij . he says , he hath had wonderful and astonishing success in the cure of fevers . and truly , it is astonishment to me ; for i wonder how any body ever scaped with their lives , considering the methods he takes in most distempers ; but perhaps he used his acids moderatly , so that the mischeif might be less conspicuous . page xxv . he says , i must needs confess , that i have been the warmer in some of my expressions ; that thereby i might exasperate those , who are my professed enemies , to convince me of my errors ; and if so , he did well ; but he only saith this to suggest to his friends ; that they must take all that write against him to be his enemies , lest they should believe what they say ; but i profess i am so far from being exasperated towards him , or being his enemy , that i write only to detect such notorious errors , and for truth sake , and did it lie in my power to make interest for him in his own trade , i would do all i could to set him in it , as far as he deserves it ; for i am sorry to see him grope in the dark so miserably , in a way he hath no understanding to lead him ; and were i his friend , i should cordially advise him , to follow light rather than darkness , and like an honest man to fall to his trade again ; now he has broke that impostume in his head , that filled him so much with vanity , and a corrupted mass of dismal dark thoughts : but i am afraid he is not capable of advice , being so much blown up with conceit , that though a wise man would hear instruction , yet a fool hates knowledg , as the wise man says . page xxxij . he says , if any one will by well grounded and substantial experiments , convince me of the contrary ; instead of being angry with him , i shall never cease to love and admire him ; indeed , i had once about a year and half ago , at the college of physcians , a little discourse with him ; and he was so complacent as to tell a friend of mine , he had a great opinion of me , but truly , as i believe , i neither did then , nor deserve it now , so i was sure i had no such opinion of him ; for all that he said , was nothing , but what a parrot might have learnt by conversing with dr. cole : but whatsoever good opinion he had of me then , i dare say he will turn his note now , though i shall take the way to deserve his love and admiration , by shewing him by substantial experiments , that he is mistaken . chap. ii. contains remarks on his introduction . having gone through his preface , and made my remarks on what is material , i shall now proceed to his introduction ; where , page i st . he says , this book will fall into the hands of many ingenious gentlemen , who are not physicians ; for whom it will be very natural to say , you here pretend to advance a new hypothesis , in opposition to almost all mankind — and we therefore would be glad of some more familiar demonstration , whereby we might be satisfied without being put to much trouble . for the satisfaction of whom , i will here lay down a method — whereby every man is capable of being judge , whether my hypothesis be true or false . here i must needs say , he is in the right ; for it will be very natural for them to say so ; and i am glad he hath the luck to make use of so plain an experiment , which , without much trouble , will very easily let people see , that his hypothesis is false ; and therefore for the satisfaction of those gentlemen , i shall shew , that this familiar experiment will prove he is mistaken ; and that he hath drawn false conclusions from it , because he did not understand it ; which i shall make so plain , that every man may be capable of being a judge , that what he asserts is false ; for , in the latter end of page i st . and page 2d . he mentions his experiment , viz. it is well known that all acids being poured upon syrup of violets , or into a solution of it , will immediately turn it from a blew into a very red colour ; and as the acid is more or less strong ; so will the red colour be of a deeper or paler dye . on the other hand , all manifest alkalies will turn syrup of violets , or a solution of it , from a blew into a green colour ; from whence he infers , that if the serum of the blood will alter the colour of syrup of violets , from blew to red , it would then be plain , that the said serum did abound with acid particles . but if , on the otherhand , the serum of the blood be mixed with syrup of violets , instead of changing it's colour from blew to red , as acids do : it changes it to green , as alkalies do , it must abound with alkalies : and this experiment , he puts page 3. into a logical form , to shew how much logic he hath got . but to wave his logic , and come to the experiment ; that all acids will turn syrup of violets red is false ; but i shall take notice of that further , when i come to his 8th . page , and here i shall shew , that granting , that all acids will turn syrup of violets red , and that all alkalies will turn it green , yet this experiment is not for him , but against him . and tho' all acids will not turn syrup of violets red , yet it 's true , a great many will , and a great many alkalies will turn it green ; this is all plain , and i allow it to be true , i likewise grant , that the serum of the blood mixed with syrup of violets will turn it green , which i take to be a sign , in his sense , that the serum of the blood abounds with alkalies ; so that i grant , both that the experiment is true , and that allowing the doctrin of acids and alkalies , it proves what he would have it , viz. that the blood abounds with alkaly . but for all his logic , it does not therefore follow , that alkalies are the cause of distempers ; for the blood of healthful people abounds with alkalies , as appears by the same experiment ; nay , the blood of those that have no distempers at all , abounds with alkalies , and will turn syrup of violets green ; so that to say alkalies are the cause of distempers , because the blood abounds with them , is to prove that healthful people abounds with distempers , because , it appears by this experiment , that their blood is full of alkaly ; but healthful people do not abound with distempers , ergo mr. john colbatch is mistaken . and this i hope is so plain , that any gentleman may see he is mistaken ; for this is so far from shewing , that alkalies are the cause of distempers , that it shews they cause health ; for healthful peoples serum abounds with alkalies , and turns syrup of violets green ; so that this experiment does him no service , that he so much depends upon , but on the contrary , shews his error . and since he so much depends on this experiment : and since this is to qualifie every gentleman to judge ; i have laid the insufficiency of it open , so plainly , that they may be certain , if what he says be true , there is no such thing as a healthful person ; because every bodies blood abounds with alkaly . but to make it clearer to every gentleman , that he not only alledges an experiment , that proves nothing for him ; but also to make it appear , that he does not understand what he is about , and that the gout proceeds from acids , we are to consider , what is the temper and constitution of the blood in a natural state , and how it differs from that in the gout . and first , in a natural and healthful state , if a person be let blood eight or ten ounces , any gentleman may take notice , that , if it be of a right healthful person , when that blood hath settled , and the serum and blood are parted , the blood will be pure and red on the outward side , and if pressed with ones finger , or any thing else , will be moderately tender ; and the serum of the blood will turn syrup of violets green. secondly , if one that hath the gout be permitted to bleed ; when that blood is separated , the blood will be more viscid , and the serum will turn syrup of violets green. so that the difference between the healthful , and distempered blood , will appear to any gentleman to be this , viz. that the distempered blood is more viscid . again , those gentlemen may observe , that whereas the healthful blood is nothing but pure thin serum , and blood ; the distempered blood will have a thick viscid white skin over it , which is part of the distempered matter . but perhaps , mr. colbatch will misguide his friends , in making this observation ; wherefore i foretel them , that the persons must not be let blood , after a full meal , and that the sick , or healthful person , must be let bood at an equal space of time , viz. 5 or 6 hours after a moderate meal . now to any ingenious gentleman , it appearing thus by observing nature , that the gouty blood differs from healthful thus , by such viscidity of the blood , and some white coagulated matter , which swims upon it , we must consider , what is the cause of that viscidity , and then we know , what is the cause of the distemper . the cause then of this viscidity , is either acid or alkaly , if it were alkaly , then the whole serum of the blood would be viscid , like that white viscid matter , that sticks to the blood ; because it appears , the whole serum abounds with alkalies , by mixing it with syrup of violets ; so that here , his own experiment confutes himself ; but that the cause of that viscidity is acid , is plain , because drinking much wine , which is acid , or any thing which causes acidities in the stomach , brings a fit of the gout on sooner , and more violent ; and any gentleman may be further satisfied , that acids are the cause of coagulated serum , because all acids curdle and thicken milk , which is much of the same nature with chyle . for a further confirmation , that this viscidity proceeds from acids , i might here bring all those arguments , i used , in answer to what he said of the gout , in his book of alkalies and acids ; but what he said there i have already answered `and i have here shewed , that he hath alledged this experiment against himself , and therefore i need not repeat what the reader may easily turn to before . from what i have said here , it appears , that the result is this , that in a natural state , the blood abounds with alkalies , that is , that it hath a great deal of alkaly , and but a little acid ; so as to make it moderately tender ; and that in a distempered state , it also abounds with alkalies , but hath too much acid mixed with it , so as to make it preternaturally viscid ; from what i have said , it also appears , that the experiment he has alledged , is only in reference to the thin serum , and makes no proof of that viscid matter , which is the cause of the distemper ; and in both natural and preter-natural blood , it only proves , that there is no cause of this distemper perceivable in the serum , because it abounds with alkalies ; and consequently alkalies cannot cause the distemper , because they cannot cause coagulation , the serum of the blood being full of alkalies in a healthful state ; so that the conclusion from the whole is , that acids , abounding too much , cause coagulations , and consequently thicken that matter , which is the cause of the gout . so that , tho' there is more alkaly than acid in gouty blood , and in respect of the acid , the alkaly abounds , yet since alkaly in a healthful body does not cause the gout , but it is the superabundant acid by coagulating that serum , and blood , which causes those ill effects in the gout ; and because there is more acid in gouty than healthful blood ; the former in respect of the latter , abounds with acids , and the gout consequently must proceed , from too much acid , which causes those coagulations . now from hence it appearing , that his experiment is not only invalid to his purpose , but very strong against it ; and that he hath drawn false conclusions from it ; and that too , by an observation , equally as easy as the experiment , i shall proceed to take notice , how upon this fair demonstration of his ignorance , he boldly values himself ; and not only so , but imperiously , and with contempt , rails at the whole learned world ; as if he alone had gained the victory , when alas ! it is he alone that gropes so miserably in the dark . and what usage must this man deserve ? who upon grounds so slight , tho' true , and much more since they are false , takes occasion to huff the whole world , and to tell them , no body is in the right but himself . but , that i may not pass too severe a sentence upon him , i shall take notice , how he hath condemned the world without grounds , and then sure it cannot be thought unreasonable , that he should have as severe a sentence , who hath given such just reasons for it . page the 3. he says , every gentleman is able to reason thus with himself , my physician tells me my blood abounds with acids , and upon that score gives me alkalies to mortify and correct those acids in my blood ; but if my physician should be mistaken and instead of acids my blood abounds with alkalious particles , his giving me alkalies must increase the matter of my distemper , &c. — therefore since i have so fair an opportunity put into my hands , and by so easie an experiment am capable of being judge my self , what particles my blood abounds with , my own eyes shall be the judge whether acids or alkalies are to be blamed — if the blood abounds with acids , he ought to be kicked out of the common-wealth , for endeavouring to impose upon mankind . this is the sentence he thinks good enough for himself , if it could be proved , that he was mistaken ; i having therefore proved , that he is in an error , may venter to enlarge a little , and say , he does not only deserve to be kicked out of a common-wealth , but out of all ingenious mens company ; and this paragraph can no otherwise be answered than thus , every gentleman is able to reason with himself , mr. john colbatch tells me the cause of my distemper is alkalies , and upon that score gives me acids , to mortify and correct those alkalies in the blood : but if mr. john colbatch should be mistaken ; and instead of alkalies , the cause of my distemper should be acids , his giving me acids , must increase the matter of my distemper , — therefore i have so fair an opportunity given me , to see the insufficiency of this experiment by an easie observation , am capable of being a judge my self , and my own eyes shall be the judges , whether acids be not the cause of my distemper , and truly it so plainly appears , that mr. john colbatch is mistaken , and that my distemper proceeds from acids , that mr. john colbatch deserves to be kicked out of the common-wealth , for endeavouring to impose upon mankind . page . 4. he says , he hopes from gentlemen he shall have justice , tho' physicians have endeavoured to expose him . as for physicians , they surely have reason to expose him , for a vain pretender , since he hath given such pregnant proof of it , and as for gentlemen , i have made it plain enough to them , by an observation as easie as they can wish , that he hath no worse usage than he really deserves , and then what he pronounces is his own merit . and now the reason is plain , why physicians have endeavoured to expose him , to wit , because he hath endevoured to expose mankind , when himself alone deserves it . pag. the 6th . he goes on to value himself upon this experiment , and says , an ounce or two of blood is to be spared in any case , and pray let people see with what reason alkalies have been hitherto given in small pox , rheumatism , &c. it will plainly appear by this experiment , that the blood of such persons abounds with alkalies , and if so , why should we croud in more alkalies , unless it were to prolong the distemper , or to encrease the number of fees. all that i need to say to this is , since i have manifestly made it appear , that acid is the cause of those distempers , and that the serum of healthful peoples blood will turn syrop of violets green , and that the only observable difference , betwixt distempered blood and healthfull blood , is , that the distempered blood , as well as some part of the serum , is viscid , and that viscidity proceeds from acids ; and since an ounce or two of blood is so easily spared , in those cases , pray let people see , with what great reason alkalies have been given , and with what danger acids are given ; for in his chapter of the gout , i have shewed , that since the blood in a natural state abounds with alkalies , even what he confesses about drinking of white wine , which is an acid , proves , that the more acids we take , the more that alkalious serum will be coagulated , and consequently the distemper encreased , and it plainly appears by the experiment he alledges , and the observation i have laid down , to satisfy ingenious gentlemen , that acid is the cause of distempers ; and since it is so plain , why should mr. colbatch croud in more acids , unless it were to prolong the distemper , to increase the number of fees. he goes on , people must long since have known the truth of this hypothesis , or they must not , if they have not known it , it is plain they have groped in the dark , and they have cured diseases with as much certainty as a blind man can catch a hare ; if they have known it before , then the giving of alkalies at the rate that hath been done is a plain argument against them , that they have not acted like honest men : but i dare acquit them from this charge , i do believe they have sworn in verbo magistri . wonderful ! what close arguing and what sensible expressions of a blind man , and groping in the dark ; this groping in the dark is such a familiar expression with him , that one would think he were used to nothing else , and the absurdities his whose books are made up of , prove , he is the only blind man in the proverb , or hath not acted like an honest man ; but tho' he were not an honest man , he is a mighty piece of a scholar , and hath put in two latin words here , in verbo magistri , to shew , that either he did not go to school long enough , or hath forgot what he learnt there ; for that piece of a verse in juvenal , that he hath catched by groping in the dark is not in verbo magistri , but in verba magistri ; and indeed , the sence of in verba magistri , is so much different from in verbo magistri , that it is plain he was groping in the dark most miserably , when he wrote it ; for first , it shews , he knew not what he wrote , or secondly , that he did not understand it , for what greater mark of his ignorance , than instead of saying , they were sworn to maintain the words of their master , he says , they were sworn , in maintaining the words of their master , as if to defend the words of their master , were to take an oath . he says further , and because a few book learned gentlemen , have dream't , that the bloods abounding with acids , hath been the cause of diseases , therefore right or wrong it must be so , tho' it be contrary to the most obvious and plain experiments . what a block-head is this , to tell all learned and ingenious men , they have dream't , what hath been confirmed and certified by all the experience of learned practioners in physick ; but he would have those gentlemen , that he writes thus plain for , to think , that is , only because physicians are his enemies ; but i ask those ingenious gentlemen , that have been so imposed upon , whether they think , men that writ their observations 30 , or 40 years ago , and ever since , could write what they did , in opposition to him , before he made his pretenees , and tho' all physicians now were his enemies , those were not ; so that i would have gentlemen consider , that physicians , now in opposition to him , only confirm by daily experience , what was the universal observation of all learned men , before his time ; and as for his most obvious experiment , i have shewed , that it does him no service at all , but is against him ; so that we have reason to think , he alone has dream't , being in the dark , for want of book learning . he goes on ; when i appeal to the analizing of the blood by the fire , my appeal is then made to physicians only , and this i have already done , but they have refused to do me justice . as to his appeal to physicians , i have , where he hath made it , sufficiently answered it , and proved , that his analizing the blood , as he calls it , will do him little service ; but that physicians may do him no injustice , i shall refer ingenious gentlemen to a book of the most famous and ingenious mr. r. boyle , called his sceptical chymist , which was writ before his , and which will satisfy them , that the blood is turned into substances , very much different from any thing observable in the blood , by chymical analize ; and that author , who had such good designs in all his writings , cannot be called his enemy ( nor truths , ) having writ before him . page the 6th . he says , now since justice has been refused me by my brethren , they cannot be angry with me for making my appeal to those whose interest it is to do justice to me , and encourage me in my honest undertakings , i really don 't see any reason his brethren have to envy him , nor to be angry with him , but whom does he call his brethren ? the apothecaries ? physicians are not to be ranked with mr. colbatch yet , except those as ignorant as himself : but as for those gentlemen , who value the world to come , above this , and the happiness of a better life , above mortality , their interest it undoubtedly is , to encourage him , by all means ; i shall not envy their happiness in another world , but may the number of the elect be soon accomplished ! but those that have a mind to live , deserve to give him no other encouragement , but what substantial shoo-leather will , according to his own sentence , page the fourth , in kicking him out of the common-wealth . in the same page he says , none can blame him for writing in that warm manner he hath done ; because he hath not reserved one secret to himself . but for good reason , because there is not one thing worth reserving ; but he is more to be blamed for his warm writing , except he had made some secret known , that would have shewn he had reason , sawcily to contradict all mankind . but in the latter end of his page he complains , he hath been too much meal-mouthed , and too modest . his modesty indeed is of a new kind , and very remarkable ; and as for his meal mouth , i cannot well interpret it , except his disrespectful behaviour towards his betters , be the meal , that fouled it . page 7. he says , the following treatise of the gout is built upon my hypothesis of alkalies and acids , upon which score , i thought it necessary by way of introduction to publish the foregoing easy experiment , that thereby the whole world might be satisfied of the truth or falshood of his hypothesis . having therefore shewed , that his hypothesis of alkaly and acid is false , and incoherent , his treatise must need be so too ; his easy experiment , together with my easy observation , shewing that his hypothesis is erroneous ; so that , i might save my self the trouble of a further examination , were it not for the sake of ingenious gentlemen , who are not competent judges . page the 8th . he says , were there any one acid that would turn a solution of syrup of violets from a blew colour to that of redness , &c. i should not insist so much upon the experiment , as i have done . to what purpose he hath insisted upon the experiment , i have already shewn , but that he may insist upon it the less in his own thoughts , i shall instance one acid , that turns syrup of violets green , as well as arsenick , his exalted alkaly , as he calls it , which is mercurius sublimat . but perhaps he 'll call it an alkaly ; and therefore i shall satisfy ingenious gentlemen , if two witnesses against one man will be evidence . the ingenious sir john floyer , in the second part of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or touch stone of medicines , page 232. hath this , mercury sublimate is corrosive by a particular texture , made by the particles of quicksilver , dissolved by an acid : and this vomits , corrodes and produces convulsions ; but this going into the blood coagulates it , and produces salivation : this acid is absorbed by fixed and volatile salts , and so the corrosive texture is destroyed . and page the 19th before , sublimate has the acid of spirit of salt joyned with it by sublimation ; and a little after he says , it is a kind of vitriol . and , what he says is confirmed by the famous etmuller , who schroderi dilucidati mineralogia page 260. says , mercurius snblimatus quocunque modo preparatus , nihil est aliud nisi mercur , qui se conjunxit , cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibus corrosivis admistis , & beneficio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fortioris secum sublimavit , adeo utut etiam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ia sint fixa & mercur. volatilis nihilominus acida 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ia fortiter aggrediuntur mercurium & cum eodem se uniunt , &c. and just after he says , et quidem utut mercur. sublimatus fiat cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communi & nitro , nihilominus nihil secum in sublimatione assumit , quam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commune . from whence it sufficiently appears , that sublimate is , for the most part , an acid , most of the ingredients which are used in it's preparation being preparations of the same vitriolated acids , as mr. colbatch uses in the cure of distempers . but undoubtedly , he 'll tell them , they are mistaken , no-body can see besides himself : but these mens opinions will be taken before his , since he cannot at all pretend , they were his enemies , both their books being wrote before his time. page the 8th , and 9th . he says , physicians he owns have been able to cure some few diseases , but how they have done it , themselves could never tell ; they , without inquiring nicely into the natures of them , or being at the trouble of analizing , have given steel , antimony , &c. — by means of which they have cured several diseases , but they have given them as alkalies , when they will appear to an inquisitive person to be acids , &c. now their giving of these things hath stood them in some stead , and cured many distempers by a way they were ignorant of . how unreasonably he hath changed the names of these medicines , i have already shewn , and therefore i shall not repeat it again , i shall only here take notice , how he contradicts himself , no less then three times in one page . for , first , he says , they have been able indeed to cure a few distempers : and then they have cured several distempers ; and last of all , a many distempers ; and those distempers , he says , they have cured no body knows how ; because they were not at the trouble of analizing : but if he were not forgetful , he would scarce think himself the only chymist in the world ; for would he allow any body a small share of knowledg , besides himself , he would know , that much more pains hath been taken by wise and able chymists , men that knew better how to make observations , than he does , who wants natural philosophy to direct him , as well as judgment and skill ; and there are now men so qualified . and tho' chymistry be of great use in philosophy , as well as physick , when cultivated by ingenious men , yet notwithstanding all the pains they had taken , it proved in vain , to enable them the better to discover the principles , or rather texture and complexion of those several humors in a man's body ; and their insufficiency , the famous mr. robert boyle hath sufficiently , shewed ; and therefore we may well think , since we have reason , his pains will prove to no more purpose ; for let him spend more time than he hath , or never so long ; it will still be in vain ; for bodies loose their former complexion , when chymically dissolved , every particle , being modified anew . but it is no disparagement to chymistry ▪ neither is it the less valuable , because it will not discover ultra terminos , and beyond it's bounds , no more than a plow , because it is of no use at sea. but he says , physicians have cured some distempers they know not how . here i shall take occasion , to propose one thing to the consideration of those honest gentlemen , who have had the ill fortune to be deluded by him ; they being induced to think , he hath skill and ingenuity , because some people recover , whom he misuses , viz. whether ( since i shewed he is mistaken in all he hath asserted , ) they may not reasonably conclude he cured them he knew not how ? i , for my own part , am sure he knew not how ; but as for those ingenious gentlemen , i leave it to their own consideration ; whether one man may not sooner be mistaken , than one thousand , who agree in the same opinion , which number , tho' it be not in london , yet it is double in europe , whose practice agree in success and reason , in opposition to his , and two or three adherents . page 11. he says , i have all this while been talking as a physician , but not as a naturalist ; for though i account for the cause and cure of distempers from alkalies and acids , yet i don't pretend to account for all the phaenomena of nature , from those two principles , those there have been those that have undertaken so to do , but i conceive they have been very much mistaken . truly , many have undertaken things , that they have been much mistaken in ; but for one that hath undertaken no more than he hath done , to be so grandly mistaken , is a sign of his great weakness : and he hath all this while , i rather think , been talking as a naturalist , than a physician ; a naturalist i mean , because what he says looks , as if it came from one that knew no more of what he was about , than what he had from the glimmering false light of a dull nature . he goes on ; there are many phaenomena in natural bodies , that are not to be accounted for by the mutual conflict of those two principles ( if i may so call them ) such as motion and rest , light and darkness , magnetism or the loadstone , and a great many others too many here to insert . here he is extraordinary modest , and having groped in the dark so far , is loath to make any further progress in it . but what need was there here for him , after a long tedious blunder , about the cause of the gout , to give a hint at these phaenomena belonging to natural philosophy , which he understands nothing of ; but by his smattering of philosophy , he would have people think , he knows something of it : this puts me in mind of a dunghil cock , that vapours and struts over a heap of rubbish , as if he were master controuler of all his little head can take a view of ; and from thence take a flight to some gilded pinnacle , where with a mighty crow , he seems to proclaim himself master of that noble edifice ; when alas ! he takes possession of no more , than he covers with his claws ; and this instance , i think , as truly represents mr. colbatch , as a picture can represent a man in his absence , for as the cock values himself upon his dunghil , so does he upon his mistakes and blunders ; and knows less in philosophy , than the cock does of the pinnacle . page the 12th and 13th are filled up with a letter from dr. jones : i shall take no notice of the letter , since it is only a story , wherein he may affirm what falsities he pleases , but only the conclusion of it , which shews dr. jones his design in it , viz. make what use you please of this catalogue to print or what you will , it is intended for your service . for since he wrote it , only with a design to serve the eternal mr. colbatch , no doubt , but he would strain to deserve a compliment from mr. colbatch again ; but i am sorry dr. jones wants mr. colbatch's good word , which will go but a little way . chap. iii. an examination of his first chapter . i have now sufficiently answered his introduction , and shewed that his experiments and my observation , make the foundation he hath built this book upon , void ; and that he is but mistaken : i now proceed to his book , and shall examin what he hath said as to the cause of this distemper , in his first chapter . page the 15th . he says , the gout is called articularis morbus , because it generally affects some of the joints , and according to the name of the joint affected , it hath a different denomination , when it affects the hand or fingers , it is called chiragra , when it affects the hip sciatia , when the feet podagra , &c. now if according to the different denomination of the gout , it affects a different joint , and takes it's name from that ; i would know whether there be a joint called the hand , whether there be a joint called the hip , or another joint called a foot ; if there be not , then mr. colbatch hath started in a wrong way , and the distemper hath not it's denomination from the name of a joint affected , but from the parts affected , for podagra signifies the gout in the foot , where there is no joint called by that name , but in which are contained a great many joints ; and likewise in the hands , there is no joint called chiragra , but that part contains in it a great many joints ; and the gout is not called morbus articularis , because one particular joint is affected , but because it is circa articulos , so that the first thing he says , in this elaborate piece , is , a piece full of mistakes ; and truly i think very ominous , for as the gout is an index of it self , so i think this is an index of the whole work , for to start in a wrong road , is scarce the way to the journeys end. in the same page he says , it sometimes exercises it self with so much cruelty and tyranny , that those that are troubled with it , are almost ready to lay violent hands upon themselves . o tyrant ! o cruelty ! that would make men murther themselves for nothing but pain : but is not this a strange imposition and charge laid to ingenious gentlemen , to tell them , they are ready to murther themselves ; but for this fault , if they can pardon him , i can . page the 16. the gout may be divided into two species , viz. hereditary and adventitious . what a judicious division of the gout is this , but he stoped too soon , for each of those species are again divided into species of another rank ; as podagra , chiragra , &c. but a man that gropes in the dark , may well be afraid of stepping too far . page the 16. the gout is an index of it self ; and no one that feels the pain , but is capable of discerning the difference between it and all other pains . but this is false , for one that hath the pain of the gout , no more knows what other pain is , than one that is acquainted with england and not france , knows france ; for to distinguish the pain of the gout , from another pain , the same person must have that pain too ; for how does a man in a gouty fit know , what pain it would be to have his leg cut off , or does a child that hath cut his finger , know what pain it would be to have the gout ; one that never had the tooth-ake , wonders , it can be so violent , and never knows , till he has had it , what reason others had to complain . page 16. the pain of the gout being a deep distending , piercing , throbbing , continual , bitter pain . this is a description of pain , as suitable in the cramp , as gout ; for i have heard one , that i am very well accquainted with , make it just such a complaint ; but why should mr. colbatch call pain bitter ? except he 's resolved to agree with old women , in calling pain a taste . page 16. i do apprehend the parts most immediately affected to be the glandules immediately joyning to the periostium . but i apprehend he is much mistaken ; for the glandules are neither sensible , nor are they capable of swelling on a sudden , so as to distend the parts to that degree , as they are in the gout ; but i here refer the reader to what the ingenious dr. havers and others have said on this subject . after this , pag. 17. he says , father malbranch tells us , that our senses are given us to guard our selves from injuries , and that they never fail to answer the end for which they were given us ; they are never guilty of deceiving us . this quotation , i suppose , is only to let us know , that he hath seen malbranch , and must needs have a scrap out of him , tho' nothing to his purpose , for what signifies it to tell people , to what end their senses were given them , when he is only endeavouring to discover what pain is ; but he and his father are here for once mistaken ; for they fail to guard us from injuries , and very often deceive us : they fail to guard us from injuries , so much , that they are the only causes , that make things injuries , that otherwise would not be offensive , as every small blow or bitter taste , every terrible sound , and threatning word ; it is true , our senses are the only things , that make us capable of pleasure , yet are those the instruments , which lay us open to as many injuries ; and that they are guilty of deceiving us , is plain , since we have such an instance in himself . pag. 17th . he goes on ; as for instance our taste never tells us , that bitter is sweet , or sweet bitter , our smells never fail of distinguishing heat from cold , and cold from heat , and so on : and all these proceed from a placid vellication of the membranes . pain proceeds from a contraction of the fibers , and pleasure from a pacid relaxation of them . what he means by a placid vellication , and a placid relaxation , i believe is scarce common sense ; but i cannot but take notice here , how prettily and considerately father malbranch presides his contradiction : for , first , he says pleasure and pain proceed from a placid vellication of the membranes ; and then , that pain is a contraction , and pleasure a pacid relaxation ; but the pain that cold causes , can scarce be a vellication and a contraction too , there being as much difference betwixt stretching of a rope , and twisting of it , when they make them , as there is betwixt hanging and not hanging ; whether he deserves it or not . the latter end of the 17 and the beginning of the 18. he says ; and i do lay it down as a possitive assertion , that all pain is caused by a stagnation of the juices , which causes a compression of the membranes : but here he is positive a little too soon , for tho' it were granted , that there were a stagnation of the juices , yet pain is not caused by a compression of the membranes , but by preternaturally affecting that which is the sensitive being , which membranes by no means are ; but since he does lay it down as a positive assertion , that all pain is caused by a stagnation of the juices ; i ( that being granted ) lay it down as another assertion , that were there reason to draw such a conclusion from the pain of the gout proceeds from acids ; for since it is the nature of acids to thicken the blood , and it 's serum , and since the more acid it is , the thicker it will be , and since acid will thicken the serum , and alkalies will not ; and again , since coagulation make the serum subject to obstruct , it must needs follow , that those obstructions in the gout proceed from acids ; but because he appeals to ingenious gentlemen , i shall give an instance , that acids thicken the serum , and consequently cause obstructions ; and so pain , that those ingenious gentlemen may see the truth of it ; and because he shall have no way to perswade gentlemen , that the instance is not true , i desire them for their own satisfaction to look back to the first page of his introduction , where they have his own confession , that niter is an acid ; now almost any gentlemen ( and i dare appeal to them ; ) knows , that upon taking cold , some peoples heads will be stuffed with phlegm , or else they will spit a great deal of phlegm ; which shews , that acids cause the serum of the blood to thicken , and consequently obstruct , and sometimes cause pain in the head ; but some people are not subject to spit phlegm , nor to the pain of the head , and for those gentlemen , i have another instance , viz. that the niter of the air thickens most liquids with which it is mixed , as blood , &c. and in frosty weather , when it is , violent enough , even milk and water will be frozen which is a fort of coagulation by a mixture of acids . and here , i shall let all ingenious gentlemen , nay and all knowing women , understand , that acid causes most distempers ; for any observing woman out-does mr. colbatch so far , that she knows taking cold ( which is caused by acid nitrous particles ) causes people to fall into rheumatisms , &c. and they know likewise , that taking cold , often occasions stitches up and down in the body , in which there is pain ; and consequently ( by mr. colbatch ) confessed to proceed from obstructions . and that they may know alkalies do not cause obstructions , they must remember , that the serum of the blood in healthful people turns syrup of violets green , and consequently according to mr. colbatch , abounds with alkalies , yet they are not troubled with pain or obstructions ; in the pleurisie it is also observed , that their blood abounds with a siezy gelly ; which distemper happens often upon taking great colds ; the blood being thickened by the acid nitrous particles of the air : and these observations i have laid down ; because they are suited to the apprehensions of ingenious gentlemen , and discerning women who are imposed upon by him . and i have another plain observation , that will satisfie all observing women , that acids cause distempers ; for nothing is more common , than that taking cold stops womens courses , the acid particles of the air coagulating their blood , and causing obstructions , and nothing is more common , that that children and young women drive themselves into the green-sickness , by eating fruit , which mr. colbatch in his appendix of alkaly and acid , owns are acids ; so that it appears very plainly to all ingenious people , that are not physicians , that all pain and obstructions proceed from acids , and not alkalies ; and consequently not only the gout , but rheumatisms , scurvy , small pox , &c. proceed from acid ; and consequently are to be cured with alkalies ; so that all that he hath said , or has to say , about the use of acids must be false and dangerous ; and i need not go any further in the proof of it , for all ingenious people are already satisfied ; only for the authors sake , i shall shew him what little reason he hath to be so proud of himself ; for i would fain have him humble , because humility may correct a multitude of sins , and god knows how much need he hath of it , who alone can tell . quot — aegros autumno occiderit uno , or in other words , how many such a one , as mr. coblatch , hath sent to their long home ; but truly , mankind takes less notice of it , because , as he says , page 26. of this treatise . quoniam successus ejus sol videt ; errores autem tellus opperiret . in other words , those he hath not killed , cry him up , but those he hath overcharged with most noble acids , lie silent in the grave . page the 19th . he says , the gout may in general be defined to be a pain of the joints and parts adjacent , occasioned from an extravasated alkaline humour , which irritates the membranes of the joints and parts adjacent . a very learned definition of the gout ! how can it properly be called a pain of the joints , when it is an irritation only of the membranes of the joints , except a membrane were a joint ; but he might as well call an acron an axle tree . but the gout he says is nothing but a pain ; he forgets how the parts adjacent are swelled , and that an obstruction accompanyes it : but no wonder ! when such a short sighted man turns definition maker , that his definitions are so defective . but further he says , the pain is occasioned from an extravasated alkaline humour , which irritates the membranes of the joints . but truly he is to be excused , he only contradicts himself ; either he knows not how , or he forgets himself ; for the page before he said , he laid it down as a positive assertion , that all pain is caused by a stagnation of the juices ; which causeth a compression of the membranes . but supposing it were , as he here says , an irritation of the membranes , and the first account he gave were false , yet an alkalizated humor , such as the serum of the blood , would be incapable of causing pain ; if it were not , healthful people would never be without pain ; but here i will appeal to those ingenious gentlemen , that he hath so often made his appeal to , and shall instance another easie observation , whereby they may be satisfied , that an acid juice is capable of causing very violent pains ; whereas alkalizated humours are not at all subject to irritate the membranes , and to this end , let them take a little vinegar , and wash but a cut finger with it , so that the sensible membranes may be irritated by it , and it will cause a most violent heat and pain , yet it tastes cool on the tongue ; from whence we may gather , that an acid sharp humour , when extravased so as to fall upon the sensible membranes ▪ will cause a violent heat and pain in the gout ; this is a very plain and obvious experiment , and any body may be assured of the truth of it very easily . now as this proves , that acids will cause pain and heat , and consequently inflame ; so if those ingenious gentlemen will but take a little vinegar , and put an alkaly into it , as chalk or crabs-eyes , and put that alkalizated vinegar upon a cut finger , they will find , that it will not cause much pain ; but they must be sure to put none of the powder upon the wound along with it ; and this shews not only that an alkalizated humour will cause less pain , than an acid ; but also , that alkalies will abate the pain of the gout ; for if alkalies take ocff the sharpness of vinegar , why will they not from those humours , that corrode the membrances in the gout ? and here i would desire ingenious gentlemen to taste vinegar , and then that , into which they put chalk ; and they will plainly perceive the good effects of alkalies in correcting sharp and irritating humours . page the 20th . he says , now acids being the only things that hinder fermentations and prevent fevers , it is impossible they should be in the fault , but alkalies exciting fermentations , and by consequence causing fevers , they are necessarily here to be blamed , and were timely care taken to correct the luxuriant alkalious particles , i am sure it would be no difficult matter to prevent a fit. but what is curing these luxuriant particles in fevers to the gout , he might as well say , if dogs were kept from pulling the hedges in pieces on the high-way ; there would not be such wars in the world , nor countries spoiled and plundered ; for fevers and gout , ingenious gentlemen know , are two different things ; and he might as rationally conclude , that killing a mouse would kill a man ; as that curing a fever would prevent the gout . the remaining part of the 20 page , the 21 , 22 , and part of the 23 , are taken up with a description of the manner of this distemper's invasion , transcribed from dr. sydenham , amongst which , some simple sentences of his own are interspersed , which already have been sufficiently answered . in the latter part of that page , he says ; there are several things occur in order to this distemper . but what he calls things ; he should have called accessory causes ; in the delivering of which i shall proceed to observe his dexterity , and then make remarks upon the whole collectively . page the 24. the first of the things , as he calls them , is , too moist a state of air , which hinders free transpiration ; by which means the excrementitious alkaline particles , which should be thrown out by the cutaneous pores , are retained , and the quantity of excrementitious alkaly , which is thrown out that way , those passages being free , is not inconsiderable ; which particles being retained in the blood do greatly contribute towards the raising of this unruly devil , which the wisest of physicians hitherto have not been able to lay , which hath been the occasion of that saying . solvere nodosam nescit medicina podagram . but here i must tell him , that if the moistness of the air only produced such ill consequences , by preventing transpiration ; all people would be equally prejudiced by it , and we should as soon see poor people troubled with it , who labour continually in moist fenny countries ; and how dangerous would it be , for poor country men to encompass their ground with ditches , if the dampness and moisture that affects their bodies there , should throw them into the gout by stopping transpiration , and hindring nature from throwing off excrementitious alkaline particles ; but were stopping transpiration all the prejudice moist air could do , that would be easily helped another way ; for as it is observed by the famous dr. lower , that which supplies transpiration in bed , runs off by urin , when we are out of bed ; so although in moist weather transpiration should be stopped , more then in dry weather , it would do them no harm ; because the less runs off by transpiration , the more does by urine , and à converso . but the reason , why moist air is so prejudicial , is , because the circumference of our body is so relaxed by that moisture , as to leave the pores open ; which by admitting too much niter into the mass of blood , ( the natural heat of our bodies being depressed ) crudities are bred in the second concoction , as the antients called it ; which external accessary cause , concurring with a natural predisposition , and the acid particles of the air joyned with those predisposed humours , cause such coagulations , as the obstructions in the parts affected ( in this distemper ) are accompanied with ; so that besides the moisture of the air , there is a natural inclination and predisposition in our bodies , which makes that moister air prejudicial to gouty people , the acid coagulating their blood , and disposing them to crudities ; and not , because insensible transpiration is stop'd . but the wonderful discoveries of this mr. colbatch are not a little to be admired ! for he is the first man that ever perceived the devil to appear in the shape of the gout ; i heard indeed when i was a boy , that the devil was to be distinguished from a man by a great cloven foot , but i could never have thought that mr. colbatch would have compared his gouty patients , to so many devils , except he had dream't he was a physician to such , before he wrote this page in his book . he says , the wisest magicians being not able to cure the gout was the occasion of that saying . solvere nodosam nescit medicina podagram . but why they should say physicians cannot cure the gout , because magicians cannot , i see not any reason , except a physician and a magician are equally the same . page 23. but this is one of those devils which are not to be cast out , but by prayer and fasting , that is nature her self , without help , is not able to get the mastery of it , to rid her self from it . it seems it is a devil in earnest , and truly i believe they are worse than possest , that make use of such a physician ; but he hath too soon concluded , that this kind is to be cured by prayer and fasting , i scarce think he ever cured any by such prescriptions : and i cannot but admire , what a pretty sort of a divine he would have made , who hath such an excellent knack at interpreting scripture ; who calls prayer and fasting . nature . page 24. nature hath hitherto been rather oppressed than assisted , this hydra , being not to be overcome , but by pouring in of fresh battallions armed with pointed spears and launces upon him , viz by giving large quantities of medicines , whose particles are pointed . o what a strange metamorphosis ! the devil is turned hydra ? and what 's more ingenious , gentlemen must swallow whole battallions of armed men with pointed spears and launces : truly a hard task , and a very strong prescription ; this sure was a dream in flanders , where he had reason to think of such terrible medicines ; but he unriddles this , and calls acids armed men and spears , and really not without reason ; but gentlemen have reason to fear , that such pointed medicines would rather increase , than ease their pains , since i have shewed them what ill effects vinegar hath , when applied to any sensible part . page 24. secondly , the use of many sorts of meat , and the too great ingurgitation of them ; and then he says , the stomach being put out of order , a foundation is laid for distempers ; and for that reason , page 25. he says , as his predecessors have explained distempers by acids , so he will by alkalies . a very noble design , and upon very good grounds ; but it were unreasonable , for either him or his predecessors to ascribe acids or alkalies for the cause of distempers , merely because the stomach was foul ; but he ought first to consider , whether of these two were predominant in the stomach , when the foundation of such distempers was laid , which is the way to make it appear , whether alkaly or acid be the cause of that distemper . so that in order to a right knowledge , whether of these two are predominant , we are to consider how digestion is carried on naturally , and then it will appear , what is the reason , that two much meat hinders it . i shall not here go about , to explain digestion any further , than is necessary to our present purpose , and shall therefore refer the reader to his own observation , who cannot but take notice , that the better his meat and drink is , the better he digests it , if what mr. colbatch says were true , in his novum lumen chirurgicum , viz. the more generous our drink is , the better ; so that were he to be judged by his own words , ( which i have shewed how far they are false ) indigestion , when we eat too much , must proceed from the fermentation in the stomach , being too low , and consequently crudities , or raw undigested chyle , must be carried into the blood , to lay the grounds of a distemper ; now in all crudities , it must needs be acknowledged , that acids abound , so that according to mr. colbatch his own canting scraps of philosophy , there wants alkalies to break the globules , and consequently the gout must proceed from too much acids . page 25. he says , the same alkaly which being thrown upon the joints , cause the gout , — being thrown upon the membranes of the brain , may cause a staggering , and may occasion an apoplexy . really since mr. colbatch said it , it is very much to be wondered at ; that alkalies should be so mischievous , as to coagulate the morbifick matter of the gout , and cause apoplexies , and yet in the small pox break globules , and be guilty of a contrary mischief , by thining the blood , and throwing it out through vessels , through which it was before too fine to pass ; but any thing that 's mischievous , hath such a kindness for him , that it will be black or white , as he wou'd have it , otherwise one would think , to thin , and to thicken , are widely different actions for alkalies to do , but i have before shewn the absurdities of what he said , as to these distempers , and shall not now enlarge upon them . the remaining part of page 25. and page 26. he fills with a repetition of an account , he formerly gave of the reason , why drinking wine does men that are inclined to the gout , so much harm , which i having in his chapter of the gout , ( published in his essay of acids and alkalies , ) and also in this , shew'd to prove , that the gout proceeds ▪ from acids , there is no need to repeat what i there said : again , page 27. he says , fourthly , the immoderate use of venereal exercises — every body experiences , that by a few venereal embraces , his spirits become more languid . poor man ! one may see what comfort his poor wife hath , if he hath one ; if he hath not , one may learn how he came to be so compassionate to angelick faces in the small-pox , he speaks so sensible in the case , but he says , every body experiences it ; truly , then the world is worse than i thought it had been , for one might reasonably expect a boy at ten had never experienced such things , but one may see , he begun to enervate himself betimes : but to be serious , if alkalies were the cause of the gout , then venery would cure the gout ; because it draws off the alkalies of the blood and spirits , by taking away those parts that invigorate the heat of the blood , but since taking away alkalies , makes men subject to the gout , by leaving the blood weak and flaggy ; it follows , that the gout proceeds from acids , which always most abound in blood that is least spiritous , as more in old people than young. page 27. few or none are ever troubled with the gout before marriage , or the use of venery , and yet the roman priests who abjure matrimony , are frequently troubled with this distemper . o strange ! what a mighty stickler for the church of england ? that only defends it by calling roman priests whoremasters ; but it is a wonder mr. colbatch did not quote hypocrates his aphorisms , for this observation . page 28. he says , fifthly , overmuch sleep , and to explain how overmuch sleep does gouty people so much prejudice , he tells us , that his worthy friend dr. cole hath made it appear , that the nervous fibres , during sleep , are relaxed , and receive a large quantity of nutritious juice , the superfluities of which are thrown off when awake , but when we sleep too long , so much is heaped up , that nature cannot throw off the excrementitious particles , page 30. this is the substance of what fills part of his 28th , 29th , 30th and most of the 31st page only repeated in a different form three or four times over : i shall not here dispute , what he inserts as dr. cole's opinion , but shall shew , that granting it were true , it would not be of any service to him ; for as it is remarkable in that observation of dr. lowers , that transpiration is much more plentiful when we sleep , than when we are awake ; and more particularly may be observed by any ingenious gentlemen , that more of the substance of our bodies is consumed by lying in bed three days , than we can recover in six ; so it evidently from thence appears , that alkalies are not the cause of distempers ; because it alkalies were , according to what mr. colbatch said , a little before , sleeping much , would cure the distemper ; for he there would have that juice that is carried off by sweat , to be alkaly , and page 24. says , moist air does harm , by hindring the evacuation of that alkaly ; but if that were true , the more we sleep , the less subject we should be to the gout , because more of that alkaline humour would be carried off , by insensible transpiration , and consequently we must be induced to believe , that the blood is made more dull and gross , for want of moisture and alkalies to dilute it ; and it would be more reasonable to say , that the reason , why people are so sluggish after so much sleep , is , because the humours are more gross and thick , and circulate through the parts with less ease , so much alkalized serum being carried off by sweat in sleep , and the gross parts being left behind , in which acids abound . but one may see , that not only alkalies turn acid , and acids alkalies , to do him a kindness , but when he hath a mind . transpiration being stoped , promotes the gout , page 24. but now in contradiction to that , sweating much , hath the same effect ; so that his alkaly is so mischievous , that whether it be in the body or not , it hath the same effects there . page 31. he says , sixthly , overmuch watching , and fasting , and study , and sorrow , and care , and much labour — occasions the gout , — the nerves and nervous fibres being kept in a state of laxity too long , by being overcharged with slimy moist particles . here he hath coupled no less than six words in a gang , with a whole troop of and 's to link them together , perhaps in imitation of , and compliance with , a late act of parliament , in which it was ordered , that not above six horses should be linked together in service , upon the high road , but whether that was his reason or not , i shall here take notice , that it being allowed , that the fibres are overcharged with a slimy moisture , proves nothing to his purpose , but against him ; for since i have already so plainly shewn , that acids are the cause of coagulations , and that alkalies are not , it must needs follow , that the cause of that slimy juice is acid ; and that acids do cause coagulations , is further plain , by applying of vitriolick acids to stop bleeding , which presently obstructs a small orifice , by coagulating the blood. page 32. he says , seventhly , overmuch rest and ease do greatly contribute towards the producing this distemper , &c. and then he says eighthly , sudden rest and exposing the body to cold or moist seasons . and then page 33. ninthly , a total bearing off of any accustomed exercise . but his seventhly and ninthly being both comprized under what he said fifthly , and what he says eighthly ; but the same he said first , these are to be carried to their proper heads , to receive the same answer ; and i can see no reason why his tenthly should not be comprized with the first , since keeping the feet too hot , or too cold , would not influence our bodies much otherways , than moist or dry weather , only a little more violently ; and he had no need to have proceeded so far as eleventhly , since what he said , might be comprized under six heads answerable to the six non-naturals : but i remember page 24. the devil turned hydra , and so he was resolved to give his hydra , as many heads as he could , tho they were all like one another , and perhaps , he did it , to imitate nature in the forming of that creature . but eleventhly , since an odd number is lucky , let 's see how fortunate he is with it . page 34. the stopping of any usual evacuation , as the monthly courses in women , and a flux of the hemorrhoids in men. poor man ! here according to his usual failings , and his laudable custom of contradicting himself , and mistaking his own meaning , he is safe ; but hath the ill fortune to mistake in another method , and judiciously takes the cause for the effect ; for the stopping of the courses and hemorrhoids , is not the cause of the gout , but that vicid acid juice , that causes the gout , also causes the obstructions of courses and hemorrhoids ; for as long as the blood is in a natural state , the courses never are obstructed , but when it is thickned by acids , it obstructs in those parts ; so that that vicid matter which causes the gout , also precedes a stoppage of the courses , and causes both . having shewed you how he hath furnished his hydra with eleven heads , he now comes to another , and says , secondly , that the blood and juices , during the time of the fit , abound not with acid , but alkalious ones . i abominate tautologies , &c. truly there is great sign that he abominates repetitions , since this hath been repeated in almost every page of his book ; and i have so often shewed , that these distempers proceed from acids , that should i repeat what i have so often confuted , it would be but unnecessary repetition : i shall therefore refer the reader to what hath gone before . page 35. he says , it will raise ones admiration to see how we have groped in the dark for want of making experiments . i have often found the quantity of alkaly that is obtained from the blood of people labouring under a fit of the gout , to exceed that obtainable from people in a state of health . now supposing this were true , and i only suppose it ; ( for he that hath told so many untruths in his novum lumen chirurgicum , may very well be suspected any thing that he says ; ) still mr. colbatch can by no means leave off his groping in the dark , and shewing people that he 's got out of his way , in a thing he does not understand ; for did he understand common distillation , nay , or what he said himself , he would know , that the more acids there are in the blood , the more spirits are drawn from it : and first to satisfie him , if any thing that 's reason will satisfie him , i shall do it from his own words , for in his appendix to his essay of alkaly and acid , he says , all herbs abound with acid ; yet most of them are known to yield a considerable quantity of alkalious salt ; and did he but know what common distillers observe , he would then learn a reason , why the blood yields most of that he calls alkaly , when it most abounds with acid , for i have often taken notice , and it is the common practice of distillers , who draw spirits from brewed wort , that the sowerer it is , the more spirits it yields ; whereas if they distil it sweet , it affords very little , and the reason of it is plain , because when the blood is sweet , its parts are more smooth and alkalizated , according to him ; but when the texture of that sweet mass is altered , and it degenerates into an acid mass , whose parts are sharp , those sharper particles being raised up by distillation , form a spirit which affects our taste more sensibly ; and whereas the depressed spirits easily fly away , this more gross and compacter acid incorporates with less loss , than if the matter from whence it is drawn , were more volatile ; so that it appears upon what uncertainty men draw conclusions from chymically analizing the blood , where the least alteration in the mass of blood , makes so great difference in the spirit , that is drawn from it : and here , because i would have gentlemen satisfied that his analizing is of no use , i desire they would but enquire of distillers , whether in distilling of wort to get a spirit from it , it is not necessary to let it be a little sowre , which when they know , they will also know , what a deceitful agent the fire it self is ; for what different effects hath it upon the least alteration of the modification of that substance , it works upon ; and we see then , what a mathematical demonstrator mr. colbatch is , who is more ignorant than common distillers , and what a fit man is this , to draw conclusions from experiments that he does not understand . page 36. he asks , what is this cretaceous body , but a collection of homogeneous particles ? i say of one determinate figure , by a collection of particles reason that the fire won't totally destroy its texture , which were it a body composed of particles of different sizes and figures ( which is that we chymists call heterogeneous ) and the fire would destroy it . what this cretaceous substance is , i have before told him , and how it is made up of a great many acid particles , lodged in a mucus , and hardned into the form of a stone ; but for his explanation of homogeneous and heterogeneous particles , it appears , that he does not understand what is meant by homogeneous , nor what by heterogeneous ; and therefore i shall tell him that a liquor is called homogeneous , not because it is made up of particles of one determinate figure , since in the language of the chymists , a liquor which is made up of particles of a different shape and size , may be homogeneous , but because it is simple , or so compounded , as to agree with that body , of which it is said to make a part ; and so , that the liquor , whether compound or simple , exactly suits in all circumstances , that body with which it is mixed ; and so the blood , which is made up of several principals , if it be in a natural state , and of a right texture , is called homogeneous ; but if another liquor be mixed with it , which is not exactly so modified ; tho it be a compound body , yet it is not called heterogeneous , in respect of the different ingredients , of which it is made up ; but because it is not exactly like blood in all circumstances , in respect of blood , it is called heterogeneous ; and this he would have understood , had he known the derivation of those two words , for homogeneous comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which is to say of a like kind , and heterogeneous from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , of another kind ; so that every body is homogeneous , in respect of it self , and its own kind , and every homogenous body is heterogeneous , in respect of another kind . but he says , were it of particles of a different kind , fire would destroy it ; but he is mistaken , for the different texture of gold , iron and brass , does not make them more easily dissolve , tho they were mixed together , for a body never the more easily dissolves , because it is a compound ; every one of these bodies requiring as much force to dissolve them , whether mixed or not . having mistaken the meaning of these two words , from page 36. he goes on to page 38. to make the mistake a little more conspicuous , all along he proceeds to repeat what he hath several times doubled and trebled before , and all to tell people , that alkalies are the cause of the gout ; but tho this be the gentleman that abominates tautologies , he either knew he had often repeated this stuff before , or hath an extraordinary bad memory ; but tho he so easily forgot , that he had said the same things before , i think i have sufficiently answered them , and made it fully appear , that what he hath said all along in defence of his hypothesis , and in explication of the distemper , is so far from proving the distemper to proceed from alkalies , that all he hath hitherto said , is very strong and evident proof that it proceeds from acids . but here i had almost passed by a very notable piece of his scholarship , and which shews him to be a mighty man for antiquity : a man of a vaste soul , and of a strong comprehension , page 40. he says , the antient romans — feigned two goddesses , the one called volupia , the goddess of pleasure , the other angeronia the goddess of anguish , names fitted to their natures , and the priests of angeronia did serve at the altar of volupia , to signifie that in this life pleasure and sorrow were mixed together . but what 's this goddess to the gout , truly nothing at all , but to shew what a great lump of antiquity he had cast up . page 41. he says , i shall continue to assert , that the excrements of our bodies are all alkalious , such as sweat , tears , &c. but what is voided by stool , is not properly to be called the excrements of our bodies , but the excrements of our food . o admirable ! what a piece of wit hath mr. colbatch laid here ? but notwithstanding his wit , it will do him very little service , for i am afraid he hath so much , he does not know how to use it , which is observed in calves-heads , where a great deal of brains is found , but no ingenuity ; for by the same reason , he says stools are the excrements of food , and not of the body ; sweat , &c. may be said not to be excrements of the body , but of the blood ; but that sweat and tears are not alkalies , but acids , any body that hath acquaintance with mr. colbatch's goddess angerona , may taste tears evidently tasting salt ; and likewise when people sweat much , their sweat does not only taste salt , but people that work hard , have a strong sowre smell about them , when their heads sweat much , which are sufficient proofs , that mr. colbatch is mistaken , and angerona hath done him very little service . thus i have gone through all that mr. colbatch hath said , relating to the cause of the gout ; from which , i think i have made it plain , that in every particular , he is egregiously mistaken ; and i have not only shewed , that he is mistaken , but that what he alledges in his own defence , is strong proof against him ; and i have also added a great many plain and obvious observations , whereby it is manifest , how little he understands what he hath gone about ; and as he hath oft been bold to tell learned men , they grope in the dark , so it now appears how miserably he is lost in it ; which i hope is so evident , that gentlemen will be no longer imposed upon by him , tho he make his pretences with never so much impudence , since the method he takes is so pernicious ; and , as i have shewed from his own words , increases the distemper , and procrastinates its cure. chap. iv. contains remarks on his second chapter . having thus run over what he has said in his first chapter , concerning the gout ; and shewed upon what false conclusions he has grounded his method of practice , for want of judgment to understand those experiments he made , and what gross and erroneous accounts he hath given of the abuse of non-naturals : i say , having so fairly detected his grand mistakes , and so plainly made it appear , that he hath not only very short , but false notions of things ; and having all along laid him open so fairly to the view of mankind , that they may discern his very essentials , to be nothing but mistakes , blunders , oversights , pretence , impudence , and inconsistency ; i might spare my self the trouble of going any farther in laying open his intolerable absurdities , it being certain that whatever is built upon such false bottoms , must not only be very false , but dangerous to mankind , and of very ill consequence ; but since i have gone so far , with no other design but to lay open his faults the clearer , that gentlemen might be forewarned how much they hazard their health , if not their lives , by putting themselves in such hands ; so , that they may be , if possible , more fully convinced , what danger they lay themselves open to by so doing ; i shall for their further satisfaction , shew them the ill consequences of his practice , by laying open its faults there committed . the remaining part of his book is made up of three parts , the first he calls the dietetick cure , the second is levelled against rational practice , and the third is to lay open his own ill practice , which i shall examine in the order he hath laid them in ; and first i shall observe his wonderful dietetick rules : where , first , he says , page 44. it is said by some body , that plus aere quam cibo vivimus , we live more by air than meat , and that air doth assist in the nutrition of animal bodies ; the famous instance of vipers , so well known , is sufficient to evince ; for let a young viper be put into a glass receiver , and let the receiver be covered over with a bladder with holes pricked in it , and the viper will become as large and fat as if it were in the open fields . what the design of this part of his dieteticks is , he best knows ; i for my part can't tell what he would have by his instance , we live more by air than meat , except he would have people to eat no meat , but gape for wind continually ; but why breathing of air is so necessary , i have elsewhere shewed in my treatise of the heat of the blood , and of the use of the lungs , and that people cannot live without meat , a little experience tells them . but he hath given an instance of a viper , that does not only live without meat , but grows fat ; but to what purpose does he mention this , except he would persuade his patients they can live better without meat , than with it ; sure he would not persuade his gouty patients to be closed up in receivers , as the viper was ; but if he would , they are a little too cunning for him yet , i doubt not ; and how much soever he can impose upon them with his medicines , they will sooner be pinned up in a coffin by his medicines , than closed in a glass receiver to suck air , till he hath been in it himself . page 45. he says , people who are troubled with the gout , should endeavour to live in a clear and most serene air , that possibly they can , and avoid that which is thick and foggy and full of extraneous particles . that a clear air is better than a foggy one is no news of his finding out , it being always delivered in dietetick rules ; but would he have gentlemen to overrun their countries ? should they go into france , or some warmer country , perhaps they would be less troubled with it ; but this is such a piece of old advice , that few can take , and therefore he might have left it in those books he found it in , where it was deliver'd with judgment and learning . all that he further says from page 46. to 50 , is but a reduction to six heads , what in the chapter before to make his hydra more formidable , he extended to eleventhly ; and as what was there contained , was so many blunders and marks of his ignorance , in reckoning up the misuses of non-naturals : so here he repeats those faults in less compass , and extenuated by extending them only in falsely , and as simply prescribing non-naturals ; which , tho he had the dieteticks of judicious and learned men writ ready to his hand , yet fancying himself a great and able man , he must needs mould them anew , and turn them into his own simple form , that he might interpose two or three sentences to recommend the use of acids ; but i having already shew'd the dangerous consequences of the use of acids , and that , even according to his own supposition , viz. that the blood would be coagulated by the use of acids , and consequently the distemper increased , i hope gentlemen will be so cautious of their own safety , as not to be misguided by such a man , who throughout his book hath so egregiously given us lasting patterns of his ignorance . chap. v. contains remarks on his third chapter . i come now to his third chapter , which is irrationally levelled against all judicious and experienced practice ; where from page 50 , to 58. he hath set down a method which was taken with sir j. g. and page 58. he says — instead of being any way serviceable , it exasperated the symptoms : but i here leave it to the consideration of those ingenious gentlemen who are troubled with this distemper , since they , by dreadful experience find , that when they take medicines , the symptoms are almost intolerable , whether it be not more reasonable to think the violence of those symptoms proceeded from the violence of the distemper ; since i have so plainly made it appear , all along in answer to his books , that acids are the causes of this distemper ; and what more plain and obvious an experiment can there be , to prove the reasonableness of using alkalies in the cure of this distemper , than that which i have before mentioned , viz. by applying vinegar it self to a fresh wound , and at the same time , to another , vinegar whose acrimony is dulled by the use of chalk , or some other alkaly ; for if the strength of so sharp a liquor as vinegar , is taken off by the mixture of alkaly , this is the strongest and plainest proof in the world , that alkalies are very useful in the gout , and always to be made use of by rational physicians , since i have so evidently and beyond rational contradiction proved , that the gout proceeds from acids ; for alkalies do not only take off the acrimony of that humour , which irritates the sensible parts , but also by absorbing part of the superabundant acid , attenuates that matter , which by coagulating the humour , fixes it in the part affected , and conseqently dispose that matter to be absorbed into the fluid mass of blood again , to be carried off by proper excretories , so that nothing can be plainer , than that the use of alkalies in the gout , is highly reasonable , since it so evidently appears , from so many instances , as i have throughout this book given , that acids cause coagulations , and consequently are to be taken off and corrected by the proper use of alkalies . page 58. he says , the medicines here prescribed , are those that are generally used by most physicians ; and if any body ever received advantage by them , i dare be burn'd ▪ and that ever men should have such dull phansies , as not to vary from a method that hath never once stood them in any stead , looks very odd . and as for alkalious medicines in general , i dare be positive that they never yet cured any one distemper , but very frequently have done a great deal of mischief , they being given in foul distempers . what mischief they do when used by absurd practicers , as himself , that know not how to manage them ; i don't now dispute , that being nothing at all to the gout ; but since i have so manifestly made it appear , that this distemper proceeds from acids , and that alkalies are of very great use , i think it is all the answer i need to give to this , that the medicines he prescribes , are never given by rational physicians , and never by quacks , without ruining mens constitutions in a little time , and except he leaves of such ill practice , he really deserves what he so zealously dares , viz. to be burn'd ; and i am amazed , that this man should have such a dull fancy , as all the reason in the world cannot persuade him from it , tho it be so very pernicious and dangerous , and truly it looks odd enough to use his elegant expression , that peoples constitutions must be ruined , to please his dull phansie , and as for his acid medicines , i am positive , they have ruined more constitutions than he 's aware of ; but some people are lead into their own destruction by blind promises , which they know not how to perform , which is the reason he does so much mischief . page 59. he says , in chronical distempers ▪ such as the gout , &c. there poor mortals are let alone to languish under their oppression , and the physician — will be for putting the poor wretch into a course of alkalies , to correct those luxuriant acid particles , which he would fain persuade his patient that his blood abounds with ( but yet he never found any such thing there ) to the pauling of his stomach , and exasperating his distemper ; and if ever the poor patient finds relief , it is from opium , that is between whiles given ; and if from that he hath any little intermission of his pain , they are generally so ungrateful , as not to set the saddle upon the right horse , to give the opium its due , but presently hug themselves , and cry , god a mercy alkalies , and so go on with a repetatur pulv . è chelis , &c. now as this was to be laid upon all rational physicians , upon condition that their practice was false , so having all along in answer to him made it appear , that their practice is rational and good ; and that his is false and erroneous ; it must needs fall to his own share , and in his own words , to lay the saddle on the right horse , i must say , in chronical distempers , such as the gout , &c. there poor mortals , are let alone to languish under their oppression , and mr. colbatch neither understanding their distemper , nor the true method , that he should take with them , would be for putting the poor wretches into a course of acids ; and would fain persuade his patient , that his blood abounds with alkalies , contrary to truth and experience , to the detriment of his constitution , depressing of his spirits , and encreasing of his distemper : and alas ! if ever the patient he imposes upon , finds relief , he may thank god for it ; and the strength of his constitution , which helps to carry off , and abate the distemper : but what a tender compassionate creature is mr. colbatch , who hath such a tender love for poor gentlemen , that will give him money ? for he is so enraged at that hydra ! that devil ! that gout , that he calls it all the ill names he can , and hath such esteem for opium , that gives them all the ease they must hope for from him ; that he 's offended they don 't fix some mark of honour upon it , it hath such an excellent stupifying quality ; and truly no body knows how much he is ingaged to be zealous for the honour of any thing , that relates to dulness and stupidity , he hath so much of it himself ; and indeed he may well hug himself , and cry , god a mercy stupidity ! o , the wonderful effects of opium , where acids would increase the distemper . page 60. he says — if we do not look about us , and regain our reputation , we may chance to be laid aside in other distempers as well as the gout . this is a mighty considerable piece , and shews the honest endeavours of the man , who is so much afraid of being laid aside , that he uses all the means he can only to get patients ; and truly without this , by his whole writings one would guess , that the man only huffs , and contradicts , and writes , that people might think he hath something in him ; but alas poor man ! he hath so much ill luck along with it , that he cannot long impose upon people , for those very writings shew ( according to the old maxim , nil dat quod in se non habet ) that he hath nothing at all in him , but pretence . page 60. he says , what i have said is not to reproach the physicians of our own nation , who are many of them as great men as ever were of the profession , and generally this city abounds with such , but my design is to undeceive young physicians , who are imposed upon by foreign authors . but our author mr. colbatch must think himself a strange sort of a wit , or the physicians in london very easily imposed upon , to be flattered with such a dull pretence as this ; for if he did not reproach the physicians of this city , who does he mean ? when page 58. he says , the medicines here prescribed , are those that are generally used by most physicians ; surely most physicians must needs comprize the generality of this city ; but if he would pretend only to undeceive young physicians , why did he in his preface to this book , call physick a scene of slaughter , since young physicians scarce kill , before they have practice enough to be subjects of slaughter ? but this is to let us know , that he is conscious , that he hath laid that to physicians charge , which properly belongs to himself , and would thus stop their resentments with this dry complement . but did he not say what he hath done was only to reproach — as great men as ever were of the profession , but those that are imposed upon by foreign writers , why did he not then direct his book against those writers ? but we must give him leave to contradict himself , to say and unsay , as odd as it looks , for his head is made up of nothing but short raptures without thought , or foresight : besides , were what he here says true , it had been his best way to have gone amongst his adversaries , where by a total conquest , he would have got credit , more than he must expect by thus weakly exposing himself amongst men he hath nothing to say against , as he here says . page 61. he goes on , if the blood 's abounding with alkalious particles , be the primary , or fundamental cause of the gout , how can the giving of alkalies be of any use ? of no other use than the throwing of a company of dryed fagots upon a house that is on fire , would be to extinguish the flame ; and whoever should attempt such a thing , would , i suppose , be accounted little less than a mad-man . to this i answer , that since i have so often made it appear , that the acidity of the serum , from whence its viscidity proceeds , is the cause of this distemper , and it hath been plainly proved , by evident observations and reasons , that giving more acids , is the way to encrease the distemper : he alone is the mad-man , that can give no reason for what he does , but what is plainly contradictory to his own practice ; but this is a strange sort of a man , to call all physicians mad-men . page 61. and page 58. he says , he will be burn'd if ever they did good ; yet page 60 says , he does not do it to reproach the physicians of our own nation : whether does he talk like a wise-man , or like mr. colbatch now ? but page 61. further to let the world know that he hath a mighty insight into a glover's trade , he tells a story of a philosophical glover , from whence he seems to draw his conclusions , and upon which , one would guess he had built his hypothesis ; he says , — they first throw their skins into a pit , filled with a strong alkalious lixivium , which makes them in a manner rotten ; afterwards they make a strong acid solution , into which they throw their almost rotten skins , which again reduces them to their texture ; nay , makes them firmer than they were at the first . truly mr. colbatch was very happy in so philosophical a companion , for doubtless he received wonderful hints , from one that was used to grope philosophically in lime-pits ; and had he been seven years an apprentice to him , without question , mr. colbatch would have been a very notable man at the trade , and would have handled hides very philosophically ; nay , and for ought i know , might have made as ingenious a man at it , as mr. yardly , for he would have got wonderful improvements , by such weighty debates as would have passed betwixt them two ; but of what advantage soever it might have been to him , to have improved his knowledge in that trade , i am sure mr. yardly's story does him little service here ; for it directly proves , that acids are most pernicious in the gout , and that alkalies are the only remedies to be depended upon ; for if alkalies so softned the skins , there is a great reason to hope that they will also dissolve , and soften those humours that swell the parts affected , being hardened and obstructed there ; but if acids will harden the skins , when soft , consequently they must harden that alkalious matter , lodged in the gouty parts , and so do more harm by fixing it there . but , page 62. he is happy , quoniam successus ejus sol vidit , oneres autem tellus operiret ; otherwise , because those he does not kill , think he cures them , but those he sends packing to another world , have not the advantage of telling their friends the dismal cause of their departure , and how they were sent to another world by mr. colbatch his acids . from page 62. to page 67. he tells a long story of a man that was troubled with an iliack passion , but why that comes in this chapter , i cannot tell , except he wanted something to fill it up with . page 67. he says , — the skin abounds with receptory as well as excretory pores , which i have frequently observed in the skins of many animals , by the means of my optick glasses . really he seems to be mighty inquisitive into the skins of animals , since he hath been acquainted with the ingenious and philosophical glover mr. yardly , but it seems he is not content with mr. yardly's enquiry into skins , but hath got his opticks to them , as if he had a mind to be the author of some new discovery , and would help his weak sight by spectacles . but perhaps he remembered that malpigius and others , who had made great discoveries in anatomy , made use of microscopes ; and so he being a great man in his own conceit , must needs peep through a glass too ; but to what purpose ? truly , he hath discovered receptory pores as well as excretory pores : but i ask him how he knew which were receptory pores by looking at them ? which is utterly impossible . and i am afraid he hath stared so much on the outside , that he hath scarce looked enough within , or he would have understood things a little better than he does ; and i am sorry to see one that hath so little reason , pretend to be so saucy with all learned men , and not only so , but dogmatical and positive , where he ought to be humble , and repent of what ill practice he hath hitherto followed , endeavouring to impose upon mankind . chap. vi. contains remarks on his fourth chapter . i come now last of all to his method of cure , to undeceive these ingenious gentlemen , that he hath hitherto imposed upon ; and for their sakes , i shall take pains to be a little more large upon this point , than i otherwise need to be ; for i having already shewn the grand blunders and mistakes of his book , and that he is so notoriously mistaken in the cause of this distemper , and in all he hath said relating to it ; and also that the method he uses is so far from curing , that it increases the distemper ; it must be allowed , that what he here delivers is false also ; but to make it more evidently appear that he is mistaken , i shall take a brief view of this chapter : and first , page 68. he says , — when my patient complains of a crudity and rawness of his stomach , with a windy sort of distension and heaviness of his body , which are certain arguments of an approaching fit : if he be of a sanguine complexion , and a plethorick habit of body , i first of all prescribe blood letting , from 12 to 20 ounces . whether those gentlemen he thus uses find themselves very much weakned or not , after such immoderate bleeding , they themselves are best judges ; but twenty ounces is a great deal too much to take at one time , and if they find themselves very weak and faint after it , they had better follow the advice of able and judicious physicians , and not to exceed twelve ounces ; but i am afraid those that are so much imposed upon as to send for him , will be also prevailed upon to submit to his irrational method , and therefore it is in vain to advise them , they must reap the dangerous consequences of such absurd usage , and may thank themselves for it ; i shall only here forewarn them , that when they find their stomachs raw , and filled with crudities , that is sufficient to satisfie them , that their bodies abound with acids , all crudities proceeding from indigestion , and indigestion from too great a quantity of acid particles depressing and over-powering the alkalious parts , by which means , the meat contained in the stomach , being not sufficiently dissolved and broke in pieces , but ( in the sense of our philosophical glover and mr. colbatch ) being too much hardned and kept to a consistence , remains crude and undigested . but if nevertheless they will let mr. colbatch pour in more acids , and by encreasing the acidities of the blood , so oppress nature , that she cannot powerfully expel the morbifick matter ; all that i can further say , is , that i am really sorry that ingenious gentlemen are so imposed upon by a man that hath impudence to stare them in the face , and contradict reason and experience . but to proceed ; page 69. and page 72. amongst his acid medicines , as he calls them , an hour or half an hour before dinner , he orders his patients to take a medicine made of cremor tartari , and tartar. vitriolat . but for what end , except to encrease the distemper , i can scarce imagine ; for the nature of cremor tartar ▪ being purgative , it must needs do a great deal of mischief , by raising the peristaltick motion , and forcing the meat out of the stomach before it is digested , which is the only way to fill the blood with crudities , and consequently to encrease the distemper ; so that this method , which forces their meat out of their stomach undigested , and fills their blood with crudities , must needs recommend mr. colbatch ; and he must needs be a very fine man , who hath impudence to boast of such absurdities ; really i cannot but admire him , and wonder that he hath such success , as not to ruine people more frequently . page 70. he orders the following medicine to be given for a month twice a day , viz. ℞ . lapidis hoematitis . unc. semis . crem . tartar. unc. unam . and really his wonderful skill in compounding , considering the advantage of mr. yardly's company , the glover , and his own , being bred an apothecary , is not a little to be admired ; for there is no less than contradiction in this very receipt ; for as crem . tartar ▪ is purgative , so lapis hoematitis is no less a stopper of purging , and to give one thing to purge , and another at the same time to stop purging , is as absurd as if it were really mr. colbatch : and in his own words , page 58. of this treatise , that ever men should have such dull fancies — looks very odd , and shews the ignorance of the man so plainly , that no wise-man would ever hazard his life in his hands . page 74 , 75. and part of 76 , he tells a long story out of polemanus , but that being nothing at all to the gout , i shall take no notice of it , but leave him to restore it to polemanus again , it being not able to do him any other service , than to fill up two pages in his book . page 76. he says , i have hitherto but just entered into the porch , &c. and really had he gone no further than his porch , he had gone too far in such a bad way , for every page , except those polemanus hath taken possession of , are filled with a recipe crem . tartar. and tartar. vitriolat . over and over again , and all the elegancy that is to be observed in what he says , is , that whereas sometimes he puts crem . tartar. before tartar. vitriolat . in others the order is changed , and tartar. vitriolatum comes before crem . tartar. and sometimes he hath been so ventersome as to set crem . tartar. by it self , and this wonderful variety observed in his compositions , must needs argue him a profound man indeed , and he may well value himself upon it , for it is nothing at all , but what carters commonly imitate , sometimes setting one horse behind , and sometimes another . but really this porch appears to be nothing but a continuation of his notorious mistakes and blunders , and only differs from the remaining part of his book , as a cloud from rain ; for as his whole book hitherto , was nothing but a parcel of rubbish , and confused blunders in theory ; he now is as absurd in practise , and as the other only prejudiced their minds , this does their bodies , and makes them ( to use his own words in page 3. of this treatise ) run the risk of losing their lives , which to every man is the valuablest thing in the world. page 76. i shall now proceed to the cure of the distemper it self ; the taming of this fierce and angry lyon , the expelling of the raging tyrant , the cutting off this hydra's heads . o this mighty champion ! that can tame the fierceness of lyons , expel raging tyrants ; and ( page 24. of this treatise ) poured whole battallions , armed with spears and launces , upon a devil , which is not to be cast out but by prayer and fasting ; yet did no more service in flanders , where he might have had work enough for his battallions : what punishment does he deserve ? is this the man that wou'd have a thousand a year for to spend in experiments from the government ? but yet he is to be admired , for he hath almost equaled hercules in his labours , only he is not come to the eugean stables yet , but truly it is a pity , for i think that is the fittest work for him . but it seems we are come through the porch , and must now proceed to the cure , and to see how this champion performs his exploits , where we shall take a view of the aedifice this porch hath led us to : where , page 77. he says , i first of all — prescribe blood-letting , from twelve to twenty ounces . strange ! there is no difference betwixt the porch and the house ! they are both alike exactly so far ; and the same answer that i gave him in his porch , may serve in his parlor , so i shall not repeat it here again ; but this is a mighty step towards eternalizing him for a champion . page 78. he goes on with a recipe , crem . tartar and tartar. vitriolat . and all he further says , to page 80. is nothing but a repetition of what he had said before , when he had but just entered into the porch ( as he terms it ) except a plaister and a salve to dabble their gouty toes in , to as much purpose as the magicians of old sounded a kettle to turn the course of the sun , which would have run its course without all that noise . page 80. he says , till the violence of the pain is somewhat abated , i every night give an opiate . very ingeniously done ! as long as he finds his acids will do no good , but rather exasperate the distemper , he gives an opiate to dull the pain , so that people cannot feel how much mischief he does them . but here i shall make use of his own words again , page 59. and say still he — will be for putting the poor wretch into a course of acids , to correct luxuriant alkalies , which he would fain perswade his patients , their blood abounds with , to the spoiling of their constitutions , and exasperating of their distemper : and now we may see , if ever the poor patient finds any relief , it is from the opium he gives every night ; and tho his patients only find relief from the opium , he is so ungrateful , as not to saddle the right horse , and give the opium its due , but presently hugs himself and crys , god a mercy acids , and so goes on with a repetatur crem . tartar. & tartar. vitriolat . page 82. he says , when the violence of the distemper is abated , then the foregoing method must be altered , and the following medicines used . truly mr. colbatch is a rare man , when the distemper begins to go off , and he dare give his acids no longer to prolong the distemper , and to encrease the number of fees : then he lays them aside , and gives a few medicines , that neither do good nor harm , and which in answer to his appendix to his essay , i have shewed , are , by no means acids , and have laid down the english names of them there ; so that ingenious gentlemen may taste them , and compare their taste with sevil-oranges , which is an acid ; by which means they will easily know whether those be like oranges , but if gentlemen would be satisfied without so much trouble , they may ask those that are imposed upon by him , whether all the medicines he gives taste sowre , or sharp , which will satisfie them that he is mistaken . page 83. he says , upon the going off of this distemper — a course of calybeats is very proper , and rarely fails doing good service . here mr. colbatch , in the latter end of his treatise , hath taken care to confute all that he said before in this chapter , most effectually ; for as soon as he can get no more money by his patients , he takes care to give them steel , antimony , &c. which in his essay of alkaly and acids , i have proved to be alkalies : nay , he does not only give his patients those alkalies , but castor , nutmegs , cardamoms , cloves , and even century and gentian , all or most of which , he sets down in page 84 , 85 ; and which the reader may find , in those receipts he laid down , and condemned as alkalies in the chapter before this ; and there he says , he dare be burn'd , if they ever stood in any stead ; yet here he says , they rarely fail of doing good service ; so that here i leave him to confute himself . but were his doctrine of acids and alkalies true , which i have so fairly shewed , and proved to be false , and were what he lays to the charge of all rational physicians true , these alkalies would cause the distemper to return ; for if , as he said before , the gout proceeded from alkalies , so great quantities of alkalies as he here uses , must needs increase the morbifick matter , and cause a relapse ; but since they do not , we have reason to believe the distemper proceeds from acids , and that consequently acids would increase it . i have now at the last , tho not without surprize , taken a view of his mighty battallions which were to tame the lyon , to drive out the tyrant , and to cut of the hydra's heads . but alas ! parturiunt montes , nascitur ridiculus mus . his promises were large , and pretensions great , but his performance small ; and now i cannot without wonder and amazement behold the hero , the mighty man of war , whose battallions are nothing but tartar. vitriolatum , cremor . tartar. oranges and lemmons , those being all the acid medicines used throughout his book internally , all the rest being already in his essay , and its appendix proved to be not at all acids ; and must this man huff and hector ? must this ignis fatuus mislead and impose upon people ? must he call physicians fools and mad-men ? what usage does he deserve ? and what punishment too great for him ? but , page 87. he says , had i prescribed much and violent purgings , vomits , &c. wherein there was any danger , then people would have all the reason in the world to be cautious and fearful . it 's true , they would have had very great reason to be so ; and tho their reasons are not quite so great , yet the difference is small ; for tho the proverb only says , it is ill venturing a sword in a mad-man's hands ; yet people are certain , a dagger , tho not so large , is equally as dangerous , since those that are not armed against them , may as soon be killed by one as the other ; so that in effect acids are as dangerous as vomits , &c. because they do mischief , with this difference , that the ill effects of vomits are ascribed to vomiting , but the ill effects of acids are attributed to the violence of the distemper , and on one consideration , acids are more dangerous , because people take them without suspicion , and ruine their constitutions without their knowledge , or a possibility of caution ; and as that person is most dangerous which is not known to be so , so that medicine is of the worst sort , whose ill effects are not taken notice of ; for which reasons i have taken pains to run over his books , not because i thought them worth consideration , but to lay open the mischievous effects of such absurd practice , that ingenious gentlemen might be no longer imposed upon . from page 88. to page 96. he relates two stories , in which he gave his acids ; but what he there says being only a repetition of the same medicines he had given before , what i have said sufficiently answers them . as to the first , he says , he had his patient in a fit about a month , in which i shall observe that page 93. he says , this was the most dreadful fit of the gout i ever saw — and had not the medicines well suited with the distemper , to have abated the violence of the raging pain , i believe he had certainly never got over it . to use the words of mr. colbatch the champion , i believe he had certainly never got over it , had not his distemper been very mild of it self , for from what i have already said , it most evidently appears , the gout is caused by acids , and consequently that they will be so far from abating the distemper , that they are the causes of that pain ; so that we have strong reason to believe , that the distemper being mild , was increased by his acids , for the reasons which are up and down in this book ; and also , because notwithstanding the use of his acids , or rather by reason of them , it was the most dreadful fit that ever he saw , and continued for a month. in the second case , he thinks it not for his credit to tell how long the distemper continued ; but from what hath gone before , i am satisfied it would have gone off sooner without his crem . tartar. and tartar. vitriolat . i have now gone through his treatise of the gout ; and have fully laid open the grand blunders and absurdities , the unpardonable mistakes , and falseness of every thing he asserts throughout his book ; and have proved , by plain experiments and observations , both that the foundation of his practice is false , those experiments that he builds upon , being strong proof against him ; and also , that the practice he builds upon that foundation , is also absurd and dangerous . i might now go on to his next and last book , wherein he further asserts his doctrine of alkalies and acids ; but the latter end of this book containing a relation of fevers , i shall first make some brief remarks upon the same . and here all that i need to take notice of is , that whatever credit may be got by the use of acids in fevers , is not to be attributed to him ; it having always been the constant practice of physicians , to use acids in fevers , except malignant , in which experience and reason pleads against him ; so that did he lay down any thing , as to the cause or cure of malignant fevers , by acids , i should lay open his ignorance by reason , and back my reasons with the success of alkaly used in those distempers , by physicians , for above an hundred years . but since here he only gives the history of five persons , in which he hath the liberty to tell as many falsities as he did in his novum lumen chirurgicum ; and since he only tells how he managed those patients , without laying down the reasons of those distempers , and may say what he will , truth or falsities , as to the success of his medicines ; all that i shall say to these is , that since all that we have to judge of in these cases , is , his own account of himself , which may be very likely false , since we have found him notoriously guilty of such faults before , that we have reason to suspect him to give false account of distempers now , and to make them worse than they were , to applaud himself . i say , all i need to observe , is , the absurdities in those methods he here lays down , and how much the patients might suffer by his irregular practice , and how injudiciously and ignorantly he manages those acids , that have all along been used in fevers ; only with more discretion , and judgment , than one of his dullness can pretend to : this , i say , might be the subject of my remarks , but as he always affirms that he had good success , and is afraid to tell the persons , least he should be disproved : i shall only say , that if they recovered , it was more to be attributed to the mildness of the distemper , than his management ; since he as an ill painter , who abuses his colours , makes an irregular use of medicines , which by a prudent hand , might be of more use . i shall therefore in the next place proceed to examine and lay open the mistakes and injudicious blunders of his next book , having so truly represented this , that ingenious gentlemen may very easily be satisfied of the falseness of his assertions , and how egregiously he hath imposed upon mankind ; which since it was writ for their sakes , i hope they will so far consider , as may prevent them from exposing themselves to his irregular usage , and the dreadful consequences of it . but all that he says in his attempt to prove what life is , being nothing but as if it were incoherent scraps , and broken thoughts , which seem to be partly stol'n from dr. willis ; i shall refer him for an answer to my late little book of the heat of the blood , and of the use of the lungs ; and shall first examine this book as far as relates to a further assertion of the use of acids . and shall then shew how absurdly he used esq turner . an examination of mr. john colbatch his doctrine of acids in the cure of diseases , further asserted , &c. wherein his absurdities , and erroneous opinions , are truly represented , and fully confuted . as also , a vindication of the proceedings of the learned dr. fry of oxford , in a late case of edmund turner esq ; in opposition to the irrational usage of mr. colbatch . london , printed in the year 1699. an examination of mr. john colbatch his doctrine of acids in the cure of diseases , further asserted , &c. i come now to the last part of my task ; and truly , were it not my sole design to detect such grand errors , and to vindicate truth , established by long observations of ingenious and learned men , and confirmed by daily experience , i should never prevail with my self , to spend any more time with such nauseous and abominable mistakes , as his book abounds with , but for truth 's sake , and for the good of those that are imposed upon by him , i shall proceed to an examination of what is contained in this book . and first i shall take notice that this book is made up of three parts . first , a further assertion of the use of acids . secondly , an attempt to prove what life is . and lastly , an account of mr. turner's case , which i shall therefore examine in three distinct chapters . but before i proceed to an examination of his book , i shall first take notice of some things which are premised to the reader ; where , page iii. he says , i am every day pestered with objection of one kind or another , and therefore to save my self the labour of writing pacquets of letters every post-day , i have thought fit to answer those objection that are worth taking notice of in this publick manner . a very fair confession upon my word ! this i hope will satisfie ingenious gentlemen ; nay , and all knowing women , what a slippery hypothesis mr. john colbatch , who was late apothecary in worcester , hath advanced ; for it seems , not only those that write against him , are endeavouring to detect his errors , but whole pacquets of letters come daily to convince him ; so that gentlemen may see , that his hypothesis is not only cryed down by those , which he would represent as his enemies , but a vast number of his private friends , are satisfied of his faults ; and those letters , i hope , will be stronger arguments ; because , since they are private , they cannot be thought to be writ out of a design to expose , but to convince him : but he says , he hath thought fit to answer those objections , &c. very cautiously done , since it was mr. colbatch that takes this method ; he does well to think it only worth his while to answer those which he thinks he can deal with ; and to keep those in private that are too hard for him ; but here i would advise those that write to him , to be cautious ; for if it be nonsence , he 'll expose them ; if their objections be sound , they lose their labour ; for he 's resolved not to be convinced by any means , knowing that as boldness in a bad cause hath supported him hitherto , so that is all he depends on for the future . page vi , and vii . he says , i never yet pretended to make people immortal , my endeavour having all terminated in this , viz. to be serviceable to my fellow creatures in distress as much as i am able . the wise-man says , that no man hath power in the day of death , and that there is no discharge in that war : the issues of life and death being only in the hands of the almighty . this is the second time he hath thought himself bound to apologize for the frequent departures of his patients ; and , god knows , not without need , for how serviceable he may be to his fellow creatures , i have already shew'd , viz. in hastening the number of the elect ; and as it is never usual except upon the death of persons , to fall into such strains of divinity , so i am induced to believe , nothing else could bring him to his bible . page viii . after a confession of his own deficiency , he says , i dare almost be confident , that even in my own time the cudgels will be taken up , and the hypothesis maintain'd and asserted , by one who is able to go through-stitch with it , better than i can . to this i say that let him be who he will that will take up a cudgel , i have taken up one ; and tho i won't be confident , yet i dare promise to engage my self his opponent in this cause , being here he will have neither truth nor reason on his side ; but before i leave his preface , i cannot but take notice of a very philosophical word he here makes use of , viz. through stitch ; and here i make bold to ask mr. colbatch one question , whether through would not have expressed as much without stitch ? truly it would , but we must remember , mr. colbatch hath had the honour to be intimately acquainted with the philosophical glover mr. yardley , of whom he makes an honourable mention in his treatise of the gout ; and no wonder that amongst the rest of his improvments in his critical enquiry into the skins , he learnt this learned phrase , through-stitch from him , it being common for glovers to stitch through and through again . having made these brief remarks , to give ingenious gentlemen a light in our author from his own words , i shall now proceed to examine what he says for a further assertion of the use of acids ; and shall only first briefly take notice of the occasion of it ; which is this : one dr. tuthill of dorchester writ a letter to mr. colbatch this last winter , dated august 9. 97. in which he raised some weak objections , which mr. colbatch finding to be of no force , writ this answer to ; and in his preface , dates it october the 8th . 1697. and in answer to this again , mr. tuthill hath writ about three sheets in vindication of his objections , where he exposes his own weakness more than in this letter , bringing very weak or false arguments in proof of what he had ill grounded here ; but as mr. tuthill was brought into print at the first , perhaps without his consent , so he now is forced to say something in defence of what he might carelesly write to mr. colbatch , in a private letter , and therefore he is to be a little excused for the faults of his letter ; and consequently what he hath said in this last answer , may be thought only as a flourish , to repair or save his credit ; and truly had he not submitted to use mean and servile flattery , to a man that is so far from deserving such complements : i should have had a little better opinion of him , but to complement a man , that is more ignorant than himself , and to call what mr. colbatch hath writ in this book , ingenious solutions ; and to tell one that hath endeavoured to impose upon all the world , that all the world is obliged to him , looks as if mr. tuthill had a mind to flatter mr. colbatch , to stop his mouth , least he should spit at him again ; and i rather believe so , because mr. tuthill in the beginning of those sheets , says , he would not have writ them , had he not been pressed , and urged to it by some friends ; and truly , one would think by what he writes , that it was with much ado squeez'd out of him , and like drops of blood almost stuck by the way ; and he had done better , had not it been pressed out of him , because it is a very bad sample of what is in him : but as the dispute betwixt these two warriours , is inconsiderable , so i shall pass them by without any other notice , than as they afforded me half an hours diversion ; for when i read them i thought indeed they were very hard matched , and complemented as prettily as a pedlar does on a holiday , and could compare them to nothing more properly , than to two drunken men , who fight in the dark , and strike at random , without understanding what they are about , or giving one another many blows . i shall therefore in favour of mr. tuthill , who , i think , was brought into the scuffle against his will , examine what mr. colbatch here says in favour of what i have already shewn to be notoriously false ; and shall lay open what he here says , so fairly , that it will , instead of vindicating what he said before , prove against him : the first thing that offers it self to be taken notice of , is this ; page 4 , 5. he says , whilst i was fairly jogging on , in the ordinary method of practice , a certain gentleman recommended to me a powerful acid , which he told me , i might rely upon in the cure of some sort of fevers . when i considered the thing as an exalted acid , i could scarce give the least credit to what he said — however , considering the fatal success that frequently attended the use of alkalies , and alexipharmicks ( which , however , at that time , i durst not attribute to the medicines , but the malignity of the distempers ) i was resolved upon the first poor patient i had in a fever , to try what the forementioned acid would do ; and upon a multitude of tryals — i found by my acid , i could cure most sorts of fevers , much more effectually and certainly than ever i could before , by the means of alkalies , and alexipharmicks . the effects of this medicine — backed with some other observations , put me upon thinking , that fevers and other distempers did not proceed from the blood 's abounding with acid particles , but on the contrary with alkalious ones . truly , whatever mr. colbatch may think , 't is scarce to his advantage ; for whatever good he did , with that acid , it was not to be ascribed to him , but the gentleman . but why should he not give credit to it ? since he was jogging on in the ordinary method , for acids were always used in most sorts of fevers before his time , tho highly prejudicial in the gout , rheumatism , small-pox , consumptions , &c. but it seems he was as ignorant in those days , as he is now ; and most absurdly gave them alkalies , and alexipharmicks , which are never to be used in fevers , except malignant ; which i have more fully taken notice of , in my answer to his book of the gout . but to proceed , it seems being instructed by a gentleman , he fell to use acids , as other physicians did , and as long as he kept within bounds , had the like success ; but he at the last , finding that physicians were in the right , and he had been all along mistaken ; not only gave acids in most fevers , but transgressed the bounds of reason and experience , and boldly gave acids , in malignant fevers ; which by all the learned and experienced physicians , for an hundred years past , and also at this time , are known to be very dangerous . but this was not all ; those that are ignorant fear nothing , because they are not apprehensive of danger ; he went on boldly in a false way , and wittily drew this conclusion ; acids do good , and have good effects in fevers , and therefore other distempers proceed from alkalies : very strange ! and worthy of mr. john colbatch ; and it must be a very great specimen of his wonderful judgment , for he might as well say , water will set a house on fire , because fire will , as that alkalies cause the gout , rheumatism , small-pox , &c. because they cause some sort of fevers ; were it allowed that those fevers proceeded from alkalies . from page 6. to page 21. is filled up with a parcel of stories , nothing at all to his purpose ; but to tell us , that he hath distilled the blood of eleven persons to no purpose , but to get so much spirit as will turn syrop of violets green ; and what service that will do him , i have already shew'd , viz. that he does not truly ascribe the cause of the gout , &c. to alkalies , but that they proceed from acids , and i shall make it appear more fully by and by in its proper place ; i shall in the mean time take notice , that page 21. it would be almost impossible for any private man , to make a sufficient number of experiments without the assistance of the publick , which occasioned me in the preface to my treatise of the gout , to propose a publick stock to carry on this work. o strange ! has this mighty projector this thought in his head yet ? sure it makes him very uneasie , to see the publick not take notice of him ? alas ! poor man ! it 's a most noble acid that keeps up his spirits , or how would such a mighty champion dispense with such slights ? he that in his book of the gout , has the sole faculty of casting out that devil , which is not to be cast out without prayer and fasting ; who tamed the raging lyon , cut off the hydra's heads , and expelled the mighty tyrant : why are they not afraid of his resentments ? page 23. he says , now if such a substance as this be not to be called an alkaly ( meaning the spirit which he draws from blood ) i should be glad to be informed what is . i shall not here inform him , what medicines are truly called acids , and what alkalies : it is sufficient to shew , that he does not know , which i have already done , since he calls steel and antimony acids , which have always been found to correct acidities , and by their effects to be alkalies ; but he asks , whether this spirit be not an alkaly ? to this i shall give him this brief answer ; that if all substances were either alkalies or acids , it would be more properly called an acid , than an alkaly ; but since all substances are not to be classed under those two heads , it is neither an acid nor an alkaly , and because he knows not what else to call it , i shall tell him , he must call it a spirit ; and since it is drawn from an oily substance the blood ( according to what he says page 7. of his appendix to his essay of alkalies and acids ) it must consequently be an acid , all oily substances , according to him , being acids . but he says , it is an alkaly , because it turns syrop of violets green ; if for that reason it were to be called an alkaly , then what he says in his appendix , is not only prov'd false , by what i have there said , but by his own words here also ; but that it may appear he is mistaken here also , i must put him in mind , that acids will turn syrop of violets green , as well as alkalies , viz. arsnick , and sublimate , the first of which i have proved to be an acid in his appendix to his essay , and the latter in the beginning of his book of the gout , and indeed it is the most unreasonable thing in the world , thence to conclude any thing either to be an acid or alkaly , because both alkalies and acids will turn syrop of violets green ; and we may not only observe different substances to have the same effects in respect of colour , in this experiment , but even throughout nature ; for aloes and cinnamon are much of the same colour , but different in all other respects ; sugar and sublimate are of the same colour , yet the one is innocent , and the other strong poyson ; but tho all are not to be esteemed alkalies , that turn syrop of violets green , yet it is certain , a great many will ; and i have therefore in answer to his book of the gout , granted , that allowing the doctrine of acids and alkalies to be true ( which is by no means ) his experiment was good , and upon those grounds i shewed also , that the experiment is very strong proof against what he builds upon it ; i shall also here upon the same terms grant , that this spirit is an alkaly , and also shew , that tho' it be allowed to be so , it will prove against him , viz. that acids are the causes of distempers : in order to which i shall further take notice , that page 23. he says , in examining the foregoing experiments , it plainly appears , that the blood of people labouring under the distempers there mentioned , does afford a much greater quantity than that of the healthy person . but this , i say , proves , that there is a great deal more acids in the blood of those distempered people , and does not at all prove , that there is more alkalies ; for the blood of healthful people hath as much alkalies in it , as distempered blood , as i have shewed in answer to his introduction , in his treatise of the gout ; and the difference of the blood and serum in respect of the distemper , is only this , that the distempered mass abounds more plentifully with acids , by which means it is more viscous and soapy , and is subject to those coagulations , that healthful peoples blood is free from : and this being already proved , the reason why distempered blood yields more of that spirit , than healthful blood , is very plain , from that observation i , in another part of my answer to that book , have laid down : for i there observ'd , common distillers , who draw inflamable spirits from wort , take notice that before it is sowre , and degenerated into an acid liquor , it yields less spirit than after it hath acquired that acidity ; those acid particles being a more compact subject for the fire to work upon ; and as that wort yields more spirit , the more it degenerates from its sweetness to an acid state ; so the sweet mass of blood , the more it is impregnated with those acids , that cause it to coagulate ; the more it yields of that spirit ; the volatile parts of the blood being made sharper by the union of those more compact pointed particles , and also being more plentifully yoked together and kept from flying away , by which means greater quantities of that alkaly is raised by the fire , and carried off by distillation . all that is contained further in favour of his hypothesis , from pag. 24. to pag. 29. is , that the fire produces no new substances , which were not existent in bodies before , and if any one will demonstrate such a thing without fallacy , he will own himself his humble servant . how far he will be my humble servant , i value not , i would only desire him to be humble where he hath reason , and then he would , like an honest man , follow his trade again ; for he cannot long make people believe that giving two or three medicines without reason or judgment , is cutting off hydra's heads , or performing any such exploits ; and if he does not draw in his horns in a little time , he may expect , that ingenious gentlemen will be undeceiv'd , and laugh at his knight-errantry ; but if he hath a mind to be my humble servant , i shall demonstrate it to him from his own words , that new substances are produced , which were not existent before , not only by fire , but without it . for page 12. he says , that bodies of very different natures may and do receive nutrition , and increase from one and the same substance , which in it self seems to be simple and homogeneous : and this is what he had learned from mr. boyle ; and that not only the honourable mr. boyle , but all philosophers of any note , have agreed , that tho fire cannot create a new substance , yet by fire the form of matter may be so changed and modifyed anew , as to produce a new substance out of any body , which in respect of its form is a new body different from all others , and not existing in that body from whence it was drawn ; and i appeal to all those gentlemen he hath so oft appeal'd to , whether those substances , which he draws from blood , by analizing it , be not different in colour and taste from blood it self , from whence it is drawn . all that is further contained in what he says from page 27. to page 32. is , that the inferences he draws from the serum of the blood turning syrop of violets green , prove the blood to abound with alkalies ; and to shew that two or three , besides himself , have used the same experiment to as little purpose as he hath done . how far that experiment pleads against him , i have already sufficiently shewn in the beginning of his treatise of the gout , so that there is no need i shou'd repeat it again so oft : and as for what he says of dr. fran. andre of caen. and swalve , the same answer i gave to him , will be an answer to them ; so that all the service these two doctors will do mr. colbatch , is to shew that the experiment he there laid down was none of his own , he only having borrowed it from another man , as much mistaken as himself in this point . page 34 , 35. he says , that the blood of sick people , in all or most distempers , doth abound with such particles , more than that of those that are in a state of health ; and if you take an equal proportion of the serum of the blood of a healthy person , and that of a person in a fever , pleurisie , &c. and pour them into equal quantities of syrop of violets of the same strength , you will find that whereon the sick person 's was poured , will be much greener than the other ; and if you commit the blood of a distempered and a healthful person to distillation , the former will yield more alkaly . how distempered blood comes to yield more spirit , i have already shewed , viz. because there is more acid to inviscate and embody the spirit , and how in some cases , as the gout , &c. the serum of the blood comes to turn syrop of violets greener , notwithstanding the distemper proceeds from acids , i shall here briefly explain ; and to make it more intelligible , we are to consider , what state the mass of blood of a distempered person is in , taken collectively , and with respect to the whole , and how it differs from healthful blood ; and here we may remember , that i observed before , that the essential difference betwixt healthful blood , and distempered , was that viscidity observable in the whole mass of humors ; from whence it appeared , that this experiment had no power in trying the different degrees of its viscidity , but only shewed the difference betwixt the thin serum , which our author says , turns syrop of violets greener , when distemper'd ; and as i there shewed of what little force his experiment was , except against himself , i shall now shew , that tho it turns syrop of violets greener than healthful peoples blood , it is of no use to him ; for we are to observe , that whereever there are fiery acid salts in a state of fluidity in the blood , these meeting with the spirits at the extremities of the vessels , where the blood and spirits are mixed together , cause a preternatural ferment , by which means the volatile , and most spirituous parts , are put into a more brisk and violent motion , than what is consistent with the natural temper of the blood ; and thus accidentally being put into motion , too much exagitate the mass of blood , by which means it's volatile parts are dissolved ; and as the learned dr. willis expresses it , carried forth into a state of fluidity or exaltation , the distempered matter being partly or wholly thrown off into some part or the habit of the body ; but the coagulated distempered matter , is not only thrown off by this preternatural ferment , seperating it from the purer mass , and leaving it in these parts ; but the serum of the blood is also , by that means , more plentifully impregnated with those spirituous particles , which turn syrop of violets green : from whence it appears , that tho the viscidity which causes the coagulated serum to obstruct , proceeds from acids ; yet the volatile parts of the blood being thus accidentally exalted by fermenting with more spirituous acids , accidentally cause the serum of the blood of such persons , to turn syrop of violets greener than that of healthful people does . but perhaps mr. colbatch may have it put into his head , that if the cause of the distemper should proceed from acids ; the alkalies thus exalted , would correct those acids , and cure the distemper without medicines : to this i should answer , that it would , and does so ; which is the reason so many of those distempers go off without the assistance of physick , that acid coagulated humour being at the last digested , and by destroying the acids , reduced to a state of tenuity , and as in a pleurisie , &c. the mass of blood is apparently more clammy than healthful blood ; so it is observed , that when that acid that causes it thus to coagulate , is conquered , it again becomes thin , and tho alkalious , yet healthful , that viscidity being taken off , which caused the distemper , as in the gout , rheumatism , &c. but if the quantity of acid be so much , that the volatile parts of the blood thus exalted , cannot over-power it , then that is never conquered without the assistance of medicines which correct and carry off the acidities of the blood. but to proceed ; page 36. he says , if there were not a principle of death within us , how is it possible for a man one hour to be in a good state of health , and the very next to be expiring ? what mr. colbatch means by a principle of death , no body on this side the grave can well tell ; for amongst all the philosophy i have yet read , i never heard of such a principle ; but poor man he writes like one that groped in the dark ; and since all along throughout his books he hath been in it , we must not think strange that he is so now . from page 37 ▪ to page 42 , he makes a long speech , in which all that is contained , is , that all the alkalies in the blood , are excrement , and are in the way to be carried off , but being hindred by obstructions , or by taking cold , and so preventing these excrements from being carried off . what excrements are alkalies , according to his notions , and what are not , or whether any are , i shall not now determine ; but granting that they all were alkalies , i shall shew that those distempers are caused by acids ; for we must take notice , that as long as this alkalizated serum is carried off , so long our bodies are healthful , and free from distempers ; but as soon as this alkaly is hindred from going off , then our bodies are distempered ; from whence it appears , that whatever hinders that alkaly from going off , is the cause of those distempers ; which , he says , are either obstructions , or taking cold. as to the first , viz. obstructions : whatever causes obstructions , must hinder the excrements from going off that way ; and that alkalies cannot cause those obstructions , is plain , because all that goes off that way in a natural state , according to him , is alkaly , and yet does not obstruct ; so that all substances ( if what he says were true ) being either alkalies or acids , from the first to the last it appears , that acids must cause those obstructions which cause the distemper , and that acids will thicken and coagulate is plain from his own words ; and also because taking cold occasions such obstructions as prevent the alkaly from going off , which taking cold can no otherwise do , but by the acid nitre of the air coagulating and obstructing those humours : so that granting the excrements to be alkalies , all distempers must proceed from acids coagulating those alkalies . and mr. john colbatch hath vindicated his hypothesis prettily ; here we may see what a penetrating judgment he has , and what vast short foresight ; and is not this a fit man to have peoples lives intrusted in his hands ? how must he give medicines with any certainty as to the event , who speaks thus without understanding the consequence of his words ? page 42. he says , all alkalies that i know off , will presently cause rottenness and putrefaction in animal substances , as may be seen in making of glovers leather , an instance of which i have given in my tract of the gout , &c. this truly is very ingeniously done , who would ever have thought he could have kept any thing in his head so long , who throughout his book hath been so forgetful ; but to speak the truth , he hath reason to remember his philosophical companion , who furnish'd him with such a neat phrase as through-stitch in the beginning of his book , and communicated to him also that wonderful observation of the skins of animals ; but why will all alkalies presently cause rottenness , and we who are so full of alkalies live a great many years , and are no more rotten than himself ? but in his preface to the gout , he hath observed , that when we die , our flesh presently rots ; but what advantage is that to him ? it only shews , that in a natural state , our bodies ought to have more alkalies in them than acids , and consequently if alkalies naturally abound in our bodies , acids must be most prejudicial which are quite contrary to the natural , constitution of our blood. from page 43 to page 64 , all he says being an attempt to prove , that life is a flame and also what supplies it , i having already in a late treatise of the heat of the blood , and of the use of the lungs , made it appear , in answer to dr. willis his opinion ( of which his seems to be but scraps ) that there is no such thing as flame in the blood , i shall not here repeat , that but refer him and the reader to that book for an answer , and shall here proceed to consider what he further asserts in favour of acids , all that is contained in those pages being already answered . from page 64 to page 89 , his book is filled up with nothing but an answer to some objections raised by mr. tuthil , but as there is nothing material either in the objections or the answers to them , they being inconsiderable and simple i shall pass them by , and leave them two like children to squabble it out , since in such nonsense it is no great matter which overcomes . page 90 , mr. colbatch says , but supposing acids to be the most proper medicines in the world to ease pain , as i believe they are , yet it is not improbable but upon giving a small quantity of acids in such cases , where there is a large quantity of alkaly lodged up in any part , so as to cause pain , it may only in part dissolve the alkaly , which was more fixed , and so by continuing the use of the acid , the alkaly would be perfectly dissolved and extirpated , and so the pain would altogether vanish : but pain being sometimes exasperated , upon the first giving them in too small quantities , has , i doubt not , been one great cause of deterring people from proceeding in the use of them . what stronger proof could be brought by any one against mr. john colbatch then what mr. john colbatch brings : for this confirms what i said against the use of acids in the gout , where i proved that those acid medicines , in the first case he mentions did so exasperate the pain as to make it the most terrible fit he ever saw , and now he himself confesses , that acids do really cause the pain in the gout to be more sharp ; but then he says , the acids only cause pain by dissolving the alkaly , but that the acids do not cause pain by dissolving the alkalies is plain , because acids according to what he said in his essay of alkalies and acids , will not dissolve but confirm the texture of those coagulated acids ; for he there says in his chapter of the gout , that by drinking much wine , the alkalies of the blood coagulating those acids , the matter of the gout is increased ; from whence as i before observed it follows that when his acids come to the part affected and there mix with those alkalies , the alkalious will according to him coagulate the acid , and consequently instead of dissolving will increase the obstruction , and that acids are thus pernicious , is also proved from what the philosophical glover mr. yardly communicated to him ; for if acids hardned the skins that were softned by alkalies , it therefore follows that acids will also hearden that coagulated matter , and that consequently alkalies are proper medicines to dissolve it . thus i have gone over all that is material relating to a further assertion of the use of acids , and have shewed that all he said is false and so far from being a further assertion of what he hath said before , that it is but a repetition of what he said before in his other books , and now i have gone over all his books i cannot but reflect and think , that i have spent a whole month in such intollerable absurdities as his books are made up with , and could almost condemn my self for spending so much time upon such stuff , were it not to undeceive that part of the world that is imposed on by so grand an emperick , a man ignorant and unlearned in knowledge , dangerous and erroneous in practice , and now can any ingenious gentlemen reflect on these grand mistakes , notorious blunders that his books are filled with , together with his insolence and rude insulting behaviour , daring to cast aspersions on the whole learned world , i say can they reflect on these things and not think him very vain and impudent ? what usage must this man deserve ? who reproaches all physicians upon such false grounds , when there is such evident proof that he is miserably mistaken , what punishment great enough and what scorn and contempt equal to his demerits ? but if gentlemen love to be imposed upon , if they had rather retire into another world and are fatigued with this ; i shall not envy them , in their choice of such a physician , but pity their hard fortune , nay if they must needs admire him , i desire they may , as they value another world , before this ; and let them consider what i have said , and if they can pardon such absurdities , if they can extenuate his ignorance and dull faults , if they can look over so dark a character as his , and be pleased with it , and think well of such a man , may they ever admire him till they find the fatal consequences of such absurd practice . a vindication of dr. fry of oxford , in a late case of edmund turner esquire , &c. i shall to close up this book last of all proceed to a vindication of that learned dr. fry , against the unreasonable proceedings of mr. colbatch , and shall shew that in the case that they were concerned in , dr. fry proceeded like a rational judicious man , and mr. colbatch like a mad man without consideration , reason , or moderation , and here i shall not wholly transcribe all the passages he here relates , wherein it appears , that he who is made up of nothing but ignorance and conceit , was insolent and sausy towards a man of no less learning and judgment than dr. fry ; but i shall draw the matter in as little compass as i can , and shall only take notice , tho' mr. colbatch here hath the liberty to state the case according to his own mind , true or false , as it will best serve his turn , yet it will be nothing at all to his credit but expose his weakness and infirmities . the case as he states it was thus . on saturday night mr. turner with two other gentlemen sate down to drink and continued at it , till seven or eight next morning — at which time they all went to bed , the other two gentlemen lay in bed the whole day , and eat nothing but watergrewel ; but mr. turner in the afternoon got up and eat boiled mutton , with a great deal of strong broth and mushrooms in it , and drank plentifully both of wine and prodigious strong beer , and then went to bed again and presently fell a sleep , but early next morning , he awaked in the most dreadful condition imaginable . when i came to him , his circumstance were as follow ; he had a violent pleurisy and peripneumony upon him , a most sharp pain in his left side and a prodigious shortness of breath , he also complained of a wonderful nausea , and sickness of his stomach , and had a fever upon him , &c. this was mr. turners case as mr. colbatch states it , and likely it might be true , but how madam turner and her relations will dispence with mr. colbatch his publishing , that mr. turner killed himself with drinking i know not ; but if she 's pleased with it , with all my heart . my design being only to shew , how like a rational physician dr. fry acted , and how absurdly mr. colbatch prescribed , i shall briefly take notice of the cause of this distemper , that it may more clearly appear whether of them was in the right . the distemper then was a pleurisy joyned with a peripneumony and nausea at his stomach , now it being observed , that in all pleuritick blood , the mass of blood abounds with sizy clammy serum , and that the blood it self is also too thick , it is plain , that the obstructions in the pleurisy must proceed from that viscid matter , and consequently from a mixture of acids which caused that blood to coagulate , which i have sufficiently made evident in opposition to him throughout his books , it being also observed that in all peripneumonies , the lungs are inflam'd , and it being most certain that those inflammations proceed from hot fiery particles , which circulate through that part. and lastly , that all nausea in surfeits proceed from something that lyes upon the stomack , and affects it preternaturally , we have reason to believe , and that his fever and inflammation proceeded from those hot liquors he had drank , and that the obstructions of pleura was caused by that mutton which he eat ; for his stomach being surfeited with drink and unfit to digest what he eat , and those crudities being carried along with those liquors into the capillary vessels of the pleura , would undoubtedly be subject to obstruct there , and were , together with the liquors he drank , the cause of his distemper , and as for his nausea it is a common symptom after a surfeit . thus i have briefly taken a view of the cause of this distemper and shall now with all the brevity , the case will admit of , proceed to consider whether of them took the true method to remove these symptoms , and for that end i shall take a view of the medicines prescribed by each . and first , i shall shew how rationally and judiciously dr. fry ordered mr. turner , which method , had it been continued , might undoubtedly have saved his life . the medicines prescribed by dr. fry were according to mr. colbatch his account as follow ; for mr. turner august 31. 1697. ℞ . ol. sem . lin . rec . ( sine igne ) extract . lib. semis . ℞ . syr. balsam ▪ tolut . unc . quatuor . what more rational could any physician have prescribed , than by balsmatick medicines to heal the stomach and lungs , and to guard them from the sharpness of those liquors , but mr. colbatch was afraid the oyl would increase the nausea at the stomach , but what a groundless fear was that ; for nothing is more common than for common drunkards after a surfeit to drink great quantities of oyl to heal their stomachs , and that balsamicks are proper when the lungs are so affected , is found by experience , nothing being more common than to take balsams for to heal the lungs , and to correct those humours that inflame them , so that so far dr. fry proceeded according to reason and experience , the next prescriptions were ; ℞ . antimon . diaphoret . corall . rub. pp. margarit . pp ▪ ana drach . duas . m. f. pulv . in chart. 12. aeq . reponend . ℞ . aq. hyssop . cichorei . an unc . sex . limacum . mag. lumbricor . mag. an . unc. unam sem . cinnam . hord unc. unam . syr . capill . ven . violar . an . drach . sex . m. f. julap . ℞ . emp. de cicut . cum ammon . uncias duas . ℞ . sem. cum. pulv. unc. sem . but for what end mr. colbatch hath set down those medicines is plain , viz. for the honour and credit of dr. fry , for considering the cause of mr. turner's distemper , viz. that it proceeded from hot liquors inflaming his lungs and crude raw chyle obstructing his pleura , what more rational method could be taken than by coral and pearl , prepared to attenuate and dissolve that crude indigested matter , which obstructed the pleura , and at the same time by diaphoretick antimony to carry off those hot liquors by a moderate sweat ; for as long as they remained in the mass of blood , the inflammation could never be taken off , the cause remaining in it . but dr. fry not only prudently gave these medicines to attenuate the coagulated matter , and to carry those hot liquors out off the mass of blood , by a moderate sweat ; but at the same time gave the aforementioned balsamicks to heal the lungs in the mean time , and to abate the inflammation of the pleura . and that those might be the more serviceable to mr. turner , dr. fry , along with the powder gave also the julep , which is made up of extraordinary good pectoral medicines : the hysop and succory water , together with the syrup , contributing to heal his stomach and lungs , and the aq. limac. and lumbricor . mag. help to dissolve that matter which caused his pain , and also to carry off part of his distemper , if possibly it might , by urin , and again , that nothing might be wanting , that could relieve mr. turner , dr. fry also used outward applications , applying empl. de cicut . cum ammon . to dissolve that matter that obstructed the pleura , that it might be carried off with less difficulty . and now what fault can be found with this , since there was all the reason that can be expected to make one hope for success , from good medicines judiciously prescribed ? and what were the effects ? mr. colbatch himself truly confesses ; when he came to him , the pain in his side was gone , and that he sweat prodigiously , with a shortness of breath ; little reason then had they to discharge dr. fry , and mr. turner deservedly fell a victim to ignorance and mr. colbatch ; for had he been continued under the care of dr. fry undoubtedly he was in a fair way of recovery ; for the pain in his side being taken away , was a good sign that dr. fry's outward application together with the medicines he gave inwardly had all the success could be hoped for , and now all that was to be done was to carry off those hot liquors that he had drunk , which were discharged by sweat , and had dr. fry been there who had judgment and skill to manage him , without question , after that sweat , the matter of his distemper being carried off , his peripneumony with his shortness of breath would have gone off , and as for his pulse it would have easily been raised by a moderate cordial . but for as much as i can guess by the account that mr. colbatch himself gives , all the reason that dr. fry was discharged was because mr. turner was so weak with sweating ; but that was a reason too small to part with a physician that had his expectation so far in the removing of his pleurisy . for what is more common than for an healthful person , if he takes a sweat to almost faint under it , if it be violent , yet after that sweat is over they presently recover and find themselves better in a short time , and weakness in mr. turner's case was nothing but what might be expected in two such severe distempers . but one that would be cured in two days , would not have patience to stay three , and therefore mr. colbatch was in all hast sent for to be his physitian . accordingly mr. colbatch came and finding nature throw off the distemper'd humor by sweat , he presently pour'd in acid medicines , and was not content with this but presently ordered him to be laid in clean linen , by which means he endeavoured all he could to stop that sweating , so that the distempered . humor that ought to be carried off , was in great measure prevented , which oppressing nature with it's quantity , mr. turner from that time by degrees began to yield to the distemper , and submit himself mr. colbatch's victim . but that it may more plainly appear , that mr. turner's death might rationally be laid to his charge , let us consider how mr. colbatch his acid inwardly , and his exposing his body outwardly , would influence him , and first it is plain , that let them be never so cautious , when his body was in such a sweat , and all his pores open , the circumambient air must needs affect it , and a great many of it's nitrous particles , getting into the pores of his body ( for as mr. colbatch with his spectacles perceived in his treatise of the gout , the skin hath receptory pores ) must needs thicken and coagulate the serum of his blood , which in that temper was capable of receiving the least impression from without . now the serum of the blood being thus impregnated with nitre , and at the same time his spirits being fixed and depressed by an internal use of acids , and withal the distempered humor by that means kept in his body : death was all that could be expected from such barbarous usage ; but that mr. colbatch may be condemned by his own words , i shall here to close up this chapter , bring his words to witness against him , which prove , that his giving of acids inwardly , and his exposing him to the ambient air in such a condition was enough to kill , had he been in a better condition then he was ; for p. 39 of this treatise he says , sweat is an alkalious excrement and page 37. all the alkalies that there is to be found in the blood , is most certain an excrement , and in a way of being carried off by some of the emuctories , and if any one of the emuctories be stop'd , that this excrementitious alkaly hath not room to pass out by them , then there is a distemper of some kind or other caused , the blood being over charged with this excrementitious matter . how many distempers are occasioned by what we call taking cold , which is nothing else but a constipation of the pores . and now from these words it appears that whatever keeps this excrement from going off causes a distemper , i having therefore from those words in the beginning of his book shewed , that acids by coagulating keeps it from going off , it must needs follow mr. colbatch by this usage stoping that sweat , hindred this excrement from going off , and caused some distemper , which joyning with his other distempers , which he was scarce able to bear before , so overcharged and oppressed nature that the poor gentleman was forced to dye for it . thus i have briefly taken a view of mr. turner's case , wherein i have shewed the reasonable proceedings of dr. fry , and the most absurd and fatal consequences of mr. colbatch his acids , i shall now leave mr. colbatch to value himself over his nonsence , and like a dung-hill cock to strut over his rubbish , he hath reason to be proud without question , when he can perform such exploits as these in the midst of his knight-errantry without controul . an examination of mr. john colbatch his relation of the cure of a person bitten by a viper , &c. wherein it is proved , that he neither understands the nature of those medicines he applied , nor the cause of the distemper . london , printed in the year 1699. an examination of mr. john colbatch his relation of the cure of a person bitten by a viper , &c. whilst the former sheets were in the press , mr. colbatch having published another specimen of his ignorance , i shall in the next place proceed to an examination of it ; and tho' one would think , what he has said was sufficient to make the world cautious , yet i shall not think it too much trouble , to undeceive it a little further ; and to shew , that the person whom he pretends to have cured by acids , was by no means cured by acids , but such medicines as are generally used to correct acids , and sharp corroding salts . which that i may do with all possible brevity , i shall take the substance of what he says ; passing by all those unnecessary tales which have no relation to the cure : for his book from the beginning to page the 6th is filled up with an account , how foolishly the man came to be bit with the viper , and how inconsiderately he was hurried about the town afterwards , which being nothing to the purpose , i shall pass to his method of cure. and here , first , it will be necessary to consider , wherein consists the poyson of that creature , and then we shall be better able to determine what were his proceedings in the cure of it . and because i don 't only write to satisfie the publick , who are not competent judges ; but also to undeceive mr. colbatch himself , i shall here confute what he hath said , by his own words , we are therefore to believe , that all bodies , from which can be drawn by chymical analization , a volatile oyl , are acids , it appearing from his appendix of acids and alkalies , that all oleaginous bodies are acids ; now if mr. colbatch will believe himself , he must disbelieve himself also ; for from what he says page 12 , viz. he affirming , that the poyson of vipers is not acid , he denys what he said in his appendix , where it is by his own words pronounced an acid , because it contains an oleaginous substance ; but well may mr. colbatch go on to contradict himself , who hath so often done it before ; for from his writings it is plain , that the longer he writes , the worse he manages what he pretends to . but i shall not here urge , that the poyson of vipers is an acid , from what he says in his appendix ; having in answer to that , made it appear , that what he there says is false . but we have great reason to believe that the poyson of vipers , is an acid corroding saline humor , since in respect of the blood , it causes for the most part , the same symptoms with mercurius sublimat . which i have there proved to be an acid ; for by that subtile corrosive salt , with which it abounds ; it corrodes and corrupts the mass of blood , and by that sulphureous oyl , which is mixed with it at the same time , raises a preternatural ferment ; those parts fermenting preternaturally with each other ; and that it is an acid , is further evident : because it hath the same effects which acids generally have ; for as it is commonly known , that all acids as spirit of vitriol , alum , &c. dispose the mass of blood to coagulation , and that when the stomach abounds with acids , as in childrens stomachs it curdles , so does this poyson curdle the blood. page 14 ▪ he instances lemery's concessions to prove it an alkaly ; but we have so much reason to believe , that it is an acid , that except lemery , or mr. colbatch prove it , and disprove what i have said , we deny what he so willingly grants . but , page 16 , mr. colbatch says , hoffman ridicules charras for afferting , that it is an acid ; for says he , if it were so , how could the juice of citrons ( which is an acid ) afford the patient any relief . but if this be all the reason that hoffman , or mr. colbatch have to ridicule charras ; i am afraid they have very sorry grounds for it ; for it may very easily be understood , how a volatile salt , tho' acid , may be corrected by a crude acid , for volatile salts consist of parts so minutely rarified , that they are easily dissolved , and put into so brisk a ferment , as to penetrate and corrupt the whole mass in a small time ; whereas fixed crude acids , whose parts are unapt for motion , are not so easily dissolved , but mixed with those more fierce volatile salts , take off their force , and dull the edges of them , and stop their motion by lying in their way , and from hence appears the reason why elixir vitrioli , abated the symptoms , for the present , which he mentions page 6 , not because that elixir expelled the morbifick matter , but yoked up the more volatile parts of the poyson , for a while . but to prove more fully , that the force of this poyson depends on a corroding acid salt , let us consider the method of cure , where he gives . fol. rutae . rad. angelic . hyspan . & rad. serpenter . virginens . in great quantities . now if we look into sennertus , the medicines which are there are of the same nature with these , which are all used to expel poyson , and to correct acidities , which coagulate and thicken the mass of blood ; yet these medicines mr. colbatch must needs call acids ; but from hence it appears , that they are so far from being acids , that they are indeed quite opposite , and although , as i have often taken notice , mr. colbatch takes the liberty to change the names of things , and calls them what he pleases , yet he might with equal reason call sower , bitter , as bitter acid ; but since it is evident from the taste of these medicines that they are by no means acids , and from the books of learned men , that they are used amongst those antidotes , which expel poyson and correct acids , it consequently follows , that they cannot be acids themselves , but we have reason to believe the poyson is acid , because these which are of a contrary nature to acids expel it . but mr. colbatch will say , that tho' these be not acids , yet since he gave acids along with them , it could not have been cured without those , but we are rather thence to understand , how sorrily mr. colbatch understands the practical part of physick ; who gives one medicine to expel , and another to to hinder it's explusion , and that acid would hinder , and not promote the expulsion of the poyson is plain , from mr. colbatch his method , which he took with esquire turner ; for there to the gentlemans great disadvantage , he acknowledges , that the design of his giving acids was to stop sweating , and to keep the distempered matter from going off by transpiration , and if acids there would stop transpiration , and hinder the distemper'd matter from going off ; by the same rule also , it would hinder the poyson from being expelled ; and it must needs contribute much to the honour of the ingenious mr. colbatch , that he gives one thing to expel poyson , and at the same time another thing to prevent the good effects of that ; contradiction is one of his greatest qualifications , and therefore he ought to be looked upon for it , withal the respect due to such merits . and mr. stringer may thank god , that he had such a prudent man as dr. slone along with him , who knew how to manage so dogmatical an impostor , as mr. colbatch ; for had there not been enough of virginian snake weed , to overpower the acids , and to expel the poyson , it would have soon return'd with it's full force , the acid only being able to check it , and keep it under for a while , and by no means to prevent it's ill effects , for the future ; for as it is an old maxim so it is as true . sincerum nisi vas quicquid infundis acescit . and thus much may serve in answer to what mr. colbatch says concerning a viper ; for tho' he hath troubled himself to tell a parcel of idle tales , which are so much unfit to appear in print , that they ought not to be mentioned even in conversation , yet i shall not think it necessary to take notice of them , all that he says in relation to the cure of the viper being contained in three leaves . an examination of what mr. colbatch says further in vindication of his hypothesis . having already proved , that what he says concerning the cure of the person bit by a viper , so far from being any thing to his credit , that it only shews his ignorance , i shall now proceed to examin what he says further , in favour , of his hypothesis . and having before in my examination of his last book , given my real sentiments of this controversy betwixt mr. tuthil and mr. colbatch , viz. that they are both out of the way , and are so far mistaken , that neither of them says any thing to the purpose , i shall not enlarge here , but shall only take notice of what mr. colbatch hath said further in favour of his absurdities ; and shall pass by all those impertinent and frivolous stories , which are rather a scandal to physick , than themselves , because any body that hath judgment , and reads their nonsence , are certified nothing better can be expected from them . yet notwithstanding their ignorance , they compliment one another very prittily , and mr. colbatch declares his design in so doing , is , only to shew his respect to one , that he hopes can do him no service in convincing him . but to examin what relates to his absurdities concerning acids and alkalies page 25 ▪ he says ; in very many consumptive cases , it is usual for the patient to spit up perfect chalk , and that in great quantities : now if the blood were overcharged with acids in consumptions , the whole mass passing so frequently through the lungs , could not fail of being sweetned by the chalky alkaly . how absurd it is to call tough phlegm , chalk , will be so evident to any one that mispends their time in reading his book , that it would be unnecessary to say any more concerning it : and that , tho' it were an alkaly , it would not at all contribute to sweeten the blood , will appear from what i have already said , when he asserted the same absurdity , about that coagulated matter which makes up the nodes in the gout , viz. that it lies out of the way of circulation , or if it did not , it could absorb acids no longer , when once it's pores were filled , which would be in a moment ; but it is evident , that it is so far from being an alkaly , that it is only crude serum too much thickned by acids , and hardned into phlegm , the watery parts being evaporated by heat . and that it is the nature of acids to thicken such humors hath sufficiently appeared from what i have said , and from himself in mr. turner's case , where he gives acids , which thickning the serum of the blood made it incapable of going off by transpiration . page 27 ▪ he says ; the phosporus is a true animal fire , and is to be extracted from all animal substances ; and if it did not exist in them , how is it possible , for it to be extracted from them . to this one that does not understand physick may answer , as possible as for a cart wheel to be made of a tree , which people don't therefore conclude existent in the tree in the form of a wheell ; but this is an instance which a coach-maker may give against his book , and therefore i shall give him a philosophical one , and shall leave him to consider , whether there be fire in a green and growing tree , and if it be , how comes it not to shew it self , when we are certain most of it's substance may be turned into fire . page 31 ▪ he says , i do still affirm that fevers in general do proceed from a constipation of the emunctories . and this affirmation is very little to his purpose , for since he elsewhere says , that all the excrements of our bodies are alkalies , alkalies cannot hinder their evacuations , but only acids , which by contracting the pores of those emunctories , and withal thickning the serum , make it unfit to be carried off . page 34 ▪ he says , by the way i beg of you that you will not rank the rad. serpentariae with the pulv. è chelis and spr. cc. for the rad. serpentariae belongs to me . truly mr. colbatch does well to claim his priviledges , but there is no other reason why it should not be classed with pulv. è chelis , but this , that it corrects acids abundantly more powerfully , and if that which evidently tastes bitter and destroys acids can be an acid , then acid is bitter , and black is white , but till mr. colbatch can prove that , rad. serpentariae will be no acid. page 35 ▪ he says , i do boldly assert , that in no fever that ever i have yet met with , let them be either benign or malign , have i ever yet observed , that the patient hath been in the least sensible of any acidity in the stomach or mouth . but notwithstanding acidity is not perceivable in the mouth , yet it is probable and true , that acidity is the occasion of the foulness perceived there , by making it too thick and clammy to go off , by other proper passages , and mr. colbatch so far is block-head-like in the right of it ; for sometimes they have a clammy bitter taste in their mouths , but yet according to his own confessions , acids are the cause of that bitter taste ; for he says acids are bitter , namely , rad. serpentariae . again if acids are bitter , perhaps he will say choler is an acid , and no doubt , but if it were for his purpose , he would say so , had he not elsewhere called it an alkaly . but that it may be more evident , that acidity is the cause of all those ill tastes , which feverish people have , we are to remember , that he often asserts , that all the excrements of our body are alkalies , and if so , acidity is the cause of those ill tastes in the mouth , because they alone , according to the doctrin of acids and alkalies , can hinder these alkalies from going off by their proper emunctories , which i have sufficiently proved before , and therefore need not say any more here . page 41. first he says ; the life of man is flame , &c. and page 42 he asks , if fire is not actually existent in animal bodies , how is it possible it should be extracted from them ? as for the first of these i have answered it sufficiently in my treatise of the heat of the blood , and therefore i shall refer the reader to that for an answer , it being not necessary to transcribe all that i have there said in answer to dr. willis his opinion . all that he further says from page 42 to 54 , is to assert , that there is flame in the blood , and that there is no fermentation . but it being only dr. willis his opinion , i shall also refer the reader for an answer there , and i wonder mr. colbatch did not think fit to vindicate dr. willis from those objections , but the reason i believe is , because he could not ; for when i was lately in london , he told me he had writ something to this purpose , and when i asked whether he had answered my book , he told me he did not love to mix his notions with other men's , and that he would not read my book till his was printed , which i conceive was only an excuse , because at that time he had writ most of this book , against tuthill , and was willing to print it , against him , tho' at the same time he knew my book contained a confutation of it , all that he says coming to no more , than that the blood grows hot by accension and not by fermentation ; the former of which is sufficiently confuted in my answer to dr. willis , and tho' i have asserted , that the blood grows hot by fermentation , yet any one that reads my book , and compares it with what he says , will see , that i don't mean by fermentation , such a fermentation as he here denies , but only such a degree of motion , of the minute particles of matter , as are able to cause a sensation of heat upon our sensory . page 44. to prove that heat is not produced after the cartesian hypothesis , he says ; i can assure you i know several fluids the more brisk they are moved , the colder they are ; as for instance , a river is always colder in that place where there is a quick current , than where the water stands still : the air is always more or less cold , according as the motion of it is greater or lesser , and i can assure you , i have been almost starved when forced to travel in the high winds in the winter time , at which season the air is most full of nitrous particles . and again page 50 , he says ; if the progressive motion from the heart to the extremities gives it it's heat , by the same reason , i think the water which runs from our cocks should be warm also . now from hence we way easily gather , what an extraordinary philosopher mr. colbatch is , who attributes the heat or cold of fluids , to a collective motion of a whole mass , instead of the particles which constitute that mass ; for he says a river is coldest where the current is greatest , and to this i answer , that i , having given the reason of heat , in my treatise of the reason of the heat of the blood , i need not repeat it again ; but least mr. colbatch , when he finds it there , cannot apply it , i shall tell him , that the reason why wind and water , tempestuously moved , cause cold , is , because those parts are more forcibly driven upon the sensory ; and how they cause a cold sensation there , is plain from what i have said concerning the vse of the lungs , in admitting nitre into the blood , where i have asserted , that , tho' nitre be in a gentle motion it self , when fluid in the air , yet it is naturally inclinable to rest , and disposes those humors to a rest with which it is mixed ; for which reason water freezes in the winter ; and tho' the water and air in which this nitre swims be in motion , yet that is not such a motion as causes heat ; for a sensation of heat depends on matter in such a degree of motion as is a little above nature , which preternaturally affecting us , causes heat , and that motion , is not a motion of a whole mass collectively , but a swift intestin motion of the parts of that matter subtilized and rarified to a certain degree ; from whence it appears , that tho water and air be in motion , yet the nitre which swims in them , being laid down upon the sensory , disposes those fluids about it to rest , by which means there being a lower degree of motion , than is requisite to preserve a natural temper , we feell a contrary sensation to heat , and if so , the more these nitrous parts are forced upon our body , the greater must be the cold. and as for what he says of the progressive motion of the blood in the vessels , i never heard that any ever affirmed it to be the cause of heat ; so that there he might have spared what he hath said against no body ; but tho' water in a river moved by some accidental cause in a whole stream , does not grow hot , yet if it be set over a fire where it hath an agent subtile enough to work upon it's minute parts , and to put them in motion , it soon changes it's temper . page 61 ▪ he says , i am very glad you own alkalies to abound in pleurisies and rheumatisms and other inflammatory distempers . but mr. colbatch must not think , that all the world grants it , because mr. tuthill cannot defend truth , and therefore i having proved , that all those distempers proceed from acids , i expect he should confute what i have said , or he gives up his cause . page 64 , he says ; now for want of a due secretion by the excretory vessels , the blood is clogged with too great a quantity of serum , which serum being admitted into the lymphatick vessels , and being impregnated with alkaline particles , cannot freely pass along these vessels by reason of it's gelatinous quality , &c. and again page 65 and 66 he says ; such are the excretory glands of the skin , the glandulae renales , the glands of the liver , &c. all which seperate an alkaly from the blood to be thrown off by excrement , and if by any accident these glands are made uncapable of performing their office ; so that the blood cannot be rid of it's excrements then a distemper of some kind or other must necessarily follow , and page 69 , this damnable distemper ( really a very pretty epithite ) which although it be rately cured in a confirmed state , yet in the beginning , nay after it hath made some progress , is frequently to be done , and that as effectually by chalybeats and bitters , as by any sort of medicines . but here for want of making experiments , you say that steel , and the bitter herbs are alkalies . and again , page 72. he says , as for bitters i will be bound to lay a good wager with you , that if you put a pound of centuary , or wormwood into a retort , and distill it with an easie fire till all be come off that will , and afterwards calcine the caput mortuum , and extract the fixed alkaly from the ashes , if you don't find a much greater quantity of acid than alkaly , &c. and from hence he would infer , that bitters are acids . but he hath rather taken an effectual way to prove the insufficiency of chymistry , in discovering the principles of bodies ; for if it will alter bitter , and turn most of it acid , who can be so stupified as to believe , that this discovers the nature of bitter ? can aloes be turned into juice of oranges , and aloes not be destroyed ? it 's in vain to reason with such ideots ; yet this is not all , we may throughout these quotations see , how miserably the dull soul forgets himself , having repeated the same things often in other books ; and also how blindly he contradicts himself here , according to his custom ; and how fully he confutes himself . for first , page 64. he says , the serum being too much impregnated with alkaline particles , cannot pass free through the vessels , by reason of its gelatinous quality ; as if the gelatinous quality depended on a mixture of alkalies , whereas it appears from the experiment he mentions in his treatise of the gout , that the whole serum of healthful people is alkaline , and abounds with alkalies , where there is no such gelatinous quality ; and therefore as i have often taken notice , we are to conclude , that the gelatinous quality depends on a mixture of too much acid ; because , as i before said , that is said to be the cause of an effect , in whose absence there is no such distemper , but on the contrary when mixed with it . from whence it appears , that the reason why the excretory glands cannot perform their office in evacuating excrementitious alkaly , as he says , page 65 , 66 , is , because acid is mixed with it ; and this is certain from his own words ; for if the excrements be alkalies naturally , they would not obstruct , were there no acids to coagulate them . but let us see how coherent mr. colbatch is in his thoughts . page 69. he asserts , that the distemper , which in a passion he calls damnable , if curable is to be cured by chalybeats and bitters , the former of which i have before proved an alkaly , and that bitter is not acid , any body knows , that can distinguish betwixt tastes ; but if mr. colbatch can perswade people , that wormwood is acid , he may make any thing go down with them , but since children have too nice palates to be so deceived , i hope those of riper years have not lost their taste . all that i need further to take notice of mr. colbatch his productions in these quotations , is another wonderful confutation of himself : for page 66 , he says , the bitter excrement of the liver , to wit , choler , is an alkaly : yet page 72. bitters are acids , and consequently choler , as may be seen in the words i have quoted . i might take notice of other absurdities and falsities contained in the foregoing quotations , but what i have said being sufficient , i shall not extend a book of this kind to too large a compass . page 91. he says , the blood cannot super abound with acids — because the stomach will not receive or retain more than it hath occasion for . the reason he gives a little before , is , if at any time people are not sufficiently cautious of that matter , but load the stomach with more manifest acids than the body hath occasion for , she won't fail of rejecting them by vomit . that this is false , every body knows that have but lived in the world long enough to take notice of what occurs daily ; for nothing is more common than for children to bring distempers upon themselves , by eating of unripe fruit , and not only children , but grown people ; and these mr. calbatch cannot deny to be acids surely , if he remembers what he ascribed long life in herefordshire to , viz. eating fruit ; besides , it is too commonly known , that many people almost ruin their constitutions by drinking vinegar , the very same acid he mentions . and thus i have gone through all that he further says , concerning the use of acids , and proved it to be as absurd and ridiculous as the rest of his incoherences , and now shall leave him to consider when he writes again , whether it will not be prudent to read his former books over again , lest he , since he is so forgetful , should be guilty of too much repetition ; for in what he hath already writ , he hath repeated the same thing so many times over , that were the repetitions taken out , his books might all be writ in half the compass : and now , since i have answered them all , i shall give him this caution , that if he repeats any thing again , which he hath already writ , without necessity , i shall only need in answer , to shew where i have already confuted it . finis . an answer to dr. leigh's remarks on a treatise concerning the heat of the blood. together with remarks on dr. leigh's book , entituled exercitationes quinque printed at a private press in oxford , without the licence of the vniversity . as also , a short view of dr. leigh's reply to mr. colbatch , &c. quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diu . — london , printed in the year 1699. an answer to dr. leigh's remarks , &c. soon after i returned from london to oxford , i received a sheet of paper entituled , remarks on my book , concerning the heat of the blood ; to which there being no name prefixed , i could not imagin who it should come from ; but presently after being inform'd by a friend at chester ( who was concerned to see that you had lost the use of your reason ) that it was the elaborate work of such an unfortunate author , and also having received a letter from one in manchester , to whom i am obliged for acquainting me , that you are so fond of it , as to own your self the author of so polite a piece ; i had reason to ascribe the praise and honour due to a work of so extraordinary merit to the inconsiderable author ; a title , which i profess , i , by no means envy you for , and therefore with all the submission due to a man so mighty in his own conceit , and so contemptuous in the opinion of the learned , i beg your pardon , if i am too forwards in contributing to your character , by letting the world know , to whom i am obliged for such a signal token of favour , and they for sharp wit and such a wonderful strain of phancy ; phancy ! below the common strain of rational creatures , yet the strongest efforts of dr. leigh's understanding ; and what i hear is according to your laudable custom , whenever you meet with any thing that is contrary to your own wild notions or a subject of your envy . i was indeed told by some friends , that nothing which dr. leigh could write , would be worth my taking notice of ; therefore this , by no means was : nevertheless , taking a survey of your remarks , and finding throughout the whole , terrible strong symptoms of a sick brain , and not in the least motives to any thing but pity , i thought it a piece of charity to let you see your own infirmities ; for your understanding is not only very much distemper'd , but withal your reason so deprav'd , if not altogether lost , that i fear your distemper is scarce curable ; your remarks being nothing but a heap of incoherences , which are strong arguments that you are very foul within , and very far gone ; for would any man in his senses ever yoke a pig and an elephant together in opposition to a treatise of the heat of the blood ? or could a man who had not quite lost his reason , compare a mouse and a cheesmonger together ? i warrant , you thought my book was two hard a task for an animal of your size , except it had sharper teeth than your self , or of a greater bulk , otherwise your depraved cockloft which you call a head , would scarce have thought of an elephant or a mouse to devour it . but to what purpose it is to talk to a man so strangly deprav'd ? since it is an impossible to perswade you that you are not in your senses , as to cure you ? nevertheless give me leave to tell you , you 'll scarce be cured till made sensible of your malady ; and tho' crazy men are usually angry at those that tell them so , and not apt to believe it , i desire you to be convinced for your own sake . yet it would be more advantage to me , could i perswade the world that you are in your senses , because it might be presumed that you , who in your passion , have expressed so much zeal against me , would also here have produced reason against my book had it lain in your power ; and therefore your remarks would be a recommendation to my book , they shewing that dr. leigh can give no reason against it . for which reason i would perswade the world , that you are neither crazed nor mad , because you never arrived at such a degree of wit to go mad , which tho' a strong argument , will not prevail ; they think it is impossible any man in his senses should rave out such stuff ; and truly , a man in his senses , would scarce think ill words without argument sufficient to confute a rational hypothesis . but i confess , i can have little satisfaction in talking to a madman , and therefore , for my own sake , i shall only conceive all this proceeds from passion and ignorance , and tho' it be not much better to talk to an ignorant man than to a madman , yet it is a little more excusable , and i may make a better apology to the world for it , because one that is ignorant may be instructed . but the town of manchester perhaps may ask , can dr. leigh be ignorant , who tells news so prettily ? should such a question be asked , i should desire them to read his quinque exercitationes and remarks , and they will find physick requires more sound judgment and reason than news , or than dr. leigh hath there laid down . but they say he does some cures in the neighbourhood ? to which i answer , that a serious old woman with two receipts would exceed him to admiration ; and that he is very ignorant in physick will appear by and by ; for first his remarks are only made up of remarks on pigs , mice , elephants , cocklofts , &c. and questions concerning my book , which are rather an effect of his own ignorance than any fault in my book ; for some things he says he does not understand , others he asks how can they be so , and that other things cannot be so : but i am to be blamed for taking no more notice of the doctor than to neglect to direct my discourse to him , especially , when i talk of ignorance , with which he is so well acquainted ; and therefore doctor when you say that such things as i have proved cannot be , i conceive it proceeds from rashness of judgment rather than reason ; because you have given none , and therefore i would advise you to look into the first chapter of the general epistle of st. james v. 5. if any man ask wisdom , let him ask it of god : and when your prayers have proved effectual , you will be more capable of understanding those questions which you ask , by which means your judgment will be better qualified in respect of the latter . and that your neighbours may judge what a judicious physician you are , i shall take a view of your remarks , and see in what sort of subjects your excellency lies in . and truly sir , were it not the wise man's advice to answer a fool according to his folly , lest he should be wise in his own conceit , i should abhor the thoughts of spending a minute upon what you think witty : but to make you sensible what reason you have to be humble , i shall run over briefly the subjects of your thoughts ; and , first , we may take notice that pag. the 4th you have been a mighty man at making observations among the pigs , where by the strength of imagination , the sight of a pig hath put you in mind of an elephant ; and according to your profound judgment you have distinguished betwixt these animals ; and in imitation of the pigs , page the 11th , you have condescended to take a c — t — d in your mouth , flattering your self there was a rose in the surface , your disappointment wherein , i suppose , made you spit it out at me : but this is beastly manners , truly doctor , and had you not been a subtle pig indeed , you might have disgorged the materials of your understanding another way , without fouling paper with such stuff ; but perhaps your brutal observations have not quite degenerated you into that species of animals , and that glimmering of reason you had left , directed you to put c — t — d in your remarks , to put people in mind what use to make of them , and if so , you have your desire ; for most people that read them , presently lay them up for a bog-house use , only say it's a pity , but dr. leigh should have the office of a bog-house-door-keeper at brazen-nose to make public use of what he hath provided ; for most people are afraid of fouling their fingers with a piece of paper the doctor hath dirty'd already . but secondly , this is not all , you have not only been a great critick amongst the pigs , but have pry'd closely amongst the dairy-maids , where you have metaphorically called the mouse a cheesmonger . poor animal ! alas ! that the mouse who hath long enjoyed a freedom from the press , should be trapp'd , remarked upon , and miscalled by dr. leigh . a very fine subject for so subtile , so cunning an author ! page the 8th you have put us in mind , that you are a learned man amongst the school boys , who have not yet forgot to play at ball ; but doctor , for my part , since i have left off such things , i shall leave fools and children to play together . fourthly , amongst these niceties you have acquainted the world , that the pudenda of a salt bitch hath been a mighty subject of your admiration , and perhaps you have sometimes envyed the dogs felicity in the enjoyment , and it 's a wonder you never proved rival . poor man ! man did i say ? poor childish , peevish creature ! who is it but pities you , that you should employ your thoughts on no better subjects . but it seems these poor animals are not only the subjects of your revenge , but irish-men and a whole nation must have a jest upon them , for laughter's sake , and be call'd fools . pray doctor , what wrong have irish-men done you ? surely you don't think me one ; no , you are sensible i am your country man ; but since no body can stand out of the reach of such poysonous air as your remarks were made in , give me leave to tell you in your own words , that some such air hath influenced you , or your wit might have been a little more cleanly . thus far doctor , i have answered you according to your folly , lest you should be wise in your own conceit ; but none but dr. leigh can be fond of such remarks , and you have so little reason that i shall also take the wiseman's advice , who says , answer not a fool according to his folly , lest thou should be like unto him ; for indeed the learned world hath got such an opinion of you , that of all the crazed men , or men in their senses i know , i would not chuse to be like you . i shall only therefore let you know , that the cook and skulleon of brazen-nose , having held a debate concerning the 5th page of your remarks ; they fell into a passion , because you have laid their scotch scollops in such dirty language ; ill words being no good sauce . thus far doctor , i have traced the symptoms of your distemper , and taken a view of some of the profound observations you are excellent in ; i might indeed go on and take notice of your remarks on bog-houses , duck-shot , roger of caverly , the wise men of gothan , and diego with his spanish geese ; but leaving these i shall make my remarks on a manchester goose , and shall proceed to give you a little information of those things which you are ignorant of ; and since your understanding is so far vitiated may i endeavour to make you a man of a little more understanding . page the 3d you say , you find i think , fire is not actually hot in it self , but as it affects the sensory : what a quick-sighted man that can find a thing at the first sight , when it is before his eyes ! it is a wonder , that one that raves of spanish geese and such creatures , should have a tallent at discerning , for doctor you have found it right , for really i think fire is not actually hot in it self , but as it affects the sensory ; and i , having given my reasons for it in my book , shall think so still till you have answered those , and given me reasons to the contrary . page the 6th you ask , how comes it to pass that a nerve will not swell above the straitest ligature , or any of this mucilage distil upon section , or cannot by pressure be squeezed from it ? i am glad a man in your condition desires to be so informed ; and therefore i shall tell you that why it will not distil upon section nor be squeezed out by pressure , you might have learnt in my book from page the 86th to the 91st , which i need not repeat here ; and as for the reason why a nerve will not swell above the straitest ligature , it is very plain ; for any one that does but understand , how the nerves are branched up and down the body , and how they communicate with each other , and withal how gentle the motion of the spirits is through the nerves , in comparison of the rapid motion of the blood through the sanguiferous vessels , will easily understand what a little thing stops the force of them , if a passage be denied , and how their passage being stopped that way , they flow more plentifully into other parts ; and you might with as much reason ask why a leaden pipe through which water is forced , does not swell upon the straitest ligature ? for considering the strength of the nervous coats , and that small quantity of spirits which circulates through them , the force cannot be sufficient to distend them so powerfully , as is requisite to make them swell upon a ligature ; for tho' the spirits , when mixed with the blood , violently ferment , yet when kept separate in their proper vessels they do not . in the same page , you say , i take a great deal of pains to shew , that the animal spirits heat the blood by the glandules , those emunctories of the body . but here doctor , you have only shewed your parts so far , that you will tell lies to make your self merry ; for i am sure i have no such words in my book , therefore you must be very much out of order , and it is a bad symptom in all hot distempers , especially fevers , of the brain , to rave so strangely ; but truly i pity you , you not only fancy things to be in my book , which are only in your own head , but are mightily affected with the fumes of a bog-house , which you mention page the 7th , which is another memorandum what use to make of your remarks . page the 7th you say , there is not one notion in my book — but what is taken either from dr. gibson , dr. willis , mr. boyle , dr. mayow , dr. connor , monsieur le grand — — or the exercitationes quinque lately printed ( at a private press ) in oxford . but doctor , tho' you think fit to tell the world i have read so many good books ( except the last ) i challenge you to shew my notions were taken out of any of them , or any others , and had you been in your senses you might have shewn me where what i have said was to be found in those books ; but i question , whether you have read them your self , except the exercitationes quinque which i suppose is the cause of your passion , because it is not taken notice of by the learned ; for which reason i have taken care to place a distance betwixt it and those authors , too good to be nam'd with such company . pag. the 9th , you quote two sentences out of my book , and at the same time dream ( for surely you are not awake ) except you rave of contradictions ; but since no body can see any contradiction there , i shall in short tell you , that those two sentences differ only in words not in signification . in the same page you say , i have not fully replyed to diemerbroek nor dr. henshaw , and that i am the first man that ever discovered cold chyle in the body of a living animal . as for what i said to diemerbroek and dr. henshaw , tho' i might have said a great deal more , yet what i have is sufficient , and as for my discovering cold chyle in the body of a living animal , when your indisposition is a little abated , look into my book and you will see how wild you were in your fit , for i don't say there is cold chyle in the body of a living animal , but only pag. 66 of my book , he might as well have said , that there is so great a dissimilitude betwixt hot blood and cold milk , that as soon as , &c. which is as much as to say it is impossible . and which is only spoke in reference to such a liquor without the body ; besides , milk is not chyle , nor is chyle called milk in the body of a living animal . pag. the 10th you say , all the names in europe cannot give me the constituent parts of a philosopher . strange ! how peevish , crazy pates are sometimes ! truly doctor , you have hit the nail on the head : mens names contribute very little to their understandings , and i suppose children at baptism are scarce philosophers ; but whether i am one or not i suppose you are not capable of judging ; but whatever i am now , were my name charles leigh i should in vain hope to be one . pag. the 10th you say , i assert attrition to be the cause of fermentation , and fermentation the cause of nutrition , &c. this is another symptom of your distemper , and no wonder that you , who employ your thoughts on pigs , mice , &c. should be so short-sighted in physick ; but since pag. the 5th you let us understand , that you are a little acquainted with cookery , you had made a nearer comparison , if you had said , that when a pot boils over , the fire acts on the water , and the water , by that means being forc'd out of the pot , acts on the fire by putting it out , or to give you a plainer instance of mutual action and passion , suppose you in one of your fits should knock your head against a post for writing such remarks , would not your head act upon the post , and the post upon your head ? pray think of it , when your fit is a little off , and consider , that all i say comes to no more , than that there is a mutual action and passion , as i otherwise expressed it . pag. the 12th you pretend to quote some words of mine , where you affirm that i say , i have explained an account of the heat of the blood without any manner of proof . but had dr. leigh's morals been as good as his will was prejudiced , you might have us'd my words , and taken notice of what followed ; for my words are , having premis'd an account of the heat of the blood , &c. i shall now proceed to a proof of what i have propos'd collectively , &c. but alas ! no wonder that one under the influence of the moon , in the company of diego , should be out of the way . in the same page and pag. 13. you say , i have mistaken an experiment , for instead of spirit of wine , it should be spirit of nitre ; but doctor , had i said spirit of nitre and oyl of turpentine would have done so , it would be nothing but what was commonly known ; and the reason why i said spirit of wine would do so , was , upon very good grounds , it being told me by a friend whose sincerity i did not question and i the sooner believ'd it , because dr. willis in his book de fermentatione says thus , spiritus vini phialae inclusus nulla effervescentiae signa prodit , sin verò spirtiui huic parum olei terebinthinae adjiciatur particulae liquoris adeò exiliunt , ut hinc vitrum hermetice obsignatum effractum viderim ; which was some grounds to think so , but suppose he that communicated it to me was imposed upon ; it takes up but two lines in my book , upon which the proof of nothing in my book depends , and if it did the common experiment would supply it ; and that , doctor , you might have easily seen had you not been too intent upon your curious observations of diego , and his spanish geese , and hedging in the cuckow ; but one that had roger of coverly in his head , the truth is , is very unfit to consider any thing that requires more atention than your curiosity amongst the pigs , mice , dogs and bog-houses . pag. the 14th you take notice , that i have in my book , hinted at the common indications in fevers , and are angry , because i take no further notice of the method generally us'd in the cure : but as it was not my business in that place to give a fuller account of fevers than to hint at the curative indications ; so it is more sufficient to satisfy the world that i know what method to take in the cure of fevers , than any thing you have said in your remarks can vouch for you ; for to know the curative indications is one half of the cure. but pray doctor , why should you be angry that i have said no more of fevers than i have ? were you sensible of any such distemper in your brain ? if you were , you might have writ to me , and in compassion to your infirmities , i should have advised you ; but it seems the distemper admitted of no advice , but when you were angry , you must shew your passion with sending geese , mice , dogs and elephants amongst us ; pray what reason had you to think these creatures would take your part , except you had us'd them a little more gently than to call them ill names ? pag. the 15th you say , you would gladly know what i mean by acidity joyning with acrimony ; and how i will make it out , that in fevers the blood is too much exalted with sulphur , when in malignant fevers it 's plain , the pulse is most commonly depress'd and languid . doctor , i was glad to find this remark amongst the rest ; for had it held for any time i should have thought that there had been more hopes of you , because you seem glad of information ; but it made me pity you when i remembred that it is a common observation , that people seem a little better some time before death ; and really when i found by your last page , that it was but a short remission , i was affraid it was only an omen in a short time your lodgings would be at bethlem ; but i beg of and earnestly intreat all your friends , neighbours and acquaintance , that if your distemper should continue , they would close you up in some private apartment there ; for should you be sent to bethlem you might infect the place , and drive those that are indifferent , stark mad ; pray good dr. keep at home for bethlem's sake , and i 'll tell you what i mean by acidity , joyning with acrimony , and if your indisposition will permit you , look upon that page again , and you 'll find i mean a liquor compounded of a mixture of acids , mixed with sharp scorbutick salts ; and as for malignant fevers , i need not now give you my opinion of them , the words in my book being these , altho' in fevers where the blood abounds with too much exalted sulphur , &c. where i only speak of such fevers , in which too much sulphur does abound , namely in sanguine constitutions and such as diary fevers . in the same page you say , dr. morton allows the expansion of the spirits , and so does dr. willis , and there was no need of you to mention your exercitationes quinque only you would promote the sale of it ; for tho' so many authors have allow'd the expansion of the spirits , yet his opinion was nevertheless new , neither was he said to steal it from others , such things as those being common to the philosophical part of the world , and every one supposed to know them . page the 16th , you ask , what are the bladders of the lungs impleted with ? and if so , how come some airs to be pestilential , others scorbutick ? it's plain they would not be if the particles of air mixed not with the blood. poor man ! in what a sad condition ! what 's become of his understanding ! good doctor , give me leave to say it's plain you are mistaken , and don 't be angry if for once i speak a little roughly ; for men in your condition ought to be checked sometimes ; but i have very little reason to be angry with you , and therefore calmly let me tell you , that i don't deny in my book , but that the bladders of the lungs are impleted with air , and that mediately it is mixed with the blood ; because those vessels are mixed with the sanguiferous vessels ; but i say it is not immediately mixed with the blood , and tho' it be not , we may easily understand , how some airs become pestilential , others scorbutick ; for tho' i deny air to be mixed with the blood , yet since i say , the nitre of the air is , your questions are easily answered ; because as that nitre is differently impregnated with heterogeneous parts ; so it will differently affect the mass of blood. and now , good doctor , i have taken a view of your noble performance , and have answered all those questions , which your passion and indisposition , together have prompted you to ask , and i hope i have assisted your understanding in those points , which before you seemed ignorant and incapable of . and since you have been pleased to tell me ( whether it was the effects of a dream , or not i cannot tell ) that i had better sat still , may i like a friend venture to ask you one question , whether it had not been better for you to have sounded a bethlem-man's horn about the street , than to have made your self ridiculous by your remarks ? for had you done so , people would have imagined you were past the worst and cured , but as it is , it 's feared you are in a very bad condition . yet for ought i can see , i am obliged to you ; for i dare be bold to say , you have a good opinion of my book , or you would not have thought it worth your notice , for men in your condition have usually very high flown thoughts of themselves , and now doctor , besides your indisposition , since it appears that you are also in a passion , laying aside for a while your distemper , let us consider the cause of your passion , and really doctor , if may guess , you could have nothing else to incense , you but that i am your country man , and that your book , i mean the quinque exercitationes , is not taken notice of by the learned world. it 's true , you have spent a great deal of money in making experiments to no purpose , and your darling notions which have no dependence on experiments , are of no value . but why should you be angry with me ? it's none of my fault ; i wish you well with all my heart , and did not envy you in the least , but pitied you . but it seems you are offended at my age , and think i have not been trimm'd often enough ; but. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . which if applyed to your self will signifie that the goat is wiser than your self , because it hath a longer beard : and tho' i be young , it is not the custom of good husbandmen to cut down those trees that bear fruit betimes , for tho' a young tree bears not fruit in abundance , yet wise men know what it is , and how to value it . and since the tree is known by the fruit and not the fruit by the tree ; you are to take my age in physick from my books , and if by comparing 〈◊〉 book with your own , you find i have given less reason than your self , then i am a young man ; but if yours be irrational then you are the younger of the two , for mistake not , an man may be an old man and a young physician , and a ingenious man and no physician at all : and therefore don't think your self the wiser because you have lived longer than others , except it appears from your works that you have made greater improvements and better use of your time. but lest you should be too partial on your own side , and that those may know what a valuable piece the quinque exercitationes are , who don't think fit to buy them ; i shall take the substance of what is there , and satisfie you that whatever you may think of your self , you are really a youth in physick , and here i shall not take notice of every little fault , but of the main things which you lay down as the foundation of your books , which if they be false or not your own , you must blame your self , and only ask me to pity you . and first , i shall take a view of your whole book together , where we may see that your head hath not been out of order just upon writing of your remarks , but your distemper is of a longer standing , and hath been coming on you a long time , for in this treatise , i mean , quinque exercitationes , all that you can properly call your own , is scarce worth owning . in your remarks , you tell me i dictate like a professor of the chair ( which is a sign that you have good thoughts of what i have writ ) but if we look into your book and compare it with mine , your own modesty will be very remarkable , for in my books i have offered nothing but what i have given my reasons for , and that with submission to the learned not to you , mistake not your self ; but you have laid down every thing without giving the least reason at all ; and tho' your distempered head hath forced you to fall out with your own reason pray don't be angry that i use mine ; for if that be the distinguishing faculty betwixt a man and a brute , men ought to use it or they are worse than those creatures that have it not ; and tho' you have in your remarks equalled your self in observations with the beasts of the field , i would not be classed amongst the pigs and elephants whilst i have reason to tell me , i am of another kind of animals . but to shew that your head hath been long out of order , let us take a view of your exercitationes quinque where we shall trace the first symptoms of your distemper . and truly doctor , as for your first exercitation de quis mineralibus , i have as slight an opinion of it as of the rest of your book , and should not think it worth my while to take notice of what dr. lister scorns to trouble himself with , only for your own you may see what reason you have to be humble , and how far your intellectuals are vitiated . the first thing i shall take notice of in this exercitation is , your absurdities in respect of dr. lister himself , for first page 2 you say , ingenue fateor &c. i. e. i confess ingenuously , i have always had the greatest respect for him , for his sharp wit , and again , lubens quidem agnosco quod hypothesis ista est ingenio plena . i. e. i acknowledge willingly that that hypothesis is very witty , and again page 2 you say , quos itaqueverborum praestigia , &c. i. e. let those that are pleased with the fallacies of words — delight themselves with the sound of them , they neither hurt one that is ignorent , nor help one that hath knowledge . now doctor were you right in your senses , i should ask you these questions , whether if what dr. lister writ , were witty , or had you a respect for him , it would be a token of respect due to one that deserved it , to tell him , he takes a delight to be deceived with words and with their sounds , and that he cannot inform a man of sense , which is signified by scientem , certainly you either don't think what you say , or don't care , for if you thought he deserved respect you ought to have shewed it him , and if you thought his book witty , how comes it to be only a sound of words ; doctor , are these things consistent ? with your own brain perhaps contradictions and inadvertency may agree well enough , but amongst men of sense these things must expose you ; besides tho' you , even dr. charles leigh , have said it , and in the form of a proverb too , ignoranti nec nocent nec scientem juvant , betwixt friends let me tell you , your proverb , tho' of your own making , won't hold , for it is rather to be thought that to be delighted with sound of words only , and to be pleased with he fallacies , ignoranti nocent , and do 't greatest hurt to ignorant persons , because they make them loose their time without information , when ignorant men have least reason to do so ; and this may put you in mind to mind your business . but to proceed , let us see a little further how your cariage answers the character you gave of dr. lister , page 7 you say , pro me itaque &c. that is , for me let them dispute with zeno against autopsie , and look at the sun with spectacles at mid-day . how now dr. are you as angry at dr. lister as you are at me , and can you , were you in your senses , tell a man , that you respect and think witty , that he cannot see the sun at mid-day , without spectacles ▪ dr. how does short sighted , and acerrimum agree ? but perhaps you 'll suppose the sun to be beyond a cloud on a foggy day , and then indeed a witty man may put on his spectacles before he sees it , but if you don't suppose the sun to be beyond a cloud , i am afraid you may put on your spectacles before you see , how to reconcile short-sighted and most acute ; but perhaps when you say you respect dr. lister , propter ingenium acerrimum , you may say acerrimum signifies , most sower as well as most acute , and then indeed short-sighted and acerrimum may be in the same man ; but then i should ask you how came you to respect a man that is short-sighted and acerrimum i. e. most sower , was it for your own sake ? truly i believe so , for there are too many instances in your book as well as remarks , that you are a shrowd short-sighted man. but perhaps you 'll challenge me to shew you one ! if so you are more short-sighted than i thought you was , good doctor , read over this answer from the beginning , and you 'll find enough , and if you 'll stay a while you shall have more than you can wish for . but before we go any further let us see what other methods you take to express your respect to dr. lister , propter ingenium acerrimum . page 9 you respectfully say , that the pyrites haud plus vegetat , quam triticum istud &c. i. e. the pyrites no more grows , than that wheat which fell out of the clouds from the middle region , of which trifling philosophers rave so much ; o fye doctor ! by no means call your self the trifling philosopher , for the world will judge you are much mistaken ; for they are so far from thinking you are a trifling philosopher , that they positively say in london that you are no philosopher at all : but perhaps you 'll ask me where do you call your self a trifling philosopher , if you do , i shall ask you , whether if you call those that rave of this wheat , trifling philosophers , you don't call your self one since it's plain you rave beyond measure : and here doctor let me ask you how you came to throw a showe of wheat upon dr. lister , it seems you serve him and me alike , only since you writ against dr. lister , you have mightily improved your self , for this showre of wheat hath put you in mind of diego and his spanish geese , and the wise man of gotham , pigs , dogs and elephants , they all come thundring upon my head. page the 11th , you have given another token of your respect to dr. lister , where you say , haec hypothesis est gratis dicta , & fabula tantum de lana caprina , i. e. this hypothesis is not proved , and only a story of goats wooll ; is this doctor the hypothesis that page the 2d you said was full of wit , good god! goats wooll is full of wit , according to dr. leigh , o acerrimum ! now i see why in your remark you fell out with my age , i have not bread enough , and consequently not wit , to dr. leigh , — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . thus far i have shew'd you dr. and you may see it , if you 'll put on your spectacles , how bravely you have reverenc'd dr. lister , and if these be tokens of respect to dr. lister , i may say you have an extraordinary respect for me , for you only tell him , you have a great reverence towards him , and all the reasons you have given for it is acerrimum ingenium , most sowre wit , and because he is delighted with sounds , and can do an ignorant man no harm ( so that you are secure ) and again , because he talks of goats wooll , in which you suppose a great deal of wit is lodged ; these sort of qualifications you say he is stocked with , and to shew your respects to him you reproach him with them , and if it be your method of reverencing , to throw foul words at one , i find you reverence me extreamly ; for you have set the elephant upon me , the mouse , the cheesemonger , and diego with his spanish geese , you have also presented me with a boghouse , and one of your country nosegays , surely you thought a ●aghouse was the fittest place to read your book in ; and all these are to be taken for tokens of reverence . and really i take them as such , for i find that , like children , you throw dirt at those that you play with , and frown upon those you love , otherwise you would never have told me in your remarks , that i took my notions out of your book , and then throw so much dirt at them , for this was to undervalue your own book , had you consider'd , but either it was your kindness for your own notions that made you be so foul upon them ; for by dr. lister one may see you abuse what you reverence , or you cannot endure to see your own picture , but that you may not fall out with my book , because you think it hath something out of yours , i tell you plainly there is nothing out of yours book , and i should be so far from taking any thing out of your book , that i should burn my book , if i could find any such nonsense in it as yours is full of . but pray doctor , let us consider what is the substance of this exercitation against dr. lister , page the 4th you say , in puteis juxta haigh , &c. i. e. in the wells near haigh in lancashire ; for there is a true vitriolated fountain , which if any , runs with a gentle current , which by repeated experiments i have demonstrated to be full of vitriol , &c. and again page the 5th you say , sume aquam acidulam eam puta prope boulton — &c. i. e. take the vitriolated water , near boulton in lancashire — &c. from thence you will obtain shoots of vitriol ; from whence and the rest of this exercitation , it appears that you have argu'd very strongly to prove that acidulated waters have acids in them , and you had need to be a mighty disputant to gain such a point , and surely dr. roe could not choose but laugh to see you so busy to prove nothing , certainly smiglicius qualify'd you for such discoveries ; for to prove methodically and convincingly , that water acidulated hath acids in it , is really a matter as difficult as to prove that the well near haigh in lancashire hath water in it , and truly no wonder that you convinced dr. floyer ; for the thing is plain enough , for example , if the well have water in it , there must needs be water in the well , and if the water be acid there must needs be acid in the water , what reasoning can be stronger ? what evidence more clear ? strike up doctor , for the credit of bethlem and the town of manchester ; and be it published to the world that by parity of reason dr. leigh effectually prov'd , that all malt drink hath malt in it , for example , if acidulated waters consist of water and acids , all acidulated waters have acids in them , and therefore by parity of reason it follows , that if ale be made of malt and water , all ale must have malt in it , a discovery of great use to brewers , doctor , who would ever here thought of such a discovery as this besides your self , i mean who would ever have thought it a discovery , and are you to value your self upon this , because you have proved that acidulated waters are acidulated , good lord ! news from bethlem . thus much doctor may suffice for your first exercitation , now pray let 's unfold the secrets of your next exercitation de thermis calidis , and here doctor , i shall not take notice how angry you are with those that are not of your mind , having in this and your remarks given instances enough of that , all that ▪ i shall further do is briefly to take notice of your mistakes , in your second exercitation you have reckon'd up a great many opinions of the reason of hot baths , and i wonder how you could remember the names of so many , but why should i wonder , i have heard one in bethlem repeat a whole chapter ; and why mayn't you recount how many authors ●●ve writ de thermis , but to take a view of this excitation ; the substance of which is in chapter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , all the rest being filled up with the opinions of other men , where pag. 41 you say , supponimus 〈◊〉 particulis sulphureis in semetipsis collidentibus 〈◊〉 quaecunque calida incalescere , i. e. we suppose all 〈◊〉 baths to grow hot by sulphureous particles striking one against another ; this doctor is the substance of your opinion , all the rest of the chapter being only to prove this , and to contradict those that had writ on the subject before , and now good doctor be pleas'd to turn to dr. willis de fermentatione . where chap. 11. paragraph the 4th you will ( by the assistance of your spectacles at mid-day ) see these words , rei cujusque temperies quoad calorem à sulphure imprimis dependet , i. e. the temper of all hot bodies in respect of heat chiefly depend on sulphur , where you see you are of the same opinion with dr. willis exactly , and it is good luck to agree with such an author , but pray doctor , did you take this notion of heat from dr. willis ▪ or did he take it from you , think of it and when you do remember , that his book was writ long before yours , but again , look back to page the 32 of your own book , where you quote these words from monsieur le grand , provenit ergò thermarum calor à bituminis & sulphuris misturâ , quae dum inter se confunduntur , per quandam fermentationem calorem concipiunt , i. e. the heat therefore of hot baths proceeds from a bitumen and sulphur , which whilst they are mixed acquire heat by fermentation , now doctor , what does this differ from your opinion , you say heat depends on a mixture of sulphureous particles , so does le grand ; for a mixture of bitumen and sulphur is but one sulphureous body with another , now it is strange that dr. leigh should be so angry at me when he hath so much more reason to be angry at himself , and really he is so ; for when dr. willis says , heat proceeds from sulphur , and le grand is of the same opinion , dr. leigh cannot bear it , he contradicts them , and keeps the reasons to himself , yet when he himself affirms the same thing as his own , he thinks he hath done well ; phy ! doctor , i thought you had not been quite so crazy , if you go on at this rate bethlem will not hold you . and now doctor , must not this argue that your brain is extreamly hot , that you cannot discern your self of the same opinion with these men ; but there are further instances than this , nothing will serve you but my notion of the heat of the blood must be taken from dr. willis , le grand and the exercitationes quinque truly had it been taken from one it had been taken from all ; because there is no difference betwixt them , but no body that pretends to knowledge will pretend to say that my notion of the reason of the heat of the blood is to be compar'd to yours , i mean dr. willis his ; for the formal cause of the heat of hot baths is widely different from the formal cause of the heat of the blood , for the heat of baths according to dr. willis depends on a mixture and fermentation of sulphureous parts , but the heat of the blood ( i say ) depends on a mixture and mutual fermentation of animal spirits and blood , which account in my treatise is different from all others yet laid down , and which i believe i have sufficiently proved , and if what i have said will not be sufficient to prove truth , i conceive i am furnished with reasons which will , which i did not lay down in my book , because what is there is enough . n. b. that where i have said the heat is caused so , or otherwise , i mean a power to cause such a sensation upon our sensory ; for fire is not actually hot in it self , but as it affects our sensory , as i have proved in my treatise of the reason of the heat of the blood. but how came i to forget i was talking to dr. leigh , doctor , i beg your pardon for being so serious and for talking of reason , i did not remember such talk would disturb your head , come , come , doctor , let 's divert you , a windmill , diego and his spanish geese , roger a coverly , the elephant , cheesemonger , or what you please , chuse your subject ; and pray talk to your self , for it 's usual for one in your distemper , i for my part shall pass my time on subjects , which are more proper objects of reason . your next exercitation , doctor , contains an imperfect account of a fever in lancashire ; which since it only appear'd in a small part of lancashire , it would be as impertinent to trouble the world with a refutation of what you say , as it was useless for you to write it , had you done it ingeniously ; i shall therefore only take notice of the first page of it , which seems to be very ominous . page 54. vix datur lunae circuitus quin febris quaedam exaestuans — populariter grassatur , ac si ignis elementaris ( sub concavo lunae hospitans ) &c. i. e. there is scarce a month , but some burning fever is abroad , as if that fire ( in the concave of the moon ) continually broil'd mankind , &c. but you should rather have said , as if mens constitutions and way of living were the cause of it , then fire in the concave of the moon , for to say , as if fire in the concave of the moon caused it , is as much as to say , as if there were no cause for it , because there is no such fire , but poor man ! diego and his spanish geese , and the moon have influenc'd you , the one hath made you a goose , the other a mad-man . in the next place , let us consider the substance of your fourth exercitation de febribus intermittentibus , where page 87 ▪ you say , supponimus febres omnes intermittentes particulis salinis esse ortis , i. e. this is your opinion of the cause of intermitting fevers , now pray doctor turn to dr. willis of intermitting fevers , chap. 4. paragraph the 4th , where you will find these words , haec sanguinis constitutio in hac sita est , quod sulphuris ac salis plus debito impregnatur . and again , chap. the 6th he says , quod in hoc morbo sanguinis liquor à natura dulci , spirituosa & balsamica in acidam & nonnihil austeram instar vini acescentis transierit , nimirum adest sanguinis penuria , & sanguinis pars terrestris seu tartarea , quae constat imprimis sale & terra , nimis exaltatur . where you see dr. willis and you both agree , that there is too much salt in the blood in intermitting fevers , & now you see how much you are mistaken , for in your remarks you told me , that i had taken my notions from dr. willis , but it seems you are still under the influence of the moon , for instead of me it 's your self ; bless me ! who could imagine you so much out of your senses , to take me for dr. leigh , does not dr. leigh know himself ? no , alas ! tertius è coelo descendit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . but tho' you don't know your self , doctor , one would think you might know your own book , but how should you , when it 's plain you don't know your name at all times , for in your exercitation de thermis calidis in a heat , you cry experto crede roberto , i. e. believe experienc'd robert , instead of charles , but perhaps you thought no body would believe charles leigh , and therefore you cry crede roberto , but perhaps there may be another reason why you cry experto crede roberto , because carolo would not stand in the latter end of the verse , if this doctor was your reason you might have put a negative before it , and then it would have stood in prose , viz. ne experto crede carolo — leigh . why ? because he 's under the influence of that fire in the concave of the moon . i come last of all , to your last exercitation , and could really wish the first had been the last ; for how much soever you may be pleased with your own book ; sure i am , it is an ungrateful task to me to read over such stuff . page 119 ▪ you say , in duas itaque tantum species nos hydropes dividimus &c. i. e. we divide dropsies into two species , to wit cholerick proceeding from thick cholerick , obstructing the pores and glandules of the liver , &c. bless me ! dr. i wonder at you that you should trust to your own head , as long as you borrowed from dr. willis and le grand , you were pretty safe and came off pretty well ; but now we find a notion of your own , and really it belongs to you , this exercitation i never suspected you for , but dr. is this a production of yours , that in your remarks could divide betwixt the north and northwest side of a hair , and can you divide dropsies no better , nay doctor look as gruff , as you please , you are basely mistaken , tho' you don't know where , and therefore in compassion to you i shall show you your faults ; for the obstruction of the glandules of the liver are an effect of an hydropical disposition , and by no means the cause of it , for as long as the humors are in a right state , they pass through those parts without obstruction , but when for want of spirits and good blood , an hydropical disposition is brought on , then the blood degenerating into a more phlegmatick state , consequently obstructs the glandules , so that it is evident , if the indisposition proceeds the obstruction , the obstruction cannot be the cause of what went before . and now dr. i have taken a short view of your remarks , and also of your quinque exercitationes , and if we reflect on the whole , we may see there is little difference betwixt your exercitationes and them , and now doctor you may see how ridiculous your exercitations would be , were they printed in english , but is is well they are in latin , because none can read them but those that think them not worthy to be taken notice of . and here doctor , i cannot but admire , why you should be so angry with every body that is not of your mind , and of dr. leigh's opinion ; for we may observe that you are not only very angry at me , but even with dr. lister whom you reverence ; but why should i wonder at it , it is the nature of men in your condition , and truly i pity it withal my heart , and am sorry that you have lost the use of your reason . and doctor , may i ask you this question , what reason have you now to complain of my age ? and pray who is the younger physitian , i don't say the younger man , you have long enjoyed a head which i by no means envy you for , may the pudenda of a salt bitch divert you , make your observations on pigs , mice and bog-houses , i shall not in the least envy , no not if you should take a voyage with diego and his spanish geese to the moon , for they would be very agreeable company , only consider whether you are not too near it already . pray do , and keep out of bethlem if you can . but doctor , how came you to write your remarks in english , i thought you had too great thoughts of your self to writ any thing in english vvas it because vvhen you vvere peevish and cross in latin no body took notice of you , if so , really you have got your self taken notice of vvith a witness , for vvhen i received your remarks at brazen-nose , having never seen such stuff in print before , i vvas very inquisitive to knovv vvhat part of the world liked it , and vvhat they said of it , vvherefore i asked the opinion of a fevv of the younger sort , and truly they told me they thought such things had never been printed , but it made them laugh heartily ; but vvhen i consulted men of sense , they advised me not to take notice of such nonsense , and truly doctor , i had taken their advice , but vvhen about a month ago i came to london and heard that dr. leigh vvas the jest of the merry philosophers of the tovvn , and that you had so miserably exposed your self as to be taken for a mad-man , i thought it necessary to let the world knovv that dr. leigh vvas in manchester vvithout bethlem or a keeper . but i have reason to think , that there is another reason why you writ your remarks in english , viz. ob defectum alterius to use your own phrase . this dr. perhaps may startle you , but for all you have writ a book in latin it 's true ; and you have reason enough to write in english for the future , for when your book was printing at oxford , there was such obscure latin in it , that several people could not tell what you meant , for which reason , you may remember there were several things sent down to you to alter before they could be understood ; and pray let us see what a polished piece it is at the last . page 2 you have this piece of latin , at hanc semper vellet esse veram , quia desiderium pati non potest ; adeoque dogma tenacissimum ( ni fallor usque ad iracundiam ) eorum quae annis prioribus edidit ( quod in philosophia est maximum malum ) se in numerum plurium adduxit ; truly doctor , it is as like a letter which i saw a mad-man write to his physician as any thing could be ; for the meaning is so dark that one can scarce see what you aim at , and it so posed two or three scholars in brazen-nose , that there were as many opinions about the meaning of it , as standers by , and therefore doctor for the future write english , that people may understand your meaning , and never let ambition make you write in a language you know so little of . page 3 and 4 you say , qui se solum intuetur mater philosophatur , & opinioni haud naturae se credidit , o the wonderful obscurity observable in dr. leigh ! and how well he understands latin , opinioni haud naturae se credit , pray doctor have you forgot what you learnt at school , quem casum regunt verba credendid ? a dative , but you had forgot , and writ false latin against your will , poor man ! but let me tell you , were you at school you would be taken up and whipt soundly for such a fault , what credidit se ? phy doctor , i thought you had been too old to be whip'd , but it seems not too old to deserve it , but suppose it did not deserve whipping , it is not sense , for credidit se opinioni haud naturae , is most absurd , and sounds worse in english than latin , for how ridiculous is it for to say , he believed himself to his opinion not nature , truly doctor it looks as if it came from bethlem , and by no means ab agro lancastrienst . and should i run over your book , it is so full of faults of this kind , that there would be no end of it , these therefore may suffice to shew what reason you had to write in english , but if you are not content with these you shall have a few more of your elegant phrases and idioms to chew on ; for page 5 you have this , nullo modo capiam . i can by no means take , instead of vnderstand , so capio and intelligo are synonimous words with dr. leigh , again page 7 your idioms are not less elegant , where you have pro me , i. e. for me , this puts me in mind of a piece of latin in the beginning of walkers particles , where , but for you , is by the school boys elegantly rendred , sed pro te , and this doctor is another bald piece for which a school boy would have been whip'd severly : but we must pass by some of your faults , or the child will be fleed alive , there are a many pretty idioms behind yet , would deserve rod or ferule were you at school , as abservatu in proclivi est instead of in promptu , but your thoughts doctor perhaps were more in proclivi than in promptu and so you thought it the prettier expression . again , page 64 and 66 , we may observe , what a vast variety of synonimous expressions you are stock'd with , viz. ad secundum , ad tertium sic respondemus ad quartum sic regero , here besides your stock of synonimous terms , we cannot but observe the very symptoms of a madman ; and doctor , certainly you cannot but rave , for first ad secundum , comes from no body , but when you come to tertium , you that ad secundum were no body , are become double ; for it 's respondemus , we answer , but when you come to quartum , you fancy your self , but one again , and speak in the singular number , viz. sic regero , again , here we may observe that dr. leigh , hot in the third degree , at tertium , only fancies himself double , but when crazed modo quarto he talks nonsence , for sic regero in english is , i carry back and not i answer . and now doctor , don't you see what a fit man you are to write a book in latin , who are fitter to go to school again , did i know the master of manchester school , i 'll assure you , i should write to him about you , to take you into correction . what a boy at forty or fifty and write false latin ? and false idioms ? to school for shame , and let your wife buy you a sachel to lug your books to school in , and get a grammar speedily and learn what case verba dandi govern , and how the nominative case and the verb agree , and never write , credidit se , ego respondemus , & sic regero . but what do i talk of going to school , when you have learn't past grace already , and are horn mad , mistake me not doctor , i do not say horned and mad too , but mad enough to wear a bethlem-man's horn , for i suppose your wife hath not learned past grace , though you have crazed your self . but i shall leave this subject , least i should drive you madder than you are , and shall only take notice of one thing more , which seems to intimate , how long you have been distempered in your head and how you came to be so . page 24 you say , nihil severiori scrutinio dignum , reperiri potest , nec quid , quod philosophorum mentes adeo distorsit , ac thermarum calidarum phaenomena , i. e. nothing deserves a more severe search , nor hath any thing distracted men's minds more than the phenomena of hot baths ; truly doctor severiori is a very strange epithite for scrutinio , but it , to speak the truth , hath been a little too severe upon you , if you by your search after these phaenomena have distracted your self . and really doctor , i cannot but pity you , for reason is a very valuable faculty , and , like credit , when once lost hard to be got again , however we must use the means , and now i having throughout your remarks and your exercitationes quinque traced the symptoms of your distemper , and now at last found out the cause of it , and having endeavoured to make you sensible of it , i hope we have made a good step towards a cure , and therefore to close up this occasional enquiry , i shall transcribe a piece of advice for you , from a very good author , but shall not tell you the name of it , least you should burn it ; for mad people are very apt to throw away their medicines . the words are these , i believe you are quite out of your wits , and are run away from your keepers , and therefore — i advise you to shave all the hair very close off your crown . then take away fifty or threescore ounces of blood , at several times , according as it shall be found , that you come to your self , and to the vse of your reason , if you make use of leaches be sure they be well cleansed , if you purge , use very gentle things , such as manna and syrup of roses , which they give to madmen , till your distemper abates , avoid all strong meats , tobacco , hot spices and especially coffee , for the powder hath sometimes been observed to settle into a saracens head in the bottom of the dish , and above all things have a great care of studying , or of writing books , till your head is better , and of sleeping on your back ; for vapours will be apt to rise and you 'll dream of nothing but elephants , mice , bog-houses , diego and his geese , and roger a coverly . when you have followed these directions for a while , you will be better able to understand my book , to see your own errors , and will be fitter to go to school again ; for in the condition you are in , you are fit for nothing ; pray doctor , don't refuse to take advice , for your condition is desperate , you need not fall out with the directions , because they are mine , for that you might not make that objection , i have taken care to transcribe advice from one that i hope you have no reason to fall out with : but not to detain you too long doctor , wishing you a good recovery , and the use of your reason , if god give a blessing to the means , i subscribe your humble servant to instruct you r. boulton . postscript . soon after i had writ the preceding sheets , wherein i have traced the symptoms of the doctors distemper : i heard that dr. leigh had writ a reply to mr. colbatch his piece concerning the cure of a person bit by a viper , and therefore considering the doctors , and his adversaries conditions both together , i thought it advisable and prudent to take a view of it , before the publishing of what i have before writ , for several reasons : for since i have made it appear how much the doctor is distempered , and in order to his recovery have prescribed rules , i thought it not amiss to see whether his distemper was either abated or increased , that i might accordingly , if there was occasion , alter those rules laid down for his recovery ; but i find that the symptoms are yet as strong and the method prescrib'd by no means to be neglected . the first symptom is a copy of verses , which fills the sixth page , where both by his rhiming and the excellency of his poetick strain , it appears he is almost , if not quite , past hopes , for what more evident symptom can there be of madness than for a man to turn poet , who cannot write good english ; indeed , had his whole book been filled up with such poetry i should have thought him much wiser , for he would get more credit by writing ballads than scribling physick , it being a more fit employment for him , besides a considerable number of them might have gone off throughout the kingdom , and especially this st. bartholemews fair in london . but it is in vain to advise the doctor , a crazy pate hath as indeterminate faculties as a neutral spirit , a spirit of dr. leigh's denomination ; spirits which i suppose the doctor converses with in agro lancastriensi ; but i would willingly be certain , what the doctor means by a neutral spirit , and how he came to give spirit such an odd epithite as neutral , but i cannot expect an answer from one that knows not the difference betwixt questions and answers , and one that is in such a raving condition too , for after his poetry , the next remark is upon the owl in a crab-tree ; o ingenium acerrimum ! nihil severiori scrutinio dignum reperiri potest , nec quid quod philosophorum mentes adeo distorsit , quinque exercitationes page 24 , the doctor having distracted himself with hot baths , hath fallen foul upon the crab-tree , and perhaps respects it for it's sower qualities , or in the doctors own words propter ingenium acerrimum , but why should the doctor remark upon the owl , hath it been too ominous to his patients in agro lancastriensi , poor unhappy bird , that for it 's good service and prognostics , where the doctor 's judgment failed him , should have such hard fate as falling into the hands of dr. leigh , but who can otherwise think of its usage in such hands . he that against dr. lister brought a shower of wheat and goats wooll , and in his remarks on me rav'd of nothing , but elephants , pigs , mice , cheesemongers , diego and spanish geese , &c. may well take a touch with the owl and crab-tree . but these symptoms are not all , page 12. he hath brought the grand seignior into a jest , and well then may he fall foul upon the king's subjects , dr. lister and i , may well be affraid of a man that dare jest upon the grand seignior , but , like stormy weather , sometimes he 's at the top of the house , and presently as low again ; for page 14 he ridicules the poor mouse again , a peevish creature , that was never brought into the press before without wit and ingenuity , is now prest upon without either sense or reason . page 15 , amongst the rest of his symptoms he raves again of his exercitationes quinque and since no body will quote it besides himself , he 's resolved to name it as often as he can think of it , alas ! hinc ille lachrymae . and after all this , page 24 , he reckons himself amongst the thinking part of mankind , but surely he does not mean physicians , but hawkers , cheesemongers , mice and rat-chatchers , and sowgelders , the wisemen of gotham , and lunaticks , for from his remarks , his reply and his quinque exercitationes , it is plain , that he hath employed his thoughts most on such subjects as those tradesmen are employed about . but notwithstanding those symptoms which are still arguments of the doctors distemper , yet this i must needs say , the combat betwixt mr. colbatch and him may be diverting ; for folly and madness at variance will be hard match'd , and really were not dr. leigh's condition very desperate , it would be advisable to let him enjoy his distemper a little longer , otherwise mr. colbatch will be too hard for him ; for tho' i have so slight an opinion of mr. colbatch as to think him mistaken in every thing he writes , and very unfit for an author , yet by all means he is to be preferred before dr. leigh ; for folly is not so dangerous as madness ; but as for mr. tuthil and mr. leigh let them go together with all my heart . and i have only this more to observe , that mr. colbatch , mr. leigh , and mr. tuthil in this respect are all alike , for first mr. colbatch hath cast a great many of base reflections on the college of physicians ; for which he deserves worse usage himself , because they gave him no reason for it , but he hath given them reason , because he hath abused them : to be even with him ; mr. leigh hath reflected on the college and the university , because they would not license his quinque exercitationes , and hath reflected on me , and is angry , because i have had better fortune than himself ; where he hath reflected on me without reason , for which i have just cause to pitty him ; again mr. tuthil , to be even with them both , hath complemented mr. colbatch most unmercifully , as if complements were made for such creatures , and pearls to be cast before swine . secondly , the similitude betwixt mr. colbatch and dr. leigh runs farther : for dr. leigh in his preface to this reply , pretends to stand up for the honour of physick , yet in his remarks reflects on the most honourable of them . again mr. colbatch in his treatise of the gout , tells the world , physick is a scene of slaughter , and yet pretends to complement our english physicians , or at least the physicians of london , as men of the greatest merit , and the parallel runs so far betwixt these two , that i may well say folly and madness will never be more conspicuous , and therefore i wish the one the use of his reason , and the other sense enough to discern his errors , and shall only add , that i beg pardon of the world for taking notice of either of them , and i hope my compassion to them will not by the judicious be mistaken for a fault , since i hope i have writ nothing , but what the ignorance of the one , and the ignorance and envy of the other , have given just grounds for . finis . errata . page . line . for these errors , read these corrections . 10 1 reard read 38 8 to physicians to a physician . 70 2& 3 alkalious acids alkalious , acids . 90 3 bitter and sower bitter from sower . 92 8 odiously odious . 92 21   i shall here only bring . 99 14 lept slept . 134 5 syrop syrup . 137 20 analiz analization . 149 21 injuries injurious . 151 5 dele from conclusion . 151 12 make makes . 153 vlt. correct cover . 158 8 physicians magicians . 200 11 nascitur nascetur . 258 16 ask wisdom lack wisdom . 269 14 an man a man. 270 30   your own sake , that 271 28 with sound with the sound , dele he . ibid. 29   and do the greatest hurt . 273 9   a showre of wheat . ibid. 25 bread beard . 276 35 do remember do , remember . a short discouerie of the vnobserued dangers of seuerall sorts of ignorant and vnconsiderate practisers of physicke in england profitable not onely for the deceiued multitude, and easie for their meane capacities, but raising reformed and more aduised thoughts in the best vnderstandings: with direction for the safest election of a physition in necessitie: by iohn cotta of northampton doctor in physicke. cotta, john, 1575?-1650? 1612 approx. 389 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 79 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a19403 stc 5833 estc s113907 99849135 99849135 14271 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a19403) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 14271) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 779:08) a short discouerie of the vnobserued dangers of seuerall sorts of ignorant and vnconsiderate practisers of physicke in england profitable not onely for the deceiued multitude, and easie for their meane capacities, but raising reformed and more aduised thoughts in the best vnderstandings: with direction for the safest election of a physition in necessitie: by iohn cotta of northampton doctor in physicke. cotta, john, 1575?-1650? [8], 135, [1] p. imprinted [by r. field] for william iones, and richard boyle dwelling in the blacke-friers, london : 1612. printer's name from stc. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. 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range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. quacks and quackery -england -early works to 1800. physicians -england -early works to 1800. 2006-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-09 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-05 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-05 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a short discoverie of the vnobserved dangers of seuerall sorts of ignorant and vnconsiderate practisers of physicke in england : profitable not onely for the deceiued multitude , and easie for their meane capacities , but raising reformed and more aduised thoughts in the best vnderstandings : with direction for the safest election of a physition in necessitie : by iohn cotta of northampton doctor in physicke . london , imprinted for william iones , and richard boyle dwelling in the blacke-friers . 1612. to the right honorable , right worshipfvll and worthy gentlemen , my desired friends and deseruing patients of northamptonshire , honour , health and happinesse of life . right noble and renowned gentlemen , it is now the tenth yeares since the singular fauors , loue , merite and tried worth of my thrice a honored friend hath first here detained mee in the eye of your vse . in this short space of quick time , as my publicke office hath bene truly deuoted vnto you all the common right , so many your noble peculiar deserts haue worthily challenged their speciall claime . in pledge therefore of my loue and dutie vnto you all , and in memorie of my trauels amongst you ▪ ( when former vowes shall haply hence re●all me ) what my time here passed hath brought forth , most rare or worthy vnto choice obseruation , i freely publish , and reciprocally here present vnto the countries good , and together with generall caution and rule for safe and wholesome medication , repay and dedicate . the matter and subiect it selfe , vnto common reading , is of a virgine fresh and as yet vndiuulged view , and no lesse of necessarie and serious vse . the stile can neither be so farre in loue with it selfe as to forget the matter , nor altogether sauoureth of his oft interrupted & vnsetled leisure ; and breuity doth not suffer the reading to be any burthen . the paines and losse of secured safetie b in silence are mine own , and the opportunity euery mans that lusteth to censure , or to satisfie any other more honest end : i haue thus freely exposed my selfe in a proposed hope , that the hence deriued good of many may make good my good desire vnto all . since thē this small sacrifise of my selfe to all your happy healths ( a mite answerable to my might ) doth therwith include a needful vse vnto a common good , that after succeeding participation may enlarge the benefite vnto all , or at least my poore paines awake more ample merite in some others worth , vouchsafe my free & honest labor in your friendly acceptance , shrowded by the true splendor of your generose and noble worthes , may dazle the narrow sight of base obtrectation . thus shal your euer deseruing loues and now desired patronages , make both so much more deserued loue your desirous seruant , and religiously euer oblige my selfe in all true rights vnto your daigned fauours , perpetuall solicitor of humble , officious and thankfull memorie . iohn cotta . to the reader . the sunne doth rise and fall , and returneth euerie day : but when the short day of mans life once goeth downe , it neuer a dawneth . life is deare , and too deare ( being lost ) for all inestimable valewes to redeeme : and health is the sweetnesse of life , and the verie life of b liuing , without which , men while they liue are alreadie dead . thou therefore that louest thy life , and for thy life thy health , take counsell of a physition without a fee. so many and so infinitely do the numbers of barbarous and vnlearned counsellours of health at this time ouerspread all corners of this kingdome , that their confused swarmes do not onely euery where couer and eclipse the sun-shine of all true learning & vnderstanding but generally darken and extinguish the very light of cōmon sense and reason . it is euery mans office to do good for goodnesse sake , and both my generall duty vnto a common good , and my speciall bond vnto my friends , do earnestly solicite me hereto , since no man ( that as yet i heare ) hath hitherto vndertaken this taske . for their sakes therefore , for whose harmes by vnskilfull hands i haue oft heretofore sorrowed , and for their loues , whose life and health i wish heareafter preserued , and for their good who will take paines to know it , i here commend ( leauing the common mischiefe to the common care ) vnto euerie particular for himselfe this needfull detection of harmefull c succours , and necessarie counsell for safe supplie ( necessitie being neuer more distractedly miserable in hard choyce of good ) in so common and confused multitudes of ill . for the meanest readers sake ( whom in this whole worke i labour equally to obserue ) i haue suited the plainnes and simplicitie of a familiar style : and for facilitie of common reading haue also smoothed and cleared the streame and current of this little volume , from the stops and interruptions of vnusuall sounds and language ( as farre as the subiect will permit ) refreshing onely the learned in the margine . neither haue i esteemed it any indecorum for the meanest vnderstanding sake , together with generall cautions and rules to insert particular cases and reports , which may be both an inducement to reade , and an enticement to continue , example being neither least pleasing nor least profitable vnto the vulgar . there shall appeare in this following treatise described , first , such insufficient workemen and practitioners , as this time doth generally set forth , with their seuerall manners , defects and dangers : and after shall succeed a plaine patterne of that sufficient artist , vnto whom with iudgement and better satisfaction vnto thy owne vnderstanding , thou maist commend thy health , and whom the ancients , right reason , and experience haue euer allowed . i labour not in this plaine discouerie with words to feast prodigalitie , nor hope altogether for want of correspondence vnto satisfaction to macerate frugall satietie . few words do best hold d memorie , and a short taste doth breede more eager appetite . i will therefore onely briefly point the common forgetfulnesse by bare aduertisement to better memorie , which after may better thence guide it selfe to more large and accurate consideration . this plaine endeauour begotten of succisiue houres by good desire , thy proposed benefite ( deseruing reader ) hath here brought forth into this common light . enioy therefore therein what seemeth liking , or of vse : the rest thy wiser thoughts may either in reading , abstract , or thy ingenuous mind compare with that is better , or by it selfe censure as a cipher . farewell . thy weale-aduising friend , iohn cotta . the severall tractates of the treatise following . in the first booke . chap. 1. the introduction . 2. the empericke his defects and danger . 3. women their custome and practise about the sicke , commonuisiting counsellours , and commenders of medicines . 4. fugitiues , workers of iugling wonders , quacksaluers . 5. surgeons . 6. apothecaries . 7. practisers by spels . 8. the explication of the true discouerie of witchcraft in the sicke , together with many and wondered instances in that kind . 9. wisards . 10. seruants of physitions , ministring helpers . in the second booke . chap. 1. the methodian learned deceiuer or hereticke physition . 2. benificed practisers . 3. astrologers , ephemerides-maisters . 4. coniectors by vrine . 5. trauellers . in the third booke . the true artist his right description and election . the first booke . chap. i. the introduction . the dignitie and worth of physicks skill consisteth not ( as is imagined commonly ) in the excellence and preheminence of remedies , but in their wise and prudent vse . it is an ancient true saying , that wholesome medicines by the hands of the iudicious dispenser , are as a angels of god sent for the good of men ; but in the hands of the vnlearned , are messengers of death vnto their farther euill . good medicines are in themselues excellent instruments of health and life , but require a learned workeman iudiciously to guide them vnto their destined end . it is order and not confusion , that is euer safe and happie ; and knowledge ( which worketh by election , and b true reason , and not rash boldnesse , which doth good by chance c and vncertaine euent ) that is the light and safe guide of vnderstanding mindes . who knoweth not how much d opportunity aduanceth in all performances ? how descreete obseruation of smallest e circumstances aduantageth ? how wise and learned f cunctation , and sometimes anticipation , make fortunate an action ? who seeth not in euerie dayes experience , how necessarie it is by a mature and iudicious eye to foresee in all attemps the after vnauoydable g hinderances ? who discerneth not that without prudent circumspection and prouident forecast , blinde rashnesse and ignorance do alwaies hazard , & oft vnrecouerably ouerthrow all good successe . through want of knowledge to mistake h time , is losse of labor and of time . ignorant slownesse doth come too late , and rash haste doth stumble : he that knoweth not the danger , doth easily runne vpon the rocke . thus is it easie for the vnlearned to erre , and those that want vnderstanding to fall into the snare . if then all enterprises prosper by wise aduice , & it is wisedome in matters of meanest moment to consult with a wise and iudicious friend , in cases of health and life certainly euery man is not a sufficient counsellor . he that considereth the multitude of causes in diseases , their infinite kindes , manners , and natures , the varietie of accidents , their sodaine and variable mutations , the soone lost occasions , and hardly gained i opportunities , the wisedome which circumstances require , the care and vigilance which the subiect exacteth , the doubts which repugnances bring , the resolutions which necessities vrge ; shall find the most exquisite powers of vnderstanding , iudgement , wit , discretion , and learning herein exactly sifted . from the varietie of k causes of diseases , what varying differences arise in the manner , quantity , qualitie , and times of remedies : euery one requiring a separate and distinct respect and dispensation , euen in the same disease and person ? the immediate cause from the mediate , the antecedent from the continent , the necessarie from the casuall and contingent , require both a diuers handling , and also a distinction in order of handling : neither is there a like consideration of the externall and internall , the positiue , the priuatiue , the materiall , the immateriall , those that are single and alone , and those that are ioyntly and with others . sometimes many causes are coincident in one effect , sometimes many diseases from one cause . sometimes the same cause receiueth a difference from it selfe , and exacteth an exact difference in his owne remedies . sometime the same cause is so farre vnlike it selfe that it seemeth not it selfe , being either more then it selfe in quantity , or a monster to l it selfe in malignant quality . as causes & diseases ( according to their causes : ) so no lesse materiall are accidents to be distinctly knowne and considered . some of them bring m certaine knowledge , some artificiall coniecture , some matter of presumption and probability . some are manifest , some anxious and ambiguous , some significant by themselues , some consignificant with others . some are of vertue in singularitie , some in multitude : some are considered as signes and causes , some as neither , some as both . some accidents go before the disease , some accompany , some follow after . ordinarily the disease doth draw all attendance vnto it selfe , sometimes the n accident doth obscure the disease . some accidents alone are ciphers , but added vnto other make vp a iust account ; some prognosticate , some iudicate , some are idle : some iudicate the constitution of the sicke , some the humour , some the diseased part , some the disease it selfe , and some the issue . sometimes diseases are discouered by no signes at all , but by an exact and exquisite o disquisition of a sound and p solert iudgement . so that according to the kindes , places , courses , changes and courses of accidents , varie significations , iudications and prognostications , and follow safe administration and application of apt remedies , vnto the more speedy q benefite of the sicke , facilitie of cure , and securitie of after health . diseases , their causes and circumstances wisely distinguished and knowne , do point a discreete knowing workman to a more certaine issue ; without which as the beginning of cure must necessarily be rash , so must the end be doubtlesly vncertaine . hence it must needs be apparent , that by the common neglect and ignorance herein , the monopolizing of cures vnto the prerogatiue of this or that secret , and thereby the contempt of the due permutation of medicines , according to requisite circumstances and necessities , and the omission & reiection of the wholesome administratiō of the generall r remedies ( without which the particular are vaine and preposterous ) do commonly turne to the common perdition of most valetudinary men . from hence also it doth come to passe , that many disea●es , beyond their owne nature , and besides the constitution of the sicke , grow so commonly , so easily rooted , and vnobseruedly confirmed in mens bodies , that oft they can neuer haue end , which by due ordering should neuer haue had beginning . hence grow so frequent the multitude of strange and vnnaturall changes , and new fashions of fits , euen through the too common vse of wholesome remedies in vulgar and prophane hands . for through this presumption , either by idle trifling and vaine flattery of ease , dangerous diseases quickly & in short time grow too proud for any medication : or else in the other ſ extreme , by too much haste and violence are hunted out of their owne course , t and so metamorphize themselues into wilde and vnaccustomed shapes . hence likewise it cometh to passe , that diseases in their owne kind easie and of small continuance , by the wrong and iniury of remedies ( without aduice admitted and celebrated ) are not onely extended , to a lingring age of many daies : but from daies to weekes , from weekes to yeares , yea oft vnto a longer life then the sicke himselfe , after him inheriting his children and posteritie . it is a verified and true saying , worse are the bad after-consequences of ill applied medicines , then diseases themselues . although this be often apparent , euen vnto the common sence of vulgar sight , yet much more infinite are the impeachments and ruines of health by the learned seene and discouered daily , whereof a common eye is not u capable ; while vnperceiued mischiefes stealingly x & insensibly enter with vnpriuiledged remedies , and by some present benefite or ease for a time , gayning credit and entertainement , by litle and litle secretly vndermine the verie frame and foundation of life . we may instance in tobacco : with what high fame and great renowne was it at his first arriuall here in england entertained as an incomparable iewell of health , and an vniuersall antidote and supersedeas against the force , and capias of all diseases , euery man with the smoke thereof in his nosthrils , breathing the prayles and excellencies thereof in his mouth ? but now hath not time and many a mans wofull experience giuen testimonie to right reason and iudgement , from the first suspecting , and vntill this prouing time suspending the too great name thereof ? is not now this high blased remedy manifestly discouered ▪ through intemperance and custome , to be a monster of many diseases ? since the riotous vse of this strange indian , let it be noted how many strange & before vnknowne diseases haue crept in vnnaturally , besides the former custome and nature of the nation , prouing now naturall and customary to the follies of the nation . is it not apparent that the aire of this vapor and smoke by the subtility therof , doth sodainly search all parts with a generall distresse oft times to nature ? and is it not thence probable , that by aduantage in the weakest , it may oft leaue behinde it ( especially where it is any time vsed ) such impression and print , besides painefull distention through his inclosed vapour , that no time of life , no remedies , oft times , are euer after able to blot y out ? and frō this nicotian fume grow now adaies , doubtlesly , many our frequent complaints , and euerie day new descriptions of z paines , according haply to the diuersitie and difference of the parts it chiefly affecteth , or the more or lesse extreme vse thereof . and men haply led by some present bewitching feeling of ease , or momentarie imagined release from paine at some time , hereby vnaduisedly with such meanes of their ease , drinke into some weake parts , such seede of future poison , as hauing giuen them for a time supposed pleasing ease , doth for time to come secretly and vnfelt settle in their bones and solid parts , a neuer dying disease ( while they liue . ) how many famous patrons and admirers of this simple , haue senselesly died in the very time of the idle vse thereof , while it yet smoked in their teeth ? and others liuing in the immoderate a burning loue therein , haue with the fierie zealous gluttonie thereof ( as the badge of his mastership in thē ) sensibly stupefied & dried vp their euer after , foolish and besotted braines ? i might giue other instance in these well knowne and vulgar remedies of the named french disease , which by a present benumming of the sense , cousining , and easing of paine , do withall , for after time , inure and leaue behinde them such a rottennes , and weaknesse ofttimes of the bones and sinewes , as suffereth few of our mercurials to liue , to know b their age in health , especially who throughly knew the siluer-salue in their youth . hence toward declining age ( if not before ) some fall into consumptions and marasmes , some lose their teeth , some haue the palate of the mouth rotted , some the very bones of their head eaten , some by conuulsions their mouthes and faces set awry . and it is ordinary with most of this sort , long before haruest to leaue no grasse grow vpon their paued tops . i do not altogether condēne these smoakes , but feare their fire , and with the ancients sparingly commend their kinde of remedies , knowing their pernicious danger in their ignorant and rash ouervse , with their singular seruice in some rare exigents , god and nature haply leauing a sting and poyson in them , for their too common vitious neede and custome . i might here yet farther insist in all other diseases , how the vse of the most excellent , proper , and apt remedies being vnaptly applied , either too little or too c much , too soone or too late , before their season or after , in some cases at any time , or in any maner , bring in corrigible and helpeles harmes , being in their owne nature d harmeles , but in their vnskilfull vse pernicious and mortall . it is apparent in all mysteries and faculties whatsoeuer , that the excellencie of the toole without the excellencie of the workeman , doth not bring forth excellencie in the workmanship . hence it must needes come to passe , that medicines though wholesome in themselues , and of a sauing and soueraigne power , without any touch of harmefull quality at all , yet being ignorantly or indiscreetly out of time or place disposed or dispensed , must likewise bring forth mischiefe , in steade of expected good . and although many hardened by custome vnto a boldnes of trāsgressing in this kind , prouoke oft reuenge of their follie , ( for a time without harme or punishment ) yet do they not alwayes escape : for though happe oft passe by , it lights at e last , and not seldome heauily . cassia is esteemed for a delicate , wholesome and harmelesse lenitiue vnto old men , children , babes , women with child , and the weakest amongst the sicke ; yet the learned know it in some f cases not onely vnprofitable , but of maine mischiefe . rhabarb is said to be the life of the liuer , yet in some conditions thereof it is an g enemie ; and for the generall remedies , phlebotomy , purging , vomite , sweating , bathing and the like , reason and experience daily giue demonstration , that oft in the same body , and the same disease , they are variablie , sometime necessary , sometimes profitable not necessary , sometimes neither profitable nor necessary , but accursed . sometimes bleeding doth ventilate and refresh the spirits aboue , and beyond all other remedies , and is the onely key vnto health ; sometimes againe it doth exhaust and spend their vigour , sometime being both profitable and necessary , yet vsed out of time or quantity doth no good , or vsed vnseasonably doth much hurt . purgatiōs in some estates with h preparatiues , and in some without i preparatiues are harmefull : in some either k with preparatiues , or without l preparatiues they are necessary and neuer to be omitted . and as there is infinite danger in errour and ignorant dispensation , so is there vnspeakable good in the prudent prescription according to the nature , quality and seate of each humor ; according to which it is wisdome sometimes to quicken , sometimes to alay , sometimes to hasten , sometimes to moderate their effects , discreete stayes oft making more speedy iourneys . m vomits in some diseases are altogether banished and not admitted , and in some contrariwise they haue onely priuiledge . the like may be said of outward remedies , plaisters , vnguents , cereclothes , fomentations , and baths , which also according to wise and discreete administration , or a rash and heedlesse abuse , are good or euill . and this is the reason , that so many famous and renowned remedies now adaies bring forth effects vnworthy themselues ; for ( being with such dissolute licenciousnesse euery where and in all places permitted to breake forth , out of the prudent awe of vnderstandings guidance ) how shall they choose but become wild and irregular in the hands of vnskilfull raines that want true art , and the methode of their right dispensation ? there is no place nor person ignorant with what confusion of good order ( either by abuse of immunities , or impunitie , ill prouision , or ill execution of good lawes ) through all parts of this kingdome , all sorts of vile people and vnskilfull persons without restraint , make gainefull traffique by botching in physicke ; and hereby ( besides many wicked practises , iuglings , cousinages & impostures , which maske vnespied vnder the colour and pretence of medicining ) numbers of vnwotting innocents daily in thrall , and betray themselues , their liues and safetie , to sustaine the riot , lusts and lawlesse liuing of their enemies & common homicides . it is a world to see what swarmes abound in this kinde , not onely of taylors , shoemakers , weauers , midwiues , cookes , and priests , but witches , coniurers , iuglers , and fortune-tellers . it were a wrong to exempt any that want wit or honestie in a whole country , yea and many that haue too much of either , must be priuiledged by an old prouerbe , to be physitions , because it is no manners to call them fooles . and hereby not onely the simple and vnlettered , but oft times men of better sort and qualitie , casting their eyes vpon some attempts of these barbarous medicine-mongers , ( good oft in their euent ) and not considering the dangerousnesse of such habite and custome , desirously oft times entertaine the messengers and ministers of vnrecouerable n miserie vnto their after life . for as in militarie designes , oft times a bold and foole-hardy enterprise aboue and besides reason , and beyond expectation , produceth an excellent and admired good in the happie issue , yet is it not commended , or in any case permitted ( as being verie dangerous ) in ordinarie practise or custome of warfare : so likewise diuers euents of medicines proue good , whose bold vse and rash prescription is dangerous and vnskilfull . i do not onely herein pittie the meane capacitie , but wonder also at the madnesse of men in their wits , who in other kinds of knowledge reuerend , yet herein , with desire of life , seeme oft to haue so little care of their liues . it is strange to obserue how few in these dayes know , and how none almost labour to know with election and according to reason , or reasonable likelihood , to bestow in cases of their liues the trust and care of their crased healths , but for the most part wanting a right notice of a iudicious choice , take counsel either of common report which is a common lier , or of priuate commendations , which are euer partiall . the vnmindfulnesse hereof , and the more minde of mindlesse things , do steale from men the minds of men . hence euery where preposterous intrusion doth disorder the right and propriety of euery thing , and the generall forgetfulnes of that which to euerie one is most pertinent , doth beget an itching businesse in that which to euerie one is most impertinent ; and selfe conceited and presuming ignorance doth pricke forward rash spirits to become more bold & busie , then modestie doth permit discreete mindes , soberly limited within their owne bounds . this is the cause , that vnwottingly to the poore patient , vnwittingly to the vnskilfull workeman , and generally for the most part vnobserued of all , is the thread of many a mans life ordinarily , by vnskilfull hands intangled in such inextricable knots of sicknesse , paines and death , as no time nor art are euer able to vnfold . vnproper remedies are for the most part worse then diseases , and vnlearned physitions of all bad causes of diseases themselues the worst . that therefore men continue not in this generall confusion ( through voluntarie ignorance , euer ignorantly vnfortunate ) it is not a needlesse learning , more studiously to know and discerne o good from ill , and ill from good , beginning with the last first . chap. ii. of the empericke . right a reason and true b experience are two the sole inseparable instruments of all humane knowledge : the empericke trusting vnto experience alone without reason , and the methodian vnto the abuse of right reason ; the ancients haue deuided all sorts of erronious physitions into these two c . for ignorant experience and without reason , is a false d sense , and mistaking reason is deniall of reason . as therefore vnto these two , other ages before , so we now may reduce all the faultie practitioners of our time , beginning with the empericke . the empericke is he who reiecteth e the disquisition of diseases and remedies , their causes , natures & qualities according to iudgement and vnderstanding , and the carefull perpension and ballancing of his action and practise vnto a iust proportion with reason ; but onely informeth himselfe by such things as oft appeare euident & manifest vnto sense and experimentall proofe , carrying his heart and vnderstanding ( for the most part ) in his hands and eyes , taking nothing sure but what he sees or handles ; and from the differing maners of experience , are numbred seuerall and diuers kinds f of experience . the defect in the empericke hence appeareth to be want of true methode & the habite of right operation and practise according to reason , ( which is art ) through which defect his actions must needs oft be reasonlesse , g and by consequent as blind in their intention , so likely to be foolish in their issue and execution . for there must needs be in all actions want of much more necessary knowledge then sense and experience canne aduance vnto : and experience must needes witnesse against it selfe , that the longest age of experience doth nothing so fully furnish and instruct in many things , as much more speedily doth prudent inuention ; which though occasioned and helped by bookes and reading , which are both keyes vnto all knowledge , and also rich storehouses of experiences , not onely of one age and countrie , but of all times & nations ; yet do they only glut the sense with stories of experiences past , but reason and iudgement truly enrich the mind , and giue daily new increase and light in before vntried & vnexperienced truths . indeede particular experience , if it be accompanied with vnderstanding h and right reason ( which is the touchstone of truth and right in nature ) establisheth and confirmeth knowledge ; but if experience be no more but experience , it must needes proue in many cases a slow guide to lame instruction . for as it is with the souldier in the field , let his owne speciall experience in armes be neuer so ancient , so true , so sound , yet without a more generall i vnderstanding or theorie , and a more enlarged knowledge then his particular and limited experience can bring forth , he must be lamely fitted vnto many suddaine and oft before vnseene occurrents , which the perpetuall mutabilitie and change of circumstances in warfare must needes produce . the field , the enemie , the time ( not alwaies the same ) require a diuers and oft a contrarie consultation , designe and manner , wherein one particular experience by it selfe cannot but be much wanting , because the same thing or actiō seldome or neuer happens againe the same in all circumstances ; & one circumstance k alone cōmonly altereth the whole cōdition . as it is in military affaires , so is it in the assaults of diseases , where the fight & wrestling of nature is not alway in the same part , nor in the same forme or maner , nor with the same disease , nor of the same period : all which circumstances in the same subiect cannot happen alwaies to anie sight or sense the same , ( which maketh experience ) yet are euer present in the generall notions of the vnderstanding , whereby the prudent and wise man doth make supplie though experience faile . besides the differences which circumstances make , many diseases in themselues and their owne kinde are such as are scarce seene in a mans l life , some in many yeares , some in an age , some in many generations ; & therein how can experience giue prescription for those things whereof it hath not had experience ? for experience is of things m oft seene . if then the same things be in all circumstances seldome or neuer seene , and some at sometime seene which a life or age shall not see againe , and there can be no true experience where there is not sight and sense , how blinde an helpe must oft experience be ? doth not euerie day bring forth somewhat new or strange vnto the day , and worthy denomination of the day ? the french , spanish , neapolitane , italian disease was a stranger sometime in old albion , which now is an english denison . the scorbut not maine yeares since was vnnamed of writers ; now commonly knowne vnto a common eye . the english sweating n sicknesse very seldome ( if more then once ) here seene , nor at all , or at least not oft elsewhere . to wander yet farther into some more wonder , ruland with other reporteth a tooth of gold naturally o growing with the common ranke in the mouth of a child : hollerius p witnesseth a child in the wombe to thrust forth the hand at the nauill of the mother , and so continuing the space of fifteene daies , in the end the child borne liuing , and the mother saued . brasauolus q mētioneth his cure of a soludier who liued after 3 yeares , hauing almost halfe his head cut away with a portion of his braines , onely thereby losing his sense and memory , neuer eating nor hauing memorie to require at any time to eate , but as it was put into him ; nor redeliuerage at the posternes , but insensiblie . albucasis knew in his time a womā carrying one dead child in her wombe , notwithstanding to conceiue and quicken of another , the dead child in the meane season rotting and falling away by parcels at seueral times . but to passe these and many the like infinite receiued vpon credite and report , my selfe haue met some accidents in my owne practise , & for the most part within the space of these eight last yeares , worth their memorie . in the yeare 1608. an ancient gentleman r being neither sicke nor much pained , and onely molested with a cough and shortnesse of wind ( from which his health was neuer free ) requested my aduice for the preuention of the increase of the former accidents ( in which also he found , vnto the generall seeming vnto his owne sense and some other learned counsaile , very chearfull and comfortable amendement ) my selfe onely suspecting and signifying vnto his friends my despaire . betweene his pulses on the right side and the left in generall manifestly appeared a wondered ods , so continuing the space of 12. or 14. daies together . on the left side no position ſ of touch , no search could finde any pulse at all . on the right side the pulses were constantly & continually , as in his best health , manifest , strong , equall , in good order , with full distentiō vnto all the dimēsions . in the same parts where the pulses on the other side seemed dead , all other faculties perfectly liued in naturall heate , color , vigour , sense & motiō . this was thē witnessed by certaine honorable gentle women present , whō well vnderstanding & more then sufficiēt for such a taske , i therto intreated , & it cold by no sense be denied . it was imagined by some learned dissenting frō my first howres dislike , that it was no other but an imperceptibilitie t of his pulse , and without danger , as supposed vsuall vnto him in his health by reason of diuers deepe wounds tenne yeares before receiued vpon that side . my experience of the contrarie oft in his former health , and also in diuers other his sicknesses , confirmed by owne doubt , & death which determineth all things , sodainly and vnexspectedly determined this , in so faire a visard so many dayes deceiuing many . in the yeare 1604. my paines was solicited vnto a vertuous lady honorably both in her knight , and her selfe allied , and no lesse eminent in their owne worth , then lying neare grafton in northampton shire . i found her left by a former u physition to verifie his prediction by her death . she was miserably perplexed with the doubtfull deliuery of a dangerously begunne abortion , her owne strength failing , and the ordinarie assistance of women in those cases shrinking from her , and a deepe die of a mixt and diuers coloured iaundies , with extreme paines of her stomacke ( giuing no rest nor intermission ) adding feare and sorrow ; the substance also of her vrine continually troubled , confusedly thicke , the colour altogether resembling the strained iuice of the grenest hearbe . in the terrour of her abortion my indeuour proued vnto her speedily happy and succesfull . afterward according vnto the second indication from the iaundies ( necessity vrging , and her strength then fauouring the worke ) i commanded her to bleede in the arme ; which done with good ease and felicitie , nature , in spite of all indeuour to the contrarie , kept the orifice after still open , running daily and continually the space of three weekes together , and then healing and closing x it selfe with her perfect amendment . at the same time ( a sodaine sharpe paine giuing a speciall distinct sense thereof ) she disburthened of a round white hard stone full of little holes , that part which giueth the name and seate vnto the colike . in the yeare 1607. a young y woman of 30 yeares age , with another graue gentlewoman accompanying her , came vnto me requiring aduice in her wondered estate and condition . the skin or membrane of her belly ( from the nauill downeward withered , dead , and gathered together , in likenesse of a rotten bladder or a wet leather bag , and in that forme falling flagge from the former close setting vnto the guts and bellie ) lay continually loose vnto the one side . in the yeare 1601. a barbers z boy of northhamptō auoided wormes , besides other ordinary passages , by a vrine . in the yeare 1600. a shoomaker of northampton sometime a bayliffe of the towne , falling dangerously sick , called my counsell together with an empericke . the other accused the hypochondriaca passio , my selfe made knowne my suspition of an abscession in the bulke : vaine hope gaue credite to that it rather desired , and the patient trusted himselfe with the other . shortly after he was surprised with sodaine frequent swoundings & feare of imminent suffocation , but by cough and spitting escaped , and with wonder in short space filled diuers large b basins with foule purulent stuffe ( one paroxysme at once , sometime before intermission , making vp the said measure . ) in this feare and terrour vnto himselfe and the beholders , he earnestly sued , and againe obtained my aduice . he perfectly recouered ( the purulent collection after the c 40 day exhaust ) and he yet liueth free d from the sequeles of any other manifest disease or danger . in the yeare 1607. a woman e vexed with a palpitation of her heart , together with an oft intermission of her pulse , by an inward presention mouing from a so daine troubled agitation of her minde , would vsually vnto my selfe ( with others present ) foretell when her pulse should stand and intermit , sometimes two , sometimes three or foure pulsations , before the intermission . the pulse in theiust knowne number and time did euer keepe time with her prediction , herselfe nor then nor euer wotting how to feele a pulse by her hand or touching . she in this manner continued by vncertaine fits and times the space of 2 mon●ths or thereabouts , while sometime myselfe resorted vnto her , being for that and other accidents by her husband called & consulted . it is reported vnto me by diuers well knowing gentlewomen , and others of good worth , that a f woman dwelling within a mile of northamptō was brought to bed first of one childe , and within twenty weekes after of another , quickening of the latter the same day shee was churched of the first . it is testified by many now inhabitants of northampton , that from within the wombe of a woman with child ( then dwelling in the towne ) her child was audibly heard to cry , vnto her owne amazement , and the wonder of diuers hearers of credite & vnderstanding . anno 1610 a woman of northampton g shire being with child and growing neare the time of her deliuery , was extraordinarily diuers dayes pained in the bellie an inch distant from the nauill , vntill at length diuers wormes , each equalling in length a quarter of an ell , sodainly at two distant places did eate themselues a passage through the skinne of her bellie ; and so came forth and gaue her ease . a gentlewoman my late patient , and now dwelling in northampton , reporteth vnto me frō her owne sight with many other eye witnesses ; that among her owne children a male child , being then fiue weekes of age , a fortnight together had the breasts full of milke , as readily & plentifully flowing and spouting out milke as the breasts of a suck-giuing nurse . these few instances are sufficient to proue the like contingence of other the like , which other times in other manner , may and do oft bring forth . neither is euer nature so great a niggard ( though not to euery eye alike bountifull ) but euery day almost may pose bare and naked experience . he therefore that seeth not but with his eyes of his owne experience ; where he hath no experience , hath no eyes h , and therefore there is blind and cannot see . since then many things fall out beyond the compasse of experience , which by experience make experince blind , how then where are no eyes shall an empericke borrow eyes ? it is againe answered , though the empericke haply haue not seene the same with that which seldome , or once onely doth happe , yet very seldome hath he , not oft , or at least sometime seene the * like , and thence vnto the like he fits the like disposing . but with the wise the like is much vnlike the i same . their confusion is onely proper vnto the foole , and the dangerous issue his deserued punishment . it is a chiefe point in all learnings truly to discene k betweene differing similitudes and like differences . many accidents commonly fall out seeming like , yet haue no affinitie ; and againe in shew the same , yet indeede contrarie . contraries haue oft in many things likenesse , and likenesse contrarieties easilie deceiuing the vnwotting and vnleamed . it is therefore of no small moment or consequence for a physition truly by a discerning eye to put iust difference . this he that cannot do , must either through the deceiuablenesse of likenesses confound repugnant remedies , ( which cannot be without great harme and hazard of life and health ) or by mistaking parities for imparities disioyne helpes better vnited , which cannot be without both hinderance and hurt vnto the sicke , their safetie and securitie . many diseases ofttimes so liuely mocke one the other , that a good eye may easily deceiue it selfe . the vlcers of the baldder and the reynes , a mole and a true conception , a ruptu●e and a relaxation , plurisies and some kindes of inflammations of the liuer ; the colike and some other kinde of the same inflammations , diuers kinds of l consumptions according to diuers m feauers with infinite more in their intricate ambiguities , dissemble themselues and deceitfully resemble one the other , much thereby oft times perplexing the best vnderstanding . somtimes the most vnlike will put on likenesse , and the most like weare contrarietie . what more vnlike then death and life , death to life , and life to death ? yet sometimes life appeareth in the shape of death , terrifying the beholders with frightfull shewes of inquietude & anxietie , deliquation , sodaine and violent euacuations and exagitations n of the whole body , n when the healthfull crisis is at hand , and the victorie of nature in the masterie of her enemie the disease . and sometimes death cometh smiling in a visar of life with cheerefulnesse and ouer-pleasing lightsomenesse , when the last houre is now already runne , n and the sun for euer setting . hence the vnconsiderate and vnlearned to distinguish , are easily induced , sometimes by vaine hope deceiued to physicke death , sometime too fearefully despairing with exequious offices to comber life and the recouerie of death . hence are oft sound parts vexed with needelesse remedïes , and the comforts of life o imprisoned for an vntimely death . it is now the sixth yeare since i was solicited for a woman by the opinion of the dysenterie or abrasion of her guts , miserably held for the space almost of a quarter of an yeare vnto the continuall vse of eueryday-glysters and other astringent medicines , vntill it was my fortune coming vnto her , by good reason to discouer the supposed membranous deiections to be nothing else but skinnes of wormes , which first dead , after putrified & dissolued into small parcels descended with some torment in the similitude of little skinnes . the skinnes being found it was an easie matter by a new warrant to fetch the skinners , whose thereto appearance confessed the euidence , & gaue the suspition of the dysentery for euer after free discharge and perfect deliuery . in this one instance he that is wise may conceiue many more without number , which therfore as vnnecessary and troublesome i will not farther here trouble or awake now sleeping with time past . in these like cases , sometimes the best perfection p , the ripest vnderstanding doth and may mistake . and therefore the ignorant empericke who professeth confusion and vseth no light , or helpe of iudgment or reason at all , but the onely q sense of his owne experience , how shall he do otherwise , but oft and continually mistake manifoldly much more ? and thus we haue briefly discouered the empericke in matters requiring extraordinarie counsell , ignorant , in cases of his best experienced knowledge yet vnto some circumstances vnfurnished , in many matters of substance altogether vnexpert , in rare accidents and before vnseene at a maze , in true & right discerning wanting the eye of right reason , in confounding things differing , & in separating things in their owne nature inseparable , dāgerous . now as we haue pointed out the empericke himselfe , so it remaineth that with him and in him , we note all that by institution , educatiō , tradition , instruction , or stolne obseruatiō deriue their rule , example & custome from him . in this number are all that vsually professe thēselues in confidence of their choyce secrets and excellent medicines , commanders & maisters of all diseases . such also are they who in all places proclaime open defiance against all maladies , & with vehement remedies vpon euery light occasision needelesly , & vnprouoked ( if diseases presently cānot away ) either fire them out or pull their hold about their eares , with the fall of the disease needelesly hazarding the diseased . oft times a good euent may authoritse it for skill , & their friendly offer call it good will ; but their kinde care is too oft seene and proued a keene weapon to wound their friend , and the sicke are nor seldome oppressed with being so loued . i would it were a slander in these dayes , that good will and excellent medicines put to death more liues then open murther . for as the most complete armour , engins , and forts of warre , the excellent munition and rich prouision vnto a man without knowledge to mannage them , are but instruments without life , vntill some better skill put life into them : so good medicines being the physitions instruments and weapons , either defensiue for nature , or offensiue against the forces of diseases , in other hands then his must needes proue as but dead in themselues , so ofttimes deadly vnto others . to square and leuill their right vse requireth more vnderstanding then is to be found in reasonlesse medicines , or yet their senselesse maisters . for as in all other affaires , where knowledge , prudence , and discretion r haue prerogatiue , the attempt is commendable , and the issue likely to be happy ; so also in cases of health , wherin wise & iudicious dispensation , or in rash & erroneous , the vertue and efficacy of medicines doth liue , or die in vse and power . it is strange notwithstanding in these dayes to behold , with what senselesse madnesse , men are become worshippers of medicines : and so great ofttimes is their idolatrous folly herein , that ( as if they had gotten some rare good in a boxe , i meane some rare secret ) they presently inflamed with the furie and opinion thereof , dare vpon the consused notice of a disease commend with as sacred secrecie and intolerable vsurped titles of infallible , absolute , and irresistable vertue & force , as if any particular excellencie were able to coniure the generall casualty whereunto all earthly things must needes * be subiect . for god hath set downe a law of mutability and changeablenesse to all things ; created according to diuersitie of circumstances , by which all things vnder heauen are continually altered , changed , and gouerned ſ . there is no creature , medicine or t herbe that hath any such boundles or infinite power as to keepe the same inchangeable or infallibe , but there shall be a diuers and manifold consideration and u coaptation of the same thing . there can be no endeauor , meanes , way , or instrument of neuer so complete perfection or tried proofe directed to what effect , issue or end soeuer , that receiueth not ordinarily x impediment , opposition , and contradiction , whereby those things which in themselues might haply seeme certaine and good by accident and circumstance , are againe very vncertaine y and euill . all ignorants therefore whatsoeuer ( such are whosoeuer are not artists ) had they for all diseases the most choyce and excellent medicines knowne euen vnto god and nature , aboue and beyond all knowledge of men , yet except therewith they know their due dispensation , they cannot but peruert their right vse , be they neuer so soueraigne . the generall z remedies against the common causes of diseases ordained , except first rightly administred , shall continually and necessarily forestall and hinder the good and benefite from any particular . there are no materiall diseases wherein the common remedies are not requisite . such are phlebotomy , purgation , vomite , and the like . and wheresoeuer these are requisite , if they be not rightly administred , all other medicines be they neuer so excellent and incomparable , must needs lose their excellent and incomparable vse . and none can rightly dispence the generall remedies , but those that are more generally learned then the best acquaintance and familiarity which particular medicines can afforde . from hence it cannot but be manifest , how infinitely blinde good will and zeale do herein daily erre to the destruction of many . it were happy if at length the common inconuenience and publike scandall might beget a law , and law bring forth restraint . for illustration of that which hath bin said , it were indifferent to instance in any disease , but i will make choyce of some few onely , to satisfie for all . it is an ordinarie custome in those daies with women to giue medicines for the greene sicknesse ; & other stoppages in young women . in which practise if it so happen that no inward impediment frustrate the indeuour , they casually ofttimes do seeming present good , and blaze the excellencie of their medicine : but if ofttimes ( which they cannot distinguish or obserue ) the generall cause of the obstruction be not first by the generall remedy remoued or diminished , or the immediate cause setled within the stopped parts , be not first fitted and prepared to yeeld , all their medicines of neuer so great force , yea though commonly as strong as steele or iron , do not onely no good or small good , but ofttimes incorrigible hurt and mischiefes neuer after able to be reformed , or by the most learned counsell to be redressed ; while from the plenty or ill disposition of humors in the body these searching and piercing medicines carry with them into the stopped parts either more or worse matter then was before , and thereby there leaue a disease which shall neuer after die except by exchange for a more pernicious . in the common knowne disease of the stone likewise many and famous medicines are at this day in many common hands , and perhaps truly celebrated ; yet if sometimes bleeding a haue not a first place , ( namely where is present or imminent danger of inflamation of the reines ) sometimes if vomit be omitted ( namely where the stomacke is stopt and full , & vnto euery thing impenitrable , ) sometimes if glysters or lenitiues be not premised , ( namely where the fulnesse of the belly doth presse the passages , the bladder and the vreters ) all other excellent medicines whatsoeuer for the stone do not onely in vaine exasperate the disease , but hazard the party much more then the omission of meanes . likewise in a continuall feauer , if sometimes present and immediate opening of the b veine without delay or intermission haue not precedence , all other meanes are not onely preposterous but pernicious . likewise in the small pocks , a disease so well knowne and common to children and other : whatsoeuer other fit and good medicines and cordinals be administred , sometimes if bloud-letting go not before c their breaking out , sometimes if not vsed d after , all other good meanes are frustrate . and at another time if there be any bleeding at all , it is hazard , danger , and death it selfe . there are no medicines so commonly well knowne as such as are euery where in vse , and at euery mans hand prouided for the paines and diseases of the stomacke , and for that vse haply speciall good ; yet ofttimes we see how long and vainely those meanes without benefite are applied , vntill the true cause by a generall remedy be haply remoued , and that remedy perhaps the most vnlikely in a common iudgement , and seldome in common practise , prescript or custome vsed for that purpose . when all other trials are waste and lost in this case , and paine doth nothing stoupe , sometime the opening onely of a veine e in the arme , e being reckoned amonst the most vnusuall and commonly harmefull for that vse , doth prooue the sole helpfull refuge and author of case . and as in this case is sometime said of bleeding , so at another time may be said of purging and vomite . in the apoplexie sometime bleeding f is present death , sometime the onely g hope of life . in pestilent feauers and in the plague it selfe , all the most choyce cordials and antidotes are made frustrate , sometime by h bleeding , sometime for i want of bleeding . and from hence growe our so great disputes & differences amongst physitions themselues , some chiefly and aboue all magnifying it , some with execrations detesting it : which groweth in them for want of right distinction of the seuerall causes , and differences of the pestilence . in the same disease the like may be said of vomite , if at sometime k vsed at all , at another time if l omitted . the common generall remedies vsed against the dropsie are purging , vomiting , sweating , and the like ; yet sometime the most m vnusuall and seldomest safe , is onely necessary and helpfull vnto it . sometime if a woman with child be let bloud she suffereth n abortion , saith hippocrates . sometime if she omit o letting bloud she cannot escape abortion , o saith fernelius . o many and innumerable more might instances by , but these may suffise for light and illustration to all the rest , as also for sufficient caueat for putting any trust or confidence in the excèllencie of any particular remedies without aduice , for right dispensation of the generall . and here by may be iudged and discouered the indiscreete thoughts of light braines and vnderstandings in these dayes , of men , that so preposterously diuulge in all places so many bookes and paper-apothecary-shoppes of secrets and medicines , better iudgment and learned soath teaching the wise and discreete , that things without reason in themselues are by reason and wisedome to be guided and ordered ; lest in ignorant handling and vnwotting abuse their faire promising seemings proue gilded poysons . if any man want wit to see or know this or knowing will not consider , let the danger proue it selfe vnto him , and let such experience be euer the mother of fooles . and for those that herein make mercy and commiseration apologie for their rash violating the rules of wisedome , sobrietie and safe discretion in ignorant intermedling , i wish them consider how dangerous are the harmes and consequences of good intentions , and charitable indeauors , where they runne before knowledge and proprietie in the agent . euery honest function is not euery honest mans , but vnto euery man is distributed and allorted the action of his owne calling : which also must be made his and appropriate , not onely by approued sufficiencie in himselfe , but authorized approbation in others : whereby the action being good in it selfe , lawfull in the doer , fitting and accommodate vnto the circumstance , it is blessed of god , commended of men , seasonable in it selfe , harmelesly profitable , and euery way without reproch . chap. iii. women their custome and practise about the sicke , common-uisiting counsellors , and commenders of medicines . ovr common offenders in the former kinds are generally all such , as are knowne to want institution in arts and sciences ; are not educated in pertinent precepts , not studied nor brought vp in places of good libertie : without which good a meanes ordinarily there cā accrew to mē no perfectiō in any faculty . for althogh it be possible that there may grow in some few an allowable mediocrity in some sort sufficient to informe themselues , and profit others by a fitnesse in nature ioyned with industrie , ( though the ordinarie course of instruction by readers , teachers and schooles , be not so plentifully supplied ) yet is it no safe discretion ordinarily to trust a sufficiency so very rarely found , so hardly , so seldome , and in so few truly gained . here therefore are men warned of aduising with women counsellours . we cannot but acknowledge and with honor mention the graces of womanhood , wherein by their destined property , they are right and true soueraignes of affection ; but yet , seeing their authority in learned knowledge cannot be authenticall , neither hath god and nature made them commissioners in the sessions of learned reason and vnderstanding ( without which in cases of life and death , there ought to be no daring or attempt at all , ) it is rash cruelty in them euen there to do well , where , vnto the not iudiciously foreseeing , that well might haue proued ill , and that ill is oft no lesse then death , or else at least the way to death , which is the hazard of health . their counsels for this cause in matters of so great and dangerous consequent , modestie , nature , law , and their owne sexe b hath euer exempted . we may iustly here taxe their dangerous whisperings about the sicke , wherein their preualence oft being too great , they abuse the weake sense of the diseased , while they are not themselues ; and make iust and wise proceedings suspected , and with danger suspended . for it is not sufficient for the physition to do his office , except both the sicke c himselfe , and also all that are about him , be prudently and aduisedly carefull and obedient vnto good reason : without which , loue it selfe may be dangerously officious , the error of friendship a deed vnto death , and a kind worke in intention the wound of an enemy in issue and execution . among those that are wise , a good conscience doth stay all rash commission : and confirmation of all necessary offices by such as are learned , doth preuent the accusation of carelesse omission : and in this meane for the vnlearned to consist , is onely harmelesse piety . betweene the vnconsiderate hast of abundant affection , and the lame and carelesse pace of want of loue and duty : betweene too busie medling , and too curious forbearance , are conspicuous the excellent vertues of prudence , discretion and knowledge , vpon which are safely founded wise moderation and temperate vse of meanes , vnto which euer and onely god hath blessed all actions , their ends and issues . in whom therefore these are not , how vnwarranted are their actiōs vnto their owne hearts , and how dangerous also must they be to others harmes ? if women then professe no arts , nor as maisters of sciences can proue their rules , let them with sobrietie gouerne the great rule of themselues , and so shall they be most harmelesly happy in being freed from the vnhappinesse of hauing their hands so commonly in others mishaps , vnto the dishonour of womanhood , a gentlewoman lately falling grieuously sicke , through the frights of bloud-letting ( wherewith womens counsell by many ill reports thereof had confounded her ) refused the only safe rescue of her life thereby . whereupon very shortly after , her bloud grew so furious , that breaking the wonted bounds and limits of her veines , with violence it gushed out not onely at her mouth and nose with diuerse other passages of her body besides , but also made a diruption in the veines of one of her legs , from whence issuing in great abundance it speedily dispatched her , euen vnto the end and last breath still making her choyce , that rather her bloud should thus kill her then she cōsent to part with any part thereof otherwise . thus she miserably died . cōtrariwise another gentlewoman d in the yeare 1602. and of her age the 74. ( as shee her selfe numbred ) vexed many yeares with a continuall issue of bloud , after she had bene long left in hopeles care & despaire , required and expected of me her last doome . i found ( oft obseruing her pulse ) a manifest , equall and constant magnitude , altitude , and vehemence , the habite of her body well liking ; and by these assured my selfe as of the cause of her disease , so also of the strength of nature . many other remedies before in vaine iterated and varied , and none preuailing or profiting , contrary to the iudgement of some former physitions , as also her owne liking in regard of her age and supposed weakenesse , and contrary to the generall disclaime and wonderment of her friends , her e strength in the former indication fauouring it , necessity vrging , and therefore her age dispensing , i commanded her to be sparingly let bloud f in the arme ; whereupon without any farther other helpe she immediately recouered her strength , and was freed the space of eight yeares together from the issue , which had continually vexed her many yeares before . i deliuer these familiar examples of mine owne for better satisfaction , whereby vnto the meanest eye and simple vnderstanding it is apparent , that bloud-letting or not bloud-letting ( as all other remedies ) are either good or euill , or neither good nor euill , in seuerall seasons and circumstances ; whereby the perswasion or disswasion thereof by such as want iudgement , f is euer casually also good or euill in it selfe , but euer vniustifiable in the ignorant counsellor . the iust will not herein offend , but the foole will be babling , whereof to beware vnto many had bene sauing physicke , that now are dead . many times haue many by perswading without reason or iudgement drawne their friend vnto death , contrarie to their better meaning , troubling them with feare of death in the remedy , while they run themselues to death for want of remedie . ill counsell for the most part produceth ill euent . ignorant counsell is neuer good counsell . and therefore it is honest for it selfe , and safe for the sicke , that ignorance be euer silent , or neuer presumptuous . it is oft occasion of mirth to see , how euen after sicke men are sometime perfectly recouered , the very ill opinion of remedies past ( laboured into the conceite by the wauing of idle tongues ) holdeth them still needlesly sicke , vntill their wiser thoughts draw their minds to forget their imagination , or to remember themselues : and thus vnawares they sometime ease themselues of their owne imposition , which was first the vaine supposition of a friend . such friendship is oft simplicity , and haply sometimes knauery ; but let the patient that desireth his owne good , be impatient of such folly , and not enlarge his kinde heart vnto so vnkinde hurt vnto himselfe , remembring ( though it be humanity to heare a friendly voice ) that the attendant of wisedome is slow beliefe . oft and much babling inculcation in the weake braines of the sicke may easily preuaile with them , to forget both that which their owne good hath taught them , and also by a borrowed opinion from others indiscreete words , to corrupt their owne sense . it is the common custome of most common people thus ordinarily to molest and trouble the sicke . their presence therfore is dangerous , & carefully to be either prohibited , or better gouerned . common & vulgar mouthes easily incline scandalously to preiudice the things they know not . hence it is in these daies a customary worke to disswade physicke , while mē not making right choyce of their physition , or perue●ting good counsell by their owne peeuish frowardnes , and thereby multiplying vnto thēselues continuall occasion of complaint , vniustly therfore accuse art , which they neuer duly sought , nor found , nor vsed , & therfore neuer knew . the offences that men iustly take , are the faults , the blots , the staines of vnperfect workemen , not of art ; whereof art is as guiltlesse as they are void of art . many because they may haply obserue some others by the too much & immoderate vse of physicke , sometime too hardly to keepe vnder their owne strēgth , sometime haply to tire nature , or too cōtinually to interrupt & perturbe her quiet fruition of herselfe , & the true sense of her owne power & strēght in her selfe ; therefore in the other extreme they also with a nice and foolish morosity altogether contemne and reiect the temperate and moderate d vse thereof , denying vnto god & nature their care , & duty to thēselues , restraining nature from the priuiledge of remedies which god hath giuen vnto her , and iniuriously suffering her to liue within them imprisoned , oppressed , and oft needlesly ruined . physicke it selfe is honored by the mouth and mention of god himselfe , and in it selfe hath demonstration of it selfe , vnto them whose vnderstanding doth giue them eyes ; but the ignorant and the excessiue vse , the abuse therof , & no lesse the peruerse contempt & neglect thereof , are the curse of god , and the sinne of men . they therefore that perswade the sicke that they haue no neede of the physition , call god a lyar , who expresly saith h otherwise ; and make themselues wiser then their creator , who hath ordained i the physition for the good of man. let men therefore flie and take heede of such foolish calumnie , and in their necessities let them remember their maker , and thankfully embrace his blessing and benefite of ease and health , which thereby he hath commended and giuen vnto them ; lest vnthankfull to him , and accessarie to their owne hurt , they perish in a double sinne . beside the ordinary & meane sort of visiting people , i doing in the former kinds very scandalously and continually much hurt , it is too ordinary vse and manner generally with all orders of men : for since most men are not capable , worthy , nor vnderstandingly able to discerne a true good ; it is no wonder that the fewest speake truly good of good . some of these sorts do not simply or absolutely disswade physicke , but ( as an inducement vnto their owne practise and admittance ) such physicke onely as cometh vnknowne vnto them , out of apothecaries shops , or from physitions hands and directions : thereby preferring their owne priuate ointments , plaisters , ceareclothes , drinkes , potions , glysters , and diets , because by time and custome they are become familiarly knowne vnto them , and now are of their owne domesticall preparation , & therefore are by their knowledge , acquaintance , and auouching of them , growne into some credite and reputation with them . with this insinuation & officious promise of their knowne , gentle and pleasant medicines , and of vndoubted good from this their owne protested proofe and experience , many allure k the sicke miserably to beguile themselues ; to exchange reasonable likelihood , for personall confidence ; the knowledge of the right and safe vse of medicines , for the knowledge of the composition of their medicines ; the preciousnesse of time and oportunity of health . for the partiall expectation of vncertaine triall , these knowne defects as the perpetuall consequences of this ignorance and want of knowledge , as they are ordinarily admitted , so are they continually manifestly obserued and noted by others harmes , and ofttimes too late repentance : for since want of knowledge doth euer lamely giue supply to any want , what safe expectation or probable hope can the diseased haue of ignorant persons in their distressed wants ? old eue will neuer be worne out of adams children . alas an apple can do no great hurt . it is faire and beautifull vnto the eye , pleasant to taste , and but a trifle , a small matter , a little quantity , and of excellent quality ; adam must needs taste . it is good for his eyes , it will cleare his sight , an excellent medicine to make him see . what is more faire , more easie , more gentle , more harmelesse , more cordiall , more daintie then an apple ? eue in good will offered it , and so adam tooke it . it made him also see ; but adam had bene better still blind . a dangerous and incurable leprosie and infection thence seised vpon him , which after none but the great physition of heauen and earth could cure . many medicines are small , harmelesse , gentle , pleasant , and in themselues do not hurt . but by accident , by consequent , by circumstance , death oft followeth them at the heeles . milke , broth , butter , and many other wholesome meates , iuices and fruits in themselues , are of common harmelesse vse , milde , nourishing and comfortable , some of them sometimes soueraigne antidotes against many poysons , mitigators of diuers paines ; yet because sometimes against some circumstances a against art or reason vsed , they proue a destruction vnto the vser : and as sometime a smaller dammage , sometime a greater , so therefore sometime more and sometime lesse , obserued . who almost suspecteth a messe of milke or a cup of beere , b things so familiar and customary in daily vse and diet ? yet permitted in some c conditions , in some manner with some error , c c the messengers d of death attend them , oft faintings , swoundings , sodaine extinction of the naturall heate , anxietie and vexation , with other accidents of easie corruption and putrifaction in the one , as of stupefaction and mortification in the other . this did witnesse a late sommers sodaine heates , wherein the vnaduised hasty satisfying of thirst with cold drinke , by heapes in diuers places in northamptonshire sent labourers & haruest people into their graues . with these for farther illustration , i might number without number many more ; but vnto the wise and worthy , a word is sufficient intimation . and thought many ignorants may speake faire and pleasing , and commend things that looke smooth , and smiling vpon the liking of the sicke ; yet prouident necessitie will hence be warned to be wise for it selfe , not rashly admiting so dangerous e flattery , nor too swiftly trusting syrens for their songs , nor crocodiles for their teares : but in matters so nearly concerning life and death , duly and carefully inquiring , and according to the verdict of vnderstanding and reason , trying and examining , and not forgeting beside the hazard in vnsafe error by vnsufficient counsellors , the losse of time and oportunitie for better helpe , which ofttimes is neuer a regained . and for entertayning so meane counsell in the vse of such meanes as carry a manifest danger and malignity in their nature and vse , i could thinke no man so voide of counsell , as to neede therein counsell : yet because experience of some errors herein past is argument of other remaining possible to come , i will onely by one example aduertise , and from that example it will be easie for euery one to raise a rule and caution d to himselfe . it is ordinary with many vnskilfull busie-bodies vnder colour and pretext of gentle and safe dealing , to make familiar and ordinary the vse of perillous medicines , which haply also they do not so distinguish or repute , and therefore cannot be said to lye , ( because they speake their thought , ) yet tell not truth , because they thinke not right . i was sometime solicited by a carefull mother for her child , whom i found by a sharpe and acute conuulsion violently distorted , and before time allowed leasure for preparation of remedies , swiftly strangled . in any propension thereto in the constitution or other disposition of the child , was nothing which might apparently be accused ; and therefore making diligent inquirie after some outward cause , i found that the suspition of wormes had occasioned the commendations and vse of of the hearbe bearefoote , which though ordinary and much accustomed for that end among women , and oft by good hap without hurt ; yet we could not but with good reason hereof conuince , conferring the present harme ( which no presumption could vnto other thing impute ) with the danger and maligne nature of that herbe in production of such like effects : ( although many for the like vse haue in like manner giuen it vnto their children without blame . ) thus sometimes some men haue deuoured mortall poysons , not onely without harme , but with good and commodious effect . by these conueyances & through the like presumption , many vnwotting bodies oft bury in themselues vnbewailed ( because vnknowne ) ellebor , quicksiluer . precipitate , and the like , coloured with better names , and at the present vnperceiued . desperate trials sometime bring forth strange deliuerances , yet neither is the boldnesse warrant , nor the escape encouragement . there happen oft in these daies many sodaine , maruailed and strange accidents , posing the best physitions themselues , without doubt oft raised from causes by these errors vnknowne , secret , concealed , or haply by time before the effect appeare , forgotten : ( for secret mischiefs long time insensibly vndermine before the sensible euent appeare . ) for proofe of dangerous customes in ignorant hands , i will make one example a light vnto many . a woman sometime came to aduise concerning an extraordinary accident in her ordinary vse of spurge-comfits . she gaue ( at the same time her selfe , and some others in the same house taking thereof with answerable effect and euacuation ) vnto a very aged man eight in number ( being her vsuall dose . ) the first day they had no effect with the old man , and in all the rest performed their wont : she therefore gaue him as many the next day with the like effect , and as many euery day vnto the 10 day , with the like proofe . it was then her feare he had tasted his owne funerall feast before his death , but he suruiued the feare without sense of change or danger . is it safe from this good hap , for other in hope still to hazard themselues in such vnsafe handling ? is it not rather manifest how ignorantly and commonly these creatures ouerlooke the danger which iustly wisdome and reason suspend and feare ? discreete feare awaketh vigilance and circumspection , but ignorance of danger is void of feare , and therefore of care . carelesse attempts draw harmfull and repented issues : and though good haps sometimes flatter vaine security , yet if seldome harmes be not wisely extended as a caution and example vnto many , the custome of neglect will make the rare confusion quickly common . so large a feast of spurge-comfits hath seldome kept so many holy daies in one bellie , or a banketting likenes so harmelesly priuiledged idlenesse in a working quality . the consequent hapned much fairer then could be foreseene or hoped . if for that cause any man will againe aduenture the like , who will not imagine that in the thought he hath already lost his wits , & in the proofe may lose himselfe ? if notwithstanding he escape , any man will wonder , but no man , i suppose , imitate . it may be haply deemed incredible , that so common and meane sort of people can attaine acquaintance with so dangerous instruments , as some before mentioned and other the like ; but due exploration oft by the harmes occasioned doth testifie it , and the meanes of their acquaintance discouered doth proue it easie . quacksaluers , banckruptapothecaries , and fugitiue surgeons euery where ouer-trauelling the face of this kingdome , hunted by want of riot from place to place , are oft compelled to insinuate and creepe into the fauour of many meane people ; and in their necessity do sell for gaine and entertainement , and in their prodigality for lust and loue , these generose and noble secrets carrying on the outside the titles of famous medicines , and being within infamous poysons . and by this meanes quicke and desperate experiments , with such as thus like to gaine them , grow vulgar medicaments . chap. iiii. fugitiues , workers of iugling wonders , quacksaluers . now seeing we are cast vpon the mention of the former sort of men , we will here for giuing better knowledge of them , protract their short stay . of this order are they who in townes and villages hang vp their banners and triumphant flags in fields , of broken armes , rotted legs , and halfe faces , and haply also timber for new , displaying at large before the simple amazed multitude , their prouision of shot and wildfire in quintessenses and spirits : scouring vp before them goodly store of harnesse wherewith men of all sorts may arme themselues against all diseases ; discoursing d with what agility they can soudre new gris●es for old noses , and newly againe infranchise french limbes , and finally making themselues admirable tinkers of all infirmities . amongst these men credulous mindes may see things inuisible ; beggers are enabled to sell gold to drinke , that want siluer to make them eate . aurum potabile , the natuturall balsamum , the philosophers stone , dissolued pearle , and the like inestimable glories and pride of art and nature , are their professed ordinary creatures and the workmanship of their hands , in whose hands are nothing but idlenesse , g theeft , and beggerie . to ingage wonder aboue wonder with admiration vnto the beholders , some of this sort will not seeme nice to cut their owne flesh , that it may be glory within few howres to heale it vp againe , the paine being pleasure which is inuited by consent , and recompenced by gaine . it is strange to see how these men leauing their old occupations and mechanicall mysteries wherein they were educate , sodainely finde themselues inspired with a spirit of reuelation of rare secrets , and thereby promise vnto themselues and others miraculous wonders . and it is indeede true wonder to see with what agility they are able so grosly to deceiue , and in the end like noble chymists , hauing extracted siluer out of the baser mettall of idle words , in smoke they vanish , leauing behinde them the shadow of death , with those who leauing the day light of clearer vnderstanding neglected , rashly run themselues into the mist of imposture and ignorance . thus preualent is faire pollicitation and vaine wonderment . if men would consult with reason & iudiciously consider ; though their wonders were truly to be wondered , and worthy to exercise the wise and learned in their extrication ( as they are the vanities and inanities of argute and subtill cousinages , ) yet must it neuer be forgotten , that wonders yea and miracles themselues are solie neuer arguments of truth or sufficiencie , but for the most part fruites of vnprofitable curiosity , deceiuing the simple , amazing the multitude , and giuing way and credite to vntruth , cousinage and iugling . therefore in this kind the diuell himselfe is excellent , and for the most part it is one chiefe part , a true marke and prerogatiue of his followers , coniuerers , sorcerers , witches , and iuglers ; who wanting true worthinesse in themselues , make vnto themselues these glorious couers . god hath giuen nothing vnto man , but for his trauail and paine . and according to his studious industrie , care , prudence , prouidence , assiduity and diligence , he dispenseth vnto him euery good thing . he hath not ordained wonders and miracles to giue supply vnto our common needes , nor to answer the ordinary occasions or vses of our life : but our owne needefull discreete indeauors euer depending vpon his prouidence . truth and sufficiency receiue not their iust triall by rare workes or casuall euents , but by an i habituall and continuall proofe and exercise in their daily , ordinary , and proper subiects and occurrents : whereunto truly and pertinently they apt and fit euery designe and action : whereunto their owne vpright iudgement is a trustie guide , and others eyes vndeceiued witnesses . and thus if men will learne to guide themselues , they shall not so commonly and easily lose their eyes in the gaze of wonders , nor their reason in the maze of such inexplicable and intricate folly . chap. v. surgeons . that which hath bene formerly said suffiseth to point out the deceiuers last mentioned . their affinitie giueth occasion to mention in the next place , their next neighbours , diuers our common vnlearned surgeons , hauing neither letters nor humanity , nor euer acquainted with the dialect and language of the learned . these men for the most part esteeming themselues deseruing well for the operary c vses of a skilfull and well exercised hand in wounds , incisions , amputations of sphacelate parts and the like , hence take vnto themselues an emerited priuiledge in physicke practise . some also venture farther , and for some rare exeperiences arrogate vnto themselues ability , a power and authoritie to educate & institute physitions , as an vnder-growth vnto themselues , by lying promises , perswading many honest simple parents to commit their children , otherwise perhaps more fortunate and ingenuous , to be their apprentices . hence it cometh to passe that many in these daies thus traded vp by their example vnto a nimblenesse of deceit , and of aduenturing in all occurrents , so ordinarily promise like gods , dare aboue men , and act like diuels crucifying the liues of poore men : while by the grace of one good d deede of good hap , the oportunity of committing many tragedies vnspoken is gained . and thus is the world furnished with factors for the graue and the perdition of mankind . an example of double impudence let here witnesse . a gentleman of northamptonshire vexed with an vlcer of the bladder required my aduice . vnderstanding by the daily abundance of purulent matter in his vrine ( for the space almost of halfe an yeare before continually obserued ) together with some store of bloud ofttimes withall , ( neither of which the bladder it selfe and the exility of the veines thereof could so plentifully with so easie e accidents afford ) as also by the more perfect permistion thereof with the substance of the vrine , that it was not onely an affection of the bladder , but a greater and more dangerous in the reines , ( about the region whereof was euer much paine and weaknesse ) and coniecturing them past possibility of cure ( their substance already so far spent ) i refused to promise or meddle farther then by palliatiue cure , wherein accordingly i insisted a long time with good ease and satisfaction vnto the patient . at length by some friends there was commended highly for a farther and better performance , a barber surgeon , who thereupon being required and conducted thither , came vnto the gentleman , and according to the commendatiōs premised promised to cure him in sixe f weekes space . shortly after the patient complaining of want of sleepe , he gaue vnto him a ladanum pill of paracelsus , and after mercuriall pilles for another supposed end ; by the vse whereof in his body , then by the length of his disease exceedingly before weakened and extenuate , he presently fell into an amazed staring sleepinesse , or an astonishment betweene g waking and sleeping , wherein after he had continued a naturall day , in the morning following he was sodainely surptised with acute and epilepticall fits and a generall conuulsion , with foming , gnashing his teeth , loud stertors and the like , whereof after in one day he had passed 8 or 9 fits in my sight ( being then vpon that new occasion newly required , the surgeon h fled ) he was after my coming and meanes vsed partly by theriacall glysters , suppositars , and antidotes fitting the present cause and accidents , through the grace of god vnexpectedly deliuered , after he had by stoole thus procured , auoyded one whole pill vndissolued ( seene by diuers well vnderstanding witnesses present , ) as also diuers small fractions of quicksiluer fluctuating and floating like white pinnes heads , as the women that saw reported vnto vs. to make the cause of these accidents yet more manifest ; it happened that two maid-seruants there attending vpon the gentleman , by their continuall conuersing neare him and the infected sweate of his body , fell strangely and sodainely into the same fits one after another by course , and each hauing suffred sixe or seuen apart , were carried forth , and after that time neuer since ( as i yet heare ) nor euer before had the like , as they both then said . one of these now liueth maried in towcester in northamptonshire , the other was lately seruant vnto an honorable lady . this history is knowne vnto many of note and worth beside . to conclude , the gentleman thus escaped , and grew by little and little vnto his former senses and strength as his first disease would permit . within a quarter of an yeare after , or thereabout , another surgeon againe put the gentlemā into a new hope of recouery : & although the report of my iudgement did somewhat ( as i heard ) shake his confidence , yet not conceiuing my reason nor seeing the cause , and supposing no other but the vlcer in the bladder , he tooke him in hand ; and in his hand within few dayes he left his life , according to my prediction vnto diuers his friends concerning this second attempt likewise solicited . by these examples it is manifest , both how bold and confident ignorance will be , as also how powerfully and bewitchingly it deceiueth the distressed minde , easily prone d to beleeue that which it desirously would . from hence also may be coniectured how commonly such errors by these ignorant persons in likelihood befall , yet for the most part either for want of knowledge vnespied , or by the priuacy smothered . for if they kill , a dead e man telleth no tales : or if by chance they saue one life , that shall be a perpetuall g flag to call more fooles to the same aduenture . this is commonly seene in the vulgar custome of curing the french disease by barbers and surgeons , who precipitate commonly euery one alike , and confusedly without respect or order thrust all through the purgatorie of their sweatings ; bleeding , vomiting , vnctions , plaisters , and the like . hereby many needlesly intangle themselues vpon meere supposall and feare , and many take more then necessity vigeth ; and others for satisfying that necessity , neglect a more materiall , and flying too timorously and rashly a knowne inconuenience , run headlong vnknowing into an after too well knowne vnrecouerable h mischiefe . for if they that fal into such rough handling be strong in themselues , and no way liable to the harmes of such desperate remedies , and be free from the implication of all other diseases besides , ( which entring by their breaches may interrupt their smooth passage , and make pernicious their french medication ) they may haply escaping the danger , for the hazard attaine their desired deliuerie , as is in some seene . but if nature haply be weake , or the disposition of the sicke subiect to the perils of that cure ( which these men seldome do or can consider ) or any other disease lie in waight too prompt to trust with any aduantage , ( which these men want knowledge to foresee ) the acquaintance with such remedies may easily proue a greater plague vnto the greatest poxe . how can he that considereth the disease and not the e person ( as is vsuall with these men ) because the contrary is not possible with ignorance ) how can they i say in curing the one but indanger the other ? we see ordinarily , the same medicine in the same force vnto one man is scarce sensible , vnto another is a sting ; vnto one fauourable , vnto another cruell ; in one wanting edge , in another exceeding . it therefore requireth learned ability to discerne the hidden ods and differences , thereby iustly to distribute vnto euery seuerall his proper and fit f proportion of the same thing . neither is it safe to accommodate so harmefull helps as belong to so cautelous a cure without a iudicious view , not onely of this strange disease it selfe , but also of the mixture or g coniunction of any other maladies and respects therewith , whose necessities may and do oft forbid and prohibite his remedies ( that being a medicine to one disease which is a mischiefe to another , and an ease to one which is a sorrow vnto another . ) it is therefore no maruaile , that while these men contemne order and method , and the learned examination of these and such like circumstances , and blindly prosecute issues vnknowne to foreseeing reason , they therefore ( though sometime they remoue a mischiefe ) yet either equall it againe with the like , or exceed it with a greater , or else ofttimes not profiting nor satisfying the vtmost patience and painefull expectation with the smallest good , effectually double the greatest euill . this for that all men see not , few consider , many forget , & some ioyously escaping defend . the hurt is oft vnespied the harmes vnheeded , the shamefull wrongers and homicides with the dead buried , and the good haps by many foolish liuing idly admired , vnto the increase and continuance of multiplied mischiefe . hereof solie for the most part wofull experience is capable , neither reason , nor example , nor any aduice warning or moderating , g though the ordinary batteries from hence euery where almost leaue rotten and mangled monuments of remedilesse cures , if not present with the cause , yet neuer farre of , and though sometime long , yet euer certaine . for though where the body is strong , ofttimes many grosse errors may be by the ignorant committed , and yet not espied , ( because where is strength there is lesse sense and esteeme of harmes , ( weaknesse being only vnable to beare or endure without complaint ) yet the insensible sting doth oft breede the most festered poyson , in the latest sensible smart . the errors of the vnskilfull pilote though great and many , in the calme are not h considered , but in the dangerous sea the least error offereth the ougly shape of his owne foulnesse . in bodies not easily harmed many rash harmes are hardly discouered , but in dangerous cōditions the least lapses are heauie loades . ignorance therefore is onely good when it doth no hurt , whereunto it is neuer wanting in her propertie , but onely sometimes in power . it is obiected , that wise and learned men do oft mistake . it is true : where is the greatest wisedome the most incomparable , yet there is , and euer must be sometimes mistaking and infirmities . the reason is , for that absolute perfection is aboue the nature of mortality . he therefore that in his art or faculty doth neuer erre , is b more then a man. he that most seldome dd , nor grosly , nor easily erreth , and for the most d part and commonly frameth all his iudgements and actions vnto right reason , he is onely a right and e complete artist . he that grosly or easily or commonly erreth and mistaketh , iustly meriteth the name of an ignorant and idiot . this is the plaine and vncontrolled difference betweene the learned and vnlearned . it is yet farther obiected , that oft as good happe smileth vpon these ignorants as vpon more learned . it is sometime true , but it is wisedome to distinguish how . al things that happen vnto the vnderstanding and notion of the mind ( which is the guide of all actions ) are either f in themselues certaine and demonstrate , or necessary by consequent , or probable and of likelihood , or of contingence and good hap . in the first the truly learned cannot erre ; in the second not oft nor easily . but , in both the vnlearned is euer subiect to error , as vnable to distinguish plaine truth from seeming appearance . in the third the learned may be g deceiued , but not so commonly and easily as the vnlearned . in the fourth good hap and blind fortune is indifferent vnto both , and therein the foole hath oft as good hap as the wise man. but he that hath common sense may discerne great ods . the learned hath a prerogatiue in three parts vnto himselfe , and an equall part with the vnlearned , in the fourth . the learned hath for his light and guide either knowledge , whereof is b demonstration , and thereby are his actions more certaine ; or reason and iudgement , and thereby are they more tried vnto right and truth ; or right probability and artificiall c coniecture , and thereby are they more seldome found erring . the vnlearned wanteth all these helps , h and is led onely by bold aduenture in hope of good hap , which after long expectation is but seldome f seene , and then soone gone . for the bounty of good hap is not euery day , and when it sodainely like a wanton sheweth it selfe , her smiles are obuious to any one , and therein hath the learned with the vnlearned g equall interest . it breedeth yet farther doubt , that is sometime seene . the empericke and vnlearned surgeon do sometimes cure where the learned hath long trauailled , and at length hath giuen place vnto the disease . it cannot be denied , in many desperate cases these men are the onely fit instruments . where the learned foreseeing the slippery hope of meanes , and the notation and staggering of nature , doth make warie h proceeding ( vnwilling where the caution is so nice that the action cannot be safe , to vndertake so hard l an office ) there these men ( who thinke nothing hard though impossible ) being euer ready to giue bold aduenture , may hap luckily to ouersute the danger , and thereby the cure must needs be a mighty d deliuerance . an ancient gentleman of northamptonshire , being then my patient , related vnto me among our merriments his medicine for a continuall head-ach and giddinesse , which in time past had long vexed him , and solicited diuers good physitions in vaine . by chance he met with an angry surgeon , who being by him in some words prouoked , and finding the gentleman alone and far from companie or rescue , with a staffe vnto the vtmost perill of life soundly brake his head , and plentifully let him bloud in diuers places ; but life escaping , he thereby deliuered f him of his diseases , whereof more wise and deliberate counsell could neuer with much labour and long time free him . it was a great ouersight in his learned physitions , that they could not foresee , nor would not prescribe so fortunate a remedy . thus malice was as happy as an empericks bold attempt , yet herein was somewhat better , that it was freely bestowed . * in like manner , vnto another so far ingaged in the neapolitan disease , that discreete counsell durst not oppose equipollent remedies , a woman ( purposing to poyson him ) gaue an vnknowne dose of rats-bane ; and thereby nature driuen vnto her vtmost and last shift , setting open all the passages of his body , at once with the poyson wholly expelled the former disease . thus issueth wondered good out of diuellish and dangerous acts . i condemne not sharpe and extreme remedies , when as extreme c neede requireth them ; neither do i commend a trembling and timorous iudgement in prescription and accommodation there of where is d needefull . but i admit not hard or sodaine e attempts , but onely in extreme necessities , where also the f strength of nature hath by the iudicious and learned bene carefully foreballanced betweene hope and hazard : without these respects the vse of hard and vehement remedies by the hands of vnlearned practitioners are growne too common . it is therefore good for men to take heede , how they too boldly walke in the common tract of empericks and vnlearned , whose waies oft troden grow slippery , and therefore not varied proo●e dangerous . it is sometime nearest way to go out of the common way , many times the fairest way , and not seldome the safest way . for though diseases may be of easie note and well knowne , and the vulgar medication no lesse otherwise apt vnto the necessitie ; yet may one small circumstance onely by it selfe making the disease different , once escaping an vnskilfull and blind eye , for euer after ouerrun the hopefull vse of any other meanes , and frustrate the happinesse of after-health by better counsell . this is the reason that so many sodainely and vnexpectedly perish not without wonder in the vnskilfull practitioners hand , who casting his eye vpon nothing but that which is common , taketh for a great stranger what is otherwise , and therefore not foreseeing , his coming is not prepared to entertaine or intercept him with best aduantage ; nor giueth nor taketh warning of him , and therefore is so sodainely oft surprised by him . i may hereof giue a rare instance in an esteemed friend sometimes a learned diuine , who by some rash aduice , his estate at that time not duly considered , required of an apothecary a strong medicine against the stone ( wherewith from his childhood he had bene euer hereditarily g molested . the one prepared it , the other tooke it , both expecting no other vse or consequent , then that which was vsuall to such a medicine . but the same night that potion violently descending brake through his h bladder , making therein two issues , where by the vrine came from him immediately then , and continually after by those two breaches , before it could attaine the vsuall passage or conduit . hereof was then witnesse a graue & learned gentleman an ancient doctor of physike vnto whom this patient did slie for his iudicious aduice in this sodaine mischiefe , and with whom my selfe had serious conference about that accident , both of vs lamenting his so vnhappy distresse and misery . chap. vi. apothecaries . here so faire occasion offering their memory , we may not forget our apothecaries . among them also some to do a friend an vnlicenced friendship , or to keepe their wares in motion for feare of corruption , will haply sometimes offer a casuall good turne , to any that like the venture . i must needs say for the priuiledge of apothecaries , that if any may haue prerogatiue to be physitions , by the excellence and rare choice of medicines , it is most proper vnto them ; who haue with them registred and inrolled the priuie choice , trust and command of all the best remedies , and haue the best light to gesse at their best vse . nay i may commend them farther ; that for the excellent preparation and knowledge of medicines they sometimes may excell some physitions themselues : but aboue and beyond the preparation , the right and iudicious dispensation is truly worthy , commanding and directing their safe and prudent vse . this skill requireth an vnderstanding able to raise itselfe aboue both the medicine and the g maker , vnto the great maker of them both , and from his generall h decree and counsell in the administration of all things in nature , to leuie and limite circumstances , i proportion , time , place , quantity and quality , according to the manifold seuerall purposes and infinite vses for the preseruation , conseruation , and continuance of health and life vnto mankind . and herein how far it behoueth the erected mind of higher contemplation , to exalt it selfe in consultation aboue the elementary consideration and composition of a medicine and the vulgar and common sense , the continuall exquisite vse and exercise of the most incomparable prudence and learning in the ordinary and daily difficulties that befall the health , do plainely proue and demonstrate . it is not the medicine it selfe , but the iudgement and knowledge of the learned , and right accommodation annexed vnto the wholesome medicine , that addeth vnto it a worth aboue it selfe ; whereby it doth far exceede it selfe in excellency , in variety of greater good , in distinction of more proper vse , according to art and reason thereto conducting it , which is the life of euery application and accommodation in all things . hence euen the greatest clerkes with this sufficiency prouided , haue not blushed to borrow or learne a good medicine at a simple and vulgar e hand , yea from fooles and brute beasts , in their owne more excellent adaptation as the soule vnto the body , conferring the full and true perfection . the ancients themselues haue not shamed so to do , as galen in diuers places professeth of himselfe . vnto apothecaries therefore that faithfully and truly apply themselues and their whole indeauor , that haue tried and experienced skill , and vse faithfull industrie in fitting wholesome and incorrupt remedies to attend each honest need and necessity without fucation , adulteration or deceit , and containe themselues within themselues , no man can deny a worthy esteeme both in priuate thoughts and publike estimate ; but if the pride and maister-ship of the medicine stirre once in them the ambition of medication , as in the former men commēd them , so in the second they shall iustly condemne them : and as in the one safely vse them , so in the other with safe discretion refuse them , fearing lest with salomons fly being taken in the apothecaries boxe , they also in like manner make a stinke of the medicine , & an end of themselues . valleriola mentioneth an apothecary who with the imprudent vse of quicksiluer poysoned himselfe . i knew sometime an honest and approued good apothecary in warwickshire , who imitating a prescription of precipitate against an inueterate disease which he supposed in himselfe , exulcerated his guts , and therefore died . these experiments in other then themselues had bene bloudy and vnhonest , and in themselues rather then in other argue their strong confidence , ( which therefore might easily seduce them to be in time bold with others . ) example and imitation ( which are the rules of an apothecaries practise ) are but patterns of anothers sufficiencie . sufficience therfore being not their owne , it is sufficient to put them in mind of their owne . it is good for euery one to be contented and contained within his owne lists , and of his owne store with liberality to lend , and of anothers with loue and licence to borrow . this vpholdeth societies and good orders in common weales , maintaineth mutuall neighbourhood and humanity , friendly and iust commerce with loue and loyall reciprocation , and distribution of euery right to euery owner , with good to the generall and common , and without hurt to euery priuate and particular . i say nothing of banckrupt apothecaries , who hauing left their owne standing become walking merchants , and with a few pedlarie wares remaining keepe shop in their owne hose , or else in their guts , who ( wanting other vse ) imagine them sufficiēt to make cleane the kitchin . let thē that desire their meate in the stomacke should long finde good cookerie , take heede who put herbs into the pot . it hath bene required and by some imposed , that a physition should be both surgeon and apothecary himselfe . it is easily decided . in iudgement , skill , knowledge , and ability of direction , it is very requisite and necessary , and the contrary is not tollerable in a true architect : but euery particular execution e or manuall paines and trauell is neuer vniustly , sometime necessarily , and oft more conueniently distributed and deuided vnto others , whose vicissitude , assistance , and oft more ready handling thereof , is as sufficient , nothing inferiour , yea for operary proofe and cunning handworke far without enuy f superior , because the maine and continuall exercise therein , doth therein also make the meaner iudgement better apted and more prompt . galen indeed himselfe in necessity , & want of other ( whose better and more speciall practise and exercise therein might make it their more proper performance ) put his owne hand vnto g chirurgie : but when he found it another distinct office , as an ease vnto himselfe and a commodious liberty & inlarged helpe to his other imploiments , studies and care , he thereunto referred hand-operation , though euer haply conferred his mind & iudgement . in like maner hippocrates refuseth by b oath to meddle in chirurgerie , & expresly in the extraction of the stone of the bladder , and leaueth it vnto those that are therein exercised : the fewer offices the lesse distraction , & where lesse distraction , there is the better bent vnto the more maine and proper scope . where therefore with as sufficient supply by others , the suffection or deputation may ease of a burthen ( as indifferently else were imposed ) there ( the businesse lesse , and the diligence and incumbence equall ) the remaining taske must needes be completely and absolutely attended & perfected . concerning the apothecarie included in the physition : indeed the first ancients were apothecaries vnto themselues , because in themselues onely was then newly sprouting in the infancie , the inchoation of that skill , and therefore as yet they could not c communicate perfection vnto others . but now time and age haue accomplished it , the physitions eye and skill hath vsed anothers hand both as a needfull and requisite d helpe in the mechanicall ministery , and also as an aduantage and ease to the more necessary , laborious , and studious trauels of his mind . in ordinarie dispatches therfore it is vnauoidably necessary an apothecarie be euer at hand , as faithfull as his owne right hand , and in extraordinarie the physitions owne heart must onely trust his owne hand , and his owne eye witnesse their consent . this equitie may satisfie curiositie . chap. vii . of practisers by spels . now to leaue both surgeon and apothecarie , the opposition against the vse or need of either , doth put in mind in the next place not to forget those , who professe the performances , vses , and end both of surgeon & apothecary , yea and physition himselfe without their helpe or need : such are such as cure by spels and words . if men beleeue as reason would and as reasonable men should ( for men are no c men if vnreasonable ) of any effects from spels , among the wise is no true reason or cause , and without reason can be no right perswasion . betweene a true cause and his d proper effect , there is an immediate necessity ; betweene a cause by accident and his effect , there is a e mediate consequution : but this cause being onely ni opinion , can be no more then opinion , and in opinion is no truth . some finding spels to do no good , obiect as a good , they do no hurt . this hurt i am assured they do ; while men haue gaped after such shadowes , they oft in the meane season haue lost the substance , their life and health : which while due season offered vnto them that had learned to know oportunitie , bad scholers were still at spelling schoole . to speak more seriously of such a toy : if the faithfull and deuout prayer of holy men ( vnto which the promise of god , and the blessings of men are annexed ) hath no such assurance or successe of necessarie consequent , without laborious industry and the vse of good meanes , how can religion g or reason suffer men that are not voyd of both , to giue such impious credite vnto an vnsignificant and senslesse . h mumbling of idle words , contrarie to reason , without president of any truly wise i or learned , and iustly suspected of all sensible men ? it shall be no error to insert a merrie historie of an approued famous spell for sore eyes . by many honest testimonies , it was a long time worne as a iewell about many necks , written in paper , and inclosed in silke , neuer failing to do soueraigne good when all other helps were helplesse . no sight might dare to reade or open . at length a curious mind while the patient slept , by stealth ripped open the mystical couer , and found the powerful characters latin , which englished were these : the b diuell digge out thine eyes , and fill vp their holes with his dung . words without meaning are nothing , and yet so here are best . of nothing can come nothing ( much lesse good : ) yet so c it was , and yet it was d not so ) oathes and testimonies auouching the one religion , & truth e denying the othes . thus ofttimes things haply begun in sport and ieast , with light minds , by vaine opinion grow to sooth and earnest . it is strange in these daies to behold how this follie doth laugh euen wise men to scorne , while their vnreasonable parts of imagination and fancie , so iuggle with their iudgements and vnderstanding , that they can scarce containe themselues from beleeuing and consulting with such ridiculous folly . thus able is fancie , not onely to deceiue sense , but to obscure our reason . if there be any good or vse vnto the health by spels , they haue that prerogatiue by accident , and by the power and vertue of f fancie ; wherein is neither certaintie nor continuance . fancie , according vnto the nature thereof , can seldome be long fixed vpon any thing ; because naturally being euer full of fiction , it must needs easily and continually be g transported . fancie therefore can be no ordinarie or common remedie , being but rarely fixedly detained ; and where it is most earnestly bent , yet hardly of long continuance . if fancie then be the foundation whereupon buildeth the good of spels , spels must needs be as fancies are , vncertaine and h vaine : so must also by consequent be their vse and helpe , and no lesse all they that trust vnto them . i speake not of inchanted spels , but of that superstitious babling , by tradition of idle words and sentences , which all that haue sense , know to be voide of sense , as the other diuellish . the one ( if there be no remedie ) we must permit vnto fooles , in the other we cannot denie the diuell . chap. viii . the explication of the true discouerie of witchcraft in the sicke , together with many and wondered instances in that kind . many things of great power and wonder , aboue reason and beyond the power of nature , haue bene effected through the imprecation , stimulation and ministerie of wicked men the associates of diuels , whose commerce with spirits hath bene oft plaine and manifest . but it is good before we enter into the consideration thereof , that we be warie and cautelously wise , how we make a true difference betweene a true worke of the diuell , and the strange likenesse which phantasmes ( oft countenanced by casualties and euents ) strongly worke in the opinion and conceit . for as the machinations of spirits are certainly oft inserted into the actions of men ; so by the iuglings of the imaginarie , are so liuely framed resemblances and counterfets of them oft times , that they can hardly be distinguished . that it may therefore the better first appeare what fancie and imagination are able to do , i will not here omit an historie worth good eare : anno 1607. a parsons wife of northhamptonshire , dwelling within three miles of the towne , came vnto a physition , complaining of a tumor in one of her breasts . he demanded her among many other things concerning the sciatica , which he a coniectured to vexe her . she denied any acquaintance or notion thereof in all her former life . the same night ( being returned home ) sodainly about midnight the sciatica seized painfully and grieuously vpon her . some few daies after , it happened another of her neighbours came also vnto the same physition , whom ( beside the disease which she her selfe made knowne ) he guessed to be troubled with the b crampe , and cursorily questioned her thereof . she neuer before sensibly knowing any such paine , after her returne also that night suffered thereby exceeding torment . these two accidents compared together by the first partie , ( the one in her selfe , and the other in her neighbour ) and the apprehension being whet by her exceeding paine continued , caused in her a strong and resolute opinion of bewitching , which she presently vnremoueably imputed vnto the physition . her outcries and impatience through her paine , made such forcible impression in her husband , that to satisfie his wiues vnreasonable importunacie , he was contented to come vnto the physition from her to expostulate . he , before he could vtter his message , blushing at the folly , and yet desirous to satisfie his wiues iniunction , because she would not otherwise giue him rest , at length related vnto him the cause of his coming , desiring him for his sake ( being much ashamed thereof ) to conceale the folly of his wife . this done , he returned home , and found his wife nothing better , but assuring her selfe and him , that if he would but once more come vnto the physition , and ( as i coniecture ) gaine him to forgiue her , she should presently be well . accordingly the next day he came vnto him , and ( then concealing the reason and cause of his coming ) desired him to forgiue and pardon his wife . this easily granted ( as such a toy ) he presently demanded the houre of the day , which instantly the clocke gaue two , being afternoone . he hastened homeward , and before he could speake vnto his wife , she ioyously entertained him , and with preuention told him that she was perfectly well , and that iust at c two of the clock her paine left her , which she ( it seemed ) imagined ( as it also hapned ) to haue bene the same time and moment that the physition had giuen her desired pardon . the next morning her husband did write vnto him , discouering with this newes the reason of his last coming vnto him the day before , together with this strange euent following it . within halfe a yeare after , she fell sicke againe , and d died . this strong imagination , with this strange euent , might haue intangled many a poore spinster in a thicker string then her cunning could vntwist , to saue the cracking of her neck . but if mē wold more duly oft examine and weigh these cases , they shall many times find the witch in a foolish sconce ; and greater and more dangerous are the bewitchings of a mans owne folly , and more effectuall oft times vnto his owne hurt and others , then any witch , yea or diuell whatsoeuer . without doubt chance may flatter and countenance the imagination with vnwonted , yea and iustly wondered euents , and yet is that no demonstration of ought about nature or reason . casualtie doth so apt oft times consequences vnto dreames , as if there were some secret power or influence in them proceeding vnto such effects , yet is it no proof of truth or trust in them . women oft times out of their e sleepes haue foreseene and foretold many things , which according to time and place haue iustly come to passe , but this doth make their dreames no oracles . many vain mē out of the presage of their owne minds , haue confidently made prediction of such things as haue assuredly hapned , yet is this no inducement to take them for prophets . in like maner some that haue possessed themselues with witchcraft , and the opinion thereof , haue seemed to know things aboue their knowledge , and that knowledge aboue and beyond all reason hath bene true : yet neither is this any dispossession of themselues of this spirit of folly , nor no iust proofe or accusation of any one to be a witch . i cannot therfore take it for an ingenuous course , vpō such grounds to draw simple people vnto confusion . it is an easie matter for any impression to worke it selfe into the imagination of a vaine mind . and why may it not seeme as easie for the diuell who is the author of lying d wonders , to credite it with wonderfull euents aboue the weake eye of our reason ? therefore ineptly and iniuriously may the illusion of fancie , and the practise of the diuell therewith ioyned , be made snares for the innocent , whose destruction is his intention who reioyceth in the perdition of mankind . neither can i beleeue ( i speake it with reuerence vnto grauer iudgements ) that the forced f coming of men or women to the burning of bewitched cattell , or to the burning of the dung or vrine of such as are bewitched , or floating of bodies aboue the water , or the like , are any trial of a witch . i see no reason why i may not thinke , that the diuell by the permission of god , hath power indifferently to worke these effects vpon any man , whether a witch or no. for if he had power for his owne malitious purpose vpon the bodie of our blessed sauiour , to transport it through the aire , and to set it vpon a pinnacle of the temple ; and vpon the body of righteous iob , with hope and desire of his ouerthrow : by what prerogatiue dare any other man whatsoeuer presume to free himselfe from his power , but by a speciall grace and mercie of god ? or why is it any imputation vnto any man to be knowne to be subiect thereto , since god doth permit it in diuers his deare g seruants ? if men shall grant the diuels exercising his power vpon any man a sufficient euidence to conuince him a witch , g there shall thereby be allowed vnto the diuell a large h commission , which his malice will easily extend beyond the latitude : as by right obseruation of many learned in their own experiences hath ben● and may be oft truly noted . i do not deny nor patronage witches or witchcraft , but wish that the proofes and triall thereof may be more carefully and with better circumspection viewed and considered : that rash determination beguile not the wise , nor condemne the innocent , vpon whom the diuell can with more nimblenesse and agilitie transferre his owne euill workes , then either they can auoide it , or others easily espie it . euerie thing whereof euerie man cannot giue a reason , is not therefore a miracle . there are many things whereof few c men , many whereof no man can attaine the reason , yet euerie d man knoweth to haue a reason in nature . behold a toy for an example . there is seene in the hand of a iugler a thing as it is indeed ; sodainly in a moment without perceptible motion , it is againe seene e as it is not . that there is a cause of the change who knoweth not ? what it is , who knoweth except to whom it hath bene made known ? with great wonder and f admiration haue diuers in this age shewed mercenarie spectacles , incredible g euen vnto the beholding eye , and yet in the actors by meane vnderstandings deprehended to be nothing but agilitie and nimble cunning , by continuall practise and custome working desperatenesse into facilitie . thus with common wonder haue some walked and danced voon cords . some are written to haue leaped and danced vpon the edges of sharp swords without hurt vnto thēselues , & with pleasure vnto the beholders . some haue credibly bene supposed to deuoure daggers and other sharpe and dangerous weapons . that naturally the loadstone draweth iron the meanest know : the reasō or cause the wisest neuer knew . there are wonders in nature , & wonders aboue nature ; these are subtilties , the other miracles . that fire and aire , contrary to their owne a particular nature of the owne accord descend , and waters ascend : that the heauie mettals of iron and lead , contrary to their owne naturall motion , should with such admirable swiftnesse , in so short a b moment passe so large a distance through the aire , from a small flash of a little flame : these and such like are subtilties , because the cause and reason thereof doth vnfold it selfe to few , or not to all , yet vnto the learned . that the sunne should stand still in the firmament , the moone be ecclipsed in no interposition , the bodies of men should flie in the aire , or walke vpon the face of the water ; these and the like are miracles , because hereof is neither power nor reason in nature . and as in the former to be easily drawne to admiration , and to ascribe naturall effects to supernaturall causes , is grosse ignorance , so in the latter to enquire naturall causes in d supernaturall effects , is profane curiositie . in both these extremes men too commonly erre , the learned for the most part in the latter , the vnlearned in the first ; the one too c wise , the other starke fooles . none truly learned , or that truly know the face of nature ( whose scholers the learned euer professe themselues ) can be vpon the vaine flashes of seeming wonders lightly moued to denie or call into question f the power and force of nature . with therfore the common amazed thoughts of vulgar people , to be blasted by the stupiditie of euery idle feare , to gape after witchcraft , or to make nature a diuell or a bugbeare , must needs be base procliuitie and vnlearned lightnesse . to admit also nothing aboue or beside nature , no witchcraft , no association with diuels at all , is no lesse madnesse of the opposite and extreame . but those whom true learning and wisedome hath well instructed , know how to stay themselues , and to consist in a temperate mediocritie betweene both these . the actions of the diuell are discouered by the proper notes and difference . first they are euer c euill , either in themselues or in their end . secondly , they are aboue d the power and course of nature and reason . this appeareth manifestly in his violent cariage of so many heards of swine headlong into the sea , mentioned in the gospell : in his bringing fire from aboue so sodainly to deuoure so many thousands of iobs sheepe . these , with other such like , carry in their mischiefe and hurt the stamp of such an author , and in the transcendent e and supernaturall power thereof , the testimonie of a spirit . this is plaine , and by these notes men may learne to distinguish between an imaginarie and a reall diuellish practise . now the doubt remaineth , how we may in these workes and practises of the diuell , detect the conuersation and commerce of men . i do not conceiue how any markes in the flesh or bodie of any one , may be any triall or manifest proofe : for besides the grant , that g likenesse may deceiue , who can assure me that the diuell may not as easily , secretly and insensibly marke the flesh of men as their soules vnto destruction ? if the diuell may marke them without their knowledge and consent , shall his malice be their offence ? or how shall i be assured he cannot so do ? he that can do the greater , can do the lesse . he that could giue vnto the son of god a view of all the kingdomes of the world in one instant ( which was no doubt a speciall straine of his vtmost spirituall cunning , considering he was then to deale with wisedome it selfe ) can that cunning finde no meanes to make a small scarre , impresse or tumor in flesh ? who dare presume to say , god will not suffer him ? who euer so farre entred into the counsell of god , or measured what therein he doth permit ? if no holy writ , no reason manifest it , proud and blasphemously daring is obseruation in so infinite and vnmeasurable a subiect . i denie not that the diuell by couenant may sucke the bodies and bloud of witches , in witnesse of their homage vnto him ; but i denie any marke ( of neuer so true likenesse or perfect similitude ) sufficient condemnation vnto any man ; and beside and aboue all other notes or marks whatsoeuer , iudge it chiefly and principally and first to be required , that both the diuels d propertie therein , & also the parties e consent thereto may be iustly and truly euicted , which is oft too lightly weighed . it may be with good reason iudged , that the diuell doth not blush to be both bold and cunning , there to set his marke , yea and make his claime where he hath no interest . but when the diuell doth appeare in workes and signes proper to himselfe , and therewith shall be euident either directly or by good consequent the act of any man consenting or cooperating , there law may iustly take hold to censure ; and there also the former presumptions and markes ( denied sufficiencie while alone and single ) may now concurring be admitted and allowed . i speake not this in contradiction of other learned iudgements , but retaining the libertie of mine owne , and leauing the like equanimitie to euery one . nor do i denie or defend diuellish practises of men or women , but desire onely to moderate the generall madnesse of this age , which ascribeth vnto witchcraft whatsoeuer falleth out vnknowne or strange vnto a vulgar sense . concerning diseases therefore , it will not here also be impertinent or vnprofitable to deliuer many their strange seeming formes from the too ordinarie iniurious imputation in this kind . it is manifest and apparent , that the mixture and implication of diuers and differing diseases in the same subiect , may and do oft bring forth a wild and confused concourse of accidents seeming therfore of monstrous and wondered shapes , and therefore in their deceiuing appearance coming very neare vnto the similitude of bewitching . but because euery eye is not able in so various a chaos to e analyse and reduce them vnto their seuerall heads , and proper diseases , ( so intricately confounded one within another ) it is not therefore sufficient for reputing them as things without causes in nature . many diseases single , alone and apart by themselues , seeme strange and wondered , which therefore in their strange formes vnited , and in their mixture one with another , must needs arise much more monstrous and hydra-like . for example , in one kind f of disease , the whole body as it were in a minute is sodainly taken in the middest g of some ordinary gesture or action , and therein is continued some space together as if frozen generally , starke and stiffe in all parts , without sense or motion , yet with eyes wide open , and h breathing freely , as if it were a mouing image or a liuing carcasse . in another , the sicke are also sodainly taken or surprised with a senslesse i trance and generall astonishment or sideration , voide of all sense or mouing many houres together , onely the breath sometimes striueth and laboureth `against the danger of suffocation , and the pulse continueth . in another , the sicke are swiftly surprised with so profound and deadly a sleepe , c that no call , no crie , no noise , no d stimulation can in many houres awake and raise them . in another , the sicke are doubtfully held , in some part e waking , and in other part sleeping , in some respects , maners and parts expressing wakefull motions , sense , speech , right apprehension , memory and imagination ; in other respects , parts and maners ( as men sleeping ) voide of the libertie or vse of sense , motion , or any the other faculties . the forme of this disease , hippocrates hath very fitly assimilated to the shape f and fashion of drunkennesse , whose ordinarily knowne effects are in some things busie wakefulnesse , in other some at the same time dull sleepinesse ; in some imaginations , apprehensions , senses and motions quicke and readie , in some with as apparent vrgence , yet senslesse and dead . contrary to these formes , in some other diseases there arise continuall stirrings and depraued motions through all the parts h of the bodie , contrary to the will , and beside the sense and power of the sicke . this is seene commonly in i falling sicknesses , diuers kinds of conuulsions , and the like . in these diseases , g some bite their tongues and flesh , some make fearfull and frightfull shrinkings and outcries , some are violently tossed and tumbled from one place vnto another , some spit , some froth , some guash their teeth , some haue their faces continually deformed and drawne awrie , some haue all parts wrested and writhed into k infinite vgly shapes . some haue their heads violently wrested forward , and their faces behind . some haue their eyes with inordinate twincklings , rauings , and rollings a disfigured . some haue their mouthes distorted into diuers formes , grinning , mowing , b laughing , sometimes gaping wide c open , sometimes close shutting . some haue their limbes and diuers members sodainly with violence snatched vp and caried aloft , and after suffered by their owne weight to fall againe . some haue an inordinate leaping d and hopping of the flesh , through euery part of the body . in some diseases the mind is as strangely transported into admirable visions and miraculous apparitions , as the body is metamorphosed into the former strange shapes . in many ordinary diseases , in the oppressions of the braine , in feauers , the sicke vsually thinke themselues to see things f that are not , but in their owne abused imaginarie and false conceit . sometimes with their fingers they hunt for flockes and flies , and with narrow eyes prie for puppets and toyes , working in the consistory of their owne braines . sometimes they complaine of their friends and others to lie vpon them , to creepe or sit vpon them , to stop their winds , to endeuour to cut their throates , and the like . sometimes they complaine of g diuels or witches , liuely describing their seeming shapes and gestures toward them . some in sicknesses so farre forget themselues , that they haue not so much memorie as of their owne k names , or their most familiar friends . some aboue all perswasion or reason to the contrary , strongly imagine themselues vnreasonable h creatures . some crie out and flie from i waters when none are neare : some from fire , and likewise from many other supposed feares , in their vanitie infinite , as in their present and sodaine appearance vnto the beholder full of amazement . how can these like accidents , or any of them euen single and alone in their seuerall peculiar shapes apart , but seeme wondered ? much more when diuers of them , most or many of them , as it sometimes falleth out , are confusedly together so compounded , that at once in the sicke , a man may see a part of one and a part of another , a shew of many , and a perfect shape of none ; must they needes not onely affright a common beholder , but sometimes also exercise the better iudgements . i saw hereof in the yeare 1608. a rare example , which both for illustration of that which hath bene said , and the instruction of other that may hereafter hap to behold the like , and especially for the contentment of many eye witnesses ( both worthy and desirous therein to be satisfied ) i may not omit . a gentleman of ancient name and seare in warwickshire , in the time of the late memorable long frost , called me vnto his daughter afflicted in an vnknowne and strange sodaine manner , both vnto her parents , friends , & neighbours , and also some e physitions therein consulted . a vehement shaking and violent casting forward of her head , euery day in a much maruelled fashion surprised her about three or foure of the clocke each afternoone , and so vsually continued vntill the twelfth houre of the night : euery such shaking or casting of her head , ending with a loud and shrill inarticulate sound of these two sillables , ipha , ipha . after my first sight , i discouered these before wondered motiues to be nothing else but sneesings and sternutations , which in all men haue their different and a diuers noyses , and in her were more then ordinarily violent . to confirme and settle this iudgement , i gaue both by writing and speech prediction of a sequele , either of the falling sicknesse c or some other spice or species of conuulsion , so grounding vpon the continuall violence and vehemence of the sternutation , and the great oppression of the braine , together with some obscure contractions of some parts alreadie begunne , though haply of others vnobserued . in the meane season before my departure at that time in few dayes the grieuousnesse , length , and frequence of the former fits was much mitigated and grew more easie , and so continued the space of a fortnight after my returne from thence . this time last mentioned expired , sodainly the parents againe sent for me : from them i learned that their daughter after diuers tortures of her mouth and face , with staring and rolling of her eyes , scrawling and tumbling vpon the ground , grating and gnashing her teeth , was now newly fallen into h a deadly trance , wherein she had continued a whole day , representing the verie shape and image of death , without all sense or motion : her pulse or breathing onely witnessing a remainder of life . with these fits ( oft in the meane season first frequenting ) at length she againe i interchanged new , and then awaking out of her astonished sleepe , wistly casting her eyes as looking sometime behind her , sometime to the one k side , sometime to the other ; sometime ouer her head ( as if she had fearefully or frightfully espied somewhat hagging about her ) with her eyes staring open , her mouth wide gaping , and her hands and armes strongly distent & carried aloft aboue her head , together with a generall starknesse & stifnesse of al these parts , she spent many daies in this maner , both day and night iterating these fits , and each seuerall fit continuing the space sometimes of halfe an houre , sometimes a quarter of an houre . while these fits at any time discontinued , she either slept , or ( at least all her outward senses slumbring ) her imagination still led her hands vnto many and diuers continuall actions and motiues , which argued in their folly great fatuitie and d defect of reason and vnderstanding , yet manifested the businesse and depraued motion of her oppressed imagination , which therefore continually e imployed her fingers to imitate many vsuall exercises of her health ( as dressing and attiring the heads of such women as came neare vnto her . in all these actions and motions she neither had nor vsed the helpe of any other sense but onely the feeling f with her hand , whereof she seemed also altogether depriued in g all other things , except onely those whereto her imagination ( which is mistresse and great commander of all the senses ) lead h her feeling . hereof was oft made triall by pinching and the like , whereof she tooke no care , nor was therby moued , except onely when thereby haply they intercepted or interposed her feeling and the imagined obiect , whereof she was euer for the most part very sensible . after i had with much assiduitie and diligence by some quicke medicines solicited nature to a better remembrance of her selfe , at length vpon a sharpe prouocation she immediatly answered our desired hope , and we then first gained her sense of her selfe with some comfortable words , and with a perfect returne i of her vnderstanding the distinct vtterance of diuers short , but deuout inuocations of god , vnto the singular comfort of her parents , hauing before beheld her three weekes together both l speechlesse and senslesse . her speech shortly againe ( after the operation of the medicine had taken the vsuall effect ) departed , but her better sense and vnderstanding still remained , which by her c pen she signified , and therewithall an holy mind and thoughts rare in such an impe ( being then vnder the thirteenth yeare of her age ) with an inward feeling of her agony and affliction , oft blessing god , and therein honouring her vertuous and carefull education . thus after much labour by the grace of god , and good means ( for so they proued thēselues euer by the immediate sequele of good vnto them ) we at length obtained the continuance of all her senses . her tong e remained still g vnperfect , yet continually moued it selfe to force a certaine imitation of speech , with a mumbling , which ( though no plaine articulate sound of words ) yet vnto those that were thereto accustomed , oft intelligible and well perceiued . sometimes perfect speech f sodainly and vnexpectedly would come vnto her , but staied not constant nor long . in this meane season i imparted vnto her parents my doubt of a hard condition , namely a palsie or maime in some part likely to be annexed vnto her recouerie , if she suruiued her conuulsiue fits which still remained as before mentioned . betweene hope and this feare we continued endeuour , and in the end by the infinite goodnes of god , her fits before mentioned ( namely of gaping and carying her armes distent aboue her head ) with the rest decreased , now discontinuing all day , onely foure or fiue short fits euery night when she first lay downe in bed continued , and with the decrease of the former vehemence and fearefull continuall frequence of the said fits , succeeded ( as was before feared ) a palsie , which possessed both her legs with a senslesse deadnesse , and a generall stupiditie of one side of her bodie , being the ordinarie terminations of an apoplexie , and therfore foredoubted . after she had continued in this hopefull forwardnesse the space of two moneths or thereabout , she was then commended vnto the bath , with my report and description of her former passed accidents vnto her physition there , where after much and long feare and doubt , she began at length to yeeld better hope , finding by little and little the vse of her legs , onely the former small fits did still hand fast , and her speech as yet remained h vnperfected . her legges being at bath , began there to recouer ; her speech shortly after i her returne home from thence also followed , and all her former fits and complaints vanished before that k sommer passed . it hath bene and is still a great doubt and question , not onely among the common and vulgar sort , but diuers also learned , whether this gentlewoman ( in maner aforesaid afflicted ) shall iustly be ranked among those vpon whom ( by the permission of god ) diuels and witches haue had a power , or whom nature and the course of naturall diseases haue thus in maner aforesaid afflicted . my owne iudgement must needs incline vnto the latter , for that i could behold in the gentlewoman nothing ( most continually conuersing with her ) which either my eies had not before shewed me in others , or perfect notion from reading both ancient writings and later neotericall descriptions , had not before made the same l vnto my vnderstanding , which they then presented themselues vnto my sight . the first is in part testified in the margine of the page 59. 60. and 64. the second , any man may witnesse true who can compare the report of all the fits and accidents which befell this gentlewoman ( which as truly and nearly as i could , and i suppose fully , by the testimony of any that saw her , i haue related ) with the seuerall shapes of some diseases before mentioned , pages 59. 60. 61. 62. which are truly set downe according to the common consent of most writers . the mixture of diuers of them one with another , must needs make some difference in them from themselues , where they are each alone and seuerall : but he that with that iust allowance of that oddes onely , can consider the particular accidents in the speciall example , with the true notion of the diseases before it generally described , must needs grant them to be the same in kind and nature . it may farther perswade , that my selfe with reason from the knowne custome and nature of such diseases , gaue both by speech and writing , prediction of the conuulsion which after followed , and also of the termination of her g apoplecticke accessions in the lamenesse and palsie of some parts , which also came to passe , and cannot now be denied testimonie of many . it maketh yet farther against the opinion of witchcraft , that such medicines as were ministred vnto her , in reason good for her , according to that reason and expectation for the most part euer profited , sometimes immediately with their vse reducing her vnderstanding before lost , sometime recouering her speech when she had diuers weekes together before continued speechlesse , and by litle and litle euermore repairing continually some decayes , notwithstanding many and diuers relapses ; which both her parents themselues , and the seruants , and all that ministred vnto her , must needs vnto god and truth with thankes acknowledge . it farther confirmeth the negatiue of witchcraft , and is not the least , that while the opinion thereof most hotly possessed most hearers and beholders , the parents of the gentlewoman at no time in the height of their daughters affliction , or a good space after , could resolue vpon whom with any iust shew of reason to cast the suspition of bewitching , as they oft auouched vnto me both then and since . the most certaine and chiefe proofes h of witchcraft & diuellish practises vpon the sick , among the learned esteemed are generally reputed three : first , a true and iudicious manifestation in the sicke of some reall power , act or deed , in , aboue and beyond reason and naturall cause . secondly , annihilation and frustration of wholesome and proper remedies , with discretion and art administred , without any iust reason or cause thereof . thirdly , ought either in the knowledge or speech of the diseased , discouering a rauishment , possession or obsession of their minds or spirits by any infernall inspiration . hence the sicke oft speake strange languages f vnto themselues vnknowne , and prophecie things to come , aboue humane capacitie . to the first doth satisfie the former manifest reference of all accidents befalling the gentlewoman mentioned , vnto the preualence and power of diseases before related . the second is negatiuely answered by plaine testimonies . of the third and last was neuer mention , nor question , nor reason of either . there can nothing be required more vnto ample satisfaction : and as i therein rest and stay my selfe , so i doubt not the consent and content of all that affect truth and embrace reason . i will notwithstanding for the better exercising and stirring vp of diligence , circumspection and vigilance , generally in this so hard and deceiuable point of witchcraft , and also for their sakes , whose weaknesse may as yet be vncapable of satisfaction in the former particular , answer some obiections therein made . the forenamed conuulsiue fits , of lifting vp her hands aboue her head , which were the last remaining fits , toward their decay and latter end , neuer came vnto her but onely when prepared at the night for bed , and vnclothed into her night-weeds , she began to yeeld and decline her body to lie downe . in that instant , each night without failing , euer and neuer before began her fits . when she at any time lay her selfe downe to rest vpon her bed in her clothes ( whether by day or night ) her fits notwithstanding appeared not . some haue imagined some coniuration or witchcraft vpon or in her nightcloths or sheets ; but to them that seek reason , i suppose it found . the power of voluntary motion , which is the animall facultie , and the disease it selfe both possessing the same parts , namely the sinewes and muscles , while the disease was in his vigor and strength in the beginning , it therfore mastered the facultie and mouing power , and continually ruled , so that the fits then neuer almost ceassed by day or night . now in the declination and weaknesse of the dissease , and toward the end , the facultie grew strong , restrained and commanded ouer the disease , whereby all the day there appeared no fits at all . but when the mouing power or facultie composed it selfe to a true and generall cessation and rest , then in that instant the disease tooke his aduantage and libertie to stirre . but why was it not thus also when she slept in her clothes ? the sense and incumbrance of the day-habite is euer an hinderance of perfect sleepes . therefore to them that sleepe in their clothes , or vpon their beds , commonly there is not so true a ligation of their senses , neither are their sleepes so sound , nor of the like continuance . while therefore she lay or composed her selfe to rest in her clothes , the sense thereof both interrupted the facultie from the true and sound disposing it selfe to rest , and also thereby put it in mind of the disease which had so lately sharply visited it , with tart remembrance ; and the disease being now too weake to resist or to prouoke the facultie , could not vpon that vnperfect aduantage stirre , vntill by a more sound and true dispose to rest and sleepe , the spirits and naturall heate more truly retiring inward , had more perfectly left the outward parts , and thereby the disease there still remaining might haue more libertie and power to stirre , which notwithstanding also soone after of the owne accord desisted , because it wanted the former strength to maintain continuance . that which breedeth other doubts , is that at such time when she wanted all her senses , and altogether seemed senslesse of any obiect offered vnto her , or of it selfe occurring , yet had she a curious feeling of such things as her minde and liking sought or seemed to hunt after . this is no wonder to them that know where the imagination intently and earnestly worketh , it there giueth sense to those d parts it exerciseth , though all other parts be stupified or asleepe . this is oft seene in many who in their dreames walke , talk , and do seriously many works , distinguishing and feeling those things whereabout the fancie occupieth them , of other obiects , though haply more neare hand and of quicker remembrance , taking no notice at all . the disease or accident which most oft and frequently possessed this gentlewoman , was a kinde of e heaue sleepe , in degree onely exceeding the ordinarie resolution and ligation of the senses by sleepe , and therefore the same reason may indifferently serue both . it is farther obiected , that the gentlewoman oft pointed , sometime this way , sometime that , as seeing the appearance of a woman of such and such forme and colours , which also according vnto her maner of vnperfect speech , she after described , as some say . it is not vnusuall with the sicke oft to imagine indifferently , as well things inconsiderate and f incomposed as truths , and therefore are their imaginations of no g validitie without better proofe or reason , which i thinke before sufficiently satisfied . and in this gentlewoman ( hauing her head , where her disease had so manifestly deeply seated it selfe , therefore so mightily oppressed ) it was more easie for any faculitie therein to mistake and erre , then to conceiue aright . and therefore though it might haply manifestly appeare ( which may be and is ordinarily rather the abusiue impression of some indiscreete h whispering about the sicke ) that she of her selfe primarily and without suggestion conceiued the forme or shape of a witch , yet is that no sound proofe or clearing of the question of witchcraft in generall , nor any reasonable euidence against one particular , since the trials of truth are not sterred by imaginations . it is lastly obiected , that certaine witches lately dying for sorcerie , haue confessed themselues to haue bewitched this gentlewoman . i grant the voluntary and vncompelled , or duly and truly euicted confession of a witch , to be sufficient condemnation of her selfe , and therefore iustly hath the law laid their bloud vpon their owne heads , but their confession i cannot conceiue sufficient euiction of the witchcraft it selfe . it is knowne euidently vnto men learned , that the subtill serpent and deceiuer the diuell doth vsually beguile , delude and deceiue those that trust in him by his iugling collusions , perswading oft times those actions and euents to be his gratification of their malicious affections , which are indeed the very workes of nature , and oft times the rare effects onely of hidden causes in nature . a witches confession therefore being onely grounded vpon his credite , information and suggestion , whose nature , custome and propertie is and euer hath bene to lie and deceiue , is a meane , poore and vncertaine proofe of witchcraft , though a iust condemnation vnto the witch , her selfe being proued an associate with the diuell in any sort . her death therefore doth satisfie the law for her offence , but is no sound information of the iudgement of the witchcraft . thus according to that whereof my selfe could take notice in this gentlewoman ( if more full information of others obseruations in those things that by my selfe were not seene or noted , faile me not ) i haue truly and fully described euery materiall accident and circumstance ; and to all the knowne or conceiued likely doubts and difficulties therein haue carefully and directly answered , and therein also haue ( i suppose ) satisfied the ingenuous and reasonable with breuitie at full . now to conclude the former explication of the question of witchcraft in generall , i intreate the reader to call vnto mind the formerly mentioned feares and doubts of witchcraft , which vnknowne accidents and diseases easily impose vpon mindes herein vnacquainted and not discerning their cause and reason , and in them farther for future good to consider the possible contingence of many more of like nature and sort in other the like cases elsewhere hapning , and here vnmentioned . in both and with both let also be recalculate and cast the strange and slie suggestions of the fancie and imagination , sometimes countenanced by admired casuall euents and chances , sometimes applauded by ignorant credulitie , and sometimes aduanced by superstition in all and euery of these still with the vulgar sort , aduantaging the same error and opinion of witchcraft . i haue so much the rather thus farre laboured , for that ordinarily herein i see truth and iudgement too much peruerted , the diseased their health and life thereby neglected , and many times simple ideots and fooles oppressed , whose weaknes doth oft seeme guiltie , because euer vnable to defend it selfe . euery one in these cases is not fit or competent arbiter : it requireth the learned , and not learned in word and superficiall seeming , but indeed truly iudicious and wise , whom euer to preconsult in these occasions is onely safe , is right , expedient , and euer necessary . chap. ix . wisards . the mentione of witchcraft doth now occasion the remembrance in the next place of a sort of practitioners , whom our custome and country doth call wisemen and wise-women , reputed a kind of good & honest harmles witches or wisards , who by good words , by hallowed herbes and salues , and other superstitious ceremonies promise to allay and calme diuels , practises of other witches , and the forces of many diseases . but these being of the same nature with those before mentioned to vse spels , and as they before , so these now sometimes onely superstitiously vaine , sometimes diuellishly assisted , i will referre these vnto them , and onely dismisse them both with a short historie . anno 1602. a poore boy of pychley in northamptonshire , was sodainly surprised with a vehement conuulsion , drawing his head and heeles violently h backward , and in that sort carrying his whole body into a roundnesse , tumbling vp and downe with much paine and inward groning . the parents of the child posed with the strangenesse , presently accused i witchcraft , sent for a wisewoman , & her wisedome came vnto them . at the same time it fortuned my selfe to be in the towne with a patient of mine , a worthy and vertuous lady there inhabiting , who moued me to see the bewitched child , and vpon the motion together with her preacher then liuing in her house , i went vnto the place where the child lay . there among other standing silent and vnknowne , i beheld the fits , & heard also the wisewoman wisely discoursing , and among other things of the like nature , declaring vnto the cōpany , that the lungs of the child were as white as c her kercher . with this and some other such like kercher learning , i d silenty departed . when i was returned vnto my patient , i there professed my opinion concerning the manner and nature of conuulsions with their seuerall causes , amongst the rest not omitting the strange accidents which did oft fall out in such diseases by wormes . not long after , when the cunning of the wisard was now growne without profite , stale and forsaken , the child auoyded a great and long worme , and immediatly after recouered without other helpe or meanes , and so hath continued euer since . thus the serpent beguiled the woman , and the woman beguiled ( though not adam ) many foolish sonnes of adam . at length a poore worme gaue them demonstration of their ridiculous folly . such teachers are fittest for such schollers , whose grosse ignorance is euer so farre in loue with it owne preiudicate conceite , that though they were brayed in a mortar , yet cannot this loue be beaten out of them for any loue of truth or reason . i did not therefore trouble them with my patience to instruct them , nor they molest me with their impatience to heare . chap. x. seruants of physitions . ministring helpers . now to fulfill our iust computation of emperickes , and therewith to conclude their mention and number : the last ( but not the least ) that offer themselues ordinarily in this kind and name , are suchas either by oft seruing physitions , or by continuall conuersing with them and viewing their custome and practise , or by their owne imployment a from their directions in applications and administrations vnto the sicke , or by some speciall trust and attendance about the necessities of the diseased , ingrosse vnto themselues supposed speciall obseruations , and choice and select remedies , and with such small wares thus taken vp vpon credite , set b vp for themselues , presuming it good rhetoricke ( because an old figure ) to take a part for the whole . thus seeing too much honesty would not suffer them to rob their teachers of a more sufficient portion of generall methode and art , they thinke it sufficient to be able to supply the same particular meanes with the like desire and goodwill . but apish imitation and resembling shew can neuer expresse the life of reason in her natiue vse . although therefore sometimes some of this sort , by subtiltie , a good wit , officious diligence , and thereby pleasing fortunatenesse , do angle a good report and estimation , and thereby catch many simple c people ( who hoodwinkt with good opinion discerne not the baite ) yet doth their commonly obserued daring those things which they know they know not , and their ordinary raising themselues by the ladder of boasting , manifestly detect , both their cloaked defect , and their choaked guilt . for what expectation can be of them who for the most part build their whole worth vpon the meanest proofe of anothers sufficiencie , and all the skill which they are able to expend , is but that little which another without enuy or ielousie could spare ? timely and well growne perfection is neuer to be attained either by seruice or bare obseruation . it is necessary that man be in himselfe a maister of knowledge and of sincere iudgement , that shall be able truly to make right vse of anothers experience . experiece therefore alone , and the benefite of a physitions seruice or admission vnto the view of practise , without the benefite of sufficient generall theorie and learning going before , can in it selfe be no true benefite . it is reason and knowledge that doth guide men wise vnto d all their particular actions and experiences , and those actions succeeding in triall and proofe according to that reason commend and confirme that reason , and made good that experience . for that which experience hath once or ofttimes knowne and found to do good , must not therefore in necessitie still do e the same good , except the same reason of the good do in each circumstance againe commend and command it , which onely they can iudge and examine that are wise and learned . that experience therefore is onely certainly and truly allowed trust , which prouing it selfe good doth therein also iustifie g the knoweldge and reason which directed it vnto that good . they therefore that without methode , art , reason and f knowledge , take care to spend their time in gaping after others experiences , do set the cart to draw the horses , and euery one that goeth vnto plough , knoweth they either neuer went to schoole , or beginne their lesson at the wrong end . by this preposterous defect therefore , and therein want of knowledge to foresce the likely issues of their actions , since these emperickes themselues know not , not truly forsee what they indeauour or do , how shall others that trust them know what thereby they shall suffer ? prouident foresight is farre from blind ignorance , and wise preuention from imprudent temeritie , and the experiment made without ait or reason doth b more commonly reproue and chastise , then instruct and establish . neither can any man make a true rule or vse of his experience , that truly knoweth not the particular nature and estate of those things whereof he hath experience , together with all circumstances that may alter the considerations . they therefore that will learne more safely to informe themselues , let them know assuredly , that sufficiency is neuer found in the vtmost obseruation or empericall tradition , but in a setled and itselfe confirming knowledge and vnderstanding . neither can this true knowledge be duly or competently attained , but by early begunne , and late continuing education thereto , instituted in places fit and free for true grounds , for the groweth and seed of pure and good knowledge , instilled into the minde by little f and little , by daily reading , contemplation , meditation , and assiduitie in both , watered with the dew and sweate of painfull studie , hastened to maturitie by carefull and continuall good culture g of ancient counsell and direction , and lastly confirmed and strengthned in the good and perfect groweth vnto a firme age and time there in by choyce example and experience , withall these possessing an h aptnesse in nature as the ground of all . the end of the first booke . the second booke . chap. i. the methodian learned deceiuer or hereticke physition . thus farre haue bene remembred the ignorant practitiones that infost this age . now it followeth we come vnto another erronions kind of such as haue a name and portion among the learned : such are they that haue a taste of good arts and science , but are not truly earned , nor haue sincerely drawne the naturall and liuely sap of true science and vnderstanding . of this kinde among the ancients , were reputed those they termed d methodians , either by an ironie or antiphrasis , as hauing no true e method , but a compēdium or a method of their own making ; or else because they arrogated this name vnto themselues in the best sence , as onely in their owne supposall meriting the title of true art and method . these had their peculiar and proper errors in those times in which they liued , then especially noted ; but we will make bold more generally vnder this name to comprehend all who carry a name and visar of learning , but are not able to expresse the power thereof , either by their distinct and truly digested vnderstanding , or by right performance in action and practise according thereunto . these men , any man may note to be of three sorts : first , such as may commonly be obserued to beare naturall defects and impediments within themselues : secondly , such as want time in nature or their studies : thirdly , such as haue spent most part of their life otherwise distracted , and haue not had entire emploiment in their callings . the first ranke nature her selfe doth note vnto euery one by their imperfect parts stamped and expressed in their daily conuersation . such are they who argue in themselues want of wit , of common capacitie , of ordinarie gouernment : or are disposed to lunacies , to inordinate affections and customes in the continuall course and practise of their life . the second are youths , yong men , and all wanting discreet yeares in their faces or g manners , with all such as deriue their knowledge no further then grammar schooles , or in vniuersities haue made short stay and too sodaine departure . both these are easily diseouered , and therefore cannot so vsually deceiue , or else can but deceiue such as deserue no better . the third , are all such aside fraud their callings of their whose endeuour , and deuide themselues between two professions . their neutralitie in both doth proue their nullitie in either . perfection in any facultie requireth more then a cc man , cc and k competence a whole man nor euer was any in an excellent whom one calling could not 〈◊〉 deserue and employ . within this compasse also stand such , as hauing spent a good part , or most part of their time in one art or science , towards the end 〈◊〉 in them iddel course exchange . these from the 〈◊〉 flowing and wanting of their minds in a former streame , 〈◊〉 arriuing in a new 〈◊〉 cannot sodainly lauch vnto any depth or profoundnesse of iudgement ( which onely time by stealing steps by little and litle doth mature and ripeth as a timely fruite a ) and therefore they may in hast and greatily swallow vpon hole sentences , yea & volumes vnche wed , yet can they neuer truly digest them but with b many dayes and much leisure . euery art is an habit : an habit is by small degrees and length of time and custome acquired , and thence riseth by little and little to perfection and full growth . there is to euery facultie belonging , first an habit of right iudging therein , and distinct knowing : secondly an habite according to iudgement and knowledge of right action and c disposing . a double habite in euery facultie , requireth a double time in euery facultie , which therefore cannot but with long patience and carefull assiduitie therein be inuited . the too common want hereof in these dayes , is the cause that many reputed great clearks & scholers , haue in their mouthes and discourse , the phrase , the language and sentences of wisedom , but want the d soule , the substance and the sense . hence it cometh to passe , that tongues ouerflow with aphorismes , maximes , and rules of ancient truth , but for the most part confusedly , not rightly distinguished , mistaken or supposed . neither cau excellence in one facultie giue prerogatiue in another . therefore those that are perfect and absolued artists in their owne facultie , and will impaire their dignitie by engaging it in another , ( where neither their time nor proofe can equall it ) let wise men cuatelously and with suspition admit their counsell or trust their practise . i sometime knew a learned diuine , batchelar in that facultie , a great clearke , of much reading and studie therein , whose busie and ambitious braine not contenting it selfe within so infinite an ocean of sufficient sacred and sweete imploiment , would needs breake out into other bounds , and from some borowed houres and time for studie in physicke , grew to affect therein more then a common name and vnderstanding . in the end his pride and conceit of his knowledge transported him so farre , that among other ridiculous paradoxes , he both in schooles and common profession defended an indifferencie in the natures , qualities and vse of stibium and ratsbane : to conclude , his confidence herein so farre bewitched him that he made triall thereof in himselfe , and as a iust execution vpon himselfe , was the same day poisoned . another of my knowledge and acquaintance , a man in the greeke , latine , hebrew , chaldey , and other languages much studied , and in the iudgement and theory of diuinitie of approued worthinesse and vnderstanding , hauing therein bestowed the best part of his time , sodainly interchanged with an vnaduised course of practise in physicke ; he spent some time in trauell beyond the sea , and returned againe thence dignified ; but his former studies were so well and soundly foresetled , that they admitted not so true and right after-setling of the second . hence as his braine ouerflowed with vnconstant propositions , and his tongue with paradoxes , his actions also thereto suited . in the end he made vpon himselfe an experiment of the force of opium in a more then ordinary dose , and so composing himselfe vnto a desired sleepe , neuer returned to view the issue of his experiment , but descending into the graue , left this memory behind him . if any man wonder at these grand lapses in men learned , let him stay and satisfie his doubt with admiration of the multitude of sects in all ages , swarming with grosse errors and opinions , euen amongst the learned of all faculties and professions . this vndoubtedly groweth from no other ground but want of entire vnderstanding of those things men studie and reade , through imperfect and distracted imploiment of their mindes , seriously and wholy required vnto any measure of perfection . therefore galen in his learned treatise of the method of right cure ( as also in other places ) doth oft times witnes , that where sects and sectaries abound , there is infallibly mistaking and vnsound apprehension of truth , and therefore lamely , defectiuely , and in part attained , because h so onely sought . if any man require a more speciall proofe or triall hereof , let him with me here cull and examine any few aphorismes of hippocrates , and in them ( though commonly and orderly read and auouched by euery mouth ) ye shall he find how easie and ordinarie it is for any man in any one to be inconsiderately deceiued and mistaken , if he do not with all possible diligence , indistracted vigilance and circumspection , continually , wholy and indefatigably g exercise all his powers in seeking out their hidden truth , which doth neuer freely reueale it selfe to those that carelesly or in part , or for sinister & trifling i ends labour after it . for example , in his sixt booke of aphorismes and 52. aphorisme , hippocrates doth nominate a mortall signe in the diseased , the appearance of the white of the eye in sleepe , and sleeping with vnclosed eyes . in many diseased , this oft is found vntrue , but with hippocrates vnderstanding it is neuer k false . he that simply and verbally onely vnderstandeth , and without meditated differences and exceptions , or maketh not more narrow search , shall hardly truly find the certaine and true limitation of this truth . for if this maner of sleeping fall out from any outward cause , or besides reason or cause thereof in the inward disposition , it is not simply or altogether bad , much lesse mortall . for where the sicke are thus accustomed to sleepe in health , or so sleep by reason of fumes and vapors ascending vnto the head , and thence distilling into the eye-lids , and so hindering their right closure , ( as it is oft seene in great drinkers ) or where it proceedeth onely from wormes in children , and the like , the incautelous and superficiall vnderstanding is readily deceiued . in like maner the 51. aphorisme of the same booke doth promise by the coming of a feauer thereto , the profligation of the apoplexie . but this is not true , confusedly interpreted , and therefore beyond the first view requireth further studious inquisition to find out the quantitie b of the feauer , with the degree of the apoplexie . great wounds and cuts of the head ( saith the 50. aphorisme of the same booke ) procure and incurre feauers : but he that doth no further search to know the c times that feauers may differently in swiftnesse or slownesse of their coming take , nor vnderstandeth the causes slackning or quickning the feauers speed , may easily too hastily before iust time accuse the truth hereof . the 3. aphorisme of the fift booke threatneth danger in conuulsions vpon great issues and losses of bloud ; but in what quantitie thou shalt esteeme them d great , or with what conditions , thou must vse diligence , and elsewhere enquire . many haue lost great measures of bloud at once , and yet haue escaped both with and without conuulsions , if 8. 9. 10. or 12. e pounds at once from the nose may be called much or great . the first aphorisme of the fift booke , doth pronounce the conuulsion procured in assumption of hellebore mortall . it is notwithstanding seene , that conuulsions so raised , ceasse againe without death or other danger . to vnderstand therfore aright , we must know to distinguish the diuers wayes and f maners whereby hellebore doth produce conuulsions . the 31. aphorisme of the fift booke , menaceth vnto a woman with child being let bloud , abortion . but whether we shall vnderstand it simply necessarie , or onely as an hazard or periclitation , or with what conditions , more certaine information doth aske further search . the 40. aphorisme of the second booke , threatneth vnto old men surprised with mur●hes and distillations , the end of their disease with the end of their dayes . but vnto perfect conceiuing , is further requisite the consideration of the degrees of old men , in whom is apparent either age alone ( which is onely the number of yeares ) or oldnesse g with age , which is a decay and wearing of nature together with yeares . infinite might we be in these and the like , euery triuiall and vulgarly receiued rule requiring a more circumspect and considerate vnderstanding , then the first view or light reading doth offer or present . it is a common well known and commendable caution , to suspect phlebotomy in children vnto the foureteenth yeare , and in old men after fiftie or sixtie yeares . but with what restraints and limitations these rules are to be bounded , fully and truly to conceiue , besides their hearing or reading is required a view and reuiew of differing reason and expositiō , diligent and carefull scrutiny , oft comparing and conferring oddes and differences of circumstances . none truly learned will or can be so inconsiderate or rash to take bloud from age , whose veines are exhaust or spent , blood dried vp , or from infancie crop the first hopefull sprouting or spring therof ; yet with deserued fame and honour to themselues , and incomparable benefite vnto the sicke , haue right learned worthy and excellent physitians vsed and prescribed phlebotomy both vnder fiue d , and after sixtie e yeares . diligence will not rest vntill it haue found c out reconciliation to these doubts , and confirmation to more perfect knowledge , which serious labour must buy , studie continually attend , and thence time gaine , free from other impertinent implication . the common want hereof suffereth so many vnprofitable questions amongst the the learned , maintaineth contentions and pride of words , multitude of sects and schismes from truth : and while men at other leisure , for other shifts , ends , and supplies , and not for the owne worthinesse , or for it selfe seeke knowledge , they cōmonly lose the true end , and therfore true perfection . the innumerable dissentions amongst the learned concerning the arabicke and chymicke remedies at this day infinitely , with opposite and contradictorie writings , and inuectiues , burthen the whole world . some learned phisitians and writers extoll and magnifie them as of incomparable vse and diuine efficacie . some with execration accuse and curse them as damned and hellish poysons . some because they find not these remedies in the common & vulgar readings of the ancients ( the famous and learned grecians ) with feare and horror endure their very mention , farre therein vnlike and differing from that ingenuous spirit of the thrise worthy and renowmed pergamene claudius galen , who in brightnesse of vnderstanding , sharpnesse of apprehension , and inuention ouershining al the precedent wits that were before him , yet did he with humble and daigning desire search & entertaine from any sort of f people , yea from the most vnlearned empericke himselfe , any their particular remedies or medicines , which after by his purer and more eminent iudgement , and clearer light of vnderstanding , refining , he reduced to more proper worth , and thereby gaue admired presidents of their wondered ods in his learned prescription and accommodation . some contrarily contemning the learning and knowledge of the grecian , and with horrid superstition , deifying an absolute sufficiencie in chymicke remedies , reiect the care or respect of discreet and prudent dispensation . a third and more commendable sort differeth from both these , and leauing in the one his learned morositie and disdainfull impatience of different hearing , and in the other his ignorant and peruerse hermeticall monopoly , with impartiall and ingenuous desire free from sectarie affectation , doth from both draw whatsoeuer may in either seeme good or profitable vnto health or physicke vse : from the grecian deriuing the sound & ancient truth , & from both greek , chymicke , or arabian , borrowing with thankfull diligence any helpfull good to needfull vse . antiquitie hath giuen vs our first e lights in all knowledges , succeeding times haue added their seuerall lustres , and our latest f posterity hath yeelded also many things not vnworthy their worthy praise . chiefly to honour the ancient worthies , yet to g contemne none , and to view all , is the rarest growth , but truest perfection . and thus by the examples before for many innumerable more , it is manifest that men learned , knowing and reading much , may notwithstanding either through distraction or negligence be esteemed and found in complete perfect and distinct knowing , ignorant and vnwotting . and as their vnderstandings are hence corrupted and depraued , so necessarily by consequent must their actions be answerable thereto , since thence deriued , bad principles euer producing bad practise . this is not obscure nor dainty in many common practisers of imperfect knowledge , to be daily instanced almost euery where , whereby that man whose owne iudgement cannot giue him dispensation to swarue and differ sometimes from the common vnderstanding , vse , and custome of vulgar practise , shall oft times dangerously erre . in aboue 40. yeares being , i haue now twenty yeares bene an vnderstanding obseruer and partaker of diuers and different medicinall practise , and therein haue oft noted how that which somtime hath opposed common receiued rule , in the peculiar proofe of some other learned , hath giuen good occasion of new disquisition of before vnconsidered reason or distinction in the rule . for a briefe taste of many , i will particularize some few . i haue obserued in some kind of palsies bloud taken frō the paralytike side , when all other meanes haue proued vaine , to haue bene the sole present succesful remedie , yea beyond all hope hath oft rescued the latest hope out of the iawes of death . this much experience doth testifie , yet is it contrary vnto receiued ancient edict . in like manner in some diseased plethoricall bodies , i haue obserued and seene , that their generall numnesse , a torpor and stupidity raised in them from the distention , compression and obstruction of their full vessels , hath immediatly on the same side that was let bloud , found present and sensible deliuery from those accidents with great lightsomnesse and alleuiation , the opposite side still continuing in the former manner oppressed and greeued , vntill the same remedy of phlebotomy hath bene thereto likewise applied . in cōmon stoppages of the wombe i haue oft seene when the vsuall bleeding in the foote hath nothing at all profited , but in vaine wearied the parts thereby fruitlesly vexed , that the incision of a veine in the arme hath immediatly opened the stoppage , and the former current hath freely streamed . in some kind of dropsies , cachexiaes , or greene sicknesses . i haue obserued that letting bloud by excellent fruite and benefite , hath proued the succesfull remedie , aboue , beyond , and after all remedies . these things are witnessed by many worthy testimonies , and yet are generally esteemed violations of rule . i will not here dispute the causes and reasons of these things , nor disquire how iudgement did guide vnto these trials , nor how necessarily or probably the effects and consequent followed , or cohered with the iudgement . i will leaue it indifferent vnto euery one learned , and vnto right perpension in iust occasion of due consideration hereof . i giue not these instances ( as rash supposall may imagine ) to encourage empericall boldnesse , vnto common imitation hereof , nor do hereby allow ( as some not distinguishing may imagine ) bloud-thirstie phlebotomy to suck mens liues in rash trial hereof ▪ but to proue and manifest how necessary it is for a iudicious and orthodox physition , diligently and prudently in his facultie exercised according to art , to retaine and enioy a reserued power and warranted sufficiency within himselfe , to varie and differ sometimes from too strict & superstitious imitation of a common rule and receiued custome . and from this worth and vertue hath it come to passe , that many learned & famous men , in their seuerall ages haue left so many worthy additamēts vnto knowledg and the common good , by their owne speciall proofes & trials of rules , in their peculiar practise oft different from vulgar conceit , vse and custome ; vnto whom may not be denied beyond the ordinary bounds , a libertie and dispensation contained within the latitude of safe discretion and art . and thus briefly both by the vse of common distracted reading , and thence indigested vnderstanding , and also by the former particular proofes of easie deception in acception of common rules , and lastly by examples of practise , it is manifested that men otherwise , and in other respects , esteemed iustly learned , may inconsiderately & easily erre , whē distractedly & deuidedly they employ their thoughts and cogitations , or want that sole or solide possession of their whole minds and meditations by their owne proper faculties and functions . this is the reason , that though comparably to these times no age hath euer affoorded writings more prodigally obuious , nor shew of knowledge with greater affluence , yet in authors neuer hath bene either lesse true meaning , or lesse right vnderstanding . hence as seeming vnderstanding did neuer more abound , so neuer was it of worse report , the goose a so liberally giuing wings and feathers vnto fantasticke thoughts , but the eagle-eye of cleare & b sincere iudgement , seldome vndazedly , or without winking , fixed vpon the perfect brightnesse and puritie of serene and clearly distinguisht truth . and thus much touching those that are of best proficience and most learned note in deuided studies and callings , distraction necessarily leauing a remisnesse and neglect in many things both of minde and action . as for those that are of meane literature in their owne professions , their intrusion in others , and desperate esteeme and qualitie in their owne , must needs preach their insufficiencie in the latter by their mediocritie in the first . chap. ii. of beneficed practisers . the grand and most common offenders in those kinds before remembred , and in these dayes , are diuers astrologers , but especially ecclesiasticall persons , vicars and parsons , who now ouerflow this kingdome with this alienation of their owne proper offices and duties , and vsurpation of others , making their holy calling a linsey wolsey , too narrow for their minds , and therefore making themselues roome in others affaires , vnder pretence of loue and mercie . besides , their profane intrusion into inhibited lists , their vnlimited breach of law , and want of reuerence and respect of order and distinction of callings , ( which true diuinitie doth teach holy men ) reason and experience do dayly witnesse , that by the necessarie coincidence oft times of both callings requiring them at the same moment in distant places , without conscience they impose vpon themselues a necessary neglect of both by an vnnecessary a assumption of the one . this the poore patients necessitie and need must oft complaine , though haply more seldome obserued : and therefore of few is that which herein is lamentable , at all lamented . many times many poore people ( and sometimes men of better worth ) in their necessities , and oft last extremities , through this voluntarie ouermeasure of emploiment in these enlarged spirits , are not onely deferred , procrastinated and neglected , but oft times euen to death illuded . for from report and information by others vnto the physition , and from the indication by vrine ( which are borrowed , and therefore slipperie grounds ) many diseases conceale themselues : oft for want of the presence of the physitions owne view , the chiefest opportunitie and hopefull houre steale away vnespied , and death maketh many blind , because they had not their physitions eyes . in these difficulties therefore ( wherein consist the greatest vses and benefites of a physition ) these men by their double and both-hand emploiment , compell themselues commonly to a double crueltie , either for the most part to denie their presence , or else not to performe the promise of their presence , being euer subiect to a countermaund , by their voluntarie subiection to a double command . if therefore they would consider the shortnesse of their liues , with the immensitie of their owne taske , they would not allow so large a vacancie to succisiue houres and workes , which now for the most part are most part of their time vnto the great hurt and iniurie of others , and the increase of scandall vnto their d owne vocations . i know the learned and reuerend diuine is herein for the most part free , or if some few be iustly taxed , their modest minds will easily moderate and reduce them ; and for the rest , whose dispositions are shamelesse and incorrigible , that may haply still become the foole , which is a reproach vnto the wise , and e befit the vnhonest that defames the iust . i do not dislike the deuout and charitable deeds of their holy minds , nor reall compassion and contribution vnto the sicke and needie , nor yet their medicinall aduice with incorrupt hands free from implication of priuate gaine , and vnobserued and concealed merchandizing in charitable deeds ; but i abhorre and wish repented ( which in many of them is abhominable and sacrilegious ) their pecuniarie trafficke and trading by vsurped erecting in their houses apothecarie shops by manumission of base wares that are not allowed , nor haue obtained freedome elsewhere , whereby vnlawfully they exenterate and eate out the bowels of poore mens purses . neither is it any way to be iustified , that they ordinarily trauel vp & downe to spoile the more worthy of his fee , and the proper laborer of his hire : nor yet is it lesse shame , that without shame or blushing their bils in many places inhabite ordinarily apothecaries files and shoppes , as if their owne vndoubted right . their maister saint paul teacheth euery man to walk within his a owne calling , and not to be busily b stragling in others : so shall they honour their calling , and their callings honour them , and both honour god that sent them . i know the gift of healing in the apostles was the gift of god his grace and speciall fauor and allowance vnto them for those times ; but it was in them a miraculous and diuin● power conse●rated vnto an holy end : but in these times it is an acquired facultie , and in these men vnto a mercenarie vse . it is indeed a deede of mercie to saue and helpe the sicke , and a worke of charitie to aduise them for their health & ease : but the common good and publicke weale , & the law for both doth inhibite the doing of euery good by euery man , and doth limit and restraine it vnto some speciall and select sort of men , for necessary causes , and respects vnto good gouernment and policie , and for auoiding confusion , which is the ruine of publicke weales . shal then diuinitie teach and allow for priuate deedes , ends and respects of charitie and mercie , to breake g publicke edicts , to transgresse lawes , to contemne magistracie , to confound and disturbe good order ? good order forbiddeth , that for pretence of any necessitie whatsoeuer , cause or reason , one man presume to breake into anothers bounds , yea and diuinitie teacheth the same . god himselfe tieth men in all things , in all necessities , vnto certaine and appointed ends . he ordained a select number of apostles and disciples , and vnto them onely annexed the diuine worke and calling of nations and people vnto saluation , commanding all men vpon paine of damnation to seeke out and follow that meanes wheresoeuer or howsoeuer distant , and did not ordaine the meanes confusedly in euery person to waite vpon euery priuate necessitie . in like maner in a commonweale , lawes and policie ordaine ( preferring the common good before euery h priuate ease and benefite ) that euery man haue his distinct calling , vnto which all other mens necessitie therein may and ought to repaire . for if euery man might be of euery calling , confusion of callings would in the end leaue no calling . therfore euery mans need or necessitie is not sufficient to make euery one capable of giuing supply needfull thereto , but god , and nature , and law haue tied and allotted men to seeke meanes , and those meanes confirmed to certaine set bounds and limits , that men may still in all things according to the law of mortalitie , be euer in this life subiect vnto casualties , oft for their triall , sometime for their punishment , or else for a further decree and secret purpose of the diuine prouidence , so and to such ends thus ordering . thus by cleare truth ouershining the mists & clouds of false pretexts to the contrary , it is manifest , that this fluctuation of these men betweene two callings is offensiue to god , scandalous vnto religion and good men , and iniurious vnto commonweales , and but presumption borrowing the face of diuinitie . what encouragement their example hath giuen vnto drones and idle persons , abounding by their example infinitely in the same wrong , he hath no eies that doth not consider . their many , ordinarie , rash , ignorant and vnskilfull errors and commissions against the health and life of many , besides their forenamed omissions , intrusions , procrastinations , and neglects of one calling by another , i could by many too true instances confirme , but for reuerēce of the callings i spare the men . i wil onely giue two knowne instances , wherein ( as in a glasse ) men may view the diuers faces of many more of the like sort . g a gentleman in bedfordshire not long since was sodainly surprised by a continuall feauer , accompanied with a generall lassitude and wearinesse of the whole bodie , and together with heate and burning , delirations and lightnes of braine . the habit of his bodie and his flesh were musculous and well liking , the season warme , his age firme , and constitution sanguin● , his pulse high , full , large , and in the vehemence and strength of motion manifest euen vnto the beholders eye . a parson or vicar comming vnto him , maketh many feares and seeming-graue discourses of the danger and imminence of a g marasme , and from this supposed grand perill stoutly withstandeth the needfull vse of due phlebotomie . the allies and friends of the patient obseruing the dayly decrease of hope and health , diligently enquire after another physition , and by happe found me where then employed . when i came vnto the patient , the parson entertaineth vs with confident discourses and disputes concerning a marasme , whom when i found after long patience and calme conference in the presence and hearing of diuers worthy knights and gentlemen still endlesly and reasonalesly b vaine , and yet possessed with an in●incible spirit of open and obstinate contradiction , i in the end with their common consents contemned and reiected him . the patient i found free from any particular which might inhibite c phlebotomie , and manifestly saw the danger of the delay thereof , ( both which may appeare by the description of his estate ) and therefore seeing the indication so plaine , and the necessitie so vrgent , contrarie to the babling opposition and caus●esse predication of needlesse danger , i caused him to bleed ; whereupon within few houres after , besides immediate alleuiation , nature d seconding the worke , expelled at his nose diuers quantities of bloud at seuerall times ; and thus was e enabled to performe her crisis , being before detained by the oppression of the former quantitie of bloud , whereunto her strength was not equall . the life of man vnto god and men is deare & pretious , yet behold how presumptuously glorious ignorance , and the lawlesse breach of the due lists of distinct and proper callings , doth licentiously hazard the vtmost price and date thereof . and how likely may it seeme , that the memorie of this wrong had bene in the same graue buried , if it had not bene preuented , and by the preuention solely obserued . i will now annexe another example of secret betwitching flatterie by close whispering of the sicke , ordinarily practised by these kind of men , vnto the vnobserued and stoln perdition of many . anno 1611. a gentleman in this maner falleth sicke . he was sodainly surprised by a continuall feauer , with burning , thirst , troublesome heate in the soles of the feete , and palmes of the hands , frequent delirations and perturbations of the mind , fulnesse of the stomacke , loathing , painfull distentions and ructuations , drinesse and yeallownesse of the tongue , bitternesse and heate of the mouth , paines about the short ribs , loynes , backe and shoulders , ill sleeps & confused dreams . there entertained these accidents the vsuall fulnesse of his body vnto the cōmon outward view , & accōpanied a pulse swift , vehement and large , an vrine high coloured , red , and thicke : al which many witnesses of vnderstanding confirme . according vnto the former indication , the patient was twise let h bloud , the quantitie lost the first time , coming short the second time , not exceeding ten ounces , as the surgeon doth witnesse . he was once i vomited , by due respites twice k purged with good effect and alleuiation , oft by glisters l gently moued , his diet prescribed , cooling , opening , and altering the euill qualitie of humors . after these things done , within few daies the vrine in colour , substance and residence manifesteth a concoction , and therewith follow some disquiets and anxieties , not b vnhopeful forerunners of the approch of the expected crisis of the disease , by the vrine so c fairely promised . in this faire hope ( though by vnbeleefe of sense denied ) a parson-physition led by a secret ambition of stealing the praise of such a cure , ( if fortune might haply fauour the patient with ease , and himselfe therein with the opinion of the merit ( as was verie likely ) in this hope taking opportunitie of the patients impatience , he whispereth vnto him the excellencies of aurum potabile , farre beyond all other remedies . after the patient had from him receiued it , within short time good hap gaue ease . ease being gained , begetteth in the patient an euer after incorrigible consultation with his owne sense , and now measuring his good by his ease , and setling in his thoughts an assurance of his recourie , he studiously and continually defameth his physition , and with euill clamours filleth all corners of the countrey , as farre as his agents , his owne tongue or credite could extend . in this interim likewise he reiects the former begun methode of discreete euacuations and alterations of the offensiue humours of his body , and in steed therof he cherisheth and cheareth vp himselfe with daily magnifying and worshipping aurum potabile as the god and sole author of his supposed recouery . in this meane season and intermission of former courses , the forward signes of faire concoction , so hopefully before appearing diuers dayes together , now retire and vanish , and painfull swellings fall into e his legs and neather parts : and then compelled he sendeth for other learned physitions , but vseth them by vncertaine fits , as his owne conceit induced , and with a reseruation of his sole happinesse and best securitie in aurum potabile . to conclude , he escaped the present perils of the former sharpe accidents , but a continued lingringly and languishingly sicke from about the middle of march , vnto the the latter end of b august next following . about that time he first beganne to find some reasonable satisfaction in ease , and the recouery of some better strength , but a secret remainder or impression of the former delirations continued , and some suspitious signes of a scorbut seemed to increase , which before likewise did obscurely show . beside the shamefull wrong vnto physitions and patients , and the iniurie of arts and truth it selfe , in men that are professors of diuine and holy callings , behold the vsuall insidiation of death and danger , by the spirit of flattering intrusion and secret lenocination of false hopes and ease possessing the distraction of the distressed sicke . what man learned and iudicious cannot determine , whether this dangerous long continuance of this gentlemans disease may not iustly and in good reason be ascribed vnto the sodaine c discontinuance of his first meanes , & to the neglect thereby of perfecting the hopefull crisis so fairely d promised and intended ? or vnto whō doth it not appeare palpably grosse , that aurum potabile can containe in it selfe any such golden sufficiency , as soly to remoue or preuent all the former accidents in this gentleman described , which god , and nature , and reason haue euer denied vnto any one particular or speciall medicine whatsoeuer ? let al men then vnto whom god hath giuen eares or eyes , aduisedly behold and consider how dangerous and iniurious these ordinary and ignorant intrusions in reason proue vnto poore patients , who thus beguiled with opinion , and blinded with deceitfull hope , or ●ase , or sense , ioyously oft giue thankes for their owne hurt , magnifie the authors , and not seldome perish in the praise of their own harms . the vnlimited expatiation of so foule wrongs , do challenge all men , not onely the learned , but all honest or ingenuous , vnto the vendication of art and truth from oppression by so grosse and harmfull ignorance . these examples are sufficient to admonish the offenders of their impieti● , and others of their owne perill in trusting vnto them . chap. iii. of astrologers , ephemerides-masters . now concerning astrologers-practisers : there is a sort of men , who beside and beyond that is sufficient and profitable vnto physicke , vse in astronomicall science , ( hauing vnaduisedly , prodigally or vnrecouerably spent too much paines and time in the too curious or superstitious , or supposed excellence in the vanities of astrologie , or else finding by their other defects in themselues the want and insufficiencie of knowledge more proper and essentiall vnto a physition ) do therefore ( which now is all the hopefull remainder of their time so farre spent ) fish for a name and fame amongst the common and easie deceiued vulgars , with the glorious baites of prodigious precepts . thus they hook simple credulitie to worship and admire their lying reuelations , prescribe fortunes and fates , and limit the dayes and dates of mens liues and deaths vnto the darke points of their kalēdars . neither do they blush to promise and professe that they take counsel of heauen ( when heauē b denieth them ) thereby gaining to themselues glorie in the slander of heauen and the scandall of truth . thus vsually they peruert the right vse of astronomicall science vnto deceit , imposture , and iugling merchandizing for vniust and iniurious gaine , and perswade the voluntarie motions and arbitrary actions of men , their consequences and issues to be driuen by the heauens vnto ends and destinies there inrolled , and themselues ( as if the onely true sons of heauen forsooth ) there onely admitted to reade and view . indeed the will of man hath not power in it selfe to will or moue it selfe to any good pleasing vnto god , or sauing to it selfe , but by the speciall grace of god , drawing , guiding , or mouing his will thereto , yet doth the generall concordant consent of most diuines grant as vncontrouersed , a libertie and freedome of mans will vnto any d morall , naturall , ciuill or politicke good . and in these kinds all diuines both ancient and neotericke , haue both acknowledged and admired the worthy examples of vertue in philosophers and heathen men , whose infinite studious paines and voluntarie laborious industrie in atchieuing so many incomparable excellencies , no ingratitude can denie , or without honour mention . vertue is not f forced , but free in whom it is , and therefore not to be ascribed vnto the heauens or any other outward g cause , but vnto the free and voluntary agent of it selfe , and by the owne inward power in it selfe , mouing it selfe thereto , from his owne h purpose therein . this all men , diuinitie , philosophie , reason , experience , with an vnitie of consent confirme . if then a mans action be his owne , if the end his owne , the effectuall prosecution thereof vnto the end his owne ; if god himselfe haue granted this priuiledge vnto all men , as indifferent and common vnto all whom he hath created vnder the condition of men , what creature shall intercept the i endowment of the creator ? what shall take the honour of this gift from him that gaue it , or the right thereof from him that thence receiueth it ? the heauens cannot so blaspheme their maker , though men thus dare belie the heuens to iustifie their owne impietie . all things depend vpon the prouidence of god , and from him and by him are ordained second causes , which indeed in nature haue their necessitie , but in the will of man haue a power onely to moue or incline , and not to force . this is the reason , that though man by his starres be borne to infinite miseries , diuersly mouing and affecting him continually , from the earth , from the sea , from the land , from the aire , from the fire , from his owne affections , infirmities , diseases , from diuers haps and casualties ; yet vnto him that knoweth the free gift of his maker , and the good that he hath done for him , none of all these things by any necessitie in themselues therto , can touch him or once g come neare him . for whether calamitie approch from aboue or below , from maligne constellation , or other inferior or terrestriall incumbrances , man by his spirit of vnderstanding , by prudence and circumspect prouidence , hath a large immunitie , whereby he may and oft doth auoide these violences , and delude their forces . the wise man ( saith salomon ) foreseeth the plague , and hideth himselfe , neither can any euill befall the wise , which he may not and doth not , either being to come by prouident foresight preuent , or present by carefull industrie allay , or past by diligence redeeme , no influence or destinie being able to bring mans will and endeuour to an higher point then wisedome and goodnesse . this is the reason that common calamities befall not all men alike , yea rather to euery one vnlike . this is also the reason that many borne vnder the same constellation , haue different fortunes from each other , and farre vnlike their like constellation : nay it is oft seene , and cannot be denied , that many men by their owne industrie haue contradicted their starres , whereby vnfortunately marked in their natiuities , they haue triumphed ouer the heauens in the felicitie of their owne wisedome and vertue . of this sort haue bene not onely one socrates and the great philosophers , but many common men socratically h disposed and endeuouring . contrariwise also diuers borne vnder good starres vnto good destinies , in their growth haue either ouerunne , or i come short of their destinie . for although the heauens doe worke by their hidden power and influence , secret impressions , procliuities and inclinations , as in all things vnder heauen , so in the constitutions and tempers of men in their generation , conception and birth : yet are their effectuall productions thereof in men a themselues variously alterable according to education , inclination , occasion , and circumstance , and therefore as touching the absolute power of the heauens euer varying . there is no man that can so farre b deny himselfe a man , as to make doubt of free arbitrarie choice in himselfe to do or not to do , to like or dislike , to do that he will , to refuse that he nill . for if heauenly influences compell or force mens actions , and their wils be led and not free , vniustly any man shall be vniust , neither can the lawes of god or men be iust ordained against wilfull d offenders : but god is iust , and lawes are righteous , and therfore mens actions are their owne , moued from an inward power and essence peculiar vnto themselues , and from an end and intention which is their owne . touching those therefore that from the heauens promise to tell fortunes , to cast figures , to turne ephemerides for natiuities , for good haps , for ill haps , successes , losses , fortunate , infortunate euents , he that hath but common sense and reason , and can thinke but worthily of himselfe , may c easily discouer their falshood , imposture , deceit and cousenage , howsoeuer sometimes euents may countenance ; for hoodwinked happe may sometimes light vpon truth , and craft working vpon credulitie , may make any truth of any falshood . thus farre briefly concerning the powers of the heauens ouer the minds and willes of men , their voluntary actions , their consequences and issues . now concerning their vertue ouer the bodies and humours of the sicke and diseased : no man can deny the heauens as generall g and superiour causes to haue power ouer all things created vnder heauen , by whose influence and radiation all things increase , grow , liue , and are conserued , and by whose recesse all things mourne , wither , fall and droupe . this doth witnesse the sommer and the winter , & all other seasons , which the heauens by their motion varying , bring vnto all things vicissitudes , changes , and alterations , and by their secret influence imperceptibly distill different and contrary inclinations , tempers , and affections . hence winter , sommer , spring , and autumne , breed their peculiar diseases . euill and maligne constellations beget plagues , pestilences , and other epidemiall contagions , which the aire as the great mother of all things breathing doth fruitfully conceiue , and plentifully bring forth . vnto what sight or sense hath euer bene vnknowne , either the pride or splendor of the sunne , mounting in his glorious altitude , or his eclipsed force and light somnesse opposed and abased ? who is ignorant of the monethly metamorphosis of the moone ? what thing is or can be insensible of the cynosure , and the nipping frosts ? is not the glorie of the heauens ouer all , and are not his forces in all ? notwithstanding generall causes produce not particular effects , and the heauens are but generall b causes , second causes , outward causes , remote causes , mediate causes , vnto those things which immediatly fall out in the bodies of men from inward causes contained within themselues , and therfore soly hauing by their inseparate nearenesse an ineuitable and vnauoided necessitie in themselues . the inward causes of diseases are the humors of the body , which can neuer be separated from the body , because in them consisteth the life and being of the body . therefore when either they corrupted frō their kind , or offending in qualitie or quantitie , raise diseases in the body , how or by what meanes can the body choose but be therewith affected , except it could leaue it selfe ? from any outward cause which is without , and of another deuided and separate nature , separation doth free from immediate necessitie or consecution . since then the heauens are outward causes , and remoued causes , & therefore neuer necessarily or simply of themselues affect , and the inward causes of diseases sticke nearer , and so closely touch in their effects , that they suffer no interposition , it is manifest , that the heauens haue no certaine or absolute h power in the diseased , e nor can match or equall the immediate force appropriate onely vnto the disease . the heauens indeed do oft and much also preuaile in raising , allaying , increasing , diminishing , enraging and calming the inward causes , but euer by a proportion , either with the temper and constitution of the sicke , or the humours of their bodies , whether originally bred , or after by time acquired . saturne is therefore said a great lord ouer melancholy bodies , in like manner the moone ouer phlegmaticke , iupiter and the sunne in sanguine , mars in cholericke , ( whether in their seuerall reuolutions apart , or their coniunctions and combinations ) and according to the greater or lesse proportion of their peculiar humors in the bodie , and the dispositions of the particular parts of the body , they more or lesse exercise their rule . therefore also according as meanes more or lesse accrew to lessen or increase their proportion : so more or lesse manifestly are their effects and operations weakned or quickned . if the wise physition foreseeing the euill approach of a maligne and saturnine aspect , by discreete preuention abate and withdraw the melancholy humor from the body , saturne shall thereby want a part of his b proportion , and as the greater abundance thereof doth necessarily more aduance and promote his efficacie , so the exiguitie there of must needs abridge and obscure it . the like may be said of all other aspects in their seuerall destined and appropriate humours . for the constellation of it selfe simply c cannot effect anything , nor can build or ruine any being , which first hath not the seminarie and prime foundation thereof in it self , both as his subiect and his meanes . and this is the true cause , that the body either by physick reduced to iust temper in it selfe , or to an equall contemper of all the humors , or of it selfe strong and healthfull , in the most different constellations doth commonly find indifference of alteration . and this is the reason that many in the most saturnine and deadly constellations liue , as the contrary also cause that many in the most faire and iouiall die . from this vncontrouersed ground , astronomers generally themselues aduise and prescribe meanes , both to preuent the harmes of influences to come , and also to redresse them present , and giue vnto the physitions hand powers and remedies to command , countermand , delay , allay , and abolish . and from this reason p●olomy himselfe , the prince and father of astrologie , in vnfortunate aspects doth aduise to consult the prudent physition , and by his counsell and helpe to decline the maligne constellation . for right remedies rightly administred vnto the diseases and their inward causes , by the decree of god and nature necessarily oppugne , allay , preuent and expell diseases , and therefore are not prescribed vnto outward l causes , but onely vnto the inward . and although the outward cause haply first raised or impo●ed the disease , yet in the cure is not that cause so much respected , but his effect ( which is the disease it selfe ) or the inward causes by which , and through which , the outward had admission to their effects . if the inward causes ( the antecedent and the immediate ) be remoued , it is a miracle , and a thing supernaturall , that there should remaine his a effect , the disease ; but the outward cause may be remoued , and yet his b effect therein not follow him . thus corrupt and hote constitutions of the aire , and constellations from the heauen , breed pestilent and hote diseases in the body , and the diseases still remain ▪ when the constitutions or constellations are changed ; but when the pestilent & hote humors , and dispositions within the body , which are inward causes , are throughly remoued , there can no such effects continue , be farther fed , or maintained . the outward cause may also be continually present , yet particular subiects or bodies , feele or d participate no effect : but if the inward cause grow in quantity or quality vnto the excesse , it is impossible it should not in the same moment produce the like sensible effect . for example , in some heauenly coniunctions or combinations there may arise an hydropicall constellation , though many particulars be nothing therwith affected , or therto therby inclined ; but if hydropical humors or causes abound within the body , it is impossible they should there be without not only the imminence , but present cōsecutiō of the dropsy . by these examples it is not obscure , that the heauens are a forreine inuasion , and therefore more easily admit e interception , and that diseases are euer to be suspected , because euer present . where there is an vnproportioned congruitie or susceptibilitie in the bodie and humors with the heauenly inclination , there the heauens haue no edge . where the disease hath once taken possession in the body , the necessitie of his effect is absolute and f vnauoidable , g howsoeuer the heauens or any outward causes are disposed . he therefore that finding the inward disposition , shall for the superstitious feare of starres delay with speed to seeke present remedie , or in hope of forrein supply from constellations , neglect certaine rescue more neare hand , is a foole , a mad man , or worse then either . the first is continually acted by common simple deluded people , the other patronaged by obstinate defendants of vaine paradoxes ; and the third by our impudent astrologers prostitute for gaine . i commend not senslesse morositie in the peruerse reiection of true astronomie , so farre as is commodious for physicke vse ( which reason it selfe , experience and all the ancients worthily extoll ) but with reason and authoritie , i dislike superstitious and needlesse a curositie in the ouer-religious esteeme thereof . he that obserueth the wind , shall not sow : and he that regardeth the clouds , shall not reape , saith salomon , ecclesiastes 114. and i cannot but detest the shamelesse dayly cousenage and imposture , heathenishly practised by many , vnder the colour , pretext and false b shadowes of true astronomy . an example here of may not impertinently for better illustration be here proposed . a gentleman of northampotonshire diseased by an immedicable vlcer of the reines , was moued by his friends ( after my despaire of his recouerie signified priuatly vnto them ) to call the aduice of a famous ephemerides-master , who coming vnto him , and not knowing ( and therefore not considering his disease ) from the counsel table of his ephemerides pronounced , that if the patient suruiued 3. or 4. daies ( which we must suppose were of an il aspect ) vntill the next ensuing tuesday ( which was , it seemeth , a fairer influence ) he made no doubt of his recouerie and life . but he suruiued three moneths or thereabout , and in the interim neither did the aforesaid ill disposed starres any apparent hurt , nor the wel disposed any eminent good : but after the forenamed three moneths , the starres brake promise , the disease kept touch , the gentleman d died . the reason in the disease was manifest : without a new creation or generation , a part in it selfe radically , and in the whole substance perished , can neuer be restored . the disease therfore could not lie , nor all the heauens could performe either a new generation ( because the patient could not again enter into his mothers womb ) nor a new creation ( because the world could not againe returne into the old chaos . ) how vainly then did here the astrologer gape and gaze after vncertaine starres , when the true knowledge of the disease , the cause and nature thereof ( wherein consisteth an infallible ground ) manifested the certaine issue ? how foolishly and ignorantly ( or shamelesly and impudently ) did astrologicall simple folly or intollerable imposture , either cunningly and wittingly seeme to looke aloft for that which lay neare hand below , or simply stumble ouer so plaine truth , and tumble into so ridiculous and grosse error ? and thus it is apparent , both how vncertaintly astrologers a fable , and how certainly diseases do not lie : and who comparing the one with the other , cannot see , in which truth hath more euidence , and trust securitie ? there is a sober and b modest vse of astronomie , b either for generall prediction , or particular accommodation vnto particular ends : both these ( thereby putting a difference betweene the honest vse and false abuse thereof ) ptolomey himselfe hath bounded within that which is either manifestly naturall and according to d nature , or in reason e possible or contingent . wha● with these conditions astronomie doth affoord vnto the benefite of the sicke , is to be esteemed and guided by the prudent physition , according to particular necessities , circumstances and considerations , as either the heauenly inclinations shall seeme f proportioned vnto them , or they liable to those generall and common causes . whatsoeuer doth wander further , or is extended vnto other vses then these , is not ingenuous nor proper vnto a physition , but is abuse of time , himselfe and others , trifling vaine idlenesse , foule & vnlearned falshood . chap. iiii. of coniectors by vrine . as the heauens themselues are not free from the insinuation of imposture and deceit ( thus cunningly doth euill winde it selfe into the likenesse & shape of goodnes : ) so is nothing almost vnder the heauen created , which is not made an instrument , a visar and ba●d vnto adulterate seeming , lying and cousenage . the aire , the fire , the waters , the fowle , the fish , and infinite other a creatures , yea their definite and single b parts apart , are all made prodigious inchantments ▪ and snares of ignorant minds , begetting faith vnto falshood , and trust and credit vnto vntruth . as art vpon true and proued grounds doth promise according to good reason faire likelihood , so imposture vpon wondered and vnknowne conclusions professeth assurance in falshood , and certaintie in impossibilitie ; which while wise men contemne , credulous fooles admire and follow . amongst many other , the inspection of the vrine is in this kinde too commonly most palpably abused by many that carrie the name and badge of learning . it is a common practise in these dayes , by a colourable deriuation of supposed cunning from the vrine , to foretell casualties , and the ordinarie euents of life , conceptions of women with child , and definite distinctions of the male and female in the wombe ; which while impudence doth gloriously set forth , the common simplicitie doth worship and reuere . it is vnknowne to none learned , that the vrine is truly of it selfe and properly e indication of no other immediate dispositions , but such as are of the veines and liuer , the bloud and humors ; the antecedent causes of diseases , and the naturall facultie giuing onely f coniecture at the diseases of other parts by consequent , by the knowledge of the g common and antecedent causes of all diseases . erroneously therfore the common sort imagine , that in the vrine is contained the ample vnderstanding of all things necessary to informe a physition , and from thence common expectation doth generally deceiue it selfe in the proofe of a physition by his iudgement of the vrine . vnto the satisfaction of a physitions knowledge , are many wayes and helpes besides the vrine , as materiall , and in many cases of more speciall moment , necessitie and vse . in the pulse are properly and soly apparent manifold medications , which in the vrine lynceus himselfe could neuer see . this is the cause that many euen vnto the last moment of a languishing life , continue in their vrine not onely no shadow of danger , but faire and flattering formes of lying safely , the pulse i onely by it selfe-forewarning the mischiefe . the animall facultie , the affections of the third region , and habite of the bodie , and many other particular parts haue their peculiar k excretions , which onely keepe the propertie of their indication vnto themselues , communicating no part l vnto the vrine : neither is the iudgement by the vrine euer infallible , or m not deceiuable , euen there where it is properly and soly allowed chiefe esteeme , diuers impediments both positiuely and priuatiuely forestalling his right estimate : positiuely either by assumption of diuers meates , n drinkes or o medicines , or when diuers diseases p concurring in the bodie , together send downe their seuerall or contrary recrements into the vrine , and thereby confound the true iudgement of any of them therein ; or thereby priuatiuely , when either by stoppages ( which diuersly happen in the tortuous windings and turnings betweene the liuer and the veines , and conduits thence descending vnto the reines and bladder ) the substance , colour and contents of the vrine are c intercepted , and the thinne aquositie oft onely issueth by so straight a percolation , as can carrie no signe , no sight or shew of the naturall estate of the vrine in it selfe ; or else when the naturall heate withdraweth it selfe vnto some interior d intention of nature within . when therefore the vrine descendeth in his owne substance , quantitie , qualitie and contents , without impediment or hinderance , it is a certaine , proper and true demonstration of the true affects of the liuer , veines , the second concoction , and of the diseases of those parts which in his descent it washeth , and giueth vnto the wise physition an vninterrupted certaine iudgement of it selfe , as when it descendeth in borrowed e liquor and colours , it reporteth rather his rubs and interception by the way . hence the learned physition , either by the first immediatly instructeth himselfe to a direct opposition vnto the discouered disease ; or by the other , finding the impediment that hindered the right vnderstanding and discouerie , he thereby informeth himselfe to remoue that impediment , or else finding it thereby vndiscouerable , searcheth it by another disquisition or inuestigation , by another way or method , vntill he haue attained the right end of a true physition , which is the prudent rescue of the distressed life and health , and not the false trumpe of his owne vndeserued praise , promoting vnworthinesse to gaine & lucre . thus he neither deceiueth himselfe with vaine expectation , nor others with lying profession , but diuersly in both maketh a prudent and good vse of both , according to the indication , whether certaine and vndeceiuing , or doubting & ambiguous . and as the ends are diuers , of those that view the vrine to coniure vp wonders , and those that esteeme the vrine to detect the disease for the good of the diseased : so are their vnderstandings differing , the one truly a directed by reason and iudgement , the other by nimblenesse of cousenage and circumuention of simplicity and ignorance ; whereof the chiefe vse is not the benefite of the sicke , but the colour of fraud and comodity by deceit . touching the oracles of fortune pretended in the vrine , and their floating fauours in so low an ebbe , those that too commonly in their owne experience find good drinke to steale their wit out of their braine , may haply imagine it thence descended into the vrine . i leaue them there to seeke it , that want it so much , and deserue it so litle . the mention is vnworthie mention . concerning the looking of vnborne babes in an vrinarie glasse , and the making of old fooles in loue with their owne reflexion : to vnmaske the common illusion in this kind , i will briefly point vnto the discouerie of the folly , whereinto entring their serious cogitation & due recognition , they may more amply after exercise & satisfie themselues , whom their owne fatall stupidity doth not detaine , or resolute obstinacie preoccupate . the conceptions of women , together with the accidents accompanying the same , do necessarily bring forth generall alterations vnto the whole body , partly by the consequent stoppages of the body , and partly by distracting the naturall heate and spirits from other parts vnto that new intentiō , whereby is added either quantitie or qualitie , or both vnto the bloud and humors , and from thence the vrine receiuing different tincture & substance doth manifestly report the ods . yet for that this sodain productiō of change in the body issueth from conceptiō only by accident , therof being truly and immediatly no cause it selfe , but an occasion onely mouing other causes , as commonly or more cōmonly moued , both by diuerse kind of other obstructiōs beside , & also by other distractions of the naturall heate & spirits , by criticall intentions , concoctions , & maturations of diseases ; therfore is the confused alteration of the vrine found vpon conceptiō indefinite , & can be no special note of cōception . this is also further manifested by the alterations and effects themselues following conception , which not onely in differing bodies , but in the verie same , are seldome the same , but cōmonly farre vnlike , yea and oft contrary at one time from themselues at another . this women themselues in their owne experience must needs witnesse , seldome obseruing the changes of bodies after cōception in all alike , & oft each in themselues finding the particular manners of their owne alteration farre discrepant . this their oft deceit in themselues , mistaking , and vncertaintie in themselues commonly doth testifie , sometimes suspecting thēselues with child when they proue diseased , somtimes doubting diseases being only with child . since then conception is neither in it selfe a sole , nor a separate cause , nor any true immediate cause of the alterations of the body following therupon , but onely the occasion mouing other causes , and those causes are as indifferently also moued by many other occasions besides vnto the same effects , their generalitie doth discharge their proprietie in this particular , and the common indication in the vrine any speciall signification proper vnto conception alone . this demonstratiuely proueth the vncertainty of the signs of conception that are common with other in the vrine . now concerning the small certaintie of the signes that are therto supposed peculiar : the inward dispositions and affectiōs of inward parts , which by the outward sense cānot be deprehended , are by three f waies or meanes soly to be detected . the first is the action or function proper g and ininherent in the partie . the second is the proper h excretions proceeding fromht he partie . the third is a distinct feeling or i paine in the part . the proper functions of any part can neuer be disioyned from the part , and therefore appeare not in the vrine . paine or other sense & feeling are euer vnseparable companions with their patient parts , whereof the vrine hauing no sense , can haue no part , and therefore therein also is vnsignificant . it onely then remaineth , that the affection and conception of the wombe soly doth discouer it selfe by the determinate excretions therto peculiar . the peculiar excretiōs of any part do bring testimony vnto the truth of their indicatiō , either by the a cōcomitance of part of the substance of the part , or of part of some substance either naturally , orby some il dispositiō adherent to the part , or of the ordinary recrements of concoctions , or other preparatiōs , or operations of nature in the part . whether excretions in al these kinds proceed frō the womb , & how & with what differences & distinction , it is not here necessary to determine . it is sufficiēt that the proper indicatiō of the dispositiōs of that part must necessarily be deriued from the excretions therto appropriate : which therfore proueth the vrine no right prognosticator of any affectiō therof issuing frō other & different vessels . it may be obiected , that by the contiguity of the wombe & bladder , and the neare termination of their extremities , the expulsiue facultie of the seminarie vessels , mouing sometimes with the vrinarie , may thereby mixing their recrements connexe their indications . this is true , yet not alwaies , but rarely and seldome true , and therfore vncertainly hapning doth doubtfully promise or signifie . the expulsiue motiōs and offices of the seminarie parts are not so ordinarie , so frequent , so common , as the vrinarie , neither doth their raritie in their motion alwaies then meete or consent with the vrine , and sometimes also meeting therewith , it giueth notwithstanding impertinent indication vnto the inquisition of conception , other common d recrements after conception , no lesse or rather more descending then those which are onely consequents of conception . and thus is made apparent the falshood and deceit of the ordinarie profession of the prediction of conception by the inspection of vrine , which also the most e ingenuous and iudicious writers and authours from their owne long proofe & experiēce haue euer generally exploded as impious imposture . the true artist doth promise nothing beyōd that which reason doth demōstrate , & art habitually performe : the deceiuer by faire pollicitations bewitcheth simple credulitie , ridiculously to delight in his owne wrong and grosse collusion . it is verie worthy note and memorie , that a great and learned clearke cornelius agrippa , retracting his former wont therein , doth ingenuously confesse of his affectation and circumuention of common admiration by his supposed magicke and astrologicall skill , e and it doth well fit and settle instruction and satisfaction in this our particular also , though of another kind i haue bene ( c saith he ) from my childhood by my parents carefully iustituted in astrologie , and in riper age and vnderstanding afterwards spent therein no small time . at length by long and certaine proofe i found it wholly compound and founded of meere fictions , and toyes of vaine imaginations : wearied therefore and grieued with my time and study so long and so idlely spent , i laboured to cast away the irkesome and vnpleasing memorie thereof out of my mind , and neuer in my thoughts to entertaine it . e but the violent and forcible importunacie of great and mightie potentates , ( who vsually preuaile to abuse great and worthie wits vnto base arts and offices ) againe compelled me vpon the fame rocke , and my owne priuate profite againe inticed me to thinke it dutie and honestie to make profitable vse of wilfull folly , and with toyes to please these that so much desired toyes . the same apologie for the exercise of vrinarie e diuination , their owne consciences vnto themselues do make that vse it , but they loath the example , and truth is hatefull because incommodious . it was sometimes my happe to witnesse the free profession of a dying physition vnto this point . he inhabited northampton many yeares , was in nation irish , in manners homely , in learning of me diocrity , but in the auguration by vrine of conceptiō was generally reputed excelling , and in a fortunatenesse therein oft posing some better learned . three or foure daies before his death ( expected and knowne vnto himselfe ) while by his owne earnest request then ( as oft before ) i was present , motion was made vnto him that he would commend vnto posteritie that skill by which hee liued with many so much esteemed and admired . his answer was free and ingenuous , to this effect : it is vnworthy posteritie , vnworthy the name of art. i haue long with the felicitie of a good opinion exercised it , and with tried certaintie know it vncertaintie , and certaine deceit . simplicitie is euer ready vnwittingly to betray it self , and it is easie to him ( that is therein much and continually exercised ) in common people palpably to see their simple hearts , in their eyes , in their gesture , in their countenances , and other circumstances , of themselues vnobserued and vnconsidered . i haue sometime by good hap bene fortunate in my predictions by vrine , of conceptions , which because when it sometime happened , it seemed a wonder ; it therefore was euer largely transported many waies , and much busied and employed common talke . i haue proued therein an hundreth fold more often and more commonly in mine owne knowledge f false , yet because to erre was no wonder , ( and therefore not so much worth either relating or obseruing ) as also for that it was for the most part but priuatly to some sew knowne , and oft times also the shame of illusion in the most put the report thereof vnto silence , the contradictorie instances still died vnremembred , but fame and opinion suruiued and prospered . it euer excused my deceitfull custome vnto my selfe , that i deceiued none but such as either desired or deserued it , who by their insidiation of the proofe of my skill either prouoked it , or by their vnreasonable earnestnesse extorted it . in this and other the like , some few dayes before his death , he thus g died vnto his former life , and liued vnto his soule and sauing health . and thus it is manifested , both by reason and also by the last testimonie of dying experience , how the vrinary diuining for prediction of conception , forsaking the brighter streames and clearer fountaines of detecting truth , doth hide it selfe in the puddle water , there laying shining baites for dazeled fish . the more silence , the better fishing ; lest therefore i may haply too much preiudice the pleasing spoile of willing fooles , i will thinke that which hath bene alreadie said vnto any other , sufficient intimation , aduising honest minds from the iudicious physition , by the plainest information to draw the h directest counsell , lest by the vaine proofe of a deceiuing worth , seeking that is not , they lose that might be more proper and pertinent vnto their health . chap. v. of trauellers . as from all parts of the world true knowledge doth fetch home his substantiall grounds to enrich it selfe ; so falshood and lying imitation doth likewise deriue deceiuable colours to beguile the imprudent . hence vnder the name of trauellers supposed much knowing , by much seeing of things worthy to be knowne ( the common expectation of wonder giuing glad entertainment , and desire of noueltie ioyous welcome ) insufficiencie clothed with this outward figure of sufficiencie , doth oft enter into the rights of better desert , and by casuall pofiting some few , deceiueth most , and ruineth many . trauell is required in a physition , not as any part of his essence , but as an ornament , receiuing the essence and perfecting of it selfe from the essence and perfection of a foresetled and continuing vnderstanding . the generall theory and speculation of any knowledge or science whatsoeuer , is in no soile or countrie a stranger to them that duly and truly seeke it , nor doth vnderstanding meete , or is taken vp in high waies ; but to the most secret retired thoughts reflecteth the brightnesse of his true worth , and from the perfect fulnesse of time , and thence accomplished brightnesse of his beames doth seasonably breake forth , and soly giue the rectified perspectiue of particular obiects . in the occurrents of trauell , it is indeed the sense that conducteth the obiect to the vnderstanding , but it is a pre-existing power and abilitie in the d vnderstanding it selfe that rightly iudgeth and disposeth the e obiect . if therefore the vnderstanding be either in it selfe originally defectiue , or by want of time vnsetled , or by precept and doctrine not habitually formed ; the sense may truly , rightly and continually present , but the vnderstanding shall either falsly or not fully apprehend , distinguish , digest or dispose , whereby disorder in want of right method , doth rather multiply confusion then increase right vse . hence many things worthy notice escape ignorance , vniust reductions are commonly miscarried to improper subiects , good vses are vnseasonably or vnreasonably wrested , mistaking obuious , right estimates either for the most part vnobseruedly ouerpassed , or casually well hapning . for where wisedome doth not leade trauel forth , knowledge guide it on , prudence accompanie it , good desire vphold it , the true end perswade and call it forth ; folly easily seduceth , and depraued ends peruert the right fruition . hence we see commonly many trauell farre , and bring home litle . some make swift aduenture , and slow returne , with late repentance . some bring home more then they would , some more then they should ; and all that begin trauell with raw iudgement , for the most part come home perpetually after drunken with opinion . different countries , aires , people , customes , manners , zones and climates , do fruitfully expose commodious consideration vnto those whose iudicious view and exchange doth know rightly to entertaine them in the way , and in many examples of many worthy physitions , the benefits thereby haue euer bene conspicuous . amongst the rest , galens industrious commutation of distant regions , by his owne writings are not obscure . but he that entreth into galens trauels without galens f mind , may exceed him in the paines , but shall neuer come neare vnto him in the fruite and worth . this is the reason that our common trauelling physitions for the most part ( the learned onely in all places and countries worthily purchasing vnto themselues due reuerence ) do oft from beyond the sea bring home strange preparations and medicines , but litle wit and discretion safely to vse them ; by the great opinion of farre fetched wondes distracting and cousening the needfull inquisition of a more inward worth in themselues to warrant their accommodation , without which , both heedlesse proofe and needlesse vse , do oft find in the best excellence a harmfull goodnes : and howsoeuer haply commending it selfe in his owne propertie and vertue , yet oft stinging vnto the heart busie , vnnecessarie and vnaduised medling . it is growne so common in these daies to entertaine d fugitiues vnder the former pretexts , that it shall ease my paines to report the mischiefes , being growne too common to need any other notice then their owne vglinesse , each post proclaiming their woodden worth , and their painted clouts euery where hanging vp their ragged e executions . it is vsual with these men , mouing their wandring and vncertaine steps from place to place and from towne to towne , by faire deluding promises and pollicitations to draw the f liues of simple credulous men , for their owne gaine , into their owne hands ; and after they haue by their common desperate courses prouoked and drawne foorth vnwilling death ( when they see him coming ) to runne away , and to leaue the miserable beguiled innocent in his angrie iawes , to answer their rash and needlesse chalenge . the wiser sort haue better learned to know them , but the simple are still g their prey . it necessarily now followeth vnto the generall conclusion of all that hath bene before said , that both the trauels of the mind , and contemplation in the former tractates mentioned , and also the change of places and countries here specified , with all other sense-informing meanes and inquisitions of knowledge and science , without precedent right institution , and setled incorrupt seeds of select vnderstanding , shall all euer doubtfully , and for the most part lamely succeed vnto timely growth or ripe perfection . for knowledge must euer go before industrie as a guide , and particular practise follow generall rule , which he that hath not first in mind fully and truly conceiued , must needs want the idea that formeth an vnderstanding action . and thus hath it hitherto appeared negatiuely , now it followeth affirmatiuely , where true election may make right choice of a good physition . the end of the second booke . the third booke . chap. i. the true artist his right description and election . the corruptible condition of all things in a substance , & perpetuall mutabilitie and alteration in a accidents , doth euery moment beget such diuers oddes and differences in the same things , that their former considerations and respects , can neuer constantly , truly , and indeed long continue them to be the same . hence by vicissitude it ordinarily cometh to passe , that of those things whereof lately seeemed certaintie , thereof by continuall accesse of different accidents and circumstances , is againe begotten e vncertainties . that which late seemed necessarie , in an instant becometh casuall ; that which was true , now false ; that which was good , now euill , and that which was possible , oft impossible . necessity & this vncertainty of all things , doth driue men that desire with more likely certaintie , through prudence to guide their actions vnto the schoole of contemplation of the world , and of the generall reuolution of all things therein , ( which is true philosophy ) that thence by long study and diligence obseruing to know and distinguish what is in nature , and the ordinarie vicissitude of all things , according to seuerall seasons , circumstances and subiects , meanes , measures , and manners variously , now true , then false ; now necessarie , then casuall , now absolute in it selfe , now conditionall , with supposition , and by accident , now possible , now impossible ; they may informe themselues from tried and approued knowledge , where with certaintie is safe to f resolue , how in vncertaintie neither to g neglect the least hope , nor to ouer-weene the best good happe : how to endeauour in that is possible , how to obserue necessitie in that is impossible , prouidently how in cases of vrgence and serious counsell , to forecast and husband occasion and opportunitie , that ill hapsharme not , vaine hope deceiue not , time beguile not , aduantage escape not , vncertaintie preiudice not , occurrents preuent not that good which according to reason and the destined issue in nature , diligent endeauout may otherwise effect . this is the summe of art and prudence . this is the vse and perfection of reason in man , without which man must needs be as the brute beast , voide of vnderstanding , dwelling in perpetuall blindnesse , darknesse and confusion , without distinction of good and euill , true and false , without consultation or election of the one or other . without the knowledge of nature our life is death , our sight blind , our light darkenesse , and all our waies vncertaine . he that knoweth not the qualitie of the fire , can neither seeke comfort by the warmth , nor feare the scorching . he that hath not obserued nature in the water cold and moist , shall neither needing their contemper thinke of their vse , nor subiect to their danger decline their hurt . who hath euer bene so blind , that hath not claymed reason e for euerie action , both as natures common light and rule in all things , as also his owne eye and f hand to guide him vnto the vnderstanding thereof ? for there is * reason in nature , and reason of vnderstanding . reason in nature is the constant course and g order of nature according to which she gouerneth and ordereth all things . reason of vnderstanding is that h light and eye of the mind , whereby is discouered what is according to reason in nature , good & euill , true and false . thus the reason of man hath his excellence and perfection , consisting in finding out and vnderstanding the excellence and perfection of i reason in nature . this is the top and heigth of all humane wisedome , knowledge and learning . hereby is distinguished the subtile k and wise from the meane vnderstanding , from the foole and idiote ; the counsell of the prudent , from the rash and vnaduised ; the sharpnesse of wit and discerning vnderstanding , frō sottish amazement & stupiditie . hence are onely setled and cleared all doubts , difficulties , and ambiguities , by which otherwise for euer men remaine voide of counsell and of truth . hence it cometh to passe , that as men more or lesse earnestly seeke the wisedome , order , and reason of nature in her dispensation of the whole world , and therein more or lesse dispend their studious paines , so they diuersly obtaine answerable measures and proportions therein , growing in wisedome more or lesse according as they are more or lesse of generose desire and ingenuous d exercise therein . the order of nature in all her works is e constant , full of wonder , and vnchanged truth in the continuall g cohesion , sequence and fatall necessitie of all things , their causes and effects : wherein therefore how the almightie deitie hath commanded all things by an vnchangeable law to be ordered , is both true and necessarie wisedome to vnderstand , and the true f patterne , rule , and square of euerie discreete , sober , and wise designe and consultation . hence vpon the principles of nature stand euerlastingly founded all arts & sciences . for science is the faithfull and truly studied apprehension of the mind , of the neuer h deceiuing generall grounds in the generall dispensation in the nature of all things : and art is the learned and skilfull habite i of imitation thereof in humane action . and all true arts thus founded vpon the vndeceiuing grounds of nature , in themselues are euer-certaine k and infallible , whose rules although discretion according to circumstance may continually diuersly vary , yet can no l time nor circūstance euer or at any time abrogate . hence aboue all other arts & sciences the art of physick must needs be most excellent and true , because it most continually conuerseth with nature , as her prime & proper subiect , and beyond all other most immediatly dependeth vpon the perpetuall study , view , & obseruatiō of nature , & the continual consultatiō with nature in euery actiō . for it is requisite in a cōpetent physition , that he be truly able & fully furnished to be vnto nature a gouernor & moderator to preserue her , to conserue her , behoofefully to dispose & d guide her in her best and rightest way , not only of being , but of being well , & well continuing . it is also requisite he be able as a prudent minister with knowledge to prouide & reach vnto her e all needfull helps , and to remoue from her all harmefull impediments . lastly , he must be a faithfull friend in her necessitie , needfully assisting , helping , and comforting her . and how can he duly performe these things vnto nature , that truly and perfectly knoweth i not nature ? aboue therefore and beyond all other artists the physition immediatly hath need & vse of exquisite knowledge of nature . for since he is deputed to be helper and restorer of particular nature , how can he for that end but become scholler and imitator of the generall ? for as all particulars do euer participate the nature and kind of the generall , and are therein comprehended , so besides that which vnto euerie indiuiduall nature is specially proper , there is an essentiall l propertie in it belonging vnto the generall : without which as the particular cannot be at all , so therefore is euer an eye , a respect and reference to be had , that those things which for the good of the particular are considered or consulted , may neuer be disproportioned frō the generall : which he that knoweth not , cannot consider . he therefore that shall rightly and prudently dispose for the good of any man , ought as well to know and aduise what and how he participateth with the generall condition , as not to be ignorant what is peculiar a vnto himselfe . for if he know not the b generall kinds and natures of things , what powers , faculties , priuiledges , prerogatiues , properties , indowments , belong indifferently to all , as well as differently to the speciall , he shall oft omit and ouerslip a larger portion offered in the common good , then any specialtie shall after recompence or counteruaile in it selfe . contrariwise also , if he onely know the general , and vnderstand not to compare , consider , apt and fitly sute it vnto the d particular , he shall neuer from the common deriue thereto ought pertinent or truly accommodate . it is necessarie therefore a physition vnderstand both what nature hath allowed man in vniuersall , with all other things , and also no lesse what proper to himselfe , and inclosed in his owne . for if he know not nature in her special kind , e when her self is separate and free from other implications , how shall he iudge or know her iust reduction thereto , when he findeth her oppression requiring his assistance to bring her home vnto her selfe ? neither must he here onely consist , but must farther view and consider , what god either in heauen or in earth , in the whole world , or the wide occan , from all the elements or elementary things hath ordained for any good or vse of man. for as god hath created all things for the good of man , so hath he appointed the physition to fit and accommodate all things vnto the necessitie and need of man , and hath farther also deputed him to supply vnto man euen those things which g nature her selfe oft times cannot . nature cannot either open the necessarie veine , or ventilate or euacuate the corrupt bloud from the bruised part , or in the right and behouefull quantitie . nature cannot with election or regularly purge the right and proper humor , fitting the cause and necessitie . nature cannot fetch home from the fields and mountaines her medicinall herbes , fruit , wood and plants vnto her owne necessitie ; but art transporteth them vnto her at seuerall seasons , and for seuerall needs . nature cannot decoct , infuse , compound , mixe or prepare her rootes , mettals , or other drugs and simples , in number and nature infinite ; but art is vnto her benefite and seruice therein accurate . as therefore the physition must euer haue nature for his chiefe d counsellor , so must he euer againe be sufficient and able substitute and e helper vnto her . not to speake of his excellent subiect ( which is the life and health of mankind ) his diuine direction in his calling ( led by the vnchanged order and wisedome of god himselfe , manifested and set forth vnto him in the structure and great frame of heauen and earth ) doth exact and require in him all possible perfection to sound and fadome the depth and height thereof . for as it is manifoldly and vnmeasurably infolded and wrapped vp in the intricate wisedome of his vniuersall workmanship , so must long dayes and time carefully spent , indefatigable studie , paines and meditation , restlesse vigilance , a cleare eye of vnderstanding , and sincere affection worke and labour it out , and thence must his prudent and wise action deriue the ground of all his counsels and consultations . and thus must the true physition euer behold god as his guide , and be gouerned and directed by his hand . for god is nature h aboue nature , and nature is his hand i and subordinate power : i god being therefore the cause of causes in nature , he is the giuer of health and life in nature , and the physition is his k seruant & minister therein . to learne of such a teacher , to imitate so absolute a patterne , what wisedome is sufficient , what sufficiency worthy ? if any man thinke it a light labour to finde out the order and reason of so infinite a workman in the immense worke of all things , or but an easie difficultie to imitate his example in infinite actions , he knoweth not what is the height of humane wisedome , which being to know most d among men , ( although what in that knowledge is nearest vnto god , is the least shadow of himselfe ) yet is it so much as is able to make men iustly admired , and happie that obtaine it ; as all other that want it , worthily as vnhappie and infortunate as ignorance can make man. ignorance is euer blind , blindnesse continually stumbleth and oft e infortunately falleth ; but knowledge giueth eyes , and the happinesse of sight declineth the vnhappinesse of our liues perpetuall groping error , and the miserable confusion of the darknes of mind . since then knowledge is the eye and sight of the mind , and all knowledge cometh either by the ordinarie light of nature , or the extraordinarie illumination of the creator of nature , whence shall the ordinary dispensation of mens wayes and actions borrow counsell and light , but from nature ? and then how necessarie is the knowledge , learning and studie of nature , not onely vnto the accomplishment and ornament of our better being , but vnto the establishment of prudence and discretion , and the happie consequences thereof in all our liues and actions ? if prudence and wisedome flow from hence , and the miserable condition of man perpetually craue their supply , and the neuer-ceasing mutable vncertaintie of circumstances continually multiply occasion of consultation from thence , how can any action or purpose of man be rightly tried , approued and assured vnto him , but by the complement and perfection of this knowledge ? and if knowledge onely rectifie and make happie mens workes , endeuours and actions in all things , how is it much more chiefly and absolutely requisite and necessarie in a physition ? his subiect , which is the safeguard of life f and succour of nature , exacteth the most exquisite wise and warie working . his rule in working ( which is the prudent obseruation and imitation of his creator in the created order and reason of all things ) challengeth the helpe and assistance of all possible worthinesse and excellence , the highest perfection of counsell , and most incomparable sagacitie of vnderstanding . for what wisedome , learning and knowledge , can be more then needfull vnto his vse and helpe , whose continuall emploiment and exercise consisteth in executing the perpetuall decrees and counsels of g creation , in restoring the ruines and decayes of generation , in rectifying , reforming and moderating the errors of continuall mutation and alteration , in opposing death , and enlarging life ; lastly , in arming the seuerall true trials and iust estimates of the natiue vses and properties of all things , substances , quantities , qualities , formes , seasons , and circumstances , according to the command of the generall commander of heauen and earth , and the edicts of nature , for the good of man ? what humane science can affoord more ample matter and occasion of diuine cogitation ? what emploiments are more continuall workes of charitie ? what vertue commeth nearer vnto god in goodnesse and mercie ? god createth man , the healthfull and helpfull hand of the physition restoreth and repaireth his daily lapses . what wisedome more inwardly conuerseth with the hidden and secret workes of god and nature ? and though his better and more erected thoughts oft humble themselues vnto the necessities of miserable men , ( which proud and foolish minds contemne ) yet hath the example of the sauing deitie herein most exalted him whom vertue instructeth , wisedome formeth , prudence counselleth , and art firmly guideth ; without the competent concurrence of all which , the necessitie of their hourely vse doth altogether denie sufficience in a physition . how worthy reuerence in themselues , and how happie for others were it , if more wontedly and vsually our physitions would first labour for this setled perfection and d generall idea of prudent deliberation , before they so readily rush vnto particular practise and action ? for although it be experience that indeed giueth vnto reason the true reflexion of it selfe , yet is it the rule of reason that first e guideth experience forth vnto likely proofe . but now in these dayes this excellent knowledge , so worthy in it selfe , how vnworthily is it esteemed by others , because so slightly sought and found in physitions themselues , euery man hastening to run before his knowledge either of f himselfe or his action , vnto particular trials of confused conceit and confidence in opinionate grounds ? hence as mechanicall offices and administrations are rather more commonly conspicuous in our ordinarie practitioners , then any weight of prudent perpension or liuely stampe of iudicious disposition or ordering ; so doth the generall slightnesse and lightnesse herein of most , sprinkle a common disgrace and ignomie vpon all , casting the excellent facultie it selfe inestimate almost behind the most inferiour science . to leaue therefore the proud and disdainfull contemners herein vnto the iust contempt of god and nature in his greatest need , that others deserue not so ill , and all may learne rather to chuse the good from the ill , then to despise the better for the worse , i will here point the inquisition of the best , who though haply rarely found , yet may the patterne commend the nearest thereto , and draw the well deseruing vnto his safest choise . in all cases and subiects of election , it is wisedome chiefly first to seeke that is most excellent ; next , where excellence is not , prudently to accept mediocritie , but euer knowingly to auoide euill . the patterne of perfection doth shew the more and lesse perfect , and manifesteth the more or lesse imperfect , frō which the farthest distance is the greatest defect , and the nearest affinitie the best excellence . of mediocritie are many degrees . there is mediocritie ascending b from it selfe toward perfection or excellence , and mediocritie descending c from it selfe vnto the lowest step of meanes . all that are contained within the latitude of mediocritie , participate the same true rules and grounds with those that consist in the highest top of excellence , onely herein differing , that the latter with a more piercing eye searcheth the marrow of the same truth , the other more shallowly soundeth the same prosunditie . this difference of mediocrities distinguisheth onely the seuerall measures of the same perfection , whereby they differ , not in kind but in degrees of comparison . thus are men termed d good , better , and best of all ; all considered in the same qualitie , euery one an artist , euery one rightly vnderstanding , but some more clearly , readily and fully , other lesse , and all truly . vnto whom therefore either excellence doth giue true splendor and eminence , or mediocritie maintaineth within different bounds of true art and science , he is either in the one worthy , or in the other intollerable . he whom farther vnworthinesse hath exempted out of both these , is in himselfe vnprofitable , and in others vse e harmfull . the first and second , and the second by the first thou mayst here view in the following description of this latter booke , and the third and last in the first and second going before . chap. ii. as all ages haue deriued and acknowledged the foundation of arts from the principles of nature , a reason , prudence , and knowledge or science ; and experience hath euer confirmed their profite and necessarie vse vnto constitution b of arts by daily proofe : so vnto the complement and atchieuing first of knowledge , and after of the right composing of art , from d thence all times and men haue with one generall decree and consent determined a necessitie of seuen euer presupposed conductiue helpes thereto , without which neither knowledge nor science can preexist , nor art from thence e exist or haue firme being . these seuen hippocrates with consent of his owne time , and assent of since succeeding times , hath in this order numbred . f nature , g precept , fit h place for studie , i studie , k institution , l industry , m time . aristotle with some others haue named only three , nature , precept , industrie ; but in these three by consequent hath included all the rest . for studie and contemplation must necessarily attend precept and industry both . studie without fit place and some certaine seate , can neuer deepely settle , vncertaine motion distracting and interrupting serious cogitation and assiduitie ; and time is necessarie to be supposed in all . by nature we must not generally vnderstand the first mouing and being power which is in all a things in vniuersall , but more specially for this subiect , procliuity , naturall aptnes or fitnesse , peculiar b disposition in the helpes and gifts of nature , ripenesse of wit , capacitie , reason and docilitie . by precept are vnderstood the maximes , axiomes , and c ancient golden rules of truth , which many ages and aged obseruation from time to time for common good and case haue commended , compiled and summed methodically into generall orders heads and numbers . by place fit for studie , are not onely vnderstood the narrow inclosures of retired silence , and abdication vnto priuate contemplation , but also the places of the societies and common assemblies of the learned , where both by priuate d conference , and also by publike e hearing the daily readings , teachings , and exercises of logicall f disceptations of schooles allotted euerie facultie by it selfe , f the mind may vsually receiue redoubled memorie of the maximes , axiomes and rules of euery art and science , whereby continuall g inculcation may both more firmely settle them , and occasion their more frequent and better laboured examination and rumination . that in whose admission two senses beare testimonie , and by two waies doth enter , hath firmer possession . the weaknesse or wearinesse of the sight or eye in priuate reading sometimes mistaketh , oft omitteth , and not seldome ouerslippeth ; but the vnderstanding standeth readie at the h gates of the eares , euer giuing easie entrance , and with readie attention more due i perpension , the most faithfull remembrance by the eare conducted vnto the inward seats and selles of the soule and contemplation . by studie is generally conceiued the continuall occupation and imployment of all a the faculties of the mind in serious disquisition , prompt apprehension and reception of generall rules and precept , and frequent oft after reuiew of their former seuerall notions , reflecting the vnderstanding vpon it selfe in the recognition of his passed intellection , and in due rumination vnto right digestion ; from whence by long exercise and vse therein gaining an habite and true methode thereof , the firme knowledge and science of assured infallible rule and principle , doth beget art , and art bring forth the end and perfection of art , which is the honour of the artificer , the euer-reasonable satisfaction of needfull vse and necessitie , and for the e most part desired issue . by institution is conceiued education , early beginning , & inchoation from d young and tender yeares , whereby the grounds and rules of knowledg growing vp with age , become in shorter time more naturall , permanent , familiar , easie , more cleare and free of difficulties , which vnto sodaine apprehension bring confusion and impediment . by industrie is vnderstood f continuall care , exercise , and paines to make euerie benefite and vtmost vse of natures bountie , of precepts worthie of place and euerie other behoofefull circumstance , to perfect institution , to saue , preuent , and redeeme time and opportunitie , with serious affection and desire to whet , vphold , and maintaine alacritie , constancie , and perseuerance through labour and diligence vnto perfection . by time is vnderstood the seuerall competence of yeares to euerie single vse , and due in all . the necessitie of the helpefull concurrence of all these vnto any one perfection is easily manifest . the want of naturall helps of wit and other reasonable parts of man , must needs be a vncapable of precept . without precept ( being the rich compiled treasure of the excellent knowledges of many ages and generations ) how shall any single liues sufficiencie otherwise truly attaine the precious worth and benefite of due perfection in any art ? without studie also precept is neuer daigned , because not deserued , god and nature perpetually blessing and proportioning seuerall measures of knowledge and vnderstanding , to some equalitie of thoughtfull d search and assiduitie . where is not place fitting studie , and allowing the prompt concourse e of learned conference , studie must needs want those readie helpes which mutuall speech , f speciall example , and many common reciprocall auxiliarie assistances in learned societie , do manifestly , profitably , and continually supply . where wanteth f timely institution , either later springs bring slower growth , or too sodaine sproutes soone wasted springs . where industrious affection and exercise either fainting waneth , or is not euer in the full , eclipsed care must needs proue dull , and paines slow , and without pains shall euer succeed but meane profite . lastly , where full time is scant , h defect is large , and where season i short , no good * proofe long . and thus it is apparent , that none , and no one of these may be wanting , where is desired any reasonable perfection ; and this is the same infallible truth in all faculties and professions . for many instances , behold but one , and see by common consent of all learned , by testimonie of reason and experience , how progresse of knowledge doth in euery part answer the nature and custome of husbanding seed . compare k the fecilitie of soyle with capacitie in nature , the seed with wholesome precept , the countrey neighbourhood of readinesse and plentie ( whereby need with common benefite may mutually both lend and borrow ) vnto the like helpes of learning in learned societie . compare carefull gathering together and storing of good seed , vnto daily study ; industrie and paines to toyle and labour ; vsuall early bringing vp , and prudent timely countrie education , to necessitie of institution , and the yearely seasons to studious times . are not all in both , and both in all alike ? the seeds of vertue and knowledge are euer fitly sowed in childhood e the age of institution d , in whose vniudging youth their hidden vertue stealeth roote , in yeares f of discretion growth , in g confirmed age gathereth ripenesse , and in consisting h age bringeth forth ripe i frui●e in practise and proofe , therein continuing euer vntill declining autumne , the fall of age , and the winter of this mortall life . and this is that span of mans life , and ought be his reckoning of his dayes well dispent in any vertuous or noble facultie . these things are manifest vnto all , and need not so much proofe as better consideration . and thus the necessary concurrence of the knowledge of nature vnto perfection in any worthie faculty , hath briefly and sufficiently appeared , and more specially the vse thereof vnto a physition hath bene plainly instanced and manifest , and his primacie in the counsell and consultation of nature , the necessities of life haue amply proued . it hath bene likewise farther considered , that as in all other arts and sciences , so especially in physicke , no man euer attained the meanest satisfying worth , without the assistance of a seuenfold furtherance , without nature either a disposing or fauouring , hath bene declared the vanitie of vtmost endeauour . without b precept where hath euer bene any right subiect , rule , or measure vnto wandring confused thought and contemplation ? without studie and c industrie was neuer gained worth , nor without institution euer purchased assurance of any perpetuitie . in want of fit and setled place , the most desirous indeauour doth find wearisome losse of so faire and helpefull opportunitie , and there is no goodnesse by c time vnsetled hath euer bene after well f confirmed . from hence it must necessarily follow as a certaine conclusion , that according as mē are more or lesse wanting in any of these , so do the number of the wants truly measure the quantity of their defects . and since these are seuen so inseparable companions & guides vnto sufficiencie in those by whom it is truly acquired , they must needs therefore by necessarie consequent be therein faire likelihoods and proofes of that sufficiencie vnto others also whom it shall concerne to know and enquire it for their owne direction and satisfaction . and as these are thus necessarie to be enquired , so is it as easie for the meanest to trace and discouer them in any particular knowledge . f nature doth expresse her selfe in her owne indowments open to euery eye in common conuersation . the hope and opinion of good precept , doth vnto the most ignorant giue prudent guesse , either by the particular knowledge , or at least inquisition of precedent timely institution and likely institutors . good and pertinent institution , deriueth probabilitie of it selfe , from the testimonie of conuenient time and fit place of institution . industrie cannot be hid , and studie by his a assiduitie doth euer proue it selfe , and by continuall exercise of it selfe , as it first giueth , so it after perpetually b holdeth sufficiencie , and manifesteth it selfe thereby , both past and present , vnto any one . and as education it selfe is of all learned esteemed and iudged absolutely beyond c exception or dispensation necessarie , so are his places common , and therefore not obscure . lastly time well dispent doth point his proofe vnto examination of his seuerall degrees of groweth , both how in d childhood and youth , vnto the yeares of discretion , disposed , and how also after that time in manhood and confirmed age vnto consistence , disposing himselfe . these are those easie notes , whereby from the necessitie , partly of their continuall presence , and partly precedence in euerie facultie , the meanest capacitie together with the best may confirme and better satisfie their prudent hope or feare in choyce . these markes though common and indifferent vnto all , yet do they bring more or lesse different behooffull vse , according to different iudgings and f vnderstandings . such as are learned in the same facultie , beside these outward and common informations are farther enabled to assure this inquisition by the presence and knowledge of the same sufficience in themselues , when they find it represented vnto them in another , such as are learned in different faculties , or are generall readers or schollers onely , by the signes cōmon vnto all kinds of learning may better iudge of a common facultie in generall knowledge , but vnproperly determine of a g speciall worth . the first haue therefore more certaine vnderstanding , the second somewhat more aduantaged coniecture . he onely that is altogether vnlettered and vnlearned , for that he cannot help his iudgement frō any of these two former inward lights , or intelligence of his owne vnderstanding , must therefore chiefly deriue his information frō without , and from these outward signes , from whence it is also better to raise b probable reason and coniecture to resolue himselfe , then altogether to trust report and others faith . for that which is probable cometh c neare vnto truth , and he that industriously exerciseth himselfe in discerning rightly true probabilitie , shall alway more wisely walke , and most seldome erre or be deceiued . chap. iii. and thus with a plaine sensiblenesse vnto vulgar capacitie , i haue deliuered the sententious summe of those things which the learned in the largenesse of many volumes haue widely scattered and confounded : which as according to the first promise and purpose , it giueth vnto the meanest a light vnto a larger field of prudent consideration , so doth it also vnto the yonger student yeeld a profitable taste of that true way and method which prosperously guideth vnto perfection . and although sharpe witted folly in the ambition of proud conceit hath oft times deuised and imagined easier and shorter wayes and e cuts vnto an higher pitch , yet after-time hath still otherwise proued it vnto erroneous men , when for the most part their eyes and time are almost out , and folly hath alreadie too sufficiently fatted it selfe to glut repentance . i will not spend time in blaming this our time herein , dayly experience is iust reproofe . from that which hath formerly bene discoursed , there seemeth yet remaining a doubt demanding answer : whether non but men , as before , knowne learned , may proue of safe or commendable vse ? where the causes and diseases are both common and vulgar , and no circumstance requireth more then ordinarie consult , there without doubt ordinary harmlesse remedies without deeper counsell or aduice , may by themselues sufficiently c satisfie an vsuall need . for this cause the emperick is iustly to be preferred before all other sects , for that ( for the most part ) neuer changing his approued ordinary good remedies , he thereby in ordinary cases doth more commonly benefite ; while other sectaries from the wilde d composition of their confused and deceiued minds ( euer therefore vainly continually varying the mixture of their medicines ) must needs thereby both peruert the ordinary benefite of vsuall and tried medicines in common diseases , and in all other also by their misgouerned rules , and mistaking reason , euer either ouerrunne or come short of that happie and safe issue , which more distinct , iudicious and truly vnderstanding accommodation from more prudent right deliberation doth more certainly and assuredly bring forth . this is the reason that e galen instituting and counselling a yong physition , doth chiefly instruct him first to bend all his whole labour and endeuour to aime at that vnstained puritie of sight and discerning sagacitie , which is onely proper vnto the truly learned and soly orthodoxe physition , whereunto if his power and meanes wil not aduance him , he then aduiseth him to make choise of the empericke soly to d imitate before all other sects ; because his plaine constant course in ordinary diseases doth most oft good , and in other most cōmonly least hurt , though with the rest neuer sure , and not euer safe . and thus farre ( deseruing reader ) i haue pointed thy better remembrance into the right way of the most likely inquisition . vertue is likewise a needfull companion vnto sufficience of vnderstanding , a grace and ornament vnto a physition , and in him a benefite and aduantage vnto the patient ; by the one well gained , discreetly and iustly steering his sufficience , by the other well knowne , f assuring his confidence : but being euery mans common dutie to learne , the philosophers subiect , and beside my promised performance , i will commend it vnto easie obseruation in euery man his owne triall and proofe , the ordinary iudgement more easily knowing vertue in the f outward shape of faire action , then readily conceiuing or examining it by the generall g idea or large description . it onely now remaineth thou call once againe remembrance vnto remembrance , by recouering in our passed discouery in few words the generall briefe summe for better impression and continuance . it hath bene manifested how senslesse common vse doth draw fond custome vnto mechanicall counsel . reason and prudence haue also giuen thee a taste and better sense of the vnobserued mischiefe therein , and hath taught thee a more wise feare . nor hath it bene the least wisedome , to know to hold suspected among those whom learning hath exempted out of the vnlearned multitude , such as make profession of double perfection in two d faculties , where one in true reason is neuer sufficiently or aboue needfull measure fulfilled in the most excellent , beside the perfection and right habit of vnderstanding , the attendance in care and circumspect action requiring neuer lesse then the whole and vtmost endeuour ; h which he that thinketh too much for his owne calling , profession or facultie whatsoeuer , is the least of all worthy of it , or well deseruing in it . it hath bene likewise farther noted vnto prudent obseruation , that among men honestly limited within one calling , notwithstanding immoderate , extrauagant and impertinent curiositie too prodigally dispent in things of least moment , least pertinent or profitable vnto necessary vse , doth vainely sometimes e diuert the more serious and chiefly fixed study and respect vpon the more maine ends and offices therein , ( as hath bene before noted of curious astrologers and superstitious ephemerides-masters ) whereby that which is most necessary , is dangerously oft neglected , and that which is least needfull , fondly more preferred and esteemed . lastly hath bene pointed the man whom thou maist most discreetly and with most likely safetie chuse to trust with thy life and health . first thou art aduised to consider that he be a man free from the former imputations ; and secondly that he be commended vnto thee by the seuen forementioned testimonies : one whom nature a hath fitted and set foorth by common good parts expressed in open and apert , iust and discreet word and action , and also in speciall proofe and vse , the same in all occasions , capable , sensible , wise temperate , and vnderstanding ; in his profession carrying credited assurance by his former times , place , institution , study and industry well knowne , commendably formerly , and euer dispent . if thou make this carefull and likely good election of thy physition , thou shalt not so vsually find so many lucklesse euents of after-repented choices , nor so cōmonly heedlesly draw vpon thy selfe so many miserable calamities as daily fall out in want of more reasonable fore considered care thereof . happie is he who doth conuerse with the prudent , g consulteth the wise , trusteth the iust and honest , and imploreth skilfull helpe . god hath promised his blessing vnto the prudent , in his vnaltered decree destining vnto prouidence both more certaine preuention of euill , and also more likely forestalling of otherwise more casuall good . in the wise ( with caution and difficultie euer admitting any suspected or doubted trust ) succeedeth euer for the sometimes h deceiued issue , ordinarily redoubled recompence , of fooles vngusted , but vnto the i end deseruing it , repaying the vnknowne inexplicable nectar of inf●●te acquiescence of mind , and ample content of rich ioy of heart vnto it selfe . in the skilfull , errour is barred frequence , and folly common or ordinarie a admittance . these things common experience doth rarely know , because seldome regarded : follie for euer possessing this world of fooles , and a b mite of wisedome being euer more rare e then ten mines of gold . b know thou therefore the best patterne , aime euer to attaine his nearest affinitie , with discreete coertion of that desire in want of so plentifull supply , contentedly also accepting reasonable mediocritie , but euer eschuing the hated name and inured note of knowne ignorance & adulterate d bigamie of two callings , the one in common vse wholy insufficient , the other for the most part , but in partable to supply either outward presence or inward worth . commit thy life into his hand that esteemeth it worth his whole studie and endeauor , that vnderstandeth the causes in nature , wherein consisteth life , and is skilfully able to draw foorth thy destined line vnto the ●●most length and date in nature : that knoweth 〈…〉 and opportunity of life , f that feareth god , & lo●● 〈◊〉 man : vnto whom knowne danger giueth carefull caution , safetie securitie , iudgement resolution , variable circumstance more warie circumspection , and generall g knowledge vnscanted counsell in all occurrents . thus shalt thou not betray thy life to follie , nor by thy blame ●hall others h ignorance deseruedly punish and interrupt thy quiet ease . a thus maist thou both liue in more free con●ent , and oft more happie daies , b and die in thy full time by a ripe and mature death , in the blessing of god , and ●ight of nature , yeelding thy life vnto the common law ●wrod● of mortalitie , not falling vnder the heauie burthen of thy owne guilt in rash exposall , or carelesse neglect . finis . gentle reader , i pray thee to correct these faults , escaped partly by reason of the difficultie of the copie , and partly by absence of the author . epist . p. 2. l. 6. r. any long burthen . epist . 2. p. ● . r. this necessary plane talke . 〈…〉 compare r. compute . pag. 3. lin . 20. for courses read chaunces . ibid , l 26. 〈…〉 known● certaine p. 6. l. 6. r. the as well . ibid. l. 19. grow , r. growing . 〈…〉 these . pag. 10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iteretur . p. 13. l. 4. deliuerage ▪ r. deliuering . 〈…〉 r. my . p. 17. l. 26. r. to diuers parts diuers feauers . ib. l. 34 delivation . r. 〈…〉 l. 9. death . r. health p. 19. l. 14. cannot , r ▪ runnot p. 21. l. 8. which r. with , ib. l. 〈…〉 r. these , p. 24. l 30. libertie r. literature . p. 25. in marg . r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 sole . p. 39. l. 35. r. content . p. 43. in marg . l. 37. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 45. privie 〈…〉 4● . l. 14. r. be more completely . p. 56. l. 29. r. the other opposite . p. 62. l. 8. 〈…〉 motiōs . p. 63. l. 13 , motiues , r. motioōs . p. 69. l. 32. on , r. any one . p. 74. 〈…〉 p. 79 orderly , r ordinarily . p. 82. l. 36. eminent , r. emunct . p. 85. marg . scalig. 〈…〉 p. 88. l. vlt. ends , r. meanes . pag. 94. l. 21 precepts , r. pretexts . ib. first note 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 97. last note in marg after , ea quae fecit , r , per ea quae 〈…〉 103. the third note , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 104. l. 25. r. indications . ib. l. 29. 〈…〉 p. 106. l. 21. their , r , her p. 111. l. 3 r. the illulion . ib. l. 14. diuining , r diuing 〈…〉 continuing , r. confirmed . ib l. 4. pofiting , r. profiting . p. 113. l. 21. wondes , r. 〈…〉 pa. 124 , l. 10. different , r , indifferent . p 127. l. 24. meane , r , meagre . ib. l. vlt. 〈…〉 fertilitie . pag 130. himselfe , read it selfe . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a19403-e100 a sir william tate . b namque tacere tutum semper erit . scalig. constare gratis quin silentium possit . martial . notes for div a19403-e170 a soles occidere & redire possunt : nobis cum semel occidit breuis lux , nox est perpetua vna dormienda . catull. b non est viuere sed valere vita . martial . c cui malus est nemo , quis bonus esse potest . d citò dicta percipiunt dociles animi , retinentque fideles . horat. notes for div a19403-e540 a remedia si ab indoctis medicis vsurpentur sunt venena , si verò à doctis & exercitatis , deorum sunt auxiliares manus . herophil . b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aristot : c homo inconsultus & temerarius futura non videt . cicero . d id solum bene fit quod fit opportunè . plato . e in alijs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in alijs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . f omnes intellectus mentisue habitus ad vnius prudētiae complementum desiderantur , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. aristot . g fronte capillata , post est occasio calua . h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aristot . i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . &c. hippoc. aph 1. k principium medendi cognitio morbi , minimusue error in illius ignoratione commissus est maximus in fine . galen . de meth. med . l accessu qualitatis pestiferae & deleteriae . m hinc alia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in quibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , alia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . &c. n symptoma crudeliter saeuiens à morbo auocat . hinc curatio duplex habetur , haec regularis , illa coacta . o haec est illa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acerrime coniectans , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intuēs summa ingenij sagacia . p aegritudines aliae manifestae , aliae occultae , aliae difficiles cognitu , aliae faciles , aliae incōprehensae nisi exquisita & subtili aestimatione . auicenna tract . de horis aegrit . q summè haec spectanda in medico vt tutè , iucundè , celeritèr salutem expediat . r quemadmodum duae sunt primae & communissimae morborum causae , plethora & cacochymia , sic totidem oportet esse communissima remedia purgationem debitam , & idoneam opportunamue sanguinis missionem , &c. ſ aegritudines in alias aliae facilè mutantur . auicen . de dispos . aegrit , t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hippoc. aphor. l. 2. u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . non est cuiusuis malum in initio exo●iens dignoscere . a●stot . in polit. x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . latet corruptio quia non tota simul fit , decipiturque mens ab illa . aristot . in polit. y a vaporosae & aereae substātiae occulto subtiliue seminario imperceptibiliter nouos & inauditos ob●epe●e humano generi affectus ignotum nō est . hinc galenus lib. 1. praedictionum interpretatur illud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hippocratis , ambientis aeris efficaciā ▪ quod insensibili ratione , ideoue miris modis corpora immutare soleat . hoc non modo in aere pestilenti conspicuum , sed & in pluribus exhalationum generibus per aerem diffusis clam , & celeriter quasi syderantibus . z hinc febres catarrhosae , & ab his latentes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cachexiae etiam occult● obrepentes , tota ●aepe sanguinis massa à catarrho contaminata dum in venas delabitur , saepe diuersis corporis partibus imperceptibiliter lacessitis , saepe manifesto maleficio oppressis , prout per arterias , musculos , neruos , aut occultos & latentes meatus praecipitata à capite fertur pituita . a i condemne not a plentifull and liberall vse thereof when any necessitie or neede with reason and iudgement conduct thereto , but the ordinary , fond and needelesse custome therof , led by no perswasion of any foreseene good or benefite , must needes fall into the cōmon errors and harmes of vseles and needelesse actions . b rato antecedentem scelestū deseruit pede poena claudo . horat. c quot sunt qui solo victu competenti citra vllum discrimen ab affectibus liberari possint , qui praeter rem pharmacis contunduntur ? brudus de vict . febricit . d vidi quos in pemiciem traxerit solum simplex apozema ex numaria cum senae folijs temerè exhibitis : nam corpus totum in colliquantem fluxum traxit . heurnius in aphor. hippocr . e quem saepe transit casus , aliquando inuenit , senec. f graues affert mutationes & perniciosas saepe cassia , perturbat , distendit , distorquet cum molestis deliquijs in naturis & temperamētis biliosis . quercit . de tot . capit . affectib . g in lienteria , in ventriculi imbecillitate in flatibus , in renum vlceribus & vesicae notissima sunt mala . h siccis corporibus non parum nocet . i in humoris turgescentia , nimia tenuitate ▪ ichore susque deque fluido . k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hippoc. aphoris . l haec sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . communem materiem educentia . m aph. 18. lib. 4. aph. 17. lib. 4. n perdere quos vult iupiter , hos dementat . senec. o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , euripid. a quae sub sensum non cadunt mentis vis & ratio percipit . gal. b mente perspecta & ratione generatim comprehensa , sensuum fide cognoscimus magis & stabilimus . gal●● . de sect . c duplex ignorantium medicorum genus . alterum eorum qui sola experientia nituntur , aiuntue nullius rei naturam posse ratione inueniri . alterum eorum qui sibi nomen sapientiae vindicant , & licet parem habeant cum prioribus ignorantiam , opinionem tamen scientiae sunt aucupati . sed eorum inscitia inde habet initium quòd in rationalibus scientijs nequaquam sunt exercitati , quae nos ritè distinguere & secernere docent ●as propositiones quae demonstrandi vim habent , ab ijs quae probabilitatem quidem continent , nihil autē veri possunt aut demonstrare aut inuenire . gal. lib. 1. de different . febr . d ideo impositum est iudicium tanquam praetor quidam ad inuentorum & obiectorum perpensionem . sensus enim apprehensio est simplex , non iungit aut disiungit , neque iudicat , sed aliavis interna per sensum intellectum promouet . scalig. de sbutil . e empiricir ati●nem negant , sensum recipiunt . galen libr. de sectis . f hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . &c. g ars vsus rerū incertos certis legibus coercet , scalig. de subt. h omnibus in rebus prudenter agendis ratio pro suasore habenda , vsus pro duce . scalig. i prudentia est habitus qui deducit omnia sua facta è rationibus ad fines suos sine offensione . dicimus enim prudenter factū ab imperatore vbi rectè partes exercitus disposuerit , tametsi similes ordines acierum nunquam antea notos habuerit . scalig. in poet. k ad eundem modu● non potest quidquā saepe videri . as●lepiad . l galenus morborum saepe meminit quos à se nunquam visos profitetur , alios quos semel autbis . m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . arist . in eth. n sudor anglicus tam laethalis vt vix cētisimus quisque correptus euaderet . qui euadebant in morbum bis terque relabebātur , & tandem concidebant . correpti intra 24. horas animo deficiebant & moriebantur . hollerius ex polydoro virgilio . o rulandus de dente aureo . p hollerius in ratis obseruationibus . q brasauol . in aph. hipp. 18. s . 6. r of thingede● in northamptonshire . ſ pulsibus manum applicand● tres modos tradit galenus lib. de pulsib . palpationem , compression●● , modum mediū . t tale quiddam narrat struthius in arte sphygmica , propter vulnus acceptū , in brachij arteria pulsationem fieri posse imperceptibilem . u a parson-physition . x hollerius inter raras obseruationes virum memorat cui è regione hepatis vena per interualla dehiscebat , quae sanguinem fundebat , posteà sanguine sponte restitante vestigium nullum apparebat . y of hac●leton in northampton shire . z apprentis● vnto one iohn frende . a simile quiddam inter raras obseruationes ●arrat hollerius , & medicus argentoratensis didymus obrechtus de se ipso idem refert . b simile quiddam narrat reolanus de aegro qui simili materia plures pelues impleuerit , & expurgatus perfectè , liberatus est . addit praeterea huiusmodi abscessus primarios nō esse sed epigenematicos , nec verum aut legitimum pus , sed potius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , dum pituita in thoraeis capacitatem destillatione lapsa morâ coquitur , & fit puri simile . c a principio saniei expurgetionis numerando , non generationis . d non praeclsè necessarium est intra 40 dies vel expurgari , velin pthisin transire , nam & post 40 diem & expurgari & liberari quis potest proculdubio , modò 40 diem non multum excedat . brasauol . in aph. hipp. e wife vnto maister langham of thornby in northamptonshire . f wife vnto one tiplar of harding stone in northamptonshire . g of woolaston in northamptonshire . h per artis exercitationem cōperi eam remediorum inuentionem quae ex vera demonstratione procedit in his quae rarò accidunt longè praestare : vnde multos curaui morbos medicamentis ab experientia alienis . galen●de locis affect . * hinc ille en●piricorum transitus ad simile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i similitudo nō affert identitatē . k vnum est ex principijs humanae sapientiae rerum differentium similitudines & similium differentias ritè dignoscere . aristot in top. l hinc hectici pulmonarij & hectici à iecore retorrido . &c. m pauci febrem spuriam duplicem à quotidiana distinguunt ; nam licet facilè sit febrem cognoscere , difficile est hanc ab illa distinguere synochus putris & non putris facilè decipiūt ab eadem materia antecedente natae , cum materiae similitudo similia producat accidentia vt & partium vicinitas , continuitas , situs . n aegri febriunt , vehementius vigilant , grauiter se habent quando sunt propinqui crisi . galen . n semper grauia symptomata crisim antecedunt . hippo. doctr . aphor. n vigor morbi est vehementissimum totius aegritudiois tēpus , quod sequitur crisis . gal. de cris . lib. 1. o cogimur à gratis animum suspendere rebus , atque vt viuamus , viuere desinimus . maximian . historia . p similitudines non modò vulgares sed etiam m●dicos eruditosa iquando decipiunt . galen . in apho. 2. lib. 4. hippo. q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . sensuum nullum existimamus sapientiam . aristot . metaph. 1. r sapientis consilium vnum multorum manus superat . gal. in suasor . ad artes. * casus & tempus omnibus rebus accidunt . ecclesias●e● 9. 11. galen . lib. 1. de aliment . facult . ſ consi●ium docto resque locus●ue dabunt . ouid. t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. affectuū cog nitio est materia remediorum , non ipsorum remediorum cognitio . u occasio est domina rerum agendar . x neque doctorum hominum sed empiricorum sunt singulares illae quae circumferuntur ●egulae . fetrerius de lue vener . y exhibenda remedia pro re nata & semper pro circunstantijs variare aliquid oportet . galen de puero epilept . z generalia remedia semper praemittonda particularibus . galen . de loc. affect . 4. a si metus sit inflammationis , sanguis mittitur tum è basilica partis affectae ad minuendam plenitudinem , tum de vena poplitis ratione partis & materie coniunctae . b vbi in synocho ob ebullientis sanguinis copiam , ex leui occasione irritatam adest suffocationis periculum . c perpetuum nō est abstinere phlebotomia cū iam papulae in superficie corporis extitere . etenim fit aliquando prae copia vitij vt plurimum reliquum sit in corpore , vrgeat vehemēter difficultas spirandi , grauis sit febris , quo tempore vena secanda est . hollerius de morbillis . d vbi iam malū in habitum corporis euasetit , periculosa est plebotomia . hollerius . e mulier in vehementissimo dolore stomachi nullis ●●luta remedijs ducto tandem sanguine ex vtraque basilica seruata est . hippocrat . epidemion 5. e in magno dolore ventris , secanda interna vtriusque brachij , & hoc magis si dolor grauis , si repentinus , si difficilis ructus & spiritus , si febris est , si dolor in dorsum & scapulas extenditur . hollerius de compos . medic. tractat . de stomachicis . f in apoplexia pituitosa cerebrum magis magis●ue sangunis priuatione refrigescit . g in apoplexia sanguinea vincū & singulare remedium à phlebotomia expectandum . h si pestis cum ephemera aut hectica analogiam habeat . i si pestis sit synocho putri similis , & corpus plethoricum . k vbi magnae cacoethiae ratione si conturbaueris naturam , praecipitas . l vbi humor qui venenum aut contagium conceperit in primis venis substiterit aut in ventriculo . m si hydropis origo à mensium suppressione aut sanguinis multitudine calidum innatum suffocante manifestò ducatur , à sanguine detracto curandi ratio necessariò est auspicanda . n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hippocrat . aph. lib. 5. o noui quam plurimas quarum aliae abortiunt , aliae foetus edunt parum firmos aut vitales nisi intermedijs mensibus phlebotomia plenitudo minuatur reolanus . o multae nisi ▪ 4. mense releretur vena abortiunt . foetus enim copia obtuitur . ferne●ius de meth. med. o mulieri grauidae si menses fluxerint liberius sanguinem mittas . hollerius . women counsellours . commonuisiting counsellour's and commenders of medicines . a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aristot . bona institutio triū opus habet , naturae , doctrinae , exercitatio● is . b mulieribus nemo nunquam lycaeum aedificauerit , aut senaculum statuerit . scalig. de subtil . c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. sed & aegrotum , & astantes . hippoc. aph. 1. historiae . d wife vnto one maister mercer of northampton an ancient alderman . e distinguendae vires grauatae & oppressae à languidis & attritis . hae maiora remedia postulant , illae nullo modo ferunt . f firmus puer , robustus senex tuto sanguinis missionem ferunt . fernel . f in decrepita aetate sanguinē mittit rhazes vrgente valde necessitate . d in vitium ducit culpae fuga si caret arte . horat. h non est opus valentibus medico , sed malè habentibus . mathaei cap. 9. i est enim à supremo medicus , & à rege stipendium accipiet . ecclesiast . 38. 2. i dominus è terra condidit medicamenta , & prudens homo non contēnit ea . ecclesiast . 38. 4. k spes laqueo volucres , spes captat arundine pisces , cum tenues hamos abdidit antè cibus . tibull . a in horadoloris vehementis clou● quicunq● pe●oulo non caret . gal. de victu febricit . b data tempora prosunt : et data non apto tempore vina nocent . ouid. c ijs qui in morbi acumine euacuatione indigent , si quis cibum dederit , magnum operatur malum . galen . de vict . febricit . c si quis dolorem alui subductione vel insecta vena soluerit , pro humoris exigentia , & vel pauxillum ita affectis ptisanam dederit , praecipites aget in mortem . galen . de vict . febricit . c si phlegmone vel redundantia adsit , cauenda ante accessionē cibatio seu res maximè noxia . gal. de vict . febricit . d lenissimum saepe erratum in victus ratione irreparabilis damni causa . galen de vict . feb. e impia sub dulci melle venena latent . ouid. a serò mediciā 〈◊〉 , cum mala per longas inualuêre moras . ouid. d foelix quicunque dolore alterius disces posse carere . tuo . tibull . historia . historia . fugitiues , quacksaluers . empirici , chymistae , d quod si dolosi spes refulsetit nummi , coruos poetas , & poetridas picas cantare credas pega●cium melos . persius . g clinicus herodes trullam subduxerat aegro , deprensus dixit , stulte quid ergo bibis ? martial . i scientia , intellectus , prudētia , sunt habitus , qui vigili studio , labore , diligentia & assuescendo acquiruntur . c ac si interiores affectus sensu cognoscātur , aut manus operâ curentur . riolanus . d quo fieri possit modo seuere , vt vir omnium pessimus charinus , vnam rem bene fecerit , requiris ? dicam , sed citò : quid nerone peius ? quid thermis melius neronianis ? maritial . historia . e a pure longè putidiore quod à vesica separatim exit , grauiora solent inter meiendum asturgere accidentia . pus quod è renibus defluit , substantiae est magis subtilis & elaboratae , ideoque cum minore difficultate permeat , doloremque minorem creat renes praeterea sunt partes indolentes magis quā vesica , & partium aliarum consensum minus ducunt vbi magis computrueint . f aut facere ingenui est , aut non promisse pudici . catull. g coma vigilās dictum galeno , lib. 4. de loc . affect . h qui nondum stygias descēdere quaerit ad vndas , tonsorem fugiat , si sapit , antiochum ▪ martial . d quod nimis miseri volunt hoc facilè credunt . senec. e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g lepidè illud : sol successus intuetur ; errores tellus operit . h fumum fugientes in ignem incidunt . e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. non cōmunis homo curatur , sed singulorum quisque . galen de meth. med. f habenda enim ratio non manifestae modo qualitatis , sed & occultae , tum vniuscuiusque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . g morbi è duorum humorū putredine in eadem sede nonnunquam fiunt confusi , nonnunquam in diuersa impliciti , nonnunquam ab eadem materia in diuersis partibus , diuersimodè dispositi . in omnibus secundum varias , diuersas aut contrarias indicationes , ab vrgentiore auspicatur prudens medicus , singulos perlustrat , leuissimos versat . g morbus coniunctus exigit curam coniunctam vt simplex simplicem , in coniunctis verò quae potior potiorem exigit non neglecta altera . galen in aph. hippoc. h plurimi medici similes vi dentur nauium rectoribus . in tranquillo mari regendo si quid errent peccentve , error non patet . in aduersa tempestate errore aut ignorantia facilè nauem perditam in omnibus liquidò constat . brud . de vict . feb. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . dd ideo theore . ma describit galen . lib. de finit . med. cuius contrarium rarò euenit . d vbi plura nitent non ego paucis offendar maculis . horat. e ars est eorū quae ordinariò & plerunque non aliter fiunt , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . f rerum quae cognoscuntur species sunt 4. aut enim apparent sensui vel statim per se vt colores , vel ex alijs seu signis , vt ignīs ex fumo . aut sensui quidem occultae sunt , rationi verò manifestae , eae●ue vel statim euidentes vt bis duo 4. vel per demonstrationem discendae . incipit autem demonstratio ex aliqua praecedentium , id est , ex apparentibus , vel euidentibus aut certè ex demonstratis antea ; primam speciem sensus indicat , secundam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , tertiam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : quartam consensus ad confesta siue ea apparentia sint , siue euidentia , siue antea demonstrata . galen . lib. de opt. sect. g neque idem vnquam aequè est beatus . neque est quisquam quem non aliquando videre suffenum possis , catull. b scientia est habitus demōstratiuus , habet●ue principia nota & aeterna . c artificialis cōiectura quàm propè accedit ad veritatem . galen passim . h insipiens mouetur falsa finis specie , non fine . f quod casu fit , inexpectatò fit , & tarò & incer●ta mora fit ; vt quod natura sit , expectatò fit , ferè semper fit , vel vt plurimùm sit . g quippe deest finis cuius gratia agatur , vbi casu aliquid fit . negatio finis ponit ca●um . positio finis negat casum . sapiens verò sine proposito fine nihil agit . h tutus & intra spem veniae cautus . horat. l semper metuit quem saeua pudebunt . lucan . historia . d hinc illa empiricorum miranda gesta & vulgata miracula , riolanus . f ab istiusir odi errore nascitur expe●●ent●a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . galen . de sect. * historia . c saepe misera auxilia tolerabiliora faciunt mala miseriora . leuin . lemn . d dabitur●ue licentia sumpta pudenter . e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , plurimùm atq● repentè quouis modo corpus mouere periculosum . hippocrat . lib 2. aph. f in extremis morbis extrema exquisitè remedia optima sunt , vt hippocrates . sed agendi iudicatio semper sumenda à viribus , nec deploratos attingat medicus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in ascite vtilis , sed plerunque lethalis . ideo frustra tentatur fractis viribus aut vbi hydrops succedit s●hirrho aut febribus ardentibus . in extractione calculi vesicae cauendum etiam à longo dolore fractis viribus . in partim etiam principum vehementiore affectu diacrydiatis atendum cautè , &c. historiae . g qui calculi non diu concreeriut ij medicamentis aptis dissolui possunt ; qui verò diutiùs exiccati & indurati difficillim● aut nunquam enrā tur , ideo●ue periculosè irritantur . rondeletius de vrin . h lapillis in ve sica subsistentibus crabrones irritant quicunque saxitragis deturbant temere . reolan . g quam enim proportionem architectu● erga coementarios lignariosue fabros & alios quibus imperat gerit , eandem medicus erga ministros suos , herbarios , venam scindentes , cucurbitulas admouentes & clysteres immitentes . galen in lib 6. hipp. de morb. vulgar . h naturae legibus medicinae leges semper consentaneae . fernel . i vt medici cuiusque auxilij quantitatem , occasionem & vtendi modum cognoscimus , vt ministri verò venam secamus & reliqua manibus operamur . galen . in lib. 6. hipp. de morb. vulgar . e neque enim turpe est per vulgus & aniculas profecisse . non enim puduit maiores nostros in multis remedijs brutorum discipulos se profiteri . quin & acceptis à vulgo remedijs adhibenda ratio & rectus vsus , in quo summa artis posita est . holler . instit . chirurg . historia . e ei qui praesidet , scire operari necessarium non est , sed potius aliorum ministerio vti . aristot . polit . 3. f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . nonnulli nescientes quàm aliqui scientes ad opera sunt magis ido nei . aristot . eth . 6. g primi medicinae parentes & veteres graeci medici ferè omnes humanit●te ducti ( vbi ita res postulauerit ) suis manibus operabātur in ciuitatibus nondum populosis . at vbi hominum multitudo increuerit , aliò res delegata est . hinc etiam principum edictis distincta extant medicorū & chirurgorū ministeria & officia . b nec verò calculo laborantes secabo , sed viris chirurgiae operarijs eius rei faciendi locum dabo . hippoc. iurc iurando . c omnes artes rudiores primū , tractu deinde temporis absoluuntur . scal. poet 3. d medico mulrae artes aptam materiam praeparant , ipse naturae per ministros suppeditat galen . in lib. 6. hippo. de morb vulgar . c nec credere possis hunc hominem , humana qui ratione caret maximiā . vel vt alij , cornel gall. d causa immediata protinus per se cohaeret cum effectu . sca●ig . de subt . e causam per accidens sequitur per accidens effectum . g quod neque religio praecipit nec oritur ex causis naturalibus est superstitio . melanth . h scripta , verba annuli , characteres , signa , nihil valent ad profligandos morbos , si nulla superior potestas diuina vel magica accesserit . inania itaque sunt vereue anilia credētium animos superstitione occupante . fernel . de abd. rer . causis . i vide galenū lib. 6. & 10. de simpl . med. facultat . theophrast . in hist . plant . l. 9. aug. tract . 7. in euan. ioānis . b diabolus effodiat tibi oculos , impleat foramina stercoribus . wierus de praestig . cap. 4. c in thought . d in deed . e neque enim verum est hominem ab homine noceri posse verbis . sed demon credulitate decipit hominem vt socium habeat , tum impietatis , tum aeterni exitij . scal. de subt . f phantasia imperium habet in spi●itus & humores , qui sunt morborum parentes . g sensus interioris motus perpetuus . aristot . de insomn . h galen . lib. 6 & 10. de simp . med facultat . confidere doctos & bonos midicos medicamentorum substantiae praecipit , non verbis aut carminibus . witcheraft . historia . a narrata ab aegrotante praeter totius plethorā lassitudo partium omniū inferiorum cū mensium retentione , coxarum grauitate in motu , torpore dum quiesceret , paratum affectū monstrabant . ideo neque praedixisse difficile , neque re ipsa affectum subsequi miraculi loco haberi debet . b praeter plethoram tum infra tum supra diaphragma conspicuam , tumor venarum molestus circa crura & in poplitibus , de quo conquesta est aegra , de spasmo & distentione illarum partium facilem inde dant coniecturam . vbi igitur aegrae imprudentia praesatur causam , facilis est prudentia probabilem pòst fari effectum . c she was assured late the night before of the physitions being at home that same day ; she knew the length of the way , her husbāds vsuali pace , and n●w direct sp●ed . she might easily compare the time of his going forth , with a competent time for his attaining the physition , and with all these might well hope of the physitions facilitie by his friendly entertainment the day before . from hence her imagination satisfying itselfe with the confidence thereof , she might thereby , setling and quieting her spirits , minde and humors , for a time thus appease and mitigate her paines . as for her so true and iust coniecture at the time which was two of the clocke , the circumstances before mentioned , and likelihood it selfe did guide her to suppose it . if this reason satisfie not , religion and reasons giue leaue farther to suspect , that the diuell to aduance errour and illusion , might conuey into her imagination an inward and secret sence of the time . the power that the diuell doth exercise in this kind , might be made cleare by many examples . d after the penning of this history , the cause and maner of her death by her neighbours of worth and credit , was thus reported . her husband , at her earnest sute , consulted with a wandring surgeon , whom fame , it seemeth , had magnified for charmed and potent cures of such as were bewitched . the surgeon deliuered a medicine vnto the husband , promising a miraculous cure thereby , and charged him withall , by no meanes to be feared , though haply there might fall out some strange and fearfull operations vnto the seeming . the medicine with this stile coming vnto the patient , was gladly receiued ; and after she had receiued it into her bodie , she died . the glorious name of the medicine , together with a confidence that this was onely the strange operation of the medicine foretold by the surgeon , caused the friends about her still to expect some admirable euent of recouerie , and therefore they still gaped after her rprising : but in the end necessitie called for a graue : and thus their hope with her was buried . e aelianus lib. 4. scribit aspasiam concubinam cyri posterioris admonitam fuisse in somno de medicamento quo sanauit vitium oris , quod venustatem priùs valdè deformauerat . d hinc illa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diabolica . f non absimilis vis compellendi motus tum animi tum corporis etiam philtris & carmini bus attribuitur . philtra nocent animis vimue furoris habent . ouid. carmina de coelo possunt deducere lunam virgil. g data est diabolo potestas non modò vt fallat malos , sed vt exerceat bonos . augussin . g diabolus imperium exercet in impios . in pios etiā in multis casibus particularibus potestatem habet , qua & vulnerantur & concidunt . caluin . lib. instit . h quid angeli mali possunt , quid nō possunt facere per naturae suae conditionem , homini explorare difficile immo impossibile , augustin . de trinit . c soli viri ingeniosi & subtilis mentis acici difficilia cognitu facilè comprehendere valent . aristot . d multa sunt quorum cum veritas certa sit , tamē causae nos latent . plutarch . de sympol . e inter praestigiatoris manus quod est video . mutatur species vel propter celeritatem vel propter aliud . quare verò mutetur latet me . scalig. de subt. f in natura plurima fiunt miranda & singularia , inquit aristoles , ideoque naturam ipsam appellat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . camerarius de diuinat . a a forma vniuersali mouentur sponte ignis & aër deorsum , ne eueniret vacuum . forma particularis obedit vniuersali ad conseruationem totius entitatis & vnitatis . scalig. de subt. b quia nequit tam citò ratefieri ad implendum vacuum , quod reliquum potest facere facit , atque tam citò abit . scalig. de subt . d frustra de metaphysicis quaeruntur physicae rationes . c sapientia vera , nolle nimis sapere . f hoc nomine cardanum taxat scaliger lib. de subtilit . quae consultò natura in orbe molita est suo , is praestigiae nomine denotandum putat . c hoc à diuinitatis excellentia separat . omnis enim potestas supra naturam est vel diuina vel diabolica , haec voique & semper bona , illa nusquam non mala . d quorum daemones authores sunt eorum ratio est trans naturam . fernel . de abd . rer . caus . e daemoniaci nonnulli obloquuntur summè ardua , arcana reserant & occulta renunciant . edunt verba & sententias graecas & latinas , cum ipsi vtriusque linguae omnina ignari sunt . fernel . de abd. rer . caus . g many and strange haue bene the formes of diuers excrescencies , or growings in the flesh through all parts almost of the bodie , whose nature , forme and cause are well knowne vnto the physition , though to his eye oft times strange and wondered . scaliger in his booke of subtilties , mentioneth a waterman , knowne vnto himselfe , who had a horne growing vpon his backe . the like haue others since and before knowne and written . some men haue bene borne with parts proper vnto the other sexe , and women with parts or resemblances of parts naturally giuen to the malekind alone . the errors of nature in monstrous births , are not obscure , and feede varietie of wonder ; nor are nor can be tied from the counterfeit of any shape , likenesse , marke or figure , sometimes superfluously cast vpon one part , sometimes vpon another . d the diuels propertie is knowne by actions , deeds or workes first found sustained by a supernaturall power , and next bent vnto an euill end . thus for diuellish ends haue witches and sorcerers bene knowne to ride vpon the seas in vessels vncapable of such cariage , or of any defence . thus haue some haunted men and other creatures , in maners , meanes and circumstances more then any way reasonable or possible vnto humanitie or the nature of man alone . thus haue some also declared the secret words and actions of men , then absent in farre distant places , and foretold particular things to come . these with their diuellish affection , end , and intention are certaine proofes of diabolicall power and witchraft . e consent and cooperation may be manifested first by proofe of any incantation , inuocation , spels , and other performances of other diabolicall rites and ceremonies : secondly by their vse of such instruments as are vsuall or proper vnto such diuellish workes of this kind are pictures of waxe or other matter , by which they secretly worke wasting and consuming paines vnto the liuing persons of those dead resemblances . of this kind are also charmed kno●s , characters and figures . of this kinde also are diuers sorts of poisonsome matters , by them knowne to be solemnly sought , and carefully hidden or kept . these found or detected , are certaine conuictions of witches and witchcraft , ioyned with other due presumptions and circumstances , and a manifest detection of the assistance of any tra● scendent force . e quippe vbi nec causas nec apertos cernimus ictus , vnde ergo veniant tot mala , caeca via est . propert. f in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . gal. de loc aff . g in this maner ann. 1598. my selfe being present , a child of one m. barker of couentry was afflicted , and in the end these fits changing into conuulsions of his face , mouth , and eyes , he therein died . h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . gal. de loc . aff . i in apoplexia vel morbo attonito . gal. de loc . affect . c an. dom. 1602 in this maner a former wife of one m. roson of northampton continued the space of two daies and nights , being then my patient . d in caro. carum verò distinguit à catalepsi . galen . lib. de loc . affect . quòd in hac oculi aegrotorum clausi permanent , in illa aperti . e hoc genus coma vigilans galeno dicitur tract . de comate , quod & insomne vocat , & phreneticis attribuit . iuxta hoc coma pigrum & somnolentum statuit quod è contra lethargicis ascribit . f hippocrates in prorheticis , & epidemior . 5. h deprauati motus sunt plurimi tremuli , conuulsiui , palpitantes , vibrantes , qui prout in toto corpore vagantur , diuersam appellatio nem sortiuntur . galen . de sympt differ . i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. epi epsia vel morbus caducus vniuerso corpori motus affert deprauatos . gal. de diff . sympt . g conuulsio simulat omnem motus voluntarij speciem , & hac sola ratione à motu naturali differt quod praetor voluntatem fit . galen . de loc . affect . k motiua actio laesa pro particularium instrumentorum ratione ita variantur , vt varias habere species videantur , cum illius motionis ratio fit vna . galen de sympt . diff . a conuulsis musculis , oculos mouentibus . b musculorum masticatoriorum & eorum qui peculiariter lati appellantur conuulsione , contractione , resolutione , fit spasmus cynicus , tortura oris , risus sardonius &c. c conuulsis musculis temporalibus contrahuntur dentes , & strident , resolutis fit hiatus oris . d generalis haec palpitatio dicitur ab auicenna , ab alijs membrorum subsultus & iactatio . f historia theophili , medici aegrotantis lectu dignissima est , libr. galeni de diff . sympt . sect . 3. g vide hollerij historiam de pharmacopoeo incubo correpto , scholijs in tractat . de incubo . auicen●am in cant. de signis melancholiae . k thucydides de in peste seruatis scribit , inde factos esse fatuis similes tantaue ignorantia & fatuitate imbutos vt se ipsos & familiares planè ignorarent . galen . in 1 porrhet . hippocrat . h in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 actuar . lib. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . galen . in pror●et . hipp. historia pulcherrima . e beneficed physitions . a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sonat sternutatio quia per angustum illi est ex itus . hippocrat . aph. 7. l b. c ingens sternutatio affinitatem habet cum epilepsia , tū quod ab eadem causa nasci potest , tum quod in eadem sede sita est . ideo hippocrates sternu tationem cum rheumate malū nuntiat ; quin & indesinens sternutatio animalem facultatem validè saepe fatigat , nec non & sternutantes saepe mortui conciderunt . h epilepsiam sequitur plerunque grauis sopor . andernac . de med . ●et . & noua . i compositus enim morbus videtur , ex comate , caro , apoplexia , epilepsia . in nonnullis enim accessionibus sopitis motu & sensu libera erat respiratio , in alijs graui cum difficultate spirandi & stertore periclitabatur , quae duo apoplecticos à veternosis & catalepticis distinguunt authore galerio lib. de loc . affect . epileptici verò motus vix vnquam desiere . k deprauato omni genere motus voluntarij tum capitis tum oculotum . d epilensia est totius corporis conuulsio cum rectricis partis actionum cohibitione . galen . de symp. differentijs . e singularium praeter sensum exteriorem est sensus internus . aristot . eth . 6. f saepe morbo laeditur ratio salua imaginatione , saepe deprauata imaginatio ne integra perstat ratio saepe deficit vtraque , saepe deficiunt sensus exteriores seruatis internis , & è contra . gal. de loc. affect . g coma est motus imaginatricis deficiens & imbecillus . galen . de sympt . differ ▪ h communis facultas & potentia à cerebro per neruos in singula sensoria penetrans alterationes omnes ipsorum persentit . gal. lib. 7. de plat & hippoc . dogmat . i in caro & intelligere & excitari aegrotus potest . auicennna de sign . spec . subeth . l laesa septima neruorum à cèrebro ortorum coniugatione loquela imminuitur , deprauatur aut ad tempus tollitur necessariò . galen . de loc . affect . c the words which by writing she expressed , were these : god is a wonderfull god , the lord can doe maruellous things ; and when the skill of man hath done what it can , god will shew himselfe a wonderfull god. e quomodo lingua , nunc motum nunc sensum amittat separatim aut coniunctim , magis vel minus , perue vicissitudines ratione cerebri laesi aut processus neruorum . vide galen . de loc . aff . g refert guintherius andernacus aliquos sibi natos , qui ex ingenti refrigeratione , & inde nata destillatione muti per aliquot dies perstitere , liquore verò absumpto vocem recepere . andernac . lib. de med. vet . & noua . f the very same accident , about the same time , in the same maner , befell a gentlewoman then lying at cotesbrooke in northamptonshire , and sometimes daughter vnto m. reade , while he liued there dwelling . she oft diuers dayes together lost her speech , and againe by fits sodainly recouered it , being besides vexed with diuers maners of conuulsions . h ex faciei partibus sola lingua saepenumerò afficitur . gal. de loc . affect . i saepe medicamentorū commoda non sunt cum vsu praesentia sed post emergentia . k compensante procul dubio aestate ad tempus insigniter feruida incommoda praecedentis hyemis insigniter gelidae . ab insigni verò refrigeratione ortum & originem mali factum esse , apud me satis constat . frigus verò cum humiditate intensum soporem , stuporem , omne conuulsionis genus , epilepsiam , apoplexiam constituere , author est galenus lib. de loc . affect . 4. l qui vniuersale cognoscit quoquo pacto cognoscit & particulare . aristor . g saepius enim deprehendebatur repentino lapsu aut depriuatione omnis sensus & motus , comitante difficultate spiritus & stertote nec non rectricis facultatis functionibus omnino cohibitis . hanc apoplexiam veram distinguit galenus praedictis notis , lib. de loc . affect . quam etiam generalem paralysim aliàs appellat . apoplexiam verò vel generalem paralysim terminari particulari , nemo non norit , grauem scilicet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plerunque , leuem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel vnius tantùm membri . h vide wierum de praestigijs daemonum . consule langium in epist . medicin . tract . de daemoniac . ioann . hucherū bellouacum de maleficijs . ioan. baptistam codronchium de morbis veneficiatis . f fernelius de abditis rerum causis , lib. 2. obiect . obiect . obiect . d primum sensorium omniū sensuum commune est . galen de sympt . differ . e apoplexiam , carū , catalepsin altos sopores nominat omnes . galen lib 13 de meth. med vt & aliis , lethargum etiā inter sopores recenset sed cum febre incidentē propter humoris putredinem . obiect . f sicut in somnis decipimur insomnijs , ita vigilantes in aegritudinibus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. arist . de insomnijs . g egregiè hac in re satisfacit theophili medici aegrotantis historia , memorata à galeno lib. de sympt . different . h the mention of her supposed sight of the witch , came after the returne of all her senses , and when onely the conuulsions of her armes and face were remaining accidēts obiect . wisards . h nam in auersam partem aegrotantis reclinationem opisthotonon vocamus , neruis qui eò loci sunt malè affectis . emprosthotonon autem si in priorem partem homo deflectitur , neruis anteriùs positis laborantibus . aret. lib. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i hic hominum ineptorum mos est , in malis sua ignorantia vel acquisitis vel cōmorantibus cum anu aesopica semper daemonem accusare . c an possit oculos tantum contendere lynceus ? d dolebā meherculè quòd pugillares & stilum non haberem qui tam bellas fabellas pernotarem . seruants of physitians . ministring helpers . a ideo olim clinici & lecticularij dicti & diaetarij . b hâc ab origine experientia nata est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & imitatoria . c parua leues capiunt animos d quoniam ars circa particularia versatur quae insinita sunt , qui non redigit ad vniuersalem methodum , caeco & incerto modo agit & opera fortunae committit . gal. de puero epilept . e medicina sexies vel septies probata non facit vniuersalem propositionem . galen . g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aequè mutila ratio sine experientia , & experientia sine ratione nazianz. f qui se artem acquisiuisse sine methodo arbitratur sciat se vmbram habere non artem . plato in phileb . b per se naturaue sua fallax est experientia & periculosa . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hipp. aph. 1. f habitus omnis intellectiuus , actiuus , factiuus sensim acquiruntur nec sine assiduitate , tempore , diligentia stabiliuntur vnquam . g doctrina nam vim promouet insitam . horat. h naturae sequitur semina quisque su● propert. notes for div a19403-e4720 d quales proclus , antipater , dionysius , thessalus , themison , de quo nomine iuuenalis sic habet : quot themison aegros autumno occidederit vno . e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & omnium maximè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellat galenus . g inconsideratio cognatum & perpetuum iuuentutis vitium . scalig. de subt . cc qui si quid homo sit seias facile te nihil esse intelligas . ego vero nequaquam nos homines esse dicere consueui sed partes hominis . ex omnibus enim aliquid fieri posse , idque non maginum , ex singulis pene minus quam nihil . schilg . de subtil . cc nemo nostrûm satis esse potest ad attem vel constituenda vel absolunda : sed sat superque videri debet si quae multorum annorum spacio priores inuenerint posteri accipiamus , atque his addentes aliquid illa aliquando compleamus & perficiamus . galen . in aph. hipp. k competit quod par est , par est quod sufficit , sufficit quod nullius indiget 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . arist . eth. 1. a nam mora dat vires , teneras mora percoquit vuas . et validas segetes quae fuit herba facit . ouid. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . tempus inuentor & adiutor bonus , vnde & artium sunt facta incrementa . arist . eth. 1. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . &c. omnes mentis habitus sunt extremorum , &c. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . alia est enim dicacitas , alia doctorum elegans & erudita ratio : haec consistit in verborū virtute , illa in idearum quae rerum sunt species . historiae . h prim● & praecipua delictorū & errotū causa in aegrotantium curatione , diuisionum prauitas , vt & in alijs haeresibus . quidam in primis & supremis diuisionum generibus consistunt contenti illis indicationibus quae ab illis sumuntur . quidā verò vsque ad aliquid diuidūt non tamē vsque ad finem perueniunt . nonnulli verò vitiosis vtuntur diuisionibus . qui verò omnia quae sunt secundùm naturam & praeter naturam recto diuisionis artificio complectitur , atque ab omnibus sumit sufficientes indicationes , hic solùm medendo non errabit , quantum humanis conceditur viribus . galen . de ratione meden . ad glaucon . g puta apprehensio simplex saepe caret ratione , nondum excitata ratione , aut suae cognitionis non inita ratione . scalig. de subt . i hinc paucissimi sapientissimā hippocratis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ritè sapiunt . k vide galenū in praedictum aphoris . & brasauolum in vtrosque . b oportet febrem neque leuiorem esse quā quae morbi materiam discutiat , neque grauiorem quàm aegri virtus ferat . holler . tract . de apoplex . galen . in dictū aphoris . c necesse est febrem superuenire sed non simul . nam putredo cum vulnere accelerat febrem , vulnus sine putredine tardigradam producit febrē . brasauol . in praedict . aph . d magnus ille est fluxus quicunque repente indesinenter & celeriter profluit . gal. in dictum aph . e ponderauit brasauolus libras 18. ex sinistra nare foeminae nobilis fusas simul & semel , praeter 4. libras aut plures per lintea & mappas sparsas , nec aderat interea aliquod vitae discrimen , sed conualuit . brasauol . in aph . f conuulsio quam affert hellebori assumptio ex oris ventriculi vellicatione plerunque sine discrimine , quam verò ex immodica euacuatione , illa maximè lethalis . galen . in aph dictum . g hinc senectus & senium , senectus prima & vltima , viridis & decrepita . d auenzoar filio suo trimo venam secuit . e rhases aetati decrepitae in pleuritide venam secuit . c interest enim non quae aetas sit , neque quid in corpore geratur intus , sed quae vires sint . firmus puer , robustus senex , & grauida mulier valentes sanguinis missione tutò curantur . ●ernel . de sang . miss f versatus sū & i●notui celeberrimis in vna quaque secta praeceptionibus & pa●i studio omnibus dedi operam . galen . de loc. affectis . e maiores nostri ad veritatis indagationem & conuentionē cum magno animo atque excel●o per sa●ebras atque tenebras iter suum contulerint , vt quo possint modo praelucerent nobis , quare nō erunt illorum manes ( prope dixerim ) deorum cultu celebrandi ? scal. de subt. f atque iniquū decreti genus est quod omnē laudis fructum & gloriae vni graeciae detulit , vt arabum & posterita●is studia perpetuis tenebris obruantur . quaedam posteritas addidit non iraudāda laude . vixerunt graeci in media luce literarū , ex●iterunt arabes , & inde ductae familiae iam desertis & scpultis melioribus disciplinis digna tamen luce aeterna●ue memoria nobis reliquerunt . hollerius instit . chirurg . g etiam hispidis , etiam qui errarunt habendam esse gratiam censeo . scalig. de subt. a torpor leuis quaedam paralysis . galen . de sympt . causis . a capit insanabile cunctos scribendi cacoethes . scalig. b prepauci aliquid bene sciu●t ad apicem plura aspirant magis ingenia quàm perueni●●t . scalig. a elige quid velis , qu● enim pudor omnia velle ? martial . d persona namque venustat studium dum suo insistit officio , nec praeripit alienum . e nam quod turpe bonis seio titioque decebit , crispinum . a 1. cor. 7. vers . 20. 24. b vnicū ab vno optimè perficitur opus . arist . polit. 2. g fuit haec sapientia quondā , publica priuatis praeponere , sacra prophanis . sic honor & nomen diuinis vatibus , atque carminibus venit . horat. h omne publicum cōmodum habet aliquid ex iniquo : quod in singulos peccatur , vtilitate publica rependitur . tacitus . g historia . g in principio morbi , firmis viribus , habitu pulchro , exinanitione nulla , plenitudinis & suffocationis pericula non sine ratione saepe obuia fiunt , quo tempore & modo si marasmus coutingeret , prodigiosum planè foret . spectatum admissi risum teneatis ? b marasmum trallianus li. 12 describit , in quo humiditas substantialis in totū consumpta fuerit aut torrefacta , vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ quod in corpore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & succulento nunquam quisquam praeterea inuenerit . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . inquit galenus de bon●habit . c vires , habitus , aetas intrepid● ferunt , morbus , calor sitis , deliria , plethora exigunt , anni tempus , constitutio aegri annunt . d natura vel vis quae i● potentijs naturalibus aliena excernit , vehementiùs operans magnum & violentum arteriarum efficit motum , appetens illa quae molesta sunt expellere , atque ita profluuium sanguinis facit . galen . in aph . 21. lib. 7. hipp. e leuata quae corpus nostrum regit natura exonerata●ue eo quo velut sarcina premitur , haud aegrè quod reliquū est vincet & expellet . galen . de meth. med lib. 11. h maxima remedia continuarum febrium haec duo sunt detractio sanguinis & potio frigida , gal. lib. 9. de meth. med h saluberrimū autem est febribus venam incidere , non continentibus modo sed etiam alijs omnibus quas purtrelcens humor concitanerit . gal. lib. 11. de meth. med. ideo missus est sanguis ex hepatica ad sanguinis hepatis●ue refrigerium & ventilationem , è mediana etiā ad minuendam plenitudinem . i si ad os ventriculi materia febrilis quae putruerit sua sponte impetum faciat , per vomitum expellatur . galen . de meth. med. lib 11. k bilis abundantia & turgescentia manifesta hoc exigebat , secundum intentionem hippocrat . aphoris . 22. lib. 1. & aph . 10. lib. 4. curandae autem non sunt omnes febres eodem tenore , nec eae quae sunt sine accidentibus ac illae quae cum accidentibus tractandae sunt , vt testatur gal. de arte curat . ad gla●conem lib. 1. in alijs igitur eadem remedia iteranda , in alijs non omnino vsurpanda . l in febribus galenus saepe injicit mulsam per clysterem fi aliuus sponte non ducitur ▪ vide de method . med. lib. 11. & lib. 9. de arte curat . ad glaucon . a quippe misso in febribus in initio sanguine non solùm pauperibus sed diuitumetia seruis , plurimis quidem quinto pòst , aliquibus septimo crisis contigit . galen . de meth. med. lib. 11. b vigilant aegri magna ex parte grauiter se habent & febriunt vehementiùs , quanto propius crisim accedūt . gal. in aph . 71. lib. 4. hippoc. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. circa initia & ●ines omnia imbecilliora , circa statum omnia fortiora . hipp. aph . 30. & 29. lib. 2. c si velociter morbus moueatur , etiam coloris & substantiae vrinae mutatio s●nt sufficientia signa futurae crisis . gal. in aph. 71. lib 4. hipp. e sic lib. 11. galen . de meth ▪ medendi , diuites qui propter delicias debita praetermisere remedia , phlegmonas contrahunt vel in iecinore , vel in ventriculo , vel in aliquo alio viscere . a qu●cunque morbi imperfectè iudicati sunt , deinde seruantur in sequētium iudicatoriorum dierum aliquem vsque ad 40. diem , nō simpliciteracuti sed acuti ex transmutatione vel decidentia nominantur . gal. in aph 23. lib. 2. hipp. b quadragesimus diesprimus est morborum diutinorū , quicunque hunc transcendunt ad septenarij rationem habent crisim , non septenarij quoad dies , sed quoad menses , deinde annos . gal. aph . 28. l ▪ 3. hip. c si integrè , si plenè , si perfectè natura iudicat , nihil noui moliatur medicus : si verò in quopiam deficia● natura , quod deficit debet medicus adiungere . gal. in aph. 20. lib. 1. hippoc. d signum concoctionis nullum vnquam prauum fuit , ●ed omnia optima semper , & tanto citiùs aegrum conualiturum o●tendunt quanto citiùs apparu●●int . gal. in aph . 12. lib. 1. hippoc. astrologi , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . b vide isai . cap. 47. vers . 13. stent & saluent te augures coeli qui contemplabantur sydera & supputabant menses , vt ex ijs annuntiarent ventura tibi . ecce facti sunt quasi stipula & ignis combussit eos , deuterō . cap. 18 nec inueniatur in te qui ariolos sciscitetur , aut obseruet somnia , aut auguria , aut pythones cōsulat . omnia enim haec abominatur dom. & propter istiusmodi scelera deleuit eos in introitu tuo . d deus nos docet , irradiat , assistit , etiam suo modo trahit vt saulem . quod autem in nobis sit nullum internum principium potestatis , eorum est vociferari qui nihil intelligunt . scalig . de subt . f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . virtus morali● est habitus electiuus . aristot . eth. 6. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . arist . eth. 3. h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. ea quae secundùm virtutem aguntur , non iustè aguntur si sint iusta , sed si agens , sci●ns , eligens●ue propter virtutem ipsam agat , animo●ue stabili & firmo agat . aristot . eth. 2. i post adamae lapsum ( inquit caluinus ) supernaturalia dona in homine extincta sunt nisi quatenus per regenerationem recuperentur ▪ at intelligentia , iudicium , cum voluntate , quia inseparabilia ab hominis natura , omnino perire non potu●re , caluin . instit . lib. 2. g astrologorū decreta non sunt praetoria . ptolomaeus . h sapiens assuescit futuris malis & quae alij diupatiendo leuia faciunt , hic leuia facit diu cogitando . i si ingenia primitiùs vtiliter salubriter●ue ficta sint , omnē illam vim quae de facto extrinsecùs ingruit inoffensiùs tractabilius●ue transmittunt . sin cōtra , licet paruo aut nullo fatalis incōmodi conflictu vrgeantur , sua tamen leuitate & voluntario impetu in assidua delicta & errores facilè ruunt . gellius . a secundae causae in natura quidem necessariae , in voluntate inclinantes , non cogentes . scal. de subt. b si homines nil sponte , nil motu arbitra●io faciunt , non erunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed ludicra & ridenda 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . gellius . noct. att. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non contingit quempiam ea velle quae impossibilia sunt aliter fieri . arist eth. 6. c calliditas neque comprensa neque percepta loquitur sed ambagiosa , inter falsa atque vera pedetentim quasi per tenebras ingrediens & multa tentādo incidit aliquando repent● in veritatem . gellius . g sunt enim superiora formae conseruatrices inferiorum , quia causa causarum tuetur ea quae fecit . scalig. de subtil . b pendent nostratia haec à superioribus propter aequiuocam connexionem , non propter vniuocam effection●m communionem . scalig. de subt. e communes causae communes habent effectus , nec vires aut actiones particularium flectunt simpliciter aut primariò . causas verò immediatas necessariò sequuntur effectus . b causae efficientis opus augetur eius aucta substantia . gal. in aph . 5. lib. 6. hipp. c astra vim non necessitatem inferunt . ptolomaeus . l externis causis nihil praescribitur , summa tamen diligentia perquirendae praecognoscendae●ue sunt vt deducant in interiorum cognitionem gal. de meth. med. a cum efficientibus causis necesse est accidentia tolli gal. in aph . 22. lib. 2. b si in vna requalibet leui causae ratio claudicet , simul in reliquis vbi videtur abundare meritò titubabit , vbique ●nim sibi constare debet causa si quidē vera est . gal. de dign . pulsib . d qui quidem ex solis incendio feb●●citat ab agentis causae caliditate affici natura aptus est . gal de dis● . febr . e causa nulla siue aetherea , siue syderalis , ●●ne patientis aptitudine agete potest . galen de di●● . febr. 1. f causas immediatas necessariò sequuntur effectus . ideoque effectus immediatus est signum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suae causae . g quoties vehementiores morbi premunt aut instabunt , vt in suffocante pleuritide , angina , sanguinis immoderato fluore , extrema vasorum plenitudine , in alijs denique morbis qui nimiū praecipites sunt , nullus astrorum delectus haben●dus aut cura . fernel . de hora phlebot . a optimi quique astronomi iudiciariā astronomiam tanquam vnam & futilē & nullo fundamento subnixā postquā multū . diu●ue versarūt , repudiarunt . mornae . de verit . relig . b in praeclarissima arte astronomica curiosa vanitate in obseruationes veras se implicāte , superstitiosa & aliena inculcata reperiūtur . camer . de diuin . d astrologi dum coeli scrutantur plagas , quod ante pedes est , nemo eorum spectat . cicero . a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . leonid . transtulit sic quidam : vatum sidereos quisquis scrutare meatus dispereas , mendax non nisi vana sonas . obstetrix tibi stultitia est , audacia mater . o miser & proprij non benegnare probri . b syderum occasus & ortus cognoscendi à medico artis perito , ratione morborū vulgariū & epidemiorum , quia hi temporum mutationae , tempestatum●ue vi suscitantur . hippocr . lib de loc. aere , aqu . lib. epid. lib. aph . 3. b in vnaquaque regione vbi obire artem medicam instituimus , cuiusque syderis emersus occasus●ue perspexisse necessarium est , quia tempora ab his anni circunscribuntur . galen . in lib. 1. hippocr . de morb. vulg . d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. hippoc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : a hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. b hinc extispicia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , magia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. e vrina primò & per se verè & propriè antecedentes morbo rum causas , affectus partium naturalium secundaue regionis indicat , tum venarum , renum & vesicae . galen . in prorrhet . hipp. comment . 2. f coniunctas morborum causas extra venas , affectus tertiae regionis , pulmonis , cerebri ex accidente & incertò vrina monstat : affectus hepatis , venarum , renum manifestè & sine dubio demonstrat . galen . in prorrh . hipp. g plethorae scilicet & cacochymiae à quibus omnes morbi primum fiunt , deinde fouentur . i prognostica quibus praeuidemus fitne moriturus aeger , aut conualiturus , certa sumuntur à pulsu , qui vitalium & spiritualium partium affectus arteriae pulsatione monstrat euidenter . galen . lib. de decret . hipp. & plat. k omnes quae nutriuntur particulae excrementum aliquod creant , vtique non negamus . galen lib. 1. de nat . facult . l sic sudor succorum qui in toto corpore abundant nota est : vrina verò succorum qui in vasis . gal. de sanit . tuend . lib. 4. m nos autem ingenu● fatemur ferè totam partem semeioticen in vrinis esse coniecturalem , sed coniecturae in multis sunt artificiales , quae proximè accedunt ad veritatem . rondelet . de vrin . n alteratur saepissimè vrina nouissimè sumptis rhabarbaro , terebinthina , violis , &c. o vrina immoderato potu facilè diluitur , & aliena permistione conspergitur . fernel . de vrin . p in eodem corpore saepe plutes occurrunt morbi , compositi , impliciti , connexi , congeneres , degeneres , contrarij , varij . c hoc indicatur in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in valida renum obstructione à grumo , calculo , lenta & viscida pituita , in generali etiam obstructione à crapula , ebrietate , plethora . d hinc in apostematibus internis vrinae apparent saepe tenues & vix coloratae . e in aegris saepe transmittitur aliena materia ad vrinas tum criticè tum symptomaticè , in sanis per proportionem correspondet bibitis & assumptis vrina . actuar . lib. 1. de iud . vrin . a art●s improbae apparens bonum , verae verum bonum comparant . galen . f partem intetiorem aff●ctā●●dicant actio ●ae●a , dolor vel ametria in ex●●etis aut retenris . g ea pars per se aut per consenlum laborat cu●us functio est laesa . h exc●eta naturalis oeconomiae fideles nuntij . i vbi dolor ibi morbus . a quicquid è corpore excernitur vel est toto genere praeter naturam , vel de substantia partis affectae , vel parti adnatum , vel coctionis excrementum . d indican● mēses albi grauidarum qui saepe in bonis habentur , rubri etiam qui saepissimè per anastomosin venarum exteriorum ceruicis vteri & crurales dicuntur fluidi sunt . e veteres graeci omnes omnino praetermiserunt mentionem signorum conceptus in vrina . mongius & costaeus in annot in tract . auicen de vrinis . e vrinarum inspectione abuti ad praesentiendum an mulier conceperit vel non , impostorū est , non medicorum , licet permulti nugas inid genus cognitionis & cautiones scripserint . ioannes ●ebon . de therap . puerp . c ego quoque hanc ar●em à parentibus puer imbibi , deinde non modicum temporis & laboris in ea amisi , &c. vide reliqua ex authore tractatu de astrologia . vide in marg . c. 3. p. 101. e vrinam de impraegnatione nil certi significare omnes antiqui crediderunt , ideo de hac re nullas notas reliquerunt . nam cum foetus sit extra venas & de venoso genere tantùm indicet vrina , non potest aliquid certò indicare , nisi adiunctis alijs . rondeletius de vrinis . e praestigiaturae opinionem meritò referūt , qui non ex speculatione medica , sed ex diuinandi quapiam arte in morbis praedicunt . gal. lib. 10. de simp . med. facultat . historia . f temerè , callidè , & astutè dicta aliquando incidunt in veritatem . sed quae vera dicunt prae caeteris quae mētiuntur non est pa●s millesima . gellij dictum de astrologis . g vixit qua voluit viuere parte magis . h incertam & plerunque dubiam mercedē referet qui periclitatione medicos tanquam vates augurari coget . consultor verò prudēs & fidelis sani consilij fructū percipiet . fern. de vrin . d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . scientia est , intellectus instrumentum . aristot . e res ipsae saepe aut praeposterae , aut confusae , aut falsa specie solēt sese offerre . f coelum non animū mutant qui trans mare currunt . horat. d quia inopes sunt & indocti in patrijs suis viuere non possunt bene noti . galen . de sui temporis pseudomedicis , lib. praedict . e cyclopum crudele genus , visceribus miscrorum & sanguine vescitur atro . f hoc solo à latronibus differentes quod in vrbe non montibus scelera perpetrant . gal. lib. praedict . g quod non cognoscantur ab omnibus , hoc ipsum malitiam naturae ipsorum auget , & vsque ijs insidiantur qui ea quae versutè semper perpetrant non norunt . galen . lib. praedict . notes for div a19403-e6670 a haec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . e quin res , aetas vsus , semper aliquid apporret noui , vt quae te scire credas nescias , & quae putaris prima in experiundo repudies . terent. f bona consultatio è summa ●atione eruit consilia , & haec est rectitudo consilij . aristot . eth. 6. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . qui consultat quaerit & rationem subducit . aristot , eth . 6. e ideo plutarch . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consundit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , rationem & disciplinam . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. f ratio manus intellectus . scal. * quae vi●tus mouet ●or , quae mutat succum in cibos , quae distribuit , quis dicat id sine ratione agere ? sine ratiocinatione quidem non sine ratione . scalig. de subtil . g natura est ratio vniuersi . scalig. h ratio est vis animae quae mouet se ab effectibus ad causas inuestigandas & vicissim à causis ad ea quorum illae causae sunt . scal. de subtil . i quid est ratio nisi naturae imitatio ? senec. k solertia est acerrima coniectatio ex iudicij summi adytis penitius eruta . aristot . eth . 6. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. qui rerum causas & naturas maximè dijudicat & docet maximè sapientem iudicamus aristot . metaph . 1. e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . nihil eorum quae natura fiunt aliter assuescit . aristot . eth . 2. g est enim naturalis ordo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnium rerum , ex aeterno alijs ad alia consequentibus incommutabili manente eiusmodi complicatione . gellius . noct. attic. f natura dux optima . naturam ducem si sequamur , nunquam aberrabimus . cicero . h scientia est conueniens , firma , & nunquam à ratione declinans cognitio . galen . in medico . opt . i ars est habitus cum ratione factiuus . eth. 4. k ars medica quoad naturam propriam theoremata & praecepta artis indubitatae est fi dei vera , firma , stabilis , naturae principijs semper cōsentanea , solùm quoad subiecta varia , medentium operas , & inde euentus instabiles coniecturalis . galen de sect. opt . l in medicina perpetuum est quod sequi debeat , non semper perpetuum quod sequi conuenit . celsus . d haec est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanitatis tuendae consilum , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e medicina est adiectio necessariorum , detractio inutilium . hippocrat . i physiologiae necessitas perpetua medico non ad discendam modò sed ad exercendam quoque artem . galen . de med. opt . l species generis , indiuiduum vtriusque naturam participat , vtrunque & indiuiduum & speciem genus & facit & comprehendit . a huc spectat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 specificae differentiae , & proprietates rerum occultae . b sed & medicus & exercendorum corporum magister optimè singulorum curam rationemue habuerit , si genus vniuersum cognouerit . nā qui bonus artifex & ad res percipiendas & cōtemplandas idoneus effici velit , ad genus vniuersum illi progrediendū est , atque in illo cognoscendo elaborandum . in hoc enim scientias positas esse scimus . aristot . eth. 10. d vniuersè enim ei qui febre afflictatur inedia & quies vtilis est , alicui autem fortassis inutilis . aristot . eth 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. e qui ignorat corporis affectum secundùm naturam à quo actio producitur , prorsus cognoscere non potest affectum praeter naturam à quo actio laeditur . galen . de meth . med . g natura non potest aratro boues iungere , nec illorum opera terram scindere , arte vtrunque fit . scalig. d quo natura vergit tendendū medico naturae ministro . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. hippocrat . e vt natura rectè operans imi tanda , ita aberrans reducenda & adiuuanda . natura enim aliàs agit satis , aliàs parum , aliàs nihil . galen . de venae sect . contra erasistrat . h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . est enim deus omnium causarum causa & principium . arist . metaph . 1. i natura est ordinaria dei potestas . scalig de subtil . i natura quid aliud quàm deus & diuina ratio toti mundo & partibus eius inserta ? senec. lib. de benef . k sanitas opus dei , opera verò nostra . scalig. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . qui maximè homini dissicilia cognitu potis est cognoscendo assequi , ille sapiens . aristot . metaph . 1. e animus lumine mentis & intelligentiae orbatus , ignorantiaeue tenebris & caligine demersus , sibi ipsi mentitur , se ipsum perpetuo fallit , & in capitales fraudes facilè impellit vndique . osor . de reg . instit . f morbus cum sit vitae humanae capitalis hostis , medicus vnicè natura duce est morbicida . pulchrè riolanus . g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . morborum medici naturae ●unt , naturae verò minister medicus . hippocrat . d operatio est finis syllogismi practici . arist . eth. 6. e prudentia rei futurae consultum curat ex disciplina non ex antegressis actionibus . quare hic habitus omnibus artibus communis sit necesse est . scalig. poet . 3. f huiusmodi turbam vulgò videmus à primis literarum rudimentis continuo se ipsam medici nomine iactitantem , & venditantem , inuidam , maledicam , obtrectatricem , nouam speciem cynicorum , auaram , supinam ignauam , simul atque ignaram . scal. poet. 3. c mediocritas in confinio boni maliue posita est . col. lib. 4. d alius alio sapientior , alius alio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . eurip. malus nihil aliud praeterquam malus . a artes omnes ratione & methodo acquituntur . aristot . metaph . 7. b sine generali methodo nulla ars discitur , neque disci potest . galen . de meth . med. d artes instituuntur & accipiunt principia ex scientijs . scalig. de subt. e intellectus speculatiuus , actiuus , factiuus , habent principia vniuersalia commun●● . scalig. de subt. f naturam . g praeceptionē . h locum studijs aptum . i studium . k institutionem à puero . l industriam . m tempus . a omnis substantia natura dicitur . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aristot . in metaph. b natura etiam pro peculiari indole , ingenio , more accipitur . sic apud virgilium . nunc age , naturas apibus quas iuppiter ipse addidit , expediam . c axiō . propositiones sunt per se fidem facientes , omnibus doctis in confesso & perpetuae . gal de meth. med. d grata colloquia & iucundi dialogi opulentiora quàm perpetui libri . scal. e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . conuersatio artes peperit . eurip f etenim ficuti lapidum collisione ignis : ita ex disceptationibus elicitur veritas . scalig. de subt. f optima illa est docendi ratio quae viua voce traditur . neque enim quenquam ex libro nauclerum vel alterius artis artificem euadere licet . libri enim sunt ijs qui antea eruditi fuerunt monimenta , non rudium & indoctorum doctrina perfecta . galen . de alim . fac ▪ lib. 1. g qui sapiens & doctus euadere cupit , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oportet , plato . de rep. h animus habitat in auribus . herod . i vox scripturâ ad audiendum longe praestantior & disertior , auriumque sensus potior magister . plato . a studium est vehemens animi applicatio ad aliquid . perot . in epigr. martial . e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . infirmos omnes sanos facere est impossibile . hippocrat . d educatio est nutritio & prouectio à tenerioribus annis . sic terent. eduxi è paruulo , &c. et virgil. nascentes educat vuas . nonius marcellus de proprietat . serm. sic habet : alere est vitam victu temporali sustentare , educare autem ad satietatem perpetuam educere . f industrij homines ijdem qui laboriosi , amantes laboris , agendi pulchra studiosi . cicer. tusc . quaest . 2. a quod natura negat reddere nemo potest . d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . dij labore vendunt bona mortalibus . e scholae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . basil f tantam enim vim habet puerilis institutio , vt sine ill● nemo ad vllum decus eniti possit . osorius . f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . non parum igitur sed plurimum quin potius totum refert , sic vel non sic homines ab adolescentia assuefactos esse . aristot . eth. 2. h veritas filia temporis : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i emuntur artes tempore & diligentia . lac●t . * non potest in eo succus esse diuturnus , quod nimis celeriter est maturitatem assequutum cicer. k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . analogiam habet natura cum tellure , agricola cum eo qui praeceptis instituit & instruit , semen cum salubribus praeceptis ▪ plutarchus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . e pueritia ad 14 annum numeratur . d venaticus ex quo tempore ce●●inam pellem latrauit in aula , militat in syluis catulus . nunc adbibe puro pectore verba puer , nunc te melioribus offer . horat. f adolescentia haec est , ab annis pueritiae durans ad 20. & 25. annum , huic succedit iuuentus & progreditur ad 35. g iuuenilis haec est aetas . h consistit aetas à 35. ad 50. aut circiter , & vel paulo magis vel minus pro temperaturarū differentijs . i studia in adolescentia sunt tanquam in herbis , quae annis post maturioribus pulchrae fruges sunt futurae , nam quae seminauerit in iuuentute metet cum senuerit . plutarch . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a tu nihil inuita dices faciesue minerua . b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . innatam virtutem ignauia & desidia destruit , & corrumpit , naturalem ineptitudinem rusticitatemuc corrigit & emendat doctrina . plutarch● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. quae facilia sunt cognitu fugiunt incuriam , quae verò difficilima elegantia concinna capiuntur . plutarc . c annus in apricis maturat collibus vuas . ouid. f illud ingeniorum velut praecox genus , non temerè vnquam peruenit ad frugem . quintil. f festinata maturitas occidit celeriùs . idem . a in omni literarum profectu stylo , libello 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perpetuo est opus . isocrat . b literae marsupium non sequuntur : sudoris comites sunt & laboris , sociae ieiuniorum , non satietatis , continentiae , non luxuriae . hieronym . c recta institutio caput omnis virtutis . plat. de leg. d eradenda cupidinis praui ●unt elementa , & tene●ae nimis mentes asperio ribus formandae studijs . horat. f foelices essent artes si de ijs sol●●udicarent artifices . aristot . g artis cuiustibet iudicationes primae omnibus hominibus sunt notae , sequentes soli arti●ici . gal. lib. 6. de meth. med. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eurip. bene qui conjiciet vatem hunc perhibebo optimum . cicero de diuin . c artificialis coniectura è probabili eruitur ratione & proximè ●ēper accedit ad veritatem . galen . e huiusmodi ●uere illi thessalij asini & ipse ipsorum parens thessalus , qui in sex mensium spacio totam medicinae artem non modo vorabant ipsi , sed & alios docere profitebantur . c sed & medicus optimè singulorum naturā rationemue habuerit qui genus vniuersum cognouerit . verunta men nihil prohibet quo minus etiam is qui sit nescius vni alicui pulchrè consulat , dummodo experiendo quae cuique accidunt accuratè prospexerit : quemadmodum multos sibi ipsis optimos medicos videmus , cùm alteri subuenire atque opitulari non possint . aristot . eth. 10. d methodici debitae pharmacorum compositionis ignari opera artis inuertunt . galen . de sect. e galen . lib. de sectis in suasor . ad artes . lib isagoges med. d eaedem in ●j●dem affectibus medelae ab ijs qui rationem profitentur & empiricis medicis trahuntur . de ratione inueniendi eas inter eosdem dissentio est . galen de sect. f natura siquidem vtraque haec largita est nobis , & ipsa judicia & sidem . naturalia iudicia sunt sensus & ratio . ordiuntur haec à maximè facilimis vsu & cognitione . fides & per ●uasio sine vlla ●isciplina natura d●●e i●d●cijs adhibentur . galen ▪ lib 9 de dog . hipp. & plat. f natura siquidem vtraque haec largita est nobis , & ipsa judicia & sidem . naturalia iudicia sunt sensus & ratio . ordiuntur haec à maximè facilimis vsu & cognitione . fides & per ●uasio sine vlla ●isciplina natura d●●e i●d●cijs adhibentur . galen ▪ lib 9 de dog . hipp. & plat. g non omnes ita sunt ●ole●●es vt ex solo vniuersali ipsi particularia inueniant . galen . lib. 5. de san . ●uend . d sua ipsius propria agere & alienis negotijs non implicari , est iustitia , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . plato de rep. h qui omnes in arte aliqua minutias & subtilitates persequitur , exitum nullum inueniet : si vero in illis modum vtilitate terminauerit , non mediocre fructum ex illis capiet . non enim omnia ex singulis disciplinis , sed necessaria , & ad vsum magis accommodata sunt addiscenda . osor . de reg. instit . a praeclara autē studia non omnibus ornamēto esse possunt , sed ijs tantùm qui praeclaro ingenio & egregia virtutis indole praediti sunt . osor . de reg. instit . g prudentia ad rationis normā quae cogitat quae que agit vniuersa dirigit , & nihil praeter rectum & laudabile facit . macrob. h a●tem in plerisque certam subuertere non debet paucorū vel in paucis error . galen . de med. opt . i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. omnia secuudùm rationem facienti licet nō succedat secundùm rationem non est ad aliud transeundum dum manet quod à principio visum est . hipp. aph. lib. 2. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . solertia est dexteritas in verum scopum seu finem collimandi . aristot . eth. 6. b vir bonus & sapiens , 〈…〉 repperit vnum millibus è cunctis hominum consultus apollo , 〈◊〉 ipse sui , &c. 〈…〉 d tantum●e otij est à re tua tibi , aliena vt cures quae nihil ad te pertinent . tere●● f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. medicū vti prouidentia vt mihi videtur optimum est . hipp. lib. 1. praenot . g in medico nulla potest esse perfectio sine illa encyclopedia quae homini viam munit ad foelicitatem . scalig. h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ●st & hoc vile & miser●m cum stultis & fatuis insipere . eurip. a foelix qui potuit tran●uillam ducere vitam , et laetas stabili claudere fine dies . maximian . b quasi poma ex ●rboribus cruda si sint vi auelluntur , si matura & cocta , decidunt : sic vitam adolescentibus is aufert , senibus maturitas . cicero . the aphorismes of hippocrates, prince of physitians with a short comment on them taken out of those larger notes of galen, heurnius, fuchsius, &c. : with an exact table shewing the substance of every aphorisme. aphorisms. english hippocrates. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a43859 of text r13229 in the english short title catalog (wing h2071). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 165 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 202 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a43859 wing h2071 estc r13229 12278387 ocm 12278387 58567 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a43859) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 58567) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 187:18) the aphorismes of hippocrates, prince of physitians with a short comment on them taken out of those larger notes of galen, heurnius, fuchsius, &c. : with an exact table shewing the substance of every aphorisme. aphorisms. english hippocrates. galen. heurne, johan van, 1543-1601. fuchs, leonhart, 1501-1566. soranus, of ephesus. s. h. [22], 179 p. : port. printed for humphrey moseley ..., london : 1655. translation of: aphorismi. the translation is similar to the 1610 london ed., translated by s.h. interleaved. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. "hippocrates his life out of soranus": p. [3-10]; "hippocrates his oath": p. [11-13] imperfect: portrait lacking on film. eng hippocrates. medicine -aphorisms. medicine, greek and roman. a43859 r13229 (wing h2071). civilwar no the aphorismes of hippocrates prince of physitians. with a short comment on them, taken out of those larger notes of galen. heurnius fuchsiu hippocrates 1655 26345 88 5 0 0 3 1 161 f the rate of 161 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2007-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-01 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-07 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-07 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the aphorismes of hippocrates prince of physitians . with a short comment on them , taken out of those larger notes of galen . heurnius fuchsius , &c. with an exact table shewing the substance of every aphorisme . london , printed for humphrey moseley , at the princes arms in st. pauls church yard . 1655. hippocrates his life out of soranus . hippocrates was born in an island in the aegean sea , called cos or ccos . and was the son of heraclides , and praxithea the daughter of phenaretes . he reckoned his pedigree from hercules and esculapius , and counted himself nineteen generations or descents from the one , and twenty from the other . of his genealogy erat●sthenes makes mention . and pherecides and apollod●rus and arius tarsensis . he was his father heraclides disciple , then to one her●dicus , and as some relate , he heard leontinus the rhetorician , and democritus the philosopher of abdera . he flourished in pelops his time : and was born ( as isthomachus relates in his first book of hippocrates sect. ) in the first yeer of the eightieth olimpiad . but s●ranus a coan , having searched the library of cos , goes further ▪ and saith he was born during abriada his monarchy the seven and twentieth day of the month agrian , at which time the coans do to this day offer sacrifices to hippocrates . another author saith he lived in the times of eliachim , malachi , pereno , and socrates . he being exceeding skilful in physick , and the whole course of learning , after his parents died forsook his native country ( as one andreas falsly imputes to him in a book which he hath written of the origine of physick ) for having fired the cuidians library . others say he left his country through a desire he had to see the effects and success of physick in several effects , climates , and places . but soranus saith the lord appeared to him in a dream , and wished him go to live in thessalia howsoever he was famous all greece over , and admired for his skill in physick so far that he was by ambassadours sent for to perdi●cas king of macedonia when he was thought to lye sick of a consumption , and came to him , together with one euryphon , who was elder then he ; and by some signes and tokens , found that the kings disease was a trouble of the mind , for after the death of his father alexander , he fell in love with one of his concubines called phila : which hippocrates discovered by his pulse , in which he felt an alteration at her coming into the room , and acquainting phila therewith , cured the king ▪ he was also called to abdera to recover democritus from his madness , and expel the plague out of the whole city . and the plague being at a time gotten in amongst the pahnonians and illyrians , they sent ambassadors for him , who having enquired of them what winds ordinarily blew there sent them away unsatisfied : and when by prudent arguments he foresaw the plague would prevail upon the atticans dominions , he foretold it , and took great care both of those cities and of his disciples . and he so truely loved greece , that the renown of his learning spreading it self as far as persia , and artaxerxes sending for him by means of hystanides governor of hellespont , upon proffer of exceeding great rewards , preferring honesty , before lucre of mony , he absolutely denyed him ; as by his letter written to him it plainly appears . he freed his own country , when the athenians intended to war against it , and had called the thessalians to aid them , whereupon he had great honors decreed him by the coans . yea and by the thessalians , argives , and athenians , who entered him into the eleusinian sacrifices or mysteries , next to hercules , and admitted him into their franchize , and allowed both him and all his posterity maintenance of corn out of their common granaries . he taught all as were studious of this art , freely and without envy . he died amongst the larisseans about that time as democritus also died , some say at ninety , some at eighty five , some at one hundred and four , some at a hundred and nine yeers of age . and was buried between gyrtone and larissa , where his monument is to this day to be seen , in which for a long time there was a swarm of bees , with whose hony the nurses coming to the monument , would anoint the ulcers of infants mouths , and cure them . in many of his pictures and images he is painted with his head covered ( some say ) with a hat , it being a sign of nobility ( for so was vlisses painted ) some say his head was covered with his cloak , which some affirm was for comeliness because he was bald , and some by reason of the weakness of his head . but some will have it done so by him significatively to shew that it i● fitting to have the chief ●eat of the soul well guarded and covered . others say it is the dress of one who loves travel : some again say it was to demonstrate the obscurity of his writings . and finally some that it was to testifie , that we ought in our health time beware of such things as may be hurtful to us . though some affirm it was because his cloak should not hinder him , hanging about his hands when he was about to give physick , and that therefore he wrapped it up and cast it behind his head . there is great controversie about his writings , so that the●e being several opinions , it is not easie to assert any thing certainly concerning them , for many causes which may obcure a mans judgement . as first his sirname secondly because it is not possible to observe his phrase : thirdly , because that according to his age he alters it , besides many other reasons ; i could ( if i pleased ) alleadge . he always contemned mony , was pious , and a lover of the greeks . wonderful well-affected to his own countrymen , so that he freed them all from the pestilence , as i said before , wherby he was much honored both by them and the argives and athenians . he left two sons after his decease , thessalus and draca , and a great number of disciples ; but his sons were the most famous . hippocrates his oath . i swear by apollo the physician , aesculapius , hygiea , panacea , and call all the gods and goddesses to witness , that i will observe and keep this underwritten oath to the uttermost of my power & judgement . i wil reverence my master who taught me this art , equally with my parents , will allow him things necessary for his life , and will esteem his children as brothers , and ( do they desire it ) will teach them this my art without any salary or covenant . i will participate all my instructions , and lectures and whatsoever i know else , to all mine own and my masters children , yea and to all my schollers , who shall in writing be bound to me , and tyed by a physical oath , and to none else . and as what concerns curing of the sick , i will to the uttermost of my power and judgement prescribe them their diet , and will secure them from all detriment and injury . i will not by any mans intreaties be moved to minister poyson to any man , nor give any advice to do it . neither will i give a woman any physick to make her miscarry of her birth : but will use mine art and lead my life piously and chastly . i will cut none for the stone , but leave that to skilful chyrurgions . in what house soever i come , it shall be for the good of the sick , and will abstain from offering any voluntary injury , especially in any veneral way to any such as i shall have to cure , men or women , bond or free whatsoever i shall see or hear during my cure , yea though i were not called to give physick , but as it were being in a common conversation of life , if they be not things fitting to be revealed , i will conceal and keep them secret to my self . if i observe this oath faithfully , may i thrive and prosper in mine art and living , and grow famous to posterity . or may the contrary happen to me upon breach of it . an exact table shewing every aphorism pertaining to every disease . note the first number stands for aphorism , the second for section . of sickness of the head . read aph. 71. sect. 4. 64. 5. 67. 5. 40. 2. 5. ● . 7. ● 10. 6. 22. 6. 51. 6. lethargie , read ●0 . 7. dead-sleep 1. 2. overmuch waking 3. 2. apoplexie 57. 6. 42. 2. 43. 2 melancholly 24. 6. 56. 6. 11. 6. 9. 4. madness 22. 6. 5. 7. d●ating 53. 6. sleep 2. 2. falling-sickness 46 2. 8. 5. of the dispositions of the sinews . palsie 18. 5. cramp 57. 4. 66. 4. 67. 4. 79. 4. 1. 5. 2. 5. 3 : 5. 4. 5. 6. 5. 7. 5. 18. 5. 17. 5. 23. 5. 39. 6. 9. 7. 10. 7. 13. 7. 18. 7. 26. 7. astonishment . 14. 7. of the wry mouth , nose , or lips , 49. 4. of the dispositions if the eys . 12. 3. 13. 3. 14 : 3 : 18. 3 : 17. 3. 22. 3 , 49. 4. 52. 4. 17. 6. 31. 6. 52. 6. 47. 7. of the dispositions of the ears . 49 ; 4. of the dispositions of the nose . 2. 6. 40. 2. 23. 3 : 14. 3 , 15. 3 : 32 , 3. 36. 7. 25. 5. flux of blood at the nose . 37. 3. 27. 4. 60 : 4 ▪ 75. 4. 32. 5 , 10. 6. 9. 7 ; neesing 34. 5. 12. 6. 52. 7. of the divers dispositions of the mouth and tongue . 25. 3. 32. 6. dispositions of the teeth . 26. 3. 53. 4. 26. 3. of the effects of the throat , 23 : 3. 34. 4. 37. 4. 11. 5. 37. 6. 60. 7. affects of the breast and lungs . 68. 4. asthma 46. 6. the voice , 6. 5. 51. 5. 47. 7. spitting of blood , 30. 3 67. 4. 47. 4. 14. 5. 10. 6 : 15. 7. 37. 8. plurisie 12. 1. 6. 3. 24. 3. 9. 5. 16. 5 : 16. 6. 33. 6 peripneumonia 34. 6. 12. 7. enpiema or spitting of matter 27. 6. pthisick 11. 3. 14 3. 23. 3 , 30. 3. 8. 4. 10. 5. 15 , 5. 13. 5. 16. 5 , 64. 5. 16. 7. affects of the heart . 66. 4. affects of the paps , 36. 5. 27. 5. 38. 5 39. 5 50. 5 52 5 , 54 5 affects of the stomack . 15. 1. 18. 1. 33. 2. difficulty of swallowing , 35. 4. pain of the stomack , 66. 4. 21. 2. of thirst 27. 5 vomiting , 2. 1. 7. 4. 22. 4. 10. 7. of the hicket 45. 13. 6. 15 6. 17. 7. affects of the liver . pain of the liver , 53 7. aposthumes of the liver , 60 , 5. 18. 6. 46. 7. dropsie 23. 3. 86. 22. 6. 11 4. 35 6. 43 6. 5. 7 ▪ 48. 7. 46. 7. of the hypocondres 64. 4. 74. 4. 64. 5. 40. 6. affects of the gall and spleen . jaundies , 64. 4. 63. 4. 71. 5. 42 6. of the spleen 23. 3. 43. 6. 48. 6 fluxes of all kinds . 14. 2. 21. 4 : 22. 4 : 23. 4. 24. 4. 26. 4. 28. 4 49. 5. 1. 6. 3. 6. 32. 6 43. 6. 48. 6. 5. 7 : 24. 7. 30. 7. 31. 7 pains of the intestines , 11. 4. 49. 4 ● . 6. 7. 6. iliac passion 44. 6. 10. 7 affects of the fundament . 11 : 6. 12. 6. affects of the reins 6. 4. 80. 4. 7. 6 35. 7. 36. 7. 37. 7. 55. 7 affects of the bladder . 17. 3. 23. 3. 27. 3. 32. 3. 70. 4. 71. 4 73. 4. 72. 4. 74. 4. 75. 4 70 4. 76. 4. 77. 4. 75. 4 : 80. 4. 82. 4. 83.2 . 84.4 58.5 19.6 . 44.4 . 32. 7. 34.7 . 35.7 . 39.7 . 40.7 . 49 ▪ 7. affects of the members of generation in men . 63. 5. 19. 6. of the affects of the members of generation in women . 13.3 . 1.4 . 28.5 . 29 5. 5 30. 5.31 . 5 32.5 . 33.5 . 34 5. 35.5 . 36.5 : 37 5. 38.5 . ●9 . 6 . 40.5 . 41.5 . 42.5 . 43 5. 44.5 . 45.5 . 46.5 . 47.5 . 48.5 49.5 . 50.5 . 51.5 52.5 . 53 5. 54.5 . 55.5 . 56.5 . 57.5 . 59.5 . 60.5 . 61.5 . 62.5 . 28.7 . of the affects that do appear in the exteame parts . 46.2 . 20.4 . 31.4 . 33.4 . 44.4 . 25.5 . 21.6 . 22.6 , 28.6 . 29.6 . 30 6. 34.6 . 49.7 . 49.6 . 55 6. 59 6. 60.5 . aphorisms touching feavers . 12.1 . 14.1 . 23.2 . 25.2 . 26.2 : 28.2 . 30.2 . 34.2 . 7.3 . 8.3 . 10.3 . 12.3 . 22.3 . 29.4 . 31.4 . 44.4 . 43. 4. 46.4 . 48.4 . 45.4 . 49.4 . 50.4 . 51.4 52.4 . 53.4 . 55.4 . 56.4 . 67. 4. 50.4 . 60.4 . 62.4 . 63.4 . 94.4 . 66.4 . 67.4 68.4 . 69.4 . 26.6 . 54 6. 71.4 . of diet to be observed in feavers . 4.1 . 5.1 . 6.1 . 7.1 . 8.1 . 9.1 . 10 1. 11.1 . 13.1 . 14.1 . 15.1 . 16.1 . 17.1 . 18.1 . 19.1 . the aphorisms of hippocrates prince of physicians . sect. i. the argument . this first section doth for the most part handle the dietary part of physicck , prescribing not onely the measure and observation in meats and drinks for sound bodies , but also for those that are sick and diseased , with a moderation of labour and exercise . aphorism . 1. life ●is short , the art is long , occasion suddain , experince dangerous , judgement difficult . neither is it suffent that the physician doe his office , unless the patient , and those which are attendants about him do their duty , and that outward things be as well ordered , as those that are given inwardly . this aphorism is as it were an introduction or proeme to the whole work . aph. 2. in distemperatures , loosnesses , fluxes of the belly , and vomitings which do com of their own accord if such things be purged as ought to be purged , they are easily endured , and are profitable , otherwise it falleth out contrary . in like sort if an emptying of vessels be done as it should be , it doth good as is easily suffered , otherwise it doth work contrary effects . wherefore consideration is to be had both of the region and the time , and also of the age and the quality of the disease for which such things ought to be evacuated , or else not . for the physician ought in all things to imitate and assist nature . aph. 3. the full habit and state of the bodies of wrestlers , if it comes to the highest degree of fulness is dangerous ; for it cannot continue and remain in the same state , and when it cannot so remain nor grow into a better habit , it remains , that it must needs decline into a worse . wherefore that over full plight of body must speedily be dissolved , to the end it may take a beginning of new nourishment : neither must we proceed so far that the vessels be quite empty , and void ( for that is dangerous ) but we must proceed so far as nature will bear and tolerate . so extreme evacuations are perilous , and extreme repletitions are likewise dangerous . the former aphorism was of the quality of humors to be evacuated now this and those which follow , treat of the quantity . aph. 4. a small and slender diet in long and lingering diseases is always dangerous , and in sharp diseases likewise , when it is not convenient , and again diet reduced to extreme slenderness , is as full of peril , as extreme repletion , and fulness in laborious and painful . in this aphorism hippocrat●● speaks , of the diet which fick men ought to use . aph. 5. the sick may offend in a slender diet , for thereby it happeneth that they grow worse , for every error in this case is more dangerous , then in a somwhat fuller diet . for the same cause , a very slender and too precise a diet , is somewhat dangerous to sound and healthful bodies , because they endure the errors thereof with more difficulty . wherefore a thin and exact manner of diet , for the most part is more dangerous , then that which is a little more full and plentiful then should be . he saith for the most part ; for hippocrates meaning is not that a slender diet is absolutely hurtful . aph. 6. to extreme diseases , extreme and exquisite remedies are best . extreme diseases are call'd those which are most sharp and acute . aph. 7. when therefore the disease is very sharp and hath presently most extreme passions and pains , we must use a most exceeding slender diet when it is so . but when it is not so , we may use a fuller diet , and as the disease declineth , we may by little increase the diet . by passions and pains he means symptomes , which in these very sharp diseases are seldom but ac●ompanied with hot feavers . aph. 8. when the force of the disease is greatest , then a most sparing diet is to be observed . this aphorism enjoyns that in general which the former doth give order to be done in some particular diseases . aph. 9. but we must consider and conjecture by the sick man , whether he be able to hold out , and persist with the prescribed diet , even to the state and uttermost extremity of the disease , or may faint or fail and being too weak with such diet , may yield the victory to the disease , before it retire , and be overcome . for if the patient were able to indure without food , till the extre or course : in the recourse of those fits , we must use abstinence . this aphorism speaks of intermitting diseases , which leave men for a season , and then return again . aph. 12. the fits and kinds of the diseases , the seasons of the year , and the observation of the alteration of the times of the fits return , if they come again every other day , or after a longer interval of time , will shew the sharp invasions or extremities of the diseases ▪ likewise signs and tokens are taken from those things which appear afterwards , as for example in a plurisie , if the corrupt matter , avoided by spitting , appear presently in the beginning , it declares the disease will be but short ; but if it be longer before it do appear , it declareth a longer continuance of it . moreover urines , excrements of the belly , and swets declare whither the diseases will prove easie , or difficult , short or long . for if diseases come in summer , they will for the most part proceed from choller , and the fits come every third day , and last a short time , if in wiuter they will proceed chiefly from phlegm , the fits come every day and last longer . aph. 13. old men easily endure fasting , those who are in their declining age not so well , young men worse , and children worst of all , especially those who are of a more lively spirit . old when they are above 50 until 70 , for those who are decrepit ought to feed often , but a little at a time . aph. 14. those bodies that grow , have much natural heat , therefore they require great store of food , or else the body consumeth . but old men have little heat in them , therefore they require but a little food : for much nourishment extinguisheth that heat . and this is the reason that old men have not very acute feavers , because their bodies are not so hot . this aphorism shews the reasons of the precedent , namely why old men can endure fasting better then young men and children . aph , 15. the venters by nature are most hot in winter , and in the spring , and sleep most long . wherefore in those seasons more abundant food ought to be allowed , because they have most natural heat ; whereby it cometh to pass , tha● they need more abundant food . of which thing the differences of ages , and wrestlers bodies , are sufficient proofs . venters are the stomach and bellie . and sleep increaseth the natural heat . aph. 16. moist diet is good for all that are troubled with agues , especially for children and others who are accustomed to such diet . because agues are dry , and because custom is a kind of an acquired nature . aph. 17. we must also consider whom it may be convenient to feed once or twice a day , more or less , and by little and little : we must attribute something also to custom , age , season , and region . having before spoken of the quantity and quality of food which may be given , he now speaks how it ought to be given , wherein he saith custom , time , country , and age ought to be considered . aph. 18. sick folk do most hardly brook store of meat in summer , in winter most easily , in the spring time in a meaner manner . here he expounds more particularly what he spoke generally in the former aphorism , and saith that in summer they brook no store of food , the reason is because then the native heat is weak and languisheth , and in autumn the bodies are obstructed , but in winter , the venters ( namely the stomach and those parts ) are very hot , and their sleep is long , and in the spring the natural heat evaporates more then in wiuter . aph. 19. nothing must be given to them neither must they be constrained to take meat , which have fits returning at certain determined courses : but we ought to diminish food , before manifest tokens appeare to judge of the disease . to the end that nature may not be called away from its concoction and digestion . aph. 20. we ought not to move , alter , or change those things which are or justly have been justly determined by nature , either with medicines or other procurements , but to let them alone . because nature by her determiation having shewn she is of herself strong enough , needs no help of art . aph. 21 carry those things which are ●o be drawn out thither whether they shall seem to encline and bend , by such ways and places as are fittest for conveyance and expulsion . if nature be not able of her self ( as in the former aphorism ) to expel the cause of the disease , then let art help , to do it that way as nature enclines . aph. 22. we must move with medicine those things which are concocted and digested , and not those which are raw and undigested . neither in the beginning of diseases , unless they be provoked by their own force and violence , which very seldom cometh to pass . nature after concoction doth segregate and expel humors ; which if she be too languid to do , then it is good to help it with medicines . aph. 23. things evacuated and purged are not to be estimated by thē multitude , but advisedly to be considered if those things be avoided and sen●forth , which should and purged , which should be , it doth good , and the sick may easily suffer it , but if the contrary be evacuated , they do painfully endure it . having in this latter part of this section spoken of purges given by physicians . he sets down this to put us again in mind of those purgations which come voluntarily from nature . having said the same thing of them in the second aphorism . sect. ii. the argument . this second section , of which the universal and plenary intention cannot well be assigned and set down , hath many things appertaining to the doctrine of ages , signes , nature , and purgation . aph. 1. if sleep bring labour and pain in the disease , it is a mortal sign : but if it bring ease and mitigation of pain , the sign is not deadly . sleep may hurt in two kindes : the one is common , when sick men sleep in the beginning of their fits . the other is proper when they slelp at any other times . here we must conceive he speaks of the last . aph. 2. when a delirium or raving is appeased by sleep , it is a good signe . this is an example of the universal assertion in the preceding aphorism , now the reason of it is because nothing causeth and nourisheth raving more then want of sleep ; therefore if that cause it to cease , it is a signe death is approaching . aph. 3 sleep and watching , if they be immoderate , and shall exceed a mean , are evil . for all immoderate things are enemies and adverse to nature , and too much sleep is a sign that the brain is too cool and moist , and too little argues that it is too dry . aph. 4. neither satiety nor hunger , neither any other thing which shall exceed the measure of nature , can be good or healthful . for health is defined to be a symmetry and just proportion , and besides too much fasting fils the ventricle with evil humors . aph. 5. weariness and dulness proceeding of their own accord , signifie diseases to come . namely such a weariness as comes , without any immoderate exercise of the body . aph. 6. they which suffer pain of any part of the body , and do not in a manner feel it , have their understanding distempered and diseased . that is to say , have any disease or sore which causeth pain , and they feel it not . aph. 7. bodies extenuated and wasted with long sickness , are to be restored and refreshed by little and little , but those which have been brought low quickly and in short time , are sooner to be restored . for in those who are wasted with long sickness , the flesh is wasted ; in those who are quickly brought low , the spirits onely , which may sooner be restored then the flesh . aph. 8. if any man eating meat after sickness , doth not recover strength it argues his body is burthened and oppressed with too much store of food . but if the same happen to one feeding meanly , we must understand that he hath need of evacuation . because the body being oppressed with noxious humors , they hinder concoction , wherefore the said humors must first be evacuated . aph. 9. how much the more thou shalt nourish and cherish impure bodies , by so much the more thou shalt harm and hurt them . this gives a reason of the former aphorism . namely , because the aliment which you give to such bodies increases the quantity of vicious humors . aph. 10. he who will purge bodies , must first make them fluxible . which may be done two ways , either by opening the passages , or by cutting off and extennating the thick humors . aph. 11. it is more easie to be restored with drink then with meat . that is to say with a liquid aliment , for that is sooner altered and distributed then a solid , and if yet greater speed be required , they may be recreated with odours . aph. 12. those things which are left behind after the crysis , are wont to bring forth relapses . left because the matter was not fit to be expeld , or nature was so weakened by sickness , that it was not able to expel all the noxious humors . aph. 13. the night which goeth before the fit or invasion is tedious , but the night following is commonly more easie . we feel the pains of diseases more by night , then by day , because in the day time , all the senses being awaked are imployed about some other thing . aph. 14. the alteration of the excrements , not made to the worse part in fluxes of the belly is good . because it is a sign that those noxious humors which by the excrements appeared to be in the body , are voided and gone . aph. 15. when the upper parts of the throat or gullet are sore or a breaking out of wheals doth arise in the body , it behoveth us to look upon the excrements , for if they be cholerick , the body is also sick , but if they be like the excrements of sound persons , the body may be cherished without danger . for if the excrements make no show of any further inward diseases those wheals signifie that nature hath been strong enough of her self to drive out the evil humors into those external parts of the body . aph. 16. when hunger beareth sway , we must rest from much stirring or labour . for hunger and exercise together , would cast down strength , and dry up the bodie too much . aph. 17. when over much meat is received against nature , it causeth sickness as the manner of curing diseases proceeding from repletion doth declare . because it oppresses nature now those diseases are cured by evacuation , which shews they were caused by repletion . aph. 18. those thlngs which nourish speedily and plentifully , are quickly excreted and voided . for being speedily concocted and digested the excrements must also of necessity have a speedy passage . aph. 19. praedictions of death or health in sharp diseases are not altogether certain . by reason of the suddain changes which happen in them , according to the nature of the humors ; which cause those sharp diseases : and because the molestant humor runs out of one part into another . aph. 20. they which in young age have a moist and loose belly , in old age have it dry . but those who have it dry in their young age , have it moist when they are old . this aphorism is to be understood of those who continue in the same diet when they are old , which they used in their younger years , otherwise it would not be any way remarkable . aph. 21. drinking of strong wine , putteth away hunger . by hunger here is meant a disease which is called appetitus caninus , or appetentia canina , and those who are diseased therewith can never be satisfyed , though they eat never so much . aph. 22. diseases which are bred of satiety and surfeting are cured by evacuation and those which proceed from emptiness are cured by fulness , and so in the rest , contraries are the remedies of contraries . neither must these contraries be used in an extreme degree , for neither too much repletion nor too much evacuation can conveniently be endured . aph. 23. acute and sharp diseases are judged within fourteen days . though some may be judged before , yet fourteen days is the uttermost day that can be expected for the judgement or crysis of such diseases . aph. 24 the fourth day is the index of the seventh , the eighth the begining of the week following . also the eleventh day is to be considered , for that is the fourth day of the second week and again the seventeenth day is to be considered , being the fourth from the fourteenth , and the seventh from the eleventh . he hath taught us that acute diseases run out to a crysis within fourteen days , which he here explains , and shews which are the critical days for three weeks together . aph. 25. summer quartan feavers are for the most part short : but the autumnal long , especially those which remain till winter . because in summer the superfluous humors being driven into the outward parts of the body , are quickly expelled through the pores , but they last longer in autumn , for they are some way peculiar to that season , because by the forerunning summer the faculties of the body are weakened , and in winter by reason that then the humors are thickened , and the pores shut up by the ambient cold . and this is but for the most part , for sometimes it may prove otherways . aph. 26. it is better that a feaver should succeed a convulsion , then convulsion a feaver . for if a convulsion precede a feaver , it proceeds from fulness , which is easily cured by evacuation , but if it succeeds it proceeds from emptiness , and is very dangerous for the patient . aph. 27. we ought not to be too confident if a sharp disease slacken without any reason . neither much fear those diseases which happen without any reason . for most of them are uncertain , and do not usually last long . for if it slacken without reason , it threatens a relapse , and if it come without reason , it is not much to be feared , for it will fall having no good foundation . aph. 28. if the body of those which have a sharp feaver abide all at one stay , and is nothing abated , or else is melted and wasted away beyond reason , it is a very evil signe , for the first doth signifie a continuance of the disease , and the latter a great imbecility of nature . for the first is caused by a density or thickness of the skin , and thickness and gluttinousness of humors , and the latter by a thinness or tenuity of the skin , and extenuation of humors which commonly is followed by imbecility of nature . aph. 29. in the beginning of diseases if there appears cause for moving of any thing ; move it . but when they are in their state it is far better to let it alone . the reason of this aphorism is laid down in the next . aph. 30. abo●● the beginnings and ends of dis●●se● all things 〈…〉 calm and remis● ▪ in 〈…〉 d state more vehement . this aphorism is but the reason of the precedent , and explains the formers and its own meaning . aph. 31. if the body thrive not with him who after a disease feedeth well it is an evil sign . for it signifies one of these two things , namely that he takes more food , then nature ( yet weakened by sickness ) can digest . or that there is yet such abundance of evil humors left in the ventricle and other parts of the body , that whatsoever is put into it presently corrupts with them . aph. 32. those which in the beginning of sickness feed much , and do not thrive therewith , for the most part do at last fall into a loathing of meat . on the contrary , those who in the beginning do vehemently abhor food , and afterwards desire much meat , are more easily freed from their sickness . because feeding hard whilst there be yet reliques of evil humors remaining in the body , increases the quantity of those evil humors , and so hinders their convalescencie . whereas those who feed sparingly in the beginning oppress not the powers of nature , which increasing do at last expel those remainders of evil humors . aph. 33. in any disease , if reason be not weakened nor hurt , but that it is willing to embrace such meats as are proffered it , it is good , but if it be otherwise it is evil . because to have ones good understanding sound , signifies that the brain and all the nervous parts , with the liver , heart , and ventricles are also well affected , whereas if the reason be hurt , it signifies that both the brain and ventricle are out of frame . aph. 34. they are not so dangerously sick , to whose nature , age , habit , or season , the disease is familiar and agreeable ; as they to whom the disease is not agreeable to any of those things . by nature here is meant the temperament of the body , by habit : whether a body be composed of a soft and tender flesh , or of a thick and solid . age , and season are easie to be known what they mean , howsoever for examples sake , acute feavers are not common to old age , the body being then cold , and likely are deadly in old men . and what diseases have most affinity with each season of the year , is shewn in the third section , the aphorisms 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. aph. 35. it is better in any disease that the parts adjoyning to the navel and nethermost belly be somewhat thick and gross : for the extenuation and consumption of them is evil , and then it is not safe to minister purgations working downward . because the thickness and grosseness of those parts signifie that the native heat is more valid , and the concoction better . aph. 36. those which are endued with health of body , do quickly faint drinking a purging potion : and so do those which use bad and corrupt nourishment . for in healthful men , the purging potion finding no vicious nor redundant humor to draw out and evacuate , doth first dissipate the spirits , then dissolves those parts which are humid and moist , and finally corrupts those which are solid . and those which use bad food have sharp and biting humors , which being by the medicament driven through the sensible parts of the body do cause fainting : aph. 37. those which are of sound and perfect health of body , do painfully and grievously endure purging medicines . this aphorism is more general then the former , which expressed but one symptome which befals sound men when they are purged . but this includes all the rest . aph. 38. those meats and drinks which are worse , yet pleasant , are to be preferred before those which are better , but yet unpleasant and distasting . because they please the patient best , and because the ventricle doth more greedily embrace , and speedilier concoct those meats and drinks which are pleasant . aph. 39. for the most part old men are not so often sick as young are : but being once taken with long diseases they commonly dye . old men are presumed to be more discreet and temperate in their feeding which is the cause of this assertion for those which are not so , are more subject to sickness then young men , being weaker then they . aph. 40. rheums descending down to the mouth , and falling down to the throat do not come to concoction in those which are very old . this is as it were an example of the latter assertion of the precedent aphorism , namely that old men once taken with long disease commonly dye . aph. 41. they dye suddenly which do often , and vehemently swoun and faint without any manifest cause . because it argueth an imbecility of the vital faculty . aph. 42. it is impossible to cure a vehement apoplexie and very hard to cure a weak one . for all apoplexies are caused by a stopping of the animal faculties from descending any lower into the body then the head . aph. 43. strangled & suffocated folk , being not as yet dead , do not return to themselves , if there appear any foam about their mouth . because it is a sign that the lights are violently wronged . aph. 44. those which are very gross by nature , do enjoy shorter life then those which are lean . because fat mens native heat is weaker then lean mens . aph. 45. change and alteration of place , and diet , and especially of age , free children from the falling evil . for when they come to their youthful age they are cured by their hot and dry temperament . aph. 46. of two pains at one time , not possessing the self-same place , that which is the most vehement , doth dull the pain of the other . it doth neither cure nor expel the other , but onely dull and obscure it . aph. 47. whiles filthy and corrupt matter is digesting , pains and agues do rather happen , then when it is come to maturation for when it is maturated the inflammation and burning ceaseth . aph. 48. in every exercise of the body , when it beginneth to be wearied , rest doth presently mitigate the weariness . for as he said in the two and twentieth aphorism of this section , one contrary is the cure of the other . aph. 49 thoke who are accustomed to daily labours , although they be weak or old men , do more easily endure accustomed exercises , then those who are not accustomed to them , although they be strong and young because custom is a second nature aph. 50. things accustomed a long time , although they be worse are wont to be less grievous , then those which are unaccustomed , wherefore also a change is not to be made to unaccustomed things . because the bodies are subject to changes , therefore upon such changes we must also fall upon some unaccustomed diet . aph. 51. it is danderous at one time , much and suddainly , either to empty , fill , heat or cool , or by any other means to move or stir the body . for any thing passing the bonnds of mediocrity is an enemy to nature , and that is safe which is done by little and little , and especially when an alteration and change is to be made from one thing to another . namely from accustomed to unaccustomed . aph. 52. he must not pass forthwith from one medicine to another , when all things fall not out so well as they should , to him ; who doth proceed by good reason ; so that remain still and continue which seemed to him to be so from the beginning . for it is no point of wisdom lightly to recede from that which once you have approved of , though it doth not presentely work as you would have it . aph. 53. those which have a moist belly , pass their youthful age more easily then those which have the same dry : but they pass their old age more hardly and with more difficulty , for when they wax old , for the most part it is dryed . this aphorism is of it self plain enough , and compared with the 20 aphorism of this section , they expound one another . aph. 54. greatness and tallness of body is comely to the state of young age : but to old age it is improfitable , and worse then a short stature . for it burdeneth old men , and makes them go stooping and crook-backed . sect : iii. the argument . this third book is almost reduced to the discourse of ages or times , expressing unto us two common places , that is to say the strength and force of ages , and the diversity of diseases throughout those ages , and times . aphorism . 1. alteration and variableness of the seasons , do most especially bring forth diseases , and likewise great alterations of cold and heat in those seasons , and of other things answering to them in proportion . because they alter the air which we draw in continually with our breaths . aph. 2. some natures are well or ill affected in summer , and some in winter . by natures he means the temperatures : and of them the cold and moist temperatures fare best in summer , and the hot and dry worst . aph. 3. some diseases are well or ill affected , some more to one time , and some to another , and some ages more to some one time , place and kind of dyet then they are to another . he now affirms that to be true in diseases and ages , which he had in the precedent aphorism asserted in temperatures of the body . aph. 4. autumnal diseases are to be expected in those seasons , when on the self-same day it is sometimes hot , and sometimes cold . for not the names but the temperatures of the seasons , are the causes of diseases . aph. 5. the south wind dulleth the hearing , obscureth and darkneth the sight , offendeth the head with aches and rheumes , procureth and causeth heaviness and faintness in the members . when therefore it is frequent and bloweth often , such things are incident to the weak and sickly . contrariwise the north wind causeth coughs , exasperateth and excoriateth the jaws , hardens the belly , suppresseth urine , stirs up cold shiverings and shakings , ingendereth the pains of the sides and breast . therefore when this wind bears sway those that are weak and feeble must , look for such accidents . the south wind by reason of its hot and moist nature , and the north wind because of its cold and dryness do work these effects in weak bodies . aph. 6. when the summer is like the spring time , we must expect much sweating in agues . because by its temperate and moderate heat , it draws the humidities of the body to the skin , but cannot dissolve them into vapors . aph. 7. sharp agues are ingendred by great drought and dryness , and if the year prove to be for the most part such ; as the state of the season is , such kinds of diseases for the most part must be so expected . sharp agues are those which quickly end , but have heavy and troublesome symptomes . aph. 8. in certain & moderate times , observing their seasonablenes , certain and seasonable diseases having a happy determination are ingendred . but in uncertain and immoderate times , uncertain diseases are ingendred ; and evil to be judged . for diseases follow the nature of the efficient causes , and the efficient causes are likely such as the temperature of the year is . aph. 9. in autumn universally there are most sharp and deadly diseases : but the spring time is most wholesom , and free from deadly diseases . the reasons whereof are , first by reason of its ineqnality , the mornings and evenings being cold and the midday hot . secondly , because the preceding summer hath made the humors adust . thirdly ; because the said summer hath weakened the forces . fourthly , because the morning ▪ and evenings ambient coldness drives the vicious humors into the body . and fiftly , because there is abundance of fruits eaten in that season , the eating of which breeds store of evil humors . aph. 10. autumn is hurtful to such as are in a consumption . by reason of its dryness , coldness , and inequality . aph. 11. amongst the parts of the year if the winter be extraordinary dry , and the spring very rainy , and subject to southerly winds . it must of necessity fall out that in summer , sharp agues , rheums in the eys and bloody-fluxes do happen , especially to women and men who are of a moist nature . by reason of the abundance of humors which are subject to putrefaction . aph. 12. contrarily if winter be southernly , full of rain and warm , and the spring dry and northernly , women whose child-birth and deliverance happeneth neer the spring , do upon the least occasion suffer abortment and untimely birth : or if they be delivered at their due time , they bring forth such weak and diseased children , that either they die quickly , or live but weakly and sickly . to others there happen bloody-fluxes and hot inflammations of the eys , and to old men rheums which shortly kill them . this aphorisms meaning is plain enough now , the particular causes why these several diseases happen are set down at large in galenscomments to which we refer the reader . aph. 13. summer being dry and the wind northernly , autumn full of rain and the wind southernly , vehement pains of the head are to be expected in the winter following . also coughs , hoarsnesses , & rheums , distillings at the nostrils , and to some pining consumptions . having in the preceding aphorisms spoken of the winter and spring , he now speaks of the other two seasons , namely summer and autumn . aph. 14. a northernly and dry autumn is profitable and good to men which are of a moist temperature , and also to women , to others it causeth hot inflammations in the eys , and feavers partly sharp , and partly long , and some also are troubled with melancholly . this aphorism ought to be annexed to the former as part of it . aph. 15. of all the seasons throughout the whole yeer , dryness and droughts are more wholsom and less dangerous to mans life , then daily showers of rain and moisture this aphorism by right should have been placed after the 17th of this section , and the 17 after the 5 , as galen shews in his comment upon this present aphorism . aph. 16. when there is much rain these diseases for the most part are ingendred , namely long contlnuing agues , fluxes of the belly , corruption of humors , falling-sickness , apoplexies , squinancies but when there is much drought there happen consumptions , rheumes in the eys , pains of the joynts , difficulty in making urine , and passions of the intestines or inward parts . this aphorism is as it were an explication of the former , by which some ignorant men might infer that in a dry year , there would be no diseases at all ingendred . aph. 17. daily seasons of weather being northernly do close and strengthen the body and make it nimble , well coloured and quick of hearing . they dry and harden the belly , but bite and offend the eys , and if any pain have possest the breast , they make it more grievous ▪ contrariwise southernly seasons loose and moisten the body , and weakens it , dull the hearing , cause heaviness , and giddiness of the head , mistiness and dimness of the eys , dulness and laziness of the body , and make the belly loose and laxative . for the northern wind is cold and dry : and the southern hot and moist . aph. 18. as touching seasons of the year in the spring and beginning of summer , children and those which are neerest to them in age , live in very good health ; in summer and some part of autumn old men live best , but in the rest of autumn and winter they of a middle age . summer is good for old men by reason of the frigidity of their nature , winter for men in the strength of their age , because it abates and is contrary to their bilious temper . aph. 19. any diseases , are ingendred in any times of the year , yet many are rather caused , and stirred , in some one more then in another . intending in the following aphorisms to set down what diseases are peculiar to several times of the year he promises this as a general one . aph. 20. in the spring there happeneth madness , melancholly , falling-evil , fluxes of blood , the squinancy , rheumes , distillations of humors , coughs , leprosies , dry scabs , morphues , and many ulcerous wheals , pushes , and pains of the joynts . which diseases for the most part being not dangerous , but rather conducing to health by driving out noxious humors out of the inward to the outward parts of the body ; this aphorism rather confirms then opposes the latter part of the ninth aphorism . aph. 21 in summer there are some of those diseases before spoken of ; in the spring also continual feavers and burning agues , and many tertians , and quartans , vomitings , fluxes of the belly , inflammations of the eys , pains of the ears , ulcerations of the mouth , putrefactions of the genitals , and sweatings , namely in the beginning of summer are incident some of those diseases which were also towards the latter end of the spring , for it being of the same temperature they must ingender the same diseases . aph. 22. also many summer diseases are in autumn , both quartans and uncertain wandring agues , swellings of the spleen , hydropsie , consumptions , strangury looseness & excoriations of the bowels , aches of hucle-bone , squinancies , shortnesses of breath , streight pressings or drawing together of the bowels in some part of them ; the falling-sickness , madness , and melancholly . the beginning of autumn , and end of summer have the same affinity as the beginning of summer and end of the spring . aph. 23. in winter are ingendred plurisies , inflammations of lungs lethargie , rheums in the nostrils , hoarsness , coughs , pains of the breasts , sides , and loyns , head-aches , swimmings and giddinesses of the head ( causing dimness to the eys ) and apoplexies . this and the precedent aphorisms concerning seasons , are to be understood when seasons do hold their own order and temperature . aph. 24 but as concerning ages , these diseases do happen to little children and lately born ; ulcers in the mouth , vomiting , coughs , want of sleep , great fears , inflammations of the navil , moist runings at the ears . having spoken of the seasons of diseases he now sets down in what ages such and such diseases use to happen , beginning with infants newly born . aph. 25. the time of teeth-breeding coming , there happen itching of the gums , feavers , convulsions , fluxes of the belly , especially when they bring forth their dogteeth , and especially those children chiefly that are most fat , and have their belly bound . which time of teeth breeding begins commonly at seven moneths of age , and sometimes at four : the dogteeth at a year or ten moneths . aph ▪ 26. when children begin to be a little elder , they are subject to the inflammations of the almonds of the mouth , dislocation of the turning joynts in the nape of the neck inwardly , shortness of wind , breeding of the stone , round-worms , gut-worms , long hanging warts , satyrasms , stranguries scrophules in the neck and other risings , especially those before declared now he sets down those diseases which children are subject to after they are past teeth-breeding , to twelve or fourteen years of age . aph. 27. moreover to those which are greater and coming to ripe age , there happen many of those former diseases , but more long continuing agues , and fluxes of blood at the nostrils . this aphorism concerns children about twelve , thirteen , or fourteen years of age , and ripeness of age comes sooner or later according to the beat or coldness of constitutions . aph. 28. the diseases of children for the most part , some of them attain to the crysis or alteration within 40 days , some within seven moneths , some within seven years , others when they come to ripe age . but those which shall continue longer , and shall neither be dissolved , in men children when they come to be about fourteen yeers or fifteen or maiden children when their monethly terms do break forth , do use to last a long time . or as heurnius saith in his comments , do last as long as they live . aph. 29. to young men there doth happen spitting of blood , consumptions , sharp feavers , falling-sicknesses and other diseases , but especially ▪ these we have now rehearsed . this age according to heurniusis when their voice breaks and they begin to speak big . nostrils , dimness of sight , glaucoma , and dullness of hearing . here by old men he means those who have attained to their last age . sect. iv. the argument . this fourth section is variable , but for the most part is reduced to evacuation and prognostick signs of future events . aphorism . 1. thou shalt purge child-bearing women if it be needful , at the fourth moneth after conception , and so unto the seventh , but those more sparingly : but the conception being younger , or elder , thou shalt abstain . because in those moneths the ligaments wherewith the conception is fastened to the womb , are strongest and thickest , and not cas●e to be broken by the commotions of purging medicines . aph. 2. such things are to be drawn out of the body by the use of purging medicines , as they are , which issuing out of their own accord would do good to it . but those which issue out in a contrary manner are to be stopped . for it is good in artificial purges to imitate nature . aph. 3 if such things be purged as should be it is good , and the patient doth easily endure it . but if you do otherwise , the patient doth indure it painfully . this aphorism being the same with the 2 and 25 of the first section , it needs no further explication , and some have in this place left it quite out . aph. 4. in summer it is more convenient to purge the upper venters , in winter the inferior by stool . for in summer choller is the predominant humor , and naturally by reason of the ambient heat all things are carried upwards , so it is best to purge by vomit . aph. 5. under the canicular or dog-star , and before it , purgations are painful and difficult . because the ambient heat seeks to draw the humors outwards by sweat while the purgation forces them out by stool . aph. 6. lean and slender men are easily provoked to vomit , and therefore must be purged by vomit , unless it be in winter . for slender men are for the most part chollerick , which choller if they have a facility in vomiting should be purged upward , unless it be in winter , for then the inferior venters must be purged by stool . aph. 7. purge those which do not vomit easily , and are in good plight , downwards by stool , so it be not summer . for at any other time of the year you may securely do it . aph. 8. do not purge them upwar●s which are subject to a consumption or phtysick . for fear of hurting the instrumental parts of respiration which are weak . aph. 9. thou shalt purge melancholly folk strongly by stool , in like manner beginning the contrary way of purging . for light matter bending upward , must be drawn out by the upper parts , but the heavier and grosser matter by the lower parts . aph. 10. we must purge in very sharp sicknesses , if the matter do move to the purging of it ; and that the very same day wherein the sickness doth begin ; for delay in such diseases is very hurtful and dangerous . before the strength of body fail , or diminish , or the aguish heat increase , or the humors which wander up and down the body settle about some principal part . aph. 11. those which have gripings and wringings in the belly , and horrible pain about the navel and the loyns , and cannot be eased and dissolved by medicine or otherwise , they will fall into a dry dropsie . which is called a timpany . aph. 12. those are not to be purged in winter by vomit , whose stomack and belly cannot retain meat until it be digested he means such purges as are general and purge the whole body ; for in particular purges you may do otherwise . as if we would onely ease the ventricle of phlegm , we may do it by vomit in winter . and by the same reason , if yellow choller be in the intestines only , we may in summer purge it out by stool . aph. 13. their bodies are to be made moist before hand with plenty of food , and with ease and rest ; who taking a potion of hellebor do hardly and painfully vomit . because if the nerves and other dry parts of the body be not moistened the hellebor which is hot and dry in the third degree , and is very drawing , may cause deadly convulsions aph. 14. hellebor being drunk , the body ought rather to be moved , then yielded to sleep or rest : for the sayling in a ship doth manifest , that our bodies are provoked and st●irred by motion . and seeing that motion of it self provokes the body to vomit , much more will it do it , with the help of a medicine . and rest keeps the body in the same state , motion changes and alters it . aph. 15. if you will have hellebore to work more forcibly move and stir the body , but when you will stay it , procure sleep and do not move . for since motion sets it more violently a working , rest must needs cause it to stay , seeing contrary operations work contrary effects . aph. 16. hellebor is very dangerous to them which have a healthful body , for it ingendreth convulsions . for it is one of its chief qualities to cause distentions , so finding no excrements in the body it falls upon the solid parts , and especially the nerves . aph. 17. if he which hath not an ague doth loath his meat , hath a gnawing of the mouth or the stomack , a darksom giddiness of the brain , and bitterness of the mouth , it signifieth that he had need to be purged upwards . for these are three symptomes by which the physician may know the patient hath need of being purged upward . aph. 18. whosoever having need of hath pains above the middriff , it is a sign he must be purged upwards , but the pains which are under the same , shew a purging downwards to be needful . for which way the humor naturally desires to go , that way you must by the help of medicines send it . aph. 19. those which do not thirst while they are purged by a medicinal potion , shall not leave purging while they do thirst . because the excrements being evacuated , the mouth of the ventricle is dryed up which causeth thirst . aph. 20. if there be gripings about the navel without a feaver , and heaviness of the knees , and pain of the loyns , they signifie that there is need of purging downward . because that all these symptomes shew that the noxious humors motion and violence is downward . aph. 21. black excrements of the belly like unto black blood , coming forth of their own accord , both with a feaver , or without , are most evil , and by how much the more the evil colours are , so much the worse , the excrements are . but such things to be expelled out by a medicine is far better , and that by how much the more colours there shall be . for if they come out of their own accord it shews there are many ill affected humors in the body , which driven out by physick the body remains sound . aph. 22. in the beginning of any disease if black choller come forth either above or beneath it is deadly . for it signifies that nature is ill affected , which never evacuates superfluous things till they be concocted , wherefore if black choller come forth in the beginning of a disease , it is evacuated by its proper malice and not by the law of nature . aph. 23. those which are pined or brought low by sharp or long diseases , or by wounds , or any other means , and do void black choller or as it were black blood , do dye the next day following . namely through the imbecility of faculty , and greatness of the disease . aph. 24. a bloody flux if it proceed from black choller is mortal . because it ulcerates the entrails with an ulcered cancer , which can hardly be cured in the outward parts , to which medi caments may be applyed ; therfore much less there where no such medicaments can be applyed . aph. 25. for blood to be carried upward of what kind soever it be , is an evil sign , but if black blood be avoided downwards it is good . for if it be carried upwards , it shews there is some vessel opened , extended , or broken in the upper parts . and in this place by carrying upward is meant through the mouth , not through the nostrils , which for the most part is good . aph. 26. if any man being afflicted with a bloody-flux , void as it were little pieces of flesh , it is a mortal sign . for then the exulceration is so great that it can no way be healed . aph. 27. to those which have store of blood flowing from what part soever , in feavers , their bodies become come moist after they have been refreshed . because the natural heat is weakened by store of blood flowing , and though here mention be made onely of feavers , yet it holds in other diseases likewise . aph. 28. those which avoid chollerick excrements downward , if deafness come thereupon , they cease from avoiding them . and those which are affected with deafness are cured of it by avoiding of chollerick excrements . he means not a permanent deafness , for that is not so cured , but of a transitory or supervening deafness caused by cholerick humors molesting the brain , which must needs cease when they come down . aph. 29. if cold shakings happen , to them that are sick of an ague , the sixt day they have a difficult crysis , and we cannot well judge of the disease ▪ because for the most part they presage either death or return of the disease . aph. 30. in them which are afflicted with fits of agues , whensoever the ague shall leave them , if it return the same hour the next day it is wont to have a difficult crysis , and determination . that is to say it will not easily be dissolved . aph. 31. imposthumes are caused neer the joynts , and especially neer the jaw-bones , or mandibles to them which feel weariness or lassitude in feavers . because the heat of the feaver having drawn the humors up into the head , when they fall down again the jaw-bones being very weak cannot expel them to other parts of the body , but there they must rest . and the joynts heated by motion attract the humors of the body . aph. 32. those which recovering from a disease have a pain in some place shal have imposthumes or botches in that place . he speaks of such as recover and yet have some reliques of feaverish matter remaining in their bodies . aph. 33. if any part be pained before the disease , there is the seat of the disease . therefore if it be a principal part , we must indeavor to divert the humors from thence . aph. 34. if a suffocation of the breath do happen upon a suddain to one afflicted with a feaver , no swelling appearing in the jaws or gullet , it is deadly . for it is a sign that phlegm stoppeth his breath and respiration , without which he cannot live . aph. 35. if to one afflicted with a feaver the neck be suddainly turned awry , and he can scarce swallow , and no swelling appear it is deadly for it shews there is an inflammation in the muscles lying before the throat , or in the throat it self . aph 36. sweats are good to those who are sick of an ague , if they issue forth the third , fifth , seventh , ninth eleventh , fourteenth , seventeenth , one and twentieth , thirty , and four and thirtieth days , for those sweats work the dissolution of the disease : those which happen otherwise signifie pain and length of the disease , or a return of the same . for these are the onely days of critical sweats , in which we may be judge of the d●ssolution of the disease . aph. 37. cold sweats with a sharp feaver betoken death , but with a milde and gentle ague , length of the disease . because it shews that the patients body doth so much abound in cold humors , that neither the natural , nor the sharp feavers heat is able to heat them . aph. 38 ▪ in what part of the body the the sweat is , there is the disease . because in that part , stick the redundant and noxious humors . aph. 39. and in what part of the body there is heat or cold , there the the disease is setled . namely in an excessive manner , and not proceeding from any external cause , for it shews a distemperature contrary to health . aph. 40. and when alterations do happen in the whole body , and it is sometimes cool , and sometimes hot , or one colour arises after another , it signifies continuance of the disease . because nature cannot in a short time concoct and subdue several defects or diseases . aph. 41. much sweating caused through sleep without any manifest outward cause , signifies that the body is fed with store of food . but if this happen to one that feeds sparingly , it shews that the body wants evacuation . by reason of the evil humors and excrements which are the causes of that sweating . aph. 42. when there is much sweat cold or hot always issuing forth , the cold signifies a longer , the hot a shorter disease . because it shews the matter to be thin , which nature can easily concoct and shake off . aph. 43. continual feavers which afflict every third day more vehemently , and do not cease are the more dangerous , but if they cease and pause in any manner , they signifie that there is no present danger . for it sheweth the phlegm doth not trouble any noble part , and that no venemous force hath laid siege to any principal part . and natural strength doth recollect it self during the intermission of the feaver . aph. 44. swellings and pains about the joynts are caused to them who are afflicted with long agues . by the humors set●●ng in those places , unless they be carried away by a thick white urine making . aph. 45. those which have swellings and pains of the joynts after long ague , feed over liberally . for the disease being gone , no other reason can be given for this redundancy of humors . aph. 46. if a cold shivering fit , the feaver being without intermission , do assail the sick man being already weak , it is a deadly sign . for it shews nature to be so far spent , that it is able onely to stir , but not to thrust out the excrement ; or if it doth , the sick man fainteth therewith . aph. 47. excrements avoided in feavers not intermittent , by vomit , or spitting , if they be of a leaden colour , bloody , stinking , or cholerick , they are all evil : but if they come forth conveniently they are good leaden colour because they signifie a mortification of those parts from whence they come ; bloody because they signifie an opening of some vessels . stinking because they signifie putrifaction . ch●lerick because they testifie abundance of choller . aph. 48. in continual feavers , if the exterior parts be cold , and the inward burn , and the patient be thirsty , it is a deadly sign . because the ●eat of that inward part draws all the blood to it , whereby the heart is oppressed . aph. 49 in continual feavers , if the lip , eye , brows , or nose be turned aawry , if the sick man do not see nor hear , which soever of these shall happen , the body being weak , death is neer at hand . for all these are signs that the moving animal faculty suffereth . aph. 50. if there happeneth in a continual feaver defficulty and hardniss of breathing , with delirium and doting , these signs are deadly . because it signifies that both the brain , and the instruments of breathing do suffer . aph. 51. aposthumes in feavers which are not dissolved in the first crysis or judgement signifie length of the disease . because they shew that there is a multitude of noxious humors , which nature could not expel at one crysis . aph. 52. it is not absurd to weep and shed tears in feavers and other diseases voluntarily , but to weep against the will is very absurd and inconvenient . because that weeping against the will shews a weakness and imbecility in the retentive faculty . aph. 53. they have fierce and vehement feavers , who have a tough , and clammy moisture about their teeth in those feavers . for those clammy moistures cannot grow there so abundantly without excessive heat which dries up the pituitous humor . aph. 54. those who have long lasting dry coughs , in burning feavers , which do not provoke much , are not wont to be very thirsty . for by that motion which is made in coughing , there is some humidity drawn from those places which are adjoyning to the rough artery . aph. 55. all feavers proceeding from tumors in the groyn , and other adenous parts are evil , except diary feavers which last but one day . for those feavers come when those tumors are caused by some outward thing , as some blow or the like , and not by any inward inflammation . aph. 56. sweat coming often upon one sick of an ague not ceasing , is evil , for the disease is prolonged , and it signifieth that there is much moisture . which abundance of moisture asketh nature much time to concoct and disperse . aph ▪ 57. if o●e have convulsions , or cramps , a feaver coming dissolveth them : because the feaver doth heat , extenuate , and shake off those cold humors which filled up the nervous parts . aph ▪ 58. if a cold shaking fit doth come upon him which hath a burning feaver , it dissolveth it . for a burning feaver being caused by choller putrifying in the veins , and a cold shaking , by the cholers being swiftly carryed about the sensible parts of the body , it shews that the choler is come out of the veins , to the skin . aph. 59. an exquisite and perfect tertian feaver cometh to his crysis or state , in seven circuits or fits , at the utmost . an exquisite tertian is that which is caused by yellow choler carried up and down the sensible parts of the body , keeping its nature pure and sincere . aph. 60. those that wax deaf and thick of hearing through feavers , are delivered from it , by flux of blood at the nose , or by the belly . it is no marvel if diseases cease , when the noxious humors are translated or carried away . aph. 61. unless the feaver leave the patient in the odd days , it is accustomed to return again . if this aphorism should speak of all feavers it were false : if of acute and continual feavers it is true . aph. 62. those which have the yellow jaundise upon agues before the seventh day have an evil sign . because the yellow jaundies proceeds from the inflammation of the liver . aph. 63. those feavers which have their shaking fits every day are every day dissolved . yet there remains some fire wherby the paroxism is renewed . aph. 64. it is a good thing for them which have the yellow-jaundies coming on them in feavers on the 7 day , ninth , eleventh , or fourteenth , unless the right hypocondrium be hard , for then it is evil . for the hypocondrium being hard signifies there is an inflammation of the liver . aph. 65. in feavers a vehement heat about the stomach , and a gnawing about the heart is bad . because it signifies an ebullition of choler in the tunicles of the ventricle or stomach . aph. 66 ▪ convulsions and vehement pains about the bowels in sharp feavers are evil . for vehement feavers dry and stretch the nerves like fire , and by the same vehemence of heat and drought , the bowels are pained . aph ▪ 67. in feavers great fears or convulsions after sleep do prognosticate evil . for fears signifie the repletion of the head with melancholy humors and convulsions , abundance of phlegmatick humors . aph. 68. the breath not keeping its due course , is evil : for it doth signifie convulsion . caused by the over-drying of the muscles and nerves which move the stomack aph. 69. urines in a feaver being thick , clotted , and little in quantity , do profit them that make them , if afterwards , thin urine , and much in quantity be avoided by them . but those urines most commonly become such , in which the hypostasis or sediment shal appear presently after they are made , or not long after . because the gross humors causing the feaver are expelled in the humor , which makes the urine which comes afterwards to be thin in respect of that . aph 70. those who have their water troubled or unclean in agues , such as are the waters of cattel , have or shall have head-aches . because the windy or flatuous spirit is easily drawn up into the head together with heat . aph. 71. those which shall have their crysis or alteration of the disease the seventh day , have a little red cloud in the urine the fourth day , and other things thereunto belonging accordingly . these red clouds are seldom seen , though the white be frequent , and are both of them signs of concoction . aph. 72. urines very cleer and white are bad , especially in those who are afflicted with phrensies . because such urines are signs of an extreme crudity . and galen saith he never knew any one who was afflicted with a phrensie , and made such water , saved . aph. 73. those which have an inflation of the hypoco●dria , and a rumbling pain of the loyns succeeding , have their bellies moistned & loosened except the wind break forth downwards , or store of urine do issue forth . and these things happen in feavers . namely in essential , not symptomatical feavers , and such as are diseases of themselves . aph. 74. those that have hope of aposthumations to come about the joynts , much urine thick and white doth deliver from the aposthume , such as is wont to be avoided in painful feavers the fourth day : when also blood shall be voided out of the nostrils , there shall be a dissolution & deliverance speedily . for those urines purge out the humors which would cause the aposthumations , and especially if there be a bleeding at the nostrils joyned , for then the causes issue out two ways . aph. 75. if any piss blood or filthy matter , it signifies an exulceration of the kidneys or bladder . that is , if he do it for a continuance , for otherwise it may proceed from some other cause aph. 76. those which have small pieces of flesh , or as it were hairs issuing forth together with thick urine , do avoid those excrements from the kidneys . those small pieces of flesh are part of the reins or kidneys , and are a manifest sign of their being ulcerated , but the hairs are onely bred there , but are no part of them . aph. 77. those which avoid thick urine with certain things like bran , have their bladder infected with scabbedness . if the defect be not in the veins for such stuff comes sometime from them . aph. 78. if any piss blood on a suddain , it is a sign there is some vein of the kidneys broken . namely meer and pure blood , and without any external cause . aph. 79. they in whose urine appeareth an hypostasis or sediment full of sand , have their bladder troubled with the stone . this aphorism is mutilated and defective , for the sand may come as well from the kidneys as from the bladder . aph. 80. if any one piss blood or clots of blood , and make his water by drops having pain in that part of the belly ( which is between the navel and the secret parts ) named hypogastrion : or at the seame line of the skin of the cods , called perinaeum , and at the place called pecten ( where the hair about the privy members groweth ) then the places about the bladder are diseased . namely all the parts belonging to the bladder , and not the bladder onely . aph. 81. if any one piss blood or filthy matter , or little scales , and there be also a stinking or strong smell , it betokens an exulceration of the bladder . the two first accidents may happen upon the exulceration of any of the instruments serving to make water , but the scales and stink are proper signs of the bladder being ill-affected . aph. 82. those which have an aposthume bred in the urinary passage , are delivered from it , the same being brought to suppuration and broken . which suppuration and breaking , gives the urine free passage . aph. 83. voiding of much urine in the night doth signifie small evacuation of excrements by the fundament . he makes particular mention of the night , because at that time by reason of the sleep nature is most busie about her concoction and distribution . sect : v. the argument . this fift book or section is variable , yet it doth almost wholly intreat of the diseases of women , and of the good and bad dispositions of the womb . aphorism . 1. a convulsion after taking hellebore is deadly . namely after white hellebore , and that for five causes . first by reason of the agreement which is ●etween the nerves and the mouth of the stomack . secondly by reason of the biting humors which it draws to the mouth of the stomack . thirdly by reason of the abundant evacuation the hellebore causeth . fourthly , by reason of the attractive faculty by which it draws the moistness from the nerves . and fiftly because it vehemently dryes up the substance of the nerves . aph. 2. a convulsion caused by a wound is deadly . not always but for the most part . aph. 3. the hicket , or a convulsion after a copious flux of blood is evil . because of the great emptiness caused by the copious flux of blood , and because the hicket is caused by a depraved motion of the ventricle . aph. 4. after an immoderate purgation , a convulsion or hicket is evil . for the same reason that they are evil after taking of hellebore . aph. 1. aph. 5. if one that is drunk suddainly fall dumb , he shall die with a convulsion unless he be taken with a feaver , or presently recover his speech as soon as his surfet is dissolved obj. how can wine being hot cause a convulsion which is a cold disease ? a. wine is hot moderately taken , over abundantly cold as a little oil powred upon a fire will increase it , but an over abonnding quantity thrown upon a little will put it out . aph. 6. those who are taken with a cramp or distention called tetanus , die within four days , or if they overpass them they recover . because it is a sign that nature hath overcome the disease . aph. 7. the falling sickness , which is before ripeness of years may be cured : but that which comes after five and twenty yeers of age for the most part accompanies us to death . by ripeness of yeers he means 25 yeers of age , yet they are not all curable before that age , unless they take a care in dieting themselves . aph. 8. those which have a plurisie , unless they be purged upwards within fourteen days , shall have their disease turned into an imposthume namely spitting and purging such matter upward . aph. 9. a consumption likely happeneth in that age which is from the 18 to the 35. namely that consumption which comes by an exulceration of the lungs . aph. 10. those who have the evil cause of the squinancy and escape it , that evil passeth to the lungs , and they dye within seven days , but if they escape , the humor imposthumates . and if that imposthumated humor be not purged out it breeds a consumption . aph. 11. if the spittle which they void by coughing that are affected with a consumption , do stink vehemently being cast upon the coals , and the hairs of the head do fall off , it is a deadly sign . for the more faculties are weakned in so much the worser case the patient is . aph. 12. if a flux of the belly happen to them , which have their hair falling away by a consumption ; death is neer at hand . because it proceeding from weakness also , it shews a further weakening of the natural faculties . aph. 13. those which cough forth frothy blood , do retch and draw the same out of the lungs . and it is part of the very substance and flesh of the lungs . aph. 14. if a flux of the belly happen to him which is in a consumption it is deadly . this affirms what was said before aph. 12 and moreover that a flux of the belly added to a consumption , is alone sufficient to kill without falling away of the hair . aph. 15. those which are infected with an imposthume by a plurisie , if they be purged from the corrupt matter within forty days after the breaking of the imposthume are cured , or otherwise they pass into a consumption . for the matter will otherwise be so putrified that it will perish the lungs aph. 16. hot water too often used , bringeth these discommodities : tenderness of the flesh , distemperature of the sinews , heaviness , and stupefaction of the mind , fluxes of blood , faintings and swounings ; and to these things succeeds death hippocrates here wisheth us to shun ; the excessive use of any thing , though never so temperate . aph. 17. the use of cold water , bringeth convulsions , distentions or cramps , blackness , and cold aguish shakings . this is also not of the use simply but of the immoderate use of cold water . aph. 18. cold water is hurtful to the bones , teeth , sinews , brain , and marrow of the back . but that which is hot is good and profitable . all the parts here rehearsed are by nature the coldest . aph. 19. we must heat those things which are over cold , except those which pour forth or are inclined to pour forth blood abundantly . for when there are more diseases then one coupled together , we must make hast to cure that first which is most urgent . aph. 20. cold water biteth and nippeth ulcers , hardeneth the skin , hindereth a soreness from maturation of the corrupt matter , causeth blackness , bringeth forth cold shivering fits of agues , convulsions , and distentions of the sinews . this aphorism relates some other hurts which cold water doth . aph. 21. notwithstanding there is some time when in the cramp without an ulcer in a wel flesht young man in the midst of summer , plentiful pouring out of cold water , doth call back the heat , and so the heat dissolves the cramp . this is not done by any vertue of its , but accidentally by drawing the natural heat outward in such well flesht young men . aph. 22. hot water yieldeth unto us a great token of security and safety , when it causeth suppuration , yet not in all ulcers . it softneth and mollifieth the skin , and maketh it thin , it doth appease pain , it mitigateth and assawageth cold shakeings , convulsions and distentions : it dissolveth the heaviness of the head : it profiteth broken bones very much ; especially if they be bare without flesh , and principally in the head , if they be ulcerated : it profiteth those things which are mortified , and ulcerated through cold , eating ulcers in the fundament , privy members , womb , and bladder . to all those hot water is a friend , and of good judgement ; but cold water is an enemy and destroyer . not in all ulcers , because some wil not be brought to supuration by heat aph. 23. we must use cold water to those sores from whence blood doth issue , or is about to issue , yet not to the same place , but neer to it . and if any inflammation or burning of the parts , do incline to a red and bloody color , with fresh cleer blood , apply cold water to them , but if the inflamations be inveterate and old it maketh them black . it helpeth the inflammation called erysipelas , if it be not ulcerated , for if it be it hurteth it . now he relates what things cold water is good for . aph. 24. cold things , as snow and ice are hurtful to the breast , they procure coughs , they cause ruptures of the veyns , and produce rheumes . he hath spoken of the effects of cold water , now he speaks of the hurt which other cold things do . aph. 25. cold water poured out abundantly , doth ease and diminish the tumors and pains of the joynts , which are without ulceration . and also gouty swellings and pains , and convulsions for the most part , and dissolveth the dolor , and diminisheth it . for a small benumming hath the force of dissolving and putting away of pan . the end of this , phorism is a reason of the whole aphorisms assertion . as if he should say a little benumming puts away pain ; cold water benumeth , therefore , &c ▪ aph. 26. water that is quickly made hot , and quickly cools , is most light . he means not by weight , but he speaks of that water which doth not long burthen the belly , and quickly passeth through . aph. 27 it is good for them who desire to drink in the night , to fall asleep when they are very thirsty . because sleep concocts the food , which being concocted ingenders blood , which nourishes and moistens the parts of the body . aph. 28. a fumigation of odoriferous spices brings forth womens terms : and would be also profitable for many other things , if it did not breed heaviness of the head . for it doth excite the expulsive faculty of the womb , and open the obstructions of the veines which touch the womb . aph. 29. thou shalt pruge a woman with child if necessity require , the 4th . month after conception , until the 7th month , though those that come neer the 7th , not so much : but the conception being younger or elder thou shalt abstain . this aphorism is the same with the first of the fourth section . aph. 30. a woman with child , a vein being opened aborteth , and so much the rather if the conception be of any bigness . because it taketh away part of its food , namely the conceptions . aph. 31. it is pernicious and deadly if a woman great with child be taken with any sharp disease . for large feeding will kill the mother by increasing the disease , and little store of food will starve the conception . aph. 32. a woman is cured from vomiting blood , by her monethly terms issuing forth . by the physicians drawing down the blood to the lower parts . aph. 33. a flux of blood at the nose is good for a woman whose monthly terms do fail contrary to the course of nature . for if this happen not contrary to the course of nature , such a failing is nothing . aph. 34. if the belly be very laxative and loose to a woman with child , there is danger fo abortment . because the food is not distributed to the liver and other parts of the body , so that the food is taken away from the conception as when she is let blood . aph. 35. sneesing happening to a woman grieved with suffocations of the womb , or that hath a difficult deliverance , is good . for by a vehement shaking of nature , it excites it , redintegrates the natural heat which was almost extinguished , and shakes off such noxious humors as hanged upon some part of the body . aph. 36. the monethly courses being discoloured , and not coming forth always in the same manner and time , declare a purgation to be necessary for the woman . to purge those humors which cause the discoloration , and the alteration of time . aph ▪ 37. if the paps be suddenly extenuated and become lank , to a woman with child abortment doth follow this also happeneth , for want of food for the conceived child . aph. 38. if one of the dugs be extenuated and become lank to a woman conceived with child with twins , she bringeth forth one of them before the due time ; and if the right dug become slender , she bringeth forth the male , if the left , the female . for likewise the male conceptions lye on the right side , the female on the left : as is set down aph. 48. aph ▪ 39. if any woman , neither with child nor having been delivered of child have milk in her breasts , her monethly courses have failed her . the blood which should have turned to monethly terms , turning to milk in the breasts . aph. 40. women in whose dugs there is blood heaped together , wil be mad for that blood is very bilious , which striking up into the head , causeth madness . aph. 41. if you will know whether a woman have conceived or no , give her a potion of hony and water mixed together going to sleep , and if she feel gripings and wringings of the belly , she hath conceived , if she do not , she hath not conceived for such a potion is very windy , and the woman having conceived her womb doth press down , and keep together the intrails . aph. 42 if a woman conceived with child , bear a male she is fresh and well-coloured , if she bare a female she is ill-colored . this aphorism is one of those which for the most part are true , though not always . aph. 43. if the inflammation called erysipelas be bred in the womb , if the woman be with child , it proves deadly . one reason is because the chief cure for an erysipelas is letting of blood and that must not be done to a woman with child for fear of an abortment , aph. 30. aph. 44. those women which are very lean contrary to nature , and do bear children , do suffer untimely deliverance until they grow fatter because that food which should be for the child in the womb , goes to the nourishing of the mother . aph. 45. those women which being reasonable fat , and make abortion the second or third month without any manifest cause , have the ends of those vessels which come to the womb called acetabula or cotylidons full of a pituitous or phlegmy humor , neither can they contain the conception coming to any weight , but they being broken it falleth down . wherby she must of necessity abort aph. 46. those which are fatter then nature requires and cannot conceive have the orifice of the womb compressed and closed together by the fat call of the guts , and cannot until they grow leaner . he means the inward orifice of the womb for it hath two . aph. 47. if the womb shall aposthumate in that part where it lieth neer the hip or huckle-bone , it must be cured with tents dipped in a liquid medicine called in greek emmoton . it must be thus cured the sore being first broken either by art or nature . aph. 48. men children for the most part lye on the right side of the womb and females on the left side . this is because the womb is warmer on the right side , by reason of its vicinity to the liver . aph. 49. a medicine procuring sneezing put into the nostrils doth drive and force out the secundine , so that you stop the nostrils and mouth , close with the hand . which if it remained would putrifie there , and with the stench offend the head . aph. 50. if a woman will stay her courses apply a very great cupping-glass under her breasts . for there be veins which come up thither from the inferior parts . aph. 51. those women which are conceived with child , have the orifice of the womb shut and closed up . that the air may not get in and corrupt the seed , and that the heat of the womb may not get out . aph. 52. if milk flow plentifully out of the dugs of a woman bearing a child in her womb it signifieth that the child is weak : but if the paps be hard and stiff , they declare a stronger conception . because it shews in the former part that the child is not able to draw it for his own nutriment . but when they are solid it shews it hath nutriment enough , and that which superabounds goes to the breasts , and is there turned into milk . aph 53. the dugs and paps become slender and lank to those women which shall abort : but contrarily if they become hard , pain shall molest the paps , hips , eys , or knees , but they shall not suffer abortment . because of the superfluous matter which is brought thither from the womb . aph. 54. those women which have the mouth of the womb hard , must of necessity have it shut up . this aphorism had been better placed immmediately after the aphorism 51. aph. 55. child-bearing women which are taken with feavers , or are brought to a low state without any manifest cause , do bring forth their birth painfully , and with danger : or are in danger of life by an untimely deliverance . because it shews a great weakness or imbecility in them . aph 56. if a convulsion , or swouning happen to a woman , in her flux of monethly terms , it is an evil thing if they be vehement or last long , it may be deadly because the womb is exhausted and draws all the noble parts into a simpathy with it . aph. 57. womens terms flowing immoderately , diseases are ingendred ; and being supprest or stopt , diseases happen from the womb . by their immoderate evacuation , the whole body is cooled , and its forces weakened , if they be stopt , in progress of time , excremental humors gather together in the womb . aph. 58. the strangurie or dropping out of the urine doth happen by the inflammation of the straight gut , and likewise of the womb , or if the reins be ulcerated . but if the liver be inflamed , the hicket succeeds . by reason of the vicinity of the bladder to the straigbt gut and the womb , and because of the purulent matter of the reins passing through the bladder : and the hicket is caused by a high inflammation of the liver because it swells the liver , and oppresses the ventricle , and the bilious humor falling from the liver comes into the ventricle . aph. 59. if a woman do not conceive , and thou wouldest know if she shall conceive at all , let her be wrapped round about with clothes , & make a fume under the lower parts , and if the scent be perceived to pass through her body to her nostrils , and her mouth , know that she is not barren by any default in her self . because then the body is cleer of all vitious humors , and the womb it self is in a good temper . aph. 60. if the monethly purgations keep their course in a woman that is with child , it is impossible that the conception should be well . because it wants its aliment and food , being fed by that menstruous blood al the while it is in the womb . aph. 61. if a womans monthly courses stop , and she have neither shivering cold nor ague coming upon her , and she loath her meat , make account that she is conceived . for at the first conceiving of a woman , the child cannot make use of those courses for its food . aph. 62. those women which have their womb cold and dry do not conceive , nor those which have it over moist , for the seed is extinguisht and perisht in them . also those women cannot conceive which have those places over dry and hot , for the seed corrupts for want of nourishment . but those women which have obtained a moderate temperature of the places in respect of both the oppositions and contrarieties they are fruitful . this aphorism by right should be placed next to the 59 aph. aph. 63. the same consideration and reason is likewise to be respected in men men , for either through the spongy substance of the body , the spirits are dissipated and scattered abroad so that the seed cannot be cast forth ; or else the humor doth not issue forth because of its grosness or thickness ; or else because of coldness it doth not grow hot , to be collected in its proper place ▪ or by the means of heat , the very self same thing may happen . this aphorism is held to be spurious , and none of hippocrates , both by galen and others . aph. 64. it is not good to give milk to those who are troubled with the head-ach , or with agues , nor to those who are troubled with flatus hypocondriacus , nor to those who are troubled with thirst . it is also naught for them which avoid cholerick excrements downwards , or to those which have sharp feavers , or have had some copious evacuation of blood . but it is good for those which are in a consumption , so they be not troubled with any vehement feaver . it is also good for long lingering and mild agues , so there be none of the sore spoken of signes . and those who are brought low without any apperant reason or occasion , the particular reasons for these particular assertions may be seen at large in galen , fuchsius , and heurnius comments , which would be too long to reherse here . aph. 65 they are seldom troubled with convulsions or madness , which have apparent tumors with their ulcers . but convulsions and distentions happen to them to whom the tumors shall suddenly vanish away , if they happen on the hinder part of the body . but if they happen on the fore part , there happeneth madness , vehement pain of the side ▪ suppuration or spitting of matter , and the bloody-flux . because the humors reside there . and if they go away by degrees also there is no danger for it shews , that the noxious humors are shaken off and dissolved . aph. 66. if no tumor nor swelling appear in great and bad wounds , it is a great evil because it signifies a passing of the noxious humors to the principal parts . aph. 67. soft tumors are good , raw and indigested ones evil . because the first signifie there is a concoction , and in the second there is none . aph. 68. to one who hath a pain in the hinder part of his head , the vena recta in the fore-head being opened doth good . the vena recta is that which is over against that which is opposite to that vein which nourisheth the part which is evil affected , so the opening of it doth both evacuate and divert the noxious humors . aph. 69. cold shakings and shiverings for the most part do begin to women from the loyns , and through the back come to the head . but to men they do rather begin in the back part then in the forepart , as from the hinder part of the thighes and from the elbows ; the rarity and thinness of the skin is a token thereof , which thing , the hair there growing , doth declare and manifest . for the thicker the skin is , the l●ss will hair grow upon it . aph. 70. those which are taken with a quartan ague are not at all taken with convulsions : but if before they have been taken , upon the coming of the quartan , they are delivered . he means here such convulsions as come by repletion of the nervous parts , with thin and pituitous humors , which by a quartan are both expelled and concocted aph. 71. those who have their skin acide , and dry , die without sweating , but those who have a loose and open skin , end their life with sweat . he speaks here of those who have a feaver . aph. 72. those that are diseased with the jaundies are not much molested , with windiness . by reason of the heat and strength of the parts belonging to the stomack , which causeth them to concoct the food fully and perfectly . sect. vi . the argument . this section doth almost altogether concern that part of the art which foretelleth good and evil things to happen in diseases . aphorism . 1. in a long lubricity and slipperiness of the guts , if a sowerish belching do happen , which was not before , it is a good sign . for it signifies , that now the food remains a while in the stomack , till such time at least as it begins to concoct . aph. 2. those which have ther nostrils more moist then others by nature , and their seed also do enjoy their health but badly ; but those which have the contrary properties , are more healthful . by the nostrils he means the brains which purge that way , and by the humidity of the seed , the humidity of the whole body , the seed coming from the blood . aph. 3. in long fluxes of the bowels , loathing of meat is evil , and with a feaver it is worser . because it signifies a mortification of the nourishing faculty . aph. 4. ulcers which are every way smooth and bald . because of an evil humor lying in the bottom , which eats up the roots of the hair , as salt earth doth the herbs roots which grow on it . aph. 5. in the pains of the sides , breast , and other parts , we must consider whether they increase or differ much , or keep at a stay . whither they differ namely in their kind , or in their vehemency , whether they be pricking ▪ stretching , or provoking . aph. 6. the diseases and infirmities of the kidneys and bladder are of hard and difficult curation in old men . ●hich old age begins at fifty years which hippocrates confirms in his sixt book epidemion where he saith he never saw or knew an ulcer of the reins or bladder cured after fifty years of age . aph. 7. dolours and pains of the besly being aloft and in the upper part are more light & easie , those which are not aloft are more vehement . we must understand this word aloft not according to the length and height of the body , but according to its depth and thickness , so be those which are not aloft , he means those which are next to the back . aph. 8. ulcers or sores in the body of those which are diseased with the dropsie , are not easily cured . for an ulcer cannot be cured until it be exactly dryed , which cannot easily be done in those who have the dropsie , by reason of their superabundant humidity . aph. 9. broad wheals are not very full of itching . for they are not bred by such hot humors as those which are narrow and high . aph. 10. corrupt matter , water or blood issuing out , by the nostrils , mouth or ears , dissolveth and cureth a vehement and grievous head-ach . if that the pain proceed from inflammation , or abundance of crude humors gathered in the head , for if it proceed from other causes , there must be other cures . aph. 11 ▪ the haemorroides happening to those , which are troubled with melancholly and pain of the kidneys are good . both by reason of the evacuation , and because they evacuate such humors as ought to be evacuated . aph. 12. unless in the cures of haemorroides which have long continued there be one vein kept open , it is to be feared that a dropsie or convulsion will shortly ▪ follow . that nature may by that means purge out those evil humors which remain . aph. 13. the hick●● troubling us is put away by sneezing . if the said hicket was caused by fulness for by sneezing not only the brain : but the stomack also , by reason of the nerves derived unto it , is vehemently shaken , whereby the humors exciting the hicket are evacuated . aph ▪ 14. if in him who hath a dropsie if the water flow from the veins into the belly , the disease is dissolved . if nature or physick make evacuation of it from thence . aph. 15. vomiting coming by the meer benefit of nature dissolveth and riddeth away a long flux or loosness of the belly . by reason of the retraction and drawing back of the humors which 〈◊〉 downward . aph. 16. a looseness of the belly , to one afflicted with a plurisie or inflammation of the lungs is an evil thing . because it signifies the liver to be so affected , by the consent of those parts which serve for respiration , that through weakness it is not able to draw the aliment to it self , and convert it into blood . aph. 17. it is good for him who hath a waterish dropping and running of the eys , if he be taken with a flux and loosness of the belly . whereby hippocrates shews us a convenient way how to cure such eys , namely by drawing the humors which cause the disease downwards aph. 18. it is a deadly thing when the bladder is wounded , or the brain , or the heart , the midriff , any small gut , the stomack or liver . the greek word for wounded is here {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} which signifies deep wounded ; for otherwise some of those parts have been wounded and cured as galen saith . aph. 19. a bone perished or cut off , a cartilage , gristle , or sinew , or any little parcel of the eye-lid , or of the foreskin , being diminished , do not grow or joyn together . yet they may be knit together by some other kind of substance as we see in bones . aph. 20. if blood flow contrary to nature into any concavity it corrupteth and is putrified of necessity . that is , into any other concavity besides the veins and arteries . aph. 21. if the swellings of veins in the legs , called varices ; or the haemorroides , shall happen to them which are mad , their madness is dissolved . because nature drives those humors which cause madness into the more ignoble parts . aph. 22. breaches or fluxes of humors , which descend from the back to the elbow , are dissolved by opening of a vein . by reason that those humors are thereby evacuated . aph. 23. if fear and sadness continue long , it is a sign of melancholly . namely without any outward cause , for those who are sad or fearful for any outward cause , their sadness and fear do not commonly last long ; but if they do , they will turn to melancholly , if not to madness . aph. 24 ▪ if any small or slender gut be pierced , it doth not grow together again . this was spoken aphorism 18. wherefore galen and heurnius would have it expunged . aph. 25. if the cholerick tumor erysipulas being outward be returned inwards , it is evil ; but if being inwards , it is turned outward , it is a good thing . by this example hippocrates shews that it is good to have all sores and diseases of the body to come from the noble and inward parts to the ignoble and outward ones . aph. 26. those burning feavers are dissolved with dotage or raving , in which are trembling shakings . they are indeed dissolved , but that dissolution at last brings a general dissolution of the body by death aph. 27 if the corruption , matter , or water do flow out altogether at once from them which are burnt or cauterized , or cut by the chirurgion for the cure of the inward aposthumation between ▪ the lungs and the breast , or of the dropsie , then the diseased shall questionless die ▪ by these examples hippocrates shews that all total evacuations made at once , are noxious and deadly . aph. 28. eunuchs or gelded men , are neither troubled with the gout , nor with baldness . because in hippocrates time they used a very good diet , and lived very temperately they were not troubled with the gout , though now adays they be , and their not being bald comes from their native moisture , which makes them have a very thick skin . aph. 29. a woman is not troubled with the gout unless her monthly terms fail her . the same reasons may be alleadged for women as were set down in the former , for eunuchs . but if her terms fail her , then the superfluous humors being driven to the outward parts may cause it . aph. 30. a boy is not troubled with the gout till he hath used venery . vnless it come through their seed , or if the parents have had the french pox . aph. 31. drinking of strong wine , a ba●● , a fomentation , phlebotomy , or a purgation doth cure the pain of the eyes . according as the cause of the disease is , so must the manner of the taking of it away be various . aph. 32. those which stammer are for the most part taken with a long flux of the belly . because stammering shews an extraordinary humidity of the tongue , whereof the ventricle of necessity participates . aph. 33. those which have sour belchings are not much subject to a plurisie . because sour belching is a sign of much phlegm , and the plurisie for the most part invades those who are troubled with much choller . aph. 34. great swelling veins in the legs called varices , are not incident to them who lose their hair , and if they happen to have varices whose hair do fall , their hair will grow again . because those vicious humors which before corrupted the hair , are now gon down into the legs . aph. 35. if a cough come upon those which are troubled with a dropsie it is an evil thing . for it signifies the watery humor to be so increased , that it hath seised upon the rough artery , and so causeth danger of suffocation . aph. 36. phlebotomy cureth the difficulty of making urine , but we must open the inward veins . namely that difficulty which proceeds from inflamation or fulness aph. 37. if a tumor appear in the neck to him that is troubled with a squinancy or quinzy , it is good . because the humors are come from the inward parts to the outward . aph. 38. those who have hidden or deep cancers are not to be cured of them ; for they which are healed die soon , and those which are not healed , live longer . for fear of provoking or irritating them . aph ▪ 39. a convulsion is caused by repletion or evacuation . so is also the hicket . namely when the nerves are filled with some thick or clammy humor , or over dryed . and the hicket is said by galen to be as it were a convulsion of the stomack . aph. 40. they who have pain about the the hypocondrium without an inflammation are cured by a feaver happening to them . because the humors which caused it are dissolved by the heat of the feaver . aph. 41. if a suppuration or corrupt matter , hidden in the body doth not shew it self , it is by reason either of its own thickness , or of that part of the bodies thickness where it lies hidden . yet we may find that there is such corrupt matter hidden by two signs namely by the pain , and by a feaver which it causeth . aph. 42. if the liver wax hard to them which are affected with the yellow-jaundies , it is an evil sign . for it signifies there is either a hard tumor or an inflammation in the liver aph. 43. the splenetick which are taken with a bloody-flux in the bowel , do dye of the dropsie , or a slipperiness of the bowels , following a long flux . by splenetick he means those who have a tumor in the spleene , bred there , by a melancholly humor . aph. 44. they dye within seven days , to whom the disease called ileos or pain in the small guts shall happen after a strangurie : unless a feaver supervening , store of urine issue forth . for the fe●●●er with its heat concocts and ex●●●●ates the thick humors , so that they may go out through the passage of the urine . aph. 45. if ulcers continue a yeer or longer , the bone of necessity must grow foul , and the cicatrices be hollow . because the bone being perished under , the flesh cannot grow up again as was said aph. 19. of this section . aph. 46. those which become crook-backt by shortness of wind , or a cough before they attain to ripeness of years , doe die quicklie . because their brest or bulk doth not increase as their lungs and heart doth , they must in a short time to suffocated . aph. 47. those are to be let blood or purged in the spring time , to whom opening of a vein or purging may do good . for the spring time being temperate is most fit for purging or leting blood . aph. 48. the difficulty of the intestines & guts , coming upon them which are diseased with the spleen is good . because the thick and melancholly humors are thereby eva●uated as aph. 4● aph. 49. goutie diseases , the inflammation being asswaged , within fortie dayes decease . for the inflammation wil be cured within forty dayes , if the physitian prescribe right , and the patient be truly obedient . aph. 50. it must needs be , that a feaver , and vomiting of choller must come upon them , which have their brain wounded . a feaver , because any principall members inflammation causeth a feaver , and the vomiting of choller because of the consent and agreement which is between the braine and the stomack , to which some of the great nerves discend from the braine . aph. 51. those which are in health being sodainly taken with the head-ache , and presently become dumb and snort , die within seven days , unless a feaver come upon them in the mean while . because the feaver heats , attenuates and resolves the windie spirit and the pituitous humors which cause these symptomes . aph. 52. we must consider in their sleeps if any part of the eyes appear ; for if any of the white of them appears , the eye lidds not being fast closed , if it doe not happen by a flux of the bellie , or by the taking of some medicinall potion , it is an evil and verie deadly signe . if it happen not through some externall cause , for it signifies an imbecillitie of the facultie which moves the eye lids . aph. 53. that doting which is done with aughter is not so dangerous , as that which is done with earnest sadnesse . for it does not proceed from so adust a choler , as that which is done with earnest sadness . aph. 54. painfull breathings in sharp diseases with a feaver , as it were of such as sigh , and mourne , are evill . for it signifies either a hardness of the nerves or muscles , or a weakeness of naturall strength , or some affect that causeth paine , or is convulsory . aph. 55. paine of the gout doe most commonly afflict , and are provoked in the spring and autumn . in spring because the humors gathered together in the winter are expelled from the stronger parts to the weaker ; and in autumn by reason of its inequalitie , and because the evill humors gathered together by eating of fruits in summer ▪ settle in those we akest parts . aph. 56. the falling down of humors are verie dangerous in melancholie diseases at those seasons . and declare an appoplexie , or a convulsion , or maddness or blindness . if they fall down to the ventricles of the brain , they cause an apoplexie if to the nerves a convulsion , if to the substance of the braine madness , if to the eyes blindness . aph 57 , apoplexies are caused most especiallie from the fortieth to the sixtieth year . he means those apoplexies which proceed from melancholie , which in those times abound in our bodies . aph. 58 ▪ if the call hang foorth of the bodie , it must of necessity putrefie . sect : vii . the argument . this seaventh section is altogether prognosticall and foretelling things to come , and herein he intreateth of presages of health and death . aphorism . 1. coldness of the extreame parts in sharp diseases is evill . because is shews there is a mightie ●nflamation in some of the inward parts , which like a cupping glasse draws all the blood to it , and so leaves the extream parts cold . aph. 2. flesh black and blew because of a foule diseased bone , is an evill thing , for it shews there is a great putrefaction of the bone , and extinction of the natural heat . aph , 3. the hicket and redness of the eyes after vomiting are evill for these two together shew there is a great inflamation , either in the ventricle or the braine . aph. 4 ▪ after sweate , cold shiverings and shakings are not good . for it is a signe that nature is weake , and that the sweat hath not had power to drive out all the noxious humors . aph. 5. after madness , a bloodie flux , the dropsie , or an extansie or trane is good . for it signifieth that the noxious humors are gone from the head to the lower parts aph. 6. abhorring of meat in a long disease , and the excrements avoided down without mixture of humors , are evill . because , it shews the inbecilitie of the concocting facultie , and that all natural humidity is dried up by the seaverish heat . aph. 7. cold shakings , and fond dotings , after much drinking of wine are evill ▪ the first by reason , it is a signe that the native heat is extinguisht by the much drinking of wine . and the doting proceeds from the heads being full of fervent blood and vapour . aph. 8. after the breaking of an imposthume inwardly faintnesse ; vomiting and swouning . he speakes here of the breaking of imposthumes which break in the stomack , for the symptome of vomiting followes none else . aph. 9 after a flux of blood , a delirium or raveing , or a convulsion are evill . for it shews a great drought of the bodie , and weakness of the brains forces . aph. 10 ▪ after the iliack passion , or colick the hicket , raveing , or convulsion are evil . which are caused by the foulness of the stomack and consent which is between the braine and the stomack . aph. 11. after a pleurisie , an inflamation of the lungs is evill . because it signifies that part of the noxious humors is gone from the iess noble part of the ribbs , to the more noble viz. the lungs . aph. 12. a phrensie after an inflamation of the lungs is evill . the inflamation of the lungs , sending up vapours into the head , and they possessing the braine cause a phrensie . aph. 13. a convulsion , or the cramp , after hot burnings , are evill , because it signifies a great dryness of the nerves or sinewes . aph. 14. astonishment and raving through some blow of the head is an evill signe . because it signifies that the wound hath penetrated to the ●raine ▪ aph. 15. the spitting out of corrupt matter , after the spitting of blood is evill . because it signifies that the lungs are exulcerated . aph. 16. a consumption ▪ and a flux of the haire or of the bellie , coming after the spitting of corrupt matter are evilsignes , for when the spitting is stopped , the diseased doe die . the first part of this aphorisme is averred , aphorism . 11. and 12. of the 5 section , to which we referr you . the reason of the second part is because if the spitting be stopped , the lungs are so oppressed with the abundance of flegme lying on them , that the patient is suffocated and strangled , for want of breath . aph. 17. the hicket comming through an inflamation of the liver is evill . for it shews the greatness of the inflamation , of which the stomack also participates , and being bitten by store of choller swiming in it , it causes the hicket , aph. 18. a convulsion or raving caused through watching is an evill thing ▪ for watching doth extreamly evacuate and exiccate the body ; which causeth both the raving and convulsion . aph. 19. after the laying bare of a bone , the inflamation and hot tumor erisipelas is evill . for it sheweth a confluction thither of hot blood and choler , which corrode , and consume the adjacent flesh . aph. 20. putrefaction or impostumation after , from the inflamation erisipelas is evill , for it shews the malignitie of the said erisipelas , which doth not only exulcerate the upper parts of the bodie , but feeds deeper in , and creeps on to the sound parts aph. 21. a flux of blood , after a strong pulse in vlcers is evill . first because it shews an extreame inflamation to be joyned to the ulcer ; secondly because this eruption or flux cannot be , unless the month of the artery be opened : which is very difficult to be stopped . aph. 22. after a long paine of the parts belonging to the bellie , an imposthumation is evill . which it must needs come to at last ▪ unless death of the patient prevent it aph. 23. after avoiding of unmixed excrements downwards , a bloodie flux is evill for such humors will erode and perish some parts of the intestines . aph. 24. raving or delirium ensues after the wound of a bone , if it penetrate into the hollow or void space . he speaks here of the bones of the head onely , as appears by the 14. aph. aph. 25. a convulsion after the taking of a purging potion bringeth death . because is signifies an incurable drought . aph. 26. a great cold of the uttermost parts , through vehement paine of the parts belonging to the bellie is evill . the reason whereof is set downe in the comment of the 1. aphorism of this sect. aph. 27. if the disease called tenesmus shall happen to a woman with child , it is the cause of abortment . this tenesmus is a great provocation or desire to goe to stoole , and when they come thither can doe nothing . aph. 28. if either a bone , cartilage or sinew , shall be cut in the bodie , it doth neither increase nor grow together againe . this was spoken afore in the 19. aphorism sect 6. aph. 29. if a strong flux of the bellie shall come upon him that is diseased , with a dropsie called leacophlegmatia , it dissolveth and cureth the disease . because it evacuates the efficient cause of the disease , which is abundance of white flegme , from whence also comes the diseases name . aph. 30. they have a falling down of flegmatick humors from the head , which doe a vid froathie excrements out of the bellie . for phlegmatick humors being windie , it is no marvell if they be froathie . aph. 31. sediments in urines , made in the time of agues like unto course wheat-meal doe signifie that the sickness shall continue long . for it shews a kind of gross thick humor , which cannot be disolved or voided in a short space . aph. 32. cholerick sediments in urins , which at the first were thinn , doe signifie a sharp disease . for choller always causeth sharp diseases . and urines are always faithfull messengers of the affections of the veines . aph. 33. those which makes diverse urines , have a vehement disturbance in their bodie . for when the urines are so , it shews a manifoldness of humors to be viciously diseased aph. 34. the urins in which bubbles doe swim a loft , signifie a disease of the reins , and that the disease will endure long . for those bubbles proceding from humiditie which is extended about by a flatuous spirit , doe cause a cold disease which cold diseases are long . aph. 35. those to whom a fattness swims upon their vrine together & on a sodain , it is a signe the disease is in the reins , and asharp one too . for if the disease were in the whole bodie , it would come forth by little and little , and it is a sharp one , for the head of it melts the fat of the reins . aph. 36. if also paines be caused to those which are diseased with the grief of the kidneys about the muscles of the back bone , and have the signes abovesaid , if they be felt towards the outward parts , look and expect that the imposthume shall be also outwardly . but if the pains bend and decline rather to the inward parts , we must then expect the imposthume will be inwards namely if the paine hath been long and great . aph. 37. vomiting of blood is wholsome to them which doe it without a feaver : but if it be with a feaver it is an evill thing , and the cure and remedie of the same , is to be performed with things that have a cooling and binding ●ualitie . all vomits of blood are bad , sect. 4. aphorisme . 25 , therefore this must be here understood comparatively , namely that it is more tolerable without , then with a feaver . aph. 38. distillations upon the upper bellie come to suppuration and ripeness within twenty dayes . by the upper belly , he means the stomach , whose heat causeth the suppuration to be made so soon . aph 39 if any one piss blood , or clots of blood , and be diseased with the strangury , the pain falling into the perinaeum , hypogastrium , and pectinem , the places and part about the bladder are diseased . perinaeum is the part between the privie members and the fundament . hypogastrium the bottome of the belly : and pecten that part under the bellie where the haire grows . aph. 40 if a mans tongue sodainly become feeble , or any part of the body benummed without feeling , it is a signe of melancholie . for they proceeded from a thick juice which is partly melancholie partlie phlegmatick . aph. 41. if the hicket happen to old men , purged above measure it is not good . because such a hicket is bad in all , especiallie in old men , because in them all diseases are greater , and more to he doubted by reason of the imbecilitie of that age . aph. 42. if the feaver be not caused by choller , much warm water poured upon the head doth disolve it . vnder the name of choler ●e doth here comprehend all other humors , as phlegme , blood and black choler . aph. 43. a woman hath not the use of both hands alike , by reason of the imbecilitie of womans nature . aph. 44. if a cleare and white matter doe issue out from them which are affected with corrupt matter , when they suffer cauterizing or incision , they doe escape : but if bloodie , stinking , and filthy matter doe issue forth , they die . by being affected with corrupt matter he means all which have anie corrupt tumor , but especially such as have it gathered between the lungs and the brest , aph. 45. if clear and white matter doe issue from them whose liver is corrupted , and is burnt , they recover health : for the corrupt matter is contained in the coat , but if that which cometh forth be like the lees of oyle they die . the reason of the aphorism is set down in it , when he saith , the matter is contained in the coat , for if it penetrate into the flesh or substance of the liver they dye . aph. 46. cure and heale pains of the eyes , which proceed from drinking of strong wine ▪ and bathing in hot water , by opening of a veyne . this aphorisme is by gallen and heurnius held to be spurious and not worthy of hypocrates ; alludes to the 31. aphorism of the 6 section , yet it much differs from it . aph. 47. if a cough come upon one diseased with the dropsie , he is irrecoverable this and the 35 aphorisme of the 6 section are all one . aph. 48 drinking of neat strong wine , and the opening of a veine dissolves the strangurie and dysurie , but the inward veins must be opened . he speakes not of all stranguries and dysuries , but only of that strangurie or dropping of urine , which is caused by coldness , and of that dysurie , or the urines painful comming out , which proceeds from a viscous and flatuous humor . aph. 49. a swelling and redness arising on the brest of him who have a squiancie is good , for the disease inclineth outwards . this differs nothing from the 37 of the sixt section , but only in the place of the rednesses arising , so that in both , hippocrates scope is to shew that in this disease it is good to have thè humors tend outward . aph. 50. they die within three dayes , whose braine begins to corrupt , but if they overpasse them , they shall recover their health . because the brain is a principal and most noble part : but if they scape three daies it may be hoped , the disease may remitt and that the naturall forces will ouercome it . aph. 51. sneezing is provoked out of the head , the brain being much heated , or the void space of the head being much moistned : for the aire inclosed within , doth breake forth ; and it makes a noise because it passeth through a narrow place . he speaks in this aphorisme only of that sneezing which is caused by the motion if nature desires to driue out flatuous spirit out of the head . aph. 52. those who are grieved with vehement pain of the liver , are delivered from it , if an ague come upon them . which vehement pain cometh by windiness which the feaver disperses aph. 53. those which have occasion to have blood taken from them , must be let blood in the spring . this is part of the aph. 47. sect. 6 look upon that's comment . aph. 54. those which have phlegm inclosed between the ventricle and the middriff , which is painful to them , having no passage into either of the bellies , are delivered from the disease , the phlegm being turned through the veins into the body . matter may come out of the veins into any place of the body , and being extenuated return into them again . aph. 55. those have their belly filled with water and die , whose liver replenisht with water , makes an eruption of it in the upper part of the belly where the caul is . this aphorism speaks what is for the most part , for by the help of nature and medicaments such may be cured . aph. 56. wine being drunk with an equal proportion of water , puts away sorrow , yawning , and cold shaking for wine by its moderate heat expels most of those matters which cause these symptomes and tempereth the rest . aph. 57. those which have a little swelling in the urinary passage , they are delivered from it , the same being brought to suppuration and broken . this aphorism is the same as the 82 of the fourth secton where it was explained . aph. 58. they must of necessity become dumb presently , which have their brain vehemently shaken & troubled by some outward occasion . in the word dumbness he here comprehends all other voluntary motions . aph. 59. hunger and fasting is to be indured by bodies consisting of moist flesh . for fasting dryeth the body . he means so much fasting as will serve to correct the humidity of the flesh . aph. 60. where there is alteration in the whole body , and it becometh cold and hot again , or changeth from one colour to another , it signisies length of the disease . this aphorism is repeated from that which is sect. 4. aph. 40. aph. 61. much sweat hot and dry frequently issuing forth , declares abundance of moistness , which in a strong body is to be vacuated upwards , in a weak one downwards . this aphorism is thought by galen to be spurious , and also the three following , yet heurnius saith no such thing . but saith this aphorism means that sweat which proceeds from superabundance of moisture , and not from plenty of food . aph. 62. if agues become more fierce and vehement every third day without intermission they are dangerous . but in what manner soever they shall cease it signifieth they are void of danger . aph. 63. those which are afflicted with long feavers have little swellings or aches in the joynts . aph. 64. those which have long swellings or pains in the joynts after a feaver , do use too plentiful a diet . these three last aphorisms are the same with the 43 , 44 , and 45 of the fourth section , where they have been already explained . aph. 65. if any give the meat to one sick of a feaver , which he giveth to a healthful person , he shall strengthen the healthful person , and increase the malady of the sick . this aphorism also is falsly imputed to hippocrates . aph. 66. we must look upon those things which pass through the bladder , whether they be such as issue forth in prosperous health . for those which are unlike them , are unhealthful signes , but those which are like them , are healthful signes . this aphorism speaks that which hippocrates in a manner speaks elsewhere : yet because it hath neither the form nor phrase of hippocrates , galen rejects it . aph. 67. also when the sediments , if thou shalt suffer them to rest , and shalt not move them , do sink down into the bottom like shavings of guts or such like matter , if they be few , they signifie the disease is but little ; but if they be many , that it is great then it is necessary to evacuate the belly downwards ; otherwise if thou shalt give broth and nourishments , without purging the belly , the more thou givest , the more thou shalt offend . this aphorism galen holds to be foisted in by some sophister and lover of obscurity and to be none of hippocrates . aph. 68. crude , raw and undigested excrements voided downwards , do proceed from black choller . if they be many , they proceed from a more copious quantity , if they be few , from a lesser . this aphorism participates of the formers obscurity , and by some is joyned to it and made the latter part of the other . aph. 69. spittings , in feavers not intermitting , ash-coloured bloodyish , cholerick , stinking , are all evil . but if they come forth conveniently and easily they are good , whether they issue out by the belly or bladder . and if any thing stays unpurged which should have come forth , it is evil . this aphorism is in a manner the same with the 47 of the fourth section aph. 70. when any one goeth about to purge unclean bodies , he must make them soluble and fluxible . this aphorism hath also been explained in the tenth aph. of the second section . aph. 71. sleep and watchfulness , if they exceed a measure , are a disease . this is also the same aphorism in substance with the third of the second section , aph. 72. in feavers not intermitting , if the exterior parts be cold , and the inward burning and the patient have a feaver . this aphorism was better set down sect. 4. aph. 48. for why should he add at the end of this , if the patient have a feaver when he had already said in the beginning , in feavers not intermitting . aph. 73. in a feaver not intermitting , if a lip , nose , eye , or eye-brow be perverted and turned awry , if the sick man do not see nor hear , whatsoever of these things shall happen to a weak sick man , death is neer at hand . this aphorism is the same with the 49 of sect. 4. aph. 74. after white phlegme comes a dropsie . namely when the body and its vessels , are abundantly filled with it aph. 75. from a looseness of the belly , proceeds a bloody-flux . not from all loosnesses , but onely such as are long lasting , and bilious as aph 23. aph. 76. after a bloody-flux comes a lienteria . which is a flux of undigested meat . see sect. 6. aph. 43. aph. 77. after the corruption of the bone comes the impost humation of it called in greek sphacelismos . it may be also taken for a gangrening of the flesh about it . aph ▪ 78. after vomiting of blood , a consumption , and an evacuation of filthy purulent matter doth ensue . this aphorism is set down several ways , but i have followed galens exposition . aph. 79. we ought to behold what things they be which pass out by urines or by the belly , and what things issue out through the flesh . and we must also consider and behold whether the body do decline in any other thing from nature . for if little be a voided the disease is little , if much , the disease is great , and if very much it is deadly . to the end that the physician may know the disease , he must take special notice of the excrements , and examine them in substance , quantity , quality , and the time and manner of getting them out . for the excrements represent the idea of those parts from whence they proceed . finis . a letter sent to mr. henry stubbe wherein the galenical method & medicaments, as likewise bloud-letting in particular, are offered to be proved ineffectual or destructibve to mankind, by experimental demonstrations : also his answer thereunto by letter / on which animadversions are made by geo. thomson, dr. of physick ; by whom is added a vindication of his stomach-essence, or alexi-stomachon and other really-powerful remedies, from the malicious slanders and active ignorance of the galenists. thomson, george, 17th cent. 1672 approx. 90 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-08 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a62434 wing t1025 estc r32804 12761614 ocm 12761614 93508 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a62434) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 93508) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1537:41) a letter sent to mr. henry stubbe wherein the galenical method & medicaments, as likewise bloud-letting in particular, are offered to be proved ineffectual or destructibve to mankind, by experimental demonstrations : also his answer thereunto by letter / on which animadversions are made by geo. thomson, dr. of physick ; by whom is added a vindication of his stomach-essence, or alexi-stomachon and other really-powerful remedies, from the malicious slanders and active ignorance of the galenists. thomson, george, 17th cent. stubbe, henry, 1632-1676. mr. stubbe's answer. [2], 30 p. printed for nath. crouch ..., london : 1672. imperfect: pages stained with print showthrough and loss of print. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2004-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-05 rachel losh sampled and proofread 2004-05 rachel losh text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a letter sent to mr. henry stubbe , wherein the galenical method & medicaments , as likewise bloud-letting in particular , are offered to be proved ineffectual , or destructive to mankinde ; by experimental demonstrations . also his answer thereunto by letter ; on which animadversions are made by geo. thomson , dr. of physick , by whom is added a vindication of his stomack-essence , or alexi-stomachon , and other really-powerful remedies , from the malicious slanders and active ignorance of the galenists . london : printed for nath. crouch , in exchange-alley , over against the royal exchange . 1672. a letter sent to mr. henry stubbe . sir , had not one affliction upon the neck of another ( like waves of the sea ) rushed in of late upon me , to the obscuration , yea even almost subversion of the intellectual faculties of my soul ; i had ere this retorted to your reply , and by a chymical tryal discovered your malicious , scurrilous , false aspersions , cast upon this noble science of curing directly , and the true professors thereof . now sith it hath pleased the omnipotent to give me an extraordinary evasion out of the greatest calamities i ever yet sustained , being restored in some measure to my former health , and a more composed minde : i am firmly resolved , if you stand not to the test , as to make good practically what you have divulged against me in your epistolary discourse , to publish your sophistical , impertinent , frivolous arguments of bloud-letting : your distortion of the solid genuine sence of those reasons i have declared against it : your omission of answering to purpose that which i most insist upon , for the confutation of the galenical hypotheses in the radical cure of diseases : your implicite concessions , or subtile compliance , with some objections i bring against phlebotomy , yet a wrangling opposition made by you against the same : your useless cavlis about punctilio's or words , when you neglect the reality of the main matter in controversie . lastly , your raillery and abusive language against those whose actions deserve not the least opprobrious speech from you . 1. be assured 't is not your artificial , wily disputations , the copious citation of authors of the same opinion with your self , your rhetorical terms , your philologie , or rather much babbling , to the confusion of the thoughts of those who desire to be duly informed concerning the nature of things ; your confident mercenary scribling undertakings in the behalf of a company of disingenious galenists , shall ever run me down ( as you brag ) or dispossess me of the truth of that science , in which my own and multitude of others senses have experimentally instructed me . till you convince me this way by medicinal actions deliberately entred upon , performed judiciously , you will never prevail with upright understanding persons so far as to harbour any other belief , but that you and your abettors aim at your own unworthy interest , rather then the fundamental cure of diseases . wherefore , if in this particular ye desire to cleer your selves ( of what is yet deservedly laid to your charge ) let me supplicate you and the incensors of your hired pen ( as ye have any kindness for your king and country ) to give me leave practically to exhibite before your eyes the legitimate sincere way of curing , by having regard to efficient central causes of all diseases , without this circumcising bloud-letting , as i have stated it . if then you will vouchsafe candidly to see what may be done solidly beyond your botching method , by those whose souls after they were taught better things ( by a plain search into nature ) abhorred to commit the facture of remedies ( which principally belongs to the physitian ) to meer lucrifick apothecaries , we may have great hopes there will be an end put to these heats and animosities between us . for 't is not your malignant accusation you lay to the lord bacon as flagitious , can invalidate his experimental philosophy ; nor that effeminate or childish allegation against van helmont , to wit , that his neighbours in the same street knew him not , when he was enquired after by dr kraft , ( perhaps such a crafty — as your self ) will move any one intuitively intelligent , to disesteem so noble a philosopher , beloved of heaven above others ; to whom was granted the greatest inspection into nature , above any we are this day acquainted with , as i can make evident if need be . in truth , these hypochondriack flatuous outrages of yours do not at all obscure these heroes , yet they much eclipse your own parts . indeed you are herein to be pittyed , that you should suffer your self thus willingly to be hurried away by your pestilent inordinate passions , to the prejudice of your better part , the disparagement of learning , and the evil contagion of others . this alone was a sufficient testimony to me , that you was obstinately bent to oppose me ( right or wrong ) as soon as i heard ( some months before the edition of your papers ) by a faithful friend ( having expostulated this matter , withal reproved you for calling me mountebank , as likewise reprehended your designe to write against my physical assertions ) what your excuse was ( your own heart being conscious of unhandsome dealing in the thing ) that you were put upon it to gratifie your ( hyperbolically extolled ) patron , and so could not avoid it . is this worthy of a philalethes to become a mercenary , to betary the most precious things existent , in hope for this obedience to acquire some secular preferment or recompence ? certainly mr. stubbe , you cannot but know your large talent was concredited to you for more illustrious ends , then chiefly to gain a temporary felicity here . however , although you have adventured upon an unjust cause ( as i conceive ) by the instigation of some misochymists , yet admit but a pyrotechnical tryal , that the most ingenious of men may be assured who of us is mistaken : i 'll engage ( should you be worsted ) to pass by all your obloquies , yea , to sollicite those whom you have wronged by your virulent tongue , to do the same upon your serious resipiscence , which will infallibly bring you in a greater reward then your patron will ever purchase for you , how specious soever pretences may be made . neither let your inconsiderable thoughts you entertain of me , take you off from the direct experimental indagation after sanative verity ; sith you who have bestowed so much time and study in the theory for the verbally refelling my arguments ( so that you are forced to confess ridiculously ( pretending your self not able to comprehend my language ) you never under-went a more difficult task in your life ) should not methinks shrink back in driving home and making good all your reasons really by matter of fact to my final destruction , which might ( if your abilities do permit ) be effected with far less reluctancie , constraint or penance , then the late work you undertook , considering till then the wiser sort will look upon you as a company of onely wording physicians , destitute of wholesome works . one thing is very observable through your whole discourse , that whensoever you are every way beset by solid truths , in so much that no way is left to get out ; then you fall into scurrilous , abusive terms , as baconface , ignoramus , mountebank , quack-salver , canting , and the like sarcasmical expressions ; as if to call one all to naught , were enough to make me guilty , though never so innocent : i wish these rude appellations were onely fastned on them who most properly may lay claim to them . but among all your malicious obloquies , i wonder with what face you can pronounce me a pretender to physick and chymistry , or illiterate , sith none unless some abominable slanderer , could ever justly tax me of serious premeditated dissimulation in my religion , profession , manners , or conversation . this candor and charity of spirit hath been not a little disadvantagious to me , as to a secular profit , which the galenists prefer before all . this one of the society ( if he would confess it ) knows to be true ( i. e. dr. tern ) who was pleased sixteen years retrograde from this time , to applaud me publickly for a very able physician ; although now he seeks closely to discredit me , and declaim against my remedies as too hot and strong . notwithstanding , thus much i must be bold to tell him , that this weak , frigid opinion of his concerning my medicaments , arises from an imbecility of his sight , not able to penetrate into the causes of natural things ; which infirmity ( his beloved interest will hardly ever suffer to be cured . thus the blinde leads the blinde , and so the people will have it ( as they say . ) moreover , my grand enemy your patron ( in obedience to whom you wrote this polylogical treatise , without any proportionable improvement of the readers intellectuals ) testified of me to his apothecary above thirty years past , that i was a very good scholar for my time : for having not long before left the common schools , finding an inclination to the studie of physick , led by divine providence , i directly pitched upon this most eminent art , having neither before nor after affected any other vocation . thus making some progress in this medicinal studie , mr. dowtie ( in whose house we had winter-lodgings ) willing to oblige my father , told him that ( seeing i was desirous to acquire knowledge in physick ) he doubted not but his brother-in-law , your new protector , would for his sake instruct me to that end . but alas , i came short of what my friend intended : for i found this phoenix of a doctor ( as you proclaim him ) endued with such a haughty minde , that i could not by any means endure his imperious deportment a little above a fortnight . wherefore according to dr. read's advice , who then lay bedrid in the same house , i betook my self to private studies : the troublesome times , and my fathers death , not permitting me to go to our universities at that present ; yet afterwards coming out of france , i steered my course for weymouth , intending for oxford , but by the transverse marching of the earl of essex , i was driven the quite contrary way into cornwal ; from whence returning after the victory there obtained by that good king , i was ( according to fate ) taken prisoner at the last fight at newbery by the parliament-forces ; afterwards i was brought up to london , and clapt up in the fleet , where i continued immur'd up some months , five weeks of which i was dangerously sick . all this while i in no wise neglected to follow my study in physick , as opportunities would permit . at length having attained a competent knowledge in physiologie , i addressed my self above twenty three years ago , to be examined by the colledge of london-physicians , dr. clark being then ordained president , dr. prujean , dr. hamey , dr. micklethwait , censors ; who approving my abilities to practise , told me that they would confer upon me a testimony thereof , if i paid such a sum of money demanded by them for my license : which excessive demand , when i saw them so ridgidly insist upon to the utmost farthing , considering what little advantage i should reap by this commission from them ; i entertained the counsel of one of their seniors and so with all speed betook my self , according to his advice , to leyden , where i had been formerly conversant ( where my friend and divers collegiates had been graduated ) to obtain a degree ex condigno , purchased upon better terms then many of our philosophasters and medicasters acquire it here . thus performing all things decently , and in order , for the credit of my profession ( so far as my ability would allow ) still keeping within my breast a loyal and honest soul in the height of temptations , giving every one his due without constraint , abhorring to joyn with any faction to magnifie or depend upon a rebellious politick patron for my own base ends , to the injury of my king and country : i made a constant proceedure in that philosophy i conceived most useful or beneficial for mans life , without applying my self to the gratifying those praeco's , who measure the worth of physicians , according to the numbers and length of bills prescribed . in this manner i lived obscure fourteen or fifteen years , always detesting to prostitute my self or the art to those sollicitors or procurers of practice , whom i knew , if i would feed often with a long bill ( as other practitioners did ) they would cry up my name aloud ; neither should i then be in danger of incurring the fate of van helmont , not to be known where in what street soever i lived : neither could i dispence with time-serving humors , as most of the galenists did for their sordid gain . however , i was always sedulous to observe the kindely effects of galenical and chymical remedies , some of which i made with my own hands , before i entred upon publick practice , others were recommended unto me by an honest sufficient physician , my very loving friend , formerly an accurate apothecary ; but at length forced to give over his trade , by reason of the persecution which the collegiates brought upon him for making lac sulphuris , a safe prevalent medicament , as he ordered it . having made many repeated experiments concerning the vertue of the galenical and chymical preparations , weighing all circumstances belonging to each indifferently ; i was satisfactorily convinced that the last , though of the ordinary class , did far surpass the former in all contumacious diseases . i ingeniously confess , i had great kindness ( upon my first hiatrick onset ) for bloud-letting , esteeming it most powerful to rid away the morbifick matter , according to that doctrine ( but false ) of the schools i had imbibed . at length , being clearly convinced by experiment often made upon my self and others of its treacherous effects , i totally rejected it upon the account of evacuation and revulsion . hereupon i was strongly induced , through the importunate dictates of my soul , to disswade others from this fallacious , yea , pernicious way of curing ; also to excite those who are cordially sollicitous for mans health , to put out themselves to the utmost in the search after better means , far more able to extirpate maladies then sanguimission , without any considerable imparing the strength ( as i can indicate . ) for this reason you unworthily detract from me , reviling me with taunting language , without any further scrutiny into matter of fact ; which i must court or urge you to , that i may cleer my self , and certifie who is illiterate ( as to the knowledge of things ) conducible to our better state ( for that 's the principal end of language ) or who of us is the pretender to the art of physick or chymistry , that ingenious men may understand the meaning of those terms , which you ( like a cunning gipsie , hoping thereby to suggest to the reader , that no matter of moment is contained in the whole tenour of my words ) call canting : the efficacie or inefficacie , the innocence or nocence of the stom . esse . alias , stiled by you pepper-drops , which you maliciously , ignorantly vilifie , to gratifie the apothecaries , and their poor-spirited doctors , who are forced in this exigence to truckle , to close in , and to carry fair with those whom i am certain they cordially hate . neither shall i at present use better arguments to instigate you to this laudable galeno-chymical tryal , then those proceeding from your own mouth ; thus declaring : it is a saying in the civil law , plus valet umbra experti senis quàm eloquentia juvenis ; and those philosophers which would upon certain prejudicate opinions and pretences of reason determine of medicinal cases , are exploded even by galen . nothing is firm in physick , but what is confirmed by a happy experience . and 't is an imbecillity in judgement ( saith the great stagyrite ) to desert experience , and adhere to reason . i assure you , sir , if you lay aside your multiloquie , your boasting of particulars , rarely happening instances or examples of cures past ; if you wave your mustering and summoning in authors like to like , insignificant as to confute any sagacious philosophers senses : if you forbear your raillery , ( which i fear will hardly be done , being so natural to you ) and adhere to several equal experiments which you or my self shall propose ; i protest i will kiss your hand , and altogether expunge out of my thoughts any animosities you have given me cause to harbour against you . wherefore i shall endeavour what possible to stop all your starting holes , leaving but one passage , which will undoubtedly lead us in the direct way of truth , and speedily decide our controversies . in the first place , i courteously offer to you some essaies , tending to the discovery of the efficacie or inefficacie of bloud-letting , according to those suppositions you have set down in your epistolary discourse . chuse you one of a full athletick habit of body , afflicted with an acute or chronick disease ; order him according to your method , by a previous sanguimission : let us hear before your first attempt of a hopeful cure , what immediate solace or real asswagement introductory to a sound future recovery from this or that sickness ( barring opium ) you can promise , in what time you can judiciously engage the danger of the disease to be past , likewise secure ( seldom erring ) the patient from any tedious infirmity , as ague , dropsie , scurvy , consumption , commonly ensuing an accute grief . be pleased in like manner to destinate to my share one equally plethorick also , every way affected as your aforesaid sick person , so nigh as we can deem , whom i shall undertake to handle ( without the emission of bloud ) so as to give you some speedy alleviation to a purpose ( without offering him any papaverous preparation . ) i shall also deliver a satisfactory prediction concerning the event of the malady ; then let indifferent judges censure us according to the performances of such , who takes the right method of curing by moving the cause of the disease radically , and by preserving the strength proportionally . thus will we proceed to reiterated probations . i once again earnestly press you to accept of the just and strict division of the hospital sick wretches into two parts ( the priviledge of the election of one half being allowed to you ) then will we fall to our work , demonstrating who according to your great stagyrite is guilty of imbecility of judgement . moreover i conjure you , if you have any piety , honesty or sobriety in your actions , to entertain some of those equitable experimental proposals , described in haematias . pag. 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121. thus omitting an empty noise of vain-glorious bragging of those experiments we have perhaps , like good old women , atchieved in reference to the cure of poor mortals ; we will conclude to be tryed judiciously whether we are able to undertake and accomplish our cures , with as much certainty as an expert mechanick can oblige to make a good watch , or the like engine , being seldom mistaken therein . by this means it will be detected , whether bloud-letting doth for the most part , hit the mark of sanation according to election and discretion ; or whether it be introductory ( as you have asserted ) for the extirpation of diseases , which in despight of all opponents i can maintain to be generally seated in the stomack , spleen , or parts adjacent . hence it will appear whether it be any whit proper to let out the vital juyce in the plague ; which that you , or any late fugitives , should stand up for being altogether a stranger sensibly to its nature , argues transcendent ignorance , and superlative impudence . hence we shall finally discuss , whether letting out the bloud in the small pox be not far more dangerous and less effectual for a fundamental cure , then the keeping it in ; and so rather to trust to excellent medicaments , which may safely discharge the stomack of impurities , sweeten acidities , allay a super-fermentation or ebullition of the bloud , hinder its coagulation , mortifie the malignity , scatter a great part of the peccant matter insensibly , keep up strongly the vital spirits , withal cause the less scars to ensue in the skin . i hope i shall hereby vindicate my remedies from your virulent slanders , in particular , the stomack-essence , scoffingly called by you pepper-drops , which being full of salt , the unsavory galenists stand in great need of ( although their pride will not suffer them to make use of it ) for the preservation of their suspected fame from an ill odour . this remedy i question not to protect , maugre all oppositions , as the most innocent , prevalent remedy in healing , above any preparation which may be purchased at so easie a rate in england . in this civil , most commendable , reasonable , useful , practical contest , it will come to light whether the galenists can in any adequate measure overcome those atrocious calamities of body , which at this day rage among us , without the help of chymical medicaments ; the oblation of which they oftentimes make secretly to their patients , attributing the happy success coming upon them , to their feculent galenical mixtures ( yet railing against publickly , and condemning the former , being the best flower in their garden , ready to help them at a dead lift . ) by this means it will be made evident what a vast difference there is between ol●um vitrioli , sulphuris , mercur. dulc. praecipi . rub. & abb. turb . miner . croc. metallo . spiri . sal. vulg . the use whereof i have many years ago quite left off , for as much as they are justly suspected as hazardous , in comparison of others philosophically handled , as essent . stomachi , pil. polycre . nost . pul. pestifug . tinctur . emetic . pulv. emeto . cathar . pil. emeto . cathar . tinctur . polyace , potio nostra cardia . tinctur . alexiter . &c. we shall hereby detect whether van helmont ought to be esteemed an intelligent person in physick , a person of credit , or a man of practice ; although you rashly impeach him of the contrary . adde to this , whether i can make an experiment ( against which your bare negative will never prevail ) that you are a most egregious notorious — lastly , it will be disclosed , who ( the galenists , or true philosophical chymists ) properly deserve the scurrilous names you throw upon us , as mountebanks , quack-salvers , &c. if you fly to poor shifts , or trivial excuses , obstinately refusing these prudential , sober , serious and candid wayes of informing our selves and others experimentally for the ease of their griefs : if you apostatize from what you have positively expressed in pag. 22. before recited , and several other places of your discourse ; i have advisedly determined to put your reply into a retort , severly to prove what metal the brethren of the good old cause are made of , whether they be not over-valu'd by opinionated persons , who oftentimes respect a glittering gilded outside , rather then an intrinsecal value . hereupon i shall make known if so be multitude of patients be any solid argument ( as you would have it ) that ergo the galenists must needs be the best practitioners in physick , sith then sir richard barker and others such like , frequented by a numerous company of all sorts of sick people , must by necessity of the same reason be reckoned amongst the best physicians . in conclusion , we shall by the magical power of this pyrotechnie finde out who are worthily censured pretenders to this excellent art. farewel , may you so prosper as you favour this heroick experimental enterprise . the postscript . sir , if you please to forbear your viperous words till an opportune season of procuring vipers , and then to admit that we fall to our work of making experiments , who of us can most skilfully and expeditely cure himself bitten by a viper ; afterwards to proceed to essayes in the like manner upon others : wherein if you get the victory after frequent repetition of this kinde , i shall freely acknowledge your relation of the effects of the biting of a viper , and the cure thereof , to be taken notice of as strange ; otherwise i shall esteem it so vulgar , that an old woman , any whit versed herein , would scorn to have suffered the sad symptoms ( of this poysoned poor man to continue so long ) or new and strange ones to appear some days after . from dukes-place in shoomakers-row nigh alga●e . geo. thomson . an inclosed note sent with the letter . sir , i expect a speedy answer from your voluble pen , either that you will retract your falsities you have venditated against this noble chymical science , & the faithful assertors thereof , or that you will give way that i may demonstrate by real performances the verity of our philosophical tenents : and look what measure of ingenuity , candor , sincerity , or civility i receive from any galenists , the same i shall endeavour to retribute to him duplicated : if you deny me this becoming modest request , then blame me not if i seek for a remedie where i can best finde it . yours g. t. mr. stubbe's answer . sir , since i have been so happy as to meet with your letter as soon as it arrived , and that my present leisure is such that i may read it over , and imploy an hour in answering it , lest my self should create in you an opinion of my incivility , or furnish your arrogance with materials for an imaginary triumph ; if you consider the language you have used indefinitely against those physicians , called galenists , and that method of practice which the edicts of so many emperours assure us to have been heretofore beneficial , and which the happy experience of so many judicious persons during so many ages , and the successfulness whereof in my own practice hath endear'd unto me , under the character of the prosperous as well as rational : if you consider this , you cannot complain of any incivility in my writings , nor complain of any indignity put upon you , since your general deportment , and particular contumelies against me , do sufficiently vindicate me to any indifferent persons . if mr. dover told you , that he expostulated with , or reproved me for any thing in relation to you ; i conceive our discourse is represented otherwise then it really was : i remember no such passages ; nor did he express himself as your friend , but as your acquaintance . i did tell him ( though i cannot set down the particular words ) that i would not have written against you now , but that i was importuned thereunto by some eminent physicians of the colledge , who had rendred me so considerable a support against the malice of those most disingenuous and barbarous vertuosi , that i ought not to refuse them so small and inconsiderable an acknowledgement : he might have told you with what contempt i look'd on your book against me ; i thought my self unconcern'd in that rhapsody made up of ignorance , impertinence , and vntruth : as little did i value your treatise of phlebotomy , wherein as i was not particularly interessed , so i thought the publick method of physick could receive no prejudice by such a despicable pamphlet , the language whereof was not to be comprehended by the illiterate , nor the sense by any mortal . vpon this account it was that i expressed my unwillingness to meddle with you , and no other : but the judgement of more intelligent persons did over-sway me ; they told me of the growth of the helmontian principles amongst the ignorant and indiscreet novellists ; that some vertuosi did abet the opinion which disswades phlebotomy , and that even truth was sometimes over-born by noise and a crowd : and i my self thought it an illegal and intolerable procedure , for you to advance the baconical ignoramus's to a iudicature wherein our law hath placed the prudent and learned colledge of physicians . you see now that there is little of advantage to be derived unto you from my unwillingness to encounter you : and i must tell you , that i was no way hired or mercenarily engaged to do what i did : all that know me , can ascertain you that i am not a man of such principles : and this is an untruth , which if glanvile , or any other virtuoso suggested unto you , you did ill to believe so notorious lyers . it is also necessary that i tell you , that sir alexander frasier neither incited me against you , nor knew of the undertaking , nor understood of the dedication , until he saw the printed book : the epistolary treatise was writ unto another , though afterwards entitled unto that excellent and learned physician . what truth there is in the account you give of your self , i know not : all that i can collect from the character my learned patron gave you , is , that you were once a proficient in literature , during your being at school ; and if dr. terne , or any of the colledge had ever any favourable opinion of your abilities , as i know not the grounds they went upon , so i may be excused from concurring with them in that iudgement , when i am certain they must have changed it , or have other motives to continue it , then what your writings do suggest ; and till i be acquainted with them , i must be excused for adhering to my present convictions . what is meant at leyden by a doctorate ex condigno , i do not comprehend : 't is enough to justifie all i say , that you purchased it , whatever it be : if it be more then a diploma , you did your self wrong , not to inform the world better : and let the thing import what you please , you do not acquaint me yet , that you performed any exercise for it : as little doth it appear that ever you were competently acquainted with the galenical way ; 't is not a practice to be learned out of one or two books , especially such as are in vogue : i know not whether you were sufficiently instructed in that physiology whereon our practice is established : i know not , if you understood our diagnosticks , prognosticks , and method : and if you did not ( as i dare presume you never did ) your censures of the galenical way , your desertion of it , and your adherence to the helmontians , signifie nothing , except when you harangue it amongst the populace . i pass by how you were mistaken in your defence of the lord bacon , whose ignorance in many subjects whereupon he descanted , and whose falshood in relations and experiments , i could demonstrate by a thousand instances . in the point of phlebotomy , you cannot with any confidence say but that you understood not what were the effects of phlebotomy , and what we designed in that operation ; except you likewise grant that you were false to your own thoughts : for your writings are full of palpable mistakes upon this subject . i have not injured you in the repeating of any argument of yours , to my knowledge : i am sure i never intended it : and i think my replies are so full and plain , that none can except against them , but such as are swayed by their will , not reason : i have taken up no precarious principles against you , nor supported weak argumentations with authorities : i justifie matter of fact , by the depositions of unblameable witnesses , the truth of whose testimonies is warranted by all judicious practitioners of this age ; and which you may see verified in the hospitals at padua , auspurgh , paris , and wheresoever the true galenists do act . if i thought there were any higher degree of moral assurance then i deduce from the principles i lay down , i would relinquish my present sentiments : but i speak it upon tryal of both methods , and upon the use of as generous medicaments as most of the chymists do boast of , that the most secure and beneficial course to the patient , is that which the galenical physicians pursue , and which the laws encourage . i add this last clause , to let you know the danger you run in your arcana ; for if you do not adhere in your cures to the traditiones artis , it is as certain that you must answer with your life according to law for the death of any expiring patient , as 't is certain that chymistry , and that your chymistry hath no traditiones artis ; nor hath the practice of your predecessors been so successful as to give that immethodical rash procedure the name of an art. inform your self from the determination of the civil magistrates in all europe , what repute your chymists are in : are they not pr●scribed in denmark , and germany , as impostors , and persons of a most unhappy practice ? if you will have but patience till spring , i hope to finde leisure , so as to write the history of the galenical physitians , and their renown ; and the history of mountebanks and bold experimentators , with their infamy : you shall there see how unfortunate paracelsus and phaedro , nay , even hartman and severinus danus were : and even the modern decrees against such as had a better laboratory , then mr. johnson found yours to be . you understand not your own writers , what they have taught ; and must be your own author : and i am not able to distinguish betwixt the testimony you give of your self , and what odowde or any such of your fraternity ▪ do aver in their behalf . i shall conclude with this asseveration , that i have writ nothing in reference to the plague , small-pox , &c. but what i am perswaded in my conscience to be true : and i will inform you now more then i had opportunity to learn before , that phlebotomy in the small-pox , even after they are come out , is the old english practice , directed by johannes anglicus de gadesden in his rosa medicinae , and gilbertus anglicus , almost three hundred years ago ; and their directions are as positive and ample , as those i cite out of avicenna ▪ and i have spoken lately with many that have been blouded in the small-pox with an immediate alleviation thereupon , and have been , as you would phrase it , radically cured . you are mightily pleased with your way of challenging us to a publick essay of skill ; but in that you render your self ridiculous , since you are so inconsiderable : for my part , i accept no more thereof , then i would do of a challenge from an idiot , or an inmate of bedlam : and certainly you would think i had little wit , to make a journey to london from warwick ; or little to do , to answer you in such a quarrel . we are in possession of our repute , our patients depose for our happy cures ; and if you atchieve any , you cannot evince that they which recover are more radically cured , or longer-lived , then others under us . were things as you represent them , we could not continue in vogue ; the advantages your patients would have over ours , would reduce the most obstinate and prejudicate persons to your party ; the court , city and country would be your theatre , and not a stage in smith-field or tower-hill : your party hath not been out-talked , but out-done : and the cures of erastus in the most difficult diseases , transcended ▪ those of paracelsus . things certain and unquestionable are not to be brought to a tryal ; and the petitions or demands of infamous lying chymists are not to be listned unto : and the laws for ensuring the lives of the kings liege-people when they are sick , are not to be infringed publickly : since you practice by arcana , and illegal methods , the coroner or the civil iudge ought to sit upon you ; and you must expect such a sentence , as is conformable to the sence of those who are legally to approve or condemn your method and medicaments : and to them i leave you . i hope to see all our faculty under a prudent regulation ere long ; but you must never hope to see me tempt god almighty , by enraging an adder , and suffering him to bite me : i wonder with what conscience you should invite me to such a tryal : besides , you may inform your self that adders do not bite so dangerously after they are taken , much less when they have been kept , as when they are free and wilde abroad : but i finde my self wearied with the length of this letter , and so dull an entertainment as your papers give me : if you have any occasion for them again , you may command them at any time from me , who shall be to that purpose warwick , nov. 4. 1671. your humble servant , henry stubbe . animadversions on mr. stubbe's answer . if any ingenious candid person please considerately to peruse without any partiality the solid contents of my letter , and this sophisters slight answer thereto ; i have reason to expect this verdict from him , that my adversary is no other then an empty tub , or sounding-brass . those ungrateful disingenuous galenists ( who always resisting the truth , set this brazenface on work deceitfully to oppose haematias . ) contrived heretofore a scurrilous pamphlet against a veriloquous treatise of mine , ( namely a chymical tryal of the galenists ) and injoyned iohnson their pseudo-chymist to patronize it . however that stratagem would not take : for the great defender of truth destroyed both that setter or trapanner , and the spiritus antiloimoides published every week in the news-papers by those mountebank-like runaways in time of that most raging plague . next they procured dr. knap , an able scholar , but as precious — as england affords , one of the galenical-tribe , to contest with me experimentally . for his part , he cheated the impostors who imployed him , not daring so much as to appear before me , though expected by a throng of apothecaries and others , till after he had recovered of the plague by my remedies ( ex confesso , according to his letter now in my custody ) he came to give me thanks for the food ( physick ) i sent him in his great distress : notwithstanding i still suspected this wretched galenical sycophant ( relieved by me upon the account of christianity ) would hardly change his treacherous nature implanted in most of that sect ( although he asserted quite otherwise , as his epistle imports ) which , according as my minde gave me , fell out , to the shame of that party . lastly , now in this great exigence of theirs ( having been disappointed hitherto by their former emissaries ( not able to run me down ) they have raked up and down to finde out this clamorous tub , who makes a great noise to no true purpose , yet sufficient ( as they think ) to amaze and disturb vulgar heads . this is one of the serpentine generation , worse then that in his relation , &c. either always closely supplanting the truth , or openly resisting it : one of iohn lilburns pedigree or race , who would quarrel even with himself , for want of an opponent ; perhaps the spawn of some jesuit ; for such an one he should be , if we may judge by his hot , restless , litigious , sophistical , cavilling , wily brain . i confess it hath pleased the donor of all things to bestow upon him notable endowments ; but it had been better he had never enjoyed them , rather then thus to have resigned the use of them to the father of lyes . 't is pity but that the circulation of his evil designes ( even to the secret animating and justifying regicides ) had ere this according to justice been maturely stopt , by virtue of that plant duly prepared , which infallibly cures such botches , blains and soars of the nation . regium est cum benefeceris male audire . is it likely his asp-like tongue should afford a good word for any virtuous action , that could utter no language of elaudation for so gracious a king ? although he seems to be a convert now , we have reason to think 't is onely out of a sycophantical temporizing designe : aegrotat daemon monachus , &c. well , let him be as he is : i shall now make some animadversions on his impertinent answer , no whit satisfactory to that principal thing i insist upon , for the vindication of physical truth . — stubbe upbraids me in limine , as guilty of arrogance and imaginary triumph ; of which that i may acquit my self , i shall condescend submissively to any equal proposals made by him or his impulsors , tending to the solid and real detection of medicinal truth , without the least phantastical boasting therein ; incident to all dogmatists . the arguments — subbe infers signifies nothing to bear me down , that i should not complain of any incivility in his writings : if , saith he , you consider the language you have used against the galenists , and method of physick approved by the edicts of emperours , the experience of judicious persons , and successfulness in my own practice , &c. indeed i confess i have been downright in my expressions ( quatenus veridical in the principal ) to the galenists , for which they hate me mortally ; veritas odium parit : however , i am ready to maintain the truth thereof demonstratively ; which stubbe like a tergiversator refuses , using the liberty of his slanderous tongue unworthily against the art and my self . if i have called him , or any other of that society — , and offer to make it perspicuous practically ( that 't is no improper language i use ) neither will they admit the evidence for the benefit of king and subjects , i ought not to be reputed as guilty of contumelies either general or particular . yet if they use scurrilous terms against me and the science , neither will vouchsafe to prove that we deserve them ; i have good cause to complain of their incivility or indignity . 't is the unhappiness of emperours to be deceived by these sophistical wits , and too much to countenance them , frequently to the shortning the thread of their lives . for all this , rodolphus the emperour had a greater inspection then ordinary into physical truth ; for he invited van helmont to be his physician , likewise gave him a rich wife . also lully was for good reason highly favoured by edw. 3. moreover , butler the author of that rare stone was exceedingly valued by king iames. likewise our present soveraign hath to his glory countenanced chymists , and will , i hope still , for the preservation and prolongation of his own life , encourage and protect the true helmontian , which if ever he stand in need , must be the physicians can succour him , not the galeno-chymists , meer calophants , mimicks or mock-chymists . the success he vaunts of is not worth a rush , unless he can make it good for the future , which he rejects . careat successibus opto quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat : were they really experienced physicians , they would give us some proof of their skill ; which when i allure or urge them to , they presently fall into abusive language , conscious to themselves of their own weakness . the name of the author — ( perhaps forged ) stubbe cites , is not the person that expostulated and reproved him in relation to me ; therefore his extravagant discourse tends nothing to what i aim at in predicting what fell out . as for the contempt of my book ( misochymiae elenchus ) directed against him , calling it a rhapsodie made up of ignorance , impertinence and untruth ; also his vile esteem of haematiasis as a pamphlet ( though licensed ) is no more a conviction that it is so , then the bare saying of the countryman , thou lyest , was a sufficient confutation of bellarmine . one comfort is , that black tongue of this brazen-face is with discreet persons accounted no slander . as despicable as that pamplet is ( thus nicknamed by this scurra ) all the nerves that — willis or his associates can exert , shall never be able to invalidate the experimental verity of that book , which shall endure , when his trimly polished writings ( the fundamentals whereof were filched out of paracelsus , and van helmont , without the least acknowledgement of the authors ) shall become reprobate , and vanish into nothing . note what serpentine undermining wits , and eminent ones too , as i foresaw , the vertuosi have fomented in their bosoms . these are the cunning dogmatists that i verily thought would supplant and put attick upon the royal society , by spitting in the foul mouth of that — , and clapping him on the back , that he might open more wide in his raillery against them . those helmontian principles shall in despight of vatinian malice flourish , when the name and writings of the galenists shall perish ; although their study hath been , and still is , to deprive the world of such brave souls by infernal devices , exercised by slanders , persecutions , poysons , &c. which to report exactly , will require a large history hereafter to be set forth . i 'll depose — stubbe is unawares in the right , as to this particular , that truth is sometimes overborn by a noise and a crowd ; otherwise the galenists , and their destructive errours , had ere this been troden under-foot , never to rise again . those baconical ignoramus's , if they catch this brazen-face within their precincts , will make him know they are no such men , and pump more civil language from him , yea stercorate such a durty person , that he may fructifie the better hereafter . the epithet prudent is ill appropriated by him to the colledge : for had they not been improvident and shallow in the knowledge of the issue of things , physick had never been thus prostituted by that illegal method ( severely to be censured by the magistrate , if the sad effects and products thereof were but clearly discovered ) and intolerable fraud of prescribing . — stubbe affirms , he was no way hired nor mercenarily engaged to do what he did , yet in the words foregoing he confesses , he was oversway'd , and could not refuse them so small and inconsiderable an acknowledgement . so then we may aptly collect , that he underwent the most difficult task in his life ( as he confesses in his discourse ) and laboured for a dead horse , having received his reward before-hand . this negation of his , and what follows , doth not cohere , neither is this scene handsomely laid by him , therefore of ten times less credit then the account i give of my self ; which if he please , he shall receive from the mouth of honest witnesses : neither do i desire this perfideous enemy of truth to believe any writings of mine , farther then my works testifie of me . what a quoil doth this silly thraso keep about a doctorship ! let those asini phalerati septum artium , call me what they please : for i had rather hear good morrow thomson cum arte , then salve doctor sine scientia medendi . i wish the world could but see some of our grand doctors uncased , 't were as good as an excellent comedie to behold what pitiful , simple , empty , ridiculous things ( in relation to the art of healing ) they would appear . notwithstanding , i am so far for degrees , orders and titles , where they are rightly placed , that to establish them , i have been a greater sufferer then most of our galenical doxosophists : yea , if any of them had been plundered , imprisoned , and left naked as i was , i question whether ever they could ( having so small assistance from without ) purchased a degree ex condiguo , according to the merit of that exercise i under-went . whereby , if this infidel-like stubbe please , he may be satisfied by my theses ( now to be seen ) de apoplexia , printed , published , and disputed pro & con , an. 1648. iul. 14. hora locoque solito , that i very well then understood the galenical physiologie , diagnosticks , prognosticks and method , to the injury of mankinde , my own repentance , and difficulty of unlearning the same . although 't is true , i was enforced to know the wrong before i could comprehend the right way of cutting ; yet by my damage others will receive advantage , when they shall be ascertained that the galenical course is plainly fallacious , so far from deserving an universal survey , that it ought in the very preface to be exploded . my adherence to the legitimate helmontians , placed upon the stable foundation of cleer experience , is so firm , that the father of lyes , and his beloved darlings , shall never be able to separate me therefrom till death . moreover , i must plainly declare , that van helmont ( whom these stupendiously-ungrateful galenists do vilifie and disown ) hath taught them a far more effectual method of curing ( which some of them in a clandestine manner put in practice , yet will they not acknowledge it ( which aggravates their unworthiness to the highest pitch expressible ) then that useless bulk of innumerable antiquated authors . for the maintenance of whose reputation this sophister minces , mitigates and allays those their mortiferous actions of bloud-letting , by certain exceptions , cautions , and provisions never intended by his ancient predecessors . upon that account this terentian davus would make the world believe that i understand not the effects of phlebotomy , and what they designed in that operation ; intimating as if they had some areanum therein ( yet generally they renounce any such thing in their practice ) if so , then i may very well be excused , as mistaken concerning the effects of phlebotomy : sith i cannot possibly be acquainted with their secret implicite intentions in that operation , which they have enrolled so politically in the treasury of the monuments of their invisible cures . i am sure i have , according to those traditiones artis , as he calls them , published by their authors , stated the case so justly , that let him do his best to ward my arguments , i shall demonstrate that bloud-letting , as to the scope of evacuation or revulsion , is either palliative , injurious , or destructive to mankinde . for his petulant , taunting , reflection upon so worthy , really honorable a person , the lord bacon , he ought severely to be animadverted : and herein he shews his graduated impudence with his profound ignorance , in offering to demonstrate by a thousand instances ( as he delivers ) the falshood in the relation and experiments of that intelligent philosopher , eternally separated from us ; yet will not vouchsafe to accept of by me , here present , any one determinating sensible essay or demonstration for the conviction of him and his abettors , that this perspicacious lord was in the right conception concerning the nature of the sweating-sickness . thus a cynick genius dare insult over a dead lyon , whose vain fear of tempting god , and a pretence of conscience , or rather a base pusillanimous spirit , will not suffer him to touch experimentally a living viper ; whether wilde or more tamed , that 's not pertinent . what follows this thrasonical language against this noble lord , is abominably false , as i shall instance in one particular ( omitting the rest , to avoid prolixity ) . i justifie ( saith he ) matter of fact , yet flies from it when i present it to him , as the galenists from the plague , or himself from a viper . what hocus pocus equivocation is this ? he will , and he will not : notwithstanding all this is not to be admired as strange , sith this satyrist can breath hot and cold at the same time , affirm and deny the same thing in a moment , with applause of a galenical colledge . 〈◊〉 , if you please , farther ; then will you finde his matter of fact turned into matter of faith : for this mountebank-like 〈…〉 now for the defence of a bad cause upon the depositions of unblameable-witnesses ( whose credit is valued no more by me then a knight of the post , till i see something done prudently ) the truth ( quoth he ) of whose testimonies is warranted by all judicious practitioners of this age. 't is strange i should not in so many years physical occurrences meet with these judicious galenical practitioners , who are able to warrant what they undertake for the life of the patient . for my part , i cannot be otherwise perswaded by my senses , that they are any other then good guessers in physick ( as that vertuous king of late denominated them ) so far are they from being judicious , as to the prognosticks or prescience of the exit of diseases , that 't is very rare 〈◊〉 they aim and hit the mark right in their predictions or promises how the disease will terminate , or whether they are able to cure it or no in such a space : if they at any time touch the scope , 't is rather by hap then any good cunning ; witness their judicious medicinal carriage towards mr. colvile a gold smith ( attended constantly by three of their most eminent physicians , from nigh the very first rising of his disease , to the setting of it and his life together ) who was pronounced by them to be past all danger upon the fourteenth day of his sickness , whereas he dyed the next . their judgement is also notoriously appparent by two of their eminent colleagues , one whereof frequents lime-street , who kept their sister-in-law , mrs. hill , about a year and half in a languishing condition , by means of their feculent , fraudulent medicaments and flat liquors ; then at length ( when they were mistaken , both in the kinde of her grief , as likewise the direct prediction of the conclusion thereof ) she was in her great distress forced to send for me , to hear my advice ; who after a due examination of the nature of her sickness , forthwith promised ( upon an engagement of the loss of the price of those remedies i should exhibite , of no reward for my labour , and the hazard of my credit ) to restore her perfect health , if she would condescend to be ruled . upon this she listned to me in a tractable manner , till when i offered , among other chymical preparation , a vomit , she then seemed to refuse it , saying . her brothers did not dare to give her one for an 100 l. to which i replyed , if you will not trust my experience , follow your course . whereupon she assented to take several of my vomits , with ease and congratulation of her friends . now wanting nothing but a convenient space to compleat the cure , i was prevented ; a discovery of my person being made ( for want of a watch-word from the servants ) by one of the brothers , who presently thereupon caused such a disturbance and discord in the family ( for admitting me ( a physician so hostile to them ) in this deplorable condition ) that she was constrained to renounce my self and medicaments , as too hot and strong . hence she remains uncured to this day , three years past ; but had , undoubtedly ere this perished , had she not according to my counsel betaken her self to the drinking of strong liquors ; by means of which , as she acknowledgeth , she receiveth comfort . the history , as very remarkable , i may hereafter set down more amply , but here i must study conciseness . to justifie how judicious these galenists are , one of them living not far from leaden-hall-street , got into his clutches ( by means of one of their ignorant plebeian advocates swarming in every place ) a patient , continuing in my hands less than forty eight hours , one mr. viner , a gentleman of the age of twenty eight years , endued with a most singular constitution , then lying sick of an acute ill-conditioned feaver at stepney , in the house belonging to the bowling-green , whom i ingaged to restore to his former strength , if he would have been ruled by me . at the same time within the same walls lay also sick another gentleman , captain catesby , forty years old , tyred out with adversity , sorely afflicted with a malignant feaver , and a patient of the aforesaid galenists for the continuance of four or five days , who not daring to give him a vomit , in his great straits implored my help , which i refused till his physician could in no wise relieve him , apprehending him in a most dangerous , if not mortal , state . in this difficult case i obliged my reputation for his recovery from his pestilent feaver , withal promised , if he would be governed by me , to preserve him from relapse , or subsequent infirmities ; which i brought to pass judiciously in deed . the other gentleman , kept to fulsome cacostomachical doses , and flat dull liquors , mouldred and dwindled away about three quarters of a year after ; which had never been ( as i can undertake , also effect in the like form of sickness twenty times ) if he had listned obediently to me . note this slie galenist was so effront to attribute ( as i heard ) the death of his patient to my hot remedies given him at first . a servant of a noble person had his leg destinated to be cut off by these judicious galenists , which by my chymical remedies was preserved with the whole . an ingenious citizen tyred out by a long and a grievous disease for the space of a year and half , having spent nigh fourscore pounds upon these judicious physicians , who put him to run the circle of their tedious , fruitless method , again and again to no purpose , was in a short space restored by remedies philosophically prepared , as mr. stringer the apothecary knows . one of those doctors gravelled in the aforesaid long malady , bled a pleuritical person twice in four or five days , without either judgement or mercy upon the poor gentlewoman : when he attempted to let out the vital juyce the third time , i intercepted him , warranting upon solid grounds to cure her chymically , which was done effectually . multitude of such instances of their weak judgement i could produce , which i must defer to a more happy opportunity , lest i incur prolixity . 't is well known to some who have an eye upon my method and medicaments , that i every year cure with discretion those whom the galenical judgement can in no wise alleviate . if they have atchieved , or can do the like for the future , let them declare it practically with sober and serious prognosticks . how mountebank-like doth — stubbe boast of his generous medicaments , yet dares not bring them to light , that we may see the probation of them judiciously ; which i offer and frequently tender to them , but am still repulsed : veritas non quaerit angulos . although the galenists are not such open mountebanks as those frequenting smith-field or tower-hill , yet are they as close slie ones as any in the world : and had i time and leisure , i should manifestly shew how they are coincident , and directly suit one with the other in divers accidents and circumstances . i hope some brave zealot for truth will publish a narrative of the galenical mountebanks , and their infamous disingenuous ways , about the same time when — stubbe writes a history of chymical mountebanks and bold experimentors , as he threatens . for my part , i am equally disaffected to both ( there being in neither barrel better herring . ) touching this lying brazen-face his twitting me with the impudent actions of mr. odowd , i do protest that i never approved his illiterate rash presumptuous undertakings ; neither did i ever countenance or favour him in any company , otherwise then civilly in relation to his majesty , who was pleased to give him a kinde aspect , from a consideration of some notable cures ( as was reported ) attained by him , which those eminent galenists could not accomplish . dr. sermons had ( for such a reason ) his majesties serene influence , and sir richard barker was perhaps honoured upon the same score . if the king is pleased to cast an eye of grace upon those vulgar inferiour chymists , who have sometime out-done the galenists ; what would he do ( if he were rightly informed ) for the chymical philosopher , who can and hath ( if opportunity be not lost ) opened a passage for relief , when the best of the galenists were in a straight , knowing not what to do more ? witness the cure , not long ago , of a great lady of the court , performed by dr. godhard ( i mean not that ambidexter , or affectator of chymistry ) who in all likelihood lost his own life to save his patients . how the galenical course can be secure and beneficial , if we may judge of a tree by its fruits , i do not in the least understand : forasmuch as i can make evident before any judicature whatsoever , that the method and medicaments of these opinionated galenists , are either positively or privatively dangerous . if i make good this ( as i doubt not ) then the obstinate professors of such a false traditional art , contrary to the institutions of nature , ought to be indited , and receive suitably a condigne mulct . for according to the law of god , he who doth venture , ludere cum corio humano , sporting and applauding himself , as if he had done a brave exploit , to kill a man with the best method in the world , is bound to make good skin for skin . assuredly , seeing the law of man either is or should be grounded upon the law of god , and an execution thereof ought to be made on those who often violate the same ; how severely will a wise , righteous judge or jury censure those , who plead innocence ex dicto , but dare not justifie it ex facto , respecting the future as well as what is past ? if any repute ( as this brazen-face affirms ) chymistry no art , he ought to be looked upon as one of a crasie brain , or desperately malicious , who will say any thing for his own interest ▪ a meer terrae filius , who onely applies his studie to the art of imposture of getting money , preferring traditiones hujus artis , before the institutiones dei & natura . those anomalous methodists ( who declaim against this mistress of arts ) exercising an art to make and spin out diseases for their lucre , ought legally to be proscribed , as the romans once did for five hundred years ; and the true methodical chymist , who observes a speedy order ( without sordid respects ) in healing , deserves to be entertained , encouraged and cherished . we hope princes will not reject that art , and the legitimate professors thereof , which is the best support of their life . if any abuse this profession , i readily subscribe that they may be punished : but let not those be judges , who ought of all first to be reformed , and animadverted : for iustum ab injustis petere insipientia est . neither let paucity or scarcity of able professors damnifie the truth of this science . the laboratorie i then had , which that emissary and trappanner iohnson represented in a disguised contemptible manner to his masters , i avow he never saw . albeit , granting what he related should pass for currant , any sober man of knowledge will commend me , rather for offering and executing greater things by so contemptible instruments , then those who boast of their magnificent elaboratory , yet fall off from vindicating the happy fruits and products thereof experimentally . concerning what he meaneth , that we shall see how unfortunate paracelsus , severinus davus and others were , i confidently presage will be most gross lies . against his silly moth-eaten authors he cites of three hundred years standing , i object that in this particular their authority is out of date , neither are the oldest always the wisest . moreover , the scene of our truculent diseases act different to what they did in former times , being much more graduated , in their virulencie complicated , become degenerate into others of a mixt nature , and confounded in their symptoms , able to deceive even the very helmontians . as to his pitiful story of those who have been blouded ( as he reports ) in the small-pox , with immediate alleviation : i reply as he did , who viewing the monuments of those in the temple of neptune having escaped shipwrack , demanded where the monuments of those were , who were cast away . were it possible those three illustrious souls could come from the intelligible world , and appear here unto us , they would tell st●●ibe another story quite different from the former . the injunction i have from divine writ to contend for the truth , doth please me ( i confess ) to challenge those thraso's to an essay of skill , who coming off with so pitiful an evasion that i am inconsiderable , makes them plainly ridiculous , worthy to be hissed at . for let my self be never so inconsiderable , yet any sage sceptick will allow truth to be never the worse , though cloathed in rags . saepe sub att●ita latita● sapien●ia veste . a wise humble man will not think it amiss to be instructed from his very enemy never so mean ; fas est ab hoste doceri . all things duly considered , invitatus ad haec aliquis de ponte negabit ; none but one of the spirit of a beggars brat , would flight what i offer for an universal benefit . these poor excuses run directly parallel with a braving hector , denying a challenge into the field , sent him from a modest wise man abused by him . although the philosophical chymist can work no miracles ( as some foolishly fancie and expect from him ) yet it may be reckoned one of the wonders of the world , that the chymical art should get so much ground on its adversaries in so few years , meerly by its own worth ; considering what a vogue the misochymists have had formerly among the multitude ; also what an infinite number of all sorts , if interested persons , have contumaciously pleaded and defended their unjust cause : so that divisum imperium cum iove daemon habet . for all that , 't is plain they have lost a great part of the former possession of their coemeteries ; and many intelligent persons daily fall off from them ; yea , i question not , but at length they will quite be thrown out of all , although they pretend to have eleven points of the law on their side . what stubbe describes that our party hath been , not onely out-talked , but out-done by theirs ; as likewise , that the cures of erastus transcend those of paracelsus , is decumanum mendacium . for as to his first assertion , i am ready to offer to contradict and out-do them ; which they dare not put to tryal . touching the second , the bishop of salisbury hath sufficiently informed us by an epitaph of a catalogue of diseases ( reputed by the galenists incurable ) overcome by paracelsus arcana . stubbe threatens a prudent regulation of their faculty ; i wish i could see it , but i suppose it must be done ( if ever ) by the authentick chymist . i also hear a rumour of a new dispensatory coming to light ; i hope some culpeper will not be wanting to correct and comment upon it . i wish their new fabrick be laid upon the basis of righteousness ; which i much doubt , sith the ground-work thereof is too much placed upon galenical principles , a most sandy foundation . pardon me , courteous reader , that i have insisted so long upon the sharp reproof of the vanities and untruths of this adversary of the chymical science . i should not question to have made you amends , could we but have drawn this mountebank-like or quacksalvering-galenist to an experimental s●ake . it would make rare sport to see how the chymical mountebanks and quacks would hate him , if he could not make good his hypotheses for bloud-letting . wherefore seeing i cannot , at present , bring him to any handsome terms , so that a specimen of his activity of curing ( he glories in ) might be manifested : i leave him to those like himself . so let them fight dog , fight bear , when they meet one with another . i shall onely add this caution , that those plagiaries would desist for the future , to steal useful verities out of paracelsus and van helmont , yet ungratefully and disingenuously to detract from , and disown them , neglecting to commend the stile or bridge they pass over . for 't is an infallible truth , no fixed great disease can be cured , but by the method and medicaments proportionable to what that great philosopher hath delivered . a vindication of the authors stomack-essence , and other effectual remedies , from the slanders and active ignorance of the galenists . that the greatest enemies ( which have hitherto calumniated , yea , at this day do defame , supplant , and hinder the advancement of this beneficial most useful chymical science , as likewise eclipse the credit of the true philosophical defenders of the same ) are the meerly interested , obstinate and wilfully blinde galenists , is a truth as clear as the beams of the sun no way intercepted . the pretty pranks these sophistical wits have play'd out of a designment to suppress the happy progress of the helmontian doctrine , would make a man sometimes laugh with democritus : to look no farther then their ridiculous apologies , excuses and pretences , if at any time they are provoked to fair tryals for making good the axioms of their art : to contemplate their childish evasions , when they are non-plust in their natural philosophy , not able to satisfie any intelligent person : to observe their vulpone-like windings , intrigues and nimble diversions , when physical truth follows them closely at the heels : to hear them chatter like magpies , without any savory , solid , practical information to the hearers : to discover their stellionated and counterfeit devices , in making the world believe , that they are the onely true chymists ; yet they renounce and rail against the best endowed artists : to hear them magnifie their bleeding and pharmacie , yet to leave the city in plague-time to shift for themselves ; would make any splenetick person break forth into a profuse laughter . but to weigh seriously their mortiferous bloud-letting , their poysonous purgations ( melting and reducing poor mortals too soon to their first principles , whereby their very souls are sometimes damnified ) : their way of weakning nature , and strengthning diseases : their crucifying , torturing , butchering , yet ineffectual course , by issues , blisterings , scarifications , &c. their endeavours to stifle any good remedie , if it square not with their own particular vile respects : to apprehend affectuously how many thousand poor orphans and widows are yearly made by these perverse sectaries of galen , one who i believe was far more ingenuous than his disciples : to ponder , i say , these things from the very bottom of the intellectual part , were sufficient to cause one to lament and weep bitterly with heraclitus . how these misochymists have opposed all virtuous actions in healing , how they have still kept down , by their usurped authority , those who would willingly and up for the health of the miserable sons of adam , is not easily to be expressed by the tongue of any mortal . all their study hath principally been , to defame , detract and traduce those worthies , paracelsus , van helmont , the lord bacon , &c. to wrangle with them , to pick holes in their coat ; to examine with strict inspection their humane failings , but slightly to pass by and disregard their extraordinary gifts , and manifestation of arcana's zealously communicated to posterity ; by which these ungratefull persecutors of this science are enabled to do something extraordinary covertly , for the keeping up their tottering credit . yea , so malicious are the haters of physical ingenuity , that they would , if possible , stifle any generous medicament ( not squaring with their filthy lucre , laziness and grandeur ) which the wise disposer of all things hath bestowed , as he pleaseth , upon those inconsiderable ( in their blear-eyes ) and contemptible chymists , for greater benefit to mankinde , then the huge pile of an ignoble insufficient dispensatory , contrived by vulgarly admired , over-valued doctors . so full of rancour and malice are the galenists against the upright pyrotechnists , that a iew never hated a samaritan more then they do these ; yea such hath been the desperate ill-favoured designes of a dogmatist against a chymist , that ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) many a generous philosopher hath for the stable avouching the virtues of chymical remedies made of tartar , &c. been in danger to be sent packing to the tartarean-shades : yea , so cynick-like envious are they , that imitating the dog in the manger , they will neither labour to do good themselves , nor suffer others . if an honest mr. iob weal , a singular physician , and accurate apothecary , have by his industry acquired the knowledge of an efficacious preparation , ( as lac sulphuris ) they presently cry out of it as poyson , fitting to be thrown into the kennel . if dr. godhard , one of their former sociates , obtained the happiness to have revealed to him the powerful operation of some volatile alkalies , which cure beyond their weak non-sensical method and medicaments , they presently excommunicate and endeavour to out-law him . if a learned dr. starkey prepare an anodyne pill , or any arcanum to lenifie poor mortals grief , they and all their clients are presently in an uproar with occlamitations , that he is a dangerous physician , either quickly killing or curing . now it hath pleased the omnipotent philanthropos to impart to the meanest of his servants the knowledg of this helpful remedy , the stomach essence ( and several other not vulgar medicines ) they are ready in ambush upon all occasions to backbite , disesteem , carp , cavil and condemn them , as too hot , strong , dangerous and violent . all which they will have simply believed , without farther probation : in the same manner , as if one of the same trade should depretiate , vilifie , or debase another shop-keepers commodities , yet refuse to justifie , by the touch-stone of sensible examination , before a lawful magistrate , the disrepute falsly brought upon anothers wares ; certainly none ought to deny , but that he who doth deal so unworthily in this kinde , deserves to be forced in a legal way , to give satisfaction to the wronged party . this is all in chief i expostulate and demand of the galenists , that they would forbear unhandsomely to impeach my medicaments according to their own perverse opinions , suppositions or phansies , and crazie conceits of their populars , without a right , judicious , visible , legitimate proof : that whensoever they injuriously call me mountebank , or quacksalver , or animate the more ignoble sort of apothecaries , ( for some of the gentlest , ablest , best artists , are more civil and handsome towards me ) so to do , they would in earnest reflect upon themselves , deliberately pondering who hath most aptly purchased these scoffs and taunts ? they who in time of the plague ran away , leaving spiritus antiloimoides ( to which they did not dare to trust themselves ) ( a very insufficient medicament , as i am ready to demonstrate , against such an atrocious disease ) ( as it plainly appeared by its effects , upon their mock-chymist , iohnson and others ) to be published in the weekly intelligence , as if it were some rare arcanum working miracles ; whereas it was but a meer meteor , so vanished away , never to be heard of by them , or seen to this day : or this inconsiderable baconist , who with confidence , and utmost care , attended all infected persons that came or sent unto me , poor as well as rich ; administring with my own fingers such appropriate remedies ( without hanging out a bush , or setting any one to make an out-cry of their hyperbolical virtues ) which at this day i patronize ( as they are described in loimotomia , or pest dissected ) ready to produce them for their vindication experimentally from the malice or ignorance of all opponents . let those also who have got the best of their practice by means of a theatrical concourse of vulgars , make a query in cooler bloud , when at any time in their furious passion they vent against me the foresaid invective undecent language , an de ipsismet fabula narretur , whether they may not rather take themselves by the nose , setting the saddle upon the right horse , then mount — , get up and ride openly into smithfield or tower-hill , and forbear to go any more into a — corner . let them moreover canvase who of us have been the truest friend to the sick man , keeping up the honour and reputation of physick ; the doctors , who have vilely venditated it by their prophane prescriptions ; yea , have suffered to be put into a frame , or pasted up , and to be publickly exposed to all passengers , medicaments ( perhaps so trivial and mean , as the foresaid spirit . antiloimoid . ) approved and licensed under their seal ; or g.t. who hath always been prudently tender to bring any such infamy upon physick . all things thus duly premeditated , i know no reason but i may without scandal to this eminent science , bring to light decently for the solid benefit of my distressed country-men , some noble remedies , especially this comfortable stomach-essence , declaring sincerely the singular endowments thereof for the health of man , as i have by manifold repetitions of tryals found to be true . the vertues hereof i shall transcribe out of haematiasis ; setting them down here more plainly , that meaner capacities may understand the use or application of this remedy , which although one of my lowest rank , is able explicately to baffle divers of h. s. quacking generous medicaments . notwithstanding , first i must give warning to all intelligent men , that the ignorant , rash , envious censures delivered by — stubbe , and the rest of the galenical tribe , with all their sticklers , to wit , that ess. st. is preternatural , or effectively too hot , strong , dangerous and violent ; are absolute untruths , to be discovered by the test of offered experience . if then they refuse the probation of its innocence , the father of lyes ought to be believed as soon as such his disciples . wherefore i signifie that it exceedingly strengthens the stomack , helps its digestion , encreaseth and makes active the vital spirits , and their instruments by which they work ( called ferments ) rectifies the spleen , scatters and expels wind , vapours , or any wandring wilde spirit , which flies in a moment from one place to another , vexing the parts . it sweetens in some measure the sharpness of the thin liquors in the body , which oftentimes causes pains , fevers , &c. it subtilly enters the veins and arteries , being carryed about with the bloud , which it very much cleanses . it carries off to the outside whatsoever is impure , causing a kindely breathing in the skin . it also causeth urine , conveying gravel from the kidneys , hindring that it may not be engendred and fixed . it is helpful in difficulty and pain of making water , coming forth sometimes by drops . 't is of great service against pains of the side ; the colick ; griping of the guts . it is a very great cordial , preserving from fainting , and restoring those who are surprized with loss of vital spirits . it is very effectual to keep one from , and to cure surfeits . it is very powerfully good against the scurvy , or any poysonous ill-conditioned infectious evils . it prevents and helps to cure all kinde of fevers . it quencheth the thirst to an admiration , above all supposed cooling things whatsoever : ( so that a gentleman , mr. sa. wainwright in york-shire , hath given it under his hand , that he was perfectly cured by means of this stomack-essence of a strange preposterous thirst , troubling him twenty five years after meat ; which he could never before conquer , for that it came hereditary from his father and grand-father , afflicted therewith all their lives time , especially towards night . ) it bringeth preternatural heat or coldness to a due moderation , by removing the efficient cause thereof , reducing the parts to their former strength . it is available against fits of the mother ; the whites . it dissolves congealed , curdled matter ; ripeneth raw juyces , bringing them either to a better condition for the use of nature , or preparing them to be sent packing out of the body , by convenient ways and medicaments . it abates a nauseous disposition or vomiting , by confirming the membranes of the stomack , and by promoting the throwing off that which disturbs it . it cutteth and cleanseth away slimy birdlime-like flegme , giving ease in difficulty of breathing , mitigating the violence of the tissick . it is admirably useful against melancholy imaginations , passions from the spleen , &c. called hypochondriack : an evil state of body arising for want of proportionable nutriment , or from galenical medicaments . it availeth against the dropsie , or consumptions . the frequent use thereof strengthens the brain , sinews , loyns , memory , and all the senses . stom . ess. outwardly applyed , challengeth noble effects : for 't is very healing , balsamical , curing green wounds and plain soars , being often touched therewith . i have hitherto found it constant in happily curing burnings , scorchings or scaldings ; some drops being frequently distilled thereon , and forced inward by the bottom of a smooth glass . i cannot but experimentally commend it as one of the best asswagers of the pain of the teeth , i have hitherto met with . it is also of great force to preserve them from corruption , likewise in part to restore them ; resisting the putrifaction of the gums . neither is it be contemned for the mitigation of the pains of any part , strengthning and quickning the vital spirit thereof . with many more laudable properties is stom . ess. or alexi-stomachon endued , which the frequent use thereof , and a longer strict observation , will bring to light . one odd operation i have found in this stom . ess. that by accident it sometimes causeth vomiting , &c. upon an account that it powerfully corroborates nature to discharge foul matter , which before kept it under subjection . a patient of quality did within a few days hence relate to me , the strange effects in this kinde it had upon him : being brought to the gates of death , and tyred out with a galenical course of dyet-drinks , salt of steel , purging medicaments of mercury , &c. he took some few drops of this alexis . six or twelve hours after which , he was freed from abundance of filthy excrements , both by stool and vomit . thus continuing to take more freely of the same medicine , producing for many days the same effect , he was in great measure restored from the sad impressions of those cacostomachical preparations . the quantity to be given , is measured by the greatness and stubbornness of the disease : for sometimes ten or twenty times as much as the common portion , ought to be offered : neither is it to be feared that any hurt will arise therefrom . the ordinary dose , or extent of giving it , is twenty , thirty , forty , fifty , sixty drops in a draught of any strong liquor , as beer , ale , separate or mixt ; sometimes wine , as sack , or whatsoever doth best relish with the person . it may be taken at any time when the stomack is out of order , troubled with indigestion , wind , pains , gripes , or any of the foresaid vexations ; then let them take liberally thereof . he that constantly takes every morning thirty or forty drops , shall prevent many mischiefs in reference to his health . i doubt not but the galeno-chymists or pseudo-chymists will like apes endeavour to imitate and counterfeit this experienced essence ( which before i am convinced by fact , i shall presume to prefer before any medicament of its rank , yet visibly extant among us ) . of such i shall advise my countrymen to beware , for these adulteraters will but disgrace and degrade it ; for i am sure none can finde out the true way of making it , unless he be a knowing philosopher , working with his own hands , and taking preparations into his own stomack . thus much i advertise ; he that dextrously can volatilize salt of tartar , may do something tending to this purpose , otherwise not . he that desires to be farther instructed concerning the defence of the virtues of this essence , and the disproving of what is spoken against it by malevolents ; let him read with integrity the just commendation of it in haematiasis , &c. indefatigable perseverance in opening bodies by the fire , and the repeated assumption of what was thence produced , hath brought me to the knowledge of a pill i call polychrest , which consists of three golden sulphurs from minerals well purified , and friendly to nature ; whose innocence , as well as effectual operation , is remarkable , and upon tryal to be justified by any who understands a good remedy . they are conducible in most diseases . they act by cleansing , opening , corroborating and purifying the bloud , without leaving the least ill impress behinde , for they contain no laxative so noxious as sena or rewbarb . they are of great force to conquer the scurvie : also prevalent against the dropsie . they prevent the stone , and carry off gravel . they sweeten sharp liquors in the bodie . they overcome the venereal or foul disease , if taken a considerable time : neither is it to be suspected , that one may be weakned by the long frequent use of them ; for they , contrary to other purging concretes , make one more lusty and vigorous , as i have found in my having taken above a thousand of them with an advancement of my strength . they reform the spleen ; help to cure feavers , prevent relapses and long maladies . they may be swallowed at any time of the day or night ; neither will they cause injury , but rather benefit , if they loosen not the body in twenty four hours , which is rare , for usually they give a stool or two in that space . the dose is two or three pills a little before supper , or early in the morning . the patient proceeding thu● for three or four days , and resting a day or two , and then repeating them . tinctur . nost . emetica , is profitable in all malignant feavers , in the griping or loosness of the belly , difficulty of breathing , pain of the sides , headach , diseases of the stomack and spleen . it leaves the vitals more cheerful and active . it matters not whether it work or no by vomit or stool ; however , it will do good by breathing sweat , or causing urine , if the party be capable . it may be given a week together , at any time of the day or night . i often give it in bed . pul. emeto catharticus is profitable in many diseases ( as emetica tinctur . ) it searches out the morbifick matter , leaving wholesome juyces untouched : when other vomits are given in vain , this profiteth . pil. emeto cathart . are useful for the same diseases , as pulvis emeto , cathar . polyacea , tinctura solaris or balsamica , are great supporters of nature , and tamers of malignant fevers ; they go into all parts , illuminate and augment their archeus or vitals . they carry off by sweat , urine and expectoration . there are few diseases which will not somewhat yeild to these cordials , if exhibited in a just proportion . elixir . proprietat . nost . resists putrifaction , opens the spleen , helps digestion , purifies the bloud : it is very cordial , expels the menstrua stopped , and gives a check to them flowing excessively . it is most efficacious to cause an easie and speedy delivery in difficult labour of women . its dose is from ten to an hundred drops or more in strong liquor . with several other salutary remedies could i acquaint the world ; but now i must desist , hoping god may spare my life till the edition of my physical observations : the history , cause , and cure of three cholick-stones , of a vast unwonted magnitude : also the history of the ex●ction of the spleen out of a dog , that lived two years and a quarter after very lively and well ; with sufficient reasons to back the experiment : the diseases of the spleen , with preservative and curatory instructions of the same . lastly , a synopsis , or abridgement of loimotomia , the dissection of a pestilential body ; all in latine , wherein materia medica and its philosophical management shall be more amply examined . i intend likewise , when i have vacant hours , to put — stubbe his reply into a retort , &c. and if he put me to it , to write a narrative of the tedious and absurd method , medicaments , and imposterous cures of the galenical mountebanks . from queens-street , formerly called soper-lane , nigh cheapside , in well-court ; being lately removed from dukes-place . the practise of chymicall, and hermeticall physicke, for the preseruation of health. written in latin by iosephus quersitanus, doctor of phisicke. and translated into english, by thomas timme, minister ad veritatem hermeticae medicinae ex hippocratis responsio. english du chesne, joseph, ca. 1544-1609. 1605 approx. 464 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 106 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a20901 stc 7276 estc s109967 99845596 99845596 10505 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a20901) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 10505) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 988:07) the practise of chymicall, and hermeticall physicke, for the preseruation of health. written in latin by iosephus quersitanus, doctor of phisicke. and translated into english, by thomas timme, minister ad veritatem hermeticae medicinae ex hippocratis responsio. english du chesne, joseph, ca. 1544-1609. tymme, thomas, d. 1620. [208] p. printed by thomas creede, london : 1605. josephus quersitanus = joseph du chesne. a translation of: ad veritatem hermeticae medicinae ex hippocratis responsio. signatures: a⁴ *² b-2b⁴ 2c² . the first leaf and the last leaf are blank. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng alchemy -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. medicine, magic, mystic, and spagiric -early works to 1800. 2006-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-11 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-11 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the practise of chymicall , and hermeticall physicke , for the preseruation of health . written in latin by iosephus quersitanus , doctor of physicke . and translated into english , by thomas timme , minister . london . printed by thomas creede , 1605. to the right honorable , sir charles blunt , earle of deuonshire , l. mounti●y , lieutenant general of ireland , m. of the ordinance , gouernour and captaine general of the towne and garison of portsmouth , and the i le of portsey , knight of the noble order of the garter , and one of his maiesties most honourable priuie councell . i i may seeme ( right honorable ) an admirable and new paradox , that halchymie should haue concurrence and antiquitie with theologie , the one seeming meere humane , and the other diuine . and yet moses , that auncient theologue , describing & expressing the most wonderfull architecture of this great world , tels vs that the spirit of god moued vpon the water : which was an indigested chaos or masse created before by god , with confused earth in mixture : yet , by his halchymicall extraction , seperation , sublimation , and coniunction , so ordered and conioyned againe , as they are manifestly seene a part and sundered : in earth , fyer included , ( which is a third element ) and ayre , ( a fourth ) in water , howbeit inuisibly . of which foure elements , two are fixed , as earth and fire : and two volatil , as water & ayre . that spiritual motion of the first mouer , god , hath inspired al the creatures of this vniuersal world , with that spirit of life ( which may truely be called the spirit of the world ) which naturally moueth , and secretly acteth in all creatures , giuing them existence in three , to wit , salt , sulphure , and mercury , in one huposiasis . mercurie congealing sulphur , & sulphur mercurie , neither of them being without their salt , the chiefest meane by whose helpe nature bringeth forth al vege●●●ls , minerals , & animals . so that of these 3. whatsoeuer is in nature , hath his original , & is compacted of them , and so mingled with the 4. elements , that they make one body . therefore this diuine halchymie , through the operatiō of the spirit ( without the which the elemental & material character , letter , and forme , profiteth not ) was the beginning of time , & of terrestrial existence , by which all things liue , moue , and haue their being ; consisting of body , soule , & spirit , whether they be vegetals , minerals , or animals : reseruing only this difference , that the soules of men & angels are reasonable & immortal , according to the image of god himself , & the sensuals ( as beasts and such like ) not so . moreouer , as the omnipotēt god , hath in the beginning , by his diuine wisedom , created the things of the heuēs & earth , in weight , mūber , & measure , depēding vpō most wonderfull proportion & harmony , to serue the time which he hath appointed : so in the fulnesse & last period of time ( which approacheth fast on ) the 4. elements ( whereof al creatures consist ) hauing in euery of thē 2. other elements , the one putrifying and combustible , the other eternal & incombustible , as the heauen , shall by gods halchymie be metamorphosed and changed . for the combustible hauing in them a corrupt stinking feces , or drossie matter , which maketh thē subiect to corruption , shal in that great & generall refining day , be purged through fire : and then god wil make new heauens and a new earth , and bring all things to a christalline cleernes , & wil also make the 4. elements perfect , simple , & fixed in themselues , that al things may be reduced to a quintessence of eternitie . thus ( right honourable ) you see a paradox , no paradox , & a hieroglyphick plainly disciphered . for halchymie tradeth not alone with transmutation of metals ( as ignorant vulgars thinke : which error hath made them distaste that noble science ) but shee hath also a chyrurgical hand in the anatomizing of euery mesenteriall veine of whole nature : gods created handmaid , to conceiue and bring forth his creatures . for it is proper to god alone to create something of nothing : but it is natures taske to forme that which he hath created . vvherefore if the foole which hath in his hart said , there is no god , will put away the mist of ignorance and infidelitie , and behold the power and wisedome of god in his creatures , manifested more particularly , and inwardly by the art of halchymie , imitating nature in seperating from one substance , be it vegetall , mimeral , or animal , these three , salt , sulphur , and mercurie , shal by that mistery , as in glasse , discerne the holy and most glorious trinitie , in the vnitie of one hupostasis diuine . for the inuisible things of god ( saith the apostle ) that is , his eternal power and god-head , are seene by the creation of the world , being considered in his workes . this phylosophy therefore ( my good lord ( is not of that kind which tendeth to vanity and deceit , but rather to profit and to edification , inducing first the knowledge of god , & secondly the way to find out true medicine in his creatures . plato saith , that phylosophy is the imitating of god , so farforth as man is able : that we may knowe god more and more , vntill we behold him face to face , in the kingdome of heauen . so that the scope of phylosophy , is to seeke to glorifie god in his wonderfull workes : to teach a man how to liue wel , and to be charitably affected in helping our neighbour . this philosophy natural , both speculatiue & actiue , is not only to be found in the volume of nature , but also in the sacred scripture : as in genesis , in the booke of iob , in the psalmes , in syrach , and in other places . in the knowledge of this philosophy , god made salomon to excel all the kings & phylosophers that were in the world , whereby the queene of sheba was allured to take a long iourney , to make an experiment of that wisedome , whereof she had heard so great fame , and found it by effect farre greater . anaxagoras a noble gentleman , but more noble in wisdome and vertue : crates , antisthenes , with many others , contemned the pleasures of the world and gaue thēselues to the studie of naturall philosophie . philosophers haue brought more profit to the world then did ceres , who inuented the increase of corne & grain : then did bacchus , that found out the vse of wines : then did hercules , which ridde the world of monsters . for these things belong to the maintenance of bodily life and pleasure : but philosophy instructeth and nourish ▪ the soule it selfe . this phylosophy , together with the most rare , excellent & healthful physicke linked to true grounds ; and vpholden by daily experience , the very marow of true medicine , & the quintessence of marow it selfe , i most humbly present vnto your honours hands , as a iewel of prise , to procure and preserue health : which ptolomeus the sonne of antiochus valued at so high a rate , that he gaue to erasistratus a noble physitian , on hundred talents for the curing of antiochus . my labour herein , be it but as the apple , which acontius gaue to beautiful cydippe to make knowne his amorous affection : yet being tendred with no lesse good wil , in al humilitie i beseech your honour to accept : hartily wishing that as you are a principal piller of this common wealth , so it may be a meane to preserue you in health with long life , to your countries good ( as heretofore ) and to gods glorie . thus crauing pardon for my bold conceit , i euer resolue to be , at your lordships honourable pleasure and command , right humbly t. timme . the fore-speech to the reader . albeit the profession of theologie , standeth vpon the infallible foundation of gods word , yet among diuines , there haue risen diuers opinions and sects . among the 〈…〉 people ) were pharisies , saduces , esseis , and gaulenists : beside the false worship of turkes , affricans , tartars , persians , cataians , and indians . among christians , there are papists and protestants . the papists , which call themselues catholiques , haue diuided themselues into dominicans , franciscans , iesuits , seminaries , seculars , scotists , tomists , occamists , &c. among protestants , haue sprung vp , anabaptists , familists , and brownists . as in diuine , so in humane sciences speculatiue , grounded only vpon probable coniectures , there haue risen also among the professors thereof , diuers and contrary opinions , & sectaries . among the phylosophers , were stoicks , peripaticks , platonists , cinnicks , and epicures . among physitians , there are empericks , dogmaticks , methodici , or abbreuiators , and paracelsians . the more part of these , plunged in humane error , & misled by carnal respects , as singularitie , enuie , pride and ambition , hath dissented from others of sound and vpright iudgement . but some of these ayming at perfection , and hauing the aduantage of succession and other helpes , haue by tyme procreated a plaine and naked truth . for this latter age of the world , abounding in all maner of learning , & with men of mature and pregnant wits , haue greatly inlarged , illustrated , and refined all artes and sciences . if therfore endymions diligence , which first found out the course of the moone : if amphions musical brayne , which first conceiued harmonie : if appolonius memphites , whose industrie first described the anatomie of mans body : if chyron , which first discerned the vertue of hearbes , and taught aesculapius physicke : if hermes trismegistus , the first that reached & attained the aethereal and quintessentiall physick : if ( i say ) these , and many others , in their rare inuentions , haue deserued singular commendation : then hypocrates , galen , discorides , valerius cordus , paracelsus , learned quersitanus , & others moe , which haue added any thing to the enlarging and perfecting of that noble science of physicke , are to be imbraced and honoured , albeit they agree not together in opinion for that they all by their labours haue sought the good of mankinde . honour therefore the physitian ( saith iesus syrach ) for the lord hath created him , and giuen men knowledge , that he might be glorified in his wonderous workes . but some readers of their works , not carrying this moderation , like midas , preferre pan before appollo , condemning chymicall physicke , halchymie , and the spagericke art , as too curious , dangerous , and desperate to bee dealt withall . alleaging also ( which is too true ) that many halchymists are notable sophysticators and deceiuers . the meaning of some , by these and such like pretences , is nothing else , but like bad and vnskilfull herborists , to sowe rocket , and to weede endiue . yet let such carpers know , that the abuse of art doth not abrogate the right vse thereof . for as if the tree be blasted that blossomes , the fault is in the winde , & not in the roote : so the fault is not to be ascribed to arte , which is not in arte , but the artificer which is vnworthy the name . and in very deed , it were to be wished , for common vtillities sake , that all such cozoners and deceiuers , might be banished out of cittie and countrey , and from all societie of honest men , which without lawfull allowance , take vpon them such professing and practise : or at the least , that they might be restrayned , that through their leaudnes , that art be not disgraced , which the ancients did not let to call holy. and for my part , i doubt not , but that one aomus or other , wil recompence me with balme , and say that i am out of my element , in that i being a professed diuine , should take vpon me to meddle with physicke , & to publish that in the vulgar tongue , which was more fit to be in the latine , as i found it . to this i answer , that a generalitie in humane learning , beseemeth a diuine : and of all sciences none more sutable to profession than physick , as i could easily proue by many reasons . and therfore the wisedom of christ appointed the myracles , wrought by himself & his apostles , to consist chiefly in healing corporal infirmities . s. luke was both a professed physitian , & an euangelist . it cannot be but a commendable labour , & a charitable worke in whomsoeuer , to seeke by good means to preserue life , be it but of thy neighbors oxe , or asse : this my labor i am sure is wel intended , hosoeuer cōstrued . but a wand thrust neuer so right into the water , seemeth crooked or broken : euen so a bad heart misconceiueth good actions . as concerning the publishing of this in english , i haue these inducements . first , the common good of all men . for euen the ignorant shall learne hereby , to haue in high reputation ( as is fitting ) that which before they vnderstood not , & so wil the more readily in time of need haue recourse to the learned physitian . moreouer , if the knowledge of holy writ be conuenient for al sorts of men , as the physick proper for the soule , why should not natural phylosophy , and physick speculatiue , be common likewise to al for the health of the body ? therfore herein , i say as moses said : enuiest thou for me ? i would al the lords people were prophets . so i wish , that all which are capable , had the true speculatiue knowledge of physick . then should physick and phylosophy , not only haue a more great and general esteeme , but also euery meane apothecarie , the physitians left hand , should wel vnderstand how to elixerate , which is greatly to be wished . as for the time which i haue spent herein , it is my gaine : happily extracted from idle time , whereas otherwise for my recreation , i might vnhappily haue done nothing : and yet haue not neglected my pastorall function . if therefore ( courteous reader ) by this my painfull pleasure , thou mayest procure to thy selfe , but one scruple of knowledge more than before thou haddest , and in time of neede , one dramme of health , it is that which i seeke , wishing thee thy full contentment in all the gifts and graces of god , to thy further profite , and to gods glorie : to whose protection , i now leaue thee . the first booke of the practise of chymicall physicke . chap. i. not only hypocrates , but also all other famous philosophers which haue succeeded him , haue receiued their most principall grounds of physicke & phylosophy , from the aegiptians . for the aegiptians had a most singular knowledge of astronomy and of the celestial courses , together with the vniuersal science of the mathematickes , and of such like sciences . but the more generall knowledge of all sciences , is by strabo ascribed , before al others , to that admirable hermes trimegistus : as doth also diodorus siculus , who affirmeth , that the aegiptians were the first inuentors of sciences , taking their originall and infallible grounds from the same hermes , or mercury : whose diuine monuments are to be séene at this day . from this ancient author hermes , which liued in the first worldes , haue sprung vp all our hermetical philosophers and physitions , whose traditions , haue bene receiued and imbraced , not onely of all sorts of learned men in all countries , but also by the most noble and famous princes and kings , both gréekes , arabians , and latines . yet it must be confessed that the most ancient learned philosophers ▪ neither haue nor could deliuer such a general knowledge , wherin there was not something wanting , and whereof themselues were not ignorant . for ( to vse the words of learned guido ) we are infants carried vpon the shoulders of those great and lofty gyants , frō whose eminence we do behold , not onely those things which they saw , but many other misteries also , which they saw not . for no man is so sottish as to imagin that those first founders of physicke had attained to the exact & perfect knowledge of medicine , or of any other science : which hypocrates himselfe acknowledged in his epistle to democritus . the same hypocrates , howsoeuer otherwise singularly learned , and of all learned men for his monuments of medicine , to be had in great reputation and reuerence ; yet hath bewrayed his ignorance in mineralls , and metalline misteries : as appeareth in his booke of simp. where he intreating of quick-siluer , affirmeth that he neuer made tryail thereof , neither inwardly taken , nor outwardly applyed : bewraying his error in thinking that hydrargyre , & quick-siluer , were two seueral things : supposing that it was a medicine of siluer dissolued into water , like vnto potable golde . hereby ( i say ) he hath bewrayed his ignorance in metalline substance , in that he knew not hydrargyre , and quick-siluer to be all one . whereof neuer any man doubted , except he were so addicted to his teacher , that he wold say black is white , because his master saith so , which none of meane wit will do . for as we thinke them worthy of blame , which with newe found phantasies & toyes , do go about to burne & couer the errors of the reuerend fathers & ancients , as do many empiricks and deceiuers , vnder the name and profession of paracelsians : who also , do too stiffely and falsely ascribe to paracelsus , as to the onely author , the knowledge of hidden things & causes , the finding out of mysteries , & the true preparation of al remedies and medicines : so in like manner they are to be reprehended which holde it sufficient , so as they talke of galen without all reason , and affirme that he was ignorant of nothing , and that he came to the full knowledge of medicine . it is therefore well said of a learned & wel experienced lawyer , that it is a token of great rashnes , for wise men , either at the first to subscribe error , or to subuert that which might please , moderated with a temperate resolution . and yet learned men against all truth , do oftentimes barke against auncient writers , thinking it great honour and praise vnto them , if they be able in any sort to contend with their greatnesse . those phylosophers which haue written of chymistrie , haue to maintaine their science , nature , arte , and experience : by auncient practise deriued from the hebrues , chaldeis , aegiptians , persians , greekes , latines , and arabians . this science therefore is not grounded ( as some suppose ) vpon a vaine an imaginarie speculation , but is found most certaine and infallible to the procuring of health , and length of dayes to many , by the goodnesse of almighty god. neither doth this science onely affoord , common extractions of oyles and waters , by ordinary distillations , ( as many emperis doe imagine ) but also most precious elipirs & quintessences , much laboured , circulated , and wrought , by digestious concoctions , and fermentations , by the meanes whereof all impure and corrupt matter is defeked and separated , the euil quality corrected & amended , & that which is bitter , is made swéet . without the which operations , our bread , béere , & wine , the ordinary and most principal meanes of our nourishment , become hurtful & pernicious vnto vs. for if we should eat raw wheate , or hoyled onely in water : what & how many diseases would grow in vs ? for this cause we separate the pure from the impure , that they may be profitable for vs , as the meale from the bran , the which meale or flower , we mixe with water , we leauen and bake , whereof ariseth a great magistery , namely bread fit for nourishment : and by his artifice , apt to passe and turne into our flesh : in the working whereof , if there be but a little error , it wil not be so pleasing to the tast , nor so fitting to nourishment , as is to be séene in bread , either ill seasoned , or not wel baked : the which we reiect through these defaults . the like practise & worke is to be vsed in wines , if we desire to haue them fitte for our vse . for the pure must be separated from the impure , by boylings , digestions , and firmentations , separating from the kernells and skinnes , the liquor of the grapes , that it may be brought into pure wine . this done , and being put into vessels , it worketh newe seperations , fermentations , disgestions , and purgations , seperating the dregges and lées , from the pure substance of the wine ; the which so seperated , it becommeth fine and cleare , and is fit to be dranke for nourishment : whereas otherwise taken with the lees & not fined , it bréedeth dissenterie , fluxes , the stone , paine in the head , and procureth such like diseases . chymists therfore immitating nature in these kind of workings , and haue learned them in her schoole : finding by effect in natures worke , that if common & ordinary meates & drinkes vnprepared , vnseasoned , & rude , cannot be taken into our bodies without perill , then physitians , and apothecaries , ought to prepare , seperate & purge those simples which they shal vse for medicine , by arte seperating the crosse impurity , that they may not be more hurtful to the weake and sick , then profitable . if hypocrates or galen himselfe , were now againe aliue , they would excéedingly reioyce to sée art so inlarged & augmented by so great and noble addition , and would patronize and vpholde with their owne hands , that which was hidden from the old fathers in former ages : and reiecting many of these things , which before pleased them , yéelding to reason and experience , would gladly imbrace the new . for it is euident by their writings , how vncertaine and doubtful they be in many things , by reason of the weakenesse of the foundation whereon they haue builded . whose buldings notwithstanding , vtterly to ouerthrow , no wise and modest phhlosopher wil goe about , but will rather endeuour to vphold them , that posterity may well and assuredly knowe that we were not barren , but endued with the same wit that they had , and that our mindes were seasoned with that more noble salt . the which shall appeare , it not reiecting the writings of our elders , we shall inrich and adorne them with newe inuentions . for artes come by tradition , and are deliuered as it were from hand to hand , and euery one adorneth his arte with new inuentions , according as he excelleth others in dexteritie of wit. and albeit , it may be said , that it is an easie matter to adde to that which is inuented , yet both the inuentors , and also the augmentors , are to be thankfully imbraced . chap. ii. there are thrée principall things mixed in euery naturall bodie : to wit , salte , sulphur , and mercurie . these are the beginnings of all naturall things . but he , from whom all things haue their beginning is god , vppon whome all things do depende , hée himselfe subsisting by himselfe , and taking the originall of his essence from no other , and is therfore the first and efficient cause of all things . from his first beginning , procéedeth nature , as the second beginning , made by god himselfe through the power of his worde . this nature , next vnder god , ought to be religiously estéemed , thought of , enquired , and searched for . the knowledge hereof is very necessary , and wil be no lesse profitable : the searche and raunsacking thereof will be swéete and pleasing . the profite which commeth hereby , appeareth in this , that the knowledge of all things which consist thereof , and wherof they borrow thei● name and are called naturall things , procéedeth herehence whether they bée subiect to our sences , or aboue our sences . hereupon great philosophers , both christians and ethnicks haue bene mooued to make the signification of the name of nature , to sitte and serue almost all things . insomuch that aristotle himselfe , in that diuision which he maketh of nature , diuiding the same into the first and second nature , and speaking of the first , he calleth it naturam naturantem . naturing nature , by which he meaneth god. so in like manner zeno , a prince of stoikes , openlie taught , that nature was no other thing then god. therefore the first naturing nature is god ; but the seconde which properly is said to be nature , is subdiuided into vniuersall and particular . the vniuersall is that ordinarie power of god , diffused throughout the whole worlde , whereof it is sayd , that nature doth suffer this or that , or doth this or that , as augustine teacheth in his booke de ciuitate dei : and lactantius : and among heathen wryters , pliny and seneca . this vniuersall nature , is also taken for the diuine vertue , which god hath put and implanted in all creatures : by the benefite whereof , certaine notes of the diuinitie , are to be discerned in them . hereuppon some olde fathers were woont to say , all things are full of goddes , as did heraclitus among others . some others take this vniuersal nature , for a certaine influence and vertue , whereby the starres do worke in these inferior things : or else for an acting vertue in an vniuersall cause , that is to say , in a bodie celestiall . furthermore , that is vniuersall nature , wherof plato speaketh when he saith : nature is a certaine force and strength infused throughout all things , the moderator and nourisher of all things , and by it selfe the beginning of motion and of rest in them . the which nature hermes trimegistus , almost in the same words saith , to be a certaine force risen from the first cause , diffused throughout all bodies by it selfe , the beginning of motion and rest in them . this force the pythagoreans called god. and therefore virgil , a great follower of the pythagorean disciplne , wrote thus , saying ; the spirit nourisheth inwardly , &c. and the platonicks called the same , the soule of the worlde . but yet the platonicks haue not defined & shewed , in what maner , & by what means this soule of the world , doth moderate and order all these interior things , and doth stirre vp in the generation of things : neither can they yet determine . but the more witty and learned sort of philosophers , holde & affirme , that this world , which comprehendeth in the circumference and compasse therof the fowre elements , & the first beginnings of nature , is a certaine great bodie , whose partes are so knitte together among themselues , ( euen as in one bodie of a liuing creature , all the members doe agrée ) that there is no one part of the parties , of that great body , which is not inlyned , quickened , and susteined , by the benefite of that vniuersall soule , which they haue called the soule of the worlde : affirming also , that if the bodyes of liuing creatures doe deriue life and beeing from the soule which is in them ; the same is much more done and effected in the farre more noble and more excellent body of the whole world , by the meanes of the more potent and farre more excellent soule , with the which this body of the vniuersall world is indued , and by which it subsisteth . for it all the parts of the world haue life , ( as manifestly appearing it hath ) then must it needes follow , that wholely it liueth , for that the parts drawe and deriue their life from the whole , from the which they being separated , cannot but perish and die . and héereupon they inferre , that the heauen compassing all things , is that soule , which nourisheth and susteineth all things . also , further they affirme , that all the formes , virtues , and faculties of things , by which all things are neurished , susteined , and haue their being doe come from the worlds soule . and as the body and soule are gathered and ioyned together in one , through the benefite of the spirits bond , for that it is partaker of both natures : so the soule and body of the world are knit together by the meanes of the aethereall spirits going betwéene , ioyning each part of the whole into one subsistence . and yet hereof we must not conclude as did aphrodisaeus and philoponas , which were platonists , that the worlde is a most huge liuing creature , indued with sense and vnderstanding , wise and happie : the which is a most absurde and false opinion . but the platonists by the soule of the world , gaue vs rather to vnderstand a certaine spirit , which cherisheth , quickeneth , conserueth , and susteineth all things , as it were a certaine spirit of that elohym , or great god , which mooued vpon the waters : which plato might remember , as one not ignorant of moses , and thereupon frame his soule of the worlde . whereupon also it must needes come to passe , that all these inferior things , otherwise transitorie and infirme , should soone come to destruction , without they were conserued and continued in theyr being by that diuine power , perpetually maintaining and suspecting them : the which being disseuered , a great confusion & perturbation of the whole worlde arise therof . which ruine and destruction , god of his great goodnes would preuent , creating that vniuersall nature , which should defende all this great worke , and kéepe it safe and sounde , by his vertue and moderation : and that by the yearely and continual rotation and reuolution of the right heauen , and by the influences and vertues of the starres , planets , and celestiall powers , all things might be well gouerned , and might constantly remaine and abide in full fastnes of theyr estate , vntill the predestinated time of theyr dissolution . to this aethereall spirit , or rather diuine power , euery effectuall and omnipotent , plato in his timaeo giueth testimonie , when hée speaketh thus : when the sempiternall god had created this vniuersal , hee put into it certaine seedes of reason , & brought in the beginning life , that he might beget with the world the procreating force . wherein our explication which i brought before concerning the soule of the worlde is confirmed . which also agreeth with that which the prophet moses hath written , and which king dauid hath in his psalme , in these wordes : by the worde of the lorde were the heauens made , and all the vertue of them by the spirit of his mouth . by which vertue of the quickning spirit , that great trimegistus more conuersant and exercised in moses writings , then all other philosophers , vttered these diuine wordes in his second booke , which is called asclepias : all spirit ( saith he ) in the world , is acted and gouerned by the spirit . the spirit telleth all things : the worlde nourisheth bodies , the spirit giueth them soule . by the spirit all things in the world are ministred , & are made to growe and increase . and after that he saith againe : all things haue neede of this spirit . for it carryeth all things , and it quickneth & nourisheth all things , according to the dignitie of eache thing in it selfe . life and the spirit is brought forth out of the holy fountaine . by which diuine words it appeareth plainely , that this eternal and quickening spirit is infused and put into all things : so that it is not obserued to deduce and deriue the actions , forces , and powers : also all naturall things , from the spirits , as from the causes . chap. iii. hauing spoken sufficiently of the first and second beginning , that is to say of god & vniuersal nature : god the first cause vsing that generall nature as his handmaid : it resteth that somewhat be spoken of nature natured , that is to say , of that which is particular . to make an apt and conuenient definition whereof , let vs knowe that it is no other thing , than euery naturall body consisting of forme and matter . for of these two causes , and not onely of the causes , but also of the parts of the whole compound , all nature , that is to say , euery naturall body consisteth . for the peripateticks do thinke , that whatsoeuer is the beginning of generation , ought to be called nature by a certaine peculiar right . and aristotle saith , that the same , from whence any thing is made at the first , and whereof it hath the first motion , mutation is the very beginning . i say the beginning , from whence the essence of all natural things ariseth . the which nature aristotle in another place defineth to be the beginning substantiall and the cause of motion , and of the rest thereof , in the which it is at the first , and not by accidents : the explication of which definition he hath comprehended in eight bookes . and aristotle doth rightly call nature , the cause and the beginning of internall motion . for those things which are made by nature , and are therefore called naturall , haue a certaine beginning of motion , whereby they are moued of their owne accord , not by force . whereby plainly appeareth the difference betweene those things which are naturall , and which are endued with an effectuall spirit ; and with power to worke by it selfe : and those things which are made by arte , which haue no force nor power of doing , but are dead , and deuoided of all sense and motion . by these things it appeareth , that things natural are called properly naturall existences or beings , and such as haue nature . and they are saide to haue nature , which possesse in themselues the beginning of their motion , and of their rest : the which beginning of motion of euery thing , is either the forme or the matter , wherof we haue spoken . forme , which is wholly spiritual , hath all her motion likewise spiritual . so the soule is of this same nature in a liuing creature , the motions and sences plainely celestiall , spirituall , and a light beginning . whereas the matter is terrestriall , ponderous , and corporal , the other beginning of naturall motion . by whose waight and grossenesse , the body tendeth downeward , so as this kind of motion procéedeth not from the soule , or spirituall forme , but from the corporall matter , which is terrestriall and heauy by his owne nature . hereof it commeth , that the name of nature , is giuen as well to matter as to forme : but more aptly and conueniently to forme : because forme doth manifestly giue to a thing his being , actually : whereas matter alone cannot performe that . for not euery liuing creature , hath sense and motion from that body which is solid , terrestriall and ponderous : but onely from the spiritual forme : that is to say , the soule mouing the body , and informing it with the vitall vertues . as for example . a horse is in act , and in truth a horse , when he neither moueth , leapeth , nor runneth : but these motions which are spiritual , are the effects & operations of the soule or forme , whereas otherwise the body hauing nothing but the lineaments , and visible forme , whereby it séemeth a horse is meere terrestriall , heauie and deade . howbeit , neither the soule alone of the horse , can bée saide to bée a horse , except it be coupled with the body . for both being ioyned and coupled together make a horse . knowe therefore that the forme is far more noble and excellent then the matter : and that nature as touching her effects and operations , is of that power that it generateth , and giueth being to all things , it putteth matter on the formes , it beautifieth , and suffereth nothing to bee corrupted , but preserueth all things in their estate . th●se her vertues , faculties and powers , she very apparantly sheweth , when as she worketh and causeth all sorts of beings out of the 〈◊〉 , and out of the seedes and beginning of all things , salt , sulphur , and mercurie : and informeth with great variety of impressions of the vitall spirits , colours and taste , and with the properties of such kinde of powers and faculties , that it giueth to euery thing so much as concerneth the office and dignity thereof , in all sufficiencie . the which building and 〈◊〉 of things , so apt●● and conueniently formed in order , in number , and measure , wee may w●ll call diuine , not terrestriall and corporall 〈…〉 same be naturall , according to the power which god hath giuen vnto nature . and yet wée must not thinke that god hath so forsaken the frame of this wor●d , that he sitteth idle , as hauing giuen such admirable and potent ●ffects to nature onely , according to the opinion of an●xagoras , protagoras , and many other athe●●●i all philosophers , which acknowledge no other god but name , as also did the epicures . 〈◊〉 it they be to be accused and condemned for so wicked an opinion , then do they deserue no small reprehension , which denie nature her partes and offices in working . for the offices pecu●●ar both of her first and second cause , are to be attributed to either , according to 〈…〉 . neither are these places of scripture any thing repugnant . 〈◊〉 is god which worketh all in all . and againe : in him wee liue , moue , and haue our beeing . for albeit this is true , yet god hath appointed nature as a meanes to fulfill his will , the which nature hee hauing 〈◊〉 with the vertues of working , he by the same beginneth , furthereth , and perfiteth all things . therefore the second cause , is called nature , because by the same , as by a vital instrument , god , who is the first cause worketh all things . for thus god féedeth men with bread , the which he hath indued with a natural faculty of nourishing , that the nature of bread may be said to féede and nourish , whereto he hath predestinated the same , by the forme of natural bread . thus therefore these things are to be reconciled , that we acknowledge god to bee the first cause of working in all other causes , because hée hath made the causes , and hath giuen power of working , and doth himselfe worke together with them , and that we belieue that hée stirreth vppe , prouoketh , directeth and moderateth nature , by the power , force , and vnitie which hée hath giuen to her , to doe all things by her proper motions . so that we must séeke the cause and forme of all natural actions in nature , which god hath made potent with spiritual vertues , by which it acteth and worketh in the matter : for that nothing can procéede from the matter it selfe being dead , which is vital , or indued with the faculties of working . chap. iiii this word ( beginning ) extendeth very farre . for as artes and sciences , so also all other things haue their proper and set beginnings . plato intreating of beginnings , one while appointeth three : namely , god , patterne , and matter : another while he appointeth two onely , that is to say , that which is infinite , and that which is terminable , and to be limited . by the word infinite , he meaneth matter : and by the word terminable , he meaneth forme , as bringing a thing within a certaine compasse , and restraining a matter excurrent within bondes and limits . aristotle varyed not much from the opinion and sentence of his maister , albeit he declared the same in other wordes , calling that forme which plato named terminable . and that which plato called infinite ; aristotle nameth , matter : appointing priuation , by it selfe , for a third beginning . let it not therefore séeme absurde to any , that we appoint thrée beginnings of all things , salt , sulphur , and mercurie , as if it were thereby intended to ouerthrowe , by our constitution , the beginnings of the ancient phylosophers , whereas we ioyne and agrée with them . for if wée grant to aristotle , his beginnings , what difference will there be betwéene him and vs. wée admit ( if you please ) the distinction , by which he diuideth his beginnings , namely , into the first matter , into the simple matter , and into that which is remote , enduring all alterations of formes , or wherein there is power to bée made subiect to all formes , and in two contraryes , to wit , forme , and priuation : the which habilitie of taking forme , is in the subiect . wée graunt that these beginnings , of all other , are the more parciptible in vnderstanding than in sense . as therefore our beginnings , which we appoint out of which al mixt things are compounded and be , cannot by the aristotelian philosophers be ouerthrowen : so in like aristotelian beginnings cannot by ours , be destroyed . for all this whole world is diuided into two globes , to wit , into the inferior heauen , which is aetheriall , and airie : and into the inferior globe , which comprehendeth water and earth . the superior , which is aetheriall hath in it fire , lightning , and brightnesse : and this firery heauen , is a formall and essentiall element . what things soeuer are comprehended in these foure bodyes , which are the elements and receptacles of all things , are eyther simple things , or bodyes , mixed and compounded of them . they are simple which are without mixture , existing apart and seuerall by themselues : of the which all things are made , and into the which all things are resolued . they are compound or corporeat , which both are made of simples , and into simples . and simples may be distinguished into those things which are simple formes , and into those which are simple matters : or into those things which are simply formals , and into those which are simply materials . so bodyes are diuided into materiall bodyes , and into bodyes formall . those things which are simply formall are astrall and spirituall : the elements are formall : seedes are formall : and the three beginnings are formall : that is to say , so spirituall , that they come not within the compasse of our 〈◊〉 . but the formal elements ( whereof we speak● ) are they in w●ose closet the astral séedes o● things , and the formal beginnings , are defused and layd vp , as in their proper rec●●●●cles : in the which simple and spiritual elements of seedes , and spiritual beginnings , the 〈◊〉 and quickening sciences , properties , and rootes of propagating 〈◊〉 increase of al things , lye hid , wherein also all habites , 〈◊〉 , and figures , qualities , quantities and dimentions , sauours , ●dours and coolours are included , which doe budde 〈◊〉 and florish out of their bosome in their due time , by opertune maturitie . and these simple elements or beginnings , doe imbrace the spiritual seedes , with so great simphathy and friendship , and doe render to the elements and beginnings , mutual reciprocation of loue , that being brought by the parents into some particular kinde , or forme , they neuer make an ende , ( by the recordation of their vnion with the simple elements ) but that at the last againe , the predestination and 〈◊〉 of the natural bodies being consummated , they returne backe againe to their graundfathers , and great graundfathers , and doe rest there : euen as the floods passing and issuing out of their element of the sea , & running in their course hither and thither , leauing at the length euery where behinde them their generation ( or their wombe e●o●erated ) they returne to their beginning againe : wherupon by mutuall copulation they receiue new force and strength to increase their issue . and this is the perpetuall circulation , by which the heauen is marryed to the earth , and the inferior elements doe conioyne with the superior . for the continuall vapours arising from the center of the earth , being expulsed into waters , and being caryed from waters into ayre , by the attraction of the coelestiall starres : and also by the force and appetite of the inferior elements to bring forth issue , and to conceiue from heauen , the séedes passing too and againe , at the last the elements returne to their parents full and impregnated with celestiall formes , and doe there nourish their séedes , vntill at the length they bring foorth in due season , and doe exclude their generation . the which impregnation commeth from no other , than from those astrall séedes , and those thrée seuerall beginnings , mercurie , sulphur , and salt , furnished and fulfilled with all science , properties , vertues , and tinctures ; and doe borrowe and fitte to themselues , out of their spirituall body , a materiall , and doe animate and adorne it with their properties . for it belongeth vnto mercurie to giue life vnto the partes : to sulphur , to giue increase of body : and to salt , to compact those two together , and to conioyne them into one firme body . god the creator of all things , made the world after his owne image , which may plainely appeare in this , that albeit the whole world is one , yet it ioyeth in the number of thrée , being framed in order , number , and measure , in whose bosome these thrée simple bodyes were included , salt , sulphur , and mercurie . therefore let vs compare the workes of god a little with the similitude of the trinitie . the worlde is diuided into these thrée partes , intellectuall , coelestiall , and elementall . the elementall ( to let the other two alone , as lesse known vnto vs ) consisteth of minerals , vegetables , and animals : beside the which , there is nothing to bée found in this world . of minerals , there are thrée differences , stones , metals , and meane minerals . in like maner among vegitables , there are thrée sorts : herbes , trees , and plants . also of animals there are thrée orders , créeping things , swimming things , and flying things . if we should prosecute euery particular at large , wée shall finde this teruarie euery where and in all the parts thereof . but we will consider of man onely in this point . man consisteth of spirit , soule , and body : as holy writ testifieth . the spirit saith , hermes is represented by mercurie : the soule is represented by sulphur : and the body , by salt. the spirit consisteth of minde , reason , and phantasie . the soule hath thrée factulties , naturall , vitall and animall . the body is cut into thrée partes in anatomie : to wit , into head , belly , and members . these haue thrée principall members , wherunto others are subiect : the braine , the heart , and the lyuer . the braine hath thrée helpes to purge by , the mouth , the nostrils , and the eares . the purgers and receiuers of vncleannesse from the heart , are , the midry●e , the lungs , and the great arteries . the purgers of the lyuer , are the milt , the bladder of the gaule , and the reines . so there are thrée principall vessels which doe serue the whole body , namely , the arteries , the sinewes , and the veines . further if we consider the head againe , it hath thrée skinnes . the braine hath thrée bellyes , two soft before , and one hard behinde . there are thrée principall instruments of voyce , the throate , the pallate , and the kernels . to conclude this point , if all these should bée disseuered and separated into their beginnings , they might be resolued into mercurie , sulphur , and salt , whereof they consist . therefore these thrée formall beginnings , which we haue described by their offices and propertions , albeit they are more spirituall than corporall , yet being ioyned with simple elements , they make a materiall body mixt and compound , they increase and nourish it , and preserue it in his estate vnto the predestinated ende . and séeing the properties , impressions , and faculties are inset and included in those beginnings , and haue those vitall qualities of tastes , odours , and colours hidden in them , how materiall soeuer those séedes be : yet notwithstanding they rather contende to come néere to forme , than to matter : but the elements doe more cleaue and inclyne to matter than to forme . and therefore the phylosophers call them properly simple beginnings formall , because they are more principall , adorned and inriched with the first and chiefe faculties of astral séedes . but the elements , they call beginnings , materiall simple . to the one , they attribute actuall qualities , and to the other passiue . and so of them both , as it were secondarily and so neere as may be , all mixt bodyes are compounded and doe consist . if therefore we shall throughly discusse and ransacke euery particular indiuidiall in his kinde , and their generation , we shall finde that which is said to be true : namely , that some simple beginnings are formall and spirituall : others materiall , corporall , and visible . and that the inuisibles are the elements simple , formall , the astral séedes , and spirituall beginnings . also that the visibles are all one and the same , but yet couered with a materiall body . the which two bodyes , spiritual and material , inuisible and visible , are contained in euery indiuiduall , albeit , that which is spiritual , cannot be discerned , but by reason of motion of life , and of functions , and yet is within it . these visible and material bodyes are of thrée sortes . séedes . beginnings . elements . of these 3. some are actiue , as séeds , and beginnings . passiue , as are the elements . the actiue bodies of visible séeds , wherein there is any vertue , are the séedes of liuing creatures , put forth by venus . the séedes of herbes & trées , in their seueral cases & trunkes . the séeds of mines , ouerwhelmed with a great heape of impediments . all which lye hidden in themselues haue spirits . the actiue bodies of beginnings , haue two moyst , mercurie . sulphur . one drie : salt. mercurie is a sharpe liquor , passable , and penetrable , and a most pure & aethereall substantiall body : a substance ayrie , most subtill , quickning , and ful of spirit , the foode of life , and the essence , or terme , the next instrument . sulphur is that moyst , swéet , oyly , clammy , original , which giueth substance to it selfe : the nourishment of fire , or of natural heat , endued with the force of mollifying , and of giuing together . salt , is that dry body , saltish , méerely earththy , representing the nature of salt , endued with wonderfull vertues of dissoluing , congealing , clensing , emptying , and with other infinite faculties , which it exerciseth in the indiuiduals , and seperated in other bodyes , from their indiuiduals . these thrée beginnings , were by hermes the most ancient philosopher , called spirit , soule , and body . mercurie the spirit , sulphur the soule , salt the body , as is already said . the body is ioyned with the spirit , by the bond of sulphur : the soule , for that it hath affinitie with both the extreames , as a meane coupling them together . for mercury is liquid , thinne , flexible . sulphur is a soft oyle passable ; salt is dry , thicke , and stable . the which notwithstanding are so proportionate together , or tempered equally the one with the other , that a manifest signe , and great analogie or conuenience is found in this contrarietie of beginnings . for sulphur , or that oyly moysture , is ( as i haue said ) a meane , which with his humidity , softnesse , and fluidity or passablenes , ioyneth the two extreames , that is to say , fixed salt , and flying mercurie : that is to say , the drynes of salt , and the moystnes of mercurie , with his viscus and clammy humiditie : the thicknesse of salt , and the subtiltie of mercurie ( vtterly contrary ) with his fluiditie : which holdeth the meane betwéene stable , and flying . moreouer sulphur , by reason of his excéeding swéetnesse , doth contemper the sharpnesse or sowernes of mercurie , and the bitternesse of salt : and by his clammynes , doth conioyne the subtill flying of mercurie , with the firmnesse and fastnesse of salt . chap. v. concerning salt. of all other , the philosophicall salt is of greatest vertue and force to purge , and is as it were the generall clenser of whole nature , deliuering the same from al impuritie ; whether it bée the belly , by siege ; the stomacke , by vomit ; the reines , by vrine ; or the body , by sweate ; opening & clensing obstructions , comming of what cause soeuer . this kinde of purging is very large : whose partes albeit they tend to one end , yet they haue as it were diuers & contrary effects , procéeding frō one subiect , which cannot be seen . and as the effects are diuers , so are there diuers kindes of saltes , which according to their diuersitie , haue diuers tastes and sundery properties of euacuations , and clensings , and diuers other faculties . but among salts , that which is more bitter and néerest to the taste of aloes or gaule , sheweth his proper working in purging the belly by siege . such salts chymists call salt niter , or niterous salts . saladine , an ancient & great physition ▪ speaking of salts , saith thus : there are foure famous kinds of salt , to wit , the salt of bread , that is to say common-salt , salt-gem , salt-naptie , and salt-indi● . and afterward he saith , that this last is of all other the most b●tter , sharpe , and most violent , and therefore of greatest force to purge . and he saith , that al salt is as it were a spurre to other medicines with the which it is mingled : for that it maketh them to worke more spéedily . lastly , hée saith , that all salt , bringeth foorth grosse phlegmaticke humors . among salts , some are earthie , some watery , and some aierie , or such as haue in them predominant , eyther the element of that earth , of water , or of ayre : insomuch some of them are fixed , & are of the nature of earth : other some are betwéene fixed & flying , and doe retaine a certaine middle watery propertie . but sal armoniac is of nature spiritual , ( as is also the common armoniac ) & of all other most flying & ayrie . and al salt , whether it be flying , or fixed , is no otherwise dissolued and commixed in waters , than with the water of water , and if one be a dry water , the other is moyst . these thrée kindes of saltes , which lye hydden in the secret parts of things , whether they be metalline , vegitable , or animal , and which are principally seated in that element , which produceth his generations out of the earth , they do participat of the nature of the thrée beginnings . for the common salte , and that which is of the sea , passing through the philter of the earth , and boyled and digested with the heates of the bowels of the same earth , doth participate of the nature of fixed and firme salt , the father and original of all others . but niter , being partly fixed , and in part volatile , doth participate of the sulphurus beginning of things : euen as sal amoniac doth participate of the mercuriall beginning spirituall and ayrie : whose extreames , to wit , fixed and volatile , of the sulphurus salt , or the niterus , partaker of the volatile nature in part , and partly fixed , are coupled together by intercession . by this straight and wonderfull bond of the thrée beginnings , thrée diuers substances of salts , of sundry properties , doe manifestly appeare , like in essence , but not in natures of qualities . for beyond all expectation , a good wittie salt-maker , wil extract out of a fat and fertile earth , ( by washings ) these three kindes of saltes : namely , the marine and fixed , which is dissolued in lye made of ashes , the niterus by it selfe , which is there coagulated or congealed : and the armoniac volatile & ayrie , flying in part out of the lye , and partly contained in both the saltes and therefore hydden from the sences . this may bée done by a skilfull salt-maker , albeit he were vtterly ignorant of all the myster●es which here are hidden . which thrée distinct differences of saltes , as they are to be found in euery fat kind of earth , so out of both the saltes , namely the marine and fixed , and the niterus volatile , they may be thenceforth separated . for those saltes , being put into a retort together , or apart by themselues , with a receiuer , first by the force of fire stilleth forth a volatile salt , sower , sharpe and mercurial : then , with a greater heate , commeth forth a salt sulphurus and niterus , and swéete : the third salt , which is salt vpon salt fixed , will not moue with any force of fier , but remaineth constantly in the bottome of the glasse . all tastes are brought forth out of these thrée sundry saltes , common to that triple beginning of things , so as we shall not néede to haue recourse to hot and cold , moist and dry . for they are procreated out of those beginnings alone . fixed salt , consider as it is simple , and without commixtion , maketh simply a salt tast . a sulphurus salt also simply vnderstoode , yéeldeth out of it a swéete oylely taste . but mercurial salt , in like sort conceiued by it selfe and apart , representeth a sower taste . all which tastes mixed together in equall proportions , yéelde a pleasant and delightful taste , without any sense or taste of any of the particulars . these thrée beginnings cannot be found simple in a mixt body , in such wise , but that they haue some composition , and do in mixture communicate their qualities together : as may bée séene in sea-salt , and salt-péeter , out of the which may be separated not onely a salt and sharpe taste , but also a swéete taste . and it is certaine , that in things sulphurus and oylely , and also in mercurial liquors , there is to be found a coniunction of such tastes . for this cause we affirme , that all fixed salt of a mixt body , is very brinish and excéeding bitter : the sulphurus , of a fat and sweete taste : and the mercurial , sower , sharpe and fiery . so that vpon these simple qualities , salt , swéete , and sower , ( which are to be found in all bodies minerall , vegitable and animal ) all others tastes do depend . and as touching the elementary qualities passiue , which are as organical and instrumentall causes , they little appertaine to this matter : whether it be the terrestrial and drie passiue quality , & passiue coldnesse , or whether it be the aiery moist vapor , the which tastes of this sort , or potent qualities , procéedeth from these thrée beginnings , do either further to this or that nature , or else doe impaire and weaken them . to make this plaine by manifest reasons , and to lay it open before our eyes , we will begin to intreat of mixed bodies , the which notwithstanding according to the elements , are most simple . chap. vi. it is already said , that tastes by a certaine priuate right are ascribed to salts , or to their spirits : which euidently appeareth hereby , that the differences of tastes , are not produced but from the differences of saltes : or contrariwise , the differences of saltes , are produced from the differences of tastes . in the bosome of nature , there are found almost so many kinde of saltes , as there are variety of tastes . digged or minerall , and marine salt , is endued with a salt qualitie . niter with a bitter quality : allum , with a sharpe : vitriol , with a sower : armoniac , with a sharpe and sower quality . but swéete saltes do manifestly appeare , not onely in manna , and in sugar , but also in marine salt , and in salt of vitriol , out of which they are to be seperated . and ( as we haue said ) in euery of these salts , these thrée first beginnings , salt , sulphur , and merucry , are contained ioyntly together : one aiery , mercurial , or spiritual , the which is sharpe and sower ; the other earthly , which is sower , and bitter : and the third oylely & sweet , which is a meane betwéene them both . in vitriol alone , is manifestly to be séene , egar , sharpe , sower , and astringent , for that of all other salts , it is most corporal . but those tastes or qualities , which are mixed with passiue and elementarie qualities , haue not the full force of euery of these , but are made more weake by mixtion : for the sharpe ( which is not extracted and seperated but by the force of the fier with the aiery part ) is mixed with a mercurial liquor : the sower is mixed with a flegmetique , or watery humour : and the eger , with a terrestrial drinesse : the which , the more they haue of the elementary qualities , and the same passiue , so much the more weake they are and impaired . but if the actiue qualities be separated from the passiue , as by arte it is to be done , then the tarte and sower do obtaine their full force , and doe manifestly and fully burne the tongue with their fiers : for the sharpe hath a more fiery and burning qualitie : and the sower , a more watery propertie . for the sharpe partaking of the nature of fire , hath ouermuch vertue to attenuate , dissipate , and to fret : the sower , as , aiery , watery , & of thinne parts , hath vertue to cutte , to open , to refrigerate , and also to put away putrifactions . the eger and more tarte , which remaineth in the colchotar ( after the extraction of the sharpe oylely , and sower water , with the aiery parts of the elemental qualities ) do possesse a nature and force to thicken and binde , by reason of the earthy and grosse propertie . but if from that terrestrial parte , the pure ( which is salt ) be extracted , it wil haue a salt taste , by the vertue whereof it wil bée made , both deiectiue , and vomitiue . and in the swéete sulphur of vitriol , there is a manifest swéetnesse , which is plainely stupefactiue . finally , in all salts , almost , ( disseuered by chymicall seperation ) these thrée are to be discerned , sower , swéete , and bitter , which haue force of actiue qualities , and yet not destitute of the moist passiue , terrestrial and grosse , but with them , in sundry wise so seasoned and tempered , that they bring to the salts , varety of tastes . and let this serue for demonstration , by which it may plainely appeare , that those sundry differences of tastes , are manifestly contained in salts , both ioyntly and seuerally , especially in their spirits : and according to the opinion of hermes schollers , we deny that those inset and naturall qualities , vertues , and properties , are to be arrogated to hotte , moist , and drie , but rather to the essences of a nature which is salt , bitter , eger , sharpe , sower , tarte , swéete , and oylely . for there are sixe hundred frigidities or coldes , sixe hundred heates , humidities , & ●●gities or drinesses , then the which nothing doth more heate , coole , moysten , and dry . but they haue neuer brought any sauour or taste to pure or simple water , or to other iuices or liquors , which haue béene destitute of salt. whatsoeuer is without salt , or destitute of a brinish spirit , can neuer be discerned by taste , but is vtterly vnsauory . yet notwithstanding , it simple water be powred vpon ashes , with a little heate , that water wil drawe vnto it saltnesse , bitternesse , or sharpnesse , more or lesse , according to the nature of the salt , more or lesse salt , or bitter , which is contained in the ashes . and if any man obiect , that hony and sugar by boyling , or by the force of fier , may be made sharpe or bitter : we answer that it commeth so to passe , when the aiery sulphurus , and watery partes , which bring and preserue the swéetnesse do perish and are separated by decoction . but terrestrial salt , whose faculties are inward , haue this property , that of their owne nature they possesse , this or that sharpe or bitter taste , how extreame soeuer it be . so if thou shalt drawe out of onions and garlicke a volatile and aiery sharpe mercurial salt , which ariseth in the superficies & vppermost of their bodies : thou shalt make them more swéet and pleasing , and to put off their sharpnesse , by which they bite the tongue : but yet they will retaine and represent their hot qualitie , with the which they abound , by reason of their fixed saltes . as out of saltes , so out of odours also , we may drawe certaine faculties , without the helpe of hotte qualities . for séeing they are referred to the diuers properties of sulphur , sundry odours doe arise therfrom , and not from the qualities . which if they be swéete and pleasing , the braine receiueth them with pleasure and delight , whereas vnpleasant sauours or odours , are offensiue both to the nose and to the braine , and are reiected . such is the marcotical and stefactiue odour of poppie , and hemlock , and such like which do stinke , and astonish the braine , by reason ( as physitions affirme ) of their colde qualitie : wherein they breake the lawe of their axiomes , for that they holde that their odours are of a hotte qualitie , as most true it is . for that which is stupefactiue in the poppeis , and in opium , is no other thing , but a certaine oylely and sulphurus parte conceiuing flame , ( much like to that kinde of oyle , which is extracted out of the séedes of poppey ) the which albeit it do readily burne , yet as it is commonly thought , it sheweth most colde effects . the common physitians , to correct such coldnesse attributed to opium , vse helpes , as is to bee séene in their opiat and antidotarie medicines , wherein opium is an ingredient . of these kind of cōpositions myrepsus describeth aboue foure score : where euphorbium ( which is of a fiery and burning facultie ) is no more forborne then either of the peppers , or such other like causticke and burning simples , of extreame hotte qualitie : when as the true and proper corrector of opium ( that i may so speake ) wel knowne to hermeticall physitians , is vineger ; which putteth away stupefactiue vapours and fumes , that they ascende not to the braine , so suppressing them by the sharpnesse thereof , that it retaineth them : whereas their hot correctors do more stirre them vp and multiple them . hereof come sinister and deadly passions and paines , by reason whereof men are constrained to vse the imperfect laudanum of empiricks , against the deadly daunger of such medicines . chap. vii . now somewhat shall be saide concerning colours . the dogmatical physitians , that they might not diminish any whit of the qualities of colours , are woont to referre to those qualities a certaine variety of colours : and haue obserued and noted certaine friuolous and light obseruations : as when they say , that in a white onion , or in white wine , a man may iudge by the colour a great coldnesse , than in a read onion , or in red wine . whereas white sublimate , and arsnic , albeit they are most white like vnto christall : yet neuerthelesse vnder this whitenesse , they foster and hide a most burning and deadly fire . yea sugar it selfe , which is so swéet , white , and pleasant , doth hide in the innermost parts thereof , a wonderfull blacknesse and sharpnesse , from whence may bée extracted most sharpe liquors and waters , which will dissolue and breake the most hard metalls . therefore it is absurd , to sharpe and forme colours from hotte and colde , which do procéede from the spirits only , or else from the most thinne and aiery vapours , which lye hid in the salt : especially in that salt which by nature is sulphurus , such as is niter , or salt-peter , as men call it . niter throughly depured and clensed , will be as white as snow ; from which whitenesse , may be drawen infinite sorts of colours , most excellent to beholde . which colours come from the onely spirits of salt-peter , which are able to pearce the most hard kind of glasse , by the force of fire thrust forth in the likenesse of volatile meale , and cleaning in the ouerture of the glasse alembic . by which colours , a mā may behold the body of the alembic to be tained & dyed , as well within as without in the superficial part : which colours are of no lesse varietie , then are the flowers of the earth in the time of the spring . hereby it appeareth plainely , that this diuersitie of all colours is to be taken from the spirits , no lesse nor otherwise , then are all other properties and vertues of all other things to be referred vnto them . if therefore the foundation of these thrée things be laid vpon thrée beginnings , & vpon their spirits , it will be very firme and stable , in such wise , that in the ignorance of any cause , it shal not be néedful to fly to hidden properties . if this doctrine , according to the truth thereof , be receiued , learned , and studied , being vpholden also with the authorities of that great hypocrates , it shal easily driue from vs the darkenesse of ignorance , and shal bring with it the light of knowledge , which will remoue all difficulties : for out of this schoole are learned most certain and infallible thearemes and axiomes , against which , as against most assured grounds , there can be no opposition or resistance : but wil be allowed by the general consent of indifferent iudges . let vs take an example from vineger : whereof many famous physitians , cannot tell what certainely to affirme . for , because it is sharpe , and therefore cooleth , they wil haue it to be colde . but contrariwise , when they behold the facultie thereof , to be attenuating , cutting , and dissoluing , also their ●ernor and boyling thereof , when it is put vpon earth or claie , they are constrained to forsake their opinion , vncertaine what to iudge thereof . who , if they had bene acquainted with the hermeticall doctrine , they should haue knowne , that the cause of such tartnesse or sowernesse in vineger , commeth by the seperation of the spirit , from the wine : as is plainly séene by experience . for the longer that wine standeth in the sun , or in a hotte place , the more by little and little it waxeth sharpe ; and whatsoeuer is aiery therein , and of the quintessence of the wine , by the force of the heat vaporeth away . this eternal and celestial essence being gone , which was the cause of the wines swéetnes ( which swéetnes hath alwaies ioyned with it neuerthelesse , a certaine pricking very acceptable to the pallate , by reason of a singular temper of sharpnesse vitriolated by swéete and sulphurus spirits , put by the instinct of nature into wine ) at the length it waxeth sower : the cause of whose sharpnesse , is not to be referred to the colde qualities , but to those hidden and sower spirits of salt , which by the bonde of the sulphurus substance , were contained and kept in their office and working in the wine : the which bond being dissolued , the spirits range at will , and doe make manifest their nature , which was afore hidden . hereupon it commeth , that vnegers are sharper in one sort , then in another , according as they haue in them more or lesse of the nature of salt armoniac , and ●o whit of the sulphurus substance . for simple water deuoide of all salt , can neuer by reason of the coldnesse therein waxe sower . but as from wine , so from meat , and from ale or béere , and from boyling new wine , may be separated the proper water of life , and ethereal substance , the which being so separated , they become eager , because they containe in themselues a sharpe salt of nature . such is that sharpe salt , which phylosophers call their mercury , or salt armoniac , volatile and spiritual ( because of al metalline salts , the common armoniac is most volatile , such as in the forme of most white and salt meale , may be carried vp vnto the cloudes by sublimation , and yet hath a dry and spiritual nature , which the phylosophers call their dry water : because this salt is so farre forth volatile and flying , that it is lifted vp together with the aiery or watery vapour , of the which is made the mixture of the compound : and so great is the sharpnesse of this salt , that one scruple or eightéene or twenty graines of this salt perfitly refined and made most simple , dissolued in a pot of commom water , doth make all the same wonderfully sower . and this is the salt , ( the sulphurus essence taken away ) which sheweth it selfe euidently to be séene by his sharpnesse in vineger , with watery substance . but the more strong the wine shal be , the more sharpe the ferment of the vineger , and the more vehement the tartnesse thereof will shewe it selfe : out of the which the pearcing , attenuating , & dissoluing spirits , are extracted by a skilful workmā : the which forces & faculties cannot procéed from any other thing , then from that spiritual and volatile salt armoniac , mixed with a watery humour . and to make this more plaine , and to proue it by effect , take the most strong vinegar , white or red : distil the same in balneo mariae , till it be drie , with a gentle fire , out of a pinte and a halfe , you shall extract thrée partes or more , like most cleare water , but most sharpe and sower , the bottome of the matter as the léese and pheses remaining in the bottome of the glasse with the most sharpe and byting salt , the which , because it is fixed , and cleauing to the terrestrial part of the vinegar , cannot be extracted but by the great violence of the fire . by which meane a most sharpe oyle , like in nature to aqua regia , most corroding and fretting , is extracted , not by reason of the heate of fire , but by the force and power of a brinish substance which is expelled in forme of an oyle with the salt from the rest of the ●eces , by fire . but leauing that sharpe fire of the léese , let vs take in hand to explicate the sowernes of the vineagar distilled . by a soft and gentle distillation , is first of all extracted , a certaine watry elementary phleme , which is drawne out of the whole body almost without taste , leauing in the bottome of the glasse , another liquour , farre more sower and sharpe , and therefore more strong to dissolue , which otherwise before was nothing so sharp , because the salt armoniac was tempered and mixed with a watery phleame . whereof if thou desire to know the quantitie , take so much of the best salt tartar , which is of the same nature , but fixed , by which if thou drawe by little and little thrée pintes of this vinegar distilled , and disph●eamed , to the waight of one ounce , thou shalt finde the volatile salt armoniac to be conioyned with the sharpe fixed salt : and that which shall be distilled from the same , will become altogether without taste , or a little swéetish , the volatile salt armoniac being gone , through the passage in the fixed salt. so that the said ounce of salt tartar , is increased by one scruple or more of volatile salt , increasing the quantitie of the other fixed . thus that volatil salt armoniac which vanisheth out of the vinegar with the watry and aierie substance is retained by passage , in the proper fixed salt , and there abioeth , and by his absence , dispoyling the distilled liquor , of all sowernesse : the which is therefore of no vertue , or of lesse efficacie , then pure and simple water . hereby it appeareth , how litle ferment is néedful to a great quantitie of paste , to acuate and augment the same , as phylosophers speak : without the which , the elementary water wil haue no sharpenesse . for if that salt armoniac be wanting , as touching the force and vertue thereof , water hath neither tartnesse , nor taste at all . therefore a hermetical phylosopher & phisitian , which is wel acquainted with the liuely anatonie of things , wil teach , that the sharpe , sower , and attenuating taste of vineger , and the dissoluing facultie thereof , ariseth herehence , because tart things , whether they be waters , or iuices , are mixed and infused with salt armoniac : and that therefore vineger , not onely in regard of the tarnesse thereof , but also that most thin spirituous sower essence of salt , doe pierce into the most inward parts euen of the hard bodyes . and if it shewe foorth any cooling effects , it commeth thereof , because the sulphurus , and fierie qualitie of the wine , that is to say , the aqua vitae , is seperated : without the seperation whereof it can neuer bée made vineger , and can at no time yéelde any taste of aqua vitae . and that sharpenesse by which it burneth , is the chariot or carrier away , of the elementarie and colde water , by the which it is carryed and pierceth into the most inward and secret partes , as wée haue learned by often experience , that in that water , the same sharpnesse is contained , and most néerely conioyned therewith . nowe , as we haue shewed that the sower and mercuriall liquor of things , doth borrow that tartnesse , from a certaine armoniac salt , and volatile , which ariseth from the fixed : euen so the sulphurus and oylie liquor , doth receiue and taketh his vertue from no other thing , than from that swéete niterous sulphurus salt , which borroweth the same from fixed salt : so that , in the fixed salt , and out of that salt , that mercuriall sowernesse , and sulphurus vertue doe spring , and doe receiue their fruits therefro , as from the roote and first originall . as also héere it is to be noted , and to be wondred at , that a tryple substance is seuerally to be extracted , out of one and the same essence : from whence all things created , do sucke and drawe their faculties , vertues and properties : and that the same doe so subsist in one and the same subiect , that two others are to be produced from one other . and the same thrée essences , when they are separated , and coupled together againe and vnited , are then inriched and increased with wonderfull vertues and faculties , and haue gotten excéeding perfection . the which , the more often that they be separated and vnited , the more perfect and high degrees of power and force they obtaine : in such wise , that it is to bée reputed the vniuersall and most excellent medicine of all others . chap. viii . concerning the excellent goodnesse of salt in medicine , according to auncient prescription . it is manifest in the writings of galen , and other greeke physitians , as also in the traditions of the arabians and latines , with one consent , that salt is good and profitable , not onely to season and sawce meates , but also for medicine : albeit in the dyet of sicke persons , they commanded them to abstaine from salt things : they defended the vse of salt , to be necessary for the curing of diuers diseases , for that it hath vertue , to clense , to open , to cut , and to make shinne , to moue sweates , to further vrine , and to prouoke vomit . and in this manifold facultie and vertue , it is more profitable than the most of other remedies . for the proofe whereof we will bring certaine examples of some of the most auncient and famous physitians . first of all aegineta , concerning the facultie of salt , saith thus : all salt , hath great facultie to drye and to binde : wherefore it consumeth all whatsoeuer is moyst in mens bodyes : and compacteth the rest by binding . for this cause it preserueth from putrifaction . but burnt salt hath greater force to resolue and consume . oribasius is of the same opinion , saltes , ( saith he ) whether they be digged out of the earth , or whether they come out of the sea , haue like facultie : and is mixed with two qualities , that is to say , of clensing , and binding . in this notwithstanding they differ , that saltes digged out of the earth , are of a resoluing and consuming essence , by reason that they are of more grosse parts , and do more binde . the same oribafius , saith also , speaking of aloes , digged and marine salt haue all one force , and are mixed of two qualities , the one of clensing , the other of binding . but it is plaine , that both kindes doe drie . for the which cause it consumeth all humor in the body , and thickeneth the solyde parts by binding . burnt salt hath greater force to clense : but it doth not contract and thicken so much as the other . the flower of salt , hath thinner parts , than burnt salt , and is of a sharpe qualitie and much digesting . aetius hath also almost the same wordes ; sauing that hée addeth this concerning the froth of salt : the flower of salt saith hée , is frothy , cleaning to the rockes that are next adioyning , and it hath by nature more thinne partes , than salt it selfe , therefore it can much more attenuate and resolue : but the rest of the substance , cannot thicken as salt doth . paulus aegineta , in the same booke and chapter before quoted , writeth that the same ●roth of salt , is the flower of salt , and is of more thinne parts , and more consuming , then is salt it selfe , but doth lesse compact . by whch it doth euidently appeare , that the science of calcination , of attenuation , and of essences , was not vnknowen to them of olde time . for by the working and styrring of the sea , they learned the art of distillation , by which they seperated the more spirituous , from the more grosse : euen as we sée the truth hereof to appeare in the experience of charming and working simple milke . for by that meanes , three sundrie substances , are diuided one from the other , namely butter , curdes , and whaye . aetius , speaking of cruditie , and of those things which do helpe concoction , according to the opinion of galen , and other phisitians , setteth before vs saltes : in the description whereof , he putteth in , one pound of salt of cappadocea , the which surmounteth the dose of all other the ingredients of that composition : the which pouldred , he prescribeth to be taken in a reare egge , to the quantitie of halfe a spoonefull , fasting in the morning . the effect whereof he sheweth in these words : no man can sufficiently commende the worthines of this medicine , for the helping vertue which it hath in colde distemperatures , correcting raw humors : for the which cause it helpeth the collicke , and doth gently loosen the belly . hée describeth also other saltes which loosen the bellie , which drawe fleame from the head , with other helpes besides . and into one composition , hee appointeth to be put of cléere dryed salt , 144. dragmes . in the which composition , hee added of the flowers of c●amamil , of coniza , of mountaine calamynt , of the roote of the mountaine eringium , of origan , of sylphium , of pepper of each a thirde parte . the which ingredients put to the quantitie of the salt aforesaid , come nothing neere to the quantity therof . he appointeth another composition of salte : where to thirtie ounces of parched salt , hee appointeth a farre lesse dose of hysope , of wilde tyme , & of cummine : the continuall vse wherof , hée appointeth in stéede of common salte , not onely for to make the meate sauory , but also for medicine . for ( saith he ) who so vseth the same continually , shall at no time be troubled with any disease . it helpeth headache , it quickeneth the sight , it cleanseth the brest from fleame , it maketh good concoction in the stomacke , and purgeth the kidneys . hereby it appeareth , that the auncient physitians did not only vse salt , but also that they made choyse of the best and most cleare sort , the which also they dryed and parched with heate of the fire , to make it the more forcible to helpe in all obstructions . for salts are of that power , that they take away all manner putrifaction and corruption of wormes , and doe put away the originall of other vices and diseases , and do amend them . the which being so , what other thing can be found out , for the conseruation of life and health , or for the expulsion of all diseases , more profitable . actuarius , also describing certaine purgatiue salts , doth giue vnto them great efficacie in helping and easing sundry diseases , and 〈◊〉 preuenting many sicknesses . ●yrepsius describeth moe then twenty sundry salts . and among their compositions , hée calleth one the apostles salt , the which preserueth the sight to a very great age , clenseth the lunges from tough fleame , preuenting coughes , and inlarging the breath . another composition hée attributeth to saint luke the euangelist , which is almost of the like vertue , the which the priestes of aegipt , ( as he saith ) vsed for fulnesse , that they might be the more fitte to apply themselues to their studies : being also of force , to remedie sundry diseases . marcellus empiricus , discribed two maner of purging salts . many other authors might be alleaged , as gregorius theologus , plinius secundus , and others , which haue giuen great commendation to the vertue of salts , whose wordes for breuities sake , i omit . chap. ix . concerning the extractions of salts out of all things , and chymicall calcinations and incinerations , knowne to the ancient physitians , and vsed in medicine . there are some which contemne and deride our artifice cōcerning the extractions of salts . but no wise man will speake against the thing which he knoweth not . for the auncient physitians , haue vsed calcinations like vnto ours : as may appeare by the wordes of oribasius , when he maketh mention of the calcination of tartar , and of the feces of vineger , put into an earthen potte , close pasted or lated . for he saith that the matter which is to be calcined , being fast luted in a potte , and set ouer the fire to be baked , so long , vntill it waxe white , alchimically . plinius secundus , vsed the ashes of beastes and foules , as most singular and familar remedies . all the auncient writers , speake of a little bird like a wrenne , which is called regulus troglodites , and haue taught that the same being brought into ashes , is singular remedie for the stone . also they say , that glasse calcined and burnt into ashes , hath the same effect . and many of our later physitians , doe vse the ashes of a spoonge , drunke in white wine , for the cure of the broncoceles , which is a disease arysing from the throates kernells , of some called the hermis of the throate . this they prescribe to be drunke for the space of one whole moone : which is a most certaine experience . aelius propoundeth many and sundry remedies , which they of olde time vsed , which being calcined and dissolued into ashes , according to the cōmon fashion of chymists , he most highly estéemed ▪ as secrets of excéeding price . his words are these . it is said , that it harts horne be burnt and washed , it cureth the disentery fluxe , and the spitting of blood : and is giuen with great profit to them that haue the iaundise : being giuen in the quantitie of two spoonefulls . and in another place he saith : some burne the clawes of swine , and giue the ashes to those that are tormented with the collicke , in drinke . other some say , that asses hooues burnt , drunke daily & doe cure the falling sicknes . againe he saith ▪ all burnt bones haue power to driue away & to dry vp : but more especially mens bones . much more might be brought out of aetius concerning these things , to proue that they of olde , did vse calcinations and ashes , in diuers and sundry maladies . albeit all ashes in generall , so farre forth as they containe in them their proper salt , haue power in them to dry vp , & to clense , yet neuerthelesse they retaine in them some property of that matter out of the which they are extracted . and this agreeth with that which aegineta teacheth , saying : ashes haue not exactly one temperature , but do differ according to the difference of the matter which is brent . and therfore the ashes of sharp things , as of oakes , or holme , do binde very much , and do stoppe the eruption of bloud without any other thing . but the ashes of more sharp things , as of the figge , and tythimal , or spurge , are more sharpe and cleansing . oribasius wryteth in like manner , sauing that he procéedeth further . for he plainely teacheth the chymicall extraction of salt out of such ashes , speaking thus : ashes ( saith hee ) haue in them , partly that which is earthie , and partly that which is fumie , and these partes are thinne , and the ashes steeped or infused in water , and strayned , do passe through together : that which remaineth being earthie and weake , and without byting , is made hotte , hauing put of his force in the watering or infusion . and thus oribasius calleth the separation of the actiue from the passiue & earthie ( which he calleth infirme , or weake , but the chymists , the deade and damned earth ) seperation . all whatsoeuer our more skilfull chymists of this age could adde vnto the calcinations and i●cinerations of the more ancient , is this one thing , that out of such kinde of ashes ( whereof oribasius maketh mention ) they drawe out the whole water , and drye it vp : and that which remaineth in the bottome , being impure salt , they dissolue againe with common water , or with the proper water thereof , ( which is better ) distilled from it , before the incineration of the matter , that they may make the same cleane and pure , and as cleere as christall . for they dissolue manie times , they fylter , and coagulate , not to the vttermost poynt of drynesse : but drawing out onely of that water twoo thirde partes and more , by the pipe of the alembick , they afterward remooue the same from the fire , that ●he salt therein contained , and set in a colde place , may growe into a christalline i●e , which is the most pure salt of the matter without all doubt . this salt must be gathered together , and separated with a woodden spoone . and if there remaine any parte of the water , let it bee vapoured againe , and then putte into a vessell to stand in the colde ayre , where will bée coniealed a christalline residence anew , which must be seperated againe , ouer and ouer so many times , vntill more it can growe into a iellie or ise . these kinde of is●e recidences , are the true beginning of salts , vital and qualified with admirable vertues . and this salt hath in it still the other twoo substantiall beginnings , sulphur , and mercury . for from the same , the mercurial and sulphurous beginning , the one swéete and vnctuous , the other sharpe and etheriall , may yet bée drawen by a skilfull workeman the more fixed parte , namely that of salt , remaining still in the bottome . saltes haue their corporall impurities , but the spirituall balsam which lyeth hidde in them , is the chymicall salte , knowen to a fewe . some of these salts are bytter as worme●ood , some swéete as sugar , some sharpe as vitriolls , sower as quinces or grapes , by whose balsame they are nourished , ●ostered , and conserued . these salts haue diuers spirites , some resoluing , some coniealing : and as they haue diuers spyrits , so do they worke sundrie and admirable effects . chap. x. wherein is prooued , that the naturall and originall moysture in saltes , is not consumed by calcination , but that the very formes do lye hidde in that constant and vitall beginning . the naturall and originall moysture , with the which saltes are replenished ( as is aforesaid ) is not consumed with the force of fire , and by calcination . for it shall be here shewed , that all the more forcible tinctures and impressions , and the property of things , together with their most potent qualities and powers , as tastes , odours , colours , with the very formes themselues , & such like , are concluded , and do lie hid , in that firme , constant , & vitall beginning . for the truth whereof , i will deliuer vnto you certaine demonstrations , oftentimes prooued and confirmed by my owne experience . one , i learned of a friend which lodged at my house , who was the first inuentor therof . another , i receiued frō a most learned & famous polonian , a skilfull physitian , aboue 26. yeers since . this man was so excellently , and phylosophically skilfull in the preparing of the ashes out of al the parts of any maner of plant , with all the tinctures and impressions of all the parts of the plant , and would in such wise conserue all their spirites , and the authours of all their faculties , that hée had aboue thirtie such plants prepared out of their ashes of diuers sorts , conteyned in their seuerall glasses , sealed vp with hermes seale , with the tytle of each particular plant , and the propertie thereof , written vpon the same . so , as that if a man desired to sée a rose or mary-gold , or any other flower , as a red or white poppey , or such like : then would hée take the glasse wherein the ashes of such a flower was inclosed , whether it were of a rose , a marie-golde , a poppey , a gilly-flower , or such like , according as the writing of the glasse did demonstrate . and putting the flame of a candell to the bottome of the glasse , by which it was made hote , you might sée that most thinne and impalpable ashes , or salt , send foorth from the bottome of the glasse , the manifest forme of a rose , vegetating and growing by little and little , and putting on so fully the forme of stalkes , leaues and flowers , in such perfect and naturall wise in apparant shew , that a man would haue beléeued verily , the same to be naturally corporeat , whereas in truth it was the spirituall idea , indued with a spirituall essence : which serued for no other purpose , but to be matched with his fitting earth , that so it might take vnto it a more soly body . this shadowed figure , so soone as the vessell was taken from the fire , turned to his ashes againe , and vanishing away , became a chaos and confused matter . when i had séene this secret , & endeuouring with al my might to attaine to the same , i spent much time about it , but yet lost my labour . but as touching the demonstration following : i affirme vpon my faith and credite , to be most certaine , and haue often proued and experimented it by my selfe & may easily be done by any man. the lord de luynes formentieres , a man of great account , both for his learning and office , being noble , and of all men singularly beloued , long since departed this life : with whom in his life time , i conuersed with great familiaritie . this noble man 〈◊〉 very great paines , to search and finde out the most excellent secrets of nature , but specially those which appertained , either for the preseruatiō , or for the restoring of health . and séeking long to find such remedies , for that he had languished in a crazed body a great while without any helpe , and was iudged by physitians to be past cure , he was at the last holpen , and wonderfully restored to health , by one only lossenge of a certaine chymical electuary of great vertue , which the lady de la hone , a most noble and wise matrone gaue vnto him . this lossenge , prouoked him to easie vomit , by which he cast vp from his stomacke all impurity , tough and discous , like the whites of egs , diuersly coloured , in great quantitie : by which hee was restored to health againe , to his great ioy and comfort . hereupon he greatly desireth to know this secret , the which he not onely obtained at the hands of that noble lady , but some others also no lesse vertuous , by his own endeuour afterwards : the which he vsed both for his owne health , & also for the good of others as need required , in the way of christian charity . this man cōming out of france , in the time of the ciuil wars , & conuersing with me , applyed his mind to extract salt out of mettals : that thereby he might prepare a remedy against the stone , dissoluing it with christall . this salt being mixed with the lye made with ashes of 〈◊〉 mettals , by often powring warme water vpon the same , & drawing it through too and againe ( as women are wont to make their cōmon lye ) shewed a proofe of his essence , included in the lye after this maner . the lye being strained through a filter , & oftentimes very well clensed , was put into a vessell of earth , hauing a narrow bottom , and a wide mouth , which is called a terime . and when the said vessell had stood without the windowes in the cold aire , by the space o● one night , it grew into an ise , through the cold of the winter . the window being opened earely in the morning , and the lye clensed , there appeared a méere and firme ise , wherein there appeared a thousand formes of mettalls , with all the parts thereto belonging : as leaues , stalkes , and rootes , being very plaine and apparant to the eye of the beholders , in such sort as no man could but acknowledge them to be mettals . when the noble man beheld this , and gazed vpon it , as on a miracle , he hastily ranne vnto me , and spake to me in the words of archymides , crying , i haue found , come , and see . and when i came into his worke-house , i tooke the ise , and brake of 〈◊〉 good péece , which i handeled so warily , that it might not melt with the warmth of my hand , and carryed it to men of great woorth , which dwelt with vs in that citie : who beholding the ise , affirmed most constantly that they were mettalls , and did no lesse maruaile then i my selfe did , wondering what it should intende , and from whence , and how so excellent a thing coulde procéede out of nature : wée all calling to minde this sentence of holie writ : remember man , that thou art ashes , and to ashes againe thou shalt returne : considering that the forces of such things do lye hydde and abide in their ashes , from whence the resurrection of our bodies is most assuredlie to bée expected . this gallant experiment being afterwards oftentimes by mée wrought , & rightly performed by art , brought also to my minde that history wherof i spake before , concerning a poleland physitian : the which when i saw , i stroue , and endeuored all that i coulde , with meditation and practice to bring it to passe . and first i thought vpon the reasons how so excellent a woorke might be finished : and what it was , that gaue forme so perfectly to a rose , or to any other plant , according to the verie life , with all the naturall colours thereto belonging , in a moment , occasioned through a light heate . i say , i had diuers and sundrie cogitations with my selfe how this thing might bée . and amyddest these thoughts , and as i was busied in other woorkes , i perceiued that the forme and figure of a thing is included in his salt , without any colour : and that there are no other colours in water , then waterie , that is to say white : and further , that the mettalls in that i sée should be deuoid of all colour , sauing waterie and white , by reason that the ethereall and mercuriall spirites vaporous and sulphurous ▪ do vanish away , by their assation and calcination in the sunne-shine , from the which spirits the colours doe arise , as is to be séene in salt niter : which al beit whyte in shewe , yet put into a close lembic , and set ouer the fire in sande to be fixed , it sendeth foorth his flying spirits , euen through the harde bodie of the alembic , of sixe hundreth seuerall colours , and cleaning to the vttermost part of the vessell like volatile meale . séeing therefore there lye hid so many sundrie colours in salt-peter , ( which is a fatte salt of the earth ) there is no doubt but that the like saltes also are contained in all other things , which containe in them their proper colours also drawen out of the power of the earth , which shew foorth themselues in theyr due season by the industrie of art. thus after long deliberation had with my selfe , i fullie resolued to make tryall hereof . and first i tooke one whole simple being in this perfect vigor and strength in the spring time , hauing fulnesse of iuice , and impressions of vitall tinctures , which natures are included in the spirites of saltes . this simple ( i say ) i determined to beate in a marble morter , with his stalkes , leaues and flowers , together with the rootes , and so to reduce it into a chaos or confused masse , & to put it into a vessell of glasse , closed with hermes seals , and so to remaine to be digested , macerated , and fermented a conuenient time , out of the which at the length i might 〈◊〉 those thrée principles , salt , sulphur , and mercurie , & to separate them according 〈…〉 preseruing with all diligence the spirtes : & out of their mercuriall and sulphurous liquor actiue , separating the elementall water passiue , whereby is extracted out of the drie feces artificially calcined , a salt , brought to the puritie of christall , which is a most white ashes , and most full of life . then after this , i would put to this salt by little and little his mercuriall liquor , which i would distill from it , that i might conioyne with the fixed salte , the volatile armoniac , which is included in that liquor , and from whome the liquor borroweth his whole force , which i perceyued to be deteyned and swallowed vp by the fixed salte : for so nature imbraceth nature , and like reioyceth with the like , as salt with salte . these things thus finished , that is , these saltes being vnited together againe , then would i adde by little and little the sulphurous essence , which i would bring into earth soliate , that is to say : the most simple essence , full of all vitall tinctures and properties . but wanting leysure to go forward in this course , i haue not as yet attayned the vndoubted experience of this so noble a secrete : whereof i will make proofe and assaye , if god permit , when occasion shal be giuen . for séeing it is a matter in nature , and hath bene alreadie done , there is no doubt but that it may be done againe , by other diligent woorkemen . neyther doe i thinke that there can be a more ready way of working prepared , than that which i haue already spoken of , and which is knowen and familiar to true philosophers , and chymists . for this course obserued , euery thing wel wrought , hath his most effectual and actiue vertues , and vital qualities . but some other better learned and more exercised in chymical philosophy then my selfe , can more readily sée this thing , and looke further into the workemanship , who hauing better leysure , may make trial of this working , and finde out in very déede the truth and certainty of the artifice . wherunto if any man by his industry do attaine , let him not kepe the secrete to himselfe alone , but let him bestow the same vppon men of good parts , for the which benefite they shal stant bounde foreuer . for albeit , it is a matter more pleasant to beholde then profitable , yet it openeth and awaketh the drowsie eyes of the more witty and learned sort of men , to beholde and take in hande for greatter and more profitable things for mankinde : who afterwarde wil guide into the right way , the blinde , and such as doe erre through ignorance , and wil steppe the mouthes of euil tongued and malicious men . chap. xi . concerning the visible bodies of the elements . it now resteth that somewhat ●ee said● , concerning the visible bodies of the elements , which of all things , as wel of mineral , as of vegetable , and animal , doe alwayes appeare to be two : the one drye , the other moyst . the drye is a sandy earth or ashes , 〈◊〉 of all salt , by reason of the washing of waters , and is called by the chymists , terra damnata , or damned earth . because it hath no other force , but that which is drying . the m●yste which is called vnsauorie phleame , is pestered with all sulphur and mercurie , hauing no odour or taste , or other vital vertue , which can onely moysten , without any other force at all . and as these are of no force , so doe they onely possesse passiue qualities , and vnprofitable . but ayer , the thyrd element , cannot be separated by it selfe , but doth eyther vanish into ayre , or else remayneth mixed sulphur and mercury , and doth more chiefely cleaue vnto mercury , which is so spiritual , that the most experte woorkeman cannot separate the same from it selfe alone , but doth alwayes passe away into aire , with the aire or vapour of that thing , whereof the separation is made : to which aier mercury is straitely combyned , that it can neuer be separated from the same , without it be done by the great industry of a skilful workeman , who knoweth that mercury or salte armoniack volatile , is so conioyned with aier , or with the aiery parts , that it doth also breathe away with the aiery parte , and with the same is reduced into spiritual water , which is knowen to be the mercurial water , by the sharpe , sower , and vehement , which springeth from the mercury or salt armoniack , of nature spirituall . the which the workeman séeking to separate , conioyneth this spiritual liquor , with a christalline salt , naturally fixed , from the which , he separateth that aiery liquor , by distillation , which by that separation is vtterly spoyled of all force , and remaineth an vnsauory aiery liquor , for because that mercuriall spirite possessing the nature of volatil salt , remaineth fixed , with his proper salt , with the which hée hath the most chiefe analogie and proportion . and thus the philosophers testify , that nature is delighted with nature . thus we sée how the elementary aier is to be separated from that mercuriall spirite , namely by bringing the e●●ment of aier , into water deuoyde of taste , and by cutting the mercuriall spirit , into the salt , of his proper preheminence . furthermore , hereby it appeareth , that mercury is a certaine aiery thing , or aier it selfe : and yet somewhat more then the elementarie aier , which wanting the spirit of mercurie , is a simple aiery liquor of no vertue or power , but simplie to moysten and penetrate . and so the actiue qualities doe belong to the beginnings , salt , sulphur , and mercurie , and the passiue to the elements . this thing wée haue made plaine before , by the example of wine , and water of life . these things are therefore spoken , that all men may sée by the anatomie and resolution of things , that the element of aier , cannot be separated by it selfe alone , neyther is it so to be séene of any , but of the true philosophers , and by such as are most conuersant in this art . thus certaine demonstration is made of the visible bodies of things procreated , both out of the séedes and beginnings , and also out of the elements ; albeit in the resolution of the bodies , thou doest not discerne the visible bodies of the séedes , put a parte by themselues . but it is an easie matter to discerne the seuered partes of those thrée beginnings , and also of the elements , in the which partes of the thrée beginnings , the vertues and powers of actions ( wherwith the séedes are indued ) are included and mixed together . whereby it commeth to passe , that their bodies are filled together with the vitall forces and faculties of the astrall and spirituall séedes , as the receptacle of th●se vertues . but the elementall bodies , haue only passiue qualities : the which elementall bodies , a w●rkeman cannot onely separate by themselues , but can also bring them to nothing , in such sorte that the passiue and materiall elements being separated , there shall onely remaine those thrée hypostaticall , formall , and actiue beginnings , salt , sulphur , and mercury , which being drawen into one body , do make a mixed body , which the philosophers call a fifth or a fourth essence , which is frée from all corruption , abounding with quickening spirits : whereas contrariwise , the sole elements separated from those thrée beginnings , doe bring nothing but impurities , corruptions , and mortification . in this chymestry is to be extolled , that imitating nature , it rateth elements , and their beginnings , by which all the partes of a compund body , are anatomized and made manifest . and yet those naturall substances , are not said to be begotten , by such separations , as if they were not before : neyther yet as bring before , are they corrupted by the arte of separation , but they were in compounde , and after separation , they ceased not to bee , and to subsist . and as the thrée beginnings are coupled together , by the benefite of an oylelie liquor ioyning them in one : so the thrée elements , ayer , water , and earth , are combyned together , by the comming in of water as a meane . for water by her analogie and conuenience partaketh both of the na●ure of aier , and of earth : whereby it commeth to passe , that one while it is easily turned into aier , another while into earth : and so it combyneth both the extreames . in things that haue likenesse , an alteration is easily made . for , by reason of likenesse and consent , aier made thicke with colde , passeth into water , and water made thinne , becommeth aier : and water also made grosse and thick , becommeth earth : euen as earth also made thinne , passeth into water , and is chaunged . wherefore , forsomuch as aier and earth , two extreames , are fitlie ioyned together , by a thyrd , which is water , a meane betwéene them both : aristotle did more than was néedefull to appoynt a quaternarie number of elements , out of the quaternary number of the fower qualities , hote , colde , drie , moyst . howbeit , it cannot be denied but that he had great probability hereof , as is to be séene in his second booke of the generation of liuing creatures , where he goeth about by many reasons to prooue , that it is most necessary for the production of things , to appoynt a fourth element , namely fyer , hote and drie . but forsomuch as moses in the first chapt. of his genesis ( wherein he sheweth the creation of all things ) maketh no mention of fier : it is more conuenient that we leaue it rather to the opinion of the diuine prophet , then to the reasons of an ethnick philosopher . and therfore wée acknowledge no other fier then heauen , & the fiery region which is so called of burning . therefore it ought to be called the fourth formall heauen , and essential element , or rather the fourth essence , extracted out of the other elements : bicause it is indue● with far more noble vertues , then the most simple elements . for the hermeticall philosophers deny that there is a quintessence because there are not fower elements , from whence there may be drawen a fifth essence , but thrée onely and no more , out of which a fourth may be extracted . so great is the power of this fourth essence , that it mooueth , sharpeneth , and mightily animateth the bodies of the thrée principles , and of the more grosse elements , to come into a perfect mixture of one thing which neuer after can be di●●des . wherevpon the indiuidualls , or simples which cannot be diuided , doe borrow from heauen , & from no other , all those forces , faculties , and properties , which they haue no shewe foorth . herevpon it commeth that the proper qualitie of that essence , is neither drye nor moiste , nor colde , nor hote . for it is a far more simple thing , that is to say , a most simple and pure essence , extracted out of the more simple and more subtil beginnings and elements , which maketh a most simple , most pure , most thinne , and most swifte body , indued with the greatest force of generating , nourishing , increasing , and perfecting , which commeth so néere vnto the nature of fier , that in very déede the heauen is no other thing , but a pure and ethereal fi●r , neither is the pure fire , any thing els but heauen : which the more it ouercometh the principles and elements , the more it obtaineth , the more potent , perfect , pure , and simple forces and vertues , 〈…〉 into all things , and furnisheth euery thing with his formes and vertues . it appeareth therefore by moses , that there is no other fiery element , but heauen , which hath the place of the fourth element , or which is rather a fourth essence extracted out of the more subtil matter and forme of the three elements , which is no other thing , but a pure ethereal , and most simple fier , most perfect , and most for different , from the thrée elements , as imperfite : which fier , is the author of all formes powers , and actions , in all the inferior things of nature , as the first cause , and carrying it selfe like the p●●ent , toward his ofspring : which fier , by his winde carryeth & conueyeth his séedes into the belly of the earth , wherby the generation or fruite is nourished , fostered , groweth , and is at the last thrust foorth , out of the lappe or bosome of the elements . this heauen , albeit in it selfe , it is no complexion , that is to say , neither hote nor cold , nor moyst , nor drie : yet by his knowledge and predestination , it yéeldeth to all things , heate and colde , moystnesse , and drynesse : forsomuch as there are starres which haue their most colde and moyst spirites , as the saturnails , and lunaries : others , most hote and drie , as the solarie , and martialls : others hote and moyst , as the io●ialls , who by their vertues and complexion ( wherwith euery starre and planet is indued ) do informe , fashion , a impregnat all these inferior things , in suche wise , that some indiuidualls are of this condition and complexion , which they haue borrowed and taken from their informing or fashioning planet or starre : other some of that which they haue obtained from other planets and starres . for god hath giuen to heauen most simple and perfect séedes , such as are the starres and planets , which hauing in them vitall faculties , and complexions , do powre them foorth into the lappe of the inferior elements ▪ and do animate and forme them . neyther doth the heauen●casse ●casse from his working , nor the astrall seedes therof , because their vertues are neuer exhausted : neyther do they suffer alteration or diminution of faculties , wherby they may 〈◊〉 from procreating or forming , albeit that sometime they do make more or lesse frutefull then at other some . herevpon commeth that perpetuall circulation , by the benefite whereof the séedes of the elements or theyr matter , are coupled with the séedes of the starres , setting and putting their contayned into the maternall lappe , that it may forme and bring foorth a kindly sprout . for as heauen is sayde to woorke vppon the earth , so also the inferior elements , do yéelde and bestowe their actions and motions , but not after one manner : for that heauen in acting suffereth nothing , so farre foorth as it is equalled , being of a hemogeniall and most perfect nature : and therefore is incorruptible and immutable vnto the predestinated ende of things created . but these inferior things do suffer in their action , because they haue theyr formall beginnings , mixed with their materialls , subiect to chaunge and destruction : whereuppon also it commeth to passe , that those things which procéede from them , do in continuance of time decay and perish . these things knowen to a true phisitian and philosopher , hée séeketh to restore decayed health , and to preserue the same by the extraction of celestiall essences and formes , and the elementarie separation of the beginnings and materialls , from those thrée formall and spirituall beginnings , the which he●●seth alone , separated from the others , which are heterogeniall , or of another kinde , that he may worke wonderful effects without any impediment . and this is the vniuersal balsamick medecine , wherin all the partes are homogeneal , or of one kinde most pure , most simple , and most spirituall , and being in such simplicitie , and most thoroughly clensed and purged from all grosse feces , and incorrupt , it is called a quintessence , but more truly and properly a quartessence , and the celestial stone of the philosophers . but let no man thinke here , that when i name the philosophers stone , ( that is to say , that vniuersal medicine ) that i meane the transmutation of metalls , as if such transmutation , were the chéefe medicine of mans body : but knowe rather , that in man , ( which is a little world ) there lye hidde the mynes of imperfect metals , from whence so many diseases do growe , which by a good faithful and skilful phisitian must be brought to golde and siluer , that is to say , vnto perfect purification , by the vertue of so excellent a medicine , if we wil haue good and prosperous health . the phisitian therefore , must diligently consider two things , that is to saye , that nature may be disquieted , both by an inward and also by an outward enemie . but this more especially he must foresée , that nature be not formented with the outward enemie , which then commeth to passe , when a medecine is ministred and giuen , which is crude , impure , and venimous , and therefore contrary to our nature and spirites . then on the other side , he must haue care that the ●omesticall enemies which are within mans body , be dryuen out with conuenient and fitte weapons . for if a remedy be applyed which is vnfitte , then nature is assayled by two enemies , that is to say , by the externall medicine , and by the inwarde impuritie , which remaining long in the body , turneth into poyson , if spéedy remedy be not had . chap. xii . moses in his genesis sheweth the three beginnings philosophicall which are in euery thing created . we holde by moses doctrine , that god in the beginning made of nothing a chaos , or déepe , or waters , if wée please so to call it . from the which chaos , déepe , or waters , animated with the spirite of god , god as the great workemaister and creator , separated first of all light from darkenesse , and this aethereall heauen , which wee beholde , as a fifth essence , or most pure spirite , or most simple spirituall body . then hee diuided waters , from waters ; that is to say , the more subtill , aiery , and mercuriall liquor , from the more thicke , clam●y , and oylely , or sulphurous liquor . after that , he extracted and brought foorth the sulphur , that to say , the more grosse waters , from the drye parte , which out of the separation standeth like salte , and as yet standeth by it selfe apart . and yet for all this , those vniuersall partes of the whole chaos , are not to be separated , but that stil euery one of them , do retaine in themselues , those thrée beginnings without the which they cannot bée , nor yet fulfill their generations . this was the worke of god , that hée might separate the pure from the impure : that is to say , that he might reduce the more pure and ethereal mercury , the more pure and inextinguible sulphur , the more pure , and more fixed salte , into shyning and inextinguible starres and lights , into a christalline and dyamantine substance , or most simple bodie , which is called heauen , the highest , and fourth formall element , and that from the same , the formes as it were séedes , might be powred forth into the most grosse elements , to the generation of all things . the which are called the mo●● grosse elements , because fr●m them in the diuision of the chaos , the most pure part is abstracted and conuerted and brought to a heauen , and to the fruites thereof . all which elements whether it be that most simple fourth , or whether they be those , which are said to be more grosse , forsomuch as they consist of those thrée hypostaticall beginning , they could neuer be so separated one from the other at the first , nor can now bée so seperated by any chymist , but that alwayes still that which remaineth is compounded of them thrée . the difference is this , that some are most pure , simple , and most spirituall substances of the secret parts , and other some , are more grosse and lesse simple , also a third sort , most grosse and material in the highest degrée . therefore it must be confessed , that the heauen , albeit it bee most simple , doth consist of those thrée beginnings , but of the most pure and most spirituous , and altogether formall . whereby it commeth to passe , that the vertues and powers of heauen , being wholy spirituall , doe easily without impediment pearcing into the other elements , powre forth the inferiour elements the spiritual formes : from whence all mortall bodies doe obtaine the increase both of their vertues , and also of their faculties . if we will behold the puritie of the heauen aboue other elements , and the perpetuall constancie thereof , looke then vpon those bright and shining fyers , continually glittering and light , to whom the heauen hath giuen the most pure and extinguible substance of sulphur , whereof they consist . for such as the heauen is in essence , such and the like fruites hath it brought foorth in substance : out of whose vitall impressions and influences , they procreat & bring forth some likenes of thēselues , in the more grosse elemēts : but yet according as the matter is more grosse or more thinne , more durable or more constant , or more transitorie . and the influences of such fyers , are mercuriall spirits : but the light and shyning brightnes , is sulphur : their fixed heauens , or vitriall and chrystallyne circles , is a salt body : which circles , are ●●pure , shining and fixed , that a diamond which partaketh o● the nature of fixed salt , is not of more puritie , continuance and perpetuitie than they are . as touching the elements of ayer , the beginnings thereof are more grosse , lesse pure , and lesse spirituall and simple , than the beginnings celestiall , and yet much more perfect , thinne , and penetrating , then are the waterie and terrestriall mercuries and sulphurs : and is such , that next to heauen it hath the preheminence of actiuitie and power , whose forces are to be séene in diuers and sundry windes which are mercuriall fruites and the spirits of the ayerie element : whose sulphurs also are discerned to be pure and bright in burning comets , which are no perpetuall fires or sulphurs , which cannot bée put out for degenerating from the nature of celestiall starres and sulphurs , as from puritie & simplicitie , into a more grosse and impure forme . now as concernining earth which is ayerie , it is so subtill and thinne , that it is very hard to be séene , being diffused throughout the whole region of the ayer : which doth not sent it selfe to the eye , but in mannas , in dewes , and in frostes , as in aierie salts . the verie same beginnings of ayer , may also be séene in meteors : which in it , and out of it ▪ are ingendered , that is to say , in lightnings , in corruscations , and in thunderings , & in such like . for in that flerie flame which breaketh forth is sulphur : in the windy spirit , & moystnesse is mercury : and in the thunderbolt or stone of the lightning , is salt fixed . the fruites also of this nature are manna celestiall , and hony , which bées do gather from flowers , wherein there is no other thing but salt , sulphur , and mercurie of the ayer : which by a skilfull workeman are not separated from those without great admiration : yea , the rustick coridon findeth this by experience to be true , when as he can seperate the matter of the bées worke , into waxe , which is a matter sulphurus , into hony , which is a mercurial essence , & into drosse , representing the terrestriall salfe . and thus that superior globe seuered into an ethereall and ayery heauen , hath his thrée beginnings , yet neuerthelesse very different in simplicitis and puritie . chap. xiii . whence is shewed , that in this inferior globe of the worlde , namely in the elements of water and earth , these three beginnings are plainely to be seene . those thrée beginnings , doe as yet more plainely shewe foorth themselues in this inferior globe , by reason of their more grosse matter , which is to our eyes more sensible . for out of the element of water , the iuyces and metallick substances do daily break foorth in sight : the vapours of whose moysture or iuyce more spirituous , do set foorth mercury ▪ the more drye exhalations , sulphur : and their coagulated or congealed matter , salt. of the which saltes nature doth offer vnto vs dyuers kindes of allume , of vitriole , sundry differences , saltegemme , and salt armoniac , and many others . there are also manie kindes of sulphurs , of pitche , and of bitumen , and of mercuries , or iuyces . moreouer the sea doth witnes , that it is not without such mercuriall , aiery and sulphurous spirites : whose meteors in castor and pollux , and in other 〈◊〉 kindled , by reason of their sundry sulphurs and exhalations , do confirme the same : and that the sea is not without his saltes , the saltnesse thereof doth make manifest . the earth , also doth prooue the same , which being like vnto a spunge , doth continually draw and sucke vnto it the salte body thereof : wherby it cometh to passe , that there are so many kindes of metalls and mineralls therin . from this marine sale , as from the father and first original , all other sates are deryued . and these beginnings are so separated in all other elementes by themselues aparte , that no one of them is depryued of the company of another . for in the marine salte , albeit the nature of salte , doth excéede and ouer matche the nature of the other beginnings , yet it is not destitute of a sulphurous and mercuriall essence , as by chymicall experience may be made plaine . for hée which is a meane chymist knoweth how to extracte out of the same by the force of fire , a sharpe mercuriall spirite , which being ethereall , and therefore moste potente , doth dissolue into liquor , the most firme and harde metall , as golde , which otherwise cannot be ouercome neither with the most vehement fyer , nor bée consumed with any long continuance of time . furthermore , a workeman knoweth how to extract out of the same salt congealed stones , very sweete , and of a sulphurus nature , which neuerthelesse haue a mightie and admirable force , to dissolue the most hard thing that is . and yet for all this , that which remaineth is salt. thus you see plainely that these thrée beginings , salt , sulphur , and mercury , are contained in the marine salt. the same also is to be sée●● vitriol , the which among other salts is most corporent . for alwayes for the most part figures and images of venus and mars , are to be séene therein and conioyned together . in this vitriol . i say , doe plainely appeare , salt , sulphur , and mercurie . whos 's mercurie altogether ethereall , being by art separated , and made most pure , from the elementary passiue 〈◊〉 , possesseth a gréene sharpe spirit , of so great an acting and penetrating force , that in a very short time it will dissolue metalyne bodyes , and most hard substances , whether they be mettals or stones . and this is that gréene lyon , which rypley commendeth so much . the sulphur in vitriol , is easily discerned by a certaine red ocre , swéet , which is easily separated from the same : which is an asswager of things , and a right actatiue , and a great mittigator all griefes , and paines ▪ but the colcotar , or red feces with remayneth in she bottome , after the seperation of the ethereall mercury , and of the swéete sulphur , conteyned in it , a most white salt , the extraction whereof maketh a very good and gentle vomit , fit and profitable for many diseases . as these thrée are found in vitriol , so also they are to be found in allum , and in other salts , as we haue shewed before concerning common salt. they are also to be séene in common sulphur , wherein beside the sulphurus substance , and inflamable matter , there is contained a mercuriall sharpish liquor , so pearcing , that it is able to open and vnlock the most strong and hard gates of sol and lana . but the salt drawen from the other parts , remaineth in the bottome , as euery meane workman knoweth . and such is this sowerish spirit of slphur , that although it be drawen out of sulphur , fit to burne , yet it is so vnfit to take fier , that it is easily let from burning . it happeneth otherwise to common mercurie , which is altogether ethereall and spirituall : ( from whence the third begineing of all things which is most spirituall , hath borrowed the name , albeit it is not like vnto common mercurie , or to quicksiluer in forme ) ▪ for out of the same , both a liquor , and a swéete sulphur , and also a salt may be extracted . hereby it is easily iudged , that these thrée principles of thymists are not the common salt , sulphur , and mercurie : but some other thing of nature , more pure and simble , which neuerthelesse hath some conscience and agréement with cōmon salt , sulphur , and mercurie : from whence also our beginnings haue taken their name : and not without cause , for that the common are in all mixt things , and in all things most simple and spirituall . for the other being mixed with the more grosse substances of bodies , are hindered from being so volatile and spirituall . for that they consist of many vnkindly parts , with the which these common spirits are not so holden backe . of those thrée beginnings aforesaid , all metalls are compounded , albeit after diuers sorts . and this is the cause , that they differ so much one from an other . for in yron , the sulphur thereof which may be burnt , in that it passeth almost away in sparkes & ●●nders by meanes of the fier , doth excéed in qualitie the other two beginnings , and doth ouersway them : hereof it commeth , that will be on fier throughout . for the which cause it is called by the old philosophers , by the name of the planet mars , a burning planet . so copper hath great store of sulphur , but lesse burning then that of yron , and it hath also much vitriol salt , yet but little quantitie of mercurie . but that vitriolated salt , is that sharpe ferment of nature , whereby the generations of all naturall things are propagated and increased : whereupon the name of venus is giuen to copper : in whom there is a second quaternarie among the planets , where are heaped vp , nourished , and coagulated spiritually all celestiall essences : wherefore this planet by all the auncient phylosophers is called venus , the mother of generations , and begotten of the males froth . tinne hath in it much ethereall and aiery mercury , but of combustble sulphur , a small quantitie , and the least portion of salt. and hereof it commeth that philosophers call the fame inpiter , because that planet is altogether aiery and ethereall : and therefore poets appoint him king of the aier , and the region of lightning . gold and siluer , which of all other metalls are most noble and perfit , do also consist of the thrée foresaid beginnings , but yet mixed in equalitie , and so perfectly with great purity vnited , that it may séeme that there is one chiefe and first essence onely in them , and not thrée , of which they consist . for theyr salt , sulphur , and mercury , are so straitly , and by the least things so ioyned together , that it may séeme they are one substance , not thrée , or consisting of thrée . notwithstanding most pure mercury , séemeth to excell and ouersway in siluer , by which it is made more moyst then golde , which is the most temperate of all other . but in golde , the sulphur which is fixed and incombustible , of a fiery nature , bringeth to passe that it standeth inuincible against all force of fier , and looseth not the least waite thereof , because like wil neuer oppresse his like , but contrariwise do cherish and preserue one the other : whereby it commeth to passe that it ioyeth in the fier , and alwaies commeth out of the same , more pure and noble then it went in . therefore the name of the sunne is giuen to gold , because in very déede it is an ethereall fier and brightnesse . for the sunne is a most fiery shining planet , giuing to all things , by his heat and spirits , life . but siluer for the force and propertie of mercuriall humiditie which it hath with the moone , a planet full of radicall moysture and pregnant , is called by the name of the moone . leade containeth much salt , and great plentie of indigested and crude mercury , but lesse flying sulphur : hereupon it commeth , that lead is the examiner of all other metalls , which it disperceth into some , as is to be séene by tryall , excepting the two perfect metalls , gold and siluer , which it cannot consume . this vertue of consuming the bodies of imperfect metalls , it hath from that qualitie of crude and flying mercury , with the which it doth abound : whereas otherwise by the nature of his sulphur , it is able to doe the contrarie : that is to say , to coagulate those metallick spirits , and to reduce them into bodies , euen as quicksiluer being altogether flying by nature , etheriall , and truly homogeny and spirituall , doth after a sort congeale and fire . so that hereby it appeareth , that it hath in it by nature , the spirit of heat and of cold , and therefore of metallick life and death : which maketh the sentence of hermes good , when he said , that which is aboue is all one with that which is beneath . for such as is saturne in the superior elements , such also is lead in the inferiour : and so of the rest . and out of that burning licquor , more ready to burne , then the very aquauitie , may be seperated a mercurie , or a more ethereall spirit by a matrat with a long necke , by a gentle fier . the which so seperated , the rest of the matter of meane substance , which is sulphurus , oylely , and apt to burne , resideth in the bottome of the glasse , with the niterous and sulphurus spirit of salt. out of the blacke feces , which remaine in the bottome of the retort , being reduced according to the phylosophicall maner into a calx● , is extracted a fixed salt , which often times dissolued and coagulated with his proper fleame , will at the last become chyrstalline . to this , if there be afterward powred by little and little according to art , his ethereal spirit , that from hence it may contract and drawe the double or triple waight of the volatile , and truly mercurial salt , in such wise that being cast vpon a red hote plate , it doe dispearce into fume : thou shalt at the last , by the meane of sublimation , attaine to the foliat earth of the phylosophers , which will haue a greater brightnesse and perspicuitie , then can be séene in the most rich and orient pearle in the world . this earth the phylosophers call their mercurie ▪ the which alone hath admirable properties and faculties . againe , if to this be added the oylely liquor of his proper sulphur also exalted and kept a part by it selfe , in a iust & conuenient qualitie , and if the same be drawen forth with sundry cohobations and extillations , againe and againe , repeated and iterated , and be reaffunded and distilled , vntil out of a ternarie , there arise a vnitie : then out of the grosse , terrestrial : and material lead , shal arise and spring vp a certaine celestial and true dissoluer of nature , and a quintessence of admirable vertue and efficacie : the true , liuely , and cleare shyning fountaine wherein ( as poets affirme , hyding vnder a vaile their secrets ) vulcan washed phaebus , and which clenseth away all impuritie , to make a most pure and perfect body , replenished with vital spirits , and full of vegetation : and doth so rid himselfe from his adamantine fetters with the which he was bound , and hindered from the victorie aginst the serpent pytho , and doth in such wise shake off all impediments , that being frée from all duskie cloudes of darkenesse , with the which he was couered and ouerwhelmed , he sendeth forth now vnto vs his most bright shining light , with the which wee are throughly refreshed , receyuing youthful strength , putting off all imbecillitie , and like vnto that ason king of creta , through the helpe of media , are throughly restored againe to young age . so that the same thing which afore was altogether cold without blood , and deuoided of life séeming as dead , being washed in this fountaine , it ariseth and triumpheth in glory , in might , and furnished with all vertues , and accompanied with an excéeding army of spirits , doth communicate vnto vs fréely his glory and brightnesse , and doth most mightily restore and c●●●oborate the strength of our radicall balsome , with his onely loo●● and touch , throughly wéeding and rooting out all the causes and séedes of sicknesses lurking in vs , and so consuming them , that without al trouble , it preserueth our helth , vnto the appointed end of our life . he which hath eares to heare let him heare attentiuely , otherwise let him neuer take his worke in hand . for albeit i haue shewed the way to perfect working more plainely ( as i thinke ) then any other hitherto haue done , yet thou mayest erre except thou be wholely addicted and intent to thy worke . thus the way is prepared for true phylosophers , to attaine to that great and most excellent minerall worke , and to the preparing of that vniuersal medicine out of mineralls . and this is the demonstration , by which in all metalls and concrete bodies , those thrée beginnings are to be searched out , and being by art seperated , are to be set before our eyes . the which to make it more plaine , i thought good to vse the example of lead , which of all men is reiected as most vile , whereas notwithstanding the phylosophers haue the same in great estéeme , because they ful wel know , what great secrets it containeth within . and therefore they cal it their sunne or leperous gold . from this trée of saturne springeth antimony , as the first branch of the stock , which the phylosophers cal their magnesia , which aboue all other metallick substances , containeth those thrée beginnings ful of open actiuitie and efficacie . paracelsus among all other chymical phylosophers , hath wonderfully ransacked all the parts thereof , and examined the beginnings most diligently , whose substance he hath exalted and commended , aboue al other metallick substances and especially the mercury therof : out of which , as out of the chiefest subiect , and more noble matter , he wrought his chiefest and best works . in the praise wherof these are paracelsus own words : antimony is the true balme of gold , which the phylosophers cal the examiner . and the poets fain● that vulcan washed phaebus in the same lauer , and purged him from al his spots and imperfections , being deriued from most pure and perfect mercury and sulphur , vnder a kinde of vitriol , into a metallick forme and brightnesse . hee compareth the same also in another place to the matter of gold , concerning whose vertues and effects he deliuereth wondere : as that it is the highest and most perfect purger of gold , and his mercury , of men . his red sulphur also doth plainly appeare , which hath his property , that it wil take fier and burne like common sulphur or brimstone : the which is especially to be séene in the night , & in a darke place , without any sume , which the common sulphur is woont to send forth . this sulphur of antimony is solary , and such as is able to gild the superficial part of siluer . as touching the salt of antimony , it is to be seperated from the same , whose property consisteth in procuring vomit . for his strength to procure vomit lyeth hid in the salte flowers thereof : from the which flowers , if the salt betaken away & seperated by vertue of a certaine salt , as may be done , then out of the flowers thereof , is made a most excellent purgation without vomiting . but the property of the mercury thereof bringeth no smal wonder , which in the liquation or melting of gold with other metalls , reiecteth them al , and chooseth the gold to it selfe , with the which it is mingled and vnited into one body , in such wise , that it swalloweth vp gold , whereas all other metalls ( except siluer ) do floate aloft , and wil not sinke into the same . consider therefore , ( saith arnold , ) that thing onely which cleaueth to mercury and to the perfect bodies , and thou hast the full knowledge . and when he hath thus discribed the deuouring lyon , he addeth these words : because our stone is like to the accidentall quicksiluer , which carrieth gold before it , and ouercommeth it : and is the very same which can kill and make aliue . and know further , that our coagulated quicksiluer , is the father of all the minerals of that our magistery , & is both body & spirit , &c. the same thrée chiefe beginnings , doe offer themselues vnto vs in other semi mineralls , as in arsenick , orpinent , and such other like : which albeit in their whole substance they bee contrary to our nature and spirits , yet by nature they haue that spiritual promptnes , and flying swiftnesse , that by their subtiltie , they easily conuey and mingle and mingle themselues with our spirits , whether they be inwardly taken , or outwardly applyed , and doe worke venemous and mortal effects , and that by reason of the arsenical mercury poinson ful , or arsenical sulphur , and arsenicall salt. gems also and precious stones , haue in them the vertues and qualities of those thrée beginnings : by reason of whose fier and brightnesse , the pure mercury in them doth shine , cleauing firmly to his fixed salt , and also to the sulphur of the same nature , whereby the whole substance of a contrary kind being seperated , there ariseth and is made a most pure stone of contrinance like vnto gold . of this sort is the most firme and constant diamond , to whom that good old saturne hath giuen the leaden colour of his more pure mercury , together with the fixed and constant spirits of his more pure sulphur , and hath so confirmed , coniealed and compacted it in all stability , with his christalline salt , that of all other stones it is the most solyd and hardest , by reason of the most firme vnion of the thrée principal beginnings and their coherence : which by no art of seperation can be disioyned and sundered into the solution of his spiritual beginnings . and this is the cause , that the ancient physitians had no vse thereof in medicine , because it could not be dissolued into his first matter . and it is not to be thought , that those auncient physitians refrained the vse thereof , for that they déemed it to be venemous by nature , ( as some falsely imagin ) which being homogenial and of a 〈◊〉 simple nature , it is wholely celestial , and therefore most pure , and for that cause nothing venemous : but the poyson and daunger commeth here hence , that being onely broken and beaten , and in no sort apt to preperation , taken so into the stomack , and remaining there by reason of his soliditie and hardnesse inconcocted , by coutinuance of time , and by little and little , it doth fret and teare the laps of the stomack , and so the intralls being ●●oriated , death by a lingering consumption ensueth . it belongeth to golde , with his sulphur , to giue a red tineture , to carbuncles , and rubines , neither doth the difference of their colours come of any other cause , then this , that their mercuries and chrystallyne salts , are not defeked and clensed alike : the which clensing , the more perfect or imperfect it is , the colour appeareth accordingly , either better , or worse . and albeit siluer be outwardly white , yet within , it hath the colour of azure and blewe , by which shée giueth her tincture to saphyrs . copper , hauing outwardly a shew of rednes , hath a gréene colour within , ( as the viridgreese that is made thereof doth testifie , ) by which it giueth greennesse vnto the emerand . iron , red within , as his saffron & yeallow colour doth plainly shew ( and yet , nothing like the colour which gold hath within it ) giueth colour to the iacint . tinne , albeit it is earthie , yet being partaker of the celestial nature , it giueth vnto agates , diuers , and sundry colours . from gold , and from other mettals , as also from precious stones , their colours may be taken away , by cementation and reuerberation , by their proper menstrues , which things are well knowen to chymists and fire workmen . the which colours and sulphurs so extracted , are very fit for the affects of the braine . the colour of gold , serueth for the affects of the heart . the colour of tinne , for the lunges . the colour of mercury , the colour of lead , for the splene . the colour of iron , for the rednesse . the colour of copper , for the priuie parts . the heauenly menstruéese , to dispoyle mettalls of their colours and sulphures naturall is this : namely the deaw which falleth in the moneth of may , and his sugar manna : out of the which two , mixed together , digested , and distilled according to arte , there wil come forth a general dissoluer , most fit to dispoyle stones and mettals of their colours . yea , of onely sugar , or of hony by it selfe , may be made a dissoluer of mettals . now if these thrée beginnings , salt , sulphur , and mercurie , are to be found in the heauen , in the ayer , and in the waters , as is al ready shewed , who wil make any doubt , but that by a farre greater reason they are to be found in the earth , and to be made no lesse apparant , séeing the earth of al other elements , is the most fruitfull and plentiful . the mercurial spirits sh●we themselues in the le●ues and fruites ; the sulphurus , in the flowers , séedes , and kirnels : the salts , in the wood , barke and rootes : and yet so , that eache one of those thrée partes of the trée or plant , seuerally by themselues , albeit to one is giuen the mercurial spirit , to another that of sulphur , and to the third that of salt , yet euery one apart , may as yet be resolued into those thrée beginnings : without the which they cannot consist , how simple so euer they be . for whatsoeuer it bée , that hath being , within the whole compasse and course of nature , doe consist , and are profited by these thrée beginnings . and whereas some are said to be mercurial , some sulphurus , and some salt , it is therefore , because the mercurials doe conteine more mercurie , the sulphurus more sulphur , and the saltish more salt in them than the others . for some whole trées are to be séene more sulphurus and roseny than other some , as the pine and firre-trées , which are alwayes gréene in the coldest mountaines , because they abound with their sulphurus beginning , being the principal vital instrumēt of their growing . for there are some other plants , as the lawrel , and the trées of oranges , citrons and lemons , which continue long gréene , and yet are subiect to colde : because their sulphure is not so easily dispersed , as is the sulphur of the firre trées , which are roseny , and are therefore thrice of a more fixed and constant life , furnished against the iniuries of times . furthermore , al spice-trées , and al fragrant and odoriferous hearts are sulphurus . and as there are sundry sortes of trées of this kinde , so are there an infinite sort of sulphurs , of the which to entreate here is no place . there are other plants which shew forth salt : which is to be found and felt by their taste : as celadine , nettell , aron , otherwise called weake robin , radish , mustard-seed , porret , or leekes , garlick , ramsoms , perficaria , or arsesmart : which also by the vertus and plenty of their salt , doe defend themselues from the wrongs of times . ros solis ( so called ) aboundeth with mercurie amongst other mercurial plants . the which beginning notwithstanding , for somuch as it is flying and spiritual , except it be reteined by another more corporeat , that is to say , by a waterie or aierie liquor , it vanisheth quite out of sight . but being dismembred & throughly searched by the art of chymistrie , in his interior anatomy , with the separation of the beginnings , it may also be made subiect to sense . for mercury is extracted out of euery thing , first of all in his dissection or separation , into a watery vapour : and sulphur into an oyely : thirdly , out of the remaining feces , brought into ashes , a salt is extracted , by his proper water , which being most white , & like to crystall , hath the taste of sharpe , sower , & byting salt , or such like relish in the mouth : wherby it is found to be true salte , which may be dissolued in water , according to the maner of true salts : differing so much from the other ashes , as life from death : for as much as the feces that remaine thereof , are called dead earth , whereas this is replenished with vitall actions . to conclude , in euery kind of plant , & in all the partes thereof , thrise thrée beginnings are inset and cleauing , indued with sundry properties and faculties , according to the varietie of plants . the which also a skilfull phisitian vseth diuersly , that he may fit each one to other , according to equalitie of matching , and according to his intended purpose . hereby it appeareth how necessarie the knowledge of the internall anatomy of things , which shew easily by the impression of things , their properties & vertues , which we may approue & confirme by experience . let vs take for example , the oyle or sulphur of the boxe-trée , alwayes gréene and vitriolated , by whose vnpleasant odour , the stupefactiue sulphur which is in it , representeth it selfe vnto vs. that oyle , i say , of the boxe , albeit it wil easily burne , yet is a great asswager and mittigator of all paines , as comming nere to the nature and propertie of narcoticall or stupefactiue sulphur vitriolated , being as auailable against the falling sicknesse as vitriol . if we consider the properties of the beginnings of camp●yre , it wil manifestly appeare , ( although it do burne in water ) by his vnpleasaunt odour , that it hath a cooling propertie in it , and narcocal or stupefactiue : whose oyle also , is a good mittigator of paines and griefe : when as notwithstanding it sheweth foorth contrary effects , as at the very first brunt , it séemeth to haue a certaine fierie qualitie . by reason of the propertie which it hath to asswage paines and aches , the arabians iudged the same to colde in the third degrée . the experience thereof is easily to bée séene in the ache of the téeth . for if a hollow or rotten toothe , bée but touched with the oyle thereof , it putteth away the paine . the same oyle is a most present remedie in paines and griefe of the reynes , caused by the stone . for thereby the stone is dissolued and auoyded , if it be ministred with competent liquor . other are the properties of other oyles : for the oyles or sulphurs of annis , and of fennel , are fit to dispearce and driue away windinesse . the oyles of cloues , of nutmegges , of cinamon , and of other spices and their sulphurs , as also the oyles of mynts , of ambrosia , of sage , and betony , and of such like , are conuenient to corroberat , and to warme the braine and stomach . so the ole of pepper , doth attenuat , make thinne , dissolue and cut tartarus matters in the body , and humours that are niter sulphurus and cholerick . and howsoeuer many doe déeme the same to be hote , yet it is farre more conuenient to bée giuen in cholericke feuers , and to put away other griefes , as tertians , and such like , than any other altering or cooling sirrupe . in like sort hote and burning oyles , may be extracted out the séedes of poppey , goordes , melous , cucumbers , and such like cold things , whose operations notwithstanding doe not bring heate , but rather rest and comfortable refreshing . and the mercurial spirits of vegetables , are oftentimes conioyned with sulphurus spirits : so that out of teribinthine , which is almost wholy sulphurus , as also out of pitch and rosen a mercuriall spirit , or sharpe liquor , may bée by arte extracted , hauing the force of vinegar , being well distilled , and likewise power of dissoluing the most solid and hard bodies . moreouer , in pitch barrels , that mercurial sower liquor is to be found , being separated from the pitch , which hath the same facultie of dissoluing . also the same sower mercurial liquor by a gentle fier at the first , may bee attracted out of the shauings or chippes of the wood , and barke of gréene trées , especially out of such as are vitriolated , as is the iuniper , the boxe , the oake , guaiacan trée , and such like : which liquor is of force to dissolue pearles . out of the which mercural sharpe liquors , may also be made sundry seueral remedies , apt , both to ferment , digest , and attenuate humours , and also to mooue sweate , and to prouoke vrine , to breake and driue forth the stone , and very good to cure other affects , especially such as are mercurial . now leauing to speake of mercuries and sulphurs , somewhat shal be sayd of salts : it hath béene already declared , that generally they serue for the general purgation and euacuation of bodyes : whether they mooue segges , vrines , or prouoke vomit or sweates : or whether they doe clense , cut , open , or any other way helpe obstructions . yet notwithstanding , as betwéene sulphurs and sulphurs , and betwéene mercuries and mercuries , there is great difference : so is there great varietie of salts , and much difference of their vertues and operations . as for example , the salt of the coddes of beanes , amongst others is excéeding causticke and burning : yet being giuen in drie quantitie in broath , it is very diaphoretical , or dissoluing , in such wise , that nothing can worke more effectual without hurt or offence of the bowels . the salt of the ash-trée , doth most mightily open obstructions , most chiefely sitting the diseases of the spléene . the saltes of artemisia , ( otherwise called the mother of hearbes , and mugwoort ) and of sauin , are most fit to procure the menstrues of women . the salt of gammock , otherwise called rest-harrow , petty whynne , or ground furze : the salt of saxifage , gromel , otherwise called pearle plant , of radish , are very proper remedies to breake the stone , and to clense the kydneys and bladder , from sand . also the salts double leafe , otherwise called goosenest , of clot burre , and of cardus benedictus , which are diaphoricall , or dissoluing . the salts of mynt , and woorme-wood , are good to purge the lappets and tu●●cles of the stomach , and to strengthen and comfort the same . so the salt of guaiacine , is by a speciall propertie solutiue : as the mercurie thereof by his tartnesse doth testifie : and the oyle or sulphur thereof hath a purging force . out of the which thrée beginnings , if the first two spirituall and more simple , that is to say mercury and sulphur , be extracted and according to arte : and the fixed , which is salt , be also extracted and seperated , and be after that brought into one bodie , ( which the arabians call elixir ) it will be ioyntly together a medicine prouoking sweate , altering , concocting and purging . which tryple motion and operation commeth from one and the same essence of thrée vnited in one , giuing most assured helpe , in stéed of quicke-siluer , against the veneril sicknesse , or french disease . the salt of tartar , is of the same kinde that they be , which sharply do vite the tongue , being also oily and sulphurus : yea , it is more sharpe than any other : neuertheles if it be mingled with the spirit or sharpe oile of vitriole , it can so moderate and correct his sharpenesse and byting spirit , that of them both there may be made ielly , and thereof a swéete & most pleasing delicate sirup , which auayleth much against the gnawing and heate of the stomach , and to ease al paines of the collicke . all such mercuries , sulphur , and saltes of vegetables , doe grow and arise from the mercurial and sulphurus spirits of the earth , and from metallick substances , but they are farre better , swéeter , and of more noble condition than their parents , from whence they take their original . there wil be no ende of writing , if particularly should bée prosecuted , the difference of all beginnings , and their properties and faculties , which the sea and the earth doth procreate . that which is already declared may suffice to stirre vp the mo●e noble wits to search out the mysteries of nature , and to follow the study of such excellent philosophy . thus it is made manifest , that these thrée biginnings are in heauen , in the elements , as in ayre , water , and in earth , and in bodies elementated , as wel of minerals , as of vegetables . and now it resteth that it be shewed , how the same be in animals . chap. xiiii . wherein is shewed , that those three first beginnings , are to be found in all liuing creatures . first , we wil beginne with fowles , whose first beginning is at the egge . for in egges there are more plaine testimonies of the nature of birdes , than in any other thing . the white declareth the ethereal mercurie , wherein is the séed and the etherial spirit , the author of generation , hauing in the prolifying power , whereof chiefly the bird is begotten . for this cause it is marueilous , that so many and so great dissoluing and attenuating vertues and faculties , doe lye hid in the white of an egge , as in the ethereal mercurie . the yeolke of the egge , ( the nourishment of the bird ) is the true sulphur . but the thinne skinne and the shell , doe not onely conteyne a certaine portion of salt , but also their whole substance is salt : and the same the most fixed and constant of al other salts of nature , so as the same being brought vnto blacknesse , and freed from his combustible sulphur , but calcination , it will indure and abide all force of fyer , which is a propertie belonging to the most fixed salts , and a token of their assured and most constant fixion . this salt daily prepared , is very fit to dissolue and breake the stone , and to auoyd it . as these thrée principles are in the egge , so they passe into the bird . for mercury is in the blood and flesh : sulphur in the fat and salt , is in the ligaments , sinewes , bones , & more in solid parts . and the same beginnings , are more subtil and aierie in birds , than in fishes , and terrestrials . as for example , the sulphur or oily substance of birds , is alwayes of more thinne parts , th●● that of fishes or of beastes . the same may be sayd of fishes , which albeit they be procreated and nourished in the cold water , yet doe they not want their hote and burning fatnesse , apt to burne . and that they haue in them mercury and salt , no man well aduised , will denie . all terrestriall liuing creatures doe consist in like sort of these thrée beginnings : but in a more noble degrée of perfection , than in vegetable things , they doe appeare in them . for the vegetable things which the beastes doe féede vpon , being more crude , are con●●cted in them , and are turned into their substance , wherby they are made more perfect , and of greater efficacie . in vegetables , there were onely those vegetatiues : which in beastes beside the vegetation which they retaine , they become also sensatiue : and therefore of more noble and better nature . the sulphur appeareth in them , by their grease , tallow , and by their vnctuous , oily , marrow , and fatnesse , apt to burne . their salts are represented by their bones and more solid and hard parts : euen as their mercuries doe appeare in their blood , and in their other humors , and vaporous substances . all which those singular partes , are not therefore called mercurie , sulphurs , and salts , because they consist of animal mercurie , of animal sulphur , and of animal salt , without the coniunction of the beginnings . but in mercurals , mercurie : in sulphurus , sulphur : in the saltish , salt doth rule and dominéere . out of the which thrée beginnings of beasts , oyles , diuers liquours , and salts , apt for mans vse , both to nourish , and also to heale and cure , may by chymicall art be extracted . chap. xv. concerning man , and the liuely anathomie of all his parts and humours , with the vertues and properties of his three beginnings . now it remaineth that we séeke out and search in man , those things , in whom they shall be found to be so much the more subtill and perfect , by how much he excelleth all other creatures in subtiltie and excellency . for in him as in a little world are contained these thrée beginnings , as diuers and manifold , as in the great world , but more spirituous , and farre better . for phol●sophers cal man , the compendiment or abridgement of the greater world . and gregory nazianzene in the beginning of his booke , concerning the making of man : saith that god therfore made man after all other things , that he might expresse in man , as in a small table , all that he had made before at large . for as the vniuersal frame of this world is diuided into these thrée parts , namely intellectual , and elementarie , the meane betwéene which is the celestial , which doth couple the other two , not onely most diuers , but also cleane contrary , that is to say , that supreme intellectual wholy formal and spiritual , and the elementary , material and corporeat : so in man the like triple world is to be considered , as it is distributed into thrée parts , notwithstanding most straightly knit together and vnited : that is to say , the head , the brest , and the belly beneath . the which lower belly comprehēdeth those parts which are appointed for generations and nourishment , which is correspondent to the lower elementarie world . the middle part , which is the brest , where the heart is seated , the fountaine of all motions of life , and of heat , resembleth that celestial middle world , which is the beginning of life , of heat , and of all motions : in the which the sunne hath the preheminence , as the heart in the brest . but the highest and supreme parte which is the head , or the braine , containeth the original of vnderstanding , of knowledge , and is the seate of reason , like vnto the suprem intellectual world , which is the angelical world . for by this part man is made partaker of the celestial nature of vnderstanding , of the féeling and vegetating soule , and of all the celestial functions , formal and incorruptible : when as otherwise his elementary world , is altogether crosse , material , and terrestrial . and as man , as touching his substancial forme , possesseth all the faculties of the soule , and their degrées , that is to say , the natural which is vegelatiue : the animal , which is sensatiue and vital : and the rational , which god inspired into man , when hée had made him : euery of the which thrée contained vnder them , thrée other inferiours , whereof to speake in this place is néedlesse : so as concerning the material body of man , there are in him thrée radical and balsanick essences , out of the which , both the containing parts of the body , as the fleshy and more solid , and also the contained parts , that is to say , the spiritual and fluible parts , are made , compacted , nourished , and doe draw their life . salt in them , is the radical beginning of all the solyd parts : as being also in the animal séede , it compacteth and congealeth the solid parts , so as it is accounted the foundation of the whole frame . but the radical beginning of swéete sulphur in the animal , which is the natural , moist , original , oylelike , sheweth it selfe , in the fat , grease , and marrow , and such other parts , as wel hidden as manifest . the radical mercury , wholy spiritual and ethereal , which is that inset and natural spirit of euery part and member , the next instrument of the soule , doth no lesse declare it selfe , in maintayning and concerning the animal life , as being the very same , which from the soule is the life powred into the body , which the sulphurus part nourisheth and sustaineth . these thrée radical essences shut vp in the séed of the animal , which we haue set forth in the framing of man , both according to forme and matter , doe procreate in his members thrée kindes of spirits and faculties . the first faculty is that which is called natural or vegetal , which being chiefely seated in the liuer , taketh conseruation and nourishment from salt , that first radical beginning and base of the others . the vital faculty seated in the heart is cherished and sustained by a sulphurus liquor , the which liquor is the natural moysture and fountaine of heate and of life . the animal faculty , wholy mercurial , ethereal and spiritual , and the principal instrument of the functions of the soule , is placed in the braine : which is defended and conserued by mercury the third radical beginning , which is wholy ethereal and spiritual . hereby it is plaine , that these radical spirits , or substancial and formal beginnings of things , doe so mutually embrace one the other , and which is more , the one wil beget the other . but the terrestrial and solid salt which is discerned to be in the bones , and in other hard parts , doth compact and knit together with his gluing force , the more soft parts with the hard : euen as a windy spirit , or windy ayer shut vp in euery body , doth make a liuing body more light and nimble , then a dead carkasse . the which qualities and faculties are wholy elementary , as procéeding rather from matter then forme . and thus briefely is shewed the thrée beginnings of man and their faculties and powers . the body thus compacted and made of these thrée beginnings , hath néede of his daily foode and nourishment , whereby it may be preserued . which nourishment cannot be supplyed from any other , then from those things , which are of the same nature , whereof it consisteth . for we are nourished with those things whereof it consist . neuerthelesse for so much as the bodie is weak & tender by his first original , it is not to be fed with the more hard food , but with meat which wil easily be concocted and turne to nourishment , containing these thrée beginnings . such milke which is giuen to infants to suck , without art or labour , doth plainly enough shew his thrée beginnings . for the butter sheweth the sulphurus substāce ; the whay sheweth mercurial : and the chéese his saltish beginning . this milke being of one and the same essence , contayning these three substances , is easily concocted in the stomack of the infant , and is first turned into a white iuice , and then into blood . the which blood , possesseth that which is more formal and radical in these beginnings , separating and abiecting the rest into feces and excrement . also the same blood being carried into the heart , by the veyne called vena cana , which is as it were the pellican of nature , or the vessel circulatory , is yet more subtilly concocted , and obtaineth the forces as it were of quintessence , or of a sulphurus burning aquavita , which is the original , which is the original of natural & vnnatural heat . the same aquanita being carried from hence by the arteries into the balneum maris of the braine , is there exalted againe , in a wonderful maner by circulations : and is there changed into a spirit truly ethereal and heauenly , from whence the animal spirit procéedeth , the chiefe instrument of the soule , for that it commeth more néere to that same spiritual nature , then doe the other two beginnings . for as from wine , those thrée beginnings are extracted by a skilful workeman ( the which also may be done out of milke , with lesse labour ) so in blood ( which we rightly compare to wine ) are those thrée beginnings , which by nature her selfe , executing the office of a true alchymist , hath prudently and seuerally distributed and dispearced into all the parts of the bodie , in such measure as is fitting to euery member : giuing to the bones , sinewes and ligaments , more plenty of the salt substance , then of the others : to the fat , grease , and marrow , the substance sulphurus : and to the flesh and humours which come out of blood , and to the nourishing and natural spirits , whether fixed , flowing , or wandring , a greater plenty of the mercurial spirit . that first age of infancie ouerpassed , and greater strength being increased to concoct and digest meat , then the stomack offereth it selfe to more solyd and firme sustenance , as to bread , wine , and such like , comming as wel out of the store of vegetables , as of animals , fed and sustained by the same vegetables , which are passed into an animal nature , that is to say sensatiue , euen as a mineral substance is brought into a vegetatiue . it is afore shewed , that the vegetables and animals appointed for mans substance , doe change and come into his substance and nature with their beginnings whereof they consisted : so as they being deuoured and concocted , and turned into that white iuice called chylus , and spred and distributed into the liuer , hart , and braine , by diuers degrées of concoctions & circulations , that at the length they are changed into spirits , natural , vitall , animal , mercurial , sulphurus , and saltish ethereal , and spirituous : by reason whereof man is preserued , and continueth in his state , vnto his predestinated time : hereof also may be gathered and vnderstood , the original and generation of the thrée humours , which come both from the mixture of these beginnings , and also of the elements . which are no lesse different and varying one from the other , whether it be in perfection , or in imperfection , then are those thrée beginnings different in the degrees of perfection . the first of the profitable humours , whereof we are purposed to speake , is that chylus or white iuice , which is effected and perfected in the stomack , and in the vaines next adioyning , especially in the mesaraic vaines by the first concoction : the same chylus consisting of those three beginnings , but as yet very impure , whereof the first beginnings of nourishment are : and the same is the first digestion and seperation of the pure from the impure , of those thrée formal beginnings , and of the thrée material elements . the second of the profitable humours , is blood , arysing out of the chylus , ( which is a good iuice ) being of the first degrée of the concocting heat of the liuer , and of the vaines : whereof commeth a second concoction , and seperation of the pure from the impure , notwithstanding of the formal and matertal essence , which is far more subtil and noble then the first concoction and seperation . the third of the humours , is that which after sundry reterations of the circulations , made by the much vital heate of the heart ; doth very farre excéede in perfection of concoction : the other two , which may be called the elimentary or nourishing humour of life , and radical sulphur : the which is disperced by the arteries throughout the whole body , and is turned into the whole body , and is turned into the whole substance thereof , out of the most perfect concoction of all the other ; which is the third , and is called the assimilation or resemblance , of the nourishment or nourished . it is certaine that this humour , is most especially partaker of the puritie of the thrée beginnings , and doth resemble the rectified animal aquauita , which is seperated from al passiue element of the animal wine , that is to say , of the blood . for the blood , ( which we haue already said to be the second profitable humour , and by vs compared to pure and refined wine ) is freed from the greater part of his terrestrial tartar , whose thrée beginnings also doe exceed the chylus in puritie . out of which thrée beginnings by a third concoction and digestion , the sulphurus animal aquauita , the aiery and most subtil spirit , together with the salt , depured and made thinne , with diuers circulations also , and natural concoctions , are extracted . the which being so extracted , that which resteth in the blood ( as also in wine ) is water without sauour or tast , and a sulphurus tartarlike , and impure feces , which procéed from out of the material elements . in blood , such are these ; cold , moyst , & mercurial fleame : yealow , hote , dry , and sulphurus choller : and melancholy or black choler , not cold , but hote , dry and saltish , which are the ecremental parts of those more pure substances . and yet the same lye not altogether vnprofitable , for that they retayning somthing out of the actiue qualities , both of the thrée beginnings , and also of the elements , doe serue for somewhat , so far forth as they are material . for choller in that it is introsulphurus , most hote and bitter , especially that which is of the gaule ouerflowing in the capacity or place of the bowels , prouoketh the facultie expulsiue to cast out . but the fleame which is sower & mercurial , is profitable to stirre vp fermentation and appetite : whereunto also melancholy is not vnfit , which is as it were the dregges of the humour of blood , hauing a certaine analogie and similitude with vineger made out of wine . for it serueth for the first concoction of meates , through the vertue of a certaine internal and vitriolated fier lying hid in such a sharpe humour , which being stirred vp and set on edge with the heate of the stomack , doth readily and quickly confect and destroy the meates , and doth with so great force consume and deuour sometime , when it doth superabound , that many times it bringeth a doglike appetite . and those excrements which are altogether superfluous , and a burden to nature , will confirme the truth hereof : the which excrements are such as are seperated , partly from these thrée beginnings , and partly from the elements , namely the mercuriall vapours , the sulphurus breathings , and the saltish exhalations , which passe through the skinne by sweates , euen as mercury and sulphur doe vanish away by an infensible transpiration . if such seperation of excrements be made by little and litle , without any violence , they doe prolong a happy age euen to extreame decrepity . but if on a sodaine , and with a more violent force , of some more vehement motion , or sicknesse , as of inflamation or of a burning feauer , they be thrust out , then they shorten age , and doe hasten old age , or else doe cast headlong into vntimely death by soundings and faintings . moreouer , if such kinde of excrements be retained in the body , and are stayed by some impediment from their outgoing , by reason of some external cause , as the coldnesse of the weather , which doth harden and thicken the skinne , or by reason of cooling dyet , bri●ging obstructions , or other infirmities of the body which are impediments , they become the séedes and rootes of sundry and infinite effects . the same is to be said of the most vile and filthy excrements , and of the grosse dregs of the elementary matter , together vnprofitable , terrestrial and filthy . for out of watery , crude , and thinne excrements : out of excrements aiery , and windy : finally out of the more grosse and earthie , or most stinking excrements , how corrupt soeuer they be , yet there are bewrayed in either of them certaine prints of their defects , which the more pure substance of the three beginnings procreated , from the which the impure at the length are separated . if any man wil make trial of the due anatomie of these things as ( amongst others ) of vrine , which in sickenesses is diligently viewed and obserued , he shall finde therein a great quantitie of mercurial liquor , sharpe , subtil and pearcing , which wil dissolue the most solid and hard bodies : as also he shal finde great plenty of a sulphurus essence conceiuing flames : that i may say nothing of the body of salt , which is euidently enough to be séene in that great plentie of salt , which is extracted from the same . the which salt hath so great sharpnesse , biting , and coroding force and vehemencie , that it is more forcible and strong than all other salts of nature . these things are most true , and euident to be séene in the writings of chrystophorus parisiensis , a most famous philosopher , who hath taken great paines in setting foorth the seuerall parts of vrines . they which shal search diligently in the building and frame of mans body , for another thing than the elements & their qualities , that is to say , hote and colde , moyst , and drie : namely , for a mercurial liquor , sulphur , and salt , indued with al kinde of vertures , faculties , and properties , the thrée beginnings , out of the which , the colours , tastes , and odours , and such other things of infinite varietie doe spring , shal easily vnderstand , that euery one of the beginnings by his temperature or the excurreth out of their consort , doe procreat sicknesses of diuers sorts in the bodie : as if sulphur doe too much excéed , then it bringeth on inflamations and feuers of diuers sorts , beside other stupefactiue and drousie affects , which the stupefactiue sulphur stirreth vp , out of the stupefactiue and drunken spirits which it containeth within the same , and being excessiue , spreadeth it selfe throughout the whole body . the which is easily to be seen in such as drinke too much wine , and in eating of bread that hath much darnel in it : as also in the taking of camphyre , the iuices of poppey , of henbane , and of such like opiates , which bring sléepe , by their soporiferus sulphurs , and not by their cold quality . also they shal finde by their sower and sharpe vapours of mercury , that falling sicknesses , apoplexies , palsi●s , & al kindes of catarres come from thence . the which effects , if they be accompanied with any poyson , or maligne & contagious spirits , they cannot but must néedes bring on , pestilential ; venemous , and contagious diseases . if they looke diligently into salts , they shal find , that from them doe arise inward gnawings , impostums , vlcers , disenterie fluxes , the pemoxoides , and such like , so often as they runne out of their seates , and are seperated from the other beginnings , or doe excéed the measure of nature , from whence also doe come great annoyances to the body , as by their resolutiō , the burnings of vrine , stranguries , and such like . for according to the variety of salts , diuers kindes of vlcers , impostumes , and other diseases , as diuers kindes of collickes , doe arise by their sharpe and sower spirit . also by the coagulation and congealing of these salts , are ingendered swellings , stones , and knots of the sinewes , and an infinit sort of abstructions , whereof many sicknesses doe arise . the which coagulated salts or tartar , forsomuch as they neuer want their mercury and sulphur , rude indigested , and impure , if they be out of measure , and doe reach to the vppermost degrée of their malignitie , they wil commixe according to their sundry natures and properties , diuers effects , the which notwithstanding wil séeke to come to the full sicknesse of the qualities and forces of euery of the beginnings , which are also wrapped and infolded the one within the other . and herein wee depart not from the opinion of hypocrates , which he hath shewed in his booke concerning the auncient medicine . for he reiecting their opinion , which tye the beginnings and causes of sicknesses to the elementarie qualities , layeth other foundations , namely , swéet , sower , bitter , and salt , the which we reduce to those thrée beginnings of all things , arrogating to euery of them their singular faculties and properties . for what power or vertue soeuer is in the nature of medicines and of sicknesses , and doth moue and put it selfe in action , the same is to bée reuoked to those thrée beginnings . yet notwithstanding i deny not , but that some kindes of sicknesses may arise from the elementary qualities , abounding in our body , which do rather come of the excrements and feculent humours , either retayned or superabounding , and doe certainely rather arise out of such elements , than out of the beginnings . for out of the abundance of ayerie and spirituous windes simply , out of thinne waters , and terrestrial feces or dregges , we do sée diuers kindes of effects dayly to come : yet notwithstanding such sicknesses haue no long continuance , being such as may bée easily cured euen by elementary remedies , being either hote or cold , moyst or drie . as for example , ayerie windes shut vp in the bowels , and bringing forth the paines of the collicke , are with lysters dispersed and driuen away . surperfluous humidities and thinne water is consumned with drying medicines . inflamations comming of a terrestrial and simply grosse matter introsulphurus , are extinguished by a simple cooling helpe . and to conclude , we wil say with fernelius , that some sicknesses are méerely secret and hidden , which the same fernelius ( as doth also paracelsus ) affirme to be supernatural : which sicknesse come from the influences of stars ; wherin also is obserued somewhat which is diuine , or at least more singular and peculiar , than in common sicknesses . such are the astral and aiery effects which happen to some men more then to other , by a certain singular influences of the starres , or constitution of the heauen , or by the concourse of the euil planets : who are therefore diuersly affected , by the sundry rootes , natures and properties of their ascendentes , producing by their aspects and radiations , conuenient fruites in fit times . the secret and hidden causes of these kinde of diseases , being such as we cannot easily reach vnto , like medicines of the same nature , which are indued with a hidden vertue , are to be vsed . and as there be celestial , spiritual , and etherial effects : so also they require spiritual and etherial remedies : which may elsewhere be taken , then from those thrée beginnings brought into a spirituall nature . but wée haue stood too long vpon this point . chap. xvi . wherein is shewed , that the whole force of purging in medicines , in the antimonial , mercurial , and arsenical spirits according to euery of their seuerall natures . among minerals , thrée kindes of spirits doe offer themselues to be viewed and considedered , from their first original : namely , spirits , mercurial , arsenical , and antimonial , which by their owne nature are truely simple , formal , fierie , and of wonderfull qualitie and efficacie , and of ready working . which are to be distinguished as differing among them , and also as rising from the thrée beginnings different . for the mercurials as the most subtil , vaporus , aierie , and waterie , take their original from mercurie : the arsenicals , as those which are more prosperous , or breathing , more fierie , hote , and meanely volatile , doe take their original of sulphur : the antimonials , of al others the most grosse corporeat , and terrestrial , doe take their original from salt. the mercurials doe borrow their celestia● spirits , from the sunne , from the moone , and from mercurie , and are by them impregnated & animated . the arsenicals doe receiue the spirits of mars & venus : euen as the antimonials do contayne the spiritual properties & vertues of iupiter and saturne . by the which vertues of the celestial , euery of the beginnings , being impregnated by the things most fitting for them & by thē increased , doe obtaine greater forces in euery of their kindes , and a more corrected and temperate nature . for the mercurials , as indued with more gentle and wholesome spirits , doe get a more gentle nature , medicinable and nourishing . the antimonials , from the intermedials , that is to say , from things partly good , and partly malignant , receiue a worse nature , that is to say an intermedial . but the arsenicals , as stirred vp with the worst and most pernitious spirits , bring a mortall and destroying nature , which oftentimes bringeth great detriment . these last , being so fyerie , vehement , and violent , doe serue to forme and to boyle metallick and hard substances , and are as fyer to giue life vnto them being halfe dead , but are in no case fitting to the more gentle and soft bodyes , such as are vegetables and animals . also the spirits themselues , do put on bodies agréeing to their natures . arsenicals , & sulphurus , do put on the body of auripigment , & arsenic : antimonials , the body of antimony and of magnesia , or loade-stone : because among other metallicks , these are most corpulent and of grossest substance , of the roote of saturne and vitriole , and which for the same cause are the beings and beginnings of other mettals . by the impediment of which bodies , the force and violent actiuitie of the foresaid spirits , is checked and restrained . neither doe they shewe such violent strength , when they are brought to a simplicitie and spirituous thinnesse . but among corporal spirites , the mercurials doe excéede the antimonials in benignitie and swéetnesse : and the arsenicals which are the last , doe ouercome the other two in violence and malice . for these are wholy fierie for the most part , as is already said , and are therefore most pernicious . but the mercurials , being of al other most simple and thinne , are therefore more ready to worke . also mercurie it selfe consisteth wholely of homogenial or kindly partes , and the same spiritual : and therefore it excéedeth others in readinesse of working . and hereupon it is made more fit than others , for an vniuersall purger and clenser , for that out of his whole substance without any seperation of the partes , excellent and the best purgations , of all sortes , without any preparation at all , may bée extracted . prouided alwayes that you correct a certaine hurtfull cruditie , which it hath in it , and that you alay his too much celeritie and promptnesse in working . this you may doe his concoction and fixation . also the spirits , which by a certaine meane are fixed and volatile haue place , and doe shew forth themselues in auripigment , and in arsenic : out of whose whole substance , without any exquisite seperation , are extracted certaine solutiue spirits , so excéeding sulphurus , fierie , violent , and deadly , that deseruedly they are reckoned among the most mortal poysons : whose assalts and vilolence ▪ the animal nature , as more delicate and weake , cannot indure , but that by and by it decayeth : whose vehemencie , and pernicious qualitie , can by no art be corrected or made fit for and vse . but the antimoniall spirites , as more corpulent , and grosse than others , doe fixe their seate in antimonie , because it is the roote and original of all other mettals , which are more corpulent than other things . and yet for al that they doe not remaine alone , but that being associated and linked to the companie of others , as to the societie of mercurials , and arsenicals of the seuen mettals , they bring forth out of themselues , those seueral kinds . namely , lead , and tinne , when as the antimonial spirits doe excéed in vertue and plentie : iron , and copper , when the arsenicals doe superabound and ouercome : gold , siluer , and mercurie , when the mercurials haue the victorie ouer others : the which mercurials , are more spiritual and simple than any others , and most essential : the which being brought to perfect concoction and fixation , doe procreate siliuer and golde , and doe make them pure and cleane from all antimonial and arsenical sulphur . for gold and siluer are nothing else but fixed mercurie brought to perfect concoction . and these mettals of gold and siluer , when they are wholy fixed and corporeat , hauing put off that simplicitie and thinnes of spirites , are destitut● of al power of acting or working , neither can they worke and performe any thing at all , except they be brought againe to their first spiritualitie , that is to say , into their first matter . as for the other foure mettals , they hauing as yet not attayned that degrée of perfection , that is to say , of puritie , digestion , concoction , and fixation , albeit they séeme to the sent most hard and solid , yet haue they not gotten as yet perfect fixation , being ful of much impure sulphur , and such other like kinde of heterogenial and vnkindly substances , that is to say , of arsenicall and antimonials spirits : and doe possesse a very smal portion of the mercurial spirits , and the same as yet full of impuritie . whereby it commeth to passe , that some of them cannot indure the tryal of fire , but by the force thereof doe turne to ashes and glasse , and can neuer more be reduced by any art into a metallicke nature : other some , as more volatile and flying than others , do vanish away into fume or smoake . the which is wel knowne to al , not onely philosophers , which haue séene the nature of mettals in the searching out and exercise of these workes , but also to euery goldsmith and myntman , which know how to dispearse and send away such mettals into smoake , with their cupels : which philosophers can bring to passe by diuers other meanes and instruments . and out of these kindes of metals , full of flying spirites , are extracted purges of admirable operations : and the same according to the nature of the spirits abounding or predominating in euery of them . of the flowers or spirits of tinne , and lead , extracted by sublimation , are made purgations , which worke wonderfully by dei●ctions , by vomit , by sweates , and by vrines : which may be reckoned among the meane sort , and such as are lesse hurtful , albeit they be deriued from the metallicke nature . out of iron and brasse , may be extracted very good purgatiue medicines , wel knowne to them of old time . now to passe from metals to semi-minerals and so metallick iuices , infinite purgations also are extracted out of them , according to the force of their spirits . as out of vitriol , niter , salgem , sal armoniac , & out of many other such like things , may be extracted both meane and violent solutiues . and to make it plaine , that al the power and effect of working which is in mercurie , arsenic and antimonie , these thrée metallick spirits , & also what vertue partly those foure imperfect metals , and al kindes of salts , iuices , and metallicke substances haue , doe altogether come especially from these kinde of spirits : it is hereby manifest , that fixed mercurie , which by no maner of meanes wil moue or flye from our heart , and which is sociable and communicable with our spirits , hath no force to purge either by deiecting through the belly , or by prouoking to vomit : but is rather fit to procure sweat and vrine . but when it shal bée volatile and flying , by reason of his wonderful spiritualtie and subtiltie , it is made a great mundificatiue of the bodie , pearcing into all the partes and members thereof . so in like maner the glasse of antimonie , in that it hath fuming and flying spirites , not fixed , which doth both shew foorth themselues at the time of the fusion or melting , as also by a certaine whyte exhalation thereof , when béeing moulten it is put vpon the marble stone , hath also a vehement force of working . whose fusion or melting , if it be so long and oftentimes reiterated , vntil no more whitenesse wil come from the same , then it is made vtterly voyd of al working force . it wil also loose all power of working or purging , if this glasse be made most thinne in alchool , and set in the heate of the sunne , by the heat whereof , the more thinne spirits doe vanish away , and are consumed . and so then in stéed of a losing mediciénce , it is made a most excellent anodine , or procurer of sléepe or rest . therefore to shew by inuincible arguments , that al purging facultie consisteth in those flying spirits , and is wholely to bée attributed vnto them , it is most certaine , that glasse may be made of antimonie and of leade , and other preparation , as well out of them , as out of metallick matters , whether it bée by subliming flowers out of them , or whether it bée by extracting of saffron out of them , by the meanes of calcination , the which being beaten into fine pouder , and in the quantitie of tenne or twelue graines infused in water , or in wine by the space of certaine houres , and after that the water easily powred from the residence or pouder which is in the bottome , and the same liquor so giuen , there wil follow thereof a wonderful purgation , albeit nothing of the quantitie of the pouder bée in waight diminished , because the spirits onely ( which giue no waight to the body ) are left to the infusion , whereof commeth that great force of working . the which powder may often bée put into water or wine to leaue therein his purging strength and spirit : and it may so bée done a hundred times , vntill the spirites be cleane euacuated : and yet for all this , the pouder béeing dryed , there remayneth still the full waight without diminishing . but that powder looseth his force quite and cleane of working , if the spirits be wholely exhausted . i my selfe haue séene a ring made of the glasse of leade , which being infused , was to some a perpetuall solutiue medicine , so often as they would purge the body . so to others , the regulus of antimonie , made into a pill of the ordinarie and common bignesse , swallowed downe into the stomach , afterward passing through the belly by siege , takē and being washed and wel cleansed , swallowed into the stomach againe : and so the same washed and swallowed in like sort a hundred times , so often as the body hath néede to be purged , it will performe the partes of a solutiue medicine , and yet lose nothing of his weight . hereby it doth euidently appeare , that the force of working lyeth hidden in certaine spirits , which haue the same propertie , euen as in other things there is a force and power of altering or of nourishing , and of passing into our substaunce . hereof a more assured proofe and tryal may bée made , by the industrie of a learned and skilfull workeman , who quickly and in a moment can take away from them al force of purging , by vsing a certaine fyer of nature , either taking away or fixing , the excéeding sharpe and penetrating spirits of mercurie and antimonie , and to make remedies of them , which can restore found and perfect health , by gentle and easie sweates , with insensible transpiration , to the cōsuming of the superfluous humors of our bodie , as also to the clensing away of all impurities rather then by any violent and manifest euacuation , to the troubling of the body . and as the vegetatiue being of a middle nature , betwéen the animal and the minerall , by this nature of partaking with both , is turned into sensitiue , ( euen as we see of bread and wine , blood to be made : of blood , sperme or séede , and of séed a man to be borne : ) so the minerall ( by that generall consent of all things among themselues ) passeth into vegetatiue , the vegetables sucking vnto them by the rootes of the minerals , essentiall and metallick spirits with the which the whole earth is filled , as is to be séene by so many yron mines , and by such plenty of sundry stones , with the which it aboundeth and which it bringeth forth , which are nothing else but of a metallick substance . and albeit simple vegetants , with metallick substances , doe draw those mercurialls , antimonials , and arsenicals of a purging nature , ( whereof they are called purging medicines , because they abound with a certaine ga●like bitternesse , by reason of the entering of the spirits of sal●iter terrestrial and metallick by rootes into the anatonie of vegetables : ) yet are they not altogether so violent , and of so dangerous a spirit , as they were in their first mine & original , as being thin of nature wholy crude , and indigested . for they put of the poyson in the vegetable , by their manifold concoction and digestion , and are made more pure , in so much that they haue no other inconuenience in them , but the force and effect of purging , except paraduenture , they be giuen out of measure , & in a greater quantity then is fitting . but some are more purgatiue then others , namely those in whom there is greater plenty of the mercurial spirits , the which notwithstanding are nothing offensiue to our nature . neuerthelesse if any vegetable haue in it an arsenicall spirit , albeit not altogether so pernicious , as is that which is in arsenic it selfe , for that it is made more gentle by concoction , yet it is not without the violence and annoyāce of the arsenical poyson : such are the hearbs , bane wort , aconitum , and enphorbium . if any vegetable bee endued with an antimonial spirit or wheresoeuer the antimonial is ioyned with another spirit , it bringeth violent vomits and sieges : such are the kinds of helebores and spurges , and such like : neither is the vegetable without commotion and perturbation , in regard of the violent spirit which it hath in it selfe . and hereof it commeth that such simples of vehement euacuation , doe more abound in mountaines , in rockes , and in stony places , where the natiue seate of metallick spirits is , then in the fat and fertile soyle . for the correction whereof , and to make them more gentle , and to put off that wild nature of theirs , they are to be transplanted into home gardens . for thereby they borrow another nature and more gentle nourishment , with the which they are tempered , whereby they waxe swéete and familiar , whereas otherwise in the mountaines , they are without , and destitute of that gentle nourishment , and sufficient heate of the sunne , and of the temperature of the heauens , to concoct and to temper their erudities . for those things which are austere and wild , are woont to be made gentle by digestions and concoctions : and things venemous become whole , so that arte imitating nature , digesting and concocting most excellent remedies , are made of deadly poysons and simples . but this cannot bee done , without the knowledge of the internal anatomie of things , and without the assured science of their beginnings . chap. xvii . concerning potable gold . gold being prepared by the spirit of the philosophers lead , is easily dissolued into liquor , and deserueth then to bee called potable gold ▪ this must néedes be more conuenient for medicine in the stomack of man , then leafe gold . for how can leafe gold benefit the stomack , or in any sort be profitable for the sicke , when the secret kernell is so fast inclosed in the shell , which is so indigestible , that it will not be dissolued in the body of the ostrich . the body of any thing profiteth little or nothing without the spirit . it cannot be denied , but that all actions come from the spirit , for a body deuoyd of spirits , is empty , rotten , and dead . if the spirits be they which are agents , the body is desired in vaine . and contrariwise , when the body is an impediment to the spirit , that it cannot vtter his force and strength ( as appeareth by the working of nature it selfe , which without the destroying and obiecting of the body , cannot change the spirit , that is to say , the nourishment of meate into flesh ) then of necessitie , the spirit must be deliuered from all his impediments , that it may shewe it selfe powerfull , and not bee hindered from his working . this appeareth plaine by daily experience . for what good doth that thing in the body , which is neither profitable for the nourishment , nor yet for the health thereof ? nay , what annoyance doth it not bring to our faculties , which lyeth in the stomack vndigested , much better then wée shall prouide for our body , if in time of sicknesse we take that to nourish and sustaine vs , which is well concocted and digested by art , and purged from all grosse superfluitie . for so nature is no maner of way hindred from distributing the same to all the parts , neither hath it any burden in concocting the same , albeit as yet it is requisite for nature to haue a more subtill worke , that it may turne to the profit of the body . for how much more auaileable to helpe the sicke which are weake of nature is the spirituous substance of a medicine , if it be giuen , tryed and seperated from grosse impurity , then to be administered with such impuritie , which oftentimes cloyeth and ouerlayeth the strength of the body . he is more blinde then any ●●oule which seeth not this . for the spirit whether it be of meat or of medicine , is giuen in such small quantitie , that it bringeth no detriment , but spéedy profit in a moment . but yet these spirits cannot be giuen , nor prepared without bodies , for the which cause we prescribe broathes & iellies , to be the chariots of the spirits : and we clense the bodies , that they being made pure , the spirit may more firmely cleane vnto them . and that they are not dispoyled of their first naturall humour , it hereby appeareth , because that naturall humour is the body of his spirit . but when by our art , the spirits are extracted , wée must haue diligent care , that none of thē flye away into the aier and so be lost . for this cause we must looke that our vessels be sure , and nothing breake out , by violence of the fier : the which spirits , if we can retaine , much lesse can their bodies escape . spirits then are in bodies , and bodies passe into spirits , in such wise that they are corporeat spirits , and spiritual bodies , so as we can giue both body and spirit together . furthermore , that the most dry calpes , doe still retaine their humour and moysture in them , in so much that they may be turned into liquor , daily experience showeth . for glasse brought into ashes , and gold brought into a caix , may be restored to the formes of glasse and gold againe , through the force of fire . but here it may be obiected ( as it is by some ) that gold hath no force in it to prolong life , or to corroborate the same , because it is prolonged by onely heate remaining in moysture and is also conserued by the reparation of natural moysture . but these faculties or essences ( say some ) are not in gold , but rather in those things which haue liued , as in plants and liuing things , from whom that force to prolong and preserue life , is to be taken , rather then from gold . and hereupon it is inferred , that there is no life in metalls and minerals , but that they are plainly dead . i presume no man will denie , that gold is the fruite of his element , or some thing elementated : if a thing elementated , then doth it consist of elements : therefore also of forme . for elements doe not want their beginnings , which are formall beginnings , giuing being , or that which it is , to a thing . for so much as therefore gold is a body elemētated , it consisteth of matter and forme , by the mixture whereof there ariseth a certaine temperature , or some thing of likenesse , which is the life of things . therefore gold and other metalls haue life . furthermore , whatsoeuer the eye can sée and behold , that hath matter and forme . for forme is the external , arising from the internal , which offereth it selfe to the sence of the eye : if it haue forme and matter , then hath it also life . death is said so be the destruction of things , which séemeth to bring the subiect to nothing . but for so much as metalls are the obiects of the sences , it shal be thought amisse that they are brought to destruction . they liue therfore because they subsist . and the things which subsist cannot be said to be brought to nothing therfore not dead . by these reasons it doth plainly appeare , that there is life in metalls , because they subsist , and because they consist of matter and forme , whose mixture and co●iunction is nothing , but by the bond of a certaine kind of life , which is drawen from the elements and beginnings , in the which consisteth the life of things . furthermore , that cannot be said to be without life , which is indued with power of acting . for actions ( as we haue said ) proceede from spirits . in the spirits is life , or else they themselues are life . and wonderful actions doe proceed and come from gold , when it is spiritual and seperated from the waight of his body : finally , who is he that dare denie life to be in metalls which are indued with so many tastes , with so many odours , with so many colours , and with other vertues . therfore gold is vitall . for so marcilius ficinus a most witty phylosopher , and a famous physitian , writeth of gold , saying : we know that all liuing things , as well plants as animals , doe liue and are generated by a certaine spirit like vnto this , and is alwaies moued , as if it were liuing , and doth most speedily generate among the elements , because it is most spirituall . but thou wilt say vnto me , if the elements and liuing things doe generate and beget , why doe not stones and mettalls beget , which are meane things , betwéene the elements & liuing things ? i answere , because the spirit which is in them is restrained and hindered by a more grosse matter , the which if at any time it be rightly seperated , & being seperated , if it be conserued as the seminary of one thing , it is able to beget vnto it selfe the like : if so be , there be put to it a certaine matter of the same kind : the which spirit diligent physitians , or naturalists seperating from gold , at the fier , by a certaine sublimation , they wil put the same to any kind of metall , and make it quick . thus it is plaine by the authority of this learned author , that there is a vitall spirit in gold , and a vertue to procreate the like to it selfe : as also it is confirmed by the testimony of virgil in the sixt of his aeneidos : where the poet saith , that gold doth mount and arise by his vertue into a trée , whose golden boughes doe spread far and wide . if the mineral corall trée by his life natural , doe growe and increase , why is it not as like that gold and other metals do grow by the same life ? séeing metals doe draw their beginnings from minerals minerals , from waters , and waters from the sea . now if fishes shels , pearles , and corall , receiue life from their element , which is the sea , why may it not giue vital spirits vnto gold ? there are sundry sorts of life : yea , things which haue neither motion nor sense , haue life . our daily foode , doth teach vs this , from the vertue wherof , we drawe sustenance and preserue life , albeit the flesh of beastes and fowles whereof we féede , be first depriued of life and motion . so that there is nothing vtterly deuoid of life ( as we said before ) but that which is vtterly brought to nothing . for out of the very rottennesse of wood , which doth shewe and threaten the final destruction thereof , wormes of diuers sorts , are bred and ingendered . what néede many wordes , when as phylosophy teacheth vs , that out of the corruption of one thing , commeth the generation of another . and why then may not the generation of a vital metall be brought forth out of the corruption of a metallick body , and which is brought into his first matter : when as life in the body , is the last that dyeth , if it may dye ? it is plaine then , that there is life in metals . but now let vs see , whether this life which is in metals may be made fit to preserue our life , in such sort that it may not be extinguished by diseases . the which i wil briefly handle and declare . those things which continue longest in their being , haue a more constant and permanent life , then haue those things which dye in a moment . this is in plants , the other in metals : for plants and hearbes , doe wyther and vanish away in a moment : but metalls wil continue a thousand yeares and more . now how can hearbs promise long life , & helpe of continuance , which they themselues doe want ? contrariwise , for so much as metalls doe so long preserue themselues by their long life , why shuld they not performe the same , being taken into mens bodies ? the phylosophers say , that gold , of all other metalls is most temperat , by the temperatures wherof , the balsam which is in vs waxing sicke , that is to say degenerating from his temperature by the force of sicknesses , is restored & holpen , in such wise , that the vertue of his medicine doth recall him to his temper , and doth so increase him with strength , that he easily ouercōmeth sicknesse . gold is consecrated to the sunne for his colour and brightnesse , and to iupiter for his temperature , & therefore it can wonderfully temper the natural heate with moysture , preserue the humours from corruption , and bring the solary and iouial vertue to the spirits and members . the best way to make potable gold , is without mixture of any other thing . the next vnto potable gold , is that which is beaten into thin leaues , which for want of the other , may be vsed in medicine cordial , to comfort the heart . the tincture of gold being extracted , doth clense and restore the blood . so that hereby the homogenial and kindly parts are gathered together , and the heterogenial or vnkindly are seperated . for ther is nothing vnder heauen to be found more homogenial , or simular , of more thinne substance , of more temperate nature , & lesse subiect to corruption , or putrifaction , then the very pure substance of metalls , or quick-siluer . what therefore can be more fit for our balsam then that spirituall medicine , purged from all impuritie , and brought to exquisite subtiltie . doth not a spirituall nature reioyce and imbrace a spirituall nature ? why is not gold impayred in the fier , but doth rather ioy therein , and is made more pure ? is it not because it is fier ? for fier is not thrust out with fier , but they imbrace one the other as being of one kind . so in like manner , for so much as our balsam of life is most pure , and resembleth the nature of fier , why should it not receiue his like , and be strengthened thereby ? for geber saith , that gold is a medicine , which maketh the heart merry , & preserut●h the body in youth : the which medicine is no other thing , but a natural heat , multiplyed in the fixed substance of mercury : the vertue of which heat is to gather together ( as it is said afore ) y● kindly , & to disceuer and put away all things that are vnkindly , conseruing the spirits and humours in a man sooner then in the nature of metalls , because a man by his proper natural heat doth seperate the vnkindly superfluities , which metalls by their vnnatural heat cannot seperate . but let the reader vnderstand , that our meaning is not to prescribe this aurum potabile , for continual foode , but for medicine onely in time of néede . for it will suffice , if it be taken once or twise in the yeare , to prolong our dayes to nestorian yeares , without the yrkesomnesse of sicknesse . the phylosophers haue not onely called this medicine aurum potabile , but also the water of life , the tincture , the pretious stone , the medicine which worketh wonderfully vpon thrée sorts of things , namely vpon the animal , vegetable , and minerall : for the which cause it is called the animal , vegetable , and mineral stone : and the arabian astrologians call it the great elixir . wonderful is the vertue of this medicine : for herewith the body of man being sick , is restored to health , imperfect metals are turned into gold or siluer , and vegetables , albeit they are dry and withered , being moystened with this liquor , doe waxe fresh and greene againe . this medicine being a quintessence is almost incorruptible and immortal , temperate , purified by the elements themselues , and seperated from the dregs and grosse matter of the fower elements , which are the most chiefe cause of corruption , as the phylosophers affirme : which therefore maketh a temperate and sound body , because it is , as it were the spirit of life , by whose force and helpe , nature doth digest all that is indigested , or expulse the superfluous and offending humours : it suppresseth their qualities , it quickeneth the spirit , it maketh the soft hard , and the hard soft : the thick , thinne , and the thinne thick : the leane fat , and the fat leane : it maketh the cold , hote , and the hote cold : it moysteneth the dry , and drieth the moyst : to conclude , it confirmeth and strengtheneth the natural heate & moysture . and as all phylosopers doe write with one consent , it is an vniuersal medicinable body , whereunto all the particularities of medicines , are reduced and infused . for this cause , it is as it were a fineth nature , or essence ▪ a most thinne soule , most purgatiue , much resisting for a very long time , putrifaction or corruption , freed from al mortal concretion , a celestial and simple substance of the elements , brought to to this spiritual nature , by chymical sublimation . and yet for al this , we affirme not that this medicine is altogether incorruptible , for as much as it is made and consisteth of natural things . neuerthelesse , it is brought to that subtiltie , thinnesse and simplicitie spiritual , that it séemeth to containe nothing in it that is heterogenial , or vnkindely , whereby it may be corrupted : whereby also it commeth to passe , that being giuen to the sicke , it preserueth them a long time in health . and for this cause the philosophers haue had this in so great estéeme , and haue wholy addicted themselues to seeke and search out the same , not to make themselues rich , by turning imperfect metals into gold and siluer , when as many of them willingly embraced pouertie , but rather to heale the diseases and sicknesses of men , and to defende and preserue their liues in long health without griefe , vnto the time which god hath appointed , but leauing this great mysterie , which very fewe attaine vnto , i wil in charitie and good wil deliuer here vnto thee , an easie prescription how to make certaine waters , of great vertue , which i found written in the latine tongue , in an auncient coppy : seruing to kéepe the body in health , and to deliuer it from many infirmities , which i thought good here to insert , as very pertinent so this treatise , which concerneth ( as you haue heard ) the vertue of minerals . take of aqua vitae , distilled with red wine , lib. 4. of burnt salt , lib. 2. of dead sulphur , lib. 2. of white tartar. z. 2. of the coales of flaxe which groweth in abella , a towne of campania in italie ; z. 3. of salt peter , z. 4. beate al these into fine pouder , & seare them : and being mingled together , powre on them the aforesaid aqua vitae , and so put the whole masse to distillation . the vertues of the distillation . the first distilation , hath vertue of a balsam to conserue both flesh and fish , from putrifaction . it clenseth the face from all freckles and spots , clearing the skinne , and making if fairer . it cleanseth the body from itch and scabbes , and dryeth vp the teares , and watrinesse of the eyes . the second distillation expelleth impostumations , and superfluities of the body , fasteneth the téeth which are loose , and taketh away the windinesse of the liuer . the third taketh away a stinking breath , and purgeth tough flegme out of the stomach , and whatsoeuer is not wel digested . the fourth expelleth blood which is congealed in the body . the fifth healeth and taketh away from man the faling sicknesse . the sixt distillation helpeth al paines about the throate . the seuenth cureth the paine of the goute . the eight is an excellent balsam , which sée thou kéepe well . the ninth distillation comforteth and preserueth the liuer , if a little gold be dissolued therein . after euery of the former distillations , the feces must be beaten , and searced as in the beginning . another water , by which a phisitian may worke wonders . take the fylings of siluer , of brasse , of iron , of leade , of steele , of gold , the summe or froth of golde , and of siluer , and of storax : so much of all these as the abilitie of the man can wel affoorde : put these the first day in the vrine of seuen yeares of age : the second day , in white wine , made hote : the third day , into the iuice of fennel : the fourth day , into the white of an egge : the fifth day , into womans milke which giueth a boy sucke : the sixth day , into red wine : the seuenth day , in seuen whites of egges . then put all this into a cupel , and distil it with a soft and gentle fyer . that which is distilled kéepe in a siluer or golden vessel . there cannot bée spoken enough in the praise of this water . it cureth all sortes of leprosie , and wonderfully clenseth the body . it maketh youth to continue long . vse it to thy comfort , and to the good of thy neighbour . chap. xviii . shewing by what remedies sicknesses are to be cured . it is alleaged out of the authoritie of hypocrates and galen , that contraries are cured by contraries . but hée which affirmeth that contraries are cured by contraries , hée shall neuer easily finde out a remedie for sicknesse : neither was this hypocrates meaning , as shall bée shewed anon . it is out of question that sicknesses doe arise from the disagrement of the beginnings : and so often as those beginnings doe decline from their temper , ( which is then called a distemperature ) and the one being seperated from the consort of the other , taking vp his standing by himselfe , procureth sicknesse . for when it is not in mixture with the other , ( which being ioyned together , do maintaine concord ) they then make warre vpon the body , without any stoppe or let . i speake not here of simple and bare qualities , but of the very essences wherein are those powers and faculties whereof hypocrates speaketh , which preserue the health of their balsam , or to restore it when it is lost . seing therefore the séedes and properties both of health and of sicknesses , lye hid in the essences , it followeth that they are to be cherished with essences , and not with qualities . the which essences forsomuch as they are méere acting spirits , they are to be repelled with spirits , not with bodyes , which are not like them , or which are contrary to them . but it is obiected , that al things consist of elements , therefore our bodies also . if then the element of ayer do suffer and be out of course in vs , shal the same be holpen with the element of earth ? why then haue phisitians so fewe remedies against the pestilence ? is it because there are none at al ? ( i confesse when god wil punish hée taketh away the vertue from remedies and medicines . ) that is not the cause , i meane the want of remedies , but because ignorant phisitians , know not the causes of the pestilence , and therefore d●e not rightly prouide to preuent the same . for séeing they oppose against the pestilence comming of the corruption of the ayer , a medicine taken from earth , water or ayer , or from the earth hauing a watery original , what maruayle is it , if there follow no effect thereof , when as they doe not driue away those things which are to bée mixed together , but those things which doe easily agrée and are gathered together . for how can the heauen and the earth bée mingled together , to helpe the distemperature of the heauen , betwéene the which there is so great distance , as there is betwéen diuisible and indiuisible , as plato spake . therefore celestiall things are to be mingled with celestial things , waterie with waterie and earthie with earthie , and not contrariwise , otherwise there can be no agréement . consider wel , that heauen , aier , water , and earth , are in vs , but yet a certaine thing also farre more excellent , namely , a certaine supernatual body , which conserueth all other things in their temperature , whose strength retaineth all other things in their office : whereas imbecilitie and defect suffereth them to be out of course . what then is to bée done in this conflict but to cherish and vphold in his vigor and strength , that supernatural bodie , that is to say , the balsam of nature , that al other things subiect thereunto , and to whom it giueth life , may by the meane thereof be continued in their estate , firme and sound ? but with what things shall the imbecilitie and defect thereof be restored , but with things of the same likenesse ? doth oyle increase by putting water therein ? doth not one enemie put another to flight , euen as one friend helpeth another ? al sicknesses come hereof in our bodie , in what soeuer they be seated , because the balsam of nature and life , doe there decay and decrease . what else then is to be done , but to helpe our weake friend ? hypocrates sayth , that hunger is a sicknesse . for whatsoeuer doth put a man to paine , deserueth the name of sicknesse : whatsoeuer then asswageth hunger , is a remedie for this sicknesse , such is al maner of food , wherewith that sicknesse is cured . therefore according to the opinion of hypocrates , foode is a remedie . but wherefore are meates and drinkes sa●de to bee medicinal remedies , but because they haue natural properties , agréeing with the balsam of nature , not contrarie , wherby the weakened forces and strength are corroborated and the defect thereof restored . after the same manner drinke alayeth thirst . why and how commeth this to passe but onely hereof , because as nourishment is all one with that which is nourished , so thirst is al one with the humour wanting , or with drinke ? hereby wée sée how wrong their iudgement is , which apply contraries to contraries , to strengthen nature , that it may frée it selfe from sicknesse . which nature if shée should séeke helpe for an enemie , she must néedes fall into a greater perrill , than if she were to try the combate onely with sicknesse . and yet for all this wée reiect not the saying of hypocrates , that contraryes , must haue contrarie remedies : that is to say , by the taking away of the diseasefull impurities , and by the repairing of the strength and natural balsam , not by calefaction , or refrigeation , by humestation , or exsiccation : not by abstersion , incision , attenuation , & by such other like , too common & familiar so galen . but we are of hypocrates minde , that hunger is cured by meate , thirst with drinke , repletion with euacuation , emptines with refection , labour with rest , and rest with labour . the which of some are not vnderstood , as they are expounded of galen , who applyeth those contrarieties to those bare qualities whereof hypocrates speaketh , séeing a medicine is nothing else , then an apposition of those things which are desired , & an ablation of those things which doe too much abound , according to the sound opinion of galen here . but hypocrates aymeth at a further matter , in that he would haue the disease qualified & driuen away , by giuing strength to nature against the enemy : which nature being the onely physitian and curer of diseases , is to be holpen with such things as are like to the diseases , that so sicknesses and the passions o● sicknesses may be mittigated : euen as hunger and thyrst , are recreated & asswaged by those remedies , which they gréedily desire . but hostile things , that are enemy & contrary , are not desired , but such things as are a friend and familiar . for who wil giue to his hungery son when he asketh bread , a scorpion ▪ therefore like and fitting liquors , and nourishments are to be giuen , which may procure to nature desired rest . for remedies which come out of the same fountaine , and out of the same familie , which are agréeing and fitting in likenesse are to be ministred . for the thyrsting spirits of feuers ▪ are to be recreated with syrups , with sugars , with pertisan alone , or with wine , because they are not of the same family and affinitie with them , therefore neither familiar friends nor kinsmen : but with those tart liquors , which are begotten of the same linage , which are spiritual not corporal , as are those former , of the which , it certaine drops be offered to him which is a thirst , they wil by and by slake his thirst , and presently bring such thirsty spirits to their rest . after the same maner , watchings , paines , burning heares , and such like are cured . for when the spirits are thirsty , that is to say , when they desire any thing like to themselues which is wanting , they wil neuer be appeased nor at rest , vntill they haue obtained that which they desire , and haue supplyed their want . wherefore they are rightly called , by hypocrates , contraries : and by hermeticall physitians , remedies of like sort . for they are similies , which are drawen from the ●ame anatomie of nature , contayning like properties , tinctures , and rootes . and on the other side , they are contraries , because they supply the defects , and doe satisfie the desires with friendly fulnesse , appeasing the spirits , and their fitting impurities , séeking to consume them , or to take them away . therefore these phrases of spéech in natures anatomie , albeit they séeme different , and repugnant one to the other , yet in good consent and agréement they are receiued and admitted . that is to say , that contraries haue contrary remedies , & like to their like . but to returne to our beginning , that is to say to the elements , or to those thrée hypostatical & formal principles of bodies , namely salt ▪ sulphur , and mercurie , which is a liquor : for so much as vpon them all grieuous diseases for the most part doe depend , inso much that a cōmon pestilence flying in the outward aire cannot inuade a man , but it must make a breach and assaile one of these . therefore thou shalt not doe more foolishly , if to helpe him which is grieued with a mercurial sicknesse , thou vse a remedie taken out of sulphur , then if thou shouldest mingle oyle with water , which two wil neuer be mixed or vnited . and in like sort , thou shalt labour in vaine , if thou goe about to helpe sulphurus sicknesses with a mercurial medicine : or to put away salt sicknesses with the help of others . for these wil neuer agrée together : and being so vnlike one to the other , they wil neuer be ioyned in one , to heale and cure the bodie , except they be knit in a friendly peace and vnion , by that supernatural & ethereal body , that is to say , by the balsam which is common to al things . hée therefore which is sick of mercurie , must be holpen with mercurial remedies : as the epilepsie , and the apolexi , are to be holpen with vitriolated remedies taken from water . and hée which wil help sulphurus sicknesse , must vse sulphurus remedies , and sicknesses proceeding of salt , with medecines taken from salt. so thou shalt be taught by reason and experience , that things of like sort wil agrée & be cured with their like . we might yet make these things more plaine , & lay the same more open by many reasons and examples : but why should we ease you of that labour which we haue vndergon our selues by dili●ēt reading , searching and experimenting the things of nature , with great expences , before we attained our desire . accept my good wil in this , which , i fréely offer for some ease of thy paines , and for thy profit . and if it fit not thy humour & taste ( for al men haue not one relish ) leaue it for those which shall better allow it . finis . the second part of this treatise , wherein is contained in some measure , the practise of the hermeticall physicke . chap. i. salt ( whereof hath bene spoken before at large ) is a thing of such qualitie , and so excellent in it selfe , that all creatures by a certaine natural instinct , doe desire the same as a balsam , by which they are preserued , conserued , & doe grow and increase . they loue it , and like it so wel ( i say ) that they long after it , and doe drawe it vnto them by their breath , and doe licke it with their tongue out of walles , and old rubbish . byrdes , as doues and such like , doe search after it with their beakes , and wil ( if they can ) attaine it , though out of ●eculent places , which are made ●at by mens excrements and vertues . what huge multitudes of fishes are bread and nourished in the salt sea ? the which being so apparant . i wonder that men are of so peruerse iudgement , that they knowe not , or at least will not acknowledge , the admirable effects , of this radical balsam of nature . and who wil not admire the vertual properties and qualities of salt , yea euen of that which is extracted out of liuing creatures : which qualities are to be séene in making liquide , in clensing , in binding 〈…〉 preseruing from 〈◊〉 corruption , and 〈…〉 are not all these faculties and many others sufficient , to proue that salt is a thing animal ? and so much the rather , because there haue bene some chiefe phylosophers , who haue affirmed the mag●es or loadstone to be animate ▪ or indued with life ; onely because it hath power to draw ●ron to it . how many faculties far greater then these , yea and the same magnetical also , do we find in salt , if we looke diligently and throughly into them ? what is greater , and more admirable then the salt of mans ●ri●e ? which after conuenient preparation , is made fit to dissolue gold and siluer ? which by this their simpathy and concordance , ●o sufficiently declare , and manifestly giue attraction , and magnetical vertue , occasioned or caused by their coniunction and copulation . who seeth not those admirable things , which are to be discerned , and which fal out in the preparation thereof , and in the exaltation , whether you respect so great variety of colours , or the coagulations , and dissolutions , when the spirit returneth into the body , and the body passeth againe into spirit ? christophorus parisiensis , that great phylosopher , did not in vaine take the subiect herehence , and begin the foundation of his worke . thus i hope i haue sufficiently declared , that our salt may be saide to be animate . but that it may appeare also to be as vegeta● , as it is animal ; that is to say , that it is not depriued of the growing facultie , it may hereby be demonstrated , because it is the first mouing thing in nature , which maketh to grow , and to multiply , and therefore serueth for the generation of all things : so as with the poets and auncient phylosophers it may be said , that venus the mother , and first beginner of al generation , is begotten of the salt spume or froath of the male , the which also athenaeus confirmeth . for this cause venus was called by the greekes aligene , as aff●anced to the salt sea . and also the generation of most precious pearles in the shels of fishes , and of coral springing out of the bowels of hard stones and rockes in the sea , spreading forth branches like a 〈◊〉 doe yet more and more confirme this sentence . the●● are the ●●fects , which that fier of nature , salt , bringeth forth , yea euen in the middest of most cold water . but let vs see also what it worketh in the earth . the effects which it hath in the earth are these : namely , it heateth and maketh the earth fat : it anima●●th , fortifieth , and giueth power vnto it : it increaseth and giueth a vegetating and growing vertue with séede into euery thing in the same . for what other thing is it which 〈◊〉 the earth 〈◊〉 , and bringeth to passe , that one graine multiplyeth into a hundred but a certaine ●●ercoration , and spreading of 〈…〉 which commeth from cattle ? what other thing openeth the earth and maketh it to sproute ●n the beginning of the spring time after that the sunne is exalted into the signe of ari●● ( which signe is the full of saturn , and the house of mars , signes altogether f●ery ) but the eleuations and subl●●ations of the spirits of the said salt , and of the balsam of nature ? this is 〈…〉 and quickeneth , which maketh to grow , and which 〈◊〉 and ioyeth the medowes and the fieldes , and which produceth that most ample and vniuersal vigor and vertue . who seeth not this in the very a●er also , by the sublimations of the spirits of the 〈◊〉 nature of salt , which spirits being sublenated into aier in the said spring time , doe fal againe in forme of a deawe , vpon corne and all things that spring out of the earth ? and who seeth not that these deawes arysing from the earth , and falling againe from the aier , is a cause of vegetation and growing . but that the dewe is the spirit of the foresaid salt , and indued with salt , they which thinke themselues great philosophers , against their wils and not without shame , do confesse , when they sée that the true phylosophers doe extract out of the deawe a salt , which dissolueth corall and pearles , no lesse then doth the salt ▪ which is extracted out of common salt , out of salt-péeter , out of niter , or out of other salts which are prepared for the same end . furthermore , the same salt , may rightly also be said to bee vegetall , because it is manifestly found in all vegetables , and because those things in the which it doth most abound , haue the longer life and continuance , and doe more manifestly shew forth the vegetable effects , either in their owne proper nature , ●or at such times as they are to serue for vse . salt also is well known to be metallick or minerall . and all men knowe it the better so to be , for that such sundry and diuers kinds of salts are found in the bowels of the earth : such are salt , gem , allum , vitriol , salt niter , and such others moe , all which are of metallick nature , or else doe participate much with the same . but a phylosopher knoweth how to 〈◊〉 this thing further , and to find out the innermost 〈…〉 by the helpe of diuers strong waters , which hee knoweth how to prepare : which are nothing else , but the spirits of the foresaide salts which haue power to dissolue and to bring metallick bodies into waters , as is knowne to euery one . i say , that by this dissolution , we may be●●ld the 〈◊〉 simpathy of these salts , with the metallick nature . for because they are like , they wil be wel mingled together , conioyned and vnited , dissoluing his like , and associating himselfe to his like . for strong waters doe neuer worke vpon wood , or vpon any o●her matter , which is not of metallick nature : as it was most truly said of a certaine great phylosopher ▪ nature loueth her like , and delighteth in her owne nature ▪ and by another wittily thus spoken : easie is the passage of things one into the other , which are one in likenesse . sulphur , and other things , which are of an oyle like nature , are sooner and better dissolued with oyles , as with the oyles of terebinth and of flaxe , or linsede ▪ which is most sw●●te , then with that great force , and most violent sharpnesse of strong waters , which are nothing else but the spirits of salts , and by consequent doe disagrée with sulphur , which is a beginning contrary to the said spirits . here i● offered large occasion of 〈…〉 i● time and place would serue , but i omit it . let vs returne to our salt : the which if i shal shew that it may be moulten and dissolued , no lesse then gold and siluer , with the force of fire , and being cold againe , may be congealed into a masse , as metalls be , then no doubt it wil euidently appeare , that salt is of a me●allick nature . and this i say is to be do●e , not onely in salt which is sound in mines and in caues of the earth , but also in the very salt of the sea. but for so much as the same is better knowne to them that haue but meane skil in metalls , then that i shal néede at this time to spend much labour about it , i cease to speake any word more thereof . hereby it doth appeare very euidently , that this opio●e of aristotle is false , where he saith , that cold dissolueth the things which are congealed with heate : and that those things which are coagulated by cold , are dissolued by heate . the which notwithstanding we grant to be true on the one part , for that wée knowe well , that salt which is coagulated or congealed by the heate of the sunne ▪ is dissolued in cold water . but it must bée confessed also to be true , that salt , by the vehemencie of the heat of fier , is to be dissolued , moulten and made fluxible , and to be cast into a moulten lumpe , as easily as metalls be . moreouer salts may be extracted out of all calcined metals which are to be dissolued , filtred , and coagulated , after the same manner as are other salts , whether they be common and not moulten , or whether they be moulten by the force of heate . for it is known to a chymist of smal practise , that out of one pound of calcined lead , tenne or twelue ounces of salt may be extracted . all which things doe sufficiently demonstrate and proue , that the nature of salt is metallick : and that therefore metall is nothing else but a certaine ●u●il salt. by that which hath bene spoken , it may easily appeare , how salt is animal , vegetal , and mineral , and that it agreeth with that which all the phylosophers haue decréed with one consent concerning the matter and subiect of the vniuersal medicine . and hereunto tend all other signes , whereby they describe their foresaid matter , albeit most abscurely . all which things to agrée with the nature of salt● as that 〈◊〉 is of smal estimation : that it is to be found in euery thing , 〈…〉 our selues : the which is most plaine , for so much as there is nothing compounded in vniuersal world , out of the which , and at all times , salt cannot be extracted . chap. ii. the three principles of all things are contained in salt , extracted out of the earth . bvt to shewe now more particularly those things whereof we haue spoken generally , namely , that salt doe participate with the animal , vegetal , and mineral nature , wée wil vse a common example , the which notwithstanding , being exactly and diligently waighed and considered by a true phylosopher , is a notable mistery . the which , albeit it bee taken from out of the earth , yet it may lift vp our eyes to heauen . i meane to speake of niter , which men commonly cal salt-peeter . i let passe the detestable and pernicious vse thereof , inuented for the destruction of men : and yet i must confesse that it deserueth great admiration , in that it sheweth forth so great , and incredible effects , when as we being in these lower parts , it representeth thundrings and lightenings , as if they were in the aire aloft . but it we should consider what it is , and of what quality , in his owne nature and composition , what diuers faculties , and qualities , and effects there are in a thing so vile and so common , it would no doubt make vs to wonder out of measure . niter is made and compounded of earth his mother , which bringeth forth the same : or it is taken out of old rubbish gr●unds , or out of places where stables for beasts haue bene , or out of such kind of groundes which haue bene replenished with salt liquor , or with the vrine of beastes , rather then out of a leane hungry land , washed with raine , or by some such like occasion , depriued of that radical humour . it is most plentifully extracted from the ground where doue-houses are seated , and out of pigeons dung : and this is the best niter of all others : the which is worthy the noting . whereby it appeareth , that niter doth participate with the excrements and vrines of liuing creatures . for vrines are nothing else , but a superfluous seperation of the salt of vegetables , by which , liuing creatures are nourished and doe liue . whereby it euidently appeare , how the foresaid salt doth in kind participate with the nature animal , and vegetable . for as touching that which pertaineth to the mineral , it is not much pertinent to our purpose to speake thereof , sauing that wée thinke good to adde thus much , that it is extracted out of the earth , which is the reason why it is called salt-péeter , when as more properly it should be called the salt of the earth . but let vs goe forward . nature ministereth matter to art , whereof salt-péeter is compounded : art cannot make by it selfe , no more then nature can make salt-péeter-pure , and seperated from all terrestrilie and heterogeneal or vnkindly substance . for that it may produce the same effects which the other produceth , it must be prepared by the industry of workemen . for these make choyse of conuenient earth , and out of fit places , to them well knowne , and being filtered , or strained with hote common water , againe and againe , through the same earth , as lyes are vsually made with ashes , it commeth to passe that a saltnesse or brinish taste is mingled therewith , which is proper to all salts . of the which like , or water so distreined , if two thirds or theraboutes be vapored away by séething at the fire , and then let coole , the salt will be thickened into an ice , whereof the maker of salt-péeter finisheth his worke , purifying the same by sundry dissolutions , and coagulations , that it may loose his fatnesse quite and cleane . this common worke , being triuial , and no better then mechanical , if it be rightly considered and weighed , is ( as i haue said already ) full of admiration . for by the very same preparation , the thrée beginnings are extracted out of earth , which may be seperated one from the other , and yet neuerthelesse the whole thrée , doe consist in one and the same essence , and are onely distinguished in properties and vertues . and herein we may plainly see as in a glasse ( after a certaine manner ) that in comprehensible misery of the thrée persons in one and the same hypostasis or substance , which make the diuine trinitie . for thus it hath pleased the omnipotent creator , to manifest and shewe himselfe a v●●trine , or trinne , not onely herein , that he is found so to be in the nature of earth , but vniuersally in all the workes of the creation . for this our comparison of the salt of the earth is general , and is euery where found , and in all things . also in this comparison of salt , wée may beholde thrée distinct natures , which neuerthelesse are and doe subsist in one and the same essence . for the first nature is salt common , fixed , and constant : and the other nature is volatil , salt , the which alone , the sal-péeter-man seeketh after . this volatil or flying salt , containeth in it two kindes of volatil salt : the other full of sulphur , easily catching flame , which men call niter : the other mercurial , watery , sower , partaking of the nature of salt armoniac . wherefore in that most common essence of earth , these thrée seueral salts are found , vnder one and the same nature of the which thrée , all vegetables and animalls whatsoeuer doe participate . and we determine to place our thrée hypostatical and substantial beginnings , vpon these thrée salts , as vpon the fundamental grounds , in that our worke , concerning the hidden nature of things , and the misteries of art , the which we had thought to haue published before this time : whereof we thought it conuenient to say some thing by the way , because the ground-worke and beginnings of medicines depend vpon them . wherefore to the end so large & immensurable doctrine , may the better and more diligently be considered of all men , especially of the wiser sort , then heretofore it hath bene , i wil set plainly before their eyes , those three distinct natures of salt , comprehended ( as already is sayd ) in one hupostasis , or substance . for the maker of salt-peter , or niter , to make his salt the more effectual , volatile , and more apt to take fire , taketh away the fatnesse ( as they terme it ) from the same , and seperateth the salt thereof , which is al one with the sea salt ▪ or common salt , which is dissolued into common water : contrariwise , salt-peted ( as men cal it ) is congealed into such péeces , as we sée it to be : and so there is made a visible seperation of both the salts . for the water ( wherein the common salt being defused and dissolued as we said ) being euaporated or boyled away , there remayneth a portion of salt in the bottome , which is somewhat like to our common marine salt , and of the nature thereof , for it hath the same brynish qualities , it is fixed , it melteth not in the fire , neither is it set on fire , and therefore is wholy different from that which is congealed in the same water , which is called salt-peter . the which thing truly deserueth to bée diligently considered , not of ordinary salt-peter-men , which are ignorant of the nature of things , but of phylosophers , if they desire to be reputed , and to be such . to whom it shal manifestly appeare , that salt which by nature and qualitie ( according to the common opinion of phylosophers ) is hote and dry , a sulphurus salt , fierie , and apt to be set on fire , such as is salt peter , wil be coagulated or congealed in water , wherein al other saltes are dissolued , no lesse than that salt which procéeded from the very same essence of salt-peter , may be dissolued in water , as we haue said . therefore not without great cause , the admirable nature of salt-peter deserueth to be considered , which comprehendeth in it two volatile partes : the one of sulphur , the other of mercurie . the sulphurus part is the soule thereof , the mercurial is his spirit . the sulphurus part commeth to that first moouing of nature , which is nothing else , but an ethereal fire , which is neither hote nor drie , not consuming like the elementarie fyre , but is a certaine celestial fyre , and ayerie humour , hote and moyste , and such as wée may almost beholde in aqua vitae ; a fyre , i say , contempered , ful of life , which in vegetables , wée cal the vegetating soule : in animals , the hote and moyst radical : the natural and vnnatural heate , the true nectar of life , which falling into any subiect , whether it bée animal or vegetable , death by and by ensueth . the which commeth so to passe vppon no other cause , but vppon the defect of this vital heate , which is the repayrer and conseruer of life . the same vital heate , is also to bée found , albeit more obscurely in minerals : which may more easily bée comprehended by the sympathy and concordance , which the sayd salt-peter hath with mettals : as is to be séene in the dissolutions , whereof wée haue spoken somewhat before . beside that sulphurus part , there is also found in salt-peter , a certaine mercurial of ayerie nature , and which notwithstanding cannot take fyre , but is rather contrary therevnto . this spirit is not hote in qualitie , but rather colde , as appeareth by the tart and sharpe taste thereof : the which sharpnesse and coldnesse is wonderful , and is farre different from the elementary coldnesse : for that it can dissolue bodies , and coagulate spirites , no lesse then it doth congeale salt-peter : the which sowernesse is the generall cause of fermentation , and coagulation of al natural things . this same sower and tart spirit , is also found in sulphurs , of the same qualitie , not burning , nor setting on fire , and which congealeth sulpur , and maketh it firme , which otherwise would bée running like oyle . vitriol , among al the kindes of salt , doth most of al abound with this spirit , because it is of the nature of venus , or copper : which sower spirit inconstant mercurie ( which notwithstanding alwayes tendeth to his perfection , that is to say , to his coagulation and fixation ) ful wel can make choyse of , and attract it to him , that hée may bée fixed and coagulated , when it is mixed and sublimed with the same vitriol . euen as bées suck hony from flowers , as ripley saith . furthermore , this sharpe , sower , and cold spirit , is the cause why salt-péeter hauing his sulphur set on fire , giueth a cracke : that so salt-péeter may be of the number of them , whereof aristotle writeth , as that they are moued with a contrary motion : which words of his are diligently to be considered . but what doe i meane to open the gate of passage into the orchard of the hesperides , in speaking so plainly of salt-péeter , giuing thereby a free accesse vnto the doltish and ignorant ? be not therefore deceiued , in taking my words according to the letter . salt-péeter of the phylosophers or fusile salt ( whereof at the first came the name of halchymie ) is not salt-péeter , or that common niter : yet neuerthelesse , the composition and wonderful nature thereof , is as it were a certaine example , and lesbian rule our worke . howbeit i haue spoken more plainly & manifestly vnto you of this matter , then any other which hath gone before me hath done . let therefore momus from henceforth hold his peace , and let slaunderous tongues bée hereafter silenced . also let the ignorant open their eares and eyes , and giue good héede to that which followeth , wherein shal bée plainly shewed many admirable things , and secrets of excéeding great profite . wherewith bée you wel satisfied , and take my good will in good part , till hereafter i shal deliuer that which shal better content you . chap. iii. wherein by examples , the forces and properties of salt are manifested . yee haue séene out of that first remaining chaos ( that is to say , out of that base earth , or out of a matter confused and deformed ) an extraction , and seperation of a fairer , bright cléere , and transparent forme : that is to say , of that salt , which is opt to receiue many other formes , and which is endued with diuers and wonderfull properties . ye haue also séene , how out of one , and the same essence , thrée distinct and seueral things , yea , thrée beginnings of nature are extracted : of the which all bodyes are compounded , and with skilfull chymist can extract and seperate out of euery natur●ll bodie , that is to say , out of mineral , vegetal , and animal : to wit , salt , sulphur , and mercurie : principles verily most pure , most simple , and truely elementarie of nature , all comprehended vnder one essence of salt , sulphur , and mercurie , which phylosophers are woont to compare with the body , spirit and soule : for the body is attributed to salt : the spirit to mercurie : and the soule to sulphur : euery one to their apt and conuenient attribute . and the spirit is as it were the mediator , and conseruer of the soule with the body , because through the benefite thereof , it is ioyned and coupled with the soule . and the soule , quickeneth the spirit , and the body . yée haue also seene in the aforesaide salt , a hermaphroditicall nature : male and female : fixed and volatil : agent and pacient : and which is more , hot and cold : fier and ice , by mutual friendship and simpathie ioyned in one , and vnited into one substance : wherein is to be séene the wonderful nature thereof . the properties thereof are no lesse wonderful : nay , rather much more wonderful . for salt-peter is the especial key and cheife porter , which openeth most hard bodies , and the most solid things , as wel stones as metal : and bringeth gold and siluer into liquor , which the proper water extracted out of the whole maffe , without separation of the male or fixed . and as it maketh al bodyes metallick , spiritual and volatile : so on the contrary part , it hath vertue to fixe and to incorporate spirits , how flying soeuer they bée . who now wil not wonder , or rather bée amazed , which knoweth that salt-peter is so apt & ready to take fire , by which it passeth into ayre and smoake , and yet in the meane time seeth that it remaineth liquid and fusible in a red hote crucible , placed in the center of burning coales ? notwithstanding the which most burning heate , it conceiueth no flame , except the flame or fyre happen to touch it . and which is more , being of nature so volatil , it is at the length fixed , neither is it ouercome by the fire , neither doth it yéelde bée it neuer so violent and burning , no more then doth the salamander ( if it be true which is reported of that beast ) which before notwithstanding it could not abide , nor by any manner of meanes indure . thus therefore yée sée , that by fire onely his nature is transformed . furthermore the same salt●peter , which was of late rightly prepared and clensed , so white and christalline , ( at the least outwardly so appearing ) being now put into a fixatorie fire , you shal sée that it conteineth within it al maner of colours , as gréene , red , yellow , and white , with many others moe . the which if any man wil hardly beléeue , because he wil bée rather incredulous than docile , i wish him to make tryal thereof , and then hée shal learne so notable a mysterie of nature , within the space of tenne houres , with very little cost . and least yée should take mée for some lycophrone , or gramarian writer of tragedies , i wil teach you how to worke truely and plainly . take of salt-peter the finest and clearest , one pound or two ; put it into a glasse alembic with a couer , and set it in sand : no otherwise than if you should distil aqua fortis . put fyre vnder , and moderate the same by degrées according to art : she which fyre thou shalt increase the third or fourth houre after , in such wise , til the sand appeare very hote . this fyre in the highest degrée thou shalt continue by the space of fiue or sixe houres : and then thou shalt finde and plainly sée , that the spirits of salt-peter , haue penetrated the very glasse of the alembic , and that it hath dissoloued the same as wel within as without . furthermore the spirits of the salt-peter , which are come through the body of glasse , cleauing to the out-side therof like vnto flower , yée make take off with a soft feather , and easilie gather together in great quantitie . this flower is nothing else , but the spirit of salt-peter , wherein ye shal sée al sorts of colours very liuely expressed . that which remaineth in the bottom of the culcurbit , so white as snow , and wholy fixed , is a special remedie to extinguish al feauers . it is giuen from halfe a drachme to a drachme , dissolued in some conuenient liquor . and to speake in a word , this remedy hath not his like , to cut , to clense , and to purge , and euacuate the corruptions of humors , and to conserue the body from al pollution of corruption . for séeing it is of the nature of balsamic salt , it must néedes bée indued with such vertues and properties . and in very déede to deale plainly and truely , i cannot if i would , sufficiently extol with prayses , the true salt-peter , and fusile salt of the phylosophers . this salt , homer cals diuine . and plato writeth , that this salt , is a friend and familiar to diuine things . and many phylosophers haue said , that it is the soule of the vniuersal , the quickening spirit , and that which generateth al things . it may peraduenture séeme that we haue bene too tedious in the inquisition and speculation , as wel of the general , as of the particular , concerning the nature of salt : but it is so profitable and necessarie , that it is the basis , and foundation of al medicinable faculties ( as more at large shal be shewed in his place ) that physitians may haue wherewith to busie themselues , and to vnderstand . but as touching a chymical philosopher , let him know that hée ought to bestowe his labour most chiefely in fusil salts , and to remember that philosophers haue not without good cause euer and anon cryed ; bake it , bake it , and bake it againe : which is al one , as if they had sayd , calcine , calcine , or bring it to ashes . and in very déede if wée wil confesse the trueth of the matter , al chymical workings , as distillations , calcinations , reuerberations , dissolutions , filtrations , coagulations , decoctions , fixations , and such other appertaining to this science , tend to no other ende , then so to bring their bodies into dust or ashes , that they may communicate the spirits of saltes and sulphur which haue made them ( placed neuerthelesse vnder one and the same essence ) after a certaine imperceptible manner , with their metallick water , and true mercurie : and that to this ende , that by the infernal vertue and force of salt , the mercurie may bée consumed , boyled , and altered from his vile nature , into a more noble : when as of common mercurie , it is made by the benefite of the spirit of salt , the mercurie of the phylosophers : which salt it hath attracted out of the ashes , or calx vine metallick . euen like as it commeth to passe in the lye-wash which is made of ashes and water , the which béeing oftentimes messhed and drawen away , the ashes leaue al their life and strength , communicating all their salt to the foresayd water : the which water , albeit , it alwayes remaineth fluxile and liquid , yet it abydeth not simple and pure water , colde , or of smal vertue : but béeing now made lye , it is become hote , and of a drying qualitie , clensing , and of qualitie wholely actiue , which is altogether the vertue and facultie of an altering medicine . but it is to bée considered , of what matter this quicke and metallick ashes are to bée made . also of what manner of water the lye is to bée prepared , that thou mayest exalt the salt or sulphur of the phylosophers , that is to say , the balsamick medicine , which is ful of actiue qualities like vnto thunder , béeing reduced into a true liuing calx . and whereas at the first , it was a certaine dead body voyde of life , it shal then be made a liuing body indued with spirit , and medicinal vertue . chap. iiii. gold animated , is the chiefe subiect of the metallic medicine of the philosophers . of so great power and force is the phylosophical sulphur of nature , that it multiplyeth and increaseth gold in strength and vertue , béeing already indued with great perfection , not so much for the equal concurrencie of sulphur and quick-siluer , as in regard of the perfect combination , adequation , equabilitie of elements , and of the principles which make gold . and the sayd principles or beginnings ( to wit , salt , sulphur , and mercurie , ) doe so order themselues , that the one doth not excéed the other : but being as it were equally ballanced and proportionated , they make gold to bée incorruptible : in such wise , that neither the earth ( béeing buried therein ) can canker , fret and corrupt it , nor the ayre alter it , nor yet the fire maister it , nor diminish the least part of it . and the reason hereof is , for that ( as the phylosopher saith ) no equal hath any commaund or maisterie ouer his equal . for because also , in euery body equalled and duly preportioned , no action or passion can be found ; also this is onely that equalitie , which pithagoras called the mother , the nurce , and the defender of the concord of al things . this is the cause that in gold and in euery perfect body , wherein this equalitie is , there is a certaine incontrollable and incorruptible composition . the which when the ancient phylosophers obserued , they sought for that great and incomparable medicine in gold . and because they vnderstood , that gold was of so smal compacted and firme composition , that it could not worke , and send his effects into our body , so long as it remained in that solidity , they sought & indeuored to dissolue and breake his hard bonds , and by the benefit of vegetable sulphur , and by the artificious working of the balsam of life , to bring it to a perfect adequation , that the vegetable spirits of gold , ( which now lay hidden as it were idle , might make it of common gold , ( which before it was ) gold phylosophical and medicinable , which hauing gotten a more perfect vegetation and seminal vertue , may be dissolued into any liquor , and may communicate vnto the same that flowing and balsamic perfection , or the balsam of life , and of our nature . and because we are now speaking of the animation of gold , be it known for a surety , that the auncient fathers and phylosophers sweat and laboured much to find out the mistery hereof , that they might compound a certaine balsamic medicine , to vegetate and corroborate , and by the noble adequation , and she integritie of nature thereof , to conserue the radical balsam , and that nectar of our life , in good and laudable temperament . but indéed it is not to be wondered at , that gold being deliuered from his mannacles and fetters , and being made so spiritual and animate , and increased in vertue and strength , doth corroborate nature , and renue the balsam of our nature , and doth conserue vnto the last period of life , being taken in a very smal dose , as in the quantity of one or two graines . and so much lesse it is to be maruailed at , that forsomuch as by that great adequation of temperature , it doth conueniently agrée and communicate with our radical balsam , it doth checke the rule of phleame , the burning of choller , and the adustion of melancholy , and by his incorruptible vertue , doth preserue our nature , but also to ouercome all the diseases which belong to our body . and so much the rather , in regard that the same balsam of nature , that natural spirit , is the principal cause in vs , of all actions , operations , and of motions , not depending vpon temperature or mixture , but concerning the same , as galen himselfe is compelled to confesse , speaking of that our natural heat . ye must vnderstand ( saith he ) that hypocrates calleth that , inset heate , which we call the natiue spirit in euery liuing thing . neither hath any other thing formed any liuing creature from the beginning , or increased it , or nourished it vnto the appointed time of death , but onely this inset or natural heate , which is the cause of all natural workes . therefore they can be excused by no maner of meanes , which contumeliously , & without any reason , doe dispise , discōmend , and caluminat these kind of remedies , which doe principally tend to the restoring & corroborating of our radical balsam , which alone ( holpen with the said medicine ) is able to seperate those things which are vnkindly & grieuous to nature , & méerely heterogenial , by expulsions conuenient , & ordinary euacuations : & to retaine the homogenial & kindly parts , with the which it doth most especially agrée to their further conseruation . whereas , if for the corroborating of mans strength , there could bee any vse made of leafe gold ( the which is nothing else but a certaine dead matter , in no sort fit to participate with our nature , & much lesse able to be digested by our natural heat ) which is most cōmonly in vse in all restoring medicins , as in confectione alkermes , electuario de gemmis , aurea alexandrina , diamargariton aricenna , and in such other like : why i pray you is the vse of gold animate disallowed , prescribed in that maner and forme already shewed ? but in good sooth , they doe in vaine & too vnaduisedly discōmend , & contemptuously speake against metallick remedies , as if they were no better then poysons : when as the world knoweth , that men which are irrecouerably diseased , when no other cōmon medicines wil helpe , are then sent to bathes , to the spawe , and to such other waters which are medicinable , in regard they spring from niter , allum , vitriol , sulphur , pitch , antimonie , lead , & such like : all which doe participate of a substance & spirit metallick , which we haue found by experience , to purifie & to euacuate our bodies by all manner of euacuation , not without great profit , as we will declare more at large , when we come to speake more particularly of the same in our booke concerning the hidden nature of things , and of the misteries of art : in the which worke we wil shewe plainly and openly , the vertual qualities of those metallick spirits . and it shal be there proued by reason , and also by experience , that those metallick spirits , haue the same effects that the foresaid medicinable waters of bath , and the s●awe , and other such like haue , which are natural and naturally hote : and therewithal we wil shew plainly , that such waters artificial , by industry may be made at any time , and in any place , and with no lesse commodity and profit . there are a sort of men , which in some measure are to be excused , which being old , and thinke that they know all things , are ashamed to begin now to learne againe : but they which oppose themselues obstinately , and through enuy and malice , doe carpe and cauil , are more out of course , against whom we haue nothing to say in our defence but this , that they bewray their grosse ignorance and malice . but the order and maner of preparing the medicine , whereof we treat here , was in old time called mineral , in regard that the phylosophical sulphur or salt , which serueth for animation or vegetation , is extracted out of the first vegetatiue spring of mineral nature . many phylosophers haue taken saturn or lead for the mineral subiect . other some haue taken the saturnal magnesia or loadstone , which is the first metallick roote , and of the stocke and kind of vitriol . isaac holland , ripley , and many other phylosophers , haue written their workes concerning this matter , the which , forsomuch as they are extant , euery one that list may read them . for we haue no other purpose in this place , but to teach and demonstrate in plaine maner , what that balsam radical is , and that vniuersal medicine , so much spoken of by auncient phylosophers , for the conseruation of health , and for the curing of diseases in mans body . others ( among whom also is raymund lully ) sought their fire of nature in a vegetable , to animate gold . for this was that which al men especially laboured for , to put life into gold . and this is the reason why they all say ▪ that there is onely one way , and one matter , or balsamick sulphur and of nature , which yéeldeth actiue and internal fire , to the same work . and among all vegetables , the chiefest is wine . for of all other it partaketh very much of the vitriolated nature : which may be gathered , not so much by that gréene collor of the vnripe clusters of grapes and their sharpe fast : as by the saphiric and reddy colour of those that are ripe , which appeareth both within and also without , and by the sharpe tast : all which things doe plainly declare both the external and internal qualities of vitriol . it is also wel knowne that there are certaine such waters in auuergne in france , which haue the taste of wine with a certaine pricking facultie or relish . vineger also , whereto wines is easily brought , when his sulphurus life is gone , ( that is to say , when his spirit is seperated ) doth represent the tart qualitie of vitriol , as doth also other impressions of wine sufficiently known to true phylosophers . the which also may be gathered by the concordance and agréement which wine hath with the metallick nature , séeing that as well out of wine as out of vitriol , the menstrue of chymical art may be prepared , which is able to dissolue metals into liquor . these are ( i say ) the reasons why raymund lully , and other famous phylosophers , placed their workings in wine , for the extracting of their balsamick sulphur , that thereby they might make true potable gold , and the infallible balsamick medicine . but now we wil goe forward to open in few wordes lullies method , which he so greatly hid in his booke of quintessence , and in other places , which if it be rightly vnderstood , it wil easily direct and instruct euery true phylosopher , to extract out of all things ( and therefore to compound ) that balsamick medicine . for the scope is euery where all one , there is but one ende , and there is but one onely way , to the composition of that balsam , or phylosophical sulphur , which existeth in all things , mineral , vegetable , and animal : howbeit in some more , in other some lesse . chap. v. by what art the sulphur and mercury of the phylosophers may be prepared out of a vegetable , to make true potable gold . therefore to the end all things may be duly performed , which are required to such working , choyse must be made of the best red wine that can be gotten , being made of that vine whose wood is all so red , and of this wine must bee taken one hogs-head at the least , out of the which thou shalt extract an aqua vitae , according to the woonted maner , the which thou shalt rectifie to the highest perfection . this spirit of wine thou shalt set vp in a most cold place , in a vessel very close stopt , least that it breath out , by reason of the excéeding subtilty thereof . the remainder of the wine thou shalt distill againe , and there wil come out of the same a middle aqua vitae , if the wine bee of the best sort . the which so distilled , kéepe apart , or by it selfe . this thou shalt doe againe with the rest of the wine , seperating as afore the aqua vitae from his fleame , euery one seuerally restrained by it selfe . at the last thou shalt gather the forces which remaine in the bottom , out of the which thou shalt drawe the last humidutie , by a balneum vaporosum , or by moyst balneum , or by ashes , vntil it waxe thick and pyththie . these pitchy remainders being put into diuers alembicks ( if they be much ) put so much thereto of the reserued fleame , as may stand aboue it foure or fiue fingers thicke : put altogether vpon a hote balme , or vppon hote ashes : so within fewe dayes , the fleame which afore was white , receiuing tincture againe , will become very red , hauing attracted vnto it a combustible sulphur , out of the impure feces or lées of the wine . seperate this tincted fleame by inclination , and kéepe it by it selfe if you will , for such vses as hereafter shall bee shewed . after that againe powre a newe quantitie of fleame vppon the same feces , in seueral allembickes , if there be great plenty of them , as is shewed afore : that which is tincted with red , seperate againe as afore , and powre it to that which is already tincted and seperated . thou shalt continue this so often , vntill the fleame will drawe no more rudenesse with it , and that the feces are now become somewhat white , or christalline . the which that thou maiest the more easily knowe , powre vpon it an other fleame , and with thy finger or a cleane sticke stirre them together , that thereby thou mayest sée whether any more tincture remaineth . for all must bée cleane extracted , that the least fleame being powred vpon it , will tinct or colour no more . by which proofe thou shalt certainly know , that the residence is very well depured , which in another place wée will call the chrystal of tartar : because out of all common lées , and by a more easie method , the like christalls are extracted . this is a most pleasant and swéete remedy , and if any in the world bée acceptable it is this . it doth very readily clense the stomack , the liuer and the spléene from their impurities , prouoking vrine , and mouing one or two sieges extraordinarily . but let vs returne to our worke . the ●eces aforesaide being now rightly and conueniently prepared and depured as is saide , must bee put into diuers smal cucurbits with long neckes , and into euery one of them , put of the rectified spirit of wine , so much , as that it may stand ouer it three fingers thicke : presently set vppon euery one of them a smal cappe or couer , with his receiuer , strongly and well luted , hermetically closed rounde about , that nothing breathe through : then set them vppon the hote ashes that they may boyle , and distill : powring in againe the same which shall distill forth , and so let them boyle againe . after that suffer all to coole . then as warily as thou canst by inclination , seperate the spirit , that nothing thick or troubled passe forth therewith . and then againe , powre into euery cucurbittel another spirit of wine , and doe as thou diddest afore . this thou shalt doe so often , and continue it , vntill the feces which by their owne proper nature are calcined , beginne to waxe blacke and to smoake , if they be put vpon a red hote plate . for this is a signe , that the first phylosophycall calcination is finished , and that the spirit , by the same worke , is now become animate by reason of the tarte balsam , and ferment of nature , contained in the foresaid feces , reduced into christal , as is said . these animated spirits ioyned together , and very well reserued , that they breathe not , nor issue forth , thou shalt put the foresaide feces into vessels which are called matrats , like vnto round globes , hauing straite neckes , by which the matter is powred in . these vessels being hermetically closed , and stopt , that nothing may vapour forth , let them bee couered in sand , in the furnace of athanor , which will yéelde flame , round about the compasse of the foresaide vessell . then put fire thereunto by the continuance of fiue or sixe dayes , vntill the earth doe become as white as snowe , and is well calcined and fixed . the which , that thou maiest make the more volatil or flying , and maiest also make the sulphur and mercury of the phylosophers , thou mayest if thou wilt diuide this thy callixe into two or thrée cucurbittils of conuenient greatnesse , first waighing the waight of euery of the calxes , and powring vpon euery of them a forth part of the spirit of wine , animated as aforesaide . put a smal head vpon each of the cucurbittels , with their seueral receiuers wel fitted as afore . place them in b. m. which is moyst , by the space of one day . after that , the same vessels being set in ashes , put thereto a meane fire that the liquor may distill forth , which whereas afore it was most ardent and most sharpe , now it shal come forth altogether without taste , hauing no other relish vppon the tongue and palat , then hath common wel-water : the reason hereof is , for that the foresaid spirit , hath left and forsaken his balsamic salt , which afore being mixed with the spirit stilled forth with the salt of the foresaid calx : for nature loueth nature , and followeth her in her nature , as phylosophers teach . then againe thou shalt powre on another spirit of wine animate , as afore , in the same proportion , and the former order of distillation obserued , vntill in taste thou finde the foresaide animate spirit , to come forth and to distil , as strong in taste and relish , as it was then when thou powredst it on . for this shall be a signe , that the foresaide fixed salt , hath retained out of the volatil , so much as shal be sufficient and conuenient to retaine . and now if thou waigh and counterpoyse thy matters , thou shalt finde that they are increased a third part in waight : as if there were one ounce in euery vessell of calxe , thou shalt finde that euery of them doth waigh thrée ounces or more . the which is diligently to bée obserued for sublimation , and for the last working which as yet resteth to bee done that the volatill may transcende , and ouercome the fixed . in the which businesse that thou maiest procéede the more safely , thou must take s●me of the foresaide phylosophycal calxe vine , and cast it vppon a red hote plate of yron , and if thou sée all the saide calxe to vapour away and to vanish in smoake , like salarmoniack , thou hast an absolute and perfect woorke . if otherwise , thou must begin the foresaide worke againe , and continue it , vntil the foresaid signe doe appeare . this done , thou shalt put these matters into smal long lymbeckes in forme of a sublimatorie , with heads vpon them , and receiuers to receiue the spiritual sulphurus humiditie : and then thou shalt distil it in ashes with a gentle fire , by the space of a whole day : afterward thou shalt increase the fire by a further degrée , more & more , so long , vntil about the end of eightéene houres or twenty , the fire bée made sublimatorie , and that thou see the vessels to bèe no more obsucred or darkenes with spirites : or with white fumes . and then shal yée sée the sublimated matter cleaning to the sides of the glasses , fayre and bright , and transparent like vnto pearles , or such like . vppon this matter beaten into pouder , in a purphorie morter of smal bignesse , thou shalt pouder the sulphurus spirit distilled , moystening it by little and little , and boyling or straining the whole by the space of foure dayes in a strong athanor . and thus thou shalt haue a pearelike matter , a balsam radical , extracted from a vegetable , the mercurie of the phylosophers , the sulpur balsamick , and to conclude , that fire of nature so much commended , and so hidden by al the philosophers , which with one consent say , ignis & azoc tibi sufficient : let fire , and the matter suffice thée . this onely balsam is the vniuersal medicine , to defend and conserue health , if it be giuen with some conuenient liquor to the quantitie of one or two graines . great and admirable is the vertue thereof , to restore our radical balsam : the which wée affirme to be the medicine of diseases , euen by the common consent of al physitians . but our lullie and other phylosophers , are not content with this , but procéeding further , do dissolue the forsaid phylosophical sulphur in a conuenient portion of the spirit of wine , rectified to perfection , as afore , and suffer them to be vnited , and very well coupled together by way of circulation in a pellican hermetically stopt or closed : and within fewe dayes , the water is made azure like or celestial : which béeing distilled , is of force to dissolue gold , and doth reduce it into the true calxe of the phylosophers , into a precious liquor , which itterated circulations and distillations , can also passe by the necke of the allembic or by retort . in the which working , if thou procéede as thou shouldst , thou shalt be able to separate from gold ( already phylosophically dissolued and animated ) thy phylosophical dissoluing , which wil continually serue for newe dissolutions . for very little is lost in euery dissolution . and so thou hast the true potable golde : the vniuersal medicine , which neuer can bée valued béeing inestimable , nor yet sufficiently commended . after the same manner thou shalt make the dissolutions of pearles , and of pretious stones , most general remedies , and deseruing to be placed among the chiefe , if they bée dissolued after the order and manner aforesaid , with a natural dissoluing . remedies i say , which can much better confirme and strengthen our nature , than if according to the common manner , they bée onely powdred and searced , as is wont to bée done in those our common preparations and cordial powders . but some paraduenture wil say , that these kinde of preparations are too hard , or such as they vnderstand not , or at least care not to vnderstand . but this is a vaine obiection to preuent for excuse of their ignorance , the difficultie of these preparations , and the protract al time , when as the thing is neither difficile , nor long , to them which know how to take it in hand . these things are not to bée estéemed , nor labour is to bée spared , to attaine so excellent & precious medicine , which in so little & smal a dose , as in the quantitie of one or two graines , can worke so great and wonderful effects : which bringeth great commendation and honour to the physitian , and to the sicke perfect health and vnspeakable sollace and ioy . but to conclude , i wil say with cicero , in his tusculans : there is no measure of seeking after the truth : and to be wearie of seeking , is disgrace , whē that which is sought for is most excellent . chap. vi. the way to prepare and make the balsamick medicine , out of all things . by the foresaid preparation of sulphur , balsamick vegetable , which wée haue before taught , faithfully , plainly , and manifestly , it is easie to vnderstand , after what manner the same sulphur may bée extracted out of euery mixed body . in the wich bodie ( that i may summarily gather al things together ) there is first found a liquor , without al odour , or rellishing taste , which is called phlegme , or passiue water . then commeth a liquor which hath taste , colour , odour , and other impressions of vertual qualities , which is called the hercurial liquor . and after that commeth foorth an oylie liquor , which floteth aloft , and conceiuing flame , which is called sulphur . after the extraction of these thrée seueral moystures , there remaineth nothing but ashes , or dry part : out o● the which ashes , béeing wel calcined , salt is extracted , with his proper phlegme , messhing oftentimes , and powring water warmed , vpon the foresaid ashes , put into hypocrates bagge , and repeating this so often times , til you perceiue a salt water to come , which hath a brinish taste : after the same manner , as women are woont to make their lye-wash . this béeing done , let the moyst be distilled , and the salt wil remaine in the bottome . the which salt notwithstanding , in this first preparation is not made cleane enough , nor sufficiently purified . wherefore the same distilled water is to be powred vp againe , that the salt may againe bée dissolued in the same : the which so dissolued , filter it , or straine it through a bag oftentimes , as afore , til it be most cleare : then coagulate it at a gentle heate . and after this maner thou mayst extract a salt , cleare & pure , out of al vegetable ashes . vppon this salt being put into an allembic , powre al his mercurial sharpe water : let them be digested by the space of one or two dayes , in the gentle heate of the balme : and then let them be distilled by ashes , and so the water wil distil forth without taste or rellish . because whatsoeuer it contained of the volatile salt , wil reside in the bottome with his per fixed salt . goe forward therefore in thy working as before i taught thée concerning the wine . or if thou wilt not worke so exactly , meshe vp againe al the mercurial liquor , and make it passe through the foresaid salt , which wil take into it , al that vitriol impression which that water shal haue , and the water or liquor , shal haue neither rellish nor taste , but shal be altogether like to common water . but if thou adde so much that the volatile part doe excéed the fixed , that is to say , that there be more of the volatile , than of the fixed , ( the which thou shalt easily know by waight , because it wil be increased thréefold , or by trial vpon a red hote copper or iron plate , when this matter béeing cast vppon the same , vapoureth and passeth away in smoke ) then thou must sublime it , and it wil become the sal a●moniack of the philosophers : ( so it pleaseth them to cal this matter ) which wil bée cleare and transparant like pearles . vppon this powdred matter , thou shalt powre by little and litle the oylie liquor purified , and thou shalt boyle this matter , that of volatil it may be fixed againe . neuerthelesse , that which shal be fixed , shal be of nature more fusible than waxe , and consequences wil more easily communicate with spirits and with our natural balsam , when it is seperated from his passiue water , and passiue earth which are vnprofitable . both which matters the phylosophers cal the passiue element , because they containe no propertie in them , neither doe they shew forth any action . and thus a body or nature is made wholely homogenical & simple : albeit there are to bée séene , thrée distinct natures , the which notwithstanding are of one or the same essence and nature . and so a body shal bée compounded exactly pure out of those three hypostatical beginnings , namely salt , mercurie , and sulphur . the which sulphur in some part is answerable to truely simple , and elementarie fire : mercurie , to ayre and to water : in like manner most simply and truely elementarie : and salt , to pure earth , simple and elementarie . the which earth is not colde and dead , but hote earth , liuing earth , and full of actiue , and vegetable qualities . beholde then how a perfect and vniuersall medicine is prepared out of all the things of nature . the which if thou wilt vse for purgation , choose for thy subiect some purging simple , if thou wilt , especially corroborate and strengthen , make choise of such things as doe yéelde most comfort . if thou wilt either specially or generally lenifie , and mittigate paine , then choose such things as are most lenifying and asswagers of paine . and yet know thou this , that in one and the same remedie onely , prepared in this manner , as for example , in the nature of balsamick salt , thou hast a clenser and a purger , and an vniuersal emptier , a corrector of all impurities and corruptions . thou hast also in the particular nature of sulphur , a general and spiritual anodine or asswager . in the mercurial nature , there is an vniuersal comfortatiue and the same nourishing : al which natures ioyned together as afore , by the art and industrie of a true physition and phylosopher , are able to performe and effect al these functions , without any griefe and perturbation : and in the meane time it doth corroborate by his balsamical vertue , or radical balsam , supplying vnto it al meanes , not onely for defence , but also for expulsion and suppression of al diseases . and this is the true medicine , this is the reason of his vniuersalitie , this is his puritie and perfection . neither is there any thing more easie then the preparation thereof , if it be rightly vnderstood . moreouer , so exceeding great is the vtillitie and excellencie thereof , that no labour , no paines , no industrie , ought to bée omitted , or to bée reputed hard , whatsoeuer difficultie or doubts may arise , or bée obiected . but if there bée any man , which wil not take vpon him this labour , albeit most profitable , and ordained for health and the prolonging of mans life , and for the same hée may exactly prepare these balsamick medicines : yet at the least hée wil by the meanes thereof , as it were by a certaine director , seeke out in general , the euacuating , mundifying , and clensing faculties , which are in most vse , and which chiefly consist in salts : and in like manner the asswagers , mittigators , ayd healers , in sulphur and oile : and finally the nourishers , restorers , and comforters in the liquor or mercurie . and by the same way and reason it shal bée taught , that the true correctors of all remedies , are purifying and coctions only : and that these alone are the true hony and sugar , to swéeten al things . for those things also which are most tart , sharpe , and sowre , yea and bitter , are by this meanes made swéete , and al manner of euil qualitie corrected , and contempered , euen as fruites before their perfect concoction , and maturitie , are tart , sharpe and sowre , euery one according to their kinde and qualitie . so wée sée , that wines , in whose maturation or rypening the heate of the sunne failed , are made more crude and sharpe : which is the reason why some yéeres , wines are made more ripe , acceptable , and better agréeing with nature , albeit they came as wel afore , as then , from one vine . albeit much héerein is to be attributed to the region also , and to the place , whereinto the beames of the sunne may make a more strong impression . and this may bee the cause , that some are sweete , and ful of wine , some meane , others very crude , and scarce wine . so the tigurine wines , and others in mountaine places , which are colde , are for the most part crude ; and must haue a for her rypening in their caskes , before they can bee drunke with pleasure and profite ▪ also the same wines wanting a kindely rypening and concoction , remaining still crude , are so full of léese , and tartarous matter , that the inhabitants which dwell in those places , where these wines doe growe , are more subiect to the disease of the stone , than others . now , if this defect bée to bée seene in wine , so greatly nutritiue , and agréeing with our nature : what shall wee say of hellebor , and of many other poisonfull m●●●nes which spring out of most colde mountaines , and wilde , without tillage , much lesse are they concocted by the moone ? therefore no maruaile that our hellebor answereth not those effects , which hypocrates attributeth vnto it . for that which he commendeth in greece , commeth out of a conuenient region , where no doubt there are plants and vines of greater efficacie . wherefore i haue vsed for a first preparation of hellebor● , to transplant them into gardens , scituate in a more temperate 〈◊〉 and place . the which how much they differ from those which grow vpon wild and cold mountaines , as do also garden succorie and endiue , from the wylde , the difference and vse , doe sufficiently declare . but those preparations , which procéede and are done by art , and the concoctions which art imitating nature finisheth , are much better , and more contracted and swéetned , as by the preparation following , farre more exact than that those common , in which there appeareth nothing but that which is crude and impure , shal manifestly appeare , and the thing it selfe plainely proue . chap. vii . the vertue , and preheminence of the medicine balsamick . some phylosophers séeke the matter of medicine in our selues : othersome in the hony of the animal and celestial nature : othersome in a certain animal nature , not in act or effect , but in power : which representeth the similitude of the world , and which conteineth in his belly gold and siluer , white and red : sulphur , and mercury : which nature the most ancient disposes vnder god , hath mixed together by due proportion . out of the which matters ▪ by sundry fayre and long preparations , they prepared their vniuersal medicine : which by reason of perfect ●●temperance , adequation , and puritie , can contemperate , conserue , and also increase the radical humour , and that quickening nectar of ours : because in puritie of his spiritual nature , hée doth communicate with our spirits . furthermore , let vs sée how much the said medicine performeth in the driuing away diseases , and what infinite multitude of remedies it hath . and first , forsomuch as it may be applyed and fitted to al intentions requisitie ( as may be gathered by that which hath béene said afore ) and forsomuch as it may bée giuen in so small a dose , which wil bring no violent action , nor loathsomnesse to our body , nor any kind of perturbation , and yet neuertherlesse worketh excéeding wel , according to the disposition of our nature , i sée no reason why this vniuersal and most noble medicine , should not be preferred before these rapsodies of medicines . who so vseth rightly this medicine , and in fit time , shal bée refreshed and corroborate , and so armed with strength , that from thenceforth hée shal more easily and readily shake off his sicknesse : whereof nature otherwise being destitute , would easily be ouercome . let vs vse a familiar example that those things which we haue hitherto spoken , may more plainly appeare to all men . we sée in our elemental fire , that if thou cast into the same ▪ any thing that wil easily take flame , as strawe , or any such thing which wil readily burne and increase the force of burning , which before was almost extinguished , for because it was destitute as it were of nourishment , and wholy as it were ouerwhelmed of asshes : so also our radicall balsam the fire brand , and burning lampe of the fire of our nature , wanting conuenient and proper nourishment whereby it fainteth , or else so ouerwhelmed by the feces and ashes of obstructions , that it is in danger of suffocation and smoothering , or else kindred by some other cause , whereby it cannot exercise liuing flame for the conseruation of our life : then indéed it standeth in néede of a calefactor , and restorer of heate , that in better maner and more readily it may shew forth the proper qualities and functions . the like reason and consideration also is to be had concerning our natural balsam , the which being diminished , or being hindred or hurt by any occurrent outwardly , being againe increased by that balsamick medicine , it ariseth est soone , and most perfectly performeth his woonted functions . for séeing that medicinall balsam is of a certaine ethereal nature or a heauenly fire , because it quickeneth and burneth not , nor consumeth : therefore out of hand , as if it were a permanent and certaine spiritual water of life , it doth comm●nicate , and is as it were vnited with our spirit , and doth repaire and increase it , by reason of the simpathy , and common likenesse therewith . neither is it to be thought , that this commeth so to passe , for any other cause , but only of this ( as was said euen now ) namely of that friendly conuenience , and agréeing friendship , which that balsamick medicine , hath with our radical balsam . the which is the onely reason why i call the one , balsam of life , and the other the medicinal balsam , euen for the relatiue conuenience of them both . and yet beside this similitude and familiarity of nature , it hath other particular vertues . for it is endu●d with great actiuitie , it is spiritual and excéeding pearcing : for this cause it doth attenuate and make thinne , it doth digest , dissolue , and euacuate these seculent s●uffings and ashes , threatening peril of suffocation and choaking to the balsam of life . moreouer , if there be any impurity or corruption , by which it is much offended , by what other meanes can it bee more safely and better rooted out , then by a thing so pure and incorruptible ? and if any burning feauer doe inuade the body and the instrumental parts of life about the heart , with what more conuenient sharpe syrup , or syrup of limons , canst thou extinguish it , then by the balsamick sharpnesse of this our medicine ? let gun-poulder speake for vs : and by a sufficient testimony of this thing , which this liquor doth not onely extinguish , but also will not suffer it to take flame , but maketh it idle . witnesses also are the most burning and volatil spirits , which al the ise of the northerne mountaines cannot congeale , and yet are congealed with that liquor in baln●● mariae : & yet with all , the same liquor hath this property , that it wil attemperate and dissolue the most hard ise . is there any paine and griefe that would be asswaged ? this medicine shal be thy mittigating anodine , and most healthsome nepenthes . is there any pestilent poyson , or malignant quality to be e●tyrped ? there is not a more safe treacle or mithridate then this , which is the summe of all alexipharmacons , & the most chiefe preseruatiue from all infection . is the heart to be corroborated , & the spirits to be vegetated ? no confection alkermes , no confection of hyacinth , is to be preferred before this balsam . to conclude , what more spéedy altering medicine can there be found , which is able to correct a distemperature , then that most temperat remedy ? to these vnspeakeable vertues , adde yet this one , that this medicine , neuer bringeth with it a glutting loathsomnesse , or perturbation of the body : but quickly , safely , & pleasantly performeth his workings . and the same with so small adoe , that whereas in other medicine , ounces , are required , in this a few graines dissolued in wine or in broath , or in other conuenient liq●●● , are sufficient to be opposed against the sicknesse , which produce great and wonderful effects . these are those great properties of this vniuersal medicine so much spoken of by the ancient phylosophers . these are the admirable vertues of our said medicinable balsam , the coadintor , & priuie director of our natural balsam , which is the only meane to conserue our life : which natural balsam , is the onely immediate putter away of sicknesses , and of all corporal infirmities . for if sicknesses ( as galen saith ) be an effect against nature , hurting actions , then must it also needes be contrary to our radical balsam & nectar of our life , which is nothing else but the same nature or else an instrument so resisting it , & conioyned with it , that without the helpe hereof , it can intend to doe or performe nothing . therefore now whether the functions be diminished , or depraued , or altogether abolished , it cannot otherwise be , but that our said radical balsam , is in some part hurt , seeing it is certaine that all those laudable functions procéed there from . this is that which hypocrates calleth mans nature . this is that disposer , which maketh the attractions , expulsions , mixtions , seperations , and concoctions of meates and drinkes . to this chiefely , the same hypocrates attributeth al the foresaid functions of our body . not that the same balsam of our radical , can take vpon it selfe and on his substance , alterations , and that it can suffer , séeing it is of an ethereal and celestial nature , & therefore after a certaine maner incorruptible : but because his action is delayed , or hindered by lets , which lye hidden in the internal members and bowels , and which doe occupy and trouble the same . this is the occasion , this is the beginning , and principall foundation of diseases . therfore to take vpon me the dispute , and to defend it , thus i determine . if such a disease comming vpon a man , be to be taken cleane away , first of all nature is to be restored to her landable , whole , and woonted state : to the which end , all our cogitations ought to tend . first of all therefore , we must prouide to take away all lets . to this the disciples of hermes trismegistus answere : al this may be sufficiently performed & done , onely by restoring the radical balsam , for that vpon the same all action , & demonstration of health , do depend : the which balsam being holpen as is conueuenient , it wil come to passe , that the sicke man , within the 〈◊〉 of one hower , shal haue and féele more solace , and so much the more , when the same balsam of life , being holpen with that balsamick medicine , doth more boldly expulse the enemy : and that in a very short time , i say to the greater ioy and comfort of the sicke , then can the huge multitude of common potions , powred into the loathing of the patient , bring to passe , and that very hardly in a long time . and least any man might thinke , that these are our owne inuentions , rashly and inconsideratly broached by vs , let vs heare what galen saith . the principal intention ( saith he ) of the physition , ought to be to reduce the sicke to his natural estate , and that neglecting all other things , his onely care must be to conserue that , from whence the faculty of acting cometh . and this consisteth in that natural heate , the which so long as it is of force and not hindred , it preserueth the body in safety , in such wise , that whatsoeuer happeneth to the body vnnaturally , and must be taken away , it is an vndoubted axiome , that it standeth in néede of a strong natural heate . and albeit in external sicknesses , and in certaine others , it may séeme that natural heate is little auaileable , as in the remouing of flesh which groweth too ranke in a wound , or for the reuniting of the lippes of a wound , yet for all that , the coniunction and generation of flesh , and the healing thereof , cannot be done without natural heate . this forespeaketh galen , and very truly . yea , all his followers wil willingly confesse , that it is onely nature , and that quickening radical balsam , which sheweth forth all those wholsome functions : the which nature both here and before by the authoritie of galen , we haue rightly called the true healer of all sicknesses : but so farre forth nature is holpen , stirred vp , and corroborated by all maner helpe and arte of that balsamick medicine , that it can expel , ouercome , and cast out all whatsoeuer is grieuous or contrary vnto it . thus farre forth they and we agrée together . neuerthelesse , this also is to be granted , that the same nature is the beginning , and as it were the first mouing to all curing : because without the strength and vigor of nature , all medicine is vnprofitable and vaine . for nature is alwaies one and like to her selfe , neither is she at any time idle in vs , but is perpetually occupied , alway stirring mouing , and vegetating , vntill by too much let , she being hindred , shée doe worke more slowly and weakely . the which impediments and contrarieties , she her selfe of her owne accorde , and by her owne proper strength goeth about to put away and ouercome : but when she hath to doe with a most strong enemie , or with many , she sooner and far more easily can ouercome them , if she be strengthened with the helpes of arte , and hauing conuenient meanes , she shall with greater strength and security preuaile . to bring which thing to passe , our balsamick medicine by that exquisite preparation , hath gotten a most pure , quickening , spiritual , strengthening , and kindly nature , which without all exception , is farre more conuenient and effectual , then other medicines of common physitians , prepared by no arte , by no industry , or dexterity . the which , forsomuch as they are yet crude , impure , and grosse , and are clogged with a terrestrial thicknesse , they doe rather cloy and ouerlay nature , before she can extract their maligne quality , concoct their cruditie , and deuide their earthly grosnesse and impurity : the which being her taske and burden , shee fainteth before shee can receiue any helpe or comfort . and that we may not digresse from our similitude , let vs apply that which is said , to fire , whereof we haue spoken before . as we sée fire when it is ouerwhelmed with many ashes , and hindered from taking aier , ( by which it is nourished ) is easily smoothered and put out : and that the same againe is stirred vp , if a man with his hand doe take away the ashes , and doe blowe the sparkes which remaine , giuing frée accesse of the aier : héere the cause of the fires refreshing and beginning againe , is attributed to him which remoued the ashes , when as indéede hee was but the instrument of restoring the fire . but the principal efficient consisteth in the fire it selfe , the which he had spread abroad and winded or bellowsed in vaine , if it had bene quite and cleane out . therefore that renuing is to be attributed to the fire alone which remained , as to the first , next , and inset cause , onely the outward ventilation or winding comming betwéene as the instrument . moreouer , as we sée , that when the fire is so weake , that very fewe sparkes are to bee found , that then in vaine a great heape of dead coales are cast vpon the same to make a spéedy fire , which will sooner put altogether out , then make a quick fire . but if thou put vpon them quicke burning coales , they will by and by increase the fire , without feare of extinction : euen so in like maner , the principal vertue or function , is alway to be ascribed to our vital or radical balsam , rather then to the physition or medicine , albeit the same may bee some helpe , in putting away the ashie feces , and in dissoluing the troubled lées which are an impediment , that so it may more fréely haue transpiration and aire , that by them it be not oppressed and choaked . such is this balsamick medicine , which being purified , exalted , and brought vnto the highest essence and perfection , it doth stirre vppe , refresh , and restore our vitall fire , liuing , but yet languishing , to his former vigor and strength . the which , forsomuch as it doth sooner , more safely , and more pleasantly performe without all comparison then that other ordinary and common physick , thou shalt not miscompare that of theirs to dead coales , or to gréene wood , but this of ours as prepared ▪ and brought to a balsam , to a burning coale , which is the summe of our whole disputation . let these things suffice to be spoken concerning the property , quality , & excellency of our balsamick medicine , which phylosophers prepare out of one thing onely , not out of many , whether it be mineral , vegetal , or animal . of this medicine alone is the saying of the wise man to be vnderstood , when he saith ; the lord hath created medicine out of the earth , and he that is wise wil not abhorre it . for by this word ( medicine ) he vnderstandeth remedy , not the art of physick . for it was ordinary and common in those first ages , to vse this medicine , taken out of one onely matter . but the latter age succeeding , after long search , found out that radical balsam , and saw by experience , that it was in some thing more , and in other some lesse . whatsoeuer it is , it is knowne that they of olde time did vse most simple remedies : neither did they care for so great confusion of compositions and mixtures which fill a whole ware-house and shoppe , as our physitians and apothecaries do at this day . and if we will consider of those things which theophrastus dioscorides , and others of the auncients haue left vnto vs in writing , concerning medicine , and the vertues of simple remedies , we shal perceiue and finde , that they vsed the most simple method and order of curing , and that they had not so much respect to the actiue or passiue qualities , of hote and cold , of dry and moyst , out of the which came the originall of so many mixtions and confusions . but it is plaine and euident , that they attributed to their simples , this and that property , either because they had so learned from others , peraduenture by tradition , or else by experience , obseruing the impressions , formes , and figures of their simples . but they of more late time haue bene so rash of iudgement , that they wil take vpon them to iudge of the faculties of simples by their taste and relish , and thereby discerne and determine , their first , second , and third qualities , to the which afterward all the vertue of the saide simples was attributed . but because they found not this an vniuersal rule alwaies and in all things , and that it did deceiue , therefore some fled to the secret and hidden properties , arysing from the forme , and the whole substance . these and such like starting holes and subtilties , haue brought vpon vs great incertainty and doubtfulnesse , which way to discerne and find out those things , which serue for our best good . tell me i pray you ( if you can ) how many bitter things there are in taste , which neuerthelesse according to the edict of that rule , are not hote at all ? of this sort among others many moe is opium and cichory . againe , how many sowre things are there , which by their rule should be most cold , which notwithstanding are most hote , as the spirits of vineger , of niter , and of sulphur ? how many swéet things are there in outward taste , which in their internal substance are nothing at all contempered . how many things are outwardly and at the first beginning of taste altogether vnsauory and without relish , which inwardly and in faculty , are most sharpe and byting , honey , cassia , and sugar , are in their internal substance so hote and violent , that out of them also may be prepared such dissoluers , as are woont to be made out of aqua fortis , or aqua regalis : which can dissolue gold and siluer as spéedily as the other . lead yéeldeth out no taste to the tongue : and yet his internall substance , is a certaine sugared delightfull swéetenesse . so outwardly copper hath no relish and is of a ruddie colour : but that gréene where into it is changed , is most sharpe . we might shewe of such examples , almost an infinit number , whereunto we must not rashly giue credit , nor stand vpon taste , nor leane to much vpon the exteriour qualities and temperament of things . for if they be more inwardly and exactly examined , then by that superficiary and slight maner of tasting and experimenting , and that their inward bowels , be diligently anatomized , they shal be found farre otherwise , and oftentimes different , not onely in taste , but also in odour , in colour , and in their whole substance . but if so be a seperation be made of the thrée hypostaticall or substantial essential beginnings , as of salt , sulphur , and mercury , then there will appeare a true and lawfull difference of tastes . because one and the same substance may containe in it seuerall tastes . how then canst thou giue a safe iudgement of his properties and vertues ? as for example , consider well of guaiacum : whose diuers vertues and properties therein contained , thou canst not easily discerne by simple taste . neither canst thou alleage any certaine cause why it should be diaphoretical , that is to say , apt to prouoke sweates : which by the separation of the aforesaid beginnings , thou canst attaine vnto . for thou shalt find in his mercurial tartnesse , & in his oylie sulphurus , and thinner substance , that facultie to enforce sweate , which is also in iuniper , in boxe , in oake , in ashe , and almost in al woodes and barkes , as also in many other things : but hereafter wée wil shewe the cause , why those sharpe and sulphurus substances , doe prouoke sweates . but you may also extract out of the same bitterish guaiacum , a salt apt for purgation , and euacuation of humours . the like is to bée said of cinamom , and almost of all other things . for cinamom hath facultie both to bind and to loose . the opening force consisteth in his sulphurus oilie , and thinne substance , which being separated from his feces , thou shalt find a substance of the nature of allum , wonderfully binding . also whereas opium is bitter , that commeth by reason of his salt , from the which being separated by his oile or narcotical sulphur , it becommeth purging no lesse than out of any other bitter thing , as if out of gentian centorie , & such like , the same salt should bée separated and rightly prepared . to these bitter salts is giuen the name of salt-gemme as a difference of other saltes , whereof there is great diuersitie of kindes , as more at large shall be shewed in another place . but nowe in fewe wordes i say , that some saltes are bitter , some sweete , some tart , sowre , sharpe , austere , pricking , and brinish : whose particular facultie , is rightly attributes to the proper substance of the same salt , rather than to any other qualitie , whatsoeuer the same be . the third part of this worke : wherein is contained a small treatise , concerning the seales and impressions of things , by hermeticall philosophers , with much care , and singular diligence , gathered and brought to light . all men follow not one way to attaine to a generall knowledge of all things . the way of the empericks is vncertaine , for that it is traced in the darkenesse of ignorance . these haue respect to the external impressions , and to some inset qualitites , especially to those which may be séen , tasted , and smelt . furthermore , they haue great regard to the first qualities , hote , cold , moyst and drie : which they haue made the beginnings and first foundations of these faculties or vertues . but the hermeticall phylosophers and chymists , leauing those bare qualities of the bodyes , sought the foundations of their actions , tastes , odours , and colours , else where . at the last by wittie inquisition they knew that there were thrée distinct substances in euery natural elemented body : that is to say , salt , sulphur , and mercurie . and these internal beginnings of things , they called hypostatical vertual , and ordinatiue beginnings . for in these thrée hyposta●tical beginnings , th●se foresaid vertual and sensible qualities , are to be found , not by imagination , analogie , or coniecture , but in very déede and in effect . that is to say , tastes in salt , most chiefly : odours , in sulphur : colours out of both , but most chiefely out of mercurie : because mercurie hath the volatile salt of al things , ioyned vnto it . for there are two kindes of salts , the one fixed , other volatile , as shal be shewed anon . therefore salt is firme , fixed , and substantifying beginning of al things : and therefore it is compared with the pure element of earth . because falt is not cold & dry by his owne nature ( as it is holden of some that the earth is ) the which qualities are the death of things : but it is rather hote , and endued with an actiue qualitie , for that it is appointed to serue for the generation of all things . sulphur is compared to fire , for as fire , so sulphur doth quickly take flame and burne : euen as also do al other things , which partake of the nature thereof , such as are rosinie , fat , and oylie . mercurie by analogie answereth the ayre , and water . for not only that dry minerall water , ( which is also called hydrargire and quick-siluer ) is called mercurie : but also euery water or actiue liquor endued with any vertue , is also for the excellencie thereof called mercurie . the which mercurie , ( as we haue said ) may bée likened to either element , that is to say , to ayre , and to water : to ayre , because when it is put to the fire , it is found almost nothing but ayre , or a vapour , which vanisheth away . this if you please you may call a moyst actiue . and it may bée compared to water also , because it is running : and so long as it continueth in his owne nature , it is not contained in his owne listes , but in the limmits of another : which according to arictotle , is the definition of moyst . these thrée beginnings , ( i say ) are found in all bodyes as internal and necessarie substances for the composition of a mixt body . for seeing the foresaid mercurial , volatile , and spirituall humiditie , cannot easily be conioyned with the earthie , corporeat , and fixed part , by reason of that great difference and contrariety of either of them : it is necessarily required , that there should bée a meane , and indifferent partaking of either : that is , as wel of the spirituall as of the fixed , to conioyne both in one . and this indifferent meane is sulphur or oile , which holdeth a meane betwéene that which is fixed , and that which is flying . for oyles , are neuer so quickly , so easily , and so wel distilled , as are waters : because the substance of sulphur , or of an oylie bodie is tenax and retentiue , and therefore most apt to combinde the other two , to effect a good , perfect and equal mixture . to make the matter more plaine by example . for as a man can neuer make good closing morter , of water and sand onely , without the mixture of lime , which bindeth the other two together like oile and glue : so sulphur or the oily substance , is the mediator of salt and mercurie , and coupleth them both together : neither doth it onely couple them to death , but it doth also represse and contemperate the acrimonie of salt , and the sharpnesse of mercurie , which is found to bée very much therein . much like to the coniunction which the spirite and quickening moyst radical maketh betwéene the soule , and incorporeat substance , and the body , which very much differeth from the same . thus then it appeareth , after what manner these thrée natures may consist in one , together , and so to be made a mixed and perfect bodie . for as salt by it selfe a lone cannot bring this thing to passe : euen so neither these two fluxible and mouing humors , cannot without salt by their nature compose a firme , fixed , and solyd body . moreouer sulphur most néedes bée had as a glue without the which the mercurial liquor wil be swallowed vp by the drinesse of the terrestrial salt , and through the violence of the heate of the fire , which by the sulphur is contained . but the mercurial humour , is as it were the chariot of the other two , seruing to penetrate , and to make the mixture easie and spéedy . if there bée any man , which through obstinacie , or blockishnesse of wit , doth not well conceiue and vnderstand this : let him beholde and consider of the blood which is in mans body , how in the same , the whaye is as a chariot or mediator , and combiner of the other two beginnings together , as may appeare by the preparation and separation thereof . very fitly wée may vse this example in this place . and hereafter , by infallable and euident demonstration , we wil shew after what manner , the other two beginnings , beside the whaye ( which supplyeth the place of mercuries ) are in blood . when salt is predominate and beareth the swaye , it produceth so many kinds of diuers vicers and many other diseases : beside that portion of salt which passeth through the reines and bladder , by vrines . in like maner we haue already shewed how sulphur , or the oilie part , is in the same blood . this sulphur being exalted , it causeth sulphurus exhalation , as inflamatiōs , from whence come so many kindes of feauers . so , mercurial sublimations raise rheumes and catarres , with other diseases mercurial . chymistes determine , that there are sundry kindes of salt , which as they are found apart in nature , s● also in all mixt bodyes . that is to say , common salt ( which the sea by his secret 〈◊〉 pypes doth conuey through the earth : ) salt gemme also , allum ( whereof there are diuers kindes ) vitriol , salt-armoniac , and salt-niter , which men commonly call salt peter . among these salts , two are flying , and are mixed with liquors after an insensible manner : that is to say , niter , & salt-armoniac of nature . niter doth participate of sulphur , and of the oylie liquor of things : armoniac partaketh of mercurie , or of the mercurial humour of things . and these foresaid salts , ( which are found both in earthie , and metallick substances ) are deriued through the benefite of rootes , into hearbs , plants , and trées : which because they are alwayes in the earth , they retaine the nature most chiefly of fixed salt . and after the same manner , the nature of fixed salt , is to bée sought for in rootes . in flowers also and in leaues , there is great store of the other two flying salts , which béeing such , they easily vanish away and come to nothing ; when the flowers and leaues doe wyther and waxe dry . but those plants and hearbes which take their nourishment from fixed salt , are alwayes kept flowrishing and gréene : and therefore they doe the more strongly resist the fainting heate of sommer , and the morifying cold of winter . moreouer , their rootes standing déepe in the ground , they doe the more easily withstand all external iniuries . and when the spring commeth , and the sunne sendeth foorth his heate entring into the signe of aries , piercing the earth with his quickning beames , hée stirreth the same , and causeth her to open her bosome , out of the which at the last shée powreth foorth abundantly those two liquid beginnings , whereof wée haue spoken before . the liquor , or mercurial vapour , which is lifted vp through the rootes with salt armoniac of a volatile nature ( by a certaine wonderfull manner of nature● distilling ) and ascending into the trunke , vnder the barke , ( at which time trées may easily bée disbarked ) raiseth vp , quickeneth , and adorneth with gréene leaues , trees and plants , now hanging downe their heads , and halfe dead . and the other kinde of volatile salt . nitre-sulphurus , mixed with the more volatile sulphur , and oyle of nature , doth cloath and decke the whole earth euery wherewith sundry sorts of most beautiful flowers . and yet wée must not thinke héereupon , that one vaporous liquor , which procéedeth out of the earth , is not partaker of the other , séeing the mercurial liquor is not without his sulphurus , nor the sulphurus without his mercurial . and this is the cause why in the vegetable nature , wée doe sée that some doe put out their leaues and flowers sooner than other some . nature therefore hath most wisely distributed those beginnings into all things . and experience doth teach , that somethings doe partake of this or that , more than some other things . for thou canst not easily draw an oyle out of leaues : but a mercurial liquor plentifully out of al : and out of very fewe , some sulphurus , or oylie liquor . the reason is , because mercurie doth carry the rule in leaues , and is their chiefe nourishment , beginning and foundatiō as we haue already said . but the sulphurus liquor is the cause of the increase & plentie of flowers , but yet the same sulphur is not alone and pure , but mixed with some portion of mercurial liquor , but with the least quantitie of salt . for this cause thou maiest extract out of flowers , both sulphur or oyle , and also mercurie , but that oyle more volatil : and of salt , the least quantity . but out of séedes is extracted much of the more fixed sulphur , but of mercury and salt almost nothing . the cause is , for that sulphur hath giuen beginning and the principal constitution , ( not that volatil nitrous and airey sulphur , but that which is indéede oyle-like and fat , and which holdeth a meane betwéene fixed and flying : both which lye hid in séedes , euen in those séedes which are in great mercurial hearbes and fleshlike fruites , as in apples , peares , goordes , and such like . but salt is in all these , as the most fixed and necessarie beginning , for the constitution and compacting of all bodies . but this salt doth most chiefely re●ide in the wood , and in the roote , not as in his center or proper seate fixed , ( for his principal rooting is in the earth ) but because it is first and most plentifully communicated to the wood and roote . from hence afterward much is deriued to the branches and leaues , and but little to the flowers and fruites . whereupon out of many leaues a sufficient quantity of salt may be extracted : but out of flowers and séedes a very smal quantitie in regard of the others . thus you sée after what maner these thrée beginnings doe order and determine all vegetables as hypostatical beginnings , and doe bring them forth , conserue , make them to sprout and florish , and doe giue vnto them diuers forces and vertues . it is also euident , that the saide thrée beginnings , are in all things , but in some more , and in other some lesse . therefore , none of those thrée beginnings is found simple , and alone , which doth not paticipate also with another . for salt , through the benefite of the other two saltes , niter and armoniac , containeth in it selfe an oylely and a mercuriall substance : sulphur containeth a salte , and a mercurial substance : and mercurie a sulphurus and salt substance . but euery one of these retaineth the name of that , whereof 〈◊〉 it doth most partake . but yet , if we consider of the matter exactly , we shal finde that al the other doe spring from salt , as from the firme and constant beginning . the nature whereof wil enforce vs to lift vp our eyes to heauen , seeing that from these inferiour and natural things , that admirable and venerable trinitie in vnitie , is so clearly and euidently to be séene . and forasmuch as those thrée substancefying beginnings are , and commonly be found in al the things of nature , wée must not thinke that they are so in them , as without effect , or vtterly spoiled of al vertue : but wée must rather bée sure of the contrarie , namely , that from these chiefely , al the qualities , properties , and vertuals doe spring . for whatsoeuer hath taste , the same if it bée bitter commeth from salt gemme . and such haue vertue to clense , to euacuate , or purge . so others which haue in them bitternesse , are found to bée such , as haue the same from this kinde of salt , and by the benefit thereof , are reckoned among the number of clensing and purging medicines . such are all bitter hearbes , and their iuices . in like maner all gaules . for without these thrée , ther can be no due excretion or sep●rating in bodies , of superfluities and excrements . for nature by the conduit of her instrument , called cholido●●n , casting out into the bowels some quantitie of gaule , stirreth vp the expulser , and prouoketh it to sende forth the excrements , and also clenseth , purgeth , and emptieth it selfe , by it selfe . the which being vndone , the expulser lyeth as it were buried , and ouerwhelmed , neither is there any good from thence to be looked for . and that bitter iuices , ( as also the very gaule it selfe ) are of the nature of salt , it may easily bee gathered hereby , because the guale is oftentimes congealed as a fixed salt into stones , in his owne bladder . also out of bitter hearbes , as out of woorme-wood , out of the lesser centaurie , ( which some call the gaule of the earth ) much salt is extracted , as they that be workemen know . moreouer out of the ●●ules of liuing creatures , there is a salt to bee extracted very bitter , which purgeth wonderfully . so also there is salt in vrine , which purgeth the blood by the vaines , which send it into the reines , and from thence by the water pipes into the bladder , and so through the conduit thereto appointed . in bitter opium , which all men affirme to be so notably stuperfectiue and cold , there is a bitter and nitrous salt , which if thou canst seperate from his stinking sulphur ( by the meanes whereof it is so stuperfectiue ) thou shalt make it a notable purger . so in like maner the skilfull know how to exiract out of centaury , gentian , rue , fumitory , and all such like , very good purgers . salt which is alluminous , giueth a sower taste : vitriol a stiptic or a stringent taste : armoniac a sharpe taste . and a diuers mixture of the same salts , procureth sundry tastes and relishes : and that most chiefely by the benefit of the two volatile salts , which of all other wil be best mingled , by reason of their subtilty and spiritous substance . armoniac , which is sharp , is more plentiful in vitriol , and in things vitriolated , then in any other salt substance or metallick . for that sharpe salt , or that sharpenesse of nature , is the fermentation thereof , and the cause of coagulations , and of the dissolutions of all things : as we haue already touched before , and will in another place more manifestly declare . therefore it is certaine , that those things which are stiptick or stopping , and haue outwardly a gréene colour or vitriolated with an inward sharpnesse and certaine rednes , ( as is to be seene in pomegranats , barberies , and limons ) it is certaine that they haue it from vitriol , and from the sharp salt armoniac : for the vitriol of nature is outwardly gréene , and red within , if thou search it by skilful anatomie . so also thou maiest extract out of the barke of the said fruits , as of granates , a substance comming most néere to the vertue of vitriol . and the liquor which is extracted out of their red graines , or out of the iuice of limons , or fruite of barberies , hath force to dissolue pearles , and corall , euen as the spirit of vitriol hath . and this commeth by the vertue of salt armoniac sharpe of nature , and by the nature of mixture : but so mixed , as by the industrie of the artificer it may be seperated , in such wife , that the same salt armoniac being extracted , the same liquor will be made swéete and potable , and the salt remaine by it selfe : the which being againe mixed with spring water , or with any other liquor deuoid of taste , it wil make the same sharpe . that same sharpnesse or salt armoniac spirituall , is not onely found in vitriol , but also in common salt , in niter , yea in sulphur also it selfe , as also in all things . for that sharpnesse is that very same , which coagulateth sulphur , which is plentifully found therein . for without it , sulphur will not cleane vnited , but would be running , as are other oyle-like liquors . the same salt armoniac of nature , is manifested vnto vs , by that extraction of sharpe oyle , which is drawen out of sulphur : whose nature is farre different from that of the said sulphur . for it is so farre from taking fleame , that contrariwise , it is a hinderance to gun-poulder , not-suffering it to be inflamed with the touch of fire , as is said already . the same liquor doth dissolue pearles and coral , no lesse then doth the iuice of limons , of barberies , or any other of that nature , the which power it hath by the dissoluing vertue of salt armoniac of nature which is in it . the like , and by the same reason , doth vineger performe . for wine ( as is saide afore ) partaketh of the nature of vitriol , more then any other vegetable , and containeth much of the foresaide sharpe salt of nature . he which doth exactly consider these things , shal readily , and out of true grounded reasons , dissolue the question , concerning the true and natural qualitie of vineger , which question hath troubled many of the most learned piysitians . for the dissoluing vertue which appeareth to be in vineger , euen in this , that when clay or earth is put into it , it wil as it were boyle , argueth that the nature thereof is altogether hote . others on the co●trary part , denying vineger to be colde , appoint it as a chiefe remedy to extinguish and represse external inflamations . also by the taste , which they affirme to bee the effect of coldnesse , they conclude that vineger is colde . but they can very easily end this controuersie , which haue the perfect knowledge of the nature of salt armoniac , which vineger containeth mat . for this salt is the true cause of dissoluing vertue . but because the ●ame salt is of force to coagulate spirits , and to dissolue bodies , therefore it is effectual , and a singular remedy against both inward and outward inflamations . for it doth coagulate the niter sulphurus exhalations , which stirreth vp those inflamations . for such heates and feauerous passions , doe procéed out of the spirits onely , either niterous , or sulphurus , arysing out of the salt●niter sulphurus or tartarus of our body , and lifted vp into euaporations , which cause such vnkindly heates . the which cōmeth not so to passe when the same spirits be as yet bound together , and lye as it they were buried in their proper bodies , or tartarous feces . but if thou wilt yet knowe more manifestly the corrosiue force , and inflaming heate of the saide spirits , consider the strong waters , ( which are nothing else but the spirits of niter , and vitriol ) which thou shalt sée will dissolue siluer , or any hard metall . but if thou put but one onely ounce of siluer , to one hundred pound waight of vitriol and niter , as they are in their owne nature and body , yet they will neuer be able to dissolue it . it is therefore manifest , that such violent forces and operations , are onely in the spirits , seperated , euaporated , and dissolued from their body : the which forces thou shalt by no safer meanes take away and suppresse , then if the same spirits bée againe incorporated , and coagulated . and this is performed by that salt armoniac sharpe of nature , which is in vineger , as also in other things which haue sharpnesse . but peraduenture there are some , which now thinking that wee haue killed our selues with our owne swoord , will inferre vpon the same example by vs alleaged , that such essences prepared by chymists , are all for the most part spiritual , and therfore by consequence , are more violent remedies then is fitting for nature to beare , and therefore cannot be giuen with safetie . i would haue those which make this obiection , to be in this wise answered . that the reason is not all one , and therefore the concl●sion not good . for it we take the spirit of vitriol , or of salt-péeter , which indéed are spirits partaking of the terrestrial fire , yet neuerthelesse they may bee so swéetened , and mingled with broathes or other conuenient liquor , that they wil be very familiar to nature , grateful , sauory , and gentle , and not without great vertue and efficacie . the iuice of limons giuen by it selfe alone into great plenty , can hurt the stomack . for the which cause our maner is , to mingle it with some liquor , or with sugar , and to bring it into a syrup or iulep , no lesse profitable then pleasing to the stomack . but the vertue of the spirit of vitriol is better knowne at this day , and commended of the most approued physitians of diuers countries , then that the ignorant can detract any thing from the dignity and praise there●f . it is reported very credibly , that in france it is much vsed and commended for the effects it hath to extinguish burning feauers . and not without iust cause : for it is a most singular remedy , not onely against feauers , but also against many other contumacious sicknesses , as hereafter in due place , shal be shewed : but it is fit , that no other presume to administer it , then such as are expert phisitians , not emperikes , and such as try conclusions by killing men . furthermore , the sharpe spirit , drawen out of niter alone , or sulphur ( among the metallick salts ) is of the same nature and property . for these doe auaile no lesse then the other , to extinguish feauers of what kind soeuer , by their coagulati●e vertue , whereby they doe tame , subdue , and coagulate , those sulphurs and burning spirits of our body . moreouer , there are other some , which iudge vs worthy of much reprehension , because we said afore , that one and the selfe-same sharpe salt armoniar , hath both vertue to dissolue , and also to congeale : which being effects contrary , cannot procéed from one and the same cause , according to the common opinion of phylosophers . to this we answere , that as we haue spoken it , so we will maintaine it . and therefore we say againe , that this salt armoniac sharpe of nature , whereof we speake , can both dissolue bodies , and also ( which is more to be maruailed at ) congeale spirits : yea and which is yet more wonderfull , euen in the middest of fire it can congeale . and concerning dissolution , it shall not be necessary that we proue this , because it is well known to persons of very meane skill . and now to say somewhat for the ignorants sake : the spirit of vitriol or of sulphur , or of sower niter , wel prepared , and seperated from all terrestreitie , doth dissolue corall and pearles . by which dissolution , an excellent remedy is made to stop the fluxes hepatic , lienterie , and dyssenterie , where the liuer hath néed of spéedy corroboration . but they must necessarily be prepared according to art. but now time and reason perswadeth vs , that we say somewhat concerning the contrarie faculty of this sharpnesse , which is contrary to the other coagulating effect . to doe this , little wit , and lesse labour wil serue . for they which are but meanely séene in the spargerick art , and haue bene chymists a very short time , or if they be but common apothecaries , they know this , and haue séene it in the preparation of quicksiluer : whose liquor and running nature , no exterior coldnesse , no elementall frost , how great soeuer the same be , congeale or fixe . but if it be sublimed with vitriol onely meanely calcined , it will come to passe , that mercury or quick-siluer which desireth his coagulation as his perfection , by a certaine magnetical vertue , draweth into it selfe that sulphur , or that salt armoniac sharpe of nature , by the benefit whereof , of running it is made solid and firme , so as thou maiest easily handle it . being brought into this forme , it is commonly called sublimate . but to make it yet more perfect , those which are careful and skilfull workmen , reiterate their sublimations , adding to this new vitriol , that by his salt armoniac of nature , it may be impregnated . and thus at the last it becommeth solid , and cleare as any christal venis-glasse . spargeric phylosophers , can so dispoyle againe this mercurie so prepared , of his coagulation , or of his sharpe salt armoniac of nature , that he shal returne to his former state , and of fixed shal become moueable and running . but he is now perfectly clen●ed , and is now no more commō mercury or hydrargyre , but the phylosophers mercury . and now , if the foresaid water be exhaled or vapored , that there may remaine nothing but a sharpe liquor , like vnto the spirit of vitriol , thou shalt haue a liquor more excellent then any vitriolated spirit , and truly spiritual . and so in stéede of a great poyson which was mixed with mercurie ( which was then nothing but a certaine terrestrial corrosiue fire ) thou shalt now haue the true spirit of vitriol : whose greater and better part vaporeth away , is consumed and lost , if it bee extracted according to the common manner , with that great and violent fire by retort . this spirit prepared after the saide manner , excéeding good , and a special commaunder of the epilepste , if it be administred by a skilful physitian , not by an emperick , with proper and conuenient liquor . and this is one tryal of the vertue of coagulating mercury . the same coagulating force of his doth manifestly appeare in those preparations which are called precipitations , which are made with the sharpe spirits of vitriol and of sulphur , by the meanes whereof it may be brought into a poulder , which cannot be easily done by fire . but that it may appeare that this coagulating power of armoniac of nature , is not o●ely vppon mercurie , ( ouer whome it can exercise this power ) but nothing at all vpon the spirits niter . sulphurus of our bodies , with the which quick-siluer hath no simpathy , or conuenience ) we wil shew it by a certaine other manifest demonstration , and the same most true : as shall appeare to them which will try it . and in the same experiment i wil also teach a very excellent remedy against gangrena , and all sorts of cankerous vlcers : if any bee loth to take it inwardly into the body , because of the vrine ingredient . take the vrine of a boy , betwéene the age of ten and sixtéene , which drinketh wine in good quantity : let it be depured according to art : adde hereunto of romane , or hungarian vitriol ( for by these the operation wil be the better ) i say of the vitriol , twise so much . put it to digestion in balneo mar , which is moyst , by the space of fixe or eight dayes , in one , or in seueral glasse allembicks . for there is required much matter . this digestion being ended , thou shalt increase the fire of balne til the water 〈◊〉 . presently set on a head with a receiuer , and distill the water . and the same which first commeth forth , is an excellent ophthalmick water for the eyes . the second something more sharp then the former , is excellent good to asswage the paines of the gout . thus goe forward , brging the heate of the balne , or else by hote ashes , vntill the matter in the bottom of the alembic remaine like vnto hony . the which afterward thou shalt put into an yron vessel , and putting fire vnder it , stirre it continually with an yron spattle , that it cleane not too : & this thou shalt continue so long , vntil all the liquor is vapored away , and that there remaineth onely the salt of vitriol , and of the vrine dry in the bottome , and in a certaine masse . this being pouldred , put it into a cornute , wel luted , hauing a wide receiuer , wel closed , that the spirits issue not forth . then put to a vehement fire , such as is néedful for the making of strong water , or the spirit of vitrioll . but the fire must bee moderated by degrées , vntill it come to the highest degrée , as art requireth . and then at the last you shall sée the receiuer filled euery where with white spirits , which in that great heate will be congealed as it were into is●-●ickels , hauing all bout the body of the receiuer : much like vnto the hayse or white thréedes , which in time of frost are congealed out of foggy mistes , and doe hang vpon the trées . these are the spirits of the salt , which through the vehement heate of the fire , are thus formed . this ise may be kept , after the maner of salt niter . wherof if thou giue one scruple or halfe a scruple , in broath , wine , or other conuenient liquor , it will shewe it selfe an excellent remedy against all obstructions of the liuer and of the spleene , it prouoketh vrines , and is also a special remedy against the stone . the same ise being brought into water ( for it will easily be dissolued ) is a principal remedy for inflamations and gangrenas , which very sodainly it extinguisheth . out of this so faire and noble experient , euery true phylosopher and physitian , will take occasion of séeking and searching further then the common sort are woont : and so he may more certainly finde out the causes of stones congealed , which are ingendred of the same salts or tartarous matter in diuers parts of our body . he will also haue more quick insight into many other diseases which come by the coagulation of the foresaid sharp and vitciolated spirits , or else of the euaporations of other most sharpe spirits , from whence inflamations , and gouty paines with swellings doe spring , by the inward vertue of the thickened spirits aforesaid . these things being thus knowne , a remedy wil easily be found to mittigate , and to dissolue such calculous and stony matter , if we marke and consider diligently , where that sharpe vertue lyeth hidden , and wherein also the coagulatiue propertie of the said spirits are . also the same contemplation , will giue occasion to prie into the diuers and sundry meteors , which shewe themselues in man , the little world , out of those continual vapours and exhalations which are lifted vp from the lower belly ( which we fitly cōpare with the earth ) into the aire , that is to say , into the vppermost region of the body , the braine . so it shal appeare , that from the mercurial vapours , thickened into cloudes through the coldnesse of the braine , and by the same not able to be dispressed , doe fall sometimes moderate showers , and simple in shewe , and sometime out of thicke clouds abundance of waters . wherof come either gentle rheumes , o● violent catarres , which are called suffocatiue , because the matter rusheth after a certaine violent maner , vpon the vital partes . furthermore , out of the same contemplations thou shalt finde the true original of windes , of haile , of snowe , whereof commeth the tingling in the eares , the palsey , the apoplexe , and such like deseases , stirred vp from the mercurial thickened vapours . the which diseases come not ( as some doth thinke ) because of coldnesse onely : but the cause also thereof is the sharpenesse of salt vitriolated , which being mixed with those mercurial vapours , doth suddenly coagulate and congeale them : and this is the cause of apoplexes and such like . for to take an example from our owne body , to manifest this thing , the vrine which we make , is so replenished with these mercurial humours , mixed with sharpe salt , that it hath force and power to coagulate . wherefore this which wee haue saide must simply be granted vnto vs that salt-armoniac of natural sharpe , hath force to dissolue bodies , and to coagulate spirits , as wee haue plainely declared in the foresaid experiments . but paraduenture some yong scoffing scholler , which neuer knew what phylosophie ment , with great confidence and no shame ( as of late one which shewed him selfe an asse and calfe , and yet of a ripe wit did ) dare rise vp against vs and sa● that in our body , no vitriolated nature can bée found , nor an● thing like vnto it . but this fellowe and such like , wée w● teach sufficiently and moderately ( if they wil not refuse to learne● in our booke concerning the hidden nature of things , and the perfection of art , where wée wil declare this thing , and many other profitable questions , necessary for a true phisitian . but yet not to let the matter vtterly passe , without some thing spoken concerning this point , i wil vtter my selfe in fewe words . first of al i wish , that exact consideration bée had , which is that fire of nature , and which is the authour of the concoction of meate in our stomach , which dissolueth & chaungeth the same , and that in so short a time , as neither séething water , nor elementarie fire can doe , no not in long time . let them also i pray you consider what is the cause of that dog-like appetite which some men haue , by which they are woont so readily to consume all the meat in their stomach , that nature hath scarce lawful space to nourish her selfe : and from whence this insatiable hunger commeth . according to the common opinion , it befalleth some man to haue this appetite , by reason of a certaine sharpe and melancholick humour , which being thrust downe into his sides , doth sometimes boyle vp like most strong vinegar , or rather in déed like oile of vitriol , or like some such dissoluing and deuouring thing . for truly , if that sharpnesse were diligently considered , and throughly looked into by phylosophical anatomie , it would easily be iudged by good and indifferent men , that it should not more vnfitly to bée sayde vitriolated , than melancholicke : nay more aptly and better : because melancholie , neither can , nor hath béen woont to worke such effects , except by the sowrenesse aforesaid . for by this manner of speaking , the dissoluing vertue , and al other properties , are in farre better sort expressed , which shal easily appeare in him which wil throughly s●ann● and weigh al things . and what doth let vs now , to call such faculties and humours vitriolated , when as al their properties and forces , doe come so néere to the nature of vitriol ? shal it bée frée and permitted to common physitians , to cal choler , aeruginus , vitelline , & proracious , for the likenesse & affinitie of those things from whence the name is borrowed : and why then shal it not bée lawful for vs to doe the like , and to say that humors are vitriolated , because they partake of the nature of vitriole ? but let vs returne is our meteors which are in our bodie : hauing already spoken of them which are raised vp by the vapours of mercurial liquors , which haue a similitude with the watery , and also with those which procéed out of the méere vapours of the earth of the great world . now it remaineth that wée say something also of the others . therefore euen as as the vapours and exhalations sulphurus , nitrous , or antimonial , carryed vp out of the eath into the ayre and cloudes , doe cause fiery meteors , corr●scations , lightnings , thundrings , comets , and such like : euen so also in our bodyes , from the fumes and smoakie euaporations procéeding from burnt and scorched blood , and from so manifold and diuers tartarous , sulphurus , and niterous fumes , with the which our bowels doe abound , the like meteors are produced . for such fuming matter , lying burning in the sides , néere to the liuer and the spléen● , hindered by windinesse , being thereof caused , or else stirred vp by an immoderate and 〈◊〉 heate , being at the the last lifted vp and carried into the braine , and therin set an fire , stirre vp meteors , long madnesses , burning phrenzies , setled melanchollies , dotings , paines of the head , falling sicknesses , and many such like . some of these continue long , by reason of the clammie hardinesse or aboundance of the matter , as madnesse : other some are sooner gone , as phrenzies : some doe more fearsely exercise a man , some more gently , according as the saide fuming matters bée more or lesse sharpe , abundant , cleauing , salt , sulphurus , or of qualitie more or lesse inflameable , or by any manner of other meanes hurtfull . for there is great diuersitie of these fumie matters : no lesse than wée sée differences of fires and smoakes in combustible woods , whereof some are more clammie , some more salt , some sulphurus , and such like diuersities . the same diuersitie also is to bée séene in the separation of the spirits of léese , of ale , of cider , of wine , of hydromel , and of such like drinkes , the diuersititie whereof doth manifestly appeare , by the odours which doe abundantly ascend into the nose . also in saltes , sulphurs and oyles , which are distilled , the diuersitie of vapoures , ( which are nothing but the spirits produced out of many tartarous matters ) doe manifestly declare the same . for of these , some are sharpe , some sowre , some biting , some stinking , some odoriferous , some so pearcing , that the very odour doth strike the brayne , and doe cause extraordinary néesing , or else by some other meanes doe hurt the braine , dazeling , dulling , or troubling the spirits , or else by fumes which are sulphurus and stupefactiue . the same differences are to be made in antimonials , arsenicals , and mineral humours , or vapours , and that out of their effect , either seplic putrifying , or caustic burning , the which effects are in the said fumes , by the meanes of salt . such pearcing fumes are too wel knowne , and felt of our eyes oftentimes , to which they bring by their sharpenesse , paines , inflamations , and flowing of teares . héereupon out of this diuersitie of fumes , there arise diuers passions , in continuance , in maladie , and in vemencie , more or lesse inuading and troubling , according to the nature , mineral , and condition of the qualitie or quantitie of the exhalations , and of their substances , which are lifted vp with them , as it were in a certaine chariot . moreouer , we sée in the bowels of the earth of the little world , man , no lesse then in the great worlds belly : in the bellies i say of both , almost the same effects are to bée seene of meteors , as wel waterie as fierie . for example , the tympanie , the swelling of the coddes , windinesse of the stomach , and bellie : al which doe represent the windes , raynes , and earth-quakes of the earth : and the waters within the body , and betwéene the skin and the flesh , doe represent the sea , the riuers and springs of the earth . also there are in man diuers fierie meteors , by reason of the exhalations , of the niterous and sulphurus spirits , which being set on fire , stirre vp such diuersities of feauers and inflamations . there are bred also in man , diuers metallic substances , as landes , and stones , which are commonly ingendered in diuers parts of his bodie , as in his bowels , stomach , gaule , spléene , lyuer , yea , in the lunges and braine : but more often in the reynes and bladder , which are the most fertile mines of al the rest . there are also procreated in mans bodie , certaine concreate & congealed iuices ; as many kindes of sulphurs , but of saltes more differences , vitriolated , alluminous , niterous , and gemmeus . salt-gemme , or common salt , is plentifull in salt spittle : sower salt-armoniac , in sower flegme or spittle , and also in a certaine kinde of sower melancholy : salt vitriolated and of the colour of rustie metal , in choller that is of the same complexion : salt aluminous , pricking and stiptick● , in glassy fleame , of the same qualitie : salt niterous and bitter , in bitter choller . moreouer , vrines which are wholy niterous , doe represent a matter most like to niter . there are also in this little worlde , as also in the greater world , found many differences of salts : as a sugered salt , in swéete flegme : as also an arsenical and corroding salt , in malignant and pestilent humours . from the resolutions of the which saltes , but most especially of the stiplick or corroding salts , come certaine kindes of chollickes , which afterwards degenerate into contractions of the bowels : from the corrosiue salts spring diuers kindes of disenterie fluxes : from the brinish salts , come the burnings of vlrines : from the tart salts , commeth the appetite of the stomach : from the arsenicall salts , comes carbuncles cankerous vlcers , running pockes , & such like . and of the congelations of these salts , comes goutes , stones , scirrhus hardnesse , and diuers kindes of obstructions , according to the diuersitie of tartars , and of salts which are ingendred and procreate to nature , in our body . from these things , are the causes of diseases in mans body , to be truely and exactly learned and discerned : without the which wée shal in vaine séeke for remedies . but to make al which , hath béene hitherto spoken more plaine , wée wil adde certayne manifest demonstrations , and playne to sense , but yet in as briefe manner as i can , séeing wée haue reserued a more ample and special treatise of these things to our worke , concerning the hidden nature of things . it is known and confessed of al , by the edict of hyppocrates , the chiefest authour of phisitians , that our body consisteth of things containing of things contained , and of things enforcing . the things containing , are the solide and more firme partes , as the bones , gristles , ligaments , flesh , which doe containe , and as it were restraine , the more soft and delicate parts . the contents are in a two-fold difference : some are violent breathing out , and enforcing : ( as physitians speake ) othersome moystening , and flowing out . the first sort , are the spirits of our radical balsam , which they call naturall spirits , whether they bée firmely fixed in any one part , or whether they haue scope and recourse throughout the whole body ; generated of the most pure substance spiritual of the sulphurus liquor , and of the 〈◊〉 of the nourishments of our life . furthermore , they diuide the spirits , into natural , vital , and animal . all these , are either natural and pure , or else impure and seculent . the one are of a most pure nature , ethereal and conseruers of life : the other grosse and impure in comparison of them , subiect to alterations , for that they participate much of the seculent impuritie of mercurie , and of the liquors of salt , and also of the aliments of sulphur : of the which beginnings wée doe consist , as wée said before . the moystening parts are mercucurial liquors , or that which they commonly call humours , as well the natural , profiting and nourishing , which retaine somewhat of the spirit of life , as the vnprofitable and excremental . the out-flowing and breathing foorth , are the breathes , vnder which name also wée comprehend the vapours , of the which we made mention before : which vapours are a distillation , and that moyst euaporation , taken from the more watery part of humoral or mercurial things : or else a dry exhalation ; of sulphurus and tartarous things , and of salts of our body . and such exhalations also are no other thing , but fumes and spiritual smoakes , but yet excremental , and therefore superfluous . for beside those first seperations , which nature maketh out of the more grosse part of nourishments , by the excretion and separation of the ordinarie impure feces : there are yet also in the chylus , or good iuice , and in the very blood , which of all other humours are most noble , certaine superfluous impurities , which for the same cause nature seperateth . therefore the more m●yst superfluities are separated by euaporations , and those onely which are seperated in the third concoction , which could not be made semblable or like to the nourishing parts . for the which cause nature expelleth them by insensible passages , euē through the pores of the skin , that our natural heate may the more fréely be winded by the ayre , and the burning of the heart comforted . the breathing superfluities also , doe paticipate as much of the drie as of the moyst : that is to say , of those which are exhaled and euaporated out of the sulphurus salt matters , and mercurial liquors . whereof the more thinne and breathie part , passe by insensible transpirations : the more waterie , by sweates : but the more foule , and that which is feculent , cleaueth to the outside of the skinne . but now , if such vapouring exhalations be retained stil in our body , ( the which sometime commeth to passe through the coldnesse of the ayre cōpassing vs about , by the shrinking of the skin , by occasion of place , or of age , by intemperate life , by a naturall disposition , by the thicknesse of the skinne , or by such like occasions ) then it cannot be , but that such bodies shal be subiect to many other diseases , than those whereof we haue spoken before . it is also to bée remembred in this place , that in all these euaporations , & ordinarie exhalations , somewhat of our substancetying nectar of life , or of our radical balsam , doth also breathe away . the which breathing , if it be gently and sparingly , and without all manner violence and force , but by a certaine voluntarie continuance , and naturall , then our age is prolonged , in the meane time declining to extreame old age by little and little , vntill al our water of life , or radical oyle ( which continueth the lampe of our life ) be consumed . but if the sayd exhalation or breathing bée violently and suddenly enforced , as it commeth to passe in burning feauours , and in many other sicknesses , faintings , passions , and most vehement motions of the spirits of our body , then our life shall be preuented before age . haereupon commeth the vntimely , and in some sort , the violant death of many : and yet the cause of such violence comming from an internal occasion . and because it is very pertinent and necessarie , that wée rightly vnderstand those things which wée haue now spoken , concerning the natures of the contents in vs , that is to say , of the enforcings , moystenings , and out-flowings : and so much the rather , because by them wée come to the knowledge of our ●pirits , and of our radicial moysture , or nectar of life , and also to the causes of the conseruation , prolongation , destruction , and abreuiation of our life , i wil therefore now declare them all by an example , whereby euery one which wil giue eare , may come to the perfect knowledge of those things . and yet wée doe not much estéeme presumptions , probable reasons , or authorities , but wée wil ground our demonstration vppon the very senses themselues , that those things which wée speake , may bée both séene and felt . and if so bée any bée so farre deuoyd of shame , that hée will yet obstinately contradict vs , we will say to him , as sometime a●errho said : one experience , is more of value , than many reasons . experience cannot bée without sense : & he which denieth sense , is worthy to haue no vse of sense . and forasmuch as aristotle sayd , that the foundation of all demonstration is in sense , who is hee that dare gainesay it . therefore wée wil take wine againe for an example , forsomuch as wée vsed the same before . in which wine how apparantly and manifestly doe such separations ; and excrements appeare to bée made ? and this it doth by his owne proper nature , that the more easily the nature of either of them , and of both , may manifestly bée knowen by this analogie and resemblance which it hath with our blood . for by the clensing of wine , wée know the vitall anatomie of our blood : and by the same it will appeare which are our natural spirits ethereal , as also which is our natiue heate , and radicall moysture , which two doe vphold our body , and defend our life , and of whose helpe either of them haue néede : forasmuch as that radicall moysture is the foode and nourisher of heate , and this same heate subsisteth by the benefite of that moysture . thus these two replenished with spirit , and as it were knit together , are spred and diffused through the whole body . by this same example , the difference betwéene nourishing vital humiditie , and that which is vnprofitable and excremental , wil plainly appeare . furthermore , it wil appeare which be moyst , and which be dry , in that kind of moystures which are outflowing : and which of them are hurtful to our nature , and which profitable . by which anatomie of blood , the reader willing to learne , shal profit more ( as i thinke ) because we referre those foure humors , ( whereof they make blood one ) to the very same , and doe by a certaine analogie and resemblance , compare it therewith . but to come to the 〈◊〉 . therefore when the wine is prepared , the clusters of grapes are crushed in the wine-presse first , and the skinnes and kernels with the stalkes are throwne away . then the vnprofitable clensings and excrements , being partly by mans industrie , and partly by the nature of the wine it selfe being reiected , the wine is powred into caskes and vessels . in these , digestion being made , by his owne force , it seperateth and purgeth forth together those seculent and more grosse superfluities . this done , the wine is all most perfect , and fit for drinke and nourishment . that first artificiall preperation of wine , ( which is made by the expression and separation of the vintners ) doth after a certaine manner represent vnto vs , the preparation of wheate , in the which separation , the chaffe and the branne being taken away , the rest is groūd into meale , that it may be more fit for nourishment . euen so in like maner in our mouthes , first preparation of the flesh is made from the bones , or such like : and the expression or grinding is made with the mouth and téeth , then after due chewing , the meate is sent down into the stomach . this is the first resembled preparation of our nourishment , with that first preparation of wine , and wheate , and that which is put into our stomach , answereth that wine , which at the first is put into vessels , & the meale which is ground . therefore after this , there is another working in the stomach by nature . for whatsoeuer the stomach receiueth , it concocteth , and digesteth : yea all kind of meates mixed together , like wine in his cask● , or any other kind of drinke , made of hony , fruites , barley , or of water wherein diuers things are sodden . the stomach therefore is that vessell of nature , wherein not only the matter put into it is concocted and digested : but also it is the same which seperateth the tartarous feces , and whatsoeuer is excremental therein , by such passages and vents , as nature hath prouided to that end . at the length after much purifying , the blood is clensed , being the red fountaine , and the original of the spirits of our life : euen like as wine which throughly fined is preferred before all others , which serue for the nourishing and restoring of our life . but let vs now procéede . 〈…〉 . out of this artificial wine , with the h●●pe of gentle fire , by circulatorie vessels ( as they terme them ) is extracted a fire of nature , which attendeth the radical moysture : namely , a water of life , wholy fiery and ethereal , a quintessence , altogether spiritual , and almost of an incorruptible nature . after the very same manner , through the benefite of nature , and by circulation which is made by the heate of the heart , and of the liuer , there is generated and extracted in vs that quickening fire , accompanied and nourished with his proper vnctuous humour , and radical , which is the water of life , and true and quickening nectar , the quintessence , and almost the ethereal spirit , the incorruptible vpholder and conseruer of our life . this also here by the way commeth to be noted in the operatiō of the foresaid wine , which is also worthy the marking and admiration : namely , that two or thrée fiery coales and no moe , put vnder a large vessel or chaldrone , ( which may containe sixe gallons , will heate the same wine , and will procure the spirit of wine to distill : when as by that small heate , a much lesse portion of water , cannot bée made blood warme . but which is more to bée maruailed at and obserued , when the same spirit of wine , doth passe through the colunrina ( as they terme it ) namely by very long cunduites and pipes of brasse reforsed , fit for this distillation , it doth so heate them , as also a whole pipeful of cold water-besid● and far● enough from fire , ( in the which the saide pipes are moystened ) that a man may scarce handle them . the which is to bee attributed to the great heate which the spirit of wine giueth to the colde water passing through the foresaide pipes . for when all the spirit of wine is distilled forth ; although thou put vnder the saide vessell a much more vehement fire , yet thou shalt féele the heate of that water in the vessel contained , to bée extinguished and cooled . the which should put vs in minde what is the next cause and original of natural or connatural heate in vs : for this heate is stirres vp in vs by the continual circulation of the quickening spirit of our blood . when all this water of life is at last distilled forth by a certaine internal , external , and violent heate , or else vtterly wasted by progresse of time , then doth appeare the extinction of that quickening heate , and cold death insueth . but to returne to the matter . after the extraction of the true aqua-vitae , or spirit of wine , ( which is the whole purity of those thrée substantial beginnings ) whole liquor representeth mercury , whose flame , which it readily conceiueth , sheweth the sulphurus nature , and the excéeding strong taste , declareth the spirit of salt armoniac ) there remaineth great plenty of ●●eame , or of mercurial water , which as yet containeth some quantity of spirit of wine . but the last remainder is no better then vnprofitable water , which soone corrupteth in like manner , after the extraction of the water of life , ( which is truly spiritual , ) from out of our blood , there remaineth in our body , that moyst and moystening liquor , which is partly nourishing , and partly excrementall , as is saide afore . lastly , there remaine ouer and aboue the former , the feces tartarous residences , and niterus sulphurus matter , which containe many stinking impurities , as also greate plentie of salt. the impurities , doe sufficiently shewe the impurities in the eyes , and filthy stinkes out of the nosthrils , where as diuers oyles are distilled out of the said feces by vehement fire . and out of the very feces there is extracted salt , if they be calcined , and the same is also fixed with his proper fleame , as we haue shewed afore in the working of the same vegetable . this salt is made volatil , with salt armoniac , flying contained in his own spirit , or water of life , procéeding as we haue already shewed . in like sort in blood , beside that spirit of life and mercurial liquor , ( which two may in very déede be seperated from blood it selfe , and shewed to the eye , after conuenient digestions , in the heate of balne mary , which resembleth the heate of nature , that it may the better and more easily appeare , how the same heate , and the same nature in vs , maketh the same seperations and operations ) i say , beside those two , a certaine soft consistence like liquor , wil reside in the bottome , wherein thou shalt finde many impurities , to be séene and smelt , if the same matter be dryed vpon a fire of ashes , proportionable to the heate of a feauer , and no greater . this niter-sulphurus stinke is that , which manifestly causeth in vs fiery meteors , as wel in the vpper , as in the inferiour part of the body , and which bringeth forth innumerable passions and paines beside , as is already shewed afore . so also by the force of the fire , sulphurs and oyles , thick and gluing like pitch , may be seperated out of the feces and tartar of blood , no lesse then out of wine , so offensiue with stinke , as thou art not able to abide the odour thereof : whereof , how many diseases may arise in our bodies , euery man may easily coniecture . this done , there wil remaine ashes , out of which a salt is extracted , the which ( by the vertue of the salt armoniac of nature ) may be made volatil , and the very same which lullie calleth the greater lunarie , for the imitation of the vegetable work . this worke is very admirable , by which the true numie , the vniuersal medicine , and the true balsam conseruing and restoring nature is made . and this is the true and vital anatomie of blood , which by manifest demonstration we haue shewed , that it hath a great analogie , proportion and resemblance with wine : when as a true phylosopher , as wel out of the one as out of the other ( sauing that the one requireth greater artifice ) knoweth how to seperate waters of life méerely spirituall , which are saide to be very forcible and strong : and beside these , mercuriall liquors , which are as wel profitable as hurtful , which are also moystening : and finally , which knoweth how to extract vapors , and exhalations fuming , which are called out-flowings . now therefore , if so be in wine , which we easily vse to nourish our bodies , and the same pure and cleare after the seperation of the spirit thereof , we sée and behold so many vnkindly things , and so impure ; how many more grosse impurities i pray you shall we finde in the lées of wines cleaning to the caskes , and in the grosse residence of the same ? they which knowe and vnderstand that great and excéeding blacknesse of wine lées ( which is manifestly to be séene in the calcination thereof ) and the sepreation of his spirit , and of his oyle , red , blacke and stinking , which is done by destillation , they ( i say ) can giue cleare testimony and credibly informe , what a great stinke there is in the sulphur thereof : and how great the acrimony and byting sharpnesse is in the same tartar or lées , by reason of the salt which is extracted out of the same , and the oyle which is made by the resolution of the same salt of tartar . and trust mée , in the feces of the same wine , there are found , beside the things already spoken , those matters which are more grosse , impure and stinking , as they wel knowe , who to calcine them into ashes ( which they call clanelated ) are compelled to goe out of the cities into the fieldes , and places further off , by reason of their excéeding infection and stinke , with the which they are wont to infect the places néere adioyning . what maruaile is it then , as is shewed afore , if in our blood , after the seperation of the true spirit , there are found so many vnkindly , tartarous , stinking and sulphurus impurities ? but what maruaile i say , if more and greater impurities and stinkes , are to bee found in diuers of the heterogeneal parts of the chylus , or best matter digested in the stomach for nourishment , from whence blood draweth his first beginning of his composition ? that tartar or lées , is of the blood which cleaueth to the vessels of the bowels . now the feces of the chylus are nothing else , but that huge heape of excrements of diuers sorts , which are in that nourishment existing in diuers parts of the body . and when those niter-sulphurus and tartarous impurities , cannot by nature be digested , ouercome and expelled , they stuffe the bowels , they are made the seminarie and store-house of most grieuous sicknesses : so that if we will confesse the truth , we must of necessity say with great hipocrates , that sicknesses haue both their séedes , and also their rootes in our bodies : the which most euidently appeareth by the foresaide comparison of wine and blood . the which standeth vpon apparant and sensible foundations , and not vpon doubtfull figments and imaginations . and as we sée in the spring times , when nature putteth forth her flowers , that the lées of wine , are mixed with the wine it selfe , and doe trouble it , and oftentimes corrupt it : and that as in the excéeding heate of the sommer sunne , the more hote sulphurus part of the same wine , that is , the spirit , may and is woont to vapour away , whereof followeth the corruption of the same wine : euen so also , about the same seasons and times , the feces , and tartarous heape mixed with our blood , doth at the last peruert , and corrupt it : hereof commeth the occasion and multiplication of sicknesses . for the spirit of blood being disprearced and seperated , both by external and also by internal heate , it must needes bée corrupted , to the which corruption , arising of the said causes , the cause of many sicknesses is rather to be referred , then to those bare simple qualities , of hote and cold , dry and moyst . as therefore we haue taught in the seperation of the true spirit of wine ( which resembleth the celestiall and spiritual nectar of our life ) many impurities thereof doe manifestly appeare : euen so , and after the very same sort , it fareth with wheate with fruits , and with meates and drinkes prepared of them , and generally with all other vegetable things , procéeding after the same maner as we haue said , concerning wine . for they haue no light proportion with our blood ; according to this saying : we are nourished with those things whereof we consist : which thou maiest aptly turne and say ; we consist of those things , wherewith we are nourished . but the one partaketh of the other , or of this or of that more then of the other : as for example , of the spirit , of the mercurial liquor , of salt , of the feces , & of the stinking & vnprofitable excremēts : which is the reason , that out of this or that more commendable kinde of meate , the more worthy and commendable blood is generated . therefore to adde one example more in stéed of a surplussage of waight , let it not be forgotten , that out of hydromel , cider , ale , or such like kind of drinkes , & out of their feces , the same preparations and seperations , as wel of a commendable liquor , as of feces , may be made after the same maner , as we haue before shewed to be done concerning wine : and that the beginnings and heterogeneall and vnnaturall parts , may in the same sort be extracted out of these , as out of that other . to conclude , thou maiest with better successe learne the beginnings of sicknesses , by making a comparison betwéene the preparation and seperation of those things which giue nourishment vnto man , and our blood , then if according to the cōmon maner thou haue recourse to the humours , & bare qualities , and so to séeke out and discerne the causes & originals of sicknesses , by a certaine witty contemplation , rather then by that which is more true and infallible . thus we haue thought good to set down these things by way of anticipation , concerning the exact , and internal anatomy of humours , & concerning also the artificiall examining of them : both that thereby it might appeare from whence the natural impressions of things , & the infallible causes of diseases are to be sought , as also that the true philosophers & physitians may vnderstand thereby the way to cōpound prepare , and administer artificially medicines and remedies , which now we intend to shew , euen according to the order and method of the dogmatickes . so as wée thinke it not good , vtterly to reiect the olde , nor wholy to followe the newe , but to restore the old forme of composition of medicines increased and amended with many of our inuentions , experiments , and compositions , for the publique good , and for the health of the sicke , as also for the instruction of some ignorant physitians . an elixir of our description . a wonderfull remedy to cure inueterate and almost desperate diseases , and to conserue health , and to prolong life , as followeth . take of the roote of zedoary , of angelica , of gentian , of valerian , tormentil , or setfoyle , goates beard , galanga , the wood aloes , and citrine or yeallow sanders , of each thrée ounces . of baume , of red mint , maioran , basil , hysope , germander , chamepithis , of each halfe a handfull : of lawrell berries & iuniper , of the séedes peony , of seseli , or comin , of anis , of mugwoort , of cardus-benedictus , of each two ounces : the barke of citrine , of missel of the oake , and of all the mirabolans , of each one ounce . cloues , cinamum , mace , ginger , cubebs , cardamony , pepper , long and round , spikenard , of each one ounce and a halfe . aloes hepat , myrrhe , olebanum , mastic , of each sixe drachmes . the flowers of rosemary , of sage , of stechados , of mary-golds , of saint ihons woort , of centaury the lesser , of betonie , of the linden tree , of each so many as yée can gripe with two fingers and the thumbe at twise : of the flowers of chicory , commonly called suckary , of red roses , and of buglosse , of each one gripe in like sort onely , of gruat hony , and of white suger , of each one pound . of aqua-vitae after the best maner rectified ten pound . cut that which is to be cut , and beate that which is to be beaten . all these things being put into a large matrat , and close stopt that no breath come forth , set in horse-dung meanely hote , by the space of eight or ten dayes , to putrifie . being putrified , let them be hard and well pressed or strained , and put the liquor distrained into an allembic , and distill it by a cornute , at aconuenient fire . the first water which commeth forth from the distrained liquor wil be most cleare : kéepe it by it selfe for it is precious . thy receiuer being of glasse must be of good receit , and must be passing wel closed with the cornute by the necke , that the least vapour come not forth . and when the receyuer beginneth to bée darkened , and to be filled with white spirits , thou shalt increase thy fire by degrées a little and a little , according to arte , vntil the said whited spirits appeare no more . then take away the receiuer , that thou mayst put by it self that water which commeth foorth the second time , and kéepe it wel : it is called the mother of balsam , being very profitable to roote out many sicknesses , and to conserue health . then againe put to thy receyuer , and increase thy fire by degrées , as thou didst before , so long vntil at the first , there distill foorth a yealow oyle : after that a red oyle , the matters in the matrat remaining drie : and yet not throughly drie , least the liquor which shall distil foorth doe smel of burning . these things done , take that most cléere water which came forth first of all in good plentie : powre it vpon the feces remayning : and make them to digest together by the space of 6. or 7. dayes , at the heate of baln-marie , vntil the water be coloured and waxe yellow : that is to say , vntill it hath attracted the more fierie and oylie portion of the matter : and the feces which shall remaine , when they haue yéelded their whole tincture to the foresaid water , reserue and kéepe apart to such vse as herafter shal be declared . ( but if you think good , you may reserue a portion of euery of the said liquors to such medicinable vses as is before shewed , and vse the rest in the progresse of the foresaid worke , and in the subsequent . ) after you haue drawne the foresaid liquors , & that also which tooke last tincture from the feces , thou shalt mixe them together , that from thence thou mayest extract a farre more elixir of life , than the former , and most precious : procéeding in manner following . when thou haste mixed the foresaid thrée liquors together , thou shalt distil them by a corrnute , or by a glasse allembic , pretermitting al digestion , vsing in other than the sayd mixture : vse and follow the same way & order , which thou diddest before , seperating the elements , and beginnings of liquors . for thou shalt draw out of the first most cleare water , which thou shalt reserue by it selfe , namely , at such time as thou shalt perceiue the receiuer to be darkened with a cloudie fume : then chaunging the receiuer , and putting too fire as thou didst before , thou shalt continue it so long , vntil thou sée the liquor to issue foorth of yealow colour , the which also thou shalt kéepe apart as thou diddest the former . in the meane time while the foresaide distillations , or seperations of elements , that is to say , of the two beginnings , mercurie and sulphur , are in hand , thou shalt calcine , at a reuerberatorie fire , the feces which thou reseruedst before : out of the which , being brought to ashes , thou shalt extract salt , according to arte , with thy first most cleare water ; the water seasoned with his salt , shal be mingled with the other two liquors which were reserued , that so at the least out of a tryangle , thou mayest make a circle o , as philosophers speake : that is to say , that out of those thrée seueral waters , by circulation ( in a pellican ) made according to arte , there may come foorth one essence : and so by that meanes that great elixir of life , and admirable secret shal be made . and not onely made , but also by so short a way , so easie , and so well knowen to true philosophers , that they know thereby , how , and in what order to make elixirs out of all things . the vertues of this elixir are vnspeakable , both to the curing & also to the preuenting of giddinesses in the head , the falling sickenesse , apoplexies , palsies , madnes , melancholy , the asthma , and diseases of the lungs , faintings and soundings , traunces , weakenesse of the stomach , and of other parts , consumptions procéeding of an euil disposition of the bodies , passions procéeding from the gaule , and such like heauie and lamentable griefes . certaine droppes onely of this , being giuen in some conuenient breath , and fitting for the sicknesse . as for example , against the epilepsie , with water of peonie ; of lillyes , connally , or of flowers of the linden trée . against the palsie , with the water mary goldes : against the pestilence with the water of goates beard , or of water of cardus benedictus : against the asthma or tissick , with the water of scabiose , or of fole-foote , or such like . moreouer this elixir , is of force to restore and conserue our radial balsam , if fower or fiue droppes thereof , be giuen in broath , wine , or other conuenient liquor . but peraduenture thou wilt say , that the preparation of this elixir , requireth too much labour , & is too tedious . but it is much better and more necessarie to spend the time in things so admirable and of so great importance , than about medicines that are altogether vnprofitable . and yet to serue euery mans turne , i wil set downe the preparation of an other eilxir , more easie , and peraduenture more pleasing , to conserue health , and to prolong life . another elixir of life most easie to be made . take the rootes of gentian slit in pieces , and dryed with a gentle heate , also the roote of the lesser centaurie , of each thrée ounces . galanga , cinimon , mace , cloues , of each one ounce . flowers of sage , of s. iohns woort , of each two grypes with two fingers and a thumbe . of the best white wine 6. pound . infuse these in a glasse matrate , wel stopped , by the space of eight dayes , at a gentle fire of balne-marie . then let them be wel streined , & so distilled by a glasse allembic in ashes , til nothing remaine but drynesse . then powre the water distilled vppon the feces , that from them thou mayest drawe away the whole tincture , in a milke warme balne-mary : bring the feces ( after the drawing away of the tincture ) into ashes , which thou shalt put into hyppocrates bag , powring the said coloured water oftentimes vpon the ashes , that it may draw vnto it the proper salt . giue of this elixir the fourth part of a spoonefull in some conuenient liquor . vse it a long time . it is a special remedie for all consumptions , for the weaknesse of the stomache , which it purgeth from tough and slimy humours which cleane to the same : it stayeth the breeding of wormes , and kéepeth the body in health . take of this twise in one wéeke and continue with it . a treacle-water for the head , helping all paines of the same , proper for the apoplexie , epilepsie , palsey● , and such like . take of the rootes of peony , of misselto , of common acorns or cane , of each thrée ounces . of ripe iuniparberryes , and of the séeds of peony , of each , one ounce : of cloues and maces , of each 6. drachmes . of castoreum , halfe an ounce : of the flowers of stechados , mary-gold , rosemary , sage , lillyes co●●ally , of the linden trée , of each , two grypes with two fingers and the thumbe . cut that which is to bee cut , and beate that which is to bée beaten : and infuse them by the space of 3. dayes , by the heat of a hote balne , in white wine of the best , 2. pound : and with the waters of peony , sage , and of mary-goldes , of each one pound . then straning them hard . to this liquor adde of treacle of alexandria , ounces 4. of anacardine confectionem me●u , one ounce and a halfe , of diamosch , and aromatici gabriel , of each halfe an ounce . stéepe or infuse these againe , by the space of two or thrée dayes , at the fire gentle of blan ▪ m. then straine them againe , and distil them vpon ashes to drinesse : and thereof a treacle-water will bée made . a very smal spoonefull of this is sufficient to be giuen at once against the diseases before expressed . another treacle-water cordiall , and comfortable for the heart , very good against al pestiferous effects therof vsed , with great profite . take of the rootes of angelica , of cloues , of goates beard , of tormentil or set-foyle , of bifolium , or two-blades of enula campans , of each two ounces . of yealow sanders , and of the barke of the same , of each one ounce and a halfe . of white diptani , of scabiose , of rus , of goates beard , otherwise called méedwoort , of each one handfull . of the flowers of the lesse centaure , of s. iohns-woort , of broome , of violets , of borage , of buglosse , of water-lyllie , of red roses , of each , a thrée finger gripe . put these into 3. pound of malmesie infused by the space of 4. dayes , set vpon the fire of baln m. and the iuice of lemons , the water melissa , aeetouse , and of roses mingled with the sayd wine , of each one pound . then strayne them . in the liqnor distrained , put of treacle ounces thrée , of the confection of hiacinth , one ounce . of the confection alchermes , 6. drachmes . of diamargarit friged , diatria santali , of each 3. drachmes : of diambre , and diacoral , of each two drachmes , of saffron , and myrrhe , of each halfe a drachme . infuse them againe , by the space of two or thrée dayes , at the same fire of baln . m. then distil them to drinesse by fire of ashes : and it will be a treacle water . but to make it the more effectuall , the salt must be extracted out of the feces which remaine , according to arte , and then mingeled with the foresaid water . a water against poysons , and against all pestilentiall effects . take of the rootes of angelica , of the carline-thistle , of set-foyle , & of the barke of the olibian trée , of each two ounces , of cardus benedictus , of méede-woort , called goates beard , of all the sanders , of each halfe an ounce : the treacles of mythridate , and the confection of hiacinth , of each 2 , ounces : the speces of diamarg . frigid , camphor , of each 2. drachmes . let these be grossely beaten or brused , & put into a glasse allembic , powring thereon 3. pound of rectified aqua vitae . then let them be digested in a vessel wel closed , & so distilled by ashes , or a vaporous baln . this water is wonderfull effectuall against poysonful and pestilential effects . the quantitie which must be giuen , is halfe a spoonfull . an excellent water to be giuen against feuers , burning and pestilentiall . take of the rootes of angelica , buglosse , of scorzonerae ac●●y , one ounce : of the treacle alexandrine , 2 ounces : of the iuice of lemons clensed , of the waters fumetarie , gotes beard , and cardui benedictus , and of the lesser centaure , of each , ounces 4. diamar●● . frigid halfe an ounce . let these lye infused by the space of thrée or 4. dayes : then let them be distrained and distilled of the which let the sicke drinke 4. ounces : and then being well couered in his bed , he shal sweate more than ordinary . principall remedies to ease the torments and extreame paines of the goute . take of the leaues of missel , which groweth on the apple-trée , cut or shred very smal , halfe a pound : the flowers of white mulline , of chamomil , of lyllies , of wallwoort , or danewoort , all the kindes of poppey , with their cases which containe the séed , new gathered , and before they be full ripe , of each one gripe of the 2. fingers and the thumbe , of gréene frogs , or in stéed of them , the ielly or sperme of frogges , which is to be found in standing waters in the moneth of march , one pound : the séed of white poppey brused , 4. ounces : of crabbes of crafishes shelles , and all beaten or crushed together , 20. in number : of red snailes , and earth-wormes , both wel washed in good white wine , of each 4. ounces : of badgers grease ●xe ounces ; of sperma ceti , 4. ounces : of the oyle of violets or water lilly , newly made , 6 pound : or if you wil , in steede of these oyles , take so much of oyle oliue . put these into a glasse vessel , for that purpose conuenient , and close stopt set it in horse dung by the space of 7. or 8. dayes . but if néed require more haste , let them boyle in a copper vessel ouer the fire , by the space of two houres , and then straine them strongly . the which also you shalt doe , if they stand in horse dung to be digested . thou then shalt seperate the oyle from the watery part thereof according to arte : to the which oyle , thou shalt adde of saffron 2. ounces , of camphyre , hale an ounce . put all these into a glasse vessel , and set them againe in horse dung , or in balneo , or in the sunne , by the space of 5. dayes , and thou shalt haue a most excellent balsam to asswage and qualifie all paines of the goute and in the ioynts . i wish that all apothecaries would prepare this , to be reary at al times for present vse : for that they cannot appoint themselues of any thing better than this , which my selfe haue found true by experience . a plaister to helpe and easie all paines of the goute . take the marrow or pulpe of cassia foure ounces , of new treacle , the newer the better , halfe an ounce . the meale of barley and oates , of each three ounces . the crumbes of white bread● foure ounces : of cowe-milke , two or thrée pound . let al these be sodden in the forme of a cataplasme ; which thou shalt apply warme to the grieued parts . it thou shalt adde one ounce of vitriol calcined , and beaten into the pouder , thou shal● make it much better . another cataplasme . take the distilled water of whyte mulleyn , and of ferne , of each halfe a pound : of calcined vitriol as before , one ounce and a halfe of oate meale 4. ounces : of saffron two 〈◊〉 make a cataplasme . a water against the paine of the coute . this water following prepared in due time , wil much auaile against the greatest paines of the gout , where there appeareth rednesse , and much heat● . take of the distilled water of the sperme of frogges , of hightaper & of ferne , of each one pound and a halfe . in these infuse tuttie , and lytharge of each two ounces : vitriol calcined and allum , of each one ounce . let the grieued parts , be moystened with linnen clo●●es wet in the same , applyed warme , renuing the same diuers times . another excellent water against the goute . take of the sope of genua , that which is white and good , one ounce . of liquid salt , made to runne at a strong fire , one ounce and a halfe : of vitriol , one ounce : of acatia , halfe an ounce . let them all boyle together in a pinte of rose vinegar , or of common vinegar . with this liquor wash both the greiued partes . an excellent playster , which being layed vpon the knots and puffes of the gout , dissolueth them . take of the oyle of apple missel , of our description , one or two pound : warme it in a vessel at the fire : béeing made warme , put into it of shaued or scrapings of sope 4. ounces , let them be well stirred together with a spattle , vntil the oyle and sope bée wel incorporated together . after this put thereto venis ceruse , and lytharge , of each 2. ounces , euer mingling and stirring them with a spattell ▪ of vitriol calcined til it be red , and pouldred one ounce ▪ of 〈◊〉 halfe an ounce . when any of the aforesaid things are put in , stirre it wel til it come to a conuenient thicknesse for a playster : which thou shalt apply to the knots : it helpeth not onely these ▪ but also of callous , and hollow vlcers and pockes . an excellent water to the same effect . take vns●ickt-lime , let it lye in spring water fiue 〈◊〉 sixe dayes , that thou mayest draw out the salt , let the water be foure or fiue fingers aboue the lyme . of this water take 3. pound : in the which thou shalt quench a red hote plate of stéele , twelue times , and oftener . after this , thou shalt put therein of burnt copper brought into pouder 3. ounces : of cinabar , halfe and ounce . let them stand by the space of foure or fiue dayes , in which time the water will be of a gréene colour , by meanes of the inward vitriol of the burnt copper . this water is an excellent remedy to qualifie and alay suddenly all manner aches and paines . a remedy to dissolue the stone . after some conuenient gentle purgation , let the patient grieued with the stone , take one little spoonefull of this poulder following , which not onely openeth the conduits prouoking vrine , but also diminisheth and hindereth the growing of the stone . take of the kernels which are in medlars , gromel , called milium solis , the séedes of the great burre , saxifrage , hollyhock , auis séedes , fennel-séedes , of each thrée drammes : of christall stones and of tartar , fix drammes : of the stones which are called commonly crabbes eyes , halfe an ounce , of the salt of ground furze , one drachme : of cinamon one ounce and a halfe : of violated suger , two ounces and a halfe : mingle these and make a poulder . this poulder being taken , let the partie drinke vpon it , a little wine iuniperated , or of this water following . take of the rootes of eryngium , of ground furze , and of the fiue rootes apertiue , of each one ounce : of the barke of lemons , one ounce and a halfe : of the foure greater cold séedes , of the séedes of mallowes , and hollihock , of each thrée ounces , of the séedes of saxifrage , of gromel , of the greater radish , of the burdock , and of ripe iunipar berries , of each , drachmes six : of askakeng berries , twenty in number , of iui●bes six couple , of dictam , of the flowers of broome , of saint iohns woort , of betonie of the greatest mallow of each two gripes with the thomb and two fingers : of liquirice , two ounces and a halfe : of the wood of caffia , one ounce : beate and poulder that which is to be pouldered : and let them be stéeped or infused in water of siluer wéed , called wilde tansey , and of parietory of the wall , of each one pound and a halfe : of the best white wine two pound , and that by the space of foure daies , in bal. m. hote : and then let it be strongly strained . into the liquor , put of the species of diatragaganthum frigidum , and of the trochiscks of alkakenge , without opium , of each one ounce . let them be digested againe at the fire of baln . mar , by the space of one or two dayes : and let them be distilled by a glasse allembic , according to art. this water also taken by it selfe alone , c●●teth and thinneth grosse matters , and clenseth the raynes and sucking-vaines , and the bladder , from the stopping of sand and grauel , and fr●eth them from grosse humours . of this water by it selfe alone , the dose to be giuen at one time is two ounces , with some conuenient syrrup . an other excellent water against the stone . take the iuice of radish , of l●●t●ns , of each one pound and a halfe , of the waters of betonie , of wild tansey , of saxifrage , of veruaine , of each one pound : of hydromel , and of malmesey , two pound . in these liquors mixed together , infuse by the space of foure or fiue dayes at a gentle fire of baln . mar , iunipar berries ripe and newe gathered , being bruised , thrée ounces , of gromel , of the séede of the burdock , of the greater radish , of saxifrage , of nettels , of onions , of anis , of fenel , of each , one ounce and a halfe , the foure cold séedes , the séedes of great mallowes , of each six drach●●es : the species of lithontri , the electuarie duis & iustini nicolai , of each halfe one ounce : the calxe of egge-shels , cinamon , of each thrée drachmes , of camphore two drachmes . let all againe be well distrained and then distilled by ashes . two ounces of this water taken , doth wonderfully clense the counduits , prouoke vrine , and wil breake and expell the stone . to this if you adde his proper salt , or one scruple of the extract of betonie , it will be a more effectual remedy . the conclusion of this treatise . alchymie or spagyrick , which some account among the foure pillers of medicine , and which openeth and demonstrateth the compositions and dissolutions of all bodies , together with their preparations alterations , and exaltations , the same i say is she which is the inuenter and schoole-mistresse of distillation . for alchymie vseth seuen workes , which are as it were certaine degrées , by which as it were by certaine necessary instruments , she ordereth and finisheth the transmutations of things . by transmutation i meane , when any thing so forgoeth his outward forme , and is so changed , that it is vtterly vnlike to his former substance and woonted forme , but hath put on another forme , and hath assumed an other essence , another colour , another vertue , and another nature and properly . as for example , when linnen rags are turned into paper : metall into glasse : skins or leather into glue : an hearbe into ashes : ashes into salt ▪ salt into water , and mercury so moueable , into a fixed body , as into sinabar , and poulder . the seauen degrees of working are these mentioned before in the practise . 1 calcination , which is the bringing of any thing to ashes . 2 digestion , is a dissoluing of that which is thick into thinne , to be purified . 3 fermentation , is a mixing of kindly matter for multiplication ▪ or the kindly seasoning , or leauining of a thing . 4 distiliation , is an extraction of a liquor from a body , by heate . 5 circulation , is to rectifie any thing to a higher perfection . 6 sublimation , is the lifting vp of moyst matter , to make it more pure and dry . 7 fixation , is to make that which is flying , to abide with his body . beside these , there are diuers other workings , as dissolutiō , is to dissolue y● which is grosse putrifaction , is the meane to generation . exaltation , is euaporation of the impure humour . rectification , is a reiterated distillation to perfection . coagulatiō is the congealing of moisture . cohobatiō , is a repetition of distillation , by which the liquor distilled is powred vpon the feces , and distilled againe . distillations are diuers , according to the diuersities of reasons , maners , and of subiects : whereupon arise sundry differences of distillation . the first difference is taken from things , out of which a moisture or liquor may be drawne . for after one maner hony : after another , sulphur : after another wine : after an other waxe : after another turpentines and gimmes , as mastic , euphorbum , styrar , and such like : after another , salts ; after another hearbs : after another , rootes : after another many seedes are to be distilled . the second difference is taken from the diuersitie of the liquor distilled . for waters , are otherwise extracted then are oyles . as for example , out of hearbes , rootes , flowers and seedes , which are not dry , but growing , waters are extracted by simple distillation , without the admixture of any other liquor . but out of rootes , hearbes , flowers , and séedes which are dry and odoriferus , the floating oyles are not extracted , without the meanes of some water or other liquor as a helpe . the third difference dependeth vpon the matter and fashion of the vessels ▪ vpon the matter : for one vessel is of earth , another of brasse , another of lead , another of glasse . vpon the fashion also : for there is one maner of distillation by an allembic , another by a cornut , another by a matrat , and another by a pellican , and so of others . the fourth difference is by the site and placing of the vessell . for if it be by a right cucurbit , which hath a head with a pipe or beake , or whether it be inclining or crooked , we call such distillations , by ascent : or when the neck of one matrate or cucurbit , is put into the neck of another , that is to say , whē the vessels by concourse are so ioyned together , that one taketh in the mouth of the other , and the same by a diuers position : and by these most commonly are distilled those things which doe hardly ascend , and haue small store of iuice . many things also are distilled by discent , that vessell which containeth the matter turned the wrong way , and put into the other , the which manner of working is called by discent , and is contrary to that which is by ascent . by discent are distilled ceates , and sundry kinds of fat wood , as giraiacum , iunipar , and those of rosen sort . the fifth difference is , by the degrees of fire , which are foure : the first , second , third , and fourth . the first is soft and gentle , such is the fire of balne . m. or of vapour : the second , is of ashes : the third is of sand , or of the dust of yron that falleth from the smithes hammer in his worke at the stythée . the fourth is of bare fire . by the first and second degrée of fire , we distill by ascent : by the third and fourth , we distil by concourse and discent : thus oyles are distilled out of salts ▪ as out of common salt , out of vitriol , and out of such like . but before you begin to distil , be sure that you dissolue & putrifie . but because mention is made before of digestion and fermentation , i will shew you plainly , how by these two meanes you may extract out of roses a most fragrant water of life , and so excellent , that one droppe thereof , shall giue a swéete sent and odour to a great quantity of common water , and wil also make the the same most profitable and swéete . therefore take roses gathered it 〈…〉 , when there is neither raine nor 〈◊〉 vppon them , but tarry till the sunne with his beames hath 〈◊〉 and taken away that humiditie . gather then of them a good quantity : and then bruise or beate them in a stone 〈◊〉 , or else thou shalt put them into a small bonlet of oake , and shalt with diligence presse them in with thy hands , in such sort that the vessell may bee stuffed ful almost to the toppe . then stoppe and close it vp , that digestion may more easily bee made , and set in a wine seller by the space of one moneth , or longer if néede require , vntill thou shalt perceiue that the foresaide matter haue the odour of tart wine : whereby thou shalt knowe that the fermentation is perfected : and so long it must at any hand bee delayed vntill the foresaide signe doe appeare . these things thus finished , take to thée the fourth or fifth part of the roses fermented , according to the greatnesse of thy vessel , which necessarily must be such as the chymicall distillars doe vse wherewith they extract their oyles , and aqna-vitae , the which indéede are large , and of brasse , rather then of lead , furnished with their refrigeatories ( as they terme them ) which being full of water , the spirits made thick through cold are more easily and commodiously drawen forth : taking i say , that portion of fermented roses , distill them according to the wonted maner . that done , seperate the feces remayning , which subsist in the bottome of the allembic , and put so much of the fermented roses aforesaid into the same vessell , and power vpon them the water extracted before , distilling altogether againe , vntill there appeare diuers ; thy vessell as well closed as may be as is said afore . gather againe the dryed feces ( the which it thou wilt , thou maiest reserue with the former feces ) and put the same quantity of the foresaide roses into the allembic which thou diddest before , vpon which againe thou shalt power all the distilled water : and this thou shalt doe so often vntill thou hast distilled all the said fermented roses . these things orderly done , thou shalt take all the distilled water , and shalt distill onely the twelth part thereof , with a gentle fire in a vessell with a long neck or matrate , or in such a one as aqua-vitae is distilled , which is the quantity of all the spiritualls almost . as for example , if thou haue twelue pound of water , thou shalt onely extract one pound , which wil be very odoriserus most swéete , and spiritual , as ready to take flame , as is that which is extracted out of wine . this water if thou wilt yet make of greater vertue , thou maiest rectified againe . but the rest of the water which shal remaine in the bottome of the allembic , will be more fragrant , and better then that which is distilled after the cōmon maner : whereinto also thou maist conuey his salt and insert it , by bringing the foresaid feces to calcination , & meshing the same oftentimes through hypocrates sléene or bagge with water , whereby it shal more easily draw vnto it and retaine that salt. after the same maner also thou maiest draw waters of life out of violets and other flowers , and especially out of them which are hote and odoriferus , as rosemary , sage , betonie : and such other like , which are better and more effectuall against sicknesses , then if they be made according to the common order . the least quantity hereof will worke wonderful effects . if our apothecaries would acquaint themselues with these concoctions , fermentations , and digestions , and vnderstand them aright , in their workings immitating nature after a certaine maner , they should be able to effect diuers commendable and profitable preparations . yea it is not fitting the apothecary alone to know these things , but for the physitian also the commander and director of the apothecarie , if he respect his humour and the health of his patient . but these things at this day are little regarded , insomuch that many physitians either neglect them , or else disdainfully contemne them , for that they know not what profit such preparations doe bring with them . and verily i doe not know , what should be the cause of such obstinate disdaine & wilful contempt , but méere ignorance : séeing it is well known that nothing is contemned , but of the ignorant . and what wil not these mad ignorants contemne , which doe also despise the preparations of medicines ? which administer nothing to their sicke patients , but those things which are crude , and full of impurities . they rather choose obstinatly to goe forware in their error , both to their owne reproach and dammage of the sicke , then rightly to followe holesome admonitions , least they might be thought not to haue bene wise enough before , and to haue learned more knowledge of others . let them consider the necessitie of our life , that they may learne that the same hath constrained vs , to séeke the preparations of our meates , which are necessarie for the sustaining of our bodies : in the preparing whereof , notwithstanding , there is not so great necessitie as there ought to be in the preparing of medicines for our health . let them beholde the corne which commeth out of the earth , which is not by and by giuen crude as it is , for food but the chaffe and the branne being seperated , it is brought to flower : which as yet is not so giuen to eate , but being first termented or leuened , ● wel kneaded or wrought , it is baked , that it may be bread fit for nourishment . consider well the fermentation , by which bread is made light , and fit for nourishment : the lighter it is , the wholsomer it is , and the more it is fermented the lighter it wil be . the lesse it is fermented , the heauier it is , and the more vnholsome . if this preparation goe not before , but that we onely make a mixture of water and flower together , and so presently thrust it into the ouen , in stéede of bread , thou shalt prepare a glutinous matter very hurtfull to nature . doe you not sée how paste a glutinous matter , and starch , also are made onely with flower and water ? what then thinkest thou will come to passe in thy stomach and bowels , especially in those which are more weake , if such be offered and taken ? surely such as will procreate matter to bréede the stone , and wil be the seminary of many diseases . so necessarie and profitable is this fermentation , that it is very behouefull for an apothecarie to knowe it : for that it doth attenuate euery substance , it looseneth it from his body , and terrestrial impurity , that it may afterwards be made fit to bring forth the true radical balsam , and the quickening spirit . by the benefite of this onely fermentation , are extracted waters of life out of all vegetables whatsoeuer . after the same manner , by this fermentation and leauen of nature , all 〈◊〉 humours of or● body are made thinne and subtiled . you know how in holy writ it is said , that a little sowre leauen doth ferment the whole masse . by the way of fermentation , which consisteth in a certaine acetoius liquor of nature , our humours are made thinne and disposed to excretion . and therefore there are certaine tart things which moue sweates , albeit the same by the opinion of physitians are cold . doe wée not sée that women and ordinary cookes haue attained this knowledge of fermentation : and thereby prouide for sicke persons , iellyes made of flesh of foules , and such like , to restore and strengthen them in the time of their weakenesse ? and what are these but extracts ? for the terrestrial partes are seperated from the more laudable substance , which is more conuenient for the sicke . and why doe not apothecaries the like in compounding their medicines ? the nature of the sicke man being now weakened , cannot abide crude and fulsome meate , but doth rather loathe them , and is more and more weakened by them . how much more will he be offended and hurt by medicines not rightly prepared nor seperated from their impure substance ? such impuritie must néeds be a great hurt and hindrance , that the natural force of the medicine , cannot encounter with his enemie the sicknesse , and ouercome him . what shall we say then of those medicines , which haue not onely cruditie in them , but also some euil qualitie , and the same not seperated , or rightly prepared : or being corrected , may wée be bold to giue it ? they are woont , ( with griefe i speake it ) too much and too often , i saythey are woont , i meane such decocted , pouldred , and mixed medicines , by no manner of other art prepared , to bring more griefe and paine to the sicke ( that i may say no worse ) than sollace and helpe . therefore these kinde of preparations , concoctions , i say digestions , and fermentations , are not to bée despised or neglected . for if these things be done , they are done according to natures fashion , which vseth the same operations to the perfect ripening of fruites , and all things the which it bringeth foorth . but let vs hasten to conclude this treatize . aristotle in his fourth of meteors , hath appointed thrée pipsias , or kindes of concoction . the first he calleth pepamsis , which is the concoction of humour in moyst séede , made by naturall heate : and this is the meane of concocting , ripening , and of making of the seedes of plants , and of other things to grow , and to bring foorth plentie of fruite : and it is a worke onely belonging to nature , which vseth that quickening heate for an instrument , which heate answereth the element of starres in proportion , as the sayd aristotle saith . albeit arte cannot immitate this heate , yet it may tread in the steppes thereof . the second kinde of concoction , he calleth epsesis , or elixation , which is a concoction made by a moyst heate of a thing indifinitely existing in a humour . the third and last is optesis , or assation , which is the concoction of the same interminate , made by a dry and straunge heate . these two last concoctions , are made especially by arte , concerning the moderation of which heates , wée will hereafter teach the diligent and industrious apethecaries , i say industrious , and such as follow the prescrips of true phisitians and arte , not petlars and sellers of trifels , which rather desire to make retale of candels , lanternes , and all mercerie-wares , and to fill their shoppes with trash , than to follow the workes of art. therefore in stéede of liberal persons , they are miserable hierlings : sowters they are , and not artificers and louers of art , marchants , and handy-crafts men , setting their rest vpon pompe , pleasure , and gaine . i had rather sée an enemie in the cittie , then one of these base minded fellowes . for citizens know how to beware of an open enemie : but how can a man beware of the falshood and treacherie of these companions which they bring to passe either by ignorance , or by mallice or else by negligence : i say who shall take héede of these , but he which banisheth them quite and cleane out of the cittie . i speake of deceiuers , and such as falsly vsurpe the name and tittle of apothecaries , professing that , and yet follow the trade of marchandise , and not of honest and good men , which are dilligent in their arte , to whom this our labour pertaineth , and to whom these our studies and admonions are dedicated , for the health of many , and for their praise and profite . the auncient physitians and men of the best sort , delt more warily and prouided better for themselues , had this arte in great honor , and therefore in their owne houses , they prepared medicines with their owne hands . and wée also for our owne partes would bee loath that some of our secrets , should bee cast before these hogges , and therefore wée commonly prouide , that they bée prepared in our laboratorie at home by a kilfull workeman , whome wée direct and appoint for that purpose . not that wee might make thereby the greater gaine to our selues , but for the honour and praise of the arte , and to our friends good , the which all those know , that know vs , and haue receyued the benefite from vs. but for this time these shall suffice . for the patterne of furnaces and glasses apt and méete for distillation , buy maister george bakers booke our countryman . and if thou be desirous to procure glasses of all sortes for this arte , thou mayst haue them at the marchants hand , which sell such in their houses néere the poultery in london . the winde furnace , must haue a hole beneath , one foote déepe inwarde , and one foote and a halfe vpward : and at that height a grate shall be layed , wherein the coales of fire must lie . also at that height make another mouth , where at thou shalt put in the saide coales of fire : and aboute the same raise vp the walles round about ten inches in height and there also lay two barres of iron to set the panne vppon , either for balneum mariae , or for a dry fire . to make thy nourishing baln● . take chopt hay and water , and put it into an earthen pan , then set ouer it a trencher with a hole in the middest , to answere the bottome of the glasse , which must come within two inches of the water . concerning hermes seale , and the making of diuers closiers of glasses . first thou shalt know , that of all fastnings or closing vp of glasses , that no v●pours nor spirits goe foorth , the seale of hermes is most noble : which is done in the manner following . first , make a little furnace , with the instruments belonging . it must haue a grate in the bottome to make fire vppon . in the middst of the furnace shall be a hole , to put in the ende of a narrowe necked glasse , so that the third part of the glasse be emptie . and if the hole of the furnace be greater then the glasses necke , close vp the hole with claye on euery side , round about , so as the mouth of the glasse haue some libertie . let thy fire be as farre from thy glasse as thou canst : and when thy coale fire is readie , put the glasse néerer and néerer , by little and litle , till the mouth of thy glasse waxe red , as it were ready to melt . then take the red hote tonges , and therewith wring or nippe the toppe close together : whereby it shall be so closed , as if it had no vent 〈◊〉 , or came so closed out of the glasse-makers shoppe . but take héed when you haue so done , that you pull it not too suddenly out of the fire , least the s●dden colde cracke the glasse , and marre all . therefore abate it by little and little , and not at once . and when thou wilt open the glasse , take a thridde dipt in brimstone or waxe , and wind it 6. or . 7. times about the necke of the glasse where thou wouldest haue it to breake , and set it on fire with a small waxe candle , and when it is burnt , powre a drop or two of cold water vpon it , and it will crack in the sa●● place , that thou maist take it off . concerning the maner of making lutes , wherewith to close glasses . the ordinary lutes wherewith to stop vessels of glasse against faint vapours , are these . take quick lyme beaten to ●oulder as fine as may be , and searsed : temper it with the white of egs . or else mix wheat flower with the white of egges , spred them vpon linnen cloath , and wrap it diuers times about the mouth or ioynts of the glasse . other lutes , called lutum sapientiae , made for the defence of stronger vapours , either to parget and lute the body of the glasses , or to stop their mouthes , or loose their ioynts : which are to be wrought cleare , smooth , and without knots or bladders : in maner following . take potters earth , with a forth part of shorne floxe added to the same : an eigth part of white ashes , with a forth part of dry horse-dung . all these wel beaten together with an yron rod. this is the right composition of lutum sapientiae . there be that doe adde to this composition , the poulder of brick , and of the scales beaten from yron , finely searsed . and for the more conuenient drying of vessels so luted and fenced , you shal bore certaine holes in a wodden forme , into the which put the neckes of thy glasses , that their bottomes and bodies may be dryed the better . another most excellent lute for the like incloser is made of glasse and vermilion , of each like quantitie , pouldred and searsed , then incorporated with vernish , and a little oyle of linséede , and making the whole like a soft poultesse which is to be spread on a fine linnen cloath , wrap it about the mouth & ioynts of the glasses , and so suffer them to dry in the sunne . which albeit , it is a long worke , yet it is most sure . for this will serue against the strongest vapours that are . also to compound a lute , wherewith to make your fornace that it may not riue , or chap , take chalke and potters clay , and a quantity of sand , wrought together with wollen 〈◊〉 and horse-dung , incorporated as afore . thus courteous reader , i haue shewed thée such secrets in this art , as neither quersitanus , isacus , hollandus , nor any other phylosopher , haue before published in print to my knowledge , but haue come to my hands in paper and parchment copies . if thou be industruous , & doest tread the right hermetical path , thou shalt by the meanes of these helps , so plainly set before thine eyes without hieroglyphicks and riddels , to do thy selfe and thy countrey good . thus wishing to thée , as to my selfe , good successe in all thy godly indeuours , i commend them and thée , to the lord. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a20901-e90 genesis 1. 2. eccle. 3. 19. acts 17. 28. 1. thess . 5 23 heb. 4. 12. gen. 1. 16. wisd . 11. 17 2. pet. 3. 10. 13. apoc. 21. 5. psal . 14. 1. rom. 1. 20. col. 2. 8. gen 30. 37. iob. 9. & 26. & 28 & . 37. 38. 39. 2. cron. 9. 2 mat 12 4. notes for div a20901-e790 eccle. 38. luke 14. verse 5. num. 11. 29. notes for div a20901-e1520 lact. lib. de ira dei , cap. 10. plin. lib. 2. cap. 7. sen. lib. 4 , de benet . cap. 7. thomas lib 9 super . 2. lib. de coelo . plato in timaeo . gen. 1. metaph. 5. cap. 1. 1. thes . 5. 23. heb. 4. 12. lib. de remed . 7. cap. 3 lib. colle● . 15. lib. 2. de virtute simp . medi. ad eutrapi . tetr . 1. serm . 2. cap. 43. & 4. 6. ter. ● . serm 1. cap , 24. in lib. de metho . me●● . cap. 9. li. de medidica . cap. 30. ter. 1. ser. 2. cap. 156. cap. 157. cap. 161. lib. 7. de re medica . coll lib. 15. the heauen of philosophers . venus and mars are copper and iron . the greene lyon. sol and lana , gold , & siluer . lib de aurora . lib. de s●●●●bus . hip. lib. de antiq maedicina . notes for div a20901-e11020 all things naturally loue salt. salt the balsam of nature salt hath life in it & is animal . salt is also vegetal . salt the original matter of pearles and corall . salt the fier of nature . the effects of salt in the earth . the effects of salt in the aier . salts minerall . salts of diuers kinds . stirring waters . nature accord●●h with nature . salt is fusible salts may be extracted out of metalls a figure of the trinitie . phree distinct natures in salt. two salts appeare in the 〈◊〉 of salt-peter . two flying parts of salt-peter . sulphur of nature . the mercurial part of salt-peter . the cause of ferment , is sowernesse . vitriolis of the nature of copper . the spirit of vitriol fixeth mercurie . body , soule , and spirit . a practise . a good purgation of bad humours . gold tryumpheth in earth , in aier and in fire . the incorruptibilitie of gold , maketh it the best medicine to helpe a corruptible body . the wonderful effects of potable gold . bathes and waters artificial . the chymical ministries balsam is in euery thing . the spirit of wine . the christal of tartar. the good effects of the spirit of wine . b. m. signifieth balneum ●arie a balsam radica● . potable gold . 1. phlegme . 2. mercury . 3. sulphur . 4. salt. elements passiue . actiue el●ments . a medicine particular and general . 〈…〉 . crude wines breede the stone . hellebor● poisonfull . transplanting of herbs helpeth their nature . obiection . answer● . galen . lib. 13. method . syrach . 38. 4 a dissoluing water . copper is red without and greens within . narcotical is stupefactiue . notes for div a20901-e13990 taste , odour , and colours . salt of 2. sorts . salt defined . salt and earth . sulphur and fire . mercurie , ayre , and water , mercurie a moyst actiue . sulphur the meane to ioyne salt and mercurie . three natures in one . salt causeth vicers in the body . saltes of diuers sortes . mercurie is properly extracted from leaues . sulphur out of seedes . salt out of wood and rootes . a mixture of the 3. beginnings . salt , the root of the other beginnings . bitter things doe purge . salt extracted out of bitter things . salt in vrin● purgers . dissoluing liquors . dissoluing liquor . dissoluing spirits . obiection . answere . the spirit of vitriol and his vertue . a remedy against feauers . obiection . a remedy to stoppe fluxes . the fixing of quick-siluer . mercurie of the phylosophers . the right spirit of vitriol : good against the falling euil . a remedy for gangrena , & eating vl●ers . water for the ophthalmie . water to ease the gout . a remedy against obseruations , and to breake the stone . gangrena ●ured . causes of the ston● . sal-armoniac a coagulator and a dissotuer . the cause of dogge-like appetite . choller , rustie , yeallow , and greene . the philosophical cause of meteors &c. the cause of madnesse , phrensie , and such like . salts of diuers kinds in mands body . the stopping of the pores procureth sicknesse . spirit of wine . the water of 2. degree . mercurie . an oyle . sulphur . fyer . the feces . salt. earth . a most precious elixir . hippocrates bagge , is like the bagge where through hypocras runneth . new experiments upon vipers containing also an exact description of all the parts of a viper, the seat of its poyson, and the several effects thereof, together with the exquisite remedies, that by the skilful may be drawn from vipers, as well for the cure of their bitings, as for that of other maladies / originally written in french by m. charas of paris ; now rendred english. nouvelles expériences sur la vipère. english charas, moyse, 1619-1698. 1670 approx. 262 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 124 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a31747 wing c2037 estc r11562 12387159 ocm 12387159 60888 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a31747) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 60888) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 652:5) new experiments upon vipers containing also an exact description of all the parts of a viper, the seat of its poyson, and the several effects thereof, together with the exquisite remedies, that by the skilful may be drawn from vipers, as well for the cure of their bitings, as for that of other maladies / originally written in french by m. charas of paris ; now rendred english. nouvelles expériences sur la vipère. english charas, moyse, 1619-1698. [16], 223 p., 3 folded leaves of plates. printed by t.n. for j. martyn ..., london : 1670. a translation of charas's nouvelles expériences sur la vipère. errata: prelim. p. [16]. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng snakes. medicine, popular -early works to 1800. 2006-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-07 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion new experiments upon the viper by m. charas . new experiments upon vipers . containing also an exact description of all the parts of a viper , the seat of its poyson , and the several effects thereof , together with the exqvisite remedies , that by the skilful may be drawn from vipers , as well for the cure of their bitings , as for that of other maladies . originally written in french by m. charas of paris . now rendred english . multa patres olim : nos plurima , plura futuri invenient ; cupidis nec porta negata novorum . london , printed by t. n. for j. martyn , printer to the r. society , at the bell in s. pauls church-yard , and a little without temple-bar . 1670. the preface . many will perhaps wonder , that after so many famous authours , antient and modern , who have written of vipers , i should yet undertake to labour in an argument , which in all likelihood they should have exhausted . but if reflexion be made on the many wonders , that are found in the body of this animal , it will be easily granted , that it cannot be inquir'd into with too much exactness , and that it is not a work , that can be finish't at one or two sittings . what observations have been left us by knowing men , although they be not carried to their perfection , may be very useful to those , that are come after them , to make them discover what had escaped their diligence . and without this aid , i should not have had the confidence of undertaking this work ; in which i have propos'd to my self three main things , that may much contribute to the illustration of the history concerning vipers . the first is , to examine sundry observations of the antients , which have hitherto pass'd for true , though most of them are not so . the second , to give an accompt of other observations , which have been unknown to our predecessors . the third , to find in the viper , which causeth so many mischiefs , specifick remedies against its biting , which had not been discover'd before , and may serve to overcome many troublesom distempers , which the ordinary remedies were not able to conquer . the enterprise , certainly , is bold ; and , i confess , i should never have compass'd it , what hope soever i might have conceived of it , had i not been assisted by some knowing physitians , whose light hath been very helpful to me . their modesty permits not , i should here name them ; it sufficeth the publick to know , that a good part of the rare things in this treatise is due to them . they had the kindness to meet often at my house for the space of three months , and there to see made exact dissections of vipers , which by my care were brought to me from all parts of this kingdom ; and to see also experiments tryed of their biting , upon divers animals , and to examine their bodies , immediately open'd after their death , to discover the true cause of it ; and to prescribe remedies , answerable to their conjectures , and to take notice of the success of the same . in dissecting all these vipers , we were willing to see the parts , which authors have taken notice of , and which have also been represented in the books of some of them : and comparing them with the natural ones , that were before our eyes , we found great omissions of very considerable parts ; an introduction of some imaginary ones , and representations and scituations of several that were ill designed , and ill enough placed . it was thought fit , i should endeavour to perform something more accomplish't : and monsieur bosse , whose skill and dexterity in the art of designing and graving is known and esteem'd of all the world , in things of a far sublimer nature than the anatomy of vipers , being happily present at one of our meetings , and taking great pleasure to oblige his friends , expressed from that very time , that he was very willing to second my intentions : and having received from me a sufficient number of subjects , hath taken the pains to design them after the life , and thereupon to grave all the considerable parts of this animal . in a word , i have omitted nothing of what might render my design answerable to the wishes of all learned and curious men . now as those , who , speaking of a matter that hath been often handled by others , cannot but must often repeat again , what hath been already said of it ; i thought , i was not to scruple to enlarge my self a little , that i might not give an imperfect anatomy of the viper , of which it was fit enough to describe as well the great number of the true parts , that have been known to our ancestors , as the new ones , by me found after them . i say nothing of my way of writing . from a person of my profession , you are not to expect the elegancy and purity of our tongue . i thought it enough for me , to deliver my self clearly and intelligibly , which is , in my opinion , all that could be expected from me . for the rest , i think , i am the first , that hath given to france a treatise of the viper in its native language . those who understand no other languages , may think themselves obliged by it , in regard they would else have been ignorant of abundance of things , that deserve to be known . farewell . the table of the titles of all the contents in this book . anatomy of the viper . chap. i. general observations upon the viper . description of the viper . ch. ii. of the parts which present themselves first of all . of the exteriour shape of the viper . sect. i. of the skin of the viper . sec. 2. ch. iii. of the parts of a vipers head. of the vipers nose . sec. 1. of the skull . sect. 2. of the brain . sec. 3. of the eyes and their principal parts , and of those that serve for hearing . sect. 4. of the bones of the head that are articulated to the skull . sec. 5. of the teeth . sec. 6. of the nerves , veins , arteries , and muscles of the head in general . sec. 7. of the salival glands of the viper . sec. 8. ch. iv. of the other bones of the viper , and of the principal parts that depend therefrom . ch. v. of the other internal parts of the viper . of the tongue . sec. 1. of the wind-pipe , and the lungs . sec. 2. of the heart and liver . sec. 3. of the gall and pancreas . sec. 4. of the weasand and stomach . sec. 5. of the guts , kidneys , fat , and a coat wrapping them up under-neath . sec. 6. ch. vi. of the organs of generation in a viper . sect. 3. of the parts of a male. sec. 1. of the parts of generation in a female . sec. 2. of the generation and birth of vipers . sec. 3. the explication of what is represented in the first cut. the explication of what is exhibited in the second cut. the explication of what appears in the third cut. experiments upon vipers . ch. i. a biting of a viper happn'd to a man. ch. ii. experiments of vipers upon divers animals . experiments on dogs . the biting of a dog in his ear. another biting upon a dog. the biting of a little dog. another dog bit in the tongue . ch. iii. experiments of the biting of a viper made upon pigeons and pullets . ch. iv. of the poyson of a vipers biting , and of its operation . ch. v. experiments of the yellow liquor contained in the little baggs of the greater teeth , made on several animals . ch. vi. experiments of the gall , eggs , guts , heads , and the blood of a viper made on divers animals . ch. vii . sundry other experiments made upon vipers . ch. viii . general reflexions on all those experiments . remedies drawn from vipers . ch. i. of the different choice that may be made of the parts of vipers . ch. ii. of the use of the parts of a viper , as to its nourishing vertue . ch. iii. of the vertues of several parts of a viper in physick . ch. iv. of the powder and trochisques of vipers . ch. v. of the viper-salt of the antients . ch. vi. of the volatil salt of vipers ; of their fix't salt , and of the other parts that are separated by distillation . ch. vii . of the fixation of the volatil salt of vipers . ch. viii . of the vertues of the volatil salt of vipers , and , of what other parts are able to doe , that are separated by distillation . ch. ix . of the way of using the volatil salt of vipers . ch. x. divers remedies or compositions , of which this volatil salt is the base or ground . finis . errata . page 13. line 6. read seen on . p. 29. l. 8. r. and that . p. 95. l. 27. r. and the want of goodness . p. 120. l. 5. r. the bitten animal would be . p. 126. l. 12. r. twice through , for , twice in the day-light . p. 163. l. 12. r. adapt . p. 165. l. 1. r. with salt and dill. p. 172. l. 1. r. simples be in . depiction of skeleton and various bones of a snake depiction of the reproductive organs of a snake depiction of the internal organs of a snake the anatomy of a viper . general observations upon this animal . chapter i. i know not , what ground the antient writers upon this animal had , to say , that in the copulation , the male did insert his head into the throat of the female , and there emitted his seed , thence falling into her matrix , where she first did form eggs and then young vipers : that the female , finding a titillation from the emission of the seed , snapp'd off with her teeth the head of the male , and so kill'd him ; and that the young vipers , being ready to be brought forth , did pierce the womb and the sides of their damm , to make a passage for themselves ; so that by killing her , they revenged in some manner the death of their sire . i confess , that this story , or tale rather , having neither reason nor experience on its side , i cannot take the part of those authors . i esteem , that a viper , which is a kind of creeping serpent , is indeed procreated by the conjunction of male and female ; but this is done by means of the organs designed for generation ; of which we shall make a description in their proper place , and which this animal hath common with all others , and that more in number , than most animals . the viper differs from other serpents , not only in this , that it creeps more slowly , and jumps not ; but chiefly herein , that its little ones receive their perfection in the womb , and come forth alive after the usual manner ; whereas the femals of other serpents lay eggs , which they incubate , and hatch , either in the sun , or in their recesses , the viper is by many taken for an image of malice and cruelty ; but in reality she is guilty of no such thing , if she be not hurt or vex'd ; for , if she be , she becoms furious , aud bites very piercingly : but she never assaults man or beast , except she be angred . and if at times it happen , that she bites some person or other sleeping in the field , certainly that body must have thrust or otherwise hit her ; for else she would never have bit him . it may very well be said , that by that means the stratagem of annibal succeeded , when he caused a quantity of earthen pitchers fill'd with vipers to be thrown into the shipps of the king of pergamus , his enemy ; in regard that on the one hand the pots being broken , did hurt and anger the vipers , and stirr'd them up to bite whatsoever was within the reach of their teeth ; and on the other , the sight of these creeping creatures , scattered about here and there in the ships , frighted the souldiers and disorder'd them , so that they could not fight . mean time a viper attacks and kills those animals , which she means to devour for her nourishment , as spanish flyes , scorpions , froggs , mice , moles , lizzards and the like ; which she swallows whole , after she hath kill'd them with her bigger teeth . the smaller prey she sends down whole into her stomach ; the bigger she partly lodgeth in her stomach , partly in her weasand . there can hardly be made any perfect digestion in the stomach of vipers , both because the heat is there not well united , by reason of the great aperture , there is at the mouth , where the oesophagus or weasand ends ; and because they have not moisture enough to help the fermentation and the concoction of food . but yet this hinders not * the conveyance of the juyce and of the finest part of the swallow'd animals into all the parts of their body for nourishment : which is not performed but in the space of many days , during which , the excrements and superfluities of the nutriment are carried into the gutts , whence the grosser parts of them are cast out again by the mouth . this we have lately observ'd in a great part of the body of a lizzard , which a viper vomited up twelve days after she was taken ; where we saw , that , of the head and of the fore-leggs , and of that part of the body contiguous to them , and which could conveniently be placed in the stomach of the viper , there rested little more than the bones ; but that a great part of the trunk , together with the hind-leggs , and the whole taile , were in a manner in a condition , as if the viper had swallow'd them that day , as appears in the 2d figure . but we were surprised , among other things , to see , that the parts , which could not enter into the stomach , and had remained in the oesophagus , had kept so long well , i mean , without suffring any alteration in the skin ; although those underneath had contracted some lividness , which perhaps was an effect of the venemousness of the biting . vipers can live for many months without any food , and after they are once taken , they eat no more , living then only upon the air , they take in . and although they be greedy enough of lizzards , when at liberty , yet i have found , that having thrown lizzards alive into a barrel , wherein i kept a good number of living vipers , and leaving them there whole days and nights , the vipers did no hurt at all to the lizzards . the substance of vipers is viscous and compact , and perisheth not but very slowly and difficultly . their skin is scaly , which defends them from the injuries of the air , and maketh that the spirits unite themselves so firmly to the body , that 't is hard for them to quit it ; and we see , that they remain yet many hours in the head and in all the parts of the trunk , after t is flead , emptied of all the gutts , and cut in many pieces : and this is the cause , that the motions and windings so long continue in them ; that the head is able to bite , and its biting as dangerous , as when the viper was entire ; and that the heart , even after it is pull'd out of the body , and sever'd from the other inward parts , keeps its beating for many hours . whence it may be concluded , that the viper , which is composed of parts so closely united together , and in which are found such perfect spirits , can impart to man what it hath most accomplisht and in so great abundance : so that we need not wonder , if we find the remedies , we draw from its body , are of a not-ordinary vertue . a viper voids not much excrement , and what she voyds is not offensive , whereas that of snakes stinks much , and hath the smell of stale and corrupt urine . neither have we ever found any ill smell in opening the vessels , wherein we used to keep vipers alive , unless some viper or other had been dead and putrifyed . for my part , i have never received any inconvenience from any ill air , which some pretend to issue forth at the opening of those vessels . vipers make no holes in the earth to hide themselves in , as other serpents do ; but ordinarily they hide themselves under stones or old ruines , where they may be often found heaped up and wound together in clusters . when 't is fair weather , they love to lurk under bushes and tufted plants . they commonly couple twice a year , the first time in the month of march ; and they goe with their young ones 4. or 5. months ; which being perfect , come forth one after another by the common opening of the matrix , and in great number , even to twenty and twenty five . they draw out with them , in coming forth , a small tegument fastned to their navil , like an after-birth , which the damm by little and little separateth with her tongue , as they are born one after another . vipers cast a skin every spring , and sometimes even in autumne : which hath occasioned a belief , that they have a vertue , able to make young again , and to preserve the strength of those , who use them either for a preservative or a remedy . the description of a viper chap. ii. of the parts , which present themselves first . sect . i. of its external figure . the vipers , males and females , that we have in france , being of their full growth , are in the middle of their body a good inch thick ; but that of females is bigger , when they are with young , especially when the young ones are ready to come forth . they are commonly two good foot long ; and there are some , that are somewhat longer . their head , which is flat , hath a kind of border round about the edges of its upper part , and in that they differ from snakes , which have all that round bared and taken down , and the head sharper and narrower , in proportion to their body . the head of a viper is in all an inch long , and towards the top thereof it is 7 or 8 lines broad ; and then lessening by little and little , it is not above 4 or 5 lines broad about the eyes , and 2 lines onely about the end of the nose . it is about 2 lines thick . the neck , taken where it begins , is about the bigness of a mans little finger . that of males is ordinarily a little thicker than that of females : yet there are some of the females , which , when full , appear to have a neck even thicker than that of males . the tail of males is always longer and thicker than that of females , because it contains the parts of generation double ; and in their interstices there are also two small bladders somewhat long , serving for a reservatory of their seed , which make their tail bigger . this of the males is about four fingers square long ; but that of females not much longer than three . the upper part of the taile of males is , at its beginning , about the bigness of their neck , and ends sharp , as doth also the tail of females . neither of them stings , nor have they any venom in them . sect . ii. of the skin of vipers . no vipers are seen , but they have their skin spotted : but the ground of the colour is different enough ; for sometimes 't is whitish , sometimes reddish , in some 't is gray , in others yellow , in others tawny . this ground is always speckled with black spots , or at least much darker ones than the rest ; they appear like different cyphers or characters , ranged in spaces , even enough , and answering one another , especially on the top and the sides of the body . some of them are also upon the head , and among the rest , two in the form of horns , which take their rise between both eyes , and open themselves and reach towards the two sides of the top of the head , and are sometimes 4. or 5. lines long , each of them , and halfe a line broad . opposite to the middle of these two horns , there appears a speck of the bigness of a small lentile , being shaped like the iron of a pike : and this is that , which is , as 't were , the first and principal of all these specks , seeming to guide them all along the back-bone . the skin is all cover'd with scales , the greatest , strongest and most considerable of which , are those under the whole body , and some under part of the head. their bigness and force is necessary for them , to fortify the viper in the place that is feeblest and least capable of defence ; besides that they support the animal , and serve it , instead of feet , for creeping , and for carrying its body to and fro . these great scales are alwayes of the colour of steel , from one end to the other , and different from those of snakes , which are commonly mark'd with a yellow colour . they open , and stick , according as the viper will recoyle , or stop . the extremity of these great scales is , as 't were , sow'd beneath the other little scales , which cover the whole body . those under the head , reach in their breadth towards the two jawes ; they are lesser , streighter and softer than those under the belly , and terminate at other smaller scales , which go on to cover the whole undermost part of the head , and , beginning their ranks towards the ends before , continue them at the sides of those ranks as far as towards the bottom of the jaws . from the beginning of the neck unto the beginning of the tayl , there are as many great scales , as there are vertebraes or joynts of the back-bone ; and as each vertebra hath on each side a ribb , each scale meets by its two ends the points of both , and serves them for a defence and stay : the same abuts also on each side at the end of one rank of litle scales , wherewith the rest of the body is covered , and it seems , that 't is placed there to receive them . these small scales are admirably well ranged , they lying upon one another , and representing each as 'twere halfe a round towards their extremity . their ranks appear always sloping , whether you look on them from the right side to the left , or from the left to the right ; some what after the manner of the ranks of small slate , that are cut in a halfe round , in some places seen in olthe tops of houses . these scales are more or less great , according as the part of the body , they cover , is greater or lesser . the symmetry of them is always very exquisite and even ; and is sutable to the great scales , united to their ranks beneath . there are also observ'd on the top of these scales , and all along the back , many fine and distinct lines , passing streight along from the hind-part of the head unto the end of the tayl. the scales , that are under the tayl from the beginning of it to the end , are divided , and yet they appear united and ranged in the middle by a very orderly and pleasing compartment ; and their bigness goes diminishing in proportion with the tayl. the skin of the head is also covered with small scales , and at the end of the nose turned up , and so on , even round about , as far as towards the eyes , in the manner of a swines-snout . there are observed only six openings in the skin of a viper : the biggest is that of its throat ; the other four are those of the two nostrils , and of the two eyes ; the last is that , which is at the lower-most end of the belly , where is the beginning of the tayl , which incloseth not only the hole of the gut for voiding the excrements , but also those of the organs of generation , as well of males as females . this last opening is shut by the last of the great scales , which is advanc'd in the form of a half round , and opens in falling lower at the time of copulation , as it also doth at the time of the young vipers being cast , and of the excretion of their dung . the throat opens and shuts at the will of the animal ; the nostrils remain alwayes open , and the eyes have eye-lids to cover them upon occasion . there is no aperture in the skin to give any passage for hearing ; nature , it seems , serving herself of the apertures of the nostrils for that purpose . vipers ordinarily cast their scaly skins twice a year , under which they are furnisht with another , quite formed , which at first appears much fairer , and of a more vivid colour , than that which is cast off . and there is also insensibly forming an other new one , against the time it is to serve , when that which now covers it shall be severed from it : so that a viper hath at all times a double skin ; and all these skins , though furnisht with scales , are notwithstanding transparent , being held and look't on against the day-light . this external description might be sufficient for those , who shall desire no more but to know how to discern vipers from other serpents , but the anatomical description of all the parts under the skin will be much more satisfactory and more necessary for those , who shall desire to know exactly all the good and all the ill in a viper . chap. iii. of the parts of the head of a viper sect . i. of the nose and nostrils . beginning at the extremity of the head there are the nose and the nostrils . the former is made up of a bone some what gristly , furnisht with some ends of muscles , that come farther off , and are accompanied with some small veins and arteries . this bone is also cover'd with the scaly skin , turn'd up , as was said above , at its extremities . there are two pipes , in the two sides , that form the nostrils , which have each a small and round opening on the right and the left side , before , and the proper nerve , which coms down from the fore-part of the brain unto their orifice , and communicates to them the objects of smelling . the same pipes serve also to receive two small nerves , which issue each from the lateral part of the brain , and serve for hearing . this gristly bone hath several angles round about , and is articulated by two strong ligaments within and about the hollow and anteriour part of the skull ; which hinders not , but that it is a little flexible in this articulation . sect . 2. of the skull . the skull is found hollow in the forepart of it , and represents the shape of an heart in this cavity , when the bone of the nose is separated from it . there are two points advancing , which in part embrace that bone ; it is in the superior part surrounded with a small border , advancing in the fashion of a cornishe ; it is notch'd on both sides , where the eyes are scituate , and there forms their round holes , of which the hind-part reaches out to a point , to which answers that before . the whole skull in all its parts is of a very compact and hard substance . there are three principal sutures in the part above ; the one , which may be call'd the sagittal , which divides long-wayes the part above the two eyes ; the second , which may be term'd coronal , divides the skull a-cross behind the two eye-holes ; the third , separates it also cross-ways near the beginning of the back-bone . in the surface of the upper part of the skull , may be observ'd the figure of an heart well represented , seated in the middle thereof , which hath its basis near the suture coronal , and carries its sharp end towards the hind-part of the skull , which is sever'd by the third suture . there is also another great suture , round about the nethermost lateral parts of the skull , by which it may be divided into two bodies , an upper and lower . this latter is made in the form of a turn'd back , going long wayes , hollow in the middle , and representing the shape of a culter , which hath a kind of little wing on its sides , and whose point advances beneath the middle of the eyes . it s latter part descends as far as the bottome of the palate , where it hath in its lower part a point descending in the form of an overturn'd hillock . all the sutures of the skull are so well united in their conjunction , and so strongly connected , that 't is very hard to distinguish them , and yet more to separate the parts of them without breaking them , unless the skull be boyled in some liquor . sect . 3. of the brain . the substance of a vipers brain is divided into five main bodies , of which the two first are oblong , each of the size and shape of a grain of succory-seed . they are seated long-wayes between the two eyes ; and 't is from these bodies , that the olfactory nerves do proceed . the three other are in the middle part of the skull , and under that figure of the heart , of which we have been speaking . each of these bodies is near as big as a grain of the seed of milium solis , and represents almost the shape of a pear , the point of which is turned towards the fore-part of the head. two of these bodies are seated in the upper part long-wayes , and one on the side of the other ; the third , which is a little less , is placed under the middle of the two , and may be call'd the cerebellum , or little brain . the spinal marrow seems to be the same body with this last , although it have a separate place in the hind-part of the skull . it is of a substance somewhat whiter and softer than the bodies , we have been just now speaking of , and of the size of a small grain of wheat . it produces a body of the same substance , which extends it self long-wayes , and passing in a strait line thorough all the vertebra's or joints of the back-bone , terminates at the end of the tayle . the bodies of a vipers brain are cover'd with a coat , thick enough , and sticking fast enough to them , which may be called the dura mater . : it is black , whence it hath hapned , that some authors , not taking the pains to look under this tunicle , have affirm'd , that vipers brains were black . under this dura mater , each body of the brain , separately , hath also a little membrane involving it , which may be termed the pia mater . there are observed some small interstices betwixt these bodies , and even in the body of the spinal marrow , which might pass for ventricles : and i doubt not , but that , if the subject were a little bigger , we might observe in it most of the considerable parts , that are to be found in bigger animals . sect . 4. of the eyes , and their principal parts ; as also of those , that serve for hearing . the eyes of vipers are very quick , and their aspect is exceedingly fixt and bold . they have their nerves , muscles , veins , arteries , apple , chrystallin , uvea , cornea , eye-lids , and the other parts , like enough to those of the eyes of other animals . the most considerable nerves are the optick , which parting from behind both the eyes , do meet together and conjoin laterally at the beginning of the little brain , and there make as it were the figure of an x , and opening themselves after this conjunction , they encompass that little body by the sides thereof , and render themselves at the beginning of the spinal marrow , which receives them . the smallness of all the other parts being such , as that it maketh their examination difficult , and we having not been able to find any thing particular in them , i esteem , that as it would be very troublesome to make researches thereof , so it would be to no purpose , to make a description of them . the two upper bodies of the brain send each from their lateral fore-part a small nerve , which piercing the skull , runs along the temples , where it joins it self to the salival glands ( whereof we shall speak hereafter ) and following them , it passeth under the eye , where it divideth it self into two branches , of which the chief inserts it self into the bone and the conduit of the nostrils , to serve for the sense of hearing , and the lesser descending towards the teeth , called the dog-teeth , it ends there , after it hath divided it self into several branches . sect . 5. of the bones of the head , that are jointed to the skull . on each upper side of the middle of that heart , which is seen above in the skull , there is a little flat bone , a matter of a line and an half long , that is firmly articulated to it , which following and adhering to the same side of the skull as far as to its hind-part , becomes to be articulated anew to another flat bone , longer and stronger , and forming there as 't were an elbow . this latter bone goeth downwards , and is strongly jointed to the inward end of the lower jaw ; in the middle of which articulation , the upper jaw terminates , and is there jointed , but not so firmly , because it hath other articulations , which the lower hath not . these bones , which are like clavicles , serve both for a support to the jaws , and to open and shut them ; and for this purpose they are assisted by the nerves and muscles , which nature hath provided them with . there is also at each advancing end of the eye-hole a little flat bone , being about a line and an half long , which is strongly articulated with the root of the dog-tooth , and by its other end is also firmly jointed to the middle of the upper jaw , as well to support it , as to make it advance together with the great tooth , when it is raised to bite . the upper jaw is divided in two , before , and is separated , by the gristly bone , from the nose , where its two ends are articulated on each side . these two jaws are much more inward than those below , and the great teeth are seated without their rank and at their side , tending outward , and do serve them for a defence . they are made up , each of one only bone , that is about six lines long . the lower jaw is also divided in two . these jaws are annexed , before , one to the other , by a muscle , which opens or shuts them at the pleasure of the animal ; and they have no other articulation but that , we have spoken of about their inward end , viz. with the clavicle coming down from the skull , and with the inward end of the upper jaws . each of these jaws is composed of two bones , articulated together towards the middle of the jaw ; that which is before , embraces above and below that which is behind , and can bend it self outward in this place , when the viper will bite , and is a little curved inwards toward its extremity ; and 't is upon this bone alone , that the lower teeth are fastned . sect . 6. of the teeth . the opinions of the antients have been very differing about the number of the great teeth of vipers , and most have held , that in this the female exceeded the male , and that the plurality of the great teeth was the chief mark , whereby to distinguish her from him . i have been careful to inform my self about it , and have taken pains to grovel with a great deal a patience in the gums of innumerable vipers ; but all being well examined , i have not found , as to this point , any true difference of one sex from the other , but sometimes more , sometimes less teeth in one and the other . i have casually met on each side with two great teeth fixed , placed very near together , and on the side of one another , as well in males , as females ; but in most of both sexes i have found only one , fixed on each side , cover'd , to two thirds of their height , with a tunicle or bag sufficiently thick , fill'd with a yellowish juyce , which is transparent and pretty fluid ; and in this vesicle , in the midst of this juyce , and under the great and main teeth , a differing number of teeth ill set , some longer than others , and all hooked , of which i have counted , in several vipers , from two to five , six and seven , on one and the same side , under the self-same tooth , and in the same bag. these great teeth are only in the upper part , standing on the side , and without the jaws of the animal , where they are like bulwarks . they are about two lines long , hooked , white , hollow , and diaphanous throughout , as far as to their sharp point , which is very subtle and exceedingly piercing . they have many little cavities towards their root , in which the other teeth are planted . these teeth commonly remain lying along the jaw , and their point appears not but at the moment the viper will bite ; for then it raiseth them , and advanceth them jointly with the upper jaw , drawn by the bone , which at one end is articulated in the middle of it , and at the other , to the root of the great tooth . the yellow liquor , contained in the vesicle , serveth not only to moisten the ligaments , and to make them fit for the bending of the teeth , but also to nourish them , and to make those grow , that are there as 't were in a nursery , and are , if we may say so , in expectation to serve instead of the many teeth , whether these come to fail in their force , or fall out of themselves . all the jaws , both upper and lower , are fortify'd with bent teeth , that are hollow , pellucid and sharp , as the bigger teeth , but that they are much smaller . their number is uncertain enough , whether it be , that nature produces sometimes more , sometimes less of them , or that that fineness maketh them apt to break . there is little difference , as to the number , in those above from those below . ordinarily there are eight teeth in each jaw , but at times i have found nine , ten , eleven in each . those that advance most , are a little bigger than the deepest ; and just as those below answer in scituation to the dog-teeth , that are above them , they have at the end of each side one tooth , that is a little bigger than all those of the other jaws , and another , lesser , at the side , at the end of the part bent inwards . there is a great difference in the teeth and jaws of vipers , from those of snakes : for , these have no dog-teeth ; and although their jaws are all divided in their foremost part like as in vipers , yet they exceed them in the number of jaws , and in the number of teeth ; for , they have four jaws above , and two below ; two of those above are situated all along and close to the rim of the lip , and serve for a defence to the two other jaws , that are seated in the same place , where those in vipers are . besides , i have counted 13 teeth in each exterior jaw above , and as many in each of the jaws below , and 20 in each superior inward jaw ; so that i have counted of them to 92 teeth in one snake , and all these teeth are bent , fine , hollow , white and transparent , like those in vipers . sect . 7. of the nerves , veins , arteries and muscles of the head in general . the chief nerves in the head of a viper are , first , those of which we have spoken , namely those of the smell , the sight and the hearing . besides , there are those of the taste , that which may be call'd the sixth par vagum , which is afterwards distributed into all the vital and natural parts ; and those , which issuing from the spinal marrow are carried through the whole habit of the body . there are also many nerves , that go from the inferiour part of the brain , and pass through the skull , but by reason of their subtility and fineness , 't is hard to follow them to their insertion . there is yet another nerve that is considerable , which proceeds from the skull , behind that of hearing , which leaves , in the space between , a small apophysis , or process , or knot , in the skull , and which , descending along the clavicle , runs upon the superiour jaw , and is inserted in its middle ; then it goes on in the middle to its extremity , and distributeth it self into all the teeth , fix'd there . the head hath also its veins and arteries , which coming from the liver and the heart , distribute themselves there into an infinity of branches , by which all those parts are bedew'd . it is also provided of many muscles , at the sides and below the skull , and about the clavicles , and superiour and inferiour jaws , that serve not only to fill up the cavities of the skull , and to cover the bones that are articulated there , but to give motion to all the parts that need it : to which also the nerves contribute their share . sect . 8. of the salival glands of a viper . the opinion of the antients , that the seat of the vipers poyson was the gall , and that from thence it ascended into the gums , by vessels odly enough fancied , hath seem'd to me too far from all probability to follow it . i therefore thought , that that particular did very well deserve a strict enquiry , and that it was of moment to discover the truth thereof . on the other side , the curious observations , made on this subject by signor redi , a florentine philosopher , whose merit is known and esteem'd by all the learn'd , seemed to me , as to all those that have seen and examin'd them , not only reasonable and possible , but i was altogether perswaded of the candor and ability of that illustrious person . upon his accompt and relation , i never scrupled to taste often of the gall of vipers , as well as of the yellowish liquor , contained in the bags of the gums ; and i have found in both the truth of what he hath observed thereof , namely a great bitterness , and a great sharpness in the gall ; and the taste of a saliva or spittle sufficiently flat , and approaching enough to the taste of the oyle of sweet almonds , in the yellow liquor of the gums . these great differences of the qualities in the one from the other , made me believe that there was a great diversity in the matter of them , as well as in their source ; and i believed at first , following signor redi , that there might be salival vessels in vipers , as there have been lately found in man , and divers other animals ; so that after many researches , made with attention and patience enough , in many vipers heads , i discover'd at length such glands , proper to form this juyce , and to convey it to the gums ; and after i was well perswaded of it my self , i shew'd them to divers of those knowing physitians , that had met at my house the last year . these persons had a mind to see with their own eyes , and after they had well examin'd the parts which i shew'd them , they not only found them true , but they there also saw a greater number of smaller vessels , than had appear'd to me , of which some , that are arteries and veins , pass above the glands , and others , that are lympheducts , run below : so that they judged , that i could confidently assert and describe these glands , which i call salival , and which they had acknowledged together with me ; though signor redi durst not speak positively of them , because he had not discover'd them , neither had they been described by any author of their knowledge , nor by any one of mine . these glands are found in all the heads of vipers , both males and females ; they are seated on both sides , and joining to the skull , in the hind-part of each round of the eyes , and at the same height with them . there are many small ones join'd together , which may be call'd conglomerate glands , which are easily distinguishable by their form and colour , which is different from the muscles , neighbouring to them , and of which there is one , that may be call'd temporal , which in part covers them by its extremity . this heap of glands appears there of the bigness of the neighbouring eye , and extending it self in length , continues its progress in the orbite of the eye , below , and in part behind the eye . each gland hath its little lymphatique vessel , which parts from it as from a little teat , and goes disgorging it self into a greater vessel , that runs all along and under these glands , and passeth into the vesicle of the gum , and terminates in the midst of the articulation , which the root of the great teeth maketh with the advancing corner of the said orbite , and with the little bone , which by its other end is articulated in the middle of the upper jaw . this principal vessel , which , being considered alone , is very little in appearance , but is not so in effect , seing it receives the discharge of all the small vessels , that come from each gland , empties it self into the bag of the gums , and carries thither that salival juyce , which may have qualities approaching to those of the saliva or spitle of man , or of the foam or drivel of divers other animals . the nerve , which serves in the nostrils for the faculty of hearing , runs for some space along these glands , which are also , as i have already said , smal veins and arteries . but having well considered the substance , quality , and situation of these glands , we judged their formation not to be in vain ; but that their use , in all likelyhood , was to receive the humidities both of the brain , the eyes , and the neighbouring parts ; and that their discharge was very convenient and even very necessary to the parts , which receive that liquor , as well for moistening the ligaments of the great teeth , and to keep them in a condition of bending , at such time when the viper will bite , and to increase the teeth , which nature hath made and set in the midst of this juyce . for the rest , examining and tasting the glands as well as the juyce , we found a taste altogether like that of the gums , which signor redi hath described , namely very near the taste of the oyle of almonds , without any bitterness , though it leave , a while after , a little acrimony in the mouth , such as may be discerned in all kind of spitle . as to the small glands , which signor redi hath observed at the bottom of the vesicles that contain this juyce , i can say , that i have with great care and diligence searched them , and that , 't is true , i have there found the appearances of glands , but having opened them , i saw nothing in them but small teeth which were fastned there , and are of the number of those , which i have called expectants , without finding any thing of a glandular nature there , nor that did , in the least , approach to the shape , substance or qualities of the glands , which i have been describing . the viper is not the onely among serpents , that hath salival glands ; for i have also found of them in the head of snakes , which glands were heaped together long-wayes , and scituated near each outward upper jaw , serving them for a defence , in a manner , as the dog-teeth do to vipers . these considerations , supported by many experiments , made by us , and to be related hereafter , have induced me to call these glands salival , and to ascribe to them the very source of that yellow liquor , which hath been so much decryed , and with-all so little known , and is nothing else , but a pure and very innocent spittle . i hope , that those , who shall take the pains of carefully examining , after me , these glands , and this juyce of the gums will not stick to give me their suffrages . chap. iv. of the other bones of a viper , and the principal parts , thence depending . the great number of bones , which rest in the body of a viper after those of the head , consists only in the vertebra's or joints of the back-bone , and the ribs . these joints begin at the hind-part of the skull , to which the first is articulated ; the other are ranged consecutively , strongly joined to one another , and they continue to the end of the tayle . every viper , both male and female , hath an hundred and forty five vertebra's , from the end of the head to the beginning of the tayl , and two hundred and fourscore and ten ribs , which is the double number of the vertebra's ; to each of which there are articulated two ribs , one to each side , which are bent , and do embrace the vital and natural parts of a viper , and each point whereof rendevouses at one of the ends of the great scale under the belly , which is fit for both ; so that there are as many great scales under the belly , from the end of the head unto the beginning of the tayle , as there are vertebra's , consorted by their two ribs : besides that , there are twenty five vertebra's from the beginning of the tayle to the end thereof ; and those vertebra's have not any ribs , but , instead thereof , little apophyses , or processes , which lessen in their magnitude , as the vertebra's do , tending towards the extremity of the tayle . there are four great muscles , very firm and very long , which take their origine from the hind-part of the head , and descend , two of them on each side of the spinal processes , one joining to the spine , and the other to the side and a little below the first , which it accompanies all along unto the end of the tayle . there are also two great muscles of the like length , which are fastn'd to the inferiour part of the vertebra's , and accompany them from one end to the other , as well as the superiour ones . we also observe , on each side , as many intercostal muscles , as there any vertebra's , serving for the same use , that those of other animals do , which sever the ribbs from the place of their root unto their point all these muscles are also accompanied with veins and arteries , as well as the greatest . chap. v. of the other internal parts of a viper . sect . 1. of the tongue . the tongue , which the viper darts out and draws in often and very quick , presents her self first of all . she is placed between the two jaws below , and composed of two bodies , fleshy , long and roundish , and terminating in very sharp and flexible points . these two bodies are contiguous , and adhere to one another all along , from the place 〈◊〉 their root as far as to the two third parts of their length . the inward half of these bodies is of the colour of flesh , but the other half , i mean that which is often thrust out , is of colour blackish . the tongue may be , in all , an inch and an half long . it s root begins half an inch lower than the bottom of the throat ; and 't is firmly annex'd , below the neck , to two tendinous bodies , which are two or three lines long . there are some vipers , whose tongues have three points , and some also , that have four . these points , though often darted out , prick not , nor hurt any body ; though perhaps they may frighten the ignorant . they chiefly serve vipers to catch these small creatures , which they have a mind to devour . the tongue is envelop'd by a kind of sheath from one end to the other . sect . 2. of the wind-pipe and the lungs . the wind-pipe hath its beginning at the entrance of the throat , where it presents a hole in an oval , raised on high , and having as 't were a little beak in its lower part . it is composed , at its entrance , of many gristly rings , joyned to one another ; which continue about the length of a good inch , and fall into the right side of the viper , where they meet with the lungs ; and from that place you see no more but the half rings turn'd upside down , which being joyned on both sides to the membrans , that depend from the lungs , and which are annexed to it below from one end to the other , being assisted by the said lungs , serve for respiration , and continue their rank and their connexion , as far as to the fourth part of the liver , which lies under it ; as well as the heart . the winde-pipe is in all eight or nine inches long ; and at the place , where its half rings end , it is united with a membrane , which attracts and receives the air , as far as to the beginning of the intestins , where it forms , as it were , a roundish bottom of a sack . the lungs , being joyn'd to the wind-pipe , and making with it one body , are consequently situate , as it , on the right side . they begin , where the whole rings of the winde-pipe do end . they are made in the form of a net ; they have no lobes at all , they are red , very clear and very vivid , of a substance fine enough , sufficiently transparent , and a litle rough . they are fastned by membrans to the upper part of the imperfect rings ; being seven or eight inches long , and about one inch broad ; and all over embroidered with veins and arteries . sect . 3. of the heart , and the liver . the heart and the liver are also seated on the right side of the viper ; and before the heart there is , about the third part of an inch , a little fleshy and flattish body , of the bigness of a little pea , which is filled with water ; this little body is placed under the lungs as well as the heart and the liver , and is suspended by the same membrans , which support it : it may be taken for a kind of thymus or kernel , and may serve for the same uses . the heart is seated about four or five inches below the beginning of the lungs ; of the bigness of a small beane : it is somewhat long , fleshy , and encompassed with its pericardium , which consists of a sufficiently thick tunicle . it hath two ventricles , one on the right , the other on the left side : it also hath two apertures . the blood , which comes from the vena cava , enters into the right ventricle , and being passed into the left , issues thence by the aorta , which presently is divided into two great branches , one of which ascends into the upper parts , and the other , passing below the oesophagus or wesand , and taking its way sloping , subdivideth it self afterwards into many other branches , which spread themselves and are carried to all the parts , to the very end of the tayle . the liver is a fleshy part , of colour red-brown , seated half an inch beneath the heart , and supported by the same membrans : its length and breadth are unequal enough , but the greatest livers , i have seen , are five or six inches long , and half an inch large . it consists of two great lobes of which the right descends a good inch lower then the left . these two lobes are bedew'd by the vena cava , which seems to separate them all along into two bodies , and which makes even a separation in their lower half , running in their interstice , and serving to joyn them together in one body : the upper half of the liver is continued , and cannot be divided but by cutting it asunder . the trunk of the vena cava is divided into two branches in its upper part , of which the main and biggest endeth in the heart , and the other passeth under the lungs , and from thence into the superiour parts . this vein in its inferiour part is divided into many branches , which descend into all the parts below . a viper is destitute of a diaphragme , there being no solid traversing tunicle at all , that severs the vital parts from the natural : yet it may be said that that fine tunicle , which depends from the wind-pipe and the lungs , and goes down towards the intestins , and there forms , as 't were , the shape of a sack-bottom , may in some manner peform the function thereof . sect . 4. of the gall , and the pancreas , which the antients called the spleen . the bladder of gall is situate an inch below the liver , and on the side of the bottom of the stomack , and it leans to the left side . it is almost of the shape and bigness of a small bean lying flat . the gall is very green ; its taste very bitter and sharp ; its consistence approaching to that of a syrup not much boyled . i have found in the bladder of gall but one out-let by a small vessel , which issuing from the inward side of its upper part , is bent from its origine , and descending , and adhering , even in its beginning , to the internal part of this bladder , is afterwards divided into two branches , of which the principal and directest , passing through that body ( which the antients have taken for the spleen ) runs into the intestin , which receives it ; and the other lesser branch , turning about , seems to remount to the liver , but dividing itself into many small branches , becomes so indiscernable , that it cannot be followed any longer . it is not here , that i will refute the opinion of the antients concerning the venomous quality they have ascribed to the gall ; i leave that for another place , where i shall endeavour to maintain the balsamique quality of this juyce , and shew , that 't is free from all kind of poyson . the pancreas or sweet-bread , which all authors have called the spleen , is placed near and a very little below the gall , and on the right side of the viper . it is of the bigness of a good pea , of a seemingly fleshy substance , but indeed glandular . considering its situation ( which is close to the bottom of the stomach and towards the entry of the guts ) together with its kernelly substance , it maketh me believe , that 't is rather a pancreas than a spleen : but yet i leave the decision of it to those , who shall take the pains to examine it . sect . 5. of the oesophagus or weasand , and the stomach . the oesophagus takes its beginning at the bottom of the throat ; its situation is on the left side , and its passage directly on the side of the lungs and the liver , as far as to its union with the orifice of the stomach . it is made up of one onely membrane , very soft , and easy to be extended , and which may be swell'd even to the bigness of two inches . it is this part , which first receives the animals , the viper hath killed with its great teeth , and swallowed whole , it being proper for that purpose , both by its large capacity , and by its length , which is of a good foot . the stomack , which is next , is as 't were sowed at its bottom , and seems to make but one body with the oesophagus ; but yet is much thicker , and composed of two strong coats , one within the other , and sticking to one another . the thickness of its coats makes , that it cannot be swell'd to the same bigness with the oesophagus ; for it cannot much exceed the bigness of an inch . it is between three and four inches long ; its orifice is sufficiently large , as well as its middle , but the bottom of it grows streighter , and is commonly very close and firm , not opening it self , but to eject its excrements into the gutts . it s internal tunicle is full of rugosities when 't is empty , and in it there are very often found little worms of the length and thickness of small pins . the stomach is seated on the left side , as the oesophagus ; but the bottom of it is turned towards the middle of the body , to empty itself into the first gut. the length and capacity of the oesophagus , and the largeness of the entry of the stomach , are very well accommodated to the-nature of the viper , which sends nothing chew'd to the stomach , but swallows animals whole for its food ; and when some of them happen to be longer than the depth of the stomach , part of them stayes in the oesophagus , untill the stomach have extracted and sent away the juyce of the parts devoured , which it could hold ; after which it receives those that stay'd in the oesophagus . but this requires a good space of time , in regard that the stomach is not closed , and cannot gather any considerable heat to make a speedy digestion . sect . 6. of the intestins , kidneys , fat , and a tunique wrapping them up below . the intestins of vipers are situate in the midst of the body , under the back-bone , and immediately after the bottom of the stomach . i have onely observed three of them , of which the first and narrowest may be called the duodenum ; the second , which is larger , and full of many windings , may be called the colon ; and the third and last , the rectum , which also is very large and very streight ; and hath its aperture below and near the beginning of the tayle , at which the excrements pass away . these intestins have , at their sides , testicles , together with their vessels , both of the males and females , and the two bodies of the matrix of the latter , which we shall speak of hereafter . they contain also the kidnys with their vessels , which part from thence , and are accompanied of their veins and arteries , as also all vessels serving for generation ; and the intestins themselves are not destitute of them . the kidneys are placed below the testicles ; they are made up of many glandulous bodies , contiguous , and ranged long-wayes , one after another . they are commonly two inches and an half long , and two l●nes and an half large upon the round , which is a little flat . they are of a pale-red colour . the right kidney is alwayes seated higher than the lower in both sexes . they have also their ureters , at which they discharge the serosities near the extremity of the intestin . all the intestins , the testicles , and the kidneys are covered with a very white and very soft fat , which being melted hath the form of oyle . at times also there is seen in some vipers a little fat about the heart , the lungs , the liver , but especially close to the gall , and near that part , which some take for the spleen , and others for the pancreas . all these parts are wrapped about with a strong coat , that is firmly fastned to the extremities of the ribbs , which might pass for the epiploon , if the fat were joyned to it : but as the viper , which is a kind of serpent , passeth not but among the imperfect animals , i shall not determine the name of this tunique , to which the more intelligent may give what name they shall think most proper . chapt . vi. of the parts of vipers , that serve for generation . sect . 1. of the parts of the male. the male hath two testicles , which are somewhat long and roundish , and sharpen a little toward both ends . their colour is white , and their substance glandular . their length is unequal , the right being longer by an inch , than the left , and this also somewhat less in thickness . they are not thicker than the quill of the wing of a great capon . their situation is different ; for , the right begins near and beneath the gall , whereas the left begins about eight lines lower than the right . they are both suspended in their upper part by two strong membrans , coming from below the gall , and are ordinarily covered with fat , which maketh them hardly discernable , by reason of the likeness of colour they have with this fat . from the midst of each of these testicles , from the inward part , one may see issue forth a little body , long and slender , solid enough , and even somewhat whither than the substance of the testicles , which descends , and is fastned to them all along as far as to their lower end . it may be called the epididymis . there appears at the end of each , the beginning of a small stradling vessel , that may be called spermatique because of its office ; which is a little flat , very white , and shining enough , and commonly filled with seed , having the form of a milky juyce . this vessel is sufficiently delicate , and winds in its passage , after the shape of many ss joyned together , very pleasant to behold . from thence it descends between the intestin and the kidney , whose ureter it follows unto the hole of the last gut , at which the excrements pass away . it is also accompanied of veins and arteries from one end to the other , as well as the testicles , and it ceaseth to be winding a little before it comes to the aperture of the gut. each of these two spermatique vessels comes to rendevouse at its proper receptacle of seed ; of which there are two , that may be called parastates , which are like white kernels , each of the length , bigness and shape of a grain of carduus benedictus seed . these kernels are seated longways below and between the two natural parts : they are always full of a milky juyce , and altogether like that of the spermatique vessels , just now described : and to furnish for ejaculation at the time of the coitus , they transmit the seed , which they contain , into the ejaculatory pipes of the two natural parts , neighboring to them . i may say on this occasion , that those who have taken these two conservatories of seed for other testicles , have much deceived themselves in the opinion , they have entertained , that , there being two natural parts , there must also be for each of them two testicles : but their substance being quite different from the true testicles , by us described , and their office being to receive , and not to form , we do not acknowledge them but for parastates , which by little and little receive the seed , sent thither by the testicles , and reserve it , and keep it ready for the time of copulation , and to perform that in a moment , and seasonably , what the spermatique vessels would not be able to execute so soon , nor so well , because of their length and windings . the male hath two penes's altogether alike , which being pulled out are each as long as the tayl of the animal . their origine cometh from the extremity of the tayle , under which they are seated all along , the one by the other . they go increasing in bigness , as the tayle does ; at the beginning of which they end , and they have their issue near and at the side of one another , and close to the opening of the intestin , which maketh in a manner their separation . each of these is composed of two long and fistulous bodies , seated together one by the other , and which joyn towards their top in one body , which is environed with its prepuce , and hath its muscles erectors , as many other animals have . these parts are within full of many stings or pricks , very white and hard , and very sharp , so set , as that they have their sharp end variously turned ; of which the bigness and thickness answers to the place of the natural part , where they are set , so that as the top is bigger and thicker , the said stings are so too ; and they advance and appear not but when the prepuce , which covers them , shrinks down at the time of the animals disposition to the coit . these natural parts are ordinarily hidden , and they swell not , nor come forth , but for the coit ; unless it be , that , the animal being taken , they be forced out by pressing them ; for in that case one may see them both come forth equally , each about the thickness of a date , and of the length of two thirds thereof , and their top is altogether covered and quite beset with these pricks , like the skin of a porcupin ; and these stings retire and hide themselves under the prepuce , when one ceaseth to press them . the issue of these two parts is environ'd with a very strong and thick muscle , to which the skin is firmly fastned , and in such a manner that it is very difficult to separate it therefrom : which same muscle serveth also to open and shut the intestin . sect . 2. of the parts of the female viper , that serve for generation . the femal viper hath two testicles , as the male ; but they are longer and bigger . they are seated on the sides and near the bottom of the two bodies of the matrix , and the right is higher than the left , as 't is in males . their substance and colour also are very like them . the right is about one inch and an half long , and two lines and an half large ; the left is something less . they have their epididymis , and their spermatique vessels , that convey the seed into the two bodies of the matrix , and which are much shorter than those of the males . yet i observe , that these testicles appear not always such in all females , especially in those that are emaciated , either by sickness , or by long keeping ; for , their testicles shorten , streighten , and dry , like as in those , whose eggs are already great ; having observ'd , that in these the testicles are much shortned and dryed up , as also that they are descended lower , although the right be alwayes found higher than the left . the matrix begins in a body pretty thick , which is compos'd of two strong tunicles , and which being seated above the intestin , hath in the same place its orifice , which is large , and doth easily dilate , to receive at one and the same time , by the same aperture , the two penes's of the male , in the copulation . this body is about the bigness of a nail of a middle-sized finger , and is divided very near its beginning into two small baggs open at the bottom , and fram'd by nature to receive and embrace the two members of the male in the coit . their interiour coat is full of rugosities , and very hard , as is that of the whole body , which we have spoken of ; so that she suffers , and also feels pleasure from , the pricking of the little stings of the male's members , without being hurt thereby , although their points be very sharp . the matrix begins by these two little sacks or baggs to be divided into two bodies , which ascend each on its side along the kidneys , and betwixt them and the intestins , as farr as to the bottom of the stomach , where they are suspended by ligaments , which come from about the liver , being also sustained , from space to space , by divers small ligaments , that come from the back-bone . these two bodies are composed of two tunicles , that are soft , thin , and transparent , being one within th' other , their beginning is at the bottom of those two small bags , which embrace the two members of the male , from whence they receive the seed each from its side , to breed eggs of it , and so young vipers , by the conjunction of their own seed , which the testicles send thither . these two bodies of the matrix do very easily dilate themselves , that they may contain many young vipers , unto the time of their perfection : notwithstanding the opinion of some , who have affirm'd , that the matrix of a viper had but one onely body ; that it was seated in the midle , and all along the back-bone , and that there were in it distinct bodies to hold the eggs , and the young vipers , which bodies were dependants of this matrix . but , i believe , that the ground of their mistake hath been , in that those true bodies of the matrix being very delicat and very transparent , especially when they are swell'd and distended by the eggs , or the vipers , by them contained , have not passed in their opinion for true bodies of the matrix , and that they have taken for it the intestins , which are seated in the middle , and appear pretty bigg and thick , and seem to make but one and the same body with the first thick body of the matrix , under which the beginning of the first intestin is fastned and seated . the viper is not the onely animal , that hath her matrix divided into two like bodies , equally placed each on its side , and along the guts , which separate them ; for i have observ'd the same thing in many snakes , which i have open'd purposely to know the truth hereof . sect . 3. of the generation and production of young vipers . by the particular description , we have made of the parts serving the viper for generation , is is easy to renounce all the fables we finde in books , concerning the copulation of vipers , and the production of the young vipers : so that i shall not trouble the reader any further with them , but onely intimate , that by the means of the insertion of both members of the male into the two baggs of the matrix ; by the ejaculation of the seed , made of them both together , into the two bodies of the said matrix , which are united at the bottom of the baggs ; and by the concurrence of the femals own seed which her testicles emit at the time of the coit ; the eggs are first formed in both the bodies of the matrix : that each is covered by its little tunicle ; that the eggs of each body of the matrix are altogether wrapped up in one common membrane , commonly called the ovarium ; that all is inclosed in its proper body , the matrix ; that the eggs there take their increase ; that the young vipers are there formed and perfected ; that thence they come forth one after another by the same passage , where the seed of the male went in ; and that they are produc'd alive , as many other animals , without any need of the intervention of the dam's death . we can assure the truth of all these particulars , having verified them by an accurate examination of all the parts , at several times , and upon a great number of subjects ; and having seen the extension and swelling of those two bodies of the matrix , even at the time when the young vipers were perfected and ready to come forth ; and lastly having seen the passage free , by which they were to come abroad , and the young ones actually produced without any danger to the dam. we have noted , that the right body of the matrix of the viper is ordinarily fuller of eggs and young brood , than the left ; that the number of eggs is pretty unequal ; that at times there are twenty or twenty five , sometimes but half so many ; that the young vipers take their form and perfection in the egg ; that there they are seated and entangled divers wayes , and after a very pleasant manner ; that they have each within their egg a kind of after-birth depending from their navil , by which they draw their food ; that in coming abroad they train it after them , and in part are encompassed with it ; and that their dam frees them thereof , and cleanseth them by licking them when they are born . but although we have , as exactly as we could , described all the inward and outward parts of a viper , both of a male and female ; yet to the end that all may be the better understood , we shall address the reader to the following schemes , wherin he may see the same parts , we have just now described , represented and drawn to the life , together with their explication in the tables accompanying them ; hoping , that he will there find satisfaction . the reader is desired to take notice , that , having on the frontispice of this book represented two vipers , a male and a female , conjoyned tempore coitts , and there being in the exteriour part of their body no considerable difference in the one from the other , but in their tayle , of which the representation may be seen separately in the second figure ; i thought it needless , to exhibit the whole figure of a male by it self ; and have contented my self to have engraven the female in the state she is at the time when she produceth her young ones , which is that , which seem'd to me the most considerable for her exteriour figure . he will also find no fault with the situation , in which the viper is represented in the cutt , at the time when her young ones come forth , since that besides the symmetry , which hath been there industriously observ'd , it was also intended to shew therein the parts , that seem'd very necessary to me , and that could not be represented elsewhere . the explication of what is represented in the first scheme . a a a. the female viper , bringing forth her young vipers , exhibiting the lowermost part of her body ; where you may see the great scales , on which she creepeth . b b b b. four young vipers , each in one of the corners of the cut , appearing wreathed , and in the same posture and situation , wherein we have seen them alive and ready to come forth ; two of which appear without cover , one cover'd with its coat , and the other having a piece of its after-birth depending from its navel . c c c c. four other young vipers , within the ●ound , which the viper formeth ; one of which appears creeping , and clear of its secundine ; the other having it yet depending from its navel ; the third coming forth and training along with it the secundine ; and the last wrap'd about by it , and in the state , wherein it was , when ready to be born . d d. a part of a female viper , represented open under the belly long-wayes , and turned upside down , from the place of the gall , unto the orifice of the matrix . e. the gall. f. the pancreas or sweet-bread , which many have taken for the spleen . g. the bottom of the stomach . h. the beginning of the intestins . i. i. i. the eggs contain'd in the two bodies of the matrix , but being found in a far greater plenty in the right , than the left body . k. a part of the last gut. l. the orifice of the matrix , and of the gut. m m. the two little baggs , which join to the beginning of the two bodies of the matrix . n n. a part of each of the kidneys . the explication of what is represented in the second scheme . a a. the first half of the body of a male viper , flead , turn'd upside down , and open under the belly from one end to the other , containing b b. the wind-pipe . c c. the lungs . d. the thymus or kernel . e. the heart . f. the liver . g. the great vein , call'd vena cava . h h. the oesophagus or weasand . i. the ascending branch of the aorta . l. the descending branch of the same artery . m. the stomach . n n. the other half of the body , in the same condition with the first , containing o. the bottom of the stomach . p. the bladder of gall. q. the pancreas , or , according to some , the spleen . r r r. the intestins . s. s. the testicles , together with their epididymis . t t. the spermatick vessels . v v. the kidneys . a a. the tayle of a male , to which are annext the parts that follow . b b. the two members of generation , as they come forth at the time of the coit . c c. the two parastates , or conservatories of the seed . d d. the two spermatique vessels . e e. the two testicles . f f. the two epididymes . g g g. the guts . h h. the two kidneys . i i. the tayle of a female , to which are join'd the parts following . l l. the orifice of the matrix . m m. the two small baggs . n n n n. the two bodies of the matrix . o o. the two testicles with their epididymes , and spermatique vessels . p p. the intestins . q q. the two kidneys . r r. a great part of the body of a lizard , of the same length and bigness , it was vomited up by a viper , many dayes after this had been taken . s s. the rest of the head , and the rest of the fore-legs of the same lizard , cast up at the same time . t t. the oesophagus , that had contained the said great part of the lizard . u u. the stomach , that had contain'd , and by little and little extracted the juycie substance of the rest of this animal's body . the explication of what is exhibited in the third scheme . a. a whole sceleton of a viper . b. the head having its throat closed , represented with a part of its neck . c. the head having its throat in part open , flead on its side , and there presenting the salival glands , together with their lymphatick vessels , above the great teeth . d. the head without neck , represented with the throat open . e. another head without neck , more open , and distinctly shewing all its internal parts that can be there represented , and which may be easily understood in reading the places , where i speak of them . f. the whole skull of a viper . g. the inferiour part of this separated skull . h. the conglomerate salival glands , represented with their lymphatick vessels , a little bigger than the natural , to make them the better to be understood , and as well as their smallness permits . i. the same salival glands ; the two eyes with their optick nerves ; the five bodies of the brain , and that of the spinal marrow , adhering together , sever'd from the crane , and represented by the face above . l. the same bodies joined together , represented by the face below . m. divers great teeth , some by themselves , some in their bag , others accompanied by the teeth exspectants , which are set beneath them in the same bag . n. the upper jaw articulated to a small bone , which by its other end is articulated to the root of the great tooth . o. the lower jaw , consisting of two bones , and articulated to the lower bone of the clavicle bent like an elbow , which depends from the posteriour lateral part of the skull . p. the lungs with the wind-pipe without the body . q. the heart in its pericardium or inclosing membrane . r. the liver separated in two lobes by the vena cava . s. the bladder of gall , with the vessel that carrieth its juyce into the intestins . t. the pancreas or sweet-bread , which some take for the spleen . v. the intestins . experiments about vipers . chapt . i. the biting of a viper , hapned to a man. in the month of june of the year 1668 , i procured a great number of live vipers , males and females , to put the design in execution , i had purposed to my self ; which was , to know in truth all the good and all the evil , a viper was capable of . i was happy enough in exciting the curiosity of many intelligent persons , and amongst others , of some physitians of my acquaintance , very knowing and sagacious , who were pleased to take the pains of coming to my house every day , to assist in these experiments , and to impart to me their directions . the first meeting of all proved a sad one by a surprising mis-fortune . a certain forrainer , drawn to see our experiments by his own curiosity , felt in his own person , contrary to his expectation , a great part of the grievous accidents , which may be caused by vipers , and furnisht us , sore against our wills , with an experiment , which was followed with circumstances too considerable to be suppressed ; and i thought my self obliged to recite them first of all , because it was not onely the first , but the onely , that hath furnisht us with more remarkable things , than all the rest . this gentleman , of 25 years of age , had been by chance the day before at my house , when five or six douzen of vipers were brought thither . he would needs see them immediately , and i , being desirous to satisfie his curiosity , drew out of the vessel one of the vipers . he was not contented to see her , but took her in his hand , and kept her there for about a great quarter of an hour , suffering her to turn and winde herself about his hand and arm , the viper not so much as offering to bite him . then he tyed her about her neck , and so having hanged her , pulled off her skin , and emptied her of her guts to examine them . i am assured , that he would have been soundly bitten at that time , if the viper had been vexed ; but not having been so , and being pleased to breath another air than that of the vessel , where she had been long shut in , she let herself be tyed , after which she could not do that mischief , which certainly she would have done , if she had not been tyed . but this proved quite otherwise the next day ; for this stranger being come again to my house at the hour of the assembly , he saw one of the vipers upon the table , which had been held a long while between pincers , and was much angred . he would take her with his naked hand , though he was earnestly warn'd to forbear , it being represented to him , that he had been too bold already the day before . he had no sooner taken her in his hand , but she turn'd her head to bite him , and with one of her great bent teeth , she laid hold on the lateral inward part of his right thumbe , a little above the situation of the nail . the pricking appear'd no more than that of a pin ; and it seem'd to us not deep , and on the surface we only saw a very small hole with a very little redness ; so that it was not discernable but by its colour . there was not upon , nor about this litle hole , any sign of that yellow liquor contain'd in the baggs about the great teeth , and which is wont to be shed upon the wound , when a viper biteth deep ; yet the pricking caused some pain to him at the very first , but the finger swell'd not of it , no intumescence appearing but some hours after , as we shall relate more amply in the sequel . it was found proper to scarify the part wounded , and to make strong ligatures above the place bitten , both to stop the effects of the venom , and to discharge the wounded part of the same ; but the patient opposed these means , not believing them necessary ; and he could very hardly be perswaded to endure any scarification ; after which , he endured also an iron spatule very hot and heated over and over again , held very near to the prick't place ; which was done , to keep the pores open , and to fetch back and draw out some part of the poyson : mean while , we made the patient take two drachms of theriaque in half a glass of wine . in less then half a quarter of an hour after the pricking , the patient felt some debility , and call'd for a chair ; he wax'd at the same time very pale , and his pulse was found very low , very quick , and even interrupted . these accidents were followed by convulsive motions , and by a stifness of his whole body , and chiefly of his neck , and the muscles of his head : he then also complain'd of a very great pain towards his navil ; and there appear'd a coldness in his extreme parts , and in the whole face , which was covered with little drops of cold sweat : his lips also were swell'd , especially the lower . and finding himself urged by the pains about his navil , and a disposition to go to stool , he rose , and having voided some excrements , he vanish't away , and at the same time vomited not only all the theriaque he had taken , but all he had eaten at dinner , which was yet un-digested . we made haste to succour him , and found him so feeble , that he was not able to goe up again to the chamber , whence he was come down . and in regard his pulse continued weak , low , quick , and unequal , and his swoundings frequent , as well as his cold sweats , it was thought seasonable to give him a drachm of viper-powder in theriacal and carduus benedictus water , and to apply to him a great plaister of theriaque upon the heart and stomach , but he soon rejected what he had taken . one also came to give him some of the orvietan , mixt with new powder of vipers , but he vomited up that also , and desired to be put upon a bed , and to have other help administred to him . during all which time , he neither wanted his senses , nor the use of reason , notwithstanding all the feebleness of his body ; and he had had great aversion to the orvietan , having no faith at all in it , and not consenting to take it , but out of respect to some of those that were present , who had pressed it upon him . this vomiting not giving time to the remedies to convey and communicate their vertue to the noble parts , it was judged very proper to have recourse to the volatile salt of vipers , because that being very volatile and exceeding fit to be quickly conveyed to all the parts , even the most remote , the patient might thence feel the effects with more speed and efficacy , than from all the other grosser remedies , which having been rejected as soon as they were taken , had not had time to be made effectual by the stomach , nor to impart their vertue where need required . we therefore caused to be dissolv'd a drachm of this volatile salt of vipers in theriacal and carduus water , and gave him about a quart of this mixture ; he kept it a little while , and then cast up a part of it , mingled with store of phlegme very viscous . we made him take another like quantity of the same mixture , which he also kept for some time , and then vomited up , what might have remain'd of it in his stomach , and amongst it much phlegm . we continued to give him still more of the same composition as fast as he vomited it up ; and there were also given him several clysters , to appease the violent and stubborn pains , which he felt about his navil . his lips remained still swolne , his pulse naught , and his sweat cold , as well as his faintings continued very long ; but having persisted in the use of the volatil salt of vipers , his vomiting ceased , and he kept the eighth dose in his belly , which was given him about four hours after he received the mischief : the symptoms lessen'd from that time , the cold began little by little to retire , and gave place to the natural heat , which appeared sufficiently about five hours after the pricking ; his pulse returned , and was even and strong , but somewhat high . it was about ten of the clock at night , that the most troublesome accidents disappear'd , the patient was happy in his unhappiness , in being speedily and rationally succour'd . i left him not , before his mortal accidents had ceased ; and then he was carried to his lodgings , whether i accompanied him , and he was put to bed ; and by the advice of those persons , that frequently visited him during his distemper , i made a mixture of one drachm of confection of hyacinthe , and of as much of the confection of alkermes , and of one ounce of syrup of limons , and of four ounces of carduus-water , which was giv'n him at three times , from three hours to three hours . there were given him citrons to smell to , and from time to time some slices of them sugred . he took good broths , and drank ptisan made with scorzonera-roots , and the shavings of harts-horn , mingled with syrup of limons , he also drank sometimes a little wine , and there was dissolved of the confection of alkermes , sometimes in his broth , sometimes in his ptisane . this is a thing remarkable enough , that during all the great accidents , his finger was not changed , and there appeared not any swelling upon it , but that began , when those accidents ceased . in the mean time , the pains about the navil continued , though they were in some little degree abated ; which obliged the physitians often to prescribe him clysters . his belly was a little stiff , but not swelled ; his tongue was whitish , but not dry ; his eyes faint and wan ; his countenance pale , and his lips still swelled . the swelling of the finger extended it self that night over the whole hand ; which was often anointed with the oyl of scorpions , composed by matthiolus , and mixt with the queen of hungarie's water , but , notwithstanding this anointing , the tumor pass'd onto the arm the next day , with pain and redness , and advanced to the eye . it was thought fit to apply fomentations made with the roots of angelica , imperatoria , carlina , and aristolochia , and with the tops of scordium , centaurium , wormwood , st. johns wort , calamint , boyled in white wine , and withal to continue the anointing with the said oyle of scorpions among these fomentations . although this was done with great care , yet there appeared no great effect upon it ; the patient was squeamish , and once vomited up even his broth ; but this vomiting continued not . he alwayes used the same internal and external remedies , and the same food ; but although he found his other limbs in a good condition , and his pulse very equal and moderate , nor had any drought , heat , or pain in the rest of his body , yet was that of the navil obstinate ; and the swelling and the redness of the hand and arm still increased ; and from the beginning of the third day , it had seised on the shoulder of the same side , and descended to the arm-pit , upon the whole breast , and all the neighbouring parts , and even the whole region of the liver , notwithstanding the continual use of the fomentations , and the oyle of scorpions . all these considerations , joyned to the hot season , wherein we were , made us apprehend , lest the gangrene should strike to those parts . it was believed , that , since the outward remedies which had been judged most expedient , had proved successless , recourse must be had to internal ones ; which induced the physitians to give him , in the evening of the third day , a drachm of the root of contra-yerva in powder , dissolv'd in cordial waters , with as much confection of alkermes : but we saw no abatement of the redness , swelling , or pain ; on the contrary , we observ'd , that the swelling seem'd to seize on the left side . after we had well examin'd all things , we found it very necessary to return to the use of our first inward remedy , which had struck the great stroke , and had had a manifest good operation ; i mean , the volatil salt of vipers . this was in the morning of the fourth day after the biting . so we gave him half a drachm of that salt , dissolved in four ounces of carduus water , and we order'd that he should be well covered , to make him sweat . this medicine did work according to our expectation and desire ; for the patient not onely did sweat abundantly , but found a very considerable amendment in all the ill symptoms that had remain'd . his pain about the navil was almost not sensible ; the tumor of his lips , and that , which was in the region of the liver , breast , and under the arm-pits , vanish't , and that of the shoulder , arm and hand was much abated , as well as the redness and pain . we thence judg'd , that we should certainly cure the rest ; and to compass it , we gave the next morning to our patient a like dose of that volatil salt of vipers , which made him sweat again very largely ; the pain of the navil ceased altogether ; the swelling of the shoulder was wholly gone ; and that of the whole arm and hand was yet much more abated , as well as the redness and pain . and not to leave the cure imperfect , though the patient found himself exceedingly amended , we gave him the next day another such dose again , and the day following one more , whereby the whole swelling , all the redness , and all the pain of the arm , hand , and the finger itself , were dissipated ; mean while there was applyed to the finger a little plaister to cicatrize the incisions , that had been made there , and which were healed three or four dayes after . which did not hinder the patient to goe abroad , and to doe his business , as well as if he had never been bitten by the viper . those that shall read this history , and examine all the circumstances of it , the several and surprising accidents of the biting of the viper , which we saw , and the effectual operation of the remedies , employed to remove them , will therein find ample matter to exercise their reasoning upon , and will soon judge , that we had cause , accurately to inquire , as we have done , into all the parts of a viper , to know them well , and what they can doe ; to make a great number of experiments upon all its parts , and to apply ourselves to the preparation of the excellent remedies , that may be drawn from the body of this animal . the extraordinary effect of its volatil salt , in stopping and in overcoming , first of all the venome , which so violently exercised its tyranny over the natural heat , and all the noble parts , and which doubtless would have altogether triumphed over them : the activity , penetration , and force of the same salt , going to find out the poyson , and expelling it from the remotest parts of the body , where it had fortified itself , and whence it endeavoured to regain the place it had lost , and where , in the mean time , it seem'd to despise the ordinary most powerful remedies . all this , i say , is sufficient to make it to be wondred at ; and men will , doubtless , averr , that the ill , which vipers are able to cause , and which every one may easily avoide , is nothing in comparison of such a remedy , as the same vipers can furnish , and which may serve , not onely to heal their bitings , but also to overcome many other obstinate diseases , against which the ordinary remedies perform nothing ; not to speak of many other good preparations , made of vipers , which we intend to describe hereafter . experiments of the biting of vipers , upon other animals . chapt . ii. experiments upon dogs . the effects , that are surprising , are wont sensibly to touch the minds of men ; and they are they , which excite the curious to inquire into the cause of them ; and although this do alwayes precede those , yet it would not be known , and we should not so much as be aware that it was , if the effects thereof did not first appear . being therefore to treat of the biting of vipers , we hope , it will not be thought amiss , if we begin with the recitation of the experiments , by the examples of its effects . and not to be tedious to the reader ; having reviewed all that hath been experimented at my house , both the last and this year , i shall confine my self to what i think deserves most to be communicated , what serveth most to our purpose , and what may give most satisfaction to the curious . one of the most considerable experiments was made on a dog , which was bitten by an angred viper at the upper lipp . the dog was not much moved at it at first , but little by little grew sad , and his jaw began to swell : a little while after he vomited up the last food he had taken , and dunged . then some bread , flesh , and water being offred him , he would touch none of it , he remain'd in a prostrate posture without complaining , the place of the pricking waxed livid , and this lividness extended it self to the neck , and as far as the breast , as did also the swelling . at length he dyed , but not till fourty hours were past after the biting . his belly appear'd not swoln , and without we observ'd nothing extraordinary but the tumour and lividness in the part prick't , and thereabout . the dog being opened after his death , we found in the tronc of the vena cava a little bloud curdled , and we noted , that the rest of the bloud , in this place , in the heart , and every where else , was of a dark colour , and of a very ill consistence , as if it were blood in part dissolv'd and corrupted . the stomach appear'd of a darkish colour , but the mesentery and the gutts were darker . we found no alteration in the heart , liver , lungs , nor the spleen ; all these parts being of a very fine colour , and in their natural condition . the biting of a dog at the ear. this dog howled from the time he felt the biting , and continued his howling for half an hour ; then he ceased to howl and to complain . the place prick't wax'd livid , and swell'd , as also did the neighbouring parts . this dog vomited not , but voided some excrements , which seemed natural . he would neither eat nor drink , no more then the first , and he soon dyed , having liv'd no longer then twenty four hours after he had been bitten . we saw outwardly nothing un-common , but the lividness and swelling at the neighbouring part , and thereabout . but having opened him , we found all the inward parts in the same condition with those of the former dog . 't is true , we did not finde in this dog any coagulated blood , neither in the heart , nor the vena cava , nor else where , but it was of an obscure colour , and of an odd consistence , and in a visible disposition to coagulate . another biting of a dog. we had a dog bitten by an irritated viper at the tip of his nose , the dog howled , when he felt himself bitten , but was soon appeased , falling to lick the place prick't , and to scratch it with his paws . he lay not down , but continued for some time in that exercise , and went up and down in the chamber . the place bitten became somewhat black and blew , but swell'd not ; and a little while after the dog drank and eat , as if he had never been bitten : the lividness disappeared little by little , and the dog was as well as ever . the biting of a little dog . a yong puppy , but 7. or 8. dayes old , was bitten in the leg by an enraged viper ; the dog began to howl as soon as he was bitten , and so continued till he dyed , which he did one hour after . the part pricked was swelled and livid , as in the former , and the animal being open'd , we found nothing extraordinary in his body , save onely some lividness in the stomach and gutts , and some blackishness and ill consistence in the bloud , as in the others ; for all the other inward parts appear'd to us very sound . another biting of a dog. we caused also another dog to be bitten under the belly by another angred viper . he howled presently , but that lasted not long . the place bitten swelled much , and was very livid , and the tumor and lividness reached over all the natural parts . this dog drank often , but would eat nothing , and was alwayes in this condition without growing worse . two dayes after , to be more certain of the thing , we caused him to be bitten again , and that twice , near the same place , where he had been bitten at first . he again howled much , and the swelling increas'd , and extended it self over the whole belly , as well as the black and blew colour ; but it went no further ; for the dog often licked his wounds , and drank store of water , and at last fell to eat , so that without any other remedy , but his tongue , all the swelling and blew colour vanish't in five or six daies . and the dog was in the same condition , he had been in before he was wounded . another dog bitten in the tongue . this dog gave us some trouble ; for he defended himself a great while , before he would let out his tongue ; but yet at last he received therein a deep bite by an enraged viper . at first he howled extremely , so as to be heard afar off , and so continued , tossing and tormenting himself for half an hour together , and then dyed . we opened him also , and although the heart , liver , lungs , and spleen were in a very good condition , his tongue was exceedingly livid ; his mesentery cover'd all over with black spots , some of which were blacker then lentils , under which there was coagulated blood ; the stomach and guts were also blacker than those of all the others . the bloud very black , and beginning to coagulate in the heart , and in the vena cava , being also of the consistence of bloud curdled and corrupted . this last experiment gave us great satisfaction , informing us fully of the effects of the venomous biting of a viper , and shewing us , that the poyson goes not directly to the noble parts , seeing we never observ'd any alteration therein , but that 't is chiefly the bloud it works upon , since it corrupts the substance thereof , coagulateth it , or separateth its parts , disturbs its circulation ; and at the same time hinders the communication of the spirits through the whole body , depriving the noble parts of them , as well as of the pure bloud , which was wont to bedew them , and destroying them indirectly , by causing this privation of spirits and of the good liquor , whence depends their subsistence . we also found thereby that the progress of the venom of a vipers biting principally depends from the place bitten , and from the bigness of the veins or arteries , which the teeth hath lighted on . for , the tongue of the dog being full of veins and arteries , 't is no wonder , if the venom , meeting with them , and finding in them a large way , very short and very free to triumph over the bitten animal , did soon produce its effects , and caused death much more speedily , than that , which met only with small , slender and winding branches , by which its way was straighter , more about , and longer ; though it failed not to do execution at last ; which it would have done sooner , if the passage had been freer . we may judge by the effects of the venom of the vipers biting in those dogs , and especially in the last , that the vomiting , and the extreme pains about the navil , which befell the gentleman , above discoursed of , proceeded partly from the bloud which was coagulated or disposed to coagulation in its course , and which could not freely circulate ; and partly from this , that the spirits , which accompany the bloud in the circulation , finding obstacles in their passage , endeavoured to make way for themselves , and to that end , doing violence to the lateral parts in their way , caused in those places the extreme pains , which the patient felt there ; which might also be augmented by the bloud , that probably was coagulated out of the great vessels , and might be dispersed in the form of spots in the mesentery , or elsewhere , just as in the body of the dog. we may conclude also , that the cold sweats , the convulsions and the faintings , wherewith the patient was molested , came from nothing else , but the defect of the ordinary commerce of the spirits with the noble parts , and from the goodness and purity of the bloud destinated to bedew them . concerning the success of the remedies employed to cure the said gentleman , we shall declare our thoughts thereof in the sequele of our experiments , after we shall have given proofs sufficient to support them . as to the dogs , that were cured by licking the wound , i think that that was a good means to recall and draw back the venom ; and i am much of their opinion , who believe , that if the person bitten , or some friend for him , should for a good while and strongly suck the wound , it would be cur'd , provided that the teeth of the viper have not lighted upon some great vessel , whereby the progress of the venom may prevail over the force of sucking . i am also persuaded , that these sucked and recall'd spirits are incapable to annoy him who sucks them , partly because they have been weakn'd by the action they have been upon , partly because they are then destitute of the instruments proper to convey and second their action , to wit , the teeth of the viper . chapt . iii. experiments of the biting of vipers , made upon pigeons and pullets . the experiments made upon these animals have likewise been very useful to us , to know the effects of the biting of vipers , which have been very like in both . we caused a pigeon and a pullet to be bitten by a vexed viper , almost at the same time , in the most fleshy part , namely in that under the breast . we soon after observed in both a very thick and extraordinary beating of the heart , which went on still increasing , and in such a manner , that both pigeon and pullet were dead in less then half an hour . we soon opened them , and found in both of them a little bloud coagulated in the heart and the vena cava , and all the rest of the bloud blackish , disposed to curdle , and as 't were turn'd and corrupt ; but the heart , and liver , and all the inward and outward parts of a very good colour , and in a very good condition , save that a little lividness appear'd upon the place bitten . we have frequently observ'd the same thing in many pullets and pigeons : but it will not be amiss , here to relate the different success in two pigeons , we caused to be bitten equally and in the same place by an angred viper . one of them we made to swallow the weight of about half a crown of theriack , a moment before it was bitten , giving nothing to the other . the former being bitten , went to and fro in the room , so as not to shew any sign of illness , but the latter was dead in less than a quarter of an hour we afterwards caused the former to be bitten again in the leg ; and then it grew sick by little and little , and dyed half an hour after . we found the place of the first pricking much more livid , then that of the pigeon , which dyed in a quarter of an hour ; and even more then the place of the leg , which was bitten afterward . we judged , that the vexed spirits unable to penetrate into the body , defended by the theriaque , had wrought upon the outward part , and round about the place bitten , where they had coagulated the bloud , and caused the lividness ; whereas the like spirits , having met with no resistance in the other pigeon , had gained and wrought upon the inner parts , having left and as 't were despised the place , at which they were entred . we also wondred not , that the theriaque , which had vigorously repulsed the spirits introduc'd by the first bite , could not resist the latter but for half an hour , and that at last it was forced to yield , in regard that the number of the enemies was great , and being weakn'd by the conflict , it had but now endured , had not force enough to bear up against the new assault of the latter . we did also prick several times , and pretty deep , dogs , pigeons and pullets , with the long teeth of vipers , some pull'd out of the throat of dead ones , others out of such as were alive . there was also one of the company , who handling a dead vipers head , had a mind to prick his finger , and actually did so , with one of the great teeth , so that the bloud issued . i also my self thrust into my hand one of them , and so deep , that a piece of it remain'd more than half an hour in my flesh ; but in all this we found not the least appearance of venom , nor any ill , but such , as might be caused by the pricking of a pin , or some such thing . we also deplum'd a pigeon at the most fleshy place , and holding with both our hands the jawes of a viper open , and making her raise her great teeth , we pressed both the jawes at once against that fleshy part , and caused the teeth deeply to enter into it , and order'd the matter so , that the yellow liquor of the gums had time enough to pass into the wounds , which the teeth had made . we at the same time saw , that the bloud issued out of the wounds , and mingled it self with the yellow juyce , which remained there . we had then ready a little stone , come from portugal , which those of that country call the snake-stone , being pretty black , shining , roundish , and flat , about the bigness of a french piece of five sols , but three times thicker ; which we presently applyed to the place bitten , which was cover'd with bloud , and with the yellow liquor mingled therewith . the stone immediately was fastned to the wound , and we perceived nothing , extraordinary in the pigeon . we might have believed , that this safety of the pigeon was due to the vertue of this stone , which they would assure us was infallible against the bitings of vipers and all kinds of serpents , if we had not some dayes before tryed the like stone upon a pigeon , bitten in the same place by an angry viper , and if that wound had not been follow'd by the death of that pigeon , a quarter of an hour after . we thought , this very well deserved another experiment ; and having still the same stone by us , which seem'd to have saved the former pigeon , and such another , which the lord ambassadour of spain had trusted his physitian with , we by one and the same enraged viper caused to be bitten two pigeons of equal bigness and fleshiness , each in the same place , well freed from its feathers . the bloud was seen upon both wounds ; but there appear'd but little of the yellow liquor . we soon applyed both the stones , one to each pigeon ; they presently stuck fast to the places pricked ; but we saw immediately in both a very high and thick beating of the heart , which was follow'd by the death of both pigeons , which hapned at one and the same time , in less than a quarter of an hour . we had also a mind to know , whether the venom , that had so much force upon the bloud , were also able to make some ill impression upon the noble or solid parts of the bitten animals , which parts appear'd to us very fair and very well conditioned . we gave also a pigeon , dead of a vipers biting , to be eaten by a cat that was very lean , which fed very greedily upon it ; and the same did afterwards eat many more , and pullets also ; upon which she grew very fat , so far was she from finding any inconvenience thereby . moreover we had a desire to learn , whether one and the same viper was able to kill by its biting divers animals wounded , one presently after another ; and whether the venom was exhaustible , so that the animals , bitten last , might be free from its mischievousness . to know the truth hereof , we caused to be bitten five pigeons one after another , by the same viper , which we angred every time she was to bite : all these pigeons soon dyed ; and we particularly observed , that the last bitten dyed first of all . and as to the bloud , and all the inward and outward parts , they were in a manner alike with those of the pigeon , that was bitten first . the various experiments , we have been relating , do insensibly oblige us to deliver our thoughts concerning the venom of vipers , and its operation . we think this to be a proper place to declare ourselves here , and afterwards to employ the rest of our main experiments for the defence of what we shall have advanced upon this subject . chap. iv. of the venom of a vipers biting , and its operation . the antiens , prevented by the opinion , that there were very few parts in a viper , that were exempt of poyson , have but very slightly examin'd them . and as they esteemed that the choller of the viper did much contribute to the venom , believing , that the seat thereof was in the gall , they there also setled that of the poyson , and imagined , that the taste of the gall , very sharp and very bitter , was an argument of its malignity , and that the veins and arteries , which pass near the gall , and may be followed as far as into the jawes , and appear the same through the whole body , above and below the gall , were the pipes , which nature had purposely form'd to carry the juyce of the gall into the gums , and that it was that liquor , which caused all the mortal symptoms , and death it self . but they have not considered , that this choler of the viper resideth not in the gall ; that the galls of innumerable other animals have a taste very approaching to that of a viper , and yet are not venomous ; that the veins and arteries , which pass near the gall , and seem to part thence and extend unto the gumms , and all the parts of the body , are vessels designed , onely to convey the blood , which have not their origin in the gall , and which cannot carry a juyce , which they could not receive : that there is not any taste of gall in all those imagined vessels , no more than there is in the liquor of the gums , nor in all the rest of the body above the gall : and that in the whole bladder of gall there is but one vessel , that is any thing considerable , though it be very slender , which issuing , as we have said , from the internal side of the upper part of the gall , descends ( so far is it from ascending ) and discharges it self into the first intestine , according to the description we have made of it , and conformably to the figure , that may be seen in the cut. but not to stay upon principles so slightly establish't , and ill maintain'd , forasmuch as we have on our side a great number of experiments , upon which we are grounded ; we say , that the gall of a viper is not at all venomous , but that on the contrary it contains a vertue , that is balsamick and cleansing , and very proper for many good uses ; that there is no vessel , which carries its juyce to the vesicles , that are about the great teeth ; that the yellow liquor , therein contain'd , is in all things very different from that of the gall , excepting that they are both equally free from venom ; that that yellow liquor is gather'd , and form'd by the salival glands , above described ; that it is carried into those vesicles or baggs by the lymphatick vessels which part from those glands ; that this juyce is nothing but a pure and plain saliva , of which we have already observd the use ; and that this juyce contributes nothing to the venomousness of the biting ; since , being tasted and swallowed ( as we have often experimented ) it does no hurt neither to man nor beast ; and since also , being put upon open wounds , and upon incisions made in the flesh , the same being rubb'd therewith , and mingled with the bloud , it annoyes nothing at all : notwithstanding the judgment of a person very intelligent , and particularly in this subject of vipers , wo assures to have made a great number of experiments ; which being contrary to ours , the great opinion we have of the abilities and the sincerity of that famous man , hath obliged us to employ the more care and exactness , and to confirm ourselves , by a very great number of experiments , which have alwayes been found alike , in the truth , we here assert , and of which we shall make evident and irrefragable proof . we say further , that there is no other venom in all the other parts of the body ; and more , that there is none even in the great teeth , if the viper be not alive , and the biting not accompanied with vexed and enraged spirits . the hurt , which the teeth doth , when the viper biteth , consists chiefly in that it opens a door to the angred spirits , without which irritation the biting of the teeth is not mortal , and ought to be no further consider'd then for the deep and direct wound , which a tooth , so sharp , so long , and so slender , of any other animal whatsoever , might make . in which circumstances , the great number of experiments , by us made , hath rendred us knowing ; in regard that we have observed a quite manifest difference in the biting of a viper angred , from that of a viper , which was made to bite by holding its jaws , and by pressing its great teeth into the body of some animal : because this forc'd action serves rather to make the viper retain its spirits , then to let them out ; for which the freedom of the animal is necessary , the spirits not being able to part , but the imagination and the choler of the viper must immediately precede and thrust them out . for this way of biting , by holding the jaws , and thrusting the teeth into some animal , although it emit more of the yellow liquor upon the part bitten , than the biting made by an angred viper , left to it self , is not followed by any sinister accident , and is healed like a simple wound , whereas the other is attended with death , in case we want means of preventing it . the effect therefore of the venom being altogether of a spirituous nature , and not working but according as the spirits are more or less iritated and push't on , and according as they finde more or less free passage , we have reason to impute it to the exasperated spirits , having found no footstep of it , neither real , nor apparent in all the visible parts . but the better to maintain this our assertion , we shall here give you our thoughts concerning the action of the enraged spirits . these spirits then , push't on by the choler , which the viper had conceived , finding the apertures , made by the teeth , follow their inclination , and as it is their property , to advance and penetrate , they at the first seek out all wayes for it , and they advance more or less , according to the facility or difficulty , they meet with . thence it is , that the biting is much more dangerous , when the teeth light upon the greater vessels , than when they only light upon flesh , or the little branches of the veins and arteries . so that the vexed spirits of a viper , meeting with the bloud and spirits contain'd in the vessels of the bitten animal , push and press them to make way for themselves , and embarassing the particles that compose the bloud , cause there a coagulation or confusion , which disturbs the ordinary circulation , and by this means hinders the communication of the spirits , to the principal parts , from which depends their subsistence and life . and by reason of this privation they must succumbe , either for having been attack't in their fort by these vexed spirits and infected by them , or rather because these spirits of the viper have made themselves masters of the avenues , and obstructed the passages , by which the blood and the spirits were communicated to them . we conclude therefore , that the imagination of the viper being irritated by the idea of revenge which she had fram'd to her self , gives a certain motion to the spirits which cannot be expressed , and pushes them violently , through the nerves and their fibres , towards the cavity of the teeth , as into a funnel ; and that from htence they are convey'd into the blood of the animal , by the opening , which they have made , there to produce all those effects , of which we end eavour to give a reason . others , more able than we , may perhaps carry their reasoning farther . for the rest , some have thought , that those enraged spirits have in them a secret acidity , capable to coagulate the bloud , and to hinder the circulation , whence the mortall accidents proceed . but since that this acidity may have been produced in the mass of the blood by its own parts , which come to be dissolved and severed , when they are tainted by the venom , and since corruption slides into it , as into milk , which sowreth and corrupteth of it self , without mixing any acid thing therewith ; it is not necessary to search for a coagulating acid in the spirits of the viper , which cannot be perceived by the taste to know the truth of its existence therein ; and that the less , because that acid may be naturally formed in the bloud of the animal bitten , without looking for it in the viper , as if it had come from thence . how-ever this be , we must agree herein , that this irritation in the phansy or in the spirits of the viper is the main cause of the activity and piercingness of its venom , and that without it the biting would not produce such surprising effects , as those are , of which we have related so many examples . nor is a viper the onely animal , whose biting is mortal : dogs , wolves , and men themselves prove that ; and not to go from our subject , the biting of serpents , of which the viper is a species , is more or less malign , according to the nature of their spirits , and especially according as they are angred and exasperated . it seems , that cleopatra was well instructed in this matter , when she , intending to kill herself , commanded to be brought her two aspes in a fruit-basket , and pricked them with a golden needle , which she pulled out of her hair-dress , and made her self be bitten immediately by one of those aspes in the right arm , and by the other , in her left breast ; knowing ( as a famous author saith ) that their natural fierceness and cruelty was not sufficient to execute well what she desired , and that it was needful , this pricking should serve to provoke the spirits to bite to purpose , and to render the wound mortal ; if at least it be with their biting , as it is with that of our vipers , who also have this particular quality , that not onely they are soon angred , but that in the very moment of the irritation they bite with a strange swiftness ; which speaketh much the subtlety and impetuousness of their spirits , whence depends their strength and activity . we observe also , that in distilling vipers bodies , we thence draw very subtile and very penetrating parts , and in much greater quantity , in proportion , than from any other animal . in the mean time , the obstacle , which these irritated spirits of the viper give to the communication of the spirits of the animal bitten , nor the coagulation , or confusion , which they cause to the bloud , are not of that force , that specifique remedies should not master them , and restore the animal unto that condition , wherein it was before it was wounded . which is that , we shall prove in the sequele by divers experiments ; where we hope to shew in what manner the remedies do overcome the powerful action of those enraged spirits . chap. v. experiments of the yellow juyce , contain'd in the vesicles of the great teeth , made upon divers animals . in the design , we had , well to try all things , we pursued our experiments , and to be well assured of the quality of that yellow liquor , which hath been believed so dangerous , we caused to be bitten , by six angred vipers , separately and several times by each of them , a slice of bread , and so much , that it had well exhausted and retain'd all the yellow liquor , contained in the gums of these six vipers : at the same time we gave this slice of bread to a fasting dog , to eat , who was no more inconvenienced thereby , than if he had eaten a piece of dry bread , that had imbibed nothing of this juyce . we have also often made divers pullets and pigeons to swallow pieces of bread dipped in the same liquor ; and we can assure , that none of these animals had any mischief thereupon . i my self had the curiosity to taste of this juyce , which i have divers times done in the presence of many persons , without washing my mouth before or after . and several physitians also have tasted of it themselves , both to know the tast , and to be assur'd of the harmlessness thereof ; and 't is certain , that they were no more incommoded thereby than myself . and because it hath been believed , that this juyce , being thus tasted and swallowed by men or other animals , that had no wound nor ulcer in their mouths , nor in their stomachs , was indeed harmless ; but that it was quite another thing , when it did accompany a biting , and entred into the openings made by the teeth and that the same being put upon an ulcer , a wound , or a simple excoriation made on the skin , was mortal , and failed not to produce its effect , three or four hours after it had been put upon the wound ; and that as well upon men , as all other sorts of animals , without exception ; we resolved also to make many experiments upon this account . i can therefore say , in the first place , that i have tasted of it my self , at such times , when my mouth was excoriated , upon which i observed , that even my spittle was a little ting'd with bloud , without having perceived any acrimony , or extraordinary heat . we also made a tryal upon a pigeon , which we wounded under the wing , and in the leg in the same moment of time ; and we let into each wound some of this yellow liquor , which we just afore had drawn from the gums of two enraged vipers ; then we re-joyned the skin , well to inclose the said liquor , and we bound both wounds over with a band , that nothing might run out . we can assure , that the pigeon felt not any inconveniency from it , and that we even found upon the wound , made on the leg , a coagulated drop of the juyce , round , and of the same colour , as we had put it there , and the bloud of the place dryed , and that , soon after , both wounds were dryed up , and heal'd of themselves . we also made the like experiment upon a cat , which we purposely wounded in the leg , but he received no harm at all by it . we have also often experimented it upon pullets , and other pigeons , but alwayes with the like success , and without any offence to the animals . the same tryal hath been thrice made at three several times , and even twice in one day , upon a dog , whom we had wounded on purpose towards the bottom of the ear , where he could not lick his wound ; and no mischief at all followed upon it . we cannot but adde here an experiment of the mortal effect of the enraged spirits , without any intervention of the yellow liquor ▪ we made a viper several times to bite upon a slice of bread , by pressing every time its jaws against the bread , and we did this so often , that not only that juyce was altogether exhausted , but that the bloud began to come out of the gums . at the same time we vexed the viper , and made it bite a pigeon in the most fleshy part ; and we observ'd , that indeed the effects of the venom of the biting were not so quick , the pigeon not dying but an hour and an half after it had been bitten ; but then we found also , that the teeth of the viper were in a manner cover'd with the crums of the bread , from the force of its having bitten at it , and that that had hindred them from making a deep entrance , and that having half stop'd up the pores of the tooth , a good part of the angred spirits could not come forth ; so that the death of the pigeon could not follow so fast , though yet it hapned without any mixture of the juyce which had been altogether emptied . chapt . vi. experiments of the gall , eggs , intestins , head , and bloud of vipers , made upon divers animals . we have made several dogs and cats to swallow the galls of vipers , sometimes whole , sometimes burst , and dissolv'd in some liquor , and sometimes six , sometimes ten , sometimes a dozen at a time ; but they never found themseves ill after it , no more than the pigeons and pullets that had swallowed some of it , and which we had also wounded , and afterwards rubbed with the gall of a viper : for this gall served them for a balsom , the wounds being the sooner cured thereby ; so that we can justly declare the gall to be free from all venom , as well as the yellow liquor , and even inculcate here what we have already said , that the galls of vipers have particular vertues in them . we can say the same of the matrix and eggs of a viper , and of all the intestins , of which we often have made good quantities to be swallowed by doggs and cats , some of which have eaten thereof with greediness , when they could light upon 't ; and none ever hath felt any trouble after it . on the contrary , we have tryed , that having caused to be bitten , at the thickest place of the ear , by a sufficiently vexed viper , a young cat , very lean , that had but just before eaten the eggs , the matrix , and all the guts of a viper ; the biting had almost no effect , and there appeared nothing but a very little swelling , and a very inconsiderable lividness in the place bitten . we have further made many dogs and pigeons swallow the heads of vipers , newly cut off , and yet living , having only cut with sizers the point of their great teeth , least in passing down they should bite the throat , or the inward parts of the animals , that were to devour them ; but we have not observ'd any thing after it , that was extraordinary , in all those creatures . we had also a desire to find , whether a viper , being eaten by an animal , which it had bitten before , would be cur'd of that biting . we therefore caused to be slightly broyled the head of a viper , which had on it a part of its neck , newly sever'd from the body ; and we made a dog to be thrice bitten at the ear by a well enraged viper , in such a manner that the bloud came out at the three places pricked . we soon cast before him the head and neck , broyled , and yet hot . the dog , that was hungry , and felt not so soon the effects of the bitings , immediately seized on the head , bruised it between his teeth , and swallowed it down : after which we stayed a pretty while to see , whether the three bitings would prevail over the devoured head and neck ; but the dog was free , except some blewness and a little tumor , he had at the places bitten , but which little by little vanish't in three or four dayes . we made also a dog to be bitten three times in the same place , and without broyling the head of the same viper that had bit him , we cast it to him , hoping that he would eat it , because he had not eaten any thing for many hours before ; but the dog would not touch it . upon that we bruised and stamp'd that head in a mortar , and so cramm'd it down the dogs throat ; rubbing also the bitten places with the bloud of the same viper : which done , we expected the success ; which was , that this head , raw and bruised , and if you will , assisted by the blood of the viper , being applyed to the part bitten , had produced the same effects with the former , which had been so slightly broyl'd ; in regard that this dog was free , excepting those inconveniences the former suffer'd , and was , after that as sound , as if he had never been bitten . if these two experiments had been made , before that gentleman , above discours'd of , was bitten by the viper , we should have been in much less anxiety for his preservation . but it was enough , that we were able to secure him from the dangerous effects of the biting , by wayes grounded upon reason , and by remedies , that were more proper for such persons , as could not well resolve to eat the bare flesh of vipers . chapt . vii . several other curious experiments made upon vipers . whereas we gave but little credit to what divers authors have assured to be true , namely , that the head of a viper bruised and applyed to the biting of it would heal the same ; we made a pigeon to be bitten in the most fleshy part of its body , well freed of its feathers , and we cut , bruised , and applyed to the place bitten , the head of the same viper , that had wounded the pigeon , and took care to have it held upon it with a hand . we also cut the head of a living viper , and had it slightly broyl'd , then bruis'd and laid hot to the wound of another pigeon , which had been newly bitten in the same place , to find , whether by the heat of the broyling , the parts of the head being more open'd , and the spirits more set at liberty , they would work better ; but the success was not more beneficial for one pigeon , than the other ; for they both dyed half a quarter of an hour after they had been bitten ; and their bodies being open'd , we found in them , what we did in others , kill'd by vipers , namely a blackish blood , in part coagulated , and half corrupted , in the heart and the great vessels ; but we took notice , that there was less black & blew about the place bitten ; which was perhaps all the effect , that these bruised heads had produced , which had not been able to carry their virtue any farther . it is not so , ( to say that on the by ) with the pricking of a scorpion , which being bruised on the part stung , serves for an antidote , and cureth : for which this reason may be alledged , that the venom of a scorpion , not working so briskly , and not piercing with so much quickness unto the inward parts ; the spirits , that issue from the bruised scorpion , have leisure to make way for themselves , and to go and find out the venom , to joyn with it , and to make it come forth ; whereas the venom of the viper goes immediately to taint the mass of the blood , and the parts which it bedeweth ; as was apparent in our gentleman , who had no pains nor swelling in his arm , but after all the other accidents ; contrary to the operation of the scorpions venom , which , before it passeth further , acteth upon the part prick'd by benumming , cold , and tension , or by inflammation , and very great pains ; as those authors , that have written thereof , and the persons , that have been prick'd by them , doe assure . we have found very true , what signor redi hath said of the effects of the essence of tobacco upon vipers ; that , running their skin through with a thred dipp'd in that essence , and leaving the thred in the skin , the viper dies in less than a quarter of an hour , and becomes as hard as brass , but soon after supple and plyant . we have also tryed , that a little piece of tobacco in the roll , held in the throat of a viper , and the smoak of tobacco blown into its throat produce the like effect , but a little more slowly ; and that both do cause convulsions , and extraordinary contractions in a viper , which are attended with death ; and that , when all the other parts of the body are deprived of motion , the heart yet beats about half an hour after ; and that tobacco , or its essence , kills snakes as well as vipers . i know not , whether this will do with other animals , since , having run a thred dipt in the essence of tobacco , into the skin of the under-belly of a dog , he immediately howled very much , and continued so to do for half a quarter of an hour , running round , then lying down , and then rising again , and in the mean time purging above and below , and voyding excrements more liquid then ordinarily . he would eat nothing , and onely drunk now and then a little , after which he vomited ; but this was all the trouble he had , which insensibly went away , and soon after , without any other accident . we have vexed a viper , and made it to bite another viper , which on purpose we held within the reach of its teeth . but although she open'd her throat , and put her self into a posture of biting , yet she refrained , and sunk not her teeth deep into the body of the other ; which moved us to thrust them our selves by pressing her jaws ; but the bitten viper received no inconvenience from it . yet we have observed , that a viper which was made to swallow some of the essence of tobacco , and which we yet held by the neck with pincers , did bite herself ; but as the essence alone failed not to kill her , so there was no reason to impute her death to this kind of biting , which was probably an effect of the convulsive motions caused by the essence of tobacco . we also pierced twice , in the day-light , with the point of a pen-knife , the head of a live viper in the midst of the brain , from the top to the botom ; one thrust long-wayes , the other cross-wayes , and in such a manner , that the blood run out both above and below ; but notwithstanding , the viper , being let loose , crept about as before , and as if she had not been wounded ; but she still lost bloud by the wounds , and at last dyed at the end of an hour , but her heart did still beat and continue to do so two hours after . which experiment sufficiently argues the extraordinary vivacity of the spirits of the viper . we have also put into a glass-vessel , a living viper , together with three live scorpions , and there left them together four dayes ; but found them in the same condition , in which they were , when we put them in , though there be authors that assure , that these animals kill one another , being shut up together in one and the same vessel . mean time a viper will kill scorpions , as well as lizzards , and other animals to devour them and feed upon them , but that she doth only , when she is at liberty , and not when imprison'd ; for then she ceaseth to take food . we have likewise found the contrary to what authors have affirm'd of the waspe's attaching a viper , and that the former would fix its sting into the head of the latter , and quitted her not , till she were dead . divers authors have assur'd , that all the remedies , which are reputed alexiterial , or preservatives against poison , did kill vipers , by their vertue contrary and opposite to their venom . to be certain hereof , we forced a viper to swallow half a drachm of theriaque , dissolved in benedictus-water ; and having laid her aside , we perceived not any change in her , except that the surface of her skin appear'd for a while a little moist ; but she grew more vivid upon it , and more ready to bite than before . we had also a minde to know the effect of spirit of wine upon a viper . we therefore made one swallow about a drachme of it ; which thereupon was presently stun'd , and then fell into strange agitations ; but seeing that that ceased little by little , we gave her another dose of the same quantity , which not onely caus'd in her the like agitation , but afterwards made her almost un-moved , and so inebriated her that she seem'd to be half dead . she remain'd about three hours in this condition , but at length she began to stir again , and was like the former , more brisk , and more disposed to bite than before . we put also a living viper into a bottle almost full of spirit of wine , and we saw , that she turned to and fro therein , now swimming on the top , then in the middle , and by and by at the bottom of the bottle , and that she resisted a good hour , before she was choaked therein . we caused likewise a viper to swallow some sugar , part of which was in powder , and the other part dissolv'd in water . she kept the whole for a while with her , but afterwards vomited it up ; and having laid her aside , to see , what would become of her , we found her dead four and twenty hours after . we have often spit into the throats of many vipers , even when we were fasting , but they soon after cast up our spitle , and had not any hurt thereby ; though there be authours affirming that vipers become tabid or consumptive thereby ; which yet may very well happen , not from thence , but rather from the abstinence and sadness , after a long imprisonment . many authors have mentioned , that vipers have a great antipathy to ashwood , and that , if a live viper were put within a round , made , one half , of the leaves of ash , and the other half , of kindled coales , the viper would rather expose herself to be burnt , then to come near the ash-leaves . but having made a whole round of such leaves , which had about three foot in diameter , we put a viper in the midst , which presently hid herself under those leaves . whilest i had live vipers in my house , several women with child came to me , some designedly to see them , others without having any such thought , and even being surpris'd at , and abhorring the sight of them ; but none of them having been inconvenienced by it ; so far were they from miscarrying thereupon , as certain authors would beare us in hand they would do . not that such a thing may not chance to happen to some woman or other extraordinary fearful , and of a temper so delicate , that a much less occasion might produce such an effect ; but that ought not to pass for a general rule . we have often pressed some vipers , both males and females , at the place , where be the parastates , or the bladders containing the seed , namely under the tail , and near the openings , which serve for generation ; and have so much and so long press'd them , that a white liquor came forth ; but we never perceived there any piercing or ill-sented smell , no more than we did in opening those parastates with a lance though we held our nose close to it : which is also directly contrary to what some authors have assured thereof . chapt . viii . general reflexions vpon all we have experimented . the great care and attention used by us in the experiments , we have hitherto described , and in those , we have thought fit to suppress , hath made us to profit of all the occasions , that presented themselves ; and we have taken pleasure to observe all the effects , that have appeared to us , and carefully examined them , and inquired into their causes afterwards , that we might make our reflexions thereon . the biting of the viper , which hapned to the gentleman stranger , began to furnish us with much matter ; and at that time we knew the venom by its effects , which seem'd to proceed from a very slight cause , it being nothing but a little pricking , and onely the cut of a tooth , which was not any thing deep , and the ill of which did not seem to us increased by any of the yellow liquor of the gums , the innocence of which was not yet fully known to us . in the mean time the mortal accidents came on in great number , whilst continued vomitings hinder'd the effect of the remedies , which could not be kept in the stomach , to communicate from thence some of their vertue to the parts affected . it was well enough known , that there was something very subtile , very quick , and very powerful in this venom ; and it was also presumed , that that resided in the spirits ; but the nature of it , or by what means , or how , or on what parts it acted , was not known so well . yet we must avow , that on an occasion so pressing , so dangerous , and so extraordinary , we could not take our measures better than by having recourse to the volatile salt of vipers . the cause being subtile and spirituous , there was required a remedy of the like nature , that might be able to make haste to finde it out , to joyn with it , and to draw it to the extremities of the body , and to make it come forth by the wayes , it had opened for it . but then , the continual vomiting demanded the aid of such a remedy , that could work in a moment , or execute at least by several takings , what it was not able to do at the first . the happy success , which attended the use of this volatile salt of vipers , acquainted us with the sufficiency thereof , and showed us the mastery it had over the malignity of those spirits . it also begot in us a desire to know aright , in what manner it produced such good effects , and to be enabled so to discourse of it , as that others might have no reason to reject our sentiments . we esteem therefore , that this salt , by its subtile , volatile and piercing quality , is very proper to dissolve the coagulations of the bloud , and to sever the parts , which therein were congeal'd or fix'd , ( if we may so speak ) and caus'd the disorder and confusion of its motion ; that it performed this in the blood of the said gentleman , which it restor'd to its former condition , and so gave again to the parts the free communication of the spirits , which they had lost . we believe also , that this volatile salt , by the facility it had to hook and fasten it self unto those vexed spirits , as being of the like nature , did easily joyn with them , and drove them to the extremities of the body , drawing them forth through the pores of the skin , and issuing out with them by the way , it had open'd for them . the ligatures made about the place bitten , the scarifications , and the approach of the well heated iron-spatuls to the wound , were to serve to stay the impetuousness of those irritated spirits , and to give them an out-let at these openings , rather than that they should go farther : and the exhibition of the theriaque , the viper-powder , and the like , was to conduce to drive them back , as it might have done , if these remedies had stay'd in the stomach . as also the epithemes of theriaque upon the heart and stomach might have serv'd much , if the action of the enrag'd spirits had been more slow , and if at the time of their application those spirits had not been too farre advanced . but the use of this volatile salt was to carry the bell , as it did , from all the other remedies ; and those , that were employ'd afterwards and in the intervals of its exhibition , were nothing , if we may so speak , but souldiers assisting their captain ; such as the confection of alkermes and of hyacinthe , which were very proper to fortify the noble parts ; as also were the syrup of limons , and the decoction of scorzonera , and the shavings of ivory . the slices of citron , which might seem to some by their acidity capable to augment the coagulation of the blood , were not given till after the volatile salt had used its force to dissipate it ; and they served to recover the stomach , debilitated by continual vomiting , and by their acidness to restore the lost appetite , and to help the concoction of the aliments , and their distribution into the parts , that had need of them . besides that citrons have a specifique vertue against the poyson of vipers , if we will believe those authors , that have written of it ; and is a great friend to the heart and the other noble parts . the anointing with the oyle of scorpions of matthiolus , and with the water of the queen of hungary , made upon the swell'd parts , and the application of alexiterial fomentations , should in all appearance have serv'd much ; but the sequele shew'd , that there was nothing but that volatile salt , which could make those angry spirits surrender , and so was to take the honour of all . the experiments , which we afterwards made upon a great number of differing animals , have given us a much greater knowledg of the effects of vipers-poyson , of the parts on which it works , and of those that seem to be exempt from it , though at last they do succumbe : we have set down the most considerable of them , making some reflexions on the biting of several doggs , done by vipers ; but there remain'd still for us to discourse , why and how the parts of vipers , being eaten , can stop and overcome the venom of their biting . we say therefore , that all the parts of a viper abound chiefly in volatile salt , which in distillation is found partly alone ; partly in the form of a spirit , which properly is nothing but a salt dissolved in some portion of phlegme ; and partly in the form of an oyle , which also is but a salt mix't among the unctuous part of a viper . we say also , that in the digestion , made in the stomach , of the parts of a vipers body , that have been swallowed down , this same volatile salt , which they contain , is separated , and afterwards distributed to all the parts that need them ; especially if of these parts there have been swallow'd enow , to furnish that quantity , which is necessary , of this salt ; and so we need not doubt , but that this salt will produce an effect like that of the volatile salt , which was given to our gentleman bitten ; unless it should be said , that this same volatile salt of those parts of a vipers body , which have been swallowed , being of the same nature with the irritated spirits , attracts them to it self , and by this union changes their maligne quality , and so tames them , that they have no power over the bitten animal ; which , in my opinion , is hard enough to conceive , and perhaps established upon unsolid foundations . we hope , that among the many experiments , those of the five pigeons , bitten one after another , by one and the same viper exasperated , and of which the last bitten dyed first of all , when the viper was most vexed , and most exhausted of its yellow liquor ; and that of the pigeon bitten by viper , which we had caused to bite several times into bread before , and that even till bloud came forth , to the end that the juyce might be well emptied of it , and which notwithstanding was followed by the death of the pigeon ; these experiments , i say , will prove on one hand , that the yellow liquor contributes nothing to the poyson ; and on the other , that these incensed spirits , assisted by the openings which the great teeth had prepared for them , are the sole and true cause thereof . the wound , made by a viper not vexed , whose jaws were held in , and whose teeth were at the same time thrust into the body of a pigeon , which also was accompanied with store of the yellow juyce , and yet not attended with any ill accident ; as also the pricking , made by the great teeth , pulled out of a live viper , or by such , as stuck yet in the head of a dead viper , and did no hurt at all , do sufficiently confirm this truth , viz. that the cause of the venom is to be imputed to the spirits enraged , and not to any other thing or parts in the vipers body . i have not undertaken to reason upon all the experiments , we have made , as i have done upon the bitings , both because that is beyond the sphere of a man of my profession , and because i designed onely to confine my self particularly to the wounds and to the remedies able to heal them . for the rest , if in the treaty concerning theriaque , which i have lately publisht , i have advanced any thing not consonant to what i have declared here , touching the action of the venom , i am to be excused therein , forasmuch as i had not then had the occasion , well to know the nature and the effects of the bitings of vipers , and referred my self to the most approved authors about it . but yet all we have there said , derogates in nothing from the preparation of vipers for theriaque , which we have there laid down , and which was in that book our main design , as well as to reform several other preparations , that seemed not reasonable to us : that which now remains to be done by us , is , to speak of the remedies to be drawn from vipers , which may serve to heal their bitings , and to cure many other evils . the remedies extracted from vipers . chapt . i. of the different choyce that may be made of the parts of a viper . there is nothing in nature , to which can be given more justly the title both of aliment and medicine , than to a viper , since it affords equally very good nourishment and very good remedies . it also hath in its body not one part , which is not very usefull , and of which artists may not draw something that is good ; their chief difference consisting in this , that the substance of the one is more or less close , then that of others . yet , as in all bodies of animals , there are parts preferable to others , so we may make a distinction of those in a viper , especially if we mean to eat them , or to reduce them to powder , to take it at the mouth , alone , or mingled with other medicaments . in this case , it will be well , to use only the heart , the liver , and the trunk , i mean , the body emptied of its guts , without head and tayle . not that , if you would make use of the head and taile , any ill would attend it , or that you need to fear any ill quality in them , no more than in all the other parts of the body ; but the heart , liver and trunk are chosen , as those that are most esteem'd , and which are taken before the rest , out of the body of such animals , which men use to feed upon . those also , that would nourish themselves with viper-flesh boyled and seasoned , may do well , in eating of it , to separate the bones thereof , and to leave them uneaten : but if they bruise them between their teeth , and swallow them down together with the flesh , they would afford them a like , and even a stronger nourishment than the flesh : for , we have found by distillation , that the bones yield the same parts , that the flesh does and even in greater quantity . for the same reason , the bones of the trunk are not to be cast away , when you will prepare the powder of vipers , and that the rather , because they are in that way very easy to swallow . one may also very usefully dress the flesh of vipers with their own fat , as one would do with butter , or with the fat of other animals . the skin it self , if men would , might be boyled and eaten with benefit ; but that it would not be so savory , as the principal parts we have been speaking of . as for the chymical preparations , all the parts of vipers may be therein employed , and i would not except from them the stomach it self , nor the intestins , if they were well clear'd of worms , and all excrements . i also know no difference , as to goodness , of one sex from the other , although most authors have prescribed the use of females : on the contrary , if there be any such difference , i would preferre the males to the females , when these are full of eggs , and big , forasmuch as then they are too much wasted for the feeding and increasing of their eggs. as to the seasons , in which they are to be taken and used , i almost equally consider the spring and autumne ; for the times wherein men need them , ought to carry it in the behalf of those who have a mind to feed on them . but care must be had to chuse such vipers , as are bigg , fat , vigorous , and active ; and not to keep them very long after they have been taken , because they grow leaner and lesser every day , both out of melancholy , and want of food , which after that time they use not to take . i also make no difference between those vipers of france , that are bred in one province , and those of another ; for those of poitou and the neighbouring parts are as good as those of dauphine and about lyons , and in other places . the place therefore is not to be considered but for the quantity , and for the conveniency of getting them , in regard that they are not wont to be found in maritime places , which are the onely , that authors have disapproved for vipers , upon the belief , that the flesh of vipers , taken in them , did cause thirst , by reason of the saltish food , they met with there . chap. ii. of the vse of the parts of vipers , in respect of their nourishing vertue . there is scarce an author , that hath written of vipers , but affirms , that in several parts of the world , many persons , and even whole nations , have fed , and still feed upon the flesh of vipers ; in somuch that in great and costly entertainments , they made exquisite and very considerable dishes of it . there are also , that have alledged for an example some nations , which by the use of viper-flesh , have extraordinarily lengthn'd their life , even to 140. years . it is needless , to insert here the testimonies of antiquitie on this subject ; the curious may finde them in books . we content ourselves to affirm , that many persons do still use it at this time in divers countries , whether it be from custom , or to satisfie their appetite , or by the advice of knowing physitians , and that upon occasions they finde wonderful effects thereof . i also doubt not , but that the use of it would be more frequent among us , if the vertues of vipers were well known , and if one could dislodge out of the minde of people the horrour and natural antipathy , they have against this animal . for the taste of viper-flesh is very like that of eeles ; whence it is , that in some countries vipers are called eeles of the mountain ; and one finds something in them even more savoury than in eeles . i know persons , who well knowing the most inward parts of vipers , have out of merriment , and in company , made good meals of them , and found it very savory meat . but those that have too much aversion from this kind of food , may find very convenient wayes to benefit themselves by the vertue of them , so as not to be diverted from it by any abhorrency of the animal : for they may feed capons and pullets with the flesh of vipers cut in small pieces , which those creatures eat very greedily ; and continuing for some time to feed them therewith , it will certainly communicate the vertue of the vipers to the body of those animals ; which may be eaten , as we eate other capons or pullets , the taste of which will be very savoury , because that of viper flesh is so . neither ought we to doubt , that the qualities of vipers pass into the bodies of those animals , since there are innumerable others , the flesh of which hath not onely the vertue , but even the taste of the things , they are fed with . the flesh of the birds , that live on juniper-berries , and of those , that live onely upon olives , hath not onely their qualities , but also their taste and bitterness , and that so highly , that one can scare eat them . in the countries , where silk-worms are bred , it is observed , that in their season , which is chiefly in the months of may and june , the eggs of hens , that eat those worms , have a taste and smell of them , as well as their flesh ; insomuch that nice persons feed their poultry a part , and hinder them from eating any silk-worms . it may be taken notice of , to this purpose , that 't is a custome to give to nurses the medicines , which young children cannot be made to take , to the end that their vertue may pass from the body of the nurse to that of the child ; and it hath been often observ'd , that the urine of the babe hath had the sent of the druggs the nurse had taken . but yet some might phansy , that animals cannot take the good from the good parts of the things eaten by them , but they must at the same time receive the impressions of the ill ones , that are there ; and it might even be objected , that lizzards , scorpions , cantharides , and the other creatures , on which vipers do feed , should impress in their bodies the ill qualities , they have , as , among the rest , the cantharid , its caustique quality . but notwithstanding all this , the experience we have of the harmlessness of vipers-bodies , and also of their good qualities , furnishes us with a contrary argument , sufficient to destroy that phansy ; and it teaches us , that the stomach of animals converteth into good all the ill qualities , to be met with in the bodies , it receiveth to digest ; and that it uniteth and appropriateth the good ones to the very substance of the animal that hath eaten them : whence it comes to pass , that it is as 't were transformed , or at least very much changed by those good qualities ; and is upon that account capable to communicate them to other animals , into whose stomach it enters to be there digested . we say besides , that there are divers examples of bodies , that would be altogether poysonous in the stomach of men , which yet serve for food to , and fatten , other animals , which afterwards yield good nourishment to men . such are hellebore and hemlock , which nourish and fatten quailes and goates , which afterwards are usefully employed for the nourishment of men ; and this is it , what lucrece hath very well observed in these verses ; praeterea nobis veratrum est acre venenum , at capris adipes & coturnicibus auget : quippe videre licet pinguescere saepe cicutâ barbigeras pecudes ; homini quae est acre venenum . but those , that have no aversion from vipers-flesh , may take of them the heart , the liver , and the trunck , and having washed them well , they may then accommodate them to their own taste in the dressing . where they are to take care , not to make the flesh too hot by too much spice ▪ especially pepper ; but yet they are allowed to put to it some aromatique herbs , as garden and wild-thyme , and the like ; or a little nutmeg , cinamon , cloves , to raise the taste . they must also avoid the fault , committed by the antients , whipping and vexing the vipers , before they killed them ; least this irritation should cause some ill impression in their body , which by it self hath no venom at all in it . let them also not cast away the broth , wherein the vipers have been boyled , because it retaines the greatest vertue of them . neither do i see , why one should stint the quantity , or limit the time of the use of it ; that depending from the degree of the illness , and from the constitution of the persons , that will make use thereof . and although we know vipers to be a very alterative medicine , and that their chief use is onely for their medicinal qualities ; yet if taken as an aliment , there is no danger at all to eat of their flesh , or to drink of their broth , somewhat more or somewhat less . it is also to be moderately salted ; and those that have any of the fixed salt of vipers , shall do well to employ it . you may also adde to it some of its volatile salt , if you will have the flesh of vipers work more powerfully . as to the vertues of viper-flesh , according to the consent of innumerable authors , whose opinion is supported by reason and truth , confirmed by many experiments ; we can say , that they are very great , and that there is no animal in nature , that affords such and so many : and we wonder not at all , that the antients have so frequently employ'd vipers in their hieroglyphicks , and adorned their medals with them ; thereby to design very advantagious things for the publick , and for private men ; forasmuch as this animal is very capable to furnish them . for the use of it preserves the natural heat in a very good temper , it repaireth the same , and restoreth it when 't is altered ; it yields a very good food ; helps digestion by its heat , which is not excessive ; it retards old age and prolongeth life , by a property , which vipers have , to maintain in good plight the whole habit of the body . whence it is , that many have believed , that both staggs and eagles , induced to it by a natural instinct , eat all the vipers , they can meet with , and that 't is upon that score , that their life is extraordinary long . there is also adscribed to vipers , and not without reason , a renewing vertue , capable to make young again ; which they tacitly shew , by casting their skin twice a year , and renewing themselves by the cover of a new skin . this , joyned to the subtile parts , of which the viper is composed , and to its lively and daring aspect , testifies it to be pertinent enough , that authors have attributed to it the vertue of clearing and strengthning the eyes . vipers have also a very particular vertue of cleansing the whole body , and particularly the bloud , and of expelling through the pores of its skin all the superfluities : whence it may be inferred , that they are very proper to cure the itch , tettar , erysipelas or saint anthonies fire , measels , small pox , and the leprosy it self , the use of them being long enough continued ; though i cannot well believe what galen saith , that the wine , wherein one onely viper is choaked , is able to cure so great an evil , and which doth not so easily yield to remedies . vipers also may , by removing all the impurities and obstructions of the body and skin , cause beauty therein ; and upon this account it is , that many ladies in italy use them for their ordinary food . by the good nourishment , they yield by the purity they give to the blood and to all the parts , and by the liberty they give to the spirits to do their functions therein , they are a great relief to persons in a consumption , and to those that are emaciated by long diseases , and wasted by tedious feavers . there are even authors , who assure that the use of them is capable to cure the venereal disease ; for which we doubt not but they may serve much , if they do not altogether cure it . their mundifying vertue , joyned to the alexiterial , makes them also very proper to expell all sorts of poysons , and even the plague it self and all contagious diseases . they are also very contrary to all putrefaction , which commonly is the matter and source of most maladies ; whence it comes , that those who use them , are not subject to diseases , unless they live irregularly , which is able to destroy all the good , which the use of vipers might afford . we might here specify many other sicknesses , that might be cured by the use of viper-flesh ; but we think not fit to do so , since the general vertues , which we have noted , may suffice to make men apply the use to many particular evils , that may need it . yet we shall describe , in the chapter ensuing , the uses and vertues of the parts of vipers , taken as a medicine , without any great preparation . chap. iii. of the vertues of several parts of the viper , and of their vse in physick . the vertues , which the flesh of vipers is able to communicate to those , who eat them for nourishment , are doubtless very considerable ; but they are not the onely ones , that vipers are endow'd with ; and not to alledge superfluous things , we shall confine our selves to the principal vertues , of which we have experimented the greatest part . it is very certain , that the head of a viper , broyled and swallowed , healeth the biting of that animal . the heart and the liver may do the same . reason and experience have confirm'd it ; and therefore in an urgent occasion those parts may be very usefully employed . the application of the blood of a viper to the biting , as also that of its head bruised , are neither to be rejected , nor is that of the entralls : but these applications alone are not capable to cure it ; for , the subtlety and quicness of the spirits carrying them with great speed into the body , there must be used internal specifick remedies to repulse them ; and you may also very pertinently repeat ( at the mouth ) the use of the head , heart , liver , and the other parts of a viper , without fearing to take too much of them , because those parts can never do hurt , and they alwayes produce some good effect . they may also serve for all sorts of venoms and poysons , and against all sorts of contagious and epidemical diseases . divers authors assure , that the head of a viper , hung about the neck , hath a very particular quality to cure the squinancy and all the distempers of the throat ; and that the brain of a viper , wrapt up in a little skin , and likewise hung about the neck , is very good to make the teeth of children come forth ; which effect others believe to be due to the great teeth of vipers . if we had experimented it , we could then speak with more certainty . the remedies are easily practicable , and withal harmless ; wherefore those who need them may make tryal of them . some also have affirmed , that the liver of a viper , swallowed , keeps one from being bitten either by this animal , or by any other serpent , and that the powder of vipers hath the same efficacy . but we must not rely upon their report ; we onely believe , that the liver swallowed is capable to heal the biting of a viper ; like the heart , flesh , and other parts , of which we have spoken ; and that it may much facilitate the delivery of women with child , as doth the liver of eeles . the skin of a viper is not altogether destitute of vertue ; for besides that it is also , as they say , very good for the delivery of women , making a garter of it about the right leg , it hath a very singular vertue for all the distempers of humane skin : and although all the other parts , eaten , may work the same thing ; yet , that we might have benefit from all , we have experimented , that the viper-skin does perfectly heal the inveterate mangie of dogs , making them eat it boyled or raw . it might also be said , that the specks in the viper-skin seem to signify the marks of the itch or mangy , or , if you will , of the leprosy , which the scales of the skin represent yet better , and so tacitly express its vertue . some have believed , that the gall of a viper applyed , can heal its biting ; but we give no credit to it , no more than to the application of its bruised head . but this we judge , that it is proper for the wound of the biting , onely as it is for all other wounds , and for ulcers themselves , having a great abstersive , mundifying and cicatrizing vertue . it is also very good for the weaknesses of eyes , above all , for suffusions and films , being taken inwardly , or applied outwardly ; so far it is from doing them hurt . the fat of vipers hath very great vertues ; for , besides that it is very good in the dressing of the viper-flesh ( as hath been said ) it is able also , taking a drachm of it , to give great relief in epidemical diseases , and to expell the venom thereof . it is also very useful to facilitate the travel of women ; and to dissipate the swellings of the throat , anointing it outwardly therewith . it also much relieves gouty persons , and serves to resolve nodosities . it unswels all hard and inveterate tumors , and even those that proceed from venereal diseases ; and for this reason 't is , that jean de vigo hath used it in the plaister which bears his name . it is likewise very good for burnings , pustuls , ' and all distempers of the skin ; and lastly , it is very powerful against all the illnesses of the sinews , and of great vertue for the parts attackt by the palsy . we might also adde many other vertues , adscribed by authors to other parts of the viper ; but we forbear , because we have not experimented them . chapt . iv. of the powder and trochisques of vipers . since we do not alwayes meet with persons , who , having need to make use of viper-flesh , are disposed to eat thereof ; it is very necessary to have ready such remedies , that be as well accommodated to the inclination of the patient , as fitted to remove the malady . the knowledge , which physitians have bad of the great vertues of the viper , joyned to the difficulty , met with in the point of pleasing patients , hath obliged them to search for divers preparations , in which the antients did not well succeed ; and if we would bind ourselves to their way of preparing the powder and the trochisques , we should loose the principal vertue of the viper , and retain onely the most useless . for , in the opinion , which they entertained , that there remain'd alwayes some venom in the flesh of the viper , if it were not freed therefrom by some preparation or other ; their practice was , to put the flesh of vipers in some earthen pot , and having luted it , to set it in a bakeoven , after the bread was drawn out , and to leave it there , till this flesh was reduced to powder . in which preparation the best of this flesh , which is the volatile salt , was certainly dissipated . they also made several medicines with this powder , mixt among other medicaments divers wayes ; of which we need not to enlarge . we shall content ourselves , here to set down a preparation of the powder of vipers , which shall be grounded on reason , and shall retain all the vertues of the viper ; easy also to prepare , and very convenient for the patient to use . take then towards the end of aprill , or in the beginning of may , such a quantity of vipers as you please , males and females , chusing big ones , and such as are fat and vigorous , and using none of those females , which are already big with eggs ; and then prepare those , you shall have thus chosen , as follows : without whipping and vexing them , cut off , with a pair of sizers , their heads and tailes , flea them , and empty them of all their entrals , of which you are to separate the heart and the liver ; and lay aside their fat for its peculiar uses . wash the trunks of the bodies , the hearts and livers in clear water , and after that in white wine ; then dry them with a very clean linnen cloth , and having put the hearts and livers again into their trunks , tye all the trunks with small pack-thred , each at one end , and hang them up in the air in the shade , and leave them there , till they be well dryed ; which will be in three or four dayes . after that , cut these trunks into small pieces , and stamp them in a great brass-mortar with an iron-pestle , and searce all through a very fine hair-sive , and so keep it for use . this is the right powder of vipers , which contains all the vertues ; to which may be added a drop of cinamon-oyle , to give it a good scent . there are some , who , to make this powder would have the trunks of vipers cut in pieces , and put together with their hearts and livers in a glass-cucurbit , and this covered with its head and luted , and so placed with a recipient , in a very gentle balneum ; thereby , continuing that warmth for three dayes together , to draw the phlegm of vipers , accompanied with a small portion of the volatile salt , and to keep this liquor apart ; and then to take out of the cucurbite what shall remain there , and of it to make the powder of vipers . but , besides that this method is troublesome enough ; that the fire of a balneum is not sufficiently strong to send forth enough of the volatile salt , at a time when 't is not yet loosen'd from its subject ; that 't is notwithstanding too much so , not to emit insensibly some smal portion , which would afterwards be wanting in the powder , and which also may exhale out of the water ; besides also that the vipers are in danger to be too much dry'd in the cucurbite , and even to be there rosted in part : we esteem , there is cause to prefer our preparation to this , in regard it is much easier , and , without any destruction or alteration of the good parts of vipers , carries away all their superfluous and useless humidity . you might notwithstanding follow this way in part , if you should desire to have good viper-water ; but then you must increase the fire of the balneum , and finish the distillation in much less time , and yet take heed not to hasten the fire too much at the latter end , least the water smell of the empyreuma or burning . you must also , after you have taken out the parts of the viper , that rest in the cucurbite , put them into a glass-retort well luted , and set this into a reverberating furnace , dapt and exactly lute to it a great recipient , and give it a fire increased by degrees , and hotter about the end , to obtain the volatile spirit , salt , and oyle , that could not rise by the fire of the balneum ; which are to be separated and rectifyed , as we shall say hereafter . then take a portion of this volatile salt well rectified , and dissolve it in distilled water , and keep it carefully in a well stopp'd bottle , as an excellent remedy ; of which you may increase or diminish the dose , according to persons and occasions ; and according as you shall have dissolved more or less of the volatile salt in it . upon this occasion , i thought fit to advertise those , who distill capons , partridges , slices of veal , or other parts of animals , in a glass-limbec ( as the custom is , ) and who employ for that purpose the fire of a balneum , or that of sand or ashes ; that by a moderate fire they cannot make rise almost any thing but useless flegm ; and that , not being able to increase the fire without making the distilled water smell of the empyreuma , they would succeed better , if in this they did , what i was just now saying of the water and volatile salt of vipers ; and if they joyn'd their water with the volatile salt of the distilled animals , in which resides the chief vertue . those , that have no mind to take so much pains , shall do better not to give distilled waters to their patients , as the custom is , since they have no vertue at all , if none be communicated to them by the volatil salt of the animal , as to the trochisques , the antients have as ill invented , and as ill ordered them ▪ as the powder . for , not to stay to blame here ( as i have done elsewhere ) the whipping , which they used , and which was not onely useless , but also very noxious ; i shall say in a few words , that the decoction , they made of the body of the viper in water , with salt and anise , till the flesh would sever from the bones , which they afterwards cast away as well as the broth , was not a preparation of the flesh of the viper , but rather a destruction , since it was made to leave its principal vertue in the broth ; and that they weaken'd it yet more , by incorporating it with very dry bread , of which the proportion of a fifth to four times as much weight of flesh , though but little in appearance , came yet to a moiety , since that four ounces of this flesh , and one ounce of bread ( which was so dry that it could not be lessened ) make onely two ounces of trochisques , when they are well dry'd . this we have more at large examined in our treatise of the theriaque ; and because their fault is very easily understood , i shall insist on it no farther ; nor on their reasons for making use of boyling to correct a malignity in the flesh , ( of which there is none ) and to be able to sever it from the bones , which they believe naught , or at least unusefull , which yet are very good ; forasmuch as all their reasons are sufficiently refuted in the same book , and because they are yet more so , by what we have establish'd in this . and although it be not alwayes necessary to make trochisques of vipers , since we might be without them ; yet there being some use of them , and to preserve their name , you may take a little gumm arabique , very white and pure , and reduce it to powder , and infuse it in good malvasy , till it be well dissolv'd , and the wine somewhat tinged thereof : then take of the powder of viper , prepar'd as we have lately directed , and incorporate it with a sufficient quantity of this gumm'd malvasy , braying them together in a marble-mortar with a woodden-pestle , and so reduce the whole into a somewhat solid paste ; whereof make trochisques , of the size and shape you please , and dry them in the shade upon a hair-sive . i said , that we might be without trochisques , because that having the powder , which they are made of , that may suffice for our uses ; but there is one inconveniency in the powder , in that it will scarce keep any considerable time , espeally if it be not well stopt up , and if , besides ; some art be not used to hinder the breeding of worms in it : whereas trochisques , being made compleat by the addition of malvasy , and by the close compression of the parts of the powder , they are not so easily penetrated by the air , nor so subject to corruption . the trochisques being dry , they may be slightly rubbed over with a little balsom of peru , which will give them a good scent , and help to preserve them . the use both of the powder and trochisques is excellent and alike ; but the trochisques are to be reduced into powder , when they are to be used . neither of them have an ill taste , and they contain all the vertues , we have ascribed to the flesh of vipers , as having lost nothing in drying , made without the heat of the sun-beams , but a superfluous moisture , which could serve for nothing but corrupt them , if it had remained . they may be given in cordial waters , broths , wine , or some fit decoction , or you may make bolus's of them with syrrups , conserves , or cordial confections , or turn them into tablets with sugar . their main effect is , to purify , open , penetrate , and to drive to the extremities of bodies all venom , corruptions , impurities , superfluities , and they may be very beneficially used in many occasions for divers maladies , without the fear of any ill success . for both have this quality , that they do alwayes some good , but never any harm . their dose is from a scruple to a drachm or two ; and they may be given to all ages , and sexes , and at all times . chapt . v. of the salt of vipers made by the ancients . among many different preparations of the salt of vipers , made by the ancients , of which we finde the descriptions in their books , there is none more famous , nor that hath been longer in use , than one that is very ample and much enriched by many alexiterial remedies ; whence t is also , that they gave to this salt the name of theriacal . but having considered this pompous preparation , we do not wonder , that a much esteemed author hath not given it his approbation , since we cannot finde any thing in it , that is according to rule or reason , no more than there is in the rest . we finde , that the sentiments of that author proceed from an understanding so judicious , and so knowing , that we cannot but subscribe to them , almost in all : for , in the calcination , they used , there remain'd nothing but the fix't salt , which contains but very little vertue ; vipers , as all sorts of animals , having but little of fixt salt , whereas they have much of the volatile , which soon riseth in the calcination , and carries away with it the principal and the most essential vertue of the animal . they were also much mistaken , when they thought , that four vipers , which they burn'd with fourty pounds of sea-salt , or sal gemmae , or sal ammoniac , ( as some would have it ) and with a great quantity of simples , should communicate great vertues to these salts and these coales . for in the calcination , which they used to make in an earthen pot luted , with its cover on , and yet in one place pierced , the volatil salt of the four vipers would certainly fly quickly away ; and if it had stay'd ( which yet we do not grant ) and there had been half an ounce of it ( which is a quantity beyond what the four greatest vipers could yield , ) what , i pray , would that be to 40. pounds of sea-salt , and to many pounds of coales , more than a small rivolet mingled with the ocean ? but as to the fixt salt , four vipers are not able to afford half a scruple of it . 't is also certain , that both the sea-salt and sal gemme , do not perish in the calcination , but still remain there . but if ordinary salt ammoniac be employed , the urinous and volatile part , which is in that salt , will not fail to make its escape , as well as the volatile salt of vipers , and there will onely remain the fixt saline part of the salt ammoniac , mix't with some terrestrial parts ; which is that , we finde in the distillation , after we have driven out all the volatile salt , of which afterwards , changing the vessel and the fire , we draw an acid spirit , very much approaching to that , we draw out of sea-salt , by wayes almost like these . artists know also , that herbs , wood , horns , bones , and other such like matters , if they should be calcined in an earthen pot , luted and covered , though a hole were left in the cover , would alwayes be afterwards found in the form of very black coales , although they had endured a great fire ; and that the salt cannot be separated from them , unless they be calcin'd again in an open vessel ; or they being reduced to ashes , the salt be then sever'd from them by a lixivium , and by filtration . on which occasion we relate an example of an imperfect calcination , which is naturally made in the earth about the summer-solstice , of the end of the root of many plants , and among others , of mugwort and plantatin ; on which end , the subterraneous fire , or , if you will , the fire of the sun , working , and yet being surrounded by the earth , ( which is to the root what the earthen pot , luted , is to the vipers , and to the mixts , that were shut up with them ) burns it and reduces it to coales , but cannot turn it to ashes . i have often found this to be true , and lighted upon a little coal at the end of the root of those plants , at the time above-mentioned . so that , although the fixt salt of the added be simples in the coales , yet it would have been more proper , and more methodical , to have quite calcined those coales to reduce them to ashes , and so to draw from them and to purify the salt for use , than to make people swallow the gross , earthy , and useless part of these coales . those antients added to this pretended salt calcin'd , the powder of many alexiterial druggs , which not being devested of their vertue by any calcination , may communicate , and even alone furnish the greatest part of the good qualities , by them ascribed to this salt. and 't is upon the account of these principally , that the name of theriacal may belong to it , which impertinently would be attributed to the vipers , since they have lost their prime vertue in the calcination . this preparation of theriacal salt doth sufficiently shew us , that the antients did not take pains to know the inward parts , of which mix't bodies are compounded , and that they did not well know the nature of the poyson of vipers , of which they imagin'd they should be infected by the fumes proceeding from their calcination ; although none could come from them , when there was none , as we have made appear . and although the smell , as well of the vipers , as of the simples , were troublesome , whilst they burned , yet they were not therefore at all venomous . the little knowledge , which the antients had , and many moderns still have , of the nature of the two salts in vipers , hath led them into a great fault , viz. to calcine the bones of vipers , to draw from thence , as they thought , the true salt of vipers , which they were not at all like to finde , after they had dissipated it by calcination . the first fault hath drawn after it a second ; for the small quantity of fix't salt , they found in them , not much satisfying them , carried those , that had no great sense of honour or conscience , to a very great abuse , which was , to mix among those calcin'd bones a great quantity of sea-salt , to dissolve this salt , and and to boyle all together in water , to filter and coagulate it , and to sell at a great rate this counterfeit salt for true salt of vipers . but , to accommodate ourselves to those , who , intending better , will make no ill use of it ; and to furnish them with a pleasing salt for those , that may desire it for ordinary use ; we shall here deliver the way of preparing a salt of viper , that shall have much vertue ; the method of which shall be very easy , and the use very convenient . take three dozen of great vipers , well chosen ; cut off their heads and tails , flea them , and empty the bodies of all their entrals , and wash them well , together with the heart and liver : boyl all together in ten pints of common water , so long till all be perfectly boyled . then strain it , and squeese well all the parts ; and in this decoction dissolve four pounds of sea-salt ; and carefully filter it ; afterwards , coagulate , or , if you will , chrystallize this salt , which will be found white and abounding with the vertue of the vipers , and of no ill taste at all ; which you may use in all things as common salt. and to shew , that these boyled and squeesed parts have left much of their vertue in the decoction , and yet that they have not left all , and that still there remains some of it , principally in the bones ; lay them abroad , and dry them , and then distill them , and you will draw from them , especially from the bones , a volatile salt and oyl , but in much less quantity , then if they had not been boyld . if you would have a viper-salt of more vertue , and that might even be call'd theriacal , you must proceed after the same manner , as hath been lately set down ; but in stead of seal-salt , take a like quantity of salt , drawn from alexiterial and theriacal plants , as the roots of valerian , imperatoria , angelica , leaves of scordium , the little centaurium , carduus benedictus , and the like . 't is true , that this salt is a little more displeasing to the taste than the former , but it may produce more considerable effects , and be used in extraordinary occasions . these sorts of salt have indeed good vertue , and are convenient for lasting , especially the two first : but the volatile salt hath something more particular , and considerably better : the properties of it are innumerable , and it is an epitome of the excellent qualities , contained in vipers . we shall now speak of its preparation , as also of the phlegm , of what is called volatile spirit and oyle , which accompany it ; and of the fixt salt , which remains after distillation , mixed among the terrestrial parts ; and that done , we shall treat of their vertues and usefulness . chap. vi. of the volatile salt of vipers , and the fixt salt , and other parts , which are separated by distillation . we make here publick our preparation of the volatile salt of vipers , with the more frankness and chearfulness , because we esteem it one of the best medicines in physick . 't is true indeed , that some authors have already spoken of it ; but there is none , that hath described it with more exactness , than we , nor that hath more desired , that every one might , according to this method , obtain for himself and his occasions a remedy , which goes beyond many others , to say no more . we hope , that our way of proceeding will be well received by all , and that , if there be any that shall finde fault with it , they will be such only , who are unwilling to communicate what they have , and often wrap it up under the name of secrets . take onely the bodies , hearts and livers of vipers , or , ( to have the more benefit of all ) add to them the heads , tails , and skins , and generally all the parts of a viper ; of which you will have a care to take away all the excrements and worms , as also the eggs , that may be in the matrix of the females . small and great , males and females are of the same goodness , as also the salt is , that shall have been drawn from all the parts of the body . dry in the shade all these parts separately , then cut them into bits , and fill with them your glass-limbec up to the neck , which is to be well luted . put it in the midst of a reverberating furnace , proportion'd to its bigness , cover it with its head , and shut the register of it ; fit to the limbec a glass-recipient , which must be very large ; and lute well all the joynts . then begin to give a small fire , which continue for about two hours , so that the limbec be heated gradually , and the phlegme begin to distil into the recipient . afterwards increase the fire gently unto a second degree ; and give a little opening at the register , and continue the same fire likewise two hours ; then increase it , opening the register yet more , and so continue two other hours ; at the end of which you are to give it the fire of the last degree , quite opening the register , and you must continue to drive the fire , till no more come out of the limbec , and the recipient be all obscured by the volatile salt , which will stick to its sides , towards the bottom , and to the upper part . then let the vessells cool , and the furnace also ; after which you are to un-lute the recipient , wherein you will finde the phlegme , that part which is called spirit , the volatile salt , and the oyle mingled together ; except a part of the volatile salt , that may yet adhere to the upper part , and to the sides of the recipient , which you may dexterously take away , and , if you will , keep for use , as ' t is . this volatile salt , spirit , and oyle , are so penetrating , that you are not able to hold your nose over it . powre out , what you find in the recipient , into a gloss-body , which must be large , tall , broad below , and whose figure goes up straightning towards the orifice ; to which you must adapt a glass-head , that is to have somewhat a high body , and large , and a very straight mouth , and proportioned to that of the glass-body . lute the joynts exactly with paper and starch ; put the body in a sand-bath , and sink it down as low as the matter reacheth ; fit a small recipient to the beak of the head , and lute that also : kindle under it a very gentle fire , and order it so , that the sand and the glass-body may be heated gently ; after which you may increase it a little , but onely so as to make it strong enough to drive up the volatile salt ; which , being dis-engag'd from the parts of the vipers bodies , riseth easily . it will be sublimed , and stick every where to the inside of the head , like a chrystallized snow . there will arise at the same time a little of the spirit , which is properly nothing but a portion of the volatile salt , having carried up with it a little of the phlegme , that will run into the little recipient , and of which even a part will congeal into chrystals . you must alwayes be careful in managing the fire ; for how little soever you increase it , the phlegme will rise with some of the oyle , and they will dissolve and hide the salt ; and then you must recommence the rectification ; but governing the fire well , when you shall see the head well lined with salt , which will be very white and very chrystalline , you must then un-lute it , and take it off , and lute on an other head , instead of the former . you are to take out the salt , as soon and as well as you can ; and to enclose it in a strong bottle , with such a mouth , that the salt may pass through it , and which may be exactly closed , without which the salt will easily fly away . mean time , you are to continue a like fire under the glass-body , and when no more of that volatile riseth , you are to desist , and to take out of the head the salt there gathered , and keep it as the former . your sand being cold , take off the glass-body , and decant from it the remainder through a great glass-funnel , covered with paper for filtration , held over some vessell . all the phlegm will pass thorough the paper ; but you 'l finde some oyle there , that cannot pass , which you may make run through the funnel into a bottle , having pierced the paper with some convenient instrument . those that shall desire a high and much more perfect rectification of this volatile salt , may make it in manner following . take two pounds of ivory calcin'd to whiteness , and reduced to a fine powder ; which is to be mixt with four ounces of this salt. then put all into a new glass-body , of the same shape with the former . to this let there be adapted and luted a blind head , or such an one , the extremity of whose beak is well stopp'd ( for that is useless for this purpose , there being no phlegme ; and if there were , the calcin'd ivory being a dry body , and in part spungy , would lick and retain it , as it would also the oily part , that might happen to be among the volatile salt : ) let there be given to this glass-body a moderate fire , with the same cautions as before ; the salt will quickly rise , and stick to the head ; where , the sublimation being ended , you will finde it in the form of chrystals , white like snow ; which you are to put up and keep in a bottle exactly closed , to use it upon occasion . this salt thus rectified smells not of fire , and hath nothing but its own natural strong and penetrating scent . there may perhaps be found artists , who will take it ill , that we have been so large and so particular in exactly setting down all the things , that are to be observed in preparing and rectifying this salt. but it is not for them , that we have done it , but for those , who not knowing it will be glad to learn it . we have given them sincerely the true means used by ourselves ; which they may also practise in preparing and rectifying the salts of the parts of all animals . those that have any tincture of chymistry , will here find enough to teach themselves ; as we have done , and do daily . mean time they must not be offended , that there remain with us upon this subject such things , which could not be said , nor well comprehended but by those that have labour'd a great while in this art. intelligent persons , that shall examine our proceeding , or have a mind to experience the same , will find our ingenuousness , by finding the success of all we have made them expect , together with the facility , we give , of the operation . they will also find , that our way of filling the retort as far as the neck , is more proper than that of leaving a third part empty , as some would have it , in the distillation of the bones , horns , and other dry parts of animals ; although those , that understand it , practice it not but in matters that will melt , and may break the retort , or let something run out by the beak , when 't is fill'd too high . but in dry substances , as are our vipers , and the horns , and bones of animals , crabs-eyes , stones , and the like , it is enough to leave this neck empty , to give vent to the parts raised from the matter , and that are to go into the recipient . they will also acknowledge , that our way to leave the oyl among the other substances , when we will sever them by subliming and rectifying them , is not without reason , in regard that the oyl hath commonly with it much volatile salt , which leaves it , and afterward riseth in the rectification . we esteem also , that this preparation will be preferr'd before many others , that are operose and have little method in them ; and , among others , before the rectification , which some pretend to make by the addition of spirit of salt to the phlegme , and to that which is call'd spirit , and to the volatil salt : which instead of rectifying this salt , and of making it purer and better , changes its nature ; and instead of subliming it to the head and the top of the body ( as they have pretended it did , after the phlegm was risen , ) the spirit of salt riseth it self in its first form , in its smell , colour and taste , leaving at the bottom the salt , which is there found like fixed , having the tast and the other qualities of the spirit of salt , but being lessen'd of two thirds of its weight . that kind of men have fill'd books with many preparations they understand not , nor have experimented : for , forgetting , among other things , in the process of this , such methods as are absolutely necessary , and without which they do nothing , they promise impossible successes , and putting the cart before the horses , they fix the salt when they pretend to sublime it , and so very unadvisedly prostitute themselves to shame and confusion . for , instead of rectifying first the volatile salt ( as more intelligent men might have taught them , of whom they had borrowed this preparation ) and of subliming it , and of separating it by this means from other parts ; they labouring to disguise the process , have retrenched the main and most necessary part of it , and employed at the very first that method , which they should have observ'd to fix it , believing that that would sublime it ; not considering , that having by that means inverted nature , the success would prove answerable to it . i set a side their unwarrantable practice of adding a pound of luke-warm water among the substances found in the recipient , after the first distillation , since it is an augmentation , not onely useless , but troublesome , of that phlegme , which must needs be separated . now , although one part of this salt , remaining in the body of the limbec , may yet afterwards becom volatil , by mixing it with some lixiviat salt , and making it to sublime ; yet that is not done but with a new and very great loss of its weight ; nor is the taste of it better than of that , which shall have been well rectified according to the method , we have before described ; since the lixiviat salts , by reviving it in part , give it as displeasing a smel as the former . we may further add here , that the use of tall and strait-neck't bodies is much more proper for this rectification , than the use of matrasses with long necks , myself having experimented , that the phlegme fals back again more easily , and that the volatil salt riseth purer in the bodies of our fashion ; of which the figure may be seen on the title page , where also is that of the retort and the recipient , for the first distillation . now although the same men , that have given us cause to reprehend them , have affirmed contrary to truth , that there is no fix't salt in the parts of animals : to prove that there is , and to benefit by that of the viper ; take what shall remain in the retort , commonly called the caput mortuum , which you will find of the form and colour of coales ; calcine it in a furnace , or , to save expences , in a potters oven , till all become white and of the form of chalk , pulverize it well , and make it boyl in a competent quantity of water , that may receive and dissolve the salt ; filter it , and make it euaporate and consume . you 'l find at the bottom a coagulated salt ; though in a small quantity , and such an one , as that of five pounds of viper-bones well calcin'd , we have obtain'd no more than three ounces of fix't salt. this salt hath a very sharp and poynant taste ; it is lixiviat , and approaching enough in divers regards to the fixt salt of tartar. you 'l find on the filter the terrestrial part , stripp'd of all its vertue ; which then may justly be call'd caput mortuum . and thus you 'l have the phlegme , that which is call'd spirit , the volatil salt , the oyl , the fixt salt , and the earth ; into which all the parts of the viper have been reduced in their separation . chap. vii . of the fixation of the volatil salt of vipers . although the volatile salt of vipers have in it , to speak truth , nothing offensive , but its strong and piercing smell , and that those , who shall take into their mouth the weight of a good number of grains , cannot receive from it any other trouble but that of this sent , which yet soon passeth away , this salt leaving afterwards a saline and very agreeable taste ; yet notwithstanding many persons , offended with the piercing odour , which is first perceived in this salt , and besides dissatisfied with its easy avolation , unless it be extreamely well closed , have endeavoured to fix it , and so to free it from this smel , not considering that this smel cannot be altogether separated from this salt , but its vertue must be so too , and that the fixation changes its nature : and instead of contenting themselves to rectify it well , thereby to carry away , as much as may be , the adventitious smel , which it may have acquired by the violence of the fire by the first distillation , they have sometimes altogether destroyed it , and have dealt with it , as if one would deprive musc and amber-gris of their good sent , and coloquintida of its bitterness ; and many compounds of their operations , which would not be what they are , if you should robb them of the least of those parts that compose them . we say therefore , that after the rectification of this volatil salt , ( such an one as we shall set down beneath , ) the best and surest preparation would be , to do nothing else to it , but to make it to be used in that condition , only mixing with it things accomodated to the patients taste , or with such other remedies , as do not change its nature , nor make it loose any thing of its force or vertue . if the fixed salt of vipers were capable to arrest and retain the volatil , there were then nothing to be said against this fixation , because having been both formed jointly and in the same body , they have no aversion to , but rather are able to help one another ; but this common origin , and this friendship which they have contracted , whilst they lived together in one and the same subject , hinders them from destroying one another , and maketh , that what is fixe can nor will change the nature of the volatil . and indeed , although you mixe them together , and that the quantity of the fixe be five or six times greater than that of the volatil , and that they may also lodg with one another ; yet they both equally keep their nature and vertue , and they may be separated by fire , and manifest at all times their several and distinct vertues . but this hinders not the taking one salt among the other , nor that the fixe should not then borrow somewhat of the subtilty of the volatil , the better to penetrate the entrals and vessels , to open the more vigorously the obstructions , and to expel the impurities , it meets with , by siege or urine ; and that , on the contrary , the volatil salt , helped by the fix't salt , should not carry away and drive out through the pores of the skin or other ways , the more gross and more viscous parts of the humors , that perhaps might have escaped its quick and subtile operation : for which uses , both salts may be mix'd together upon occasion , without undertaking an impossible fixation . but especially , the fixing of this volatil salt by quick-lime cannot pass with all artists but for an operation altogether destructive to it ; and 't is that , which is most of all to be avoided , because not only it carries away the smel , taste , and vertues of this salt , but quite changeth its nature , and converts it into its own , by petrifying the same . the fixation of this volatil salt , by the spirit of salt , although it seem to destroy it and change its nature , in that it carries away the smel and taste of the volatil salt , may notwithstanding be admitted rather than the other , in regard that the spirit of salt , by preserving the vertue it hath to open all the obstructions of the inward parts , working upon the volatil salt , may appropriate to it self something of its vertue , especially that which is able to second its action , and to expel together with it , by urine or other ways , the most tenacious and most stubborn humors . those that would expel the humors by these ways , may usefully prepare it after this manner . mix four ounces of the volatil salt of vipers , well rectifyed , with four ounces of water ; put them into a glass-cucurbite somewhat high , of a narrow mouth , broad and flat towards the bottom , holding about two pints . fit to its mouth a glass-funnel , the end of whose pipe is very narrow : lute the funnel quite round about the orifice of the cucurbite , so that there may be no other aperture but that of the end of the funnel . then powre , little by little , and drop-wise , some spirit of salt well rectified upon the volatil salt. at first there will be a conflict betwixt them , which will cause an ebullition , but that of a short duration . continue to powre upon it of the same spirit of salt , gently and leisurely , according as you find the ebullition cease , and by intervals stir also the cucurbite ; and repeat this so often , that at last there appear no motion any more , and the spirit of salt have as 't were mortified and fixed the volatil salt. then place the cucurbite in some receptacle furnish't with sand ; fit to it a head , lute it ( though at the beginning that be not necessary ) and by a slow fire draw away all the moisture of the spirit of salt , and of the volatil salt , which will rise almost insipid . continue the fire still , and when you shall perceive a taste of the spirit of salt in what shall be distill'd , change the recipient , increase a little the fire , and drive it ( yet without too much violence , ) until there distil no more , and that the salt remain at the bottom of the cucurbite altogether dry and of a gray colour . you 'l find in the recipient a spirit of salt of the same taste , of the same colour , and of the same force it had when it was powr'd upon the volatil salt ; but you shall not find any part of the volatil salt risen to the head , nor to the top of the cucurbit , as some have given out it doth , without having experimented it , as we have done . the gray salt , found at the bottom , is but in a smal quantity , being lessen'd almost of two thirds : it 's taste is very sharp , biting , and much differing from what it had before it was fix'd , and as 't were mortified by the spirit of salt. after this you may dissolve this salt in water , filter it , and make it evaporate , and letting it cool , you 'l find at the bottom a smal quantity of salt coagulated in the form of chrystals . powr out by inclination the water swimming on the top , to have the salt by itself , which you may dry in the air , or the sun , or over a little fire . you may also make good use of the salt that shall have remained in the water that swam a top , by making it evaporate in part , chrystallizing and drying it , as the former . you might , if you pleased , very well omit luting the funnel upon the cucurbit , when you will powre the spirit of salt upon the volatil salt ; forasmuch as we have found by experiment , that in the operation of the spirit of salt upon the volatil salt , there riseth nothing but phlegme , that hath neither vertue nor smel ; although the same persons , that have err'd in many things in the rectification of the volatil salt , have fear'd they should loose therein a volatil spirit , which was only in their imagination : and the luting , which we have advised , was only to prevent peoples belief , that a part of the volatil salt might have escaped that way . but although this volatil salt appear fix't , and remain as such at the bottom of the cucurbit , after distillation , yet there is a part , which retakes its former nature , and becoms volatil again , if it be mix'd with salt of tartar , or with some other lixiviate salt , putting them together in a subliming vessel . for these lixiviate salts , being of a nature contrary to acid salts and spirits , do mortify them and retain them to themselves , and let go the volatil salts , which the acid spirits had , as 't were , mortified and fix'd , and all that was volatil in this seemingly fix't salt , riseth in a white form , and hath almost the same taste and the same other qualities of the volatil salts well rectified . yet you will also find there a great diminution of its weight , so that it will be more advantagious to keep it in the condition , it was in before this last sublimation ; the greatest advantage of which is , to come to know , that the fixation , that hath been made by the spirit of salt , although it have as 't were changed the nature of the volatil salt , and hid its diaphoretique quality under that of the diuretique , yet hath not quite destroyed it , since there is some part , that can retake its pristine form and vertue . this salt thus fix'd possesseth the vertues of a spirit of salt concentred , but they are found augmented by those , it hath borrowed from the volatil salt. those , who would only carry away , by urine or siege , the superfluous humours of the body , may usefully prepare and employ it ; but those , that shall use the volatile salt well rectified , without changing its nature , nor diverting its action by any fixation , will finde therein such effects , as will be incomparably more apparent and more sensible , and will not waste of it so much . chapt . viii . of the vertues of the volatile salt of vipers , and of what the other parts , separated by distilla on , may perform . the volatile salt of vipers is to be consider'd , as a sun , as well among the parts , that rise by distillation , as among those that rest in the retort ; there being none among those that are come over , but have borrowed from it almost all the vertue it can have ; nor any of those that have stay'd , but have need of it , or are useless without it . the flegm that riseth first , carries alwayes some part with it , without which it would produce no effect . that which is called spirit , is nothing else , to speak aright , but a volatile salt , which in the distillation hath been followed by a little flegme dissolving it , and giving it the form of a spirit : which may be shewed by the rectification , wherein that saline volatil part is separated , raised , and coagulated into a white and chrystalline forme , and leaveth at the botom of the cucurbite the moisture that had changed its nature , and is nothing else but flegm . we say , on this occasion , the same thing of what many authors improperly call the volatil spirit of an humane skull , of harts-horn , and of other parts of animals , they being nothing else but volatil salts mixt with flegme , which they afterwards quit , when they are rectified . the oyle also would have but very little vertue , if it borrowed no volatil salt , and if it retained not in it a good part thereof , as may be observed in the rectification : for , if the oyle were measur'd , or weighed , before 't is put among the rest into the cucurbite for rectification , and if it were weighed again after that all the volatil salt is risen , it would be found much diminished in quantity , and in strength also , because most of the volatil salt , which had joyned it self to it , hath been carried away by the rectification . so those , that separate the oyle from the other parts to rectify them , and who use it not but for wounds or ulcers , and to take away superfluities , do doubtless not know it aright ; for it is also endow'd with other vertues more considerable ; of which we shall speake in this chapter . the fixt salt , which rests in the retort , mix't among the terrestrial part , although it is to be put in the rank of lixiviat salts , and possesseth few other qualities , but those of salt of tartar , yet retains something of the nature of the volatile salt . and those , that have considered this salt as a caustick , have had good success with it , without knowing its nature , seing they imputed it to the maligne parts , which they believed to be in vipers , whereas they should have ascribed it to the nature of lixiviate salts . but this salt being taken at the mouth , will be much more effectual , if you mingle some volatil salt with it ; this caustique faculty not hindring but that it may be taken safely and beneficially in appropriated liquors , as many other lixiviate salts are . the terrestrial part hath nothing in it , that deserves to be considered , and it may justly be called terra mortua , dead earth , after it is freed from its fixed salt. so that all the parts , that rise by distillation , as well as those that cannot rise , are of small force , or altogether useless , without the volatil salt. it is therefore upon good reason , that we attribute to it the principal vertues , which a viper can furnish . the similitude of substance , which the volatile salt of viper hath with the spirituous parts of our body , conjoyn'd to its subtile and piercing quality , maketh , that accommodating itself to their condition , and finding all liberty in its actions , it produceth all the effects , it is capable of , and penetrateth without any opposition into the most secret and the most remote parts of the body . it hath this peculiar , that thought it act as a soverain , and finde nothing of resistance to its dominion , yet it exerciseth it not as a conquerour , nor as a destroyer , but rather as a restorer of the places and parts , where it passeth ; and although all its courses be extraordinary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 precipitate , yet they are so well 〈◊〉 and so well directed , that no part 〈…〉 ody misseth them , and that none of 〈…〉 is unuseful , but rather very beneficial to all the places , where it passeth . now since the flesh , the heart , the liver , and the other parts of the viper , taken as an aliment , or as a medicine , may serve for the cure of many maladies , and produce very considerable effects ; 't is not at all tobe doubted , but that this salt , which is the most subtile and the most potent of them all , is something more sublime and more efficacious . and we are assur'd , that if it were well known to us , it would pass for an almost universal medicine ; men would be careful of preparing it , and we should see it often prescribed by physitians , and find it succeed in innumerable obstinate diseases , that are but seldom and difficultly cured . to judge well of the effects , which this volatile salt can produce in our bodies , we must know its manner of operation , which is , to open , to comminute , to attenuate , to pierce , and to drive to the extreme parts of the body , and through the pores of the skin , all the impurities , and all the strange bodies , that can get out by those wayes . further , it is an enemy to all corruption , very friendly and very agreable to our nature , which it assists and fortifies , enabling it to expell , not onely by the pores of the skin , but also by siege and urine , and by all the emunctories of the body , the superfluous humors , which molest it : whence it comes to pass , that it produces admirable effects upon a thousand occasions , curing a great number of sicknesses , or at least giving great relief therein , even in those , that are most refractory , and most difficult to cure ; such as are apoplexies , lethargies , convulsions , palsies , and many other maladies , believed to have their source in the brain . it is also a great relief to the distempers of the breast , as swoundings , palpitations of the heart , difficulties of breathing , and pleurisies . besides it particularly unstops the obstructions of the liver , spleen , mesentery , and other parts of the lower belly . it dissipates all inward impostumes , in their rise , and dislodgeth secret and unknown pains , which have their origin in the spirits . it helps digestion , the purification of the mass of the blood , and its distribution to all the parts of the body , and resolves and prevents coagulations : and so being an enemy to all corruption , it is very proper for all sorts of fevers , caused thereby ; as for most intermittent feavers , and particularly quartans . it also worketh powerfully in the distempers of the matrix ; and is a remedy to all the vices of the skin , and to the leprosy it self : but above all , 't is specifique against all bitings and stingings of venomous creatures , against all venoms and poysons , if they be not corrosive ; for in that case , recourse must presently be had to vomitives and to unctuous things , after which it produceth good effects . it hath a particular vertue against the plague , against all contagious diseases , and epidemical ones , such as are the measels , small pox , and the like . in a word , the inductions , we can draw from the great number of experiments , we have seen of it , at different times , oblige us to affirm , that its vertues goes beyond what can be expressed . and those , that shall make reflexion on what we have said of it , will be able to apply and use it beneficially to many other sicknesses , which to enumerate would be too prolix and too tedious . in the mean time , we cannot forbear to relate here a very remarkable experiment , made upon a gentleman , who suffered about a month since , a violent and continual paine , doubled and redoubled , at the right part of his front pretty near the temple : the end of a finger might cover the place of the pain ; there appeared no redness nor swelling , and there was perceived no hardness . yet the pain , though it was , as 't were , fixed in a point , was communicated to the other neighboring parts , so that the gentleman could not chew , nor so much as open his mouth to take down a little broth , but with extreme pain , though hunger urged him . the physitians , that saw him , had used several means to relieve him , and , among the rest , venae-sections in the arm and foot ; they had purged him often ; they had employed frictions of his neck and shoulders ; they had applyed to him vesicatories , and snailes , behind his eares : they had caused his temporal artery to be open'd , and drawn from him ten or twelve ounces of arterial blood , and then cauterised the aperture ; they had also prescribed him powerful sudorifiques , which were continued many dayes morning and evening , and had made him sweat very copiously ; and the patient himself , of his own accord , being extremely pressed by the violence of the pains , caused one of his upper teeth , which was very sound , to be pulled out , hoping thereby to give some vent to them : but after he had used all these means in vain , one dose of the volatil salt of vipers , given in wine , remov'd presently all the pain , which caused as great a wonder in the assistants , as satisfaction in the patient . this so surprising effect , which demonstrateth better , than all reasons , the force and efficacy of this volatil salt , may also conclude the discourse of its vertues . there remains now , that we say something of the vertues of the oyle , which riseth by distillation with the volatil salt , of which it also retains a part . it s strong sent is the cause , that it is not often employed ; whence it comes , that sometimes it is more advantageous to the preparer , to profit by the rectification of the volatil salt , which it hath , than to keep it in its condition for patients that shall use it notwithstanding its strong smel and ill taste . this smel is so intimately sticking to it , that there is no rectification , able to remove it . but we make herewith known to all those , that shall be able to comply with the use of it , that it is one of the best and most efficacious outward remedies in all physick , provided it be made use of , when 't is yet indued with its volatil salt : for it opens , attenuates , resolves , is abstersive , and admirably cleansing ; and we know , who have experimented it , that the continued anointing with it , accompanied with the internal use of the volatil salt , produceth admirable effects in the parts labouring under the palsy , and deprived of motion , and even in those , that are dryed for want of the communication of spirits and nourishment . a little spunge imbibed with this oyl , carried in a little box pierced , and often smelled to , is very good in the time of the plague , to keep off the ill air , and to fortify the brain , and the noble parts . it is also good to make it to be smelled , to put of it in the nostrils , and to annoint the temples with it , in epileptical symptoms , and for those , that are troubled with giddiness , and have their brain charged with vapors or flegme ; for it gives them vent , and dispels them powerfully . it hath also a considerable effect against the suffocations of the matrix , and against all sorts of worms ; in which case , some drops of it may even be given at the mouth , in wine , or broth ; and the hollow of the stomach anointed therewith . it visibly dissipitateth all outward contusions , and serveth much for inward ones , and especially for those of the head. it resolves tumours and hardnesses , giving issue by the pores to such matter , as can transpire , digosting the gresser , and bringing them to a laudable suppuration . it is also abstersive and cleanseth all sorts of ulcers , and healeth all the distempers of the skin , even the most stubborn , provided the internal cause thereof be removed . in all which evils its effects are yet more quick and powerful , if it be enforced by the internal use of the volatil salt , which , in a word , is that , which gives it its main vertue . we shall add , on this occasion , that the ancients valued very much their oyl of vipers , which they prepared several ways , some by infusion , some by the decoction of vipers in oyl of oliues . if they had rightly proportioned the quantity of vipers with that of the oyl ; if they had added thereto what moisture was necessary ; and if in this they had employed some good method , this oyl might produce good effects , and we should approve of it , and refer our readers to it . but finding nothing regular in all the preparations , by them described , we thought good here to set down one , according to all the rules of art. take about the end of may , or the beginning of june , a dozen great vipers newly taken , cut each of them into seven or eight pieces , and put them into a well glazed and strong earthen pot : powr upon them three pounds of oyl of olives , and one pint of white wine ; cover the pot well , and make it boyl over a gentle fire to the consumption of the moisture . then strain all , squeeze out the vipers well , and keep the oyle for use . in the mean time , fear not ( as the antients did ) the vapors , that may issue out of the pot during the decoction ; for the vipers , as we have said , have no poyson in all their body . this oyle , thus prepared , hath not , 't is true , all the strength and vertues of the distilled oyle , of which we were speaking a little before ; but it may very well serve for an oyntment in all the distempers of the skin , in contractions of nerves , in rheumatismes , & in many other evils . chap. ix . of the manner of using the volatil salt. although it be impossible to specify in particular all the wayes of using the volatil salt of vipers , no more than one can well enumerate the sicknesses , that may have need of it ; yet , in some degree to satisfy those that may desire it we shall make here an abridgment of a good part of what we have seen practis'd by physitians , that perfectly know the qualities and proprieties of this salt , and use it daily to the great benefit of their patients . you must first know , that its piercing taste hinders it from being given alone , and that it must be mix't , now with some aliment , as in broth , the yolk of an egg , a rosted apple , a little jelley , &c. sometimes with medicines , and that innumerable wayes , which partly depend from the humour and disposition of the patient , but chiefly from the wit , knowledge , and discretion of the physitian . for this salt calls for a physitian , that hath sufficient ability to know and measure its force and activity ; that is intelligent and versed in all maladies , to be able beneficially to employ it in those that require it , that knows to chuse a favorable time and occasion ; and to mix it pertinently and to good purpose with such things , as may not change its nature nor divert its operation , nor subvert the indication , he shall have taken . so that 't is necessary , to be equally assur'd of the genuine and methodical preparation of the salt ; of the knowledge of its qualities and vertues ; of the nature of the distemper , of the condition , temper , and strength of the patient ; of the fitness of its exhibition among aliments or appropriated medicaments , and of the occasions and the time , in which it may be usefully employed . and when a due regard hath been had to all these circumstances , men will not fail to finde very good effects of it . but that those , who are not accustom'd to make use of it , may not unawares finde in it effects contrary to the nature of this salt , we have thought ourselves obliged to advertise them , that they must above all things avoid mixing them among acids , and especially among spirit of salt , vitriol , brimstone , and the like , which would fix it and destroy its operation . to find therefore facility in its exhibition , it may be taken in distilled waters , or ptisane , or such decoctions as are appropriated to the disease ; as also in juleps , emulsions , or potions diversly composed . it may also be mix't in conserves , extracts , confections , and the like ; as also in lozenges and opiats , diversly made according to the nature of the distemper , and the intention of the physitian ; it is also mingled with purgatives , sudorifiques , aperitives and diuretiques ; and no less , with its own fix't salt , and such other salts , as are not contrary to it . it is also given in wine , and among certain mineral waters . it may be administred to both sexes , and to all ages , at all times and hours , between meals according to the nature of the disease , and the intention of the doctor . it may be taken , if one will , several times in a day , and even at night ; and the use of it may be continued for a good while . as to its dose , that is different , according to the occasion , age , temper and humour of the patient , and the nature of the distemper , and the reiteration made of it : for , the dose is to be much less for those , who take it often in one day , and continue the use of it , than for those , that take it but once in a case of need . sometimes 't is esteemed sufficient to give 6. 8. 10. or 12. grains of it ; but on certain occasions we may give 20. or 25. grains , and some-times , half a drachme , and even a whole drachme . but discretion and skill is to be used ; without which , this salt , as excellent as 't is , may produce effects quite contrary to what the physitian and the patient might expect from it . chapt . x. divers remedies or compositions , of which the volatil salt of vipers is the base or ground . we had not undertaken to describe the vertues , nor the uses of the volatil salt of vipers , no more than of the fix't salt , and of the oyle that riseth by distillation , if this our book were only written for the skilful physitian , who perfectly knows all , and especially the parts that may be drawn from the viper . but being desirous to do a good office to such persons , as have no knowledg thereof , or that knowing it in part , have need to be directed , especially in the exhibition of this volatil salt ; we thought good to conclude this book with the receipts of the chief compositions of which this volatil salt may be the ground , which are not found in books , and may produce effects worthy of this salt. and knowing , that there are many curious persons , who having a great esteem for the viper and its uses , make preparations thereof in private , following the receipts they find in books , which sometimes are well , some-times ill prescribed , or ill executed ; west all impart to them an elixir of vipers , that shall be of great vertue , pleasant to the taste , of easy preparation , and of long duration . take four douzen of hearts and as many livers of vipers , dry'd in the shade , and reduced to powder ; two drachmes of good cinnamon , half a drachme of cloves , grosly beaten : put them into a strong glass-bottle , holding about two pints . powr on it a pound of the queen of hungary's water , a pound of melisse-water , half a pound of orange-flower-water , and half a pound of rose-water . close the bottle exactly , and expose it to the sun for fourty dayes ; after which dissolve in the liquor a pound of fine sugar , and pass all through a clean bagg . put up this elixir in a bottle , and add to it half an ounce of the volatil salt of vipers , well rectified , twelve grains of levant-musk , and as much of amber-gris . close the bottle exactly , and you may keep this elixir , to use it in time of need , from half a spoonfull to a whole . you may take of it in the morning upon an empty stomack , and at all hours , according as necessity shall require . this medicin is very good and very convenient : it is not onely proper against all poysons , against the plague , and all contagious and epidemical diseases , but it also fortifieth all the noble parts , preserves the natural heat in good condition , and by this means the use of it conduces much to preserve health , and to prolong life . the elixir following deserveth also to be communicated to the public , as a medicine that is not common , and is very available , not onely for the sicknesses of men , as well in the brain , as the stomack , and all the noble parts ; but also very particularly , for most of the diseases of women . i shall give you here the description of it . take an ounce of good saffron , as much of fair myrrhe , as much of aloes socotrina , and the same quantity of white amber ; a drachm of the extract of opium , and as much of the extract of castor . mingle your extracts in a little spirit of wine ; pulverize all the rest ; and put altogether in a glass-body : powr upon it three pounds of spirit of wine tartarized ; place the body in a bath of ashes ; fit an head to it , with its recipient , well luted together : give it a moderate fire , and draw from it about the moiety of the spirit of wine ; then unlute your vessels , decant the tincture , that will swim above your powders , which will be found very much imbued with all their qualities ; and keep it by itself in a bottle well-closed . powre the spirit of wine , which you have drawn off , upon the remainder in the body ; fit again to it the head and the recipient , and draw again from it the half of the spirit of wine . decant again the tincture swimming a top , mingle it with the first , and keep it likewise . cohobate for the third time the spirit of wine , drawn off , upon the remainder in the body ; proceed as before , and powre off the tincture swimming a top , and mingle it with the former : then filter all three together , and powre all into a strong viall , adding to the whole an ounce of the volatil salt of vipers , which will easily dissolve in it ; keep the whole thus mix't and well closed . the dose may be from ten to sixteen drops . we shall yet adde to this an opiate of great efficacy for most distempers of the brain ; and t is this . take half an ounce of the extract of the root and seed of the male-paeony ; and of the true misseltoe of the oak , and of that of betony-flowers , and of that of clove-gilly-flowers , the same quantity of each of them ; three drachms of the confection of alkermes of mesue , three drachms of the volatil salt of vipers , one drachme of the volatil salt of succinum , two drachms and an half of prepared pearl , and as much of crabs-eyes prepar'd ; three drops of cinamon-oyle , and as much of the oyle of mace : mingle all according to art , and make an opiate of it , and keep it in a pot of fayence ( a sort of fine white earthen pots ) well closed . the dose of it may be from a scruple to a drachme . you may also make , in the following manner , an opening and laxative opiate , that shall conduce to the cure of sundry long and stubborn diseases , especially of those that are caused by several obstructions of the parts . take of the conserve of tamarisk-flowers , of the conserve of the flowers of genista or spanish-broom , of that of mary-gold , and of that of the male-peach flowers , of each six drachms ; half an ounce of the volatil salt of vipers , as much of the extract of the ordinary iris root , and as much of the extract of rubarb ; two drachms of the fix't salt of vipers , as much of the mineral bezoar , and as much of the salt of worm-wood ; a drachme and an half of rosin of scammony , and as much of the extract of coloquintida ; and a drachme of the powder of cinnamon . mix all these things together , and adding to it , as much as needs , of the syrup of succory , compounded with rubarb , you shall make an opiate of it , the dose of which may be from one drachme to two , and even to three for stronger bodies . there may also be made pills , that shall have a vertue near the former in efficacy , to be taken in a less quantity . take of the extract of aloes , made with the juyce of the cleansed flowers of violets , of the extract of rubarb , and of that of the levant-sena , of each two drachms ; as much of the volatil salt of vipers , as much of the rosin of scammony , and as much of the gumm ammoniac in drops ; one drachme of mineral bezoar , and the like quanitty of the fixt salt of vipers . reduce all into a mass of pills , of which the dose shall be from half a scruple to two scruples . those , whose stomach shall be troubled with tenacious humors , such as could not be carryed away by purges , or other remedies ; those , that have a nauseousness , and are subject to troublesome resentments from the stomach , may to good purpose use the following powder . take of coriander-seed ( that is not prepared with vinegar , according to the ill way of the antients , but such as is sold in good shops , ) of anis-seed , of sweet fennel-seed , of the root of lickorish well scraped and dryed , of each half anounce ; three drachms of the volatil salt of vipers , and as much of crabs-eyes prepared ; two drachms of the fixt salt of vipers , and as much of well-chosen cinamon . bring all to a fine powder , and adde to it its weight , or if you will , double its weight of fine powder'd sugar . close this mixture in a glass-vessel , or in one of the fine white earthen pots , and close it carefully . you may take of it , at a time , from half a spoonfull to a whole , according as you have put more or less sugar to it . you may also adde to the powder some drops of the oyl of anis , and of the oyl of cinnamon , and even of musk and ambre-gris . this volatil salt is to very good purpose mix't among the sneezing powders ; for besides that it penetrates exceedingly by its activeness , it also discharges the brain powerfully , and withall fortifieth it . it may be mixed with the powders of betony , marjoram , rosemary , arabic , staechas , sage , and the like , not putting but a sixth part of our volatil salt among these powders . those that would have an opiate , proper not onely to fortify the heart , the stomach , and all the noble parts , but also to expell all kind of venom , and all the impurities of the mass of bloud , and of the solid parts , and to make them issue out at the pores of the skin , or at the other emunctories , may prepare very beneficially the following opiate . take two ounces of the conserve of gilly-flowers , one ounce of the confection of alkermes , ambred and musked , six drachms of the volatile salt of vipers well rectified , half an ounce of the confection of hyacinth , as much of the electuary of diascordium , three drachmes of the mineral bezoar ; and of pearl prepar'd , of crabs-eyes prepared , of the extract of angelica , and of that of carlina , of each of these the same quantity ; two drachms of the salt of carduus benedictus . mix all together , and reduce it to an opiate , by adding to it some syrup of kermes , or the clove-gilly-flowers , as much as needs to give a good consistence to the composition : which you are to keep close for your occasions . you may take of it , for a preservative , half a drachm , at a time , in wine , or broth ; but in urging sicknesses , you may take of it a whole drachme , and even two drachms . those that will use the oyl which hath been drawn by distillation , may either employ it all alone , or mingle it with an equal quantity of unguentum martiatum , and even adde to it oyles distilled of rosemary , sage , lavender and the like . those , that shall well consider these receipts , will finde therein not onely a fit proportion in the dose of all the particulars , but also great cautiousness in mixing nothing with them , that may destroy or change the natnre of our volatil salt ; which is the thing , most to be avoided in the exhibition . we might here adde many other compositions , of which the volatil salt of vipers may be the ground ; but we have contented ourselves to deliver these for examples , knowing , that there may be found divers others , good enough , in books , and esteeming , that 't is better to prepare them upon occasion according to exigency , and following the receipts , which able physitians may prescribe thereof . we have also explain'd ourselves sufficiently in all particulars . we would have been more large , if we had not apprehended we might exceed our bounds , and undertake things , which might be thought to be beyond our reach , and to belong onely to knowing physitians . those that know well to prepare this volatil salt of vipers , and to unite it well with the volatil parts of plants , and with the sulphureous parts of certain minerals , that are friendly to our nature , may say , that they have made some progress in their profession . we labour daily , and wish our selves able in time to impart something to the publick , that may be more accomplisht . finis . cista militaris, or, a military chest, furnished either for sea, or land, with convenient medicines, and necesary instruments amongst which is also a description of dr. lower's lancet, for the more safe bleeding / written in latin, by gulielmus fabritius hildanus ; englished for publick benefit. reisekasten. english. 1674 fabricius hildanus, wilhelm, 1560-1634. 1674 approx. 33 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a41139 wing f71 estc r12937 12388820 ocm 12388820 60938 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41139) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 60938) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 867:22) cista militaris, or, a military chest, furnished either for sea, or land, with convenient medicines, and necesary instruments amongst which is also a description of dr. lower's lancet, for the more safe bleeding / written in latin, by gulielmus fabritius hildanus ; englished for publick benefit. reisekasten. english. 1674 fabricius hildanus, wilhelm, 1560-1634. lower, richard, 1631-1691. tractatus de corde. english. selections. [2], 30 p. : ill. printed by w. godbid : and are to be sold by moses pitt ..., london : 1674. reproduction of original in bodleian library. also issued with paul barbette's a complete treatise of chirurgery, containing the chirurgical and anatomical works, 2nd ed., london, 1674. the original was in german. it was published with the author's von geschossenen wunden, and his neues feld-artzneibuch. the later enlarged latin version appeared in 1633 under title: cista militaris. "a description of a lancet, for the more secure letting of blood, by dr. lower" (p. 1-6) is translated from his de corde, 3d ed., amsterdam, 1671, p. 166-169. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of 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, or , a military chest , furnished either for sea , or land , with convenient medicines , and necessary instruments . amongst which is also a description of d r lower's lancet , for the more safe bleeding . written in latin , by gulielmus fabritius hildanus . englished for publick benefit . london , printed by w. godbid , and are to be sold by moses pitt , at the angel in st. paul's church-yard . m. dc . lxx . iv. a description of a lancet , for the more secure letting of blood , by d r lower . forasmuch as it hath been thought convenient by several good chirurgeons , to contrive a safe way of blood-letting , for the benefit of young beginners in that profession ; and whereas dr. lovver of late , in his treatise of the heart , hath discovered a plain and secure way of bleeding , and given a figure of the lancet , which he commends for that purpose , i have been advised , for the publick good , to translate what he hath written , and likewise give the figure of the lancet , and description of the vse of it , as it is printed in the 166 page of the last and truest edition of his book , printed at amsterdam 1671 , in the author 's own words . how great ebullition sometimes happens in the blood , in what vessels , and with what swift motion it is cast about every where through the body , and if an artery be opened how quickly , and with what force it breaks out , it hath been hitherto treated of in the foregoing discourse ; by which it appears , how necessary sometimes blood-letting is , to diminish its quantity , or to stop its career , and how dangerous the administration of it is , if it be performed by a rude and unskilful hand . for it often happening , either by want of skill , or common practice of bleeding , ( which makes the mind fearful , and consequently the hand trembling and uncertain ) that an artery is opened , or a nerve or tendon cut or prick'd , inflammations , gangrenes or convulsions , which put the member in danger of being cut off , or render'd useless , i thought it might not be beyond the scope of my treatise , if , by way of appendix , i should shew by what means and instrument any vein might be safely and securely opened , ( if it swell upon a ligature ) though it have an artery , nerve or tendon immediately under it . forasmuch therefore as never any harm happens in blood-letting , unless a vein be prick'd through , or slipping aside , the lancet be put too deep into the part , the fabrick of this lancet is such , and ought to be so put into the vein , as both may be easily prevented . a the lancet . b the place where the upper edge of the lancet ends in a plain . c where the under edge of the lancet ends , the rest of the under part being polish'd round , and thick , ( but not made thicker than the upper plain part ) that it may not grate or tear the skin ( upon which it must be applied ) by its compression . which figure of the lancet differs nothing from a common ordinary lancet , but that the under edge of it is blunted almost to the point . the way of using it is only this , that the member being tied , and the vein swelling , the lancet must be applied as neer to it as possible , but so that the lancet may be depress'd as much as may be ; then the point of it being directed upwards , it must be gently , and by an oblique transverse incision be put into the vein : which if so directed , neither can the vein avoid the point of the lancet , or the parts underneath be any way offended . which way of blood-letting , as it is most easie , so it will never prove unhappy to any one , though but meanly skilful . and though i do not write this to physicians and chirurgeons , who are expert , and frequently exercised in bleeding ; yet having seen many peoples health and life endangered , either by ill blood-letting , or because a good chirurgeon could not timely be called in by physicians , who most commonly forbear the practice of it , therefore i have devised this figure of a lancet , that they may more securely and confidently use it . cista militaris , or a military chest , furnished either for sea or land , with convenient medicines and instruments . whilst i was in the low countries in the year 1612 , in the city of morsk , i was entertained with great kindness by that noble and valiant gentleman , alexander de schmetchel , governour of the place and works , who amongst the other things worthy seeing , shewed me the military chest of the most illustrious heroe , maurice , prince of orange , &c. wherein not onely medicines and instruments , but also linnen , rowlers , and other necessaries were prepared , and disposed all in order in a room , but not as then put into the chests , which were fitly contrived for that purpose , because that the garrison-soldiers might be supplied with what they needed for their healths ; and also that the medicines that were wanting or decayed , might be forthwith renewed : an evident sign , and great demonstration of the piety , prudence , and care of this prince towards his soldiers . this chest , as often as necessity required , march'd with the camp , and in the greatest and most dangerous occasions the soldiers were for the present succoured , and assisted from it . then afterwards they were carried to the next cities , where they were taken care of by physicians and chirurgeons , appointed and paid by the states : and if by chance any soldier lost a limb , or was lame , he was relieved , and had an annual pension from the states . this pious and christian constitution made the soldiers despise all dangers , and incouraged them to be both valiant and daring . therefore that generals may understand what things are most necessary to furnish a chest with , i thought good to set down both the principal medicaments , and instruments , that a chirurgeon , following the camp or sea , ought to be provided with ; and if there should be occasion for any others , he may furnish himself at the next shop he comes at . the chest ought to be so divided into partitions and classes , that all confusion and intermixing of medicines may be avoided , and the virtue and propriety of each preserved . to this purpose i have divided it into twenty classes . the first contains purging simples , which must be put up in leather-bags , except manna and cassia extracted , which may more conveniently be kept in galli-pots . those bags again are to be put into other larger , and writ upon in great characters , purging simples . in the second classis are contained purging electuaries , which are to be kept in gally-pots , writ upon , purging compounds : and so of the rest . syrups , and distill'd waters , are to be put into double glasses , close cork'd , and tied down with bladders . they must be so plac'd , that they may not move , and so break each other , and their cells lined with baiz . pills are to be wrapt up in white leather , rubb'd first with oyl of sweet almonds . cordial powders and electuaries , being put into leather bags , are to be so plac'd in a separate classis , that they may not mix with the purgers . roots , herbs , flowers , and seeds are likewise to be kept in bags of leather or linnen , and to be so distributed , that in the first classis the roots , second herbs , &c. oyls , and common balsams , in glass-bottles , with screwed pewter-heads ; but the pretious chymical oyls , as of cinnamon , cloves , maces , nutmegs , &c. ought to be preserv'd in double glasses well stopt with cork , and waxt . the balsams likewise of these are to be kept in glasses , or silver . unguents , and fat 's are best kept in gally-pots , or of pewter , well tied down with paper and leather . and turpentine so likewise . plaisters , gums , wax , the sewet of bears , cows , goats , and the like , which are of a solid consistence , are to be put in bladders wrapt afterwards in paper . metals , and subterraneous medicaments , as vitriol , allum , letharge , bole , &c. as also meals , must be put into leather-bags : but prepared tutia , seif album , ostiocolla , and the like , which are to be used in colliriums , or given inwardly , are to be wrapt up in paper , and put into leather-bags , and plac'd amongst the cordials . let all the bags be tied close , and written upon in great letters , to prevent confusion . arsnick , orpiment , crude mercury , sublimate , praecipitate , caustick , minium troches , spirit of vitriol , aqua fortis , and the like corrosive medicines , are not to be plac'd in the chest , lest the glass , or what other things they are contained in , break , and so spoil and prejudice the other medicines , and withall endanger the lives of the sick ; therefore to prevent this , it is more convenient to keep them in some box or chest apart by themselves . the instruments are to be preserv'd in this manner . those that are for cutting , and edged , as rasors , scissors , incision-knives , &c. are to be kept in cases , the rest are wrapt in paper , or rather in flannel . these being thus prepared , and in readiness , you must take a catalogue of all , that you may presently , and without trouble , find them when you have occasion for them . as your chest is divided into classes , after the same manner it is necessary to write your catalogue ; and as often as any simple and compound medicine is wanting , mark it on the margin of the catalogue , that you may supply its defect . all which , kind reader , i thought good to advise : the classes following now in order . classis . i. contains the purging simples . agarick . aloes . rhubarb . cassia . crocus metallorum . colocinthis . diagridium . senna . hermodacts . manna . mechoacans . myrobalans . juice of damask roses . trochisci albandal . turbith . classis ii. purging compounds . benedicta laxativa . confectio hamech . diacarthamum . diacatholicon . diaphoenicon . diaturbith cum rhabarbaro . electuarium de succo rosarum . electuarium lenitivum . pulvis sennae praep : brasssavoli . syrup of roses solutive . pill : aggregativae : aureae . cochiae . de agarico . lucis majoris . ruffi . extract : rudii . species for suppositories . classis iii. electuaries , and powders strengthening the heart , and noble parts . aromaticum rosatum . bolus orientalis . camphire . confect : alchermes . de hyacintho . prepared coral . burnt harts-horn prepared . cremor tartari . diaireos . diamargaritum frigidum . diarrhodon abbatis . diatragaganthum frigidum . diatrion santalinum . flower of brimstone . bezoar stone . prepared pearls . mithridate . meconium . opium . laudanum opiatum . ostrocolla , prepared to be given inwardly . philonium romanum . pulvis ad epithemata cordis . shavings of harts-horn . sal prunella . tartarum vitriolatum . seal'd earth . theriac : londinens : andromachi . diatessaron . classis iv. aromaticks , or spices . calamus aromaticus . cloves . cinnamon . saffron . gallingal . mace. nutmegs . pepper . sugar . ginger . class . v. distill'd waters , and the like . of sorrel . aniseed . burrage . bugloss . marigold . cinnamon distill'd without wine . bawlm . plantain . roses . aqua vitae . absynthii . minthae . theriacalis . juices of barberies . citrons . pomegranats . vineger of roses . common vineger . class . vi. syrups of sorrel . unripe currans . barberies . bugloss . citrons . quinces . pomegranats . limons . liquorice . poppies . roses not laxative . dried roses . violets . mel rosarum . oxymel simplex scilliticum . diamoron . class . vii . roots of marsh-mallows . angelica . birthwort long , and round . bistort . briony . avens . onyons . succory . comfrey . sow-bread . elecampane . eringo . fennel . gentian . swallow-wort . orris . white lilies . liquorice . parsley . burnet . plantain . polypody . squills . tormentil . class . viii . herbs . wormwood , common , and roman . agrimony . ladies mantle . jack by the hedge . marsh-mallows , leaves , flowers , and tops . betony . carduus benedictus . centaury . knotgrass . cuscuta . dittany of crete . horsetail . eye-bright . fumitory . st. johns-wort . marjerome . balme . mint . mercury . nep. origanum . plantain . self-heal . winter-green . ribwort . rosemary . rue . sage . sanicle . scabious . scordium . golden rod. class . ix . flowers of dill. betony . borrage . bugloss . marigold . camomile . pomegranats . melilot . primrose . roses . rosemary . sage . elder . mullein . violets . class . x. seeds of dill. anise . caraways . coriander prepar'd . cummin . quinces . foenugrick . french barley . linseed . parsley . plantane . raddish . mustard . class . xi . fruits . almonds . bay-berries . acorn-cups . figs. preserved cherries . quinces . galls . acorns . limons . lupins . oranges . pomegranats . mirtle-berries . cypress-nuts . rose-cups . prunes . tamarinds . raisons . class . xii . oyl of almonds , sweet , and bitter . dill. aniseeds . balsam of tolu . vigo's balsam . oyl ofcarawayseeds . cloves . wax . camomile . cinnamon . quinces . fennelseed . st. johns-wort . juniper-berries . white lillies . earth-worms . mastick . mint . myrtles . nutmegs . olives . roses . scorpions . turpentine . violets . yolks of eggs. petroleum . foxes . elder . linseed . class . xiii . unguents . aegyptiacum . album rhasis . apostolorum . aureum . de minio camphoratum . defensivum chalmetaei . dialtheae . diapompholigos . nicotianae . populeon . rosatum . ad ambusta hildani . basilicon . linimentum arcei . martiatum . class . xiv . fat 's of geese . beef . capons . deer . goats . men. hens . hogs . bears . class . xv. plaisters . apostolicum . basilicum . de betonica . diapalma . diachilon simplex & compositum . de melliloto . de mussilaginibus . oxycroceum . de ranis . paracelsus . class . xvi . gums , &c. ammoniacum . benjamin . wax , white , and yellow . colophony . elemni . euphorbium . mastick . myrrh . olibanum . pitch . stirax calamita . turpentine . tragaganth . class . xvii . minerals , and their like . alome , crude and burnt . antimony crude . arsnick . lime wash'd . ceruse . crocus martis . gypsum . lapis calaminaris . causticus . medicamentosus crollii . sabulosus . lythargirium aureum , & argenteum . mercurius crudus . sublimatus . praecipitatus . nil praeparatum . niter crude , prepared . burnt lead . realgar . seif album . brimstone . tutia prepared . vitriol crude , and burnt . class . xviii . meals of bay-berries . beans . barley . lentiles . darnel . lupines . wheat . mill-dust . pulvis ad sistendum sanguinem . classis xix . instruments . besides the above recited medicines , it is also most requisite , that a chirurgeon should be furnished with necessary instruments , without which he cannot perform his duty as he ought . they may be divided into two sorts , some to be fitted for a box , which he ought continually to carry about him in his pocket ; these ought to be made small and little , that they may neither load him , nor afright the patient : the others are to be kept in the chest , whilst occasion calls for their assistance . i never visited my patients without a box of instruments in my pocket , in the which were contained the following : a razor . a pair of scissors . two incision knives . four lancets to bleed withall . a crooked knife to open apostems . a flegme , to divide the gums in the tooth-ach . an extractor , to take out forreign things out of wounds . a pair of forceps for the same use . needles , to stitch up great wounds , which are to be of different sizes , some great , others small , &c. a stitching quill , which is used in stitching wounds : it ought to be of that length , as to contain the needles within its hollowness . wounds of the fleshy parts only are to be sticht , nervous parts in no wise . in wounds of the face i never use needle , but that which is called the dry stitch . spatula's , great and little . probes . speculum oris ; one end of which , in affects of the jaws , and throat , is to depress the tongue , the other to scrape it . uvula-spoon . a burrus quill , to sprinkle powders upon wounds or ulcers . a hook , single at one end , and two at the other . a hone , to set the incision-knives , lancets , &c. i had all these instruments , and many more , made me by a skilful artist in silver , which i used only within the town , patients being less afraid of them than of iron : but at sea and at camps it is not so safe for a chirurgeon to have them of silver , therefore they may be very conveniently made of iron or steel , except the probes , which ought to be made of lead , copper , or latin. these instruments a chirurgeon ought always to have about him , as also a salvatory with six divisions , which ought to be furnish'd 1. with unguentum basilicon , 2. with ung . aureum , 3. apostolorum , 4. nutritum , 5. album rhasis , the 6. with rubrum exsiccativum , or de minio : it ought to be made of horn , or some solid wood , as ebony , guaiacum , or box , for unguents are better preserved in wood , than in silver , copper , &c. it is also requisite that he hath about him in a pewter bottle some oyl of roses , to anoint any wounded part , it easeth pain , &c. as also another pot with a digestive . thus much for the instruments , which a chirurgeon ought to wear about him ; now follow the others , and first of those that are us'd about the head. 1. trepans , by which the skull is perforated in great contusions , to give passage to extravasated and concreted blood collected in the head . 2. levatories , to raise the depressed skull . 3. scalpra's , to scrape the carious skull . 4. a great speculum oris , by which the tongue , in great inflammations of the jaws and throat , is depress'd . 5. another speculum oris , to force open the mouth , which , as i have seen sometimes in spasmus's , to be so close shut , that a drop of broth could not be poured in . 6. several instruments to draw teeth . 7. and because sometimes in eating , a fish-bone or the like is fixt in the throat , and so would suffocate the person , therefore it is necessary for a chirurgeon to have in his chest such an instrument , as i have described in the 36 observation of the first century : but if he hath it not at hand , let him forth with make fast a piece of spunge to the end of a catheter , and thrust it down the throat . 8. instruments to draw forth bullets from gunshot-wounds , of which there are diverse set down by authors . i esteem that the most convenient , whose description you may see in the 88. obs . of the first century . 9. a great saw , for amputating great members . 10. a little saw for the dismembring fingers , and toes ; it not becoming a rational chirurgeon to separate them with chissels , as i have more largely shewn in my treatise of a gangrene , &c. chap. 17. 11. because in amputating , the greater part of chirurgeons use a knife , it is convenient to have one well set , and strongly sixt in a handle . 12. a crooked knife : its description see in the above named book of a gangrene . 13. i , in the taking off of members , instead of a knife , use a cautery , made in fashion of a knife , well edged , and red hot : its description is in the above named treatise . he ought likewise to have ready other cauteries , some larger , others lesser ; some sharp , others round , which may be used to stop the flux of blood after amputation , or other great and dangerous hemorages . 14. and because soldiers , from their debaucheries and impure copulation , are oftentimes troubled with the running of the reins , caruncles , and suppression of urine , it is necessary a chirurgeon should be provided with catheters and syrenges . 15. for the reducing of broken bones , and dislocations there are several instruments , both by hippocrates , oribasius , and other authors , set down ; but i have always found in my practice the instrument of ambrose parey , which is with a pulley , the most convenient ; especially if you joyn to it the girdle and remora , as in the 86. observation of the fifth century : it is not onely the most convenient , but most useful instrument for all fractures and dislocations , except of the fingers , ribs , and mandibles ( which are set by the hand alone ; it is also little , and therefore not troublesome to carry about one . 16. a chirurgeon ought also to be provided with splints of several bignesses , some little , others big , according to the qualities of the members broken , which ought to be made of thin pieces of wood , or of scabbards . he must be provided likewise with mortars , sives , skillets to boyl cataplasms in , and also to mix up oyntments ; and with glyster-pipes , whose use in angina's , wounds of the head , feavers , &c. are very useful . the description and cuts of the instruments are given by ambrose parey , joh : andreas à cruce ; but because this should be a compleat treatise of chirurgery , there is added to it several copper-plates of the most useful instruments for almost all operations , but especially of all those that relate any way to the operations mentioned in this book . classis xx. linnen rowlers , and the like . the chest cannot be perfectly furnished , if linnen , and the benefit received from it , in the application of medicines , be wanting ; for what profit medicaments , though the most excellent , without linnnen ? especially in great and dangerous fluxes of blood , fractures and dislocations of the bones , and in other accidents , where there is danger in delay ; therefore you must have always in readiness rowlers , both large , narrow , and middle-sized , linnen cloaths doubled , which we call compressors , or boulster-pledgets of tow. lint , which we use to apply medicaments upon , and to keep the lips of the wounds asunder , that they unite not again . tents also of lint , of prepared spunges , gentian roots , and the like , which are to be of several sizes , some big , some little , &c. they ought to be prepared at leasure hours , that they may be ready when occasion requires . he must have also spunges , and oxe-bladders , which are necessary to tye down pots and glasses , and also used in amputation . if a sea or land-chirurgeon be furnished with the above recited things , and have about him both faithful and expert servants , he will be able to give assistance to a whole fleet or army , and preserve infinites from death . candid reader , i have been somewhat prolix in the setting down the medicaments , and other things , by reason i designed to describe a most perfect and every way compleat furnished chest ; but if thou art to furnish one at thy one particular charge , thou mayst select out of them the most useful and necessary medicaments ; but be sure likewise that it be so provided both with medicaments and instruments , that out of it , when occasion requires , thou mayst be able to assist and relieve the sick ; for what thou art imployed about here , is neither beast , nor pretious stones , but man , for whom the son of god shed his pretious blood upon the cross : therefore if any thing be neglected , it must be answered before the almighty , to whom an account of all our actions must be render'd . finis . barbet chyr : part : 1 : chap : 4 : r : white : sculp : num : 1 : barbet chyr : part : 1 : chapt : 16 : r. w. sculp : n ▪ 2 : barbet part. 1 : chapt : 26 : r w : sculp : n 3 certaine rules, directions, or advertisements for this time of pestilentiall contagion with a caveat to those that weare about their neckes impoisoned amulets as a preservative from the plague. first published for the behoofe of the citie of london, in the two visitations, 1603 & 1625. and reprinted for the benefit of the said citie now visited, and all other parts of the land that may or shall hereafter be: by francis herring ... whereunto is added certaine directions, for the poorer sort of people when they shall be visited. herring, francis, d. 1628. 1636 approx. 30 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 12 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a03111 stc 13242 estc s104003 99839744 99839744 4192 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a03111) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 4192) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1602:22) certaine rules, directions, or advertisements for this time of pestilentiall contagion with a caveat to those that weare about their neckes impoisoned amulets as a preservative from the plague. first published for the behoofe of the citie of london, in the two visitations, 1603 & 1625. and reprinted for the benefit of the said citie now visited, and all other parts of the land that may or shall hereafter be: by francis herring ... whereunto is added certaine directions, for the poorer sort of people when they shall be visited. herring, francis, d. 1628. [22] p. printed by thomas paine, and are to be sold by mathew simmons at the gilded lyon in ducke lane, london : 1636. signatures: a-c⁴ (-c4). reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng plague -prevention -early works to 1800. medicine, magic, mystic, and spagiric -controversial literature. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2006-05 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion certaine rules , directions , or advertisements for this time of pestilentiall contagion . with a caveat to those that weare about their neckes impoisoned amulets as a preservative from the plague . first published for the behoofe of the citie of london , in the two visitations , 1603 & 1625. and reprinted for the benefit of the said citie now visited , and all other parts of the land that may or shall hereafter be : by francis herring , d. in physicke , and fellow of the colledge of physitians in london . whereunto is added certaine directions , for the poorer sort of people when they shall be visited . nvmb. 16. 47. and aaron tooke as moyses commanded , and ranne into the midst of the congregation : and behold the plague was begun among the people , and he put on incense , and made an atonement for the people . london , printed by thomas paine , and are to be sold by mathew simmons at the gilded lyon in ducke lane , 1636. to the high and potent king , charles king of great britaine , france , and ireland , health and happinesse . ( soveraigne lord , ) they that are to treat with great potentates and personages are inioyned , to be short and sweet . if i faile in the last , i shall not misse of the first , — ne longo sermone morer tua tempora ( caesar . ) the last great mortalitie , i published certaine rules , and directions , for the prevention of the spreading of that contagious , and all devouring sicknesse . those briefe advertisements i have searched out , reviewed , somewhat inlarged , and brought forth againe , to the view and use , and i hope good of my citizens and countrimen . my presumption is , that though i shall purchase neither profit nor praise , yet i shall obtaine pardon of your maiestie , if tendring the common good of my country , i bring one pale-full , or rather dishfull of water , toward the quenching of the common flame . morbi ( ut rectè celsus med. latinorum princeps ) non curantur eloquentia , multò minus loquentia . especially this fierce fury , which is non morbus , sed monstrum , superans saepissime tum artem , tum naturam , not a disease , but a monster , over-matching , and quelling , oft-times both art and nature . the lord of glory and mercy keep your highnesse , with your most honourable councell from the rage of this man-slaying hydra , and all other both open and secret evils and enemies , and make you a wise and skilfull physitian to prevent the dangers , and cure the maladies of common-wealth and state. your maiesties humble subject and suppliant , francis herring . certaine rvles , directions , or advertisements for this time of pestilentiall contagion . the plague ( if you will have his true characterisme and essentiall forme ) is ictus irae divinae pro peccatis hominum , the stroke of gods wrath for the sinnes of mankinde . this is not onely the opinion of divines , but of all learned physitians , and acknowledged by the blinde heathen in all ages , by the light of nature . therefore his appropriate and speciall antidote is seria paenitentia , & conversio ad deum : unfained and heartie repentance and conversion to god. till this be practised , i tell you plainely , i put small confidence in other by-courses . the cause remaining , who can looke for the taking away of the effect ? let me therefore be an humble suitor , that your highnesse would be pleased to command a generall humiliation of the people by prayer and fasting . this action as it would be honourable to your majestie , and such as you would undoubtedly condiscend unto most readily and willingly , if it were but mentioned and moved ; so in my perswasion , there would appeare a most admirable and comfortable effect thereof . and till this be performed , what other wayes soever wee shall follow , wee shall begin at the wrong end : ni deus affuerit , viresque infuderit herbis , quid cedò diptamús , quid panacea juvat ? let not gentlemen and rich citizens by flying ( unlesse they likewise flie from their sinnes ) thinke to escape scotfree . so long as they carry their sinne with them , the lord will find them out , and his hand will reach them wheresoever they are . there should ( in my opinion ) be provided a place of sepulture for the bodies especially of such as die by the sicknes , some good distance from the citie and suburbs . the burying of infected bodies in churches , church-yards , and namely in paules church-yard , where the chiefe magistrates of the citie , and many other citizens meete weekly to heare sermons , must needs be not onely inconvenient , but very dangerous for spreading the contagion , and poisoning the whole citie . for all men that have the least insight in philosophy know that from the dead corps , by force of the sunne , certaine vapours or exhalations are elevated , which partake of the nature of those bodies , and doe undoubtedly taint , corrupt , and poyson the aire with their ill qualitie . for this principall cause , in most well ordered cities of forrein countries , there is a common place of buriall appointed a good distance from the building of the citie . and till this may be procured for our citie , i wish that straight charge be given , that all dead corpses be layd a convenient depth in the ground , and not one coffin heaped upon another , and they layd so neare the top of the earth as ( it is to be feared ) they now are . it were necessarie the place of buriall should be on the south side of the citie , that the sunne may draw the vapours from it . let care be had , that the streets , especially the narrow lanes and allies , be kept from annoyance of dung-hilles , vaults or houses of office , the common sewers and chanels be well purged and scowred , the dung-farmers tyed to their stint of time in winter , and not suffered ( unlesse urgent necessitie require ) to perfume the streets all summer long , especially in this time of contagion . let not the carkasses of horses , dogs , cats , &c. lye rotting and poysoning the ayre ( as they have done ) in more and finsburie fields , and elsewhere round about the citie . let the pipes layd from the new river be often opened , to clense the channels of every streete in the citie . let the ditches towards the suburbs , especially towards islington and pick-hatch , old-streete , and towards shoreditch and white-chappell , be well clensed , and if it might be , the water of the new river to runne through them , as also the like to be done through the burrough of south-worke . let the ayre be purged and corrected , especially in evenings which are somewhat cold , and in places low and neare the river ( as thames street and the allyes there about ) by making fires of oken or ashwood , with some few bundles of iuniper cast into them . let men in their private houses , amend the aire by laying in their windowes sweet herbes , as marjoram , time , rosemarie , balme , fennell , peniroyall , mints , &c. likewise by burning iuniper , rosemarie , time , bay-leaves , cloves , cinamon , or using other compound perfumes . the poorer sort may burne worme-wood , rue , time. let them cast often on the floores of their houses water mingled with vineger . concourse of people to stage-playes , wakes or feasts , and may-pole dauncings , are to be prohibited by publique authoritie , whereby as god is dishonored , the bodies of men and women by surfetting , drunkennes , and other riots and excesses , disposed to infection , and the contagion dangerously scattered both in citie and countrie . let the bells in cities and townes be rung often , and the great ordnance discharged , thereby the aire is purified . touching our regiment and diet , repletion and inanition ( as two dangerous extremities ) are heedfully to be avoyded . those meats are to be used which are of easie digestion and apt to breed good juice . the blankets , matresses , flockbeds , and all bed-clothes of the infected , are to be burned , also leather garments , because they hold the infection very long . alexander benedictus reports , that in venice , a flock-bed used in a contagious time , was after 7 yeares found in an inward roome , the mistris of the house commanded the servants to ayre and beat it , whereupon the servants were instantly infected with the pestilence and died . such as are of hard concoction , and cause obstructions , are to be avoyded : specially those that easily corrupt and putrifie in the stomacke , as the most part of summer fruit , raw cherries , plums , apples , &c. it is not good to be abroad in the ayre , early in the morning before the sunne have purified the ayre , or late in the night after sunne-setting . in rainie , darke , and cloudie weather , keepe your house as much as you can . eschue all perturbations of minde , especially anger and feare . the one by heating the body opens a doore for the enemie to enter : the other by cowardly running away gives him encouragement to tread on the hedge , which lyeth lowest , and maketh least resistance . let your exercise be moderate , ad ruborem , non ad sudorem . the time of exercise is an houre before dinner or supper , not in the heat of the day , or when the stomacke is full . vse seldome familiaritie with venus , for shee enfeebleth the body , and maketh it more obnoxious to externall injuries . you may feede three times in the day , but more sparingly than at other times . shunne varietie of dishes at one meale : perniciosa ciborum varietas , perniciosior condimentorum . and if at any time the rule holdeth , the most simple feeding is the most wholsome feeding ; then it is in force at this time of infection . augenius ( a learned physitian ) thinketh it not possible that hee that liveth temperately and soberly , should be subject to the sicknesse . goe not forth of your house into the ayre , neither willingly speake with any , till you have broken your fast . for breakfast you may use a good draught of wormwood beere or ale , and a few morsels of i read and butter wi●h the leaves of sage , or else a toste with swee● salade oyle , two or three drops of rose vinegar , and a little s●gar . they that have cold stomackes may drinke a draugh● of wormewoodwine or malm-sey , in stead of al● or beere . but take heed ( as you loue your life ) of extreame hot waters , as aqua vitae , rosa solis , or other compound waters of like nature , which emperickes prepare and set out with vaine and boasting words : laudat venales qui vult extrudere merces . of them crato a great and learned physitian pronounceth , that they were inventa ad jugulandos , non ad curandos homines : devised to kill not to cure men . hee speaketh of the daily and continuall use of them : and that is it which i disallow . if you be not accustomed to a breakfast , take the quantitie of a nutmeg or thereabouts of some cordiall electuarie prescribed by the learned physitian , before you set foot out of doores . if you will use both , for greater cautell , then take your electuarie early in the morning , two houres before your breakfast . as you walke in the streets or talke with any ; hold in your moath a clove , a peece of a zodoarie , angelica , or enula campana roote . once in foure of five dayes take three or foure cordiall and stomachicall pilles by direction of your physitian , to fortifie the heart and stomacke against all corruption , and to cleanse your body from such humours as may dispose you to the sicknesse . for agens non agit nisi in pattente disposito : an agent worketh not but upon a fitted and disposed patient . if any man be bound by religion , consanguinitie , office , or any such respect to visite the sicke parties ; let him first provide , that the chamber bee well perfumed with odoriferous trochiskes , or such like , the windowes layd with the herbes afore-named , the floore cleane swept , and sprinkled with rose-water and vineger : that there be a fire of sweet wood burning in the chimney , the windowes being shut for an houre , then open the casements towardes the north. then let him wash his face and hands with rose-water and rose-vineger , and enter into the chamber with a waxe candle in the one hand , and a sponge with rose-vineger and wormewood , or some other pomander , to smell unto . let him hold in his mouth a peece of mastic , cinamon , zedoarie , or citron pill , or a clove . let him desire his sicke friend to speake with his face turned from him . when he goeth forth , let him wash his hands and face with rose vineger and water as before , especially if he have taken his friend by the hand as the manner is : and going presently to his owne house , let him change his garments , and lay those wherein he visited his friend , apart for a good time before he resume them againe . let him not forget upon his returne home or before , to take a convenient quantitie of his cordiall electuarie , and forbeare meat an houre or two after it . that amulets confected of arsenicke , are no good preservatives against the plague . perceiving many in this citie to weare about their necks , upon the region of the heart , certaine placents , or amulets ( as preservatives against the pestilence ) confected of arsenicke a strong poyson , i have thought it needfull ( other men keeping silence ) to declare briefly my opinion touching the said amulets : not ( i professe ) in hatred to any mans person , or envie at their commoditie , wherein i might have shared with them , if i could have brought my judgement to concurre with theirs ; but in conscience , and discharge of my dutie . the rather because i feare greatly , that through vaine confidence in them , other more apposite , convenient and effectuall antidotes , and alexeteries are neglected . my opinion is , that these placents of arsenicke carried about upon the region of the heart , are so farre from effecting any good in that kinde , as a preservative , that they are very dangerous and hurtfull , if not pernicious to those that weare them . it is evident that arsenicke being a confessed poison , is an opposite , professed and perpetuall enemy to our nature . therefore being worne next the skin , as soone as the heart waxeth hot by any vehement motion , labour or stirring ( as it falleth out usually ) it must needs send out venomous vapours to that noble and principall part ; which will either penetrate by their owne force , or be drawne in with the aire ▪ by the dilation of those arteries which are spread about the skin . now these poisonfull vapours being entred or sucked into the body , when they finde no contrarie poison with whom to wrastle as with an enemy ( for if there were any venom in the body , the partie could not enjoy health : but we intend him to be in health , whom we would preserve ) they must needs imprint a malignant venomous qualitie in the spirits and heart , most adverse and pernicious to nature . if by galens doctrine , all alexeteries in a manner , if they be used somewhat too liberally , doe greatly offend and weaken our bodies ; shall wee thinke that ranke poisons and deleteries ( such as arsenicke is ) if they be so applied , as to penetrate into the noblest region of all other , will nothing at all violate , and wast our native , vitall , and radicall heate ? galen and the ancient fathers and masters of physicke , did not use to preserve from the plague or any other poison , either by giving another poison inwardly , or by appointing other poisons to be outwardly applied , but proceeded altogether by antidotes and alexiteries . lib. de theriaca ad pis . cap. 16. therefore unlesse wee will disclaime these ancient worthies and ring-leaders method , and follow new-found and unsound devises , wee must fight against this monster , not with poisons , but antidotes . poisons are desined to be such : as at no time doe agree with nature , either well , or ill affected . for though there be poisons which if they finde a contratie venom in the body , doe fight so with it , that by the skirmish both poisons die , and the partie by their contention and colluctation escapeth with his life : yet it is agreed on by all , that where they finde no such adversary or opposition , they speed the partie . therefore arsenicke worne by a man in health , finding not onely no contrary poyson to warre upon , but no poyson at all , must necessarily oppose and set upon nature her selfe . gerardus columbus a learned physitian reporteth , that it hath beene observed , that the wearers of these amulets , upon heating their bodies , have fallen into sodaine lypothimies and soounings , with other fearefull accidents , which ceased not till the bagge or placent was remooved : that others , though not instantly , yet after some time , have by late and woefull experience discerned their malignitie , falling into malignate and pestilent feavers , some of them ending with death it selfe . franc. alphanus a physitian of salerne telleth of one , who wearing arsenicke , and heating himselfe at tennise , fell downe sodainly dead . matheus hessus writeth thus : as cordiall bagges or amulets cannot be disallowed , so empoisoned can no way bee commended ; neither doe i remember that any ever received good from them who abstained from other antidotes . this i certainly know , that diverse who carrie about them quick-silver in a nut-shell , by the vaine perswasion of some impostors , have died of the plague : and the counsellers of such like amulets have beene the first that have betaken themselves to their heeles , trusting more in their running than cunning . and yet these good fellowes , perswaded the ignorant with great words , and it may be oaths , that whosoever carried quick-silver or arsenicke about his necke , was as safe as if hee had purchased a protection from the king of heaven . historians report , that caracalla though a wicked emperour , made a publike edict or proclamation , that no man should weare about him superstitious amulets . theophrastus the great , esteemed ( not without cause ) pericles to have a crased braine , because he saw him weare an amulet about his necke . hereunto ( as a corollary ) wee may adde the experience of some london physitians , who have seene foule holes made in the breast of those that have worne them , and observed diverse to die as well as others , who have religiously carried them about their neckes . i omit , for brevitie , to answer their reasons , who allow them , because those that are alledged by emperickes and ignorant persons , are not worthy the answering ; and those that are produced by some few learned men ( the whole streame running against them ) are not comprehensible by the common sort , for whose good i have set forth this short caveat . but if any will contend , i will either answer him , or yeeld up my weapons . in conclusion onely remember , that whereas the sellers and setters out , of these deceiptfull wares , make them as a scout to discover the infection , when it beginneth to seize upon a man , by giving a watch-word , and clapping close to the heart , to guard that part as the chiefe tower : this is a meere deceipt , collusion and abusion . for whensoever the body is heated , this event followeth necessarily , as is before declared , though no other infection be neare but the infectious , poisonfull and venomous arsenicke ; who offereth not at that time , to the heart a friendly salutation or caveat , but rather a iudas kisse , and ioab-like imbracing . certaine directions for the use of the poorer sort of people that shall be visited by the pestilence , how to carrie themselves . since almightie god , by his wise providence hath disposed , that there should be poore among us , that the richer sort might have fit objects whereupon to exercise their mercy and compassion , and hath commanded in the sacred scriptures , both magistrates and others , to take care of them , lest they cry to the lord against us in their misery , and their neglect , and contempt be imputed to us , as one of our haynous and crying sinnes , pulling downe vengeance upon our heads , deuter. 15. i would intreate the governovrs of the citie of london , and all others in the country , with all richmen , to take speciall notice of their poore brethren , being bone of their bone , and flesh of their flesh , and , as to restraine the idle vagabonds , by whose wandring up and downe , the infection may well be spread and increased , so to provide for the true and honest poore miserable people , that they may be supplyed with food , and convenient physicke if they fall into sicknesse . and because i will not perswade others to charitie , and my selfe remaine altogether uncharitable , i purpose to set downe certaine curative directions , for the poorer sort , with such parable and cheape medicins , as may come within the compasse of their short and meane abilitie . so soone therefore as any of them , apprehend themselves taken with the plague , let them goe to their warme bed , and take this medicine . take of verben with the roote dryed and poudred two dragmes , the juyce of the same herbe three ounces , halfe a small spoonefull of white wine vineger , mixe it , and drinke it warme , and sweate for two or three houres . let them not sleepe during the time of their sweating ; whilst they sweat , let them hold under their arme-pits , and upon the either emunctories , especially the groynes , a radish roote , divided into two parts , the same roote is to be tyed , unto the plants or hollow of their feete , when they have sweat well , for two or three houres , according to the strength , and age of the partie , dry their bodyes well , with warme and cleane linnen clothes , beginning with the arme-pits and groyne , then the breast , whereon after the sweate is well wiped away , lay a fresh and cleane linnen napkin doubled . that done , let them wash their mouth , face , and hands , with water and vineger , and drinke a good draught of mutton broath made with rose-mary , tyme , sorrell , cichory . if their stomacke will give them leave , they may eate a little mutton , or veale at dinner , but they are to forbeare flesh-meate at suppers . in stead of broath , water-grewell with rose-mary , or burnet will doe well , or thinne pannada . for their drinke . let it be the middle or sixe shillings-bee●e , warmed with a tost , or water boyled with cardius seed , and caroway seed , and the roots of scabius , and verben , with a crust of bread . then let them rest , or sleepe , washing their mouth often , if they be awake , with water and vineger . they may likewise make a quilt with balme , mint , rose-mary , sage , sweet marjeram dryed , and sprinkling it with vineger of wormewood or hearb-grace , or ordinary wine vineger , apply it to the region of the heart warme . the second sweating medicine . after eight houres from the first invasion of the pest , let them take another sweating medicine . take of the powder of the roote of diptamne , scabbius , gentian each halfe a dragme , seed of carduus benedictus a scruple , juyce of mary-gold flowers , devils-pit , each two ounces , halfe a spoonfull of vineger , of rue or wormwood , or in want of them , ordinary vineger of white wine . let them drinke this warme , and sweat againe , as at the first time two or three houres , keeping in the meane while a radish roote at the emunctories , as before . then dry off the sweat , wash the mouth , face and hands as before , take some convenient nourishment , and carry themselves as in the first interim of eight houres . the third sweating medicine . againe the third time , after the like pause or intervall , let them take another sweating and cordiall med. in this manner . take of the seed of rue or hearb-grace , a scruple and halfe , that is , ( 30 graines ) of the roots of enula campana , valerian , fullers teasells , aristolochia the round , each halfe a scruple , the juyce of three leaved sorrell called allebia , two ounces ; juyce of rue , scabious , each an ounce , a little of the forenamed vineger . let them take it warme , sweat , as before , and carry themselves in all points as before , and continue this course for foure or five dayes . but if any be in that extreamitie of povertie and misery , that they cannot procure these parable and easie cheape medicins , let them drinke twice in the day , a draught of their owne vrine , in the morning , and five in the after-noone . if in the first , second or third day , the botches or carbuncles appeare , the best and safest way , both for poore and rich , is to commit themselves to be ordred and dressed , by a skilfull chirurgion . there will be ( no doubt ) assigned and maintained , for the meaner and poorer sort , chirurgions ex communi aerario , out of the common purse , especially in london . let those that are wealthy , make choise of their owne chyrurgion , and pay well for their cure . for a little health , is worth a great deale of gold , which a chyrurgion in that case , must fetch out of the fire , and hazard his owne life every day , to save his patient . emis a medico seu chyrurgo rem inestimabilem , vitam , valetudinem , cui quantumcunque dederis , exaequare non potes medicinae beneficia . medico si quidem non 〈◊〉 , set operae pretium solvitur . non domus , aut fundi , non aris acervus & auri , aegroto domini deducunt corpore febres , non animo curas , valeat possessor oportet . si comportatis bene rebus cogitat uti . let me adde this one advertisment , as a corollarie or conclusion , that you tamper not too soone with the botches or blanes , before they be well come forth , and nature well cleered and releeved ; but rather continue in the taking of inward cordials , and sweating medicins . the over hasty applying of topicall and outward remedies , especially , if they be forcible and sharpe , ( which is too usually practised by some physitians , and chyrurgions , and by patients themselves ) doe oft times by causing paine , increasing the fever , and weakening nature , drive backe and scatter the venom into the inward parts , which suddenly , by a second insult , and incounter , surpriseth the fort of life , the heart , and carryeth away the patient . — si quid novisti rictius istis , candidus imperti , si non his utere mecum : en veniam pro laude peto laudatus abundè , non fastiditus , si tibi ( lector ) ero . sit nomen domini benedictem . — si quid novisti rectius istis , candidus imperti : s i non , his utere mecum . the preservatives mentioned in this booke , may be had from mr. iames the apothecarie , at his house in alderman-bury , neere to the conduit , with others of like nature , well approved , and experimented . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a03111-e290 exod. 5. v. 3. & cap. 9. 15. levit. 26. 25. num. 14. 12. deut. 28. 21. & 2 chron. 36. v. 15. inter eth. homerus 2. iliad . let them likewise rub their windowes often with worm wood and fennell . hist . de pest . varietie of meats is pernicious ; much more varietie of sau●●● . gal. 3. de temp cap. 1 simp. cap. 18. lib. de ther. and pamphil. epid ▪ com . 5. aetius lib. 1. tetrah 4. ca. 96. paulus lib. 2. cap. 35. gal 6. in epid. lib ● de feb . contag . cap.17 . notes for div a03111-e1180 vita sinc valetudine 〈◊〉 est , non vita . soranus & seneca . as pesicatoris , and the like . the nature of the drink kauhi, or coffe, and the berry of which it is made described by an arabian phisitian. tadhkirat ūlī al-albāb. 1. bāb 3. harf b. english & arabic. selections anṭākī, dāʼūd ibn ʻumar, d. 1599. 1659 approx. 2 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 3 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a37215 wing d374 estc r5691 12270940 ocm 12270940 58239 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37215) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 58239) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 140:2) the nature of the drink kauhi, or coffe, and the berry of which it is made described by an arabian phisitian. tadhkirat ūlī al-albāb. 1. bāb 3. harf b. english & arabic. selections anṭākī, dāʼūd ibn ʻumar, d. 1599. [8] p. printed by henry hall, oxford : 1659. arabic and english. reproduction of original in thomason collection, british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng coffee -early works to 1800. medicine, arab. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-12 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the nature of the drink kauhi , or coffe , and the berry of which it is made , described by an arabian phisitian . oxford , printed by henry hall , in the yeare of our lord , 1659. bun is a plant in yaman , which is planted in adar , and groweth up and is gathered in ab. it is about a cubit high , on a stalk about the thicknesse of ones thumb . it flowres white , leaving a berry like a small nut , but that sometimes it is broad like a bean ; and when it is peeled , parteth in two . the best of it is that which is weighty and yellow ; the worst , that which is black . it is hot in the first degree , dry in the second : it is usually reported to be cold and dry , but it is not so ; for it is bitter , and whatsoever is bitter is hot . it may be that the scorce is hot , and the bun it selfe either of equall temperature , or cold in the first degree . that which makes for its coldnsse is its stipticknesse . in summe it is by experience found to conduce to the drying of rheumes , and flegmatick coughes and distillations , and the opening of obstructions , and the provocation of urin . it is now known by the name of kohwah . when it is dried and throughly boyled , it allayes the ebullition of the blood , is good against the small poxe and measles , and bloudy pimples ; yet causeth vertiginous headheach , and maketh lean much , occasioneth waking , and the emrods , and asswageth lust , and sometimes breeds melancholly . he that would drink it for livelinesse sake , and to discusse slothfulnesse , and the other properties that we have mentioned , let him use much sweet meates with it , and oyle of pistaccioes , and butter . some drink it with milk , but it is an error , and such as may bring in danger of the leprosy . finis . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * finis .. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a37215-e160 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * al. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 galen's art of physick ... translated into english, and largely commented on : together with convenient medicines for all particular distempers of the parts, a description of the complexions, their conditions, and what diet and exercise is fittest for them / by nich. culpeper, gent. ... technē iatrikē. english galen. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a69834 of text r22670 in the english short title catalog (wing c7517 g159). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 182 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 65 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a69834 wing c7517 wing g159 estc r22670 12233869 ocm 12233869 56672 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a69834) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 56672) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 138:11 or 145:1) galen's art of physick ... translated into english, and largely commented on : together with convenient medicines for all particular distempers of the parts, a description of the complexions, their conditions, and what diet and exercise is fittest for them / by nich. culpeper, gent. ... technē iatrikē. english galen. culpeper, nicholas, 1616-1654. [21], 120. [7] p. : port. printed by peter cole ..., london : 1652. advertisements: p. [16-20] imperfect: copy on reel 138:11 lacks t.p., port., and prelim. pages. reproduction of originals in thomason collection, british library, and harvard university libraries. entry cancelled for c7517 in wing (2nd ed.). eng medicine, greek and roman. medicine -early works to 1800. a69834 r22670 (wing c7517 g159). civilwar no galens art of physick: wherein is laid down, 1. a description of bodies, healthful, unhealthful, and neutral. 2. signs of good and bad const galen 1653 33147 90 5 0 0 0 0 29 c the rate of 29 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2001-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-05 rachel losh sampled and proofread 2005-05 rachel losh text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion galen's art of physick . proemium . chap. i. all the order and method of physick , so far as concerns order may be reduced to these three heads . 1. the first consists in notion , which is done by resolution . 2. the second consists in composition of those things which are found out by this resolution . and 3. the third of the dissolution of definition . this third contains not only the dissolution of definition , or defining diseases , but also an explication , resolution , division , explanation or exposition upon them , & this is the basis of our work at this time : and indeed this laies down the way and order to the whol practice of physick , and truly excels the other two as much as the light of the sun doth the light of the moon , and we have drawn it into a very short compendium , that so we may benefit your judgment , and not burden your memory ; we have devided it into an hundred chapters , whereof this is the first , each of the rest contain easie rules of definition , yea so easie that a child of seven yee●s old may understand them , and so short that they will not be burdensom to the weakest memory , and although some of the chapters be very short , yet they contain very necessary rules distinct f●om the rest , and he knows nothing that knows not this , that order and method help the memory much . but put all the chapters together and they compleatly contain the definition and explanation of the whol art ; for from these do all diseases arise , and in these doth the very essence of physick consist . as for the contemplative part of physick that hath been largely pe●formed by us in many treatises , which any that pleaseth may make use of . we come now to the matter it self , only we desire you to take notice , that these heads are more largely discoursed of here and there in other of our treatises , only we drew them up here in this form to satisfie the desires and inform the judgments of such as intend to study physick . chap. 2. what medicine is . medicine is the knowledg of things healthful , not healthful , and neutral . this definition is nothing else than if you should say , medicine is the knowledg of things belonging to the sick , 't is not one whit more nor less . the name of the science which is [ medicine ] is common , and can in no wise be taken in a proper sence , but things healthful , unhealthful , and neutral carry each of them a threefold signification , viz. as a body , as a cause , and as a sign . for 1. a body which naturally is apt to live in health , and a cause which is able to effect this , and to preserve it being effected , and a sign which is able to s●ew and indicate which way this is to be done , all these the grecians customarily call things healthful . 2. the body surprized and seized by a disease , the cause , which causeth and continueth this disease , and the indications or signs which give testimony what this disease is , they also term things unhealthfull . 3. in things neutral they are guided by the same rules , of which we shall speak more in the third and sixt chapters . and here we must also make a difference between science and action ; or if you will , between the theorical and practical part of medicine . for 1. the theory regards first the cause of things healthful , then of things unhealthful ; lastly , o● things neutral : after this of bodies , first healthful , then unhealthful , and in the last place neutrals ; and it walks by the same rules in signs or indications . but . 2. in actions or practice , the knowledg of the body is the first thing which is minded , and this is found out by the signs , and the last search ( in respect of time ) is after the cause . chap. 3. how many several waies , a cause may be said to effect , a sign to give indication , and a body to receive . but s●eing that a cause may be said to effect , a sign to give indication , and a body receive two waies . 1. simply . 2. according to time . we must know that the art of medicine comprehends them both : simply they do it two waies , viz. alwaies , and for the most part , both these the art of medicine handles . but as for things neutral they are to be considered , both in respect of body , cause , and sign , and in those , both simply , and according to time , under a threefold consideration , and the reason is , because things neutral partake of contraries , somtimes of one , somtimes of the other , and somtimes of both together , and this last is twofold , for somtimes it participates of contraries equally , somtimes of one more than another . there is in all this definition , if we dilligently heed the words , a certain doubtfulness or ambiguity , which knot ought to be unloosed , that so all things may be made cleer , and we may not seem instead of teaching people to lead them into ignorance ( as the colledg of physitians doth ) and that we may so do , we will devide the business , and speak of them all particularly . we told you medicine was the exact knowledg of things healthful , unhealthful , and neutral , and each of these to be considered as a body , as a sign , as a cause , we shall now address our selves to handle , 1. such bodies as are healthful , unhealthful , and neutral . 2. such signs as are healthful , unhealthful , and neutral . 3. such causes as are healthful● unhealthful , and neutral . in all these we shall be both as brief , and withal as plain as we can . chap. 4. of healthful bodies . 1. a body is simply said to be healthful when it is in good natural temper , when the seven natural things , viz. spirits , elements , complexions , humors , members , vertues , operations keep a good decorum , then is a body simply said to be in health . 2. a body in health according to time , is taken not according to the natural inclination of the body , as the former was , but when it is in such a natural temper , as we shewed before , only for the time being , the former is proper to the body , this but accidental . thus galen . culpepers comment . i shall here explain a little , galens meaning in those words of his ; seven natural things . 1. spirit , taken in a physical sence , is an airy substance , very subtil and quick , dispersed throughout the body , from the brain , heart , and liver , by the nerves , arteries , and veins , by which the powers of the body are stirred up to perform their office and operation . 2. an element , is a body pure , simple , unmixed , from which all natural things have their original , they are held to be in number four , fire , air , water , earth ; their operations are , active as heat and cold , passive as driness and moisture . 3. complexions are the operations of these elements upon mans body , as when the fire prevails , the body is chollerick , when the air he is sanguine , when the wa●er he is flegmatick , when the earth he is melancholl● . 4. humors are , 1. ●holler , whose receptacle is the gall . 2. blood , whose seat is the liver . 3. flegm , placed in the lungs . 4. melancholly , which keeps his court in the spleen . thus you see how elements , complexions and humors are subservient the one to other , even as the spirit , soul , and body are ( if we may reason a minore ad ma●u● ) in the microcosm . 5. me●b●●s or limbs , are simple or compound , principal or subservient . first , simple members are , 1. bones . 2. cartilages . 3. ligaments . 4. veins . 5. arteries . 6. nerves . 7. tendons . 8. panides . 9. fat . 10. flesh . 11. skin . secondly , compound members are , 1. head . 2. heart . 3. liver . 4. lungs . 5. legs . 6. arms . 7. hands . thirdly , principal members are , 1. brain . 2. heart . 3. liver . 4. testicles . fourthly , members subservient are , 1. nerves to carry the animal spirit . 2. arteries to carry the vital spirit . 3. veins to carry the natural spirit . 4. spermatick vessels to carry the procreative spirit . 6. vertues , are that whereby these act the body , and they are vital , natural , and animal , i forbear writing of them , there being a treatise of them , astrologo physically handled by me already at the latter end of my ephemeris for 1651. 7. operations of these upon the body of man are , first , the animal vertue causeth . 1. imagination , apprehension , fancy , opinion , consent , &c. in the two former ventricles of the brain . 2. judgment , esteem , reason , resolution , disposing , discerning , in the middle ventricle of the brain . 3. calling to mind what is to come , remembrance of what is past , in the hinder ventricle of the brain . secondly , the vital vertue moveth , 1. joy , hope , mirth , singing , by dilating the heart . 2. sadness , sorrow , fear , sighing , &c. by compressing the heart . thirdly , the natural vertue , 1. altereth food into chyle , chyle into blood and humors , blood into flesh . 2. joyneth , formeth , ingendreth , encreaseth , and nourisheth the body of man . and now you see what galen intends by a healthful body , namely , such a one where all these keep a good and orderly decorum . chap. 5. of a body vnhealtbful . 1. a body is simply unhealthful which is born mutilated by nature , as wanting some members , or some operations or sences , that is not perfect in respect of those seven natural things before mentioned , as that cannot see , hear , or smel , or is a fool , &c. 2. according to time a body is unhealthful that is at present sick in body , or distemper'd in mind , or his body broken or bruised in any part of it , whether internal or external , that hath an accidental distemper in any of the seven natural things . this is so cleer it needs no comment . chap. 6. of a body neutral . this , as we told you before , carries a threefold signification . 1. as things partake of either extremety swerving from the rules of healthfulness . 2. as they partake of both of them together equally . 3. as somtimes the one exceeds , somtimes the other in resp●ect of time . 1. taken in the first sence , it is an exquisite medium between healthful and unhealthful bodies ; and that first , naturally or simply , as many people are born of unhealthful or sickly constitutions , so that the nativity as a cause produceth such an effect in every age . secondly , according to time , when the body is neither perfectly in health , nor yet sick , such a one as the proverb saith , is neither sick enough to lie in bed , nor well enough to follow his imployment . 2. taken in the second sence , a neutral body is such a body as partakes of diverse contrary qualities either in one part of the body or in diverse ; when there is an opposition between them , and this concerns either the formation of the body or the endowments of the mind , or temperature of the parts , when one contrary appears healthful , the other unhealthful , and this also 1. as it appears generally in al the ages of the life . 2. as it appears but particularly at some certain times . 3. taken in the third sence , it is when the ages of a mans life , differ in respect of health and sickness as a man may be healthful in his childhood and unhealthful in his youth , and the contrary , viz. sickly in his infancy and healthful in youth &c. culpepers comment . the first of these needs no explanation , the other two are somthing obscure , as in the second galen saith a man may partake of contrary qualities in the formation of the body , viz. a man may have a h●ad too big and feet as much too little , a man may have a nose exceeding the common bigness , and eyes as much less than the common proportion , and the like . 2. in the endowments of mind , as thus , a man may have a very good apprehension , yet a bad memory , a man may have very good judgment in ordering a battel and yet be a coward . 3. in the temperature of the parts , the liver may be ●oo hot , and yet the brain too cold ; you may understand the rest by these examples which are sufficient to explain galens meaning . to the third , when the ages of a mans life differ in respect of health and sickness saith galen , which is no more than thus , to give you one example , a childs body or any part thereof may be too hot , by reason of sucking a chollerick woman , in youth , either the whol body or the same part of it may be too cold , imagine the liver , brain , or the like , it may be too hot in manhood , too cold in age or the contrary to these . thus much for bodies we come now to unfold the signs . chap. 7. of signs . of these some indicate present health , others proclaim health to come , a third sort put us in mind of health past . in the same manner likewise some unhealthful signs shew present sickness , others give fair warning that sickness is coming , other indications call to our remembrance the sickness past . imagine the like by neutrals , some shew a present neutral condition , foreshew it coming , call it to mind being past , and shew a disposition as well healthful as sickly . the use of the first and second of these is admirable , the last is not so absolutely useful . and thus have we shewed you what signs are , we come to treat of them particularly . chap. 8. signs of a very good constitution . of these some are deduced from the reason or essential cause thereof , or from necessary consequen which follow such operations , and cases , of which the first are called essential the othe● accidental . such as are essentially of good constitution , are such in whose bodies , heat , coldness , driness and moisture are equally tempered ; the instruments of the bodie are composed in every part of due bigness , number , place , and formation . culpeper . i shall here for the benefit of yong students intermix my comment with the text . whereas galen saith , a good constitution consists of heat , cold , driness , and moisture , equally tempered , you must not imagine they are so all over the body , but according to place , for the heart is and should be hotter than the brain , &c. but each part exceeds not its due proportion in these , the brain is not hotter , colder , drier , nor moister than it should be , judg so by the heart , liver , &c. and beleeve me such a man is a rare bird to find , almost as rare as a phaenix . galen . as for the exterior parts , in respect of softness and hardness they keep a mean , as also in respect of roghness and smoothness , and as the external parts of the body recede not from beauty , so the endowments of the mind differ from vertue and honesty as little as may be . culpeper . usually you shall find it true that the handsommest bodies have none of the worst conditions , nay alwaies if heat , cold , driness , and moisture be any thing equally commixed ( although all the complexions are naught being corrupted by adams fall , yet i say ) the one if they be any thing equally commixed , sets a stop to the violent swinge of the other , but if you take galens vertue and honesty here for grace , that is the free gift of god , and no waies coming by complexion , it is noted of titus vespasian that for natural endowments he was the paragon of his time , and as it were the darling of nature , this was the equality of his temper , but he was a great persecutor of the saints , because god denied him grace , you by this may discern the difference between them . galen . temperature is apropriated especially to the similar parts , number , formation , magnitude , and scituation to the instrumental parts , unity and community to them both . culpeper . similar parts are those which before in the fourth chapter we called simple , instrumental are those which there and then we called compound . galen . also the vices or failings in unhealthful bodies are of the same kinds , and the bound or limit which distinguisheth them is a sensible hurt of the operations ; and although bodies of the best constitution are now and then deficient , yet because it remains but a while , nor troubles the sences much , they are not withstanding to be numbred amongst healthful bodies , we must then distinguish between the operations either much or little hurt , because nature is able not only to hold up its head against , but also to vanquish the one , but it lieth down to the other . unhealthful bodies then are known by this , that the operations are overcome , and lose their vigour and activity by any cause causing a disease . in the middle between these two are neutrals placed , and yet they have some latitude also . the latitude of health is devided into three parts , and although the zodiack hath but two sorts of latitude , health hath three . 1. healthful bodies have some latitude . 2. vnhealthful bodies have another . 3. neutral bodies a third . in all such as are great are easily discerned , such as are smal not so easily , the weaker the operations are in the hurt , the harder is the hurt to be discerned , as an infirmity in feeling is not so easily discerned as one in the sight , because the sence is less noble . thus have we spoken of healthful bodies only in the general , of the other two we shall speak of severally , specially , and particularly , but first of all we will devide them into parts . chap. 9. how many the differences of the parts are . the universal differences of parts are four , because some are principals , others take their original from these principals , some parts of the body are without any government at all : the principals are such as have their power ingrafted in them by nature , as the brain , heart , liver , testicles : others have their original and power from these , as the nerves from the brain , as also the marrow of the back , the arteries from the heart , the veins from the liver , the seminal vessels from the testicles ; some are governed by themselves alone , as ligamen●s , cartilages , membranae &c. and some have only generation but no government at all , as hair and nails . these are the differences of parts , against which at this time the translator is not minded to be critical . chap. 10. of the signs of the brain . of the indications of the several tempers of the brain we shall speak hereafter , but there are five several things which shew the nature of it . 1. the disposition of the whol head . 2. the vertues and vice of the sensible operations . 3. the vertues and vices of actual operations , 4. the vertues and vices of those things which hold the principallity . 5. the alteration of such things as are outwards . the disposition of the whol head is known , 1. from the bigness of it . 2. from the figure of it . 3. from the hair . chap. 11. of the bigness and smalness of the head . a very smal head is a proper indication of a vicious brain , and yet a great head doth not necessarily declare a strong brain ; if there be no● capacity enough in the skull to hold the brain , or a sufficient quantity of brain , the man must needs be a fool , but yet it no wise follows , that because the brain is much therefore it should be good , that 's an absolute non-sequitur . we must then distinguish it thus , 1. from the form of the head it self . 2. from the parts arising from the head . first , from the form of the head it self the rounder the head is , and the more spherical , it only being a little depressed on both sides ( for of necessity the fore and hinder part must stick out a little ) gives argument of a strong and healthful brain . culpeper . i suppose galen means strong in respect of health not in respect of wit or understanding , he that hath such a round head as galen talks of , is not so subject to diseases in the head as another man is , but we see many sickly men have better wits than many healthful ; and so such as have long heads to be as wise as such as have round . galen . if the hinder part of the head that which sticks out be deminished , look upon the nerves , the neck , and the bones , for if they be according to natnre , the falt is in defect of matter not of vertue , but if they be not as they should be also , the very principal is debilitated , the brain it self is weak and this you shall seldom find fail , indeed the head neatly fashioned shews a strong brain . also the part arising or sticking out on the forehead , is to be heeded , and their bigness and smalness , and the sences there placed , viz. seeing , tasting , smelling , these arising from the principal , attest the vertue or vice of the principal from which they arise , viz. the brain . culpeper . i am not altogether of galens opinion in this , yet wil i not be critical in it till i have more experience in the thing , the old proverb is , and 't is a good one , de mortuis nil nisi bonum , speak nothing but good of them that are dead . chap. 12. of such operations as have obtained the principality . the vertues and vices of principal operations shew the vertues and vices of the principals themselves : i call them principal operations which come from the principals alone without a medium ; as subtil wit shews a good substance of the brain , a dull wit shews the brain to be too thick , a ready apprehension , a sound judgment , a stable and firm memory , shews a good brain , dulness of apprehension , apish judgment , and forgetfulness shew a bad brain ; fickleness in opinion shews a hot brain , stability in opinion , shews a cold brain . and yet here are two sorts of indications which i think i have passed by , though i promised them in the beginning ; the one of which concerns natural operations , the other , things without , we shall speak of them hereafter . culpeper . this chapter , although very short , yet in my opinion very pithy , i shall but ad a little to honest galen in it , he tells you , that a good judgment , a nimble apprehension , and a retentive memory , argue a good brain , they do so , yet in few men shall you find all three of them excellent ; then consider , the apprehension lies in the fore part of the brain , and that 's the reason rubbing the forehead quickens the apprehension ; judgment lies in the middle , and memory in the hinder part of the brain , then do but consider which of these three is weakest , which strongest in you , and you may know which part of your brain is weakest , and which strongest . chap. 13. signs of a good temper of the brain . if the brain have obtained a good temper of the four first qualities , viz. heat , cold , driness , and moisture , the operations thereof are alwaies moderate , and seldom exceed the golden mean , the excrements which it avoids by the mouth , nose , ears , or eyes are moderate . it is not very subject to be hurt by external heat , coldness , driness , or moisture , for if the temper within be good , it keeps external distempers from harbouring there . the hair is of a dusky red when infants , of a dusky yellow when youths , and yellow when men , they curl somthing but not much , neither are they easily bald , and yet the colour of the hair doth indeed belong not only to the temper of the brain , but also to the region men live in , and also to the temperature of the humors without the skull . culpeper . i like a man that is not ashamed to call in his errors as galen here doth , and not daub over the old ones with a plaister of new ones as our colledg did in mending their dispensatory , indeed galen is in the truth , diverse regions give diverse colours of hair usually , as most welch men have light or yellow hair , most spaniards black ; also the temperature of brain alters not the hair at all unless by accident , as it heats or cools the adjacent parts , but the humors without the skull , and that 's the reason in great surfets usually the hair comes off , and every one that knows any thing knows that the liver is the principal part afflicted in a surfet . chap. 14. signs of a hot brain . signs of a hot brain besides those we named before are , the forehead looks reddish and feels hot , the veins on the white of the eyes appear plain and red , the hair is hard and curling , they are soon bald , and the hotter the brain is , the sooner are they bald , the excrements which come from the brain by the mouth , nose , ears , and eyes , are but few , and those few argue drought , their head is filled ( especially such as keep no regular diet ) with unconcocted excrements , hot meats and drinks , hot air and hot smels cause headach , they sleep but little ; and that little is very unquiet . culpeper . such whose brain is too hot are almost continually troubled with headach , dreams of fighting and quarrelling , their apprehension is exceeding quick , and their smel good : when you find these symtoms in one that is troubled with headach , cool the brain . chap. 15. signs of a cold brain . the indications of a brain which is colder than it ought to be , are very many , excrements appear in their proper places which we shewed before , the hair is black , soft , smooth , and not curling , it is a long time after the child is born before the hair grow , they being evilly nourished at beginning , such are easily offended by cold causes , and being so offended are troubled with heaviness in the head , and distillations from it , their face is pale , neither is their forehead hot , the veins in their eyes are not seen in the least , they are dull witted , and mightily given to sleep . chap. 16. signs of a dry brain the indications of a dry brain are very few superfluities , accuteness of wit and sences , they watch much , their hair is hard and rugged , yet quickly grows , it curls , yet are they soon bald . chap. 17. indications of a moist brain . the signs of a brain that is moister than it should be are plain , hair no waies curling , plain and soft , they never are bald , their wits are dull and stupid , never able to get the phylosophers stone , their sences are not good , many excrements flow from the head , they have tears at will , much and deep sleep . these are the signs of a simple distemper of the brain . chap. 18. signs of a hot and dry brain . of compound distempers we shall first give the indications of a hot and dry brain , in which distemper but very few superfluities of the brain are avoided , for there are but few to avoid , they have excellent quick and nimble wits , they watch much , their sences are good , their hair grows soon in youth , yet are they subject to be bald , their hair curls , their forehead appears red in colour , and hot in feeling . culpeper . i am of opinion that simple distempers seldom distemper the brain , not because they are not offensive , but because they never go alone , and my reason is , because they are compound in every element ; as the fire is not only hot , but also dry , the water not only cold , but also moist , and that 's the reason i gave you not any comment upon the simple distempers ; to proceed . a hot and dry distemper of the brain usually causeth continual headaches , and the more it exceeds the golden mean in heat and driness , the greater is the pain , as for the curling of the hair , and baldness which galen speaks of , i find they do not alwaies happen true ; for aries which is a hot sign gives thick hair , and never baldness unless sol be in it , if it do then , but for remedies of such a distemper of the brain , use , fumitory , willow leaves , lettice , hops , water lillies , white poppy seeds , roses , violet leaves and flowers , strawberry leaves , the seeds of endive , succory , musk-millions , and pumpions , you may use them which way you please they are all harmless . also if the pain be extream . and sleep fly from you , take two grains of laudanum londinense , at night going to bed . chap. 19. signs of a hot and moist brain . if moisture be joyned to heat , and both of them surpass the golden mean , there follows a high colour of the face , the eyes are hot and burning , and look red , the veins of the temples seem great , the excrements of the head are many , yet seem well concocted , all hot things whether taken inwardly or applied outwardly cause them to have a stretching distention and heaviness in their head , if you moisten their heads they avoid excrement the more , they are perpetually troubled with pains in their head when the wind is south , the north wind easeth them , they cannot keep themselves awake neither can they sleep quietly , but are molested with dreams , and troubled with foolish imaginations , so that many times they think they see the things they see not , and hear the things they hear not , especially if the brain offend more in heat than it doth in moisture , only remember the indications of a simple distemper , and so may you with ease find out which quality most abounds , for if the heat be much , and the moisture little most signs of heat appear , but if the moisture abounds much , and the heat be but little peccant , most signs of moisture appear . culpeper . galen could not have made a more lively description of this evil if he had been in a mans head that had it with a candle and a lanthorn . i shall ad this , 1. this infirmity is alwaies accompanied with wind , which somtimes proceeds from the hypochondria or region of the spleen , and then the imaginations are dreadful , but no pain nor distention troubles the head in the day time , neither are the veins of the temples swollen , this usually comes by drinking , let them take away the cause and the effect will cease ; for it is not my task to speak of the spleen at this time . 2. if the disease be inherent to the brain as here galen describes it , bleeding is a very good remedy , if the season of the yeer &c. permit ; also because wind alwaies accompanies it , the roots of parsley , the roots and leaves of fennel , mugwort , plantane , vervain , and willow leaves are good medicines , they may boyl them in water and drink the decoction . i have very often known plantane roots alone being eaten as people eat apples , help this infirmity when nothing else would , and therefore gentlewomen might do well to keep some of them candied with sugar continually in their houses , for their own benefit and their poor neighbors . chap. 20. signs of a cold and dry brain . if a distemper of cold and driness afflict the brain , the face is cold in feeling , livid , swarthy and discoloured to the eye , you can see no veins in their eyes , and their head is easily offlicted both by cold , and cold things ; the temper of their brain and head is very unequal , for some times their heads are light and excrem●nts flow thence moderately , somtimes they are exceedingly troubled with heaviness of their heads , and they are troubled with distillations from the brain upon every light and slight occasion , alwaies remember the former rule given , regard the signs of the simple dis●●mp●●s , so may you know whether coldness or driness most super-abound . culpeper . such whose brains are cold and dry , have admirable memories , and are fantastick in their actions , fearful , and think every thing they do , whether it be meat or drink , or exercise of body , doth them harm , they sleep very badly &c. a cup of strong beer with nutmeg and sugar is an excellent mornings draught for such people ; for although i would have such as have their brains too hot and moist fly from strong beer and wine as fast as from a dragon , yet is it exceeding good for these . medicines proper for them are conserves of roses , of borrage , and bugloss , confectio alchermes . for simples , borrage , bugloss , marsh mallows , mollows , vervain , violet leaves and flowers , strawberry leaves , betony , sage , fumitory , hops , &c. chap. 21. signs of of a cold and moist brain . the brain afflicted with cold and moist distempers , moves a man to an inexpugnable desire of sleep , and when he is awake , his brain is so muddy , and his sences so dull , that he can do nothing that will get him honor here , nor make him famous another day , the excrements that flow from his brain are abundance , he seldom goes without a snotty nose , his head is full , though not of wit , and heavy , and is most afflicted in cold and moist weather . culpeper . such people are very subject to lethargies , coma , carus , and other diseases of the head that proceed of coldness and moisture . for cure , juniper berries are excellent to eat ten or twelve of them every morning fasting ; as also bettony , chamomel , peony roots and seeds , calaminth , fennel , sweet marjoram , penyroyal , mother of time &c. chap. 22. of the sences . many have their sences in vigor when they are yong , and void of all blemish , and yet in age they soon decay , as you shall see the sight of some people decay by that time they are twenty or twenty four yeers of age , and therefore 't is true enough , that the brain first declares age is coming , as usually appears by the hair of the head . chap. 23. of the eyes . the general mention we shall make of the eyes is but short . when the eyes being touched are manifestly hot , very quick and swift in motion ; when men whose eyes are afflicted stare nimbly about and seldom hold their eyes still , when the veins in the eyes are large and red , the eyes are afflicted by heat . if the distemper of the eyes arise from cold the signs are contrary to these . when they are offended by moisture they are alwaies full of moisture , and the party weeps against his will , but if by driness they appear hard and dry , in all they must be helped by a moderate use of things contrary to the humor offending , i say moderate because of their tenderness which endures no violent medicines . culpeper . 1. if the eyes be afflicted by heat , 't is no matter whether driness or moisture accompany it , as one of them alwaies doth , i commend unto you the distilled water of loos-strife ( you may find the description of it and the place where it grows , in my english physitian ) to wash your eyes with . 2. if it come of cold , eyebright water is better . 3. if cataracts , pin and web , or the like grow over the sight , do not go about to eat it off with corroding medicines , as the duncical practice of some physitians is , for take notice that the film which offendeth is not of a thickness in all places , and then your mother wit will teach you that you may eat asunder the tunicle of the eye in one place before you have eat away the film offending in another : therefore in such cases make an oyntment with chelondine ( otherwise called sullendine ) and hogs grease , or an oyl with the same herb and sallet oyl , and anoynt your diseased eye with it . these special rules you shall not twice in your age find to fail , therfore esteem them as jewels . chap. 24. of the greatness of the eyes . the greatness of the eyes where they are neatly composed , and the sight strong , shew abundance of well tempered substance , whereby they are formed , but if neatness of composure be wanting , the substance indeed is much ( and so there may be of a heap of dung ) but it is not well tempered , and therefore the sight is weak and the eye not commendable . chap. 25. of smalness of the eyes . smalness of the eyes , if they be neatly composed , and their vertue operative , shews ( 't is true ) little substance , or scantiness thereof , but that substance is well tempered , whereof the eyes are formed ; but if together with smalness they have an ill composure , and withal fail in their operations , their substance is but little and that little is stark naught . chap. 26. of the colour of the eyes . as concerning what belongs to the colour of the eyes , they are devided into gray and black ; gray eyes which are cleer , and abound not much with moisture , are an argument of a strong sight : judg of black eyes also by their cleerness . culpeper . the black spot in the midst of the eye is the christalline humor in which the visive vertue resides , that round about it , being of many colours is called the iris , or in plain english the rain-bow , this indeed contains in it all colours , for if we had not all colours within our eye , we could not discern them without , and that 's the reason shutting our eyes a little makes us see the better because it reflects the beams back to the iris , where they are recruited , there the cleerer you perceive the iris to be , the stronger the sight is , you shall never find this fail ; i was once to satifie my mind , where a chirurgion dissected the eye of a sheep and the eye of a cat , because we were willing to see what reason might be given why the one could see better in the night than the other ; the reasons we found were these , 1. the christalline humor of the cats eye was far cleerer . 2. the iris was much cleerer . 3. the optick nerve also in the cat ( the difference between the bigness of the beasts considered ) was much bigger . 4. the optick nerve of the cat had two originals at a great distance the one from the other , the one from the cerebrum or brain , the other from the cerebellum or hinder part of the brain . chap. 27. of grayness and blackness of the eyes . the eye is gray by reason of the greatness or splendor of the christalline humor , or else because it sticks out , or else because of the paucity and pureness of the aqueal humor ; all these hapning together make a very gray eye , and as more or fewer of them happen , so the eye is more or less gray . a black eye is caused either by the smalness of the christalline humor , or because it is deeply seated , or of the abundance or thickness of the aqueal humor , by all these or some of these it is more or less black . the aqueal humor , the more it is in quantity and the thinner in quality , the moister is the eyes , the thicker it is in quality and the less in quantity the dryer are the eyes . as for the christalline humor , the harder it is , the dryer is the eye , but the softer it is , the moister . culpeper . i am far enough from galens opinion in this , i cannot beleeve the sight is stronger in gray eyes than in black , but rather the contrary , neither am i of his judgment of the causes of the differences in colour ; if you look upon the microcosm or body of man , i hold the cause to be in the iris ; if you look upon the macrocosm or book of the creatures , we find fiery signs arising at the nativity to give hazel eyes which are those he here calls black , and so doth either luminary when they are in the horoscope , and i hope none is so fool-ridden to say the luminaries strong in the ascendent , can or do ever give weak sights . again , i do not conceive the aqueal humor to be the cause of the moistness of the eye , the aqueal humor is an excrement produced by the vitrial or glassy humor as it nourisheth the christalline , and never stirs from its plac● to moisten the other parts of the eye , but rather the glandulae or kernel seated in that corner of the eye next the nose , which hold the tears , i suppose moistens the eye . chap. 28. of the temperature of the heart . vvee come now to speak of the temperature of the heart , but before we begin take notice of this , that in every part when we say it is hotter or colder , or dryer or moister than it ought to be , we speak it as proper to the part we treat about , not comparatively with other parts , for the coldest temperature of the heart which can be in a living man , is hotter than the hottest temperature the brain is capable of suffering . chap. 29. signs of the heart overheated . vvhen the heart is hotter than is fit or convenient for it to be , some indications are inceperable and proper , as deep breathing , swiftness of pulse , the man is bold and active , hot , furious , angry , and rash , the breast and upper part of the belly is rough , usually the heat of the heart heats the whol body , unless the liver be very cold and withstand it ; it dilates the breast much , which alwaies answers to its heat , unless the coldness of the brain , which is deduced along the back-bone withstand it ; but if the breast be very broad and the head very little , then you may be sure the heart is too hot , but if the head be great and the breast narrow , you may be certain the breast is too cold ; but if both be proportionable , 't is a sign neither of heat nor coldness of the heart , you must look to other signs . chap. 30. signs of the heart too cold . if the heart be too cold , the pulses are less than n●turally they ought to be , and yet it doth not necessarily follow , that they should be slower or more ta●e , the breast is little , and the colder the heart is , the less is the breast and the weaker the pulse , the man moves about his actions as though he dragged a mill-stone after him , he is timorous and fearful , afraid of his own shadow , and hath no hai●s upon his breast : the difference in degree of coldness may be known by the greatness and smalness of these symtoms , and this rule will serve throughout the body . chap. 31. signs of a dry heart . a dry heart makes a hard pulse , the man is not very prone to anger , but when you have anger'd him , you will have much ado to please him again ; finally , if the heart be dry so is all the body unless the liver be very moist . chap. 32. signs of a moist heart . the indications of moistness of the heart are softness of the pulse , they are soon angry and as soon pleased again , the whol body is very moist unless the liver be very dry . thus much for the temperature of the heart according to the first qualities simply taken . chap. 33. signs of a hot and dry heart . if the heart be oppressed with heat and driness , the pulses are great , hard , and swift , they fetch their breath swiftly , and the swifter if the breadth of the breast answer not equally by proportion to the heat of the heart , their breast is very rugged if they be sick , but if it be natural to them , it is very hairy , they are full of action , hasty in all things , angry and tyrannical . culpeper . herbs medicinal for such as labor under this infirmity , are , borrage , bugloss , sorrel , woodsorrel , lettice , purslane , &c. these and syrups or conserves made of them ; also let such drop four or five drops of oyl of vitriol , or spirit of salt in their drinks and shake it up and down before they drink it . chap. 34. signs of a hot and moist heart . if moisture together with heat predominate at the heart , the mans breast is not so tough nor hairy , they are quick enough to anger and action , but not so cruel in their anger as if driness prevail , their pulse is great , soft , swift , and frequent : if the breast be large they draw their breath very deep , if narrow , very thick , and their experation or letting out their breath , is done with more swiftness than their inspiration or drawing in their breath , such bodies are mighty subject to diseases of putrefaction of humors . culpeper . things medicinal for such , are conserves of red roses , syrup of violets , of bawm and of citron pils , as also of the juyce of citrons and lemmons , preserved citron pills &c. as for simples , citron seeds , rue , bawm , angelica roots and leaves , woodsorrel , the flowers os roses , borrage , bugloss , and violets ; ( above all sweating and bleeding may be commended in this infirmity ) harts-horn , ivory , scorzonera roots , and roots of butter-bur &c. chap. 35. signs of a cold and moist heart . indications of the heart when coldness with moisture abounds , are softness of the pulse , fearfulness of mind , slowness of body , he hath scarce spirit enough to be angry , much less to fight ; as for such things as belongs to the breast and the rest of the body you may distinguish them as you were taught before . culpeper . much exercise is very convenient for such bodies , i suppose there were but few troubled with this infirmity in the spartan common-wealth in lycurgus his time , thrashing , and cleaving loggs is good physick for them . for medicines , aromaticum rosatum , and aromaticum caryophillatum , confectio alchermes , mithridate , &c. for simples , rue , angelica roots , nutmeg● cinnamon , saffron , marigold flowers , bettony , bawm , alicampane , rosemary leaves and flowers , cum multis aliis quae nunc praescribere longum est . chap. 36. signs of a cold and dry heart . the heart being cold and dry renders the pulse hard and small , yet respiration , if the smalness of the breast answer to the coldness of the heart , is moderate , if the breast be very broad 't is ●are and slow , above all men these are least prone to anger , but once anger them and they will never care for you more , there is not one of a hundred of them that hath any hair of his breast . take this common notion in all this we have written or shall write concerning this subject , that we when we speak of the conditions of men , speak of them barely as they are natural and ingrafted in man , not as they are amended by phylosophy or education . culpeper . conserves of roses , borrage , bugloss , and rosemary flowers is very good for such ; as also marigold flowers , saffron , green walnuts preserved , juniper berries , bettony , candied citron pills , &c. chap. 37. signs of a hot liver . the indications of a hot liver , are , bigness of the veins , abundance of red choller , viz. choller addust , the belly and bowels are rough , and the blood hot ; also the whol body is distempered with heat unless the coolness of the heart hinder . chap. 38. signs of a cold liver . the coldness of the liver is known by narrowness of the veins , abundance of flegm , the whol constitution of the body is cold , idle and lazy , unless the heart be all the hotter , the bowels and belly , viz. the region of them is smooth . chap. 39. signs of a dry liver . a dry liver causeth thick blood , and but a little of it ; the veins a●● hard , the whol body is dry , and needs must if the liver that makes the blood which nourisheth it be so . chap. 40. signs of a moist liver . a moist liver gives abundance of blood , but there is much water amongst it , the veins are soft and so is all the body unless the heat of the heart withstand it . thus much for the qualities of the liver considered as simple by themselves and not commixed with one another . chap. 41. signs of a hot and dry liver . the indications af the liver when it is hotter and drier than it ought to be , are , the bowels are rough , the blood thick and dry , soundly pestered with choller , it is yellow choller in youth , but black or addust choller in age , the party is subject to dry scabs , the veins are large and hard , and although the heat of the heart may withstand the coldness of the liver , yet cannot the moisture of the heart withstand the driness of the liver , for the driness of the heart is sooner overcome by the moisture of the liver , than the driness of the liver by the moisture of the heart . culpeper . herbs medicinable are liverwort , strawberry and violet leaves , r●isons of the sun , endive , succory , fumitory , water-lillies , lettic● , purslain , nightshade , these or any of these , or others like them in operation , are excellent to boyl in clarified whey in the summer time . also the compounds of them , syrups or conserves made of them : as also dandelyon , scabious , devils bit , scurvy-grass , groundsel , peach leaves , dyers weed , furs flowers &c. chap. 42. signs of a hot and moist liver . if the liver be hot and moist , the bowels are not so rough as when it is hot and dry , they abound exceedingly with blood , their veins are large , the habit of their body hot and moist , unless the heat of the heart spoil all . if these two qualities surpass the bounds of nature and mediocrity , presently comes a disease of putrefaction , of corrupt humors , if moisture abound more than heat , of adustion of blood , if heat abound more than moisture . culpeper . this temper of the liver keeping a due decorum makes a pure sanguine complexion , as the former did a chollerick , for all complexions , or at least such as people call complexion , comes from the liver . if the qualities of the liver abound , bleeding and sweating is your cure ; afterward if your liver be too hot you may cool it as you were taught before , if too cold , you may heat it as you shall be taught hereafter . chap. 43. signs of a cold and moist liver . the indications of a liver , colder and moister than it ought to be , gives smooth and slick bowels , the veins are narrow , the colour pale , and the blood is filled with flegm , the whol body if the heat of the heart hinder not , is full of flegm , lazy , idle , dull , fat and plump . culpeper . here you have the description of a flegmatick complexion wherein if you perceive flegm exceed the due limits of reason , you may thus correct the cold and moist temper of the liver that so it may breed better blood . troches of maudlin and wormwood , or either of them ( you may find the way to make them in my translation of the london dispensatory ) are very good for such a one to carry about him , and now and then to eat a little ; also to drink a decoction of guajacum , with the like weight of raisons of the sun , especially if a dropsie be feared , as often is upon such a distemper . for simples you may use cinnamon , galanga , agrimony , harts-tongue , maudlin , wormwood : a draught of wormwood beer is a good mornings draught for such people ; water-crestes hys●p , spicknard , fennel , origanum , centaury , betony , chamomel &c. chap. 44. signs of a cold and dry liver . if the liver be too cold and dry , so is the body also , because it is nourished by the liver , the veins are smal , the blood little , and the body lean . culpeper . galen hence for a while , gives you signs of the general constitution of the body , and i shall piece in with my might with him there , i added nothing here to his briefness for that cause . if the liver be colder and drier than it ought to be , the body is melancholly , and consuming , you may take this pro confesso , in such a case you must proceed thus ; ● . eye the spleen , for there must needs be a fault either there , or a stopping in that branch of the vena porta , which carries the melancholly juyce to it : you may strengthen and amend that with calamint , capers and caper bark , tamaris and tamaris bark , bettony wall-flowers , wormwood , dodder , hartstongue , ●pithimum ; if you think the spleen be too hot , use endive , succory , lettice , and liverwort . 2. eye the heart , for all melancholly vapors afflict that especially , the way how to do it you have in the 36. chapter . 3. restore the consumed flesh , and snails are the best things that i know for it , for man being made of the slime of the earth , all slimy things restore his nature when it languisheth , and therefore they play the wise men indeed , if a man may speak by contraries , that first purge away the slime of the snails before they use them . chap. 45. signs of a hot , cold , moist , and dry temperature of the testicles . the hotter the testicles are , the proner is the man to venery , the more boys he gets , his privities are soon hairy , judg the clean contrary by a cold temperature of those parts ; moisture of the testicles makes much and watry seed , but driness of those parts gives but little seed and that little is dry . chap. 46. signs of a hot and dry temperature of the testicles . the seed procreative of such people , is hot , dry , and thick , yet most fruitful , and engenders usually the strongest children , such people be they men or women it matters not much , are very prone to venery , they have soon hair about their privities , and the parts about them , even to their navil upwards , and the midst of their thighs downward , but as they are prone to venery , so are they soon satisfied , and are offended with compulsion to that sport . culpeper . if you perceive too much heat in those parts , for omne nimium vertitur in vicium , use cooling herbs , as endive , succory , housleek , lettice , plantane , purslane , these clarified in whey are very good and wholsom ; as also , roses , water lillies , cucumers , the seeds of cucumers , and melones , of poppies both white and black &c. chap. 47. signs of a hot and moist temperature of the testicles . if moisture be joyned to heat of the testicles , as it is in many people of a sanguine complexion , they ●re not so full of hair about their privities as the former are , they abound more in seed , yet is not their appetite to copulation so great , they suffer less detriment by the often use of the act than the former do , for in deed and in truth they receive more detriment by abstinence from the act , than by operating in it . culpeper . i take this to be the temperature the testicles should be of , and therefore it is needless to prescribe remedies , only i care not greatly if here i be a little critical against the colledg of physitians , it comes so pat in my way i know not well how to avoid it , and therefore harken to me that god may hearken to you . is not seed of man ( take man for both sexes as the latins take homo , and the greeks {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ) is not i say the seed of man hot and moist , which is the causa formans of the child ? is not the mothers blood whereof the child is formed , naturally hot and moist also ? is not the cell of the womb in which the child is formed , hot and moist ? were your wits then a wool-gathering , or did you dream waking , when you wrote in your book of the rickets that a child newborn before its complexion be altered by any medium is cold and moist of constitution : i pray if ever your book deserve another impression let that be amended , or else defaced with a deleatur for an error of the first magnitude . chap. 48. signs of a cold and moist temperature of the testicles . the indications of a cold and moist temperature of the testicles are , smoothness and moisture about those parts , averseness to the sports of venus , they care not whether ever they come to that school or not , the seed is thin , watry , and unfruitful , and either produceth no conception at all , or else but a weakly , sickly puny girl at the best . culpeper . this hath need enough of remedy in whomsoever is afflicted by it , let such eat the quantity of a nutmeg of diasutyrion every morning , you may have it at the apothecaries , or if you please to make use of my translation of the london dispensatory , you have there the way how to make it your selves . as for simples , rocket , nettle seeds , barnet , mugwort , penyroyal , lovage , the roots of satyrion , maddir , and eringo , the berries of bay , and juniper , nutmegs ; for herbs , peony , sinkfoyl , and mother or time , calaminth , featherfew and rue . chap. 49. signs of a cold and dry temperature of the testicles . the seed is thick and very little . culpeper . such people usually love their study better than the sheets , you may remedy it with such food as are natu●ally hot and windy , and by eating such creatures as are lustful and fruitful , as crabs , lobsters , shrimps , sparrows , quails , partriches , eggs , the stones of cocks and lambs , you have plenty enough of them in my directory for midwives . as for simples we advised before , pease and beans are good for such ; as also parsnips and skirrets , figs ; pinenuts , galanga , &c. chap. 50. of the habit of the whol body . wee told you before that the habit of the whol body usually followed the nature , or agreed with the constitution of the heart and the liver ; but of the two it is most assimilated to that which hath the strongest first quality in it , which for that cause it is called effective . take then notice , that we call that , the habit of the body , which is presented to the view of the eye , viz. the flesh and some of the muscles , for the vessels which come to these , are not a part of the substance , but certain rivolets which administer to its wants ; we come now then to the indications of this , and we shall first of all give you the indications of a good temper of the habit of the whol body , which we state as a basis of the rest , that so you may see how much all distempers decline from it . all distempers discolour the skin one way or other , and from thence are indications taken , yet if the region be never so temperate , if the body be never so well in health , and of never so good a constitution , yet if he expose his ●aked body to the sun in the summer time , it will mar all the indications that can be taken from the colour , and therefore you must heed custom as well as colour , and therefore virgins which vail their faces from the sun preserve their beauty by it . all these words have been about what our intent is to do , we now come to the matter it self . chap. 51. signs of a moderate temperature . the indications of a moderate temperature according to the whol habit of the body are , a mixed colour in the face of red and white , as though the lilly and the rose strove for superiority , the hair yellow , and moderately curling ; the carnosity or fleshiness of the body mean in respect both of quantity and quality , all the parts of the body keep the golden mean , and avoid excess on either hand ; excess to this are , grossness , thinness , fleshiness , leanness , fatness , hardness , softness , roughness , smoothness , all these swerve from meanness , but a man of a moderate or mean temper is such a one ( according to the rule of polydetus ) that if you feel his flesh , it is neither too hard nor too soft , too hot nor too cold ; if you look upon his body , 't is neither too gross nor too thin , too rough nor too smooth , neither hath it any excess or defect . culpeper . as for the colour of hair i told you before , it is to be considered according to the country the man lives in , for although happily in greece where galen lived , good constitutions might have yellow hair , yet we find it not so in england , but usually brown . chap. 52. signs of a hot temper . the temper of the body verging from mediocrity to heat , and not at all to moisture nor driness , the body feels hot in touching and the more the temper declines from mediocrity to heat , the hotter it feels ; also the hotter it is the rougher it is , and the more hairy , the less fat it hath , the redder it looks , the hair curls the more . chap. 53. signs of a cold temperature . vvant of hair is one indication of a cold temperature , others are , fatness and coldness which are obvious to the feeling , the colour of the hair is duskie , the colour of the face is swarthy or of a leaden colour . chap. 54. signs of a dry temperature . the drier the temperature is , the slenderer is the man , and the more the flesh recedes from its due temper to driness , the harder it is , so much then as you find the flesh harder , judg it as much dryer than it ought to be . chap. 55. signs of a moist temperature . a moist temperature causeth a fat , moist , and soft body , and very smooth . thus much for the indications of the temperature offending in the first qualities ; the mixed follow . culpeper . it is the opinion of some , and indeed of my self for one , that these qualities seldom or never offend alone , therefore i shall refer my judgment to them as they are mixed ; and first i shall give you my authors indications , secondly my own . chap. 56. signs of a hot and dry temperature . if the temperature be hot and dry , the body is exceeding rough and hairy , hot and hard in touching , thin and slender in sight , and hath but little fat , the colour is black and swarthy , and the blacker , the more heat abounds , as appears in the indians and aethiopians . chap. 57. signs of a hot and moist temperature . a hot and moist temper is soft , warm and fleshy , and is indeed ( if it be equally mixed ) the best temper of all , and yet the body where heat and moisture exceed the due proportion is soon surprized with diseases of putrefaction , and as readily molested with viciousness of humors : if heat exceed moisture , the body is but little softer than a due temperature , but much hotter , they are pretty hairy , very fleshy but not fat , and their hair is usually blackish ; but if moisture exceed heat , they have much flesh , a good colour , their body is smoother and not so hot in feeling . by the like rules in all compound temperatures , you may know which of the first qualities is most predominate , and how much also it excels . chap. 58. signs of a cold and moist temperature . if the temperature be colder and moister than it ought to be , the body ( the head &c. excepted ) is free from hairs , white , soft , gross , and fat . if the firs● qualities , viz. coldness and moisture be unequally tempered , viz. more cold than moist , or more moist th●n cold , repair to those chapters which treat of the temperatures offending in the first qualities , and ve●●●ay find out by them and that with a great deal of ease which quality offends most . chap. 59. signs of a cold and dry temperature . if cold together with driness be equally encreased , the body is hard , thin , without hairs ; if they have any fat 't is dispersed amongst the flesh , both the hair and colour follow the proportion of the coldness ; but when in process of time a hot and dry temperature turns into a cold and dry , such are slender , hard , rough , hairy and black , and subject to diseases of addust choller ; if coldness exceed driness , or the contrary , repair to what you were directed to in the last chapter . in whatsoever we have spoken before or shall speak hereafter , take these common indications . 1. if the member easily wax cold , it is a sign of coldness or rariety , if it wax not easily cold , it is a sign of heat or thickness . 2. if a member be not easily moved , and be offended by drying medicines , it is a sign of driness , but if it be offended by moistning remedies , 't is a sign of moistness . 3. alwaies consider the bigness of the bones , for ●●mtimes a member may seem slender when 't is not so 〈◊〉 respect of the muscles , but only the bones are smal , ●nd somtimes a member seems great , not because the ●o●es are so , but by reason of the multitude of flesh . 4. the sollid parts of the body , can by no means be ●ade moister than they should , 't is well if you can keep them from overdrying , but those parts which are in●●●cepted between these may possibly be filled with moisture . 5. that is the proper nourishment of the similary ●arts which is done by opposition , not by attraction by the vessels , and this shall suffice ; we pass now to ●hat remains . culpeper . although i love brevity with all my heart , yet me●●inks galen is a little too concise in this , i shall there●ore give my supplement , but before i give it , take a caution or two . 1. complexion , or temperature of body is better judged by an argument à priore , than by an argument ●posteriore , from the nativity than from effects of 〈◊〉 , for forraign climates and sickness alter the colour . 2. the conditions may be altered from bad to good . 1. by nature . 2. by the god of nature . by nature when a fortune is lord of the nativity . by the god of nature when grace works above nature . 3. dreams may be altered diverse waies . 1. by inordinate studying after , or thinking of a thing , for then the apprehension follows the same tract even in sleep . 2. by a corrupt humor in the stomach , for be the complexion chollerick , yet if a melancholly humor afflict the stomach , the dreams will rather be of frighting than of fighting . 3. false dreams may happen by the illusions of evil spirits . 4. true dreams may be caused by the revelation of good angels . 5. variety of food somtimes varieth the colour of the excrements of the belly . these be the cautions , and according to these cautions , so understand these following rules , which you shall find martialled in this order ; 1. of the complexions simple . 2. of the complexions commixed . in each , what diet and exercise is fittest for them . sanguine complexion . description . a man or woman in whose body heat and moisture abounds , is said to be sanguine of complexion , such are usually of a middle stature , strong composed bodies , fleshy but not fat , great veins , smooth skins , hot and moist in feeling , their body is hairy , if they be men they have soon beards , if they be women it were rediculous to expect it ; there is a redness intermingled with white in their cheeks , their hair is usually of a blackish brown , yet somtimes flaxed , their appetite is good , their digestion quick , their urine yellowish and thick , the excrements of their bowels reddish and firm , their pulse great and full , they dream usually of red things and merry conceits . conditions . as for their conditions they are merry cheerful creatures , bounteful , pitiful , merciful , courteous , bold , trusty , given much to the games of venus , as though they had been an apprentice seven yeers to the trade , a little thing will make them weep , but so soon as 't is over , no further grief sticks to their hearts . diet and exercise fitting . they need not be very scrupulous in the quality of their diet , provided they exceed not in quantity , because the digestive vertue is so strong . excess in small beer engendreth clammy and sweet flegm in such complexions , which by stopping the pores of the body , engenders quotidian agues , the chollick and stone , and pains in the back . inordinate drinking of strong beer , ale , and wine , breeds hot rhewms scabs and itch , st. anthonies fire , q●insies , pleuresies , inflamations , feavers , and red pimples . violent exercise is to be avoided because it inflames the blood , and breeds one-day feavers . chollerick complexion . description . vve call that man chollerick in whose body heat and driness abounds or is predominate , such persons are usually short of stature , and not fat , it may be because the heat and driness of their bodies consumes radical moisture , their skin rough and hot in feeling , and their bodies very hairy , the hair of their heads is yellowish , red or flaxen for the most part , and curls much , the colour of their face is tawny or sunburnt , they have some beards , they have little hollow hazel eyes , their concoction is very strong insomuch that they are able to digest more than they appetite , their pulse is swift and strong , their urine yellow and thin , they are usually costive , they dream of fighting , quarrelling , fire , and burning . conditions . as for conditions they are naturally quick witted , bold , no way shame-fac'd , furious , hasty , quarrelsom , fraudulent , eloqent , corragious , stout-hearted creatures , not given to sleep much , but much given to jesting , mocking , and lying . diet and exercise fit . a chollerick man is oftner hurt by much fasting and much drinking than by much eating , for much fasting weakens nature in such people , and fills the body full of chollerick humors , and breedeth adust humors , let such eat meats hard of digestion , as beef , pork , &c. and leave danties for weaker stomachs . moderate drinking of small beer doth him good , for it cools the fiery heat of his nature , moistneth the body which is dryed by the heat of his complexion , and relieves radical moisture , but let a man of such a complexion fly from wine and strong beer as fast as he would fly from a dragon , for they inflame the liver , and breed burning and hectick feavers , choller and hot dropsies , and bring a man to his grave in the prime of his age . much exercise is likewise bad for chollerick people and b●eeds inslamation and adustion of blood , the yellow jaundice , consumptions , feavers , costiveness and agues . melancholly complexion . description . a melancholly person is one whose body cold and driness is predominate , and not such a one as is sad somtimes as the vulgar dream , they are usually slender and not very tall , of swa●thy duskish colour , rough skin , cold and hard in feeling , they have very little hair on their bodies and are long without beards , and somtimes they are beardless in age , the hair of their heads is dusky brown usually , and somtimes duskie flaxen their appetite is far better than their concoction usually , by reason appetite is caused of a sowr vapor sent up by the spleen which is the seat of melancholly , to the stomach , their urine is pale , their dung of a clayish colour and broken , their pulse slow , they dream of frightful things , black , darkness , and terrible businesses . conditions . they are naturally covetous , self-lovers , cowards , afraid of their own shadows , fearful , careful , solitary , lumpish , unsociable , delighting to be alone , st●bborn , ambitious , envious , of a deep cogitation , obstinate in opinion , mistrustful , suspicious , spiteful , sq●emish , and yet slovenly , they retain anger long , and aim at no smal things . diet and exercise fitting . by all means let melancholly men avoid excess both in eating and drinking , let them avoid all meats hard of digestion , especially such as are students or lead a sedentary life ; let them use meats that are light of digestion , and drink often at meat . excess either in meat or strong liquor , causeth crudities and rawness at the stomach , idle and strange imaginatious and fancies , a stinking breath , headach , toothach , forgetfulness , shortness of breath , consumptions , phtisicks , third day agues , the chollick and illiack passions , and dropsies . much exercise is very profitable for such , not only because it helpeth digestion , but also , because it destributeth the vital spirit throughout the body , and consumeth those superfluous vapors by insensible transpiration , which causeth those idle fancies and imaginations in men . flegmatick complexion . description . such people in whom coldness with moisture abounds are called flegmatick , yet are usually not very tall , but very fat ; some you shall find almost as thick as they are long , their veins and arteries are small , their bodies without hair , and they have but ●●ttle beards , their hair is usually flaxen or light brown , their face white and pale , their skin smooth , cold and moist in touching ; both appetite and digestion is very weak in them , their pulse little and low , their urine pale and thick , but the excrements of their bowels usually thin , they dream of great rains , water , and drowning . conditions . as for conditions , they are very dull , heavy and slothful , like the scholler that was a great while a learning a lesson , but when once he had it — he had quickly forgotten it : they are drowsie , sleepy , cowardly forgetful creatures , as swift in motion as a snail , they travail ( and that 's but seldom ) as though they intended to go 15. miles in 14. daies , yet are they shame fac'd and sober . diet and exercise fitting . people of this complexion of all other ought to use a very slender diet , for fasting clenseth the body of those gross and unconcocted humors which flegmatick people are usually as full of as an egg is of meat : what they do eat , let it be of light digestion , a cup of strong beer , and now and then a cup of wine is no waies unwholsom for them of this complexion that are minded to keep their bodies in health . much meat and drink fills their bodies full of indigestion , wind , and stitches , quotidian agues and dropsies , falling sickness and gouts , rhewms and catharres . much exercise is very healthful for them unless they love their laziness better than their health , for by that means gross humors are made thin and expelled by sweat , the memory is quickned and the skin clarified . thus much for complexions taken simply by themselves without commixture one with another ; as for medicinal remedies for their superabounding , i omitted it , considering it may be found by what hath gone before , unless by such dolts that forget one line as fast as they reade another . i come now to their commixture , which as far as i can find within the compass of my pia mater , are these that follow . 1. chollerick-melancholly . 2. melancholly-chollerick . 3. melancholly-sanguine . 4. sanguine-melancholly . 5. sanguine-flegmatick . 6. flegmatick-sanguine . 7. flegmatick-chollerick . 8. chollerick-flegmatick . let none object to me , that there may be more commixtures than these , as chollerick-sanguine flegmatick-melancholly and the like , for i can scarce believe it , and if you do but heed how and in what order the signs of the zodiack arise , you may happily be of my opinion , and therfore of these , and these only in order . of a chollerick-melancholly complexion . it is a thing very difficult if not impossible to find a man in whom two complexions are equally predominant , but one will more or less excel , therefore where choller exceeds in chief , and next that melancholly , that man i call chollerick-melancholly . description . they are higher of stature than such as are simply chollerick , by reason their radical moisture is more prevalent , yet have they little lean bodies , rough and hard skin , meanly hairy , and but meanly neither , pretty temperate in feeling in respect of heat , swarthy colour , their hair of their head is of a chestnut colour or light brown , their digestion is meanly strong , their pulse meanly strong , yet somthing slow , their urine of a pale yellow and thin , their excrements yellow and hard , they dream of falling from high places , robberies , murders , hurts proceeding from fire , fighting or anger . conditions . such people by natural inclination are very quick witted , excellent students , yet will they begin many businesses ere they finish one , they are bold , furious , quarrelsom , somthing fraudulent , prodigal and eloquent , they are not so unconstant and scornful as chollerick men are , but more suspitious , and fretful , more solitary and studious after curiosities , and retain their anger longer than chollerick men do . diet and exercise fitting . let them observe great moderation in meat and drink , for meats hard of digestion engenders tough flegm in such bodies , and will bring their bodies to an asthma ere they are aware of it . above all let such people avoid excess in drinking , for much small drink breeds fligm in them , and much strong spoils the brain , causeth scabs and itch and breaking out of heat about the body . moderate exercise is not only convenient but also very profitable for such persons . melancholly-chollerick complexion . description . such are usually tall of stature , yet are their bodies somwhat slender and dry , their skin rough , hard , and cold in feeling , they have but very little hair on their bodies , and are long without beards , they have also much superfluities at the nose , the face of a dark pale colour , their hair usually of a blackish brown colour , their digestion weak and somthing less than their appetite , their pulse slow , their urine subcitrine and thin , their egestion sallow colour'd and somthing thin ; dreamings are of falling down from high places , vain idle and fearful things . conditions . as for conditions they are very gentle and sober , willing to do good , admirable students , delighting to be alone , very shamefac'd and bashful , somwhat fretful , con●tant to their friends , and true in all their actions . diet and exercise fitting . excess of eating , drinking , and sleeping , are as great enemies to the nature of such a man as r●ts-bane , for they fill the bodie full of tough and congealed humors , from whence proceed morphew and other infirmities of the skin , and other infirmities that are more than skin deep , as stoppings of the liver , corruptions of the lungues , asthma , phtisick , wind , belly-ach , chollick . if such will be ruled by me ( if they will not i cannot help it ) let them eat and drink moderately , let their care be to suffice nature and not to stuff their guts with meat , nor make a hog-wash-tub of their bellies with drink , i will not deny them , but advise them now and then to drink a cup of strong beer or wine , especially after meat , for excess of small beer cools the liver , hinders their digestion , and bids them beware of a dropsie , it spoils both apprehension and memory , and fills the head full of superfluites , but — the immoderate use of strong beer fills that brain full of fancies which should be imployed about better matters . moderate exercise is very good for them , and helps much to destribute vital heat , which in this complexion seems to be but weak ; above all things let them have a care of catching wet at their feet . melancholly-sanguine complexion . description . they are tall of stature , and have big , fleshy , ●●●m , strong bodies , the colour of their face of a darkish red , their skin neither hard nor rough , and as little cold , but temperate in respect of softness and warmness , their bodies are not usually very hairy , yet have they soon beards , their digestion is good and laudable , their urine of a light saffron colour , mean in substance , neither too thick nor too thin , the egestion or excrements of the belly reddish and soft , their dreams are pleasant , and many times happen truly to come to pass conditions . they are more liberal , bolder , and merrier than melancholly persons are , as also less cowardly , not so pensive nor solitary , neither are they troubled with such fearful conceits , but are gentle , sober , patient , trusty , affable , courteous , studious to do others good . diet and exercise fitting . for as much as digestion in these is good , they need not be so penurious in diet as the former , much fasting fill their bodie full of wind , and much strong beer and wine , inflames the blood . moderate exercise purifies their blood , strengthens their bodies , and makes their skin cleer . sanguine-melancholly complexion . description . they are mean of stature , but strong well compact bodies , fleshy but not fat , big veins and arteries , smooth warm skin , somthing hairy but not so hairy as sanguine people have : their hair is either black or a very black brown , their cheeks red , somthing clouded with duskiness , their pulses great and full , the urine yellow and mean in respect of thickness and thinness , their digestion good , the excrements of their bellies reddish and somthing thin , they usually dream of deep pits and wells and somtimes of flying in the air . conditions . their conditions are much like to the conditions of a sanguine man , but that they are not altogether so merry nor so liberal , a spice of a melancholly temper being inherent in them . as for diet and exercise , that which we described under melancholly-sanguine will suffice for these also , only take notice that strong liquor and violent . exercise is more subject to inflame the blood . sanguine-flegmatick complexion . description . they are higher of stature than sanguine , with strong well set bodies , not very fat , their hair is flaxen or very light brown , their face is of a paler red , than sanguine peoples is , neither are their bodies so hairy , their pulse is moderate , their appetite good , their digestion indifferent ; their urine subcitrine and mean in substance , their egestion white in some places and red in others , they dream of flying in the air , rain and waters . conditions . as for conditions they are less liberal and not so much addicted to the sports of venus as sanguine are , neither are their spirits so bold , nor their bodies so hairy . diet and exercise fitting . seing the digestion of such people is but meanly strong , let them not eat as much in one day as they can digest in two , let their diet be such as is not too hard of digestion , for their stomachs are nothing neer so hot as an estriches ; if they love their appetite better than their health , and will take in more food than is fitting for them , let them expect the chollick , smal pox , meazles , &c. let not their drink be too smal , for that makes but thin and watry blood in such constitutions , it dulls their brain , and causeth dropsies and gouts . moderate exercise is very profitable to consume their superfluities . flegmatick-sanguine complexion . description . flegmatick-sanguine people are but mean of stature , somwhat gross and fat of body , smooth soft skin , and somwhat cold in touching , they have but few hairs upon their bodies and are long without beards , their hair is light yellow , light brown or flaxen , no waies curling , their colour whitely , with some very smal redness , if any ; their digestion is somwhat weak and less than their appetites , their pulse smal and low , their urine somwhat thick and palish , they somtimes dream of falling down from some high place into the water . conditions . their conditions are so-so , between flegmatick and sanguine , neither very liberal nor very covetous , neither very idle nor much imployed , neither very merry nor very sad ; rather fearful of the two than valiant . diet and exercise fit . let them beware of overfilling themselves with meat , if they love their health but half so well as they love their ●ase so they will ; much eating and drinking fills the stomachs of such people full of raw humors , and sowr flegm , engenders the small pox and meazles , and dulls their wit , which naturally is none of the quickest . strong beer and wine taken in mediocrity is not h●rtful for them , and let them take this from me , and say i told them the truth , the more they accustom their bodies to exercise , the better 't is for them . flegmatick-chollerick complexion . description . such are tall of stature but not so big nor yet so fat as flegmatick , their bodies are somthing hairy and they pretty soon have beards , they have usually hair of a chestnut colour , not curling , and soft , their faces of a tauny red , full of freckles , their appetite and digestion is indifferent , as being pretty well met ; a moderate and pretty full pulse , their urine subcitrine and mean in respect of thickness , the excrements of their belly of a pale yellow and thick , they usually dream of swimming in the water , snow , and rain . conditions . they are not such drowsie , lazy , ●leepy creatures as flegmatick folks are , but are nimbler , bolder , and kinder , merrier , and quicker witted . diet and exercise convenient . although they may be a little bolder with their food than flegmatick may , yet is digestion in them none of the strongest , and excess in meat fills their bodies with choller , and punisheth their carcasses with chollerick diseases . excess of drink spoils their digestion , and weakens nature , but moderate exercise refresheth it . chollerick-flegmatick complexion . description . such are but mean of stature , but stout lusty strong bodies , strong bones , well set creatures , neither fat nor lean , but in that respect they keep the golden mean , they have lusty great bones , their skin is hairy and moderate to feeling in respect of heat and moisture , their hair is yellowish or sandy flaxen , and their face of a tawnyish yellow colour , their digestion is good , their pulse swift , their urine thin and of the colour of saffron , their egestion yellow and hard , they dream of fighting , lightning and rain , hot baths and hot waters , conditions . their conditions are not much different from those of chollerick men , only the vices of choller is moderated by flegm , therefore a chollerick-flegmatick man is nothing so vicious as one purely chollerick ; neither doth any humor set a stop to the unbridled passions of choller , so as flegm doth , because 't is so contrary to it , judg the like by the rest . diet and exercise fitting . a slender diet works the same evil effects in quality though not in quantity that it doth in chollerick . much excess in strong drink inflames the blood , and out of such inflamation proceeds putrefaction , which begets a generation of rotten feavers , pestilences , small pox &c. pleuresies , and apostumes . let their exerc●●e be neither violent nor ex●essive . thus i have done what i promised you , if any think some other mixtures may be , which here be not set down ( by reason of a planet of a contrary nature , being in the ascendent at the birth ; as for example , if mars should ascend in gemines , you may say the nature would be chollerick-sanguine ) he may by these rules find out the description , condition , and requisite diet ; if he think he cannot , let him reade this over till he can , and now and then between whiles learn to scratch his head with a pair of wiser nails . lastly , such as have any wit in their heads , may hereby come to all the judgment of urine that i as yet know of , or where it grows . but after a long degression i return to my author whom i left at . chap. 60. signs of a dry stomach . the indications of the stomach when it is dryer than naturally it ought to be , are , if the par●● be very thirsty , and is sufficed by a little drink , but burdened if he drink much , he spits much , and he delights in dry meats , imagine meats roasted till they are burned , burned crusts of bread and the like . culpeper . things medicinal for a dry stomach , are syrup of violets , violet leaves , and strawberry leaves , barberries , lettice , purslane , roses , apples , cherries , strawberries , water-lillies , orrenges , lemmons , cucumers , prunes , tamarinds , with many other things which you may find in my english physitian . chap. 61. of a moist stomach . if the stomach be moister than it ought to be , the man is seldom a thirst , yet will the stomach endure much moisture , and takes delight only in moist meats . culpeper . simples medicinal are , galanga , cinnamon , pomegranate pills , mastich , wormwood , mints , mother of time , sage , rosemary flowers , cloves , nutmegs , annis seeds , cardamoms , pepper . if the stomach be too moist , be sure that party hath little appetite to his victuals ; in such a case , take , cinnamon , galanga , cloves , pomegranate pills , of each a like quantity ; beat them to pouder and let the sick take half a dram every morning in any convenient liquor . chap. 62. signs of a hot stomach . if the stomach be hot , it digests faster than the appetite calls for food , nay it usually makes a better shift with meats hard of digestion than it doth with those that are easie , because it is subject to corrupt meats lights of digestion ; it rejoyceth in hot meats and drinks , neither is it hurt by such as are cold if they be moderately taken . culpeper . it is to be supposed , that galen speaks here of the stomach naturally hot , not distempered by heat , for then driness must of necessity be joyned with it , and indeed the stomach is the cook-room of the body , and it cannot well have too great a fire in it , unless you ●ire the house or the chimney , i mean cause an inflamation in the stomach or the throat . i shall only give this caution , let such accustom their bodies to meats hard of digestion , as beef , pork , cheese , herrings , salt-fish &c. chap. 63. signs of a cold stomach . the stomach that is cold by nature hath a very quick appetite , i suppose because that which causeth the appetite comes from the spleen , but alas-a-day when it hath satisfied appetite , the digestive faculty is not at home , or else 't is so feeble 't is not able to do it's office , and yet their misery is such , they usually desire meats not easie to be digested , and therefore they are alwaies troubled with sowr belchings , they cannot endure cold things should outwardly be applied to their stomachs ; neither indeed can such as have hot stomachs endure hot things should be applied to that region ; but those distempers which seize the stomach by reason of some disease , differ from those that are natural , for the stomach diseased desires its contrary inwardly , viz. if it be hot , it desires cold things , but when the heat is natural it desires its like . culpeper . a stomach naturally cold ( for i told you before that was galens meaning , and i assure you i translated him at first sight ) i say if the stomach be naturally cold , your best way is to warm it a little , you may do it , by taking a dram of london treacle every morning , or a little mithridate , or diagalanga , aromaticum cariophylatum &c. or by eating a little green ginger . as for simples , you may take the roots of fennel , calamus aromaticus , avens , galanga , ginger , the leaves of wormwood , fennel , mints , sage , mother of time , squinanth , cloves , nutmegs , cinnamon , annis seeds , cardamoms , pepper , &c. the leaves of bawm , and carduus . chap. 64. of ill temperatures commixed in the stomach . if you fear a commixture of distemperatures in your stomach , compare them with the simple tempers and you may easily find out what they be , neither would i have you mind the stomach alone , but also other parts of the body , for 't is not the stomach alone which makes men thirsty , but somtimes the heart or lungues , which by drawing in air that is too hot and retaining it long , cause heat in the breast , and such desire drink no less than such whose stomach is too hot , but you may distinguish it thus , if the breast be too hot , the thirst is not ●laid by drinking , and less quenched by drinking cold drink than by drinking hot ; also the breathing in of cold air easeth such whose breast is hot , but doth no good at all to such whose stomach is hot , by these notes then you may distingnish them . chap. 65. signs of cold lungs . this is the greatest indication of the coldness of the lungs , when you feel a manifest pain , offence and coldnss at your breast by drawing in cold air , also a warm air is frindly to them , and causeth them to cough up their excrements with more ease . culpeper . things which heat the lungs , are , alicampane , liquoris , juyce of liquoris , lohoch of fox lungs , bettony , hysop , bawm , scabious , maiden hair , the flowers and conserves of these , together with compositions made of them ; also juniper berries , sweet almonds , hazel nuts , figs , dates , raisons of the sun , nettle seeds &c. chap. 66. signs of dry lungs . when the lungs are dry , they want excrements , to wit flegm , spittle , and as moisture of the lungs causeth an obscure voice , so driness of the same causeth a cleer voice , and when they strain to speak vehemently or acutely , then excrements come from the nose or mouth , from which soever they come , they come from the lungs . culpeper . if you find your lungs be too dry , you may moisten them with medicines , but be sure they be such medicines as strengthen them also ; be not too busie fiddle-faddling with your own bodies , 't is an easier matter for you to make your selves sick than well , yet i say if you manifestly find your lungs too dry , and find your selves withal prejudiced in health by it , thus you may moisten them , viz. by taking lohoch sa●um , now and then with a liquoris stick ; as also syrup of violets , poppies , and coltsfoot . simples medicinal are , the seeds of white poppies , jujubes , sebestens , strawberry leaves , violet leaves and flowers , &c. chap. 67. of the voyce . yet would i have you understand that greatness of the voice comes not altogether from heat , neither doth smalness of it in like manner from cold , but greatness of the voyce comes somtimes from the largeness of the windpipe , and smalness of voice from its straitness ; therefore if you would judg by the voice , you ought withal to regard the natural temper . chap. 68. of a cleer and rough voyce . a cleer smooth voyce shews smoothness of the windpipe , as roughness of the voyce shews roughness of the same part ; smoothness of the windpipe shews a moderate temper , roughness shews driness , for roughness is caused through the inequalitie of a dry bodie , for the driness of the similarie parts whereof that arterie is made ( viz. the windpipe ) shews either a defect or unequall distribution of moisture to it . culpeper . i would now willingly write a word or two to musitians , whose faculty and worthy science i exceedingly delight in , narrowness of the windpipe is the cause of a shrill voyce , and that 's the reason women and boys whose windpipe ( i could have said trachaea arteria had i been minded ) is narrow , sing a trebble best , and because the windpipe even in some of those is narrower than in others , some of them are able to sing higher than others , even above e-la . on the contrary , such men in whom the windpipe is very large , are able to sing a deep base , even below gamma-ut , to double b-mi , double a-re , and some few happily to double gamma-ut . then consider that harshness of voice proceeds from roughness of the windpipe , as cleerness of voyce from the smoothness thereof , somthing therefore to help a harsh voyce . 1. by way of caution , avoid all salt and sowt things , for they make the windpipe rough . 2. by way of advice , sweet things must needs make it smooth , but use them moderately lest you clam up your lungs . then consider whether your lungues be too hot or too cold , the for●going rules will certifie you , and as you find your constitution by them , so use such sweet things as are either hot or cold , you have them both mentioned to you before . chap. 69. of an acute voyce . the voyce cannot be acute by nature , without narrowness of the windpipe , nor grave without latitude of it ; narrowness of the windpipe ariseth from coldness of nature , latitude from heat . and thus much for the explanation of temperaments . culpeper . in the first part of this little chapter , galen hit the nail at the head , when he saith that the voice cannot be acute by nature unless the windpipe be narrow &c. this every musitian will perceive if he do but heed that he contracts his windpipe when he sings sharps , but dilates it when he sings flats . but that narrowness of the windpipe proceedeth from coldness of nature , & è contra , is as true as don quixotte his windmill was a knight errant ; and i disprove it thus , all chollerick men have usually shril voices , but chollerick men are hot and dry . ergo , chap. 70. indications of natures instruments . vvhatsoever errors are subject to the sences , either about greatness , or formation , or number , or scituation , are very easie to be known , but such parts as cannot be discerned by sence , the knowledg of some of them is attained with great difficulty , of others with great ease , therefore the bigness and form both of the head and brain is easie to be discerned , of which we have spoken before , as also such things as belong to the breast , shoulders , arms , elbows , hands , hips , thighs , legs and feet , 't is no hard matter to know them , either by their bigness and formation , whether they be in due order or not , and according to their number or parts of which their composition consists , the detriment of every operation is seen as cleer as the sun in a summers day ; but by your leaves , those things within the body are not so easie discerned . chap. 71. of the stomach . the stomach of a certain man which i beheld was so small and round , and seated so neer the bowels , that it manifestly appeared both to the sight and feeling . chap. 72. of the bladder . also i hapned to behold the bladder of a certain man so small and exposed to publick view , that when it was full of water , it caused a swelling manifestly to be seen outwardly , yet could not i take any manifest indications from any other external part . we ought now to endeavor to try whether in these and such things as those , there be a vertue in nature , or a vice when they are not subject to sence , and of this although we cannot comprehend a certain knowledg , yet may we artificially make a probable conjecture , as for example in the liver . chap. 73. of the liver . i have seen some , and indeed very many , whose veins were very narrow and small , and their whol body of a naughty colour , if they had taken in a pretty quantity of meat especially such as is windy , thick , and tenacious , some of them felt a kind of weight as it were on the right side of their belly , others felt a stretching pain there in these , now it is probable that the liver was smal , and the passages thereof very narrow . chap. 74. of a flegmatick man vomiting choller . i saw another , the whol habit of whose body gave indications of flegm , and yet every day he vomited red choller , i thought good to view the excrements of his belly , and i could see but little choller appear in them , wherefore i conjectured that the passage which carried the chollerick humor to the bowels was either very strait or stopped , and we know this appears by the skin in many , as in such as have the yellow jaundice , and it is also found in the dissection of many creatures , and therefore he that desires to be expert in the knowledg of such things , let him be much conversant at dissections , so shall he gain much knowledg and reap much profit by it , we wrote of these severally before , we only make mention of some examples of it here , that so men might be the more inflamed with a●● earnest desire to learn . but enough of these things . chap. 75. how bodies may be known to be sick . he that would be accounted an expert physitian , must be well acquainted with unhealthful indications , that so he may know when a party is sick , and of these some are subject to sence by those things which are within them , by change of nature , in magnitude , colour , form , or figure , and scituation , hardness and softness , cold and heat . others are not subject to sight nor sence , and they are to be known by the hindring or hurting of the operations , pains or unnatural swelling , by all these or some of these . chap. 76. signs of an afflicted brain . particularly the signs of such as are ill in their brain , or have that noble part of the body indisposed are subject to madness or folly , or their sences or imagination is hurt , and not able to perform its office as it should do , and the humor offending may be known somtimes by what humor comes out by the mouth , nostrils or ears , or by pain in some particular part of the head . chap. 77. signs of an afflicted heart . afflictions of heart are known by difficulty of breath , and also by the trembling & usual motion of the heart it self , by the motion of the pulses , by the heat of the body , either soon heating or soon cooling , by feavers and shiverings , by change of colour , fainting , and pain . chap. 78. signs of an afflicted liver . infirmities of the liver are found out by either defect or superaboundance of humors , when the humors are turned to places against nature , as the choller to the blood in the yellow jaundice &c. by il colour , by unnatural digestion , by desiring to feed upon things that are not natural food , by superfluous excrements , by heaviness , and pain , and swellings , not only at the region of the liver , but also in other parts of the body , nay somtimes the liver may be the cause both of difficulty of breathing and coughing . chap. 79. signs of an afflicted stomach . you may rest confident the stomach is afflict●d when people desire food that is either too moist or too dry , when it cannot cast up the excrements it ought to do , when it is molested by hiccoughs , belchings , strainings to vomit , vomitings , and what humor offends you may know by the colour of what is vomited up . culpeper . if you find your stomach nauseous , your best way is to cleer it by a vomit , provided it be not a woman with child , nor subject to the fits of the mother , and afterwards strengthen it as you have been taught before . chap. 80. signs of an afflicted breast and lungs . culpeper . it is my opinion at present , that the breast is never afflicted but it afflicts the lungs , therefore i put them both together , though my author mentions only the breast . galen . the infirmities of the breast are known by difficulty of breathing , by coughing and pains in the breast , and the difference of what is spit out by coughing gives indication , what it is that offends the breast . also the ilnesses of the asphera arteria or windpipe , are known by difficulty of breathing , pains in that place , offence in the voyce , or difficulty of speaking , an according to the same proportion it holds true throughout the body , sure indications are taken from swelling , pain , excrements , and hurt of the operation of the ill or afflicted part . the indications of excressences not natural , are taken from their hardness , softness , colour , and inflamations , as for example , in the small pox , for pain what part of the body soever it taketh possession of , it shews either solution of unity ( as in wounds &c. ) or else suddain alteration . a solution of unity ( as some authors call it ) or of continuity ( as my author here doth ) is caused by cutting , eating humors , fraction or breaking , and stretching . the substance of the body is altered by heat , cold , driness and moisture . the operation of a part is hurt three waies . 1. when it performs it painfully . 2. when it performs it faultily . 3. when it performs it not at all . culpeper . although this be so plain , that my authors meaning may as conspicuously be discerned as the nose in a mans face , yet because some men have as little brains as other some have noses , i shall explain his last words . 1. a mans arm performs its office painfully when he can scarce lift it up to his head . 2. a mans arm performs its office faultily when it hath the palsey . 3. a mans arm performs not its office at all when he hath lost the use of it . by instancing in this one particular member you may ( unless your brains be in vtopia ) find out all the rest . chap. 81. of the difference of those things that are cast out . of such things as are expelled or cast out , some of them are like the parts of the body that are afflicted , others are excrements , or at least like excrements , for by what is cast out from any part of the body is naturally indications given of the constitution of that part : but of this we have spoken more fully in our treatise of the members of the bodie which none before us ever brought into a regular form ; and indeed though the ancients made many beginnings , yet none drew physick up into an intire body before us , to that then we refer you . culpeper . galen wrote many great volumns in physick 't is confessed , but lest i should either put you upon impossibilities in this particular , for want either of books or learning to use them when you have them , or else set you to pick out a grain of gold from out of a cart-load of dung , i shall explain his meaning in this place . 1. he tells you some of the things expelled are like the parts of the body afflicted , as when such as are troubled with the consumption of the lungs , spit out such filth as resembles the flesh of their lungues , or as it was in the last epidemical disease in london , when people with their excrements voided things like the skins of their guts . 2. others he saith are like excrements , as when men from their lungues spit laudable flegm , or from their bowels avoid laudable excrements . chap. 82. signs of a sickness to come . indications of a sickness approaching steer their course in a middle path , between those which accompany sound and sick men , for in sound men all things are according to nature , but quite and clean against nature in such as are sick , between both these lie the indications of neutral bodies which is our scope at this time . some of the indications of neutral bodies agree with those things according to nature , but differ either in quantity , quality , or time ; again other of them are contrary to nature , but less than in such as are sick , therefore the dispositions of such people as are falling into a sickness are properly neutral , these are different . for , 1. some of them shew health a coming . 2. some shew sickness is neer , all shew neutrality in the present condition , for when indications of health appear to the sick , they may be called healthful signs , when signs of sickness appear to the healthful , they may be called unhealthful signs , we thought good to comprehend them both under this word n●utral , neither need any body spend much time in admiration , that we devide all indications into these three heads , healthful unhealthful and neutral , if they do but consider , that such signs as we call healthful , relate only to people at present in perfect health , such as we call unhealthful , relate only to such as are sick without so much as casting an eye to health to come , both do it properly without calling help of much reason , but rather of sence ; such as are neutral indications are much judged of by reason , knowledg and judgment . the difference of neutral indications is twofold . 1. such as differ only in quantity , quality or time , but not at all in species from the things that physitians call [ according to nature ] as appetite to meat , either too much encreased or deminishe● , or not taken at convenient times , or unusual meats , or superfluities of meats , which are either too few or too many , too dry or too hard , or either want of superaboundance of moist excrements , or excrements that differ in colour , consistence or time of excreting from the ancient natural custom , more or less drink in respect of quantity , hot or cold drink in respect of quality , too frequent coming to , or too long absenting from the school of venus , sweating , motion , or the like , retention and immoderate flowing of the menstruis , or the hemorrhoids , all these are neutral indications of a sickness to come , judg the like by an unaccustomed dulness of mind , an usual forgetfulness , troublesom sleeps , deafness of the ears , dulness of the sight , the bulk it self of the body either greater or lesser than usual , or whiter , redder , paler or blacker , oftner sneezing , belching , or breaking wind than usual , the excrements of the brain , purged out by the ears , mouth , or nose , altered either in qantity , quality , or time ; and to conclude , whatsoever natural thing else in the body of man is altered in respect of quantity , quality , or time . 2. the second kind of indications consist in such things as are not natural to the body , and yet they are not so violent neither to cause a disease , such are , gnawings at the stomach or guts , pain , vomiting , headach , heaviness of the head , overmuch sleeping , or watching , these shew the disposition to be either sick or neutral , judg the like when the sences are burdened with any thing against nature , so long as they are not immoderately burdened , neither hinder a man from his usual imployments , they are but neutral signs of a disease ; for instance , when whatsoever is tasted , tasts salt or bitter , though it be nothing less , when things smell stinking to the nose , though in themselves they have no such smel in them , noise in their ears , black , blew , or red things appearing before the eyes when there is no such thing present , numbness or soreness in feeling , stretching , compression , gnaving or heaviness of body , all these shew a neutral disposition at present , and a sickness to come chap. 83. signs of a sick body . vve are now come to the indications of a sickness present , whereof some prognosticate health , others death , the first of these may be called healthful , the other unhealthful in the genus , dangerous in the species ; these are taken from the strength and weakness of the operations in general , if you take them in a general way , from the operations of some speceal part if you take them in a special way . these may partly be known by the members of the body afflicted , taken , 1. per se . 2. per accidens . as by excrements , because in them appears signs either of concoction or crudity , and therefore they must needs shew that nature overcomes the offending matter , or the offending matter , nature , or at least that they equally contend for dignities . if nature overcome the offending matter , the indication is healthful , the game goes as it should do , but if the offending matter grow too strong for nature , the sign is unhealthful , but if they contend in strength , and you cannot tell which way the scales will turn , that 's a neutral sign . again , such as shew manifest concoction are healthful signs , such as shew crudity are unhealthful , such as shew neither , are neutral . there is besides these another kind of neutral signs , that is , when somtimes in the same party and same disease , the signs give indication of one thing one while , and a while after of its contrary , and these are called critical or decretory accidents , of which we have spoken in our treatise of the crisis of diseases . chap. 84. of causes healthful , vnhealthful , and neutral . seing therefore that of causes some are healthful , some unhealthful , and others neutral , we shall speak first of all healthful causes , and of these , 1. some are such as preserve health . 2. others such as restore health being lost . of these the dignity belongs to the former , they deserve to carry the bell away , and therefore we shall begin with them , and in so doing we must begin with a body of an excellent constitution , and shew the means to maintain it in such a plight , for if god had determined man of an unalterable body , this constitution must needs so have continued still , and never needed any art to help nature , but because the body of man is alwaies subject to alteration , corruption and change , therefore it stands in continual need of help . chap. 85. how many waies our bodies may be altered . as many waies as our bodies may be altered , so so many remedies are required to help , and so many conservatives to preserve ; but because all correctives work by degrees , and all infirmities hast on , physitians usually call those conservatives which by strengthning nature preserve health in vigor . our bodies are altered by some things necessarily , by other some not necessarily ; i say it is altered by some necessarily because they cannot be avoided , as the air , we must needs receive some of it in , by eating and drinking , by sleeping and waking ; but to run amongst the wild beasts , or against the swords is not of necessity , therefore about the first of these this conservative art is requisite not , about the second ; to such things then as must of necessity alter the body now turn we , and they are these , 1. air . 2. motion and rest , both of the whol body , and of every part thereof . 3. sleeping and watching . 4. meat and drink . 5. excrements of the body . 6. affections of the soul . 1. the air alters the body , as it cools , heats , moistens or dries , or according as these qualities are joyned together , or the whol substance of the air altered . 2. motion and rest offend on both hands , when they exc●ed a measure also by drying , moistning , heating , or cooling , or by joyning any of these together . 3. sleeping and watching hurt by the same means . 6. affections of the soul hurt by the same means . but as for eating and drinking and expelling eccrements , the immoderate use of them hurts both by themselves and by other means , or causes , but of all these we have written in another treatise . all these well used are preservers of health , but ill used are destroyers of it , for when the body desires motion , exercise is healthful , but when it needs ( you may take the word [ desires ] before under that notion [ needs ] if you please , for many men and women desire many times things which are not needful for them , and i had translated it so before had i thought of it ) i say when the body needs rest , idleness is better than exercise , for that helps nature when the other weakens it . the like you may say of meat and drink and all the rest , being given in due measure and quality , when the body needs them , they are healthful , but necessity , measure , and quality erring , they assalt nature to thrust her out of her house of clay ( or slime which you will . ) if you please you may ad time as a companion to all these , for none but a blockhead will doubt , but if both quantity and quality of such things as nature needs , be administred at an unfitting time , the occasion of time may be the occasion of illness to the body , for seeing the body of man is very subject to change , therefore somtimes it needs one , somtimes another help . therefore seeing in these very intentions , some causes are healthful , we will make some repetition of what belongs to our purpose , when the air is temperate to a body of the best constitution , a moderate quantity both of meat and drink , sleeping and watch , motion and rest , &c. is convenient , but when the air is distemper'd , you must vary the rest accordingly , that so the body may neither shake for cold , nor sweat for heat ; as for motion , when your body begins to be weary , leave off exercise ; the quantity of food is known by the perfectness of digestion , and the excrements avoided ought to be according to the quantity of the food taken in , for a good nature appetites no more than it concocts , and the contrary shews a failing in nature ; also nature when it is strong is able to set bounds to sleep , and when the body needs no more , the man wakes , there is no failing in the excrements , of urine , dung &c. and if you consider this but well , you may easily see such a man is not easily moved by affections of the mind , viz. anger , sadness , fury , fear , envy &c. for these alter the body from its natural state . culpeper . although what galen here saith be plain , and as true as plain , yet for the benefit of yong students , i shall explain him a little , in his six things not natural , for indeed the right course of preserving health , consists principally in the right use of these . they are as we told you , 1. air . 2. meat and drink . 3. sleeping and watching . 4. excrements of the body . 5. exercise and rest. 6. affections of the mind . of all these in order , and that so plain that a child may understand it , that can but reade his pater-noster . the first part consists in air , in which consider , 1. its temperature . 2. its difference . 3. its quality . 4. its scituation . 5. how it alters our bodies . 6. its utility or profit . first , air for its temperature . 1. considered in it self is cold and moist , but not so moist as cold , for it produceth the coldest effects to mortals , viz. snow and ice , and is indeed the coldest element . 2. considered by accident as it participates of the reflective beams of the sun , it is hot and moist , and at some times far hotter and far moister than at other some , and so we are here to consider it . secondly , the differences of air are two . 1. good and temperate . 2. evil and intemperate . thirdly , the quality of the air is altered two waies , and it must then you will confess alter the body as many . 1. by the region as it is well or evil tempered , and that 's the reason agues are so rife in fenny countries . 2. by the wind , and so , 1. the east wind is hot and dry , attractive blasting . 2. west wind cold and moist expulsive . 3. south wind hot and moist , putrefactive . 4. the north wind cold and dry , retentive . fourthly , scituation of the place alters the air . for , 1. stony ground is cold and dry . 2. sandy ground , hot and dry . 3. fenny ground , cold and moist . 4. woody and fat land , hot and moist . fifthly , the body of man may be altered by the air three waies . 1. by the quality of the air which alters the body in respect of region , wind , and scituation of place . 2. by the substance of the air , which , 1. being gross , thick , or cloudy , makes fat bodies and dull wits . 2. being pure and cleer , makes nimble bodies and quick wits . 3. by snddain change of air , for when sickly people go out of a bad air into a good , they find themselves the worse for the present , because nature abhors all suddain changes . sixthly , the profit and operations of the air upon the body of man are these , 1. it helps to engender both vital and animal spirit . 2. it cools the heart by inspiration . 3. it is the author of life , diseases , and death to mortal men and women . meat and drink was noted to be the second part to be handled , in which consider , 1. their quantity . 2. their quality . 3. custom . 4. order . 5. time . 6. age . first , the quantity of food must be considered , 1. according to the substance of the meat whether hard or easie of digestion . 2. according to the quality of the food , whether hot , cold , dry , or moist in temper , and in each whether they be moderate or immoderate . 3. according to the complexion of the eater , of which we shewed you plentifully before . secondly , the quality of the food , is to be considered , 1. as it is good or evil . 2. as it is hot , cold , dry , or moist in operation , and in all these , whether it be temperately , meanly , or extreamly so . 3. as they nourish much or little . 4. as they make juyce , thick or thin , watry or gross , mean or temperate . thirdly , as for custom in eating and drinking , 1. it must be well regarded . 2. it is like another nature . 3. it makes bad meats to some better than good meats . 4. such meats as please the pallats of the eaters best are usually soonest digested , but not alwaies . 5. if custom be bad and must be best , do it , 1. by degrees , 2. in time of health if possible . fourthly , in treating of the order of eating and drinking , i shall take them apart , and so speak of them severally . for meat , 1. if the body be bound , eat first such meats as mollifie , if loose , such as are astringent . 2. slippery meats eaten first , are subject to draw down others indigested . 3. restrictive meats eaten first , are subject to hinder such from digestion as are eaten afterwards , and thereby cause them to putrefie in the stomach . 4. if you consider the two former aphorisms , you may easily find the reason of the first . for drink , 1. accustom your body to drink as little as may be between meals . 2. drink not at all at meals before you have eaten somthing . 3. drink the smallest beer first and the strongest afterwards , and this though it be contrary to the opinion of all galenists , yet it is synonimous so the truth it self , and therefore a cup of wine drunk after meals is wholsom for ancient people and such as are in a consumption . 4. drink often at meals whether you be a thirst or not , for that , 1. helps digestion , 2. mingles the meat in the stomach , 3. helps it to pass its chyle . fifthly , time of eating , regard , 1. the time of the yeer , for winter requires more meat though less drink , than summer , because the stomach is then hottest . 2. time of the day , and as neer as you can keep the same time of eating . sixthly , as for age , 1. children should , 1. eat meats moderately hot and moist , because their natural temper is so , let our physitians in their [ rachites ] prate their pleasure . 2. let them eat often . 3. let them drink no wine . 2. yong men , 1. may eat cool herbs . 2. must eat meats colder , moister , and of grosser substance . 3. drink but little wine . 4. use all things in respect of diet according to complexion , exercise and custom . 3. old men must use , 1. such meats as are hot , moist , and easie to digest . 2. such drinks as make the humors thin , and purge the blood by urine . my third principle consists in excrements of the body . these consist in fulness and emptiness , which i shall devide , and speak of both apart , and therefore , 1. of fulness , in which consider , 1. its substance . 2. its kinds . 3. its differences . 4. its place . 5. its cause . 6. its signs . 7. its cure . 8. its accidents . first , fulness in substance is , 1. of nourishment either profitable or unprofitable . 2. of spirits either gross or thick , or subtil and thin . 3. of humors either good or bad . 4. of excrements which are diverse . secondly , the kinds of fulness are either in quantity or quality . 1. in quantity in respect of nourishment or humors . in respect of humors . 1 when all the humors abound , which the greeks call plethora , the latins plenitudo , and we properly may call [ fulness ] and this happens either in the veins or arteries . 2 when only one humor abounds , puta , choller , flegm , melancholly . 2. in respect of quality , when the humors are hotter , colder , thicker , thinner , salter , sowrer , &c. than is fit , and this is called carochymial . thirdly , its differences are , 1. universal , possessing the whol body . 2. particular , possessing only some part thereof . fourthly , the place is different according to the matter offending , be it nourishment , spirits , humors , or excrements . fifthly , the cause is either general or particular . 1. general is , 1 meats corrupted in digestion for want of heat , when the stomach is not hot enough to digest the meat . 2. humors being either plenitude , or cacochymia , which what they are you had before . 2. the particular cause is either of spirits or excrements . sixthly , the signs are different , answering to the diversity of the causes . seventhly , cure must be . 1. according to the matter offending , and place offended . 2. the evacuation of plenitude is by bleeding , of cacochymia by purging . eighthly , the accidents are diverse , according to the cause offending , and place offended . having now spoken of fulness , what remains but that in sober sadness , we speak a word or two of emptiness , in which consider , 1. its definition . 2. its kinds . 3. its differences . 4. its causes . 5. its signs . 6. its cure . first . the definition of emptiness , consists , 1. in want of nourishment , spirit , or radical moisture . 2. in the deminishing of these either in the general or particular . secondly , its kinds are , 1. general , when the whol body grows thin , weak , slender , or empty . 2. particular , when any part of the body was served the same sawce . thirdly , its differences are , 1. universal in the whol body . 2. particularly in some part . fourthly , its causes are , 1. by art , as purging , bleeding , sweating , &c. 2. by accident ; as , 1. by obstruction of the passages either of vital heat , or the nutritive faculty , or avoiding of excrements . 2. by a flux , which either washeth away the natural substance , or hinders either nourishment or spirits from a particular place in the body , fifthly , the signs of this is an atrophia , which is nothing else but a wasting or consuming of the whol body , or some particular part . sixthly , the cure is done ; 1. by removing the cause . 2. by restoring the lost substance . my fourth principle consists in sleeping and watching , which because they are inconsistent together , we will treat of them apart , in some particulars , yet because nature hath joyned them together , so will i do also in others . in sleep consider , 1. what it is . 2. its cause . 3. its time . 4. its quantity . first , sleep is rest and quietness of the body , of the mind , and of the spirits . secondly , the cause of sleep is , 1. a sweet vapor sent unto the brain . 2. the coldness of the brain turns those vapos into humor● . 1. stopping the conduits of the nerves , thereby prohibiting motion . 2. stopping the sensoria or waies of the sences , thereby prohibiting understanding . 3. prohibiting the spirits , and thereby withstanding instigation to action . thirdly , as for the time of sleeping ; the day-time is disliked , and the night accounted only fitting . fourthly , the quantity of sleep , is six , seven , or eight hours , according to the complexion of the party , of which you have plentiful information before . the difference of sleeping and watching are only moderate , and immoderate : i shall joyn them together in the first , and see if i have writ enough to separate them in the second . both sleeping and watching moderately used ( for if you use the one immoderately you must needs do both so . ) 1. comforts nature much . 2. refresheth the memory . 3. cheers the spirits . 4. quickens the sences . 5. revives the animal vertue . 6. strengthens the body . 7. helps digestion . 8. expels excrements . the vices of them both , are far different ; and although i can close with those that have written ethicks in this , that all vertues are a medium between two vices , yet in other of their tenets i cannot , because some of them lead men to atheism . the immoderate use then of sleeping and watching , i shall speak of apart . immoderate watching . 1. makes giddy brains . 2. fills the body full of rhewm . 3. dries the brain . 4. breeds aposthumes . 5. troubles the spirits . 6. causeth crudities . 7. makes fools . immoderate sleep . 1. dulls the sences . 2. causeth superfluous excrements . 3. makes dull wits , especially in old folks and children . 4. retains the excrements . 5. overmoistens the brain . 6. fills the brain full of crudities . i am now come to my fifth part , which consists in exercise and rest , and this i shall wholly take apart . in exercise consider , 1. what it is . 2. its difference . 3. its effects . first , exercise is , either , of the body , as cleaving of logs , &c. or of the mind , as study , &c. or of both , as the art of defence &c. secondly , the differences of exercise are , 1. moderate , which is neither too much nor too little . 2. immoderate , which is either vehement or excessive . thirdly , the effects of exercise , i shall take apart ; and i do not know but i may lawfully do so , seeing neither god nor nature have joyned them together . moderate exercise , 1. stirs up natural heat . 2. equally distributes the spirits . 3. opens the pores . 4. wasts the excrements of the third digestion . 5. strengthens the body , sences , and spirits . 6. comforts all the members . 7. profits nature much . immoderate exercise , 1. hurts the body and all the parts of it . 2. wasts , dries , consumes , and wearies the body and spirits . 3. overthrows natures actions . thus having done with exercise , 't is best to write a word of idleness , or rest. rest is either moderate or immoderate ; moderate rest , 1. comforteth and refresheth nature . 2. maintains health in a good decorum . 3. recruits a tyred brain . 4. strengthens the body in general ; the sences and members in particular . excess in rest , or extream idleness ( which you please ) 1. dulls the mind , the sences , and principal instruments of the body . 2. it causeth crudities , evil humors , evil excrements , cold sicknesses , infinite infirmities . 3. hastens old age . 4. causeth deformity . i am now come to my last point , affections of the mind , and they are but two , content , and discontent . in content , consider , 1. what it is . 2. its effects . 3. its differences . first , by content , i mean such affections as are pleasing to the nature of man , as hope , joy , lové , mirth , &c. secondly , by their effects ; 1. they dilate the heart and arteries . 2. they distribute both vital and natural spirit throughout the body . 3. they comfort and strengthen not only the parts of the body , but also the mind , and that in all their actions . thirdly , their differences are two and no more . 1. moderation , which comforts both body and mind . 2. immoderation , which hurts both body and mind . first , by discontent , i mean such affections as disturb the body , as anger , hatred , fear for things to come , care for things past , sorrow , grief of mind &c. secondly , the effects of it are , 1. they devert the vital heat from the circumference to the center , thereby consuming the vital spirits , drying the body and causing leanness . 2. they are forerunners of evil . 3. they are destroyers , overthrowers and murderers both of body and mind . 4. they hasten old age and death by consuming radical moisture . thus much for my comment upon this chapter , which if it light into the hands of a wise man , i have written enough ; if of a fool , too much . chap. 86. of venereals . the opinion of epicurus was , that it was unhealthful for man to come to the school of venus ; but indeed and in truth , the exercise is beneficial , if a due interval of time be observed : and this you may know , if the man find himself the better and not the worse after the act. as for the time to such business , let not the body be too full nor too empty , too hot nor too cold , too dry nor too moist ; and if you must err in in one of these , err as little as you can : and because usually errors are in such case , let the body be rather hot than cold , full than empty , moist than dry : before you come to the school of venus , go to the school of mars , namely , exercise your body before you take councel of the under sheet , and so exercise it that you do not tire , it : if your constitution be good , you need not fear the exercise of your constitution can be otherwaies : if there be deficiency in your body , it is no wonder if you reade it in your child . we have given you notice how you may know the deficiencies of your own body ; and we have spoken of them severally in other works of ours : if the temperature of the body differ from health , the effects of the same temperature must differ as much from the desired end ; and in that take a few rules to help your selves . hot bodies desire hot nourishments , cold bodies cold nourishments , dry bodies dry nourishments , and moist bodies moist nourishments , and the reason is because every like is maitained by his like : therefore whereas motion , want of nourishment , watching , a loosness , and discontent , dry the body and procure diseases thence coming , the contrary to these moisten the body , for likes rejoyce in their likes , and keep the bodies in their temperature ; and this we speak concerning bodies healthful . the inequality of these is the breach of health in the body of man , the way to correct which we have spoken of before , only somthing we shall now ad , if the body be offended by much idleness , we ought to correct it by exercise , but this is to be done by degrees , for nature abhors all sudden change ; understand the like by a body weakned by too much exercise , as also by other things not natural , which we spake of in the last chapter . also it may so come to pass , that the stomach may be colder than it ought to be , and yet the brain at the same time , hotter than its due temper , in such a case , you must remedy them both with medicines proper for them : do the like by other parts of the bodie when they are hotter , colder , drier , or moister than they ought to be . culpeper . by what means to do this , you have before in my comment . chap. 87. of healthful causes of the instrumental parts . as concerning healthful causes of the instrumental parts of the body , some consist in want of error in formation , others in want of error in magnitude , number , and scituation . in formation many errors happen , both in the fashion of the part , and if there be any cavity in it , when it differs from the golden mean in the passage , mouth , roughness or smooth●ess ; these if they differ but little from what naturally they ought to be , may deserve the appellation of [ healthful ] but if much they may safely be called unhealthful , but if the difference be so great that the part cannot perform its operation , it may truly be said to be sick . also difference must be made in the quantity of the defect , as also in the number , whether one or mo●● , or how many of the parts be deficient ; as also what the scituation of the deficient part is . the differences then of these are four ; 1. such whose instrumental parts are in a due decorum . 2. such as differ but little from it , and therefore may also be called healthful . 3. such as differ more , and therefore are unhealthful . 4. such as differ most , and therefore are sick . as for such members as offend in figure or fashion , viz. such as are crooked or the like , while the child is yet yong and tender , they may be reduced to their natural habit , by binding or such like means , but when once the child is grown up and the parts hardened , 't is impossible to reduce them , and indeed all errors in the body are easier to be amended whilst the body grows than afterwards , for then ( according to the opinion of most phyfitians ) there is no place left for remedy . as for such members as exceed their due proportion in bigness may be reduced by resting , and convenient binding of them ; also members may be encreased by motion , and moderate rubbing , for that calls the blood to the place . all defective parts which have their original through blood , are not impossible to be corrected or restored ; but such parts of the body as are spermatical , or have their original by seed , are either altogether impossible to be restored or very neer the point , although a callous matter grow in their places , which performs the same office they did . in all these nature is the work-woman , and the physitian but her servant . also somtimes two or three vices may accompany one and the same part , as in him that we told you before , that had a smal and round stomach , and neer the diaphragma , for in him both magnitude , formation , and scituation were depraved , and the greatest artificialness in the world could never bring this to a natural habit , for if his stomach were never so little full , difficulty of breathing followed , therefore his only remedy was to take little meat and drink at a time , and to take it often . and he which we told you of , that had an obstruction in his liver by reason of the narrowness of the vessels , and extenuating diet was found out for his remedy . chap. 88. of solution of continuity . it remains now that we speak a word or two of that kind of disease which is incident both to similar and instrumental parts , viz. solution of continuity or unity which you please , which although it happen many times to men in perfect health , yet because it causeth passion it may be numbred amongst diseases , for if a sensible hurt of operation make not a difference between health and sickness i know not what doth . yet amongst these also is some difference , for some of these give healthful signs , some unhealthful , and some neutral ; as for the cure that must be according to the nature of the part hurt , and the essence of the disease hurting . culpeper . me thinks galen is very misty and hard to be understood in this , i shall give you his meaning as well as i can , and rest confident if i do vary from the meaning of galen , as it may be i may not , yet i will not vary at all from the truth . then consider , 1. solution of unity is made by wounds or ulcers . 2. a wound is a solution of unity , new , bloody , and without putrefaction , and it is either , 1. simple , without accidents . 2. compound , with accidents , as loss of substance , bruise , swelling , inflamation , pain , convulsion , &c. 3. difference according to place or part of the body 't is in , whether principal or not principal , spermatical or not spermatical . 4. difference in respect of end , as great , little , hard or easie to cure , dangerous , mortal . 3. an ulcer is a solution of unity , with matter differing in substance from the flesh about it . 1. its kinds are either plain , hollow , fistulous , sanious , virulent , cancrous , corrosive , putrefactive . 2. its accidents are pain , swelling , inflamation , hardness , callus , evil flesh , hard lips , distemper , worms , bones corrupted . if any will contend that fractures , and dislocations are solutions of unity they may , i shall pass them here , they being not things for every child in physick to meddle withal , this is a horn book to physick , and you shall seldom find latin or greek written in such a book . chap. 89. of the common intention of cure . the art of curing hath one common intention , which is taking away that which is contrary to the cure , and all such causes as bring health do no more ; also the disposition of every part to be cured is to be considered , hot distempers are to be cuted by cold causes , cold by hot causes ; for if whatsoever be immoderate thwart nature , and whatsoever is moderate help nature , then of necessity , whatsoever is immoderate one way , must be brought to mediocrity by its contrary immoderate , and this may be done two waies , either according to power or according to imagination ; according to power when a thing is really so , according to imagination , when we conceit a thing to be so as it is not : of these things we have spoken in our vertues of simple medicines . as for the cure of such diseases as are already inherent to the body , we must regard the cause of the disease ; put case for example , a feaver ariseth of putrified humors , the indication of cure is , evac●●●ion and alteration , alteration is cooling the heat of the humor by cool medicines , this taketh away the effects , but the cause is taken away by evacuation as bleeding , sweating , or clysters , or drawing the humor to another place , as by blisters or the like ; in this you must regard the matter offending , both in respect of quantity and quality , and the manner of use of your medicines , this we have largely shewed in our therapeuticks , only this let us stick to in all cures , to take away the matter which causeth the disease by the roots : if the disease be compound , use a composition of simples fitting for it , if the disease be great , let the medicine be the stronger , in all let the medicine be proper for the disease ; for example , if the disease exceed nature in ten parts of heat , and seven parts of driness , let the medicine be ten parts colder and seven parts moister . also the part of the body is to be considered , that so the coldness of the medicine may make the afflicted part no colder than it ought to be ; if the disease lie in a remote part of the body , the medicine ought so to be formed that it lose not its vertue before it come to that part , let it then have not so much heat only as the disease requires , but somwhat more , even so much as is necessary to penetrate to the afflicted part . also the matter or substance of the offending humor must be heeded , for if it be thick it cannot penetrate to the extream parts of the body , and in such cases you must use medicines that are of a cutting quality . culpeper . it seems galen here minded only an antipathetical cure , in which his rules are good ; there is another way of cure which we call sympathetical , which is done by strengthning nature in general , and the part of the body afflicted in particular , of this and the reasons for it , every one that is fit to give physick may see in my english physitian . chap. 90. the cure of solution of continuity in a fleshy part. solution of unity is cured again by unity , and this in instrumental parts is impossible . culpeper . i think my author means 't is impossible tó set a mans arm on again when 't is cut off , if he do , i am cleerly of his opinion , but when a man hath cut his finger , there is a solution of unity in an instrumental part , and yet that is easily cured . galen . the cure of solution of unity in similary parts is not alwaies possible , but in fleshy parts it is , unless the loss of substance be so great that the sides of the wound cannot be joyned together , without marring the form of the body . our present task then is , 1. to joyn the parts of the body together which are separated by the wound or ulcer . 2. to keep them together being so joyned . 3. to clense the ulcer of what hinders the cure . 4. to preserve the part sound being cured . the first and second are performed by convenient binding and stitching together ; to the third we must have a care , 1 that neither dust , filth , nor hairs fall into it . 2 that no corruption breed in it that may hinder the cure . 3 if there be much defluxion of humors to it , either purge them out , or draw them back to another place . to the fourth , strengthen the part when you have cured it with convenient drying medicines . thus much of solution of continuity in a fleshy part . culpeper . galen hath done very well in this ; i shall only ad an exhortation to artists , which if they observe they may do well . i desire them , 1 to work safely , without hurt . 2 spèedily without detracting time . 3 do as they would be done by in like case . 4 not aim at gain . 5 promise no more than they can perform . 6 perform faithfully what they promise . chap. 91. of solution of continuity in a bone . the breaking of a bone is a solution of continuity in it ; a bone broken in two cannot be made one again , but is only united by a callous , a callous is made of the very same nourishment that nourisheth the bone , and some hold that the bones of a child whilst they are yong and tender will unite without a callous . usually when a bone is broken , the muscles which lie neer it suffer also , therefore the intention of cure is double , one which regards the bone its self , the other which regards the parts of the body neer the bone which is broken , the latter you find the way of cure in the foregoing chapter . because as we told you all bones are united by callus , you ought to supply nature with a convenient superfluity to make this , and withal to observe a convenient decorum both in respect of the qantity and quality of it , and according as you find the fracture to abound with moisture or driness , so to prescribe a diet either drier or moister as you see fit . culpeper . i as yet know , or can at least at present remember no better remedy in such a case , than a strong decoction of comfry roots or leaves if the time of the yeer afford them , you may make the decoction in wine or water , or a mixture of them , according as you find the age and complexion of the patient to be , and the season of the yeer agree ; and as comfry is so good for a broken bone , so knot-grass is as good used in the same manner for a disjuncture . chap. 92. of pricking of a nerve or tendon . seing nerves and tendons are of such exquisite sence , the pricking of either of them is very subject to produce convulsions , and the reason is , because no expiration can come outwardly from those parts ; to prevent it , then you have no other remedy than to open the wound and dry it up with medicines of such thin substance as can penetrate even to the very bottom of the nerve . culpeper . the usual practice of the chyrurgians of our time in such cases is to cut the nerve , and so suffer the patient to lose the use of that member ; but i suppose if you heedfully read my english physitian , you may find a safer way to the wood . chap. 93. of diseases according to formation . wee come now to formation , the diseases of which although they are devided into many differences , we will begin with that which is most evident , which is change of figure or fashion , this we told you might be amended so long as the party is growing , and the sooner the better , for when once they are grown up 't is past cure . the intention of this cure is the turning the member the contrary way ; if it come by reason the member was formerly broken , and not rightly set , if it be new done , your way is to break it again and set it better , but if long time be elapsed 't is past cure . chap. 94. of obstructions . obstructions are caused of humors either thick or thin , the healthful causes of the first are cutting and clensing medicines : that which is caused by hard dung in the guts , remedy the hardnesss of it by moist and fat clysters , and then carry it quite away by such as are sharp . the stone in the bladder requires cutting and bringing it away . immoderate fulness also causeth obstructions , and they are to be cured by immoderate emptying , as bleeding and the like . superfluity of meat is corrected by purging and vomiting . stoppage of the lungs by coughing . in the passages of urine by such things as provoke urine , and urine is provoked by such things as vehemently extenuate or make thin . the stomach is clensed by vomiting , the bowels by purging . to conclude , whatsoever is contrary to nature in any part , is to be taken away , and if that cannot well be done draw it to another part where it may . culpeper . i do not well fancy galens remedy of cutting such as have the stone , i think , nay am confident remedies not dangerous may be found for the stone in some of my works , i think in my translation of the london dispensatory , look lapis nephriticus there . chap. 95. of roughness and smoothness . vvhat parts of the body soever have lost their natural habit by roughness , natural smoothness is to be restored to them , and this ( be it to the bones , arteries or tongue ) is to be done by mild and moistning remedies , which have no biting quality at al in them . again , other parts of the body have or may have a smoothness in them which is not natural , roughness is to be recovered to such , by medicines which clense and somthing bind , but if there be obstructions and narrowness of the passages withal , use first such medicines as cut tough humors . if there be a mixture of any of these diseases , let there be the like in the medicines , it is sufficient to give one example , for that 's the rule we follow in all our works : suppose a multitude of blood flow to some particular member , that not only the greater but also the lesser veins of that member are extended , and by reason of the cleerness of the skin are cleerly seen ; 't is to be supposed , that other vessels that cannot be seen are stretched also ; now the danger is lest that which is sweat out through the vessels be spilled in the void places in the midst of the body : now the cure of this must be done by evacuation , or to write plainer english by emptying , because the disease proceeds of the immoderate filling of the part , but yet this humor thus passed into the cavities of the body will never be brought out that way while the world stands , therefore all evacuation cannot be made at the part of the body offended if the whol body be overfilled , for if we use scarrifications or incisions , we shall draw the more thither by reason of the pain ; if we should attempt to scatter it by heat , the heat would draw more to it than it scatters away ; if we go about to drive it back , the body being full admits no such motion ; in such a case then you must first evacuate the whol body , then meddle with the particular part afflicted afterwards , first repelling the humor and then dispersing of it . and this know , the less the humor is , the sooner 't is evocuated , cooling and binding remedies repell ● . if you conjecture any offending humor yet retained in the part , first search whether it be thick or thin , that so you may expel it either with or without cutting medicines . alwaies have a care of hot medicines if the patient part be towards the upper part of the body , because they send vapors upwards ; therefore in such cases let the heat of the medicine be but mean , and if it be a little moist withal , it can cause no pain , but if you would disperse any humor from the lower parts of the body let the medicine be strong lest it lose its strength before it come at the afflicted part , neither need you fear the superior parts will be afflicted by such medicines , seeing the cause of the affliction lies not in them , neither are the medicines to be apropriated to them . then consider , that the parts afflicted by such de●luxions , some are rare , loose and soft by nature , others thick and hard by nature , the former are easily emptied , you must use sharper remedies to the latter . the indications then must be taken , both from the substance of the afflicted part , and also , from the formation and scituation of it : for example , if it happen so , that the liver be afflicted by humors in the small vessels thereof , which humors are thin viscuous , thick or superaboundant ; is it not the readiest way , first to separate these by extenuating meats and drinks , and change them into another substance ? then in the second place , to empty those by passages which are large , and not by those that are narrow , whereas you cannot bring them thither without extenuating , for there are large passages [ meatus ] in the liver as well as narrow , which pass to the vena cava , as the narrow doth to the vena porta : it is no such difficult matter then when humors are thick and tough in the liver to evacuate them , by drawing them to the vena cava by such medicines as have a drawing quality , that so they may be cast out by urine . but besides these , here is another indication to be taken from the liver it self ; suppose it be so weakned by moistning medicines , or cataplasms , that it is unabled not only to perform its own office , but weakens the veins also ; in such a case you must mix some binding things with your medicines , but seeing the liver lies so low , 't is some question whether the binding medicines be not weakned before they come at it , unless they be mixed with some things else of more subtil parts , as spices are , if you make up your medicines of such spices as bind , nature when she hath gotten two qualities to serve her turn in one medicine , will operate the stouter . culpeper . i know at present none better for such a purpose than cinnamon , and cassia lignea , and if you mix a little spodium amongst them it will not do amiss . galen . also take another animadversion , have a care the natural temper of the part afflicted be not distempered by the humor flowing to it , if it be flegm that flow to it , it may be it is too cold , if choller , too hot , you must cure this distemper before ever you can restore the member to its pristine health and strength , and this is to be cured by its contraries , namely , cold by heat , and heat by cold , and herein also you must be well versed ; namely , how hot and cold every member by nature ought to be , for how can you tell else when it exceeds its due proportion in cold or heat , or when you have cooled or heated it enough ? chap. 96. of diseases according to number . having spoken enough of these things , we come now to such whose number is not according to nature , and seing their difference is twofold , one in which some part is deficient ; the cure of which is by subministring to nature , the other which is superaboundant , which ought to be cut off either by iron or fire , or medicines which have a burning quality , all these may be cured 't is true , but n●w ones cannot be gotten in their rooms that are wan●●ng , some there are that though they cannot be genera●●● again , yet somthing may be made in lieu of them ●s ● bone being taken away , you ●ay put in some substa●ce different from both bone and flesh ●●●●e●d of it , for there is a certain callus flesh 〈◊〉 in the room of it , which though it seem like flesh at first , yet in process of time it grows to the hardness of a bone ; so also any member being cut off , seeing we cannot make its like in substance , we may make the like of it in shew , that so the body may the better retain its beauty . culpeper . a right worshipful business , and teacheeh a man thus much knowledg , that he may make a wooden leg. chap. 97. of diseases according to magnitude . as for diseases according to magnitude , when the bigness of the parts of the body are according to nature they are as they should be , if any parts be bigger or smaller than they should be , you should take away from those that are too big , or if that cannot be , withdraw the matter to another place , cherrish those that are deficient in bigness , and take away those that superabound , this was spoken to more at large before . chap. 98. of diseases according to scituation . vve come to that other kind of healthful causes which amends such parts as are out of place , as luxations , ruptures &c. this is done by some violent stretching or stroke , or else by some dilation or breaking of the continent ; twofold then also is the way of cure , the one is by reducing it to its proper place , the other by strengthning the part after it is reduced . chap. 99. of preservative causes . this chapter seems to contain in it the sum of all what hath hitherto been spoken ; of preservatives there are three kinds ; 1. such as have respect to men in perfect health . 2. such as regard men not in perfect health . 3. such as belong to men that are sick . the first maintains health , the other two attain it ; the whol basis of this is chiefly busied about humors , which ought neither to be too thick nor too thin , neither too watry nor too many , nor too hot nor to cold , nor too biting , neither subject to putrefaction , nor yet of a venemous nature , for when any of these are encreased they engender diseases . the intention of cure of this , is alteration and evacuation . they are altered when they are either concocted by the body it self , or by some other faculties which have a medicinal force or operation , as by such things as expel poyson , they are evacuated by purges , clvsters , sweatings and vomitings , these are common evacuations , proper are such as are apropriated to certain parts and places of the body , the bowels are purged by stool , the liver by urine , the whol body by sweat , the head by sneezing , the lungues by coughing , &c. besides , there are some sorts of purges which draw the humors from all parts of the body , as pills . chap. 100. of that part of the art which refresheth old age . such food , diet , and medicines as refresh and restore are most fit for ancient people ; the disposition of ancient people is the best disposition , but yet blood in them is but little , neither is their vital 〈◊〉 animal spirit much , their sollid parts are dry , therefore is their strength weak , and their whol body cold . the healthful causes which amend this disposition ( that i may comprehend them all in one chapter ) are such things which give present and secure nourishment , if you would take them particularly , they consist in moderate motion , meat , drink , and sleep . as for motion , a coach , walking , and rubbing themselves are convenient , after which , let them cool , and ease themselves by degrees . as for meats , let them first take such as are moist and easie of digestion ( but let them avoid cold meats as much as may be ) afterward let them eat such as are of good nourishment ; for drink , let them drink good beer , and now and then a cup of wine after meat ; as for all particulars , i shall not here recite them , as having formerly related them in other volumns . culpeper . to this last chapter of galens i never intended a comment , because i do intend speedily my self to write a treatise of the same , viz. a guide for old a●e . galens wine i translated beer , because 't is better ●or our bodies . thus courteous reader i leave thee for this time , rejoycing much , and daily blessing god that he hath been pleased to make me an instrument of so much good to this nation , as the acclamations of diverse gentlemen , from diverse parts of this nation daily testifie to me : it is not my desire reader that thou shouldest be a fool , but a physitian , and the proverb saith , every man and woman in the world is one of them . i have here given thee the first rudiments and principles of the art , or at least wise of galens art , which if it 〈◊〉 for nothing else , it will serve to fit thy brain for greater matters ; labor then to digest this , 't is not so big that thou canst surfet of it , and when thou hast well learned it , thou shalt be fed with stronger meat , by thy friend , nich. culpeper . the contents of every chapter . proemium . chap. 1. page 1 chap. 2. what medicine is . page 2 chap. 3. how many several waies , a cause may be said to effect , a sign to give indication , and a body to receive . page 4 chap. 4. of healthful bodies . page 5 chap. 5. of a body unhealthful . page 8 chap. 6. of a body neutral . page 9 chap. 7. of signs . page 11 chap. 8. signs of a very good conistitution . page 11 chap 9. how many the differences of the parts are . page 14 chap. 10. of the signs of the brain . page 15 chap. 11. of the bigness and smalness of the head . page 15 chap. 12. of such operations as have obtained the principality . page 17 chap. 13. signs of a good temper of the brain . page 18 chap. 14. signs of a hot brain . page 19 chap. 15 signs of a cold brain page 20 chap. 16. signs of a dry brain . ibid chap. 17. indications of a moist brain . page 21 chap. 18. signs of a hot and dry brain . ibid chap. 19. signs of a hot and moist brain . page 22 chap. 20. signs of a cold and dry brain . page 24 chap. 21. signs of a cold and moist brain . page 25 chap. 22. of the sences . page 26 chap. 23 of the eyes . ibid chap. 24. of the greatness of the eyes . page 27 chap. 25. of smalness of the eyes . page 28 chap. 26. of the colour of the eyes . ibid chap. 27. of grayness and blackness of the eyes . page 29 chap. 28. of the temperature of the heart . page 31 chap. 29. signs of the heart overheated . ibid chap. 30. signs of the heart too cold . page 32 chap. 31. signs of a dry heart . ibid chap. 32. signs of a moist heart . page 33 chap. 33. signs of a hot and dry heart . ibid chap. 34. signs of a hot and moist heart . page 34 chap. 35. signs of a cold and moist heart . page 35 chap. 36. signs of a cold and dry heart . ibid chap. 37. signs of a hot liver . page 36 chap. 38. signs of a cold liver . ibid chap. 39. signs of a dry liver . page 37 chap. 40. signs of a moist liver . ibid chap. 41. signs of a hot and dry liver . ibid chap. 42. signs of a hot and moist liver . page 38 chap. 43. signs of a cold and moist liver . page 39 chap. 44. signs of a cold and dry liver . page 40 chap. 45. signs of a hot , cold , moist , and dry temperature of the testicles . page 41 chap. 46. signs of a hot and dry temperature of the testicles . ib chap. 47. signs of a hot and moist temperature of the testicles . page 42 chap. 48. signs of a cold and moist temperature of the testicles . page 43 chap. 49. signs of a cold and dry temperature of the testicles page 44 chap. 50. of the habit of the whol body . page 45 chap. 51. signs of a moderate temperature . page 46 chap. 52. signs of a , hot temper . page 47 chap. 53. ●●gns of cold temperature . ibid chap. 54. signs of a dry temperature . ibid chap. 55. signs of a moist temperature . page 48 chap. 56. signs of a hot and dry temperat●re . ibid chap. 57. signs of a hot and moist temperature . page 49 chap. 58. signs of a cold and moist temperature . ibid chap. 59. signs of a cold and dry temperature . page 50 chap. 60. signs of a dry stomach . page 67 chap. 61. of a moist stomach . page 68 chap. 62. signs of a hot stomach . ibid chap. 63. signs of a cold stomach . page 69 chap. 64. of ill temperatures commixed in the stomach . page 70 chap. 65. signs of cold lungs . page 71 chap. 66. signs of dry lungs . ibid chap. 67. of the voyce . page 72 chap. 68. of a cleer and rough voyce . ibid chap. 69. of an acute voyce . page 74 chap. 70. indications of natures iustruments . page 75 chap. 71. of the stomach . ibid chap. 72. of the bladder . page 76 chap. 73. of the liver . ibid chap. 74. of a flegmatick man vomiting choller . page 77 chap. 75. how bodies may be known to be sick . ibid chap. 76. signs of an afflicted brain . page 78 chap. 77. signs of an afflicted heart . ibid chap. 78. signs of an afflicted liver . page 79 chap. 79. signs of an afflicted stomach . ibid chap. 80. signs of an afflicted breast and lungs . page 80 chap. 81. of the difference of those things that are cast out . page 81 chap. 82. signs of a sickness to come . page 82 chap. 83. signs of a sick body . page 85 chap. 84. of causes healthful , unhealthful , and neutral . page 86 chap. 85. how many waies our bodies may be altered . page 87 chap. 86. 〈◊〉 venerals . page 101 chap. 87. of healthful causes of the instrumental parts . page 103 chap. 88. of solution of continuity . page 105 chap. 89. of the common intention of cure . page 106 chap. 90. the cure of solution of continuity in a fleshy part . page 108 chap. 91. of solution of continuty in a bone . page 110 chap. 92. of pricking of a nerve or tendon . page 111 chap. 93. of diseases according to formation . page 111 chap. 94. of obstructions . page 112 chap. 95. of roughness and smoothness . page 113 chap. 96. of diseases according to number . page 116 chap. 97. of diseases according to magnitude . page 117 chap. 98. of diseases according to scituation . page 118 chap. 99. of preservative causes . ibid chap. 100. of that part of the art which refresheth old age . page 119 finis . some kindling sparks in matters of physick to satisfie some physicians who are of opinion that spirits (which they call hot things) do burn and inflame the body / written formerly to a friend by albertus otto faber. faber, albert otto, 1612-1684. 1668 approx. 18 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a41127 wing f70 estc r37760 17012978 ocm 17012978 105777 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41127) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 105777) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1615:4) some kindling sparks in matters of physick to satisfie some physicians who are of opinion that spirits (which they call hot things) do burn and inflame the body / written formerly to a friend by albertus otto faber. faber, albert otto, 1612-1684. 8 p. [s.n.], london printed : 1668. imperfect: stained, with slight loss of print. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-01 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2007-01 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion some kindling sparks in matters of physick , to satisfie some physicians , who are of opinion , that spirits ( which they call hot things ) do burn and inflame the body . written formerly to a friend , by albertus otto faber . london , printed in the year , 1668. to the reader . thou shalt not read here any great matter , for there are but toucht two or three strings of a well tuned instrument , that gives more sound then harmony , yet enough , to judge , whether the sound be good . we expect a fundamental reformation in this matter , as well as in other things : for when the season is at its birth , it will come , notwithstanding the weak contrivances and oppositions of men . nature her self is weary with furnishing her matter to such as are ignorant of its use , according to her intentions : for though she cries , trace me , trace me , yet men are deaf ( and self-endedness cannot see the sun it self ) although she gives here and there light evident enough . therefore at last she will arise and dash gainsaiers to confusion . some kindling sparks in matters of physick . a physitian is to be considered in his place , as a minister to the life of man , as to the health of his body . there are therefore four things to be observed here , 1. life , 2. health , 3. body , 4. man. 1. what life is . note , that a body without life is cold , hard and stiff , that is , dead : but when it is alive , it is warm , soft and nimble . as for instance , the earth , which is the great world , in winter is cold , hard and frozen , that is , dead : but when , in the spring , the sun enlivens it , then it revives , becoming warm , and yeelding a living motion of vegitation . so also man , who is accounted the little world , or microcosm , when dead , his corps is cold , hard and stiff , because it is deprived of life : but when life springs up therein , then he quickens and grows warm , giving in all actions and doings evidence of life . therefore , like as the sun that revives the macracosm ( or the earth ) and warms it , is a heavenly fire , known by his effects : so the life of man is a microcosmical sun , viz. a subcoelestial fire , reviving , warming and moving his body , to the end he may be enlightned . 2. health , is a cumulative influence of well-being , proceeding from life , throughout the body . by the word cumulative is to be understood a mutual concurrence of life and health in part of the body , in so much that life and health can never subsist separately , no more than the sun-shine can subsist without the sun it self ; and the sun cannot be without his shining or light : as for example , when a man is wounded in his foot , then health being disordered , life is also weakned . 3. the body is the vessel of life and health , so exactly fitted and proportioned ( as a watch ) that the least atome crossing its structure , is able to bring both life and health into a confusion , yea to total ruine . 4. man is ( as to his material form ) a compound of life and body , which being well or ill influenced , is healthful or sickly . so having declared , that a physician is a minister to the life of man ( as to the health of his body ) it appears plainly , whether unto the life , health or body , he ought to make his applications , when man is at a loss . as to the body ; if we consider it either as it was in the beginning , before it received life by divine inspiration , or as it is after the life has left it : and the applications of a physician thereon were attempted , they would be as ridiculous as fruitless ; no less than if they were applyed to an image of wood , brass or iron . as to the health ( the thing in question ) which is lost and absent , there can be made no application ; as for instance , when a husbandman has intrusted a shepherd with a flock of sheep , and one of them is gone astray , he for the recovering the lost sheep doth not apply himself to the sheep lost and absent , which to the flock is as in a state of privation , but to the shepherd , to demand it at his hands . to the life therefore , as to the shepherd of health , a true physitian , makes his applications for its recovery , which is in statu privationis . now the life being a fiery principle of man ( as before is demonstrated ) which enlighteneth the body , and makes it active , we must know , when such a principle becomes defective , weak and helpless , with what kind of things to supply the same , which supplies are called medicines , wherein lies the skill of a physician . but that being of a large consideration , for want of the adeptive science , which might shorten all those many particular preparations ; i shall at present speak only something in general . and first of all , to conform my expressions to the mean apprehensions of the unlearned , note this instance ; that when thou intendest to kindle a fire , thou dost not pour water upon it , but something of its nature , viz. some sparks of its kind ; that is , fire must be kindled with fire , and not with water . and likewise , if a fire be kindled and grows weak , thou usest the same means to encrease it , as thou didst to kindle it , or something homogeneous to it , viz. by putting fewel , as wood , coals , oyl , &c. to it , to strengthen , feed , and relieve it : but if thou puts thereto water , stones and such like , thou wouldst sooner quench , then restore thy fire . hence the maxime is to be understood : we are nourished with that , of which we are made . the heaven , the world ( or earth ) and man correspond mutually together . the sun ( taken as ) the life of the heaven , shining into the water , reflects its own image , as in a looking-glass , it doth the like on the earth , which being not diaphanous , makes it not appear , as the water doth . yet the earth , being the mother of corporification , the influences from above , keeps the said image closer , and makes it substantial , appearing in a body , as being the earthly sun , and it is called gold. in like manner the body of man , being so far prepared in the womb , that it is capable of life , then by the all-overpowring sun ( in a moment , as brimstone or spirit of wine ) it conceives fire , viz the image of the said sun , and makes it substantial to its nature , which then is called life , he thus being lampas vitae . hence this maxime , sol & homo generent hominem . thus even as the heaven , the earth and man : so the sun , gold and life are knit together by influence , which may be sensibly perceived , when there happens , either almost , or a total eclipse of the sun , and many find themselves breathless , through the obstruction of the sun's influence . the life of man therefore being either weak or otherwise defective , its proper remedy would be gold , as to relieve fire with fire : but as is abovesaid , it cannot easily be dealt withall , and must be laid aside for the adepti . so there remains nothing , but wood , coals , or the like combustible matter , which however they are in some measure homogeneal to life , yet without a preparation , in the best manner , are hardly fit to kindle or nourish life , in order to consume or expel diseases from the body . but when they are duly prepared , their effects will be the better and more evident : as for instance ; when it happens that any body is taken with a sudden fright , his life becomes weak , which may cause him to swoon away ; then if the life be furnished with something of its nature , that is , with a fiery medicine , well prepared ( as may be a good aqua vitae , or the like ) he will recover instantly , and what quantity then he doth drink , it will not intoxicate him , but it repaireth presently into the chief residence of life , to assist and go along with it . the same may be seen in any man , tyred out , for when he drinks a good draught of aqua vitae , he gathereth strength again presently ; and therefore it is ignorantly spoken , that it would burn a man , because fire cannot burn fire ; but fire is refreshed by fire , and they increase one another , rejoycing mutually , as being of one nature . but water and cold things will quench it , because they have no unity with fire , nay they are death to the fire . therefore the more any medicine partakes of fiery qualities , the more it is of the nature of life , and can strengthen it the better , to expel the disease , and settle it again in its own seat . the scripture saith , that the life of the body is in its blood ; and whoever will try this , must anotomize it with fire , which will manifest a most fiery spirit , or volatile salt. this spirit doubtless is ( in the blood ) the residence of the life , or at least its food ; as wood for fire . now observe , the better every norishment is prepared , the fitter it is for digestion ; as , raw flesh would not agree with the stomack of a man , but when it is rosted or boyled tender , it is of an easie digestion : so vulgar medicines rawly and roughly wrought and compounded , would hardly be so acceptable or welcome , as when they are brought to a more spiritual substance , by the spagirical anotomy of the fire , coming nearer to the nature of life : for the panting life ( in reference to its weakness ) greedily sucks such a medicine , even as the load-stone attracts iron to its self : and being thereby relieved and refreshed , drives the disease out of the body , and repaireth to its place . and such a medicine may justly be called a cordial , as refreshing the spirit of life , which is no such pottage , as being well sweetened with sugar , is termed a cordial , yet void of admittance into the society of life , to corroborate the swouning spirits , as being most commonly heterogeneal to them . what kind of medicines then are the best next to that , that could be wished for out of gold ? note , that i have said , 1. that the blood is the seat of life . 2. that the application ought to be made to the life . 3. that the blood contains a most fiery spirit and a volatile salt : and 4. that the food of life is that most fiery spirit and volatile salt. according to these principles , experience hath taught , that whatsoever has been done worthy of note , has been effected either by fiery spirits or volatile salts , as being ready to joyn presently with the food of life , against the distempers ; and to get victory , if the patient be not past cure . all created sublunary things , are divided into animals , vegetables and minerals . and we find that the first yeelds a fiery spirit and volatile . salt , as well in the urine , as in the flesh and blood , both of an excellent fiery quality and eminently medicinal . in the vegetables we find nothing more effectual than their spirits , as well their essential and volatile salts ; and especially when their alcaliis may be disclosed or extracted , and brought unto that prerogative of volatility . in the minerals we find the sulphurs of minerals and mettals , after they are separated ( by fire ) from the crude malignant mercuriality , who being then harmless , are called tinctures . now these sulphurous tinctures , spirits and salts do all partake of the fiery quality , and are apt therefore to joyn with the life , which is fire , against the distemper , and root it out of the body . therefore let no body henceforth be so ignorant as to say , that a phisitian , making use of those excellent medicines , doth burn the patient : when in the mean time others go about , to feed the fire of life with water , or rather to quench it totally . object . but what shall we do , when a patient lies in a great burning heat , shall we then put fire to fire ? answ . this is indeed the only thing that has hitherto deceived many physitians , to avoid hot things ( as they call them ) to be administred to such as lie in a hot burning fit . therefore remember what i have said of the life , as being caelestial fire and light , most natural to the body , without which the body is cold , dark and dead . to this take notice of this instance , viz. that when iron , or the like , is put into aquafortis , though it feeleth coldish , yet presently it grows hot and boyls without fire , in so much , that a man with his bare hand cannot hold the vessel that contains it . this burning heat , seems unto man to arise from the violent action of the aquafortish spirit upon the iron , which the eye may easily disern . suppose thou wouldst quench this hot burning fire , by pouring much cold water upon it , as a thing contrary to the fire ; though that boyling may seem to cease , and be as it were quenched , yet in effect it will prove the same , because it will consume the iron one way as well as the other way , however more slowly and insensibly , when water is poured upon it . therefore to put cold things to this fire , is not the way to quench it : but wilt thou do right , then give to the spirit to eat or devour salt ; thus he shall lose his strength , be broken and leave boyling with consuming . here appears , that the salt is not a cold thing , yet able , to make peace betwixt hot things , viz. the aquafortis and the iron . in like manner , when such a burning heat rises in a sick body , it rises from a parallel action betwixt two things , working upon one another . and therefore make thy applications not with cold things immediately to the hot burning , which is nothing material , but only an accidental quality or symptome flowing from the action of these two fighting things aforesaid upon the body : but make thy applications to either of them two , and break its strength , then presently the heat will cease ; and this may be done with hot things ( so called ) as well as any other may think to do it with cold ones , which the salia before declared of ( although being in their center a meer fire ) will experience and make true , in so much , that by the application of them , the said burning will not only be quenched , but the spirit of life mightily strengthened also , and thereby enabled to overpower its enemies , who endeavour to quarter in its strong-hold . the body of man is filled every where with volatile salt , nay it is but little else than a volatile salt throughout , save the contents of the stomach and its government , whose fermental moisture is acid , parallel to vinegar , spirit of sulphur , or the like acid liquors . but acid liquors , and volatile salts are enemies , fighting together , to over-power one another . hence , when perhaps something acid falls beyond the said government of the stomach , then presently rises a fight between the said acid and volatile salt , in the region of the blood , where the said acid is a stranger , falling as a pirate into the native countrey of the volatile salt , whose dominion is in the blood : of which fight , flows ( as it were ) an hot invisible vapour ( like unto the radiant shining of the sun ) throughout the body , and makes the physician believe that it is the distemper it self , when in the mean while the very root of the distemper is hidden from his eyes . therefore he goes on to quench that burning heat with cold things ( so called ) by which only he weakeneth the natural fire of life , and for the expectation of having quenched the said burning heat , he has given to that strange pirate a large compass to waste insensibly the garrison of the blood , viz. the volatile salt in it ; and so being deceived himself , he deceiveth his patient also , not of set-purpose , but being not perswaded otherwise , and therefore worthy of compassion . when one takes cochinele ( which is like meerly coagulated blood ) and dissolveth it in water , then poureth aquafortis thereupon , there will presently appear an action betwixt the said cochinele and the aquafortis : which may serve for an instance , whereby the eye of man may discern , as it were demonstratively , what it effects when such an acid guest draweth into the blood. thus i have somewhat answered to that vulgar objection , which might have been move enlarged if my intention had been bent to that purpose ; yet it may suffice to such as can kindle a fire , although having nothing else but this tinder spark . london the 9th of january , 1664 / 5. alb. o. faber . under god; humbly desiring his blessing to this famous and wonderful never-failing cordial drink of the world, the great preserver of mankind. a secret far beyond any thing yet known to the world. / never published by any but by me thomas hinde g. in london, most approved and admirable for its excellent vertues and uses· to be satisfied of the truth, pray read this preface. hinde, thomas, fl. 1673. 1673 approx. 16 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). b06922 interim tract supplement guide c.161.f.2[46] 99887627 ocm99887627 182437 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. b06922) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 182437) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books; tract supplement ; a3:5[48]) under god; humbly desiring his blessing to this famous and wonderful never-failing cordial drink of the world, the great preserver of mankind. a secret far beyond any thing yet known to the world. / never published by any but by me thomas hinde g. in london, most approved and admirable for its excellent vertues and uses· to be satisfied of the truth, pray read this preface. hinde, thomas, fl. 1673. 1 sheet ([1] p.). printed for the author, with allowance, london, : 1678. l copy at c.161.f.2(46), mutilated, affecting text; ms. on verso. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine, popular -early works to 1800. 2008-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-12 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2009-01 megan marion sampled and proofread 2009-01 megan marion text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion under god ; humbly desiring his blessing to this famous and wonderful never-failing cordial drink of the world , the great preserver of mankind . a secret far beyond any thing yet known to the world . never published by any but by me thomas hinde g. in london , most approved and admirable for its excellent vertues and uses . to be satisfied of the truth , pray read this preface . this is to give notice to all persons , that they may not be deceived by the bold and injurious abuses of several pretenders , started up of late , ( since the publishing of my bills ) which doth now most falsly lay claim to the practice of this my never-failing-cordial : and to prevent further fraud of these several counterfeits ; i have with full power ordered and confirmed my eldest brother mr. john hinde to be my successor , and the faithful true preparer of my cordial as my own self ; and to dispose and put to sale my cordial as he shall approve and see fit , ( and for the general benefit of all ) he doth sell it at his own house , as at the end of my bills will fully direct you , and the price of each bottle ; ( and is sold no where else in york . ) ☞ and that you may know ( that i thomas hinde am the true author ) i would fain know of these three new upstarts , [ if they would be the true authors ] where were they , their books or bills of the gout , and other distempers , before i published mine ? * but that they cannot produce , &c. therefore , i have , for prevention of all pretenders and counterfeits , set my seal on my bottles , being the wounded hinde with t. h. incompassed in a lawrel , that none may be deceived by taking the wounded hinde with s. w. incompassed in a lawrel , ( which i declare to be none of mine ) but a new upstart , as the other pretenders mentioned in my directions : therefore look well to the seal on my bottles ; for the counterfeiting of it is daily attempted to the displeasure of many that has been deceived , and brought into great danger thereby . and though my bills and directions are now counterfeited , and set forth in books and bills to deceive the people ; yet notwithstanding , if they have it at my trusty friend mr. john hindes house , they * cannot be deceived . but of late one boldly takes upon him to make use of my cures in the words of my bills and directions , and sets them forth in his own name , and wilely under the notion of the people , and injurious abuse of my name , so disgorge inveterately his designed malice , spight and envy , with close and great deceit against my successful proceedings , and great cures attested by the people , and not only so , but willfully inventeth what he will , and useth endeavors to defame me too , and this to draw his purpose about , by amusing the people , to bring a reputation on his liquor , by maligning of my never failing-cordial , which is above the malice of a libeller , where i am known , and where i am not , let my cordial plead for it self and me , — against such known new upstarts , that would , if possible , assume the body of the dead . ** as for his near driven shift , with hardy brazen brow , to say most impudently that he taught me , and that my cordial which i sold in the country , i bought it of him , &c. ( ☞ can be proved notorious false ) for it is impossible that such an illiterate fellow could teach that [ which himself never knew ] or sell me that , which he could never make , or i to justifie his false transactions , that has filched the very words of my cures out of my bills and directions , and falsly sets them down , as his ( own ) &c. — and thus he has posted himself as a mark , that all that runs may read a libeller ( a fellow of no value ) not worth the answering , for he finding his forgeries not at all credited , has bodly presumed to print them with allowance ( which is since proved false to his face ) so 't is like he may hire vouchers to swear he is the man right or wrong , as well as impudence , to imploy such desperate hectors of the quill , as value not to stab any mans reputation for half a crown . my laborious travels in divers forraign countries , and great pains above twenty years is truly well known , and how curiously inquisitive i was in the great concernment of health , as now effectually appeareth , &c. but these jugling impostors doth falaciously pretend , by setting forth a book ●alled elixir salutis , the choice drink of health , or health-bringing drink : ) under the color of my cordial , * which was never heard or known of before , ( till several years after i published my bills 〈◊〉 now they do most audaciously aver , to be the true authors of my cordial , ( but it is all in vain ) for the thing like the thing , is not the thing it self , to work the effect intended , &c. for my cordial , through the blessing 〈…〉 doth powerfully prevail to effect the cures my bills mention , * as doth daily appear by the peoples experience ; — therefore i shall not observe the barking of those that hireth others for gain , to say they are c 〈◊〉 of such and such distempers , &c. as some mercenary persons , by their jugling counterfeits , hath presumed by their subtilty to beguile many ) this cordial is so agreeable to nature , that it performs all its operations as nature would have it , as if she had fitted to her self , or found out mediums to reduce all her extreams to an equall temper ; it being fitted to all humors , ages , complexions , sexes , and constitutions . for if any noxious humor offend the noble parts , this great preserver will so highly fortifie nature , that it will not admit any enemy to enter ; and he or she that keeps this inestimable jewel by them , may bid farewel to former ways they used , and will save them that great expence of charge . this great preserver , or never-failing-cordial doth cure the gout , for it stifles it in its birth , as true experience hath found : extracting out of all parts of the body , those crude and viscous humors , which are the spawn and nourisher of it , and doth free the joints of all other diseases , to admiration . dissolving the stone and gravel ; a better remedy cannot be , for when it 's congealed , it brings away the sand and gravel soft as butter or fine flower under your finger ; and not only so , but doth destroy the original cause : it never faileth to cure the gravel in the reins and kidneys ulcerated , that sendeth forth water like blood , and * wonderfully cleanseth the reins of all foulness and imperfections , and forceth urine . it restoreth all languishing natures , and melancholy drooping spirits , curing the hypocondriack melancholy ; and do●● most powerfully oppose all black and mixed humors , as the grand enemy to nature : for it is continually drawing them out of the veins and arteries into the stomack , and from thence sendeth them away , ( after that ) nature rejoyceth . it pursueth the surfeits from place to place ; and though the body be swelled up , in two or three days time it will raise them out of their beds , and set them on their feet again : it taketh away the scurvy out of the body root and branch ; and the dropsie to admiration , and all other distempers that join with it . this is an excellent cordial for those that dwells near the sea-side , or goes long voyages : neither sun , nor frost , can hurt it , for it will keep good several years . it taketh away the head ach , dizziness , and swimming in the head , or megrim ; convulsion-fits in the head , swooning away in their night-sleep , though afflicted for many years . it helpeth bad digestion , pain , or any stoppage of the stomach , and shortness of breath : it causeth a good appetite , and defendeth the head from all vapors which ascend from the mother and spleen ; and is a most certain remedy against the cholick , or any griping of the guts , and stayeth vomiting . it taketh away all pains from the heart , and perfectly cureth those that are stopt with flegm● as choaked , and stifled in their sleep for want of breath . it giveth ease to antient people of the tissick , but cureth those that are not too far gone . this harmless and pleasant cordial is so great a friend to all women kind , that they cannot have a richer jewel bestowed upon them , as relating to their health , than this ; that will not fail to clear them from obstructions , sitting and inabling them for conception , and after delivery or miscarriage , though in danger of death , it is an effectual remedy . it doth cure the green-sickness of all sorts in a little time : * this is that which will not fail but bring them to a virgin-blush , upholding nature in her strength and vigor , making the visage well colored , the breath sweet , the body lusty . and those that doth visit the spaw for their recreation in the summer season , let them be sure to prepare their bodies with this cordial according to the directions , and it will clear the passages , and carry off the malignant crudities . the like they must do when they go home , to clear their bodies of that which may be left behind . it doth free the liver and spleen of all obstructions , and so by that means helpeth the fits of the mother and spleen ; it is good for nurses which give suck , for it will cleanse their blood , and cause good and wholesome milk ; it cures the rickets in children , by opening the obstruction , and many other scurvy diseases . it bursteth , and perfectly destroyeth worms in those that are of years , and almost over-gone with them , bringing away the skins of half a yard , and near a yard long , as hath been proved . it helpeth sore and rheumy eyes , it stays all rheums that fall from the head upon the lungs : it perfectly easeth all coughs , colds , and wheesings , and cures consumptions if not far gone , and likewise the yellow jaundies . it keepeth a clear passage between the head and heart , * and will not admit of any noxious humors to annoy the noble parts : it will keep off those frightful fears and griefs from their violent seizing on the heart , enabling a weak person to make wonderful resistance , by taking away the sharp humors , which they may see come away : a happy riddance . it takes away the extream burnings in the bottomes of the feet , and palms of the hands , which so sore afflict the heart : those that are too hot , it cooleth ; and in them that are too cold , it increaseth heat and strength , by taking away the cause , as the direction at large do shew . to conclude , it highly exalts the generative virtue , restoreth radical moisture , * cleanseth and strengthneth the vessels in both sexes . i need not name particulars . for , in a word , it 's that which stifles most diseases in their birth , or kills them in their strength , keeping all sexes in their pristine health ; who will admire the effects , and confess it to be a rich treasure in time of need , which will not fail them ( under god ; ) for it doth most * wonderfully purifie the whole body of man , so that few diseases , ( gods appointed time being not come ) is able to withstand it : for most distempe●● are subject to its innocent and wonderful operation . did the world but know it , * they would highly esteem it a speedy friend to health , truly deserving the due praise of all men. and ( through the goodness of god ) by long travelling , i purchased with a great sum this pearl , and inestimable iewel , ( as i did many ) but this is the best that ever i heard of among them all . and through the earnest defire of many that have importuned with me so far , for to publish it , ( though i need it not for gain : ) for i have a competent estate otherways to live on , without the practice of this . but out of an hearty design of promoting the health and common good of all. who may and would be helped , i have set forth this , to inform the wonderful effects that have been wrought by this cordial spirit , and abundantly testified at large by many , which this bill cannot contain , to give all sorts of persons full satisfaction of its innocent and wonderful operation in the whole body of man ; but for brevity sake i have here omitted . ☞ and ( to satisfie the curiosity of some ) i do faithfully promise all persons , that my cordial is not made by any chymical preparations ; neither is it offensive to nature , as some doth boldly affirm , to hold up their particular interest , &c. — but this my cordial is so safe , and so truly prepared , and does taste so pleasant , * that the least child may take it , sick or well , winter or summer . i have inserted nothing but what my cordial will not fail to cure , as experience hath found upon men , women , and children , and doth find true to the end. and to prevent all doubts , that you may be certain and fully assured never to be deceived by any dangerous counterfeits , i have with full power ordered and confirmed my eldest brother mr. john hinde to be my successor , and the faithful true preparer of my cordial as my own self , and to dispose and put to sale my cordial to whom he shall approve and see fit . for he was the very first that ever sold it , from the very first time that ever it was made , for he and i only knew , &c. and after that , the jugling deceivers crept in . but to prevent the prejudice of many poor creatures languishing under grievous distempers , that they may not be brought into great dangers by unknown cheating trash , as hath been affirmed to me by several persons . and with prodigious impious impudence , doth not only counterfeit my bills and directions in print , but the seal on my bottles too , therefore to prevent the great deceit of such notorious counterfeits . * i do assure the world , that thomas hindes famous and never-failing-cordial faithfully prepared , is no where else to be had , but at mr. john hindes house on the pavement , at the sign of the hand and pen , and no where else in york , at six shillings the pint bottle , and three shillings the half pint bottle . and if you have it at the abovesaid house , you cannot be mistaken , but may be assured it is right , and at all times shall have it as pure and good as out of my own hands . with directions at large in print for the use of it , and for the conveniency of all to save charges , and bid farewel to their former ways for ever . a happy riddance , and a blessed remedy . soli deo gloria . london , printed for the author , with allowance , 1678. matæotechnia medicinæ praxeōs, the vanity of the craft of physick, or, a new dispensatory wherein is dissected the errors, ignorance, impostures and supinities of the schools in their main pillars of purges, blood-letting, fontanels or issues, and diet, &c., and the particular medicines of the shops : with an humble motion for the reformation of the universities and the whole landscap [sic] of physick, and discovering the terra incognita of chymistrie : to the parliament of england / by noah biggs ... biggs, noah. 1651 approx. 523 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 134 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28142 wing b2888a estc r20474 12402791 ocm 12402791 61316 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28142) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 61316) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 270:11) matæotechnia medicinæ praxeōs, the vanity of the craft of physick, or, a new dispensatory wherein is dissected the errors, ignorance, impostures and supinities of the schools in their main pillars of purges, blood-letting, fontanels or issues, and diet, &c., and the particular medicines of the shops : with an humble motion for the reformation of the universities and the whole landscap [sic] of physick, and discovering the terra incognita of chymistrie : to the parliament of england / by noah biggs ... biggs, noah. [32], 232 p. printed for edward blackmore ..., london : 1651. reproduction of original in bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 pip willcox sampled and proofread 2007-05 pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion mataeotechnia medicinae praxews . the vanity of the craft of physick . or , a new dispensatory . wherein is dissected the errors , ignorance , impostures and supinities of the schools , in their main pillars of purges , blood-letting , fontanels or issues , and diet , &c. and the particular medicines of the shops . with an humble motion for the reformation of the universities , and the whole landscap of physick , and discovering the terra incognita of chymistrie . to the parliament of england . by noah biggs , chymiatrophilos . pauca vigent hodie prisci vestigia veri . vae his qui nesciunt experiri nisi in hominibus . rog. bacon . dii vendunt sudoribus , non lectionibus solis , artes. london , printed for edward blackmore , at the signe of the angel in paul's church-yard 1651. to the parliament . the report that i received from the sound of your own act , parlament of england , of the high pitch of noble enterprizes , and undaunted courage and resolution , your vast and renowned genius , moved by a lusty wheel , bear'd ye to make us a commonwealth ; and that both in the right constitution , and in the right reformation of a real commonwealth , the things that i now move for , did call for speedie redress ; and considering your active endeavours in seeking to wipe off the imputation of intending to discourage the progress of true learning ; and now taking notice ( then which was nothing more ) that that gallant and victorious commander , the lord general cromwel , desires in his late letter to your selves , noble senators , as a signal and acknowledgement of thankfulness to god for the late victory over the scot , that ye would reform the abuses of all professions ; your actions also manifestly tending to exalt the truth , and to depress the tyranny of error and ill customes , both religious and civil ; whereof to this day ye have done well , whereof not to repent , were the cardinal motives that induc'd me to present your worthy notice with a discourse , conscious to it self of nothing more than of diligence , and firm affection to the publick good . and that ye would take it so , as wise and impartial men , obtaining through the good hand of god so great power & dignity , are wont to accept in matters both doubtful and important what they think offer'd them well meant , and from a rational ability , i had no less then to perswade me . by the same nourishment then , by which they first took life , i seek to preserve them , from which sea this rivulet took its rise ; on the swinge and rapt of which most potext alliciences , i dare to expose as freely what fraughtage i conceive to bring of no trifles . and having had an experimentate opportunity to know , that the publike head hath alwaies an ear open , and stands ready to salute and receive every glimpse and dawning of knowledge , or at least cherish those that do so , and looks every ingenuous head should strike and vail , and commands the best of every mans thoughts ; what can be expected but that i should dedicate ▪ not according to the swelling epidemick custom , though not the punctilio's , yet the puncta's , the full points , and marginal hands in the folio of my burthen'd thoughts ? dedications ▪ i confess , though of themselves they be of little worth , and by me esteemd light and vain , as being the adulatory prodromes for a mendicant assistance of a shoulder , or serene brow to the ensuing ma●ter , yet they have that command in the respects of 〈◊〉 by reason of that which they use to signifie , by reason of their impression , that like brass farthings , the stamp of the royal arms and crown makes them go the curranter , though the matter a●baseth them ; that some whose mindes are below the performance of nobler endowments , that look no further then bark and out-side , do seek reputation by the patronage of a great personage ; yet in things of so high a nature , and general concernment , as the redress of old neglected grievances and customs , never enough to be lamented ; yea , the reformation of the body of a whole art that has layn long eclips'd and deformed , so worthily and so nearly concerning your knowledge , i fear to be so unnaturally cruel to my own reputation , and the minerva of my labours , as to neglect the tenders of my endeavours to your high notice . t is true , i have long travel'd with a desire humbly to remonstrate to you vvorthies in parliament , but have had all along the unhappy indisposition from various affected thoughts , to fear to disturb and call you from your emergent occasions , the capitall remora that i have not adventured to l●nch forth : but considering that publick actions are commonly uncertain , which do put on several countenances according to the variety of occasions ; and considering that it is alwaies a feasible opportunity , and no time lost nor ill spent in assuming th●se thoughts in the midst of your most urgent dangers , to lay a model and draw the lines of happiness and security for all posterity ; and seeing that without presumption , i may confidently believe the contents considered , shall not want the iust length of your , either ●ars , or faith ; nor have i whither to appeal , but to the concourse of so much piety , wisdom , learning and prudence housed in this place ; or who more concern'd in it , and so much the more to be urg'd then the healths of such as you who sit at the helm , on whom , as on our deliverers , all our grievances and cures by the merit of your eminence and fortitude are devolv'd ? or to whom could i better declare the loyalty which i ow to that supreme and majestick tribunal , and the opinion which i have of the high entrusted judgement , and personal worth assembled in that place , then to your own selves ? he whose civil and serious accomplishments and desires has led him forth to await to obtain any thing from the publick , it is not enough to be so penurious to blurt out an occasional word of it in his dedication or preface of his book , not praying , or absolutely saying that he desires it and expects it ; nor giving them proofs not onely that he deserves it but that they ought for their own sakes and posterity to grant it , in regard they may expect great profit by it . for it is an error extremely disadvantagious to the enlargement of the empire of truth , and an error of weakness , rather than a becoming shamfac'dness and modesty , yea , a vitious humility , which will prove a kind of baseness and weakness , for a man to neglect his virgine thoughts , and the impetus of his sparklie inclinations , or withold through faintness his worthy requests , or conceal meridian-truths , which would so much conduce and disseminate to an universal benefit , under the covert and eclipse of a bashful silence : and if he know and well consider the gentleness and freeness of those to whom he addresses to hear reason speak , he hath no reason to be ashamed of any , unless they degenerate into irregularities , and exorbitancies , being such as he makes meerly for his own peculiar benefit , to those from whom in justice he ought not to exact any . that it is not thus with me ( honoured states ) in my harmless , innocent and humble requests , though otherwise according to your high exalted dignity and renowned merits variously asserted , let the series and purport of this discourse bear witness ; which , if necessity be not to pass unconsidered , and charity be not quite shut out of doors , cannot , at the threshold , be over-looked . charity therefore beggs , desire seeks , commiseration melts necessity requires the whole people of the earth ( chiefly heads of a larger siz●e than the vulgar ) emulously to contribute to this undertaking ( of which onely a hint shall yet be offered ) namely , to the reformation of the stupendious body of universal learning languages arts and sciences especially this of physick , as to the most important thing in the world , wherein they have all an equal interest . and i hope it may happily alight into the hands of some , who have both power and will to make this desire and expedient effectual . let not england forget her precedence of teaching other nations how to live ; let her have the honour and happiness , as in all great assertions and undertakings she has been , to be the leading card , and her first turn'd up practice , to be trumps to all the world ; for it seems as her alone charter before any other , that out of her should be proclaimed , and sounded forth the first tidings and trumpet of reformation to all europe . what was 't ye intended , vvorthies in parliament , by reformation ? was it the reformation of some roman prelatical abuses , and violences to religion , and the consciences of men ? was it the reformation of pluralities of benefices , ( when fellowships need as much ) the unfrocking of a priest and the paring of a presbyters mils ? or was it more general reformation ? that that shall deserve the name , and look like reformation ; as of things moral , oeconomical , and political ; and as of things for the health of the soul , so this of the body , except your heads be amus'd by same unexperienced dictator , frozen sadduces , or some others 〈◊〉 worse name , who are lethargically content to snore and please ●selves with the reverend nothings , follies , and dreams of 〈◊〉 forefathers , thou all is well enough : such being fit to be rank●● among these who say , that this of physick and health of the body , is the proper tendence and metropolitane work of school-doctors and the colledge . it 's true , though it may be answer'd , that the reformation in divine things , in religion , in worship , was the cardinal work of school-divines and ministers ; ( yet we are not of opinion that the tenth part of learning stood or fell with the clergie ) yet we see your selves , honoured patriots , gave heat , warmth , motion , and life to the same , or else , in humane reason , it might have prov'd abortive : they were the door to shew the way , but ye the hinges on which it turn'd : 't is not deny'd , but gladly confess'd , we have cause to send our thanks and vows to heaven louder then most of nations , for that great measure of reformation and truth which we enjoy : but he who thinks we are to pitch our te●ts here , and have attain'd the utmost prospect of reformation , that man , by this very opinion , declares himself to be far short of the banks of it , and of what the desires and thoughts of good and ingenuous men look for . let england then keep that honour which hitherto she hath had vouchsaf'd her from heaven , to be the cathedral to other nations , to be the fore-man to lend and give out reformation to the world , both in religion and arts : it is great pity she should now flag in the rere , and thereby have her metempseuchos'd genius transmigrate into another people , to carry away the garland of honour that for above a demi-myr●ad of yeers she has sat crowned with , and now become the latest and backwardest scholar , of whom god offered to have made her the teacher . 't is as true , renowned parliament , that through long custome radicated in the non-age of people , revolutions of ages do not oft recover the loss of a rejected truth , for the want of which whole nations fare the worse . that i therefore , among others , may pay the duty that is tributary to the frame and right constitution of that present government , under which we now have the leisure ( which god continue ) to revolve what may make it famous , and will tend to the weal of it , have not refused the pains to be so studious and diligent to shew some grievances and abuses in that science , a thorow reformation of which , i have laid out my best wishes and poor endeavours not to loose , for the want of a seasonable and well-grounded speaking . and , to exercise the natural endowment of your wonted gentle-brooking spirit , in acknowledging and hearkning to the voice of reason , from what quarter soever it be heard speaking , let me tell you , in that plainness , yet with that seriousness as becomes one speak●ng to so great and grave an assembly of censors and senators sitting in parliament , that the common allow'd plysick , which is at this present day prescribed and practised in this nation , the inventors of it , some of them , were such whom ye will be loth to own , and of whom one day , and perhaps not long , we shall be perfectly asham'd . as though our souls and heads were not our own ; as though there were no smith in england , but we must thus foot it over to the times of trajan , and city of p●rgamus ; to the romances and directories of such uncircumcised philistims , is such barbarism and rudeness to the lofty genius of this nation , worse then indian . that we should pin our faith and knowledge upon the cabin of an amen-corner , when the rialto , or palace royal of galenical physick , where they have crown'd him with the title of parent and monarch thereof , stands unhung with any experiment of real good , and devested of all real , solid and substantial vertue of medicine . certainly the father of lights hath given a divine and singular testimony of this gift of healing , that it is worth the laying to heart : that he which hath created all things , yet singularly glories to be the creator of the physitian ; and he to whom all glory and honour is due , hath yet commanded to be honoured onely our parents , and the physitian by him created . when i consider the slowe progress has been made in physicks , and how it hath stood at a stay for these many decads of yeers ; and been obscured and eclipsed , and see how other arts daily have sensible increases , and receive new additions , new light , and further perfections , ( as to the proportion of things as they now are ) and the healths and lives of you our governours considered also , and so much the more i press it , noble senators , could do no less then urge me to call to you , honour'd and memorable parliament , as to a hand to help , as to an arm to uphold , hold out , and give command to an undertaking of that lasting memory , that shall speak loud , and be a stately parliamentary monument of your magnanimous example to succeeding ages : and the annuary registers of after-times , shall insert it in their ephemeris , and in their catalogue of notable things ; and though not the dominical , yet is such capital letters , that they shall compute , and reckon , from suc● a time , so long . i know you know , that notwithstanding the man overtures that have been made , and stout lifts have been given towards this main designe , yet there are many things left to your hands to do ; and i wish it were in my power to shew , and your patience to hear them , or view them in their large particularities , which must be set down in a general draught onely . and a high enterprise ( worthy sirs ) a high enterprise it is , and a hard , and such as every seventh son of a seventh son does not venture on ; yet in the boldness of truth , i shall proceed fearless . wherein is our vniversities reformed , or what amendment of her fundamental constitutions ? how ill dispos'd are those few colledges in this land , that should be collateral or subservient to this designe ? or wherein do they contribute to the promotion or discovery of truth ? where have we professors and lectures of the three principal faculties , and how cold and lazily are they read , and carelesly followed ? where a serious disquisition of all the old tenents ? where have we any thing to do with mechanick chymistrie the handmaid of nature , that hath outstript the other sects of philosophy , by her multiplied real experiences ? where is there an examination and consecution of experiments ? encouragements to a new world of knowledge , promoting , compleating , and actuating some new inventions ? where have we constant reading upon either quick or dead anatomies , or an ocular demonstration of herbs ? where a review of the old experiments and traditions , and casting out the rubbish that has pestered the temple of knowledge ? how are mechanicks countenanced and encouraged , in the concrete , but not in the abstract , when the illiterate , rude , and the dregs of men , and but a farraginous syndrome of knaves and fools hudled together , their habilities not being tempered , nor consistent to enlarge the territories of truth and learning , whose unqualified intellectuals unable to rectifie the errours of their reason , cannot reach unto half the advantage of their knowledge , and are onely fit to maintain errour and their present practice , of which many of them can give no reason , and commonly but the apish prentices of some old dotard citizen , who have as much wit as their masters , and that , like knotty and crabbed blocks has been writhed into them , being tawed open by wedge after wedge , and know onely what has been hammered into them by ill methods and thumping tutors , are the onely white boyes , while the rare founders and inventors , whose labours have been salt unto them , who have spent much sweat and oil , or persons as well in every degree qualified and seasoned with sprightly industrious endowments , who carry mines and forges in their heads , and have a greater vivacity of more sublime and refined spirits , and understandings above theirs that taught them what they know , are dejected , as being disengaged from ingenious enquiries , and proofs of their towardly and man-like abilities and endowments , by a cold requital of their several redemptions of truth , and dismission of their intellectual and rational or mechanick manufactures , with censure and obloquie of singularities ; or a cold encouragement to perfect their begun idaea's into actual existence and real entities and substantialities . that this is not then ( honorable heroes ) the disburdening of a particular fancie , or the humorous complaint of one so addicted to the made of melancholy , as to render him distracted , testie , or troublesome , but the common grievance ( and i do but now make their suspirations articulate ) of all those who have prepared their mindes and studies , and took their flight above the lowe pitch of vulgarity , to advance truth in others , and from others to entertain it , thus much may evince and satisfie . and in their name i shall for neither friend nor foe conceal what the general murmure is , that truth , and the once-lovely body of learning , is become a deformed and ill-favoured medusa , with her tresses full of add●rs , and her limbs , like that of osiris king of argives mangled body , lies torn and scattered in as many pieces ; and that they are as hard to finde and re-unite as his was . that there is no publike encouragement given to the sad friends of learning , such as dare appear in a day of need , those gallant industries , imitating the careful search that isis made for her osiris violated form , that go up and down and endeavour to gather them up limb by limb as they can finde them , and as much as may be , re-compose them . this were the neer utter disheartning and discontentment , not of the mercenary crew of falfe pretenders to learning , but of the free and ingenuous sort of such as evidently were constellated to studie , and love vertue and learning for it self , not for lucre , or any other end , but the service of truth and their country , if they were not really prejudg'd and possest , and easily assured of your gallant intentions and enterprises , with your active endeavours in seeking to wipe off the imputation of intending to discourage the progress and advance of learning , and to confute all the scandals of your deadly adversaries , who have been stout subjects to the anarchy of detraction , and have took all liberty to speak you worse then goths and vandals , and the utter destroyers of all civility and literature , by the serious composing your selves to the designe of cherishing of either . and when we make reflection back of what great things you have done for us , equal to what hath been done in any nation , either stoutly or fortunately , and what steps you have made forward in this great designe , we are led to believe a gallant progress you will make , and bring us back from that great distance we have run in a line from the first point of errour , to almost its largest latitude and dissomination from the aequator of truth , into the true caus-way , and unto our journies end . now , how this may be effected , i have neither vanity nor impudence enough to direct you . but he whose heart can bear him to the high pitch of your noble enterprises , it cannot but tell him that the power which he addresses himself unto , cannot not onely do it in a better manner then he can think of , but in a fuller ; and may easily assure himself that the prudence and laudable far-judging industrious diligence of so grave a magistracie sitting in parliament , who have before their eyes the ruines of learning , and cannot be insensible of the cruelties and unsuccesfulness of the medical profession , on● main limb of vniversal learning , cannot reject the cleanness of these reasons , and these allegations both here and within offer'd them , nor can overlook the necessity that there is of reforming this piece of knowledge , and studying more probable means , and finding out more whole , some , expert , and rational ways of healing . conceive it , i pray , worth your patience and notice to consider , that those arts we speak of , are theotechnal , the arts of god , or the handy-works of that protoplast , in his counter-type , or second , nature : not those petty rattles or ●up●etri●● , nor th●se laborious industrious trifles proceeding from the ar●s publikely professed , and to the disadvantage of truth allowed , whose effects are false , and fit for nothing but corrupt and violent ends , or to be quacked forth in bartholmew-fayr , among the numerou●●●y of those serious bables , the spawn of the head or hand , which are no subjects to the prudent scepter of nature , nor of her fundamentals , or the retinue to her commonwealth , but onely the wilde , violent , irregular productions of the anarchy of fancie . give me leave to tell you , and i will henceforth labour to obtain to have it believed , that the art which in the simplicity of nature god has revealed , is true and natural , truely physical , nature's autergie , not a whit belowe her self , though they seem never so mean , by the which we may attain to all the secrets and mysteries in nature . and this is the art , the centre of the physicks of the ancient philosophers ; because natural philosophy is the basis or main fundamental of medicine : for where philosophy ends , there medicine is to be enterprised , whence it 's clear , that such as is the insight of a physitian into natural things , ( namely , whether it be superficial , or profound ) such also will his perfection be in medicine . for he who is ignorant of the mystical arcana's of physicks , of necessity it will follow , that the more occult secrets of medicine shall be hid from his eyes . this is not in the spurious productions , and colossian library of galen , that god should turn it over to him and the apothecaries . insecta ex putredine galeni . it 's a base unworthy , and terrible thing truely , to prefer aristotle to emepht , and condemn the truth of god , to justifie the opinions and traditions of man. this is an humour that runs not in their euphrates , and they are wholly unacquainted with any of its tackling . their writings are so superficial , and so remote and alien from the centre , and true marrow of this science , that the mysteries and secrets of physicks being omitted , or by ignorance neglected , we catch at onely painted butter-flyes , and speculate not the magnesia or substantiality of physicks , but rather its vmbrage ; not the body , but the bark , and superficial outside . 't is not rare , but very frequent with them , ( and surely they are taught from their own experimental unsuccessfulness ) to admire , and mouth out the supposed perfection of their art ; and yet they have nothing in their mouthes but ars longa , vita brevis ; and true enough : for they cure either late , or never , which makes their art long : but they kill quickly , which makes life short ; and so plowing with their heifer , the riddle is expounded . a sect there are of people in this nation , who make a great famous buz of the spirit , but it is but like some dor ; who say , they see god in all and every thing . i wish it were true ; but let me deal plainly , an evil spirit is gone out , to seduce them to lye unto themselves , and to the truth of god. for those things they see , hear , taste , and handle , they know not what they are , neither without nor within themselves . he is too inward in the private cells and recesses of his creatures for their shallow and unhallowed eyes to penetrate ; and none of them all can see him without fire , not the chymists kitchin-fire , but the true philosophical fire , or that which freely encompasseth all , and makes but one bare individuall . there 's none sees him , but he who as if he were looking stedfastly on him when he was about his hebdomadal work of the hexameron fabrick , can face him in his several operations and productions . and if yonder sun ride sure , so shall he know all things that art and nature can tutor him in . the god of all grace and good gifts grant then , that we may seriously compose our selves to apply to the declarations of himself in his works of the creation , and lead me by the hand to receive truth from himself , and give it out to others . what i have to offer then , must be but short , ( and like a mercury , onely point ) yet to the purpose , because i have but something to say . be pleased therefore not onely to make some steps forward , wherin ye do well , but a sound progress in setting upon the effectual advancement , not the bare permissive propagation of learning , and to that end to promote an academy of philosophick freedom , to call together the wise counsels of prudent and well-instructed men , of what liberal profession soever , of eminent spirit and breeding , joyn'd with a diffusive and various knowledge of divine and humane things , able to balance , and deputed to define good and evil , right and wrong , that they may make it their designe , and joyn their counsels , and lay out their endeavours to work off the inveterate blots and obscurities wrought upon our mindes , and brought upon the literary republike of vniversal learning , languages , arts and sciences , by the subtil insinuating of errour and custom . secondly , that you would call forth some , and enable them with authority to see the vniversities reformed and laboriously rummig'd in her stupendious bulk of learning , that so the great ocean of vniversal knowledge flowing from those two promontories , may run pure and fair in this nation ; and that they may be reduced to their primitive constitution , and serve to a nobler end then to water and nurture the young nursery of green sprigs onely , but the oaks also , and well-accomplished subjects of the commonwealth of literature : that so our youth may not be train'd up , or instructed , nor receive in their pupillage the seeds of errour , and the destruction of men . for so long as they are tutor'd in those untrue notions , and corrupt elements , doctrines , opinions , and principles of naturalities , and that of pagans and infidels too , till the body of physick be changed and reformed , there 's little hopes that a better sanation of diseases , or a melioration of the languid condition of men and women will follow , then what has been hitherto ▪ and what that has been , let the clamours of the sick , and standers by , the cries of widows and orphans , and the ocular unsuccessfulness of physitians in their own practice , decide , whether the things that i now move for , chiefly as to this , and the promises within considered , do not groan for a reformation ; therefore deserve not to be overlooked , if the most urgent and excessive grievances , happening in the medicinal profession , be worth the laying to heart , which , unless charity be far from us , cannot be neglected . thirdly , that you would reform , as was hinted before , the abuses of all professions . fourthly , that the temple of aesculapius might like that of janus , with his two controversal faces , be set open . and that it may be allow'd and granted for the glory of this nation , and the good of the people thereof , that the whole systeme of practical , as well as theorical physick , may be calculated by the astrolabe of clear reason and experience , to see if the light and knowledge thereof cannot square to a greater measure and perfection , beyond the lines of galens degrees and complexions , or the peripateticks elements , or the constituted discipline of coe : or whether the cruse of the knowledge and power of healing , can run no other oil then what is sublim'd and drawn off by an alembick of a colledge-dispensatory . fifthly , i would obtain to have it appear , that the daily insight of physitians into the unsuccessfulness of their own practice from that vessel of physick , which was not long ago broach'd , and exhibited from their new and late polish't pharmacopoeia , do not deserve to be thought worth our patience to expect , and study and labour to attain to a richer liquor of knowledge , of more refin'd spirits then what the sympos●cks , or galenical bruage , and dry banquets of the colledge ( whose-fashion it is , like the belly-priests , not to take notice of any that 's beneath them in cloaths ) have sewr'd in , and usher'd to us in the cratera of their dispensatory ; and that a life wholly addicted to studies and practice in the mechanick operations of pyrotechnal science , ought to open the windows of its intellect eastward , if he expect a greater light in physick then what galen has beaconed up to us , and comes occidental in at the colledges casements . sixthly , that the most excellent and natural art of chymistry , scarce yet beyond seeming uncouth , and unheard of , as being the terra incognita in the old world of physick , may be called from her ostracism , and may with eye open and allow'd be call'd to the bar , to the touch , and her readings reviv'd , and operations gratifi'd with your countenance ; for they whom this thing concerns , will not receive these things from a private instruction , whereby it easily appears that it is not reason now adayes that satisfies and suborns the common credence of men . perhaps in time to come , others that respect a publike good , and have not their understandings devour'd and made insensible by the itch of gain , will know how to esteem what is not every day put into their hands , when they have markt events , and better weigh'd how hurtful and unwise it is to hide a pernicious rupture under the ill counsel of a bashful silence . if no body will after me thus second their own occasions , they may sit hereafter and bemoan themselves , to have neglected through faintness the onely remedy of their heavy sufferings . what have i left to say , but your own goodness to essay , and to attend when you shall be invited from those poor reflections to take the advice of more noble thoughts and vast considerations ? it remains , that i express ▪ my self to wait for the accomplishing of these things wrought into me by your own designations and consequencies from your laudable endeavours , by making good wishes , and breathing after these huge attempts , the pursuance whereof shall embalm your memories to all posterity . and now i draw towards an end , i feel my self ( as those who at the beginning of no mean endeavour are heightned and depressed ) variously affected , and might have rested nameless , but that an undertaking of that nature , not inferiour to the highest pitch of a true-bred manliness , and the very attempt of this address thus made , and the thought of whom it hath recourse to , hath got the power within me to a passion , ( though otherwise retired ) far more welcom then incidental to a preface , which hath excited me to pray , that the fate of learning may tarry for no other reformers , and hath nurtur'd me to that growth of gratitude and due respects in acknowledging by whose indefatigable vertues , extraordinary prudence , and laudable actions and resolutions , i have the freeness , quiet leisure and good will to subscribe my self the honourer and strict studious observer of their noble worth and goodness , noah biggs . cognitio naturae & essentiae , non sumitur ab effectibus impropri●s adjacentibus , & accident●libus ; sed à cognitione principiorum , & seminibus rerum , quae hactenus schola peripatetica ignoravit . nam ut ut naturale ingenium & acumen judicii philosophus habeat , nunquam tamen ad rerum naturalium radicem , aut radicalem scientiam admittitur nisi igne . per nostram mechanicam scientiam intellectus est rectificatus , vi experientiae , respectu oculi , & verae notitiae mentalis . imò experientiae nostrae stant supra probationes phantasticas conclusionum , ideóque nec eas tolerant : sed omnes alias scientias ostendunt vivaciter intrare in intellectum ; unde deinceps intelligimus per naturam , intus illud , quod est , & quale est . quin per talem scientiam , intellectus stat denudatus superfluitatibus & erroribus , qui ipsum ordinariò removent à veritate , propter praesumptiones , & praejudicata , credita in conclusionibus . hinc enim nostri se direxerunt ad intrandum per quamlibet scientiam in omnem experientiam , per artem , juxta naturae cursum , in suis univocis principiis . raymundus testamenti , c. 26. per hoc genus demonstrandi , fugiet à te omnis obscuritas , & acquiretur tibi omnis fortitudo fortis vincens omnia subtilia , & solida penetrans . tabula smaragdina . to his honoured friend , the learned avthor . thy youth 's adorn'd much like an ancient sage , and plato's spirit flows th'row ev'ry page . i much admire thy vertue , heroick soul , that dares so many anakims controul ; whose hoary-headed custom well might stay thy well-tun'd spheres , until a springing ray of truth approach , exposing forc'd disguise to the perspicuous view of vulgar eyes : then mightst thou calmly pass , and in thy zeal , free from all letts , thy active fires reveal . but since th' art fearless , go forth , noble heart , vertues embleme , elia lelia's art. w. r. mystica-physophilos . to his honour'd and well-accomplish'd friend , on his mataeotechniatria , vulgaris . how like the morn the harbinger of day , thy lines i' th' blushing east their rays display ! and ancient hyle in form , appeareth light , the great preserver of all earthly might : whereby we know that in the centre sleeps a quick'ning spirit , which , all-seeing , keeps bodies sweet consort : yet the darksome minde of most 's to outward remedies inclin'd : compositions crude , and undigested , as nature's sole guardians , are invested . but seeing they do break the sacred bound god set to creatures , and their folly sound th'rowout the earth , i 'll sum their fate , and call this book , as it shall prove , impostures fall. abusers must be whipt when once they aw natures own edicts by a colledge-law . that simple honesty they scorn , has fame , and dares meet any that hath breath or name in reasons lists : and for fond ignorance , time turns the wheel , till wisdom up advance . scandal in print , by them on others cast , shall come to nought ; 't is truth can onely last . whose childe this is , will own it : let them say , 't is neither truth 's nor errours , night nor day , lest by conclusions they too soon declare who 's ignorant , and who the knowing are . humours are natural in them ; their skill in physicks runs in elements . my q●ill is to seek the seminalty of things that 's cover'd in these lines ; the pleasant springs that lead unto the fountain's bubling head , whose bleeding tears drop after drop hath fed the flames of her joves fires , till one in one sprouts forth , mantl'd by all , though seen by none . a mystick birth . dame nature in a cloud . a midnight-sun ; but not without a shroud . how unlike are the potions most do hug , which flow from corrupt roots , and mortal drug that invade sol's own throne , with dismal fear ! which if reduc'd to th' one , would truely chear the wearied parts with rest , and quickly lend such unseen fires , corruptions veil should rend . nature's sweet parent , that in thy first dress sendst forth such sweets , as all that know , possess . what 's for the vulgar eyes unfit , here thou in shades to wise men , secrets dost allow to be exprest : most happie is that heart seeks without vanity to bear a part in thine own q●ire : for mysterie's musick 's sweet ; ( so silent groans with heavens ecchoes meet . ) where virgin-earth modestly doth cover male and female , loving and a lover . these shadow'd glories do here represent the image of thy minde , so much intent , that from one principle , already past , does to the acmie light with speed make haste , and from the mother , to the father hie : for lamps burn dim , to him who sol does spie . damn not these glories then , y' ostents of pride , who leidger lie at censures ; nor deride : whose brains wear midnight , ne'er shall see those showers of sweet perfumes that spring from nature's bowers ; where cab'nets unlock'd stand , that would benight critick spectators with redundant light , and lead men th'row the clouds , unto a sun shall never set till nature's course be run . which burnings no man sees , that can depart till in those flames he sacrifice his heart . who seeth this , will soon , with me , allow this work , and to the author's spirit bow . james villwiers , jes . coll. cantab. to his ingenious friend , n. b. on his mataiotexnia . 't was boldly ventur'd ' gainst the idol ( art ) thus , since you meant to strike , to pierce to th' heart : nor less discreetly in you to despise old reverend errors for truth 's novelties . you 've undeceiv'd the world ; reduc'd in one what once lay scatter'd in confusion ; taught single preparations to supply mix'd monster-forms of multiplicity : not in so large nor nauseous dose to state a succedaneum to methridate ; but more successful ( in whose extract lies no lurking drugs of discord qualities . ) your's in life's lowest ebb might raise a flood , and resublime the spirits of the blood : or ( phoenix-like ) man's ashes seem to turn into new man , calcin'd in his own urn. our baffled maximes now at last may tell us , we mistook them for infallible ; as if whole nature had in pupillage been unto one galen or an avicen . the act for such observance we repeal , as void , ' cause never sign'd with hermes seal . but what needs all this train ? which doth but run like lucifer before the rising sun ; and with our dimmer tapers strive in vain to shew thy lustre i' th' meridian , who shinest best by thy own light , whilst we shadow thy praise with our obscuritie . 't is onely our ambitions hither clime t'inrol our names , and bind them up with thine . the honour 's great enough for us , if we are onely read by such as admire thee . our memories might else been drown'd i' th' dark , had they not swum for refuge to thy ark. r. b. iatrophilos . the summary . 1. the difficulty of discourse without the knowledge of the mind , without which , it 's but a discursion onely . 2. the author pressed with abundance of matter , and the thoughts of being tedious in this work . 3. some reasons of his appeal to the magistr●e . 4. a natural disposition , and unnatural distemper in us to swallow implicitely those things which are as poyson to us , and with a naus●ous reluctance to kick at good food . 5 the common fate already adjudg'd of the authors intentions , and this his undertaking , by ignorant and unadvised pretenders . 6 his being tempted to be silent , and leave these things to time . 7 the authors protestation . 8 every poynt in physick , cannot in this work be touched ; and more , is a work too low for the author . 9 the science of physick at this day , found to be a meer imposture . 10 its authority is more from our deluded credulity , then its own real verity . 11 the two grand sectaries in physick , and their clashing described . 12 they have made it a hard uneven path , and dangerous way . 13 some had rather be not good , then not great physitians . 14 those twins , grave obstinacy , and formal ignorance , are the cause of the slow progress in physick to this very day , and of all the miserie attends and follows it . 15 the profession of the author , why he fell ●ight down on the practick part of physick . 16 the studies , books , councels and practices of physitians sound of nothing but trifles . 17 a brief summary of the grand helps , and universal remedies of physitians at this day . 18 the authors shame , that we should both in philosophy and physick be the apes and zanies of ignorant fellows in nature . 19 the archetype not being good , in the understanding , our imitation of it , must be as bad . 20 nature loaths the impurities and crudities of our common medicines at this day in the shops . 21 the diseases of the medicines are first to be cured . 22 custom and her adherents , another reason of the little profit in physick , especially the pharmacentick part . 23 the r●spect had to antiquity , another errour extreamly prejudicial to the advancement of sciences . 24 the necessity of acquiring new knowledge in , and perfecting the art of physick , is demonstrable from the defect thereof . 25 physick a science which should teach a man so perfectly to understand nature , that it might be ease for him to exempt himself from all kinds of diseases . 26 it ought to be the subject of our lamentation , that other arts and professions every day receive new light and further perfection , and this of physick little or none at all . 27 the tedious lectures of anatomy for these two thousand years , with the curious inspections , have not better'd the physitians of this day , one jot in the sanation of diseases . 28 the author desires this may not be publish'd , to the dishonour of this nation , for the faults of some few . 29 the time is a coming , when it shall be a by-word and shame to be a good physitian . 30 reading no way conducible to knowing . 31 galen not at all known in pyrotechnal phylosophie , nor never saw rose-water . 32 the falsity of that saying , the d●sease known , it 's half way to the cure. 33 the vanity of the physitians applying themselves to the galenical temperaments of heat and cold , in the vulgar physick of the shops . 34 all the medicines of the shops in antipodaean position to our bodies , and the diseases of our country . 35 the schools ignorant of the quiddities and dihoties of things . 36 the schools have introduc'd , and physitians know onely a palliative cure of diseases . 37 the bald shifts of the schools in rendring diseases as incurable , and turning them over to the simple rules of diet . 38 physitians begin to be sensible of their own delusions , their unsuccessfulness , and infelicity of curing . 39 the galenical physitians fear to be out-gone by the chymists . 40 speculation has darkned the glory of practice , and is the pattern of idleness . 41 the eff●cts of physick , more like a shambles , then a sanctuary . 42 among all arts , none more inhumane then physick . 43 the authors study . 44 too much of opinion in the intellectual art of chymistry , as 't is handled . 45 the author not troubled at either the difficulty or censure of this work . 46 the conclusive proposition . 47 this work , though strange and paradoxical , yet honourable . 48 he that shall attain to restore physick , ( such as is declared in figure 25 ) to it 's pristine glory , shall deserve to be thought the highest and chiefest benefactor of humane life . 49 two hydra's of several oppositions , discover'd . 50 the authors requests of his judges . 51 that he might not be mistaken , but that the reformation in physick may be orderly and legal . 53 a distinction between the gray-hair'd physick of the ancients , and the old scurf of galen . 54 the dotage of them who dwell upon antiquity . 55 who are the onely cathedral doctors and physitians of the times . 56 what kinde of honour is due to the physitian . 57 a fourfold ignorance of physitians . 58 the authors excuse for his roundness and plain dealing . 59 a metamorphosis in the whole system of diseases . 60 a censure of a rash kinde of men , who ●oldly rush into physick , of whom the magistrate ought to take care , or a description of several physitians or sects . 61 galen , an empyrick , and his master quintius . 62 every disease curable . 63 all things cry out for revenge against the galenical contemners of pyrotechny . 64 the preparation of true medicine is not proper , nor doth not belong to our apothecaries or pharmacopolists . 65 the original of dispensatories , and the medicining at this day . 66 a touch of the describers of simples . 67 indians and barbarians excel the europaeans in the matter of berbs . 68 the custom of galen in stealing privily from others inventions . 69 the sexes of herbs brought upon the stage . 70 signature of herbs ridiculously cast upon chyromancy . 71 endowments of simples from the creation . 72 a foolish invention to refer herbs to the zodiack , and their vertues to positions of heaven . 73 a discourse touching the causes of sympathie and dyspathy , that in them lies all the knowledge of occult properties . examples of the same . why a drum made of a sheeps pelt , will not sound if another drum of a wolfs hide be beaten a pretty distance . 74 that is least lookt into , which ought to be most consider'd . 75 a shameful thing to measure the endow'd gifts of simples from the degree of heat . 76 the stumbling of herbalists . 77 no remedy against the defects of simples as yet found out , besides the contemptible decoctions of the shops . 78 the true deputation of simples hath remained hitherto raw and undiscovered . 79 cruor and sanguis differ also in plants . 80 quercetane deceived in ice . the father of lights the onely giver of knowledge infused without the observance of effects . the means to the knowledge of the vertues of simples vain . 81 a specifick sapor in some things , besides acid , sharp , bitter , salt , &c. that is appropriate to the seed . 82 what things are required in the knowledge of simples . 83 pyrotechny opens and discovers the way . 84 the diversity of agents in nature . 85 the curious activity of spagyrick medicines . 86 balsome preserving juyces of herbs from putrefaction , without the alteration of propriety . 87 an opinion of extracts and magisteries . 88 the strange and ridiculous confusion and plurality of simples . 89 the shameful practice of physitians in their s●cced●neums . 90 dispensatories are good for nothing but expedition : not , appropriation . 91 patients gulled , the authority of the magistrate not preventing . 92 god composes something which man may not separate , nor adde a third to them . 93 when is conjunction or composition to be admitted . 94 the authors opinion of the value of dispensatories . that they have more hurt then good in them . 95 the vertues and strength of many things are dulled by sweet things . 96 an answer to the objections for sweet things . 97 the vanity of syrrups . 98 chymistry prefer'd before all other professions . 99 the use of transmarine things . 100 the importation of transmarine drugs inculcated against by an instance of the matter of that foul vice of drunkenness being taken away . 101 the weakness and defaults of decoctions . 102 the defects in electuaries , pills , and consections . 103 against the confusions of simples . 104 an examination of purgers , and solutives . 105 the first confession of the schools of their purges . 106 the fraud of correctives . 107 another confession . 108 a third . 109 the excuses of physitians . 110 a fourth conf●ssion . 111 a deceit and cheat in the name . 112 it 's explained what it is to give a laxative , while the humours are turgid , and how full of fraud it is . 113 nine notable things to the damage of the schools . 114 a fifth confession . 115 the vain and beastly subterfuge of the schools . 116 an argument of poyson from their stink . 117 an experimental proof . 118 the same out of galen . 119 a probation from the effects . 120 the schools impugn their own theorems . 121 the schools hypotheses being firm , no man should ever die by feavers , and , it would be false that purges are not to be given at the beginning of feavers . 122 that this aphorism includes deceit , and the inadvertency of hippocrates . 123 what a true luxative is . 124 objections concerning soluives , answered . 125 a threefold character of a true and good purge . 126 what kind of preparation of simpl●s is to be despised . 127 the boyling of odoriferous things to be condemned . 128 the burning of harts horn ridiculous . 129 the fatal correction of many things . 130 the faults of simples , and absurd miscellanies in the confection lithontri●on , aurea alexandrina , and those two pillars , mithridate and treacle . 131 the whole earth hath poysons . 132 under poysons lurks most powerful arcana's . 133 an error in the castration of asarum . and another of his crudity . 134 no true poyson in ens primum . 134 an examination of vipers . 135 arsenicals by what means they are the remedy of ulcers . 136 how poysons may be made wholesome remedies . 137 the chymick medicines of the shops . and an examination of gold and gems in healing . 138 an objection of the solution of pearles and coral . 139 how the things dissolving are separated from the dissolved in the stomack . 140 to precipitate , what it signifies in chimistry . 141 the objection repeated , a subterfuge to the softer tophes or stones of animals . what is the action of gems in us . what it is that operates in a softer stone , its powder remaining whole . 143 mechanick experiments . 144 an examination of bezoar stone . 144 the galenists beat with their own weapons . 145 an unknown danger in the schools by the use of pearls dissolved . 146 mechanick demonstrations of some abuses of the same . 147 an axiom founded upon verity . 148 the pearls which are dissolved in the shops , are not pearls . 149 the restaurative vertue of an old cock , an old womans dream . 150 clysters why an enemy to the intestines . 151 clysters never reach to the ileon . 152 poysons are hurtful under what title or way of reception soever they be ingested . 153 feavers are never drawn forth by clysters . 154 nourishing clysters a sottish opinion . the use of oyls . 155 what goes away in clarified sugar . the manner of applying externals . 156 the gathering of simples . 157 an examination of simple distilled waters of the apothecaries . great light come unto physick by true distillation . 151 a description of our distillation . 159 the great ignorance and error of the colledge that is committed in the making of extract . rudii . 160 a shameful , yet a common saying in physitians . 161 an objection of the clouted-shooe distillers , for cold herbs to be distilled in a cold still . 162 the authors answer . 163 there is in all things lumen vitate , and in cychory , plantain , &c. as well as any hot herb . 164 all vegetation is from the spirits . 165 an analysis of cychory . a great error in physicians concerning opium and anodynes . 165 an excellent medicine made 〈◊〉 cychorie in the jaundise . 166 vegetables draw mineral and metallick spirits unto them . 167 an examination of vinegar in its generation or production . 168 what tartar is . 169 distilled vinegar very bad . 170 the foolishness of physitians in their preparatories . 171 that rule of the schools concerning the activity of simples , is concisely argued . 172 a paradox is proved against the schools . 173 the explication of vertues , by what means it is made . 174 whence it comes to pass that the vertues of medicines are alienated from the schools . fol. 136. fig. 195. the grand help of phlebotomy or blood-letting is examined . 178 blood-letting was at first learned from a horse . 179 an universal proposition for phlebotomy according to galen . 180 a syllogism against the same . a logical probation . 183 that a plethora of good blood is impossible . cannot be said to be in a neutral state of blood . 184 phlebotomy cannot be demonstrated from the theses of the schools . 185 what a cacochymie is properly in the veins . 186 the endixes or co-indications of the schools in the place of proper indication , and opposite to contra-indication , do but badly agree . 187 a proposition against blood-letting in a feaver . 189 the schools do infame their laxatives by their probations of phlebotomy . the end of co-indications . 190 an advertisement of the author , 191 the turks and a great part of the world know not phlebotomy , and yet are cured . 192 how blood-letting doth refrigerate . 193 a lamentable story of the hurt by blood-letting . 195. the essential state of feavers . 195 an explanation of the precedent argument of refrigeration , and the subtersuge of the schools . 197 that , not to go from one extreme to another , is badly urged in physick from demonstration 198 an elenche , or sophistication in healing . 199 the argument of the thesis of the schools is opposed . 201 nature the sole aesculapius of diseases , and the strength , the lord paramount of indications . 202 hippocrates is urged concerning athletick bodies , but perversly understood . 203 the differences of depletions . 204 the feaver hurts less then blood-letting . 205 an obligation of physitians . 206 the general intention in feavers , and to it , blood-letting is opposite . 207 mathematical demonstrations to prove that phlebotomy greatly hurts . 208 the inconstancie and instability of physitians argues the defect of principles . 209 phlebotomy cannot take away , nor diminish the cause of feavers . 210 an argument from a sufficient ennumeration . 211 another from the quality of blood . 212 whither are the schools hurried . 213 the vain hope in the mutations of the blood being let out . 214 that fictum impossibile of the schools , the putrefaction and corruption of the blood in the veins , strictly arraigned . 215 the proposition , that the blood never putrefies in the veins . 216 putrefaction what it is , according to the peripateticks . 218 the native property of the veins . 219 either nature , or the doctrine of the schools is ruined . 220 a paradigme of the diversicoloration of the blood . 221 the ridiculous table of blood emitted . 222 an argument from the plague against the custome of the schools . 223 another from the plurisie . 224 the turbulency and effervescency of the blood do not declare its vitiosity . 225 the blew deceptions of the schools . 226 an example that the blood putrefies not . 227 corruption whence . 228 the haemorrhoidal blood not putrid . 229 a wonderful remedy against the hemorrods . 230 the so much magnified successes of phlebotomy examined . the vain co-indication of phlebotomy as well in a feaver a menstrua's . 230 d●rivation sometimes is useful in to pick diseases , but in the topick of feavers impertinent . 231 blood-letting hurtful in the pluresie . 232 revulsion a rule in feavers . 233 revulsion considered . 234 what the physitians may learn from this head. 235 an examination of fo●tanels or issues . 236 cauteries or issues nothing but permanent wounds . 238 the name of a fontanel a cheat . 239 what god saw was good to be whole , is commended by the schools to be divided . 240 the childish and ridiculous promises of a fontanel . 241 the denegation of the improbability of catar●hes , denies the use of fontanels . 243 what is excreted or purged by a fontanel . nine conclusions against the institution of a fontanel . 244 the vain and foolish desires in a fontanel : 245 to whom fontanels are hurtful . 246 the indistinction of the schools 247 the scope or end of fontanels vanishes . 248 the world is basely cheated by fontanels . 249 a fontanel has no sympathy or communion with the brain . 250 absurd consequences about the doctrine of fontanels . 251 the onely sanctuary and refuge of the schools . 252 an answer to that . 253 fontanels driven upon rocks . 254 what the schools answer when they are driven to difficulties . 255 the multiplication and election of a cautery , by what boldness it hath risen and been usurped . 256 some facete jesting trifles of the schools . 257 the gout makes a meer mockery of physitians . 258 fontanels are foolish and ridiculous . 259 wholly frustraneous in their desperate cases . 260 the schools have not yet concluded in what cases fontanels are helpful . 261 the cases in which fontanels may be helpful . 262 the cruel and filthy remedy of cauteries and fontanels how they may be prevented . 263 a fontanel an unworthy thing to a physitian . 264 the examination of diet. 265 they prescribe a diet in diseases , who are ignorant of diseases . 266 diet suspected to be an imposture . 267 some errours about the rules of diet. 268 sanation is not under diet , nor an effect of the kitchin. 269 an opinion of the author . 270 the object of diet. 271 a proof from common event . 272 oblique and sinister ends . 273 from an enumeration of the parts . 274 diet doth secretly accuse an ignorance of better means . 275 the just complaint of the poor . 276 the ridiculousness of diet. 277 bread is not so much cibus as obsontum . 278 why bread is mingled with meats . 279 the main point of diet. 280 a certain rule . 281 why the rules or commands of diet are faithless and treacherous . 282 ten theses or positions of the author . 283 how far the vertue of parsimony and temperance extends it self . 284 the necessity of mastication . 285 whence is the variety of things digested . 286 an examination of ptisans . 287 some precautions . 288 a question of the ferment of of the stomack . 289 digestions prescribe the rules of diet. 290 there is in no art or science in the world such trisles and fopperies as in that of physick . 291 an examination of that universal intention of healing by contra●ies . 292 which is not found but in irascible entities . 293 why any one nauseates cheese , and how it comes to pass . 294 heat is not contrary to cold , nor fire to water . 295 an examination of another universal intention of healing by simility , or things like . 296 of medicine made out of the chymists ter●●ry of sal , sulphur and mercury . 297 what was the ancient and primitive method of healing . 298 when chymick medicines may justly take place . 299 two sorts of people are out of the way concerning chymistry . 300 objections against chymical medicines . 301 answers to them . 302 the essential oyl in aromaticks , or the crasis of the same , how it may be made an elixir , by a hundred times more powerful . 303 most of the common used chymical medicines of the shops adulterated , and nothing worth . 304 the old way and method of poysick called galenical , good for nothing but to fill the world with impudent q●acks . 305 the conclusion and desires of the author concerning the reformation of the universities in all its sciences and body of learning , and of the chief subject of this book , physick . the printer to the reader . reader , you are to take notice , that by reason of some accident happening while the book was under the press , and the authors absence , some faults have escaped ; and particularly , the transposition of the figures , which must be read as they are set down and directed in the summary . other faults mend as followeth . errata . in the epistle . page 4. line 5. read affected . p. 5. l. 18. r. lead . in the book . page 5. line 20. read precipice . p. 11. l. 14. r. for he . p. 37. l. 7. r. a species . p. 43. l. 2. r. denudate . p. 60. l. penult . r. morbifick . p. 101. l. 11. r. saline . p. 103. l. ult . r. circumvolution . p. 119. l. 22. r. empyreumate . p. 156. l. 16. r. veins . p. 169. l. 1. r. themselves . p. 190. l. 28. r. of a fontanel . p. 196. l. 29. r. sanation . p. 197. l. 15. r. of the. mataeotechnia medicinae . the vanity of the craft of physick : or a new dispensatory , discovering the errors and weaknesse of the grand universal remedies of the schools ; as blouding , purging , issues , dyet , &c. and the particular medicines of the shops . as the defection of our natures is such , we cannot look upon nature with a full ey'd penetrative aspect , but by the paralytick glaunces and touches of our dull & imperfect opticks except our eyes be anointed with the true eye-salve ; such also is our shameles prostitution to that habituated custome to the wild discursions onely of our tongue and pen , that we cannot fix to any reall discourses , but what the wanton and inconstant wombe of putation hath generated , and what the labirynth of weake fancy hath coin'd , or what hath been forged and circulated in the poniterium or laboratory of our running , rambling invention , being wyer-drawn and obtruded upon us by the frighted remaines of that caduce , specious and seductive chameleon , reason ; so that it is now a difficulty , not barely to thinke , not to talke and prate ; the greater difficulty to discourse solidly , except our tongues be touch'd with a coal from the altar of god ; and our cognition of objects in the verity of their essences be indubitate , flowing from the serene and omni-lucent fountain , the intellect : yet as to this my undertaking , i must in sober verity , and in all humility ; without offence to any , seriously professe , that , that which is the onely discommodity of speaking in a clear matter , the abundance of argument that presses to be utter'd , and the suspence of judgement what to choose , and how in the multitude of reason to be not tedious , is the greatest difficulty which i expect here to meet with . mine appeal is faire , and not a whit derogatory from the honour or credit of the schools or colledge , except they will stand to vye with the high tribunal of this nation , chiefely when things of this nature , bulke and size , are worthy of the high notice of that supream court and power , and is their due by that grand charter of philantie and selfe-concernment ; more especially , when some of them have undergone the lash of miserable experience ; and physitians themselves must volent nolent subscribe to their own unsuccesfulnesse . and lastly the slow progresse they have made for these many yeares together in the principles and practise of physick , wherein as much refractorinesse also is observed , as of former ages ; and which is to be pittied , an antipathy of their spirits for the most part to this present government : all which , with much more may be said , gives us small hopes of ever effecting our design with any good successe , without the help of them , to whom , as to all humane affaires , our addresses and redresses are to be had . those that are come to that unnaturall d●scrasie , as to digest poyson , and keck at wholsome food , it is not for any sober head to feed with them any longer ; which , hath led me out among others , to reforme and oppose the utmost that study and true labour can attain : which new overture i know will have the common fate , to be sinisterly receiv'd , and disrelish'd by those , whose gust cannot digest any thing , that hath the face or tendance to a generall good ; which will appear on all hands very undeservedly in this , in that it undertakes the cure and remove of an inveterate disease , crept into the greatest part of the world , and the best part of humane society . for alas ! what shall i get by this undertaking ? it is better for me to be silent , and leave the discovery of these things with others of the like nature , unto the revolution of time the mid-wife rather then the mother of truth , who is justified of her children ; when she shall take these infant-issues out from the open field into her bosome , to keep them warm and raise up their spirit and life , when she hath washed them and salted them , declared them legitimate , and church'd the father of the young minerva from the needlesse causes of his purgation . neither mine ear nor thoughts have , i may safely obtest the highest , been courted with the tickling affectations of praise , or deterred by dispaise or to be accounted unworthy , evill , not knowing or rash , for the good of the creation of god , and so be my neighbour feel not detriment by the common physick : in the explosion of which , i do not intend to unbinde or meddle with that farrago , that bulkie and unwieldy part of blind learning , as to distect each artery , veine , and nerve of the whole edifice of physik : for every principle is not fatall to be throughly fifted , neither have i vow'd my life or pawn'd my studies to clense this augaean stable by an herculean interpreting and detecting others dreames and dotages , a worke too low , and too hard for me ; but yet perhaps such , as shall do more then whisper to the next ages . it is calculated for the meridian of fifty two degrees , northern latitude , but may indifferently serve for the greatest part of the europaean world. the intire series or method of physick is like the polyus head , wherein there are observed to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea , more with pitty , then rashnes we speak it , we finde it to be a meer imposture , & scarce an oedipus in the world able to understand this knotted sphynx , to which mans credulity , through a conceived hope ; hath easily subscribed ; and so , that religio medica , hath begotten it authority ; because for the most part , we too easily beleeve , what we too greedily wish or desire for ; but yet it may as readily be made appear , that our confidence in the theorem's of physick at this day , stands more upon our concessions then its patrons confessions . it is not unworthy our thoughts to consider how hotly like a lady , physick is courted and cring'd to , at this day . her chief courtiers & contenders , are the old stercoratian & snaile creeper the galenist , & the upstart single fangl'd paracelsian ; these two , like peter and john , seeke to out-runne one another , till they have out-runne their breath , their books and the constable , their reason ; if the good man ore take them to see the peace kept , he bids them , with his staffe his alone charter and prerogative , stand ; at which , like paul and barnabas , the contention 's so hot , they evaporate in fumo , and one takes one way ; and the other ▪ another , so that they come no agreement , but this , that 't is all the mode d' physick , every one to follow his own jnventions , & kill cum privilegio . these two between them , would precipitate and drive away the rationality in physick , from out the open-common , and upper region of ingenuity and light of nature , into the low marrish puddle inclosures of their own particular modes ; and thereby have made it like a percipice , or razors edge , to walk on : in which game there are some of that temper , the pulse of whose art , skil and learning , beats after the old rugged mode of galen , who had rather be not good then not great physitians ; so that through an imbecillity of minde , not knowing how to make a departure from the gravity of their usuall pace , do oftentimes meet with and undergoe the lash of miserable experimentate miscarriage , by those twins , their grave obstinacy and formall ignorance . hence is that flow progresse in physick ! hence the lamentable and dreadful effects ! that men are either fatted up for the slaughter , or live walking ghosts , a life of languishment and misery ; who think it mercy to knock them on the head , and cry out for an exit from the tragedy and more th●n back-burden of cruelties , their bloudy butcher , act , and load upon their carcasses , the scene of all their blew experiments and tryalls : which hath cast me perpendicular on the pharmaceuticall part of physick : quae enim in schola & cathedra aliquando praeter rationem , plerunque ad acuenda ingenia juventutis in theoria proponuntur , sunt toleranda : quae verò ●n praxi in perniciem aegrorum praeser buntur potius execranda & damnanda , quam admutenda esse , existimo . for unto us , and any judgement that is not of a cast with those subjected to the tyranny of custome and prescription , it seems very grievous , that the studies , books , orations , councels , conversations chairs and practises of physitians sound of nothing but trifles and anxtious disputes ; so that the whole huge bulke of the art of healing , seemes now adaies to be moved upon the slender hinges of purgations , phlebotomy or blouding , scaring scarifications , boxing , cupping , bath , sweatings , fontanels , cau●eries ; and in short , upon no other then the diminution of strength , and emaciations of the body , and abbreviations of the life , or exsiccation of rheumes , the onely complement in physick now adaies . to me seriously it is an amusement , not much on this side a wonder , that our europaean world , hath not had one sober consult with thought , to consider what postern-door for evasion or any escape there will be left , that for so many hundred years down to posterity they have been the apes and monkies , the mimes and zanies of poor heathenish literalism , both in philosophy and physick , that they have sate like the dull praecisian poedagogues to the ferula and pedantick tyranny of the stagirite , and ethnick dispensatories , the mothes and scarabe's of physick : for if the archetype be not good which is in the understanding , the imitation of it will hardly prove capable of successe , or perpetuity ; and if the constitution of remedies , in their bulke , in their entity , in their horizon , do square to an ill-affected , or ill-aspected position ; what will not the diseases of them too , in their crudities , heterogenieties & impurities , add to the affliction and grief of our languishing brother ? it 's against the haire for nature to seek help from an enemy , from a second disease , excentricke , as bad , and sometime worse then the inherent , the foul disease of the medicine ; whereby she must needs fall into a greater peril , then if she were to try the combate onely with the sicknesse : but she despiseth these dreames of physitians , and doth loath them and fly from them : insomuch it appears , that the errors ignorance and implicite confidence in physicks is not the disease , or hectick of this age , but our very constitution : and not so much the constitution and temper of our remedies , and medicines , but the diseases of them , & sic è diametro , are to be complain'd of , and worth our serious teares : all which we can referre justly to no other author then custome and her adherents , which hath been extreamly disadvantagious to the whole round of physick , and in nothing more , then in the pharmapoietick part . it s an error tributary to the custome-house of most mens opinion to thinke there can be nothing found in the sciences , better then what hath been found out by the ancients , and some conceive not so much as what the meaning of physick is , or what they are good for . now i know , i shall be sooner des●i●ute of leisure , then of proofe sufficient to evince , that the too great reverence born to antiquity , is an error extreamly prejudicial to the advancement of sciences , yea , so prejudiciall , that till it be rejected , it is impossible any new learning can be acquired ; which may be one reason to prove , that we are far from knowing all we are capable of . but there is nothing wherein our necessity of acquiring new knowledge , is more apparent then in physick : for although that no man doubts that god hath furnished this earth with all things necessary for man to conserve him therein , in perfect health , untill an extream old age ; and although there be nothing in the world so desired as these things , so that her●tofore it hath been the studies of kings and sages ; yet experience , and a few papers shew , we are so far from having it wholly , that oftentimes a man is chain'd to his bed by small diseases , which the most learned physitians understand not , and onely make them rage more by their remedies , when they undertake to expell them ; wherein the defect of their art , and the necessity of perfecting it , is so evident , that for those who understand not what the meaning of physick is , it is enough to tell them , that it is the science which should teach so perfectly to understand the nature of man , and all things , that may serve him for nutriments or remedies , that it might be ease for him , thereby to exempt himself from all kinds of diseases . it is to be lamented seriously , and the subject of our serious sorrow it is , but more of our wonder , when we consider , how ingeniously elaborate they are in other professions and mechanick arts , and how they dayly receive advancement , and ascend by the degrees of new discoveries , neerer towards their perfection ; but in this of physick , how cold , and dull they are in their most serious disquisitions hitherto , though charity towards our neighbour be p●enally commended , that it is now in its apogaeo , or retrogradation , except it meet in cazimi , in conjunction with the body of the sunne of truth : for all things have remain'd most obscure , and for the most part , most false , and those things which should chiefly conduce to the scope of healing , are not touched with so much as a finger . to what end tends the anatomy of these two thousand years , with those tedious lectures , if the sanation of diseases , be not more happier at this day , then of old ? what meanes that tearing and cadaverous dissection of bodies , with that curious inspection and inquisition into the capillary veines , if we may not learn by the errors of the ancients , and if we may not make an emendation of those things that are past ? let it not be told in gath , nor publishd in askelon that the genius of the english nation , now made a common-wealth , should be so low , so base , and so beggarly , to daunce after the pipe of meer whiflers , to be the hinch-boys of aristotle , and confine themselves to the principles of those , who are as a dark lanthorne in a thick night ; as if we had no brick to make , without raking the straw , and stubble of galen , hyppocrates , mesine and other huddle of tongue physitians ; or as if the whole batch of medicines would be dowe , without the leaven of these tare-gatherers . have we no smith in england that we must thus foot it over to the land of such uncircumcised philistims ? it s reported of caesar , that he on a day seeing wealthy strangers have little dogges and monkies in their armes , and that they made marvellous much of them , he asked them if the women of their country had no children ? wisely reproving them by his question , in that they bestow'd their naturall love and affection upon bruit beasts , which they should have bestowed upon rationall creatures . antisthenes answered one very wisely , that told him ismenias was an excellent player on the flute , but he is a naughty man , said he , or else he could not be so cunning at the flute . i shall leave the application to whom it concerns . so philip king of macedon , said to his sonne alexander , when at a feast he sung passing well , and like a master in musick ; and art thou not asham'd sonne , to sing so well ? and thereto we hope , and are not overbold to suppose , that a time will undoubtedly come , when it shall be a byword , and ignominy to be a good physitian , that is , well read in galen , and to be a proficient galenist . knowledge and learning without experience , is like the statue of polyphemus , which wants an eye . the hand is the instrument of skill , and all contemplation . such , ( saies an author ) as speak of matters of state and government , but especially of matters of warre , say we , chiefly of matters of physick , by the book , speak but as book-knights , as the french proverb termeth them , after the manner of the grecians , who call him a book-pilot , which hath not the sure and certain knowledge of the things that he speaks of ; meaning thereby , that it is not for a man to trust to the understanding he hath gotten by reading in things that consist in the deed doing where the hand is to be set to the worke : no more then the often hearing of men talke and reason of painting , or the disputing upon colours , without taking the pencill in hand , can stand a man in any stead at all , to make him a good painter . let silence in the galenists then , be accounted as a sacrament , seeing their parent in physick , was not at all known in pyrotechnal philosophy : or fhe poor man had never in all his life the happinesse to see so much as rose-water . his ambition to be principate in physick , in such a poverty of knowledge , had bin a little excusable , if once at least , he had had the knowledge and skill , to extract any real principle out of any thing , and so might have proceeded , and been cring'd to , as monarch of physick ; and not so easily expos'd himself , to be a laughing-stock to posterity and ingenious heads of his time , by his huge volumes and blew comments on diseases . i wish i had not occasion to bewaile , when in the concentrations of my mind , i am led to consider the falsity of that saying , not lesse vain and unsuccesful , then common ; that when the disease is known , it 's halfe way to the cure ; so that the other halfe , is left as the alone , and proper worke of medicines , but how unable , lamentable experience will testifie . this is that hath amus'd me , that the schools in the remedies of diseases , both of simples and their mortarian labour of compositions , have apply'd themselves to the threed-bare and short-coated descriptions and discourses of heat and cold ; both in the crasis of things , with the nature , elements , temperament , humors , powers ; that as out of the monocracy and single-sol'd intemperature of the liver , they have rendred us perhaps two hundred diseases ; so out of this binary of heat and cold , they have builded their indispensable dispensatory , and utter'd to us a thousand medicines , in antipodaean position to the diseases of our country . what more grosse and palpable thicke darknesse , and ignorance ? as if the whole make of the universe , with such an infinity and alterity of natures , were to be patch't up with the two fig-leaves , of heat and cold : as the preposterous ignorance of the constitution of man in generall , and of the quiddities , and dihoties of things , as of that one the essence of the bloud , with that diananizing of those terra del ' fogo's or incognita's , the scene of humours , beyond the line and america of nature , and solid truth , hath obtenebrated the whole table of physick , by undue indistinction ; so hath it been a meanes to usher in that incongruous form of unadaequat remedies , and thereby to become a laborious cherisher , to devolve and heape up one huge halfe of all the languishing miseries and calamities on man since adam . behold , what can any of the whole systeme , or batch of medicines of the shops do to that copious company of incurables , that they have rang'd and reckoned , as desperate : for of them they have given but a slight touch , and made a litle and maiden-like bashful mention , and introduced onely a palliative cure , and left the rest to the providence , protection and compleating of nature , and kitchin-physick : so that in the end it appears , how full of calamity and desperation their engines are , too contemptible and weak to defend nature , or make any assault and battery upon the eenemy ; when they shall bring almost all diseases into the catalogue of incurables , or turne them over to serve out their prenticeship , with the number of them , who are to be cured by change of aire , diet and kitchin-physick ; that for the most part some of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or triacle sellers , or some old woman must cure , whom the great learning and skill of physitians have left as uncurable , and then go about to excuse their ignorance and temerity , with a salva inobedientia aegrorum circa dietae regulas non strictè servatas . ah alas ! how many absurdities and abuses are committed with these deceits , which to the world are not yet sufficiently known . but we have just cause to hope , at least to wish , that thysitians will now at length suffer themselves to be instructed , from the autopticall unsuccessefulnesse of their own practice , what straw devices , what leane , idle sleights their thoughts have suggested to flatter their starv'd hopes : and to me it is an argument not to be slighted , that the schools , and physitians of our daies , begin to be sensible of the ignominy cast upon them , and their art , by the sling of vulgar tongues , from their infelicity of curing ; that they now are perswaded , to look a little back to chymick remedies ; that now there is a bridge from galen to paracelsus , and they can easily remove their land-marks , and neglecting the foundations of their own art , they can as indifferently and promiscuously use any chymick remedies , and most miserable poysons , as those , which their dispensato ries have describ'd , and taken upon trust ; insomuch the galenists fearing to be out-gon , what by the collier chymist and the chymaericall contemplative chymist , and perceiving the dulnesse both of the remedies , and theorems of their patron , can a little bend the hams suppled with the oyle of smooth and implicite credulity , and an idle lazy subscription , and have now stoop'd to that infatuated principle of tartars of paracelsus his own coin . this makes me see , that the corrupt opinion and indeavour of politicks , have cast no little darknesse on the glory of gray-hair'd experience ; have forsaken her standard principles , and have reduc'd mans mind from the greatnesse of works to the smalnesse of oblique and circulatory way of intelligence , speculation , the alone patron of idlenesse , and lazinesse , which weakly understood , and violently put in practise , hath made a shambles , rather then a sanctuary , to butcher men violently , and devoure and destroy them insensibly , then give ease or succour . for there is nothing more hard , more inhumane and full of cruelty , among all humane arts , through so many ages undertaken and usurp'd , then that art , which by a concentrick subscription doth make new experiments by the deaths of men , where the earth covers the vices , the errors & fraud of its professors ; who having never touch'd so much as to the bark & utter shell of knowledge , and although they creep on their bellies all daies of their lives , and feed upon the dust of the earh apt to be blown away by every puffe of solid truth , yet think they are in the third heaven of physick , and light of nature , and by reading of galen and aristotle , conceit they have rifled her rich treasuries , trac'd her footsteps to a haire , and exactly survey'd the whole field and round of nature . but verily they who think so , if they be such as have a minde large enough to take into their thougts a generall survey of naturall and humane things , would soon prove themselves in that opinion , far deceiv'd , and would soon tie up their tongues , discerning themselves all this while , like the high flown , selfe-conceited laodicea . for while they presume and deem they keep the keyes of the science , do yet neither themselves enter into the closet and inner parlour of nature , nor will they admit willingly others that would . i thought once to have becalm'd this sea of distraction by the golden trident of chymicall theorem's , whom as a lady of honour i have courted , and devoutly kiss'd , and to whom , i am not asham'd to profess i ow my strict observance ; but alas and alack for wo ! i could find no rest here : i found too much of the leaven of chrysippus , who was the first that pulled physick out of experience , & put it into opinion : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , were a generation of men , in plato's daies , and the line it seemes is not yet extinct . because therefore i cannot foole my own credulity so far , as to sit down to an implicite conformity , coopt up and immur'd within these paper walls ; and finding it a slaughter-house of humanity , and to conspire to the extirpation of whole families and common-wealths , ( the best part of the world , ) and seeing i plow in the same field , i shall endeavour , and am resolv'd by the knife of chiropona● pyr●techny to cut the throat of these pe●ty-toggers and let ●ut the heart-bloud of the blinde physick of this nation , who deserves to be the leading card and do humbly conceive it nothing above my du●y , either for the difficulty , or the censure that may passe thereon , ●o communicate the sence and revolution of my thoughts , and collections , and do offer them now in this generall labour of reformation , to the candid view of all good christians , to the schools , and all ingenious heads ; especially because i see it the hope of a handful of good and learned men , that this crocodile , who seems to weepe for , and offer helpe to , the afflictions and languishing miseries of men , and yet destroies them , might spend its utmost date in this common-wealth ; and that there might be some course taken in the body of physick , in this nation , that the squalid diseases of physick and medicines might be cured ; without which , no hopes of ever curing the sicknesses of the body of man : this therefore shall be the steerage , the taske and period of this discourse , to prove , that the whole mode , method and body of physick , as it is now prescribed and practised , with the desires of good men , groans for a reformation . i thinke , i shall have no just cause to complain of any thing but that it is indeed too copious to be the matter of a dispute , or a defence , rather to be yielded , as in the best ages , a thing of common reason , not of controversie . to write in that in which there is no beaten path , is most honourable , for he that leades , hath this advantage above others , if others follow him , he hath the glory of it , if not , he hath the excuse of prejudice . he therefore who by adventuring shal be so happy , as with successe to light the way of such an expedient liberty and truth , as this , shall restore the much abused , overwrong'd , and eclipsed glory and renown of physick : and shall deserve of all apprehensive men ( considering the ruines , the dangers and dreadfull effects , the ignorance , errors , abuses , impieties and cruelties of physitians , in a thing of so great price , whose losse is irreparable , and most perilous to humane estate , which , for want of insight into , and reformation in the practise of physick , have been committed in this , as well as other common-wealths ) shall deserve i say to be reck'ned among the publick benefactors of civil and humane life , equal , nay above the inventours of wine and oyle : for this , namely , health , is a farre dearer , farre nobler and more desireable cherishing to mans life , unworthily and unmercifully expos'd to ruine and danger . in which work , he whose courage can serve him to give the first onset , must look for two hydra's of several oppositions ; the one , from them , who would exact the tunnage and poundage of all knowledge and skill , and excise all ingenuity and autergie ; who have sworn themselves to long custome , and the affected tedious scrible of galen ; whose whole spheare of reason , art , skill and practise , turnes in galens zenith , and his accomplices , will not out of the road : the other from those , whose formal ignorance grosse and vulgar apprehensions , together with their grave obstinacy , ( 'twixt whom an entire league hath ever been held ) conceit but low of physick , whose cloudy and imperfect opticks , could never endure to pry into the mysteries of nature , and in the work of healing , thinke they have all . this only is desir'd of them who are minded to judge hardly of thus maintaining , that they would be stil , and heare all out , nor thinke it equall to answer deliberate reason , with sodain heat and noise ; remembring this , that many truths , now of reverend esteem and credit , had their birth and beginning once from singular and private thoughts , while the most of men were otherwise possess'd , and had the fate at first to be generally exploded and exclaim'd on , by many violent opposers : neverthelesse it shall be here sought by due waies and means to reclaim , and bring it from under the rubbish of gentilish and anarchicall principles , into the monarchy of pyrotechnall experience . yet would we not be mistaken , to be thought for stiffe pleading for a confus'd abolishing of these things , as the rabble demolish images , in the zeale of their hammers oft violating the sepulchres of good men ; or rudely break up , not go through open doors . the apollinian science then , or art of physick , is every where brought upon the stage ; and made the laughing-stock of the sick-brain'd vulgar ; because physitians , who have heterodogmatiz'd , and deviated from the ancient beaten path of clear reason and experience , put no distinction between the venerable grey-haires of ancient physick , and them who weare her honourable silver livery , from the old scurff of galen and his accomplices , benighted to the clouds of ignorance , and that tatterdemalion lanostema of peripatetical & galenical predicaments of qualities ; whereby , to heads of a larger size , they seem to have put out their own eyes , and willingly subject themselves , like mill-horses to grind in the mill-house of custome and tradition , and aforehand , to have stak'd themselves to a resolution to confine to the custome of the schools , and sit down to a precise conformity , to lap up the prodigious vomits of aristotle , galen and other illiterate ethnicks , and in effect to prescribe all the heads of the present age , as pupils to the dull and doting advisoes of the ancient , precedent paper-stuffers ; and then no lesse to say , as in supernaturall things they are wont , so in naturall , to make it a kind of blasphemy , at least presumption , to step one haires breadth from the cry'd up and vulgar receiv'd way : so hardly in good sooth can the dotage of those who dwell upon antiquity , allow present times any share of wisdome or skill . for we are not overbold to suppose what they read , they beleeve , and what they beleeve , they leave to the confection of an apothecary and family , without any manuall or mechanick experiment . for who among the formost of them , can justifie their positions and rules by practise ; not by their hands , but fancies . hence it is that every druggist and old woman , with mother mid-night , and of every occupation sally forth , and dare to intrude themselves into the practise of physick , putting an affront upon physitians , because oftimes in many things they excell them . for of old they are wont to reserve somethings to themselves , as a pledge of their fame and family : but after that the slothful and lazy disquisitions of physitians prevail'd , & the itch of gain turn'd physick into a plow , to make long furrow's on the backs of poor mortals , by the just judgment of god all things went to wrack . the schools will have the shuffling and cutting of the cards , and the colledge drawes the choice of physitians , so that the whole pack of those that by them are accounted worthy , are they who have subscrib'd to the ignorance and unskilfulnesse of ethnicks ; that the cathedrall of all reason , learning , skill , philosophy and all judgement , might vail to them , and they keep the keyes ; and mans life it selfe should be committed to them . so that if he be but an academick , though a meer mammothrept , and perhaps a midas , if they can but hide his two ambitious eares , which they can easily doe , by his implicite conformity , he shall passe for cathedrall doctor , a physitian in folio , with an imprimatur on his back , as if he were the microcosmall councell of state 's chief physitian , cum privilegio custod , salutis populi : so that upon the posts , and frontispeice of the medicall conclave is written like that of plato's academy , with a nemo huc ingrediatur nisi &c. whereby all others are like a pawn at chesse , fill up a room , and that 's all . this is now handed down to us europaeans , and is in possession and practise among english men , that hath carry'd away the bayes from all others , that they will not be befool'd of their liberties , nor blinded in their understandings , by any devise : so that charity is grown cold , and sloth introduc'd under a more fafer seal , and long use hath confirm'd this begotten ignorance , pretending the right of prescription . and we wish it doe not prove a kind of staple merchandize , to be seal'd and stamp'd like our broad-cloth , or wool-packs ; and that art and ingenuity become not tributary to the custome-house of error , opinion and customes , and that the factors or farmers thereof , do not so monopolize , or monarchize , to put truth at the bottom of the sack , and their own inventions at the sacks mouth ; wherby god should withdraw his gifts , and those which he hath given to others , continue . the apostle paul would have widows to be honour'd , that were widows indeed , in good works ; according to the command , which hath ordain'd the physitian to be honour'd , who shall truly be a physitian in good works , and so shall testifie that he is created , and chosen of god ; whose works shall follow him , worthy of his vocation , as letters patents , as signs and merits of his honour : which text being consider'd we find honour to be appointed to the physitian because of necessity ; which necessity doth presuppose bringing forth fruit , otherwise in vain : not that the force of the precept , runs so in necessity , as , that when a sound man doth not need a physitian , that then he is to be honour'd : for then a judge , councellour , lawyer , souldier , husbandman , weaver ; &c. should be prescribed to be honour'd , by the same right of necessity . honour therefore is ordain'd to the physitian , created by the goodnesse of the highest for the necessity of the sick , to heal them : but the necessities of a souldier , judge , executioner , weaver , &c. are not consider'd , as chosen by god , but as promoted by men , to execute those offices , that are requisit , and that from the malice of men . there is a four fold mist of ignorance , hath enter'd all at once , into the medica● profession , and hath lef● it without honour ▪ namely , the ignorance of causes , the remedy , the manner of making it , and coaptation of it . truly as pyro●●chn● doth open bodies before our eyes , that are lock'd ; so also it opens the gate unto naturall philosophy under the ignorance and sloth of the schools , the true medicine hath lurk'd so depress'd , that that which should have brought the greatest light unto the physitian , seeing the whole work is accounted mechanick , the want whereof is his blindness , and unskilfulnesse , that through pride and long custome , is transferr'd out of his own hands , into the hands of an apothecary and his servants ; that now he sees not with his own eyes , nor handles with his own hands , nor understands with his own intellect and judgement , so that here lyes the mystery of iniquity . our pardon for this plain-dealing , is sued out in forma r. p. both in the very name , nature , right constitution and right reformation of it ; as also from the effect of the disputation , when it comes in competition with life , with diseases , with my neighbour , my friend , my brother , my vocation , with the truth , with good , with hurt , with things so truly serious , and of such moment . for i propound not to my self the thanks or favour of any man , having also learn'd to runne thorow good report , & evil report . for my own understanding tells me , that the art of physick hath stood a long time at a stay , as is a shame to think ; without any progresse made ; because we had rather stand to , and bring honour to , and deck and polish the inventions of forreigners , greeks , barbarians and ethnicks . in the mean while there 's a metamorphosis in the whole systeme of diseases ; new diseases arise , which galen and hippocrates never knew ; and the old ones with stranger and crueller symptomes ; for they rise again disguis'd , therefore appear illegitimate , not answering to the descriptions of the former : and that such a thing as this should stand at a stay , without any progresse , is both shame and lamentation ; while our healths and lives call greatly for an increase of the knowledge of healing . how much , and to what end hath that lazy , dull and ungenerous kind of physitians hindred the light of physick , from breaking forth , who are wise only from an anothers comment , and deny , that the art can encrease above what they know : and therefore what they know not , they drive with a certain desperation , into the catologus of incurable . as if our ancestours resting places , were to be like hercules pillars , inscrib'd vith a ne plus ultra ; as if they had attain'd to the meridian of all knowledg , by the fix'd north-pole of all perfection ; and on that axletree must turn the whole globe of posterities knowledge , with the whole hierarchy of lesser and greater increasings : as if the wits and spirits of the present times would serve for nothing , but to go a wool-gathering in the wildernesse or wild fields of the foregoing sheep-shearers ; or were fit for nothing , but to sit with their hands in their pockets , in a lazy , and implicite conformity to this medical statue of aesculapius ; and rather then to correct , adde , encrease , perfect , purg and reform the present mode and practise , had rather subscribe to it , and be an obedient son of the former physick-fathers , believe it cannot be amended , orits very difficult to goe about , and the way is not clear , and such like obstacles as these they put ; as if the inventions of our grand-fathers had ramm'd up the way of our own industry , and had occluded the treasuries of wisdome ; or as if she had now forsaken the thirsty and laborious inquirer , to dwell against her nature with the arrogant and shallow babler . such is the sweetnesse of gain , that every one brags of , and with love admires their confusions and m●scellanies of medicines , which they call magistrall receits : but the more secret things , which in times past rendred physitians that were lovers of labour very famous , by the stupify'd drousinesse of physitians , contracted by the opium of dull ignorance and sloth , are now slipp'd into the hands of apothecaries , and old women . the first that we meet with , who will needs be physitians are those , who truly are not educated and instructed to this , but prompt of nature , whose genius leads them to it , say they , and are cut out , and are configurated for it , whose bare inclination , and the tickling itch of gain is the ascendant , daring any thing , which they have heard to have profited others , without any disquisition , cognition , and discrimination of causes : for thence have almost all the experiments of the schools flow'd forth : which galen hath confirm'd by the example of his master quintius . for making experiments by the deaths of men , the schools call their graduats most expert . others , that are vulgar physitians , had rather heal vulgar only , and to these they give their councells : some also of favour only , and being ask'd ; but the most part for the ambition of honour that they might be esteem'd as wise men , possesse this innate kind of vice . of the same sort are those deceivers , who would seem to be rich , and therefore give all their ministrations gratis , to the destruction or casuall health of people . to these succeed they , who covet not moneys , but gifts , lest they should seem below the condition of great and noble men , and deserve nothing they say , but do it for a common good . the like to these are they , who confesse truly that they are not physitians , but have great skill in physick , and have their secrets and receits from kings , emperours , queens and great ladies : for these are wont to suborn the middle sort of people , which do extoll the price of the medicine . others there are who turn themselves into physitians , who have been old souldiers , and now left the warres , brag of , and shew their wounds , and thereby think , and perswade themselves they have got great experience . some of the clergy also , priests and poor scholars , that have nothing else to do must now turn physitians . some silenc'd ministers and outed of their benefices , lay hold upon physick , and commit force and violence to her body , that if one fails , t'other may hold , and think their latin , and their coat , the grand charter , to entitle them to the practise in physick . there are a generation also who pretend to astrology , chiromancy , ( and why not to coscinomancy ) to physiognomy too , dare tamper with physick , and by schemes , angles , and configuraions predict not only diseases , but the cure also , and so thinke themselves able physitians , and the rather , because they are now masters of art , in , and instituted by , the heavenly academy , and colledge of stars . others scrible upon paper , ( not the innoxious words of salomon , ) but characters , charms as they call them , whereby diseases , as well as devils are chas'd away , and crosse themselves before and behind , least the devil should take him away , writing powerfull words . there are also , who are well known in divers idioms , and pretend to speak chaldiack , arabick or dalmatick , and are loden with many arts ; at last vaunt only de mathesi or historiis : many of these know nothing lesse then to make the phylosophers stone , and carry about them propagable mines , with a perpetuall ferment . there are they again who pretend to be baptiz'd jewes ( more wicked then the not baptiz'd ) who have learn'd from the kabala to mortifie mercury divers wayes , and also to prepare poysons variously , which are good against all diseases , and many more . they brag of the hebrew tongue to contain the fundaments of all sciences , and the grand secrets of states , and common-wealths , and are big with the foreknowledge of futures : they often cite their rabbines , the book of nebolohu , with the little key of salomon , from whence they can read things past , as well as to come . others also assert the medicall art to be hereditary , and to run in the line of their own prog●ny although they be all fools or knaves . and then at last if these cannot be accounted of among men , they have a sure card they think to play , and to be sure they will be receiv'd among women ; and to that end brag of the cosmetick faculty , of sweet oyntments , oyles and perfumes ; and the art to preserve their beauty , or repair it if ruin'd : and a hundred to one , if they have not a fling at the caelestiall stone too , of armenia , whereby they can cure a large catalogue of diseases : for these are cut out of the same hide with greeks and jews ; any thing wil●●erve , to cheat the credulous vulgar of their money , when it 's known to all that know any thing of physick , that that divine blew stone , is but roman vitriol , that is to be had at every druggist and apothecaries shops , and is us'd by every horse-leach . there is also a fugitive kind of men from the family of the chymists , who while they brag of select and precious things , sell nothing lesse then poysons , and take all liberty of lying to the deluded ignorants : these fugitives being apostate idiots from the chymists furnaces . but the schools do with greater security , and above all , with a most liberall authority impose their things upon mortalls . for when we shall come to shew by the inevitable determination of truth , that they have been hitherto ignorant of the knowledge of diseases , and their remedies , not knowing the essence of a remedie , in its true nature , end and use ; as also ignorant of the knowledge of simples ▪ ( as we shal shew anon ) their preparation , conjunction , and appropriation : in the mean time , they promote their schollars : this man because he hath latin and greek , a doctor or chirurgian to his father : another because he is made a master of arts , hath heard and read lectures : another also because he holds to euclid's elements , and brags he is for him ; or that he hath learn'd to dispute or rather scold from aristotle : another hath his call to practise physick , from his daily reading of books , and subtile problematicall disputing upon every proposition ; so that in three years they are chang'd into very learned men : wherefore they read the voluminous books of galen , avicen and the interpreters . then they revolve herballs , wherein the shapes of herbs are decipher'd to the life ; the which if they have not yet known very well , they are sent to the shops , and gatherers of simples , with this mandate , that when they have well known the effigies of the simples , they may return to their lections , which , with much and long study they have collected out of divers authors , that they may learn the powers of simples and compounds together with their applications : they see also cadaverous sections , and hear and learn the galenicall lurrey , the method of healing , the use of the parts and differences of pulses , and then when they have thus learn'd to sol ▪ fa , they lanch forth into the sea of diseases to cure them , with that confidence and presumption , as if they had been at it a score of years , and look for salutations 12 score off . we pitty the miserable condition of mankind obnoxious to so many internall calamities , and expos'd to so many external outrages and violences of such ignorant pretenders ; who when they have cruelly kill'd any magistrate or great man , under the black and dismall rules of the schools , they fly to their sanctuary , and take the liberty and boldnesse , as of law , to bring him to , and call it the incurablenesse of his disease , and every where have their patrons and accomplices : so much the more miserably do poor mortals trust to them , because they hide their ignorance among the vulgar , under the cloak of promotion and swearing ; because they swear they will faithfully help infirmities , which alas they are wholy ignorant of , as also of the remedy ; yea , that hercules of physick , galen , their prince , hath not shewn one medicine , that is not borrow'd from empiricks , howsoever he triumphs in his blew , and childish throry of complexions and degrees , tam secundum genera , quam loca . for quintius galens master , was wholly an empirick , and every where implor'd by his scholar . let not the schools then contemn practise and experience ; but fling away their pride and sloth , and it 's easie to cure that disease among them , namely , the uncurablenesse of diseases . by this means shall the power and vertue of healing stand upright under every weight ; that is , all diseases with her are of one price , and no diminution can be made by any disease . for god as he hath not made death , so neither doth he rejoice in the perdition of the living : for he made all nations of the world easie to be cur'd , nor is there an exterminating medicine . it may be granted , that sometimes some alimentary diseases may be healed by the remedies of the shops , to wit , they which admit of spontaneous consumptions , and easie resolutions : but in dangerous , difficult , strong diseases , in which are fixt and chronicall roots , the use of them does more hurt then good . hippocrates truly left to posterity , the inquisition of higher remedies ; because our ancestors liv'd in more happy ages . but the schools and physitians of an idle and lazy nature , have not respected the greater necessities of mortals , but content with galen and his quintius , have not perceiv'd the defects of mortalls , seeing gain hath carryed them away and they are sure to have it , whatsoever the event be . to this carelesnesse and sloth of theirs is witnesse , that they have not yet once thought of a medicine for the stone , nor a poor ague , or pain of the teeth . the powers of things , as well as the thundring accusations of the sick , doe bespeak their ignorance : as if the powers and vertues of medicine , were put into things by nature , and the god of nature , only as a box to contain them , and not to be open'd , and their excellencies to be communicated . that science then , which enables men to look thorow the shop of medicine , the topick tabernacle of naturall powers , and teaches to unlock bodies that are shut , and to draw forth their hidden vertues , is not peculiar to the family of pharmacopolists , nor truly is the pharmaceutick part a hand-maid to it ( as is the talk of ignorants ) but is a powerfull tecmarsis of naturall history . for pharmacy truly began at first from the merchants of simples , and collectors of herbs ; but then when the physitians perceiv'd , that it was not fit for every one to boyl , condite and prepare simples therefore that busines also , was committed to the seller of simples . in the mean while the more choice and secret things , physitians kept to themselves , whereby they purchas'd honour to their posterity . but at length the sloth of physitians increasing , they were content to run thorow the streets , from house to house , to make a feat of gain , by their frequency of visitations : then at length chopt in dispensatories , and select formes , that they should be kept in the shops , and set to sale , rather for expedition then propriety : whence at last physitians joyning compounds with compounds , they administred to the sick sometimes a miscellany of a thousand simples , that if one would not helpe , another should ; at least , they would be sure to excuse themselves , because they had carryed on the cure of the sick , according to prescrib'd rules . this is the medicining at this day , from which how much the chymick philosophy differs , they know who have but saluted the same at the threshold , and but warm'd at the hermetick fire . before the threshold of the shop , we cannot chuse but have a fling at the describers of simples . for though there be no field more spacious , plentifull and pleasant on the whole face of the earth , nor where the minde may be more intent or delighted , then in the matter of herbs and vegetables , the earths embroidery , and dame-natures revels , when in her virgin vernall beauty , she bids holy-day and rants it in her great silken simple ward-robe of sundry vestments , bestudded with the pearls and diamonds of lovely flowers , yet notwithstanding lesse progresse hath hardly been made elsewhere . for the arabians , gentiles , barbarians , salvages , and indians , do more vigilantly and judicially observe their simples and things growing among them , then all the europaean world besides . since , even from the daies of plato ( wherein dioscorides a military man lived ) there hath almost nothing bin added to the vegetable common-wealth , or matter of herbs , but very much taken away , and the tyranny of we know not what strang monsters of physick introduc'd . galen like a plagiary and sneaking filcher ▪ suppressing the name of dioscorides , makes use of his words , which pliny in the mean time besprinkles with many trifles , as being of a poor and shallow judgement ▪ and unable to distinguish that which is likely from that which is true , and that which is false ; by which means he heaped up a multitude of things , that by the bulk of his book , he might equallize the fulnesse of his name . but to this very day , even the more learned and leading part of physitians , do as yet hold a logomachie and anxiously dispute only about the shapes and names of herbs . as if when the countenance were known , we should think the powers did not openly speak unto them ; the powers i say , first deliver'd by dioscorides : so that the medicall power , seemeth to have arrived at her perfection , in the first author . in the mean time those things that were of greatest moment have been neglected hitherto . but the neotericks and more modern authors , have begun to distinguish herb● into sexes , and thinking that thereby they have discover'd many things , they have yet complain'd that these things have been veil'd : as if nature did labour in jest , and not in earnest , being solicitous of the sex , whereas she contenteth her self with that which is androgynous and promiscuous . for the sex respects nothing but generation , and not the operation and relation of pairs : wherefore to the end that she who wholy referr'd her self to certain ends , known to her creator , might not frame one jot or title in vain , wheresoever there was no need of the marks of sexes for generation in the composure of things , she quite omitted them . but if of two simples the one is stronger or rougher then the other , that denoteth not the sex , but the degree of rougher or gentler motion ; for by longsoft motion , and circulation that is moderate ; heat , sharpnesse , roughnesse , or what ever else is presented to the pentarchy of sences , as extream and violent , is taken away ; and becometh a subject wholly subdu'd to the scepter of our nature , and yields a sweet smelling favour : for a fragrant smel is nothing else then a sharp smel , when it is moderate . example of pepper and euphorbium ; of ●ough and violent motions , and therefore have no fragrant smell . while therefore the same simple rotteth , and is changed into little animals , these are not of one , but of both sexes ; which truly would not come to passe if those simples had already a sex or sexuall powers within them . for of the same numericall herb , insects , as well of the male , as of the female sex , are promiscuously bred . there hath also arisen other sects afterwards , who observed the signatures , as it were a kind of palmistry in herbs ; and this conceit hath been very much promoted by the root of satyrion : and by means of this chiefly have they introduc'd scientia signata , or anatomia essata ; that is , new-fangl'd names , and swelling titles , to gloze their fopperies . for me , i am assured by faith , that neither is man the image of nature , nor nature the image of man. god out of the eternall providence of his goodnesse and wisdome , hath enough and more then enough provided for necessities to come . he made and endowed simples to the design'd uses of all necessities ; that is , he compos'd and directed them to the end and scope of necessities : and therefore we may very lawfully and deservedly be excus'd , if we conceive the whole businesse of the conquest of diseases , lies upon the shoulders and single stock of simples in their right preparation for physick ; nay , we are bound to beleeve that simples in their simplicities , are sufficient for the cure of all diseases : wherefore we ought , and more becoming it is to us of this nation , to employ more study in the enquiry of their vertues , then in discussion of problems concerning them , since in simples , that is , in their right knowledge and philosophicall preparation , is the perfect cure and remedy of all diseases ; and consequently dispensatories , the monument of the lazy liturgy of physitians , and other ethnick directories , endeavouring to compound , confound and confect many medicines , make but a hodge-potch though sew'd in with sweet broth , their syrups ; and though they start , and hotly pursue the game of simples , yet they loose their sent , grow lazy , undoe all , and with a secret kinde of blasphemy go about to supply the divine insufficiency : and let us be excus'd to pause a little , and bethink us every way round e're we lay such a flat solecisme upon the gracious and most benigne bounty of god. hence paracelsus writeth to the chirurgians ; to what purpose do you superadde vineger to the root of comfrey , or bole , or such like balefull additaments , while god hath compos'd this simple sufficient to cure the fracture of the bones ? whatsoever thou shalt adde to it , is done as it were to make god subject to thy correction . thou art foully mistaken . in like manner we conceive that god hath sufficiently and perfectly compos'd in simples the compleat remedies of whatsoever diseases . finally upon sure grounds we know that we have no anatomicall kindred with the archevs of vegetables , whether we respect the whole or the parts : for the endowments of simples are from the creation , and not from the usurpation of possession . for the proprieties were in herbs , before sin , death and necessity . besides we believe that god doth give the knowledge of simples to whom he will , out of supernaturall grace , and not by the signes of nature . for what chiromantick kindred with the pleuresy hath a boars-tusk , goats-bloud , bulls-pizle , horse-dung or the herb daisie ? or what signature have those simples common to them ? indeed i praise my lord , who primarily created all things to his glory , before there were any diseases , nor did he marke the simples by reason of the diseases that might afterwards happen , but for the beauty of the universe , whence ariseth honour to the lord. there have not likewise been wanting , who have compris'd the immense catalogue of diseases , in the signes of the zodiack , as bartholomaeus carichterus for one , whose number being too narrow , they enlarged every one of the signs into a triple section ; so that they divided all the powers of herbs into thirty six , and enclos'd them in a narrow room . there are they also who square the powers , vertues , aspects and applications in the horizon of herbs to diseases , from certain positions of heaven , emitting some vertue which moveth everything in the kind , which yet is divers from the circular motion it self ; or else they make them lesse efficacious , that is , in plain english ineffectual : and so they have denominated some herbs solar and some lunar , and such like toies put into great words , as that mechanick experimentator hath it in his sylva sylvarum . it is manifest , that there are some flowers that have respect to the sunne , in two kinds ; the one by opening and shutting ; and the other by bowing and inclining the head . for mary-golds , tulippa's , pimpernell , and indeed most flowers , do open or spread their leaves abroad , when the sunne shineth serene and fair . and again ( in some part ) close them , or gather them inward , either towards night , or when the skie is overcast . of this there needeth no such solemne reason to be assign'd ; as to say , that they rejoice at the presence of the sunne ; and mourn at the absence thereof : for it may be nothing else , but a little loading of the leaves , and swelling of them at the bottome , with the moisture of the aire ; whereas the dry aire doth extend them : and they make it a peice of the wonder , that garden-claver will hide the stalk when the sunne sheweth bright ; which is nothing but a full expansion of the leaves . for the bowing and inclining the head it is found in the great flower of the sunne , in mary-golds , wart-wort , mallow-flowers , and others . the cause is somewhat more obscure then the former ▪ but i take it to be no other , but that the part against which the sunne beateth , waxeth more faint and flaccid in the stalke , and thereby lesse able to support the flower . the like trifling wonder make they of rosa solis , or as others admit it ros solis , with which if purselan or some other herbe were observed to do the like , it would scarce be of halfe nine daies , unlesse they think that it is like gideons fleece of wooll , that the dew should fall upon that , and no where else . it were well truly that this member of the common-wealth of universall knowledge was more studied , namely , this of sympathies and dyspathies , for in this angle ( note reader ) lyes all the abstruse knowledge of occult properties ; which thing the schools have openly proclaim'd by their dull hammering upon and toiling about it , and which they have banished by their fetters and gins , desisting where they should have begun . there is then in inanimate things inhabitant as species of sense , phantasie , yea and election : yet in an analogous consideration , according to the capacity and degree of every thing . we speak not here of plant-animalls which things might seeme ridiculous to many : but this our paradox will offend no man , though but meanly knowing . in the first place then without doubt , there are some flowers that are the laquies of the sun ; as well in lucid daies , in which the sunne shines not , as in the nights ; witnessing that they have both motion , sense , and love of the sunne ; so much , as without which , its impossible they should accompany the clouded sun. and also as in the evening they lose the sun , in his setting ( who until he hastens to the east , doth not operate among us dwelling in the darknesse or shadow of the earth ) yet neverthelesse whether the night be hot , or cold , or serene , or rainy , the flowers do face about equally from the west , and bend themselves and salute the rising sun. which chiefly doth denote they have the knowledge of the rising and solar circuit , and in what part he is about to be orient or occident . call it the instinct of nature , or what you will. names shall not change the thing . it s a matter of fact , and the thing done hath his cause in the flower , in his own propriety , and not from any analogy , concord or positionall influx ; doe not borrow this solissequous perambulation extra●● , but it is their domestick and innate vertue . these things happen in plants vegetably animate . the lesse wonder . but that they have place in minerals also , i thus prove . there is almost nothing made in nature , without his proper motion : and there is nothing moved of its own accord , or by himself , but by reason of the propriety put into it by the creator , which the ancients call self-love , and will have philautie to be nature , first-born , innate and given for the custody of its self . and where this is present , its necessary also there be sympathy and antipathy , in respect of the diversity of objects . to this i will bring a pregnant example . take a drumme made of a sheeps skin , or asses skin , and let another hard by be beaten , that 's made of a wolfes hide , and upon that motion and sound , the other shall wax dumb , and not found at all . such is the proprieties of naturall things that they must act and yield to the dominion and donation of the vertues implanted in them from the creation , and which they enjoy and put forth from their own domicilium ; and not from any imaginary house of heaven . we would have all sects confine themselves to a mediocrity in opinioning , and not ramble over the whole wild of fancy : for a very little patience , e're you hear , that the earth hath of her self a seminall vertue of producing herbs , which she therefore beggeth not from heaven . for the whole propriety of herbs is from the seed , and the seminative power is taken from the earth , according to holy writ , and not from the faces of the lights of heaven . for suppose that sixteen or twenty starres make a constellation , or one of the twelve houses , and is extended thirty degrees : in what manner can so few starres contein the essences , seeds , faces and properties of five hundred plants , differing in kind and inward properties ? besides a thousand other attributes of so many things as well humane as politicall : away with these trifles . every plant enjoyes the capacity of vegetation according to the vertue of its peculiar and domestick ferment originally inoculated into its principles . and the scripture intimates to us , that god created every plant of the field before it was in the ground , and every herb in the field before it grew . it 's a base thing truly then in christians to follow him hitherto as patron in physicks , when of faith we beleeve that plants germinated , before the starres were , with a seminal vertue . for there is alwaies found in nature an agent , matter , and product or effect , instrument and disposition . and the operation of generation depends on nature , and proper organs . the proprieties are in the seeds of herbs , not in the heaven or starres . those powers of the starres which have been fictitiously impos'd on heats , colds and complections by that patron of chymaericall fictions , are now grown out of date . for the starres , whatsoever way they be taken , do much more differ from plants , then herbs from clouds and hoar-frosts , or fishes from pretious stones . wherefore let it be a sophisme to attribute effects to causes , which possesse in them no causality at all : that is to dream whilst one is awake , if he beleeve such a thing , or by his own thinking to rove into madness : but we shall supersede this theam , least being too busie in it , we should seem to those who have false or thick eyes , to demolish the fabrick of astrology , or be found great with a sarcasme . mathiolus , tabernamontanus , brassavolus , ruellius , fuchsus , tragus , d' allichamp●us and other herbalists , have hitherto been busied only about the features , and visuall knowledge of plants , but all of them in like manner describe the vertues out of dioscorides . they also constrain them to the predicaments of qualities , to degrees of heat and cold , as demonstrating something from the foundation : certainly it is a shamefull thing to fetch the temperature of simples from heat , and not from the fountains of the seeds . dodonaeus , friso , tabernamontanus with some few others , although they insisted in the same footsteps of degrees , have yet subjoin'd certain additions from their own or others experiences : but without doubt as yet they are confus'd , uncertain and rudely distinguish'd , as being noted not from science , but either from the discovery of the vulgar , or drawn from casuall experiments . there is none amongst all of them that hath scientiously describ'd the properties of simples . as he who treated of all , from the hysop to the cedar of libanus ; which is a certain signe that true sciences are not to be drawn from any other then the father of lights . to come therefore to the purpose . we believe there is no member in the vegetable common-wealth , or province of herbs , but may be easily admitted and enroll'd in the journall-book or catalogue of fit subjects to be reduc'd to the wholesome advisoes of digestion , and may be wholy subdued to the scepter of our stomach ; unlesse those who are out of the line of communication , and listed in the bills of mortality , excepted against in the list of non-compounders with the state of our vital oeconomy , who have a certain adhaesion of malignity to them , and are adjudg'd by the parliament of our intellects ( where reason sits sole epistates ) and openly declar'd by the tyranny of their own actions and powers , to be desperate malignants and traitors to the present government and republique of our body . small truly is the number of pot-herbs , and things belonging to food in the crasis of herbs : which paucity surely doth accuse some certain malignity , which rightly sequestred , then , and not before , do they give forth their powers , as the end and scope of their mission , whom poysonous keepers did hide under themselves . truly vegetables do work but a little in us ; and the stomach is busied about them . nor do they go farther , before they compound and pay the fine of their sequestration ; before they first deposite their whole estate , that is , almost all the strength of their remedy . for otherwise the whole fabrick of our peaceable common-wealth might be undermin'd , and it might go ill with us , and we should feel and smart under their tyranny , if the stomach , not being able to make a repulse and tame the vegetable taken in , cannot subdue and bring it under the rules and governments of his own archaeus . for otherwise , if a vegetable should go on , as cu●iasseer , strongly fortified , and with his whole strength , he would also be made a companion of excrements , or trouble the whole oeconomy of sanguification . for else , that which would have withstood the action of the stomach , now accustomed to crude simples ; how could it transmute and tame , in the second digestion , the unaccustom'd , in crude meats . the effect of such remedies likewise would be of greater difficulty , and more laborious work , then thence to expect fruit . lastly , this being granted , the indistinction , confusion and perpetuall turbulency of our oeconomy , should be condescended to ; for if any thing be not first rightly subdu'd in the stomach , and thence the ex crement first sequestred , it would march on to our very vitalls . it is necessary therefore , that vegetables suffer digestions and formall transmutations : and the digestive faculties themselves also in working , do ordinarily suffer from the forreign faculties of vegetables : a thing truly perilous , and of difficult experiment and judgement . then finally over and above , all things being weigh'd exactly , every vertue of the vegetables is restrain'd and limited to his own degree . it 's enough truly that most of them have annexed their own cruelties infamy , immaturities , scabbinesse , rottennesse , exantlation of their powers , besides their manifold filth and impurities ; forasmuch as they should be taken away with the emunctories dedicated to the evacuation of excrement , it 's unavoidable but that their whole aliment is full of excrement : it is exceeding cruel therefore in the schools , that there hath not been consider'd and found out a remedy against these defects , besides the simple and contemptible decoctions of the shops . at length , saving the censure of these , the injuries of plants being sequestred ( the burnden of which our nature without great ruine cannot bear ) so great is the debility of them beside their unusual protervity , that scarce any thing praise-worthy can be hoped for , out of the bosome of vegetables ; when not onely they are compell'd to lay aside their fiercenesse , if they be admitted further within ; but also formally to be denthduate from all the benignity of themselves , before the citizens of our re-publick can entertain them . an entire and live animal cannot be bruis'd without his dung : it is therefore to be lamented that it hath not yet been so consulted with thought and experience to consider , that herbs have much dung , who never yet made any egestion thereof ; and are therefore to be purg'd , not with the common depuration , but with greater caution . finally , in man we by many marks distinguish blood from goar ; but in plants it is enough to have said , that plant in subject consists of divers and opposite properties : here we stop without making further progresse then by some common sapors , and uncertain events . for from the stalk of poppy being wounded , distilleth opium . celandin weepeth a golden juice , and spurge a milky one : from butter-burre floweth gum , from chameleon bird-lime ; which simples if they be bruis'd , they yield another far inferiour juice , namely , dung and gore mingl'd with bloud , although they be clarified : for beginners must learn to distinguish the bloud of plants , from their gore and parenchyma or garbage ; and also to seperate them , if they think even to attempt any thing praise-worthy by meanes of simples . for hence it commeth to passe , that although you labour stoutly in extracting after the manner introduc'd by neotericks , yet one dram of crude rubarb given in powder , will effect more , then whatsoever you shall extract out of a dram and a halfe : for the stomach by its ferment resolveth more , then the juice cometh to , which is drawn out by the extractors , who without distinction resolve the dreggs and vile liquor of the parenchyma or garbage : for quercetane , when he had observ'd that by the chiromancy and anatomy usually call'd signata , the inward powers of things were not sufficiently examin'd , he call'd pyromancy into his aid , but fails in the way . his device was , out of the ashes of a nettle , to draw a weak lixivium , which being put into an earthen vessell , and by chance , frozen a little ( for if the lixivium had been stronger , it would not have bin frozen ) in the morning admiring at it , he cries out , aha! i behold in the ice the figure of the leaves of the nettle ; and rejoicing founded an axiom ; namely , that in ashes , the seminall substance wich figureth herbs , remains unconquer'd by the fire . but this good man declareth his ignorance of principles ; not knowing in the first place , that all ice beginning , maketh jagged pikes , after the fashion of a nettle-lease . next that the archaeus is the figurer of the thing to be generated , which is long since burnt with fire , before the coal or ashes be made . thirdly if the seminall substance of herbs were wrung from the lixivium , it ought to resemble not the leaves , but the root , stalk , flowers , and fruit . but the figurative power of seeds lies hid in the archaeus , the vulcan of herbs and generable things , who being not subject to fleshly eyes , it is to be impetrated of god alone , that he would vouchsafe to open the eyes of the mind which to adam and to salomon , at first sight demonstrated the proprieties of things ; which power and optick vertue to some few of late daies hath been bestow'd , st. theresa having once mentally seen a crucifix , perceiv'd that there were eyes of her mind , which he afterwards kept open during his whole life , and that the flesh shutteth them by the corruption of nature . for neither do we otherwise know natures à priori , nor do we know the alterities , and diversities of the archaeus but by bare observation . indeed many of the simples are bequeath'd to us , but for the most part false and incongruous . nor doth the reading of books make us skilfull in knowing the properties , but by observation : no otherwise then a child that sings a song , yet doth not compose it , as neither doth he know the first grounds of harmony , for which the tones were so to be dispos'd . if this happen in sensible things known by the sense , the reason whereof the hearing measures ; what shall not be done in matter of physick , wherein the powers of simples can be trac'd by no sense ? now the descriptions of all sorts of medicines , may be read in shops , with a defect of the knowledge of the properties and agreement . for we speak of the optick notion , falling under the sight , such as the soul , separated from the body , enjoyeth , and such as god bestoweth in this life on whomsoever he pleaseth , and hath hitherto remov'd it far away from the conclave of those , who give all veneration to heathen books . wherefore the father of lights is to be pray'd , that he would vouch-safe to give us knowledge , as he gave to bezeliel and aholiab , and to that famous society , and community of r. c. unto the glory of his name , and the meer love of our neighbours : for by this meanes the art of physick would stand in us upright under every pressure . but it is to be feared , lest he who suffer'd to perish the books of salomon , reserve this knowledge of simples till the age of elias the restorer . for the schools by the stairs of tasts have promis'd an entrance into the throne of the knowledge of simples , by sharpe , bitter , salt , sweet , astringent , acid , and unsavory , they say , they measure heats and colds , as the artists of all properties : and they have bin so rash of judgement , that they have taken upon them to judge of the nature and faculty of simples by their taste and relish , and thereby discern and determine their first , second , and thirdqualities , to the which afterwards all the vertue of the said simples was attributed . but because they found not this an universall rule alwaies and in all things , and that it did deceive ; they fled to that back door of evasion for their ignorance & lazinesse , to the secret and hidden properties , arising from the forme and totality of substance . but these proud ostentations have by experience bin made a folly beyond ridiculous . these and such like starting-holes and subtilties have made of physick a meander , a wildernesse , and wild labirynth of incertainty and unstable formalities . we desire the linguacious chymistry of these heads to tell us , how many bitter things there are in taste , which neverthelesse ( according to the edict of that rule ) are not hot at all ? for opium and cychory which hitherto they have held to be hot , yet they teach to be very cold . but what vertue so cold i pray you is there in opium , which shall make me sleep though unwilling , and hot enough ? if the coldnesse of the vapours , why do wines after dinner provoke to sleep ? whether therefore is there one identity of heat and cold to the procuring of sleep ? why therefore is cold singularly attributed to opium ? why are not hot things equally reckon'd narcotick and dormitive ? how doth opium amaricate ? and amaritude in the schools predominating is accounted hot ? therefore it is of unavoidable necessity , that the schools should chuse one of these ; to wit , either that the coldnesse of opium is not exceeding , and by consequence that opium doth not produce sleep by his cold : or that bitternesse in the schools is a fallacious indicative of heat . for why is not cold purselane somniferous , by reason of his third degree ? why is not a manipule of purselane equivalent to two grains of opium , when the cold is more plentifull , and doth more powerfully refrigerate in such a portion , then in so little of opium ? wherefore doth night-shade make one mad , and not rather by his cold produce sleep ? but we finde in opium a sharpe salt , and sudorifick , also a bitter oyle , farre receding from the odour of opium , yet saporiferous . again , how many sowre things are there which by their saporall rules should be most cold , which notwithstanding are most hot : as spirit of nitre &c. thus sharp camphire , which by their rules ought to be hot , yet notwithstanding they affirme without controversie to be cold . in like manner chrysulca , oyle of vitriol , sulphur &c. being sowr , according to the rules of sapors ought to be very cold . thus also many sweet things there are in outward tast , which in their internall substance , are nothing at all contemper'd . how many things that excentrically and at the threshold or first beginning of tast , are altogether unsavory , and without relish , which in the parlour , intrinsecally and in faculty , are most sharpe and biting . honey , cassia and sugar are in their concentrick substance so hot and violent , that out of them may be prepar'd such dissolvers , as are wont to be made of aqua fortis and regis , which can dissolve gold and silver as speedily as the other . thus lead in its ●elcony or frontispice yieldeth out no tast to the tongue : and yet in his chamber and internal substance , dwelleth a certain sugar'd de●ightfull sweetnesse , as is notoriously known and confessed by th●se but meanly instructed in the famous art of chymis●ry . let not us then lean upon that broken reed of qualities and temperament of things , but more inwardly and exactly perpend , then by that superficiary and slight manner of tasting and experimenting ; but let their inward bowels , each sinew be dissected , by the acute knife of pyrotechny , where they shall be found farre otherwise , and oftentimes different , not only in taste , but also in odour , and in their whole substance . but we will at length shew in its due place , either in this our worke , or in the next , when we come to perpend , detect and summe up the dotages of our physick squarers by the impartiall arithmetick of reason and mechanick experiments of pyrotechny , that the schools have not yet so much as lookt into the bark of the faculties of things , and have therefore passed over the fountains of seminal properties . there is at length a specificall sapor in each thing , which ought to teach the property , if at least any of the outward things that are signed do so . for example , there is in cinamon besides sharpnesse , a peculiar grace in the sapor , which you shall hardly find in any other simple else . so gentian , enula-campana &c. besides common bitternesse , have a specificall sapor , which by reason of the singularity to every simple , cannot be brought under rules , and is the sole distinguisher of every property . now that simples are to be chosen when they are in their state and chief vigor , this is common to rusticks , to the schools , and to me . namely the seeds when they are almost dry ; but the stalks and leaves while they are succulent and full of sap ; but the roots while they swell with vertue , and are not yet exantlate and exhausted with generating and concocting : which after they have along time laine still , the archeus being awakened they begin to think of , sprouting . some advise to take the autumne ; but we for the most part love the spring , which we have learnt by experience in polypody , bryony &c. for the juice of herbs is gore which being more & more ripen'd , is either collected and thickn'd , or endeth in the nature of fibres , or dischargeth it selfe while the vitall power thinks of propagating seed : wherefore in searching out and chusing simples , nothing hath bin more neglected , then that which was most repuisite , and wherein even from the beginning down hitherto , there hath bin no progresse made . for the powers of simples , and their immediate subjects have remain'd unknown . for they , besides the clear , and as it were optick knowledge of them , require an exact praeparation , and appropriation ; especially the knowledge of sciences , which presupposeth not traditions deliver'd at pleasure , and passed over from one to another : but praeparation doth require not only the boylings of the shops , or poundings , but the whole business of pyrotechny , or art of working by fire : at length adaptation , application , or appropriation requireth a theory founded in the light of nature concerning man , his diseases and affections ; and then the dependences , mutations , and alterations : it is therefore no marvail that the single-sold doctrine of simples hath stood deserted , and forlorn . in the mean time amidst so great sloth and clamours of men , the almighty hath been pleas'd to stir up chymists , who might deservedly take in hand the consideration of the transmutation , maturity , tincture and promotion of powers , and so progressing by degrees to the unisone of physick , their followers became partakers of what they wished for . for they went not to the immeasurablenesse of the imaginary fain'd humors ; their strife , and chimaera of defluxions ; nor to the products or fruits of diseases ( by taking away of which they know there follow'd nothing but palliations of diseases , which are attended usually with apostate and direfull recidivations ) but they converted their study to those things , that had the priority of the former ; knowing that the potestative basis of many defects was imprinted in the archaeus of life . wherefore by the purity , simplicity and subtilty of remedies , that symbolize , they endeavour'd to enter into the middle life ; that so if any of them do not penetrate to those things whereof we are first constituted , yet at least in the threshold of them they open and expose their endowment , by exciting our powers by their grateful salutation . for nature doth not onely acknowledge the action of such agents as seem in a manner to be justly rank'd in the number of patients ; ( and only a corporal action is of this sort , and the obedience of the nutritive faculty : ) but there is also an other authority of agents not to be slighted , which is the exposal of the native endowment upon the very midst of the life of the archaeus , by reason of the sequestration from the delinquency of mortality , seculency and turbulency ; by means of which superiority , such kind of agents do not suffer from their patients , much lesse are alter'd by resistance or reaction . for some remedies thus prepar'd by the embosoming and secret insinuation of themselves , do so refresh our faculties , that they ascertain us that they came for this purpose in the world . for some recreat us with their fragrancy : there are others also which being enclos'd are hinder'd from shewing their good will towards us ; as gold and jewells . others , their bands being loos'd and emancipated from the fetters of corporiety , the alone remora and clog of their activity , are brought into play , and having gain'd the liberty and authority of their powers , to act in their own horizon , diradiate their vertues , erect us from falling , and solace us , with as strong and vigorous embracements , as rank and lethiferous poisons are wont to trip up and prosternat our strength . for they drive out the venome of the body wherewith it is as it were leaven'd ; yea truly , both the corporall and fermentall poison ; yet not that any medicine can refect or restore anew the extinct , abolish'd and exhausted powers implanted in the parts . but it hath been all along an error of the schools not to ferment the juices of herbs together with their parenchyma , before the segregation of the best parts can possibly be made . next they neglect to enquire how the juice of things being press'd out by the meer odour of a sulphureous fire , continueth afterwards uncorrupted , without that barbarian condiment , sugar , or any other additament ; by favour of which , it acquires a balsamick quality , and transfers the aetherial vertue , which is incorporated with it , to a high and perfect entelechy . we are now come within ken of our expected port , and now will we descend to the weak and pigmie labours of the shops . in the first place , though extracts may seem to ease the weak stomach of labour , yet do we not much esteem them , or salute them with that magnifying , as they do their hector and ajax , those two alexipharmicall colossi , * hew'd out of ethnick dispensatories , and that for the above noted errors . but we willingly put magisteryes in the room of extracts ; in which the whole substance of the thing is reduc'd into its primitive juice : which manner of preparation will for ever remain unknown to vulgar physitians . in which iteration or going back of solution , the heterogenerous juices are of their own accord separated , for the most part with divers sediments or bottomes , one swimming over the other , and one master-juice settles , notable for its diversity , containing a seminall entity or substance . in the next place we pitty in physick ware-houses , the miscellaneous mixture , and confus'd jumblings together of so many simples , betraying both ignorance and uncertainty . for that cardinal engine of uncertain succedaneums , doth scrue the schools to hope , that if one thing do not help , another will ; oh the shame of men ! and so they associate many things together by the commendation of the common councell of herbalists , extoll'd , even to an enacting , for the same purpose . to which are added those fripperies of vulgar heads , stew'd in the hypocaust of ignorance , boiling and conditing , or seasoning , the twin-born sisters of cookery . to which purpose dispensatories are commended , being set forth by the schools , and us'd by physitians , only for expedition and readinesse , but not for propriety and exigence ; as having only generall and universall intentions , with the substitution and dispensation of one instead of another ; whence they are call'd dispensatories , or the colledges poud'ring tub , wherein are barrel'd up many mixtures , neither of their own , and which is worse without salt. as though men had not brick of their own to make , but they must gather the straw and stubble of galen and his fodder-eaters ; a servitude worse , and baser then aegyptian : what do we else then make their 's the light of goshen , and our own the thick darknesse of aegypt . that there should be bread enough in our fathers house , in our own land , which is not a wildernes , & yet that we should have such trunck-hos'd appetites , be so parsimonious as to dyet our selves , & be ty'd up to the manger ; and feed upon the husks , and chaff of ethnick and barbarian long-winded compositions , that have no footing in nature or art ; nor any analogy among themselves , or to our bodies . but suppose them good , supppose them manna it self ; yet if an omer shall be allotted us ; if they shall be barrel'd up from age to age , from the first gathering to this last century , while god and nature every morning rains down new , instead of being fit to use , they will be found like reserv'd manna , rather to breed worms and stink . well may they be called dispensatories ; as of dys , and penso , things hard of digestion , or hardly consider'd or weigh'd in the ballance of clear reason or experience . in all and every of which , the concourse and mixture of crude simples makes the issue conjecturall . for the patient is every waies cheated for his money , both by the fraud of the druggist , and oath of the doctor ; thinking that he can neither err , deceive nor be deceiv'd that swears he will admit none to the degrees of physick , but him that is skilfull and able . we could wish and and pray the magistrate would prevent so great mistaking of the patients , and fraud of the physitians . for our own part we chiefly admire in simples a sincere composition which is made according to the composure of god. in comfrey we finde a full remedy for broken bones , having all things that are needfull ; wherewith if you mingle bole , vineger , or other forreign things , as we before hinted out of paracelsus , you then corrupt the mixture ordain'd by god. but as oft as the things have not by themselves what is intended , then we admit additions , if the things acquire that by being coupled together , which they have not apart : which thing is to be confirm'd by an experiment . and indeed we have a most pregnant instance hereof in inke and tinctures . oftentimes under the penance of studies we have consider'd that since there was in nature a certain proportion of matter to matter , and form to form , that there was the same observ'd in properties to properties , and consequently in effects to effects . but the composition of simples did by and by teach our understandings , the defect of these ; where alterations presently enter upon the mixture of seed , and for the most part destroy one another ; no otherwise then the seeds of many things pounded together and blended , elude the expectation of encrease . afterwards we knew by much sweat and oil , that the matters of remedies , exalted to a higher dignity by meer preparation , ascend to the top of perfection , liberty , subtilty , and purity ; and would far excell the decoctions , syrups , and honyed pouders of the shops . for whosoever is well skill'd in the mechanick practise of pyrotechny , doth clearly perceive with me , that there is no medicine found in dispensatories , that containeth not in it more hurt then good . for the schools , which professe hippocrates , if they acknowledge diseases to arise from a humour that is sharp , bitter , salt , or acid , they yet palliate , and season all their remedies with honey , or sugar ; thereby abating the properties of them , though of themselves they be feeble enough ; as if the only cure and top of all diseases consisted in that which is sweet . for their answer is , that laxatives work never the worse , although sugar'd ; then , that they are more gratefull to the palate ; and thirdly that they are by this meanes kept from mouldinesse and putrifaction . as to the first , we admit that poisons have equal force whether they be swallow'd with , or without sugar : for the power of laxatives sheweth it self wholly in the melting of the body , and the putrefaction of that which is melted , and so ought to be infamous for poison wherefore the answer of the schools is impertinent , by poisons , to the question , touching the remedies of diseases , as they are bitter , sharp , &c. to the second we say , that the answer is frivolous as long as the first is not satisfied . so that they are as yet ignorant , that the militia of remedies are too contemptible to charge a disease , and that the force and fort-royall of them are changed and abated by sugar . that to many , the tast of aloes is more pleasant then the drinking of honey . finally , though they desire to sooth the tongue , yet they cannot sooth the stomach , which turns at the very sight of medicines cover'd with the leger-demain of sugar : of the same size of foppery is that bauble for babies , gilded pills . notorious it is , that a thing of ●ew drops is more easily taken in some vehicle , or liquor , and is more willingly entertain'd within , then if it were sweetned with much sugar . in a word , that being mixt with a convenient liquor , they insinuate themselves more deeply , and more friendly combine , then if they were daub'd with much sugar . that sugar though pleasing to them that are in health , doth yet quickly grow distastfull to such as are sick , and is an utter enemy in most diseases of the stomach and womb ; but in others , it often makes the help of the medicine added , to become ridiculous . for sugar is diametrically opposite , is the antartick pole , and at enmity with the acid ferment of the stomach , and therefore makes the digestions more difficult . for sugar is clarified with a lixivium of unstalk'd lime and potters clay : and if physitians had known the sharpnesse of the spirit of honey , and the filthy dregs of sugar , charity being not quite graded , we have the freenesse to think , they would have been content , to have us'd it more sparingly about the sick . to the third , we say , that the schools do herein confesse their ignorance , that they know not how to preserve medicaments from corruption , without saucing , and castration of their vigour ; wherefore the fraud of beastly syrups , loches , eclegm's , and other the tribe of daubing medicines , hath been sufficiently detected ; which are made only of simples decocted , with the additament of honey or sugar : and it makes for this , that vegetables being boil'd in water , and frighted out of their wits , only lay down their juice and mucilage ; which being crude and impure , cause trouble to the stomach , untill being digested with honey , they make us heirs of their vertue ; especially in that the gummosity of herbs , which are fryed with honey and sugar , is very ingrateful and displeasing to the stomach , and in boiling , there is made a great wast of the vertues . i praise god who hath been so bountifull to me , as to call me to the practise of chymistry , out of the dregs of other professions : since chymistry hath principles not drawn from fallacious reasonings , but such as are known by nature , & conspicuous by fire ; and she prepareth the intellect to penetrate , not the upper deck or surface of things , but the deep hold , the concentrick and hidden things of nature ; and maketh an investigation into the america of nature , farther then the whole heptarchy , yea , then the whole common-wealth of sciences , all put together , and peirceth unto the utmost confines and profundities of reall truth . for she admits an artist to the radicall entities or primitive roots of those things , with the dearticulation of the operations of nature , and the powers of art , and with the maturation of seminall vertues . for besides the manifest entity and creation of things , there is an anatomical lecture of the various creations and entities of them , to be read of us , and understood by us : besides the generall and manifest creation of things , the particular form of things , not the peripateticks forms , is to be examin'd , and much to be read and learn'd from the variousnesse , and that , not only of the generall form , but every single and particular form of the individuall . and we must note , that the anaglyphe or exteriour cortex and figure of things is the hieroglyphick of an essentiall , true , reall , powerfull spirit ; beyond all the artificiall , superficiall , pyramidall hieroglyphicks of the aegyptians : for in those dead leaves , is written in folio , in large characters , a living power or spirit of life ; for besides its own spirit , it hath another , which is the wheell or primum mobile of it . every ens beside its own particular heaven or firmament hath the heaven of sidereall and vitall light . hence also the essence , property , and vertue of every particular individuall is as well , if not rather , occult , then manifest ; and the true medicinall part in vegetables , as in all other things , which is the essence , propriety , vertue , strength , efficacy , life and soul of the compositum and every specifick part , is not contain'd in the externall coat or form : for physick , to speak to be understood of them , who know not what they speak themselves , or medicine , the essence of the thing , is not externe , to be seen with physiognomisticall corporall eyes , but interne , and to be sensibly perceiv'd by the eye of the intellect . for the sunne of every ens , concentred in its own firmament , doth not so diradiate its beams of vertue , and strength , to its earth , the exterior cortex , as to have her vestall virgin beauty prostitute and ly open to the foul rape of an impure tact , and embracement ; or contaminated by the cloudy emissions , of our basilisk corporall eyes ; but is to be gently handled , and drawn forth by philosophick pyrotechny . for the most high is to be prais'd for his transcendent glory , who hath given this art to little ones gratis . neither are we of a cast with those praecisians in the lady like humours of farre fetch'd , and dear bought gew-gaws : for we seldome use remedies that are transmarine , that come from beyond the seas , and are fetch'd from the furthest parts of the east ; knowing that it is not need , makes our old wife to trot ; but that the almighty hath made all nations of the earth easie to be cur'd : nor would he have us such trugs to expect barbarian drugs from the indian shore . what an absurd consequence , and what a shame it is to think that god was lesse favourable to mortalls before the indies were known . such is the trade , habit , and iterate custome and practises of our indian drug-merchants and physick-mongers ; such is the zealous and ignorant affectation , stupidity and perverse covetous nature of some ; the hammer of whose desires , beats on the anvill of compleating and filling up the measure of the vices and miseries of their native countrey , by the importation of forreign and heathenish drugs . what is this but to nose the high and sagacious genius of the english nation , and to lay them open to the scorn and derision of other nations , and give them just cause to play and descant upon the poverty and improvidence of nature in our own countrey , to furnish us with remedies , for our maladies ; as if we had no smith in england , but must per mare , per terras , ultra garamantes & indos , run to supply her deficiency . and the iniquity hereof shall be further shew'n by a familiar instance , though the luxury and pride of those who sacrifice to the grapy god , open their mouthes wide , and gnash their teeth against me . what more foul and common sinne among us then drunkennesse , and who can be ignorant , that if the importation of wine , and the use of all strong drink were forbid , it would both clean ridde the possibility of committing that most odious vice , and men might afterwards live happily and healthfully , without the use of those intoxicating liquors . yet who is there the severest of them all , that ever propounded to loose his sack , his ale , toward the certain abolishing of so great a sin , who is there of them the holiest , that lesse loves his rich canary at meals , though it be fetch'd from places that hazard the religion of them who fetch it , and though it make his neighbour drunk out of the same tun ? while they forbid not therefore the use of that liquid merchandize , which forbidd'n would utterly remove a most loathsome sinne , and not impair either the health , or the refreshment of mankind , supply'd many other waies : what can be expected in such a field of ryot , but the tares and thistles of mortifick distempers and maladies , and a course and custome of easinesse , and boldnesse to rush into all manner of debaucheries ? he to remove a nationall vice , will not pardon his cups , nor think it concerns him to forbear the quaffing of that outlandish grape , in his unnecessary fulnesse , though other men abuse it never so much , nor is he so abstemious as to intercede with the magistrates , that all matter of drunkennesse be banish'd the common-wealth ; we have the lesse cause to hope , so long as a thing of as much , if not greater concernment , and of as little , if not lesse inconvenience , will not be forbidden , as this of forbearing the fetching of all exotick , indian and barbarian drugs , and heathenish compositions for physick , which would not worse , but much better our condition , is a thing so little regarded , and hath hitherto lyen so undiscern'd , and undemanded . what is this , but to use the mouth of our generall parent , the first time it opens , when he said or saw that all things he had made were very good , to an arrogant opposition , and correcting of gods wisdome , freenesse and bounty ; as if he were more carelesse and lesse regarding us , then other nations , though sinners of the gentiles ; or that nature was more improvident , insufficient , and deficient towards us in her good things ; or that the things of our countrey were not good , or not good enough ( lamentabile dictu ) for the cure of our home-bread dlseases , but must be beholding to others to supply the defects of god and nature , both as supplement , and correctives . no , no , we with serious tears speak it , that it is mans perverse cooking , who hath turn'd this bounty of god into a scorpion , either by weak and shallow commenting with their numerous , voluminous and impertinent amplifications and modifications ; or by proud arrogance , covetousnesse , envy , and cruelty to them , who neither in their purposes , nor in their actions have offended against the due honour of physick , especially pyrotechnall : for to our common and underfoot chymistry and jumblings of apothecaries , is the tendence of them , who have the leisure to be industriously idle ; and he who shall be tediously studious in it , argues a dulness little less then fatal , and hardly on this side sorcery , or inchantment , not to be undone by charms , or prayers : insomuch that the fears which some men may have of an invasion and innovation into the eutopian empire of galenical heathenish physick , and constituting more clear , natural and experimentall foundations and principles , perhaps exceed the hopes that can be in others of ever introducing it with any great successe . and that such a thing ought to be done , and chearfully gone about , and setl'd , enough hath been urg'd , and yet shall further ; since we are clearly of that opinion , that it will be a harder alchimy then lully or paracelsus ever knew , to extract or sublimate any sure reall foundations of physick out of galen , and his task-masters . so that we see , without the help of further light , salomons ships are more welcome that bring apes and peacocks , and i know not what monsters both of principles and practise ; then the gold of ophir . nothing now adaies is more degenerately forgotten then the true dignity of man , almost in every respect , but especially in this , and which is the aggravation , so neerly concerning himself . indeed mans disposition though prone to search after vain curiosities , yet when points of difficulty and danger are to be discuss'd , appertaining to the removall of some unreasonable wrong , burden , injury and abuse from the perplex'd life of our brother , it is incredible how cold , how dull , and farre from all fellow-feeling we are : but when neither the spur of philautie and self-concernment , as this of our dear life and health , brought into unworthy snares , without which we are uselesse and spiritlesse to our selves and the common-wealth , shall not stir us up to consider and bethink of an expedient to get from under them , into a more generous , easie , safe and exquisite way , both to preserve and obtain our healths ; either not to plead for it , or nor to see it , argues a coldnesse , dulnesse and dotage little lesse then incurable , or a stark deadnesse , contracted by the opium and lethargy of epidemick ignorance : indignities that merit a lucans spirit to lay open and explode them . and seriously by this and other of the like bulk and size , if the genius of english men must thus go a fishing on t'other side to have a draught , must be sent a pilgrimage to the worlds end , and fetch home the apes and peacocks of forreigners , and their chimaericall humours , and all the way strike top-sail , stand bare and vail with reverence , to the statue of dispensatories of others ignorance and unexperienced formalities , and suffer these spurious brats to take the wall of all the free spirit of clear reasoning , and the sons of art and ingenuity , we are no better then slaves and fools , and of desert to be reckon'd with the sonnes of cham , and to work in the laboratory of the gibeonites . let us resolve then like men humble in the sight of god , and with no lesse faith and a serious judgement apply our selves to the freeness and bounty of god in our own native country : and know all the world , that the divine goodnesse hath perswaded me that home-bred diseases have their remedies likewise at home . and chymicall conclusions have taught me , that a little liquor may be provided , which will keep the tempers of simples uncorrupted , without any forreign condiment . they boil therefore herbs in water , wine , or distill'd liquor , ( the absurditie , vanitie and iniquity of which shall further be shewen anon ) even till the third part , or half be consum'd , in a double vessell under a double cover , and so make a decoction , or anti-chimicall porridge ; wherein if the chiefest powers do not perish , or are not evirate ; yet is there nothing drawn from thence , but an ill pleasing and distastfull slime of herbs , to be digested by the stomach ; although the decoctions and juices be clarified with whites of fgges , and palliated with sugar . for they are drunk without separation of that which is pure , from that which is strengthlesse ; without unlocking the hidden powers by the turn-key of pyrotechny ; without the root and participation of the life , or emendation of the defects , crudities , excrements , and violent powers , whose activities we have no opium to dead , nor our nature cannot without great prejudice endure . within the same list are marshall'd electuaries , confections , or pills , either to comfort , or to loosen ; who abound with greater miseries then the syrups ; for without boiling , with meer pounding or poud'ring they are ridiculously , ignorantly and unadvisedly fram'd of many simples , which for the most part are in antipodaean position , and diametrally opposite one to another ; so that they cannot conjoin the mutuall help which they owe unto us . for it is not in nature as it is in numbers , where the powers all meet in one , because they agree by unities . for in natute every thing is singular , and lives of it self not delighting in conjunction . thus far likewise the operations of physick proceed into the middest of the life of the archeus ; which by confusions and blendings , if it do not altogether perish , yet is it at least manifestly evirate . for the frustrated successes of many seeds compacted together , and the autopticall unsuccesfulness of physitians , by these weak and contemptible engines ought to have given sufficient warning to the schools , that they should forbear from blending so many and different simples together . how much more when in that multitude , many counterfeit , opposite , uselesse , ( but otherwise for the most part ponderous ) impertinent , vain , improper , and therefore faint , over-worn , evill , and dead things are added , or at least made : for although the adulterating of drugs are more justly charged upon the merchant then the druggist ; yet not to garble them , is the part of a sluggish , ignorant , or covetous apothecary . in the mean time it is certain that almost all the ingredients are taken crude , hard , unripe , shut , poisoned , impure , bound , and unapt to the communication of their powers , and are more depraved by mixture . and because the stomach of sick persons is hard-by , and in the threshold , therefore it is first offended , because it is feeble and unfit to extract the middle life , beset with so many difficulties : wherefore we ought in our labours and singular care , to be before-hand , that we may prepare all things for the languishing stomack , if we hope with delight to attain unto the conceiv'd and wished ends . wherefore the use of all confections is harsh , nauseous and tedious : hence came the proverb , take that away , for it smells like a medicine . likewise if you take from solutives , scammony and coloquintida , the whole edifice of the shops in solutives , will fall to the ground , those two pillars being remov'd , whereon it rested . for solutives besides scammony , coloquintida , euphorbium elaterium , esula and manifest poisons , and those beside adulterated , sordid and horrid ; the source of the diminution of our forces and strength , contein nothing else , unlesse the same poisons be suppos'd to be allayed with aloes , rubarb , sene , agarick , manna and the like , and so the more liable to imposture . the schools acknowledge that their purges down to agarick , have need of correction , to the intent , that they may bring in their very mouthes strength unto nature : but ah would to god such lame corrections were not idle and unprofitable , were not foolish ; and that they might serve rather to compare the innocence of the medicine then his castration or gelding his powers : because castration of powers , concludes and carries deceit in the very face ; least , as who should say , the sick might understand the poison , that is in it . the balefull remedies also of the shops , are like a crocodile , or domestick wolfe ; who seeing his occasion , whil'st he is trusted to , returnes to his wonted fiercenesse and cruelty of nature : hence neither dare they call their so corrected medicines by their proper etymon : that is to say , they hide scammony , under the name of diagredium , as also colocynthis , they disguise under alhandal . at length the compound laxatives in the dispensatories , do war under a fain'd and counterfeit title of dux . in the mean while they cannot deny , but that in all , and every of their solutives , scammony and coloquintida , are the two pillars , on whom , the whole edifice of purging doth rest and lean ; in the collision of which , all , whatsoever is built thereon , doth fall to the ground . their more gentle solutives then , as manna , cassia , seney , rubarb &c. have given up their names to those two burley standard leaders . the schooles confesse that a laxative medicine being exhibited , is no longer in the power of the physitian ; yea , and that more is , they by this means defame the laxatives , and therefore esteem them lesse and set them behind phlebotomy . for if the laxative hath committed any thing too cruel , they are wont to accuse either the dose , or the correction , or the sluid nature of the sick , or the apothocary , or the servants , or the wife , or some bodie , or something , least otherwise the name and fame of a solutive medicine should perish : yet notwithstanding in the mean while they confesse , will they nill they , that all solutives contein in them a corrupting , wasting poison , and onely aloes alone , they have made a proverb , and call it innocuous . but the rest are administred with additament , correction and circumspection , and not preposterously , nor overhastily . of late , a certain learned man to preserve his health , took the usuall pill , ex aloe lota , ( castrata potius ) and not finding the effect , he goes to round another physitian in the eare , and tells him of it , who blames the sluggishnesse of aloes , and moreover turns picron sive amarum , into pigrum : i 'le prescribe you , saies he , gelded pills ; which being taken , he miserably perishes , because he had labour'd a whole week in vain , that he might reform the disorder'd effect of the laxative medicine . he therefore that he might free himself from a future disease , perishes by the deceit of the physitian , and leaves behinde him eleven children . whence first it is manifest , that it 's as free in a laxative to rage fierce in one , that is well in health , as in one that is sick ; for this thing may goe on raging against the life of magistrates and chiefest governours , and that scot-free , without danger of punishment , under those two cheats , the name of a physitian , and the deceit of a medicine ; because the earth covers the cruell ignorance and unskilfulnesse of the physitians . it 's a specious title truly that of purgation or depuration , but full of deceit god knowes . ah! would to god that the physitians purge could expiate diseases . would to god as touching this , it may not be , that the sick would expect purges from the hands of a physitian , or his prescription . it 's worth our serious sorrow surely that they say , a loosning medicine administred before the concoction of the disease , brings forth those humours ( for they wil have laxatives have eyes , like that epidaurean serpent , to bring forth by selection one humour and not another ) which otherwise , after the aforesaid concoction of the disease , would be unusefull , yea , and hurtfull . notwithstanding neither will they learn hitherto from hence , that the humours brought out by laxatives , are not humours , nor things offending ; ( for otherwise , in either station of a disease , and with one only laxative , they should necessarily help equally , if they bring out the same peccant matter ) but meer putrefaction , and meer rotten consum'd melted matter through the poison of the laxatives . so much the more unhappily is the enemy receiv'd , in regard he may exercise this cruell raging and ravening within , in the flesh and in the bloud . to prosecute the deciphering of those cruelties and outrages which are committed by laxatives , it will not be besides our purpose , to relate a story of our friend in this businesse , which he mentions of himself ; and it is that acute philosopher and ingenious helmont , who when he was young , put on the glove of a certain damosell infested with a dry itch or scab ; where he had contracted , first on that hand , then on the other , an unlucky scabbinesse , of a purulent constitution , and with pustules . the senior physitians of the city being called , they commanded , first a veine to be open'd for the cooling of the liver : then , with an apozeme for three daies , they addressed themselves to prepare for the deduction of yellow torrid choler , and salt flegme ; and at length they intend the purgation of the aforesaid humours , by the pills of fumitory , and they abundantly provoked many seiges . and he was therwith glad , that he had excreted such a heap of stinking matter . they advise therefore the same medicine to be taken the third day after , and again also after three daies with the like successe : and saies he , if all had been put together , it would have easily filled two buckets of filthy rotten and stinking stuffe ; which he did then think to be humours . he then who before was sound and lustie , in his full strength , light and ●imble in leaping and running ; was now made macilent , his knees trembling , his cheekes were fallen , and his voice hoarse . i said ( relates he ) and that too late . in what chamber of this my peaceable inne , did this croud of s●i●king and unworthy guests lodge and take up quarters ? for i found not , neither in the crown office , my head ; nor in the white-hall of my brest , or unckle johns-house of my body the belly , any place for so great a farrago . for although all my bowells should be taken away , yet could not the whole iakes or cavity contein scarce halfe the quantity . i conclude therefore with my selfe , that those humors were not preexisting ▪ but made in me . and i knew , that that rotten stinking melted stuffe , was made by the medicine i had taken ; which same thing would have come to passe as often as i had taken it : but it seems he was still troubled with his guest , the scrubadoe , and that the same scab had possess'd him as before . whence may be known . 1. that this our porous velame , that is obtended like a scarfe over the whole frame of the body is the topick habitaculum of that contagion the f●b , and is a disease of the pellis , and scarce enters beyond the confines of the membrana carnosa , and not an intemperature of the liver . 2. that the vitious temper of those humours in the scab , are false and fain'd , which were produc'd by the onely tact of the glooe . 3. that laxative medicines doe not at all purge or mundifie , but putirfie . 4. that they eliquate the vivid substance of the body , and resolve it into corruption . 5. that they indifferently contaminate whatsoever by any meanes they can come unto ; whether it be the bloud , or the living flesh it self ; and that they doe not , nor cannot selectively separate and draw forth one humour , from another . 6. that the contaminated doth denote his contaminating to be meer poyson , and doth effect onely the liquefaction and putrefaction of the body . 7. that the contaminated matter , nature driving forth , will flow out untill the whole strength of the medicine be exantlate . 8. that this cometh to pass as well in a sound man , as in a sick . 9. and therefore that a solutive medicine ▪ is full of danger , before nature is victrix in diseases : for afterwards , it doth not so manifestly shew its hurt . which things having so seriously weigh'd with my self unto satiety of conviction and satisfaction , gave me ample cause to suspect the use of laxatives , especially those of the shops now in common use . a woman in sepulchres parish neer snow-hill , of a laudable constitution , strong and lustie , took a potion of my own prescription , and it was onely of the common infusion of senna and rubarb ; to whose streining was added only one ounce of syrup of cychory with rubarb ; and she confessed , with others , it gave her above fourty stooles , and might have gone very neer to have done violence to her life , had not i with much industry applyed my self to stay it ; which was done with good successe . a certain man also took a scammoniate medioine , and in one day , it gave him above fourty stools , which together with his pisse that he made that day , was weigh'd , and they weigh'd eighteen pounds and seven ounces of stinking yellow stuffe . now in sooth , if that rotten melted stuffe , be choler , and one of the four ; then the residue of fleam in the body , ( exceeding choler by one third part , according to galen ) shall weigh twenty seven pounds and ten ounces ; and by the same compute , there shall exceed nine pounds , and three ounces of pure black choler ; that is , of fleam and melancholy not mingl'd with yellow choler , thirty six pound and thirteen ounces . it 's clear therefore that in a purge there is no purification of the body , but rather a distemperature of the remaining humours if there be any such things . then , that the aforesaid solution , is not a selective mundation of the choler , or a freeing of the body from superfluous choler : but a meer putrefactive eliquation of the bloud . because while the bloud is in the veins , it doth not stink ; but by and by , it stinks in the guts , in the same instant , when it falls out of the veins : but i pray you , what house of office or close-stool is there in the body , that can contain thirty seven pounds of fleam , and the remnants of black choler ? chiefly when from a purge , the veins which before were full , are now fallen , and appear no more : for the following morning , the wretched man who trusted to the physitians judgement , and thought himself so well purg'd and cleans'd , speaks now with a small , sharp and hoarse voice ; his hands tremble , his knees shake , his eyes hollow , his veins exhausted his look ghastly , and press'd with an unreasonable thirst , and dejected appetite , thought he should never recover : and certainly if the dose of the laxative had been greater , it would have had his due , and might have made but an ill businesse of it . by this strong purgation then , may be gess'd , nay doth clearly appear the virulent propriety of solutives . the physitians having their excuse ready , and to salve up the businesse and their ignorance say , it was the easie nature of the man , in obeying the medicine too much , thereby shunning the aforesaid colluvies of the remaining humours , and also the disproportion of the same . the which scammoneats , doth not onely draw forth choler out of propriety ; but of the bloud it selfe , or the compound out of the four , there is made up that one liquamen , that heap of stinking resolv'd matter : whence we again conclude it an imposture and cheat , which supposes to bring forth choler or fleam , or avouches , that purges , so call'd , are the gold-finders , or like the city night-men , do cleanse and mundify the body of its filth and impurities by the besome of laxation or appropriate and selective deduction ; or that they can single out one humour from another , and fall foul upon it , and like a special bayliff , arrest one humour from all its fellows , without bail or mainprise , though they are all , subsidy entities according to the galenists ) and of the grand jury at the assizes of life and death held in the guild-hall or court of our body ▪ which to affirm is a madnesse and dotage beyond the power of helebore ; when themselves confesse that all are eliquated together : and according to galen , when the bloud begins to putrefie there is made choler : and it 's false that a cholagogall medicine ( verbi gratia ) will cure ●ilious diseases . and that it is a deceit in them , who say , they bring out choler , when the other three being first corrupted , are also cast forth . there is no man that is studious of truth who doth not understand this thing presently , that the basis of healing of the antients is overthrown , as well in respect of the humours , as of the selection of solutive medicines . to me seriously it 's a wonder not much on this side an astonishment , that the world hath not yet consider'd the perniciousnesse of laxatives , who otherwise can so quickly sent and perceive any vile arts bordering upon their own purse or profit . it 's out of doubt truly , but that laxatives may carry an occult poison , which hath made so many thousands of poor widowes and orphans . nor do they bring forth a singular humour after them , which things never were in nature , unlesse in the books of physitians . for truly , encrease the dose of the laxative , and it betrayes it self to be a deadly poison . well , go to yet , i pray you , why doth that your choler following with such a swift flux , stink so abominably , which but one quarter of an hour before , did not stink at all ? for the celerity of the flux , takes away the occasion of putrefaction , and so also of stink . for 't is a cadaver or dead body that stinks , & not the turd : neither could it so suddenly borrow , or be impregnated with such a savour of a strong stinking turd from the gutts . therefore stink smells of poison , and indicates an efficient poison , and cadavorous matter taken from the living : which i doe thus experimentally prove . if any one have drunk a dram of white vitriol , dissolv'd in wine , by and by it provokes vomit . but if presently upon the drinking of it , he takes down a draught of beer , water , &c. he shall truly have most stools , and yet verily without stink . scammony therefore and vitriol do equally liquate the mesaraick bloud : this truly , with the violent ponticity of it self ; but that , with the putrefactive and stinking strong poison of the laxatives . for which consideration alone , a purgation , ought to be suspected as a cruel and stupid invention . for if according to galen , while the bloud begins to putrefie there is made choler , then that same stinking , and yellow melted matter driven out by laxatives , and counterfeiting choler , is generated of putrefied bloud : and by consequence the laxatives themselves are resolvers and putreiyers of the bloud : which is easily gather'd out of galen , against the schools wills . for he chiefly commends triacle , forasmuch as it powerfully resists poisons : also he asserts it , to be the most knowing signe of the best triacle , that if triacle be taken , together with laxatives , undoubtedly there will not follow any seiges . do not these words of galen convince , that laxatives are meer poisons ? to which suspition , the effects also do agree . for a purging medicine being taken , both the sick man and the sound do equally cast out resolved matter , of the same colour , smell and condition : wherefore it doth not expell the peccant humour , before the non-peccant , but doth indifferently contaminate whatsoever it comes to . moreover the schools do impugn this selective liberty which they attribute to laxatives . for if any humour of the four be putrid in feavers , it doth naturally betoken the ablation of it : but laxatives may selectively draw out the humour out of the bloud ; yea , in sound folks , as they list they liquefie the sound flesh ; that thence they may obtain their scope , which is to pour down the stinking rotten resolv'd matter , into the common-shoar of the oeconomy , of which the womb makes ejectment . verily laxatives will not have the like liberty in feavers , to the drawing forth of the peccant and putrid excrement . for the putrid hath no more its pristine essence and properties , which it had before its putrefaction . for although the loadstone may draw iron ; it will not therefore draw rust . therefore though a purging medicine may resolve the flesh and bloud , that thence it may draw forth choler , which by a specifick propriety , being o'recome , doth draw unto it self : it doth not therefore in like sort draw the putrid and putrefied matter included in the veins , which would be the cause of feavers . there is no man truly should ever dy by feavers , if those two axioms of the schools were true : to wit , if putrid humours be the cause of feavers ; and also , if they yield selectively to purges : it would over and beside be mad caution , that purging medicines should not be given in the beginning of feavers , before the matter grew turgid ; that is to say , before a maturity and concoction of the peccant matter , whence is sufficiently manifest , that the black and dismall use of laxatives are hardly on this side the banks of phlegetontal and direfull evils . but if they should be given after that the matter of the disease is rightly subdu'd , the aforesaid caution contains an imposture too , forasmuch as the effect procur'd of its own accord and by the benefit of nature , is attributed to the solvent medicine : from which also truly the good and honest physitian should more justly abstain ; because else it may perturb the crisis , and induce the danger of confusion and recidivation : verily a true and perfect purge , which is to say , a cleanser of the body , ought to work onely upon impure , unsound bodies . here it ought to be a herculean actor in the augaean stables or dunghill of impurities , and not in the seraglio or fresh and fair garden of healthy and sound persons . and because of this it 's most perfect , which first of all insensibly lulls asleep and pacifies the archeus , which afterwards ( seeing nature is sola medicatrix ) mowes down the weeds , the thornes and thistles of diseases , and morbifick distempers , and the occasionall causes of them . but they object for their purgers , that it 's nothing , though a laxative medicine casts forth the laudable juice out of the veins , chiefly because it drives out with a stronger power and shorter cut the morbifick faeces . nor is it greatly to be regarded , though solutives do make a little diminution of the strength , with the more crude bloud . but it may be made appear unto ample satisfaction by the consent of experience , that laxatives do not take away the noxious humours , or any disease lodg'd in them . then , that there are no such things in nature ; nor was ever this meridian of humours ever touch'd or come nigh to , by those , who , drake-like , have compass'd the whole globe and round of nature , and taken all her dimensions by the jacobs staff of perspective reason and experience ; but hangs onely ( like castles in the aire ) in the eutopia of vulgar physitians brains , or in the narrow creek of their base-born books , and no where else : neither do any diseases respond or goe a pilgrimage to lodge in the new-found-land of americall or prestor-john humours . then also , that whatsoever the catharticks profligate , banish , and cast out from the independency of our vitall oeconomy , is not one of the three humours which they say offends , is become malignant , and endeavours to settle a commission of array , to plunder not the petty suburbs but the westminster-hall of our sanity and strength , and hath been found , not onely pleading for the monarchy and tyranny of diseases and distempers , but in actuall armes against the re-publique ; for which he is adjudg'd a delinquent and traitor , and to be sequestred and thrust out of the lines of communication , by the back-door or port esquiline of our healthfull city : but is onely the honest round-head , a true and peaceable common-wealth's-man ; the bloud who is chosen and ordain'd to be one of the keepers of the liberties , life and health of our bodies , now slain by the laxative medicine , and sacrific'd as a holocaust on the altar of its virulency and poison . therefore neither dare they give purges in acute feavers , unlesse it be after the matter grow's ●urgid , which is as much as to say , after nature hath return'd conqueresse ▪ for when the diseas'd guest is o'recome and now of his own accord about to retreat , would fall out , with other filth brought to passe by the physick ! unlesse the archeus being pricked with indignation by an hostile impression of the virulent medicine cast in , stirs up a fresh assault or recidivation of the disease ; which thing we have observ'd to happen frequently . every laxative therefore is absolutely noxious , and also frustraneous , we should therefore be guilty before god , and uncharitable to man , if we did not perswade to abstain altogether from purges . for let but a virulent solutive be a little while detain'd in the stomack , and it doth putrefie , and contaminate whatsoever was deposited in the mesentery to better uses : and drawes in place of the putrefi'd treasury , the depurated bloud from the vena cava , and doth leisurely contaminate it with a virulent contagion , and eliquate it with the stinking ferment of the cadaver . hence is that losse and overthrowing of the strength by laxatives , and perturbation of the vitall monarchy , without hope of sanation from thence . and this rage of the laxatives doth endure , not only when they are present , but after they are gone , they leave such a tincture behind them , as causeth the body to work till it 's wholly spent , and hath sufficiently sated it self on the living substances thereof ; for the poison hath tainted with its contagion both the stomach and intestines . for so in some persons an artificiall diarrhaea hath arisen , which thence forwards hath continu'd untill their dying day , and laugh'd at the promis'd help , and inefficacious try'd means of astringents . the use of laxatives therefore are altogether to be disallow'd and forbidden : repetitions of purgations are more wicked and hurtfull ; and indeed every purge is both frustraneous and hurtfull , in respect , they levell their power onely against the productions or effects , and not against the causes ; chiefly when viscid excrements are seated remotely from the stomack , they are too stubborn and refractory to yield to the laxative operation of purgers . if any please to adde , that although laxatives may seem to have afforded ease and relief , for a day or two after their use insomuch as the masse of crude and inconfected bloud in the mesaraick veins being voided by stool , there must of necessity succeed the more sparing dispensation of blood through the body , and penury of nourishment in the lungs , and by consequence a lesse quantity of excrement be rejected : yet do they , by substracting from the necessary aliment of the whole , and by leaving behind them an evil tincture in the instruments of common digestion , every day more and more infringe the universall oeconomy of the body , and impugn the conserving vigour of nature . wherefore we conclude with hippocrates ad democritum that every solutive works with the deprae'dation of the strength , and very substance of our bodies . wherefore there is no physitian , that can faithfully or dares freely promise health ; by any laxatives of the shops . but true solutives , as they neither putrefie , nor bring forth selectively any fain'd humours ; nor resolve the vitalls , so do they discover themselves by a three-fold character . first , that they bring forth nothing out of a sound body , nor do they move , alter , or make it ●m . then that they thrust not any thing out ; but what offends : and therfore do not aggravate but lighten the burden , and then by and by the sick feels himself well . then thirdly , that they draw not forth the disease neither by sweat , vomit , or seige ; but insensibly resolve , in whatsoever part the disease is lodg'd , the rest nature being busied about . laxatives of this sort do not selectively bring out humours ( which are fain'd in themselves ) but ( seeing that we are not nourished but with one onely juice , namely , bloud , therefore we intend the propulsion , not of bloud , but of morbisick exerements ) do resolve whatsoever exotick or alien guest is inserted within the inne of life , but not the vitalls : unlesse they be taken in an indiscreet dose or too often : otherwise they onely respect excrements , nature with in lending help to this purpose . thus then the compound laxatives of the shops have appear'd in their colours , that they are an imposture , meer poisons , resolvers of the flesh and bloud , diminishers of our strength and substance , and themselves diminished , and enervated of their powers by their correctives . wherefore we hate the preparation of simples , as oft as lotion , boiling , rosting , association , or calcination wasteth the powers thereof . for aloe● by ablution looseth the juice , and there remaineth a meer rozen , which by its adhaesion to the entrails , stirreth up gripings and hemorroids . in a word whereas the geniall and chief vertue of spices , is chiefly in that which carrieth the sent , if this of its own accord vanish , and of its non accord strike the smell , what at length will not be effected by boiling and rosting , especially when a degree is added ? which our distillations of odoriferous things do teach us . finally , what can be said more absurdly in the schools , then to reduce harts-horn into ashes , which are altogether unsavory and without vertue , for great purposes ? and instead of preparation to substitute castration , or rather privation ? for we have had the leisure to learn that most remedies with their odour and sapour , as well within , as without , do help our infirmities ; and therefore we have detested the mixtures of simples in that if you adde another odour to a sanative one , that may drown the other , palliate , or turn it into it self , or raise up a neuter out of both together , we know that the sanative vertue will be abolish'd , and the effect wished for by the patient , be made void . therefore the association of spices and sweet things is by us suspected . moreover we for the most part hate the other confections of the shops , because they are without vertue , wherein they endeavour with certain ridiculous things to palliate and allay the excessive and violent power of things , yea in the mean time they give out that the innate benefit of such a medicine is as much promoted , as there is power taken away by the addition of other strong things . for with the greatest part they mixe some grains of cinnamon , or other vain things , that they may quell the fury of the more violent ingredients ; as if the madnesse of the laxatives were 〈◊〉 with some graines of spices . besides who is there , though meanly instructed in chymicall matters , who knoweth not that in aromaticall confections , the chiefest fault is committed by the plurality of the ingredients ? next that most of them offend in crudity , hardnesse , chausure , choice and substitution . again that they are put in with an uncertain dose ? by which means the hoped effect is disappointed , and that by the error of each . and to wind up all in one example : what is there in the confection lithon-tribon , or stone break that is answerable to the promises of the etymon or derivation of the word ? for to what purpose is cinnamon , cloves , the 3 peppers , acorns , costus , rhapentick , cassia , ●delli● , mastick , amomum , peucedanum , spike , ginger , the wood and juice of balsam , tragacanthum , germander , euphorbium , the oiles of nard and moschelinum ? do every one of these conspire to the end propos'd in the denomination of the medicine ? or from them being blended , and marring the intentions of each other , will a new vertue arise , to perform the promised cure ? can it powerfully break the stone in the kidney and bladder ? and presently loose all the defects of the vrine ? or rather will not the juice of balsam perish among the other grolleries and trifles ? but in opiate confections the same absurdity is observ'd as in the aromatick ones . which we will also dispatch in one example . for to what purpose in the aurea alexandrina nicolai is there a blending of sixty five ingredients ? of which simples there is none of kin with opium , and mandrake , the pillars of the confection . of the like calculation are those cardinal columnes of galeni●●ll physick ▪ mithidate and triacle , the beloved minerva's of our physitians and fools , at this day , deify'd as little indian deiries , or he when superstitious moores salute his li●ht ; so do those heads , who being ignorant of all things , foolishly admire all things so easily entertain them , and with that infatuated reverence , worse then moorish : as if they were dame natures second or her self , her chief friend , her true caelestiall balsam , her life , power and activity , the only refiner and sequestrator general of all her impurities , when in sober truth , both to themselves and nature , they are in direct antipathy , as the zenith to the nadir ; and little lesse then a stark and dead congèalment of wood and hay & stubble forc'd together ; the totality of whose nūber , nature , essence and property is but a meer olla podrida , not a whit convenient , nor effectually prepar'd by any art , industry or dexterity ; and they have caught pro junone nubem . medicines are like unto actors in the body of man , the soene : the epitasis or main end of them , ought to be homogeniety in themselves and to nature , that so both may play their parts , before they make their exit , or quietus est . truly the combining of simples , made according to the pleasure of some ignorant fellow , is of as idle cordage , as his , who went about to twist a rope of sand , which was a task , they say , that pos'd the devil ; that , that hath infatuated the schools , exanimated and tortur'd the sick ; having put them in hope , they have fail'd them , and by uncertain conjectures have set to sale the opportunities of curing , which are ready to slip away every moment , and causeth them to passe over . wherefore the compositions of the shops , if you examine them with a single eye , and unprejuc'd mind , will every where in the syrups , electuaries , pills , loches , troshiscks and other like , fill you with a profitable admiration to observe how the world by the prattle of physitians and fooleries of the schools , and their vain presumptions is deluded and bafl'd ▪ for we christians believe with the stoicks that the world was created for the use of man : which we having heretofore diligently ponder'd in the concentrations of our mind , the result was , that the use of man might very commodiously have been without so many poisons . for we found that these more cold climates of ours , were herein more happy , that they had no creeping things that were both monstrous and poisonous , wherewith the hotter zone abounded . certainly we have not much need of poisons , or familiarity with , or abundance of them , neither will their use any waies compensate so many calamities arising from them : yea if the earth bring forth thistles and thornes for the curse of sin , certainly she bears far greater calamities on her back as well in the tribe of living creatures , as vegetables , which are hurtful to the life of man. wherefore the text threatneth the least part by thistles and thorns , of those evils which by the subtilty of the serpent , man hath felt . certainly if it be well searched out , nature hath hardly any thing free which hath not its poison secretly mingled with it . for we have no roses and violets which do not cozen us , and under so great fragrancy of smell do not hide the contagions of poison ; namely , the signs of putrefaction , the colliquation of our bodie , and stealing away our strength . wherefore making a list of the simples , we shall find but few of them hurtless ; yea , if you behold the fields , the whole globe of the earth , is but one contiguous spiders webbe . moreover if we look narrowly into it , there seems to be at this day the same face of things , as was before the first sinne . and consequently perhaps from the beginning , there were more hurtfull and noisome poisons then good things on the earth , yet was there no exterminating medicine for man , because paradise wanted such poisons , although serpents were there , or perhaps for immortalities sake , poisons would have been nothing to man in eden . but on the contrary , the almighty saw , that whatsoever things he had made even in the world without paradise , were good in themselves , and to their ends . wherefore we must confess a while ago we doted , thinking that poisons were unworthy to be ; both because the honour of god required not their existence , as also that man would have more willingly been without many poisons whereupon we thought that poisons were neither conducible to the glory of god , nor to the use of man. for there are but few harmlesse ones , which one may use without caution , but the greatest part contend against us with horrid tyranny . others gnaw us while they burn with their sharpnesse . but the greatest part under a friendly and fair shew do beguile us , and hide within a destructive enemy . in a word , every thing is full of filth , and is horrid with impurities , and consisting of crudities , disproportionablenesse and invincible pertinacy of perversitie . for though man were brought into paradise , yet did the creator know from eternity that the world should be a dwelling for him ; and as he gave the earth to the children of men , so he created the same with all the contents thereof for man. at length taking a view of all things by chymistry , and seeing them more clearly , we repented of out rastinesse , and former foolish ignorance . for in both we adored in suppliant wise with admiration the immense clemency and wisdome of the architect . for he would not have poisons be poisons , or prejudiciall to us . for he made not death ; nor any exterminating medicine in the earth , but rather that by a little industry of ours they might be changed into great pledges of his love , for the use of mortalls , against the rage of future diseases . for in them lyeth hid that help , which more kinde and familiar simples do otherwise deny . for the greater and heroick uses of physitians such horrid poisons are reserved . for brutes scarce feed upon them , either that they intuitively know the poison , which otherwise is not discovered by the smell or tast : or that some spirit governing bruits , doth keep those poysons for greater uses , as being heires of the greatest vertues . it is at least sufficient that the bruites leave to us the chiefest remedies , as it were by the command of the most high , who taketh more care of us then of beasts . for crude asarum , with what anguish is it vomited up , being a present poison , the stomack doth sufficiently testifie ? as also how it is mitigated with boiling , and the poison changed into an opening diuretick , the remedie of slow feavers , which thing discovers the aroma that was hidden therein . thus aron boiled with vineger becometh milde , and is the cure of great symptomes . wherefore the schools have set on foot corrections and we could wish they were not ridiculous ones , and such as gold and take away the force and vertue of simples : for they think that the laxative part flyeth away from asarum , by boyling , no otherwise then in length of time , everything putrefieth with its own mould . yet at least the root of asarum doth not alike grow milde being sodden with wine , as if it be boiled in water ; yet in alike degree of fire the laxative part thereof would in like manner expire . others therefore think that the cruditie in asarum is the cause of solution ; but these neglect the herbs that are more crude then asarum , and consider not that helebore would not be brought to maturity by boiling , if vomiting arose from crudity . they boil scammony in sowre things , that they may mitigate it , but ordinary physitians know that scammony is by this means gelded , so that if it be exposed to the sowre vapour of sulphur , it will be wholly deprived of its vertue ; so that so much sournesse as it takes , so much of its own propertie is lost . but we desiring with a fatherly mind to correct the raging force of medicines , well understand that the antient powers of things ought to remain , and in their root to be turned inward , or under their simplicity , to be transmuted into other properties there privily lurking under the guard of the poison , or gotten anew by reason of the perfection added : by which meanes coloquintida turneth inward its laxative and noxious qualitie , and there ariseth from the bottome a resolutive power , that excellency cureth chronicall diseases . for paracelsus in the tincture of the lily of antimony , did with praise attempt that ; yet he concealed it , or was ignorant that the same cometh to passe in all the venomes of animalls and vegetables , by their circulated salt . for all their venome perisheth , if they return into their first entities . this high pitch , not the schools , but gods chosen physitians , whom the almighty hath elected from their mothers womb , shall know in the age to come , and it shall make a difference between the sheep and the goats , between them who enter into the medicall temple by the door of the light of nature , and the expert mechanick practises of philosophy ; and those who climbe up by the window of their own pride , self-conceit and the darknesse of ethnick bookes . wherefore the simples that are of great powers are not to be castrated , nor to be mortified , but to be meliorated by art , for the extraction of the things that lie hid , or by the suspension of the virulency , or substitution of one for another , by adding strong specificals . thus much let this serve for them , to whom it hath not been given to tast the power of the greater circulated salt . for some things laying down their wildnesse , grow mild by the addition of other things , and become neuters , partaking of the powers on both sides . neither is it therefore lawfull to borrow such kind of additions from the received dispensatories of the shops , which doe not teach the melioration , or corrections , but the destruction of things , either altogether , or else afford but trifling correctives . for example , the marquesse charles spinelli generall of the tuscans ; when he had walked on foot about the city of florence , and viewed all the walls , commanded the physitians to be called , and said unto them , that he had sometimes been sick of an epilepsie , and was cured by helmont , but afterwards was ever and anon troubled with a dizzinesse : after that he passed over the sea from aquitane to tuscany the colledge of physitians , on the morning following prescribe him a scruple of white helebore , and for a corrective adde as much anniseeds : halfe an hour after he vomits , and in vain implores the help of his physitian being absent , accusing his murtherers and saying : helmonte mio , voi me lo dicesti gli medici tuccideranno : my helmont , you told me the physitians would kill me . he held his peace , and after two houres , his stomack first suffering a convulsion , and then his whole body , he dieth in a swound . the physitians seek excuses , and the earth covered their fault . for thus the confections of the schools by their foolish corrective dispensatories , take up many things to fill up the load . the opiates have chiefly hot things added to them ; but laxatives for the most part ginger , mace , annise ; and whatsoever things ease gripings , which follow from the laxatives . oh with what licence doth ignorance rage uncontrolled amongst men ! how little do they understand their hippocrates : if those things be taken away which ought , ( that is , such things as are hurtfull and burdensome ) the patient mends , and easily beareth it . for since those things that hurt within , do oft-times not weigh a dram , all the purgation that ends in health , must be an evacuation either imperceptible , or at least very moderate , and with a restauration of the strength . for these are the things which patients easily endure with content . wherefore the correctives of medicines are unprofitable loads , and without knowledge of things described by the schools , and so destructive to the medicines at least , if not to the patients . this part of physick requires a skilfull and exact secretary of nature ; because therein , the ample riches of medicines , and the golden houshould-stuffe of glanra is found . the schools had heretofore learn'd of our philosophers , that most excellent vertues dwell in simples , that were guarded with destructive poisons . this made way for the rashnesse of the schools , who mingled the poisons drawn out by expression , and the corrosives open'd with their antidotes : hoping that by the goodnesse and quantity of the adjuncts , the malignitie of the poison would be overcome ; as if it were agreeable to health , to have a pestilent glove brought to guests into a chamber replenished with wholesome aire . for we do not here accuse the viper in triacle , without which it would but be as it were a cadaverous heape of simples . for the flesh of vipers is in it self unhurtfull and without poison , yea an antidote against it . but the troshiscks made thereof , by being boiled , leave all their vertue in the broth , which the raw flesh did conserve . concerning arsenick in this place we complain , being magisterially , as they call it , put into antidotes . for the schools presume for the raritie of their boldnesse to deserve beliefe , and to place the glory of studies in the authority of possession . neither is it perpetual that the most excellent vertues attend about poisons in the same subject , so that they are covered by the poisons . for arsenick , orpiment &c. though they be fix'd and dulcorated , are yet never to be taken inwards , although others perswade the contrary : they are onely good applyed outwards , and kill other poisons of ulcers , and tame them if they themselves be first tamed . wherefore the corrections of medicines , are without the knowledge of properties , parts and consonancies . for what doth a spice weigh in respect of a poison ? if the whole body being lustie and full of life doth presently fall down being smitten with the tooth of a viper ? will napelles grow milde with the admixture of cloves ? will coloquintida cease to cause putrefaction with his torsions , if it be joined with tragacant ? therefore corrections in dispensatories are grievances , and dull additaments , which do not mitigate the virulencies , but wast the powers of medicines . for as poisons have a fermentall quicknesse of working , so care should be taken that the strength and quickness of medicines might be conserved , and they by the applications of art be directed against the necessities of chronicall and remote diseases . this onely thing remained in this busines , that we infringe and subdue the violence of the thing , with a fermental propagation . wherefore as we in generall pitty the compositions and corrections of the shops , so we yet more detest the precipitations , vitrifications , and preparations of mercury , antimony , tuty , sulphur &c. and also the adulterations of spirits from aromaticks : hot seeds , of vitriol , of sulphur &c. for they are prepared for gain by our fugitive servants , and furnish apothecaries shops , rather in comtempt of chymistry , then the defect of patients . in like manner we deplore the shamefull simplicity of those , who with great hope prescribe to patients those painted butter-flyes of leafe-gold , and pounded jewels ; selling their ignorance , if not their fraud , at agreat rate . as if the stomack could thence expect the least help . more suttle and therefore more to be condoled is the error of those , who corrode gold , silver , coral , pearles and the like with soure liquors , and thinke they dissolve them , so that they will be easily admitted into the veins , truly communicating their properties to us . for they are ignorant , alas ! ignorant that sourenesse is an enemy to the veins , and therefore that the forreign sourenesse of the dissolvents being overcome and transmitted , such metalls and stones are powder , as before . which though it be brought into a most fine flower , yet cannot the same be subdued by the stomack , or impart its strength to us . which that it may be apparent to the sight , poure salt of tartar on the things dissolved , in some pontick corrosive liquor , and presently being dissolved , it will fall to the bottome in form of powder . for if aqua fortis change not metalls in the substance , although those things become transparent , that were before opacous : nothing hinders but that silver may be thence again recovered . with what blindnesse therefore do they prescribe stones and pearles , as though by corrosives they left their former essence of stone or metall ? for it was the invention of a subtile deceiver , that he might before his patients set a high rate on his potions . because ignorant deceivers think , if the thing dissolving be not by the sight distinguished from the thing dissolved , that the thing dissolved is truly and substantially transmuted . they urge , that pearls , corall &c. are not dissolved in acid liquors , but only as it were calcined by the salts of the things dissolving . and this they prove by silver dissolv'd in aq. fortis or regis , which from thence is brought back again whole ; therefore hath not lost its pristine essence : and this they wrest to the aforesaid stones , and urge it , because by the salt of the alkali of tartar , the same stone is again precipitated to the bottome , which before was an invisible pouder ; forasmuch as the alcaal salt doth drink up the acetous salt , which did contain in it self the pouder of the stones . but they perceive not , first of all , that their own principles doe both teach and extoll dissolutions of this sort : then also , that the stomack wants this salt of tartar , that she may precipitate the dissolved pouders , and separate them from the thing dissolving , and therefore they propose a ridiculous thing . and by consequence , that the matter of pearls , corrall , &c. once dissolved after this manner , remains dissolved , and is admitted into the veins with the liquors of the chyme , and moreover is transmuted into urine or bloud , and performes what is promised . to which we subjoin an answer . that nature hath no need of the salt of tartar , to the separating of this pouder , from the thing dissolving : because she is taught as well by meanes of the aliment received , as of her own proper digestion , to sequester this pouder . for there are very many things amongst food , which doe shew forth this effect . such as are pot-herbs and vulnerary-herbs &c. which for the most part have a lixiviall volatile salt . moreover the digestion it self of the stomack ordinarily doth transmute acid vegetable spirits substantially into a faline volatile salt of urine : which when she may no longer enjoy her pristine power of dissolving , which she at first had in acidity ; by and by she relinquisheth ( that is precipitates ) the pouder , which before she had dissolved under her own acidity : and therefore before the mouths of the mesaraick veins doth precipitate , and cast off the aforesaid pouder . but the galenists goe on and urge saying , that bezoar-stones , and crabs-stones ( erroneously called crabs-eyes ) &c. as well taken in pouder , as dissolved in some acid dissolving thing , do notably help in the plague , feavers , stone , wounded persons , and bruised from on high . wherefore it savours of simplicity to deny the same in pearls , corrall , &c. to which we answer , that gemmes , stones , and things of a saxatile substance do differ much among themselves . for first of all gemmes , flints , marbles , and whatsoever have a cristalline hardnesse , do not at all act or suffer in us , or by us , unlesse per modum appensi & periapti ; and that but a little while , only untill they passe from the mouth thorow the excrements . very languid therefore is the vertue of these , because it lies hid and shut up in too dense a body . but pearls and corrall , and whatsoever else hath a saxatile hardnesse of shell-fish , must give place truly to gemmes for hardnesse ; and yet they are not therefore digested in the athan●r of our oeconomy , so well as in the stomack of some birds . but the stones of bezoar and of crabs &c. not so hard as pearls , are not of a saxatile nature : but are rather made of a lacteous semi-caseate & semi-petrified juice , and have a neutrall nature of a tophe , between a cartilage and a stone . to this that hath been said , for the better understanding of the truth we take leave to adde , that though bezoar stones , and the stones of crabs &c. as touching the solid matter of their pouder , are in no wise digested in the balneum of our stomack ; although they carry in their breasts a lacteous and mucilaginou● juice , of great vertue , yet of an exiguous quantity ; such as happens to be drawn sorth also by the decoction of harts-horn rasped . if therefore you boil the pouder of the aforesaid stone in rain or distilled water , and streining the decoction by a filter you seperate it from the pouder , & this also draw off by distillation per balneum , you shall then find somewhat of the aforesaid muccilage . but the rest of the pouder , as it is not overcome by elixation , so it continues in a permanency of indigestion in the stomack , not to be subdued by charmes , or won to the scepter of subjection , neither by entreaties , nor by the whole power of the archeus . and moreover from the smal quantity of the aforesaid liquor the reason's manifest , why one dram of the aforesaid pouder of bezoar stone taken in some vehicle , effects more then one scruple of the same . here it will not be impertinent , nor beside the cushion , if we speak of ( not as falling foul upon it , but taking in our way ) that scare-crow of imaginary and pannick fear of the numerous vulgar and pusillanimous physitians , concerning the dose or quantity to be taken at a time of bezoar-stone . we intend not to make it our designe to beat down , or make apocryphall the praecipitous opinion of the common people , in their obstinate creed and implicite confidence in the goodnesse of this stone , from the incredible number of them in this countrey , and in all europe ; whereby it 's impossible that that countrey of india ( and but a spot of that neither ) can furnish so many countreys by a thousand parts of these stones , that is every where so common : when it 's eported by those of the countrey , and by authors of good esteem and credit , that all the stones there must be brought to the king of that countrey : and garcias ab horto saies , that it is very difficult to get any there ; whence seeing they are now so familiar and frequent among us , and how it comes to passe , and that we have any good , is almost a miracle , at least as rare as the white stone . mathiolus also in libro epistolar . tertio ad quacelbenum , saies , that the stones the emperour had , were not good . vallesius again , a learned and chief physitian to philip the second , king of spain , in his fourth book , beleeves the king himself had not , nor in all spain was not a true stone . moreover the physitians themselves of that countrey confesse that these stones are very rare , and besides are so dear , that they are kept very precisely by the indians themselves for their own proper use . we dare believe , that above the hundred part of these bezoar-stones so called , are sorged and sophisticate : such a cunning cast of suttle and deceiving merchants are there here in england , after the italian mode , who can so exactly counterfeit them , that themselves cannot know the one from the other , the true from the false , but by a certain eminent signe of notifying them . josephus acosta in lib. 4. cap. 42. confesses that the simple indians themselves know very well to adulterate them , and do it with a wonderfull accurate artifice , and very frequently ; and no wonder , nor unlike to verifimility , when this cousenage is wont to happen very often in medicines of a lesser price . lastly upon sure grounds we know , that there is not much to be trusted to this stone ; because they do not answer to those effects written of by authors . for they will have it to move sweat powerfully , and sometimes vomit , sometimes as alexipharmacall ; and again as cardiacall ; and therefore fly to it as to the last refuge , as to the anchora spei , and sanctuary of life . but alas poor ignorant deluded vulgar : who will rather snore in the lethargy of their stupid ignorance , then awake to the disquisition of truth . they erre first , in their too good opinion of this stone . secondly , in their too great ignorance of the quality of it . and thirdly , in their too little knowledge of the quantity . which last is greatly feared among the common people , and the same is evident from the physitians prescriptions . we will suppose now we have the true genuine bezoar stone , because the wild beliefe of the wilderness'd vulgar runs a madding after this stone more , then seeking to be baptized with the new name , or have the evangelicall illegible stone . the most are wont to fear the quantity of it , thinking it to be a most hot medicine , and powerfully vigorous : and therefore dare not exceed above four or five grains at most ; seeing it causes large sweat . now sudorificks seem to be begotten under the torrid zone , to be hot , because they attenuate and cut the line of humours ▪ and expell them out of the center of the body , unto the confines bordering upon the territories of the epidermis by the nilus of profuse sweat that rills through the creeks of the pelt , the pores . but first it is to be noted that at this day we seldome find be●oar-stone to be the mid-wife of evill humours , or impregnated with a vertue to deliver and purge the body of vitious excrements , by the menstruum of sweat , as daily experience testifies . secondly , that whosoever takes this stone in the maximity or greatest quantity of it , shall not therefore perceive himself to be e're the hotter ; which every sound man may bring to the test of experience in himself . thirdly , they who have written hitherto o● this stone , & have sailed and coasted into the furthest parts of the knowledge of it , have steer'd by the compasse or lant-skip only of others petragraphy and description . some calculate and will have it to dwell under the temperate zone . others under the frigid . but no man who hath travelled into the indies or america of its qualities and vertues , by the fixed north-pole of experience will say , that it is an inhabitant under the sūmer solstice or more hotter zone ; but is a naked substance living in the autumne or wildernesse of insipidity , having no elevation of either of those two poles of odour or sapour in it ; which is a wonder that for all this , it should attain to the meridian of that degree of heat , as is computed and ascribed to it ; whereby it 's feared as a harry-cain , least the deluge of sweat it may procure by its hot sudorifick quality , might drown and wash away our vitall powers : therefore they get into the arke of a small dose or quantity , and save themselves . but it is more nigh unto the israel of verisimility , that it acts by an occult , and not manifest property , namely , corroborating and fortifying the canaan of the heart , against the aegyptian garlick and onyons of malignant powers ; whence we may infer by the way . that the militia of this stone is uselesse and unprofitable to draw a line of fortification , about the breast-works of the heart , except there be an hostile incursion and invasion of malignant distempers , to settle the barbarous tyranny of evill and venemous humours , to subvert and overthrow the actions and powers of the common-wealth of our vitalls . and so although it may do no harm , yet to be sure it doth no good , and is administred in vain . fourthly , they who write of this stone , do not agree in the latitude , degree , or dose of it : for as in their petragraphicall character of the qualities of it , they make many a voyage wide of the aequator , and beyond the line of truth ; so in their description of its dimensions or quantity , they come short of it ; and at the lands-end fall foul , and split upon the sands of a small and common dose , of three or four grains . but mathiolus prescribes at least seven grains . garcius ab horto unto thirty grains , and confesses that more may be taken without hurt . and we verily beleeve and from the premisses we before hinted do affirm , that one main reason why this stone is so little effectuall , is because it is taken in too small a quantity . and it is recorded , that to edward the confessour was given a dram weight at one time of this stone in pouder , which is sixty grains . fumanellus also commends a dram of it to be given in the plague . and certainly if the stone be innoxious , a good quantity also will be innoxious . thus therefore the magnified vertue of this childish rattle , like that pretious trifle of the countesse of kents pouder , with those seriovs fopperies of pearls , corrall and crabs-stones , either in pouder , or dissolved in some acid liquor , crumbles away , and vanishes like a morning dew , before the sunne of truth . again , it 's worth our noting that if wine or vineger be drunk in the same draught with the aforesaid pouders , they do not dissolve one sixth part of the pouder , and leave not the rest changed , but whole . the which will be manifest from this experiment . that if any one drinks the stone of crabs , not in pouder , but broken in little bits , and after excretion it be washed , you shall find the same weight of it as before , and truly nothing of it brought under subjection to the stomack , nor it to pertake any thing of those stones by digestion . and here we advise the galenists to consider how they are beaten with their own weapon . for if the aforesaid stones or pearles being taken in pouder , do melt in us ; they in vain attempt to dissolve them in the acid salnie vitriolated qualities of wine , vineger or juice of limons . for there is nothing of the indigestible dissolved thing conveyed into us , but that it contains its own digestible part , as we before have said of the lacteous mucilage of animated stones . but if otherwise the dissolved should make progresse , and march into the garrison of the veins ( which never happens ) that he might offer and communicate his gifts unto us ( suppose it be pearls , or the aforesaid stones ) it would stir up a mutiny , and consecution of more miseries and anxieties from this soure enemy and alien , then helps or profit . for in the first place , seeing they have refus'd to answer and subscribe to the engagement of the common-hall of our oeconomy , the stomack , ( who is made lord paramount and surveyor-generall over all things that 's to be receiv'd in ) and have not submitted to the present power of digestion , ( as was proved even now ) that 's conferred on it by the parliament of our interiours , in their totality and full session : it is therefore adjudged and voted that they shall not be preferred any further , nor admitted to compound , or be concocted in the second digestion : because they do not goe to the ●lysium of the second , but by the purgatory of the first . and therefore secondly , continue and are looked upon as delinquents , and never are converted into true common-wealth's men , bloud , but into an other recrement of the veins . vain and fruitlesse are the blew promises of physitians of their cordiall , exhilarating , fortifying and corroborating medicines , prepared of gold , gemmes , &c. of like stupidity with the rest . for although they be reduced into most fine po●der , yet they that suffer nothing from the fire , how much lesse can they be transmuted by the digestive vertue . for first they are pouder'd in a brasse or iron mortar ; and the gemmes s●rape off , and carry away part of the brasse with themselves , because they are harder then my file . and this we have shewed sometimes to the shops , when we have ma●erated that their pouder of pearles in aq. fortis . for indeed by and by the gre●● colour hath betrayed it self , and the apothecary confesses that in stead of his cordiall and fortifying medicines of pearles and gemmes which should act powerfully , he hath communicated to the sick the green rust of br●sse or verdigrease . then if afterwards the gemmes be more curiously ground upon a stone or marble , ( far more soft then themselves ) they encrease in weight , and the marbles and stones become confortative , beyond the originall gemmes . all which at length being summ'd up by an impartiall and mature judgement the totall product must amount to this . that the pouder of peals profit no more then flint-stones or glass-pouder taken inwardly . and to this will subscribe all those , who apply themselves to the serious disquisitions and scrutinies of nature in examining of bodies by analysis , and who with me pitty the deplorable ignorance and foolishnesse of physitians , and the unluckie tutelage of the sick . it is not denyed , but worthy of all due acknowledgement , that pearls , not of the same hardnesse with cristalline gemmes , but members of the animall common-wealth , do contain most precious vertues and riches of good ; yet cannot bestow any notable help ; much lesse in their pouder or dissolv'd as afore . for we have had the opportunity and happinesse to learn , and now divulge to the world , that they may take notice in the first place , that whatsoever physitians prate and babble , and largely promise concerning them , it is but meer vain boasting . then that a true marga●ite or pearl , hath not within a farinaceous pouder , and dissimilar from its cortex ; but the whole systeme or globe of the pearle , with all the whole round of spheares , from the surface to the center , is homogeneall , hath a syzygia , a conjunction or revolution of meer pellicles , lying on one another , as the involved pills of onyons encompasse one another . the which thing they can testifie with me , who know how to reduce pearls of ovall figures , into orbicular ones . but the aforesaid firmament or region of pellicles or conticities are in no wise resolved and fixed into a caput mortuum or al●o●l pouder by the crucible or reverberium of acidity as aforesaid . the which only grinds the meal of fals pearls in the mill of its acid f●rment . and moreover , that although the aforesaid circumvoltuion of corticities should be dissolved , ( which is not ) yet were it but as a terra damnata or pulverata , and the whole batch , but the same meal or dust of the pearle as before . doth it not then on all hands appear very ridiculous , and worthy of hissing , that they will comfort , fortifie and corroborate with their alkermes , gemmes , leaf-gold , pouder of pearls , &c. when an enemy in the bowels and heart of the city of our vitalls rages and tyrannizeth within , by the prerogative of routing our forces and remaining conquerour , and precipitates the life it self into all disorder and confusion of dissolution ? for such an enemy who could lay seige to our oeconomy , and dares to attempt the scaling of our fort-rampant , beat all the commanders and officers from their works , and cause nature not only to sound a retreat , but quite quit the garrison : how will he not grapple , within push of pike , with all her auxiliaries , blow up the sconces and bull-workes of fortifications , the strongest of them all , despise their contemptible militia , and hang out the flag of defiance to all the recruits the physitian can make , and let down the port-cullice , to stake out their cordiall cups . he that can subdue and bring under subjection the health of the soundest man , and despises the strength of the strongest ; what cannot he do to him being overcome , though he hath the advantage of the sunne , wind and hill of corroborating cordiall medicines ? chiefly when these auxiliaries have no good cause , no good ground or footing in nature ; seeing they are wholy exotick , not at all agreeing in union of symbole with the spirits . will such an enemy , such a sampson care for these cardiacall phylistims ? or think they to lull him a sleep or bind him with these cords ? will he not rouse up , and shake his locks like a gyant , and breake in pieces their bands as threed . as he neither fears nor cares for any committee of sequestrations , their purges , so neither will he be bribed or laid asleep with their cordialls . in vain therefore is the ease or lightning of symptomes intended , if a conquering power of healing be not present , which can compescate and procure the consopition of the confusion of the vitall archeus : which truly is an essential and principall efficient of healing . and here we are fallen upon the detection of two other collaterall errors of physitians , concerning the story of an old cock , and that pittiful poor invention of clysters . in the first place , physitians , mid-wifes , and others given to physick , crack much of the vertues of cock-broth . but this will vanish away in fumo , like an old-wifes-dream ; broth of an old cock joined with herbs , is a particular of the lady ignorances hous-wifery . for first a young cock , hath more life , spirit and vertue then the old decrepit ones . concerning this , let judgement be committed to the hens . these physick broths are very ingratefull to the stomack and troublesome , and therefore are easily let fall into , and made the companion of excrements . but we passe lightly over this messe . and now it will be expedient and comes within compasse of our course , to speake of that piece of tripery , of washing the guts with a clyster ; though i am led to believe , i shall be cryed out on , by the common physitians and their besotted admirers the rabble of distracted vulgar , who are unacquainted with the more rationall waies of healing , who make it their designe to cry up any way or opinion that hath the least plausibility in it ; and on the other hand to cry down what ever comes by the oblique line of their dark crooked and common understandings : as if the womb of teeming truth must be clos'd up , if she presume to bring forth ought that sutes not with their unchewed notions and suppositions . as for the last , it is not my task or designe , neither do i seek or care to supplant them from their pater-noster or all-gospel , being such as my soul abhors . quo semel imbuta recens servabit odorem . testa diu . yet seeing this sink-scourer , the use of clysters is so generally and easily beleeved to be such a safe and familiar practise , that he is accounted no better then an asse that speaks against it ; i shall adventure to leave them a hint , that foolls are not constellated to a capacity of medicinall principles , and that they stumble and erre in nothing more then in this their so much magnifying of clysters . which common unworthy and shamefull help of physitians , is to be abhorred as a cruel and beastly remedy , taught us ( as they say ) from a bird. hence upon rationall deductions we conclude , that every clyster is naturally an enemy to the intestines . afterwards it will easily appear , that all things are received for the manner and respect of the recipient . which we thus further explain . the tears of the eyes , although saltish , yet are indolent , because familiar and naturall to the eye . but simple water pains the eye ; and so doth any other thing else . the urine also , though salt , doth not mordicate or fret the bladder . but any decoction or liquor whatsoever conveyed within by cathaeter or other pipe , although very sweet , doth yet grieve and pain the body . but if the pisso hath drawn but the least acidity from new-beer , or otherwise , by and by there followes a very great strangury and guttation of urine . the ordure or turd therefore , seeing it is the naturall and domestick content of the gutts , doth not prick or gnaw , nor is not felt , untill it comes to the fleshy parts of the intestinum rectum , as executing the office of door-keeper , they do both feel and urge the protrusion of the excrement . whence we conclude , that every clyster seeing it is an exotick guest and alien to the guts , it cannot choose but be troublesome and ingratefull to them . then , that a clyster never ascends to the ileon . for if you cast in eighteen ounces of decoction , either the greatest part is left in the pipe , or falls out in the delivery , and so it attains onely to the beginning of the colon. and lastly , if there be laxatives in the clyster ( for so for the most part the sick is deceived , fearing laxatives ) as with the one hand even now we exploded the poison of purgatives , so by the same rule we throw down the use of a laxative clyster also . we confesse a clyster is lesse hurtfull : forasmuch as the mouth of the stomack is alwaies exercised in the most noble business of life , and the life is hurt with the laxative poison . but at least it cannot be denyed by no man , but that it is a hatefull thing to admit poisons within , though never so specious , or by what name or title soever dignified or distinguished , or under what administration soever or manner of reception : because a purgative enema resolves the bloud in the mesentery . no man ever yet brought out feavers by clysters : because they attempt not , nor come to the places encompassed with the feavorish matter ; nor are they ever eased or comforted by them . moreover there is another imposture called a nourishing clyster , the ultimate scope of a clyster : because they cast in broths of liquated flesh , with the hope of nourishing , which truly is an argument of intolerable stupidity . for the liquors being injected , first of all , they mingle themselves with the turd found in the same place ; then they are poured into those parts , to whom it 's proper to change all things into turd or excrement ; and thirdly , it is clear by experience , that such broths , if they be cast forth again , two houres afterwards , they smel not only of a turd , but in a manner of cadaverous matter . for seeing there is nothing goes to the second or third , unlesse it be by the first : it followes , that out of meats undigested in the stomack , and not changed into true and laudable chyle , there cannot in no wise be made any bloud . hence it 's manifest also , that the injected broths are cadaverized , and can never passe into aliment . nor doth it argue any thing , that such broths carry the resolved flesh in the manner of chyle . for there is as good as nothing done , unlesse they have first taken the fermentall proprieties of the first digestion , preparatory to life , not to be found any where without the stomack . for whatsoeves falls out of the stomack vndigested , is very troublesome , and stirs up diarrhaea's , tortures and also sour and unsavoury belchings , and breeds wormes . but those things which are injected beneath , because they partake not of the least benefit of the first digestion , they unavoidably become cadaverous . because they have tryed the heat of the place , but are deprived of the true ferment of vitall digestion . an old womans invention then is a nourishing ●●yster , and a laxative , a cruel one . having now had a clear and uninterrupted prospect into the field of the vulgar medicines of the shops . we now descend and take the chair on the stage of topicks , the scene of oiles and suets , which are but mutes , and of no value for ointments and plaisters , dramatis personae , unlesse perhaps to give consistence ( the epitasis of their action ) to the medicine , and bring the heterogeneall parts into a chorus of mixture by their emplastick quality . for first a great part of men suffer not ointments applyed to the skin , because they excite itchings and whelks with swelling . next because the oiles aforesaid are for the most part made of herbs whose vertue lyeth hid in a mucilaginous and gummy juice , but that juice by boiling is drawn out into the porridge , or wrung out by the presse , which is not truly combined with the oiles , but at length being fix'd , groweth hard . but we collect the balsomes of flowers more rightly in honey . and we much more admit the simplicities of simple , then of compound oiles . wherefore we chiefly explode the unmeet and absurd compositions of unguents and plaisters sold in shops ; in that nothing is more foolish then that the pouder , of vegetables under divers suets and fats ignorantly mixt , should by being fix'd , harden , and so become good for nothing . which if it be minerall , will not mingle with the fat , but is rather so drowned therein , and imprisoned , that it is worth nothing , and oneiy encreaseth the weight . for nothing is to be mingled with oiles , ointments , and plaisters , which cannot in them be wholly homogeneously resolved . it is also worthy of laughter that the most white sugar is commended , not because it is sweeter and in its vigor more worthy ; but because it is dearer , and oftentimes hath been boiled with a lixivium of unslaked lime . where the very name of purity hath made the cheat . the contused flowers of herbs &c. being mingled with the whitest sugar grow dull , which by meanes of sweeter sugar contract a ferment , and by heating , draw out the powers of the simple . but afterwards by the enclosed digestion of the heat , the ferment is checked and they become more powerfull by far . but the diversity of the ferment dependeth on the lixivium which one sugar hath , and another wanteth . we are likewise wont outwardly to apply ointment with choise . for in such maladies , whose cure proceedeth from the center outwards , as in wounds , contusions , combustions , &c. we advise that they be applyed warm ; but where the inward malady requires outward help , as the dysentery , colick or nephritick convulsions , schirrhus , &c. ointments should be cherished from without , with a stone heat , or with hot sand . and we have learned by viewing chaffe in a kettle of warm water walking to and fro , as it were from the heat kindled underneath ; and therefore that by a powerfull heat ointments applyed , are quickned , and join their spirit with our bloud ; we first guessed and after found by experience , that the maladie is by this meanes drawn out , and the violence of the symptomes staid . and whatsoever baths do in the whole , the same is done in part without prejudice of the whole , by ointments being heat and cherished . for a fomenting tile , drives the smell of the plaister inwards , and draweth out those things which otherwise do stick more closely . in like manner the spirit inforcing it self is drawn together with the bloud , and is dispersed with heat , another succeeding in its place , exhausts the force of the medicine , and as it were boiling within , is reverberated . likewise about the gathering of simples it is not certainly agreed upon . they conclude that roots are to be gathered about autumne . but for the most part simples afford the more powerfull roots at spring . the polypodium of the spring is chiefly green and fl●urishing . in the autumne it exhibits a hoary and black root , being worn out and uselesse . we conceive that each is to be gathered immediately before the state of maturity : for full maturity is the begining of declination . wherefore let each fruit flower , root , leafe , barke , &c. have its determinate space of maturity : for even the juice in plants first floweth up , which in many afterwards dryeth up , or is consumed and spent into leafes , so that the varietie of maturities begetteth variety of gatherings . for thus some leafes , after the flowers are more vegetous ; but others are more juycie before them . there are also others , which are stronger before the growth of the fruit ; and there are others that perpetually persist . wherefore they more rightly determine , who gather simples according to the exigency of their scope and designe . hitherto hath my employment been to make us men , and to bring us from under the fraud , errors , ignorance and other rubbish of that , which the folly and vanity of the schools have falsly called a science and art. what art i pray you ? except the art to cloak their defects and ignorance with impostures , and only palliate diseases , and that as beastly as can be wished ? for as the case stands , they have made of a lovely beautifull and bountifull virgin , an ill favour'd penurious harlot , dress'd and trick'd up with gew-gaw's ; with whom the whole europaean world hath committed most abominable fornication . we will now wade lightly over , and that with a dry foot , this shallow brook , of simple distill'd waters of the apothecaries in the common leaden stills , and hope with the torrent of current truth , and rational deductions , to rince away this into the common-shoare of errors ; and with the index expurgatorius of acute demonstrations , to wipe it out of the journall-book of physick . how great and meridian light is come unto physick onely by true distillation , as it is us'd of all men , so it is known but of a few ; and daily experience teacheth , how great commodity hath redounded thereby unto the sick ; so that by it hath more glory and renown been reflected on physick , and more additions made , and perfections acquir'd , then by all the whole rabble of galenicall and heathenish traditions . we shall not stand to shew whence the word distillation is deriv'd ; let it be their tendance who have the art to be industriously idle ; nor the manner of distillation or what instruments serving thereunto ; nor how many sorts of distillation , as per ascensum , descensum & latus ; or how many waies as per balneum mariae , per cineres , per arenam , per campanam , per patinam ; it being besides my purpose , and requires a peculiar tractate . but it shall be here sought , whether that product , by the vulgar and rustick distillation of apothecaries in the common leaden stills , be any other , then an insipid , aequeous humour , frighted out of the whole meerly by the violence of the fire , without the counter-magick of the still or instrument for that purpose , without any artifice , and without the elementall , true , genuine , homogeneall entity of the compositum ; without its spirit , life , or the domestick balsome inhabiting in the whole . destillatio tunc est operatio , qua quod in corpore est humoris totum illud vaporis specie ab eo separetur , qui postea à frigido ambiente congelatus in liquorem ab excipulo recipitur . this is but a short and cold definition and description of distillation ; but such as well will serve and sute with the common distillation . it 's confessed on all sides , that in simple distill'd waters out of herbs , there may be the strength and vertue of the whole . i 'le take the leave to adde ; that out of herbs plants or any vegetable may be drawn forth a water by art , if they be distilled as they ought to be , ( not in the common leaden stills , ) which shall equall , if no● surpasse the herbe as it is whole . for there is a terra damnata in all externalls , whether animall , vegetall , minerall or metalline , which must passe the chymicks limbus or purgatory , before it enjoyes its own astrum or sidereall firmament . this is the deciphering of our distillation . the topick or domestick astrum in the horizon of its own ens or orb , is excited and awakened by the enormantick power of an exotick motor from the lethargy of grosse inactivity , inoculated , contracted , and fast luted by the crude and cadaverous opium of corporeity and circumferentiall lumber , gets a habeas corpus from under the arrest of its own domestick luggage , emancipated from the gabardine of corporeality , by the sub-poena or turn-key of pyrotechny , and subtiliated into a jubilee of spiritual aporhaea's or evaporations , sallies a broad hand in hand , emitting a continual steame of most subtle effluviums , homogeneous and consimilar , that is , of the same identicall nature with it self , wafted on the wings of its own hydromantick vehicle , being sufficiently sublimated , condenses into a materiall water by the deliquium of the stills cranium periwigg'd , and seeks the nose or portal of the stillatories cranium , at length is saluted by the cold embracements of the recipient . what more foolish can distill from the crack'd retort of whymsical or obtuse sculls , then the insipid and unsavoury prescriptions of the apothecaries common stills cookery : since we are of opinion that no man who hath but philosophy , ingenuity enough to examin the whole scheam of natural endowments of each single ens , how upon the small stock of the smallest piece of the hexameron fabrick is inoculated severall azimuths meeting in the zenith of its own horizon ; and hath but so much understanding to know what true distillation is in the nature , use and end ; and how the severall epicycles may be drawn forth from the own individuall meridian , by the aequinoctiall line of pyrotechny , must of unavoidable necessity confesse and acknowledge , that simple waters of apothecaries , as they are commonly distill'd , are but the stagnant , aqueous humour , and insipid snivell of the rheumatick vehicle or menstruum of the compositum , castrated and excis'd of its vitality and energy , and is no better then that water which is the cingulum macrocosmi , wherein the pulse of the great world beates . for let it be consider'd in all its stages by our pharmacopropaeans , we mean , this vulgar operation of simple waters , by our chymick mimes and counterfeits , and we shall find : that the whole scene of still pissing , all the journey , is nothing but the insipid , effeminate , cold shivering and aguish exudations , the stew'd steams of the lady ignorance's hous-wifery , so that the catastrophe or last exit of drop into the stills chamber-pot , when it comes to the atrophy of a caput mortuum , doth epiloguise and confesse , that it is but the sceleton , a lean , starv'd anonymous thing , scar'd out of its wits , not endew'd with any formall transmutation , nor nothing differs from that thin-legg'd gentleman-usher , the fleam , as they call it , that comes forth in the prologue or first act . if the blind lead the blind , they both fall into the ditch , into this standing pool , or puddle of simple waters . what epidemick blindnesse and ignorance hath possess'd us of this age , in these common leaden stills , that it is got into every corner of the land , with those who can goe to the charges of keeping one at work , and think themselves not well till they have one ; then they cannot do a misse , when they shall have ready at hand the waters out of all herbs growing amongst them . but they will from hence learn , when they shall know , that nature loathes to pick strawes , yet is never idle ; and that this trifle so universally practis'd is no issue or product of her generous endeavours . it is neither the elementall , or semin●ll water , or radicall moisture of the compound , but a crude , raw , and phlegmatick matter , partaking little or nothing of vitality , for first such waters are destitute of savour and tast ; for water of worm-wood neither smelleth like worm-wood ▪ nor is bitter ; yea , the more wonder it is sometimes somewhat sweet . manarde in his epistles lib. 15. cap. 15. saith , that the common waters distill'd out of herbs by fire , neither the smell no● tast remain , but many times the contrary ; whereby is easily perceiv'd , that the simple waters have not the same vertues which the whole herb had . and why should one main principle , the earth , the faeces or ground after distillation ●e thrown away as a terra damnata : like that of the colledge of physitians bidding in their dispensatorie the apothecary to fling away the faeces in their extract . rudy , ( their best pill the most purgative and cordial part and so in other of their extracts also ) when there lyes ambus●ado●d in it a main principle of vitality , and if not ligamentum , yet conservatum tatius , which cannot be destroyed ; which is wanting in the simple distill'd waters , and therefore worth little , and ub● sapiunt : as that great master once said ▪ who was the salt of sacrifices , and the light of the world , and his schollars the salt of the earth . this is clear out of the ashes of vegetables ; for although their weaker exterior elements may expire by violence of the fire , yet their earth cannot be destroy'd , but vitrified . if this be true , as without and beyond the doubt of any the most pyrrhonian incredulity may be evinced , what a sympathy then , and harmony there is between it , the humane earth , and his mother ; in which are principles homogeneall with his life , such as can restore his decaies , and reduce his disorders to a harmony . but say they , if they do no good they do no harm . to which we reply , as good never a whit , as never the better : what are we to jest in physick ? play the antick ? play the treuant ? shall not the compunction of this , call bloud into their faces , and imprint such a tincture , the character of shame so deep , as shall stand for ever a statue of unworthy un-medical basenesse and ignominy , or be left , as only fit for the practise of quacks . to which we subjoin , that the vulgar simple waters distill'd out of herbs by the seplastaries or apothecaries out of the common leaden stills , are not only nothing worth , nor retain not the force , strength and vertue of the whole herbe , but are noxious , evill , and pernitious , and destructive to the nature of man in generall , nauseous to the stomack , and loathsome to the sick , wholly different from the nature of the herb of which they are distill'd , and partaking of an exotick , heterogene quality and nature . distillation in the hands of such is as rats-bane in the hands of a child , who wanting judgement and discretion , not distinguishing it from sugar puts it to his mouth , and kills himself . for besides their ignorance , a great error is committed , not onely in not knowing what distillation is , but their perswading themselves , and making the people beleeve , they are the true essences , nature , strength and virtue , of the herbs out of which they are draw'n ; not perceiving the strange , forreign nature and quality they partake by assimilating an other nature contrary to their own , and the nature of man. for not only they are altogether devoid of all odour and sapour , both smell and tast , except in some few whose sulphur lyes in the utter and superficial part of the herb ; but they are wanting both of quality and virtue ; for we may as well beleeve a fifth gospel , as that the quality or virtue of the herbs is draw'n forth in the waters , except like savour , or smell , or both , be in the same . for without doubt the quality is wanting , when out of herbs that are hot , a cold phlegmatick moisture is draw'n , unworthy the name of distill'd water , except to those who have a tendence to christen things improperly , and barbarously , or barbarously improper : but if we grant them this , it is a water ; it is not the elementall , seminall or radicall water of the thing , as we hinted before ; and we may very lawfully be allow'd to conclude , such a water to partake nothing of vitality , essence , or nature of the herb , and to be little or nothing differenc'od from common well-water , and is as obnoxious to corruption and putrefaction as others : yea also , by reason of their crudities to congelation or conglatiation : witnesse the intent diligence of aothecaries to stop their glasses close , and care to preserve them from the cold in winter , from whose arrest they cannot be bail'd or secur'd , though by the subsidy of double glasse and stopple : again that although there be a manifest difference between the herb of mint and lettuce , that the one is hot , and the other cold , yet the water of mints may very warrantably be said to be cold , when its calefactive , and confortative part remains in his oile , and his balsamick part in his salt , neither of which ne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quidem in the text , ascends not in the distillation that is common and usual . waters distill'd in glassen , or glaz'd vessels after the manner of our distillation , and is known to some apothecaries by our direction , which enjoies its grand principiative fundamina , and the most radicall and inmost nature and balsom , do so far pass those that are made simply by the fire in leaden stills , as gold passeth iron : such a distillation as shall give forth the naturall odour , savour and tast of the herbs and flowers whereout they be taken , absque impyreumate , without any noisome smel or tast of smoake or burning , enjoing its saline balsamick conservatory of vitality , and from , putrefaction and corruption ; which cannot be perform'd to a moity in the common leaden stills . for the waters that are drawn off in them , are seldome , especially while they be new , without notable loathsomenesse of smoake and burning . for they acquire a sensible empyreumatick acidity , and inherit any forreign quality or tincture devolv'd from the churlish saturnine vitiosity of the still ; which unto sick men that drink of them , either by themselves , or in their sauc'd julaps , are not only nauseous and very grievous , but also hurtfull , and pernitious : for the maligne and evil quality of the lead , endamageth both the stomack , the breast , and all the entrails ; so likewise doth the quality of brasse , which physitians perceiving , left them , and only us'd decoctions ; which things also , may easily be made appear , with lesse adoe then a volume , how frivolus and fruitlesse they are ; also how pernitious and evill . for in herbs , or any other matter of a vitriolated ferment , that have an acid sapor or spirit , being decocted in brasen vessels , yeeld a decoction very ungrateful , and partaking of a canckerous and aeruginous quality : therefore have our london colledge of physitians wisely and advisedly forbidden the decocting of acid things in brasse : in the 54 fol. of their pharmacopaeia or dispensatory , where they command that berberries , of a tart vitriolate ferment , be boiled in vase vitreato terreo , and they give the reason , quod acida ab aereo ingratum sapiunt : and from whence they had this we need not be solicitous in searching to know . if the vessel alter so much in the decocting , why not as well in distillation ? for if the decoctions may partake of a canckerous aeruginous quality from the brasen vessel , why also may not the distill'd waters in the leaden stills with peuter-heads partake of a saturnine cerussal quality , not to be digested by the most struthiocameline athanor of the microcosmical aeconomy . such things then as are destill'd after the common manner of distillation , are altogether to be disallow'd , because of the ceruse , and other malitious qualities of the lead : for water also that is convey'd by pipes of lead galen condemneth ; for it breedeth diseases in the entrailes : and in this case it is worth a mans tenth reading : for if he affirm , that meer water only convey'd in leaden pipes doth breed diseases of the bowells ; how much more ought we to fear our waters distill'd in a leaden still ; for no smal cerusse remaineth cleaving to the inner side of a leaden head , as in distilling of vineger is gathered : so by the force of the heat , or burntnesse ascending up with a vapour , many times also acid and tart , of a vitriolated nature and quality , doth infect and tinct the waters with a saturnine cerussall evill quality . for how comes it to passe else that simple water devoid of all its salt , and so of all tast , should at any time wax sour , and of evill tast , except it did partake of the evill qualities of the spirits contain'd in the lead ; which sournesse could never happen in simple waters by reason of their coldnesse . but , well may they with such devout confidence , even to superstition , administer such waters as partake an evill quality of the lead in which they be distill'd , when they shall plead the tyranny of prescription and custome , and with no lesse temerity , and as much unsuccesfulnesse they shall not stick to administer those rattles and scurffe of their brains , the scales of brasse and iron , inwardly . but a hard task think they we have to contest against , and answer the following objection . for say these cold stomacks and understandings , that can very hardly digest this doctrine or any other save the crude sallads gather'd out of the galenicall elysium ; that cold herbs as roses , succory , plantain , burrage , &c. must be still'd in a cold still , that is , a leaden still they mean. but what hitherto hath been spoke touching the invalidity and inefficacious remedy of distill'd waters , he who will deny to have been argu'd according to reason and all equity of demonstration from the rules of pyrotechny , we professe we cannot edify how , or by what rule of proportion that mans genius calculates , what his elements are , nor what his analyticks : confidently to those who have read good books , and to those whose reason is not an illiterate book , to themselves we appeal , whether they would not confesse all this to be true , were it not for that afore-recited cold and dull objection of them , who like a lame dogge must be helped over the stile , cannot get over this adamantine alpe of frigidity . but give me leave to propound , whether the activity , application , or accomodation of cychory , ( or any other cold vegetable ) to the liver , be in his body , in his cold , unactive , elementary quality , or in his spirit , ( except we hold he hath none in him ) or some other innate , peculiar disposition or balsome , which hath power to work , and which things hippocrates calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . that there is life , vertue , and strength in waters , ( if the whole have any , and they be draw'n off by an expert artist in pyrotechny ) is confess'd of all , except those whose obstinacy in incredulity confesses their benightment to the black paths of ignorance and error : for if as christ saies my father worketh hitherto and i work , and it is god that cloaths the lilly of the field , who toil not , nor spin their own garments , but god in natures loom hath wrought both wa●p and woofe : what does he then cloath them with ? with only the naked fig-leaves of their anaglyphe or exterior texture or vestment ? yes certainly , he cloaths them with spirit , full of spirit and life , quick and living . besides the texture of them , the severall , perpetuall productions , their multiplication , augmentation are manifest and infallible arguments of life . there is then in all things lumen quoddam vitale , whereby they act that which they are accomodate to act . támque in pisce vitale est , quàm in leone ; támque in cychoreo & papavere quam pipere , which is extinguish'd , obstructed , or diminished in this clouted-shoe , hob-nayl'd chymistry of apothecaries . if this be true , as to satiety of satisfaction may be clearly evinced , that every plant or herb enjoies vegetation according to the seminal vertue of its domestick ferment , originally inoculated into its principles , by natural consequence from hence we may understand , that all vegetation is from the spirits . and that so all activity , capacity and power to worke proceeds from them : as also that all debility to perform their original inhaerent and ●mplantate vigour , power and vertue in the body , doth depend upon the obstruction , violation or diminution of the spirits and their peculiar appropriate ferment . cychory having a bitter tast , cometh from sal gemme , its naturall ferment according to the chymists . so opium much more colder , hath in it a bitter and nitrous salt : yet in him besides his soporiferous quality , there is connexed virus aliud . unde let halia papavera somno , decantantur à poetis . and anodynes although they stupifie , instar frigoris ; yet they are erroneously reckoned by the schools , chiefly among cold things . for neither is it soporiferous sulphur in opium that doth cool ; but greatly amaricate , and his salt is sharp and sudorifick ; and bitternesse in the schools is a notable indicative of heat . out of opium we say separated from his narcotick sulphur , may be made a notable purger . the like may be done of cychory , centaury , fumitory and gentian : salt of a cleansing nature ; therefore is a medicine out of succory made by fire , excellent in the ictericall tincture to expell it . certainly if we be not moles to our own understandings , and doe not wilfully shut the eyes of our reason , but do so much right to our own judgements as to perpend what quality there is in the elementall crasis of succory , we shall find most manifestly a sharp bitter tast in it , which proceeds chiefly from his salt gemme , which is not cold , but of an active quality , which is the true hepatick medicine in it , and the chiefe specifick part that aspects the liver : is the ascendant and almuten in its own horizon , that radically applies to the liver : but the water of it , that is drawn off in a cold still so call'd , is void of course , and peregrine , that is , stript stark naked of its vertues , and is not in reception with his originall , and hath lighted in the via combusta ; nor this balsamick hepatick salt , without which the whole is a nullity , is not in exaltation , ascends not in the common distilling , nor can by no meanes be translated thereto by the leaden stils . the caput mortuum after every distillation , in which is ambuscado'd the salt , is onely in the combust way , and is not aspected of the water , that is , partakes not one grain of the salt , without which it is an unsavoury medicine . for if the aqueous humour , the chariot of the other inhaerent vertues , be drawn by these dull saturnine leaden-heel'd horses , the common stills , and be driven naked into the world , rifl'd of all its force and vertue , and carries not in its belly neither wind nor fire ; how can it be apply'd with honesty or conscience , as medicinal for the liver ; when to the most grosse and vulgar heads it confesses its invalidity , as being pillag'd and robb'd of its efficacy , spirit and life . and how all along it hath been handed down to posterity , and reckoned among the rapsodies of medicines , as a prime instrument to correct and condemne the distempers of mans body to a ne ultra , seems not so much a riddle as ridiculous , except to the serious trifling gravity of such , who having as cold and dull a pace , as pate , in the scrutinies of nature and her excellencies , have little else to doe ; whose tendence seems to verifie the tenor of that proverb , better play at small game then stand out . such herbs then as partake of a vitriolated quality , and an acid sharp spirit , though cold , ought not to be distill'd in a leaden still . of a vitriolate nature we say , seeing vegetables may draw minerall and metallick spirits unto them . and let not other men thinke themselves free , and the thing equitable and rational , to call choler aeruginous , vittelline and porraceous , for the likenesse and affinity of those things from whence the name is borrow'd ; and goe about to debar me from conceiving my self tyed by the same duty . we have the same reason then , and as lawful it is for us to say , that either the humours of the body so called , or the topicall ferment of any part , may partake of a vitriolated nature and quality : so also vegetables may assume a vitriolate energy , as lujula , limons , succory , vineger , ( which doth represent the tart qualities of vitriol ) &c. who have a sharp , piercing , powerfull spirit , and therefore not fit to be distill'd in lead or peuter . hitherto the childish , ignorant and unadvised self-contradicting error of physitians hath been exploded , and may much more be made manifest by their rash , simple and common practise in bidding and prescribing distill'd vineger in the common leaden stills . unto so low a pitch of stupid ignorance hath vulgar physitians fallen , that so easily and implicitely entertain the customes and traditions of their predecessours , without any examination or due disquisition of the things . let us therefore take this to pieces , dissect the concentrals of it , and see if those stills be the true , natural and genuine engines to draw forth the nature , essence and privy property resient in it . vineger then , the circumferential round or cadaver of wine , whose acidity proceeds not , nor is not caus'd by elemental frigidity , but is ambuscado'd in those occult and acid spirits of salt , lurking in the conclave or shop of the spirits of wine . this is perceiv'd in the whole field of wines , though never so generous , ( before the spirits retire to their garrison , or concentrals , as in the making of vineger ) when in the drinking is perceiv'd a certain grateful punction , striking most pleasantly upon the palat , from the singular temper of the vitriolated acidity , being mix'd with sweet and sulphureous spirits placed in the wine by the archeus of nature . hence is it that some vinegers are made sharper then others , as they contain in them more or lesse of the nature of salt armoniack . for simple water devoid of all salt , by no frigidity can grow acid . tartar then is nothing but the acid vitriolate cristalline salt of the wine . moreover vineger is both mineral and vegetable . but the vegetable excels the others : seeing not only art produces it , but also nature in acid fruit , chiefly in citrons , limons , oranges : also in goose-berries , barberries , &c. in herbs sorrel , trifolium , acetosum , nasturtium indicum , &c. every acidum then is not cold as the dull disquisitions of vulgar physitians hath left to us , and as to ample satisfaction is elsewhere demonstrated . nor is vineger made by the total separation of the sulphureous spirits from the wine ; when of wine from which the spirits are divorc'd , or which is corrupt , and hath lost his spirit , no vineger can be made : but the more generous and rich the wines are , so much the more strong is the vineger made of them . of wine also express'd from omphacine grapes , and which is almost devoid of all spirit , is no vineger made . and not onely out of wine is vineger made , but also out of beer , ale , hydromel , and the juices of some fruits abounding with spirit ; and out of which a spirit like unto the spirit of wine may be drawn , but out of others which want such a spirit , it cannot be . is not then that lean flat and cadaverous product out of vineger by the common stills not only ridiculous , but abominably , and horridly hurtful ? since every acidum by reason of its corroding energy , doth operate in a perpetual ebullition . the acid spirit in the round or verge of the masse of wine is of a vitriolated energy , powerfully insinuating and piercing into a proper subject . for an absolute impossibility it is that there can be any the least acidity , which having once met with a proportionate object , does not immediately begin to operate on it . this is sober verity , as by example may be made manifest . vineger how weak soever , put into a peuter saucer , and suffering it to stand a while , by and by begins to put forth its active , acid corroding spirit ; and in the vineger you shall perceive clearly a certain white mother as it were swimming in the vineger ; and the bottome of the saucer , shall be damask'd with white streakes , yea , shall be white and rough all over the bottome , and a certain substance like cerusse shall be scrap'd off , and crumbled between the fingers : this by practise may be observ'd , as by ocular experiment we have try'd , and it is so trivial and common a businesse , that it is known to all kitchin wenches , but is not regarded by the most lady-like stomack . if it be thus , i may be sooner destitute of leisure then proof sufficient to evince , that such vineger cannot be good for the stomack . besides it makes it more flat and dead , when it hath sated it self on its proportionate subject , the peuter saucer . it partakes then of a sordid saturnine evill quality , pernitious to the tender tunicles of the stomack . if it please you then ladies and gentlewomen ; and all of all sorts , lay aside your peuter saucers , and no more eat vineger out of them , but instead thereof , you may use saucers made of fine earth , or silver plate . as clear again , vineger , how flat and cadaverous soever , having once touched upon the stone concreted in the head or stomack of a crea-fish , vulgarly ( but erroneously ) call'd crabs eye , can by no means contain it self , but must immediately act in a phrensy of inquietude by oblique and circular motion to the dissolution of it , and resolve it into a clear , diaphanous liquor . but what i pray you of this acid spirit is drawn off in the distillation of vineger , by the common stills ? any thing but a bare fleam , as jejune as the crude and black ignorance of such phlegmatick heads . when shall we awaken from the lethargy of this supine neglect ? unsuccesseful and deplorable are the prescriptions of simple distill'd waters as the remedies and militia against the hostility of any disease or distemper , either in the head , as by cephalick waters , of sage , betony , &c. in the lungs , by pectoral and pulmoniack , as of hyssop , colts-foot , &c. in the liver , by hepatick waters of agrimony , endive or succory , &c. and so of the whole vegetable monarchy . vain are the drinks of cooling ptisans . vain are the liqorish sweet julaps of distill'd waters , in feavers . vain are the decoctions or apozems , whose menstrue are distill'd waters . the like is to be said of the whole myr●ad of medicaments drawn from the poor and thin common-wealth of cold and crude sallads , without oile or salt . to which we may subjoin , that the same altitude is taken by the astrolabe of perspective reason of those abcdarian nuntii , the forlorn hope of further sicknesse , their praeparatories , as they have god-father'd them , except it be of as bad , if not worse remedy then the disease . what can they lay the mountains low ? can they exalt the valleys ? can they make the crooked path straight in the body of man ? can they do any job of journey-work for their catharticks that are to succeed ? can they attenuate that which is grosse , viscid and thick , or thicken the fluid and thin ? can they fix and nail that which is volatile ? can they humect the parts possess'd with an atrophy , or aridura membrorum ? unlesse it be with their waterish parts , and in analogy to common well-water ? can they exsiccate or dry up the superfluous humidities of the body ? yes , even as if dutch wind-mills should drain the fens upon new-market heath ; so as little power and vertue have they to do any of these : for nil dat , quod non habet . the propounders themselves seem to have mills in their brains , that thus grinde the grift of the dotages and dreames of their predecessours turn'd about with the epidemick vertigo , the current of distill'd waters of vegetables . as if our bread would be dough , and the whole batch of medicines spoyl'd , without the unsalted and unlea'vned prescriptions of simple waters . ah! alas can these , as well real , as nominal , simple waters serve as a breast-work ▪ or pallisadoes to stake out the hostile invasion of a disease ? or barricadoe and dam up the receptory vessels , and all the passages of the body from the least entrance or footing of any malignant distemper into our common-wealth ? or drive out any goliah , or pigmey distemper with these pebbles taken out of this shallow brook of waters ? once more , will the radical indisposition of the lungs , liver , or any other more or lesse noble part be hereby rectified , or defended from a second assault by this poor contemptible chamber-maid militia ? no sure , their forces are scatter'd , totally routed , never more like to ralley again . march boldly on then the enemies and invaders of our health ; be not retrograde nor stationary , but with a full career charge nature through and through , while your adversaries forces are weak , and routed . for their general and lord nature cannot receive any recruit or assistance from her auxiliaries , or make any safe retreat back to her primitive strength , but must be inforced to resigne to the tyranny of the conquerour , and cry for quarter . and to me seriously by this and such ammunition , if the whole train of artillery be no better , nor those mortar-pieces and granadoes of physick , herculean actors so accounted , i make no doubt ( the providence and power of that grand archiatros , the almighty , not resisting ) but such a devastation and depopulation may be quickly made , as shall unhinge this huge fabrick , and calcine the world to ashes by the chymistry of death . all these things , some physitians with whom i have talked , i have observ'd have both seen , known , confess'd and contended for , and yet in their practice , and among their prescriptions , are so negligently forgetfull , or desperately obstinate and wilful as to commend and command in their recipe's the apothecary to mingle some of these simple distill'd waters in a leaden still , and that with such serious gravity , as if they were to be saluted doctor with four feet . nay , what physitian is there almost that by his practise does not confes his incogitant infatuation , whose easy and incircumspect credulity can drink down , even to a deluge , this torrent of simple distill'd waters ? nor could i hitherto sufficiently admire how possibly our europaean world could be so grosly circumvented by the grey-hair'd traditional dreams of their predecessours , in a businesse so vain , simple and inefficacious ; that men whose clear reason doth entitle them to plenipotentiaries , should thus prostitute their credulities to the legends and romances of ignorant paperstuffers and scriblers . see then with what a full and swelling tide the insolent torrent of custome bears all afore it when even the best and understanding part of man , the crown and strength of all his faculties floats like a dead drown'd body on the stream of vulgar apprehensions , drinking down even to gorging this puddle of simple waters , and other ridiculous fictions : and how possibly they should inhabit thus long , unlesse they be the lowest lees of an epidemick infection , liver-grown to their sides , which perhaps will never uncling without the strong abstersive of some heroick magistrate , whose high office dares lead him both to know and to do without any frivolous case-putting . we will now at length come to shew the fallacy of the schools , and their ignorance in the prerogative of simples and medicines ; in their proposing such a tedious interval of time between the reception of the medicine , and the working , or demonstration of his activity : by which meanes they have cloaked their defects , and more lightly set off among the common people their large time of curing diseases . the schools teach that the cadaveriety , and dull lethargy of medicines , is contracted by the opium of a frigidal temper and constitution ; and that they are altogether idle , fruitlesse and dead , unlesse first by our heat , as by a cook ; they are prepard and being excited are by it acuated : this they have concluded and ratified ; in as much as medicines taken or apply'd , do not by and by explode their faculties in us , instar ignis : but they have need of a certain space of time , whereby to produce their effects , by praevious disposititions . neverthelesse if a space may be requir'd , that an alteration may be made , which is an effect of the medicine ; that truly doth not a whit argue the action of the medicine to be by our heat , otherwise then necessary , that the medicine might acquire the donation of his activity or liberty of working , which he hath obtain'd and was granted him from the creation whole and sound , full and free . moreover the effects of medicines are not produced , unlesse first there be a diligent and skilful preparation and due application , and then with a more exquisite appropriation they imprint their powers in us . wherefore be it foolish , that pepper , vinegar , &c. ought to borrow their activities and gifts , [ ad agendum suscepta ] from our heat : as if the monarchy of one alone heat , should be the fountain and primary cause to give life to so diverse and manifold effects . wherefore in good sooth that matter may act in us , as touching this , she hath no need of any other extrinsecal thing , extrase : but as primarily ; so also without delay , she puts forth her powers by the importance of dispositions , if it be duely apply'd . but because the sensitive anima ( which the schools have basely confounded with their calor ) doth apply the receiv'd powers , and then doth make a certain new and proper action to her self , and truly vitall . therefore the powers which the sensitive anima hath received from the medicine , are onely occasionall effective causes , and she can if she will passe them by , and neglect them , which is manifest in robust bodies , who digest without trouble violent laxatives tanquam cibos . and in dying men ; in whom there is an application of medicines , but not an appropriation ; by reason of the neglect or defect of the sensitive faculty . for in strong bodies the exciting heat is not wanting , and yet no effect . moreover if delay must intercede between the medicine that is apply'd and his effect ; that doth not happen because of the defect or exigence of the activity of things ; but by reason of the necessity of the vitall , emergent and subsequent activity through an impression made , by the medicine . for a virulent force is not wanting in the biting of a serpent , although sometimes it doth not shew its effect , by reason of some impediment : so many have so accustom'd themselves to purges and laxatives , that at length they work not a whit , not because heat is wanting in the man ; or that the laxatives have lost their pristine strength : but the anima hath contracted a certain familiarity by the frequent use of them , insomuch that at length it doth more slowly inflame by those poisons , then by the first course . lastly it 's true and perpetual that all sensation , consists rather in action and vitall judgement , then in a passion . whether that sensation happens in the exteriour sense ; or in some passion of the mind : or in the natural and sympathetick sense of inanimate things . at least it is clear , that medicines do not need the praegression of our heat , that they may act simply : but a sensitive power , which is the principal actor , hath need of agents , and sensible objects , that she may perceive , and in perceiving may act . therefore the action of sensible things , doth occupy her self on both sides by the mean of an occasional cause , in respect of the sensitive anima . for that cause neither do medicines work in a dead body , by reason of the defect of the principal and immediate agent , which is the life or soul . whence also it is sufficiently manifest how preposterously hitherto the vertues of remedies are attributed to an agent , or principall and vital efficient , and how neglected the principal agent hath stood as well in healing as effecting diseases . verily if a medicine should be actuated by our heat , as such , it must come to passe , that every medicine alwaies , and everywhere , should equally worke in every humane object , actually hot . but a laxative exhibited in the same dose , loosens in one terribly , in another not a jot ; and yet on both sides sufficiently excited by our heat : yea , the same which in stronger bodies is without effect ; in weaker bodies for the most part rages most violently . but we passe lightly over this scene , and resigne it to others . thus by this plain and evident demonstration we have good encouragement to trust , where it shall meet with intelligible perusers , some stay at least of mens thoughts will be obtained , to consider and promote this prudent and manly expostulation ; and not give away their birth-rights for a messe of this cold pottage of not daring or not willing to speak . we now willingly come according to our promise , which is due , to arraigne and examine the naturalities of the other universal main pillars of curing , namely phlebotomy , fontanells or issues , and dyet , as three other props of healing , which being shaken , the whole edifice falls downe of its own accord as rubbish , and being taken away , physitians do desert their patients , having no remedies but such as purging and bloud-letting , the only publicans which by an insupportable excise impoverish the whole body and make nature bankrupt by exhausting the stock of aliment from the vasa and viscera . all which we will touch particularly . these things are practis'd and prescribed , as designed for the evacuation and consuming the stock of morbisick distempers . we have done then with one manner of evacuation of evil humours , purgation , and that by a twofold instrument , viz. cathart●cks or purges , taken in at the mouth , the arctick pole , and a laxative clyster , at the port aesquiline the antartick pole . the second manner of evacuation followes , which is the going out of the tide of bloud , by the sluice of phlebotomy or bloud-letting ; which also weares the fools coat or livery of the lady ignorance , and well may be reputed free of the company of physitians other , not more erroneous , then foul , mischeivous practises . as the invention of clysters was learn'd from a bird , so bloud-letting from a horse . good teachers . maids children and horses schollars shall be well disciplin'd ; better fed , then taught . verily by the consent of galen , in every feaver ( the hectick excepted , ) phlebotomy is requisite . to the schools therefore and the destructive custome of this giddy-headed age we do frame this syllogisme ; and that from feavers , the most acute index of all their grounds for bloud-letting . phlebotomy is unuseful wheresoever it is demonstrated not to be necessary : or where the indication , proper to it is wanting . but in feavers , it is not demonstrated to be necessary . therefore phlebotomy in feavers is unuseful . the major is proved : because the end is the first director of causes , and disposer of the meanes unto it self . therefore in what thing soever the end doth not point out a necessity of the meanes , they are in vain fitted and related to it , not being requisite thereto ; especially where it is clear by reflection from the glasse of contra-indication , that bloud is not drawn out of the rivulets , the veins , without the fall or losse to the whole ocean of strength . such meanes therefore are badly instituted which the end shewes to be in vain , unusefull and to be done with the diminishing of the strength . the minor is proved by haratius augenius de moute sancto , in his three books ex professo . teaching with the consent of the academies that a plethora alone , or too great a plenitude of the veins , that is , a nimiety of redundance of bloud , is the only gn●mon in the table of directions for phlebotomy . and that it doth not run in a direct line to the sanation of favers , but to the oblique angle of slackning the full blown sails of abundance of bloud , and becalming the puffs and gusts of too much plenitude , by the trident of phlebotomy , the midwife to deliver onely the ingravidate and bigge-bellyed veins from the tympany of a plethora . but a plethora hath no subsistance under the torrid zone of feavers : therefore in the hot spur of feavers the cooling card of phlebotomy is never turn'd up , and consequently is not trump , is not requisite , but dealt about as alwaies unuseful . the conclusion indeed may seem to come out of the eutopia of novelty and the arabia of paradoxes , yet liveth in the eden of sober verity . which shall therefore be further proved , galen himself proveth the subsumption teaching , that there is more choler sattered in every poroxysmo of a feaver , then in two daies space is generated . in the mean time the rest of the members of our publick state adjourn not , nor supersede from receiving ( according to the isonomy or pari-formall lawes of re-publiques ) nouristment of the accustomed bloud . that is , besides the lavish expences and exhaustion of the common stock of aliment that is expended by this new tenant and inne-houlder , the feaver , who hath now taken livery and seisen , they consume their own patrimony , the fat of the ordinary bloud . wherefore then from this advantage , it genuinely and necessarily followes , that if in a healthy person there be an allowance of eight ounces of bloud for a daily portion , that then so many also should be transmuted into nutriment , or otherwise the man should straight protuberate into an excessive huge bulke , more deformedly corpulent then any garagantua . therefore if in a sound person there is diminution made of eight ounces of bloud : certainly the greedy feaver will consume no lesse . seeing then there is little or no appetite of food , digestion or sanguification , of unavoidable necessity , within two dayes , the full sea of a plethora ( if there was any in the new moon or beginning of the feaver ) will shift its tides into a low ebbe , and in the wane of its fall and decrease , the false and dangerous shole or quick-sands of indication for springing a leak in the vein by phlebotomy , will appear as a mare mortuum , and accordingly vanish into the stygian gulph of errors . but that there is no plethora in feavers , they see ; who suffer ulcers by an is or cautery : which truly are presently dryed up by the solstice of feavers , nor make no effluxion , according to the accustomed manner of their purulent excretion . but it is chiefly and deservedly to be noted , that the strength cannot offend , and deserves not to be blamed for its aboundance , no , not in methusalem : neither also doth good bloud become peccant by nimiety , because the vital powers and bloud are correlatives : seeing according to scripture , the soul or vital strength , rides in the chariot of the bloud . therefore by consequence a plethora can never be in good bloud . we shall shew by and by , that bad and corrupt bloud doth never runne in the canall of the veins . if therefore the extreame of a plethora of the veins , can ever be possible , it ought to consist in a mediety , betwixt corrupt and very sound bloud : whether we consider the same state of falling off and neutrality , or only , as mixt of both , at least , the galenists should remember , that good proceedeth from its trunk , an entire cause ; but evill from the racemation of several defects : and so that this state should not be called plethoricall : but cacochymicall . neither to desire phlebotomy but rather purgation , which may selectively expell the bad , and leave the good . and surely these their contradictory theses being conceded , it will be a genuine illation , that the indication of phlebotomy is not yet in no wise proved . for according to the truth of the matter we before shewed , the anarchy of a cacochymia keeps not court in the veins , the effect of whose reigne is only the perturbation of the bloud . for the appeasing of which mutiny , the grand designe is not taken so much , from the exhaustion and arraignment of the well-affected bloud , before the barre of phlebotomy , as the prescribing a medicine , which shall be as a high court of justice , with the power of oyer and terminer suddenly to take away and cut off this grand delinquent , the sole troubler and his tyranny . especially seeing that it is the purer bloud , which passing by the center of the heart , obtaineth its own depuration : therefore that which is drawn from the divarications of the cubit , and first let out , shall be purer ; but the more impure shall be left within . moreover seeing it is already so clear , as it can escape the observation of no man , that there is no plethora in feavers , which may require bloud-letting ; and this the schools surrounded with shame , have somewhat smelt , and have substituted in the place of indication , some c●oindications or counter-indications , in aequitality . and as aequiponderant or aequipollent to indication adaequate in nature , and praeponderant to contra-indication ; which otherwise truly , seeing it is desumed from the conservation of strength , ought wholly to obtain the chiefest place , for this cause seriously , that every feaver is quickly , safely and perfectly cureable without bloud-letting . for in good sooth they use presently but one only remedy , and serve all their so multifarious and diverse putrefactions of their clients , the humours , and feavers flowing from thence , with one writ of ejectment by the habeas corpus or turn-key of phlebotomy : because it helpes aboundantly ( as they say ) and is stopped at pleasure . by which distinction truly they doe in some sort disgrace their laxatives . for they say , although phlebotomy may seem requisite for a plethora , by a natural and singular indication of it self ; yea , neither properly doth it take away the putrefied humours : yet it refrigerates , exonerates the burden of the veins , it recreates the powers , takes away part of the evil humour together with the good ; and stops the current or catarrh of humours , at the damme or nest of putrefaction , by derivation and revulsion , and also asswageth and removeth them . wherefore nature feeling comfort , is busied about , and finishes the rest more successefully and easily . these are good words ( and we wish to be true ) sayes the sow , eating penitential psalmes ; but avail nothing to my hunger . these are the endixes or co-indications , by which they perswade to continue mens mischiefs ; which we shall touch particularly . and first of all we admonish , that although in a stronger and fuller body there may be no great hurt by bloud-letting , yea , oftentimes the sick may seem to be eased presently ; yea cured : yet phlebotomy cannot scape scot-free , seeing it hath runne upon the score of many evils ; nor go away uncondemned , forasmuch as feavers may more successefully be ●ured without it . for howsoever , phlebotomy at the first or reiterated courses , oftentimes may seem to be as it were a pyromastix , and to usher in a power to tame and asswage the intense heat and acutenesse of feavers . yet it falls out no otherwise then that the archeus being driven into an horrid extasy by this unexpected unnatural extravenation , greatly feares the sudden depletion of the powers , and undue and impertinent refrigeration , and so forgetting the duell or conflict with the disease , neglects to expell the feavorish matter , and excercise its function . but they who even now seemed to be lenifyed by bloud-letting , and thought the disease or'ecome , are now put to their shifts , notwithstanding their weak engine of phlebotomy . for the enemy ralleys again , and the archeus is a new charged by the fresh alarum of elusory recidivation , and they now know it was but an ambuscado retreat of the disease , and that the mount aetna of feavers is too hard to be removed by the infirme fingers of pigmey phlebotomy ; at least they are benighted to a later and weaker valetudinary state . which assertion the turks and a great part of the world confirme , not owning with us the reasons nor use of phlebotomy , which was never read , that god ever ordain'd it in nature , nor to approve of it , nor yet to have made any mention of it . under the ottoman empire , the greatest part of the indies , phlebotomy is not used , nor so much as heard of ; yet the strength of these nations , their agility , readinesse , vigilancy , and constancy of labour , as well in action as sufferance , you may learn out of the histories . now concerning the first scope of co-indication , which is called refrigeration . in earnest , blood-letting doth no otherwise refrigerate , then as it steales from the vital heat : but hath not the northern pole of frigefactive and positive power for its horizon , by which meanes truly such a refrigeration becomes nocivous . why forsooth are they so cautelous , that they do not ; nor dare not open a vein in the hectick ? doth not the feaver need refrigeration ? or doth it cease to be a feaver ? but the deficiency of blood is apparent in hecticks , wherefore in the systeme of hecticks , and in the defect of blood and strength , ther 's an easie calculation and illation of the hurt made by phlebotomy ; which otherwise is latitant under stronger powers . in the consideration of which , we shall bring a remarkeable story of prince ferdinand , brother to the king of spaine , who in anno. 1641. was opened : for being agitated with a tertian feaver eighty nine dayes , dyed in the two and thirtieth year of his age . his heart , liver and lungs being taken away , and the veins and arteries dissected , such a paucity of blood was found , that a conflux of scarce a spoonfull of blood , issued in the cave of his thorax : for his liver appear'd altogether exanguious , and the flaccid crumenation of his heart , contracted an atrophy , and demonstrated a penury of bloud also . for two dayes before his death he had eaten more , if more had been given him . for he was so exhausted by bloodlettings , purgations and hirudinall blood-suckings , as we said , that his sceletantall fabrick appear'd as a pale statu● of exanguinality ; yet for all this the cruel tertian did not forget to keep its paroxysmal course and return . what profited therefore so great an evacuation of the bloud ? or what may be observed by a judicious perpension , from that refrigeration , but the illation of vanity to be clearly demonstrated from such evacuations , which do not take the least punctilio , from the latitude of feavers ? the same degrees , and as bad and worse occurences of desperate evils and mischiefs , we find here at home , by this inveterate and deplorable practice of bloud-letting . ah alas , is this the method of healing which makes a physitian , whom the most high hath created and commanded to be honoured for the necessity of him ? if it know not to cure a tertian in a young man , to what purpose is that method ? is this the art that the whole needeth not but the sick ? let this therefore teach physitians to fear how they expose their febrile patients to the congresse of cold things , in which they should be largely and presently experienced , and by a manifest token know the vertue of their refrigeratives , because they may not much confide in their anomalies of heat and cold . for seeing it is clear that the whole meridian , swindge and irradiation of heat in the province of feavers , is of the latitude , and empire of the very vital spirit it self : it followes also , that the breath of refrigeration by the boreas of phlebotomy , is a meer exhausting and impoverishing of the common-wealth of the vital spirits and bloud together . for if the feaver be to be cured as an intemperature by phlebotomy , as a refrigerating remedy , ( contrarium heu constat ! ) and by cold alone , and others intend the cure even in a quotidian ( which they have subscribed to be an inflamation of putrid fleam ) they would obtain at least that refrigeration farre more easy , by exposing their patients half naked to the breath of the north wind , or hanging him in water , or in a deep well , until he should confesse himself sufficiently cooled , for so presently and largely they should absolve the cure , if their conscious ignorance within , did not condemn their febrilous essence of heat . we cannot therefore so readily submit our belief , that the commotion of our bodies in a feaver , is but a reverberium of heat , an impetuous agitation , and only a bare tempest of heat : but ther is also the interposure of an occasional vitiated matter of known hostility against the native oeconomy of the parts , the protrusion of which the archeus is labouring and busied about , in which concertation , their enterferes an adventitious accension , the symbole of its indignation . which theory so long as it shall be neglected in the schools , the cure of feavers will be preposterous , pernicious and conjectural , and so all not worth thanks to the physitian , seeing they may be cured by the spontaneous and mercifull goodnesse of nature : and we wish and with submission advise hat physitians would not tamper with them so much as they do . but to make hast to the argument of curing by the subitaneous precipitancy of cold ▪ the schools will respond , it is a dangerous it●●●ry to go from one extreame to another . by which salve of their ignorance , they endeavour to stop the mouthes of people , as if they spake some thing worth our cares and faith : not being sensible of their rash inadvertency , how in the intertrigation of their own hypotheses they contradict themselves , when they encomiate phlebotomy chiefly for that end , and dextralize and preferre it before their laxatives , that it presently and aboundantly helpeth by refrigeration ; and therefore in their nomenclature , have presum'd to give it the appellation of an easy , quick and universal help . for its own impotency grounded in ignorance , they distort and strain to the arbitrament of an ill understood and worse applyed axiome : because truly there is not the least question to be made , but that one may presently cut the rope of a man hanged , that being deprived of aire , he might enjoy it more quickly . again , that one may place a drowned man in a prone posture , that he may cast forth the water out of his lungs . one may , i say , drag out some certain body to the bankside : and may presently free a wound from that exotick miasme and indisposition , that hath possessed it , and bring it to a circatrice . for very many such wounds are closed in one day : because the solution of continuity wants nothing but its reunition ; one may presently set a fractured or dislocated bone . the sick may likewise be restor'd in the epilepsie , syncope , lipothymie and cramp much sooner , the belly loos'd presently and the detention of excrements absolved and may presently stop the muliebrall fluxe . for it is not to be supposed that nature rejoyceth in its own destruction , and that weary of a sound and lovely state of health , is willing to open the gates and let in grimfac'd repentinous death , and should refuse a remedy of that noble entelechy , which should suddenly expell and drive out the malignant disease , except she loves to be thought not to do that , which in possibilities is best of all , nor to desire that every thing should have a being , and be conserved . in demonstration indeed , it is accounted impossible to go on from one extreame to another , without a mean , and that mean wholly deny all interjacency : which if we have granted in naturalities with a certain latitude , we shall deserve to be adjudged hitherto to have done very well , and whereof not to repent . verily we may not scrue and urge that of demonstration , unto sanation . we confess indeed that the dropsy may not be drawn forth by paraco●tesis all at a time : as also to eliciate all the purulent matter at once out of an aposteme , is not good ; neither to carry one frozen with cold , immediately to an hypocaust , nor to feed one aboundantly who is almost starved with famine . but truly the slow and necessary incession of mediocrity , or the progression from one extream to another , doth not constrain that , as such , as if nature should make aversation from speedy opitulation . seeing that this indication is peculiar , naturall , medullary and intirely proper to it . but these things are forbidden , because the exolution of the powers thence depending , would not bear those swift motions . the schools therefore by sophistication of a cause not as a cause , do drive the sick from a speedy remedy which they have not ; that they may veil their ignorance , and introduce their enthymemes among the common people , under certain axiomes badly directed . for as often as nature effects , and with a trine , aspects the perfect sanation of disseases , which may be genuinely accomplished in her own termes , without losse or detriment to the powers , ( for the constellation of powers hath the ascendand and first house , the metrapolitane place in the systeme of indications , ) whereby it 's the sooner obtained , and manumitted into a greater jubilee of nature , as we have often observed in feavers , with much plesure , and profitable admiration . therefore ( in plain termes ) if a meer heat above or against nature be the ascendant in the horizon of feavers , and every cure ought to be performed by the monomachy or civill warres of debellative contraries : there is required therefore a praeternaturall refrigeration , namely that contraries may stand sub eodem genere . that is every feaver should necessarily be cured with the conclamate cold of the ambient : and chiefly because the cold of the circum-ambient aire doth collect , not dissipate the powers . but the consequent is false ; and therefore the antecedent . the schools therefore do not intend to perswade into a gentle calmnesse , their onely impetum faciens , the heat in feavers , by the ventilating rhetorick of phlebotomy : but they chiefly respect the ablation of the bloud and mittigation of accidents , which ushers in and procures the debilitated powers , or the diminution of the bloud and strength , is the only beam in their eye , and which they primarily intend . whereby with a more colourable deceit they may call that a freer respiration of the arteries . but we very much esteem the indication which concernes the reall conservation of the powers , & is opposite to the miserable and anormous depletion of the veins whatsoever , because in the diminution and prosternation of the powers and strength , being outed of their vigour , and now exanimated into a dull and faint mycropsychie , no disease can in the least degree , or largest latitud of intention be profligated from the confines of vitality , nor doth any thing remain to be done by the physitian , but to stand for a cypher . hippocrates therefore concludes nature to be the only aesculapius of diseases ; because the indication which is desumed from conserving the powers , should moderate the whole scope of the cure . therfore as the keeping of the powers , is the prime indication perpendicular to health , and conducible to perfect restauration , and this to be perswaded from the convincing arguments of reason ; so also its correlative the bloud , because it containeth them . hippocrates indeed it 's confessed , commands to let bloud presently and aboundantly in the strenuous plethora of athletick bodies : and that the schools every where thunder out for phlebotomy . but their allegations for that in the cure of feavers and diseases , is extreamly ridiculous and worthy the blushes of learned men . for he commands not that for fear of the plethora , although their veins might sufficiently abound with bloud : but onely least the full-stuffed vessels should strein and burst in the exercise of their strength : otherewise , what intercalation or advent is there that is common to sound athletick enterprisers , with the cure of feavers ? for there is no fear of a plethora in one afflicted with a feaver , nor that a vein should be broke by exercise . yet it is to be noted , that the depletions of bloud , do so behave themselves , and are at such a passe : forasmuch as the luxuriant exhaustion of the powers accruing upon the libidinous sacrifices to the cyprian dame , is irreparable , because it takes away from the innate spirit of the heart . with semblable reason and in proximity to this , is the destructive exhaustion made by phlebotomy , forasmuch as it readily and privily steales away and that plentifully the influent archeus . but although the malignant tincture and influence of a disease doth perpendicularly also oppugne the sysygia of powers ; yet because it doth it not affatim , sed sensim , therefore the cardinall effect , is rather a concussion and attrition of the powers , then a real exhaustion . the restauration therefore of the strength from the disease of attrition doth more easily and readily bend and follow the auxiliary hand of the physitian then from that of exhaustion , by phlebotomy . for those who in any disease are debilitated by bloud-letting , are oftentimes disappointed of the crisis , and if in the dilatory expergefaction from a disease , and raising its seige , they begin to recruit , and nature is not put upon such hard duty , but they now become a little better ; yet they passe out at the postern gate and narrow way of many anxieties , and a long flux of time it is , e're these valetudinarists arrive at the broad and pleasant way of perfect convalescence , and not without fear of the fresh alarm of elusory recidivation . but they who take their decumbiture in a disease without phlebotomy , are easily restored , and by and by attain to their pristine state of sanity . and if they are destitute of remedies , and sometimes are driven to great extremitys ; yet nature endeavors the crisis and doth refect them , because although their strength suffer a conquassation by a disease , yet they perish not , because no exhaustion by blood-letting . wherefore a physitian is bound by the peculiar dictates of conscience and charity to heal the sick , not by a subitaneous expoliation of the powers , as neither by the dangers flowing from thence , nor yet by abreviation of life , according to that in the psalmes , my spirit shall be attenuated , and therefore my daies shortned . and seeing according to holy writ , the life lurkes in the bloud , therefore a plentiful profusion of bloud , cannot but be a considerable prejudice to life . for precisely the perpetual intention of nature in curing feavers , is per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , per sudores . and therefore the reflux or periodicall exacerbations for the most part are checked and ended by the profluvium of sweats . but phlebotomy is the antartick pole , is diametrically opposite to this intention . for truly it vellicates the bloud inwards , to replete the vessels empty of bloud : but seriously the motion of nature requisite to the sanation of feavers , proceeds from the centre to the circumference , from the regalia of the noble parts and entrails , to the line of this our garrison , the region of the pelt . but that bloud-letting does hurt unavoidably , by the dependent necessity of its debilitation , we need no strong inducements to charme our belief , although stronger and plethorick bodies , may seem to them , who to passe by the trouble of a judicial and serious pensitation , are inclined to believe , that they find and witnesse the contrary : if that holy writ which tells us , that the life dwells in bloud , hath not weight sufficient to engage our credence ; at least it may be made manifest by the barbarous logick of phlebotomy , please you to suffer the easie trouble and experiment of opening a vein and bleeding largely . for presently the conclusion and evidence given in will be , that the strength or powers & the sick are faint and fall together . therefore if in demonstration six things may notably hurt : three then cannot but hurt , though not so sensibly . farre therefore from the rules of sober verity and equity must his ano●mall intentions and practise wander , who being delegated to cure and restore nature , invents and tryes waies to hurt her , for which he hath not the least permission , if nature be her own aesculape , and so much the more happy and successeful , as she is stronger . for let it be but seriously weighed in the ballance , and by the weighty motive of the pressing necessities and mischiefs that follow , and it will evidently appear that physitians may deservedly suffer the lash and feel compunction for their inhumane languifying practises . for is it not enough to a physitian that the sick pines and begins to grow faint , under the burden of an inexcusable weaknesse by a deplorable disease , hunger , losse of appetite , inquietude , pains , anxieties , waichings , sweate , & c ? nor ought a faithful adjuvant or helper to lay load upon load , & add weaknesse to weaknesses . deceitful is that help which phlebotomy brings and his remedy so uncertain , that no physitian hitherto durst promise from thence future sanation . in earnest it is worthy our most serious consideration , when we take notice how every artificer performes what he promises , to wit , the image-maker his image , the builder his edifice , the shooe-maker fashions his shooes , and all this ad unguem . but alas onely a physitian , in a cold spasme of inconstancy , dares promise nothing of his art : because the infirm nerves of his ground work & grand foundation leanes on the broken reed of uncertain principles ; by accident only , and most times deceitfully profitable : because however the matter is handled , it is full of ignorance to intend cure by procuring weaknesse , that is , by a sudden depletion of the bloud , largely made ; nature being driven into the wild field of confusion , sounds a retreat , and neglects the expulsion of her enemy . which expulsion notwithstanding , needs no volume to confirme , that being the epitasis or heart of the businesse , or the epilogue and winding up of the matter , contains the whole scene of feavers and nature . farther , it 's an indubitate and irrefragable truth , that the febrile matter doth not take up its lodging in the vein above the heart : and by consequent , that the seminall fomenting or occasionall matter , is in no wise exhausted or let out by the key of phlebotomy , or effectuously cures , by the direct and perpendicular intention of healing . finally , if bloud-letting be concluded for the refection of the arteries through the facility of perspiration , it is wholly frustraneous while the feaver is yet in balneo , and in its ascension by the climax of aggravation , before it comes to the fire of sublimation , and hath not yet mounted the apogaeum of conflagration . and seeing that not in its fixation or stationary position , nor also in its retrogradation or declension , bloudletting is no whit necessary . therefore never . but not in the state , is proved : because the crisis is hindred , seeing nature ( as they write ) is most opposed and impedited in her reluctation and conflict with the forren invasion of the disease , and for the most part returns conquerour , then would it be inconsiderate and invincible dotage , to flank her files and fall foul upon her in the rear , by a rash attempt of violating her force : then would she least of all be able to suffer the losse of strength , and retreat from the duel . but if in the state nature be forc'd to resign to the tyranny of the conquerour , what shall bloud-letting be , any other then meer homicide ? if therefore in the state it is not convenient to open a vein , while the heat is in its zenith , the anxiety and powerfullest respiration of the arteries is exagitated : farre lesse convenient surely will it be , in the beginning and augmentation . especially seeing that in the first daies , the fear of a plethora vanishes away , and so without doubt the perspiration of the arteries is easy enough . but that diseases in perigaeo or declination , have not the least latitude or intention for bloud-letting , and do neither require it , nor suffer it , is confessed by the common consent of all , and is so clear as needs no apoixis , nor cannot escape the most blear-eyed and regardlesse observation , that no man will ever essay phlebotomy in the declination of a disease . moreover consider we that in the meridian of feavers , the bloud that runnes in its ecliptick , the veins , is either good , or bad , or neuter . if good , that it will be good to keep good , there 's none so devoid of his reason to appear we believe so much a sceptick , to dispute against it : because it addes to the strength . for ( as elsewhere we have shewed ) the fear of a plethora even straight at the beginning , if there was any , ceased . but because in the apotheosis of phlebo●omy they will have good bloud emitted , for ventilation and difflation of putrefaction , when both the one and the other is taken away well enough ; and that imaginary good , which they suppose in the chymaera of their own brains , hath no other real idea , or footing , but in the distracted imaginations of the contrivers and abettors of this fable , and brings nothing but loss of strength . moreover the schools teach , that phlebotomy in a feaver , is not commanded because of the goodnesse of bloud , which negative thesis supposes evill and putrid . but they will otherwise learn when we come to shew that there is no corrupt thing in the canals of the veins unto the last period of animation ; and consequently this drift of phlebotomy will be cashiered . let them therefore demonstrate to us the malignity of the bloud , which is without and before the corruption of the same . next , how the bad bloud is kept in the vein , from the heart unto the cubit , if they will have this their device of phlebotomy ratified . let them tell us , i say , how that the bad bloud is not in the first receptacles , and the bloud being brought out by the vei● of the cubit , a worse is not drawn to the heart , where the vena cava makes the right sinus of the heart . let them inform us likewise that the superiour veins being depleted , there is not greater liberty and impunity for both noxia and ●ebrilia to come to the heart , then before : yea , that in the place of difflating corruption ( which in severity of truth we have proved to be none at all ) there is not occasioned rather a freer passage of the putrid aire to the heart , towards which place seriously , the vacuity of the depleted veins doth attract the bloud beneath . let them shew i say , how the effluvium of bloud , and diminution and excise of the strength by the cubit , will be such a convenient mother , to own such a production as will impede corruption , or import the correction and redintegration of the putrid . let them also explain themselves what they mean , when they say , that phlebotomy should be made , that the arteries may more freely respire , when that putrefaction ( if there were any possibility of it in the veins ) would not affect the arterial bloud , the steward of whole nature . moreover let them prove that the good bloud and strength being diminish'd , proportionably , there is a greater power to the remaining impure and inquinated by corruption , ( as they suppose ) of preserving it self from the putrefaction that is imminent . let them instruct us likewise contrary to scripture , that the life and soul are rather , and more delectably in the remaining contaminated bloud , then in the purer that is taken away by phlebotomy . otherwise we may have freedome enough to conclude , that the letting forth of the good , doth necessarily and regularly include the augmented stock & proportion , & unbridled licence of the remaining evil bloud . what if then in the feaver and veins the bloud be bad , and they say it is good ( as a sign and effect ) which in phlebotomy flowes forth bad : and should they esteem so much at least of the taking away of bad bloud ; to which we find no grounds for our belief to incline . for , first let them prove , whereby , that their incrimination and arraignement of the bloud to be noxious , may appear by the verdict of apodicticall evidence and demonstration to be so indeed , as we before have , and by and by shall fully acquit and find not guilty . and then let them indoctrinate us how by such a sudden and large emission of the bad bloud , no prejudice is made to the powers and strength : and that the remaining inquinated bloud , the strength being now diminished , and a depletion made of the bloud , shall be the cause why the corruption of the rest of the blond is lesse able to proceed ? and whether they can hope , the bloud being , after what manner soever , once putrified in the veins , that from such a privation there can be in nature any regression : and also let them shew , not to contradict , how it is proper to the feaver to inquinate the bloud it self , and this property to be taken away à posteriori , to wit , with the removing of the putrefyed humour ? for if at first the impurer bloud be drawn out of the vein , they iterate the opening of a vein , and in the interim consternate and perturb the powers , and thereby take away all hope of the crisis , which if it come out redder then ordinary , they cry out with that magnifying esteem , as if the whole heap of evill were taken away at once , and as if the seat of feavers had been extended in a paralell line , only from the continent of the heart , unto the isthmus of the flexure of the arme : but the good had been residentiall about the parenchymatick laboratorie of the li●er . but we have known fearfull evacuations of the last excrements alwaies in the dropsy , much more therefore in the bare taking away of bloud , which in a direct line takes away the vital spirits , from the centre of the heart to the circumference , by the orifice of the vein , whether the bloud be good , or bad , or neither . and here seeing we are fallen upon it so directly , we have a fair opportunity to enquire into the putrefaction of the bloud or corruption of the same , and now strictly to arraign and examine its naturalities , and see if there be any possibilitie for it to outlive the faith of them who seek to bear it down . and therefore not only simply heterodoxicall , but a very rough-hewed paradoxicall asseveration it will seem unto inflexible eares , if we say , that the bloud putrefies not in the veins , and perhaps to some as deeply heretical and of as high a tincture , as comes not short of the transubstantial migration of the grapy juice of the papall sacramentarians . the opinion of bad and corrupt humours , and worse bloud , hath been the cantharides to phlebotomy , and of bloudy disadvantage in the method of healing . let the schools therefore know , that the bloud never putrefies in the veins , but ( like gemini in the zodiack , or hippocrates twins , ) its line or ecliptick it runnes in , the vein it self putrefies also , as in the tropick of gangrenes and mortifications . moreover like precarious mendicants , they begge the question , who let out the bloud , least by the magn●t of its stagnancy it should attract and be impregnated with the puddle of putrefaction . also who assert , a synochus or ca●sus to be generated from the embryo of putrefyed bloud in the womb of the veins . also who say , that when mercury the bloud putrefies in the balneum of the veins , it is transmuted into choler . if we suppose that some excrementitious , forreigne and alien humours and seminalities , may impresse a seminall miasme in the parts , by a breath or blast of contagion or other inquinating ferment , and thereby disorder and pervert the functions , yet will it not therefore follow , that they are capable of corruption or putrefaction . for putrefaction , according to the faith of that great elementarist , aristotle , is a corruption of the proper heat secundum naturam , in every humidum , by another heat that is ambient . here aristotle requires three things necessary unto corruption . first the subject or matter of putrefaction , which is , unumquodque humidum . secondly , the form and essence of putrefaction , namely , the corruption of the proper heat from its own natural state , so that of a natural state , it is made praeter naturam . and lastly , the efficient cause , to wit , the heat of the ambient . the which if one of these be wanting , corruption cannot then be made . in conformity and analogy to this , alexander lends us his suffrage , in lib. 12. cap. 2. where he proves , the humours do not putrefie in the veins , but that they are rather congealed extra vasa , then putrefie . if they putrefy in the veins , wormes would be generated , because that there the heat is more vigorous , then in the intestines , where animals are begotten of corruption . joubertus also is not farre from us , thinking , that all corruption is made cum faetore . but in the veins there is no faetor ; therefore no corruption . joubertus also adds , that all things are conserved in there proper places : but the veins are the proper conservatories of the bloud and humours , therefore putrefy not . capriolus responds to this , that although every thing is conserved in his proper place , yet the same may putrefy from causes proceeding som other way . he brings an example of wine , which although it should be conserved almost alwaies in its proper vessels , yet sometimes it is corrupted in them , and putrefies by other causes . but because it is indecorum to the regularities of philosophy to deny theorems , we constantly assert , every thing to be conserved in his proper receptacle or native conservatory . to the example of capriolus which he brings of wine , we shall onely say , that wine is not in the hogs-head or vessel , as in his proper natural place , nor hath it a proper place , when it is not contained in his proper term or boundary ; for the wine is detained in the vessel against his nature . and those bodies which are taken away by external force and injury , have not a proper and natural place . man for this cause is mortall . we remain also doubtful in the generall theory of putrefaction ; for we find it not an unusual ( nor laudable ) custome for fluctuating spirits , whose lenity of belief inclines , or obstinacy of will constreins them , to dilate the notions of things beyond the proprieties of their naturs . the schools they supponere quodlibet , ut probetur quidlibet , in their theorems of putrefaction , which we thus prove : the bloud is kept fluid even in a cadaver or dead body , in its trunk , the veins , as appear , by the consent of all anatomy , but once let out by the key of phlebotomy doth presently by the deliquium of the ambient , condense and coagulate into colchotar sanguinis , clods . now the coagulation of the bloud is the prodromus and alpha only of putrefaction . therefore if the veins by their proper balme , ( not short of that of memphis , ) preserve the bloud from corruption in a dead body , much more will they in the living . it s an argument a minori ad majus . it 's true some forreign excrements may perturb the bloud in the veins , as we before hinted , to wit , the surplusage , or mean retinue as well of their own , as another digestion , but never the lord chief treasurer of life , the bloud . because according to scripture , it is the seat , the chamber and magazine of life . if therefore the grand seigniour himself , the life , cannot preserve his own throne and treasury in the metropolis or royaltie of the veins , from the invasion or treacherous undermining of that petty rebell , corruption , from becoming competitor or tenant thereto , when then will he keep it ? and how can it be ever free from the same ? and also if the life cannot save harmles & keep indempnified from the charge of putrefaction , the bloud , custos vitae , in which she sits enthron'd and growes and encreases in glory and vigour , how will then the bones he preserved ? the veins therefore are ordain'd by the high court and councel of heaven to be lord commissioners deputed to keep the bloud from corruption : because the life is confermented to the bloud of the veins , and therefore both are cast out by the lease of ejectment of bloud-letting ; they both together have their current through the sluice of phlebotomy , and make their exit at one door , the orifice of the vein . under this question therefore the glory and destination of nature doth come to ruin : or the whole course of healing hitherto ador'd by physitians . but put the case that it be so ▪ by what signes do the schools judge of putrid bloud ? is it not from the colour , whiter , blacker , yellow , greenish , or brownish ? from the matter viscous , thick , waterish , thin , & c ? and at last from the consistence , not febrous , or not hanging together ? but we declare under the penalty of being convicted of a ly or suppos'd thing , if any one please to try and examine the bloud of two hundred common sound persons emit●ed in one day , which though many of them may be very unlike in aspect , colour , matter and consistence ; and let many of these be distill'd , yet they shall be found to be equally usefull and profitable in healing . for although many of them should seem putrid ; some aeruginous or atrabilious : yet in the first place , these persons whence the bloud flowes forth , are all suppos'd to be sound . wherefore we have slighted the table of judgements from the haemascopy or sight of the extravenated bloud , and have concluded , that the bloud commanded by the physitians to be kept , was chiefly for this reason , that they might find out one visitation in the sick . verily if putrefaction of bloud hath any place , and doth demonstrate its emission from that title , it takes place in the plague . but phlebotomy in the plague is deadly ; therefore there is never no putrefaction in the bloud . suppose also there be thirty men alike afflicted with the pleuresy , and ten of them give forth bloud apparently vitiated : ( for the bloud of pleuretick persons is like to red wine mixt with curdled milk ) the other twenty i 'le undertake to cure without bloud-letting . certain it is , that those twenty have their bloud no otherwise affected then those ten , who were let bloud . and again that those twenty that are cured , if a vein were opened , their bloud shall be found rectified , restored to its pristine perfection , and farre differing from the bloud of pleureticks . therfore the bloud of pleuretick persons is not corrupted , although it may seem so : because from the black pathes of corrupted bloud , there is no return to the way of life and sanity . black bloud therefore or livid , green , &c. do not signifie the corruption of it : but are symbolizations of only its effervescence , or fermentall turbulency . for in the first place , if the more waterish and yellow bloud doth denote its vitiosity , the arteriall bloud should be far worse then the bloud in the veins ; which is false . for the tree of life , the bloud , is no otherwise distinguished from the aforesaid racemations , then as the wine is troubled , when the vine flowers , yet is not therefore corrupted ; for take away the trouble , and it returnes again to its pristine serenity and clarity . so likewise a feaver doth variously affect and perturb the bloud , and discolorate it with sundry and divers faces . but these larvations vanish , the feaver being taken away . verily these haematognomists or diviners by the phaenomena's in the bloud , in their gnomologies may be compared to those who calculate and think to passe judgement on the radix or scheam of spanish wine , by the ascendant of their pisse-pot ; who will judge of good or bad canary by looking on their urine . but they go on to say . that if putrefaction be not lodg'd in the bloud , and on the score of being a troublesome guest , why doth it therefore the third time , and not the first , or the first , and not the third time , spring forth with a blush purely red out of the vein ? but this argument doth onely demonstrate one part of the bloud to be more and sooner troubled then the other , not the whole or altogether . and if it be putrefied , it availes to avert the putrefaction , then in vain to mitigate the feaver by refrigeration . but surely those things whatsoever , that resist putrefaction , are hot . for myrrh now two thousand yeares preserves the embalmed aegyptian carcasses ; which otherwise with succory , plantain , and your cooling things had long agoe putrefied . the putrefaction therefore of the humours , of the bloud also and the spirits are fabulous stories , & a warring against them more ridiculous then a fight in quixot . we adde one thing more , whatsoever has once apostatized into an exotick diathesis of corruption in the body , nevr returns again into unity or favor : but the bloud of the veins howsoever it may seem corrupted returns agan into favor . therfore it hath not bin once corrupted : the major is proved , becaus corruption in us , is an effect of the sequestration of the vitall dispositions . the minor is proved by those cured of the plague , pleuresy & feavers without bloudletting . also , if the bloud is everjudged to be putrid or corrupt , existing in the veins , it is that chiefly , which is haemorrhoidall : but this is not corrupt , although it be almost as it were extravenated . therefore the bloud is never to be judged putrid in the veins . the major the whole practise of chirurgery , proves , by ulcers begotten of the haemorrhoides . the minor is proved , because we make a mettall , a ring of which being worne , takes away the pain of the haemorrhoides in a little space , and in twenty four hours the haemorrhoides as well intern as extern vanish away , although they be greatly swelled . therefore that bloud , is received into pristine favour , and they feel themselves well . what hinders now , if taken up and committed to the managery of a judicious and deliberate perpension , but that this fabulous scene of putrid bloud will appear on all hands worthy the hiss off the stage of medical theorems for phlebotomy ; and to account it but in the list of nothing . wherefore in serious verity we have alwaies found that the help produced by the forcible taking away the powers and strength , to be full of deceit ; that for a little ease , the powers , which are the atlas of diseases , should be enervated . for even as a drink in the infancy of a feaver should be an adipson , and seem to refresh the thirst a little by the dugs of humification : but who is so mad that would then drink , if he knew that it would take away his necessary strength . false therefore , deceitful , and but a momentary help is that , which advenes by phlebotomy . but they go on , and of some ( and they not a few , nor meanly wise , or so accounted ) with whom i have talked , it hath been their last pin to shut up their tedious discourse , and with others , the hercules , and main pillar of their faith in the premises of phlebotomy , to justifie it from the good successes usually attends and followes it . and the schools themselves go about to work it upon our beliefe by the rhetorick of its good effects . certainly it is an injurious method unto philosophy and physicks , and a perpetual promotion of ignorance , in points of obscurity to fall upon a present refuge of that restlesse ill successe and events . and to speak truly an hazardable determination it is unto ●●uctuating and indifferent effects to affixe a positive type . for in effects of farre more regular causalities , difficulties do often arise . and we can with a little pains make appear what miserable , bloudy , destructive and languifying effects hath followed it , that shall outvye and bear down all the mountains of good they can heap up . for what though the cruel and barbarous practises of these pseudo-medici by diminishing the requisite quantity of bloud , life and strength , to the great and almost irreparable detriment of the patient , do by exhausting the veins and emaciating the body , bring a little ease , do they therefore strike at the roote of the disease , and destroy the cardinall efficient thereof ? nothing lesse . now concerning bloud neither good nor bad , it is not worth speaking of in respect of phlebotomy : seeing it is denyed disjunctively , it may also be denyed copulatively . for whether it be natural , which consists in a commixture of good with the depraved ( supposing depraved which is not ) or that , to which there is a neutral alteration introduced , in each event the aforesaid do satisfie . at length we come to cut off the cable of that anchora spei of revulsion , and so to take away alike all the lesser tackling of co-indications , that as in a mappe may appear the dangerous rock of these their unleavened heterodoxes , as the miserable and tenacious subterfuges of pertinacy . it is a mad help in theoricall or practicall phlebotomy ( for they commonly draw out and exact a plenty of it for this end ) in shunning the scilla of feavers to fall into the charybdis of menstrua's ; and either in the first , or onely in the last to let bloud for revulsion : because that the feavorish matter doth not swim in the bloud , or fluctuate in the veins , as a fish in the water : but is fixt to the vessel within . and in the menstrua's likewise : because that the seperation of it is made out of the whole , and not without the separating hand of the archeus . but phlebotomy verily separates nothing of things separable , because it acts without any precognition of an end , and so without election . but the innoxious bloud , and in vicinity or proximity to the apertion of the vessel , perpetually flowes forth : the which , because afterward in a continued threed , or undulation , other followes hard at the heels , for fear of vacuity . therefore the whole retinue of menstrua's , about that peculiar monarchy of the womb , that have been collected by the study and labour of nature are then segregated by the destructive knife of phlebotomy , and make their retroition into the whole . but if phlebotomy sometimes in a plethorick and euchymous woman , may have the plaudite and elogie to happen successefully , yet really in many others , it procures but a lamentable catastrophe . for if by its only quantity the menstrue ( being now gathered and dispersed in the uterine veins ) should offend , we will grant the individual indication of phlebotomy , and in this only supposed accidentality willingly admit it . but if the menstrue flowes in a womb of a laudable constitution , it aboundantly satisfies its own ends , and so forth revulsion is in vain , although their hypothesis supposes it impossible . for phlebotomy is nothing else but a meer and indistinct depletion of bloud . for the veins being now unnaturally and unaccustomably emptied , they do attract to selves forthwith , from every place , and any bloud whatsoever . because as they are the greedy capsulaes of bloud ; so they are impatient of vacuity . but derivation , because it is a parsimonious effusion of bloud , ( so that it be done out of congruous veins , ) it hath profited in many topick diseases , but is wholly impertinent in feavers . but they urge with that confidence and instance bloud-letting to be so necessary in the pleuresy , that it is enjoined , not under capitall offence . for they say , that unlesse the confluent bloud , avelling the pleura or thin membrane lining the chest , be revelled by a large effusion of bloud , there is danger , that the pleuresy would kill a man by suffocation . but their theory is wholly besides the mark , and they level only at the productions and effects of diseases , and not the causes . for they are ignorant of the nature of a pleuresy in the material cause of its generation , place for its conception , conduicts for its traduction , receptories for its customary admission , and its penetrative corroding activity impregnated with that immanity to avell the pleura or lining of the thorax from the ribs , which is firmely annexed and immediately adheres unto them , by the mediatory ligation of numerous solid fibres . wherefore we have no weighty engagement lies upon our reason to conclude , that in the pleuresy , phlebotomy hath no place , nor is of no use for revulsion and derivation : but for the meer exhaustion and diminution of the bloud and strength : so that truly nature greatly fearing that evacuation , doth supersede , and desists to send plenty of bloud about the pleura . 't is not nuworthy their notice taking , and substantiall determination whether this , with such a notable and sudden losse of strength ( in a disease wherein the whole burden lies upon the shoulders of the strength and powers ) be not to be cured , à posteriori , by precaution and prevention of the increase ? and whether that be a proceeding to the connexed and fomenting cause , while they convert their whole work not ad faciens , sed ad factum esse ? for mine own part and in me it s neither vanity nor pride to say , and let it not be a grief or offence to any of their grave obstinacies and vulgarities , i let no man bloud in the pleuresy ; nor have not since my peda●tisme and junior practise in the medical profession , as many can witnesse , especially those who have had a constant opportunity for some length of time to see into , and be inwardly intimate in my practise and cures : and such a cure is both safe , sure , profitable and solid . none of them have miscarried , whereas those that are let bloud , after a long tabes , and lingring death perish most of them , and have a quotannall recidivation . for according to galen , whosoever within fourty daies are not perfectly cured , grow tabid . but there are many alive in several parts of this nation , who can testify , that i cure perfectly within few daies ; nor do they find relapses . now it is to be considered if there be any use of revulsion in feavers . for in sooth , seeing primarily there is no other need of revulsion , then phlebotomy , to which the succeeding bloud that is about to flow , is hoped for , by accident , and by the benefit of which , it will not flow to the place affected . according to which thesis it followes , that by such an evacuation the peccant feavorish bloud , dispersed in the veins will be drawn ; ( conniventer loqui ) which otherwise , latent in its own nest , farre from the heart , would not communicate the ferment of its hurt so hastily and fiercely to the heart . which is as much as to say , that by such a revulsion , the peccant humour would be drawn from the ignoble part , to the more noble . for more crude and feculent is the bloud in the maze and labirinth of the mesaraick veins ; but more defecate which comes to the pallace of life , the heart . for otherwise the first weapons of mischief had been placed by indiscret nature neer the fountain of life . therefore seeing the stream of the feavorish matter flowes not in the veins , nor takes up quarters neer the heart : farre be it from any sober head to fall into that dotage to believe , that it can be drawn forth , or caus'd to shift its quarters , by the rude hand of phlebotomy , however oftentimes a multicolorate bloud by the court-ship of iterated bloud-lettings may be sent forth . it 's a cruel remedy also , if unto the place of the emitted bloud , some other shall come from more remote places . for so the tincture of labefaction of one place , should be communicated to the whole and to the more noble parts . finally if once the old troops of errors of the ethnicks were disbanded and cashiered the regiment of knowledge , the pretended reformades , or part new modell'd moderns would have more tender regard to the life of their neighbour ; and would likewise know , that the childish theory of revulsions are but vain and ridiculous comments ; and that the losse of the treasury of bloud and strength is pernicious ; and that there is no hurt from the bloud within the veins ; but only from hostile and alien excrements : and also that god hath ordained sufficient emunctories for any filth whatsoever ; nor is there any need of incising the veins for the cure of feavers . thus having evidenced , at least made dubious the litigious theory and supinity of this practise of bloud-letting we think , and have some grounds to be confident , that the ingenuity and rationality of it will prevail more then our slender performances ; whereby to fix as a very large discouragement , and disservice to the activity of those spirits who are the patrons and champions of this practise . herein we have been more elaborate , and the longer insisted , because the error is material , and a wicked and bloudy practise , and concernes oftimes the life of man ; an error to be taken notice of by state , if they will make good that title and divine attribute to be merciful like gods as they are called . and thus we could not but think it our duty , ( according to our capacity , ) wholly to subvert and disrobe this bloudy mantle of the exsecrable , and destructive theorems and epidemick practise of bloud-letting ; the second manner of evacuation . we have assigned the precedency and priority to purges from regular idionomy and propriety of natures with their appellatives . the 3 manner of evacuation of evill humours followes . now it will be seasonable for us to come to the 3 manner of evacuation of the schools ; which is fontanels or issues , another universal main pillar of healing : and to examine it by the fire of truth , and subdichotomise it by the severe incision knife of rationall argumentations . which of all these generall remedies hath the principality of verity and vertue , and the optimacy in sanation , is not worth the dispute . but this we believe . that this trichotomy or ternary of racemations or branches of the medicall root , is like the taxus of india , which the first year bears fruit , the second , leaves , and the third year , poison : and conclude , that but a mean apprehension any thing well palated , will find no pleasant tast in this practise neither ; except he have it brawn'd and made ingustible , as being paved with the free-stone of custome , and the blew theory of the schools . we shall therefore endeavour a full delivery hereof ; declaring the grounds of doubt , and reasons of denial ; which rightly understood , may , if not overthrow , yet shrewdly shake the security of this invention . wherefore we will declare the ends and the effects of fontanells and cauteries . cauteries in the first place are made by fire , and that either actuall , as by a red hot iron : or potentiall , by an escharoticall caustick : fontanells also by a razor , or incision knife cutting something away . of late , they have a trick of paring away , ( palpably laniarious ) & wounding the membrana carnosa . but others prefer a wound by fire , or caustick fitted to it , which is layed open by incision : because that by the actual heat and siccity , they are led to think the flux of humors is better impeded & stopped in their descent . as if in such a tantillation or moment of time , the fire should burne something besides the eschar ; or exsiccate some other thing , which they feigne is about to flow to the wound . and on both sides , these dreams are magnifyed by the schools . vain therefore are the canteries or fontanells , for the revulsion and exhaustion of humours , which have no real existence in nature . for the adored fontanell ( for so they have christned their wounds made in the flesh , that the poor deluded vulgar may believe , that thereby diseases are exhausted , as by a fountain ) helpes nothing , before the crustous eschar be taken away ; and the vestigiaries of heat and drynesse be first removed . because the protoplast or primitive ordainment of a cautery , had excretion for its object ; which takes not the chair , nor flowes not , till the ebb or decidency of the eschar : and in its exsudation can less transpire through the obdurate obstructed eschar , then thorow the integral porous pelt . hence therfore the mod●r● pyhsitians have determined that howsoever the fontanell was made , at least they would make solution of continuity , and keep it divided . for what god hath made and ordained in its integrality , to be kept untoucht , and adjudged to be best , seems unto the controuling ignorance of the schools , better to be vulnerated and divided , and so kept . to be wounded therefore , and keep wounds open , avails much to the health of the schools . and seriously it is worth our notice , but more our wonder , that they have not put wounding among their canons of conserving health : forasmuch as cauteries or permanent wounds are thought to be so neerly related to it . but the difference betwixt wounding and burning is only this , that there happens an emission of bloud : which one would think , under that title , should excell with the schools , unlesse the deceitfulnesse of phlebotomy had discovered it self . they presume and positively conclude forsooth , that a cautery or new imposed fontanell is a new emunctory , by which physitians may compell nature with a wet finger to exonerate her self . all which i say the schools have drawn into practise , upon the designe of evacuation and exsiccation of superfluities , wildly imagining to comprehend the competent quantity of bloud , generation of the exotick excrement , and easy expulsion of the same under the single synonyma of fontanells or issues : whereby they can cite or summon the catarrhall s●minalities and radicities to make personal appearance before the barre of the wounds orifice , at the pleasure of the physitian . so that at this sluice of fontanells is expulsed the nilus of defluxions , and particuliar streams of gleeting humours , and it is now become a cardinall point in the medicall compasse a main pillar of healing , and a catarragogall remedy cryed up even to pulpitising , and has so farre prevailed , that now also they are applyed unto children who have not yet attain'd unto 3 solar revolutions ▪ yea that universality it hath acquired , that it is the only remedy and refuge not only of very many internall , but also of most externall and cutany defects . but for our own part in the first place , we look upon fontanells to contain implicite blasphemy , whereby they openly accuse the creator of insufficiency in composing emunctories . and also we have suffered above two hundred fontanells or issues to dry up , and have advised to incarnate them , and bring them to a cicatrize , which hitherto , so farre as we know , none have had cause to repent . and lastly we have considered the childish presumption of physitians , in that they so seriously perswade themselves , they can engage nature in her passive auscultatory faculties to follow their commands , and expell the catarrh or defluxion at the hole that they have made in the flesh . that fictum impossibile of catarrhs , hath been a very convenient mother indeed to bring forth the production of fontanells : which theory being denyed , the ground of fontanells is a vain thing . for the schools teach , that by fontanells , evil , yea exitious humours are forced out of the body , which otherwise would be either sent to another place , or by its declive tendency would voluntarily flow downwards . it 's well truly , that nature with a loose rein , against her will must dance attendance and wait upon the pleasure of physitians , and the apertion of the skin ; that by that way she may exon●rate her self of that unprofitable burden , which otherwise would decline towards a more noble member . as if dame nature by her mercuries or emissaries should denounce her open and just anger , and threaten thus . woe be unto you , unlesse you keep open for me the membrana carnosa with a wound , when it shall seem good unto you , that ye may appease my fury by revulsion , and avert me from the opinion of dimission . for otherwise , that which by a subcutaneous expurgation , should be sent out by the high way and sink of all sordid excrements , i will now retract , in revenge , by the privy garden of some noble member . but i pray you , would it not amuse the activity of any sophistical head to tell us , from what centre , or ample source or head of the fountain , this corrupt stream of evill humours is delapsed , and comes to make this progresse ? what is there in the liver , the shop and forge of the four humours , as they are pleased to have it ? in earnest 't is a quaerie not below a solid determination , how the chanel of this evill humour , having so hard , long and salebrous way , so many creeks and intricate windings and turnings in its passage from the metropolis of the liver thorow the strand of the vena cava , and so thorow the westminster of the heart , wildly ranging , into the america and untravelled parts of the body can be carryed unto the utmost confines of the epidermis or scarfe skin of the arme , leg , or neck , not in the least contaminating the bloud , but the humour it self keeping its primitive virginity , and all this while remaining purely sincere ? 't is a very cruel emunctory truly which leads an evil humour thorow the fountain of life . and so a cruel physitian ▪ and more cruel schools which commands a noxious humour to be carryed thorow the heart . the schools they teach , that the greatest part of man-kind is in subjection to the tyranny of a cold distemper of the stomack , & an hot distemper of the liver , and that from the stomack , during the whole act of concoction , ( as absurd as the former ) doth sublime and ascend whole clouds of vapours ( the antecedent matter of catarrhs ) into the basis or lowest part of the brain , and there fix upon a plane : and that the brain by its native temperament , being cold , and set like a cover over a boiling pot , or the head of an alembick , in the highest region of the body ; and so all those vapours that mount into it . by the help of the locall cold of the brain , are again condensed into water , the vehiculum or materiall cause of all erratick pains , the which , fontanels adopted by the paedantick schools as their minerva , is the only midwife to deliver . now what can smell more of stupidity and a dull phlegmatick opinion , then this wild irregular thesis of the schools ? but we will descend to suppose , that this current of evil humors at this day unknown , may challenge the brain ( one of the most noble parts of the body ) for its origination and fountain : but where i pray you ? whether or no , is it generated in any sink of the brain ? either in the ventricles ? or in the pelvis , or brain tunnell ? not truly in the first : for the ventricles of the brain cannot be the magazine and nest of this foul evil humour , without prseent danger of death ; or the ineviteable introduction of an apoplexy , or universall palsie : if the doctrine of the schools , concerrning the origination of these diseases , stand firm : or in the pelvis of the brain , can this ill humour , which before was good , be created ? for in the basis of the brain is a narrow place called the pelvis , or brain tunnel , which sendeth two small tubes , or outlets , toward the nostrills , and as many backward toward the neck . which cavities only could the ascendant vapour insinuate it self into ; and those are ever repleted with a muccous or viscid excrement , and perpetually by a kind of guttulous distillation , discharge it down of their own accord into the pallat , and nostrils , as the proper emunctories or dreignes of the brain , destined to the evacuation of the slimy redundant humours : and therefore need no other vent or exit , as that unnecessary one of a fontanell or cautery . but what a destructive man is he , and what an unworthy depraved quality it is , to maleficiate a humor in any part of the head , which before was good , that he may from thence bring a malignant one to some intercutaneous part , which the physitian commands to be wounded ? and how obedient is that , which being an evil humour ( and doubtlesse over and besides but a dead excrement ) will suffer it self to be wracked and hurried to another place , which at another time , and another place , not a whit sollicitous of the oeconomy of life , by its own single declivity conformes to the lawes of its situation ! lastly these things though conceded , yet it would want the essence and etymon of a humour , and by consequence of an evil humour , namely , fleam , one of the four . for whatsoever doth once steam up from the furnace of the stomack in a vapour , and concretes into drops , is neither thick , nor viscous or tenacious , nor one of the four imaginary humours made in the eutopia of the liver : but should be a posthume guttulous liquor . wherefore if the depraved impression of the evil humour , the finall cause of a fontanell , be not forged neither in the liver , brain , nor stomack , what then shall be the mint of these evil humours for catarrhs ? or what part and how high is it that hurles it forth , whereby it may be carried more readily , and downward , according to its tendency , unto the hole of the fontanel . thus the schools being on all sides compressed in such a strait of trifles , are forced to confesse , that there is not any evil humour sent down to the issue or hole of the fontanell : but that the bloud turnes apostate in the wound it self , and sides ill disposed . for this is geniall to all wounds which lack balsam . certainly if the schools would condescend to a serious examination of that aphorisme , dum pus ●it , major dolor , labor , & febris , quàm facto pure : they should know that the pus is materially produced of bloud , by the labours of the faculties , and consequently , that for the same ends purulent matter is coveted in a fontanell . which being so , the thesis falls down , which supposes bad humours are brought forth by a cautery or fontanell . 2. that the expulsion of the pus made in the wound , is not out of the centre of the body . 3. that it is not an excrement of the defluent catarrhe . 4. that fontanells do not purge bad humours , which transmutes the elixir of good bloud , into a caput mortuum of an excrement , by the athanor of the digestive faculty . 5. fontanells avail nothing to the precaution of a malignant humour , which is topically made in the sides of the wound . 6. pus and sanies cannot retreat from the turn-pike , or orifice of the ulcer , and fall into the quarters of a noble part , much lesse good bloud , of which the pus is made . 7. if the bloud , of good , be made an evil humour , before it advenes to the fontanell ; then nature designes to send some evil from the masse of bloud , unto the wounded part only , that she may nourish it ; or this is ordinary in every part : then nature is delapsed into that dotage and folly , that shall out-do him , who to the end his horse back might not bear too heavy a burden , took it off and layed it on his own neck , and so rode upon him in that equipage . 8. 't is ridiculous , when that there is store of pus made , to say , the fontanell is well purged . seeing that foul error , and aberration into pus , demonstrates the apostasie of the good bloud into corruption . and moreover if he who hath a fontanell , or issue as it is called , be not well , in the stead of pus of a laudable constitution , there doth weep forth the lachrymations of an ichorous substance . 9. if therefore at the port hole , or scupper of the fontanell , there is a pumping out or evacuation of ill humours , it unavoidably followes , that the man should feel himself better , when the stream of ichorous matter flowes out , then when pus is made : which is false in the thesis . hence therefore there is a genuine illation , that it is no select evil humour or pernicious excrement , which in its irresistible decidency would violate another part , that is expulsed by the fontanell : but the totality of substance , whether it be pus , or a thin virulent matter , is no other thing then meer bloud , deputed to the nourishing of the cauterized or wounded part , and there corrupted by the distemper of the part : and so the corruption of it , to measure the benignity and malignity of digestion , in the place of the fontanell . and therefore whilst the whole archeus after what manner soever labours , there is also the greater infirmity of digestion in the fontanell , and the pus is nearer to putrefaction . and hitherto the fontanel by reason of the more powerful hurt of digestion then is accustomed doth weep forth an ichor . therefore it s the desire of the schools that of innocuous bloud store of pus may be made , and of a laudable colour , white . and that they are pleased to say hath purged well , if any plenty of bloud be corrupted in the last digestion . the which , if it were strictly considered , then would it be made manifest , that a cautery or fontanell is not set to the expurgation of a malignant humour , nor that there is any existence of an ill humour : but only to the diminishing of the redundancy of bloud ; and so in the beholding of a plethora alone . whence we have a fair opportunity to collect , that they are to be expunged out of the list of remedyes convenient to youth , or emaciated bodies , or oppressed with any disease : so neither to moderate livers and least of all to abstemious persons , are they ( without danger ) to be applyed . but they have not yet discovered themselves to be so well learned to distinguish , whether the pus in the fontanel be generated of bloud alone , or of one of the four conceited humours ; or of a commixture of the four . if the evidence of truth go on the first 's side , then the pus should not be of a bad , but of the best of the four humours , and so the fontanel shall be in vain , and the best pus or effect of the fontanel shall be worst , seeing it is nothing but the corruption of the best . but if they are pleased so well to opinion , and had rather comment , that the bloud was not evil before , but may be made bad in its range and stragling from his other three comrades . but the other three , in this tripartatory secretion shall even then be worse naughty packs then the solitary bloud , and a fontanel that corrupts the good and innocent bloud , may not be made for every event without a bad end . but if they will have the pus to be made out of a tetra●yncrasy or commixture of the humors , then a fontanel ers in the end : seing the fontanel avails not to the expurgation of maligne humours , but corrupting the good , sent unto it daily by unerring nature , for aliment . finally , a fontanel cannot be adjudged the institution , as the precaution of a catarrhe : for otherwise the matter of a catarrh should not be a vapour , nor fleam , but the bloud it self , which the fontanel corrupts in it self . for pus is not made of pituitous matter ; but of the bloud only , as is sufficiently taught in the schools . therefore by the serious indagation of the essence of pus in its matter and efficient , the ends of cauteries and fontanels , and expurgation of catarrhs and bad humours would vanish away . yea truly , any symptome of wounds being removed , in caueries or font●●●lls , and a valetudinary state supposed , it is necessary , that the solution of continuity bring pus into the fontanel ; and that may not flow from some other place ; but be generated in the part it self . the archeus also doth daily dispence proportionably so much bloud to the parts , as may serve for their nutrition . therefore pus is nothing but the vitiated bloud in that part which is wounded , and the effect of vitiated digestion in the same place . the violation therefore of the integrity , continuity and digestion of the parts , and the transmutation of bloud into matter , is reputed by the schools , as the only achilles of catarrhs , to obstruct and impede their progress : whether from the head , which they have farmed as the ware-house for the generation and transportation of this liquid merchandise of catarrhs , to extract an excrementitious humour ( which otherwise threatned to fall down to a noble part ) by the hole of the fontanell , or whether or no , there be a deuteropathy or consent of the head with the part wounded ? for it is all one , so be that the skin may be kept wounded , whether that excrementitious humour be bloud , or whether there be made pus or sanies , it comes all to a passe , so that the easy credulous vulgar be gulled with the fooleries and thred-bare names of catarrhe , precaution , derivation , revulsion and fontanell . we will take the line at length , and view the whole series of distempers that afflicts an infant of a year old , who is dentien● and febrient , with foaming at the mouth and indefinent salivation . then followeth pittiful ejulations and yelling through the torments in his belly , with seiges green and yellow . certainly that tooth is a part of the head : wherefore a diarrhea shall be a catarrh of the head . but what consent is there , or how comes to passe the agreement of the budding or shooting tooth , and tumified gumme , with the intestines ? or what power is there of generating and sending the catarrhe out of the stomack of the infant , into its head ? and then into the ileon ? by what law shall the vapour that stills up from the alembick of the stomack be condensed and transmuted into aeruginous choler in the retort of the head ? peradventure the shop of choler from the very thresh-hold of life , hath pythagorized into the private ware-house of the head . could the fontanel ( if the tender infant were capable of suffering it ) like a spunge suck into it self the diarrheall porraceous flux ? and compensate and fobb off whole pounds of porraceous choler with a few grains or minutulous drops of pus ? wherefore doth the ●ul●an of the infants stomack forge the catarrh for the odontalgie or pain of the tooth ? why is it sent into the intestine & not unto the aking tooth ? doth not the reader yet perceive that a diarrhea is not a catarrh ? but the incensed archeus is ready to transmute the alimentary cremor into excrements , which by the schools are thought to be choler , fleam , &c. if therefore a diarrhea be not a catarrh , and the enraged archeus can transmute any thing into a noxious liquor , if only the gumme be afflicted ; whether or no she could not discharge her self on every side by the ordain'd emunctories ? nor need not to wait for the port-hole or aperture of the skin by a caustick ? nor do they consider that in women , and grosse and fat bodies the membrana carnosa about the ordinary places of the fontanell is meer fat , at least two inches thick , to which persons notwithstanding fontanels are more frequently , and more successefully applyed : wherefore the extream or bottome of the fontanell shall scarce reach half way of the fat : therefore there is no caus-way by which the evil fictitious excommunicated humour rushes out of the brain , or glides between the cranium and the skin , by the meanes of fat . but what then is that solitary humour which profligated from the part sending for its default , descending unmixt by the substance of the fat , doth degenerate into pus ? if it be a steaming up of vapours from the boiling pot of the stomack , why is it not more frequent in the younger fry , and hot stomacks , then in weak persons , old men , and cold dyspeptick stomacks ? by what meanes shall this grosse vestment of water , falling off from the tiffany and thinner dresse of a vapour ( if the exhalation of any such from the stomack be possible ) who by enquiring out and pitching upon the chamber-maid , the brain , as most handy and accomodate to fashion her into the tire and mode of a water , now wantonly put off her lawn sleeves , that 's like an old almanack or wrinckled bishop out of date , and as if endowed with sense and arbitrary power of election , and by synaerisis , put on the white sarcenet bag of pus , and take up quarters in the cabin of the cautery or fontanel ? how shall it in its eager quest of strange and unfrequented lodgings wildly range through the very body of the brain , and the seere● cells and chambers thereof ▪ its membranes , su●ures , f●ul , and periostion or coat environing the scull , to find out and court this new guest the orifice of the fontanel , that by that way only , as the alone ro●d , it may glide down and enjoy his imbraces and be purged ? why doth not the vapour a hundred times sooner vanish into air by transpiration , before it arrive at the place assigned to the cautery or fontanel ? how shall the water mounting up from the trench of the stomack and scaling the rampire of the head , by and by appear in the scarlet robes of bloud , and the mother to produce the white flag of pus ? how shall bloud ( the matter of pus , according to galen ) be the matter of catarrhe ? why is the bloud reduced into the series of ill humours , which not as yet contaminated , is dispensed by nature unto the wounded place ? wherefore will nature ( the wound being made ) supersede from thrusting forth the noxious matter by , and into the places accustomed to her ? for what , the skin being unlocked by a cautery or incision knife at the pleasure of the physitian , shall she lose or grow ignorant of the way ? or labours she only that she might find an exit in any place ? and that being done , will she afterwards become the obsequious lacquey of the wounder ? unsufferable fallacies therefore and falsities are couched under these four , namely , that pus is the matter of the catarrh ; that a catarrhe is materially from vapours out of the stomack ; that a fontanell is remedium catarrhagogum , or an adaequate meanes to excrete the catarrhous matter ; and that this matter would be diverted to a noble part unlesse it were repelled out at another sluice or exit . the schools now surrounded in a phylactery and heap of straits , being too hard pinched , have yet one subterfuge left , to wit , that fontanels and cauteries in chronicall diseases , and also in more obese and plethorick bodies have been known not seldome to profit . therefore it is necessary that , at least , the evil humour , the wound being made , be purged , and the body exonerated . at which paper-wals and broken reed we discharge and reply , that whatever the schools foppishly prattle concerning their whimsey of catarrhs and fontanells of their own christening , it will appear , that a catarrh , its material cause , essence , nativity , place of conception , efficient , manner of generation , receptory , progresse , and collection , and also an evil humour , and ends of fontanells are more ridiculous pedleries then the pageantries or puppetries of bartholmew faire ; and let all passe but for a christmas tale , or old beldames dream , and as the veil of their base unworthy lazinesse and ignorance . what , shall the unconstant tide of events o'reflow the banks of truth ? to this shittle-cock , and example of restlesse ill , successe and events , we referre you to what we have said of the same in our examination of phlebotomy , and hope with ingenious heads , it shall not have power to destroy or abate the prerogative and soveraignty of verity . but what if the adored fontanel hath proved to hit sometimes and profit some ; that truly hath not been from the' root and essence of the catarrh , in it self wholly nothing : therefore if they have profited , the schools may confesse that fontanels help by means and ends , to them unknown : and that they extoll with so great encomiums only a conjectural , uncertain and accidentall remedy : for no otherwise can we speak of it till our knowledge shall better direct us ; till then , they are such as our ignorance ( we professe ) is well content it knowes not . for what if any one distemper of its own accord , or in processe and maturity of time should moulder away ; what therefore do they think it equitable , and that they have the same freedome and authority , lamentably to torture two hundred in vain , if a fontanel to one hath not by accident been dismall and unfortunate ? certainly it 's a dangerous point to annex a constant property unto any practise , and much more to this of fontanells , but what if on the other side the history of many might be brought and compared , in whom fontanels have had but a bad catastrophe : they presently cry out , we are not empiricks , nor are we moved by examples . for the schools are rational , and moreover do lean upon the authority of the ancients . and that , they thunder out so highly , as often as they are destitute of reasons , and convicted by experience , they cease to be most expert masters , nor will they be drawn by experiences contrary to their own : but fly unto the reasons of their predecessors . for truly when the schools had perceived that some by hap-hazard had help and benefit after a fontanel then by and by a seton or coard of twisted thred or silk is runne through on both sides the skin of the neck , which is believed to be a remedy for an ophthalmie , lippitudo ▪ yea and for catarrhs themselves , and the vitiated digestion of the eyes . manifest presumption and as ridiculous is that lame opinion , that a fontanell on the opposite leg , is a help for the sciatick pain . they have made a great deal of doe about nothing , have stoutly played the vulcans , and have made a great deal of smithes work , and have appointed also arabick ustions ( to wit , not excepting goats dung fryed in a frying-pan ) for the sciatica , and arthritick pains . verily the schools have mispent their sweat and oile every where in the medicall profession , in fripperies , childish pageantries , and have set to sale for solid substantiall verity , as ridiculous toyes as ever the piazza bordello , or loose stage-player , balladier , or blind harper could expres , and such as deserve only the spunge , and the contrivers or abettors the hisse . but at last , it cannot be lesse then any's wonder , that one poor gout accounted for catarrhs , like a suttle fox hath eluded and bafled out all the theorems and fontanels of the schools : namely , hath shewn it to be false , that a defluent podagra should be by a catarrb , and that a fontanell , is a vain and fruitlesse comment of derivation and revulsion for an humour flowing down , & are so thin and light , as set by philetas in athenaeus might be blown away by the least breath from the eolus of truth . as intolerable and whimsicall also are fontanells in tabes , or consumptions , distempers of the lungs , head , eyes , kidneys , yea in their idle catarrhall defects , so that we more admire their cruel butchery , with their impostures , then imitate and follow their vain essayes and endeavours . so also they of patavie , hetruria , & montpe●●en do drive a hot iron unto the very future of the cranium in the epilepsy , without hope of cure , and do promise that the epileptick fumes shall come that way out of the brain ; not that they may break the fit , but that they may suspend the rest . but these things the sick hold by a poor tenure , that have no more assurance then what comes in thus by their tortures , and suffer them with an insensible hope of health ; at least wise without example . nor do they once consider , that those fained vapours do not afflict the brain for want of an exit : but on the contrary , they stirre up the tempest of the diseases causation , before they can come to the hairy scalp . wherefore it is a blew busines , & vain is the work and help a fontanell , which begins à posteriori in curing diseases . for the schools have not yet determined , in what infirmities fontanells are convenient , because they do but seldome help , and that by accident only : so that it is impossible their hypotheses being conceded , that fontanells should be profitable , and therefore impossible also to find their manner , meanes and ends . but laying aside these positions of the schools concerning catarrhs and fontanells , we come now to prove , that it is easy to find out the case wherein fontanells are said to help , and that if all the demands of the schools hitherto mentioned , be freely granted them , yet could they be of no advantage , as to the manifestation of the cardinal point in controversie , viz. the manner , reasons , and waies of the fontanell and the transmutation and progresse of the pus , that hath its egresse out at the hole of the said fontanell . for in sooth , by reason of the necessary innovations of bloud in every station of the moon , namely , whatsoever of the old bloud shall be left beyond the period of the foregoing moon , in a plethorick body , that ought to be converted either into fat , or into an excrement of the last digestion ; which because it is dissipated upon a daily evaporation , and brought forth by the fontanell , therefore fat and grosse bodies , high feeding , plethorick and sedentary , do now and then feel a little help by a fontanell , and none other . because that the swelling masse of bloud is reduced towards its just weight and requisite proportion : for otherwise there would be an oppression and burden to the archeus , and the parts , and the digestions and distributions of these , by its nimiety and redundancy . for thus farre the fear of an instant evil may be shunned . therefore all the extorted or hoped for benefit of a fontanell is placed in a contemperation of aboundance of bloud , by a daily and minutulous diminution of it . otherwise a fontanell is a cruel and beastly remedy , because by exercise , just parsimony , and due moderation and temperance may easily be prevented whatsoever the fontanel can divert or expell . for let none be so absurd as to think , that whatsoever the sober rules of moderate and spare diet cannot cure , any help is to be expected to be brought by a fontanell . for those same things which have regard to a long and sound life , do excuse fontanels . at the best a fontanel is alwaies but a palliative cure , and but in some neither , and hitherto farre below and very unworthy the venerable medicall schools . i know it 's usually said , that if a fontanel be once made , unlesse it be continued , there 's the fear of a greater evill incumbent . but we have known no such thing as we before have declared . therefore be it the meer ignorance of the schools , who apply a fontanell not unto the original , or to the cause or root of the disease , but unto the effects or products , which never were worthy of such a serious application of cure , as they pretend , and make the world believe . it s unknown therefore as yet to the schools in what disease this palliative cure of fontanells avails . because by chance , and the lady ignorance the mother of fools being leader , they have , and still do try all things . so that their prescriptions are alternatim , and they command one thing after another , that if this thing nor that , nor here nor there , or repeated fontanell do not help , nor much pus , nor same 's ex●reted . let the fontanells be advisedly closed up . thus therefore the generall theory of fontanells , being suspected ; since they dilate the notions of it beyond the propriety of its nature or ends ; since 't is not verifiable by observation ; since the grounds are feeble that should establish it ; and lastly since if all were true , yet are the reasons alledged for it of no sufficient satisfactory inducement to maintain it . now it becomes our method of exploring verity , & the course we at first propounded to our selves to look into the physitians pantry or cubboard , to see what good house they keep , and if we can find any real substantiall food here , beyond their chaff and huskes which we have scattered by the breath of truth . now we have done with their languid and ineffectuall main pillars of healing by evacuations , viz. purgers , phlebotomy and fontanells , we shall now sift and examine their anonary or kitchin physick , their grave rules of diet , which they prescribe with so much seeming seriousnesse , as they would be looked upon as nursing or feeding fathers . for let those eares that have the patience to hear , and the openesse to receive truth , know , that when physitians see they have afforded no benefit to their patients , by the lavish expences of the laudable juices of the body , and the diminution of natural vigour , when bloud-letting , purging , cupping , rubbing , ( ostler-like ) and other grievous and ineffective remedies have done no good ; they at length remit them to the sober rules of diet , and think to turn out the disease at the back door and childish evasion of their kitchin aphorismes , as the onely hopefull meanes and cardinal point of their recovery , and so leave them by the painfull use of fontanells , and reiterated moderate purges , to spin out the weak thred of their remaining life , diaetetice , by a medicall , that is , a miserable course of diet . this is but the thin-chopt skeleton , the anatomy of the other burley bundle of physitians not more erroneous then torturous remedies , but the dead corps of physick , without any life or soul of truth , the limbus or physitians purgatory , to which the venial , as well as rebellious and strong-headed disease must be turned over to be crusht and crumbled away by this raw-boned furie , famine or strict diet. so that by this rear-guard of diet , you may judge & give the word for the forlorn hope of a lingring continuing disease to draw up , and appear in its colours . whence we may deduce , that if any thing hath happened to succeed by the auxiliary hand of the physitians conjectures , it hath b●en by the proper goodnesse of nature . for presently after their universal helpes ( for so they have christened phlebotomy and purgations ) they turn over and enrol the other half of the cure to serve another master , namely a precise rule of diet and life ; which for the most part they estimate by heats , colds , and the temperance of these , for the regard to laudable juice . well may they in much seriousnesse prescribe this reverend nothing of diet ▪ to an end wholly unknown to themselves , when they wallow in the thred-bare heats and colds of the elements . for to speak soberly , besides their grosse errors , thred-bare theorems , languid and invalid remedies , they blush not to veil over their bloudy ignorance by their specious kitchin canons , which may be made in dubious to the most prejudicate , that it is but a pittiful sly imposture and suttle tyranny of physitians , and grievous servitude of the patients , prescribed not much on this side the penalty of capital punishment , and wrought into the heads of the sick , whose lenity of belief inclines them further then they have force from rational deductions to perswade , so that now it puts on the habit to exact their faith and confidence . for in the first place , whatsoever is farre fetched and dear bought , is good for those gay things , called ladies : and that , like so many frenchifyed apes , ( the protaean monkies of the world ) we praise and commend as best . and in medicines , leafe gold , pouder'd pearles , scarlet grain , cuchineel , crude silk , &c. ( and perhaps spiders also , if they were brought from farre out of a strange countrey , would be dear and greatly esteemed , as crocodiles turd ) in meats also ; for whatsoever is pleasant to the tongue , nor very harsh to the stomack , that generally & presently is cried up as euchymous , sound and wholesome : forasmuch as those things which pleasantly court the palat , ought to be most gratefull and healthful . therefore they vary these things according to the palat of the physitian . for ( according to the vulgar proverb , we have cibus anceps , one mans meat is another mans poison , ) that which is praised by one and cried up as good , by another , to whome it is lesse pleasing , it is decried and nauseated . for by this means pheasants , partridges , stares , black-birds , and fat capons , are preferr'd before quadrupedes : although that these together with us are viviparous , and hitherto more familiar to us , then birds , fishes , and animals oviparous . so also fishes of stony or gravelly places are set before marine piscations ; and manchet or white bread , before brown . for these capon-eaters being very dainty , and many a sweet tooth in their heads , advance their endeavours and studies in the kitchin trade , or art of cookery , that they may please the sick , ( like children and fools with rattles , ) who being destitute of knowledge and remedies , have subjected themselves to a barren profession , who forsooth , do become master-cooks in time . how they traverse out of one hole into another , and how diligently and narrowly do they look into all things in kitchins , butteries and dining chambers , that they may exercise their imperious jurisdiction , that they may seem to all , to have made a very sedulous provision , and thereby the more ready and fitted to exercise their cruelty on the sick . even as though meats and drinks were the nurslings of apollo , and the aesculapius of great sicknesses . certainly they may leave off their journeys to wait at the temple of aesculapo , when culinary prescriptions , and kitchin aphorismes shall lay seige , and be the militia to encounter the hostility of a disease . truly this is the shame of physiti●ns , and they tacitely confesse ? that wholesome and moderate diet is to be preferred to most of those unfaithful medicaments of the shops : and , upon the testimony of their own unhappy unsuccessefulnesse , conclude , that the patient ought to abstein from them , as hurtful , and at best but rarely to be used . senation verily is the lovely effects of a laboratory , and medicine , not of the kitchin. wherefore as we have had just cause to suspect the languid and contemptible weak engine of meats : so also not to guess● , but conclude , that a precise conformity to the dietetical rules , as well in the commander , as observer , do insinuate an implicite ignorance of a true and adaequate remedy ; or a smooth imposture . but on the other side , he which carrieth fire , can burn ; and he who hath a knife , can cut . so he , who hath so farre been followed , courted , and favoured by the benefit of his labours , and industrious performances to attain to a medicinal secret , graduated into the zenith of a noble entelechie , whose balsam cannot be known from natures own , he can cure in spight of all accidentalities and irregularities of diet , kick at their rules , and in this businesse slight and passe by the idle and needlesse industry and adulations of the schools . for those tares , enormities , and other racemations of irregularities , that may grow up by the course manurement of diet , are with ease eruncated , and anticipated by the energy & prepotent seigniorie and goodnesse of the remedy qualified thereto . for if hippocrate● prefers meats in their afluefaction , though lesse commodious for esculency and sanity , yet not simply bad , before unaccustomed ; and that diet is not to be altered easily , safely nor quickly from our accustomed cibations : what then may be judged as the aberrations of particular distinctions , customary elections , ●optations and desiderations of meats and drinks ? considering that nature following her own peculiar inward dictates , hath been observed oftentimes to excell a medicine , to the deserved shame of physitians , when they had precisely forbidden it before . first of all diet doth not treat clearly of things hurtful : for it is not disputed whether it is wholsome to eat poison or potshards , &c. nor whether it be healthful for the sick to stuff himselfe with much meat and drink , although of laudable juice ; or whether crapulency , ebriety and an inordinate life be the actions of a sound state , or fit helpes to the conservation or recuperation of health : but diet is wholly busied about the particular distinctoins and selections of meats and drinks , which notwithstanding , as indifferent nutriments , do consist within the bounds of goodnesse , and are differenced onely in the latitude of neutrality . and therefore we have alwaies looked upon the medicall diet , as the discloser of the ignorance of causes , of true medicine , and powerful remedy . how many non-conformists are there to the kitchin canons , who do repudiate the rules that is prescribed them , will be no obsequious dietetical slaves , will observe no bounds , and yet often recover and are well ? the physitian is his own encomiaste chaunts forth the praise of the cure , and rings out a panegyrick to his rules ; and the refractory disobedient patient laughes in his sleeve , to see his doctor so transported with the honour of his diet , as having the capital energy , which yet had no finger in it . hence hath this art of physick been brought upon the stage and fallen under the facete reprehension of comaedians , because the kitchin or diaeteticall aphorismes and rules do manifestly declare the slendernesse , of judgement as well in the physitian , as sick . whence the physitians oftentimes hope to get an occasion of excuse of their murder upon the poor allegation of the disobedience of the sick , about the rules of diet not strictly observed . ah alas how many and great absurdities are committed by this deceit , which in the world are not yet sufficiently brought to light ! what , while they know nothing , nor have wherewith to assault , propell , and rout the conturmations of the disease , or constrain into a precisianisme of conformity , yet shall be adjudged that they would take away with much care and industry the bagge and baggage of a further encrease by the blandishments of culinary prescriptions ? to proceed , if a conformity to the observance of diet were useful , it would be servicable either in sicknes or convalescency . but in sicknesse how importune , irkesome and impertinent is it , is testified from their own unwilling subscriptions and acknowledgements ? when commonly the edge of the appetite is dulled , and its vigour consternated , and which then is induced to its own complacency , least it wholly perish ? whose conservation is of as great a moment as is the indication of life . for in the state of an unconstant appetite , nature doth oftentimes minister convenient food to her self ; and that not so often , as then chiefly , when she stands most in need of help . then do physitians in their concertations with this good pleasure of nature most afflict her by their irkesome dietetical rules : from which let the sick abstain , if he would not have all the cause of his destruction imputed to a faithlesse and treacherous helper . for then doth the archeus symptomatically rage , and then followes a perversion of its functions , because she perceivs a denegation of that , to which she hath had a strong optation , and it may be , some familiar longed for meat , or other accustomed food , and so they stirre up and accumulate strife upon strife . even as if a horse passing thorow water , and not being suffered to drink that which is sufficient for him , retaineth afterward a difficulty of breathing , troublous to life . but diet after sicknesse , or under convalescency , is also wonderfull troublesome , if not in vain : seeing nature now is willingly very diligent , and greatly busied about other matters . for in severity of truth a medicall course of diet , and kitchin operations , cannot but accuse the defect of a sufficient remedy , and so an implicite confession of a false and treacherous sanation . let physitians no more attempt by these fruitlesse meanes , to dreigne the hopes , bodies , veins , strength , and purses of the sick ; but let them cure as they ought , and becomes them , worthy their name and profession , and as nature moves and enclines , and if not goe along with , yet to follow her , for the security and assurance of restauration . it is not to be scrupled that the omnipotent and wise creator saw and judged all things that he had made to be good . that is , whatsoever he had ordained for food , was good . and whatsoever he had decreed to be poison , was good poison , qualified to its purpose . for else the poor man , might with much right , and justly complain , that god in his distributions and largesses had dealt very unequally and lesse fatherly to him , because he had denyed him the means which should recover his health ; for being poor , he was incapable to answer the costly and sweet-lipped rules of diet : but to the rich he had been more bountiful , and with their wealth he had also bestowed health upon him ; considering that he enjoyed the means , whereby to ballance the charges of diet . for in earnest the chiefest part of the diet of physitians is rich and delicate , fitted to the adulation of the sick and plausibility of the physitian most commonly excepting wine . also physitians do crie up those things for most hurtful , which do most please themselves . and least this should be suspected to be a kind of soothing , they injoine a strict obedience , that by this severity and precisenesse of rules , they might be thought to moderate the exorbitancies of life . first of all , bread is accounted the primary food ; but other things as only concibi or obsonia . but on the contrary we call other aliments veros cibos ; but bread only obsonium . for many are found to have lived a long while with milk only . irish people also , swift , and naturally strong of body , do in some part of the countrey use onely shamroch or three-leaved grasse , instead of bread . and some northern people do attain to a very old age , who do live upon fish only without bread , & stand stiffe and firm against piercing colds and insinuating diseases . the stuffing with bread is bad in the adage : not onely , because it is a token of poverty ; but because truly it is very burdensome in a weak stomack . seeing bread by reason of the ferment ( for else it is nothing but a barepaste ) dissolving into a cream , constreins the herbs and meats with which it is masticated to colliquate , ( which we daily experiment in the digestion of dung ) and for this consideration only we have given it the name of obsonium rather then cibus . but least we should dwel too long upon notions and nominalities , it shall be sufficient to us , whatsoever it be called , so that the use and necessity of bread be known to be conducible and most powerfull in the liquefaction of meats . moreover we greatly esteem sobriety as the cardinal point of all diet . the intention being not medicall , but ethicall or morall , and the symbole of a well informed judgement : yea further , if the appetite be strongly carried out after any object , we freely admit it , but yet with the rule of mediocrity . and yet i am not he , who knowes not to preferre one meat or dainty bit before another , which may be more convenient for my patient : but it 's no great matter which of the two the sick should take , so that he hath gotten but some good and sure remedy . for in strict reason , if a remedy be invalid and not able to charge a disease , or oppose the forcible assault of a disease , and hinder it in its progresse by lesse convenient food , farre lesse able will it be to discomfit , overcome and expell diseases . it 's further discovered therefore , that the benefits which are with so much confidence hoped for , and with as much vanity answered from a medicall course of diet , is but a wild , languid , invalid , treacherous , and indeed desperate kind of remedy ; and culinary cookeries too contemptible a militia to encounter so formidable an adversary , already entred upon the borders of life . for as it is in the proverb , it is easier to hold out , then get out , a guest . so in the correlative . whosoever presumes to overcome a disease by the vertue of a powerful remedy , let him be sure , that by that remedy , he shall farre more easily overcome all things arising from the incongruities of aliments . 't is not therefore an inference in our opiniotry only , nor undeserving to be ranked much on this side a positive conclusion , if we expresse , that it is an eminent sign of weaknesse and diffidency in a physitian as often as his needlesse and fruitlesse prescriptions are to be cooked in the kitchen , before they ascend the stairs , and passe thorow the long gallery of the oesophagus , into the great hal of the patients stomack ; for he wanting a worthy and powerful medicine , that in the mean time he may seem to do something , and not to take his fees in vain , he makes the critical day the atlas of his hopes , and by his pe●uinary defraudations gulls his patient by his culinary prescriptions , and choice of diet. whence from semblable reason may be deduced , 1. that nature in us is wiser then any physitian whatsoever , and is more knowing of her own profit and damage then the whole conclave of aesculapes , or all the wits of the schools . 2. that nature therefore chooseth and desireth those things , that are most convenient & fit for her . 3. that a beast never dyed , because he satisfied his thirst , unlesse perhaps he had swallowed down poison , or had fallen and miscarried by excessive eating , because drink in feavers doth subvert many inconveniencies of drought . 4. that to drink in thirst , would not be lesse naturall , then for a man to pisle that hath need to pisse . 5. and therefore seeing this doth not postulate or require the physitians consent : it needs not his counsel . 6. that when i give together with drink a few drops of a thing , which facilly penetrating , specially in thirst , i have oftentimes strangled and killed many feavers together with their thirst , to the pleasant and profitable admiration of the sick . 7. that a great appetite to a thing , in the rules of diet apparently noxious , for the most part is created and acuated from the dictates of nature , who hath marked and observed her own remedy , but not in the vain paper-works of the schools books . 8. that therefore we ought not to be much troubled about things desired and longed for , little hurtful , and lesse accustomed . 9. that if a remedy ought to be lord paramount , and like a cedar to o'retop the disease , the lesser shrubs , or meaner retinue of meat and drink , in their latitude , cannot contain the strength of a pharmaceutick entity . 10. that if aliments contain not an energetick remedy , so neither scarce any hurt in them , speaking of nutriments , as such , that is , indifferent . thus we perswade our self from the direction of our own knowlede , and thus we prescribe these things to others . namely that the wholesome rules of abstinence & temperance , hath the optimacy above the dieteticall ones : and chiefly when any thing is eaten with a vigourous appetite according to the will of the sick : as that adage hits it , quod sapit , nutrit . that which savours , nourisheth . for the appetite is satisfied by quality , not quantity . and if fulnesse loads and burdens the stomack of sound persons , much more the sick and weak . 2. moreover let them eat , not truly to gorging , or stuffing the cavity of the stomack , nor to the sensual humour and dictate of their gust : but as much as easily suffices to sustain a sound life . and this , although at first it may seem a hard task to fresh men , and but beginners to accustome themselves to it ; yet it will not be so to those who are beaten to it . for how ridiculous is it for one lamenting himself by his disease , to wish that he had not made such a hogs-head of his belly , by his ingurgitations , or that he had not gorged and crammed the stowage of his body so much , whereby to surfet . yet we would not have any man so farre please himself with the opinion , that this sobriety of life can prevent or secure any body from the plague , from a fall , wound , lightning , &c. for it 's a clear case , that externall incidencies do contemne the oeconomy of digestion , and distributions , because they exuperate them . 3. seeing that all aliment ought to passe into a liquid reduction or tendance to chilification , and that exquisite mastication is that which facilitates chilifactive mutation , or alimental conversion , therefore thorow mastication is to be highly commended . for truly one morsel being not throughly subjected to the lawes of the dentimolary operations , not well and duly masticated or chewed , brings more work and difficulty to the vulcan of the stomack , then three soundly chewed . therefore rostrous animals , as birds , because they want teeth , have need of a double stomack , though otherwise they are most powerful in digesting . also every ruminating animal , as it was greatly esteemed in the law ; so also in favourable reason , it implies seriously to us the necessity of mastication , not to be extenuated . yea , for that cause the ruminating brute in scripture is chosen for clean . 4. lastly , whatsoever is taken in a surfet , above the native power of the stomachicall ferment , do wax hot truly within : and do putrefy , but are not until then digested : as is most evident in feavers : but how much of more tenellous meats is swallowed in a surfet , is digested ●ruly , but being delapsed out of the stomack , draw●s down with it a great quantity of ●de and indigested matter , as well by reaso● of the extension of the vessel , as the carelesnesse of nature being oppressed . but if that which is very tender hath been digested , and should tarry in the stomack longer then is necessary , it would unavoidably wax deid beyond its due bounds and temper , or plainly putrefy : and migrates into a bitter excrement , which in its virgine matutine courtship salutes the nose with an acid 〈◊〉 , and is oftimes cast forth by vomit : 〈◊〉 which the schools rudely and falsely impose the name of ●holer . 5. whatsoever accusto●ed thing is taken in , that is 〈◊〉 ●y desired , nor of any malignant seminality or impression ; that also absente sa●iet a●● ) is facilly digested , and in the disease safely admitted if it be taken soberly and moderately : because that the whole batch of accustomed things , especially , as i said , if desired , is leavened , transmuted and subdued by the mediation of the locall and appropriate ferments . for hippocrates also perswades to use a slender diet in acute diseases , until an edge shall be set on the appetite , and it rise from the opium of its dull inactivity . we do not magisterially obtrude it as a definite position , but in the due freedome of opinion , and as experimentally enlarged , we commend smal drink , as farre as we discommend sweet drinks , and ptisans , having a reflection on the words of galen : barley ( saies he ) a little boiled , doth cause ventosities : but better boiled , obstructions . wherefore our ancestours firmly beleeving , that boiled barley can by no meanes be innoxious , by procuring its germination , have meliorated its qualification , which then they call malt ; by which meanes both ventosities and crudities are hindred . 't is most industrious idlenesse to presse any to cook-brothes , gelly of meats well decocted and stamped , or to stuff the sick with egges , &c. if he be infested with an acute feaver , being mindful of that precept : corpora impura quo plus nutris , eo magis laedis . for although in acute feavers the patient should live by only drink , without mear , yet would there be no danger of life imminent : yea , they the sooner mend , and by far lesse difficulty the strength and appetite return again . doublesse as often as any putrefactible or cadaverizable thing is ingested into the stomack , wanting its digestive ferment : the digestible putrefyes , and is not digested . and this we conceive is the genuine and true explication of that aphorisme . for we never desired , that the sick should come out of feavers fat and cramm'd , but we chiefly intended this one thing : namely that they might quickly recover , and not suffer much detruncation or diminution of their strength . we cannot omit to declare what would not passe undiscovered , that the chiefest part of diet in diseases of the stomack we have drawn out of that aphorisme : quod ructus acidus superveniens nidor●sis , sit bonum . that an acid ructation , of a reparable ferment , superinduced upon a nidorous one , is good . for nidorous ructations , the aversion of spontaneous nauseousnesse , flesh , fish , and egges , yea the loadings and oppressions of the stomack it selfe , do call for and command , that the sick be nourished with only potables : for otherwise by things cadaverable you may expect strange accidents , defects of the minde , and other incommodities of that kinde . because potations then do humect , and in the refection of thirst , do refrigerate , and dispel the fuliginous aridities and debilities flowing from thence . but under the notionality of potables is not to be understood here , jusculous sorbitions , aboundantly nourishing , to wit , of those things , which in a hot stomack are of their own accord cadaverized , without the digestive ferment : but altogether of those , which do not putrefy : such as panada's , and also beer damaskd with wine , to which a crum of bread may also be mixed , that may be both meat and drink . we might here not impertinently ampliate what we hinted before in our tractick of simple waters , of the digestion , or chilifactive transmutation of the stomack , whether it be pepsis or sepsis , digestion by heat or other quality : but cannot laudably bring it in as a member of this practical , rather then speculative or theorical argumentative therapeutick tractate , yet we shall not i hope dull the edge of the stomacks vigour , though perhaps we may invigorate the testie mood of the aristotelicans if we say , that digestion or alimentary conversion into a chilifactive liquid reduction , is made by a specifick appropriate ferment , and not by that fictuminane of heat . this though peripatetical problems approve not , yet philosophical disquisitions and experimental observations will evince . therefore as often as there is an aversation or opposition to flesh , and nidorous ructations ascendant in the arched part of the highest orbe in the systeme of our bodies , the mouth , it 's the significator of the presentiality of heat , and the acid ferment in its detriment . consider also this , how easily recent flesh if bound to the foot or hot head , would putrefie and presently stink . in a feavorish stomack therefore being very hot , wise nature fears to make a cadaver within her vital incommunicable world , and therefore presently there followes an aversation from flesh . whether then is the ferment of the stomack gone in a feavorish person ? what hath it demigrated to another place ? or is it extinct ? for whether would the ferment go , that is not welcome nor acceptable but in her own private ●ecesses ? nor hath it perished : because it is vital ; and whatsoever that is truly vital hath once degenerated from the concordant rules and harmony of that vital spark , which at first entitled it to animation , and now is blown into a luculent flame , never remigrates again from the winter of its privation . but the ferment is redintegral and redivivous . thus therefore it happens . for either the discharging of the ferment out of the spleen , sometimes doth not extend to the stomack , by reason of some defect of either of the presidents or archeus of the stomack , or spleen ; or the ferment being entertained in the stomack is obvolved with an alien and feavorish odour . which understand thus exemplified . a hungry man , and well in health , tarrying long in the inconvenient smoake of coals , presently perceives a nauseousnesse to arise within him , and aversation from meats , then also a pain of his head , and at length he vomits . the ferment of the stomack therefore as it is covered with the noxious odour of the coals : so likewise with the virulent breath and nidorous contagion of the exagitated feaver , so that there presently happens an aversation from meat , forasmuch as the indigenary ferment in the stomack is covered with that favour . wherefore now whatsoever suffers an alimentary conversion in the stomack , in the form of a liquid diaphanous reduction , by the vertue of its ferment , that hath entred the thresh-hold , and is admitted into the entry of a vital juice , although not yet into the essence of life : and for that cause doth not so naturally and freely putrefy . but whatsoever is not dissolved , or if in it self it be dissolved , and yet doth not admit the ferment , as the serum of the bloud so called , and brine , &c. it is either an excrement , or is facilly made so , and is obvious to corruption : therefore in dieteticall prescriptions the chief regard is to be had to the diseases and food , which in respect of the disease the sick nause●●s , or desires . for nature is to be served , not forced , and it is her office to serve also , not command . that is to say , let the ferment , which ought to be the caterer , prescribe them , and not the physitian according to his appetite and pleasure , nor let him not make one last fit all sizes . lastly exercise , labour , rest , sleep and air do depend on the rules which the importance of other digestions do dictate to us . thus to conclude this is the true diet which nature of her own accord and naturally doth shew and teach unto us . and let this one thing remain as a firm truth that shall outlive & bear away its unhappy pressures , that whosoever by the sweat and dust of his sober endeavours , and rifling the rich treasury of nature hath lighted on such choice remedies that are grand and powerful arcana's , enriched with that sublime energy , that can presently restore the sick , and free him from any disease whatsoever : he need not prescribe any other diet to the sick , then what the sound are familiarly acquainted with . for to the sound all things are adjudged sound and wholesome ; because that the digestive ferment does powerfully draw and constrain every thing into its own power and dominion . and so let digestions indigitate and prescribe the rules of diet . thus then we have seen the main axes or poles of the whole systeme of the general and particular remedies of the schools , and present practise of physitians shaken : it remains then , that that health or cure holds but by a poor tenure that hath no more assurance then what is wafted in by the frigid north-pole and narrow door of bloud-letting , purges , fontanells and diet , &c. with these , such toyes and rattles as that of their aurea alexandrina , pill aureae , vng . aurcum , confectio ●e hyacintho , requies nicolai may passe for substantial and peculiar meanes : gold-titles to set to sale their fopperies ; and no wonder when we all know that brasse farthings bear the stamp of the royal armes and crown . but and if their shoot anchors fail , then the stream of their advice is such , that frights one more , then lord have mercy upon a door . for if the former answer not their doubtful hopes , quid tum nisi vota super sunt : and so the doctor bids his patient goodnight , and he the world . and which is most remarkable , and none can plead ignorance in though the sick are emaciated to living skeletons or walking ghosts by their torturous and murderous meanes and remedies the physitians have used to them , yet the disease remits not , nor discontinues the execution of its fury , but comes on with a rampant vigour , more heated and heightned by their seeming oppositions . truly the acousations of the sick when they thunder it out against the supinities , falsities , impostures , temerities , and the false merchandise of physitians , whereby their lives & healths are spoiled , or brought into unworthy misery and languishment , hath caused us to cry out for an active endeavour of a thorow reformation in the medicinall part , that there may be a better preparation and conjunction of medicines , if that be good and needfull , that so there may be a better sanation . if any man can match in all the world , in any art or science the like trifles and fopperies in decimo sexto , or the like mischiefs in folio , we professe we dare venture to have our judgement burn'd in the ear for a fellon , or bored for a slave to their principles and practises , yea , morgaged , and benighted to eternall dulnesse . we are ashamed seriously not for own individual singularity and egoity so much , as for the sake of our neighbour and brother , that physitians are so carelesse , and seem to study only for lucre of gain ; and what it should mean we professe not to know , unlesse it be of divine ordering that the schools shall so long grope in the darke , and stumble , till they are got clear and have quitted themselves like men from the errors of the ancients , and come to sharpen their own axes and coulters at the forge of nature . these things have been sooner , and rather found out by our eyes , then thoughts and meditations : yet at this bone cape we would willingly touch and unlade our mind to the notice of the sonnes of wisdome , that the errors and ignorances which have been here discovered by familiar and pregnant demonstrations , have not bin sucked and elaborated ( like the bee ) so much out of , either the poison of somes dotages and uncertain principles , or others florilege and analect , as from an inward teaching of the mindes heightning and enlightning by an invisible and yet sensible glorious emanation of light , truth , god , intellect and intelligible objects . for they have not come in at a crevise or hole of the door , or opened themselves by little and little , and entered gradually into our mind , so as that we have conceived , meditated , and found them out one after another . for if in this discovery one thing after another had come to our knowledge , we should have esteemed the whole progresse to be the enfeebled and wier-drawn inductions of reason , and phantasie obtruded in the species of intelligibilities . lastly we have one thing more to propound and examine , which we have thought worthy a general notice , and cannot let pas undiscovered , that is , the two general intentions and indications of healing , promoted and abetted by the schools and most practicioners in physick in the whole world , namely , by contrariety and s●mility . some attempt to scale the fort royal of diseases , and rout them in their strong holds per contraria , and so by contentions , strifes , jarrings and clashings endeavor a mutiny ; then comes the crisis , as they call it , in diseases , whereby judgement is given of the victor , either the disease or nature to o'recome . this plausible and stupid doctrine , which will perswade no further then the lenity of beliefe in people inclines them , easily pleases all , who are prone to runne into the way of sloth , and facilly induced to subscribe by an implicite credulity to what first hath chopt into their understandings , and possessed their too flexile natures . all the schools of the christian world have taught and subscribed to this , that contraries have their remedy from contraries . by which truly every excesse ( marked with the nomenclation of a disease ) should be reduced into perfect symmetry . as if a medicine should not worke physically , but mechanically , mathematically or demonstratively only . whether we look upon substances , or only accidents , we judge there is no contrarieties but between irascible entities , that is , in the irascible faculty of sensitives , and no where else . whence perhaps by a metaphor or improper hyperbole , contrariety is wrested to all individuals in the world . when i take meat , i never find a contrariety in my selfe , nor in the meats : but if quantity or quality offends me ; i find truly a deficiency in me : but not a contrariety . if any one nauseats cheese , it doth not argue a contrariety or antipathy ; but a seminal disposition , a certain noxious thing operating . for , because of the necessary vicissitude in things , it hardly can be admittible to call every or any noxious qualities in us , hostilities , and enmities of things . because in philosophy we must confine to proper speaking : where words change the sense , and alter the essences of things ; and chiefly when the whole crasis of healing is distorted to the destruction of mankind . for the schools reduce all sanation to the means of contrariation in their vain and ridiculous comments of heat and cold. and yet when they are dashed upon rocks in these their lecturers , they will stoop to concede , that heat and cold may dwel under one roof , and yet not as contrary guests or inmates : seeing that in the least drop or smallest atome of simples , heat and cold may be connexed : as in opium a deep cold , and high heat also they discover in his amaritude . but we have in our lecture of sapours , and examination of the medicines of the shops , when we discoursed of opium , discovered , that the knowledge of the schools from sapours , was ridiculous and fruitlesse : because seminall and specifick faculties by the schools is basely confounded and traduced into elementall qualities . for cold in opium , though it be declared by no judgement of our senses , but supposed from its effects , because they have strain'd a dormitive seminality in a ridiculous dream to cold . as if god when he cast adam into a sleep , had stirr'd up cold in him : and as if after dinner a notable cold in us should steal up into our heads . to what hath been said of contraries , that there is no intentions in nature of contrariety in those things , in whom there is no pretention of hatred , variance , victory , or superiority , we add ; that unity is not contrary to duality . nor upwards to downwards , nor high to low , nor east to west are not contrary . nor is the right car contrary to the left , although opposite . nor is a volatile contrary to a reptile . for the same silk-worm is both . nor is generation contrary to corruption . so likewise neither great is contrary to little , nor straight to crooked . when one & the same may be now small now great , straight & crooked . the same is to be said of sweet and bitter ; hard and soft : heavy and light : sharpe and blunt : coagulate and resolved : or white and black . the like is to be said of water and fire : heat and cold , which are not contrary . this the schools own theorems do despise : the which so often as they list they will not follow . for in the plague and malignant feavers , they administer treacle , and other things not obscurely hot ; as also sudorificks , the indication of heat being neglected . an erysipilas also , of all apostems most fiery ( as they say ) they will heal by putting on it some of the best aqua vitae . so that it appears these things are limitable , alterable , & by themselves not regarded , and so not fit for principles ; and therefore no contrariety , hatred , discord , warre , strife of victory or superiority in natural things , but that they act without intention or precognition of an end : and so although there be phila●tie , sympathy , antipathy , election , yea , and a kind of sense attributed to inanimate things : yet let it be a certain analogy shining rather in effects and causes , then in the direction of the creator , or distinction of ends : because that they are deprived of proper sense , election , intention of acting , and precognition of ends : the schools therefore and physitians are exceedingly out of the way who will admit only those as remedies of diseases , which by a hostile contrary property , encounter and warre against them , as if there were a power of sense and an arbitrary power of election in them . others go more amicably to work , and cure diseases by simility . paracelsus himselfe hath too effeminately stooped to this opinion , and saies , that all sanation must be shut up and finished by assimilation , admitting sometime otherwhiles the velitations and tempests of contraries . and although simility doth proximely include familiarity , and facility of reception and entertaining the remedy , union , ingresse , and penetration by reason of the conformity of the symbole : yet the abetto●s hereof know not that these are not agents sufficiently indowed , nor capable or requisite to sanation : but occasionall means , externe , or medicines procuring favour or help : such as is the purity and subtilty of a medicine . wherefore we conceive that a medicine properly , immediately , and efficiently consists in its competent or appropriate ●abilities : by which nature stands upon her own legs again , and rises from her fall . there are truly natural endowments , specifica and dotata , which differ from their simility . and they are those things in which our archeus finds delight . as for example . bulimia or famine , is as it were morbus peracutus , which by the sufferance of a few daies , cruelly kills . now it is not healed by its contrary , meat , nor by simility . neither doth famine accuse or declare a defect of bloud being taken away . for then dysenteries and phlebotomy or bloud-letting should necessarily make us hungry : but in famine there is a devastation of the nutriment , and that of the stomack it selfe , not by the intense peptick quality , but by the vigour of the digestible , esurine and depascent ferment . for as often as the ferment of the stomack is well disposed , not having an object whereon to work and sate its appetite , it consumes the proper aliment of the stomack . famine therefore supersedes from raging and hath his quietus est , by meat ; not as it 's contrary to the ferment , nor that it is like to the same : but because it is an appropriate remedy . the like is in the healing of all diseases whatsoever , namely , there is required an adaequation of the remedy to the indisposition of the archeus , and taking away the occasional cause . which appropriate conveniency of the remedy or the dose , presupposes a proportion as well in the degree , as quantity , as also adaptation and application , with a specifick adaequation of conformity . thus farre also it includes an indication and cognition of the end : the habitude and exigency of our faculties and the accord of them with the remedy , in which again the dose is supposed . for so remedies would not only respond to the parity of objects , but also to the determinations of the ferments . others there are again who think to make medicine out of the chymists ternary of new principles , sal , sulphur and mercury ; and thereby think themselves natures zanies and imitators . to this do many of this age subscribe : but it is to be wished that they did know otherwise , and might come to learn that digestion of nature never tends to those three principles , and that we never are nourished by them : but with one onely and the same congenerous or consimilar liquor , whereby we consist and have our individuum entirely preserved . many things by their first bullition depone their pristine vertues . for so asarum of a vomitive evades into a diuretick : and for the most part the unisone and specifick propriety of a thing is destroyed , by running division into those three principles . for although they will keep some of the crasis of the concrete : yet notwitstanding they are new created things , brought to passe by fire . for to speak severely and truly , the common chymistry of this day , is not productio rei nova , but an alteration or transmutation by an exotick motor . happy sure was he constellated , who knew how to take away diseases both safely and readily on the shoulders of crude simples . for it is the primitive method of healing noted in scripture . that the highest had created medicine out of the earth . truly , as the spagyrick art draws forth & invigorates many things with a degree of a greater and higher energy , inasmuch as it excites a new ens : so on the other side again it doth debilitate many things by a privie and insensible suffuration . it 's a bold attempt to accuse nature of sluggishnesse , dulnesse and imperfection , whosoever supposes she can perfect nothing without pyrergy . let the semination of things bear testification to this . for in vegetable productions there are somethings which spring up of themselves . such is the propriety of plants , which multiply within themselves and have no sexuall distinguishments , but the power of the species contained in their individual seminalities and productions : according to the law of the creation , gen. 1. let the earth bring forth grasse , the herb yielding seed , and the tree yielding fruit , whose seed is in it selfe . which is indeed the natural way of plants : but some there are , which want sation and occatory operations . but yet their potestative inhaerencies which proximely and immediately dwell in the bosome of nature , do emit their vertues by an emanative and influential manner , nor will they willingly conforme and submit to the tyranny of fire . but those which are not immediately in the formes of the simple in its individuum , but of the heterogene parts : are very often more dilucidate in their abstracted part . for so mace , turpentine and asparagus , do delineate and describe their symbole in the pisse excreted . but the powers which do rise out of things by fire , although they may owe something to their concrete , as pledges and tokens of that family : but yet truly they are new and transplanted germinations , and commonly the vassals of another monarchy . we have alwaies greatly esteemed the destination of god in the vertues and gifts of simples : forasmuch as he hath endowed them with excellent qualifications , natural , specifick and gifted to an end , without contrariety or simility . yet in this panegyrick of simples , we do not vilifie , or detract from the due praises of pyrotechny : but well serves onely for a lecture to those , who admit nothing but those three principles , as they are pleased to opinion . but when a disease hath all ready entered the borders of life , and hath risen to some height , almost seen in the meridian of life , and is marched up to the walls of the pallace of vitality , and hath almost fatally foiled nature , then there is required higher medicines , of a more noble entelechie then those which nature produceth of her own accord ; and then the physitian will know that he needs a greater light then what galen and the schools have beaconed up unto him . and to speak freely what cannot be concealed , and will daily break out more and more , all this is to be accomplished by the exact benefit and exquisite operations of pyrotechny . concerning which we cannot but ingeniously confesse that it now begins to be looked into ; great capacities that are constellated to be something more then ordinary , being wearied out of the old fruitlesse unsuccessefull way . yet two sorts of people we finde are culpable of hyperbolicall deviations . one in their encomiums of chymicall preparations attributing too much we fear , more then they possesse : the other ; we know , lesse then they deserve . a degree beyond the latter goes a sort , who raile , revile and speak evill of those things they know not . for in that thing , wherein they deny the verity of the science , they manifest that they are ignorant of it . others again in a pannick fear , but more friendly , yet equally ridiculous , say , that chymick medicaments are not without empyre●ma : that they are hot , virulent , and but little used , and lesse safe . secondly , that they are basely sophisticated , and adulterated by chymists faithlesse selves , and carelesse servants . thirdly , that they are virulent medicines , powerfully poisonous , and very dangerous . that they must either cure or kill , and therefore desperate remedies : and with this face obtrude their pusillanimous and untrue notions and mola's or false conceptions on the vulgar . to the first we shall briefly say , that we believe the resentment of the powerfull vertues and exquisite operations of spagyrick remedies , is a sore temptation upon them to make many a voyage beyond the aequinoctial● line of truth , to fetch apes and peacocks ; which makes them so content to gather the stubble of falsities , to make their brick withall . it is not therefore true , that all chymicall medicines are prepared by the strongest degree of fire . for oftentimes but a gentle breath is felt , and sometimes scarce distinguishable . but to this galen himself will answer , who teaches that by a strong fire most medicines do depone all their acrimony & mordacity . and beyond all doubt , and by common experience it appears , that by this spagyrick art the fiercest medicines are tamed , and by it medicines that are otherwise poisonous , their deletory parts being taken away , are transmuted into cardiacall . moreover though the essences of vegetables and aromaticks are hot : yet their volatile salts ( which few have seen ) are temperate , so that if thou knowest to transmute oile of cynnamon , cloves , lavender , &c. into a volatile salt , you have then attained a temperate medicine , effecting as much as can be hoped for from those simples , in an old vertigo , palpitation , apoplexie , and the like . as for example . if oile of cynnamon , &c. be mingled with his alkaal salt , and progressing by a most artificial and occult circulation for three moneths without any water , till the whole be changed into a volatile salt , you have then a real temperate medicine of a great value ; and then it will truly translate the essence of its simple into us , and bear it into our first constitutive principles . verily the admirable powers of most excellent things cry aloud to heaven , as if they had come in vain ; when there is scarce any man can emancipate them from their fetters , and loosen their bonds , and free them into a jubilee of liberty to act , and pay that benevolence which they owe unto mortalls . and to conclude this objection the contrivers may be compared to the fox , that despised the grapes for their sourenesse , when in truth they hung too high for him , and so were out of his reach . to the second , that they are sophisticated and adulterated , we reply , that we have to do with things and not words : we have to do with medicines , and not with things nothing related to an expert artist ; with their right preparations , not sophisticated or carelesse preparation . shall the abuse of a thing take away the use ? and to come nearer to themselves , what greater cosenage and sophistication is there in their magnified cardiacall stone of bezoar ? will they therefore not use it at all ? we confesse we cannot but acknowledge that there is much basenesse and fraud used in the common chymistry of the shops . for it is certain that fraud is the adjunct , and is alwaies connected to gain , and so to the adulteration of medicines . but how this does square to the opprobrie of chymists and their remedies , we leave to the decision of impartial and ingenious heads . it is no great thing to deceive the ignorant in things which themselves professe to be unskilful in . yea , those gentle things which their demure modesties dare close with , as their essentiall oyles , which are sold for a deer price , are all and every one of them adulterated : if nine parts of oyle of almonds be mixed to one part of the essentiall oyle , the experiment is easily made . for cast it into a spoonfull or more of aqua-vitae , and whatsoever swims a top , is of the essentiall oyle ; but the rest amygdaline . and this more safely and clearly may be made manifest , if you experiment it in balneo . oyle of sulphur is halfe rain water : but the acid water of vitriol , wholly a cheat . which with a simple examination in balneo will presently appear , that scarce the sixth part is pure . and thus many more medicines which are gotten into familiar acquaintance now with galenical physitians , and are commonly used and prescribed , may in time when the spagyrick art shall come to be refined and sublimed , appear very ridiculous and worthy their blushes , being such as they will be ashamed to own . this then may serve to wipe away that dirt which they have endeavoured to cast on the lovely face of chymistry , and conclude this objection , desiring them to take notice that dogs bark not at the spots , but light of the moon . to the 3d. that they are virulent medicines , powerfully poisonous , as appears by the smal dose or quantity given : that they either kill or cure , therefore desperate remedies , we reply , that these things proceed from their ignorance in this art , and the presumption and audaciousnesse of some knaves , who use only most vehement things , and prepared with a preposterous operation . but this doth verify that adage , that knowledge hath no other enemy but the ignorant ; which is manifest by this , that these corrosives and manifest poisons , by art may become sweeter then sugar . moreover their own septicall and escharoticall medicines , their ●lammula , crowfoot , smallage , &c. do lay down their vesicatory quality by distillation , as any vitriol vegetable as juice of citrons its acidity , and water pepper its acrimony . nor doth it avail any thing to say that chymick medicines are administred in a small dose . for that doth not accuse its virulency , but declares its high entelechie of acting ; and that they are more familiar and friendly to nature . besides it is more familiar to those physitians that are called galenical , who follow the old doctrine and way to use those strong medicines , which the chymists bring seldome into use , at least they better prepare them . and which is a thing very observeable , in the common and allowed way of physick at this day , the sink and scumme of the world , the very draff of men and women ; all of all sorts , humours , professions and sect ; any knave , whore , baud , old woman ; or any that have the impudence dares boldly rush into the galenecall way of physick , without controul : dare play with and dandle the lives of men and women in their hands : and unto so high a pitch of impudence have they flown , that they dare build their nests in the colledges turrets , and use their highest medicines ▪ and plead prescription , custome and present practise of the most eminent physitians : which yet they dare not sore , nor so much as hover about the air where chymick preparations breath : it being too high a region and the tenth sphere above their wild astronomy . and in a word we verily beleeve , and have some reasons for it , that some rash unadvised ignorant pretender hath been too busie in tampering with chymick medicines , and like the fly about the flame of the candle , have burnt their fingers , and so like the beggar , that because the sieve deceived him , would not trust his dish with his drink any more , they inveigh against the powerfullest and surest remedies of nature . thus have we at last digested our thoughts , and drawn our hints , and the impetus of our inolinations to a period ; wherein if our weak performances afford no satisfaction unto others , i hope our well meaning , attempts and essaies will be adjudged laudable , & shall not bring any condemnation upon our selves : si non laudatur , tamen excusatur . swarmes there are of many other things , in which we could enlarge , if we were willing , and thought it worthy our pens taking notice and runne over the whole rabble ; errors so obvious as needs no candle , that cannot deceive a mean capacity , nor needs not the collyrium of albertus , nor no argus to descry them : some of the chief of which our industry may collect , and in the futurities of our performances ampliate and dilucidate : but othe● again , and especially now , we shall not disparage our reader so much as to mention them ; much more we shall forbear the enquirie into , and dispute of them , least we should have no defence lest us from seeming to challenge him of most impossible ignorance , and our selfe of as palpable pride and presumption . it hath somewhat whet our thoughts to consider what fabrick others have already rear'd : for some that have gone before us , have been diligent in the exploration not only of vulgar errors ( as our own country man doctor brown : ) but medical ones ; as the teutonick jacobus primrosius , and the belgick helmont ; but the most of other writers have dealt with us either like part of gideons men , or as a dog touches nilus . but least this our impresse should be suspected of novelty by those who smell ranke of antiquity , and as for such who list themselves under , and follow authority , which to stronger heads testimony is but a weak kinde of proofe , and onely accommodate to junior indoctrinations , it being but a topicall probation , and an argument in logick rightly termed inartificiall , and doth not solidly fetch the truth by multiplicity of authors , nor argue a thing false by the paucity that hold so ; yet we will say thus much , if they be such who list not to be malicious , but will be so ingenious as to do so much right to their own understandings to take notice , may finde , or hear related to them , that the thoughts of wisest heads , and hearts no lesse reverend for devotion , have tended this way , and contributed their lot in some good measure towards this which hath been urged for : who have loudly sighed and groaned ( and we do but now make them articulate ) for the errors , abuses , supinities , and deplorable cruelties , nor couched , but embodyed in the stupendous bulk of the medicall art ; with the desires and pressures for a speedy and thorow reformation ; and also that these advisoes which we here bring have bin favoured , and by some of those affirmed , who in their time were able to carry what they delivered , had they urged it , through all christendome , or to have left it such a credit with all good men , as they who could not boldly use it , would have fear'd to censure it . but the ocular testimonies of our present times , in the unsuccessefullnesse in this medicall profession will clearly evince against all the clamours , though of the generall part of the whole nation : and seeing it savours of p●dan●ery ; and withall we have scattering here and there in our progresse nominated some ; and knowing that if all the testimonies in the world were brought , yet these things would not be redressed , and this would be no way capable of reducing the precipitancy and obstinacy of the vulgar , we omit to declare them . henceforth then let them who condemne the assertion of this book for new and preposterous , be sorry , lest while they think to be of the graver sort , and take on them to be doctors , they prove but cymballs , and expose themselves rather to be pledg'd up and down by men who intimately know them , to the discovery and contempt of their ignorance and presumption . having now attended that which was comprised in our thoughts , with a diligence not drousie , we shall now come to our prayer and desires , and fix we hope with some advantage ; and by a short view backward gather up the ground , and summe up the strength we have into one main body , with that organick force , that the premisses considered proffers us . henceforth therefore let it be considered nay rather let it no longer be considered ( for in re t●m justa non est deliberandum : ) seeing the longer we travel from the first point or beginning of error , we shall in futuritie i fear come to the largest latitude or distance from the aequator of truth , and be so totally orewhelmed and lost in its dissemination , unto discomposure into error it selfe . what shall we do then ? the schools in a cold spasme of scruple , continue ignorant of the causes , ignorant of the remedies , and wavering twixt negligence and uncertainty suspend all farther enquiry , snoring in the lethargy of their idlenesse like drones in the hive of their pedantick brother-hoods ; contracted by the opium of a warme fellowship and their present revenues whereupon they now surfeit , whereby they are at hercules pillars , and thereby have choaked abundance of active industries , and soules more towardly and capable are kept out . shall we therefore sit still , and expect that those in whose hands the keyes of the temple of knowledge is should quietly resigne them up , or new mould it themselves , or some fine chance should do it to our hands ? no , but let us wait early and late at the door of authority , and move them again and again for an assistance to this undertaking , to scatter those mists and clouds of vapours that have infested , eclipsed and orewhelmed the horizon of learning ; that its old hoarie and despised head may be raised up again by that arme that hath upheld and stoutly maintained our liberties , worthy of praises that shall outlive time . it s our sober utinam therefore and we would obtain , that there may be a thorough and early plowing up the fallow ground of the universities , that she may be laboriously rummig'd in her stupendous bulk of blinde learning , and her rubbish cast out , and no longer be a quagmire of pittiful learned idlenes , to serve for no nobler end then to nurture a few raw striplings , come out of some miserable countrie school , with a few shreds of latine , and to maintain the frothy lectures and mutterings over a few stolne impertinencies & wrackt disputations of industrious scoldings and bawlings of a few yongster pedanticks , whose teeth are as long as their beards , and understandings as wier-drawn as their strutting bodies , who understand that which they professe as little as any thing else , & know asmuch of what they coldly deliver and mumble over , as their pupills , or as coriats horse his masters greek and perhaps no more , though in harder words , then the postulated principles of nature , born with us , and what they had heard their mothers talk by the fire-side at home in a chimney-corner lecture , in a language no finer spun then their russet-grey . that a fair prospect may be taken of the whole landscap of physick , both in the dry ground of it , the vain speculative part or theory , overgrown with thornes and brambles ; and as large in the moorish and fennish part of it , the practick ; that those parts of it which have not been justly measured , nor indeed scarce yet discovered , as the terra incognita of chymistric , which in the known smal spot and portion of it , and habitable part , lies uncultivated and unmanured , may be all taken in , not into particular inclosures , but levelled into the open common of experience and reall truth , may be adjoyned to the large field and continent of knowledge , and have nature in her largest latitude for its m●ridian . that they may make of this ill-favoured medusa with her tresses full of adders , in a barren wildernesse , a fair damosel . that we may be acquainted with more rationall wayes of healing : and that it may be brought to those few rules and sure as afore . that there may be a luxuriant farming of experiments , a review of the old experiments and traditions , which have gul'd so many junior beliefs , and serve for nothing but to make and fill the world with impudent and detestable quacks . also that the body of physick may be studded and embossed ( not as jewels and pendants to hang in her ear ) with new acquests and experiences . that they may take care and be intent to find out medicine that shall be grand and universal arcana's magnalia dei , that shall be so homogene , essentiall and specifick to the centre of diseases , where they first take up quarters , where the immediate cause lodges , where the nest is , the fountain and original of all vital faculties and actions whatsoever , that shall conserve , preserve , plant and build up the life , in that fountain of life , no lesse the author of death and diseases , as of health . surely medicine is not a naked word , the very word is not idle here : a meer word without a sense , much lesse a fallacious word , signifying contrary to what it pretends ; but faithfully signifies healing , not by the chance-medly of fortune , accident and natures work ; nor by contrariety or simility . therefore that such medicines may be found out and prepared as are specifick , and such sure cards , that they may never leave them , ●ut play their parts so surely , as they may bring glory to god , honour to themselves , and good to their patients . for it is not enough , nor is there any such thing , as to chalk out the way , and say to a medicine , go thou to such a vein , or to this or that place : but a physitian should be so ably and generally qualified , that his medicine may be sure to eradicate the dise●se , and respect the proper archeus of nature , and the intricate semanalities or roots of the diseases & not the racemations or products . and it should be the whole study of the physitian to finde out remedies , with which all diseases secundum loca and secundum genera ( that is of that which he hath to deal with ) may be of one value , and the same price : and not to direct his study and intentions to things that come afterwards , or the alterations in the archeus , or symptomes concomitant . for in diseases all things depend upon an occasionall cause inoculated in the feild of life because diseases have not in themselves an essentiall radicity of permanencie and stability , as other entities have , which abide and subsist in their seminalities . and finally to conclude , that our reason like solomon● vertuous woman may set all her maidens at work , about this laudable attempt and designe , and not to make some step● but go thorough stitch to the journeys end , that our knowledge may thrive by exercise , as well as our limbes and complexions , that so although we cannot attain unto perfection , yet that we may come to those things most probable . we fear to be more elaborate in such a perspicuity as this lest we should seem not to informe , but to upbraid the dulnesse of an age ; this only , and not the want of more to say , is the limit of our discourse . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28142-e7950 * mit hridate and treacle . a discourse upon sr walter rawleigh's great cordial by n. le febure ... ; rendred into english by peter belon ... discours sur le grand cordial de sr walter rawleigh. english le fèvre, nicaise, 1610-1669. 1664 approx. 114 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 63 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2006-06 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a49991 wing l928 estc r8971 12328778 ocm 12328778 59604 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a49991) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 59604) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 189:16) a discourse upon sr walter rawleigh's great cordial by n. le febure ... ; rendred into english by peter belon ... discours sur le grand cordial de sr walter rawleigh. english le fèvre, nicaise, 1610-1669. raleigh, walter, sir, 1552?-1618. confectio raleghana. belon, p. (peter) [14], 110 p. printed by j.f. for octavian pulleyn, junior ..., london : 1664. translation of: discours sur le grand cordial de sr walter rawleigh, which was not published in french until 1665. errata: p. [13]. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng materia medica -early works to 1800. medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions. wounds and injuries -treatment -early works to 1800. 2005-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-03 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2006-03 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a discourse upon sr rawleigh's great cordial ; by n. le febvre , royal professor in chymistry and apothecary in ordinary to his maiesty's most honourable houshold . rendred into english by peter belon , student in chymistry . london , printed by j. f. for octavian pulleyn junior , and are to be sold at the sign of the bible in s. paul's church-yard near the little north door . 1664. to the king's most excellent majesty . sir , i have elaborated , according to your majesty's order , the preparation of sr rawleigh's great cordial , with so much circumspection and with such exact and serious meditation on all that enters in the composition of this precious remedy , that i thought it my duty to present to your majesty what i have gathered out of most particular in this my labour , and to give accordingly the reasons , which prove the great advantages that the modern pharmacie carrieth legitimately above the ancient , by reason that it is enlightned with the glorious lights of chymistry . and indeed , sir , that onely is capable to separate exactly the pure from the impure , to preserve the virtue of whatsoever it works upon , without any loss of its volatil parts , and to draw out of the very centre of the most fix'd things 〈◊〉 nature hath therein implanted most essential and most specifick . your majesty knoweth so well this difference , and reasoneth so justly on all the productions of nature and art ▪ that one may say with a real and sincere truth , that you unfold with an incomparable neatness of judgment the profoundest questions of the naturalists and chymists , in the royal laboratory , with as much facility as your majesty untangles in all your counsels the intrigues of the most refined policy . i shall continue , sir , to work as i have done with the same zeal and the same activity , that i may contribute what is of my art and study , to effect those sublime and royal intentions which your majesty hath for the common good of your subjects , whom your royal bounty desires should be eased and delivered from their diseases and evils . wherefore i do present and dedicate to your majesty with humility and all submissive respects the discourse which i have made on this great cordial , and humbly beseech your majesty to protect it , since it was brought forth under your majesty's shelter and command , being now , as i will be all the rest of my life , inviolably , sir , your majesty's most dutiful , most humble and most faithful servant , n. le febvre . alterations , with some mistakes in printing . page 8. l. 17. reade , at the latter end of . l. 20. r. balsamick . pag. 12. l. 12. r. which is formed . p. 15. l. 11. dele , as . l. 13. r. and which . p. 17. l. ult . r. preparation thereof . p. 24. l. 15. r. virtuous . p. 39. l. 7. dele them . l. 15. r. ●peritive . p. 42. l. 21. r. this cordial . p. 43. l. 11. r. mellaginous . p. 59. l. 23. r. transpiration . p. 61. l. 3. r. petrification . p. 97. l. 12. r. this great . imprimatur . joh . hall , r. p. d. episc . lond. à sacr. domest . apr. 23. 1664. a discourse upon sr rawleigh's great cordial . many praises have been given in all ages not onely to the remedies worthy of the closets of kings and princes , but to those also that have been capable of indifferent use to all persons which compose the civil society . we have examples thereof both in the treatises of the ancient and modern physick , as also in history ; where we observe , that those which have been the most recommended in this art , and that had a science more distinct then others , have endeavour'd with all their possibility to give the publick those good remedies which they had attain'd to by practice and experience . thus the great mithridates , king of pontus and bithynia , hath consecrated his name to posterity by that excellent opiate which bears it . theriaca puts us incessantly in mind of andromachus who is the author of it . and the celebrated andrew matthiolus hath made himself famous by his antidote , which all germany admires . raymondus lully , basil valentine , paracelsus , arnoldus de villa nova , quercetan , zwelferus , and many others , which i omit , have rendred themselves illustrious by panacea's , elixirs , tinctures , magisteries and essences : so that it seems as if the old and new physick , as well as both the pharmacies , had been in emulation to out-doe one another , to make appear to their off-spring those knowledges and lights which they have attained to , by the seeking and anatomy that each of those delicate and worthy professions had made of the preparation of natural things , and of the virtue they conceal and hide in their interiour parts , as in a central point , whose exteriour ( to speak properly ) is but the circumference , of no other use but as a place of abode , its bark or shell , which hides and covers from us the wonders that this celestial and luminous point contains : for , as the great paracelsus says , domus est semper mortua , sed eam inhabitants vivit . of all those that have made themselves worthily famous amongst the moderns , by gathering together that which nature furnishes of best and most useful to man for his health , i find none more worthy of praise then this illustrious knight , sir walter rawleigh : because that he hath not onely made choice of what is most precious and full of virtue in the three families of animals , vegetables and minerals ; but hath also made appear so much art and so much experience , for the preparation of this great and admirable cordial which doth immortalize him , that i have thought i should give to his honour and glory those elogies which he hath more then deserved , by the noble labour and beautiful study that hath made him attain to the sublime knowledge he had of all he hath inserted in this incomparable remedy . and whereas the king did command me to apply my self wholly to its preparation in the beginning of the last year's spring : i thought i ow'd to the learned curiosity of this great monarch , the meditations and notes which my study and the work have made me do , with all the necessary reflexions to the clearing and to the recommendation of a medicine so useful to the publick good of the people of his kingdoms . and because that order and method do establish and make those things one undertakes to discourse of to be the better known , and that confusion on the contrary is the ruine of it ; we therefore must give also to this discourse the essential parts , which will discover the most evidently , and the most clearly we can possibly , all that this wonderful cordial hath of excellency . first , by the choice or election of the materials that compound it . secondly , by the most studied and most exquisite preparation of this composition above all those which ever did precede it . which will also shew how much art helps nature . in the third place , we will make appear by proofs and reasons , that this remedy is absolutely proper and useful to the nations bordering on the seas , by reason of the scurvy which torments them very frequently . in the fourth place , the excellency of this remedy appears , in that it is not onely proper and specifick to drive away the venom that causes the already-produced diseases ; but also especially because it is sufficient to maintain that beautiful and admirable harmony that causes health , since it is capable to correct and remedy all the faults of indigestions and ill fermentations which are made in the stomach , that are in us the causes , the spring and the beginning of the worst diseases . and we shall conclude this discourse with the exposition of the dose , the time and method of using it with benefit : for all the world knows , that the abuse and the excess of the best things do commonly produce the most perillous and surprising effects . we have said heretofore that sir rawleigh's great cordial contain'd in it self the choice and epitome of what is of greatest excellencie amongst all the simple cordials , which the three natural families of animals , vegetables and minerals furnish us with ; of which we must make the deduction and the representation to the eyes of the reader 's understanding , to insinuate more and more into them , that this admirable genius could make a most worthy choice of the matters which compose his remedy , which do possess every one in particular a great deal of spirit and volatil sulphureous salt in their centre , from whence do result all those rare effects that it daily produces as much towards the healthful as towards the sick . now we shall begin the description of all these things by the order of nobleness and excellency of those that have possess'd the animal life ; we shall continue by those that have had the vegetable life ; and we shall end by the last , that have enjoyed but a more obscure and imperfect life , which is the mineral life . the hart's horn enters into our noble cordial , and that for many reasons : for there are but few animals that can equal the hart for length of life , since he lives whole ages . this animal is most swift , which betokens a fine harmony and a good disposition of the inward and outward parts , which furnish sufficient vigour , and by consequence spirits , to hold out to the length of the course , that serves for delight and divertisement to the greatest monarchs . but is there any thing that proves so well the abundance of spirits and salt which reside in this beast , as the shedding and re-production of its horns ? which it lays down at the beginning of winter , by reason the aliments of which it did live had no longer in them that balsamie spirit and salt , which serves for oil to the lamp of the radical moisture , and that maintains the natural heat : but as soon as the spring furnishes the hart with the first blade of the herbs and the buds of the trees , he draws from the middle life of those things a renewed being , so efficacious and powerful , that it re-produceth in him a most extraordinary heat and chearfulness , which causeth him to lay down his useless arms , to produce new ones , which are all living and juicy , and which at last digest and harden themselves , to furnish us in its proper time a horn replenish'd with a great abundance of volatil salt. the thing remarkable in the choice of this horn for its excellency is , that it must be taken from an animal of a middle age , and that has been chaced , because the course heats the animal , and makes it to drive all its vigour and spirits from the centre to the circumference , which is remarked by the weight and closing of the parts . the true time to take the hart's horn for physical use is between the fifteenth of august and the twentieth of september . the general virtues of the hart's horn are , to resist the corruption and putrefaction of the humours which constitute humane bodies , and their malignancy ; to provoke sweat , to strengthen and augment the natural balsam of life : which gives us to understand that it is with a great deal of judgment that our author hath given it place in his great cordial . the second thing which comes from an animal , and makes one of the best parts of this remedy , is the stone of the oriental bezoar , an animal that partakes of the hart and the goat . the best is found in persia and the east-indies ; although that which comes from america is not to be slighted , if the dose be augmented . it is a stony concretion , which forms and engenders it self by the property of the volatil saline portion which is in the plants of which these animals live , and which coagulates it self in their second ventricle , where it augments it self yearly bed upon bed and shell upon shell , by the magnetick attraction that the first kernel makes of what is analogical to its substance in the half-digested aliment which is in the stomach of that beast ; as is seen and proved by the straws and the remainder of chewed herbs which are found in the centre of the true oriental and occidental bezoar , which without doubt hath been the first occasional cause of the concretion of the stone . now the indians and persians say that this animal lives particularly of a plant which hath of it self a great deal of virtue . but as this stone is a true natural magistery which comes from the animal and vegetable substances , which unite together by the digestion in the animal's second ventricle ; so must we believe that the bezoar-stone contains more eminently the virtue from them produced . the principal are to strengthen , to provoke sweat , to combat poisons , the plague , and malignant fevers : it remedies the faintness of the heart and its palpitation ; it kills the worms ; 't is good against the epilepsie , against the jaundise , the stone , the dysentery , the retention of the menstrua , and finally it facilitates and accelerates child-birth . so that we conclude that it is one of the principal pillars of our incomparable cordial . musk is the third thing that the animal furnishes to our cordial , which digests and bakes it self in an abscess , which forms it self , and makes eruption about the navil of a beast like unto a goat , which is found in many kingdoms of the east-indies , and specially in those of cathay and pegu. it is to be observed that nature doth not work about this precious drug but when the animal is in his heat and rutting-time : so that this eruption being made by an effect of natural heat , and by an effervescency of the mass of bloud and of the spirits , which are driven towards the emunctories destinated to them , their heat makes attraction and causes pain , which causes this animal to rub his belly against the stones and against the bodies of trees , to open the impostume , and make the matter issue out , which the sun doth throughly concoct , and digest that which in fine produces to us the parent and soul of all the most excellent and most agreeable perfumes . which is a thing most worthy the speculation of a naturalist and a chymical artist ; since that this change of a corrupted matter into a substance of a sweet favour , and of great efficacy inwardly and outwardly , teacheth art to follow nature's tracks for the bettering and correcting of things . but we shall speak more fully of this when we shall reason of the beauty of the perfection of our sovereign remedy . we shall here content our selves to relate in general the virtues of musk , which have oblig'd our author to give it place in his composition . it heats gently , it dries , attenuates , and dissipates what there is of gross and malignant in the body ; it is cordial , alexitery and cephalick ; it is specifick against all the affections of the heart , and specially against the palpitations : it maintains , recreates and restores the animal and vital spirits : it excites to love , and re-furnisheth the natural heat : it recreates the senses , and strengthens memory ; which shews that it is most worthy of our great cordial . the counsel and approbation of sir kenelm digby , and sir alexander fraiser his majesty's chief physician , hath made us adde to the number of the ingredients of this remedy , the flesh , the heart , and the liver of vipers , though the first prescription doth not mention them . but this reptil is replenished with so many rare virtues , and possesses a volatil salt so much an enemy to poisons which attach the heart and the brains , that it is with most just reason that it has been added . the viper is a kind of serpent , the most venomous of all , which heats and irritates it self easily , so that in a moment or the twinkling of an eye it drives from the vesicle or bladder of its gall to the gums a poison so spirituous and so subtil , by an almost imperceptible chanel , when it is angry : which insinuates and communicates it self so suddenly to our spirits and to the natural heat , that it as suddenly stupifies the part that has been bit ; which communicates it self immediately to the heart , and from thence to the brain , by the means of the circulation . but if this venom is astonishing and surprising , the remedy which is had from the same animal is as it were divine and miraculous , which doth not onely combat its proper poison , but beats off and enervates the strength and efficacy of all the other venoms that both the families of vegetables and minerals do furnish , provided it be well prepared , and administred in time and place . we must give notice by the bye that vipers glide and thrust themselves between stones , and in holes of the earth , yearly in the end of autumn , whenas their pasture fails them , there to abide till the beginning of the spring ; and that then they are stupid and languishing , by reason of the thickness and hardness of their skin : but as soon as they have relished and digested the blades of herbs , and the sun and air have furnished them with heat and aliment , they slide and rub themselves against rugged places to strip off their old skin ; which is no sooner off but that this animal is presently possest with the pride thereof , for it crawls nimbler then before , and signifies by its gaiety , by the quickness of its motions and by the beautious colours of its new skin , that it is really renew'd , and that the remedy which it yields may also produce in us renewing principles and faculties . the general and principal virtues which the viper possesses are , to combat strongly the venoms , and above all that of the plague , and of all the malignant and venomous diseases ; it is good against leprosie and the venereal disease ; against consumptions and the hectick fever , and finally against the scurvy , by reason that the volatil salt of this animal drives out powerfully the malignant serosities which infect the mass of the bloud , and which are the cause and maintenance of this popular disease , which makes such strange wastes in all the maritime countries , and especially in england : so that it is lawfully placed in this cordial . we are now come to the pearls , which constitute another part of this great cordial , and that augment really its rare qualities . we shall mention in this place nothing but their origine , their choice , and their virtue ; to speak of them more exactly when we shall reason upon the preparation . pearls are nothing else but the concretion into a stone of the purest substance of the muscilaginous slime that the oyster , or fish that inhabits two shells , which he hath appropriated and formed for his abode and for his conservation , ingenders . now this animal draws to himself for his maintenance the purest part of the sea-water , which contains the embryonated salt , which is the balsam of nature , and as it were the principle of all generations , which is found impregnated and replenish'd with the light of the sun and of the stars , which is communicated to it by means of the air. it seems also as if this poor fish had drain'd himself of the purest portion of his life and natural balsam , when he has ingendred several pearls , since that this precious jewel is found but in the rugged and unequal shells , whose inward fish is languishing and flabby by reason that he is deprived of that sweet sulphureous milk , and of that volatil , insipid and inodorous salt , which make together the coagulation of that beautiful object of luxury and curiosity ; but which is much more considerable for its fine physical properties , which it incloses in it self . since that both the ancients and moderns acknowledge pearls for one of the noblest cordials , which is capable of freeing the natural balsam from oppression , to re-establish the dissipated and abated strength , to rejoyce the spirits , augment courage , resist poisons , the plague and the corruption of the humors , and finally to wipe out and abolish the evil characters both of the fix'd and running gout ; by reason that they kill , by the sweetness of their milk and sulphur , the ill impressions of the sharp , pontick and saline serosities , which prick and irritate the membranous and nervous parts that serve for sensibility and motion , which they perform by the resolution of their bodies , communicating then that virtue which sweetens and wipes out the acid sharpness that did cause those diseases : which thing they also efficaciously produce in rheumatisms and the scurvy . it is this defective and dead-seeming power and efficacy that paracelsus speaks of in the sixth book of his archidoxes . we have thought fit to put the amber-griece next to the pearls , both because it comes from the sea , and that we can place it neither in the classis of animals , nor in that of vegetables , no more then in that of minerals , because it seems as it were a roving individual , which cannot be lawfully comprised in either of these three categories . for amber-griece is nothing else but the most precious of bitumens , that come from the bottom of the sea , where , according to some , it is liquid ; but hardens , digests and concocts it self both by the coagulative facultie of the maritime salt , and by the action of the heat of the sun , which resolves into vapours what there is in it of most subtil , and that works and concludes the reduction of the amber-griece to that condition it is found in on the surface of the sea-water in the east-indies , and sometimes also in america . it is with a great deal of knowledge and light that our author hath inserted this noble bitumen in his great cordial , since it is one of its principal ingredients : and that its virtues are to heat , to dry up , and resolve ; to strengthen the heart and the brains ; to recall , re-establish and augment the vital and animal spirits , by the sweet and pleasant exhalation of its volatil and sulphureous salt , which communicates , joyns , and unites it self mildly and immediately to our nature , and that penetrates into the very last digestions by the organs of respiration , and by those of the circulation of the bloud and spirits : it is the true comforter of the viscera , and is very useful to facilitate generation , since it is capable to correct those defects which happen by that subject both in male and female , because it heats , strengthens and rejoyces the one , and that it dries the moistures and ordinary superfluities of the other , when it is well and duly prepared , and administred with an exact knowledge . let us come to the parts of the vegetables , which help to the fabrick and virtue of our great cordial , and begin with the roots , which we shall name in particular : and we shall not speak of their virtues but in general , except there be some remarkable thing worthy reflexion which will oblige us to regard it , to render by that means this remedy and its author the more recommendable to those at present living , and to posterity hereafter . we have ten roots that enter this composition ; which are the angelica , the round birth-wort , the fraxinella or white dittany , the carline , the contra-yerva , the gentian , the serpentary of virginia , the tormentil , the valerian , and the zedoary . one may boldly say that these few roots contain what there can be of virtue in almost all the others , and especially in what concerns the cordial virtue and the counter-poison : for they all together and every one in particular tend to the author's aim by their efficacy , for they are bezoardic and cordial in the highest degree , because they abound in spirit , in salt and in sulphur , which are volatil and piercing , as their smells and bitterness witness . they provoke sweat , they are vulneraries , they open the obstructions of the womb , cause the dead child to issue out , and appease its irritations and suffocations ; they are good against all poisons , and admirable against all malignant diseases , and especially against the plague ; they are excellent against the bitings of mad dogs , and kill universally all sorts of worms , that ill nourishment or want of digestion may breed in us . above all we may admire the strength and virtue of three roots which have been added to this remedy , which are the carline , the contra-yerva , and the serpentary of virginia , according to the sense and approbation of two excellent persons here above mentioned . for the carline is a real gift from heaven against the plague and malignant diseases : it serves also as a philtre and loadstone to attract the strength of those that suck in the air , which is fill'd with the odour and vitious atoms which those that have eaten some of it breath forth . the contra-yerva is not less considerable , since it beareth this spanish name which signifies counter-poison : but for the excellency of its virtues and of the wonderful effects it doth produce , monardes a portuguez physician says to its commendation , that it is not onely useful to drive away all manner of poisons , ( corrosive sublimate onely excepted ) and hinder their malignity , but moreover that this root is able to unbind and root up the charm and tie of the amorous philtre . we cannot well specifie the virtue of the serpentary of virginia , because it has not as yet been written , and that experiments have not been made of all its faculties : it sufficeth that its odour and taste do sufficiently manifest its virtues , besides those which have been found by those that have put it in practice , or them that have learn'd it viva voce from the inhabitants of the american islands , amongst whom it is in great request against poisons and fevers ; but especially against the bitings of venomous and malignant serpents , in which these islands abound . the time for gathering the roots we have here is in the beginning of the spring , when they are as it were big with the idea of all the plant , which they then contain , with all its principal virtues ; it sufficeth then to know them by a little bud proceeding from the earth . the second classis of the plants which make part of this remedy are six in number ; namely , the betony , the carduus benedictus , the dittany of creet , the marjoram , the mints , and the water-germander . all these plants are chosen for this cordial with an exquisite judgment , for there is not one of them but hath some specifick virtue , besides what they possess of cordial and alexitery in common with the others . for the betony is vulnerary , and particularly dedicated to the wounds of the head , although it be hepatick , as also splenetick and hysterick , because it opens obstructions , and drives out by urines what is gross and impure . the surname of holy or blessed that has been given to the carduus that enters in this remedy witnesses enough how much it is recommendable amongst the physicians and with the vulgar , and chiefly in germany , where the common people imploy it with very great success against most part of those diseases which assault them , taking it in powder in warm wine , which provokes very much sweat and urine . but i find that the english people do use it also very efficaciously in those drinks which they call possets . in fine , its bitterness doth witness the abundance of its essential salt when as yet it is juicy , and the quantity of its volatil salt when it is grown up , and that this plant is between its flowers and seed ; for it is properly from thence that it derives its cordial , sudorifick , antivenomous virtue , which is particular and specifick to it . there are but few poets and rhetoricians that have not made use of the virtues of the dittany , and of the hart's instinct in seeking it after he is wounded , by which to make some rich comparison ; for we must acknowledge that it is an admirable plant in its effects , since there is attributed to it that of attracting , and driving the strange bodies out of wounds , of being a great counter-poison , of hastning the difficult delivery in child-birth , and being a remedy against the insultations of the womb. it was not in the first receit , no more then the white dittany or fraxinella root , but these two simples have been added to it upon counsel , by reason of their specifick excellencies and proprieties . the agreeable odour of the marjoram , which pleases equally all those that smell it , clearly witnesses that our spirits attract from it some sulphur and subtil spirit which recreates them : and whereas the functions of the spirits are made by the means of the membranous and nervous organs , which have some relation and sympathy with the brain , the stomach and the womb ; it is particularly to those parts that the subtil portion of its volatil sulphureous salt is consecrated , which strengthens , unburthens and recreates them . there is no nation which cultivates the mints with greater care and that makes better use thereof then the english . for as it is subject to indigestions either by the weakness or by the over-burthening of their stomach , so have they their principal refuge to this specifick , stomachical vegetable , which they use in their broths , or possets , and their burnt-wine . therefore we shall mention nothing more to recommend it , since that its virtues and effects are sufficiently known of all . we must now say something of the scordium or germander , which is really a plant that ought to enter in a great cordial and counter-poison , therefore our author hath not omitted it . this plant is famous in all the good antidotes , and above all in that excellent remedy called diascordium fracastorii , of which the physicians of england make daily frequent use with most happy success . and we must needs confess that this good vegetable has but few that can be compared to it : for since that it keeps the dead bodies from corruption , as galen relates , with much more reason ought it to be capable of keeping those that are living which are healthy , and contribute to the cure of them when they are sick . we shall not particularize any thing of its virtues , but onely say that it is one of the principal and most excellent counter-poisons and sudorificks that the vegetable reign possesses . these above-named plants ought to be gathered in their full estate , that is to say when that they are in their flowers below , and that the top or end of the stalk begins to make an embryonated seed to appear ; for then it is that they contain all the accomplishment of their virtue : and if they were gathered before that time , they would abound in an herbal and indigested juice , which is not as yet exalted to an essential salt , somewhat volatil , and half sulphurated ; and if one should stay longer then the said time , all the virtues of the plant would abandon the stalk to re-unite and re-inclose themselves in the seed , and then it would be too concentred , and could not be so soon reduced from power to act by our natural heat . furthermore these plants must be gathered in that time which paracelsus commands , balsamico tempore , which is a little after sun-rising , and in a dry and serene day , and not after rain . the third classis is that of flowers , which are also most worthy of the cordial , and of the choice that amongst the rest its author has made of them ; for it seems as if he had pick'd out from that beautiful enamel all which did possess the principal cordial and balsamick virtue , which is the flower of borrage , and that of bugloss , the clove-july-flower , the mace , the red rose , the rosemary-flowers , the ros solis , the saffron , the marigold , and the elder-flowers . there is then first of all the flowers of borrage and bugloss , which would not seem worthy of this cordial by reason that they have no smell at all ; but whosoever shall consider more narrowly the plants that bear those flowers , will find that they abound in a nitro-tartarous juice ; which communicates to them the virtue of purifying the venal and arterial bloud , and of rooting and wiping out the melancholy and black ideas that the spirit of life had suckt from the spleen and hypochondres , so that their blew flowers recreate the sight and the heart ; which is the reason that they have been inserted by all in the number of cordial flowers . we could wish that other nations did know as well as the english the worthy virtue of the clove-july-flowers ; without doubt they would also receive the same benefit from it : for this flower is replenished with a sulphur and mercury , which are so friendly to our spirits , that they restore and re-establish the principal functions of the heart and of the brain , since that their virtue prevails against the syncopes , the weaknesses and palpitations of the heart , and remedies the giddiness and swimming of the head , the apoplexy , the falling-sickness or epilepsie , and several other defects of the nerves , and of the brains their origine . the flower of nutmeg or mace and its fruits is one of the most precious and most healthful aromaticks that the east-indies furnish us with ; and i wonder that they were forgot in this cordial , since that this nation knows and esteems them so much : nevertheless their rare virtues have obliged us to joyn them to it , by the counsel of the wisest and most experienced . for mace and nutmegs are stomachical , and they are relatively cephalic and hysterical , they drive out the wind , help digestion , correct the ill smell of the mouth , rejoyce and strengthen the child in the mother's womb , take away the swelling of the spleen , appease loosness , and remedy the faintness and palpitations of the heart . 't is all those things which render them really worthy our great cordial . we have inserted the red rose among the flowers which compose this cordial , because that our author requires the syrup of dried red roses to help to the consistence of this composition , and that with much reason , since that the virtue of the red rose cannot but very much augment its rare qualities ; for this queen of flowers recreates and strengthens the senses and the spirits , and is useful many ways against many diseases both within and without , which seem to be indifferent according to the several indications that are taken from it by the learned doctors in physick . further it is to be noted , that there is not one simple in all physick which furnishes us with a greater number of compositions for the shop , all which bear its name , for they amount to the number of thirty seven , which do not onely serve as ornaments , but may also be imployed to many different good uses . if the rose addes any thing that is good to our cordial , assuredly the rosemary-flower does not contribute little to it , since that its odour and faculties give it among the greeks the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as one should say a flower by excellency . one may sincerely say that this flower and the leaves of the plant that bears it are a balsamical epitome , since that they are most specifick remedies against the diseases of the brain and nerves that are derived from it , that they strengthen the stomach , and correct the stench of the breath , resolve and open the obstructions of the liver , the spleen , the womb , the mesentery , and of the pancreas : in fine , they are sovereign remedies against contusions , and above all to prevent the accidents that happen after some concussions of the brain ; as experience shews by the rare effects which that admirable water of the queen of hungaria produces every day , which is nothing else but spirit of wine alkoholizated , digested and distilled three or four times upon rosemary-flowers . we have put the ros solis among the flowers , although its leaves do enter also in this composition and make the best part thereof . it seems as if that pretty little plant were more beloved of the sun then many others , since that he never dries her up in his most violent heats , but on the contrary it is seen that every particle of that down which covers its leaves , and that is as it were the beams of them , is loaden with small drops of a subtil , piercing and spiritual dew ; and this during the highest rage of the dog-star , and at high noon , when all the other plants languish and faint , it tricks up it self , and grows proud with the splendour of that beautiful planet whose name it bears . and its virtues are so considerable , that many great philosophers , and amongst the rest isaac of holland , have treated of it as of a little miracle worthy the meditation of the most skilful . this plant is vulnerary , cordial and hepatick . it is believed that it is an assured specifick against the consumption of the lungs , and against the other diseases of the breast : it is a preservative against the plague , and serves also to cure it : in fine , it is , as many certifie , a planetary and magnetick plant , which produces many surprizing effects by merely wearing it about one . saffron is one of the richest and most necessary morsels of our dish ; and that is absolutely necessary to our great cordial , by reason of those admirable virtues that this flower hides in it self . for it must needs be that saffron has something above the other drugs , since that after it hath been dried by art , it seems as if it had some inward magnetick virtue , which recalls to it self the balsam of the air , which gives it again the same weight , the same vivacity of colour , and the same activity of odour ; which is a thing worthy enough consideration . it is a sovereign cordial , and esteemed to be the soul of the lungs , by whose action the virtue of this flower is carried unto the last digestions by the circulation and respiration . it appeases pains , and gently procures sleep ; it cleanses the womb , helps child-birth , and purges the woman : in fine , it is a little panacea against the plague , and against all other malignant diseases ; it is also most happily used against the jaundise . the marigold , which is a solar flower and very cordial and alexitery , was not to be forgotten . this plant seems to be a friend to almost all the seasons of the year , since there are but few months wherein she produces not her flowers ; which have the virtue of helping the lunary purgations , to cause delivery , to provoke sweat , and succour them them that are afflicted with the jaundise . there remains the elder-flower , the last that enters in our fine medicament's dispensation . it is of a subtil and penetrating virtue , as its odour testifies , which makes that it resolves and dissipates the gross matters by sweats ; it is also anodyne and apertive : and though it has many other properties inwardly and outwardly , we will be silent , because it has them in common with the other things of which we have spoken heretofore . we have no more to say of the flowers , but onely to inform of the true time of their gathering , and two words more to prove that they ought not to be dried for this cordial , although the receipt commands it . and whereas these flowers appear in divers months of the spring , summer and fall , i desire no other observation but that those that would have them good ought always to take the first , and cause them to be gathered in dry and serene weather just at sun-rising ; provided that it hath not rain'd the day before : for it is to be noted that the first production of the plant brings forth always the best-coloured and most odoriferous flowers : and , moreover , one must have a care that the sun may have had the necessary time to wipe off and digest the superfluous moisture that the rain may have furnished the earth and the plant withall , and by consequence the flower also . but whereas all these flowers are odoriferous and subtil , and that their virtue resides in a volatil sulphureous and balsamick salt , which exhalates easily by the exiccation in the shade ; as it may easily be perceived by those that come into a place in which they are inclosed ; i am of opinion , with the counsel of the wisest and best-knowing , to put these flowers in spirit of wine in a vessel close stopp'd with another , as fast as nature and the season furnishes them , since that the subtil and gross extraction of them must be made , as we shall shew more fully when we shall reason of the preparation of all that composes our cordial . the fourth classis of vegetables are the fruits , the berries , and the aromatick seeds , which are but six , namely , the cardamome , the cubebes , the kermes-berries , the juniper-berries , the cloves and the nutmeg . we shall not here repeat needlesly the virtues that these aromaticks have in common with the other parts of plants , of which we have already made the description : we shall onely say two words by the bye concerning dry'd kermes-berry , which the author causes to enter in this remedy , which is found to be all worm-eaten , insipid , inodorous ; which witnesses that it is deprived of all the virtue that is attributed to it ; therefore we have taken in its place the fresh juice of the kermes-berries as it comes from montpellier , which is also called the syrup of kermes , and which serves throughout all europe for to make up the confection alkermes , which is so renowned for its cordial virtue , which without doubt ought to yield to that of our great cordial , though the virtue of the kermes-berry helps women in labour , re-establishes the vital spirits , dissipates the ill vapours , serves to remedy the wounded nerves , and brings forth the small-pox . we are furthermore to give notice , that we have added cloves to this cordial , as one of the best foundations of its cordial , being of a stomachical and alexitery virtue ; which we have not done but with the knowledge and consent of the most renowned in the art. now since we have not the conveniency of gathering the fruits and the aromatick seeds , we must content our selves with the choice we can make of them at the drugsters that sell them ; and we cannot judge of their age and goodness but by the taste and by the smell , and sometimes also by the colour and by the weight . but as for the juniper-berries , they must be chosen black and shining , and having inwardly a malaginous viscosity , sweet in the beginning of their taste , but which degenerates afterwards into a balsamick and bitter savour . these remarks are necessary , because that these berries contain in themselves a small treacle , and are replenished with many rare virtues , which adorn our cordial , and augment its forces and operation . the fifth classis of vegetables contains the barks , of which there is but that of sassafras wood required in the receipt . we have been counselled to adde to it the cinnamon , the limon-pill , and that of oranges , by reason that there is nothing that doth so suddenly rejoyce the heart and the brains , and that more resists poisons and corruption , then these noble barks or rinds , when they are well chosen , and employ'd before they have lost that excellent smell which resides in their superficial skin , which is nothing but an oil and a volatil salt glewed together with a little moisture , in the limon and orange ; but the cinnamon has nothing but its pure aethereal spirit animated with a sulphur and a salt , that have not their like amongst all the aromaticks , by reason of their subtilty and sphear of activity , of their odour and virtue , which has with justice acquired to them the right of entring in this great cordial , since that the author himself wills that the syrup of juice of limons be added to it , to help its preservation and consistence . as for what concerns the sassafras and its bark , i am of opinion to put its wood in also , by reason that the bark furnishes not sufficiently alone ; for i have made the anatomy of this wood by distillation , and found that the wood did yield a spirituous water , and an oil far more abounding and more excellent then the bark alone , which has lost upon the sea that which it had of most subtil and best , in lieu that the rest of the virtue hath preserved , and concentred it self in the wood. the sixth classis yields us the woods of aloes , and of sassafras which we have newly mentioned : we shall have but two words to say in this place in praise of the virtues of the wood of aloes , by reason of its scarcity , since there are many hundreds of apothecaries which have never handled any , and that know it but by hear-say , and by the reading of their dispensatory . but i confess that it is more common here in london then in many other places , and that it is had here a great deal better , and better qualified , and especially at mr. box's , a drugster in cheapside , in whose shop i have always found what there is of most rare and most precious in druggistry . the arabians and the germans call it paradise-wood , by reason of its excellency . it grows in zeilan , malaca , sumatra , and through all the coast of choromandel , where the indians prize it and rate it equal with gold and silver , according to its divers degrees of goodness . this wood abounds in an oleaginous and gummy substance , which is almost of the same nature with a sort of benzamin , but much more cordial , stomachical & cephalick : for it generally strengthens all the viscera , and especially the brain ; it rejoices and re-animates the spirits of the heart , and those of the womb ; it remedies the syncopes and languishings , and has the property of killing all sorts of worms ( which engender in the body ) by the abundance of its bitter volatil salt. it is put in the cephalick powders to be applied outwardly , and in the epithemes that are applied upon the heart , and upon the pulses of the temple-arteries , and those of the arms , because that it recreates the senses by the excellency of its smell ; which is the reason that our excellent author hath put it in good quantity in his cordial , by the knowledge he had of its rare properties and admirable virtues . we have as yet two other matters to speak of which are taken from the vegetables , that enter in our remedy , and help toward its preparation ; which are sugar and the spirit of wine . the first serves as a body to receive and retain the dry things and the extractions which compose this cordial , and to preserve its virtue , as we shall say hereafter : and the second serves for that liquor that the chymists call menstruum , to extract the virtue of all the parts of the vegetables which compound it . we shall not speak of it in this place but in general terms , because that we reserve to speak of it with more advantage when we shall treat of the preparation . sugar is come to be at present one of the greatest delights of the table : and truly it is not without reason , since that this sweet salt which doth so suddenly vegetate , and that is found shut up in its time and place within a reed or cane , participates of abundance of rare proprieties : for we daily experiment , that this indian salt is capable of receiving in its self the odor , the taste and the colour of fruits , and of preserving them from one year to another , and longer , as is very well known by those that excel in the art of preserving . but if the sugar produces so rare an effect for pleasure , what doth it not doe also in the pharmacie for the useful part , whenas the apothecary cannot make any conserves , syrups , trochisks , electuaries , confections , and many other things which are most necessary for the sick , without that pleasant medium , which preserves and receives the virtue of all the species that art entrusts to its custody ? the choice is of that which is the most purified , and that retains less of the greaziness and gross viscosity which does accompany it in its origine before its preparation . therefore our author hath commanded to take the white sugar-candy , whose lucid and clear crystallization proves evidently the purity thereof . it is of an incisive , attenuating , detersive virtue ; it lenifies the harshness of the throat and of the trache-artery , gently consumes the slimes and viscosities of the stomach , cleanses the breast and the lungs , and appeases the painful insultations of the cough . these are the motives which have driven sir walter rawleigh to render this delightful salt the depository of the substance and virtue of that which makes the making up of his great cordial . the aqua-vitae , or spirit of wine , is nothing else but the spirituous and aethereal part of that charming liquor which is prest from the grapes of the vine , and that has been exalted by the means of fermentation . there have been several names given to this admirable spirit , by reason of its excellency and wonderful effects : for it has been dignified with that of most subtil and incorruptible essence ; not forgetting that of water of life , that all the world attributes to it , of spirit of wine , celestial sulphur , bezoardical vegetable sulphur , the celestial menstruum , heavenly water , the heaven of raymondus lully , the key of the philosophers , an aethereal body compounded of fire and water , universal balsam or liquor , the life of the great vegetable , and different other nominations , which sufficiently prove , with those we have already named , that this spirit is the fittest liquor of all those which are either natural or artificial , that is capable of extracting the virtues of that which enters in this cordial , without any loss of their seminal faculties , and without leaving behind in the substance of the vegetable things which compound it any remnant of their middle life's virtue ; as we shall prove it with more energie when we shall treat of its preparation . we shall content our selves for the present to make known that its virtues have oblig'd our author to make use of it to that purpose . all those that know this spirit well , say that it has a most piercing virtue , but that it is not quite so hot as the vulgar imagines , since that it resolves the hottest tumors , and appeases the pains of burning . it s incorruptible nature renders it recommendable , both because it preserves it self , and that it preserves also all other animate or inanimate beings : for it resists rottenness , corruption , and the simple alteration , since that it preserves also the tenderest and moistest fruits from that disunion that is next and infallible to them . it hinders the coagulation of the bloud in sprains , and contusions , if it be suddenly appli'd , and resolves with ease that which was already coagulated , if its application has been too long retarded . it dissipates and volatilizes that which is most gross , hardest , which is called schirrous , and that which is most running and material , without borrowing of any other assistance then its proper virtue . so that we may lawfully conclude , that the spirit of wine is a mere epitome of what there is of most excellent and virtuous in all the vegetable reign : and that it is for that same reason that our excellent author hath made use of it for the extractions of this great and rare remedy . having ended the description of the vegetables , we must also give that of the minerals that enter in this celebrated remedy , which are five , namely , the oriental bole , the coral , the unicornu minerale , the gold , and the sealed earth . there are some descriptions of this cordial in which gold doth not enter : but that description which is lawfully attributed to our author contains a preparation of gold ; which is the reason we would not omit it , since that what we shall say concerning this noble metall will make appear that it ought absolutely to enter in this composition . we have also added to it the mineral unicorn , for those reasons that we shall produce hereafter when we shall mention it . and because that there is found such a numerous difference of species of sealed earth , we have thought fit to associate some oriental bole , well chosen , to that earth which will have been found to be the best , to the end that the virtue of the one should rather be augmented , then fail in any of the points of the exact proportion that the one and the other may contribute to our great cordial . the oriental bole , or the bole of armenia , is a kind of pale reddish earth , impregnated with mineral , solar and martial vapours , from whence are derived to it its principal· faculties and its most excellent operations , by reason of the nobility of the embryonated sulphur which this earth contains . the best is that which doth not participate of sand , but that melts down easily like quick lime when water is cast on it , or that resolves and melts like to a fat substance when it is once moistned in the mouth . it dries much , it is astringent , it strengthens ; therefore it is happily used to stop a flux of what nature soever it be , to thicken and fix the liquid and fluid humours , to resist corruption , and to beat back the strengths and attaches of poison . all that has been said of it is the reason why it is employ'd so usefully against the diarrhoea , against the dysentery , the immoderate flux of women , catarrhs , the spitting of bloud , and against the flux of bloud both of the nostrils and wounds . and whereas the sealed earth is but a sort of bole , reduced into little pellets or small cakes , which are marked with some figure or character ; that which is had in the island of lemnos , which we have by the commerce of constantinople , of a reddish or grayish colour , is chosen to be the best . the reddish is named by some the fat or greace of the sun , or gold , by reason of the portion of the embryonate solar sulphur of which it participates : and the grayish is named the fat or greace of the moon , or silver , because of the embryonate lunary sulphur which communicates its virtue to it . the first is consecrated to the heart , and the second to the liver and brains . besides all the virtues that they have in common with the oriental bole , they have over and above that of being truly cordial , of driving out poisons , to resolve the curded bloud , strengthen the heart , the brains and the ventricle , dilate and clarifie the mass of bloud , and to provoke sweat. insomuch that its principal uses are against the plague , against malignant fevers , against the biting of venomous animals , and to take away the venomous impression of wounds : which proves invincibly that it is not one of the smallest pieces of this great cordial . we shall not idlely spend our time here in relating the frivolous opinions of those that have thought , or yet believe , that coral is soft in the bottom of the sea , since that we are most certain of the contrary , by the relation of those that dive for it . the coral therefore is nothing else but a stony vegetation which degenerates into a tree . the most excellent is the red , although there be some white , and some black , and also of other colours , as may be seen in the closets of the curious . one must chuse that which is of the deepest colour , esteemed to be the male , as the white is called the female . the virtues of coral are , to drie , to cool , it is astringent , to strengthen , especially the heart , and then the ventricle and the liver ; it purifies the bloud ; it is by consequence excellent and specifick against the plague , against poisons , and against all sorts of malignant fevers : it rejoices man , it stops and appeases all fluxes either of the belly , the womb , or of the other parts which are dedicated for generation . it is reported also that if ten grains of it be given in woman's milk to a child newly born , that it is a precaution against the epilepsie and convulsion . there are many naturalists , and amongst the rest paracelsus , that say that the red coral hung about the neck prevails against frights , against witchcraft , inchantments , poisons , the epilepsie , melancholy , the insultations and attaches of daemons , and against thunder . it is for certain in the red coral that a solar tincture is to be found , since that all the rare effects that it produces cannot be had else-where but from that sulphur mineral and embryonated , which the gold communicates to it in abundance ; which renders it most worthy to be in our great remedy , and causes those brave lights which our author did possess to be the more remarked . gold is without contradiction the most desirable and the most precious portion of metalls , which are the fruits of the mineral predestination . it is doubtless the most perfect of those children of the earth . it is most solid , yellow , compact and close in it self , and is compounded with principles that are digested in the most sovereign degree , and which are by consequence fix'd and permanent , as its incorruptibility proves . the chymists give it the name of the sun , because that they believe it hath some correspondency and harmonical relation not onely with the celestial sun of the great world , but also by reason that it has a sympathetical affinity with the sun of the little world , which is the heart of man. they call it also the king of metalls , because it is their prince , as that which is the most pure and most fix , as also that which possesses the most eminent and most necessary virtues , since that it is wholly dedicated to the heart , which is the king of the noblest functions of life . for gold is held for the most sovereign cordial , because it re-establishes and augments the radical moisture and the natural heat , which have their principal seat in the heart : which is the reason that it may be given with success in all diseases in which the spirits are dissipated and the strength weakned . it purifies also the mass of the bloud , since that it dissipates and drives out by sensible and insensible inspiration that which there was of naught and corrupted in that which is called the humours , and which are , to speak properly , nothing else but those things which result from the diversity of the alterations of the bloud , that tends by this ill disposition to corruption and rottenness , and by consequence to the destruction of the subject which it nourishes and vivifies . but this noble metall must be so prepared and decorporated , that it may doe the emanation of the rays of the virtue of its central sulphur , as we shall reason upon it , when we shall discourse of the preparation . the last we are to treat of is the unicornu minerale , otherwise called white load-stone , and some would have it to be the unicorn's horn. but we must speak but merely of its generation and virtues , in no wise medling with that diversity of opinions that the most eminent authors have had concerning this subject . for the most skilfull and best knowing have thought it fit that this mineral production should be added to the great cordial , though it was not inserted in the first descriptions , notwithstanding those wonderful properties it is endow'd with render it most worthy . this wonderful mineral drug is nothing else but the concretion or petrifaction of a fluid milky substance , which contains in it self the congealing and lapidifying ferment , which slides and insinuates it self in the cavities of the womb of the earth , where it invests it self with the figure , odour , colour and consistence , according to the nature of the things that it finds there : as it is proved by the collections that the most curious observers of nature have made of it ; as also by the experience of its rare virtues , which are equal with those of the oriental bole , and those of the sealed earth , since the grandees are agreed that it resists poisons , the plague and malignant fevers , insomuch that a physician of this age did make the pouder of this mixt pass for a specifick against all fevers , and got repute in the city of paris by several rare effects . we shall speak no more of it , to prevent tedious repetitions , and so pass from the description of all the ingredients of our remedy , to what we have promised to say concerning its general and particular preparation . if we have had hitherto just cause to praise sir walter rawleigh for having caus'd so many good things , and which possess so many virtues , to enter into his cordial ; we must nevertheless confess , that we have far more reason to augment his elogies , by reason of the science and experience which he hath shewn in the preparation and perfecting of this grand remedy . but considering that it is composed of things which are of different natures , and that are more or less fix or volatil , it has been necessary to work with a great deal of art , and with a most exact reflexion upon all that composes this remedy , to preserve that which ought to be of good in the most subtil , and withall to extract the essential virtue which was concentred in the grossest . now we have said heretofore that there were three classes in this composition , which contain the animal , the vegetable , and the mineral : we must also now make appear those reasons which have oblig'd our celebrated author to prepare them in that manner ; to which we shall adde also the meditations and thoughts that we have had on this subject , for the better preserving the volatil , and to open the most fix ; that the union of the virtue of the productions of these three families should be made with all the exactness therein required , according to his majesty's command , and the intentions of those illustrious persons which we have formerly named . whereas no intire animals do enter into our cordial , therefore we shall not speak here but of the parts of those animals which contribute to this brave and sovereign composition . we shall treat therefore of the preparation of harts-horns , of that of vipers , of that of musk and pearls , and , in fine , of that of amber-griece . we shall not say any thing concerning the bezoar-stone , since we have already said that it is a magisterium perfected in the ventricle of that animal which produces it ; and that besides this stone has no need of any other preparation then to be reduced into an impalpable pouder , for this operation . now whereas the receipt of this remedy requires harts-horn burn'd or calcin'd to whiteness ; we cannot wonder enough at this way of proceeding , since that those of the least capacity know that the calcination carrieth away the volatil salt from the calcined body , and that by consequence it strips it from all its cordial virtue , which cannot be contain'd but in this sulphureous and volatil salt : for the most skilful naturalists , and the most experienced of all artists , who have grown old in the meditation , and in the labour to make the anatomy of natural things , thereby to know the better the virtue , say all with one voice , that the soul and virtue of all these sublunary mixts resides properly and perfectly in what they contain of volatil salt , and that it is particularly and chiefly in the animals that this is found ; since the proof of it is clearly evident in their distillations , which furnish a great abundance of spirit , oil and volatil salt , and which leave behind nothing in the bottom of the retort , after the last action of fire , but that which may be called legitimately a mere caput mortuum , or dead earth ; since that this calcined body contains nothing that participates of the saline nature , which is the foundation and the centre of all the powers and virtues , by reason that all salt is nothing but a close spirit , as also all spirit but an open'd salt. for all the seminal powers and all the chiefest virtues of animals , and of their parts , proceeds from light as from the father , from the air as from the medium , and from the salt as from the son , and all three together concur to the generation of the products of nature . we have advanced all this onely to make it appear the better , that it is needless ( if not without reason ) that all the ancient dogmatists , and sir walter rawleigh after them , have introduced the burn'd harts-horn in almost all cordials . now what we have newly said makes appear that the cordial virtue is no longer there , and therefore cannot be imploy'd in them but as an astringent earth , and a spongeous body , rarefi'd and drie ; the better to retain and preserve the volatil , spirituous , sulphureous and saline matters , which are extracted out of other ingredients . it may be also objected , that the calcined harts-horn is not incapable of virtue , since it can alter the ill fermentations of the stomach , cure the diarrhoea's , and also stay the bloudy-fluxes : but she produces these effects onely by reason that she kills and mortifies the sharpness and acidities which proceed from the indigestions and base fermentations , in the same manner that she quells the acidity of saline and vitriolick spirits and that of vinegar , when they have been digested together , and drawn off again by distillation , as insipid as water , by reason that this rarefi'd , dry and spongeous body is deprived of all saltness , and desire of re-furnishing it self with that salt which did make the acidity in those liquors . it is therefore for this onely reason that it has been put in the composition of this cordial . but since that the volatil salt of harts-horn is alexitery and cordial , and that it most powerfully contributes to the rare virtues of this cordial , we have also added to it some harts-horn philosophically calcined , in the vapours of the digestions , extractions , distillations and circulations of spirit of wine , which serves for menstruum to extract the virtue of the parts of the vegetables which compose it ; in which place this horn softens it self by little and little , swells and dilates , by the moist and spirituous subtility which penetrates it , and renders it friable and capable of being put in pouder with ease , with the preservation of its cordial virtue . but whereas there are some that think that the greatest part of the volatil salt is gone out of it , and has communicated it self to the spirit of wine , which is very likely , it has been thought necessary to adde to it the pouder of harts-horn rasp'd without any other preparation , that the volatil salt , which is the true counterpoison and the true cordial , should not be wanting . not but that one might adde to it the volatil salt of harts-horn drawn by distillation : but it was not put in by reason of its empyreumatick and most ungrateful taste . the author of our great cordial , and those that after him have work'd in the composition of this remedy , have almost always added the prepared pearls to this cordial , and also sometimes they have open'd and dissolved the bodies of the pearls by means of fixed acides , as distilled vinegar , juice of limons , spirit of sulphur , and that of vitriol ; and did pretend to have reduced by these means the pearls into a salt , or into a dissoluble magistery , which were more capable of making their virtue appear . but all those liquors that are endow'd with a fixed acidity , do intimately joyn themselves unto the bodies of the dissolved pearls , and their salt remains , which augments the weight of the dissolved body by a fourth part and better : which thing makes it appear that it is not a true cordial magistery . therefore we have thought fit to proceed in another manner , which is to dissolve the pearls with a menstruum , which may be drawn off again with the same taste and the same dissolving virtue that it had before . and whereas this spirit leaves behind it its odour and taste in the magistery of pearls , it must be dissolved again in equal parts of cinnamon and rose-water , which must be drawn off again in mary's bath : and thus reiterate the same with new waters , until the magistery have lost the smell and taste of the volatil spirit of venus , which is that admirable menstruum , onely capable of furnishing to physick , dissoluble , pleasant and subtil magisteries , capable of penetrating unto the very last digestions , and carrying along with them the virtue of those cordials to which they are associated . and it is in this manner that we have prepared the pearls for the composition of this great cordial . we have no other observation touching the vipers , but onely that they must be stript of their skins , and put to drie with the hearts and livers in a glass bottom in mary's bath , until they be fit to be poudered . we say they must be thus used , because that this kind of drying takes little or nothing of their volatil salt from them , and that in case there were any thing exhaled from them , the chymical apothecary may retrive it in the water which drops from the head that covers the body . but when the vipers are dried in an oven , there scarce remains any virtue in the flesh , which remains tough like hemp , and almost insipid ; whereas that which has been dried in mary's bath is easily put in pouder , and has a taste which declares that its salt is still in it . part of it is put with the vegetables to be extracted , and there is some of it added also to the pouders , to give a body , and augment the virtue of the remedy , as we have already mentioned in the discourse concerning harts-horn . the musk now remains , which ought to be put in pouder with some white sugar-candy in a marble mortar , the better to disunite its parts ; and afterwards open it by digestion and circulation in a vaporous bath with spirit of wine in a pelican : then the spirit must be drawn off again with a most gentle heat of the same bath , unto the consistency of a thick syrup , or half extract , which after must be mixed with the other things . as concerning amber-griece , it must also be pouder'd in a stone-mortar with some white sugar-candy , and that so long till there be as it were a perfect union of those two substances , which are not without great trouble allied together without a good uniting medium , by reason that sugar is a vegetable salt which can be dissolved and inseparably joyn'd with water , which thing cannot be done with amber-griece , because it is a fat and melting bitumen , which has more connexion and analogie with oils . now this medium can be nothing else but the subtil and fiery oil of rectified wine , and thrice passed over most pure salt of tartar in mary's bath . therefore this mixture of sugar and amber-griece must be put in a glass bottle , and pour over it of this noble menstruum until it over-tops it the breadth of four fingers : then close the vessel , and place it in the vaporous bath until all be united by dissolution : then it must be filtrated through cotton into a glass vial ; and as soon as it is cooled , those three bodies united together make a butter or cream which is most delicious and pleasing , which unites it self to all sorts of liquors , and which of it self is already a great cordial . and thus the amber-griece must be prepared for our operation . all the sorts of vegetables which enter in this cordial are almost of the same nature , since they are almost all endow'd with some pleasant and aromatick smell , which together with their bitter and piercing taste prove that they participate of a good quantity of sulphureous volatil salt : therefore we must have recourse unto some menstruum which may be of power to extract this salt , and disunite the mucilaginous , balsamick and resinous juice , which retains and preserves the virtue of the different parts of the plants even after their exsiccation . this menstruum can be nothing else then aqua-vitae or spirit of wine , which burthens it self most easily with the essential tinctures of vegetables . therefore all this different gathering must be put into a gross pouder , if the materials are drie ; or if green , cut them very small with a pair of shears , and cast it all in a great vessel of glass with a narrow mouth , and pour upon it for the first time some spirit of wine very well rectifi'd , that it may load it self with the chief virtue and with the proper balsamick tincture of the ingredient . it must be digested in mary's bath , in a moderate heat , during two natural days . then it must be strained and prest cold , and the residue of the expression be put in the glass-vessel again : then the spirit of wine must be extracted from the tinctures in the vaporous bath , until it have acquired the consistence of an extract somewhat liquid . then pour upon the expression the spirit which has been drawn off , so digest and extract as before ; and thus continue till the species afford no more tincture . then the rest must be boiled in a good quantity of water in a still , and distill it , that in case there were some remnant of volatil virtue , it might be received in the receiver . and when the distilled water comes forth without smell and taste , cease the fire , for it is a sign that there is nothing left but what is fix , which concentres it self in the decoction left behind in the still . this decoction must be strained and pressed warm , then evaporate the decoction in a brass pan upon an open fire to the consistence of an extract somewhat liquid , and it will be found filled with a salted bitterness , which shews that the water has dissolved and extracted by the violence of the ebullition all the fixed salt which was in the vegetables . which thing hath appeared to be very true in this operation : for whereas our celebrated author requires but the extraction with spirit of wine , he doth also desire that the rest should be calcined , and the fix salt extracted out of it to be joyned to the extract , that he might have the whole virtue of those things which he imploys in his remedy . but if he had known the vegetables very well , and understood also that the sulphur being once separated by the spirit of wine , there were nothing left that could hinder the dissolution of the fix salt by means of the water , he had most assuredly acted in the same manner we have done : for after the exsiccation and calcination of the remainders , we have made a lye of the ashes , and there was not a scruple of salt remaining , which is twenty grains out of all that great heap of vegetables , because that it was all passed into the extract with the water . this gross extract being finished , it must be mixed with the first , and put them both together in a body or a great bottle , and pour over them to the height of twelve inches of that spirit which served in the extraction , and digest and circulate them together in the gentle heat of the vaporous bath during four and twenty hours , then filtre the liquor , and put the lees into the vessel again ; and thus continue to digest , circulate , extract and filtrate , until the rest of the extract communicate nor give any more colour to the menstruum . after this all the filtrated tincture must be put in a body , and draw off the spirit from it in mary's bath , in a very mild heat , so that the head do not heat , and this for two reasons . the first is , that the spirit that mounts is thereby the more subtil ; and the other , that the same spirit should not carry away with it self by means of a more vigorous heat the best part of the sulphur and volatil salt of the extract , which is kept down by virtue of the fix salt , which has joyned and united it self with them by means of digestion and circulation with the menstruum , which has been the uniting means of it . this extract made after this manner is the basis or foundation of our cordial , and it containeth radically the essence of all the vegetables which have been imployed to make it . we want nothing more now but to make a necessary remark upon the preparation and extraction of the wood of aloes and aromaticks , which abound in a volatil salt , oleaginous , sulphureous , balsamick and resinous ; which cannot be extracted out of bodies of this nature , but by the means of a pure and subtil spirit , such as that which has been drawn off from the course extracts : for this spirit will dissolve by its subtil and penetrating faculty the rosins of this said wood and aromatick . so that to perform it well , there needs but to proceed simply on , in the same manner as has been done before , in the digestion and filtration of the last extract . there is nothing left then unspoken but a caution which must be given concerning the mixture of this resinous extract with the sugar , the extracts , the pouders and the syrups ; which must be performed by dissolving it gently with some of its proper spirit in a pan , and thus unite it gently with some syrup before it be joyned to the rest , otherwise it would remain in lumps , and would not dissolve in the stomach with ease enough to communicate the rays of its virtue , as it is necessary it should be , citò , tutò , & jucundè , when it is necessary to cause a counter-poison or cordial to operate . we have but the third classis of our materials , which are the minerals , upon which we have to treat of the order and dignity of their preparation ; which are the bole , the coral , the gold , & the sealed earth . but we shall speak here but of the bole and of the sealed earth , which go hand in hand in their preparations , which are done both the same way . then we shall speak also of gold , the principal subject , which will make appear how much art helps nature . for we shall say nothing of the coral's preparation , because that we should to that effect hint on that we have already said in the classis of animals or of their parts , when we have discours'd of pearls and of their preparations . we shall not mention any thing in this place concerning the nature of these earths , since we have treated of it heretofore : we shall onely say ; that there must be had some of the first liquid extraction of those vegetables which enter in our great cordial , and with it water these two earths in a glass body , till they be reduced into a liquid pap , then draw off again this liquor by distillation with the gentle heat of a vaporous bath , and thus continue for seven times , or rather till the artist can find out by the taste of these earths that they are sufficiently impregnated with the savour and virtue of the sulphureous volatil salt of the cordial plants : and then it is time to leave off , drying what is in the vessel in the same degree of heat , till there appeareth no more moisture in the head of the lembick , nor a drop of liquor pass through the neck of the lembick . these earths thus impregnated must afterwards be put in a glass vial , which must be stopped very well , to enter them afterwards in our composition . this operation is to separate and open the compact and close parts of those earths , and to imbibe and replenish with an alexitery virtue the atomes which constitute them , that they may the sooner be reduced from power to act by the action of the stomach , when it is necessary to make use of the remedies . before we begin to speak of the preparation of gold , it seems to be necessary to speak two words before-hand , to give to understand that this metall may be so well opened by the means of chymistry , as to be capable of producing some virtue in us , although it might be reduced again to its first metallick body : for there are many which are of opinion , that though this fix body be dissolved and altered by preparation , nevertheless it is reducible into its body , and by consequence not capable to produce in us that virtue which the ancients and moderns do attribute to it . but we must clear this business by the demonstration of the dissolution of other metalls into salt , or rather into vitriol , as silver , copper , tin , lead and iron , which nevertheless are most commonly capable of being reduced again into metall : which hinders not but that the most skilful physicians make of it daily more and more , by reason that their study and experience makes them discover those rare virtues which these open'd metalls produce in chronical diseases , which are the most rooted and stubborn . now all these metallick vitriols have different tastes and colours , as also they have all some specifick virtues , as it appears by their effects . which obliges us to say , that since gold , though of a fix nature , can be so prepared and opened by the means of certain things which are daily used both as aliments and medicaments , and that it can be reduc'd into a vitriolick salt , which hath its colour and its specifick taste and virtue ; why should it be deprived of being put in use , because of its reducibility into metall ? not but that we believe , with the wisest , that if this noble metall was once so opened and radically dissolved , in such wise that it could never be reduced into metall again by any chymical artifice , i say , we should believe that gold thus uncorporified and volatilized would acquire a far more ample sphere of activity and virtue : but notwithstanding all this , we do not omit to attribute to the other preparation that virtue which has been known by redoubled experiences , first having been well and duly prepared , and moreover first imbu'd , impregnated and fill'd with the internal and central sulphur of antimony , which is had in the true tincture of the glass of that mineral , extracted according to basilius valentinus . and it is of this preparation of gold which we have disposed in one part of this great cordial , to render it accomplish'd in all respects . we shall now lay down some of those remarks which are necessary to this operation , which may very well pass for one of the most pleasant and most considerable of all the rare chymical pharmacie . the artist therefore must chuse the purest gold , which yet ought to have in it something of allay ; and therefore he must pass it or melt it down with antimony , whose sulphur consumes all which is heterogeneal to it , as its great sweetness , ductibility , high colour and splendour does evidently testifie , after it has passed this examination . but he must not stop there ; for this metallick body is too fix and compact , to be dissolved without the help of the most corroding spirits , which we will not use . he must therefore open and separate that strong union of this body , and reduce it into a spongeous and penetrable body , whose atomes may be penetrated and dissolved by means of common water , enriched or endowed with ordinary salts : which cannot be done but by the amalgaming with crude mercury , and reiterated calcination with the common sulphur , which dilate the gold , and render it so spongeous and open'd , that one ounce of this metall so prepared makes a greater quantity then half a pound of gold in an ingot or wedge . gold being brought to this pass , must be dissolved with that amiable and familiar dissolvent , by a simple digestion , and a light ebullition towards the end , in a glass body in sand ; and there will not remain a grain undissolved . the liquor must be filtrated : and if any be desirous to make a fine crocus of gold , or a pouder of gold impalpable and subtil , let them take one part of this filtrated liquor , and precipitate it with volatil spirit of wine , and the liquor that was yellow will change it self into a green colour , and the gold will precipitate it self to the bottom of the vessel , into a brown pouder , which must be edulcorated by several reiterated lotions , until it become insipid , and afterwards it must be digested by three natural days in tartarized spirit of wine in a gentle heat of mary's bath , and lastly it must be kept during three days in rose & cinnamon-water , then filtrate and drie it . this pouder thus prepared is a great sudorifick and cordial : but what we are going to mention is far better . the remainder of the filtrated liquor , which contains the dissolved gold , must be evaporated in a glass vessel of a flat and large form , until all the salts be very drie ; then they must be put in pouder and thrown in a glass circulatory ; then pour over them to the height of four fingers of tartarized alkohol of wine , place the vessel in a heat of bath , and this spirit will attract to it self all the dissolution of the gold , and invest it self with a gilded yellow very pleasant : which must be separated from the salts by inclination or filtration ; and pour upon them some new spirit , and digest , extract and filtrate so often that the menstruum be no more tinctured . then must all the liquors be mixed together , and draw off the superfluous spirit in mary's bath , in a most gentle heat , and there will remain in the bottom of the vessel a yellow tincture of a high colour , imbu'd with the vitriolick salt of the gold , as its crabbed and bitter taste doth witness clearly . and i durst say that those who have made use of this rare remedy , have always seen and taken notice of its most surprising effects : for sometimes this noble medicament purgeth by stools , sometimes by vomits , and sometimes it doth neither , but powerfully provokes urines and sweats ; and most commonly it acts by no sensible operation at all : but its virtue must be taken notice of in augmenting the strength of the sick , and thus natura corroborata est omnium morborum medicatrix . those that understand the fixedness of gold will wonder , it may be , at the dissolving of this metall in common water , and with corporal salts : but they are far more wonderfully surprised , that the spirit of wine , which in no wise acts upon the salts , doth nevertheless attract to it self all that gold which they had dissolved , and which render it capable of being mixed with the drinks , and all the poor sick person 's other remedies , in whose bodie it penetrates and insinuates it self to the extremities , thereby to correct what might be there of hurtful , and by that means re-establish health . and if this simple preparation produces such rare effects , what may not be expected from those noble and high operations which volatilize gold in such a manner , that it is impossible to bring it to a body again ? but this being beside our present subject , we shall mention it no farther . but we cannot conclude without giving notice , that it is with little benefit that in several places gold in leaf is used in confections and in cordial powders , without any foregoing preparation , which augments rather their price then their virtue : except some would say that there are found in the stomach such strange fermentations and alterations , that they produce liquors that are capable of acting upon this metall in leaf , and reduce it from power to act . but that is too far forth , and we want proofs of these pretended effects . we believe that what we have newly said justifies in some manner our author , or those that have added gold well prepared to this noble remedy of which we treat . and all that we have said concerning the preparation both of the animal , vegetable and mineral , doth evidently shew how much alt is capable of helping nature , since there are things in these three reigns , which constitute her , which cannot communicate their virtue , nor make the irradiation of their inward powers , if they have not first been opened by the keys of chymical operations , with the preservation of their seeds and power , and especially in what concerns the minerals and metalls . let us now come to our third proof , which is to shew that this great cordial is absolutely necessary to the maritime and northerly nations , and especially to the inhabitants of islands , which we must establish by reasoning in general , and by demonstration in particular . what we have to say in general is , that the sea-bordering and northerly countries , and , above all , islands , are exposed to an inconstancy of winds , which agitate the air in so many different manners , that it is impossible for the heat of the sun to act with all the reach of its power , for the production of vegetables in general , which is the allotted aliment for animals both rational and irrational : which is prov'd in that those countries produce no grapes ripe enough to make wine withall , which is the juice that participates most of a volatil sulphureous spirit . this is proved also , by reason that the climate is not capable of giving time necessary for the ripening of the best fruits , and specially those which ought to have some high relish , some kind of perfume and exquisite smell , which are nothing else but the results and true tokens of the exaltation of the salt and sulphur , and of the perfect ripening of those fruits , that do languish in those cold countries , and that are replenished but with a superfluous and excremental moisture , which cannot be dissipated , much less digested , by reason of the weakness and little durance of the heat of the day , and by reason also chiefly of the coldness , moistness and freshness of the night . now if we have demonstrated that the vegetables cannot be perfect , by reason of the imperfection of their volatil salt and embryonated sulphur ; we may also say the same of the brutes , which are ingendred in the compass of those regions , and which are nourished and entertained with those vegetables that grow there : for although those animals be fat and tender , yet do they not contain a nourishing juice , having the taste and virtue to nourish and maintain , as those of the more easterly countries ; therefore their flesh is more flabby , more viscous , and fuller of moisture , it is sooner corrupted , by reason that it is not furnished sufficiently with this balm of life , which is that volatil sulphureous salt , proceeding from light and heat , which could not be concentred in them , by reason of the situation of their native soil . there are also to be considered in general the qualities of most part of those waters which water those countries , and which serve for nourishment to the plants and animals : for whereas they are not enlightned and purified by a lively light of the sun , and by a serenity of the heavens , by reason of the almost continual opposition of the vapours arising from the freshness and moisture both of the territory and seas that compass it round , they also are not furnished with that subtilizing , igneous , celestial and vital spirit , which is the radical balsam of nature in general , and of every individual in particular ; which is the reason that they are more crazie and weightier , and replenished with a dull and hurtful salt , since they are not deprived of the bad impressions and evil ferments which the indigestion , alteration , and the corruption of those matters which are daily consumed have printed in them , and of which they cannot be deprived but by a competent degree of heat . now if the water is ill qualified , there is no doubt but that the air is also less pure then else-where , since that as it is the medium between the seat and the purifying heat proceeding from heaven , it is also fill'd in reference to the climes , with so many gross and indigested vapours , that this heat hath not power enough to dissipate and rectifie , during the fairest day , those sluggish , gross and viscous vapours which are furnished by the cloudier days , as also by the night , which hinder that brave and excellent action of heat , which is absolutely necessary to produce the goodness and purity in beings . this preceding reason causeth this natural conclusion , that the inhabitants of the countries which are northerly and bordering upon the seas must needs be subject to many diseases popular and particular to their climat , which are scarcely known by the people of other regions , and by the physicians that govern them . for since that they breath in an intemperate air , and fill'd with the gross and humid atoms of the vapours ; that they drink indigested waters , that are heavy , and fill'd with a salt that is dull and ill-fermented ; that they eat vegetables and animals , which already partake in themselves of the defects of these general springs ; it also implies of necessity that they must partake of those bad productions which result thereof , according to more or less of the ill impression made in them , both in the moment of their birth , and in the course of their life . therefore it is absolutely necessary to make use of something that may be able to combat all those evils which we have newly mentioned , both to preserve the health of those that enjoy it , and to correct and re-establish the health of those which do but linger and languish under these inconveniences . which causes us to say , that the great cordial is wholly necessary for the northerly and sea-bordering people , and specially for the inhabitants of islands , by reason that all its ingredients are filled with a concentred light , which can remedy all their evils . but after this general reasoning , we must come to a particular demonstration , which we shall apply by examples , with the same order in which we have spoken in general . in the first place , as concerning the air and the winds that reign with a perpetual inconstancy , all those that live in those countries know too well by their own experience , that the fogs and the humid vapours of the morning , as also those in the evening , which the french call the sereine , do so alter the head and breast , that one can scarcely be cautious enough , in whatsoever season it be , to prevent defluxions and rheums , catarrhs , troublesome coughs and colds , which commonly draw after them rheumatisms , wandering pains , asthma's , the lungs disease and the consumption . now all this proceeds onely from the defect of digestion , which takes its beginning from a hurtful superfluity which is mix'd with the air ; which men take in and breath out continually , there being never a part of the body of man , be it never so close and obscure , but what is replenish'd with the air we take in , be it good or bad . and to this purpose one of the greatest philosophers of this age hath most learnedly said , est in aere occultus vita cibus , when it is well purified , and abounding in a balsamick , subtil and during salt , which comes to it from light : but when it is troubled to receive it , and that it is fill'd on the contrary with an indigestive , gross and malignant salt , it then can be nothing else but a principle of diseases , and , in consequence , of death , if its defects are not corrected in the stomach , which is the seat where the first digestion is performed . and it is from the defect of this first fermentation that all the others are derived , which alter and corrupt the mass of bloud , whence flow out , as from their spring , the scurvy , the rickets , the king's-evil , and all other diseases which are of this kind of nature . this renders also the people the sooner subject to the venomous impressions of the pox and its consequences , and hinders them also from being so easily cured of the venereal plague as those men that are more easterly . this is evidently proved by the experience of those which cross the seas on purpose to breath another air , and receive thereby that comfort which they hope from it , and that they are sensible of . now let us come to the water which draws from the earth a certain slime that is subtil , dull and viscous , which contains in it an heterogeneal salt , which alters the property of the volatil and acid salts : not that this is found equally every where ; but there is notwithstanding every where some defect of digestion , by the defect of heat , and by too much moisture . let us adde to this , that the vegetables participate of these evils ; for all that they furnish us for kitchin-use and for physick hath neither the taste nor smell that the herbs of other hotter climes have , which is noted specially in those which ought to abound in a volatil sulphureous salt ; which manifests it self by the taste and smell , since we have found by our proper experience , that they do not yield in distillation such a quantity of oil and spirit as do those of warmer countries . notice must be taken also , that the meat by which they live is not furnish'd with salt and spirits to be capable of nourishing in so little quantity as it doth else-where , where it is firmer and closer : which is most evidently proved by those that make broths , strong broths and jellies , for they find that of necessity there is required a double quantity of flesh to give the same strength and taste to that which is destinated for the pleasure of the palate , or to sustain the weakness of the sick . this is also palpably found in the juice of roasted meats , for it is not animated , neither with the smell , taste nor colour of the meats of the same nature that are in hot countries , where the juice of the roasted meats bears its salt along with it , as its taste doth witness . now as those people take notice of the defects of the aliments and those indigestions that follow them , they arm themselves against them by the common use of spices and aromatick herbs , which they continue and augment by an unavoidable necessity . all that has been hitherto spoken doth clearly make appear , that sir walter rawleigh hath endeavoured to deserve well from the inhabitants of his native soil , since he hath given the receipt of a remedy that is capable to remedy all the defects which may cause in the stomach of his country-men the indigestions of their aliments and their natural constitution , which participates also of the general defect . for the remedy which he has given to the publick is not onely able to prevent the evil impressions which may be contracted during the time of health ; but it is also powerful enough to seek out the evil to the very centre of the bloud and spirits , in which life doth reside , and from whence they derive , as from their proper source , both health and sickness . there doth it kill , by its alexitery and cordial virtue , the venome which caused the disease , and there it blots out ( if i may say so ) the false idea and evil character of which the archeus , principal director of the functions of life , was impregnated , and as it were bound up withall . for this noble remedy doth make its presence to be felt as soon as it is in the bottom of the stomach , where at first sight it strengthens the natural heat , that reduces it from power to act ; so that it makes and drives the irradiation of its power and virtue all over , it strengthens the spirits , and disingages them from the bonds of the matter , and causes them to act with more liberty . and thus nature finding her self strengthned and eas'd , she drives out by the emunctories that which annoy'd her , sometimes by sweats and by urines , and sometimes also by an insensible and mild transpiration . there is no wondering at the sudden operation of this cordial ; for considering that it is composed but of things which are essencified , it cannot chuse but produce sudden effects , by reason of the subtil & quick penetration of the salts and spirits which compose it , which are all of them friends to our nature : which causes us to conclude , that it is not onely healing , but also preserving , and a maintainer of present health , as well as it is able to restore that which is already altered . we have nothing else to speak of now but of the proper and convenient time in which our great cordial ought to be fitly administred , to receive thereof the succour which it is able to give , and that is hoped for from it : as also of the dose , proportion of weight and quantity of this noble remedy , be it taken simply , for the entertaining and preservation of health , or that it be used for the recovery and restauration of the same health when it is out of order , and that its fine and pleasing harmony is troubled and hindred ; which is none of the least considerable parts of this discourse . for it often happens , & almost always , through the fault of an accustomed popular errour , that most persons take upon them to administer remedies without sufficiency of skill to know the conveniency of time , the fit dose , and least of all the necessary disposition that is required to the subject that is to receive the benefit of it . which causes many abuses , and that the remedy is blamed sometimes , though the fault proceeds but from the want of a good and legitimate appropriation : as is most learnedly observed by our great paracelsus , in the preface to the tenth book of his archidoxes . to prevent all these disorders , it is not sufficient onely that the remedies be well and duly prepared , but it is also necessary for those that would reap benefit by them , to know how they should be administred ; which belongs onely to the true physician , who knows not onely the sphere of the activity of the remedy and of its ingredients , but besides this examines the disposition of the subject , in health or sick , who is to receive it , and makes those lawful and necessary reflexions which are to be done upon the time and dose , according to the age , sex , temper , native place , and upon all the other circumstances , which ought to make him conclude the application or suspension of the exhibition of the remedy . therefore to find some medium that may help to the want of skill of the one , and to the presumption of the others , we must give some general notes , which may prevent failing when any will make use of our cordial , be it to preserve and maintain health , or to repair and restore it when it is altered or lost . in the first place is to be considered whether the person be costive or no ; because the retention of the excrements does always cause some disturbance , for they heat commonly the liver and spleen , the breast and brains : insomuch that if this remedy be given before the evacuation of these excrements , the disturbance and augmentation of the heat doubtless will be attributed to the action of the remedy , although the true cause proceed from the retention of the excrements . therefore it is most necessary gently to loosen the belly of those to whom would be given essensified and volatilized remedies , that nothing may hinder their good effects . it is to be considered in the second place , whether those that would make use of this remedy have their stomach subject to sudden alterations , and to irregular fermentations , which do commonly cause nauseousness , palpitations , sweats and restlesness , by reason of some sharp and malignant matters that sojourn and lurk in the bottom of the ventricle . in that case the stomach must be cleansed and scour'd with a simple , natural and gentle vomit ; that the insultations and counter-times which these matters cause may not be attributed to the remedy . after these precautions , our great cordial may be made use of in all seasons and for all sorts of persons of what sex or age soever , provided one hath likewise at that time the counsel and direction of the learned physicians ; and then will be tried those virtues and efficacy which this great and rare remedy conceals in it self . we shall not specifie here the general nor particular diseases that it is able to combat and destroy , since we have sufficiently discoursed of it , when we gave the relation of the ingredients which compose it , which is sufficient to give an able instruction , thereby to put it in practice , and make use of it with benefit . its dose is from six grains to half a dram , as a preservative and maintainer of health ; and from half a scruple or twelve grains to a dram , or four scruples , when it concerns the cure of those divers diseases to which it is able to give help . it may be given in all sorts of wines , in broth , in posset , in cordial decoctions , and in simple or compounded distilled waters , according to the palat of the healthful or sick person , and according as the learned and experienced physicians will judge it most convenient and necessary . god grant that what we have done and said upon this great and admirable cordial redound to the common good of all sick persons , and to the augmentation of the glory and splendour of rare physick and lawful pharmacy , according to the most generous and most laudable intentions of that great and generous monarch , who commanded me to make and perform this noble remedy . amen . finis . food and physick for every householder & his family during the time of the plague very useful, both for the free and the infected, and necessary for all persons in what condition or quality soever : together with several prayers and meditations before, in, and after infection, very needful in all infectious and contagious times, and fit as well for the country as the city / published by t.d. for the publick good. t. d. 1665 approx. 24 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a37471 wing d88 estc r33433 13326246 ocm 13326246 99076 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37471) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 99076) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1548:9) food and physick for every householder & his family during the time of the plague very useful, both for the free and the infected, and necessary for all persons in what condition or quality soever : together with several prayers and meditations before, in, and after infection, very needful in all infectious and contagious times, and fit as well for the country as the city / published by t.d. for the publick good. t. d. [2], 21, [1] p. printed by t. leach for f. coles ..., london : 1665. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -formulae, receipts, prescriptions. plague -england -london. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-05 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion food and physick , for every housholder , & his family , during the time of the plagve . very useful , both for the free and the infected . and necessary for all persons , in what condition or quality soever . together with several prayers and meditations , before , in , and after infection . very needful in all infectious and contagious times . and fit as well for the country , as the city . published by t. d. for the publick good. london , printed by t. leach , for f. coles , at the lamb in the old-baily , 1665. an excellent medicine , to prevent the plagve . take sage of vertue , rue ( otherwise called hearb-grace ) elder leaves , red bramble leaves , and vvormwood , of each of them a good handful ; stamp them altogether , and then strain them through a fine linnen cloth ; and put to the juice a quart of perfect good vvhite-vvine , and a good quantity of vvhite-vvine vinegar : mingle them all together , and put thereto a quarter of an ounce of vvhite ginger , beaten to small powder . use to drink this medicine every morning fasting , for the space of nine dayes together , the quantity of a spoonfull at a time , and this will ( by gods help ) preserve you , for the space of a whole year . an approved medicine after infection . if it fortune , that one be stricken with the plague , before he hath taken the former medicine ; then take the things rehearsed , and put thereto a spoonful of bettony vvater , and as much scabios vvater , and a pretty quantity of fine treacle , and temper them well together , and let the patient use to drink it often , and it will expell the venome or poyson forthwith . but if the botch do happen to appear , then take a good quantity of elder leaves , red bramble leaves , and mustard seed ; stamp them well together , and make a plaister thereof ; apply it to the sore , and it will draw forth all the venome and corruption . those that fear the plague , and are not infected , let them take of this drink hereafter following , which is twice in every week , half a spoonful at a time : it hath been observed , that never any one dyed of the sickness , that did take it in time . take three pints of malmsey , a handful of rue , as much of sage ; boyl these to a quart , then strain out the herbs , and then take an ounce of long-pepper , vinegar and nutmegs , all beaten small in a morter , and put into the vvine , and boyl it a little ; then take it off , and put into it one ounce of mithridate , two ounces of the best treacle , and a quarter of a pint of aqua-vitae , and put all into the vvine , and so keep it . the use of it . if any be infected , take one spoonful of it , as soon as the party doth presume himself infected , lukewarm ; and so goe to bed , and sweat two or three hours ; and then dry the body well , and keep warm , and drink no cold drink , but warm drink and caudles , and posset-drink , with marigold leaves and flowers : vvhen the party hath sweat , and is well dryed with warm clothes ; and so long as the party is ill , take a spoonful morning and evening . if you fear you are infected , or feel any kernel rising , or any apostumation burning or pricking , abstain from sleep , for sleep leadeth the venome to the heart . that day that you are infected , eat but little , or no food ; for evil humours so fill you , that they take away your stomack : or if you do eat , then do you covet to sleep , and feel a great burning , with a kind of shuddering , as it were , through cold : you have also a great pain in the fore part of the head : you cannot endure to ride , or to walk , or any motion of the body ; but are dull , lumpish , and given wholly over to-sadness and drowsiness . to prove , that these are arguments , that you are infected ; let any man , finding his body in this distemper , not stir or walk ( which i counsel him to do ; for to goe into the air , and to use motion , keepeth the poyson longer from the heart ) and he shall find within one half day , some impostume rising under his arm-hole , in his groyn , or behind his ear. the first thing therefore ( after you feel your self thus ) is , with all speed , to be let blood ; when you are let blood , sleep not all that day ; you must be let blood on the same side the swelling appears , if so be the impostume arise before you sleep : but if it prick after you have slept , then be let blood on the contrary side : as if there be a swelling under the left arm , then be let blood on the right arm , if thou art saint or weak after letting blood , then sleep a little , yet every half hour stir thy body too and fro . if the impostume wax bigger and bigger , it is a good sign that the venome is driven from the heart , and will come forth . to ripen it , do thus ; stamp leaves of elder , and mix that juice with mustard-seed ; of this make a plaister , and lay it on the swelling . these things ought duly to be looked unto ▪ viz. it is very convenient , that you keep your houses , streets , yards , back-sides , sinks and kennells sweet and clean , from all standing puddles , dunghills , and corrupt moystures , which ingender stinking savours , that may be noysome , or breed infection . nor suffer no doggs to come running into your houses ; neither keep any , except it be backward , in some place of open air ; for they are very dangerous , and not sufferable in time of sickness , by reason they run from place to place , and from one house to another , feeding upon the uncleanest things , that are cast forth in the streets ; and are a most apt cattel to take infection of any sickness , and then to bring it into the house . for ayring your rooms . ayr your several rooms with charcole-fires , made in stone panns or chaffingdishes , and not in chimneys ; set your panns in the middle of the rooms ; ayr every room once a vveek ( at the least ) and put into your fire a little quantity of frankincense , juniper , dryed rosemary , or of bay-leaves . to smell to . the root of enula-campana , steeped in vinegar , and lapped in a handkerchief , is a special thing to smell unto , if you come where the sickness is . to taste or chew in the mouth . the root of angelica , setwall , gencian , valerian , or cinnamon , is a special preservative against the plague , being chewed in the mouth . to eat . eat sorrel , steeped in vinegar , in the morning fasting , with a little bread and butter . sorrel sauce is also very wholesome against the same . to drink . take rue , vvormwood and scabios , steep'd in ale a whole night , and drink it fasting every morning . another . the root of enula-campana , beaten to powder , is a special remedy against the plague , being drank fasting . another . if any feel themselves already infected , take angelica , mixt with mithridatum ; drink it off , then goe to bed , and sweat thereon . another special preservative . take an egge , make a hole in the top of it , take out the white , and the yolk , and fill the shell only with saffron ; roast the shell and saffron together , in embers of charcole , untill the shell wax yellow ; then beat shell and all together in a morter , with half a spoonful of mustard-seed : now so soon as any suspition is had of infection , dissolve the weight of a french crown , in ten spoonfulls of posset-ale , drink it luke-warm , and sweat upon it in your naked bed. drink for ordinary dyet . so near as you can , let the patients ordinary drink , be good small ale , of eight dayes old . for vomiting . vomiting is better than bleeding , in this case ; and therefore provoke to vomit , so near as you can . to provoke vomit . take three leaves of estrabecca , stamp it , & drink it in rhenish vvine , ale , or posset-ale . for purging . if the party be full of gross humours , let him blood immediately upon the right arm , on the liver vein , or in the median vein , in the same arm ; so as no sore appear the first day . a very wholesome water , to be distilled . steep sorrel in vinegar four and twenty hours ; then take it out , and dry it with a linnen cloth ; then still it in a limbeck ; drink four spoonfulls , with a little sugar ; walk upon it till you sweat , if you may : if not , keep your bed , and sweat upon it . use this before supper on any evening . if the patient happen to be troubled with any swellings , botches , carbuncles , let him sweat moderately now and then . outward medicines to ripen the sore . take the root of a white lilly , roast it in a good handful of sorrel ; stamp it , and apply it thereto very hot , let it lye four and twenty hours , and it will break the sore . another . take a small quantity of leaven , a handful of mallows , a little quantity of scabios , cut a white onion into pieces , with half a dozen heads of garlick ; boyl these together in running water , make a poultess of it , and then lay it hot to the sore . another . take a hot loaf , new taken forth of the oven , apply it to the sore , and it will doubtless break the same : but afterward bury the same loaf deep enough in the ground , for fear of any infection ; for if either dogg , ' or any other thing , do feed thereon , it will infect a great many . for ayring apparel . let the apparel of the diseased persons be well and often washed , be it linnen or woollen : or let it be ayred in the sun , or over panns of fire , or over a chaffingdish of coals ; and fume the same with frankincense , juniper , or dryed rosemary . to preserve from the infection of the plague . take garlick , and peel it , and mince it small , put it into new milk , and eat it fasting . to take the infection from a house infected . take large onions , peel them , and lay three or four of them upon the ground ; let them lye ten dayes , and those peeled onions will gather all the infection into them , that is in one of those rooms : but bury those onions afterward deep in the ground . against the new burning feaver . if the parient be in great heat , as most commonly they will ; take of fair running water , a pretty quantity ; put it on a chaffingdish of coals ; then put thereinto a good quantity of saunders , beaten to powder , and let it boyl half an hour , between two dishes ; that done , put a couple of soft linnen clothes into a dish , wet the cloths well in water and saunders , and apply the same , as hot as you can suffer it , to your belly . to procure sleep to the sick persons , that are diseased , either with the plague , or the hot feaver . take of womans breast-milk , a good quantity ; put thereunto the like quantity of aqua-vitae ; stir them well together , and moysten therewith the temples of the patient , and his nostrills ; lay it on with some feather , or some fine thin ragg . butter-milk , in this contagious time , is generally wholesome to be eaten ; and is a good preservative , against either the plague , or the pestilent feaver . a prayer against the plagve . omnipotent god , and most merciful father , bow down thine ear to our requests , and let thy gracious eye look upon the miseries of thy people . a long time have the vials of thy wrath been held open , and have powred thy divine vengeance on our sinful heads . o lord , we confess , that sodom and gomorrah , were never so wicked , as we have been , and are still : the jewes were never so hard-hearted towards thee ( our god ) as we are ; who hourly crucifie thy son jesus christ , in our vile bodies . yet behold , we cry to thee for mercy ; we repent what is past , and are contrite and sorry , that we have been stubborn children , to a father so mild , and ready to pardon . stay therefore thine arm , and let not the arrow of death , strike our young men into their graves , nor our old men to the earth . call home thy angells of wrath , whom thou hast sent forth , and let no more of thy people perish , under the heavy strokes of this dreadful plague , which is now a dweller amongst us . grant this our request , and all other whatsoever , needful to soul or body , for his sake , in whose name thou deniest nothing , amen . a prayer , for those that are not visited . oh most mighty and merciful lord god , in whose hands are health and sickness , who at thy pleasure canst kill and comfort ; i do confess , that my sins call louder for justice , than i can cry for mercy ; and i deserve all plagues and punishments , in this life ▪ and the plague of plagues , in the life to come , damnation both of body and soul : but , o lord , be thou more merciful , than i can be sinful ; and in jesus christ be reconciled unto me , and purge me , and cleanse me from all my sins . and i beseech thee , oh heavenly father , at whose commandement the angells passed over the houses of the israelites , when it struck the egyptians ( if it be thy blessed will ) that this present sickness may pass over me , and my family . we do confess , o lord , that i and others have deserved the plagues of egypt ; but , o lord , howsoever keep us from the greatest plague , which is hardness of heart ; and if it be thy pleasure , withhold thy heavy hand from us . do not correct us in thine anger , nor yet chastise us in thy heavy displeasure ; but in thy mercy release us . and if it be good unto thee , that i and others should taste of this birter cup , strengthen our faith , increase our hope , augment our patience ; that so we may rest in thy peace , rise in thy power , and remain in thy glory ; and that for christ jesus sake , in whose name we further call upon thee , saying , our father , which art in heaven , &c. a prayer , for those that are visited . oh lord god , thou best physician , both of our souls and bodies , who canst bring to the grave , and pull back again , whom thou pleasest ; which wert moved at the prayers of moses for others , of ezekiah for himself ; o lord , hear me for others , others for me , and all of us for thy son ; and look with the eye of mercy upon me , whom it hath pleased thee , at this time , to visit with the plague and sickness : o lord , i am held in thy fetters ; oh thou which hast bound me , loose me ; and , if it tend unto thy glory , and my good , restore my health unto me . o lord , i have been an unprofitable servant all my life time : oh then , let me not then be bereft of the life of nature , when i begin the life of grace ; but if thou hast disposed of me otherwise , increase my patience with my pains ; shew thy strength in sustaining my weakness , and be my strong fortress , in this hour of my trya● ; give me grace to apprehend and apply all the merits and mercies of christ unto my soul ; and , o lord , let thy comforter oppose the tempter , in such a measure , that he may not prevail against me ; but as thou makest me like lazarus , full of sores , so let also thy angells carry me into abrahams bosome . o lord , i intreat , let me obtain , even for his sake , for whom thou hast promised , and bound thy self , to hear and help the afflicted , even thy son , and my saviour , christ jesus : to whom , with thee , and thy blessed spirit , be all praise , &c. meditation 1. it cannot chuse but be a grief unto a christian , to see how many murmur in this visitation ; some fearing the plague in their persons , others in their purses ; some being loth to lose their goods , others to leave the world , not fearing to say with despairing cain , their punishment is greater than they can bear ; and thus do they undervalue gods mercy in his justice , in whose vial is not only wine , but also oyl : had he delivered us up to famine , it would have been a burthen farr more grievous ; and had he delivered us up into the hands of our enemies , as he hath done some neighbouring nations , it had been likely , that our should not only have been banished from our country , but that all hope should have been banished from us : how much better is it then , as david chose , to fall into the hand of god , than into the hands of men ; and to be visited with this plague , than to be plagued with our enemies : the lord give us grace to repent and amend , that he may cease to afflict us ; and grant , that being once cleansed , we may sin no more , lest a worse evil happen unto us . meditation 2. it is true indeed , that sin was the first cause of this sickness ; but as god doth not the works of mercy , so he doth not the works of justice , without a means . our sins were the parents of this pestilence , but it is a question , how god brought it in , there is no man can absolutely determine , but many may conjecture , and ( i fear me ) it was the want of charity , and the neglect of the poor , in this city , which partly caused this infection ; for how can it be otherwise , but that , where multitudes are pestered together in a little room , and in it have but little comfort ; as no raggs , to cover their nakedness ; no linnen to shift them from filthiness , it cannot chuse but cause them noysomeness , and by consequence infection : if then the rich men desire to leave to be miserable , let them learn to be merciful , and free the city from the multitudes of poor . meditation 3. it is a strange thing , to see the difference of men ; and to consider , how the seed of andam , being composed of the same matter , should so differ in manners : for here you may see one so timerous of sickness , that he dares not goe to church , for fear of infection ; being so full of base cowardise , that he is fearful to gather a rose , lest he should prick his fingers ; neglecting his souls welfare , for fear of his bodies sickness ; notwithstanding , he can trudge to westminster , about quarrels and contentions . but on the contrary side , another so audacious and presumptuous , that he seemeth to challenge the pestilence , and seeketh it at playes , searcheth it from one tavern to another , as if he dared gods judgements to encounter with him ; both of which are extreme follies . we must part , viz. from our frail life . i will therefore resolve , not so much to fear the evil of sickness , as to commit the evil of sin ; neither so much sin , as to seek out sickness : the one is a sin against my soul , to deprive it of the food which is offered ; and tantalus like , to starve , it under the means : the other is a sin against my body , to seek to impair the health of it ; but howsoever , both of them against god : the one being timidity , the other timerity ; the one fear , the other folly ; the one shewing himself faint-hearted , the other fool-hardy . a remedy , sent to the lord mayor of london , by king henry the eighth , against the plague . take a handful of sage , a handful of hearb-grace , a handful of elder leaves , a handful of red bramble leaves ; stamp them all , and strain them through a fine cloath , with a quart of vvhite-vvine ; and then take a quantity of ginger , and mingle them together , and take a spoonful of the same , and you shall be safe for twenty four dayes ; nine times taking of it , is sufficient for a whole year , by the grace of god. and if it be so , that the party be stricken with the plague , before he hath drank this medicine , then take the water of scabios a spoonful , of water of bettony a spoonful ▪ and a quantity of fine triacle ; and put them all together , and cause him to drink it , and it will expell all the venome . if the fotch appear , then take the leaves of brambles , elder leaves , mustard seed , and stamp them together , and make a plaister thereof , and lay it to the sore , and that shall draw out the venome , and the party shall be whole , by the grace of god. m. h. receipt against the plague . take setwel root , to the quantity of half a walnut , and gra●e it ; of triacle-jean , one good spoonful ; of wine-vinegar , three good spoonfulls ; of fair water , three spoonfulls : make these more than luke-warm , and so drink them off warm in your bed , and sweat six or seven hours after . drink posset-ale , made with small drink , as your thirst requireth ; so that you expect an hour and a half , after the potion taking , before your first drinking , and it will drive forth the plague . let the posset-ale be luke-warm , at the first draughr , but after as you like it , so it be not quite cold . these two medicines have cured above a thousand people , in this city , the last plague time ; and none hath took it in time , but scaped . finis . the table . an excellent medicine to prevent the plague . pag. 1 an approved medicine after infection . p. 2 a remedy for those that fear the plague . p. 2 things duly to be looked into . p. 2 for ayring rooms . p. 5 things good to smell , taste , eat , drink . p. 6 drink for ordinary dyet . p. 7 outward medicines to ripen ▪ the sore . p. 8 to take the infection from a house infected . p. 9 against the new burning feaver and to procure sleep to the sick persons . p. 10 a prayer against the plague . p. 11 a prayer for those that are not visited . p. 13 a prayer for those that are visited . p. 15 meditations . p. 17 , 18 , 19. a remedy sent to the lord mayor of london by king henry the 8th against the plague . p. 20 m. h. his receipt against the plague . p. 21 finis . a most excellent and rare drink, pleasant and profitable for young and old people, that may be administered at all times, ... j. h. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a87105 of text r211974 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.15[47]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 7 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a87105 wing h75 thomason 669.f.15[47] estc r211974 99870639 99870639 163121 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a87105) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 163121) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 246:669f15[47]) a most excellent and rare drink, pleasant and profitable for young and old people, that may be administered at all times, ... j. h. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [london : 1650] title from opening lines of text. imprint from wing. annotation on thomason copy: "london. and at the signe of the golden lion in the long walke between christ church and snt. bartholowmews hospitall". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng medicine, popular -early works to 1800. a87105 r211974 (thomason 669.f.15[47]). civilwar no a most excellent and rare drink, pleasant and profitable for young and old people, that may be administered at all times, .. j. h. 1650 1270 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-10 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a most excellent and rare drink , pleasant and profitable for young and old people , that may be administred at all times , and to women with childe without danger , as occasion requireth ; and purgeth the body gently , cleanseth the reines and kidneys , of the stone and gravel , heat in the back , yard , or secret ; freeth the body from itch and scabbedness , chops , or chilblains in the hands or feet ; taketh away the morphew , and begetteth a good and beautiful colour to the face and skin ; abateth the raging pain of the gout , inflamations and swellings , blasts or takings ; and is a speedy remedy for the cough of the lungs , phlegm , rheum , and streight drawing of the breath , melancholy , and frenzie ; maketh the heart merry , and the body delightful , amendeth decayed sight , and cleereth red-blered eyes ; asswageth the raging pain of the teeth , sores , or swellings in the throat , mouth or gums ; expelleth winde and torment in the guts , stomack , or belly , the noise in the head or ears ; openeth the sence of hearing , being lost by cold-taking ; destroyeth worms in young or old people , and freeth the body from the rickets and scurvey , weakness of limbs , and evil liking of the body , and begetteth strength : it is also profitable for women upon all occasions , & encreaseth milk in the breasts of nurses , making the same fertile and fruitful , and cleanseth the nurses and suckling from the itch and scabs ; it helpeth digestion , and begetteth a good stomack , and soon bringeth a weak and sickly body to health . this drink , is at two shillings six pence the bottle , which conteineth a quart , and is to be taken ( half a pinte at a time ) in the morning fasting made bloud warm , four mornings together . a most precious balsom for man or beast , for diseases and sores inward , and outward , of an incomparable vertue and efficaoy ; which will speedily abate the raging pain of the gout , impostumations , or swelling pains in the limbs or joints , and aches in the bones or sinews ; by anointing the place grieved before a good fire , rubbing or chafing in the balsom as hot as it can be suffered , morning and evening : it taketh away the dolour or pain in the head , neck , or shoulders , by anointing the same in like manner : it cureth wounds or sores , made by weapon or gun-shot , burnings , or scaldings , and thistula's , or deep and crooked ulcers ; by applying the same balsom warm with lint into the sore , cleasing and washing the sore with maligo wine , or pure vvhite-wine , warm . this balsom cureth ruptures in old and young , being taken in time at the first appearing thereof in maligo wine , and applied plaister-ways to the place grieved : it taketh away the dead-palsie out of any limb , being first bathed with maligo wine , as hot as may be suffered , then dried and anointed with the balsom hot rubbed in , with a warm hand . this balsom being warm applyed to a sore breast , at the first coming , will take away the inflamation , and scattereth the humour , and keepeth the breast from breaking , and dissolveth the hard kernel , and abateth the raging pain in the breast ; and if the breast be broken , and an ulcer or cancer in the same hapneth , this balsom cureth , being applyed warm with lint , and the sore washed with maligo wine , warm . this balsom cureth the byting of a mad dog , or sting of an adder upon man or beast , applyed warm with lint to the place grieved , and keeping the sore from the ayr ; and cureth all wounds in man or beast speedy , and draweth out broken bones from the sore , applyed with lint warm put into the sore . this balsom doth free the body from the infection of the plague , by anointing the nosthrils therewith in a morning , and cureth the plague sores speedily , by applying the balsom with lint upon the sores , as hot as may be suffered . this balsom being taken in a morning fasting , the quantity of three pease , in a glass full of maligo wine , abstaining from meat or drink four hours after , cureth the cough of the lungs , impostumations in the stomack , reines , or kidneys , stoppeth the running of the reins , or immoderat falling down of the whites in women ; it cureth the excoriation of the yard , or ulcer in the secret , being aptly applyed with lint or pessary ; and doth beget easie and quick deliverance , to women in travel of childe-birth , by annointing the muskles and sinews near to the secret , at the time of labour , or a little before . this balsom cureth the scabs in the head , hore-scurf , or leprosie , and destroyeth lice , being anointed therewith made warm , and the head close wrapped up in a linnen cap. this balsom draweth out a thorn , nail , or glass , out of the flesh , being applied thereto in man or beast , and healeth the sore speedily ; it cureth the pole evil , mourning of the chine , scratching , and thistula in a horse , being aptly applied outward , as to other sores , and given inward half an ounce at a time , in a pinte of maligo wine . this balsom healeth kibed heals , chaps , and chilblains , taketh away warts and corns , and molifieth any hardness in the feet or hands , taketh away pimples or pushes in the face , cleanseth the skin , and maketh it cleer and beautiful , being anointed with the balsom , and washed the next day with warm wine , and rubbed with a skarlet cloth . this balsom is at two shillings six pence the ounce , and may be kept for all uses , during a mans life . a most excellent cordial-drink ; that restoreth a decayed-body , even as seeming near to death , to become healthy , and lusty , and of long life , perfect sight , and fit for all abilities , procreation , and conception : this is four shillings the quart , the doss , half a pinte taken in the morning fasting , or at going to bed bloud warm , the like quantity . these drinks and balsom here mentioned , have been approved for the several effects and vertues a long time successfully , and may be had at all times convenient , for the use they are directed for , and at the prises set down , fitted for cariage , and the receipt of either or all of them ( being approved of ) may be had by any person of quality , upon reasonable conditions . at the signe of the black grey-hound , in black-fryers . by j. h. the universall medicine, or, the virtues of the magneticall, or antimoniall cup confirmed to be a health-procuring, health-preserving, and health-restoring effectuall medicine by extant monuments of antiquity, by testimonies of honourable personages, by 100 admirable and rare experiments, by 200 persons of quality that have experienced the same / collected by john evans ... evans, john, minister and preacher of god's word. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a38771 of text r7392 in the english short title catalog (wing e3452). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 148 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 33 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a38771 wing e3452 estc r7392 12144129 ocm 12144129 54910 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a38771) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 54910) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 761:22) the universall medicine, or, the virtues of the magneticall, or antimoniall cup confirmed to be a health-procuring, health-preserving, and health-restoring effectuall medicine by extant monuments of antiquity, by testimonies of honourable personages, by 100 admirable and rare experiments, by 200 persons of quality that have experienced the same / collected by john evans ... evans, john, minister and preacher of god's word. [64] p. printed by richard hodgkinsonne ..., london : 1642, 1651. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. eng antimony -therapeutic use. medicine -early works to 1800. a38771 r7392 (wing e3452). civilwar no the universall medicine: or, the virtues of the magneticall, or antimoniall cup. confirmed to be a health-procuring, health-preserving, and evans, john, minister and preacher of god's word 1651 26424 28 0 0 0 0 0 11 c the rate of 11 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2004-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-09 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-10 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2004-10 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the universall medicine : or , the virtues of the magneticall , or antimoniall cup . confirmed to a be health-procuring , health-preserving , and health-restoring effectuall medicine . by extant monuments of antiquity . by testimonies of honourable personages . by 100. admirable and rare experiments . by 200. persons of quality that have experienced the same . collected by john evans minister and preacher of gods word . in hoc unico antimonio videndam exhibebimus vniversalem medicinam , medicinarum medicinam , & admirandorum aut miraculorum ipsum miraculum seu mirabile mirabilium . jos. quer. c. 31. p. 386. london , printed by richard hodgkinsonne ( in thame-street , neer addlehill , where you may receive information how to come by the fore-mentioned cups . ) 1642. 1651. to the honorable and illustrious assembly the knights , citizens and burgesses of the commons house of parliament . the admirable and incomparable virtues of this magneticall medicine ( having passed , as the pure and well refined gold , many perfect examinations ) now presenteth it self to your noble hands , humbly craving your honorable protection of this usefull medicine : it is amply accommodated with warrantble testimonies to be the alone phoenix and miracle of all physicall miracles the elixer of life , the balsame of nature ; it containeth mystically and essentially the quintessence of all mineralls and vegitables , and magnetically sympathizeth with all animals , it is in materiall composition , as being compounded in due proportioned number , weight and measure , an abstract or compendium of this elementary world : it is extracted from the choysest and purest mineralls , and mettals ; it is animated by coelestiall influences , it is sanctified and metaphysically indowed with excellent virtues by the alone worker of all miriacles , from whom every good and perfect gift proceedeth : this my magneticall medicine is distinct in nature , compositions and qualities , and transcendent in effects and virtues from the common regulus of antimony , whereof violent and pernitious antimoniall cups are commonly made and vulgarly vended , the medicinall virtues , by me declared to be herein essentially permanent , are experimentally approved and found to be most certain and true ; this is a healthfull medicine without having or leaving any evill qualities or malignant effects after the taking thereof , as i shall answer before god & man . wherefore in full assurance and confidence of the excellency & safety of this magneticall medicine , i humbly present and subject this pretious jewell to your honorable just censure and judegment , earnestly praying that it may obtain with you such credit , esteem and acceptation , as the true worth of it shall really merit . and thus humbly and devoutly imploring from the alone giver of all permanent graces , upon you and yours a plentifull multiplication of all terrene beatitudes , heavenly indowments , and coelestiall glories , with his promised reward for constant faihfulnesse , which is a crown of life ; so earnestly prayeth . your honours most humbly devoted . john evans . to the reader . what the lord hath sanctified , and communicated for the health and profit of many , ought not to be concealed for the envy and displeasure of a few : gods candle must not be put under a bushell , neither must his talent be wrapped up and buryed in the ground his endowments are communicative , and every reall christian may vendicate his part and portion therein . to you therefore belongeth this medicinall jem , whosoever that desire to prevent contagious and infectious maladies , to preserve your bodies in health , strength , and vigor of nature , or to restore such as are already infirmed with desperate and dangerous diseases . accept then this excellent jewell as the singular gift of god ; and the medicinall virtues thereof herein mentioned , for the approved experiments of right honourable , and right worshipfull personages , many of them for their eminency and height of honour , wherewith they are rightfully ennobled , not here to be mentioned : and the rest of such worth and dignity , that for their piety and learning , they are not inferior to many in the kingdom . and although this might give sufficient satisfaction to all reasonable minds ; neverthelesse , for that an undoubted truth feareth not to be exposed to all examinations , whosoever pleaseth shall have a moneths tryall of them before they buy them ; to the end that by the certainty of their own knowledge , practice , and experience , they may be fully confirmed , that the one half of the medicinall virtues of this antimoniall cup , is not herin reported unto them . a compendious declaration of the most admirable virtues of the magneticall cup . 1. it purgeth the body from all repletion , and fullness of evill humors . 2. it will permit no corrupt matter to remaine within the body . 3. it helpeth against all evill affects of the stomack . 4. it cureth all intermittent agues , and burning fevers . 5. it helpeth against the swiming in the head , against madnes & frensy . 6. it cureth the green-sicknesse , and helpeth against all obstructions . 7. it preventeth & helpeth against the gout , the stone & the sciatica 8. it helpeth against al tumors swellings , impostumes , & all other aches 9. it cureth perfectly morbus gallicus , and lues venerea . 10. it cureth perfectly the kings evill , and all scrophulous diseases . 11. it is a good preservative against the plague , and all contagions . 12. it is a soveraign remedy against poysons , and venemous corruptions . 13. it cureth perfectly the falling-sicknesse and all convulsions . 14. it cureth congelations , lamenesse , the cramp , and night-mare . 15. it cureth the small-pox , the spotted fever , and the purples . 16. it cureth the apoplexie , lethargie , palsie , and plurisie . 17. it destroyeth worms , purifieth the blood , cleareth the complexion . 18. it emptieth the stomack of all evil humors , the liver of choller , the spleen of melancholy , the pectoral parts from all hurtfull humors , the head and throat of flegme , and rhume , and all distillations . 19. it restoreth appetite lost , it causeth rest to the sences , and sleep . 20. it cureth wounds , cleanseth and healeth sores , and stancheth blood . 21. it consumes , dissipates , & purges away wens , & other excrescences 22. it cleanseth and perfectly healeth vlcerous sores and fistulaes . 23. it consumeth away rotten and putrified dead flesh ▪ & restoreth new . 24. it purifieth and cleareth the sight , and consumeth the web or pearl . 25. it is excellent against many sorts of diseases used in clysters . 26. it restoreth from consumptions , and preserveth naturall vigor . 27. it cureth the dropsie , and asswageth pains of the bones and arteries . 28. it cureth the morphew , ring-worms cankers , and spreading sores . 29. it purgeth , healeth , and stayeth the bloody f●●x , and the whites . 30. it dissolveth and purgeth congealed , cluttered , bruised blood . 31. it is safe and without violence or danger , & never loseth his virtues a confirmation of the medicinall virtues of the antimoniall cup : collected out of the most famous , learned , and best approved philosophers and physitians , that have written of that subject . of all the mineralls contained within the bowels of the earth , antimonium deserveth the greatest praise , for the most excellent medicinall virtues it conteineth for the health and benefit of mankinde . it is a minerall of dark colour , interveined with glistering streaks , consisting according to paracelsus , of mercury , sulphur , and salt . antimonium corpus suum ex mercurio assumit , estque natura mercurij crassissima , postquam expurgatur , vires & virtutes mircurij omnes retinit nihilq●e est aliud , quam coagulatus mercurius per spiritum salis & sulphur . and therefore it is generally , by all the spagiricks , called the balsame , restorer , and preserver of nature . it was first discovered by geber king of arabia , and by him called magnesia ; for as magnes draweth iron unto it with the one point , and expelleth it with the other : so this magnetically extracteth to● , and expelleth from the stomack , whatsoever within the whole body of man is found to be offensive to nature , or contrary to the health and good constitution of the body . it is also called lupus , for that it devoureth and destroyeth all metals except the lyon , which is gold ; and that it refineth and purifieth above all other things ; so doth it also destroy all the corrupt humors that are within the body of man , leaving no impurity to remain in the same . basilius valentinus monachus , compareth it to a ring , without beginning , without ending , for that his medicinall and naturall virtues are inscrutable and past finding out . many are the medicines that are prepared of this minerall , both against inward and outward infirmities ; but i freely and willingly disclaim them all ( especially for inward causes ) saving only the regulus , and what may be conveniently prepared by help of the same , saying with learned and conscionable duncanus , caeterasciens omitto , tanquam pernitiosa medicamenta , jatroch . born . pag. 91. contenting my self with that , which by authority and testimony of the learned , and the experiments of my worthy friends , and by common practice and experience shall be ( by gods grace ) invincibly confirmed . the first corner-stone of my building , shall be that of duncanus , confirmed also by laborious and learned milius : hic regulus est summum auri examen , ac vera omnium florum , & tincturarum medicinalium , in antimonio existentium materia , that is , this regulus is the chiefest examination of gold , and the true subject and matter of all medicinall virtues , contained within the body of antimony . to this agreeth the testimony of basilius valentinus monachus , calling it regulus , sive dominus medicinae . divine authority , nature , and experience confirmeth this truth ; for as life is hid in man , so in all things , whether animal , vegitable , or minerall , it is invisibly incentred , and so punctually indiscernaable , that according to the learned philosopher mich. sengivodius polonus , the living spark is only the 8200. part of any subject : admire then the effectuall power of that spark of life mentioned in the resembled mustard-seed ; and this to the understanding reader , may give some touch , both for the universality , penetration , and perpetuation of this divine medicine . and now having discovered my materia prima , i will produce such workmen for the erection of this little fabrick , so well experienced in their profound knowledge , that though by malice and ignorance , they have been often blamed , they could never be shamed , nor justly reproved , and the first shall be that orientall star of naturall , spagiticall , and magneticall light and knowledge theophrastus paracelsus . he in the sixth book . tit. de vita longa pag. 167. saith as followeth . quemadmodum antimonium purgat aurum , ita purgat etiam corpus , continet enim essentiam eam quae nihil impuri relinquit in puro , nec ullus est usque adeò , in scriptis archidoxeos peritus , aut tam insignis spagyrus , qui vires & facultates antimonii , plenè indagare queat . in prima enim yle , antimonium adeo exaltatum & inter mineras elementi aquae praedestinatum est , ut facultas , & virtus ejus nullo diluvio , instar caeterorum aquaearum crescentium imminuta aut absorpta sit , adeóque his omnibus antimonium longè praestat . in praedestinatione illud ita se habet , ut se influentiae accommodet , nulla facultate , aut dote ejus diminuta , aut infirmata , itaque ex omnibus mineralibus summi arcani laudem optinet , hoc seipsum purgat , & unà secum etiam alia , quod si nihil boni in subjecto reperitur , impurum corpus transmutat in purum , sicut de lepra notum est , &c. paracels . lib. 6. de vita longa , pag. 167. like as antimony purifieth gold , so doth it also cleanse or purifie the body of man , it conteineth that essence which will permit no uncleannesse to remain in that which is pure : neither is there any one found so skillfull in the chiefe secrets of nature , or so excellent a spagyrick , that can finde out fully the virtues and medicinall properties of antimony : it is so much exalted in his first being , and appointed from the beginning to excell all other minerals that are of the element of water , that his virtues should be , and remain , without waste , or diminution for ever : and that it should sympathize and apply to the celestiall influence , so to be perpetually susteined in full efficacy , virtue , and effect . therefore of all mineralls it obteineth the praise of the greatest secret , it purgeth it self , and together with him all other bodies , and although it findeth but little which is clean or pure : it purifieth cleanseth , and changeth that unclean body to be most pure and clean , as it is well known by practice and experience made upon leprous persons . and again in the sixth book , pag. 22. quinta essentia antimonii venenum adimit , pulmonem enim & cor & membra laeprae subjecta mundat autem & corpus totum purificat & renovat mirum in modum : the essence of antimony expelleth poyson , comforteth the heart , and wonderfully restoreth & purifieth the lights and other parts of the body apt to be infected with leprosie . moreover the 7. book p. 73. tanta vis & virtus est in antimonio , ut restaurat enim & renovat universas in corpore vires , ac facultates mirificè : such , and so great , is the virtue of antimony that it wonderfully restoreth and reneweth all the strength and vigour of the whole body . and in the eight book he declareth at large the severall virtues and medicinall operations of many other excellent vegitables and minerals , and in the end concludeth , haec junctim uno in antimonio latent ; these that we have severally spoken of are all inclusively contained in antimony alone . in the sixth book , pag. 22. he teacheth how , by their excellency in virtue and operation , to distinguish of the preheminence , and degrees of dignities of simples , the one above the other ; saying , that those that perform the more difficult and desperate cures , ought to bear away the glory of their excelling virtues ; concluding thus : hoc videmus accidere antimonio , curat leprosos , morpheam , alopeciam & similia , scabies omnes , & cicatrices , leoninam , elephantiam , tiriam , &c. et iterum , antimonium lepram expellit , magis quam de ipso credibile sit , non secus etiam de aliis intelligendum . this we see to happen in antimony , it cureth leprosie , cleareth the complexion , stayeth the falling of the hair , cureth ring-worms ▪ tetters , and scurviness of the skin , all scabs and spreading sores , and all contagious and infectious diseases . and again afterwards , antimony expelleth the leprosie more effectually than would be believed , the like operation it hath against other desperate diseases . and in the third book , pag. 343. antimonium nihil sinit putrescere : antimony suffereth nothing to corrupt or putrifie within the body of man . and in the fourth book , pag. 265. antimonium per transmutationes rerum preparatum est , eoque reductum ut in dulcedinem abjerit , haec ab infantibus lincta , caeducum sanavit , in antimonio vis ac tam potens arcanum latet , ut paroxysmum etiam vehementissimum tollit : antimony is so to be prepared , and brought to that sweetness that it may be taken of infants , and have been thereby cured of the falling sicknesse ; there is so great virtue and power in antimony , that it taketh away , and preventeth the most extremest fits of the falling-sickness , paracels . lib. 4. pag. 265. furthermore , he in the sixth book , pag. 146. saith , sic ut antimonium finit aurum , sic eadem ratione ac forma finit corpus : in illo enim est essentia , quae nihil impuri cum puro confundi sinit , atquo adeò virtus permanserit , ita ut sese ex influentia semper dirigat , neque aliquid de vi ; ac virtute nativa unquam decesserit . merito igitur omnia , quae mineralium sunt , quorum summum ac potissimum arcanum in se claudit antimonium , huic uni tribuimus , mundat seipsum una eum reliquis quae immunda sunt , porro si nihil omninò sani adest , immundum corpus in mundum transformat : lib. 6. de vita longa , pag. 146. like as antimony refineth gold , so also by the same reason and manner it purifieth the body of man : in it there is that essence that suffereth no impurity nor uncleanesse to remaine confusedly intermingled amongst the pure and good , and his virtues so constantly remaineth , directing himselfe alwayes according to the heavenly influence , that of his naturall virtue and power , he shall at no time suffer losse or diminution thereof . worthily therefore doe we attribute to this alone , the power and virtue of all minerals , whose chiefe and most powerfull secret effects , antimony comprehendeth in it selfe alone , he refineth himself , and purifieth , together with it selfe , what he findeth unclean : moreover , though he finde nothing sound he altereth and changeth that impure body to a clean and sound constitution : lib. 6. and to conclude , essentia antimonii est purgatio vera , quae purgat hominem excellentissimè super alia quaevis arcana , radicitus evellit auferendū , ac omne quod immundum est : humanum corpus in supremum usque sanationis gradum purum efficit , ac ab omnibus aegritudinibus mundat , etiam illis ex quibus oriuntur ulcera ; quicquid penes hominem fuerint impuri delet . the essence of antimony is a true and naturall purge , which purgeth a man most excellently above all other secrets , it utterly taketh away by the root whatsoever is foule , unwholsome , and ought to be removed , and reduceth the body of man to the highest degree of perfect health , and cleanseth from all manner infirmities and diseases , even from those that are the originall and fountain of ulcerous and dangerous diseases , it fully and freely removeth all corrupt and impure humours , that might lye lurking within any part of the body of man . thus farre paracelsus in his lesser chyrurgery , pag. 323. my second testimony shall be martinus rulandus , a man of sound judgement , great practice and experience , he called the infusion of this cup his aqua benedicta , in the 5. cent. and the 95. cure he saith thus . communi opinione hermeticorum receptum est , magnesiam saturni quam aiuut esse antimonium , existere ens , & radicem omnium metallorum , ex regulo hujus antimonii vasculum formetur ad usum medicinale satis aptum , mirabile & idoneum semper , permanens citra ponderis sui viriumque amissionem . it is received by the consent and common opinion of all hermeticall philosophers , that the magnesia of saturne , which they call antimony , is the originall and beginning of all metalls . of the regulus of this antimony there is made a little vessell or cup very admirable , fit and effectuall for his medicinall virtues , alwayes remaining in force without losse of weight and virtue : the infusion of this cup he calleth his aqua benedicta , which he alwayes , ( cum maxima aegrotorū salute in omnibus morbis vulgo etiam incurabi ibus , ) used with good successe , and the restitution of the health of his patients , yea also in such diseases as were commonly reputed to be incureable . and in another place he saith ; mirifica● possidet virtutes in tota bene medendi ratione , &c. it containeth admirable virtues fit to be used in all sound and perfect medicinall cures , 1. it cleanseth the stomack , 2. purgeth the head , 3. preventeth the lethargy , swimming , and vertigo , 4. cureth frensie and madnesse , 5. preventeth , and many times cureth the falling sicknesse , 6. it cureth an inveterated cough and hoarsnesse , although it be of long continuance . 7. cleareth the wind-pipe and passage from the lungs and so helpeth such as are short-winded . 8. it cureth the squinancy or stoping in the throat . 9. it openeth , purgeth , and healeth all impostumes in the lungs . 10. restoreth the stomack , and expelleth all evill affects of the same . 11. preventeth and cureth the plurisie . 12. cureth deep melancholy and madnesse , cheers up the heart and vitall spirits . 13. cureth the hypochondriaca or windy melancholy . 14. and is of excelling virtue against all manner of fevers and agues . 15. it prevents the infection of the plague , or other contagious diseases : 16. it preserveth from the gout , and every kinde and species thereof . 17. it purifieth the blood , cleanseth the whole body . 18. dissipateth and bringeth away congealed or clotted blood or any other currupt matter . 19. destroyeth and expelleth all manner of worms . 20. cureth morbus gallicus , & lues venerea . 21. it prevaileth against the yellow jaundise , and all overflowings of the gaul . 22. it openeth and cleanseth all manner of obstructions it is saith rulandus , medicina medicinarum , the medicine of medicines , good , healthfull , and profitable to be used against all manner of diseases and infirmities whatsoever : thus much and more mar. rulandus affirmeth upon his experience and knowledge , whereof read more , ruland . cent. 5. cur. 95. and cent. 9. cap. 51. quercitan confirmeth every particular hereof , and reciteth many other experiments of his own practice . see phrm , restituta quercitani , pag. 345. and again pag. 238. martinus rulandus affirmavit se sua aqua benedicta . i. infusione reguli antimonij , centies faelicissimo successis , luem venerean curasse : that is , rulandus affirmeth , that he ( with his blessed water which is the infused liquor in the antimoniall cup ) hath perfectly cured the french pox , and running of the reins an hundred times , with happy and good successe . this reciteth quercitan out of martinus rulandus . in the third place i will produce quercitan himself , aqua benedicta antimonij , insignes enim , & mirandas edit effectus , blandè provocat vomitum & quatuor vel quinque sedes , evacuando per superiora & inferiora simul , quod vix praestabit aliud remedium , usurpatur etiam faelicissime , ad omnis generis febres , etiam pestiferas pleuritides item aliosque deploratissimos affectus qui ob radices profundius validinque infixas , vix subigi & edomari possunt : vid. quer. pharm ▪ rest . 238. the blessed water or infusion of the magneticall cup , perfometh most excellent and wonderfull effects , it gently procureth vomit , and four or five stools purging both upward and downwards together , which hardly any other medicine will doe : it is administred very successefully against all kind of fevers , although they be pestilent and infectious ; also against the plurisie , and against all other deplored and desperate diseases , which are so strongly confirmed , and deeply rooted , that they cannot be over-mastered another way , or by any other medicines . thus far quercitan in his pharmacop . rest pag. 238. fourthly , this truth shall be further confirmed by the testimonies of that excellent and learned doctor of physick and philosophy , that wrote out of his own experience and manuall practise , basilica antimonij in the 22. and 23. page he saith . antimonium est laudabile , & singulare pestis preservativum , in hydrope , lue pestifera , & gallica , in obstructionibus hepatis , & lyenis , ictero , lepra ejusque speciebus omnibus , medicamen est speciale , & admirabile , ad articulorū gravitatem à podagra vel lue venerea relictā commendatur , in vitiosa sanguificatione , in chachexia , & lepra laudatur , catarrhos , cor , & pulmones serientes , cum summo successu exhaurit , & ex hoc celeberrima aqua opthalmica paratur , ad unbeculas & suffusiones cōmendatur , & ad purgantia enemeta , cum bono & felici successu recipitur , curat omnes obstructiones viserum , à quartana & tertiana liberat , in anasarca comm●ndabilis existit , sanguinis est depurativum , leprae , epilepsiae , & podagrae unicum preservativum . that is , antimony is a laudable and singular preservative against the plague , it is a speciall and an admirable medicine against the dropsie , the running of the reins , and the french pox , against all obstructions of the liver or the spleen , against the intollerable pain of the arteries and the joynts , proceeding from the infection of the pox ; it is much commended and praised to purifie and cleanse the blood against the leprosie and the evill estate of the body : it drieth up all rhumes and distillations that offend the heart or corrupt the lungs . and of this infusion is made a most excellent medicine for the eyes . it is also administred with good and happy successe for purging glisters : it cureth all obstructions of the inward parts : it delivereth from the tertian and quartan fevers : it is commended against the dropsie anasarca : it is the best purifier of the blood ; and is the chiefest , and only preservative against the leprosie , the epilepsie , and the gout . pag. 22 , 23. usque ad 30. and again , the same author in his basilica antimonij , pag. 39 , 40. &c. saith thus ; antimonium , naturam confortando sudores movendo , sanguinemque depurando , tantum inimicissimis humanae vitae hostibus bellum in dixit , ut neque hydrops , neque podagra , arthritis , gallica lues . lepra & hisce affines morbi , contra talem medicinam quicquid moliri ausint : antimony by conforting nature , by procuring sweat , and by purifying of the blood , wageth such war against the most cruell enemies of mans life , that neither the dropsie , nor the gout , nor the morbus , nor the leprosie , can any thing at all withstand the effectual virtues of this medicine , p. 39. and again , antimoniū diphoreticū est utilissimum , quod vires conservando sudores movet , in peste & febribus sursum & deorsum movendo purgat , in hydrope maxime arcanum : antimony is a most profitable sweat-procuring medicine , which by preserving the naturall strength procureth sweat , and purgeth away the infection of the plague , and pestilentiall fever by purging the body both upwards and downwards . ad capitis affectus singulare remedium : it is a singular remedy against all evill affects of the head . moreover in the 43. pag. he saith , antimonium per vomitum venenum recentur assumptum , citissime ejicitur , in febribus & capitis doloribus utiliter exhibitur , omnem epilepsiae fomitem excernit , & horribilem istum affectum , & hostem vitaequae humanae tortorem omninò expellit , & eradicat , omnem vitiosam colluviem per vomitum , & alvum expellit : pag. 43. antimony by vomit expelleth poyson speedily , if lately taken , it is given very profitably against all fevers and infirmities of the head , it sifteth out the unwholsome matter of the falling-sicknesse , and utterly expelleth this cruell torture , and adverse enemy to the life and health of mankinde , also it driveth out by vomit and siedge all filthy corruption and impurity out of the body of man . furthermore in the 46. pag. he saith , antimonium febres curat , à putredine praeservat , ciborum appetentiam excitat , ventriculum constringendi confortat , omnemque calorem praeter naturam , in corpore humano ortum extinguit , epilepsiam curat , calculum francit , lumbricos enecat , mensis & urinam movet , & dolores etiam padagricos extrinsecus adhibitum mulcet , & multa alia in medicina praestat , dentium dolorem sistit , balsamum vitae instaurat , sanguinem purificat , obstructiones reserat ; nunquam anhelosos & asthmaticos deserit , summum sanguinis mundificativū , calculū renum & vesicae frangit & expellit , urinam & sudores movet , ulcera , fistulas , & vulnera à putridine conservat & sanat antimony cureth fevers , preserveth from putrefaction , procureth appetite , comforteth the stomack , allayeth all immoderate , and unnaturall heat , cureth the falling-sicknesse , breaketh the stone , killeth worms , procureth urine , and the monethly flowers , asswageth the pain of the gout by bathing with the infusion and externall application ; and hath many other medicinall virtues , stayeth the pain of the teeth , restoreth the balsame and strength of nature , purifieth the blood , openeth obstructions , forsaketh not to comfort and help the asthmaticall , and such as are short-winded , is the chief cleanser and purifier of the blood , it breaketh and expelleth the stone , whether it be of the reins or of the bladder , it procureth urine and sweat , cureth perfectly ulcers , fistula's and wounds , and preserveth them from corruption and putrefaction . basilica antimonij , pag. 47 , 48. 49. i may not omit the testimony of that excellent physitian oswaldus crollius physitian to the prince of anhalt , who in his basilica chimica , pag. 214. saith thus : antimonium operatur mirabilia in peste , in febribus , acutis , in mania , in dilirio , in dementiis , facinationibus , morbis omnibus in universum opitulatur , epilepsiis & aliis quamplurimis morbis adjuvat , per alvum , per superiora , per por●s , per insensibilem transpirationem noxia copiose expurgat . antimony doth wonderfull things in the preservation from the plague , in sharp fevers , against madnesse , forgetfullnesse , distractions , witchcrafts ; it helpeth in generall against all diseases , comforteth against the falling evill , and many other desperate diseases . and again , in the 216. page , he saith ; mirabilia operatur in peste , quartana , hydrope ▪ longis obfirmatis morbis , diuturnis putridis febribus , cachexia , melancholia , insania , delirio venenorum haustorum symptomatibus ; it worketh wonderfull effects against the plague , the quartan ague , the dropsie , and against inveterate and confirmed diseases , and against continuall , rotten , and corrupt fevers , against the leprosie , and foul spots of the skin , against melancholy , madnesse , dotage , forgetfullnesse , and all evill qualities of poysons and venemous things : and concludeth in the 219. page , non datur melius catharticum : a better purging medicine cannot be given . i will conclude this discourse with the authority and testimony of mylius , and duncanus bornetus jatrochimia , dun. p. 93. antimonium est praestantissimum , & nunquam satis laudatum medicamentum , ad restaurationem & renovationem corporis humani , tinctura enim illa expurgat atrum sanguinem , & vitiosos quosque humores , idque cum evacuatione manifesta , & pravorum humorum correctione , hepatis obstructionibus opitulatur , hydropem discutit , icteritiam curat , laeticiam generat , leprosis sanitatem restituit , & est praestantissimus adpulmones balsamus : estque efficax ad luem veneream curandam , medicamentum . maximum enim pro lepra arcanum est , quo nihil fere in hoc morbo praestantius inveniri potest : lienem rectificat , matricis dolorem sedat , menses movet , ejusque vigorem conservat , morphaeam curat , scorbuto medetur , bilem utramque expellit ex toto corpore , calculos frangit , caput & cerebrum expurgat , epilepsiae & convulsionibus omnibus medetur : & ut brevibus dicam in deploratissimis morbis ferè omnibus summum est remdium : that is , antimony is a most excellent , and never-sufficiently praised medicine : for the restauration and renovation of the body of man , the infusion or tincture thereof purgeth black blood and choller , and every corrupt humour , and that both by manifest evacuation and correction of evill humours : it helpeth against all obstructions of the liver , and of the spleen ; disperseth the dropsie ; cureth the jaundise ; procureth cheerfulnesse and gladnesse of the heart ; restoreth the leprous to perfect health , and is the best preservative of the lungs : it is a perfect and effectuall cure for morbus gallicus ; and the chiefest secret against leprosie , for that nothing is found to be more excellent against that foule disease : it rectifieth the spleen ; asswageth the griefes of the mother ; procureth the monthly tearms ; preserveth and increaseth nature in strength ; cureth the morphew ; healeth the scurvy ; expelleth both black and yellow choller out of the body ; breaketh and expelleth the stone : purgeth the head and brain ; helpeth against the falling sicknesse , and al convulsions : and , to conclude ; it is a chief and an excellent medicine against all desperate and dangerous diseases . thus far duncanus . to the end that it may apparently , and without contradiction , be manifest to all , that these collections and testimonies grounded upon knowledge , practice and experience , and all the aforementioned medicinall virtues , are truly and really appropriate to the use and virtue of the antimoniall cup , being rightly prepared and made of the pure essence , and regulus of antimony , i will conclude with the testimony of milius and duncanus in these words : regulus antimonii , est summum auri examen ac vera omnium florum , & tincturarū medicinalium , in antimonio existentium materia . jatrochim . dunc . pag. 91. the regulus of antimony is the best and chiefest examination of gold , it is the true matter and subject of all medicinall virtues , properties , and qualities contained within the body of antimony . the second part . having plentifully recited the authorities and testimonies of the most famous hermeticall phylosophers and physitians that in foraign parts have mistically written of the wonderfull and admirable virtues of this philosophicall composition , and have communicated the same for the generall good of the christian world : now that our own nation and countrimen may stand acquitted from the imputation of malice or ignorance , or both , as either wanting experience and knowledge of the medicinall virtues thereof ; or else wanting affection to communicate the same . ( although this truth and my self have suffered violence by the inhumanity of malitious potent adversaries : ) neverthelesse the only author of these admirable virtues , the true discerner of the hearts , who selecteth whom he pleaseth to be the fittest instruments of his praise and glory , hath called certain choyce and principall gentlemen of learning , experience and great worth of our own nation and countrey , to bear record and testimony upon their own particular experiments of his sacred secret and effectuall work in the rare virtues of this wonderfull and admirable medicine : whose testimonies i will set down in order with my humble acknowledgements and perpetuall engagements for their noble favours in defence of this truth , for my self in particular , and in the behalf of all others in generall that have already received ( or hereafter shall receive ) benefit and profit by their experimentall incouragements . the first i will set down is the testimony of that honourable and learned gentleman , sir francis kinnaston knight , esq to his majesties sacred person , in these words . whereas declaration hath been made of the medicinall virtues of the magneticall or antimoniall cup by john evans minister and preacher of the word of god ; sithence which time many good experiments have been made thereof , as partly by our own experience , and partly by the commendable relation of our good friends and acquaintance we are sufficiently informed , and for that it is alwaies found to be a most safe , healthfull , and an excellent medicine ; and that much good hath been done by the uses , benefits , and virtues thereof , unto very many that were infirmed with desperate and dangerous diseases : to the end that a jewell of such manifold virtues , and so necessary and profitable for the generall good , especially of those that inhabit in remote places from learned physitians ; and also for the benefit of the poorer sort of people , may be the more communicative , and generally known ; we affirm and testifie that the prepared liquor of this magneticall cup , duly prepared , and discreetly administred according to the direction by the said mr. evans prescribed , hath upon much experience and tryall been found to be both a safe and healthfull medicine , and also of gentle operation , and of such admirable effects and virtues , that it justly meriteth to be both approved and commended for the generall good of all men . francis kinnaston knight , esq ; to his majesties body . nicholas page d. of divinity and philosophie . william molyns esquire . roger ellis esquire . the second testimony is the experimentall relation of the right worshipfull sir thomas middelton knight whom i acknowledge to have been my noble mecaenas in these studies , and the only fosterer and favorer of this famous medicine at its first growth into any perfection into this noble island of great britain . master evans , that you may see that i am not unmindfull of my promise made unto you , touching my knowledge of the virtues of the magneticall or antimoniall cup , i have sent these few lines unto you , not taking upon me to set forth the full and true worth and excellent virtues of the same , lest by seeking to set them forth to the life , i should by my unskillfull handling of an unaccustomed pencill , deface the same , neither can i , neither am i willing to certifie the parties names that i have cured therewith , both because they are so many , and also because i will not wrong those grave and learned doctors that had them in hand before they came to me and failed to cure them , only i will impart unto you my opinion of the magneticall or antimoniall cup , and what cures i have done with it . the liquor of the cup i call that , the wine in which it hath been infused , if it be duely prepared observing convenient times will work incredible cures , working either upwards or downwards according to the constitution & time it is made , & given , which is a secret ▪ but of great use to them that will practice that kinde of physick ; it expels all noysome and superabounding humors , it strengthneth nature , and whether it work or work not , it never hurts ( which is contrary to all other physick ) for if that other materiall substantiall feculent physick remain and lye within the body , it will indanger it . it is the most precious thing that any man can have , whether hee be rich or poor , for by it a man shall preserve health , procure health , and prevent sicknesse , both to himself and family , both old and young , and cost him but a little , the fourtieth part of a doctors fee , the value of 6d . and if there were no other virtues in it than hath been spoken , this were sufficient to commend it : the cures that i have done with it , are truly more than i can recall to memory ; for i have not refused any ( whatsoever disease he or they were troubled or infected with ) except ulcers and running soars , which require also the chyrurgeons help as well as the physitian , and often times both are necessary to make a perfect cure . some of those soars have passed my hands , not many : i have cured all manner of head-aches , frensies , and madness , the pestilentiall and the spotted fever , the quotidian tertian , and intermittent agues , the falling-sicknesse , the foul ( or french ) disease , the convulsions , which were thought to be witcheries , the mother , the yellow and the black jaundice , the consumption that is not too far gone , given ease and prevented the stone , given ease and prevented the gout : i have cured divers of impostumes , i bless god for his goodnesse and great mercy vouchsafed to me ; i have given it to more than a thousand ( since i began to practice with it ) and i never heard of any that miscarried , nor of ten in all that number that i failed to cure ; i have given it to men and women of fourscore years old , to sucking children , to women with child , and never any miscarried , but all have received benefit by it , blessed be god that gives such varieties of virtues to so slender a means ; i am verily perswaded that there is no disease that this will not cure , being rightly prepared , given , and followed , i must confesse i cannot sufficiently praise it , nor give it any fit value or estimable rate , it exceeding the gold of ophire as much as health doth sickness ; with this i will conclude : it purgeth and purifieth the body from all superfluous and praeternaturall blood , phlegme , choler , and melancholy , and maketh the body vigorous , strong , and lusty . what i have written is not by relation from others , but from my own experience , and to give satisfaction to your desires , that have taken so much pains , both in the making of the magneticall cup , and in setting forth the virtues thereof most truly , yet short , in truth , of what it hath ; so i conclude , and rest your well wishing friend , tho. middelton . the third testimony shall be the experimentall and judicious approbation of that most reverend , learned , and holy divine , now resting with the lord in fullness of joy , mr. richard naper , alias sandy , doctor of divinity , philosophie , and physick : and in his life time rector of linford magna in the county of buckingham ; his words are these . much indeared mr. evans , whereas you desire to have my approbation of your magneticall cup , i have most willingly embraced the rule of the blessed apostle , omnia explorate quod bonum fuerit retinete ; although i needed not by reason of my long practice and much experience , seek out the experiments of new medicines ; neverthelesse i have often times made good use of that magneticall or antimoniall cup i had from you , and have found the effects and vertues thereof to be both wonderfull and many , and worthy of great estimation , and to agree very well with all constitutions , and is found to be in the use very gentle , and without any violence or danger , being administred in a convenient proportion , and it purgeth the body well both by vomit and siedge ; the infusion may be made with wine , ale , beer , or with any other convenient liquor , neverthelesse an appropriate vehicle cannot otherwise than profitably further the effect ; i prevaileth very well against obstructions , against the falling-sicknesse , melancholy , madnesse , apoplexy , and against many other dangerous and desperate diseases , and maladies , which would be too long to set down particularly , and as learned writers affirm , that it is an universall medicine ; so may it also be of perpetuall continuance , which i the rather conceive & doe believe , for that i have often times made use of the magneticall or antimoniall cup i had from you , and its physicall operations and virtues are found neither to waste fail nor diminish : and therefore i would wish you to proceed not only in your carefull preparation and due composition of this excellent medicine , but in the further discovery of other profitable good things which the lord shall please to impart unto you , and you shall finde me ever , your very loving and assured friend , ric. naper . the fourth testimony that shall be produced , shall be the judgement and experimentall approbation of a profound philosopher , and an excellent physitian , famous throughout all europe for his great learning , profound judgement , elegant expression , confirmed skill , and universall knowledg , both in sacred theologicall mysteries , as also in philosophicall , hermeticall , and chymicall speculations , his words are these . whereas i was requested by mr. john evans , preacher of the word of god , to expresse my minde and knowledge concerning the natures and virtues of the magneticall or antimoniall cup ; these are to testifie , that the liquor that hath resided in them by moderate and kindly heat of fire , doth draw unto it , and indueth the virtues and properties thereof , insomuch that if it be drunk down fasting it purgeth as well by vomit as downward , all such offensive and preternaturall humors , as are inclined to cause and ingender many perilous diseases , as tough phlegmatick humors , which cause falling-sickness , cachexies , and stupid diseases , also against fevers as well continuall as intermittent , and to discharge the stomack at any time , over-burthened with superfluous humors , proceeding of surfeits or otherwise . my conclusion therefore is , that such a cup will prove very beneficiall for such as dwell in the country , and either are far from a physitian , or else being neer , have not the purse to use either physitian or apothecary ; and especially for that it is a perpetuall medicine whose virtues fail not . and to testifie thus much i doe set to my hand , robert . flud , esq ; and dr. of physick . in the fifth place , i will set down the testimony of two learned gentlemen , dr. vanderlasse , and dr. rudston , in these words . for as much as it is apparent by the testimonies and sentences of all writers and authors phylosophicall and physicall ; and that it is obvious to every sensible man , that things coct , digested , and separated from their impurities are of more virtue and efficacy in all physicall use , than things crude and feculent , as also that of animals , vegitables , and minerals ; the minerals beare soveraignty in physick , and knowing that by the opinion of the best authors and their practic , that amongst minerals , antimony phylosophycally prepared , is generally preferred by all , for an excellent universall medicine against all dangerous and pernitious diseases : it is without all question that being digested and purged from all his impurities and feculencies as m. john evans minister and preacher of the word of god hath done , and made it into a cup for conveniency of infusion , preparation and fit proportion of doze , by digestion of which in convenient liquor of wine , beer , or cider by the moderate heat of fire , it attracteth the virtues into any fit liquor , which being taking fasting purgeth the body from all offensive and preternaturall humours ▪ which are the originall causes of all diseases , and the operation is both safe and gentle , and worketh by vomit and siedge , sweat and urine , any one of these wayes , or all these waies , as nature , and the offensive humors , best requireth ; and is found alwaies to be safe and without any violence to nature , or danger to the patient ; and therefore most writers of authority doe affirme it to be an universall and perpetuall medicine , whose virtues never faileth as experience hath sufficiently confirmed , and to testifie thus much we have subscribed our names . barthol : vanderlasse medic. & chyr . operator . jo : rudston , phylo : & phy : dr. the sixth testimony shall be the experimentall approbation and judgement of a learned gentleman , a high-german born : but now a perfect englishman , in these words . for to helpe quickly , and to cure safe and pleasantly , all manner of diseases in mens bodyes , cannot be found a more excellent medicine than the magneticall or antimoniall cup , whose virtues by long and often triall and experience by severall men and nations , have been found infinite and never to decay by often and much usage or succession of time : therefore this chymicall or magneticall cup is found very available and to cure all manner of head-achings : against the megrim , vertigo , madnes , frensie , melancholy , falling sicknes , cramps , convulsions , against sorenesse of eyes proceeding from evill vapours ascending from the stomack , evill digestion of the stomack , surfeits , plurisies , against the stuffing of the lungs , and shortnes of winde , against all fluxes , jaunders , green sicknesse , dropsies , obstructions , gout , french pox , scurvey , morphew , scabs , calenture , hot burning fevers , and against all manner of agues , and against the infection of the plague , poysons or other infectious diseases being administred in the beginning ; also this everlasting chymicall or magneticall cup may right well be stiled an vniversall medicine or panacea , whose virtues never decayeth ; and therefore most necessary and usefull for any gentleman dwelling in the countrey , living remote from expert physitians , and these magneticall or antimoniall cups are made and prepared with such diligence , care and art by mr. john evans minister of gods word , that they are safe to be used ; in testimony hereunto i have written this with mine own hand and subscribed my name . phillippus mullerus medicinae & philoso . dr. the seventh testimony i will produce for the confirmation of the excellency of this magneticall medicine shall be the experienced relation of an honourable gentleman francis godolphin esquire . kinde mr. evans , had i been at home , at farnbies last departure hence towards london , i should have shewed my selfe willing to have re-saluted you by my letter , having formerly received yours : be pleased now to accept the acknowledgement of my hearty thanks for your imparting unto me , the happy cures done by your magneticall cup , and the more perfect use of it confirmed by daily experience : and now giving god the glory , and you many thanks for the cures wrought by my cup ( the childe of your happy invention , i thought good to acquaint you that there came to my house a poor begger woman of the parish of s. paul about the age of 44. years , and at my doore fell into a pittifull fit of the falling sicknes and continued long in that fit : but after the fit was past , and she began to recollect her sences ; by questioning with her , i found that her disease had continued on her three or four years , and that she much desired to take any thing that would ease her , and that her fits sometimes took her twice in one day , here upon i gave her the next morning white wine ordered according to your direction , and it wrought effectually with her , and neither that day nor the day following wherein shee took not the cup had she any fit or the least symptome of it , the third day i gave it her again , but then it wrought not with her neither upwards nor downwards , but onely by sweat , but sithence the first time of the taking of it , she hath not had any one fit , which is now a quarter of a year past , and now she goes to her daily labour , as she was wont to doe ; once of late i caused her to take it againe to prevent a relapsing into the former griefe , but i am confident that she is perfectly cured . another young man aged 28 or 30 years , of mine own parish being much troubled with that griefe hath by the use of your cup ( god blessing the means ) perfectly recovered his wonted health : and now lately one john heckes a souldier at pendinas castle neer penrynne , who for three or foure , or more years was taken so ill , as he had a continuall hysking and stopping of his breath , & was not able to goe without a staffe and that to his great pain , and was by as many as daily saw him thought to be in a deep consumption and not to be recovered by physick , intreated me to send him wine prepared in this cup , which i did , and he took it twice according to your direction , and within two or three dayes after the taking of it , recovered his health , used no more his staffe , but grew to such jollity of strength as that he was able to cary and mannage his musket , and doth now serve in his armes , and doe his duty as ably as any souldier in that castle : many other helpes this cup hath done to divers that have made use of it , i pray god to blesse you in the well composing of many more such cups , and to continue his blessings upon those you doe compose , to the health of such his servants as shall make use of them ; thus tendering unto you my hartiest love , thanks and well wishes , i rest your assured loving friend . francis godolphin . the eight testimony that shall be produced is a true and certain relation of the experienced knowledge and experimentall practice of a right worshipfull gentleman captaine gunter living neer newbury in bark shire , his words are these . concerning the virtues of the antimoniall cup made & sold to me by mr. john evans minister of the word of god , i doe testifie that i doe experimentally know that a certaine man about 30 years of age ▪ ( who had been grievously troubled with that disease which is commonly called the kings evill for seven or eight years , and was consumed and brought very weak and feeble by reason of the corrupt humors nourishing and feeding continually that disease ) that was perfectly cured of that sicknes and disease by drinking the prepared liquor of this magneticall cup thrice , and bathing the sore places with the infusion , and being administred to him the fourth time ( though in a greater quantity than before , it wrought not at all with him , by reason that he was throughly purged before , and by the externall bathing of the sore places where they were grown up and inclosed before , they opened and there came forth much corrupt matter like rotten sinews or putrified corrupt worms , and afterwards perfectly healed up without any other helpe : this cure was perfectly accomplished from the beginning to the end in ten dayes . and this man continueth perfectly healed of this sore disease ; it was administred to this patient in ale , i have know this medicine administred to more than foure hundred severall persons of different constitutions , ages and sexes , troubled with severall griefes and infirmities that have been brought alwaies to perfect health , by the virtues & benefits of this medicine , and the operation was alwaies gentle and safe with good successe : and i finde it also effectuall for the griefes and diseases of common animals ; for my own gelding being exceedingly troubled with the scratches , i washed the sores with this liquor , and there came out foule matter , and rotten dead flesh , and he was perfectly cured with this liquor hot . in testimony of the certain truth of what is by me related , i have subscribed my name . humfrey gunter . the ninth testimony shall be the approved relation of a certain worthy gentleman of reputation and credit , that writeth upon his own particular knowledge and practice , experienced upon himself : his own words , written with his own hand , are these . sir , my infirmitie was a violent wringing in my breast , somewhat above the pit of my stomack , thence dispearsing about to my back with such anguish , as if it would have pulled back and breast to meet together : by continuance it threw me deep into the yellow jaundise , made me loath all meats , and almost in despair of cure ; for i had been in a chargeable course of physick , which neverthelesse gave me no longer ease than whilest it was in the working ; then i was advertised of your antimoniall cup , which my brother captain lathum bought of you : and i was advised to make tryall of it , which i did with so good successe , that in twice taking i was eased of my pain , and restored to a kindly appetite with equall digestion ; sithence that , especially towards spring and fall , i feel some touches of my infirmity grudging and returning , then presently i use the cup as before : at this time i finde my self in a good setled estate of health , for which i render most humble and hearty thanks to almighty god for his mercifull goodnesse , and doe heartily wish to you , his mediat instrument of this favour , a plentifull blessing upon your learned and usefull invention , resting , though unknown , your assured friend and well wisher . john lathum . the tenth testimony shall be the faithfull relation of mr. tho : godfrey of kent , esquire , and of mr. edmund harrison his majesties embroyderer . master evans , whereas you have requested our testimony concerning the medicinall virtues of the antimoniall cups we have received from your hands : we give you to understand that we have used our cups against all manner of common and usuall diseases with happy and good successe : we have given the liquor thereof to more than two hundreth severall persons of both sexes , from two years to fourscore : it cureth perfectly all sorts of agues and pestilentiall fevers : it hath done very much good to all that have taken it , and never any hurt at all to young nor old : it hath cured our man of the infection of the plague ; and suppurated , cleansed , and healed the plague sore upon him , and prevented the infectious contagion of that sicknesse from many others ; and to conclude ; all that received it , have received much good and benefit by the use and virtues of it , whatsoever their diseases or infirmities were , and none of them received any manner of harm at all by the use of it ; in testimony whereof , we have subscribed our names . tho. godfrey . edmund harrison . the eleventh testimony is an experienced relation of the effects ( m. nicholas benet of the white crosse in fetter lane ) found to be in the magneticall cup he bought of me . sir , you have desired me to give testimony under my hand of the medicinall virtues i have , upon experience , found to be in your antimoniall cup , which i doe most willingly , in regard of the great good i , and mine , have found by the benefit of it , and because i desire the generall good of others also ; it being great pitty that so precious a medicine should be kept secret , that may doe so much good , with so little cost : i have made great use of it upon my self , my wife , children and servants , i have given of the wine or liquor prepared to many of my friends , and at their intreaty to divers other strangers ; and i did never know by my own observation or experience , or hear from any other that did take it , but that they using it ( and themselves , after the taking of it ) as was and is prescribed ; found very much good by it , let their disease or grief be what it would : so that i doe verily believe that it doth truly deserve that title , the vniversall medicine , or a medicine for all diseases , neither can i in words give it the due commendation it deserveth . a merchant in london , a friend of mine came to me and told me he had a daughter of twelve years of age , which was very much troubled with a disease called the scurvy , insomuch that some of her teeth were fallen out , her leggs and other parts of her body were exceedingly swelled , neither did they after much physick find any amendment in her , unto whom the prepared liquor of this cup was given twice , resting one day between ; it wrought well with her , and a wonderfull effect immediately followed thereupon ; for within four dayes she was perfectly cured : her loose teeth were all fastened ; her legs and other parts of her body were restored to their naturall proportion again ; and she was absolutely freed from her scurvy disease . another friend that had been for a long time troubled with an ague and the green sicknesse together , which was grown so faint with it , that she was not able to goe ; it helped perfectly at once taking . some speciall properties i have observed in it , which makes me to esteem of it very much , namely the safety and gentlenesse of the medicine in its operation ; for it may be given to young children without danger , as i have my self often times proved upon my own children of three and four yeers of age ; from whose stomacks it hath brought such foul corrupt matter , that i could not have believed them to have been troubled withall , had i not seen it ; it never straineth the body with that extream violence that other vomits doe : for this worketh his effects with great facility , gentleness , and safety , and also with incredibl expedition , commonly upon the first or second taking : i have seen wonderfull good effects done by it , and diseases that have been of long continuance speedily and perfectly cured therewith . your loving friend , nicholas benet . the twelfth and last testimony that shall be at this time produced shall be a testification of the experienced knowledge and experimentall practice of a right worshipfull gentleman of great credit and reputation , and one of singular humanity , and liberall disposition to further the common good , mr. john grymesdich esquire , written also with his own hand verbatim as followeth . a true testimony of the operations and effects of the magneticall or antimoniall cup which i bought of mr. evans dwelling in gunpowder alley , 1634. and by my wife used and practised ever since at my house in knottingley in the countie of yorke . at my first bringing down of this cup , having a friend of mine about 15. years of age , who had for four or five years before been fore troubled with the falling-sicknesse , and could not by any means of physick or otherwise be cured : my wife made tryall of this cup , and gave to this young man the infusion thereof in white wine ; and he was perfectly cured without ever having any one fit sithence : which i conceive to be a cure beyond all the ordinary practice of physick , for although we used the opinion and help of divers doctors and others professing skill in that cure , yet the child was never the better untill he had this cup . secondly , my wife finds by continuall experience , that it is a present cure for the head-ache , the temples of the head being bathed with the liquor of this cup warm . thirdly , there was a violent disease in the countrey and town where i dwell , which to many proved mortall ( a pestilent fever or the like ) but my wife hath given the infusion of this cup in white wine to many of her neighbours that have been sick of the same disease , and none of them that had taken it ever perished but recovered perfectly . fourthly , at my comming home , after ester tearm , i finde my wife dressing a poor servants foot in the town , one of his toes having a foul fistula in it almost for a whole yeer before ; and it was so corrupted , that all her salves and powders could doe no good at all ; in so much that she said , she was now out of hope to cure it , and therefore would now give him over : but i advised her first to try the liquor of the cup , which she had not before tryed in chyrurgerie , and upon my advise and intreaty , she did so ; doing nothing at all to it , but wash it with the infusion made with white wine , and squirt the ten● holese with a syrindge , and lay a wet cloth upon it , dipt in the same infusion , and she laid green ivy leaves upon the cloth to keep it from drying : this practice shee continued without using any other means at all ; and within one moneth that toe which had five tents put into it at the first , and one of them quite through , was perfectly cured . fifthly , after this , she cured a gyrl of two fistulaes in her elbows , which had continued for four or five years before , and had much weakned and wasted her arms : this maid was perfectly cured only with washing and cleansing the sores , and syringing in the liquor of this cup warm , without applying any thing else to the sores , having used all other common means before , but could get no help . sixthly , another poor man came to my house with a sore hand mightily swelled , and infinitely painfull to him , so that he could doe no manner of labor , and his wife and children were ready to starve , or to goe abroad on begging , living before only upon the poore mans labor : my wife taking pitty and compassion upon the poore man , bathed his hand with hot liquor of white-wine prepared in this cup , a good while together about half an hour , and a wet cloath being laid upon it , the next morning it broke , and within one fortnight was perfectly cured . seventhly , again another poore woman being strucken with a cows horn as she was in milking , and her cheek sore wounded , was with the water of this cup perfectly cured within one moneth at the most . eightly , i have heard my lady jackson affirme that she having one of these cups bought of mr. evans , used it to a poore woman that was brought to her , so drawn up with convulsions , that she had the use neither of her legs nor armes , neverthelesse within short time she was perfectly cured by taking the liquor of the cup inwardly , and bathing with it outwardly : these i doe affirm as remarkable cures of my own observation , but i verily believe that a quire of paper will not containe the cures and helps that my wife hath performed unto , and upon poore people , and to other in the country since she had it , with the alone prepared liquor of this cup . i may truly affirm that there hath not been a day or night this twelve moneths sithence the virtues of this cup was known in the country , but it hath been still neere unto the fire with liquor in it both night and day , and the strength and virtues of it still continues without any abatement at all : thus much i have written in my thankfulnesse to god for the help this young man hath received by your happy invention , and for your better incouragement to proceed in the well compounding and making of these antimoniall cups , verily believing that the true use of it is more available for the health of mens bodies than all the drugs in london , so i conclude and rest your assured friend . john grymesdich . a table of the cures done by the antimoniall cup , as they succeed in order . obstructions of the spleen , and fits of the mother , &c. nu 1 , 52. consumption . 2 , 17 , 34 , 40 , 42 , 69 , 84. convulsion fits . 3 , 13 , 41 , 57. hydropicall humors : 4. miserere , or iliaca passio , the excrements issuing at the mouth . 5 , 56. frenzie and madnesse . 6 , 18 , 71. falling-sicknesse . 7 , 96 , 97. head-ache . 8. pestilent fever . 9. a fistula . 10 , 11. sore hand . 12. a wound with a cowe horn . 14 kings evill . 15 , 16. a wound by a bore . 19. biles , botches , &c. 20 , 43. swellings and kernels . 21. lamenesse in the body : 22. the scurvy , &c. 23. deafnesse , &c. 24. swounding fits . 25. the gout . 26. inflamations of the lungs . 27. the quartan ague , & fever hectick . 28. the fever hectick , or consuming marasmos . 29. the stone in the kidnies , with impostumations of the lungs , &c. 30. obstructions of the spleen , and inflamations of the liver . 31. the apoplexie , or paraplegia . 32. the consumption , and whiskings of the lungs , &c. 33. the green-sicknesse . 35. the dropsie and gout . 36 , 37. the plurifie . 38. morbus gallicus . 39 , 54 , 55 , 99. the dead palsie . 44 , 78 , 91. the mother , and convulsion fits . 46. the cough of the lungs , &c. 47. suddain lamenesse . 48. oppressions of the stomack . 49. abundant bleeding . 50. a fistulated leg , &c. 51. obstructions of the liver and spleen , with the consumption . 53. the small pox in an infant three moneths old . 58. the strangury , &c. 59. the p●ifick , &c. 60. the whites , &c. 61. the fever hectick , with the yellow jaundice . 62. black jaundice & consumption . 63. 64. dropsie and consumption . 65 , 68 , 77 , 85. a surfeit and dead palsie , with lamenesse , &c. 66. a fistula and dropsie . 67. an ulcerated breast , &c. 70. the ague fever and consumption . 72. the cachexia , green-sicknesse , &c 73. the bloody flix . 74. the scorbuto , &c. 75. the vertigo , &c. 76. the fever hectick . 79. the quartan fever . 80. blindenesse 81. dimnesse and weaknesse of sight . 82. the cough of the lungs with a consumption . 83. the plague . 86 , 87. benummed limbs . 88. blood issuing at the breasts . 89. an impostumation in the lungs 90. a bruise . 92. excrescencie . 93. the quartan ague , with a deep consumption . 94. a man aged fou score and four years scabbed all over . 25 ▪ stoppings grown to a consumption . 95 ▪ the blood purified . 10. over-charging the stomack . 10. a true relation of one hundred admirable experiments and rare cures , performed upon severall persons , of severall constitutions , infirmed with divers and severall infirmities and diseases , and restored to perfect health , by the alone vse and medicinall virtues thereof ; faithfully collected for the confirmation of this truth . a noble lady descended of ( and married into ) an honorable family , that for a long time had been dangerously afflicted with the obstructions of the spleen , terrible fits and suffocations of the mother , and withall deeply plunged with melancholy : and by the judgements of many doctors of physick , not to be recovered by physicall helps , was afterwards within a short time recovered to perfect health by drinking the alone prepared infusion of this cup , and is yet praise be to god , living in good health , and will affirme this for an approved and certain truth . 2. in the cittie of london a certain gentleman of good quality , that was far spent with a languishing and health-destroying consumption , and after much physick taken , forsaken and left remedilesse by the physitians , was within a few daies restored to his health , and strength , and naturall vigour , by drinking the infusion of this cup , prepared and administred in ale . 3. a certain young gentlewoman living in the citty of chester , being strangly taken with violent convulsion fits , that she could hardly by the strength of four assistants , at the time of her extremity be kept in her bed , so that many ( mistakingly ) apprehended her miserable distemperature to have been occasioned through witchcraft , and to be remedilesse by physick , was notwithstanding , by the speciall blessing of god upon this medicine , restored to temperate constitution and good health , by drinking the infusion of this cup . 4. a countrey woman mightily swelled with hydropicall humors , and her legs of such incredible bignesse ; that by reason of the extraordinary repletion and fulnesse of humors continually running in such great aboundance , that being brought into a fair parlour , the moisture that ran from her legs wet the boarded floore , as if water had been there spilled in good quantity , neverthelesse taking the infusion of this cup : within four daies she was perfectly cured and restored to her former health . 5. a poore man living within twelve miles of chyrke castle in denbigh-shire , that for six moneths , together had not after the common manner performed the duties of nature , being sore troubled with a grieveous infirmity called miserere or iliaca passio : whereby the excrementitious impurities of the body were loathsomly ejected at the mouth , contrary to the naturall order , was perfectly cured by drinking three or four times the prepared infusion of this cup without any other help . 6. a certain gentlewoman , that for many years had continued remedilesse and comfortlesse , extreamly afflicted with violent distractions , frenzie , and madnes , through the goodnesse of god ▪ and the medicinall virtues of this cup , by drinking the infusion thereof , was speedily restored to health , perfect sences , memory and understanding : these six receited experiments and rare cures with many hundreds more , were performed by my much honored worthy friend the right worshipfull sir thomas mydelton knight . 7. a young gentleman about 15 years of age that had for four or five years before , been sore troubled with the falling sicknesse , and could not by any meanes of common phisick or otherwise be cured , was perfectly cured , and freed from the violence of that cruell disease by drinking the infusion of this cup : without any other help . 8. it is found by continuall experience ; that it is a present cure for the head-ache , the temples of the head being bathed with the liquor of the cup warme . 9. at knottingley in the county of york in the year 1636. there was a generall raging and cruell sicknesse , a pestilentiall fever , or the like , whereof very many died : the infusion of this cup rightly prepared and adminstred to many severall deseased persons , not any one that ever took it perished or miscarried , but recovered perfectly . 10. in the same town of knottingley , avirtuous godly gentlewoman , cured a poore servants foot , having in one of his toes a foule fistula , of a whole years continuance wherein there was 5 holes , five tents put therein continually , and one of the holes quite through : which fistulated sore foot could not be cured by the best skill , salves and powders of the common chyrurgeons , was within one moneth perfectly cured with the alone prepared liquor of this cup . 11. the same right worshipfull gentlewoman , cured a young maiden of two fistulaes , one in either of her elbows , which had continued four or five yeers before , which had much weakned and wasted her arms ; she was perfectly and speedily cured , by using the alone infusion of this cup ; having used all means before , and could get no help . 12. in the same town a poor man came to this gentlewoman with a sore hand mightily swelled , and infinitely painfull to him , so that he could doe no manner of labor : his hand being bathed with the infusion of this cup , the next morning it broke and run abundantly , and within one fortnight , by the use of this infusion alone , his hand was perfectly cured . 13. a certain poor woman was brought to the right honoured ladie , the ladie jackson , so drawn up and her sinews contracted with convulsions , that she had not the use either of legs , arms , feet , or hands , notwithstanding she was by the said lady perfectly cured and restored to strength , health , and able use of her former benummed limbs , by the alone infusion of this cup . 14. another poor woman being struck with a cows horn as she was in milking , and her cheek sore wounded ; was , by only washing the sores with the liquor of the cup , perfectly and speedily cured . these eight last recited experiments are certified to be approved truth , by the right worshipfull m. john grymsdych of knottingley , esquire . 15. a certain man about 30 years of age , troubled for 9 years before with the disease called the kings evill , and much consumed and weakned therewith , was perfectly cured of that disease , by the use of the infusion of this cup . m. humfrey guntur , esquire , living neer newberry , performed this with many other very rare cures . 16. in wallingford , mr. smiths daughter of the george , was perfectly cured of the kings-evill with the infusion thereof , although it was broken out into very many dangerous and ulcerous sores about her neck and face . mr. william mollins , esq ; who lent them his cup wherewith they cured this patient , of that sore disease , testifieth this . 17. in mortelake neer richmond a gentleman of good worth and reputation now liveth , spent very far with a long continued languishing consumption : and at length left remedilesse , and forsaken by many doctors and physitians , was afterwards perfectly recovered to good health , appetite , digestion , and healthfull constitution of body , by drinking the infusion of this cup three times , being prepared in ale : witnesse hereunto m. humfrey benet , esquire . 18. in barnet ten miles from london , a certain poor man distracted with extream frensie and madness , to whom mrs. baker dwelling in the town , administred in good and sufficient quantity of the liquor of this cup , a pinte ( of ale ) at a time , for three times : it caused him to vomit , and to purge plentifully , and fell a bleeding at the nostrills and bled well , stayed of it self ; the patient slept , and perfectly recovered , and remaineth well , praise to god . 19. in the same town upon a market day , a poor country man was strucken very deep into the leg by a raging boar , and withdrawing his crooked tushes , rented , tore , and bruised the flesh very sore ; neverthelesse being dressed with the infusion of this cup , was perfectly and speedily healed up without any other help . 20. also in the same town , a certain young maiden being all over the body full of loathsome biles , botches , and scabbed blains from the crown to the foot , by taking the infusion of this cup she was speedily cured , and her body perfectly purged and cleansed and she avoided at her mouth divers worms , whereof one was of an increedible bignesse , proportion , and form : and now she is in good health and fair of complexion . 21. another gentlewoman in the same town , having many swelling or rising kernels of sanguine blew and other variable colours , as big as nutmegs arising upon her cheek and neck : with the application and drinking of this infusion they speedily consumed and vanished away , and the gentlewoman remaineth perfectly cured . 22. another woman living not far from the same town being lame of her hands , knees , and feet , and not able to stand or goe , and brought into mrs. kings house in a chair by the strength of men , using the infusion of this cup , within four dayes she was perfectly recovered so that she was able to goe home to her own house on foot , being two or three miles distant off . these five last experiments were don with many more , by mrs. king , alias barker living in barnet . 23. a merchants daughter in london very much troubled with a disease called the scurvy , whereby some of her teeth were fallen out , her legs and body exceedingly swelled , and she in great extremity of pain ; and finding no amendment by all the former means they had used ; by taking the infusion of this cup three times she was perfectly cured . 24. an ancient gentlewoman living neer fetter-lane , having for many ▪ yeers complained of an intollerable pain of the head , fell suddainly dangerous sick and deaf , and all her face and nose mightily swelled . by externall bathing the temples and other parts of her head and face grieved , an impostume broke in her head and purged through her nostrils in such great abundance , that it was much to be admired , that so much corrupt yellow thick matter could be contained in such a continent , her body also throughly purged by the externall bathing , and she is now perfectly recoverd , and liveth in good health , able to justifie this to be true . 25. at wildertop , in the county of salop , in the house of mr. francis smalman , esquire , a young gentlewoman being much troubled with oppilations and obstructions and suffocations of the matrix , whereby she fell into many dangerous & desperate swounding fits , and at length grew to that weaknesse , that she had many signes of apparent and imminent death ; upon whom the infusion of this cup was inforced in small quantity , which wrought well and gave some hopes : and after administred twice more ; recovered the said gentlewoman to such perfect health , that within eight dayes she travelled safely to london . 26. an ancient gentlewoman , that for many years was extreamly handled with such intollerable painfullnesse of the gout in the joynts of the back-bone , in the huckle-bone , and in the knees , and feet , that she could neither stand nor stir her self any way ; nor scarcely suffer to be removed from her bed to her chair . by externall bathing the grieved parts with ( and drinking ) the prepared liquor of this cup , she was perfectly cured ; and able within fourteen dayes to go up & down the stairs and the house , and to doe any necessary businesse with as much agility and nimblenesse as any in the same town of her years ; and hath so continued perfectly well for eight years past . 27. in the same town a certain young woman much troubled with inflamations of the lungs , and with foul impostumations full of rotten corrupt putrifactions ; with drinking the prepared liquor of this cup thrice , was perfectly recovered and restored to soundnesse of health . 28. another young woman that for a long time had been troubled with a quartan ague , and a species of the fever hectick , and remaining , after much and long use of many medicines , without help or hope ; was perfectly cured by drinking three or four times the prepared liquor of this cup . these eight last recited experiments were done by mrs. king , allas barker , living in barnet ready to confirm this to be true . 29. a certain young woman living in leicester , very far spent with a fever hectick , or rather a consuming marasmos ; her body so foul , and full of rotten and corrupt putrifractions , that her breath and spittle was so noysome and offensive , that none would willingly indure to be in the same room with her : was neverthelesse perfectly and speedily cured , by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , without any other help . 30. an ancient gentleman living in or neer leicester , for many yeers was extreamly tormented with the stone in the kidnies , with excoriations and exulcerations of the bladder , sharp distillations of urine , and impostumations of the lungs , after much physick taken without help , ease , or comfort ; was perfectly and speedily cured by the alone drinking the prepared liquor of this cup : and such great store of foul corrupt matter diuretically expelled that would not be credited , should the very truth be delivered . 31. another young maiden living within two miles of leceister , much troubled with oppilations and obstructions of the spleen , and inflamations of her liver , her complexion utterly impaired with foul morphew and yellownesse ; was perfectly and speedily restored to fair complexion and healthfull constitution , by drinking three times the prepared liquor of this cup . 32. a certain gentlewoman , that for many years together was taken often times with the apoplexy , or paraplegia , which is a suddain retention and losse of motion and speech for many hours together , whereby her health was much impaired , her stomack , appetite and digestion lost , her naturall constitution heat and vigor of body impaired , having many years followed the chargable prescriptions of professed doctors , without helpe , hope , or comfort ; neverthelesse praised be to god was firmly and perfectly recovered by the alone use of the prepared liquor of this cup . 33. the minister of great peately in leicester shire , being farr spent with a deep health-destroying consumption , and so much stopped with astmaticall oppillations , stuffings and whiskings of the lungs that he could not officiate his cure , and so certainly determined for a dead man , that another procured a presentation to the same church ; having also used all the common and usuall course of physick , without help or benefit , was speedily and perfectly recovered to perfect health , and sufficient ability to discharge his ministeriall function , by the alone use of the prepared liquor of this cup . 34. in the same citty and county of leicester another man that for many years had been mnch oppressed with repletions , of corrupt humors , tough flegme , languishing putrifactions , which wasted and consumed away his body and estate by long use of physick , was perfectly restored to health and avoided more than 40. worms of most strange , almost incredible , bignesse by the alone prepared liquor of this cup . 35. a certain young maiden that was wholly affected to feed upon unhealthfull trash , as earth , clay of the wall , chalk and the like , and therewith had destroyed the good estate and constitution of her body , and could not be withdrawn from her unhealthfull and unnaturall longings , was neverthelesse speedily weined from her desires , and perfectly restored to naturall and kindly appetite , to due digestion , and to a healthfull constitution and fair complection by drinking the liquor of this cup . 36. a certain grosse fat woman , whose body was much swelled with hydropicall humors , and full of impure and corrupt malignant repletions and her bones , sinews and arteries continually tormented with restles and intollerable painfulnesse , and having used the chargefull but unprofitable prescriptions of professed phisitians , without either help or any mittigation of her intollerable painfulnesse : was speedily recovered to perfect health , and freed from all grossnesse and painfullnesse , by the use of this cup . 37. a certain gentleman in the county of leicester afflicted in every particular as the precedent patient ; was speedily & perfectly restored , by 3 or 4 times drinking the prepared liquor of this cup . 38. a certain gentleman , living also in , or neer , the city of leicester , having been a great company keeper with gentlemen of quality ; and therefore brought to much grossnesse of body , inflamations and plentitude of foul hot and corrupt blood , fell suddainly into a dangerous plurisie : and taking the liquor of this cup , it wrought immediately and sensibly upon that side principally affected ; purified and allayed the heat , and dispersed the blood ; he avoided much blood by the nostrils ; and expelled by siedge much clotted and corrupt blood , and other foul excrementitious impurities of the whole body ; and was speedily and perfectly restored to his health with this help alone . 39. another gentleman of the same county , that had been for certain years grievously infected with morbus gallicus , being a most foul and dangerous disease , having many ulcerous sores running upon severall parts of his body , and many hard scirrhus bubones , and swelling kernels in the severall emunctories of his body ; and his bones , arteries , and inward parts full of continuall aches , dolors , and intollerable painfullnesse , and utterly forsaken as remedilesse by the common physitians : neverthelesse by bathing the hard places and drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , he was speedily and perfectly restored to health and sound constitution of body . 40. a certain woman also living neer the city of leicester that had received hurt through the neglect or unskillfullness of the midwife , at the time of her childing , and therewith brought to much weakness and consumption of her whole body , and notwithstanding the common course of physick , she remained a long time cureless , drinking the prepared liquor of the cup , she was perfectly cured . 41. another woman that was house-keeper to a gentleman of good estimation in the city of leicester mightily afflicted with violent and strong convulsions , that she was drawn or plucked together in two fold , and sometimes extorted or plucked awry towards the one side , and her face set nigh back , by the strength and extremity of this strange convulsion ; it was commonly taken for the work of witchcraft , and after much practice of physians she was left remedilesse : by externall bathing and drinking the prepared liquor of this cup she was perfectly cured . 42. a certain young gentlewoman , receiving upon her breast a most violent stroak by the elbow of a passionate displeased father , by the suddain bursting or wrongfull contusion of certain veines , the naturall course of the blood became stopped , and flowed in great abundance both at the mouth , at the nostrils , and at the eares , and so continued bleeding more or lesse ( and at the monthly times in greater abundance ) for a whole year or more , and neither the chyrurgeons blood-letting , nor the best experiments of the physitians , could any thing at all prevaile or profit , to stop or remedy this continuall and daily flux of blood ; it much weakned the gentlewoman , her strength and naturall vigor failed , her stomack , appetite and digestion became lost , the fair constitution and complexion of the body was changed to a deadly paleness , the whol body to a manifest desperate hastening consumption : when all other chargefull and costly means failed , the lord made it his own proper work to restore this gentlewoman to perfect health , and her whol body to naturall order and good constitution , by alone drinking , ( and externall application ) the prepared liquor of this cup : these 14 last recited wonderfull and admirable cures were all accordingly effectually performed in christian piety and friendly neighborhood by my much esteemed dear friend mr. william palmer dwelling within two miles of the citty of leicester . 43. a certain maiden through want of her naturall monethly purgations , became extreamly swelled all the body over , and had also in the right breast , neck and arm-pit , certain kernels and hard tumors , and all her left arme was altogether benummed and congelated in such sort that she had not any use or strength thereof , and had also followed the prescriptions of many physitians , with the applications of many seare-cloths emplaisters and unguents ; but all without any benefit . by the externall bathing and drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , her monethly terms came orderly and her whole body in every particular was perfectly and speedily cured . witnesse mrs. king of barnet . 44. in the citty of london neer algate , a certain young woman extreamly taken with the dead palsie , in all the parts of her body , that she could neither stand , nor stirr , nor move any one finger towards helping of her self , and so had continued for 18. monthes . and although no means was neglected that the practice and experience of the doctors and apothecaries could prescribe , yet she was still helpless : but by bathing and drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , she was perfectly restored to her limbs , that within 14. daies she came to the church on foot without help or supportment of any , to the great admiration and wonder of all the neighbours , that knew well how she had been taken , and how recovered . 46. a certain gentlewoman that for eight or ten years had been continually tormented with most violent and intollerable fits of the mother , and retention of the menstruous , accompanied also with most cruell convulsions , and extortments of the severall parts of the body , in such miserable and intollerable manner that all that saw her ( as well physitians , whose costly prescriptions she fully and punctually experienced without any help , ease , or comfort , as also many others ) conceived that her intollerable excruciaments and extream violent fits were beyond the common effects of naturall causes , and that they were done by witch-craft and by the malice of the devill ▪ and some were wrongfully suspected to have practised witch-craft and inchantment upon the same gentlewoman : neverthelesse by drinking and bathing with the prepared liquor of this cup , she was perfectly recovered , and her body brought to naturall purgations , and healthfull constitution in every commendable respect , and so remaineth perfectly well praise be to god . 47. within 2 ▪ miles of wallingford , an ancient man that had been for seven or eight years grievously troubled with a foul inveterated cough of the lungs , and much spitting of noysome corrupt matter , and so much infeebled therewith that he was scarce able to walk about with the help of a staffe , having also upon him many ulcerous sores and foul scabs , the remains of a confirmed morbus gallicus , which wasted and consumed his body : by bathing and cleansing the foul sores to the bottome , and by drinking the liquor of this cup prepared , he was perfectly cured . 48. in barke shire neer sherefield court , a certain woman being taken with congelation or sudden lameness of her whole body , and constrained thereby to keep her bed continually for two years or more without any help or remedy , although she experimented the skill of many , as well physitians as others : by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , and bathing all the grieved parts therewith : she speedily and perfectly recovered her health , strength and agility of her congealed limbs , that within fourteen dayes she came on foot seven miles , to render thanks , and to acknowledge the benefit she had received . 49. another ancient gentleman that for ten years found himself continually clogged with some heavy and cold oppression about the stomack ; but being of strong constitution , and withall full of law-suits , did forbear all physicall helps , till he was suddainly so ill taken , that he was constrained to take and keep his bed : and then drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , it brought up abundance of clottered bruised blood , and other foul stuff , which having stood but a little space became all a hard jelly , much like to a bruised liver , and as thick ; and the gentleman immediately recovered perfect health . 50. a certain man bleeding abundantly at the nostrills both night and day without any or very little intermission , for four or five dayes together , and could not be stanched by any means that could be used , that it was generally thought of all about him , that he would bleed to death : to whom there was administred of the prepared liquor of this cup , a good draught ; the blood immediately stayed , and although it wrought by vomits and other waies 7. or 8. times , the blood remained stanched , and the man perfectly recovered : and this is a wonderfull property and operation that it should thus stanch blood , whereas in cause of lunacy , madness , frensie , and the plurisie , it is confirmed by much experience , that it openeth the veins , and causeth to bleed abundantly , both by the nostrils , at the mouth and ears , and downwards naturally , both by the menstruall and hemerodiall veins . these seven last recited admirable and wonderfull cures , are confirmed to be most certain and true by the right worshipfull willam mollins , esquire . 51. a certain young gentlewoman having a fistulated sore leg , with eight holes of great deepness therein , and much proud flesh spongy and evill coloured , mounting and swelling up in an exceeding hie and deformed disproportion about the sores ; out of all which eight holes came continually great store of foul thin undigested matter , as also many splints of corrupt and putrified bones came forth : this sore leg was under the hands of very many chyrurgeons for three years continually , without hope of cure , and at length resolved upon to be cut off : notwithstanding , by bathing , cleansing , syrindging and drinking the prepared liquor of this cup ; the malignant humors were purged , the body was cleansed , the bones were scarified and purified , the dead flesh consumed , and the gentlewomans leg perfectly healed sound , without any blemish or impediment , and as perfect and as strong as the other : this was done fourteen years past ; and the gentlewoman hath continued perfect well ever since , and is in london ready to affirm this truth . 52. a certain merchants daughter in london , troubled with obstructions of the spleen , and retentions of the menstrues , taking too much and over-violent physick , brought a continuall flux of menstrous and diureticall infirmities upon her , which continued three years , and cast the young gentlewoman into a deep consumption . shee was perfectly cured by drinking three times the prepared liquor of this cup , having been before two or three years in the course of physick , without any help or comfort . 53. a certain gentleman troubled with astmaticall consumptions and obstructions of the liver , and of the spleen , and being full of tough flegme and other crude corrupt humors , utterly lost the use of his speech , and following the prescriptions of severall doctors , neverthelesse remained dumb and speechless for three , if not four years together , without help or hope of recovery ; by alone drinking the prepared liquor of my magneticall cup , he recovered his speech and perfect health within fourteen dayes . 54. in the same coutrey a certain young married gentlewoman , without any deservings of her own , had morbus gallicus , and a cruell sore canker in her mouth that had eaten away the uvula and corroded away a great hole in the palate or roof of the mouth , so that whensoever she drank , it came flowing forth at both her nostrills , and her speech was so impaired , that it was well nigh lost : neverthelesse by bathing her head , gargasing and cleansing her mouth with this liquor , and drinking the same inwardly , the disease was overcome , the malignant humor was purged , the blood and liver purified and cleansed , the canker in the mouth was healed ; and which i doe admire ; new flesh grew and covered all over the palate , her speech became perfect , and she was throughly cured . 55. the same course was willingly taken by the gentleman her husband , and in few daies he was throughly purged and cleansed from that foul disease ; and they have both continued perfect well more than fourteen years past , and the gentlewoman hath brought forth six children sithence , of as fair complexion and perfect constitution as any be in that countrey ; a manifest assurance of their own perfect recovery and freedome from that foul disease . 56. a certain gentlewoman that was most miserably troubled with that uncomfortable and loathsome infirmity , called illiaca passio , or miserere mei , so that she could not for many months expell & purge downward the excrementitious impurities of the body after the naturall order , but came up at her mouth ; to whom the liquor of this cup was administred twice without any observable benefit ; but at the third time there was given to her a full pinte of prepared ale ; and then the gentlewoman sensibly perceived her bowels as it were to unrowl and unbinde within her , as though , before , they had been either twisted about , or cast upon some knot ; whereupon she purged plentifully ; and with once more drinking of this prepared liquor , she perfectly recoverd her former health , and naturall order and constitution of her body , and hath so remained ever since . 57. a certain young man extreamly tormented with most strange and violent convulsion fits , that the physitians not knowing how to remedy the same , gave him over for a bewitched creature , whose cruell tormenting fits they ascribed to the malice of the devill , and to witches , his wicked agents ; was neverthelesse perfectly cured of his strong and violent fits , by alone drinking the prepared liquor of this cup . these five last recited wonderfull and rare cures were performed in christian and godly charity , by mr. chancy a reverend and learned divine , a godly religious painfull preacher . 58. the right honorable , the countesse of leicester , administred the prepared liquor of this cup with safety and good successe to an infant of three moneths old ( the like hath been done to many sucking infants and tender children ) against the small pox , the purples , and spotted fever ; and never any one miscarried , but recovered perfectly of every one of these diseases . 59. a certain gentlewoman being somewhat troubled with the strangury , and painfull sharp distillations ( and often times long retention of urine ) took physick from an ignorant and wicked imposturer , that gave her poysonfull pills of ill prepared mercury sublimate , whereby her body was much swelled , her teeth fell to be loose and some fell out , all her bowells and internall parts were cruelly tormented with excrutiations and burning inflamations ; to whom the liquor of this cup was speedily administred ; it wrought upon her gently fourteen dayes ; expelled the poyson , purged the malignities and evill symptomes occasioned by the poyson received , and perfectly recovered the gentlewoman , who is very well , and ready to affirm this truth . 60. a certain ancient gentleman prisoner in the kings bench . that for many years together had been grievously troubled with an inveterate cough , astmaticall stoppings of the lungs , and a continuall p●isick , tough flegme , and other foul putrifactive humours ; was speedily and perfectly cured and freed from all the recited evill affects , by three times drinking the prepared liquor of this my magneticall cup , without any other help . these two last recited experiments were performed by mr. francis taylor , who then was prisoner in the kings bench . 61. an ancient gentlewoman that for three years together was continually troubled with a great flux of the menstrues , and also of the whites in great abundance ; was by drinking the prepared liquor of this magneticall cup ( and another secret manner of application ) speedily and perfectly cured . 62. another ancient gentlewoman that had for a long time languished with the fever hectick and yellow jaundice , and other infirmities , which might ( indeed ) be esteemed incurable in one of her years , and was forsaken of the doctors of physick , and esteemed of her neighbours , and of her own husband , to be irrecoverable ; who therefore made then preparation for her funerall : neverthelesse taking but thrice only the prepared liquor of this cup , she was perfectly recovered to health , this was eight years past , and the gentlewoman liveth not far from bow-lane in london , ready to confirm this approved truth . 63. another woman aged 66. or thereabouts , being far gone with the black jaudice and deep consumption , and also at the same time taken with a most violent spotted fever , and in the judgment of all her neighbours esteemed to be past all hope of life , and also forsaken of the physitians , neverthelesse by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , she was recovered , and is yet living in perfect health , this was also six years past . 64 in the same house a young gentlewoman that was much troubled with the yellow jaundise , obstructions both of the spleen , and also of the lungs ; was perfectly cured by three times drinking the prepared liquor of this cup . these foure last experiments , were experimentally approved by mrs. goffe dwelling neer the church in trinity-lane in london . 65. a certain gentlewoman , having for many years continued languishing in a deep consumption , was mightily swelled with hydropicall humors and notwithstanding the best helps of the physitians esteemed incurable ( as all in such an estate are falsly deemed to be ) and so left remedies , was neverthelesse speedily restored to perfect health , all the hydropicall corrupt humors quite purged away , and her liver rectified , good appetite , and a kindly digestion regained , and the naturall vigor and strength of the whole body effectually restored , by drinking 3. or 4. times the prepared liquor of this cup , without any other help . 66. moreover in the citty of worcester a certain corpulent gentleman much given to the company of great drinkers was suddainly caught with a dangerous surfeit , and dead palsie , lameness of all the left side ; and this gentleman for many years before had been much tormented with the painfulness of the gout , this surfeit brought also upon him a fierce and a violent burning fever : this gentleman used the best helps of the physitians , but all in vain : notwithstanding by drinking the prepared liquor of my magneticall cup : and by bathing the head , back , sides and all the parts troubled with lameness and painfulness of the gout , he was recovered to perfect health and strength of the whole body . these two last recited experiments with many hundreths more for agues , green sickness , obstructions , and the like , were performed by my worthy friend mr. walter childe , esquire . 67. a certain woman that for 7. or 8. years together had continuall suppression of the menstrues and a very sore fistula or dangerous ulcer upon her leg , having many sore orifices where from continually came forth much corrupt matter , and her body was also much swelled with hydropicall humours , with drinking inwardly the prepared liquor of this cup , and cleansing the ulcerous sores therewith , the monthly courses brake down kindly upon her , and purged well , all the swelling was abated , the ulcerous or fistulated leg was perfectly healed : witnesse mrs. alliston . 68. a certain poor man a brick-layer , living about bedford , being exceedingly swelled with corrupt and hydropicall humors , and brought to exceeding weaknesse by a long languishing consumption , who after much practice made by common physitians , was left remedilesse and incurable ; notwithstanding by the blessings of god , drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , he was perfectly restored to health . mr. thomas litton , esquire , performed this admirable cure with many others . 69. a certain gentleman of good worth and esteem living in the strand neer charing crosse , that for certain yeers continued most grievously tormented with the windy and flatuous melancholy in the sides , and with extream pain about the stomack , his appetite to meat lost , and thereby cast into a deep consumption , and by many judged to be incurable : neverthelesse by the blessings of god , and drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , within a few dayes he was restored to perfect health ; and so hath continued still for five years past . this is testified by mr. john lathum , esquire to be an approved truth . 70. a certain woman having her naturall purgations stayed upon her for many years , and through the suppression of them and the malignities of sharp and corrupt humors , had a most grievous ulcerated sore breast , mightily swelled and intollerably painfull , having therein eight holes , wherein eight tents of great length were put in at times of dressing , and much foul corrupt matter issued therefrom continually ; in began to mortifie , and to look black and dangerous ; and the common chyrurgeons advised the woman to have that breast cut off , for other cure thereof they knew none : neverthelesse by syrindging and cleansing the ulcerous sores to the bottome without tents , and by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , and applying externally hot wet clothes to the sore breast , the swelling abated , the corrupt matter expurged , and the woman was speedily and perfectly healed . 71. a certain gentleman of great credit and imployment , for 2. or 3. years was most miserably distracted , and deeply plunged with desperate melancholy , and had been under the hands of many professed doctors of physick without help or remedy , was perfectly restored to his memory , understanding , and perfect health , by drinking the alone prepared liquor of this cup : and hath continued for many years since comfortable in minde , healthfull in body , and every way able sufficiently with reputation and credit to discharge an office of great employment and trust 72. a certain poor ship carpenter having for a long time been grievously handled with a quartan ague , and after with a most violent burning fever , and cast at last into a deep consumption , having spent all his whole estate upon physitians , and by them left remediless , and helpless ; was by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , perfectly and speedily restored to perfect health , and strength to labor in his calling . 73. a certain young gentlewoman being for many years very much troubled with cachexia , being an evill disposition of the whole body and stomack , green-sickness , obstructions of the spleen and liver , and with continuall vomitings , that commonly whatsoever she did eate or drink came up again immediatly ; she was also troubled with many foule and noisome worms , and had taken very much physick without any benefit or help : neverthelesse by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , she was perfectly cured , her stomack was throughly cleansed , her complexion became faire , her blood fresh and fluent , many noisome foule worms of an incredible bigness were expelled , her naturall purgations were restored , and naturall strength and vigour flourished to full perfection . 74. a certain poore man that went very feebly and weakly , wandring about the streets to beg his sustenance , that for many years was grievously afflicted with the bloody flix , without finding any help or remedie , was perfectly cured by 3 times drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , without any other help . 75. a certain sea captain at his return was very sore troubled with the scorbuto and swelling of the body , but most specially of the legs and feet , and also with great swelling and painfulnesse in one of his shoulders , his stomack to meat was gone , and his sleep departed from him : but taking the liquor of this cup inwardly and bathing the parts afflicted outwardly , he was speedily restored to perfect health . 76. a certain gentlewoman that for many years together was troubled with vertigo , gidinesse and swimming of the head , dizinesse and darknesse of her sight , and with swounding fits , all which proceeded from noysome vapours arising from her stomack ; and had taken much and costly physick , without benefit or help : by drinking this prepared liquor , she was speedily and perfectly cured . these seven last recited rare and wonderfull experiments were performed by mrs. elizabeth ray , wife to captain john ray , esquire . 77. a certain right honorable lord , that for many years had been very much troubled with swellings and hydropicall humors , and was faln very deep into a languishing consumption , and having followed for divers years the prescription of the physitians , without any help or hope ; was perfectly and speedily restored to health , by drinking the alone prepared liquor of this cup . 78. in wolverhampton , in the county of stafford , a certain gentleman was most extreamly taken , and troubled with the dead palsie , which had taken away the strength and motion of the one side of his body wholy , and also of both the hands and feet , so that he was not able to stir out of his bed , or being there , to move or stir either hand or foot : was speedily restored to perfect health , strength , and abilitie of body , to walk and write , by drinking the alone prepared liquor of this magneticall cup , and bathing therewith . 79. in the same town of wolverhampton , a certain gentleman having been for a long time much troubled with the fever hectick , and much stopped and stuffed with tough flegme , his stomack to meat and digestion quite lost , and having taken much physick without any benefit or help , and forsaken and left curelesse : by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , he was speedily restored to perfect health . 80. another man living in the same town of wolverhampton , that had been above twenty years very much troubled with a deadly quartan fever , and could never get any prevalent help to free him from the violence thereof : by drinking three times the prepared liquor of this cup he was perfectly cured . this was eight years past and he remaineth ever since in perfect health . 81. a poor mayden living in the same town , the daughter of a poor widow , having lost the benefit of her sight , occasioned by over-much coldnesse of the brain , and much buffeting and beating about the head , but principally caused by long retention of the menstruous ( howsoever caused ) she was esteemed to be sightless & remedilesse : neverthelesse , by drinking the prepared liquor of the cup , and droping some into the eyes , and bathing the temples , her naturall tearms brake down kindly , her head and brain received warmnesse , and in lesse than fourteen dayes she recovered both her health and perfect sight . 82. another gentleman that from his childhood had much complained of dimnesse and weaknesse of his sight , especially at any remote distance , and hardly able to endure the light of a candle , and continually had such a shuting and pricking in his eyes , as though sticks had been rowled in them : by drinking three or four times the prepared liquor of this cup , and dropping in his eyes some , allayed with fountain water ; it hath so cleared and strengthned the sight that this gentleman being fifty two years of age , can now read and write by candlelight , without any glasses for six or twelve hours together , without any trouble or wrong to his sight , which he could not doe at any time before . 83. in tressul a parish in statfordshire , a certain man having throughly heated himself with hay-making , and lying down upon the ground , caught a most dangerous cold and cough of the lungs , which continued upon him even to a deep astmaticall consumption , so that as well physitians as others , esteemed him to be incureable : neverthelesse by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , he was speedily and perfectly cured . 84. in walsall in the same county one william day was so far spent with a languishing consumption , and had taken very much physick without help or any benefit , and esteemed to be utterly incurable ; by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , he was speedily and perfectly cured . these eight last recited experiments , and , as it is affirmed , 800. more of severall diseases , were performed by one benedict laurence , dwelling in wolverhampton . 85. in the same county , and neer unto wolverhampton , another gentleman was in a desperate consumption , and extreamly swelled with hydropicall humors , that no apparell could be had big enough for him , and his miserable swellings and painfullnesse so great , and such , that himself and his friends heartily wished his life to be at an end : neverthelesse by drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , he was perfectly and speedily cured . 86. mr. thomas godfrey of seeling in the county of kent , esq finding his man comming from london in the time of plague , to have faln sick very suddainly , suspected that he might be infected with the pestilence , and therefore speedily prepared the cup , and caused his man and himself , and every one of his family with all possible expedition , to drink good quantities of the prepared liquor ; and it wrought effectually upon every one of them , and not any one of his houshold miscarried . his man had a great tumor in his groin , which by bathing was brought to suppuration , and broke , and was cleansed with the prepared liquor , and thereby was perfectly healed . thus by his carefull and heedfull prevention , the said mr. godfrey preserved himself and all his family from the contagious infections of the plague : this gentleman hath cured also very many kentish agues ; and above 100. severall persons infirmed with severall infirmities and diseases , with the alone liquor of the cup . 87. the lady middleton of burshby hill in hartfordshire , having the same accident as the last recited , befaln to her coachman , comming from london in the time of greatest infection , with all expedition gave to him to drink the prepared liquor of the cup , and also to her self and to every particular person of her family ; it wrought well upon every one , by vomits and otherwise , cured the coachman of the plague sore , and prevented the infection from the rest . these i doe publish to excite all to glorifie god for his mercifull goodness , and to stir them to the like christian and godly care and usefull practice , for the better prevention of all such dangerous diseases . 88. a certain country man being a warrener , having in charge to walk about his ground betwixt one and two in the morning , finding himself addicted to sleep , having spent the former part of the night in unmeasurable drinking , laid himself down upon the ground and slept , afterwards rowsing himself up , found his limbs mightily stiffned and benummed ; neverthelesse got home to his house being neer , and threw himself on his back in all his clothes upon his bed , where he continued five weeks in that very same posture , not being able to suffer himself any way to be holpen , for the ease of naturall necessity ; at which time i was come into the country and earnestly requested to visit him : he was the most miserable spectacle , and the most foulsome to come neer unto , that ever i saw in all my life : neverthelesse , with bathing his benummed arms , thighs , legs , and feet , with ( and by drinking ) the prepared liquor of this cup , recovered his feet , and after , his perfect health . mr. thomas brooks , esquire , and mr. john dickons , with many others doe know this to be a certain truth . 89. a certain young woman of a fair and healthfull constitution , undertaking the nourishing of two strong children , the monethly purgations became stopped , and stayed for six moneths ; and in the seventh moneth clear blood ran forth abundantly at both her breasts , to the great amazement and astonishment of the woman her self , and of many others . there was speedily applyed to both her breasts , soft folded clothes , well soaked in the hot prepared liquor of this magneticall cup ▪ and likewise the prepared , liquor with two or three spoonfulls of the sirup of mugwort , was given to this woman to drink two or three times ; and the menstrues came in order , and purged naturally ; and in eight dayes the woman became to be perfect well , and her breast milk became fair and healthfull ; and neither she nor her nursing children had any manner of harm at all . 90. a certain woman that for many years had been extreamly troubled with obstructions and oppilations of the spleen , and such astmaticall stuffings , that she could hardly draw her breath , and had also a foul impostumation in the lungs ; she had spent all her state upon physitians and physick , without any help or comfort : neverthelesse she was perfectly cured by drinking the prepared liquor of this magneticall cup . these two last recited admirable experiments were done , with many more , by the right worshipfull mrs. abigaile smalman of wildertop , in the county of salop. 91. in warwick an ancient gentleman liveth , that hath been for many years much troubled with the dead palsie , both in his hands , knees , and feet , so that at certain times he had no use of either ; and for five years ▪ for his help and remedy , he resorted to the bathe , to his great charges and painfull travell : and although he recovered some help at the present times , and for sometimes after ; neverthelesse his former palsie returned again at the accustomed times , and so he remained without any constant help : neverthelesse by bathing and drinking of the prepared liquor of this cup . this gentleman is absolutely and perfectly cured . mrs. roe of warwick knoweth this to be true . 92. a certain gentlewoman falling upon her back and shoulders upon a pair of stairs , her left shoulder and arm swelled very much , and grew to be exceeding painfull ; they feared much the dislocation of the shoulder bone ; but being resolved otherwise , the shoulder and all the arm was bathed with the hot prepared liquor of the cup ; the swelling brake in the small of the arm , and much contused blood and quitture came forth ; and by this only help , it was perfectly healed . 93. a certain gentlewoman having a little wart under the left eye , on the bottome of the nether lid , being accidentally rubbed off , grew to a sore ; for the cure whereof she made use of severall chyrurgeons , but in vain ; for the sore grew to be worse and worse ; yea , to such excrescens of proud flesh , as exceeded an inch in thicknesse , and her face swelled very much , and continued very hard , and the sight of her eye was quite lost for the time ; and in this exteamity she was left , and judged to be incurable , and thought it would be the cause of her speedy death : neverthelesse , by bathing with , and drinking the prepared liquor of this cup , the swelling became abated , the proud flesh became mortified and fell off , in such sort , that being rooted where the sore was foulest , it left a hole under her eye , an inch deep ; the sound flesh became soft , her face well coloured , and her sight was perfectly regained ; and with washing the sore and applying wet clothes unto the orifice of the sore , without any tenting , it filled up with good and sound flesh , and she is hereby perfectly cured . mr. lemuell allen , a minister , performed this rare cure . 94. a certain gentleman extreamly taken with a quartan ague , which continued upon him 18. moneths , and although he spared no cost upon physick and physitians , yet remained he still curelesse and helplesse ; the long continuance and violence of this fever cast him into a deep consumption , his stomack and appetite to meat was quite lost ; his strength and naturall vigor failed , so that for many weeks together he could take no manner of sustenance , but only a little weak cullice given him by a spoonfull or two at a time : he was in this extreamity admonished to take some of the liquor of my cup , aromatised with comfortable things to please his palate ; which he did once , and it wrought gently by vomit ; he tooke the common and plaine prepared liquor of the cup twise more , and perfectly recovered his health . mr. hunnyman one of his majesties servants knoweth and justifieth this to be true . 95. a certaine ancient man , 84 yeeres of age , became all the body over to be full of dry crusty scabbs , which would commonly scale and rub off for a certaine season , but would come again : at length they came all his body over dry and hard like the bark of a tree : in this perplexity , his age and noysomenesse considered , his wife and friends were put to many experiments , but none profited him any thing at all , untill they bathed all his body over with the hot liquor of this cup , and administred the same inwardly ; and by this practise within a few dayes this old man , being throughly purged and bathed with this hot liquor prepared , his hard crusty scabbedness scaled off , and his flesh and skin was restored and renewed both white and cleare like a young mans : this i saw done , and doe publish for an experimented truth . 95. a certain woman that lived by her painfull labour , by some accidentall distemperature fell to be most grievevously afflicted with often and terrible fits of the falling-sickness , whereby her health was impaired , and that cruell sickness continuing upon her many years , brought her to extream poverty , to whom the liquor of this cup prepared , was 3 times administred , and she was perfectly cured . 97. a certain young man also tormented with the same cruell disease to whome the prepared liquor of my cup being in good quantities , three times administred , he was thereby perfectly cured : there hath been cured of the falling-sickness by the alone drinking of the prepared liquor of my magneticall cup in severall parts of the kingdome , whereof i have been informed , more than 200. persons 98. a certain gentleman in cornwall , having been for many years much troubled with the tough flegme and stoppings , and astmaticall oppilations and obstructions of the lungs , and thereby brought to a languishing consumption , that he could hardly walk with a staffe , to whom the prepared liquor of my cup was administred three times , and thereby was speedily restored to perfect health ; this gentleman i have seen since healthfull and well in this citty of london : these three last recited experiments were performed by my truly honoured worthy friend , the right worshipfull mr. francis godolphin , esquire . 99. a certain gentleman having unlawfully and unfortunately accompanied with an unhealthfull and corrupt creature , had his secret parts mightily swelled and exulcerated , so that his urine came from him with intollerable scorching and burning , and also issued forth at six severall places , not one of them being the proper and naturall passage ; for that was quite stopped up : the gentleman being in this perplexed and well deserved misery ; was neverthelesse perfectly cured and healed of all these foul scorchings , swellings , and ulcerated holes , and all the painfullnesse mittigated and asswaged by washing , cleansing , syrindging with ( and drinking ) the prepared liquor of this magneticall cup ; and by this practice , he was fully purged from the contagious infection of that foul disease , and was restored unto perfect health , and the naturall passage was cleansed and opened , and became serviceable and officious to nature as before . this rare and admirable cure , although of a foul disease , i publish and testifie for an approved and an experimented truth . 100. a certain gentleman , an especiall good friend of mine , being of a strong corpulent constitution , having many suits of great importance depending in law , for many years continuance , although the state of his body required some help for naturall purifying of the blood and evacuation of foul corrupt humors , yet could not this gentleman take any fit oportunity for that purpose ; at length he was suddainly cast down , and constrained to take knowledge of natures complaint , & thereupon took a good draught of the prepared liquor of my magneticall cup ; it wrought all that day and all the night following , without any offence or violence , and gave him many vomits , and eight or ten siedges ; the second time it was taken in a greater proportion , and it wrought three or four dayes together , and expurged away abundance of foul and corrupt matter : and the vomits standing three or four hours after the operation , grew all to be of one entire consistence of jelly , like a great firm liver with various streaks of rotten blood , and other corrupt matter , that had for more then ten years before oppressed this gentlemans body ; and certainly unlesse by this , or some other good help , this had been removed , the gentleman could not have lived but a short time mr. william mollins , esquire will affirm this to be an aproved truth . 101. a certain loving friend of mine finding his stomack to be over charged with foule grosse and corrupt humors , and his stomack and appetite unto meat quite gone , his digestion weak , his whole body growing more faint , and his spirits more dull and lesse cheerfull than accustomed , having one of my magneticall cups , prepared therewith a pint of hy-countrey white-wine according to the directions by me prescribed , and drank the quantity by me presribed , it wrought well and gave 6. or 8. vomits , and so many siedges : this gentleman being willing to make a further experiment than was prescribed , and finding this former operation to be most gentle and easie , takes of the best sweet hie-country white-wine 3. pintes or 2. quarts boiles all to a pint or thereabouts , and drank it up all at one potion , it wrought with him continually night and day with easie vomits and gentle siedges for 14. daies together , sometimes 30. or 40. siedges with some gentle vomits betwixt , in the space of 24. hours : this gentleman sent unto me to have it staied : i advised him that he would patiently permit nature to have her full course , for i observed that neither the vomits , neither the siedges did any way violently constrain the body , neither brought any thing away but digested corruptions , that the body was surcharged withall , and could better bee spared and expurged than healthfully kept , and that withall , his appetite to meat and stomack amended upon it , during the physicall operations , and that i knew upon former experience , that it would cease when the obnoxious humors were expurged . and afterwards when the operations ceased , this gentleman grew to be exceedingly hungry , and to have a good stomack with good digestion , and recovered perfect health . and within a few dayes after my friend took it againe , but it wrought not at all with him , for when it had purged the body & found no corrupt humors to work upon , it passed through the body in urine without any other apparent operation ; i would not advise any to follow this adventurous practice ( although i have known many that have done the like with good successe ) forasmuch as all constitutions are not alike , and that the safest way is to practice according to the most common approved and experimentally prescribed orders and rules . the manner and order how to make vse of my magneticall or antimoniall cup . take a well glased earthen pot or pipkin with a fit cover , then put this cup therein , and powre within and round about it as much white-wine , claret wine , muskadine , or malmesie if it may be gotten for it is best of all , or else ale or beer , a sufficient quantity to fill and plentifully to cover , and to be above the cup , an inch or two or more , that it may stand in full infusion ; then set the pipkin upon or by a gentle fire , and let it boile gently for two houres , and afterwards remain in the same order covered in a temperate digesting heat , such as you might endure your finger in , the residue and remainder of 12 hours from the time you began ; yet admonishing you to spare the curiosity of some that sit up to attend the same all night ; place it neer the hot hearth , where fire hath been kept all day , & it is sufficient , for a small heat will serve to keep it in good digestion ; being thus used before & standing covered , then one hour or two before you doe take it , or administer it to another , remove it from the fire , and set it to coole if need be , not taking off the cover whereby the spirits might evaporate away ; afterwards a cupfull or more taken fasting cold , purgeth the body from whatsoever is offensive to nature , the operation is safe and gentle , and without any violence or danger , as hath been oftentimes proved : let them about four , or five hours after sleep , if their constitution require it , and then use or take any convenient diet , or what they are commonly accustomed unto , and govern themselves as after other physick . by the quantity and proportion of wine or ale , allowing a pint of wine , or a quart of ale to be prepared for two , you may prepare for as many as you please at one time ; and here note , that the greater the quantity of liquor , and the weaker it is , the more heat of fire and the longer time of digestion and preparation it requireth : you my also keep of this prepared liquor in close glasses or earthen bottles a fortnight or a moneth , and send it , or carry it where , and to what distant place you will , for it loseth not his virtue : one cupfull is an ordinary and common dose for children , women , and for other weak and delicate persons : neverthelesse , it worketh best in strong constitutions , when two or three cupfulls are taken and drunk out of a black pot or glasse , and not so effectuall out of silver : you may begin with one cupfull , and so increase the dose and quantity of potion as you finde cause ; for herein discretion and experience must be your guide . for the manner of the operation , it is somewhat difficult and doubtfull to foreknow and presage ; for it operateth according as it is most convenint for the present estate and constitution of the body : sometimes , and in some constitutions , it operateth by vomit alone ; in some others , by siedge alone ; in others by urine and sweat ; but most commonly it worketh all these wayes , and ever without any violence or danger . to prescribe a time for the use of this medicine , is needlesse ; it may be safely taken any time of the year , even in the time of the extreamest heat of summer , or coldest of winter ; neverthelesse , the spring and fall are most convenient for all physicall operations . to prevent sicknesse or when any convenient occasion is offered , it should be taken three times , leaving a day or two between , and every time take more than the former : but for confirmed diseases it should be taken three times in the week , if occasions permit , as long as it will work ; for when it hath cleansed and purified the body from all impurities and corrupt humors , it worketh no more ; and then you may be sure the patient is perfect well ; and this is a noble quality of this medicine . i have known it administred twenty nine times to a gentlewoman that had the falling-sicknesse of nine years continuance , leaving intermedian dayes 1 , 2 , or 3. betwixt , as occasion required , and the thirtieth time it wrought not at all , although administred in a greater quantity ; and then it was apparent that her whole body was cleansed , and she perfectly cured , and delivered from the violence of that miserable disease : for it is most certain , that so long as there is any preternaturall humors , or offensive malignant matter , remaining within the body , it will work . i have known it in some constitutions , and also against some foul and dangerous diseases , upon thrice taking , to have wrought three or four dayes after by siedge , yea sometimes with purging and sweating to the 12 , 13 , or 15. day after the taking thereof , and alwaies proved to be without any harm , violence , or danger . and some being timerous , have requested to have it staid ; but i ever advised the contrary , and desired them to permit nature to have her course , and to perfect her intended work , for this medicine is not to be feared , and will eject nothing but that which well may , and ought to be spared ( whatsoever malicious adversaries to experienced truth say to the contrary . ) against the pains of the gout , or any other pain , ache , tumor , or swelling , make the infusion strong with white wine , and bathe the grieved places half an hour long , as hot as the patient may endure it , the night before you take it inwardly : and by alone bathing the temples of the head , the legs , and the feet , it taketh away all manner of inveterated pains of the head , and purgeth the body also , although you take it not inwardly at all : and this is an approved truth . for swellings , wounds , fistulaes , and ulcerous sores , wash them well with the hot infusion made with white wine , and syrindge in the liquor into the bottome , and cleanse the sores well , apply wet clothes three or four fould hot , to the sore orifices : take care you doe not tent , neither binde too hard . and by using this means , you may perfectly cure any disease or infirmity that may be cured by any other means , skill , or art . beware of counterfeit , pernitious , dangerous , and violent cups : howsoever use them not according to my directions ; and if you doe , and receive harm or miscarry , blame your own willfullnesse and let your blood bee required at their hands that have abused you : this my premonition shall plead my innocency before the lord . the names of such ancient philosophers , and learned physitians that have written of the medicinall virtues of this magneticall or antimoniall cup . 1. theophrastus paracelsus . 2. martinus rulandus . 3. josephus quercitanus . 4. duncanus bornettus . 5. lybavius tract. alch. 6. oswaldus crollius . 7. thalingus poppius . 8. johannes dan. millius . 9. angelus sala . 10. johannes rhenanus . 11. basilius valentinus . 12. matthias vntzerus . 13. guilielmus avisonus . 14. philippus mullerus . 15. suchtenius . 16. baptista porta . 17. poterus . his pharmacopea . 18. johannes beguinus . 19. leonardus phirovanti . 20. guilielmus olivarius . 21. severinus scotobrittan . sir theodore mayern , kt. and dr. of physick , and physitian in ordinary to the kings most excellent majesty , hath approved and experienced the same often times with happy and good successe . these learned men of our own nation and countrey , by their own experiments and observations , have confirmed the same , as by their severall certificates may appear . daniell featly , d. of d. moegan wynne , d. of d. richard naper , d. of d. nicholas page , d. of d. m. henry walker , b. of d. m. hugh maurice , b. of d. m. john vicars , b. of d. m. aynscombe , b. of d. robert fludd , esq ; d. of physick . barthol . van der lasse , d. of phys. philip molthery , dr. of physick . guilielmus olivarus , d. of phys. john rudston , dr. of physick . william freeman , d ▪ of physick . john higgans , dr. of physick . richard freeman , dr. of physick . michael wainman , d. of physick . symon ryder , dr. of physick . richard collet , d. of physick . william bayly , dr. of physick . william hodgets , d. of physick . these right honourable personages have experienced this my magneticall medicine with happy and good successe . the r. hon. the e. of mulgrave . the r. hon. the e. of norwich . the r. hon. the e. of bridgwat . the r. hon. the e. of malboro . the r. hon. the e. of nithisdale . the r. ho. l. viscount cambden . the r. hon. john lord harries . the r. ho. the countesse of darby the r. ho. the count . of westmerl . the r. hon. the countesse of devonshire . the r. ho. the count . of excester the r. ho. the count . of leicester the r. hon. the count . of malb . the hon. lady theophila cook . the hon. the lady wilbraham . the hon. the lady delaware . the hon. the lady jackson . the hon. the lady apsley . the hon. the lady willoughby . the hon. the lady shelley . the hon. the lady thorowgood . the hon. the lady browne . the hon. the lady farell . the hon. the lady shurley . the hon. the lady jepson . these right worshipfull knights , and gentlemen of reputation and credit , have experienced the same ; and approved it to be without violence or danger . sir edward powell , knight , one of the masters of his majesties honourable court of requests . sir francis kinnaston , knight , esquire to his majesties body . sir thomas middleton , knight . sir robert naper , knight & bar. sir guilbert cornwall , knight baron of burford . sir thomas payton , kn. and bar. sir john shelley , knight and bar. sir peter mutton , knight . sir philip landen , knight . sir thomas burton , knight . sir richard jifford , knight . sir thomas styles , knight . sir anthony thomas , knight . sir fulbert varnat , knight . sir richard waltingstall , knight . sir christopher nevell , knight . sir william ford , knight . sir william fonte , knight . sir richard naper , knight . sir richard hutton , knight . sir edward scot , knight . sir john compton , knight . sir william weston , knight . sir william savage , knight . esquires . francis godolphin , esquire . edward scot , esquire . lyster blunt , esquire . thomas godfrey , esquire . john grymsdych , esquire . william molins , esquire . thomas houldford , esquire . roger ellys , esquire . richard norris , esquire . thomas edmonds , esquire . william edmunds , esquire . thomas longe , esquire . john savage , esquire . thomas challoner , esquire . humfrey gunter , esquire . william cheriton , esquire . francis tompson , esquire . richard aston , esquire . robert tompson , esquire . john poole , esquire . william audrey , esquire . thomas weekes , esquire . william vince , esquire . thomas litton , esquire . edward savage , esquire . william cowse , esquire . phylip child , esquire . george mynne , esquire . henry collet , esquire . fancis munday , esquire . henry knight esquire . , william nottle , esquire . william staneley , esquire . henry poole , esquire . arthor wallys , esquire . richard hasellburie , esquire . john lathum , esquire . francis lathum , esquire . robbert wallys . esquire . henry nicholls , esquire . thomas ockrave esquire . john anderson , esquire . richard folly , esquire . roger fowke , esquire . alexander dixson , esquire . thomas savage , esquire . john shelden , esquire . john hunt , esquire . edward powell , esquire . nicholas macham esquire . henry prat , esquire . john woodhouse , esquire . henry bromely , esquire . innocent rashe , esquire . john blunden , esquire . thomas blundell , esquire . william overton , esquire . william craddock , esquire . john clackston , esquire . richard warner , esquire . thomas morton , esquire . thomas carroll , esquire . william edmunds , esquire . thomas wood , esquire . henry hill , esquire . thomas stoakes , esquire . william shephard , esquire . henry lovelace , esquire . thomas prat , esquire . john leigh , esquire . samuel ward , esquire . george eves , esquire . james lathum , esquire . john thorpe , esquire . henry berkeley , esquire . henry pickering , esquire . john smith , esquire . william shephard , esquire . arthur hill , esquire . michael jues , esquire . william poole , esquire . henry hunniman esquire . alexander emmerson , esquire . john warcoape , esquire . charles robinso● , esquire . john thornburie , esquire . thomas kercher , esquire . william talcoate , esquire . william wakeman , esquire . edmund harrison , esquire . james beard , esquire . william wakeman , esquire . henry turner , esquire . william brewer , esquire . john applebee , esquire . thomas mason , esquire . thomas brinfield , esquire . john price , esquire . william weston , esquire . thomas brereton , esquire . john malborn , esquire . edward powell , esquire . merchants and citizens of london . mr. ludowick roberts . mr. richard morris . mr. foster by the exchange . mr. tichborne . mr. babington . mr. campion . mr. robert fowles . mr. richardson . mr. thomas . mr. corderoy . mr. waite . mr. wright . mr. turnor . mr. gregorie . mr. ●ightman . mr. hayes . mr. master . mr. reginalds . mr. godwyn . mr. clarke . mr. pocock . mr. davies . mr. vaughan . mr. peter maurice . with many others tha no● i doe willingly omit . in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established . math. 18. 16. soli deo gloria . finis . a new method of physick: or, a short view of paracelsus and galen's practice; in 3. treatises. i. opening the nature of physick and alchymy. ii. shewing what things are requisite to a physitian and alchymist. iii. containing an harmonical systeme of physick. written in latin by simeon partlicius, phylosopher, and physitian in germany. translated into english by nicholas culpeper, gent. student in physick and astrologie, dwelling on the east-side of spittle-fields, neer london. medici systematis harmonici. english. partlicius, simeon, fl. 1620-1624. 1654 approx. 466 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 185 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a56500 wing p612 estc r203157 99863218 99863218 115407 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a56500) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 115407) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 189:e1475[3]) a new method of physick: or, a short view of paracelsus and galen's practice; in 3. treatises. i. opening the nature of physick and alchymy. ii. shewing what things are requisite to a physitian and alchymist. iii. containing an harmonical systeme of physick. written in latin by simeon partlicius, phylosopher, and physitian in germany. translated into english by nicholas culpeper, gent. student in physick and astrologie, dwelling on the east-side of spittle-fields, neer london. medici systematis harmonici. english. partlicius, simeon, fl. 1620-1624. culpeper, nicholas, 1616-1654. [18], 191, 392-548 p. printed by peter cole in leaden-hall, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the printing-press in cornhil neer the royal exchange: and by s. howes, j. garfield, and r. westbrook, london : 1654. a translation of: medici systematis harmonici. running title reads: a new method both of studying and practising physick. text is continuous despite pagination. annotation on thomason copy: "nou. 28". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets 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creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. alchemy -early works to 1800. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2001-07 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2001-08 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2001-10 tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited 2001-11 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a new method of physick : or , a short view of paracelsus and galen's practice ; in 3. treatises . i. opening the nature of physick and alchymy . ii. shewing what things are requisite to a physitian and alchymist . iii. containing an harmonical systeme of physick . written in latin by simeon partlicius , phylosopher , and physitian in germany . translated into english by nicholas culpeper , gent. student in physick and astrologie , dwelling on the east-side of spittle-fields , neer london . dogmata non juro in paracelsi , aut scita galeni : vera utriusque placent , falsa utriusque jacent . london , printed by peter cole in leaden-hall , and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the printing-press in cornhil neer the royal exchange : and by s. howes , j. garfield , and r. westbrook . 1654. m r culpepers new method both of studying & practising rhysick . to the reader . reader , this ensuing discourse i finished when i was in health , which had been published two years since , but that the act of parliament for punishing such theeves as steal away copies from those that purchase them , did expire the nine and twentieth day of september , 1651. and was not revived until the seventh of january , 1652. i have spent twenty one years study for the good of this nation , and have written seventeen books ( besides those already published ) which i hope to finish and publish if the parliament please to perfect the law to punish copy-stealers with the same punishment they do other theeves . i thought in an epistle to have write somthing that should have been useful for all yong practitioners of physick and alchymy ; and also have answered some objections made against my wrightings ; i shall now only answer one , viz. that my books do no other good but make empericks . i have therefore given you in this work a joynt view of the whole method of physick , according to both paracelsus and galen's practice ; that so the industrious may judg which is best : there being none that are empericks except such as are lazie . but at the present i am so sickly that i am not fit for any study , having not strength of body to write ; and therefore must only refer you to this book ( which was the child of my health ) with this assurance , that ( if god restore health ) i shall never leave making more books ( for publick good ) as long as i am , n. culpeper . from my house on the east-side of spittle-fields , neer london , this 12. of novemb. 1653. the contents . treatise i. of the nature of physick , and alchymy . chap. 1. of the opinions of physitians . page . 4 chap. 2. of the essence of medicine and alchymy . page . 11 chap. 3. of the name of medicine and alchymy . page . 14 chap. 4. of the kind of medicine and alchymy . page . 16 chap. 5. of the end of physick and alchymy , which is health . page . 22 chap. 6. the cause of physick and alchymye , both principal , and less principal . page . 28 chap. 7. of the original of physick and alchymy . page . 31 chap. 8. how the beginnings of medicine and alchymy were drawn from nature . page . 36 chap. 9. of the matter form , and effect of medicine and alchymy . page . 41 chap. 10. of the subject and object of alchymy and physick . page . 44 chap. 11. of the certainty of physick and alchymy . page . 49 chap. 12. of the dignity and profit of medicine and alchymy . page . 55 chap. 13. the excellency of medicine and alchymy . page . 56 chap. 14. of the difficulty of medicine and alchymy . page . 58 chap. 15. of things agreeable to medicine and alchymy , which are natural phylosophy , divinity , and astrology . page . 61 treatise ii. of the nature and ministers of the physitian and alchymist . chap. 1. of the definition of a physitian and alchymist . page . 73 chap. 2. of what is requisite to a physitian and alchymist , in the general . page . 75 chap. 3. of the ornaments of a physitians mind . page . 79 an idea of the aphorisms of hippocrates . page . 80 chap. 4. of the ornaments of the body of a physitian and alchymist . page . 92 an idea of hippocrates his aphorisms . page . 93 chap. 5. of the ornaments of estate belonging to a physitian and alchymist . page . 98 an idea of hippocrates his aphorisms . ibid. chap. 6. of the authority of physick . page . 103 an idea of hippocrates his aphorisms concerning duty . page . 104 an idea of hippocrates his aphorisms concerning persons . page . 108 chap. 7. the oath of physitians according to hippocrates . page . 111 chap. 8. the oath of apothecaries . page . 113 chap. 9. of things repugnant to physick and alchymy : or , of the marks and vices of sophisters , and impostors in those arts. page . 114 treatise iii. containing a physical idea of the hermonical systeme . chap. 1. of the definition of medicine and alchymy . page . 119 chap. 2. of the definition of medicine ond alchymy in general . page . 123 tome i. of the theorical part of medicine . of the general knowledge of things natural , or the object of medicine and alchymy . page . 129 lib . i. the common affections are called special . ibid chap. 1. of principles . page . 130 chap. 2. of elements . page . 131 chap. 3. of the three principles of alchymists which are contained in every natural body , and give it its constitution : as also of the faculties and properties of the elements and their number according to the doctrine of hermes . page . 132 chap. 4. of both first and second qualities . page . 136 chap. 5. of mixture and generation in the general . page . 140 chap. 6. of mixture according to the opinion of the dogmatists , and hermetical phylosophers . page . 141 chap. 7. of generation according to the opinion of dogmatists , and hermetical phylosophers . page . 142 chap. 8. of temperaments . page . 145 a body with life . page . 146 tome i. part ii. of living bodies , not sensible , and sensible . lib . i. of art botanical . page . 147 the shewing the reason of plants . page . 148 lib . ii. of the history of plants . page . 149 lib . iii. of metalography , or knowledge of mettals . page . 151 another division of stones . page . 153 another division of stones . page . 155 mettals . page . 162 earth . page . 163 lib . iv. of zoography . page . 164 of flying creatures . page . 165 of four-footed beasts that go upon the earth . ibid of creatures living in the water . page . 166 tome i. part iii. of special physiologie : or , the subject and object of the physitian , lib . i. of the faculties and functions of the soul both general and special . page . 168 lib . ii. of the anatomy of the body . page . 174 similar parts . ibid the bones . page . 178 cartilages . page . 181 nerves . page . 182 arteries . page . 183 veins . page . 184 ligaments . page . 186 muscels . page . 187 flesh. page . 193 dissimilar parts . ibid the eyes . page . 394 the ears . page . 395 the nose , cheek , and mouth . page . 396 the neck . page . 397 the middle or vital ventricle . page . 398 the lowermost , or natural ventricle . page . 399 the branches , or limbs . page . 402 another division of the parts . page . 403 of the administration , dissection , or anatomy of the corps . page . 404 i. the anatomy of the inferior ventricle . ibid ii. the anatomy of the middle ventricle , or breast . page . 408 iii. the anatomy of the higher ventricle , or head. page . 411 iv. the anatomy of the hands . page . 415 v. the anatomy of the foot. page . 417 paris contained . page . 419 hermetical phylosophers . page . 421 tome i. part iv. of vertual anatomy , or the harmony between the macrocosm , & microcosm . lib . i. of the analogical comparation of the heavens with the body of man. page . 424 lib . ii. of the influential harmony . page . 425 lib . iii. of the faculties of simples , which the dogmatists make use of to find out their natures . page . 427 tome i. part v. of that part of the theorick of physick which is called pathologia . lib . i. of semeiotica , or the doctrine of signs . page . 437 prognostical signs . page . 439 signs of death , according to the opinion of hermetical phylosophers . page . 441 of the crisis , and critical dayes . ibid lib . ii. of the doctrine of pulses . page . 444 1 the reason of observing , and knowing the pulses . ibid 2 the difference of pulses . page . 445 3 the causes of pulses . ibid 4 prognosticks by the signification of the pulse . page . 446 an hermetical consideration of the pulse . page . 447 lib . iii. of vrine . page . 449 the significations and differences of vrine . ibid hermetical consideration of vrine . page . 452 lib . iv. of symtomes . page . 453 lib . v. of the aethiologie of diseases . page . 455 the causes of the diseases of the parts , both similar , organical , and common . page . 462 lib . vi. of general nosologie . page . 464 accidental diseases . page . 465 diseases according to the place . page . 466 diseases according to time. page . 467 diseases according to custom . page . 468 diseases according to cause . page . 469 lib . vii . of feavers . page . 470 lib . viii . of internal affections . page . 473 afflictions of the eyes . page . 476 the afflictions of the eares . page . 477 the afflictions of the nostrils . page . 478 afflictions of the mouth . ibid afflictions of the jaws . page . 479 the afflictions of the breast . page . 480 the afflictions of the stomach . page . 481 the afflictions of the bowels . page . 483 the afflictions of the fundament and mesenterium . ibid afflictions of the liver and spleen , gall , reins and bladder . page . 474 afflictions incident to the parts dedicated to generation . page . 485 afflictions of the habit of the body . page . 487 lib . ix . of external afflictions . page . 488 panpemical afflictions . page . 492 lib . x. of the pathologie of hermetical phylosophers . page . 493 the differences of disseases . page . 500 tome ii. of practical medicine . tome ii. part i. of hygiena . 1 ayr. page . 511 2 nourishment . page . 513 3 exercise . ibid 4 sleeping and watching . page . 515 5 affections of the mind . page . 516 6 fulness and emptiness . ibid the vse of things not natural in preserving health . page . 517 the vse of things not natural in diseases . page . 519 tome ii. part ii. of the proper practical part of medicine , called therapeutica . lib . i. of the method of curing . page . 521 general indications . page . 522 physical indication . page . 523 mathematical indications . page . 527 the method of cure , according to the opinion of hermetical phylosophers . page . 528 the cure of particular diseases . page . 531 lib . ii. of both general and special evacuation . page . 534 chyrurgical evacuation . ibid the evacuation of cachochymia . page . 535 lib . iii. of medicaments . page . 536 lib . iv. of the general composition of medicines . page . 538 the opinion of hermetical phylosophers , concerning composition . page . 539 lib . v. of the common way of preparing medicines by the art of the apothecary . page . 541 lib . vi. of the chymical preparation of medicines . page . 544 the names of several books printed by peter cole in leaden-hall london , and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the printing press in cornhil , neer the royal exchange . six several books , by nich. culpeper , gent. studene in physick & astrology . 1 a translation of the new dispensatory , made by the colledge of physitians of london . wherunto is added , the key to galen's method of physick . 2 a directory for midwives , or a guide for women . newly enlarged by the author in every sheet , and illustrated with divers new plates . 3 galen's art of physick , with a large comment . 4 the english physician : being an astrologo-physical-discours of he vulgar herbs of this nation : wherein is shewed how to cure a mans self of most diseases incident to mans body , with such things as grow in england , and for three pence charge . 5 the anatomy of the body of man , wherein is exactly described the several parts of the body of man , illustrated with very many larg brass plates . 6 a new method both of studying & practising physick . seven books of mr. jeremiah burroughs lately published : as also the texts of scripture upon which they are grounded . 1 the rare jewel of christian contentment , on phil. 4. 11. 2 , gospel-worship , on levit. 10. 3. 3 gospel-conversation , on phil. 1. 17. to which is added , the misery of those men that have their portion in this life only , on ps. 17. 14. 4 a treatise of earthly-mindedness , on phil. 3. part of the 19. vers . to which is added , a treatise of heavenly-mindednefs , and walking with god , on gen. 5. 24 and on phil. 3. 20. 5 an exposition on the fourth , fifth , sixth , and seventh chapters of the prophesie of hosea . 6 an exposition on the eighth , ninth , and tenth chapters of hosea . 7 an exposition on the eleventh , twelfth , and third chapters of hosea , being now compleat . twelve several books of mr. william bridge , collected into one volumn . viz. 1 the great gospel mystery of the saints comfort and holiness , opened and applied from christs priestly office. 2 satans power to tempt ; and christs love to , and care of his people under temptation . 3 thankfulness required in every . condition . 4 grace for grace ; or the overflowing of christs fulness received by all saints . 5 the spiritual actings of faith through natural impossibilities . 6 evangelical repentance . 7 the spiritual-life , and in-being of christ in all beleevers . 8 the woman of canaan , 9 the saints hiding place in the time of gods anger . 10 christs comin is at our midnight . 11 a vindication of gospel ordinances . 12 grace and love beyond gifts . six sermons preached by doctor hill , viz. 1 the beauty and sweetness of an olive branch of peace and brotherly accommodation budding . 2 truth and love happily married in the churches of christ. 3 the spring of strengthning grace in the rock of ages christ jesus . 4 the strength of the saints to make jesus christ their strength . 5 the best and worst of paul. 6 gods eternal preparation for his dying saints . the bishop of canterburies speech on the scaffold . the kings speech on the scaffold . king charles his case , or an appeal to all rational men concerning his tryal . a congregational church is a catholick visible church , by samuel stone , in new-england mr owens stedfastness of the promises . mr owen against mr baxter . a vindication of free grace , by john pawson . the magistrates support and burden , by john corael . the discipline of the church in new-england , by the churches and synod there . a relation of the barbadoes . a relation of the repentance and conversion of the indians in new-england , by mr eliot and mr mayhew . an exposition on the gospel of the evangelist s. matthew , by mr ward . clows chyrurgery . marks of salvation . an exposition of the whol first epistle of peter , by mr. john rogers of dedham in essex . christians engagement for the gospel , by john goodwin . great church ordinance of baptism . mr love's case , containning his petitions , narrative , and speech . vox pacisica , or a perswasive to peace . dr prestons saints submission , and satans overthrow . a treatise of the rickets , published in latin by dr glisson , dr bate , and dr remorter , now translated into english. mr symsons sermon at westminster . mr feaks sermon before the lord major . mr phillips treatise of hell. — of christs geneology . mr eaton on the oath of allegiance and covcnant , shewing that they oblige not . the first treatise : which explaineth the nature of medicine and alchymy . prooemium . first , every science is made compleat and perfect by these four parts , fore-knowledg . precept . rule . and commentary . these four parts are diligently to be distinguished in every science ( then not to be confounded : ) according to these ought the master to teach , and the scholer to learn , orderly and by degrees : in these is no redundancy , and as little want . 1. foreknowledg is nothing else but the learning of art anticipated , or the knowleg of the nature of what you would learn. for three things ought to be foreknown in every art , be it theorick , or practick . in the theory , the subject , principles , and affections . in the practick , the subject , end , and means . i leave the more exact description of this to such as study logick , the termes whereby they call it synonymia , paronymia , and homonymia : but i do not write logick here , but phisick , and therfore come to the rest of the notions . 2. precepts which seem to be the only essentials to discipline , are , the true definitions , and congruous distributions of things . 3. the rules of definition and distribution contains their properties . 4. a commentary is that which makes both fore-knowledg and precept fit for use . amongst other things , it explains them what they be , and makes such things as are doubtful , cleer ; answers all needful questions ; puts an end to controversies ; quotes the examples and authorities both of ancient and moderne writers , gives a reason for every truth . thesé four beget a child called method ; or ( if you please ) make way both for universal and particular practise . this is the reason galen decreed upon it ; that no art could be learned without method or uniuersal theorems ; and exercised in perticular examples ; thus you see method consists in univiersals , and practise in particulars . also hippocrates ( who was dead before galen was born ) seems to be of that opinion too . method ( which is universal ) cannot make a man an able physitian with out much practice . also in another book he saith , there are seven helps to find out a truth when it lyes most hid . 1. a ripe witted nature . 2. good education . 3. an ingenious master . 4. a diligent minde . 5. a fervent desire after truth . 6. good method . 7. continual practise . now then t is cleer from the consideration of these four which ought in every science to be observed , that our devision of this book into four parts is very rational : of which , the first shall contain the prologomena , or fore-knowledg . the second , the precepts . the third , the rules . the fourth , the commentaries . i premise the first only , to make the three latter the fuller and plainer . treatise i. of the nature of physick and alchymy . 1. in this treatise we will first intorduce the opinions of physitians : and when we have done so , 2. secondly the names , and essence of physick and alchymy . then 3. thirdly , we will come to the matter it self , which we will declare according to its cause , and its effect , subject , object , and adjunct , sympathy and antipathy . chap. 1. of the opinions of physitians . the body of physick ( according to physitians ) is the consent of a huge sort of precepts gathered together in a heap , founded upon certain principles , which are either congruous to one another , or at least seem so to be . 1. that which we call the sect is either the first , or the daughter of the first . the first is practise : the daughters of the first are either the eldest or the yongest ; the eldest as rule and hermetical phylosophy , the yongest as method . 2. secondly , practise is the original of all physick . experience is the mother of physick ; dayly necessity administers ocasion for experience to work uopn : when a man is out of his way he inquires after it of every one that comes neer him : so doth a man that 's out of his health , require help of all his friends : this begot practise , though peradventure accompanied with ignorance in the principles . a smith hath certain rules to make a key , or somthing else of a peice of iron , though he know neither the nature of the iron , nor the original from whence it comes . the species of this are three . 1. perictosis : when unadvised experiences are made . 2. antoskedion : when men are warned of things in their sleep , or led by opinion ; or when they dream waking . 3. mimetikce : when men imitate like apes . another did good with such a medicine , why maynot i in another body ? hence is a threefold experience gained . chance medley . advice , and imitation . experience , first found out the rules of diet , and this was the opinion of hippocrates men ( saith he ) when they are sick are many times cured only by changing of their diet : and herodotus writes that the egyptians did so , who purged their bodyes three dayes in every moneth , as thinking that all sicknesses came by reason of their food . 3. thirdly . all rules are the daughters of experience , and thus she begat them : when men first found things to be true , they sought after the causes of them , as thinking if the causes were unknown , the effects could not be sure : thus were the rules and precepts of physick invented . 4. method was begotten by practise and rules . 5. hermetical phylosophy was invented by hermes trismegistos , and others : in our times it is as it were revived from the dead by paracelsus and seems now like a new model of physick . 6. all these were illustrated by the judgments of each author . 1. the empericks ; neglecting the cause and nature of the disease , minding only the symptomes , putting too much confidence in the experiences of others , and when they knew not the disease , they runne to their old remedies , for they had no other . as in diseases of the legs and arms when they are weak , they used the same remedies that they did to weak stomachs . imagine , medlars quinces , and cervices , called in sussex checkers . 2. dogmaticks searcheth after the nature of things , the causes of diseases , makes use of the symtomes , to find out the cause , and gives directions for the cure . 3. methodists regards not the cause much , nor the symptomes at all , but only judges by evidences ; and take indication alone for the principal and leading rule of their practice . they dealt by triplicities , and used but three kinds of medicines according to the three natures of diseases . viz. 1. diseases of binding . 2. diseases proceeding of loosening . 3. diseases compound of both these . for they defended with all the wit they had , that loosness or binding accompanyed all diseases , and therfore they called them communitvies besides , in all cures they presciribed fasting , as the egiptians did ( as we shewed you before ) lastly they observed certain scopes in administring physick , of which they called one metasyntrecos , with which they empted the body of humors : another resumptivos , with which they restored decayed flesh. 4. hermeticks , or alchymists ( which you please ) being something male-contented with such a method of physick , brought in new rules contrary to them . 7. medicine cannot want alchymie , the one is so helpful to another as man & wife , and therfore they ought not to be separated . many contend stoutly and stubbornly too , that physick is a sufficient body of it self without alchymie . and what a learned argument do they bring to prove it think ye ? galen and hippocrates the two great lights of physick were without it . a cuckoos song is worth ten such arguments , they are far of another opinon whose breasts apollo inlightens with the light of nature ; for . that without which medicine cannot attain the end it was ordayned for ; namely , to cure the sick perfectly , and speedily : that is plainly necessary and ought in no wise to be wanting . but we cannot do this by common medicines without alchymie . therefore alchymie is very necessary , and ought in no wise to be wanting . the assumption is thus proved , although when you look upon one of galens apothecaries shops , you see fine painted boxes and curious pots , that it would dazle your eyes to look upon them , they are so finely painted , that if there be a paradice upon earth you would think it were there : yet in the inside is nothing but filth and the very carkeises and dung of all medicines . their common medicines are grosse , crude bodyes , the vices of the simples are in , as well as their vertues , yea so many simples are in one composition , that they hinder one anothers operation , and therefore how can they ease the sick without calling the help of an alchymist to resolve , seperate , and exhale what is obnoxious , thereby producing the hidden natures of things for use ( for god hath vayled the greatest and most wonderful things , that so he may stir up man to search after them : else why did god hide the vertues of an herb amongst his vices , seeing he would have all things made manifest ) also the alchymist searcheth after the strength and temperature of things , the causes and originall of their actions , and by mediation of a certain pure body sets the very species and forms of things before your eyes : i could bring an infinite examples of this : opium is held to be cold , because it is stupefactive , but t is bitter , therfore according to galens hypothesis , hot : you see then , it contains in it self more properties then one , which alchymie teacheth artificially to seperate from one another : here then is no more doubt , then there is knots in a rush , but that alchymie is the fountain of sound phylosophy the key of wisdom , the soul and marrow of physick , the root of medicine , and the mark at which wise men shoot ; therefore not to be separated from medicine : nay , we may say ( and that truly too ) that physitians destiture of chymical remedies , are like to smiths that give you an axe that is dull or broken in the middle , to cleave loggs with : yet seeing the theory of alchymy as wel concerning things naturall , as things not naturall , and preternaturall is not yet sufficiently unfolded , and methodically digested , and is pestered with variety of names and opinions ; physitians follow the precepts of galen and hippocrates . but o let us shake of this lazy life and learn the preparation of medicines from paracelsus and the alchymists , which is far fitter , more pleasing , and more profitable , and let us use it to the glory of god , the health of our selves , and of our neighbors . this is the reason moved me to handle both in this book , that the medicine both of hypocrates and of alchymy , might be a rule for us , and that you may see the sympathy , and antipathy between them . the other two sects , namely empericks and methodicks ( if they be rightly understood ) , pertain to them both , for both embrace experience , both strive after reason and method : besides , they seek after the knowledge of the body of man , and conses that they search after the elements , principles and causes by which the body may be changed as very necessary , for stark naked experience if it be not joyned with reason is very dangerous , and to build upon reason alone is very difficult and many times puzles the wisest physitians : neither do we approve of that ill favor'd fashion of scribbling receipts , which most commonly , the apothecaries either for want of learning do not understand , or for want of care alter , but we embrace that manual , pleasant and effectual preparation of medicines which alchymie teacheth . chap. 2. of the essence of medicine and alchymie . 1. there is no doubt but medicine may be given unto men . there were a sort of men formerly in the world , that were of an opinion ( and that opinion is scarce worn out yet ) that because physitians dissented in opinions , the groundwork of physick was built only upon imagination without one jot of truth in it : that no honest man may harbour such a thought in his breast , wee will proue the contraries by what followes . 1. from a resolution of the action to the habit , for he that grants there is any operation without the understanding , must needs grant it to be within either in act , or in possibility of act. 2. from the sense of bruit beasts , and reason of men : for that which bruit beasts know only by natural instinct , man must needs know by observation : but bruit beasts know the natures of herbs and make use of them when they need them , as we find by continual observation . ergo , 3. from the actions of physick from certain causes , for if the example of the action be certain , the cause must needs be certaine too . but examples of many cures done by medicine are certain . ergo. 4. from the habit by the cause of the physical actions , to the essence of the medicine : for if the causes of whatsoever be certain , there must needs be a just knowledge of the same causes , in the mind of him that knows them : and this must needs beget a certain habit , according to which habit , he exerciseth the like actions . 2. secondly , there is no doubt but chymicall medicines may be given unto men . the truth produceth hatred , said that famous orator cicero , and that is the reason so few people look after it , and those few such whose hearts god hath touched : therefore alchymie was first damned to cymmerian darkness ; and being afterwards by som honest souls brought up once more to see the light , up start all the haters of truth , and labor with might and main to keep this hopeful plant from bearing fruit : when once they had brought men into darkness , who can blame them if they labor to keep them there ; and to do so , they left never a ston unturn'd ; but labored night and day even til they sweat again to exclud alchymy from the society of men , nay they were come to that point of madness , that they accounted it , either no art , or els an art , vain , bewiching , invented by the devil , and the devils kitchin . and then the bedlams run to the magistrate , and petition him to restrain alchymists . but the soul of man furnished with the principles of reason and instructed with the principles of art , was quickly able to see the truth , through so slender a cobweb , and found it out to be the truest and most ancient way , even almost as old as the world , although but latly revived from the dead . we might make this good by solid arguments if we would , and therfore , 1. the operations of what arts soever are naturall , proceed from nature , but the art of an alchymist is naturall . ergo 2. we cannot say nature's false . ergo neither alchymie . 3. if the knowledg of mettals be true and naturall , then alchymie must needs be true and naturall , because it teacheth it . thus you see that alchymie is an essentiall part of philosophie , as well as medicine . chap. 3. of the name of medicine and alchymy . 1. the name of medicine may well be reduced unto these three heads , synonymia , paronymia , and homonymia . 1 synonymia , the hebrews call it remedy , or health . the greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 medicine . to omit what the germans , slavonians , and bohemians call it . 2. paronymia : the hebrews derive from a word which signifies he hath healed , the greeks from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give medicines , and the latin word medicina is derived from means . 3 homonymia : and this word carries the same signification in all dialects , it is properly and genuinely put for the method of curing , which consisteth in conserving preserving and restoring health . somtimes it is taken for the act of the physitian : we in this place take it for the discipline , and faculty in giving phisick ; but it is not alwayes so taken , for it 's somtimes taken for the whol , and for every part of the phisicall method : somtimes for the method of cure , which is not manual ; and other times for that which is manual or chyrurgical ( which you please ) and thus much for the first general head . the second follows . 2. the name of alchymy is declared by synonymia , paronymia , and homonymia . 1. synonymia . chymia is the greek word ; the arabins added their vulgar particle al , thence it was called alchymi , it is called spagyry , hermeticall art and the art of perfit workmanship , the art of segregation , seperation and distillation ; thence ( vulgarly ) a distiller and an alchymyst are held to be both one , 2. paronymia . chymia is an egyptian art ( if you wil beleeve plutarch ) used by the priests , especially those inhabiting in egipt the town of chemis derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies to powr out , , melt or convert to juyce or liquor : thence the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , signifies juyce . alchymy then is an art making juyce , or converting solid matters into liquid , as also coagulation of them is understood . it is called spagyrick from drawing and compelling ; hermetick from hermes the inventor of it : other names it hath from washing , sequestring , and purifying . 3. homonymia . alchymie of most , and those the best , is taken for that part of phisick which give cure ; because it makes the medecines efficacious : it manifesteth many secrets to him that studies it , and administreth many very profitable observations , and indeed it seems to be nothing else , but naturall phylosophy , and medicine , brought both into one practise . by other authors and those moderne , it is taken for a part of phylosophy distinct from others , the fountain and key of phylosophy ; the soul and marrow of physick ; the root of medicine . the name hath been spoken to : the kinde follows . chap. 4. of the kind of medicine , and alchymie . 1 the genus of medicine is a phylosophicall discipline , or superior facultie . there are very many which suppose medicine , and natural philosophy to be synonimous , and their reasons were , first , because aristotle thought so , when he wrote that physick was to know the first principles of health and sickness and that it ended in that which is called medicine : and that the physitian begins with those things that are naturall : for as plants have their roots fixed in the earth by which they receive nourishment , yet they are conserved by the temperature of the air about them , and flourish by the vitall influence of the stars , so the art of curing men , takes it's root and principles from philosophicall meanes which are confirmed and illustrated by particular precepts : wherefore say they , medicine is nothing else , but a certain particular point of naturall phylosophie , objected to the senses ; for a naturalist considereth all naturall bodyes universally , for knowledg sake ; but a physitian is conversant about the body of a man , not only that he may know his nature , but also that by knowing his nature , he may know the manner of cure. 2. because those things which are required to make up the , true and proper synonymy of scienses , agree perfectly with the comparation of medicine and naturall phylosophy : for the body of man which is the subject of physick , is not drawn by difference of accidentalls , which is to be curable by art ; and the first principles of medicine are shewed and handled in physick : therefore , as law may be reduced to moral phylosophy , and divinity to metaphysicks , so may midicine to naturall phylosophy . but why i and others cannot close with this opinion , hear a little . there ought to be two things habited in a perfect physitian : one by which he knows the precepts of medicine , and the things there to belonging . the other by which he operates well and readily , together with all the circumstances which concur to the perfecting of a cure. that these two habits are distinct , appears by this that one of them may be without the other : for very many learn the science of medicine in the schools , and yet know not a whit what belongs to use. on the contrary many which are unskilled in the science of medicin by practice & experience become good physitians . there is then this difference between these habits , the first is goren by speculation , and may be taught without any practise at all . the other is gotten only by practise and experience . then , one is occupyed altogether about universals , the other about particulars also , although the one be imperfect without the other ; yet the first can doe nothing without the second ; the second little without the first : both together make an able physitian . moreover that first habit which is nothing else but the science of medcine , is devided in to two parts . the first containeth general precepts , and notions far enough off from practise which physitians call speculative . the other toucheth upon the practise and teacheth the way and meanes of operation , and this they call practick ; these things thus premised , it is an easy matter to prove that medicine is not synonymous with natural phylosophy ; for this latter habit is not synonymous physick because it consists totally of practise , and practice is not synonymous with speculation seing they are things of a diverse order , and essentially different . now doctrins synonymous cannot essentially differ : for there are three things which speculative medicin chefly handles , first , the body of man. secondly , health and sickness . thirdly , nourishment , and medicament . 2. alchymie is the fountain of sound philosophy , the key of wisdom . the soul and marrow of physick . the root of medicine . and the mark all wise men shoot at . there are some that are so simple as to affirm that alchymie is also sinonymous to naturall phylosophy . al real things are of three sorts according to aristotle . for either they are joyned to motion and mater ; and of these is the science of natural philosophie : or joyned to matter , and separated by motion ; and of these are the mathamaticks : or seperated from motion and matter , and of these are the metaphysicks . now alchymy , seeing it is by a real being , joyned to motion and matter , must needs come under the head of natural phylosophy : but if part of natural phylosophy be synonymous with minerals and mettals , it ought to have a certain matter of determination ; and seeing the mater is one , and the determination altogether naturall , and not manifold ; therefore of necessity , that same determinated matter must be like in the art of alchymy , and not manifold ; and although ( say they ) the manner of action & direction and information of the art be different from natural phylosophy as also the place , time , yet they tend all to one ultimate end : for as nature brings forth an herb , or gold , or other mettal , out of that one matter for the use of man : so the art of alchymie takes the quintescence of that mettal or medicament out of that matter of the same use : put case this be so ; yet can i easily perswade my self that alchymie is the fountain of philosophy , and the soul of physick : for ( by their leaves ) that phylosopher never yet breathed which had the perfection of alchymie but had also the knowledg not only of mettals but also of vigetables and living creatures : therfore it was well said that alchymie brought many hidden things to light , found out many excellent medicines for the physitian and many useful observations . alchymy is then admirably profitable to search out the hidden things of nature so that a man can scarce be excellent in this world , without the knowledge of this art : for what phylosopher can perform his duty more nobly , more happily , then he that is exercised in alchymy : for it is not the proud sophister that vapers with a few phylosophycal sentences , light conceits , and trivial quirks that deserves the name of a good physitian ; but he that according to the rules of nature , makes his medicines honestly and faithsully , and applyes them wisely and studiously just so for all the world , neither is he worthy of the name of a philosopher that hath nothing in him but words , but he that hath been bred up in the school of nature , and knows how to practise what he hath learned . 3. midicine is a certain facultie commixed of science and art. for it cannot be pure science . 1. because it doth not demonstrate all that belongs to it self . 2 because it is not conversant about eternall things , but transitory . 3. it hath not it's principles in it's self , that is in nature ; but some of it is in the artifficer . neither can it be pure art. 1. because it's principle consists not in it self , but part of it also in nature . 2. because it is not altogether attained by reason , but partly by contemplation : and yet it is an art ; 1. because some principle of it consists in the artifficer . 2. because it hath the end of art , namely operation . and because all art is either factive or active ; factive also either makes a new work , or mends up an old one : in this sense , according to galen , medicine is factive , because it restores : weakned body to strength and health . 4. alchymie is a most excellent art . it is indeed the cause of medicaments and all other naturall bodyes : it inquires after the parts and affections , and may properly be called knowledg : for it 's an art which teacheth the preparations of remedies and a key to unlock the secret cabinet of nature ; nay more than that , it can transmute ignoble mettals into noble ; also it begets a peculiar art distinct from other arts no art promising that which alchymy doth : you have the kind , the mater it self follows . in which consider the cause , and effect , subject , object , and adjunct , simpathy and antipathy . the causes are internall , and external . internall are efficent , and the end. externall are matter and forme . chap. 5. of the end of physick and alchymie , which is health . 1. the principall end of medicine is health , les principal is the knowledg of things naturall , not naturall , and against nature . the principal end is either intentional or executional ; intentionall & internall , which galen peculiarly calles scope and that is health . the execution of this is the fruition or possession of health : and for this end medicine was first invented . the end less principal , is , the knowledg of , and operation by all things natural , not natural and against nature . and though a physitian do not alwayes actayne to his ultimate end ; yet he shews himself an honest man , if he neglect not his duty , but performes such cures as are within the reach of nature and art. 2. the end of alchymie is internal , to resolve bodies . or external so to change or direct mettalls or medicaments , that they may be wholsome physick for the sick . the internal end of alchymie is to reduce compounded bodyes into what they were compounded of : to clense , purifie , and take away their milignant qualities , that so , either they may be fit for the physitians use , or else transmuted into other mettals . in respect of the first , alchymie is very necessary to physick : in respect of the second , it is an art by it self , and the mistris of all other arts. the external use of alchymie is also double . first , either for the change and transmutation of ignoble mettals into noble ; and so t is a distinct art by it self . or secondly , to maintayne the body of man in , or restore it to health ; and in this sence alchymy , ought to be joyned with medicine . 3. health , and the enjoyment of health , is the ultimate end of medicine . health is the favorer of wisdom and al siences , and all the comfort a man hath in this turbulent and troublesome world. this , this is that whose presence makes humane actions flourish , preserves body and mind in vigour . she is an excellent chamber mate , more precious then gold ; admirable useful both ; for church and common-wealth , and the best of all earthly goods . she being gone the body runs the direct road unto death . 4. health is a power of exercizing the actions of the body of man , which are according to nature , arising from the natural constitution of all the parts ' we will let galens definition of this alone , as somthing imperfect you shall finde , that to performe the ordinary and natural offices of the body , two things are required . the action it selfe ; and the power of acting . thence we gather that health consisteth either in actual or potential act . that it doth not consist in acting alone is palpable ; for then every man should be sick when he is asleep , because most parts of his body act not then . 5. the reason of health is to be sought out in the body , rather then in the soul. for seeing there are two things required to every act , namely the facultie , or the soul instructed with its faculties , which is the principal cause of operation , and moves the body to action , then the organ which the soul useth as a meanes to act by . the faylings of this cannot be imputed to the soul for the soul cannot be hurt nor weakned but remaynes alwayes the same , it acts the same operation so long as the creature liveth , if it have the same instruments to act by : according to aristotle for a man is somtimes well , somtimes sick , the cause of which is to be sought from the constitution of the organ ; although i ingeniously confesse my opinion is that the greatest mischiefs that befal a man during his life , take their original from the soul and the internal spirits , as i shall shew more clearly when i come to the subject . 6. health consisteth in an accedental , not in an essential constitution . the consttitution of each part is double ; essential and accidental . essential is that which depends upon matter and substancial forme , by which all compounds have their nature and being . accidental is that which followes the former and disposeth their qualities and accidents in all parts ; exercies all their action diversly according to their diversity . now health consists not in the essential constitution ; for so long as a man lives the essential constitution is immutable but health may be changed , and sickness come in place ; the substantial form remaining : therfore a man is somtimes sick and somtimes well , and yet a man stil. health then is to be placed rather in accidentalls for they are changable both by reason of age , diet , air , and other circumstances . 7. to the health of a mans body is required , a good constitution of the humors and spirits , a good temperature of the similarie prats , a good structure of the organs and vnion of all the body . the word healthfull is taken three waies , as the body , as the cause , as the sign . a healthfull body is such a one as enjoyeth present health , and that either , as alwayes so ; or as most commonly so as at present . health alwayes so , is he who hath a firm and stable health . health as at present is that which is fleeting and unconstant . the cause of health is that which either restoreth it beeing lost or preserveth it being obtayned ; good constitution of the foure humors and spirits causeth health . the just structure of the organs is when they consist of a just magnitude , number , place , and confirmation . lastly the union & continuaty of all the parts . to conclude , you shal find no greater preserver of health than the moderate use of the six things not natural , which because my author hath left out i care not greatly if i set them down . 1. ayre . 2. meat and drink . 3. sleeping and watching . 4. fulness and emptiness . 5. exercise and rest. 6. affections of the mind . 8. medicines may be given even to men in health if they be rightly administred . hyppocrates was the first that gave occasion to this question , whether healthful men ought to take medicines or not , but yet t is most certain , and galen both confesseth and commendeth it , that it is the peculiar office of many medicines to resist the disease before it comes ; as such as resist infection , cut gross , and tough humors , and many others which we may reade in his fourth book of preserving health . but if by medicine hipocrates means scammony and such other violent purges we will easely grant him the point without further dispute of the story . we have done with the end ; & come now to the cause both of medicine and alchymie , both principal and less principal . chap. 6. the cause of physick and alchymie , both principal , and less principal 1. the principall cause of medicine is god. as all good arts in generall have their fountain & original from god himself ; so medicine also is a gift of god by his divine will granted to the sons of men : for the art was never first invented by the wit of man , but came by demonstration from god himself to man , becanse he belighted in the sons of men . all arts and mystriees as well as the world that contains them have their originall from god : hence it came to pass that those ancient wise men , because they knew medicine was a divine thing ; and they were ignorant what the true god was ascribed it unto their gods : god then is the author of medicine , nature the instrument of god , & the physitian is or should be the servant of them both : hence it is that herophylus said , that medicine was the band by which god healed the sick : if then the most high god be the author of medicine let not men despise it . 2. god is the principall cause of alchymie . all true medicine is the gift of the most high god ; and he that will learn it , let him go to god and not to the ethicks . if you will learn wisdom go to god , and not to the creatures , for they are as foolish as your self : god is the maker of all secrets , and hath distributed some of them to every creature ; you can never learn them by reading dead letters but go to the living god from whom all knowledg flows to mortals , even as the trees bud by the heat of the sun : what knowledg hath man which he hath not from above even from that god which created knowledg , it 's not an accademie can furnish a man with the principls of knowledg , but'tis the grace and gift of that invisible god , if god inlighten your eys , the best book of physick is the book of nature and there you may read it , and search for it , by chyromancie and physiognomie . 3. the less principal cause of physick is either impulsive or instrumental . impulsive , is the want and defect of human nature joyned with a natural appetite to knowledg , instrumental , is that admirable beauty and hermony of natural things . 4. the less principal causes of alchymie are the same with those of medicine . the impulsive cause is the dayly necessity of men . the instrumental cause is that stately light of nature , or the knowledg of the world in general without which ther is never a physitian breathing can come to the exact knowledg either of the disease , or the body diseased . for the macrocosme , or world in generall , is the the looking glass and theory in and by which man comes to the knowledg of him self ; and the very principle which moved man to look after physick . 5. the instrumentall cause of medicine which physitians use are reason , experience , and speculation . a physitian in making a medicine useth three principles of which the first is invention , and done by experience . the second constitution performed by reason and experience : the third interpretation done by natural speculation . expeirence is the first and most antient principle of invention , & gave to medicine it 's denomination , daily necessity gave occasion to experience . reason and experience is the directing principle in the constitution of the art. natural speculation is the principle of interpretation and demonstration . experience therefore gave the original both to medicine and alchymie , and therefore they must needs take their beginnings from nature . chap. 7. of the original of physick and alchimie . 1. medicin takes his original from the first ages of the world , & was increased & approved by the most excellent physitians in the succeeding ages . there is no question to be made of it , but physick had it's beginning when adam had his , & that it flourished in egypt as well before as after the flood . that they learned it of hermes tresmegistos , and of aesculapius who was his scholer . abraham also taught them much when he came thither out of pheenicia : also jacob and joseph taught the egiptains much wisdom : at last apollo who was afterwards worshiped for the god of physick who flourished a long time before the trojan war and added many famous things to that art , is said to have had the principls of it from the egiptians . and though egipt was the first nation that was so famous for this art , yet they learned it of the hebrews : aesculapius added much to the art and transported it from aegipt into greece , where he was worshipped as a god for his labor ; because they thought he could recovor dead men : thence came that in virgil of hyppolitus poeoniis revocatum herbis : neither were they only so sottish as to worship him for a god , but they must worship his two daughters for goddesses ; for he had two daughters , of which the name of the one was hygaea ' and she they thought preserved them in health : the name of the other was panacea , and she ( they thought ) frighted away diseases . before aesculapius , was chyron the centaure and his scholers , as petens , jason , achilles and thessalus , all these , used only the administration of herbs , which they found out by experience little other method . afterwards medicine came in request among the greeks , latines and christians : then , t was first brought into a method ; the arabians and jewes following none at all : of these sects aeron argentinus was the author of the empericks , who ( a most terrible pestilence raging in sicillia ) purged the ayre by only making great fires about the streets . themison was the first inventer of methodicks : as for dogmaticks they were used before the dayes of hyppocrates by machaon , paeon and mercurius , but much amended by hipprocrates , who deduced his pedigree by his fathers side from aesculapius by his mother from hercules : thus after hippocrates physick was devided into factions , factions bred contentions ; and this continued til galens time who about the year of christ , one hundred and forty restored physick to a settled model : him many grecians followed , as arateus , aetius . tralianus , orabasius , cassianus , dioscorides , damascenus , theophilus , philaretus , dionyisius , cassius : amongst the latin physitians the first and cheifest is cornelius celsus , their followed him scribonus , largus quintus , saronus , coelius aurelianius , theodorus marcellus , priscianus , constantinus , apher , johannes fernelius , fuchsius , forsterus , platerus , bauhinus , &c. the arabian physitians , neither much following greeks nor latines , got the glory to themselves , the others libraries beeing spoyled after their kings porus ; mahomet , and almanzor , had erected two schooles : heare flourished very many , and very famous men , as isaac , serapio , averrois , avicenna , rhasis ; avezor , mesue . &c. the alchymists of our times oppose themselves to these , and will bee called paracelsians from paracelsus ; of which more anon . ii. there is no question to be made but alchymie is almost as old as the world . for , old father adam when he taught his children phylosophie and other arts ; it is not very prob able that he left out alchyme , which is the most excellent of all : such an assertion doth not sound like a truth . but t is most probable he distiled the principles of it into tubal cain who as we read gen. 4. 22. was the first that wrought in brass and iron , and that out of question was the reason why the grecians worshipped uulcan for a god : and i am so much the rather of this opinion , because such as dealt in mettals were the first inventors of alchymie . the first alchymist that was heard of after the floud was hermes tresmegistos , from him the art is called hermetical ; the vessells belonging to the art ; hermetical vessels , and from him comes the word hermetical seal . the word hermes signifies mercurie ; he was called trismegistos because he was an high preist , phylosopher , and king ; or as others think because he was a king and a prophet : what countryman he was is uncertaine ; there is a table of hermes now extant , caled tabula smaragdina , which the alchymists prize as a great jewel ; some say it was found in the valley of hebron after the flood : others say , it was found by a woman in hermes his tomb : wher it was found it matters not much ; this is certain , it contains in it the fundamentals of alchymie , and the way of making that universal medicine which so many gape after , and so few catch . also albertus magnus calles hermes the root from which all the rest of the phylosophers spring ; and if he spake of the phylosophers of our times he mist not a hayres breadth of the truth : other books are fathered upon hermes , as of the secrets of the phylosophers stone and many others , which although his name be written in their frontespeice yet many men , and those learned too , question whether they be his legitimate children or not . also a man had as good deny that the sun is up at noone day , as deny that moses both studyed and practised alchymie : how else could he burn the golden calf which aaron had made and grind it to pouder , which all the fire in the world was not able to doe without the art of an alchymist . also myriam moses his sister was an excellent alchymist as some write and synertus is one of them . also suidas reports , that the golden fleec which jason stole , was nothing else but a book in parchment , which contayned the art of making gold ; and that the golden apples of the hesperides were neither better nor worse than the very same : to let passe other fables , as that of atlanta and hipomanes , of cadmus and the dragon , of argus his eyes , &c. after the birth of christ alchymie flourisht much in egipt : and histories , this day to be had witnes , that they got that treasure by alchymie wherewith they defended themselves against all their enimyes : and relying vpon that only , was the reason of their so often vexing the romans : therfore as suidas reports , when dioclesian had conquered them he commanded all the bookes of alchymie , and transmutation of mettalls into gold , of which egipt had some store , to be sought out and burnt : lest the egiptians making themselves rich by their art should rebel againe . in after ages the light of alchymie shone brightest among the arabians as he may se that takes but the pains to read mesue , who desires such as are studious in physick to be much conversant with alchymists if by any meanes they might learn of them to seperate the hidden quality from the concrete by the force of fire : and that it flourished many yeares amongst the arabians appeares by their owne writers : as geber , avicenna , rhasis , arnoldus de villa n●va &c. in this latter age of the world , it turn'd monk and was seldom seene out of a monastarie : amongst which some were famous as raymundus lullius , albertus magnus , johannes de rupe feissa , savanorola morienus , trithemius , frier bazil valentine : and there it had dyed , had it not been for paracelsus , who in the yeare 1493. by care and industry brought it again to the light of the sunne , which else had been suffocated in a monastarie . him all the later writers follow . thus you have the original of medecine and alchymie . chap 8. how the beginings of medicine and alchymie were drawn from nature . 1. that the beginings of medicine are drawn from nature may be proved by arguments enough . as mechanicks learned all their arts and sciences from the creatures ; as the art of swimming from the geese , of weaving and hunting with nets from the spider , just so for al the world physitians & chyrurgeons , learned many remedies for diseases , and vertues of many things from the creatures also , for all creatures are physitians by natural instinct : take a few exampls in lieu of many . 1. the goates and stagges of creet shake out the arrowes that are fastned in them by eating dittanie . 2. the sea horse was the first author of leting blood : for when he hath gotten a plethora of blood by much eating , he goes out upon the shore and having found a sharp stake , lets himself blood with it in the leg , and when he thinks he hath bled enough , closeth the orifice with slyme . 3. the wild goates by lying long upon the hills and stones in the sun cause themselves to vomit . 4. the egiptian bird ibis ( not much unlicke the storke ) when it cannot avoid the excrements of it's belly as it would fills his bill full of sea water and casts it up his fundament ; and so was the use of clysters first found out . 5. the serpent having over dryed his skin by his winters rest , casts it of by eating the juyce of fennel 6. the same creature cures his eyes when they are ill affected with fennell ; his wounds with bistort , which is therefore called snakeweed ; and with comfrey . 7. cats strengthen their sight by eating valerian , and so was valerian first found out to be good for the eyes . 8. if you prick out the eyes of young swallowes : the old one wil bring them to their sights again with celondine . 9. goats will take away a caterract from their owne eye with a thorne , and from thence was invented the art of couching the eye with a needle . 10. the hungarian horses , when they need bleeding , doe let themselves bloud with their own teeth . 11. the lyzard using the hearb galega or goats rue mocks at the deadly poyson of the viper . 12. the dog , by eating dog-grass , cures himself of the infirmites of his stomeck by vomiting . 13 hogs by eating ceterach ease themselves of the infirmites of the spleen . 14. that mullein is an antidote against poyson and the pestlence , a weasel will teach you by eating of it when she goes to fight with a serpent : neither is there a better remedie for the pestilence than the juyce thereof drunk in wine . 15. the hind a little before shee brings forth young , eats heartwort , which opens her womb. after shee hath brought forth , by eating the same hearb again , shee closeth it . 16. the storke cures poyson with origanum . the weasell with rue . 17 , boares cure themselves of almost al diseases by eating ivie . 18. the bear after he hath layen a long time in his den , moves himself to stoole by eating arum , or cuckoopints . 19. laro , a certain water foul , when he hath eaten more than doth him good , creepes between two boughs of a tree which grow close together and preseth the victualls out of his body . 20. ringdoves , dawes , partridges , blackbirds . cure themselves by bay leaves and other remidies well knowne to themselves . ii. alchymists and hermeticall phylosophers learnt the way of renewing youth from the creatures . so they observed the manner of renewing man by hearbs and mettalls , from the kingfisher , eagle crab , serpents &c. which almost yearely renew their youth . and pray tell me , you that cavill at this ; if this be granted to birds and beasts by the eternall god ; is it impossible for man that is made after the image of god ? for so , 1. the eagle by casting her bil casteth away her old age , and takes up youth againe . 2. the serpents in spring time , leave their old skinnes and their old age together with them . 3. the heart perseving himself to be well striken in age , drawes serpents out of their holes whith the breath of his nostrills , whether they will or no , by a wonderfull gift of nature , and having kiled them with his feet , eates them having first seperated the poyson ; and having eaten them grows yong again thereby : in the same manner the toad draws weasells and the weasell mice . 4. the crab grows yong by eating frogs . 5. the hens by eating spiders . 6. the eagles by eating tortels , 7. the serpents by eating toads . 8. the tongue of a serpent being pulled out when the serpent is alive about the full moon for some magicall use or another ; the serpent recovers it againe by eating nettles . 9. so the elements themselves puting off their drosse , seem young againe and so doth nature her self every spring . 10. the creatures give arguments enough of a future resurrection , if men have but witt enough to see them , or honesty enough to confess them . first , so the king-fisher yearly changing her skin and feathers , seemes like one risen again from the dead . secondly , the silke worme having made it self a silken nest , dyes in it , and after putrification , leaves both the propertie and forme of a worm and comes forth a fly. thirdly , the emmet , ant , or pismire which you will , when they are so old they can scarse goe upon their legs , nature provides them wings , and so of a creeping , it becomes a flying animal . fourthly , the phoenix being worn out with age , burnes her self , and riseth again out of her owne ashes . chap. 9. of the matter , forme , and effect of medicine and alchymie . i the matter or rather matteriall of medicine is both a methodical disposition of precepts , as also the matter it self . if you consider the matter by way of systeme , the matters of medicine are sencere parts , and the precepts thereof congruous to nature : but if you would dispute the point physically , they are . 1. things natural called physiologia , 2. things not natural called hygiena . 3. things against nature called pathologia ii. the matter of alchymie is both a disposition of precepts , as also the matter it self . for it is as true as what is truest that alchymists have many singular precepts and observations not only in their operations but also in administring physick contrary to the opinion of the dogmaticks : they can give you a true and exact anatomie , not only of the body of man , but also of the whol world , as concerning their way of making the phylosophers stone , they differ much and perhaps as much from the truth as they do from one another . iii. the forme of medicine is externall or internall . the externall is a methodicall disposition and connexion of such precepts as are agreeable to nature . the internal is the truth it self of the physical substance . iiii. the forme of alchymie is the same with that of medicine . the externall is a connexion of precepts . the internall is the truth and excellency of the chymicall preparations v. the proper effects both of the physitian and of his medicine , are various and manifold . for a frugal and temperate diet , preserves health and amends sickness , maintaynes the body in vigour , which is the most excellent of all naturall things : for what good doth the contemplation of hearbes bring to a man , or what delight ? what doth a man get by his observation in dissecting the body of a man ? you can hardly perswade a man there is any unless he find it by use and exercise : so then , as of the liberall sciences physick is one , the use of it makes it inferior to none . vi. the proper effects of the alchymist and his alchymie are various and excellent . the cheife effect is the excellency of medicine ; for although nature gives us our medicins whole , yet most commonly they consist of divers parts ; nay somtimes in a whol pound of medicaments you shall not find an ounce of that spirit or oyle you desire , or which conduceth to the cure you intend : nay more than this there is no whol medicament , but hath it's impurity . the art of an alchymist is to seperate this which nature hath mixed : as the maseraick veynes seperate the pure chyle from the impure dung in the body of man ; so alchymie seperates the spirits from the medicine , and rejects the impure dross ; and who unless he be a madman but will easily grant , and that by the rules of nature that the chymical preperation of a medicine , the dros being cast away must needs bemore wholsom , more safe , more effectual in it's operation than to give the whol medicine dross and all as it growes out of the earth : there is indeed and in truth as much difference between them as there is between a bushel of fine flower , and a bushell of bran. besides in stubborn and lasting diseases , strong medicines ( stronger then any naturally grows out of the earth ) must be given . and if artificially prepared may be given without any hurt or danger , namly such as are made of mineralls and mettalls . to these i might add that an alchymist hath the key of natures secret cabinet , and is able to produce all her hidden treasure to publick view : so that mesue avows that scarse any deeper knowledg of naturall things is given unto man , than what is given by chymicall operations : by which the sympathy and antipathy of things is known ; and thus much for the cause and effect of medicine and alchymie . the subject and object follow . chap. 10. of the subject and object of alchymie and physick 1 the subject of the physitian or of his medicine is man considered as he is a creature subject to health and sickness , both according to the whol , and according to each part . they all determin the parts of the subiect to be two material and formall . the material is a mans body and not a beasts . the formall subject , they say is not the soul , that belongs to metaphysicks or els to devinity , and is of itself perfect . but the body curable according to aristotle . a living man and not a dead corps , for barely a body is too general a title . ii a physitian cureth not only the body but the mind in some manner . pray tell me what there is in this whol universe , but may be delighted and refreshed , be it mind or body or what you wil. opto tibi meus sana in corpore sano said one . the whol scope of a physitian is that he might keep the organs of the mind and the understanding in a due tempperature : for if they be out of tune , so is the natural state and condition also : take away the organs of the rational soul , and you take away the soul it self ; restore the organs , and you restore it : besides the body and soul are knit together by a certain sympathy or consent , and derive vertue and vice from one another , and if there be such a harmony between them , the one must needs require help as well as the other : i know it is both douted , and called into question by many ; to which part of the nature of man the disease is most hurtful and deadly : which although i confess i cannot easily answer yet would i have all men perswaded of this truth that the greatest part of all evills , comes from the soul , and the internal spirits : for if the body being sickly be a burden to the soul , and deny it , it's operations , then comes the injury from the body : but if the body be subject to the command of the mind , and it be the duty of the mind to keep passions and affections in awe , and preserve all in a due decorum by the rule of reason ; then licentious living , idlenes effeminatness , luxurie & almost what not ; are al vices of the mind & what worse diseases come to the body of man than by these and their likes : i pray you , is the fault in the body or the mind that people give themselves to gluttony , to lust , drunkenness , quarelling & c ? is not the mind the seate of temperance and intemperance ? and is not intemperance the cause of most diseases ? thus you se the point is clear enough , that the original of most diseases is in the mind , and is discernable to all unless such as are so blind they will not see . iii. the subject of alchymie is the same with medicine . for although alchymie doe not beget a new model of phylosophy and medicine as some would have it , because they have different theorem's and hypotheses : yet because it is referred to the most excellent part of medicine which is the rule of cure ; it must needs have the same subject . iiii. the object of medicine , or rather of the physitian about which it is conversant , are things natural , not natural , and against nature . a physitian therfore is conversant . 1. about things natural . that he may keep the constitution of man in health ; and fortifie the parts of the body with things like . 2. about things which afflict the body against nature ; as diseases their causes and symtomes ; that he may cure them with contraries . 3. about things not natural , which are either to be taken or not to be taken according to discretion ; namely diet , physick , and the help of a chyrurgion . 4. if these or those be out of the reach of his sences by diagnostical signes ; let him goe to work warily , least the prognosticks fall as he would not have them . 5. let him use indications for his lawful and safe method of cure. thus you see a physitian ought not only to be of great integritie of life but also admirably well skill'd in the knowledg of medicine ; that he may know every thing that belongs to the health of the body of man. v. the generation of diseases is ended , and no new diseas happens to the body of man. there are those that think , and stiffly maintayne . that diseases are more in number , and more violent in quality , than they were in former ages ; but ther 's , ner'e a word on 't true . accidents by long time hid in their causes , and get strength by stealth , even insensibly ; as the often dropping of water upon a stone makes it hollow : there are no new species in the power of nature besides these that are already therfore there can be no new diseases : if nature bred new , diseases , she must be turned out of her old course , but the one is impossible , therfore so is the other : t' is a new essence , and not a new accident that must make a new disease ; there may be a difference in diseases according to more or lesse , but difference , and novelty are two things ; if there be then any new diseases , rarietie or ignorance is the mother of them . the manner , species and the cause of all diseases is the same ; now no disease can be without a cause , because nothing is the maker of it selfe ; neither can any thing worke against the lawes of nature , because nothing can worke above it's strength , diseases arise even of that very same thing by which we live , neither are there such things as peculiar seeds of diseases ; but only they arise from our own vices , whereby we disturbe nature ; and all vices , though they have different names , yet have they but one nature . vi. the object of alchymie , or rather of the alchymist , about which he is conversant are all natural bodyes which are concrete , especially mettalls . if the internal end of alchymie be but considered , you shall find the alchymist occupyed about all natural concrete bodyes which are to be dissolved , purifyed , and artificially wrought : but if you regard the external end ; it is conversant only about the transmutation of mettalls . you have the subject and object both of medicine and alchymie . the adjuncts followes . the adjuncts or attributes of medicines and alchymie , are 1. certainty . 2. dignitie and proffit . 3. excellencie , 4. dificultie . chapt. 11 of the certainty of physick and alchymie . 1. the art of medicine is certaine and infallible . there are a sort of men ( and those no smal fools neither ) that cry out , medicine is uncertain ; and therfore 't is a thing ful of danger for a man to commit himselfe into the hands of a physitian : and this they goe about to prove by an argument such a one as 't is ; because the whole art of physick is conjecturall and therfore no certainty is to be expected of it : what a leane hungery argument this is , i shall make evidently appear . 1. because that is imputed to the art which ought to be imputed to the artist ; for medicine it selfe consists of most firme and undoubted principles ; but the physitian because he useth somtimes conjectures in his actions , doth not alwayes performe his cure , with the same dexterity nor felicity . this comes to pass divers wayes . 1. when the circumstances are divers , nay somtimes contrary . 2. when the physitian is deceived by those that are about the sick . 3. when whatsoever hinders , he doth not visit the sick , nor speake to him . 4. when the bowells of the sick have an unequal or contrary temperature : for as aristotle saith in another case ; it is a hard thing to finde out a vertue posited between two extreame vices . so say i in this case , it is a hard matter to correct the bowells distempred in a contrary manner . 5. it often happens that the sick either through age , or weaknes , on want of wit , is not able to declare his owne infirmitie . 6. somtimes the patients are impatient , and will not bee ruled , neither will they take the medicine , or their case is desperat , or they are poore and want necessaries : these and other things like them may hinder the physitian in his cure , but they detract nothing at all from the art it selfe . 2. the doubt lyes in the word conjecture . for if you meane a bare and simple guess , that doth nothing at all : but if together with the conjecture ; you ad demonstration as a companion then 't is no longer a conjecture but a demonstrative sign : you must make a difference between a bare guess and a demonstrative sign , which physitians call indication : bare guesses infer no necessity , but probability ; and that neither not alwayes , but most commonly ; and is the usual practice of the empericks . but indications setch their original from nature , and pass judgment from logicall arguments , without any doubtfulnes . ii. the art of alchymie is certaine and infallible for it propounds two scopes to it selfe . either to transmute mettalls , or , to make profitable and effectual medicines . both of them it performeth with great success and praise . the second of these , namely , the preparation of medicins is granted on all hands . the first is the point in dispute ; which because it is much doubted by many , wee will put it to the question : 1. whether mettalls may be changed ? 2. wether gold may be made by art ? first , whether mettalls may be changed ? to dispute the point on both sides is not worth the while , seeing none but madmen will fight against experience : for to search after reasons and not regard apparent sense , denotes a weakness of the minde : 't is apparent to all mens eyes , that glasse may be made of ashes : experience teacheth this ; and t' were extreame folly to bring reasons to perswade a man to that which he may see with his eyes . experience teacheth as plainly also that mettalls may be transmuted ; therfore to goe about to prove it by reason were but to trifle away time . in hungarie , in mount carpathus , neere the towne smalnitium are fountaynes into which if you thorw iron , it will be turned into excellent good copper : the same may be done by art. if you put iron into aqua vitriolata , it will turne into a red powder , which beeing melted in the fire will be as good copper as any is in the world : but i come to the second . 2. whether gold may be made by art ? this many deny , and to make their negation seem as though it had some weight in it : they bring some arguments , viz. 1 because nature proceedes by certaine , and determinated principles and so much the more by how much the thing she makes is more perfect . 2. because in these principles , the efficient cause , matter , and place of generation are the principall : for one horse is not bred without another . 3. because even those creatures which are bred of putrefaction , must have a fit matter to be bred of , as experience it self witnesseth . 4. because in mettalls although some change may be made in the color and such like accidents , yet not in their natures and form , for they are mettalls stil. 5. because one species cannot be changed into another genus , neither by nature nor art ; neither doth art make forme . these arguments if we diligently weigh them in the ballance of reason , we shal find them a grayne too light . for forme cannot indeed be made by art , if you consider art , barely as art ; but joyne nature to it , what then ? seeing then in nature and in form two species agree under the same genus which before were diverse , we see wood , 〈◊〉 , skins &c. turned into stones by nature , as albertus magnus shewes and shewes truly in his book of stones . as concerning place , that is nothing at all necesary : nature begets somthing in every place , and maketh one mettal or another in every place , according to the matter it hath to make it of : so then , 't is a right matter , and not a right place which is needful . to let passe authors both such as have written the truth , and such as have written fictions : that this art is very rare , we may give two causes . 1. because there are but few artificors , which have attayned the right method of making of it ; and those few reveale not this secret to any . 2. because god blinds the eys of many in the thing , lest pride , luxurie , abuse , and other vices which accompanie riches , should reigne . therfore i exhort those which spend much mony and time ( which might better be imployed about other things , namely in maintayning their owne familes and releeving the poore ) upon their serutiny and search after this secret , thereby vainly and rediculously spending their estàtes in smoke , and coales , to desist from their labor , and looke after their families . you have the certainty of alchymye & medicine ; the dignitie , & profit followes : chapt : 12. of the dignitie and profit of medicine and alchymie . 1. medicine is an art most noble , most worthy , and most profitable . medicine is the most noble of all arts. 1. by reason of the subject about which it is occupied , viz. man , the most noble of all the creatures . 2. by reason of the manner of proceeding of it : it is an art drawn from nature her selfe . 3. by reason of the effective principle : god himselfe is said to creat medicine eccles. 38. 4. 4. in regard of the end : the health of man which is the greatest of earthly blessings : all other earthly blessings without it , want their lustre . as for other arts , their ends are external : they are adjuncts and not conjuncts to the life of man ; they may serve as minsters and handmaydes to medicine : 't is medicine makes a man live ; all other arts doe but ad delight to his life : thus you see medicine is the most worthy , and most profitable of all arts : if all arts were so painted before your eyes that you might see them at one single view ; what would a man desire more then the knowledge of medicine ? health and life being the greatest blessings , sicknes and death the greatest enemys a man hath in this world : will riches and a vast estate , much land , & curious houshold stuf help a mans little finger when it akes : a little sickness takes away the comfort of all pleasures . ii alchymie is the most noble , worthy ; and profitable art. if we regard the subject , the end , and the scope , we shall find them common with physick ; and therefore no more words about it . if we regard the transmutation of mettals , nothing is more effectuall , nor profitable ; nor better shews the wonderfull works of god to the sons of men : you have the profit . the execllency of medicine and alchymie followes chap. 13. the excellency of medicine and alchymie i medicine is a most excellent art. for proofs of this , we might bring antiquitie , authors , divinitie , power , necessity , vertue , witnesses both from holy writ and other authors . necessity was the first thing that found out medicine ; it did not so in al other arts : for if sickness and death had not been formidable , medicine had not been invented . the invention of medicine is to be attributed to god himself : and the illustration of it by authors to his mercie ; good god what shall we think then of those that hide it , great kings and nobles have not only approved of it , but illusterated it . would you know whence the dignitie of it ariseth ? what is that makes it so excellent ? what greater naturall mercies hath god given to man since he gave him life , then to teach him how to preserve it ? 't is the divine oracle of a mans life and the praise of it reacheth to the skyes . again , would you know the excellency of physick ? consider it's extent : it reacheth the natures not only of the highest star in the heaven but to the meanest grass upon the earth : it keeps the whol creation in a due decorum , which else would fall into a rout. it maintayns health and destoryes what opposeth it . when god made man , he made a most excellent fabrick , and he left physick to maintain this fabrick in repair in every part and portion thereof , that thereby it might glorifie god as it stands , and beget its like to do the like . ii. alchymie is a most excellent art. so excellent , that my pen is not able to give one hundreth part of his due praise : nature bringeth forth a medicine in its bulk , alchymie chuseth the best , and rejecteth the worst : so many wonderfull works of almighty god it openeth ; so many strang and hidden secrets of nature it revealeth ; so many notable prepartions of hearbs it unfouldeth ; so many lost vertues it discloseth ; that to give it , it 's due prayse , belongeth to the tongue of an angel , and not of a man : you have the excellency of physick and alchymie ; the difficulty followes . chap. 14. of the difficultie of medicine and alchymie . i medicine is the most difficult of all arts thessalus ( as you may find , if you read galens , writings ) had such a strang waking dream , that he conceited the whol art of physick was so easey that it might be learned in three months space ; and to make fooles beleeve this lookt like a truth . he held that al diseases , and by consequence all remedies might be reduced to these two heads . that all diseases came either of binding or loosening : and so al remedies must be indued with either a binding or loosening facultie , and that 's enough : to stope which monstrouss and absurd opinion , consider with me these few principles : 1. the nobility and varietie of things requisite to this subject . those which study physick shall find it not only the most excellent , but also the most difficult study in the world : and without great knowledg , and as great care , most dangerous : if you consider that there is required to it an admireable knowledg of causes : an incredible judgment to discern , and exceeding quickness of wit to apprehend , in every physitian : besides if a physitian will get honour by what he doth , which if he doe well , he shall not want : continuall and dayly experience is requisit for him . with what knowledg ought that man to be indued ? with what care and industry ought he to perform his office , when the lives of those that christ dyed for , is commited into his hands ? 2. the infinite number and species of the diagnosticks of diseases . not only three hundred as plinie thought , and yet that is two many to be well skiled in , in three moneths ; but almost an infinite number , many new ones arise every day , which though they have been formerly in the world , yet not in our generation ; therefore are new to us . to let alone diseases , and speak only of casualties : how many bruises , ruptures , fractions burnings , scaldings , luxations , dislocations , are to be amended by the skilful hand of the physitian ? how many dangers by poyson , which must be remedied extempore , or not at all ? how much diversity is there in the bodies of men by reason of age , sex : region , education ; what a difficultie is it to take the exact observation of the coelestial bodyes , without the knowledg of which you may as soon give poyson as an antidote . what a difficulty is it to find out an internal disease ; how deceitfull are the markes of them ; whether you regard the body it self , or the urine or the pulse ; so that the wisest physitian breathing may somtimes be deceived . 3. the prognosticks and manner of cure , are very difficult . what a knowing man ought he to be , that is able to prognosticate the end of a disease : the knowledg of the nature of no part of the creation ought to be hid from him : and when he hath that , it requiers a new search to find out a reamedie , nay many times al this must be done upon a suden , and in the very nick of time : before a physitians eyes ought alwaies to be placed the sad image of the death of his patient , the sadness , fear and sometimes the undoing of the patiants , acquaintance ; and the great account himself must make before god another day for the life of every one that is commited into his hands : and when he hath seriously considered this , if he think three months study sufficient for so great a calling let him turn practitioner . ii. alchymie is the most difficult of all arts. for although the artificial making of gold be most true ( as we told you before experience testifyed ) so the vain attemps of many have also testified it to be most difficult , and neither to be gotten by reading , nor studying books . 't is only granted to a few that feare god and eschew evill and know how to use it when they have it . the study of it makes many poor , in so much that a great alchymist said ; if he wish't any man a mischeif , he would wish him no other than to study that elixar . chap. 15. of things agreeable to medicine and alchymie , which are naturall phylosophy , devinitie , and astrologie i. naturall phylosophy is agreable to medicine , and yet also it differs from it . that medicine takes his originall from natural phylosophy is most certain ; for the speculative part of medicnie is pure natural phylosophy . for first of all the body of man with all it's parts , temperaments , facultyes , and operations , every one that knows his right hand from his left , knows to be natural second , health and sickness which are the affections of nature , come from naturall principles . thirdly , nourishment and medicament by which these facultyes and the actions thereof are maintayned , are naturall : for the vertues of hearbes , stones , and mettals , and of al medicaments by which physitians cure diseases , and restore health and strengthen the parts , are al naturall and pertain to naturall philosophy , no less than the motions of the elements doth ; only the practical part , medicine assumes to it self alone : thus you see natural phylosophy is of great use for , and a great ornament to a physitian ; only there is som difference between them , and the differences are these . 1. a naturall phylosopher treates of a man as he is a naturall body ; a physitian , as he is a body cureable by the art of physick . 2. the naturall phylosopher treates of sickness and health as they are affections of the natural body , and proceed from naturall causes . the physitian treates of them how he may expell the disease , and preserve health . briefly thus , the naturall phylosopher reasons of things as they are barely naturall . the physition , how he may remedie what 's amisse and mayntain health in a good decorum . ii naturall phylosophy is agreeable to alchymy . the reasons are the same which we gave you before concerning medicine . iii. medicine and alchymie are sacred arts , and therefore agreeable to divinitie . they are sacred . first in respect of their original ; because they are brought out of the treasuries of the goodness of god himselfe . secondly , in regard of théir institution : because they were ordayned of god to preserve man : and 't is one part of the worship of god to admire at his creatures and gifts : and one part of the will of god to search after his wonderful workes in the creation . 7. eccles. 35. let it not greive thee to visit the sick , for that shall make thee to be beloved . and paul tels you in the corinthians that the gift of healing is one of the gifts of gods spirit : also that great physitian both of our bodies & souls our lord jesus christ , cured many diseases , as dropsies , palsies , leprosies , issues of blood blindness , feavers , and other desperate diseases by his wordalone . and god by his word alone , made al the creatures , & gave them vertues to do the like : paul in the epistle to the colossians saith ; luke the beloved physitian greeteth you : and to timothy he prescribes physick himselfe , drinke a little wine for thy stomaks sake . damascus was once famous for physitians , especially at that time when johannes mesut that excelent physitian sone of abdela king of damascus taught physick there : suidas reports that king solomon wrote a most singular volume of remedyes for diseases ; the heads of which were engraven upon the temple gates . whence it appeares that the jewes kept the copies of their medicines in the temple because of their holines ; and thence came that blasphemous practise of the heathen to dedicate it to their gods ; and though they were but men themselves yet they made their ablest physitians gods , after they were dead and rotten ; witnes aesculapius and others . iiii. astrologie is not only agreeable to medicine & alchyme , but also exceeding necessary for the physitian and alchymist . astrologie is that part of natural phylosophy which inquires after the causes , properties , natur , and effects of the starres . if it be a part of natural phylosophie then it must needes be agreeable to physick : the principles of astrologie are drawne from experience , which experience is drawne from observations , which seldome fayle , it makes universal conclusions ; and from the demonstration of one , shewes the effect of another thing ; so that from the starres it is able to give a judgment of the natures of hearbes , plants and mineralls . and therfore he that doth not reckon it amongest the liberall sciences as well as physick , doth it a great deale of wrong . i am not ignorant that very many and those learned , deny the art of atrologie to be an unniversal art , and that only some few particular observations happen true : but i shall easily prove they are beside the cushion ; and thus i begin . neither medicine cureth all diseases , neither doth state politicks remove all the troubles of a common-wealth : and yet all will grant that they are grounded upon true and firme precepts and very necessary for the life and livelyhood of man : is not the art of gunnerie good ; because the gunner doth not alwayes hit the marke ? so may the art of astrologie be both good and necessary though the astrologer doe not alwayes predict the truth . he that would deny astrologie to be one of the liberall sciences must of necessity deny the influences of the starres upon inferior bodyes . what if i should goe about to prove that all physicall predictions are deduced from astrologie ? i le try what i can doe . whatsoever science teacheth the effects the starres have upon elements and mixt bodyes ; the temperament , alterations and inclynations of all things below ; that is the ground of all predictions , and admirably useful for the life and well being of man. but astrologie doth so . ergo. if you please we will devide this into a few branches . 1. t is doubtful to none , unlesse such blockheade as deny manifest experience ; that infniit actions both healthful and unhealthful are caused in this lower world by the influence of the starres . hath any one studyed physick seven yeares , and doth not know that the various position and divers aspects of the starres breedes variety and diversity of diseases ? what 's the reason of contagious and epidemical diseases ? comes it not from the ayre ? and how can the ayre doe it being a pure element , without the influence of the starres . 2. the various mixture of the starres , makes a various mixture of the elements , which if it bee wholsome turnes to the generation ; if unwholsome turnes to the destruction of mankind : and therfore wellsayed hypocrates when he said that the seed plot of epidemicall diseases was an ayre corrupted by planitary influence . our late physitians wil say god doth it ; but how they know no more then a hobby horse , as though all epidemicall diseases were miracles : others that think they are a little wiser say , it comes by infection ; and the next time you heare one say so , ask him who infected the first man that dyed of it . 3 it 's a certaine quality not abounding with heat nor cold , nor drynes nor moysture ; nor yet an imperfect mixture of elements ; but t' is a more hidden busines ; for the congress of the superior bodys above seminate somthing in things below ; which in process of time growes up , and according to it 's owne nature either rejoyceth or afflicteth the sonnes of men . 4. in eclipses of the luminaries with such or such fixed starres especially those of the first or second magnitude ; or when other plannets are joyned or opposed with such fixed starres ; consider the degree of the zodiack therein , or in which the luminaries are eclipsed ; and tell me if things here below correspond not exactly to them . 5. the beames of the coelestial bodyes are not alwayes one and the same , for somtimes they are in the same sign and degree ; & that 's called a conjunction ; somtimes diametrically placed ; and that 's called an opposition ; somtimes they are in trines , squares , and sextiles ; all which have peculiar effects . 6. the seed which they cast upon inferiour bodyes is not alwayes one and the same : somtimes 't is wholsom , somtimes unholsome , and according as the seed is , so is the fruit to bee expected . 7. unhealthful or intemperate meetings of the plannets ( for that 's it wee are here to speake to ) proceeds from the intemperancy of the starres themselves that meet : imagine saturn and mars to which add the eclypses of the luminaries . if they happen in an ayrie sign they may cause a pestilence , if they bee with malevolent fixed starres ; but if they be with jupiter or venus or benovolent fixed starres their evil is mitigated . the time wil bee unhealthful by reason of violent feavers : but 〈◊〉 so mortal . 8. and as the disease drawes danger of death at the tayle of it , and somtimes it doth not , so the conditions of these diseases which are dangerous are not alwaies the same but divers , as happens not only in malignant feavers , but also most commonly in the pestilence : therfore he that would bee accounted a skilful physitian must be well skilled in the whol course of nature of which astrologie is no smal part . 9. the ayre being of a thin substance , is the medium by which the heavenly bodies 〈◊〉 their influence upon things below , and thi● in a double manner , either hidden from or manifest to sense . 10 so somtimes epidemical diseases break 〈◊〉 when a man litle thinks of them , and th●● upon a sudden the air and al sublunary cause● being according to nature , and not vitiated , and this must needes come by the influence of the starres , at other times the ayre is either too hot , or too cold , too dry or too moyst or too cloudy or too mystie : or the winds are unwholsom and then the cause of infection is apparant say phisitians , and they can give a reason for it , 't is wel they know anything . 1. although the ayre bee the medium by which the influence of the planets is dispersed through the sublunary world yet are not al places alike infected , and who but an astrologer can give a reason of this : the reason is from the hous or sign of the zodiack where the conjunction causing the maladie happens : under each signe of the zodiack are certain clymats kingdomes , and provinces , and they are like to suffer when others scape . besides the age and sex of the plannets is to bee considered , and judgment to be passed accordingly : also the nature of the signes , for some are humane and they indanger men most , others the signs of beastes and they hurt beastes most especially some specis of beastes , imagine horses , sheep , hoggs &c. in watery signs it hurts fishes most . 2 the actions of the heavens astrologers cal by the name of universal influence , not because it workes universaly in all sublunary creatures , for wee shewed the contrary but now : but because it workes of it self without any other disposing cause . 3 the planets have a disposition to act , sublunary bodyes to suffer ; by action and passion are all things generated , therfore are alwayes subject to them . and the whol creation being taken as one united body , one part of it must needs be subject to the other 14 there is such a harmonie in the creation that every particular constellation produceth effects according to its own nature . 15 therfore when the horoscope , or the degree ascending at the nativity of any man or beast , or the building of a town , setting of a tree , sowing of corne , changing of the goverment of a commonwealth or of a city is afflicted by the conjunction of evil plannets or eclypse of the luminaries : it threatens the distruction of them ; and the time when you may know by direction or progression . 16 hence it appeares that the operation of these is two sold , first upon those clymates , provinces and kingdomes under that signe the conjunction or eclypse happens , and secondly upon those living creatures in whose genesis that sign ascended or upon trees and plants sowed under that signe 17 neither are wee to thinke this cause worketh altogether absolute and simply of it selfe , but other causes also intervene , as il diet , want of convenient remedie &c. 18. by al that hath been spoken you may see how absolutely necessary the knowledg of astrologie is to a physitian , that so when such accidents happen so the ascendent of a mans nativitie or any other hylegiacal part , or indeed when any bad direction comes which may signifie death ; hee may keep the body with fit diet and convenient remidies , pure and cleare from such an humore as at such a time will take fire at the least touch . thus you have what is agreeable ; it followes what is disagreeable to medicine . desagreeable to medicine and alchymie , are confusion , abuse and ill preparation of medicine , ignorant and blockheaded physitians . but those things because they belong not to the art it selfe but to the artist ; we will speake of in the booke following . and thus much for the nature of physick and alchymie and also for this first treatise . the second treatise . of the nature and ministers of the physitian and alchymist . wherin come these three things into consideration . 1. the definition of a true physitian and alchymist . 2. the office and requisites of them both . 3. the witts of sophisters and impostors . chapt. 1. of the definition of a physitian and alchymist 1. a physitian is a person called of god to that office , instructed by doctor reason and doctor experience , to prserve the health of man , and restore it being lost , as much as is possible . the more difficulty there is in medicine , the more dignitie belongs to a good physitian : scaliger discribes him thus a physitian is a man learned , and as honest , as learned , gentle , diligent and fortunat a man that trusts in god and not in his owne skill . hippocrates thus , a physitian ought to bee filled with the deitie , he ought to be learned , good , and well skill'd in his art , hee ought to know what hee would do , and bee able to put it in practise ; for the health and life of mankind is commited into his hand : the latins derive medicus a medio . a physitian , from the meanes by which hee cures . and to speake ●he truth , a physitian is a great imitater of christ himselfe : for as christ cures our spirituall wounds , so ought a physitian our naturall . hee ought to deny himselfe , to bee mindfull of the poore ; he ought not to regard gayne for that 's the bane of the world. hee ought to bee one that knowes what spirituall good christ hath done him , that so at the same rate hee may do his brother temporal good freely without grumbling . ii. an alchymist is a person called of god himselfe , artificially to make profitable medicines , of plants , living creatures , and mineralls , as also ( as much as is possible ) to change base mettalls into noble , that so they may bee the more usefull unto man kind which are his brethren . i told you before that such as dealt in mettalls gave the first occasion of finding out alchymie ; for they first found out how , what was mixed by nature might be seperated by art : and when they noted gold to bee the most noble mettall , and found it mixed with much drosse , they conceived a hope of changing other mettalls into gold as well as ore ; and when they found that things were made more perfect by distillation and separation ; they began to try whether the same might not bee don by herbs and plants : and by trying found it true ; and their operation to bee more perfect : and thus came the art of alchymy which before was purely natural , to bee medecinall ; from beeing servile to houshold uses ; it became excellent to restore health : for the art of transmuting ore into mettall , begatt the art of transmuting mettall into medicine : to which doctor reason adjoyning himself as a companion ( for he loves ingenious wits ) finding that ore may bee separated from his drosse , and so become pure mettall ; presently gave order the same should bee tryed in hearbs and plants ; that so the drosse beeing separated from them , the medicine might bee most pure : just so it came to passe ; and thus came the art of an alchymist to bee conversant upon all naturall bodyes . the art of an alchymist is to bee considered under a double notion . 1. as a physitian 2. as an apothecary . 1. as a physitian : because he knowes the use of simple medicines , mettals , and living creatures ; and knowes not only what they are , but what they are good for ; and is very well able to teach another how to prepare a medicine : 2. as an apothecary ; hee prepares medicines exactly for the physitians use . you haue the definition of a physitian and an alchymist . the requisites follow . chapt 2. of what is requisite to a physitian and alchymist , in the generall . i. of a physitian and alchymist are two things required forme and beautie . forme , is held to bee an historicall knowledge of certaine precepts , but indeed and in truth it consisteth chiefly in example and experince . ii. doctor reason , and doctor experience are thetwo pillars upon which a physitian stands : the principles of his knowledge are drawn from them . doctor reason is his master , doctor experience his mistris , both of them joyn together hand in hand to teach a physitian how to cure a disease . what wonders can a physitian do unless hee know such an hearb performes such an operation : hath he any more skil in physick without 〈◊〉 then a parrat hath in oratory ; yet a physitian having this is not crowned with bayes , before experience comes in & witnesseth that what is done , is wel done . a man may sooner be mistaken in his reason then hee can 〈◊〉 in his experience , and therfore almighty god knowing the weakness of man hath given him two stringes to his bow . a physitian ought first to consult with reason , because hee is the elder brother , then hee ought to take counsel with experience whether the dictates of reason bee true or not . vertue is nothing else but the rules of reason made manifest by experience , oh what baser thing is there for what more unbeseeming to a physitian then to build upon the formes of other men , and yet every corner of the world stinks of such creatures at this day . if you look into the world of physitians , good god how many follow doctor galen , how few dr. reason and dr. experience . i confesse i desire to joyne them both together in al my discourse . how notably spoke calsus , it happens ( saith he ) just with our physitians as it doth with lawyers , although they pretend they know al the lawes , and teach them to others , yet when a brangling busines comes before them they are so uncertaine that they know not where to begin nor how to end , neither shall yow scarce find two of them in one opinion : nay so contradictory they will bee in pleading , that if the judge and jury were not either knaves or fools , they would burst their hearts with laughing . now if their clyents would bee but ruled by reason and experience , they would agree , and never goe to law , and in so doing would show themselves wiser than either their lawyers or theire teachers . just so for all the world it is with physitians . an ancient grave physitian can sit in his chayer and reason of all the parts of physick , such as belong to the diagnosticks of diseases , and the method of their cure , hee can reason of the anatomie of all parts ; of the historie of simples , and living creatures , their natures and formes , their properties and vertues , he can quote dioscorides and theophrastus and say they were better men then himselfe : hee can tell you how you must make up antidotes and other medicines , and for them hee can quote mesue nicholaus myrepsus , and nicholus alexandrinus , and all this hee can utter magnificently and stateliely : but if you call him to one that is sick of a plurisie or a feaver , a bloody flux , dropsie , or a falling sicknes , or any other disease 't is no great matter whether it bee acute or cronicall , good god , in what an astonishment is my learned physitian : although hee feele the pulce and gaze upon the urine , hee scarce knowes what to doe for al discorides , theopharstes , and the rest of his authors ; nay it may bee an old woman that stands by may teach him his lesson a little better . lastly . our young physitians which need a master to instruct them in the rules of physick and are minded to practise it , and use it well ; i commend them to doctor reason and doctor experience , which two alone are necessary to this profession . thus celsus . iii. the way wherby alohymists come to learn , is by the light of nature and grace . wee will not deny but paracelsians make use of reason and expereince as well as other physitians ; but they soar a little higher , even to the light of nature and grace . that 's the fundamentall , the other are but means how to use it . there is within a man an internall angel , and the light of nature ; you need not ask what the light of nature is , the whole creation shewes it every day ; for as all naturall bodyes grow out of the earth and are nourished from it , so is the mind of man nourished by the knowledg of nature : by nature doth a wise man learne all his arts and factcultis as a tree hath i'es nourishment from the earth : and hee that learnes arts from authors learnes them just as a parrot learnes to spake . the motion of the creation is the father of all arts whatsoever divinitie excepted for that 's inspired into men by the spirit of god : and as divine wisdom comes from the divine spirit : so naturall wisdom , comes from the course of nature . authors may tell you , such a thing may be done in such a way ; but what accidents will come in the doing of it they cannot tell you : the light of nature is that , and only that which teacheth true phylosophie ; yet is divinitie the foundation of true wisdome ; for god is the revealer of all secrets ; and hee will reveale them to none but those that feare him . as for the beauty of medicine which wee spake of before , wee shall speak of more by and by , when we come to the oath prescribed to physitians , alchymists , and apothecaries . it consists cheifly in order and honestie . chap. 3. of the ornaments of a physitians mind . 1. the ornaments of a physitians mind are the principles and habit of phylosophie . 1. a physitian ought to give pure language ; neither ought hee to bee ignorant of the rules of grammer , rhetorick and poetry . 2. his phylosophical habits pertinent to knowledge and acttion are various . 3. to the knowledge of a physitian , some things conduce more , some lesse ; devinity is the basis of all arts ; and in nature a physitian ought to bee well skiled in anatomie , the knowledge of plants and making up medicines : besides galen calls all such physicians as are ignorant of the mathematicks murderers . an idea of the aphorismes of hipocrates 1. in speaking and discoursing , let him bee nimble witted and solled . 2. in reproving the errors of the sick and such as stand by them as also of his own schollers let him bee quick wited . 3. let his mind bee equally ballanced between feare and confidence , let him keep the middle path . 4. let him keep his body neat , but his mind neater : let him bee temperate in diet , and shut the suspicion of venus out of his doores . 5. let him have base thoughts of honor unles it bee such as hee gets honestly by his art ; and let him not beg that neither , and bee sure let him never praise himselfe . 6. let him bee severe towards those which introduce errors into the art : let him be courteous towards others , and have a fellow feeling of others miseryes . 7. let him not bee ashamed to confesse his owne errors but let him give others warning to have a care of them . 8. let him desire the companie of , and commerce with other physitians . 9. let not his tongue make a disease worse then it is . 10. if he know the event of a disease , let him speak it , not only to stir up the sick to obedience , but also to avoyd the slandering of the art : alwayes have a care lest you afflict the mind with the disease of the body . 11. keep close such things in the art as are to be kept close . 12. observe diligently other mens actions but bee not invective agianst them . 13. bee not envious against the successe of other men , neither yet detract any thing from their due praise . 14. be familliar with all , but prattle no more then becomes you . 15. be neither doggish and curtish , nor yet scurrilous and ridiculous . 16. love familiatitie ; be diligent in keeping of it ; give councel gratis . 17. use few words but let those few bee pertinent to the purpose . 18. let gravitie and love be read in your browes . 19. speak comfortably to the sick , and visit him often if the disease require it . 20. carry thy self modestly before thy patient , both in asking him questions , feeling his pulse , and considering his disease . 21. let no unseemly action ; nor unseemly word proceed from thee . 22. let him love godliness and honesty , and be an unblameable servant both to god and nature . 23. let him consult with god in the beginning of all his cures , and give god thanks after the performance of them . 24. forsake not your sick patient for any cause whatsoever . 25. honor your master as your father , and imbrace his children as your brethren . 26. in consultations with physitians , both hear what others say , and also teach without envy , or branding them with nick-names . 27. let not such a thought enter into your heart as to take that which is not your own . ii. a physitian as well as a true alchymist comes to the knowledg of many things which belong to the health of the sick , by astrologie , and therfore the art is very necessary for them both . and 't is true enough ; for the superior bodyes work upon the inferiour and that by a kind of necessity , for without operation there can be no action : therfore without the operation of the superior bodyes there could be no production in the inferiour . this they do thre wayes . 1. by a way universall . 2. by a way particular . 3. by a way of means . 1. universally : the coelestial bodyes act in things below by light and motion . 2. particularly . by influences differently upon proper nativities or revolutions , 3. by way of meanes : they operate upon such as are of the same complexion with themselves ; as mars upon chollerick people , saturn upon melanchollie , &c. also wee may see , ( if ; our eyes be in our heads ) what force they have in changing the ayre ; and by the ayre mens bodyes : to make this appear consider with me . 1. sick people are most at ease , and rest best after midnight , although then the ayre be coolest : the reason is because the sun then draws toward the ascendant . 2. all hold , the cause of buding of trees and plants , is the heat of the sun ; yet trees begin to bud in februarie , though the ayre bee not so hot , as 't is in october when the leaves fall of : it is not then a sensitive heat , but an influentiall heat of the sun approaching to the equator that causeth it . most true then was that assertion of hermes in his tabula smaragdina superior bodyes are like the inferior , and inferior like the superior . this is the golden chayn of homer . this is the marriage of coelam and opis . this was the ring of plato . this is the perpetual circulation of the phylosophers ; or to speak more like a divine , this is the providence of god , which so knits the creation together that one part of it stands in continual need of another . i could easily prove ( if it were my scope at present ) that of natural knowledges , astrologie is most necessary for man in this world : but i am upon physick , and therfore i say that it is most profitable and necessary for a physitian : how can you find out the crisis of a disease but by the course of the moon ? or how can diseases be better cured then by the knowledge of the celestial bodyes by which they are caused ? we reade in the scripture , that christ cured a man which was lunitick , who often fell into the fire , and often into the water . if often , then not alwayes ; if lunatick , then according to the course of the moon . this hermes trismegistos in his jathro mathematicks ( the word sounds nothing else but medicine joyned with astrologie ) affirmes , that 't is found out by exreperince , and i my self have found it to be true , that the egiptians could predict the disposition not only of the sick but also of the healthful by the motions of the moon : therfore if you observe it , the moon in the place of mars in your genesis stirres you up to choller , but to the place of saturn to melancholly ; judg the like by the place of their aspects in the nativity . imagine a man to be borne when the fortunes were in aries and the infortunes in taurus : this man when the moon is in aries , cancer , libra or capricorne will doe well enough : let him look sor his troubles when the moon is in taurus leo , scorpio , or aquarie . also if his diseases begin when the moon is in taurus , leo , scorpio , or aquarie , they are like to proove dangerous , and strike at life . but if the moon be in aries ; cancer , libra , or capricorn they are easily cured : this not only the physitians , ( such as are physitians indeed ) and astrologers ; but also daylie experience witnesseth to be true : my self have found the truth of it oftner then once or twice . by all this you see what exceeding need a physitian hath to be an astrologier . because by the motions of the heavens , the indications are so varied , and either moved forward or retarded : so that a physitian that is ignorant of astrologie , many times prescribes remedyes , diets , and chyrurgical observations in vaine . 't was a most notable speech of galen to this purpose : he that is a physitian , the same man is an astrologer ; thereby deriding those physitians that denyed astrologie to be necessary to physick . iii. a physitian and alchymist ought with all diligence to keep the method of physick . for that physitian lends a helping hand to the sick that knows how to use fit medicines at a fit time ; and he cannot be ignorant of this that knows what remedy is sutable to each disease in respect of quantitie quality , time and manner of administration : he that is ignorant of this , is as ignorant of the method of physick : the method of physick teacheth to cure. 1. safely . 2. quickly . 3. delightfully . 1. safely : lest you hurt one part by helping another . 2. quickly : that is act , not rashly ; delay not rashly . 3. delightfully : that the remedy burden not the sick as much as the disease . and alwayes register in your brayn that speech of hypocrates . use no violent medicines if gentle will serve the turn . iiii. paracelsus beside phylosophie and astrologie . reckons up alchymy and magick amongst the fundamentalls of medicines , and the requisites of a physitian the kinds of magick which he reckons up are six . 1. supernatural things somtimes appeares amongst naturall things , and carry the resemblance of their bodyes . god hath placed them in nature to signifie somthing ; and the first part of magick is the interpretation of those . such was that star which appeared to the magitians which our translators ( to keep the people in ignorance ) translated wise men . that came to worship christ in his infancy . such were the visions of the prophets , and of iohn in the revelation . 2. the transformation of living bodyes , as was in moses his time before pharaoh . and the transfiguration of christ. let no man say i writ blasphemie in following my author in this ; and say it was done by divine power , i le easily grant it . i'ts by divine power the trees blossome , and bear fruit ; if you say that 's according to nature , i will quickly answer you . that it is divine power , and the finger of god himself that upholds nature and the creation in the state t is in . 3. the third is characters , or certain strange words , which have the same vertue with harbs &c. and will cure diseases as well . 4. the fourth is called gamahew : or gamaheos . viz ; images and sculptures with certain strange characters engraven upon them which carry the vertues of the heavenly bodyes , and mightily strengthen creatures below , : for as a key opens a lock , a sword wounds , and a breast-plat defends , so the images of things above engraven upon things below , have a strange operation upon sublunarie creatures . 5. the fift is an action from one to another and that by images which are like them : i would translate my author in this particular if i durst , but i dare not , before the nation is honester . 6. the sixth is art cabalistick . cabal amongst the ancients was nothing else then a certain mistical symbolicall , and aenigmatical divinity , it was three fold . 1. that which adam learned of god , and taught to his children . 2. that by which god delivered the law to moses upon mount sinai , and moses again taught it to joshua : this continued by succession unto ezra : yet was it lawful for few to read it ; and not for those few before they were forty yeares of age . 3. the third cabal was invented by the jewes rabbies , which converts the letters and sillables of the scripture into number : and finds out the hidden sence of them , &c. but the cable of paracelsus , manifesteth a way whereby characters , figures , sigills , and words ; strang things which some think is impossible , may be performed : he teacheth a way how a man may hear ones voycé cross the seas ; nay how one thet dwells in the east may hear ahother that dwells in the west , and both keep their stations , though thay are above a hundred germane miles distant . in naturall magick , imagination bears a great sway not only in gausing , but also in curing diseases : for proof of which we may let phylosophie alone : look but upon a woman great with child and you may see it without a paire of spectacles . imagination is a knowing power ; it acts potently upon other things beside it self ; and although knowledg and 〈◊〉 concur to a local motion , yet are they not the first cause of motion , neither can they work alteration or change in their own body , much lesse in another , but knowledg is an act of the soul , and appetite alwayes followes it or alwayes should : neither is the soul of man conversant only in it's own body , if it were , how could one man love another ? and if the souls of men produce mutuall love , why not a mutual help by the same rule : hence it comes to passe that many times a sick man is more cheered by the sight and companie of one man , then he is by the help of another : it 's in vayn to object that humors and spirits are immediately and directly moved by imagination ; for 't is only accidental : they are moved by the attractive , retentive , and expulsive faculties . weconfesse a sudden fear will make a man tremble : though there be no reallity in it ; so then the humors and spirits are the second cause of the chang of mans body , but the first and remote cause is imagination . you may see it clearly in all epidemical diseases , who is sooner taken with them then they that fear them ? or i 'le make it more clear by a simillitude ; an apple-tte is the second cause of bearing the apple ; but the first and remote cause is the sun which causeth the tree to spring and grow , blow and bear : but the first cause seldom produceth an act without the help of the second cause : for example : in a pestilential time imagination it self will infect a man ; but 't is fear and terror caused by that imagination which corrupts the humors , and changeth them into the nature of the thing feared . those that have read physical authors know what strang imaginations a melancholly fancie will introduce into men ; as one that conceited his nose to be bigger then al his body : another that he had no head. a third that he was made of butter ; who being a baker by trade durst not come near his oven lest he should be melted : another that he had gotten a fish in his blood ; but to let passe others : my self the translator of this work . anno 1642. had a patient in old street london , who being troubled with a melancholly distemper , conceited himself only a man , and all others that came neer him wild beasts that came to devoure him : to see whether this fancie might be removed or no , i perswaded him he was made of a black pot : this also wrought upon his imagination ; and then he durst let no body touch him for fear they should break him : until at last , his cure drawing neer , such vayn delusions vanish't . to return to my author . the strongth of imagination appeares in this ; ( to goe no further ) in that women with child , will not only desire , but also eat such things as are not fitting to be eaten ; and their health is so far from being impayred , that it is much amended by so doing . that the imagination of one man will work upon another is very conspicuous by a woman with child ; the child bearing the mark upon it's body of what the mother desired . nay , if we doe but consider what union there is between our spirits and the angels and intelligences ; nay ( to reach a little higher ) if man be united to god by the person of jesus christ , what wonder is it that one man should be united to another by imagination ? he that would know more of this , let him read synertus his book of alchymie . v. a physitian ought to be busied in diligent speculation and happy imitation of nature . a physitian ought perpetually to watch the motions of nature , and order his physick accordingly , that he may expel the infirmities of nature that way . if he drive the same course nature drives , the cure will bee easy , because nature helps ; and safe , because 't is natural . let all physitians know that they are servants , and not masters to nature . vi. physitians are rulers over both body and mind . we told you before , the subject of a physitian was the whole body of man taken universally : and he that doth not know that the conditions of the body follow the temperature of the mind , is a fool . the words were galen's : and arnoldus saith , a physitian may make a covetous man prodigal , and a lecherous man chast ; and a fearfull man valiant : the blood beeing altered from it's present temperature , alters the complexion , and the complexion being altered , so is the inclynation of the mind : and this is the greatest secret in physick . this is clearly seen in melancholy persons , who if they mind religi o n at all when they are in health , in their sickness think themselves reprobates : remove but their melancholly distemper , the grace of god will come again : and thus you see the assertion clearly prooved ; that physitians are rulers both of body and mind . thus much for the ornaments of a physitians mind : the ornaments of his body follow . chap. 4. of the ornaments of the body of a physitian and alchymist . i. let the ornaments of a physitians body bee sutable to those of his mind . an idea of hypocrates his aphorisms . 1. let him keep his body in a due decorum , but his mind in a better , 2. let him be very temperate in nourishment , but more temperate in the sports of venus . 3. in his youth let him be patient and doubtful : in his old age wise and judicious ; and let his middle age take part with all four . 4. let his body be personable , lest that old taunt be cast in his dish physitian cure thy self . 5. let his garments neither proclaym him a sloven nor proud ; but clenly , and thrifty . 6. let him go so as he may not be despised of others , nor proud of himself . 7. let him abstayn from perfumes . ii. a physitian ought to be able not only to write receipts , but to make up all his . medicines himselfe . is a man a physitian ; and doth he not know his art belongs to action , and not to contemplation ? contemplation teacheth men how to dispute of , and not how to cure the sick : imagine a physitian to be an excellent linguist , and to understand , hebrew , greek and latine ; we confesse t is a great ornament to a physitian ; but they teach him only how to discourse , not how to cure : 't is the true knowledge of the light of nature , verified by experience in making up medicines that teacheth a physitian what medicines are to be used , what to be refused : you shal oftentimes find physitians vapouring what linguist they are and what breding their friends have bestowed upon them ; and yet an emperick , nay perhaps an old woman can come and cure a disease which it may be they cannot : therfore well sayd celsus . physitians prate of their wit and shew their eloquence , but t is medicines , and not words must cure the disease ; and truly galen was also of the same iudgment t' is action saith he , and not pratling that shewes a man to be a physitian indeed : and in truth i desire from my heart , all those that take upon them the practise of physick that they would not dwel upon those generalls , which have been left , them by ancients ; but search into the closet of nature and see what wonders the eternal god hath layed up there for them to busy their brains about . iii. the true alchymist by making up his medicines diserves the name of a physitian . we told you before , that an alchymist was to be considered two wayes . 1. as he makes up medicines for physitians , and so he performes the office of an apothecarie . 2. as he finds out-secrets in nature by his own brayn ; and knows how to use them when he hath done : and so he deserves the name of a physitian . and this no man breathing wil deny unlesse it be such as are their masters apes , and wil swear what er'e they say though they say black is white , or whit black : i beseech you , what greater argument of a mans weaknes can be delivered , then to say , my master said so ? t is true , these men , they may be deck't with gold rings and jewels , but they are no physitians ' they say the operation and preparation of medicines is to be left to alchymists and apothecaries , as being a thing unworthy the majestie of a physitian whose statliniss admits him only to prescribe , and not to make up medicines . good god , to what prid hath the fayned majestie and deceitful pompe of this world brought physitians too ! imagine they lived in the countrey , and there were sent for to visit a sick partie , where neither apothecarie nor chirurgion were neer , as oftentimes it comes to passe : the disease also may be violent , and admits of no delay , but speedy help must be had : what will the majesty of my venerable doctor do in such a case ? will the disease be affrayd of his prid ? must he not act somthing himself or else plainly and downrightly murder the sick ? doth such a famous fellow deserve the name of a physitian ? you see the folly of such as hold , it is the duty of a physitian to prescribe , and not to act . to proced a little further . difference of clymates , difference of places , difference of parts of the body aflicted ; difference of complexion in the parties aflicted , require different formes , and different preperations of medicines : both matter and form is to be altered according to these circumstances , which cannot be done without long use and experience in making up medicins : which may indeed be disired , but cannot be so much as hoped for ; much less expected from such titular physitians as our times affords ; whose sacred majestie leads them to fill their own purses , and not to benefit the sick. antiquitie will lead them and us unto better maners if we had but honesty enough to follow it . hippocrates would have spit in that mans face that should have taken from him the power of making up his own medicines : and the ancients taught their children and servants the way of doing it ; and thought it as great a sin to deny them that , as to deny them the use of fire and water : and howsoever they boast themselves to be galenists , and are ignorant in making up medicines ; what doe they else but brand the name of dead galen with a blot of ignomy , who had more wit in his little finger , then they have in all their bodyes ? againe . that great writer of physick hippocrates , in his epistle to democritus writes : that a physitian could never find out an absolute form of medicine , that he durst say was perfect : and we ( and if we wil be honest ) must ingeniously confess , that the ancient physitians were not only ignorant in some things , but also erred in many : what then shal we think of those that build their whol practice upon the prescripts of the ancients ! we cannot chuse but admire what slavish brains they are indued withal , who had rather err with the ancients , than take the pains to find out a truth themselves . of how much better opinion was julius scaliger ; i have often ( said he ) admired at the boldness and impudence of mortal men , who build their faith upon such errors of the ancients , which they would have amended if they had lived ; for it is not high base to commit an error , because it is the beginning of wisdom ; but to cherish errors is madness in the highest degree . iv. a physitian ought to be very diligent of another mans health , though in the mean time he be negligent of his own . a faithful physitian ( and ther 's but few of them ) regards the health of the sick in the first place : he undergoes any danger to help them ; nay , he hath a fellow feeling of their miseries , so that the help of others is a trouble to himself ; because he knows the subject of his art is man , that noble piece of gods workmanship , and the tabernacle in which the holy ghost dwels . you have the ornaments of the body . the ornaments of the estate follow . chap. 5. of the ornaments of estate belonging to a physitian and alchymist . i. a physitian ought to be adorned , not only with ornaments of body and mind , but also of estate . an idea of hippocrates his aphorisms . 1 leave vaporing of outward pomp , and letters pattents from princes for mountebanks . 2 let study and not gain , be the motive cause of your practice . 3 never make your bargain for reward , unless it be to make the sick confident of his cure. 4 be not too hasty for your reward of those that are able to give it , never ask for it if they be not able . 5 do not measure the excellency of your remedy by the price of it : give freely to the poor . the tender mercies of god are over al his works . 6 boast not of thy own cures , unless it be to move the sick to confidence in thee . 7 regard reason in al cures , and look not after the estate of thy patient ; so thou shalt shew thy self a workman wel pleasing to god. ii. the dignity and honor of a physical alchymist is exceeding great . the dignity of a physitian is known by object and end. the object of a physitian , is man. the end , health . as much then as a man excels other creatures , so much doth he that is a physitian indeed , excel other men ; and as a man prizeth his health , so let him prize the physitian . therefore in ancient times , kings were physitians , and such as were ablest in physick were chosen to be rulers , and that not only amongst the heathens , but also amongst the jews , as appears by esay 3. 6 , 7. a man shal take hold of his brother and say , thou hast clothing , be thou our ruler ; and he shal answer , i am no physitian ; by which it is cleer , that al the cause he brings why he would not be a ruler , was , because he was no physitian , and therfore not fit to take the dignity of a prince upon him . whence that ecclesiasticus . 38. honor the physitian because the lord hath created him for thy necessity ; for al healing is from the most high ; and he shal receive the honor of a king. we do not deny but god may give these gifts even to wicked men : yet this we say , a true physitian deserves praise , as wel as reward . and this we affirm is the property of a good , honest , and prudent physitian , not to gape after reward like a stage-player , but to be content with what is given him . menecrates the scicilian , howsoever later pens have thrown dirt enough in his face ; yet suidas reports in his 6. book , 38. chap. that he never took any reward at al for his cures , but rested himself infinitely contented if he could but perform the cure ; often protesting , that he was born a servent to men and not a master . iii. as diligence is required of the physitian in curing , so thankfulness is required in the parties cured . therfore the roman emperors , when they had observed any that were excellent in the art of phyfick , they gave them a yeerly stipend , sufficient to maintain them in a good decorum , that so they might give physick to the vulgar freely , without any desire , or hope of reward : and indeed 't is usual with people after they are cured by the great labor and diligence of the physitian , to give him ingratitude for a recompence of his pains and care : thence came that vulgar speech of diogenes , give thy cook , ten pound ; thy flatterer , five talents ; thy physitian , a groat ; and the phylosophers , three farthings : hence came that proverb in use : exige dum dolor est , nam postquam pena recessit audebit sanus dicere multa dedi . whilst that your patient is in pain be sure you ask your pay ; for when as he is well again , you have had enough , he 'l say . but this is most base , and most dishonest ; the heathens shal rise up in judgment against such fellows and condemn them , who built altars for chyron , machaon , podalirius , and hippocrates and for their excellency in their art honor'd them as gods : but enough of this , if not too much , considering that i know , and am very wel vers'd in it , that the ultimate end of studying arts , is not reward and gain ; but the finding out of the truth , and the using of it to the glory of god , and the health of the sick , being found out . riches are but the goods of fortune , and wicked men have usually the greatest shares of them . iv. a physitian stands in some need of estate , besides his knowledg and art. for although he that knows any thing , knows wel enough that a man may give physick wel if he have it , whether he have estate or not , and that the estate of a physitian conduceth not a whit to make him either the more knowing , or less knowing ; but it enables him wherewithal to get fit medicines to give : what good doth a mans knowledg do him unless he bring it into practice ? so then a physitian take him as a student he needs no estate , but take him as a practitioner , he doth : neither indeed is it convenient , that a man whom nature hath enriched with knowledg , should want wherwithal to put it in practice . i could wish there were in this respect such a harmony between men as god hath made in the creation : therefore cornelius celsus said well , that a physitian stood in as much need of an estate to make up his medicines , as a man in health did to buy him bread : and aristotle was excellent in the point , fools that know nothing , but are ignorant of the causes of things regarding only to get vast estates ; if they suffer in their diseases , let them impute it to themselves . and the truth is , i do not know but it belongs to the governors of a common-wealth to provide for the health of their subjects . v. the more the physitian is confided in , the sooner he cures . and this is true enough ; confidence in the physitian begets hope , hope begets joy , joy cheers the spirits , cheerfulness of the spirits helps to expel the disease , and wonderfully promotes the operation of the medicine . on the contrary , if the sick abhor the physitian , the sight of the physitian terrifies him : terrifying weakens the spirits , weakning of the spirits encroaseth the disease , and makes way for death . vi. the physitian gets confidence of the sick party , partly by his own nature , partly by the help of other men . that a physitian may get confidence in his patient by his own nature , let him carry himself like a wise man , as wel as like an artist : cicero said true when he said , that in all arts nothing memorable , or worthy of praise , could be done without wisdom . if a physitian carry himself rigidly , and not respectively towards his patients , he affrights them ; if they like not his person , they wil like his medicine much less : you may see this in chyrurgions when they let people blood ; if the sick be afraid , the blood retires , and he seldom bleeds as he should do : but if he come cheerfully , and have good confidence in his chyrurgion , he bleeds wel : so if the party dislike the medicine , either he vomits it up again , or retains it in his body that it never operates . cornelius celsus was of opinion , that the prudence of a physitian did more good than his art : and socrates included al vertues in this one word prudence . and celcus held , that a pratling physitian was another disease to the sick . chap. 6. of the authority of physick . physical authority endowed with the ornaments of body , mind , and estate , coming out into the world to act , is to consider , 1 its duties . 2 the persons . an idea of hippocrates his aphorisms concerning duties . 1 the duties of a physitian , unless limited within the bounds of method , are innumerable . 2 he ought to have a quick eye to the air , earth , and water of the place where the sick is . 3 he ought to observe the operation of the chyrurgion ; seek out fit remedy for the disease , and leave necessary precepts with those about the sick . 4 he ought to enquire after the disease , of the sick , and of those that stand by ; diligently to heed when the change wil be , and what the event wil be . 5 the whol course of his physick ought to be only an imitation of nature . 6 he ought to communicate what he knows to be true , to his scholers . 7 he ought to warn the sick of their duty , to terrifie them that are secure , and to cheer up those that are faint hearted . 8 let him not perform his office negligently , nor rashly . 9 let him take occasion by the fore-top , and expect patiently what the end wil be . 10 let him not be too confident in what he expects , neither let his courage fail if it fal out otherwise . 11 when he takes a patient in hand let him shut rashness and fearfulness out of doors . 12 let him be ashamed of no work , or operation that belongs to physick . 13 let him fly rashness and headiness in al his actions . 14 let him use gravity in his apparel , speech , gate , and every thing else . 15 in commanding things necessary , in forbidding things hurtful , in reproving errors , let him be of an heroical spirit , and do it with authority . 16 let him be very gentle to , and familiar with sick people . 17 let him give physick to the poor freely , and without reward . 18 let him have a special care of sick strangers . 19 in dangerous diseases , let him do good to such as are ingrateful and covetous . 20 let him be ready , nimble , and clever in all his actions . 21 let him want no physical instruments at home , but carry only such abroad as are necessary . 22 let him keep the forms as wel of compound as simple medicines in his memory . 23 let him prescribe as wel what diet , as what medicine the sick ought to use . 24 as for such things the sick hath a desire to , let him not so follow his humor that he encrease his disease ; nor so rigidly oppose him that he perplex his mind . 25 let him be wel skil'd in the operations of chyrurgery , that so if a chyrurgion be wanting , he may perform his place , speedily , securely , and safely . 26 let him alwaies have a special regard to the former custom , and present strength of the sick . 27 concerning duty , his office is , first , to prescribe a diet which strengthens nature , and resists the disease . secondly , to loosen the belly with gentle remedies , as subpositoris , clysters , &c. thirdly , if blood abound , to breath a vein . fourthly , to use apozemes to cut the matter causing the disease . fiftly , to prepare tough humors for expulsion . sixtly , to purge them out . seventhly , to draw humors back to use diurecticks , rubbings , cupping glasses , to cause sweat . eightly , to draw the disease to the external part of the body . ninthly , to draw it out by baths or issues . tenthly , to dissipate the matter remaining , and strengthen the part eleventhly , to recover strength with good diet. 28 let him keep a method of physick in his study such a one as you shal find in the following scheam . first , let him have a catalogue of authors , both galenists , paracelsians , and empericks . secondly , if he travel , let him keep a diary . thirdly . let him set down by themselves what things he finds worthy of observation . fourthly , let him keep a garden of herbs of his own . fiftly , let him set down his best experiments in such an order that he may know redily how to find them . sixtly , in the morning let him cal to mind what he did the day before . seventhly , in the afternoon , 1 let him walk abroad to know and gather simples . 2 let him confer with galenists , paracelsians , and empericks . 3 let him visit the sick . eightly , in the evening , 1 let him consider what he hath done all day . 2 let him commit somthing to memory . an idea of hippocrates his aphorisms concerning persons . 1 of persons , some regard the sick. some those that stand by : and others the physitian . 2 cure the mind of the sick with good language , before you attempt to cure his body with medicine . 3 declare in loving language to the sick what is fitting for him to know ; so carry yourself towards him that he may not be too confident of life , nor too fearful of death . 4 what the sick ought to do command peremptorily , and make him not too confident of his life , lest he disobey your command . 5 keep close from the sick that which is not fitting for him to know , and if he suspect it , either craftily dissemble it , or cunningly make the best interpretation of it . 6 if the patient be stubborn , make the disease worse than it is , that he may obey : if he be faint hearted , tel him it is better than it is , that he may not despair . 7 promise nothing directly , but tel the patient , all the work lies in the power of god , and his obedience . 8 somtimes use many remedies . somtimes but few , according as the disposition of your patient is , either stout , or faint-hearted . 9 let a physitian be neither covetous nor unfaithful : above al things let him not neglect his patients . 10 let the physitian abstain from threatnings , unless he deal with mad-men : let him use modest language , and gentle admonition . 11 let him suffer none to be about the sick , but such as the sick loves ; let him cause the rest to be turn'd out of doors . 12 if the sick be a knowing man let him tell him the cause and the nature of his disease ; and let him explain it to him , not with a budget ful of prittle prattle , but by apt similitudes . 13 let him give himself to know what the event of diseases wil be . 14 let him rid the chamber of al such guests as have more tongue than wit. 15 exhort those that are neer the sick to perform what you command ; and in this case use either promises or threatnings , which you think sittest . 16 trust as little as you can to the fidelity of those that are neer the sick ; but as much as possible lies in your power see the medicine taken your self . 17 in dangerous diseases , desire the advice of other physitians ; and if you are called to counsel by others , by no means refuse it . 18 give counsel to other physitians without contention , or wrangling ; envy , or desire of gain : let the health of the sick , and the sinding out of the truth , be the mark you shoot at in al your actions . 19 examine the counsel of empericks before you follow it , because they are ignorant of method : but if when you have weighed them in the ballance of reason , you find it good , follow it , for nature hath given them gifts as wel as you . 20 make use of your former experiences : if you keep those you had when you were yong , they wil do you good when you are old . 21 communicate al things faithfully to your scholers ; shew them your examples ; teach them how , and when medicines ought to be given ; let them be your companions , lookers on , and standers by in your cures ; that so the blessing of god may be upon you , and they when they come to age may bless you . you have the authority of physick : the oath of physicians follows . chap. 7. the oath of physitians according to hippocrates . i swear by that great physitian apollo ; as also by aesculapius , and his two daughters hygieam , and panacea ; and i cal al the gods and goddesses to witness , that i wil keep this oath under written entirely , and without any mental reservation whatsoever , according as god shal give me strength and judgment . 1 i wil will the same honor to my master that taught me this art , as i wil give to my parents : if he want temporal goods , i wil supply him , so far as god shal enable me with estate : his children i wil account of as my own brethren ; i wil instruct them in al the parts of art which god hath endowed me with , without either asking or hoping for reward . to my scholers that i undertake to teach , will i impart whatsoever god hath imparted to me ; namely , to al such as take this oath , and to no others wil i be free in what i know in physick . 2 to those which are sick ( according to my power and ability ) wil i give speedy health , without any delay of time for hope of gain : i wil never give two medicines , when one will serve the turn . 3 the intreaty nor fees of other men shal never move me to give preposterous physick ; but i wil give warning to the magistrate of such as do it . 4 i wil give nothing to any woman to kil her conception , neither will i declare to any body , which way it may be done . 5 i wil manage my life and art in that manner , that i wil not be afraid to answer for them another day . 6 i wil cut none for the stone , but give place to others to do it that pretend they have more skil than i have . 7 when i enter into the house of a sick party , my motive cause shal be the health of the sick , which i wil labor for with al my might . 8 i wil keep my body in temperance from all unlawful venereal actions . 9 i wil give physick without respect of persons , whether they be poor or rich , masters or servants . 10 i wil keep close the infirmities of the sick , as being the greatest secrets a physitian hath to keep . this oath , whilst i keep purely and umblamably according to my power and skil , i desire the blessing of god upon my person and my art , together with renown in this world , and glory in that to come . if herein willingly i fail , may the contrary to this fal upon me . chap. 8. the oath of apothecaries . i call the creator of all things to witness , the one god manifested in trinity , whom i serve , that i will with all diligence perform these things following . 1 i wil live and die in the christian faith. 2 during life i wil carry my self dutifully to my parents . 3 be obsequious to my masters and physitians that imploy me . 4 i 'le give rayling rhetorick , neither to those of my own profession , nor yet to others . 5 i 'le labor what lies in my power to adorn the dignity of my art. 6 what is to be kept close , i will reveal to none . 7 i will attempt nothing unadvisedly for hope of gain . 8 in acute diseases i wil give no purging medicine without consent of a physitian . 9 i wil not meddle with the secrets of women , unless it be to apply medicines to them . 10 i will reveal the secrets of none to the world. 11 i wil give poyson to no body . 12 i 'le not perswade it to be given , no not to an enemy . 13 i 'le neither give , nor sel any medicine that destroyes conception . 14 i 'le prepare no medicine to cause delivery in women without advice of a physitian . 15 the prescripts of a physitian i wil in no wise alter . 16 i will not give one thing for another , though they be both of a nature . 17 i 'le never turn emperick while i have a day to live . 18 i 'le give medicines freely to those that have no money to pay for them . 19 i wil not keep corrupted medicines in my shop . these things i performing , the lord bless me in all my actions . you have the requisites of a physitian : the marks and vices of sophisters and impostors follow . chap 9. of things repugnant to physick and alchymy : or , of the marks and vices of sophisters , and impostors in those arts. 1. the marks and vices of mountebanks , sophisters , and impostors , which make a stately flourish only for gain and ambition , are contrary to the notes and marks of true physitians . of this number are , 1 company of dirty rogues , that carry all their medicines in one pot , having no more medicines but one ; and are as excellent in the art of physick , as an ass is in musick . 2 such as run up and down from town to town , and from market to market , and having gotten a few terms of art in their noddles , make the common people beleeve they can do wonders , being in deed and in truth as absolute physitians as he is a king that acts a kings part in a play. when they meet with sick people , they get money right or wrong . 3 such as have formerly been monks , and leave their professions ; or such as have been parish priests , and are so lazy they wil preach no longer ; barbers , such as shaved men but yester day , turn censurers of diseases to day ; old women with never a tooth in their heads . ii. all abuses of the art are repugnant to true alchymy . and first of al truly , unskilful alchymists , a company of ungodly wretches , that vapor up and down , they can transmute mettals , they can prepare medicines , i by al means ; and yet they have neither judgment nor method , nor skil , unless it be to do mischief to the sick. if by chance-medley they hap to cure one , oh that 's a gallant experiment , and that medicine wil serve for al diseases : and this is one reason true alchymists are so evil spoken of as they are . but in truth it is not fitting , neither ought such a thing to be amongst christians , that a most excellent art should be condemned because of the abuse of it : for as mountebanks and old doting women , detract nothing from the splendor of true medicine ; so ideots , and such as profess alchymy without wit or reason , detract nothing from the dignity of true alchymy : neither are they worthy of the name of alchymists that spend al their time and means in trying experiences , not knowing what rule they go by , nor what end they drive at : as he said wel that said , they seek and find nothing , but seek after what they have found . let no man give any credit to those who promise , they wil tel the art of changing mettals into silver or gold for money : the deceits of such impostors are these , and such as these that sollow : 1 they dip their wooden sticks , with which they stir their melted mettals , with silver or gold dissolved in aqua fortis , or other the like water . 2 instead of ink , they write in the paper in which they wrap up their matter to be reduced , with the solution of silver or gold. 3 or else instead of sand , they dry their writings with the filings of gold or silver . 4 others put in pouder of charcoal mixed with the solution of gold or silver amongst their mettal when it is melting . ● others melt it in vessels with a double bottom , the lowermost being filled with gold ; and they break the uppermost bottom as they are stirring it up and down . 6 others put great charcoals into their mettal , which they have made hollow for the purpose , and filled with gold. 7 others stir the mettal with wooden sticks , or other instruments which are hollow , which hollowness they fil with gold. 8 others wrap up a mass of gold or silver in the lead , and melting of them both together , make them beleeve al is turned into gold. 9 others color over silver with copper , and so melting of it , make people beleeve the copper is turned into silver . 10 others cunningly and subtilly put in the filings of gold amongst it whilst it is melting . 11 others put in some other pouder that makes it look like the color of gold , when 't is no such mettal . 12 others put in antimony mixed with gold , instead of common antimony . 13 others for common precipitate , put in gold precipitated . 14 others instead of common mercury , put in the amalgama of gold. 15 others instead of common aqua fortis , put in aqua fortis in which silver or gold hath been dissolved . 16 others color over gold with silver , and so melting of it , make people beleeve the silver is transmuted into gold. 17 some steal a little of the true tincture or else get it by some sinister means , and then they can perform the business as they should do , so long as their tincture lasts ; which usually they make last so long till they have deceived people of money enough : but their tincture being gone , they being ignorant of the art can do no more feats . 18 others having wit enough to prepare quick-silver partly as they should do , mix it with gold , and so they wil make a little more of it . therfore let all men beware of such impostors . a certain famous alchymist at rome , many looking on him , put only one scruple of pure gold into two ounces of quick-silver over a hot fire , and turned it al into most pure gold ; not without the admiration of the beholders . an end of the second treatise . the third treatise . containing a physical idea of the hermonical systeme . wherein ( as it were in a platform ) is shewed , what the labor is ; what the order and series ; and what the work in our systeme . in this we will consider , 1 the definition and division of medicine and alchymy . 2 the method of the hermonical systeme ; and the idea of the whol practice . chap. 1. of the definition of medicine and alchymy . i. the definitions of medicine which galen , and most others have brought , are rather descriptions than definitions . hippocrates his definition is this : medicine is an adding of things necessary and a substracting of things not necessary . but this includes a description of the office of a physitian : for al diseases coming either of emptiness or fulness , the first is cured by addition , the second by substraction . others define medicine thus : medicine is a knowledg restoring and preserserving the health of the body of man. others thus : medicine is a knowledg , preserving health , and expelling diseases . others thus : medicine prescribes a right diet to people in health , and cures such as are sick . but never a one of these are true definitions : 1 because medicine it self doth not this , but it appoints such things as do it , and that not alwaies neither . 2 health is the proposition of the art of physick , and its end is the obtaining of it ; and it is necessary for a physitian to know by what means health may be maintained being present ; and restored , being absent . herophilus had another definition . medicine is the knowledg of things healthful , not healthful , and neuters , between both . things are said to be healthful or unhealthful , three waies : 1 as a body . 2 as a cause . 3 as a sign . a body is said to be healthful when it is in health , unhealthful when diseased . a cause is healthful which causeth health , unhealthful which causeth diseases . the sign is healthful which shews health a coming ; unhealthful which shews encrease , or il end of the disease . the knowledg of neuters is two-fold . 1 in respect of desidence , when any declines from the integrity of action , and receives hurt thereby . 2 a neuter of recovery , when any first of al begin to mend of a disease . hence others make another definition of medicine , which is this : medicine is an art which conserveth sound men in health , restores the sick , and preserveth neuters from diseases . or if you wil have it plainer thus : medicine is the knowledg of things natural , not natural , and against nature . but this belongs to the practice , and definition is only theorical ; whence it appears that they are imperfect . i shal satisfie my self with this short , yet compleat definition . ii. medicine is an art of healing well . this definition is perfect , consisting of genus and form. as for genus , 't is an art ( as we shewed you before , that medicine was an art. the form is manifested in this word healing , by which it is made to differ from other arts. and i ad the word well , to shew a difference betwixt the skilful physitian and a mountebank . and this definition contains , not only al the parts of medicine , but also al the offices of a physitian . iii. alchymy is an art of dissolving all natural compound bodies from that whereof they naturally consist , thereby making them purer and stronger , and fitter medicines for the physitians use : or may serve for the perfecting and transmuting of mettals . some hold alchymy to be nothing else but a separation of what is pure from what is impure : but this is too general by half ; for an apothecary doth so when he scrapes the dirt off from roots : neither doth he any less when he clarifies and strains syrups . and although it be true an alchymist doth this , yet is not his industry limited under such a bound as this is : for his work is not only external , but he penetrates to the internal parts , dissolves and separates natural bodies from what they naturally consist of ; he severeth what is profitable from what is unprofitable ; he purifieth , altereth , and perfecteth al , and if need be joyns them together again . you have the definition : the division follows . chap. 2. of the definition of medicine and alchymy in general . i. medicine is either theorical or practical . there are those that reject this definition , as not accurate enough . 1 because by this means it is not divided into opposite parts . 2 because al medicine is one discipline , and hath but one habit , namely , practical and operative . 3 because al disciplines take their denominations , not from particular things which are handled in them , but from the subject and end to which they are directed . 4 because , although some things which are handled in medicine seem to belong to theorical discipline , yet because al of them are not handled in respect of knowledg , but directed to some common operation or end , they are partly referred to the subject , and partly to the end. we thought good to hold fast this definition , not only because it is found in the schools of physitians , but also confirmed by reason and authority ; for both hippocrates and galen confessed , a physitian ought to be a natural phylosopher : and the words naturallist , and physitian are the same : and that natural phylosophy is divided into theorick and practick , we prove by these reasons : 1 phylosophy , as the ancients very wisely said , is a kind of physick to cure the diseases of the mind . the diseases of the mind may be divided into two parts . first , dulness of the understanding ; the effects of which is , ignorance of the truth . secondly , corruptions of manners ; the effects of which , is , a vicious life . the speculative part of phylosophy is a medicine for the first . the practical part for the last . 2 because every man naturally desires knowledg , both of those things which pertain to humane actions , which the practice of moral phylosophy wil amply instruct you in ; as also of those things which make for the finding out of truth ; which knowledg speculative phylosophy wil bestow upon you . 3 because the subject of knowledg is the understanding which is two fold , speculative and practick , as aristotle wel teacheth in his ethicks : therfore phylosophy must also be two fold , practick and speculative . 4 because the basis of phylosophy is to direct the life of man in an happy way . but to this belongs both speculation and practice , therefore phylosophy is two fold , viz. speculative and practick . 5 because every learning tends to some good end : to attain which , is required knowledg , which is the speculative part ; and operation , which is the practick . 6 all learning was invented to direct those operations of man which are in our own power , and so al viciated by the fal of adam . there are three sorts of actions then , which may be rectified by learning . 1 the operations of the understanding , which are rectified by speculative phylosophy . 2 the operations of appetite both rational and sensitive , which are rectified by moral phylosophy . 3 very many other operations of man , either inherent in their members , as running and leaping &c. or acted upon other things , as building , painting , &c. and so both mechanical arts as wel as liberal , are rectified by practick phylosophy . 7 because the unity and distinction of knowledg , are taken from the uniny and distinction of the object . but the objects or matters of knowledg are three ; for they fall either under the action , or effect , or only under the knowledg : for whatsoever is only speculative , was not made only to look upon , but to be produced to act or action . hence you see that this division of phylosophy into two parts , namely , theorick and practick , is very good : and if of phylosophy , then of physick , which indeed is but the putting of phylosophy into practice , the one being essential the other remote . ii. theory is the remoter , or more common part of medicine delivering a certain method both of medicinal matter , and preserving the health of man. it is indeed , to speak briefly , the proaemium , or preparation to practice : it consists in the knowledg of things natural , both general and special ; as also of things against nature . iii. practice is the next , and essential part of medicine , giving a reason of the means both of preserving and restoring health . this comes to the very operation and end of medicine , and indeed is the very essence of it : it stirs up nature , incites her to action , tels her what must be done : it administers aid to nature where she is too weak , and routs her enemies when they are too strong for her . iv. the parts of practical medicine are two , first , called not natural ; secondly , proper , or method of cure. this is galen's division ; namely , first of all concerning the use of things not natural , which respects most the diet and ordering of the body . secondly , the method of curing , which concerns the administration of necessary medicines . for a physitian considering that his duty is no less to look after present health , than to restore it when it is lost : therfore although things not natural appertain to the theorical part ; yet in this respect it is broughr into practice , and is made the first part of it : for as theory is to be considered under a double nature ; namely , as a man is either healthful or sick : so practice works upon both these natures , namely , things not natural to preserve health ; things medicinal to cure diseases . moreover , the medicinal part of physick is double , general and special : general which shews the method of curing : special which shews the instruments to cure by . v. alchymy , or hermetical phylosophy is theorick and practick . theorick by paracelsians is divided into vital and local . by vital they understand things natural . by local , things against nature . vi. practical alchymy is divided by paracelsians into method and the instruments of healing . in method they observe not only physical indications , but also the motion of the heavens . as pertaining to instruments ; they consider the difference , composition , and proportion of medicines both chyrurgical and physical ; they never regard diet much in the cure of diseases : and this paracelsus not only taught , but also practised ; for he would drink with his patients night and day , or else he is belyed . thus you have the general definition of medicine : what follows now but that we give you an idea of our hermonical systeme in two tomes . whereof the first shal contain the theorick , and the latter the practical part . tome i. of the theorical part of medicine . this is divided into two parts , remote and neer . remote , which is common both to physick and natural phylosophy , and is called the knowledg of things natural , is either general or special . of the general knowledg of things natural , or the object of medicine and alchymy . 1 the general knowledg of things natural , is the remote part of the theory of medicine ; which treateth of the object of medicine , or matter of curing ; the natures , parts and other accidents of al elementary bodies . by others 't is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 2 the common affections thereof , as also the species , are to be considered . lib . i. the common affections are called special . 1 stoicheiologia special , is that which delivers the common principles of elementary bodies . 2 it is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; which signifies an element , an λέγω , which signifies to speak . 3 its parts are either the first , or those which arise from the first . 4 the first are principles , elements , and the qualities which are in the elements . 5 parts arising from the first , are mixture and generation , and the temperament which ariseth from the mixture of qualities . chap. 1. of principles . 1 a principle is that whereby one thing or another gets its beginning . 2 and this is called either the first , or a rising from the first . the first is called nature naturing ; the second , nature natured . 3 the first is , by which , and from which all things are made ; but that subsisteth by it self , and draweth the original of its essence from nothing ; and therfore plato in his phoedon cals god , nature naturing . 4 that which hath his original from the first , which we cal nature natured , is that by which all natural things subsist , and from which they borrow their name , viz. natural . 5 nature then is double , universal and particular . 6 universal is the power of the god-head spread through the whol world , according to which nature acts . 7 this is taken , 1 for that divine vertue which god hath planted in al things . 2 for the influence of the stars , by which he acts it in al things . 3 for the moderater , and nourisher of all natural bodies . 4 the pithagoreans , call'd it god himself ; virgil , an internal spirit ; and plato , the soul of the world. 8 the particular principle or nature , is every natural body taken as consisting in matter and form. 9 matter , is the first subject by which things are made . 10 form , is the manner , or example they are made by . chap. 2. of elements . 1 an element , according to philip melancton , is a simple body , containing in it the seeds of all mixt bodies . 2 it is two-fold , either opacous , which is an object of the sight ; or transparant . transparant either more or less . less , as the water . more , as the air and fire . 3 the earth is an element obscure , cold , and dry . 4 the water is an element less cleer , very moist , and somthing cold . 5 the air is an element very cleer , somthing moist , and very cold . 6 the fire is an element , cleerest , dryest , and hottest . 7 elements and principles differ : 1 elements are corporeal ; principles incorporeal . 2 principles are the objects of reason ; elements of sence . 3 principles are first and immediate , elements compounded of the principles , for they consist of matter and form ; and if you wil take elements as principles , then take them as sensible principles , consisting of matter and form. chap. 3. of the three principles of alchymists which are contained in every natural body , and give it its constitution : as also of the faculties and properties of the elements and their number according to the doctrine of hermes . 1 in this particular , alchymists reject the opinion of aristotle altogether . 2 according to paracelsus , the first matter of al things is a certain great mystery , not perspicable to sense , which contains in it somthing after an hidden and invisible way . 3 according to the opinion of later alchymists it is an essential subject containing all forms in it : or a certain punct from which all things flow , and to which they return as to their center . plato cals it the soul of the world. 4 the principles are either such things as are simple , or bodies composed of them . 5 simples are such as consist of themselves , from whence al other things come , and to which they return . 6 compounds are such as are made of these simples , and return to them again : and they are divided into bodies , formal and material . 7 both simples and compounds then , are , either invisible , as formal and spiritual : or visible , as material and corporeal : and these are contained in every individual substance . 8 those that are invisible , are contained within those that are bodily : as the soul is in the body , and the spirit in whatsoever lives , whereby it not only preserves it self , but begets its like . 9 they are double , active , and passive . 10 actives , are nothing else but the forms of natural things , which god gave by his blessing at the first , and they have continued ever since . 11 passive , as seeds , roots , plants , constellations , &c. 12 seeds are a vital beginning , containing within it self the spirit of what it is a seed of , by which it produceth again its own body , tast , color , quality , magnitude , and figure . 13 constellations are ordained by their motions to order the actions of natural things , both of herbs , living creatures , and minerals to concoct their nourishment , to separate their excrements , to supply them in matters belonging to procreation and increase , both continually and constantly . 14 roots , are that which dispose to action , maturity , and fruitfulness , both plants and trees . 15 seeds act by another invisible way , and have a strange kind of power within them to beget their like , having their like within them only in respect of power , and they are , 1 of living creatures provoked by the power of venus . 2 of plants , shut up in their seeds . 3 of minerals , which is cover'd with a bulk of rubbish . al these have hidden spirits in them . 16 the formal principles , or active bodies are three ; whereof two are moist , and one dry : the two moist are , mercury and sulphur : that which is dry , is sal. these , hermetical physophers cal spirit , soul , and body . these three principles , although they are spiritual , yet being joyned with simple elements , they make up material and mixt bodies . 17 mercury is that sharp , penetrating , pure , and aetherial body ; that aerial , subtil , and spiritual substance , the next instrument of life and form. 18 sulphur is that moist , sweet , oyly , viscuous substance , the food of heat indued with a glutinative quality . 19 sal , is that salt , dry and purely terrene quality , representing the nature of salt , indued with wonderful vertues , having power to dissolve , coagulate , clense , evacuate , and to perform such like actions . 20 the visible elements are two ; one dry , which is the earth ; the other moist , which is the water . 21 the earth is a body separated by the water from sal , sulphur , and mercury ; it is called terra damnata , ashes , and caput mortuum . 22 the water is an insipid flegm , destitute both of sal and sulphur , only moistening , without any manifest strength or force . 23 there are two elements then you see , earth and water . 24 the air , seeing it cannot be separated , is therefore mixed with sulphur , or more especially with mercury . 25 we acknowledg no other fire , than that which they cal in english the sky ; the greeks aether , from burning . 26 the heaven is then the fourth formal or essential element , or rather the fourth essence extracted from elements and principles . you have the principles and elements : the qualities follow . chap. 4. of both first and second qualities . 1 quality is an affection of body which demonstrates what it is , or the form which moveth the sences . 2 qualities are either the first , because they are in elements and simple bodies : or such as arise from the first , and are called compounds . 3 quality , is either manifest or hidden . 4 manifest and first , is either active , as heat and cold : or passive , as driness and moisture . 5 heat is the first quality which heateth . 6 cold is the first quality which cooleth . 7 moisture is the first quality which moistneth . 8 driness is the first quality which dryeth . 9 the heaven , according to plato and the astrologers , is the first principle of heat : according to the peripateticks , it is elementary fire . 10 you have the first qualities : those which arise from them follow : and they are either simple or mixed . 11 simple , are such which principally consist from the first , as 1 rarity and lightness , from heat , which moves upwards . 2 thickness , from cold ; which moves downwards . 3 softness and thinness , from moisture ; which yeilds to touching . 4 hardness , from driness ; which resists touching . 12 you have the simple qualities ; the mixt follow , which are , tast , smel , and color . 13 tast , is a quality arising from a straining of an earthy body through a moist , by the force of heat . 14 it is double , mean and extream . 15 mean , causeth sweetness and fatness , consisting of an hot and moist quality . 16 extream is that which shews , 1 more heat , as sharp , bitter , and salt. 2 remiss heat , or rather cold , as tart , austere , and sower . 17 a sharp tast proceedeth from strong heat , and thin driness , as in pepper , onions , &c. 18 bitter , hath not so subtil a driness , nor yet so strong an heat , as in wormwood . 19 a salt tast , hath a thicker driness , and less heat , as in salt. 20 a tart tast , consists of very much cold , or else of very remiss heat and driness , as in crabs , verjuyce , and wild pears . 21 austere , consists of less coldness and driness , as in our english grapes . 22 sowr , consists of a thin driness , and mean cold , as in vinegar . 23 you have the tast ; the smel follows : smell . is a quality arising from the straining of moisture through driness , caused by heat . 24 't is either mean , as sweet and fat ; or extream , in which , 1 by greater heat , it is sharp , bitter and salt 2 by remiss heat , it is tart , austere , and sowr . 25 you have the smel ; the color follows : color ( according to philip melancton ) is mixture of transparant bodies with opacous . 26 it is either simple , or mixed . 27 simple is that which immediately consists from the qualities . 28 it is either exactly mean , as redness ; or less mean , as other colors . 29 you have the the manifest qualities ; the hidden follow : which are certain special vertues , which physitians can give no reason for . 30 these are two-fold , which the learned cal idiocratia , and pathema . 31 idiocratia , is a property working by it self , for which a reason cannot be given ; neither doth it cal for help from any thing else . and so fennel cures the eyes , and peony the falling-sickness . 32 pathema consists in sympathy and antipathy : sympathy , is a mutual love one thing hath with another . antipathy , is a hatred in the like nature : both of them are natural , and may cleerly be seen both in living creatures , plants and minerals . and now by the leave of my author : i would fain demand of some of the rabbies of our times , whether god when he made the creation , made not a rational piece of work ? if so , whether a reason may not be given for every thing in the creation ? if that be granted me too , then , what hidden vertue can there be in things ? i cannot indure such sleepy businesses which are maintained by few , the brats of dr. ignorance , and dr. laziness excepted . 33 you have the principles , elements , and qualities of the dogmatists , which hermetical phylosophers very ingeniously comprehend in principles , visible and invisible . mixture and generation arising from these now follows . chap. 5. of mixture and generation in the general . 1 here come two things to be considered : 1 general : that which is needful to generation and putrefaction , as alteration and mixture . 2 special : as generation and putrefaction , or the temperature which comes from mixture and alteration . 2 alteration , is a motion or effect whereby another quality is procured . 3 and it is either simple or compound . 4 that is simple which contains but one quality in it , and operates either in actives or passives . 5 in actives , it is a heating , which is an alteration whereby the cold is expelled , or else a cooling , wherby heat is served with the same sawce . 6 in passives , it is a moistning , whereby dryness is converted into moisture : or else a drying , whereby moisture is changed into driness . 7 a compound alteration is that which contains more qualities in it self , and 't is called concoction . 8 concoction , to wit , of mixt things ( for the concoction of living creatures is another manner of business ) is an alteration tending to perfection . 9 it is three-fold , maturation , elixation , and assation . 10 maturation , is a concoction , by which the fruits of trees and plants wax ripe . 11 elixation , is a concoction made by the heat and moisture of a thing which is within it self ; as things putrefie . 12 assation , is a concoction made by external heat and driness , as meat is roasted . chap. 6. of mixture according to the opinion of the dogmatists , and hermetical phylosophers . first , according to the opinion of the dogmatists : 1 mixture is an union of bodies to be mixed for alteration . 2 in matters of passion , it consists in qualitie or substance . matters active , are imployed in acting . 3 the four elements are in al mixt bodies according to form and quality . secondly , according to hermetical phylosophers . 1 they can by no means close with this doctrine ; for they demand ( seeing mixture is a certain motion ) who is the mover ? by what powter ●he elements tend to mixture in such just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 the mover is a vital principle indued with knowledg , the form , species , seed , constellation by whose power and knowledg such divine offices of mixture are administred . 3 transplantation is a certain accident of mixture and generation , when not that which is intended , but another thing is generated : and this comes to pass two waies : first , by a confusion of seed ; and so of a horse and a shee ass a mule is ingendred : or the seeds of many plants put close together , will produce but one plant. secondly , by degeneration , when not the same seed comes up which you sow ; so wheat often degenerates into darnel . chap. 7. of generation according to the opinion of dogmatists and hermetical phylosophers . 1 generation is a mutation from qualities , having respect to the nature of each subject . 2 for as philip melancton saith , heat being tempered with cold , and joyned with driness and moisture , is a mixt body of al qualities and elements . 3 putrefaction is an alteration bringing corruption , from whence is bred consent . 4 consent is a transit of one thing into another by certain nurseries , 5 according to hermetical phylosophers . generation is the progression of the seminal spirit out of its fountain and vital principle into the stage of the world : whereby of invisible it becomes visible , and produceth color , smel , tast , heat , cold , moisture , driness . magnitude , and form , and all ornaments of body ; and by this renovation maintains a perpetuity of its own species . 6 whatsoever new things we see every day , they had a being before in the seeds . 7 whatsoever we see corrupted here every day , they are not brought again to nothing , but return again to their fountains from whence they came . 8 for this cause are elements necessary to generation , which are the wombs that contain the seeds , and principles of al bodies . 9 the places , elements and bodies must be agreeable to the seeds ; for the seeds themselves have this power , to find out what is agreeable to their own natures ; and therefore such seeds grow naturally in hot places , such in cold , such in moist and such in dry. sulphur is best found in one place , mercnry in another , and salt in a third . 10 the seeds perform their progress and operation by the help of the sensible mechanical spirits . 11 the mechanical spirits are such as are adorned with an inbred knowledg , and instructed with an artificial workmanship , whereby they cause tast , color , smel order , and proportion in natural things : he that dreams of spirits without these endowments , dreams of nothing but vapor and smoke . 12 in this inferior globe , are three famous differences of generation ; namely , of living creatures , plants , and minerals . 13 in living creatures , the seminal matter is contained in the natural balsom ; in the vital , sulphur ; in the vital spirit , in the mummy , in the radical and first matter , &c. 14 the generations of the superior globe , are certain , but far different . for in the coelestial sphears , they continue perfect til the consumation of al things . 15 generation comes not by putrefaction as people think : putrefaction doth but administer heat , wherby the vital vertue is stirred up to action : for as in the earth it were a madness to think that one plant was changed into another by putrefaction : so above the earth , living creatures beget their like , not by putrefaction , but by the vital spirit of the seed . chap. 8. of temperaments . 1 temperament is either the end of the mixture , or the form of the thing mixed , or the principle of natural facultie . 2 the soul makes use of the temperament as an instrument to perform its actions . 3 temperament is the principle without which actions cannot be performed : take away the temperature of a particular part , and the natural actions thereof cease also . 4 the temperament of living creatures is one thing , and of creatures without life another ; and yet some question whether there be any creatures without life or not ; and my self ( by the leave of my author ) could afford to be one of them . 5 the temperament of living creatures is either total or partial . 6 the total , is either influential or radical . 7 influential ariseth from the elements . 8 radical , is the justice , or due giving to every one his own . 9 justice , is simple or compound . 10 simple is four-fold , hot , cold , dry , and moist . 11 compound is four-fold , hot and moist , hot and dry , cold and moist , cold and dry. 12 temperament is to be considered in respect , 1 of sex. 2 of age. 3 of place or region . 4 of the seasons of the year . 13 it is called temperament , 1 for its excellency . 2 absulutely , or comparatively . 3 by act or power of acting . 4 by it self , or by accident . also it is either healthful or sickly , either alone by itself , or with flux of matter . fluxes of matter which hinder temperament are blood , choller , flegm melancholly . 14 al these , hermetical phylosophers cal salts , which are of divers abilities . and thus much of the common affections : the species followeth , to wit , a body with life . a body with life . 1 it is either not sensible as plants and mettals : or sensible , as living creatures . 2 living creatures are either rational , or irrational . 3 irrational , are beasts ; of which , some have blood , and some have none . 4 such as have blood , some have feet , and some have none . 5 of such as have feet , some have two , as birds ; some have four , as beasts . 6 of such as have no feet , some have fins , as fishes ; some no fins , as serpents . of al these in order . the second part of the first tome . of living bodies , not sensible , and sensible . 1 a living body not sensible , is that which we cal vegetative . 2 it is either perfectly living , as plants ; or imperfectly , as mettals . 3 the doctrine of plants is called botanical . lib . i. of art botanical . 1 art botanical , is the anatomy of plants . 2 the instruments to be compared for this art. as also for all other arts , are skill and exercise . 3 the parts of this art are two , the shewing the reason of them , and the history of them . the shewing the reason of plants . 1 it is the first part of art botanical , which finds out the common natures of plants from their causes . 2 a plant is a vegetable essence , growing for the most part out of the earth or water . 3 its parts are two , a body , and a soul , by which the body is nourished , encreased , and brings forth seed . 4 the kinds of plants are two , simple and compound . the simple are garden and wild. 5 the parts of a plant are like or unlike . 6 as in men there are ages , so there are in plants , and also in herbs ; namely , before they run to flower : in flower , in seed , or fruit , and when they shed their seed or fruit. 7 of herbs , some are nourishing , as wheat , barly , oats ; some less nourishing , as violets , marjoram , lavender ; some medicinal , as saffron , ginger , zedoary , &c. you have had the reason ; the history of plants follows . lib . ii of the history of plants . 1 the history of plants , is the second part of art botanical : and it treats of the several kinds of plants . 2 we divide the whol history of plants into ten parts : namely , 1 fungous . 2 mossie . 3 reeds . 4 pulses . 5 solid . 6 such as stain not . 7 such as do stain . 8 such as are of the nature of poppies . 9 such as are propped up . 10 such as strengthen . 3 of these , some are more rude , as such as are fungous and mossie ; others more absolute and perfect , as the other eight . 1 such as are fungous , contain toad-stools , so called of their killing property : fungus , a funere dictus . 2 mosses , contains both such as have narrow and broad leaves . 3 reeds , of which sort are some grasses , reeds bul-rushes , jacynth , daffodil , saffion , satyrion , lillies , &c. 4 under pulses are all such as bear their fruit in cods . 5 such as are solid , are fern , ivy , &c. 6 such as stain not are endive , succory , scabious , carduus &c. 7 such as stain , are housleek , st. johns wort , spurge , plantane , mints , arrach , 〈◊〉 , beets . &c. 8 under poppies , are al sorts of poppies , mallows &c. 9 to such as are propped up , belong ivy , sarsaparilla , vines , cucumers , all sorts of climers . 10 strengthening plants , are willow , olive , mirtle bay , oak &c. 4 you have botanical art : exercise remains , which is done two waies ; by analysis and genesis . 5 in plants , five things are especially to be regarded ; name , color , gathering , place , and nature . thus you have a body perfectly living in plants , that which lives in mettals follows . lib iii of metalography , or knowledg of mettals . 1 metalography is the anatomy of mettals . 2 mettal is a body imperfectly living , growing for the most part in the veins of the earth . 3 of mettals , some are more ducible , some less . 4 more ducible are first and second : first are , quick silver and brimstone : the second are , natural or artificial . 5 natural are more precious , as gold and silver : or less precious , as copper , iron , and lead . artificial , are steel , pewter , or brass . 6 mettals less ducible , are hard , or such as people throw . 7 such as are hard , are some more precious , and such as are called gems ; or such as are taken for gems . 8 of gems , some have many colors , others but one . such as have many colors , are either more or less transparant . 9 more transparant are crystalline , diamond , saphire , emerald , sardonix . less transparant are either cleer , as carbuncles , calcidony , ruby , topaz jacynth : or opacous , as corral , the load-stone , alectoris , and lapis lazuli . 10 stones of one color are , achates , chrysopas hematites , chrysolite , aetites , beril . 11 stones improperly taken as gems are , 1 such as are taken from creatures living in the water , as pearls , crabs-eyes , stones of the perch , and carp &c. 2 such as are taken out of land creatures , as those that are taken out of snakes , toads , snails , lapis lincis , bezoar &c. 3 such as are taken out of flying creatures , as alectorius , or cock stone ; celidonius , or swallows stone ; the stone of a vultur and lapwing . 12 mettals which are thrown up and down , are some common , others not common . common are stones of al sorts , sand , flints &c. not common are either , 1 earths : as terra lémnia : terra armenia : terra sylesia : chalk &c. 2 or juyces made thick : as amber : allum : salt : bitumen : vitriol &c. 3 or things made of mettals : as stibium : auripigmentum : chrysocolla : sanderach : glass . another division of stones . 1 of stones , some are more precious , some less . those which are more precious , alter by a quality manifest or hidden . they that alter by a way manifest do it according to the first or second quality . 2 according to the first quality ; they are cold 1 in the first degree : as jacynth : saphire : emerald . 2 in the second degree : as ruby : carbuncle : granate : sardine . 3 in the fourth degree : as diamonds . 3 by the second manifest quality they resist poyson and inchantment : as bezoar : jacynth : saphire : emerald : carbuncle : granate : amethist . 4 such as alter by a hidden quality : are bezoar : topaz : snake-stone : cock-stone : amethist : lapis nephriticus : lapis tyburonum . 5 stones less precious are either altering or purging . such as alter do it by a way either manifest or hidden . manifest by a first or second quality . 6 such as alter by a first quality , are either hot : as hematites : pyrites : thyites : smiris : lapis asius . or cold : as cristal : lapis phrigius : lapis samius : or dry : as sand. 7 such as alter by a second quality are binding : as lapis asius : whetstone of naxos : pumice stone . or secondly , emollient , as alablaster , jet , lapis thracius . or stupifying , as jasper , ophites , memphites . or clensing , as that arabick stone that dryeth up the hemorrhoids . or glutinating , as galactices , melites . or scarifying , as galaxia . or breaking the stone , as lapis lincis , and judaicus . or retaining the birth , as lapis aetitis being tied to the left arm , staies the birth : being boyled in beer , or put into bread , he that hath stolen any thing from you cannot either eat or drink . or provoking the terms , as the stones of oysters , a dram of them being taken in wine . or resisting poyson and inchantment , as selenites , and amyanthus . the stone in the head of a toad being born about one , easeth the pains of the reins , and hindreth the breeding of the stone . 8 stones less precious , altering by a hidden quality , are spongites , pantarbes , which draws gold as the load-stone doth iron . swallows stone , load-stone , the pouder whereof being drunk in juyce of fennel cures the dropsie . all stones found in the heads of any fishes whatsoever , being beaten into pouder , and drunk in wine , break the stone in the body of man , and give easie labor to women in travel . the stone of a vultur , and of a lapwing , lapis lyncurius , coral , ten grains being given to an infant in breast milk for the first food it takes after it is born , keeps a child from ever being troubled with the falling sickness . another division of stones . of stones , some are red , others green , some yellow , others purple , some black , others white , and some of such a color , we know not what denomination to give it . i. stones of a red color , are 1 anthracites , which burns like fire : being put into the fire it ceaseth burning ; being sprinkled with water , it burns again . 2 baalagius . 3 carbuncle . 4 one kind of the swallows stone ; for if you take yong swallows out of their nest & cut them open before they touch the ground , between the time they are hatched , and the next full moon ; you shall find two little stones in their ventricle , the one of which is red , the other black. the red cures feavers , and causeth love between people : the black one being bound under the arm-pit , helps the falling-sickness ; or if you wil , you may beat it into pouder , and drink it in some liquor , for the same use . 5 red coral is good against the falling-sickness . 6 granate . 7 hematites . 8 red jacynth . 9 lychnis . 10 ruby , which being worn in a ring takes away evil dreams . 11 sardine ; which is an excellent remedy against poyson , and vain fears ; and quickens the wit. 12 red carniolus . ii. stones of a green color . 1 one of the sorts of achates . 2 lapis armenius . 3 beril . 4 chrysolite ; being worn in a gold ring , it takes away melancholly . 5 chrysophras ; 't is a stone hard to come by : it shines in the dark , and strengthens the heart and sight . 6 jasper , takes away feavers and dropsies ; it wonderfully helps conception in women ; and yet makes a man but dul in the sports of venus . 7 lapis lazuli , rids the body of melancholly afflictions . 8 indian pearls , which cause joy . 9 indian saphire . 10 emeralds , which are found in the silver mines in great brittain , and are profitable against poysons . iii. stones of a yellow color . 1 cleer carniolus , which is of the color of gold : being born about one , it represseth anger . 2 chrysoberillus , defends men from their enemies , and makes man and wife live quietly together : being beaten into pouder and taken inwardly , it helps the weakness of the stomach and liver , helps the asthma . 3 yellow amber . 4 one kind of jacinth . 5 yellow jet , which being born about one , helps idle fancies ; being laid in steep three daies in water , and the water drunk , it gives a quick deliverance to women . 6 lyncurius , which is of the color of amber ; it is ingendred by the urine of a lynx ; helps pains in the stomach , fluxes ; it draws iron out of wounds , being held to them ; it opens obstructions , and loosens the belly . 7 topaz , being put into boyling water , cools it so , that you may put in your hands and take it out : it stops lust , and staies the bleeding of wounds . 8 a water-snake hung up by the tail , casts a stone out of his mouth , which stone being bound to the navil of one that hath the dropsie , presently draws out al the water . iv. stones of a purple color : 1 one sort of achates . 2 amethist , being bound to the navil of one that is drunk , instantly it makes him sober : it drives away troubled thoughts , and makes men a little more rational . 3 calcidony , both male and female , help men against sadness and foolish apparitions : the stone shines like a star. v. stones of a black color . 1 one sort of achates , which is spotted with white or yellow veins ; it cures the striking of a scorpion , or the biting of a serpent , being applied to the place : being taken inwardly , it encreaseth eloquence , and good wil with men , but it causeth many dreams . 2 jet , being taken inwardly , it helps the fits of the mother . 3 one of the swallows stones which is black ; being bound under the left arm it gives men favor with great men , and is a present remedy for madness and falling-sickness . vi. stones of a white color . 1 one kind of achates . 2 absynthius 3 diamond , which being worn on the left arm , takes away vain fears , as of spirits , hobgoblins &c. 4 alectorius , being a stone taken out of the head of a cock , hen , or capon of nine yeers of age : it encreaseth lust. 5 white onyx , the best comes out of india , the worst from capadocia , which is of a honey color , and not transparant : it causeth victory over enemies , admirable true dreams , opens obstructions , and easeth pains in the stomach being applied to it . 6 amyantes . 7 andromata . 8 anthrasites , that which comes from the red sea , and is hard like a diamond : it helps madness . 9 lapis armenius . 10 lapis aetites . 11 asbestos , coming from arabia , which once being kindled , it cannot be put out . 12 azrius , coming from alexandria : it helps ulcers , fistulaes , wounds , and the gout . 13 a sterites . 14 white coral . 15 jacynth , which is of three sorts , red , purple , and white . the red is cold , and strengthens the body , begets friendship , is very good against poyson or witchcraft . 16 galaxias . 17 galactites , which being beaten into pouper , moistens the mouth like milk : being hung about the neck , so as it touch the breasts , makes women fruitful : being bound to their thigh , itquickens their labor : being mixed with water and salt , and sprinkled amongst your sheep in the evening , it makes them give much milk , and cures them of the scab . 18 sardonix , staies lust. 19 selenites : in the night time it is found just like the moon , and encreaseth and decreaseth as she doth . lastly ; stones of an uncertain color . 1 bezoar , which is held to be the tear of a stag : for when he hath drawn serpents out of their holes with his breath , this grows in the corners of his eyes ; therfore 't is a divine antidote against al poyson and pestilence . 2 cantarius . 3 carcinas . 4 chelonites . 5 cristal : it quencheth thirst being held under the tongue : being beaten into very fine pouder , if a woman take half a dram of it at a time , it encreaseth her milk ; and hung about the neck it helps the vertigo . 6 draconites , a stone taken out of the head of a live dragon . 7 psamianthos . 8 pardalios . 9 syrenites , a stone found in the bladder of a wolf. 10 smyris , a stone as hard as a diamond : it strengthens the gums . 11 sagda . 12 lapis samius , a stone of a contrary nature to aetites : it helps the vertigo , and strengthens the brain ; being bound to the thigh , or the foot , it hinders the birth ; but being bound to the arm it hastens it . 13 sea sand , one that hath a dropsie being set up to the neck in it , it quickly cures him . 14 toadstone , being held to a wound made by a venemous beast , cures it to admiration . 15 lapis nephriticus : it is brought from new spain , and is of a darkish green color : being worn about the body , so as it touch the skin , it breaks , and brings away the stone both in the reins and bladder : an angel can scarce do it with more speed or ease . 16 lapis tyburonum . a stone taken out of a strong fighting fish in the red sea : helps the stone and difficulty of urine . 17 geodes , a stone that comes out of saxony . 18 memphites . 19 ophites . 20 lapis arabicus , dries up the hemorrhoids . 21 lapis lyncis . 22 lapis judaicus . 23 a stone that is found in a spunge . 24 ostrasites . 25 amyanthus , resisteth poysons . mettals . 1 some alter by conservation , some by corruption . those which alter by conservation , do it by a quality either manifest or hidden . they which alter by a way manifest , do it by a first or second quality . by a first quality they are temperate , as gold ; or intemperate , namely , hot and dry , or cold. 2 those which are hot and dry , are so either 1 in the second degree , as iron , and crocus martis , cynnabaris . 2 in the third degree ; as vert-de-greece , burnt brass , scales of brass , allum , salt niter , brimstone , chalsites . or 3 in the fourth degree ; as vitriol , sandarach , chrysocolla , misy , sory , melanteria . 3 intemperately cold and dry , are either 1 in the first degree ; as silver , litharge of silver . 2 in the second degree ; as quick-silver , lead , plumbago , wash'd lead , burnt lead , ceruss . 4 altering by a second quality , are 1 binding ; as allum , tutty , pompholix , vitriol , spodium , antispodium . 2 glutinative ; as lead , allum , cadmia , &c. 5 some by corrupting are venemous ; as quick-silver , auripigmentum , morter of a wall , litharge , ceruss , sandarach . earths . 1 some expel poyson ; as bole armoniack , terra lemnia , terra samia , &c. 2 al earths cool . 3 thus much of living bodies not sensible : sensible living creatures follow . 4 living creatures are either irrational , as bruit beasts : or rational , as man. but whether beasts be rational or no , is more than my author can tel : i am deceived if he do not contradict himself in this very particular , for in his first book , chap. 8. he confesseth that man learned both physick and alchymy from the beasts : is not he that teacheth more knowing than he that is taught ? if my author be minded to leave the truth , and follow aristotle , he should have said so . but to follow my authors method , and to leave his failings . the doctrine of bruits is called zoography : but the special knowledg of men physiologie . lib . iv. of zoography . 1 zoography is the anatomy of bruits . 2. of bruits , some are insecta , others whol . 3 insecta , are either such as have wings , or such as have none . 4 such as have wings , are such as 1 have but two wings , as flyes , gnats , butter-flyes . 2 such as have four wings , as bees wasps , grashoppers , beetles , cantharides . 5 such as have no wings are such as go upon the ground , as emmets , spiders , palmer worms , woodlice , locusts , moths , fleas . of these some walk , some creep , some leap . 6 such as are whol , are such as either live in one place or in divers . 7 such as live in divers places , are such as live both on the land , and in the water . 8 such are otters , water rats , sea horses , crocodiles , crabs , frogs . 9 such as live only in one place ; are 1 such as fly , as birds . 2 such as live upon the earth , as four footed beasts . 3 such as live in the water , as fishes . of flying creatures . 1 these that fly in the air are called birds . 2 besides those parts which they have common with other living creatures , they have some peculiar to themselves : as 1 instead of a mouth , some have a crooked beak , as kites , hawks , eagles , parrots . 2 some have a straight bil , as crows , ravens , mag-pies , storks . 3 some have a broad bill , as ducks and geese . 4 some have a sharp bill , as wood-pickers , thrushes and finches . 5 some have short necks , as crows &c. 6 some have long necks , as storks cranes , swans , &c. 7 some their tails stick out right , as hawks , black-birds , mag pies , &c. 8 some their tails are crooked , as cocks . 9 some their tails stick upright , as ostridges 10 some walk , and some hop . 11 some seldom fly at all , as peacocks , hens , &c. of four footed beasts that go upon the earth . 1 they are either with horns , or without horns . such as have horns , are either greater or lesser . 2 the greater are either domestical , as bulls and cows : or savage , as stags , unicorns , rhinocerots wild asses . 3 of beasts without horns , some are domestical , and others savage . domestical are either greater , as a horse , an ass , a mule : or lesser , as a sheep , a hog , a cat , a dog. 4 savage beasts are greater or lesser . the greater are , a lyon , an elephant , a dromedary , a leopard , a wolf , a cammel , a pardel , a bear , a tiger , &c. the lesser are , a fox , an ape a dormouse , a hedg-hog , a mouse , a coney , &c. of creatures living in the water . 1 a fish is a creature of a cold and moist substance , long body and lives only in the water . 2 they have no necks , but their heads are joyned to their breasts : their liver is usually divided into two parts . but whereas my author saith , they have no lungs , he is mightily besides the cushion ; for many river fish have lungs ; neither can they live with out breathing , as carps , pikes . &c. he was mistaken before in saying bees have but four wings , or else i am mistaken in thinking they have six . 3 of fishes , some live in the sea , some in the rivers ; some have scales , some have none . 4 thus much of zoography : in which my author hath taken much pains to little purpose . tome i. part iii. of special physiologie : or , the subject and object of the physitian . 1 special physiologie is the theorical part of medicine , and treats of things according to nature . 2 the things which constitute our nature are , elements temperaments , humors , spirits , faculties , and parts . 3 the common affections of man are to be considered as elements and temperaments , of which before . or else the special . 4 special parts of man are , soul and body . the knowledg concerning the soul is called psychologia : the knowledg concerning the body is called anatomy . lib . i. of the faculties and functions of the soul both general and special . 1. psychologie is the knowledg of the soul. 2 the soul is proper or common . 3 common , is either more or less common : more common is that which we cal vegetable , and is in al living bodies . less common is that which we call sensible , and is only in men and beasts , and not in plants . but by my authors leave , why not in plants ? i think aristotle hath led al the world into errors . if it were my present scope , i could prove both by scripture and reason , that man consists of three parts , spirit , soul , and body : but to let this pass , our london gentlemen that nurse curiosities in their gardens , know wel enough , that divers plants are sensible , and few that have written herbals , but have written of them . besides , 't is apparant , that vulgar herbs which we tread upon when we walk the fields are not only sensible of what is present , but also have a fore-knowledg of a thing before it comes ; else what 's the reason the leavs both of cynkfoyl and trefoyl usually appear not only disordered , but also discolored twenty four hours before a storm comes . it were a good thing if men would first learn to know themselves , they might know the better what 's in herbs afterwards . but to return . 4 the soul of man consists in faculties and functions . 5 of these faculties , some are incited in man , others influential . 6 the influential parts are three , animal , vital , natural . 7 the animal is double , sensitive and intellective . 8 the sensitive is either apprehensive or motive . the sensitive is called sense . 9 the senses are internal or external . 10 the external are five , seeing , hearing , tasting , smelling , and feeling , 11 the internal senses are , common sense , fancy , and memory . 12 motive senses are two-fold , appetite , and motive according to place . 13 appetite is three-fold . 1 natural , as the desire of meat and drink . 2 affectional , as the motion of the will. 3 the desire of pleasure . 14 the intellective animal vertue is called understanding , and consists either in doing or suffering . 15 of the vital faculty are three differences . 1 the vital spirit . 2 the pulsifying spirit . 3 the faculty causing anger . 16 of the natural faculties , some are more , some less principal , or administring . 17 the more principal are three . 1 nourishing , which preserves the body . 2 increasing , which brings it to its just bigness . 3 generative , which begets its like , thereby preserving the species . 18 less principal or administring , are subservient , some of them to nourishment , others to increase , and a third sort to generation . 19 to nourishment and increase are four subservient . 1 digestion . 2 attraction . 3 retention . 4 expulsion . 20 that which peculiarly administers to generation , is the seed . 21 you have the faculties . the functions follow , which are but the eeffects of the faculties . 22 the functions are either ingrafted or influential . 23 the influential are three , animal , vital , natural . 24 the animal function is called knowledg , and is three-fold , understanding , sensation , motion . 25 understanding , is the apprehension , composition , and division of a thing ; as also discourse , which is a reasoning or ordination . 26 sensation is either internal or external . 27 the internal species of it are , judging , composition and conservation of a thing : the external are , dividing , or seeing , hearing , smelling , tasting , or feeling of it . 28 motion is double , appetite , and change of place . 29 appetite , because it is a motion of the mind , is not properly called a motion of the body , but rather of the will , and ought to be directed by reason ; of which before . 30 mutation of place , is either total , or partial . 31 total , is going , flying , swimming , creeping . 32 partial , is breathing , and pulse , of which latter we shal speak in its proper place . 33 breathing is a mixt action , partly animal , partly natural . its parts are , inspiration , and expiration : one of which is free , the other coactive . 34 the function of the vital faculty is called life . 25 life is distinguished into three ages , incréasing , standing at a stay , and decreasing . 26 increasing age contains , infancy , childhood , and youth ; standing at a stay is called man-hood . 37 decreasing is called old age , and is divided into gravity and decrippedness , or doting . 38 the functions of the vital spirit according to galen are three . 1 the generation of vital spirit . 2 the stirring up of the pulses . 3 the stirring up of the affections . of the two first of which we shal speak in their proper places . 39 the affections are either simple or mixed . 40 the simple are , the object of good or evil ; and of both of them , either present or to come : the object of good stirs up the will. 41 this happens when things fal prosperously either with our selves or others : if the business fal wel with our selves , it moves joy , gladness , vaporing , which should do so when it fals wel with others , but it usually produceth envy . 42 the object of present evil is grief of mind ; the species or differences of which are , affliction , sadness , grief , desperation , pain , envy , lamentation , mourning , care. 43 the object of good to come , is hope ; the companions of which are , ambition , covetousness , desire , anger , lust : the concomitants of anger in this nature are , bitterness , cruelty , wrath , hatred . 44 the objects of evil to come are , fear , astonishment , dread , slothfulness , quivering , horror , terror . 45 mixt affections are , anger as it is joyned with sadness , hatred , shamefac'dness , or zeal . 46 the natural function is commonly called vegetative ; and it is more principal or less principal . 47 more principal is nourishment , increasing , or generation . 48 the parts of generation are either common or proper . common are , copulation , conception , perfection of the child , and bringing of it forth into the world. 49 the proper parts of generation are , 1 uniting of the seed . 2 a delineation of the parts . 3 a filling of the parts with flesh. 4 an absolute forming of the child . 50 natural functions less principal are , attraction , retention , digestion , expulsion . 51 appetite , is either of nourishment , or , of copulation . appetite of nourishment , is either of meat , or of drink : of meat , is called hunger ; of drink , thirst. 52 digestion is either natural or artificial : natural is either publick or private . and thus much of psychologie . lib ii. of the anatomy of the body . 1 anatomy teacheth the dissection of the body of man. 2 the body of man is a mass made of earth , and other elements which we see and feel , and is not much unlike to the body of beasts . 3 the parts thereof are two , containing , and contained . 4 the containing are such as have form and solid substance , and consist of themselves without the help of any other parts . 5 to find out the parts contained , is required knowledg and dissection . the difference of the parts is the object of knowledg . 6 of the parts , some are similar and simple , others dissimilar and compound . similar parts . 1 similar parts are ten. 1 the skin . 2 membrana . 3 fibrae , or strings . 4 bones . 5 cartilages . 6 nerves . 7 arteries . 8 veins . 9 ligaments . 10 muscles . to these you may ad ( if you please ) fat , marrow hair , nails , &c. 2 of these , some are properly so called , others improperly . 3 properly so called , are such as are spermatical , or fleshy . 4 spermatical are either simply such , or secundum quid . 5 simply such , are either softer or harder . 6 softer are the skin , membranae & fibrae . 7 the skin is either the outward or scarf-skin ; or inward , and true skin . 8 the membranae are either with names , or without names . 9 with names , are such as are common , or proper to certain parts . 10 common are such as compass the flesh , the muscles , and the bones . 11 proper to certain parts or particular , are such as are subserviant to the three ventricles , viz. the highest , lowermost , or middlemost : or if i would speak a little plainer than my author doth , i would say , the brain , liver , and heart . 12 those of the uper vehtricle are some within the skul , some without , and some , belonging to the face . without the skul is the pericraneum . within the skul the pia and dura mater . 13 the membranae of the face , are either of the eyes , or of the ears . of the eyes there are seven , and they are called by these names , 1 adnata . 2 cornea . 3 aranea . 4 innominata . 5 retina . 6 vitria . 7 uvia . as for the ears , they have but one only membrana , and that is called timpana . anglice , a drum. and now give me leave to leave my author a little , and tel my country men what use this same membrana is of : i would fain make them wise ; if i could but do so , i should think i had lived long enough . the membrana ( which is but a kind of skin ) reflects the outward sound to the internal sences . when a man speaks , the voyce comes from him , but how come you to hear it ? thus : as a house casts an eccho to a voyce ; so this skin casts the eccho of all voyces to the sences : and that which causeth deafness , is an impediment lying either within or without this skin . 14 the membranae of the middle ventricle are six . 1 diaphragma . 2 m●diastinum . 3 pleura . 4 pericardium . 5 sygmoides . 6 trisulsae . 15 those of the lower ventricle are nine , and called by these nine names , 1 allantoides . 2 amnios . 3 chorion . 4 darton . 5 erythroides . 6 mesenterium . 7 omentum . 8 peritoneum . 9 scrotum . 16 the tunicle of the arteries is either superior , or inferior . 17 the fibrae are either constituting or subservient . 18 constituting are those which make up the substance of the muscles , and they take their original , partly from the nerves , partly from the ligaments . 19 such as are subservient are , direct , oblick , and transverse . 20 the harder spermatical parts , are bones and cartilages . the bones . 1 the bones of the body of man , take them universally are 318. of which , some are of the ventricles , others of the limbs . the ventricles have gotten one hnndred and forty : of which , the uper ventricle hath some the middle others , and the lower ventricle the remainder . 2 the uper ventricle hath seventy and seven : of which , the head hath got some , and the neck the rest . the head hath fifty nine ; of which , the skul hath some , and the cheek other some . 3 the skul hath fourteen , to wit , each ear three , called by name , inchus , malleus , and stapes . the forehead : 1 the hinder part of the head : 1 the temples , 2 the crown of the head. 2 and those two which are called sphoenoides and e●hmoides . 4 the cheeks have got forty five ; whereof some are superior , some inferior , and some common . the superior are twelve : the inferior only one ( but that 's a good big one . ) those which are common to both are the teeth , which are , or should be in number thirty two . 5 the bones of the neck are eighteen ; of which , eleven belong to the os hyois ; the word is derived from ὑω to gape . ( take notice of the ignorance of our chyrurgions : ask them what hyois is , they can shew it you , but cannot tell what it is . ) the rest are the vertebrae , or joynts of the neck and are in numbea seven ; of which , some have names , and the rest have none . those which have names are called , atlas , epitropheus , and axis . 6 the bones of the middle ventricle or breast are forty three in number , and thus distinguished : 1 clavicula on each side : 1 scapula on each side . the sternum , or bone before the breast , which is three fold . the vertebrae , or joynts are twelve . the ribs are a dozen ; of which , the seven upermost are called true ; the other five , bastard ribs . 7 the lower ventricle hath twenty bones . os coccix , three fold : os coxendix two : illium two . the vertebrae , or joynes of the loyns are five ; of which , two of them were christned , namely the first , which is called nephrites ; and the last , which is called asphalites . all the rest have no names . 8 you have the bones of the ventricle : the bones of the limbs follow which are in number one hundred , seventy , and eight . of these , the hands have gotten some , and the feet the rest . 9 the bones of the hands are eighty six which the right hand and the left , have equally shared between them ; namely , forty three apiece : viz. between the shoulder and the elbow , one : carpus , or the wrest eight : cubitus , or the bone between the elbow and the wrest , two ; the greater of which is called vlna the lesser , radius . the fingers fifteen : the metacarpus , or distance between the wrest and the fingers , hath four : the bones called sesamina are twelve ; and one between the bone of the wrest , and metacarpus . we wil confess dr. reade saith there is but sixty : but we wil leave the matter to be judged by dr. experience . 10 the bones of the feet are ninety two according to my author ( but according to alexander reade but sixty four ) i shal follow my author now , and leave dr. reade for the present . of the bones of the feet , the right side hath gotten one half , and left the other for the left. the right side hath one bone in the thigh : 1 patella : 2 in the knee . two in the leg : of which , one is called phibula , and the other tibia . in the instep seven , called by these names . 1 astragatus : 2 calx : 3 naviculare : 4 cubiformae : 5 cuneiformae , the lesser greater , and middle . the metatarsus ( or distance between the instep and the toes ) hath five . the toes fourteen ; of which , the great toe hath two , and the other three apice . sesamina twelve . in ancient people there is a bony substance opposed to the cubiformae . also there is a little bone in the articulation of the little toe . these if you reckon the left foot to have no fewer than the right , wil amount just to the number of ninety two . 11 the connexion or joyning together of the bones is also to be considered ; which are general or particular . 12 general is the joynting of al the bones . 13 particular is the connexing of som particular bones . 14 and that is divided into arthrosis and symphysis . 15 arthrosis is divided into these species , 1 diarthrosis . 2 arthrodia . 3 gynglimos . 4 synarthrosis . 5 sutura . 6 harmonia . 7 gomphosis . 16 symphysis , is a connexion of bones by continuity , by means either of cartilage , nerve , ligament , flesh , or muscles . cartilages . 1 the cartilages in the body of man are held to be seven . and though my author name but so many ; yet some whose eyes are in their heads have found out very many more . it may be my author saw none but old men dissected ; for those parts which are cartilages in children , turn to be bones in ancient people . 2 thus much for spermatical parts which are simply so . those which are spermatical secundum quid , are either more principal or less principal . 3 more principal are nerves , arteries , veins . nerves . 1 nerves take their original from the brain , and are either softer or harder . 2 the softer are either principal , or arising from the principal . 3 the principal are seven pairs : bauhinus saith eight . 1 the first of these are the optick nerves , 2 the second is parmotoreum . 3 the third goes to the muscles of the face . 4 the fourth to the tongue and the pallat. ● the fifth to the ears , and the are instruments of hearing . 6 par vagum , or the wandring pair . 7 the seventh pair comes to the tongue , and are the instruments of speaking . 8 the eight pair is distributed to some of the muscles of the eye . 4 arising from the principal of the softer are , such as arise from the third , fourth and sixt pairs : from the third arise four branches ; from the fourth , three ; from the sixt a rise some that are scattered both to the middle and inferior ventricle . 5 the harder nerves are either principal , or arising from the principal . 6 the principal are thirty pair : seven of the neck ; twelve of the joynts of the breast ; five of the loyns ; six of the os sacrum . 7 such as arise from these , are those that are branched from them to the hands and feet . arteries . 1 arteries proceed from the heart , and are either principal , or arising from the principal . 2 principal , are either such as proceed from the heart , as the great artery called aorta ; or the vessels of the lungs , which are , 1 aspera arteria , or the wind-pipe . 2 venosa arteria . 3 those which arise from the great artery are two . 1 the lesser trunk ascending . 2 the greater trunk descending . all the rest of the arteries which are innumerable are branched from these two . veins . 1 veins are either principal , or arising from the principal . the principal are , 1 vena porta , which is distributed in the inferior ventricle . 2 vena cava by the branches of which all the body is nourished . between the branches of which , and the branches of the vena porta is no intermixture . 3 the arterial vein , which is distributed only to the lungs . 2 arising from the principal are either from the vena cava , or from the vena porta ; of which some are christned , some are not ; i would have said , some have names , and some have none . 3 the branches of the vena porta that have names are , 1 coronaria , if my author be not mistaken ; for i have a shrewd suspition coronaria is a branch of the vena cava . it is that which nourisheth the heart , and is in form of a crown , from whence it takes its name . it is a smal branch which the vena cava sends to the heart to nourish it , after it hath passed the pericardium . the vena cava carrying natural blood to the heart to be converted into vital blood ; first nourishes the heart , that so it may be able to perform its office ; nature being none of pharaohs task-masters ; that will not set the heart to make bricks , but it will give it straw to burn them with . 2 cystica ; and if i be not mistaken , this the vein that carries the choller to the gall. 3 gastriea , γαστὴς signifies the belly . 4 epiplois . 5 gastroepiplois . 6 hemorrhoidalis . 7 meseraicks . 8 the sweetbread , which it seems my author takes for a vein : neither can our chyrurgions at present living , tell what the true use of it is . their general consent is , that it keeps the vessels from being hurt by the back-bone . give me leave to shoot my bolt a little , ( and you know a fools bolt is soon shot ) all late anatomists hold . first . that the original of the meseraick ( or if you please ) the lacteal veins , is the sweetbread . secondly , all hold ( nemine contradicente ) that the liver delights in sweet things . thirdly , general consent of physitians also agrees , that the meseraick veins carry the chyle from the bowels to the liver . these being taken pro confesso , my own opinion is , that the office of the sweetbread is to give the chyle a sweet tast that so the work of the liver may be pleasant to it , and not distastful . 4 the trunk of the vena cava , is either superior , or inferior . 1 from the superior arise many veins of note , 1 cephalica . 2 basilica . 3 mediana , or the middle vein . 4 salvatella . 5 cornalis : and there my author hit the nail on the head . 6 solitaria . 2 from the inferior , the chief veins are , 1 the emulgent veins . 2 the seminal veins . 3 saphaena . 4 hip veins . 5 you have the principal parts secundum quid . less principal are ligaments and muscles . ligaments . 1 very few ligaments have proper names . 2 some belong to the head of man ; others to the trunk , and others to the limbs . 3 the ligaments of the head are such as either , 1 knit the head with the back-bone . 2 knit the tongue to the jaws ; and oh what pity is it they did not knit it closer ; what a deal of mischief might then have been saved ! 3 such as knit the uper jaw to the lower . 4 the ligaments of the trunk are such as knit the members either internally , or externally . 5 the ligaments of the joynts are two-fold , 1 some knit the bones together . 2 others imbrace the tendons like a ring . 6 a tendon is no hing else but the extremity of a muscle , by which it moves the joynts . muscles . 1 the muscles in all the body are in number 395. according to my author : of which he saith , some belong to the ventricles , and others to the limbs : but according to dr. read , they are but 270. popular applause sounds out the praise of dr. read in muscles . my authors works are sufficient to speak for him : the use which i shal make of it , is only for information , to shew what an uncertain master they say so , is . 2 the ventricles have 181. of which , some are superior , others inferior , and a third sort mean between them both . 3 superior are 95. of which , some belong to the head in general : others to certain parts . 4 those which belong to the head in general are nine pair : of which , seven extend the head , and compass it about , the other two bow it . 5 the muscles of the other parts are 86. wherof , 1 the ear hath ten , saith my anthor : and dr. read is just of the same judgment : of which saith he , there is four pair on the outside , and two on the inside . the truth is i could never see any at all ; perhaps the reason is , because i never wore spectacles . 't is probable there may be two muscles on the inside of the ear ; but those eight on the outside the ear , came newly from utopia , in the good ship called the ignorance . that beasts move their ears by a proper or voluntary motion is certain ; but that men do , unless they move head and al i never yet saw , and as little beleeve . what an abominable master is tradition ? who would have thought my author partlicius , and old alexander reade , should have been led by the nose by him ? because asses move their ears , must al men be asses ? and now i have left my author a little , i care not if i leave him a little longer , and shew you whence this error sprung ; as also what it is . first , they say , the external muscles of the ear are four pair . 1 they coyn one pair , and cal them par attollens ; and these they say lift-the ears up ; but whether i know not , unless it be upon the pillory . 2 par deprimens , and they pull them down ; but mine stick up stil , and so do every honest mans . 3 par adducens , and they move them forward . 4 par abducens , and they pul them backward . 't is wel democritus is dead , or else he would have burst his heart with laughing at this and died no other death . secondly , the internal muscles of the ear ( they say ) are two ; one inward , and the other ontward : and if there be any muscles at al about the ears , these are probably like to be they . we wil now shew you , what may probably be the cause of these errors . they thought galen was a famous man ( and so he was ) and rather than they would make a famous man infamous , they would be infamous themselves . reade confesseth the motion of the ears is obscure ; and so indeed it is , being clouded with a mist of ignorance . 1 the first pair is called attollens , or lifting up , which is nothing else but a part of the frontal muscle fixed neer the ear , which when you lift yp your forehead , lifts up a part of the ear too , though not by a proper motion of the ear. 2 the second is par deprimens , or pulling down , which is nothing but one part of the muscles of the cheeks , the tendon of which being fastned to the ear , and by pulling down the cheeks , pulls down the ear also . 3 the third is par adducens which is nothing else but a part of the musculus cutaneus . 4 the fourth pair is only the transverse muscles of the head. substract me but these muscles cleverly , and shew me any other muscles of the ears of man , with the help of a perfpective glass ( if you can . ) but then they run to the old argument , galen said there was such : and i 'le warrant you our authors are as confident of it , as the pigmies were of their killing hercules . but to return to my author . 2 the buccae four . 3 the jaws four . 4 the forehead two . 5 the bones of the hyois four . 6 of the lips five . 7 the larynx nine ( reade saith ten . ) 8 the tongue five ( reade saith eight . ) 9 the cheeks ten . 10 the nostrils eight ( reade saith sixt . ) 11 the hinder part of the head two . 12 the eyes twelve . 13 the eye-lids four . what do you think the mind of god is , by this difference of authors ? surely ( courteous readers ) to make you studious and industrious . pluris est occulatus unus testis quam auriti decem . one eye witness is worth ten ear-witnesses , and you wil find it so in the winding up : but it is denied the planets to have latitude without the zodiack and therefore i return . 6 the muscles of the middle ventricle are 65. i shal now let dr. reade alone , for i cannot walk very fast with two clogs upon my feet . 1 the diaphragma . 2 mhe muscles of the back are eight . 3 the intercostals are forty four . 4 the breast twelve . 7 the inferior ventricle hath 21. whereof , 1 the abdomen hath ten . 2 the fundament three . 3 the yard four . 4 the stones two . 5 the bladder two . ( dr. reade had seen the second , had he not been pur-blind . ) 8 the joynts have 214. of which , some belong to the hands , others to the feet . 9 to the hands belong 104. according to my author ; 53. according to reade : i must follow my author because of translating . of these , some belong to the right hand , some to the left. those belonging to the right hand are 52. to wit , 1 the fingers thirteen . 2 between the shoulder and the elbow , eleven . 3 between the elbow and the wrest , eight . 4 the wrest and parts adjacent , ten . 5 the metacarpus , ten . the left hand hath just so many as the right . 10 the feet have 104 of which , some belong to the right side , others to the left. the right side hath 52. viz. 1 the toes , twenty nine . 2 the thigh , four . 3 the instep , four . 4 the metatarsus , four . 5 the hip-bone , seven . 6 the share-bone , four . if a man is minded to be wise , his readiest way is , not to pin his faith upon the sleeve of authors ; for let an author be never so excellent , his works may be abused by a printer . and of all the authors which ever i translated , i never read one more vilely printed than this is . i confess i have corrected the printer in many places where he most notoriously failed ; but in this i cannot , as you shal easily find if you observe the disagreeing of his numbers . very unwilling was i to do the good soul any wrong , because he was ingenious : but finding an inability in my self , i called help of others that were anatomists , viz. galen , vesalius , columbus , ambrose parrey , crooke , and reade ; but they were gotten so deeply together by the ears one with another , that they could afford me no satisfaction : wherfore i desire the reader , 1 not to impute the failings to my author , but to the printer , whose i am confident they were . 2 to take counsel of my brother , the son of my mother , doctor experience . you have the spermatical parts : the fleshy parts remain . flesh. 1 flesh is commonly accounted to be of three sorts ; to wit , musculous , glandulous , and common flesh. 2 you have such as are properly called similary parts . those which are improperly called so follow : of which , some are solid others fluid : such as are fluid belong to the parts contained ; such as are solid are , hair , fat , &c. but why my author reckons fat among the solid parts , i know not . nor i think himself neither . dissimilar parts . 1 are two-fold , superior and inferior . superior is called the head , or animal ventricle : its parts are the head and neck . 2 the parts of the head are , the skul , and the parts within it , and without it . the parts without the skul , are either the face it self , or other parts . 3 the parts of the skul are bones , pericranium , dura mater . the bones are 59. the sutures of the skul are three , coronalis , sagitalis , and lamdoides : to which you may ad those of the temples called mendosae . 4 the parts without the face , are either lateral , and on the sides as the foremost , and hinder part of the head : or else the top , as the crown . 5 the parts of the face are , 1 the forehead . 2 the temples . 3 the eyes . 4 the ears . 5 the nose . 6 the cheeks . 7 the mouth . 8 the hollowness . 9 the chin. the eyes . 1 the parts of the eyes are , 1 such as compass them about 2 such as give them their form. 3 such as move them . 2 such as compass them about are , 1 the eye-lids . 2 the eye-brows . 3 the glandulae , or kernels . 3 the eye-lids are either superior of inferior 4 the parts which form the eye , are either interior or exterior . 5 the exterior are , 1 the white of the eye . 2 the iris. 3 the apple of the eye . 6 the humors are three . 1 aqueal . 2 christalline , and 3 vitrial . 7 the tunicles are seven : 1 cornea . 2 uvea . 3 arnea . 4 retina . 5 conjunctiva . 6 opacia . 7 secundina . 8 the parts which cause motion are , the muscles and optick nerve . the ears . 1 the parts of the ears are either external or internal . the external are holes by which the sound passeth , and are in number five ; three without the skul , and two within . 2 the internal parts of the eir are , 1 the nerve , which brings the sence of hearing . 2 the timpanum . 3 two bony substances of each side . 4 three smal bones knit together by a skin , or membrana ; whereof the first is called malleus , the second incus , the third stapes . the nose , cheeks , and mouth . 1 the parts of the nose are internal or external . 2 the external are the nostrils , the sides , and the bridg in the middle . 3 the internal are , the cribrum , and caruncula . 4 the parts of the cheeks are two . the superior which is called mala : and the inferior which is called buccae . 5 the parts of the mouth , are either fleshy or bony . 6 the fleshy parts are , the lips , tongue , and pallat the gums , jaws , gurgulio , larynx , and tonsillae . 7 the bony parts are 32. teeth ; of which , the uper jaw hath one half , and the lower jaw the other . 8 the cavities are three , conchola , labirinthus and coclea . 9 the chin is that part where the beard grows . 10 thus much for the parts without the skul : the parts within the skul follow , which are called brain . 11 parts of the brain are two , cerebrum , and cerebellum , from both which arise the marrow of the back ; as also all the nerves . 12 the parts of the brain are . 1 the glandula pituitaria . 2 fornix . 3 infundibulum 4 nates , and testes . 5 pelvis 6 penis . 7 plexus choroides . 8 processus vermi formis . 9 rete mirabile . 10 sella . 11 pia mater . 13 thus much of the head : now follows the neck . 1 the parts of the neck are internal or external . external are either before , as the throat ; or behind , as the neck . the internal are , the wind-pipe , and the passage of food . 2 you have the animal ventricle , or superior part : the inferior follows : which is either the trunk , or the limbs . the trunk containeth the vital ventricles . & natural ventricles . the middle or vital ventricle . the parts of the middle ventricle are either external , or internal . the external are either , before , as the breast ; or behind , as the back . 3 the parts of the breast are either fleshy , as the muscles , the breast and the nepples : or bony , as the sternum and the ribs : or skinny , as the pleura . 4 the parts of the back are , the shoulders , the scapula , the back-bone , the vertebrae , and the marrow . 5 the interior parts of the middle ventricle are , the involucra , the bowels , and the channels . 6 the involucra are , the pleura , mediastinum , diaphragma , and pericardium . 7 the bowels are two , 1 vital , as the heart . 2 spiritual , as the lungs . 8 in the heart are considerable , 1 two ventricles ; the right , and the left. 2 its motion , or pulse . 3 two deaf ears . 4 eleven valvulae . 5 the coronal vein . 9 parts of the lungs are , 1 the lobi , which are divided , 1 into right and left. 2 into superior and inferior . 2 the vessels which enter the lungs , and they are three : 1 the wind-pipe . 2 the venal artery . 3 the arterial vein . 10 you have the middle ventricle : the lowermost yet remains . the lowermost , or natural ventricle . 1 the parts of the lower ventricle are either external or internal . 2 the external are , 1 behind , as the loyns and hips . 2 before , as the belly . 3 on the sides , as the hypochondria . 3 the loyns consist of five bones , under which the kidneys are placed . 4 the parts of the hips are either bony , as the hip bones , os sacrum , and coccix : or fleshy , as the buttocks . 5 the parts of the belly , are either similar , or dissimilar . 1 similar , as the paeritoneum , omentum , and mesenterium . 2 dissimilar , as stomachalis , the navel , and abdomen . 6 the hypochondria are two ; the right , and the left. 7 you have the exterior part : the interior are the bowels . the bowels serve either for nourishment , or generation . 8 such as serve for nourishment , are either for digestion , or evacuation . for digestion are , 1 such as belong to the first concoction , as the tunicle of the stomach : or 2 such as belong to the second concoction , as the liver . 9 the parts of the ventricle are two : the tunicles , and the mouths . 10 the tunicles are in number three ; and the mouths two . 11 the liver is placed in the right hypochondria , under the diaphragma . its parts are two : 1 the uper , from whence ariseth the vena cava , which carries the blood to the heart . 2 the inferior , from whence ariseth the vena porta which carries the chyle from the bowels to the liver . both these consist of red flesh , called parenchyma ; throughout which , the veins of the liver are disseminated . 12 you have the digestive bowels : the bowels dedicated to evacuation follow , which are , the gall , spleen , reins bladder , and guts . 13 the channels of the bladder are two : the one of which is turned upwards , the other downwards . 14 the reins or kidneys are two , placed under the liver and spleen , and receive the watery humor from the liver by the emulgent veins and having clarified it , send it to the bladder by the ureters . 15 in the bladder consider , 1 it s two tunicles . 2 its neck . 3 its bottom . 4 the hairs which draw and retein the urine . 16. the guts are either the uppermost , and smal ones : as the duodenum , jejunium , and illium : or else the lowermost , and thick ones , whose names are caecum , colon , and rectum , or the strait gut. 17 you have the bowels dedicated to nourishment . those which serve for generation , are either common to both sexes , or peculiar to one . 18 those which are common both to man and woman are the seminal vessels , as the stones , parastatae , and pecten . 19 the testicles or stones are two : the parastatae are two vessels placed at the mouth of the pecten . 20 the peculiar vessels to each sex are , in men , the yard ; in women , the womb and matrix . of al these , see more in my directory for midwives . the branches , or limbs . 1 the limbs are , the hands and feet . 2 the hand is divided into , the arm , the cubit , and the hand it self . 3 the hand it self consists of many parts , carpus , metacarpus , nodi , vola , hypothener , palma , pecten , five fingers called by these names . 1 pollex , the thumb . 2 index the fore finger . 3 medius , the middle finger . 4 annularis , the ring finger . 5 auricularis , the little finger . the nails . 4 parts of the feet are three , the thigh , the leg , and the foot. 5 parts of the leg are two , the calf & the shin . 6 parts of the foot are , talus , malleolus , calx , planta , dorsum , digiti , ungues . in english thus , the ancle , the instep , the heel , the top of the foot , the sole of the foot , the toes , and the nails . another division of the parts . 1 hitherto of the parts as they are similar or dissimilar . we shal now speak a word of them as they are organical : and so they are either more or less principal , and formed either of blood , or of seed . 2 the perfect organical parts are two-fold , principal and administring . 3 the administring are three-fold , 1 such without which the action cannot be performed . 2 such by which the action is performed better . 3 such by which it is performed safer . 4 the principal parts of the body are four , the brain , liver , heart , and testicles . the administring are , 1 the nerves , which administer to the brain . 2 the arteries which administer to the heart . 3 the veins , which administer to the liver . 4 the seminal vessels , which administer to the stones . 5 less principal are two fold , some common to the whol body ; others only to some particular part . 6 such as are common to the whol body are , fat flesh , cartilages , skin , ligaments , membranae , bones . 7 those which belong to some particular part are , arteries , nerves , marrow of the back , veins , spermatick vessels . 8 some parts only are subservient to themselves , and to no other part , as the gall , spleen , and bladder . 9 you have the knowledge and difference of the parts : the administration and dissecting of them remains . of the administration , dissection , or anatomy of the corps . 1 the body of man consists either of ventricles , which are the principals ; or else of limbs . 2 the inferior ventricle is that which is the dwelling place of the natural spirits . i. the anatomy of the inferior ventricle . all dissections begin here , because the excrements contained in the guts , wil soon putrifie , and to hinder the dissection of other parts . 2 the inferior ventricle is all that part of the body , which compassed round with the sword-like cartilage above , with the os pubis beneath , and with the ribs on each side . 3 its parts are two , forward and backward . 4 forward , the greeks cal epigastrium ; the arabians , mirach : the parts of which are , 1 the superior , or hypochondria . 2 the middle , or the region of the navel . 3 the lower , or hypogastrium . 5 the hinder part is either superior , which makes the loyns ; or inferior , which makes the hips . 6 it is otherwise divided into two parts ; namely the parts containing , and the parts contained . 7 the parts containing , are either proper or common ; the common are , scarf-skin , skin , fat , a panicle . proper are , muscles , the peritoneum . the oblick muscles are four , two ascending , and two descending . the muscles called piramidales are four , wherof two are straight , and the other transverse . 8 the parts contained , some belong to man when he is in the womb , and some when he is out . 1 those that belong to man while he is in the mothers belly are , the navel vessels , and skins that cover him : which are amply described in my directory for midwives . 2 those which belong to man out of the womb are subservient some to nourishment , others to propagation . 9 those that belong to nourishment , are either for turning food into chyle , or for turning chyle into blood. 10 those which turn food into chyle , some make the chyle , as the stomach ; others are joyned to the mesenterium . 11 they are , 1 such as help towards the concoction of the chyle , as the omentum and sweet-bread . 2 some distribute and perfect the chyle , as the duodenum , jejunum , and illion . 3 other take away the excrements , as the great guts . 12 those which conduce to the making of blood , are , 1 some prepare the blood , as the meseraick veins . 2 some make it into blood , as the liver . 3 some distribute it to the body being made as the vena cava , and its branches . 4 some receive the excrements of blood , as first , choller , the thinnest of which is taken by the gall : the thickest is carryed to the right gut by a vessel for that purpose . secondly , melancholly , the receptacle of which is the spleen , which concocts it , and with the best of it , nourishes it self : other of it , it sends up to the stomach to provoke appetite : and some it sends down somtimes to the hemorrhoidal veins . thirdly , the watery blood is carryed to the two kidneys , who having separated the blood for their own nourishment , send the water down to the bladder . 13 the parts which are subservient for propagation , are either belonging to men or women . belonging to men are , 1 such as carry the matter whereof the seed is made , and prepare it , as the vasa preparantia : or work it together , as the corpus varicosum : or give it its generative power , as the stones , which are sustained by the muscles called cremasters . 2 such as carry the seed from the stones , being perfected , as the vasa deferentia . 3 such as receive the seed and keep it , as the glandulae prostatae . 4 such as contain an oyly substance , to make the passage slippery . 14 the parts of generation in women are , 1 such as carry the matter to be made into seed , as the spermatical vessels . 2 such as make it into seed , as the corpus varicosum , and the testicles . 3 such as receive it , as the womb. 15 the internal parts of the lower ventricle are subservient to the other . 1 either to nourishment , as the vena porta , and cava , and their branches . 2 to vital heat , as the arteries . 3 to sence and motion , as the nerves and arteries . you have the anatomy of the lower ventricle : the anatomy of the middle ventricle or breast follows . ii. the anatomy of the middle ventricle or breast . 1 the breast is properly that part which is compassed round with the ribs , separated from the lower ventricle by the diaphragma . it is the seat of the vital spirit : neither is it altogether bony like the skul , for then it could not move : neither altogether fleshy like the lower ventricle , for then it could not be sustained : but it is moved by muscles , and articulated by bones . 2 it is divided into the former part , which is called the sternon : the hinder part called the back : and on both sides by the ribs . 3 the parts of it are either containing , or contained . the containing are either common or proper . common are the scaf skin , skin , fat , membranae , and panicles , 4 the proper are soft or hard . the soft are either properly so called , or improperly . properly so called are muscles , which are either of the breast , or of the neck : of the breast are such as are either upon the ribs , or between them , and therfore are called intercostals . 5 those upon the ribs are placed either above , as pectoralis , 〈◊〉 major & minor . those that are placed below are , cucularis , rhombdoides , serratus posticus both the higher and lower , sacro lumbus , semispinatus , splenius , complexus : these are without . the triangular muscle is within . 6 the intercostal muscles are eleven external , twelve internal . the diaphragma is common to both sides . 7 the muscles of the neck , are some in the hinder part of the neck , as cucullaris , levator , 〈◊〉 , complexus , the greater and lesser straight muscles , the uper and lower oblick muscles , the transverse muscles , scalenus , spinatus . some are in the fore part , as quadratus , mastoides , 〈◊〉 , choracohyoides , oesophygies , longi . 8 the muscles improperly called soft , are the bodies of the breasts , the pleura , and mediastinum . 9 the proper parts containing which are hard , are the bones and cartilages . the bones are , 1 before , as the sternum , which consists of three or four bones , and the two 〈◊〉 . 2 on the sides , as the seven true ribs , and the five bastard ribs . 3 behind , as the twelve joynts in the back . 10 cartilages ; some serve for the inarticulation of the ribs with the sternon ; others the bastard ribs end in ; and the sword-like cartilage in the bottom . 11 the parts contained , are bowels or vessels . bowels are the heart and lungs . 12 the heart of man is covered with the pericardium . the vessels belonging to the heart are four , 1 the vena cava . 2 the arterial vein . 3 the venal artery . 4 the great artery . to these vessels are appointed certain shutters ; two resemble a miter , and three the letter s. and are therfore called sygmoides . the ventricles of the heart are two , to each of which is adjoyned a deaf ear. 13 the vessels of the lungs are , the wind-pipe , the arterial vein , the venal artery . 14 the vessels contained are veins , nerves , and arteries . 15 the bones are either the joynts of the back , which are twelve ; or the joynts of the neck which are seven ; or the two shoulder bones which are joyned together with cartilages and ligaments . 16 you have the middle ventricle : the upper follows . iii. the anatomy of the higher ventricle , or head. 1 the head is the third ventricle : the seat of the animal spirit , the principle of sence and motion : it is placed in the highest part of the body , partly for the eyes sake , that so they may see the further ; partly for the brains sake , 〈◊〉 the rational part may not be disturbed by the irrational . 2 the parts of the head , are either such as have hair , or such as have none . both of them are either containing , or contained . the containing are proper or common . common are the scarf-skin , the skin , fat , and fleshy panicle . 3 proper parts are either internal or external . the external are , the pericraneum , and the skul . the internal are , the pia and dura mater . 4 the bones of the skul are fourteen , whereof some are proper to the skul alone ; others common to the uper cheek , as the cuneiformi , and spongeosum . 5 the proper to the skul are twelve , whereof six make up the skul . the fore-head hath one , the fore part of the head two , the hind part one , the temples two : these are joyned together by either true or counterfet sutures . the true 〈◊〉 are three , sagittalis , coronalis , and lambdoides . the counterfet sutures are six . 6 the things contained by the skull is the brain . the substance of the brain is either that which is soft , or the cerebellum , from both which arise the marrow of the back . the nerves , some of them arise from within the skul , of which are seven or eight pair ; most of which are distributed upon the head , and organs of sences . the rest of the nerves arise from the marrow of the back , 〈◊〉 rather from the brain of the back ( if people would but learn to call it by its right name . ) they are in number thirty pair , and are distributed amongst the parts below the head , being all covered with three skins apiece . 7 the vessels are veins and arteries . the veins arise from the jugulars ; two of which are distributed within the skul , and three without . 8 of the face , some parts are containing , others contained . the parts containing are proper or common . the common are scaf-skin , skin , fat , and panicle . 9 proper parts of the face are muscles , as two of the fore-head , two of the eye-brows , two of each eye-lid , eight of the nose , four 〈◊〉 muscles of the ears , six of the lips , the bucca two , the inferior cheek ten . bones of the forehead and eyes six , of the nose three , of the uper cheek twelve , of the lower one . cartilages , of the nose five , of each ear one . 10 the parts of the face contained , are either the seats of the sences , or else the vessels . 11 the seats of the sences are , 1 the sight , which is contained in the eyes . 2 smelling , in the nose . 3 hearing in the ears . 4 tasting , in the mouth . 12 the parts of the tast are two-fold ; some compass the mouth about , some are contained in the mouth . those which compass the mouth about are the muscles common to the 〈◊〉 and the lips , which are two 〈◊〉 each side ; the uper lip two on each side ; the lower lip one on each side : the lower cheek five on each side . 13 the parts of the tast contained in the mouth are , 1 the instrument of tast and speech , the tongue , which hath ten muscles , and the muscles of the jaws eight . 2 the larynx , whose cartilages are five , and muscles sixteen . 3 the os hyois , consisting of five bones , and nine pair of muscles . 4 the 〈◊〉 . 5 the teeth , which in people grown up is usually sixteen in each jaw ; namely , four cutters , two dog-teeth , ten grinders . my author hath kept a fearful racket about the tast , and written more than i can beleeve : i have often heard , the teeth were instruments of biting , but never of tasting before . it is in vain to object , that a mans teeth may be set on edg by eating sowr things , ergo they tast : so wil a sythe by cutting crabs ( as they know that are accustomed to mow ) must it therfore be capable of the sence of tasting ? 14 you have the ventricles : the limbs remain , which are the hands and feet . iv the anatomy of the hands . 1 the hand is an instrument of all instruments ; it is that whereby a man defends himself , 〈◊〉 wounds his enemies , and is very necessary for the learning of al arts and sciences . 2 that is called the hand which reacheth from the shoulder to the top of the fingers ; and is divided into the arm , the cubit , and that which vulgarly is called the hand . 3 the parts are containing , or contained . the containing are common and proper . the common are , scaf-skin , skin , fat , membrana , and fleshy panicle . proper , is the membrana of the muscles . 4 parts contained , are muscles , vessels , and bones . the muscles are fifty five , if you ad those four of the shoulder ; and they belong either to the shoulder , or to the arm , or to the cubit , or to the hand . 5 the muscles of the arm are seven . 1 pectoralis , draws it to . 2 dectois , lifts it up . 3 latissimus , & rotundus major , draw it down . 4 superscapularis , superior and inferior , move it in a circular motion . 5 the fifth is called subscapularis . 6 the muscles of the cubit are four : two bended as biceps & branchiaeus ; two extended , as longus & brevis . 7 the muscles of the hand are fourty ; of which , the fingers have twenty nine ; the other part of the hand eleven . 8 the vessels of the hand , are veins , arteries , and nerves . 9 the vein of the hand is a part of the axilla vein . 10 it is divided into the superior branch , which is called cephalica ; and the inferior which is called basilica . 11 the cephalica is divided into two branches . 1 the internal , which together with the basilica , make the median . 2 the external , which maketh the salvatella . 12 the basilica is either the right , called the liver vein ; or the left , which is called the vein of the spleen . 13 the artery is a branch of the axillar artery . 14 after it hath passed the elbow it is divided into two branches . 1 the first is that which physitians feel when they say they feel the pulse . 2 the second passeth internally to the fingers . 15 the nerves arise from the marrow of the back ; either from the fifth , sixth , and seventh joynts in the neck ; or else from the first and second of the breast , and are divided into many branches , and are distributed amongst the muscles and skin . 16 you have the anatomy of the hand : the foot remains . v. the anatomy of the foot. 1 the foot is the instrument of walking , and contains all that part that is between the hip-bone , and the top of the toes , and imitates the hand as much as may be . it is divided into three parts , the thigh , the leg , and that which we cal the foot ; which is also divided into three parts , tarsus , metatarsus , and the toes . 2 parts of the foot , are either containing or contained . the parts containing are either proper or common . the common are , scarf-skin , skin flesh , membrana , and fleshy panicle . proper , is the membrana of the muscles . 3 parts contained , are muscles , vessels , and bones . the muscles are either the thigh , leg , foot , or toes . 4 the muscles of the thigh are eleven ; of which , 1 five stretch it out , as gluteus major , me dius & minor , iliacus , externus piriformis , and triceps . 2 three muscles bow it , as lumbalis , 〈◊〉 internus , & lividus . 3 the other move it circularly . 5 the muscles of the leg are ten , whereof 1 five bend it , as longissimus , gracilis , senervosus , biceps , 〈◊〉 . 2 some extend it , as these four , membranosus , vastus , internus , externus & 〈◊〉 . 3 the other muscle popliteus moves it oblickly . 6 the muscles of the feet are eight , of which 1 five extend it , as castrominius , internus & externus , plantaris , soleus , tibiaeus posticus . 2 the other three bend it , as tibiaeus anticus , and the two periei . 7 the muscles of the toes are twenty three , whereof some bend them , some extend them , and others draw them transversly . 8 the vessels of the feet are , veins , arteries , and nerves . 9 the vein of the leg is branched . 1 into the saphaena , which passeth by the inside of the ancle , where it is branched into four parts , and distributed amongst the toes . this is the vein which is opened in afflictions of the womb and head. 2 ischias , which passeth by the outward part of the leg. 3 that which passeth to the muscles . 4 suralis , which at the knee is divided into two branches , the one takes the inside , the other the outside . 10 the artery is divided above the knee , and administers branches both to the skin , and al the muscles . 11 the nerves arise from the marrow of the back , and pass through either the joynts of the loyns , or the os sacrum . 12 the bones in each foot are forty six , one of the thigh , one patella , two of the knee , two of the leg , and forty of the foot. thus you have the parts containing . the parts contained are such as are fluid , soft , and upheld by others . parts contained . 1 parts contained are either humors , or spirits . 2 humors are either natural , or influential . 3 natural is that which is called humidum radicale . 4 influential , is either primary , or secundary . 1 primary , is either natural or not natural . 2 natural , is either , 1 nourishing . 2 excrementitious . 3 participates of both . 5 nourishing , is blood and flegm . excrementitious is either profitable , or unprofitable . 6 profitable , is milk , seed , the water of the blood , and the water arising from the first concoction . 7 unprofitable are , tears , snot , spittle , menstruis blood , sweat , and urine . 8 those which are both excrementitious and nourishing are , choller and melancholly . 9 humors not natural , are the same with these ; only they keep not a due decorum , in quantity , quality , motion , and rest. 10 they offend in quantity two waies , either by abundance , or defect . 11 abundance or repletion is two-fold , plethora , and cacochymia . 12 cacochymia is either simple or compound . simple is of choller , flegm , and melancholly . 13 the failings of quality , are either more common , or more proper . more common are , corruption , putrefaction , malignity , crudity . 14 more proper are , in respect of certain humors , and so , 1 choller corrupted is , 1 vitiline , or like yolks of egs. 2 eruginous , like vert-de-greece . 3 prassine , like juyce of herbs . 4 azure . 2 flegm is , 1 acide , sowr like vinegar . 2 vitrial , like melted glass . 3 salt , like brine . 4 gypsum , like white mortar . 3 melancholly adust , proceeding either of burnt blood , burnt choller , or salt flegm . 15 thus much of hmors : the spirits remain . 16 spirits are insited in , or influential . 17 spirits insited in are two , either innate moisture , or innate heat . 18 spirits influential are , either vital or animal . 19 the innate spirit , according to hermetical phylosophers , is , an astral and vital body , a natural balsom , a vital sulphur , and a vital mummy . hitherto of a corporal anatomy : a vertual anatomy follows . hermetical phylosophers . 1 they have a double kind of anatomy ; the one local , the other essential , vital , or formal . 2 the local ( say they ) is that which every butcher doth when he cuts open an ox or a calf ; which although hermetical phylosophers do not reject , yet they would not have physitians spend all their daies in pering upon that , and neglect businesses of greater import . 3 a vi tal anatomy is that which dissolves every body into its first principles : he that drives such a model of physick , ought to be wel versed in the natures and properties of seeds ; the office of elements and principles ; the generation and transplantation of roots ; the motion and influence of the heavens , and heavenly bodies ; the disposition not only of dead , but also of living bodies . they do not cal that lump of flesh only , the heart , which others do ; but whatsoever hath vital heat in it . they cal every cavity the stomach , nay , every place in which there is any concoction : every place 〈◊〉 contains any fruitful seed is a womb with them . but the main basis of their art is the harmony of the creation , and the due consideration of that notable agreement between things above , and things below . tome i. part iv. of vertual anatomy , or the harmony between the macrocosm and microcosm . vertual anatomy teacheth the harmony between one part of the creation and another ; the analogical comparation and reductions of things ; therby fetching its remedies , and learning their strengths and vertues from the book of nature , not of galen . 2 for whatsoever is in the universal world is also in man ; not according to a certain superficial similitude as some fools prattle ; but in deed , and in reality , are contained in him whatsoever is in the whol theater of the world. 3 the spirit of a man communicates with god himself ; the rational soul with the angels ; and the body with the stars and earth . 4 paracelsus , and most other hermerical phylosophers , hold that man hath a double body : the one natural , elementary . visible , and tangable , which was first made of the slime of the earth : the other invisible , insensible , deduced from the coelestial influence of the stars ; and this crollius cals the genius of man ; his domestick laris , the instructer of wise men ( for he cannot abide fools . ) 5 this analogical comparation is to be considered in a double manner . 1 in respect of the heavenly bodies themselves . 2 in respect of medicines caused by their influence . of these , the galenists knew either very little , or nothing at all . lib . i. of the analogical comparation of the heavens with the body of man. 1 all things that are above , are to be found in things below : or if you would have it a little plainer ; terrestial things are in heaven after a celestial manner : celestial things upon earth after a terrestial manner : and this , none but a few people that are scarce wel in their wits wil deny . 2 we shal only here give you the sum of the analogy and harmony of the universal world with the body of man , which we shal ( god willing ) treat more plainly and fully of in our harmony of both worlds . first , of the coupling of the celeftial orbs with our bodies and eyes . secondly , of the coupling of the sun and heavens with our rational soul. thirdly , of the comparation of the beams of the sun with the spirits of mans body . fourthly , of the comparation of the sun with the heart of man fiftly , of the application of the heat of the sun to the native heat of mans body . sixtly 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the beams of the moon with the animal spirit of man. seventhly , the comparing the course of the sun and moon , with the course of mans life . eightly , the comparing of the faculties of the beams of the planets with the faculties of mans body . ninthly , the comparing of the nature of the stars with the humors in mans body . tenthly , the comparing the several stars , with the several parts of mans body . eleventhly , the comparing of the world with the affections of man. 3 you have the analogy of the heavens with the body of man : the anatomy , or analogy of medicines follows , which is two-fold : 1 according to the force of the stars ; and that is called 〈◊〉 anat my . or 2 with the body of man , and that is called signatura . lib . ii of the influential harmony . 1 influential harmony is that which teacheth the influence and dominion of the planets both over diseases , and the medicines which 〈◊〉 to cure them . 2 the course of the planets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diseases according to the nature of each planet , upon those parts of the body which they rule : so saturn 〈◊〉 the spleen , jupiter the liver , and mars the gal ; the sun the heart venus the reins , 〈◊〉 the lungs , and the moon the brain . 3 so the 〈◊〉 of saturn proceed melancholly , failings of the spleen , and afflictions of the hypochondria . jupiter causeth distempers and obstructions of the liver , cachexia , dropsie , yellow jaundice . mars causeth al distempers of the gall , the stone , and obstructions , fulness and emptiness . the sun causeth distempers of heat , tremblings , pantings of heart , faintings , weakness . vinus causeth the stone in the reins . mercury the phthisick , pleuresie , asthma , and cough . the moon causeth diseases of the brain . i confess i am not altogether of my authors opinion in some of these ; and what my jugdment is , you may find if you please to peruse my semeiotica uranica . 4 diseases are cured either by sympathy or antipathy . 5 a disease is cured by sympathy , when it is cured by such remedies as are under the planet that rules the part afflicted : and so such medicines 〈◊〉 are under the dominion of the moon and mercury , help the brain : and if mercury cause the disease , your only way is to use such medicines as are under the dominion of jupiter : not only because of the antipathy between him and mercury ; but also because jupiter is 〈◊〉 in the house of the moon . 6 diseases are cured by antipathy , when they are cured by the remedies of the contrary plannet , and that two waies . 1 when their houses are contrary , and so mars cures the ill effects of venus . 2 when their natures are contrary : so saturn cures the ill effects venereal lust causeth . lib iii. of the faculties of simples , which the dogmatists make use of to find out their natures . 1 experience and signiture first found out the vertues of plants : so hemlock was found out to be hurtful by experience . 2 signature is either external or internal . 3 external is a meer accidental business , the basis and foundation of which , is nothing else , than the form or figure , color or feeling of a plant. 4 internal is the temperament or quality , which is the principle and foundation of their 〈◊〉 and vertues . 5 the temperament or qualities consist most in their tast , less in their smel . 6 the 〈◊〉 by which their strength and 〈◊〉 are known , ar nine : 1 three 〈◊〉 testimonies of heat , as sharp , 〈◊〉 , and salt. 2 three give testimonies of cold , as tart , 〈◊〉 , and sowr . 3 three give testimonies of temperance , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 fat and 〈◊〉 . 7 seing simple medicines have two qualities , and somtimes three ; then the first is called simple and elementary , which ariseth from the 〈◊〉 of the four 〈◊〉 . the other is called 〈◊〉 , which ariseth from the consistence of the 〈◊〉 & diversity of proportion . besides these two , some have a third quality , which is purging , and is by 〈◊〉 called hidden , because it is 〈◊〉 from al block heads . 8 in general some simples conduce to health , others to ornament . 9 such as conduce to health , are either alterating , or evacuating . 10 alterating are either common , or appropriated to some certain part . 11 such as are common do it either by a 〈◊〉 quality , or by a hidden . 12 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 it , by the first , second , or third degree . 13 first quality is either temperate or 〈◊〉 . intemperate is hot , cold , moist and dry. 14 these qualities they call d'grees , but might 〈◊〉 properly have called them orders : galen cals them numbers . 15 the orders of intemperature , reach to four degrees , both in respect of heat , cold , and dryness , but not of moisture , although my author affirm it , because moisture is inconsistent both with heat and coldness , it being dried by the one , and congealed by the other . 16 the second faculties of simples , are such as these : i. emollient , as butter , saffron , &c. ii. purifying , as cadmea , fat , &c. iii. hardning , as 〈◊〉 , &c. iv. making thin , as chamomel , &c. v. making thick , as 〈◊〉 , and most cold herbs . vi. opening , as garlick , gall &c. vii . binding , as bole 〈◊〉 , &c. viii . 〈◊〉 , as juyce of unripe grapes , 〈◊〉 , &c. ix . drawing , as birthwort , pepper &c. x. discussing , as southernwood , &c. xi . 〈◊〉 , as honey , barley , &c. xii . purging , as lupines , &c. xiii . attenuating , as vinegar , acorus , &c. xiv . emplasticks , as oyl butter , &c. xv. stopping , as chalk , &c. xvi . putrefying , as aconitum , &c. xvii . causing pain , as mustard-seed . &c. xviii . easing pain , as oyl of dill , &c. 〈◊〉 . stupefying , as opium , hemlock , &c. 17 the third faculties arise from the conjunction of the first and second . such are , i. suppuring , as saffron , white lilly roots &c. ii. breeding flesh , as barly meal , &c. iii. glutinating , as aloes , allum , &c. iv. scarrifying as frankinsence , &c. v. provoking the terms , as annis , &c. vi. bringing a callus , as terra samia &c. vii . stopping the terms , as acasia , lillies , &c. viii . pectorals , as scabious , orris , &c. ix . breeding milk , as 〈◊〉 , smallage , &c. x. breeding seed , as pease , beans , &c. xi . extinguishing seed , as rue , &c. xii . helps burnings , as plantane , &c. xiii . dissolves swellings , as marsh-mallows , orris , &c. 18 you have the manifest qualities of simples : the hidden qualities follow . 19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , all the 〈◊〉 cannot tell what to make of ; only their ancestors gave them with good 〈◊〉 : they have nothing to say for the 〈◊〉 of them , but only tradition , and by that they are led by the noses as they use to lead bears along the street : and in so doing , pray tell me how much they differ from empericks . 20 you have the common altering qualities : the proper follow , as they are attributed to certain parts of the body . such are , cephalick , pectorals , cordials , stomachicals , hepaticals , spleeneticals . nephriticals , histericals , arthriticals : 〈◊〉 if a man should write plain english ; they are such as are appropriated to the head , breast , heart , stomach , liver , spleen , break the stone , cherish the womb , and the joynts . 21 you have such as alter : those that evacuate chacochymia follow : and they do it by a quality either manifest or hidden . 22 they which evacuate by a manifest quality , are either washing , clensing , or making slippery . 23 they which evacnate by a hidden quality ( as they cal it ) do it either insensibly , as sweating ; or sensibly : and that either upwards , as vomiting ; or downwards , as purging by urin or stool . 24 purging is either moderate , or strong , and 〈◊〉 certain humors , as choller , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , and water . 25 you have the qualities of simples conducing to health : those conducing to ornament should follow ; which because they rather consist of compounds than of simples , we wil refer them to their proper place . 26 thus have you the qualities of simples considered in general ; what now remains , but that we enquire after the special anatomy of 〈◊〉 . 27 in every medicine we must consider its common affections , and its species . 28 it s common affections are either its subject , as the place of gathering and preserving of them : or adjunct , as the time of gathering of them , and the time of their durance . 29 according to species , the medicine is made either of simple bodies , or of mixed . of simple bodies , as fir , air , water , earth . 30 of mixt bodies , either such as have life and not sence ; or such as have life and sence : such as want sence , are such as come out of the sea , or 〈◊〉 out of the land , as mettals , plants , and their parts . thus you have the signatures of the 〈◊〉 , which are no certainer than they should be : the signatures of hermetical phylosophers follow ; which if you try , you shal find a little more certain . lib . iv. the signatures of hermetical phylosophers , both internal and external , by which they find out the vertues of things . 1 a signature is either internal , or external . 2 external is that which shews the efficacy of a thing , and somtimes the temperature . 3 it contains 1 the signatures of men taken from other living creatures . 2 the signatures of plants , by their similitude to some part of the body of man. 3 the signatures of diseases . 4 medicines which help by similitude . 4 internal signature is the principle , cause , 〈◊〉 , and foundation , shewing the vertue and efficacy of a thing ; and it is called vital essential , and formal 〈◊〉 or anatomy . 5 these internal principles are three , sal , sulpher , and mercury . 6 in these three constituting and vertual principles , the qualities , that is , tast , smel , and color are found ; not by imagination and guess only , but in reality and truth : namely , the tasts are most found in the salt , the smel in the sulphur , and the colors in the mercury . 7 these three are found in every elementary body : these are the things that bring it forth , and preserve it being brought forth : by these it flourisheth , and is furnished with divers operations . 8 none of these three principles are found alone , but doth partake of some of the other ; for salt by the benefit of these two salts , sal nitre , and sal armoniack , contains in it self a certain oyly substance , and mercurial : the sulphur retains a certain salt substance and mercurial : and mercury retains a certain sulpurous , and salt substance ; but it retains the name of that which it partakes most of . now what analogy there is of these three with our body , i shal open ( god willing ) more plainly when i come to our 〈◊〉 harmony , which i promised before . 9 thus you have the remote theorick of 〈◊〉 : the neer follows . tome i. part v. of that part of the theorick of physick which is called pathologia . 1 the next part of the theory of physick is that which explaineth the universal constitution of man. 2 in every constitution four things are to be considered , 1 the disposition of the part to act . 2 the action . 3 the cause of the action . 4 the consequence of the action . 3 every constitution of the body is included under these three differences , namely , good , bad , or neither of them both . 4 health is good ; sickness ill ; neutrality neither of them both : therfore medicine is the knowledge of things healthful , unhealthful , and neuter . 5 healthful , unhealthful , and neutrality , is taken three waies , 1 as a body . 2 as a cause . 3 as a sign . 6 a body is said to be healthful that enjoyes 〈◊〉 health . the cause of health is that which either brings it , or preserveth it being obtained . a healthful sign is that which shews the body to be in health . 7 an unhealthful body is that which is surprized with a disease . the cause is that which causeth the disease . the signs are , 1 such as shew the kind and greatness of the disease , and they are called diagnostical : or 2 such as shew the event of the disease , and they are called prognostical . 8 neutrality , is when the body is neither perfectly wel , nor yet sick , between which two extreams is a great latitude : for when a man begins to fail in performing his actions , before he fals absolutely sick it is called a neutrality of sickness when a man begins to recover again it is called a neutrality of health . 9 the causes of this neutrality are no way 〈◊〉 ; neither are the signs absolutely demonstrative . 10 the knowledge of things healthful is called hygiena , or diet ; under which also , the knowledg of things neutral is comprehended . the knowledg of things unhealthful ( if you regard the 〈◊〉 ) is called pathologie ; but if you regard the practice , 〈◊〉 . 11 pethal gie is 〈◊〉 part of medicine which explaineth 〈◊〉 against nature . 12 the 〈◊〉 which are against nature in man are 1 the disease , which consists in the parts . 2 the cause which consists in the things contained of which we 〈◊〉 before . ) 3 the symptomes which consists in the functions and operations of the 〈◊〉 . 13 the common 〈◊〉 and species are to be considered in pathologie . 14 the common 〈◊〉 is that which unfoldeth the accidents of the disease . 15 it is called 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 lib . i. of semeiotica , or the doctrine of signs . 1 semeiotica delivers the doctrine of 〈◊〉 2 physical signs are either healthful , unhealthful , or neutral . 3 some signs cal to memory the state past ; others shew the state present , and they are either general , or special . the general are diagnosticks and 〈◊〉 4 diagnosticks are common or proper . 5 proper are three-fold , 1 some are taken from the kind of the disease . 2 others from the cause . 3 others from the part of the body afflicted . 6 the signs of diseases are known by the excrements , the pain , the nature of the place afflicted , the color of the nails , tongue , and face . 7 of the signs of the causes ; some shew the cause either present , as the color , nature , and pain of the part afflicted the excrements : or else antecedent , and they are general and special . 8 general are , the disposition of the mind , dreams , diet , and exercise before used . special shew either plenitude , or the humor afflicting , as blood , choller , melancholly , flegm , watery humors , and wind. 9 signs of the part afflicted are excrements , the action of the part 〈◊〉 , pain , the scituation and nature of the place . 10 the part afflicted may be afflicted either by it self , or by consent , for somtimes one disease remits by the encrease of another ; and this is 〈◊〉 primar , or secundary . 11 primar , which is properly inhaerent in some part . 12 〈◊〉 , which is done by consent of the parts : and this is done . 1 by sympathy , as when the foulness of the stomach causeth the head to ach . or 2 by translation , as when the matter that causeth the disease 〈◊〉 out of one part of the body into another : and 〈◊〉 is two-fold . first , when it passeth out of a more noble , into a part less noble . secondly , when it 〈◊〉 out of a part less noble , into a part more noble . prognostical signs . 1 prognostical signs judg of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 present , or to come . 2 the signs of a disease present , are 〈◊〉 apparant , or supervenient , or decretory . 3 apparant and supervenient signs are 〈◊〉 of concoction or crudity ; or signs of health or death . 4 signs of concoction or crudity are all the excrements , both urine and dung. 5 pronostical 〈◊〉 from the urine are . 1 if it be thin , meanly thick , or very thick . 2 if it be cleer or troubled ; if so , whether it be cleer when it is pissed out , and troubled afterwards ; or troubled when it is pissed out , and grow cleer afterwards ; or troubled when it is pissed out , and remain so . 3 by the color , namely 〈◊〉 , black whitish , blackish yellow , 〈◊〉 . 4 by the things , contained in it , namely , clouds , sand , 〈◊〉 , things like scales of fish , &c. 6 prognosticks are taken from the dung , either from its substance , 〈◊〉 , or quantity . 7 signs of health or 〈◊〉 , are taken from the strength of the disease , as also from the strength of the diseased ; and they are either primary or secondary . 8 primary are taken either from the strength of the 〈◊〉 , which the constitution of the body 〈◊〉 ; as also the 〈◊〉 animal , and natural functions : 〈◊〉 from the strength of the 〈◊〉 , which the kind , greatness , durance , and 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 sheweth . 9 〈◊〉 signs of health and death are taken , 1 from the affliction of the vital and natural spirit . 2 from the excrements , as urine , dung , vomiting , sweating , bleeding . 3 from the habit and qualities of the whol body , and every part of it . 4 from such things as hurt or help the sick , signs of death , according to the opinion of hermetical phylosophers . hermetical phylosophers take the signs of death from physiognomy . 1 from the eyes , when they sink deep in the head , and are discolored . 2 from the nose when it is sharp ; the ears and lips , cold , pale , or discolored . 3 the teeth , nails , and hair looking deadish , which somtimes happens a fortnight , or three weeks before the party dies . 4 the skin of the fore head , and all the body , looking of a swarthy , palish , or dead color . these and many other , you may find methodically laid down in the presages of hippocrates , which you may find at the latter end of my 〈◊〉 vranica ; or judgment of diseases by astrology . you have the apparant progonostical signs : the decretory , or critical follows . of the crisis , and critical daies . crisis is a vehement change of a disease either to health or death . 1 crisis is , 1 perfect , which is either healthful or mortal . 1 imperfect , which makes the sick either better or worse . 2 of critical signs , some go before , some accompany , and some follow after . 3 of such as go before , some shew the time of the crisis , and others the manner of it . 4 such as shew the time of the crisis , shew the 〈◊〉 state , and declination of the disease . 1 such as 〈◊〉 the encrease of the disease , shew its swiftness , and unequalness , and its time of vehemency . 2 such as shew its state , shew to what height its vehemency and vigor-wil arise to , and what symptoms it wil produce . 3 such as shew its declination , shew how these symptoms will have remission , and when . 5 such as shew the manner of the crisis are , 1 either universal , which gives judgment by the kind of the disease , and its motion , the part afflicted , and the nature of the sick . 2 particular , which shews the kind of excretion , or imposthume . 6 excretion is made either by bleeding , sweating , vomiting , stool , urine , menstruis blood , or the hemorrhoids . 7 signs declaring an impostume , are such as declare either the impostume it self , as length of a disease , thinness of urin , a winter season an imperfect crisis ; or the place of the impostume , as the condition of the humor offending , the strength of nature , weakness and pain in some certain part . 8 the signs accompanying a crisis , are either excretion or imposthumes . in excretion there comes to be considered , the quality of the humor , the quantity , time , and manner of casting it out . in an impostume are three things to be considered ; where it is ; whence it comes ; and , what the occasion of it was . 9 the consequents of a crisis are taken , 1 from the quality of the body . 2 from the animal , vital , and natural functions . 3 from al the excrements universally . 10 critrical daies are begun at that very hour that the sick finds himself manifestly to be taken ill : an exact rule for which , you have in my astrological judgment of diseases . 11 the foundation of critical daies is gathered from the moon , because if she be wel affected she disposeth the humors to the best advantage : if il affected , she shews encrease of the 〈◊〉 , as being but a servant to bring down the influence of the other celestial bodies to the earth . 12 critical daies , according to the motion of the moon are four , 1 the place she is in at the decumbiture . 2 her 〈◊〉 quartile to that place . 3 her opposition to that place . 4 her second quartile to that place . thus you have the more general semeiotical part , consisting of diagnosticks , and prognosticks : the special follows , namely , the doctrine of urine and pulses . lib . ii. of the doctrine of pulses . 1 pulse hath his original , first , from the motion of the heart , secondly , of the arteries , by distention and contraction , which physitians call systolae and diastolae , and their use is to preserve vital heat in the body . 2 in the pulse are four things to be considered 1 the reason , and knowledg of them . 2 their differences . 3 their causes . 4 their significations . 1 the reason of observing , and knowing the pulse . 1 in this consider , first , the precepts of feeling the pulse ; of which , some concern the sick body , others the means of its cure . secondly , the principles which are necessary to distinguish the pulse . 2 the difference of pulses . 1 of pulses , some are absolutely 〈◊〉 , others relatively such . 2 absolutely such are either simple or compound . 3 of simple are six kinds . 1 in the quantity of distention , as great , mean , smal . 2 in the quantity of the force as vehement , moderate , weak . 3 in motion of time , as swift mean , slow . 4 in quantity of time , and rest ; as often , mean , seldom . 5 in quantity of the artery , as soft , mean , hard . 6 in perfusion of the artery , as full , mean , empty . 4 compound are such as consist of the mixture of some of these simples . 5 relatively such are reduced either to order or disorder ; equality , or in quality . 3 the causes of pulses . 1 the causes of pulses , some are primary , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the pulse ; some secundary , changing and altering the pulse . 2 the primary , or efficient causes of the pulse are , 1 the vital spirit , either strong or weak . 2 the instruments are the arteries , either wide or narrow , soft , or hard . 3 the use of the pulse is , the conservation of vital heat in the body . 3 the secundary causes which change the pulse are , 1 natural , as the temperament , habit , sex , and age of the body . 2 nor natural , as air meat and drink , exercise and rest , sleeping and watching , fulness and emptiness , and affections of the mind . 3 things against nature , as diseases and their symptomes . 4 prognosticks by the signification of the pulse . 1 greatness of the pulse shews heat . 2 vehemency , shews strength of the faculties . 3 a weak pulse , shews weakness of nature . 4 diseases of love , give an unequal and inordinate pulse . but herein let none mistake my author ; for though diseases of love give alwaies such a 〈◊〉 , it doth not therfore of necessity follow , that such a pulse alwaies shews diseases of love. an hermetical consideration of the pulse . 1 the pulse is felt in five several places : for it is not enough to feel it in the wrest ( as physitians now a daies do , that care not how little they do for their money ) let it be felt then , first in the hands and feet , then in the breast , then under the armpits , and last of all in the temples . if these agree together , all wil go wel enough : if not , mind these things that follow . 2 the pulse hath four vertues , 1 of tartar , which causeth a pulse either hard , circular , or slow . 2 mineral , which is either subtil or obscure . 3 of health , which is equal and mean. 4 of disease , which shews either tartar or mineral . 5 strange , giving signs either of heat or coldness . note . 1 when all the pulse beat at one and the same time , it is a laudible sign . 2 health is not only found out by the feeling of the pulse , but also by the color of them . 3 when the pulses are wel color'd , it is a good 〈◊〉 ; evil , if discolor'd . 4 when the place of the pulse is hotter than the rest of the skin , the body is diseased . 5 if the pulse be mineral , put a little cold water upon the place , and if the pulse stop for a while , it is a good sign . 6 if the disease come of heat of blood , you may know it thus : wet a piece of silk in role-water , and lay it upon the pulse , that part of it upon the pulse will sooner dry than the other part . 7 if the pulse be hard in one place , and soft in another , the disease is chronical . 8 when the body is near death , the pulse is strongest in the fore-head , not so strong at the neck , weaker in the hands , and weakest of all in the feet : for the lower parts of men die first . 9 in al apoplexies , the stronger the pulse is , the worse . 10 in frenzies , falling-sickness , and madness , it is a good sign when the pulse is the same out of the fit , that it is in the fit. 11 in bloody fluxes , and all other fluxes of the belly , though the pulse remain as it did in health , give no credit to it : for in such diseases , the pulse remains til death , and somtimes a quarter of an hour after . you have the consideration of the pulse : the consideration of the urine follows . lib iii. of vrine . 1 urine is the wheyish part of the blood , separated by the vertue of the reins . 2 in it consider the inspection , signification , and difference . 3 in the inspection of urine , consider the acception and caution . 4 cautions are , 1 the causes changing the urine , as temperament , sex , age , and diet. 2 the urines of beasts , or somthing else brought for the urine of men , which is easily known by smel . the significations and differences of vrine . 1 it discovers the constitution of the parts by which it flows , as the reins , ureters , bladder , and 〈◊〉 . 2 it shews the disposition which is in the liver and veins . 3 it shews the disposition of those parts by which the peccant matter can be sent to the veins or urine . 4 in urine , consider the liquor it self , and the things contained in it . in the liquor it self , consider the substance , quality , and quantity . 5 in the substance , consider the body and cleerness . 6 the body of the urine is either , 1 thin ; in color white , saffron , like gold , or reddish . 2 mean ; of the color of gold , saffron , or reddish . 3 thick ; which is a mixture of al colors , and somtimes oyly . 7 the perspicuity of the urine is either cleer or troubled ; and it is of three sorts : 1 such as is cleer when 't is made , and troubled afterwards . 2 such as is troubled when 't is made , and cleer afterwards . 3 such as is troubled when 't is made , and so continues . 〈◊〉 the quantity of urine is either moderate , much , or little. 9 the quality consists in smel or color . the smel of urine is either sweet or stinking . 10 in the color , consider the causes and difference . 11 the cause of the color of urine , is the heat of the bowels , and mixture of other humors , and it is either white , citrine , subcitrine , of the color of gold or saffron , red and bloody , green , blue , and black , which is the worst of al. 12 things contained in the urine , are either essential or accidental . 13 essential is , 1 towards the bottom of the urine , which being white , light , and equal , is very good : but being black , is very bad . 2 in the middle of the urine , which being white , light , and equal , is indifferent ; if it be black , it is dangerous . 3 clouds on the top of the urine are but 〈◊〉 seen , and when they are seen , they portend but little good ; and the blacker they are , the 〈◊〉 they are , because they carry the image of death . 14 accidental is double ; for either it 〈◊〉 an incertain , or certain place in the urinal . 15 such as occupy an incertain place , and somtimes fly up and down in the urine , and somtimes settle in the bottom , are somtimes like bran , somtimes like scales of fish , and somtimes like thrids . 16 such as keep one certain place , are either in the bottom , as red and white gravel , little clods of blood , worms , thick flegm like snot : or else in the top , as wind fat , and things like cobwebs . hermetical 〈◊〉 of vrine . 1 urine is salt , separated from undigested 〈◊〉 . 2 of urine , some is exterior , some of blood , and others mixed . 3 exterior urine is that which comes of what we eat or drink , that is of our nourishment ; neither hath it any other indication than what belongs to the stomach , liver or reins . it is called also the urine of tartar , because it comes of congealed tartar , or 〈◊〉 . 4 it is two-fold , sound , or unsound . sound is when there is a tincture of sulphur with it , and yet notwithstanding it is not alwaies of a gold color , but somtimes redder ; and somtimes paler . 5 the urine of tartar is known by the circle , which if it be only of a 〈◊〉 color , it shews tartar , and the separation which is made in the three members , stomach liver , and reins . 6 the salt , sulphur , and mercury may 〈◊〉 be discerned in waters , for the bottom shews the mercury . the settling neer the bottom , the 〈◊〉 . and the tincture the sulphur . 7 the urine of an unsound man is two-fold , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and of nourishment . 8 the 〈◊〉 of tartar is three-fold . 1 alcolita , which signifies congealation , and the tartar of the stomach . 2 scatea , signifies putrefaction , and the tartar of the liver . 3 tremula , which signifies stopping , and the tartar of the reins . 9 the urine of nourishment is dreggy , and signifies a failing in the attractive vertue . 10 the urine of blood is when a circle is in the 〈◊〉 of a different color and it tends commonly to redness , and is the messenger of grievous 〈◊〉 . 11 the substance of urine is three fold ; thick , cleer , and diaphanous , or like cristal . you have the 〈◊〉 : the symptomes follow . lib . iv. of symptomes . 1 symptomes taken more generally , are an effect shewing the strength of nature : more specially , they are an accident proceeding from the disease . 2 in symptomes we are to consider the 〈◊〉 and causes . a symptome is either primary , or secundary . 3 primary , is a hurting of the actions or functions . 1 either of the animal , in respect of sence or motion . 2 a lessening or depravation of the vital in quantity or quality . 3 a corrupting of the natural . 4 secundary , is either a change of the quality , or a vice of the excrements . the change of the quality is two-fold ; either common to al the sences , or proper to one . common to al , are the bigness , number , figure , motion , or rest changed . 5 proper are , the simple effects of the body : and they are either to be seen , as the color in the yellow jaundice ; or to be smelt , as a stinking breath ; or to be heard , as noise in the ears ; or to be tasted , as bitterness and saltness in the throat : or to be felt , as the heat in a feaver . 6 excrements offend , either in substance , or in quality , or in quantity , in manner , or in time . 7 the causes of symptomes are either the first , or arising 〈◊〉 the first . the first , are a hurt of the functions , either of the animal , as the brain , sences , and their organs : or of the vital , as diseases that afflict the heart and lungs : or of the natural , as such diseases as afflict nourishment and generation . 8 arising from these , are the change of qualities ; whether arising from the simple affects , or the vice of the excrements . 9 the causes of the simple affects of the body are , the hurting of the natural functions ; namely , attraction , retention , digestion , expulsion , from whence vicious humors arise . 10 the cause of vicious excrements , is these vicious humors , which offend in quantity , quality or substance . 11 thus you have the common affection of pathalogia : the special remains , which are aethiologia , and nosologia . lib . v. of the aethiologie of diseases . 1 aethiologia is that art which declareth the causes of diseases . 2 the causes of diseases are either general or particular . 3 the general are , the theological , or physical . 4 the physical are either bred with us , or come afterwards . 5 those that are bred with us , are either natural , or against nature , through fault either of the seed , or of the mothers blood. 6 those which come afterward , are either external or internal . the external causes of diseases . 1 the external causes are either more necessary , or less necessary . 2 more necessary are the six things not natural : namely , air ; meat and drink ; sleeping and watching ; exercise and rest ; fulness and emptiness ; and affections of the mind . 3 air begets diseases , either by inspiration , or respiration , and changeth our bodies by a quality manifest or hidden ; and that according either to the heaven , or the wind. 4 nourishment changeth our body , according to its quality , quantity , and convenient use. according to its quality , intemperancy , matter , or substance . 1 according to intemperancy ; when it is hotter , colder , dryer , or moister than agrees with our bodies . 2 according to matter , when it is either too thick , or too thin of juyce . 3 according to substance ; when it is 〈◊〉 before it is eaten . 5 according to quantity , when we eat so much that we over power the vessels : or so little that our bodies want nourishment . 6 sleeping and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 when they are 〈◊〉 , or not taken at 〈◊〉 times . 7 exercise and rest 〈◊〉 , 1 in quantity ; when they are either too much , or too little . 2 in time ; when they are taken 〈◊〉 . 8 fulness and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 1 emptying offends , either when it is 〈◊〉 ; or when it is too much . 2 retention offends the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and that in respect of either 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , or seed . 9 affections of the mind stir up 〈◊〉 ; when they grow immoderate , as anger , joy , 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 . 10 causes of diseases less 〈◊〉 are four , 1 〈◊〉 things as compass us about , as 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , &c. 2 〈◊〉 things as we take in ; as minerals , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , living creatures , not wel prepared . 3 〈◊〉 evacuation of blood , and immoderate 〈◊〉 . 4 external motion as running , riding , &c. internal causes of diseises . 1 〈◊〉 and all his apes , deny any containing 〈◊〉 of a disease . 2 internal causes are either containing , contained , or such as cause violence : but most properly things contained . 3 all heredetary diseases come from causes containing . things contained as they are causes of diseases , are against nature , as humors , vapors , or wind. 4 the internal causes are either by themselves , or by accident , or according to place . 5 the cause which stirs up a disease by it self , are either through fault of quantity or quality . through fault of quantity , is either a want of blood and spirits , or a superabounding of blood , which is called plethora . 6 want of blood and spirits , proceeds , 1 from the constitution of the body . 2 from outward heat , as of the air , fire , &c. 3 from fasting . 4 from purging . 5 from watching . 6 from labor . 7 from joy. 7 a redundance of blood , or a plethora , distempers both heart and liver , and is most incident to people of idle lives . 8 the fault of the quality is called cacochymia , which is either , 9 confusedly of all things contained ; or particularly of some of them ; as 1 of humors , as a hot , cold , moist , or dry distemper . 2 of matter , when the humors are too thick , or too thin , hard or turbulent . 3 of the form , when the blood or spirits are corrupted by putrefaction of humors . 10 cacochymia of certain things contained , is of choller , melancholly , flegm , watry humors , and wind. 11 the causes of choller are , 1 a hot and dry temperament of the liver and heart . 2 a frequent concourse of cool air. 3 hot and dry nourishment . 4 the evacuations of choller stopped . 5 vehement exercise . 6 immoderate watching . 7 anger . 12 choller , is either natural , or against nature . natural is either nourishing , or excrementitious . against nature , is either in the liver , or in the vessels . 13 the causes of melancholly are , 1 a dry liver and heart , and a stopped spleen . 2 cold and dry air. 3 much feeding upon gross food . 4 usual evacuation stopped . 5 care , and much watching . 6 a sad life . 14 melancholly is either natural , or against 〈◊〉 . natural is either nourishing , or excrementitious . against nature is hot and sharp . 15 the causes of a cacochymia of flegm are these , 1 a moist temperature of the heart and liver . 2 a cold and moist stomach . 3 cold and moist air. 4 the use of cold and moist food . 5 the avoiding of flegm by the mouth and fundament stopped . 6 an idle lazy life . 7 much sleep . 8 leading a life without care. 16 flegm , is either within the veins , or without . within the veins , it is either natural , or against nature . natural is either more or less nourishing . 17 the causes of a cacochymia of water are , 1 the stomach cold , the liver and spleen stopped . 2 cold and moist air. 3 moist food . 4 retention of usual sweating , or urine , or accustomed evacuation . 5 an idle life . 6 immoderate sleep . 7 sadness . 18 the causes of a cacochymia of wind are , 1 a cold and moist stomach . 2 cold air. 3 windy meat . 4 retention of excrements . 5 idleness . 19 the internal causes of diseases by accident , or according to the seat of the body , are either in the first , second , or third region . a cacochymia may occupy al the regions of the body , or but one of them . a plethora is conversant in the second and third regions only , or in but one of them . what my author means by region here , i know not , unless he mean the ventricles . 20 the humor is gathered together in any part , either by congestion , or by 〈◊〉 . 21 in every fluxion are four things to be considered , 1 the matter which is moved . 2 the way by which it is moved . 3 the part sending it . 4 the part receiving it . 22 the matter flows either by transmission or attraction . 23 the causes of transmission are either , the violence of the matter , or the plenty of it , stirring up the expulsive faculty . 24 the causes of attraction is unnatural heat , grief , motion , rubbing , consent of parts . 25 you have the universal causes both internal and external : the particular follow . the causes of the diseases of the parts , both similar , organical , and common . 1 the causes of the diseases of the similar parts , are either evident , or antecedent , and consequent . 2 evident are such as make a desperate attempt upon al the body , and afflict the spirits , the humors and substance of the parts : if they be strong there wil be some quoil to get them out again . 3 antecedent and consequent , though they be of another temper and quality ; yet they afflict the parts of the body by contagion . 4 the cause of organical diseases are , of conformation , magnitude , number , or place . 5 of conformation are the figures of the parts , passages , cavities , or superficies . 6 the figures of the parts are inverted , either through the fault of the seed , or womens blood in the womb , or default of the midwife at the delivery , or by the fault of the physitian in giving physick after the delivery ; or by accident , as blood-letting convuisions &c. 7 the causes of 〈◊〉 of the passages and cavities are either of too much dilation , or too much straitness . 8 the causes of dilation are , either opening medicines , or the expulsive faculty strong , and the retentive weak . 9 dilation of the vessels proceeds either from the plenty , and quantity of humors , or else from their quality . 10 diseases of straitness proceed either from obstruction or constipation , contraction , or compression . 11 the causes of superficial diseases are roughness and smoothness . of roughness are such things as are sharp , clensing and corroding . of smoothness , such things as are glutinous . 12 the causes of the greatness of the disease are , either encrease , as plenty of matter , strength of nature , wind , &c. or decrease , as weakness of the spirits , defect of matter , wounds , bleeding , putrefaction . 13 the causes of accidental diseases , and their symptomes , are understood by themselves : but of compound diseases by the causes of the simple . 14 thus-much of aethiologie : nosologie follows , which is either general , or special . lib . vi. of general nosologie . 1 general nosologie is that art which sheweth the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of diseases . 2 a disease is an affect against nature , wherby the actions of the body are viciated . 3 a disease is essential , or accidental . 4 an essential disease is particular or common . particular , are either similary , organical , or dissimilary . 5 similar , is 1 a distemper either simple , as hot , cold , moist , or dry : or compound , as cold and moist , cold and dry , hot and moist , hot and dry. 2 immoderation of the matter , as when the part is either too hard , or too soft , too loose , or too much bound , too thick , or too thin . 3 a corruption of the whol substance , which is either infectious , or venemous . 6 an organical 〈◊〉 is , either of the conformation , number , and bigness , or place . 7 a disease of conformation is either in the form , or passages of the body . 8 a disease of bigness , is when the members of the body are either bigger or less than they should be . 9 a disease of the number , is when the members are either more or less than they should be . 10 a disease of the place is , when members are not in their right places , as in ruptures and dislocations . accidental diseases . 1 accidental diseases are either in respect of number , or composition : and both of them are either singular or manifold . 2 singular , is either simple or compound . simple is either by it self , or with company . 3 manifold , is either implicite , joyned , or disjoyned . 4 joyned is , when the effect of one is the cause of another . 5 disjoyned are such as lie in 〈◊〉 parts . 6 implicite diseases are , when divers parts conspire together to afflict one function , as a pleuresie and an asthma both afflict the lungues , and by the lungues the breathing . 7 the substance of some diseases is like a tenant at will , quickly removed , the cause being taken away , as feavers : others by tract of time are become habitual to the body , as hectick feavers . diseases according to the place . 1 according to the place , they are taken either from the subject , or adjunct . those which are taken from the subject are taken either from the parts , or from the constitution of man. those which are taken from the adjunct , are taken in respect of the region and air. 2 the diseases of the body are either universal or particular . universal , as feavers ; or particular to some parts of the body , as pain in some particular member , &c. 3 a disease , by reason of the constitution of a man is taken , 1 from the nature of the man , and so is more familiar to one complexion than another . 2 from the age , and so is most familiar to child-hood , youth , manhood , old age . 3 from sex , and so is most familiar to men or women . 4 in respect of the region , 1 some are scattered up and down here and there , and are called sporadical . 2 others are common , and are called pandemical . 3 some are proper to one place , as agues to fenny countreys , and are called endemical . 4 others rage at some particular times , and are called epidemical . diseases according to time. 1 they are taken in respect of the time of the disease , or the time of the yeer . 2 the time of the disease is taken according to the parts of the disease , or the disease it self . 3 the parts of a disease are , the beginning , encrease , station , and declination . 4 the disease it self is to be taken in respect of its continuing . 5 the continuing of a disease is either short , long , or chronical . short is either with danger or without danger : and in both , it is either very acute , or acute ; and in these , either symply , or by degeneration . 6. in respect of the continuance of it ; it is either continual or intermitting . 7 in both these consider , their beginning , encrease , station , and declination . 8 in respect of time , some diseases are most frequent in the spring ; some in autumn , some in summer , some in winter . diseases according to custom . 1 they are taken according to the nature , or according to the event of the disease . according to the nature , it is either gentle or malignant . 2 according to event , it is either healthful or deadly , curable , incurable , or threatning relapse . diseases according to magnitude . 1 a disease is either great or smal . 2 a disease is great , either by it self , or by accident . by it sesf three waies : 1 in respect of its kind , proper essence , or cause . 2 in-respect of its active power . 3 in respect of its ill conditions , or ill symptomes a disease is great by accident , 1 in respect of the part afflicted , if that be noble ; as a disease in the head is greater than one of the toe . 2 in respect of the faculty of the body that is hurt by the disease ; and so deprivation of sences is greater than the tooth-ach . diseases according to cause . 1 they are caused either essentially , or according to consent . 2 some are inbred , or hereditary : others not hereditary , but advantitious . 3 advantitious are of blood , choller , flegm , melancholly : and each of these are either internal , or external . 4 thus much of nosologia in the general : the special follows . 5 special nosologie is , that which numbers up al the special diseases which afflict nature . 6 these arise either from natural causes , or external . 7 from natural causes , are either universal , which occupy the whol body as feavers : or such as occupy only particular parts of the body : of both which in order . lib . vii . of feavers . a feaver is a heat against nature , proceeding from the heart to the rest of the body . 2 its considerations are , 1 the common affections , namely the disposition of the body , and the signs . 2 the differences of the feavers . 3 the disposition of the body is either internal , or external . internal in respect of temperament , sex , and age. external in respect of heat , either of the fire , sun , or bath , drinking wine , use of spice , and hot meats , or heat of air. 4 the signs are general as swift pulse and frequent , heat of body , and failing of strength . 5 the differences of feavers are taken , 1 from the quality of the subject . 2 from the quantity . 3 from the essence . 6 feavers from the quality of the subject are taken , 1 from the feeling ; as such as come with cold fits at the first , or without cold fits . 2 from the sight ; as with red high color , or swarthy color . 3 from the tast ; as such as proceed of salt flegm . 7 feavers from the quantity are either continually great , mean , or but light , short , or long , most violent in the night , or in the day . 8 a feaver from the essence of the subject , is either common to al , as pestilential feavers : or , 9 proper only to those that keep ill diet. 10 a pestilential feaver is caused by breathing in a venemous and malignant air. 11 the causes of feavers properly to be considered are , 1 of the heart ; as a hectick feaver . 2 of the spirits joyned to the heart ; as one day feaver . 3 of humors joyned to the heart ; as a continual feaver . 12 the degrees of a hectick feaver are four : a consumption 1 of the fat of the heart . 2 of the moisture between the 〈◊〉 and the heart . 3 of the strings of the flesh consuming . 4 of the strings of the flesh consumed , and is called marasmus : and this is two . fold . first , of cold and driness , as happens to all people that die with age. secondly , of heat and dryness , which is contrary to nature , and the disease now mentioned . 13 feavers that have their original from the spirits , are , 1 one-day feavers . 2 such as last three daies ; as synochus non putrida . 3 such as encrease from the beginning to the end , called achmastica . 4 such as decrease from the beginning to the end , called parachmastica . 5 such as stand alwaies at one stay , as 〈◊〉 . 14 of the humors ariseth synochus , or a continual feaver , either of inflamation or blood , or blood which is not putrefied : or of choller which is putrefied . 15 a putrefied feaver is either primary , or not primary . 16 primary , is either continual , or intermitting 17 continual is , 1 without remission , coming of thick choller , as a continual burning feaver . 2 with remission , which is 〈◊〉 ordinate or inordinate ; and so you have either a remitting , quotidian , tertian , or quartan feaver ; which are 〈◊〉 according as the chollrer is in heat or thickness . 18 an intermitting feaver , which is that 〈◊〉 we usually call an ague , proceeds of thin choller , mixed in smal veins . indeed ( though my author do not say so much ) the cause of an ague is choller within those veins appropriated to the circulation of blood. 19 agues are simple or compound . simple are quotidian , tertian , and quartan , compound are compounded of them . 20 a not primary or symptomatical feaver ariseth from putrefaction without the vessels , and is incident only to some particular part . 21 you have the universal affects in feavers : the singular follow , which are either internal or external . lib . viii . of internal affections . 1 the internal affects are those which are under the inward skin , and for the most part , proceed from an inward cause . 2 they are such as belong to the head , jaws , breast , inferior ventricle , and habit of body . 3 those in the head , are either in the principal part thereof , as the brain , in the skin , substance , ventricles , or passages thereof . 4 the affects of the skins of the brain , are 〈◊〉 in the head , the pains of the head , which are called , 1 cephalagia , or a pain that comes but 〈◊〉 , and that upon occasion given . 2 〈◊〉 , or an usual , or inveterate head-ach . 3 hemicrania , or the megrim , which is a painful evil , occupying only but one 〈◊〉 of the head. 5 the asslictions of the substance of the brain , are either of the functions of the mind , or else the sleep . the functions of the mind , are either weakness , or alienation . 6 the species of weakness of mind are , 1 〈◊〉 of the mind . 2 slowness of wit. 3 want of judgment . 4 forgetfulness . 7 alienation of mind , is either without a feaver , or with a feaver . without a feaver 〈◊〉 folly , fantasticalness , rashness , melancholly , which is two-fold . 1 hypochondriacal , proceeding of wind from the hypochondria , and causeth idle fancies , and as foolish as idle : or 2 without wind , as madness , fury , and such things as 〈◊〉 like to it , which 〈◊〉 usually called witchcraft , and 〈◊〉 with devils . 8 alienation of mind with a feaver is called a phrensie . 9 the affects of sleep , are in quantity or quality . in quantity , when it is too much , or too little . 10 sleep exceeding in quantity , is either of such persons as are in health , or such as are not in health . of such as are not in health , it is called 〈◊〉 , coma , or with a feaver , as 〈◊〉 ; or with madness as cataphora . 11 sleep 〈◊〉 in quality , is when 〈◊〉 is unquiet , either by 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 up and 〈◊〉 , snorting gnashing the teeth , or talking , with the mouth or eyes open . 12 the afflictions of the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 falling 〈◊〉 , catalepsis , which is the disease old doting 〈◊〉 cal planet struck , the mare , apoplexy , palsey , convulsion , trembling , rhewm . 13 〈◊〉 either comes by 〈◊〉 , or is continual . that which comes by 〈◊〉 , is either universal , as the falling-sickness ; or particular , as that which we usually cal convulsions . afflictions of the eyes . 1 the afflictions of parts of the head 〈◊〉 principal are of the eyes , ears , nose , and mouth . 2 the afflictions of the eyes , are either in the globe of the eye , or without it . in the globe are either diseases or symptoms . 3 diseases occupy the three tunicles of the eyes : the uvea cornea , and adnata . 4 in the uvea happens a dilation , diminution , divulsion , and breaking of the pupilla , puosis , and suffusion . 5 in the cornea are such afflictions as obscure it , make it stick out , or dissolve it . 6 afflictions which obscure the cornea , are thickness , whiteness , redness , or yellowness . 7 such as cause sticking out in the cornea , are pustules like the smal pox. 8 such as cause solution of unity , are ulcers , or 〈◊〉 . 9 rhexis is a rupture of the cornea , which is caused either by cutting or corroding , and le ts out the watery humors , wherby the eye is made less , and the sight taken away . 10 ulcers of the eyes are either superficial or deep , which though they have gotten many names , yet they are all but ulcers . 11 afflictions in the adnata are ferngion , and opthalmia . 12 the symptomes in the eyes are , fault in the motion , pains , and 〈◊〉 of sight . 13 dulness of the sight , is when the sight is either weakned , or quite lost . 14 dulness of sight is when things are either seen darkly , or in false colors . 15 diminution of sight is , either weakness , as in old men : or in yong men that are 〈◊〉 blind , or cannot see well in the light . 16 diseases without the eye , are either in the corners of the eye , or in the eye-lids . 17 diseases in the corners of the eyes are ulcers , imposthumes , waterings of the eyes , wheals , little knobs . 18 diseases in the eye-lids are , pseudopthalmia , scabs , failings in motion , and in the hairs . 19 failings in motion are in opening and 〈◊〉 of them . 20 faults in the hairs are , when they fal down into the eyes , moistness , sticking together , 〈◊〉 , &c. the afflictions of the ears . 1 the afflictions of the ears , are either diseases 〈◊〉 symptomes . diseases are either of blood , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 . 2 symptomes of the 〈◊〉 are excrements contained in the ears , pain , faults in hearing . excrements are , immoderate earwax , and 〈◊〉 . 3 〈◊〉 in hearing are , falsness of hearing , dulness of hearing , and deafness . falsness of hearing is , buzzing , singing , or noise in the ears . the afflictions of the nostrils . 1 the 〈◊〉 of the nose are , ulcers , failings in the smelling , and failings in the 〈◊〉 . 2 ulcers are either simple , or else excrescent . 〈◊〉 are , polipus , or noli me tangere . 3 failings in the smelling are , either a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the nose , badness or absolute deprivation of smel . 4 failings of the excrements are , sneezing , 〈◊〉 , and bleeding of the nostrils . afflictions of the mouth . 1 the afflictions of the mouth are , either of certain parts of it , or else of the whol . of certain parts are , either of the lips , cheeks , teeth , gums , or tongue . 2 vices of the lips are , wry mouthes , 〈◊〉 , &c. 3 vices of the 〈◊〉 are , convulsions , 〈◊〉 , &c. 4 〈◊〉 of the teeth are , over longness , or shortness ; growing out of order , too many or too few loosness , black , or other color ; pain in breeding teeth , or toothach . 5 vices of the gums are , swelling , consumption , imposthumes , and ulcers . 6 the afflictions of the tongue are , either diseases or symptomes . diseases are , roughness , swellings under the tongue . 7 symptomes of the tongue , are vices either of motion of the tongue , speech , or tast. 8 vices of speech are , stuttering , lisping . vices of tast are , either weakness , or loss of tast. 9 the afflictions of the whol mouth are , yawning , stink , and thrushes . afflictions of the jaws . 1 the afflictions of the jaws are either in the 〈◊〉 , or colnmella , or in the top or parts of the throat . 2 the afflictions of the 〈◊〉 are , paristhmia , antiades , imposthumes , and ulcers . 3 the afflictions of the columella are , falling down of the pallat , inflamations , and ulcers . 4 such 〈◊〉 as occupy the parts of the throat are , quinsies , or 〈◊〉 , ulcers , and compression . the afflictions of the breast . 1 the afflictions of the breast , are either the afflictions of the spiritual part of the heart , or of the 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 the afflictions of the spiritual parts , are either 〈◊〉 , or symptomes . 3 diseases are in the lungs , the pleura , or the cavity of the breast . 4 in the lungs are distempers , stretchings , obstructions , inflamations , imposthume , and consumption . 5 the afflictions of the pleura , is a pleuresie . 6 in the cavity of the breast is suppuration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and collection of humors . 7 the symptomes of the spiritual part are , failings of the voyce , difficulty of breathing , cough , spitting of blood. 8 failings of the voyce are , hoarceness , and other failings . 〈◊〉 of breathing is either asthma , or 〈◊〉 , or dysnea . 9 the afflictions of the heart are either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . all diseases afflict the heart , 〈◊〉 such as come of venemous humors . 10 symptomes of the heart are , weakness of strength , faintings , and palpitation of heart . 11 the 〈◊〉 of the breasts , are either of the body of the breasts , or of the milk. of the body of the breasts , is of the breasts themselves , or of the nepples . 12 the afflictions of the breast are , encrease , decrease , inflamation , morbus pilaris , hardness , ulcers , cancers . the afflictions of the nepples are , ulcers , and consumptions . 13 the vices of the milk are , congealation , abounding , and want . 14 the afflictions of the inferior ventricle are , either in the parts dedicated to nourishment , or to generation . 15 diseases in the parts dedicated to nourishment are , either in the stomach , or in the guts , or fundament , or in the mesenterium , or in the liver , or in the spleen , or in the gal , or in the reins , or in the bladder . the afflictions of the stomach . 1 the afflictions of the stomach are , 〈◊〉 of the throat , ventricle , or of the stomach it self . 2 the afflictions of the throat , are either diseases , or symptomes . 3 diseases are , distemper , hardness , ulcers . symptomes are , 〈◊〉 of swallowing , and pain . 4 afflictions of the ventricle of the stomach , are either diseases or symptomes . 5 diseases are , distemper , weakness , inflamation , imposthumes and ulcers . 6 the imposthumes are three-fold , 1 such as cause pain . 2 such as afflict the appetite . 3 such as hinder digestion . 7. the stomach , because it is very sensible ( and especially the mouth of it ) is easily offended by any matter that sticks there , and causeth head-ach , and heart-burnings by consent of the parts . 8 the stomach , because it is the seat of appetite , is afflicted either through failing , or corruption of appetite . 9 appetite failing , is either queasiness , or loathing of certain meats . 10 appetite depraved , is either longings , such as are incident to women with child , or immoderate thirst. or else it is immoderate , as greedy eating , and dog. like hunger . 11 the stomach as it is the kitchin that concocts the food , is troubled either with crudities , ill concoction , wind , belchings , risings in the stomach , hiccoughs , vomitings both of blood and choller . the afflictions of the bowels . 1 the afflictions of the bowels are either disease or 〈◊〉 . 2 diseases are , obstruction , binding , inflamation , imposthumes , and ulcers . 3 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , not going to stool , 〈◊〉 , worms and 〈◊〉 . 4 want of going to stool , is either very slow , hard , or altogether stopped . 5 fluxes are either with wind , or without wind , with blood or 〈◊〉 , or with skins . 6 with blood is 〈◊〉 , the bloody-flux , or tenasmus , or a flux of the liver , or the hemorrhoids . 7 pain of the bowels is either the chollick , or illiack disease . afflictions of the fundament and mesenterium . 1 afflictions of the fundament are , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , ulcers , 〈◊〉 , itching , swelling , sticking out of hemorrhoidal veins , and falling out of the fundament . 2 the hemorrhoids are either internal , or 〈◊〉 . the symptomes of them are , 〈◊〉 flowing of blood , or a stopping of it against custom , 3 the afflictions of the mesenterium and sweet-bread are , swellings either soft or hard , and inflamations . afflictions of the liver and spleen , gall , reins and bladder . 1 the afflictions of the liver and spleen are either diseases , or symptomes . 2 the diseases are either of the liver , or of the spleen . 3 the diseases of the liver are , distemper corruption of the substance , weakness , obstruction , hardness , swelling , inflamation , ulcers , imposthumes . 4 the diseases of the spleen are , swelling , obstruction , hardness , inflamation , imposthume , ulcers and wind . 5 the symptomes both of liver and spleen are yellow and black jaundice , hypochondriack melancholly , atrophia , or pining away of flesh , cachexia , or dropsie , which is three-fold . 1 anasarcha , commonly called , a dry dropsie . 2 ascytes , or an ordinary dropsie of water . 3 timpanites , a dropsie of wind . 6 the afflictions of the gall are , obstructions , stone fulness , and emptiness . 7 the afflictions of the reins are , stone , imposthumes , ulcers and pain . 8 the afflictions of the bladder are , the stone , inflamation , imposthumes , ulcers , failings in making water . 9 failings in making water and 〈◊〉 are , diabets , or continual pissing ; often and unseasonable pissing , when men are not able to hold their water ; ischuria , or stoppage of urine ; dysuria , or pissing with pain ; stranguria , or pissing by drops , pissing blood . 10 these are the afflictions incident to the parts dedicated to nourishment : those which are incident to the parts dedicated to generation follow . afflictions incident to the parts dedicated to generation . 1 they belong either to the genitals of men , or to the womb. to the genitals of men , they either come from some internal cause , or else they are subsistent in the yard or testicles . 2 from internal causes especially proceed immoderate lust , 〈◊〉 , or continual standing of the yard , the running of the reins , and want of carnal copulation . 3 the afflictions of the yard are , phymosis , as when the top of the yard 〈◊〉 not be covered , or being covered , wil not open ; inflamation , imposthumes , ulceration , fleshy swelling and corruption . 4 the afflictions of the testicles are , inflamation , hard swelling and ruptures . 5 ruptures are of divers kinds , and each kind hath got a name by it self . those belonging to the testicles are these three , 1 when the omentum , fal down into the scrotum . 2 when the 〈◊〉 , fal down into the scrotum . 3 when both fal down into the scrotum . 6 the afflictions of the womb are diseases and symptomes . diseases are either in the womb it self , or in the passage to it . 7 diseases in the womb it self are , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , hardness , 〈◊〉 , that dropsie of the womb , usually ( though 〈◊〉 falsly ) called a timpany , the mole , afflictions of wind and blood. 8 in the passage to the womb are , imposthumes , ulcers , inflamation , itching , warts , 〈◊〉 , and bits of flesh growing . 9 the symptomes of the womb are , stopping and overflowing of the menstiuis , the flux of the womb , whites , falling out of the womb , and the 〈◊〉 of the mother , pain , faults both in the conception and travel . 10 faults of conception are , barrenness , and vicious conception . 11 the occasion of barrenness is , 1 from the man , as palsey in the yard , ill shape of the yard , stoppings and bruises of the spermatick vessels , defect of the testicles , a huge great fat belly . 12 causes of barrenness in women are , vices of the womb , vices of the 〈◊〉 of the womb , but usually in the womb it self , and that either in the mouth of it , or in the substance of it . 〈◊〉 : in the mouth of it ; being either too wide , or weakned by some violent 〈◊〉 ; or filled with moist excrements , or shut by some scar or excrescence of flesh , or compressed by fatness of the belly . secondly : the vices of the substance of the womb are , hardness , weakness , or cold and moist distemper . the afflictions of the habit of the body . the air , too much grossness , or slenderness , weariness , stifness , too much , too little , or corrupt sweat , pain in the fleshy parts of the body , and in the joynts , bunches . you have the internal afflictions , the external follow . lib . ix . of external afflictions . 1 of external afflictions are two kinds ; for some cause deformity , some other vices . 2 deformity is either in the hair , or in the nails , or in the skin . 3 of the hair , when there is too much , too little , or none at al , when 't is tangled , when it curls too much , or not at al , or is too hard , too soft . or not of the color you would have it . 4 the default of the nails are , when they are loose , too long , or too thick , or too thin , or spotted , or slit . 5 deformities of the skin are in certain parts , or in incertain . in certain parts , are in parts that have hair , or else in the face or hands . 6 in places that have hair , is dandriff . 7 in the face are , wrinkles , sunburning , freekles . 8 the hands are , scaly , hard , chopt . 9 the incertain parts are deformities of the skin , roughness , the marks of womens longings . 10 spots are either originally , as molds , or else tetters , ringworms , bitings of fleas or lice , itch , scabs , &c. 11 thus much of deformity : other afflictions follow . 12 swellings are either with pain or without pain . 13 with pain are either tumors or pustules . 14 tumors are either primary or secundary . 15 primary are those that have their original from collections of blood , as erisipelas , and cancer . 16 collections of blood are caused either by inflamation or bruises . inflamation is greater or lesser . the greater inflamation is that which occupieth either incertain parts , or certain . 17 inflamation occupying certain parts is either in the glandulae , or in the joynts . 18 an inflamation occupying incertain parts is either simple or compound . 19 they are called 1 phlegmon ; of blood. 2 erisipelas ; of choller . 3 oedema ; of flegm . 4 schyrrus ; of melancholly . 5 flatuosus ; of wind. 6 varicosus ; which is somtimes of the spirits , somtimes of the humors , somtimes of both . 20 phlegmon ; is either 1 phygithlon : emunctory tumors inflamed . 2 bubo : or a swelling in the groyn , which is either venereal , malignant , or pestilential . 3 phyma : a pustule or boyl . 4 forunculus : a felon or andicom . 5 anthrax : a carbuncle . 6 gargarion : the uvula inflamed . 7 paristhma : the tonsilla inflamed . 8 anurisma : an artery dilated . 9 gangraena : an inflamation not mortified . 10 sphacelus : an inflamation mortified . 21 erispelas is either 1 herpes , miliaris , exedens , & formeca : pustles that eat . 2 phlictenae : blisters . 3 epinictides : night galls . 4 hydrea : blue pustules 5 dracunculus : crimson veins . 22 oedema is either 1 atheroma : a soft tumor in the head with matter , and without pain . 2 steatoma : with matter and hardness like grease . 3 melicerus : with gravelly hard matter . 4 hydrocele : of watery rupture . 5 dropsies . 6 scrophulus : the kings evil. 7 bronchocele : a great tumor about the throat . 8 hydrocephalea : a watery humor in the head. 23 schyrrus is either 1 a cancer , ulcerated or not ulcerated . 2 elephantiasis : a leprosie . 3 psora : dry scabs or itch. 4 enchymoma : bruises , black and blue spots . 5 sarcosele : fleshy rupture . 6 polipus : spungy flesh growing in the nose . 7 verrucae : warts . 1 acrocordones , hanging by a string . 2 mermeciae , sticking in the flesh. 8 cornua : corns on the feet . 9 callus : on the hands . 24 flatuosus is either 1 priapismus : a continual standing of the yard . 2 timpanites : a dropsie of wind . 3 hernia ventosa : a windy rupture . 25 varicosus is either 1 vitiligo : morphew . 2 exanthemata : smal pox and measles . 3 parotides : tumors behind the ears . 4 mentagra : scabs on the chin. 5 bubonocele : a rupture in the groyn . 6 arthritis : all gouts : as 1 chyragra : the hand gout . 2 sciatica : the huckle-bone gout . 3 genugra : the knee gout . 4 podagra : the foot gout . 26 solutions of unity follow , which are either ulcerations or wounds . 27 thus much for sporadical afflictions , which arise from natural , and divers other causes . those follow which come from external and certain poysons , or abuse of good remedies . so coriander seeds being unmeasurably taken , cause hoarsness of voyce , and madness , which of the two is the worst . so saffron , if it be immoderately taken , kils the heart with laughing . pandemical afflictions . 1 pandemical or common afflictions are such as invade men universally , and they are either enmical , or epidemical . endemical are proper to the place . epidemical to the time. 2 endemical diseases by a certain perpetuity , are addicted to certain places , regions , and cities , as agues to the fenny countries in england . 3 epidemical diseases rage at some particular times , as pestilences , smal pox , &c. lib . x. of the pathologie of hermetical phylosophers . 1 it is of smal moment , and not worth distinguishing , between the disease , the causes , and symptomes ; for the cause , the disease , and the symptomes differ not in property , but only in power and act ; as a physitian that is asleep , differs from one that is awake ; and as sulphur kindled , differs from sulphur not kindled ; and as salt dissolved , differs from salt not dissolved ; and as mercury sublimated , differs from mercury not sublimated . 2 the roots of diseases lie hid in the body ; which being in time separated , exalted and kindled , produce the disease , and change of the pulse . 3 for in agues the root of the disease is in the body in the intermission of the fit , though the heart be not over-heated : also in falling-sicknesses the root of them lies in the body , though there be a months difference between the fits . 4 paracelsus teacheth , that a disease is a substance , and declares it by an example ; as in the yellow jaundice , the center of which is in the gall , yet it brings no harm to the man while it is in his center , til it be diffused in the body among the blood. 5 hermetical phylosophers consider here only two things ; namely , the original of the disease , and the difference . 6 the opinion of alchymists concerning the original of diseases is two-fold : one of the ancient , and another of the modern , which latter seems to be the truest . 7 ancient hermetical phylosophers , referred the original of diseases to the seed of them : even as plants arise from their own seeds ; so do also diseases from their specifical and peculiar seeds in the body of man. 8 for as the beginnings of all natural things proceed from the influential operation of the srars upon the seeds ; so by reason of the corruption of the nature of man , there is contained in his body , the seeds of al diseases , which by the influential operation of the stars in time shew themselves . 9 for to think that diseases come from the elements is ridiculous , for both elements and elementary bodies are but the wombs in which these seeds are nourished . 10 in seeds is the form of the thing whereof it is a seed , potentially placed ; and by power of these , are al actions performed : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proceed tasts , colors , heat , cold , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 ; they contain in them , vital 〈◊〉 , hardness , softness thickness , thinness , roughness , smoothness , and what not . 11 the original then of these seeds of diseases is this : although at the first al 〈◊〉 were created pure , and 〈◊〉 void of corruption and death ; yet after the 〈◊〉 of our first parents , the curse came upon them , and gave them a new tincture ; and so the seeds of diseases came as wel into the body of man , as thorns and thistles on the earth . 12 the seeds both of death and diseases come thus into man : the 〈◊〉 being cursed for the sin of adam , brought forth many impurities , as arsenick , 〈◊〉 , and many other both hot and cold poysons , as opiats ; nay in the purest creatures there remains so much 〈◊〉 which is as wel able to hurt , as what is pure in them to help . living creatures , as beasts , &c. live by plants and herbs . man by beasts , and the fruits of the earth : the impurity of which is that which causeth so many several sorts of diseases to the body of man. 13 that there is such a seed of diseases in man , may appear by this : because we find many diseases to be hereditary , nay , to continue individually , many times to three or four generations , which could not be unless the seed of the disease were inherent in the procreative vertue . 14 somtimes children are troubled with diseases which were not heeded in their fathers , as men that never had the gout , beget children which in time come to have the gout ; judg the like by the falling-sickness , &c. the reason is , all seed must have a time to grow , and the seed was not come to maturity in the parent as it is in the child : contrary to this ; many times we find that such as have the gout , beget children which never have it ; and those that have the falling-sickness the like : the reason of this is either , 1 because the impurity is separated by the strength of the natural balsom in the womb : or 2 because the root of the disease is grown old , and able to bear fruit no more . 15 that a hot , cold , moist , or dry distemper , or humors , should be the cause of a disease , is absolute non-sense to affirm ; they are but the effects , as heat is the effect of life , and not the cause of it : the cause of a disease must be somthing which is real , and endued with a power to produce such effects . 16 humors are a certain fantastical invention ; but imagine there be such things , they cannot produce diseases . 1 because they are not in the 〈◊〉 . 2 because the humors arise from the disease , and not the disease from the humors . 3 because no humor is either salt , or sowr , or hath any other tast ; neither hath it any salt or tartar in it : and 't is a most rediculous piece of non-sense to say humors are burnt ; for bring a humor to the fire it presently exhales away . 17 the modern alchymists derive the original of all diseases from these three principles , mercury sulphur , and sal , because they are endued with vertues , faculties , and properties of al sorts : from whence come infinite varieties , tasts , colors , smels , by which various kinds of diseases are bred . 18 they hold the causes of diseases to be ten : 1 mercurius pneumosus . 2 mercurius cremosus . 3 mercurius sublimatus . 4 mercurius precipitatus . 5 sulphur congelatum . 6 sulphur resolutum . 7 sulphur coagulatum . 8 sal calcinatus . 9 sal resolutus . 10 sal reverberatus . 19 〈◊〉 pneumosus , is an aethereal spirit ; the fire of nature ; the ruler of mans body ; the mover and guider of actions ; and it is thought to remain in the ventricles of the brain : it seems he understands the animal spirit by it . this mercury is somtimes made so thick , that against nature it is shut up in skins , in cavities of the body ; and so being made material , changeth its name , and is called wind : it causeth swellings , kings evil , apostemes of wind , and whatsoever disease the galenists say comes of wind. 20 mercurius cremosus , or mercury distilled , is the ark of our life , the food and nourishment of the other aethereal fire , 't is true lac virginium ( that in the colledges dispensatory is but a puppet in a play ) the true radical moisture , the subject of generation , sweet , liquid , rare , and penetrating . this mercury being separated from the power of the former , whether by the solid parts of the body , or by food , is somtimes so circled about by ascention and descention , that it begets grievous diseases , as apoplexies , palsies , convulsions falling-sickness , tremblings , heart-qualms , incubus and succubus . 21 mercurius sublimatus , is the acute spirit of radical moisture , quick , penetrating , aerial , subtil , a lively and spiritual substance , and the next instrument of action : this somtimes waxeth hot , but it doth not burn , and flies up and down , whatsoever it laies hold on , it breaks , and pains , from whence comes 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , melancholly , head ach , quinsies , pluresies , pestilences . 22 mercurius precipitatus , is an aethereal spirit , sharp , tart , vehement incombustible , hot ; 't is the leaven of the body whereby al things are digested : by the concoction and digestion of this spirit ( namely , when it is hindred from performing its function ) come al those painful congelations in the exterior parts of the body , as the gout , &c. 23 sulphur congealed , is most pure , white , sweet , moving the pulse , and distributing the heat throughout the body : from this sulphur congealed , arise al inflamations whatsoever , as the quinsie , pluresies , &c. as also feavers . 24 sulphur resolutum , is a moist and soft substance , gently moistening all the parts of the body : it is ful of spirit and accomodated to generation . from this sulphur , alchymists derive those sleepy diseases ( not from coldness , as galenists prate ) as lethargies , coma , catalepsis , &c. i wonder in my heart why galenists should hold these diseases to come of cold , seeing they confess sleep is caused by a sweet vapor sent up to the brain . 25 sulphur coagulatum : from this some alchymists derive all fluxes : others ( and those more properly ) derive them from sal. 26 sal calcinatus , is the balsom of life ; that firm , fixed , earthy body , compounding mercury and sulphur in one , and making the whol body solid : from this ( if it melt in the body as somtimes it doth ) ariseth cachexiaes , dropsies , and al diseases of flegm : if nature can expel it , thence ariseth sweating . 27 sal resolutus is a liquid body , sweet in tast , of a binding faculty , by its pleasantness nourishing and preserving the body : this is the necter the poets said the gods drunk . if this suffer congelation , it grows hard , and this is the original of the gravel and stone . 28 sal reverberatus is the general clenser of nature : it clenseth the body of its filth , by opening , cutting , purging , provoking vomit , urine , and sweating , whereby it purgeth and quickeneth the body : from this salt ariseth , itch , scabs , tetters , ringworms , botches , boyls , carbuncles , the french pox , and the scurvy , and all diseases that afflict the blood. the differences of diseases . 1 of diseases , some are simple , some compound . compound diseases the alchymists stand not much upon ; because they are only an impediment of the actions . 2 the differences of simple diseases , the ancients laid down not so accurately , but the modern most accurately . 3 of diseases , some are from the seeds , others without the seeds ; for diseases of the instruments of strength , the figure of the body , and solution of unity , as wounds and the like , cannot arise from the seeds ; but only such as afflict the similar parts . 4 they hold two kinds of seeds of diseases : 1 iliastrum : that is when the seed produceth a disease , as pears , apples , and nuts , produce their like trees : of this nature are dropsies , yellow jaundice , gouts , &c. 2 cagastrum , which comes of corruption , as pestilences , feavers , pluresies , &c. 5 they hold five beings of diseases . 1 immediately from god : as the pestilence in davids time . 2 influential from the stars . 3 natural : when it happens through default of nature . 4 mental : when it proceeds from the imagination , either of the sick himself , or of some other ; under which head , witchcraft is included . 5 venemous : which contains all poysons , both natural and artificial . 6 all diseases may be divided into these four heads ; to which all other diseases may be reduced as to their fountains . first , the falling-sickness : to which may be reduced , the palsie , convulsions vertigo , melancholly , apoplexy , and fits of the mother . secondly , the dropsie : to which may be reduced , al imposthumes , the yellow jaundice and cachexia . thirdly , the leprosie : to which may be reduced , al ulcers . fourthly , the gout : to which may be reduced , the chollick , stone , head-ach , tooth-ach , &c. 7 of diseases , some are coagulated , others resolved ; for some consist of the impurity of the seeds , the fruits of which turns to coagulation : others to resolution . diseases arising from coagulation or gnawing in the stomach . al diseases of the head and throat : all diseases that come of parts stopped , as the chollick , stone , and all difficulties of urine . diseases of resolution are , all such as come by opening of those parts of the body which should be stopped , as fluxes of all sorts , running of the reins , &c. 8 diseases are two-fold ; some proceed from the food we eat ; others from celestial influence . first . those which come by the food we eat , come by the impurity thereof , which ought to be separated and expelled by the usual waies . but when nature is not able to administer her functions as she ought to do the disease takes root in the body , which brings forth fruit in its proper and appointed time . that which causeth these diseases to take root is opportunity ; for they search out a place where the natural balsom is weak , and the spirits proper for the nourishing such an untoward seed : as hemlock and henbane grow neer the places where they empty jakes , and wormwood neer iron works , because there both earth and air is convenient for them . and then secondly , such as come by celestial influence , take root in our bodies by the air we breath in : for as by the blessing upon the creation we receive our nourishment from it ; so by the curse upon the creation we receive the causes of diseases by it : god is as the sealer , that the seal , and our bodies the wax that receives impression from it . 9 the most exact difference of diseases is drawn from these three principles , mercury , sulphur , and sal. of mercury come all diseases of sharp and sowr vapors , falling-sickness , apoplexies , palsies , al kinds of defluxions and rhewms , all malignant and epidemical diseases arising either from poyson or infection of air. if sulphur be immoderate , it causeth 〈◊〉 of al sorts , 〈◊〉 , al 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , let so man wonder that feavers and sleepy diseases should come from one and the same cause ; you admiration wil quickly 〈◊〉 so soon as you are unchained from galen , and a little better acquainted with dr. reason : for the immoderate 〈◊〉 of sack causeth sleep as well though it be extream hot , as the immoderate taking of hemlock , poppy , or henbane , which are extream cold : the reason is not in the bodies of the creatures themselves , but in the sulphurous quality of them . from salts all internal 〈◊〉 take their original , as imposthumes , ulcers , 〈◊〉 , bleeding , heat , and stoppage of urine ; and according to the kinds of mercury , sulphur , and sal , so are the kinds of diseases , as we shewed you before . i have now done , after i have told you , that alchymists by the seeds and roots of diseases , understand nothing but the causes of them . 10 to this division pertain al diseases of tartar : it is called tartar , because of that similitude it hath with that tartar that is found in wine ; because it heats and burns the body as tartar doth . tartar in the body of man is a certain juyce coagulated : this juyce is taken from our nourishment by eating beasts ; and it is inherent in the beasts we eat by eating herbs . but when in the microcosm al the internal faculties work in a due order : this tartarial matter is separated from the due nourishment , and cast our by nature . there are two things which cause the retaining of it . 1 the weakness of the separating , or expulsive faculty . 2 the immoderate taking of food , whereby there is such plenty of it , that the expulsive faculty is not able to cast it all our and so it lies in the body , grows thick , and produceth those effects we mentioned before . that we may make this appear the more lucidly , and as cleer as the sun when he traces over the nemean lyons back , consider the very same things in the macrocosm . you see in that the earth is in some places more pure , in others more impure ; you see the water is purer in one place than in another , as every laundress can tell you , and yet al water comes from the same fountain and original , namely the sea : you see the divers difference in divers nations in corn and wine , and the divers effects they produce ; and therfore what wonder is it that this tartarial matter being separated principally in the stomach , should produce such different effects in the body of man , as the stone in one place , and the gout in another . 11 there are four kinds of tartars , viscuous , bolar , sandy , and stony ; and one of these contains in it more salt , another less : thence it comes to pass that one afflicts the body with more pain than the other ; for the more salt there is in the tartar , the greater is the pain : for in tartar is contained all the species of salt , which is that which causeth the biting or paining quality of all minerals and plants , as common salt , allum vitrial , salt 〈◊〉 , sal gem sea water , aron , nettles , ars-smart ; and therfore it is no wonder if the differences of tartarial diseases be so manifold . 12 the diseases of the stomach arise from the impurest parts of the tartar : for if a bolar muccilage which is tough , viscuous , and alluminous , possess the sides of the tunicle of the stomach , there ariseth a stoppage of the vital spirits , which are the authors of al natural actions , whereby they being taken prisoners , they cannot execute their office in separating the pure nourishment from the impure ; and so the digestion comes to be weak , flow , and as faulty as either . and if these tartarial spirits be very strong , they easily overcome the inbred spirit of man : if they be mixed with much salt , they turn into 〈◊〉 and stone ; if pure of themselves , without much salt , they cause consumptions and pinings away ; if impure , they are changed into another nature , they turn antimonial , and cause vomiting ; if aerial , they cause corrosions , and pains , especially in the stomach ; if vitrial , they cause a dog-like hunger , because by the swiftness of their motion they catch and consume what is given for nourishment : for according to the opinion of severinus it is the spirits that cause hunger , draw , concoct , and coagulate whatsoever is taken into the body of man , which the stronger they are , the more swiftly they perform it ; the purer they are , the better they perform it . 13 as for diseases coming by celestial influence , quercitanus affirms they come through the breathing in of the air ; but if you ask him how the air comes afflicted , he gives you ignoramus instead of billavera . he and fernelius say , it is a hidden matter ; 't is somthing , but they know not what : but severinus ( a man that waded a little deeper than the addle brains of vulgar physitians could reach to ) in his book of celestial influences , proves , that they come from the several constitutions of heaven , the several influences of stars arising from the several conjunctions with the malevolents . 14 to make all a little plainer in the winding up that so we may be the better understood . the diseases in man are three fold . first , such as come from fire and air , which are the two elements that generate the spirit of man , 〈◊〉 whence come all epidemical diseases , and such as come by the influence of the heavens . secondly , such as come of air and earth , which two elements cause the tartar , and all diseases which we noted before , to proceed therefrom : of which the ancient physitians wrote little , knewless , and practised none . thirdly , the seed of the parents , which contains in it , 1 the course of the elements , from whence arise al acute diseases . 2 the courses of the seven planets , from whence come chronical diseases , which last as long as the said course of the planets remain uncontrouled by others ; and this may be known by the government of the planets themselves : as the sun governs the heart , the moon the brain , saturn the spleen , jupiter the 〈◊〉 , mars the gall , venus the reins , and instruments of generation , and 〈◊〉 the lungs : and all diseases whatsoever keep their court in one of these places . 3 the four courses of the humors , which alchymists cal salts , cabalists humors , and so do galenists for fashion sake . 4 the four courses of the qualities or complexions , namely , heat and moisture , cold and moisture , heat and dryness , cold and dryness . you have the theorical part of medicine : the practical follows . tome ii. of practical medicine . 1 practical medicine is that which tends to , and endeavors at the end of medicine , namely , the health of man. 2 the parts of it are , hygiena , and 〈◊〉 . you shall have the interpretation of both words , when you come to the explanation of them . tome ii. part i. of hygiena . 1 hrgiena is the first part of practical medicine , which teacheth the right use of the six things not natural , for the preservation of health . 2 to the causing of health belongs a good temper of the similar parts , a due conformation of the instrumental parts ; both which are attained by a due use of the six things not natural . 3 the signification of the word hygiena , is a defending of health : it consists chiefly in diet. diet belongs both to the healthful , and to the sick : in both of them to the knowledg and method of using the things not natural . 4 things not natural are in a medium between things natural , and those against nature : for neither do they constitute our nature , as things natural do ; neither do they afflict it as things against nature do : being well used they are good , ill used they are bad . 5 the knowledge of things not natural consists 〈◊〉 this , 1 that we know how many they are . 2 that we know what efficacy they have . 6 things not natural are six . 1 air. 2 nourishment . 3 exercise and rest. 4 affections of the mind . 5 sleeping and watching . 6 fulness and emptiness : or if you will , casting out and retaining in . these galen reduceth to three heads . 1 of taking in : as nourishment and air. 2 carriage of the body : as exercise and rest ; sleeping and watching ; affections or perturbations of mind . 3 casting out : as the excrements both of the bowels and bladder , sweat , and seed in copulation . i. ayr. 1 air either preserveth the body of man , or changeth it . wholsom air preserveth it , unwholsom changeth it . that which preserveth the body of man is , 1 temperate in the first 〈◊〉 , namely , heat , cold , driness and moisture . 2 pure : and the more trees there is , the purer is the air , because the leaves of the trees correct the air ( though my author leave it out , give me leave to put it in . ) 3 cleerness of the air. 4 air moved by gentle winds . 5 watered by gentle showers . 2 the body of man is corrupted by the air two waies . 1 by accident . 2 by itself . first , by accident : as corrupted vapors , fens , the propinquity of the sea , which fils the body ful of salt humors ; jakeses , and stinking ditches , as also by dead carkasses . secondly , by it self , or its own distempers , being too hot , too cold , too moist , or too dry. 3 the air 〈◊〉 the body of man , 1 by breathing it in . 2 by an insensible drawing of it through the pores of the skin ; and that 's the reason the skins of people of divers regions , are of divers colors . 4 the constitution of the air changeth our bodies five waies ; and by them you may know ( if you have but wit enough ) how to 〈◊〉 a discase by changing of air. 1 consider the scituation of the place , whether hilly , level , or fenny . 2 the 〈◊〉 of the earth , whether 〈◊〉 , or barren , woody , or champion . 3 the variety of winds . 4 the neerness either of the sea or lakes . 5 the seasons of the year . ii. nourishment . 1 nourishment is that substance , which encreaseth and nourisheth our bodies : and 't is two-fold . 1 properly and truly : such are nourishments which nourish our bodies . 2 improperly : such are nourishments which by a medicinal vertue alter the failings of the former , and yet notwithstanding nourish too . 2 the nourishment we take in hurts our bodies three waies , 1 in quantity , when we 〈◊〉 more than we can digest , and thence comes crudity . 2 in quality , when the food is too hot , too cold , too moist , too dry ; each of which 〈◊〉 diseases of its own nature . 3 in substance , when it is of too thick 〈◊〉 , and this breeds obstructions , and all the the diseases coming thereof . iii. exercise and rest. 1 〈◊〉 , is a laborious motion of the body , altering both the breath and pulse in respect of motion . 2 exercise is either general , or particular . general is of the whol body , which either helpeth or hurteth . 3 exercise helpeth when 't is moderate : and it helpeth thus , 1 it makes the body strong . 2 it encreaseth natural heat . 3 it moves the spirits , whereby the vapors and excrements pass through the pores by insensible transpiration . 4 too much exercise 〈◊〉 , because it 〈◊〉 distempers , or solution of unity . 5 particular exercise is of some of the parts ; as running to the feet , singing to the breast , and fighting to the arms. 6 rest , either profiteth or hurteth . it profiteth , 1 when 't is temperate , for that recollects the tired spirits . 2 when it follow moderate exercise . 7 too much rest hurteth , 1 it causeth cold diseases . 2 hinders the expulsion of the excrements . 3 duls natural heat . 4 〈◊〉 the digestion of the food . iv. sleeping and watching . 1 sleep profiteth and hurteth . it profiteth , 1 because it recruiteth the tired strength of the body . 2 it rallies the scattered spirits . 3 it cals back the heat to the inward parts . 4 it helps digestion . 5 it routs care from the heart . 6 it settles a mutinous and troubled mind . 7 it recruits a dry constitution with moisture . 2 immoderate sleep hurts , 1 because it duls the spirits , and makes them 〈◊〉 . 2 makes dul wits , and bad memories . 3 procures abundance of crude humors . 4 spoils natural heat . 3 watchings either profit or hinder . if they be moderate , they profit : for , 1 they quicken the spirits and sences . 2 they distribute the heat into the parts of the body . 3 helps to expel the excrements , 4 immoderate watching hurts ; 1 scatters the animal spirits . 2 it dries the body , especially the brain . 3 it encreaseth choller . 4 it 's the cause of hot diseases . v. affections of the mind . 1 of affections of the mind , some tend to health , as moderate ioy , and content of mind . some hurt 〈◊〉 all perturbations of the mind whatsoever . to name some of them ; 1 〈◊〉 which heats 〈◊〉 blood and spirits , stirs up the humors , sets all the body in a hubbub , and ingenders feavers . 2 immoderate joy : which sends all the spirits to the external parts of the body , and leaves the principal unguarded . 3 fear ; which cals all the spirits inwards , and leaves the outward parts unguarded . 4 sadness : which consumes the spirits by piece-meals , causeth 〈◊〉 , and thereby hinders concoction 〈◊〉 is this all the mischief 〈◊〉 doth , for it dries the body , and fils it as ful of melanoholly , as an egg is full of meat . vi. fulness and emptiness . i think that which physitians vulgarly translate fulness and 〈◊〉 , might better be translated casting 〈◊〉 , and keeping in : or if you will have me spit a few scholastical phrases , excretion and retention . 1 it is an excellent good principle when people cast out what should be cast out , and retain what should be retained ; and perform them both in a due manner . 2 when such things are retained as ought to be cast out , imagine urine , dung , spittle , the menstruis , it hurts . 3 when such things are 〈◊〉 out which ought to be retained , as immoderate bleeding , immoderate flowing of the menstruis , it can do no good . thus you have the things not natural : it follows now that we shew you a method how to use them , that so we may not seem like pharaohs task-masters , set you to make bricks , and not give you straw . the vse of things not natural 〈◊〉 preserving health . 1 〈◊〉 a common rule that we should use a mediocrity in al things not natural ; and have a special regard to former customs . 2 the use of the air , is according to its substance , and quality . according to its substance , it ought to be pure , clear , thin , and open . 3 according to its quality it ought to be according to the nature and complexion of the party ; and therefore as the eternal and only wise god hath ordered the differences of airs in this nation : so hath he ordered differences of complexions in men suitable to it . 4 of nourishments : the substance , quantity , quality , time and manner of administring 〈◊〉 diligently to be heeded ; al which are to be 〈◊〉 to the complexion of the eater , and the strength of his nature . 5 the rule of quantity is this ; that the strength of the body may be refreshed , and not oppressed . 6 the rule of quality is taken from the nature of the food : the nature , custom , and pallat of the eater : the season of the yeer : the climate , and the position of the heavens . 7 the time of giving it is , the accustomed times of eating , and when hunger cals for it . 8 the use of motion and rest , sleeping and watching , and affections of the mind ; consists in manner and time. 9 the use of excretion or evacuation is various . 10 evacuation is either natural or artificial , universal or particular . 11 universal evacuation is purging , vomiting , 〈◊〉 , bleeding by 〈◊〉 , by the 〈◊〉 , or by horse-leeches , or by the menstruis , bathing , sweating , pissing . 12 particular evacuation are of the several parts . the vse of things not natural in diseases . 1 the first thing that here comes to be heeded is , that you have a special care such things not natural be used , as are contrary to the disease , and its cause . 2 although a physitian ought to have a special care of al six of them ; yet amongst them all . nourishment seems to bear away the bell. and , 3 in nourishment have a care of the five things we told you of before , viz. its substance , quantity , quality , time , and manner of giving . 4 as concerning the substance of the nourishment , note , that so much as nature is employed in overcoming the cause of the disease , so much slenderer ought the diet to be ; because nature when she employs much of her strength in opposing the disease , is not so wel able to mind a hard digestion : also the acuter a disease is , let the diet be the slenderer . 5 the quality of the nourishment , let it be such as strengthens nature , and opposeth the cause of the disease : and is to be considered , 1 according to custom . 2 according to the disease . 3 according to the natural constitution of the body . 6 as for the time of eating , regard must be had to the custom of the party when he was in health : only take this caution , in intermitting diseases , give no food in the time of the 〈◊〉 , unless urgent necessity , or failing of strength cal for it . 7 thus much of the first part of practical medicine , called hygiena : the second part follows , which is called therapeutica . tome ii. part ii. of the proper practical part of medicine , called therapeutica . therapeutica , is that part of medicine which teacheth the art of curing diseases : for the art of medicine is three-fold : to 〈◊〉 , to preserve , and to cure ; therfore the operations of medicine must needs be three-fold also ; conserving , preserving , and curing . 2 the efficient causes of these operations are , nature and art. the instrumental causes by which these operations are performed are , such 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 to nature , and coutrary to the disease . the manner of acting this is , quickly , safely , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 3 the way and manner of finding out matters of help , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fold : 1 the method by indication . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then is either general or special . general is performed by the method of 〈◊〉 ring : the special by 〈◊〉 . lib . i. of the method of curing . 1 the method of curing is a general way , common to every particular , shewing by intention and indication the way of cure for every disease . 2 its parts are two , intention and indication . 3 intention , is that scope which a physitian propounds to himself , when he undertakes a cure ; the parts of which are eight . first , whether it be to be done , yea or no. secondly , what is to be done , whether alteration , purging , or restoring . thirdly , by what remedies , it is to be done : whether by cooling heating purging , or the like : and whether by liquid or solid romedies . fourthly , how much is to be done : whether much or little , in what measure or degree . fifthly , in what manner it is to be done : whether by degrees , or speedily ; whether continually , or by intermission . sixthly , at what time it is to be done : whether in the beginning , encrease , or state of the disease . seventhly , in what order ; what 's to be given in the first place , what in the second , what in the third : what is to be given alone by it self , and what with other things . eightly , in what place , and in what manner . general indications . 1 indications are to be considered generally , and specially . 2 general indications , according to the mind of 〈◊〉 , are sixteen : 1 from the disease , which lies in the body and calls for its cure. 2 from the temperature of the whol body . 3 from the part of the body afflicted by the disease . 4 from the strength of the patient . 5 from the air the patient is in . 6 from his age. 7 from his custom . 8 from his peculiar nature . 9 from the sex of the patient . 10 from the exercise which he used . 11 from the length , or shortness of the disease . 12 from the four seasons of a disease , namely , the beginning , encrease , station , and declination . 13 from the particular fits of the disease . 14 from the ordinary functions of nature , 15 from the strength of the medicine . 16 from the influence of the stars . 3 special indication is either physical , or mathematical . physical indication . 1 physical indications are , parts declaring , and parts declared . 2 the part declaring is somthing observed in the body , either according to nature , or else against nature . 3 it is either primary , or secundary . 4 primary is three-fold : the disease ; the cause of the disease ; and the faculties . these may be thus distinguished . 1 it sheweth , what the disease is , by 〈◊〉 means it came , and whether it may be cured . 2 the symptomes which are proper and peculiar , namely , the 〈◊〉 and form of the part afflicted ; and the disease afflicting . 5 secundary is , 1 that which is joyned to the indication , that which shews that from whence the indication is drawn . 2 the knowledg of what hinders indication . 3 the knowledg of what opposeth it . 6 parts declaring shew , how much , how , when , in what order , by what place and way you must act . 7 how much , shews the natural temper of the body , as also of the part afflicted , and compares them with the greatness of the disease , and the scituation of the part . 8 how , shews the strength of the sick body , and the strength of the part afflicted . 9 at what time , hath a double signification , 1 of things present , which require remedy . 2 of things absent , which require prevention . 10 in what order , shews either that which regards the efficient cause or that which 〈◊〉 occasion calls for : for many times the violence of the effect must be remedied before the cause can be medled with . 11 the place , and by what way ; the figure and scituation of the place declares . 12 parts declared , are they which help those declaring . 13 they are either primary or secundary . 14 primary is three-fold : preservative , curative , and 〈◊〉 . 15 indication preservative , shews the antecedent cause of a disease , which must be taken away by its contrary . 16 preservative indication is taken , 1 from the internal or antecedent cause . 2 from the substance of the matter offending . 3 from the quality of the abounding humor . 4 from the motion of the peceant humor . 17 from the motion of the peccant humor is a four-fold remedy indicated . viz. first , 〈◊〉 : which is done divers waies : viz. by bleeding , cupping glasses , rubbing of the opposite part , binding , hot baths , clysters , blisters , &c. secondly , intercepting medicines , which stop the passages , that the humor cannot come to the afflicted place , whence they are called defensive , and to be given in the intervalles of the fit . thirdly , such as draw the humors from the part afflicted , to another part . fourthly , such as repress , and repel the humor , as al binding medicines . 18 the curative indications of a disease are such as are remedied by contraries . 19 it is either simple , which is the indication of a simple disease : or compound , which is the indication of a compound disease . 20 an indication of a simple distemper is , cold of a hot disease ; heat of a cold disease ; driness of a moist disease ; moisture of a dry disease ; hardness of a soft disease ; softness of a hard disease ; antidotes , and counter-poysons to venemous , pestilential , and contagious diseases . 21 indications of an evil composition , is reduction ; as making strait , crooked things ; making rough , such things as are smooth ; and smooth , such things as are rough ; lessening and encreasing members , &c. 22 conservative indication is maintaining things by their likes . 23 the foundation of medicine lies in this , to preserve things by their likes , and take away things by their contraries . mathematical indications . 1 mathematical indications are taken from the change of the celestial bodies ; which by their benevolent , or malevolent intercourse , work alterations in our bodies : therefore galen , hippocrates , and avicenna , all harp'd upon the same string , that whosoever was a physitian , must needs be an astrologer . 2 this indication consists in the conservation of health , in the seasonable application of a medicine , and in the opening of a vein . 3 medicines are unseasonably applied . 1 in very hot , or very cold times . 2 the giving of medicines ought to be avoided , at the rising , or setting of hot stars , either cosmically , or heliacally . such are , 〈◊〉 , cor leonus , both the dog stars , and hercules . 3 they are to be avoided when the malevolents are aspected one to another , or to the moon . 4 take no purging medicines when the moon is in signs ruminating , or in the forms of such beasts as chew the cud , namely , aries , taurus , and capricorn , because then they are easily vomited up again . 5 when the moon is aspected to jupiter , nature is so strengthened , that the operation of the medicine is hindred . 6 the moon in the ascending part of the circle , cals the humors upwards ; and so easily provoketh vomiting , but hinders purging by stool . 4 the unseasonable breathing of a vein wonderfully weakens nature , and brings exceeding much danger to the body of man. 5 hinderanees to bleeding are , 1 immoderate heat and cold ; for nature is rather to be cherished than weakned at such times , and bleeding weakens the natural sprits . 2 the moon being in the sign governing the member you bleed . 3 the moon in conjunction , square , or opposition with the sun , saturn , or mars ; or with the dragons head , or 〈◊〉 . 4 the moon in signs attractive , as 〈◊〉 , leo , and sagittarius . the method of cure , according to the opinion of hermetical phylosophers . 1 as long as the radical moisture remains in its quantity , no disease is felt . 2 there is but one common mummy of all men , and but one vital spirit , therefore a medicine may be universal : for all diseases are nothing else , but the function of the mummy and vital spirit hindered . 3 the cure of diseases is either universal or particular . universal is the taking away the roots of it , or the impurity which causeth the disease either , 1 derived from the seed of the parents . 2 through fault , or ill use of nourishment . 3 through external impression . 4 the subjects of universal cure , is the four kinds of diseases , to which all the rest may be referred , as to their proper fountains and principles , viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , dropsie , leprosie , gout : he that can cure these , wil easily cure all the other diseases incident to the body of man. 5 universal cure , may be perfected by an universal medicine , or remedy agreeable to mans natural balsom . 6 universal medicine is nothing else than a medicine which by strengthening nature expels all the diseases thereof . 7 it is called quintessence , balsom , natural spirit , vital principle mercury , mummy , elixar vitoe , incombustible , sulphur , a secret , sol , an aethereal spirit diffused through all natural things ; the fountain of heat and vigor , quickning animals , making vegetables grow , and forming minerals and mettals in the earth . 8 the same quintessence is in the body of man , and although it keep its court in the heart , yet it is diffused through the whol body , and produceth divers actions , according to the diversity of the parts . for example . in the sensitive parts it produceth sence : in the movable parts , motion ; and in the stomach it concocts the food into chyle . 9 if any disease like an enemy assault the body , it rallies up its forces to oppose it , gives it battel upon the critical daies , and if it can overcome it , it triumphs over it . 10 therfore this spirit and quintessence being produced from the macrocosm , and taken into the body : that which is natural in the body being strengthened with these axilliary forces so stoutly opposeth any disease , that it quickly routs it , and expels whatsoever is vicious out of the body . 11 concerning this universal medicine , i find three opinions among authors : first , some hold , that it doth it not by a primary , but by a secundary way , namely , as it strengthens nature , for if nature , or that natural balsom of a man be strengthened by an universal medicine , it soon shews its power in all the parts of the body , and leaves not so much as the very tincture of a disease , because it labors to preserve it self . secondly , severinus attributes a power to the universal medicine , not only to strengthen the natural balsom and spirits , but also by the purity , and its purifying of nature , to take away all causes and seeds of diseases whatsoever . thirdly , wolfgangus 〈◊〉 attributes these effects to the universal medicine , that it so disposeth al evil humors of what quality or malignity soever they are , or by what name soever they are called , that it resisteth no medicine which after the vulgar method is given for them ; but stoutly joyns forces with it to help it to perform its office ; and removes al impediments which lie in the way ; yea , so powerful it is in its operation , that it can be hindred by nothing , but by the express will of the creator . the cure of particular diseases . 1 in a disease the roots and seminary tinctures are not alwaies first to be taken away , but oftentimes the fruits , symptomes , fits , and pains are first to be mitigated : as an aspiring man is somtimes to be staved from his throne , before he is to be taken out of the world : so a disease is somtimes to be kept from coming to his exaltation , before he be thrown out of his house , viz. the body of man : that so those parts of the body which he hath weakned , may be strengthened . 2 be the dsease what it wil , let your care be greater to fortifie the spirits than to overcome the disease . 3 particular diseases are expelled . first , by helping nature with such remedies as expel the disease , as vomits , purges , medicines which provoke urine and sweating , medicines which strengthen , case pain , and please the brain with sweet smels . secondly , specifical remedies appropriated to certain parts of the body : as ceptralick remedies in diseases of the head ; ocular remedies in diseases of the eyes ; cordial remedies in diseases of the heart feavers , and pestilences ; pectorals in diseases of the breast ; stomachicals in diseases of the stomach ; and so likewise in all diseases , to have a special care of the parts of the body they afflict . 4 in diseases which afflict the whol body generally , and yet have their special fixed roots , as have most 〈◊〉 and consumptions , be sure you strengthen nature first , and if she want help , help her afterwards . 5 if the impurity of the disease be violent , as happens usually in feavers and inflamations , you will make mad work if first you go to purge it out : concoct it first by 〈◊〉 medicines , and bring it into better manners , and when you have altered the property of it , then you may safely purge it out . 6 radical impurities are removed by resolution , not by concoction as in chronical diseases , as in falling-sickness , quartan agues , chollick , and 〈◊〉 ; in diseases of tartar , as dropsie leprosie , &c. if you look to cure these by concoction , you may look till your eyes drop out of your head. the god of nature hath left in nature certain remedies which speedily cure them by resolution , consumption , and destruction ; and these , physitians ( which build their faith upon galen , and not upon the god of nature ) call 〈◊〉 properties . 7 the effects of some fits , namely , when they cause much heat of blood , must be remedied by concoction . 8 in all chronical diseases , as also in some acute . first , he sure the patient go to stool wel , before you administer other remedies ; that so nature may have a passage to expel her enemy by , when you help her to expel him . 9 the disease being expelled , and the party cured , strengthen that part of the body which was weakned by the disease . 10 chymical medicines are so to be prepared that they weaken not nature her self , as well as the offending matter . you have the general therapeutical part in the method of physick : the special follows . lib . ii. of both general , and special evacuation . 1 evacuation is either of plethora , or cacochymia . 2 evacuation of plethora is either flow 〈◊〉 sensible . 3 slow , is done either by slender diet and labor , and the right use of the six things not natural . 4 sensible is either chyrurgical , or pharmaceutical . chyrurgical evacuation . 1 consists in blood-letting , 〈◊〉 , and the use of horse-leeches . 2 the parts of chyrurgy are two : 1 chyrurgical administrations . 2 chyrurgical instruments . 3 its administrations are to be considered , as necessary to life , or to safety . 4 the way of administring is according to the 〈◊〉 , and of the places afflicted with the discase . 5 the instruments which a chyrurgion ought to use , ought to be fitted to his operations , both manual , and medicinal . the evacuation of cacochymia . 1 it is either universal or particular ; of which , the universal ought alwaies first to be used : the particular are , purges , vomits , provocation of urine , and sweating . 2 purges are either weak or strong ; and are divided into electuaries , pills , pouders , and potions ; of which , some are universal which take away the whol cacochymia . 3 vomits , are such as provoke vomiting ; which are either simple , as the drinking of warm water ; or mixed . 4 diureticks are such , which provoke urine , and break the stone . 5 medicines which provoke sweat , are such simples or compounds as resist the french 〈◊〉 , and other diseases which come of flegm and melancholly , as china , sarsaparilla , box , and guajacum , and the decoctions , or compositions of them . 6 particular evacuation of cacochymia is , that which is done by purges , appropriated to certain parts of the body , both internal and external . 7 internal parts of the body , are . 1 the head , as sneezings , mouth waters , and such particular medicines as purge the head. 2 the breast and lungs , by pectorals and lohochs . 3 the stomach , by vomits . 4 the bowels , by purges and clisters . 5 the womb , by pessaries and injections . 8 the external parts are 〈◊〉 from cacochymia , by sweating , blisters , and causticks . lib . iii. of medicaments . 1 whatsoever changeth our body , and bringeth it from a 〈◊〉 not natural , to a state natural , is medicament . 2 in medicaments are to be considered their differences and operations . 3 as nourishment , so 〈◊〉 remedies are three-fold , 1 such as are nourishing , which encrease , restore , and refresh our bodies . 2 such as are venemous and spoil our bodies . 3 such as perform both , according as they are used . 4 of medicines , some conduce to the health , others to the addorning of the body . 5. such as belong to 〈◊〉 , do it either by nature or by art. 6. such as doe it by nature , need but little preparation of the artificer and are taken from vegetables , minerals , and living creatures . 7. from vegetables , are taken either whol bodyes , or parts of them , as roots , woods , pith , bark , leaves , tops , flowers , seeds , fruts , juyces , gumme , rosen , liquors , oyls . &c. 8. from living creatures are taken either their whole bodyes or parts of them , as hornes , marrow , flesh , &c. or what they ingender , as milk , eggs , &c. or what they labor for , as hony , wax , &c. or their excrements , as vrine , dung , gal , &c. 9. medicines taken from mineralls are either proper or improper . first , proper , as sulphur , antimony , vitriol , and mettals , which are no less than seven , nor no more , viz. gold , silver , lead , tinne , iron , copper , quicksilver . secondly , improper as . 1. earths , as terra lemna , 〈◊〉 , bole armoniack . 2. stones , more pretious and less preti ous . 3. salts . 4. iuyces made thick . the 〈◊〉 of all these you may find before in our vertual anatomy . 10. such medicines are called compounds , when many ingredients are mixed to make up one medicine : and this is the glory of the apothecary . 11. the art of an apothecarie consists in composition and preparation of medicine . 12 , this is either common or alchymical ; both of them either generall or special . lib . iv. of the generall composition of medicine . 1. in the composition of a medicine are requiered , the thing to be composed and the choyce of it . the thing to be composed is either more or less principal . 2. the principal is the 〈◊〉 from which the medicine takes his denomination ; as 〈◊〉 takes its name from the herb 〈◊〉 which is in it : and this is first found out by indications . 3. less 〈◊〉 is , those which are mixed with the basis to make up the medicine : and it consists of two parts , either mixture 〈◊〉 preparation . 4. there are required in composition of medicines , 1 correctives . if the basis of the medicine be stronger than it ought to be . 2 helpers . if they be weaker , thicker , slower than it ought to be . 3 directors . which are appropriated to some certain part of the body . 4 such things as are appropriated to keep the medicines from putrifaction , as honey , sugar , &c. 5. the requisites of a composition are three , quantity , measure , and quid pro quo . 6. you have the general composition ; the preparation follows . the opinion of hermetical phylosophers , concerning composition . 1 the causes of composing medicines which galenists affirm , alchymists do altogether reject . 2 there is no disease but hath his own proper and peculiar medicine and remedy : and every place furnisheth you with simples enough for its cure. ergo. a multiplicity of huge compositions is altogether needless . 3 the malignant quality of medicines is no way lessened by their corrigents , but increased : as also , that the weakness of a purge may be amended by stronger purges , wants experience to prove it . ergo. the malignity of the medicine , ( whether it be too weak , or too strong ) needs no correction : seeing the mglignity may be taken away by the art of an alchymist , and what is pure , remain . 4 you need no attenuating medicines , for if they be rightly prepared by the art of the alchymists , they will be thin and penetrating enough . 5 you need no strengthning medicines , for if the ill properties of the medicine be taken away , nothing will remain but what is good : and what is good is strengthning . 6 you need not compose medicines to make them endure , for it is the ill properties of them which makes them to corrupt , which are taken away by the alchymists . 7 you need ad nothing to make them have a pleasant taste , for all chymical preparations are pleasant . lib . v. of the common 〈◊〉 of preparing medicines by the art of the apothecary . 1 in the preparations of medicines are to be considered , the cause and effect . the cause is either efficient , or final . 2 the efficient cause is either active or instrumental . active , is either primary , as god and nature : or secondary , as the apothecary . 3 the apothecary acteth by heating , insolation , cooling , quenching , moistning , nourishing , infusion , softning , melting , dissolving , making salt , colouring , perfuming , preserving , cutting , clipping , filing , rasping , washing , beating , rubbing , scraping , pressing , straining , boyling , putrifying , sifting , extracting , scumming , clarifying , distilling by asconsion , and desconsion . 4 the instruments of an apothecary , are , stills , mortars , knives , shears , &c. 5 the end is double , 1 the preservation of health , and restoring it being lost . 2 the preservation of beauty , and restoring it being lost . 6 the effects consists in the remedies prepared ; which is , 1 in the substance . 2 in the adjuncts : as the form , order , time of during , and shop they are kept in . 7 from the manner of the substance , compound medicines , are some for health , some for ornament . those which regard health , are either taken inwardly , or applyed outwardly . the method of curing , is , first to take away the cause , afterwards to correct the symptomes . 8 such as are taken inward , are some fluid , and some not fluid . such as are fluid , are either more or less fluid . 9 such as are more fluid , are waters , wines , decoctions , 〈◊〉 , vinegars . less fluid , are syrups , julips , &c. 10 such as are not fluid , are either moist or dry. such as are moist , are balsoms , electuaries , conserves , preserves , lohochs , rob , muccilages , extracts . 11 such as are dry , are pills , lozenges , troches , powders , &c. 12 such as are outwardly applyed , are oyls and oyntments , bathes , cataplasmes , and plaisters , &c. 13 such medicines as either preserve or restore beauty , are either moist or dry , &c. lib . vi. of the chymical preparation of medicines . 1 alchymy is an art perfecting medicines , reducing pure essences from mixt bodies , that so the 〈◊〉 may be the purer , healthfuller , and safer . 2 the object of alchymy is a mixt body , which is dissolvable , and subject to 〈◊〉 . 3 mixt bodies are of three kinds , 1 all kind of plants , and all their parts , as roots , barks , branches , flowers , leavs , fruits , seeds , gums , rozins , &c. 2 the seven mettals . all minerals and stones both precious and not precious , salts , and juyces . 3 living creatures either whole or their parts , or that which comes of them , as milk , egs , and cheese . 4 in alchymy is to be considered the signification of the words and medicines , and the preparation of them . 5 in the preparation we are to consider the composition and preparation it self . of the composition or mixture of medicines , we have told you before , what opinion alchymists have . the requisites of composition are measure and dose . 6 in preparation consider the cause and effect . the cause is efficient or final . the efficient is acting or helping : acting is the alchymist , who acteth by solution and coagulation . 7. the parts of chymycal operation are two , solution and coagulation , or if you please , corruption and generation . 8 solution is the first part of practical alchymy , which takes a part the compositions of medicines , and attenuates them . 9 it consists in calcination , or dissolution . calcination is done by corroding or burning . 10 burning is done either by combustion or reverberation , combustion is turning into ashes , or into glass : reverberation is either shut or open , which is done by the fire of the furnace . 11 dissolution is when bodies are dissolved ; and it is either subtil or fusive . subtil is either microcronical , or macrocronical microcronical , is either elevation or descention . elevation is dry or moist . dry is called sublimation , moist distillation . 12 distillation , is either right or oblique . 13 descension , is either cold or hot. hot is that which is usually called distillation by descention . cold descention is either deliquium or filtration . all things that are dissolved by cold , are coagulated by heat . 14 macrocronical , is exaltation or digestion . exaltation is circulation and ablution . ablution is imbibition or cohobation . 15 digestion is either putrefaction or extraction . putrefaction is to change the old nature of a thing into a new . 16 fusion , or liquefaction is simple , or not simple , and performs its office either by ashes or antimony . 17 coagulation is the second part of alchymy , which by privation of moisture , reduceth moist bodies into solid . 18 it is cold or hot. to coagulation is referred fermentation and fixing . 19 you have the efficient cause acting : the helping follows , viz. place and fire . 20 the place , or the subject of the matter is , either that which receives the vessels , as a furnace : or that which receives the matter as vessels . 21 in the furnace are to be considered the parts and differences . the parts of a furnace are four . 22 the differences of furnaces are various , according to their different uses ; of which , some are open , some shut . 23 such as are open , are called either , probatorius , domesticus , or 〈◊〉 . 24 a shut furnace , is either simple or compound . simple is either for calcination , or dissolution . for calcination is either cementatory , or reverberatory . 25 dissolving is either by ascention or descention . by ascention is either dry or moist . by descention is that where by we dissolve the matter by driving the moisture downwards . 26 compound furnaces are , first , 〈◊〉 : which is also called phylosophicus , and arcanus . secondly , 〈◊〉 : where , by one fire , and little labor , divers furnace are cherished . others called piger henricus . 27 to these are added instruments which alchymists use , as iron tongs , iron plates , bellows , &c. 28 you have the subject receiving the vessels into it : the vessels which receive the matter follow . 29 of the vessels , some are put to the fire , some are not . those which are put to the fire , are either made of one matter , or else of divers . 30 vessels made of one matter , are either of glass , or mineral . 31 of glass , is either a phial , or circulatorium . glasses are used in solutions and coagulations . 32 the circulatoria are of divers kinds ; of which , three bear away the bell : a 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , and the phylosophical , or hermetical egg. 33 a mineral vessel , is either mettal or earth . mettal serves either for subtillation or infusion . for subtillation is made either of brass or bladder : for infusion is a funnel . 34 earthen vessels contain either the matter it self , or other vessels . 35 they which contain the matter it self , are either fusory , or not fusory . 36 those which contain other vessels are , kettles , cauldrons , earthen pans , crocks , trevets . 37 vessels which are chosen according to the pleasure of the workman , are made of earth , glass , mettals , &c. some of these are superior , some inferior . superior , as alembicks : inferior , as retorts , &c. 38 you have the instruments , and the place : heat and fire follows . 39 heat is natural , or artificial . natural is by the beams of the sun. 40 artificial is simple or mixed : simple is by digestion , or separation . 41 digestion is by anthannor , or horsedung , or hay , or straw . 42 heat separated is either gentle or strong . gentle is of a bladder or ashes . strong is either impedited or free. impedited is of sand , filings of iron . 43 free heat is of coals , either with flame , without flame , or reverberatory . 44 a mixt heat is that which serves both for digestion and separation ; and is called a bath . baths are two sold : balneum mariae , and balneum roris : namely , when the vessel is heated by the ascending vapor . 45 you have the efficient cause . the final cause of preparation is , the preservation of health , and other uses belonging to the life and ornament of man. 46 you have the cause : the effects follow ; which consists in the order of preparing medicines , and their application to dileases . 47 from the substance , some chymical medicines conduce to health , others to ornament : such as conduce to health , are either fluid or not fluid . fluid are , waters , spirits , tinctures , oyls , and quintessences , &c. such as are not fluid are , balsoms , extracts , salts , flowers , sublimates , 〈◊〉 , glasses , regulus , and chymical pouders , &c. 48 to my god alone in trinity and unity , be all honor and praise , for ever and ever . amen . finis chymical, medicinal, and chyrurgical addresses made to samuel hartlib, esquire. viz. 1. whether the vrim & thummim were given in the mount, or perfected by art. ... 9. the new postilions, pretended prophetical prognostication, of what shall happen to physitians, chyrurgeons, apothecaries, alchymists, and miners. hartlib, samuel, d. 1662. 1655 approx. 178 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 99 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a45747 wing h978 estc r209495 99831380 99831380 35843 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a45747) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 35843) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2049:35) chymical, medicinal, and chyrurgical addresses made to samuel hartlib, esquire. viz. 1. whether the vrim & thummim were given in the mount, or perfected by art. ... 9. the new postilions, pretended prophetical prognostication, of what shall happen to physitians, chyrurgeons, apothecaries, alchymists, and miners. hartlib, samuel, d. 1662. [8], 80, 83-114, p. 33, 134-173, 176-181, [25] p. printed by g. dawson for giles calvert at the black-spread eagle at the west end of pauls, london : 1655. with a divisional title page: a short and easie method of surgery, 1654. text is continuous despite pagination. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually 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remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine, popular -early works to 1800. alchemy -early works to 1800. 2005-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-04 andrew kuster sampled and proofread 2006-04 andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion chymical , medicinal , and chyrurgical addresses : made to samuel hartlib , esquire . viz. 1. whether the vrim & thummim were given in the mount , or perfected by art. 2. sir george ripley's epistle , to king edward unfolded . 3. gabriel plats caveat for alchymists . 4. a conference concerning the phylosophers stone . 5. an invitation to a free and generous communication of secrets and receits in physick . 6. whether or no , each several disease hath a particular remedy ? 7. a new and easie method of chirurgery , for the curing of all fresh wounds or other hurts . 8. a discourse about the essence of existence of mettals . 9. the new postilions , pretended prophetical prognostication , of what shall happen to physitians , chyrurgeons , apothecaries , alchymists , and miners . london , printed by g. dawson for giles calvert at the black-spread eagle at the west end of pauls . 1655. a table of the chymical , medicinal , and chirurgical addresses , made to samuel hartlib , esquire . a short discourse , proving vrim & thummim to be perfected by art , and to be of like pure substance , with the white and red elixirs . from page 1. to page 18. sir george ripeley's epistle to king edward unfolded . from pag. 16. to pa. 49. gabriel plats his caveat for alchymists : or a warning to all ingenious gentlemen , whether laicks , or clericks , that study for the finding out of the phylosophers stone , showing how they need not to be cheated of their estates , either by the perswasion of others , or by their own idle conceits . from pag 51. to pag. 88. one of monsieur renaudots french conferences , concerning this question ; whether or no each several disease , hath a particular , and especial remedy . from pag. 89. to pag. 99. another conference of monsieur renaudots , concerning the philosophers stone , translated out of french. from pag. 101. to pag. 112. an epistolical discourse of philaretus to empericus , written by a person of singular piety , honour , and learning , inviting all true lovers of vertue and mankind , to a free and generous communication of their secrets and receits in physick . from pag. 113. to pag. 150. a short and easie method of chirurgery , for the curing of all fresh wounds , or other hurts , especially commended to all chirurgeous , serving in warres , whither by sea or land. and to all that are employed in the publick hospitals of the common-wealth . translated out of low dutch. from pag. 153. to pag. 181. the appendix containing mr. gerard malynes philosophy : about the essence or existence of metals . delivered accidentally in one chapter of his book , called lex mercatoria , or the ancient law merchant . a translate of the eleventh chapter , taken out of a theological german treatise , printed in the year , 1655. under the title of postilion ; pretending to be a prophetial prognostication of what shall happen to physitians , chirurgeons , apothecaries , with their dependants , alchymists , and miners . whether the vrim & thummim were given in the mount , or perfected by art . the clear vision of an essence , causeth men to glorifie god , who hath given power unto man , to manifest his eternal purpose of renovation of the creature by a natural operation : and although the true and natural essences of things are seldom manifestly known by themselves , yet humane learning , being as a sickle , whereby we reap divine knowledge , directs us to the mark ; and the philosophers all agree , essences are bright , pure , and clear , confused in the creature , and may be purified , but the manner is not easily agreed , so that they lead us to the consideration of several arts , and of natural and artificial things , jointly and severally ▪ some arts have their termination in silence , as rhetorick and pleadings ▪ others have their perfection upon the superficies , as painting and carving : but the true alchymist excludes all vulgar operations to extract the internal beauty ; and there are three kinds of labourers in this art , alchymistae , lauchymistae , lachrymistae ; yet no art may justly be condemned for the fault of the professors . for albertus magnus saith , hoe artificium omni arte certius ac sublimius est , & certissimum habet effectum . they name their matter adam , because from red earth he became the salt and light of the world , so onely man , and their corporate lights , are called microcosmus : therefore they consider wisdome in a created nature , as well subject to sense as invisible , and consequently material , because quality is as the matter of the elements , and the central vertue is real , and may be specificate ; neither is it contrary to nature , but beyond nature , that the true sense , and lively practice make one perfection . the philosophers say , whosoever hath their mystery , knows the thing in being , and in being and use before practice , and each for himself affirms : i write nothing , save that i have seen and done , nor have i done any thing , save that i knew before . although that which is hid , is more than can be spoken , yet their whole intent is to manifest that which is hid , and to hide that which is manifest , therefore they conclude : felix scientia cum sciente , and the holy text saith , god giveth wisdome to the wise , and knowledge to them that know understanding . but because the question stands betwixt divine tradition , and natural disposition , we must look to the beginning , when the eternal word commanded , and it was made : but in the generation of heaven and earth , there is inserted a power of the perpetuation of creation , wherein vrim & hummim are created remotissima . for albeit the visible onely are mentioned , yet the invisible are understood , and difference taken betwixt things instituted without means , and those produced by help of mean subjects . for almighty god is not said to rest , as if he had travelled in his work , but because he created no more any new kind of creatures , than by the power of the word fiat ; therefore not the vrim & thummim , save as they subsisted in other things like misseltoe , which hath body , branch , and berry , yet no root of it self . but if we remember the things of old , we may declare these last from the first : for from the end of every intention springs the beginning , and the wisdom of god hath ordained diversity , but his power maketh all things equall , and thereby is manifested the eternal beauty . the vrim & thummim were substances ; for moses put them into the breast-plate , the words signifie light and perfection , knowledge and holiness , manifestation and truth , so the sense and substance doth predicate each other , as the convertible terms of science and essence make one perfection , and the substances were bright and perfect : also joint and several , because none can come to perfection without knowledge , and where the almighty god appointed the end , he gives the means to deliver the creature from the bondage of the elements . wisdome , understanding and knowledge , are the means to attain them , and the gifts of grace are signified by them also . the philosophers call the manifestation of the centrall vertue , donum dei , in their sacred use they were objective to the golden cherubims , whose wings were stretched to the outmost side of the temple , they signified the plenitude of science , which hath identity with essence ; there was also the scarlet vail , which seemed ever moving , and signified pure fire generative , and moving , which selected and fixed in clear bodies , is vrim & thummim ▪ for when the four spirits of the heavens proceed from the lord of all the earth , and were fixed in the north , then take silver and gold , and make crowns . there is a spiritual and natural use of these things , the creator by his absolute power , may make children of stones , but his ordinary power requires means ; and because the insensible things should make his love to man more apparent ; he commandeth the ark of noah , and the ark of the testimony , to be made after the proportion of mans body , the length six times the breadth , and ten times the thickness ; in which numbers are contained all perfections . yet is objected , they were not commanded to be made , but to be put into the breast-plate . the great and glorious works of god are not unknown unto himself , but unto us , they are by present command , or by successive course , as the first fruits were supernatural ; and again , the trees brought forth the same year , according to their natural course and perfection : also the word essence , containeth the natural & spiritual condition of bodies , which are so fast connexed , that the true and natural essence , is with great difficulty made apparent , although the matter be but as a light case to the form : in generation it moves a non ente ad ens . in corruption it moves ab ente actu ad non ens . also some things have existence by the subject , which have no essence in nature , neither are said to be created , as darknels , and silence , and things of putrefactive kind . so in the putrefaction of the creature , that is not properly said to be made , which by an inward power doth purge it self by ebullition , and a kind of new generation , as doth the pure sulphur of metal , the artist being but as a mid-wife ; so that there is a necessary difference betwixt that which hath being by the power of gods work , and the work of man ; for no effect is said to be necessary from the first and remote causes , but from the second and neerer ; as in the spiritual operation in man , the work of righteonsness is peace , and the effect , quietness and assurance for ever . also taking away evening and morning , which is mixed knowledge , the light of the seven dayes shall be a perpetual blessing , and perfect knowledge . now to descend again to the philosophers , morien romanus saith , secretum secretorum est illa dispositio , quaem anibus perfici non potest . haec enim dispositio est naturarum mutatio . another saith , ars ergo postcontemplationem omnium horarum sequitur naturam , & recipit spiritus natura immundos , & eos sublimando subluerat & mundat , & tunc volendo fugere ab igne , ars ministrat naturas & natura eos convertit in corpora munda fixa , & de caeteris natura corporum dominabitur naturae spirituum in aeternum , per hoc ingenium mirabile . bezaleel had the spirit of wisdom , understanding and knowledge , which are the means to attain this effect , and his ends directed to devise works in gold , silver and brass , which although in sound of words they seem inferiour , yet they are in exaltations in art progressive to the producing of vrim & thummim . for all the glorious furniture of the tabernacle was not for worldly pomp , but for spiritual mysterie and beauty of the doctrine of the law and the gospel : so in natural things , there is no greater mysterie than that the incorrupted quality of pure sulphur , should have regal power and rest , eternally visible , shining as the sun in glory . as a man is chiefest of the creatures , so gold is purest of bodies , lord of stones , and noblest of metals , which one cals secretum magnum dei , and another saith , ille spiritus in auro idem est cum spiritu generate omnium creaturarum : est que eadem unica generativa natura per omnia diffusa . and as the sun is chiefest amongst celestial bodies , so his spirit doth raign over the fourfold nature , and being corporate is without shadow . one of the rabbins saith , in the second temple they made vrim & thummim , therefore that which hath been done , may be done , although the materials be concealed . for good in a better , is ever more excellent ; but if phidias gave him rude and obstinate stuff to carve , let his art do what it can , his work will want the beauty . and because nature of her self cannot attain her highest perfection , the artist must break the gates of brass , and cut in pieces the barres of iron , that is ignorance , and the matter of the elements , whereby the treasures of darkness , and incorporeal substances are hidden from us , but being removed , the invisible essence is apparent , as the chariots of fire about elisha . these rabbins also hold every natural beginning to be either matter , or the cause of matter , viz. the four elements sub nutus dei , which they express in numbers and figures , for number is unity folded up , and unity is number unfolded . the mathematical number is collected of many unites , as a line of many points ; and number is said to be formed , and material signifying principia & elementa , because vocabulum naturale est symbolum numeri , which is expressed in the setting of the precious stones four rowes , three in a row , four to shew the natural perfection , and three the inward genreration ; as three and four the artificial exaltation . for these natural bodies do not shew forth their vertues , until they be made spiritual ; the precious stones signified the excellency of gifts in the teachers , and the vrim & thummim the gifts of grace in the heart , because the central vertues are their materials , quia virtutes formant ad speciem . in things of greatest concordance are greatest vertues ; for that which is most abundant in vertue , doth most excel in glory and beauty : bezaliel hath the spirit of knowledge to devise works in gold , therefore his invention must necessarily consider the possibility from the object , and how to work upon the form , as well as upon the matter , and upon the center as upon the superficies : for seeing the perfection of the matter is glorious , the perfection of the form must necessarily be more glorious ; because the bodily nature shall eternally predominate : in the creation the substance of the sun was light corporate the fourth day , light is never without heat , and radical heat is the occultum corporis , which augmented and fixed , shines as the sun in glory , which shews the majesty of nature as in a liquid glass ; notwithstanding , that which is sowed is not quickned , except it die , and it is a rule amongst the philosophers : ad perfectionem omnium artium requiritur renascentia . to like purpose another saith : corpus ad omnes perferandas miserias est ordinatum . oportet enim transire per ignem & aquam & renasci , aliter in requiem eternam ingredi non poterit . and another saith , post resurrectionem habemus gloriam & fortitudinem sempiteranam tunc gaudebunt omnes in prosperitate magnâ qui sciunt nostrum progressum . so the end of every intention shews the beginning , the creatures were made perfect , and to be perfect : for the formal and final cause is the same , the difference is in the perfections . some hold that the ancient philosophers by this holy art have become prophets : and because adam his dominion of the creatures was the knowledge of their natures and properties , by this science he knew the world should be twice destroyed : for both fire and water are necessarily required to the purification of the creature . and as sense is the light of nature , so reason is the perfection of sence , & by example we see with others eys , but by reason with our own . notwithstanding we may consider tubal-cain , who was an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron , that is ( saith the philosopher ) a perfect master in the decoction of mineral vertue , which daemogerger calleth ferrum . et aurora consurgens hath these words : ego sum ferrum siccum & durum & forte , pistans & pistatum omne bonum . et non est res mundi agens actionem meam . per me enim generatur secretum secretorum , quando convalesco à langu●ribus , tunc habeo vitam leonis rugientis , &c. etiam raym lullius , absque ferro homines suam vitam sustentare non posse : iterum ferrum potest quod aurum non potest , seipsum mortificat , seipsum vivificat , seipsum rubore decorat . and this operative spirit is the regal sulphur , which questioneth in marlin his allegory . where are mine enemies that would not that i should raign over them ? bring them hither , that i may slay them . the antimonial and arsenical spirits must be vanquished , for onely to the benign , gentle , and most suffering mercurial spirit is given absolute victory : lux sata est justo , &c. therefore sow light , and reap perfection , sow gold , and reap the internal beauty . notwithstanding the philosophers work is not upon gold , no more than a man doth ride upon a block , because he mounts a great horse by it : but their is use of it . and one saith , gold is dissolved by wisdom , therefore in the power of art to better , yet the fast locked body must not only be made relative , and the exterior from destroyed , but from the crude nature , and confused substance doth naturally arise , a subtil white fume , which is said to be vita quaedam unica omnia replens , colligans & connectens , that is , aqua clarissima putrefactionis , and being corporated is clear as a crystal looking glass , and then called ens enti admixtum essentia composita & vrim , also by help of the same pure body ( save that forma ex materia non nascitur ) is produced a more perfect substance brighter than a carbuncle , giving sufficient light to read by , which is called essentia simplex , ens omnis privationis expers & thummim . for the creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption , unto a glorious liberty , and the animality being changed into spirituality , the corporal and spiritual vertues are eternally fixed . some hold a glorified body shall be like a chrystal lanthorn , with a taper in it , and like them men shall differ in glory . certainly the wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament , and the creator hath given power to men to manifest the redintegration of the world , by a lineary and successive course in short time , which himself shall make apparent , when time shall cease . but de entibus â fortuna non potest esse veritas , nec scientia : also we must specially remember onely the homogeneal nature , is capable of so high excellence , which bezaleel did work upon , and hath the spirit of knowledge , which word in the original , is used for sense and experience , and he made all the lord commanded moses , who might make nothing , save that he hath seen a pattern of in the mount. therefore bezaleel was at least equal to those of the second temple , and the ancient philosophers . it seems also the prophets were not ignorant of these things ; for there is mentioned of the stones of fire attained by wisdome , the stone of tinne in the hand of zerubabel by the treasures , and stone of darkness , and as it were fire turned up , yet they knew not the order of making the physical and metaphysical bodies . for in nature many things are produced by habitual vertue , which seem incredible . sir george riplye's epistle to king edward unfolded . this epistle as it was imediately written to a king , who was in his generation , both wise and valiant , so it doth comprise the whole secret , both learnedly described , and yet artificially vailed , yet as the author testifieth , that in this epistle he doth plainly untie the main knot . so i can and do testifie with him , that there is nothing desireable for the true attaining of the mysterie , both in the theory and practick of it , which is not in this short epistle fully taught . this then i intend as a key to all my former writings , and assure you on my faithful word , that i shall not speak one word doubtfully or mystically , as i have in all my other writings , seeming to aver some things which taken without a figure , are utterly false , which we did onely to conceal this art : this key therefore we intend not to make common ; and shall intreat you to keep it secret to your self , and not to communicate it , except it be to a sure friend , who you are confident will not make it publick . and this request we make upon very good grounds , knowing that all our writings together , are nothing to this , by reason of the contradictions w ch we have vvoven into them , which here is not done in the least measure . i shall therefore in this epistle take up a new method , and that different from the former , and shall first draw up the substance of the philosophy couched in this epistle , into several conclusions , and after elucidate the same . the first conclusion is drawn from the nineth stave of this epistle , the eight first staves being only complemental , and that is , that as all things are multiplyed in their kind , so may be mettals , which have in themselves a capacity of being transmuted the imperfect into perfect . the second conclusion in the tenth stave is , that the main ground for the possibility of transmutation , is the possibility of reduction of all mettals , and such minerals as are of mettalick principles , into their first mercurialmater . the third conclusion is in the eleventh stave , that among so many mettaline or mineral sulphurs and so many sulphurs there are but two that are related to our work , which sulphurs have their mercuries essentially united to them . the fourth conclusion from the same stave is , that he who understands these two sulphurs and mercuries aright , shall find that the one is the most pure red sulphur of gold , which is sulphur in manifesto and mercurius in occulto , and that other is most pure white mercury , which is indeed true quicksilver , in manifesto and sulphur in occulto , these are our two principles . the fifth conclusion from the twelfth stave is , that if a mans principles be true , and his operations regular , his event wil be certain , which event is no other than the true mystery . these conclusions are but few in number , but of great weight , the amplification , illustration , and ilucidation therfore of them will make a son of art truly glad . for the first , forasmuch as it is not for our purpose here to invite any to the art , onely intending to lead and guide the sons of art ; we shall not prove the possibility of alchimy , by many arguments , having done it abundantly in another treatise . he then that will be incredulous , let him be incredulous , he that will cavil , let him cavil ; but he whose mind is perswaded of the truth of the art , and of its dignity , let him attend to what is in the illustration of these five conclusions discovered , and his heart shall certainly rejoyce . we shall therefore briefly illustrate this first conclusion , and insist there more largely , where the secrets of the art are most couched . for this first then which concludes in effect the truth of the art , and its reality , he that would therein be more satisfied in it , let him read the testimoniy of all philosophers , and he that will not believe the testimones of so many men , being most of them , men of renown in their own time , he wil cavill also against all other arguments . we shall onely hold to riplyes testimony in this our key , who in the fourth stave , assures the king that at lovain he first saw the greatest and most perfect secrets , namely the two elixers ; and in his following verses , craves his confident credit , that he hath himself truly found the way of secret alchimy , and promiseth the discovery of it to the king , onely upon condition of secrecy . and in the eighth stave , though he protests never to write it by pen , yet proffers the king at his pleasure , to shew him ocularly the red and white elixer , and the working of them , which he promiseth will be done for easie costs in time . so then he that will doubt the truth of the art , must account this famous author , for a most simple mad sophister , to write and offer such things to his prince , unless he were able in effect to do what he promised , from which imputation his writings , and also the histories of him , of his fame , gravity , and worth will sufficiently cleer him . we now come to the second conclusion , the substance of which is , that all mettals and bodies of metaline principles , may be reduced to their first mercurial matter , and this is the main and chief ground for the possibility of transmutation . on this we must insist largely & fully , for ( trust me ) this is the very hinge on which our secrets hang. first , then know that all mettals , and several minerals have ♁ for their next matter , to which ( for the most part , nay indeed alwayes ) there adheres , and is concoagulated an external sulphur , which is not mettaline , but distinguishable from the internal kernel of the mercury . this sulphur is not wanting even in common argent vive , by the mediation of which , it may be precipitated into the form of a dry pouder . yea and by a liquor well known to us , ( though nothing helping the art of transmutation ) it may be so fixed , that it may endure all fires , the test and coppel , and this without the addition of any thing to it , the liquor ( by vertue whereof it is fixed ) coming away intire , both in its pondus and vertue . this sulphur in gold and silver is pure , in the other mettals less pure , therefore in gold and silver it is fixed , in other it is fugitive , in all the mettals it is coagulated in mercury or argent vive , it is coagulable in gold , silver , and mercury , this sulphur , is so strongly united , that the antients did ever judge sulphur and mercury to be all one , but we by the help of a liquor , the invention of which , in these parts of the world we owe to paracelsus ( though among the moores and arabians it hath been and is ( at this day ) commonly known to the acuter sort of chymists ) by this i say we know that the sulphur which is in mercury coagulable , and in the mettals coagulated , is external to the nature of mercury , and may be separated in the form of a tincted mettalick oyle , the remaining mercury being then void of all sulphur , save that which may be called its inward sulphur , and is now inincoagulable of it self ( though by our elixer it is to be coagulated , but of it self , it can neither be fixt nor precipitated , nor sublimed , but remains unaltered in all corrosive waters , and in all digestions of heat . one way then of mercury azating all mettals and minerals , is by the liquor alcahest , which out of all such bodies as have mercury in their constitution , can separate a running argent vive , from which argent vive all its sulphur is then separated , save that onely which is internal and central to the mercury , which internal sulphur of mercury no corosive can touch , next to this way of universal reduction , there are also some other particular wayes , by which ♄ ♃ ♁ , yea , even ♀ and ♂ may be reduced into a running quick-silver , by the help of salts , which because ( being corporeal , they pierce not so radically as the fore named liquor doth , they therefore do not so spoile the mercury of its sulphur but that as much sulphur as there is in common mercury , so much also there is in this mercury of the bodies , onely this mercury hath specificated qualities according to the nature of the mettal or mineral , from which it was extracted , and from that reason ( as to our work , which is to dissolve perfect species of mettals ) it hath no more vertue than common argent vive : there is then but only one humidity , which is applicable unto our work , which certainly is neither of ♄ nor ♀ , nor is drawn from any thing , which nature hath formed , but from a substance compounded by the art of the philosopher . so then , if a mercury drawn from the bodies , have not onely the same deficiency of heat and superfluity of foeces as common mercury hath , but also a distinct specificated form , it must ( by reason of this its form ) be so much the farther remote from our mercury then common argent vive is . our art therefore is to compound two principles ( one in which the salt , and another in which the mercury of nature doth abound ) which are not yet perfect , nor yet totally imperfect and by consequence ) may therefore ( by our art be exalted with that ( which is totally perfect , cannot be ) and then by common mercury to extract not the pondus , but the celestial vertue out of the compound , which vertue ( being fermental ) begets in the common mercury an off-spring more noble than it self , which is our true hermaphrodite , which will congeal it self , and dissolve the bodies ; observe but a grain of corn in which scarce a discernable part is sprout , and this sprout , if it were out of the grain , would dye in a moment ; the whole grain is sowen , yet the sprout onely produceth the herb : so is it in our body , the fermental spirit that is in it , is scarce a third pars of the whole , the rest is of no value , yet all is joyned in the composition , and the faeculent corporeous , part of the body comes away with the dreggs of the mercury . but beyond the example given of a grain , it may be observed that the hidden and spiritual vertue of this our body , doth purge and purifie its matrix of water , in which it is sowen , that is , it makes it cast forth a great quantity of filthy earth , and a great deal of hydropical saline moisture . for instance make thy washings ( for a tryall ) with pure and clean fountain-water , weigh first a pint of the same water , and take the exact weight of it , then wash thy compound eight or ten times , save all the faeces , weigh thy body and mercury exactly , weigh thy faeces being very dry , then distill or sublime all that will sublime a very little quick mercury will ascend ; then put the residue of the faeces in a crucible , set them on the coals , and all the faeculency of the mercury will burn like a coal , yet without fume ; when that is all consumed , weigh the remaining faeces , and thou shalt find them to be two thirds of thy body , the others being in the mercury , weigh the mercury which thou sublimedst , and the mercury prepared by itself , and the weight of both will not recompence thy mercury weight by farre . so then boile up thy water to a skin , in which thou madest thy lotions , for that is a thick water : and in a cool place thou shalt have christals , which is the salt of mercury crude , and no way fit for medicines ; yet it is a content for the artists to see how the heterogeneyties of mercury are discovered , which no other art save the liquor of alcahest can do , and that in a destructive , and not a generative way as this is , for this operation of ours is made between male and female , within their own kind , between which there is a ferment which effecteth that which no other thing in the world could do . in all truth , i tell you , that if you should take our imperfect compound body , per se , and mercury per se , and them alone , though you might bring out of the one a most pure sulphur , and out of the other mercury of mercury , which is the nut of mercury , yet with these thou couldst effect nothing , for fermental virtue is the wonder of the world , and it is by it , that water becomes herbs , trees , and plants , fruits , flesh , blood , stones , minerals and every thing , look then for it onely , and rejoyce in it as in a deservedly invaluable treasure ; now know that fermentation , work not out of kind , neither do salts ferment mettals ; wilt thou know then whence it is that some fixt alcalyes do extract a mercury out of minerals , and out of the more imperfect metals , consider then , that in all these bodies the sulphur is not so radically mixt and united , as it is in silver and gold. now sulphur is of kin to divers alcalyes , that are ordinarily dissolved or melted with it , and by this means the mercurial parts are disjoyned , and the argent vive is by fire separated . the mercury thus separated , is spoyled of its sulphur when as indeed there needs onely a depuration of the sulphur by separating the impure from the pure ; but these salts having separated the sulphur do leave the mercury worse , that is , more estranged from a metallick nature , than it was before , for in its composition that sulphur of saturn will not burn , but though it be sublimed , calcined , made sugar , or vitrefied , yet by fire and fluxes it still returns to the same it was in before , but its sulphur being ( as is aforesaid ) seperated , will take fire , if joyned with salt-peter , even as common sulphur doth , so that the salts act on the sulphur of which they rob the mercury , they act not for want of ferment which is not to be found , but onely among homogeneall things . therefore the ferment of bread leavens not a stone , nor doth the ferment of any animal or vigetable , ferment a mettal or mineral . so then , though out of gold thou mightest obtaine a mercury by the help of the liquor , of the first ens of salt , yet that mercury would never accomplish our work , whereas on the otherside made out of gold by our mercury , though there be three parts of our mercury to one of gold , this mercury i say will by continual digestion ) accomplish the whole work , marvell not then , that our mercury is more powerfull , which is prepared by mercury , for certainly the ferment , which commeth between the compound body and the water , causeth a death , and a regeneration , it doth that , which nothing in the world can do , besides it severs from mercury a terres treity , which burns like a coale , and an hydropical humor melting in common water , but the residue is acuated by a spirit of life , which is our true embryonated sulphur of our water , not visible , yet working visibly ; we conclude that all operations for our mercury but by common mercury , and our body according to our art are erronious , and will never produce our mystery , although they be other wise never so wonderfull . for as the author of the newlight saith , no water in any island of the phylosophers , was wholesom , but that which was drawn out of the reines of the soll and luna . wilt thou know what that meanes ? mercury in its pond us and incombustibility is gold fugitive , our body in its purity , is called the phylosophers luna being farre more pure than the imperfect mettals and its sulphur also as pure as the sulphur of soil , not that it is indeed luna , for it abides not in the fire , now in the composition of these three ( 1 ) our common mercury and the two principles of our compound there interceeds , the ferment of luna , out of which though it be a body , proceeds yet a specificating odor : yea and oft the pondus of it is diminished : if the compound be much washt , after it is sufficiently clean . so then the ferment of soll and luna interceeds in our composition , which ferment begets an ofspring , more noble than it self a 1000 fold , wheas should'st thou work on our compound body by a violent way of salts , thou should'st have thy mercury by farre less noble , than the body , the sulphur of the body being separated and not exalted by such a progress . we now come to the third conclusion , which is that among all metalline and mineral sulphur there are onely two , that belong to our work , which two have their mercuries essentially united with them . this is the truth of our secrets , though we ( to seduce the unwary ) do seem to aver the contrary , for do not think that ( because we do insinuate two waies , therefore ) we really mean as we say , for verily ( as witnesseth ripley ) there is no true principles but one , nor have we but one matter , nor but one way of working upon that matter , nor but one regimen of heat , and one linear way of proceeding . these two sulphurs as they are principles of our work , they ought to be homogeneal , for it is onely gold spiritual that we seek , first white , then red , which gold is no other then that which the vulgar see , but they know not the hidden spirit that is in it . this principle wants nothing but composition , and this composition must be made , with our other crude white sulphur which is nothing but mercury vulgar , by frequent cohobation of it upon our hermaphroditical body , so long till it be come a fiery water . know therefore that mercury hath in its self a sulphur , which being unactive , our art is to multiply in it a living active sulphur , which comes out of the loyns of our hermaphroditical body , whose father is a metal and his mother a mineral , take then the most beloved daughter of saturn , whose armes are a circle argent , and on it a sable cross on a blackfield , which is the signall note of the great world , espouse her to the most warlike god , who dwels in the house of aries , and thou shalt find the salt of nature , with this salt acuate thy water , as thou best knowest , and thou shalt have the lunary bath , in which the sun will be amended . and in all truth i assure thee , that although thou hadst our body mercurialized ( without the addition of mercury of any of the metals ) made per se , that is without the addition of mercury , it would not be in the least profitable unto thee , for it is our mercury onely , which hath a celestial form and power , which it receives , not onely , nor so much from the compound body , as from the fermental virtue which proceeds from the composition of both the body and the mercury , by which is produced a wonderfull creature : so then let all thy care be to marry sulphur with sulphur , that is our mercury which is impraegnated , which sulphur , must be espoused with our ☉ then hast thou two sulplers married and two mercuries of one off spring , whose father is the ☉ and ☽ the mother . the fourth conclusion makes all perfectly plain , which hath been said before , namely that these two sulphurs are the one most pure red sulphur of gold , and the other of most pure clean white mercury . these are our two sulphurs , the one appears a coagulated body , and yet carries its mercury in its belly : the other is in all its proportions true mercury , yet very clean and carries its sulphur within its self , though hidden under the form and fluxibilitie of mercury . sophisters are ( here ) in a labyrinth , for because they are not acquainted with metalline love , they work in things altogether heterogeneal , or if they work upon metalline bodies ▪ they yet either joyne males with males , or else females with females , or else they work on each alone , or else they take males , which are charged with natural inabilities , and females whose matrix is vitiated thus by there own inconsideration they frustrate their own hopes , and then cast the blame upon the art , when as indeed it is onely to be imputed to their own folly , in not understanding the phylosophers . i know many pittifull sophisters do dote on many stones , vigitable , animal , and mineral , and some to those add the fiery angelical , paradaical stone , which they call a wonder working essence , and because the mark they aim at , is so great , the waies also , by which they would attain their scope , they make also a double , one way they call the via humida , the other , the via sicca , ( to use their languages ) . the latter way is the labirinthian path , which is fit onely for the great ones of the earth to tread in , the other the dedalean path , an easie way of small cost for the poor of the world , to enterprize . but this i know and can testifie that there is but one way , and but onely one regimen , no more colours than ours , and what we say or write otherwise , is but to deceive the unwary , for if every thing in the world ought to have its proper causes , there cannot be any one end , which is produced from two waies of working on distinct principles . therefore we protest and must again admonish the reader that ( in our former writings ) we have concealed much , by reason of the two waies we have insinuated , which is the play of children , and the work of women , and that is decoction by the fire , and we protest that the lowest degree of this our work , is that the matter be stirred up , and may hourly circulate without feare of breaking of the vessel , which for this reason ought to be very strong , but our linear decoction is an internal work , which advances every day and hour , and is distinct from that of outward heat , and therefore is both invisible and insensible . in this our work , our diana is our body when it is mixed with the water , for then all is called the moon , for laton is whitened , and the woman beares rule , our diana hath a wood , for in the first dayes of the stone , our body after it is whitened grows vegitably . in this wood , are at the last found two doves , for about the end of three weeks , the soul of the mercury ascends , with the soul of the disolved gold , these are in folded in the everlasting armes of venus , for in this season the confection are all tincted with a pure green colour , these doves are circulated seven times , for in seven is perfection , and then they are left dead , for they then rise and move no more , our body is then black like to a crowes bill , for in this operation all is turned to pouder , blacker than the blackest . such passages as these we do oftentimes use , when we speak of the preparation of our mercury , and this we do to deceive the simple , and it is also for no other end that we confound our operations speaking of one , when we ought to speak of another , for if this art were but plainly set down , our operatiations would be contemptible even to the foolish . therefore believe me in this , that because our workes are truly natural , we therefore do take the liberty to confound the phylosophers work , with that which is purely natures work , that so we might keep the simple in ignorance , concerning our true vinegre , which being unknown , their labor is wholly lost . let me then ( for a close ) say onely thus much ; take our body which is gold , and our mercury which is seven times acuated by the marriage of it , with our hermaphroditicall body , which is a chaos , and it is the splendor of the soul of the god mars , in the earth , and water of saturn , mix these two in such a pondus as nature doth require , in this mixture you have our invisible fires , for in the water our mercury is an active sulphur or mineral fire , and in the gold a dead passive , but yet actual sulphur now when that sulphur of the gold is stirred up and quickned , there is made between the fire of nature which is as the gold , and the fire against nature , which is in the mercury , a fire partly of the one and partly of the other , for it partakes of both , and by these two fires thus united into one , is caused both corruption ( which is humiliation ) and generation ( which is glorification and perfection : ) now know that god onely governs this way of the internal fire , man being ignorant of the progress thereof , onely by his reason beholding its operations , he is able to discern that it is hot , that is , that it doth perform the action of heat , which is decoction , in this fire there is no sublimation , for sublimation is an exaltation , but this fire is such an exaltation , as that beyond it , is no perfection . all our work then is onely to multiply this fire , that is to circulate the body so long until the vertue of the sulphur be augmented . again this fire is an invisible spirit , and therefore not having dimentions , is neither above nor below , but every where in the sphere of the activity of our matter in the vessel ; so that though the material visible substance do sublime and ascend by the action of the elemental heat , yet this spiritual virtue is alway as well in that which remains in the bottom , as in that which is in the upper part of the vessel . for it is as the soul in the body of man , which is every where at the same time , and yet bounded or termined in none . this is the ground of one sophism of ours , ( viz. ) when we say that in this true philosophical fire , there is no sublimation , for the fire is the life , and the life is a soul , which is not at all subject to the dimensions of bodies , hence also it is that the opening of the glass or cooling of the same during the time of working kils the life or fire , that is in this secret sulphur , and yet not one grain of the mettal is lost . the elemental fire then is that which any child knowes how to kindle and govern , but it is the philosopher onely , that is able to discern the true inward fire for it is a wonderful thing , which acts in the body , yet is no part of the body . therefore the fire is a celestial virtue it is uniformed , that is , it is alwaies the same untill the period of its operation is come , and then being come to perfection it acts no more , for every agent , when the end of its action is come then rests . remember then that when we speak of our fire which sublimes not , that thou do not mistake and think that the moisture of the compound which is within the glass ought not to sublime , for that it must do ●ncesantly , but the fire that sublimes not , is the metalline love , which is above and below and in all places alike . now then for a close to all that hath been said , learn and be well advised what matter you take in hand , for an evil crow laies an evil egg , as the proverb hath it , let thy seed be pure , and thy matrix also pure , then shalt thou see a noble off-spring , let the fire without be such , as in which our confections may play to & fro uncessantly , & this ( in a few daies ) will produce that which thou most longest for , the crows bill . to the readers . whereas this book is to be printed by a well-willer to all men , that love knowledge more than riches , and to be censured by all men : i desire no man to assent , unless his reason do move him : therefore i am contented that every man , upon the reading thereof , shall have his free vote ; if he praise my work , that will make me neither fatter nor more proud ; if de dispraise it , that will make me no leaner , nor abate the courage of my noble mind : for the truth is , that my minde is a size too great , to value , or regard the speeches of the common people , more than the chattering of magpyes , or the pratling of parrots . so i take my leave , at westminster , this 10. of march. 1643. your loving friend , g. p. a caveat for alchymists , or , a warning to all ingenious gentlemen , whether laicks or clericks , that study for the finding out of the philosophers stone ; shewing how that they need not to be cheated of their estates , either by the perswasion of others , or by their own idle conceits . the first chapter . whereas i am shortly to demonstrate before the high and honourable court of parliament in england , that there is such a thing feisible as the philosophers stone ; or to speak more properly , an art in the transmutation of mettals , which will cause many a thousand men to undo and begger themselves , in the searching for the same : i cannot chuse but to publish these advertisements , for that is a fundamental point in my religion , to do good to all men , as well enemies as friends : if i could be satisfied , that the publishing thereof , would do more good than hurt ; then the world should have it in plain terms , and as plain as an apothecaries receit : but in regard that i have often vowed to god almighty upon my knees , to do the greatest good with it , that my understanding could perswade me unto , i have craved the advice of the honourable parliament , for that i have strongly conceived an opinion , that by the well contriving of the use of it , the worlds ill manners may be changed into better : if this can be done , then i should break my vow to god , if i should not do my best endeavours , and therefore i dare not to cheat god almighty ( having obtained this blessed science of his free gift ) and go into a corner , and there eat , drink and sleep like a swine , as many have done before me , upon whom this blessed knowledge , hath been unworthily bestowed : but had rather improve it to his glory , if my counsel craved shall so think fit . but howsoever my meaning is to do some considerable good with it howsoever , that is , to make my self a sea-mark , to the end , that no ingenious gentleman shall from henceforth be undone by the searching for this noble art , as many have heretofore been therefore my first caveat shall be to shew , that no man needs to be damnified above the value of 20. s. to try whether he be in a right way to it , or not ? the second caveat shall be , to shew a way how to try whether any wandring alchymist , that promiseth golden mountains , know any thing or not ? the third caveat shall be , to shew how any mans iudgement ought to be grounded by a concordance of the best books , before he fall to practice ? the fourth caveat shall be , to shew which are false books , and which are true ones , to the end that every student in this excellent art , may trouble himself with fewer books , till he hath made a concordance , and hath gathered the same out of the aenigmatical discourses , and hieroglifical figures , wherein this art is hidden , and never to be found in plain terms , nor written plainly in any receipt . well for the first caveat , that no man needs to be damnified above 20. s. to know whether he be in a right way , or not , let him be pleased to consider , that without putrefactio unius , there can be no generatio alterius ; as in all other sublunary bodies , as well animals as vegetables , right so in minerals and mettals . therefore he that cannot take one ounce of the filings of copper , or any other base mettal , and by an ingenious addition of a mineral moisture of the same kind , putrefie the same in a few moneths , and make it totally volatil , except a few faeces of no considerable weight , then he is out of the way , and is not to meddle with gold or silver , or any thing of great price : for he shall never obtain his desire , ( though he spend his whole life , time and estate . also he that hath not gathered a concordance , by reading of books , which cannot be controlled by humane wit , is not fit to begin to practice this noble art , and not in one part thereof , but in six several parts , which are these that follow . first , it is clear that he must have a mineral spirit , before he can dissolve a mineral body , or else he will work out of kind ; and if he think that quicksilver , which is sold at the apothecaries shops , is this mineral spirit , then he is deceived , and will find it to be so ; but the truth is , that if nature had not created quick-silver , this art could never have been found ; not that it can be made the philosopical dissolvent , by any preparation whatsoever , but without it the first dissolvent ( for there are three ) cannot be gotten : for it onely hath power to separate this mineral spirit , from a crude mineral , taken from the mine , which the fire hath never touched , and no other thing under heaven can do it else , no more than any creature besides a bee , can extract hony out of a flower . secondly , that he must know the secret of dissolution , ( which is not by the common way used by alchymists , but by the way meant by bernardus comes trovisanus , where he saith , hujus dissolutionis via paucissimis est nota : and i know not one alchymist this day , nor ever did , to whom , if i should have given him the true dissolvent in one hand , which is a ponderous bright water , and the dissolvend in the other hand , which is a powder , or filings of mettal : ye he knew not how to dissolve it . thirdly , he must know what is meant by the hollow oak , a comparison not very unfit for the furnace , wherein this secret of dissolution , is to be accomplished . fourthly , he must know the reason and manner of refixing his bodies when he hath made them volatil , by this secret way of dissolution . fifthly , he must know the secret of projection , which hath beguiled many , when by their great charges study and labour , they have made the philosophers stone , so that they could make no use it . for when it is mingled with the imperfect mettals , yea , though prepared philosophically , not vulgarly , yet there is another thing to be done , before the mettal transmuted goeth to the test , or else all is lost : and if any one will not believe me , let him read the books of raymundus lullius , and he shall finde in three several places , in several books , that after projection , the matter must be put in cineritio , in vasi longo , but he saith also , non intelligas quod ponas plumbum in cineritio : for there is somthing to be separated by the art of the philosopher , before the lead come to do its duty , or else all will be gone according to the saying : totum vertitur in fumum , quicquid ineptus agit . sixthly , he must know the fire , and the regiment thereof ; and also the nature , which is to be gentle , continual , compassing round about the matter , and not burning it . and now that i have shewed what an artist must know , or else all his labour and charge is lost , i wish every man to consider what a hazard he undergoeth , if he meddle without the knowledge of these six secrets , for so much as he may very well faile , though he have them , i mean , though he have the theorick , yet he may fail in the practick . therefore if any smoak seller , or wandring alchymist , shall come to any ingenious gentleman that studieth this art , though he bring with him a recipe that promiseth golden mountains , and maketh affidivit , i mean that searcheth never so deeply , that he hath done it , or seen it done , which is a common trick amongst wandring alchymists : believe him not , unless he can satisfie you concerning all the six former mentioned secrets , for if you do believe him having not that knowledge , i will give my word for him , that he shall cozen you . for there is but unica via , unica operatio , to accomplish any work in alchymie , which is as hard to be found , as the way to heaven in this world , where there are an hundred religions , or rather an hundred sects of religion , wherein the true religion is smothered and bemisted , even as the way to make the philosophers stone is , by the idle conceits of men , that are ruled by opinion , more than by knowledge . as for example , on petrus bonus ferrariensis a great learned man , and a doctor of the chair of an university , wrote a book called margarita pretiosa , and penned it most admirably , concerning the philosophers stone , and the way to make it ; and when he had done , confessed that he never had made it , yet he guessed indifferent well , but all his directions are not worth a button . i would give an impression of his books away freely , that i had his school-learning , but as for his knowledge , i would not give two pence : whereby it may be seen how easily wise men may be deceived , and therefore let fools look about them before they attempt this noble science . also one gaston dulco cl●vens , a great champion that quarrelled with all opposers of this sacred art , and wrote a book , which is greatly esteemed by alchymists , and seemeth very rational to all those , which have not the practick , wherein he defendeth the truth of this art by 32 arguments , and many experiments , which are all false , upon my certain knowledge , and if my purse could speak it , should swear it . and many others have written upon this subject , which knew nothing but what they had collected out of books , to what end , i know not , unless it were to draw other learned men unto them , thinking to gain some knowledge by their conference . also another , whose name i have forgotten ( for it is a great while since i read any books ) wrote a book intituled de interitu alchymie , which is as foolish as any of the other , unless that when all his hopes were at an end , he thought that some man would have come unto him , and confuted him , by shewing him the experience of it . well thus much for false books ; now as for true ones , i could name many , that could not be written , but by those that had made certain trial of the work ; but for brevity sake , and to keep this book within the price promised , viz. two pence ▪ i will name onely four , viz. the compound of alchymie , written by georgius ripleus anglus , the hierogliphical figures of nicholaus tilamellus , whose body lieth buried in paris : the works of raymundus lullius ; the two books of bernardus comes tievisanus : these four men shewed by their actions , that they had the art of the transmutation of mettals . for georgius ripleus anglus , maintained an army of souldiers at rhodes against the turks , at his own charge : nicholaus tilamellus builded up seven churches , and seven hospitals at paris , and endowed them with good revenues , which may be easily proved : raymundus lullius made gold in the tower of london , to furnish an army to go against the turks : bernardus comes trevisanus , recovered his earldome again , which he had formerly spent in the seeking of this art. and now me thinks , i hear every one demanding , how shall we do to find out this grat secret ? but geber an arabian prince , and a famous philosopher shall answer in his own words , viz. non per lectionem librorum , sed per immensam cognitionem , per profundam imaginationem , & per assiduam praxim : and when all this is done ; he concludeth , that est donum dei altissimi , qui cui vult , largitur , & subtrahit . well now me thinks i hear the cousening alchymists , saying , what shall we do now , we have no other living ? to which i answer , that i would gladly rid the world of cheaters if i could : but if they must needs couzen , then let them trade with those that have so little love to art , that they cannot afford to read this book , to defend themselves , and that will improve the wits of the world very much , so that it may possibly do more good than hurt : for the truth is that the world is unhappy , only for want of wit , which i have demonstrated in a little book lately printed , which sheweth how any kingdome may live in great plenty , prosperity , health , peace and happiness , and the king and governours may live in great honour and riches , and not have half so much trouble , as is usual in these times ▪ and if any one shall be cheated , and lay the fault upon me for discovering of cheats in this book , i cannot help it : for he that is willing to do good , must needs do some hurt , unless men were angels . but in this case i see not but my action is justifiable : for first , i have given every one an antidote against cheating , and if they will not take it , let them be cheated , and then i will shew them a way to recover their losses , by an experiment tryed upon my self : for till i was soundly cheated of divers hundred pounds , i thought my self to be a very knowing man : but then i found that i was a fool , and so disdained not to learn wit at any bodies hands that could teach me , whereby i attained a considerable quantity of knowledge , which i will not give or change , for any mans estate whatsoever ; but though i sped so well by being cheated , yet i wish all others to take heed , for fear least that their fortunes prove not so good as mine . the second chapter . whereas i have professed my self to be an anticheator , it behoveth me to discover the several ways whereby the world is so universally cheated by the cosening alchymists : and therefore though i could discover fourscore cheats , yet at this time i will onely discover fourgrand ones , and so conclude . the first shall be to discover the knavery of kelly the grand impostor of the world , whom the emperour of germany kept prisoner in a castle , and maintained him honourably , thinking either by fair means or by foule , to get the philosophers stone out of him , who god knows had it not but made divers cosening projections before great men , which by the report thereof , have caused many to spend all that ever they had ; and it cannot be well estimated , how many hundred thousand pounds have been spent in europe about it , since that time , more than before . and thus one of his projections was made before three great men sent over by q elizabeth , to see the truth of the business . he gave order to them to buy a warming panne , which they did accordingly , and brought it to him ; he took a pair of compasses , and marked out a round plate in the middle of the cover thereof , and with a round chisel he took out the piece ; then he put it in the fire , and when it was red hot , he put a little pouder upon it , which flowed all over it , and made it to look like to gold , which is an easie matter to be done : but when he came to fit it to the hole , he had a piece of good gold , taken out of a plate of gold by the compasses , not altered , and this by a trick of legerdemain , or slight of hand ( a thing common , for i have known a porter that could have done it ) he conveyed into the place , and delivered the warming panne ●nto the hands of the spectators , who brought it into england , and the noise thereof made almost all mens ears to tingle , and their fingers to itch , till they were at the business , and raised the price of alchymie books fearfully . now if he had meant plain dealing , he would have given them some of his pouder home to their lodging , that they might have done the like again themselves at home , but he neither offered it , neither did they desire it , at which i marvel : for if he had denyed that , as it is like that he would , then the knavery had been presently discovered , so that this false news had not been brought into england , whereby many men have received great loss . some have reported that he clipped out a sheard with a pair of goldsmiths sheers , and then he took a little more time , and cast one of gold like to it , which is easily done : whethersoever he did , the whole scope of the business argueth cheating , and his meaning was nothing else , but by either of these wayes , to make the spectators to be less suspitious ; like to a jugler that foldeth up his sleeves for the like purpurpose . but admit that he had the true philosophers stone , and that the body of a mettal might be altered by it , and turned into true gold , without reduction of it to the first matter , which is altogether unpossible : yet he was a detestable villain to publish it in such manner , to the great dammage of so many men as were thereby irritated to undoe themselves , and not to give them some advertisements , like to these in this book , whereby they might be preserved from undergoing any considerable loss . but the old saying proved true , qualis vita , finis ita : he lost his ears in london for cheating , when he was a young cousener ; and when he was grown too skilfull to be discovered by men , then god almighty took punishment of him ; for he bought as much linnen cloth , pretending to make shirts and other things , as he thought would serve to let him down to the ground out at a window in the tower of the castle , wherein he was a prisoner ; and whether his hold slipped , or the cloth was too short , i could never learn certainly ; but it is certain that he fell down and broke his bones , and died , and there was an end of him . the second cheat. a nobleman in england thought that he had a transmutation of copper into silver shewed to him , and thus the cheat was done . first , the cheater made two ingots of copper both alike , then he filed one of them into two equal parts , or very neer the middle ; then he got a piece of silver fashioned like to the longer end , but a little longer ; then he got a silver-smith to let the one into the other curiously , and soder it so , that the piecing could not be discerned , but that it appeared plainly to be one piece of mettal , onely of two colours , to wit , white and red : then he painted it all over with a colour made of copper , as is hereafter declared ; then he dried it , and painted it over three times or more , till the colour was equal to the other , when this was done he brought that which was all copper to the earl , and prayed him to file it at both ends , which was done ; then he took it , and went to fetch his white pouder , and a very little thereof , being made like to a painters colour , with a little vinegar , he prayed the earl to paint it half way over , and so it was done : the earl supposing he had painted the same ingot , which he formerly fi●ed at both the ends : well , then it was dried , and put into a cast of well tempered clay , and when the clay was dry , it was put into the fire , and there being heated by a little and little , till it was red hot , and not melted at all , it was left red hot till the charcoals were almost burned out , which was done in a short space ; then it was taken out and made clean , and that half which was annointed with the alchymists white philosophers stone , was transmuted into better silver , than ever any alchymist , or yet the best philosopher in the world , did ever make ; for it was all fine silver , without any wast at all , which was considerable before the refining : but if he had meant plain dealing , he would have divided his white pouder into two equal parts , and have made his ingots but half so big , and would have done the first part himself before the earl , and would have left him to do the other part himself in his absence , but this he neither offered , neither did the earl desire it , whereat i marvel . this ingot was shewed to many , and caused many a thousand pound to be spent , some by the said earl , and some by others , that were thereby encouraged , and no doubt but that he had a great reward for cousening him ; for great men will have honourable rewards to a man , that can satisfie them in the truth of this art , and that they are satisfied fully , so long as the deception is not discovered . now as for the making of the copper colour , it might be thus done . take filings of copper , and twice as much quicksilver , and grinde them upon a painters marble stone , with a little salt and vinegar , and they will come into a mass , then wash away the salt and vinegar with common water , till the mass be bright as silver , but soft ; then set it in a gentle heat all night , and it will be hard , then grinde it with a little more quicksilver , not too much to make it very liquid , and set it in a gentle heat again till it be very hard , and this work reiterate , till it will drink up no more quicksilver , then are the filings burst into attoms ; then evaporate the quicksilver in a crucible , with a gentle heat first , and afterwards , make it red hot , so will the copper be in red pouder ; this red pouder must be stamped in a marble morter , with warm water , and ever as the water is coloured red , it must be poured of into a great jarre glass , and new water put to it , and so the work must be reiterated , till it will colour the water no more , then let the water stand a night , till the colour be setled to the bottom , then poure off the clear water , and dry the rest in the sun , or in any gentle heat , & it will be as fine as any fine wheat flower , which must be ground upon a painters marble stone , with gum-water , till a painter may paint with it . the third cheat. an alchymist travelled with this cheat into many kingdoms and countries , and it may be done by one that hath not the art of legerdemain , or slight of hand ; and thus it was done . he filed a twenty shiling piece of gold into dust , and put it into the bottom of a crucible , or a goldsmiths melting pot , then he made a thin leaf of wax of a fit br●adth , and rāmed it down a little hollow in the middle , & with an hot iron sodered it , then he painted it over with a paint hereafter mentioned , and dried it , and painted it again , and thus did till it was like the crciuble ; and when he wanted mony , he would go to a rich hostess in some city , and take a chamber for a week , and when he had been there a day or two , and had payed royally , the next morning he would be sick , and keep his bed , and when his hostess came to visit him , he would ask her , if she could help him to a goldsmith , that would do some business for him , and he would pay him for his pains very largely , so she was ready , and brought one ; he asked him if he could do him one hours work or two presently , the goldsmith answered him , yes sir , with all my heart : so he took his purse from under his pillow , and gave him half a crown , and prayed him to buy half an ounce of quicksilver , and bring it to him presently , the goldsmith did so ; then he gave him his key , and prayed him to open his portmantle , and take out a little box , and open it , where he found a crucible , and a little ivory box , filled with the red pouder of vermillion ; the cheater prayed him to weigh out a grain of the red pouder , with his gold weights , which he did ; then he bid him look well upon the crucible if it were a good one , and not cracked in the carryage ; the goldsmith said it was as sound an one as he had seen , and had a good strong bottom , then he bid him to put it into the quicksilver , and the grain of red pouder , and set it into the fire , and by degrees melt it down , the goldsmith did so ; when it was melted , he bid him set it by to cool , and then break it ; then he lay down in his bed , and after a little while , he asked the goldsmith what he found in the bottom , to which the goldsmith answered , that he found a little lump of gold , as good as ever he saw , so he prayed him to help him to money for it , for his money was almost all spent ; that i will said the goldsmith presently , and went home , and weighed it , and brought him nineteen shillings in silver , and was desirous to know , how that red pouder was made ; he said it was an extract out of gold , which he carried with him in his long travels , for ease of carriage , and that there was no other grain in it , or else he would tell it him . so the goldsmith asked him , how much he would have again of his half crown , and he should have all if he please ; for he was well enough paid for his work , in seeing that rare piece of art : no said the alchymist , take it all , and i thank you too ; so the goldsmith took his leave , with great respect : then he laid down in his bed a little while , and by and by he knocked for his hostess , who came immediately , and he prayed her to call for a porter ; whilst that he wrote a note , she did so : when the porter came , he sent him to his fellow cheater , who lay in the other end of the town , who presently brought him a letter formally framed betwixt them ; upon the reading whereof , he called for his hostess again , and desired her to fetch the goldsmith again , she did so ; when she brought him , he was rising , and gruntled and groaned , and told the goldsmith , that though he was not well , yet necessity forced him to go about earnest business , and shewed him the letter , and prayed him to read it whilst he put on his cloaths , and when the goldsmith had read it , he said , you see what a strait i am in for twenty pounds , can you furnish me , and to morrow or next day you shall work for me , and pay your self , and i will leave you my box in pawn , which now you know how to make five hundred pounds of it , as well as i ? the goldsmith answered , it shall be done , and went down and told the hostess all things ; and also told her , that the gentleman was in great distress for twenty pounds , and that he had promised to furnish him instantly , but he had but ten pounds by him , if she pleased to furnish him with the other ten pounds , she should be sure enough to have it with great advantage , for so short a time : for saith he , we shall have his box in pawn , and will make bold with twice as much of his pouder , as our money comes to ; and besides that , he will pay us royally i warrant you ; and all the while i can do the work so well , that i should be glad never to hear of him more ; so she agreed , and they brought him up twenty pounds presently , whereupon he delivered them the box , and made a motion to have it sealed up ; but at length he said , that because they had furnished him in his necessity , and because he esteemed them to be honest people , in regard of his host , he would not stay to seal it , and so took his leave , and prayed the goldsmith to be ready within a day or two , to help him to work , but from that day to this , they never saw him ; so when he came not again vvithin a vvek or a fortnight , they concluded that some misfortone had happened to him , or that he had taken cold by going abroad so hastily , being not well , and so was dead , for else he would have sent about it before that time , if he were but sick ; so they resolved to make use of it , and fell to work with great alacrity ; but when they could make no gold , their hearts were cold , and they found themselves to be miserably cheated . the fourth cheat. this cheat is described in old chawcer , in his canterbury tale ; but because everyone hath not that book , i will relate it briefly , and those that would see it more largely described , shall be referred to the said book . and thus it was done : the cheater took a charcoal about two inches long , and one inch thick , and did cleave it through the middle , and made a little concavity in the middle thereof , and put in a little ingot of gold , weighing an ounce , into the middle of it , and glewed it up again , so that it seemed to be nothing , but a very coal ; then before the cheated , he put in one ounce of quicksilver into a crucib●e , and a little red powder with it , and bid the cheated to set it into the fire , and when it began to smoak , oh saith he , i must stir it a little , to mingle the pouder with the mercury , or else we shall have great loss ; so he took up a coal from the heap with the tongs , like to his coal which he had prepared , and let it fall out of the tongs by the side of the heap , and dropped down his own coal by it , and took it up in room of the other , and stirred the quicksilver and the pouder together with it , and left the coal in the pot , and then bid the cheated to cover the pot with charcoals and to make a good fire , and after a little space to blow it strongly with a pair of good hand bellows , til it was melted , for he assured him , that the quicksilver would be fixed and turned into gold , by the vertue of that small quantity of pouder ; which the cheated found by expeperience , as he verily thought , and so was earnest with the cheater to teach him his art , but what bargain they made i have forgotten , for it is twenty years since i read chawcers book . now whereas i have received the reports of some of these cheaters in divers manners , yet i am sure that they being wrought according to my prescription , will cheat almost any man that hath not read this book or chawcers , unless a man should happen upon one that knoweth the great work , which is hardly to be found in ten kingdoms ; for he knoweth that none of these things can be done unless they be meer albifications or citrinations , but are nought else but sophistications and delusions , and will abide no triall , unless it be the eyes of an ignorant man that hath no skill in mettals . well now i will adde some more caveats to fill up my book , and so make a short conclusion . and first , to sum up all , let men beware of all books and receipts , that teach the multiplication of gold or silver , with common quicksilver by way of animation or minera , for they cannot be joyned inseparably by any medium , or means whatsoever . 2. let all men beware of any books or receipts , which teach any dissolutions into clear water like unto gold or silver dissolved in aqua fortis , or aqua regis , or spirit of salt , made by any way whatsoever , or any dissolution whatsoever , which is not done cum congelatione spiritus , according to the manner used in the great work . 3. let all men take heed of books , that teach any operations in vegetable , or animals , be they never so gloriously penned ; for it is as possible for a bird to live in the water , or for a fish to live in the air , as for any thing that is not radically mettallical , to live in the lead upon the test . and lastly , let all men beware of his own conceit of wisdom , for that hath undone many a man in this art. therefore let every one take notice , that though it be a thousand to one odds , that any seeker shal not obtain his desire , that is because many men being unfit ▪ and not quallified sufficiently to take in hand this great business ; let these remember what solomon , the wisest of men saith , into a wicked heart wisdom shall not enter , and he saith not great wisdom , nor much wisdom , but ordinary wisdom ; then how can any wicked or foolish man hope to find out this great secret , which being the most sublime knowledge that god hath given to men , requireth the greatest wisdome to accomplish it , that god hath bestowed upon men . therefore if any man attempteth this art , which hath not attained to such a perfection in the knowledge of nature , especially in minerals , that by his own speculation and practice , without the help of books , he can write a rational discourse of either animals , vegetables , or minerals , in such a solid way , that no man can cōtradict it , without shame upon fair tryal , the questions being rightly stated , then his labour and charge is the cause why so many men fall and undo themselves in this art ; for if the searcher be quallified sufficiently , then it is ten to one odds , that he speedeth . but to draw to an end : what should i say more ? oh , if any man either in england , or beyond the seas , shall trouble himself to write to me , he shall be sure to have an answer , if he come to me , he shall be sure to lose his labour , if he think to win me by rewards , though never so great , he shall be sure to get nothing but a jeer ; for i did not write this book with an intent to teach the art absolutely , but onely to preserve men from undoing themselves foolishly ; which if it be well considered of , will be found to be large charity : for but that i know where i am , to wit ▪ in a free state , where the subjects know so well their own liberties and priviledges , that they will never suffer any tyrannical government to prevail in this nation , i should have been sure to have lost my liberty by this single action . but now i have been a petitioner to the high and honourable court of parliament , that i may demonstrate my ability , to do the the common-wealth of england service , which service consisteth in three things principally , to wit , to shew how the husbandry of this land may be so improved , that it may maintain double the number of people , which now it doth , and in much more plenty : also to shew how the art of physick may be improved ▪ and lastly , to shew the art of the transmutation of mettals , if i may have a laboratory , like to that in the city of venice , where they are sure of secrecy , by reason that no man is suffered to enter in , unless he can be contented to remain there , being surely provided for , till he be brought forth to go to the church to be buried . geber an arabian prince , and a famous philosopher , being overjoyed when he had found out the philosophers stone , breathed out these words in the end of his book ; benedictus sit deus sublimis , gloriosus , & omnipotens , & benedictum sit ejus nomen in secula seculorum . but i having not onely found out the philosophers stone , but also a sure and infallible way to make england , and so the world happy by it , which is ten thousand times better than it , will exalt the praises of god in the superlative degree , and conclude thus : benedictissimus sit deus , sublimissimus , gloriosissimus & omnipotentissimus , & benedictissim●m sit ejus nomen in secula seculorum . a conference concerning this qvestion : whether or no each several disease hath a particular and specifical remedy . the first man said , that men , following the order of nature , alwayes seek the neerest way : which hath caused them to make maxims of all things , whereas in truth , there is no maxim of any thing ; for by the most certain of all rules , there is no rule so general , but it hath some exception ; nay there are so many exceptions , that we have often cause to doubt on which hand the rule is . and yet nevertheless men make axiomes in all sciences , but chiefly in physick , which taking upon it , the government ( as it were ) of n●ture , wraps up in general laws , all diseases with their causes , symptoms , and remedies ; although , as in the law , so likewise in physick , there never happen two cases alike . and when these rules come to be applyed to practice , every one confesseth that he doth not find that power of those laws , which he had imagined to himself . but this is chiefly to be understood of particular and specifical diseases , such as the pleurisie , the cataract , and the gout . for general diseases , and such as meer distempers , may be cured by as general remedies ; that is , by such things as have contrary qualities . the second said , that specifical is that which is determined to one ; and hath above it , generical , and below it , individual : now the question is , whether there be any remedies so determined to one species , or sort of disease , that they are fit for none else . i do think , that seeing there are diseases of the whole form , or frame of man , as are pestilent , venomous , and malignant diseases ; so there are likewise as general remedies . and experience shewes , as in divers admirable cures , that there are remedies ; the effects of which , do not depend upon their first qualities . as in rheubarbe to be purgative , in mugwort , to be good against fits of the mother , and in bezoar to be cordiall , comes not from being cold or hot in such a degree ; for then every thing of the same temper with them , would be purgative ; good against fits of the mother , or cordial , which is not so . but there is no reason why the same remedy may not be fit for one particular disease , by its occult qualities , and yet good for others by its manifest qualities , as food also is medicinal . the third said , that this question depends upon another , namely , whether mixt bodies work onely by their tempers and first qualities , or by their substantial forms , and specifical vertues . for if the working of every thing do not depend upon its whole form and substance , then medicines cannot cure by their qualities of heat and cold , but by a particular and specifical vertue , proceeding from their form , and wholly contrary to that of the disease . for the understanding whereof , it must be observed , that as the natural constitution of each mixt body doth consist in a perfect mixture of the four elementary qualities , and in the fit disposition of the matter , and in the intireness of the form : so may it be changed one of these three wayes , either in its temper , or in its matter , or in its form. and from thence it comes , that each mixt body , ( as all medicinals are ) can work upon our nature by its first , second , and third faculties . the first faculties come onely from the mixture of the four qualities , according to the diversity of which , the compound body , is either hot , as pepper , or cold , as mandrake , or moist , as oyle , or dry , as bole-armeniack , not immediately , but in operation . and by this faculty only which proceeds from the temper of the thing , it is , that the medicine works chiefly upon the temper of mans body . their second faculty comes from the different mingling of these same qualities , with the matter . for a hot temper joyned with a matter , disposed according to its degree of heat , shall be opening or eating in , or corrosive , or burning , or of some other vertue , wherof there are many sorts , according to the degrees of their mixture , from whence they are said to be either attenuating , or thickning , scouring , or sticking to , rarefying , or condensing , loosning , or binding , drawing , or beating back , softning , or hardning : and by this second faculty onely , do medicines work upon the matter . the third faculty of medicines , is that which comes not from their quality , nor from their matter , but from their form , and from their specifical and occult vertue ; and such is in the herb sina , the faculty of purging away melancholy , and in terra sigillata , or lemnia , the fortifying of the heart against poysons ; as also the scorpions killing with his tail , and thence some poysons do kill , without altering the temper . the fourth said , that diseases are to be considered either in their genus , or in their species , or in their individuals . for the first , when the disease is nothing but a disposition disturbing the workings of nature ; it may be cured by regaining the natural disposition . as for the second , if it be a distemper ( for example ) cold in the second degree , then the specifical medicine for it , is hot in the same degree ; if it be a disease in some of the members of a mans body , as ( for example ) an obstruction , then the only remedy is , to open the conduits . if it be a breach , then the remedy is to peice again what is parted asunder : but if the disease be considered in the individual , whose substantial form it destroys ; then must we use particular remedies of the same nature ; and those are the true spicifical ones . the fifth said , it is the same thing with the causes of health , that it is with the causes of diseases , now we see that the same thing is hurtful to one , and not to another , and that not onely in different species , but also in several individuals of the same species , because of several circumstances . and therefore some remedies will cure one , and will kill another ; nay and that which was lately good , may be now hurtful for the same individual : so that it is impossible to assign any specifical remedies for an individual , and yet it is an individual man that must be cured , and not the whole species of man ▪ the sixth said , that in nature , every thing is determined to one particular action ; and this proceeds alone from its form and being , which hath a neerer relation to that one action , than to any other : so a tree is determined to bring forth one fruit rather than another , it is the same case with those remedies , which are had from the three families of animals , vegetables and minerals . some are proper to purge one particular humour , as choler , or melancholy , or water , or they provoke vomiting , or urine , or by sweat , or they are discussive , or cause sneezing , or stop coughing . other medicines strengthen one particular member , as the heart , the head , the liver , or the spleen ; some again are good against particular poysons ; so treacle is specifically good against a bite by a viper ; so a scorpion applyed to a place , which he hath stung , heals it ; so the oyle of pine apple kernels is good against orpiment ; so long hart wort & rue are good against aconite or wolf-bane , and the rinde of lemon tree against nux vomica : and the seeds of winter-cherry against cantharides , and mummy against the ulcers made by wilde spurge : and the flower of water-lilly , against hellebore . so the root of wilde roses , and the herbs gentiane , balme , betonie , and pimpernel , are excellent against the biting of a mad dog , and so it is with others . there are others called amulets , which being worne about the neck , or laid to certain parts of the body , do preserve from diseases . so ( as galen himself reports ) pionie worne , keeps from the falling sickness ; so wolfes dung allayes the cholick , and jasper strengthens the stomack ; and trallian assures that the aetites , or eagle-stone , cures the quotidian agues ; and snails , and green lizards cure quartan agues ; and that an asses forehead , and a nail taken out of a broken ship , are good against the falling-sickness ; so the ashes of tad-poles and frogs are used against the bloody flux ; lapis judaicus , and goats blood , against the stone in the kidneys ; and the water of a stags head , and the bone of his heart , against the diseases of the heart . now there is no reason why all these marvellous effects should be ascribed to the first qualities ; and therefore galen laughs at his master pelops , who gave that reason for them . the seventh said , that physick , being first found out by use and experience , hath no need of reason in those things , which fall clearly under our senses ; but only in those things which are beyond the preception of our senses ; the which being confirmed by reason , are much the more infallible . however , when reason seems to thwart experience , we ought rather to stick to experience , so it be founded upon many observations : seeing then that experience shews us there are many specifical remedies , whereof the weak wit of man cannot finde out the cause , it is better in this case , to rely upon sense without reason , than upon reason contradicted by experience . now if there be specifical remedies for some diseases , there are also for all ; but they are so very many , that we cannot know them . and who is that man that can know the vertues and properties of every thing in the world ? the chymists are of this mind , for they hold that all medicines have their signatures , or their peculiar marks and figures , by which they resemble the parts or diseases of mans body , and that they are writings ( as it were ) sealed with the hand of god , to teach men their faculties . whence it comes that lung-wort is good for the ●ungs stags tongue for the spleen , poppy and green nuts for the head , satyrium or ragwort for the testicles , winter-cherry for the bladder , hart-wort for the womb , and madder for a broken shinbone , eyebright for the eyes , salomons seal , and through-leaf for those that are burst , because the root of the first is like the hemia , and the stalk of the other passes through its leaf , as the gut doth through the cawl , the root of tormentil , red sanders , and the blood-stone , for the bloody i lux and carduus benedictus , and other prickled plants , are good against the pricking stitches in the sides . a conference concerning the philosophers-stone the first man said , that the poets had reason to say that the gods had left hope for men in the bottom of pandora's box , after all their other goods were flown away ; for nature dealing gently with man , doth so order it , that the almost infinite number of accidents of his life , ( and those for the most part troublesome ones ) cannot on the one hand lay him too low , but on the other hope wil rase him again as high . for not to speak of hope , as it is the cheif of christian vertues , accompanying a man even in death , and easing him of the pain of all his evils ; is a man in affliction ? he comforts himself with hope of coming out ▪ of it ; is he of low birth ? he hopes by his brave exploits to make himself noble ▪ if poor , to enrich himself , if sick , to heal himself : nay though he want the ordinary means of obtaining these ends , yet is he not discouraged . but that which most deserves to be laught at by those which think it impossibly , or to be admired by those who will search deeper into the whimsies and fancies of men , is that an old , weak , sick , poor man , should nevertheless hope to be one day attended like a prince , and not onely to grow sound again , but also young and handsome . how can all this be ? why , by the philosophers stone , which is the great work , the all-heal , the elixir , and the universal restorative . now this being far from all likelyhood , and there being divers other absurdities in that chymerical art , it makes me believe that there is no use of it , but to comfort miserable men with . the second said , that the chymists , who busie themselves about the philosophers stone , are of two sorts . the one sort , though they promise transmutation of mettals by mixing , fixing , cimenting and other operations , yet do nothing but give tinctures to the mettals by their sophistications . the other sort , call themselves the true sons of knowledge , and meddle not with particulars , but onely with this great work , at which they all aim , though by severall wayes some of these , think to get it by blowing , and their way is to put gold and quicksilver together , which they keep for nine moneths long in a furnace , over a lamp . others think it a very easie business , & call it the work of children , and say that to attain it there needs no knowledge but of the matter , the fire , the vessel and the manner , for the rest comes as it were of it self , after one hath received it by tradition , which they say is the onely means to get it . there are some also who attribute this work to revelation , and say that we need onely to pray to god for it , and these believe that it is conteined in the scripture where it is said , that there needs a great deal of clay to make pots with , whereas a little pouder will make gold ; and that it was this kinde of knowledge which did so inrich solomon , that gold ( as is said in the scripture ) was in his reign as common as stones , and that the gold of ophir was that which the philosophers stone had changed , and made much more excellent than natural gold ; and what is said of the ships which he sent to fetch it , is spoken but parabollically , and figuratively , as was that story of the golden fleece ; for the golden fleece was nothing but a parchment wherein this secret was written ; but the greatest number of chymists are of an opinion made up of both these ; for they say , that to obtain it , men must work , and god must help by an extraordinary grace and favour : i do think with them , that there is a philosophers stone , or at least , that it is possible to be found out ; that the matter of it is salt , and that its fire is motion . for seeing both these are found every where , this property fits them very well . for salt may be drawn out of all bodies , & heat likewise proceeds from the rubbing of bodies one upon another , in imitation of that heat w ch the heavens do cause here below . the third said , that the philosophers stone is a pouder of projection , which being in a very small quantity thrown upon imperfect mettals ( as all mettals except gold are imperfect ) doth purifie and heal them of their leprosie and uncleanness , so that having purged them of their dross , and hightned their degrees , they obtain a more perfect nature : for mettals differ from one another , onely in degrees of perfection . this pouder is of two sorts , the white , which serves to make silver with ; and the red , which being more concocted , is fit to make gold with . to obtain this , a man needs the perfect knowledg but of three things ; that is to say , of the agent , the matter , and the proportion requisite , to the end that the agent may draw out the inquired form , out of the very bosome of the matter duly prepared by the application of active to passives : the two first of these three are easie to know ; for the agent is nothing but heat , whether it be of the sun beams , or of our common fire , or of the dunghill , which they call the horse belly , or of maries bath , or of animals ? the patients are salt , sulphur , mercury , gold , silver , antimony , vitriol , or some few other such like things , from which what we have to look for , experience will easily shew . but the application of the agent to the patient , the determination of the degrees of heat , the last preparation and disposition of the matter , cannot be known but by much pains and long experience , which being very difficult ; from thence it comes , that in this art , we see more cheats and impostures , than truth ; and yet histories do assure us that hermes trismegistus , geber , raymundus lullius , arnoldus de villâ novâ , flamellus , trevisanus , and some others have had the knowledge of it . but whereas this small number of those which they assure have had it , an almost infinite number of others have undone themselves by it ; the search of it seems to be more curious than profitable . the fourth said , that as the mathematicians , by endeavouring to square the circle , though they have not done it , yet are come to the knowledge of divers things which they knew not before ; so the chymists , though they have not light upon the philosophers stone , yet have discovered admirable secrets in the three great families of animals , vegetables , and minerals . now though no body had ever yet had it , yet may it be possible to be found out ; not onely for this general reason , that nature hath not given us desire in vain , but particularly because all mettals are of one kind , being made of one matter , which is sulphur and mercury , and are concocted by the same heat of the heavens , and differ onely in the coction , as the grapes of one bunch , which ripen at several times . which appears to be true , because gold and silver may be extracted out of all mettals , yea , even out of iron and lead , which are the most imperfect of all . so that art ought not in this case to be counted inferiour to those things which it perfects . and the greek etymologie of mettals doth shew that they may be changed from one to another . the fifth said , that as in the production of corn by nature , the corn and the fat juice of the earth are the matter , and the efficient cause is partly internal and inclosed in the grain ; and partly external , that is , the heat of the sun ; and that the place is the bosome of the earth . so also in the production of gold by art , the matter is the gold it self and its quicksilver : the efficient cause is partly in the gold , and partly in the external heat ; the place is the furnace which holds the egge of glass , wherein is inclosed the matter , which dissolves and turns black , ( and this they call the crows head ) then grows white , and after hardens into a red lump , so hard that they call it a stone , which being beaten to pouder , and kept three dayes together over a strong fire , in a vessel hermetically sealed , turns into a purple colour , and then one dram of it will turn two hundred drams of quicksilver into pure gold , and the whole sea too , if it were of like matter . the sixth said , that art may imitate nature , but cannot outdo it ; as it would be , if men could change other mettals into gold , that being impossible for nature to do , even in the mines , and in never so long time . for mines of iron , lead , tin , or copper , never become mines of gold or silver ; therefore muchless can the alchymist do it in his furnace , & no more than he can produce something more excellent than gold , as this philosophers stone would be : for gold is the most perfect compound of all mixt bodies , and is therefore incorruptible ; muchless can the alchymist bring to pass a thing , concerning the immediate matter of which , its efficient cause , its place , time , and manner of working , men are not agreed ; there being as many several opinions about it , as there are authors , who are in great number . and besides , it is a mistake to say , that mettals are all of one kind , and that they differ but in coction , for we see that iron is more concocted than silver , it being harder , and not so easie to melt , and because their differing is needful for mans use . now those perfect species which are neer of the same kind as mettals are , do never change into one another , no more than an horse changes into a lion. nay , if there were such a philosophers stone could work upon mettals , yet would it not make gold or silver , but other stones like it self , or else would onely imprint its qualities in them , according to the ordinary effects of all natural agents . and if it were true that this pouder of gold , being thrown upon other mettals , could produce more gold , as one grain of corn , being sown in the ground , doth produce many other grains ; yet ought the same order and progress to be observed in the multiplication of gold , that is in the production of corn : but this the chymists do not , for they will have their multiplication to be done in an instant . the seventh said , that seeing art doth draw so many natural effects out of one fit matter , as out of little worms may be had serpents , frogs , toads , bees , and mice , and considering that the subject of these metamorphosies , is a great deal harder to receive life than mettals ( which are insensible ) to receive a form as well divisible as its matter ; he did not see , but that ( at least , by the extraordinary help of good or evil angels ) men might come to have some knowledge of it . for besides , we see that several species do naturally change the one into the other , as egpytian nitre turns into stone ; jasper into emerald , the herb bazil into wilde tyme , wheat into cockle , and caterpillers into butterflies . and if we will believe the scotchmen , they have a tree , whose fruit falling into the water , turns into a bird . philaretvs to empyricus . sir , though i am not ignorant that the secrets you possess , are equally unknown in their compositions , and famed for their effects ; yet i dare confidently expect from your goodness and communication of that which was proved so successful in the cure of that disease , that the proverb hath listed amongst the inconveniences of wealth and though i doubt not but the charitableness of your own disposition , needs no auxiliary motives to obtain the grant of so just a favour ; yet a desire to let you see that piety and reason are no less your petitioners in this particular , then philaretus will i hope excuse my zeal , if to justifie your good nature as well as my request , i take leave to represent to your consideration , the immensity of that goodness , that excludeth not its very enemies from its gratious effects , and there heapeth benefits ▪ not onely where they were never deserved , but where they never can be returned : this is a noble president and fit for your raised spirit ; whose imitation cannot possibly mislead you : since both gods , wisdome and his happiness , being no less infinite than his goodness , places it above controversie , that a transcendency in the one , is not at all inconsistent with the possession of an equall degree of the others . our saviour assureth us , that it is more blessed to give than to receive , and in effect , we see that god that enjoyeth a felicity as supream as any of his attributes , maketh it his continual employment to oblige , and that there where he cannot expect a retribution . and therefore the more diffused , and the less selfish and mercinary our good actions are , the more we elevate our selves above our own , and the neerer we make our approximations to the perfections of the divine nature . but to descend from these abstracted thoughts into less platonick considerations , we are all acquainted with the strong obligation , that not charity onely , but bare humanity layeth upon us to relieve the distresses of those , that derive their pedegree from the same father we are descended from , and are equal partakers with us , of the image of that god , whose stamp we glory in . and can we fancy that all the duties of charity are fulfilled with the emptying the refuse of our servants tables into the poor mans basket , and flinging a piece of market money to a shivering beggar ? ( though we deny not those acts their just commendation ) no , as our neighbour , so far forth as he is afflicted , is the object of our charity ; so all that we are to do , either to remove or sweeten that misery , is to be comprehended within the acts of our charity , which doth therefore not confine us to any particular kinde of assistance to our neighbour , that we may know it to be our duty to assist him in all kinds . therefore doth the scripture reckon the visiting of the afflicted and the prisoners , and the comforting of the sick amongst the prime and most eminent productions of that vertue ; and therefore our saviour himself ( the exactest president sure , of what his whole life was a continued practice of ) did far seldomer employ his omnipotence to feed the hungry , then he wrought miracles to heal the diseased . certainly the almes of curing is a piece of charity , much more extensie than that other of relieving ; since onely beggars are necessitous of the last : but princes themselves do often need the former . why should we think it a greater charity ( or more our duty ) to give a distressed wretch shelter from the natural cold of the air , than to protect him from the aguish ioyness of the blood ? or to shade him from the outward salutes of the hot sun , then free him from the inward dog-dayes of a burning feaver ? sure this is not a charity much inferiour to the preserving of mens lives , to restore them that good , without which , life it self is but a misery . how greatly , and how justly do we detest those usurers , that hoard up all their bags from all those uses , that onely can give riches the title of a good ? and yet the avarice of profitable secrets , is by so much worse than that of money , by how much the buried treasure is more excellent . how universally should he be execrated , that in a scarcity would keep his b●r●s cram'd , whiles he beholds his pining neighbours starving for want of bread ? and yet the censured miser cannot bestow his corn without losing it ; whereas receipts , like torches , that in the lighting of others , do not wast themselves , may be imparted without the least diminution . certainly if ( as a wise man allegorically said ) he is as much guilty of the extinction of a lamp , that denieth it necessary oyle , as he that actually blowe hit out : they will not have a little to answer for , that by a cruel refusal of soverain receipts , permit the torments , and the death of thousands ; they might ( without their own least prejudice ) have prevented , that had rather manifest a bad nature , than reveal a good secret , and hazard the lose of an eternal life to themselves , rather than either prolong or sweeten a temporal life unto others . lastly , had all men been of this retentive humor , how many excellent receipts must they themselves have wanted , for which they must acknowledge themselves beholding unto others ? had all men been so covetous of , and in that particular , their possessions would be , perhaps as narrow as their charity ; that costive humor , being not more fit to bury than unapt to acquire . so that a kind of interest and justice as well as charity , seemeth to oblige us to make those goods communicable , that became ours but upon that score . let us not then be less civil to our posterity , than our predecessors have been to us ; but conveying to our succeeders at least those benefits we derive from our ancestors ; let us not refuse our imitation to what we think worthy of our applause . and now sir , having thus presented you with such thoughts of mine upon this subject , as its nature did readly suggest , i shall take the liberty succinctly to discuss their evasions , that are of a contrary sense . and in the first place , i find some physitians objecting , that having laid outmuch of their mony , and more of their time , in the search of such and such a secret , that discovery is now become either their fortune , or their subsistence , and by consequent the divulging it to others , would prove destructive to themselves . in this case i must ingeniously confess that all i can require is , that they deny not those that want it the benefit of the composition , whilst that bewrays not the receipt , and refuse not to impart the secret it self to those that need it , upon reasonable terms : for they that will not assent to this , must flie for shelter to some other excuse . in the next place it is objected by divers , that their receipts are of more curiosity , or at least have no relation to the cure of our diseases . in which case , though i will not precisely exact their publication , yet let those whose secrets may any other way advantage the publick ; ( since 't is not the kinde so much as the utility of our knowledge , that obliges us to dedicate it to the publick service ) remember his fault that folded up his talent in a napkin ; and fear to feel his doom , whose fault they commit . another thing must require both of these and of the antecedent secretists , is , that they take a special care to have their receipts survive their persons , consigning them into the hands of some confident or other , that they may not follow their owners to the grave ( where next a bad conscience the worst companion is a good secret ) and give men occasion to resemble them to toads ; who if we may credit the vulgars uncontrouled report , when they feel themselves upon the point of dying , destroy that antidotal stone in their heads , which is all that is worth any thing in them ; left men should have cause to vaunt themselves of being the better for them ; such people are in this worse than very usurers and hogs themselves ; that these do some kinde of good after their decease , but they take a great deal of pains to be as little guilty of that humanity after they have left the world , as they were whilst they lived in it . others there are , that to excuse themselves , will tell us , that they received their receipts but upon condition , and that ratified , perhaps with an oath , never to disclose them ; or ( to give it you in a periphrasis ) that never any body should be the better for them . to which all that i can justly answer is , that if this promise have indeed been seriously made , it is a greater fault to violate it , than it was to make it . though i am apt to believe that if all men declined the taking of receipts upon these terms , they might have them upon better . but by the way i must take leave to wonder at their niggard humour , that will thus stint their own charity , and in the presenting us a good , clog it with a restraint , so unsuitable to its nature , that strips it of one of its noblest prerogatives , which is to be diffusive of it self . some i have known , and those too conscientious , that alleadge , that the easie divulging of receipts , makes our physitians less careful to beat about for remedies themselves when they find them already pared to their hands . to which i shall reply , that granting that to be true , which is not undisputable , it is far better to pleasure some few drones , than venture the perishing of whole swarms of bees . shall we not ease the pains of legions of anguish christians , for fear of sparing the pains of a few undiligent physitians ? we know how contrary this practice is to his , that would have spared sodom it self for the sake but of ten good men . besides that , if our physitians be lazy , so much the greater is our necessity of using other means to recompence that want . of the like nature with this is their excuse , or patience rather , that pretend a fear , that if their compositions should come to be divulged , they would presently be sophisticated or disguised : whereas themselves bestow the mixtures in their native purity . but thus they decline the doing of a certain good upon the sore , and perhaps causless suspition of a contingent harm ; grounding their own want of chacharity , upon an uncharitable and unlikely apprehension of anothers . as if the first inventor of navigation should have conceal'd from us that admirable and beneficial art , for fear pyrates should likewise happen to abuse it . had those ancient physitians that cure yet in their coffins , and preserve the lives of others after the loss of their own ) been frighted with these groundless jealousies , the church-yards had been frettily throng'd ere this , and the dul sextons spade always might be as busie as the gardners . besides , that 't is very unlikely , there should be then more false receipts believed , when there are more true ones extant to confute them . if men will counterfeit receipts , they may easily suppose spurious compositions in spight of the concealment of the true one : but sure the easiest way to prevent that kinde of cosenage , is to be so liberall of the legitimate receipts , as to make men not to need it . others there are , that promise indeed a publication of their secrets , but resolve to suspend it till they die . but to omit how much the review and ordering of these secrets , or their neglect will either distract or trouble us upon our death-bed , and not to mention how unfit it is , to sow in harvest what should then be ready to be reaped ; and for a vain ostententation to delay both the good they might have done all their life time , and lose all the praises it would justly have deserved ; to skip all this , i say , how many have we noted , whom either an unripe fate would not give respite to effectuate those intentions , or the fals usurpations of their friends or executors , hath cheated of that glory themselves might justly have expected . sure these posthumous treatises on theames , that have so great a tendency to the publick good , that are rather the authors dessein than his misfortune , are not usually more void of charity than judgement : since they deprive the writer both of the praise of his labours , and of the possibility to reform his errors . others there are , that seek an apology in telling us that if 't were any receipt of ordinary value , they would not scruple at its communication , but being a rare and a most excellent secret , you must pardon them forsooth if they think thēselves only worthy its possession . which is in my opinion the very same reason , that most should prevail with them to disclose it : for the more sanative the remedy is , and the greater the benefit is , its knowledge may afford , the greater obligation lyeth upon the owner to impart it , since our services will be expected proportionable to our abilities . for the nature of good is to grow greater by extension , but careful providence foreseeing how inclinable frail men would be to selfishness in the dispensation of such goods as these , hath most wisely provided , that the parting with these goods should not prejudice their possession , nor liberality impoverish him that uses it . whom the nature of the riches he disperses , resembles to the sun , who though so bountifully he bestoweth his beams on the whole universe never findeth a scarcity of them in himself : but the much greatest number of our secretists doth consist of those , who are ashamed to confess it , smother their secrets , onely that they may be still talked of for the sole proprietaries of those rarities . but to let thousands perish , lest another should have the honour of their cure , to endeavour rather that our receipts should be known by few , then that they should cure many , and to prefer the vanity of possessing a rare secret , to the satisfaction of having employed a successful one , are excuses that will hardly pass for currant at that great day , when many shall be excluded heaven for suffering others to be snatcht up thither before their natural time , and when all men shall be crowned not for the excellency of what they have done . but because such a kind of people , use to be very little toucht with considerations of this nature , i shall onely intreat them a little to consider whether it be not a greater glory to oblige ( and have many wear ones livery ) than to gain the reputation of having buried hoards , by keeping ones secrets more close than ingeneers do mines , which the least vent defeats . experience it self can teach us , that our physitians have got more honour by those few secrets that have died with them : as indeed it is not over probable , that closness should have like advantages with liberality , in the acquisition of esteem and of applause . lastly , some of our chymists do object , that had they in their power that great elixer it self , they call the universal antagonist of all diseases , they should think it as unlawful to disclose as happy to possess it ; partly because such extraordinary discoveries being rather inspired than acquired , ought not to be profaned by being divulged , and partly too , because that in these dissolute times it would be a tempting invitation to all kinde of ryot and intemperance , by securing us from the danger of the diseases that attend them . it is strange me thinks , that conscience should be fallen out with charity ! but the objection it self furnisheth us with an answer to it ; for if , since the negative is very probable , the elixir be a secret , that we owe wholly to our makers revelation , not our own industry , me thinks we should not so much grudge to impart what we did not labour to acquire , since our saviours prescription in the like case was this : freely ye have received , freely give . should god to one of our divines reveal some newer truths and secrets of his gospel , would we not condemn him for the concealment of what was imparted but to be communicated ? those secrets that were intended for our use , are not at all profaned by being made to reach their end : but by being fettered from the diffusiveness of their nature . and therefore though god should address those special favours but to some single person ; yet he intendeth them for the good of all mankind , and to make that almoner to whom he trusteth them , not the grace but the steward of his graces . as for the other edge of the objection , shall we that think it unlawful to do evil that good may come of it ; think it just to forbear duties left evil might ensue ? and shall we let good men languish and perish for want of opportune relief lest others should be encoucouraged to expect it ? besides , that the same reason that is here alleadged , would justifie the concealment of all other secrets ; since neither is there any of them that is not abusable , nor would our gallants venture upon excesses as they do , did they not confide in the vertue of those receipts we have already . to omit that to imagine to restrain vices by refusing men the remedies of those excesses they seduce them to ; is a dessein as unlikely as the means are uncharitable . since our inclinations alone being sufficient to vice , the obstracting onely of the outward performance , whilest the desires are unreformed , doth make abstain not from the sin , but onely from the act . sure many of these envious salamanders , will one day finde their knowledge to be both their misery and their crime ; when those rich secrets that were bestowed as jewels for their charity , shall serve but to aggravate their guilt . then they will be forced to endure far greater torments than those that they declined to cure , and with as little pitty as they here expressed , it being as foolish as unjust for them to expect that mercy that they refused to give . but by this time sir i fear that i have made you as much need a receipt against impatience , as my friend doth one against the gout ; and therefore i will here conclude both your trouble , and this letter which beseeching you to do me the right to believe , that i shall not more willingly owe my life to your skill , than it shall be employed in your service , by sir , your most humble and obliged servant philaretus . a short and easie method of svrgery , for the curing of all fresh wounds , or other hurts : especially commended to all cyrurgions , serving in wars , whether by sea or land ; and to all that are employed in the publick hospitals of the commonwealth . newly translated out of dutch , 1654. to the worshipful tho. allen , and tho. bowden , present wardens , mr. martin brown alderman . mr. edward arris , mr. henry boone , and the rest of the assistants of the company of barber-cyrurgeons , london , &c. with all the skilful practitioners of that noble science in england , scotland , ireland , &c. gentlemen , vpon my return out of the low-countries , where in holland , brabant , and the province of vtrecht , i have spent almost the time of an an ordinary apprentiship , visiting the universities of leyden , lovan , and vtrecht , and dwelling some years in the renowned city of amsterdam to satisfie an honest curiosity of knowing the world ( which is justly said to be epitomized in amsterdam ) and to accomplish my studies of nature ▪ philosophy and physick , i visited my very worthy friend samuel hartlib esq ( the great lover and promoter to his power ) of all ingenious arts , and artists whatsoever , of whom i received a paper printed in dutch , with his earnest request that i would take the pains to make it speak english , because ( as he was very much perswaded ) that the common good of the english nation would be hereby not a little promoted ; forasmuch as the spreading of these chyrurgical medicines was recommended to him from his worthy and intimate friend mr. moriaen , a gentleman of knowing integrity and repute , dwelling in amsterdam ( as my self can witness ) excellently versed in the mathematicks , curiously seen in the mechanicks ( as becomes him that was born at * noremburgh in upper germany ) studied in divinity and physick , but especially seen and practised in the chymical laboratory , as wel as in the subtil & sagacious cōceptions of the witty van helmont , paracelsus , and the rest of the tribe ( a generation of writers in main respects , deserving largest commendations from others , if it were not their ill luck for the most part to be over large in praise of themselves , and their preparations ; but peradventure the want of good neighbours may excuse them ( at least in some measure ) from so ingenious and learned hand mr. harblib received this discourse , not as from the author , but as promoter of the same , as having full knowledge of the truth of the contents , when i had presented my much honoured friend with his paper in english , his former request begot another , viz. that i would devise some way how the contents might be published to the best advantage , so as the matter might come to trial , i could devise no better way ( worthy gentlemen , ingenious artists ) than by recommending the same to your impartial trial , as knowing you both able to judge , abounding with oppertunities of trial , and of that candor and ingenuity , that you will make a true report of what you finde , not being offended at the appearance of empericalness in the discourse or practice therein commended , nor fearing that if these medicaments prove so effectual as it is said , that they shall hinder●th repute of the ingenious chyrurgion , or make him seem less useful , forasmuch as the author requires a skilful artist , and refers many things in the application of his balsoms , to the judgement of of the expert operatour , what the author is i can say no more , but that it appears in the discourse that he was no natural dutch-man , but rather as i guess a german , which nation god hath made very happy in the invention of many profitable remedies in physick and chyrurgery , by reason i suppose of their pertinacious industry in manual experiments , and because of their great courage in daring to haunt untrodden paths in the quest of natures secrets ▪ i commend the whole to your skilful trial , and sincere judgement , and rest . a real well-wisher to you all , william de rand. from my house in white crossstreet , neer cripplegate , nov. 2. 1654. necessary considerations for all learned and experienced men , who deal in chyrurgery , either as practitioners or teachers thereof . being a lover of all knowledge as well in chymistry as physick and chyrurgery , and having observed many things in my travels , i came at last to consider the multitude of miserable souls , which perish in armies and hospitals , and by all manner of wars . i forbear to say that they have been sent unto their last home through manifest negligence in cutting , burning and dismembring , so frequently practised in hospitals , and the like houses of charity . by which considerations i was convinc'd in my mind , and brought into a continual thought , if there were no better , safer , and more compendious means to be used in the aforesaid cases , than what is commonly practised . and having weighed the matter , i found , that in general respecting the whole practice of chyrurgery , as well in new as old hurts , it would be an hard matter at present to propound such a way ; but in particular , in reference to fresh hurts received in war , either in water or land service , as by shooting of guns , cutting off any part or member , stabbing , gashing , beating or bruising , or what ever other fresh hurt , there may such a chyrurgery be avouched to heal them all ▪ to which end i have a method , which ( by gods help ) will not fail , which i have for mine own part practiced , for above 25 years , finding by experience , that there is none like to it . wherefore judging it needful in the highest degree to publ●sh the same to the world , as one that should make conscience to die with such a secret unrevealed : i conceive ( under correction , and without offence to any man be it spoken ) that all governours and magistrates ought to recommend the same in charity , to all their respective hospitals , and to make such maimed persons as lie in their houses of charity partakers hereof . and besides the charitableness of such a practice , it would prove likewise very beneficial and profitable unto themselves , when the maimed persons shall depart the sooner from the hospitals , and the cries of the distressed shall not so long vex their ears , by reason that many violent and offensive practices of chyrurgery , in such cases usual , shall by this method be avoided . think but what a pleasant and comfortable thing it would be for a compassionate chyrurgeon both at sea and land , so lightly , and with so small charge to dress and binde up a patient , after the way that i shall shew anon . consider what a work it is for a young chyrurgion that would travel , to carry so many instruments with him , such an innumerable company of irons , so many salves , and ointments , and oyles , as would lade an ass . so that it is work enough for a beginner in chyrurgery , to know the medicaments and instruments which he is to use , too much labour to carry them , and contrary to the gentleness of his disposition to use them , to the grief of the patients , by raking in their wounds , and cutting their flesh , &c. o cruel way of healing , many times unnecessarily used , and which oftentimes troubles the conscience of the operator , especially being once convinced how unnecessary that ordinary way of practice is . i know very well that ignorance offends not , that men knowing no better must do as well as they can , and that they must not throw away the foul water before they have clean . and therefore will i by gods help , discover a better , more convenient and easier way of practice , onely beseeching the readers that they will not through any misaffection , or other conceit , cast the same behinde their backs , nor say what news have we here with this outlandish sojouner ? we have lived so long , and our fathers before us , and have used this method of chyrurgery , we desire no better , we rest upon the antiquity of our art. nay , but we ought to know , that in all antiquity , or under the name of oldness , there hath still new matters been set on foot : and in all ages there have been , are and will be rare men , who bring things to light which are accounted and called new things , whereas such things are often older than those which are accounted of greater age . and every understanding man in his own faculty daily sees , that there is ( as solomon said ) nothing new under the sun : it hath been but for a while out of the knowledge and memory of men , and then returns into their knowledge , and therefore by such as did not know it before , it is called a novelty . so is this that i propound , a thing that hath been long in the world , that is of age and antiquity , onely it hath been parceld out , one man having one part , another a second , another a third , &c. and my work it hath been with great diligence , pains and cost to collect all into a sum , yea , and by long practice i am so experienced , that i am able sufficiently to imform thousands of men to practice the same . now i desire the reader not to misunderstand me , but to remember that this method pertains onely to fresh hurts , and that it is invented to spare ( for the most part or very neer ) for the future , all use of tents , corrosives , sawes , tongs , probes , hammers , nailes , yea , and the greatest part of oyles , salves , unguents , and other usual implements : forasmuch as in our method , we very seldome or never make use of them . it may happen in some rare accident , that we may put a tent into some wound that goes just through the skin and no more , to keep the skin from closing ( though i seldome find occasion so to do ) and it may fall out in a great exulceration where the matter lies visible and at hand , and the patient is impatient and unruly — that we cut the skin just thorough , and so with hurting and forcing the patient , we let the matter purge away . howbeit this falls not often out , forasmuch as i hold it together with defensatives , and put it into good digestion by my balsoms , so that it seeks and makes its own way into the light , breaking of it self ▪ and so it becomes quieter and better disposed to the cure , forasmuch as all manual incisions , either close up of themselves , or at least are very apt to close up , which is the cause that men are forced to use a tent ; which an hurt , breaking of it own accord hath no need of , which commonly keeps open of it self to the very last , and then shuts it self up , as i ▪ by many years experience have found . and i do assure the honest truth-loving chyrurgion , that i speak nothing at randome or uncertainly , but that i propound ( with gods blessing ) a sure , sweet , soft way , which will stand him in stead at his greatest necessity . and though i propound this method , as proper for fresh hurts , yet may the skilful artist do incredible wōders hereby , in other cures that occur to the diligen● practitioner ; of which i think not fit to make any further speech . know then , that this chyrugery which i propound and offer unto you , consists onely in three balsoms , and two plasters . but although a good chyrurgion may satisfie all intentions herewith , yet i have thought good to augment the number to five balsoms ; all which being experimented by the skilfull artist , he may make use of that which shall serve his intent the best ; especially seeing one chyrurgion hath a better hand in curing than another , and there is great difference in the flesh of several men , in the point of aptness to be healed . neither is it my meaning , that men should presently cast away , and throw aside what ever belongs to the present practice of chyrurgery , and use only this way of mine , by no means ; but my advice is , that the cyrurgion would have in his shop , or in his chest , some of my medicaments , that so upon occasion having made proof of mine and his own , he may give the commendation to those medicaments that best deserve it . i shall now proceed to number and describe unto you my balsoms . the balsoms numbred up , with their properties and manner of application . number 1. this balsom marked number 1. i call , balsamum universalem naturalem , that is an universal natural balsom ; because that it is the greatest actor in all my method of chyrurgery ; for , whether the patient be shot , or slashed , or stabbed , or otherwise hurt : take this balsom and apply thereof presently after the blood is stopt ; or if by reason of the extremity of the hurt falling upon reins and arteries , the blood cannot so soon be stopped , yet apply of this balsom thereto , after it is clensed in a spoon , so much as the nature of the wound shall require , whether it be deep or shallow , &c. make the spoon so hot , that you can but endure your 〈◊〉 ●pon it without burning . if it be a deep shot or a stab , squirt it in very warm with a seringe , whether it go through the wound or not ; for if the wound go through the member or part hurt , the balsom will flie through , if it go not through , the balsom will recoile back . if it be a flat , bruised , or battered hurt , anoint it with a feather dipped in this balsom , so that it come to the ground or bottom of the wound , and then lay on the plasters according to the ordinary practice of art , so as to cover the whole maimed place . and this must be done once a day , unless some great quantity of matter do work out , for then it may be opened in the evening to air it and discharge it from the matter ; and lay the plasters on again , without using any more of the balsom . with this balsom are in a manner all wounds healed substantially , and from the bottom ; and take notice that in such hurts as you apply this balsom to , you need not to try or search with tent or probe how deep the wound is , the balsom will do that for you , searching through and through better than you can do by any means whatsoever ; neither need you to put any tent in to keep it open , for the balsom will not suffer it to close , till the ground or bottom of the wound or hurt have sufficiently purged it self . i speak not of clensing the wound every time it is drest with warm brandewine , salt water , or other wine ; seeing the skilfull chyrurgion knows that the wound must alwayes be clensed , before the balsom be applied . this method you must observe in all wounds and hurts , from the top of the head to the soles of the feet . so must you dress the shins — likewise , onely be sure to set the shins — even and just together , and dry them and lay the plasters upon them , and this must be done when the hurt is not deep , but shallow , lay an whole plaster of op●deltod , or if you want that of emplastrum album coctum , or a clean washed cloath is also good , for it serves chiefly but to cover the wound . i order the shins to be thinly anointed , because if they be clean without proud flesh , they need little healing ; and after they have been anointed , they must be dried , and the plaster laid over them . the use of this balsom is very soveraign , for where it is used according to the foresaid direction , men have hardly ever any symptomatical fevers to speak of , nor any inflamation or mortification ; for this balsome peirceth forthwith to the centre or bottom of nature , and supplies the necessities of nature , by making flesh to come where it is wanting , how deep soever the wound is ; and by eating out the proud flesh , or what ever grows up besides the intent of nature . and it makes the wound to yield a well digested matter ; if a wound want digestion , it brings it to digest , and into a posture of healing ; if the wound be inflamed , it brings it to temper and cooling ; if it be cold and crude , it brings the same again to a natural warmth ; if there be a swelling , it brings it down , and takes it quite away , a man needs but with his warm finger anoint the wound lightly round about , and it allays the swelling , which is very good for a cyrurgion to prevent the gangraena , and all accidents . and this is but childrens play , which may be done sporting , by him that understands but to handle a wound , and rightly to binde and swathe the same . number 2. this balsom marked num. 2. does work as the former in some respects , howbeit it is a degree hotter , which in some mens flesh is necessary , and a chyrurgion must make use of his experience . all good effects and no other are to be expected from this balsom , and this is added to the former by way of superogation , and not for necessity , onely where there is need of matter thicker than ordinary , we commend this balsom to the skilful chyrugion to that intent . as for the former balsom , marked with num. 1. it is so tempered , that there is in it no excesses of the four qualities , heat , cold , moisture , dryness ; so that by its perfect vertue , it fully satisfies all the wants of nature , removes all that burthens her . so that it were a sad thing and inconsistent with a good conscience for me to neglect the presentation of this balsom , and more sad if those that need the same shall not be made partakers of the benefit thereof . and therefore i recommend the same to all such as love god , and are of ability to help those that stand in need . this small provision of one balsom , is more worth than all that the chyrurgions ordinarily make use of , not to speak of the rest adjoined thereunto , as i am able to make it in reality to appear . a young novice in chyrurgery may pass through all spittles and hospitals , and to the astonishment of by-standers , do wonderful and incredible cures . as a friend of mine past therewith through all the hospitals of italy , and was requested by the pope to take care of the sick and wounded men of his armie , where he did wonders , received all honour possible and no small recompence . num. 3. the balsom marked with num. 3. is called balsamum naturale per se , or natural balsom of it self , because it is so kindly disposed , and sympathetical to the nature of mans flesh , which may be seen when any member is out of joint , or sprained , or bruised , &c. for then some of this balsom being put into a spoon ( as was said of the former ) put your warm finger into it , and anoint the member all about the joint , or bruise , and then dry it in with your warm finger or hand , and wipe off all foulness very well , with a warm cloth , and lay on your defensative plaisters , or pultesies , in case you want good defensatives . and this will take away the swelling , be it never so much ; and if you would use this balsom in case of an ulcer , it will cause it to ripen and make the matter break out , and bring it to a good end , observing the directions given for the first . it does wonders in healing many outward wounds , as the former , and i have known in great camps , such as used this and no other , and did wonders therewith . the reason whereof is , because it is so like the nature of man , which is the reason that i call it the natural balsom . and ten or twenty drops thereof , daily drunk down with wine or beer , strengthens the maimed person , and serves him for a wound-drink , so that , used either inwardly or outwardly , it hath more vertues than i dare mention . the truth is , it is of a far differing quality from the first balsom , which i have termed balsamum universalem . but this likewise will act its part , as the sincere experimenter shall find : wherefore i thought good to assign it a place in this my small cyrurgery ; that besides open wounds , men might also have a remedy for bruised , strained and dislocated , or disjointed members upon all occasions . number 4. is a balsom which i call nerve or sinnew-balsom , which may very profitably even to admiration be used , when the sinnews are in part cut off , or lie bare , and when their watry dropping cannot be stopt ; yea , when the natural moysture of the limbs drops away ; a case in which the cyrurgeon is much troubled , the patients health decaies , and the member , be it arm , leg , finger , or any other whatever , commonly remains ever after stiff , as long as the patient lives . which miserable condition to prevent , take so much of this balsom , num. 4 as shall seem needful , and heat it as hot as the patient can endure it , and squirt it with a syring into the wound , or do it on with a clean feather , so shall you day after day see wonders . the member becomes suddenly refresht , the patient strengthned , the pain allaid ; the matter digested , thicker , and whiter ; the waterish moisture leaves running , and the patient is prevented from having a stiff limb or member as aforesaid , in which case it is requisite , the chyrurgion have a good hand to bind the patiēts hurt , as the condition thereof shall require . this balsom is used after the same manner in all wounds , that abound with watry moisture ; especially when they have been purged by balsom 1. so that no proud flesh remains in them . with these 4 balsoms may a man perform all the cyrurgery requisite in fresh wounds or other hurts : notwithstanding by way of surplusage i shall adde . number 5. the philosophers water , which is used in all such hurts , as are troubled more than ordinary , with the growing up of proud flesh , which cyrurgions commonly eat away with burnt alum and praecipitate . wet a clean feather in this water , and strike over the proud flesh lightly every day , and lay a plaster on , to cover the wound , until such time as it is healed . it is remarkable , how this matter eats off , and separates the proud flesh , from the sound and natural , never hurting the good or natural flesh : many wounds are healed from the bottom with this water , which is not of so fierce and corrosive nature as the alume and praecipitate ; not hurting the adjacent veins or arteries , for it meddles onely with that which is unsound , and not with that which is well and healthy . and now i hope i have set open a door , and pointed out a sure way for all practioners in chyrurgery to proceed in the cure of all fresh wounds and hurts whatsoever : onely i shall exhort the skilful masters in cyrurgery , and the young barber-chyrurgions , where ever they travel , that they set their hand to the work in due season , and be careful in their operations . the medicaments are to be bought of remeus franck , who is to be found at mr hartlib's house , neer charing-cross , over against angel-court , viz. num. 1. the universal balsom . for 2. guldens , and ten stivers , the ounce of each , which is about an english crown . 2. the second balsom . for 2. guldens , and ten stivers , the ounce of each , which is about an english crown . 3. the balsom called , naturalis per se . for two gilders the ounce , which is about 4 shillings english . 4. the nerve or sinnew balsom for three guldens the ounce , which is about 6. shil . english . 5. philosophers water . for three guldens the ounce , which is about 6. shil . english . finis . the appendix , containing mr. gerard malynes philosophy , about the essence or existence of metals . delivered accidentally in one chapter of his book , called , lex mercatorium , or , the ancient law-merchant . all philosophers , by the light of nature and long observation have determined , that the sperme or feed of all things created of the four elements , doth in a secret manner lowre within the two elements of water and earth ; and that nature doth continually work to produce perfect things , but is hindered therein by accidental causes , which are the begetters of corruption and imperfection of all things , whereby we have variety of things which are delectable to the spirit of man. herein they observe the operation of the sun and moon , and the other planets and starres , in the generation of all things which either have a being or existence , as the elements have ; or a being and life , as vegitable trees or plants ; or a being , life and sence , as beasts , birds , and other living creatures ; or a being , life , sence and reason , as man hath , and all reasonable creatures ; which knowledge and wisdom , no doubt , the holy prophet moses did learn amongst the egyptians . but had these philosophers read the book of moses , ( acts 17.22 . genesis ) of creation and generation . they would not have ascribed the guiding and conducting of all natural things to the two leaders , namely , the stars and nature . hence it proceedeth , that amongst vegitable things ( which have a being and life ) they reckon all metals , which have their beginning from sulpher and mercury , tanquam ex patre & matre ; which meeting and concurring together in the veines of the earth , do ingender through the heat and quality of the climate , by an assidual concoction , according to the nature of the earth wherein they meet , which being either good and pure , or stinking and corrupt , produceth the diversity of the mettals of gold , silver , copper , tin , lead , and iron , in their several natures : and hereupon they have assigned them under their distinct planets , to be benevolent , or malevolent ; as lead under saturn , tin under jupiter , iron under mars , gold under sol , copper under venus , quick-silver under mercury , and silver under luna . so mercury or quick-silver is one of the seven metals , which being volatile , and by his volubility running with every one , is in nature as they are , either good or evill : and howsoever they have placed tin under the benevolent planet jupiter , experience hath proved unto us , that tin is the poyson of all metals . sulphur is excluded , which they say is of two colours , being white and corrupt in the silver , which therefore falleth away , but red and pure in the gold , and therefore permanent . these diversities of metals being come to passe by accidētal causes , is the cause that art ( being natures ape by imitation ) hath endeavoured to perform that wherein nature was hindered : whereupon aristotle saith , facilius est distruere accidentale , quam ess●n●iale , so that the accidental being destroyed , the essential remains , which should be pure . but this cannot be done without projection of the elixar or quintessence upon metals . hence proceedeth the study of all the philosophers to make their miraculous stone , which i confess is very pleasant and full of expectation , when a man seeth the true and perfect transmutation of metals , lead and iron into copper , the ore of lead into quick-silver or mercury , with a small charge to a very great profit , as it hath been made for me , untill the maker of it died , within three months after he had made almost four thousand pound weight , as good as any natural mercury could be , and that in six weeks time . to return to our philosophers , concerning the essence of metals , they have been transcended in the knowledge thereof , for they shew the generation of sulphur and mercury in this manner . the exhalations of the earth being cold and dry , and the vapours of the seas being cold and moist , according to their natures ascending and meeting in a due proportion and equality , and falling upon some hilly or mountainous countrey , where the influence of sun and moon have continual operation , are the cause of generation ; or properly from it is sulphur ingendered , penetrating into the earth where there are veines of water , and there they congeal into gold or silver , or into the ores of silver , copper , and all other metals , participating or holding alwayes some little mixture of the best , or being in nature better or worse , according to the said accidental causes . so that they do attribute the generation to the operation of the influences of the sun and moon ; where the book of god sheweth us the creation of all things in heaven and earth , and the furniture thereof . the earth ( being the dry part of the globe of the world ) did appear and was made the third day , containing in it the ores of all metals and minerals ; whereas the sun and moon were created afterward on the fourth day , whose operation was incident to the things created , but not before . in like manner ( say they ) are diamonds , rubies , and other pretious stones ingendred , according to the purity of the matter , and the proportionable participation of every element therein : if the exhalations ( being subtill ) do superabound and prevail over the vapours , then hereof is sulphur ingendered : and if this subtil exhalation be mixed with the moist vapours , and wanteth decoction , as being in a very cold place , it becomes mercury or quick-silver , which can endure no heat or fire at all . the first metal mentioned in the holy scripture is gold , which was found in the river pison , running through the garden of eden into the countrey of havilah , where gold doth grow , and this was in the east . according to which observation , all the veins of mines run from east towards west , with the course of the sun , as shall be more declared . to this argument appertaineth the philosophical study of prima materia , to be found out by experience for the great work of la pis philosophorum , by the operation of the sun in seven yeares . the practise whereof was made about forty yeares since , by a german doctor of physick , at dansick in the east countries ( as i have been informed by a friend of mine who was also a physitian ) and was done in this manner , according to the bigness of the body of the sun , being 166 times bigger than the whole globe of the earth and water , making the circumference of the world . whereupon he took 166 vials or glasses , wherein he did put of all the ores of metals and minerals , and other things which had any affinity with minerals , and some of them mixed , and calcined all of them , and closing or nipping up all the glasses by fire , he did expose them to the sun in an eminent place , for and during the said time of seven yeares , and found thereby ( as it was reported ) prima materia , which was reduced to seven glasses ; howsoever , it was certain that he grew very rich , & bought above an hundred houses in the that city befor he died . which was an occasion that my friend ( imitating him ) did likewise place not far from london seven glasses , with calcined metals and minerals , upon a house top , against the back of a chimney , where the repercussion of the sun did work upon them , which was admirable to behold from six moneth to six moneths , not onely by the sublimation of colours , very variable and celestial , but also of the rare alteration of the stuffe , being sometimes liquid , another time dry , or part of it moist , ascending and descending very strange to behold , as my self have seen divers times from year to year . some had been there two , three , four , five , and one almost seven yeares , the colour whereof had been yellow , then white in the superficies , then as black as pitch , afterwards dark red , with stars of gold in the upper part of the glass , and at last of the colour of oranges or lemons , and the substance almost dry . many were the questions between him and me , but he was confident , that there was the eli●●r , howbeit very doubtful , that he should never enjoy the same ; and it came so to passe , for after a long sickness he died of a burning ague , and a gentleman gave a sum of mony to his wife for that glasse , whereof i have not heard any thing these seven yeares . in this glass he would shew me the working of this quintessence , according to the description of ripley , who he was assured had the lapis , and so had frier bacon , and norton of bristol : kelley ▪ had by his saying some little part to make projection , but it was not of his own making . the charge to make it was little or nothing to speak of , and might be done in seven moneths , if a man did begin it on the right day . the twelve operations of ripley , he declared unto me were but six , and then it resteth ; for , saith he , all philosophers have darkened the study of this blessed work , which god hath revealed to a few humble and charitable men . calcination , dissolution , and separation are but one , and so is conjuction and putrifaction ; likewise cibation and fermentation ; then followeth congelation ; and at last multiplication and projection , which are also but one . for mine own part , seeing that no man can be perfect in any one science , i hold it not amiss for a man to have knowledge in most or in all things : for by this study of alcumy , men may attain to many good experiments of distillations chymical , fire-works , and other excellent observations in nature ; which being far from merchants profession , i hope shall not give offence to the reader of this book , seeing it is but in one chapter accidentally handled neither will i crave pardon of the muses , as it were , insinuating to the world to have a far greater knowledge in these trials or conclusions . but to satisfie the curiosity of some , that it maybe with a gaping mouth expect to understand somewhat of the stuffe put into these glasses ; i may say as i was informed , that in some was the calcined ore of silver and gold , in some other mercury calcined , and sulphur in some other ; arsenick for the air , sulphur for the fire , mercury for the water , and sea-cole for the earth , were put all together as the four elements . in some other glass was vitriol and orpiment ▪ and what more i do not now remember ; concluding , that where nature giveth ability , art giveth facility . i have read all the books of paracelsus ▪ that i could find hitherto , and in his book de transmutatione rerum ▪ i do find to this purpose the observations following , concurring with my friends opinion concerning ripleys 12 divisions , comprised into six , and the seventh is the matter it self , and the labour or working resteth ▪ wherewith i doe end this chapter , and proceed to the surer grounds of the mines of metals . omne quod in frigore solvitur , continet aerum spiritum salis , quen ▪ in sublimatione vel distillatione acquirit & assumit . omne quod in frigore vel aere solvitur , iterum calore , ignis coagulatur in pulverem vel lapidem . solutio vero caloris , solvit omnia pingua & omnia sulphurea : et quicquid calorignis soluit : hoc coagulat , frigus in massam , & quicquid calor coagulat , hoc soluit rursus aeer & frigor . gradus ad transmutationem sunt septem . calcinatio , sublimatio , solutio , putrifactio , distillatio , coagulatio , & tintura . sub gradus calcinationis comprehenduntur reverberatio & cementatio . sub sublimatione , exaltio , ele●●●i● , & fixatio . sub solutione , dissolutio & resolutio . sub putrifactione , digestio & circulatio , qui transmutat colores , separat purum ab impuro : purum superius , impurum inferius . sub distillatione , ascentio , lavatio , & fixatio . coagulatio est duplex ; una aeris , altera ignis . tintura tingit totum corpus , & est fermentum massae , farinacea & panis . secundum est , quod calidius liquescunt , eo celerius , tintura transcurrit , sicut fermentum penetrat , & totam massam acetositato inficit , &c. sequitur mortificatio & fixatio sulphuris , & in libro de resuscitatione rerum : reductio metallorum in mercurium vivum . a translate of the eleventh chapter , taken out of a theosophicall german treatise , printed in the year 1655. under the title of postilion or a new almanack ; being an astrological & prophetical prognostication . touching the end of the present warres and power of rome , and that there are many calamaties yet to come , after which there shall be an everlasting peace , and a new world : and likewise what unheard of miracles , and such as were never known before , shall happen : and what shall be the state of the world from this time , till the coming of christ : and likewise every mans nativity is here cast , and his fortune foretold him . the eleventh chapter . a prognostication of what shall happen to physitians , chirurgeons , apothecaries , and their dependants , and alchymists , and miners . what griefs , calamities , and miseries , all men are troubled with from their coming out of their mothers wombs till their going into their graves ; none do feel so much as they that are afflicted with diseases , and sickness ; and to recover and preserve the health of such , is the business of physitians , and apothecaries with their dependants ▪ nor is there any calling or profession on earth more usefull for men , than is that of physick , next to the apostolical and propheticall calling : for if a man were master of the world , and yet had not health ; what were he the better for all other things . indeed this profession of physick hath excellent testimonies , not onely in the sacred scripture , but also from experience . now though this be so , yet nevertheless shall there be an end put to the business of physitians , apothecaries , and chyrurgeons , and they shall be eased of all their pains and care , and let them know this prognostication ; that from my watch tower , i have heard , though not yet seen , that within a short time we shall have an universal medicine , which will not onely recover the sick and keep them well , but also take away death , and for ever swallow it up . can there be any thing more acceptable to man ? seeing that death masters every man , though christ dyed and rose againe ▪ and ascended into heaven , and sits at the right hand of the majesty of god. what a great comfort was it to wretched men in the times of christ and his apostles , that they were cured of divers diseases , and for this reason did christ and his apostles and prophets ▪ follow this profession , and therefore it is the most honourable of all , next to that of prophesying , so that it is a wonder why the uncivil civilians , should take place of the physitians ; but perhaps these wise men know not , that health is better than all the goods and riches of the world. but least you should think i tell you a fable ; i would have you understand my prognostication of the true universall medicine , which shall serve not onely men , but also all flesh ; namely , that there growes in paradice a tree , which is , and is called the tree of life , which in the glorious and long expected coming of jesus christ our god and saviour shall be made manifest , and then shall it be afforded to men , and the fruits of it shall be gathered , by which all men and all flesh shall be delivered from death , and that as truly , solidly , and surely , as at the time of the fall , by gathering the fruit of the forbidden tree , we together withall flesh ▪ fell into sin , death , and all ill . and this glory and great joy hath god reserved for us , that live in these latter dayes , and hath kept his good wine untill now therefore as in these times shall be made manifest , whatso●ver hath been hidden hitherto , and even those things which are kept most secret , so now shall the way to the tree of life be laid open , which time the apostle peter ▪ hints at , when he speaks of the times of refreshing from the presence of the lord , and of th● times of restitution , ( namely of that good which was lost and taken away in paradice ) and the prophet daniel 9.24 . of the great apostle paul we read that he was rapt into paradice , and heard words not to be uttered , ( or which it was no● fit for a man to tell ) and of this i will glory ( saith he . ) what do we believe those words were ? wretch that i am ; i am farre beneath paul : for what should this be ? or how should such thoughts arise in my heart ? but this i may say in the fear of the lord , that what i tell you , i have heard of the glory of the sons of god , which is revealed to me , which every creature shall enjoy with us , having hitherto expected it with long desire and grones . but when elias who was with christ in the mount shall come , he will declare more to you of these things . so i tell you what i have heard of the tree of life , which hath been sealed up hitherto , and no man hath dared to break up the seal , nor indeed could : because a fiery mountain is in the way which shall not be removed before christ come with great power & glory ; whose coming we do declare to you , is much nerer than men believe it is : and seeing it is so , i do foretell all physitians , that then their physick shall be worth nothing ; for another garden will be found , whence shall be had herbs , that shall preserve men not onely from sickness , but even from death it self . who will not be glad of this , especially when you may partake of the benefit of it , if you receive and believe it , and do not despise my prognostication . besides let the alchymists know this from me , that the phylosophers stone , wherewith they have cured the sick ; and their universal medicine , and chief remedy shall be worth nothing , being indeed most vile in comparison of this universall medicine of which i have heard , and tell you of . what think you of this ? you that have so bragged of your chymistry hitherto , and have written so many books and brought men into many errors ; ( i mean not the true alchymists , that were good christians , and in simplicity of heart truly served their neighbour , such as were the benedictine monk , basilius , valentinus , paracelsus , and others , for they shall have this said unto them , i was sick and ye visited me , and have not so constanly taken fees from all , as many of our money-scrapers do , who forget mercy and charity , and are therefore no true samaritans , ) but i mean the knavish cole-blowers , and pretenders to chymistry . know therefore ye alchymists , that all your glory shall vanish away , both of your universal medicine , and of your projection and transmutation of baser metals into gold and silver , and this glory shall belong to the miners , who in the new world shall dig out of the ground more gold and silver than needs , and that very pure and refined , without any cleansing or melting at all . now have you not red a prophesie of this in isaiah , for brass i will bring gold , and for iron i will bring silver , and for wood brass , and for stones iron . it is not to be believed what great treasures and unexhausted riches are hid in the mountaines , nay and in the very fields and plaines what a vast quantity there is of gold , silver , and precious stones , which have hitherto been hid and sealed up till these last daies , wherein all shall be made manifest , to the glory of god. but what are these earthly things , in respect of that glory which is in the divine world or the original of these worlds . for there is a thing more noble and excellent than the very tree of life , which is in paradice , namely that stone which hitherto the builders have refused . here now will many think with themselves : what means all this ? give me the phylosophers stone , or tell me where those treasures are hid w ch you speak of , and keep your fine conceits to your self . not so ( say i ) for it is a true prophesie , that he which seeks these fading things , he shall decay with them . but he which first seeks the kingdome of god , him will god seek and enrich him for ever . and therefore i wish from my very heart , that ye were of my mind , and then we would presently berich our selves , and enrich others ; i wish but as much as will serve me and my small family from day to day , though i might easily grow rich if i would worship the god of the world , but when i am offered riches , i say to my self , away satan . and who would think that i have not a peny to buy my own supper and my poor little childrens with , but what i borrow . o man , if thou didst but know the inexhausted riches of the knowledge of jesus christ , and of his kingdom & glory : thou wouldest utterly despise the riches and glory of this world , and think as paull doth , but what things were gain to me , those i counted loss for christ . yea doubtless , and i count all things but loss , for the excellencie of the knowledge of christ jesus my lord : for whom i have suffered the loss of all things , and do count them but dung that i may win christ . and now is that glory manifested unto thee on free cost , nor needs it to cost thee any thing , & likewise the gospel of the kingdom is now preached unto the whole world , & unto al nations , wholly on free cost ; happy is he that acknowledges it , and receives it with thankfulness , but whoso despises and rejects it , shall himself be despised and rejected . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a45747-e760 dan. 2.12 . gen. 1. gen. 2. psal : 33 : 9 : heb. 11.3 . esay . 48.3.40.28 . is . 96.9 , 10. lev. 8.8 . eze. 28.5 : 14 , 16 : luc. 6 : 5 , 8 , 11 gen. 6 : 14 : exo : 28 : 30 esa : 32 : 17 : exo : 31 : 3 , 4 : esai 45 : 2 , 3 2 kin : 6 : 17 exo : 28 : 17 rev. 21 : 18 cor. 5 : 37 gen : 4●32 ps : 97 : 11 : rom : 8 : 21 isa . holl : de m● : dan : 1● : 3 : exo. 38.22 . heb. 8.5 . eze. 29.5.14 , 16. zach. 4. esay 4.5 . iob , 28. v. 5 , 6. notes for div a45747-e4470 * a city famous for ingenious inventions , mathematical , and mechanical . notes for div a45747-e6070 acts 3.19 , 20 , 21. 2 cor. 21.4 . rom. 8.19.20 , 21. esdrass 47.53 . and 8.52 , 53 , 54. isa . 60.17 . psal . 118. 1 ioh. 2.17 . phil. 3.7 8. a relation of a very sudden and extraordinary cure of a person bitten by a viper, by the means of acids together with some remarks upon dr. tuthill's vindication of his objections against the doctrine of acids : wherein are contained several things in order to the further clearing of the said doctrine / by john colbatch. colbatch, john, sir, 1670-1729. 1698 approx. 124 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 65 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2006-02 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a33710 wing c5007 estc r12746 12388703 ocm 12388703 60930 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a33710) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 60930) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 659:5) a relation of a very sudden and extraordinary cure of a person bitten by a viper, by the means of acids together with some remarks upon dr. tuthill's vindication of his objections against the doctrine of acids : wherein are contained several things in order to the further clearing of the said doctrine / by john colbatch. colbatch, john, sir, 1670-1729. [12], 116 p. printed for dan. brown ..., abel roper ..., and tho. leigh ..., london : 1698. half-title: dr. colbatch's relation of the cure of a person bitten by a viper, &c. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng tuthill, francis. -vindication of some objections lately raised against dr. j. colbatch his hypothesis. medicine -early works to 1800. 2005-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-09 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-10 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2005-10 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion dr. colbatch's relation of the cure of a person bitten by a viper , &c. books published by dr. john colbatch . four treatises of physick and chirurgery , viz. i. a. physico-medical essay concerning , alkaly and acid , proving alkalies to be the cause of all or most distempers . ii. farther considerations by way of appendix to the said essay . iii. novum lumen chirurgicum , or a new light of chirurgery , being a discovery of a safer and speedier cure of wounds than hitherto practis'd . illustrated with experiments in flanders in 1694. iv. a vindication of the novum lumen from many unjust aspersions . a treatise of the gout : wherein both its cause and cure are demonstrably made appear . to which are added , some medicinal observations concerning the cure of fevers , &c. by the means of acids . the doctrine of acids further asserted , in answer to dr. tuthil of dorchester . with some things relating to the history of blood , and an attempt to prove what life is , and by what 't is supported . with an account of the case of edmund turner , esq &c. a relation of a very sudden and extraordinary cure of a person bitten by a viper , by the means of acids . together with some remarks upon dr. tuthill's vindication of his objections against the doctrine of acids . wherein are contained several things in order to the further clearing of the said doctrine . by john colbatch , a member of the college of physicians . london . printed for dan. brown without temple bar ; abel roper at the black-boy , and tho. leigh at the peacock in fleetstreet . 1698. to the unknown dr. colbatch , upon his several most ingenious tracts in physick , especially that of alkalies and acids . physick for ages past has gropt her way in paths of darkness , without any ray of certain truth , and still was going astray : when colbatch rose , who with reviving light dispell'd the clouds , and chas'd away the night . by him th' important secret is reveal'd , thro fraud and ignorance so long conceal'd : no sordid hopes of gain e're sway'd his mind , his only aim's the good of human kind ; who first with pains and labour dug the oar , then freely gave us all the golden store . let juggling quacks grown envious of thy name , combine together to obscure thy fame ; such are the myst'ries which thou dost unfold , they 'll write thy name in characters of gold : to thee alone mankind's indebted more , than t' all the doctors that have gone before . j. c. junior . to the reader . i have in all my writings taken truth for my guide , as being the soul of an undertaking , and a duty which ought to be stipulated by every writer , both with god and man ; and this i may say that i have not wanted courage to speak it , nor means to discern it . the opposition i have met with hath been almost insupportable , truth at its first appearance never wanting multitudes of opposers ; but ( thanks to god ) the eyes of the world begin to be opened , and the new doctrine i have advanced hath gained so much ground , that few authors in their own life time , have scarce seen the like . this unwonted and unexpected encouragement that i have met with , hath filled me with such a sense of gratitude , that at present i am not able to express ; neither can i better manifest it , than by prosecuting the work i have begun , with all the diligence and industry that my nature is capable of bearing , and this i do oblige my self to do . reason is the true touchstone by which we ought to examine every thing ; and according as any thing doth agree or disagree with it , so we ought either to embrace or reject it . i remember that that prodigy of nature , the learned mrs. ann baynard , did once , in my hearing , say , that reason was that eternal standard , which god almighty , as a ray of his own image , has impressed on man , to the election or dislike of what may hurt or succour him ; and where this is rais'd and improv'd , makes him an angel , but where sunk and depress'd , a groveling brute . i do protest i have never yet advanced any thing before i had weighed it in the balance of the best reason that god has given me ; and for fear lest reason alone should deceive me , and thereby suffer me to impose upon the world , i have always joined experience to it ; so that both being combined together , i could not well be deceived my self , nor lead others , into errors . and i am apt to believe , that if people would but lay aside their prejudices , and consult their reasons , i should not have one enemy left . but to my no small grief , i have heard some physicians of no ordinary reputation , positively declare , that authority , and not reason , was what they depended upon . of these men i have little hopes ; but since they won't hearken to my reasons , let them but inquire into the success of my practice ; and if they find , that by the means of acids i am able to cure those distempers , which are not to be cured by alkalies , i hope it will at last cure them of their scepticism . from one generation of physicians to another it has constantly been handed down , that the gout was a distemper not to be cured ; and in spight of all the noise that the last age has made about experimental philosophy , no man ever went out of the common road to try whether this position were true or false . but now it doth evidently appear , that the gout is not such a fury , but that it may with ease be overcome by the means of proper and powerful acids ; the truth of which there is scarce any part of england , but there is one or other that can experimentally attest . now if it doth evidently appear that my predecessors have been so notoriously ignorant , as to the cause and cure of so common a distemper , it is not unreasonable to believe that they have been so in other cases , nay it is most certain they have been so : and there are a great many honest gentlemen of the faculty who are not ashamed to acknowledg it , and that not only in words , but by the alteration of their method of practice : tho there are another sort , who of late have with good success made use of acids plentifully , and at the same time have given me all manner of opprobrious language : but i thank god i am out of the reach of their malice , and though they persist in their ingratitude , yet i shall continue my endeavours to serve them to the utmost of my power . i have the same just apology to make at this time as formerly , viz. that being in a continual hurry of business , i have not been able to perform things with that niceness and , exactness that i should otherwise have done ; and i know there are a great many who will read these papers with no other design than to find faults : but the barks of these criticks will never disturb me , because i have undertaken nothing but with a real design to serve mankind ; and i doubt not , but in spight of all the imperfections that are to be met with , there are a great many candid , ingenious men , who will make as favourable a construction of this , as they have done of my former undertakings . and if men of candor are but pleased , i care not what the envious criticks say . villers-street york-buildings , may 1. 1698. jo. colbatch . a relation of a very sudden and extraordinary cure of a person bitten by a viper , by the means of acids . on saturday , march the twenty sixth , one mr. stringer , a chymist in villers-street in york-buildings , was seeing a collection of rarities , which were exposed to publick view in stocks-market ; amongst other things there was a live viper kept in a glass of bran. the person who shew'd the collection , upon some inducement or other , took the viper out of the glass to shew mr. stringer ; but handling him more rudely than he ought to have done , enraged the viper , and he bit him by the finger ; and from the place into which the tooth entred , there issued forth a few drops of blood : it was just above the upper joynt of the fore finger where the tooth entred . at first the man , whose name is philipson , made nothing of it , but in a little time his finger swelled and pained him exceedingly ; upon which by the direction of somebody , a hot iron first , and afterwards venice treacle and oyl of vipers were applied to the part ; but the symptoms not abating by these methods , mr. stringer advised him to seek out for further help : he perceiving that mr. stringer had some knowledg of the matter , desired his assistance ; upon which mr. stringer sent to mr. francis molt a chymist , for some salt of vipers ; but mr. molt not being at home , and that not being to be had , he sent to another place for some dulcified spirit of niter , a large quantity of which he gave him in claret , and with the rest he embrocated his finger and hand , which at the present afforded him some relief , he being then in extream agonies , and had such a trembling in his hand and arm as is scarce conceivable . but in a little time the symptoms returning , the dulcified spirit of niter not being powerful enough to overcome so subtile a poison , mr. stringer again pressed him to seek for further help : upon which he told mr. stringer that he had a brother in pal mal , who was an apothecary , to whom he would apply himself for assistance and advice : so to his brother he went in a coach , mr. stringer accompanying him . when he came to his brothers , the symptoms were so aggravated , that his brother was under very great concern for him , and proposed sending for dr. sloane and several others ; but mr. stringer mentioning me , he readily assented to take my advice in the matter ; upon which they got into the coach , and drove to mr. stringer's house , by which time the man was grown so weak that he could scarce stand . after they had gotten him into a room , they sent for me ; but i not being at home , mr. stringer sent for mr. alexander small a surgeon in new round court , a young man of great honesty and industry , and one whom i frequently imploy . mr. small having never seen any thing of the like nature before , was at a stand what to do ; he first of all thought of scarifying the finger , but when he considered that the tumor had extended it self even to his shoulder , in which part he had very acute pains , and from the other symptoms that attended him , concluding the poison had dilated it self through the whole mass of blood , he altered his first resolution , and instead of scarification made use of the following method . before i give an account of which , i shall take notice of his circumstances , as they were related to me , by mr. small , mr. stringer , and mr. philipson apothecary , the man's brother . his hand and arm , as is before related , were extreamly swelled and inflamed , and full of pain ; but the pain in his finger where the bite was , and that in his shoulder did much exceed the pain in other parts ; he had a great vertigo or giddiness , a deliquium animi or faintness , even to such a degree , that he could scarce sit without being held in the chair ; an extraordinary and violent strangury also attending him , with cold sweats , and great disorders in his stomach and bowels , and his countenance turned extreamly yellow , and stretched out , almost , as dead . mr. small and mr. stringer provided a good quantity of my elixir vitrioli , an account of which and its preparation may be met with in the second edition of my essay of alkaly and acid. with this elixir mr. small embrocated the fingers , hand and wrist for near half an hour together , and two or three times in the said space he dipped the end of the bitten finger in plain oyl of vitriol : in the interim he gave him two or three drams or more of the elixir vitrioli inwardly in a large quantity of water , when the man finding a great propensity to vomit , mr. small advised him to put his fingir in his throat and help it forwards ; after he had vomited plentifully , mr. small plied him afresh with the elixir vitrioli in water : the quantity he took after his vomiting mr. small guesseth to be near , if not quite , half an ounce . in less than half an hour after mr. small came to him , all the symptoms , except the swelling of his hand and arm , and that was sensibly lessened , were totally vanished , and he able to walk from york-buildings to the grecian coffee-house in essex-buildings , to find me out to desire my further directions in the matter . now the violence of the symptoms being abated and gone , i prescribed him more temperate acids than those he had before taken , and that had been applied to the affected parts . ℞ fol. rutae contus . manip . duos rad. angelicae hispan . pul . unc. duas micar . panis albi unc. quatuor aceti acerrimi lib. duas coquantur ad debitam consistentiam , cui adde ol. scorpion . unc. duas . m. f. cataplasma . ℞ elix . vitrioli dracm. duas sp. vini rect. unc. duas . m. f. mixtura . ℞ fol. rutae manip . unum rad. serpentariae virgin. dracm. sex . angel. hispan . unc. unam petasitidis unc. unam semis vini albi , aceti acerrimi , ana lib. unam infunde calide per horam & coletur , sig. the infusion . ℞ ol. vitrioli dul. per digest . fact . unc. semis , sig. dulcified oyl of vitriol . i ordered the man to go to his lodging , which was in black fryars ; and because his brother could not get the forementioned things ready under three or four hours , i advised him as soon as he came home , to take three ounces of treacle water , ( in my opinion one of the best medicines in the london dispensatory ) and as soon as he had taken it , to go to bed. i ordered that the cataplasm should be applied warm to the hand and arm as far as the swelling reacht , every six hours ; and before the application of the cataplasm , that the parts should be well embrocated with the mixture . of the infusion he took four ounces every four hours . whenever he was thirsty , i advised him to take twenty drops of the dulcified oyl of vitriol in a draught of white wine and water . one sunday morning about eleven a clock i went to visit him , and when i came to his lodgings , i found dr. sloan with him ; the doctor said the method that had been used was new , but that the man was in a very good condition , and out of all danger . he had slept well the whole night , and was not in the least feverish , neither had he the least disorder upon him , only a very small pain in his finger , the swelling of his hand and arm being greatly abated . i ordered the continuing of his former method , the which i had no reason to vary . but dr. sloan proposed , that if his infusion should make him puke , as it once had done , then in the room of it , he should at the same intervals take half a dram of virginian snake root in pouder , drinking afterwards two or three ounces of treacle-water , sweetned with syrup of gilliflowers ; the which i consented to , it no way thwarting the methods that had before been taken . at night i visited him again , and then found him as brisk and well as if nothing had ailed him ; the infusion had not disagreed with him , and therefore he took not the powder of snake root ; but i mixed the treacle-water and syrup of gilliflowers with the remaining part of the infusion , and ordered him to take four ounces of it morning and evening only , so long as it lasted . the next day i visited him again , when i found him up and eating his dinner very heartily : i then ordered him to continue the use of the cataplasm so long as he found the least swelling in any part , and then dismissed him from my care , there not being any more need of my further attendance . a small swelling of his finger continued for some time after , but without trouble or pain . i believe i may without vanity say , that considering the symptoms that attended this man , which were as severe as possible , and he survive it , there has not been a more extraor-dinary cure wrought , nor such symptoms , raised upon such an occasion , ever taken off in so short a space . now did the poison of vipers consist in a volatil acid , as some would make us believe , how is it possible for any one to conceive , that ever these dreadful symptoms could be so soon taken off , by giving more acids , and that in so extravagant a quantity as they were at first given by mr. stringer and mr. small ? nay had the poyson been an acid , it is very reasonable to believe , that the more acids they had given him , the more his symptoms would have been aggravated . whereas , on the contrary , it plainly appears , that by the repeated large quantities that they gave him , the symptoms were so soon abated , that it is almost past belief . i cannot but observe , that in the strange relation that dr. stubbs gives of the severe symptoms that attended the man at vvarwick that was bitten with an adder , the only thing that put him out of danger of losing his life , was the mixtura simplex that was given him , which is a most noble acid ; but this man had not the mixtura simplex given him in such quantities , or in any proportion to the acids that mr. philipson took ; neither was his cure either so expeditious or so easie , as may be seen in dr. stubbs's relation of that matter . the hot iron was equally useless in this , as in that case ; and i am apt to believe doth never do any service at all , unless applied at the very instant of time , that the bite is received . mr. philipson did suck his finger as soon as he was bit , and to that a certain physitian attributes a great deal , and says it help'd to expedite the cure. whereas there are several authors of undoubted credit , who have given relations of persons that have died by so doing . and if this man had sucked out any great quantity of the poison with his mouth , how came the whole hand and arm to be so immediately affected in so dreadful a manner ? lemery in his course of chymistry does confess , that the viper doth abound more with volatile ( alkalious ) salts , than most other creatures , and assigns a very good reason for it , viz. from the extraordinary closeness of the cutaneous pores , by which means they do not perspire so freely as other creatures do . nay he confesseth , that their poison consisteth in the emission of a very great quantity of volatile salts , at the time of their being enraged or angred ; but then to square himself with the vulgar opinion , he tells us , that these volatile alkalious salts are instantaneously , at the time of their emission , during the time of the vipers short rage , turned into acids of the most volatile nature : this is such jargon that nothing can be imagined like it . the transmutation of metals ( even to those who are the greatest enemies to it ) is a mere jest to it . if we look into moses charras his account of the german that was bit at his house , after all the pother that he makes about his volatile salt of vipers , yet the cure of that man was not performed without a great deal of hazard and trouble , and the intermixture of a great many other medicines , besides that of the volatile salt , and those even acids too , as treacle-water , and slices of citrons with sugar ; but these acids could not so effectually operate as otherwise , it 's probable , they would have done , by reason of their being obtunded by the volatile salt , that was so frequently given him . but hoffman in his clavis pharmaceut . schroderi , pag. 45 , & 46. ( as i have elsewhere observed ) doth wholly attribute the cure of this man to the juice of citrons , after all other things had proved ineffectual ; and ridicules charras for feigning the poison to be an acid : for if this were so ( says hoffman ) how could the juice of citrons ( which is an acid ) afford the patient any relief ? i shall conclude this subject with this one observation , viz. that physicians get more reputation by keeping their patients a long time in hand , and in continual danger of their lives , than by quick and expeditious cures . as for instance : one physician has a patient sick of a fever ; he takes such a method that his patient lies a month in continual danger and hazard , but at last recovers and gets abroad ; he then proclaims to every body the miraculousness of the recovery and the danger he was in ; upon which enquiry is made who was the physician ? he immediately replies , the famous doctor such a one ; and if he be a person of any note , the physician 's work is done . another physician has a patient that has the very same fever ; this physician takes care to obviate all symptoms , and his patient is abroad in eight or ten days , and perhaps has never been in the least hazard of his life . he ( instead of magnifying the skill of his physician ) tells his friends , my physician tells me i have had a fever , such as my neighbour such a one had , but i believe he is mistaken , mine could be no more than a cold , which would have gone off had i done nothing at all ; and this is frequently the reward that honest men meet with : and i doubt not but the same reflections will be made upon mr. philipson's cure , viz. that he would have been well in the same time , had nothing at all been done to him . several physicians have publickly said , that a prick with a needle or the point of a lancet in some parts would occasion as dreadful sympoms as this man had . supposing this to be true , i believe every body will allow that the taking off of such symptoms in so small a time , let the occasion of them be what it will , is not ordinarily seen ; and dr. g. with the prick of a lancet only , was hurried away into another world , who yet was as likely a man to ●ake the forementioned objection , ●o undervalue any thing done either by me , or upon the basis of my hypothesis , as any one now living . i will not pretend to justifie mr. stringers conduct in a great many things ; but he being a person greatly concerned in the first and most material part of what was done for mr. philipson in order to his cure , i could not in justice but make use of his name as he deserved . but for mr. small the surgeon , he is a man of an unblemished reputation , and as hopeful a young man as any of his profession , the testimony of whom only were sufficient upon such an occasion ; but the testimonies of mr. philipson the apothecary and the man himself being joined to his , makes the matter of fact unquestionable . remarks upon dr. tuthill's vindication of his objections against my hypothesis . worthy sir , you are the only fair antagonist that ever i have had to do with , and therefore i ought to treat you with all the tenderness and respect imaginable . you cannot but be sensible that i walk in an unbeaten path , and therefore if i now and then am out of my way , i am the more excusable . it 's true , some few other physicians have heretofore used acids in the cure of several distempers , and the friendly correspondence i have had with some of them has been of great use to me ; but the assistance i have had from them as to the establishing of my principles , has been very inconsiderable . if i have made any false steps , neither of them are obliged to answer for me , and if i have made any good ones , ( which i cannot forbear flattering my self that i have ) i am sure it is owing to my own labour and industry ; and altho i were not bred up at the university , yet i have taken as much true pains to inform my self in all the parts of physick , as perhaps any man ever did . let an hypothesis be laid down with all the caution and care in the world , and established upon never so certain a foundation , yet there will still be some room left for men to object ; and he that will spend his time in answering all trifling objections , that may and will be raised against a thing that is new , must lead but an uneasie life . but , sir , i do not mention this in relation to you , what objections you have raised have seeming weight in them , and therefore i have given my self the trouble to clear my self of them as well as i can . i no where tell you , that i have said all that is to be said on the behalf of my new hypothesis , that requiring several years to perform . but i have already said so much , that i believe i may boldly say , it is the best and clearest hypothesis in physick now extant , and upon the foundation of which a man may with greater certainty attempt the cure of more diseases , than upon any other that has yet been made publick . the present business of my profession , together with another piece of work i am ingaged in , viz. a general treatise of fevers , does so take up my time , that i cannot make any very large remarks upon your further objections ; and were it not that i am willing to let the world see , that i have a greater esteem for you , than for those scoundrels that have heretofore appeared in print against me , for the present i should have been silent . for i must assure you , that i do not think my hypothesis at all shaken by what you have now said , there being little or nothing more than what was contained in your first objections . however i shall transcribe your fresh objections in the order i find them , and make my remarks in the same manner . reply . if you please to compare the alkaline spirit that you extracted from the consumptive man's blood , with that which the healthy blood afforded , you 'l find no great disproportion , especially if you consider the caput mortuum of the sound blood. for you say that it being broken into small atoms , each atom appeared to be so many little bodies of fire in your microscope . that there is not the least spark of fire in the blood , i shall endeavour to prove anon ; wherefore 't is not irrational to suppose that those lucid atoms were of the family of salts : and if salts , then alkaline , according to the rules of your own hypothesis . but then ( you reply ) the tabid blood would have yielded much more alkaly , had not the great quantity of luxuriant alkaly been thrown upon the lungs . methinks this looks a little strange . for if you remember the consumptive person did sweat prodigiously . now you make sweat to be nothing but an excrementitious alkaly . if this alkaly then was carryed off in such quantities , it could not well abound so much in the lungs . remark . this objection or reply to my answer is a tolerable good one , and not without some seeming weight ; but is what i am easily able to clear my self from . for , first , i my self have before taken notice of the small disproportion between the two peoples blood , and have assigned one very good reason for it ; but according to your wonted candor , you have furnished me , with a second , and that is the profuseness of the sweats . now if after these two great discharges of excrementitious alkaly by sweating and spitting , the blood at last abounds with any quantity of alkaly more than that of a sound person , it is , i think , very reasonable to suppose , that the blood 's being at first overcharged with alkaly was the cause of the distemper ; and in very many consumptive cases it is usual for the patient to spit up perfect chalk , and that in great quantities : now if the blood were overcharged with acids in consumptions , the whole mass passing so frequently through the lungs , could not fail of being sweetned by this chalky alkaly . but on the contrary , i think it very plain , that the tone of the lungs being spoiled , and the blood abounding with alkaly , a part of this superabundant alkaly is thrown upon them , and causes all the havock that is made by this tyrannical distemper ; and this being a distemper that most of my predecessors have died of , and of which i my self am apprehensive , has made me not a little inquisitive into its nature and cause . secondly , that you might load the blood of the healthy person with more alkaly than i take notice of , you pretend from my own hypothesis ( tho without reason ) to assign the cause of the lucidness of the atoms of the caput mortuum , to proceed from the said caput mortuum's abounding with alkalious salts . now i can assure you , that the whole quantity of caput mortuum , which that blood produced , would scarce afford one grain of salt of any kind . but supposing it to contain but the fourth part of a grain of phosporus , which is a true animal fire , that would diffuse it self through the whole , and make it lucid . the phosporus is a true animal fire , and is to be extracted from all animal substances ; and if it did not exist in them , how is it possible for it to be extracted from them ? and that the phosporus is an acidosulphureous substance , is to be demonstrated without difficulty . and i have plainly told you , that the pabulum of animal fires is a sulphureous acid. your second and third replies i shall not meddle with , because you either grant me what i have said , or else proceed upon meer suppositions , of which i can take no notice . but here you fall upon me again without that order i could wish for , first with answer , and then first and secondly again , and so on . of this i shall take no notice , but go on from your first reply to the second , third and fourth , &c. in their order , and mark the pages in the margent . reply . you say , that in page not 67th of my answer , i know not what to make of your warm particles . and by way of reply you say , you mean alkalious particles , such as you believe the blood abounds with in some fevers , and in which you grant acids are of use . but yet ( say you ) i cannot agree with your notion of fevers . a fever ( say you pag. 68 . ) proceeds from a constipation of some of the emunctories , so that the excrementitious alkaly , which should be carried off by them , is detained in the blood , which by breaking its globules , &c. this doctrine does not seem at all to correspond with your practice . for spirit of vitriol , and other acids which are very stiptick , the use of which you applaud in fevers , should methinks constipate the pores more closely . and then they being of a very fixing nature , should fetter or retain those excrementitious alkalies , again , if fevers are occasioned only by a detention of these alkalies , then it must follow , that when ever they have free vent , the fever must abate . but the contrary has been sometimes experienced , where the patient has sweated very liberally , and yet died at last . if this will not serve the turn , i hope to make it appear anon , that alkalies are not capable of breaking the globules , and making such a bustle in the blood. but i cannot but speak one word or two in their defence before i go any further . i am very apt to think , that in some fevers , especially pestilential and malignant , the spirits are primarily affected , according to the hypothesis of the ingenious dr. morton , witness those symptoms which attend the nervosum genus immediately upon the first seizure . but you must not admit of this notion , from the soil which you must lodg in the blood , and thence be communicated to the spirits . well , let it be so , i will not dispute it : the difficulty on your side will be great still . for , tho i shall readily grant the globules to be broken in the aforesaid fevers ; yet 't will be a hard matter to convict alkalies of those tragical disorders . for first , experience shews , that nothing is more proper in those cases malignant ( i shall adventure to use the term , notwithstanding it has been so scouted of late ) than pul . e chelis , rad. serpentar . nay , sp. c. c. it self , given in a proper vehicle . but secondly , nothing does so readily dissolve the mass of blood , or separate its principles as acids , which i shall prove by and by , when i come to speak something of dropsies . but this long discourse of the heat of the blood , does naturally lead me to consider somewhat of its flame . remark . i do still affirm that fevers in general do proceed from a constipation of the emunctories . now what i mean by emunctories , are those parts which are only designed and provided by nature for the separation of the excrements from the blood ; and whenever they are so disordered as not to be able to perform that office , why then there must either a fever , or some other great disorder follow . and that this doctrine quadrates with my practice is very plain . for whenever these emunctories are over relaxed , they cannot squeeze out the excrementitious particles in sufficient quantities , and so they return back again into the blood , and cause fevers , or some other disorder ; and so of consequence spirit of vitriol , or some such kind of stiptick is the only proper remedy to take off this disorder . but to knock this matter on the head , you say that in many fevers the patient sweats so much , that by so doing it has cost him his life . this i will readily grant you , but the sweats you mean are certainly such as we call colliquative ones ; in which cases the emunctories are so overmuch relaxed , that they cannot bear a congestion at all , and so there is no such thing as a secretion , but the juices good and bad are all let out together ; and unless they can be prevented by proper stipticks , which will put nature into her right course , the whole fabrick must soon be destroyed . and it is also to be observed , that in such fevers the heat doth scarce exceed that of the natural temper , the pulse being also exceeding low . in the latter part of this reply you altogether go upon suppositions , without the least kind of demonstration , and so it is scarce worth my taking notice of : but however to manifest my respect , i shall go on with it . as for what you mean by the spirits being primarily affected in pestilential and malignant fevers ( all deference being had to the worthy dr. morton ) it is heathen greek to me : for by my own experience , ( to use your own terms ) in such cases i have found the blood so full of soil , that from thence i stick not to acount for all the depression of spirits and other nervous symptoms that attend those fevers . and for a fever of the spirits purely , a very late author has sufficiently exploded that matter . and in my own practice , within the space of a twelve month , i have been concerned with three persons ( and thanks to god i have seen no more ) that have had the true pestilence or plague ; the blood of all which i have seen , and indeed it has rather deserved the name of soil than blood , they being such masses of putrilaginous substance , that no man could without horror behold ; and ( by the assistance of providence ) two of these persons i recovered by the means of acids , and believe i might have done the same by the third , had i been called in time . as for what you speak of your experience as to the efficacy of pulvis è chelis , and sp. c. c. it 's a meer trifle ; and if ever any thing was done after the exhibition of them , nature her self deserved the whole honour , nothing in the least being to be attributed to the medicines , as may demonstrably be made appear , and to please you i shall endeavour to do . but by the way i beg of you , that you will not rank the rad. serpentariae with the pul. è chelis and sp. c. c. for the rad. serpentariae belongs to me , it being a most noble sulphureous acid inveloped ; and that it is so i will be obliged to maintain . but to return . i do boldly assert that in no fever that ever i have yet met with , let them be either benign or malign , have i ever yet observed that the patient has been in the least sensible of any acidity in the stomach or mouth , but generally those parts have been clog'd up with a matter that looks so like alkaly , that if it be not the very same , i am sure it 's no kin to the crab-tree . now suppose it to be alkaly , as it 's plain it is , what can the pul. e chelis , which is a fixt alkaly , or the sp. c. c. which is a volatile one , do to remove ; the pul. e chelis , or any medicines of that tribe , i mean of the testacea , which for want of an acid to dissolve them , must lie upon the stomach , and by clogging of that cannot fail of doing a great deal of mischief to the whole body ? as for sp. c. c. or any medicines of that kind , i cannot see what reason there can be for the exhibition of them , because it is most demonstrably manifest , that the blood of feverish people is always overclog'd with particles of the same nature , viz. volatile alkalious salts . but instead of the testacea and volatile salts , if you use any of the following sort of medicines , i am apt to believe that your practice in malignant fevers will be more successful than it has hitherto been ; viz. such as aq. theriacalis in large quantities , mixtura simplex , elix , vitrioli n r. an infusion of virginian snake root , &c. in vinegar , &c. but here i have not room to expatiate . by the use of these medicines you may raise the pulse , and fortifie the deprav'd and paul'd stomach , promote due and regular secretions , and change the malignant colliquative symptomatick sweats into benign and critical ones . but this is not a place for me to expatiate upon the method of the cure of fevers , that being reserved for a particular tract by it self ; which with some other things that i have promised the world , shall appear abroad as soon as i am able . as for what you here say in relation to acids dissolving the blood , i shall now take no notice of it , because you handle that matter more largely in another place . reply . and here the life of man you take to be a fire or flame , and all we eat and drink , together with the air , we draw in , to be fuel for this flame . the chief arguments you bring to confirm this doctrin , are taken from the excrements of this flame and its fewel . the excrements are alkalies , which are near of kind to ashes , the relicts of other flames : and for its pabulum , 't is acid and sulphur the common pabulum of all flames . here i must confess you talk very ingeniously , and highly improve the notions of that great philosopher . but let us examin this hypothesis a little . as for alkalies , i confess they are of the same nature with ashes and soot : yet it does not follow , that because alkalies are found in the blood there must be a flame too . we extract alkaly out of several herbs . 't is true the herbs must be calcined first . but certainly the salt was pre-existent in the herb before the calcination , or else the fire produced it de novo , which you will by no means admit . the inference then is plain . i will not adventure to say any thing of crabs-claws , oyster-shells , &c. lest you should make them the recrements of a vital flame . come we next to the pabulum , and that is acid and sulphur . that bodies , in which sulphur is predominant , are inflammable no body questions : but that such in which acid is the chief ingredient should burn , look like a paradox . to instance in a few : acet spirit . of vitriol . suc. limon . &c. are so far from promiting fame , that they immediately quench it : and indeed i know but one acid in nature , which is inflammable , and that is niter . but then this vital flame is not of a nature with culinary flames . answer , since the pabulum is the same , methinks the flame should be so too . again , tho you speak so much of this vital flame , yet you do not ( as i remember ) much care to fix the place of its existence . i supposed it must be in the blood , if any where . now 't is very hard to suppose a flame in that body , of which no part is inflammable . if you open a vein , and the blood spouts out reeking hot on the fire , it will immediately quench it . so that methinks , these notions seem to be a little too finely spun . acid and sulphur did support human life , men live upon coals , brimstone , &c. in which there is store of acid and sulphur . that we cannot subsist without air is evident : for tho there is no fire in the blood , there is motion undoubtedly . now the nitro-aereal particles give a fresh fermentation ( or motion ) to it , and free it from coagulation . if you are not satisfied with this , consult the ingenious dr. mayow . but then the blood has heat and warmth ; and these are the properties of fire . answ . may they not be excited by its motion ? no ( you reply ) we are much warmer in bed , when we use no exercise , than when we are up and in motion . answ . the body indeed is in no motion there ; but the blood is greater than when we are out of our beds ; and 't is impossible should be otherwise . for do not the bed-clothes protect us from the coldness of the ambient air ? and are not a great many of the volatile alkalies detained by them , which reflecting upon the body , warm it , and accelerate the motion of the blood ? but after all , if we move violently when out of our beds , we are much warmer than when in them . you are pleas'd to object , 't is impossible meer motion should cause any heat in fluid bodies . how so ? let a man put spirit . corn. cerv. and spirit . vitrioli together , and observe their effects , they will soon grow warm . 't is evident , they do not stand still , but move very briskly before they are warm . and what is the heat of these bodies occasioned by , but their fermentation or intestine motion ? surely it cannot be by accension . remark . that the life of man is a flame , i think i have sufficiently demonstrated before , and shall here endeavour to make it somewhat more plain . the phosporus is a thing that is to be obtained from all animal substances ; and that the phosporus is a fire is past dispute , it performing all those things that common fire will do , viz. enkindle inflammable bodies , give heat and warmth to those things that are near it , afford light in the dark , &c. and yet in very many things doth differ from common fire . now if this fire were not actually existent in animal bodies , how is it possible that it should be extracted from them ? common brimstone , tallow , pitch , &c. do abound with sulphur , and so of consequence are inflammable ; yet from none of these , by any artifice now known , is there the least quantity of phosporus , or any thing like it to be obtained . the phosporus won't burn , without a free access of air , any more than common fire : but herein is a very great difference between the phosporus and common fire . let any inflammable body be never so well enkindled , and afterwards the flame or enkindled part of it immerged in water , and it will instantaneously be extinguished , so as not to be able to recover it self , tho exposed to never so free an air , without being again applied to some enkindled body . let a piece of phosporus , in a dark night , be placed upon a sheet of paper , it will immediately , or its own accord , afford a light , will heat your fingers , and burn the paper ; this piece of phosporus being put into water , will , in all appearance , be totally extinguished , but tho it has lain in the water for a whole year , upon being taken out , will of it self burn , &c. in the same manner it did when put into the water . upon stroking of some cats in the dark , multitudes of small flashes of fire will follow ones hand , as i have frequently experienced : now this gentle stroking can never cause so violent a motion as you make fire to be , and indeed is , unless it were actually existent in the animal before . altho i confess fire to be a substance that is constantly in motion , and that this motion is a very brisk one , yet all brisk motion is not a fire , which from the cartesian hypothesis , seems to be a necessary conclusion : but i can assure you , i know several fluids , that the more briskly they are moved , the colder they are ; as for instance , a river is always colder in that part where there is a quick current , than where the water stands still : the air is always more or less cold according as the motion of it is greater or less ; and i can assure you i have been almost starved when forced to travel in high winds in the winter-time , at which season the air is most full of nitrous particles , which you own to be inflammable ; and behold here your nitrous particles in violent motion , and yet a man almost starved by them , nay several have actually been so , so that you may see it is not all kinds of violent motion , tho of particles inclined to take fire , that will cause a flame . so that you see i have sufficient reason to maintain my assertion , that meer motion , tho never so much excited , will not occasion heat in fluid bodies , and that there is a difference in some respects between the vital flame and common culinary fire , tho in many things they agree . i shall here again enumerate some things wherein animal fire and common fire do agree and disagree . animal fire won't burn without a due access of air , no more won't common fire ; animal fire causeth heat and warmth , so doth common fire ; animal fire cannot subsist without a constant supply of sulphurious-acid particles , neither can common fire subsist without a supply of the same particles , &c. animal fire ( for so i call the phosporus ) being immerged in water , and afterwards taken out again , will regain all its properties of light , heat , &c. without being applied to other enkindled bodies : this common fire will not do ; for let it be once extinguished by immersion in water , or otherwise , and it is never able to recover it self . i do still assert , that those bodies which are the proper pabulum for fire , are those which are composed of acid and sulphur ; but those which abound with most sulphur , burn with the greatest violence ; those which abound most with acid , more slowly ; and some acid substances which have little sulphur in them will scarce burn at all , especially if much diluted with phlegm , such as vinegar , juice of lemons , spirit of vitriol , &c. and therefore when the heat of the body is too intense , i give those acids which are least impregnated with sulphur , to abate the violence of the flame ; when the heat is too remiss , i then give sulphurous acids to excite the flame . you say you know but one acid in nature which is inflammable , and that is niter : now i do assure you it is my opinion , nay i am very well able to demonstrate , that most , if not all the pure acids in nature have their origins from the niter of the air , but pure niter alone will scarce burn at all , unless mixed with some kind of sulphur . as for fixing a particular place for the existence of the vital flame , i did not think there was any reason for so doing , but now i tell you , that i suppose it is diffused through all the parts of the body , and if by accident any part is destitute of it , a mortification ensues . but then again you say it is a hard matter to conceive a flame in that body , of which no part is inflammable . pray what do you think of the oily fat particles contained , not only in the blood , but all other parts , are not they inflammable . the reason why we are warmer in bed , and after violent exercise , is not to be attributed to any unknown doctrin of fermentation , but because we have a freer perspiration at these times , and so of consequence the flame must burn more freely . the comparison you make between the heat of the blood and that occasioned upon the mixture of the spirit of harts-horn and spirit of vitriol will not hold good ; for in the mixing of those two liquors , or in any kind of fermentation , there is a very sensible commotion and hurry in all the parts of the said liquors , whereas in the blood of well persons there is no such thing to be discerned . i confess by the impulse of the heart it is driven progressively from the center to the extremities , to supply the necessities of the parts ; but besides this progressive motion , i know no other it has , all the secretions being performed by proper strainers , not from any fermentation . nay it is a very easie thing for a man to perceive that there is no such thing as a fermentation in the blood by the following easie experiment , viz. let a few ounces of blood run out of the veins or arteries of man , or other animal , into a very clear glass vessel , which vessel you may put into a sand furness , wherein the heat may be such as to keep the blood in the same degree of warmth as it came out of the vessels ; and if there be any commotion to be seen with the best light and best eyes , like unto what may be seen in such liquors which are in a state of fermentation , upon information i shall gladly own my self mistaken . there is , i confess , a froth to be seen upon the surface of some blood after it is let out into the porringer , which looks like the surface of liquors which are fermenting : but this froth is so far from being the effect of fermentation , that it proceeds from nothing else but the different stream that the blood runs in . for in the same person , let one parcell run out in a rapid stream , and it will occasion froth or bubbles ; let another parcel run out gently , and it will produce no such thing . will not simple water or any other liquor do the same ? but blood being a liquor of greater consistence , the bubbles when raised will not so soon disappear , as in water or other liquors that are more fluid ; from which i hope it is plain , that the constant natural heat of the blood does not proceed from fermentation . and if the progressive motion from the heart to the extremities gives it its heat , by the same reason , i think , the water that runs from our cocks should be warm also ; whereas i dare be bold to say , that instead of gaining any heat by its rapid propulsion through the pipes , it is much colder than the water in the river at the place from whence it was received into the engine . i had like to have forgot to take notice of what you have said concerning the production of alkalies ; but it being a very material thing , i shall here expatiate a little upon what i have before said upon that subject , and shall take care as much as may be to avoid repetitions . i have already own'd that alkalies do actually exist in several bodies as the principle of their death and destruction , but i never could yet see or hear of any one that has seen any such thing as either a volatile or fixt alkalizat salt , that was any other ways to be obtained out of vegetable or mineral bodies , than from the bodies after they had been burnt , viz. out of the ashes or soot of them , which are their excrements , or rather the excrements of fire ; or else after the body had undergone a putrefaction , which is analagous to fire . now this being so in relation to vegetables and minerals , i think in may not be amiss to infer , that the alkaly to be found in animal substances is the excrement of their fire ; and which mightily confirms me in this notion , all the excrements of animals are alkalious , viz. a matter thrown away either as useless or incommodious ; and of consequence all the alkaly to be met with in the blood or elsewhere , is an excrement in a way of being carried off . more upon this head i shall not say at this time , by reason i shall have occasion to enlarge upon this , and upon the heat of the blood in my tract of fevers . but what i have now and before said is , i think , sufficient to satisfie any one who is not a meer sceptick . but for manifest acids , they are to be met with every where almost , both in the mineral and vegetable kingdoms , even in those bodies that have never undergone a putrefaction , but are in the greatest state of perfection ; and for vinegar and the like , it is so far from being the effects of putrefaction , that it is the last degree of perfection nature alone is capable of bringing those liquors to . it is also to be observed , that those fruits of which wine is made , were first acid , before they came to a state fit to make wine of ; and that putrefaction is the cause of the acidness of unripe fruits , i believe none will assert . this subject is also too long to treat fully of in this place , and therefore i shall also omit the further prosecution of it for a practical discourse . reply . if alkalies are the original of distempers , whence is it , that in dropsies , catarrhs , some gouts , and other diseases , we find the texture of the blood so thin ? 't is observable , that those particles you term alkalies , the more the blood is saturated with them , of the more thick consistence it is , as we see in plurisies , rheumatisms and other inflammatory cases ( in which distempers , if in any , the alkalies abound ) is not then its tenuity rather to be imputed to acids ? do not acids immediately put the blood in a fusion , and render it thin ? your answer to this is , that 't is not the thinness of the blood is the only cause of these distempers , but a destruction of the tone of the parts . here methinks you do not argue so fairly . for you mention little or nothing of the destruction of the tone of the parts in your etymologies of distempers till now . and why may not i as well say , in inflammatory cases the blood is not affected with any alkaline particles ? these inflammations only arise from a destruction of the tone of the parts ; especially , if you consider what you asserted in your notion of fevers : for there the emunctories are very much out of order . but ( you object ) since acids will reduce the blood to its due consistence , it is not reasonable to suppose they should be the cause of its fusion . answ . whether acids will restore the consistence of the blood i shall examin by and by : i fear they will not . but this i am certain of , they will put it in a fusion . 't is well known that you celebrated oyl of vitriol taken alone , or tho in a vehicle , if in too great quantity , kills . now how does it kill ? does it not by dissolving the mass of blood , by separating the grumous parts from the serous , and breaking its texture after the same manner as it does that of milk ? sure i am , that blood coagulated by the aforesaid oyl , does much more resemble whey and curds than jelly of harts-horn . now then , what is all this but an extraordinary fusion ? and if a large dose will make such mad work , and put the blood into so great a fusion ; certainly a less dose must cause somewhat of a fusion . and 't is rational to believe that oyl of vitriol is proper only in those distempers , where the blood is too thick ; very pernicious in such as have it too thin . and here i am very glad , that you so opportunely give us your sentiments of dropsies . a dropsie ( say you ) or the thinness of blood in that disease does not proceed from acids , but overmuch drinking . answ . that large draughts ( there being little evacuation by urin ) render the blood more thin is very obvious . but now the patient had no such desire for drink , till the distemper was actually upon him . so that the question is , what first brought on the distemper . was it not a weakness of blood or want of due consistence ? i do not see how you can well deny it . but then ( you reply ) let it be so , 't is impossible acids should occasion this ill habit of blood. for , hydropical people are thirsty , and 't is ridiculous to imagin that acids should excite thirst , when they are the only things in the world that will quench it . answ . this i confess , at first sight , looks like an invincible argument : but i must crave leaver to weigh it a liltle . that acids drank , or held in the mouth , usually quench thirst , is an undeniable truth : tho 't will hardly hold good in all cases . for , let a man drink brine , which is very much impregnated with acids , or eat high-seasoned meats ; i believe tho he were a stoick he would immediately grow thirsty . but common salt is not an acid of a right nature . well , admit this . the most famous acids that i know for suppressing thirst , are oyl vitriol . spirit . vitriol , &c. now i hope to make it appear , that these , or acids of the same nature , abounding in the blood , may provoke thirst . i proved just now , that oyl of vitriol had an ugly faculty of coagulating the blood , or separating its serum . that there is a separation of the serum in dropsies is evident : if any man should deny it , let him look upon the abdomen and extream parts , and his eyes are enough to convince him . well then the serum being thus separated ( pray observe ) and the mass of blood not enough diluted ; the oral glands must necessarily be defrauded of their due moisture , and consequently thirst excited . but still you harp upon the same string : those medicines which restore the consistence of the blood , cannot well be supposed to impair it . now acids restore it ; and steel in particular . answ . that steel is of excellent use , and a very great restorative , is not to be denied . but under favour , tho you discourse very ingeniously of the nature of steel : yet all you have said will not amount to a proof of its being an acid. i am still inclined to think it is an alkaly . for tho it does not discover it self to be such by its colour , yet it plainly does by its effects , viz. its fermentation with acids . if , notwithstanding this phoenomenon , you will needs have it to be an acid , why then one acid will ferment with another ; and so one alkaly with another : wherefore , tho we should subscribe to the hypothesis , that alkalies are the original of all distempers , yet 't is hard to exclude the use of them in general in distempers . for some alkalies or other might be found out that should dispute it with these offending alkalies . you are pleased to quote beeker for a confirmation of the acidity of steel . the chief sentence of the citation seems to be this . hoc tantum hìc loci allegabo , omne acidum substantiae martialis esse , in quocunque oleo , pinguedine , fuligine , limo , silice & arenâ , immo etiam ipsâ flammâ reperibile , & ad oculum demonstrari posse ; quaecunque ergo naturae acidae & martialis sunt , illa potestatem habent alkali tanquam substantiam metallorum mercurialem alterandi & transmutandi . if i apprehend the sense of the author , this does not make so much for you . but suppose it did , beeker was never reckon'd infallible . and tho chalybs were an acid , it does not follow , because one acid will renew the state of the blood , that others will do so too . but since we have so happily fallen on this subject , viz. the strengthning the mass of blood ; let us see what other medicines besides chalybs are subservient to this end. and here i suppose your bitter herbs may not be infimi subsellii . 't is needless to prove it ; for hardly any physician but what has experienced it . i do not believe you will dare to say , there is any thing of an acid in these , since you know very well that alkaly may be extracted from most , if not all of them . so that poor alkaly is effectual in some cases you see . but then ( you say ) oakbark , bistort , tormentile , comfrey-roots and others of that tribe will reduce the blood to consistence . answ . that they are astringent i grant ; whether they will reduce the blood , or invigorate its depauperated principles , i much question . 't is very rare to see them prescribed in dropsies , cackexies and the like distempers where the blood is poor and low . they are proper indeed in fluxes by virtue of their astringent faculty ; but then they owe this astringency to acids . whether they do or not it matters not much . but why may not this quality be derived as well from the terrestrious as the salt particles of these vegetables : since bol. arm. terra lemnia and other plain earths are very stiptick ? i do not say these earths are so simple as to have no manner of salt in them , but surely they have very little acid. remark . i am very glad you own alkalies to abound in plurisies and rheumatisms , and other inflammatory distempers . upon my work if this be granted , i have gained a great point ; for to have put the world into a true way of curing but one single distemper , is what deserves no small honour . and for the business of dropsies , i do assure you i have no reason to recede from what i have said upon that subject ; but if you or any one else would favour the world with as certain a method of curing a confirmed ascites or belly-dropsie , as i have done of curing rheumatisms , gouts , &c. i may self would spare no pains to trumpet up that man's fame , let him be who he would : but this is a thing i am afraid i shall never live to see effected , because the tone of the parts principally affected , is so destroyed and spoiled , that it would be next door to a miracle to recover them . and although you are pleased to charge me with arguing unfairly , for attributing the cause of dropsies , in a great measure , to proceed from a destruction of the tone of the parts , because i had not before in my etymologies of distempers , taken sufficient notice of that matter : well , suppose i had before been deficient in that point , i hope it is no crime to bring it in late , rather than not at all . but i do assure you , i have frequently taken notice of that matter , and do lay as great a stress upon it as upon any one thing whatsoever ; and i do still insist upon it , that the great thinness of the blood in dropsies dos in great measure proceed from the great quantities of liquids taken into the body , and the small quantity discharged , by reason the parts of it have lost their tone , and therefore the secretions not rightly to be performed ; a man that drinks two quarts in twenty four hours , not being able to piss , perhaps , above four ounces , perspiration also being greatly hindred upon the same account . now for want of a due secretion by the excretory vessels , the blood is clogged with too great a quantity of serum ; which serum being admitted into the lumphatick vessels , and being impregnated with alkaline particles , cannot freely pass along these vessels by reason of its gelatinous quality , by which means they are distended to a vast magnitude , and sometimes broke ; and from the broken lympheducts it is , that so great a quantity of liquor is thrown into the cavity of the abdomen , which distends it to such a bigness . but for all this great quantity that is thrown into the abdomen , the blood is still loaded with three parts in four more of serum thatn it ought to be , and therefore the oral glands cannot want sufficient moisture . but here lies the thing , the matter that in a state of health is separated by the oral glands , is impregnated with a noble volatile acid , as does manifestly appear . but in this case the said acid is almost , if not totally destroyed , and the said lympha impregnated with alkaly , which is the occasion of the great thirst that attends hydropical people . but since i have attributed an acidity to the lympha in a state of health , and yet assert that there is no such thing as a pure acid to be obtained from the blood either in a morbid state or in a state of health , that being inveloped in the oily particles , i shall presume , to avoid further objections , to make a little excursion concerning the general use of the glands . i shall at present divide the glands into two kinds or sorts , the first of which separate the excrementitious particles from the blood , and throw them quite off by some proper emunctories , such are the excretory glands of the skin , the glandulae renales , the glands of the liver , &c. all which do separate an alkaly from the blood , to be thrown off as excrement ; and if by any accident these glands are made uncapable of performing their office , so that the blood cannot be rid of its excrements , why then a distemper of some kind or other must necessarily follow . the second kind do receive a noble substance into them to be again mixed with the blood , or for other uses , of universal advantage to the whole body . the glands of the mouth do separate the thin juice impregnated with a volatile acid , which juice was never designed by nature to be thrown away , as some tobacco-takers lavishly do , but to impregnate our food as it is chewed in the mouth , and afterwards to dissolve it in the stomach , and turn it into a substance fit for the nutrition of our bodies . the other receptory glands , for so i presume to call all those which do not separate excrements from the blood , do , by the extraordinary providence of nature , receive into them that fine substance which is superfluous in the nourishing of the parts , and by means of the lympheducts , in a gentle and easie course , do convey it to the ductus thorachicus , where it is mixed with the chyle , just before it is admitted into the blood ; and that this lympha is a mild acid has already been owned by many . so that here you see , if there be any acid in the body superfluous , nature is very provident in the preservation of it , and equally careful in throwing off the superfluous alkaly by a multitude of emunctories or excretory glands . from what has been said concerning the use of the glands , a great many phaenomena concerning dropsies , and other distempers , may with ease be solved . in dropsies , for instance , as is before observed , the excretory glands not being able to perform their office , the excrementitious alkaly , together with its watry vehicle , is detained in the body ; by which means , altho the body may increase in bulk , yet none of the parts receive their due nourishment ; and the tone of the whole being relaxed and spoiled , the receptory glands forget their duty also , and instead of receiving into them a pure acidulated serum only , they are forced to let pass some alkalized excrementitious serum , which makes the whole of a kind of gelatinous consistence ; which not being able to pass along the tracts of the lympheducts , distends them to that degree that it causeth swellings in the belly , and aedematous tumors in the legs , &c. and belly-dropsies having for the most part a jaundice as their forerunner , nay frequently goes along with them through the whole course of the distemper , is no small argument to prove the truth of what i have before taken notice of , viz. that some of the excretory glands have been defective in their duty , by which means the whole body is impregnated with this yellow die , and the whole aeconomy put out of order : and that the yellowness of the body does proceed from a redundancy of bile , no body denies ; and that bile is an alkaly you don't disown . but now come we to the curative part of this damnable distemper ; which altho it be rarely to be performed in a confirmed state , yet in the beginning , nay after it has made some progress , is frequently to be done , and that as effectually by calibiats and bitters as by any sort of medicines . but here for want of making experiments , ( by which means only we are capable of arriving to any sort of certainty in the knowledg of things ) you say that steel and the bitter herbs are alkalies , and the reasons you give for it are , because steel being mixed with acids will cause an effervescence , and the bitter herbs , after burning , do afford a fixt alkaly . solid reasons indeed ! for all sulphurs being mixt with acids will cause an effervescency , nay some of them take fire ; and that all metals are full of sulphur is past dispute ; and from the ashes of all plants , even sorrel it self , may be extracted a fixt alkaly ; therefore by this way of arguing , sulphur must be an alkaly , and so must sorrel also . but the manner of the production of volatile and fixt alkalies having been spoken to before , i shall say no more to that matter . i shall touch a little upon what i take to be the general principles of mixt bodies , not that all these principles are to be separated from all bodies , some containing all , some two , three or four of them ; and according to the different mixture of them , different substances are produced . acidum and sulphur i take to be the vital active principles in bodies , alkaly the principle of death and corruption , water and earth the two passive principles . from these five principles i think i can more easily account for the various phenomena in natural bodies , than from the old five of salt , sulphur and mercury , water and earth , or from any other principles that have yet been broacht in the world. i have only mentioned this matter to let you know the principles i go upon , but shall leave the further prosecution of it to another opportunity . but to return to the business of steel and bitters ; as for steel , i have said so much already concerening that in several places , that i shall not here trouble my self nor you any more about it . but if we can cure distempers with it , it is no matter tho one takes it for an alkaly , and the other for an acid ; nay i can assure you , that if you will but black your fingers a little with charcoal , you will find it to be a sulphureous acid. as for bitters , i will be bound to lay a good wager with you , that if you put a pound of centaury or wormwood dried into a retort , and distil it with an easie fire till all be come off that will , and afterwards calcine the caput mortuum , and extract the fixt alkaly from the ashes , if you don't find a treble or much greater proportion of acid to that of alkaly , to be produced from these most bitter plants , i will be a loser ; and i assure you i will lay you or any one else a good sum upon this matter . but further , if bitterness did proceed from a predominancy of alkaly in any body , why then a man would suppose the more this body were impregnated with alkaly , the bitterer it would be : but upon my word i have frequently experienced the contrary . for when i was a champion for alkalious medicines ( as i am not ashamed to own i once was ) i have extracted a tincture from mirrh , alloes and saffron , with well rectified spirit of sal armoniack , hoping to do great feats with it . now after i had digested them together for ten or twelve days in a gentle sand-heat , instead of having the tincture bitterer than the mirrh and alloes themselves were , i have always found it almost , if not altogether , without any bitterness at all in it . nay after a longer digestion it has been almost perfectly sweet . however i lay not any great stress upon tasts , the differences in them being one of the specifick differences the great creator hath planted in things , of which we have as yet but very little knowledg . a few degrees of predominancy of any of the principles , cause very great alterations in bodies , both as to colour , smell and tast ; and for ought i know , a knowledg of these minute circumstances is what we have no possibility of arriving to in this world. but one word more concerning bitters , because you will account them alkalies , and lay so great a stress upon them . vitriol of silver is the most exalted bitter i know , and a celebrated medicine in the cure of dropsies , but yet is no alkaly ; and after you have considered it , i believe you won't term it so . what you say to acids fusing the blood , it is directly contrary to what our predecessors have asserted , who attributed its coagulation to acids , and to what you your self say a little after . but what i attribute to acids in general is this , that they keep the blood in its due state , viz. keep the fibrous and globulous parts in their due texture , and keep the serum fluid , by which means the whole mass is capable of performing its proper offices without being liable to stagnations ; and also by confirming and strengthning the tone of the parts , they greatly contribute to the aforesaid end , viz. preventing stagnatitions , and promoting the secretions . as for what you say concerning the giving of oyl of vitriol alone , i readily assent to it , that it will make mad work . but i hope you cannot charge me with any such mad practice . when people are cold , they naturally run to the fire for warmth , but none but mad persons will put their hands into it ; and altho culinary fire , if people are so imprudent as to throw themselves into it , will consume and destroy them , yet a prudent use of it is a very great comfort to humane life ; and were it not for fire the russians and other northern people would have but a very sad time on 't during the course of their long winters : so it is in relation to oyl of vitriol , altho given alone it will cause death and destruction , yet being diluted in proper vehicles , and given in very large quantities , will in many cases produce as noble effects as any one medicine now known . it is the business of a physician to consider the nature and constitution of his patient in all respects , and to proportion the doses of medicines according to what their stomachs and natures will bear . i hope there was never any one so wild , because oyl of vitriol is recommended in fevers , as to give it alone without a vehicle . but what you charge upon oyl of vitriol may be retorted upon most other medicines of an active nature . because an ounce of calamelanos given at once to a man will scarce fail of killing him , i suppose that don 't deter you from giving a few grains of it to a young child . an ounce of rozin of jallup will kill a plow-man , and yet a few grains may with safety be given to a very tender constitution . i could retort a great many things of this kind upon you , were it not altogether needless : for that physician that gives a medicine without first considering it in all its circumstances , deserves to be banished from the society of mankind ; and he that knows most , is generally most cautious : and altho i am so clamour'd at by my brethren , yet i can boldly say , that the greatest slips that ever i have made , have been from my over-cautiousness ; and i will rather choose to commit three faults from that , than occasion the loss of one man's life from rashness and inconsiderateness . what you have objected against oyl of vitriol taken alone , has long since been objected by other people , and the objections fairly answered . i shall presume to transcribe what i have met with in an apologetick dialogue between philerastus and chemista , upon the same subject , theatrum chymicum , pag. 86 , 87. vol. i. ph. absit tamen vitriolum , chalcithin , atque alia idgenus leprosa , impura , atque corrodentia mineralia in humanum corpus ingeri , & ad perpetuam tui nominis ipsiusque artis infamiam usurpari . ch. quid ita , hospes mi ? ph. nam cum oleum vitrioli etiam à gesnero toties laudatum , scutellam stanneam exedit : quit simile periculum in stomacho nostro membraneo non meritò verebitur ? ch. aspera tu quidem tela elidis , sed quae facilè retundi queant à philosopho excitato . nam si oleum vitrioli propter stannum ex eo exesum humano corpore exulabit : quid vino sublimato , aceti mellisque spiritu , quid tale , & limonum citrorumque succo fiet ? nam eorum unumquodque stannum absumere , vel semestris medicus agnoscit . ph. at non tarn parvo temporis curriculo , atque spiritus ille vitriolatus . ch. imo sanê minori , si cum nostro illius exhibendi modo conferatur ratio ; nollem enim te aliquem chemistam tam stupido ingenio praedilum existimare , ut oleum vitrioli nullis aliis mixtum liquoribus propinare ausus sit : sed potiùs ad aquae rosaceae vel alterius liquoris libram olei vitriolati guttas totidem adjicere , quod ad aciditatem comparandam satis esse queant , cui liquori oleo vitreoli accrescenti , si tantum stanni immerseris , quantum aceto : nullum non invoco supplicium , nisi stannum multo magis corrosum reperiatur . verum si hoc oleum vitrioli vel etiam sulphuris in usu esse non mereatur propter erosionem , quo se conferent cantharides , à galeno inter ea medicamenta relatae , quae ne gustare quidem audeas propter summam putrefactionem atque erosionem ? tamen veterum ferè omnium atque multorum neotericorum praxes eas ad urinam provocandam , penisque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & suscitandam venerem usurpant atque commendant . ph. nequeo diffiteri , sed tamen parva quantitate eas prescribunt , & non nisi aliis convenientibus rebus admixtas ; quo quidem modo exhibitae non solum innoxiae perhibentur , sed etiam persalutares . ch. vera praedicas , atque ego itidem respondeo ; olea praedicta debita quantitate , mixtura , praèparatione exhibita , tantum non corrodere corpus humanum : sed ejus spiritus reficere , febres extinguere , obstructiones aperire , putredinem arcere , venena exigere , sitim sedare , ulcera percurare , omnesque illas vires cum laude sua plurima exercere , quas illi gesnerus epistola ad cosmam medicum , aut paracelsus in libro de vitriolo ascripserunt . i could produce a great deal more of this kind from many of the antient chymists , who were honest men , and who to the best of their knowledg did endeavour to reform physick , and to put practitioners upon a right bottom : but they were defective in so many things , that their undertakings wanted success , tho from some of their writings honest and inquisitive men may receive great advantage . altho i shall not trouble you with any thing more from the antient chymists , yet i shall make bold to transcribe a letter i lately received out of yorkshire , there being something in it that relates to the point in hand . tertio non. martii . vir dignissime , tractatus tuos summis cum deliciis & voluptate perlegi , & tuum in promovendo illo nobilissimo medicinae studio institutum maxime demiror in humani generis bonum universale : macte bone vir melioribus avibus , & momas aspernare : te certum faciam me acidis uti 10. annis elapsis summo cum successu , & alkalia tantum ut absorbentia acidi aestimo : assiduâ experientiâ videatur quantum valet appetitus & digestio , & quid dubius est hoc in casu quam alkalia & quid melius acidis : & acidum est tantum solum fermentum ventriculi , quid coward audet dicere nemo advertet . omnibus in seculis praeteritis quot morbos edomuit acidum non necessarium est enumerare . virum quendam habui putridâ febre laborantem , quem tantum sp. vitrioli in aquâ frigidâ ( deo favente ) restitui : in haemoptoe , hydrope , fluxu muliebri , & fere omnibus in ventriculi morbis , scorbuto infinitos fere curavi acidis eommixtis , & in vehiculis appropriatis exhibitis . equitem vicinum meum calculo cum paralisi & haemorrhodali fluxu decumbentem quodam acido ad priorem valetudinem reduxi , & ab orco detraxi : immo quamvis in hypocondriaca affectione acidum culpamus , tamen quid emolumenti in isto proteo accidit à quodam acido non est nunc enarrandi locus , hic acidus meus liquor omnes obstructiones reserat & flatum , gas illud sylvestre compescit , & omnes istos motus irregulares componit ( instar fulminis si quicquid in praxi vel lectione meâ occurrit summâ cum sedulitate ad te ( mi bone vir ) mittetur . nam tui favoris sum studiosissimus jo. watson . postscript . be pleased to direct a letter to me , to be left with mr. uster , apothecary in burnsly in yorkshire , by doncaster bag. i beg a literal correspondence , and shall communicate to you some acid arcana , for that name they deserve . i hope what i have said is sufficient to remove that mighty objection about the hazard of giving oyl of vitriol alone : but i might have spared my self this trouble , for i am almost positive , that there is not any physician in christendom of any business , tho never so great an assertor of the usefulness of alkalies , who has not some time or other made use of even oyl of vitriol , that dangerous acid : but how they can answer for it i cannot tell : for if acids are the cause of diseases , how they dare with a good conscience give even the most temperate acids to their patients , i cannot understand ; and i am sure they themselves can give no reason for it . but i believe it is from a conviction of conscience that nothing is to be done without them . again , if acids were so pernicious to mankind , as some people would make us believe , i wonder that the college of physicians don 't unanimously petition the parliament to prohibit the importation of oranges in such vast quantities as we now have ' em . you greatly harp upon that string , that acids held in the mouth won't quench the violent thirst of hydropical people ; to which i answer , that it is impossible when the whole mass of blood and lympha are contaminated with alkalious particles , that the washing the mouth only with acids should take away the thirst , when the parts are continually washed with the contaminated juices , and so , of consequence , the particles of the acid must be soon obtunded . but however nothing is more grateful or delightful to an hydropical person , than a slice of lemon or any such thing . common salt i allow will excite thirst , but not quatenus acid , for spirit of salt will take it off as soon as any thing . but , sir , i do assure you i have stumbled more at this one thing , viz. common salt's exciting thrist , than at any thing else besides , and therefore have spared no cost in making experiments to find out the reason of it ; at last , after much labour and sweat , i found there was no salt but what had more or less of a damn'd thing call'd bittern mixt with it , of which you may be perfectly inform'd at any salt works ; now this bittern is the most corroding fixt alkaly in nature ; and altho it be inconsiderable in quantity in respect of the acid the salt contains , yet it will fix it self upon the parts after the acid of the salt is all dissolved , and so excite thirst . of this bittern you may expect more in another place ; for had i not had a design to please and satisfie you , i would not at all have taken notice of it here ; because the allaying of violent . thirsts i only attribute to manifest acids , and common salt not being one of that sort , it matters not whether it will allay thirst or not . i love not repetitions , but however for once i shall be guilty of it . you may remember that in another place i tell you , that those things which by distillation afford a greater quantity of acid substances , than of alkalious ones , are to be reputed acids & vice versa ; now common salt affords nineteen parts in twenty more of acid than of alkaly , therefore is an acid : but before distillation the acid is so inveloped , altho it contains so much of it , that it is not at all discernable to the tast . i believe no one that has blackt his fingers will deny guaiacum to be an acid , but at the same time i believe it was never prescribed to allay thirst . things , tho of the same tribe , are differently to be administred , according as they are differently specificated by nature . it is not a certainty of the knowledg whether acids or alkalies are the causes of diseases , will presently make a man a physician , tho it will go a great way towards it , but a thorow knowledg of the different specifications of nature must also concur . you charge me with contradicting my self , and after that you should have been sure to have avoided any such thing your self ; but however in one place you say , that oyl of vitriol dissolves the blood , and in another that it coagulates it ; but i shall take no advantage of this slip , but shall conclude my remarks upon this paragraph , i having already spun them out to too great a length . the next paragraph is too long to transcribe , and there being little material in it , i shall only make some general remarks upon what i find worthy taking notice of . you first of all charge me with saying , that neither too much nor too little acid must be given , which is the sum of a page or two , viz. 19 , and 20. in answer to which , i do assure you , that no virtuoso need be ashamed to employ his time in considering the due proportions of things requisite to accomplish the thing he undertakes . now in physick he that doth not understand the true rules of proportion , deserves not the name of a physician . he that will prescribe an ounce of jallap instead of a dram deserves to be hang'd ; and who but a mad man will give a pound of oyl of vitriol , when forty drops in a pint of water is all that is desired ? but , sir , prudent physicians have a wonderful director in relation to manifest acids , and indeed to every thing else , that is the stomach , which is a nice judger of things ; that which is agreeable to her , she receiving and retaining with pleasure , that which is disagreeable she rejecting and abhorring . but however she must not be overloaded with those things in which she taketh the greatest delight . now manifest acids are things she as much or more covets and delights in than in any thing besides ; but when she hath enough to supply her wants she gives sufficient item of it ; and if the stomach be rightly consulted , it is impossible the blood should be overcharged with them ; but if at any time people are not sufficiently cautious of that matter , but load the stomach with more manifest acids than the body hath occasion for , she won't fail of rejecting them by vomit : this matter may at any time be safely experimented by an over-large draught of vinegar , in any case where the body hath no need of it , or at least in so great a quantity at a time ; for which reason i tell you that the blood cannot superabound with acids , as it 's plain in fact it doth not , neither in a morbid nor healthy state , because the stomach will not receive or retain more than it hath occasion for ; but altho it cannot overdo , yet it is very frequently defective in conveying a sufficient quantity into it , either through its own fault , or the fault of the physician who forbids the use of them , and so the whole body suffers damage . how greedily will the poor stomach embrace the juice of an orange , or the like , in a fever ? and how scornfully will she reject and abhor any thing of a contrary nature ? nay the usefulness of acids is so evident and extensive , that it is almost a shame they should now want a champion , after there has , for so many years together , been so great a noise made about experimental philosophy , and even publick societies , in many nations , erected on purpose to cultivate it . but to return from whence we left off ; i am apt to believe that if you take the following advice , you will scarce be guilty of an error in the giving of manifest acids , viz. always give them in such quantities as the stomach will receive them with pleasure and delight , and never refuse them when the stomach earnestly craves them ; this is the method i observe at present , and believe i shall never have occasion to recede from . i confess it may be lawful sometimes in very extraordinary cases to strain a point beyond what nature craves , but herein if the thing should chance to be overdone , all the damage that can ensue is occasioning a puke or two ; this you may take from my constant experience , and believe me i would not willingly impose upon you and the world : but in general , it is always necessary for us physicians , who are , or at least should be , only natures servants , strictly to observe her necessities , and not to outrun her dictates . without making the least experiment to convince me of being in an error , you go on to range sassafras amongst the number of alkalies ; but when , from experience , i do assure you that sassafras is an inveloped acid , i think you ought not to trouble me and the world with conjectures ; and were it not that i value and respect you , i would not so much as take the least notice of your conjectures . as for the remaining part of this paragraph , i think i have no occasion to take notice of it , i having sufficiently answered every thing that looks like an objection in it in my former remarks ; and therefore shall , in your own words , conclude , that if i have any where exprest my self indecently , i hope you won't attribute it to rudeness or disrespect : for i do assure you , i think you a blessing to the country wherein you live , and don 't doubt but that i shall see you an honour to our profession . i should have concluded , but that you also begin again ; and that i may not be unmannerly , i shall for once keep you company to the end of your journy ; but do not design any more to trouble the world with disputes , but if any thing more of that nature offers it self , worth my taking notice of , it shall be included in some practical discourse . and so pass we on to your reflections upon the first part of my essay of alkaly and acid. and first , of the small pox. what i think worthy taking notice of at present in your reflections upon this matter is this , that you honestly and fairly allow the giving of acids in a flux pox , the only dangerous one , and from which our patients are in most danger : but in benign poxes you commend me for doing nothing , and indeed i shall always continue so to do where my patients have no occasion for medicines . i am a friend to rad. serpentariae virg. as well as you , in all those cases where there is an occasion for cardiacks ; that and saffron being as noble cordials , as perhaps , are at all known ; yet they must never be given but with due caution and circumspection . but i am a professed and declared enemy to pul. e chelis , and all things of that kind . and once again i do assure you , that rad. serpentar . upon distillation will appear to be a sulphureous acid ; and in cases where the pox doth not come out kindly , and the pulse is low , an infusion of that root in vinegar , or some such thing , will do very good feats . i confess the testaceous pouders in benign poxes , are frequently given without any evil consequence ; but the reason is , that the patients are generally in so good a condition , and have so much strength of nature to support them , that it is almost impossible to kill them ; but what fatal work they make in flux poxes , or any other of a malignant kind , is but too frequently seen . here observe the difference between your method and mine , even by your own confession . mine is principally serviceable in dangerous cases , yours in those wherein there is no danger . granting this , you may still keep your own method to your self , and i will stick to that which will stand me in stead in hazardous cases , and even only stand by and look on in those where my patient has no occasion for my help . you at last blame me for giving syrupus e meconio in the beginning of the small pox ; but surely you are overhasty in blaming me upon that score , for of all men in the world i deserve least to be blamed for tampering too much with opiats . if you remember , the occasion of my prescribing diacodium in the beginning of the small pox , was this , viz. if the patients stomach be overcharged or clogged with viscous matter , i then prescribe an easie vomit ; and after the operation of the vomit is over , to allay the hurry and disorder occasioned by it , i prescribe a little diacodium , but never prosecute it afterwards , as some people fatally do . i have not time , else i would remark upon you line by line ; but having taken notice of what is material , i shall let fall the rest , and leave you and your friends to make the best of it . but cannot forbear to assure you , that two or three of my greatest enemies in this town , have of late prescribed acids plentifully to their patients in the small pox , and yet at the same time have railed at me for so doing : whether this be like gentlemen , i leave the world to judg . of the scurvy . in this matter you perfectly agree with me in my practice , only you would bring in the bitter herbs as great assistants in the cure of this distemper , and these herbs you will have to be alkalies . as for bitters i greatly approve of them in their proper places . but having before put you in a way to be satisfied that they are not alkalies but acids , i shall not here trouble my self nor you any more upon that matter : nay if we can but once agree in the main point of curing diseases by any particular sort of medicine or medicines , tho you account it an alkaly and i an acid , we ought not to fall out about that matter , but give god thanks that we are able to perform the work we pretend to . yet at the same time i think a physician ought as much as he is able , to know the true reason why a medicine performs such and such operations . and i must confess i shall be very unwilling , upon any occasion , to prescribe a medicine , the manner of whose operation i am not able to account for . as for what you say concerning the scurvy that attends the people in the north part of devonshire , i think i have sufficiently accounted for that matter already ; and i doubt not but impartial readers , who will give themselves the trouble of perusing my several tracts , will acknowledg it . of rheumatisms . well met my good friend ! i must confess you have almost come to an agreement with me in several things before , yet here you say your practice and mine are the same , but don't mention how long you have used this method in the cure of this distemper . however i can't presume you had it from me , but that it was your own judgment that led you to it . i hope , for the good of the country where you live , that in a little time we shall agree in more things than the cure of rheumatisms only . however i would have you remember , that in another place you blame acids as the cause of pain , and yet here you professedly use them in the cure of a distemper , the principal symptom that attends which , is exquisit pain . of consumptions . a consumption is a distemper , the progress of which in this our island , i have oftentimes heartily bewailed . it is likewise a distemper that most of my predecessors ( as i have before observed ) have died of , even in the prime of their ages ; and is also what i have more cause to be afraid of than any thing else besides ; upon which score i have spent a great many days and nights in the consideration of the nature and cause of this fatal distemper , which deprived me of the best of fathers , whilst i was but a child , and has also robbed me of some other of my best friends . now the reason why i have not hitherto spoken so much about it , as of other distempers , is , because i have been some years in collecting observations in order to the writing a particular tract of consumptions , and was unwilling to anticipate what i had to say upon so weighty a subject , tho i was able to say as much concerning that matter , as of any disease about which i have treated . nay , i am apt to believe , that i may without vanity say , that i have cured more true consumptions in the space of one year last past , than any one physician in england has done , and that by the means of acids of one sort or other , viz. either manifest or inveloped ones ; an ample account of which , as soon as my business will permit , i design to make publick . but however i shall spend a little time in remarking upon what you have said . you allow acids to be proper and beneficial in those consumptions not attended with a catarrh , which is a concession which very few physicians besides will give their assent to ; or at least if they will , they are but very lately come over . but considering that the main thing you harp upon , is , that manifest acids are not proper to be used in catarrhs ; i shall a little take that thing into my consideration . now although a catarrh will cause a consumption , or wasting of the parts of the body , yet a catarrh is not what we in england commonly call a consumption ; the distemper called tabes anglicana , or the english consumption , proceeding from an ulceration of the lungs : and in these cases for the most part we have no catarrh , though sometimes it doth attend them ; but one of the principal symptoms of this distemper is the discharge of a great quantity of tough , yellow and greenish pus , in which cases you allow acids to be proper : nay although there be a catarrh attending them , yet it is not from that that we make our fatal prognosticks , but from the good or evil nature and quantities of the aforesaid pus , with some other symptoms not necessary here to enumerate . nay it is not uncommon for our consumptive people to bring up from their lungs by coughing , as perfect chalk stones as ever were found in the joints of persons severely handled with the gout ; which chalk i am sure was never the daughter of an acid. but however not to insist any longer upon this matter at this time , it not being the proper place for it , i shall return to the business of catarrhs . i have before taken notice , and as you your self here own , that the saliva is a noble acid , and conveyed to the mouth for a most noble purpose , viz. to be mixed with the food in chewing , and afterwards in the stomach , to turn it into a substance fit for the nutrition of our bodies . now if on any occasion the glands of the pharynx , and other glands about the mouth are over-relaxed , that they cannot retain the lympha in their proper receptacles , but let it fall continually from them , being what we call a catarrh , or defluxion , this must inevitably cause a tickling cough , not because it is an acid , for even a defluxion of the most simple water would produce the same effect ; but the body being continually robbed of this most noble juice , cannot fail of being wasted and decayed by it . and that the cause of a simple catarrh doth proceed from a relaxation of the texture of the glands only , and not from the lympha contained in , and continually brought to them being over-acid , the following easy cure is sufficient to demonstrate , viz. let some mastick and olybanum be made into impalpable powder , and with a long quill or a hollow instrument made on purpose , let it be blown upon the larinx at night going to bed ; the continuance of which for some nights together will frequently do wonders in the cure of catarrhs . i confess this was none of my own contrivance , but was communicated to me by my worthy friend dr. jones , who is a man of the most happy invention that ever i met with . now the only design in the using of this pouder is , that being immediately conveyed to the parts affected , it should cause them to contract themselves , or regain their tone , and of consequence the catarrh will cease . this is not all that i have to say concerning catarrhs , but i think is as much as is necessary at this time . you tell a famous story of a person that had a catarrh brought upon him by the over-plentiful use of sevil oranges ; but are so deficient in relating several circumstances that are necessary to be known upon such an occasion , that if i have not already said enough to solve this difficulty , i shall leave you to make your best advantage of it ; for i am so tired that i can go no further . and i do assure you it shall be the last controversial discourse that ever i will write ; for if ever i meet with any objections against my hypothesis worth taking notice of , i shall make it my business to clear my self from them as well as i can , in those practical discourses that i design ( god willing ) hereafter to publish . i confess i am over head and ears in debt to the publick , having promised several things which many have expected should have come abroad long before this time , and indeed i designed they should ; but several unexpected accidents have intervened , which have put me by , and hindred me in my undertakings , yet in due time i will endeavour to fulfil what i have promised . i shall conclude with assuring you , that i am now so absolutely confirmed in the truth of my hypothesis , that i am sure it is not in the power of any one to overthrow it ; tho at the same time i must own that i may have been deficient in some circumstances relating to the explication of it ; but time and further observation , i hope , will clear all those things . thus wishing you to weigh all things in the balance of reason and experience , before you pass a censure , is all at present from villars-street york-buildings , may 12. 1698. your real well-wisher , jo. colbatch . postscript . dr . coward took an occasion to make some wonderful reflections upon me and my hypothesis , in order to recommend a medicine of his own invention to the world. this medicine , which he calls tinctura sanitatis , is as noble in its nature , as the author is generous and great in his temper . i can assure the world it is nothing else but the most ridiculous kind of sal volatile oleosum that ever i saw ; and were it not that i am unwilling to expose a member of the college , i would print the receipt , which was communicated to me by one that has been imployed by him to prepare it . the doctor cannot but own that i am more generous to him than he has been to me , in that i have not published the story relating to mr. bat and mr. lord also . but such poor enemies as him and lee , are rather to be pitied than any thing else . however , sal volatile oleosum , being a medicine in great vogue with almost all other physicians , i shall presume to make some few reflections upon the main ingredient in it , which is the volatile spirit , or salt of sal armoniack . now every body knows that the volatile spirit , or salt of sal armoniack , are little else but the volatile spirit or salt of urin , which at best is no more than an excrement of our bodies . but however , there is something more that deserves our taking notice of , in order to deter us from the use of this medicine , which is now so much in fashion , to the no small detriment of many . the salt armoniack , from which the volatile spirit or salt is extracted , is a composition of urine , soot and sea-salt ; and by the addition of a fixt alkalizate salt or quick-lime ( which is the usual method in making spirit and salt of sal armoniack ) the acid of the sea-salt is so intangled , that it readily lets go from it the volatile spirit or salt of the urine and soot ; but that of the soot is very inconsiderable in quantity to that of the urine . now the urine made use of for the aforesaid purpose , is generally procured from publick houses , which is a jumble of all together , viz. of people labouring under all kinds of habitual diseases , as pox , gout , scurvy , scrubbado , &c. now there is scarce a disease attending man's body , but some of the morbifick particles are imparted to the urine ; and if the urine in general partake of them , the spirit and salt must do so in a more eminent degree ; so that , i think , a necessary consequence of giving such a medicine must be the sowing the seeds of diseases in mens bodies . and i believe in my conscience that one great reason of the late frequency of some tyrannical diseases , more than heretofore was wont to be , has proceeded from the exorbitant use of spirit and salt of sal armoniack , and those other things of which they are prime ingredients . now i desire that our ladies , who are subject to histerical distempers , would well consider this matter , because they are generally armed with it , to fright away that distemper , of which i am afraid it is in great measure , if not altogether the cause , or at least of the saline particles of the same kind with which their blood abounds . i shall say no more at this time , but hope this further hint , to deter people from the use of volatile alkalious spirits and salts , of which the spirit and salt of sal armoniack are most common , may not be unserviceable . i have made use of the words spirit and salt of sal armoniack , as of things somewhat different , tho indeed there is no real difference between them ; that which is called spirit , being only a proportion of the salt diluted in a proper quantity of phlegm : this is well known to physicians , but it is very probable that other persons into whose hands these papers may chance to fall , might have laboured under some difficulty about it , without this intimation . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a33710-e5340 pag. 6 , 7 , 8. a plain and short treatise of an apoplexy, convulsions, colick, twisting of the guts, mother fits, bleeding at nose ... and several other violent and dangerous diseases ... : shewing the sick or by-standers what ought presently to be done : together with proper remedies for each disease and plain directions for the use of them / by j. pechey ... pechey, john, 1655-1716. 1698 approx. 70 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a53917 wing p1026 estc r18872 12350463 ocm 12350463 59968 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a53917) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 59968) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 220:8) a plain and short treatise of an apoplexy, convulsions, colick, twisting of the guts, mother fits, bleeding at nose ... and several other violent and dangerous diseases ... : shewing the sick or by-standers what ought presently to be done : together with proper remedies for each disease and plain directions for the use of them / by j. pechey ... pechey, john, 1655-1716. [4], 29 p. printed for the author and sold at his house ..., london : 1698. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-03 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a plain and short treatise of an apoplexy , convulsions , colick , twisting of the guts , mother fits , bleeding at nose , vomitting of blood , stone in the kidnies , quinsey , miscarriage , hard labour , cholora morbus : and several other violent and dangerous diseases that come of a sudden , and require present help . shewing the sick or by-standers what ought presently to be done . together with proper remedies for each disease , and plain directions for the use of them . by j. pechey , of the college of physicians in london . london , printed for the author , and sold at his house in basing-lane , near bread-street , 1698. the preface . having often considered , that there are several diseases so surprizing , and withal so very vioent , that the patient is often dead , or past all hopes of recovery , before a skilful physitian in many places can be called , or advised with ▪ i thought a plain english treatise of such kind of diseases might be of general use , and that it may suit all conditions of men , all by the frailty of nature lying open to one or other of these suddain incursions , i have reduced it to a small compass , that it may be the easier read over , and that each disease may be the soon , er turned to upon any suddain occasion . ordinary readers being as often at a loss in a large book as travellers in a wood ; and it is composed in a small character , that as every one may need it , so every one may be able to buy it , and i have written it in a plain stile that every one also may be able to understand it . this little book may be an assistant to charitable ladies and gentlewomen in the country , who like the good samaritan , have never an hand but what is ready to help their distressed neighbours , here they may find plain directions , and the most celebrated medicines , such as the londonphysitians most frequently make use of in these diseases . the traveller and sea-faring man when they are far distant from physitians , and destitute of all other help , may here also find releif . the medicines prepared by my self that are often mention'd in this treatise , are of great vertue , and efficacy , and have bin found successful to admiration in cureing several of these diseases . and they keep good many years , and will endure the excess of heat and cold in various climates . therefore very proper for those that live in the country , and in the plantations abroad , or go to sea. and indeed every one that has been once seized with any one of these diseases , will undoubtedly wheresoever he dwells , think it no small comfort and security to have an approved remedy ready at hand , in time of need . chap. i. of sleepy diseases , coma , lethargy , carus , and apoplexy . these four sorts of preternatural sleep proceed from the same causes , and require the same methods of cure ; and therefore shall be treated of together in this chapter . when any person is seized with a sleepy disease , the by-standers must endeavour by all means to rouse him , by offering violence to all his senses ; and therefore you must expose his eyes to the sun-beams , or to a clear light , his ears must be filled with violent noises and clamours , and you must be sure to call him aloud by his own name : sharp things are to be blown up his nostrils ; the sence of touching must be revived by rubbings , vellications , plucking of the hair , binding of the members , squeezing of the fingers together , and the like : he must be presently blooded if he has strength but his strength is not to be judged of , by the present circumstances , but by such as he was in before the disease seized him . you must first bleed in the arm , and then in the jugular vein , presently after give the following vomit . take of the blessed wine , one ounce and an half ; of carduus water one ounce ; of spirit of juniper-berries , two drams . make a vomit . inject two or three sharp glisters in a day . take of the carminative decoction with bay-berries and juniper-berries , ten ounces ; of the electuary of bay-berries ●ne ounce ; of blessed wine and brown-sugar , each three ounces ; of c●ymical oyl of juniper , ten drops : mix them and make a glister . if a glister be not rendred in an hour's time , provoke the belly by a suppository . take of hiera ●i●ra , half an ounce , of sal gemma one dram ; of honey , a sufficient quantity : make suppositories . the spirit of sal armoniack must be held often to the nostrils , or my cephalick tincture , which is one of the best midicines in the world for sleepy diseases , and indeed for all diseases of the head and spirits . things of all kinds that cause revulsion must be used , not only frictions and ligatures , but also cupping-glasses set on the back , shoulders , arms and thighs : but in an apoplexy you must not apply cupping-classes to the back or hypochondres , left the muscles of the breast and belly , should be contracted , and so respiration more hindred . cupping-glasses applyed to the head are counted very proper , apply a blistering plaister with euphorbium to the neck ; some , according to the custom of the antients , hold a red-hot frying-pan to the head at such a distance , as it may burn the hair , but not the skin . take of the waters of rue , balm , and black-cherries , each three ounces ; of compound peony-water , and compound syrup of peony , each one ounce and an half ; of tincture of caster , one dram ; of spirit of sal armoniack , half a dram ; mingle them , make a julop . give four or five spoonfuls often , or ten drops of my cephalick tincture in two ounces of compound peony-water , or in a small glass of canary . in the general cure of these diseases , you must take notice , that in those which poceed from blood , medicines that heat the least , are to be used : but bleeding is to be used freely , and afterwards a vein in the forehead is to be opened , and things that purge choler are to be mixed with those that purge flegm . if the brain be very much cooled , the sick after universal evacuations may use tablets made in the following manner . take of ambergrease , half a scruple ; distilled oyl of the seeds of anise , cinnemon , and nutmegs , each three drops ▪ of oyls of cloves , one drop ; of sugar dissolved in orange flower-water , four ounces ; make tablets . let him take a dram or two every morning , and let him be sure to take twenty drops of my cephaclic tincture in two ounces of compound peony-water at bed-time , three nights before the new moon . it is also proper to hold a nutmeg often in the mouth , and to chew it ; and perfumes are often to be held to the nostrils , especially apoplectick balsam , or my cephalick tincture . spices are to be used with meats , and the following digestive powder after meals , take of the seeds of coriander , sweet-fennel , caraways , each fifteen grains ; of white amber , one dr●m ; of the yellow peel of citrons ; and flowers of rosemary , each one dram and an half ; of nutmegs , half a dram ; of white sugar , three ounces : powder them grosly , and give half a spoonful after meals . if from too great a quantity of blood , a sleepy disease is feared , the patient must be sufficiently blooded , and the utmost endeavours must be used to make the hemorrhoids flow , than which nothing can be more advan●agious . purging must be also ordered to prevent a relapse . take of the pill of amber , and of the lesser coeh , each two scruples ; of the best castor , six grains ; of oyl of amber a sufficient quanty : mix them , make 12 pills , take six for a dose , and the other six three days after . or , take my pills , which are excellent in these diseases . after purging let the sick use the following medicine . take of the conserves of the flowers of male-peony , and of rosemary , each one ounce ; of the bark of citron candied , ●●x drams ; of the species call'd diambra aud dian●bos , each one dram ; of castor powdered , two scruples ; of compound spirit of lavender , half a dram , with a sufficient quantity of the syrups of gilly-flowers , and of compound peony make an electuary . give the quantity of a nutmeg , morning and evening daily , and let the sick take two spoonfuls of black cherry-water , and ten drops of my cephalic tincture morning and evening , presently after the use of the electuary . take of amber powdered , one ounce ; sprinkle the fourth part of it upon the head every night at bed time . chap. ii. of bleeding at nose . bleeding at the nose comes at any time of the year , and afflicts those chiefly that are weakly , and of a very hot constitution ; and more frequently when they are old than when they are young. in this case you must do all you can to restrain the violent heat and ebullition of the blood , from whence arises the said unusual extravasation , and to turn the fore : of it another way . to which end bleed often in the arm , and take away blood freely : order also a cooling and thickening di● , as three parts of fountain-water and one of milk boyled together , and drank cold ; roasted apples , barly broaths , and such like things as are made without flesh : order the sick to keep from bed for some time daily , and give a gentle cooling glister every day , and let it not be once omitted . give also a draught made of half an ounce of diacodium and cowslip-water at bed time to quell the fury of the blood : but because a sharp humour often accompanies bleeding at nose , and the like which being mingled with the blood , furthers it's motion , and opens the orifices of the veins , besides revulsion and cooling , i usually give the following purging potion when the disease is even at it's height . take of tamarinds , half an ounce , of sena two drams , of rhubarb , one dram and an half ; boyl them in a suff●cient quantity of water , to three ounces of the strained liquor add of manna , and syrup of roses solutive . each one ounce , make a potion , and after it has done working , i give at bed time a draught made of two ounces of water of red popies , and one ounce of diacodium , and when the bleeding ▪ is gone quite off i give the patient some purging potion again . as to outward applications , a linnen bolster dipt in cold water , wherein sal prunella has bin disolved , may he applyed to the nape of the neck , and to both the sides of it often in a day ; and after bleeding and purging the following liquor may be used . take of hungarian vitriol , and allom , each one ounce ; of flegm of vitriol , half a pint ; boyl them till all is dissolved ; filter the liquor when it is cold , and seperate it from the cristals that sometimes rise : to the remaining liquor add a twelfth part of oyl of vitriol ; and put a tent dipt in this liquor into the nostril from whence the blood flows , and keep it in two days . rags moistened in this liquor and applyed stop blood , from what parts soever it flows spitting of blood , which betwixt spring and summer befalls weakly people of a hot constitution , whose lungs are infirm , and rather young people than old , is almost of the same nature with the bleeding at the nose , and requires almost the same method of cure , only it will not bear purging , by which , especialy if repeated , the sick is apt to fall into a consumption ; but bleeding used often , a glifter injected every day , a draught made of d●a odium taken at bed-time , and a dyet thickening and cooling will do the business eff●ctually . chap. iii. of vomiting of blood. vomiting of blood , from what cause soever it arises , is very dangerous ; for if too great a quantity of blood be evacuated , their is danger of death ; if it coagulate in the stomack , and corrupt there , it occasions ●ainting . it must be cured by medicines that cause a re●ulsion of the blood from the stomach , and by such as attemperate it , and stop the opening of the veins . and first , because an orderly diet is of great use in this case , the common diet ought to be astringent and cooling , as barley-broths , almond and rice diet , water-gruel , and especially starch boiled in milk , whereunto may be added , a little rose-water , hard eggs may be also used , dipt in vinegar , also bread dipt in water and chicken broath with wood-sorrel , purslain , and plantian boyled in it : but at the beginning of eating some astringent things should be taken , as a quince baked under the ashes , medlars or the like . let the sick abstrain from all salt , pepper'd , and fryed meats , and also from such things as yield a great deal of nourishment , unless the weakness of the sick requires that they should be taken sparingly . he must drink but little , and when he does , it must be water , wherein iron has bin quenched with a little juice of lemon in it . the sick must not expose himself to the winds , nor to the rays of the sun , he must sleep moderately , and his body must be kept open . bleeding must be used sparingly , and it must be repeated . the members must be rubbed and bound , and cleansing glisters must be injected , cupping-glases must be applyed to the buttocks , legs , and loins . let two spoonfuls of vinegar and water mixed be given , if there be a suspition of clotted blood ; for by the use of it , it may be easily disolved , and driven from the veins of the stomach , and they will be stop'd thereby ; foment the region of the stomach also with it cold . let the sick take morning and evening four ounces of the juice of plantain cold . take of old conserve of roses , and of comfry roots , each one ounce , of marmalade of auinces half an ounce , one myrobalane candied , troches of amber and lemnian earth , each two drams , of coral prepared , and of saffron of mars each one dram ; with syrup of dryed roses , make an electuary , and let the sick take the quantity of a nutmeg morning and evening . troches of amber do not only bind , but also disolve clotted blood ; and therefore are frequently to be used . tincture of coral made with the juice of lemons is also very good . but when the blood is evacuated violently , and cannot be stoped by the forementioned medicines , narcoticks must be taken inwardly and injected by glisters , and the region of the stomach must be anointed with the oyl of roses and myrtles washt in vinegar ; and after you have anointed it , sprinkle on powder of coral , bolearmenick , and seal'd earth . bleeding being sufficiently used , gentle and frequent purging must be ordered , whereby the blood may be cleared from serous and cholerick humours , occasioning this disease : but they ought to be made of rhubarb , myro●alans , tamarinds , and the like which bind as well as purge , and do not stir the humours . they may be given in the form of a bolus with syrup of myrtles or dryed roses , or in a potion made of a decoction of sorrel , succory , purslain , or the like . when purging is used , the fore mentioned electuary , syrup of coral , or some other astringent and corroborating medicine must be used at bed-time . lastly , to prevent a relapse , a dram of rhubarb must be given once a week for a long time . chap. iiii. of childrens convulsions . childrens convulsions are so frequent , that they are almost the only species of convulsions . they are chiefly subject to them in the first month , and at the time they breed teeth ; but they also happen at other times and proceed from other causes in such as are disposed to them . sometimes they do not come presently after the birth , but lie hid until the breeding of teeth , or not till a great while after , and take their rise from an unhealthy or big-bellied nurse , from milk clotted or corrupted in the stomach , from a feverish disposit on , from ulcers or scabs of the head or of other parts suddenly disappearing , from changes of the air or the like . we must endeavour to prevent these convulsions in children and infants , or to cure them when they are come ; for if the former children of the same parents have been subject to convulsive fitts , this disease ought to be prevented by the early use of remedies in such as are born after . to this end it is customary to give to new born babes as soon as they begin to breath , some medicine proper for convulsions : some upon this occasion give some drops of pure honey , others a spoonful of canary wine sweetned with sugar , or oyl of almonds fresh drawn ; others give a drop of oyl of ambar : but besides these things used at first , which certainly do good , some other remedies ought to be given ; for instance give a spoonful twice a day of the following liquor . take of the waters of black-cherries and rue , each one ounce and a half ; of langiuses antiepileptick water , one ounce ; of syrup of coral , six drams ; of prepared pearl , fifteen grains ; mingle them in a viol. the third or fourth day after the birth , make an issue in the neck , and if the countenance be florid , bleed , and take away an ounce and an half or two ounces from the jugular vein : but take care that too much blood does not flow out in sleep : rub gently the temples with the following oyntment take of oyl of nutmegs by expression . , two drams of balsam of copaiba , three drams , of ambar , one scruple : mix them . hang round the neck the roots and seeds of male ptony sewed up in a rag. moreover medicines proper for convulsions must be given daily to the nurse : let her take morning and evening a draught of whey wherein the roots of male-peony , or the seeds of sweet fennel have bin boyled , and let her be very orderly in her diet. but if an infant be actually seized with convulsions , because the issue does not run well , you must apply a blister to the neck , or behind the ears ; and if the infant be not of a cold constitution , blood must be drawn from the jugular veins by leeches , and linnements must be used to the temples , nostrils and neck , and to the soles of the feet , and glisters of milk and sugar must be injected . take of the oyls of copaiba , and of castor , each two drams , of ambar , half a dram , make a linnement ; and every fixth or eight hour give a paper of my powder for convulsions in a spoonful or two of black cherry-water , sweeted with syrup of peony , when by reason of breeding of teeth , difficultly convulsions happen , a thin and cooling diet must be ordered , and bleeding and glifters must be often used . when children are seized with convulsions , not presently after the birth , or upon breeding of teeth , but from other occasions and accidents ; the cause for the most part of such is either in the head or in the bowels : when the former is uspected , as is wont to be known by the signs which shew watry humours heaped up in the brain , my powder for convulsions , and the medicines abovementioned must be used . moreover for those who bear purging well , a vomit or gentle purge must be prescribed . when tho cause of convulsions seems to be lodged in the bowels , or when worms or sharp humours in the belly are the cause , my worm-powder is of excellent use . chap. v. of the colick . it takes it's name from the gat colon , which is the part affected : the causes of the colick are excrementious matter , wind , the excrements hardened , costivness , thick , cold , and flegmatick humours , also cholerick and melancholy humours . there are other causes of the coli●k , but less frequent , as stones growing in the guts , worms , hard bodies obstructing the guts , as cherry-stones , hard cheese and the like . the external causes are a cold constitution of the air gross meats of hard disgestion , immoderate sleep immoderate venery , and other external causes , which may injure the concoction of the stomacht but from what cause soever this tormenting disease is occasioned , there is no med cines yet known that do so certainly cure it , as my elixir and cordial drops . but to prevent a relapse , and to strengthen the bowels , and to open obstructions i advise the sick to ride often . chap. vi. of mother fits , and vapours . these diseases are the most frequent of all chronical diseases , and they are not only frequent , but so wonderfully various that they resemble almost all the diseases poor mortals are subject to : sometimes they possess the head , and occasion an apoplexy , and this seizes women very often after delivery , or is occasioned by hard labour , or some violent commotion of the mind . sometimes they produce violent convulsions , very like the falling-sickness , the belly and bowels swelling towards the throat , the woman strugling so violently that tho' at other times her strength is but ordinary , she now can scarce be held by all the strength of the by standers uttering some odd and inarticulate sounds , and striking her breast : these convulsions are commonly called mother fits. sometimes they possess the outward part of the head causing violent pain continually fixt in one part , which may be covered by the top of your thumb ; and violen● vomiting accompanies this pain : this pain chiefly afflict● maids that have the green-sickness . sometimes falling upon the heart , they occasion a violent beating of the heart , so that the women who are afflicted with it , verily believe that the by-standers may hear the found of the heart thumping upon the ribs . this chiefly afflicts those that are of a thin habit of body and of a weak constitution , and also young maids that hav● the green-sickness . sometimes the patient choughs without intermission but brings up nothing : this chiefly invades women tha● abound in flegm . sometimes rushing violently upon the belly the vapours occasion violent pain much like the twisting of th● guts , and the woman vomits exceedingly : this chiefl● seizes those that are of a lax and crude habit of body , and those that have suffered much in bringing forth great children . when the vapours fall upon one of the kidneys , they plainly represent , by the pain they cause there , a fit like that of the stone ; nor is the bladder free from them , ●or sometimes they do not only cause pain there , but also ●●op the urine just as if there were a stone : but this kind ●●izing the bladder very seldom happens ; that which re●embles the stone in the kidneys is not so rare . sometimes falling upon the stomach they cause a●ontinual vomiting and sometimes a loosness , when they are settled upon the guts and as the vapours afflict almost all the inner parts , so sometimes they seize also the outward parts , and occasion pain and sometimes swellings in the jaws , shoulders , hands , thighs , legs ; nor can the teeth free themselves from the assaults of vapours , tho' they are not hollow ; at these pains and swellings which afflict the outward parts chiefly seize those women that are in a manner quite 〈◊〉 out by a long series of vapours , and by the force of them . but among all the torments the vapours occasion , there 〈◊〉 none so common on as a pain in the back : and this is worth observing , that often a notable cold of the outward parts makes way for these fits of the vapours , which for the most part does not go off till the fitt ends : and moreover all women troubled with vapours complain of a dejection and sinking of the spirits . lastly , every one knows that women troubled with vapours sometimes laugh excessively , and sometimes cry as much without any real cause for either : but among all the symptoms that accompany vapours , this is the most proper and almost inseperable ; namely an urine as clear as rock water , and this women in vapours evacuate plentifully : and it sometimes happens that they belsh up ill fumes as often as they eat , tho' they eat only moderately , and according as they have an appetite ; and sometime the wind that comes from the stomach is as sower as vinegar . nor are they unhappy only for that their bodies are so ill affected , and as it were tottering like ruined houses just about to fall ; for their minds are more diseased that their bodies , and an incurable desperation is mixed with the very nature of their disease ; and what the roman orato● said of the superstitious exactly agrees with these melancholy people . sleep , says he , seems to be a refuge for the laborious and careful , but from thence cares and fears arise whilst only funerals and apparitions of their deceased friends are represented in dreams , and they are so tormented in body and mind , that one would think their lives were a purgatory , wherein they were to purifie themselves , and to expiat crimes committed in some other state. nor does this happen only to mad people , but also to those who , if you except these impetuosities of mind are very prudent and judicious , and who much excell for deep thought , and wisdom of speech , others whose minds were never excited by these provokments to thinking . but this dreadful condition of mind which i have above described , seizes only those that have much and a long while conflicted with this disease , and have been at length wholly vanquished by it ▪ especially if adversity , care o● trouble of mind , or the like joined with an ill habit o● body , have added oyl to the flame . in order to the cure , let eight ounces of blood be taken from the right arm , and the following plaister applyed to the navel . take of gal●anum dissolved in tincture of castor , and st●ained , three drams ; of tacamahaca , two drams , mix them make a plaister . the next morning let her make use of the following pills : take of the pill coch : major , two scruples , of castor powdered , two grains , of peruvian balsam , four drops , make four pills . let her take them at five in the morning , and sleep after them . repeat them twice or thrice , every morning , or every other morning according to their operation , and the strength of the patient ▪ after the purging pills are taken , she must take two of my pills for vapours early in the morning , and at five in the afternoon for thirty dayes drinking after them morning and evening , three spoonfuls of compound br●ony-water ▪ and so the vapours are most commonly cured , ●nd most obstructions in women , especially the green-sickness , and also all suppressions of the courses tu●bridge-waters are also very proper for the cure of these diseases ; and riding abroad in the air , if the woman has strength to bear it . when a fit of the vapours seizes any woman , suddenly you must hold to her nostrils assafaetida , galbanum , castor , spirit of salarmoniae or the like , and give inward●y ten drops , of spirit of hartshorn in three spoonfuls of compound briony-water . chap. vii . of twisting of the guts . this dreadful disease , which has hitherto been accounted mortal by almost all , arises from the in●erted and preposterous motion of the guts . when it appears by glisters vomited up and other ●●gns , that there is a twisting of the guts , you must endeavour three things , first , that the contrary motion of the stomach , which occasions the same motion of the guts , may be hindred ; secondly , that the intestines being weakened by sharp humours may be strengthened , thirdly , that the stomach and guts may be freed from the humours ; and that you may answer these indications , you must order the cure in the following manner . first prescribe one scruple of salt of wormwood , in a spoon●ul of juice of lemons to be taken morning and evening , but at other times of the day order some spoonfuls of mint-water without sugar , or any thing else , to be taken twice in an hour , and order a live ki●ling to lye always on the naked belly : but after the pain and vomiting has whollyceased , for the space of two or three days , give one dram of the pill coch major dissolved in mint-water , which must be also used very often all the time of the working of the pills , to hinder the return of the vomiting ; nor is the kitling to be removed before the patient has taken the pills , the sick must observe a very thin diet , namely some spoonfuls of chicken broath must be taken twice or thrice a day , and he must keep his bed till signs of perfect health appear , and when he is well , he must persist in the use of mint-water for a long time , and keep his belly warm with flannels doubled , that there may not be a relapse ; to which this disease is more obnoxious than an other . chap. viii . of the stone in the kidneys . when any one is seized with a fitt of the stone , setting aside all other remedies , let him presently drink a gallon of posset drink wherein two ounces of the roots of marsh mallows have been boyled , and let the following glister be injected . take of the roots of marsh mallows and lillies , each one ounce , of the leaves of mallows , pellitory of the wall , and of the flowers of camomile , each one handful , of flax and fenugreek seeds each half an ounce , boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water , to a pint and a half ; dissolve in in the strained liquor , brown sugar , and syrup of marsh-mallows , each two ounces , mingle them make a glister . as soon as he has rendred all the posset drink by vomiting , and rejected the glister , let him take thirty of my cordial drops in a glass of white wine , and compose himself to rest on his bed. but to prevent this disease , let him drink acton or richmond waters , or other purging waters often , especially when he finds a pain in his back or heat of urine ▪ and every summer if his condition will allow of it , tunbridge waters or the like , for the space of a month or whey for the same time , when he has not an opportunity to drink these waters . riding ou horse back is also very good for prevention ▪ but it is to be noted ; that if the stone is too large to pass , neither the waters nor riding are proper , for some old men have hastened their end ; by attempting in vain to cure this disease by such remedies , the stone by this means being thurst forward , when it was too big to pass . if a bloody vrine be occasioned by the stone in the kidnies , take two ounces and a half of manna , dissolved in a quart of whey once a week for some months , and when you are to walk or ride , be sure , to drink a large draught of small beer before you go out , and in the way if you stay long a broad . chap. ix . of vomiting and loosness , call'd cholera morbus . this disease is easily known , for there are violent vomitings , and an evacuation of ill humours with great difficulty and trouble by stool , there is a violent pain of the belly , an heart burning , thirst , a quick pulse and often convulsions , fainting , and a coldness of the extream parts , and such lik symptoms , which frighten the by-standers , and kill the patient in twenty four hours . for the cure of this dreadful disease , proceed in the following manner , boyl a chicken in about 3 gallons of spring water , and let the sick drink several large draughts of it a little warm , or for want of it posset-drink : at the same time a good quantity of the liquor will serve for several glisters , to be given successively , untill all the liquor is consumed and evacuated upwards and downwards . the filth being ejected by these means , which require three or four hours , give twenty of my cordial drops in a spoonful of cinnamon-water , or the ●ike . but it must be carefully noted that if the vomitting and loosness continue many hours , suppose ten or twelve , and the sick is worn out , so that the extream parts ●ax cold , and the use of the liquor above mentioned has been neglected , you must immediately give my cor●i●● drops as above directed , and sixteen of them must be also given morning and evening daily , till the sick has recovered his strength and health . chap. x. of hard labour . that is said to be hard labour , which does not observe the due and ordinary course of nature , and longer time is spent in it , and the pains are more violent than usual , and the symptoms that accompany it are more grievous . many causes may be assigned for it , both external , and internal , the internal depend on the mother , the womb ▪ or the child . as to the mother , the natural weakness of the whole body may make the labour difficult , or her age , she being too young or too old , or it may be occasion'd by diseases , which she had with her big-belly , leanness on two much dryness of the body , or fat compressing the passages of the womb , or the ill-conformation of the bones encompassing the womb , as in those that are lame , may also occasion it , wind swelling the bowels , a stone on preternatural tumour in the bladder that presses the womb , may be the cause . so may the ill constitution of the lungs , or the parts serving respiration , for the holding of the breath is very necessary to help the exclusion of the child . as to the womb , various diseases of it , may render the delivery difficult , as tumours , ulcers , obstructions , and the like . as to the child , hard labour is occasioned , when by reason it is dead , or putrified , or any way diseased , it cannot confer any thing to it's own exclusion . also when the body or head of it is large , or when there are many , so twins most commonly cause hard labour ; or when it is ill situated , as when the hands or the feet offer first , or when one hand or foot comes out , or when it is doubled , or when the membranes break too soon , so that the water flows out , and leaves the orifice of the womb dry at the time of exclusion . or when the membranes are too thick , so that they cannot be easily broken by the child . the external causes depend on things necessary and contingent ; things necessary are those which are commonly call'd non-natural , so cold and dry air , and a north wind are very injurious to women in labour , because they bind the body , and drive the blood and spirits to the inner parts , and they are very injurious to the child coming from so warm a place . hot weather also dissipates the spirits and weakens the child . crude meats and such as are difficulty concocted , and those that bind , taken in a great quantity before labour , render it difficult , the stomach being weakened , and the common passages contracted , which ought to be very open in this case . drowsiness hinders the action of the mother and child , and shews that nature is weak . the unseasonable motion of the woman much retards the delivery ; as when she refuses upon occasion to stand , walk , lye , or sit , or flings her self about unadvisedly , so that the child cannot be born the right way , being turned preposterously by the restlesness of the mother . the retention of such things as should be evacuated at the time of labour , as of urine , that swells the bladder , or excrements in the right gut , the p●●es also much swelled , narrow the neck of the womb , and so hinder natures endeavours . lastly violent passions of the mind , as ●ear , sorrow and anger , make the labour difficult . to things contingent ought to be referred , a blow , a fall , or a wound , which may much obstruct labour , also the want of by-standers , which ought to assist the woman , namely strong women or maids which may lift her up just at the time of her delivery . an unskilful mid-wife , that orders the women to endeavour an expulsion , and to stop her breath , when the ligaments stick fast to the vvomb , so that the vvoman is tired before the time of her delivery . difficult labour is known by the vvoman , the by-standers , and the midwife . and first if the vvoman continue a long time in labour , namely two , three ; four or more days , whereas a natural birth is finished in twenty four hours . languid pains returning at long distances are a sign of difficult labour ; also the pains tending backward , rather than forward . but the causes of difficult labour may be known by the womans relation , and most commonly upon sight , so the weakness of the woman , or leanness , or over fatness may be seen by the habit of the body . the diseases of the womb may be known by their proper signs . the weakness of the child by the weak and slow motion of it . the bigness of the child may be judged of by the stature of the parents , especially if a gigantick man be married to a dwarfish woman , but when there are none of these causes , and the womans and child's endeavours are strong , and yet the labour is difficult , they signifie that the secundine is so strong that it cannot be easily broken , and this will be confirmed , if no water , or moisture flows out in labour . the proposterous figure of the child may be perceived by the midwife . as to the cure of hard labour . first all those things that retard it must be removed , as much as may be . afterwards medicines that further labour must be given : and first it is common with women to give a spoonful or two of cinnamon water , or cinnamon powdered with a little saffron , or half a dram of confection of alkermes in broath , or half a scruple of saffron alone in some br●ath , or every hour a little wine . if these things are not sufficient , the following may be used , which have been frequently very effectual give five grains of extract of saffron , or five drops of oyl of cinnamon , or thirty drops of my cephalick tincture , in a glass of wine ; for it powerfully hastens delivery . sneezing is also very beneficial : it may be provoked by the following powder . take of white hellebore , half a dram , of long pepper , one scruple , of castor five grains . make a powder : let the quantity of a pease be blown up the nostrils . but difficult labour must be helpt also by outward remedies . let the midwife frequently anoint the womb with oyl of sweet almonds , and let the belly be somented with an emollient decoction made of the roots of marsh mallows , the leaves of mallows , and mugwort , linseeds , fenugreek seeds , and the flowers of camomile and melilot . and sharp glisters must be injected : anoint the navel with the oyl of amber . if the child begins to come forth preposterously , as with one arm , or first with a foot , or the like ; the midwife ●ust thrust them back , and turn the child right , which may be done by placing the woman in a bed upon her back , with her head low and her feet high , and then she must thrust the child gently into the womb , and endeavovr to turn it right , namely the face towards the mothers back , and the buttocks and legs must be elevated towards the mothers navel to hasten a natural birth . chap. xi . of miscarriage . miscarriage is the exclusion of an imperfect , or unripe child . the causes of miscarriage are some inward , some outward . the inward may be reduced to four heads , namely to the humours , to the child , to the womb , and to the disease of the mother . the humours may occasion miscarriage when they offend in quantity or quality . they offend in quantity either by way of excess or defect . the quantity is excessive when there is more blood than is requisite to nourish the child ; for then it flows into the veins of the womb , and is excluded like the monthly courses , and so the child comes away with it . there is too small a quantity of the nutritious humour when the child's nourishment is by any means lessened , as by fasting , and when the woman with child nauseats all sorts of of food , or vomits it up again , or the like . in respect of the child miscarriage may happen , if it be too big , so that by reason of it's ●ulk it cannot be contained in the womb. and for this reason little women often miscarry , especially if they are married to men bigger than ordinary . plurality of children may also occasion miscarriage , as when one , or two , or three are contained in the womb at one time . the womb it self occasions miscarriage , if it be not large enough , or if it be inflamed , or impostumated , or moist and slack , so that it cannot contain the child so well as it ought to do . miscarriage comes two ways from the disease of the mother . first when her disea●es are communicated to the child , whereby it is killed or so weakened that it cannot receive due nourishment or growth , such are continual fevers and agues , the fr●nch pox , and many such like . secondly when the said diseases of the mother cause great evacuations or great commotions of the body , as large bleeding from what part of the body soever , fluxes of the belly , grievous swooning , falling sickness , vomiting , and a continual endeavour to go to s●ool called tenesms , which above all other is wont to occasion miscarriage : outward causes which further miscarriage do some of them kill the child , others draw away the nourishment , and others dissolve the bands wherewith it is fastened to the vvomb . the child is killed by great commotions of the mind , by anger , sadness , frights and the like ; by meats earnestly longed for and not obtained , by strong purging medicines , by things that provoke the courses , and by ill smells , especially the stink of a candle ill put out : violent exercise , as dancing , running , riding , jolting in a coach or cart , carrying or lifting from the ground an heavy weight , a violent fall , a blow on the belly , vehement motion of the belly , coughing , vomiting , loosness , sneezing , convulsions , crying out , immoderrate or over wanton embraces , vehement motion of the arms , and the like occasion miscarriage the signs of present miscarriage are manifest of themselves : but such as go before and shew the same are these , an unusual heaviness of the loyns and hips , an unwillingness to stir , appetite gone , shivering and shaking coming by fits , pain of the head , especially about the roots of the eyes , a straightening of the sides and belly above the navel ; the flaging or falling , and extenuation of the dugs . but if frequent and almost continual pains torment the reins and loyns , with endeavours to evacuate the womb , the woman will certainly miscarry in a short time . if from violent external causes , as a blow , fall , and the like , vehememt pain and disturbance arise in a woman with child , she ought to bleed presently , and to keep her bed three or four days , or longer . the cure of miscarriage consists in preservation ; for that which is past cannot be helpt : but all the symptoms which follow miscarriage are the same which accompany women duly brought to bed. the preservation from miscarriage consists principally in these two things ; the one concerns the woman before she is with child , and the other when she is with child : before the woman is with with child , all indispositions of the body , which are wont to cause miscarriage , must be removed , as fullness of blood , ill humours , and peculiar diseases of the womb. if the woman be too full of blood , when she is with child , she must be blooded in the first months twice or thrice if need be ; but much blood must not be taken away at a time ; and if she be troubled with abundance of ill humours , gentle purging must be repeated , especially in the middle months ; in the mean while astringent and strengthening medicines must be used all the time the woman is with child . take of conserve of roses , two ounces , of citron peel candied , six drams , of myrobalans candied , and of the pulp of dates , each half an ounce , of coral prepa●ed , pearl prepared , and shavings of harts-horn , each one dram , with syrup of quinces make an electuaery , of which let the woman take the quantity of a nutmeg every other night at bed time . but that the success of this medicine may be good , the woman must keep her self as quiet , both in body and mind , as possibly she can , and abstain from coition . but if by reason of the vehemency of the cause , whither internal or external , the woman is ready to miscarry , you must do the best you can with the following remedies . and in the first place , so soon as the pain shall be perceived in the lower parts of the belly , we must endeavour to allay them both by medicines taken inwardly , and outwardly applyed ; for if miscarriage be caused by crudities and wind , which is most usual , when it begins from an inward cause , a powder must be given made of aromaticum rosatum and coriander seeds , give of each half a dram , or three or four spoonfuls of dr. stephen's water , if flegm and wind abound ; at the same time let carminative medicine be applyed below the woman's navel , such are bags o● anniseeds , fennel seeds , fenugreek seeds , flowers of camomile , elder , rosemary , and stechas mixed together , o● a rose cake fryed in a pan with rich canary , and sprinkled with powder of nutmegs and coriander seeds ; if by these means the pains cease not , inject a glyster made of win● and oyl , wherein halfe an ounce of venice treacle must be dissolved , and after the glyster is come away , you mus● give sixteen of my cordial drops , in a spoonful of stephen's water . but if blood begins to come away , you must bleed immediatly , and rub the upper parts , and tye th● members ; and if the flux of blood continues , give tw● ounces of the juice of plantain , sweetened with an ounce 〈◊〉 syrup of poppies , to which add one scruple of bolearmeni●● and apply hot a little bag full of red roses and balaustine● boyl'd in smiths water and red wine , to the womans belly . chap. xii . of an immoderate flux of the courses . an immoderate flux of the courses invades , either i● child-bed , or at other times ; as to the first , that afflicts women most on the first days after a difficult labour , and is accompanined with a long train of hysteri●● symptoms ; and as it happens only on the first days , so us●ally it do's not last long ; for if a thickning diet be o●dered ▪ it soon abates . the following drink may be all used take of plantane water , and red wine , each one pint , boyl them till a third part is consumed , sweeten it with a sufficient quantity of white suger ; let the woman take half a pint of it twice or thrice a day . but as to the flux which happens out of child-bed , tho' it befalls women at any time , yet most commonly it invades a little before the time they leave them , namely when they are about forty five years of age , if they have them young , and about fifty if it were late before they begun to have them ; and by reason of the great quantity of blood , which is continually evacuated , they are almost continually afflicted with vapours . in order to the cure , you must bleed in the arm , and eight ounces of blood must be taken away ; the next morning the following purge must be given . take of tamarinds , half an ounce , of sena two drams , of rhubarb , one dram and an half ; infuse them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water , and in three ounces of the strained liquor dissolve of manna , and syrup of roses solutive , each one ounce , make a purging potion ; which must be taken thrice , three days betwixt each purge ; and every night at bed time , through the whole course of the disease , twelve of my cordial drops must be taken in two spoonfuls of small cinnamon water , or the like . take of the conserve of dryed roses , two ounces , of the troches of lemnian earth , one dram and an half , of pomgranate pill , and red coral prepared , each two scruples , of blood-stone , dragons blood , and bolearmenick , each two scruples ; with a sufficient quantity of simple syrup of coral , make an electuary ; whereof let her take the quantity of a large nutmeg in the morning and at five in the afternoon , drinking upon it six spoonfuls of the following julep . take of the waters of oak bud , and of plantain , each three ounces , of cinnamon water hordeated , and of syrup of dried roses , each one ounce ; of spirit of vitriol , a sufficient quantity to make it pleasantly acid . take of the leaves of plantain , and of nettles , each a sufficient quantity , beat them together in a stone mortar , and press out the juice , clarifie it , and give six spoonfuls of it cold three or four times in a day . after the first purge , apply the following plaster to the loins . take of diapalma , and of the plaster for tuptures , each equal parts , mix them and spread them upon leather . a cooling and thickening diet must be ordered , and a glass of claret may be allowed once or twice a day to recover the strength . this method may be also used to prevent miscarriages , but the juices and purges must be omitted . chap. xiii . of a suppression of the childbed purgations . there is so great a flux of humours from all parts to the womb , when a woman is with child , and during the commotion in her labour , that in case there be not afterwards sufficient evacuation of them , the woman is in great danger of very ill accidents , and sometimes of death it self ; because these humours corrupted by their stay , there will certainly cause a great inflamation , and this is the reason why the suppression of these childbed purgations is one of the worst and most dangerous symptoms which can befall a woman after delivery , especially if they be wholly and suddenly stopt the first three or four days , which is the time they should come down plentifully , for then follow an accute fever , great pains in the head , pains in the breast , reins and loyns , suffocation of the mother , and an inflamation which is suddenly communicated to the belly , which thereupon becomes much swelled and blown up ; there happens also a great difficulty in breathing , choakings , beating of the heart , fainting , convulsions , and often death it self , if the suppression continues . and if the vvoman outlives it , she is in danger of an abscess in the vvomb , and afterwards of a cancer , or there may happen great imposthums in the belly ; also the gout , sciatica , and lameness ; or an inflamation and abscess in the breast . the causes of the stoppage of the child-bed purgations , proceed either from a great loosness , or strong passions of the mind , also from great colds and cold drink . to bring the child-bed purgations well down , let the vvoman avoid all perturbations of spirit , which may stop them ; let her ly in bed with her head and breast a little raised , keeping her self very quiet , that so the humours may be carried downwards by their natural tendency ; let her observe a good diet , some what hot and moist , and apply the plaster mentioned in the chapter of vapours to her navel . take of the conserves of roman wormwood , and of ru● each one ounce , of the troches of myrth , two drams , of castor , english saffron , volatile salt of salarmoniak , and of assafoetida , each half a dram ; with a sufficient quantity of the syrup of the five opening roots make an electuary . let her take the quantity of a large nutmeg every third hour , drinking upon it three or four spoonfuls of the following mixture , take the waters of pennyroyal and balm , each three ounces , of compound briony water , two ounces ; of sypup of mugwort , three ounces and an half ; of saffron , two drams ; of castor tyed up in a rag and hanged in the glass , one scruple ; mingle them . if these things are used presently upon the suppression , they generally take it off , chap. xiv . of quinsey . a quinsey comes at any time of the year , especially between spring and summer , and chiefly seizes young men , and such as are of a sanguine complection , and red haired people more than any other . the sick shiver and shake , presently a fever follows , and a little after a pain and inflamation of the jaws ; and if the sick be not presently relieved , he can neither-swallow nor draw his breath , so that he is under the apprehension of being strangled , by reason the jaws are stoped by the inflamation and swelling . there is great danger in this disease , for it sometimes destroys a man in a few hours . in order to the cure , bleed presently in the arm , and take away a large quantity of blood , and presently afterwards open the veins under the tongue , and then touch the inflamed parts with honey of roses made very sharp , with spirit of vitriol or sulphur ; and the following gargarism must be used often , not in the common way ; for it must be kept in the mouth without motion till it wax hot , and then it must be spit out . take of the waters of plantain , roses , and frogs spawn , each four ounces ; the whites of three eggs turned to a water by beating , of white-sugar-candy , three drams ; make a gargarism . the patient must also take daily of the emulsion to be mentioned in the cure of a pleurisie ; the next morning bleed again , unless the fever and difficulty of swallowing abate , and defer purging till the next day : but if both these are lessened , give presently the lenitive purge , mentioned in the chapter of the immoderate flux of the courses . if the fever and other symptoms are like to be troublesome after purging , they will be quelled by bleeding , repeated as before , and by applying a large and strong blister to the neck , and by a glister of milk and sugar injected every morning , except when the sick purges through the whole course of the disease ; the use of all kinds of flesh , and their broths are to be forbid , and the patient must be dieted with oatmeal and barley broths , roasted apples , or the like , and he must drink small-beer , and he must keep from bed some hours every day . chap. xv. of a pleurisie . this disease is very frequent , and comes at any time , but especially betwixt spring and summer ; it chiefly seizes those that are of a sanguine constitution , and often country people , and those that are accustomed to hard labour ; it most commonly begins with a shaking and shivering , and then heat , drough , restlesness , and other symptoms of a fever follow : after a few hours ( but sometimes it is much longer before this symptom comes ) the patient is seized with a violent pricking pain in one of his sides about the ribs , which sometimes reaches towards the shoulder-blades , sometimes towards the back-bone , and sometimes towards the breast ; he coughs frequently , which occasions great pain ; so that sometimes he holds his breath to prevent coughing ; the matter which is spit up at the beginning is little and thin , and often sprinkled with particles of blood : but in the process of the disease , it is more and more concocted and mixed with blood. tho' this disease has an ill name , and is of it self more dangerous than any other , yet if it be well managed , it is easily cured , and indeed as certainly as other diseases . as to the cure , ten ounces of blood must be taken presently away from the arm of the side affected ; then presently after bleeding give the following draught . take of red poppy-water four ounces , of salprunella , one dram ; of syrup of violets , one ounce ; mingle them ●ake a draught . take of sweet almonds , number seven ; of the seeds of melons and pompions , each half an ounce ; of the seeds of white-poppies two drams ; beat them together in a marble mortar , pouring gently upon them a pint and a half of barley-water , of rose-water , two drams ; of sugar-candy , half an ounce ; mingle them , make an emulsion ; give four ounces every fourth hour . pectorals must also be taken frequently . take of the pectoral decoction a quart , of the syrups of violets and maiden-hair , each one ounce and an half , mingle them , make an apozem : let him take half a pint thrice a day . take of the oyl of sweet-almonds two ounces , of the syrups of violets and maiden-hair , each one ounce ; of sugar-candy half a dram ; mingle them , make a linctus , of which let the patient lick often in a day . oyl of almonds by it self , or linseed-oyl is often used with good success . as to diet , you must forbid all flesh , and the broaths of it , tho' never so thin : but the patient may be dyeted with oaten and barley broaths , and panada , and let him drink of a ptisan made of barley-water , and the roots of sorrel , and liquorish , aud sometimes small-beer . anoint the pained side morning and evening with the following ointment , applying upon it a cabbage-leaf . take of the oyl of sweet-almonds two ounces , of ointment of marsh-mallows and pomatum , each one ounce ; mingle them , make an ointment . the sick must persist in the use of the said remedies through the whole course of the disease . if the pain be very violent , you must take away ten ounces of blood again on the first day , or else the day following , and so the third day ; and after this manner four times one day after another , when the pain rages violently . but if the disease be more moderate and less dangerous , and if the patient being weak , cannot well bear bleeding so often , it must not be repeated again after it has been twice used , till a day or two be past betwixt each bleeding . you 'l seldom find that a confirmed pleurisie can be cured in grown people , with less than the loss of forty ounces of blood , or thereabouts ; tho' in children once or twice bleeding is most commonly sufficient . all the time of the disease , care must be taken that the patient be not over-heated ; and therefore he must be taken every day out of his bed , and kept up some hours according to his strength ; for if he be kept continually in bed , neither so large and an evacuation of blood , nor other remedies how cooling soever will sometimes do any good . presently after the last bleeding , it will be convenient to give a gentle purge . chap. xvi . of swooning . the next and immediate cause of this disease , is a defect of the vital spirits . when any one is seized with a fainting fit , you must lay him on his back , and sprinkle water on his face , and provoke sneezing : put some good wine , or cinnamon-water into his mouth ; call him aloud , shake him , pull him by the nose : double his fingers , pull his hair , and rub him . if he faints for want of nourishment , you must refresh him with a piece of bread dipt in wine . if he faint by reason of a malignant quality , give a scruple of venice-treacle dissolved in some cordial water . if he faints by reason of immoderate evacuations , he must be refreshed by good meat and drink , sleep and rest . if it proceed from too great loss of blood , lay him in a bed with his head downward , sprinkle his face with cold water , and give a little wine mixed with water . if it proceed from purging , give twelve of my cordial drops in a spoonful of cinnamon water , and let him lie on a bed. if fainting proceed from a fright or fear , blood must be let . finis . the index . apoplexy , pag. 1. bleeding at nose , 4. blood spitting , 5. blood vomitting , 5. bloody vrine , 15. carus pag 1. child-bed purgations suppressed , 24. cholora morbus , 15. colick , 9. coma 1. convulsions , 7. courses immoderate , 22. labour hard , 16. lethargy , 1. loosness , 12. miscarriage , 19. mother-fits , 10. pleurisie , 26. quinsey , 25. sleepy diseases , 1. stone in the kidnies , 14. swooning , 28. twisting of the guts , 13. vapours , 10. vomitting , 15. advertisement . the following medicines are prepared by the author , and are to be sold at his house at the angel and crown in basing-lane , being the second turning in bread-street from cheapside . 1. my cephacick tincture is excellent for all cold and moist diseases of the head , brain , nerves , and womb : it cures the head-ach , giddiness , takes off dullness and drowfiness , and is very proper for a palsie , and old aches , and takes off womens after-pains , the belly being well bathed with it , and a flanne● applyed over , and it hastens delivery , and is good for mother-fits . for outward uses , bath the part affected with it morning and evening , and rub it well in with a warm hand . for inward uses , give twenty drops morning and evening in a glass of canary . price one shilling the viol. 2. you must give one paper of my powder for childrens convulsions every sixth hour , in a spoonful of black-cherry-water , or the like ▪ price 6 d. the paper . 3. my powder for worms must be taken for three mornings following , one paper at a time , in a spoonful of white-bread and milk. price 4 d. the paper . 4. my cordial elixir , for the colick and gravel ▪ be taken by spoonfuls , 4 or 5 spoonfuls , according to your strength , or so many as you find will give three or four stools ; and presently after it has done working , take twenty four of my cordial drops , in two spoonfuls of cinnamon-water ▪ price 2 s. 6 d. the bottle of my elixir for the colick and gravel . 5. my cordial drops must be taken according to the directions in the foregoing treatise , and you will find them in all the cases where they are mentioned in this book , to be of wonderful vertue and efficacy . price 1 s. the viol. 6. my stomach drops cleanse and strengthen the stomach , for which they are highly to be valued , for from a foul and weak stomach proceed a numerous train of diseases , as crudities , nauseousness , vomittings , loss of appetite , and the like ; and if the stomach which prepares nourishment for the whole body be vitiated , the nourishment , and the blood with which 't is mix'd , must unavoidably be vitiated also , and by consequence all the animal and natural functions must be perverted . they also expel wind , and are good for the jaundice and dropsie , and restore to pale virgins a fresh and pleasant countenance . twenty drops must be taken every morning for the space of a week in a glass of wine , mum , or beer . price 1 s. the viol. 7. my pills for the vapours must be taken according to the directions in the chapter of vapours . price 3 s. 6 d. the box. 8. my electuary for agues , certainly cures 〈…〉 taken presently 〈…〉 take the quantity 〈◊〉 nutmeg every fou●●● hour , and eight days , after the taking the last 〈◊〉 of the electuary , take another pot of it in the same manner , tho' the agne be gone , to prevent its return . price of a pot 2 s. 6 s. 9. my electuary for coughs and consumptions ▪ is an excellent remedy for the diseases of the lungs ; it must be taken often in a day , the quantity of an hazel nut at a time . price of a pot 1 s. 6 d. 10. my purging pill cures the scurvy , and purges the head , breast , stomach , and reins , and is peculiarly proper for a dropsie , womens obstructions , and to purifie the blood after the small-pox , they are also of excellent use for those whose bodies are surfeited by heats and colds ; and for seafaring men , and such as live in unwholsom airs , and moist places , two of them may be taken at bed-time , and two , three , or four , the next morning early , according to the strength of the body they may be swallowed down alone , or taken in the pap of a roasted apple , or honey , or stewed prunes , or in a little syrup , and when they work , drink posset-drink , water-gruel , warm 〈◊〉 or tea . i have found this pill by many years experience , excellent for cleansing the body of ill humours , of what kind soever they be ▪ each box contains eighteen pills ; price ●● . 6 d. hoplocrisma-spongus: or, a sponge to vvipe avvay the weapon-salve a treatise, wherein is proved, that the cure late-taken up amongst us, by applying the salve to the weapon, is magicall and unlawfull by william foster mr. of arts, and parson of hedgley in the county of buckingham. hoplocrisma-spongus. foster, william, 1591-1643. 1631 approx. 126 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 37 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a01091 stc 11203 estc s102476 99838259 99838259 2632 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a01091) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 2632) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1023:16) hoplocrisma-spongus: or, a sponge to vvipe avvay the weapon-salve a treatise, wherein is proved, that the cure late-taken up amongst us, by applying the salve to the weapon, is magicall and unlawfull by william foster mr. of arts, and parson of hedgley in the county of buckingham. hoplocrisma-spongus. foster, william, 1591-1643. [16], 56 p. printed by thomas cotes, for iohn grove, and are to be sold at his shop in furnivals inne gate in holborne, london : 1631. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available 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overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine, magic, mystic, and spagiric -early works to 1800. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-01 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-07 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2007-07 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion hoplocrismaspongvs : or , a sponge to vvipe avvay the weapon salve . a treatse wherein is proved , that the cure late-taken up amongst us , by applying the salve to the weapon , is magicall and unlawfull by williwam foster mr. of arts , and parson of hedgley in the county of buckingham . d. augustinus de trinitate lib. 2 . in prooemio . non ero trepidus at proferendam sententiam meam , in quâ magis amabo inspici à rectis , quàm timebo morderi à perversis . london printed by thomas cotes , for iohn grove , and are to be sold at his shop at furniuals inne gate in holborne . 1631. to the right honorable robert lord dormer , baron of wing , viscount ascot , earle of caernarvon , lord lievtenant of buckingham shiere , and mr. of the kings majesties hawkes , my very good lord. right honorable and my very good lord , three things made me take in hand this unhandled argument . 1. the insulting of a iesuit and dr. of divinity , joannes roberti . hee hath written against this strange and magicall cure. i had some light from him . i often cite and alleage him . thus farre i commend him . but because some protestants practise this and charactericall cures , ( which notwithstanding are more frequent amongst papists ) he calles us magi-calvinists , characterists , &c. hee makes that generally in vs all , doctrinall , which is but in some few personally practicall . herein i detest his sophistrie & discommend him . 2. the second thing moving me , was a commiseration of the case of some persons of quality , reputed religious , which vse the weapon-salve . i pitty these . i presume they imagine no harme in it . i pray for them in our saviour christ his owne words : father forgive them , for they know not what they doe . luke 22. 34. 3. lastly , there are some friends of mine , which presume more of my ability to give the world satisfaction in this question , than i my selfe doe . at their requests i tooke this unusuall taske on me . for where i may do good , little intreaty shall serve . for the first of these ; the iesuite & his complices : i would haue them pull downe their crestes . wee of the church of england detest superstitious and magicall cures . wee have many poore parish priests amongst us ( whereof my selfe is the meanest , placed over but a decade of families , consisting of eight times so many soules as were in noahs arke ) which dare handle an argument , and write and preach against such practices ( if they know of them ) as well as their great doctors and vniversitie readers . for the second ; the persons of worth practising this cure ; i have written this treatise for their reading . they may suppose their cure lawfull , because no man amongst us hath as yet written to contradict it . but i would have them know , that till of late it was little known amongst us , and therefore little or not at all inquired into . but now growing every day more common ( so that i have seene the salve in the very hands of women ) i have adventured ( with gods helpe ) to shew the unlawfulnesse of it . in reading of it , i counsell them to annoint their eyes with the eye-salve bought of christ , revel 3. 18 : and then i doubt not , but the scales will fall from their eyes as from st. pauls , acts 9. 18 : and they will plainly see the vanity of their weapon-salve . it is more ease and security for me to be silent . i might say with st. augustine ; malle me legendo , quàm legenda dictando labor are . i had rather bee reading my selfe , than be writing to be read by others . but i had rather hazard mine owne reputation , than they should their salvation . and for the last , my friends ; at whose intreaty i condescended to this undertaking ; i desire them and others to know thus much from me , that i esteeme not my selfe , mine owne ; but gods , my countries , theirs . while i am able , i will shunne no labour for their sakes . i am not of their garbe , which writing nothing , thinke it enough to purchase to themselves the repute of great schollers , if they can shake their head , and play the malicious critickes in the workes of others . nor am i of their minde , which to become great , by being counted good preachers , preach not above twice or thrice a yeare , and then lay all their strength on their sermon . my resolution is otherwise ; i will reade much , write some what , and preach often . reading in time may make one learned , writing iudicious , and often preaching a ready man. so i may do good , i will be dainty of none of these , when they are required . better is goodnesse without greatnesse , than greatnesse without goodnesse . these are the motives of sending abroad this my treatise . comming forth , to whom should i first give it , but to your lordship , to whom i first gave my selfe ? to whom but to you , for whom my prayers to god ( who gives salatem sublimium orationibus humilium ) are , that you may ever bee both good & great ? i presume you will receive the worke , because you have owned the author . it is like to passe through many a storme thundred against it , by the malicious contradictions of some obstinate vnguentaries and peevish censurers . for most true is that of the comoedian : obsequium amicos , veritas odium parit . but if your honour out of your wonted candor will be pleased to shelter it and mee , vnder your wing , i shall be safe from biting , to hurt me , though not from barking ( if i cared for it , ) to fright me . in confidence whereof i humbly prostrate to your noblenesse this little worke , together with your lordships devoted chaplaine and humble servant to be commanded , william foster . omnibus & singulis eximiae artis chirurgicae magistris in angliâ , scotiâ , & hiberniâ , praecipuè in inclyta londini civitate commorantibus : nominatim ornatissimis & doctissimis viris , richardo watsono armigero dignissimae societatis chirurgorum londinensium magistro , iosepho fenton● armigero & propter egregiam eruditionem chirurgorum omnium hac tempestate antesignano , gulielmo clouso armigero , sorenissimo principi carolo magnae britanniae , franciae & hyberniae regi atchi-chirurgo , iacobo molinao artis chirurgicae insigni & spectato magistro , et amicis meis ioanns scot● & edwarde charles , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ea est ( viri gravissimi ) hujus tractatiunculae natura ut non solùm magnatum & potentium , sed & artis medicinalis peritorum , aesculapij filiorum egeat patrocinio . quamvis enim contra cacomagiam theologus scribo , tamen is est ingenioli mei faetus , quem nunc parturio , ut nisi artis vestrae limites aliquantulum pro modulo salutarem , in lucem faelicitèr nunquam sit proditurus . nec opinor hoc factum & conatum renuetis . nulla enim tam polita est ars , aut sublimis scientia , quae sacrosanctae theologiae non ambiat ancillari . sed esto haec proles ejus ope adjuta & nunc producta . evenit huic human o partui non multum dissimile . inter nascendum mirum silentium , postquam autem lucina opem tulit , mulieres tolent pro facultatulâ garriendo sese exercere . sic fore post libri editionem comperimus . certo certius scio multum fore multorum de hâc prole nostrâ garrulitatis . quot homuuculi , tot sententiolae . quidam asserent partum hunc embryon esse & informem , alij mancum & deformem , nonnulli imbecillem & nullius vigoris pusionem . vulgus proteus est ipsissimus . sed ego vos supra vulgarem captum doctos patronos appello . vos medicinae peritos ( chirurgia namque antiquissima medicinae pars ) de hisce non latet judicare . ad pedes igitur vestros hunc laboris faetum , sese exactissimo judiciorum vestrorum calculo submittentem , depono . ego vos ( viri ornatissimi ) sicut olim magnus ille augustinus , non solùm pios lectores , sed liberos correctores desydero . quòd si in gremium vestrum suscipiatur , ubi si non summè carus , tamen vel mediocri favore sit susceptus & non spretus , maledicentium pus & venenum , qui aliena carpunt , necedunt sua , nihili morabor . — invidiâ rumpantur ut ilia codro . argumentum hoc prae quaestionis magnitudine stylum prementem magis exigit & limatiorem . sed nemo nostratium provinciam hanc subivit . vnguentum hoc armarium paucis abhinc annis nemini ferè de nomine notum , jam ad dei & artis legitimae contemptum per multos hujus regni vicos & civitates passim devagatur . ge●itur in omnium manibus , non solùm plebeiorum , sed equestris ordinis , ne dicam altioris : imò vel mulierculis , inscientèr doctis usui est & gloriolae . bonum quo communius eo melius ; malum è contrario . neigitur horrendum hoc corporis remedium ad animarum ruinam latiùs serpat , ad onus hoc humeris impar sustinendum , animum appuli . doleo enim & misereor magnoperè omnium peccatorum vices , inscientium autem maximè deus opt. max. inscios peccatores , si veniam petant , faciliùs condonat . inscij peccatores quia veniam petere vix sciunt , difficiliùs impetrant . christus igitur eorum misertus , patrem orat eorum condonationē . pater ignosce illis , non enim sciunt quid faciunt . luc. 22. 34. id est , aperi eorum oculos , & ignorantiae nubes amoveatur , ut peccata sua videant & intelligant , intelligentes poeniteant , & poenitentes à te miserecordiarum patre indulgentiam accipiant . sed poenitentia est ( ut loquitur d. hieronymus ) secunda tabula post naufragium : et melius est ut integra servetur navis , quàm ut naufragi tabulae haereamus . quis enim sanae mentis non maluerat quod nunquam amiserit securus possidere , quàm anxius quaerere quod perdiderat ? ne quis igitur in hujus perniciosissimū unguenti scopulum tenerrimam animae suae navim impingat , periculum ubi sit , ut palinurus , praemoneo . et si qui in hoc aequore dubij circumnatent , non solùm tabulam quam apprehendant ostendo , verùm etiam manum , quâ apprehensâ , ad litus tuti appellant , porrigo . haec sunt conatus nostri molimina , quae ut sub auspicijs vestris prodeant in publicum , & cedant in dei omnipotentis gloriam , & grassantem vndique ( hoc unguentum quod attinet ) plurimorum superstitionem profligent , humilimus orator petit obsecratque dignitatis vestrae studiosissimus gulielmus fosterus . to the reader . gentle reader , i jntended not this tracts comming forth thus , single . these times of dearth and also of sicknesse incitedmo ( in behalfe of the poore ) to meditate and write of the seven workes of corporall mercie . amongst them that sacred action of visiting the sicke and wounded hath its place . this was framed as an appendix to that . that and the rest in composing grew to a bigger bulke , than i either at first intended , or have leisure as yet to make ready to come abroad . wherefore perceiving this magicall and superstitious unguent every day to spread and come into more hands , in a zealous * indignation , i send this single tract into the world ( if possible ) to decry it . if it may warne thee ( good reader ) from it , or fore-arme thee with sufficient reasons against it , i have attained my wished scope . but be not too hastie to judge of the worke . a sturdy oake is not cut downe with a blow or two ; nor so knotty a matter in a line or page , or two , made facill . that may bee but marked and lightly touched at one time and place , which is paid home , and cut downe in another . reade then all , or none , before thou settle thy judgement , and passe thy censure . with st. augustine i must confesse ; multa quae nesciebam , scribendo me didicisse ; that by writing on this subject , i learned many things i was ignorant of before : so peradventure maiest thou in the reading . yet i could wish some more skilfull pen had taken this argument in hand . but i hope these my weake labours will breake the ice , and leade on greater abilities . a torch may be lighted at a candle . this my unpolished worke may occasion some other , absolutely perfect . so be that a torch may come in place , to give more light , i can endure my candle to bee extinguished . i aime not at mine owne lustre , but the good of christian soules . so god may be glorified , his church profited , and my brethren instructed , let mee bee counted a snuffe , a nothing ( with st. paul ) anathema , worse then nothing . in the meane time , some may think me too tart in this argument . with the poet they will say , plus aloes , quàm mellis habet — let these know i love their persons , they are gods creatures , the sheepe of his hands ( as david speaketh , psal . 95. 7. ) but i hate , and am tart against mine owne and other mens faults , they are the workes of the divell , the unfruitfull workes of darknesse , with which we must have no fellowship , but ( as st. paul exhorts , ephes . 5. 11. ) rather reprove them . and i dare call sin , sin , in whom soever . if iefabell be painted , with iehu i will not have peace with her to commend her , though a queene . if herod be incestuous , with the baptist i 'le not sooth him , though a king. if simon magus be a sorcerer , i feare not his divell ; with st. peter i 'le rouze him , though a witch . shall any for my boldnesse thinke to sit upon my skirts ? let those know i esteeme my selfe infra invidiam . i cannot have lesse in the church , unlesse nothing . and if they shall indeavour to keepe me still low , let them know i looke for no good , from them that envie my endeavours to do good . if i sit panting on the ground , i will not refuse to be sed by ravens to keepe me alive with elias ; but i looke not to be lifted vp by any but eagles , heroicke spirits , men fearing god , and hating simoniacall covetousnesse , and magicall superstition . and so i rest , thy well wisher , william foster . a sponge to wipe avvay the weapon-salve . whether the curing of wounds by the weapon-salve , be witch-craft and unlawfull to bee used ? affir . the proeme . wherein the scope and method of the tract is recited . in this question i looke for opponents . me thinkes i heare , ne sutor ultra crepidam , sounded and resounded in mine eares . what hath the author to doe with this question ? what ? a divine a medler in the art of medicine ? is not this besides his text ? surely no. this question may bee handled three wayes , and so incident to three severall sciences . for it may be considered , 1. as consisting of such and such ingredients , of such and such doses , so and so collected and compounded ; and thus it belongs to the art of medicine . 2. whether agents and patients being not conjoyned in corporall or virtuall contact within a limited sphere of activity , can naturally produce any cure of alteration , as this unguent doth ? and thus it belongs to naturall philosophie . 3. whether that which produceth supernaturall effects , having no divine institution ( as this hath none ) be not from the divell , and so the vse of it witch-craft , and not to be practised by any honest and religious man ? and thus it is of theologicall and ecclesiasticall cognizance . in the first consideration i leave it to learned physitians , skilfull chyrurgions , and expert pharmacapolists . but if i enter into consideration of it the two other wayes , i am neither ultra crepidam , nor extra textum . i am not beyond my last . my last extends to philosophy . i am a mr. of arts in both vniversities . i am not besides my text . i am a divine by profession . visiting the sicke and wounded is not the meanest part of my dutie . in that sacred action it is not to be forgotten , to admonish that medicines be vsed for recovery . and if superstitious and magicall remedies be attempted , they must bee instructed otherwise , and by all meanes be perswaded from them . for their damnation is just , which doe evill that good may come of it . now when suspected cures are performed ( as by this ung●ent , ) that divine which takes into consideration , whether this or the like be not don● by magicke and witchcraft , cannot properly be● said to be non-resident from his profession . divinity is that science which teacheth the meanes to everlasting salvation both of body and soule . nay the heathen poet can advize us as much , orandum est , ut sit mens sana in corpore s●no . wee must pray that wee way have sound soules as well as bodies . he then that forewarnes to take such medicines for the curing of our bodies for a while , as may endanger both body and soule for ever , doth the part and dutie of a theologue , and keepes himselfe within the boundes of divinity . thus much by the way of anticipation . now to the question and disputation . in which that i may not rove , but deale punctally and martially with this martiall salve , pede pedes & cuspide cuspis , i shall in two members observe the hoplomaticall method ; of offence and proving against it . disproving whatsoever is brought for it . defence membrum primum . first i shall prove against it , that it is no lawfull cure , but a magicall , done by the helpe of the divell the corrupter of nature , and that 4. wayes , in 4. articles . viz. by 1. reason and philosophie . 2. authority of writers . 3. the effects of this oyntment . 4. the author or first inventer of it . articulus primus . wherein naturall reason and philosophy is brought to prove that this cure is not naturall , but magicall and diabolicall . all lawfull medicines produce their effects either by divine institution , as naamans seven times washing himselfe in the river iordan to cure his leprosie , 2 kings 5 : and the poole of bethesdaes curing such as entred into it after the angels stirring it , iohn 5. 5. or by naturall operation , according to such virtues as god in the creation endued such creatures with , whereof the said medicines are composed . so the prophet esay prescribed king ezekiah a lumpe of figges to cure his aposteme , 2 kings 20. 7. and the samaritan bound up the wounds of him that was halfe dead in the way , and powred in wine and oyle into them , luke 10. 34. both these were naturall medicines , found to have naturall virtue to produce their wished effects , by sonnes of asculapius , conversant in the inquisition of secrets of nature . galen therefore the prince of physitians , directs the application of figges to rebellious tumours , which hardly breake and come to suppuration . and levinus lemnius saith , that figs are a powerfull and present remedy . and franciscus valesius , greatly commends not onely the charity , but also the judgement and skill of the samaritan for his fit and proper application . that which the gracians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ was in that case an artificiall and soveraigne fomentation . for whether his wounds were compound ( by contusion or dilaceration ) or simple ( by the sole solution of continuity ) the medicine was most proper for the first intention . if compound , nothing more agreeable to the rules of art : if simple , yet seeing the patient had layne long in the aire destitute of helpe ( his wounds not so much as covered or bound up ) his wounded parts were become exasperate and refrigerated , cui malo ( saith my author ) nullare melius succureretur quam calente 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which evill could no way better bee helped , than by fomenting the parts with wine & oyle warmed . but this weapon-salvo worketh neither of these wayes ; ergo , the cures done by it are not lawfull , but prestigious , magicall and diabosicall . the minor or assumption i prove thus . first , that it is not of divine institution , because it is no where registred in scripture . secondly , it workes not naturally , because it workes after a different manner from all naturall agents . for 't is a rule amongst both divines and philosophers that ; nullum agens agit in distans . whatsoever workes naturally , workes either by corporall or virtuall contact . but this workes by neither , therefore it workes not naturally . it workes not by corporall contact , the bodies are disjoyned . paracelsus saith , if the weapon be annoynted , the wounded partie may be cured , though 20. miles absent . oswaldus cr●llius , ●o●linius , helmontius , and others , put an unlimited distance . therefore there is no corporall contact . so that this cure ( if lawfull ) must needes be performed by virtuall contact . but not so neither . all agents working by virtuall contact worke within a certaine distance , and limited sphere of activitie , beyond which they cannot worke . the loadstone workes upon iron by virtuall contact : but it works but a small distance . and if the iron be rustie , or oyle , or a diamond placed betwixt them , the stone cannot so affect the iron as to draw it : say divines , philosophers , and lapidaries . vineger is a most subtile penetrating agent . it is like hunger ; it eates through stone walles . hannibal that great carthagenian captaine , made his passage over the rockey alpes ( before unpassable ) with vineger . yet the interposition of tallow stayes his appetite . stones or other objects annointed with it remaine safe and undiminished in his voracious and sharpe set presence , though his jawes and teeth be set to it . fire is the most raging agent of all ; but a fire of tenne miles or greater compasse ( if such could bee ) could not burne , heate , or warme a man two miles distant from it . the celestiall bodies , as the sunne and the rest of the planets excell in virtuall operation all sublunary agents . the light and heate of the sunne goeth through the whole world . it goeth from the uttermost part of the heaven , and runneth about to the end of it againe ; and there is nothing bid from the heate thereof , psal . 19. 6. but yet a little cloud interposed obscureth the light , and abateth the heate . the interposition of the earth keepes the light from antipodes . the interposition of the bodie of the moone eclypseth the sunne in our hemisphere , in part to some inhabitants , and totally to others , which in a diametricall descendent line inhabit under it . it never workes alike upon all parts of the earth . when it is winter with us by reason of his southerne journey and oblique beames , it is summer in the other temperate zone , because his beames strike downe in a direct line , and cause a stronger reflection , and that stronger reflection the greater heate . and when againe it is summer with us , it is winter with them , by reason of the sunnes approaching neere unto us , and departing from them . so though it worke upon all things vnder heaven , yet it worketh not at all times alike , by reason it is not at all times from all things distant alike , nor at all times free from interpositions alike . now then shall terrestriall agents by distance and interposition bee totally , and celestiall partly hindred ; and shall this weapon-salve worke from the weapon to the wound at all distances ? shall the interposition of neither ayre , woods , fire , waters , walles , houses , castles , cities , mountaines , heate , cold , nothing stay or hinder the derivation of the virtue of it , to the body of the party wounded ? o agent beyond all agents ! certainely the angels of heaven cannot worke at such a distance . onely god whose essence is infinite , and is omnia in omnibus , all in all , can worke thus : because from him nothing is distant at all . for in him we live , move and have our being , acts 17. 27 , 28. let the judicious and religious readers judge then , if these weapon ▪ curing mediciners make not a god of their unguent , and commit not idolatry in attributing that to a little smearing oyntment of their owne making , which is proper to god only , the maker of al things . i cannot be perswaded but that this salve , consisting amongst other things , of mosse taken from the skull of a theefe that hath beene hanged ; of mans fat ; of mans blood warme : as it is taken from his body , collected and composed with a great deale of superstition ( as hereafter shall be related ) the divell usually delighting in such things ) is accepted of the divell as a kinde of sacrifice , and that hee greedily takes it from the weapon , and makes the mediciner beleeve it is spent by the virtue of it going to the wound , whilst hee ( skilfull by reason of his long experience in all arts , and so in the art of medicine ) doth himselfe secretly apply some other virtuall operative medicine to cure the wound , and to delude his credulous mountabankes , makes them beleeve that this salve ( which dropt out of the hangmans budget ) hath performed it . and i am drawne to this opinion , by an argument à comparatis . canidiaes , witches and impes of the divell when they go a hagging , annoynt themselves , and are suddainly carried into remote places through the ayre , riding upon a broome , a hogge , a goate or the like ; and the divell makes them beleeve that this their transportation is naturally effected by virtue of their medicament . but in very deed these their oyntments ( which are made besides other things of the fat of infants , as testifieth gaudentius merula ; mans flesh as s. hierome ; mans blood as apuleius ) doe not doe the feate , but the divell himselfe carries them , as testifieth cajetan , navar , grillandus , bodin , &c. and the holy scriptures which tell us of the presumption of the divell to carry christ himselfe and set him on a pinnacle of the temple , math. 4. 5. and on an exceeding high mountaine , verse 8. so the divell when men in this case annoynt the weapon , makes them beleeve that it is a naturall cure , when in very deed ( if any cure be performed ) it is done by him selfe , by secret application of other meanesendued with virtue to produce such effects . and the 〈◊〉 vell doth this for his owne greater advantage , 〈◊〉 shall more at large be related hereafter . artiticulus secundus . wherein is brought the authority of writers dis . allowing this care , and condemning it for magicall . the weapon salve is the new invention of the divell , an old impostor . i can bring neither plato nor aristotle for ancient philosophers , galen nor hippocrates for physitians , tertull●an , cyprian , nor augustine for fathers , aquin●● , or alexander de hales for schoolemen directly and expressely writing against it . the first i found to make mention of it was cardanus de venen● libro 2. cap. 6. yet hee ( though much given to magicke had no farther knowledge of it than report , and that it was said to consist of such ingredients as he there mentioneth . the next was one schenk●us , who calleth it prodig●osa vulnerum curatio per opochrysmatis usum . a prodigious curing of wounds by the vse of the weapon-salue . no better commendation is given of it by andreas libavius , who calles it impostoria vulnerum per unguentum armarium sanatio paracelsis usitata . the imposterous cure of woundes by he weapon-salve used by paracelsians . the like elog●e is given it by one ●ranciscus tidi●●us . calvin also ( as testifieth rodolphus ●●clinius ▪ denieth this cure to be naturall . bartholomaeus keckemannus saith that this weapon-salve is no naturall agent , but supernaturall . not from god , nor from his holy angels , nor miraculous , but from the divell ; as shall be more at large declared hereafter . doctor ioannes robert● wrote three tracts to prove the vnlawfulnesse of this cure . the first hee calles anatome brevis tractatus novi de magnetica vulnerum curatione . a short anatomie of a new tract of the magneticall cure of woundes . the second is an answer to r. goclinius his synarthrosis , which hee not vnfitly calleth goclinius heautontimorumenos . the third and last hee calles curationis magnetica impos●ura ; containing an answer to the pernicious disputation of ioannis baptistae ab helmont , a physitian of bruxels . to all which is added the censure of two vniversities , lovain & doway , both pronouncing the magneticall cure ( as it is termed ) of the weapon-salve , not to be naturall , but superstitious , magicall and diabolicall . i will conclude with the saying of paracelsus himselfe , who speaking of the operations of this unguent , averreth that certè haec omnia miracula & dei dona sunt : surely these are all miracles and the gifts of god ; therefore not naturall . but let his words sound what they will , the god which paracelsus meaneth , was deus bujus mundi , the god of this world , 2 cor. 4. 4. the divell , whom he too much followed , as shall anon be expressed . so that here by the authority of learned physitians , philosophers , divines , and two vniversities , the use of this unguent is condemned as prestigious and unlawfull . wherefore seeing ( as the apostle speaketh ) we are compassed about with such a cloud of witnesses . heb. 12. 1. let those which use it , with repentance lay aside the use of it , and those which have not used it , praemoni●● praemuniti , with caution shunne and avoyde it . articulus tertius . wherein the effects of this unguent are compared with other magicall oyntments , and found in operation like them . various and pernicious , strange and unparalleled by any other medicine , are the effects and feates wrought by this unguent . by the weapon you may divine whether the patient shall live or die . warme the annoynted weapon , so that you may endure your hand on it , cast on poulder of red saunders and bloodstones : if the weapon thus heated , salved , and pouldred , sweate drops of blood , hee will dye , if not , he will live , saith crollius . and by the appearing of spots of blood , at any time upon the weapon , onely annoynted and not pouldred or heat , it may be knowne whether the patient disorder himselfe by racchus or venus . nay by the annoynted weapon you may kill the patient ( if you will ) without touching him . o gladius delphicus ! if the annoynted weapon be not wrapped in cloathes to be kept from the cold ayre , the patient incurres a shaking ague . if it be kept too warme , he falleth into a hot burning feaver . if a ligature be made about it , and tyed hard , the patients body is tortured as if his limbes were coa 〈…〉 if the weapon be put in the fire , his body will be blistred as if the fire it selfe had burned it . i know not to what to liken these feates , but to those of witches , who make pictures of men in waxe , and pricking them , the party for whose picture it is made , is tormented ; and burning them , their limbes are burned and blistred . of which practises the poet spake long agoe of medea . devovet absentes , simulacráque cerea singit , et miserum tenues in jecur urget acus . medea curseth those which absent are , and with her charmes she wounds mens hearts from farre ; of waxe she images doth make of men , and placeth needles in their bosomes then ; these needles by th ▪ helpe of the envious fiend , torture poore soules , and bring them to their end . the effects then of this oyntment symbolizing thus with the practises of witches ; to my reason they seeme to have no reason , which deny these to come from the same founder the divell . surely they are ejusdem farinae . for when i finde them of the same ●oafe , i cannot but judge them of the same meale . artic. quartus . wherein the vanity of this salve is discovered by the iniquity of the author , or first inventer of it . the author of this salve , was philippus aureolus bombastus theophrastus paracelsus . feare not reader , i am not a conjuring , they are onely the names of a conjurer , the first inventer of this magicall oyntment . therefore crollius cals it , vnguentum sympatheticum seu stellatum paracelsi , the sympathizing or starry-working vnguent of paracelsus . of this paracelsus , thomas erastus a physitian , saith , that he brought an hundred thousand false imaginations and solemne dotemēts into the world , never dream'd of before , either by wisemen or fooles . and it is recorded , by conradus ges●erus , that he was a man which contemned all ancient physitians and philosophers : that he endevored to bring many strange and unheard-of practises into the art of medicine : that he was a man of base and wicked life and conversation : that he conversed with a familiar spirit , and was given to all kinde of magicall and necromanticall practices . malus corvus , malum ovum . an ill bird laid this ill egge . but goelinius faith , that paracelsus was not the first inventer , but onely an illustrator and amplifier of it , the author of it being much elder then he . but besides crollius the great champian for this weapon working medicine : a. libavius , ioannes baptista porta , ioannes burgravius , &c. ( all which i rather credit than one single goclinius attributes the first invention of this wonder-working oyntment to the bombasticall braine of theophrastus paracelsus . if any other braine were the forge , in which it was first hammered , why doth he not name his author ? surely if it were not hee , 't was a whelpe of the same litter , a magician , an impe of cerberus . for indeed keckerman saith , that one anselmus , an italian of parma , ( who it seemes lived before paracelsus ) was the first that brought this cure to light . which of them soever it was , it skilleth not much . they were both magicians , conversant with the divel . anselmus parmensis , though some saint him and mistake him , for anselmus cant. was rather a divell . it is apparent then whence it came , and what earth-compassing mountebanke it was that first taught it . for that , paracelsus was a conjurer , working besides the bounds of nature , it is most evident , ( besides the testimony of gesner ) by some propositions gathered out of his works , by doctor ioannes roberti . but for mine owne part , to satisfie my selfe and my readers , i will goe no farther than to the tract wherein the vnguent is described , and there to the prescription next adjoyned , which is a receipt to cure one decayed in nature , unable to performe due berevolence . the cure by his direction is thus to be effected . take an horse-shooe cast from a horse , let it be wrought into a trident forke , impresse these and these characters on it , put a staffe of such a length into the socket for the stale of it ; let the patient take this forke and sticke it in the bottome of a river of such a depth , and let it remaine sticking there so long as is prescribed , and he shal be restored to his former manlike abilitie . if this be not witchcraft , i know not what is ! now then paracelsus being a witch , and this experiment being placed amongst his diabolicall and magicall conclusions , it cannot choose but be witchcraft , and come from the grand master of witches the diuell , if paracelsus were ( us most repute him ) the author and founder of it . neither can it be better , if anselmus were the authour of it , as keckerman reports . for , saith the same keckerman , this anselmus ( how soever he is by some now esteemed ) was a noted magician whilst hee lived . now then if we make a collection of all . first , of naturall reason and philosophy . secondly , of the opinion of authors decrying it . thirdly , of the effects of it compared with other agents . fourthly , of the author that first invented it ; the totall summe will be witchcraft . witchcraft is an offence of the highest nature against god. therefore in the bowels of christ , i advise all good christians to shunne and avoyd the use of it . ●iscite justitiam moniti , & non temnere divos . ) and to follow the counsell of tostatus , who saith , that toleranda potius sunt quaecunque mala , quam recurramus ad malisicos . we must rather endure any misery , than have recourse to them which practise witchcraft . membrum secundum . hitherto i have dealt by the way of offence , proving against it . now i come to defence , disproving what ever the divell or man hath brought for it : that so the reader may be the better satisfied , by seeing all fully retorted and answered . and i shall still be at the same guard with this weapon-salve . i shall lay on as many strong blowes to maintaine it , as i have brought against it to consure it . i shall be the same in order and method for the unguentaries , that i am for my selfe & the contr unguentaries . foure articles shall stand up for them as for us . i shall bring their 1 reasons and philosophy maintaining it . 2 writers and authors allowing it . 3 effects and operations approving it . 4 inventor & first composer cōmending it . articulus primus . wherein the reasons and philosophy brought for it are collected and disproved . those medicines are lawfull however they worke , where no inchantments , no spels , no characters , no charmes , no invocation , no compact with the divell , no superstitious observations are used . but in the applying of the vnguent to the weapon , there are none of these . therefore this medicine is lawfull . i deny the minor proposition . for there is a kinde of superstition , and compact with the divell in the use of it . first , there is superstition , and that twofold . first , in the collecting of the ingredients . the mosse must be scraped when the moone increaseth , and is in a good house , as of venus , not of mars or saturne , ( as crollius tels us . ) that some plants are of greater vertue , gathered in the new or full of the moone , ( because they have then the greater drinesse or moysture in thē ) i will not deny ▪ but that the moon must be likewise in such or such of the twelve houses , is an astrologicall and superstitious observation . and in the scriptures , astrologers , magicians and sorcerers , like birds of a feather are linked together . secondly , there is superstition in the manner of annointing the weapon . if the wound came by a thrust , you must annoint the sword from the point to the hilt . if with a cut , then from the edge to the backe . in either , just so much must be annoiated as hurt the patient . for , saith the same crollius ; alioquin nocumentum adferretur patienti . you may else hurt the patient . and that day the mediciner smeares the weapon , he must absteine from venus . of which mediciners i cannot but say as s. paul to the men of athens : i perceive that in all things you are too superstitious , acts 17. 22. lastly , there 's a compact with the diuell . for the divell may be compacted with two wayes , as saint augustine , aquinas , and other fathers and schoolemen teach . either by expresse and open or tacite and implicite contract . in the use of this salve , though therebe no expresse and open , yet there is a tacite & implicite contract with the divell . for tacite invocatur daemon , quando aliquis cōtendit facerc aliquid , per causas quae necvirtute sua naturali , nec divind institutione possunt illud efficere . the divell is then implicity invoked , when any man attempts to bring any thing to passe , by meanes which have neither naturall vertue , nor divine institution thereto . and contrary to this rule is the use of this unguent , as is before demonstrated . for a man may receive this salve from a friend which plainely and totidem verbis , never had to doe with the divell . that friend may haue had it from another , as farre from such practises as himselfe . thus it may be derived through infinite hands : yet all these traditors in the use of it , had an implicite compact with the divell ; in as much as the divell was the first inventor of it . for the divel whē he first appoints to any man inchantments , spels , characters , charms , herbes , ligatures , or oyntments to produce such effects , entreth not into covenant with that individuall party for himselfe , but also for others specificall ; that whosoever shall according to his prescription use them , shall bring to passe such effects by them . not that the very charmes , characters , or oyntments , doe by themselves or his helpe produce such effects . there 's no such force in them . but these are signes whereby the divell knowes our desires , and then he himselfe by some other meanes ( if god restraine him not ) secretly workes our desires . therefore saith saint augustine , daemones alliciuntur — non ut animalia cibis sed ut spiritus signis — per varia genera lapidum , herbarum , lignorum , animalium , carminum , rituum . the divels are drawn to our purposes not as beasts , by meates , but as spirits by signes , by sundry kindes of stones , of herbes , wood , living creatures , conjurations , and ceremonies . the conjurers circles , his invocations , his inchantments , his characters , his rod , his charmes , cannot conjure the divell to appeare will he , nill he ; but out of former compact , he comes when these signes are exhibited . yet the subtill fiend feignes himselfe to be compelled . but it is to delude and deceiue man , to gaine him to him , to be of his condition , saith scaliger , and so the more freely and frequently to converse with him and use his helpe . therefore saith henricus de hassiā most excellently ; ipse simulat se captū●t te capiat , se vin●●ū ut se vinciat , se tuo imperio subditum , ut te sibi subdat , à te inclusum ut te finaliter includat , singet se tua arte vel imagini vel lapidi alūgatum , ut funibus religatum te ad infernum ducat . the divell feignes himselfe to be taken , that he may take thee ; to be bound , that he may binde thee ; to be under thy command , that he may bring thee under his ; to bee kept in and restrained , that he may restraine thee for euer : hee feignes himselfe to be bound by thy art , either to this or that character or stone , that he may leade thee in his ropes bound to hell fire . and of this opinion is wierus ( a man well skilled in such businesse ) and tostatus and others . now then collect the summe of this answer , and you shall finde the falsehood of the minor proposition : that the use of this oyntment is unlawfull , there being first superstition , and then a compact with the divell ( a tacite compact ) in the use of it . the divell goeth about like a rearing lion seeking whom he may devour , 1 pet. 5. 8. the divell rageth to destroy us , he runnes not to helpeus . therefore this medicine curing and helping men wounded , is not from the divell , and so is lawfull . i deny the argument . for the divell , for ever to endanger two soules , the mediciners and the medicined , may be ready by naturall meanes secretly applyed to cure the wounds of one body for a time . this is not to doe any good to man , but to bring him to ruine and destruction . the divell is a lyer from the beginning , the father of lyes , yet sometimes he tels truth , to insinuate himselfe to be trusted and beleeved , when he deales falsely . christ therefore , and saint paul , though the divels told the truth in the possessed , marke 5. 7. and acts 16. 17. yet they silenced them and cast them out : so , though the divell would cure our wounds or diseases , we must not accept it , because he intends not our good , but our utter ruine and destruction by it . like a boat-man hee rowes one way , and lookes another , quite contrary . those are naturall and lawfull cures which are wrought by sympathies . but this cure is wrought so , & is called by crollius unguentum sympatheticum , the sympathizing unguent . for this unguent consisting of mans-mosse , blood and fat , hath in it a naturall balsame . this naturall balsame by the influence of the starres , causeth a sympathy betwixt the weapon and the wound : and so the application of the medicine to the one , effects the cure upon the other . therefore this cure is naturall and lawfull . i will not contradict the major proposition . but the minor is in part improbable , in part false . it is improbable that this stinking weapon-medicine should have a naturall balsame in it , more than others . that odoriferous ●pobalsamum , gotten in iudea and aegypt , the iewes chiefest treasure , ( as iustine tels us ) reputed the best in the whole world , curing wounds in three dayes , cannot worke such wonders as this . and 't is false that that balsame ( if there be any ) causeth any sympathy betwixt the wound and the weapon . for the weapon is an hard insensible substance voyd of all affection and pathy . it is not altered by the dressing of it . it comes not to suppuration as wounds doe . and where there is no affection and pathy , there can be no co-affection and sympathy . besides , all things sympathizing affect the sympathized within a certaine distance ( as hath beene before related . ) this doth not so . what sympathy then is there betwixt the wound and the weapon ? and that the influence of the starres should cause this sympathy , is yet more strange . as if the smearing of a weapon here below , can call the starres above , at any time when we will , to give an influence which they gave not before , nor had not given at all , had not the weapon been smeared at all . o inchanting salve ! — vel possit coelo deducere lunam ! thus witches by annointing themselves with their venificall ointments are carried up in the airy heaven . thus our weapon-salve-mongers by annointing their tooles , bring an influence downe from the starry heavens . these like the woman-priest of massyls in the poet can command the starres . of whom virgil , haec se carminibus promittit solvere mentes , quas velit , ast alijs duras immittere curas : sistere aquam ●luvijs , & vertere sydera retrò . those which are sad , with charmes shee 'l undertake to cheere up , and buxsome and glee to make ; and others which to mirth themselves compose , to strike in dumpes , and all their mirth to lose : shee 'l make the rivers cease to runne their race ; and starres in heaven goe backward from their place . that the annointing a peece of iron here below , should draw down an influence from the celestiall bodies above , to conjoyne in sympathy two bodies farre disjoyned in place , is to me an argument sufficient to prove ( that if any such thing be ) it is witchcraft : and so i shall account it . magneticall cures caused by emission of radij and spirits , carrying a curing vertue from one body to another , are lawfull . but of this sort is this cure . for as the loadstone being sensible of an understanding phantasie , and endued with life , sends forth his radij and spirits even to the articke pole , though farre distant . so this salve when the weapon is annointed with it , causeth the blood residing on it , by magneticall operation , to send forth his spirits by the vicine ayre , to the wounded body ; and this spirit carries the sanative vertue from the weapon to the body , and so the weapon and the wound are ( though not immediately yet ) mediately joyned together by the spirit of the blood which hath life & motion in it , as paracelsians teach . for whersoever the carkeise is , that is , the body , there will the eagles be gathered together , that is , the spirits , matth. 24. 28. for the spirit of the blood doth sympathize with the body and hath life and motion in it . and this appeares by the comming forth of fresh blood out of the carkeise and dryed limbes of a man murthered , when the murtherer is present . and by the testimony of holy scripture , levit . 3. 17. and 17. 14. dent. 12. 23. all which places tend to this purpose , that in the blood of creatures is life . this likewise is manifest by the sundry motions of blood in the body of man. in anger the blood of man will boyle . in sorrow the blood is cold . in feare there is a palenesse in the face by a flight and recesse of the blood . in shame there is a blushing or flushing of blood in the face . all these are proofes of the life and motion of the blood . nay , the blood of man hath a voyce , though we heare it not . for cardanus saith , that motus aer semper sonum excitat quamvis non audiatur . but god who sees and heares all things , heares the voyce of it and understands it . therefore god said to cain , what hast thou done ? the voyce of thy brothers blood cryeth unto me from the ground , gen. 4. 10. these are magnalia naturae , the wonders of nature . these are occultae qualitates , secret qualities . every peripateticke , every pccorius asinus , rurall rhombus , and pedainticall parish-priest understands not these magneticall cures by emission of the spirit of the blood . onely paracelsians ( whose studies are to bring to light the abstruse and hidden secrets of nature ) know and understand them , and to good purpose , for the health of man , practise them . the levite and the priest passe by the wounded man to iericho . but the lay ▪ samaritan versed in the mysteries of nature , takes him up , releeves and cures him , luke 10. 33. must it therefore be called in question , whether his applications be witchcraft , because each obtuse understanding apprehends not the reason of them ? god forbid . to attribute any thing to the divell , whereof god and nature is the author , is to rob god and man of the honour due to each of them , and to give it to sathan , which is slat idolatry , and a great discouragement to learned men , to put in practise their rare and vulgarly unknowne experiments . thus galen himselfe complained , that when hee sometimes brought wonderfull things to passe , by his accurate knowledge in naturall philosophy , he was accounted no better than a necromancer familiar with the divell . thus that learned christian romane consul boë●ius complaines that hee was falsely accused of sorcery , because he was excellently skilled in the noble science of naturall philosophy . all which i urge to this purpose , that because each person apprehends not the reason of this cure , it is not by and by to bee accounted witchcraft and sorcerie . here is argument enough to furnish the magniloquent speech of a thundering mountabanke , which though you have drawne it out of the writings of the prime unguentaries , as crollius , goclinius , helmontius and others : yet you dispute fallaciously , and doe ( as we speake in schooles ) petere principia , take that for granted , which we utterly deny and relinquish . for i deny in your argument no lesse than five things . as 1. that the loadstone doth worke upon the articke pole . 2. that the loadstone hath sense , vnderstanding , phantasie , life . 3. that this cure is done by magneticall operation . 4. that blood separated from the body of man hath life , spirit , naturall motion , o● voyce . 5. that your expositions of severall places of scripture are genuine and consonant to truth . first , i deny that the loadstone doth worke up on the north-pole . the pole rather workes upon the stone . so testifieth franciscus ru●us an expert lapidary . thus philosophie . that celestiall bodies worke on terrestriall is , ver a philosophia , true philosophy . but that terrestriall worke on celestiall , is plana morosophia , plaine foolosophie . secondly , i deny that the loadstone hath sense , phantasie , understanding , and life . i have read of plantanimalia living plants , seeming to have sense , phantasie , and understanding . as of the tree growing in the province of pudiseram ; to which when a man comes , ramos constringit , it shrinkes up the boughes , but when he departs , ramos pandit , it opens them againe . and of the plant called the tartarean lambe , resembling a lambe in shape and proportion , and grasing and eating up the grasse round about it . but of saxanimalia stone-living creatures , never did i heare , unlesse by some new paracelsians , as goclinius and helmontius , and old heretickes whereof s. hierom speaketh , who maintained omnia esse animantia , that all things were living creatures , to whom for their superstitious vanities , the lord ( as the apostle speaketh ) hath sent strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye , 2 thess 2. 11. for all things living do live , either with a vegetative life , as trees and plants ; or a sensitive life , as bruits and beasts ; or with a rationall life , as men and angels . the loadstone living none of these wayes , hath no life in it . having no life , it hath no sense , fantasie , and understanding ; and i thinke their understanding little better which maintaine the contrary . when marsilius ficinus can perswade mee that the starres have the senses of see●ng and hearing , and do heare mens prayers ; then paracelsians shal perswade me that the loadstone hath life sense and fantasie . thirdly , i denie that this cure is done by magneticall operation . my reasons are given in my solution to the third objection and else where . to their places i referre you . fourthly , i deny that the separated blood of man hath any life , spirit , naturall motion , or voyce . the blood contained in mans body is not truly and properly his life . mans life is his soule . absit ut anima hominis sanguis putanda sit , saith s. augustine . farre be it from us that we should thinke the blood of man his soule . valde cavendus est hic error & omnibus modis refutandus , we must by all meanes take heede of , and refute this error , saith the same father . though the blood of beasts ( which have mortall soules ) be their life and soule , as tully and others thought ; yet the blood of man whose soule is immortall is not so . when we say the blood is the life , it is a figurative speech . metenomia subjecti . the thing containing is put for the thing contained . for the blood is animae vitalis vehiculum , the continent or channell of the naturall spirits in the liver , of the animall in the braine , and of the vitall in the heart . it carries some spirits in the flesh , more in the veines , most and the purest in the arteries . the heat , motion and actions in the body of man , are begotten and conserved of blood , as valesius observes out of galen . therefore mans life , and the life of other creatures is said to bee in the blood . and the poet describing one bleeding to death , saith , purpuream vomit ille animam — he sends forth his purple soule — — that is , his blood of a purple colour . what oyle is to the lampe , such is the blood to the body . it is the juyce of the whole body . other juyces are proper to their parts . chylus is the juyce of the ventricle , milke of the breasts , marrow of the bones , seed of the genitals , but blood of the whole body . now then , if there be not life in the blood of man , when it is diffused through his whole body , certainly there 's none in it parted and let out of the body . if there be no life in the fountaine and whole blood of man , there 's none in the drops shed from the fountaine , and out of man. neither is there any spirit in the blood departed , which hath recourse to the body againe . for then one man should haue infinite soules . so many drops of blood , so many soules or spirits . for where the spirits , the operations or instruments of the soul are , there the soule must needs be . for they are relata . ( instrumenta sunt instrumentati instrumenta . ) and the rule is that ; relatorum vno posito , ponitur & alterum , nec est relatio nisi inter ea quae sunt actu , saith zabarel . or else the same soule shold be divided into infinit parts ; all which are contrary to the affections of the soule , which are three . simplicitie : it consists not of parts . indivisibility : it cannot be divided into parts . immobility : it gives motion to others , but it is immoveable it selfe . i have heard and read of spirits and quintessenses , artificially extracted from insensible bodies , by the art of chimistry , but i never heard nor read of spirits or phantasies naturally residing in insensible parts separated from their bodies . that any such phantasies or spirits are , is a phantasticall conceit hatched by the spirits of bombastus paracelsus , which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , evill spirits . and these spirits are they which in this cure ( if any cure be ) carry the sanative vertue from the weapon to the wound . neither hath the blood of man , once fixed and dried on a weapon , any motion . nay , when it is but once setled in the cadaver or carkeise , it hath ordinarily and naturally no motion at all , unlesse to corruption , which ( as aristotle speaketh ) is rather a mutation than a motion . and for the fresh bleeding of a murdred man , at the approach of the murtherer , it is no naturall and ordinary motion proceeding of any life of the blood , but a supernaturall motion proceeding from the just judgement of god , who gives the blood a wonderfull and supernaturall motion to come forth and meet the murtherer , and accuse him to his face . i am not ignorant that there are some which would assigne naturall causes of this fresh bleeding ( which who desires to know , let them reade bocerus , casman , and lemnius . ) but for my part nothing more resolves me , that it is supernaturall , appointed by god , than the bodies of such as are executed by course of law. the hangman or headsman may come neere and touch the dead cold bodies of the executed , and they bleed not a fresh , because he is no murtherer , but is the hand of the magistrate , whose ordinance is from god , and beareth not the sword in vaine , rom. 13. 4. now dead bodies bereaved of life by externall violence , whether it be by a malicious murtherer , or a legall executioner , would have all one effect , ( for each bodies are of like senselesse qualities ) but that god the supreme judge hath ordained and commanded the one , and in his law expresly forbidden the other . the publike magistrate may in justice kill , and no blood will cry , because with such actions god is well pleased . a private person cannot in malice kill , but innocent blood wil come forth , cry and accuse the murtherer ; because with such actions god is most displeased . not that the blood of the murthered hath any voyce , as is alleadged by cardanus his inaudible voyce ( which is sufficiently refuted by scaliger ) and out of scripture of abels voyce , gen. 4. 10. for that is a prosopopeia , saith mercerus . a figure whereby a voyce or speech is attributed , to that which hath none . thus in scripture there are foure sinnes , which have voyces attributed to them , and are called crying sinnes ; such sinnes as cry to heaven for vengeance . the ancients have expressed them in two hexameters . clamitat ad coelum vox sanguinis , & sodomorum : vox oppressorum , merces detenta laborum . foure sinnes there are which unto heaven cry , the voyce of blood , and of sodomitry : oppression of the poore , and labourers hier , kept backe unjustly when they it requier . the sinne of sodome cryes , gen. 18. 20. blood cryes , gen. 4. 10. oppression cryes , esay 5. 7. and detaining the hirelings wages cryeth , deut. 14. 15. now the money the hireling hath right unto , hath truely no voyce , but onely by prosopopeia : and so the blood of the murthered . therefore the scriptures are not urged to purpose . and for the boyling of the blood in anger , palenesse and flight of the blood in feare , rednesse of the face and blushing in shame , &c. these come not by reason of life and motion in the blood : but because the blood is moved according to the affections of the soule : and the soule is in the blood ( as valesius speaketh ) non per informationem aut praesentiam , sed per potentiam & operationem . lastly , the interpretations of scripture are false . that of christ , wheresoever the carkeise is , there will the eagles be gathered together , mat. 24. 28. is interpreted of the paracelsiā cure by the spirit of blood , carrying the sanative vertue from the blood fixed on the weapon to the wounded body . where the carkeise is , that is , the body , there will the eagles , that is , the spirits of the blood , be gathered together . o unheard of exposition ! who but helmontius an impudent paracelsian doctor of physicke ever interpreted this place thus ? this place is fruitfull for exposition . i finde no lesse then foure severall expositions of it . 1. some by the c●rkeise understand the church , by the eagles , the doctors of the church ; by their gathering together , their unity and consent in the faith of christ crucified . thus origen . 2. some here by the carkeise understand the passion of christ , by the eagles , the saints , and by their gathering together , the efficacie of his merits , sufficient for all . thus hierom. 3. others understand this place to be an adumbration of the day of judgement . by the carkeise they understand christ the iudge . by the eagles , the soules comming to judgement . by the gathering together , the generall judgement . so s. chrysostome , s. hilarie amongst the ancients . and stella , ferus , maldonat , and aretius , amongst the neoterickes . 4. lastly , others interpret this place of the saints ascending up into heaven , whither christ hath carried his humane body which suffered death for us . that where christ now is , there all his saints shall ascend and be hereafter . so s. augustine , and gregorie . these expositions i have met with ; but such an exposition as these bombasticall mountebanckes bring to patronize their stincking weapon-salve , never did i meete with . now for the other places of scripture out of l●viticus and deuteronomie , i have already shewed the absurdity of their glosse , corrupting the purity of the text. and for their making themselves the onely samaritans , out of luke 10. 33. if they will needs be so , they shall bee so . but it shall be truely sayd of them in that sense which was falsely and blasphemously sayd of christ . say we not well thou art a samaritane , and hast a divell ? ioh. 4. 48. and whereas they say this cure is done by occult qualities of the ingredients , there 's no such matter , as shall anone bee made apparant . what hard hap galen , boetius , or any other person had to be accounted sorcerers , because they were skilfull in the occult and secret qualities of things i know not , but this i know , that the divell often useth this appellation , as a cloake to cover his villany . thus cornelius agrippa sent forth his bookes of occult philosophy , stuffed with conjurations of the divell . thus ioannes trithemius hides his unlawfull magicall operations , under his art of stenography . of which bellarmine saith , opus hoc merito prohibitum est , &c. this worke is deservedly prohibited , because it is full of pernicious assertions tending to magicke . thus our country-man fryar roger bacon , used to boast , that he could by naturall magicke ( that is , the application of actives to their passives in a due time and proportion ) cause thunder , raine , stormes , and produce beasts of diverse sortes , &c. ( as agrippa testifieth ) when indeed it was meere diabolicall magicke and conjuration . and of this kinde is the author of the booke to alphonsus , published vnder the name of piccatrix , which intermedleth much superstition , conjurations , and diabolicall operations , with naturall philosophy . and thus i suppose all the vnguentaries reasons are fully answered . articulus secundus . wherein the authors brought for this cure , are cited and refuted . the first author is paracelsus archidoxis magiae , lib. 1. pag. 121. he was a man of great understanding , and brought to light many things hidden before , wherby many men have been cured since . hee commends this salve , and saith it is , dei donum , the gift of god. secondly , oswaldus crollius , a man rarely seene in the art of chimistry , gives us the receit of this vnguent , commends the use of it to us : defends it not to be witchcraft , and cals them imperiti fatui , unskilfull fooles which suppose so . thirdly , ioannes baptista porta , a noted philosopher , sets downe for posterity the receit of this oyntment , as it was given him by a courtier , and that courtier had it from maximilian the emperour , and he from paracelsus . fourthly , cardanus a renowned philosopher and physitian , doth allow this vnguent . fiftly , ioannes ernestus burgravius , highly extols this salve , calling it illustre unguentum , a famous unguent performing the cure by an hidden mystery , which as yet no man hath sufficiently manifested sixtly , rodolphus goclinius , a protestant by religion , and for his learning publique professor of physicke at marpurg , hath written two bookes , to defend the lawfulnesse of this cure . one hee cals magneticae curae tractatus ; the other , his synarthrosis . seventhly , ioannes baptista ab helmont , a doctor of physicke of bruxels , hath like wise written a defence of this magneticall cure . eightly , doctor flud , a doctor of physicke yet living and practizing in the famous city of london , stands tooth and nayle for it , and in his large workes , being three folio volumnes , amongst other secrets , maketh mention of this cure , and allowes it , and proves it to be naturall and lawfull . lastly , the learned sir francis bacon , lord verulam , and sometimes lord chancellor of england , recites and allowes this cure in his naturall historie . the answer to these authors . to all which we answer , there 's no cause so bad but hath found some patrons . here are a goodly company of authors , but they are taken up by tale , not by waight . some of these are not for this vnguent at all . others are not home for it . and others are parva aut nullius fidci , of small or no credit at all . first , paracelsus is of no credit . for he was ( as hath beene proved out of gesner ) a witch and conjurer ; and so the god whose gift hee meaneth it is , is deus hujus mundi , the god of this world , ( as saint paul cals the divell , 2 cor. 4. 4. for he maintained ( as doctor ioannes roberti tels us . ) that so a sicke man may receive cure , it is no matter how , or from whom , though it be from an uncleane spirit . secondly , oswaldus crollius , is a bird of the same feather . his workes are as full fraught with superstition , detestable characters and diabolicall trumpery , as paracelsus . therefore hee is of little credit . thirdly , ioannes baptista porta , was indeed a great philosopher , yet a man suspected to be given to diabolicall magicke . and raphael de la torre , saith , his bookes are prohibited in spaine . therefore he is of suspected credit . neither doth he so much commend this salve . he sets downe indeed a receit of it , and saith it was given to the emperour by paracelsus , who much esteemed it , and used it to his death , and the emperour gave it a courtier . and the courtier gave it to him . now the divell might deceive paracelsus : paracelsus the emperour , the emperour the courtier , and the courtier baptista porta , who had not entred into sufficient consideration of it . for he utters not a word of the seven superstitious observations , the five notes , and the two experiments given by crollius , but onely prescribes , that the weapon be sticking in the salve ; and so the cure will be effected . fourthly , cardanus , neither speaketh with or against it . he onely saith , that he heard a report of such an vnguent , and that it was said to be composed of such ingredients : as he there recites . fiftly , ernestus burgravius , is an author as full of superstition and charactericall impieties , as any of them . he teacheth by the helpe of a strong phantasie , and by the thundring forth of certaine verses , to make an inchanted impenitrable sword : such a sword as the dint of no other shall hurt ; such a sword as no man shall be overcome in conflict which useth it . also he teacheth to make a lampe of oyle , made of the blood or excrements of a man. this lampe once fiered shall burne continually without renuing . this lampe cannot be extinguished by any thing during the whole life of the man of whose blood or ordure the said oyle is made . this lampe will of it selfe goe out at that very instant and punct of time the man dyeth . all the while the lampe burnes , it may be knowne by the bright or dimme burning , whether the man be wel or sicke , merry or sad . all which i cannot but beleeve to be done by the helpe of the divell . hee secretly renues it , the man living , and blowes it out the man dying , and makes it burne cleare or dimne as he knowes him to be affected . for saint augustine maketh mention of such a lampe , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an unextiguishable lampe among the heathens , in the temple of venus . this lampe , saith he , no tempest or water could extinguish , because some divell , under the name of venus , did maintaine it . this author then is of no credit . neither doth he determine the question . he onely saith this cure is performed by an hidden mystery , which no man hath as yet sufficiently manifested . sixtly , rodolphus goclinius is so full of charactericall superstitions and magicall cures , that i am ashamed that any such cures should come from one reputed to be a protestant . seventhly , ioannes baptista ab helmont , is of the same straine . eightly , doctor flud hath had the same censure passe on him , and hath beene written against for a magician , and i suppose this to bee one cause why he hath printed his bookes beyond the seas . our vniversities , and our reverend bishops ( god bee thanked ) are more cautelous than to allow the printing of magical books here . but because i will not so slightly slurre by master doctor , i will answer him in a digression to that purpose . lastly , the learned sir francis bacon is not at all for this cure . he professeth himselfe not resolved whether it be effected or no. and for the lawfulnes of it , hee inclines rather to a starting suspition than a setled approbation . now then , some of these authors being not for this vnguent at all , as cardanus . some not home for it , as ioannes baptista porta , and sir francis bacon . others of little credit for it , as burgravius , goclinius , helmontius , and doctor flud . others of no credit for it , as paracelsus and crollius : and i , having brought sixe credible authors , not once suspected for magicians , and the censure of two vniversities , directly against it ; these will turne the ballance , and exauthorize their authority . a digression wherein doctor flud , his reasons are examined and answered . doctor flud hath written some folio pages , for defence of the weapon-salve ! well he may . he writes himselfe armiger & medicinae doctor , is called by franciscus lanovius medico-miles , a souldier physitian ; and being a weapon-bearing doctor , may well teach the weapon-curing medicine : especially setting the armiger before the doctor , the gunne before the gowne , and the pike before the penne. i have read some dispute , whether a knight or doctor should take place : never of an ordinary esquire . herauld i am none . but i suppose that the worthy gentlemen which professe it , will betwixt these two , decide the controversie with that of tully , cedant armatogae , concedat laurea lingua . but the quarrell is not betwixt the doctor and me for his weapon , but for his weapon-salve : whether that be witchcraft or no ? surely his very defence of it is enough to make it suspected , himselfe being accused for a magician , by marinus mersennus , with a wonder that king iames ( of blessed memory ) would suffer such a man to live and write in his kingdome . but if to be accused were to be guilty , who could be innocent ? master doctor hath excused himselfe in his booke , entituled , sophiae cum moria certamen ( cujus contrarium verum , saith lanovius . ) his friend ioachimus frizius ( or rather his owne selfe , saith lanovius ) in a booke annexed to his , called summum bonum , excuseth fryer roger bacon , trithemius , cornelius agrippa , marsilius ficinus , and fratres rosea crucis , from being caco-magicians . i wonder at nothing more than that belzebub was not in the number ! whether the doctor excuse himselfe any better , than these arch-magicians can be excused , i leave to the learned judicious and religious reader ? yet thus much for him in the question . hee prescribes no superstitious , either collections of the ingredients , composition of the vnguent , or observation at the annointing of the weapon . his directions are , that the weapon be left in the vnguent pot , till the patient be cured : and that the wound bee kept cleane with a linnen cloath , wet every morning in his urine . whether this be a fallacy or no , i commend to the judgement of those which are expert in the renowned art of chirurgery . for let the doctor be sure to keepe a wound cleane , and i suppose , they will tell him that it will cicatrice without his weapon-salve . neither doth hee ascribe an unlimited sphere of activity ( though a large one ) thirty or sixty miles ( which is false too ) unto it . and he saith , that an horse pricked with a nayle , may bee likewise cured , if the nayle bee left sticking in the unguent pot . i desire the doctor to remember this his horse-leechry , as an argument to overthrow his naturall balsame and sympathy . but master doctors reasons to maintaine the lawfulnesse of this cure , are not yet called to speake for themselves . now they come . i have made them as short and perspicuous as i can , speaking another language , consisting of more words . scull-mosse or bones ( saith he ) mummy and the fat of man ( the speciall ingredients ) comprehend the corporeall perfection of man , and so are apt to heale , by reason of a naturall balsame resting in them , sympathizing with the hypostaticall balsame residing in living man. these ingredients have their beginning and aliment from the blood . in the blood reside the vitall spirits : in the vitall spirits the soule after her hidden manner . this causeth the blood to have recourse by sympatheticall harmony , to the masse of blood remaining in the body . for the spirit of the blood shed is carried by the ayre ( which is the carrier of the spirits of every thing ) to his body : this spirit going by this ayre , in a direct invisible line , carrieth the sanative virtue from the annointed weapon to the wounded party . for the weapon communicates it to the blood fixed on it , the blood to the spirits , the spirits conducted by the ayre , communicate it to the body , and so the patient is ( without application of plaister ) naturally healed . for as the radij or sun-beames are a messenger betwixt heaven and earth : so this vitall beame or invisible line is a messenger and conductor ( by a kinde of magneticall attraction ) of the healing virtue of the balsame , residing in the unguent , to the body of the wounded party : and the sympathy betwixt the blood on the annointed weapon , and the blood in the body causeth the cure . that there is such a sympathy betwixt the blood in the body , and the blood drawne from the body , is most evident by the example of witches . the divell sucketh blood from them . this blood remaining with the divell , participates of his maligne nature , and having recourse by the spirits thereof to the witches body , makes all their blood sympathize with that the divell hath ; and so the blood changeth the witches nature , and they become maligne and diabolicall , and so addicted to the service of sathan , that it is impossible to reclaime them . this is the summe of master doctors reason : against which least any should object , that the sanative vertue may be interrupted by the intervening motion of the sundry creatures , and so the vertue lost and not carryed to the wished port : he answereth , that though the ayre be by intervening bodies interrupted , nay , parted and divided , yet it will after the passage of that body be re-united . as when we divide the ayre with a sword , the blow ceasing , the ayre returnes againe to his former unity of substance . and as dyers water cast into a river , protracts it selfe into a long line , and for some time keepes his colour and line ; and if a boat crosse and divide it , the boat gone , the line comes together againe : so though some creatures doe by their interposed motion interrupt and breake off this spirituall line carrying the sanative vertue , yet it will be so but a season ; for they passed the line will be re-united , and so though somewhat for a time hindred , yet nothing of the end frustrated . to all which i answer , that master doctor doth petereprincipia . for first , i deny that scull-mosse or bones , mummy and mans fat have ( though they be medicinable ) any natural balsame or radicall humour ( for so some call naturall balsame ) residing in them , sympathizing with the hyposticall balsame remaining in living man ; unlesse a horse have a balsame sympathizing with mans . for , saith master doctor , which i advised him to remember , if the nayle which pricked an horse be put into the oyntment pot , the horse shall be cured . i say there 's no such sympathy betwixt horse and man. and if there be no cause at all to beleeve the one , there is but little to beleeve the other . secondly , i deny that mans bones have their beginning and aliment from blood . for physitians and philosophers say that they have their beginning from the grosser seminall parts , and their aliment from blood , or marrow , or both . thirdly , i deny that any spirits reside in separated blood , my reason is already given in my answer to the fourth objection . to which i farther adde , that casman is so confident in this , that in parts separated from the body , remaine no spirits , that he saith , the very divell cannot beget or conserve any spirits in them . fourthly , i deny that the soule resides after any hidden manner in the spirits . the stoickes indeed held that the spirits were vinculū anima & corporis ; & so the soule may be after a kind in the spirits , as that which is bound is within the teather . but the peripateticks & divines deny this as needlesse . for seeing the body is generated for the soule , and the soule created for the body , and both make the totum compositum , what need these any bond to fasten them together ? there is a reciprocall desire of comming together at first , and endevour after the union , so to keepe together . the spirits indeed are the instruments of the soule , by which it worketh : and when these instruments 〈◊〉 , the worke failes , and the soule , the worke-mistresse takes her leave , not because she is hid in the spirits , as the contiuent to abide in , but because she wants the spirits as her instruments , to worke by . for the is corporis organici actus seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the act and perfection of the body ; not onely for that shee gives the body act and being ( as aristotle defines it ) but also because she gives the body action during the being : as tully not improperly interprets it . now then as the workeman cannot be said properly to reside in his instruments , but rather the instruments in the workeman ( because as logicians speake , tota instrumenti vis in usu consistit : ) so the soule cannot in any kind depend on , or reside in , the spirits her instruments , but the spirits on the soule . therefore as the axe must not boast it selfe against the hewer , nor the saw magnifie it selfe against the shaker , esay 10. 15. no more must the doctor set up the spirits against the soule to be her upholder , from whom they have all their being and operation . fiftly , i deny master doctors carrier , viz , his direct invisible line , carrying the sanative vertue so many miles from the weapon to the wound . surely this is tom long the carrier , who will never doe his errand . but the sunne hath his beames a true messenger betwixt heaven and earth : and so this salve betwixt weapon and wound . o incomparable comparison ! tully saith , the sunne is called sol quasisolus , as having no peere , no creature working like it . but the doctor , like another archimedes , can by his art make one working by sending forth beames like it . sola sophocleo tua carmina digna coth●rno ! the sunne beames , the messenger betweene heaven and earth , proceed of the light of the sunne , in whom is such innate light , that he is the fountaine of light . but what light hath this salve to send forth radiant messengers ? the sunne , and the rest of the celestiall bodies , is ordained by god and nature , to worke upon the terrestriall by light or beames , motion and influence . art immitates nature . but what art hath in this kinde ouertaken nature ? the sunne is a gyant , saith david , psal . 19. 5. many degrees , even 166 , bigger than the earth , as the astronomers collect , and so may by proportion worke on it . the sun is the eye and visiter of the whole world , there 's nothing hid from it , saith the psalmist , psal . 19. 6. and so by his presence is within the sphere of his activity . the sunne is above , and so sends downe in a direct line , his beames without hinderance . but this vnguent hath no proportion : 't is little in respect of the patient ; it hath no presence or contact with him ; it must worke in a laterall oblique line , and so is subject by interposed bodies to bee hindred . a little fire cannot burne or heat a great body , at a great distance , in an ascendent direct line ; much lesse an oblique , many other bodies being interposed . no more can a little salve worke naturally on a patient at a great distance , when many other bodies are interposed . the line and the ayre carrying it so long a journey , will be hindred and stopped ; if not altered and changed . the line and his carrier the ayre may be stopped and hindred , not onely by moving intervening bodies , which may give place againe to the line and ayre when they have cut and crossed it , as the doctor instanceth in the cutting of the ayre with a sword , and the re-union after the blow is ceased , and the re-union of the line of dyers water cut with a boat ; but also it may meet with stationary immoveable bodies , as wals , woods , houses , castles , townes , cities , fiers , seas and waters , which will not give place to the doctors line , though it were as strong as an halter . how then shall this line be carried thus intercopted ? it must either penetrate the bodies , or shun them before it comes at them , or when it comes at them , glyde in a laterall course by them , or per saltum , ascend in a transcendent course over till it comes beyond them , and then betake it selfe to its old course againe . penetrate them it cannot : nature abhorres vacuity and penetration . avoyd them before it comes at them , it cannot neither . to avoyde hurtfull things , is an act either of reason , sense , or naturall instinction . this carrier the ayre hath neither of these to goe his journey . not reason , it is not rationall . not sense , it is no sensible creature . it hath not naturall instinction to shunne any place . ayre filleth every place ( without exception ) not filled with some other body , saith aristotle . glyde by or leape over these bodies it cannot . and mr. dr. saith , this line is a direct invisible line . it must then goe point blancke , ( as we use to say . ) if it glance a skew , or leape over , and make an angle , then the rectitude of this line is broken , and mr. doctors reason is broken also . besides , the carrier failing , the line , the portadge must needs fayle also . and the ayre the carrier may fayle , by being changed and altered into an other body . for ayre and water are symbolicall elements , such as are easily transmuted into the substance of each other . the ayre when it comes into moyst and vapourous places , ( robertus de fluctibus ) or when it meets with glabritious and terse bodies , as polished iron ( like mr. doctors weapon ) stone , glasse , &c. ( as experience teacheth ) is turned into water . or the ayre in a long journey may be turned into one of the other elements . for ayre may bee changed into fire , commodissimè & parvo momento , saith scaliger , fitly and in a short time , and it may become earth also , though not so easily by vicissitude and often changing , seeing there is ( as keckerman speaketh ) elementorum transmutatio circularis , a circular transmutation of the elements . now then unlesse the doctor can secure his carrier , that part of the ayre which carrieth his invisible line , from transmutation ( the ayre onely being his carrier ) his carrier will faile , and bee sit to goe of none but a dead mans errand ; & so mr. doctors line will faile , the cure fayle , and the reason fayle . neither if the line should not fayle , but the carrier truly doe his message , and carry it from the weapon to the wound , can the cure bee done by sympathy , betwixt the blood residing on the weapon , and that in the body . the one is warme , living by the vitall spirits , the other cold and dead by the losse of them . the one is blood in his persection , the other in corruption , the one properly , the other equivocally . and what actuall sympathy or correspondency is there betwixt heat and cold , perfection and corruption ? blood in their living fountaines may sympathize . the plague and other sicknesse is apt to runne in a kindred or blood , because of the similitude . were i perswaded of the artificiall incorporation of the warm blood of one man with anothers , i might in time be brought to beleeve a sympathy ( and also the doctors nancius inanimatus ) because of the life in it , either by some sparke of spirits by the warmth detained , or by union acquired : but that cold , dead , dry , corrupted blood , out of the body should smpathize with moyst , warme , living , perfect blood in the body , seemes to mee such a paradoxe , that i thinke i shall not beleeve in whilst i have blood in mine owne body . but the doctor proves it by the example of blood sucked by the divell from witches ; which remaining with the divell , & sympathizing with the blood in witches bodies , changeth their nature , and makes them become maligne and diabolicall ▪ o profound example ! non valet exemplum quod litem lite resolvit . here master doctor closely conveyes a ground for his argument , which neither true philosophy nor orthodoxe divinity will give us leave to assent to . the witches blood remaining with the blood-sucker the divell , sympathizes with the blood in the witches body ? how can this be ? how can blood , a substance corporeall , remain with the divell a spirit and incorporeall ? i smell a rat. i know the doctors intent . he would leade us into the errour of plato as iamblicus , followed by apuleius and theupolus , who hold that the divels have tenuia corpora , tenuious and slender bodies ; for the doctor who impiously attributes composition to god , dares falsely ( though it be a sinne to be ▪ lye the divell ) attribute corporeity to divels . the contrary of which , that they have no manner of bodies , is the tenent of the church . and the truth of it may be manifested foure wayes . viz. the authority of 1 scriptures . 2 councels . 3 fathers . 4 schoolemen . first , scripture teaches that the divels have no manner of bodies . we wrestle ( saith saint paul ) not against flesh and blood , but against spirituall wickednesse ( or wicked spirits in high places , ephes . 6. 12. and indeed living bodies may be touched and handled ; therefore christ said to his disciples when they were terrified and affrighted , and supposed that they had seene a spirit , luke 24. 27. handle mee , and see , for a spirit hath not flesh and bones , as yee see me have , vers . 39. but divels cannot be handled , therefore divels have no bodies . besides , our saviour cast out a legion of divels out of the possessed , luke 8. 30. a legion is sixe thousand , saith casman and others . now sixe thousand divels could not really and substantially possesse one man ( as a pilot doth the ship , being the externall mover of it ) if divels were corporeall . secondly , the second lateran councell ( held at lateran in rome , anno 1●●5 . in the time of innocent the third , where were present 1284. prelates , besides ambassadors from the east and westerne emperours , and from the kings of hierusalem , england , spaine , france and cyprus ) rankes it amongst the articles of faith , that we are to beleeve : that god created some creatures corporeall onely ( as stones , mettals , &c. ) some spirituall onely ( as angels good and bad ) and some of a common and middle nature , participating of both , as men . thirdly , the fathers teach the incorporeity of angels , both celestiall and infernall . as saint basil , gregory nazianzen , chrysostome , gregorius magnus , cyrill , theodoret , venerable beda , isiodor , damascen , &c. in very deed , origen , tertullian and saint augustine seeme to incline to the contrary , as that the angels are corporeall substances . but origen was a platenist and followed his philosophy too much , wherby he brought himselfe into many errours in divinitie , amongst which this is one , wherein we leave him . and for saint augustine that incomparable father , there are three opinions concerning the verity of what he held in this point . some say he did somewhat incline to this opinion : so hurtadus de mendoza . others say that it cannot be denyed , but that he was absolutely of this opinion : so lodovicus vives . lastly , others say , that he delivered not this opinion as his owne dogmaticall tenent , asserendo , maintaining it , but recitando opinionem aliorum , as the opinion of others reciting it . so thomas aquinas and durandus de sancto portiano . but casman , estius , and other schoolmen excuse both saint augustine , tertullian and other fathers ; that they delivered not this opinion positively , but comparatively in respect of god : who is so incorporeall , that he is all act without power of future being , what he now is not : infinite ; repletively filling all places , without being circumscribed any where as man , or defined as an angell : pure , and simple without composition of quantitative , essentiall , or integrall parts : without composition of matter and forme , without composition of subject and accident , without composition of power and act , without composition of kinde and difference , and without composition of being and essence . man is not simple , but compounded ail these wayes . god is most simple and absolute , compounded none of these wayes , angels are not simple but compounded some of these wayes . therefore when the fathers said that angels are corporeall they meant it , secundum quid , non simpliciter , comparatively , and in respect of god , who is actus simplex , voyd of all composition , not absolutely in respect of themselves . fourthly , and lastly , the schoolmen run in this streame , as aquinas , durandus , and all the rest . for so saith estius , a late and most learned schoolman . it is the common and constant doctrine of all schoolemen , that angels are altogether incorporcall and purely spirituall . now then the divels being not corporeall , how can they so retaine and incorporate the blood sucked from witches , as to alter and change the nature of it into their nature , and that altered blood by sympathy to change the masse of blood remaining within the body ? for though it be a common received opinion , that the diuell useth to sucke some place of the witches body , and to that purpose either enters a true body of some creature , as the divell in paradice entred into the body of a serpent to deceiue evah , gen. 3. 1. ( and now adayes appeares to witches like dogs , cats , hares , &c. ) or assumes a body of cōdensed thickned ayre , compacting it to the shape and colour of man : and when he hath done his errand , layeth it aside againe ( as a man doth his garment ) it being resolved into the former matter , yet this body ( because it is not united to , or long kept by the divell ) cannot keepe the blood it sucked , but it is disposed some other way , spilt or lost , when the body is put off , and so there is no participation of the blood with the divels body , nor of the witches separated blood , with that in her bodie . besides , if there were any heate or spirit residing in the blood sucked from the witch , the coldnesse of the divels assumed body is such , it would streight chill and extinguish it . this alexander ab alexandro relateth to be true , by the experience of an acquaintance of his , who touched the heele of a divell that assumed the shape of a man , and found it so could that no ice could be compared to it . and cardanus ( a man conversant with spirits ) affirmeth the like of his owne experience , that he being touched with the hand of a divell , found it so cold that it was not at any hand to be endured . and other examples are recited by lavater , in his booke of walking spirits : by all which it is apparant , that there can be no sympathy betwixt blood separated and the fountaine , be it the blood of witches , or of any other person whatsoever . the divell indeed may by compact of witches which shall serve him , and so endevour to be like him ( as the fervant endevours to be like his master ) or by the permission of god , stirre and excite the humours of mans body ( be he witch or not ) inflaming his blood , kindling his choller , disturbing his phantasie , cause a malignity of nature in him . but to doe it by a sympathy of the blood remaining with him , with that which remaines in the body , is altogether a thing impossible . and so master doctors argument of sympathy , and his sympathizing salve , cannot be salved to be naturall and sympathize with reason , though he hath fetched an argument from dyers and lyers , from the divell , the father of lyers to maintaine it . articulus tertius . wherein the operations and effects of this vnguent brought by the vnguentaries , to prove the sympathy , and to approve the cure , are alleadged and confuted . those which deny a sympathy betwixt the annointed weapon and the wounded party , may easily be convinced , by the strange operations and effects of this oyntment . for if the cold ayre come to the weapon , the wounded party will incurre an ague , or if the weapon be bound hard with a coard , the party feeles it in his joynts and limbes . and the weapon being put into the fire , the wounded parties body will be blistered . what is the reason of this , but the sympathy betwixt the wound and the weapon , caused by emission of the spirit of the blood ? what greater and more demonstrative evidence can be of a sympathie ? to which i answer . this reason is no reason . therefore i will say of it as tully did of an unreasonable reason . cujus rationis non est ratio , ci rationi non est ratio fidem adhibere : where the reason hath no reason , there a man hath no reason to give credit to the reason . for there 's no sympathy betwixt the wound and the weapon , as hath already been declared . for another substitute weapon , if the very weapon which inflicted the wound cannot be had , will doe the feat as well as that , so it be drawn through the wound . where then is the sympathy betwixt the weapon and the hurt , when another weapon will doe the feat , which never caused the hurt ? nay , a sallow sticke will doe it ( say these vnguentaries ) if some blood of the wound bee but sprinkled on the sticke , and then the sticke be left sticking in the vnguent pot . nay , some have cured the wound by applying the salve to the hose , doublet , or shooe of the wounded party , nay , to a stoole which hath hurt a man , nay , to a stoole which never hurt him . where is then the sympathy betweene the wound and weapon , when it may as well be applyed to any thing , as to the weapon ? besides , this salve is not made alike by all men . reade paracelsus , cardanus , crollius , baptista porta , goclinius , d. flud : so many severall authors , so many severall receits of this vnguent . some put in mosse growne on the scull of a theefe hanged . others say it may be of any man taken away by any kind of violent death . others prescribe mosse growne upon the scull of any dead man , whether he came by his death violently or naturally . some prescribe blood warme , as it comes from mans body . others , blood indefinitely , whether warme or not . some put in oyle of line-seeds , turbinthine and roses , others none . some blood-stones beaten to powder , others none . some put in hoggesbraines , others none . some wormes washed in wine and burnt in a pot in a bakers oven , others none . some bole armenicke , others none . some muske , bdelium , storax , and other gummes , others none . some appoint the fat of a bore , and the fat of a beare , others none . some say the fat of the bore , and the fat of the beare , must be the fat of a bore and beare killed in the act of generation ; others however killed . some allot buls fat to the making of this salve , others none . some honey , others none at all . i thinke it is no matter what the salve be of . for when men goe about such unlawfull cures , the divell ( delighted therewith ) is ready to helpe them , so they put beleefe in the salve , whatsoever the salve be . for some , saith doctor ioannes roberti , have performed the cure , onely with auxungia porcina , hogges-fat . nay , the same doctor tels us , that he knew a nobleman , which , having entred into a perswasion of this cure , made his salve of such ordinary herbes as grew in his garden , and it performed it as well as all the mosse , mans-fat , warme blood and mummy in the world : and indeed cardanus reckons nine herbes said to goe to the composition of this salve . where is then the sympathy ? where 's the balsame residing in the mosse , mummy , and mans fat ? where is the magneticall operation ? where 's the spirit of the blood ? where the occult qualities ? where 's the invisible line carryed in the ayre ? surely all in the divell . hee is all in all in the businesse , and for my part to him i leave it all . articulus quartus . wherein the author or first inventor commending it , is shewed not to be worthy of commendations , nor in this to be followed . the author or first inventor of this rare vnguent , was either paracelsus or anselmus . both these were famous in their time , especially paracelsus , who is an author of such allowed authority , that he is followed almost by all physitians . some doe , as the poet speaketh , iurare in verba magistri , and following him solely , are called paracelsians . therefore it is lawfull to vse his medicines , and this amongst the rest . to which i answer , that both these were famous indeed . they were both of them infamously famous . for what both these were is already related . surely they are gone , when they went hence , to the graund master of such impostures , if they did not before they went hence , earnestly repent , of this and other their magicall and superstitious operations and diabolicall conjurations . from which evill and mischiefe , from sinne , the crafts and assaults of the divell , and from everlasting damnation : good lord deliver us . now then , this cure being done , neither by naturall meanes , nor divine institution , but by magicke and an implicite compact with the divell . it being not done by naturall balsame , causing a sympathy by the influence of the starres , nor by magneticall operation by emission of the radij and spirits of the blood , carrying in a direct invisible line the sanative vertue : nor by occult and hidden qualities ( because any salve applyed to any thing which never touched the wounded body ( where the beleefe is strong ) will effect it as well as the mosse , warme blood , and other things . seeing there are no credible authors home for it , seeing the effects symbolize , with the practise of witches , seeing the first inventor was a conjurer , familiar with the divell : considering , i say , all these things , it cannot be lawfull for an honest and religious man to use it . finis . the printer to the reader . some faults are escaped in the margin , some in the text , some of omission , others of commission . t is almost impossible that a treatise wherein so many unusuall authors are cited , should at the first be absolutely truely printed . i hope therefore the learned readers will excuse the author , and not much blame me . aquilae non capiunt muscas . these following i have noted ; and others ( if any be ) may be borne with . ne●osine cri●ine vivit . errata . in the latine epistle , reade homunculi ; in margine virg. eclog. 7. pag. 3. line 18 punctually . ibid. l. 19. ●ode pes . p. 5. in marg . helmont de unguent . armar . p. 19. l. 10. te vincat . p. 33. in marg . cardanus . p. 38. and is called . p 41. l. 14. sundry creatures . p. 45. in marg , testat . p. 48. l. 6. and ia●●licus . ibid. l. 10. by the authority . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a01091-e150 luke 22. 34. j. s. e. c. revelat. 3. 18. act. 9. 18. d. august . de tri● . lib. 3. in prooem . terent. in a●de . act. 1. scen. 1. notes for div a01091-e550 august . in prooem . lib. 3. de trinit . tom . 3. eclog. 7. luc. 22. 34. hieronym . ad demetr . epist . 8. com . 〈◊〉 . notes for div a01091-e840 sinatura negat , facit indignatio versum iuvenal . satyr . 1. d. august , de trinit . lib. 3. in procem . rom. 9. 3. iu venal satyr . psal 95. 7. ephes . 5. 11. notes for div a01091-e1220 iuvenal . satyr 10 membrum 〈◊〉 2 king. 5. iohn 5. 5. 2 king. 20. 7. luke 10. 34. gale● ▪ ●e arte curativa ad glan● . lib. 2. cap. 7. levin . lem. herb. bibl. cap. 7. francisc . val●● . de sa 〈…〉 phi●●s . cap. 8 〈…〉 pag. 〈◊〉 . idem ibide 〈…〉 see aristol . phys . l. 7. text . 10. 11. 12. aqui● . 1. q. 8. art 1. durand . 1. sent. dist . 37. 1 parace●s . archidox . mag. lib 1. p 12 〈…〉 oswald . cr●ll . chim . basil . pag. 278. 〈◊〉 . tract . de unguent . armar h 〈…〉 , de . see c●s● . comment . in ph●s . arist . lib. 7. c. 2. august . de civitat dei. lib. 21. cap. 4. tom . 5. pl●● . l. 37. c. 4. sol●● . c. 55. &c 〈◊〉 : ▪ r●●i . degemmis , 1. 2. c. 15. pag. 254. plutarch in vita hannib . psal . 19. 6. vide barth . ●ecker . phys . lib. 1. c. 9. de alterat . theor. 3. pag. 73. act. 17. 27 , 28 see doctoris i●●n . robert. anatom . sect. 43. & magnet . curae impost . pag. 13. 14. gaud. merul. memorab . lib. 1. cap. 13. hieronyus . in dan. cap. 2. ●om . 4. ap●lei●● mo●amor . lib. 2. c●jet . 2. 2. q. 5● . art . 3. mart. navar. in man. cap. 〈◊〉 1. num . 38. paul. gr●lland . de sortilegi●s , l. 2. q. 7. 〈◊〉 . b●di● . l. 2. c. 4. mat , 4. 5. 8. 〈◊〉 tostet . ● gen. c. 13. l. 354. fol. 140. col . 2. 2 cardanus 〈◊〉 venen . 1. 2. c. 0. ioan. scheo● . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 observation num medicarum rararum novarum admirabilium & monstraosarum . l. 5. pag. 801. imprest fra●●●… . 160 ●… pe● n. ho●● amanum . andr. ●ibav . apocalipseor ●…ermet●e●… pars prio . c 22. pag. ● . ● . impress . franc●● . 1615. fran. t●●●●●● the●●●… p. 278. &c. r goclin . synarth . pag. 20. barth rockerman syst phys . 〈◊〉 . c. 9. pag. 74. 75. 7● . 〈◊〉 ioan. robert . anatom . ter●m , ●ess . trevir . d 〈…〉 de lovani . ult 〈…〉 luxco . burg . 1618. g 〈…〉 . heautontimo . impresse . luxemb . 1618. magn. curationis impostura impress . luxemburg . 1621. belgicarum academiarum de helmonti ▪ doct. judicium , anne●um . doctoris ioan. rober. magnet : cu●● impoctur●● . pag. 97. 98. 99. & 100. paracel . a●chidox . mag. 〈◊〉 . 1. pag. 121. 2 cor. 4. 4. heb. 12. 1. oswald . croll . ubi supra see ●●cker . ubi supra . ovidius . epist . 〈◊〉 . hipsipelles ●aso●● . 4 oswald croll . ubi supra . them. frast . cit . rat 〈…〉 e ●a torre 〈◊〉 theol. 〈◊〉 . ●5 . att. 4. disp . 1. p. 15● . tom . 2. conrad gesner . ●n ●rumeratione alphabetica scriptorum chirurgiae l●t . 〈◊〉 . impress . t●guri , at no. 1555. 〈◊〉 tract . pag. ●5 . a l 〈…〉 ubi supra . ioan. paptist . port. mag. ●a uralis . 〈◊〉 . 8. c. 12. ioan. burgra● . in 〈…〉 oly ch●i● . pag. 123. barth . kecker . system . phys . lib. 1. pag. 75. see raphael . de la torre summae theol. q. ●5 . art . 4. disp . 1. p. 287. tom . 2. gesuer . ub● supra . vide. d. iean . robert. g●cl●● . heauton . sect. 12. pag. 125. 126. see perkins gover. of the tongue , c. 5. pag. 444. p 〈…〉 . archidox . mag. lib. 1. pag. 121. kecker ubi supra . see r●ph de la t●rre ubi supra . virgil. ae●eid . lib. 6. to● . in mat. part . 5. c. 19. q. 90. ●ol 120. col . 2. memb , secund 1 ▪ 〈◊〉 . objection . 〈…〉 t on . see oswald . cres● , ubi supra . dan. 2. 2. idem ib. see cornel. agri●pa . de van . scient . c. 46. act. 17. 22. see. august . de doct . christi . l. 2. cap. 20. tom . 3. aq 〈…〉 . 2. 2. 〈…〉 5. & 〈◊〉 . & ca●●t . in thom. lb. mart nava● in manual . confess . cap. 11. num . 25. tolet. summa cas . co●scien . l. 4. cap. 16. num . 1. see memb. 〈◊〉 ▪ a●● . 1 . see perkins his discourse of witchcraft ▪ ● . 2. p. 616. col . 1. volum . 3 see oth. cas●almanus . ange lograph . part . 2. cap. 24. pag. 653. august . de civit. dei. l. 21 cap. 6. rom . 5. 〈◊〉 scalig. subtil . exercitat ●49 . henri 〈…〉 h●ssi● in gen. citatur a d●lrio . l 2. disquisit . magic . q. 30. sect. 3. vide d. cyprian . epist 8. vi 〈…〉 . & d. 〈◊〉 ronym . in vitâ h●●ar . ●o● . 1. pag. 250. wierus de praestig . dae 〈…〉 monum lib. 4. testat . in matth. part . 5 cap. 19. q. 90. fol. 119. col . 3 ▪ cae 〈…〉 . an 〈…〉 graph . part . 2 , c. 17. 〈…〉 . 1 pet. 5. 8. 〈◊〉 obiect . 2 , solution . mark. 5. 7. act. 16. 17. 1. objection . croll . ubi supra . solution . iusten . histo● . l. 36. sect. 3. vide 〈…〉 er . phys . l. 1. c. 9. pag. 74. & 75. see memb. 1. art. 1. virgisius . virgil. aene●d . lib. 4. obiect . 4. mat. 24. 28. ●●vit 〈◊〉 ▪ 17. & ●7 . 14. dent. 12. 23. s●●l . de subt●l . ex●r . ●●5 . gen. 4. 10. luke 10. 33. boet. de consolat . philoso . 〈◊〉 ▪ 1. prosa 4. 〈…〉 tion . francis. 〈◊〉 de gemmis ▪ 〈◊〉 ▪ 2. c. 24 pag. 270 scalig. de s●btil . e●ercitat . 181. sect. 27. & 28. ioan. 〈◊〉 ▪ com. phys lib. 5. c. 16. d hieron in matth. c. b. tom . 6. p. 12. 2 thess . 2. 11. vide ioan. 〈…〉 phys . 〈◊〉 . c. 6. pag 628. see marsil . ficin ▪ in plotinum de ani na . 〈◊〉 . 4. c. 30. august . in levit . quast . 57. tom . 4. idem ●b . m. t. c. tuscu . l. 1. ista propositio est falsa , sed tatré magis vera . in brutis quam hominibus . tostat in levi. c. 17. q. 7 . ▪ sanguis anima est augustine tantundem valet atque animae signum . calvin . in . ●… praecept . pag. 523. francis . vales de sacrâ philosoph . c. 5.p.104 . virgil. aeneid . l. 9. see vales ubi supra . & ioan. combach . phys . l. 4. c. 1 . pag. 611. zabarella de facultat bus animae . c. 3. vide kecker . ●yst . log . l. 1. c. 15 p. 132. vide 〈◊〉 . combach . phys . l b. 4. c. 1. pag. 650. ●ristotl . phys . 〈…〉 5. c 1. tex . 8. vide he●ric . ●ocer . l. c. in tract . de quast . & tort ▪ reorum . pag. 93. &c. 〈◊〉 . ●asm . somatalog . cap. ult . quaest . ult . lem. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 miraculis naturae . l. 2. c. 7. rom. 13. 4. scalig. de subtil . exercitat . 345. gen. 4. 10. mercerus in gen. 4. p. 112. col . 2. & luther . in gen. c. 〈◊〉 . fol. 87. gen. 18. 30. gen. 4. 10. esay . 5. 7. dent. 14 ▪ 15. francis . vales . de sacrâ philosoph . c. 4. pag. 105. mat. 24. 28. o 〈…〉 gen . 〈◊〉 matth. c. 145 tract at . 30. tom . 2 , hieron . in matth. c. 24. tom . 〈◊〉 . chryso . hom. 77. in matth. tom . 2. hilar. in matth. canon . 25. stella in luc. c. 17. ferus mal. in locū arc. august . quaest . evang. l. 1. c. 4● . tom . 4. gregor exposit . mor. in iob. l. 31. c , 33. tom . 1. pag. 206. luke 10. 33. iohn 4. 48. infra mem . 2. art . 4. cornel. agrip. de occult phil. ioan. trithem . stenograph . bellar. de eccles script . in opus● . tom . 7. col . 194. cernel . agrip. de van . sci 〈…〉 〈◊〉 . 42. 2 〈◊〉 . arch●d . mag. l. 1. pag. 121. oswald . croll . chim 〈…〉 . basi 〈…〉 . pag. 278. ioan. 〈…〉 . port mag. nat . l. 8. 〈◊〉 . 1● cordan . de ven l. 2. c. 6. . ioan. ernest . burg. 〈…〉 p. 123 〈…〉 od . mag. 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 r. rodolph . 〈◊〉 〈…〉 hrosis . ioan baptist . ab helmont . disputatio . d. flud . anatom . sect. 1. port. 〈◊〉 part . 〈◊〉 . l. 2 de myst . anatomia sanguinis c. 9. pag. 236. 237. 238. 239. sir francis bacon his naturall histor . cent. 10. expe 〈…〉 . 998. 2 cor 4. 4 g 〈…〉 〈…〉 2. b 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 pag. 1 〈…〉 . 〈◊〉 〈…〉 a tor 〈…〉 theol. 〈…〉 . art . 〈…〉 . p. 2 〈…〉 . ioan. bap 〈…〉 . ub 〈…〉 . croll . ubi supra . car●an . ub supra . ioan. burg. lucer . pag. 105. academici doctores & professores qui lovanij & duaci sanam medicinam prositentur , hoc mendacium diabolicum censent & damnant . august . de civit . dei. l. 21. c. 6. tom . 5. doctor flud 〈◊〉 written against by marinus mersennus , petrus gassendus , and others for a caco-magician . sir francis bacon ubi supra . vide francisc . lanovij judicium de rob. flu 〈…〉 , ad marinum mersonn 〈…〉 annex . epist . exer . petr. gassend● , impr . parisi●● anno 1630. see sir tho. ridley his view of the civill and ecclesiasticall law. m. t. cicero offic . lib. primo . marinus mersennus in genes . see 〈◊〉 . flud . certa 〈◊〉 en l. 3. p. ●7 . ●8 . lanovius ubi supra . ioach. friz . summ . bon. annex . d. flud . sophia cum moria certamini . impress . 1629. see combach . phys . 1 4. cap. 5. p. 1000. num 4. vide 〈…〉 ni institut . anatom . p. 6. sect. 5. 〈◊〉 . 〈…〉 an 〈…〉 1616. 〈…〉 th casm . angelog . parte 〈◊〉 . c. 21. p. 605. a 〈…〉 ani 〈…〉 l. 2. 〈…〉 . m. t 〈…〉 . t 〈…〉 nl . l. 〈◊〉 . 〈…〉 r. system log . l. 1. c. 15. p. 13 3. e●r 〈…〉 . a● . t. ci 〈…〉 nat . deo 〈…〉 l. 2. virg. eclog. 8. psal . 19. 5. vide comment . lac . christmanni super alphraganum , citat kecker in astronomi● . psal . 19. 6. see mem. 1. art. 1. a●●st●● . de gen. l. 2. c. 3. natura nihil agit per saltū . tastat . in l. cvit . c. 17. q. 7. see aristot . de ort , & inter. c. 4. 〈◊〉 25. scalig. de subtil . exer . 16. sect. 1. kecker . system . phys . l. 2. c. 9. theor. 4. see d. flud . ubi supra . keeker . syst . ● log l. 3 〈◊〉 . 4. apuleius do deo socratis . theup . academ contemp . l. 6. c. 4. see pet. gassend exercit . epistol . in ●lu●danam philosoph . parte 3. c. 13. p. 121. ephes . 6. 12. luke 24. 37. ibid v. 39. luke 8 30. 〈…〉 h. casm . angelog parte 1. c. 3. pag. 65. minsh●i dictionar . pag. 271. num . 7666. barthol . caranza , summa concil . lateran . can. 1. p. 240. de. basil . hom. ● . quod deus non est author malorum . gre. nazian . in nat. dom. chrysost . in math. hom. 44. gregor . moral . lib. 4.c . ● . cyrill sent lib. in ioan. c 11. theodor. contra graecus . lib. 3. beda de●●●…ment pu●●●… . l. 1. isiodor de sum . po●o . c 3. damasc . orthod fide●… . 2. c 3. hurtad . de mend. pkilostom . 1 de animâ disp . ● . sect. 4. quid . sit corpus & spiritus . lod. vives in com. in august . de civi●… . dei. l. 15. ● . 23. aqum parte 1 quaest . 51. 〈◊〉 ▪ 1. durand sent. l. 2. dist . 〈◊〉 ▪ q. 1. resp . ad pr 〈…〉 . casm . angelog . parte 1. 〈◊〉 . 4. estius in sent. l. 2. sect. 3. pag 98. l●t . c. sex mod● compositionis , a philosophis valgo a●●gnati . aqum . ubi supra . durand . ubi s●pra . 〈◊〉 in sent. l. 2 dist . 8. sect. 1. gen. 3. 1. a 〈…〉 alexand. 〈◊〉 nial ▪ d 〈…〉 ▪ 〈…〉 . hieron . 〈◊〉 ●●n . de v●●●et 〈◊〉 lib. 1. cap. ●3 . 〈…〉 ater of walking spirits , the first part & 15. chap. 3 〈…〉 ero ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ 4. see me● . b. 2. art . 2. croll . g 〈…〉 ▪ & c. v 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 ●eau● . d. ioan. roberti . g●●len . heauton . sect. 19. ●ng . arm. compositio . cardanus ut 〈…〉 supra . 4 see memb. 1. art . 4. doctor fludds answer vnto m· foster or, the squeesing of parson fosters sponge, ordained by him for the wiping away of the weapon-salue vvherein the sponge-bearers immodest carriage and behauiour towards his bretheren is detected ... doctor fludds answer unto m. foster. fludd, robert, 1574-1637. 1631 approx. 367 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 116 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a01014 stc 11120 estc s102376 99838161 99838161 2524 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a01014) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 2524) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 837:8) doctor fludds answer vnto m· foster or, the squeesing of parson fosters sponge, ordained by him for the wiping away of the weapon-salue vvherein the sponge-bearers immodest carriage and behauiour towards his bretheren is detected ... doctor fludds answer unto m. foster. fludd, robert, 1574-1637. [8], 144, 68 p. printed [by j. beale and g. purslowe?] for nathanael butter, london : 1631. a reply to: foster, william. hoplocrisma spongus. "purslow app[arently]. pr[inted]. b-d; a third printer or compositor may have done a*-i*"--stc. the first leaf is blank. "the third member" starts with new pagination on a*r. variant: title page has "squesing", with other differences. reproduction of the original in the british library. cropped. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng foster, william, 1591-1643. -hoplocrisma spongus -controversial literature -early works to 1800. medicine, magic, mystic, and spagiric -early works to 1800. 2002-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-07 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-08 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2002-08 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion doctor flvdds answer vnto m. foster or , the sqvesing of parson fosters sponge , ordained by him for the wiping away of the weapon-salve . vvherein the sponge-bearers immodest carriage and behauiour towards his bretheren is detected ; the bitter flames of his slanderous reports , are by the sharpe vineger of truth corrected and quite extinguished : and lastly , the vertuous validity of his sponge , in wiping away of the weapon-salue , is crushed out and cleane abolished . bilis acutissima aceto correcta acerrimo redditur dulcior . psal. 92.7 . opera dei , vir brutus & stultus non intelligit . the assertion of parson foster and his faction or cabale , is this : the wonderfull manner of healing by the weapen-salue , is diaholicall , or effected onely by the inuention and power of the deuill ; but , the royall psalmist guided by the spirit of god , saith : psal. 71.18 . blessed be the lord god of israel , who only worketh wonders ! therefore , the prophet pointeth thus , at these and such like enemies of the truth . esa. 5.20 . woe vnto them that speake good of euill , and euill of good ; which put darknesse for light , and light for darknesse ; that put bitter for sweet , and sweet for bitter ; woe vnto them that are wise in their owne eyes , and prudent in their owne sight . london , printed for nathanael butter , 1631. the contents of this treatise . this smal treatise is diuided into 3 members , wherof the 1. taketh away and vtterly disannulleth those scandalous reports which master foster hath in his writing most falsly and irreligiously diuulged and layd vnto my charge , and withall expresseth vnto the world , how vnseemely a thing it is , for a man of his calling to accuse and censure his brother vniustly . 2. is diuided into 3 partes or chapters : of the which the one , doth answer particularly vnto euery obiection , that master foster doth make in a generality for the abolishing of the weapon-salues vsage : other , doth maintaine theologically the cure of the weapon-salue , to be good and lawfull , and proueth it by the authority of holy writ , to be the gift of god ; and not of the diuell . lastly , demonstrateth the mystery of the weapon-salues cure , by a theophilosophicall discourse , and sheweth how it is grafted or planted by god in the treasury of nature . last , doth answer vnto each particular obiection , which our spongy aduersary maketh against acertaine treatise , expressed by mee in my mysticall anatomy , for the prouing and maintaining of the cure by the weapon-salue to be naturall ; and no way cacomagicall . courteous reader , in the absence of the author these faults are committed , wherefore i desire you to haue recourse to this following errata , by which you may correct them . in the 2. first members : page 25. line 11. for had beene read be p. 41. l. 20. r. crollius l. 21. r. gocleni ' p. 53. l. 18. f. art r. act p. 55. l. 13. r. demonio l. 24. instrument p. 62. l. 20. r. recreantur p. 73. l. 31. r. become p. 77. l. 9. r. mare p. 78. l. 24. r. effecteth p. 79. l. 25. r. suam l. 26. exspiraret p. 87. l. 22. r. sprightfull p. 88. l. 10 r. testifie p. 91 in the margent against line the 11. ad eccl. 48. 14. p. 93. l. , 〈◊〉 . f. wings r. winds p. 94. l. 7. f. he r. the p. 100. l. 23. f. subtilitate r. subtiliate p. 105. l. 2. r. discouer p. 109. l. 9 r. pepper p. 110. l. 4. r. strucke p. 111. l. 20. r of gods p. 135. l. 16. r. heauenly p. 136 l. 19. r. laxatiue p. 137. l. 18. r. and l. 15 r. et te l. 16. r. diuurno p. 139. l 19. r. adde so 144. l. 11. r. better in the third member p. 4. l. 15. f. contract r. contact p. 25. l. 4. asf . and l. 8. r. doef . doth p. 38. l. 7. r. continued . other litterall faults the ingenious reader w●… hope will beare withall : to the well minded and vnpartiall reader . i did not thinke ( courteous and learned reader ) to haue stirred vp the puddle of this mine aduersaries turbulent spirit , for a 3. fold reason , whereof the first is his insufficiencie to vndergoe a taske of so high a nature and so farre beyond his reach or capacity , namely ; to diue into this profound mystery of curing by the weapon-salue : and then because my learned friends , obseruing his inclination vnto immorality and malice ( as appearing indeed more skilfull to cauill and calumniat , then to decide with grauity so weighty a controuersy ) gaue mee counsell to haue patience and to answer such a manner of man with silence : and lastly , by reason of that reverence which i beare vnto his vocation , namely ; as he is a minister of gods word , professing vnto the world that i would endure much rather then to haue the least opposition with any of that profession . but since i haue perceiued his indiscreete importunity to extend it selfe so farre as to vrge me beyond the bounds of patience by setting vp in the night time two of the frontispices or titles of his booke , as a challenge , one each post of my doore , and vnderstanding of his many other vndecent actions , as well by heare say , as in his publick writing , wherein hee hath in a scornefull and opprobrious manner laied disgracefull matters vnto my charge : i haue beene forced , against my will , to take the person ( set●…ing with my best respect aside the parson and his habit ) into my better consideration , and to examine in this my small pamphlet the misdemeanours of his booke entituled ; the sponge to wipe away the weapon-salue expressed both in his erroneous doctrine touching the maine subiect of that manner of curing , as also his rude and vnseemely carriage towards his bretheren , that thereby i may as well cleare my selfe from such immodest and vniust imputations , which with an euill conscience he hath laied vpon me , as also expresfe the shallownesse of the person in this busines , which hee so vaine gloriously hath vndertaken . i doubt not but as there are many who in euery degree can discerne an euident difference between this satyrical gentleman & my selfe , so because i know that there are diuers of the common sort of people , who in their zeale without vnderstanding are apter to conceiue and iudge amisse , then in their charity to ponder the truth of the businesse ; i am the willinger to cope with this vnsauory philosopher , whom i finde ( and i make no doubt , shall proue ) fuller of windy verbosity then of solide philosophy , or any thing else that is grounded vpon firme reason . what shall i say vnto the man , whom , vnto my best remembrance , i neuer saw nor knew , saue onely by a bragging smoake of rumour , which pronounced me a farre off an anathema ? the thunder which long smoothered in the gloomy cloud of report , is now broke forth the flame of his lightning affaileth mee : what then is more conuenient and requisite then sharpe vineger to quench it ? yea , he shall find it so acute & peircing ( though not with rayling and calumniating edge , according vnto his bitter custome , but reseruing it selfe within the bounds of christian modesty ) that his sponge shall not bee able to drinke it vp or wipe it away . it shall quell the vnsatiable appetite of his salue-deuouring sponge , and squeeze or crush it so , that it shall be constrained to vomit vp againe that wholesome child of nature and gentle friend vnto mankind ( i meane the weapon-salue ) which it hath drunk or sucked vp , and leaue it in it's wonted splendor and reputation amongst men . and lastly , it shall examine the quintessence of the sponge-bearers selfe-conceited wit , and tell him , that what somtimes appeareth great , is not alwaies the same it seemeth , but rather a shaddow or blast of empty ayre . this is all ( iudicious reader ) that i wil say at this time , as for the rest , i refer it to the proofe in the pondering wherof i most heartily pray you that all partiality or peculiar affection being laied aside , you will be pleased faithfully to iudge of this our cont ouersie , and weigh euery passage thereof in the iust and equall ballance of your best discretion . your scruant in a greater matter . ro●… . flvdd . the sqveesing of parson fosters sponge . the first member . wherein the slanderous and scandalous reports , with the vnchristianlike behauiour of master foster towards the author , are expressed and confuted . chap. 1. here it is proued out of holy writ , that m. foster hath done ill , in proclaiming publikely his brothers disgrace , though it were deseruedly , much more being vndeseruedly . i esteeme it no point of indiscretion in mee , first to abolish and take away all such reprochfull imputations as haue beene wrongfully layd to my charge , that with the greater courage vnto my selfe , and better acceptance and satisfaction vnto my countrymen , i may proceed vnto the maine businesse or question which is proposed by this mine adversary . vnto him therefore i must in the first place turne the edge of my pen and file of speech , for as much as he , forgetting that i am his brother in christ , and his country-man , yea , and not differing from him in religion , should so farre neglect the precepts of the prophet dauid , our sauiour christ , his spirituall master , and his apostolicall followers , as slande-rously and void of christian modesty ( most requisite vnto a person of his diuine calling ) to publish vnto the world ( although it were deseruedly , much lesse against the grounds of truth and rules of iustice ) the weaknesse and imperfection of his brother . the kingly dauid therefore saith : thou giuest thy mouth to euill , and with thy tongue thou forgest deceit , thou speakest against thy brother , and obiectest slander vnto him , therefore art thou in darkenesse because thou hatest thy brother ; whereby the psalmist doth in expresse tearmes argue , that the man who calumniates his brother , and accuseth him spightfully , is a childe of this world , an impe of darkenesse and not of god , the creator of vs all . this is also euidently expressed by the apostle iames , when he maketh a difference betweene that wisedome , which is from aboue , and that which is from beneath , in these words : if yee hau●… bitter enuying and strife in your hearts , reioyce not : neyther be lyers against the truth , for this wisedome descendeth not from aboue , but is earthly , sensuall and deuillish : for where enuying and strife is , there is sedition and all manner of euill workes : but the wisedome that is from aboue , is first pure , then peaceable , gentle , easie to be entreated , not iudging , and without hypocrisie , &c. heere the apostle sheweth , that the bitterness of heart , and enuie , and lying against the truth , is earthly , sensuall and diabolicall . now i leaue it vnto your vpright consideration ( vnpartiall reader ) to iudge whether this our brother bee not in his writing bitter against me and many other of his brethren ( i will not say enuious and contentious ) i pray god he be not prooued also a lyer against the truth , in holding this proposed question affirmatiuely : i feare that in the end it will prooue so : for veritie her selfe , frowning at the action , is ready to enter the listes in her owne def●…nce . nam fruetur in aeternum veritas trophaeo quod fixit ipsa : veritie in spight of all worldly opposition will for euer enioy the trophee of her victory , which from all beginnings she hath erected and established . but perchance master foster will denie and renounce all brother-hood , that may be betweene vs : but he shall finde that these our sauiour christ his words doe expresly confute such his assertion : fratrum vestrum quisque quare despicit , cum vnus sit pater & conditor ? why doe euerie one of you despise his brother , since there is but one father and maker of all . and the prophet speaking to the same purpose saith : ab eadem petra excisi estis : all of you are cut out of one and the same rocke . thus farre i haue spoken with the mouth of the prophets , our sauiour , and his apostles . but mine aduersarie will reply and say , that doctor fludd is a magitian , and hath maintayned a damnable and diabolicall action , namely , the curing by the weapon-salue to be good and lawfull , and therefore by warrant of scripture he ought sharpely to be told of it , &c. i answer , that from this obiection may arise a double question ; whereof the first is , whether the assertion of our aduersary be true or false ? and then , whether it bee a brotherly part , first to diuulge it , though it were true indeede , vnto the eares of the people , before hee hath admonished his brother in priuate of his error . touching the ground or scope of the first , namely , whether , according vnto his assertion , i am a magitian or no , it shall bee fully discussed in the third chapter of this present member , where i make no doubt to proue to each wel-minded person ( and that to the burthen of my rash accusers conscience , if he haue any ) that he is iustly ranked and numbred amongst those , at whom the prophet dauid , our sauiour christ , and the apostle iames haue aymed in the places aboue mentioned . as for the second , our lord iesvs resolveth it in these words : si peccauerit in te frater tuus , vade & corripe eum inter te & ipsum solum ; si te audiverit , lucratus es fratrem tuum : if thy brother hath trespassed against thee , goe and tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone : if he heare thee , thou hast wonne thy brother , &c. whereby it is apparant , that mine adversarie hath not dealt with mee as one christian ought to deale with another , for as much as he hath violated the precepts of his master iesvs christ in this point , and therefore this his misbehauiour can no way be excused . chap. ii. here the author answereth to some extrauagant passages which his aduersarie doth , partly in his merry moode , and partly in a calumniating manner , obiect against him . my reputation doth a little engage mee to answer certaine extrauagant passages , which our sponge-bearing author maketh against mee ; as for example . doctor fludd ( saith hee ) hath writ in the defence of the weapon-salue , well he may , he is called , by franciscus lanouius , medico-miles , a souldier-physitian , and being a weapon-bearing doctor , may well teach the weapon-curing medicine , especially setting the armiger before the doctor , the gunne before the gowne , the pike before the pen. ( good reader ) obserue this vnreasonable iest ; rather than sit out , the gentleman will picke strawes , or play with a feather . what ? not one word with reason , nor yet any syllable in good rime , but all vpon the letters g. and p ? an excellent argument of a simple wit. but touching that which seemeth most materiall in this pretty discourse , i will answere with the like obiection vnto that of our conceited master of arts : he would seeme to teach mee that the armiger or esquier ought to be set before the doctor being that there is a question , whether a knight or a doctor should challenge the first place , and therefore ( saith hee ) the esquier was ill placed before the doctor , being that the doctor is the better man ; verily i thinke that it ought to be so , and yet neuerthelesse , it is certaine that now adayes a reasonable esquier thinketh much to yeeld place vnto a doctor : but this is not to our question . hee seemes to accuse me because i say , robertus fluddus armiger & in medicina doctor : robert fludd esquier and doctor of physicke . i will answere and pay him with his owne coyne . why doth hee put the master of arts before the parson or minister , being that the minister is the better man , by reason of the sanctitie of his vocation . hereupon it is that a doctor of diuinitie , though of a latter standing , taketh place of a doctor of physicke who had his degree before him . againe , why doth master foster in his dedicatory epistle put the baron of wing before the viscount of ascot , and the viscount of ascot before the earle of carnaruon ? and lastly , why doth hee pag. 38. terme me master doctor , setting the master before the doctor ? verily , our wise brother findes a mote in mine eye , but will not looke vpon the beame in his owne . and now i will expresse the cause , why i put the esquier before the doctor . it is for two considerations : first , because i was an esquier , and gaue armes before i was a doctor , as being a knights sonne : next because , though a doctor addeth gentilitie to the person , who by descent is ignoble ; yet it is the opinion of most men , and especially of heraulds , that a gentleman of antiquitie , is to be preferred before any one of the first head or degree : and verily for mine owne part i had rather bee without any degree in vniuersitie , than lose the honour was left me by my ancestors . thus farre i haue thought fit to satisfie the gentleman in his humour , wondering at nothing more , than that he should leaue the maine matter , to snarle at my gentilitie . would he thinke it decent in mee to revile him for his lownesse of birth or ignobilitie ? for i know what he is : god forbid such an absurditie should come from my pen , much lesse to vpbraid him with his gentilitie , if hee were a gentleman indeed . in another place hee inueigheth bitterly against me in this manner : the doctor , who impiously attributeth composition vnto god , dareth falsly to attribute corporalitie vnto devils ; the contrarie of which , that they haue no manner of bodies , is the tenent of the church . i see that our master in arts is scarce in this matter his arts master : hee talkes with mersennus the fryer his tongue , and therefore is but mersennus his parrat ; wherefore as i haue answered him in latine , so will i partly in the same sense satisfie this importunate author in english ; not with impious tearmes , according to his custome , but modestly . mersennus maketh it an impietie in mee to say , that god filleth the heauenly spirit of the world : whereupon hee concludes and saith , facit proinde deum compositionem cum hoc spiritu aethereo ; hee therefore maketh god a composition with this aethereall spirit . my answere to him is this , that the incorruptible spirit of the lord is in all things , as salomon au●…rreth . and saint iohn saith ; all things were made by the word , and without it nothing was made ; in it was life , &c. and againe , hee filleth the heauens and viuifieth all things . what ? and must i therefore attribute composition vnto god , or doe i make god part of composition ? no verily ; forasmuch as god in his essence is indiuisible , and therefore hee cannot bee a part in composition ; but hee is said to bee in all , and ouer all , as he is the catholicke actor of life , whereupon the apostle teacheth vs , that hee viuifieth all things , and therefore hee is said to bee in the spirit of the world , and also without it , no diuision of his diuine essence being made . so also it is said , that in god wee liue , moue , and haue our being : and yet god is not in vs as a part in composition , but as an eternall actor in compositions ; not mixed , but mingling the composition , in number , weight , and measure : that is , tempering and vniting euerie particle , as it were with the glew of perfect loue and harmonie . and to this purpose it is said in iob , sicut argillam fecisti me . nonne sicut lac fudisti me , & tanquam caseum coagulasti me , cute & carne induisti me , ossibusque & neruis texisti me , cum vita benignitatem exercuisti erga me , & visitatio tua conseruauit spiritum meum ? whereby it is euident , that god is the compounder in mans composition , but not a part of it . to conclude : i haue answered this point more at large in that reply i made to gassendus his retection of my philosophy , where i proue that the vertue of god is in euerie thing , as it composeth all things . but if i had said that god entred into composition , was it so impious a thing , when the scripture auerreth that the word was incarnated ? i am too long in prouing that , which master foster taketh barely out of the fryers mouth , but knoweth not , what eyther he , or i meane thereby ; as for the deuils corporalitie , i will proue it elsewhere . chap. iii. wherein the author is wrongfully accused , by his discourteous homebred aduersary of magicke , and afterwards by his forren opposites , though of a contrary religion , is excused and cleared from that crime . it is no maruaile , though mine aduersarie doth rashly and vniustly wound a mans reputation , who differeth from him in profession or vocation , being that his satyricall or cynicke passion will not spare such learned men , as are of his owne calling or habit : for if you will bee pleased to read and obserue his dedicatorie epistle , you shall finde there , that hee ( partly , as it seemeth , being moued thereto by en●…ie at such as are in a better way of preferment than himselfe , and partly to insinuate and beget a better opinion and liking in his patron ) inueigheth in these verie words against some of his owne coate ; nor am i ( saith hee ) of their minde , which to become great by being accounted good preachers , preach not aboue twice , or thrice a yeare , and then lay all their strength on their sermon ; my resolution is otherwise , i will read much , write somewhat , and preach often . loe , how hee condemneth others , and prayseth himselfe ; yea , hee doth not sticke in his epistle to the reader , to snarle against his superiours in the church , because they doe not stop his mouth with a good benefice or church-liuing , considering his great deserts : yea , and seeme to calumniate them , and lay simony vnto their charges , his words are these : shall any man for my boldnesse thinke to sit vpon my skirts ? let those know , i esteeme my selfe infra inuidiam , i cannot haue lesse in the church , vnlesse nothing ; and if they shall endeauour to keepe me still low , let them know i looke for no good from them , that enuy at my end●…auours to doe good : if i sit panting on the ground , i will not refuse to be fed with rauens to keepe me aliue with elias , but i looke not to be lifted vp by any , but by eagles ; heroicke spirits , men fearing god and hating simoniacall couetoustnesse . he scorneth to be raysed by his superiours in the church , and expects onely to bee raysed by eagles , heroicke spirits , namely , by such as his noble patron is , in whom is no simoniacall couetousnesse , as who should say , that in others there is simonia-call couetousnesse , &c. what therefore can i expect from his outragious pen , bnt slanders of witch-craft , magicke , and such like abominations ? what lesse can i appeare in his sight than an anathema , one ( i say ) abandoned and accursed vnto the deuill . his scandalous texts are these : doctor fludd hath had the same censure passed on him , and hath beene writ against for a magitian , and i suppose this to be one cause , why hee hath printed his booke beyond the seas : our vniuersitie and bishops are more cautelous ( god bee thanked ) than to allow the printing of magicall bookes here . surely , d. fludds very defence of the weapon-salue is enough to make it suspected , himselfe being accused for a magitian by marinus mersennus , with a wonder that king iames ( of blessed memory ) would suffer such a man to liue and write in his kingdome . but if to bee accused were to bee guiltie , who could bee innocent ? master doctor hath excused hims●…lfe in his booke entituled , sophiae cum moria certamen ( cuius contrarium verum est , saith lanouius ) &c. heere ( gentle reader ) you may see him pull off his hood of simplicitie or feined veile of sanctitie , which hee professed in his epistles , and discouer ●…he malice and enuy of his heart against me : in the first place therefore , for the better satisfaction of my country-men and friends , i will expresse the cause , why i touched the superstitious magia , or magicke of the ancient ethnickes . my scope was and ha●…h beene to write aswell the naturall discourse of the great world and little world , which wee call man , as also to touch by way of an encyclophy or epitome all arts , aswell lawfull , which i did commend , as those which are esteemed vnlawfull , which i did vtterly condemne , as superstitious and of little or no probabilitie at all ; among the rest where i came to speake of the arts , which belong vnto the little world or man ; i mention the science of genethlialogie , which treateth of the iudgement of natiuities , wherin i produce the great dispute which did arise betweene the two famous philosophers porphyrie and iamblicus , whereof the first did hold that a man might come to the knowledge of his owne genius or good angell by the art of astrologie , namely , by finding out the planet and nature of his spirit , that was lord of the eleuenth house , the which by the astrologians was for that cause called bonus daemon or the good angell . but iamblicus his opinion was , that a man had neede of the assistance and knowledge of a higher spirit , than was any of those which were gouernours of fatalitie , namely , of such intelligences as were ascribed to the rule and direction of the seuen planets : wherefore i did thereupon expresse the superstition of the ancients with the impossibilitie thereof , that thereby i might the better descry it & make it the more ridiculous to wise men . i then suspecting the captious natures of some enuious persons , did there make an apologie , to excuse my selfe and to shew the vanitie of the thing , and how full of idle superstition it was , and to shew it to bee onely imaginarie . but i seemed there to consent with iamblicus , auerring with him , that without the reuelation of that high and heauenly spirit , which was granted vnto the elect , none could come to the familiaritie or knowledge of his good angell . i proue it out of many places of scripture : loe , this is all ! now iudge ( all yee that are vnpartiall and truely learned ) what an offence was here to decide according vnto my power , that great controuersie of these two notable and eminent philosophers , which hath stucke and beene vndecided euen vnto this day , being that i in the conclusion ascribed the whole glorie vnto that sole and onely spirit , which is the prince and lord of angels and spirits : i professed to write generally of all , but as i went along , i distinguished the good from the euill , that men might the better beware of , and refuse the one , and make choyce of the other . now therefore , that i haue expressed vnto you the ground , why this our criticke and his cynickemaster the fryer mersennus haue slandered me with the title of a magitian : i will proceed to the answer of euery member of his friuolous obiections . doctor fludds defence of the weapon-salue is enough to make it suspected . and why i pray you ? marry because he himselfe is accused for a magitian by marinus mersennus . the conclusion is much like the capacitie of the concluder : doctor fludd is suspected for a magitian : ergo the purge of rubarbe which he prescribeth , or rather any point in philosophie or physicke , by him maintained in writings , is magicall . non sequitur argumentum : so roger bacon is accused for a conjurer , and a magitian ergo the perspectiue or opticke science , hee writeth of , is deuilish and magicall , or at least wise to be suspected . i but this salue hath a caco-magicall propertie in it , for it healeth a farre off , and not per contactum . so doth bacons opticke make vs to see the images of liue men to walke in the ayre , and it is said , that by his art he made an apparition of a man to walke from the top of alhollows steeple in oxford , to the top of s. maries : surely these opticall conclusions must be magicall , and not by naturall reflection of glasses , because these are vtterly vnknowne to m. foster and his adherents , and consequently are to bee condemned as diabolicall . but to come to the purpose ; m. foster if his eies had beene so fauourable , and his will so charitable , as to haue looked on my answer to mersennus in the defence of that point , before hee had iudged , he would without doubt , aswell as hundreds of other men , whereof some are church-men , of no meane ranke , and many doctors of physicke of excellent learning , haue auerred , that d. flud had answered mersennus so fully , aswell in that accusation , as all other points layd by him vnto his charge , that he could not bee able any way to reply against it . and it is well knowne heere in england to such as haue beene conuersant beyond the seas , that the sufficiencie of my answer hath so satisfied the learned , aswell in germany as in france , that hee hath beene by them much condemned for his slanderous writing , and esteemed of but meanely for his small learning and indiscretion . now the ground of his malice vnto me was , for that hee hauing written of the harmony of the world , and finding that a booke of that subiect set out by mee , was verie acceptable to his countrey-men , hee inuented this slander against me and my harmonie , that thereby hee might bring his owne into the better reputation . but what did i say ? that hee was accused and condemned for that his slander by some in france , yea , verily his dearest companion , who by reason of his insufficiencie , was easily perswaded to take his cause in hand , and to answer for him , i meane peter gassendus , his friend and champion , chideth his mersennus , for such his vncivill and scandalous reports against me in these verie words : ac zelus quidem quo tu mersenne euectus es commendari cum debeat , attamen telatere non potest , quin admodum durum sit viuenti in christiano orbe appellari cacomagum , haeretico-magum , foetidae , & horrendae magiae doctorem , & propagatorem , audire , non esse ferendum huiusmodi doctorem impunè , prouocato principe , vti de illo poenas sumat , minisque etiam adhibitis , eundem propterea breui submergendum fluctibus aeternis , &c. vt nihil dicam de atheismo atque haeresi quam tu quoqne obijcis fluddo . haec nempe sunt , quae rufini , aut d. hieronymi irritare patientiam potuissent . alter enim cum patientiam requirat in caeteris : qui vel tamen vnius haereseos crimen ferat , aut dissimulet , hunc clamitat non esse christianum ; alter verò , nolo ( inquit ) nolo in suspitione haeresios quenquam esse patientem . quid fecissent in crimine , seu suspitione , aut atheismi , aut cacomagiae ? these are the very words of mersennus his chiefe friend , which i interpret thus : and although ( my mersennus ) the zeale wherewith you are moued against fludd is to bee commended , neuerthelesse you cannot bee ignorant , how grieuous and intolerable a thing it is vnto any man that liueth in the christian world , to be called a witch , or euill magitian , a hereticke-magitian , or a teacher , or divulger of foule and horrible magicke : and that such a teacher is not to bee suffered vnpunished , also to prouoke the king or prince to punish him , and besides all this to threaten him ; saying , that for that cause hee should bee drowned or drenched in the eternall , lake and so forth . besides the atheisme and heresie , which also you obiect and lay to fludds charge . verily , these are things which would stirre vp the patience of ruffinus or s. ●…erome , whereof the one when hee requireth patience in other things , yet hee concludeth , that hee which can beare or dissemble with the offence of one heresie , he crieth that such a man is no christian : the other saith , i will not that any man should bee patient in the suspition of heresie ; much lesse to be accused or suspected of atheisme or naughty magicke . in which words our english world may discerne first , how this my honest dealing and morall forren aduersarie doth checke his vnciuill friend , whose part hee vndergoeth , for his immodestie and small discretion : and next doth teach my home-bred aduersarie a great deale of manners or behauiour in writing against an aduersarie ; namely , not to contend with foule and scandalous language , but with acute arguments , and those to the purpose , armed with the truest reasons of philosophie : doth not master foster blush now to see his mightie and magnanimous author marinus mersennus checked by his judicious friend , whom hee himselfe hath elected , aswell for vmpeere as stickler in his cause ? yea , and a chiefe champion to defend it , for calling me vniustly a magitian and other misbeseeming names ? yea , is hee not ashamed , if hee hath any , to choose out a lying and false author for the propagating of his brothers slander ? if this be not so , aske gassendus . but hee will no doubt reply , that this speech of gassendus to mersennus doth not take away for all that the suspition of magicke from doctor fludd , though hee reproueth his friend for vsing him with so rough tearmes : to which , for his better satisfaction , i produce this other place out of gassendus his reply against me , in his friend mersennus his behalfe : this is the title of his chapter , being the 20. adlibri tertij caput primum . depulsa fluddo atheismi , haeresios , & praesertim cacomagiae suspicio : ( that is ) to the first chapter of the third booke , wherein fludd is cleared from the suspition of atheisme , heresie , and especially of deuillish magicke . he speaketh thus by way of counsell to mersennus . restat suspicio cacomagiae , de qua praesertim quaestio haec est , veruntamen non vti ipsum diabolicis illis artibus , argumento mihi est , quod diabolos esse non credit ( aut non videatur credere ) quales nos vulgo intelligimus à cacomagis vsurpari . ( that is ) there resteth now the suspition of euill-magicke , of which especially the question is made , but this is an euident argument vnto mee , that hee is no such magitian , because hee doth not beleeue ( or at least wise maketh semblance not to beleeue ) that there are such deuils as wee imagine to bee familiar with witches . let master foster therefore see , vpon what ficke foundation hee hath layd the false and malignant slander of an euill-magitian on mee . but alas ! i smell a rat ( for i will vse his owne wittie phrase ) he careth not how he may disgrace any one , so that he might thereby the better serue his owne turne . because i haue produced in my mysticall anatomy a naturall reason for the weapon-salue , which hee neyther can , nor , for all his poore reasons expressed in his booke , shall be able to refell , therefore , forsooth , i must be numbred amongst the magitians . and wherefore ? marry because mersennus hath giuen the same censure on me . and who is mersennus ? a rayling satyricall babler , not able to make a reply in his owne defence , and therefore being put to a non plus , hee went like a second iob in his greatest vexation to aske counsell of the learnedst doctors in paris : and at last for all that , he fearing his cause , and finding himselfe insufficient , procured by much intreatie his friend peter gassendus to helpe him , and called another of his friends vnto his assistance ; namely , one doctor lanouius a seminarie priest , as immorall as himselfe , and one that professeth in his iudiciary letter much , but performeth little . and in good faith , i may boldly say , that for three roaring , bragging , and fresh-water pseudophilosophers , i cannot paralell any in europe , that are so like of a condition , as are mersennus , lanouius , and foster : all three exceeding terrible in their bumbasting words , imagining to quell and make subiect vnto their thundering braues the stoutest schollers of europe , if they cared for them , and did esteeme them more than bugbeares to skare away crowes or frighten little children . as for peter gassendus i finde him a good philosopher , and an honest and well conditioned gentleman , iust aswell vnto his aduersary as friend , not passing beyond the bounds of christian modestie , but striking home with his philosophicall arguments , when hee seeth his occasion . mersennus his words in his epistle to his patron ( wherein hee seeketh ayde of this his friend peter gassendus ) are these , translated in english as neere as i can . after i had communicated with the counsell of all my learned friends , they being heard , i would also aske counsell of my friend gassendus , who departed into germany a while since , i did pray and beseech him , that hee would seriously write backe vnto mee , what hee thought of fludds workes : for i did coniecture that hee by reason of the curiositie , which hee had to attaine vnto euerie kinde of philosophie , would for a certaine penetrate also into this philosophie , vnder which , fludd doth hide his impieties , &c. thus you see , that this good fryer confesseth that hee vnderstood not fludds philosophie , and therefore was faine to pray gassendus to assist him , which when gassendus to his power had performed , with vnspeakable ioy hee vttereth these words : behold , when fludd in answering mee would hide himselfe vnder senses of scripture , as lurking holes ; my gassendus hath so brought him out of them , and so discouered his cabal , that i thinke my selfe satisfied with this discouery onely . see here master foster , the crauenly & cowardly fryer , whom you take for your author and master : and well you may , for like master , like scholler . iudge you therefore ( worthy reader ) whether this mans slanderous reports bee not propped vp with a sound piece of flesh . a worthy philosopher to challenge the field , and request other men to fight for him . as for lanouius , he acknowledgeth that mersennus hath earnestly sought his assistance also in these words : out of lanouius his epistle to mersennus . i cannot but approue your counsell in taking the iudgement of other men , which is , that you should not rashly precipitate your selfe in your owne cause ; you haue also esteemed mee to bee fitly numbred amongst those which you haue made choyce of for this businesse . and verily your case is to be lamented ; the which for your dignities cause i cannot suffer : i will not suffer my suffrage to be wanting vnto you , &c. these therefore are two champions , that are come into the philosophers campe or field with their friend mersennus to tug and wrestle with me : i haue ( i thanke my god ) fully answered them alreadie , and mine answer is at the print , and i would that master foster had a better pate and capacitie than hee hath , to make a fourth in the reply : the more the merrie●… for as truth conquereth all things , if shee bee with mee i feare no colours , but to proceed with our text. marinus m●…rsennus ( saith master foster ) doth wonder , that king iames of blessed memorie would suffer such a man to liue and write in his kingdome . to this i answer that king iames of euerlasting memorie for his iustice , pietie , and great learning , was by some enuious persons moued against mee , touching the same subiect ; but when i came vnto him , and hee in his great wisedome had examined the truth and circumstance of euery point , touching this scandalous report , which irregularly and vntruly was related of mee , hee found me so cleare in my answer , and i him so regally learned and gracious in himselfe , and so excellent and subtill in his inquisitiue obiections , aswell touching other points as this , that in stead of a checke ( i thanke my god ) i had much grace and honour from him , and receiued from that time forward many gracious fauours of him : and i found him my iust and kingly patron all the dayes of his life . and must i now after so regall a iudge haue such an vpstart inquisitor as is master foster , to iudge and censure mee againe , and that by the ridiculous authoritie of an ignorant fryer , whose friend doth iustly condemne him , and checke him for his slanders , and cleare mee from all such crimes as he obiecteth against me ? then he makes a very shrewd obiection , saying , because mersennus writ against doctor fludd for a magitian , therefore i suppose that this is the cause , why he hath printed his bookes beyond the seas , our vniuersitie and reuerend bishops , &c : as before . though i need not answer , in this point , a man of so enuious a condition ; yet , for charities sake , which bids me not offend my brother , i will at this time satisfie him . i sent them beyond the seas , because our home-borne printers demanded of me fiue hundred pounds to print the first volume , and to find the cuts in copper ; but beyond the seas it was printed at no cost of mine , and that as i would wish : and i had 16. coppies sent me ouer with 40. pounds in gold , as an vnexpected gratuitie for it . how now master foster , haue i not made you a lawfull answer ? as for the vniuersitie : i wonder my workes should seeme so male-gracious vnto it , when they are registred in two of her libraries . and surely , if my conscience had perswaded mee , that there had beene any thing in them , which had beene so haynous or displeasant , eyther to the kings maiestie , or the reuerend bishops , i would not haue presumed , to haue made first our late king iames of blessed memorie , and next three of the reuerend bishops of the land the patrons of them ; being that i , electing them my patrons , must present them with the first fruits , and therefore must know , that if any thing had happened amisse in them , it could not bee hidden from them , whom in veritie i would bee afraid to displease , as being such as with my heart i reuerence . his friend ioachimus frisius ( or rather his owne selfe , as saith lanouius , in a booke called summum bonum ) excuseth roger bacon , tritemius , cornelius agrippa , marsilius ficinus , & fratres roseae crucis from being caco-magitians , i wonder at nothing more than that belzebub was not in the number . a singular diabolicall conceit ! for the first , whether that booke bee mine or no : i haue satisfied gassendus , whose onely ape lanouius is : for he obiecteth nothing , but what he taketh out of gassendus his booke , to make master fosters worship an account i am not minded at this time , onely thus much i will say for ioachimus frisius , that what he hath produced out of their owne workes , in their owne defence , excuseth them , and accuseth such calumniatours as master foster is , who are so apt to condemne a person for that they are altogether ignorant in : let the readers obserue the proofes in frisius his booke to cleare them ; and then if any will afterwards accuse them , i shall deeme them partiall . but wee must note by the way , that our sponge-bearer must make election of iesuites ( as in his epistle hee confesseth ) and fryers and seminarie priests to bee his instructors and teachers , to reply both against the weapon-salue and mee , when hee knoweth that they are such as can affoord neyther him nor me ( as being esteemed among them for heretickes ) one good word . nay , i will tell him for his greater shame , that their onely spight vnto me is , because they discerne my workes to bee well esteemed abroad in the world , my selfe being ( as exorbitant vnto their church ) esteemed by them an hereticke . all that the greatest aduersary i haue , euen marinus mersennus himselfe aymeth at , is to haue me change my religion , & to gaine me to their side , & for that intent he promiseth me , if i will leaue my heresie ( as he termeth it ) many rewards & courtesies . but i finde here at home euen amongst our owne religion , some men lesse friendly and greater enemies vnto me and mine honest endeauours than abroad . mersennus his words are these , after hee had thought with great tearmes to terrifie mee . marinus mersennus out of the 1744. column●… of his commentary vpon genesis . but if you robert fludd will leaue your heresie , i with my friend will heartily embrace you , and will eyther face to face speake with you , or by letters conferre with you about certaine sciences , and i will desire him not to write against you ; but that you may bee receiued by the grace of the diuine power amongst the children of the catholicke church , that you together with vs may eternally celebrate the diuine praises in the place of blisse ; if not , thou wilt be tormented with eternall flames ; as it is certaine that heretickes shall , and those that goe from the catholicke religion , which your ancestors did embrace : especially such , as persist obstinately in their heresie , will certainely be damned : for gods word is true and vnfallible , wherefore examine seriously your conscience . in another place hee wisheth , that leauing my heresie , i would ioyne with them in the correcting of arts , telling me , what an applause i should haue for so doing , of euerie common-wealth . this i speake to some of my countrymens shame , who in stead of encouraging me in my labours ( as by letters from many out of polonia , sueuia , prussia , germanie , transyluania , france and italy i haue been ) doe prosecute me with malice & ill speeches , which some learned germans hearing of , remember mee in their letters of this our sauiour christ his speech : n●… est propheta in sua patria , no man is a prophet in hi●… o●… country . it was not for nought the wise man s●… : qui scientiam addit , addit & dolorem ; & quod in multa scientia multa sit indignatio : hee that addeth vnto himselfe science , contracteth vnto himselfe much paine and vexation , because that in much science is much indignation . as for my part ( without any bragging of my knowledge bee it spoken ) i speake this feelingly ; but the sincerity of my guiltlesse conscience bids me haue patience . and now to the last member of the text. i wonder at nothing more ( saith hee ) then that belzebub was not in the number , &c. marry i will tell him why , if it had been true that thevse of the weapon-salue is witchcraft , and the vsers thereof witches and coniurers , ( as he boldly saith ) how i pray you should belzebub bee missing from our company ? but being that it appeareth false before god and man , it should seeme he was busie in the animating of his ministers ; namely of those calum-niators & slanderers , which abuse and scandalise publikely , not only gods good creatures , but their brethren also . he is busie ( i say ) to instruct and incite such his worldly children , true imps of darknesse , to iudge false iudgements , and to accuse the innocent : and this is the reason that m. foster and his likehaue , missed to find belzebub or the diuell in this number ; forasmuch as he is neerer them then they are aware of . the second member . in which , the vertuous validity of m. fosters sponge , in wiping away of the weapon-salue , is squeesed out and quite abolished , that thereby the wounded reputation of the weapon-salue may be restored againe vnto his wonted splendor and glory amongst men . chap. i. in which all obiections touching the question proposed by the sponge-hearer , are answered . the maine scope of the whole businesse is contained in this question , which he propo●…h thus : question . whether the curing of wounds by the weapon-salue , bee witchcraft , and vnlawfull to be vsed ? m. foster confidently affirmeth it ; and for my part i must as earnestly deny it . he offereth to proue it 2. manner of waies : first naturally , and by naturall philosophy : secondly , supernaturally , namely , by theologicall and ecclesiasticall testimony . let vs see therefore how he can proue it to be witchcraft by the rules of theology and reasons of nature . his maine arguments in his first article . all lawfull medicines produce their effect , either by diuine institution , as naamans washing himselfe in the riuer of iordan to cure his leprosie . the poole of bethesda's curing such as entred in after the angels stirring it ; or else by naturall operation , according to such vertues as god in the creation indued such creatures with , whereof the same medicines are composed , as the lumpe of figgs to cure the impostume of the king ezekiah , as the wine and oyle , with the which the wounded man was cured by the samaritan . but this weapon-salue worketh none of these wayes : ergo the cures done by it are not lawfull ; but prestigious , magicall and diabolicall . the minor is denied i proue it two manner of wayes . first , it is not by diuine institution , because it is no where registred in scripture . secondly , it workes not naturally , because it worketh after a different manner from all naturall agents : for it is a rule amongst diuines and philosophers , that nullum agens agit ad distans : whosoeuer worketh na●…urally , worketh either by vertuall or naturall contact ; but this weapon-salue workes by neither , therefore it workes not naturally . it worketh not by corporall contact , for the bodies are disioyned some 20. miles or more , wherefore ( if lawfull ) it must needes be performed by a vertuall contact . but not so neither , because all agents working after this manner , worke within a certaine distant and limited sphaere of actiuity . the loadstone doth work but at a small distance . vnto your first reason i answer , that it doth not follow , that because it is no where registred in scripture , therefore it is not of diuine institution : what ? because figgs , wine and oyle , yea , and clay tempered with spittle , are noted in scripture , for externall medicines , therefore must the vse of causticke , vesicatory , healing , fluxing , and such like other externall medicines daily vsed by christian physicians , be reputed for vnlawfull magicall & diabolicall , because they are not registred in scripture ? or is nothing instituted by god , but what scripture maketh mention of how then can that saying of the apostle be true , that god worketh all and in all ? if all and in all , then worketh hee also all acts and operations , as well occult and mysticall , as those which are manifest and apparent vnto sense : and therefore all acts are instituted by god. because according to scripture , quod deus non vult , non facit ; what he will not he doth not ; but when he list , and according vnto his will hee worketh in heauen and in earth . as therefore he instituteth nothing , but what must bee effected ; so nothing is in the whole world effected , which hee doth not will , institute and decree . whereupon the said apostle concludingly saith : of him , by him , and in him are all things . but i will shew this more at large , where i will handle this very question negatiuely , namely , where i prooue the weapon-oyntment lawfull and not cacomagicall . vnto your second i say , that it is of no more validitie then the first . the maine axiom of the vulgar philosophers , vpon which you ground your proofe for the excluding of this salue out of the list of nature is this : nullum agens agit ad distans . vpon this you frame out this argument . whatsoeuer worketh naturally , worketh by corporall or vertuall contact ; but this worketh by neither : ergo it worketh not naturally . first , concerning that axiome in philosophy , i know and can proue it by experience to bee false . for the fire heateth ad distans : the lightning out of the cloud blasteth ad distans . the bay tree operateth against the power of thunder and lightning ad distans . the force of the canons bullet killeth without touching ad distans . the sunne and fire doe act in illuminating ad distans . the loadstone doth operate vpon the iron ad distans . the plague , dysenterie , small pocks , infect ad distans , &c. but to make all this good you adde to the axiome and say : agit vel per corporalem vel virtualem contactum , instead of agit ad distans : i will answer first , that the maior is vnfirme . for i would haue you know , that lightning may moue the aire violently , and the aire mooued by contact of the agent , which is lightning may stupifie , and strike dead : so that in this case , there is neither vertuall or corporall contact of the agent , but an accidentall comming betweene the vertuall agent and the patient . the like is euident in the canons bullet , which flying by a person , without any vertuall or corporall contact , doth cast the person on the ground ; for the agent being the bullet , moueth the medium or the aire violently , and the aire being so moued casteth downe the person : but though i let the maior passe for currant ; yet neuerthelesse the minor is altogether halting . for i affirme , and it is euident to euery mans capacity , that this medicine doth cure by a vertual contact , namely , by a simpathetical property , which doth operate inter terminum à quo & 〈◊〉 ad quem , betweene the beginning and end magnetically and occultly or mystically . the minor or assu●…ption is proued thus . all agents working by a vertuall contact worke within a certaine distance , and limited spheare of actiuity . the loadstone worketh vpon iron by a vertuall contact , but it workes but at a small distance . fire is the most raging agent of all , but a fire of 10. miles compasse cannot burne , heate or warme a man 2. miles distant from it . the planets excell in virtuall operation all sublunarie agents . the sunnes light goes through the whole world ; but yet a little cloud obscureth the light , and abateth the heate . the earth keepeth the light from the antipodes . the body of the moone eclipseth the sunne . now then shall terrestriall agents by distance or interposition be totally , and celestiall partly hindred , and shall this weapon-salue worke from the weapon to the wound at all distances ? shall the interposition of neither aire , woods , fire , water , walls , houses , castells , citties , mountaines , heate , cold : shall nothing hinder or stay the deriuation of the vertue of it ? what a doe wee haue about little or nothing to the purpose . i thought you would haue proceeded syllogistically to the period of your proofes as you begunne ; but i see that you finde such blocks in the way to proue your proposition , that like a tired iade you giue ouer that manner of demonstration in the midway , wherefore i must teare this your long reply into textes , the more peculiarly to answer by piece-meale euery particular thereof . all agents working by vertuall contact , worke within a certaine distance and limited sphaere of actiuity ; the loadstone worketh vpon iron by a vertuall contact , but it worketh but at a small distance . who saith that any vertuall contact can worke in infinitum , when the very world it selfe is limited ? but by your eaue , sr , the self same specifical vertue worketh her operation either further or nearer , as it is exalted in her actuall power and essence . as for example : one kin●… of gunne powder carrieth to a further marke then another : one lightning from aboue penetrateth deeper then another : in so much that it hath beene obserued , that by his subtility in p●…cing , and force in multiplication , it hath entred not only deepe into the hard rocke ; but also strucke through the solidity of the sword in the scabord and melted it , whereas other fires or lightnings from aboue haue come short of their vertuall contact . also we find that one loadst one is of a greater power and agi●…ity in working then an other : and therfore it draweth iron vnto it , both at a further distance , and with a stronger force . doth not the scripture teach vs , that god hath giuen his gifts to some men more and to some lesse ? as also some inferiour creatures he hath made in the very same kind , more vertuous in working then another ? for we ought to obserue euermore ( because you speake of a spheare of actiuity ) that the more vertuous the centrall agent is in any thing , the larger will his semidiameters be , and consequently his circumference . as for example ; the more powerful the fire is , the further will it cast it's heate circularly : so that the spheare of actiuity , of the very same agent in kind , will be no way certaine ; but further or shorter , according vnto the power of the same agent : and consequently obserueth no certaine limited spheare of actiuity . to conclude , little doth master foster know the admirable power of mans vitall spirits being dilated or emitted ; neither can it any way bee compared with the weake power of common creatures or the elementarie fire . it is a subtill influence in puritie and penetration , as piercing , yea and rather more then the influence of any star in heauen , it is not hindered by clouds , or stopped by walls or mountaines , it is a power essentiall proceeding radically from god who animateth it , mouing alwayes in an airey medium ; doe not you acknowledge so much when with the apostle you say : in ●…od wee li●…e , mo●…e and haue our being . but to proceed . the fire is the most raging agent of all ; but a fire of 10. miles compasse cannot burne , heate , or warme a man at two miles distance . truely , master foster , i can scarce beleeue you for i am sure , you would find a larger spheare of actiuity in such a proportion of fire , then your bodie would be able to endure without roasting . for if , vis vnita sit fortio●…r , if ( i say ) force added to force produceth a greater force , will you haue a fire of ten miles compasse , not to heate , nay , not to scortch & burne two miles ●…ff ? againe , pardon mee , sir , for i say , your artificiall fire is not the most ragingest agent of all . for the lightning of heauen is more forcible in it's operation then our artificiall fire , for though it bee a of lesser compasse then the hundred part of 10 miles ; yet , it so inflameth the aire for many miles compasse , that it maketh the creature to sweat againe with heate . moreouer the olympicke and starrie fire excelleth this so farre , that it pierceth many degrees further then the elementall fire can doe : for though the elementall fire be full of actiuity ; yet , it is cloathed with so thicke a spirit , in which it is carried , that though it be subtile , and of the fountaine of celestiall fire in it selfe , yet by reason it cannot mooue but in his medium or thick vehicle , namely , the artificiall fire beneath , without the thick fume or smoake of the thing combustible , and naturall , & elementall without the clouds and aire , in which it is carried , it is for that cause impedited or hindred for making so great a spheare or diameter in his actiuity , because the vehicle , being thick , cannot without some resistance of the aire penetrate into the same . but the celestiall fire which is the fountaine of the fire of life , by reason of his subtile spirit , which is his aetheriall vehicle , pierceth all things , being nothing else but a subtile influence , which according to the best philosophers aduice , doth pierce without any resistance , thorow rocks and stones , euen to the very center of the earth , as experience it selfe doth witnesse . for else ( say the philosophers ) this influence could not by little and little produce in the bowels of the earth the formes of metalls and precious stones more or lesse noble , according to the worthinesse of that starrie spirit , which sent downe that influence and purenesse of that mercuriall vapour which it animateth . but yet the life of man , i meane , that refined spirit by which man liueth , is more subtile , pure , and exalted then it : and therefore of a greater actiuity , as shall be manifested hereafter . the starres celestiall excell all sublunarie agents : the sunns light goeth through the world ; but yet a little cloud obscureth the light and abateth the heate . the earth keepeth the light from the antipodes : the body of the moone eclipseth the sunne , &c. if the starres celestiall excell the sublunarie agents , then was master foster to blame , to say before , that the terrestriall fire , was the most ragingest and powerfullest agent of all . but in this hee commeth to me : for if the celestiall agents be more potent then the sublunarie , it argueth that it hath a greater spheare of actiuity , and can send out his diametrall beames , further then either loadstone , fire , or such like sublunarie things , in which , though the agent celestiall be , yet it is so cloied and encombred with a grosse spirit , or compacted body , that it cannot operat , as in the graine of corne it appeareth , whose internall and centrall fire , except it be set at libertie , will not moue from the superficies of the earth vp toward heauen and multiplie . but to the purpose : what a story doth our author tell vs of the sunne , the sunns light , the eclipse , the interposition of the earth betwixt the sunne in our horizon , and the antipodes , the impediting of the sunns light by the interposition of a cloud ? verily , it is more to shew his small skill in astronomy and philosophie , then to touch truely any thing that is material to our argumēt . for , i am sure , he is not ignorant , that there are two things more besides light which are exactly by philosophers to be considered ( to wit ) motion and influence . if he will say that influence can be stoped by clouds , by interposition of starres , by aire , by water , or by earth , he erreth and knoweth no philosophy : motu , lumine , & influentiâ operantur stellae , & non solo lumine ; the starres operate by motion , light , and influence , not by light onely . the visible light may bee obscured to vs , but the influence will flow without resistance . and to this purpose speake the wisest philosophers . now then shall terrestriall agents by distance or interposition be totally , and celestiall be partly hindered , and shall this weapon-salue worke from the weapon to the wound at all distances ? shall the interposition ( i say ) neither of ayre , woods , fire , water , walls , houses , castles cities , mountaine , &c : hinder the deriuation of the vertue of it . first , i say that the originall act in this cure issueth from the wounded person to the ointment , and not ( as he saith ) from the ointment to the wound . next , i told this busie gentleman before , that makes so much adoe now about nothing ; that for asmuch as this spirit proceedeth from a celestiall influence animated by god , therefore it hath no such stopps and rubbes ; neither is this subtill of all subtill creatures any way impedited in his descent to feed & nourish that species , vnto which , from the creation of the species it was ordained ; but we must know thus much , that before it came downe it was catholicke and generall ; but after it did penetrate into bodies , it endueth a specificall and particular nature , and hath an especiall sympathie with a nature like it selfe , and for this reason , the wounded mans spirit penetrateth through the vehicle of aire , in which the bloud is conuayed vnto the ointment , and naturally affects the oyntment : so much the rather , because that bloud was ayre , and ayre is dilated bloud in his internall , and that i can ocularly demonstrate : and also the principall ingredient of the oyntment was of the bloud ; wherefore as we see the sunne by his beames doth send out his spirit into a graine of corne in the earth , and hath his liuely influence or essentiall beames of emission continuatēd with his like ; nay , the very same that lurketh in the dead and corrupted graine , and so by little and little reuiueth , that which was as it were dead and buried in corruption , making it to thriue and vegetate with multiplication : euen so and no otherwise the sunne of life in man liuing and mouing yet in man , as the sunne in the great world , hath his liuely beame of influence continued vnto the spirituall sparke in the dead bloud , which is all one with the influēce emitting , but buried in a dead bloody corporall graine , namely , the dead blood conueyed to the oyntment , the which oyntment we compare vnto a good , a wholesome or a comfortable earth , most proper for the nourishing of such a hidden spirit as lurketh in the bloud , being that they , namely , the ointment and the bloud transferred or committed vnto it , are no strangers to one an other , but as homogeneall , or rather as well acquainted as one specificall body is vnto a spirit of the same degree in nature , for as much as the body of the oyntment is compounded ( according vnto my receipt ) ofbloud , fat-flesh and the mosse or excresence of the bones of the same microcosmicall species , though not indiuiduum , all which are animated from that spirit of life which abideth in mans bloud : the influence therefore of life issuing from the microcosmicall or humane sonne and assisting reuiuifying and multiplying by little and little the hidden graine of life in the amputated bloud now in the oyntment , and also exciting the potentiall or sopified spirit in the oyntment , no otherwise then we see the sunne of heauen to stirre vp , in the spring time , the spirits of the earth which the cold winter had stupefied and benummed , leaueth not to operate betweene both extremes , vntill the party doth recouer . this is the true mystery of the question , and i will stand to it , that the vse of the earth to rott , rayse vp , and multiplie the graine of wheat is magicall , diabolicall and vnlawfull , if it can be truely demonstrated , that the vse of this oyntment is witchcraft and vnsufferable ; for their mysterie of multiplication , reviuification and coniunction of the viuifying spirit of the one , with the viuified spirit of the other , is all one and the same . it was a type by which st. paul doth teach vs the resurrection , namely , by the dying and rotting of corne in the earth ; and as for the operation of the sunne in the graines multiplication , euery plowman will instruct you in it . now for a conclusion vnto this , we see that sometimes the sunne is further off , and somtimes nearer , and yet more or lesse , he doth not cease to operate by vegetating and multiplying in animals , vegetables , and mettalls : i must now heare his conclusion . o agent aboue all agents , certainely the angels of heauen cannot worke at such a distance , onely god whose essence is infinite , who is omnia in omnibus , all in all , can worke thus , because from him nothing is distant at all , 〈◊〉 in him we liue , moue and haue our being , acts 17. leaue your admiration ! it is nothing to this our text ; you haue opened your owne absurdity , i would haue you now abandon the abolishing of our weapon-salue , and make vse of your sponge , to wipe away the staines of your owne error , which you haue fully expressed in this your assertion ; for by it you haue ouerthrowne your tenent : you say after your admiration aboue admiration , that the angells of heauen cannot worke at such a distance : therfore i conclude thus ; ergò much lesse the angells of hell , for they are darker , and therefore of a lesse extension ; now you said before , that a cloud will take away the sunnes light , therefore surely the diuell being an angell of darkenesse , must be more impedited in his vertuall operations , and consequently in the extension of his power then the angells of light . but ( say you ) it is the power of the diuell that makes this oyntment to doe such feates at so farre a distance , for else it were not witch-craft nor diabolicall : then you conclude thus for me , onely god whose essence is infinite , and is all in all , can worke thus , &c : and can hee so indeed ? and will master foster then attribute this act vnto the diuell , the worst of angells ; and so commit worse then ordinary idolatry , to arrogate that to the creature , nay to the diuell , which by his owne confession belongeth to god ? will you confesse that he is all and in all , and will you make the goodnesse more all in the goodnesse of healing then god himselfe ? will you acknowledge with the apostle , that god operats all & in all , and will you attribute his worke ( the fruits whereof is goodnesse ) vnto the diuell , whom he predestined and ordained to punish , destroy , and marre , and not to make and heale . doe not you absolutely conclude for the weapon salue , in saying : in him we liue , moue , &c. proh deum atque hominū fidem ! what an error is this , in so eminent an appearing philosopher , nay , in a theosopher ? the world may perceiue by this , that quaedam videntur & non sunt : but to proceed vnto the period . let the iudicious and religious reader iudge then if the weapon-curing mediciners make not a god of their vnguent , and commit not idolatry in attributing that to a little smearing oyntment of their owne making , which is proper to god onely , the maker of all things you are deceiued , sir , they make not a god of the vnguent , but giue hearty thanks vnto him for that blessed gift of miraculous healing , he hath bestowed on the vnguent . neither did the iewes attribute the curing property vnto the poole of bethesdaes , but vnto gods curing or salutiferous angell , which imparted that gift vnto it . wherefore i would haue you ( good sir ) and all the world besides to know that all suspicion of idolatry is in this case taken away from the mediciners , for asmuch as due acknowledgment and veneration is ascribed by them vnto god onely , for his grace in healing , manifested by this oyntment : yea verily , rather the stile of an idolater ought rightly to be imputed to your selfe ( sir ) who so impiously dare to attribut these good healing blessings of god vnto the deuill , the worst of creatures . againe , we deny that it is the artificiall composition , made with mans hands , that cureth , but the naturall ingredients of the composition , which god hath originally endued with such an occult and mysticall vertue in ●…uring : to conclude this point , if the iudicious reader will well ponder the words of m. fosters text , he shall finde him to be in it an a●…stat or heriticke vnto his owne tenent or doctrine ; for his assertion , which hee seemeth so giant-like to maintaine , is , that the weapon-salues cure is diabolicall , or effected by the subtill art of the deuill : but in this text hee dotingly saith , that the mediciners attribute that vnto the salue or little smearing oyntment which is proper to god onely which if it bee true , ( as true it is ) then is master foster in an abominable errour , to affirme this cure to be onely the act and operation of the deuill . thus ( gentle reader ) you see the efficacie of this mans reasons , as well philosophicall as theologicall , whereby he seemeth , through the ignorance of the cause , to maske gods goodnesse with a prestigious visard of the deuill : you see the improbability of it . but as penitent sinners , at the last doe conuert themselues , from the deuill to god , so ( god bee thanked ) this weapon-salue his aduersarie , led rather by a good spirit then his owne will , concludes truely and saith , that it is not the good angels , and therefore much lesse the deuill , that can doe such a feate ; but god onely : i reioyce at his conuersion , though against his will. loe , how he accordeth with his great enemy , that damned magitian paracelsus ( as he tearmeth him ) who affirmed that it was donum dei : as concerning his authors which he citeth against it , i esteem them not ; there are as many for it of a better authority and iudgement . for they are neither your schoolemen , who deale onely in imaginary speculatiue philosophy ; nor ioan●…es roberti the iesuit , and such like phantasticall theorickes ; but learned physicians , great philosophers , both theorically and practically profound in the mysteries of nature , and therefore the fitter persons to discusse a businesse of this physicall nature : amongst the which i nominat , in the first place , the bishop anselme , who for his integrity , deepe learning and hol●…nesse of life , is canonized a saint : and then amongst the deepe philosophers and physicians , which haue been conversant in the mysteries of god and nature , theophrastus paracelsus , who tearmes it iustly donum dei , cardanus , ioannes bapista porta , oswaldus collius , ioannes ernestus , burgrauius , rodulphus goclinius , ioannes baptista ab helmont , and many other excellent and well experimented philosophers & physicians , who as well by the practicall art of alchymy ( then which there is no science in the world that doth more ocularly bewray and discouer the hidden mysteries of nature ) as other assiduall obseruations grounded vpon proofe , and not on imaginary contemplation onely , haue like true philosophers , diued into this mystery of healing : men ( i say ) who haue beene as subtill to eschew , and wary to foresee the diuels craft , yea , and to distinguish his act from that of god in nature , as master foster or any other of his paedagogicall rabbies : and although some superstitious physicians of this kingdome ( such , i meane as are apter rashly to iudge this businesse then to ponder it with due consideration ) may seeme to bee aduerse vnto it , yet , they cannot choose but know , that plura latent quam quae patent , there are many thousand things more that are hidden in the secret closet of nature , then commonly man doth know ; or can at the first discerne . and therefore , if they are ignorant in this my●…ery , it will prooue an effect of their highest wise-dome to hold their peace and not meddle in the censuring of it , as being assured that there are many things hidden in nature , which fall not in the spheare of their capacity , verbum sapienti . againe , i esteeme it a thing fit for freshwater souldiers in philosophy , and not for a settled person in the secrets of nature , to say ipse dixit : this man , or that man saith or writeth thus and thus , ergo it is so : because , humanum est errare . ti 's most familiar euen in the wisest men to erre , but it is the best wisdome in a philosopher first to diue wisely into the mysteries of god in nature , and then , being confident to conclude demostratiuely ; and not according to other mens sayings , but on his owne knowledge . now seeing master foster hath done his worst for the vilifying and calumniating of this excellent medicine , vnto which by manner of opposition i haue , as yet , but superficially , and by way of solution of his obiections answered , i hope you will giue mee leaue to doe my best , to squeese out of his formidable sponge , the weapon-salues reputation , which like a cormorant it hath deuoured and sucked vp . the question . whether the cure of wounds by the weapon-salue , bee witchcraft and vnlawfull to be vsed ? i deny it , and maintaine it two manner of wayes : first , theologically . lastly , theophilosophically , or by the purest naturall philosophy . chap. ii. herein the vertue and good operation of the weapon-oyntment is prooued to be the gift of god ; and not any act of the diuell . master foster saith , that paracelsus affirmeth the vertue of this medicine to bee donum dei , the gift of god : wherefore hee is very angry with him , and called him a witch , a coniurer and a magitian ; hee is well serued that will preach goodnesse , either to a mad man , or an vnthankfull person , or to one that is zealous without vnderstanding : but whereas master foster hath done his best to proue the vse of this ointment to bee magicall , prestigious and diabolicall ; i hope i shall demonstrate the contrarie vpon the same foundations , ascribing the due and right belonging vnto god , vnto the right owner , and depriuing the diuell of that , which by his instruments he hath falsely vsurped . as before we presume to build any stately palace , wee must lay a strong foundation , to vphold the whole fabricke thereof : euen so before we enterprize to establish or reare a strong castle of defence to serue as a firmer negatiue opposition against mine aduersaries affirmation ; i thinke it fit to collect some firme grounds or spirituall arguments , which , in lieu of corner stones may statuminate and prop vp the whole truth of the proposed question , and expresse the true resolution of it , to bee cleane adverse and different from that which he maketh shew of . i will therefore imitate him in making my entrance into this enquiry with this sillogistical argument grounded on his owne confession which he maketh pag. 7. the angels of heauen , saith he , cannot worke at such a distance onely god whose essence is infinit , and is , omnia in omnibus , all in all , can worke thus : if god therefore worketh all in all , by himselfe without the essentiall assistance of any created spirit or body , then the diuell is no actor in the weapon salue ; but god worketh all in all of himselfe , without the essentiall assistance of any creature : therefore the diuell operateth nothing of or by himselfe , although he in his office is euill and destructiue , much lesse in doing good , as is supposed by the curing through the weapon-salue , which is vtterly against his condition , being created or ordained after his fall for another vse . the maior is euident ; because a generall comprehendeth euery particular : and therefore if god operateth all in all , then the diuell operateth nothing ; but curing is an operation , and therefore a worke onely of god. the minor or the assumption is iustified by the apostle in these words : there are diuersitie of gifts , but the same spirit ; and there are diuersitie of administrations , but one lord , and there are diuersitie of operations , but one god ; and the same worketh all in all : it is by one and the same spirit , that the gifts of healing are giuen . whereby it is apparent , that first god by his spirit operateth all in all , and among those operati-ons , the excellent act and gift of healing is numbred : therefore it is not the diuell ; but god who onely healeth . againe , the prophet saith , he sent his word and healed them : and the wise man saith , thy w●…rd ( o lord ) healeth all things : and saint iohn hath it , that in the word was life , &c. ergo all healing and viuifying power commeth from him , as ordained by him the speaker or creator from the beginning , to informe , viuifie and create all things . whereas contrariewise in the diuell is death and destruction ; for the prophet doth testifie that he was created to destroy , ergo nothing but afflictio●… and wounding with sicknesse , death and destruction are to be expected of him in his created property , and that especially after his fall . but i know master foster will reply , that it is true , he is causa primaria & principalis , the prime and principall cause of all things ; but there are many s●…balternate efficient causes , which operat by themselues , & that according to their owne inclinations , some to good , and some to euill . to this i ●…swer , that it is granted , if he meaneth organicall causes , and not essentially efficients ; for such are the angels , the starres , the winds , the elements , the meteors or imperfect bodies , and the perfect or compounded creatures ; but it is most euident , that onely god worketh essentially in them , and by them all : and i proue it by many places of holy writ harmonically agreeing in one sense . as for example : ego dominus ( saith the lord by the prophet ) faciens omnia solus , & nullus mecum . i am the lord who operate and act all things alone , not hauing any one to helpe or assist me in mine action or operation . and againe : iuxta voluntatem suam facit , tam coeli virtutibus , quam &c. hee doth what hee list , as well with the vertues and powers of heauen , as with the dwellers on the earth , and there is not any that can resist his hand . whereby it is most euident , that onely god alone , without any co-assisting creature , doth essentially worke in each organicall subiect , as in an instrument created for him to operate his will and pleasure by , as well in heauen as in earth , and that the creature without that act , is as a dead stocke , a plaine inane & vacuum without all vertue , act and operation , being vnable to doe more then the pipe without the blast of the piper . and to this effect speakes the prophet thus : consilium meum stabit , & omnis voluntas mea flet , &c. my counsell shall stand , and my will shall bee accomplished , calling a bird from the east quarter of t●…e world , and a man of my will from a remote countrey , i haue said it , and i will bring it to passe . i haue created it , and i will doe it , whereby it is euident , that as the spirit of his mouth , which hee hath sent out for the animating of euery creature , moueth which way the will of the creatour or inspirer pleaseth : so the spirit of the creature , which is partaker of his power and will , is immediately obedient , and bringeth his bodily case or instrument along with it , to performe his creators will , which is irresistible according to that other place : deus quodcunque voluit hoc facit . what god would haue done that he effecteth . and this operation of god , as well by himselfe , as in his created organs , doth extend it selfe ; not only vnto vulgar & manifest actions and effects ; but also vnto arcane or hidden ; yea , and to such as are miraculous & wonderful , euen as this cure by the weapon-salue appeareth to be vnto the fantasies o●… worldly men , making them to admire and wonder at it , as a company of birds doe at an owle in an iuie bush , censuring after the wisedome of this world diuersly , and that according to euery mans imagination . some boldly and presumptuously proclaiming it to be the work of the diuell ; some auerre it to bee a maine fopperie and vaine imagination in too credulous persons who by hauing only a good opinion of the thing , are cured : some condemne it , as a superstitious and abominable manner of healing , for as much as the election of ingredients , must be done by an astrological obseruation : and others , approac●… nearer the truth , terme it a naturall magia , or a magneticall or secret act of nature : and some more essentially grounded , and religiously obseruing the prescribed order of holy writ , doe ( as true christians are bound to doe ) referre , both this miraculous and wonderous act in curing , & euery other wonderous worke besides , vnto that glorious god , who hath made both heauen and earth , and assigned to them by his spirit , as well those vertues which worke in the eyes of worldlings miraculously or wonderfully , as others which appeare more familiar vnto their sense : according vnto that of dauid , verbo domini firmati sunt coeli & spiritu ab ore eius omnis virtus corum : by the word of the lord the heauens were established , and by the breath of his mouth , each vertue or power thereof . and their maine ground and foundation , for the maintainance of gods right and the abolishing or taking away of all such miraculous and wonderfull power , as is falsely by blind worldlings ascribed vnto the diuell , is prescribed them , out of this diuine and truth-telling hymne of the royall prophet . blessed bee the lord god of israel , who onely and by himselfe , worketh m●…ruailes ! or as he hath it in another place : praise the lord , for his mercie endureth for euer , who onely doth great meruailes ! and consequently , not any diuell ; nor angell ; nor man ; nor medicine ; but god onely performeth it : by that spirituall gift of healing , he hath imparted vnto man and his creatures in their creation and continued it in them from generation to generation . it is manifest , therefore , that onely god operateth all in all essentially , and not any created organ , bee it spirituall or corporall : and consequently , not the diuell ( who is the organ of darknesse , ordained and animated or agitated to effect onely deeds of darkenesse , as are sicknesse and destruction , and not to be conuersant in goodnesse , and especially about deeds of light , as are life ( healing and preseruing ) . as who should say , that god acting and operating essentially in all and ouer all , had not created good angels or spirituall organs to bring to passe and effect the gifts of life and health , which hee hath of his mercy imparted vnto his creatures ; but hee must make election of that spirituall organ , to performe such good deedes , whom he created for a cleane contrarie purpose , as shall be forthwith proued : gods purpose and will , as well in his creation as after it , cannot be withstood : that is , there cannot be produced an effect , contrarie to his will or decree . but gods will and purpose was to make the deuill his instrument or minister to punish and afflict with diseases , sickenesse , and death . ergo , this his purpose as well in the deuils creation as by ordination after his fall cannot bee withstood , or contradicted by any effect which is contrarie vnto that first will and decree of god. now for the confirmation of the major we find it thus written : deus iuxta voluntatem suam facit , &c. ( as before ) god doth his will and pleasure , as well with the celestiall vertues & powers , as with the dwellers on the earth , and there is not any that can resist his hand . and againe : quodcunque voluit hoc facit , what god would haue , that doth he . and againe , as touching his will in the creation ( as before ) consilium meum stabit & omnis voluntas mea fiet , my counsell shall stand , and my will shall be established . and hence it is written in genesis , voluntati dci num possumus resistere ? can we resist the will of god ? and the apostle hath it ; voluntati dei quis resistat ? who can resist the vvill of god ? not any creature : and a reason is giuen by the wise salomon , because volunt as domini in aeternum permanebit . the will of the lord shall endure for euer . and by whom , i pray now , doth he operat & bring to effect this his will and decree to goodnesse and healing ? what by the deuill ? contrarie to his originall ordinance , euen by him who is a rebell vnto all goodnesse ? is it possible that hee , that hath not a lot of goodnesse in him , could produce and bring to passe such a gift of goodnesse and charity , as is that of healing ? no , this is performed by iesus the catholick sauiour , who is the head of potestats and powers , who altereth not one tittle , in effecting gods will in heauen and in earth : as it i said , voluntatem vt faciam eius qui misit me , de coelo descendi , i came down from heauen to doe his will that sent me . it is therefore onely our spirituall lord iesus ( vnto whom power is giuen from his father ) who bringeth all things to that absolute effect , which without all contradicton was decreed by the father : and not false gods ; nor angels ; nor deuils ; nor men ; according vnto that before mentioned . though there bee that are called gods , as well in heauen as in earth , yet vnto vs there is but one god the father , of whom are all things , and one iesus christ , by whom are all things . whereby it is argued , that god the father decreeth , as the father and root of all things , in whom complicitly and ideally they were before all beginning ; but the sonne essentially effecteth his will , and maketh euery ideal thing to appeare explicitly and really : and therefore neyther angels nor diuels , nor starres , nor any thing else , but onely our lord iesus christ , mouing in his ministers , as well spirituall as corporall , effecteth , both in and after the creation , all things , that exist , and consequently the art of curing . and hereupon by scripture ( as it is sayd before ) wee are taught , that it is the word that cureth all those dolorous effects of sickenesse , which the diuell brings to passe : for first the psalmist saith , immisit in eos iram indignationis suae , iram & tribulationem , per malos angelos . hee sent out amongst them the anger of his indignation , anger and tribulation by euill angells , &c. heere therefore you see the effects of the ministery of satan and his angels , which is to strike and wound with sickenesse . and then in another place he sheweth the immediate curer of these diuellish effects , in these words : misit verbum & sanauit●…eos , hee sent his word and healed them . and the wise man saith : non herba , aut malagmate ; sed verbo tuo , quod sanat omnia , curasti eos : verily , i say vnto you also , that it is not the herbe or animall or minerall medicine ; but the gift of healing , in the said creatures , assigned vnto them in their creation , by the word that healeth . as for the minor , it is confirmed by the expresse words of the prophet , ( speaking in the person of god himselfe ) ecce ego creaui fabrum sufflantem in igne prunas , & proferentem vas in opus suum , & ego creaui interfectorem ad disper dendum . behold , i haue created a smith to blow the coales in the fire , and to produce a vessell in his worke , and i created the destroyer to destroy , whereby wee may see , that the will of god was not that hee should be created , or at the least ordayned af●…er his fall for a healer , preseruer , or maker ; but for a wounder and destroyer , yea , his nature was made so cancrous and malicious , that hee doth not only enuy at mans prosperity ( and therefore cannot against the nature of the office which god assigned to him in his creation , or after his fall be his curing angell ) but also he repineth at the excellency of god his creator , as may appeare by the third of genesis . whereupon salomon saith : diaboli inuidia mors introiuit in orbem terrarum : death and destruction entred into the world by the malice of the diuell : and therefore hee is farre from doing the office of healing and preseruing . it is christ which hath the office of life , preseruation and health , who for this cause was sent by his father to withstand the bad acts of the diuel . diabolum habentem mortis imperium ( saith s. paul ) christus suâ morte destruxit . christ by his death destroyed the diuell , hauing the power of death vnder him . it is that salutiferous emanation of god the father of life , which was from all beginnings ordained to quell the diuell a●…d his malicious intents or effects . forasmuch as diabolus aduersarius tanquam leo rugiens ●…uit quaerens quem deuoret : the common aduersary the diuell , doth compasse about , seeking whom hee may de●…oure ; and now is he become a physician and a turne-coat vnto that office , for the which by gods will hee was created ? did hee kill so many when hee was a young physician , and hath hee inuented now , after his long experience the weapon-salue to cure some ? a pretty , witty conclusion of master foster , and the iesuiticall ioannes roberti his foster father , in this blind conceit . but now i will be so bold as to produce an argument for this oyntment , not vnlike to that which master foster hath framed : if there be no diuine institution or authority out of holy writ , to warrant any curing effect or art by the diuell , eyther by supernaturall or naturall means , then is there no reason to beleeue , that the cure done by the weapon-salue is effected by the worke of the diuell . but in holy writ , there is not found any such warrant for the curing of wounds by the diuell , through the helpe eyther of supernaturall or naturall meanes . therefore it is not to be credited , that the curing by the weapon-salue can be effected by the art or act of the diuell . the maior is of the selfe-same effect with that of m. fosters argument , where he seemeth to auer , that because the vse of this weapon-salue is not effected by diuine institution , nor yet hath any testimony or example to confirme it out of holy writ , therefore it is prestigious . and againe ( as is said before ) what god hath originally decreed in the archetypicall idaea , that cannot be altered ; but the diuell was ordained for another vse , quite contrary vnto the pious and mercifull act of healing . the minor is proued by that which is said already ; as also the words of our sauiour are very efficacious for this our purpose : for when he had cured one that was both blinde and dumbe , and possessed with an euill spirit , so that ( as the text saith ) he that was blind and dumbe , could see and speake : the pharises said , this man casteth out diuells , no otherwise then by belzebub , the prince of diuells ; but christ answered , euery kingdome diuided against it selfe , is brought to naught , and euery house or citty diuided against it selfe , shall not stand ; so if satan cast out satan , hee is diuided against himselfe . whereby it is cleare , that being all diseases , as well internall as externall , are by gods decree inflicted by the diuell and his angels , as being created ministers , by which and in which , god vseth to execute vengeance , and to punish mortall creatures . it were a wrong vnto the office assigned vnto him , in , or immediately after his creation , to worke violence against his owne subiects by casting them out , or curing the harmes they haue effected . wee haue many places in holy writ to confirme , that satan and his angels are contrary to the art of curing , and are alwayes ready to hurt with sicknesses , and afflict with death ; but we c●…not find one to testifie any curing faculty in him . as for example : it is sayd that there was power assigned vnto the foure angells , which were by god made presidents of the soure windes , to hurt the earth , the sea and the trees : now euery one of these were princes of many legions of euill and wounding spirits . againe , the prophet saith , god commeth from the south , the heauens were couered with his glory , and the earth was full of his praise , at his feet was death , or ( as s. ieremy ha●…h it ) egredietur diabolus ante pedes eius , the diuel ●…ill goe forth before his feete ; but other interpreters say , the pestilence went before him , and the contagion raging and destroying in the south . and dauid saith , doe not feare the plague raging in the south ( as some interpreters haue it . ) but s. ierome saith , a daemonia meridiano , from the d●…on , or spirit of the south . we find that it was satan , that was gods instrument or organ by which hee wrought his will on iob , and thereupon hee said to his creator , lay thou but thy hand vpon him , &c. by which words it may be signified , that he vsed more reuerence vnto his creator in that his acknowledgement , then mr. foster doth , in making this ; organ of sickenesse , a peremptory and absolute actor , as well in the effect of healing , as destroying : namely of himselfe , and not as hee is onely the organ , or instrument , by which god doth essentially worke his owne ends of vengeance against offenders . this therefore was he that wounded patient iob with a foule botch or vlcer , and incited in his spirits a fiery feauer , which made him thus to cry out in his anguish : the arrows of the omnipotent are grieuous against mee , their poyson drinketh vp my spirits , and the troubles of god , which are sharply set against mee , doe oppose mee , where hee attributed all vnto god , and not vnto satan , who is his wounding organ . also dauid saw the destroying angell of the lord betwixt heauen and earth , with a naked sword in his hand , extended against ierusalem , who strucke a great many with the pestilence . also iehoua sent the killing angell into the campe of the assyrians , who destroyed euery valiant man at armes in one nights space : also moses , by the destroying organ of god ( vsing in steed of the weapon-curing-salue , which was contrary to his office , art , and skill , the aspersion of an infectious powder ) afflicted the egyptians with vlcers and pustules . now that it is not the angelicall organ ; but god himselfe in the organ , which doth essentially act and strike , it apppeareth by this place , where ieho●…a saith : circa mediam noctem , ego egressurus ero in medium aegypti , & morietur omnis primogenitus : about midnight i will goe out into the midst of egypt , and euery first borne shall die . but in the next chapter it is said : iehoua transibit praeter portam illam , & non sinet interfectorem seu percussorem , seu vastatorem , domos vestras vastare . god will passe ouer that dore , and will not suffer the destroyer to strike or hurt your houses . whereby it is apparant , that the essentiall act of god is present with the organicall destroyer , and doth act in it . lastly , to shew you that it was wicked spirits , which , by the agitation of their creator , did cause these diseases in egypt : the kingly prophet argueth in these words before mentioned , immisit in eos iram in dignationis suae , iram & tribulatinem per malos angelos , hee sent amongst them the fiercenesse of ●…is anger , wrath , and indignation by euill angells . i can prooue this by many more examples of holy text , namely , how god doth punish and plague with sickenesse , diseases and death , by these his destroying ministers , or organicall causes , which hee created of set purpose , to performe his will in this afflicting manner ; but it cannot be prooued that hee did imploy them in the contrary office , namely , in that of healing and curing : for , when he is pleased to cure or heale , he hath an infinity of good angels to performe that office , all which are concluded vnder the dominion of the archangel , raphael , which therefore hath that name , quasi medicina dei , as who should say , the medicine of god. i must therefore conclude , that as the onely act of god , is as well to wound as to cure , so hath he ordained instruments or organs to serue his turne in the execution ofboth these operations : which are so contrary one to the other in condition , as light is to darkenesse , or good to euill . now , that it is the act onely of god , as well to heale by his good organs , as to strike and wound by his destroying organs ; wee learne out of many places of scripture . si plaga afficiet iehoua aegyptum , qui plagis afsecit , sanat cum conuersi fuerint ad iehouam , if god will afftict egypt with plagues , hee that ●…leth with diseases , can againe heale the afflicted , when they turne vnto him ; and , yet , dauid confesseth , that he did afflict them with euill angels : and iob saith , deusest qui vulnerat & medetur , percutit & sanat . it is god that woundeth and cureth , he striketh and healeth , and yet it was satan , which was gods hand to act iobs misery . and in another place ; ego occidam , & viuere facia●… , percutiam & sanabo , & non est qui de manu mea possit cruere : i will kill , and i will make to liue , i will strike , and i will heale , and there is not one that can escape my hand . and salomon ; tu vitae & mortis potestatem habes , deducis ad portas inf●…ni , & reducis , & manum tuam nihil potest effugere : thou hatst the power of life and death in thine hand , thou bringest into the mouth of the graue , and deliuerest , or bringest backe againe . whereby it is manifest , that it is onely god , who eyther miraculously , or by vertue of his creatures , which he hath instituted for this , or that wholesome purpose , that cureth , and againe woundeth , by the meanes of his organicall ministers , be they angelicall or humane . as for example : hee causeth his angell raphiel , to make vse of the fish his liuer and gall , for the chasing away of the destroying fiend , and to heale the blind tobias . also the angel did giue the vertue of healing vnto the lake bethesdas . and againe , the psalmist saith , plag a non appropinquabit tentorium tuum , nam angelis suis praecipiet de te ; but that by any authority of text hee made vse of satan , or any of his darke angels , to accomplish any such deed of light , or to employ any of gods creatures , as are the fat , blood , or flesh , to cure a wounded or vlcerous creature , when i can finde it in scripture , i will in some sort beleeue it ; but because that will proue too long a search for master foster , and againe , i finde the precedent places of scripture to be generally against it ; therefore i conclude , that the mysticall curing by the weapon-salue is the mercifull gift of god only . wherefore vnto him wholly , and vnto no diuell in hell , be ascribed all vertue , power and glory , for his mercies in generall , and for this vertue and property of healing by the weapon-salue in particular , for euer , amen . blessed ( i say with the prophet dauid ) be the lord god of israel , who onely worketh all wonders , and therefore effecteth this wonderfull manner of curing , which passeth mans vnderstanding . to him therefore be ascribed , for it , all praise and honour for euermore . chap. iii. how by an abstruse inquisition made into the mystery of sacred philosophy , the question proposed , concerning the lawfulnesse or vnlawfulnesse of the weapon-salues vsage , is resolued , and mr. fosters sponge well squeesed . in this precedent chapter , i haue proued thelogically , and that by pure examples out of scripture , that the diuell was the spirituall organ , ordained by god in the creation for an vse cleane opposite vnto that of curing and healing : and therefore it is vnlikely , that now in his latter dayes after so many destructions committed by him , in his former age , hee can become a sauer and healer of diseases . now wil i proue in a more euident manner , and that by sacred philosophy , that gods viuifying spirit , mouing in the ayry organ of the world , doth by his vertuous application or aspect to the weapon-salue , effect the cure of such as are wounded . and i call this manner of prouing theo-philosophicall , or belonging vnto sacred philosophy ; because it respecteth the nature of this manner of curing , as it receiueth his essentiall act and being from god , mouing and acting in and by his created spiri●…uall organs , in and ouer all . of this manner of philosophy , st. paul speaketh thus , videte ne quis vos decipiat per philosophiam , & inanem fallaciam , secundū traditionem h●…minum , secundum element a mundi , non secundum christum , quia in ipso habitat omnis plenitudo diuinitatis corporaliter , & estis in illo repleti , qui est caput omnis principatus & potestatis . beware , lest there be any man that deceiue you through philosophy and vaine deceit , according to the traditions of men , according to the rudiments of the world , and not after christ , for in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the god-head bodily , and 〈◊〉 are complete in him , who is the head of principalities and powers . by which words hee seemeth to terme the ethnick philosophy vaine and deceitfull , forasmuch as it is framed out , according to the rudiments of this world , which doe ordaine many essentiall subalternate agents acting and operating absolutely and simply of themselues without any consideration had vnto the catholicke and supreme power of god the father of all things , from whom radically all essentiall actions proceed , which are afteward effected by our lord iesus christ , by whom all things haue their being , and not from any subalternat agent , or efficient creature . for though they ferue as organicall ministers ; yet they are but dead , except god apeareth and opperateth in them by his spirit , and therefore is all act and operation attributed vnto god , as it is proued before by the apostle , saying , one god operateth all in all : and againe he saith : though there be , that are called gods in heauen and in earth ; yet , vnto vs there is but one god , who is the father , of whom are all things , and we in him ; and one lord iesus christ , by whom are all things , and wee by him : for this cause is god called alpha and ome●…a , the beginning and the end , namely , as in himselfe he decreeth all , and by his word he essentially operateth and effecteth all , and that immediately . now that his very spirit is in all things , the wise salomon doth intimate expressely , saying , that the incorruptible spirit of the lord is in all things , and that from the spirit of gods mouth proceedeth the vertues of all things , as the prophet dauid telleth vs : which being so , it must consequently follow , that the essentiall forme or life of euery creature in this world , must depend on this spirit , and haue his centrall seate of actiuity in proportion more or lesse from this agent of agents , who as it acteth in the center of all things ; so is it euen continuat vnto the circumference , that is , from alpha or the center , vnto omega or the circumference : for else would there bee a diuision of the diuine essence , which is impossible . and for this cause is god said to fill all , and to operate all in all ; wherefore the apostle concludeth ( as before ) that the ethnick philosophy framed out by the tradition and inuention of mans wisdome , is false and deceitfull ; but that which is founded onely vpon christ , is to bee embraced ; because , that in him dwelleth the fullnes of diuinity , which operateth all in all , according vnto the will and decree of his father : who is the head of all potestates and principalities , and consequently of all angels ; and therefore angels can effect nothing , but as he acteth in them and by them as his spirituall organs . loe , this is therefore that theosophicall subiect , whereby i make my strickt inquisition into the mystery of this manner of healing by the weapon-salue , and thus much for a preamble to the discourse . now to the purpose : wee must obserue in the cure done by this weapon-salue three principall things , namely , the partie wounded , the oyntment curing , and lastly , the occulte actiuity , which raigneth in the blood and issueth from the blood vnto the oyntment . the party wounded may rightly be compared to the world , and therefore is called a little world : he is composed of heauen and earth ; namely , of spirit and body , and as the creatour did send out his spirit , which moued vpon the waters , and did informe , animate and viuifie them ; so that ( as st. peter saith ) of them and by them were the heauens and the earth framed , and by this spirituall word established vnto this day : euen so mans heauen and his earth are fashioned out by the same eternall spirit of life , on which it relyeth and continueth in his specificall succession , euen vnto this very day . and therfore is it said , ye are carued out of one and the same spirituall rocke , and that in him wee line , wee moue and haue our being : and that we are the temples of the holy ghost , and the members of christ , and that we are in god the father , and by our lord iesus christ , ( as it is rehearsed before ) and that regnum dei sit intra nos , the kingdome of god is within vs : neither let vs ascribe this gods goodnesse to our selues alone , since that it extendeth it selfe to euery creature besides , though not so abundantly . for , in verbo erat vita , in the word was life , and iudith saith in her prayer : seruiat dc●…omnis omnis creatura , quia dixisti & factae sunt , misisti spiritum tuum & creatae sunt : let euery creature ser●…e thee o lord , because thou spakest the word , and they were made , thou didst send forth thy spirit and they were created . and the prophet saith : haec dicit deus creans coelos , extendens eos firmans terram & quae germinant in ea , dans flatum popul●… qui est supraeam & spiritum calcantibus eam : thus saith the lord , who hath created the heauens and extended them , and fastned the earth and all things that grow out of it ; who giueth breath vnto the people that is vpon it , and spirit to those creatures that tread vpon it . and king dauid ; deo dante creaturis colligu●… ; abscondente faciemsuam , perturbantur ; recipiente spiritum eorum , exspirant ; emittente spiritum suum , receantur : god giuing to the creatures , they receiue it ; hiding his face from them , they are troubled ; taking back againe from them their spirit , they dye ; and sending forth his spirit , they are recreated or reuiued . and iob , homin●…m constituit deus super terram , apponens ad ●…am animam suam ; si spiritum seu flatum eius adse reciperet , deficeret & exspiraret omnis ca●… : simul & ●…omo in cinerem reverteretur : god made man vpon earth , giuing vnto him his soule or life . if he should receiue or draw vnto himselfe his spirit or breath of life , all flesh would dye , and also man would returne to ashes . by all these authorities we are taught , that the life , forme , and nature of euery creature , doth essentially spring and proceed from god , and therefore what gift of healing is found to proceed either from compounded or simple medicines , be they angelicall , celestiall , elementall , or of an animall , vegetable , or minerall composition , it proceedeth from their creatour , as being either bestowed vpon them in their creation for that wholesome purpose , or else miraculously and beyond the common course of nature imparted vnto some creatures to effect . and therefore man ought not rashly to condemne a medicine , because it worketh after an other manner then the vulgar doth : for god hath allotted vnto some medicines , occult & hidden properties ; and therefore worke they not by an externall and euident elementarie qualitie . and this occult vertue is called by some wise men : angelicus actus , qui est tanquam inter deum & naturam virtus media , à quâ fiunt operationes in rebus qu●…s natura earum vel non faceret vel sic faceret , quas alij dicuut prouenire a proprietate occulta , & alij quia tales : an angelicall act , which is , as it were , a middle vertue betweene god and nature ; whereby operations are effected in things , which the elementarie nature of them , could not performe , or would so bring to passe , as they which are said by some to proceed of an occult quality , and others quia sunt tales : and such was the effect in curing by the water of the poole of bethesdas ; not that the manifest elementary quality of the water did it ; but the act of the angell which mooued it : in like manner can no man expresse any naturall reason that is manifest , for the attraction of the iron by the loadstone , or of straw by amber , or why the loadstone looketh towards the north , or why the laurell or baytree preserueth from the harmes of lightning and thunder , and likewise how directly this cure is effected , &c. the causes of these things are occult and hidden vnto the common philosopher ; but to come a little neerer to the point . it is apparant , then , that the incorruptible spirit is in all things , but most abundantly ( next vnto the great world ) in the little world called man : for as in the great world , god is said rightly by ierome his translations ( leauing the corruption of others ) to haue put , his tabernacle in the sunne , from whence by a perpetuall , and neuer dying motion , hee sendeth forth life and multiplication , to euery member and creature of the great world , and by the agility of his spirit , ( for salomon saith ) it is omni re mobilior , the most moueable of all things , hee moueth and giueth life vnto the whole spirit of the world ; which also the same wise man doth iustifie in these words : sol gyrans à meridie flectitur ad aquilonem : lustrans vniuersain circuitu pergit spiritus . the sunne mouing from the south , bendeth toward the north , illuminating the whole world , the spirit or ayre of it doth moue circularly . whereby hee argueth , that the spirit in the sunne animateth and giueth motion , life and spirit vnto the ayrall spirit of the whole world ( for without his assiduall motion and act , as aristotle and all other philosophers confesse , the ayre would soone be corrupt , and be as it were dead , and of no validity ) for the reason heereof , the holy text concludeth , that the holy spirit of discipline filleth the whole world . so also , and in the very like manner , the same incorruptible spirit filleth the little world ( est enim templum spiritus sancti it is the temple of the holy ghost ) and hath put his tabernacle in the heart of man , in which it moueth , as in this proper macrocosmicall sunne in systole , and diastole , namely , by contraction and dilatation without ceasing , and sendeth his beames of life ouer all the whole frame of man , to illuminate , giue life , and circular motion vnto his spirit . and thereupon the apostle reciprocally saith of this little world , as in another place of the great one , in deo viuimus , mouemur , & sumus ; in god we liue , moue , and haue our being : also as this abstruse spirit doth giue heate by his actiuity and essentiall motion vnto the great world , the very same it doth effect in the little world , and all things else , when it doth not quiescere , or in se delitescere , that is , not rest or withdraw his owne act within it selfe , as shall be expressed forthwith . this therefore being well considered in the first place , we proceed thus : as this principall and centrall mouer in the spirit of each world , doth radically , and soly act and moue essentially in and ouer all , namely , from the centre to the circumference , his primum mobile , or first moued in the great world , is the principall aetheriall region or spheare , by the circumrotation whereof , the sunne ( which as dauid saith , is a vessell full of the glory of god ) is wafted about the earth in 24. houres , that thereby the whole spirit of the world may be recreated with life , vegetation , and multiplication . and therefore this spirits first , and most worthy spheare , in which it centrally doth moue , is the quintessentiall or aetheriall spirit of life , which by his presence is viuified and animated : and this aetheriall spirit being the immediate vehicle of that incorruptible spirit of life , is carryed in the grosser elementary or sublunary ayr , by which medium it penetrateth , into animall , vegetable and minerall bodies by inspiration or exspiration in animals partly occult , as by the pores of the body , & partly manifest , as by the lungs , & in vegetables and minerals occultly , and only to be perceiued with intellectuall eyes , and so giueth life & multiplication to euery thing . as this emanation came from god , into the world , the prophet said , vestitur lumine quasi vestimento , hee is clothed with light , as with a garment , and so verbo domini facti sunt coeli , & spiritu ab ore eius omnis virtus eorum : by the word of the lord the heauens were made , and by his spirit , all the vertues thereof , among the which vertues , life , forme , vegetation and multiplication were the chiefest . as hee tooke possession of the etheriall , or starry heauen , the same prophet saith , posuit tabernaculum suum in sole ; hee made the sunne his tabernacle . againe , as hee endued the grosser vestiment of the ayre , so the prophet saith , densa nubes tigurium eius , qui vehitur super alas venti : hee made the thicke and darke cloud his dwelling place , who is carryed on the wings of the wind : againe , he spake in thunder , and lightning went from his nostrills : as hee entred into the little world , or man , so the apostle saith , vos estis templum spiritus sancti , yee are the temples of the holy ghost ; vos estis membra christi , yee are the members of christ. and againe , aperiatur terra , & pariet saluatorem ; let the earth open , and it shall bring forth a sauiour ; as hee penetrated into the earth , so the wise man saith , spiritus sapientiae implet orbem terra . rum . to conclude ; as to create , viuifie , and sustaine each creature , hee put on all things , so hee saith : spiritus incorruptibilis inest ●…nibus ; and againe , spiritus dei implet omnia : whereby it is euident , that this diuine and incorruptible spirit , by which wee liue , moue , and haue our being , is in man , for without it hee is dead , a snuffe , a nothing : his place therefore , or the heauen wherein it moueth , is out aether , or heauenly spirit , which acteth inuisibly in our ayeriall vehicle : the grosser and courser part whereof , is blood , as well vitall or arteriall , as naturall and venall . hence came those especiall ordinances , or legall precepts , which were giuen by god , touching the blood , not only of man , but also of beast : for as much as it was the seat of the spirit oflife , sanguinem ( saith god ) sedem vestrarum animarum requiram , i will require your blood , which is the seat of your liues or soules ; and againe , sanguinem hominis qui effuderit , per hominem sanguis 〈◊〉 effundatur , quoniam in imaginē suam fecit deus hominem ; whosoeuer sheddeth the blood of man , by man let his blood be shed , because god made him after his owne image ; whereby is argued , that by reason of the diuine spirit , which dwelleth in mans blood , by the which we are fashioned after the image of god. god himselfe hath giuen an especiall charge , to haue a respect vnto the blood . for this reason therefore did the 〈◊〉 of the blood of abel , cry out for vengeance against the homicide cain : yea , so precious was the blood , euen of common animals or vnreasonable creatures that their blood was prohibited to bee eaten with their flesh. and againe : hee that eateth the blood of the creature shall die the death . and in another place he sheweth the reason . qui comedcrit sanguinem , obfirmabo faciem meam aduersus animam illius , quia anima carnis in sanguine est , & ego dedi illam vobis , vt super altare in eo expietis pro animabus vestris , & s●…nguis pro animae piaculo sit : whosoeuer shall eate the blood of the creature , i will set my face against his soule , because the life of the flesh is in the blood , and i haue giuen it vnto you that by it you may expiat on the altar for your selues , and that the blood may serue for an oblation for your soules . and for that cause man is by god commanded , that if he in the chase or otherwise kill a wild beast , hee should powre out his blood on the earth . and againe : sanguinem omnis animalis non sumetis in cibo ; thou shalt not eate of the blood of any liuing creature . sanguis cum carne non edendus : the blood is not to be eaten with the flesh. sanguis hominis etiam à bestia requiritur : the blood of the man is required of the beast . sanguinem & adipem omnino non comedetis : you shall wholly abstaine from eating the blood and fat. sanguinem non comedat omnis anima evobis : let not any man amongst you eate of blood . sanguis animalium pro anima est minime comedendus : the blood of all beasts or animalls , in generall , are not to be eaten for their soules or liues c●…se . sanguinem 〈◊〉 animalis tam ●…ndi quam immundi non comedes , sed effundas super terram q●…asi aquam : thou shall not eate the blood of any liuing creature , bee it cleane or vncleane ; but shalt powre it out as water vpon the earth . and the reason is , because the blood is the seate of the soule or vitall spirit , which is inspired by god , and therefore it is said . sanguinem , sedem animarum vestrarum , requiram : i will require of you that shed blood , your blood ; f r as much as it is the seate of your soules or liues : as who should say , i haue animated the internall spirit of your blood with my spirit of life , and therefore be carefull of it . by all these places therefore , we may easily discerne , how the vitall spirit of man , not onely of man●… but of beast also , is contained in that ruddie vehicle of the blood , as the etheriall spirit in the airy , and that the essentiall mouer and guider of the sterne in this spirituall barke of man , is the incorruptible spirit of god ; by whom wee liue , moue , and exist . all this mercurius tresmegistus ( that diuine philosopher ) seemeth to confirme in these words : anima hominis in hunc vehitur modum ; mens in anima , anima in spiritu , spiritus in corpore ; spiritus per venas arteriasque sanguinemque diffusus , animal vndique ciet . mans soule is carried in this manner ; the mentall beame is carried in the soule , the soule in the spirit or ayre , the spirit in the body : the spirit being dispersed through the veynes and arteryes , doth stirre vp and moue the liuing creature in euery part . these things being thus euidently proued out of holy writ , we will now proceed vnto a greater mystery , concerning the double propertie of this spirit of life in both worlds , that thereby we may demonstratiuely come by little and little vnto the very point or perfect resolution of the question in hand . that eternall lord god ( who is all one and the same spirit , because of an indiuisible essence ) is he that viuifieth the creature ; and againe taketh away the life of it at his pleasure , as hath been prooued already , for that he operateth all in all , according to the apostles words : and meruaile not , though i say , hee worketh contrary effects , although he be but one indiuisible essence , for these are the words of salomon : spiritus disciplinae sanctus est vnicus seu simplex , multiplex , &c. the spirit of wisdome is one and simple , and yet manifold ; simple in himselfe , but manifold in operation : and doth not dauid acknowledge so much when he saith ; deo emittente spiritum suum , recreantur creaturae ; abscondente faciem suam conturbantur , recipiente spiritum eorum exspi●…ant , &c : god sending forth his spirit , recreateth the creatures ; but at the hiding of his face , they are troubled : and when he receiueth or taketh vnto him their spirit , they dye , &c. touching the first member of this axiom of dauid , he proueth it else-where thus : vita aaes●… beneuolentiâ ieho●… ; life proceedeth from the benignity of iehoua . vitae restaurator est iehoua , iehoua is the giuer of life . vitae meae fontes omnes à deo , all the fountaines of my life are from god. vitae prolongatio est benignitas●… iehouae ; the prolongation of of life is the benignitie of iehoua . whereupon it is euident , that the spirit of god is the immediate creatour , actor , preseruer , and multiplier of life . as for the second member , thus much : deus malos relinquit , & abscondit faciem s●…am ab i●…ys , vt obveniant ●…s mala multa & angustiae : god leaueth the wicked , and hideth his face from the impious , that euill and necessity may encomber them . sic increpare solet mortales in lectulo : thus doth hee chide and punish mortalls in their beds , as iob hath it . thus did hee send his plagues vpon the egyptians ; thus made hee ieroboams hand to wither ; thus did he strike with leprosie miriam arons sister ; thus did hee afflict with the hemorrhoides the ashdedomans ; thus laid he the plague on ezekias ; namely , by hiding or with-holding his spirit : and againe , by emitting his beames of life , he recouered him . and therefore saith dauid : vitae hominis spatium est miserum absque benignitate iehouae : the space of a mans life is miserable without the benigne presence of god. for , hee that is sicke , seemeth to be still dying . now to the last clause of the aforesaid text of dauid : god said when hee perceiued the wickednesse of men ; non permanebit spiritus meus in homine in aeternum , quia caro est , eruntque dies illius centum viginti annorum : my spirit shall not remaine perpetually in man , because he is flesh , and his dayes shall bee an hundred yeeres and twenty . and iob saith ( as before ) hominem const ituit deus super terram , apponens ad ●…m animam suam , si spiritum seu flatum eius ad se reciperet vel traheret , deficeret & exspiraret omnis caro , simul & homo in cinere●… reuertetur : god made man vpon earth , giuing vnto him his soule or life , if hee should receiue or draw to himselfe his spirit or breath of life , all flesh would faile and dye , and man also together with them , would returne vnto ashes . and againe , spiritus dei fecit me , & inspiratio omnipotentis ●…ficauit me ; the spirit of god made me , and the breath of the omnipotent did viuifie mee . for this reason therefore , the aforesaid action of dauid shall be the maine foundation , on which i will rely , as well in my proofe , as also to shew the various properties of this diuine and incorruptible essence in the spirit of both the worlds ; and i will prooue vnto you euidently , that as this spirit worketh in the greater world , so also in euery respect it bringeth foorth the like effects in the lesser . wee finde that it is but one spirit in the great world , though in a contrary propertie that animateth foueefoldly the foure winds , which are sent from the foure corners of the earth to blow , and thus i proue it : deus edit glaciem flatu suo , flante deo concrescit gelu , seu glacies , & coarctatur superficies aquarum : god by his breath procureth ice , when hee bloweth from the north , hee maketh the ice to congeale and grow together , and doth contract , or straighten the superficies of the waters into ice . and the kingly prophet more pertinently ; deo imittente sermonem suum in terram , quàm celerimè excurrit verbum , qui niues dispergit sicut lanam , & pruinam quasi cineres , de●…cit gelu suum tanquam frusta , coram frigore eius quis consist at : emittit verbum suum liquefacit ista , simul ac 〈◊〉 ventum suum effluuntaqu●… : god sending forth his word vpon earth , it runneth swiftly , which spreadeth the snow as wooll vpon the earth , and the fro●…t like ashes , and casteth downe the ice as gobbets , who is able to resist his cold ; hee sendeth forth his word , and mel●…eth these congealed bodies againe , so soone as hee bloweth foorth his wind , the congealed waters moue and flow againe . here it is euident , that the diuine spirit is the essentiall actor in this northern blast , which is an enemy to the act of life : for , as god did emit and send forth the beames of his light , from the infinit fountaine of his being , to chase away cold , by dilatation of spirits , and to breede a hot humidity in the spirit of the world , thereby to inact it with life and motion , and to make those spirits fluent and actiue , which before were congealed with the power of his contracting property , that is opposite vnto the other : so againe , by the priuatiue agent , or his boreall attribute and property , which is cold , hee contracts dilated spirits , and maketh them of moueable , fixe ; of light & transparent , dark and opack ; of liuely spirits , substances without life ; of liquid and fluid , vnmoueable and congealed ; and in conclusion , motus is so turned into quies , motion ( i say ) into rest ; actus into potentiam , act into puissence ; positio into priuationem , position into priuation : but contrariwise , when he meanes to reuiuifie , and , as it were , cause the dead spirit of the world to rise , or reuiue againe , he sendeth out a southerne spirit or blast , of a cleane contrary property , namely , a wind , whose nature is hot and moyst , and therefore in the consequence of the foresaid text , it is said , he sendeth out his word , and melteth all these : so soone as hee bloweth forth his wind , the waters and spirits which were made dead , spisse , fixe , congealed and opack , are beocme aliue , moueable , fluent , subtill and diaphanous or transparent . if mr. foster like none of these testimonies ; i will yet goe a little further , and make an ocular demonstration to proue it , thereby the better to perswade him ; if hee will be pliable vnto her who is the mother of fooles , namely , experience : let him but looke therefore vpon the kalander glasse ( an instrument commonly knowne amongst vs here in england , called by others the weather glasse ) and hee shall see , that the ayre contained in it , will be contracted and thickned by cold : and to proue thus much , hee shall finde the water to be drawne vp by so many degrees in the neck of the glasse , as the externall cold hath dominion in the ayre , which proueth euidently , that cold doth contract the dilated ayre in the glasse , from a larger roome into a straighter ; and consequently that the ayre is thicker and neerer to congelation , fixation and rest , then it was before . contrariwise , hee shall finde , that the ayre included ; feeling the heate of the externall ayre , by little and little , to get dominion ouer the cold , will dilate it selfe , and by dilatation is made more mobill , subtill and liuely ; and therefore requireth a larger capacity , as is ocularly proued thus ; namely , because the water is strucke down by so many degrees lower , by how many the externall heate doth vanquish the cold in the ayre . but perchance my aduersary will say , what haue we to doe with this ? these are naturall conclusions , and not belonging to gods act or property : and how proue you that the other winds are the essentiall acts of god ? to this i say , that if god operateth all , and in all , then this operation in the glasse , much more that in the winds , is the act of god , and as wee finde that the incorruptible spirit doth moue and operate two manner of contrary wayes , namely , from the center , to the circumference , by ●…manation and dilatation , by the which meanes it stirreth of it selfe , who is the center of all things , whose circumference is no where ; but comprehendeth all circumferences or bodies , and maketh them to exist and liue , so also this vniuersal centre , contracting it selfe in it selfe , maketh ' all things in act potentiall , of a liuing creature , a dead carcasse , of an agill and mobill thing , a stupid and vnmoueable one : lastly , of an actuall positiue something , a potentiall priuatiue nothing . wee see it plainely persormed according vnto the precedent text of dauid , in the spirit of the world , for as much as it is altered from one forme to his opposite , according vnto the variety , of the property or wil of him , which is the internall agent of all the world . the incorruptible spirit of the lord ( saith salomon ) is in all things ; if in al things , then as it is the most worthy , and of the highest digty , and the most mobill and operatiue spirit of all spirits , it worketh centrally , and moueth all the externall wheeles of the whole machine of the creature in which it is , and consequently operateth à centro ad circumferentiam . if it doe quiescere in centro , rest in the center , all the externall wheeles haue lost their life : for it is , in him it liueth , in him it mooueth , and in him it existeth . and therefore , without he act , all is stupid and dead like a senselesse stone , as dauid and iob haue taught vs. now to proue that it is this spirit of god which doth agitate and animate the winds , we haue many other expresse texts of scripture to confirme it . the whirle wind ( saith iob ) commeth out of the south , and the cold from the north wind ; at the breath of god the frost is giuen , and the breadth of the waters is contracted . againe , ventus profectus a iehoua abreptas coturnices à mari disseuit ad castra , &c. a wind proceeding from iehona did scatter the quailes which it brought from the sea in the camp . againe , vento tuo flauisti & operuit eos mara ; thou didst blow with thy breath or wind , and the sea couered them . againe , flatunarium tuarum coaceruatae sunt aquae ; the waters are accumulated and heaped together , by the blast of thy nostrills . and againe , iehoua adduxit ventum eurum , se●… orientalem , and god brought an easterly wind . againe , ventum occidentalem vehementem immisit , &c. he sent out a vehement westerly wind . againe , ventus procellosus efficiens verbum dei , the stormy wind doth effect the word of god. wee doe not say that the wind is the reall breath of god ; but a created spirit or ayre , animated by the increated spirit of the lord , who according vnto the will of him that sent it foo●…th , doth sometimes contract his vertue in himselfe , from the circumference of the creatures spirit , and then the creature is dead and vnmoueable , and starke cold , for want of the warme and comfortable act of this spirits emanation , from the centre to the circumference , according to the words of da●…ids , former text , deo abscondente faciem suam , à creaturis , conturbantur , recipiente spiritum coru●… expirant . god hiding his face from the creatures , they are troubled , and resuming , his spirit againe they dye , that is , if in part he contracts himselfe , or hides the viuifying be●…s of his countenance , they are sicke and troubled ; but if hee withdraw the spirit of life wholly from the circumference of the the creatures spirit , into it selfe , who is in the centre , and euery where vnto the circumference , they dye , or expire . master foster may reply ; what is all this to the purpose of man , who is the maine subiect wee haue in hand , or what haue wee to doe , though god by his spirit worketh a priuatiue property in the spirit of the world by congealation or contracting it from the spirits circumference vnto the centre , leauing the spirit cold , destitute of heate , congealed , immobile , and as it were dead and without life , and that in his northerne nature ? what doth this concerne our matter ; or what is this to the nature in man ? or how can it touch the act of curing in our weapon-salue . i answere , that as the selfe-same spirit is the cause of a foure-fold nature in the spirit of the great world , and as it causeth death and priuation by his northerne and congealing blasts , and contrariwise , life and position by the opposite , or the relenting nature of his southerne property ; euen the selfe-same operation it affecteth , in the created spirit of the lesser world , or man : for , the selfe-same spirit that viuifieth the ayre in the great world after a foure-fold fashion , bringeth forth the very same effects in the lesser , which i proue in this manner . the prophet saith , a quatuor ventis adueni ô spiritus , & perflato interfectos istos , vt reuiuiscant , &c. come , o spirit , from the foure winds , and breath vpon these flaughtered persons , that they may liue againe , and the breath came into them , and they liued , and they stood on their feet . by which words wee may gather these foure things : first , that it was one onely spirit , which was indued with the property of the foure winds , according to whose variety in properties , the foure winds were animated with contrary natures , that they might worke after a foure-fold manner in the catholike element , of the world , to effect the will of the creator in any manner whatsoeuer . next that , this spirit which is the essentiall actor , and mouer in the winds , was that incorruptible spirit of the lord , by the which hee vseth ( according to that of the apostle ) to viuifie all things , and vnto that of the prophet , dare ●…atum populo , & spiritum calcantibus terram ; to giue breath vnto the people , and a spirit to all that trace on the earth : or vnto that of iudith , emittere spiritum , & creare omnes creaturas , to send foorth his spirit , and to create by it all creatures : or according to that of esdras : spiramine suo facere omnia , & serutinare ●…mnia in absconditis terrae : to make all things by his breath , and to search out by it all things that are in the bowells of the earth ; or according vnto that of iob : apponere homini animam suum , & cuilibet creaturae , nam fi spiritū , seuflatum suu●… ad se reciperet , veltraheret , omnis caro expirato giue man his spirit of life , and to euery creature : for , if god should receiue , or draw vnto himselfe his spirit , all flesh would expire . and therefore in this place , when the dead bodies should arise againe , hee commanded the prophet to say , come spirit from the foure winds , as if hee should say , come , o thou catholike and vniuersall spirit of life of the world , and doe thy office in viuifying and making the dead to liue againe . thirdly , that this same spirit is it by which the apostle doth acknowledge that god worketh all in all ; sometimes giuing life by taking away the killing northerne cold , and dissoluing the deadly or immobil congelation of spirits , which did stupifie them , as it were , with the sleepy and restfull enchantment of morphaeus by his southerne or easternely properties , which is to liquifie , resolue , and giue a new motion and life to spirits congealed and stupified by the northern property : and therefore dauid saith in the foresaid text , emittit verbun●… , & liquefacit ista ; simul ac efflat ventum suū effluunt aquae : hee sendeth forth his word and melteth them ; as soone as hee bloweth forth his wind , the congealed , and as it were dead waters , ●…oue and flow againe : whereby we ought to obserue that it is gods word , or his incorrupble spirit which animateth the winds . fourthly , that the very selfe-same spirit , which viuifieht and giueth life and motion vnto the great worlds spirit , and at his pleasure , by a contrary property , killeth , stupifieth , ceaseth to act by life & motion , congealing mortally , doth performe the very selfe-same office , when the will of the father is in the catholike spirit of the little world , or man , yea , in euery creature . and therefore iob saith , it is god that woun●…eth or striketh , and it is he that cureth ; the reason heere , hee sheweth in the place before mentiened , as also wee may find in deuteronomy : i will kill and i will make aliue againe ; and salomon saith , thou hast the power of ●…fe and death in thine hand ; thou bringest vnto the graue , and bringest backe againe : and the sonne of syrach , vita & mors , bonum & malum à deo sunt . life and death , good and euill are from god. wherefore , as this secret and mysticall spirit , hath breathed into the dead a blast of life , so that very blast or breath is essentially of the nature , property , and will of the breather , which was to make aliue , by a quickning , and not a stupifying spirit : and thereupon created spirits , which were before congealed and mortified , became now quickned and liuely , and were closed in an externall body , and in an ayery or bloody vehicle , which by vertue of this quickning blast , his spirit did moue in the channels or veines and arteries , being animated by the vertue of that spirit of life . and this is the reason that god did ordaine so strict precepts , touching the blood of the creatures ( as is said before ) namely , that it should not be eaten , as is aboue related , because , in it is the spirit of life , or the soule of the creature , in which is the spirituall vertue of the foure winds : for in this action of life , hee exerciseth the very same property in the heart of the creature , or little world , as hee doth in the heauenly sunne of the great world . for , as the sunne is hot , operating by rarefaction , and exciting vnto motion , and therefore reuiuing and multiplying , as well in vegetation , as in generation , graines , plants , and other animated things of the earth , powring downe from aboue the beames of life , and light vnto the inferiour creatures , euen so this incorruptible spirit , or blast of life , thus infused into man , is the spirituall sunne of the little world , who maketh the heart ( which represents the body of the celestiall sunne ) his tabernacle , from which , by the arteries and vaines , he sendeth forth his beames , and animateth the vniuersall spirit of mans fabrick , and maketh the blood , agill , fluent and liuely , euer mouing and operating , vnto the nourishment and preseruation of the members , as well with naturall as vitall spirits , cau●…ng both corporall and spirituall vegetation and multiplication of parts in euerie specificall bodie . but now , that i may in this place touch in few words , though somewhat allaterally , master fosters aristotelicall limited spheare of actiuity , which the old schoolemen haue so tumbled and tossed in their externall phantasies , without any centrall regard vnto this true and essentiall viuifying and vegetating spirits dilatiue or contractiue power : i would faine know , whether any worldly philosophicall axiome can conclude or limit this princely spirit of the foure winds , which bloweth and breatheth , as well in the great world , as little ; when , where , how farre , and at what distance it pleaseth . i will first giue an example of his action from each wind in the great world , and shew you how it commandeth , carrieth and dilateth the spirit of the vegetable creature . wee can gather and collect the virtuall operation of the vegetable ad distans , by no meanes , but by the scent ; as for example , rosemary and sassaphras , &c : doe emitt their spirit into the aire , at a proportionated distance more or lesse , according vnto the viuacity of the acting spirit , which is in it ; and yet neuerthelesse wee see , that , if the blast of any strong wind , doth encounter the emitted spirit of the creature , it dilateth it mightily from his centre or plant , and maketh a wonderfull large spheare of actiuity ; and that greater or le●…er , according vnto the power of the wind . the case is apparant and found most true , by such as trauaile by sea neare spaine : for , when the wind is easterly , they can discerne the aire thirty leagues off the shore , to bee filled with the sweet odour of rosemary , which groweth abundantly in those parts of spaine : and euen in the very like manner about guiana and virginea , at the same or greater distance , the odoriferous scent of the sassaphras , with other fweet woods , is scented by the nauigatours vpon those shores ; and that somtimes before they can discerne any land . what shall wee then say of the same spirit , which a cteth in the little world or man , when his insensible breath or emanation tendeth affectionally towards the homogeniall place of his owne nature ? i meane vnto the ointment , inwhich the selfe same indiuisible nature , either in the blood , adhering to the weapon , or hauing penetrated in the weapon , without any signe of external blood , is bathed ? shall wee not beleeue , that by his emanation , it can carry along with it in the ayre , the occult spirit of the vegetating nature of the wounded person , included secretly in a volatile salt , to act in the oyntment , vnto the reuiuifying of the sopified spirit in the oyntment ? no mary , saith master foster ! for , the sassaphras woods odoriferous spirit , and that of the rosemaries are knowne by sense , and so cannot the breath of such an emanating spirit , with his volatile vehicle of vegetation , be perceiued . an excellent argument in an externall and sensible philosopher , who with saint thomas will beleeue nothing , but what he toucheth , smelleth , or tasteth : but intellectuall men may easily gather , that there is nothing that is externall and visible ; but was first internall and inuisible . neither can it be conuertibly said , that , what was internall , was externall . for , there are an infinity of inuisible and internal actions performed by god , in the closet of nature ; which falleth not into the spheare , or capacity of the sensuall or naturall man ; but are onely by faith to bee beleeued . and for this reason , the apostle saith ; through faith wee vnderstand , that the world was ordained by the word of god , so that the things that wee see , are not made of things which did appeare . by which it is euidently proued , that all things were first inuisible , before they were by sense to bee discerned : and consequently , it is the property of an externall and carnall man , to beleeue nothing , but what hee perceiueth by sense , and to say , that if any thing appeare to sense , which was not knowne before , it is diabolicall and not of god ; when the aforesaid text doth attribute all , reducing of inuisible actions , to the visible sense by the word , not of the deuill ; but of god. all philosophers therefore haue accorded , that it is one spirit of life , which onely operateth in mans body : but this spirit , according vnto his diuersity of distinct offices , indueth a diuers appellatio●… : and therefore it is tearmed by them , in one respect rationall ; in an other concupiscible ; and in a third irascible . by the first , it is apt to be illuminated , to vnderstand things that are aboue it , beneath it , and in it , and with it selfe . for , by this his propertie or faculty , it knoweth god aboue it selfe ; the angels which are ranked with it selfe , and whatsoeuer is comprehended in the whole circle of the heauens , beneath it selfe ; such is his spirituall act of centrall emanation , by reason of that powerfull vertue , allotted her by god. by the second and the third it is inclined , either to desire and affect a thing , or to eschew and flye from it ; that is , either to loue or hate , &c : and by this propertie of hers , she doth exercise herselfe about the sympathy or antipathy of those things , which are either proper or dissonant vnto her specifick nature . and therefore in this her office , she worketh mightily , in and about the effects of this weapon-salue , being that from these two later operations in her , proceedeth euery affection . for , as of concupiscibility proceedeth all ioy and hope , because natura laetatur in sua naturâ , &c : and therefore by the vnion of the liuely emanation , the dead or congealed spirit in the salue , is quickned and viuified : so contrariwise , the liuing soule or naturall spirit , in which the supernaturall spirit doth act , is of it's owne nature obnoxious vnto a kind of spirituall dolor and feare , by reason of the weapon that vsed violence vnto it , the which passions belong to , and are affected by the irascible spirit ; for asmuch as it either greiueth , or is made dolorous already at the violence offered , or seareth to bee greiued or made dolorous by it . these foure affections of the spirit of man , are the beginners ; and as it were the common subiect of all vertuous and vicious actions , which befall vnto man. now to expresse the large extension of that centrall spirit , which doth radically operate in the vitall spirit ; the wisest philosophers affirme , that it seeth it selfe in it selfe to the end , that it may rightly vnderstand it selfe in it selfe . and when it will know god , it eleuateth it selfe aboue it selfe , by it's mentallbeame ; it penetrats all things , it beholdeth all things , as well present as absent ; it is , when it pleaseth beyond the seas , and searcheth out things that are hidden : yea , and in one moment , it directeth and sendeth forth his beames vnto the farthest limits of the whole world , and searcheth out the secrets of it : it descendeth downe vnto the deepe , and mounteth vp againe from thence vnto heauen , and cleaueth fast to christ , and is made all one with christ. and must the infinite vertue of this all penetrating spirit , according vnto master fosters tenent , bee limited by any imaginary spheare of actiuity , assigned by the vaine philosophy of the ethnicks , which as the apostle saith , is framed out after the tradition of man and the world , and not by god ? doth he not warne vs to beware that wee be not deceiued by such philosophicall doctrine , which doth disagree from the rules of christ , in whom is the plenitude of the godhood bodily ? and must we now to obey master fosters phantasticall idaea , breake the lawes of the apostle , to be deluded by his false philosophy ? but to returne vnto our purpose . all this which is aboue mentioned , being well considered , namely , the catholike nature of the spirit , which breathed life into the creatures , t●…e indiuisibility and indiuiduality of the giuer , and the gift which is giuen , nam essentia diuina est indiuidua : the diuine essence is in diuisible and vndiuided ; and therefore the diuine spirit imparted vnto the creature , is continuated and vndiuided , from him that giueth it : his infinity of extension , for asmuch as it is bounded with no limites : ( and for this reason it is said , the spirit bloweth where it listeth , and that without resistance ) that this spirit can conuert it selfe from an actiue and liuely power , into a potentiall , congealing , &c : deadly property in the creature , by withdrawing his actuall beames from the circumference of the creature whither it did emit them for liuely actiuities sake , into the centre that is within it selfe , where it doth ( in respect of the creature ) rest , and so depriueth the creatures spirit by congealation of the motion , act and life , which by his spightfull actiuity , it did impart vnto the naturall spirits , to make blood , fat , flesh and bones . for , this reason therefore ( i say ) namely , because of the presence of this incorruptible spirit , in the blood of the creature , god in any case forbids the israelites to eate of blood : because ( saith the text ) the life of the flesh is in the blood . here therefore obserue , that the spirit of life is from god , who viuifieth all things : the life of the blood and fat is in this spirit and of this spirit , wherefore it is written in another place , sanguinem & adi●…em omnino non comedetis , you shall by no meanes eate the blood and the fat , for the life of the flesh is in the blood , and the life of the bones is in the flesh . it is easily therefore to be discerned , what a concatenation heere is of members in succession , which deriue their liues from one and the same radicall essence or spirit , and are made by it to sympathise with one and the same harmony in the creatures composition ; being that he hath made of one blood all man-kinde , as s. paul doth fitly , and consequently being all flesh and bones , are made of one blood , there must be a great relation betweene them and mans blood in generall , and consequently betweene the blood and the oyntment which is made of them . these things therefore being rightly pondered , as infallible grounds , wee conclude thus : in the question proposed , wee are to obserue these fiue obiects : namely , first the wound , secondly , the blood which issueth from the wound , thirdly , the manner of conueyance from the oyntment , to the wound , at any reasonable distance , fourthly , the nature of the oyntment , and lastly , the manner of operation , whereby the cure is effected . first , therefore concerning the wound , it is a violation of the worke , which the spirit of life did effect , namely , an effusion of blood , in which the spirit of life is carryed and moueth , a hinderance and d●…erting of the course of the naturall humors , a diuision , and solution of the fat , flesh , and other such like parts from their integrity and continuity , an offence vnto that peaceable act of life , effected by that incorruptible spirit of god , which by this his property , or attribute , is apt to viuifie all in all . for , this cause therefore is this radicall , acting spirit interessed in this businesse , or vnnaturall action ; as finding his worke hindered , and his essentiall action disturbed by the wound or violence offered : for , wheras the blood is the vehicle of it , and his viuifying act was to circulate in the organicall blood , and to cause transmutation of it into flesh , and other parts for vegetation & multiplications sake , and for the preseruation of the induiduum ; now is the same blood slused out at the mouth of the wound , and made inutill and of none effect ; the body ( for the animating of the which this secret spirit is euer diligently enclined ) is debilitated and made drooping . wherefore as the incorruptible and viuifying nature , hath intended to rectifie his humane spirit by her liuely actiuity , so verily is she ready to oppose all violence offered , and to correct & repaire againe , all that which violent irruption hath caused ; much like the wise spider , who when her web is made imperfect , and in part broken , doth her diligence to bring it againe to its wonted perfection . secondly , the blood , as it is the vehicle of the spirit of life , though it be by the wound voided out ; yet retaineth in it this spirit of life ; but in another property : for , it doth not now act to liue , that is to say , it doth not send forth his beames from the centre to the circumference to cause life ; but contrarily , being as it were displeased with the violence of the act , contracteth it selfe from the circumference into the centre , that is , from action in the circumference of the creature , into it selfe , being contracted into the centre thereof , where it seemeth to rest , and so leaueth his bodily , and ayery vehicle as congealed , stupfied and dead ; and here is that mystery discouered , namely , the reason , why the murtherer being brought before the murthered , the spirit centrally resting in the blood , doth miraculously emanate and flow forth , and make fluent againe , the blood , as being stirred vp by the like spirit antipathetically , acting and agitating from the blood of the murtherer : for ( as i said before ) this spirit in his irascible property is as apt to hate , as in his concupiscible to loue : for this reason , the text teacheth vs , that the blood of a slaine man is required not onely of the murthering man , but of the beast , if it be shed by it : and againe , the blood of any thing must not be eaten ; which were but superficiall , if the spirit of life did not after the effusion of the blood , rest in the blood , as also the reason ; that the blood of such animalls as were slaine in hunting or hawking , should be buryed in the earth would proue of little validity . for this cause it is said in another place , sanguine insontium commaculata terra ; expiari non potest nisi per eius sanguinem , qui alterius sanguinem fuderit : the earth being commaculated with the blood of the innocent , cannot be expiated , but by blood of the other . to conclude , why should it be said , that the blood is the seat of the spirit of life , if it did not participate with it , after it is effused out of the wound , congealed , and as it were dead , and rest in the centre of it ? yea , this spirit doth entirely leaue , and forsake the flesh of the dead , being that his life ( as it is said ) is in the blood ; nor yet the very bones , forasmuch as they participate of the nature of the most earthly part of the flesh . hence was it , that when certaine theeues had cast the body of one whom they ●…ad murthered into the tombe of eliseus , the murthered person did with the onely touch of the prophets bones rise againe to life , which could not haue been effected , if as well his diuine as viuifying nature had not participated with his bones ; and vpon this it is sayd , that after death eliseus his body prophesied and that hee did wonders in his life , and in death were his works maruellous . to conclude , the learned and wise philosophers ( speaking enigmatically of this spirit ) say that in the body there is a little bone called luz , which will remaine with man till the latter day , and cause him to rise againe ; but wee must vnderstand this after their owne sence , and not vulgarly . let this , i beseech you be remembred , that the touch of eliseus his bones , caused the dead to rise from death to life . in the third place , i come to the manner of conueying of the blood from the wound vnto the oyntment . the blood is taken from the liuing fountaine of blood in the wounded , eyther as it is smeared on the weapon that did the deed , or as it is fastened on some sticke , iron , or other thing , and so conueyed vnto the oyntment , at any reasonable distance . now a reason is to be shewed , how it is possible that there can be any certaine relation betweene the wound and the oyntment : for ( as mr. foster saith ) there may be castles , hills , walls , and grosse ayre betweene the oyntment and the wounded , which may hinder the cure . first , wee must remember , that wee haue expressed in our precedent discourse , the excellency of the animating spirit , in whom is all the vertue , and each property of the foure winds , and being it is the spirit of spirits , et spiritus spirat vbi vult , what ( i pray you ) can hinder his act or operation ? and with what distance can his actiuity be limited , being that it is the spirit of the winds , and the soule of the lightnings , and the essence of the sunne and starres of heauen , which by his animation doe cast their beames periferically vnto euery angle of the horison , or hemispheare ? can this spirir , because contained in mans blood , not penatrate many hundred miles by emanation out of his bloody vehicle , as it doth out of his cloudy tabernacle in the forme , or rather vehicle , oflightning or , out from his phoebean palace in golden beames , whereupon it is said , in lumine numen , & in numine lumen , in light is diuinity , and in diuinity is light : so saith the psalmist : amictus lumine , quasi vestimento , hee is clothed with light , as with a garment . i tell you this is all one spirit which is in man , and that which operateth in the wings ; and therefore it was said , come , o spirit from the foure winds . this spirit cannot be diuided into parts ; it filleth ( as salomon saith ) the whole earth , and hath his seate in heauen , and therefore resideth in mans body and spirit , as is said , esdras speaking of this spirit , saith , as before , the spirit of god omnipotent hath made all things , and searcheth out all things in the bowells or secret places of the earth . whereby it appeareth , that this very spirit by which man breathed , cannot be limited in his penetrating and extensiue dimension ; nor yet hindred in his passage , by any intermediate obstacle . to conclude , that man that beleeueth and relyeth on this spirit , may effect what he desireth : for , euen by the true knowledge and vse of it , the prophets and apostles did wonders , as well in curing as effecting matters of greater admiration . this spirit therefore , which is called intellectuall , as hee maketh to vnderstand ; inspiratio omnipotentis , saith iob , facit intelligere : vitall in respect of his viuification , spiritus dei fortis fecit me , saith he , & spiraculum omnipotentis viuificauit me ; and naturall in respect of vegetation and multiplication , visitatio tua ( saith hee else where ) conseruauit spiritum meum , doth act and shine forth by secret beames , v to that obiect of the dead blood , which is carryed from it vnto the oyntment , in which amputated blood , lurketh a portion of spirit , resting without action . now the nature of the one , is reioyced in the nature of the other , forasmuch as both doe sympathise together , being that they are all of one consonance or degree , or vnison in vitall loue : as for example , i take two lutes or vialls , or any other such like instruments , i set one of them at one end of the table , & set the other at the other end , i put a small straw vpon one of the strings , of the one lute , which importeth a-la-mi-re , or de-la-sol-re , and then stri●… the gam-vt of the other lute , and the straw will not once stirre , because theydoe not sympathise in one sound and proportion of wauing ayre , therefore haue they not a relation one vnto another : so also , if the blood be carryed vnto an oyntment heterogeneall in nature vnto the party wounded , it will doe nothing in this cure ; but if you put a straw on the gam-vt , or a-re , of the one , and strike the other on gam-vt , or are , being vnisons , you shall perceiue , the straw presently to leap of the other string , by reason of the ouer great vibration or louing actiuity , and like formall proportion , which he sympatheticall harmony , betwixt each strings , causeth to other in the aire , yea , this effect wil happen , though there be put boords , or other such like obstacles , as may hinder the direct line of the vibration in the aire or medium betwixt the two lutes ; in which experiment you may note , that the string strucke , is aptly compared vnto the blood of the wounded , being stil animated in his body , who doth by a secret emanation or emission , and that by a naturall inclination , and sympathy , cause in the selfe-same tone a secret communication between the still and occult spirit in the congealed blood , which is in the oyntment , which i compare to the string , which the straw hath on it : so that the string though it be of it selfe still , yet at the acting of that other chord , which is really moued with the actuall spirit , of the chord strucken , by meere concent , stirreth vp the still chord to act also , and by action to send backe againe a salutiferous harmony , vnto the acting spirit , which is as neere vnto his owne still or potentiall nature , as the tone of one lute acting or strucke , vnto that of the other not strucke . for as both are but one spirit , though they seeme to differ in distance , as doe the chord of both lutes , so likewise are those two tones but one tone ; though they seeme to differ : and therefore make but one vnisone . but because the one spirit cannot essentially be separated from the other , no more then can diuinity effentially be diuided into parts , as also the one tone cannot be essentially distinguished from the other : therefore it doth liuely extend it selfe , à termino à quo , ad terminum ad quem : from the wound vnto the oyntment , as being all one spirit continuated , euen as wee see one thred extended from one end of a chamber vnto the other . now being this spirit requireth a spirituall vehicle like it selfe , it is carried , quasi super alas venti , as it were vpon the wings of the wind , in the hidden spirit of the blood , which seemeth as a vehicle : no otherwise then the essentiall spirit of the wind is carryed by the ayre , and obserueth no limited distance , neyther is hindred by mountaines , woods , or walls , to worke his effect : as wee see the northwind doth produce in lumbardy frost , ice , snow , &c. although the high alpin mountaines , piercing the very clouds , are interposed . but i will bring a more familiar example of the graine of corne , which being considered in himselfe , without his mother earth , seemeth no way to act ; for his vitall spirit doth lurke in the centre , and not operate to the circumserence , eyther by way of vegetation , or multiplication . the fountaine from whence the vegetable soule comes by multiplication , is the sunne of heauen , which worketh life in all vegetable things , by the vertue of the foresaid catholike spirit of life , which did put his tabernacle in the sunne , giuing a naturall increase of life and vegetation to euery thing : for , though this spirit in it selfe be catholike , yet as it entreth into any specificall creature , it conuerteth his property vnto the viuification , mul●…plication , and generation of that very species , yea , euen vnto mankinde . whereupon aristotle saith , that sol & homo generant hominem , the sunne and a man , doe engender a man. as for example , it hath multiplied by the successiue influence of this piercing spirit in a graine of wheat , being resuscitated ( as s. paul saith ) after death and putrefaction in his proper earth , from one to twenty , and afterwards moueth vpwards in his ayery vehicle , with his strawie stalk , towards the fountaine of his being , and draweth by a sympatheticall , or magnetike vertue , his like from aboue , by the medium of the carholike ayre . but it is obserued by husbandmen , that the better the ground is in temperature , wherein the graine is sowed , and the neerer vnto the nature of the graine , the better doth the graine prosper and multiply in vertue . now the fountaine of the graines life , namely , the catholike spirit of vegetation , doth chiefely reside in the sunne of the great world , compared vnto the heart in man or the little world , which is vit●… principium , the beginning of life . the graine is fitly compared vnto the little blood , which is gathered from the bloody tree of life , mouing in the veynes and arteries , as in the strawy stalke or huske ; the stalk growing still with the other graines on it , is referre vnto the whole masse of blood in the veynes , which doth remaine in manifest act . the amputed gr●…ine to the amputed blood , for which although they both doe remaine without any manifest act or life , yet neuerthelesse , they haue the spirit of life and multiplication in them centrally contracted , and therefore it remaineth in them onely in potentia agendi , able to act ; but as yet acting nothing except it bee euocated and put in action by his like acting and viuifying nature , or rather by the same continued spirit emanating vnto the graine from the sun , or vnto the amputated blood from the spir●…t in the wounded body . the in ward inuisible spirit of the blood , in which the spirit of lise doth mo●…e to the oyntment from the wounded , is compared vnto the etheriall or heauenly spirit , in which , the incorruptible spirits influence doth moue , from the sunne downe vnto the graine , by the common medium or vehicle of them both : in which , the etheriall sprit moueth also from the sunne downeward vnto it's like , or rather it selfe , in the graine being now buried in the earth , or from the fountaine of life vnto the dead graine or blood in the oyntment , the which medium is the common element of ayre . the oyntment is the good ground , in which the bloudy graine doth dye and rise again , which i will now speake of . the fourth to be considered , is the ointment and his nature . who , but a meare ideot can deny , that like doth desire his like , or that one nature being stronger doth cherish , foster and releiue an other that is weaker , and the weaker reioyceth in the aide and comfort it bringeth ? the ancient physitians and philosophers haue obserued , that lungs nourish lungs , and braines nourish braines that are weake , the spleene helps to fortifie the spleene , & for weak gutts wee make glysters of boyled gutts , the stomacke of a cocke helpeth digestion , the very spittle voided by the phtisic all lungs , are said to cure th●… lungs , wormes mortified , and dryed to pouder , destroy wormes . the stone of the kidney or blather , rightly prepared , cureth the stone . in conclusion it is certaine , that simile agit naturali inclinatione in suum simile , like worketh in his like . natura enim laetatur suâ naturâ , natura naturâ gaudet : nature reioyceth in his nature , nature is glad at the presence of his nature . now if wee looke into the composition of this medicince , we shall find , that it is of a wonderfull consonance with the blood of man , for ●…s before i haue signified vnto you , that the blood is the seat of the spirit of life , and that the life of the flesh is in the blood , and also that the spirit of life is immediately , as well in the fat , as in the blood , and therefore these two are forbidden to be eaten ; but are to be reserued , a part for a sacrifice due vnto god ; and being that the life of the bones is in the blood and flesh , and therefore doe communicate with the spirit of life , and consequently haue in them a balsamick marrow , which is full of spirits , and affecteth wholesomely the other parts . therefore without doubt , there is the selfe-same relation of vnison betwixt this ointment with the blood in it and the wounded mans nature ; as is between the string of one lute , that is proportioned vnto the other in the same tone : and for this cause will be apt to euibrate & quauer forth one mutuall consent of simpatheticall harmony , if that the spirits of both , by the vertuall contact of one anothers nature , be made by conueying the indiuiduall spirit of the one into the body of the other , that the liuely balsamick vertue of the one , may comfort and stir vp the dull and deadly languishment of the other , no otherwise then the actiuity of one lute string struck , doth stirre vp the other to moue , which was before still and without life : or as wee see the graine of corne , being put into the earth , which hath beene well manu●…ed with the dung of horses , that haue fed on the same graine is quickly animated by the sun beames , and made to moue , and ascend towards the fountaine of his acting spirit . for euery spirit doth by a naturall instinct or inclination tend vpwards vnto his natiue country . to conclude : i must now come to the reaping vp of this mysticall operation of curing ; master foster saith ; it cannot be accomplished by any vertuall contact , being it is out of the limited spheare of actiuity . doth hee , or his sharpest witted masters know the certaine limits of actiuity in euery thing that hee concludeth thus boldly ? foelix qui potuit rerum talium cognoscere causas . but i am sure , i can discerne no such felicity in his reuelations or prescriptions of limits vnto naturall agents , much lesse vnto that spirit , which acteth and operateth all in all , and ouer all . qui quicquid vult facit , tàm in virtutibus coeli , quàm in habitatoribus terrae ; which effecteth , what it pleaseth : and therefore , at what distance it listeth : as well with the vertues of heauen , as with the dwellers on the earth . if this great aduersary to the weapon-salue-salue , would but consider the wonderfull operation , that this catholicke spirit produceth in this cold and contracting facultie , as when he moueth from the north and maketh snow , frost and ice , by the contracting of the thin spirit of the world into a thick body , and sucketh vp the fountaines of the earth on high ; all which is done by contracting his action from the circumference vnto the center , or emission from the center to the circumference , causing the common element to alter from a dilated spirit to a contracted body : and againe from a contracted body , to a dilated one ; for by an alteration , quite opposite to his boreall act or northerne disposition , it vndoeth in his dilating property , and resolueth all , that it did effect by his cold condition , in mouing and making aliue againe the waters that were congealed , rendring them diaphanous or transparent , and spirituall or inuisible things , though they were before thick , opack , dark , corporall and visible . and againe : if he with discretion would consider , how it doth depresse and strike downe into the earth , the fountaines by his presence , in his sunny tabernacle , which by his cold propertie were raysed out of the eart●… : if i say , hee would well ponder with himselfe , how the ●…unne being now in the south beyond the equinoctiall doth subtilitate there the thick ayre , and dissolue the frosty , snowy , and icy effects , which the cold did make in that hemispheare , whilest the sunnes presence , in the northerne world did worke ●…ere contrary effects ; and how on this side the equinoctiall , by his contractiue faculty , it partly sucketh vp the fountaines of the southerne world out of the earth , and partly by his dilatiue action depresseth on that side the said fountaines , appearing in the northerne climats : then would he not call the action of this most potent spirit in question , or limit it ( according to the phantastick opinion of some men ) within an imaginary spheare of actiuity , being that this spirit , is from him who filleth all , and operateth all , and in all : and therefore consequently effecteth the great works of contraction and dilatation , which are so apparant in euery angle of the world . will he circumscribe this action of eleuating fountaines , and againe depressing them , within any spheare or orbe , except it bee that of the round world ? will hee thinke , that this action made betweene the potentiall habit of priuation or cold , and that of life and position which is heate , requireth a small interuall , to make the two extremes so farre distant from each other , as the north is from the south , to meete and concurre in a symphoniacall proportion ? the hotter and more intemperate , and consequently the more dilatiue the one hemispheare is , the colder and more contractiue is the opposite : and therefore the more depression of fountaines there is by extreme heate in the one hemispheare , the more are they sucked & drawne vp out of the earth , by the att●…actiue vertue of the extreme cold of the other . this i can , and will be ready to demonstrate , to any one that doubteth of this point , by an ocular conclusion or demonstration . it is euident therfore by this , which we haue produced , that this magneticall kind of cure is donum dei , the gift of god , according vnto paracelsus his opinion , and not the act of the deuill , as master foster , most vnchristianly hath published ; attributing against reason and conscience , that vnto the deuill , the worst and foulest of spirits ( whose office is onely destructiue and wounding , and not constructiue or healing ) which is the onely property of this best , fayrest or purest of all spirits , on whom attend all good angels , to doe his will , as the deuill hath his bad angels to destroy . you may therefore see by this ( gentle reader ) how life is breathed into the creature by gods good spirit of life : how his seate or vehicle , in which he moueth , is the blood , how that fat , flesh and bones haue their life and vegetation from the spirit , that moueth in the blood , how this spirit operateth , priuatiuely by contracting his beames of life , from the circumference vnto the center of the creature where it resteth , or rather ceaseth to operate the effects of his office of life , as it is made manifest in the dead & congealed blood or graineof wheat ; and againe , it operateth positiuely to life , by which it reuiueth that which was dead , by sending out his act from the centre to the circumference of the creature , as it doth in the graine of wheat , buryed in the ground , or the congealed blood , cleauing eyther to stick or weapon , conueyed to the oyntment , as his most naturalest earth . i shewed you how the spirit is all one , and vndiuisible , and therefore that this which resideth in the salue , and that which operateth in the body , are concatenated , or continuated essentially one to another , as being all one spirit , though it commeth from the foure winds : not diuided , i say , in essence , but onely differing in property , for it worketh contractingly by eold , & dilatingly by heate : also that there is but one common vehicle , which carryeth this spirit in the etheriall substance of the blood . and lastly , that because the oyntment is made of mans blood , mans fat , mans flesh , or mummy , and the fumous excrescence of mans bones , called vznie or the mosse that groweth on the skull , according vnto my receit , and for that the nature of the catholike spirit thus specified , is in the oyntment , though not working , and is stirred vp to operate by the vnion which it hath now from the beames of the li●…ely and operating spirit of the wounded ; no otherwise then the sunne doth operate on the earth , in which the dead graine of wheat lyeth , and with it calleth , or stirreth vp the centrall spirit , occult in the dead blood , to operate as the sunne beame doth the atome of life , which is in the graine . therefore the mixtion of these two spirits now operating , in one viuifying vnion , makes them to tend vnto the fountaine of life , as the graine rifing out of the earth , would carry also his like , which was clad in earth , vpward toward his natiue home , did not the heauy coats of the elements hinder his further ascent . but because this earth or salue is more spirituall , it sendeth out his power vnto the blood , by that harmony , which the continuation of spirit doth effect , namely , as it were by an vnison , by reason of the vniformity of the specifick spirit belonging vnto man , by the vnion whereof the foure discordant elements , and euery member of mans body are vnited vnto a fympatheticall harmony , adopted to the vse of life in the creature , yea , also forasmuch , as the blood , flesh , fat , and bones in all other vnreasonable creatures , are framed out of one kinde of elementary forme , and fashioned alike , by the same operating spirit ; it is no maruell , if his blood being brought vnto the same oyntment , doe also cause health in the wounded creature , being it doth generally tend to life , which is proper to all bloody creatures , no exceptions had vnto each specifick difference . whether this therefore ( being well conceiued and pondered euen by the very zealous , with little vnderstanding ) can appeare an act of the diuell , and not the blessed gift of god ; i leaue it to the scanning of such as can better iudge of this matter then my selfe . but now ( courteous readers ) that i may conclude this theo-philosophicall member , with a better tast or relish vnto the pallats of your riper iudgements , and well seasoned conceptions ; i purpose to fall from this theoricall , or speculatiue course of demonstation , and betake my selfe a while vnto a more practicall , or experimentall way of direction : whereby you may the better enter into the plaine and direct trace of truth , touching the resolution of the foresaid question ; and i will diuide this my practicall discourse into three seuerall chapters : whereof the first , or fourth shall teach you by an euident experience , that the agent or internall principle in this cure , is in the blood , or body of the liuing man that is wounded , and consequently the diuell must needes be excluded from being any agent or actor in it . the second or fift shall expresse diuers true histories touching this cure , as they haue beene acted heere at home amongst vs in england . the third or sixt shall disco or the true ground why our aduersary wrote this booke . and the last shall tell certaine manner of sympatheticall cures , which will appeare sarre more strange , and more surpassing the capacity of our sponge-carrier , then that of the weapon-salue . of these therefore in order thus . chap. iiii. here are expressed certaine practicall obseruations , concerning this cure ; whereby it is made apparant , that the internall agent in this cure , is centrall contained in the blood , and consequently master fosters diuell must be excluded out of this wholesome businesse for a wrangler . if it were indeed ( as mr. foster would haue it ) that the diuell is the sole author and actor in this cure , and that hee performeth it craftily and sophistically by other medicines to delude the simple mountebanks , then is it not likely that there can be any agent ●…in the blood that could resist or hinder this his cure , which also appeareth to be the more probable , because that the nature of the wounded person , is apt and inclined by all meanes possible , to put off all languishment , and desireth to haue her tabernacle in a wholesome and sound estate . and for this reason wee see , that by the application of salues , balsames or inward physicke , the naturall spirits , and internall actor of life doth helpe and assist the medicines in their cure , or else they would not effect any such matter . for this reason is the physician called , adiutor naturae , the helper of nature . now , that the principall agent of this cure , is comprehended in the body of the wounded , i proue it in this manner : it hath beene auerred , and will be ma●…ntained by persons of great knowledg , no babies , but of a farre greater maturity , both in learning and iudgement , then our sponge-carryer , that in their manifold experience they haue obserued , and found it most true , that when the wounded person hath sent his blood on a sticke , yron , or weapon , to the place of the oyntment , and that thereupon hee hath beene in a good way of healing , if in the time of his cure , he hath to doe with a menstruous woman , immediately the curatiue power in the oyntment is lost , and it will doe him no good : also they haue oftentimes obserued , that if the wounded person happen in the meane season to haue an issue of blood out of his nose , the curatiue property will be quite taken away , and it will profit nothing after this ; whereby it is apparant that this happeneth , because the act , and secret emanation of the internall spirit of life in the wounded , is diuerred from his application or aspect vnto the weapon-salue . and therefore leaueth the one to operate in the other , which are so immediate vnto it and the body , euen as in heauen we see , that agreater aspect , or more potent application , of one planet vnto another , doth drowne and take away the lesser . there is another admirable experiment , tryed by a noble personage , of whom i wil make mention more at large in the sixt chapter of this member : for one of his men hauing deeply cut his finger , and that about the ioynt , with a sith , as he was mowing of grasse ; his finger bled still , and could not easily be staunched . wherefore this earle , wished them to knoke off the sithe from the handle , and to bring it vnto him , that hee might anoynt it : the wounded fellow went about it himselfe , and at the very first knocke that hee gaue the weapon that had wounded him , the blood stanched , and he bled not one drop more . and verily he acknowledged , that though there were not a iot of blood to be discerned on the weapon ; yet if hee anoynted the place of the instrument that made the wound ( which oftentimes he confessed , he was forced to doe by guesse ) hee did performe as well the cure , as if the blood had stucke vpon it . out of which reuelation or derection i gather , that all the mystery of this cure , consisteth in the secret and inuisible spirit , which is within the blood , as well remaining still , and operating in the wounded body , as that which hath penetrated inuisibly into the weapon : for , else , without the presence of the visible blood , it could not operate , yea , and out of that obseruation , namely , that the sithe , or weapon being strucke , the blood did forth-with stanch ; there is as great a mystery opened , as when the presench of the murtherer , doth cause the congealed blood in the murthre●… to flow and runne againe ; all which is effected , partly by the contracting property of the occult spirit in the blood , and partly by his dilatation , as is said before . hereby it is made cleare , that it is not the deuill , that by externall application worketh any thing in this cure , but it is by the centrall emanation of that spirit in the wounded , that giueth him life , which operateth ab interno , as by these experiments it is made euident . i come to the next chapter of experimented cures . chap. v. wherein certaine histories , touching the effecting of this cure are expressed . now will i relate vnto you the stories of certaine homebred cures , which haue beene effected by this weapon-salue , that thereby wise men may deeme or gesse vprightly , whether the deuill hath a finger in this cure , yea , or no. there is a knight dwelling in kent , a man iudicious , religious and learned , called sr. nichol●… gilbourne , one ( i say ) with whom i both am , and haue beene long familiar . for he married my sister . this knight hauing good acquaintance with one captaine stiles , for asmuch as in times past he was his tenant , was with the said captaine in the company of very good and learned diuines , at the making of the said oyntment , who saw all the ingrediences apart , and after beheld an apothecary to compound them together without any kinde of superstitious action , where it was generally adiudged to be a lawfull medicine , and no way superstitious or diabolicall . a box of this oyntment was bestowed on this my brother in law ; what wholsome effects it hath wrought , i will in a word relate vnto you , and that verbatim as i haue it vnder his own hand . the first ( saith hee ) was at chatam in kent , where the seruant of one poppee a ship wright , was cut with his axe into the instep , so deepe as it could passe , and not cut it off ; vpon the hurt ( which was in the after noone ) hee was brought vnto me ; but i refused to meddle with it , onely i aduised him , to wash his wound with his owne vrine , which he did . the next morning early i did dresse the axe , and after dressing it , i did send to know , how the fellow did ? answer was made that hee had beene in great paine all the night ; but now lately was at ease . the next morning comming into my study , i strucke my rapier downe vpon the axe , the hilt whereof strucke the oyntment off from the axe , which when i found , i sent to vnderstand how hee did ? and had answer , that he had beene exceeding well that night ; but this morning he was in great paine , and so continued : i therefore anointed the axe againe , and then sent againe vnto him , and heard that hee was then at great ease : and within seauen dayes was perfectly well . these are his very words , which by letter hee ●…ent vnto me . by which it is manifest , that the cure is ( contrary to master fosters assertion ) performed by the weapon-salue ; and not by other secret medicine applied by the deuill ; but rather this inuention of master fosters is deuillish , and the cure of the ointment naturall . for else , why should the ointment on the axe , being discouered or stuck off by the sword hilts , be an occasion of the suddaine alteration in the wound from better to worse ? and why should the wound returne againe from his dolorous distemper vnto his wonted ease , after the re-anointing and couering anew of the weapon ? his second history of this manner of curing was this : i ( saith sr. nicholas gilbourne ) hauing giuen vnto mee the sewing of a pond at charing ; after i had done , the boyes of the towne went into it to seeke for fish . among the rest brent deering ( the sonne of master finsh deering ) did goe into it for that purpose , and there had a reed runne into the calfe of his leg : this bled much , & put him to great paine , which caufed his mother to send vnto one iohn hart a chirurgion of charing to search and dresse the wound ; but hee continued after dressing full of paine , and apt to faint . whereupon his sister was sent vnto me , to doe my best for his ease . i answered that i could doe no good , because he was already drefled by the chirurgiō . but that would not satisfie them : and therefore vpon their importunity , i aduised them ( because they informed me that the orifice was very narrow ) to wash away all the chirugions work , and to put a knitting needle into the wound , so farre as it would goe , and to tye a thred where it would passe no further : they did so , and found that it went quite through to the very ●…kin on the other side . this knitting needle i did anoynt , and in foure or fiue dayes , it was well in appearance , sauing that vpon the top of the orifice , there was a dry scale . i was nothing well satisfied , to find that it was not perfectly well , but had still a scale remaining vpon it . and therefore i did newly anoynt the knitting needle ouer night , and the next morrow , there came out of the orifice , a small splinter of the reed , and after that , it was in two or three dayes perfectly whole , these are the very words of sr. nicholas gilborns letter : what will mr. foster say to this cure ? what ? was it the diuell did this cure by other medicines , and not by this magnetike or sympatheticall oyntment ? verily , the case is plaine , that all the curatiue power did consist in the salue : for , the effects in curing did testifie so much ; but the principall agent issued or rather did emanate from the wounded boy . and alas , what could the diuell get against the poore childe , in performing secretly this cure , who expected nothing else , but the assistance gods blessing and mercy for his reliefe ? an innocent childe ( i say ) and therefore in the protection of the almighty , iusto refugium ( saith dauid ) deus & propugnaculum , what ? was the tutelar angel of this child ( which christ saith , doth alwayes behold the face of his father which is in heauen ) so negligent , as to lose the speciall charge committed vnto him by god , through so poore a slight of the diuell ? castramet●…tur angeli ( saith the psalmist ) circa timentes cum , & recipit eos . and would they also be so easily deluded , which are more vigilant to preserue gods elect , then argos with his hundred eyes ? you may by this , discerne our 〈◊〉 foppery and imaginary fictions , touching the profound mystery of this cure . i come to the third . by windsor , there was one , who had somewhat to doe in the chase or forrest , who , as he was mowing of a piece of medow , fell backeward vpon the edge of his sithe , and cut all his back so dangeroussly , that his life was greatly to be feared ; the sithe forthwith sent to london to captaine stiles , who was anoynted it , wrapped it vp , and laid it aside . not long after , there came one to demand for doctor stiles , and he was sent vnto do. stiles ; the minister , who vnderstanding that it was about a thankes-giuing for a cure done by the weapon-salue , sent him vnto the captaine ; hee desires to speake with him : the captaine being at dinner , or supper , with diuers of his friends , sent for the fellow into the dining roome , and there hee told the captaine , that the wounded man , did acknowledge of him his life vnder god , assuring him that the dangerous wound did heale a pace , after hee had sent his sithe vnto him , and was thorowly cured without any other application . and for a part of recompence , and to expresse his thankfulnesse , hee presented him with a side of red deere . heere you may see , that this cure was performed at a distance of 20 , miles betweene the wound and the oyntment . chap. vi. here our spongy authors worldly plot or policy , in decrying the weapon-salue , couered ouer with the smooth vayle of sanctity is discouered . bvt for as much as the experiments cited and proued by captaine stiles and sir nicholas gilbourne , are but two or three , and according vnto the old maxime , vnum , vel aliud exemplum non probat ar●…gumentū , i thinke it not amisse to certifie each reader , that there is a certaine noble personage of this kingdome , very religious , iudicious and learned , who at the first scoffed at this kind of cure , as a thing impossible : and after that he perceiued that it was true indeed , he was terrified by such scare-crowes as mr. foster is , to put it in practice : forasmuch as he was made beleeue , that there was a prestigious deceit or cacomagical vertue and operation in it . for which cause he did abstaine from the vse and practice thereof ; although he did acknowledge the act of it to be wonderfull . and yet neuerthelesse , beause his curiosity did incite him , to diue a little further into the truth of this mystery ; hee did at the last , desire to speake with one captaine stiles ( a man well knowne by his acquaintance , to be both wise & religious , as also aduerse vnto all superstitious actions , or ceremonies ) because hee was noted to be a great practitioner in this manner of cure . his earnest desire of him , was first to see with his owne eyes , for his better satisfaction , euery particular ingredient apart , which went into the composition of this salue , and afterwards to obserue each ingredients preparation , and lastly , to behold their mixtion or vnion in composition , that thereby hee might the better discerne , whether any vnlawfull act , or diabolicall superstition , did concurre with the making thereof ; the captaine consenteth , whereupon this noble man , to be the better informed in this matter , called vnto this composition a learned diuine , and a well esteemed doctor of physicke , who with one consent , after the complement of the businesse , did affirme , that there was neither any damnable superstition in the making of this oyntment , as was falsely suggested ; nor yet any cacomagicall disposition in the ingredients , as was vainely surmised by some precise persons . and for that reason , they did ioyntly conclude , that both the medicine , in it selfe , and the practice of this cure were naturall , and consequently lawfull for any good christian to vse . hereupon this honourable personage , did for a twelue moneths space , with happy and fortunate successe , practise this manner of cure , on many that were wounded ; and yet for all this , it should appeare , that some busie buzzards , or rather buzzing flies of this nature , did put into his head , new suspicions , insinuating vnto him , that the captaine might vse some secret superstitious meanes , or vnknowne charmes in the collecting , or preparing of the principall ingredients , which he could not discerne , and that without this , those mysticall effects could not be wrought , whereupon one twelue moneth being past , he vndertooke for his more assurance , to make the composition himselfe , and to haue the ingredients , gotten and prepared by his owne direction , namely , the mosse of mans bones , &c. and for this cause , hee maketh mr. cooke , the apothecary , to beat into fine powder , such of the ingrediences , as were to be powdred , and afterwards to compound it and to make it vp , which when he had effected , he found , that this his owne composition , had the selfe-same healing vertue , and prosperous successe in curing that the other had ; by reason whereof , hee rests euer since , so confident in the safety , and lawfulnesse of this cure , that not one of these phantasticall butterflies , by their painted shewes without any solide substance , can alter his minde from this practice ; which when our valiant sponge-carrier perceiueth , and seeing that all the vayne perswasions of his too too scrupulous and suspicious faction , could not effect , hee as a praeco , or crying orator , for the rest , vttereth forth these fragments of his outward and counterfeit zeale , for asmuch as it is stuffed internally , with an hypocriticall , and politike intent ; as shall be more at large expressed hereafter . his words in his dedicatory epistle are these . that which moued me to write this booke , was a commiseration of the case of some persons of quality , reputed religious , which vse the weapon-salue ; i pitty these ; i presume they imagine no harme in it : i pray for them in our sauiour christ his owne words , father , forgiue them , for they know not what they doe . is not this a pretty hood of zeale and religion , besmeared ouer with the fard of dissimulation ; a smooth faced vaile ( i say ) of hypocrisie , to couer and conceale the nakednesse of a priuate worldly policy , namely , to apply vniustly , and make a wrong vse of the righteous words , of our blessed sauiour lesus christ , for the decrying and abolishing of that good gift of healing , which by his viuifying spirit is effected , vpon his wounded and infirm creatures ' , ( and that which is worse ) by attributing it falsly vnto the diuel , an enemy both to god & man ; and thereby to defraud the creator and actor in all things of his right , and that before the face of all his reasonable creatures , whom he created after his owne image , perswading them to beleeue , that all mysticall and occult healing , in these latter dayes , is the vertuous operation of the father of lies , and enemy of goodnesse ? and that chiefely for the company of chirurgions cause , as shall forth-with be more plainely expressed . as who should say , that god had in this last age of the world , lost all his operatiue vertue and power in mysticall and hidden workings , as wel in his creatures , as by miracles : that good god ( i say ) the creator both of heauen and earth , and therefore hee that worketh wonders euerlastingly , as well occultly as manifestly , hath lost his operatiue vertue , or assigned it , as it were by succession , ouer vnto the diuell . may not that noble man , and many other religious persons , at which master foster in the precedent text aymeth , with a better conscience , retort his foresaid speach , vpon him , and say , i am moued with a commiseration of the cause of this person , or parson reputed , by reason of his profession religious , who condemneth , & attempteth with his sponge to wipe away the weapon-salue , & to abolish the reputation of that vertue , which god hath bestowed on it for mans good , and for the reliefe of distressed wounded creatures . i pitty him , if he doe it of ignorance ; for then i presume , he imagineth no harme , and therefore i will pray for him in our sauiour christ his owne words , father , forgiue him , for he knoweth not what he doth . but if he doth it wittingly , and maketh vse of these holy words of christ , for policies sake , or to procure the worldly gaine of others , i must speake vnto him in these very words , which christ spake vnto peter , get thee behind mee , satan , for thou vnderstandst not the things that are of god , but the things that are of men ! now verily , i will make it appeare , that hee hideth his worldly craft vnder the cloke of sanctity , and consequently hee walloweth the deeper in the puddle of sinne , wherefore his reward must needes correspond with his desert : for , god who searcheth the heart and reynes of euery man , is iust and righteous . i would haue each obseruant reader therefore to note , that there is a double reason , in this mr. fosters endeauour , to wipe away the weapon-salue , whereof the first is the weakest , namely , a witting ignorance , or an entire vnbeliefe in those inuisible vertues of gods creatures , though they appeare euidently by effect , and that vnto gods glory , and distressed mens comforts . hence springeth the captious disposition of some pr●…sions , or rather pure seeming persons , which haue no beliefe in the occult or hidden operations , either of medicines , or any thing else , which is made manifest in these latter dayes : because , say they , miracles are ceased , and therefore , what now appeareth miraculous or worthy of meruaile , is prestigious , cacomagicall , diabolicall , and consequently not of god. this manner of persons forget the words of the wise man , which doth tell vs , that the works of the lord are wonderfull and glorious : secret and vnknowne are his works amongst men , &c : and will these false iudges of gods actions presume to condemne them , and attribute them vnto the deuill , because they are secret and vnknowne vnto them ? will they censure things , which are so farre beyond their reach ? may not i iustly say , vnto such a person , that spurneth in his writing against the truth , as peter did to ananias , why hath satan filled thine heart , that thou shouldest lie vnto the holy ghost , and apply vnrighteously gods vertue to the deuill ? but if hee shall reply and say , that hee knoweth assuredly , that this secret and occult vertue in curing , is not from god , but from the diuell : let vs be so bold , as to aske him , how he came by that knowledge ? or by what meanes got he that familiarity with the deuill , that hee is so much beholding vnto him , to know his secrets ? as for those of god , i know them to be farre enough from the reach of such men , to scan the reason of them : and therefore salomon saith : intellexi quod omnium operum dei nullam possit homo inuenire rationem , eorum quae fiunt sub sole ; & quantò plus laborauerit id quaerendum , tantò minus inueniet : i vnderstand ( saith he ) that man can finde no reason of those works of god , which are effected vnder the sunne , and that by how much more he laboureth to finde it out , by so much the lesse can he be able to finde it . and will this bold kind of people , like blinde bayards , presume to auerre , that the occult or hidden vertue in gods creatures is effected by the diuell . all which being thus , namely , that it is impossible ; but by gesse to iudge of these occult mysteries and hidden actions of god ; i would faine know , whether any learned reader can be so vnpartiall , as to affirme that master foster and his associats or helpers , haue done better in attributing the reason of the secret manner of the weapon-salues healing vnto the diuell , not hauing any assured testimony for it out of holy writ ; then doctor fludd , who doth onely ascribe all goodnesse , and amongst the rest , the acting of healing in generall , vnto god and his blessed word . of this kind of sharp and nimble witted persons , and bold iudges , that giue their counsell against gods cause at randome , yea , and so peremptorily , would make the common sort of people to beleeue , that they are partakers of all gods secret mysteries ; which are not reuealed vnto mankind , but by euent . of those , i say , who assist master foster in this glorious enterprize , and as it were euen with the titanean giants are ready to withstand and assaile iupiter for saturnes , or rather satans cause , euen of those , who with the spurres of their best encouragments egge him forward , to inueigh against gods vertue in the weapon-salue , and slander me and many others , for maintaining the right of god and his created nature : of these ( i say ) he maketh mention and giueth in his dedicatory epistle this touch . wee of the church of england detest superstitious magicall cures : wee haue many poore parish priests amongst vs ( whereof my selfe is the meanest ) which dare handle an argument , and write and preach against such practices , &c. here you see the bed , of this too precise and ouer pure , scrupulous , and too too busie cabale eiu sdem ( dico ) cum fostero farinae hominum , is broken and laid open . and truely master foster saith but rightly , that the church of england detesteth superstitious magicall cures , as by right it ought , and so doe i also from mine heart . but i would faine see him demonstratiuely proue , that the vertue of the weapon-salue is magicall or superstitious ; and not naturall . as for the arguments and proofes , which he hath hitherto produced , to disanull this kind of mysticall healing , i finde them before god and man so weake and faint , that they had need to haue a draught of strong aqua vitae , to keepe them from fainting at the aspect of verity : they are so poorely armed , that a small fillip of truth will knocke them on the head , and make them breathlesse . if hee with all the assistance , his associats shall lend him , can proue it better ; perchance wee may be induced to beleeue it . but : when the skie fall●…th , we shall catch larkes . the second reason or worldly intent , which hee vaileth and hideth with a hood of simplicity and pure sanctity , is for a priuat policy , namely , to curry fauour , and to doe a couert ●…ruice vnto the company of chirurgians , from whose race he is descended . for , when hee perceiued those his brethren much to repine at the continuall good , that this magnetick cure performeth daily , to many of gods infirme and wounded creatures , andthat not without a wonderous prejudice vnto their practice and profit ; he thought it would be a worthy & meritorious seruice vnto them , to vndertake the disgracing and putting downe , so great an eye-sore vnto that little common wealth ; and they , no doubt , perceiuing him to be impudently bold by nature , as also of a small estate ( as it appeareth by his epistle vnto the reader , where he saith ; that he is infra i●…idiam , and hath but small church reuenue ) and therefore the more carelesse , desperat , and consequently the apter to rayle , and vse vnseemely language vnto his betters ( for , who would bee so foolish , as to cast away his money in the starre-chamber , for a libeller or rather slanderer , that is worth little or nothing ) and rashly to condemne , without any modesty or conscience , the things which are already adiudged by god ; were very glad to make choice of this man , as a perdue in the forlorne band of their troopes , to venter rashly , and to vndergoe without modesty or wit , this burden , namely , as well to take away this weapon-salues reputation amongst men , as to vpbraide me , with false and scandalous imputations , for maintaining it to bee onely naturally magicall , and therefore lawfull and no way diabolicall . now that this is so , the case is made apparant by foure manifest obseruations : whereof the first is ; because this businesse toucheth chiefly , and that vnto the quick , the chirurgians freehold : and therefore it is most likely , that these are his friends he meaneth in his dedicatory epistle , where he speaketh thus : i had rather hazard mine owne reputation , then men should their saluation . my friends , at whose intreaty i condescended to this vndertaking , &c. here you see his religious vaile : and againe , he discouereth his hidden policy . he pretendeth zeale for the saluation of many ; and afterward hee saith , that hee condescended vnto it , at the intreaty of some of his friends , whereof some in plaine great letters he quotes in the margent , namely , i. s. and e. c. now who these are explicitly , the title of his latine epistle expresseth : you will finde them ( no doubt ) when you know them stout iudicious persons and of a deepe reach , to determine so great a doubt as this which wee haue in hand : stout iury-men ( i say ) to giue their verdit on so profound a philosophicall mystery . god preserue their demure worships , amicis meis ( saith he ) ioanni scot●… & edwardo chalaeo , &c. now this taske concernes none more ( as i said ) then thechirurgians , & that he esteemeth them his especiall friends , the consequence will confirme . the second obseruation is , because this our aduerse author was a barber chirurgians sonne . hence came that mighty reuerence , that he beareth them , in giuing them the title of esquires . the third is made manifest , by that stately and vnusuall latin epistle in an english booke , that hee hath dedicated vnto them . lastly , because some of them ( as i am aduertised ) did goe along with him to grace him , and to procure him the licensing of his booke to be printed , as well against the weapon-salue , as my selfe by name , whereas more modesty and discretion might haue guided them , then so earnestly to haue moued and pressed the licensing of a scandalouspamphlet , a part whereof ( i say ) doth in an ignominious and infamous maner , point at my selfe by name , of purpose to preiudice and wound ( as far as in it lay ) my vntainted reputation , and that immediately after the immodest and rash composer thereof had been reprehended , and repulsed by two discreete and learned personages for the very same , slanderous and immorall insolencies . i am much beholding vnto these fauourers , of mine aduersary , and so much the more , for as much also as vnto one or two of my fellow collegues ; some of them geered and scoffed at me , for those slanders , which he vauntingly had expressed in his booke against me , both before the licensing of it , and afterwards . but as i neglect their scorne , as being too shallow to drowne my reputation , so i pray god forgiue them their follies , and abate their malice ; i accuse not all , but some : for , i know there are amongst them of a more learned , discreet , and modest carriage ; vnto such therefore , because i deeme them free from this malignant action : i wish all happinesse , and desire their pardon , if i speake iustly , and that vnto the matter , when i find my selfe so spightfully netled , by some of their society , if i cared for them , or it . wherefore , by their good leaues , i will proceed thus in my history . the aboue mentioned noble personage , and captaine stiles , with sir beuis thelwell ( who had his oyntment from that noble personage , and hath performed by it , many strange and desperate cures ) and mr. wells of dedford ( a learned , and honest gentleman , haue cured ( as they will make good ) at the least a thousand persons by this manner of cure , and now there are many other , as well men , as women , which haue got of this weapon-salue , and doe daily an infinity of good in this kingdome . hinc dolor , hinc lacrimae : from hence ( i say ) commeth the griefe vnto the chirurgians , as well of this city of london , as of euery countrey about . and haue they not good reason for it , when they lose such a masse of practice aswould well haue stuffed their pouches ; was not ( i beseech you ) this the siluer-smiths of ephesus case , who when they perceiued , that their gaines , which in their trade they got by dianas image , was likely to perish through s. pauls miraculous vertue , as well in healing , as otherwise ( for it is in the same chapter said , that god wrought no small miracles by the hands of paul , so that from his body were brought vnto the sicke kirchiefes , or hand-kirchiefes , and the diseases departed from them , and the euill spirit went ' out of them ) and salutiferous preaching of iesus c●…rist , they put the whole citty in an vproare , by the perswasion and oration of a certaine man , named demetrius , a siluer-smith , that thereby they might decry and put downe those preachings , and miraculous operations of st. paul , as well in healing , as otherwise , which hee did effect , not onely in that citty , but ouer all asia , crying out against all truth and reason , great is diana of the ephesians ! inferring thereby , falsely , that pauls doctrine and curing was erronious , and his miracles diabolicall ? doth not this champion for the chirurgians , i meane mr. foster , resemble in euery point the ephesian demetrius , for as much as hee conspireth with the artists of his fathers trade , to moue the whole citty , yea , and countrey , to murmur and repine at the vertuous act of that gift , which god hath imparted vnto the weapon-falue , and exclaime against such as vse it , vnto gods glory , and the good of mankinde ; because it doth derogate , and taketh away the profit and gaine from the trade of chirurgians ? did not demetrius vnder pretence of zeale and religion vnto the false and ethnick goddesse diana , derogate all he could from the honour and glory of iesus christ , and that chiefely for the company of siluer-smiths profit and gaines sake ? and doth not foster in the very same manner , vnder an hypocriticall shaddow or vaile of sincerity , ascribe the power of healing by the weapon-salue vnto the diuell , the falfe god of this world , and in so doing , doth derogate from the diuine honour and vertue of the true god , who made heauen and earth , thereby to poyson and intoxicate the opinions of vertuous or well minded men , and to distract them from the truth , by his false perswasions , as demetrius attempted to doe with the honest ephesians : for as much as he with his chirurgicall faction , seemeth to cry out like another demetrius , great is our esculapius , the god of chirurgians , and his inuentions of balmes , emplasters , and salues : and consequently diabolicall is the weapon-salue , which cureth all wounds miraculously at a distance , and not by contact ? did not galen in the like manner raile and scoffe at christ and his disciples , for their curing so strangly at distance , and that without any ocular demonstration . and the reason why ? was , because he could not cure spiritually at distance ; but onely grossely and by an immediate contact . if i therefore like the ephesian towne-clarke , shall with words of reason and truth , seeke to appease the vniust rumours and needlesse iealousies , stirred vp by this our sponge-bearing demetrius , and ascribe with the words of verity , that vnto god the father , and his sonne iesus christ , which belongeth to him , and tell the diuell and his minister vnto his face , that all goodnesse , and therefore each healing property belongeth vnto god the creatour of all things , and not to any vile creature , much lesse vnto the diuell . doe i ( thinke you ) doe amisse ? was it not ( i pray you ) for these very words of paul , that in his sermon at athens demetrius and his crafts men were so much offended with him . the lord ( saith he ) who hath made heauen and earth , dwelleth not in temples made with hands , netther is worshipped with mens hands , as though he needed any thing , seeing he giueth to all , life , and breath and all things : and hath made of one blood all mankind &c : for in him we liue , and moue , and haue our being , for wee are also his generation . for as much then as wee are the generation of god , wee ought not to thinke that the godhead is like vnto gold or siluer , or ston●… grauen by art and the inuention of man , &c. this angred demetrius and his company , namely to say , that the godhead is not like vnto gold or siluer grauen by art , which if they had suffered , no body would haue bought the images of diana , framed by them : in like manner , this chirurgicall faction decryes the weapon-salue , fearing that few wounded persons would trouble them for their cure , being that frustra fit per plura , quod potest fieri per pauciora : it would bee but vaine for a wounded man , to bee tormented by flashing , eating corrosiues , incisions , and dolorous tentings of chirurgions , besides great bargaines and compacts for the cures , and perchance also little attendance , when the immediate act of god doth operate the ●…ure gratis , gently , without dolorous tents or grieuous incision , and that honestly without an ill conscience , seeing that it is gods spirit ; which doth operate as well in the blood as salue . for ( i beseech you ) obserue the words of saint paul ( which if they moue in some degree the ephesian siluer-smiths , they will much more nettle such couetous chirurgians , as would suffocate and smoother , this excellent and diuine vertue in the weapon-salue , whose originall is ofblood : ) the which words that you may with the better solidity conceiue , you must gather or collect out of them , these three seuerall things : first , that the lord of lords is hee , who hath made heauen and earth , whereupon wee collect , tha the which hath made heauen and earth , is the guider and operatour , both in the spirit and body , of both the great and little world called man : and therefore neither hag nor diuel can work to the health , sustentation or preseruation of either : as the consequence shall confirme ; for the text saith : hee giueth life , breath , and all things . next , hee hath made all mankind of one blood and spirit : and therefore he operateth all in all in mans blood in generall , as well to life as health . and againe : the spirit of the dead mans bones , and consequently their excrescence , which issued originally out of mans blood , in the which in part lurketh gods spirit of life , hath an homogeniall reference , vnto the liuely blood of man , for as much as the text saith , that all mankind is made of one blood onely : and therefore this vnion of symphoniacall or sympatheticall harmony , is not easily to bee limited , by master fosters phantasticall spheare of actiuity . for the text following vnto the athenians is : in him wee liue . and moue , and haue our being . and lastly , that wee are the generation of god : and for that cause , christ did not disdaine , to call vs his brethren and the sonnes of god. neither is it sufficient to say ( as these precisians doe ) that this is ment onely of the beleeuers ; and not of the infidels . for saint paul , at that very time , when hee preached this doctrine , spake vnto the idolaters , and such as worshiped vnknowne gods : and he did let them to know th●…s much ; namely , that they liued , moued , and had their being in the true god , and that this lord of lords giueth life and breath , and being , and that they were all of gods generation . all this hee truely taught , that thereby they might leaue their false gods , and betake themselues vnto their right lord & only god , from whom , by whom , & in whom they exist , and persist in their being , as hee declareth else-where . let therefore demetrius , his goddesse diana be forgotten , and let fosters healing diuell be depriued from all his imaginary power & practice in curing of wounds . and lastly , let all couetuous chirurgians expectations be thorowly quashed , and disanulled , by this inuiolable assertion of the apostle . though there be that are called gods , whether in heauen or in earth , ( as there be many gods and many lords ) yet vnto vs there is but one god , which is that father of whom are all things , and wee in him , and one lord , iesus christ , by whom are all things , and we by him : but euery man hath not that knowledge . let m. foster mark this : as who shouldsay , though the ephesian demetrius with his complices , did attribute all power vnto the false goddesse diana , and foster , the secret & maruellous power of healing by the weapon-salue vnto the diuell , as the prince of this world , without any consideration vnto this text ; yet it is certaine , that it is god the father , of whom are al things : and consequētly , this act in curing and by our lord iesus christ , by whom are all things , and therefore each blessed gift of healing . for , salomon auerreth , that it is the word that cureth all things . but , saith the text , euery man hath not this knowledge , &c. wherefore mr. foster is the more to be blamed , to professe the name of gods minister , and to be ignorant in this point . or at the leastwise , if he knew it , hee is to be blamed both before god and man , to speake so bluntly , and against his conscience , for any pruiuate companies cause , or worldly affection , yea , it may appeare , that hee was troubled in his conscience , when hee writ so staggeringly , and vnaduisedly , touching the originall cause of this cure . for , first of all , pag. 8. he saith , that it is not the salue that cureth , but the diuell , by the secret applications of other medicines : in another place , namely , pag. 17. hee acknowledgeth , that the act of curing , is the salue but concludeth it to be magicall , by reason of the superstitious obseruations in the collection or gathering of the ingrediences , and in the anoynting of the weapon . then pag. 39. hee seemeth to auerre , that it is the bathing of the wound with vrin , and the keeping it cleane , which doth effect this cure ; whereby hee taketh away all vertue from the salue , and acting power from the diuell . but pag. 7. hee saith , that it is onely god that cureth at such a distance , for as much as his essence is infinite , and is omnia in omnibus , and not any angell . the gentleman you see is in many minds , god amend him , and make his head-piece more setled , and of a more solid consistence , and constant nature , or wee shall be troubled heereafter with many words ; but little substance appertaining to the right matter . i heare he threatneth me with a volume of some impieties , and i know not what , which hee hath found in my works : i am sure hee will proue but mersennus and gassendus his ape or parroket . for hee professeth them his masters , and therefore i will quickly serue and afford him the same sauce , or answer i haue bestowed on t hem . let him appeare when he dareth , and take the best assistance , his home-bred setters on can afford him ; i feare neyther him nor them , nor mersennus , nor lanouius , nor gassendus , his papisticall masters : for , i haue ( i hope ) the buckler oftruth for my defence . i will now passe vnto the next chapter , wherein i will expresse certaine histories , of certaine magicall cures , which in mine opinion , are farre more admirable then this of the weapon-salue . chap. vii . in this chapter , certaine magneticall , or sympatheticall affects are expressed , which appeare farre more admirable , then this of the weapon-salue . sir nicholas gilbourn relateth in his letter vnto mee these words : the last time ( saith he ) the lady ralegh was at eastwell at the countesse of winchelsey her house , wee falling into some discourse , concerning the sympatheticall oyntment , shee told mee , that her late husband , sir walter ralegh , would suddenly stop the bleeding of any person ( albeit hee were farre and remote from the party ) if he had a handkirchers , or some other piece of linnen dipped in some of the blood of the party sent vnto him . if this were done by the diuell , i presume , that so wise a personage , as was sir walter ralegh , would haue lest , or at least-wise not haue vsed that trade of curing or stopping of blood . there are foure histories more , that i wil tell you , whereof the two first are forraine , and the two last were acted at home namely here in england . the first of the forraine stories was acted in italy , and hath beene there so famous and remarkeable , that vnto this present , it is as well in the natiue countrey-mans mouth , as in the report of such trauellers as haue passed thorow the countrey ; yea , and there are authors of credit , that haue enrolled it in their written monuments . it was thus : there was a certaine lord , or nobleman of italy , that by chance lost his nose in a fight or combate , this party was counselled by his physicians to take one of his slaues , and make a wound in his arme , and immediately to ioyne his wounded nose to the wounded arme of the slaue , and to binde it fast , for a season , vntill the flesh of the one was vnited and assimulated vnto the other . the noble gentleman got one of his slaues to consent , for a large promise of liberty and reward ; the double flesh was made all one , and a collop or gobbet of flesh was cut out of the slaues arme , and fashioned like a nose vnto the lord , and so handled by the chirurgion , that it serued for a naturall nose . the slaue being healed and rewarded , was manumitted , or set at liberty , and away he went to naples . it happened , that the slaue fell sicke and dyed , at which instant , the lords nose did gangrenate and rot ; whereupon the part of the nose which hee had of the dead man , was by the doctors aduice cut away , and hee being animated by the foresaid experience , followed the aduice of the same phisician , which was to wound in like manner his owne arme , and to apply it to his wounded and mutilated nose , and to endure with patience , till all was compleate as before . he with animofity & patience , did vndergoe the brunt , and so his nose continued with him vntill his death . what ? must wee esteeme this worke the act of gods spirit in man , or a deceitfull and prestigious operation and trumpery of the diuell ? verily , it must needes by wise men be adiudged to proceed from that good act of gods viuifying spirit , which did operate by way of life and vegetation in them both . is it not strange therefore ( the one liuing about bolongnia in italy , and the other being in naples ) that according to master fosters tenent , neither the tall hills of hetruria ; nor yet the high appenine mountaines could stop the concourse and motion of these two spirits , or rather one spirit continuated in two bodies , as a line being stretched out from two extremes , of so farre a distance . surely m. foster will say , this is magicall and diabolicall . the second forraine story was this . i was , whilest i did soiourne in rome , acquainted with a very learned and skilfull personage , called master gruter , hee was by birth of swisserland : and for his excellency in the mathematick , and in the art of motions and inuentions of machins , he was much esteemed by the cardinall saint george : this gentleman taught mee the best of my skill in those practices : and amongst the rest , hee deliuered this magneticall experiment vnto me , as a great secret , assuring me that it was tried in his country , vpon many with good successe . when ( said he ) any one hath a withered and consumed member , as a dried arme , leg , foot , or such like , which physicians call an atrophie of the lims , you must cut from that member , bee it foot or arme , the nailes , haire , or some part of the skin , then you must pierce a willow tree with an auger or wimble vnto the pith , and afterward put into the hole the pared nailes and skin , and with a peg made of the same wood , you must stoppe it close : obseruing that in this action the moone be increasing , & the good planets in such a multiplying signe , as is gemini , and fortunate and powerfull ouer saturne , which is a great dryer . the selfe-same effect ( said hee ) you shall finde in you , take the nailes and haire , which is cut off the member , and close them in the roote of an hasle tree , and shut vp the hole , with the barke of the tree , and after couer it with the earth , and ( said he ) it hath beene tried , that as the tree dayly groweth and flourisheth , so also by little and little , will the patient recouer his health . but you must with diligence obserue , the motion of the heanenly bodies , and especially the places of the sunne and moone , when this is effected . and to this intent , he did disclose vnto me , the time and seasons when the preparion vnto such a cure should be effected . but alas ! what haue i done ? now hath mr. foster enough to cry out that this is magick indeed ; here is superstition in the highest degree : for did not he say pag. 17. that it is an astrologicall , and therefore superstitigus obseruation to collect any ingredient , or to doe any thing by attending and expecting , when the moone should bee in such or such a house of heauen , and that by scriptures , astrologers , magitians and sorcerers , like birds of a feather , are linked together ? a worshipfull exploit in in this demure gentleman ! his blindnesse leadeth him in this as in the rest . for first hee concludeth , that all magick in generall is damnable and diabolicall , because one species or member of it , is iustly to be banished from christian mens remembrance : as if there were not a naturall magick , by which salomon did know all the mysteries in nature , and the operations thereof ; yea , as if the three wise kings of the east , did discouer , that the true king of the iewes was borne , by diabolicall magick . how now master foster , were these three wise men cacomagicall magitians , or such as the scripture did allow of , and we christians keepe a holy day in their remembrance ? right friar mersennus his ape ! for he condemneth all magia without exceptions of kinds ; not remembring , that magus is in the persian tongue interpreted a wise man or a priest . and in the very same manner , this gentleman , after his masters custome condemneth all astrologie , for that members sake , which is truely superstitious and vnlawfull ; not considering , that the verity in both , the true magick and astrology hath been falsely contaminated and abused by superstitious worldlings , and thereupon made the good , in the eyes of the ignorant , to bee abolished and condemned with the bad , for the bad sake : and so goodnesse by vile men is swallowed , without any difference , by darknesse . i would therefore haue our sponge-bearing aduersary know , that there are foure parts or kinds of astrology in generall . the first is conuersant about the mutation of the aire , and foretelling of tempests , diseases , famine , or plenty , &c. the second foretelleth the alterations of states , as also wars , or a pacifick dispotion in the minds of men . the third intreateth of the election of times , and of natiuities . the last is directed vnto the fabricating of characters , seales and images , the which , because it mingleth it selfe with superstitious actions , & is made an instrument for the abuses of impious persons ; and especially , because a diabolicall insinuation vnto vice and impiety , may easily be perceiued in it , is of all good christians to be repudiated and condemned for vnlawfull what ? is the almanack makers science for this mr. fosters exceptions , to be put downe , or must physicians be forced to forsake or neglect their houres of election , ingathering of simples , or letting blood , or cutting the hayre and nailes , or stopping laxes , or making the belly lubricke for this mans caueat ? doth not amicus medicorum auerre , that the influence of heauen , may helpe the working of medicines ? for ( saith hee ) oftentimes medicines laxatiue , are by vnskilfull phisicians , giuen vnder an influence of heauen , that worketh a contrary or stiptick effect , & so are hindred . also saith he , sometimes medicine is giuen to stop , when the disposition of the heauens are lubrick and laxactiue , and then the medicine loseth his effect . and for this cause , haly saith , the physician that is ignorant in astrology , is as a blinde man , searching out his way without a staffe , groping and reeling this way and that way . and ptolomeus , that a good astrologian may auert many effects of the stars which are to come . doth not galene & hipocrates speake much in their critical treatises , of the necessity of obseruing the moones motion ? but letting this passe : what say wee to the husbandmans obseruation of times and seasons , as well in sowing as in reaping ? if this will not serue to stop our aduersaries violence , wee will comevnto the testimonie of scriptures : for the confirmation as well of election of seasons , as to proue that the influence of the heauens doth operate as well good as euill effects . for the first it is said , est tempus plantandi , & tempus exstirpandi quod fuit plantatum : est tempus belli , & est tempus pacis , &c. there is a time to plant , and a time to pull vp what is planted : there is a time of war , and a time of peace ; and the son of syrach : in the good day , enioy that which is good , and beware of the euill day , as god made the one , so also 〈◊〉 ordained the other : an s. paul wisheth vs , to put on the armour of god , that wee may resist the diuell in the vnfortunate day . now , if the starres be the distinguisher and guider of times , as moses telleth vs , surely the influence eyther good or bad for them , maketh good or bad angells , to haue more or lesse dominion ouer creatures . that there are bad influences from aboue , these words of dauid doe testifie : deus est custos tuus , sol & non percutiet dierno tempore ; nec luna nocte : god is thy preseruer , the sunne shall not strike or wound thee by day , nor the moone by night , &c. and is it not acknowledged , that the moone is the procurer of the epilepticke disease ? where it is said in the euangelist in plaine termes , that the possessed was lunatick ? also that there are good influences from aboue , it is argued by this text of iob , canst thou restraine the sweet influences of the pleiades , or loose the bands of orion ? canst thou bring forth mazzaroth in their time ? canst thou also guide arcturus with his sonnes ? knowest thou the course of heauen ? or canst thou set the rule thereof on the earth , & c ? for in this text , wee finde the good influences of the starres are mentioned : and heere also it is expressely noted , that the heauens haue their powers on the earth . i boldly affirme therefore , that all astrology is not forbidden for as much as there is an especiall obseruation to be had by wise men , of the influence of the stars . and for that purpose , there are houres of election , duely to be obserued according vnto this or that influence , which is most proper and conuenient for our worke . againe , whereas mr. foster seemeth to make so slight account of the 12. signes , and their essentiall operations on the earth ; he may see , that such as haue made their allaterall notes vpon the text , doe interpret the word mazzaroth , to signifie the 12. signes , which doe possesse the 12. houses of the zodiack , which being so , marke the texts conclusion : canst thou set the rule thereof on the earth ? whereby it is euident , that the 12. signes , haue an especiall rule ouer the earth , and the creatures thereof , and that by gods ordinance and appointment . by this it is made manifest , that there is no cacomagicall superstition , in obseruing times , daies , or houres , in which this or that starre hath dominion , for the collecting of ingrediences , or preparation and adaption of medicines , or other matters , proper for the cure of man , as mr. foster doth vniustly auerre . to conclude , therfore this point , we may discerne by the foresaid experiment , how the vegetatiue force of the plant operateth , in the excrementitious parts of the withered member , no otherwise then the ointment in the amputed blood , and how the spirit of those nailes and haire , and skin , do participate with that of the withered member , no otherwise then that of the blood in the oyntment , doth with the bloody spirits of the wounded , or as the vrinall excrements , with the blood in●…ected with the ●…aunders , as shall be told you heereafter , or else they could not conferre or exspire the vegetating spirit of the plant , vnto the decayed member ; neither could the spirit in the decayed member , magnetically draw the vegetating spirit of the plant vnto it , that by the addition of its power , it might with the more speed prosper and recouer . it is commonly obserued amongst vs , yea , and familiar in old wiues practice , that if a piece of fresh beefe be rubbed well on warts , either in the hand or other member , and buried in the ground , the warts haue bin accustomed to fade by little and little , as the beefe doth rot and putrifie in the ground : and that if the party that hath the warts be at a farre distance from the place , where the beefe is buried . must this kind of cure also be cacomagicall , or diabolicall ? yea , verily , as well as the rest , if that be true which m. foster and his associates doe auerre . i could remember each reader of many of these vsuall conclusions in naturall magicke , which being well pondered , would , i imagine , proue●…farre enough in euery wise mans iudgement , from any diabolicall practice or commerce ; but because i feare , i should be in doing , more tedious then delectable , vnto each curious , i will come briefely vnto the two homebred histories , which i did promise vnto you before . the first of our homebred histories is this : there is at this present , an honest religious gentlewoman about london , that taketh an herbe , called the rose of the sunne , which hath small husks about it , which will open and shut , and shee putteth it in plantain-water , and it shutteth and closeth vp . she therefore , when a woman with child beginneth her labour , giueth her a little plantain-water , and though the labouring woman , appeareth to the midwife neuer so ready to be deliuered ; yet if the gentlewoman see the vegetable closed , she concludeth , that they are deceiued , and that there is no such matter , and so it proueth indeed . againe , when the midwife doubteth of her deliuery , and yet she is indeed neer it ; the flower will open by little and little as the matrix doth , and then the gentlewoman bids the midwife looke to it , assuring her , that she is ready for it , and it proueth so . this story was related very lately vnto mee , by a noble man of worth , and confirmed by a reuerent doctor and his apothecary , who ●…erre , that certaine midwiues doe at this day , make 〈◊〉 of this naturall conclusion . now i know , that m. foster will say , that this also is diabolicall and superstitious . good god , what will this man leaue to be ascribed and attributed , to the onely actor in all operations , as well vulgar as mysticall , when there is nothing hidden , or rare in this world , which this greater agent for the diuell , then i am a witch , as he termeth me , doth not attribute to his master , the diuell , so that god forsooth must be granted to act only in vulgar and sensible things , but as for all hidden mysteries , the actiuity of those must proceed from the diuell , and be only attributed vnto him . to conclude , we see an admirable sympathy , betwixt the vegetable , minerall and animall , and the parts of mans body , as the coultsfoot , which is framed like the lungs , is good for the lungs : herniaria for the rupture , liuerwort for the liuer , eyebright for the eyes ; and againe , among minerals , gold for the heart , and siluer for the braine , brimstone for the lungs , yron for the spleene , as also the spleenstone cureth the spleene , if it be worne on the wrest . and why may not the herbe haue the like relation and correspondence in nature with the matrix ; and that by reason of the vehicle of plantainwater , which did communicate , the nature of the one with the other , the ayre being the common medium . the last hom ebred story is this : there is a noble personage in this kingdome of no meane descent , title and ranke , among the english nobility , a most wise , graue , aged , and religious gentleman , i say , who hath cured a hundred in his time , of the yellow iaunders , the patient being 10. 20. 30. 40. ( yea , & as he and others haue reported ) almost 100. miles off from him : and many of them , that hee hath so cured , haue laine long drooping vnder the burthen of this disease , before they came to him , in so much that the vse of cōmon receits of physicians could not ouercome it . hee hath both performed it by his seruants at home , and hath communicated the secret vnto some of his friends abroad , amongst whom he hath bin pleased to rank my selfe . the vrin therefore of the patient , is sent vnto this great lord. his māner of cure is this , he taketh the ashes of a wood , cōmonly knowne and growing here amongst vs in england , hee maketh a past of this wood with the vrin , reseruing a little of the vrin a part for another purpose , this past so molded & made vp with vrin , is diuided into 7. or 9 lumps or balls , and in the top of each of these , he maketh a small hole , and putteth in it a litle of the vrin remaining , & into those parts of vrin , hee putteth a blade of saphron . and so without further doing , hee puts the lumps in a secret place , where they must not be stirred , left the cure be hindred . and experience hath taught the world , many a score of icteritiall men , or infected with the yellow iaunders , haue by this simple meanes beene cured : and this is well knowne vnto a 1000. persons . lord ! what a diabolicall medicine will this appeare in the chaste eies of mr. foster ? ●…e wil straight way cry out , this is abominable and diabolicall witch-craft , and they are witches and coniurers that do vse it ! but beware mr. foster of railing , or calumniating this personage ; for he is such a one , as will endure no coals , but will chastice any of your vnmannerly brauadoes . what , i say ? is the diuell in the sick mans water , or is it in the burnt ashes of the wood ? ( they say , that witches implements being burnt , causeth all magicall power to vannish ) or is it in the poore blades of saphron , that are drenched in the vrin ; no truly , but rather in their conceits that dreame so . for it is most certaine , that the plant and the saphron haue hidden properties in them , to cure the iaunders . all the mystery therefore of this cure , belongth vnto the respect or relation , which is between the blood of the infected , and the whay of the blood , which carrieth with it partly some of the naturall salt and tincture of the blood , and partly some of the relicks of the i cteritious humor , which maketh the vrin of so high a yellow . the spirit of blood therefore with his agent lurking in the tincture , and salt , which is in the watery serous , or whaiey excrement , and being buried in that medicinable earth , or ashes , in which the salt of the plant dwelleth , or stirred vp by the continuation which it hath with that spirit of life , which yet dwelleth in the sick mans vaines . therefore the water being inhumed and mingled , with that medicinall earth , and mixed with saphron , the viuifying spirit of the sick , tending to the preseruation of life , doth ayd the like in the vrin , and also exuscitate and reuiue that in the salt of the ashes , to act and fight against the icteritious humor in the vrin , which fading and being by little and little conquered , maketh his like in the sicke body to dye and vanish . besides all this , the spirit lurking in the salt , and exuscitated partly , by the excited spirit of the plant , and partly by the emanating spirit of the sicke body , doth send , or carry backe a curatiue property , vnto the whole bulke of the blood . i leaue this vnto the more serious consideration of the learned , who can better iudge of the hidden and abstruse operations of gods incorruptible spirit , closing vp a-l in these very words of the apostle : deus operatur omnia in omnibus , god worketh all in all , & ex eo , per eum , & in eo , sunt omnia , of him , by him , in him are all things , & deus viuificat omnia , god viuifieth all things . and finally , dij sunt , qui dicuntur in coelis & in terra ; nobis autem vnus pater à quo omnia , & nos in illo , & vnus dominus iesus christus , per quem omnia , & nos per illum . there are in the estimation of some men , gods in heauen and in earth ; but vnto vs there are no more then one god , the father , from whom doe proceed all things , and we are in him : and ●…ne lord iesus christ , by whom are all things , and we by him . ergò , it is vainely , and presumptuously said of mr. foster , that the cure of the weapon-salue is effected by the diuell , the enemy of iesus christ , and not by christ himselfe , being that iesus is the only sauiour , and curer or healer both of soule & body , who , as he hath all powers & potestates vnder his dominion , vseth his good angels to work his goodnesse , and not the bad angels , which hee did ordaine for a cleane contrary office . i will not say , that this assertion of his is a kinde of blasphemy ; but it is little better . at the leastwise it is the grossest sort of idolatry , to ascribe the good works of god , vnto the essentiall act of the worst and most wickedest of all his creatures , whom god instituted for a clean contraryvse , namely , to be his punishing and destroying minister or angel . now , i will proceed vnto the particular defence , of mine owne doctrine , expressed in my mysticall anatomy , against the which master foster doth enueigh so bitterly , and with so great a confidence . he crowes there like a cocke on his owne dunghill , before hee hath occasion , and challengeth gloriously the palme , and proclaimeth the trophey of his owne prayses , before he hath got the victory . the end crownes all : for truth is not boulstered vp with high and braging termes . it had beene best for master foster to haue heard me speake , before hee had publikely slandered me , and set vp the titles of his booke on the posts of my doore in my disgrace : whether it was discreetly done of him , or not ; i leaue it to the censure of the world : and so i moue to the last member of this treatise . the third member : wherein the author doth disannull all those arguments and obiections , which m. foster with such inuincible confidence hath produced , for the refelling of his opinion ; expressed in his mysticall anatomy , where he proueth , that the action of curing by the weapon-salue , is meerely naturall ; and no way magicall or diabolicall . the prelude to this member : wherein the author doth expresse , that his aduersaries slanders of him , are grounded on malice , and not on any ●…ust desert of his . here also he sheweth the method of his proceeding in this member , with the reason thereof . each discreet reader may discerne by m. fosters scandalous vehemency against mee , for composing in my mysticall anatomy , the subiect of this member , that it is more of enuy and malice , then for any desert in me , or offence committed by me , either against him , ( for as much as i know him not ) or any other person else : for out of doubt , he would not else vpon so slight an occasion , as was this short chapter expressed in the foresaid place , haue so slandered me , with the title ofa magician , as he hath ; and alledged his wise master the frier mersennus his authority for it , as profound an author for rayling and false slander as himselfe . but why ( i beseech you ) should he induce mersennus his scandalous words against mee in this his writing , when he seeth , that the frier is so taunted by his friend and champion gassendus for it , that in his reply , which he maketh with gassendus and lanouius against me , after that i had thorowly nettled and gauled him for his follies , hee dared not to vtter or repeate one word against me , touching the precedent slanders of magicke , which in his booke on genesis , vpon little or no ground hee laid vnto my charge ; but grafted all his spight and malice in that reply , vpon certaine impieties , ( as hee termeth them ) which hee most weakely layeth vnto my charge ? againe : whereas this our home-bred aduersary saith , that i haue excused my selfe from magick , in a booke intituled , sophiae cum moria certamen , and that lanouius saith , cuius contrarium verum est ; i must tell him , that it doth ill become a man of his profession , to vtter such a falshood . for lanouius , ( though in as malicious a manner as he could ) doth cleare me of that crime , alledging that mine vnskilfulnesse or insufficiency in such things , made him to thinke the contrary . and therefore i must tell this my english calumniatour , that there is a starre-chamber to punish such abuses , and consequently , he may perchance heare of mee sooner then he doth expect , vnlesse hee bridleth his slanderous tongue the better hereafter . it is an argument of little philosophie , and lesse diuinity , to rayle vnreasonably , and scandalize with immorality . for philosophie is sapientiae amor , the loue of wisedome : and the wise man saith , it is the part of a foole to rayle . againe : all diuinity is founded on loue and charity ; and christ his chiefest preaching , wasto loue our brethren , and to affect our neighbours as our selues , and to admonish vs , that wee iudge not our brethren rashly . but to come vnto our businesse ; hath this chapter of mine , ( iudicious reader ) in which our diligent inquisitor hath made so strict a search , and against which he hath framed so punctuall a confutation , any cacomagicall busines in it , that i should so hardly be censured , by our quick-witted confuter , at the very entrance into it ? doe you discerne in it any thing , that should cause our aduersary to make such a scandalous , and vnchristian-like ingression into the inquiry of it , that thereby the simpler sort of men may deeme me a witch or magician ? as for such as are of the wiser sort , i am sure they laugh at it . but is not this an argument of enuy , founded on no solid foundation ? and is not he , as well for his vnreasonable spight , as some things else , of each good christian to be pittied ? for what hath he in him should deserue enuy , being that he confesseth in his epistle to the reader , that he is infra inuidiam ? as for my selfe , i must ingenuously concurre with the opinion of all the world , and say , that i had rather be enuied then pittied . but to our purpose : the subiect of this chapter cited by me in my mysticall anatomy , is onely a discourse of the naturall reference , and magnetick or attractiue and sympatheticall relation , which is obserued to be , betwixt two distinct substances of the like nature ; but differing in the distance of place ; as betweene the loadstone and the iron , betwixt the blood , and the salt of the same nature ; in which the vegetating spirit , common vnto them both , doth occultly abide . and you must note also ( courteous reader ) that in this particular booke of my mysticall anatomy , i did handle the secret and hidden properties of the spirituall or internall blood in the externall , citing therewithall , as neere as my small capacity would giue me leaue , the harmonicall effects which it worketh , as well by contract or immediate touch , as at a distance . i would faine know now , wherein i haue offended in so doing ? or how i haue deserued m. fosters slanderous ingression into his examination of this businesse ? or whether in my naturall discourse vpon this subiect , i mention diabolicall charmes , circles , witch-craft , or vnlawfull and forbidden characters , or such like ? if you finde nothing appertaining vnto any such deuilish magick , then giue your sentence , whether such a prelude vnto this businesse was honest , decent , or any thing appertaining vnto the matter in handling . as for the vsage of the weapon-salue in it selfe , i protest before god and man , i neuer of my selfe did practise it vnto this very day ; but in my conscience , and by reason of a more strict inquiry , which for this cause i haue made into it , i finde it so free from any diabolicall superstition , ( which , god is my witnesse , i haue euer hated , as i doe the deuill and all his workes ) and haue heard so much of the vertuous operation thereof , that from henceforward , malegree the demeure writers or speakers against it , i will both practise it , and defend the lawfulnesse of it , as being more assured now then euer , that it is the blessed vertue of god ; and not any act of the deuill , which operateth in it vnto the health and alledgement of gods afflicted creatures . but to come vnto our matter . i will make but few words , for i haue already beene too long in my precedent discourse . but before i begin , i pray you obserue ( gentle and iudicious reader ) how that our sponge-carrier , is very halting and vnperfect in the interpretation of my text , straining it much from its true nature , to serue his owne sense rather , then iustly to expresse mine intention ; ( as indeed he ought : ) i will therefore in the fi●…st place expresse vnto you , in naked english tearmes , the full and exact purpose of my latine text , which i call mine assertion ; and then in the next place , i will expresse his exposition or collection : after that i will set downe the vertuous validity of his sponge in drinking vp , deuouring , or wiping away the strength of my assertion : and then in the last place , i will crush and squeese his sponge , and make it by force to vomit vp againe the truth , which it hath deuo●…ed , or rather couered with his vaile of ignorance . and this shall be my manner of proceeding in combate against this lernian monster , and his tr●…th 〈◊〉 sponge . chap. i. heere it is proued against our aduersaries assertion , first , that the blood , fat , flesh , and bones of a dead man doe participate with that balsamicke nature or humidum radicule which is in the liuing man. secondly , that a horse hath a balsam sympathising with that of a man. my naked text englished . we see that this oyntment is compounded of things passing well agreeing vnto mans nature ; and consequently , that it hath a great respect to his health and preseruation , for as much as vnto the composition thereof , wee haue in the chiefest place or ranke blood , in which the power of life is placed . here , i say , is the essence of mans bones growing out of them , in forme of mosse , termed vsnea : here is his flesh in the mummy , which is compounded of flesh and balsame ; here is the fat of mans body , which concurreth with the rest vnto the perfection of this oyntment . and with all these ( as is said ) the blood is mingled , which was the beginning and food of them all , for as much as in it is the spirit of life , and with it the bright soule doth abide , and operateth after a hidden manner . so that the whole perfection of mans body , doth seeme to concurre vnto the confection of this precious oyntment . and this is the reason , why there is so great a respect and consent , betweene this oyntment , and the blood of the wounded person . for it is most necessary , that some of the blood of the wounded , be drawne out from the depth of the ●…und , &c. this is the exact interpretation of my text . now yee shall see what he maketh of it . m. fosters collection . scull-mosse , or bones , ( saith doctor fludd , ) mummy , and the fat of man ( the especiall ingredience ) comprehend the corpor all perfection of man , and so are apt to heale , by reason of a naturall balsam resting in them , sympathising with the hypostaticall balsam refiding in the liuing man. you see here , that first he leaues out the blood , which is the prime ingredient ; and then whereas i speake of that enbalming ingredient , which the nobles of aegypt were wont to make of the naturall balsam , and such like bituminous and vnctuous things , as were enemies to corruption , he nominates and interprets after his fashion , and to serue his turne , saying ; that i speake of the naturall balsam in man , residing in the oyntment , &c. but i will let him haue his scope , being it cannot much vary from my purpose . m. fosters sponge to wipe away this mine assertion . i deny that scull-mosse , or bones , mummy , and mans fat haue , though they be medicinable , any naturall balsam , or radicall humor , ( for so some call naturall balsam ) residing in them , sympathising with the hypostaticall balsam , remaining in the liuing man : vnlesse a horse haue a balsam sympathising with mans. for ( saith d. fludd , which i aduise him to remember ) if a naile which pricketh a horse , be put into the oyntment-pot , the horse shall be cured . i say there is no such sympathy betweene horse and man ; and if there be no cause at all to bele●…ue the one , there is but little to bele●…ue the other . here the sponge is squeesed . obserue in the first place , that our opposite forgets , that blood is one of the ingrediences . and then he disputeth ex non concessis , as is before said ; and yet neuerthelesse i will giue him his way , and proue that all which his spongy tongue hath vttered , for the wiping away of that truth , which hath bene here expressed by me , is of no validity , nor yet of any appearance or probability . i will therefore diuide this confutation of his into two branches or members : whereof the first shal produce this question : namely , whether blood , flesh , fat , & bones , haue any naturall balsam , or radicall moisture residing in them , sympathising with the hypostaticall balsam remaining with the liuing man ? the later containeth this : whether a horse haue a balsam sympathising with the balsam of man ? the first of these two , is flatly held by m. foster negatiuely , and i in a surer confidence doe hold it affirmatiuely , and will proue it : first , by naturall reason : secondly , by the authority of holy writ : and lastly , by common experience . in the first place therefore , i would haue m. foster to learne , what a balsamicke nature is , before hee thus rashly seeketh to censure the creatures to haue it , or to bee without it . i must therefore let him know , that it is nought else , but a volatill , and essentiall salt , that is full of vegetating and multiplying vertue , which it receiueth from aboue , as a precious soule to viuifie and animate it , the which vertue is that calidum innatum , or naturall heate , by whose vertue euery creature doth exist , and the volatile vehicle , in which it is carried , is that humidum radicale , or radicall moisture , or humidity , by which , and in which , the foresaid vertue doth immediately moue , and act vnto life , vegetation and multiplication . by the operation therefore of these essentiall actiue and passiue , vegetables and animals doe manifestly , and minerals occultly vegetate and multiply : and that as well in their forme or naturall fire , as in their substance . and for this cause the true alchymists do cal this mystical salt , sal sapientûm , the salt of wise men , for as much as in it consisteth the mystery of nature . and others tearme it the true balsamum naturae , or balsam of nature , in which all the mystery of nature doth consist . whereupon the wise philosophers affirme : quod sit in sale isto quicquid quaerunt sapientes : that all that wise men seeke after , is in salt . touching the aëriall part , it is the volatile salt , which is euery where expansed in the open ayre , and it is the purest essence of and in the ayre , in which the graine of life is : and therefore other wise men say , est in aëre occultus vitae cibus : the hidden food of life is in the ayre , &c. it is not without a very mysticall and secret cause also , that our sauiour christ tooke an especiall notice of salt. in one place he saith : sal terrae estis vos , ye are the salt of the earth ; where hee meaneth the spirituall man , in which is the breath of life . and againe : sal si euaneurit , in quo salietur ? ad nihilum valet vltra , nisi vt mittatur for as , & conculcetur ab homini●…us . if the salt shall vanish away , with what shall it bee seasoned ? it will be of no further value , saue onely to bee cast cut of doores , and to be troden on by men . whereby it is euident , that nothing can exist , or be of any reckoning or estimation , without this mysticall salt , or glew of life , but will be quite dead and corrupt . there is salt in the very dunghill , that giueth life and heart vnto the ground , whereby it multiplieth the graine in a greater proportion , and sucketh vnto it more plentifully the celestiall influence of life . to conclude : the very essence of the animall creatures blood in generall , consisteth in this balsamicke salt. by it the body is animated : by it the flesh through apposition , vnion , and agglutination of parts is viuified , multiplied , and successiuely preserued . by this in the bread , and the flesh of creatures , the blood in man is daily increased : in this therefore is the incorruptible spirit of life , which keepeth man aliue , and defendeth him from corruption : and vnlesse it acteth his viuifying office , man is quickly rotten or corrupted . doe not scriptures confirme thus much in many places●… namely , that , anima ominis est insanguine : that the life of man is in his blood : and , anima carnis est in sanguine , the life of the flesh is in the blood ? now it is certaine , that this viuifying spirit , which is , donum dei cuilibet creaturae , the gift of god vnto euery creature : ( as is proued before ) is the true operator , in this his radicall moist tabernacle , to heale , mend , and agglutinate wounds , being assisted with any application , made either by a reall , or virtuall contact . it followes therefore , that this spirit being in the blood , fat , bones , and flesh of man , for as much as they doe subsist by it , and were first animated , and engendered , and multiplyed by it , doe participate of this spirit , which the scripture saith , doth animate and heale all things . spiritus seu verbum dei , saith salomon , sanat omnia : the spirit and word of god healeth all things . but m. foster will say , that this spirit of life is in the blood , fat , and flesh , when it is not separated from the liue man ; but after it is separated , it hath no more life or being . i haue told him , and proued the contrary , in my philosophicall demonstration . for without this salt , and liuing spirit in it , neither blood , fat , bones , nor flesh could subsist ; but according vnto that of christ be●…ore mentioned , it would be of no vse . againe , it is intimated in holy writ , that the spirit of life is in their centrall or inward parts , though it doth not act or operate ; but quiescere in centro , rest in the center , as i haue before expressed plainely . for else why should it be said : thou shalt altogether forbeare to eate the blood and the fat : and againe , thou shalt not take in thy meate the blood of the creature . and againe , the blood of the beast or fo●…le killed in hunting , must be powred on the ground : and the reason is there giuen : namely , because the spirit of life is in the blood . and againe it is said : the soule of the flesh is in the blood . now if the spirit of life did vanish out of the blood , flesh , fat , and bones , immediately after their separation from the liuing creature , what needed all these words , or strict precepts , for the not eating of the blood and fat , after the death of the creatures ? or why should that reason be giuen , because the soule or life is in the blood , or the blood is the see●…e of the soule or life ? the text doth not say , the blood was the seate of the soule or life ; but , it is : namely , the subsistence of these parts , though separated from the liuing body , doe yet participate with the spirit of life ; therefore beware , that you eate it not . i will not here remember you , of the viuifying vertue , remaining with elias his bones , which made the murthered body , that was by the theeues cast into the graue of the prophet , rise againe ; nor that the soules of such as were slaine for the words sake , did cry vnto the lord from vnder the altar for vengeance ; nor that the voyce of the murthered abels blood did cry out to god from the earth ; nor the sudden reuiuing of the dead blood in the murthered , at the presence of the murtherer : which could not happen , without this viuifying spirit did participate with , and lurke in the blood , though without action , till by the murthering spirit , it was excited vnto action , &c. but i will bring you to an ocular experience : it is most certaine , vnto such who haue applyed themselues vnto the art of distilling , that mans blood and bones doe containe an admirable deale of volatile salt , in which there is so excellent a balsamick di●…position , that it doth , by reason of the propinquity of nature , suddenly appease dolours of the gout , and intolerable aches , cureth wounds , healeth such as are affected with the mother and falling-sicknesse : and in fine , experience hath made manifest , that the volatile salt and oyle of the blood , is an excellent cordiall . againe , that the oyle of mans fat is a great appeaser of the gout and other dolours , and a healer of wounds , and a present dryer vp of all manner of excoriations ; often experience hath taught , as well my masters as my selfe . doe we not see , that the dropping of a candle will in one night heale vp an excoriation ? and euery ostler will certifie you , that a horses heele being wounded or cut with a stone or shoo , with the anointing of a candles end ; that hogs-grease , deeres-suet , are esteemed good and necessary ingredients for a healing salue ; there is not a chirurgion but will confesse . and whence doth this sanatiue property in them proceed ? what ? from the benigne act of god , or from the deuill ? if from , it is from that curing and viuifying spirit , which first made those members , and gaue them that vertue , or it could haue no healing property . spiritu ab ore dei ( saith dauid ) omnis procedit virtus : from the spirit of the mouth of god proceedeth all vertue . ergò , from that spirit had the fat , flesh , blood , and bones , that vertue of healing , or not at all : and by the presence they hold still that vertue of it , euen after their separation or amputation from the liuing body , that it receiued from it , whilest they were members in the liuing body : onely this is the difference , that when they were in the liuing body , their vertue was actuall ; but being separated , it is onely potentiall , and will not be reduced vnto act , vnlesse it be incited by the 〈◊〉 viuifying and actuating spirit , euen as we see , that grease or tallow is fixed with the cold , and will not flow , but with the act of naturall heate or fire , it will forthwith melt and flow . what of all this may our sponge-bearing author say ? must therefore the spirit of life be in this ? for without it there can bee no sympathising betwixt this and the hypostaticall balsam , residing in the liuing man. i must haue this inquisitor know , that as it was but one spirit , that was called by the prophet from the foure windes , to breathe life vnto the slaine ; so there is but one spirit that giueth vertue , as well to the liuing blood , flesh , fat , and bones , as to the other , that seeme to vs to be without life , or in puissance to act . it is but one spirit , but in diuers properties , that congealeth , and as it were , killeth the spirit of the moueable element of ayre , and fixeth it by his northerne blast into snow , frost , ice , and haile ; and againe reuiuifieth it by a southerne blast . neither will it serue our opposites turne , to exclude this spirit from the fat , blood , flesh , and mosse of bones , that are in the oyntment ; for the wise man saith ; that the incorruptible spirit is in all things : ergò , in this oyntment . we haue therefore the balsamick salt in all of these ingrediences , and in that salt lurketh the actiue vertue , which being stirred by his fountaine of action , flowing and acting à termino à quo , doth reagere , or act againe , à termino ad quem , that is , from the end to the beginning . this is the reason that this oyntment cureth not onely by a reall ; but also virtuall contact : namely , by reason of that vertue , which it holdeth from his first creator : as who should say , that an herb or roote should lose all their sanatiue vertue , because they are gathered from the plant : namely , a graine of wheate , or an apple , gathered from the straw or tree , should haue no balsamick nourishment in it , because they are now past growing ; and yet the contrary is manifested , in that they haue still in them their vegetating and multiplying spirit . for being put into the earth , the very atom of life lurking in them , doth manifest it selfe , and maketh them grow againe and multiply in their kinde . neither are the flesh of beasts destitute of their nourishing property ; though they seeme dead , and are seuered from the liuing creature . for the scripture saith ; anima carnis est in sanguine : the life of the flesh is in the blood , which if it were not so ; it would not nourish , or bee conuerted into mans bodily substance : namely , blood , flesh , fat , and bones : as also , if the viuifying spirit did not lurke in the flesh of the dead carkas , it were impossible that it should be conuerted into wormes by the exposition of it vnto the beames of the sunne , as shall be told hereafter . lastly , i could shew this deepe philosopher , that this viuifying spirit , in the volatile salt , is abundantly inbred . i could shew him ocularly , how it sucketh downe the forme of life from the sunne ; insomuch that of a cleare aëriall volatile salt , as white as snow , or chrystalling vnctuous fluent liquor , it wil in few houres become as red as a ruby , by exposing it to the sunne-beames . such is the sympathy betwixt it and the forme of the sunne : and in the selfesame kinde is their reciprocall appetite ; as is betweene the patient and the agent , or the female and the male. i could shew him also in a short space , the admirable power this vegetable spirit hath , to cause vegetation in all things . and i haue proued it to be a soueraigne balsam to cure wounds , and to take away aches : and therefore it sympathiseth with the hypostaticall balsam of man. for else it would not be conuerted into the same image : namely , into blood , and flesh , and fat , and bones ; and much more therefore the very blood , flesh , fat , and bones , of the selfesame species , being that simile magis nutritur à suo simili , like is nourished more by his like . doe we not see mans blood ; yea , the blood of euery creature , to consist of such a volatile salt ? if it were nothing but the vrine , which is the whayie excrement of the blood , it would witnesse so much , being that it is passing full of salt armoniak , or volatile animal salt : and by reason of the balsamick nature thereof , mans vrine is so proper to mundifie and cure a slight greene wound ; as also the yellow-iaunders is cured at such a distance from the patient , as is already declared . you see therefore , with what ease , and that by a triple consideration , this dull sponge of m. fosters is squeesed : and how vnreasonable and vnprobable is his foresaid proposition . i come therefore to the examination of the second question which ariseth from it . touching the second question , which is , whether a horse haue a balsam sympathising with that of man ? master foster saith , there is no such sympathy betweene horse and man. hee saith much ; but proued little or nothing . as who should say , m. fosters wil is so , and therefore stet pro ratione voluntas , his wil must stand for a law . he imitateth exactly in this , his bragging m. mersennus . but i wil be so bold as to instruct him better in this matter , and shew him that the bodily nature of the one , doth easily sympathise and communicate with that of the other . for the flesh , fat , and bones of the one and the other , are of blood in a naturall generality ; yea , and in speciality of bloods , though in number they vary . for ( i beseech you ) doth not the selfesame flesh , fat , and blood of the beast nourish the like in man ? is not the one transmuted into the other ? nay , doth not the scripture speake this in a generall sense , meaning all blood ; namely , that the soule or life of the creature is in the blood , and that the life of all flesh is in the blood , and that for a diuine respect of that spirit of life in the blood , we are commanded , not to eate of the blood of any creature ? and againe : the blood of man , in a reciprocall respect , is to be demanded of the beast that shed it . all which being rightly considered , who of wisedome can make any doubt , and not absolutely conclude , that the beasts bodily nature doth sympathise and correspond with the parts of mans body ? i confesse , that the intellectuall nature of man , maketh it to differ from that of a horse , for as much as he is said to be animal rationale , and the beast animal irrationale ; but these properties are onely seene in the specifying spirit , and doe neither concerne or touch any action of life , or vegetation , or multiplication , or healing . i will therefore discourse in this manner : god hath endued man with a double gift , whereof the first is the spirit of life , which he hath imparted not onely vnto him , but also to all other creatures ; and againe , he hath bestowed on him more then on any other liuing creature : for he hath giuen him vnderstanding ; and yet the giuer of this double gift , is but onely one spirit . and thereupon iob saith : spiritus deifecit me , & inspiratio omnipotentis viuificauit me : the spirit of god made me , and the inspiration of the euerlasting gaue me life . now ( as i haue said ) this very same benefit was giuen vnto all other creatures , in all one property and office : whereby it is said : deus viuificat omnia , god viuifieth all things . and iudith : misit spiritum , & creauit omnia , he sendeth forth his spirit , and createth all things : and the prophet isaias : deus dat flatum populo , & spiritum calcantibus terram , god giueth breath vnto the people , and spirit to euery creature that marcheth on the earth . wherby it is plaine , that the same spirit of life is proportionably , though diuersly , in number , measure , and proportion , powred out on euery specifick animal : and therefore there must be an admirable sympathy of nature , betweene the parts of each animal , which are by vegetation and multiplication produced , through the operation of the same spirit of life , infused into the blood ; and so by the way of animation vnto the fat , flesh , and bones . and this is the reason , and no other , that like is conuerted into his like ; namely , blood into blood , flesh into blood and flesh , and fat into his like , and bones and marrow is made of both . is it not most palpable , that any flesh , or blood , or fat of dead beasts will be conuerted , by mutation of concoction , into the substance of man ? which it could neuer doe ; but that they egregiously doe sympathise in nature together , and doe vnite the balsamick nature , or calidum innatum & humidum radicale of the one with the other , and transmute the substance of the one , into that of the other , which originally is the blood , as well manifest as occult . but touching the other extraordinary gift , it is said by iob in another place : in homine est spiritus ; sed inspiratio omnipotentis facit eum intelligere : in man is the spirit of life ; but the breath of the omnipotent maketh him to vnderstand . vnderstanding therefore is a gift , a part which maketh man to differ from the beast ; but not the spirit of life . what then resteth more to be done ? marry , the doctor must remember , &c. saith m. foster . and what must he remember ? for so strict an admonition of a wise man , must import some thing of weight . hee must ( saith he ) remember his horse-leechery . and what horse-leechery ? namely , that a horse pricked with a nayle , may likewise bee cured . a wonderous piece of worke ! and was it for this mighty businesse , that the same memoriall should be repeated , in this his glorious spongy piece of seruice , to wipe that assertion away ? let vs therefore see the maine subiect of his commenforation , which is this : for saith the doctor , ( which i aduised him to remember ) if the nayle which pricked a horse , be put into the oyntment-pot , the horse shal be cured . i say , there is no such sympathy betwixt horse and man. ha , ha , he ! risum teneatis amici ? because he saith so , therefore it is so : stat pro ratione voluntas . hee sayes it , and though he proueth nothing , yet hee must be beleeued . but this mans assertion shall be proued ridiculous , as wel by a common and vulgar obseruation , as the manifold practicall experience of the nobleman or earle , which i mentioned in the 6. chapter of the 2. member of this treatise . touching the common vulgar obseruation , we see , that the flesh of all creatures ( as i said before ) be they birds , or foure-footed beasts , and therefore of a horse , is easily conuerted , after it is digested in mans stomack , into his blood , flesh , fat , and bones : which is an euident argument , that there is a manifest sympathy betweene a horse his flesh and blood , and that of a man : yea , and that there resideth in a horse the like balsamick nature , or radicall moysture , which is in a man : and that consequently , the same balsamick nature doth sympathise with the hypostaticall balsam remaining in man. the case is apparent ; for quod facit tale , est magis tale : and therefore if the blood or flesh of a horse were not of such a nature as that of man , it would neuer be conuerted and made one in vnion , with the blood and flesh of man. but that it is so , euery sot doth perceiue practically . whereby it is euident , that the balsamick nature of the one , doth most exactly agree with the other ; or else they would neuer proue so homogeneall , as to include one nature . againe , if they did not sympathise ; but antipathise ; the nature of the one would abhorre the nature of the other ; which experience proueth false . againe , that there is a balsamick nature in a horse , sympathising with that in a man , the effect proueth . for the effect of a balsamick nature , is to agglutinate wounds , and to incarnate and breed flesh , and that by a secret vertue of vegetation . but the flesh of a horse doth render his balsamick suck or iuyce vnto the liuer of a man , where it so sympathiseth with the nature thereof , that it condenseth it selfe , by a homogeneall transmutation into blood , and becommeth as fibrous and well compacted , as the other humane blood : and in conclusion , is made all one with it : and after that by apposition , vnion , and assimulation ( that i may vse galen his owne words ) it becommeth mans flesh . an infallible argument , that the balsamick nature of these two creatures do consent and sympathise : for else they could not make one vnion . thus our sharp-witted remembrancer may see , that i doe not onely say , after his fashion ; but also proue and demonstrate my case so palpably , that euery simple person may feelingly perceiue it . i come now to such priuate experiments , as the noble earle aboue-mentioned hath made vpon horses : whereof some haue beene pricked , and some wounded , or hurt otherwise . he was pleased to tell me of many of his cures , as well on his own horses , as on others , which by the vertue of this oyntment , hee had performed . now would i faine know , whether any person of worth or discretion , would rather beleeue that , which this nobleman affirmeth , and auowed vpon his owne knowledge , and manifold experience , or else the threed-bare assertion of m. foster , who would perswade the world , and that by his meere asseueration onely , without any other proofe or practice , that castles may be builded in the ayre . what shall wee say then ? shall we call a conuocation of these turbulent , incredulous , and all-iudging persons , to haue it decided : whether the deuill did this cure to gaine the horses soule , or no ? alas ! their demure worships wil , after the due pleading and scanning of the cause , finde that his blacke lordship would not bestow the paines for a soule , which is so fading , transitory , and not immortall , as is that of a man , after which he so eagerly thirsteth and gapeth . but if they reply that he doth it to delude the credulous mediciner , and by that couert meanes to gaine his soule : i answer , that , frustrà fit per plur●… , quod fieri potest per pauciora . the mediciner cured many reasonable persons before , and would not that suffice the deuils turne to gaine him ; but hee must assist him also , in curing vnreasonable creatures , to make the obligation for the practitioners soule the surer ? i would perchance giue more credit to these bold and high thundering iudges or condemners , and vilifiers of iehouah's power , by attributing that vnto the deuill , which appertaineth vnto him , if one man had many soules to lose : but who is so foolish to cast the dice twice , for that he hath surely wonne at once ? by this therefore , each wise and iudicious reader may plainely discerne , that m. fosters sponge is herein also squeesed , for as much as it is most certaine , that the naturall balsam of one animal , doth sympathise with his like in the other , by reason that they haue both but one and the same acting vertue , and one generall balsamick spirit in nature and condition , which is common vnto euery specifick . chap. ii. wherein is proued contrary , vnto the sponge-carriers tenent , that mans bones proceed originally from blood. the naked assertion of d. fludds text . the blood is mingled with the mummy , or flesh , the fat , or the vsnaea , or mosse of the bones , which blood was the beginning and food of them all . m. fosters collection . these ingredients haue their beginning and aliment from the blood. the act of his mundifying sponge . secondly , i deny that mans bones haue their beginning and aliment from blood. for physicians and philosophers s●…y , that they haue their beginning from the grosser seminaryparts , and their aliment from blood , or marrow , or both . here the sponge is squeesed . i wonder that my confuter , like the comediant parasi●… , sometimes denieth ; and againe with the same breath affirmeth . for first , hee denieth that bones haue their aliment from blood ; and then he concludes that they haue . well , wee will passe this staggering error , and come to the point . mans bones ( saith he ) haue their beginning of the grosser seminary parts , ergo , not of blood. the consequence is erroneous . for if he will , ●…ucly looke into the nature of the sperme , he shall finde it to bee nothing else originally ; but the purest part of blood , strained from a double kinde of vessell : whereof the purer or internall part issueth from the arteriall vessell ; the grosser and externall from the venall vessell . what needs m. foster to looke on bauhines notes , or galens opinions , and those of many other differing from them , and so make ipse dixit his whole strength , when his eyes will teach him , ( if he euer knew anatomy , as perchance his father did ) that the fountaine of sperme is the blood , of two natures , namely , arteriall and venall ? for the preparing seminary vessels , that alter it , & purifie it , haue their issues and heads out of the great artery , and vena caua . which being so , i would faine know of m. foster , whether hee thinketh that the spearme doth not proceed from the blood as original thereof , for as much as the vessels , from which it floweth , be full of nothing else but blood ? i care not for ipse dixit , when in euery mans ocular experience it appeareth the contrary . for some men will haue the substance of the seed to come from the braine ; and other some from the subtile parts of the whole body ; and some will haue it spring from the purest part of the foure humours , which is all one to say , that it proceedeth from the blood , which is composed of the foure humors , though the element of ayre hath the dominion . but most sure it is , that the blood is his fountaine , and appeareth by ocular demonstration . which being so , i pray you good m. foster , what error is it in me to say , that blood is the beginner of bones , when your selfe doth confesse , that their immediate being is of sperme , whose immediate existence is of blood ? againe , we are taught that the ●…eat of life is in the blood : if therefore sperme doth bring forth life , it receiueth that gift of life from the blood. to conclude : it is euident by this , that the viuifying spirit of the lord ( which is the animater of the foure windes , from whence the prophet ezechiel called it to animate the slaine ) moueth and operateth radically in the spirituall blood , and that the sperme is animated and moued by this spirituall blood , which is the spermes internum , which philosophers call semen ; in whose centre the viuifying spirit of the lord acteth : and then this spirit in the seed , framed skin , flesh , bones , & nerues , and giueth them life , action , and motion : all which the patient ●…ob expresseth thus : thou hast powred mee out like milke , ( that is , in the forme of sperme ) thou hast coagulated mee like cheese , thou hast endued me with skin and flesh , thou hast compacted mee together with bones and sinnews , thou hast giuen mee life by thy mercy , and by thy visitation thou hast preserued my spirit ; but all this thou hast hidden in thy minde ; but i know all this to bee from thee . whereupon it is euident , that god operateth all , beginning radically in the blood : and for this reason the apostle saith rightly : in him we liue , we moue and haue our being . i conclude therefore ; that here againe is all the sponges validity so squeesed out , as hereafter ( i hope ) it shall not be able to digest any great matter ; nor yet to bite any longer vpon the marble rocke of truth . chap. iii. in the which it is proued , contrary vnto our spongy authors opinion , that spirits doe reside in the separated blood. doctor fludds naked text. in the blood is the spirit of life , and with the bright soule doth abide , and operateth after an hidden manner . master fosters collection . in the blood reside the vitall spirits : in the vitall spirits the soule , in an hidden manner . the act of his mundifying sponge . thirdly , i deny that any spirits reside in separated blood , and casman is so confident in this , that in parts separated from the body , remaine no spirits , and saith , that the very deuill cannot beget or conserue any in them . the sponge squeesed . here you see that this fresh-water souldier hath nothing to maintaine his tenent , but ipse dixit . if that faile , farewell all further expectation . but i will proue , that this his and his masters assertion is erroneous , by three manner of wayes : namely , first , by philosophicall reason : for being that euery amputated creature , euen from the liuely stocke of his growth , is filled with a balsamick salt of the nature of the tree or plant , from which it sprung , by which it doth exist , such as indeed it is , it is not possible , but that it should haue of the spirit of his wonted life in it , although it doth not act , but rest in its center . next , by holy scriptures , for ( as is proued abundantly before ) the blood spilled , and flesh killed , is full of liuely spirits , though they remaine potentially in them ; or else why should the israelites be commanded , not to eate the fat and blood ? for it is said : because the blood is the seate of the soule or spirit of life . for if that spirit of life were fled from it , what sinne had it beene to haue eaten it ? but the text saith , for it is the seate of life , and therefore it is commanded , that they should powre it out on the earth . againe ; let parson foster answer this : the incorruptible pirit of the lord is in all things : ergò , in the effused blood , flesh , fat , and bones , separated from the whole . and lastly , by common experience ; for we finde that fat , and blood , and mummy , haue singular properties of healing , which they could not haue , if all the spirits which they did receiue from the liuing body , were exhaled ; but it is the office onely of the incorruptible spirit and word to heale : and therefore , being these ingredients haue an healing property , they must needs in this their existence participate or communicate with this good spirit , whose nature is to expell and take away all corruption and sicknesse , and other vnnaturall impediments . verbum tuum ( saith salomon ) curat omnia : thy word cureth all : for in it onely is life , ergò , the viuifying spirit . moreouer i know , and with mine eyes haue seene abundance of spirits , which by the a●… of the least fire , haue beene excited , out of the essence of corrupted blood and fat , in so much that with the naturall heate of the hand , they , in forme of little atomes , haue beene obserued to dance and caper in the ayre , which is an euident token , that there is the spirit of life , lurking in the dead blood ; though it appeares but potentially in the essence of the dead thing in respect of vs. againe ; if this were not , is it possible that dead blood , flesh , and fat , could nourish the liuing , being that like is nourished by his like ? which could not be , if in the blood , flesh , and fat , there did not lurke naturall and viuifying spirits , to maintaine their like in the liuing creature : and therefore will one kinde of flesh nourish both a man , a beast , a fish , and a fowle ; because all those naturall spirits are of one kinde and condition . is it not , i pray you , apparent to the vulgar , that flesh and fat , hung vp in the sunne , will bee quickly conuerted into liue wormes or magats ? which were impossible , except the spirit of life did lurke in the flesh and fat , after the creature was dead ; yea , i haue seene a whole dead crow , which i hung vp in the sunne , for a certaine purpose , to be wholly ( sauing bones ) conuerted into verminous animals . an euident argument of the viuifying spirits presence in the dead flesh , blood , and fat . yea verily , i haue obserued , that the balsam of wheate so aboundeth in it , that if it bee put into raine-water , in a short space it produceth long wormes of a white colour . the same effect produceth flesh after putrifaction . it is most certaine therefore , that the spirit oflife is in the dead flesh and fat ; yea , and in the graine , which though it operateth not , except it be stirred vp by the viuifying spirits acting property , working in such an organicall body as is the sunne , the fire , the liuing creature , and such like ; yet is it most certaine , that it is in the amputed blood , fat , flesh , and bones , &c. you may discerne by this ( gentle reader ) how casman , and his compleat disciple foster haue erred . but wee must excuse them modestly , seeing that humanum est errare . why , i pray you , should i esteeme these men more catholick in knowledge then bernard ? but bernardus non videt omnta . and yet blinde bayard is subiect to iudge and censure any thing , though vnto himselfe vnknowne . wherefore let master foster put vp his authority in his pouch , for i esteeme it not , hauing naturall reason , the testimony of holy writ , and lastly , vulgar experience , or ocular demonstration to proue the contrary . and whereas his master casman teacheth him , that the very deuill cannot beget or conserue any spirit in them , i wonder how the deuill then can worke this weapon-salue cure , being that the oyntment hath no spirits of it selfe ; nor yet the deuill can beget or conserue any in the ingredients thereof ? and if he saith , that the deuill is of great experience , and doth this with other herbs or simples , i would haue him to tell me , why should herbs or other simples , being also , after they are gathered , but d●…ad as it were , and without spirits , by master fosters owne rule , serue as meanes vnto the deuill , for the working of this feate of occult curing ; and not rather such ingredients as are collected out of mans body , being that they are neerer and more familiar vnto their kinde : and therefore more benigne and affable vnto it , then stranger medicines , as are vegetables or such like ? if the reader will well ponder this , he will perceiue , all that our sponge-carrier speaketh , pag. 8. is but foppery . the deuill ( saith he ) maketh the mediciner beleeue , it is spent by a vertue going to the wound , whilst hee ( skilfull by long experience in all arts , and so in the art of medicine ) doth himselfe secretly apply some other vertuall operatiue medicine to cure the wound , to delude his credulous mountebankes , and makes them beleeue , that this salue , which dropped out of the hangmans bouget , hath performed it . o wonderous miracle ! and what getteth the deuill by that ? namely , to cure a man in that sort , whose body and soule is in the hands of the almighty ? in ma●… iehouae ( saith iob ) est anima omnis 〈◊〉 , & spiritus 〈◊〉 carnis ; in the hand of god is the soule of euery creature , and the spirit of all flesh . thinkes he that god will leese his owne by so weake and poore a sleight ? nay more : to giue or grant vnto the deuill his word , which ( as salomon saith ) 〈◊〉 all things , to deceiue himselfe of his owne heritage . what ? the deuill doe good , where no profit vnto him is to be expected ? and why not then , by the virtuall contact of this medicine , being of a neerer consanguinity with man , and therefore a more easie curer , then any other medicine that can worke by any virtuall contact ? a goodly tale ! as if a man would perswade me , that it is not the load-stone that draweth the iron ; but the deuill vseth some other creature to doe the deed , to coozen and deceiue the philosopher or mariner . these are but fabulae : inuentions ( i say ) of a fantastick braine , who to perswade vs vnto his imaginary and no way probable will , would make vs beleeue that castles are built in the ayre , and that we are in all our good actions deluded by the deuill , and that flying with the wings of master fosters wit , we must needs be wafted on the clouds of error , and so in a mist of ignorance forget the blessed workes of our good god and sauiour ; and by master fosters palpable delusions , to acknowledge them to be effected craftily by gods enemy . and how in gods name hapneth it , that the deuill is become so great a student in physick , and doth proue so expert in the art of curing , who hath employed his whole cunning , and bestowed the best fruits of his industry , to play the kill-cow , and to destroy ? a very wonderous thing ! master foster said it : ergo , must we beleeue it ? no , god forbid . but blessed be our lord god , who by emitting forth the benignity of his countenance , sendeth onely health , where , how , and vnto whom he list . but to proceede . chap. iiii. this chapter sheweth master fosters error , in saying that the soule doth not reside after an hidden manner in the spirits . the second attempt of the sponge against the same text. fourthly , i deny that the soule resideth after any hidden manner in the spirits . the stoicks indeed held that the spirits were vincula animae & corporis ; but the peripatetick and diuines deeme this as needlesse , seeing the body is generated for the soule , and the soule created for the body , and both make the totum compositum . what needs there any bonds to fasten them together ? there is a reciprocall desire to come together at the first , and an endeauour after the vnion to keepe together . the soule cannot in any kinde depend on , or reside in the spirits her instruments , but the spirits in the soule , &c. we squeese once againe in this argument , this swelling and full-gorged sponge after this manner : though in the precedent , i answered sufficiently that point ; yet must i wring this sponge a little harder , or it will keepe some of the iuyce of verity in his porous paunch . i said before , that animaesedes was in sanguine , and her chiefest vehicle , was the humidum radicale , as we see , that the spirit of life in the great world , did place his tabernacle in the sunne of heauen ; and againe it is said , that the incorruptible spirit is in all things , but this is that spirit which viuifyeth all things ; and therefore it resideth in the blood , and consequently in the spirits , which are contained therein , after a hidden and mysticall manner . as touching the peripateticks and some 〈◊〉 opinion , who hold that it is needlesse , there should be a tye betweene the soule and body : verily that doctrine is most erroneous and false . first , because the soule and body are so contrary in complexion vnto one another , that except an vnion were made betweene the two extremes , it were impossible that they should meet together , or if they should or could meete ; yet the pure and heauenly light of the soule , would suddenly forsake the impure and earthly darknesse of the body . for how can duo contraria conuenire in vnum ? doe we not see that all influences from aboue must haue an ayrie chariot , vehicle or medium , to conuey them into bodies , and to vnite them together ? why did god ordaine and place the ayre betweene the heauen and earth ; but to serue as a vehicle to vnite celestiall things with terrestriall ones , quasi amoris vinculo , as it were with the band of loue ? can we haue a better proofe hereof in this typicall world , then that of the archetypicall ? is not the father vnited to the sonne by the holy spirit , which saint augustine calleth , and many others , diuinum amoris vinculum : the diuine tye , or vnion of loue ? now after the archetypicall image were all things effected , both in the little and great world . for the prophet saith : by the word of the lord the heauens were fashioned , and by the spirit of his mouth all the vertues of them : so that the vertuous vnion or linke , which is made betweene the effects of the word in whom is life , and the creature to be viuified , is the good and incorruptible spirit , by which tye god hath his essentiall relation vnto the creature . by this spirit all the discordant elements are tyed in an vnion and louing consent , whereupon it is called peace , and loue , and concord , which beareth ( as the apostle saith ) and sustaineth all things by the word of his vertue . by it , weight and proportion is assigned vnto the ayre , and the clouds are fastened or hung vp in measure , and the waters are tyed so fast in the thicke clouds , that they cleaue not . to conclude , in the great world , the earth and the heauens are established and linked together by the word of god , as the apostle peter telleth vs , or else the elements would be continually at warre . and by the same reason the soule and the body , or heauen and earth in the little world are linked together , by this intermediate eternall tye , or else the body and soule would neuer abide together , but warre against one another , being that they are as contrary in nature , as fire and water . but vnlesse the spirit of ayre were put betweene these two contrary elements , to ioyne them together , they would neuer agree , nor abide in their spheares : no more would the soule and body , without a spirituall meane . now as we see , that the heaven of the great world is composed of light and spirit proportioned , and as it were glewed together , by the eternall spirit , which is the infuser of life in them both ; so also is the spirit in man so firmely vnited vnto the soule by the spirituall word , which is the tye or glew of life , that it is not possible to be separated the one from the other , except it be by that spirit , which did ioyne them together : and this may easily be gathered out of these words of the apostle : viuus est sermo dei & efficax , & 〈◊〉 omni gladio ancipiti , & pertingens vsque ad diuisionem animae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : the word of god is liuely and effectuall , and more piercing then a ●…edged sword , and attaineth euen to the diuision of the soule from the spirit . whereby it argueth , that the life consisteth of soule and spirit , and that these two are so vnited together , by the tye of the word , that nothing but the composer or binder can make any separation of them . and for this reason wee may see , that there is a strong tye , as well betweene the spirit and the soule , as betweene the soule and the body . and therefore as the soule is more worthy then the spirit , so the spirit excelleth in dignity the body , and consequently , the spirit is by proportion interposed betweene the soule and the body , no otherwise then the ayre betweene the sunne and earth . wherefore it is an absurdity in the peripateticks , to deny this tye and vnion , and more absurd for master foster to make such a poore excuse , as to say , that the body was generated for the soule , and the soule created for the body , and therefore that there needeth no bands to faften them . a poore conclusion ( i say ) of so eminently appearing a philosopher and theosopher : as who fhould say , two extremes could more be ioyned together , without a medium or middle tye or intermediate spirit , to conioyne and vnite them ; then the two extremes of a diameter in a circle , without a middle point or center . and more absurd it is in him to say , that there can be a reciprocall desire of two extremes and contrary opposites to come and dwell together at the 〈◊〉 , when they are so contrary , that the wise man saith , corpus infestum corruptioni aggrauat animam , & terrena habitatio deprimit mentem multis curis plenam : the body which is subiect to corruption , doth ouerburthen and aggrauate the soule , and the earthly habitation doth depresse and keepe vnder the minde that is full of cares . is it not strange and vnnaturall , that any captiue spirit should not desire his freedome and liberty , especially the bright soule , which is captiued in her darke bodily prison ? for this reason therefore iamblicus saith , that anima dormiat in corpore humano : the soule sleepeth in mans body . and porphyrie hath it , that it is alwayes 〈◊〉 in the body . and mercurie trismegistus , that the body is vnto the soule a veile of ignorance . whereupon it is certaine , that there is a spirit which keepeth it in this his darke prison . by this therefore you may see , what goodly doctrine this is of master fosters ! but to mend the matter , he proceedeth thus : and they endeauour after vnion so to keepe together , &c. it is true , if he speaketh in the behalfe of the darke body , who is ●…oth to leaue the bright soule , which is his treasure . but as for the soule , we see how many there are , that to escape the fetter of this prison , doe sluce out their owne blood , or destroy themselues , and many as well amongst the elect ( as by scriptures we finde it ) as among the common worldlings , desire earnestly of god , as being weary of this world , to be dissolued and to passe out of this life : cupio dissolui & esse cum christo , saith the one , &c. whereby it is apparent , that the soule doth not desire to liue in the body , or with the body , as master foster concludeth . and when she departeth , she cannot leaue her body without the spirit , so firme is their vnion , as the apostle sheweth , in the text before mentioned ; neither can the spirit wholly forsake that relation it hath to the body , as is said . i conclude therefore ●…at against master fosters assertion , that the soule doth , with a strict vnion , depend and rely on the spirit , and reciprocally the spirits rely on the soule , no otherwise then the agent can not be esteemed as an agent without the patient , nor the patient without the agent . and therefore they must both of them be vnited in one . and consequently , as an essentiall agent doth act from the center vnto the circumference : euen so it is to be conceiued , that the agile soule is contained in the spirits , as the agent in the patient , or soule in the body , or lightning in the cloud . and thus farre haue we proceeded , to squeese out all master fosters sponges validity , touching this matter : i come vnto the next . chap. v. the authors essentiall carrier of sympathetical vertue , giueth in this chapter , vnto our sponge-bearer but iack drummes entertainment , for calling him tom long the carrier : reade , and you shall see the manner . the naked assertion of d. fludds text. vvhereupon it is manifest , that 〈◊〉 spirituall line , being inuisibly protracted or extended in the ayre , betweene the places of the wounded person , and the box or pot of oyntment , doth carry along with it his animal forme , the which soule or spirit of life , is no lesse to bee diuided from his whole or integrality , contained in the body of the ●…unded ; then the beame of the sunne is from the sunne . therefore as the beame of the sunne , swimming in the 〈◊〉 of the world , is as it were a messenger betweene heauen and earth : euen so this animal beame is the faithfull conductor of the healing nature , from the box of the balsam vnto the wounded body : and this medium , or directing , and carrying line ; namely , that which conueyeth the wholesome and salutiferous spirit , by meanes of the soule or spirit of life , is that spirit , which is inuisibly extended , or drawne out in the ayre ; the which , vnlesse it had beene in a hidden manner figured and fashioned forth , the vertue of the oyntment would euaporate or sluce out this way , or that way , and so would bring no benefit vnto the wounded . master fosters collection . the spirit of the bloodshed , is carried by the ayre ( which is the carrier of the spirit of euery thing ) vnto his body : this spirit , going by this ayre , in a direct inuisible line , carrieth the sanatiue vertue , from the anointed weapon , to the wounded party . for the weapon communicateth it to the blood fixed on it , the blood to the spirits , the spirits conducted by the ayre , communicate it to the body , and so the patient is ( without application of plaister ) healed naturally , &c. it is plainely and euidently here to be discerned , how he corrupteth my text , to make it serue his owne ends . for first , i make no mention of a streight or direct line , onely i speake of carrying and direction of the vitall spirits , from the body wounded , vnto the box of oyntment , and then of the magneticall attraction of the sanatiue vertue back againe , by an inuisible line protracted in the ayre . then he saith , as from my text , that the weapon doth communicate the vertue of the oyntment , vnto the blood fixed on it ; but i neither said or meant any such matter ; for there is a neerer consanguinity betwixt the oyntment and the blood , then betweene the weapon and the oyntment . but i care so little for him and his deuices , as that i will let him haue his will. the act of his cleansing sponge vpon this . fiftly , ●…deny master doctors carrier , viz. his direct inuisible line , carrying the sanatiue vertue , so many miles , from the weapon vnto the wound . surely this is tom long the carrier , who will neuer doe his arrant . but the sunne with his beames is a true messenger betweene heauen and earth , and so this salue 〈◊〉 the weapon and the wound . ( o incomparable comparison ! ) the sunne is called quasi solus , as hauing no pecre , no creature working like it . but the doctor like another archimedes , can make one working by sending forth beames like it . though you call this my messenger tom long the carrier ; yet shall it doe his a●…ant so surely , and returne so suddenly vpon you his slanderer , ( being carried on the swift wings of verity ) that in the conclusion of this text , it shall giue you but iack drummes entertainment for your reward . i doe not say ( good sir ) that as the sunne-beame is a true messenger betwixt heauen and earth ; so the salue is a messenger betwixt the weapon and the wound ; ( o admirable capacity of so learned a gentleman , in his owne conceit to imagine things that are not ! ) but i say , that as the sunne-beame is a messenger betwixt heauen and earth , so is the beame of the viuifying and incorruptible spirit , in the inward man , which is his heauen , vnto the blood , which lyeth hid in the oyntment ; no otherwise then the graine of corne in a good and fertill earth , receiueth the viuifying comfort of the sunne-beames , by which , after putrifaction of the graine , it doth , by a magnetick power , draw the little soule , now at liberty , vpward towards his fountaine of life , from whence it descended the yeere before , for the multiplying of the graine . but because it is hindred by his elementary body , it remaines houering in the ayre , and by sucking down from aboue more of his like , it multiplyeth from one graine vnto a great many . is it therefore impossible , that the like might happen betweene the beame issuing from the body , and the corrupted blood in the oyntment , the small atome of life , by 〈◊〉 of the dead blood arising , and without impediment of his vnctuous earth , sucked by little and little vnto his fountaine of life ? but because all this is liuely expressed in mine answer vnto the very selfesame obiection , made in the first and second chapter of the second member of this treatise , i will refer the reader vnto those places , where he shall finde all the contents of this his insufficient confutation answered , his sponge thorowly squeesed , and all his rancor and venom pretended against this my text , quite crushed out , and annihilated . then he proceedeth thus : the sunne is called quasi solus , as bauing no peere , no creature working like it ; but the doctor like another archimedes , &c. good master parson , semper excipio platonem . that incorruptible spirit , which ( as the sonne of syrach telleth vs ) was created before all things , must be excepted . doe you marke this , sir ? for i told you , that your sponge , in the inquisition of this text , would haue but iack drummes entertainment . i hope you will not preferre the visible sunne , either in glory or actiuity , before this diuine spirit , which giueth it glory and actiuity . what ? the creature before the creator ? the matter before the forme ? the patient before the agent ? is this master parsons good diuinity ? or doth philosophy teach him thus much ? whatsoeuer tully telleth vs , that this is reuer â solus in mundo actor . it is certaine , that it was this spirit , which put his tabernacle in the sunne of heauen , and by it only the sunne liueth , moueth , and operateth , here below , and there aboue ; and it is one and the same spirit , which imparteth vnto all creatures , and consequently vnto vs men , the spirit of life , by which we liue , moue , and haue our being . it is he , that hath reciprocally put his tabernacle in man , as well as in the sunne : and therefore are we termed the members of christ , and temples of the holy ghost . whereby the wisdome of master foster , nay , of a christian diuine , may bee well skanned and discerned , in saying in his text : but d. fludd , like another archimedes , can make one working , by sending forth beames like it , &c. no verily , i will not be so bold , to ascribe vnto my selfe , that which belongeth onely vnto god my creator : howsoeuer master foster would ascribe it to the deuill . concerning the full answer vnto this his confutation , i referre you ( as is said ) vnto the second member of this treatise . i will proceede now vnto the greatest assault , wherein his sponge rubbeth very hard against my text , but preuaileth no more then they which goe about to wash away the colour of a black-moore : it will proue , i hope , a meere labour in vaine . chap. vi. how , contrary vnto our spongy cabalists intention , it is proued first , that euill spirits may contaminate and alter into their nature the aëry spirit of man : as also that deuils haue aëry bodies allotted vnto them in their creation : lastly , the mutability and vnconstancy of the consutor in his mayne argument is discouered . doctor fludds text. from hence therefore ariseth that secret combination and vnion , which is made betweene the euill spirit and the cacomagicians or witches , by the which foolish men 〈◊〉 filthily deceiued by the deuill , whereupon the deuill or malignant spirit , by the alluerment of such a reward , doth accomplish the will or desire of the witch . and hereupon a compact is made betweene them , namely , that the spirit , in what shape soeuer , may sucke daily a portion of blood , whereby the spirit lurking in the blood of the magician , may be made of one nature and condition , with that of the malignant spirit ; and so his spirit was conuerted into a 〈◊〉 condition , whereby it is impossible for him to depart from the worship of the deuill . master fosters collection from the text. that there is such a sympathy betwixt the blood in the body , and the blood drawne from the body , it is most euident by the example of witches . the deuill sucketh blood from them ; this blood remaining with the deuill , participates of his maligne nature , and hauing recourse by the spirits thereof , vnto the witches body , maketh all their blood sympathise with that the deuill hath , and so the blood changeth the witches nature , and they become maligne and diabolic all . here againe you may see , that hee wresteth my text beyond his true intended sense . but i will yeeld him his desire : and will please the gentleman in his humour . the act of his neate wiping sponge vpon this text. the doctor proueth it by the example of blood , sucked by the deuill from witches ; which remaining with the deuill , and sympathising with the blood in witches bodies , changeth their nature , and mak●…s them become maligne and diabolicall . o profound example ! here master doctor , 〈◊〉 a ground of his argument , which neither true philosophy , nor orthodox diuinity will giue vs leaue to assent vnto . the witches blood remaining with the blood-sucker the deuill , sympathiseth with the blood of the witches body . how can this be ? how can blood , a substance corporeall , remaine with the deuill incorporeall , & c ? here this his sponges validity is squeesed out . o wonderous wit of our sponge-bearer ! o light and spongy vnderstanding of so weighty a conception ! but if indeed angels ( as he saith ) were incorporeall , how could meate and drink , a substance corporeal , remaine with the angels which abraham entertained ? if they were incorporeall , or if they assumed bodies accidentally , could they eare and drinke with them naturally ? or was abraham so senselesse to offer counterfeit shapes , meat and drinke ? surely a man so profound in diuine mysteries , would not haue beene so absurd , as to haue offered them his food , if he had knowne that it would not naturally haue nourished them . the same absurdity might iustly haue beene imputed vnto lot. verily , it is aboue the reach of worldlings to scan rightly , or discouer iustly this doubt . but suppose it be granted , that angels and deuils be not corporeall , but spirituall creatures ; yet he confesseth elsewhere , that the deuill can indue and put on an organicall body : namely , of a man , a dog , or cat , and consequently those angels indued humane shapes . i pray you , when a squirt , or syrynge , or boxing glasse draweth , is it the organ , or the spirit in the organ that draweth ? man operateth not with his body , but with the inward spirit ; neither doth blood act any thing of it selfe ; but by the occult viuifying spirit , which acteth in it . mans throat and tongue serue as organs of voyce ; but it is the spirit that acteth . if the deuill enter into a body , as he did into the swine , and humane bodies ; did he not make vse of the organicall voyce of the beast , and those men to speak vnto christ ? but it was the spirituall act of the deuill , which did mingle it selfe with the aëry spirit of the beast , and man possessed and made it to answer , according to the will of the agent ; so , i say , that by the ayde of the creatures mouth and spirit , which it indued , it did suck the blood ; not that the blood in his grosse nature did abide with the deuill in his spirituall substance ; but i say that the spirituall substance in the blood , which participates of ayre , is easie to ioyne and make an vnion , by the contract with that of the deuill : euen as we see , that amber , when it is burnt , sendeth forth his spirit , which vniting or mingling it selfe with the ayre , infects it with his odoriferous nature , and so there is an actuall communication made betweene the ayre and the fume , betweene the spirit of the one and the other , betweene a priuy-house , or plaguy botch infecting , and the spirit of the ayre infected , the which ayre communicateth also that infection vnto the spirit of the smeller . againe , doe we not see in one infected with the plague , that first it was a corrupt spirit , which by the virtuall contact ofit , did infect not the blood onely ; but the inuisible spirits in the blood ? and doe we not see also , that the same inuisible spirit so infecting , doth inuisibly also infect the inuisible ayre about it ; and though it be in part exspired out of the body and blood ; yet it hath such communication with the blood ; that for all that the inuisible fume infecteth abroad , not leauing neuerthelesse his persecution at home . if therefore the botch of the plague in one man ( which the prophet abaku ' termeth the daemonium , or deuill of the south ) doth infect the spirituall blood of another , it is not the bodily botch that doth it ; but the infected spirit in it : the corporeall bo●…ch therefore we compare to the body assumed by the deuill , and the corrupting spirit vnto the deuill . wherefore as we see , that after the botch of the one hath touched the person of another , the spirit easily , by reason of the reciprocall similitude of them , communicate with one another : so , that although the party that hath the botch , departeth neuer so farre ; yet neuerthelesse the malignant spirit 〈◊〉 with the blood of the last infected , and conuerteth it absolutely into his malignant nature . is it then impossible that the spirituall maligni●…y of the deuill , by a contactuall sucking of the blood , should contaminate with the malignity of his spirit , the spirit of the blood of the party sucked , and leaue it so infected and changed vnto his owne nature , as the venemous spirit of the plague into a plaguy disposition ? did not the deuill worke the very same feate with iudas his spirit , when it was said : 〈◊〉 diabolus in cor 〈◊〉 vt traderet christum , hee sent or put it into the heart of ludas to betray christ ? that is , hee infecteth his spirit first , and those spirits corrupted his thoughts or vnderstanding : for without the helpe of a medium , the deuill being expelled from heauen , can not attempt the heauen of mans vnderstanding . but to answer master foster at his owne weapon , i meane that quick-sented gentleman , that so soone can smell a rat ; what doth he thinke , that deuils haue not tenuia corpora ? yea verily : for he hath for it ( as he sayeth ) authorities of scripture , counsels , fathers , and schoolemen to confirme so much . but by the way he saith : the doctor , who impiously attributes composition in god , dare●… falsly attribute corporeity to deuils . in the first place , m. foster hath the deuill the father of lyes for his foster-father , who can both foster and father vntruth vpon any one . but as i haue said before , the simple frier marinus mersennus saith so , namely , because i auerred , that the spirit of the lord filled and animated the heauenly spirit , ergò , ( saith he ) fludd maketh god a part of composition , and therefore master parson , holding the friers words as an oracle , without pondering the sense of the businesse , blundereth out like a parrat these very words of the frier : the doctor doth impiously attribute composition vnto god. but if i say that god is in composition , i meane it not as a part compounding ; but as the sole compounder in composition . againe ; if he were absent from composition , the word could not be said to be incarnated ; nor the incorruptible spirit to be in all things ; neither could god by the apostle be said , to be ouer all , and in all . but leauing this paratticall or parasiticall garb : he bringeth the authorities of scripture . and what are they ? saint paul hath this : we wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against spirituall wickednesse , or euill spirits in high places . and therefore christ said : handle me and touch me , for a spirit hath not flesh , nor bones , as yee see mee haue ; but deuils can not be handled : therefore they haue no bodies . here is a stout argument , because deuils as they are in their thinne aëriall bodies , cannot bee handled : ergo , they haue not any corpulency . i would faine know of this acute arguer , what organicall body for speech this spirit had , when hee in reciprocall words and speech did tempt our sauiour ? doth he thinke that the very ayre ( which is the externall of the deuill as shall be proued ) is not a spirituall body , when it may be felt , heard , or vnderstood , though not as flesh and bones ? doth not the apostle make mention of a spirituall or heauenly and thin body , and an earthly or grosse and thick body ? it is most true , that there are some of the fathers and schoolemen , who are of opinion , that the angels are absolutely incorporeal , as damascene , thomas aquin , denis , and so forth ; but there are as many ; yea , and more of the learneder sort , who giue a contrary sentence , touching the bodily existence of these spirits , and say flatly , that an angel is a corporeal substance , and consequently , that angels may without any error be termed bodily creatures and amongst this number of the fathers , are ranked basil , origen , gregory , augustine , isidorus , peter lombard : and of philosophers , mercurius trismegistus , with all the schoole of the academicks . and as for s. augustine , he saith in his booke vpon genesis in expresse words ; quòd daemones sunt aërea & ignea animalia : that the daemons or angelicall spirits are aëry and fiery animals , and consequently assigneth vnto them aëry bodies . againe , he affirmeth in another place , that the angels had in their creation aëry bodies , to wit , framed and fashioned out of the purer part of the superior ayre , made more apt and proper to act , then to suffer , and hee auerreth that the euill angels were , by reason of their fall , changed , as touching their bodies or externall being , into the nature of the grosser ayre , that they might be the rather made to suffer the torments of fire . and fetrus lombardus saith : angeli corpora , in quibus hominibus apparent , de summo aëre sumunt , solidamque speciem ex coelesti elemento induunt , vt humanis obtutibus manifestiùs demonstrentur : so that it is euident , that augustine and he agree in one . also basil doth teach vs , what manner of bodies the angels haue , when he saith : they are thinne , aëry , and pure spirits . againe , arteplius that wise man saith , in his great key of wisedome , that the externall of the deuill is ayre , but his internall is fire . for the which reason he sheweth , that it is easie for him , namely , in regard of his externall or body , to insinuate and communicate with the aëry and bloody spirit in man , and consequently to engender in him hot and fiery diseases . but why should we rely onely ( as master foster doth ) on bare authorities ? i will come vnto plaine philosophicall proofes , to shew and demonstrate , that angels haue soules and bodies , or externall and internall . first , you must know , that if they were identity , that is , of all one simple formall being , they would be all one in essence with god their creator , who is called identitas , or absolute and simple vnity ; but for as much as they are compounded of two : namely , of light , which is the beame of god , which they receiue , to informe them and make them creatures , and spirit , which as polished looking-glasse , receiueth the glory of that diuine light , they are called alteritas or alterity , that is , composed of two . and this is most liuely expressed by saint denis , when he termeth them algamatha , that is , most cleare mirrours , or looking-glasses , receiuing the light of god. and therefore he defineth an angel to bee the image of god , the shewing forth of bid light , a mirrour pure and most bright . and damascen saith : that they are intellectuall spirits , hauing light ( as their soules ) from the first light. and salomon describing the prince of all angels ( which as ecclesiasticus saith , was ante omnia creatus ) that it was candor lucis aeternae , & speculum sine macula mai●…slatis dei : or the brightnesse of eternall light , and a glasse without spot of the maiesty of god. whereby it is euident , that the angels internall , and as it were his soule , is the brightnesse of gods emanation : his polished or pure aëry internall , is his 〈◊〉 body , which receiueth this light . for we must note , that in the beginning heauen and earth were made of water , and by water consisting by the word , as s. peter speakes . and therefore the whole world was composed of an internall or inuisible , which is the soule or spirit , animated by gods word , and an externall and visible earth and water , which is the body : so euery creature must needs be compounded of an internall or actiue soule , and an externall or organicall receptacle of that soule , which is the body . is it not apparent , that when the spirit of the lord did moue vpon the waters , the water was the catholick patient , and the spirit the internall agent ? for saint augustine , super genesim , saith : spiritus ferebatur super aquas , igneum ●…s vigorem impertiens , the spirit moued on the waters , imparting vnto them a fiery vigor or vertue , that is , a viuifying nature ; so that the spirituall created catholick waters , were animated by the spirituall increated catholick breath , and light of life , whose spirit in euery creature is the spirit of life , and therefore their centrall soule : and the creature animated , is the body . wherefore as the purest , and most spirituall part of water or ayre , is the externall of the angell ; so his internall is the lucid act of gods spirit . now i conclude thus : if the externall substance of the angel be ayre ( for either it must be of spirituall water , or else of the substance of god , which is meerely formall , and not materiall ) then wee know by the rules of philosophy , that ayre subtiliated is fire , and againe ayre inspissated is a vapour , a mist , a cloud , and so by inspissation , ayre inuisible becommeth a visible substance ; yea , and a bodily vocall organ too , as it appeareth by lightning , the which soule of the cloud , except it haue his cloudy organ , or bodily instrument , will not speake in thunder . we finde therefore out of holy writ , that god is said to speake out of his organic all cloud . and for that very cause , the text calleth it in one place , latibulum dei , in another , tigurium dei , and in another , vehiculum & currus ●…ehoua : so that if leb●…ua maketh this organicall tabernacle of ayre , to vtter vnto mortall eares his voyce ( as scriptures in many places doe testifie ) it is no sinne to say , that his inferiour spirits haue for their externall bodies , aëry substances , which being granted , what should hinder spirits , by contraction of this their external substances , to appeare when they please visibly , and organically to talke with a person , as the tempting spirit did to christ ? and againe , by an immediate dilatation of the same externall aëry spirit , to become inuisible , no otherwise then a smoake by dilatation vanisheth , or a cloud , or mist made of a compacted , and thickned ayre , doth oftentimes , without the appearance of any drop of raine passe away inuisibly ? was it not strange , that christ himselfe that had flesh and bones , should appeare etiam clausis ian●…is , and then immediately to vanish ? and yet if we consider , that after he was risen , he did put on a spirituall body , euen that body for that cause , could deponere tabernaculum suum visibile & tangibile , and become by subtiliation and dilatation , as subtile and impalpable , as the voluntie of him , who hath the spirituall body , pleaseth : and so can appeare and vanishat an instant . it is an admirable speculation , to ponder and consider duely , how god worketh in this world by contraction and dilatation , by priuation and position , by darknesse and light , by apparition and disparition , as we see , when his spirit moueth from the north ; the common ayre is by the contractiue nature of that spirit , turned from inuisibility to visibility , from transparency to opacity , from ayre to snow , haile , frost , ice : from leuity to ponderosity , from agility and mobility to fixation and immobility . contrarywise , by his blast from the east or south , the said bodies are altered againe into water , and water into ayre , and ayre into fire , by dilatation , and in conclusion ; corporeity terrestriall , into corporeity aëriall or celestiall , hardnesse into saltnesse , grossenesse into subtility , opacity into transparency , fixation into mobility , rest into action , darknesse into light : and to conclude , contraction caused by this spirit of god , into dilatation , visibility into inuisibility . what shall i say more ? if angels of all kindes haue their externall from the aëry spirit of the world , and their internall act , from this externall viuifying spirit , in whom is the property of the foure windes ( and therefore the prophet said , come , o spirit , from the foure windes ; whereby he did argue , that this one spirit , as being the essentiall actor in the foure windes , had the properties of the foure windes in himselfe , by the which he acted all things , whereupon the prophet called it from the foure windes ) wee ought not to make any question ; but that by vertue of that internall act , and the substance of that their externall ayre , they may contract themselues from a spirituall fiery and aëry inuisibility , vnto a nebulous or watery , yea , and earthly visibility , or snowie or icie nature : especially the grosse , malignant , and darke spirits : which by their fall , haue indued the grosser ayre , ( as augustine saith : ) and therefore is satan called by the apostle , the prince of the ayre . and this is the reason , that the deuill , or euill spirits do in their contraction conuert themselues into solid or firme shapes of man or beast , and appeare in touch to be so excessue cold ( according to master fosters confession ) namely , because the spirit by which they liue , contracting it selfe from the circumference of dilated ayre , into the center of contracted earth , leaueth the externall or aëry compacted composition chill and cold like ice . for it is by his emanation or dilatation from the center vnto the circumference , that kindleth naturall heate in the externall of euery creature . to conclude against those that affirme that spirits haue no corporeity : it is most certaine , that where there is rarum & densum , thin and thick , there consequently is corporeity either thinne or thicke . for whatsoeuer is in his substance transmutable vnto a thinner or thicker body , must needs bee bodily , though not a visible body . so is a starre of heauen called densior pars sui orbis , that is , the inuisible ●…thereall spirit or thin body of heauen , thickned into the visible body of a starre . so also may fire be condensed into ayre , and ayre into water , and water into earth . and againe , that earth may be rarified into water , and water into ayre , and ayre into fire . for such is the naturall rotation of elements . now the externall of angels , must be created of the spirituall substance of the higher world , or not at all : according vnto basils tenor , and consequently it is bodily , though of a thinner or thicker consistence , according vnto the dignity of the angell . doth not also dauid acknowledge thus much in these words : qui facit angelos spiritus seu aëra 〈◊〉 , & ministros ignem vrentem , who maketh his angels spirits or windie ayre , and his ministers flames of fire ? and therefore it is a shame , that such mysteries as these , which are most apparent to the considerant , should by the ignorant bee derided , and esteemed not workes and operations of the spirit of god , in the common element of the world , but of the deuill , and so through their blindnesse mistake euill for good , darknesse for light : of which sort of people the prophet meaneth in these words : woe vnto them that speake good of euill , and euill of good , which put darknesse for light , and light for darknesse , that put bitter for sweet , and sweet for bitter . woe vnto them that are wise in their owne eyes , and prudent in their owne sight . thus , iudicious and vnpartiall reader , you may perceiue by that which hath bene expressed in this member , how vnable mine aduersaries sponge hath beene to wipe away the least tittle of that naturall value and diuine vertue , which in my mysticall anatomy , i haue ascribed vnto the weapon-salue . and therefore for all i can see , hee may inuent some more substantiall meanes , then is this windie sponge ( an expresse argument of a light braine or fantastick wit ) to subuert a medicine of so weighty an importance , and admirable power in working . hee must haue , i say , strong cable-ropes , in stead of a light sponge , to remoue the foundation of verity ; and yet , i feare , they will cracke too , before they will be able to draw wise men to beleeue , that the good gifts of healing in this weapon-salue , should proceed from the deuill , and not from god and his benigne mercies , which is the onely giuer of health and goodnesse . and now i must remember you by the way of one absurdity in our sponge-bearing author . for he saith first , that this manner of cure is diabolicall , and afterward hee seemeth to attribute the effect of it vnto the vrine of man. his words are these : doctor fludds directions are , that the weapon be left in the vnguent-pot , till the patient bee cured , and that the wound bee kept cleane , with a linnen cloth , wet euery morning in his vrine . whether this be a fallacy or no , i commend it to the iudgement of those , who are expert in chirurgery . for let the doctor be sure to keepe a wound cleane , and i suppose they will tell him , that it will cicatrize without his weapon-salue . to this i answer , that oportet mendacem esse memorem : it behoueth a lyer to haue a good memory . for master foster must remember , that in another place he saith , the deuill doth secretly apply some other virtuall operatiue medicine , to cure the wound , and delude the incredulous m●…untebancks , &c. and here he openeth , that the cause of the cure , is the keeping of the wound cleane with the clout dipped in vrine , and applyed not by the deuill , but by man ; saying , that therein alone consisteth the cure , without the weapon-salue , and he calleth all the cunning chirurgic all artists to witnesse , and verifie his words to be true : which being so , what a gods blessing is become of the deuils cunning in this physicall cure ? or wherein can it appeare diabolicall ? or how doth he apply any thing craftily to delude the incredulous mountebanks ? oh the wauering of a tottering braine , to forget his argument , and vnawares to eate his owne words ! chap. vii . in which this whole subiect is in few words contracted and abbreuiated . yee may perceiue ( courteous and well minded reader ) by this which is already told you , that although our aduersary hath attempted , as the iewes did vnto our sauiour , to crucifie , or rather smoother in obliuion the truth , as well of the weapon-salues operating vertue , as of mine honest endeauours , on the cacomagicall crosse of slander , and doth offer vnto vs in our agony , namely , when our reputation lyeth a bleeding , a destructiue or abolishing sponge , swelling with vineger and gall ; i meane , with the sharp sauce of calumniation , and the bitter taste of his vncharitable indignation , in stead of a christian-like consolation : yea , although ( i say ) the tempestuous blast of his harsh spirit , hath done his best , to make the reputation of vs both , as it were to suffer shipwracke , and to be cast , like another ionas , into the troubled seas of this worlds censure , where the sourging billowes of various affections , doe stormingly iustle , and as it were , shoulder and withstand one another . ( for since the maxime is : quot homines , tot sentontiae , how is it possible to please and content euery man in his humour ? ) and though the spongie leuiathan , or proudly swelling and infulting whale of master foster , did swallow for a time , into his paunch of obliuion , the honour and credit of both this salue , and me for a season ; yet ( i thanke my god ) he hath imparted vnto me the grace , so to squeese and crush this his prestigious whale , or deuouring sponge , which is also an ofspring of the sea , that now it is forced euen so to vomit vp againe that truth , vpon this our coast , not a little infected with the incredulity of this manner of curing , as the true whale did in times past , the prophet ionas , vpon the shore of the misbeleeuing niniuites ; that the infidelity and suspition of such icalous persons , as haue beene seduced by our aduersaries leuiathan , or spongie monster , may the easier be abolished , by making the deuoured truth to be reuiued , and as it were , to shine forth , and rise againe , that by the light thereof , all those darke cloudes , which haue begot and fostered such incredulity , namely , the religious veile of master fosters worldly policy , the error of his doctrine , and the healing power , which he erroneously ascribeth vnto the deuill , may be discouered vnto the eyes of each wise and iudicious reader , and that the misbeleeuers may with the niniuites repēt their error , and turne from such idolatrous inducements , as haue perswaded them , to ascribe the pious and charitable gifts of healing by the weapon-salue , vnto the false prince of darknesse , who through mans error , doth vsurpe vnto himselfe , the title of prince or lord of this world , which of right , and that from all eternity , belongeth vnto the true god of light , who hath made both heauen and earth , and inriched them with all manner of vertues whatsoeuer . but if it shall happen hereafter , that some silly incredulous persons ( the appearingly zealous , i meane , without vnderstanding , of which saint paul speaketh ) shall , like dogs , returne vnto their vomit : i must then say and confesse , that they doe but according vnto their kinde ; and therefore are rather to be pittied then enuied : and consequently our sauiours words so vnfitly applyed by our aduersary in his dedicatory epistle , are most aptly to be powred out vnto god for these men : father , forgiue them , for they know not what they doe . for this cause therefore , i chiefly direct this my small pamphlet , vnto all such , as are vnderstandingly zealous , and iudiciously learned , beseeching them earnestly , to take this short modell of our disputation , into their more mature or riper considerations , and to ponder euery parcell thereof truely ( all partiality being laid apart ) in the ballance of their most honest and pious discretions . let them examine , i say , in their choycest thoughts , and that seriously , whether this cure proceedeth from that vertuous gift , which god hath imparted in the creation , vnto these his naturall creatures , and continued it in them , by succession of generation and multiplication , through his all-sufficient word , euen vnto this day , or else from the meere act and assistance of the deuill , whose property soone after his creation , by his fall became to strike , plague , and destroy , and not to cure , and proue so great a benefactor vnto mankinde . let them consider the words of the apostle , affirming , that god operateth all in all : and therefore he acteth when he pleaseth , in and by the deuill , onely to sicknesse , death , and destruction ; but not vnto health and conseruation . obserue the text of dauid , auerring , that god by his word did heale such as were struck with diseases , when they turned vnto him ; and doth he not by the said word cure all ? yes verily . for salomon saith : hee extended his misericord vnto the afflicted with serpents , and sent forth his word to cure them , euen his word that health all things . but the deuill is neither god , nor gods word ; wherefore i will conclude with this in●…iolable argument : if our mercifull god cureth all things in his benignity , and that by his word , then the deuill can cure nothing ; but our god , in his mercy and benignity , cureth all things by his word : ergò , the deuill can cure nothing : and consequently , cannot prestigiously make a shew of curing , vnder the shadow and pretence of the weapon-salue . the maior is euident , because if the word cureth all , then that superior generality concludes all inferior particularities : and therefore all absolute faculty of curing is exempted from the deuill . the minor also is confirmed and strengthned by the foresaid words : first , of the prophet dauid : hee sendeth his word and healeth them , and deliuereth them from their graues , let them confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , &c. whereby it appeareth , that it was his louing kindnesse , and not his seuerity and vengeance , which by his word did heale and cure : for he operateth vengeance in his seuerity or destructiue will , by the organ of the deuill . and then , of salomon ; but the teeth of the venemous dragons could not ouercome thy children : for thy mercy came to helpe them , and healed them ; for neither herb , nor plaister healed them ; but thy word , o lord , which healeth all things , for thou hast the power of life and death , and leadest downe into the gates of hell , and bringest vp againe , &c. now i would know , whether it ought to be any true christians opinion , that the deuill can command the misericord of god , and so be master of his word at his pleasure , as to heale gods creatures , nay , one framed after his owne image , for any wicked stratagems cause : i meane , for the gaining of both body and soule of man , from god to himselfe ? doth not iob say : in the hand of god is the life of euery liuing creature , and the spirit of all flesh ? to conclude as saint iohn doth truely auerre , that in the word was life ; so it is certaine , that all healing and restoring power , is from this viuifying vertue in the word , and not from the priuatiue power of the deuill , in whom contrary wise is death and destruction . moreouer , i would haue you to note these words of the apostle : now there are diuers gifts , but the same spirit , and there are diuersities of operations ; but god is the same which worketh all in all ; but to one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisedome , to another the word of knowledge , to another is giuen faith , and to another the gift of healing by the same spirit , &c. can any good christian thinke , that this one spirit , that onely worketh these things , is the deuill ? no verily . for in the third verse , the apostle termes it the holy ghost . what shall we say then ? that the deuill doth heale by the gift of the holy ghost ? or that the holy spirit will grant the euill spirit his good gift of healing , to deceiue mankinde , and to rob god of his right ? god forbid : but with iustice giue that vnto god , which belongeth vnto god , and assigne vnto the deuill that property , which was allotted him by his creatour from the beginning : the first spirit , from all creations , was ordained in his office to be a good , viuifying , and a quickning spirit ; the latter , a bad , a killing , and a mortifying spirit . for it is said by the prophet in the person of god : ego creaui destructorem ad disperdendum : i haue created the destroyer to destroy . i will boldly therefore conclude and finish my pamphlet , or petty discourse , as i began it , namely , with this religious verse , mentioned in the diuine hymne of the royall psalmist , to the honour of god , and disabling of either deuill , or any other creature , to worke essentially wonders of himselfe , or by himselfe : benedictus dominus deus israël , qui facit mirabilia solus : blessed be the lord god of israël , who onely worketh wonders . or as he hath it in another place : confitemini domino dominorum , quoniam in aeternum miser●…or dia●…ius , qui facit mirabilia magna solus : prayse the lord , for his mercy endureth for euer , who onely doth great wonders . and therefore , if the lord of lords onely , or alone ; then hath he not any mortall man to helpe him : if he alone ; then not any angel of heauen : and lastly , if it be god alone , and onely ; then not any deuill of hell ; nor daemon or spirit of the fiery , or aëry , or watry , or earthly element to assist him . for the text saith : it is the lord of lords alone ; and therefore not any creature to helpe him , or that is able to doe this without him : it is he ( i say ) onely ; and consequently not the deuill , who performeth wonders ; but by euery mans acknowledgement , this manner of cure is wonderfull , for as much as the manner of working in it , passeth the capacity of worldly mens vnderstanding : therefore with dauid i will say : benedictus deus , qui facit tale mirabile solus : and consequently , i may inferre thereupon ( and that iustly ) maledictus homo qui diuina falsò attribuit diabolo . wherefore i wish euery zealous and religious person , to haue this inuiolable motto engrauen in his heart , that by the vertue thereof , he may fright away and banish from his thoughts , all such irreligious perswasions , as would moue him to derogate one iota or tittle from gods power , who is alpha and omega , the beginning and the end of all things , to arrogate falsly vnto the vilest of creatures , who in himselfe is nothing but what god is pleased that he shall be : of himselfe hath nothing , but what god pleaseth to bestow on him : and by himselfe can doe nothing : but what god is pleased to act in him , and by him , that he doth , and not any thing else : and therefore , what god will not , that he cannot doe . let this then be your motto : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 finis omnium & principium deus . god is the end and beginning of all things . and for this reason , reuchlin in his booke de verbo m●…risico saith : omne hominis miraculum , cuius vera & non imaginaria deprehenditur substantia , tum grande , tum mediocre , tum minimum , si ordo sacrorum prascriptus obseruetur , referendum est semper in deum gloriosum , cuius nomen est benedictum in aeternum . is enim solus est , qui vel seipso , vel delegato , non sine seipso , velper substitutum exseipso , talia facit , qualia demiramur : quorum causam adaequatam scire non possumus , vel quod fiant , vel quod hoc modo fiant . euery miracle of man , whose substance is certaine , ●…nd not imaginary or prestigious , bee it great , or meane , or little , if the prescribed order of holy writ bee obserued , is alwayes to bee referred and ascribed vnto one glorious god , whose name bee euer blessed ! for it is hee alone , who either of himselfe , or by a delegat , with whom hee is present , or by a substitute of his owne , and from himselfe , that effecteth such things , the true or plaine grounds whereof , and by what meanes they are brought to passe , wee neither can discerne , nor comprehend . thus farre iohn reuchlin . and therefore in the period of this treatise i may iustly put home , and allude vnto master foster and his complices , the woe of isaias , against such persons , which i did mention in the beginning of it , for as much as they presuming too too much on their worldly wisedome , doe mistakingly , and through their blindnesse , ascribe the things of god , vnto the deuill ; the deeds of goodnesse , vnto euill ; and the effects of light , vnto darknesse . isaias 5.20 , 21. woe vnto them that speake good of euill ; and euill of good : which put darknesse for light , and light for darknesse : that put bitter for sweet ; and sweet for sowre . woe vnto them that are wise in their owne eyes , and prudent in their owne sight . i leaue this ( worthy and learned reader , ) as i haue said before , vnto thy best consideration , to iudge of seriously and maturely , wishing that in thy iudgement the ballance of equity may be truely proportioned , and not made vnequall by corrupt and vngodly partiality . the epilogve . and now for a farewell vnto this my small pamphlet , i would haue my well-minded country-men to know , that , had not this rude and vnciuill aduersary of mine , most vntruely and disgracefully calumniated mee , and laid without any iust occasion vnto my charge , the vn sufferable crime of witch-craft , or magick , which is odious both to god and man ; i would not thus farre haue hindred my greater businesse , and more weighty occasions , to haue satisfied his v●…reafonable and immodest appetite . and yet , i protest before god and the world , that i am so farre from enuying at his good qualities , ( if he haue any ) that in the first place . i pitty his indiscretion , and want of that modest and morall wit and behauiour in his writing , which becommeth a true philosopher , for as much as in them he appeareth more puffed vp externally with the empty blasts of selfe-conceit , begirt on euery side , with the blasted fruit of scandalous detraction and enuy at other mens endeauours , then stuffed internally with any solid validity : gay things ( i say ) to breed delight in babyes , or such as by reason of their darknesse in vnderstanding , can not well discerne or distinguish the colours of truth : but vnto the wiser sort ( such , i meane , as regard with intellectuall eyes ) they seeme as bables , or things which prestigiously appeare vnto dull eyes , but in verity , are plaine nothing : and then in the second place , i wish him with all mine heart , more money in his purse , or else some good benefice or church-liuing to stop his mouth , the want whereof , ( as it appeareth by his epistle vnto the reader ) maketh him in his writing ; first , so forgetfull of his creators omnipotency , that he presumptuously attributeth that , namely , the soueraigne gift of healing , vnto the deuill , which from all eternity belonged vnto god : next , he most irreligiously and vniustly doth scandalize his brethren , for ascribing that iustly vnto god , which only appertaineth vnto him ; and consequently , not to any deuill in hell : and lastly , he seemeth to inueigh against some men of his owne profession , yea , and also to murmur against his superiours in the church , as you may collect , partly out of his dedicatory epistle , and partly out of that vnto the reader . i know his humour so wel , and his pen hath made me so perfectly acquainted with his rayling and satyricall disposition , that i expect nothing lesse from him , then a reply full of vnreasonable brauadoes , and thundering exclamations . but although he should rayle and rore at me , as a bull of basan , or puffe forth the fire of his spight , and rage like one of the buls of colchus , yet shall my still patience serue in stead of another iason , to charme his tongue , or dull the biting edge of his pen , & to extinguish the bitter flames of his malice against me . let him therefore hereafter thunder forth , cry , & proclaime what he please ( for such is his vnciuill nature ) i will from henceforth answer him ( as a rayling and cynick writer ought to be , ) with silence : for as much as i am assured , that neither by true diuinity , or authenticall philosophy , he will be able to vntwist that web of truth , which this my small pamphlet hath wouen vnto him : but if he haue some other businesse or subiect that sticketh in his stomack against me ( as i haue heard he threatneth me with mountaines , and i am assured they will proue in the end but mole-hills , as well as the precedent ) perchance if i finde him in his writing more modest and mannerly , as well become●… one that professeth the name of a philosopher , & as a master of arts ought to behaue himselfe towards a doctor , who is his superiour , that is , if he strike hard and defend himselfe closely from being repayed with theologicall and philosophicall arguments , and not with misbeseeming termes , foule-mouthed language , and false slanders , as his custome is ; he shall finde that i will not refuse or faile him , but will be ready to cope with him in the philosophicall campe of minerua , when and how hee dare ; and let him if he will beseech ( as mersennus his fryerly master hath done ) all his associats and cabalists , or birds of one feather , to assist him in his quarrell : but if he perseuere in his immorall and slanderous veine of writing , i will keepe silence , and either smile at , or rather pitty his folly , and answer all his obiections in mine accustomed latine stile vnto peter gassendus , who is his chiefe master , and a man that is to be preferred by many degrees , not onely in learning , and philosophicall knowledge , before this my home-bred aduersary : but also in ciuill morality , honest iustice , and freedome from enuious malice . i wish that master foster would imitate him , and bee his scholler in these his vertues , & then i should with the like true christian affection bestow on him , being my home-bred aduersary , the same commendations , which reason and vertue incite me to impart vnto gassendus , although my forraigne opposite . verbum sapienti . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a01014-e1530 plalm . 49. ●…ame 3. marth . 13. isai , 51. marth . 18.25 . foster p. 38 ; fludd . foster p. 48. fludd . wisd. 12-1 . iob. 10.9 . againe 2. pag. 38. fludd . foster . fludd . foster . fludd . foster . flud . gassendus fol. 9. gassendus fol. 144. fludd . foster p. fos●… fludd . foster . fludd . fo●… 〈◊〉 p. 4. fludd . foster . rom. 〈◊〉 . foster . fludd . foster . fludd . foster . 〈◊〉 fofter . fl●… . foster . fludd . foster . fludd . foster . 〈◊〉 . foster . fludd . pag. 10. 1 cor. 1. 12. psal. 107. 〈◊〉 . wisd. 16. iohn 1. 〈◊〉 . 14.24 . daniel 4. esa. 46.10 . iob 23. psal 33. psal. 71. 18. psal 135. 3. dani. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 46. 10. gen. 50. rom. 9. 〈◊〉 . 19. ●…n 6. corinth . 8. psal. 78. 49. psal. 107. 20. esay 54. 10. wisdome 2. hebr. 2. 1 peter 5. ma●… . 12.22 aba . 3.3 . psalme 91. iob 1.2 . iob 6 1 chron 2●… . 2 chro. 32.21 . ●…odus 9. . isa. 17.22 iob 5. deut. 32. wisd. 16. 13. psalme 91. psalme 71. colos. 2.9 . 1 co. 8. apo●… . 1. sap. 12.1 . psal. 33 , 6. iohn 1. 〈◊〉 . 16. esa. 42. 50. psal. 104.9 . iob. 34. 〈◊〉 . re●…elin . de art. cab . wisd. 1. wisd. 7. e●…cl . 1. 〈◊〉 timoth. 6. psal. 104. 〈◊〉 . psal. 33. 6. psalme 〈◊〉 . psalme 104. 2 reg. 22. isai 45.8 . wisd 1. wisd 12. 〈◊〉 9.5 . gen. 9. leuit. 3.17 . leuit. 17. leuit. 17. ibid. cron. 9. ibid. leuit. 3. leuit. 17. 19. deut. 12. deut. 〈◊〉 . deut. ib. cron. 9 5. 〈◊〉 pim. 12. wisd. 7. 〈◊〉 . psalm . 104. psal. 30. 6. psalm . 41.3 . psalm . 87.7 . psalm . 90.17 . d●…t . 31. 17. ●…od 9. ●…ing 4. ●…b . sam. 6. king 10. ●…n . 6. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 13. iob 9. iob 21. psalme 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iob 36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exod. 15. 10. exod. 18. 8. exod. 10. exod. 10. 〈◊〉 144. ●…zek . 37. 〈◊〉 . 1 cor. iudith 16. 1 esdr. 16. iob 34.13 . cor. 12. 〈◊〉 5. eecles 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 l●… 3. acts 17. 24 gen 9. leuit. 17. numb . 35. 〈◊〉 . 48. 4 king. 13. psalme 104. sap 1 〈◊〉 esdr. 16. iob 9. 6. iob 9. iob 11. psalme 9.10 . matth 18.11 . psalme 34. luke 22. marke 8.22 . eccl. 11. 4. acts 3. & 5. eccl. 8. 17. i. s. e. c. act. 19. acts 17.24 . rom. 12.32 . 1 cor. 8.5 . eccl 3. eccl 7. ephes. 6. iob 38. 21. 1 corinth . 12 romans 11. 1 timoth. 6. 1 corinth . 8. foster . fludd . mat. 5. ibidem . wisd. 16. 〈◊〉 . leuit. 3. leuit. 7. leuit. 17. 〈◊〉 king. 13. ●…poc . 6. 9. ●…en . 4. 10. psal. 33. er. k. 37. 〈◊〉 . 12. 1. iob 33.4 . iudith 16. ●…aias 42. 5. iob 9. pag. 39. pag. 42. foster . fludd . acts 17. foster . fludd . sap. 12. 〈◊〉 . 1. cor. 12. wisd. 16. 10. 〈◊〉 . 16. ●…ohn 1. pag. 8. 〈◊〉 12. 11. 〈◊〉 . 16. foster . fludd . psal. 19. sap. 12. 1. psal. 〈◊〉 . heb. 1 iob 26. 9. iob 28. 25. 2 pet. 3. 〈◊〉 4. 12. 〈◊〉 . 9. philip. 1. 23. foster . fludd . ecclesiastic , 1. psal 19. acts 17. 1 cor. 6. 19. 1 cor. 12. 27. foster . fludd . 〈◊〉 13. foster . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 7. 〈◊〉 3. genes . 〈◊〉 2 king. 22. iob. 22. 15. psal. 104. psal. 105. 37. numb . 11. 25. ezek. 36. psal. 104. esay 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . pag. 8. luk. 22. psal. 107. 20. wisd. 16. 10. 〈◊〉 . 107. 20 , 21. wisd. 16. 10. iob 12. 11. 1 cor. 12. isaias 54. 16. psal. 71. 18. psal. 135. 3. [the general practise of medecine by philiatreus.] philiatreus, fl. 1630. 1634 approx. 88 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 42 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a06682 stc 17139 estc s102714 99838484 99838484 2865 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a06682) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 2865) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 811:02) [the general practise of medecine by philiatreus.] philiatreus, fl. 1630. makluire, john, attributed author. [78] p. j. wreittoun, [edinburgh : 1634] signatures: [par.]⁴ a-d e⁴. "philiatreus" is in greek characters. 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proofread 2005-01 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the generall practise of medecine . comprehending the most remarkable maxims appertaining to the diagnosis , where , by everie disease is knowne , the prognosis , whereby the issue is foreshowne , and therapia , which poynteth out the methodick , proceeding in the cure . collected out of the most famous , both ancient and moderne wryters , for the use of such as be ignorant of the greeke and latine tongues . by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . edinbvrgh , printed by iohn wreittoun . 1634. to the right honorable sir thomas hope of craighall knight baronet , advocat generall to his majestie of great britaine , in his kingdome of scotland , wisheth all health and happinesse , &c. it is reported of caesar ( right honourable ) that oft times he praised his souldiours good-will , although they wanted skill : and cicero aswell commended stammering lentulus for his painful industry , as learned laelius for his passing eloquence : which considered ( although wisedome did will mee not to straine further than my sleive would stretch ) i thought good to present this small treatise to your h. protection , hoping your h. will out of your accustomed clemencie , accept it , and take my well meaning for an excuse of my boldnesse , in that my poore will is not in the wane , whatsoever this imperfect worke doth want . the emperour trajan was never without suters , because so courteously hee would heare everie complaint . the lapidaries continually frequented the court of adobrandinus , because it was his chiefe study to search out the nature of stones . all that courted atlanta were hunters , and none sued to sapho but poëts : wheresoever mecaenas lodgeth , thither no doubt will schollers flocke . and your h. beeing a worthie favourer and fosterer of learning , hath forced many through your exquisit vertue , to offer the first fruits of their study at the shrine of your courtesie . but though they have waded farre and found mynes , and i gadded abroad to get nothing but mytes : yet this i assure my selfe , that they never presented you their treasure with a more willing mind , ●hen i doe this simple trash , which i hope your h. will so accept . resting ●herefore upon your wonted clemen●ie , i commit you to the almigh●ie . i. m. to the gentlemen readers , health . pan blowing upon an oaten pipe a litle homely musick , and hearing no man dispraise his simple cunning , began both to play so lowd and so long , that they were more wearie in hearing his musick , then hee in shewing his skill , till at last to claw him and excuse themselves , they said , his pype was out of tune . so gentlemen , because i have before tyme rashly reacht above my pitch , and yet your courtesie was such as none accused mee , i have once againe adventured upon your patience , but ( i doubt ) so farre as to be read of my folly , you will at the last say , as augustus said to the graecian that gave him oft times many rude verses : thou hast need ( quoth hee ) reward mee well , for i take more paines to read thy workes , then thou to write them . but yet willing to abide this quip , because i may countervaile it with your former courtesie , i put my selfe to your patience , and commits you to the almighty . farewell . i. m. the practise of physicke . canon i. the methodick practising in physick hath first a knowledge of the disease , next fortelleth the event of it , and last goeth about to cure the same . for that part of physick which is called therapeutick , followeth still the diagnostick & prognostick : for whosoever wil vse profitable remedies , shuld first remark the things present , next forwarn the future , because it is necessare to vnderstand the present estate of the disease , to that end that the remedies proper may be vsed , then to foresee that which is to come , for the more boldly attempting of the cure , if there bee hope of health : or else to foretell the danger , if one doe feare death , otherwise to abstaine wholly from the interprise : if one doth feare inevitable death : for wee should never interprise the cure of desperat diseases : much lesse promise health , or at the least take the busines in hand after a due premonition of the danger of it . canon ii. now to come to the perfect knowledg of the disease , ye must first search the place , next the kind , and then the cause , if the place bee manifest of the selfe , it resteth to find out the espece of disease , and then the cause . canon iii. the place is knowne by the action hurt or hindered , by the sort and seat of the paine , by the excrements , and accidents , or proper symptomes : although that all these signes doe not at all tymes appeare all together , yet still some of them doth kyth . canon . iv. the action offended showes the part from whence it proccedes to be indisposed for a functioun animall , vitall , or naturall beeing troubled declares some of those parts to be affected , so the hurt of the reason , imagination , and memorie showes the braine to be sicke , the losse of sense and motion manifests the nerves or else there origine to be grieved : difficultie of breathing , wills the lights or some of the instruments of respiration to bee interessed , the pulse commoved shows the heart to be troubled . the stop of the discent of the meat , shewes the vizorne to bee hurt , the digestion hindred , the stomack , when the body is not nourished , the lever is mistempered . the espece or sort of sicknesse points foorth also the place , so a paine with a pulsation is from the nerve hurt or offended , with punction from the membrane distended , with convulsion , from the drawing of the nerves or tendons with violence , dolour with tension shewes the veines repletion out of measure : when it is profound it declares the membran covering the bone called periostium to bee diseased , when soft and gentle without great paine it is in the flesh : when heavie and blunt , it points foorth some of the intrels to bee grieved . the situation of the paine makes known the seat of the disease also , so if it bee in the right hypochondre or vnder the short ribs on the right side , it declares the lever to be hurt , if vnder the left side , the melt : for wheresoever is the paine there is the sicknesse : wherefore wee must not omit to inquyre of the sick person on which side hee lyes with greatest ease : for if it be without he lyes best on the whole side , but if within , best on the sore . that which issueth foorth of the body indicats also the part affected , so if by cough there is thrown foorth any part of a girstle , there is no doubt the light pypes are torne : if in the water there is found any peece of flesh , it betokens the neers to bee hurt : if in the draught , there is found any peece of skin , it signifies the puddings to be vlcerat . the stomack is known to bee hurt when the meat or chile doth issue foorth at the wound , and if the fecall mater come foorth it shews the puddings to be wounded , so the water issuing wills the bladder to bee wounded , and when the pleura that covers the ribs within is pierced , then the wind doth blow forth at the hole . moreover the forme of issuing foorth is remarked , for the better vnderstanding of the part that is troubled : so the blood that proceedes of the arteries , because of the abundance of the spirits doth issue with force in a leaping manner : but if flowing and deadly from the veine : also if any peece of the part troubled doe come forth alone , it signifieth the place or seat to be neere by , but if it bee mixed with the excrements , it declares to bee higher and further removed . the accidents points also at the place , so the pearle declares the eye to bee molested , the swelling of the right lisk , the lever , and that of the left , the melt . the symptomes manifests the place , for ravery designes the braine to bee distempered , the cheeks verie red , the lights to be inflammed , the losse of appetit , the indisposition of the stomack , the excrements like to the washing of raw flesh , the debility of the lever . canon . v. thus having found out the part that is troubled , next yee must search whether it is by idiopathie or by sympathie : because it is requisit first to help the part that is troubled by the owne proper desert , ( so idiopathie is a proper indisposition of the part as is the pearle of the eye . ) sympathie is an indisposition which befalls any part by the fault of another . and that either because of the defluxion of an humour falling from one part to another , or by reason of the defect of the naturall facultie requyred for the action of the part : sometimes it fals out that a part of a long trouble by a sympathie , in end turnes to bee troubled by an idiopathie . idiopathie is either privatiue or consecutiue , so it is expedient to remark whether the disease bee privatiue , that is , bee first , or consecutive , that is , doth flow from another . an idiopathie is by this discerned from a sympathie , when the sore is alone , continuall , and without intermission , and receaves neither increase nor diminution , by the augmentation or declination of any disease that is in any other part , but remaines still in one state and condition , the remeds applyed , serving for the good of the same , it is a signe that the indisposition is idiopathetick : but when it followeth another disease , & growes according to the growth of the same , and also is mitigat by the same remeades , and when the remeades applyed to it selfe doth not help , it is then by sympathie , so the paine of the head arising from the stomack ▪ is distinguished from the dolour that comes of the proper fault of the braine , in that it succeeds to a desire to vomite , a heavie rifting , evill smell or taste in the mouth , with a falling away or lypothomie , and when it growes with the indisposition of the stomack , not receiving help from the topicks applyed to the head . canon vi. having found out the part of the body offended , next yee must make inquisition of the indisposition . the indisposition that hindreth action is called morbus or sicknesse , that which followeth it is termed symptome , and that which ingenders is named cause : so that all indisposition against natur is either morbus , symptoma , or causa . the symptome is knowne of the selfe without other signes , because it is objected still to some of our senses : but the disease and the cause for the most part are removed from our senses , but they are known by the symptomes which are the signes , to wit , by the actions hurt , by the excrements , and by the accidents of the bodie . canon vii . maladie or sicknesse is an indisposition against nature , that hurts immediatly the action of the part affected , whensoever then thou perceives the action to be hindred or hurt , then is it a disease . sicknesse or maladie is triple , similare , instrumentall , and common : the first hurts the action of the part similare , the second troubles the vse of the organick , the third hinders both : wherefore if the action of the part , in so farre as it is similare be hurt , the disease shall bee similare , if in so farre as an instrument , it shall bee instrumentall , and if they both befall together it shall bee common . the action of the part similary is hindred by a simple intemperature , as heat , cold , moistnesse , and drouth , or by one composed , as hot and dry , hot and humid , cold and dry , cold and humid , & that either with or without mater . the vse of the organe is preverted by the fault of the greatnesse , nombre , situation , oftest by conformation , and obstruction : both the one and the other , is troubled by the breach or solution of continuitie in the parts , as by phlegmon , scirrh , or any other tumour contrare nature , as also by vlcere , wound , fracture , or luxation , so in temperature is a sicknesse , similare : obstruction , a disease organick , and solution of the continuitie sicknesse , common . the diversitie of especes are known by the varietie of the actions hindered , so the continuall desyre of sleepe signifieth an indisposition , cold and moist of the braine , a continuall waking shewes a hote and dry pulse frequent , quick , and vnaequall , a fever : suchlike the kind of the paine points foorth the disease , as a dolour inflammative a hot distemper , a stupefactive , a cold . the excrements serveth also to find out the espece of the sicknesse , as sand in the water shews a gravell , the meat sent foorth below without change , declares a lienterie : suchlike the accidents of the bodie , so the colour greene shewes an oppilation in the liver , browne colour an obstruction in the melt , a blak tougne , a burning or fever , the nailes crooked a consumption ptisie : the cheekes red , a peripneumonie . among those accidents they that are proper and inseparable , are holden for most certaine , because they haue a great demonstrative facultie . canon viii . the nature and situation of the place serves much to the knowledge of the kind of the sickenesse for everie part hath the owne prope sicknesse , so the eyes onely are subject to a pearle , the neires and bladder to the stone , the puddings to wormes and not the stomacke , the heart can never suffer a vlcer profound nor the lights any dolour . canon ix . the better taking of the disease , you must diligently consider the things antecedent such are the nature , the habitude , the age , the countrie , the season , the disposition of the aire , the forme of lyfe of him who is diseased and the sickenesse wherewith hee vses to be molested : for one is soonest overtaken with the disease with the which there nature hath greatest familiaritie . so hote diseases are most frequentlie incident to hot bilious persons as cold sickenes to cold lumpish nature and that alswell to those who are such by nature , habitude and age as to those who are so by reason of the region , the season and the constitution of the aire . and albeit that all sort of sickenesse may befall to all sort of persons , all ages in all place & time , yet they fal on most frequētly the temperament age , place & time with the which they have some affinitie . an epidemik sicknesse is knowne incontinent by the running of it among the people , seazing on many at one tyme : al hereditar disease as the epilepsie , the gravell , the gowt is suspect to be incident to those who are procreat of parents , sicke of such infirmities . moreover often men finds the kind of the disease by the usage of the things which hurts or helps , for the hote intemperature doth increase by the vse of hote things but is mitigate by the vse of cooling things , the cold intemperature of the contraire . canon x. after the acquyred knowledg of the disease make search thereafter for the cause of it , the which is either extern or intern , the intern is two fold , antecedent or conjoyned . first then seeke out the cause conjoyned , because it produceth immediatly the disease . it is therefore needefull to search whither it be winde or any other superabundant humor as blood , bile , melancholie or phlegme , or any other thing contrare natur , as stone , lump of blood , worms or any other sort of excrement . the colour & natur of the place , the kind of the dolour and the sort of the excrement with the praedominant humor in the bodie will serve for markes . canon xi . for when the part in flāmed is red , it is full of blood : when yellow , full of byle : but that which is cold and whyt is replenished with phlegme , when blackish , with melancholy , for the colour of the skin doth commonly point forth the humor is within . divers parts are appointed for the ingendring of diverse humors excrementitious , as the lever for breeding of yellow byle : the melt , of black byle , the stomack , the tryps , and the braine of phlegme , the neers and the bladder , of the gravell and stone , the tryps of wormes . the paine pricks sore when it is caused of choler , it is moderat when it proceeds of blood , blunt when of melancholy , phlegme , or wind , except it bee when they mak great distention through their aboundance . if that which issueth forth by the excrements of the part affected , bee a portion of that which is continued , within it , it shews either by the colour or substance what it is : wee shall speak heereafter of the predominant humour . canon xii . after the knowledg of the cause conjoynt it follows , know whether it bee alone or if it bee fostered or furnished by any other cause antecedent . that which gathered , is by way of congestion through the fault of the part offended , is reput to bee alone : but when all the bodie , or any part of it , doth exoner the selfe on the member affected of any superabundant humor , the which overburthened , there is then a cause antecedent , which doth accompany the conjoynt , so there be two sort of causes interne , to the which remead must be vsed . canon xiii . the cause antecedent of the sicknesse , is double , the one is named plethor or plenitud , the other is called cacochymi , plethor is a repletion of all the humours aequallie augmented , or of blood only . cacochymie is a repletion of choler , melancholy or phlegme : the signes both of the one and the other , are taken both from the causes antecedent , which doth gather the humor as from the temperature of the whole body , and of the principall parts , from the age , season , constitution of the aire , region , maner of living , and of the evacuation ordinar suppressed , as also from the accidents that befall all the qualities of the body : such as bee the colour , the habitud , the fashions , the functions animall , vitall , and naturall , as from the sleep , dreams , pulse , concoction , excrements , of the diseases ensuing , and of the things that hurts and profites . canon xiv . there bee two sorts of plenitud , the one called plenitudo ad vires , in the which the blood , although it be not excessive , neither in quantity nor qualitie , overcharges never the lesse the weake forces of nature : the other is , plenitudo ad vasa , the which in quantity surpasses the naturall limits or bounds : and this either light or gentle , when it fills only the cavity of the veines not farre exceeding mediocritie : or it is excessive when it extends , so that it almost rives the veines through the fulnesse of it by too great aboundance : and althogh it bee verie excessive , it may bee so that nature bee not chooked by it , for commonlie the force growes with the blood , but if it fall out that the forces bee abaited , then it is plenitudo supra vires . when then in a plethor , the bodie is on no wayes by a too great weight , lasie or heavie , and the force remaines stil in a state , it is onely a plentitud ad vasa . but when the bodie becomes heavie , lasie , doyled ▪ the fleepe troubled and profond , seeming to carie as it were some thing , while hee sleepes , it is then plenitudo , supra vires . canan xv. the causes that ingenders blood in aboundance , are signes antecedents , of a plenitud as the complection temperat of all the whole bodie , but chiefly of the lever , and the heart , or else moderatly hot and humid . the age growing for the bairnes and young men hath much blood , because they are not farre from there principes of naturall generation . the spring also for in it the blood abounds for then the cold ceaseth and there falls out waters . also good fare : a plesant past lyfe , without care , moderat excersise , and sleepe . the naturall evacuation , of blood suppressed : or the artificiall of long intermitted . the accidents which showes the domination of blood in the bodie , are the signes consequent of blood , such bee , the colour of the face and all the bodie red , by the ordinare custome or mixed of red and whyt . the swelling of the veines aequalie appearing through all . a manifest bending of the vessels , being full of blood by measure . a lazines or wearying comming of it self without any labour , vnder the which the joynters by reason of their weight with great difficultie doe move the selfe , for it is when the great veines over full of blood doe exoner themselves in the litle , and they againe in the muscels , so that they are filled and bended . the habitude of the bodie fleshie , because it doeth proceed of an aboundance of blood , yea the mediocer fleshy acompanied of a heat benigne , and vaporous , for that is a signe of nature temperat which ingenders aboundance of blood . the fashions and cariag merrie , joviall , peaceable , gentle , because they are marks of a body well disposed . the heavinesse of the head proceeding from the aboundance of vapours ascending vpwards . the sleepe profound and pleasant , with dreames of things pleasant . the pulse strong , great , and full , for in it the veines are so full , that they doe infuse a part in the neighbors arters by an anastomosie , the which being filled , causes such a pulse and that not onelie in the shakle bones , but also in the temples , the fingers , and over all the body . the respiration more difficill and frequēt , chiefly after exercise , because the muscells of the breast are made lazie throgh the aboundance of blood , hence it is that the respiration is made more frequent by reason of the vse , but shortned because the capacity interior of the breast is made more strait . the promptitud of rendring blood by the seages , aemerodes , monethly courses , water , nose , and spitle . moreover a continuall sweating during the time of the disease , is a token of plenitud . canon xvi . cacothymie is three fold , cholerick , melancholick , and phlegmatick : the causes that gathers aboundance of choler , are signes preceeding the same , such are , the complexion hot and dry , for commonly there ingenders much choler in men of a hot and dry complexion , by reason of the conformity of this humour with that temperament . the manlie age which is betwixt 25 and 35. for in that , choler doth abound , because the naturall heat is much more dry and active then , than before a great part of the inbred moist or sap being consumed by it . the summer , for the byle is more abundant than by reason of the circumsisting air , which makes the blood more hote and dry . the climat hot and dry , the precedent dyet of these same qualities . such like great exercise , travell , anger , care , watching , fasting ; and abstinence doth all gather byle . moreover the ordinar evacuation of bile by vomit , by the stoole , the water , the sweat , suppressed . the consequent markes of abounding choler , are , the whole colour of the body , pale , yellow or blackish , drawing neere to that of iandise or browne : for when the temperament is excessive in heat , the colour is black the state of the body , dry , leane , small , for such proportions are commonly bylous , as also hairie with the haire red , for it is the excrement of byle . but more the black , for black haire is when the exhalation burnt by the force of the heat is changed in black , but the red is when it is not so burnt . the greatnesse of the veines extended by the heat , for they who hath great veines are of complexion hote , but who hath strait and narrow veines , are of cold , for it is heat that doth inlarge . the heat , sharp , and byting to the toucth . promptitud of courage , and a disposition to anger and revenge . the sense lively , light and suddaine . the spirit subtile , and of good invention , for the subtilitie and industrie of the judgment comes of the humor bylous . the sleepe little and light , accompanied with inquyetud , great watching , testifying the great drynes of the braine frō the which they flow , or else from aboundance of a humor , bilious with them . the dreames of fire , warre , and things furious . the pulse vehement , hastie and hardie . bitternesse of the mouth , losse of appetit , great thirst , venting of choler vpward and downward , with the bellie often constipat . the water yellow , byting , inflammed , with little grounds . the diseases bilious frequent , as fevers fierce and ardent , raverie , jandies , herpes , or ring-worme , erysiple , pustuls , cholericks dispersed through the whole body . canon xvii . the melancholick distemper is knowne first by the causes productives of melancholie , as are : the temperature cold and dry , with a debility of the melt , or hote from the beginning , but become cold by change , for if any hote and dry before , by an adustion of the blood ingenders much black bile , hee becomes cold and dry , and in end melancholick . the declining age which is betwixt 35 : and 45. for melancholie doth abound in that age , for succeeding to the youth , which is the most bilious of all , it receives the bile burnt . the harvest , in it also melancholie abounds , for succeeding to the summer , it receaves the brunt bile from it . grosse food and viscuous , as browne bread , porcks flesh , beif , haires flesh , harts flesh , chiefly salted , thick black wine , beir , and old cheife . the life sad occupied in great affaires in contemplation , studying without recreation or exercise of the body , for by it the natural heat diminisheth , and the humors becomes grosse and thick . the suppression of melancholy that vsed to bee by the aemrodes , monethly courses , seages , with scabs or by medecine . as also by the signes of melancholy , predominant in the body , as are : the colour browne or blackish , of the face and all the body , the skinne full of scabs , hardnesse , swelling and paine of the melt : the habitud of the body dry and lean , the visage sad and heavie : feare , silence , solitarinesse , vrine , imagination , conceits : for the constancie of the spirit comes of an humour melancholick . the mind slow to wrath , but being incensed , hard to bee appeased . the sleep troubled with horrible dreams as with sightes of evill spirits , tortoures of death , sepulchres , and other things feareful . the pulse litle , slow , hard . the appetit depravat sometime disordinat by reason of a sowre mater adhearing to the orifice of the stomacke . the water clear and whyt , where there is no melancholy mixed , but thick and black where there is some mixed . the diseases melancholicks frequently arriving . canon xviii . the knowledg of a pituitous distemper is taken from the causes antecedēt , procreating it , and the signes assequent following it , the antecedent are , the complexion of the body , cold and humid : the old age which is from 49. to the tearme of life : for in that age , by reason of the weaknes of the natural heat , much flegme is ingendred . the winter , because that season as reporteth hip : replenishes the body with flegme , both because of the length of the nights , and also by reason of the abundance of raine . the rainie reason , for the watrie aire which doth inviron the body : gathers quantity of pituitous humors , and of watrie superfluities . the great vses of humid and moist meat , the frequent drinking of water and any kynd of excesse , either in meat or drinke : idlenesse and want of exercise , with a sedentarie or sitting life : long sleep , but especially after meat . the following markes of flegme are , the colour of the face and all the body somewhat whitish , grayish , or livid , beeing withall swelled : the whole body growne , and fat , for fat folke are commonly cold and phlegmatick , grease being ingendred by the coldnesse of the habitude of the body : the veines and arteries little and strait , as comming of little blood and few spirits , the skin whit and soft without hair , because the complexion cold and humid is no wayes hairie . the haire is whit , because procreat of flegme : all the senses of the body heavie and lazie : the spirit stupid , the sleep profound , the pulse little , small , & soft . slow digestion , oft belshing with a sowr taste , a desire to vomit , the water whitish , crud , and troubled sometimes with a thick ground . pituitous and flegmatick diseases frequently occurring , or cold catarrhes , and the like . canon xix . the antecedent causes pointing a windy cacochymie , are , the stomack cold and humid , with the debility of naturall heat , proceeding of a simple intemperature or with humors indigested . the melt swelled and bouden vp with melancholy , hindering by a sympathie , the digestion of the stomack . meats windy , as raw fruits , beanes , pease , chesnuts , and the like . overmuch drinke , too much vse of boyled meat , drunkennesse , and gluttonie . lacke of exercise , great sleepe , the age , the countrie , the season of the yeare cold , doth cause aboundance of ventosites . and when winde is gathered in the body by reason of the former causes , there is found a distention of the ventricle , of the colick gowt , chiefly on the left side , with a noyse . the wandring distenting paines running heere and there through the whole body . there is heard wind issuing at all occasions both vp and down , from whence commeth some ease : there is remarked often a singing in the eares . the colik with other diseases arysing of wind , troubleth often . canon xx. the externall causes of sicknesse , called of the greekes procatartik commonly named primitives , should be diligently searched , for they lead vs as well to the knowledg of the cause intern , as of the disease , for , aire , meat , and drink to warme , watching , great and violent motion , anger , and the suppression of the excrements , ingenders hote humours , and hote diseases . in the contrare , cold food with a cooling aire , sleepe , idleset , feare , and all evacuation immoderat causes cold humors , and cold diseases . dry diseases ordinarly accompanies the hote causes , and the humide , the cold . for hote doth ordinarly bring with it drouth , and cold , humiditie , because it is the mother of crudities . for to find out then exactlie the cause and effect of the maladie which is hid , it is needefull by a diligent inquisition , and interrogation of all things , which commonlie are called , not naturall causes , to learne of the sick if he hath exposed himselfe to an intemperat or impure aire , if he hath committed any excesse in meat and drinke , or in watching and labouring , or if he hath bene too fierce in venus service , or if the spirit hath not beene troubled by passions , or if any ordinare evacuation bee not suppressed , as the monethly courses to women , and the flux of the aemrodes to men , and so much the rather wee ought to inquyre carefully of the things past , because the ignorance of the causes is not without great danger : for if a fever should fall into long watching , fasting , or over great dallying with venus , then without consideration of the cause of the disease , presently they would draw blood and purge , should they not thinke you hazard his life , seeing the disease to haue come from evacuation : for in the contrare wee ought rather to repare the forces by analeptiks or restoring things , and not augment it by phlebotomie and cathartiks . for to foresee the issue of the disease . canon i. the fundamentall laws of the prognosticks , are taken from things naturall , not naturall , and conter nature , as of the springs : for we foresee and foretell the sicknesse to be salutare or mortall , short or long , by the force , the constitution of the body and age of the patient , the season , & the forme of life , by the cause , the espece and seige of the evill , with the symptomes , which wee remarke in the change or diminution of the actions , the excrements and the qualities of the body . canon ii. if the forces bee strong to obtaine the victorie over the disease , without doubt the sick shall escape , if not shall die . for none dies so long as their force remaines : but so soone as the forces beginnes to yeeld to the burden of the sicknesse , then followeth death . now to foretell the day of death yee must remarke how farre the sicknesse surpasseth the forces , and remarke the most violent accesse , for if one doth perceive the sicknesse so to outrepasse the forces , that they cannot bee able any longer to resist , death shall follow presently : but if it appear otherwise it shall be longer : so that the origine of prognosticks consists in the conferring of the forces with the sicknesse . for if nature bee strong enough to overcome the sicknesse , then the person shall escape : but if it bee so weake that it cannot obtaine the victorie , death of necessity will follow , and yee must wait on the one or the other sooner or later , according as the forces are stronger or weaker : hence it appeares that all the other signes salubres or mortals are no otherwise , foresignes of death or life , but because they point foorth the forces or weaknesse of nature in the combat with the sicknesse . canon . iii. it is a great helpe to health to bee of a mediocre constitution of body , that is , neither too fat nor too leane ; for such a bodie hath great forces to resist vnto any disease that doth present the selfe : but where this mediocrisie is not , a grosse bodie is in a worse case then a small : for who are of that taillie , dies sooner then they that are of the other : because the veines and arteres of growne fat people are narrow and strait & therefore hath both litle blood and spirits , so that the age concurring , vpon a light occasion , the naturall heat is choaked or extinguished : but they that are of a leane and thin constitution , because they haue the veines & arters larger , and also more blood & spirits , which in them doth not so shortly incurre the danger of death : yet so it is that they are sooner troubled by externall causes , and that for lacke of flesh and greise , so the grosse are more obnoxius to interne injuries , the leane to extern . canon iv. youth hath great force to withstand the disease , because it hath store of naturall heat requisit to the concoction and excretion of the evill humors . contrare , old age is not able to resist , because of the defect of force , not having much naturall heat . hence it is that sicknesse are longer in old people then young , because they abound in cold humors , the digestion whereof cannot be but in a long space , by reason of the weaknesse of their naturall heat : yea the greatest part of sicknesse that arrives to old people doth convoy them to their grave . canon v. the spring is verie wholesome and no wayes mortall , when it keeps the temperature : but in harvest the diseases are very strong and deadly for the most part . first because being cold and dry is diametrically opposed to our life , which consists in heat and moisture , and so hinders the generation of blood whereof our bodie is made and nourished . secondly , because it receives from the summer preceeding the body languishing and wearie . thirdly , because it beat back within the body the superfluous humors melted by the heat of summer , and come foorth to the skin , to the end they may goe foorth . the fourth because about the twelfth hour it opens the pores of the body by the heat , and incontinent thereafter becomes cold : it ryses within the bodie as an enemy to extinguish by its qualitie maligne the naturall heat already feeble and languishing . moreover it gathers store of crudities within the body , the which doth choak the naturall heat , and that by the vse of fruits which it furninisheth . the summer hastenes sicknes , but the winter doth retarde them , because in the summer the pores being open , the evill humors of the body being melted , by the heat of the aire are suddainly dissipat , but in winter they being closed by the cold they are retained within . canon vi. among the constititions of the seasons the dry is more wholesome and not so deadly as the rain , for it gathereth no excrements and resists better to the putrefaction , the humid in the contrar causes many superfluities from whence are the generation of diseases , when the seasons are constant keeping there temperature ordinar , so that all things doth naturally fall out in them , the diseases are lykewayes constant and facily to be vnderstood , but when the season is inconstant , so are the sicknes variable and hard to be vnderstood , for there crise is accompanied with dangerous symptomes where they suddenly cause death or ells leaves a matter to a new sickenesse . when the sicke proves a good second to the physitian fighting againes the sicknes , it is easie to obtaine the victorie . now when he beleues the physition and puts in practise his ordinances hee serves him for a second and declares himselfe enemie of the disease : in the contrar if quyting the physition he takes part with the disease accomplishing that which hee desyres , he hazards his life two wayes the one in leaving the physition aboue in combat , the other in serving as a second to the sickenesse which was before alone , for it is certaine two is stronger nor one . canon viii . the greatnes of the sickenesse followes the greatnes of the cause , for as a light cause produces a light evill , even so a great causeth a great . hence a vehement cause contrar nature is a most certaine indice of a great and dangerous sicknes . canon ix . byle causes still , quicke diseases , which are termined or ended within few dayes because it is easilie resolved by its subtilitie , but melancholie is the most viscuous of all the humors , and makes longest accesses , because it is dry cold and thicke , being the lyfe of the blood . next to melancholy is phlegme in difficulty of digestion and expulsion by reason of its viscositie canon x. the diseases that hath some resemblance with the nature , bodily constitution , and age of the diseased , are lesse dangerous then these that hath no conformity , for all sicknesse , hot , cold , dry , moist , being conforme to the complexion , age , and bodily constitution of the sicke , and also to the season hath so much lesse danger , as it is lesse removed from the naturall constitution , and so may more easily returne , as proceeding frō a lighter , yea a slighter cause . as in the contrare , the disease that hath no affinity , neither with the temper , taillie , nor age of the patient , or with the season , is much more dangerous then the former , being further removed from the naturall complexion , and therefore worse to cure : as proceeding of a greater and stronger cause . so that of two burnt fevers equall in grandure that which fals out in the summer to a young man leane of body , of temper hot , shall not be so dangerous as that which fals out in the winter to an old man of a fat body and cold complexion . canon xi . meeke and gentle relenting diseases are commonly long , but the sharpe , fyrie , and fierce are ended within fourteene dayes , and the extreame hot in seven dayes . there can no certain prediction be made of hot , sharp diseases , either for health nor death , for by that they are quickly ended , they become on a suddaintie great : so that both for the greatnesse of the disease , with the suddaine change which befals in the crise , as also because the humor is often transported from one place to another , the issue is vncertaine , wherefore while the humor is in its motion , we must suspend our judgement , for it is not certain whether it will rush on a noble or ignoble part , within or without by passages conveniable or not conveniable : & thogh the humor were staied in one place , yet the physician ought not resolutly affirme that the sick shall escape , but with this provision , that no new change befall , and that hee follow the advise and keep the regiment prescribed . when a woman with child is overtaken by any firie hot disease , shee is in danger of her life , for a hot fyrie fever requyres a strait dyet , which shee cannot admit , least the child being frustrat of his food shee be broght to bed before the time : and if oft to save the child , yee give the mother often to eat , the fever thereby growing yee shall precipitat the mother in a manifest hazard of her life , and if it be any other strong sicknesse without fever , as a epilepsie , apoplexy , convulsion , shee shall never be able to support the vehemencie of it . canon xii . to foretell the event of the disease , yee must consider diligently the part that is offended , whether it bee noble or ignoble , publick or privat , for the condition , dignitie , and necessitie of the part that suffereth , are of great importance , for the pronouncing of a sentence to the profit or prejudice of the sick . canon xiii . in all diseases the constancie of the reason not troubled : with the bounty of the appetit still readie for taking of whatsomeever shall bee offered to it , is a good signe , and the contrare is an evill : the satlednesse of the reason , and sharpnesse of the appetit are numbred among the good markes , because the former beares witnesse of the temperat disposition of the braine , the menings or tayes of the harnes , and of the marrow of the backe , the medrife and all the nervous parts , and the latter shews the integritie of the stomack and lever : in the contrare , the alienation and troubling of the reason , and the losse of appetit , are evill signes , because the one betokens the animal parts to be affected , the other the naturall . all they that are troubled with paine or dolour in any part of the body whatsomeever , and are not sensible of it , hath the reason troubled , because the apprehension doth not perceiue in any measure the evill . canon xiv . it is good to sleep in the night to make reparation of the spirits animals and digestion of the humors , by the meanes of the heat that enters within the center of the body , and to watch in the day , for the clearing of the same spirits , to give motion to the humors , and to make expulsion of the excremēts : but it is a verie pernicious signe not to sleepe night nor day , for continuall watching commeth either of the dolour , paine , and torment that they suffer , or of the drynesse of the braine , which in end will cause an alienation of the mind . sleepe likewise surpassing the borders of mediocrite , is in like maner evill , because it is a marke of extreame coldnesse of the braine , which causeth a lethargie if it bee mixed with humidity or catalepsie , if with drynesse . when in a sicknesse sleepe is noysome and hurteth , there is danger of death : for if the sleep hurts , that time , that hath bene accustomed to helpe much , as in the decline of any sicknesse , it is not without cause that it foretelleth death : and that because the heat reteared within the body the time of the sleep , and by this meanes increase . notable neverthelesse either by reason of its weaknesse or the maliciousnesse of humors overcome the cause of the disease , shews that nature no wayes strengthned or comforted by this meanes but rather hurt , is ready to succumbe vnder the burden of the disease being stronger . canon xv. the pulse is the faithful messenger of the heart , bringing certaine news of death and life : the pulse great and strong is a token of force , on the which is builded the hope of recoverie of the health , but the pulse litle , weake and languishing , shews the weaknes of the vitall facultie , from whence is the feare of death : the inequality of the pulse is alwayes evill when it perseveres , the intermission of it in young men is most dangerous , for it threatneth with present death , if it bee not from an obstruction and oppression of the arters , it is lesse dangerous in bairnes , and least of all in old men . canon xvi . yee must know that the respiration and breathing , free without stoppe is very wholesome , in all sharpe or quicke diseases : because it denotes the temperature of the breast , and of the parts therein contained . as also the respiration remainting whole , declares the naturall heat yet to be strong for to fight valiantly with the disease in the contrar , the difficultie of breathing showes the indisposition of the vitall parts , and the suffocation of the forces . for the respiration frequent and great , is a signe of some inflamation of the parts within the breast : but the great and rare , foreshow a future alienation of the spirit , as the respiration , little and rare , betokens as death , because it beares witnes of the exstinction of the naturall heat , which one perceives clearly by the coldnes of the breath ishuing at the nostrells and the mouth . canon xvii . it is a good signe to have still a whole heart , for they that falls often in lypothimy or swowning without a manifest cause , dies in end suddenly , because of the debilitie of the vital faculty . canon xviii . the coction of the humor appearing in the excrements of the sicke , signifies the crise to be shortly with an assurance of health . but the crudity denotes either that there shall be no crise , or that the patient is mightily troubled or that the disease shall be longer , or afterward it shall returne , or that death shall follow on it . for as when the coction is made , when nature is victorious , of the causes of the disease , so the contrar befalls when shee is overcome by them . so the foecall mater beeing soft , aequall , and yellow , and not having an evill smell is judged to be good , because it is well digested . suchlyke the water of a mediocer consistence of colour some what yellow , having grounds whyt , vnited and aequall is reput singulare good , because it beares witnes of the digestion , of the humour vitious and consequently of the victorie of nature over it , in the contrar the dejection liquid and waterie whyt and pale , is reput evill , because it is crude or raw , as also the vrine waterie , and small whyt and shyning out of measure is not good , because it is raw , and without digestion . canon xix . when the excrements of the sicke are not verie different from the excrements of the whole , it showes the disease to be light , but if there be a verie great difference yee must apprehend the disease to be deadly . for the excrements much different , showes nature to be overcome by the greatnes of the disease . therefore the foecall mater black , livid , green & stinking are mortall , because they are whole alienat from there naturall constitution and the water that is blacke and thicke and troubled as that of oxen are most evill , because extreamly removed from the naturall . the same mixed in colour foreshowes a long disease , for they denote diverse indispositions caused of diverse humors , and therefore it is necessar that nature imploy a long tyme to the coction having so many enemies to combat with . the vrine in the which yee see grease swiming like spider webs , are thought evill , because they declare a melting of the body by an extraordinar heat : canon xx. sweats are good in all sharp or fierie diseases when they fal out on the critick days , and causeth the fever wholly to cease : they are good also when they make the disease more easie to the patient providing they be vniversall . but this which brings no ease and serves to no vse , also these that are cold and appeares only about the head , the face , and neck are most evill : for in a hot fyrie and quick fever they prognostick death , and in a gentle the longnes of the disease : a cold sweat rūning without ceasing in great aboundance , is a marke of long disease , because it comes of a great quantity of a grosse and cold mater , which cannot easily bee dissipat , neither dantoned by the naturall heat : as a hote sweat wils a short disease , being caused of a subtile mater , which matter in short space will bee dissolved . canon xxi . if the visage of the sick bee like to the countenance of whole persons , it is a very excellent signe , chiefly if it looke like it self being whole . in the contrare , it is a verie evill signe when it is different from the naturall , and when it is hideous to behold , as it is then when the nose is sharpe , the eyes hollow , the temples abaited , the eares cold and drawne in , the lap of the eare turned , the skin of the face hard extended and dry , the colour of the face pale or blacke , livid or lead coloured . for if this deformity do not proceed of a manifest cause , as of lack of sleepe or meat , or of a flux of the bellie , without doubt it presages death to be near , seing this great extenuation is made by the malignity of the disease . canon xxii . where there is perceived a change through the whole body , so that it is now cold , then hot , sometime of one colour then of another , it foretels a long disease . for the indisposition diversly mixed , are still longer then these that are of a fast forme or fashion , for nature cannot danton moe at once . now the changing of qualities and humors , demonstrats the disease to bee caused of diverse humors , in the coction whereof , nature hath need to imploy much time : for according to the varietie of humors within , there appeares varietie of colours without . canon xxiii . it is a good signe to have the hypochondres ( that is , the space vnder the short ribs ) on either side soft , equall , and without dolour : but verie evill to haue them hard , bended , inequall and painefull , for as the former shews the good temperature of the epigastrick muscells , of the mesentary , the liver , the melt , and the stomacke : so the latter declares an intemperature , to wit , an inflammation , a skirrh or wind to bee in these parts . in all diseases it is good that the parts about the navell , and the inferior part of the bellie bee grosse , fat , and in good case , but evill when they are extenuat and leane , for the hypocondres grosse and fleshie are markes of force : but the small and extenuat are evill , both as signes and as causes : forasmuch as they are signes of the debilitie of the parts extenuat , and causes that the digestion is not well elaborat in the stomack , nor the sanguification in the lever , for the grossenesse or fatnesse of the epigastre or low parts of the belly augments the natural heat , by the which the parts within being warmed they digest better the meat , and so makes better blood . canon xxiv . as to the consideration of these things that fals out in the body , if yee remarke any good signe , yee must not thinke for that , that assuredly the sick shall escape , neither although there do appeare any evill signes that hee shall die , for a good signe may bee over weighted by an evill , being great : and on the contrare , an evill may be overcome , a good being stronger . canon xxv . the disease quyts the sick either wholly at once by way of crise , or by litle and litle by way of resolution . crise is a suddaine change of the disease into health , or else into death , which is then when nature separats the vitious humours from the good , and that for to expell them , of it there bee two sorts , the one is by excretion , and the other by absesse , that comes by a flux of blood or sweat , or a flux of the bellie , or vomit , or flux of the vrine . canon xxvi . the good crise arives on the 7.14 . or 20 day , wherefore these dayes are called criticks . the future crise was foreseene by the signes of digestion , appearing the 4.11 . and 17. day : hence these dayes are called of of the greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is in dicatives , contemplatives : for according to the doctrine of hip. the 4. day is the indicative of the 7. the 8. is the beginning of the next moneth , the 11. is also remarkable , because the fourth of the second weik , the 17. is also to bee observed , because the 4. after the 14. and the 7. from the 11. canon xxvii . when the crise is to bee on the 7. day , there is perceived on the fourth day preceding a red cloud in the water , and other signes correspondent : for because the 4. day is the pointer out of the 7. if there appeare any signe of concoction that day , it forwarnes the crise to bee on the 7. day . where then there appeares a clowd in the water not only red but whyt , and yet rather a whyt hypostasies or ground , vnited and equall , if so bee the motion of the sicknesse bee suddaine , it is a presage of the future crise . when the crise draws neare , the night preceeding is verie troublesome , but that which follows is ordinarly more easie to indure . for while nature is making a separation betwixt the good and evill humors that fals out , that in this exercise of nature the disease is much troubled . but so it is that this great worke appeares , the night before the crise , because the sleepe is interrupted : but the night that follows the crise perfyte , they are much more at their owne ease , because nature is disburdened of superfluous humors , canon xxviii . the vniversall signes by the which one discernes the espece of the crise to come , are taken from the kind of the disease , from the part that is diseased , and from the nature of the patient : for hot and quicke diseases , are ordinarly judged by excretion , but the cold and long by abscesse . if there bee an inflammation in the gibbous part of the lever , yee must expect a crise by a flux of blood at the right nostrile , or by a flux of the vrine , if the inflammation bee in the hollow part of it , then yee must expect it by a flux of the belly , or vomishment , or sweat . the inflammations of the braine and of all the head , are commonly judged by an haemorragie at the nose , but that of the stomack and mesenterie by vomishment , or a flux downeward . moreover a flux of blood fals oftenest to young men cholericks , overtaken with a hot fever , and a flux of the bellie to old men phlegmaticks . there the common , and now heere the proper prognosticks of everie crise . rednes of the face , extreame dolour of the head and the necke , a beating of the arters in the temples , the distention of hypochondres with dificultie of breathing a dimnes tnd watering of the eys , singing of the eares , and itching of the nostrell● prognosticks the crise to be a flux of blood by the nose . a heat and heavines of the loynes with a paine and extention of the hypograster , foreshowes a crise to be by a flux menstruall . a suppression of the water , with a pricking & shivering through the whole bodie , with the pulse soft and waterie and the exteriour parts of the bodie hote and vaporous , betokens that it will be by sweat . rifts , ventosites , or winds , a bending of the belly , and paine of the neires by a flux of the belly : losse of appetit or lothing of meat with a thrawing of the heart and sorenes of the head , with a dissinesse , great spitting , bitternesse in the mouth , and a trembling of the vnder lip prognosticks a future crise by vomit . when the signes of concoction hath gone before , and when the motions of a crise , hath beene perceived : then it may be exspected by a flux of the vrine , if there doeth not appeare any marke of a crise by a flux of blood , not by sweat , flux of the belly , vomit , and specialy when the patient feels an heavines in the hypograster , and an heat about the end of the privie member , having also made much water thicke and grosse during his disease , or if he be aged , and sick in the winter , it foretells it the rather . a heavines and paine of the head , with a profoundity of sleepe and deafnesse , succeeding immediatly to a difficultie of breathing suddenly ariving without any manifest cause , to one sick with a long disease , points foorth an absesse to be behind the eare . but if there be no signe of a paritude , and that the sicke hath had his vrine of a long tyme cleare and vndigested , and when he finds a heavinesse , a paine , a bending or tension , a heat in the hypochondres , ye must exspect an absesse in the lower pairts . if any part of the bodie hath beene hurt before , there shall the aposteme or absesse be . an absesse falls out most frequently in winter and after on imperfyt crise . canon xxix . moreover , a good crise ought to be signified before in the day of indication and should fall out in a critike day , with a manifest excretion , or notable absesse : without dangerous accidents . it ought also to be perfyt . i call a perfyt crise , that which evacuats all the vitious mater . and on imperfyt , that which evacuats but one part for the former is sure , but you must not beleeve the latter , for the evill humors remaining after a crise , are wont to make one recidiwe . moreover a crise is iudged to be good by reason of the convenable qualitie and reasonable quantity , with the forme agreable , and the time opportune . a crise is knowne to be perfyt and assured by the restablishing of the functions naturalls , vitals and animalls , by the coction of the excrements , or by qualitie or forme of the body reduced and made conforme to the naturall . canon xxx . yee must not trust to any ease , or aleagment which falls without cause , nor feare evill symptomes ariving against reason , for the most part of those are inconstant and doth not last a long time : for when any vehement diseases ceaseth of the selfe without any evacuation , either by sweat , vomit , flux downward , or hemorrage vpward , or without any signe of concoction one must not take that ease to be assured , neither must one beleeve to it seing it doth threaten with something of greater evill which follow thereon . as also one must not be affraighted of the evills that befalls without , or rather contrare reason , as difficultie of breathing , raverie , shiviring reduplication of the fever , seing they are not constant nor of long last , and so farre from signifying any thing evill , that on the contrar they presage often a good crise which shall arive to the great ease of the patient . the right methode of curing the disease . canon i. whosever will exactly keepe the method of right proceeding in the cure , ought to begin at the first indications , then come to those that followes them . afterward to the next and never leave off , till they haue come to the end pretended . wee take heere indication for that which serves to teach vs the way in the cure of the disease , to attaine to health . canon ii. the forces before all things ought to be keeped in those who are diseased : after the indication of the forces , followes the consideration of the indisposition which is proposed to be cured . the forces wills allways their conservation , and the indisposition its ablation . now as the forces are keeped or conserved by their like so the indisposition is taken away by the contrary . canon iii. in all diseases where the efficient cause is yet present , you must begin your cure at the same for it is impossible to cure perfytly any disease , whileas the cause that doth ingender it , is present : so the maladies ceaseth never till the evill humors ingendring them bee banished , which doth lurke within the body . canon iv. after the taking away of the cause , you must next turne you to the disease ingendred of the cause , keeping for a generall rule , first the ablation of the cause efficient , and next of the maladie . canon v. the cure of the symptome is never first intended , but alwayes that of the maladie which causeth the symptome . yet when the symptome minaceth with death , or greater and suddainer danger then the disease it selfe , the cure of it may bee first attempted . canon vi. while as the disease is growing , wee must hinder the growth of it , and take away that part that is already ingēdred . the generation of that which is to come , is hindred by taking away the cause antecedent , and the maladie alreadie ingendred is banished by taking away the cause conjoynt . canon vii . in all diseases caused of fluxion , yee must first stoppe that which floweth yet : next draw foorth that which already is flowed . therefore the cure of a phlegmon , catarrhe , and of all other diseases that are caused by a fluxion , lookes all to two buts , the first is , that the humour which runneth yet bee stayed , the other , that that part of it which is already in the part bee evacuat . canon viii . in all diseases complicate , the one whereof cannot be cured without the other , there must respect bee holden to order : now method or order requyres still the cure of that first , which hindreth the cure of the other : as if a phlegmon were accompanied with a vlcer , yee must first take away that , then cicatrize this . canon ix . when two indications are directly opposit one to another , yee must not regard so the one , that yee misregard the other , but rather having as good mind of this as of that , make a mixture as equall as ye can . as for example , if one be troubled by two so contrarie diseases , that the one desires a hot , the other a cold remead , yee must then make vse of one temperat , to that end it do harme neither to the one nor to the other , but rather help both . so when the stomack is cold , and the lever over hot , things temperat are convenable , and all that is mixtioned of hot and cold things : or the alternative vse of the one and the other . hence is it that when a phlegmon is in its grouth , there is mixed repercussives with digestives . canon x. when there is remarked a repugnance among the indications , after you haue well considred that which is taken from the forces , and also the indication of the cause , the disease , thou shall follow the most important of all , not neglecting howsoever the other . canon xi . it is a maxime most necessarie , that commands to cure first the most importunat danger , ( for the indisposition , that is the first & principall cause of precipitating the diseased in any danger , ought first to bee helped . ) wherefore excessive watching , cruell paine , all evacuation out of measure , chiefly of blood , the suppression of superfluities , and other like symptomes , which weakens the forces , and augments the disease , in such sort , that there may arrive quickly some danger , constraines often the physitian to quyt the cure of the sicknesse to occur to these symptomes . canon xii . the generall method of curing diseases is accomplished by the convenable quantity and quality of the remedies , with the maner and time of vsing of them . canon xiii . it is requyred that all the remedies bee contrare in quality to the disease , for contraria , contrariis curantur . for if all that which is immoderat be contrare to nature , and that which is moderat agreeable to nature : of necessitie it will follow that that which is out of measure must bee brought to measure by its contrare in like degree out of measure . hence is it that all diseases ingendred of repletion , are cured by evacuation : and these that proceed of evacuation by repletion , and such like of the rest . canon xiv . the temper of the body diseased with the disease it selfe , shews the measure of the contrarietie : forasmuch as it is not enough to apply cold remedies to a hot disease : if that be not done with a measure reasonable , otherwise not equall in measure , it is to bee feared that there remaine some portion of the disease , or being excessive that one disease contrar to the other bee moved : for to occur to this wee must know the nature of the body , that is to be handled to that end that vnderstanding how farre the disease exceeds mediocritie , one may exactly measure the proportion of the refrigeratiue remedie . therefore the quantity of everie remead ought to be measured according to the complexion of the sick , and the greatnesse of the sicknesse . canon xv. the contrare remedies must be put in vse litle by litle , and now and then make intermission , for it is dangerous to evacuat all at once , or yet to fill , to heat , or coole , or to chang the bodie suddenly in any other maner , for all that which is excessive is enemie to nature , but that which is done by litle and litle , is without danger , for it is therefore surer to serve your selfe moderatly of contrarie remedies , then to vse excessively and suddainly , for as much as nature doeth not suffer sudden changes without hazarde . canon xvi : when diseases are in the beginning , then move that which seemes good to be moved , but when they are in their vigour , it is better to let them alone in rest , for it is more expedient to vse remedies in the begining , then in hight of the disease , for two reasons , the one because the accidents are weaker at the entres and at the end , then in the hight : the other , because nature whollie imployed at that time about the coction and excretion of the humor noysome , ought not to be diverted or hindered by any remeed , for seing the digestion is then , it is better in the beginning to evacuat a part of the humour vitious , that nature may the more easily overcome the rest : but when the maladie is in its vigour , nature occupied alreadie about the concoction , it is no more tyme to vse evacuation . canon xvii . if the espece of the sicknes be so obscure that thou can not take it vp at the first , make no hast in vsing remedies , rather suffer nature to worke it out her selfe , for being helped by a good dyat , in end shee shall banish the sickenesse foorth . where she shal make it manifest . for a remead vncertaine and doubtfull cannot be ordained , without prejudice . if perhaps thou be constrained to vse one at the least , let it be light , to that end , that if it be not profitable , at the least it be not hurtfull . canon xviii . a simple cure is sufficient for a simple disease , but when it is composed with an other , then it requyres a composed remeed . canon xix . for the accomplishing of the cure it is not enough that the physition doe his duetie but that the sick also & they that are about him , that there be nothing wanting of that which is required , for it is requisit that the diseased strive to fight with the disease , with the medicine , and so obey him , and not give way to his pleasures , hauing about him people sitting for his service , being wel lodged , and furnished with commodities needfull . canon xx. the medicine that doth all things according to reason , although that things succeed not according to expectatiō , ought not to change his bute , or end proposed in his method purposed from the beginning . for that is but small wisdome to quyt lightly that which seemde expedient although the successe hath not bene according to exspectation , for as the marke of a drop of water falling on a stone , doth not appeare sensiblie , but after a long space it falls , even so in raw or vndigested diseases which receives no coction , but with difficultie , vnto the which when reason hath found that which is conveniable , according to all indications considered one after other : one must not leave off the course intended , although there hath no manifest vtilitie bene found from it , if that some other accident doe not fall out , which doeth constraine to quyt the first purpose , for wee haue reason to vse the remedies which those indications did furnish . canon xxi . there be three sorts of remedies , by the which all indispositions are cured that be curable , to wit by dyat , by chirurgie or manuall operation , and pharmacie or remeeds outward and inward , it is needfull that the diat be repugnant to the sicknesse and familiar to nature , for wholesome food is that which is contrare to that , which is contrare to nature , and like to that which is according to nature , so hot meates are conveneable to cold diseases , and cold meats in hot diseases , moist or humid meates , for the dry , and drying , for the weake and moist , wherefore it is expedient to prescribe a strait dyat to fat fleshie peoeple for such a dyat dryeth . canon xxii . meat and drinke more pleasant to the taste , but lesse profitable is to be preferred to that which is more profitable and pleasant , for one must sometime permit meats which are not best , not onely to gratifie the sicke but also for his further good , because the stomacke imbraces more straitly and keepes better the meat that wee take willingly , and with great contentment , yea disgests it better . in the contrare , it rejects with disdaine these things that are disagreeable to the taste because they moue a prease of vomiting , or cause some fluctuating , or inflation in the stomack , therefore wee must pleasure the sicke in things that are not verie hurtfull . canon xxiii . in the ordaining of the dyat , there must respect bee had of the custome , for things of a long time accustomed , although worse , commonly hurts lesse then these which are not in custome . canon xxiv . when the disease is in its vigour , it is necessar then to vse a verie slender or weake dyat , as well for the greatnesse of the symptomes , as for the coction of the humor , for wee must not hinder natures coction of the humors by the coction of the meat . canon xxv . when the disease is violent and quick , it causes incontinent extreame paine and dolour , wherefore wee must vse a most sharpe and weake dyat , because such a disease is in the vigour the first dayes , as the grievous symptomes which doe incontinently accompanie it from the beginning beares witnesse . for a most sharpe sicknes is that which attaines to its hight , that is , in the first foure dayes or little after . canon xxvi . so soone as the sicknesse by its violence doth show that it is drawing near the hight then a strait dyat must be injoyned : but when the hight is long in comming as it fals out in long diseases , then a more large dyat would bee vsed , till the approaching of the hight , or a little before , and then yee must restraine it . strait and small dyats are stil dangerous in long diseases , because they abait the forces which ought to be conserved in their integrity , to that end it may resist to the length of the disease . canon xxvii . when the bodie is not cleane , the more you nourish it , the more yee hurt it : for seeing the body full of vicious humors , hath more need of evacuation then nutrition : it appeares that they should not be too much nourished , because these evill humors gathered a long time in the body , spoyles the food newly received : so that thereby the cacochymie is augmented to the double , which fals out chiefly then when the stomack is foule : for even as mixing of cleare water with muddy , it becomes al muddy and troubled : even so the meat , although pure and cleane of it selfe , yet taken in to great quantity in a foule body , becomes wholly corrupt . canon xxviii . a larger dyat must be granted to bairnes then old folke , and a mediocre , to these of a middle age : because that old men indures easily hunger , next to them that are at the entry of the declining age , worse then these young men , worst of all boyes : for they that are growing hath much of the natural heat , and therefore hath much need of nourishment , otherwise their body should consume , but there is but little heat in old bodies : wherefore they need not much nourishment , because that too much should choake it . canon xxix . the great cavities in the body , in winter and in the spring , are naturallie hoter then at any other time , and the sleep longer : wherefore in these the dyat may bee larger , ( heere by the cavities wee must vnderstand the stomacke , the whole bellie containing the puddings , and the rest of the naturall parts that are appointed for digestion . ) but if yee desire to know why the natural heat is augmented in winter , arist. attributs the cause to the circumsisting air , that is colder chasing by this meanes the naturall heat inward , while as in the summer it extends the selfe ordinarly through the whole body towards the heat that is without as familiar to it . hence is it that in the summer its substance is dissipat and exhals , but in winter it is holden in and keeped there , and therefore all the coctions are the better made . canon xxx . as to the forme and maner of dyat , one should eat lesse in the summer & the harvest & ofter , but in the winter and spring more seldome , but more aboundantly : because in the summer and the harvest hardly doth one digest meat , in winter verie easily , but in the spring some way well . canon xxxi . yee must nourish gentlie , and repare by little and little the bodies that hath beene extenuat of long time , and restore quickly these that hath quickly beene taken down . canon xxxii . you must give meat to the sick when as the sicknesse gives intermission or release , & during the accesse abstaine from giving ▪ for meat then is hurtfull , because that it withdraws nature from the digestion of the humor to the concoction of the nouritour , as also because by it the cause of the disease is augmented . canon xxxiii . among the operations of chirurgerie , phlebotomie , or drawing of blood , keepes the first rank : because it is the common remead of diseases which proceeds of plenitud or fulnesse , for by it an evacuation is made of the humors equally , being for this the most exquisit of all other meanes . canon xxxiv . phlebotomie is not only a remead evacuative , but also revulsive and derivative : for it is profitable when wee turne the course of the flux to the opposit part , or desires to turne it asid to the neighbour part . canon xxxv . wee must draw blood in hot fevers 'till the spirits faile and heart saint , if so bee the forces bee strong , also in great inflammations and extreame paines : for if one draw blood in hot fevers till the heart faint , all the body is incontinent cooled , and the vehement heat extinguished , to diverse after it , there followeth a flux of the bellie and a sweat . by this meanes some are wholly freed of the fever , others receives great ease , the vehemencie of their sicknesse having passed . this sort of bleeding is likewise good in great inflammations , both for the former reasons , and for that it stops the flux causing the inflammation , and so hinders the growth of the phlegmon : by this same it appeaseth the great dolours caused of the heat of the fever , and of the inflamtions : wherefore there is not found a remead more soveraine for insupportable dolours , than it . canon xlv . you must draw much blood , if the sicknesse doeth vrge and the forces doe permit , if not by litle and litle , and at diverse tymes , for all extreame evacuations are dangerous and cheifly bleeding being al at once . canon xxxvii . they to whom purging and blood drawing is profitable , ought to be purged and bled in the spring . for that season is very proper to make evacuation by phlebotomie or pharmacie , because that at that time there is no extraordinar heat for to weaken the body , by exhalation , nor great cold to make it stiffe , by congealing the humors in it , nor yet inaequall to disturbe the forces but rather a mediocre temper . canon xxxviii . you must not without great cause or deliberation open a veine to a woman with child , because that a woman with child bled , is broght to bed before the time , if the chyld be great , because having drawne blood of a woman with chyld : the chyld thereby frustrat of his food , famishing in the matrix of the mother , breaketh his bonds , and seeketh foorth for nourishment , and that before the time , except the mother abound in blood : for then yee may be so farre from fearing it , that in the contrar if it be not administrat , both the mother & the child are in danger as hath beene remarked in the persons of the most illustrious dames in the court of france : least the child should be choaked by the too great aboundance of blood . canon xxxix . purgative medicines should be ordained to cacochymike diseases , these that purges the bile to bilious , they that phlegme , to phlegmaticks , and so of the rest , for the cure of one cacochymie is made by a purgation which is particularly appropriat to the humor tha● exceedes , and among the alterative potions the cold are appointed for the hot , the hot for the cold , the dry for the humids , and the humid to the dry , for the hot mistemper would be made cold , and the cold made hot , and such like of the rest . canon xl. strong potions would be given to strong diseases , and gentle medicins to more meik and gentle , for extreame remedies are fitest for strong diseases : hence the romane oratour desyrous to show how a curagious man should interprise hazards , sayes , in the presenting of himselfe to dangers , he must imitat the custome of the medicins , that handles gently those that are but lightly troubled , but in greater diseases are constrained to make vse of remedies more dangerous and doubtsome . canon xli . wee must expell those things that requyres to be expelled , by the wayes most proper whither nature chiefly tends : and divert them if they make not there course by the way they ought : the physition then ought curiously to mark the motion of nature , and the inclination of the humor , redounding : to that end , that if it tend to any place fitting , to help it , & in the contrar , if it seek for one vnfitting , to hinder it and to draw it off that course . so if phlegmatick or melancholick humors take the course downeward and nature haue essayed already to banish by the retract the fever , the physition ought to prescribe a clister or some other proper remead for to stir vp nature , and if a bilious humor bend vpward , and nature strive to expell it at the mouth , a vomit is expedient to be taken , for that is to draw thither the humor whither nature aimes cheifly , and if yee doe otherwise , you shall change the order and course of nature , constraine the forces , and put the sicke in hazard . canon xlii . in very sharpe sicknesse yee must purge the same day , if the humor be moved . for it is not good to dryve over time , then , as sayes hip. for feare least the evill grow , the forces become weaker , and the wandring humors cease on some noble part . when then in most sharpe or violent diseases , wee perceive nature to bee touched with a great and ardent desire to discharge the selfe of the superfluous humors , wee must purge incontinent . and because that that desire doth not often overtake nature to disburden the selfe of vitious humors , in the beginning of such diseases wee must advise well to vse purgations at such a time of such a sicknesse . canon xliii . when you are to purge the bodie , you must prepare the body before & make the humors fluxile : other wayes the purgation wil not be without great paine & difficultie , grinding of the bellie , inquyetud , fainting , debilitie of the pulse , and dissolution of the forces : now for to make the body fluxile , you must open all the passages of it , and make the grosse humors liquid that are within . canon xliv . you must purge the humors digested and prepared , not the raw and vnprepared , neither in the beginning of any disease , except they be moved and haue no fixed place . for as nature is by no meanes moved to the evacuating of any humor : except it have first prepared the mater , so the physitian ought to purge the mater that is digested , not that which is vndigested , because vndigested humors are slow to be moved , by reason of their viscositie and grossenesse , so that they stop the passages that goes from the extremities of the body to the belly , from the which the medicine doeth draw them , and by this meanes moves troublesome symptomes by their not going foorth . canon xlv . you must purge women with child , if the mater be moved betwixt the fourth , and seventh moneth , but sooner or later , is to be feared , for the infant is fastned to the matrix of the mother , after the same maner that the fruits are to the trees , fruites newlie budded hath there stalk so tender , that being beaten by any violent wind , they fall easily to the ground : but with tyme being more firmely fixed , they fall not so easily , vntill the time they become vnto there maturitie , and then they fall off themselues without violence . even so fares it with women incōtinent after their conception , if they leape or fall in any sliprie part , or yet move by any meanes either the spirit or the body , their new conception easily falleth foorth , so fares it , with them , when the children are great . but in the mid terme of their time they are with chylde , they adheare faster to the matrix , & are not so subject to be expelled : wherefore women with child , may suffer stronger motions at that time without hurting their fruite , and so may be better purged . canon xlvi . when the crise is , or when it hath already bene and the humors are finally expelled , we must move nothing , nor chang nothing , neither by physicke nor any other thing that may irritat nature , but rather suffer nature to worke it out her selfe : for seing the crise is a worke of nature , and not of the physitian , when shee is about it , or hath already obsolved it , the physitian ought to move nothing , but rather suffer her for feare of troubling her action , which she is whollie imployed about the bussines . but if the crise hath bene vnperfyt , it is the duetie of the medicine to purge that which rests of the vitious humors fearing least by processe of time , putrifying within the body , they renew the sicknesse . canon xlvii . during the caniculare dayes , laxative medicines are not good , for all strong purgations are hardly supported that time , for three reasons . the first because all purgatives being naturally hot , inflammes the body already warme by the heat of the aire . the second is because they dissipat the forces already weakned by the vehemency of the heat . the third because the action of a purging medicine , & that of the invironing aire are contrare , for asmuch as that doth draw from without , inward , and this from within , outward . canon xlviii . the lower part of the bellie or epigastre , being farre extenuat , cannot suffer without danger , purgations by the stoole . canon xlix . when a defluxion on any part that is troubled , you must repell it : wherfore repercussives that haue vertue to bind are proper in the beginning of any defluxion , for two respects : the one because they fortifie so the part , that it receives not so quickly the super fluities that doth abord : the other because they presse foorth the most subtile portion of that which is already placed there . finis . a hermeticall banquet, drest by a spagiricall cook for the better preservation of the microcosme. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a64765 of text r6717 in the english short title catalog (wing v149). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 227 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 98 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a64765 wing v149 estc r6717 11894192 ocm 11894192 50532 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a64765) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 50532) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 44:2) a hermeticall banquet, drest by a spagiricall cook for the better preservation of the microcosme. howell, james, 1594?-1666. vaughan, thomas, 1622-1666. [35], 161 p. printed for andrew crooke, and are to be sold at the green dragon in s. pauls church-yard, london : 1652. attributed sometimes to thomas vaughan or to james howell. cf. halkett & laing (2nd ed.). reproduction of original in huntington library. eng alchemy. medicine -early works to 1800. a64765 r6717 (wing v149). civilwar no a hermeticall banquet, drest by a spagiricall cook: for the better preservation of the microcosme. [no entry] 1651 38179 344 295 0 0 0 0 167 f the rate of 167 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2002-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-02 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2003-02 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a hermeticall banqvet , drest by a spagiricall cook : for the better preservation of the microcosme . london , printed for andrew crooke , and are to be sold at the green dragon in s. pauls church-yard . 1652. to the right honorable isacke wake knight , embassadovr extraordinarie in savoy and piemonte , ordinarie for italie helvetia and rhetia , select for france , for his majestie of great britain , &c. right honorable , t is our custome in england , on the birth day of every year , for the tenant to lay down his offering at the altar of his landlord ; as an oblation of his gratefull servitude . i , your lordships tenant , or rather , as the anagram tells me , natent , ( confessing my self by your lordships solar influence , renated , and of a vegetable , made vitall ) not to abrogate custom , do here present my offering , to manifest a strong desire of gratitude , in the weakness of my expressions . our first wishes upon this day , is , for a merry new year . what better prologue to mirth , than a feast ? that my offering therefore may be the embleme of my wishes , i have here presented your lordship with an hermeticall banquet ; wherein are such plenty of cordialls , that i doubt not but it will make you heartily merry . i have caused it to be drest by spagiricall cooks ; partly to preserve your more delicate palate from the epidemicall nausea of galenicall potions , with these our hermeticall and bezoartick delicacies . and partly , because i have alwaies observ'd , in the universalities of your lordships studies , a particular genius much reflecting upon this art , as the key of natures cabinet . expect not much hony in your dishes ; since like a bee , shut up in the winter hive of my quarantena , and unable to fly abroad and rob other mens gardens , was constrained to make use of such as i had collected in the summer of my youth : where i fear your lordship will find more wax , than hony . i dance little after method , because no methodist . neither do i labour to oppress your stomack with dogmaticall gravity . no , i consider we are at a feast , and therefore prefer a jest before an aphorisme . how my mirth will take , i know not , believe me it was meant well : though for want of other musick i confess it is somewhat extravagant . i subscribe therefore to your lordships more mature judgement ; which , like a celestiall influence , penetrates even the center of inferiour actions . if it pass that magellan , it may boldly , and with a full sail plow through the tempestuous ocean of the universe . 't is your lordships approbation then that must protect our weak b●rk . your colours only displai'd , ban●sh all fears of assaults , and make it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . under which banner , i desire to serve but as a common-souldier : that so hereafter by some bolder attempt , i may manifest unto the world , how little i respect superficiall wounds , in the atchievement of some better title , thereby to be judged worthy of so honourable a calling , as your lordship hath gratiously favoured me with , in making me your lordships physician and most humbly devoted servant . symposiates to his sympotae . gentlemen , i here place my self at the portall to bid you welcome to an hermeticall banquet . who comes by the common road of invitation , to me is ●east welcome . and those resolute ●parks which boldly open the door with ● complement , teaching good manners ●ow to temporise , believe me they shall ●e exalted two ceremonies above the ●alt . such guest are alwayes least trou●lesome ; they never put their hoast to the expence of a prologue ; raw , or rosted , ●hey fal to their business ; hunger brought ●hem to the duel , and when that 's over●ome they leave the field . i could hear●ily wish that all my guest were thus courtlike . for so i also might have time to eat , whilst they bid themselves welcome . i dare not invite many women , lest i quarrel with their lean manners before the second course enter . yet some i must have of necessity to help away with the sweet-meats . my servant told me he had invited a knot of merry gossips in the city , whose apern-strings itch'd to be here : but they sent me word that their husbands told them it was to publike a meeting , and therefore desir'd me to excuse them , and for my sake they would be merry at home in private . the other day , making use of an apothecaryes ●hop for a breathing , place , in comes an old galenist , sweating , and in choler ca●ls for some rose vinegar : i out of charity , ( fearing he might have been arrested by some {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ) began to fortifie him with my younger arms , and ask'd him if he were not well . he saw i was a stranger , and therefore repai'd my curtesie with a god reward ●ou sir : and then told me he was a lit●le distempred with the sulphurious in●olencies of certain infernall spirits which seiz'd upon him , passing by the hell dore of a spagiricall cooks shop , who , quoth he , hath infected the air ●ven to the middle region round about ●im , with those pharmakouticall mine●alls , paracelsian fopperies which he is ●ow preparing to adorn a great feast which his master , iatrochimicus , cele●rates to morrow , calling it his herme●icall banquet . here i suspected his quick sence would have seiz'd upon me ; my pockets at that infant being full of ●hose bugbears : but as it hapned he neither conceiv'd me to be either an hermetick , galenist , or indeed physi●ian . with the better arm'd confidence ●herefore i told him , that the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} of ●hat feast was a cardiacall friend of mine ; and had injoyn'd me upon the ●reach of friendship not to be absent : ●ut to fill up his feast with me and my friends : therefore sir , quoth i , tha● your nose may have satisfaction , you shall oblige me beyond the force of ceremony , to make your self my friend and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and accompany me thither to morrow , where , i can assure you , mirth shall supply the defect of a better welcome : the good old man more curious than hungry ▪ assur'd me he would be there , were it but to tast of our new cookery . if he come , gentlemen , i shall intreat you to give him licence to abuse himself : for i know he will be very unmannerly , smelling to every dish , like an ape in a hucksters basket : nay , twenty to nothing but he so far loseth himself in this strange land , that hee forgets where he is , and in that laethargy may disswade you from eating . which if he doe , deprive him not of ages attribute , which is , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , talkative : but let his tongue runne-on , whilst your teeth follow . your palates shall here exercise in the variety of foure courses . and because i find how strong an ascendent curiosity gets houerly upon every mans fantasy , i dare not dull your choice eares with those vulgar lowde-scraping motions which time calls musick ; but in place thereof i have thought upon some merry table talk , which may be more acceptable , in reguard it is both extravagant , and ridiculous . extravagant when ●oiz'd in the ballance of our more seri●us witts : and ridiculous , to those whose infirm judgements cannot digest ●t . the iudicious i know will not censure me , because wee are here at a feast , and not in the scholes . inter pocula non est disputandum . i feare none so much as the women i have invited : who perchance will cry , fie upon him , he speakes bawdy . if they ●e reasonable , they will pardon that , ●ecause i am a physician . but if there ●e any amongst them unreasonable , i know no sweeter course , than to stop their mouths with comfits . epigramma aenigmatica tetrastichon microcosmi avctoris benevolo lectori . to please a world i never can , it being a task too hard for man . i 'de please but one . so shall you see a world there will contented be . a hermeticall banquet , &c. an anthropogeographicall grace before meat , wherein the microcosme is hermetically analogiz'd to the sublunary and elementary globes . man was never better baptized than by the name {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} : for whatsoever the greater world contains , the like shall you find exquisitely exprest in this little world man . so that man is natures {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} or mirrour , wherein the eye of reason may compendiously contemplate on the great {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} his six days labour . there may you see the originall of miniature , where god ( as his {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} or master-piece ) hath limb'd the worlds pourtraict in small . there may you read an epitomy of his greater volumes . so that , as one elegantly writes , hominem à deo post reliqua factum fuisse , ut deus in ipso exprimeret , sub brevi quodam compendio , quicquid diffusè ante fecerat . so far doe these two worlds symbolize , that a double {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} cannot separate their analogy . for the hermeticks ( whose doctrine i follow ) bring them both under this duplicate , celestiall and elementary . the celestiall part , as it hath reference to the soul , i recommend to theologists . m●dicus , non sacerdos sum . the elementary world by his proximity and contiguity embraceth a more near sympathy with man and therefore more agreeable and symbolicall to our present anatomy if any more criticall , than judiciall carpe at my dissection , let them know 't is my first manuall operation : and perchance for want of instruments answerable to my work ▪ i may now and then cut a veine . well , hit or misse , ( aud●ces fortuna juv●t , ) as i am none of those {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , so will i not proceed in their method , who make their first incision in the abdomen , and so orderly penetrate the membranes investing the parts dedicated to nutrition . but to shew that i am a pupill to paracelsus , who they call {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , i wil make a paraphrontick {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} and with his {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} i strike first at the elementary world , the which i cut , alla reverso , into two parts , superior and inferiour : allowing the superior part , the elements of fire and aer for his portion : to the inferiour i allot the remnant , water and earth . that this separation may connect our analogy , i strike againe at this little world man : where laying aside all humane respect , i divide the head from the shoulders ( not comming neare the bowels , lest i should raise some {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} which might inanimate my spectators to a future audience ) and the head i symbolize with the elementary upper regions , fire and aer : where we see far more prodigious lights than any the elementary regions could ever produce . what heart is not sensible of two blazing stars , whose influences present us hourely with multitudes of amazing varieties ? those when they appeare in a serene and clowdlesse aer , doe they not penetrate with their astrophorus rays the center of this earth man , accending therein a vestall fire in that ●ittle point , the heart ? doe they not ( sicut radius ille fulmineus , ●orio non laeso dissolvit in eo metallum ) often melt the heart , leaving the skin unschorch'd ? doe they not with their motion , like the sun , cause spring and fall in this little world man ? doe they not , when in a bad aspect , make their catoblepick rays instruments of murder ? doe they not in their exaltations , like some prodigious comet , threaten strong insurrections , amorous phrensies , philogynies , mutuall embraces , extasies , cardialgies , syncopens , symptomaticall sweats , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and the like ▪ what diogenes ? what socrates ? what {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} can resist those {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , when like {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , they appeare in their zenith ? marke how , like straws , every heart leaps to their amber influence ! how ▪ with the north star , they make every mans verticall needle dance after their magneticall influence . in this superiour region likewise , the head , have we not that ignem fatuam , opinion , which leads so many men a wooll-gathering ▪ in the dark night of philautia : untill being over fool'd and mislead by that false light , confidence , they tumble at last into a {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ditch ? have we not here those erratick spirits ▪ hobgoblins , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which fright so many out of their wits ? are not here those platonicall genii , good and bad , which governe every mans affairs , giving him either a gratefull applause in his publike actions , or a neglected scorne in all his proceedings ? to the inferiour regions of the elementary world , the vitall , and parts are serviceable to nutrition , are ( by the hermeticks ) analogiz'd . for as in the entrals of the earth ( partly the exhaling vertue of the suns rays , partly by astrall influences , as also by a proper and inbread heat of the earth ) many variable species of exhalations and vapours are excited which are the essence of so many mixt and imperfect bodies there generated , such as are those diversities of sulphurs , minerall salts , bitumens , mercuriall humidities , &c. so likewise in this terrene globe man , we find no lesse variety generated : here being saccharine salts ▪ nutritive . nitrous , amare , and acute salts , purgative , and abstersive . salts marine , which are balsamicall , and conservative . aluminous and pontick , which are stegnoticall , stypticall , and corroborating the retentive faculties . and lastly acide , vitriolate and esurine salts , which concoct , distribute , and excite apetite . there is likewise found in this microcosme as many species of bitumens , napthae , resinarum , pinguedinarum , lachrymarum , gummi , and such like sorts of sulphurs , as there are of the forementioned salts : and those likewise produce effects answerable unto their qualities . for there is one sort of sulphur which is odoriferous and fragrant ; recreating and renovative . an other faetide , narcoticall , and stupefactive . a third hypnoticall , papaverine , and somniferous . a fourth anodinous . a fifth septicall , arsenicall , and pestiferous . and the sixt cardiacall , vitall , and salutiferous . here to illuminate these two worlds analogies , with more eminent demonstrations : the veins and arteries , are they not so many rivers , dispers'd through the whole continent , lending in their motion , to every part their proper aliment and desir'd moisture ? and doe they not likewise imboak and evacuate their superabounding humidities into the ocean of the bladder ? which bladder ocean hath it not his flux and reflux , observing his tydes for high and low water ? and doe you not see his channels often so obstructed with the sands and gravell of this sea ▪ that the water is denied his naturall passage ? is not this sea-water , salt and brakish ? whose virtus lapidescens , doth it not hourely produce innumerable species of stones and lapidary vegetables whose forms and colours are no lesse variable than their number● some being red and coralline . others lesse compact whose rare and spungy bodies emulate the pumice ; others againe so vast , solid ragged , and mis-shappen that they appeare so many rocks threatning wrack to mans weak back . to give yet a greater light to these our analogicall instances , 't is requisite that i run over my first draught with more lively and per●picuous shadows lest that some of my guests to ease their doubts ▪ should consult with some dogmatist , and he abuse truth , by the strength of his methodicall ignorance . the chief point therefore which will oppose your common sense ( at having long since stagger'd galenicall philosophy and made them almost reele out of their method ) is those sulphurs , bitumens , vitriolated salts , mercuriall liquors , muscilaginous tartars , and such like , which hermeticks so rationally demonstrate to be generated in our microcosme . here you must expect but a leane satisfaction , if you take counsell of a galenist . for they will allow man to be {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , an epitomy of the greater world : but the symbolizations which must adde perfection to the analogy they invidiously renege . aske them why ? and they answer , that they are dissonant to galen's principles : and that they never found more in man than the four humors blood , choler , phlegma , and melancholia . this is just an answer given in method . good methodist , why doe you not aswell blot out cassia , tamarindi , mechiocan , gutta gamandra zalappa , and many other neotericall and exotick catharticks , forth from your moderne dispensatories , since your two great masters , hipocrates and galen never knew any of them ? obstinacy joynd with ignorance makes your errours impardonable . lay aside but a while those immense volumes and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} on hippocrates , galen , avicen , rhasi ; averrhoes , aetius , &c. cast away your nauseous potions , infusions , decocts , apozemes , and such like antistomatica : then put on an aperne and enter into our spagiricall kitchin : blush not to be ignorant , but let your patience view our fermentations , putrifactions , distillations , rectifications , cohobations , circulations , calcinations , sublimations , reverberations , solutions , precipitations , coagulations , filtrations , and such like enucleating preparations : there you shall see nature out of her smock , and in that nakednesse , her secrets so far laid open , that you will admire her modesty blusheth not . there shall you see the soule of every vegetable separated from its terrestriety . you shall see opium open it self against you all , and declare his innocency of that excessive coldnesse , which you falsely attach him withall : protesting he was never yet guilty of any cold distemper , but alwaies sleeping in the fulginious cradle of a hot narcotick sulphur . their you shall find that {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} have their prerogatives from a nitious and cathartick salt . that medicamenta adstringentia and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} receive their qualities from a stegnotick , pontick , and aluminous salt . that {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} operate by vertue of their tartareous and vitriolated salts . that dolorem sedantia , are such by reason of their anodynous and paregoricall s●lphurs with which they abound . that {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , doe renovate and reunite s●lutionem unitatis , from the benignity of their balsamicall sulphurs and sarcotick mumm●'s . and l●stl● that {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ▪ doe but execute the tyranny of their septick and arsenicall salts . here you shall quickly learne to correct your father galen's errour , where speaking de sopore , apoplexia , and epilepsia , he a little too confidently saith , horum trium morborum , frigiditas , ac crassus aut omnino viscidus humor causa est . which positive assertion ▪ he makes more erroneous by an apoplecticall instance , where he opposeth both moderne experience , and violates all peripateticall philosophy labouring to prove all apoplexies to be generated ex crasso & viscido humore . quod cito generentur , & solvantur . quod cito generetur , that argueth rather the cause to be ex vaporibus & exhalationibus spirituosis : humor enim crassus non potest non aliquo temporis intervallo in cerebro a●gregari . then , that apoplexia nunquam confestim solvitur , sed aegerrime potius , i subscribe to the experience of any apothecary's boy . no : when you have learnd perfectly to anatomize and enucleare the humors in our microcosme , then you will tell galen that ejusmodi vapores aut halitus , qui vertiginem inducunt , ex resinosis , tartareis , aut sulphureis , in ventriculo , aliove viscere contentis : vel ex unctuosiore magis sulphurea sanguinis substantia ▪ promanare : quae secum tincturam , aliquando , nigrae fuliginis , admodum ad tingendum & denigrandum efficacem , convehunt , citra tamen acrimoniam ullam ; unde scotomia oritur . that paralysis , and apoplexia , doe not proceed ex simplici frigiditate & crassitic , sed ex acerbitate , stipticitate , & acetositate spiritus vitrioli , sulphuris , vel salis in cerebro conglaciato . and from the constriction and coarctation of those acide and vitriolated spirits , ariseth those monentary and precipitate apoplecticall paroxysms . and when that vitriolated ice , either by force of nature , or help of art , dissolveth , and fals by the spondyls into the spinall marrow ( nervorum propago ) there , by its acidity , stipticity , mordacity , and acrimony , vellicating , stupifying and consopiating those tender-feeling parts , are procreated those paralyticall symptoms , ( stupores & indormitiones membrorum ) as infallible {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} to a future palsey . and lastly you shall find that epilepticall paroxysms are not produc'd ex humore simpliciter frigido & crasso , qualis creditur esse pituita . for by this argument all hydrocephali , and by consequence all children , whose brains swim in the deluge of phlegmaticall humidities , should inherit this disease as hereditary . 't is true , that children are most proclive to this evill ( whence avicenna calls it morbum puerilem ) yet not all ; though none are free from that superfluity of pituitous excrements . but 't is when the mother or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} have ill dispos'd milk ; or when the infant is infirme and cannot digest the milk received , where it corrupts and sowres in the ventricle ; which corruption degenerats into an eruginous , virid , and vitriolated virulency ( ut ex eorum rejectionibus ac vomitibus hujusce coloris videre est ) whence are rendred those fearfull accidents of that more horrid malady . and this hipocrates makes more authentick , where his oracle prognosticats your galenicall errour in this aphorisme . comitiales melancholici facile fiant & melancholici comitiales . though i presume he never suspected such complexions to abound with acide and vitriolated humors . come ! let us to worke then : and let not your lady hands make any conscience in picking the colliars purse . off with arts epidemicall delicacies , and learne first to make glasse malleable with the fat of your mothers entrals . and then our freshmans first operation ( the sublimation of wine ) shall be my instance , to prove that the veins of mans little earth doe flow with minerals and semiminerals , no lesse than those of the greater worlds earth . whilst our coals are kindling therefore let us sit down , and rub up our sophistry a little , that the world may see , per artem spagiricam , we can rectifie errours , by the circulation of reason , and the cohobation of experience . reason therefore thus disputes . si magna est ejusmodi vitriolarum , mercurialium , sulphuriarum , salium copia in multis vegetabilibus quibus nutrimur , & ex quibus elaboratur sanguis : sequitur ut similibus inquinatur sanguis . sed in vino , cerevisia , pomatio , pyratio , &c. ejusmodi sulphura & salia reperiuntur . ergo . your tutor galen i know hath taught you to say nego minorem . your own experience too perchance ( in the sublimation of so many qua●t pots ) can confute me who in none of those l●quors could ever see or tast any such imaginary salts . yet me thinks i over-heare a secret confession acknowledge that in many wines which have past a triall of fire , you have often found store of saccharine salts sweet sir be not then so glucupricontically obstinate : but let 's to work , and make the alembick our moderator . i will give you an instance in a cup of claret , to excite alacrity in our operations , and to extract your errours out of your own element . in this distillation your dullest sense shall feele the truth of our argument and you shall see in this enucleation of wine both vitriolated , nitrosulphureous , and tartareous salts ; which demonstrated , consequence shall force your beliefe to acknowledge the same in our blood . by the way i desire you to be patient and stir not , lest we break glasses : for this operation is very phlegmatick ; and your choler may alter our degree of heat , and so produce an empyreuma in our aquavitae . stand quietly therefore with expectation ( like a spaniard at the siege of a piazz● ) and presently your errour shall evaporate , and both our opinions shall dance together in a limbeck . marke therefore how true an analogy there is between wine and mans bloud and then tell me whether hermeticks nurse any opinions but what are legitimate to reason . from wine , therefore , we first sublimate the aquavitae , by a temperat heat in balneo . from bloud , by the same soft naturall heat of the heart , is separated the aquavitae also , spiritus vitalis . againe from aquavitae , by rectification and circulation , we extract the spirits of wine , a part more aethereall and essentiall than aquavitae , a drop whereof let fall , ●stius in auram evanescat , quam in terram delabatur . so from the aquavitae or vitall spirits of the bloud , by rectification and circulation in the naturall balneo maris of the brain are produc'd the animall spirits , the which likewise in subtility and purenesse doe infinitely excell the vitall . in these preparations , remaine great quantity of unprofitable phlegme . and is not the same in bloud ? after the separation of the spirits and phlegma from wine , there remains store of dregs which abound with sulphur , niter , and tartar . the like shall you discover in the distillation of bloud , where choler doth aptly symbolize with those faeces , that being nitrosulphureous . of the dregs of wine is made vinegar , whose pontick and acide taste doth wholy resemble naturall melancholy , which subsides in the bloud , and from whence nature supplys the kitchin of her stomack with vinegar , her cook using no other sawce to excite appetite . in the distillation of vinegar likewise their remains a tartareous sediment , so sharp , black , and acrimonious , ( the major part being a vitriolated salt ) that dissolve the least quantity of it in a competent part of water , and it instantly inquinats the whole masse , making it acide like vinegar . and this is likewise seen in the bloud ; for those black dregs of vinegar , correspond unto black choler or melancholy adust as you falsely call it : for it is not such , from any adustion , as you dreame ; but from the separation of the mercuriall , from their sulphureous parts ; by whose permixtion , before it was made temperate , those corrosive salts being as it were lull'd asleep in mercuriall humidityes : which is evidently seen in culinary vinegar , whose mercuriall phlegma not separated is edible and usefull : but those humidityes by ebullition once evaporated , his salts like drowned flyes sensible of heat , begin to actuate , as your tongue may taste and testifie . 't is evident therefore , adustion cannot produce such acrimonies : for give common water , or the phlegma of wine , all the ebullitions and re ebullitions you can , they shall never be brought to this acrimony which you call adustion , because they are destitute of those vitriolated and nitrosulphureous salts . what you find in this anatomy of wine , the very same is likewise in cyder , perry , and beer : and not our drinks only , but all our nourishment , be it of vegetables or animals , abounds with those sulphurs and salts . how then shall the bloud escape from their infection ? your own master tells you talem esse sanguinem , quale nutrimentum . let an ingenuous confession then coutch ●his erroneous cataract ; and so without ●ading your nose with ages glasen opticks , you may perspicuously discover the grosnesse of your methodicall errours , which envidious ignorance would never yet suffer to be brought to the copella of examination . then armed with truth , you may boldly bring hither many a ridiculous page of galens to supply the defect of charta emporetica . i will not here discover any , lest imitating the sons of noah , i detect paternall nakednesse . no! but rather with reverence i adore the divine oracle of hipocrates : acknowledg●ing galen to be our {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ! and admiring their sedulity and infinite labours in laying the first foundation of {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} his temple ; tha● future ages by their examples might dayl● adde a stone to their architecture , tha● so with time it might glory in perfe●ction . those good old men are not to be co●●temned , or neglected , because their first prin●ciples have past the alembick of so ma● brains , that now all excrementitious hypo●stasis is separated , and they truely rectifie● but as hipocrates answers for all , sa●●ing , medicinam non ●am assecutam esse pe●●fectionem , cui nihil addi possit : sed in qua semper , vel aliquid modo reprenhendi , modo corrigi , modo addisci queat . so to his ingenuous confession , i adjoyn this absolution . facilius est inventis addere , quam ea primum excogitare . here me thinks i see som vitriolated stomacks , look sharply one upon another , and with a whispering murmur invite a departure , saying that neither the feasts of apicius , vitellius , or heliogabalus , were thus long in preparation . have patience sirs , and know that i have invited a world : whom i purpose to entertain with a banquet , not to satiate as those of vitellius and heliogabalus , who ex sacrorum ●iscium jecinoribus , muraenarum lacte , phasianorum ac pavonum cerebellis , phaenicopterorum , pavonum & lusciniarum linguis , atque●d genus inauditis ac inusitatis , maximorumque sumptuum eduliis parata atque confecta , illorum mensae replebantur . no! to those feasts i recommend cleonenes , lacydes , q. ennius , dionysius minor , mycerinus , timocreon , rhodius , bonosus , val. aurelianus imp. mutonius , philoxenes , meanthus , and the like gluttonous idolaters of ●●at loathsome goddess intemperance . here you must enter i●to the athenian and lacedemonian schools of temperance , where zeno , aristippus , socrates , epaminondas , cato , cicero , and such like sober guest , shall perswade you to a temperate diet. yet will i not confine you to the strict laws of solon and licurgus , and so present you only with galenicall sallads . no , your temperance shall heer consist in delicacyes : we will be prodigall , yet sparing : your stomacks shall be italionated with puoco●e buona ▪ little dishes but great nourishers : famish the eye ▪ but satisfie nature . for here every dish shall be so spagirically drest , and essentially ordered , that every man shall depart hungry , yet fully satisfied . my cooks do not like galens set all boiling as soon as the pot is over the fire ; so we might operam & oleum perdere , all our fat might be quickly in the fire . no , as our physick , so are our fires , na●turall and temperate , the which must be served with time and phlegme . i here therefo●e follow the old custom o●england : when guests are invited and the cook somewhat tedious , the symposiastes o● patron of the feast , with merry tales an● winning discourse labours to beguile time , an● ease the expectation of his hungry guest . as neer as i could therefore i have given you exercise before meat , proper for the aliment provided for you in my banquet : and between every course i shall interlard your lean dishes with wholesome though ridicuculous mirth . and my chiefest care shall be not to present any dish that shall either be nauseous or unsavory : but all such as may answer the delicacy of your most delicate palates . my anthropogeographicall mapp , dividing our microcosme into four parts , i allow every part his preservative , and from thence make foure courses . the first course is stomaticall , the second cephalicall , the third hepaticall , and the last cardiacall . now then as soon as you please , wash and fall to : and to imitate mine host , be merry , for you are wel-come gentlemen . the first course stomaticall . the reason why i begin with the stomaticall part of the microcosme , is , because we are at a feast . and indeed such a feast where every one shall find appetite in his dish . this part being likewise our cooks judgement hall ( where pallatus sitteth aloft as judge , and appetitus his baylieff under him , summoning every dish to his triall ) 't is requisite that we here first make our examination before we fall to execution . besides as it is the microcosmes kitchin , it must of necessity be first supply'd , since the whole world is nourisht by his alms. the stomack also is the physitians best almanack by which he prognosticats what weather is likely to insue , and what alterations are to be expected from the middle region of the microcosme . 't is necessary therefore that we first look into that : for when we have discover'd his indispositions and distempers , we shall the better learn how to preserve the whole microcosme . every one therefore which is carefull of his best treasure , health , must first reflect upon this part , as the little worlds nurse , which duly sendeth her milk by the meseraicks , unto every part. if this our nurse therefore have by disorder , or bad diet , her milk or chylus inquinated , how can the other parts her children expect health from such corruptible nourishment ? primae enim concoctionis error , in secundo non corrigitur . such as the devil is , such is his broth : and from sowre cream we must not expect sweet butter . that my guests therefore may not sit picking their teeth for want of apetite , i will here give you a catalogue of those principles wch nature presented unto that great monarck of the microcosme ( when she first establisht him in his dominions ) to the end he might injoy a peaceable and quiet reign . and as neer as i can i will deliver them verbally as i found them ( in my travells through the stomaticall territories ) ingrav'd in every portal of the prime governers , and prophylacticks of those parts . and they are these , 1. never oppress the stomack with such satiety , that it may produce either nauseam , or crudityes . 2. oblige not the stomack to any determinate hours of eating or drinking : for your worldly affairs will often give a diversion to those puntilii , misplacing the gnomon of your appetites horologe either more backward , or more forward . 3. but if possible , famem cibus , sitim potus expectet . when hunger begs ▪ be charitable and feed her . and if thirst put a dry jest upon you , answer her as inns of court gentlemen do schollers , and drink to her . 4. nitrosulphureous stomacks , let their drink exceed their meat : as of mercuriall and tartareous , the contrary . let all overmoist , unctuous ▪ and viscous aliments , which by relaxation debilitate , be reserv'd for watermen as a nourishment suitable to their exercise . 5. do not challenge nature to the duell of hard digestions : lest finding you raw spirited ▪ and no g●eat stomake to the quarrell , she , unable to digest such affronts , make you confess your own weakness , and so leave you . 6. all flatulent meats you shall recommend to marriners and ship-boyes , whose windy re●uctancies may help in a calm to fill the main sheet . from my banquet likewise i banish all such meats , as guest too turbulent and rebellious : since we here desire mirth and not blows . 7. let not judge pallatus be corrupted with rich presents of fish or fruits ; and advertise your baylieff appetitus , not to be brib'd by the delicacy of their tasts , and bid the great porter your mouth that he stand not gaping on the dishes whilst the fish leap in : for believe me this may ruin the whole republick . 8. if any one have a sweet-tooth , let him lick it with a sowre tongue : for , meats exactly sweet , must alwayes be allayed with some acide corrective , and made dolce picanti , otherwise they are not edible . 9. let the body have his exercise , before the stomack his collation : and let nature evacuate her superfluities before either . 10. at table , be sure that your teeth labour like so many gally slaves , keeping true stroke with the hand . for mastication is of many esteem'd the first concoction : and none will deny but that 't is natural-heats best agent ; for meats well masticated , are half digested . 11. of drinks , claret ( whose ruby tincture , emulating the blush of aurora , allures more souls to the courts of bacchus , than he hath stools to entertain them ) is the stomacks best favorite . 12. be not fearfull at any time of a second deluge , and so make your stomack noahs ark ▪ tumbling in at one past promiscuously all sorts of creatures , as beefe , mutton , lamb , pigs , capons , chicken , pheasants , larks , &c. why the confusion of babel was not greater . do but imagine what a horrid incounter this is to weak nature , when she finds a chaos of imperfect bodyes brought into her operatory , there to be digested , united , made homogeniall , and assimulated into a perfect body . why hoc contra naturam opus est ! nature must prepare new vessels for this operation ; for she fears the old will crack and the fire go out . me thinks i see her so puzzled in this work , that faint sweats water her temples ; and her lungs , with overblowing to preserve so weak a heat under her overcharg'd alembick , begin to double their motion : she grows dull and febrish ▪ so that at last , with a drowsie lassitude , her lamps being almost out , not able to hold up any longer , le ts fall her tongs , commits all to fortune , and sleeps . believe me in these disorders you scrue nature to the zenith of ●er patience . and who ever makes his teeth guilty of such massakers , violates her laws so far ▪ that at last she will give him over as an arch heretique . when occasion therefore shall tempt you with such varieties , let them serve only as a perspective to the opticks : let your eyes feed on all ; but let appetite satisfie it self with some one dish most sympaticall to your stomack and obedient to digestion . for in one dish fear it not , but you shall meet variety enough to keep all natures cooks in exercise . yet if any one have a caprizzious palate , that will daunce after his own pipe and contemnes the regular musick of dieteticall method , yet at least let him keep some homogenity in his choise , nam dissimilia quae sunt seditionem movent : and withall let him be sure to take temperantia for his maid marrian to make up the dance . this lady intemperantia is prologue to all maladies ; who with the sweet oratory of her bewitching delicacies , winns our audience to an insuing tragedy . she is like adams apple , pleasant , and though the devil were cook down it must . she labours to make every man sell natures portion for a mess of pottage . health , as our good genius , is vigilant in our preservation ; but she negligent of her graces , hath invented that loathsome rack of gluttony to martyr us . 't is now a vice too generall : and no man but is ambitious to hear his table groan under the burden of plenty . but stay ! i have almost leapt out of a limbeck into a pulpit . pardon me sirs : for if i preach , 't is not for a benefice : a fat goose will content me . neither do i rail at intemperance to make you partiall to my dishes : no , fall to on gods name , and spare nothing that either palate or appetite shall point at . for here you have licence to embrace variety , it being all homogeniall . eat therefore and wel-come ; remembring that your last morsell be as a ligature whose stegnotick ▪ and styptick vertue may incatenate naturall heat within the purse of the stomack , by an exact closure of his upper orifice . for which effect , i recommend a box of marmalade to your use . or this , ℞ . conser. rosar . diacydon . an. ℥ j. ss. sem. coriand . prae . ʒj . salis perlar . salis corallor . an. ℈ j. spir. rosar . gut . vj . fiat electuar . s.a. ℞ . rob de ribes . ℥ j. sal. coral . prae . ℈ j. essentiar . masticis . cinamomi an. g. iij . cum syr. corallor . q.s. misce . or which excells all , after meals you may eate a piece of our spagir●call sugar of roses ( for the preparation thereof i recommend you to our spagiricall kitchin ) whose corroborating vertue , ( which is no less cephalicall and cardiacall , as stomaticall ) i will deferr to the encomium of your future experience . the vulgar may in these necessities content themselves with a roasted pear or a medlar : it were a sin to cast pearls amongst swine . least my banquet should seem a vision or dream , out of which you remain little satisfied , i have here dish'd out in catalogues , aswell what is gratefull as offensive to the stomake : that every man may the better avoid the abortive meats of ignorance . i desire you therefore to put them up in your hankerchers in place of comfits , and carry them home to your children . things corroborating and acceptable to a weak stomack distempred by heate . marmalade . cons. of red ros. currans . cichory rootes condit . corall . medlars . strawberryes . sorrell . pomegranates . pears bak'd , or roasted . melons . mulberryes . ribes . barberryes . sowre cherryes . orenges . lemons . compounds . elect. de sorbis . elect. de bac . myrt . diarrhod . ab. diatrion . santal . and all such things whose acide and stiptick tasts are united by a temperate mixture . things corroborating and acceptable to a weak stomack distempered by access of cold and moisture . cal. arom . mastick mints . sage capers sampire worm-wood . fennell . cinamomum . rad. cyper . nepita . rosemary iunip . ber. caroway . anise . fennell-seed . wood of aloes . galingall . zedoaria , thymus . calamint . cubeb● . synap . zinzib . nuc. mosc . maceres . garyoph . piper . cardamom . satureia . serpillum . composita . aromat. rosat. . dianisum . diacyminum . diazinzib . elect. de citr . rosat . nou . diagalanga . diaxylaloes . diacynamom . diatrionpip . elec. ex bac . lau . diaspoliticum . the stomack hath many particular enemies , whom he abhorrs with that detested nauseo , that when he finds them in his kitchin , he is never well till he hath frighted them out with hot water . and those are galenicall potions . raw onions . radishes . old nuts . rochetts . garlick . cucumbers . fat meats . all cold things . green soure fruits brains . much use of oil. pompions . blites . orage . cole-worts . hellebor . lap. lazul . aloes unwash'd . scamon . ill praep. salt fish . butter . cream . legumin . non excort . but stay ! me thinks there is a crust of galens brown bread leapt into your broth gentlemen ! pray let it lie since 't is in ; for it must ( like an artificiall velvet mole in fair faces ) give our bread the greater lustre good galen ! was there never a searce maker in your dayes ▪ to teach you how to seperate the unprofitable bran from the flower , but you must needs choke your patients with brown bread-cawdles . what pollicy drew you into the method of making remedies more maligne then the disease . but alas good old man , he is no whit culpable since nihil perfectionem in principio gaudet . he left the embryo of his labours for future ages to perfect and preserve from abortment . he gave us the first , and true design of health , and left us the scizza . hermeticks they have wrought it to life , adorning it with the naturall colours , tinctures , and spirits themselves : so that their industry hath made them so excellent in this art of painting , that had they but such a coppy of the soul , i think they would ease nature , and make her creatures for her . i would gladly understand then why our neotericall dogmatists do not endeavour to perfect this designe of their masters : or at least why they will not take a coal in hand , and adde a shadow to the perfection of his scizza . no , by no means their hands shall not be guilty of our venemous mineralls . they dare not enter into the hell of our laboratory for fear the spirits fly about their fars . they say we preach new doctrine , and labour to silence us ; mineralls they all disclaim as venemous yet all their principal antidotes are infected with them . who doubts of this let him examine merepsus his book de antidotis ( where he hath selected the choisest and most authentick compositions of all the select band of galenists ) there you shall finde more than a hundred antidotes whose basis and principal ingredients are either mineralls or semi mineralls , and those crude and unprepar'd . there in antidoto persicae pauli , you shall see both crude sulphur , and five dragmes of unpraepar'd arsenick , which i suppose he intended for an {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . in antidoto . cap. 303. musae apollionio adscripta the same arsenick is imbrac'd as a principal ingredient . dioscorides likewise , doth he not prescribe a dragme of raw vitrioll mixt with hony as a prime secret against those ascarides , and for such whose wanton palate hath opprest nature with venimous fungi ? in that divine panacea , that so admir'd chaos of druggs , theriaca , is not calcitis an ingredient ? in mirepsus his mithridate is not calcin'd lead cald in as one of the jury ? are not lapis lazulus and lap. armenus , two of your familiar spirits against melancholy . again they say mineralls are too violent in their operations . let them look well into their vegetables , and then tell me if tithimalus , thapsia , helleb . alb. & nig . pityusa , elatorium , colocynthis , turpetum , bryonia , scammonium , thymelaea , chamelaea , cyclaminus , &c. do not emulate the violence of the most tyrannicall minerall , torturing every nerve on the rack of convulsions . here i lose my self in admiration to see so many famous physitians of our times lie puzzling in the dust of ignorance ; where losing their eyes they lye groaping in the dunghil of their drugs , whilst the hermeticks pick out the pearls . they see that every mans stomack riseth against their physick ; and yet they will still persecute poor nature , ●oftner frighting then curing diseases . go to a methodist , tell him your stomack is debillitated by a cold distemper , and he will presently prescribe you the decoction of anise , rew , and parsely seed , with diatrion-piperion , diacalamint . theriaca and the like . if your weakness proceed from heat and cholerick humors , he bids you purge with hiera picra ( galenae stomaticall panacaea ) and to drink endive and succory waters , mixt with vinegar . why this is pure judaical physick imitating the cure they used to our saviour , when he suffered thirst on the cross . me thinks as the old law is , so their physick likewise should be abrogated . be not dismaid at these relations good guest ! for here he promiseth your entertainment shall be more christian like . and when your microcosme shall discover any such distempers , retire to our spagiricall kitchin , over whose door you shall find written , sapores palato ingrati procul absint . there you shall not be allur'd to give christian buryall to a jewish potion , by perswasive apologies : but believe me , the sweetnesse of your cure , shall bring a plesant recompence to the bitterness of your malady . whosoever therefore is subject to any debilitation of the stomack : proceeding from a mixt distemper of humors , be they tartarius , vitriolate , nitrosulphureous or mercuriall : let him before he tast of our preservatives , first secure the stomack from all such false usurpers , by taking one , two , or three grains of our hermeticall panchymagogon . for ladyes and such delicate tempers , one graine renders a compleat operation . you may mix it with any dissolvent your stomack most approves of ; as wine , bear , broth , posset-drink , or any liquidity . or you may lend it the form of a pill by addition of some conserve , marmalade , quidiny geladine or the like . 't is not guilty either of tast or smell , neither doth it seek by violence to put any man out of his humor . no , you shall find it as good a fellow as may be ; and one that will dance after the caprizzio of every ones humor . for if they be cholerick , and will at the first dash con la furia francese , give a scalado by the upper orifice ; he straight consents , helps , and follows . or if they abound with spanish phlegma , and desire rather to entrench themselves first , and so make a long seidge ; why , he plays the pyoner , there too , and flings out as fast as the stoutest . believe me the operation hereof is miraculous , and the little experience which i have made would consume volumes in the description ; but as from my purpose i defer it to some better occasion . here i labour only to preserve , not to cure . if nature therefore suspect any summer assault , by acute and malignant fevers , tertians , plurisies , or the like ; this taken in the spring breaks their designes . if she fear any autumnall skirmish or winter seidge , by some cronicall disease do but scowre the enemies trenches with this artillery and ( under god ) i dare promise her peace . the preparation of this panchymagogon is thus . you must first rob our hermetticall curier when he rides post to caelum christallinum , and take from him two ounces of his false diamonds . then open a vein in your mothers belly , and from her coagulated bloud you shall pick out ℥ ij . of the bones of the 7. planets great grandmother these you shall charm into butter , and then season it for your winter service . but if any of you fear a vomit by reason of a streight chest , i recommend him to our tetrapharmacon panchymagogon , whose operation is exprest in an easie and low stile , never ambitiously reaching at those high streins . having thus scowr'd your ditches , and cast up your parapetts , that your fort may be strong for battery , now you must begin to fortifie your walls , and look to your out-works ; renue your weak flanks , and let nature , your inginier , search where and what part is most subject to the mine and there prepare her counter-mines : for by strengthing and preserving this piazza , you need not fear the whole world . if therefore the winter of your complexion produce a weakness to the stomack , by the ice of his violent and cold distemper you shall disgeal it with this insuing elixir , which is the stomacks proper balsamum . ℞ . cinamomi . zedoariae . cardamom . maceris an. ℥ j. garyophyl . nuc. mosch. cubeb . an. ℥ j. ss. galanoae . ʒiij . piper . long . ʒvj . garyoph . hortens . ros. rub. flor. buglos . flor. menthae rom. an. m. j. folior . menth . rom. absinthii . an. m. ss. bruse them small in a mortar , and adde thereto ten ounces of the crum of white bread . put all into a glass cucurbita , and powre thereto of the best sack as much as they can drink , with two fingers depth advantage : close your glass according to art , then give it 8. dayes fermentation : which done adjoyn this emulsion . ℞ . amygd . dulc. excort . lb. ss. aqu. rosar . buglos . an. lb. ij . sacchar . albis . ℥ iij . fiat emulsio . then destill all in balneo secund. attem . the dose is two spoonfulls an hour before and after , meat . here follows an other more excellent . ℞ . spir. vini , cum spirito . sem. anisii animato . lb.j. theriacae . ℥ j. confect . alcher . ℥ ss. specier . diarrhod . ab. zinzib . maceris . cinamom . an.ʒj. cort. citri . ʒiij . the ginger , mace , cinamon and citron-peeles , being all grosly beaten , mix all together , and in balneo by a gentle heat , extract the tincture . to which you shall adde these , tinctur . succini . tinctur . corallor . an. ℈ j. tinctur . auri. essent . perlar. an. gut . xx . spir. menthar . spir. faenic . spir. melissae an. ℥ ss. spir. rosar . ℥ j. essentiae sacci . ℥ ij . tinctur . croci gut . xij . who please may proceed farther in this preparation , by separating the spirits from the first theriacall tincture ▪ in balneo vaporoso , which spirits being sublimated , he shall find at the bottom of his cucu●bita an extract or coagulated tincture , admirable in corroborating the principle parts , specially the heart and stomack and far surpassing the common theriaca against all pestilential and infectious aer . then to those spirits thus separated from their tinctures you may adde the other forementioned tinctures . and who ever can attain to this , believe me he enjoyes a treasure worthy of a princes cabinet : whose vertues are so infinite ▪ that they would lose themselves in expression . it asswageth all inward dolours of the stomack , heart , liver , bowels , &c. and that on an instant . 't is a panacaea , in all pestilentiall fevers , both prophylactick and therapeutick . it corroborates all the vitall parts , and renovates the oyl of ages decaying lamp . to conclude , it recalls a departing soul by rendring the annuall tribute which weak natures exhausted treasury could no longer disburse . hippocras and artificiall aromaticall wines are much in use with us in england : & not without cause , since they have a peculiar efficacy in repairing cold , weak , and decaying stomacks . that those therefore which honour my feast , may at all hours , and on any occasion , prepare a quart of hippocras for their friends in an instant : i will favour them with this insuing hippocraticall extract . ℞ . cinamom . ℥ ij . vel iij . garyophyl . ℥ ss. zinzib . macropip . cardamom . gran. parad. galaneae an. ʒij . nuc. mosch. ʒj.ss . being all grosly powdred , put them into a glass violl , and powre thereon of the spir. of wine to the eminence of 4. fingers , stop your glass close , and set it in balneo , or in summer in the sun , for the space of three or four dayes , untill the spirits have rob'd the aromaticks of their tinctures : this done , separate it from the faeces , and reserve it for your use . when any of you therefore desire a cup of hippocras , mix but ʒ . ss. of this tincture with a pint or more of sack , adding what quantity of sugar you please , or which is better the essence of sugar , and your desire is answered : a glass of which with a toast , before meat , gives no small check to a cold distemper . here likewise i present a tast of spagiricall cla●et to your weak stomacks , by the often use of which , neither crudities or ventosities shall impaire your digestion . ℞ . cinamom . ℥ ij . maceris . ℥ ss. dactyllor . num . 20. myccbal . num . 4. uvar. passul . ℥ v. vel . 6. sem. anisi . coriand . prae . an. ℥ j. faenicul . ℥ ss. with the spirits of wine and canary sack of each lb iij . being mixt set them in some cool cellar to ferment the space of four or five dayes . of this you may take one or two spoonfulls in a morning . if i mistake not i heard some of you call for a glass of wormwood wine . i have none ready prepared : but here is a little violl of the spirits of wormwood with which who please to make a triall and put ●ut some few drops in a glass of ordinary white wine , he shall find his desire satisfied with a cup of exquisite wormwood wine , far more effectuall then any galenicall macerati●n or infusion , and that your defect may be supplied when this small quantity shall be exhausted , i ●ere lend you the receit , whereby you may ●ereafter furnish your self , and pleasure a friend . ℞ . summitat . absint . q.s. affunde aq . com . s.q. stent in digestione per dies aliquot : potest & quid ad fermentandum adjici . destilletur per vesicam : exibit . aquam , oleum quippiam continens . oleum per seperatorium separetur . aqua tota cucurbitae vitreae indatur atque in balneo semel atque iterum rectificetur , & saltem pars spirituosior absirahatur , quae odorem & saporem absinthit retinet . this hath a singlar vertue in corrobora●ing both stomack and liver , it resists putri●action , and deopilates obstructions , and is a ●pecifical preservative against all stomattical ●nd intestinall vermine . spirit of mints is ●ikewise an excellent and peculiar prophylactick of a weak and cold stomack , some few drops thereof put into a cup of sac● with a toast , adjoyning a drop of the essence of cinamon , and taken an hour before meat . to think to please every mans palate may well inlarge the list of impossibilities : yet despair shall not interrupt my carving : and where one dish likes not , variety shall presently bring in another . so that at length ●● presume the major part shall satisfie the variability of fancy , and give appetite a delight , in the stomacks preservation . who then please may tast of this spagiricall stomaticall syrupe , which in delicacy and vertue excelleth all your ordinary cinamon-waters . ℞ . cinam . gros . mod . pulv . ℥ iiij . vini hispam● . lb. ij . let them infuse in balneo three dayes : then separate the tincture from his faeces and adding thereto lb● . ss. of pure white sugar , put all into a glass cucurbita and with a boiling balneo distill it untill it remain at the bottom in consistence of a syrup . so in one operation you injoy both a syrup and an excellent cinamon water both of which for corroborating a weak stomack and expelling melancholy from a pensive heart , may take possessi●n among your secrets . but to make it more perfect , in place of sack you shall use spir. of wine . in the same manner you shall make syrup of nutmegs , the which is a little more spe●ificall for the stomack . for windiness of the stomack and bowels you may compose the like waters and syrups of annise and caraway seeds . but there are many whose natures so antipathize with wine , that both smell and tast ●hereof is offensive to them . such persons may make the above said syrups as followeth , ℞ . cinam . pulveriz . ℥ iij . vel . iiij . aqu . commun. . q.s. set them in some cold place the space of three or four dayes : then distill it . then take of that distild water , lb j. sugar lb. ss. fiat syrrup . s.a. this retains the fragant odour of cinamon : and this for the summer is more proper , to which you may adde an ounce or two of rose-water . gentlemen you are too modest ▪ because my cook ▪ to follow court fashion , sends in his dishes in duplicates ▪ every man expects that i should make the discovery . this lady-like nicety , had almost let a good dish here scape for the serving men . 't is a meat which you have already tasted of : the difference is only in the dressing , the which is rare and exquisite . take the above mentioned spirits seperated from the first cinamon syrupe : adde to it ℥ iij . or iiij . of gross beaten cinamon , then being exquisitely stop'd , set in a cold place untill the water have the perfect tincture of the cinamon : the which you shall separate , and to every ℥ x. adde ℥ iij . or 4. of sugar . then in balneo separate those spirits from the tincture , and you have the best sort of cinamon water ▪ together with an admirable syrup . if you will make one yet more excellent , 't is but adding fresh cinamon to these last rectified spirits , proceeding as before : and reiterating this operation three or four times , so that the last will render you an essence of cinamon whose vertues will repay your labour with interest . we have in our spagiricall kitchin certain stomatticall balsams , whose descriptions i must here forbear as frutta nova , and not yet for every mans table . such as are balsamum iunip . balsamum . nuc. mosc . bals . cinamom . balsam . rosmar . &c. these as they are rare and princely , so are they singular in corroborating both the stomack and the rest of the vitall parts , either intrinsicall or extrinsically applyed . and for such over-nice and delicate persons which either through coyness will not , or through weakners cannot receive any internall remedy , let them morning and evening externally annoint the stomack with this hermeticall balsam . ℞ . butyr . gelsomini . ℥ j. essent . rosmar . ℈ . ss. essent . cinamom . essent . nuc. mosc . an. ℈ .j. essent . masticis . ʒj . moschi . ambrae an. g. iiij . zibet . g. ij . cum cero virgin . decies in aq . rosar . lavat. q.s. fiat balsam . s.a. that no man may complain for want of bread to his meat , you shall tast of our spa●iricall biscuit , which i recommend to all weak and moist stomacks , especially to those who after some chronicall disease cannot digest ordinary bread . take lb. j. of the purest wheat-flower , of the best refined sugar ℥ xvj . fresh eggs numb. xij . the cream of almonds extracted with the best rosewater , ℥ iiij . essence of annise , cinamon , and nutmeggs , an. ℈ j. more or less according to the humor of your palate : spirit of roses q.s. mix them according to art ▪ and thereof make your biscuits . there are many other sorts of biscuits which every good wife knows how to prepare , as regal● biscuit , s●anish biscuit , french biscuit , lorain biscuit , italian biscuit , &c. therefore as too vulgar for our table i omit them : yet if any one desire a tast , let them call to our cook . now presuming upon the phlegme of your cold distempers , i will call in for a dish or two to refocillate our younger and more sulphureous stomacks , whose extra vagant disorders hath brought the stomack so far in choler with the microcosme , that he refuseth to supply it with his expected nourishment : this quarrell must not grow too hot : but t is necessary a speedy reconciliation be made , before the stomack grow too obstinate in his humor . in this case i know no better aparater tha● our panchymagogon : let him bring him up to the court of conscience , there he will be so qualified , that you may turn him to any conditions of peace . when you have him at this advantage , injoyn him for penance every morning to take three drops of the spirits of sulphur , or vitriol , with as many of the spirit of roses mixt with a glass of spring water , edulcorated with the essence of sugar . or this ℞ . sal. christalli . ℈ . ss. spir. vitrioli gut . iij . spir. rosar . gut . 5. essent . sacch . q.s. aq. fontan . distillat . ℥ iiij . misce . before meat half an hour or an hour let him use this , ℞ . rob. de ribes . rob. de berber . an. ℥ j. spir. 🜍 g. iij . salis perlar . ℈ .j. misce . after meals , this , ℞ . conser. corneol . diacydon . simp. . an. ℥ ij . salis coralor . ʒj . spir. salis gut . vj . spir. rosar . gut . x. misce . you which are thus distemperd , i desire you to entertain appetite with patience until the third course enter , where you may pick out variety of hepaticall dishes proper to your indisposition . in the mean time if any insolent stomack-worms quarrel for a breakfast before their master be served , you shall do wel to cut off their allowance , and then turn them out of your doors with a powder . ℞ . corn . cer. praep. coral . rub . praep. an. ℈ j. aquilae celestis ℈ . j.ss . verm . terrest . prae . cinamom . an. ℈ .j. scammon . cum 🜍 . praep. ʒj . misce . dos . ℈ .j. the furyes of appetite being laid , now your patience may dispence with a little idle table talk , to renovate the dull'd edge of your apetites , that they may be the livelier at the second encounter . the second course cephalicall . here dogmaticall discipline bids me be more compendious , and collect my method unto heads . but we are travellers , and must not be limitted : we are now landed on the coast of the cephalick peninsula , a place whose fame elevates it above all other parts of the world ; and where both tongue and eyes of all men sleep in admiration . here that great monarck of the microcosme hath his residence , who is an emperiall king , and full of divinity : his head being alwayes crown'd , as a type of his absolute and peaceable reign even to the worlds end . that his more celestiall thoughts may not be interrupted with state affairs he hath resigned the government of his microcosme , ( which he hath divided into three monarchies ) unto three of his ablest subjects , spiritus vitalis , spiritus animalis , and spiritus naturalis . to spiritus animalis , he hath given the cephalick peninsula , placing him neer unto himself , as his wisest counseller : for which consideration he hath made him likewise {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , lord secretary . to spiritus vitalis , and spiritus naturalis , he hath resigned the government of terra firma : an equall division being made , the one taking the cardiacall , the other the hepaticall parts . spiritus vitalis likewise being his lord treasurer ; and spiritus naturalis lord of the cinque-ports . other information of this king ( the soul ) i dare not enter into . de sacris in praesentia mysteriis non est loquendum . yet i will shew you a reflection of his greatness in the glass of his nobility and court , which i will here carve into descriptions which may serve you as picktooth's and table talk , untill our cook shall stop our mouths with the second course . know then that this king is retir'd into the cephalick peninsula , where his highness is lodg'd in an emperiall palace , whose fabricks are all of pure ivory . there the architect , emblematically expressing perfection ( and that the microcosme might not want his epitomy ) hath united all in a sphaericall figure . the walls of his court are invironed with a pleasant forrest : the naturall plantation of whose trees make so intricate a laborinth , that t is a delightfull pastime for the ladies of honor , every morning for exercise , to lose themselves an hour or two in the crispie twirles of those aromatick thickets . there likewise they sport themselves with young harts , which they find often so intangled , that unable to resist , they rely on the mercy of those weak females , suffering themselves to be fool'd withall , untill pitty shall send them liberty . sometimes more aged harts ( whose actaeon plumes calculate their nativity ) are secretly insnar'd , and lock'd so fast , that their relief is desperate , insomuch that they lie and pine away in the iealousie of their own weakness . the ladies of this court are so particularly delighted with the pleasant chase of the hare , that day and night the poor creatures take little rest ; hourly new engines being invented to intangle them . so that every day there falls more than all the court dogs can eat and scape choaking . as you approach this regall palace , your heart is planet-stroke by two celestial lights fixt in the frontispiece : whose magick fires captivate the souls of yong courtiers , making their noble servitude seem an imperiall liberty . those are the lights which lead men into fools paradise , where they study idolatry in a looking-glass . if you can pass the influence of those stars ; you may enter the great gate ( the mouth ) which at a word speaking is opened . this is strongly fortifyed with ivory percullises set in mosaick . here you are presently incountred by that wanton portress lingua , who cannot speak to a man without wagging of her tail , she recommends you to her lady and mistris eloquentia , who with sweet complements , and court ceremonies , invites you presently to a view of this imperiall palace : and so shews you first the out-chambers of the five lady sences : then leads you up to the lodgings of the princes phantasia , which is the prime side of the court for good fellowship . there you shall find this princess , with the nine virgin muses dancing a phantasticall brando to the melody of the lady musica . here she shews you the chambers of all the seven liberall sciences , whom phantasia hath honor'd with severall offices . geometria is her carver , arithmetica keeps her accounts . rhetorica is mistris of the ceremonies . grammatica governes the pages . astrologia serves in place of a ieaster , and tells fortunes to provoke mirth . musica , all the world knows her charge . poeta is her minion , to whom she resignes the whole government of her family . she makes hay whilst the sun shines ; and prefers all her poor kindred to severall places in the court . ovid she makes major-domo . homer because a merry greek master of the wine-cellars . aretine ( for his skill in postures ) growing old , is made pander . shack-spear , butler . ben iohnson , clark of the kitchin , fenner his turn-spit , and taylor his scullion . all these have their chamber-doors pester'd with sharking players , fidlers , ballad-singers , and such like hangers on . next , she carryes you to the middle lodg●ngs , where the viceroy of the cephalick pe●insula is lodged , next dore unto the great king animus . this viceroy atten●s wholly unto his king and master : putting over all publique affairs into the hands of the lord intellectus , his favorite , who governes all . yet spiritus animalis , having found him often corrupted by inferiour members , dares not trust him too far , but for the better security of the peninsula , he hath five fair ladyes , as secret spyes to inform him dayly how every part is govern'd . the lady visus hath her commission to have an eye on both sides , and to look to every part , specially the more noble , and to observe their humor and disposition towards intellectus , and whether they render freely their tribute . the lady auditus is commanded to lend an ear to chamber discourses of those court gossips , lingua , rhetorica , &c. who make every festivall day , a day of parliament . lady tactus is bid now and then to handle them somwhat ruffly : so to try who is most touchy , and if in their choler they be subject to rebellion , and disobedient to the laws published by intellectus . lady gustus is injoyned to be alwayes at his table as tastress ; to prevent the malice of some treacherous humor , which by casting some soporiferous mixture into his dish , he might be deposed by an apoplexy . lady olfactus she smells to every ones chollar : and like an ape suffers nothing to pass the court gate , but she must have a nose in it . here you shall see that fountain somnus ( the true helicon ) where orpheus sits and playes sweet requiems to the nine lady muses , memoria , and the five sensuall ladyes , who refresh their defatigated limms with the hypnoticall dew of this anodynous bath : and whilst they rest , the princess phantasia , who never enters that fountain , she sports her self with the jugling tricks of that artifex simulator que figurae , morpheus , his phobetur and phantasus . here if eloquentia forget not her self , she will shew you memoria , and her lodging . but now i remember my self , i have heard our cook and his hatch twice at knocks , because none will ease him of his second course . and i fear some of my more serious guest could do the like with me , who perchance expected grave apothegmes , and sententious aphorismes for their table talk . no , you both abuse your expectations , and break the rules of physick , if you gape for sentences here . ever whilst you live be merry at meat . t is to excite your mirth that i play the fool : laetitia coelum vos creavit sua ; laetitia coelum vos servabit vestra . why then be merry ! and with democritus jeere melancholy out of his humor , nam fata sinunt dum securi vivitis . and believe me , mirth is the main spring of your lives horologe : t is that maintains the clapper your tongue in motion . 't is healths chief panacaea , and absque hac una tanquam medicinarum omnium vita medicinae omnes ad vitam producendam adhibitae moriuntur . laugh and be fat therefore : and let doctor merryman alwayes make up your mess . but soft ! here comes the second course ! gentlemen pray have a care you commit no capitall crime in your table talk . for whosoever makes gravity his salt , and contemplation his sawce , gives so great an affront to intellectus , the favorite , that he may chance hang his head for it . for thus you corrupt the embassadours and agents which spiritus naturalis imployes in the stomaticall territories , by diverting them from their function , whereby their charge is rawly executed . next , you give a false alarme throughout the whole microcosme , making spiritus animalis retire his forces to the cephalick peninsu●a , when there is more necessity of their succour ●n terra firma . lastly , you rob the treasury , ●rawing from the exchequer of the heart ●ood angel-gold , pure vitall spirits , and ●nd back false , indigested metall , all mercu●iall , falsifyed by a weak externall tincture ●nly : but brought to natures test alla copella , ●nd after dissolved in her rectified spirits ▪ you ●hall scarce draw from a pound , one scruple ●f perfect aurum potabile . thus likewise you cause fearfull inundati●ns in this peninsula , making his fluxes and ●efluxes so violent , that they drown the very ●arrow and heart of the soil , bringing with ●a marine saltness , whose corrosive heat con●●mes the true balsamicall moisture , leaving ●●ose parts where it runs so impregnable that ●●thing prospers there but tussilago . nor is this all the danger ! for by eating ●●icks in the neck-land , it threatneth the ●●ole continent . here in the chamber of memoria , i found book in manuscript , full of politicall max●es and matchavilian principles , for the bet 〈…〉 government of the sephalick state . the ●●●ef whereof were these , ● . how ever the world go , be not too vi●●●ant in your affairs : le●t by over greediness of gain you lose your interest in the publique treasury , and at last abandoned by intellectus , you grow out of memory amongst your friends , and so pass for a man of small judgement . 2. be carefull that the inland inhabitants suffer not their culinary excrements to lye putrifying in their channells ▪ but dayly to evacuate them by the port esculine . for believe me , the contagious exhalations which ascend from those faetid● neglects will quickly breed the sickness in the cephalick land . 3. this peninsula being barren , and receiving all his provisions from the continent 't is necessary that you keep an eye open upon the stomaticall magazin , and see that memory forget not her self to charge all the lady sences to be vigilant in this action , and not so much as to dream of any other negotiation untill they have seen a full and perfect distribution . for if you let those ministers sleep you may be supplied with a corrupt munition sufficient to morbifie all your inhabitants . 4. here intellectus must answer the advi●● of his physitian sensus communis , with obe●dience , and moderate his hours of recreat●●on in the helicon ; lest he grow dull wit● those stupid vapours ▪ and so unapt to nego●ciate , be at last put out of his office by the princess phantasia . 5. as far as possibility permits , this peninsula must be defended from those injurious sea winds , especially from that pincerna pluviae the south , whose humid gusts , supported on the wings of noysome foggs , lend a new body to the investing aer ; increasing the violence of his fluxes , and sending a repletion even into the cranyes of that earth . 6. here is allowed , to intellectus , his particular recreations , for the preservation of his vigour and health : and those he shall borrow from the lady sences . for sometime visus shall divert his too serious and retir'd meditations , with the reviving aspect of some actuating beauty : whose presence will give such a charge to his defatigated spirits , that in a point of time , by the strong refraction of those rayes , all his forces shall be inflamed with a renovating fire . tactus , yet more audacious , shall bring him on to touch this beauty ▪ making him imbrace corporality , to adde a greater feeling to his delights . and there the intellect might die in e●●tasy , did not auditus presently by some syrene voice or orphean instrument relieve his melting soul from the abyss of plesure . and lastly gustus shall salute him with her arms full of restoring dishes , making the lady lingua invite him to a sack posset , as the most proper n●penthes for his lassitude , and of all approved for an authentick settle-brain . in this my cephalicall m●pp , you may discover the head to be the most noble part of the microcosme ! the little worlds britania ! wisdoms cabinet ! the muses parnassus ! apollo's oracle ! minerva's temple ! and which crowns all ▪ the souls imperiall terrestiall tribunall whose foundation is the body : which if once impaired his fair buildings fall ▪ and kiss their mother earth for a second admission into her bowels . who then so desperate of sence ▪ as to neglect the preservation of so principal a part ? believe me 't were madness in the abstract : and such might well pass for hair-brain'd humorists . this my second course therefore shall consist wholly of cephalicall preservatives . look from one end of my table to the other and you shall not see either gross , flatulent , unctuous , vaporous nauseous , or crude and indigestible meats , such as are , old beefe milk , fat broths , strong wines , butter , black olives , nuts , onions , cabbage , raw sallads , beans , pease , rochet , or any such cephalick enemy . no! i sent my spenditore to galens market , where he bought me these ingredients . betonica majoran . salvia hyssopus melissa rosmarin . fol. laur . satureia ruta . ocymum . cal. arom . melilotus paeonia sem. faenic . coriandri anisi rad freos caryophyllata . visc. querc . flor. tiliae . bac. iunip . acorus . pulegium . nepita . euphrasia calaminta serpillum spica lavendul . origanum . horb . paraly . lil. conval . galangae staech . arab. chamomilla anacard . nuc. mosch. succinum moschus ambra . griz . lig. aloes caryophyll . cubebae . cardamomi macis , &c. and these by an essentiall fire we have brought into quintessences , elixars , extracts tinctures , balsoms , magistralls , spirits , arcani , and the like : all which you shall find far more toothsome , & specificall to cephalicall distempers than any of these following methodicall dishes , diambra diamosc . amar . diacastor . diapaeonias . theria● . d●●tes . pleres archont . op●yra conf. anacard . hygija graec. diaolibar . aurea alex. mithridat . dianthos theriaca , &c. no , i presume all sorts of delicate and nice tempers will rather honour our hermeticall feast : especially those curious females whose very stomacks are complementall , in so much that they will not take a grain of physick , under a pound of ceremonies . nor can i blame them ! for whose disease hath once invited them to galens table , they shall find that the nauseous variety of syrups , potions , boles pills ▪ apozemes , emulsions , powders , electuaries , lozenges , eclygmes , with a world of such like kitchin-stuff , shall give his stomack so compleat a surfit , that at a second invitation , they will rather ( dispensing with good manners ) appeal thrice to the judgment of the nose , before they will once ask the opinion of the palate . this if any man deny , i refer him to the infallible experience of his next malady ; o● to the volums of hippoc. galen , avi●en ▪ rhasis , aretaeus , aetius , &c. whose practise our methodists now wholly imitate . read those , and you shall find most bitter examples of all that i have mentioned . and whose belief in this point , cannot be overcome but by instances ▪ let them tast a little of this so much admired antipilepticall antidote of aetius , ℞ . castorei . helleb . nig . scāmon . anʒij . opopanac . cumini thebaic . centaurii , nitri , sulphuris vivi , abrotani , ammoniaci , thymiamatis sem. rutae sylvest . absynt. an.ʒj. contusa & cribrata , excipe aqua & efforma pillulas fabae aegyptiae magnitudine , & unam quotidie praebe , cum aceti mulsi cyathis quatuor . oh sweet antidote ! me thinks i see the disease flying from it in the very preparation . gentlemen , one such a dish as this might make you all leave my table , and run to the cooks shops . here therefore you shall see the difference between a good cook and a bad . for my part , had i appetitus caninus , or that ravening {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , i should not move a tooth at such ogliopodridoes . i remember , about my second clymacterical yeer i had a quartan fever ▪ and requiring assistance of a good old and reverend dogmatist ! for my cure , he prescrib'd me a water to drink ; the which hath put me into an {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ever since . take heed sirs , how you mix such waters with your wine : for i can assure you , you may grow mad upon it . from galens cephalicall sallads , i have made many dishes , which i desire no man to commend untill he have tasted . pray therefore fall to this dish of extracts . a cephalicall extract . ℞ . nuc. mosch. caryophyl . cinamom . cardamom . calam. arom . succini maceris an. ℥ ss. sem. anisi sem. faenicul . sem. coriand . praep. sem. sileris mont . sem. paeoniae an. ℥ j. flor. betonicae flor. salviae flor. rosmar . flor. herb. paral . flor. euphrag . flor. lil. conoal . flor. paeoniae flor. tilia arboris flor. lavend. flor. staech . arab. an. p.j. folior . majoranae folior . melissae folior . lauri folior . nepitae folior . calamint . folior . serpilli folior . ocimi , an. m. j. rad. paeoniae rad. acori rad. galangae rad. caryophyllatae , rad. ireos ana. ℥ ij . bac. iunip . bac. lauri an. ℥ ij.ss. lig. aloes lig. sassafras lig. guaiacini lig. visc. querc . lig. coryli buxi an. ℥ j. ss. let the herbs be brused , the woods rasp'd the seeds , aromaticks , roots and berries grosly beaten . put all into a large matracio of glass , and cover them 4. or 5. fingers deep with spir. of wine animated with the spirits of sage and juniper berries . set them in balneo to ferment six or 8. dayes . then separate the tincture from the faeces per inclinationem . to the remaining faeces powre half as much as aforesaid of the s. of w. animated with the s of annise , and cinamon . set them again in digestion other six dayes ; which finish'd , and your matracium cold , separate the tincture from the faeces . adjoyn these tinctures , and by a gentle heat in balneo vaporoso first separate the spirits , then put your alembick in balneo bulliente and distill the phlegma until your tincture coagulat into an extract . to every ℥ ij . of which extract adde , magister . perlar . magist. coral . an.ʒj. tinct . confect . alcher . ʒij . essentiae ☽ . gut . xx . magister . cran. hum . salis cran . hum . an.ʒj. essent . nuc . mosch. essent . cinam . an. g. x. spir. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . gut . vj . mix all according to art in the consistence of an extract . dosis . ℈ ss. vel ℈ .j. the spirits of this extract . have cochl . ss. vel cochl . j. to their dose . this extract doth miraculously corroborate the brain , and both preserves and cures you of all cepbalicall diseases , as apoplexies , epilepsies , palsyes , vertigines , hemicranies , sopors , torpors , lethargyes , &c. it fortifyeth the memory , acuates the sight , extenuates and dissipates cold , gross , viscous & tartareous humors of the brain , which cause noise and pain in the ears , deafnes and the like . for a preservative against all cold distempers of the head , the first extract without the mixture of those , other essences may excuse such as are not in our spagiricall cooks books . those which will not feed on that dish , let them satisfie nature with this elixir : though somewhat inferiour to the first extract which is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . elixir cephalic . ℞ . nuc. mosch. ℥ j. ss. maceris caryophyll . cinamom . an. ℥ ss. galano . calam. arom . an. ℥ j. euphrasiae . flor. lavend. rosmarin . herb. paral . an. mj. melissae ment. rom. card. ben. an. mj.ss. by the example of the former you shall extract the tincture with spir. of wine or ordinary cinamon water . then separate the elixir from his tincture , and proceed as before . the coagulated extract having ℈ .j. to his dose . the elixir half a whole sponfull in the morning : the which resists all cold and moist distempers of the brain : saves a bad memory the expence of table-books : and in one half year ( if generally used ) it would make our glasses cheap by runing the trade of spectacles . this likewise is a capitall enemy to tale-carryers : for it makes the sence of hearing so exquisite , that their imployment would become unnecessary . here variety calls you to another dish . ℞ . zinzib . santal . rub . caryoph . an. ℥ ss. cinamom . ℥ ij . nuc. mosch. maceris piperis . galangae cubebae cardamomi anisi sem. faenic . coriand . praep. an. ℥ ss. aromat. rosat. . spec. diambrae dianthos an. ʒij . majoran . flor. ocini lavend. an. p.j. ros. rub . m.j. with lb ij . of the best sack , and lb. ss. of the s. of w. with ℥ viij . of rose-water animated with the essence of musk proceed as in the other elixir . the vertues are the same with the former , but somwhat more efficacious . he that thinks these elixars and extracts will be too hot for him , let him play the good fellow and fall to our cock-broth which here waits for the innovation of his spoon . ℞ . an old fat cock or capon , being exenterated , cut him in pieces , and then put him into a large glass phialum adding , santal . citrin . lig. aloes caryophyl . nuc. moschat . cinamon . maceris an. ℥ j. galangae cort. citri . zedoariae croci orient . an. ℥ ss. flor. rosmarin . flor. salviae flor. betonic . flor. lavend. flor. borag . flor. bugloss flor. ros. rub . an. p.j. sal. corallor . ℥ j. granor. kerm . ʒiij . vini canarien . lb iij . sacchar . albis . lb. ss. set all well stoped , 8. or ten dayes in balneo fervido . then bring your cock to the press and there execute him : which done distill all in alembico vitreo : dosis j. 2. or iij . sponfulls . this restorative i recommend to students , whose cephalick treasure is exhausted , by their prodigall exercise of the brain , as most specificall . i have taken notice of some here who are so bad sighted that they cannot find the narrow passage of their mouths . others again before they can draw their eyes out of their pockets , lose many a choise bit which they gaped for . these things must be better look'd into : otherwise we shall make but a blind reckoning of it . that i may not be troubled with blind guest therefore , i will bring you to to your diet , and prescrib you this opthalmick water : and this is for such as prefer their ease , before their eyes : who rather than suffer a little smart , will sooner be at the charge of some well tutor'd mungrell , to follow his dogged humor . ℞ . euphrag . chelidon . an. m.ij. card. ben. betonec . an. m.j. rutae p.j. salviae fenic . an. m.j. enul . camp . rad. valerian . an. ℥ j. faenic . sem. anisi coriand . praep. siler . mont . an. ℥ ss. bac. iunip . ℥ j. ros. alb . flor. rosmarin . calondul . lavend. staeched . an. p.j. nuc. mosch. zinzib . cardamom . macropip . calam. arom . cinamum . an.ʒj. infuse all in lb. iiij . of the spir. of wine animated with the spirits of sage , for the space of four days in balneo : from whence accord●ng to art , you shall extract the spirits and tincture from the faeces , by calcination solution , filtration , and coagulation ; you shall resuscitate the soul of those vegetables , with which you are to animate the spirits , and phlegma . which phlegma dissolving therein {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} li , with a little crocus metallorum , makes an excellent externall opthalmick water . the spirits are to be inhibited the quantity of a spoonfull , or but half . the coagulated tincture ℈ ss. vel ℈ j. ss. who will prie far into other mens matters , though he smart for it , let him use this externall opthalmicall water . ℞ . suc . chelidon . euphrag . an. lb. ss. lact. caprin . lb. j. zinzib . maceris an. ℥ j. aloes ℥ ss. vitriol . alb. ℥ iij . give all four dayes infusion and then distill them in balneo . to this distilled water , take little peeces of tutia , heat them red hot in a new iron spoon , and extinguish them in this water , with nine repetitions , leaving your tutia at the last extinction in the water , and so reserve it for your use . a blind man may see the vertues of this water , a drop thereof being often put into his eys . it cures all opthalmies , gumms , salt tears , pearles , &c. in your first stomaticall course , i told you of a new hermeticall method in curing diseases ( which i have often practiz'd on infants and extream feeble patients ) only by externall remedies , without any internall praesidio : whereby i will undertake , and maintain , that any disease , either acute ▪ chronical , or astralis , ( where no malignity praedominates ) may be perfectly , and with far less expence to nature eradicated . and that all exteriour affects , as ulcers , wounds , &c. may be brought to an exact sanation without any locall application , but meerly by a magneticall sympathy . this opinion i know will be better than a gig to our modern methodists to provoke laughter : but let them beware , in their laughter they revive not the example of z●uxis that famous painter , who imitating the deformity of an old tripefac'd beldam , whose arch'd chin supported the fall of her nose , and the want of teeth gave her tongue liberty to drown her mumping eloquence with dribling oratory ; every eye likewise being so retir'd , that their gravity eclypsed all suspect of lightness . when he had finish'd this master-peece , and wrought it so neer to the life , that art had almost lost her interest in it ; he was so overcome with the extravagancy of his pensills perfection , that bursting into a violent laughter , he let out his soul to animate his pourtraict . thus perchance the extravagancy of our art mixt with perfection , may draw some of them to a violent laughter : but i fear t will be sardinian . faith if they laugh ! i must do as fools do , and laugh for company : yet with a more hearty laughter , as was of that of chrysippus , when he saw an ass forsake sweet grass and fall to thistles . apply who will . here ( purpose bringing me upon it ) to make this new art more speculative , and my opinion more apparent , i will give you an ocular instance . in all opthalmies where a plethora doth indicate evacuation , we have an hermeticall opthalmick water whereof three drops put into the eye hath these three properties . first per {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} it causeth a universall revulsion of the humor peccant , which flows to the part affected . secondly by a repulsion it resists the flux of humors . lastly , per {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} it makes an insensible discussion of those humors already compacted and coagulated in the eye . now they will not only laugh , but conclude i am mad ; to say that the dropping water in the eyes can purge per {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . if this seeme so strange to them , perchance i may shortly present them with a monster ( yet no {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ) whose smell only shall excite intestin●ll evacuations . to shew that i am not in choller , therefore , with methodicall obstinacy , which jeeres at truth , to blinde their ignorance ; ● will drink to them in a cup of our hermeticall claret . ℞ . caryoph . nuc. mosch. m●ceris an. ℥ j. ss. zinzib . cardamom . an. ℥ ss. coriand . praep. anisi faenicul . an. ʒiij . diptamni zedoariae rad angel . an. ʒij . flor. rosmarin . bugloss . an. p.ij. tabel . arom . ros. ℥ j. sacchar . alb. lb. j. all grosly beaten , put them into a glass vessell with lbiiij . or five of the best wine of candia , or good canary ; set them the space of two or three dayes in balneo tepido . then pass it two or three times through a hippocras bag . which done , mix therewith of the spirits of roses essentiated with musk and amber ; then put it up into vessells for your use . one or two spoonfulls taken of this in a morning , corroborates all the animall , vitall , and naturall faculties . hence it conduceth to all cephalicall affects : as also to all cardialgiae , lipothimiae , sincopi , &c. 't is excellent in all weakness crudityes , and ventosities of the stomack . it corroborates the liver and spleen and cures all cachexies , hypochondriacall melanchollies , and hystericall passions . it preserves from the pestilence , worms , and all sorts of putrifactions . i must not here omit the recreating of your sences by some externall perfumes : accept therefore of these pomanders . ℞ . styrac . calam . landan . an. ʒj.ss . benzoesʒj . garyoph . macis lig. aloes flor. lavend. an. ℈ . ss. moschi ambrae an. g. iiij . gum . tragac. in aq . ros. dissolut . q.s. terebint . parum . in a hot mortar make them up into a pomander , according to art . if that please not , make use of this ℞ . ladaniʒij . styrac . cal . ʒj.ss . benzoes thuris succin . alb. lig. aloes ros. rub . lig. cypres . cinamom . garyophil . an. ℈ .ij. ambrae moschi an. g.v. with gum tragacanth dissolved in spir. of roses , q.s. make them up into small trochisks ; one of which cast upon the coals fills your chamber with a gratefull odour . or this , ℞ . thuris lig. aloes styr . cal. an. ℥ ss. styr . liq . ʒvj . laudan . ℥ j. ss. ambrae moschi an. g. vij . carbonum tiliae , vel salicis ℥ j. tragacant . ℥ ss. your gum dissolved in spirit of roses with a little s. of w. make them up into little roles like small candles . or use this water . ℞ . aq. rosar . lb iij . vin. malvat. lb. ss. flor. lavend. spicae an. ℥ ij . cort. citri ℥ ss. rad. ireosʒij . cinamom nuc. mosch. styr . calam . an. ʒss . after ten dayes infusion , distill them , putting in the nose of your alembick , musk and amber an. ℈ j. this water you may mix with common water for your hands or face ; or put some of it in a perfuming pot , the vapour whereof will recreate your sences with a delightfull aer . if none of those perfumes please you , i must call for my hermeticall cabinet , where i think to finde a balsam shall please you all in despite of your noses . ℞ . butyr . gelsom . ℥ ss. essent . flor . citri . essent . cort. citri . ess. cinamom . ol. nuc. mosch. essent . rosar . an. ℈ . ss. flor. benzoin . ℈ .j. essent . moschi essent . ambrae essent . zibettae an. ℈ . ss. these in some small mortar , sine calore you shall mix well together : and then reserve it in some silver box to your use . with this you may rub your gloves , handkerchief , or any thing else about you . when the barber elevates your mustachoes , this wil● be of singular use , making your whiskers stand up most sweetly . in time of pestilence it will be very serviceable , and where it layes hold it will a long time stick to your coat . here since i have taken you by the nose , i must hold you a little longer : for i have a secret to reveal to you , but it will trouble your brains , and therefore i doubt you will take it in snuff . yet as it concerns the health both of your soul and body , i am bound in conscience to reveal it : make good use of it therefore for my sake , and i le promise you every one shall pray for you . pulvis sternutatorius . ℞ . sem. nigel . helleb . alb. an. ℈ .j. majoranae . rosmarin . salviae an. ʒss . moschi g. iij . fiat pulvis . s.a. these and such like neesing powders are never to be used but fasting : for you know , fasting and praying go always together . this following is safer and better : but you will be the less praid for , ℞ . pyrethri ℈ . ss. helleb . nig . ʒj . nasturt . ʒss . fiat pulvis . tye it in a peece of fine cloath , and steep it in rose water , and by smelling to it , it gently provokes sternutation . here i have another dish for some body which perchance little dreams of it , ℞ . quatuor sem. frig. maj . an. ℥ ij . sem. papav. alb. lb. ss. lactucae ℥ iiij . hyoschyam . ℥ ij . flor. nymph . violarum . rosar . rub . papav. rhead . an. p.iiij. flor. sambuci . sūmitat . rutae an. p.ij. macis nuc. moschat . benzoini an. ʒvj . all grosly beaten infuse them four dayes in aqua rosar . lactucae nenupharis papav. rheadis an. lb. ij . then strein it with a strong expression , to which you shall adde requies nich. ℥ ss. croci orient . mumiae an. ʒiij . camphorae castorei . an.ʒj. being well mixt , distill them according to art . the dose is ℥ ij . at your wonted hour of rest . this spoils all your watches : silenceth your clocks , and makes you lose more time then you think of : the best property it hath , is , it makes a man forget all wrongs . all that is bad in it is this , that who ever takes of it he will be no more good for any thing a long time after . this is far safer and of better effect than any of the vulgar narcoticks , and it emulates our hermeticall laudanum , mitigating all internal dolours , inflammations , inquietudi●i , &c. gentlemen , i did let your noses go a little too soon : here is a bloudy action put in against them , which may cost some of you your lives . i should be very sorry to see any of my guest throw away themselves by their own weakness . believe me t is to be pittyed , and i would spend part of my best bloud to save them . whensoever therefore prodigious drops of bloud shall fall from the upper region of the microcosme , knock at our hermeticall cabinets door : for there you shall finde a sympaticall powder , which increaseth both in quantity and quality every time you make use of it : one dragm of which is sufficient for an army . 't is to be preserv'd in some little box in your pocket , and when your nose bleeds let but a drop or two fall on this powder : then put up the box presently from the aer , and you shall find your bloud stop miraculously . and thus it cures all fluxes of bloud either of man or woman without any other helps . and this i have here inserted , to adde a nerve to the truth of our former opinion . here when i call to minde the malice of ignorance , i could play the montinbanco and draw teeth . but from whom ? not from my guess ! but from the jawes of those {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} whose canine and rabid envy like that of timonus the athenian man-hater ( quod nihil ingratius animo concipiat quam erga homines benevolum ac beneficum deum se habere , eosque prosperè ac feliciter prospiciat degere ) runs snarling and biting at every man . nay nature her self cannot pass them ! but because she is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and favours man with the use of her secrets , they hourly labour to discredit her , and ruin her reputation with their malignant calumnies . but she is so well armed with her panacaeae , and truths arcani , that in vain with aesops dog they do but bark at the moon . while i was student in padoua , upon many particular occasions , i have often tasted of that bitter galenicall envy against hermeticall discipline . amongst which this was one . walking one day in the garden of simples , with one of the professours of that academy in physick : ( and none of the simplest neither ) we gathered our discourse out of our mothers aperne : where i by chance taking up the herb heliotropium ( whose name discovers his solar sympathy ) it gave me occasion to sublimate the terrestriety of our discourse into celestiall influences , where rising from the bare and elementary vertues of herbs an other vegetables ▪ we flew up at last unto their occult qualities : where i made sure account to have adorn'd the naked wings of my quaesiti , with the choisest feathers of this old asclepians answers . i entred him upon the signatures of vegetables and mineralls , telling him how many miraculous cures i had seen from sympatical remedies , to the great amazement of the ignorant , and to the greater elogie of hermetick , whose enucleating curiosity had thus stole into natures most secret mysteries . the good man was so suddenly cholerick to hear me attribute any truth or belief to sympaticall physick , that he had no leasure to answer me with patience ; but , calling me paracelsian , he began very galenically to rail in method against our hermetick discipline : telling me that if i had ever read galen or hippocrates , i should impart little honour to any of our chymiatri , or impyricall charletaines , who contemning rationall method , apply themselves wholly to venimous mineralls , magick spells , and diabolicall characters . our art , in that university being prohibited ! i durst not cure those broken heads with our balsamicall reasons , which he so desperately wounded with the blunt beetle of ignorance . but letting him run on his heat ; his over angry tongue had so bastonadoed his teeth , that at last they silenc'd him with a vendicative dolor . nature i think visiting his ignorance on purpose to shew him the experience of her sympaticall secrets . here like the samaritan i took out a little violl from the pharmacopaea of my pocket , and profer'd to lend him ease . imagine with what scorn he contemn'd my younger practise : but bidding me follow him to the apothecaries , i should see he was not destitute of remedies far better than any of my impyricall fopperies . there he made a mixture of theriaca with a grain or two of opium , with which he fill'd the hollow vault of his ruin'd tooth . this by the narcoticall sulphur of the opium , stupefied the nerve , and so for a while mock'd his martyr'd sence with a seeming ease : which brought him presently into the vanity of his secret encomium , asking me how long i would undertake to dig before i found a mineral so rarely qualify'd . i laughing ask'd how long it might be before he expected the return of his currier : at which very instant , his opiate was now overcome ; and his dolour answer'd him in a duplicate . once more i abused him with curtesie , and desired him to make use of my sympaticall unguent : praying him but to draw bloud from his aking tooth with his tooth-picker , and make a resignation of the stick to me ; i would return him an acquittance of his dolor , without any locall application . my oportunity at last won his obedience : and his toothpick was no sooner buried in my sympaticall vnguent , but a sudden ease contradicted his expectation . who , like a crocodyle , when i had picked the dolor out of his teeth , he was like to have swallowed me up with his malitious oratory : telling me that this cure was diabolicall , answerable to our hermetick doctrine ; and advised me not to make farther use of it , but to content my practise with rationall galenicall ingredients . i must confess it angred me to hear a philosopher so lost in obstinacy , who blushed not to repay the vse of natures secrets , with ingratitude . his ignorance gave my teeth such an {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that i could never since masticate a galenicall sallad . gentlemen , i hope you are more rationall , and better natured : and when a tooth pains you , will rather make use of our sympaticall unguent , than draw it out . in this my cephalicall course , twenty to one but some old lady will be looking for a dish to renovate natures defac'd master-peece with some artificiall shadow : or to illuminate her microcosmical map with the superficiall beauty of our hermeticall tinctures . to say the truth , i had prepared many dishes for this effect : but my fear was lest some of our younger beauties ( whose perfection is so compleat that nature her self hath many years since confessed she cannot adde unto it ) would ▪ for want of more substantiall pastimes , fall a dappling with our spagiricall accidents : and like ambitious painters , which never thinking their retraits finished , with too much curiosity spoil the whole peece . indeed i should be heartily sorry to see a good face marr'd for want of a play-fellow . to such pregmaticall fansies therefore i will shortly ( god willing ) make a present , wherein they shall finde such variety of intertainment , that i doubt not but many a fair face will thank me for it . in the mean time i wish that their busie heads may nor abuse the innocencie of their beauty , cheating themselves of natures treasure under a colour of fair dealing . the desire therefore which i have to see such beauties flourish in their meridian , hath made me lose many a nights sleep in contemplation , before i could attain to their true externall prophylactick . i sent the embassadours of my fansie through every part of the world for vegetables , mineralls , semimineralls , fukes , belletti , smegmatick secrets , vnctions , pomadoes , waters , any thing that had or might be practized in that nature . faith i found all to be but curtains to a good picture , which only kept the dust from it , but eclypsed the glory of it . yet i could not rest thus satisfyed , but perswaded my self that nature had given all things their preservatives . in which contemplation i called to minde how that celestiall beauty , the sun , used no other art but fair water , morning and evening washing his bright rayes in that fountain the sea . this then as natures best secret for maintaining a lively , ruddy ▪ cleer , and snowy skin , i freely impart to all faire faces : wishing them to make some clear fountain their painter , and to dabble there as long as they please : remembring that they make not that , their glass of philautia ; and so sacrifice their good faces to narcissus . the third course hepaticall . see what a merry gossip health is ! she is alwayes exciting us to mirth . i have already wandred through two parts of the world with her : in which pilgrimage my ●ides are so larded with the fat operation of ●er good diet , mixt with the extravagancies of ●er ridiculous mirth , that with a months hard ●odging i might very well supply the defect ●f a christmass brawner . and now she hath ●ut me in this good plight , i must not leave ●er neither . if i but speak of parting , she ●enies me my billeto di sanita . then she ●ugs me , kisseth me , bids me rowse up my ●pirits , laugh , sing , dance , and let care go a ●atter-wauling . she swears that she is in love with my good diet ▪ and doteth on the temperance of my youth : and tells me that i shall do very ill to leave her , that have so often protested that i could not live well without her . faith i felt all this to be true ! and though i knew her to be a noted strumpet● one that would sell herself to any man for a little good diet. besides how inconstant she was drawing every mans eyes upon her to corrupt her ; and letting every boy lye with her . again ▪ accustomed to feed on the best and would not be brought out of her good diet ; but if she misliked her feeding , leave a man . yet considering that she was of good bloud , honest parentage , alwayes well disposed , and of good breeding ; full of mirth , a●●fable , not subject to any ill humors fair , and of a pure complexion . her vertues being equivalent with her vices ; i fell so far in love with her , that i made her lady of my desires & in short time she won so far upon me , that she govern'd me , and withall made me so fond of her , that if i were absent but a minute from her me thought i was sick . in fine ▪ let her be in what humor she would , i was her morpheus , and imitated : if she slep'd so did i . if she were distempered ▪ so was i● and being thus lost in the labyrinth of love : let her wander where she please i have vow'd to follow , humor her , and beat her charges . thus captivated there did i fall in the veines of poesy . the magick of my mistris eyes made me no more apologize : but at a look , where ere she went , follow i must , or lose content . here toth' hepatick land shee 'd go , where delicacies overflow : and there she promis'd i should see mars in a box of quidini . next venus court , whereas i might in time with cupid lose my sight . but ear these wonders i could see i first an israelite must be , and pass the mercy of a floud which some baptize the sea of bloud . there i was sea-sick and would fain with healths permission ope a veine : no she would no such bloudy trick , sheed first for company be sick ; empty my stomack , and she said the red-seas fury would be laid . after those waves had plai'd their sport , at last they brought us to a port whose milky torrent drove us in to loves restoring magazin . here sweet health laughs , gives me a buss , and bids me hug my genius ; then shews where venus hid her treasure , some for health and some for pleasure , next her temple ( whereat she bowes ) then her altar , then her vowes , ( upon which altar , a chalice stood brim full of desperate lovers bloud ) bids me be modest , shut mine eyes , lest i were call'd to sacrifice . and here she shew'd that fatall well wherein she said narcissus fell . hence in al haste my love departs and ushers out the queen of hearts , whose deity was magnifi'd by a rich train of courtly pride . her whiteboy cupid flew before to ●orce all strangers to adore his mothers beauty ; for which intent his bow was alwayes ready bent . next came intemp●rance with a cup of ruddy nectar : drinks it up , and then growes wanton : at me she ran and kist me twise . here health began to swell look big , and puffing to me said , i was to blame to kiss loves chambermaid . i prai'd my mistris not to take it ill : since she kist me , 't was manners to stand still . in this distemper venus came , who calls my mistris by her name , and ask'd where she that youngster had which made her maid intemp'rance mad . quoth health , a stranger t is , would be a pupill in your nursery . venus straight swore , hee 's patron here , such guest we have not every year : my family is so decai'd that i am forc'd to wo my maid intemperance , to bring me in some able sparks a gossiping . here venus kist me , and protests for health sake shee 'd obey my heasts , her mars from hence as old shee 'd quite deny , i was chief member of her family . she bids intemp'rance to retire , and charge her cooks to lay toth' fire their egge-pyes , marrows , armed fishes , what they thought restoring dishes . to see her dining chamber were perfum'd against guest entred there , and to express our wellcome more , bad her strew rushes at the door . then to her palace she invites the fury of our appetites . here health corrupted was she said by a strong phylter from loves maid , and therefore follow'd , gins to dance , and kisses sweet intemperance . entring , stood hercules at the door as portar , and a lambs skin wore . no sooner in , but venus she kist me again to welcome me . first by the kitchin dore we past , where i a sheepish eye did cast upon the cooks ( fair ladies all ) so busie at the funerall of hot potatoes , young cock sparrows , whose graves they dig'd in pyes of marrow . that men interr'd by such a strong refection must needs expect a speedy resurrection . some which delighted not in pyes were knuckle deep in quidinyes . there geladini , consummadi , cockbroth , caudles , pineoladi , eggs and amber , maqueroni avec gallorum coglioni made those sweet laydes sweat and labour so that every juncture seem'd in balneo . health whisper'd here into mine ear , and said those meats i must forbear , lest that temptation should at length force me to go beyond my strength . hence passing up to loves sweet chamber , where every step was musk , and amber , venus to vary her sweet blisses , numbred our steps with sugred kisses , and when we entred at the door she multiplied a thousand more . there a round table spread i found with diaper hanging to the ground , where the first course did ready lye epecting hungers battery . venus uncover'd all her dishes , better cheer for me she wishes , bids me fall to : then guides my hand into a dish of marzapan . my appetite being up , i fed like one new risen from the dead . and had 't not been for eggs and ling i had indanger'd surfeiting . venus there saw i was distasted , whispers to cupid ; who streight hasted , brings , sweet waters in a dish for us to wash after our fish . after a cup or two of wine , a kiss , a smile , in little time the second course here enter'd in . i fed as i had famish'd been . my hunger was so sharply set i laid about me till i sweat . venus so taken was at this my mouth she oft stopt with a kiss . swearing i was a well-come guest , whose hunger did commend her feast . health was content that i should here participate of venus cheere , until she saw a third course come , then shee 'd have had me left the roome . m' herculean pillar there she said that i must streight put up , and non plus ultra cry . how to please both i could not tell , venus i lov'd , and health aswell . if i neglected what was there love thought i scorn'd such homely fare ; if i exceeded 't was a chance but health would scorn m'intemperance . here i grew dull , and very sad . venus or drunk , or else half mad , claps in my spoon into a pot of perfum'd gelly scalding hot , and cri'd t was a restoring bit for such as diet health with wit . i curst a pox upon her gelly , wish'd spoon and pot within her belly , gave her knocks which made her ly for half an hour in extasy , flung down the table , split her dishes , rent all her napkins , burn'd the rushes , broke cupids head , & call'd health whore , made her drink drunk and sleep inth'dore : then up i went , call'd bacchus in , where he and i afresh begin . mars hid himself within the barrel , let out the wine to make us quarrell ▪ bacchus begins a double glass unto my mistress sanitas , i swore i 'd pledge it full as deep , and make her drink it in her sleep . health in a dream here stagring up made venus rise : then takes my cup and challeng'd bacchus . venus she fill'd cupids quiver ▪ and challeng'd me with a deep draught , a good yard long , of bristow milk , pleasant but strong , whose practise made her heave it in , as though 't had but a spoonful been . half spent before , i could not stand , against this bachanalian , i still gave back , and durst not venture , fearing i should not reach the center . venus the slut begins to boast , and ask if i would have a toast . or if i 'd have a neats-tongue pie , the which she said would make me drie , to save my credit ( for i saw a womans will would hear no law , and though it were a veniall sin , drunk or sober shee 'd hav 't in ) to it i went , and at first bout i suck'd but half the quiver out . she smil'd and bad me try again . i fear'd the breaking of a vein . yet this i saw , that she was laid and could not stand ; yet must be paid , swearing't should cost another fall but she would see me take up all . mad girl quoth i , then drink 't i wooll although it wear a pulpit full . heer 's to thy mars . were vulcan up wee 'd make his horn our second cup . and know that i am none of those which sleep when th'glass is at their nose oh how she hugg'd me for that word ! but lo comes health arm'd with her sword and vows if that we do not fly , mars would be at us by and by . for she had spi'd in bacchus butt a man lye arm'd from head to foot , and asking bacchus who t was there , he trembling said god mars i fear . tush let him come out of his barrell quoth venus ! i le maintain your quarrel what do you tremble at his sight ? my courtiers must expect to fight . at this boy bacchus staggers up , and forc'd my mistris tother cup . i flung a bowle of sack in 's eyes , and bad him learn to temporize : here bacchus flung me to the ground , his barrell broke , the hoops ran round , god mars awak'd , and out he comes , where head gainst head excus'd for drums . health here was wounded ; so was i. venus fell in a lethargy , the loss of bloud made mars retire . bacchus still cast new coals inth'fire . a bloudy fray there had you seen , if somnus had not entred in , who did his heavy club advance and knock'd us all into a trance . sanitas was dreaming here of bacchus bowles and venus cheer , so whilst i slep'd , she stole away three hours before the break of day . out of this trance when i awak'd , my brains they crow'd , my back that ak'd . i felt for health ; look'd under th' bed , faith she was gone . there i halt dead cald cupid : told him i was dry , pray him to bring some quidiny . the jacknapes boy gave a blind look , bad me to 's mother , she was cook . i flung my slippers at his head and weakly crawling out the bed i crope to venus chamber door 〈…〉 to enter as before . she thrust me back , and swore shee 'd see what arms i bare ear in i be . i knew 't was death for any one to bring toth' privie chamber a pocket pistoll in. therefore i durst not strive to enter lest that my firelock peradventer should take fire : but only ask'd if she knew where my sanitas might be . alas quoth venus corne you here to seek for health ! since fifteen year i never saw that sober lass your diaetetick sanitas , go home and fast with bread and water , you 'l see your mistris will come after . did not i tell you gentlemen what an inconstant baggage this health was . she was not only content to entice me to a bawdy house and there leave me ; but she must rob me of my poetry too . well she shall not scape me thus . rather than lose her i le follow her in prose : for in that disguise i may chance to recover her , since the very name of a poet makes her hide her self in the buttery . i know this is but a trick of hers to make me forsake venus court and follow her : for i remember at her parting she seemed much distempered only at the sight of venus , wishing her as far as naples . had she not spoke that in cold bloud i should have had little reason to believe her ; since i ever found her venus bosome friend , and alwayes alluring me to her court . nay i could never rest for her , untill she had entred me there : where for her sake i was content to do any thing , and yet the peevish slut would ever be hitting me in the teeth with my inconstancy ; though she know t was for her sake i first became dishonest . i think few men would do so much for a mistriss as i have done for her . i was content to lead my obedience into the race of her method : where i alwayes run one course , fed upon one dish , exercised but once a day , drunk but one sort of drink , never flattered appetite with more sawces than one , wch was hunger : & yet this precise girle would not be content . let her dance over her monologies with her lean sister temperantia and she will . for my part if i but finde her again , i le teach her another course of life : she shall be glad to dance after my pipe , or i le make her heart bloud smart for it . to go back again to venus court to seek her , i have no inclination in the world : neither doth hope give me any assurance of finding her there . yet find her i must that 's certain , or else all will not go well . i am almost of opinion that if i could but regulate my self according to the custome of these hepatick inhabitants , and settle my self wel here but one forty days , and let health run out her course , that in the end she would come sweating to me again . but i fear i shall not digest their hard diet. the other day in a hungry humor i was looking about in the cooks shops here for some choise bit : faith i could find nothing but dry livers , and a kind of black burnd broath they made which was bis●cotto . i asked the cooks what they did with the rest of their better meat ? they said that i was come in a very ill hour , and that they had already sent all their best provision to the cardiacall princes court . yea thought i ! here is no abode for me : i le none of your chew'd meat . hence wandring up and down in this bloody land ; i came at length into a passage so narrow , that at every step i gal'd my elboes . the bitterness of the passage , and the fury it put me into made my legs make many a motion to begon out of it . as hasty as i was , i could go but slowly , every lim being over-loaden with passion . if i had ●et my mistris there , i had beaten her out of all reason . i thought this had been the way to venus hospitall , it made me sweat so : but in over●oing a little more labour i found it was a ●lind passage to mars his arsenall . where i was no sooner entred , but i fell in choler with ajax lieutenant of the guard for stain●ng my stockins ▪ here i saw a great number of fachini strongly loaden with vast baskets on their shoulders , hasting to a little bitter well , where ● saw them open their burdens , taking somewhat out of their baskets , dipping of it in the water , and presently retiring of it again . my curiosity was upon thorns to understand the mystery of their exercise . so that drawing towards them and discovering their baskets to be full of humane tongues , i asked one of them what secret might be inclos'd in that bitter ceremony . quoth he ! the women of the hepatick●and ( being all sanguine and me●ry gossips ) one day at a publike feast in venus court were all so silenc'd by the thundring rodom●n●adoes of the garrison souldiers of mars his arsenall , that their tongues grew cold for want of motion . here they call'd a counsell among themselves , how they might arrive to this braving humor . a virago start up , and perswaded them that the best , and readiest way was to single out one of those souldiers from his cameradi , and said she i le undertake with the smell only of a baston to make him confess where they stole our female treasure o● talking and how they became so nimble linguists . this was approved of by all , and suddenly executed . they made venus call up one of those garrison so●ldiers into her chamber , there they all set their tongues on a wheel , and run upon him with so violent a prologue that thunder seemed still musick to it . the souldier , accustomed to such storms , answered their thunder with such a rimbombo , that his ecco's eat up their audience . here my virago takes him by the bigoteroes ▪ and by vertue of a bed-staf● first char'd him to be more masculine , and let silence skin his tongue which over galld with his continuall motion , and then give them leave to talk to whom other arms were prohibited . next quoth she i conjure thee by this fearfull maedusa's head of thine ( for he was a spaniard ) to reveal truly unto us , where you with the rest of your companions have learned this womanish art , and verball bravery . my poor d●● promises upon his knees , if they would omit violence he should discover how and where he was thus possest . venus her self secured him that no hand should be guilty of injury , only let him disclose his secret . why then quoth he , you must first know that our court of guard in mars his arsenall , when nature first practised chymistry , was her laboratory . mars being troubled with too many white-liver'd souldiers ( such as durst never serve but in some garrison where there was never any likely-hood of imployment ) one day discoursing merrily with dame nature concerning the philosophers stone , he told her that his curiosity led him not into those golden vanities ; so that his souldiers were paid , heed never mo●l for other treasure . but quoth he if i thought your skill afforded any secret to arm a coward with valour , i should gladly carry coales and be your pupill . in that , quoth nature you speak of impossibilities ▪ for those kind of men are composed of a mettal so dull cold and saturnine , that like salamanders , they resist and extinguish our actuating fires : so that i am ever fain to thrust them into the world do bak'd . yet said she , this i can do ; i will make you a spagiricall water which shall give cowardize an externall tincture of valour : into which let the dullest spirited man in your camps but dip his tongue , and he shall seem another m●gaera ; and maintain in a souldiers stile that the valour of achilles , and the labours of hercules were but a game at cudggells in comparrison of those conquests , siedges , batteryes , assaults , skirmishes , amboschadoes , pitch'd-battells , combats , sea-fights , duells , &c. which the world can witness his arm to be the author of . now as i am a souldier , quoth mars , this secret must not be lost . and though in our actions 't will lend us but little succour ; yet be it only to delight our collonels , and commanders at a siege , when they want pastime to call one of these rodomontadi into their tents , and hear him batter castles with his tongue , it will be very acceptable to me if you please to favour me with it . nature told him , very willingly , and withall desir'd his patience to stand by , and see the operation , which she promised him would be very delightfull to him . then she first took of tongues and galls of bulls . bears . wolves . dogs . magpies . dawes . parretts . parrakitoes . iayes . cuckoes . nightingales . an. n. j. from vegetables she took these herbs cynoglossum . hippoglossum . arnoglossum . buglossum . ophioglossum an. m. j. from reptilia animalia she took of the tongues and tailes of vipers . adders . snakes . lizards an. num . j. from spagiricall compositions she took of aurum fulminans . aqua fortis . gunpowder . an. lb. j. from every great bell she took a clapper , from every apothecaries great mortar she took a pestell . these she mixt all with the former ; and then luted them up in great bells , and so calcin'd them in the aetna . the ashes of which she dissolv'd in a water distilled from all the violent torrents and after filtrated it first through the leaves of calepine ( to make her operation the more verball ) then through twelve new moons , thereby to attract the essence of their change and variable inconstancy . being well filtrated , she distil'd all through a trumpet , and then separated the phlegma as unprofitable in this work . the spirits which remained , she put into the mouth of a canon , closly luting it sigillo hermetico , and then circulated them twelve years in the primum mobile : where contrary to our spagiricall circulating fires , they became more agile , mobile , and volatile . those spirits thus circulated she mixt with a mouthfull of the quintessence of every erratick star . then she opened the graves of all new deceased lawyers , charlitani , tripe-wives , oyster-wives , and such like talkative people ; cut out all their tongues , and with the skins thereof she made a great bladder ; which bladder she strongly luted with drum-heads ; and then fill'd it up with storms , tempests whirl-winds , thunders , lightnings ▪ &c. those for their better incorporation she set ( twelve other years ) in a ruff sea in fermentation . which finished , she mixt these with the former : and to be sure there should not remain the lest breath of phlegma , she rectified them every day thrice in a balneo of quick-silver twelve other years . lastly , to inrabiate the whole elixir , and make it the more canine , she cut a vein under the tongue of the dog-star , drawing from thence a pound of the most cholerick , adust , and maligne bloud ; from which she sublimated the spirits , & after mixt them with the fome of a mad dog . then incorporating all together , she return'd them into the former bladder , stitching it up only with the nerves of socrates his wife . and thus she finished her operation , and presented it to mars ; bad him put it into any spring , well or fountain , and it should suddenly contaminate the water with that talkative vertue . mars presently ( said the souldier ) put it into our well here in the court of guard in his arsenall , and commanded the better part of his souldiers once in the year to dip their tongues in this water , whereby ( quoth he ) fair ladyes i became so bitter a linguist . and said he ▪ if this be the ground of your ●uarrell ▪ i wish that all your tongues were perboiled in that water that so you might ne●er be taken prisoners by that dull enemy si●ence . here , the women had no patience to thank him ; but turning him speedily out of the chamber ( as having what they looked for ) they presently began a new to consult , how they might get their tongues washed in this well ; knowing that it was prohibited for any of their sex to enter mars his arsenall . some of them ( whose itching tongues could not admit of delay ) longing to have a lick at this water , stole privatly out of the chamber , and home they ran ; put on their husbands breetches , and a way to mars they went , took pay , and were admitted into his court of guard . the rest , concluded , that venus , having a great command over mars , should petitionate to him that all the womens tongues ( of the hepatick land ) might once in the year be dipt into his lexicon to make them talkative . mars for venus sake ( being resolved likewise never to marry ) gave them licence ; but upon promise they would send their tongues but once a year , and never to come personally . and thus , said the fachin , once a year i and my camaradi ( we having purchas'd the monopoly ) gain more upon this day than our familyes can consume all the year following : not a woman omitting the day appointed , to send their tongues , with a double fee ; to have them the better washed . this amazed me more than any thing i had hitherto seen in my travells . and indeed , the strangness of it had eat up my belief , had i not heard the tongues which he had washed lie● ▪ scolding in his basket . then i asked this fac●ino whether he had ever washed his wives tongue yet ? oh quoth he , she could never sleep untill she had it : insomuch that i am glad to wash mine own tongue twice for her once , and yet not able to silence her . upon this i desired him to give me a little bottle of that water to carry into my country as a rarity . by no means quoth he , for it will make you run mad and scold withall you meet . why then said i are not all your women mad ? marry replied he so they are , more or less , according to my descretion in washing them . i began to thank iove here , that this well was so far from our country : though i did suspect that some of them had been licking here . the generall love therefore which i bare to that sex , made me in pitty , not able to see their tongues so infected ; but drawing my sword i beat away more than a hundred of those tongue-loaden knaves , which were coming to this well : ( presuming that some wittall or other would put me in his prayers for it ) and then knowing i had committed an errour by drawing my sword in the arsenall , out i ran all in choler , and as yellow as a kites leg. i had not gone far from thence , but i met my wandring mistris sanitas with a double tertian on her back . she perceived that i had been lately in choler , which made her come shaking to me , and excuse her long absence with trembling apologies . i took her by the hand ( which fear had benum'd with a sleepy chilness ) and asked her why she trembled so ? oh quoth she , the fear which i have that you will not keep me , turns me all into a gelly . so that the organ pipe of your breath only makes me answer you in quavers . the poor girl lent me such pittifull looks , that i had a feeling of her misery : wherefore i presently eased her of the burden of her song , and took a tertian on my back , in place of a knap-sack , and away we went to seek out some charitable hospitall . thus thinking speedily to depart out of the torrid-zone of this hepatick land contra●y to expectation we found all the passages stopt , by a great inundation of waters : an affliction surely sent from heaven to punish those corrupt livers . this made us lye at anchor one month the longer : where i had much ado to keep life in my mistris sanitas , finding no provision there that was edible , all things being so unsavory with those brackish waters , that what ever we put into our mouths nature thought time lost in masticating them . hence not only we , but all the inhabitants grew weak , some pale , some greenish ▪ others yellow , and black , all sickly , for want of our fomer good nourishment . it would have mollified a heart of adamant to have seen those matchless beauties of this clymate ▪ young lasses of fourteen years , ruddy and sanguine ▪ have their virgin beauties eclypsed by the green mantle of loves standing pool . yong married wives whose tender palates having been lately accustomed to feed on fresh and dainty bits , now finding their markets ill served , with dull and sapless sallads ; their beccarii full of drowned calves whose flagging , and flashy flesh , scarce sweet , their dogs formerly would not have gap'd at : not able to subsist with this course diet , rather chuse to feed upon green fruits , and frutta nova , untill at last their forbidden diet bring them into a tympany . young lusty batchelours here , which entered into pension at other mens tables , never remembring this generall inundation , but finding their diet altered , their meat rank , stale , and of a fishly savor ; they suspecting the cause to be their hostesses desire of gain , forsake her table straggle up and down , taking here a snap , and there a snap , untill at last many littles of what is bad , corrupt them making them perfect pythagorists and abhor all flesh ever after . gentlemen , if any of you be travellers , and curiosity lead you at any time to visit the hepatick dominions , see first in the map of my travells whether you can make any observations profitable for so dangerous , and desperate a voyage ▪ read my description of venus court , and see if her entertainment can allure you out of your country . and when you go , be sure to make health your mistirss , and when you come to venus table , let not that wanton hostess intise you to disorder . or if she do ▪ do not drink your mistriss drunk that she might not be jealous , and then play false under nose . have a speciall care likewise that you be not too familiar with that lady venus , for she is mistris unto the viceroy spiritus naturalis , of those hepatick territoryes , who will play the tyrant if he take you napping : bringing you first on your knees to a publike confession , and then delivering you into the hands of the tormentor , who puts you into a little hole like a tub , and feeds you with nothing but dry musty crufts , and puddle water , the very smell whereof puts you into symptomaticall sweats . there hee 'l smoak you like a bacon hog : and for fourty dayes you must expect twice a day to be stewed in your own grease . believe me every bone will have a feeling of his torments , and though at last he relieve you , yet you shall never be your own man again . if you incounter with bacchus ( as he is never from venus court ) be sure that your first cup be a parting cup . and for mars come not near him , lest you grow cholerick , and so be inflamed , to your great loss of bloud . this hepatick land is so delicious , and bewitching , that few young men return from hence without a calenture . considering therefore how many strong and well-fleshed bodies are brought low in the torrid-zone of this hepatick land , i have altogether laboured in this third course to feed you as venus fed me , onely with restoratives , that you may travell more cheerfully with me unto the cardiacall court . but first that you may examine the honesty of our splenditore , i shall desire you here to over-see what hepaticall ingredients he hath brought out of galens market , before he deliver them to the cook , and his lardery ▪ that so if the cook and he should afterwards play false ; you may find it in your dishes . hepaticall ingredients which heat and corroborate a colde weak liver . agrimon . absinth . capill . ♀ salvia . cuscuta . asarum . schaenant . spica . agerat . faenicul . apium . asparag . eupator . avicen . helenicum . flos tunicis . vvae pas . pistachia . sem. calida . cal. aromat. cassia lig . cinamom . aromata omnia . nucl . persic . lig. indic . sassafras . rad. chinae . sassaparill . such as cool and strengthen a hot liver . endivia . cichoria . scariota . dens leon . portulac . rosae . violae . nimphaea . acetosa . fragaria . sem. frig. hordeum . santal . camphor . pom. gran . ribes . berberis . melones . cerasa . acetum . serum capr . now that our liquid restoratives may run down with a better relish , we will first fall to our biscuit . and for this purpose our cook here presents you with a french biscuit , which he hath borrow'd from a french cook ; and to make it the more sympaticall with your diet , he gives it here another heat . ℞ . of the purest flower , lb. ss. of the whitest sugar , ℥ iiij . cream of pinioli . cream of pistacks cream of almonds . an. ℥ j. oil of annise . an. g. x. oil of cinamon . an. g. x. with four or five fresh eggs beaten together in almond milk made with rosewater , mix all together , s.a. of which make your biscuit in what shape you please , and then recommend it to the oven . next comes in play a martiall bread , panis martius , which the french character stamps into maquaron ; whose composition , is thus , ℞ . sweet almonds blanched , lb j. beat them exquisitely in a mortar , moisten them with rosewater , then incorporate therewith of the best white sugar lb j. gum dragant dissolved in rosewater , with three or four whites of egges , beat all to a perfect mixture , and make your maquarons , and dry them only with a temperate heat . these give a speedy nourishment , and are therefore necessary in all consumptions of the liver and lungs . from biscuit we will fall to our diet d●ink : presuming every man to wax dry after a crust . that we may remember therefore our merry dayes past , le ts drink our own healths ●n this hepaticall cup : and if the last man quarrell because there 's no body to pledge him ; let him call his mistris sanitas in play , and then all will go well . the first hepaticall diet drink , ℞ . agrimon . fol. salviae . cochlear . eupator . avic . an. m. j. flor. rosmarin . spicae . an. p. j. sem. faenic . anis . an. ℥ ss. rad. asparag . petrosel . faenicul . an. ℥ j. cinamom . zinzib . calam. arom . an. ℥ iij . sassafras . ℥ vj . passularum . lb. ss. all prepared according to art , and put up in a canvass bag , cast it into a little barrell of white wine , or new wort. then have you a diet drink both therapeutick and prophylactick in all cold distempers of the liver , preserving likewise every part from obstructions the originall of most diseases . the second hepat . diet drink , ℞ rad. chinae . santalor . om. an. ℥ vj . rad. cichor . endiv. nymph . liqu●rit . an. ℥ j. flor. rosar . rub . violar . nymphae . an. p.j. sem. portulac . lact. papav. alb. an. ʒiij . with these proceed as with the former , but taking small wort , and you shall finde it a singular cooler after your travells in the hepatick torrid zone . and who ever loves coursing , and is at the charge of a runing nag , he shall find this his best watering . the third hepat . diet drink . ℞ lig. guaiac . sassaparil . sassafras . rad. chinae an. ℥ ij . sem. anisi . faenic . an. ℥ j. rad. glycyrrhys . cichoriae . endiviae . an. ℥ ss. cinamom . nuc. mosch. galangae . an. ʒij . inclose all in a barrell of white wine , and ●●serve it to your use , which is an excellent ●●yer of all superfluous humidityes of this ●epatick soil ; corroborates and califies a ●●ld distempered liver , evacuates all maligne ●apours per diaphorisin , and restores it to his ●aturall temper . therefore i recommend it ●●all philogynists . before you drink any more healths give our palate a little dry gust , and tast of these ●egall pastes , which in all consumptions , ex●●ustion of spirits , lost forces , bring you in ●●e field again and make you combatant . the first regall paste . ℞ amygdal . dulc. decort. . nucleor . pineor . pistachior . an. ℥ iii.j. sem. cucum . cucurb . melon . an. ℥ j. ss. all beaten in a mortar , irrigate them with rosewater , then adde sacch . alb. ℥ xij . peni●●dii . ℥ ij . gum . arab. ℥ iij . amyli . ℥ j. fiat● past . regal . s.a. the which is an excellent restoring cooler . the second regall paste . ℞ pulp . capon . assi. perdic . assatar . carnium testud . cancror . fluviat . invin . alb. lot . et in aq . hord . decoctar . an. ℥ iiij . pinearum recent . mund. in aq . rosar tepid . per 4. horas infusar . ℥ iij . 4. sem. frig. major . mund. amygdal . dulc. decort. . an. ℥ ij . penidiorum . ℥ j. ss. all beat in a marble mortar ; pass them through a scive with rosewater : to which you shall adde sacchar . alb. in aq . rosar . dissolut . lb. j. sacchar . cand. . ℥ ij . gum . tragaeant . ʒiij . boil them all with a gentle fire unto a convenient conglutination , which when it cools , you shall adorn with these jewells , salis perlar. salis coral . an. ʒij . then make it up into little cakes of what form your fancy falls into , and dry them in a tepid oven . this for restoring exceedes all , and is able to incarnate a {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} repairing nature so fully her losses , that she will run mad to be gaming again . the third regall past . ℞ rad. satyr . in jure capon . ebullit . et postea cum aq . ros. cribat . ℥ iiij . amygdal . dulc. decortic . pistach . mund. pinear . mund. an. ℥ iij . pulp . rad. . fring. per crib . passat . pulp . rad. . pastinac . cribr . an. ℥ ij . farin . cicerum . ℥ ij.ss. scinci marini . ℥ ss. galangae . zinzib . condit . an. ʒiij . vitel. ovor. recent . num . x. sacchar . alb. lb. j.ss . fiat past . reg. s.a. i did very ill i did not reserve this third regall past untill the end of my banquet : for i fear 't will make some of you rise before the last course enter . you hotter livers , shall use for a cooler this insuing amygdaline milk : which in summer heats , and after other calefying excercises , you shall find inflam'd nature repay your charity in cooler terms . lae amygdalinum . ℞ amygdal . decort. . ℥ iiij . sem. cucum . papav. alb. lactuc . melon . an ℥ j. macerate all four hours in rosewater , then with sugar . q.s. fiat lac . amygd . here is an italian dish for you gentlemen , very substantiall and pleasant : and i doubt not but when you have tasted of it you will gladly inrich your cooks with the ℞ . i will not bid you fall to whil'st 't is hot : for 't is to be eaten cold . bianco mangiare . ℞ . of the flower of rice . lb. ss. dissolve it in milk , q.s. then take the pulpe of a young capon tender boyld , sweet almonds numb. xxiiij . beat these well in a mortar , then mix them with the milk , and rice : pass all through a course cloath , adding thereto what quantity of sugar you please : then boil it on a soft fire , still stirring it , untill it coagulate into the consistence of a strong gelly : when it begins to cool adde thereto of amber , and musk dissolv'd in rose water as much as shall render it a gratefull odour . but for those which are brought so low , that nature is almost desperate of ever giving another flesh livery , to such i present this insuing restorative or consummada , which above all other , manifests his effects in a most momentary operation , replenishing the veins faster with bloud , than assimilation can dispence of it . the prime way for consummadoes . ℞ . an old capon exenterated , his neck , wings , and feet cast away ▪ and the rest cut into small pieces . then take one or two partridges , the flesh of a leg of veal all cut smal then macerate all 24. hours in white wine . then put the wine and flesh into a great glass phialam with ℥ ss of cinamon , and two nut-megs grosly beaten prepared pearls and corall of each ʒiij . flowers of borage , bugloss , an. p. j. all being well mixt together and the orifice of your glass exactly stopt , set it ●n balneo bulliente where let it boil well for eight or nine hours without intermission . then strain all through a coarse canvas , separating the fat which swims on the superficies , and if there yet appear any signe of crudity , reboil it again between two dishes untill it's whiteness manifests a perfect decoction . of which you are to take but three or four spoonfulls warm , reiterating the same every three hours : and thus in little time you may promise your bones a winter coat . here is don consummadoes cosin german signior geladino , who petitionates as a well-wisher to your state , and desires to enter into pay : pray sirs judge him not at first sight to be a coward , because he trembles when any man toucheth him : for upon my word he is hearty enough , and deserves to be your corporall . geladina . ℞ . a capon of two years old , the flesh of a leg of veal , four calves feet , white wine , fair water . an. lb vj . boil all in a new earthen vessell , scuming of all the fat : when 't is well boild , strein it , separating all the fat . then put this broth into a new vessell with lbj . ss. of sugar . cinamon unbeaten ℥ ss. cloves num . 12. boil it again a little , then adde thereto the whites of two eggs ; then rebo●l it again , and pass it per manic . hip. s.a. before it cool mix a little musk , and amber dissolv'd in rosewater with it . these hepaticall dishes which you have hitherto fed upon do onely restore : here i will close up your stomacks with a therapeutick dish ▪ an hepaticall antidote . ℞ . agrimon . fol. eupator . avi● . absinth . salviae . an. m.j. faenic . rad. petrosel . aspar . helenii . an. ℥ j. spicae . flor. salviae . tunicis . an. p.j. faeniculi . sem. anisi . carui . an. ℥ ss. calam. arom . cinamom . cassiae lig . sassafras . rad. chinae . an. ℥ ij . with the rectified spirits of wine draw their tincture : to which tincture you shall adde , extract . santal . extract . chelid . an. ℥ ss. 🜿ri 🜖lati . ʒiij . tinctur . croci ♂ cum 🝆 🜍ris praep. ʒij . salis corallor . ℥ ss. essentiae ♂ ʒj . circulate them all in balneo the space of twenty four hours , then in b. vaporoso separate the spirits from the tincture untill it coagulate to an extract which you shall reserve a part . the spirits you shal animate with the soul of his vegetables . the vertues . 't is a universall antidote against all hepaticall debilitations proceeding from a cold distemper . it corroborates the liver , and all the naturall facultyes , returning them their proper strength and temper . so that for all such persons as by reason of a weak liver are proclive to dropsies , cachexies , jaundice ▪ &c. art never lent us a more absolute preservative . dosis . you are to take the quantity of a scruple , either alone or in wine , broth , or some specificall water . the fourth and last course cardiacall . being well recover'd from my great weakness brought by disorders in my late hepatick travells : that i may finish my discovery of this microcosmicall globe ; and from my observations compose an anthropographicall map , for a light to such young travellers as hereafter the devotion of curiosity shall fall into this pilgrimage , i am now resolved to set on towards the cardiacall territoryes . my mistris sanitas dares not undertake this voyage : for she tells me we must imbark again in the red-sea from whence we shall sail into a bloudy gulf which hurries us down into a hollow vein of that earth , where we uncomfortably go many leagues under ground before we can arrive to the viceroyes court spiritus vitalis . besides quoth she , 't is to passionate a land for our weaker sex to abide in ▪ there abounding so many discontents , treacheryes , rebellions , dissimulations , flatteries , inconstancies , vain desires ▪ desperations , arrogancies ▪ mixt with envy ▪ hatred , avarice , pride , ambition , vain glory , with a thousand such like fanatick spirits in the hearts of those inhabitants that 't is too difficult a task either for young or old to live there without infection ; especially for her to whom they were all professed enimies . asking of her why she called those {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , fanatick spirits ? she answered , because the princess phantasia , of the cephalick peninsula first , in a depraved humor gave them their entertainment : where they grew to such a head , that spiritus animalis began to be jealous of his princess phantasia , fearing they might corrupt her : therefore he commanded intell●ctus his favorite whom it did likewise much concern ) to banish them his peninsula , and to confine them to the center of the microcosme . where said she they have now incroached into the cardiacall court , and so blinded the viceroy spiritus vitalis ▪ that they now command and rule his court . i could not but laugh here at sanitas to ●ere how like a woman she talked : and then ●urning to her ▪ i asked if she thought those mo●ives sufficient to divert the resolutions of a traveller . or if she took me for one of those milk-sops which durst not pass the sea because it roard ▪ and would defer his voyage into france untill the french-men had learn'd the english tongue . i told her i feared no bug-beares ; my nature was better pleas'd with horrid and forrain monsters , than with the yealping beauties of domestick puppy dogs . and though she were my mistris ; she had not yet drawn me into the predicament of slavery to oblidge me never to row out of her gally . i assured her i was free born , and her eyes were yet too dul to fire me out of my liberty . besides , i bad her remember in what a case she left me in the hepatick land : where when i return'd sickly to venus court , expecting a coppy of my first well come , venus then not knowing me ( i being before animus adipe & sanguine suffocatus ) shut her dore against me crying tuus inter nos non volat cupido ▪ the kitchin maids also anatomized my skeleton with jeasts , one asking me if i would drink a caudle ? and then singing ova uon meruit qui non galinam nutrit . another took up a lean gridiron , and with a rib of an old servant of hers , she scrape out this motto ▪ quam bene conveniunt . a third stood knocking of an empty marrow bone against a broken pipkin crying , iupiter non mella plus pluit , then threw it into the fire , and sung this epidicticon . lean bones which yeeld no fat at all , the fire is their best funerall . sweet sir , if you 'l renew desire ? go pass our therapeutick fire . then without knocking you may enter in , as prophylactick of our magazin . the remembrance of this was such a cooling card to sanitas , that she let fall all perswasive arguments , and leaves me to my wandring discretion ▪ telling me wherever i went i had her heart . and since she was unfit for such a journey ; she prayed me to accept of her sister convalescentia , who was very well acquainted with my humor and diet , and therefore might be serviceable in so long a voyage . i thank'd her with acceptance , and giving her a parting kiss , presently imbark'd on the red-sea where a fair gale brought me presently upon the cardiacall gulf ; where as health said ) we fell desperately under ground in a hollow vein of the earth , which ●rought our ba●k in few hours directly upon ●e viceroyes court , where had not the sluces ●indred us , we had landed at the court dore ; he court swimming in a lake of christaline water . there expecting the opening of those floud-gates , i was received by one of the court boats , the ferry-man whereof was at●●r'd more like a gentleman usher , than a water-man . his good clothes made me take better notice of him , and examin his profession . therefore i knew no better way to put my self upon his discourse , than by hitting him in the teeth with that empty headed complement , pray what may i call your name sir ? the gentleman ( as i after found him to be so ) answer'd in an affected phrase , that he was signior curioso , and son to the signiora curiosita lady of honour to the duchessa superbia , wife to his lord and prince don ambitio ▪ whom quoth he , i serve ; my place and charge being as you see , to ferry stangers over into his court . here i interrupted his geneologies , and desir'd him to row me back again , craving him pardon , for i was mistaken : my travells tending to the cardiacall court of spiritus vitalis , which it seemed was not there . sir quoth he , have patience ; you shall not nee● to return ; for you are entring the place which you seek : though it now be call'd the court of don ambitio , who being at first a favorite to this cardiacall prince , in few years gain'd so far upon the hearts of the subjects , that they all neglected their legitimate viceroy spiritus vitalis and wholly doted upon him who now rules and commands all : the other being only titular . finding him so open in his relations ; i resolv'd to make him dictator to my table-books , knowing that his curiosity would omit nothing . first therefore i brought him on , with superficiall questions ; asking him ( a dutch curiosity ) how many paces that cardiacall lake might eat up in latitude ? sir , quoth he , it seems you have not yet seen the new anthropogeographicall map lately extant ; where this cardiacall part is call'd italia microcosmi ( as containing the center of the world ) and this lake is there baptiz'd by the name il lago passionato , where the hearts of desperate lovers hourly float in passion . his mouth had scarce clos'd up this relation ; but lo ! appear'd the heart of dido swimming after our boat , and calling for her aeneas . this brought his theory into pra●tick , and made me the more credulous , and prompt to exercise his historicall tongue , with other propositions of my ignorance . turning my face therefore towards the cardiacall court , and seeing so princely a fabrick lye ●ounding with a perpetuall motion upon so still a water ! so soon as amazement return'd my tongue her liberty , i ask'd signior cu●ioso if it were not a vanity to demand the cause of that magick motion , which there appear'd dancing from dyastole to systole in the ●ircle of inchantments . he answer'd , that i had here brought him upon a great antiquity : the relation of which would be a present very gratefull to memory . know therefore quoth he that this lago passionato , is properly and anciently call'd the lake of icarus ( and by corruption ichor ) as ovid sings , icarus icarias nomine fecit aquas . for herein fell that ambitious son of daedalus , whose presumption was the originall of this cardiacal motion . for when daedalus by his winged art did emulate those angelic . 〈◊〉 deityes , as one day , he and his son were exercising their ambitious plumes ; flying beyond the region of mortall liberty , phaebus was call'd forth from his helion's sphear to view those presumptuous cretensi , daedalus had no sooner spi'd him draw back the curtain of his clouds , but , wisely , he retir'd . icarus , hot in ambition , and , neglecting his fathers more aged precepts , follows the sublimity of his fansy , and soars up so high , that phoebus in choller with his aspiring vanity call'd him up to the element of fire , where his wings being burn'd , his ambition fell with his body into thi● lake . then , to make him and his father secular examples ; he caused daedalus to build a floating tem●le in this lake , and to fill it with penitentiall fires ▪ then phoebus chain'd the winged soul of drown'd icarus , upon the top of this temple , there to labour in a perpetuall motion ; striving by the strength of his wings to elevate his ambitious soul , which was as fast pull'd down again by its overburdened terrestriety . which constant motion likewise did ventilate the inclosed fires , whereby the soul of icarus was hourly refresh'd in the violence of his exercise , to the end his torments might be eternall . and for daedalus he commanded him to wander perpetually in this lake ( wearing his ambitious plumes in his head ) that the hourly sight of his sons torments , might feed the memory of his presumption . hence said he proceeds the cause of this constant motion of our cardiacall palace : those penitentiall fires remaining to this hour in some chambers of our court : though now few or none make use of them in their sacrifice ; the whole court applying themselves wholly to the flattering of don ambitio , every one labouring to be his {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and because he daies not perfume his greatness with the mortifying smoke of these penitentiall fires , ( lest it should choak the torrent of his pride , and bring him to a miserere ) they all , not to alienate from his humor , rake them up in the embers of vanity . but after some few hundred years said he , phoebus being mov'd to pitty by the tears of daedalus , and penitentiall offerings brought to this temple by his parentage , at last gave liberty unto their pining souls , by turning the soul of daedalus into an eagle , whereof he made a present to iupiter . and of icarus he made the phoenix , thereby to express the singularity of his pride : and lest time might blot out the memory of his great presumption , once in an age he inioyn'd him build an altar of arabian aromaticks and thereon to sacrifice his body with the fires of his so●ar rayes . in reward of which he promis'd that his youth should be as often renewed . in those dayes likewise , quoth he , this cardiacall palace , upon that occasion was call'd the temple of sol {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , whither many ambitious sinners came in devotion to kiss those penitentiall fires : so that no part of the world was so famous for devotion . but phoebus had no sooner relieved those tormented souls of daedalus and his son ; but streight religion here ceas'd : and it was presently inhabited by those fanatick spirits which intellectu had banish'd from the cephalick peninsula for bewitching of the princess fantasia , and threatning his ruin . here the viceroy , spiritus vitalis , one day in his progress , taking notice of these fair buildings , and seeing them lye buried in their ruines : falling in love with the situation of the place , presently sent for his magicians , whom he commanded to conjure all those spirits to retire into a little chamber in the left partition of this palace ( where lay the penitentiall fires ) and there to chain them up . then he caus'd his architects to renue the lost beauty of those demolish'd ruines : and to revive the dead fame of that former temple he made his magicians inchant it with a perpetuall and propheticall motion : on whose top , ( to make it more miraculous ) he rais'd a vast pyramis , hewen out of one intire ruby : and then proclaim'd it the oracle of aesculapius ; causing the fame thereof to be publish'd through out the whole vniverse ; and that all diseased , of what infirmity so ever , let them repair to this oracle in devotion , and but touching the motion thereof only , the oracle should infallibly assure them whether their disease were mortall or not . here our boat arriving at the palace gate , his relation ( which i found more poetical than rational ) was silenc'd by the approach of his mother the lady curiosita : who came thither ready with all her followers to attend my landing . where the earth had scarce kiss'd my feet , but she commanded her gentlemen ushers signior polito and signior ceremonioso , together with her waiting gentlewomen signiora impudentia , and signiora confidentia , to bring me forward . then presently she her self seaz'd upon me , leading me into the court , and telling me that her curiosity had impos'd that duty upon her , to give entertainment to strangers , her genius being most proper for such imployments . following that lady up a pair of high stairs ( whose altitude made our hearts nimbler than our heels ) and being with a quick sublimity , by the mercuriall complements of signior ceremonioso , brought to the highest step : there i was taken by the duchessa superbia . who ere she would deign to let her tongue move towards me , she comanded her m●ior domo , signior prodigo , to clap one of her lords ( don ambitio ) gawdy suites on my back , and to put me in fashion . here , me thought i look'd , like a candle in the sun : or like a wooden spoon in a sack posset . i was just like a new rigg'd ship , govern'd by a sculler : who labouring with a contrary wind to leave my common road , and shew my self in the ocean ; i made my rich apparell my compass : from which i never durst draw mine eyes , lest i should forget my course , and so be blown back again into my old harbour . i wish'd that she had lent my face a new cover to : for i was very suspitious lest that ( though impudent enough ) should have betrai'd my outside , there remaining still a rusticall character , which rich imbroaderyes could not eclyps , in fine she had put me so far out of fashion with my naturall gate , annuities , and obscu●e breeding ; that i was more troubled in practising how to be taken a man of my cloaths , than ever ierelictum was when he first tutor'd his apes . for courtly phrases and complements , wanted none : for , sir philip sidney , and ben iohnson can testifie , that i have so over-burthened my memory out of their granaries , that it being too weak to retain them lets them often drop here , and there to no purpose . for exteriour gestures , and ocular ceremonies , my private chamber practice had so inur'd me , that i mistook every man i met in the street for my looking-glass . to say the truth , nothing blank'd me , but a scurvy durty opinion , which like an evill angell hourly persecuted me : telling me that my cloaths would subscribe to antiquity , before my fortunes could renue their thred-bare titles , by some better calling . looking downward upon the ugly foot of this opinion , i was letting all my bravery ( with the peacock ) fall to the ground , and sneaking again into my posture . but here signiora confidentia prevented me : who cock'd up my beaver , gave me a resolute kiss , and assur'd me that her lady mistriss superbia was in love with me : for whose sake , she said , she had settled a good opinion of me ; bad me be bold , and confident of my well-come , and to proceed ; for she would warrant me preferment . at this , i began to make a noise with my spurs : call for my lackquies ( though they all knew poverty preserv'd me from that vanity ) and then desir'd this resolute young lass considentia , to carry me into the chief lodgings of the court , that i might be taken notice of by some of the nobility , whom i was then confident would cast a fortune upon me . the desperate wench , without f●rther ceremonies ▪ brings me presently into the chamber of presence , were sate don ambi●●o on a high throne swelling in the pride of his humane deity . where he gave entertainment to himself ( esteeming his conversation too great an honor for that poor worm man ) by viewing the retraicts of those proud egypptian pyramides , with that rhodian colossus ▪ and promising himself , that his name should feed posterity with greater memorialls . and somtimes reading the lives of caligula , domitian , and heliogabalus ( qui sibi divinos honores deferri , simulacra sua ubique erecta adorari , seque in deorum numerum referri , ●ussit ) whereupon he falls in love with that romish pride , and would fain second it ; but that his ambition will not admit of imitation . seeing him as it were lost in those serious meditations ; i ask'd signior confidentia , whether we were not fallen into presumption by daring to enter a place which seem'd prohibited . sir , quoth she , you can not do me a greater wrong than by nursing such vain suspects . no place to me is prohibited . were it in his most secret and private counsels , i am confident he would embrace me . he dares not shut me out at any time , lest i make him asham'd for it . for he knows full well , 't was i gave him his titles in the court , by putting him forward , and from a poor younger brother made him chief favorit here in the cardiacall court , where he now wholly commands . and though i be but a poor waiting gentle-woman , i can make him forsake all his negotiations , and hearken to any thing that i shall put into his head . with that she ran to him : strikes his book out of his hand , and kist him . i expected still when he should have kick'd her confidence . whereas he quite contrary payd her with interest in her own money , hugging of her , as if she had bin his minion . and then taking notice of me ( as being alone he must of necessity ) he began to mix anger with pride , and so threw a scornfull look upon me ; asking her in a low voice , what fellow that was which had thus lost himself in presumption . i began to tremble fearing he might think i had stoln his suit of apparell which i had then on my back : but confidentia excus'd all , and told him i was a poor gentleman , and a stranger that was betrai'd by fortune , and therefore came thither alone , to manifest his innocency . ask him quoth he , his name , his country and parentage . here that i might enter into the geneologies of his kindred , knowing him to have a spanish heart , i bad her tell him that i was a spaniard : my name signior aemulatio ; base son to one signior ambitio a man of great blood in spain , whose estate being decai'd , left his tender nursery to the blind tuition of fate : who had transplanted me out of that barren soil , hither into his cardiacall garden , where i hop'd the sun of his favour would make me fruitfull . she had no sooner deliver'd my answer , and name aemulatio ; but he presently start up ; began to look about him , and then calling three or four oaths to witness , swore that i was his cosin german , and the neerest in bloud to him , that day extant . whereupon he made me large promises : bad me be alwayes at hand : and not to leave him , untill he should supplant me by some greater fortunes . then he commanded signiora confidentia to wait upon me , cherish me , carry me into every corner of the court , and to recommend me unto his lady superbia for a favorite : then bad us retire a while , for 't was his hour of rest . signiora confidentia was mad untill she had entred me into the practice of the court : therefore bringing me speedily out of the chamber of presence , she lead me first into the lodgings of the lady avaritia , tesoriera to don ambitio , where we found her and her five furies ( diffidentia , metus , solicitudo , spes vana , and desperatio ) at dinner , excercising their lean rigid mandibles upon the hard , musty , and brown chippings of sowre barley bread ; with onions , garlick , stock-fish , red-sprats , ship-beefe which had been seazon'd with an indian voyage : without either table stooles , napkins , knives , or any such stomack instrument . but all lay in a horrid mixture upon a heap of straw , which after dinner they fir'd to encourage naturall heat to fall aboard on such indigestible materialls . amazement here broke my silence ; calling therefore confidentia aside , i told her how strangely i was lost in labyrinth of admiration , if she with the thread of reason did not guide me out . i pray'd her therefore to set me at liberty , in making me understand what new policy don ambitio had found to make shee-treasurers in his court : and besides to tell me what vertues could subsist in that dry hydebound hag and m●gaera avaritia , to make his ambi●ious spirit cast such principle honours upon her de●ested ugliness . confidentia hearing me no better then rail in my demands , presently falls into my tune , and professing her self an open enemy to that witch philargiria : satisfyes me with this impartiall description . quoth she , you must know that this now lady , was first a common baw'd , but so cunning , and dexterous in her calling ; that she would undertake by vertue of a jewell to make chastity her self a whore . and this profession brought her first into our court : where she presently forc'd a respect from the necessity of her calling . her beginning was in the kitchin ; from thence she rose to be a chamber maid ; and so to a waiting gentlewoman . here , notice began to be taken of her by the great ones : so that if any of them were love-sick , she presently felt their pulse , and with a small feeling from them , promis'd a speedy and pleasant cure . it happened that our lord don ambitio , among his infinity of mistrisses ▪ could not satisfie himself , but one day taking notice of three young vertuous virgin ladies ( signiora castitade , signiora innocentia , and signiora constantia ▪ who abhorring his insatiate and lascivious lust , and to avoide the malice of his ambition , liv'd retir'd ▪ and never appear'd publickly in the court unless upon a christmass , or easter day ) their beauties gave such an inflammation to his lust , that without opening of a vein there was no scaping of a phrensy . here , quoth confidentia , i like a mad girl , under hand plai'd the baw'd , and put him upon this more authentick baw'd avaritia , assuring him that she would corrupt them if corruptible . he , like an expert gamster at inn-and-inn , would not hazzar'd those golden heaps untill he had made the dice run of his side . sends therefore for , then but mistris , avaritia , and makes her lady of honour . thus he first made her a companion for the noblest ▪ that young simplicity might not dream of corruption in such greatness . then he throwes the dice freely ; venters all at a cast , opens his desires , and shews the game which he gave chase to : tells with what innocent and chast simplicity they avoided his snares , and how difficult it was to intrap them . avaritia laught at his ignorance : and then bad him take no more care , but go , and beat the bush for some new game : as for those , she would speedily bring them into his golden net . to those yong ladyes she goes ; enters into their cabinets ; there falls into discourse & familiar conversation : first fingring them , as lutanists do their more delicate and choise trebbles , with ordinary womanish discourse of husbands ; lamenting the unfortunate and miserable estate of a single life . if she perceiv'd no shadows of falseness in that motion ! then presently she admir'd their continency ; commended their chastity , told them how happy they were in that state of innocency & hereupon falls into an encomium of their beauties , their vertues , their rare qualityes , and so by little and little puts them on upon the sweet instrument of philautia . there she proves them again ▪ scruing them up with an ambitious pin , by swearing they are companions for emperours , and that she wonders not , why they let the flowre of their beauties fade in the mirrour of their own suns reflection , si●ce man is too rude a mixture to incorporate with such delicacies . here she scrues them up within a degree of breaking ; finding the higher they are scru'd up , the sweeter their answer was to the touch of her triall . then she playes on , makes them sing and dance ▪ in which merry tune , she lets the hand of her discourse by degrees slide down unto the belly of her lenatick lute , where by a more shrill and penetrating sweetness she brings their ears to such an itching delight , that auditus can no longer keep counsell , but presently calls in her neighbour sences to participate . when she perceives that they have now a feeling of those sweet aers , and that there is no time to be lost , but to keep them going whilst they were in tune , she windes them up yet a note higher , with great promises , and assurances of riches , honours , preferments , principalities , and the like : at which pitch , she no sooner toucheth them but they break . thus did she make those unman'd haggards , stoop to the rich lure of don ambitio . and by this practice she hath rais'd her preferment to this degree of tesoriera : where she now may dispose of what sums she please : for he knows , her covetous heart does so antipathize with prodigality , that she grows sick at the naming of a spend● thrift . i thank'd my little wagtail confidentia for her impartiall enucleation of this philochrysonticall lady : and my patience being somewhat distemper'd with those alliatick savors , whose loathsome violence being still augmented by the often recoiling of the lady avaritias stomaticall artillery , which was overcharg'd with stock-fish , and garlick i desir'd that we might depart those famished lodgings , and enter upon some more restoring objects . 't is true said confidentia , we have lost too much time with this purse-worm avaritia ; but our next visit shall recover it with interest . follow me therefore said she unto the lodgings of the old lady invidia , who you must first know was born mad , and therefore may presume she continues so , all physitians concluding her disease incurable , it being morbus haereditarius . this old trot , runs post day and night , from chamber to chamber , not suffering the poor ladies to lie quietly in their beds : therefore 't will deserve admiration if we find her in her own lodgings : besides we must expect a bastonado ere we depart , for she hates to see any thing that is hand-some : nay malice wrings her into a showre of tears , if she see but a healthfull body , and well apparelled , open her gates . here in spite of her teeth we entered her lodgings ; where i thought it had been carnavall time , there appearing none but masqueradi . she had more servants than all the court besides : but those so horrid , and deformed , that it appeared the school of ugliness . all her chambers were full of false glasses to make people appear ill favour'd and dismember'd ; for she could not abide that any one should discover themselves to be handsome . she had more than fourscore old decaied waiting gentlewomen attending on her ; all which had been turned out of service : some for putting mercury in their lady mistrisses pomade to spoil their good faces . others for eclypsing the lovely brown of their ladyes hair , with cypress powders , under a colour of shadowing some false additions . others for wearing out every other day a new ruff with often turning it in and out of fashion . those came all about us like so many furies , some pissing on my stockins to stain them ; others under pretence of courtesie to pick out the lace of my cuffs & tear them ; others with an envious hug twine their armes about my neck to bring my band in the same wrinkled predicament with their faces ; others kissing me to make my lipps scabby . signiora confidentia wanted not her share neither ; for some presented her with a sweet powder for her hairs , which brought them the falling sickness ; others gave her receipts for her teeth , which made them all dance out in method ; others pretending to renew the lost curles of her hair , sets them afire ; others gave her waters to make her fair , which no sooner applide , but her face looked like a pick'd goose . others , without farther ceremonies call'd her whore , scrach'd her face , telling she was the cause of their disgraces . whilest we were in this purgatory , in came the lady invidia , with her brother il conte odio , and her sister la contessa malitia . never was man frighted with more delight , than i at the sight of that monster invidia . who ever saw the bears masque , may conceive her entrance . she had eaten up all the flesh of her face with her own scratches : so that she look'd as if her head had been dished out in a grave , to a mess of hungry worms , who had pick'd all clean to the bones . her eyes were so dry with often weeping , that for want of moisture they had lost their motion : they being but as two pieces of rotten shining wood , stuck in a dead horses head . her nose , as i guest by the promontorious gristle had been roman . she hopp'd towards me with an intent to rail : but her mouth was so stuft with bitter languages that she could not speak : for with belching up too many hasty words at once into the little portal of her mouth , they wedg'd one another so fast in the door , that she saluted me open mouth'd with a driveling silence , just like a mad dog , whose depraved fancy could not resolve whether to bark or bite first . her brother count odio had the mine of a compleat courtier , and his better judgement , made him not dance into his sisters passionate rashness : but with a reserved malice , he made flattery the engine of his hatred . where like an old ape with his mimicall and fawning gestures he forced a belief of friendship , that so ( no false suspition opposing the operation of his lingring venom ) whil'st you slept in security , he might with the better advantage bite you . he entred upon me with a gratious smile ; desiring me not to take notice of his sisters distemper , a womans weakness being too poor an object for masculine reason : but rather bid me seal up her envy with his friendship , which he protested was more at my devotion than at his own . confidentia here tutor'd my eares with a soft whisper , and bad me loose no trust upon that old fox , for i could never hope to recover it again . he takes you quoth she for a green goose presented as a rarity unto some noble mans table : and fearing least from thence you might be preferred unto a more princely mess , he labors to undermine your designes with his scraping friendship that so without suspect , he may at his leasure blow you up . i had been formerly informed likewise of his double heart and how his malitious subtilties run all upon such aenigmata , that young novices must maintain their oedipus to understand him . very jealous therefore of his proferred courtesies ( which to me did little better then stink ) and finding his name a traitor to his promises : i resolved to trust him no farther than his lodgings . yet that i might bring him on to his purpose , and better my experience by making him a copy of my future practise , i desembled for company , and began to reveal unto him as private secrets , things , god he knows , but then born : to which he so seriously listned , that me thought i already saw his malice promise him , that he had theory enough to practise my ruine . i think , as cunning as he was , i had made some sport with him , had not prevention checked my design by the entrance of signiora iustitia , signiora amicitia , signiora fideltade , and signiora conscientia , all sweet young ladyes of honour in this cardaicall court , who as confidentia told me had long before been corrupted ( with the help of that bawd avaritia ) by don ambitio : and now they were come in visit to the young lady contessa malitia . the lady amicitia did so overflow with winning graces , that i fell desperately in love with her , and desir'd signiora confidentia ( who by her former confession i knew to be embassatrice de amore ) to put me forward into her friendship . but she desired me by no means not to take notice of her in that place , for don ambitio had turn'd her off to count odio , whom she began now to affect : although he abus'd her , and kept her only to make his detested projects the more advantagious . this information , put ice in my mouth : for i knew too much of that crabbed count , to become his rivall . yet being now a courtier , i thought my humor must aswell wait upon the fashion , as my clothes . every one i saw ▪ wore his mistrisses favor , otherwise no courtier . faith then a mistriss i must upon too , and wear her colours , though i had never yet spake to her . he●e i was in conceit that the lady iustitia was ready to cast her self away for me : for me thought she never look'd toward me but her heart laboured to steal to me in a sigh . knowing therefore how apt those tender-hearted creatures were to precipitate in passion and searing lest she might condemn me of cruelty ( though for my part i would have given her leave to have hang'd me for a kisse ) to answer her silent oratory , i began to return her sighs , and as neer as fansie could imitate ▪ i framed such looks withall , as she might call pityfull . then i call'd signiora confidentia apart , and told her what passages had hapned , and ●ow the lady iustitia made love to me . the jeering slut burst into such a laughter at my mistake that all the ladies took notice of it ; and desired to be brought into consort , by participating of the jest . but confidentia to save her credit and mine conceal'd it . and then told me that hereafter in the presence of ladyes she would not stand so near me , lest too much confidence might make me ridiculous . and then said that those sighs and sorrowfull looks of the lady iustitia , which i applied to my self , were for those injuryes . perjuryes , contempts ▪ neglects , brybes , partialities , and a thousand such like abuses which the world dayly cast into her teeth ; which makes the poor lady so slighted and low-priz'd of every man , that growing dull and melancholy , she lives so retir'd , that we can hardly see her above once a quarter . this mistake therefore made confidentia retire farther from me : insomuch that i became so overwise ever after , that when a woman look'd or smil'd upon me ▪ i thought she jeer'd at some defect : which mistrust made many pretty passages happen between me and the lady conscientia , for she had a minde to me in good earnest : as it after appeared by her fondness , and tenderness of me : who blushed not to cast her self into my brest ; prick me with her bodkin , to express her desires in hieragliphicks : rouse me , kiss me , and often put me to the start with her secret motions . all which i regarded not , suspecting still that it was but a plot of hers to betray my weakness . when ever she came neer me therefore , i told her plainly she troubled me ▪ and that she made all the world take notice of her bad proceedings : bad her go and accompany the lady iustitia who was melancholly , and had the green sickness for want of exercise , for my part i would not be guilty of her looseness . this lady conscientia , became so desperate upon my checking her : that stealing from us she ran out of the court-gate and threw her self into the lake of passion , where she perished . it was a long time before any of us mist her : so that had not the lady penitentia came in laughing and crying both at a breath and told us that conscientia had drowned her self , none had ever taken notice of it . here i observed what alteration this news would beget , and i found it almost impotent , producing no other issue but a few abortive tears , which were delivered by a womanish consent who like so many ducks , if one cry the whole brood answers . and those showres were suddenly drunk up by the sun of gladness . for in came don {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , with the lady laetitia , laughing so heartily that though at that instant , all were weeping ; their tears dissolved into such a storm of laughter , that the aier grew cholerick with his violent motions , and broke the windoes to prevent combustion , the jest was to hear every one laugh , and non able to satisfie reason with the cause : only all confessed that they felt their hearts of a sudden much lightned , and a free inclination invited them to any thing that might give them delight . well , the laugh being ended , don zara with a cheerfull countenance , ruddy as the aurora , step'd to the ladyes and thank'd them for the honour they did him in entring into his consort : then bad them proceed , rejoyce , sing , dance , and make no more scruple of honest mirth , but to be free and open in all their delights , without suspect of any future repentance ; for that {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} conscientia was dead . she that had caused so many showres of tears was now drowned in her own deluge . i presently took my advantage of this good news ▪ and began to renew my sute to the lady iustitia , who before had deceived me with the melancholy of her conscious jealousyes : now i presumed she would make no scruple of playing false with any man : wherefore i made the less doubt in corrupting her . and see how happy i was in this attempt ; as if fortune had vowed to chain all my desires together with the links of oportunity , and then throw them into my bosome . don z●r● to celebrate the death of his arch enemy , invited all the ladyes to a masque . where wanting masquers , he desired me to succour his necessity , and make one . it was the thing i gaped for ; my mouth therefore being ready opened to his hand , the first word that i could spit out , was a grant , with a willing acceptance . well for brevities sake gentlemen imagine you saw the ladies all placed ; the musick playing ; and the masquers entring , each of them having his hand enriched with a present , to bestow at discretion upon any of the ladyes . my present was a rich quadra , wherein was represented , the heavens opening , and from thence a wolf falling , with a lamb i his mouth . this embleme was eclypsed with a faire curtain of tissu , emaculated with golden letters , whose connexion made this emblematicall anagram , lady this embleme seems too rude for one professing servitude . but be not rash in judging me untill you finde i guilty be . you are my ● heaven , to whom i sha till i be heard , for mercy call . if you deny me , then i must needs say you'r cruell , and unjust . but if your harsh sententious eyes , will rather here embelmatize , then ope your heaven ; let wolf and lamb tumble toth'earth from whence they came . i le venture breaking back , yea neck and all , so that we may but once together fall . our presents being delivered ; before we dished out our capers into a dance , we made way for the lady laetitia ; who to express her joy in the loss of her enemy conscientia , she welcom'd the ladyes with this sonnet . sonnet . you pensive souls why are you sad ? conscience is drown'd ; then le ts be glad ; let not your pining hearts from hence stagger at future penitence . she that quench'd our joviall fires : checking natures sweet desires : shall no longer curb us in with horrid fears of mortall sin ! conscience shall here no more appear . come then sweet fansy shew thy pow'r , invent new pleasures every hour . teach don ambitio to betray , his dearest friend that stands in 's way . tell him that 't is a noble feat , by supplantation to grow great . and bid him quarrell now withall , that interpose him and the wall . conscience shall here no more appear . bid avaritia wider gape ; tell her she now may freely scrape : and propagate a minerall to renovate some prodigall . let her proceed and multiply in her extorting usury , without a thought of growing wise ; by a church building sacrifice . conscience shall here no more appear . let great superbia jeere , at those which out oft'h fashion wear their clothes . and bid her call her taylors in to massacre some new born sin . teach her some sweet and secret way how to maintain her rich array . bid her first turn an honor'd whore , rather then let her name grow pore . conscience shall here no more appear . bid penitentia wipe her eyes and check with smiles her peevish cryes , tell her it sutes not with the times , to lose her mirth for petty crymes . make her be cheerfull ! rowse her up ! and drown repentace in a cup . let her not fear the new-born day can now her night-past sins betray . conscience shall here no more appear . bid wise iustitia here be free , and make a present blind a fee . teach her to feed upon lost sheep , and pass her sentence in her sleep . let her not stick to play the whore with any ▪ so they be not poore . make her be confident , and say , with her shall dye the judgement day . conscience shall here no more appear . bid castitade blush no more because shee 's don ambitio's whore . and let constantia break with all , since his ambition made her fall . bid sad maeslitia now awake and d●own her cares in passions lake . let none forbear their hearts content , till they grow old , and impotent . conscience shall here no more appear . let now religious pieta come wait upon superbia . and bid her bring her bible in to elevate her passive sin . bid her upon a holy day neglect a sermon for a play . and let her trouble god no more , with often knocking at his dore . conscience shall here no more appear . kinde charitade now grow wise ! be no more gull'd with poor mens cryes . keep home , and learn to lock thy dore ; if any beg , tell them thou 'rt poore . be not so fond to run in debt , by building of a lazaret . no , keep thine own ; and only spend , to gain an office , or a friend . conscience shall here no more appear . come then don {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} lead your dance , whilst mirth layes sorrow in a trance . let your sweet revells blow the fires , of these fair ladyes hot desires . and when they burn , tell them they may ●et reputation melt away . the golden age is now come in where pleasure drowns {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} sin . conscience shall here no more appear . whilst the lady laetitia exercised her voice : i prostrated my self ( as the custom is at all masques in their parts ) on my knees , at my lady mistris iustitias feet . where with a feeling oratory i made my case known unto her : told her , her eyes were murderers : and i desired justice . the richness of my present made her take the better notice of me ; besides i found her disposition very corruptible . so that having brought her just upon the point of a mercifull promise : the sonnet being ended , we were forced to break up our session : every one falling into his posture , and then by mutuall copulations we begat a ballo . how every man governed his heels i commit to your fancyes : since every mans heart was freed from the heavy clog of conscience . well , our masque ended i renewed my sute again with that hard hearted mistris of mine iustitia : who in that little time , had dashed me out of her memory , acknowledging neither me nor present . here i cal'd my old chamerada confidentia : who presently assur'd me that there was no trusting to that lady above all the rest . for said she ; she is one of don ambitio's aged concubines , whom he first corrupted , and made her one day by false witnesses attach that noble lord {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that he might usurpe his place . and now having served his turn , he hath cast her off , leaving her to her self : who now makes a trade of her necessity , and will lye with any man for his mony . when i heard this , i began to wish for my presen● again . yet content to buy my experience at that rate ; it growing late , confidentia and i departed ; every one wondring that i did not wait upon the lady iustitia to her coach . confidentia , as we left the lodgings of don {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} told me that there was never a chamber yet provided for me in the court ; therefore said , if i would accept of a part of her bed ( which said she , runs upon wheels under my lady superbia ) i should be very wellcome : for said she this cool weather i want a coverlid : and where are two in a bed , there wants not coverings . i laughed to hear her so confident in her loosenesse . and to bed we went without further ceremonies . in the morning i stole from her before she waked ( lest i should be made pay for my nights rest ) and going towards the court-gate , i met the spenditore and the master cook going to the market to buy provision for the cardiacall prince spiritus vitalis . having little other imployment i accompanied them partly to learn what dyet people kept in that countrey and partly for a breakfast out of the cooks fees . there for the younger and hotter spirits they bought these cooling cardiaca . rosae . violae . acetosa . borago . buglos . nymphaea . plantago . suc . citri . limon . granat . cerasa . pom. odor . rub. idaei . santal . corn . ceru . os de cord. c. vnicornu . terra sigil . bol. armen . margarit . corallium . bezoar non falsificat . hyacynth . saphyr . smaragd . chrystallus . some compounds ( to mix among their ordinary sawces ) they bought , which were these , diarrhod abbat . diarrhod . comun . diatrion . santal . diamarg . frig. elect. ex acetos , &c. for the more aged , and colder bloods they took up these , cardiaca calida . melissa . rosmar . ocymum . card. ben. scordium . veronica . cort. citri . sem. citri . chermes . charyop . hort . rad. angel . helenii . flor. calend. xyloaloes . ●● cook , or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , was retired into a little private room , and there very close at work , upon an antepidemicall antidote , wherein as i remember he put these praeparations . ℞ . confect alkerm . confect . ex hyacynt . theriac . extract . bac . iunip . an. ℥ j. salis perlar. salis corall . an. ʒiij . antimon . diaphor . sulphuris , aurat . diaph . balsam . lact . sulp. an. ℥ ss. essent . crociʒij . essentiae camph . ʒj . tinctur . auri cum spir. sal. extract . ℈ j. lapid. bezoar . ver. ʒj . essent . cinamom . essent . caryophyl . an. ℈ .j. moschi . ambrae . an. g.viij . those he mixt ▪ s. art●m , and thereof made his antidote . which he told me was an admirable preservative against the plague every morning the quantity of a small pease being taken fasting , likewise for those which were already stricken with that infection , if they took , ʒ . ss. or ʒj . of it dissolved in ℥ ij . of some cardiacall water , it cured them by a violent sweat : corroborating the heart ; and banishing all contagious or pestilentiall spirits to the remotest parts of the microcosme . having seen that antidote finished ; i went into another fair large room which seemed another muran of glasses . there i found ready prepared . aurum potabile . tinctura auri. aurum diaphoret . arcanum auri. bezoardic . minerale . tartar . vitriolatum . spir. tartari . sal. viperin . essent . vnicorn . flores sulph . lac. sulphuris . spir. salis . spir. nitri . margarit . mineral . mercur. diaphor . sal. christalli . sal. corallor . sal. perlar. tinctur . croci . tinct . rubinar . tinct . smarald . tinct . hyacynt . tinct . corallor . tinct . antimon . balsam . cinamom . balsam . caryoph . bals . nuc. mosch. essentia ambrae . essentia moschi . spir. rosar . essent . corn . cerv. spir. melissae . spir. card. ben. spir. rosmarin . syr. corallor . syr. perlar. essent . flor. narant . essent . flor. citri . with many other such like principal cardiacall preparations . i returned again to the master cook , and desired him to give me the receipts of those cordiall rarityes which i had seen in his operatory . he answered that they were all secrets reserved for the preservation , and renovation of his prince spiritus vitalis , and were by him forbidden to be published to any but such who serve out their time in his kitchin . if any of you gentlemen have a liking to any of these dishes , ( the worst of which may be served to a princes table ) pray fall to whilest they are before you ; and when those are digested , who ever desires ▪ to make use of them at home for his private family , let him retire to any of our spagiricall kitchings , and you shall find our cooks more open hearted than those of the cardiacall princes ; and freely present you all their art in such hermeticall delicacyes . in the mean time i am sorry my cheer is not answerable to your merits . what you want in meat ; i desire you to satisfie with mirth : for so believe me you shall be heartily wellcome . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a64765e-500 exhalatio sterquilina . attenuantia incidentia . aperientia . galen . lib. 4 de loc. affect . vigil●●●vitand . alvi excrement . quotidie expurgan . somnum fuge meridianum . somnus sit moderatus . vena . porta . vesica fellis . vena cava agyrto-mastix, or, some brief animadversions upon two late treatises one of master george thomsons, entituled galeno-pale, the other of master thomas o'dowdes, called the poor mans physitian : with a short appendix relating to the company of apothecaries / by william johnson, chymist to the kings colledge of physitians in london. johnson, william, fl. 1652-1678. 1665 approx. 139 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 73 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a46974) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 110025) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1722:13) agyrto-mastix, or, some brief animadversions upon two late treatises one of master george thomsons, entituled galeno-pale, the other of master thomas o'dowdes, called the poor mans physitian : with a short appendix relating to the company of apothecaries / by william johnson, chymist to the kings colledge of physitians in london. johnson, william, fl. 1652-1678. [8], 135, [1] p. printed by t. mabb for henry brome ..., london : 1665. first two words of title in greek characters. errata: p. [1] at end. imperfect: print show-through. reproduction of original in bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng thomson, george, fl. 1648-1679. -galeno-pale. o'dowde, thomas. -poor mans physician. medicine -early works to 1800. 2003-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-04 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion αγυρτο-μαςτιξ . or , some brief animadversions upon two late treatises ; one of master george thomsons , entituled , galeno-pale ; the other of master thomas o dowdes , called , the poor mans physitian : with a short appendix , relating to the company of apothecaries . by william johnson , chymist to the kings colledge of physitians , in london . london , printed by t. mabb , for henry brome , at the gun in ivy-lane , 1665. imprimatur , tho. grigg , may 10. 1665. to the right honourable , henry lord marquess of dorchester , earle of kingston , viscount newark , lord pierrepoint , and manvers , &c. right honourable , if , in the great crowd of dedications , that daily flow in upon your lordship ( the general patron of arts ) there be yet a roome left , i would endeavour to break through the press , to throw my self , and this small treatise at your honours feet . it is in you , my lord , that galen and helmont are reconcil'd , and made friends ; and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or wrestling my authour dreams of , is nothing else , but coming to a close for their mutuall support ; that thus united , each may stand the faster , both pitching on your lordship , as upon a common pillar . and since this league and amity of galcnicall and chymicall physick is no where else to be found more conspicuous , justice it self must plead my excuse , if there be any presumption in my humble desire of your lordships patronage . i must confesse it was not matter of long dispute or study put me upon this choice ; it was of the same date with my resolution to say something to this bold pretender ; for , besides , that in your lordship , having not onely a powerfull patron , but a most proper and competent judge , i was bound in gratitude to make use of this opportunity , to witnesse to the world my particular obligation to your lordship for the long encouragement i have received from your honour in my profession of chymistry . your lordship cannot be ignorant , how numerous these pseudochymists are now grown ; who whilest they would be thought , not onely sons of art , but doctors in physick , viper like , eat out her very bowels : and though never so unskilfull , yet they presume to boast themselves and their juggling faction , as the only friends and zealots for chymistry ; whereas indeed , ignorance alone is the mother of their devotion : this crew i would summon to receive their sentence at the bar of your lordships perfect knowledge and experience , where i doubt not but these pretenders to pyrotechny , not able to undergoe the fiery tryal , will , like their own false preparations , vanish in fumo ; and they be discovered to be neither physitians nor artists , but meer impostors . as an appendix to this sentence , i hope your honour will absolve me from my feares of having displeased your lordship in my present address , and vouchsafe still to continue me according to my great ambition , in the favour of being , my lord , your lordships , most humble , and obedient servant , william iohnson . a' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . or some brief animadversions upon a treatise of mr george thomsons , entituled , galeno-pale : our authour throughout his whole treatise , quarrells so much with method , that i shal not observe his , by dividing my reply into chapters ; but by one intire thread of discourse pass through his whole labyrinth , that so i may securely strike dead , or which will be all one , discover to the world , the monster therein lockt up , in his true dimensions . in the very entrance , nothing will satisfie the fury of our minotaure , but galen himself , thinking indeed in him at once to swallow all , that own his authority ; but alas he finds him so tuff a bit , that his venemous tooth cannot enter : his reputation is so great and universal , his parts , industry and success in physick so eminent , that he is put to it , where to take any hold with his envious fangs , though sharpned with malice and detraction . it is an argument of a very ill nature , or of a bad design , to forge a quarrel between two , the most eminent persons of their times ; that so he might have some pretense and colour to raise a faction by assigning to each their distinct followers ; this is done all men know , upon a false supposition ; for the judicious and learned do not build the praises of galen , on the disgrace of vanhelmont , but honour both according to their respective worth , and are ready to confess that the german on galens shoulders might possibly see more then he ; nay , vanhelmont himself will own , that he was assisted by him in his further prospect : but it is very justly to be suspected , that these jugglers neglecting of galen , the foundation , and per saltum mounted up to vanhelmont , their heads are grown dizzy , and 't is no wonder they endeavour to cast a mist before the eyes of others , when they can see nothing distinctly themselves . the ignorant impudence of this man will further appear , when we consider him making it his business , and profest design to cry down galen , yet at the same time is forc't to confess him a man of excellent parts ; how this character can consist with his ignorance in physick , i leave to any indifferent judge ; since it was in this science , that his wit and learning , not without great paines and study , have been transmitted to posterity ; witness those many great volumes writ upon that subject , which in all ages sober and discreet physitians have received as the oracles of apollo , whom antiquity makes the god of physick . i very much question , whether my friend has ever read galen , and more , whether he understands him : i rather believe he speaks against him at a venture , because he has met with a more easie , though a by way , to his ends , which is not with galen to cure , but delude the patient ; to purge him not of his disease , but of his money . i must confess , that i am not so much an oratour , as to be able to write galens panegyrick proportionable to his merit , and real worth ; neither indeed is it necessary , for what use is there of rhetorick to perswade , what is already so generally believed , both as to his abilities , and our authours ignorance : that which i intend by this discourse , is to caution all sorts of people , who are unacquainted with any such thing , as a difference between galen and helmont , & are apt to be deceived by master thomson's scandalous reproaches of the one , and his great elogiums of the other ; whereas he neither rayles or commends to any other end , then to bring an odium upon the colledge , and all physitians in generall , who onely by sobriety , and long study commend themselves unto the world : he is not concern'd either to oppose galen , or cry up vanhelmont , but in order , to gain a reputation with the people to himself , and the rest of those fanaticks in physick , master odoud , master lockyer , and i know not how many of the like rabble , foot-men gun-smiths , heel-makers , and botchers , that are all made doctors in the opinion of the vulgar , who deluded with a few hard words , and the bare names of chymical preparations ( which is all the stock these men set up with ) are apt to admire what is above their understanding ; but i wish they would consider , that they deal with a sort of jugglers , that do not understand themselves . thus , the more plausibly to deceive all that are not capable of enquiring into the mystery of their trade , but yet may be apt enough to avoid them as up-starts ; they range themselves under the banner of vanhelmont , whose name having made a considerable noyse in the world , they think sufficient to silence such as should question their knavery ; but their ignorance does not a little appear in the very choice of their patron , for had i been of their council , i would have suggested to them a more ancient and stouter champion , whom helmont himself ownes , theophrastus paraselsus , who was the first , not that dissented from galen , but that made any considerable improvement in chymistry ; for it is not to be questioned , but that he and vanhelmont through their ingenious labour in the fire , made discovery of many rare and excellent medicines ; but neither of them buried galen in the ashes , wholly laying aside , as these men would have the world believe , his sober rules and prescriptions ; and this ingenuity of theirs hath been abundantly requited by that esteem , which hath been paid them by most learned physitians since their time , but especially those now of thecolledge , ( who for many years last past in all the universities of europe have carried the vogue . ) my particular relation bath given me opportunity of frequent converse with these famous men , and when any discourse of vanhelmont , or any chymical authour has occasionally being raised , they were so far from being traduced ( as this impostor in divers places of his book impudently affirms ) that they were never mentioned without some remarques of commendation ; indeed it is so much against the nature of any ingenious man to vilifie an artist ( such as doubtless vanhelmont was ) that i believe by this it will appear , our adversaries undervaluing of all , but themselves , must needs be out of malice and base design ; for my own part , i may presume to say , ( without being guilty of much boasting ) it will be acknowledged , by a sufficient testimony , that i understand my profession , but i should think my self very ungratefull , if i did not acknowledge the helps and incouragements i have received from the colledge ; 't is from their favourable influence my fires have received a new light and heat , and they have taken care to blow and cherish the flame . let any judicious man but look back , and compare the practise of our worthy physitians for twenty years last past , with the preceding times , and he must confess chymistry , and its improvement has been their great care , and constant study ; that pitch , to which this noble art is now advanc't , is ow'd to them , and if it ascend yet higher , the same hands must lend their assistance . neither am i so put to it , that i should urge barely their favours to my self , though visible for this twenty years , as a sufficient conviction and evidence of their zeal to pyrotechny ; they have given other large testimonies , nay , most of them have been so industrious , that they have actually put their hands to the plough : if this be to vilifie and reproach vanhelmont , if this be to oppose chymistry , they may be justly accused : but since it appears far otherwayes , these impostors do but betray their envy and ignorance ; yet thus much i will acknowledge they have in them of chymistry , they know well how to blow the coal . as to the abuses and disrepute the galenists ( as you are pleased to stile our doctors ) have brought upon physick ; mutato nomine de te fabula narratur : surely the man's asleep , or how could he be guilty of so gross a mistake , for doubtless this part of his treatise is as it were designed to whip himself and his juggling brethren ; for at the same time when he mentions the sad exorbitances , irregularities , and abuses in physick , he in plain terms confesses them to be introduc'd by swarms of quacks in every place numerous , as locusts ; he appearing in the head of this band himself , impudently bidding defiance to the doctors , & telling them to their teeth , they would fain put them to the rout , if they had power equall to their will ; but alas this exprobation of all others is the most frivolous ; for give these impostors but rope enough , and they will hang themselves , withering like hasty weeds for want of sap and root . among his other insignificant reproaches , t is very pleasant to observe , how he quarrels with the colledge for their plain dealing , and openness , as if they were to blame for imparting their fkill , and expounding the riddle of physick so far as is susficient to discover the juggle of these quacks and mountebanks . this fellow goes on to tax the colledge with uncharitableness , which accusation is better answered by the hospitals then by me , though many thousand other poor people besides can testify their charity and readiness to do them good freely without taking any thing for their advise ; whereas his and his brethrens , being nothing worth , their way is to exact money before hand of the poorest for physick of their own jumbling up ; so that they do not onely wrong them , but those also whom they would seem to pity , under a title of the poor apothecaries ; and surely they are in a fair way to deserve this epithite , if they , with the help of the colledge do not get the practise of physick purged from such pitiful physitians . these subtle insinuations they use to foment a groundless discord between doctor and apothecary ; for doubtless the late appeal to the parliament , was intended to tye the hands of such usurpers as your selves , who would ingross doth professions , without being qualisied for either : and this , contrary to their ill grounded hopes , will in its due time take effect ; and then if some epidemical contagious disease , worse then your selves ( the omen of which god avert ) should reign amongst us , we doubt not gods blessing upon the sober endeavours of doctor and apothecary , each being careful in his respective sphear ; and surely there is not much likelihood our galenists that have stay'd the brunt of former infectious times , should now run from their colours , if the like danger should happen : almost in every church in london , or vestry , there is to be found a printed memoriall of their pains and care in the sickness-time ; however i hope thus much in your behalf , that a publick edict will be instrumentall to free your fraternity from the disgrace of a voluntary flight . 't is no wonder at all to hear you inveigh bitterly against rule and method in physick , when out of your anarchical principle , you are as ready to renounce all order and government in the state ; your designe is to subvert , what the lawes of england , and the customes and priviledges of both universities have established , ( viz. ) that none under so many years standing in one of our two universities , ought to be admitted to practise physick ; and the degree of a doctor requires more : yet after all this , according to an antient grant from his majesties royal ancestors given to the colledge of london ; none , of these persons though so qualified , can have liberty to practise physick within divers miles of london without leave from the colledge : yet every heele-maker , foot-man , or botcher , that can but steal a receit from some doctors man ( by the consent of master thomson ) shall presently mount the common stage , and under the notion of a chymicall doctor , defie the whole body of physitians ; besides you do not onely go about to infringe the liberties of this honourable society , but you doubly incroach upon the freedom of apothecaries ; who , as to the pharmaceutical part of physick , have a pattent of the same authority ( as to their corporation ) with that of the colledge relating to the practise of physick , and unless a man be invested by one of these two authorities , he can neither justifie his preparing any medicines , or practising when he has done , and in what degree then you rob the apothecaries of their profession , i shall have an occasion to demonstrate in another part of my discourse ; though i would have you take notice of what is now said , and consider how unjustly you assume the practise of physick in any respect whatever ; and yet not withstanding all this , through your fallacious ignorance , you wonder , and stand amazed ( as you say ) to see such learned physitians , men so highly reputed for their parts , to carry on such a design , as the confirmation of their pattent ! you may as well wonder why a man should defend his house against thieves , which is but a particular interest ; but in this the common good is so much concern'd , viz. the keeping down such drones and quacks , as through their ignorance , and irregular practise would prove prejudicial to the common-wealth , creating more diseases then they cure . i cannot deny but t is possible they may stumble upon success , in some of their desperate attempts , but t is very rare , since nature is doubly assaulted , by the remedy as well as the disease . in this case of good fortune they fail not to open , and not unlike the lottery-mongers at bartholomew fair , who blow the trumpet before every single prize , though never so inconsiderable , whilest all the blanks are husht up in filence . thus they make a great cry , where there 's no wooll , unless it be that which their own wits are still gathering . but these impostors of late do flatter themselves with a new advantage , which they make so much of , that they are willing to let go all their former shifts and deceits to trust wholly to this ; i mean a pretended quarrel between the doctors and the apothecaries ; upon the improvement of which , the common enemy fancies to himself a perfect victory ; but alas the poor wretches are as much mistaken in their policy , as their prescriptions : this does but alarm both to unite more strongly , and to joyn their forces , for the more easie subversion of these apotheco-medicasters . i must confess this to be the only reed they can with any hope of safety take hold of now they are sinking , but it will doubtless prove in the end a broken one , and they , if not in danger of being drowned , sure to prick their fingers to the bone ; oh! how i long to see them shew their teeth , when they cannot bite , when they have nothing to fasten upon , and must be forc'd to turn their fury upon themselves , and fret in their own grease ; then the sport will be to see these factious jugglers crumbled into diverse petty intrests , and devour one another , whilest doctors and apothecaries in a perfect amicable , concurrence shall have nothing else to encounter , but the distemper of the patient , and not be troubled to keep off a second infection , and more dangerous , namely these intruding empricks ; of whom , though i should be silent , the usuall success of their care will evince to the world , that the abuse of physick for some late years past did not come from any labourer , drudge or excrement of the doctors , as my friend seems to aver , but from an ignorant , and no less impudent sort of people , the very refuse of the whole town , those swarmes of quacks , he mentions in his third chap. with an ingenious acknowledgement , that t is themselves have made this noble science ( the true professors where of divine writ hath charged to be honoured ) a very trade to get money ; to which end they have cover'd and adorn'd themselves with jewels , stoln out of other mens clossets , those arcana's he so often speaks of ; but alas in their ill wearing them , they are sullyed and lose their native lustre the greatest arcana's in the world , when improperly apply'd , must needs fail in the performance of their usual effects . when this undertaking first enter'd into my thoughts , i resolv'd out of my affection to chymistry , to take off this general scandal , the ignorance of these pretenders to the art have brought upon it ; knowing nothing more destructive to chymistry , then such chymists , who presuming ( as justly they may ) that the generality of the people cannot disprove them , do confidently affirm themselves to be artists ; so that what reputation they gain with the vulgar , t is wholly due to their tricks and noise ; subtle and lungs in this case making up but one alchymist . these fellows do by chymistry , just as our fanaticks do in religion , cry it up zealously , but with a manifest design to pull it down ; both being equally ignorant , and both enemies to the truth . it were to be wisht , that this railer were guilty of what he accuses the galenist , ( viz. ) plausible rhetorick ; but he is now grown so abusive and scurrilous , that in his fourth chapter , he is not content to scandalize the physitians , but also the apothecaries , whom hitherto out of design he would seem to have courted , and in many places of his book , doth curry favour with , yet not minding his self-contradiction , when any thing falls into his purpose against the physitians , he does not stick falsely to asperse the whole company of apothecaries , and accuse them of a sordid and base eomplyance , ( that he might wound the reputation of doctor and apothecary together ) impudently asserting an obligation upon them , not only to speak for the doctors , but to lye for them , yea and to do some things for them to the hazard of their souls , being forc't to maintain , and sometimes to own all their miscariages , misdemeanours , and gross aberrations in physick , or else he , his wife and children must bite on the bridle : but i am sure this brute wants one in his mouth ; whither will he run in this full carriere , casting dirt in the faces of known honest men ? but the best is , their reputation is so unquestionably unblemisht in the world , that all the dirt , which is thrown at them , will the more forcibly return upon the authors , and so stick the faster . but do you hear , my good friend , oportet mendacem esse memorem ; were not you he that all along have accused the galenists of being too communicative , and now tell us t is their principal study to involve all in obscurity ; and i pray tell me , has not the dint of your accusation been all along , that they cryed down chymistry , and do you now indite them for becomeing chymists ? but you say t is of a sudden ; and methinks that should please you , since t is your own case ; 't was neither time nor pains perfected your fraternity , you are a generation of artists bred like myrmidons or mushromes , coming to full growth in one night : and the truth is , among you , he is the best chymist , that has most impudence , and least conscience : but that our worthy doctors allow'd now to be chymists , are not become such of a suddain , needs little proof ; i my self have been their servant near twenty years countenanced , and daily imploy'd by them in making chymical medicines , and long before that time , many of the colledge , whom i had the honour to know , kept private elaboratories in their own houses , and notwithstanding , this is so eminently known among all that were ever concern'd in physick ; yet this impostor presuming many others know it not , thinks by cajoling of the people , to reap not onely the profit , but the credit too of all their industry and labours . to promote this , he tells you in the end of his fourth chapter , a story of a perspicacious gentleman , who extorted , after much urging , from a physitian , this answer , hang it , we are but a company of cheats ; and sayes our authour further , this was reported to us , &c. it seems there was a juncto of quacks met , a committee of empricks , at whose sitting among others , as frivolous , this report was made forsooth , and sayes our authour , by a person of quality ; to this , i shall only offer the improbability of the thing it self , for a sufficient answer , and advise him for the future , to lye more feisibly . this cunning man being neither chymist nor astrologer , undertakes boldly to personate both , upon the same presumption , that each of them is above the capacity of the vulgar , whom it is his business to delude : whereupon in his fifth chapter , he talks to us of predictions ; but the vanity of this cheat is long agoe exploded by the learned and judicious ; besides t is known to be a common refuge for such ignoramuses , as can give no rational account of their patients distempers ; so that in this case , he that will confess himself never to be mistaken , but as a man , does ingeniously acknowledge he never is in the right , which is our authours case , in his own words , happy be lucky , hitting the mark with as much uncertainty as those people called andabatae , that fought wink ing . notwithstanding he blames the doctors for being sober and modest , not daring to promise what they never expect to perform ; he quarrels with them for not being as impudent as his faction , who confidently assert themselves to be infallible in the business of physick , and in the most difficult cases , pretend to exclude all conjecture . my good friend , t is shrewdly to be suspected , he is most erroneous , that would have it thought he cannot erre at all . it will not be much from my purpose ( which is chiefly to present this crew in their colours ) to inform the world , that they not only pretend to bephysitians , but would be thought able to recover for us , all other losses besides that of health , by their skil in astrology ; if one good woman loseth her petticote , another her wedding-ring , they are ready to cast a figure for them ; but believe me , 't is such a one , as will in the conclusion stand for a cypher ; and if at any time they seem to make any discovery , t is sufficiently known they do it by confederacy . neither do they take a course much different to come into credit with their quacking trade , bringing and hiring all people whatsoever , to feign both sicknesse and cure , that other silly poor wretches , who really want help , may be trapan'd into a false opinion of their skill , and be gull'd at least out of their money , if not out of their lives . i do not take up this barely upon the credit of a flying report , but i know it by personal experience , for there is not a juggling figure-flinger , or quack in the town , but i have had some knowledge of him , and am very well acquainted with all their fallacious actings and designs ; so that i might justly be accus'd to be of their party , if i kept their council , which i am little concerued to do , since they are so unworthy as to make their pretended zeal to chymistry , a cloak for their knavish and pernicious practises . ther is hardly a page in his whole book but what is fill'd with some abusive language or other , though withall so full of self-contradiction , 't is below me to think him worth an answer : besides he is an enemy so inconsiderable , that i can hope for little credit by undertaking him : in his sixth chapter , his main business is to cry down anatomy , as very insignificant , and little conducing to the recovery of the patient : i wish some of our galenists had this fellow under their hands to cut him off the simples ; i am confident , were they to read a lecture upon him , they would discover his want of brains ; but this is sufficiently proved to all men by his own scribble ; did ever any sober man find fault with industry imploy'd in anatomical dissections ? who ever imagin'd it possible for a man to be a good physitian , without great skill and judgement in the subject of this art ; and most diseases proceeding from internal causes , what way to be taken for the discovery of them , but anatomy ? so that the great care of the colledge in opening of bodies cannot be ; a meer publick theatrical business , more for ostentation , and to get a fame abroad , then for any notable improvement in the cure of miserable man : though these be my friends own words , yet he is master of so much reason , or justice , as that presently after he condemnes himself , ex ore suo , by an apparent recantation ; anatomy ( sayes he ) we stand up for as much as any , without which a physitian we are certain , must needs be defective in physick : these contradictions are so frequent throughout his whole book , that 't is not indeed worth the while to take notice of a single one ; in truth i think it had been a very good way of confuting this fallacious writer , onely to have transcrib'd him ; but the same in effect , every judicious reader will do in the most cursory perusal . 't is to me a wonder , the rest of his fraternity do not fail upon him , for so ill defending their cause ; ' i would be much for their interest to have his book called in betimes ; or i would advise them to call a conventicle of jugglets , and make a resolve , that this pamphlet be forthwith distill'd , and as one of their own chymical operations for the future kept , inter arcana , and so privately , that the world may not be so fully informed of their misterious cheat : but to return to his censure of anatomy , which all along he both magnifies , and cryes down in one breath , he undervalues it , because the skill is not to be attained without great pains , and a study his capacity comprehends not , yet he is forc't to admire it , as not being ignorant , that without the knowledge of anatomy , all their knowledge is in vain ; and this he himself confesses , in a comparison he makes of a mechanick , who ought to have a competent insight of that machine , as watch or clock , which he goeth about to mend : thus this impostor by the power of truth , is constrain'd against his will & design to plead against himself , and condemn his own up-starts ex tempore practise ; let the reader but observe what herculean labour , he sayes is necessary to attain the knowledge of generous medicines ; what sinewes , and strength are to be put forth to find them out , how much precious time is to be spent in hammering them out ; and together with this discourse of pains and toyle , consider how of a suddain these fellows start up able physitians , out of shoo-makers , groomes , botchers , and what not , that is furthest off from physick , he must conclude , they do all in their vain shews , but verba dare , study to impose upon the too credulous populacy , over whom they have this advantage , that the people are very willing in their preferring of these men to admire themselves , and do therefore swallow glibly , what they would never endure in a doctor of physick , especially of the colledge , whom they look upon as above them by many degrees . the invention of the circulation of the blood , by industrious doctor harvey is highly to be commended , sayes our authour , but he subjoyns that the therapeutick part is little advanced thereby ; t is very strange to me , that this fellow can be so ignorant of the real advantage this discovery hath brought to man-kind , in order to the cure of diseases , both internal , and external , for the blood being the seat and subject both of health and sickness , the knowledge of its true motion must indisputably conduce to the preservation of the one , and the expulsion of the other , by the right and judicious application of apropriated medicines , whether officinall , or other wayes : and though i confess with our authour , that our officinall medicines , in his own sense , are not more sufficient and powerfull now , then they were before the improvement of anatomy ; yet , the judgement of the physitians in the use and more proper application of them being advanc't , the benefit which the patient receives , must needs be the greater . after all these impertinences , he once more presents himself to us as a spagyrick , with his more prevailing helps ; and this i observe to be the clinch of all his discourse , ( next railing ) and the hinge , on which all his design turns ; under this notion , he talks wildly of a pyrotechnicall anatomy , which ( as he sayes ) shews us where every disease is seated ; it seems by this , these impostors , do not use to anatomize dead carcasses , but calcine them ; so that the effect of this operation must needs prove to be nothing else but a caput mortuum . as in almost every chapter of his book , so in this seventh , he has a new hocus to carry on his old design ; he has been nibling formerly at the apothecaries , and now he would bring the chirurgions to cut a way through for him , if he can but raise a jealousie between them and the doctors ; to effect this , and the better to bring his purpose about , he boldly undertakes to reprove the doctors , for the ignorance of most of them in surgery ; which is an art so distinctly and properly , and as a due right belonging to another incorporated society of men ; thatwithout offence both to civility and justice they cannot engage in it ; so that they do not forbear surgery for want of skill , but out of a fair respect to the worthy company of chirurgions : they never would in point of manual operation , infringe the least of their liberties ; and that 's the reason our adversary makes himself so really concern'd , not for the doctors ignorance ( as he pretends ) for no man can imagine a good physitian to be a novice in surgery ; but because he would raise a feude ; and himself confesseth , that the business of the knife properly belongs to the chirurgion , yet censures the galenists , as not being able to undertake a whitlow , a scald , a green wound , or any triviall sore ; indeed these may be counted high undertakings in himself , but they are things even below a profest chirurgion to take notice of , as being the common cures almost of every old woman . but at this rate he proceeds through the whole chapter , taking occasion at every inconsiderable conceit of his own invention , either to cast some dirt upon the colledge , or to promote some difference between them and the chirurgions ; nay , rather then not propagate his own cause , he raises a quarrell between them and his medicines ; tell them ( saith he ) of the alkahest , or universal menstruum , of lapis chrysopeius , or of a panacea , they will but deride and flout at it ; these are things indeed vanhelmont mentions , but i dare be bold to say , our authour never saw any of them ; and further , as to the lapis chrysopeius , and liquor alkahest , i affirme positively , there is no such arcana's to be found in rerum naturâ : 't is probable master thomson has a strong faith , and it were to be wisht , that he had as much patience , or it is impossible he should continue till the dissolution or reduction of those coagulations , or tumors into their first matter ( as he mentions ) be performed by art ; nor is there any arcanum to be found less then that universall menstruum , he from vanhelmont speaks of , from which it can rationally be expected . but this i would advise him to take heed of , least , when he goes about to untye and colliquate the stone , he dissolve the whole body , and bring that into a fair way of reduction into its first matter . as to his relation of three large stones expell'd by a chymical physitian from a maid-servant ; i once saw as great a matter done , and from a maid-servant too ; but rather by accident , then by the application of any medicine at all ; so that his turkeys egge is addle : the stone that came from this maid , was bigger then any of these three he mentions , and very scraggy : 't is possible therefore for nature to free her self from such monstrous products , meerly by the force of her own expulsive faculty . i know there are many chymical preparations , much conducing to this effect ; and as i have no reason , so i do not oppose this accident , against that chymicall physitians experiment , in any respect , to take off the validity of paracelsian medicines ; but to take away those pernicious and mistaken inferences that master thomson draws from thence , ( only to lay hold of any means to scandalize the physitians ) as bleeding , pernicious purgation , blistrings , &c. a practise which ne physitian uses barely in reference to the stone , but as some other accidentall distemper may require ; nor ever do they appoint the knife , till sound judgement , upon serious deliberation counts it necessary . 't is very pleasant , how in his eighth chapter , he represents the doctors as concern'd to vindicate their credit from these jugglers imputations ; whereas alas , they take no more notice of them , then a lion does of a whiffling curr , or the philosopher of his scolding xantippe : notwithstanding , he is pleased to begin this chapter thus : ye make your boast that ye possesse ( as well as we ) your laboratory and variety of furnaces . in good time ; ( as well as we ) pray what signifies this parenthesis ? did ever any sober man think that you , or your brethren , ever rightly knew , what belong'd either to laboratory or furnace ? possibly you may like doctor subtle in the play , keep about you some coales and glasses , these alone being sufficient to cheat those you dare admit to the inspection of your operations : your medicines , and your furnaces too , are to be counted inter arcana ; and the truth is , the good you either have , or are like to do with them , is yet , and alwayes will be a secret ; those that are friends to truth , are like her , naked and unmaskt ; they dare stand the test , nay , invite the severest , and most piercing eyes to be witnesses of their faithfulness and industry . but stay , do you hear the news ? our author tells us , it is not the laboratory , nor specious furnaces , that simply makes the spagyrical physitian . risum teneatis amici ? was ever any one so senseless as to imagine , or dream of a true artist without , or that a man can be so accounted , without convenient utensils ? yet as books and furnaces do not , meerly of themselves , make either scholars , or spagyricks , so it must be granted , neither books nor furnaces could be made without them both ; but away with these notorious truths , by you repeated to the same purpose , with your as notorious lyes and bare pretenfes to chymistry , out of which there arises only an ignis fatuus , making a false glare , like the meteor so call'd , which leads the poor traveller out of his way , and leaves him in a ditch crying out for help ; just thus do these jugglers by their patients , who after they have been seduced , and ill handled by these empiricks , are forc't to return to the discreet , and wary physitian for their cure. i should think it strange , out of any mouth but our authous , or his complices , to hear a physitian accused for not being desperate , and for using safe medicines , rather then those that are hazardous ; would any but such mad men administerchymical preparations , without any further knowledge of the medicine , then that it has a hard name : for this i will only instance master lockier , who must either confess himself ignorant , or a notorious lyer in print , as by a pyrotechnical anatomizing of his pill , in another place i shall plainly make appear ; besides elixirs are not prodigally to be thrown away , or used , when any honest , though meaner medicine will recover the patient : chymistry is that which is to help at a dead lift ; but as for universal medicines , they are but chimera's things to be discoursed of , and wisht , but doubtless never to be attained , without a new revelation , which i wonder much , these fanaticks in physick do not boast of . i presume no judicious person can mistake me here , as if i seemed to speak against chymistry absolutely , when i condemne onely the promiscuous use of it in all cases alike , which is the custome of our unworthy empiricks and abusers of learned vanhelmont ; yet thus far i am willing to comply with my friend ; it had been happy for the credit of his art , ( viz. ) of cozening by chymistry , if no chymical medicines had ever been prescribed by the colledge , for therein a palpable discovery of my gentlemens villany is made , and the difference of true gold seen , from that which only glisters . i must confess there are many adulterate and sophisticate preparations vented in the town , for good ; but this can in no sense be imputed to the colledge , for they are sensible of this abuse , and are resolved to reform it in due time , as an appendix to the imposture and knavery of these jugglers . as to what our authour hints concerning the doctors ingratitude , i am confident he laugh'd at himself in the mention , as very well knowing , his faction was never in a capacity to oblige that worthy society , unless it were by being as a foyle , to set off their great abilities . next he goes on , pretending an answer to some objections laid to their charge by the galenists ; and truly in those charges which he mentions , there is couched and imply'd so ingenuous a confession and home character of the faction , that i think it a hard task to set them out more perfectly in their own colours . they are objections indeed , with a witness ; so undeniable , as that himself is compelled to set his hand , and say ; this we confess ingenuously is not be denyed in part , and we could wish it otherwise : if the reader would but peruse his ninth chapter , he will believe him to have sufficient reason , and that it is as hard for him to answer , or remove these objections , as it was for ulysses to remove the great stone from the mouth of polyphemus his cave ; where by the by , this crafty grecian gave the cyclops such an arcanum , that what he could not âccomplish by strength , he brought about by wiles , and subtilty ; first he put out the cyclops eye , then rob'd his flock : this course these empiricks usually take , casting a mist before the understandings of the credulous people , and then picking their pockets . but is any thing more childish and ridiculous , unless it be himself , then his following words , on which he seems to lay the whole weight and stress of all his brethrens reputation . we know ( sayes he ) a chymist , that desires no more practise in physick to get a competent living by , then those patients to whom ye cannot make the promise of a cure after two or three moneths time , whom he would undertake to resolve in lesse then a moneth : and no question is to be made of this , but i presume , sir , you mean a resolving them into their first principles , and then surely a moneth is too long a time for you , that usually are more quick and nimble in your dispatches : fye , fye , will you become now so cruell , as to think of torturing your patients , for a whole moneth , who all along have pretended to be such suddain executioners ; kill or cure is your known maxime , and at that rate , the most desperate of diseases , nay , death it self may be styl'd a physitian : how consonant to the doctrine of this bold maxime , does he go on to declare himself ? for our parts , ( saith he ) we should think it very strange , and be infinitely ashamed , if any patient should be cured by the galenists , whom we have given over : for the truth is , they handle the matter so for the most part , that they are sure to put it out of the power of all physick , to do any good to those they have tampered with , by misapply'd , and abused chymistry . his next , and tenth chapter seems to be spit out of the mouth of a zealous brother at a meeting , where he holds forth the doctrine of vanhelmont , as down right gospel , and advises the colledge to embrace it sincerely , and be wise to salvation ; he improves the exhortation in the same strain of devotion ; let him lay his hand upon his heart , and considering his own emptyness , reflect upon himself , how he hath deceived , and been deceived . ah! doubtless this must needs be a precious man ; how has chymistry contributed to make him spiritual , and his trading in the fire inflam'd his zeal ? and now that has run his pretense to physick , quite out of breath , 't is time for me to make observation that , ubi desinit medicus , incipit theologus : but least he should not be a thorough-paced fanatick , another part of this chapter is spent in decrying of humane learning : great scholarship is ever a crime to a dunce , and it being for the carrying on his design , absolutely necessary , that our authour should either be a scholar , or a profest enemy to the name ; he takes the more easie and cheap way to his end , which is to bring himself and ignorance , as much as in him lyes , into some credit in the world. but all will not do ; neither fanatick in religion , nor physick , with all their specious hypocrisie will ever be able to perswade the world , that the letter is not a fit hand-mand to the spirit ; that learning is not subservient , and necessary to the cure both of soul and body . i am not so well read in vanhelmont , ( neither do i think it my duty so to be ) as to be able to contradict my friend , when he talks of that learned mans fair proposals , why ( saith he ) hath not your sect yeelded formerly to helmonts fair proposal while he was alive , that there might be a final conclusion of these controversies by matter of fact ? ( indifferent judges appointed on both sides to give their censure ) t is very probable , this proposal was really made ; but t is very insignificant in his mouth , unless his faction were in such a degree eminent , that they could make it out to all , that they are as able as vanhelmont himself : how far they are from this pitch , i dare fubmit to the judgement , not only of indifferent persons , but even of those that are some way byassed with interest , and willing to be partial in the empiricks cause . in his next hard chapter , where he talks of the principles of phylosophy , which the galenists own , he runs on upon a false supposition ; for 't is very well known , that the aristotelian tenents , which galen owned , are in many things found little consonant to nature and truth ; whereupon the learned physitians of our age , not sworn to the opinion of any of the antients in particular , ( as our authour would have the world believe ) do act according to the freedom of their own judgements , and do by a kind of rational chymistry , extract what is good either in galen or vanhelmont , refusing the dross of both ; so that these several calumnies he reproaches the doctors with , are groundless and false . above all , these quacks it seems are very desirous to be thought compassionate and full of pity ; as appears by their general out-cry against sheding of blood : i confess such a cautious behaviour , as this , among the welch men , might bring them into good practise ; but here at home the long and successfull use of phlebotomie , easily out-votes their groundless clamour against that processe : and though the devil be undeniably a sworn enemy to man-kind , i dare presume to acquit him thus far , that he never suggested the wholesom emission of blood , being very unlikely by this way to make good his title of a murtherer from the beginning . what my friend sayes concerning our being governed by nature , which intends all things for its ownpreservation , &c. may very deservedly be retorted upon him ; for we plainly may observe that oftentimes nature is her own phlebotomist , in which she directs us to breath a vein rather then to expect her help , usually afforded by sending forth blood at the nostrils , which is lookt upon to be the best and purest : but the impudence of these men knows no bounds , and thinks to out-face common experience , which assures us , that in several distempers , letting of blood is the only and certain remedy ; the like may be said of purgation , by which nature is eased of a pernicious burden and load , oppressing and obstructing her in her vital operations . and here by the way let us examine the inference he makes from an aphorisme of hippocrates , to which he is forc't to give the epithite of excellent ; he quotes him in these words , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and interprets them thus . if that be carried out of the body by purgation , that ought to be , the sick man finds himself the better for it , and his spirits more chearfull , and better able to bear his disease : from hence he is pleased to inferre that hippocrates fore saw the great mischief , that was likely to come upon indiscreet evacuation : but surely , he , that has but half an eye , will conclude from hence more naturally , that he foresaw likewise , the great benefit , that was necessarily to ensue upon purging discreetly , by the prescription of a judicious physitian , and performed by proper catharticks . as to that common maxime of contrariorum contraria sunt remedia , how far it holds true , and how far made use of by physitians , i do not think my self a competent judge ; but to my apprehension , it seems to be very rational ; for how can the disease be conquered , without an enemy to give it battel ? the next thing our learned authour flyes at , is the pharmacopoea ; this he pretends to accuse of several infirmities , and would perswade us , that t is very improbable , this book should contribute to the cure of the sick , when it self is so diseased , and needs a physitian : but let us put the saddle on the right ass ; the sickness is in the mans brain , and it fares with him , as with one that has the jaundies , to whom all objects seem yellow , whereas the distemper is onely in the organ . the title of his fifteenth chapter , is , a brief examination of their pharmacopoea . in this judicial procedure , he himself undertakes to sit as judge , party , and witness ; and-because he is pleased to pronounce sentence of condemnation , all the world he thinks must necessarily subscribe to it , and from hence forward look upon the pharmacopoea londinensis , as out-law'd : but stay a while , i shall make bold to bring a writ of errour , and briefly examine his brief examination . this book has by the unanimous consent of the learned in physick , been owned and approved of , as the best of that kind ever was extant ; and truly t is no small vindication of its worth , that t is calumniated and vilified by our authour , and his factious ignorant fraternity : can there be a greater elogium out of the mouth of such a nonsensical , ridiculous , improper , and languid fellow as he is , then this , when he boldly sayes , the pharmacopoea contains , nonsensical , ridiculous , improper and languid medicaments ? poor mistaken fool , the only way for you to destroy the dispensatory , is highly to commend it , for nothing but your approbation can ever bring its credit into the least question . he is pleased to say , it would require a long time to set down the errours of the dispensatory ; i easily believe him , because really there are not any to be discovered i am sure , not by his dim-sight , but however he will give us a glance of some of them : the first glance is this : we observe ( sayes he ) a great defect in the analysis or opening of the body of any concrete ; i must confess this to be a glance indeed , but no more , for had he seen perfectly or understood any thing in the dispensation of a medicine he might have known the pulverizing of most concretes , to be a sufficient preparation for the opening of their bodies , as proper ingredients to any electuary , playster or conserve , into which dispensations , not onely the virtue and crasis , sed totum corpus , of every individual concrete is to be put . a second glance , is his observation , what a congeries , cento , linsey wolsey of simples they jumble and clutter together to some scores , without any reasonable contexture or congruity : what , does he see all these at a glance ? sure he must either have those argus eyes he talks of , or else he can squint , and look nine wayes at once ; but i think , i shall do him more right , to tell you he is pur-blind , or else he might perceive with what admirable judgement and art , the opposition of the several ingredients in a medicine is managed to make one proper compound , and how the properties and qualities of each simple are either improved or abated by a due and just temperament , as the condition of the patient may require ; so that out of this clashing , conflicting , and hostility , there arises an agreement , as it is remarkable , that peace is the consequent and end of war ; and the health of the whole universe consists in the poize , and just ballancing of contraries . our authour throws a sheeps eye once more , and in his third glance , tells us , he cannot but especially take notice , and condole the ineffectual , frivolous , and vain corrections of those virulent , and poysonous concretes , which they take into many of their compositions . for instance of which he cites you scammonie and colocynthis , two concretes , that have been used in physick , with exceeding great safety , and no less success for many score years without any other correction , then what is appointed in the dispensatory : and t is not his spitting his venome , can make these medicines thus corrected to be poison : but against these two , he opposes antimony , seeming to admire the doctors should be so wilfully ignorant , as to make no scruple of prescribing ten or twelve grains of scammony , and yet startle , and seem very nice , to give four or five grains of antimonium diaphoreticum : where first i would have the reader take notice of his mistake , or wilfull ignorance ; for to my knowledge , and as will appear by the bills or prescriptions of diverse eminent physitians , for many years , they have not scrupled to give 20 graines of antimonium diaphoreticum , at one dose , and that for several dayes together . secondly , i would beg the reader to consider , that he opposes a diaphoretical preparation of antimony , against a purgative medicine of scammony , by which advantage he would make scammony appear to be the strongest poyson : but if the poyson of any concretes ought to be proportionated by their force in heterogenious operations on the stomack , and that force determined by their different doses , antimony will appear much the stronger poyson , because four or five grains of any purgative preparation of antimony , being in substance exhibited into the stomach , shall operate more violently then sixteen or twenty graines of scammony . further , to imform our authors judgement , let me tell him , the purgative quality of scammony may be taken away , as well as of antimony , and that secundum artem , it may be made as perfectly diaphoretical ; and then supposing them thus prepared , he must acknowledge antimony and scammony , to be equally alike poysonous . but by the way , t is not my business to maintain the quarrel of scammony against antimony ; what hath been said in the case , hath only been to shew master thomson's unjust comparison ; yet how much so ever we have differed in this particular , i will agree with him in his following expression recited ; that the best remedies in the dispensatory are chymicall : but what , or who he means by u s , when he adds , for which they are beholding to u s , i do not at all understand ; certainly he cannot be so impudent , as to joyn himself with any part of the colledge , whom he may imagine more addicted to chymistry then the rest : and again , me thinks he should not be so stupid , as to think , that himself joyn'd in commission with master lockier , master odowde , or any of those up-start pretenders to chymistry , can any way oblige the colledge ; besides , if i mistake not , there were chymical preparations in the dispensatory of london , before any of them had a name . to this truth , ( viz. ) that chymical preparations are the best medicines ; he adds another , ( which by the way is one more truth , then i have met withall in any one page of his book before ) that these chymical preparations are not free from being sophisticated , which cannot be denyed , and will hardly be prevented , till by a publick authority , some course be taken with those fooles , that will be medling , as well as the knaves , that will be cheating ; and then , the true artists wanting no incouragement , these medicines will be exalted in their hands . in the next place , ( sayes our authour ) the most usual , safe , and best vomit ( in their account ) is borrowed from antimony , called infusio croci mettallorum ; by their account , i suppose he means the colledge of physitians , which may passe as none of the least of his presumptuous conclusions , though i believe he never saw a catalogue of half the vomits they make use on , and dare presume , when he has view'd the catalogue of his own arcana's , he will find no vomit there like it , either for certainty or safety in its operation , or for carrying off the morbifick matter ; if he thinks to reckon mercurius vitae within the number of his arcana's , ( which is also an antimonial preparation , ) as i presume he may , because presently after he seems to wonder , they ever would venture to admit it into a catalogue of their safe medicines ; the catalogue he mentions , will prove him a deceiver ; for , it will appear to be a medicine appointed in the dispensatory of london , before ever he could be capable of knowing any thing in physick ; and this he cannot be ignorant of though he will rather venture to be found guilty of some plausible falsities , then not to throw some scandall or other upon the colledge ; as for the exalting or graduating of these medicines , i may safely say , there are many apothecaries boyes in the town , able to undertake it , with the most learned , well experienced chymist , our author can find in all that tribe , that so utterly renounces the galenical method . this man is furnished with a strange measure of confidence , i might very justly say impudence ; otherwise he could not possibly use this frequent exprobration , of the doctors being beholden to them , obliged to them for several medicines : surely he is of opinion , the sun is beholden to the stars , which receive from him all the light they impart to the inferiour world : what these men have in them , their conscience bears them witness , is only gleanings gathered from the colledge ; these they feed upon , chewing the cud , and yet are not to be numbered among the clean beasts , for their ill digestion turns all to putrefaction , making good that common maxime , corruptio optimi fit pessima . into the catalogue of the doctors debts , there is foysted oyle of vitriol , with its use and virtue ; for which our author would have them confess , they are much obliged to them for the discovery ; but when the colledge comes to reckon with all these wilfull , and as fradulent mistakes , they will be glad to sneak out of the way , as ashamed to own their account . the next quarell he picks , is with the preparation of pearles , and corral with vinegar , concluding it to be no more then a bare pulverizing them into small parts or atomes ; if there were no more in it then thus to alcohalize , or reduce pearls or corral into such a fine butraceous magisterium , as is done by vinegar , it were worth the charge and trouble ; but this is not the first errour his ignorance hath made him father , but t is a very gross one ; we may certainly and easily infer from the insipidness of the spirit of vinegar ( from which all the gross and corrosive salts are separated by rectification ) when the pearle or corral is precipitated after dissolution , that the medicament must needs be exalted by the volatile salt of wine , the vinegar leaves behind : besides , as i said before , the bare pulverizing either of pearle or corral , will never reduce them into such a butyrous substance instar magisterii , as is performed by this way of dissolution . diverse other preparations of vitriol and mercury he to as little purpose makes mention of ; for t is sufficiently known , they have been in long esteeme and use with the colledge ; so that he might have spared the pains he has taken to perswade the world , that the doctors are alwaies inveighing against chymical medicines , unless he will be pleased to give us leave to understand them in their own , and truest sense ; for when they undertake to speak against chymicall medicines , t is meant as they are unchymically handled by master thomson , and his illiterate faction ; they know full well nothing can eat out the heart of chymistry , but the hypocrisie of these combining empiricks ; they are very sensible , that in all these fellows preparations whatsoever , mercury never is wanting , since their medicines smell more of the knave then the artist . notwithstanding all our author can say , it remains evident , as well from the great pains and study , as the common practise of the doctors , that their grand design hath been to promote and encourage chymistry ; on the contrary , the design their adversaries drive at , is to promote themselves ; this makes our pseudochymists , that they cannot endure such rivalls as are likely in courting the same mistresse , to discover their imperfections , and treacherous love , which is contented with the shew and picture of chymistry , but neglects the truth and substance . the hogen-mogens would seem wholly to ingross this art , and pretend to a monopoly , when alas their ignorance is so great , and their stock known to be so inconsiderable , i know not when they will have right and liberty to vent by retaile ; and when any of them does open shop , i am sure they must shew their wares at a false light , or else their commodity will stick upon their hands ; and whereas they are pleas'd to pass in the world by the name of adepti , they more justly may stile themselves servantes ; for what arcana's they have got , they will be forc't to keep . hitherto our authour has been casting dirt upon all occasions in the doctors faces , either as to the materia medica , or as to their general method in practise ; but now he comes to throw waters , mineral waters , to which ( sayes he ) the dogmatists fly , as to a sanctuary , in difficult cases . it cannot be denyed , there is a healing virtue in these natural springs , but when they are to be used , must be known from the experienced physitian ; for doubtless , in some cases , they are like the waters of meribah , bitter and deadly , in others , as healing as those of bethesdah , after the angel had descended into the poole : i , for my part , am of opinion , that he is the best and ablest physitian , that wanders least from the prescripts of nature ; that knows best how to apply the helps she has provided for her own recovery ; the finding out of which , together with the due administration , is both the physitians imployment and excellence : this being a task too difficult for humane endeavour , recourse has been had to the assistance of art ; yet so , as that they best manage it , that most imitate nature ; i shall not therefore dispute with my friend , how many by virtue of these mineral wells have been-restored , that have been brought to a very low ebb by ill physitians , such as himself ; but t is very rare , these impostors consult so much the publick good , as to advise so publick a remedy ; no , they are for the arcana and minerals of their own sophistication , rather then for being beholden to kind nature , who bath provided some better and more forceable helps for the poor diseased , ready at hand . in the mean time then , he is very impertinent , when , he as the representative of his faction , saies , we are perswaded that they ( meaning the colledge ) lookt upon the waters with as envious an eye , as ever they did upon our chymicall preparations . for in the first place , the going to these waters is the doctors frequent advise to their patients , in many chronical distempers ; and secondly , their chymical preparations sure were never the subject of the colledges envy , but contempt . but let us attend ; he opens as if he were about to say some thing in these words , who , that had not been lazy and supine , but would have found out e're this a succedaneum to natural martial liquors , that so powerfully rectifie the spleen , &c. who , but an ignoramus would aske such a question ? this is done long agoe by the appointment of the colledge , whose indefatigable pains and care in this very particular has been such , that there is not an apothecaries shop , almost throughout all england , but what for many years hath been furnisht with diverse excellent chymical preparations , both from iron and steele , whose virtual qualities are equivalent to those of natural martial liquors , if not exceeding them ; however when there is no opportunity of repairing to the wells , of tanbridge , epsum , spaw , and the like , the patient may be supply'd at home ; and by this means too , the excessive sumption of crude water to prejudice may be prevented ; though i must confess there are some circumstantial advantages by drinking the waters in specie at the spring head , which art cannot supply . my friend comes next to inquire into the benefit of convenient menstruums , what may be done by insipid liquors upon the bodies of minerals ; which i believe to be but little , unless they are reserated first by some corrosive , which i take to be some thing of the nature of our master vanhelmont's liquor alkahest , without which , or some succedaneum he does not promise you any primum ens veneris , and consequently not the primum ens , of any other metal or mineral : but by the way , though this operation cannot be performed without a corrosive , yet it must not be such a one , as operates in the nature of other corrosives , destroying the bodies of those concretes dissolved in them , but as the acetum verum esurinum , quod amicè soluit concreta integrè illi injecta ; by which means , e're twice three months pass , i intend to offer unto the world , for its publick benefit and satisfaction , with all respect due to vanhelmont , his primum ens veneris ; not placing the honour he merits , and the credit of the medicine to my own contrivance , by concealing of its name , under the notion of an arcanum of my peculiar invention . after this little digression , to bring my discourse into its wonted chanel , i am here to mind the reader , how my friend in all his clamorous scrible , as well in this chapter , as else-where in his book has been continually , both accuser , witness , judge , and executioner , whereby he takes occasion , not only to vilifie the doctors at his pleasure , but to foist in whatsoever he thinks may advance the interest of his quacking brethren : whereupon in this sixteenth chapter , having decry'd the use of the waters , sayes he , for our parts , few of us depend upon these mineral fountains , having where with all to supply the wants of our patients , and to procure sanity at home . i am sure all the mineral waters in the world , though of never so cleansing a quality , will not be able to wash our author from the stain of his foul and base designs ; the stream of which runs all the same way , and drives directly at self-interest , without the least regard to the good of mankind ; yet the better to palliate his juggling , he will undertake to give faithful advise in general , to such as drink these waters : which counsel , though curtail'd , and disguised , is yet so methodically drawn up , and so expresly contrary to his own principles , that it appears verbatim to be borrowed from those , he calls dogmatists . the title of master thomson's seventeenth chapter did at the first sight deceive me into a tolerable good opinion of him , and i was in some hopes , we should grow friends ; but in the perufal , i found the text and the comment , to be of so different a hue , that once more i was forc't to dip my pen in the same sharp ink , that hitherto hath dropt from it . the flattering inscription he hath prefixt is this ; a vindication of chymical medicines from that false accusation of being dangerous : the beginning of his chapter is as specious , as the title , and carries in the front an undeniable truth , ( viz. ) that it is a hard thing to strive against the stream of a vulgar opinion at any time , but especially , when countenanc'd and back't by men of eminent knowledge and fame . that chymical medicines are dangerous , is rather to be reckoned amongst the vulgar errours , then opinions ; but yet this which seems an errour , if rightly stated , i am afraid will appear too great a truth , and harder for my friend to strive against , if rightly understood ; for indeed , the meaning of it is in respect of the undue preparation by unskilfull hands , and t is upon this account backt and countenanced by those , whom he is forc't to confess to be men of eminent knowledge and fame . 't is evident , and something i have said before to the same purpose , but here i must repeat it , that the beginning and rise of fame to paracelsian or hermetical physick proceeded from some particular physitians of the colledge ; whil'st the quacks and mountebanks of these times , as they never are wanting in that case , impudently assume to themselves , the repute of those beginnings , and from time to time , have continued the same cheat ; so that , when ever any chymical medicine by the practise of the colledge began to get credit , the empiricks lying at the catch , have made it their business , either really to steal the receipt , or , which is all one for their design , to counterfeit the medicine ; and then in their bills posted in every corner of the streets , they confidently impose upon the world a false affirmation , which is , that by their great travels , and long study they have produced these excellent secrets for the benesit of their country . thus by such shifts , they have all along crept into the opinion of the common people , in whose inclination ther 's never wanting a readiness to joyn with irregularity , rather then to adhere to any thing , that carries the face of order and authority . notwithstanding these subtil insinuations , they could never have gotten such a repute in the world , but that they politickly made an advantage of the factious principles then abounding in the common people of our late unruly times , when the common interest was to be carried on by crying down humane learning ; then these illiterate fellows spit in the face of all the liberal arts and sciences : and , as at that time , in point of divinity , the fanaticks of that faction bawling against learning , as idolatrous , and superstitious , yet to delude the world , and better to carry on their design , made use of necessitated persons , that were scholars , and of jesuites too , who ( though for another end and interest ) were ready to be transformed into the shape and habit of coblers , or any other mean mechanicks , pretending hereby they preached by the spirit . the same tricks and devices have been continually used by our fanaticks in physick , who as well knew the current of those times , did run in oposition to all just authority : but they will find their case to be different , and the modesty of those discreet men rewarded , who chose rather to let such snarling whifflers go on , as things inconsiderable , then appear contentious with such , who by their own growing enormities ( now justice is in the hand of the proper legislator ) will prove their own destruction . our authour does not at all decline from the common custome of other empiricks , who alwayes wound the true physitians with their own weapons ; wherefore he is not ashamed in this seventeenth chapter to tell us , that it was the galenists course in the infancy of this noble science , to cry down chymistry , with all might and main , conjuring the world , that they should avoid all chymical medicines , as most dangerous , damning them all without distinction ; how the doctors are to be understood in this particular , and what great patrons they alwayes have been of true chymistry , i have already made out sufficiently , and cannot say any thing to these last lines , without being guilty of tautology , and vain repetition ; besides , i find he himself gives the same exposition , in this hypothesis , if they be not well prepared ; which is not so impertinent as he would have us think , since t is not impossible they should be well prepared , by such who are unprepared , as i may say , themselves , wanting the sublimate of art , and abounding with the precipitate of gross ignorance : and hereupon i very readily fall in with my friend , and say as he does , who that argues for spagyrical medicines , doth not take it for granted , that they ought to be made by an artist ? but if i be not mistaken , this inquiry of master thomsons makes not at all for himself , nor his ignorant brethren , who are as far from art , as from fair and honest dealing : as in our dayes , so formerly there never wanted bold pretenders , who would venture at any thing , for their private advantage , let the publick dammage be never so great , or the lives of men never so much concern'd ; such as would be thought artists , though they were not acquainted , so much as with vessels requisite to operation , nor knew the nature , hardly the names , of those minerals , with which they were to deal ; certainly the colledge had reason to advise all people in general , against the use of any medicament prepared by such hands , least it should come to pass that those minerals dugg out of the earth ( ill prepared ) should make room to bury those poor mortals , whom such ignorant wretches were sure to murther . but now our authour is mounted into the chair , and speaks with authority ; you would , sayes he , do very well to reslect upon your dispensatory , wherein ( except some few chymical lent you ) all your preparations either omit to do what they should , or commit what they should not . he charges here the poor guilty dispensatory with sins of omission , and commission , but at the same time betrays more of his own infirmity , or indeed presumption . does he imagine that every man of understanding should be swaid , or governed by his private observation ; sure 't is impossible he should be believed , and i am willing to be so much his friend , as to think he does but droll . in answer to his next preamble , i am sorc't to recite more of the authours own language then i am willing to give you the trouble of perusal , but because it carries with it more of his impertinent boldness , then most of the rest ; i shall not think much of my own labour , to render it to you as followeth , thus : for example , saith he , and experience , which is the true touchstone that must discover us ; let any of you that is in perfect health pick out of your formal apothecaries book , stuffed full of supernumerary preparations , the most safe and active of them , that do you the greatest service , to the number of ten ; weigh out the known dose of any one singly , with the strictest curiosity you please ; take each of you the same into your own stomaks , and repeat the dose as often as you dare ; and so proceed likewise with another , and so to the residue of the ten : when ye have acted your parts , we likewife ( every way sound ) selecting ten of our arcana's , will swallow down ( without trusting to the scales ) a sufficient quantity of any one ( that may be most suspected ) which we commonly exhibit to the sick for their recovery ; look how often ye have taken of each of your ten , so often will we iterate or duplicate the sumption of any one of ours . and then let any indifferent person judge who bears their medicines best , having the fewest bad symptomes following , and so conclude accordingly whose are most dangerous . that the madness of this man may appear as well as his folly , i will meet him at the same touchstone of discovery he desires ( as above mentioned ) and will give him leave to pick out any ten of those supernumerary preparations he talks of in the dispensatory , and when he has done , the known doses shall be weighed out ; then shall he also have liberty to pick ten of his own arcana's , and without any juggling or equivocation , according to his own proposition here recited , i will my self , before any such as shall be chosen , and counted competent judges , ( allowing our selves to be equally sound ) take dose for dose with master thomson ; provided , his arcana's be as candidly discovered to the world , as those preparations in the dispensatory , which is but reason : and if master thomson refuse this , i may rationally believe his bold challenge , was no more then a plain juggle ; and his not trusting the scales in the dosing of his medicines , gains so little trust to either , that i am apt to compare him to an empirical medicaster , whom i have known to perform his tricks upon the stage , in a market town ; whose way of deceiving the people , was by a pretended antidote against poyson , or any infection ; for which purpose he suborn'd a fellow , that would take his pretended poyson and antidote , to counterfeit both sickness , and cure ; but one day having neglected to make some antidotes ready , when the fellow before all the people had taken his dose of poyson , and there was no antidote at hand , the deceitfull empirick presently commands one of his servants to fetch a piece of the venison of a leg of mutton , and cut it in the form of his antidotes , which was all that he gave at that bout ; and when they had done , with a good round oath , he affirm'd it as good an antidote as the best : the truth of this story being so eminently known to some others as well as my self , compared with master thomsons careless dispensing of his doses , makes me much mistrust his medicines . hence one may conclude certainly , either that his medicines are invalide , or that expression of his , a sufficient quantity , to be like the rest of his equivocations ; but take him which way you will , he surely intends to play the hocus-pocus ; his medicine , and the medicasters mutton differing but little in effect , only the mutton is more nutritive , and his medicines chips in the porridge ; and these are the medicines , sayes he , we commonly exhibit to the sick for their recovery : how sad then must the condition of those patients be , what little hope can they expect of recovery , from such medicines as these ? medicines , that may be given by guess ; let any man judge whether this be not hitting the mark with as much uncertainty , as those people called andabatae , that fought with one another winking : and thus has he practised hab nab , by his own confession , out of zeal for the good of his neighbours for some years ; and he concludes this chapter with an admonishment to all that are desirous of being improved in the jatricall art , to acquaint themselves with the practicall use of those medicines they do profess ; but the pains and study he injoynes them for this achievement , me thinks is abundantly more then 's needfull ; for 't is not a business of labour , but impudence , to be an empirick ; and their medicines cannot be truly jatrical , because they dare deliver them out to their patients , without trusting to the scales . master thomson very well knowing what makes for his honour , does frequently throughout his whole book , and particularly in his eighteenth chapter speak of the colledge of physitians , as his adversaries , whom he is pleased to introduce here , as if they did much glory and vaunt in their method of curing , asserting , that if a man have never so excellent medicines , if he be ignorant therein , he cannot discharge his duty as he ought . as to the terms of glory and vaunt , they are but the continuation of his ill language ; the subsequent words speak a truth , which is , and deserves to be own'd by all sober and judicious persons ; for method is the life of all science , without which , a man that knows much , is but confounded with a farrago of notions ; the want of this in his brain , has made him so frequently contradict himself , and in this very particular given me advantage to confute him out of his own assertions ; t is not the laboratory , sayes he , or specious furnaces that make a spagyrical philosopher , no more then a vast library of books will of themselves make a learned scholar ; and i may consequently add , no more then a multitude of excellent medicines will make a good physitian ; for the cause is not at all different ; furnaces , books and medicines being no further useful , then as they are judiciously understood , and methodically apply'd to their respective ends : i would aske the question whether a physitian , being to cure a feaver would not be ridiculous , if he should apply to the patient a medicine proper for the gout ? or if our authour were to be cured of his vertigo , 't would be counted proper to cut his cornes . but is this method , we pray , sayes my friend , any more then a short way of healing maladies ? i answer him , 't is the shortest diseases can be capable of ; some of which are so inveterate , they are not presently to be removed ; others , whose roots are not so deeply fixt , are more sodainly pull'd up , and eradicated ; in both which , the physitian is directed best by a good method , and orderly procedure : should a man find a box of carpenters tooles , and thereupon rapt up with his good fortune , presently fancy himself a workman : would not you laugh to see him instead of a saw to take up a chisel , or for a hammer use his axe , but yet his work all this while is , in a manner , at a stand ; whereas , if he had gone orderly and methodically to work , he might have done more with his saw in one hour , then he could perform with his chisel in a whole day : thus it is with those quacks who stumbling upon variety of good medicines , and ignorant of their right application , are so far from making a progress in any cure , that they rather go backwards , strengthning the disease , and not their deluded patients : the rest of this chapter is spent in railing and dirty language , but his tongue being no slander , i think it not necessary to rake in the kennel ; and this i forbear as a friend to my authour , for the more that is stirr'd , the more he will stink ; ill language alwayes having this property , that it does , redire in authorem . the inscription of his next is , the helmontian method ; and it fares with it , as in other places , that it is not at all answered by the contents of the chapter ; wherein he plainly declares in effect , that the method of the helmontians is to use no method at all : and after a long & tedious canting to no purpose , he comes to his old way of challenging ; moreover , sayes he , we declare that we shall take twenty sick persons , that have acute feavers of what kind soever , and of these twenty we will ingage to secure under god sixteen of them , upon the fifth or sixth day after our approach , or to give a prognostick , upon the same dayes , how the disease will terminate ; in which , if we fail , we shall be willing to suffer accordingly , supposed that ye come to the like tryal . i am afraid here master thomson reckons without his host ; for the difficulty in this case wil be to find twenty persons , though sick of feavers , so mad , and hot headed , as to put themselves into his hands ; this he so well knows to be his security , that he carries himself as cowards usually do in the like case , who ever seem most eager to fight , when they are sure the company of standers-by will not permit the tryal : but t is very observable , our friend engages to secure sixteen of the forementioned number , or to give a prognostick how the disease will terminate : i easily believe he may do one of the two without dispute , but most probably the latter ; for i suspect he may give them such a dead doing arcanum , as upon the sumption of it the disease and patient may terminate together ; and this way i my self will ingage he may secure the whole twenty ; and it shall be done in such a manner , that none of them shall ever be in a condition to open their mouths against his never failing practise : but they shall confesse by their silence , he has cured them of all diseases : and 't is well known , this is the way for the most part which they take , to relieve a languishing wretch , tortured and racked by some cruel malady , as our authour phrases it , by putting him out of his pain , but in the worst sense ; wherefore in this extraordinary brevity , and compendious dispatches we cannot expect method , which is requisite only where multitude or confusion is to be reduc'd into order , and not to be seen in one single attempt of a quack , that has but one salve for all sores . upon such a like account it is , master thomson makes inquiry ( addressing himself to the doctors ) what signifies it if ye abound with hundreds of medicaments , composed by your own apothecaries ? take notice that this question is not singly intended as a plea for his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , but does implicitely aime at the ruine of the apothecaries ; he designs to perswade the world , that many medicines , and the profession of an apothecary , are equally insignificant ; and this further appears by what he sayes immediately after , concerning preparations made with his own fingers ; for it seems , master thomson , besides his panacea , has some auxilary preparations ; but i will be bold to say , if his interest would give him leave to be honest , and deal plainly , that he will not be able to produce one medicine among all his thirty auxiliary forces , but what he is beholden for to some apothecaries shop ; but because our empiricks craftily use known medicines by obscure names , this cheat is not so easily demonstrated , thus hath my gentleman shown our doctors the way , not to redeem the credit of this noble science , which he has indeavoured to stain ; but yet to restore it to its pristine renown ; yes , such as it was in the days of yore , when apollo and aesculapius were deified for two or three good receipts ; and chiron the centaure past for an excellent physitian ; in succeeding ages physick acquired a greater growth ; and then knowledge generally increasing in the world , hippocrates and galen , though far exceeding their predecessors , were yet esteem'd but as men ; this noble science from its small beginnings growing by degrees , is arrived now at the highest top of perfection in the most famous colledge of london , in which there is not one physitian , but far out-shines apollo himself , with his brightest rayes ; and if they had liv'd in that age , had rivall'd him out of his apotheosis : all this our quacks are very sensible of , and envy ; and no wonder they indeavour to reduce physick to its pristine renown , because according to that calculation they might expect to be inserted into the catalogue of physitians , and claim a share in the patent or diploma , which the colledge does injoy ( to use our authors phrase ) ex condigno , these quacks for the same reason excluded . this rabble seeing themselves thus shut out of doors , have of late been knocking their heads together for a new patent , of which master thomson seems to give a lame account in the twentieth and last chapter of his book , entituled , some animadversions upon the late attempt to procure a patent from his gracious majesty , for the erecting a colledge of chymical physitians . and here i cannot but take notice of his sacred majesties great prudence , together with his exceeding care for the good of his subjects , whose lives he is so tender of , that his majesty would not intrust them in the desperate hands of unskilful empiricks ; we are all concerned to give our most humble thanks to our most gracious soveraign , that this design never went beyond an attempt ; but that this monster was stifled in the birth , and proved abortive , which otherwise was like to prey upon , and devour us under the protection of authority . notwithstanding , our authour has the confidence to say , that never was there a more just , honest , desirable , and usefull enterprize set upon in this nation ; this last hypocritical strain of his seems to be taken out of the late rebels declarations , wherein , under the most specious pretenses of justice and loyalty , they hid the most desperate treason ; which , when the mask was taken of , appeared in its own bloody colours ; and therefore i fear my friend has lost his jest , since all men are sufficiently awake to discover his hypocrisie , that desires to betray so many innocent lives , under the pretense of preserving them by physick . thus are the best of virtues counterfeited by the worst of vices ; and those that have the worst ends , are necessitated to guild them over with the fairest shews , or else they would never be swallowed . the like carriage in our new-found chymists , did for a time deceive some honest men into a good opinion of the undertaking , who , when under the honey they perceived the sting , drew back from the confederacy , and are become their greatest opposers ; just as it fared with some honest heatted men who had been drawn in , and out of good principles had sided with the factious in our late troubles ; yet when the blackness of their designs appeared , they proved the most zealous loyallists . i am inclin'd to make use of this comparison , as very pertinent to my present purpose ; for just as the late rebels declared they would make his late majejesty , of blessed memory a glorious king ; so these jugglers pretending to regulate and reform the present enormous abuses in this excellent spagyrick science , talk of advancing it to be queen regent in physick , whil'it their real intention is to dethrone her , and set up themselves . i wonder much at the impertinence of these reformers ! do not we all know , that chymistry is already fixt upon a good and sure fundation ? if their design had been honest , as it is found rotten and fallacious , to what purpose , i pray , should it be put down in one place , to be set up in another ? i would have these jugglers know , ( and indeed they know it full well ) there is already erected a colledge of chymicall physitians ; for i dare say , there are none amongst our doctors , that will not own this epithite , and i am sure , none more justly deserve it . besides , for a further encouragement , and to shew a particular countenance to this noble art , his majesty hath caused a peculiar elaboratory of his own to be erected , which is managed by monsieur febure , a person of known eminency and parts , who hath approved himself to the world to be a most able artist : so that these up-starts must intrude partly upon his right , as well as upon the company of apothecaries , and cannot justly be admitted operators , their design being under that notion to become physitians . the business of this new patent , was carried on by subscriptions to a petition , which being speciously penn'd , invited some few of note to favour the design ; but as i intimated before , they did upon second and better thoughts , re-demand their hands . the number of subscribers of all sorts , as master odowds list informs me , did never exceed five and thirty , and when the forementioned persons had withdrawn , there were left behind , as master thomson confesses , certain very illiterate persons , that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , chymici umbratiles , mock chymists , no whit exercised in anatomy , and botanicks , inexpert in the history of diseases , &c. and these petitioners pray for a patent , that they may be admitted , in a lawfull way , to make good that excellent character master thomson has given them . i hope i need not make any apology to those ingenious and worthy men , who out of their forward and true zeal to pyrotechny at first consented : i am confident they themselves will acquit me , that nothing in this treatise is directed against them ; it must needs appear , that where i mention any , as concern'd with master thomson , i mean only those , whom he himself hath confest to be very illiterate persons . they may likewise be assured , as to what relates to my self , i shall ever be ready to give a perfect testimony of a true and real respect to them , as persons , whom i know without any sinister ends and interest , to be such truly zealous labourers in the fire , that they ought not to be blemisht by those , who under the borrowed mantle of their protection , carry on unhandsome designs . as to what concerns master thomson , if he meets with any thing in my reply beyond his expectation , he must thank himself , and his own stile , in whose inke the gall and vitriol exceeds the proportion allowed by others in the common menstruum . if i have toucht him home , and to the quick , let him reflect upon his own unhandsome language , and he will see , that he is paid but in his own coyne ; yet 't is a hard matter to make the account even , in regard master thomson asperses two worthy establish't societies , famous in their respective imployments , viz. the doctors , and apothecaries , and yet falsely too ; on the other hand , what i say to him , is truth , and tends to the setting out , in their own shape , an inconsiderable new-born faction . but after all , i am yet to give a further character of master thomson , and his fraternity , those whom i presume he means every where by his u s and w e , when he talks so highly of their great exployts : i shall give you likewise a faithfull description of his elaboratory so much boasted on throughout ( almost ) his whole book , as if it were the eighth wonder of the world , as sure as he is the eight wise man. both his faction and his furnace , i am the better fitted to describe , having had an interview and personal dialogue with him , which hapned at a meeting in his own house , to which i made a journey upon the perusall of his book , in order to this my then intended discourse : and to do master thomson all just right , upon talking with the man , i found him as to parts much beyond my first apprehension , or what it was possible for me to believe , making my conjecture only from his book , wherein is so much self contradiction , and impertinent abusive railing , that one must conclude the authour , ( though guilty of some learning ) far from any ingenuity , as all those must needs be , who carry on their design by calumniating the most eminent professors of that science , they pretend to own , and within the compass of which they aime at a reputation in the world to themselves . i may justly tell master thomson , that he abounds less with learning , then choler , yet according to his proportion of each , he makes use of them together in charging others as being culpable of what his own omissions have necessitated him deservedly to suffer , so that in effect , he complains of justice ; doubtless had he gone on in a regular way , he might have expected favour from the colledge : that which i would say , is this ; had master thomson sedulously apply'd himself to the study of physick , and taken his degrees , as the custome of the universities require , he might have obtained license to practise ; the colledge never denying such as are lawfully qualified : but since our authour has minded only the end without the means he is to blame himself , if he be disappointed . i cannot positively accuse master thomson in particular , that he like the faction he owns , intended formerly some other profession , and that failing in the attainment , either through idleness or want of ability , he stumbled upon physick ; yet this i am sure he is guilty of , that he attempted to fly , before he was pen-feathered , venturing upon practise , before he was well versed in the theory ; which is one reason he is no better acquainted with method ; but for the rest of his crew , they are obliged by their ignorance to be utter enemies to learning , and having nothing justly to plead for their irregular courses , must make up the defect with impudence . if so be , master thomson have in him something more then the rest of his illiterate brethren , yet he is obnoxious to the same censure with them , in regard he is of the club , and t is a common rule , noscitur ex sociis , qui non cognoscitur ex se : with this rabble he frequently meets , and bears his part in the consort , where the burden of their song is , railing against the universities , the colledge , and all learning in general , but the doctors especially ; who if they oppose them , do it not as they practise chymically and not galenically , but as they presume to practise contrary to the rules of order and authority ; but i am apt to believe the private quarrels of this faction , are like to save the doctors a labour ; for there is now a great falling out among themselves , as i perceive by master thomson's bitter inveighing against the dropping doctor , against mr odowde , and some others ; in the heat of his railing , he told me , they especially were the persons that obstructed their business , and disenabled them from achieving that which ( in their account ) would prove so usefull to the world ; but i would have master thomson understand thus much , that 't is not any particular persons of his faction that are his binderance , but the general design of imposing upon the people . tandem aliquando , i am got into his elaboratory which is so pitifull a sight , that it minds me of an expression in his eighth chapter , 't is not the laboratory or specious furnaces that simply make a spagyrick ; for if his skill in pyrotechny were to be calculated by his utensils , he would hardly be thought able to out do aniseed water robin : and whereas , in the beginning of the forenamed chapter , he sayes to the doctors , ye make your boast , that ye possess ( as well as we ) your laboratories and variety of furnaces ; his elaboratory affords but two , one of earth , the other of iron ; the former ( like the master ) for want of lutum sapientiae being crackt , was tyed together with a rope , that of iron in case of necessity , for some kitchin might serve as a chafing-dish , for indeed it does not much exceed that standard ; when i compared his own large boastings of this fabrick , with my ocular view , i began to think my chymist had shew'd me the extract , and elixir of his magnified pile , which i admired to behold , shrunk as it were into two calcining pots , and about that number of broken retorts . thus furnisht , my friend intends to venture at helmonts liquor alkahest , and makes no doubt of getting the philosophers stone , but i fear the poor wretch will be gravell'd in his design in the conclusion . but that master thomson and i , may part friends , i shall do the ossice of one in advising him for the future , to raile less against those worthy men , whose books he is not worthy to carry , and to be less injurious to the company of apothecaries , to whom he owes some respect , though he disown it ; however as to the doctors , me thinks he and his brethren should the rather forbear , in regard their scandalous tongues can do the colledge no more hurt , then the arrows of the barbarians do the sun , when they aime at this fountain of light , which laughs at their vain and ridiculous choler ; and notwithstanding all their bolts , continues the same course , and inunterrupted motion above the reach of their foolish attempts : all the injury , that they are able to offer these eminent men , resembles but the ill humour of curs , that bark at the moon and stars , but cannot by the importunity of their howlings , diminish eitheir their splendor or influence . some few remarkes upon a treatise of mr thomas o dowdes , called , the poor mans physitian . it was wont to be said , ubi desinit medicus , incipit theologus ; but it seems master o dowde has a particular designe to make both commence together , ushering in his pamphlet with two or three abus'd , and misapply'd texts of scripture ; notwithstanding before he and i part , he will appear to be neither a divine , nor a physitian , the inverse of that title , which he hath falsly put upon his book , justly belonging to himself ; the man 's a poor physitian : whereas he fondly talks of his speaking with a holy reverence , i cannot but stand amazed at his profane impudence , in asserting this hypotheticall proposition , that if jesus christ himself were now on earth , professing , and curing chymically , though to mirable ; rather then be admitted ( so ) to do that universall good , he would be vilified , scorned , condemned , and crucified : intending to disgorge at this presumptuous rate , he might well begin his preface with a declaration , that he was conscious to himself he should have many enemies . how ill doth this sute with the charity his pamphlet seems to carry in the front ; this is in effect to unchristian the colledge , and tell them they are iewes ; which is so gross and foolish a scandal ; so improbable and groundless an imputation , that there needs nothing to be said to take it off , but the very bare repetition ; however , it sufficiently sets the authour out to the world for one , that has but a small stock of modesty and less religion . i cannot but take notice of the mans ingenuous confession of the imposture , commonly practised by those of his rank , but not so frankly acknowledged by any , as himself ; for i can make no other interpretation of this specious promise , if poor , sayes he , i will not only cure them , but likewise give them considerable gratuities for their publick appearance in the acknowledgement of their several cures : this is to me an evidence , that he trades with those that are in want , and working upon their necessity does by an under-hand agreement , hire them to bear witness to the cure , that never was perform'd ; and this trick of his managed with subtlety , might very easily make his catalogue so numerous . i really believe , that excepting some few cured by accident , he is forc't to this expence in all other diseases , but the pox ; and in that particular these empiricks have another fetch to help themselves ; but when examined , it will prove of less credit , then the former , namely , their privy bargains . the french disease , having so much of shame intayled upon it , because contracted usually from great debaucheries , 't is the great care of all persons punisht with it , to conceal it as much as is possible ; and therefore such are sure to loose their custome , who tells tales : under this colour , such as our authour is , take occasion to exagerate the number they have cured , setting them out , and their disease by severall circumstances and degrees , and being excused from naming the persons upon the account of reputation , they leave us no possibility of convincing them of their knavery , but we must believe all upon their single word : this i take to be most of the reason , why the disease all these mountebanks most pretend to the cure of , is the lues venerea ; in this particular it is , master o dowde ( as appears in his preface ) would have us all acknowledge , his just and christian practises . master groomes great drift and design , i perceive is , to decoy the rich , and draw them into his net ; to this purpose he takes a very plausible course , pretending much to the doing of good for gods sake , and relieving the poor that want medicine ; that this is the end of all his charity is very evident from his own discovery , he will traverse , he sayes , all the streets , lanes , and allies , of this great and glorious city , to find out the poor and necessitous wanting help and medicine ; the conclusion of this is , that the over-weening man fancies , he shall force the rich to seek him ; but alas , this plot will not take ; while there are good physitians in the kings high-way , we need not go look such cattel as he in the by-lanes ; and i would advise master o dowde to endeavour all he can , to oblige the yeomen of the guard ; for going of their errands , is still like to be his best imployment . 't is high time to assure the world that he scorns to print a paper to beg a patient ; alas , that cheat is worn thread-bare , and though at the first coming up , it served to delude for a time ; yet now experience of the emptiness of such like manifesto's hath made them as unprofitable , as they are common ; this my gentleman is very sensible of , and therefore pretends to be above what he cannot reach ; and instead therefore of posting up his bills , he hath lately clapt on a face of godliness , which he hopes will be his great gain : this strain runs parallel with his railing throughout his whole preface ; hence springs such frequent mention of his conscience ; so much charity to the diseased poor ; such blessing of god ; such imploring of the great creatour : but alas , i am afraid for him , this knack will hardly work upon the brethren , and the holy sisters in the city ; his manners and conversation is so notoriously known , that he of all others is like to make little advantage of his hypocrisie ; therefore he had as good pull off the vizard-masque , and appear in his own shape . and me thinks he appears to some purpose about the two or three and twentieth page of his book ; where having told a long story of william miller servant to master langston , whom , he sayes , he cured of a violent surfet , feaver and lunacy , in the close of the narration , complains he received not a sufficient reward ; this i thought was contrary to his principles , but it seems 't is only against his pretenses : that which is most strange , and much surpriz'd me in a man of his seraphick temper , that professeth so much piety , is , that thus disobliged , as he calls it , upon occasion afterwards , being sent for to the mistris , he should out of perfect spite and revenge , refuse to come ; nay , he so stood it out , that he would in no case be importuned to it ; and this is the man , which has taken upon him the profession of physick , only to do good for gods sake . i cannot say after this , that he forgets himself , though he so solemnly and boldly calls upon god to bear record with his conscience , concerning his integrity and single-hearted simplicity : no , this is the remembrance of himself , and the forgetting of god , whose name he so vainly takes into his mouth . such is the profane craft and subtlety of this man , that , from his atheisticall principles , he is careless of his words and protestations , as to the truth of them , so they do but carry on his design of deceiving , and get him a reputation with honest meaning men , who being by their own charity betray'd to him , may help to furnish him with money to spend upon his vices : he , like the tempter , applyes himself in his book suitably to the different inclination of those he addresses himself to , and accordingly he has another way to tickle the fancies of persons ill inclined , using divers vain and lascivious expressions ; nay , in a manner , down-right incouraging them to pursue their lusts , and venture for that loathed disease , because so obvious and easie to be cured by him ; as appears by his relation of a person of great worth and fortune , who having got a clap with a witness , came to him to be cured within fifteen dayes , because his concerns required he should then take a journey ; he like an impudent wretch answered him ( they are his own words ) if it might be a service to him , he should be as well cured as in all his life , and have time to get another if he pleased , and be cured of that too in that time ; and me thinks here it had been proper for him to add to all , that he would do this for gods sake . the greatest part of his preface ( which indeed is the whole book , the rest being as it were but an index ) is taken up in railing at the doctors ; this is the common place or topick of all these mountebancks rhetorick : their sole study ( but all in vain ) is to draw a cloud over the lustre of these men that out-shine them ; and they think ( but they are mistaken ) to make their own couterfeit glistering by this means pass for gold : i confess , some of these sort of men do shew some wit and parts in their calumnies , and make the best of their bad cause 't is capable of ; but this master o dowde is so bold , and dull an ignoramus , that , as we say of a notorious villain , he is one that shames the gallows ; so this groom is such a wretch , that he is a disgrace , even to his most disgracefull party ; and that in such a measure , that they themselves cry him down , and blush to own him . one of the most considerable champions , and ring-leaders of this faction , i take master thomson to be , and therefore i look on him to speak the mind of the whole junto ; besides , he hath been an intimate friend and associate of o dowdes , and consequently one that best knows him : from his own mouth , i had it to this essect , that he is an illiterate person , and so grosly ignorant , that he alone was able to bring into question , the knowledge of all the rest , they for his single sake lying under the censure of being men , as ignorant as himself ; and no doubt most of them did not much come behind him for this gift and endowment of ignorance . master thomson told me , that the ignorance of this dunce alone occasioned the obstruction of the patent , which was lately in agitation , for the erecting of a new colledge : in this i do not altogether give credit to master thomson , but however it serves for my present purpose , to convince the world of master o dowdes insufficiency , when his own party , whose business it is to cry up one anothers merit , shall blazon him for an unletter'd groom . 't is his gross ignorance makes him so rude and saucy with the doctors , as he is ; if he had had any learning , i am sure he would have had more civility , and better manners : what he undertakes to say of them , is as false , as his declaration , ( viz. ) that he scorned to print a paper to beg a patient ; whereas he has spoyl'd many sheets onely to that purpose , witness his first , second , and now a third edition of his book publisht for the same design , and imbroidered with a long catalogue of counterfeit cures , as if he intended now his own fraternity has cast him off , to put in for the monopoly , and prove medicaster universalis . my gentleman ( though such an atheist , that i think he seldome sayes his prayers ) has notwitstanding at last found out amen corner ( and i wish it prove not a formidable place to him ) where he talks of a body , and where i have seen many dissected , that had more brains , i believe , then himself , and yet had not wit enough to avoid that destiny : by the whole body of amen corner he talks on , he must be supposed to mean the their situated colledge of physitians ; persons , who for their eminency and known abilities in physick and anatomy , the king himself was graciously pleased lately to honour with his presence , and as a signal testimony of his affection to the professors , as well as to the profession , conferred the honour of knight-hood upon the worthy reader pro tempore , ( now sir george ent ) together with divers signal expressions of favour and respect to the whole body of this society : and yet such is the impudence of this ignorant scandalous fellow , that with strange impertinent , insignificant , and false aspersions he ventures to throw dirt upon those his majesty thought fit so highly to honour . but perfasque , nefasque , the old design must go on ; self-interest and juggling must to be advanc't , and no way else is possible to effect it , unless it be by decrying those that are most likely to discover the cheat. thus our autorculus , and the rest of the crew are of opinion , that if they do calumniari fortiter , aliquid haerebit ; and indeed the mischief is , that , to the ruine of many simple persons , they do it with some kind of success ; but i hope for the future , all sorts of men will be more carefull of their lives , and not cast such pearles , before them that are ready to devour ; and i wish this little book might serve as a guide for some of the misled , to direct them , least they split upon this rock . the title of master o dowdes book , ( viz. ) the poor mans physitian , or , the true art of medicine , as it is chymically prepared , &c. did not a little raise my expectation ; i hop't to have made a discovery there of something extraordinary , as to the preparations of medicines , by the art of pyrotechny ; which indeed was the chief reason why i esteemed it worth my while to look into it ; for ( chymistry being both my profession and delight ) the improving my knowledge in this art , is my sole study , and that , for which i have not spar'd either cost or pains : but upon the purusal , i found my self utterly disappointed ; for instead of performing what his specious title promises , he obtrudes upon the world a farrago of names and cures , most of which are notoriously false , and fictitious ; so that what in the title page is the true art of medicine , is in the book meer forgery , and the true art of cozening . i would not be thought to speak at random , or shoot at rovers , as this fellow does his bolts , though it be in the case of so inconsiderable a person ; and therefore that i might be furnisht to give a certain testimony of his insidelity , and demonstrate the dangerous consequence that must necessarily ensue upon his bold undertakings , i have taken no small pains to examine the truth of those particulars , he so mightily boasts of , and magnifies himself for ; and in truth i do not find one in ten to answer in the least to that he so impudently asserts in his book : i do believe , if it were possible to trace him through his whole catalogue , one in twenty would not appear to give him a good report ; and this sure comes far short of those miraculous cures he would possess the world with an opinion of being the performance of his daily practise . if one may judge ex pede herculem , i shall be able by shewing the falsness of some cures he boasts of , give the world an essay of the whole muster : that which he particularly insists on and by a formall preface bespeaks the attention of the reader even to the least circumstance , is the cure of one master richard rawlinson , mentioned in the fourth page of his book , living on the back-side of the shambles , in new-gate-market ; out of my desire to know the truth , i went to him , being my neighbour , and had with him some discourse concerning this particular , he told me , he was brought very low by the scurvey , and had been for a good space in a course of physick for his recovery by the advice of a friend , and about that time , a colonel of his acquaintance came to visit him , and finding him so ill out of pity sent presently for master o dowde , who very readily came , and after a cursory view of master rawlinson , appointed him some of his medicine ( without any inquiry what had formerly been given him ) which operating with him , as well by vomit as by stool , gave him present ease , and freed him , but 't was only from a rheumatismus , caused by the effect of a mercurial preparation , which his friend , and my acquaintance had given him ( without discovering to master rawlinson the intent of the medicine ) in order to his recovery ; with which method , who ever is acquainted , do very well know the effect , and will not wonder , that master o dowde found my neighbour in that condition , he is pleased to call an unparallel'd distemper ; but will rather admire he should call this a cure , that did but only check the former medicine , and turn the humour another way , which every artist in physick or surgery knows was a hare-brain'd rash undertaking , and in all probability , did prevent the perfection of his cure ; master rawlinson , not withstanding the repetition of master dowde's medicine , ( being put out of his former course of physick ) remains to this day uncured , being still deeply affected with the scurvey , and shewing me spots upon his arm , told me with his own mouth , that because he did not continue gratuities according to his expectation , he heard no more of master o dowde . and thus i have given you an impartial account of the great cure , which this false and impudent man would have stand as a perpetual record to all ages , against the sordid method of galenical prescriptions : but let this stand as a perpetual record to all ages against master o dowdes false and scandalous aspersions , for to my knowledge , what had been done before in order to this mans cure was performed by a chymical operator in surgery , a man so eminently known to be able in his profession , that had not this bold intruder prevented , master rawlinson might have at this time been perfectly well . his great idol being thus thrown down before the face of truth , all the other petty imps and cures of little moment must needs be sensible of the fall ; and i shall put some of them to the tryal , if they are able to stand the test : as i take it , two or three of them well shaken and examined , being found too weak and tottering , will be sufficient to give us an estimate of the whole tribe , and plainly evince , that they are all either absolutely forg'd , or only the effcts of chance . i shall begin with master adams , a brewer in saint thomas southwark , whom master o dowde is pleased to say in the third p. of his book , he curedof a violent gout in two dayes of medicine , which i must confess to be a very expeditious cure of such an inveterate disease ; but 't is only said , not performed , for a friend of mine , a person of known credit , afflicted with the same pain , willing to be eafed , was inclined to believe what he so much desired should be verified in himself ; but he was not altogether so credulous , as to venture upon master o dowde without a particular inquiry into the certainty ; whereupon , going to master adams , he was satisfied by him to the contrary , and told , that o dowde was a lying fellow , and that he was no better then he was before the taking of master o dowdes medicine ; the like account has been given me by divers of those persons mentioned in his catalogue , within these few dayes . a second i went to speak withal my self not long ago , by name mr. rawley a baker neer barking church in tower-street ; this man ( says o dowde ) was under a five years dropsie , lask , and bloody flux , a patient so remarkable , as to call men , and angels to witness against the barbarous inhumanity of those persons , that stile themselves doctors , &c. 't would be too troublesome to relate the whole fable ; to be brief therefore , after a lamentable , and as false a report , he tells you , this man after wishing for death , at last with a terrible dropsie became his patient , his leggs and thighes swoln , not imaginably to be moved , and hard as boards , yet in eleven dayes medicine cured by him . the man himself was at that time a sleep upon the bed , and i received the following narration from mistris rawley to this effect , that as to master o dowdes description of her husbands disease , 't was in part true , but he was so far from being well or cured in eleven dayes , that he was half a year his daily patient with little benefit ; and that master o dowde having received divers gratuities , did at several times after , bring more of his medicine almost for the space of a year , till at last , either for want of those former gratuities , or for shame he had not yet cured him , from that day to this he never appear'd : her husbands leggs , and thighes being swoln as much as ever , it seems master o dowde can cure the dropsie without the removall of the symptomes . a third lye he tells , is of mistris elizabeth friend , who unfortunately became his patient , he says , for the falling sickness , and relates the story in the twenty seventh page of his catalogue , to which for brevity sake i refer the reader : some terrible fits of the mother indeed she had , for the cure of which , by the perswasion of some friend , that was deceived into an opinion of master o dowde , she was boarded at his house , where he physick't her at his old rate ; this poor gentlewoman by the excessive , or ( to use his own phrase ) the wonderful operation of his three and twenty times medicine , had so lost her spirits , that she became deeply affected with a lethargy , which he minces into an indisposition and drowsiness : after this , she had the small pox , but recovered of that disease , she went on in the former course of medicine , till her lethargy was attended by a kind of distraction , and her former fits so much heighthned , that when they were upon her , she would stare , and start , like one perfectly out of her senses , and in the times of her intermission , her face was puft up and bloated ; which by one of master o dowdes figures , he calls in his forty sixth page her growing fat , after twenty nine dayes of medicine , to the operation of at least two hundred vomits , and one hundred and odd stooles , grew strong , chearfull and fat ; which fatness was such bloatiness , that they ( indeed ) who had not been acquainted with her , might look on it as the usual habit of her body : this poor young gentlewoman , whose cure this impudent man so much boasts of , dyed in one of these fits , to the great grief of her friends , and in particular her mother , who is at the very name of o dowde like a distracted person , to think she should be so indiscreet as to suffer her self to be deluded by such a vain bragging impostor . this relation was given me by the gentlewomans near friends , who likewise told me , they dare not mention o dowdes name to her mother in any case , least by the disturbance of her spirits , she should fall into the like passionate fits with her daughter . after these several convictions , i take it for granted , that all sober men will know master o dowde for a lyar , and i doubt not but he will have his due , and proper punishment , which is never to be believed . certainly , had this man been of sober principles , he would never have vented so much vanity and frothiness in several places of his scribble ; t is so gross , that 't is hardly fit for modest eares : some of that which is most cleanly , i met with in a passage concerning a young gentleman , whom he cured of the pox : after a long up-braiding of the doctors under the notion of dogmatists , with a tedious method of curing the old gentleman ( as he calls it ) to shew his dexterity that way , he brings in for witness ; a witty and accomplished young gentleman , who some years since , from a simple gonorrhea , was run into a most prodigious pox , and almost two years course of physick ; who afterwards becoming my patient , was perfectly cured long since ; and many moneths after getting an inveterate clap , was in lesse then ten dayes cured by me ; and then pleasantly assured me , that he now was satisfied , that in a clap , nothing more was needful , then to pray the physitian ( not to the god our authour so often invocated ) and pay him well , and to it again , for it was cured as soon as a scratcht finger . this is the young gentlemans descant upon the old one ; master o dowde gives him the stile of witty and accomplished , flattering him into the humour of paying well , and as it may be guest by this familiar dialogue , finding him sit for his company , they became cronies ; by which debauchery you may likewise guess at our authours vain conversation . as it was tedious for me to examine every particular in master o dowdes index , of those he sayes he has cured , so it would be to as little purpose to make a new catalogue of all those i may say he has killed ; if i should undertake it , i am of opinion , i could fill a book as large as his own ; for when i made inquiry after those whom he cured ( in his book but no where else ) i met with several tragick stories of his bold undertakings : i shall recount one or two , that master o dowde may take notice of , and add them in the next edition of his book . the first was one thomkins , at the spread eagle near fleet-bridge , who was another of his patients for the old gentleman , but his medicine wrought so violently with him , that he dyed of a scowring ; but while under those gripes and tortures , occasioned by his potion , would often say if he recovered , he would be revenged of him , and if he dyed , which he did suddainly after , he was confident o dowde was the cause of his death . another was a maid-servant , that unfortunately became his patient , in long-lane ; she upon taking of his medicine , which wrought so violently with her , presently died , having strange kinde of cramps and fits ; divers others i am furnisht to recite , but i forbear to trouble my reader , whom i am confident i have already satisfied , and more will nauseate . this master o dowde , though never so desperate in the exhibition of his medicine , as he all along phrases it , yet in his manner of dispensing , he uses a more then ordinary caution : i made a discovery of this , as well by his carriage , set out in his own book , as from the relation of several of his patients : his way is never to trust his medicine in the hands of his patients , but they must either in the presence of himself , or his boy , take down whatever he gives or appoints ; and in my opinion , this can bear no other interpretation , then that he is afraid his knavery should be discovered in using some common rejected preparation , under the shew of his own invented chymicall arcanum . just such another fellow is master lockier , ( and i think these geese are sitly coupled together ) who by difguising of vitrum antimonii , commonly called stibium , hath exposed to the world his pilula , radiis solis extracta , and for some considerable time , hath sold it for sixteen shillings per ounce ; whereas , to my own knowledge , the same quantity , of the same commodity , might be had without any trouble in any apothecaries shop for three pence : such kind of cheats as these are frequently put upon the easily deluded and credulous people , by such politick empiricks and falsifiers in physick as these . i leave it therefore to master lockiers choyce , whether he had rather be couuted a knave , or a fool , one of the two he cannot avoid ; for having publisht in print , that there is no antimony in his pill ; either he is so ignorant , he knows not what antimony is , or else he resolved to deceive the world : though for my own part , i was well satisfied , and found divers of the same opinion , concluding it to be a mineral , & that nothing else could operate in so small a proportion ; yet notwithstanding , for the further satisfaction or the world , i made an experiment , in the publick elaboratory of the colledge , before divers of the fellows , in order to a pyrotechnicall resolution of this pill , as followeth . a resolution of mr lockiers pill . after the dissolution of half an ounce of master lockiers pills , in a sufficient quantity of spirit of wine , which served onely to take away the mucilaginous substance , with which they were formed into those small proportions ; i found a remaining powder , which after it was dry , answered ( as i thought ) in colour and weight to vitrum antimonii ; for further discovery , i pulverized half an ounce of vitrum antimonii , and in the opinion of all that were present , there was no ocular demonstration to the contrary , but that they were all one : however , that it might be put beyond all dispute , i melted down master lockiers pills , and out of that half ounce , i reduced two drams and eleven grains of pure regulus of antimony ; after this , i melted down the same quantity of vitrum antimonii , out of which i also did reduce the same quantity of regulus , wanting but five grains , which is not onely an undeniable demonstration , that master lockiers pills are altogether antimonial , but as evidently plain , that they are nothing else but vitrum antimonii , powdered and formed into those small granula's , in which form he has so publickly sold them all england over . and now what will be the dangerous consequence , and hazard to many mens lives , to whom these impostors thus unadvisedly offer their medicine , without any consideration or respect , either to the nature of the disease , habit of body , constitution of the patient ; but in all cases , to persons of all ages and constitutions , at a venture , give it in like quantity , i say , what evil event must ensue such absurd practises , i leave to the judgement of all rational men. the appendix . worthy gentlemen , when i first undertook an answer to these indirect practitioners in physick , i also intended to offer something oy way of proposal , or rather a most humble address to you ; the president , fellows , and commonalty of the kings colledge of physitians in this famous city ; as also to the master , wardens , and company of apothecaries , in order to the rectifying of some enormous abuses , that within the space of some fevv years past , have crept into the general practise of physick . but having perused a little book entituled , a letter concerning the present state of physick ; written by a person of quality , and without dispute great learning , who has so effectually and fully discust the whole matter , and proposed such excellent means and wayes , as well to prevent the like for the future , as for the advancing all the desiderata of this profession ; in all which his principal aim is , the restoring of this practise of physick to its antient constitution , which , as this worthy gentleman sayes , till good learning came to be over-thrown and laid wast by the furious irruption of the goths ( though it now stands devided , between the chirurgeon and apothecary , was then the sole care of the physitian onely ; and t is very true , they did then officiate in all the faculties of physick : but it is observ'd likewise , that this profession in general never flourish'd better then it has in these three branches , ( viz. ) physitians , chirurgeons , and apothecaries ; nor has there been a greater improvement in physick , in any age of the world , then what has been made within this thirty years last past ; and i presume without disparagement to any , i may affirm , this to have been brought about , by the industry and pains , principally of the honourable society of physitians in london , as well in the business of anatomy , as physick : nor has the chirurgeons , and apothecaries been unuseful in this advancement ; but each of them in their respective sphears , have been exemplary to our neighbouring nations . then , what remains to the perfect advancement of this god-like profession , but a reuniting of the whole body consisting of these branches ) into those true and amicable respects , in which current , to this day physick has so well prospered ; and the rather , because , as this noble gentleman has well observ'd , it might otherwayes be lookt upon in respect of these ( though additional ) two very worthy societies of men ( chirurgeons and apothecaries ) as a thing extreamly unreasonable to undertake such an alteration , as the restoring of that antient way would necessarily introduce : besides the great difficulty must needs be expected in bringing this expedient to its intended perfection , it may probably be conjectured , that then the continuance of more time , with some other inconveniences falling in , may again produce the same exigency . wherefore i humbly suppose , as being of the same sentiment ( in that particular ) with this noble gentleman , the best expedient , for the rectification of all past abuses , and to free this honourable profession of physick from all those degenerating vipers , ( that do not only eat out her bowels , by their sinister practises , but by their illiterate , rude behaviour , stick on it , like dirt ) will in my opinion be found to be , if the colledge would please ( continuing to own the improvement of rational chymistry ) as an addition to all their former manifeftations ; procure ( as this gentleman advises ) by an address to his majesty , a publick authority , and command , that all apothecaries may be oblig'd , to buy those chymical preparations made in their publick elaboratory for the use of his majesties subjects , or else give satisfaction to the colledge , that they have the same of their own making , to the end , that no chymical preparations may be taken into their shops , from the hands of any unskilful or dishonest operator , but from such only as shall be allow'd by the colledge ; the rather , because there are several in this city , who have serv'd an apprentiship to this profession , and are esteem'd persons of such integrity , that what medicines soever they sell , the colledge ( to whom in obedience they will be ready to give satisfaction in this point ) may acquiesce in their just prepatation ; for further satisfaction to the colledge , i humbly propose , that the master and wardens of the company of apothecaries , would please to enact , under a severe penalty , that from henceforth none of their members , shall use , or put to sale any dispenst medicine , but what they either make themselves , or for convenience in their trade be furnisht by some member of their own society ; since that by this means the mystery of physick will not only be preserved with her due bounds , but the profession will be much advanc't , and that door , by which all the fore-mentioned abuses crept in , will be stopt up : thus much i humbly offer as my own private thoughts and desires , begging pardon , if i have too much presumed . i cannot after all , better conclude then with the words of that incomparable epistle ; since then , worthy doctors , your selves look upon rational chymistry , as an excellent way of enquiry into the natures of things , and managed with sound reason and philosophy , an excellent way also of preparing medicines ; since you are as much conversant in chymical authous , as any others , and have as many , and more assistances , of learning and experience to judge of them ; to all which i may very well add , since you have also a perfect and candid resolution to countenance and improve them ; as i am bound in duty , so i humbly make bold to offer the continuance of my devoted service , in what ever your honours shall be pleased to imploy , your most humble and , faithfull servant , william iohnson . finis . errata . page 1. line 11. read tough , for tuff . p. 11. l , 20. r , by these subtle . pa. 12. l. 11. r. both for doth . p. 16. l. past , r. interest for intrest . p. 52. l. 17. r. inform for imform . p. 57. l , 2. r. fraudulent for fradulent . p. 14. l. 5. r. to give . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a46974-e430 ben. johnsons alchy . novum lumen medicum wherein the excellent and most necessary doctrine of the highly-gifted philosopher helmont concerning the great mystery of the pholosophers sulphur. is fundamentally cleared by joachim poleman. out of a faithful and good intent to those that are ignorant and straying grom the truth, as also out of compassion to the sick. written by the authour in the german tongue, and now englished by f.h. a german. poleman, joachim. 1662 approx. 248 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 109 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a55298) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 34983) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2075:04) novum lumen medicum wherein the excellent and most necessary doctrine of the highly-gifted philosopher helmont concerning the great mystery of the pholosophers sulphur. is fundamentally cleared by joachim poleman. out of a faithful and good intent to those that are ignorant and straying grom the truth, as also out of compassion to the sick. written by the authour in the german tongue, and now englished by f.h. a german. poleman, joachim. f. h. [8], 206 p. printed by j.c. for j. crook at the sign of the ship in st. pauls church-yard, london : 1662. at head of title page: psal. 36. in the light shall we see light. caption title on p. 1: concerning the mystery of the sulphur philosophorum. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng helmont, jean baptiste van, 1577-1644 -early works to 1800. medicine -philosophy -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2007-02 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion psal. 36. in thy light shall we see light. novum lumen medicum ; wherein the excellent and most necessary doctrine of the highly-gifted philosopher helmont concerning the great mystery of the pholosophers sulphur . is fundamentally cleared by joachim poleman . out of a faithful and good intent to those that are ignorant and straying from the truth , as also out of compassion to the sick . written by the authour in the german tongue , and now englished by f. h. a german . london , printed by j. c. for j. crook at the sign of the ship in st. pauls church-yard . 1662. to the most illustrious , high-born prince and lord , the lord christian avgvst . count palatine of the rhine , duke of bavaria , gulick , cleven and berghen , count of veldentz , sponheim , the marck , ravenspurgh and moehrs , lord of ravenstein ; my most gracious prince and lord. most gracious lord. your highnesses last conference with me at the time of my travelling through those countries , about the true and neerest way to attain unto perfection in physick , is still fresh in my memory : and upon that quaere , i proposed unto your highnesse for answer , the golden doctrine of the sharp-sighted philosopher helmont , sunt videlicet sulphura quaedam , quibus correctis atque perfectis , tota morborum cohors auscultat . the truth of this doctrine i did then demonctrate with strong arguments of the anima antimonii , and if my occasions had permitted me to remain there for some longer time , i would have cleared the same by experimental proof ; now although this great encomium attributed by helmont unto some sulphurs , may with truth be given unto the sulphur of antimony , yet the tincture of the copper deserveth it much more , as having obtained of nature a higher degree of nobility than the former ; and and therefore its anima is called sulphur philosophorum by paracelsus , basilius valentinus , and others , in regard of its great vertue and power in relieving the sick in their pains and great extremities , which many physitians clearly apprehended from the writings of helmont , and therefore greedily sought for the same , but none almost hitherto found it . hence great complaint is made by them every where , that they cannot attain unto this great mystery , nor sever the golden tincture from its leprous body . and therefore i counted it to be my duty as a christian , to set upon the table that little light of my knowledge in this mystery , which god in his mercy bestowed upon me , to the end that all that are chosen for it by god and born to it by nature , may see my gift , and look into the matter it self , also together with me may find out this precious jewel of health , and be partakers of the same , and thence much profit may arise unto the sick . in regard therefore , that your highnesse was at that time well pleased with my elucidation concerning the tincture of antimony , i thought good to dedicate this also to your highnesse , to the end that you may perceive the wonders of god in the copper also , and thence praise his holy name : hoping that your highnesse will graciously accept of this my lucubration , and affection to serve you . and i heartily commend your highnesse to the continuation of the mercy of god , remaining your princely highnesses most humble and ready servant joachimus poleman . amsterdam . 30th . jan. 1659. concerning the mystery of the sulphur philosophorum . cap. i. the occasion of writing this book . god in his great mercy having lighted unto us unworthy men in this age a special clear light in physick , to the great comfort of the sick , by the highly favoured john baptist helmont , and the same having been also acknowledged and highly esteemed by many hundred truth-loving physitians , who therefore have diligently read and pondered his relict deeply grounded writings : yet at length almost all do complain of the obscurity of those books , especially in what concernes the preparation of those high medicines , and above all touching the tincture or sulphur of copper , which every one deemed , and deservedly too , of all the most necessary in physick ; hence by many correspondencies , one friend sought of another the clearing of this secret , and every one busied himself extreamly for the getting of this golden arcanum ; of which disease i my self also lay sick a long time : for having diligently read the learned books of our philosopher , and not being able to frame any conception from thence , how to unriddle this mystery , i resolved with my self to attain unto it by the sifting of wise and understanding men ; and therefore declined no difficulty of travelling into divers kingdomes , though often with great hazard of my life , where i enquired for experienced men in this secret art , and conferred with them about this high and weighty treasure of health , but could find none , who could loosen this fast-tyed sulphur philosophorum , or give me as much as the least hint of it ; yea even of the most famous i found not a few , who were not able clearly to sever the anima from antimony , much lesse from copper . whereupon i was forced to take another resolution , and so followed the faithful doctrine of our philosopher , left unto us in his book de venatione scientiarum , and sought the truth of nature no more from men , but from the creator and beginner of nature , by my humble prayers , whereunto i joyned a singular industry in reading our philosophers writings , accurately observing his words and meaning , and comparing one place with another , and then also worked diligently , and at length truth appeared unto me by the blessing of god. now he that hath been sick , being best sensible of the condition of another which is sick of the same disease , and not being ignorant of the great longing search and expectation for this sulphur philosophorum by the ignorant , and such as go astray , i thought my self bound in christian charity to communicate unto my brethren , what i discovered through the grace of god , with much labour , time and expences , and clearly to unfold the way which i went my self , and thereby attained unto this knowledge , to the end that they may follow this little light set up for them , and thereby penetrate into this mystery , and do good unto their neighbour in his sicknesse ; also that the name of god may be praised by many in his wonders , and much glory may redound unto him , which is the fountain of all good gifts . cap. ii. opening the virtue , by which a mineral anima , or sulphur , is to be severed from its body . if we desire fundamentally to know , by what means the anima is to be separated from the hard coagulated metallick bodies , as gold , copper , steel , &c. we must first enquire , whereby not only common sulphur , but also the sulphurs of minerals , which are but half-coagulated bodies , are loosened or dissolved ; to the end that having a through knowledge of the same , thereby as by steps we may ascend higher , and advance to the separation of those much faster coagulated sulphurs : for all the metallick and mineral sulphurs being throughly of one and the same nature , and called by the philosophers the element of fire , and being of a fiery nature , it must needs follow , that their solution must proceed from one and the same ground ; in regard that , as to their first rise , they are of the like substance and nature , just as an old man and a new-born child are quite of one and the same substance , only that the one is more perfect than the other ; and therefore for the finding out of the solution of the firmly coagulated metallick sulphurs , we must first enquire after the ground and means to unlock the meaner sulphurs , for in this manner i have traced the truth and found it . first then , considering what it is which radically unlocketh common sulphur , we find , that oyl , and all that is of a fat and fiery nature doth open the same , as being of a like fiery substance , and discovereth to our very eyes it s otherwise occult blood-red soul . which though it be a common thing , and daily practised by many , yet it is of such a depth and weight , that from this very source springeth forth the solution of all metallick souls , yea of the gold it self , as you will hear afterwards . therefore if we pretend to be disciples of the philosophers , we must with other eyes than those of an idiot look upon sulphur , when by boyling with oyl it is mollified in such sort , that its inward red tinctur is turned outward ; the common crew contents himself with this , that after they have done with their boyling , the same doth take away the itch and scab , cureth wounds , and the bruised and inflamed limbs , and performeth other wholesom operations : but a searcher of the hidden wisdom goeth deeper to the ground , and inquireth , whence it cometh , that of all things the oyl only hath power to open the sulphur so sweetly , and so naturally , turning its interiour outwards , whereas the strongest corrosive cannot do it ; and upon due consideration we find , that this solution proceedeth from the likeness or identity of oyl and sulphur , viz. that the oyl or fat , as being a fiery thing , doth cover , lay hold on , and embrace the sulphur as a like fiery substance , and so softneth the same , and openeth it to its very inmost center , which is done by sympathy , like loving its like , and imparting their virtue to each other . in so much , that oyl , as a fiery moysture is the right foundation and source , from whence the opening of all mineral and metallick sulphurs doth flow : now if we go on from common sulphur to the other sulphur of minerals , which are advanced to a pretty hard coagulation by the coction of nature , and compare the foresaid experience , we find , that though oyl hath no power to sever and open the embryonat sulphur of any mineral , as being too weak for this performance , yet for all that , the solution must proceed from the same ground , if it shall be radical , and consonant , and friendly unto nature ; but in regard that the minerals are fast lockt up , and so do not yield to such a gentle power as that of the oyl , therefore the power of the oylie substance must be exalted and increased in its fieriness , and then it will open and sever the sulphur from minerals as easily , yet with more expedition than oyl doth unlock the common sulphur : this exaltation of the fiery power and quality in oyls must also be done by its like , if we will work according to nature , and not contrary thereunto ; which is performed by a burning fire , which by its fiery and vehement power turneth the oylie substance into a fiery salt , which salt not only retaineth its former oylie mollifying power , but also is highly exalted in the same : for wood , which is full of oyl , being thrown into the fire and burnt , though the greatest part of the oyl be consumed by the fire , in regard that of its wast or consumption the flame and heat hath its rise , yet a great part thereof ( which cannot be burnt in such hast , the volatile salt , which also is in the wood , besides the oyl , hindring the same , and melting together ) by the sharp and vehement power or burning fieriness , is turned into a very fiery , fixt , oylie salt , which is called alcali , or lixivial salt , whereof the common people make their lye : and this salt hath still perfectly its former softning oylie property , only that by the fieriness it is translated from a volatile to a fixed condition ; yea is grown far more fiery and powerfull , than it was before : now if you will know , whither this fiery salt be still a true oylie substance , then put some common sulphur and some of this salt and water in a pot , and boyle them a little , and you will see , that the sulphur will in like manner melt in it , and yield its red tincture , as if it had been done with oyle , yea with more expedition , because it is now much stronger in its softning fieriness , than it was before , being yet in the forme of an oyl . now as this fiery salt is nothing else , but a fiery oyle much exalted in its virtue , so it hath the more vehement power now to lay hold on , and to unlock that , which before , being yet an oyl , it could not possibly overcome ; so that being in this exalted condition it hath now the power to take minerals asunder , and to separate their soul or sulphur . to perform the same yet easier and with more expedition , such a fiery alcali may be yet further exalted in its fieriness , by being mixt with the like fiery things , and so burnt together ; such a fiery thing is unquench't lime , which by the strong power of the burning fire hath attained to its great fieriness , and so is able to communicate the same by fire unto the alcali's . take therefore well purified lixivial salt or salt of tartar , which is the fieriest of all , mix it with lime , calcine it strongly for the space of a day , then lixiviate it again from the lime , your alcali will be notably increased in its fieriness , and have then power to loosen the sulphur from minerals , and sever it from their bodies with much expedition ; as you may see for example in antimony , the chiefest of all minerals , which being made into fine powder , and mixed with the foresaid fiery salt , and water powred on , and so letting it rest in a warme place for some dayes , stirring it about oftentimes in a day , the fiery alcali then attracteth the sulphur by sympathy and so looseneth it , and uniteth it self therewith : the extraction decanted and filtred , and acid things powred into it , the sulphur of antimony will precipitate of a fair orenge colour , and burn like other sulphur , but that which falleth last of all , is best and purest . by these two steps , viz. the solution of common sulphur in oyles , and the severing of embryonate sulphurs from minerals in a fiery alcali ; i went up higher to the loosening of metallick sulphurs , they being of the same substance with mineral sulphurs ; and as in a clear glass , by the light of nature i saw , that in like manner as oyle was not of efficacy sufficient to sever the sulphur from minerals , but that it was needfull to advance the oyle first to a far higher degree of fieriness , before it was capable to performe that work : so likewise the metallick sulphurs , being faster tyed to their mercurial bodies , and advanced to a far harder coagulation than minerals , require a much more penetrating fire , then the fixed alcalies are , but yet in regard that the sulphurs are of the same substance , their solution must spring still from the same source , and there wants nothing else , but that this fiery salt be made yet more penetrative , more softning , more vehement and powerful , which must be obtained by freeing those fiery salts and alcalies from their grosse corporeousnesse , raising them by the strong force of the fire , and making of them a penetrating , fiery , volatile spirit , being not only of such a fierie nature and force as before , but also much increased in its penetrating and mollifying quality , because it is freed from all grosse ligaments , and turned into a through-spiritual , very fiery , volatile water . according to this knowledge i worked , and had good successe , in so much that the sulphurs of metals readily yeilded to such a fiery volatile spirit , delivering up thereunto all their virtue and power , as hereafter shall be mentioned . so the summe of this ground is this , that for common sulphurs , oyles for embryonat sulphurs , the fixed fiery alcalies ; and for metallick sulphurs , yea for that of gold it self , the volatilized alcalies , as a spiritual , very fierie , penetrating water are required for their central solution , mollification and liquefaction : let none think it strange , that i said , that gold it self must yield i blood-red soul or sulphur to this fierie penetrating spirit , for experience hath taught me so , and sheweth forth the same daily , notwithstanding that the deeply learned philosopher cormopolita in his preface of his xii . tract . doth hold the contrary , and many others at this day do count it impossible . chap iii. that the copper is to be first prepared before it can part with its sulphur . here will appear the reason , why not only our philosopher , but also many others before him , have dignified the sulphur cupri with the glorious name and title of sulphur philosophorum , and owned the same indeed for such ; truly , not only by reason of its great virtue and power , but also because of its secret and difficult preparation , which the wise reserved very secret and only amongst themselves ; which also remained concealed unto this time , and will remain so to those which love gold more then god , although i do clear it more than any before me ; for god keeps his hand alwaies upon his mysteries , and suffereth not swine to be pertakers of those noble pearls , which our philosopher de febribus cap. 14. § . 9. witnesseth , saying , paucis absolvi secretum , quod medicum nobilitat : at istud parasse pro prima vice est ingentis operae , pendetque ejus directio a manu ejus cui debetur omnis honos , quia parvulis revelat ejusmodi arcana quae mundus nescit , & idcirco vilipendit . therefore you must not think , that it is such a trifle and easie matter to get the gold-like tincture of copper ; for not only the menstruum which is required for to extract the anima , viz. the alcali volatil , but also the preparation of the copper are such mysteries as are unknown hitherto , and whereof all self-grown physitians are utterly ignorant . for first the copper must be turned into a vitriol , not after the common known way , which hath no place here , but after a far secreter way , via longè occultiori , saith our philosopher , cap. 8. de lithiasi . § . 21. and this vitriolificatio cupri is the chiefest preparation which of all hath been kept most secret : secondly this vitriolum cupri philosoph . must be distilled over in such a manner , that all the copper come over in the form of a green spirit , which also is no common way of working , yea , was in such high esteem with paracelsus and basilius valentinus , that they called this green spirit the third pillar of physick : thirdly , this grass-green spirit must be freed from its corrosive , which also was only known to the wise , but now hath been clearly described by our philosopher : then fourthly , and not before the sulphur may be separated by an alcali volatil ; which knot is tyed hardest of all , and our philosopher mentioned it not expresly , but only left to be guessed at , and pickt out of his writings , by the elect disciples of the philosophers , which now is clearly delineated by me . fiftly , and last of all , the separated soul must be coagulated and fixed , which though it be of all , the easiest and meanest operation , yet it will be difficult enough for him that wanteth understanding and discretion , to advance this noble sulphur to its perfect maturity , in such a way as is consonant unto nature . cap. iv. informing how to make the philosophers vitriol of copper . although for extraction of the anima of the copper the greatest and chiefest requisite is the alcali vetile , yet the same is not alone sufficient ; for though it be poured upon calcined copper , ( as i my self did at first , but in vain ) yet it cannot sever its gold-like anima ; the reason is , that by the hard coagulation performed by nature , and the fusion by fire which followed thereupon , the anima cupri hath been shut up into death , and so quite turned inwards , in which sense cosmopolita saith very well , quod fusio metallorum sit eorum mors , and our philosopher de lithiasi c. 8. § . 4. dum liquatur , concluditur omnis vis medica , sigillaturque , imo introvertitur sic , &c. and therefore the anima must be turned outwards again , and the melted metal must as it were rise from death , and hence our philosopher calleth it sulphur resurgens & gloriosum , as being freed from all its hard corporeous ligaments ; so that it is apparent , that this preparation of the copper is no lesse necessary , nor of no lesse moment than the preparation of the fiery volatil spirit ( which is the fit menstruum for extraction ) it self : and therefore also the philosophers kept the former as secret as this , untill our faithful and well meaning philosopher helped us into the track , informing us , that this preparation or fitting of the copper must be done by salt armoniack , whereof his doctrine in his tract called duumviratus § . 9. is this , fit enim legitimum , & quod philosophorum ( sulphur ) vocant è spiritu viridi vitrioli , qui per repetitam cohobationem , ultima ignis tortura expressus & insigniter volatilis , coagulatur atque fixatur , quod praesat vulgaris sal armoniacus qui inde post modum auferri debet per spiritus vini repetitas destillationes . now this being to be done by salt-armoniac , you may peradventure think to make use of the same as it is in it self , as i my self also conceived so at first , and sublimed the copper many times with salt armoniack , but all in vain . and therefore at length after many frustraneous labours , i begun more accurately to heed our philosophers far-reaching words , teaching that the vitriol of the copper must be made into a very highly volatil spirit ; consequently the salt-armoniack it self , because it is to performe this , must first be turned into such an extraordinary volatil spirit ; for how could the copper possibly be transformed into such a very volatil spirit , if that same which is to transform it so , be not first it self such a volatil spirit ? and therefore the salt-armoniack must first be turned into a very volatilspirit , and then by the means thereof the copper turned into vitriol ; but you must not think ( as i did at first ; but my endeavours proved addle ) to take natural , or by art prepared blew vitriol of copper to sublime it with salt armoniack , and so turne it into a spirit : for this is as much lost labour , as to take the copper filed or calcined , in regard that the spirit of vitriol or any other corrosive spirit , which made the vitriol of copper , do not only not serve for this purpose , but also are noxious and a great hindrance ; in so much , that if one would according to our philosophers doctrine extract the tincture or sulphur , either of naturally grown or artificially made common blew vitriol of copper , he must first dissolve the vitriol in water , then precipitate the metallick substance with an alcali , and free the same quite from its corosive , so that not the least of this remain with it , and then he must afresh make this precipitated and dryed calx into vitriol by spirit of salt armoniack ; else he would get nothing ; for such difference there is betwixt the common and the philosophers vitriol , as betwixt black and white , as you will hear by and by . now concerning the transformation of the salt armoniack into a volatil spirit , the reader must not think , that the same is to be done after a common and known way ; or that such a way hath been known hitherto : as that the salt armoniack is to be distill'd with wheat-flower , as some do , who perversely count the acid water that comes over for the true spirit of salt armoniack , it being nothing else but the acidity of the flower , mixt with some atomes of salt armoniack , after which also , soon all the salt armoniack followeth , and sublimeth in its former weight ; for all vegetables yield such a sowre spirit when they are distill'd : also the fiery urinous salt , which is got by means of the salt of tartar , or any other alcali , is not that spirit which the philosophers require for this work , in regard that the same is but the smaller part of the salt armoniack , but the bigger part remaineth in the bottome , in so much that the foresaid salt is wrongfully called spirit of salt armoniack ; for the denomination of a thing consisting of two parts , as the salt armoniack doth , pertaineth alwaies and chiefly to the bigger or greater part , as they are wont to say , à potiori parte fit denominatio ; now experience witnesseth , that if you take a pound of salt armoniack and mix it with an alcali , that about three ounces , or three and a half ounces do rise of the urinous salt ( which indeed is no spirit , but only a volatil salt ) and more then twelve ounces remain with the alcali in the bottom , which twelve ounces , as being the greater part merit rather the name of salt armoniack , then those three ounces and a half which sublimed ; hence also the wise alwaies mean it of the greater part which remained in the bottom , which they forced into a volatil spirit to serve their turne ; and the same experience hath taught me , for i saw that the urinous salt is uselesse for this matter , not being able to produce that which the wise require , and so sought and found it in the greater part viz. that the said greater part , which after the separation of the urinous salt , remains in the bottom with the alcali , being forced over by a strong fire according to art , you will get not only a volatil , but also a double spirit : very volatil i say , for it will come over in balneo , and is able to make other bodies to be very volatil : double it is , for when the urinous salt severed it self thereform , it embraced then and united with the alcali , from which it is not to be severed but by a very vehement fire , and then it forceth part of the alcali over with it self , because of its intimate union therewith , in so much that without the same it cannot come over ; so there ariseth a double or satiated spirit , which satiated its hungry corroding nature with the alcali ; and so doth no more corrode other bodies , nor seeketh to insinuate it self into them , being satiated already with the alcali ; as much as its corrosive had need of ; hence this double satiated very volatil spirit is of a wonderful nature , and unlocketh metallick bodies after a far other fashion than the common corrosives do ; for these being hungry and desirous to satiate their corrosive , do fall upon the metals with great fury and noise , and do corrode them and adhere unto them outwardly : but this double corrosive , being satiated already , doth not corrode the metal , nor seeketh for to dwell with it as others do , but doth mollify it , and adhereth not outwardly thereunto , nor performeth its operation suddenly like the others , but gently in some dayes , penetrating to the very inmost of the metal , and turning outward what was lock't and sealed up in its inmost center , by the vertue of its double nature , wherein the metal melteth like ice in water . therefore be careful and diligent to make this spirit of the salt armoniack ; and be not dismayed therefore , that much labour is required for it , and special care , but think upon the end , that the same will recompense thee with gladnesse and joy : if you hit this right , then you have overcome the greatest and difficultest point in this business , and the rest will be but as it were a play or sport . take therefore this very volatil spirit , and poure it upon the filings of fine copper , and in a close glasse-vessel in a gentle heat , digest it for manydayes , and the metal will leasurely melt in it , and the spirit will be very green of the metal : continue this solution with fresh spirit , untill your metal be all dissolved ; then coagulate it , and you will get a very green vitriol , which as it differs from the common blew vitriol in colour , so likewise in nature and vertues ; for the blew vitriolum cupri is very bitter and nauseous in taste , but this as sweet as sugar of lead ; the other causeth vehement vomits , but this strengtheneth nature , begetteth rest , taketh away pain : it may be given even to the smallest children , and hath such verture in physick , that it is to be admired . the other being calcined , is a harsh and hard substance , but this is fufile in the fire like wax , it is almost like unto rozin , and may be cut like a gumm ; for its balsamick soul is totally turned outwards by this secret double corrosive , and therefore also doth it smell so fragrantly , like odoriferous spice , especially being dissolved in spirit of wine ( in which it will melt totally and very suddenly ) and digested for some dayes , to say nothing of other many more properties for brevities sake . lo now , what great difference there is betwixt the philosophers vitriol , and that which commonly is made of copper , truly as much as betwixt white and black : and as its vertue is great as for inward medicine , so its efficacy is wonderful and not to be commended sufficiently in chirurgy , by reason of its balsamick sweetness , whereby in green wounds , dangerous ulcers , and incurable tumors it sheweth forth so great power , that it shameth all commonly known oyntments , balsomes , oyles , plaisters and poultises : of which i will prescribe you a plaister and an oyntment , whose mighty operation you will admire , and have reason to rejoyce at it in many dangerous symptomes : the plaister is composed in this manner : take sulphur of antimony , such as above taught , put it into a phiol , poure upon it linseed-oyl new drawn , that it reach some inches over , let it boyle moderately together for a whole day , and the linseed-oyl will turn as red as blood , and is the true balsome of sulphur in chirurgie : this balsome put into a copper vessel ; if you have one pound of it , add unto it halfe a pound of litharge in fine powder , boyle it , still stirring it about , until the litharge be dissolved ; then add of grease ( be it of men , hogs , geese , or butter also , &c. according to your use ) half a pound , and of the sweet vitriol of copper one ounce and a half , and as much wax as is needfull for consistency , and make it into a plaister , which by reason of its great virtues may well be called the golden plaister . the oyntment make thus : take of honey well clarified four ounces ; of the juyce of polygonum latifolium twelve ounces ; of the sweet vitriol of copper , two ounces ; boyle all gently together , untill it be almost as thick as an oyntment ; then add of the best saffran made into fine powder , half an ounce : take it straight from the fire , mix the saffran well with it , so that it be very well incorporated therewith , and it is done . if in those cases where fat things may be used , you will add some of the former balsome of sulphur , and incorporate it well , it will be so much the better . and these two things being well prepared , and rightly administred according to art , will be very useful for you in assisting the distressed , and gain you much credit , as you will know by experience . cap. v. a farther explication concerning the vitriolification of the copper , and of the secrets of the salt-armoniack . although i have sufficiently described all that pertaineth to the preparation of the vitriol of copper , yet the proposed matter may seem to the reader partly obscure , and partly impossible , especially because i make mention of such a sorts of spirits , ( such as double and satiated ) whereof hath not been heard , nor read in any author hitherto , so that this my explication may peradventure be counted a fable , as if i offered violence unto the philosophers doctrine , when they do so highly commend the salt armoniack for to unlock and prepare metals and minerals , perverting their words to another sense , which they never intended . for to prevent this suspition , and to make the matter so clear and palpable to the reader , that he may see the bare and naked ground of this secret , i will so digest and open unto him to the nature and whole substance of the salt armoniack , that he cannot choose but agree thereunto , and acknowledge the truth of the matter : first , let none take offence , that i produce a new sort of spirits , or that i name them by a new name , in regard , that the salt armoniack of its self is nothing else but a double and satiated spirit , for else it could never have such great virtues to fit and prepare metals and minerals , and so readily elevate , and take them asunder , if it were not a satiated and double spirit , which with a double force performeth , what no single corrosive possibly can do . but that the salt armoniack is a satiated and double spirit , the mechanica will teach you ; for if you take the spirit of urine ( which to speak properly is no spirit , but only a fiery salt , in regard that being rectified and severed from all heterogeneous phlegm , it is and remaineth alwayes a volatile and fiery salt , and no spirit ) and poure it upon vitriol , the corrosive in the vitriol will unite presently with this fiery salt , and leave its metallick body , wherein it dwelled before , and so layes hold on this fiery salt , having more inclination to this , than to the metallick body : this vitriol , which is impregnated with the so called spirit of urine , being put into a retort and forced by fire , presently there will appear a dry , volatile double salt , tasting neither of spirit of vitriol , nor of spirit of urine , because they worked into one another , and changed themselves on both sides , which action and reaction may well be called saturation , where the one satiateth , feedeth , and rests it self in the other , both quietly dwelling together and in each other , and therefore two being united , there is virtus unita , and their force so much the greater , as they say , virtus unita fortior , for from this united vertue proceedeth the great power , which the salt armoniack hath in preparing of metallick bodies . the foresaid double salt being examined , you will find that its taste is no other then that of the salt armoniack , and that it hath the same operation in physick also . now after the same manner , as you have heard of the spirit of vitriol and the salt of urine , ariseth also the common salt armoniack and from the same ground , only that instead of vitriol they take common salt , and instead of the salt of urine , they take common urine that suffered no separation , and other things , which contain the like volatil fiery salt , as urine doth : as soon as these things are mixed together , they presently work one into another , each one layes hold of the other ; insomuch that this dry mixture being forced by fire , the volat il salt by reason of its volatility is necessitated to rise , but being intimately united with the salt , it cannot rise alone , but forceth the spirit of salt to go along , and so both ascend , as a double satiated spirit or spiritual salt ; and if you doubt still whither it be so or no , then take spirit of salt , and salt of urine , mix them together in such a quantity , that you can perceive no taste of either , but another or middle taste betwixt both , then coagulate it , and force it to ascend , and you will have just such a salt-armoniack as is commonly sold ; whence you see plainly , that common salt-armoniack is nothing else but a double and satiated spirit , or rather a spiritual salt ; and beeing of such a double nature , it hath the precedency before all common and known spirits , and corrosives , and so openeth metals and minerals , as no other salt can do the like , whereof i will give you a clear demonstration at the end of this chapter , viz. of its great power to manifest that which is occult : and therefore basilius valentinus saith well of the same ; the salt-armoniack is not the meanest key to unlock metals ; and therefore is compared by the antients unto a flying fowl ; it is able with its swift feathers to carry on high the tincture and colour of minerals , and some of metals , and you will finde it of force sufficient to prepare , and fit metals for transmutation ; for without preparation no metal can be transmuted , &c. note this doctrine of basilius , for i have set it down not without cause . now although by this my demonstration you will be convinced , that the name of a double and satiated spirit is not undeservedly given unto the salt-armoniack , and that this term is not newly invented by me , but according to its real being hath been in the salt-armoniack , although the name was not usuall hitherto : yet you may further object , if salt-armoniack be such a double and satiated spirit , why is it not sufficient of it self to reduce the copper into a volatile spirit , but there must be made another double spirit of the salt-armoniack , and the alcali ? for answer know , that the spirit , or rather salt of urine , whereof the salt-armoniack consisteth , is the only cause of it , for it alwayes retains the nature of salt , and cannot be reduced into a true spirit : hence it raiseth the spirit of salt , vitriol , and other corrosives ( which are true spirits ) not in the form of a spirit , but according to its own nature like a salt , yea by its saltie nature turneth them also into salt , or into the shape of salt , so long as it is united with them : but now our philosopher , as also paracelsus , and others before him require , that the copper shall come over , not like a volatile green salt , but like a very volatile green spirit , as our philosopher saith de lithiasi , cap. 8. § 21. that it must be cupri liquamen volatile ; and in his duumviratus he saith , that the spiritus viridis ought to be insigniter volatilis , to the end that the body of the copper may be rightly prepared and fitted , that it may yield its tincture afterwards ; and therefore it must be so forcibly torne assunder , and reduced into the smallest atomes , viz. into a subtle spirit ; for without this proceeding , its anima cannot be got , as he saith expresly , loco jam citato d● lithiasi § 5. non potest autem haberi ignis veneris , nisi cum plenaria ( nb ) cupri destructione corporisque mercurialis ipsius veneris volatilisatione : but the salt armoniack , though it be a double and satiated spiritual salt , cannot performe this , although the vulgar vitriolum veneris or cuprum limatum or ustum , be never so often and so many times elevated therewith , because it is but a dry salt , but not a penetrating and attenuating spirit , which is far more subtle and efficacious to unlock , penetrate , and spiritualize than salt , though it be never so volatile . now although the salt armoniack be not such a double spiritual substance , as to have power to do the philosophers work , and to reduce copper into a subtle penetrating , volatile spirit , yet the nature and substance of the salt armoniack , as being really a double spiritual salt , hath given occasion unto the philosophers , though after another manner , yet from the same ground , whereof the salt armoniack consisteth , to find out , and to prepare another sort of satiated and double substance , which alwaies is and remaineth a very volatile and flying spirit . for they considered throughly the parts , whereof the salt armoniack , as being a double substance , doth consist : and they found , that ( as i demonstrated above at large ) it consisteth of a fiery and of a corrosive substance ; but seeing that the fiery substance in its nature is no true spirit , and consequently not serving their turne , viz. to reduce copper into a volatil spirit ; therefore instead thereof they chose such a fiery salt , as being distill'd is a true spirit , and never ascendeth in the forme of salt , much lesse changeth the adjoyned corrosive into the forme of a dry salt , as the salt of urine doth to find out the same they considered the property and efficacy of the salt of urine , viz. that its nature is , to mortify or satiate all corrosives , by which vertue it doth precipitate metals dissolved in a corrosive , eagerly falling upon the corrosive , satiating it self therewith , and so freeing the corroded metal from it ; and because they found that the same power , yea more effectual , resideth in the fiery fixed alcalies , they judged them fit for the purpose , that as in the preparation of salt armoniack the fieriness of the salt of urine doth satiate the corrosive , so as to their purpose the alcalies lay hold of the corrosive , and that of them both there should arise a tertium , duplicatum , satiatum sal : and consequently by distillation such a double spirit ; they also first distilled the alcalia by a very strong fire , according to art , and found that they ascended not like a volatile salt , but like a true , very subtle and penetrating spirit ( of mighty great power and vertue in physick ) and therefore they mixt the salt armoniack with the alcalies , and the corrosive having more inclination to them , than to the fiery salt of urine , presently associated it self with the alcali , leaving the salt of urine , and so making a new double satiated salt , tasting neither of the alcali nor of the corrosive , but as a mixture of both , as experience doth testify to this day . now because both the corrosive and the alcali being forced over by fire , turne into a true spirit , it must of necessity follow , that of this double salt no other but a true satiated and double spirit must come ; and experience it self confirmeth it , that a very volatile spirit cometh thence ; having such a property as no other corrosive hath , which fall upon the metallick bodies with great fury and ebullition , corroding them , and adheering outwardly unto them , seek to get their habitation therein : but in regard that this double spirit is already satiated in himself , and is of a double and mighty force , therefore it openeth the metallick bodies in a clean other way than the common corrosives do ; for by vertue of its double and volatile nature it pierceth and penetrateth to the very inmost center of every atome of the metals , and turneth outwards all power , colour , tincture and vertue ; yea quickneth them , and maketh them active , which before lay hidden and dead as it were . now upon this elucidation you may say , since in the salt armoniack there is no other corrosive , but the spirit of salt , whether it be not all one , to make first the spirit of salt , and to joyn it with the alcalies , and in this manner to get a double volatile spirit ? for answer whereunto , know that the philosophers had reason , yea were constrained to make use of the salt armoniack , because that its corrosive ( though as to its first rise proceeding from salt ) by reason of its union undergone with the fiery salt of urine ( where they did act into one another , and change one another in their nature ) hath got another , and far more excellent nature than it had before ; and hence the philosophers were necessitated to acquiesce in the salt armoniack and thence got their corrosive . and i must confesse , that after i had learned to understand and know the ground and root of the salt armoniack , i thought my self also that the spirit of salt might be used for this intent : so i tryed it , but could get no such spirit , as i had from the salt armoniack , whence it was apparent to me , why the philosophers esteemed alwaies so highly of the salt armoniack : and therefore i desired to see and taste this corrosive naked and by it self , and to trye its vertue , whither alone and of it self , it would shew it self more excellent and powerful , than the common spirit of salt , and i took much pains about it , trying many deceitful processes , which promised the obtaining of this corrosive , or sowre spirit , amongst which the most fallacious and perverse is that which teacheth to mix salt armoniack with wheaten flower , and to distil it , and so to get this desired corrosive , the foolishnesse whereof i have shewed already in the former chapter , and is therefore needless to make any further mention of it . and because i could not attain thereunto by the means of those big-speaking , or boasting process-books , and the like writings , i searcht for it diligently and earnestly , and with great care pondered and observed the nature of things , untill i found it ; which in regard of its simplicity i might have found out long ago and very easily , if i had but stuck to nature and its simplicity , and avoided the misguiding writers , which afford little truth , but much confusion and error . the ground for to obtain this corrosive consisteth in this , that the fiery salt of urine be first taken away and severed , else it is impossible to get the sowre spirit alone , for they dwell in each other . this separation of the fiery salt , though it may be done by joyning of an alcali unto the salt armoniack , for streight by a gentle heat it will totally be gone , but yet this serveth not our business in hand , for then 't is again mixt and satiated with the alcali ; from which it cannot be separated bare and single in its nature , but if it be forced according to art , it forceth the alcali to come along , and so is not single in its nature ; the reason is , because that the alcali it self also is of a salty nature as well as the corrosive , and therefore their union is so accurate , and their inclination unto one another so great , that it is impossible to sever them , because of the likeness or the sameness of their natures , being both of a salty nature , whence their tye is not soluble : therefore in stead of the alcalies other subjects must be taken , such as are of no salty nature , and yet being kept in the fire together with the salt armoniack have power to retain the corrosive , and to dismiss the fiery salt. there are divers such subjects which will perform this , yet still one better than the other ; for one attracteth or holdeth fast more of the corrosive than the other , and the best of all is the lapis haemathites , by the means whereof this sowre spirit is got best , and in most quantity , as the mechanica will teach you ; for if you mixe the salt armoniack very accurately with the blood-stone , and distill it , presently , there cometh a great deal of the fiery urinous spirit , and so much as there is loosened of the same , so much of the corrosive is tyed unto the blood-stone ; and if at last you give a little stronger fire , a part of the salt armoniack will ascend also in its unchanged and former nature ; but being of double vertue , it carrieth up along the subtlest vertue and best flores of the blood-stone , and thence is coloured so fair like an orenge , delightful to behold ; which , after the distillation is finished , make into fine powder and throw it in highly rectifyed spirit of wine , and keep it till i teach you what further to do therewith : the fiery spirit that came over , you may use in all points , as they do other spirit of salt armoniack of an urinous odor , for betwixt this and the other there is no difference : but the corrosive or acid spirit you must seek in the caput mortuum , into which this corrosive hath so insinuated it self , and is so fast lockt up in it , that although you force this caput mortuum with never so strong a fire , yet you cannot get this corrosive , yea not so much as one drop of it , but if this caput mortuum ▪ be duly purified , the desired corrosive will come easily to light , yea in sand also : to attain unto this , beat the caput mortuum into very fine powder , and throw it straight into good spirit of wine , which will take into it self all the corrosive , and the subtlest parts of the bloodstone , which the corrosive laid hold on , uniting it self therewith , and you will see it presently tinged of a gold-colour , which decant , and poure on other , repeating this processe until no spirit more be tinctured , then draw off all the spirit in balneo , and being all come over , you will find in the cucurbit a balsamic , aromatick salt , for the most part smelling like saffron , which put into a luted glass retort in a wind furnace , and distil with a gentle fire , and presently the corrosive , which was in the salt armoniack , will come over ; continue this distillation with a gentle fire , till no drops more come , then strengthen the fire by degrees , and there will come , very fair flores , as light as down feathers , glistering and of various fair colors , as red , of gold colour , and many others very pleasant to behold ; & take heed that you make not too much hast in the beginning , nor exceed with the fire , for it will not be done with violence , but requireth time , for if you force it before the time , all will be gone , and you will get nothing , and therefore i do give you fair warning : the distillation being done , rince off with your corrosive all the flores which are in the neck of the retort , and poure them together with the corrosive , in a glass retort , and abstract the corrosive with a gentle fire , and all the flores remain in the bottom , and the desired acid spirit of the salt armoniack is in the receiver clear and white , of excellent virtues , and of as much greater power in its operation beyond the common spirit of salt , as a strong well grown man in comparison of a youth of eighteen years of age , as by diligent enquiry you may know experimentally ; and thence you will know , why the philosophers in preparing of their double spirit kept to the corrosive of the salt armoniack , and preferred it before the spirit of salt . and although my intent is not to speak of any thing else , but what serveth to confirm my elucidation , which hitherto hath been done to the full , yet i cannot pass by , because in the demonstration of the excellency of the corrosive from the salt-armoniack the abovesaid golden flores of the blood-stone accompanied the rest : to mention their great usefulness , to the end , that they as a noble treasure may be employed for the benefit of the diseased . take therefore , the spirit of wine , wherein you have thrown the sublimed salt-armoniack , mixt with the gold-like flores , decant it , and poure on other , repeating the same forth and forth , till it be tinged no more : abstract all the spirit of wine in balneo ( nb in balneo , for in ashes or sand it will not come over , of which you may consider further ) and in the bottom of the cucurbit , you will have a very fair salt , of a very curious colour , insomuch that the sight can hardly leave looking upon it , and of a very strong odour , like unto saffran , which mix with the other flores which in the rectification of the corrosive spirit remained in the retort , mix them well together , and lay them in a cellar for to dissolve , and you will get a very fair liquor far surpassing the choicest gold in colour , and take good heed , that when at last the drops begin to grow pale , that you let them not come to the other , but keep them by themselves for feavers ; but the first keep by it self for a rare medicine ( especially being mixed with gumme armoniack , and made up in pills ) in hydrope , quartanâ , scorbuto , plueritide , renum calculo , colicâ , obstructione mensium , melancholiâ hypochondriacâ , affectibus ventriculi variis , and many other grievous infirmities ; and it hath also vim anodynam & somniferam , by reason of its gold and saffran-like tincture , and aromatical smel . whence you may perceive the great power which the salt-armoniack hath in opening and inverting of metals ; for who should have thought , that such an excellent balsamick smell should be hidden in such a hard harsh and gross body as the blood-stone is , if the salt armoniack had not discovered it unto us . therefore seek and you will find , to the end that the hidden virtues of nature may be manifested , and thence much praise may redound unto the most holy creator of these virtues . cap. vi. how the sweet vitriol of copper is to be distilled into a green spirit . the philosophers writings manifesting , that of vitriol and copper there may be made a green spirit , of very great virtues , there were alwayes found seekers of truth , who took very great pains to obtain this noble green spirit , and to delight themselves in its power and virtue ; but when they saw that vitriol , however distilled , will not yield such a green spirit as the philosophers writings do promise , they thought that the old wise men would not be understood of common distillation , but conjectured that by some sundry subtle way , or by sundry unknown sleights such greenness is to be obtained ; and therefore they begun to invent all sorts of wayes , how to attain unto their purpose . and first there were some which that they might obtain a greenness , took the subtlest spirit of vitriol , and distilled it from some vegetables , so many times , and so often , untill by manifold cohobation it carried along over the greenness of the hearbs , and so pleased themselves with a greenness borrowed from vegetables , so setting their heart at rest , which had as much efficacy , as the virtue of the adjoyned hearbs did extend it self . others when they saw , that the greenness of the vitriol will not ascend , inverted it , and forced it downwards , and so with great shouting they conceived to have caught the truth of the businesse , whereas in that manner part of the vitriol falls through with it , whereof the liquor must needs turn green ; for the vehement vomiting , which such a pretended green spirit causeth , sufficiently doth shew , that the gross corporal vitriol is in it , in regard that it is , and remaineth alwayes the quality of vitriol to cause much vomiting . others followed the former , who acknowledging this way of forcing per descensum too gross , invented somewhat , that hath some colour of a sundry , so tearmed philosophical distillation , and of a sundry secret philosophical vitriol , which is not common ; pretending that the philosophers have not used common vitriol , nor copper for this purpose , but used their own proper , hitherto unknown , vitriol , which they made of the seed of all metals , and that this seed is a sort of round stones found in the fattest beds , which as it is a sundry matter of a secret vitriol , so likewise that it must be distilled after a secret and no known way , but that after this seed is impregnated by the air with sufficient moysture , so that it can liquefie in water , they purified that green metallick juice which came thence from its corporeousness by filtration , and they interpreted filtration to be the philosophers distillation , and so they did not only violence to the word distillation , forcing it to be the same with filtration , but also vented their feigned first matter , or semen metallorum ( which yet by its right name is called pyrites , and indeed shewes it self to be such ) for to be the matrix of the philosophers vitriol , whereas experience witnesseth , that such a pretended philosophical vitriol hath not the nature and quality which the true vitriol of the wise hath , viz. that it is sweet , and procureth rest , as a true domicilium veri anodyni philosophorum ; but the pretended philosophers vitriol , is as grosse violent , bitter and nauseous , as common vitriol , and indeed is none other but common vitriol , in regard that it hath the same rise with the common , viz. from the fire-stone . and as this pretended vitr . phil. is false , so is also their distillation , viz. filtration , meerly a feigned pretence , and presumptious perversion of the words of the wise : and this perverted philosophical distillation ( else called filtration ) yields a much more vehement greenness than that per descensum , in which not all the vitriol falleth through , but only some small quantity ; but in the perverted philosophical distillation all runneth through the filter , and yet they vent it , for such a curious and special philosophical green spirit . there were others , and those best of all , which remained in the genuine literal sence of distillation , and there they sought for it , and in regard they could get no such greenness from the vitriol by no manner of way , they conjectured that the philosophers added something unto vitriol , which they had concealed from us , and therefore out of two several retorts they forced the vitriol and saltpeter by quick and ready sleights into one receiver , where these two spirits working into one another , there arose a green liquor or spirit , as to the colour , and herein they did acquiesce , and truly this last way is yet best of all ; not in regard of its assumed greenness ( which is but a reflexion as it were , risen from the action of the two spirits , and so only an outward painting ) but because of the union or copulation of these two spirits , whence one spirit ariseth of a very subtle , penetrating , and attenuating vertue , whereby it is of a quick operation , and is not to be despised in epilepsia , but meriteth commendation : and you need not suspect ( as i did in my first ignorance , and therefore abhorred the use of it ) that this spirit is an aquafort , because that aquafort is likewise made of vitriol and salt-peter , by no means ; for the case is clean other with the aquafort in regard that not so much as the least part of the vertue of vitriol can come into the aquafort , because that all its vertue and acidity as soon as the saltpeter joyneth thereunto and groweth hot with it , is fettered and tyed as it were by the niter , by reason of the special love betwixt them both , whereof much might be said and plainly demonstrated , which for brevities sake is now passed by ; insomuch that it is impossible that any part of the vitriol can come over , its nature being altered instantly , so soon as the niter groweth hot with it : but because this shining green very volatil spirit consisteth of the true essential parts and spirits of vitriol and niter , therefore it is clean of another nature then aquafort , which is but a single acid spirit of the saltpeter , and therefore not to be abhorred , which i counted very fit to be mentioned , reserving the rest for another time ; and waving also other more sorts of conceited greennesse , got by distillation , to avoid prolixity . the rise of these and all other errors is only thence , that the ground of the double or satiated spirits was unknown unto the seekers of truth , without which spirits the copper never can come over and turne to a liquamen volatile , which ground if it had been known , the true green spirit would have been discovered long ago , which i clearly enough have expounded in the two former chapters . now this double corrosive , having reduced the copper into a green sweet vitriol , doth not adhere outwardly thereunto , as the other corrosives , for this is the only reason why the others cannot carry over the copper ; because they do not reach to the inmost center of the copper ; but only , as hungry corroding spirits , fall outwardly upon the metal , and do but adhere unto it , hence it comes to passe , that being forced by a strong fire , they are constrained to relinquish their habitation , and the copper remaineth behind of the same condition as before , in regard that it may be quickly melted again into a body . but the double corrosive , as hath been often mentioned , doth not corrode the metal , nor falleth upon it with such an hungry fury , much less adhereth outwardly unto it , but softeneth it throughly , and penetrateth to its very inmost , yea uniteth it self so firmly and so deeply with the copper , that it cannot leave it , being forced by the fire ; but in regard that it is a corrosive volatil spirit , the copper must also come over with it , as a flying volatil spirit , in so much that not one grain of the metal remaineth behind ; for if you put some of it in a crucible , and let it stand in a strong fire for some houres , the metal will quite evaporate that not the least vestigium of vitriol remaineth to be seen ; but in a close vessel or retort it cannot be done with such ease and expedition as in an open melting pot : for the case is otherwise , and there is required a far stronger fire , and many cohobations , as our philosopher saith , loco citato , per repetitas cohobationes insigniter volatilis factus spiritus , before all will come over , which will cost time , labour , and patience , and there must be no haste , but all must be done with discretion , without violence ; and great care and consideration must be had of the nature of things , how they will be used , that you do them right , and according to nature ; which you must learn from experience and from the nature of those things which you have in hand ; for here all information ceaseth , which one man can impart unto another , here we must go into the school of nature , and sharpen our judgment and understanding for to penetrate the subjects in hand , but above all , by prayers made in a child-like simplicity and humblenesse , obtain the blessing of a good successe from our god and father . now as i have mentioned of copper , the case is the same with gold , which being put into its double and satiated corrosive melteth therein , without ebullition , like ice in warme water ; and because this corrosive softeneth the gold to its very inmost parts , it also cometh over with it readily by manifold cohobations , with very fair colours , for the tinging spirit or anima of the gold , is very much exalted in its tincture and colour by this mighty corrosive , insomuch that it cometh over in a far more glorious splendour , than the best gold looketh of its nature , and it is very like unto the splendour and beauty of the sun rising over the horizon , which is no small delight to the eyes to behold : however both it and the copper may easily be reduced again into a body , and therefore it is but a preparation or fitting of the gold and copper , that they may be made fit to yield afterwards their strength and blood-red juice unto the artificial hand of the philosopher , as we shall now further understand . chap. vii . how the double corrosive is to be separated from the volatilized copper . although the copper , as even now mentioned , is come over in form of a volatile green spirit , let none therefore conceive that copper , because reduced to such a spiritualnesse , is so far unlockt and opened , that it must alwayes remain such a spiritual substance , and that it cannot be separated from its adjoyned corrosive , by no means : for although the whole crew of all common chymical authors in their books do unanimously teach ( yea rejoyce highly in it , though indiscreetly ) that when they forced over a metal with corrosive , or acid liquors , by means of many cohobations , they count the same to be the true quinta essentia of the metal , or the verum potabile metallum , and therefore also highly boast , and glory , thereof , and so hitherto seduced one another , and by sweet words perswaded the auditors or readers to applaud it : of which sort of processes i could set down a great number , which might be taken out of their books , if i did not spare the pretious time and paper ; yea our philosopher himself ( in those years of his tyrocinium ) lay sick of this disease of ignorance ; conceiving , when by means of certain corrosives and manifold cohobation he fetcht over the gold in forma punicei olei volatilis , that he had the true aurum potabile : but the matter is clean otherwise ; for there is a twofold solution of metals : the one friendly and natural ; the other , violent ; the former is fundamental and radical , and the solvent and the solutum can never be more severed asunder , but by reason of the great similitude of both their natures , they twane come to be one , and remain also unchangeably and unseparably one : but in this viz. in the violent solution it is not so , but although it hath some semblance of a radical solution , yet the event doth shew that there is such a difference betwixt this and the other and that they are as unlike unto one another , as the substance it self , and the shadow of the substance , in regard that in this the solvent may be throughly separated from the solutum by art , and the solutum being melted by a strong fire , will return to be what it was , before it suffered that violent solution ; but in the other , viz. in the natural solution , not only the solvent can never be separated from the solutum , but also the solutum in this solution becometh alwayes more precious , more noble , more excellent and far higher in its virtue , than it was before ; but in the violent solution the solutum remains in its former nature and substance , and is only fitted for the true essential , natural , and radical or fundamental solution . and because this is a highly necessary nodus enodandus , in regard that almost all tyrones chymiatriae are seduced and shamefully deceived in this , that they count violent solutions for to be natural , and so delight themselves , and acquiesce therein , thinking then to have already apprehended the truth of the matter , and taking no further care to inquire after the sincere and genuine condition of the true natural solution , therefore i must lay down the business clearly and nakedly , to the end that the desirous seekers of truth may be no more gulled by the deceitfull , seducing , lying and painted processes , wherewith all common chymical books are filled up , and abound , and by the searchers of nature with great expences are tryed in vain , but that they may open their eyes themselves , and begin to see with their own eyes , and rightly ponder and examine the nature of things they are about , and so work according to the whole nature , and not credit so lightly hereafter those sweet lying promises of boasting authors , nor spend their precious time , hard labour , and great cost upon them . to the end therefore , that the truth-desirous reader may so much the better comprehend and acknowledge this highly necessary ground , i will lay it down unto him , by comparing two sorts of solutions , such as are of a quite different nature : and first let him consider the solution of the copper by the double or satiated spirit , whereof i have taught in the former chapter , where not only the metal , viz. copper , is dissolved softly , gently , sweetly , without any ebullition in its double menstruum , but also afterwards so intimately adhered thereunto , that it went over together with it in forme of a very volatil spirit , which may seem therefore unto the ignorant to be a natural , and for the future , inseparable solution , in regard that it is done friendly , and proveth inseparable from its solvent ; for that the solutum according to outward appearance , by reason of a singular harmony and likeness betwixt them , accompanieth its solvent on high ; and i must confess , that this is such a nice matter , as that it may fool not only tyrones , but also those who conceit to have experienced and tryed a great deal , into a belief , that this so spiritual and volatil metallick vapour is the true quinta essentia , whereas experience sheweth to the contrary , that if this pretended quinta essentia metallica be thrown upon mercury , all that is metallick separateth it self from the solvent , and being put into a melting fire , turneth again to such a metal as it was before . whence the reader plainly seeth , that it was but a semblance of an essential or radical solution , and that not the least change or exaltation hapned unto the metal , unless that by an artificial hand it be preserved in its solubility , so that it return not to its former compactness , as hereafter shall be taught . now on the other side , let the seeker of truth look upon sulphur , how the same being unlockt in distilled oyl doth turn outwards its inmost red tincture , and so is opened to the very center and inmost root , and then how firmly those two not only cleave together , insomuch that they both turn to be one , but also never , no not by any manner of way , can again be parted asunder ; yea this is not all , but the sulphur becometh ten times more precious , excellenter , and more powerfull in its virtues , than it was before , all which you may experiment thus ; take common sulphur , or else the combustible sulphur of antimony , or of any other subject , and dissolve it in a distilled oyl , so that the oyl turneth very thick or blood-red , put this solution into a retort , and draw the oyl over very gently , and it will come over clear and white ; and when none more will come over clear , then increase the fire strongly , and at length cometh the last oyl , and carrieth along part of the dissolved sulphur like a red oyl ; then poure the first clear oyl , that came over first , a-again upon the remaining dark ▪ brown substance , cohobating the same from it again , and repeating the same so often , untill most of all your extract be come over , and all your oyl be distilled over very red and rich of the tincture ; and your solvent and solutum will be so united , that by no art they are to be parted asunder ; they by reason of the likeness of their substance so delighting in each other , and so intimately being united together , that they both are come to be one substance , and so either both flee together away , being driven by the force of fire , or else by discreet wayes may be fixed together into a permanent substance : yea , not only are they impartible , but also the dissolved and volatilized sulphur , is of far greater power and efficacy in physick , than before , as dayly experience may teach every one : and although this solution of sulphur in oyl be not properly a philosophical solution but only the ground and right source of the same , yet it is sufficiently demonstrative , and therein as in a true pourtraicture , the essential , radical and natural solution of the wise may be represented and compared with the other violent solution , to the end that by comparing together these two different solutions , the truth of the businesse may be made manifest , viz. that although the forementioned solution of the copper resembleth much to a radical solution of the metal , as agreeing with the natural and true solution in these two points , that the solution of the metal is done gently , sweetly , and without ebullition ; and then that the metal readily ascendeth on high with its solvent , and so seemed to be turned into one spirit , and one indivisible substance therewith ; yet because the metal can be severed again from its solvent , it is evident that this volatilisation of the copper is but a violent elevation , and not a spontaneous concomitance , arisen from the likenesse of nature , as it happened with the sulphur and oyle , and as it is the condition of all true solutions , having their rise from similitude of nature . and therefore not only the now mentioned solution and volatil green spirit of the copper , but also and much more the putatitious oyles , spiritus or essentiae metallicae of your common chymical writers ( viz. hartman , penotus , crollius , libavius , agricola , beguin , rhenanus , faber monspeliensis , glauber , kesler , and many others of the like stamp , whose books are in the hands of every one ) are nothing else , but ( as our philosopher calleth his formers fooleries in gold in progymnasmate meteori § . 6. ) mentitus liquor , a deceitful essence , which hath a resemblence of the essential solution , but in effect is nothing lesse than such , in regard that it can readily returne again to what it was before , and a seeker of truth darkneth himself not a little , by doating upon such specious and deceitful essences , and remaining thereby ; for here we must not stay and acquiesce , in that the copper is reduced to a spiritual condition and volatility , but here we must but now truly begin , and endeavour ( in regard that it is evident by this my deduction , that the copper is not essentially or according to nature unlockt as yet , but only fitted for further solution ) how to get the true anima thence , by a true radical and natural solution : therefore , knowing , that most men are blind in this point , sticking in those putatitious metallick essences , i counted it necessary , in imparting the doctrine of volatilisation of the copper , to admonish , that such and the like solutions of metals ought not to be valued higher than they are , and that none deceive himself , thinking that he hath a treasure of health , whereas it is but a shadow : and such a putatitious essentia metallica may be reduced again by an artificial hand in a short time , yea in few houres , to such a gross metal , as it was before , as the experienced chymiater , and diligent searcher of nature zwelfferus doth confesse in his writings , that the hitherto known tinctures , essences , &c. of metals , are nothing else but solutions of metallick bodies , but not at all true separations of the tincture or soul from the body . however it being very necessary , that the same be effected , if we mean to enjoy the metallick arcana , and next the blessing of god rely upon them in grievous diseases ; and therefore going on further , and enquiring how to get and separate the pure tincture ( which is the only thing we aim at ) from the fitted and prepared copper , we find , that our volatil copper is surrounded with a great quantity of the double corrosive , which of necessity must be severed from it first , if we intend to get the pure anima without heterogeneous mixture ; especially the corrosive having already acted its part as much as it could do , viz. rent the copper into the most subtle volatile parts , and reduced it to the smallest dust ; now the separation thereof from the copper , must not be done by the means of mercury , or the like volatil things , which having a greater affinity with , or inclination to this double corrosive than the copper hath , do quickly unite therewith , and being also volatil , by one only distillation , do rent this double corrosive per force from the copper , and so leave the copper in the bottom as a grosse dead powder , which is hardened again and fit for nothing ; by no means , for so all your labour which you bestowed upon the volatilisation would be lost , and such a dead powder would not differ from another common crocus veneris , made by common aquafort , or aqua regis ; for in regard that the double corrosive hath not only quite turned the inside of the copper outwards , and so perfectly fitted it for extraction , but also the sweet anima of the copper by this corrosive and its power , as by a resuscitative and quickning means , doth shine forth ; and without such a pertinent means this tincture could not play forth ; therefore this corrosive must be severed and abstracted from the copper very leasurely and imperceptibly as it were , to the end that the copper may remain turned outwards with its sweetnesse , and unchanged in its forthshining quality , and posture of solubility , wherein it cannot be preserved , if so be that this corrosive , whereby the copper is as it were raised from death , be abstracted from it per force , and at once , by mercury or the like ; for in this manner each atom of the copper would be as hard compacted , and lockt up again as before , its resuscitating corrosive being taken thence by force , and at once ; but there must be used other more properthings , such as 1. may carry the corrosive thence , not at once , and by violence , but by degrees , gently and sweetly ; 2. which do not precipitate the copper , and sever it from its double corrosive , but prove a solvent both of the copper , and of the double corrosive ; and so , notwithstanding that in every cohobation some of the double corrosive goes along , yet preserve the copper in its former nature , viz. in its solubility , and in this manner the copper , and all its atomes are preserved in the same condition ; which only and alone is performed by the spirit of wine , as our philosopher teacheth us , in express words , sal armoniacus inde post modum auferri debet per spiritus vini repetitas distillationes , in duumviratu , § . 9 ▪ therefore you must take highly rectifyed spirit of wine , and mix it with the green spirit of copper , and abstract it gently , and then poure it on again , and then abstract it again , and such cohobation you must oftentimes repeat , doing it very gently , and the corrosive as a very volatil spirit will come over by degrees with the spirit of wine , as with the like volatil substance , and let fall of it self by degrees the copper which it contained , as you will see , that in each cohobation some of the metal will be found in the bottome in forme of a very light spongious dust , and in case you misse , as it hapned unto my self sometimes , that the distillation should be too forcible , and the fire too strong , there chanceth sometime some of the metal to come over of such wonderful fair colours , that it cannot be beheld sufficiently , and such curious colours remain in the head , representing the most beautiful peacocks tail , unlesse the double corrosive be distilled through this head , for then all will melt again into it ; but that which by the violent distillation is come over of the copper , falleth afterwards also to the bottom in the receiver as light as down feathers , and hath the same colour , as those atomi have , which precipitated in the cucurbit , to which also they are to be added . it is also further here to be known , that the double corrosive not only therefore le ts fall its metal , the copper , because that it comes over gently with the spirit of wine , but also for this reason , because the great sharpnesse and edge of the corrosive is blunted and abated by the spirit of wine , insomuch that it is not able to hold the metal any longer , because it hath lost its strength or corrosivenesse ; whereof you may be convinced by this experiment , that if you mix this green spirit , with a sufficient quantity of spirit of wine , and set it together in continued digestion for a competent time ( viz. for a great space of time of many moneths ) the metal will also precipitate slowly and by degrees , in forme of a very spongious light dust : but this being too tedious , the more expedite way is by cohobation ; for then you will far sooner attain to its period . now these cohobations being continued to sufficiency , and performed as they ought , and all the corrosive being got over , you have then the true crocus veneris , martis , auri , &c. according to the metal which you have taken of farr higher and nobler vertues , than all the croci of the common writers ; and however they be prepared , yet they cannot be compared unto these ; for their croci are dead bodies , but here is a resuscitated and quickned body , its soul being quite turned outwards , and in its full lustre , which you may perceive by the glorious splendour , which this crocus with its choicest colours leaveth in the head , if peradventure it be driven over by too strong a heat : now by this light turned outwards , this crocus hath so great vertue , as well for inward medicine , as externally to be used in plaisters , salves , and other sorts of exteriour medicaments , as hardly can be believed , before it be experimented ; and therefore also i will referr it to the experience of the diligent searcher of truth , who will find far more vertue in it than he is able to conceive at present ; but to clear this i cannot forbear to mention , why the antient wise authours of the highly noble chymia , called these resuscitated and revificated atomes of metallick bodies crocus , which signifies saffran ? now he that hath but a little enquired into the vertues of this crocus revificatus by experience will quickly know the reason , viz. because this crocus metallicus doth perfectly possess those excellent virtues of saffron , which is the king of all vegetables , and therefore called the philosophers aroma , or spice , as our philosopher de lithiasi cap. 7. § . 14. declareth , adding that the aroma philosophorum , by reason of its golden tincture , is the surest preservative against the stone . for as saffron , 1. causeth rest , 2. comforteth the heart , 3. openeth obstructions , 4. mollifieth and ripeneth that which is hard and unripe , 5. healeth all that which is wounded , and preserveth it from all sympomes ; so likewise , yea in a farr higher degree , and with far more efficacy , this our crocus philosophicus causeth rest , and appeaseth pain , powerfully strengtheneth weak nature , openeth the most dangerous obstructions of all the viscera , yea stoppeth all fluxes , by vertue of the shining anima turned outwards , and as well in tumours , as ulcers and wounds , affordeth such quick help , as no mineral medicines of the common writers can parallel , as the reader having tryed it , will find by experience . i can also not omit to relate the eminent vertues of the spirit of wine , which carried over the double corrosive , and is united therewith : for in it is a double power or vertue , first of the corrosive , which in its nature by reason of its duplicity , and containing an alcali volatil , doth far exceed all acid liquors , and therefore also is of great vertue in the stone ; secondly , because of the splendour or radiation , which this double spirit receceived from the gold-like anima of the copper ; for although not the least pulvisculus of this gold-like tincture remained with this corrosive , yet having received its radiation and kept it , which is as it were by a seal deeply imprinted therein , and thence exalted in vertue beyond what it was before of it self . therefore let this spiritus vini esurinus be commended to you in all cases , in which you use acida and esurina , and you will find with joy its great power in allaying all manner of unnatural heat , beyond all known acid spirits : also its great corrosiveness is much mitigated and abated by the spirit of wine , and so safer for use than before ; and being fast and intimately united with the spiritus vini , it quickly uniteth , by the means thereof , with the archeus , and performeth its operation with much expedition , because that the virtue of the spiritus vini is readily entertained , and so the power of this excellent acetum esurinum penetrateth also with it , and gently cooleth , and refresheth the incensed spirits . cap. viii . how to extract the pure anima or tincture from the true crocus veneris , and by what means . when your copper is brought so farr , that first by volatilisation it is divided into the smallest atomes , and by the volatil double corrosive rent asunder into impalpable dust , and then in a gentle way totally freed again from all corrosive , then and not before it is fit to yield its tinging soul , and heavenly virtue unto such a menstruum , which is like unto its anima in substance , viz. which is of a like fiery nature as the tincture of the copper is ; which is a meer fire , and therefore called by our philosopher and other wise men , the element of fire ; consequently cannot be extracted , severed , or radically opened , but by a very fiery , penetrating , vehement ; and sharply separating volatile substance , which alone hath the power , out of the hard ligament of metallick coagulation ( performed in the copper by nature ) by a strong magnetick virtue , eagerly to attract its like , and by its great fieriness to melt , soften , and open it to the very inmost ground , root , and center : such a water or menstruum it must be , as toucheth nothing at all of the body of the copper , nor desireth to touch , much less to dissolve the least of it , yea hath no power at all to do so , but barely and only falleth upon the anima or sulphur of the copper , as upon its like , and receiveth the same into it self : such a liquor you must look for in the fiery principle , as i discovered above in the second chapter , viz. in the nature of the oyl , which by the strong power of the fire being turned into fiery salt , by artificial operation must be translated from the seat of a fixed salt , into that of a volatile , penetrating , fiery spirit . now you may say , since this menstruum is such a fiery substance , why can it not by its strong power as well extract the anima out of a common crocus veneris , auri , martis , &c. as out of that which hath been made volatil , whereby much labour , expence and time might be saved in preparing of this arcanum ? for answer know , that therefore it cannot be , because that the sulphur is too fast tyed to the corpus by the hard metallick coagulation , and afterwards by the melting fire ( when the metal was melted into a corpus ) totally turned inwards , and lockt up into death , insomuch that though the metal be ground and powdered never so small , yet this fiery menstruum cannot lay hold of its like , because it is not turned outwards again , nor freed from its hard coagulation , and reduced into a spongious , porous , light , substance ; which two properties are of necessity required in a crocus metallicus , that this fiery menstruum may have ingresse to take the element of fire from the atomes of the crocus into it self , and essentially to unlock it . now these two properties , viz. the extraversion of the anima , and then the spongiousness ( in which two only consisteth the fitting of the metals ) both are obtained by volatilisation , which is to be done by no other means , but double spirits , and therefore the philosophers kept this way of fitting or preparing the copper as secret , as the extraction or separation of the tincture from the body ; because they knew , that the one without the other will be of little use , viz. that the volatilised alcali without the volatilised crocus will avail little ; on the other side the crocus without an alcali volatil will not yield its pearle , so both operations remained buried in the like silence . but that you may the better understand this , and clearly see and acknowledge the same , as in a printed image standing before you , viz. how highly necessary , not only the spongious lightnesse , but also the volatility is for extraction of mineral and metallick tinctures , and that you may be convinced , that without such a preparation the anima cannot be had nor obtained , i will set the same before you in antimony , as in a clear looking glass : take therefore instead of the now mentioned fiery water or alcali volatil , a very fiery distilled oyl , and instead of the volatil crocus veneris , place antimony , grind the same very small , yea by much grinding reduce it into an impalpable dust : this impalpable dust of antimony put into a phiol , poure upon it the most fiery distilled oyl that you are able to get , let it boyle for many dayes together , and you will see , that the oyl will remain without change as it was before , and the antimony will also remain perfectly in its former nature ; lo now , although you had never so fiery an oyl , and although in the smallest ground antimony truly lyes some fiery thing , which hath great affinity with the fiery oyl , and may be extracted thence , yet the oyl was not able at this time to perform it , although it touched every least pulvisculus of the antimony ; but why so ? truly therefore only , because that antimony by nature being stated in a hard mineral coagulation , the oyl hath no power , though it be never so fiery , to untye this hard ligament of coagulation , and to sever its like from thence , unless the antimony be first prepared , and become first volatil , then also spongious , light , and swelled up , that is , that each atome of the antimony do swell big and grow spongious , and the tincture , or principium elementi ignis , be manifested therein , and turned outwards ; take therefore your antimony , and by a very strong fire force it on high , and of a heavy compact body you will get very light and spongious atomes , which will readily yield their anima or elementum ignis unto a fiery oyl , for if upon these light volatil atomes of antimony , in a phiol , you poure a fiery oyl , and boyle it together for a few hours , then the fiery oyl will apprehend its like , viz , the fiery principium in antimony , attracteth and radically dissolveth the same , and tingeth it self blood-red of the same , which before it could not do , when the antimony was not prepared as yet : so the case is the same in this our operation in copper , that although our alcali volatil be very fiery , penetrating and powerfull in mollifying , melting and opening to the inmost center all what in the copper is of affinity with its fierie nature , yet it cannot prevail with it at all , nor extract the least for all its great fieriness , unlesse the copper be first inverted , and the interiour extraverted , the corpus loosened by volatilisation from its hard coagulation , and so rent into the smallest atomes , and turned into a very light , spongious substauce , then and not before hath the fierie water of the alcali volatil power to abstract its like , viz. the elementum ignis from the copper , and radically to unlock it . take therefore your volatil crocus , whither of gold , copper , steel , or any other metallick body , put it in a phiol , and poure the volatilised alcali upon it ( of the preparation whereof i will informe you by and by ) shut the phiol close , and let it boyle gently together in sand , about the space of six or eight hours , and this volatil fiery spirit , will extract its like , viz. the elementum ignis from the crocus , and receive the same into it self by sympathy , and dissolve it radically by its greatly penetrating power ; now when you see , that this fiery water is well saturated and thickned with the tincture of the copper , then let it cool , and poure off what is dissolved , and poure on fresh spirit , and let this also dissolve as before , and so continue , until there be nothing left in the crocus for to extract , and the fiery menstruum can get no more : then poure the solutions all together , and abstract the fierie spirit gently , which you may use again for the like operation ; and in the bottom of the glass you will have the true metallum potabile ; if of gold , aurum potabile ; of copper , cuprum potabile , and so forth of all other metals . and such a noble tincture is indeed and in truth a true potable metallick essence , being meer spirit , power and light , and not reducible into a metal alone , because it is freed from all corporeousnesse , and is all spirit , and virtue , as our philosopher saith de lithiasi cap. 8. § . 5. ignis sive sulphur veneris non ampliùs reducitur in metallum per se , quia prout nullum sulphur est metallum , ita omnis mercurius metallicus est verum metallum ; and from this tincture you may confidently expect all those great virtues , which in the philosophers writings are attributed unto a true metallum potabile . but about this solution you may observe , that when you have abstracted your fiery menstruum , at last alwayes some of it remaineth still with the extracted tincture , by reason of the likeness of their substance ; for they act into one another , insomuch that they lay hold of and retain one another , and so turn to one substance , melting into one another : yea if this menstruum should be boyled a long time with this tincture , it would totally remain with it , and turn therewith into one fixed substance ; for this solution is fermentalis , and therefore each one transmuteth the other into its nature , and being both turned into one substance , they can never any more be parted asunder . but let no man think , that because that part of this menstruum remaineth with the solutum , that therefore the case is the same here as it is with your corrosive menstruum's , whose strongest part remains with the solutum , and the weaker ascendeth ; by no means , for that part which riseth here first , is of the same force and strength in its fieriness , as that which cometh over last ; for in this fiery solvent there is no such imparity of parts as in the corrosives , but this fiery menstruum is totally similar , and uniform in its substance , and knoweth of no other division , but that either it remaineth totally with the solutum in the bottom , like a fixed salt , or else totally ascendeth therewith like a volatil spirit , and therefore that which after the solution is drawn over from the solutum , is not at all changed nor diminished from its former strength , which it had before the solution . also let no man wonder at it , that here part of the solvent remaineth with the solutum , for the law of uniformity in substance doth carry it , like eagerly laying hold of its like , and unseparably uniting it self therewith . and this is the chief property , whereby an essential natural solution is distinguished from a corrosive one , that alwayes the corrosive by art can be severed again from the solutum , but the essential solvent by no means ! hence our philosopher himself in this sence confesseth , concerning the liquor alcahest , that it is stayed or retained by its compar , and transmuted into another nature ; his words hereof in in ignota actione regiminis § . 11. are these , liquor alkahest omnia totius universi corpora tangibilia perfecte reducit in vitam eorundem primam , absque ulla sui mutatione , viriumque diminutione : à solo autem suo compari subter jugum trahitur atque permutatur . hence the ancient wise men said , naturâ natura gaudet , natura naturam vincit , permutat , &c. and the whole nature and all the powers thereof do testify the same , that like is alwaies inclined to stay with its like ; yea in this very point consisteth all the whole groweth which happeneth in nature , whereof i do not intend here to speak more largely , but only i was occasioned to point at it by our natural solution of the anima of the copper , which as a true fire retaineth the fiery solvent , prepared of the alcali , as its like , and is inclined to remain inseparably united therewith . now some may say , since the tincture of copper , or element of fire is wholly turned outwards in this volatil and well prepared crocus , why may it not as well be extracted and severed by a fixed alcali , as by an alcali volatil , for the other is also very fiery , and of a like nature with the soul of the copper , and why must the alcali first be volatilised ? for a fixed alcali might do it as well , and the work might be sooner ended , and much time and expences saved ? i answer , that although a fixed alcali makes a shew as if it would and could sever this fiery principium from the copper , yet in effect , and in truth it is not so , and that little which the fixed alcali severed from the crocus cupri is nothing to , be accounted of , in comparison of what remaineth unseparated ; the reason is the grossness of the alcali , it being too thick , corporeous and material , and not as it should be spiritual , volatil , and penetrating ; hence it is , that though you take an alcali as fiery as that ▪ it burneth the tongue , as much as a live or burning coal ( it being possible to get such a vehement burning salt acali from mars , which in a moment touching the tongue but very gently , burneth the same , as if it were red hot iron ) and dissolve the same in some water , and put therein your volatil prepared crocus of copper , and boyle it soundly , thinking by this great fieriness to sever the element of fire from the crocus , yet for all that you get nothing , and all your labour is lost , the fiery alcali being much too gross and too weak to untie this hard metallick ligament . but if you mix that alcali with the crocus , grinding both well together , and endeavour the separation by fire in viâ siccâ , you will reach so far , that because by the external fire , the fieriness of the alcali is much fortifyed and becometh intenser than it was of its nature , and so the prepared crocus is more opened and more fitted thereby for extraction , that in this manner the alcali layes hold of some of the tincture , and severeth the same , but being wholly material , it reduceth the copper on the other side by its gross fiery saltness again into a body , insomuch that you get again material gross copper , and so all your former tedious labour is brought to nothing . but that little which the alcali lad hold on , though it be the true sulphur and gold-like tincture of the copper , for this alcali being rub'd upon silver with some moysture , covereth it over very fair with a gold-colour , very pleasant to look upon , but there is so little of it , that it is rather to be counted but a shadow than substance of the tincture : moreover , though it were faisible in this manner to sever all the sulphur from the crocus , yet it would be barely separated , but not essentially dissolved , & become an opened oyl or juice , for to this pass it ought to be advanced , that part of the natural solvent remain with the solutum , and by its fusile moysture this be reduced into a juice or liquor , which the fiery alcali is not able to do , in regard that the same it self is no spiritual fusile oyl or spirit but a gross material salt , which very easily can be severed again from this small quantity of the extracted sulphur cupri , if it be dissolved in water , and a corrosive dropped thereinto ; for then the alcali uniteth with the corrosive , and lets the extracted sulphur fall to the bottom , which after exsiccation is a powder ; but what would become then of our philosophers doctrine , who will have , that after this gold-like anima is severed from the body , it is to be coagulated and fixed ; but how can it be coagulated , if it be not first reduced to a liquor by an essential solvent , that is , so softened , that it remain an oyl , or fusile penetrating spiritual substance , after its separation from the body , which is the true mark or sign , that this gold-like anima is essentially and naturally unlockt , and untyed from its inmost center ; such an excellency can the gross material alcali not afford , as may be seen by that small quantity of the precipitated sulphur , although the same also hath its rare vertues . also let no man fancy that such an essential solution may be performed by the spirit of wine , that if one should take this alcali after it hath received that little quantity of the anima cupri , and grind it very small , and then poure upon it highly rectifyed spirit of wine , and set it to extract in a warme place , that in this manner the extracted tincture of the copper should come into the spirit of wine , and by means thereof , and from the same obtain an essential moysture , and be changed into a penetrating oyl ; no , you are out , the spirit of wine is farr too weak , being nothing but common water for the most part , for a whole pound of the strongest spirit of wine will not yield much above half an ounce of essential salt , how then should such a far dispersed vertue be able radically to mollify this concentred substance of the copper , there is no parity at all betwixt them both , but there is required a concentred spiritual penetrating fire for this purpose , such as is all power , spirit and life , what should such a watry vapour be able to prevail , as the spiritus vini is for the most part . and although the spiritus vini , standing upon such a tinged alcali in digestion ; is changed in colour and turneth very red , yet it doth not follow therefore , that this tincture is from the copper , but is barely and only from the alcali , whereof it attracts , some subtle atomes , by which it is coloured , which you may be assured of by this experiment , viz. pouring spirit of wine upon such a bare fiery alcali , which hath not been used for extraction of the sulphur of copper , and setting it in digestion , for then it will be as fairly coloured upon this , as upon the other , containing the few atomes sulphuris cupri . therefore it is very necessary , and unavoidable necessity requireth it , that ( if you mean to obtain this uoble tincture of the gold-like soul of the copper ) the fiery material alcali be first made spiritual , volatil , penetrating and active , which is not to be done , as most readers do conjecture , that the alcali being a salt , is to be distilled and forced over as they do other salts , mixing them ( for to keep them from melting ) with earth , lome , or the like , and so forcing them over by the strong power of fire into a vapour and spirit ; no , such a sort of volatilisation doth not serve our turne ; for although the alcali in this manner may be forced over into a volatil spirit , and the same also be of very great vertue in physick , yea far exceedeth all other medicamenta , diaphoretica , incidentia , resolventia , deopilantia , maturantia , corroborantia , which are to be found in any apothecaries shop , as every one that will prepare and use it upon this my recommendation will find with admiration and great profit to the sick , yet this serveth not for the extraction and essential resolution of the tincture of copper , because it hath been too much weakned in the distillation , having left the most part of its natural fieriness with the earth or clay , wherewith it is mixed for to fit it for distillation , its fieriness having acted and consumed it self thereupon , and so lost its former fiery power , in so much that by such a distillation there cometh over a very effectual spirit for medicine , but very mild in tast , and far too weak for our purpose : but here the alcali must be raised so , as that it retain its fiery mollifying vertue , yea that it may become much more powerful and penetrating , which is to be brought to passe by its like , viz. by an other like fiery alcali , but that this is to be volatil , for if this were not volatil , it could not volatilize the other , for none can give more then he hath himself , or beyond what is in his power . such a volatil alcali must first be got by art from the same source , from which the fixed alcali is risen , viz. from an oylie substance , for a true alcali can come from no other , but from the oyly principium , and therefore you must hold to the oyly ground , and endeavour to turne the same into an alcali volatil . now if you would do it by force of fire , you would get no volatil , but a fixed alcali again ; and therefore it must not be done by such a violent way , but by a friendly one , such as is according to nature , which way and unchangeable law is this ( as i mentioned before as much as serves for our purpose ) that like delighteth in its like , attracteth the same , and uniteth the same with it self , and changeth it into its own nature . now if you will turne and change your oyly substance , according to this immutable rule of nature , into an alcali , you must mix or unite the same with nothing else but an alcali , and keep them together for a sufficient time in a gentle heat , and the fieryness of the alcali will powerfully act into the subtle attenuated oylie substance , which you joyned thereunto , and transmute the same , and because it is of the like nature , property and substance ( in regard that the alcali also rose from an oyle ) therefore it changeth the same also by its strong fiery force into its nature , and turneth the same from a subtle spiritual , thin oylie substance into a fiery salty alcali , and being done gently , there is no violence offered to the oylie principium , as it happeneth when the fire per force turneth the oyl into an alcali ; therefore it remaineth in its former volatlity , insomuch that you have obtained an alcali volatil . but because these two are very intimately united and tyed to each other , therefore if you begin to force your alcali volatil by the strength of fire , the fixed alcali must also rise with it , because of the similitude of substance , whereby they cleave to each other , and are inclined to abide with each other : for as before by reason of the uniformity of substance the oyly spiritual substance was changed by the alcali into its salty alcalical nature , from such a ground as is according to nature : so now on the other side the fixed alcali , because of the great affinity betwixt them , accompanieth the alcali volatil , and turnes together with it into a volatile penetrating , concentred spirit , which is altogether power , fire , light , and life , and in this manner you obtain that which is necessary for this our purpose viz. for the essential solution of metallick sulphurs ; whereof to speak any more would be unnecessary and superfluous , in regard that our faithful well deserving philosopher hath described the same clearly and expresly in divers places in his relict writings ; and the like hath been done also by the sharp-sighted and deeply learned raymund lully , where the reader will find it with all circumstances : and therefore remain but with these two authors , and do not seek for it further from any other , and you will truly find so much iustruction in them , as you shall need : unless that by the just judgement of god the eyes of your understanding be blinded , because of your pride , covetousness and worldly pleasures , for then you will truly not apprehend any thing of it , but they would be sealed books and meere riddles to you . now this spiritual fire and softning essential water separateth the pure anima from the metallick body , and dissolveth the same in such sort , that it is reduced , ad primam materiam , softned to the inmost center , and become a penetrating spiritual substance or quinta essentia : but this spiritual fire hath not only the efficacy just now spoken off , but also barely of it self and alone , hath such great virtues in physick , that its manifold and innumerable efficacies are highly to be admired at ; for it is ten times more powerful in operation , than the former spirit , which is forced by a strong fire from the alcali mixt with clay , which for all that in its virtues surpasseth the usual medecines , as the sun exceedeth the moon in splendour ; and this fiery spirit is the same , which our philosopher thus highly commendeth to all faithful physitians , saying : in passivâ deceptione scholarum humoristarum cap. 1. § . 89. these notable words , worthy to be marked with golden letters ; sin vero penitiori recessu aliquid pertinacius occultiusque restiterit , assumenda sunt alcalia volatilia , quae instar saponis cuncta abstergunt ; mirum sanè , quantum sal tartari , vel unici , volatile factum , non praestiterit , nam omnem è venis amurcam detergit , & obstruentium contumaciam , dispergitque apostematum suscepta conciliabula . de hoc salis ( & non olei ) spiritu ; verum est illud paracelsi , quòd quocumque non attigerit , vix alius potentior perveniet ; and he saith also further , that they are equal in virtue unto the great medicaments , and by reason of their subtle penetrating nature do reach to the fourth digestion , his words are these . in potestate medicaminum § . 65. fixa alcalia si volatizentur , magnorum pharmacorum potestates adaequant , quippe vi incisionis , resolutionis & abstersionis , delata usque ad limen quartae digestionis tenacitatem coagulatorum in vasis fundamentaliter tollunt . and therefore it is highly to be wished for , that the modern physitians would be perswaded by our philosophers intimation of the great virtues of the volatilised alcalies , to endeavour to get this excellent treasure of health , and to employ it to the profit and great joy of their patients : and although this one reason would be sufficient , to move them carefully to endeaver this preparation , yet there are two other great advantages more to be expected from thence , viz. that not only the essences of all metals , and of the whole mineral kingdom are to be obtained by the means of alcalies volatil , as i have mentioned in the precedent chapter with all circumstances ; but also hereby , as by a sure foundation , and the first step as it were , they may attain unto the knowledge of the so highly commended universal menstruum , the liquor alcahest , which ariseth from this very ground , as our philosopher saith expresly , de lithiasi , cap. 8. § . 2. where he answereth unto those , which desired to know of him , how to prepare the element of fire out of copper ? that the mystery of the liquor alcahest is required thereunto ; now since the alcalies volatil do bring the same to pass , it must needs then follow , that the liquor alcahest floweth from this source , wherein i have been confirmed so much the more by our philosophers annotation written with his own hand in paracels . his great chirurgie in the margent . p. 102. in folo. upon the preparation of the tincture of gold , where paracelsus teacheth to poure alcool vini upon the calx auri , and that the same will extract the anima auri ; where our philosopher writ thereunto : nisi sal circulatum in sit spiritui vini , tinctura ex auro non transit in eum . now in regard the alcalies volatil shew forth the same virtue in extracting of the metallick tinctures , as our philosopher attributeth here unto the sal circulatum , it must certainly follow , that both these proceed from the same foundation ; which also is further confirmed by this , that our philosopher de febribus cap. 14. § . 10. doth refer himself to raimund lulli , as possessor of the liquor alcahest , in whose relict writings we find the doctrine of the volatilisation of alcalies more excellently and largely handled , than in any other philsophers books ; and therefore i also commended him together with our philosopher most of all to the reader : from all which , as infallible arguments , i do conclude , that by diligently exercising himself in the volatilisation of alcalies , one may ascend as by a sure step unto the mystery of the liquor alcahest it self , whereunto god will raise his elect workmen . cap. ix . how the extracted tincture of copper is further to be carried on to perfection ; and how it performeth its virtue and operation in the body of man. the copper being not stated in such a perfection by nature as gold is , therefore the way to proceed with copper , concerning its final perfection is different from the process of gold in this point ; for when the tincture of this is separated from its body , it needeth no further perfection , but then the anima auri is already perfect enough , because it had obtained its perfection already by nature , and its maturation , before it came to the hands of the artist ; yet hereby is not denyed , but that this by nature perfected tincture may be made perfecter yet , and advanced to a plusquam perfection , for the same may very well be performed by the noble art chymia , as the books of the wise do abundantly testifie : but this is besides our purpose here , it being my intent only , according to our philosophers guidance to subsist in the single perfection and to set forth the same , and because the tincture of gold hath the same already by nature , there needeth no more but to administer it to the sick and necessitous ; but the case is not the same with the tincture of copper ; for the copper and its sulphur is not fixed , but of a middle condition betwixt the throughly fixed gold , and the totally volatile minerals , and therefore its anima could easily be destroyed and consumed by the violence of fire , if it should not discreetly be handled ; and therefore it is necessary , that according to our philosophers doctrine this gold-like , cleanly separated anima be coagulated and fixed , and this by the virtue of fire , which is able to ripen all imperfect things , and to make them durable . but the fire must be ordered in this business , according to the ordinary course of the whole nature , which from year to year without ceasing doth maturate and concoct unripe things to their highest perfection , which maturation is performed by steps , beginning with a gentle and weak degree of warmth , and so rising till to the highest degree of the greatest heat , whereby at length perfect maturity is obtained : and this same must be the way of your proceeding , and therefore you must know , how to govern your fire according to nature , that you do not give it too strong before the time , for else you would burn and spoyle this noble gold-like flower , insomuch that afterwards it could not shew forth the tenth part of that efficacy , which else it might , being agreeably unto nature digested , and fixed slowly and by degrees . but that it may be the plainer to you how to proceed , and that you may not easily mistake , observe but , and mind well the words of our philosopher , in duumviratu . § . 9. where he saith first , that it must be coagulated , and afterwards fixed ; now you know , that coagulation is to be done by a farr gentler degree o● fire then fixation ; and therefore be but guided by these two words , and first coagulate softly , in regard that it is become like oyl by the fiery moysture of the philosophick menstruum , which not only reduced the anima cupri back to its first radical moysture , that is to such a state , as it was in , at its first rise or beginning ; and therefore also by all the wise is called reductio in primam materiam ; but also this radical moysture of the gold-like tincture of the copper hath some part of the essential moysture of the alcali volatil remaining with it still , as i mentioned in the precedent chapter , wherewith the inmost of the tincture , by reason of their uniformity in substance , hath so united it self , that each one is inclined inseparably to remain with the other ; and therefore this noble oyl must first be coagulated by a slow pace , to the end that it may contract it self , and so thicken and grow tough and hard at length . and this being performed , then afterwards , the other word of our philosopher viz. fixation must also be effected , and so the coagulated powder leasurely carried on to such a fixation by the augumented degree of fire , that it may be able to undergo the strongest force of fire without change or damage , and then it is throughly perfect . to which perfection it must of necessity attain for to deserve the name of sulphur philosophorum , and to be able to cure all diseases : sulphuribus enim mineralium , saith our philosopher p. 460. correctis atque perfectis , tota morborum cohors auscultat . before they are brought to this pass , viz , to be wholly perfect , it cannot be expected that all diseases should yield unto , and flee from them , and therefore their advancement unto perfection must of necessity be so ordered and carried on , as even now hath been taught . and when you have brought your business to such an happy issue , you will have such a perfect medicine , as cureth not only vniversaliter all diseases as a true panacaea , but also performeth its operation clean otherwise than all other medicaments , whither made of vegetables or animals . for the sulphura or animae metallicae being a meer fire ( and therefore also called by the philosophers elementum ignis , in metals and minerals ) they also performe their operation , as fire useth to do according to its nature , viz. by warming or illuminating ; so this noble tincture of copper sheweth forth its vertue in warming ; hence it is called by our philosopher excellens calidum , very much warming in duumviratu . § . 9 and then secondly , by illumination , for it illuminateth and raiseth the life-spirit , called by our philosopher archeus , and mindeth the same of its office , furnishing it also with light , power and vertue : for although this noble tincture hath no combustible or consumptible light now , nor is such as it was before in its first rise , as likewise gold it self , viz. a combustible sulphur , and so consequently a terminat or extinguishable light , and therefore also now doth not light forth after a common or visible way , as the kindled sulphura mineralia do ; yet notwithstanding the same being stated by art into a much higher and more excellent condition then it was by nature , doth now lighten in a far more eminent way , and casteth forth its unchangeable and interminable light and splendour ; for now , as its nature is invincible by fire , and so become a far more excellent fire than the common so likewise its light is far more eminent and reaching than the common corruptible light , because that its light is interminable and such as will never cease , in regard that its light answereth the nature of its substance , which being incorruptible , consequently its light also is indestructible and inconsumptible ; and therefore being received into the stomack of man , the stomack cannot act upon it , nor change it ; but only suffereth it self and its indwelling archeus to be warmed , illuminated , and irradiated by this heavenly tincture , which done , this tincture without any change goeth away through the natural draught , in its former weight , efficacy and splendour ; and it is able infinitely again and again to exsert and shew forth the same power , vertue and help , which it hath shewn before , if it be pickt out of the excrements and made use of again . our philosopher teacheth the same very profoundly , and with a through satisfaction unto a truth desirous mind , whereof i will here set down a singular passage of high concernment , out of his book and tract called , in verbis , herbis & lapidibus magna est virtus , that you may have it here together , and need not look for it there : mark and ponder the same well , for many mysteries lie hidden in it . his words are these , radialis commistio argenti vivi admiranda est , si argentum vivum macereturin magna aquae communis quantitate ; haec namque etsi ne minimum quid de argento vivo in se sorbeat , aut ad sui naturam convertere queat , attamen ab argento vivo proprietatem , non item substantiam mutuat , sic ut pota aqua ejusmodi necet lumbricos universos & ascarides , existentes etiam , quò potus iste nunquam pervenit , quippe qui mox totus in lotium rapitur , fitque aqua ista contra lumbricos validior , si semel cum argento vivo bullierit ; sic unica uncia argenti vivi millies poterit mensuram aquae inficere , attamen permanere in pondere & proprietate pristinis . sic nempe scholae etiam invitae addiscunt , quod quaedam agentia citra passionem aut reactionem patientium , liberè semper , indefessisque viribus agant , & perstante eodem sui semper pondere . argentum vivum nempe agit in aquam , eique impri mit sui characterem , non tamen vicissim quidquam ab aqua repatitur . manifestum est itaque , quod vis quaedam medica transferatur , mutetque suum subjectum naturale , et abeat in objectum peregrinum solo velut radio vel aspectu sui , ita tamen ut licet objectum peregrinum acquirat exoticam sibivim , agens tamen inspiransque initium , ne quidquam de suo pristino robore aut pondere amittat , remittatque fit nempe id absque ulla argenti vivi passione , diminutione , mutatione , debilitate aut alteritate . exemplum sanè hoc loco adductum inservit argumento de virtute propemodum infinita remediorum celebranda . quae res postquam in mineralibus saepè ac diversi-modè subter experientiam tracta fuisset , me edocuit tandem , quod antehac nemo mortalium fortassis adhûc opticè atque intus perspexisset ; qualiter remedia abstrusiora operarentur , quodque nimirum citra sui dissolutionem aut interitum , citra sui penetrationem , intro-admissionem , commisturam & commutationem liberè etiam eminus , agant in sopitum vel succensum archeum , so lo quasi sui aspectu , irradiatione vel ejaculatione suarum virium in medio productarum , retentis adhuc pristinis & non mutatis ( nb ) pondere & proprietatibus , adeoque testantvr ejvsmodi arcana , se infinitae bonitate propinqva , dum propemodum ac quasi infinitas sensim vires spargant . quapropter non impunes manebunt medici , dum pauperes quandoque se neglectos ejulabunt in judicio novissimo , qui absque impensis ullis facilè atque obiter sanari potuissent . igitur arcana nequeunt unquam abire in alimentum , quia servant suos fines , ut quae non in cibos , sed in pharmaca sunt destinata , pharmaca perseverent intrò assumpta : incipiunt namque in stomacho ( quem animae sedem alibi ex professo demonstravi ) radium directum suarum virium ac virtutem dotalem exponere , & quorsum à deo destinata sunt , unde demum in totum corpus spargitur hausta in archeo vis radialis irrorata , & sanitas inde succedens avidè suscipitur . sic nimirum oblatis hujusmodi universalioribus remediis contingunt sanationes , quales prodidi in foute naturae contingere ac eidem deberi , qualesque paracelsus pollicitus est , ac dein butlerus me spectante , minima videlicet confermentationis applicatione est executus . certè postquam haec speculatio penitiori contemplatione me sub se attraxit , clarissimè ac opticè quasi cognovi , in causis occasionalibus ac in productis excrementitiis quidem haerere sordes , peculiarium morborum suscitatrices ; attamen ipsum morbum totum ejusque remedia , considero in archeo scilicet alterato vel pacato , adeoque minimo attactu , vibratione , jaculatione , imò solâ radiatione sive illuminatione ( modò in sede animae sensitivam vitam attigerint ) perfici ac compleri sanationes , non habito causarum occasionalium aspectu . idque potentius aspicio in mineralium remediis sulphureis , putà in sulphure veneris , stibii , ac potissimum in sulphure glaurae augurelli : quae nympha alio nomine proprio caret hactenùs . etenim ejusmodi sulphura , quia longius distant ab humanâ natura , quam tota vegetabilium cohors , atque interca insignes dotes à datore obtinent , ita quoque plenissimè & pertinaciter resistunt , ne à digestivâ in alimentorum rempublicam deflectant , atque ideò servent geneales sui potestates liberas & infractas . manet nimirum mineralium crasis integra , aptiorque ad dispergendum radium sui in duumviratum sedem animae . sic nempe mercurius diaphoreticus ultimatum suae entelechiae scopum acquirit per ruborem sulphuris ascendentis , cui sulphur mercurii unione indissolubili nectitur ; hactenus euim mineralium sulphura sub vulcano adipiscuntur extremum intentionis medentum complementum . hortor itaque tyrones addiscant sulphura spoliar● vi peregrinâ ac virulentâ , sub ejus nimirum custodiâ abditur ignis vitalis , archeum in scopos desideratos placidissimè deducens . sunt videlicet sulphura quaedam , quibus correctis atque perfectis tota morborum cohors auscultat , utpote quorum pluralitas in unitatem archei , tanquam in pugnantem pugnum contrahitur . hoc pacto in ipsa animae sede combinatoque duumviratu , amentiae appoplexiae , caduci , paralyses , vertigines , asthmata , hydropes , atrophiae , immanesque defectus annihilari vidimus , stupente scilicet ipsa natura . by which excellent discourse four secrets are discovered : first , that the sulphurs of metals and minerals , by the artists hand being corrected and perfected , or brought to the highest perfection , viz. fixation , do then universally heal all diseases . secondly , that they shew forth this heavenly vertue after the nature and manner of a shining light , enlightning all dark places and corners , that even so the metallick fixt arcana medica with their splendour and wonderful light ( by god bestowed upon them ) do illuminate and irradiate the archeus , which is darkned and obumbrated by diseases , injecting new powers of light into him , and raising him to a new life , in which sense i gave this treatise the title of a medicinal light , because therein i plainly shewed ( out of our highly gifted and illuminated philosopher ) the way to obtain such a glorious light , eminent for the restoring of health , insomuch that every one that is chosen for it by god , and borne to it by nature , and so is dupliciter electus , may easily attain to this mystery of the light of nature . thirdly , this text teacheth also , that these metallick arcana of light , after they have afforded their great help and shewn forth their power , are never a whit diminished either in their substance or weight , but remain in their former quantity , and unchanged and incorrupted in their heavenly vertue , power and quality , and may be used again and again without end . fourthly , that these three now mentioned great vertues and unexpressible powers , have their rise from the neernesse of the metallick arcana with the eternal infinite goodnesse , which is the invisible heavenly substance , and that as to their inward root , they are one degree neerer to , and deeper in the interior heavenly world , than all other visible , palpable and corruptible created things , us our author intimateth in these words , adeoque testantur ejusmodi arcana , se infinitae bonitati propinqua , &c. which great wonder of god and nature , hitherto utterly unknown to , and hidden from men , hath by divine irradiation been discovered as it were afar off , by our philosopher , but not so genuinely and intirely known to him as to all its parts , as it was to that highly illuminated and anointed instrument of god , the german or teutonick philospher and wonder-man , jacob bohmen of gorlitz , who not only in his books de signatura rerum de tribus principiis , mysterio magno de triplici vitâ , and more others , doth very profundly and compleatly explain this mystery , but also speaketh of and teacheth other and the greatest mysteries of god , and of his manifested nature , with such exuberant wisdom , that one must be astonished at the great and profound knowledge , which this highly illuminated man of god had , as well in divine as natural secrets , and by the command , instinct and merciful will of god hath left unto us in his books , whereof he writ above thirty . wherein are comprehended the greatest hitherto hidden mysteries of god , what he is in his essence , and in his holy trine-number or trinity of persons , how before all created visible things he hath created an eternal nature , of which afterwards he made the angels , and how it came to passe , that some fell and raised the eternal otherwise hidden darknesse for their eternal habitation ; others , on the other side , persisted in the place of their creation , and so are confirmed in their state of holiness ; also , how god further in the room of the fallen and rejected angels created men in the very same place , from which lucifer was thrusted forth or ejected , and how that lucifer envying this happinesse unto man , seduced and perswaded him to fall from god , and cunningly beguiled him ; all which the infinite mercy of god knowing from eternity , resolved already from eternity with himself , to look in mercy upon this poor , by the subtlety and fraud of sathan , fallen man , and to come to his assistance with his holy substance of the inexhaustible loves-source it self , to unite the same with the fallen humane nature , and so with a strong might and divine power to destroy the design of sathan , through the fallen humane nature , and so eternally to possesse his former seat or throne ; and how all this properly came to pass that the eternal infinite god united himself indivisibly with humane nature , and by such an union opened again the gate unto the kingdom of heaven unto all mankind : and how man must be born again the second time through this , and so united again with the substance and body of god , and become a true child of god , borne out of him , and in this manner may eternally be and remain with him . all this and very many other mysteries of the like nature ; as also of the exterior nature of metals , and their heavenly vertues , of hearbs , beasts , sun , moon and stars , and of the generation of the whole nature , and all exteriour visible things , yea of the great stone of the wise also , are in his books so profoundly and knowingly handled and described , that every hungry and truth desirous mind cannot sufficiently rejoyce and delight himself in such a high light and exposition of such hitherto unheard of , and altogether hidden wonders , and i am of opinion , that the bottomlesse mercy of god hath set up this jacob bohme ( whom the learned after his death by reason of his great wisdome called the teutonick philosopher ) and also this our philosopher helmont , as two bright-shining torches for this present age , which is the dregs and sinck of all ungodliness , unbelief , wickednesse , and perverse damnable life , to try whither this modern lip-christendom , which is quite dead as to god , and totally alienated from the life of god , will open their eyes and see by this double light of his mercy set up , and so acknowledge or own god their most blessed creator , walk in his light , and bring forth the due fruit of holinesse and obedience , before the terrible wrath of god rush in upon them consuming , devouring and destroying all such unfruitful trees , which vengeance is already begun : therefore , happy and blessed is he , that acknowledgeth the same , and followeth this light , which god by these two men of wonders mercifully granted unto us , and entereth into the way of true child-like obedience of faith , for to be a true labourer in his vine-yard , as a good husbandman over the work of the lord , such a one may confidently hope for the fruit , which god by these instruments promised unto us , and not only receive them yet in this world , but also enjoy them eternally . therefore be admonished , o you physitians , such as have yet a spark of the child-like fear of god in your hearts , by what the tuba of this age , our philosopher , in praefatione super ignotum hospitem morbum , saith § . 9. 10. moneo hortorque sapientes hujus mundi , quod errores & inscitiae medentum non se mihi paulatim aperuerint , ac sensim intrârint in animam meam , ita quod unum post aliud conceperim aut meditatus sim ; nimirum quòd primum considerarem scholas deceptas circa mistionum . elementarium congressum , temperiem , complexiones , morbosasque distemperaturas , inde verò provolutus essem circa errores catharrorum , ac deinceps demum quaesiissem radices , causas & quidditatem morborum ac remediorum . nil sanè horum . nam si unum post aliud mihi innotuisset , existimassem omnem hujusmodi progressum , esse rationis ac phantasiae inductiones erroribus atque fallaciis opportunas . sed postquam totum simùl , nempe medentum inscitiae , tàm in cognitione causarum , morborum , quam remediorum & applicationum , unicâ lucis fulguratione conceptum intellectualem obumbrasset , indubiè cognovi , hoc talentum ad proximorum utilitates datum , ideoque propinandum cathedris , à quibus correctio expetitur expectaturque , iisque sub indictione gravioris paenae seriò proferendum . cap. x. that the sulphur philosophorum is also to be had from other metallick bodies , besides the copper . there will be not a few , which after they have read the , by me cleared , doctrine of our philosopher , concerning the sulphur philosophorum , may chance to be of opinion , that only the tincture of copper is that highly commended sulphur of the wise , and that we must remain only with this subject , and only thence look for this noble treasure of health . but no such matter ; for the anima cupri is called sulphur philosophorum , not in regard of any singular prerogative and precedency it hath before other metallick bodies , but only therefore , because it is conducible for a long and healthfull life , and therefore as a great secret is only sought for by wise and understanding men , who aimed not at mony , riches , honour , pride , and lust of the flesh , nor would they spend their precious time upon such fading muck , but on the contrary they employed all their understanding and knowledge ( vouchsafed unto them by god upon their hearty prayers ) hereupon only viz. how to preserve a sound mind within a sound body , and to make this use of the virtues which god endowed nature withall , that they might remain in health and enjoy a long life , thereby to have the fruition of the great wonders and guifts of god for many years , and so to be able in health to bear much fruit unto their gracious lord god , as faithfull labourers in his vineyard , as our philosopher witnesseth in butler , pag. 473. in these words : nihil aeque victoriosè in humidum radicale agit atque primum ens cupri , vel ad vitam longam sulphure vitrioli esse benignius , utpote quod idcirco sulphur philosophorum indigetat ; and in duumviratu saith he : sulphur cupri inter arcana ad vitam longam , & catervam aliquot morborum fugandam , commendabile ; and de lithiasi cap. 8. § . 8. he saith : cum sulphur istud externum , quale è cupro trahitur , non sit necessarium metallo perfecto ; cupro autem istud sulphur sit à deo inditum , ergo necesse est istud sulphur veneris habere suos fines ad necessitates ingrati hominis conducentes , pro infirmitatibus scilicet humanis , supra omnem metallicae perfectionis dignitatem . in regard therefore , that the tincture of copper is called sulphur philosophorum only for this reason , because it is advantageous for a long and healthy life ; but now such an universal medicine also may be made of other metallick bodies ; it must needs follow , that in other metallick subjects also such a sulphur philosophorum may be found , and that it is not necessary to remain only with the copper ; but that i treat most of copper in this book , and make but little mention of the other metallick bodies , is done therefore , because i proposed unto my self to subsist in our philosophers doctrine , which he left unto us , and intended most of all to clear the same in this treatise , whom , because he maketh mention of the anima cupri , i followed here . else , all metallick bodies may thus be proceeded withall and analysed , and the tincture obtained in like manner , as here of copper hath been taught , which by due maturation having attained unto its perfection , is likewise the philosophers sulphur , as well as the tincture of copper ; and therefore the method pointed out for to obtain from copper it s anima , may also be observed in dissecting of other metallick bodies , and it is not necessary to enlarge further of it , they being all comprehended within the compass of one and the same process ; but let not the reader think , that by the word metallick bodies , i mean only the known , and by every one called metals , as gold , lead , tin , iron , &c. by no means , for if this had been my meaning , i would not have put metallick bodies , but metals in the title of this chapter ; but by the word metallick subjects i understand such minerals , which have the like fixedness as metals , which though they may not be melted like other metals , yet therefore are to be named metallick , because they have not only the like fixedness ; all metals , but also approach very near unto gold in point of fixedness , and consequently i understand by the word metallick bodies , as well all metals , as also all that hath the like constancy as metals have : but that in such metallick subjects the like virtue , yea as high is engrafted as in the metals themselves , yea almost as good as in gold , let not the reader think it strange , but rather hear first , what the highly guifted paracelsus hereof mentioneth , and afterwards understand also my information ; now paracelsus intending to shew , which subjects besides the known metals participate of the primum ens auri ( which is the true sulphur philosophorum ) saith de separationibus rerum naturalium . p. m. 906. sub titulo of the separation of minerals : now it is further requisite and necessary to treat of those things whereof metals grow and engender , as the three principia , mercurius , sulphur and sal ; also other minerals , in which the primum ens metallorum is found , that is the spirit of metals , as you see in marcasites , granats , kakimia , red talck , lasur , &c. and the like , wherein we have found the primum ens auri , by the degree of sublimation , &c. of this primum ens you are to know , that it is a volatil spirit , which still lyes in the volatility , even as a child in the womans womb , ( and therefore also these sulphura are called by paracelsus in other places sulphura embryonata ) which sometimes resembleth unto a liquor , and sometimes unto an alcool . now he that intendeth to have the primum ens of every one of those bodies , and to sever the same from thence , must of necessity have great experience in the spagyrick art , and have much worked in alchymie , else he will little effect here , but rather loose his labour . but for as much as concerneth the separation of minerals , it is to be noted , that many such things are separated by the degree of sublimation , the fixed from the unfixed , all spiritual and volatil bodies from the fixed , and in like manner as you have understood of metals , so with all the other minerals one and the same processe is to be used through all degrees , as the spagyrick art doth teach , &c. hitherto paracelsus . whereby we clearly see that one and the same processe is to be used to sever the pure , or the primum ens , that is , the gold-like soul from minerals ( as paracelsus calleth them here , but by me are tearmed metallick bodies , not only in regard of the forementioned reason , because they stand in the like fixity with metals , but also to distinguish them from other minerals that are wholly volatil which properly are called minerals by me , whereof mention shall be made in the following chapter ) as also from metals , and that it must be done by volatilisation , as i have faithfully taught before . also paracelsus teacheth us what subjects those are , in which as well the primum ens auri ( which is the true sulphur philosophorum ) is contained , as in the metals , viz. in marcasites , garnets , kakimia , red talck , lasur , &c. which though it be certainly so , and experience also confirmeth the same , especially in the garnets and red talck , in which an extraordinary fair gold-like tincture lyes hidden , yet there are other corpora also , wherein the sulphur philosophorum is as excellent as in these , viz. in the magnes , smiris , vitriol , rubrica , lapis calaminaris , and of all most rich and plentifully in the lapis haemathites , which is throughly replenisht with the primum ens auri. and therefore also crude and unprepared , if it be but only first ground and reduced into a very fine and impalpable powder , sheweth forth most excellent vertues in physick , as experience will verify unto the diligent searcher of the secrets of nature . and it is also known in the famous city of hamburg , what great cures about twenty years ago have been done there by a scotch man , who was but an ideot , insomuch that all the city were astonished at it ; but by the envy and hatred of wicked men he was quickly rid out of the way , and killed with poyson , and is much bemoaned by all , and therefore by the magistrate there ( as i am credibly informed ) is set a great summe of money to find out him that hath committed that murther . now this man used nothing else but the haemathites ground to an impalpable powder , and afterwards ground with oyl of fennel seeds , as the late most illustrious prince , duke augustus of anhalt , of happy memory hath told me , and with much industry got it from the authour : these great vertues of the haemathites are also known to many of the common people in divers countries , in so much that great territories are to be found , in which the use of it is so well known , and so highly esteemed , that they use it as a panacaea in all their infirmities , as among the rest appeared unto me in the dukedom of borussia : for travelling once from my parents in law unto the fair at konigsberg for to buy some necessaries , i took a peasant with me for to carry my luggage for me , and coming to a mercers that had all kind of wares , as whetstones , fire-stones , table-books and the like , and mong the rest blood-stones also , which the peasant espying , he made unto me a very low curtesie , and very humble prayed me , that i would buy and bestow upon him such a red stone ( for he knew not its proper name to call it by ) for a fairing , which he would acknowledge for a singular favour and love unto him . i demanded what he would do with it ? he answered , dear sir , if you knew what excellent vertues are in this stone , you would likkwise highly esteem of it : i said , what can it do ? he replyed , this is our medicine , when we aile any thing , then we grind it very small , and take it with a little vineger , and thereupon recover our health ; afterwards coming home again , i asked my father in law , whither that there was such a custome amongst his boores , as to take their refuge unto the blood-stone in all their diseases ? to which he answered , yea , adding , that not only there neer him , but also in all that circuit questionless there was that custome amongst the boores. this his gold-like vertue , his signature also sheweth forth , not in his outward appearance of an unfightly brown stone , but being dissolved : for if you make a very strong aqua regis of the spirit of salt-peter drawn off from common salt ( for common aqua regis , made after the usual way of aqua fort and salt armoniac , dissolveth so little of it , that it is not worth the pains ) and dissolve therein the haemathites made into very fine powder , keeping it in a due heat : and if you dissolve also of the choicest , and pure-finest gold in the like aqua regis , and compare the solutions together , you will see , that the solution of the haemathites sheweth as glorious and of as fair ▪ a gold colour as the other of the best gold , yea rather exceeds in splendour . and therefore let not the reader wonder at it , that paracelsus , and i also do hold , that in many other subjects , besides the gold ( which deservedly hath the pre-eminence above all , and its tincture is eminenti gradu called sulphur philosophorum by the wise , which none will deny , unlesse he be quite a stranger unto , unacquainted with , and altogether unexercised in philosophiâ chymicâ ) and the copper , the primum ens auri , or sulphur philosophorum is to be found , their great vertues shewing forth the same , and as expressed seals of bountiful nature , convincing us of that truth . cap. xi . that the sulphur philosophorum may be got also of volatile minerals . what i have taught in the precedent chapter , viz. that also of such other metallick bodies which are of the like fixity with the metals , the sulphur philosophorum is to be obtained , this may peradventure sooner be received and granted by the reader , than what i am now going to demonstrate , viz. that of the wholly volatil minerals , such as antimony , auripigmentum , zink , and the like , that same treasure of health may also be extracted . however not only experience , but also many wise men in their books do witnesse this truth , which i do intend to prove in this chapter . and although it be besides my purpose , to treat of the volatil minerals , and the treasure of health contained in them , and that this treatise reacheth only thus far , viz. according to our philosophers doctrine and instruction , faithfully to explain the way to get the sulphur philosophorum from copper especially , and within the compass of that processe also , how the tincture of life is to be had of the other metals and metallick bodies ; yet i cannot forbear ( in regard that the sulphur philosophorum as well made of volatil minerals , as also of the fixer metallick bodies , is altogether of one and the same nature , property , power and vertue ) here to mention how that jewel is to be got of the minerals also . to make it the more plain for the longing seeker of truth , be it known to him first in general , that as the volatil minerals are very much different from the fixed metallick bodies , in that the former are altogether volatil , open , and very neer unto the first being ; on the other side , the metallick subjects are fast coagulated and lockt up by nature and its fire , and so these twofold subjects , as to their inbred nature and condition , do very much differ : so likewise there is a vast difference in their preparation , for the volatil minerals neither must nor need at all to be proceeded with , like the fixer metallick subjects , which first by potent double corrosives must be freed from their hard bonds , and raised as it were from death , and so quickned , which is altogether unnecessary in the volatil minerals , because that they never yet entred into such a hard coagulation , nor were lock't up in death as it were , but are still volatil , lively , and active : and therefore also another method of proceeding must be used about them . also the way of getting the medicinal treasure from minerals being not one and the same in all , but various , viz. in each mineral a sundry way , according to our philosophers instruction ; therefore also i will mention the preparation of one or other by it self , as farr as our philosopher doth give occasion . first , our philosopher commendeth unto us the sulphura mineralium in general and indistinctly , when he teacheth that they being corrected and perfected , will then cure all or most diseases , which sufficiently evidenceth , that after they have attained unto that perfection , that then they are the sulphur philosophorum , as well as other metallick bodies , because that the nature and condition of the sulphur philosophorum is to be a panacaea , which being asserted by our philosopher of the mineral sulphurs also , they are therefore also of the same dignity with the others , because that they cure vniversaliter the infirmities of humane bodies as well as the other , whereof our philosophers words , in his discourse quoted in the ninth chap. are these : ipsum morbum totum ejusque remedia considero in archeo alterato vel pacato , adeoque minimo attactu , vibratione , jaculatione , imò solâ radiatione sive illuminatione perfici ac compleri sanationes , non habito causarum occasionalium respectu ; idque potentius aspicio in mineralium remediis sulphureis , putà in sulphure veneris , stibii , ac potissimum in sulphure glaurae augurelli , quae nympha alio nomine proprio caret hactenus , &c. hortor itaque tyrones , addiscant sulphura spoliare vi peregrinâ ac virulentâ , sub cujus nimirum custodiâ abditur ignis vitalis , archeum in scopos desideratos placidissimè deducens : sunt videlicet sulphura quaedam , quibus correctis atque perfectis tota morborum cohors auscultat , ut pote quorum pluralitas in unitatem archei tanquam pugnantem pugnum contrahitur . hoc pacto in ipsâ animae sede combinatoque duumviratu , amentiae , apoplexiae , caduci , paralyses , vertigines , asthmata , hydropes , atrophiae , immanesque defectus annihilari vidimus , stupente scilicet ipsâ naturâ . in which discourse our philosopher nameth unto us three sorts of the sulphur philosophorum , that is of such a tincture which vniversaliter , as a true panacaea , healeth diseases ; the first sort he taketh from the copper , whereof hitherto sufficiently hath been spoken , and which doth not properly belong to this chapter , but to the metallick bodies . the other sort he saith , is made of the glaura augurelli , which he calleth in another place viz. inter imperfectiora , metallus primus , sive masculus ( as much to say as pater metallorum ) and inter arcana paracelsi he termeth it also electrum minerale immaturum , and declareth , that this mineral hath a combustible sulphur , which is the king of all mineral sulphurs , and therefore also the highest tincture for health is prepared of it , which for that reason is called quinta essentia membrorum , and arcanum tincturae by paracelsus . now this mineral as it is hidden , and known to very few ( and hence not called by its proper name by our philosopher , but only nympha ) as to its nature : so , and much more secret is its ▪ philosophick preparation , whereby its volatil combustible , stinking , unripe sulphur , is exalted to the glory and dignity of sulphur philosophorum , yea so highly , that after it hath attained unto its highest perfection , it surpasseth all other philosophick sulphurs as far in splendour and glory , as the sun the other stars : and therefore also our philosopher relating and commending the above mentioned three kinds , he addeth the word especially , or above all other , to this sulphur ; and hence also numbring up the arcana paracelsi , he sets this uppermost , expresly mentioning , that this arcanum is the greatest of all , saying : imprimis tinctura lili ab electro minerali immaturo in vinum vitae redacta , cujus una pars est metallus primus , altera verò membrorum essentia . but the manner how to obtain this great jewel , and king of all the arcana , he expresseth thus : that first the combustible sulphur ( which if it be burnt yields a blew flame ) is to be separated from its mercurial body , which may be done after that way as hath been taught of antimony in the second chapter , for so long as the minerals are still volatil , open and combustible , one process serveth for all , for to separate their sulphur from them , viz. by a fiery alcali ; upon this severed sulphur is to be poured its own ( pertinent and only serviceable ) corrosive ( which is nothing else but the liquor alcahest , as appeareth by all circumstances ) and distilled and cohobated thence , until the sulphur come over like a red oyl , &c. which not being practicable or feasible by any other but him that is possessor of the liquor alcahest , therefore we will wave it , and not frustraneously detain our selves there , for he that hath that liquor , needeth not our instruction : but to him that hath it not , it is but labour lost to mention any thing of it , and to propose unto him any good conceptions . and therefore we will pass to the other , and by all feasible way , to obtain this high tincture of health , which our philosopher also pointeth out : for he knowing well , that the partakers of the mystery of the liquor alcahest are but very few , and yet out of his true assection and hearty love to the longing searcher of truth being willing , that the efficacy of this most excellent and noblest sulphur might be known in some sort , he left such a way of proceeding , which is practicable by every one , that is but a little experienced in philosophiâ chymicâ , yet this kind of essence requireth and presupposeth , that this highly commended and excellent subject be first known ; for none can have experience of its glory , nor manifest its great virtues , unless he know it first : but it seemeth unto me , that our philosopher giveth sufficient information for to know it , in that he calleth it electrum mineral● immaturum , item metallum primum ; also in that he saith of it , that it hath a combustible sulphur , and a volatil mercury , his words inter imperfectiora are these : metallus primus sive masculus ab indole metallica necessariò vestitur mecurio & sulphure metallicis . mercurio nempe liquido nec digitis adhaerente , & sulphure cremabili in flammâ coerulea ; and then he ascribeth unto it also that heavenly virtue , viz. to oppose withcraft , and to destroy the same , as he writeth de injaculatis § . 7. inprimis electrum minerale immaturum paracelsi , collo appensum , liberat quos spiritus immundus persequitur , quod ipsus vidi . illius potum verò , plures à veneficiis solvisse , memini ; nemo autem , qui appenso illo simplici non praecaverit , ne injecta intromittantur , vel ab importunis ligationibus confestim non solvatur , which virtue and great power i have seen verifyed by experience in my own little son , who being then but sixteen weeks old , and forspoken by wicked diabolical people , or fettered importunis ligationibus malevolorum ( as our philosopher here termeth it ) for many dayes , insomuch that it was a great grief of heart unto us to behold the poor distressed infant , for he would not accept of the mothers breast for many dayes , notwithstanding that he was very hungry and thirsty , and therefore was starved and consumed . then i remembred our philosophers commendation of this noble subject , and and so hung it to the childs neck , and let it hang down to the very pit of the stomack , and so caused him to be wrapped up in his swadling cloths , and presently he fell asleep , after an hour and a halfe he wakened , and desired and eagerly fell to suck the mothers breast , and so he amended from that very hour , to the great admiration of my self and many others , in regard that the change was so sudden and so powerful , so that i am of opinion , that others also by these described properties will learn to know this royal subjectum ; and so is needless , for the sake of those that are worthy , to name it by a more express and significant name , than electrum immaturum , pater metallorum sive metallus primus , in regard that such and the like names do sufficiently expresse what it is , and truly it would not be well done at all , to describe it more plainly , for these names do like a printed seal represent its whole nature , essence , rise and property , and he that can not discover it by these characters , is neither chosen of god , nor born by nature for to know it , else he would well understand this language metallus primus , and the like , viz. what the said words and names do speak and expresse . this precious subject ( which paracelsus calleth the red lyon , but basilius the god saturne ) being known , it is further necessary , that the sulphur be severed from the mercurial part , in like manner as hath been done with antimony ; for this solar splendour must be first ground very fine , then mixed with a very fiery alcali , and then for half a quarter of an hour ground together in a morter , then water poured on , and afterwards filtred , and that which is contained in the water , that run through the filter , precipitated with an acid liquor , and then that excellent sulphur will fall to the bottom , which being dryed is of a yellow colour , and burnes like other sulphur , yielding a celestial , or skie-coloured flame ; as our philosopher mentioneth ; but the mercurial part remains in the paper , which being dryed is kept for other uses ; yet this i must mention here also , that there is yet another way to sever the mercury from this noble sulphur , viz. by elevating the mercurial part by means of such a degree of fire as is requisite , and then it will ascend alone , and leave its red companion in the bottome ; but this way is not for our purpose , because thereby the sulphur which remains in the bottom will be very much fixed and altered from its former combustible condition ; which ought not to be in this work , as the following mechanica left by our philosopher doth shew forth ; for he will have , that the sulphur metalli primi be dissolved in oyl of cinnamon , which cannot be done , unlesse that this sulphur remain thoroughly volatil and combustible , and therefore we must acquiesce in the first way . take therefore very pure and subtle oyle of cinamon , poure it upon the said combustible sulphur , put it in a phiol , and let it boyl till the oyl be very red and rich of the tincture ; then poure it into a retort , abstract the oyl gently , so long as it comes clear , and when by gentle heat nothing more will come over , then let it cool , and you will have in the retort a thick and red extract like congealed blood , which keep : the clear oyl that came over , poure again into the phiol , and add more of the sulphur metalli primi to it , in case there be not enough in it , boyle it again for twelve or more howers , and your oyl will be very red again , which after refrigeration put into the former retort to the first thick extract , and abstract as before the oyl gently , so long as it goes clear ; the oyl that came over poure again the third time to the sulphur in the phiol and let it boyle as before ; and being well coloured , poure it also into the retort to the other extract : and now put the retort somewhat deeper in the sand than before ; first draw off gently the clear oyl , and none such coming more , then strengthen the fire a little , but not too much , ( that this noble flower may not suffer violence ) and there will come over first a yellow and then a red oyl , poure all that is come over back again and distill in the same manner again , and there will come over more yellow and red oyl ; this cohobation reiterate so long and often until your oyl do come over so red that it could not be redder , which is a sign that the oyl cannot contain and carry over any more of the mollified sulphur , which you may easily know by it s not increasing in rednesse after several cohobations . this tinged oyl you must well mix and grind together , with a very dry pure alcali warmed a little , upon a stone warmed also , work it together for an hour or two , that it be like a thin hony , and take heed that you put in not too much of the oyl , for all that oyl which is not exactly mixed with the alcali , and so not touched by it , but standeth over the same , exceedeth the true proportion , and cannot be meliorated by the alcali . then put your mixture into a little cucurbit , and let it by day and by night , for some weeks , digest together , in such a soft or gentle heat , that the oyl may not ascend , and it will at length all turne to salt and grow hard , which being forced by a stronger fire yieldeth a red salt , the vertue whereof will commend it self . now we will also speak of the third subject , whereof our philosopher maketh mention , and commendeth the same unto us , viz. of antimony , and try whether in this also the sulphur philosophorum be hid , which questionlesse must be so , since it is related and put in company with the arcanum cupri and glaurae , by our philosopher . now to extract the same out of this subject , know that it cannot be brought to its highest perfection after the same manner as the glaura , in regard that this of its nature and first rise is farr more highly nobilitated than the antimony , and therefore also needeth no more but only to be opened and softned so , as that it may be able to play upon our archeus , and communicate thereunto its radius and splendour , and hence also by reason of the great prerogative it hath above all other mineral sulphurs , it is called by our philosopher , the highest and greatest wonder of nature , but the anima antimonii must first be ripened and digested by a due fire , before it can attain to such an excellency . but how to go about this work , and concerning the genuine way to proceed therewith , our philosopher hath not left us sufficient instruction , but directeth us unto paracelsus , speaking of this arcanum in pharmacopolio & dispensatorio moderno ▪ § . 49. thus : id paracelsus ( nimirum correctionem veneni in antimonio ) in tincturâ lili antimonii cum laude attentavit , per salem suum circulatum : and amongst the arcana paracelsi our philosopher sets this sulphur philosophorum antimonii in the third place , saying , tertio loco est tinctura lili antimonialis , ejusdem ponè efficaciae , &c. we must therefore turne to paracelsus his writings , and search there , in what place he taught to prepare the arcanum lili ex antimonio , and we shall find it in his great chyrurgia lib. 2. tr . 3. cap. 5. where he speaketh of this sulphur philosophorum thus : the philosophers have tryed much with antimony , and prepared the same many wayes , but the true way hath not been found with them yet , but now it is come to light , and it is such a science , which all physitians of right should know : for this purification is the entry and beginning in all diseases , whatever they be : and if it were in use , there would not so much be spoyled as is done by the supposed physitians : for therefore i call them supposed , because in all their wayes and doings , they do but only suppose , and know nothing of a certainty , which is a very great shame to physicians . now its preparation is this : but he that will apprehend it , must be experienced in alchymy , for i cannot set it down in such a way as is usual with the apothecaries . take antimony changed or reduced into very fine alcool ( here the desirous searcher of truth is to know , that the change or transmutation of the antimony into alcool , doth not signify grinding into fine powder , as according to the literal sence it doth sound , but the antimony being heavy and compact of its nature , must by art and by the power of fire be forced to ascend in form of a very light dust , in so much that not the least remain behind in the bottom pertaining to the substance of antimony ; and this is to be repeated thrice , as our philosopher in his marginals mentioneth , and left behind him for information , ( although the same may be also gathered from paracels . lib. 3. cap. 6. de vitâ longâ . ) then reverberate it in a close reverberatory for the space of a moneth , and it will be volatil , first white , then yellow , at last red and brown , very light and spungy . being red and reverberated sufficiently , take it out , and extract its essence lili with spirit of wine , which is to reach twenty inches over it ( here paracelsus playes again with the word spiritus vini , as he did in the processe of gold in the second chapter , whereof i made mention above in the ninth chapter , in regard that the spiritus vini is far too weak to extract this tincture , but as in the processe of gold , so here the sal circulatum is the means , which must effect that solution and separation ; as our philosopher in the now quoted place § . 49. in dispensatorio novo mentioned , instead whereof the alcali volatil may be used , in regard that they proceed from the same root and ground , as i mentioned before ) and the substance of the antimony being in the spirit of wine , decant it , and keep the spirit of wine so mixed together . this is the highest purification of the whole lili , also the noblest and most commendable , which carrieth off all that is impure in man , and moreover all that man can find within man. if you find out this medicine and arcanum , it will not make you a supposed physitian , but a knowing one . in this manner is the sulphur philosophorum or medecina vniversalis antimonii prepared , and of its great and wonderful vertues you may further read in the forementioned fifth chapter of his chirurgy . now although this way is so excellently good , that it cannot be amended , yet it is very difficult , and one may easily misse in it , because of the reverberation , in which one may quickly be out and spoyl all . and therefore i will here set down an easier and readier way , to the end that the truth-desirous reader may first trye this , as being easier and surer , and so afterwards also imitate the other which is by reverberation . therefore take the pure separated sulphur antimonii , done as taught in the second chapter , dissolve it with the alcali volatil , and cohobate it so long , untill the salt rise like a rubie , and you have a farr shorter and surer way : but this tincture is not perfectly so vertuous as the former , made by reverberation , which by the fire hath been brought to more maturity and perfection . if any one please , he may also make an essence of the sulphur of antimony in such a manner , as even now hath been mentioned , of the sulphur electri immaturi ; and this is then the true balsamus sulphuris for inward use , in regard there is no difference in this at all , only there will be a difference as to their vertue . cap. xii . that the sulphur philosophorum may also be made of common sulphur . although our philosopher doth not teach any thing concerning the preparation of common sulphur , which ariseth to the excellency of the sulphur philosophorum , yet for all that it is not excluded from thence : for though our philosopher in the place often quoted doth specify by name only the sulphur cupri , glaurae , or electri mineralis & antimonii , yet he will among the rest also have understood and comprehend the common sulphur ; in regard that he saith in genere . hortor itaque tyrones , addiscant sulphura mineralium spoliare vi peregrinâ ac virulentâ , sub cujus custodia abditur ignis vitalis , archeum in scopos desideratos placidissimè deducens . now that the common sulphur is not excluded , the highly experienced paracelsus also doth teach , relating the same among those arcana , viz. gold , pearl , antimony , which are conducing to a long life , as it may be seen in his book of long life , lib. 3. cap. 7. in which and in many other places more he calleth common sulphur such a balsome , which preserveth all things , and tingeth them with its tincture to perfection : and in his book de transmutatione rerum naturalium , he saith expresly , that common sulphur as well as gold hath power to tinge the body of man into the highest degree of health , whereof these are his words , worthy to be considered : the tincture of humane bodies , for to tinge them into their highest health , and expel all diseases from thence , to recover all lost virtues and colours , to restore and renew are these , gold pearle , antimony , sulphur , vitriol and the like , &c. being prepared or brought into their arcana , of whose preparations we teach in other books at large , &c. the same and in like manner he teacheth also in his book de renovatione & restauratione , saying : the primum ens which comes from sulphur is so effectual in humano corpore , that it reneweth all the radical humours with all their adherencies ; and in the same book also he sets down a process , so to dissolve and ripen sulphur , as that it may be able to effect such an universal purification , renovation and restoration of all lost virtues and powers in the body of man ; consequently a sulphur ▪ philosophorum may also be made of common sulphur , hence we will by no means pass it by , but mention its preparation here also , because that of it as well as of the sulphur cupri & antimonii , an universal medicine is to be made , yet each in its degree and condition , into which it hath been stated by nature in its first generation : for although the tincture of copper universally cureth , yet doth it not perform the same so gloriously and so eminently as the tincture of the sulphur metalli primi : so likewise comparing the tincture of antimony with that of copper , this latter is found farr more excellent than the former ; and so further the case is still the same betwixt antimony and common sulphur , viz. that the tincture of the former doth so farr exceed the perfected anima or essentia of the common sulphur in splendour and shining light , as nature in their first generation hath more highly nobilitated and stated the former than the latter ; which nature it self doth shew forth , and experience teacheth us ; and because this secret hath not been discovered hitherto , i thought it necessary to open it unto the reader , that he may rightly apprehend the ground thereof . for although the sulphur antimonii be as well volatil and combustible as the common sulphur , and so no difference betwixt them as to their fixity or maturity ; for all that they are so much differenced as to their virtue , that the sulphur antimonii , without any further preparation being given to the patient , is of far greater , quicker and more powerful operation , than the common sulphur , though often sublimed ; which proceedeth from no other , but its inbred excellency , wherewith it hath been endowed by nature ; and so the sulphur cupri hath greater virtue , than that of antimony , and so forth . but some may say , that the sulphur of antimony being extracted and made visible by an alcali , hath been corrected and meliorated by the fieriness of the fixed alcali , and thence is more excellent in virtue , but not by reason of its birth : for answer , it is confessed , that the sulphur antimonii and all other mineral sulphurs being for a long time united and boyled with a fiery alcali ( as the same shall be faithfully demonstrated and taught afterwards ) indeed come forth meliorated and amended ; but in extracting of the sulphur of antimony , the alcali is but ground with the antimony , water poured on , and in that moment that the alcali impregnated with the sulphur , doth run through the filter , the acidum may be put in , and so the alcali again severed from the sulphur . now what maturation or melioration can the sulphur of antimony receive from the alcali in such a moment of time ? which i leave to you to judge of : but put case , that you could not acquiesce in this , know that there are yet other wayes to extract the sulphur , so that the alcali do not touch the same , nor any other thing do act upon it , and yet it doth readily rise from the antimony , as if you put thereupon its acetum , which will admit of no communion at all with the sulphur , but presently associateth it self to the mercurial part of the antimony , and so the sulphur is set free from its mercury , and therefore riseth in a very gentle heat , in colour like other common sulphur , and not differenced at all from the common , neither in colour , smell , tast , volatility nor combustibleness , only that it yields a fairer light , being burnt , than the common sulphur doth being kindled , and yet notwithstanding that it is so like unto common sulphur , and hath not been touched nor extracted by any thing that could have meliorated the same , but hath been readily dismissed from its mercury , this having been satiated by some more acceptable thing , it surpasseth the common sulphur for all that so much , that it is to be admired , that there is such difference betwixt them , as to efficacy and virtue , which only proceedeth from their different natures , and that according to the first seed of these minerals nature hath bestowed a greater excellency upon the one than upon the other ; the same is also to be seen by our philosophers mechanica , teaching , that we shall extract a sulphur from antimony , such as to its outward appearance doth not differ from common sulphur , only that it is a little greater , and then with mercury to make a cinnabrium of it , and sublime it seven times , afterwards take half an ounce of it , and let it hang into a barrel of wine for xxiv . hours , whereof for some dayes a spoonful taken every day , will be of so great effect , that it will be much wondred at , and that such a a philosophick cinnabrium may without ending and diminishing of its virtue be used for this purpose , being but sublimed again . now try the same with common sulphur , in case that you cannot apprehend or assent unto my former proofe , and you will find by experience , that you will effect nothing with it , but that the great prerogative , and notable pre-eminency must be granted unto the sulphur antimonii , by reason of its inbred , more excellent virtues , which it hath and possesseth according to its inbred nature , although in the outward shew they be very like to one another . and herein lyes a great mystery , and excellent knowledge of the metallick and mineral kingdom , which hitherto ( for ought i have read and heard ) hath been cleared and opened by none , and therefore shall not be passed over with silence ; for the nature of all metallick and mineral sulphurs is like unto the nature and condition of the stars , yea the mineral sulphurs are true and expresse images , formes and products of the stars ; for as the stars are fire and light , so likewise the sulphurs ; as those do warme and lighten so these ; and as those do quicken and can do no otherwise , but to raise life , for they are altogether light and life , yea a source of quickning virtue , so likewise the sulphur can do ▪ no other but do good and warm , lighten and make alive ▪ but to the end that the desirous seeker of truth may truly understand this mystery , and rightly apprehend my meaning , i do impart unto him according to my knowledge , which god in his mercy hath granted unto me , that all the sulphura of the whole metallick and mineral kingdom , not one excepted , are created of one substance , viz. of the grosser , thicker , earthy or lower fire , which is the mother and first rise of them all , and so are totally of one nature , of one descent , and of one substance , even as the stars are of one and the same substance , viz. created of the heavenly , that is of the subtler fire , and the nature , both of the stars , and also of all the sulphurs , consisteth chiefly in two vertues , in warming and lighting . now as the almighty hand of the great god in the beginning created all stars of one matter and substance , viz. of a subtle fiery light , and yet from the first beginning of their creation made the one more glorious , more powerful , and and more splendid than the other : so the case is the same with the metallick and mineral sulphurs , which god also created of one substance , viz. of a grosse and earthy thick fiery light ; but yet withal hath framed the one more glorious , and far more vertuous than the other , and so attributed unto each one its peculiar glory , which it cannot exceed , though it be perfected , as much as is possible , in so much that no sulphur can take more vertue , than hath been given unto it by the creator in its first original formation : and as you see that one star is much fairer and brighter than the other , so likewise one sulphur surpasseth the other , as i have clearly demonstrated , concerning the difference betwixt the sulphur antimonii and the common , that this latter cannot reach , nor be advanced unto the glory and splendour in healing which the former hath , though it be sublimed never so often . and the same is also the condition of the sulphur antimonii compared to the sulphur electri mineralis immaeturi , that although it is much more glorious as to its concreated splendour than the common sulphur , yet can it not attain to that height and excellency which the sulphur electri immaturi hath , viz. that by bare suspension from the neck it can suddenly loosen the witchcraft ; no , such a glorious splendour it is not endowed withal ; so that it is sufficiently evident , that although these three be all combustible and volatil , yet they are very unlike one another , only because of their first generation , wherein each got its peculiar splendour , power , light and vertue . now as you see further that among the stars the most glorious is the sun , which far surpasseth all the other with its splendour , light and vertue ; yea as the highly illuminated teutonicus philosophus jacob bohme in his book de tribus principiis , as also de signatura rerum , also de triplici vitâ , and others more , according to his wisdome and profound knowledge granted unto him by the spirit of god , teacheth , the sun is the root , source , and heart of the stars , whence they all did flow , and so of right may be called , and is in truth the father of the stars , in regard of their source , and a king of them , because of its great pre-eminence in splendour : even so in like manner the metals and minerals have also their king and father , which surpasseth them all , and therefore is called metallus primus sive masculus ( which signifyeth as much as pater metallorum ) by our highly guifted and profoundly learned philosopher helmont , as also by paracelsus , which have by gods blessing acknowledged the same ; yea seen perfectly with the eyes of their understanding , that this electum minerale hath the same relation to all the rest , which the sun hath to all other stars , and so of right may be called the king of the mineral kingdome , in regard that this proceedeth from it , just as a tree springeth from its root , and because that its splendour and light is so excellent in its wholesome vertue and operation , that none of all the metals and minerals can do the like , thefore its heavenly tincture is set down in the first place among all the great arcani paracelsi , as on philosopher doth relate in his book and i have mentioned already in the former chapter , as i have also shewn a little before , how much it exceeds the sulphur of antimony in splendour ▪ which sulphur yet is of so great efficacy , that it is to be admired , as our philosophers quoted words have mentioned , and therefore also this mineral king is called by our philosopher , and paracelsus , the quinta essentia of all members , because that nothing doth so compleatly strengthen all the members as this royal tincture ▪ hence also it is called by them simpliciter & secundum excellentiam arcanum tincturae , because that the tincture of life is especially and above all put into this royal subject by nature , in which sence our philosopher inter imperfectiora calleth it , the highest and most excellent of all the wonders of nature , yea the greatest and most effectual means for long life , whereupon we most relie ; ad vitam longam , saith he , solus apex & culmen spei ; and mirabilium naturae culmen , which commendation doth not properly belong unto it , till it be brought into its arcanum , that is , till it be ripened , compleatly digested , and perfected , and then it is the sulphur philosophorum above all other ; and although the sulphurs of all the others be brought to the same maturity and fixation as the sulphur of the electrum immaturum , yet those cannot shew forth such an excellent splendour and lustre as this , because that each one presently from its first generation carrieth its determinate height and glory along , which it is impossible to exceed , it being contrary to the will of the creator , by whose will all are made , and who would have it so , that such a sulphur should light in this , and such an other in an other glory , to the end that in this manner the manifold vertues and lights ( which otherwise would remain hidden ) of the heavenly substance , whereof these are the expresse stamp or print , and from which these are flown , might be made manifest , and so man might wonder at the great variety of those mighty and innumerable powers of nature , and so be drawn on to praise the great god as creator of all these lights . so that you hence clearly see the great difference among the perfected arcana , and that the name of sulphur philosophorum belongeth more to the one than to the other ; also , that each one hath and may attain unto its of nature determinated perfection , and not higher ; and therefore also the common sulphur ( for whose sake we were necessitated to make this ddinction ) can but attain unto such a perfection , as is attributed unto it by nature , viz. which is not so excellent as that of the rest , but in the lowest degree of all , and yet for all that yielding a true panacaea , as we have heard by paracelsus his testimony , and shall now understand further by the mechanick demonstration ; for the obtaining whereof you must know , that the common sulphur is a simple or single substance , not united with a mercurial body as other minerals are , but consisting of altogether similar parts , and being similar all over ; consequently needeth no purification , nor separation , but only this , that being altogether volatil , unripe , combustible , and partly venemous , it be maturated , digested , and made perfect , and in case that it had been mixed with heterogeneous things , that it be sublimed once or twice first , and afterwards digested till to its maturity . and the common sulphur and its maturation is not unlike unto a piece of flesh or meat , wherein is great vertue to satiate and comfort man , but being yet raw , it must be first prepared by pertinent cooking , that it may impart its vertue unto man : even so sulphur though it be of a great balsamick virtue ; yet it containeth also much of that , which is contrary and hurtful unto our nature , wherewith so long as the sulphur remains so , it doth kill more than it can quicken , as i have had the experience of its virulency in my own self , about ten years ago , having then been thrown down by its stinking poyson , that i was like dead , and deprived of my interiour and exteriour sences for a whole hour , whereof i was freed and restored again by an antidote prepared of the self same . and therefore its virulency ought to be removed or rather maturated and perfected by digestion ; for such venom and death must not be taken away or separated from the sulphur , but perfected and introverted or shut up in death ; on the other side the internal hidden light and splendour is to be turned outwards , as our philosopher saith : sub veneni seu virulentiae custodiâ abditur ignis vitalis , archeum in scopos desideratos placidissime deducens . now this maturation and perfecting by digestion , is to be done in the same way , as a piece of flesh is cooked that is enough , viz. only by the heat and power of the fire , and it is not necessary , but rather very hurtful , to use heterogeneous corrosive waters for this purpose , as the chymick writers in their tyrocinia , comments , processes , and many other sort of books do perversely teach , for such corrosive things do pervert and spoyle the sulphur so , that it gets another nature ; for if without addition of such corrosives it be cooked only by the fire , it then retains its natural , balsamick , softning and mollifying moysture , wherewith it ought to enlighten outwardly , but the same is taken away from it by addition of acid and corrosive waters , for they penetrate thereinto , and make it harsh , and quite other than it was created by bounteous nature : and although they do think , that by this way they may the sooner finish their work , which also they do , yet they do not consider the great hurt they do , that by such heterogeneous and contrary things they do quite alter , pervert and spoyle its nature ; therefore follow nature , whose operations are all simple and plain , preserving every thing in its innate condition , which you may evidently see in all metals , yea in the gold it self , which in its first original generation as to its anima , was a true combustible sulphur , how nature preserved this sulphur so carefully in its fusibleness , that although it hath been brought to the highest fixation , yet still hath kept its original fusibleness . but by what means hath nature performed the same ? barely and only by the fire contained in its inmost bosome , and made not use of corrosive sharp waters , as the whole crew the common writers teach now a dayes , but cooked the same in a simple plain way , by heat so long , till it came to be perfect and fixed , as also all paracelsus processes tending to this arcanum sulphuris are wholy consonant to this foresaid way of nature . so we must do in like manner , follow nature , and consider well how it worketh , and not invent such strange wayes , whereby we work differently from , and contrary unto nature , and so produce clean other fruit , than nature doth . intending therefore to perfect the common sulphur which is fufile and simple of its nature , so as it may be consonant unto the proceeding of nature ; put it in a phiol , having first been sublimed once or twice before , and digest it only of it self by such a fire as its nature requireth , untill it do ascend no more , nor is combustible , but wholly fixed and perfected ; which though ▪ it require a long time , and constant , and good looking to , that it hath no more heat than is necessary : but on the other side it is a plain and simple way , which needeth no other preparation costly menstrua , and the like , but may be done barely and only by fire , and such is the proceeding of nature with metals under ground , and no other . but in regard that this work is of a long lasting , and requireth much time , to the end therefore , that in the mean time you may not be weary nor dubious , whither the sulphur will come at length to perfection , i will lay you down a plain and convincing demonstration , that you may be assured of the perfection to come , and so hold on in your work and finish it . take therefore some of your sulphur , so digested for some weeks , dissolve it in oyl , dissolve also some of such sulphur ( as it was in the beginning before digestion ) in oyl , and you will find that the latter solution stinketh horribly , but the other smelleth very aromatically , in testimony , that part of the venome ( from whence as from a root the horrible stench doth flow ) is ripened and changed ; which you will also know by the great vertue , which this already for some weeks ripened sulphur will shew forth beyond all other common flores sulphuris ; and therefore chearfully go on , untill it be quite fixed , and be not wearied by the length of time , but remember the end , that it will prove joyful for you , and bring unto you such a noble treasure of health , and yet doth cost you no more , but only a few coales , and careful looking to the fire . now although this manner of proceeding be quite consonant unto that which nature it self useth , in regard that the same also simply and plainly by its fire doth perfectly digest the minerals and metals , translating them from volatility into the greatest fixity , and that in this manner you have rightly worked according to nature : yet this doth not hinder , that there may be not a better and shorter way to attain thereunto , in regard that by this , art is distinguished from nature , yea this is , and is properly called art , which beginneth where nature ceaseth , and knowes how to amend and meliorate that which nature worketh , which floweth from the understanding and wisdom of men , which hath been communicated by the unsearchable wisdom of god unto the children of men , all which , as well those which are of the least account with us , as also your high and great works of art , are nothing else but printed images , of the infinite , innumerable , unsearchable powers and wisdom of god , which the man which considereth those wonders cannot sufficiently admire , and praise his god and creator , as holy david also saith very excellently ps . 111. the works of the lord are great , he that regardeth them , hath his ▪ pleasure altogether in them : but he that doth not regard them , that is , doth not look upon them as a man of sound reason , pondering whence those wonderfull arts , and manifold wisdom of god proceedeth or floweth , is like a beast , which only enjoyes those glorious things , and maketh use of them , but is not thereby as by a guide lead or carried up to the creator , who is the source of all those manifold guifts . now if we sharpen our understanding and consider , whither this former way , which is so consonant unto nature , cannot be amended or abbreviated ; presently there offereth it self the daily practise of the cooks , which though according to the simple and plain way of nature they can ripen and roast their flesh only by the bare fire , insomuch that a man may enjoy it , and refresh himself therewith , without any more ado ; yet according to arts invention , which playes and stirs in them like a source , they use means for to advance this maturation , or cooking of the flesh , that it may be the sooner ready ; viz. laying the flesh in vinegar for some weeks , the vinegar doth so prepare it , that they need not halfe the time for the making of it ready , which they should have needed , if it had not lain in the vinegar ; let us therefore see , whither there be not also a liquor in the chymical kitchen and shop , whereby the sulphur may be first marinated or pickled , and so fitted for the following perfect fixation , such a liquor can be none of the sowre corrosive spirits , in regard that these have no affinity with sulphur , and so not only are not able to mollify the same , but also as being its enemies , do alter the same in its imbred mollfying vertue , and do pervert and spoile it , and so deprive it of its natural connate treasure . now in the preparation of the sulphur this must be aimed at , that it be preserved and amended in its former natural endowment , but not corrupted and perverted into a strange harsh substance , which is totally unlike to its originall . and therefore we must leave all acida and corrosiva , if we mean to hit the the mark we aimed at , and thus to prepare the sulphur , that it may remain in its first nature and quality ; but such a moysture as is for our turne we may get best from such things , which as to their ground stand upon the same root with the sulphur , and so are of the same , that is of a fiery nature ; and such are the fixed alcalies , which by vertue of their fiery burning and ripening nature can so prepare the sulphur that the following work afterwards falleth out much easier and shorter : and this may be done two several wayes : first by boyling the sulphur with a very fiery alcali in water for a long time , and you must herein look to the ground , and well consider , what serves your turne , the fieryer your alcali is , the more speedily your preparation will be ended , and therefore be diligent to make very fiery alcalies and to exalt them in their fierinesse to the highest , to which end mars will readily yield you its fiery salt ; in such and the like fiery alcali boyle your sulphur , the longer the better , as you will see by experience , that the longer you macerate it thus , the more power it will shew in physick already , before its perfect and final fixation . having prepared it sufficiently thus , precipitate the same then with an acidum , and you will have such an excellent prepared sulphur , as you could not have imagined before ; witnesse the lac sulphuris of the common chymical authours , which is but once dissolved with the alcali , and presently precipitated , and yet by this small boyling gets such an exalted power from the fierynesse of the alcali , that it is of farr greater vertue than before it was boyled therewith , and the sluggishness and simplenesse of the common chymists is much to be wondred at , that none hitherto was found amongst them , which hath considered of this foundation , nor begun to argue , if the sulphur in so short a time , by a small boyling , hath got such a great amendment , insomuch that it becometh farr nobler and farr more powerful than it was before , it must then follow , that if we should boyle it thus for a long time , as also , if we should exalt our alcali in its fierinesse that we should also exalt our sulphur much higher in its vertue ; but there hath been none hitherto which thought of it , but they rested themselves content with their lac sulphuris , and so the one said it , and writ it after the other , and so they sung still the same song : and this is truly the moderne , much lamentable case of the noble chymiatria , that the most part of the chymists ( as not only their books , but also their daily practise witnesseth ) , most of them advancing no higher , nor knowing any more , but what they find written in books , which also many times falleth difficult enough for them to imitate ) are so deeply darkned in their understanding , that they do not consider of those thing , which they work upon , of what nature they be , whence they have their rise , how and in what manner , and by what power those things which they deal in , do exert their vertue and power , and how the one doth act into the other , and can either mend or marr it , such thoughts never enter into their brains , but only , make this so , and the other thus , mix this with such a thing , and that with the other , and so forth without end , and when one doth not succeed , then another processe is taken in hand , and so they are right process-mongers , and children in understanding , which know not themselves what they work , but see with other eyes , viz. those of the processe ; if that be silent , then they know no more , neither know to add , nor detract , neither to amend nor to alter , and yet such fellows will be counted no lesse then great philosophi & lumina mundi chymici ; all which procedeth from this cause , that the mind in which ( as in his image ) god should play with his out-flowing wisdom and poure into it the treasures of his eternity , is grossely darkned and obumbrated with earthy muck and nastinesse , wi●h hoggish desires of earthly and corrupttible things , with diabolical pride , covetousnesse , ambition pleasure of the flesh , and with an ●msatiable desire of the earthly corruptible good , which is but only a shadow which vanisheth under ones hands ; with such fair images their minde is quite filled up and totally obumbrated ; such desires they serve unto with an unsatiable hunger , as their lives do testify . now how should the wisdom of god poure out it self into such a nasty hogst●y , replenisht with earthly husks , and adorne the same with his guifts , and impresse his images there , in regard that their heart is already before within and without wholly laid and painted over with such horrible and abominable figures of proud peacocks , covetous hogs , earthly dogs , carnal bulls , &c. god , to whom we make our moan , will know how to judge those fatted swine , and to put in the room of them faithful workmen which desire to seek and to love nothing else but god , the only and highest good , and in his love , which he poureth forth into their hearts , do also heartily love their neighbour as their fellow-brother , liberally and joyfully sharing their received gift with him , but of this enough at this time . now to returne unto our preparation of the sulphur , viz. to the second way , which is not distinguisht from the first , as to the ground and substance , but only differeth as to the manner of proceeding ; for here the fiery alcali is not by water united with the sulphur , but only of it self through-dry , and so put together well closed in a gentle heat , and kept there so , that the sulphur do not rise : but in case it should happen , it being not well possible to observe it so accurately , but that some do rise , you must mix that which is risen again with the alcali ; for all that which is without or above the alcali cannot receive its preparation ; and there remaineth nothing more to be given notice here , but as to all the rest , it is like unto the first way ; for the longer you cement your sulphur thus , the excellenter , and the readier or fitter it is for the ensuing fixation : which for to sever afterwards you must dissolve the same together with the alcali in water , and precipitate it again ; now you may choose either of these wayes , which you like best ; and know for your information that though this latter be better than the former , yet it is more laborious , and the other far easier , and therefore make choice of that which is most for your conveniency . as concerning this so prepared sulphur , experience will make it known to you , what excellent vertues it hath , notwithstanding that it hath not received yet its ultimate fixity and perfection . if you please you may proceed so with all minerals , that have a combustible , volatile , easily separable sulphur , using water to it after the first way . as for example , antimony thus dealt with and corrected , yeildeth a very precious sulphur in physick and chirurgy ; but this you must be advertised of , that having boyled your antimony sufficiently with the alcali according to your desire , then let it cool , and poure a great quantity of cold water to it , the more the better , and the grosse mercurial substance , which by the fierynesse of the alcali was dissolved with the rest , will for the most part sever it self from the laxivium , and so let it rest for a day or two ; then filter it , and the antimony remaining in the filter will be very spongious and pufft up , ten times bigger then it was before ; as to its corporeousnesse or bulk ; rince the same often by pouring on of water upon it , that no saltinesse remain with it , and so keep it for use in chirurgy , it being far better than all other flores antimonii , in regard that it hath received a main correction from the alcali , and its strong power of fierinesse . but that which is run through the filter , precipitate with an acidum , but observe this difference , that you keep that which falleth first and is red by it self ; and when it beginneth to sink down of an orenge or lemon colour , keep this also by it self , precipitating the same in another vessel by it self , the which falling last of all keep for inward medicine : but the first red for chirurgie , which is farr more virtuous , than the first undissolved red antimony , which containeth but very little of sulphur , but this very much . but that we may not digress too far from our mark , we must turn again to our sulphur , which in its natural water or fiery moysture we have prepared and fitted for the ensuing perfect fixation : proceed with the same afterwards , as you did with the first crude sulphur , and digest it till to its final fixation , whereunto you will attain farr sooner than before , and use it afterwards for your prof●t and delectation in the wonders of bounteous nature . now although this also be a way of maturation according to nature , and far shorter and more convenient than the first , yet the truth desirous heart doth not rest in this , but searcheth and inquireth further , whither it be not possible for art to perform this perfection , and perfect maturation after a better way yet ? and whither it cannot be advanced yet to a higher perfection ? which enquiry is occasioned by the now-mentioned correction or melioration , done by the alcalia , which although they be but gross bodies , yet by reason of their fieriness shew forth such a strong force upon the sulphurs , how much more then might they effect , if they were first made spiritual , and afterwards joyned unto the sulphur ; and this conclusion is very right and grounded in the powers of nature , and this correction doth perfectly resemble unto the seasoning of meat , for although one may very well eat meat , dressed of it self alone without all spice , and thereby redintegrate his diminished vigour of life ; yet if it be seasoned with warming spices ( all which are of a warming and strengthning nature ) and so prepared , and reduced to a better perfection , then they strengthen man much more , and impart more comfort unto him : even so the case standeth in truth with the fixed sulphur , which of it self alone maturated and digested into perfection is sufficient to strengthen diseased nature : but if a warming philosophick aroma be joyned thereunto , and it be digested therewith so , that this aroma remaineth unseparated with the sulphur , as ordinary spice remaineth with the meat , and is enjoyed together with it , it must needs follow , that such a seasoned fixed sulphur is much more effectual in its operation , than if of it self alone it be maturated into perfection , the truth whereof experience will make good unto the desirous seeker of truth . now to effect this , take your sulphur prepared by the fiery alcalies , and dissolve the same in a spiritual and volatilised alcali , afterwards by a very gentle fire abstract your fiery water so long , till you see that by such a gentle degree of fire no clear or white liquor more will come over , and there will remain a thick , very red , spiritual , penetrative juyce or liquor , retaining so much of this hot aroma , as is needfull for the seasoning of this solar fruit ; now this same digest and maturate with judgement and discretion , that your aroma be not forced from it , but remain unseparably therewith , and together with the sulphur turn at length into a fixed and perfect elixir ; you must take heed , that you forget not exactly to govern the degrees of the fire , that you may not overhasten not spoyle the work , until both have attained unto compleat fixation , whereof you will have more cause to rejoyce , than of the former simple maturation . and although i could instruct you of more far higher perfections , and more effectually pertaining to sulphur , yet i shall now subsist in what hath been related , till some time to come ( if the highest god permit ) ! now this fixed sulphur , as by nature it was a burning fire and shining light ; so now it is an incumbustible , not externally but internally warming and cherishing fire ; and as before it burnt up all combustible things , so now by its might it burneth up invisible diseases , consuming them like as fire doth straw : and as the sulphura before their maturation did lighten only externally , so now they lighten to the spirits of darkness , viz. the diseases , all which are nothing else but spirits or properties of the dark chamber of death ▪ and fore-runners of the dark death ( as the same could be demonstrated through the whole body of physick and pathology ) so expelling them , that is , transmuting them into good spirits , as they were before when the man had his health ; so these perfected mineral sulphurs are like unto the sun , which lighteth , warmeth , and raiseth that which is dead into life ; which the fixed sulphurs , according to all their ( by the excellency of art ) raised and obtained properties do effectually perform . but this is not to be understood , as if nothing else at all may be administred unto the sick , save only this perfected universal medicine , no , this is not the meaning ; in regard that this and any other like panacaea relate only to the source of the disease , which alwayes riseth from some quality or property of darknesse , this is the thing which such a power of light , viz. the above-mentioned tinctures of gold , copper , antimony and the like doth transmute , reducing , the infected archeus into that state again , which it was in before , when the man had his health ; but if in the mean time such a sickly spirit or dark property hath effected or produced something that is material , it is not denyed , but that then there may be used also other as well internal as external proper means to expel , consume and remove that productum ; much less are excluded those needful manuals , in ulcers , luxations , fractures , wounds , and the like , as every one that will but make use of his understanding may easily perceive ; as also , that though there be universal medicines at hand , there must for all that good heed be taken , and judgement and discretion be used ; which admonition i deemed very necessary , because that the enemies of truth jeer at the like arcana , and use to deride them , pretending , that thus the vegetabilia , anima , lia , &c. had been created in vain , for that the word panacaea doth exclude all other means : but in this sence it was never spoken or understood by the philosophers , but their meaning is only this , that by such panacaea's only the root of the disease is eradicated , and as it were cut off with a knife , and that the same is also to be helped forward by other convenient medecines , removing those symptomes and products , which by that source were brought forth . also it is to be known , that the duelech or stone in man is excluded from the like panacaea's , especially that , which hath its rise and seat in the bladder , as our philosopher doth faithfully admonish , and among other places in ignoto hydrope § . 49. expresly mentioneth , that the rise of the stone in the bladder is quite otherwise , than of other diseases , which are all such spirits , or qualities as are spoyled , infected and darkened , and they perform also their operation in the body of man like raging , stinging , painful powers of darknesse ; but concerning the stone , as its first rise is material , so its operation or forth flowing incommodation is material , viz. that such a material , rough , sharp substance lyes in such a tender very sensible place , which cannot suffer nor bear any heterogeneous harsh things ; and so hurteth man more by its quantity than quality , in regard that its cure effected by cutting doth clearly testify , that as soon as the body or material substance of the stone is taken away from the bladder , that presently then all pain , disease , and discomodation , occasioned by the stone , is taken away , so that no man should be necessitated to dye of the stone , if the cut could be done in such sort , that the other parts of the body of man might not be spoyled and inflamed by the unnatural force of the cut , which is nothing else but a violent rent of that , which nature would have and keep whole and intire . so the stone is a cause of the disease , yea of death it self , not as a working spirit , but as an obstructing material substance , and therefore also the arcana can do no help in this case ; for though they can pacify and quiet the enraged archeus , yet this pacification is of no long lasting , by reason that the cause of disquiet or pain is still present , raising still again new anguish and pain : consequently such a medicine for to cure the stone must be had , which is able to liquefie , dissolve , mollyfie and reduce into dust that grosse , hard body of the stone , that the same afterwards may be carried forth by urine ; but because the arcana have not that power , yea cannot come with their substance to the place where the stone lyes , but their power and vertue consisteth only in the property of light , therefore the stone of the bladder is excluded , and their great power of light cannot reduce unto dust its hard gross material body , that it might be carryed forth ; for which end other means are requisite , whereof our philosopher hath written a peculiar book , which may be perused abut this matter . this is the whole ground of the sulphur philosophorum , according to the doctrin of our faithful philosopher , which he left us in his writings but very darkly and hiddenly , which i have opened and denudated unto the desirous lover of truth , yea so clearly presented unto his eyes , as one seeth his one face in a looking-glasse ; for as the face appearing in the looking glasse , resembleth unto the true substance of the face standing before the glass throughly : so you have here a compleat draught representing the true substance of the tincture of health , what shape it hath , and how it explicateth it self from the beginning to the end : but as the shadow is not the substance it self , also the face appearing in the looking glasse is far distant from the excellency of the substantial face ; even so the case standeth with this mystery of the sulphur pholosoporum manested clearly by me , which although it be opened by me in all its parts in such sort , as that nothing is wanting which is requisite to expresse the substance , but all is represented in its lively colours in all points ; yet notwithstanding the substance of this pictured and represented mystery will not be obtained , nor effected with such ease , as it is understood and apprehended ; and peradventure many a one , especially such as hereby aimes at , and seeketh but himself , and the pleasure of his flesh , will be constrained to content himself only with the here pictured shadow , and never to enjoy the substance ; and this only therefore , because he fancieth to himself , that because that all is opened fundamentally and clearly , he may therewith with unwashen hands , as his own will and pleasure , rush in upon these arcana , and elaborate the same according to his own rational conceptions , conclusions , consequences and inductions , as it is usual with the modern chymists , to work at randum , conceiving that by their imaginary cunningnesse they may catch the arcana , and as lords proprietors possesse them ; hence those men do continually eagerly lay wait for prescribed processes , like as the wolf waits for the sheep , of which opinion there will not be a few , that the ground of this great mystery being so openly cleared by me , they will lift up themselves in their mind and think ; this shall not fail me , this must not escape from my hands , but that i will finish it , and bring the same to a happy issue , to the end that afterwards they may the better vaunt it , and exalt themselves in their haughtinesse , with the mysteries of god and nature , and like a proud peacock burst forth and triumph over the poor and distressed , like lustful stallions : but all this will fail , and let none fancy , that he may obtain this mystery in such a way , for god holdeth his hand upon it , who will blesse with an happy issue the labours of those only , which he knoweth that they seek only the glory of his name , and the hearty love of their neighbour , and nothing else ; who in reality and truth shew forth by their life and conversation that with king david in the 119. psal . v. 127. they love the commandements of god above fine gold ▪ and with king salomon , prov. 8. v. 10. receive instruction and not silver , and knowledg rather than choice gold : for that wisdom to them is better than rubies , and all the things that may be desired , are not to be compared to it . such may be confident of a good end , and none else , as our philosopher de febribus witnesseth , cap. 4. § . 9. paucis absolvi secretum quod medicum nobilitat , at istud parasse pro primâ vice , est ingentis operae , pendetque ejus directio à manu ejus , cui debetur omnis honos , quia parvulis revelat ejusmodi arcana , quae mundus nescit , id idcircò vilipendit , and each hungry processe-monger will find it by experience to be true , what our philosopher here saith , that it is a work of great moment , and truly no childrens sport , nor common slabbering work , as now a dayes they work ; such a one will find it presently in the beginning , when he goes about to prepare the double spirits , there he will see , that all he hath learned and practised for so many years will be of little use or help in that work . but now to the end that the true desirous seekers of truth may be entred into the track , how to begin , and happily end this work , i will set down unto them my way which i went my self , and whereby i obtained it , which is but of a small compass , viz. that all that is to be worked upon in chymia , be first throughly considered , and sifted out according to its whole nature , before it be brought to the fire , viz. from what power or property the subjectum ( taken in hand to work upon ) is flown or proceeded forth , in what quality it doth stand , what its operation is towards other subjects , and wherein it s in most power and efficacy or the inner kernel doth properly consist ; else if you wave this and work but on according to the letter , you will not only get nothing , but are neither chosen of god , nor born of nature for it ; for god giveth unto all those which he hath chosen for his labourers in the vineyard of nature such a mind , that they deeply consider those things which they have in hand , and draw the understanding of things out of the inmost ground of those things which they go about , as you have an excellent pattern of such a seeker in our philosopher ; how deeply doth he search out those things whereof he treateth , how accurately he setteth down the qualities of those subjects whereof he left the truth after him ? such a mind and such a humour befitteth every seeker of truth : you must seek the truth in the inmost center of every subject , wherein you intend to work , but not in any book , or from man : for instruction you may receive by books or good friends , but the substance and power you must gather from the things themselves , which you have in hand ; and this way i went , as i mentioned in the very begining of this treatise , that when i found not the truth with men , that i applied my self to fundamental and deep considerations of those things which i would take in hand , and so at length discovered the truth . but such a deep and fundamental consideration , or rather inspection of natural , things doth not consist ( as most readers may think ) in penetrating with your understanding into the substance or internal center of a subject , and forcing as it were of the knowledge of its internal powers outwards into your understanding ; no , this is not the right way , but is the custom of perverted foolish reason ; but thus it is , that when your mind is first inflamed with a desire of knowing the inmost power and vertue of this or that subject , only for the glory and praise of the creator , and unfeigned love of the neighbour , and yet finding no power in your self , whereby of your own strength to search it out , and to know it , you must then with your mind and desire enter into the internal ground , out of which as well your mind , as also the subject , which you desire to know , did flow forth , viz. to the creator which is highly blessed above all , and in your desire carry your subject which you desire to know before him , and humbly pray him , that thy self being blind and ignorant of it , but your subject , as his creature , with all its power , quality and vertue being flown out of him , that he would vouchsafe to explicate the vertue of your subject in your mind , and so to float it as it were into your hungry desires ; whereupon it will happen , that such a quality as ruleth in your subject will perfectly rise in your mind , and you will see , feel , and substantially perceive in your mind the reflexion of that vertue which beareth rule in your desired subject , and so you will get a very true and most certain knowledg , not consisting in opinion , but in the true substance : now to this way of consideration and enquirie into nature , and is natural bodies i have been lead ( as i told you in the beginning of this treatise ) by our philosopher in his book called venatio scientiarum , which imitate you as i have done , and you will not fail to come to the truth , for faithfull is he and there is no falsenesse in him , which created all things by his word , and in whom all things are grounded , like a tree with its root in the earth , which also most lovingly calleth us to himself , saying , ask but and you shall receive , for what father is there among you , that will give a serpent unto his child , asking him for bread , how much more then shall i your heavenly father give you all good things , if you do pray me for it . and that you may the better attain thereunto , and rightly , properly and experimentally know how to walk in this way , and what you may expect , i will set down out of our philosopher some rules full of doctrine , which most of all set me in the right way , pointing out unto me , as it were with fingers the right path : read therefore very considerately , what our philosopher saith in the now-mentioned book , § . 32. 33. scivi exinde , rationem non habitare penes intellectum verum , sed extra eundem ; eò quod in intellectu immediatè sit veritas : quia veritas intellecta nihil est aliud quàm adaequatio intellectûs ad res ipsas . cognoscit nempe intellectus res prout sunt , ideoque vicissim verificatur intellectus de rebus ipsis per res ipsas ; quandoquidem esse rerum de se est semper verum ; & essentia illarum est ipsamet veritas , adeoque intellectus qui super eas fertur , semper directè est verus . sed cum imaginatio , ejusvè ratio , sit modus quidam intelligendi obliquus , procedens per rationes & discursus , non autem per adaequationis transformationem , idcircò modus iste rationalis , est intellectus abusivus & fallax ; bonum autem , rectum , unum & verum semper uno & eodem modo se habent in intellectu , quia in intellectu stant in puncto adaequationis , sed malum , curvum , obliquum , falsum atque multiplex fiunt pluribus modis , per rationem in parte imaginativâ . certò itaque cognovi , rationem in non tàm sublimi pretio habendam ac fuit hactenus , magisque , quòd in brutis , ratio & discursus , non obscurè vigerent , nam quòd annosa vulpes , callidior sit juniore , per discursum rationalem experientae reminiscentiâ confirmatum , accidit . imo apes , numerant . and § . 45. agnovi valedicendum rationi & imaginationi , tanquam , facultatibus brutalibus , si ad solidam veritatis cognitionem spe trahamur in profundum , cognovi pariter quòd requireretur facilis traductio intellectus atque transmutatio placida sui ipsius , in formam rei intelligibilis ; quô puncto scilicet intellectus pro momento , fiat velut ipsum intelligibile . cum autem intellectus perficiatur intelligendo , nihilque perficiatur , nisi ab eo quod symbolum secum habet in sui naturâ , idcircò collegi , intellectum & intellecta ut talia , debere esse aut fieri ejusdem naturae , debere autem hoc fieri extra laborem , inquietudinem ; sed cum otio in lumine sibi proprio cum abstractione , orbatione & carentia alterius , cujuscunque auxilii creati . and § . 50. istud lumen sive sit prorsus supernaturale , sive quod intellectus sui naturâ sic accendatur , malim experiri , quàm determinare ; istud unicum saltem scio , quòd non contingat absque gratiâ . quamobrem , sive intellectus transformetur , sive se ipsum transformet in simulacrum rei intellectae , sane divino auxilio opus habet , & quidem singulari , quia saltem tunc anima intuetur suum intellectum sub forma arrepta in dicto lumine : atque in isto sui speculo , speculatur se ipsam intellectualiter , absque reflexione alteritatis , sicque concipit rem scibilem , unà cum omni suo esse & proprietatibus , eò quod hoc cognitionis lumen non sit emanativum extra intellectum , sed manet intus reflexum , super intellectum in omni veritate & certitudine perfecta , perfectivum . and § . 55. 56. 57. ispa rei intelligibilitas , est nisi adventus & approximatio unitatis , intellectus & intellecti , &c. quod ut clarius exemplo fiat ; intelligens intellectus non est diversus ab intellecto , aliter , quàm sicut radius lucis directus , à se ipso reflexo ; itaque rei intellectae essentia in lumine intellectus , fit splendor spiritualis & essentialis , imò fit per commigrationem ad unitatem , quodammodò ipsum lumen intellectuale , id quod animabus brutorum advenire nequit . ideò etiam anima nostra , se ipsam intelligens , quod ammodò intelligit omnia alia , utpote universa alia sunt intellectuali modo in animâ , ut in dei imagine , &c. idcircò , quantum anima intellectualiter intilligit sui , in tantum proficit in cognitione utilissima , quae de creatis in hâc vitâ haberi possit ; quia in lumine sui luminis quodammodò intuetur omnium proprietates , essentias , effectus , alteritates , distinctiones atque defectus . quo igitur semel appulit ista cognitio , ibidem flaccescit omnis rationis nubilior speculatio & subsidium , prout vice versâ , supprimitur verus intellectus sub rationis placitis . and § . 60. ostendi sat alias , in totâ naturâ aristotelis doctrinam inanem , merasque nugas , quantò ergò minus ille subsisteret in areâ intellectus ? cujus esse & operari pendent ex solâ animâ . cogimur namque christiani credere , quod intellectus noster sit spiritus immortalis , lumen & imago omnipotentis , cujus exordium ut superat naturam , itae ejus regulis aptari nequit , cum habeat esse simplicissimum , tum etiam quod dep●ndeat immediatè , totaliter & continuo à suo originali typo , adeoque ut sine gratiâ particulari nequeat quicquam intelligere , eo quod intellectus objectum sit ipsa veritas , quare nec intelligit intellectione perfecta , nisi recipiendo , quod autem tantum recipit id patitur , non autem in eo agit , nec enim intellectui proprium illud est , quod per gratiam illi advenit , quippe intellectus tantum illuminative intelligendo patitur , est namque molestius , servilius & obscurius , intelligendo operari quam pati , eo quod patiendo recipiat lumen nobilius grates collatum . denique cum intelligendo transmigret semper in formam rei intellectae ergò participans de lumine interminato perficitur absque taedio , molestia & labore intelligendi , lvcetqve intellectvm lvmen , intelligendo , intellectvs lvmine , sic vt res ipsaenos alloqvi videantvr sine verbis , easqve penetrat intellectvs clavsas , non secvs ac si dissectae essent et apertae . ergo semper perficitur intellectus patiendo , recipiendoque . and § . 63. ego credo imprimis , nil ad veritatis cognitionem pertingere , nisi fidem & intellectum . 2. omnem veritatem emanare ex veritate unica , ideoque primitivâ . 3. omnen intellectum ex unico infinitoque intellectu derivare . 4. prout omne lumen ex unico lumine . 5. veritatis ideo essentiam nil discrepare ab essentia intellectus . 6. quod intellectus noster sit inanis , vacuus , pauper & obscurus . 7. quod omnis ejus claritas , nobilitas , plenitudo , lumen veritasque illi adveniant recipiendo & patiendo . 8. quod eo plus nobilititur quò plus patitur a lumine , quod est supra omnem naturam . now if the desirous seeker of truth shall follow this information , and practise it , he will find experimentally that there is no other way to know the truth of natural vertues , but by introverting the sences inwards into the center of the soul , where god dwelleth , who being in a child-like way prayed unto for wisdom and understanding , cannot possibly forbear , to communicate himself as the highest good , richly , with all his guifts unto his poor creature , which i heartily wish both unto my self and the christian reader , to whom i commend also that golden book of the soul of man , chapter 12. of the teutonick philosopher jacob bohmen , where he will find further and clearer instruction concerning this ; as also in his letters which are printed ; concluding with the last words of our philosopher in his book de lithiasi , medecina est donvm dei , hic avtem dona sva svbtrahit lvcro intentis , nec semel cogitantibvs de mandato , estote misericordes , sicvt pater vester qvi est in coelis , misericors est , a qvo omne donvm bonvm et lvminosvm descendit . take this to heart you physitians , and you will have a mercifull god here , and at your death carry with you the treasure of a good concience , and eternally rejoyce in those wonders of nature , wrought by you here . psal . 97. 11. light is sowne for the righteous , and gladness for the upright in heart . finis . the only way to attain unto true wisdom is shewed unto us by our faithfull teacher jesus christ in these following words . ask and it shall be given you : seek and you shall find : knock and it shall be opened unto you . for every one that asketh receiveth : and he that seeketh findeth : and to him that knocketh , it shall be opened . or what man is there of you , whom if his son ask bread , will he give him a stone ? or if he ask a fish , will he give him a serpent ? if then ye being evill know to give good how gifts unto your children , how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things unto them that ask him ? therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you , do ye even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets . matt. 7. v. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. the copy of a letter written by e.d. doctour of physicke to a gentleman, by whom it was published the former part conteineth rules for the preseruation of health, and preuenting of all diseases vntill extreme olde age. herein is inserted the authours opinion of tabacco. the latter is a discourse of emperiks or vnlearned physitians, wherein is plainly prooued that the practise of all those which haue not beene brought vp in the grammar and vniuersity, is alwayes confused, commonly dangerous, and often deadly. duncon, eleazar, 1597 or 8-1660. 1606 approx. 179 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 28 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a19740 stc 6164 estc s109182 99844831 99844831 9677 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a19740) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 9677) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1199:12) the copy of a letter written by e.d. doctour of physicke to a gentleman, by whom it was published the former part conteineth rules for the preseruation of health, and preuenting of all diseases vntill extreme olde age. herein is inserted the authours opinion of tabacco. the latter is a discourse of emperiks or vnlearned physitians, wherein is plainly prooued that the practise of all those which haue not beene brought vp in the grammar and vniuersity, is alwayes confused, commonly dangerous, and often deadly. duncon, eleazar, 1597 or 8-1660. [4], 50 p. printed by melchisedech bradwood, london : 1606. e.d. = eleazar duncon. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities 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areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng health -early works to 1800. physicians -early works to 1800. quacks and quackery -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-11 pip willcox sampled and proofread 2006-11 pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the copy of a letter written by e. d. doctour of physicke to a gentleman , by whom it was published . the former part conteineth rules for the preseruation of health , and preuenting of all diseases vntill extreme olde age . herein is inserted the authours opinion of tabacco . the latter is a discourse of emperiks or vnlearned physitians , wherein is plainly prooued that the practise of all those which haue not beene brought vp in the grammar and vniuersity , is alwayes confused , commonly dangerous , and often deadly . eccles . 38. 1. honour the physician with that honour that is due vnto him ; for the lord hath created him . london printed by melchisedech bradwood . 1606. the pvblisher to the reader . gentle reader , let it not seeme strange that i publish vnto thee a priuate letter . there are three principall causes which haue moued me hereunto : first , a world of examples both of moderne and ancient writers , whose epistles , perhaps priuatly intended , as this was , haue now their publike vse . secondly , my loue vnto the authour , a man deseruing loue of all , but specially of me , vnto whom i am beholding ( next vnto god ) for that health which ienioy . thirdly , the woorth of the worke it selfe ; wherein , looke not for hyperbolicall phrases , or curious affectation : for as in his life he preferreth deeds before words , so in his writings shalt thou finde more substance than shewes . yet so hath he ioyned profit with pleasure , sound discourse with sweet delight ; that ( if my loue deceiueth me not , and some learned physicians , who at my request haue perused it ) as the poet sayth , omne tulit punctum . his rules of health ( vnto those that will be ruled by them ) are full of health : his discouery of bastard physicians will make wisemen beware : their ignorance , their arrogancie , their rashnesse is here layd open : not with iesting termes ( for that he accounteth no lesse than an artificiall iniury ) but with such euident demonstrations , as he that hereafter shall know them , and will not eschew them , shall be deemed accessary to his own ouerthrow . i haue named the former part healths preseruatiue , and the latter , a discourse of empiricks and vnlearned physicians . i wish as much good to come vnto thee by this my friends labour , as was meant vnto my selfe . be thine owne friend . take heed of empiricks . and so farewell . healths preseruatiue . sir , i haue here sent you an answer to your kinde letters , though not so soone as you expected , yet assoone as my businesse , and the large handling of the matter , protracted farre beyond my first purpose , would permit . your request standeth vpon two scuerall parts : the one is , to set downe rules and directions out of our art for the preseruation ofhealth , and preuenting of diseases : the other is , to deliuer my opinion concerning empericks . touching the former , though health be a precious thing , and the greatest blessing belonging to this life , yet the meanes of preseruing it are little thought of , and lightly regarded of most , that haue full fruition of it , and are in their flourishing yeeres . if this your request proceedeth from a resolution to obserue those things which you desire to heare , dignus es nestoris annis , & crotonis salubritate : you are worthy oflong life and perfect health . some place their felicitie in honour , some in wealth ▪ other in other things : a but if health be not a continuall attendant vpon these , this supposed happinesse is soone changed into miserie . an ancient poet sayth , b o blessed health , when thou art present , all things flourish as in the spring ; without thee no man is happy . to this agreeth that of pindarus ; c if a man possesse riches ioyned with health , and hath with them a good report , there is no cause why he should desire to be a god . health is thus defined by galen : d sanitas est calidi , frigidi , humidi , siccitemperies : an equall mixture or proportion of the foure elements : not equall by iust proportion ofweight of euery element alike ; which is called temperatum ad pondus ; but temperatum ad iustitiam : such a proportion as is most agreeable to the preseruation and continuance oflife and health ; and as it were due by the right ofiustice . the same author in another place sheweth more plainly what health is , in these words : we call that constitution of body health , wherein we are not vexed with paine , nor hindred in the actions of our life . this perfect constitution is altered & impaired two wayes ; the one by inward , the other by outward ward things : the inward are bred and borne with vs , and it is not in our power to resist them : they are in number three ; drinesse , continuall decay or wasting of the substance of our bodies , and breeding of superfluous excrements . of these galen discourseth at large in the foresaid booke : but i omit them , as things out of our power , and come to the outward , which haue equall or greater force to ouerthrow our health , if they be lightly regarded : and much vertue to preserue vs from sicknesse , if we vse them rightly . these are almost in our power , and most of them may be obserued by vs , if we endeuor to liue free from sicknesse . that they haue ability to effect this , it doth plainly appeare in the booke before cited , in these words : he that leadeth a free life , and hath a care of keeping his health , shall neuer be troubled with so much as a bile . and in another place : they which haue a good state of bodie , and free transpiration , and vse not too violent exercise , and keepe their stomacke and liuer warme , it is impossible for them to haue an ague . this warrant of so great a physician , to liue vntill extreame olde age without any disease , may moue you to a carefull and diligent obseruation of the rules required to this happy state of life . these outward things are in number six : the aire , meat and drinke , exercise and rest , sleepe and waking , expelling and retaining of superfluities , and the affections of the mind . all these are in our arte comprised vnder the name of diet , as a galen doth testifie in plaine words . these are called things not naturall , because they are not of the essence or nature of the body . they are called by galen , causae couseruatrices , because they keepe and preserue the body in perfect health , vntill it commeth lege adrastriae , by ineuitable fate neere the graue , being withered and consumed for want of moisture . of these six , the aire hath the first place , because our life beginneth with that , and we haue a continuall vse of it as well by night as by day , both sleeping and waking : it is of it owne nature bot and moist ; but it is subiect to many alterations from the earth , from the waters , from the windes , and from the heauens : it ministreth nourishment to the spirits and cooleth them , and receiueth their superfluous fumes : it passeth by the mouth , nose and arteries , into the braine , lungs , heart , and all parts of the body : what substance or qualities soeuer be in it , those it infuseth first into the spirits , then into the humours , and so into the whole body . cleere , subtile , pure , sweet and temperate aire lighteneth the spirits , clarifieth the blood , dilateth the heart , and lifteth it vp with ioy and delight : it preuenteth obstructions , stirreth vp naturall heat , increaseth appetite , perfecteth concoction , and inableth euery part to expell it superfluitie at fit times . these are the excellent properties , which hippocrates , galen , and other ascribe vnto a good aire . a columella aduiseth them that buy land to regard principally the healthfulnesse of the aire lest they purchase the meanes of shortening their liues . also b aristotle counselleth that cities shuld be built in a pure & clere aire . herodotus affirmeth the egyptians to be the healthfullest of all nations , because the aire of that countrey is so pure and not subiect to alterations , as in other places . the best aire is commonly about the highest places , that a●e open towards the east ; for there the sunne hath most perfection to clarifie it , and the winde most power to disperse the grosnesse and superfluitie of it , as hippocrates testifieth . s. edmunds-bury is the most famous place in this country for good aire : lelandus maketh it inferiour to no citie of the world for situation : and the physicians of cambridge do vsually send their patients diseased in the lungs , to liue here ; whereby many haue recouered their health . on the contrary part , grosse , thicke and impure aire , receiuing continuall exhalations from moores , fennes , bogges , and such like ▪ or being barred from the benefit of the sunne and winde by hilles , woods or other meanes , is an vtter enemie vnto health ; for it oppresseth the heart , infecteth the lungs , dulleth the wit , diminisheth naturall heat , hindereth appetite , weakeneth concoction , and subiecteth the body to many other infirmities . therefore sith there is so great power in the aire both to preserue and ouerthrow a perfect state of body , you are to haue a speciall care to liue alwayes in a good aire , and also to auoid all obiects offensiue to the sense of smelling . here i may fitly giue you a taste of tabacco , for it is taken not much vnlike to the drawing in of aire by breathing ; and it hath great power to alter the body . this indian simple is hot and drie almost in the third degree , as those that wrote first ofit affirme , and the smell and taste do confirme . in respect of the excesse of these first qualities it can not be safe for yoong and sound bodies , though it yeelded pure nourishment : for the diet of yoong men must be moist without excesse ofheat ; and in cholericke complexions , somewhat cooling , as galen affirmeth : but it is a strong purger ( as hath beene often tried by experience ) and an vtter enemie to most stomacks ; for a small quantity of it infused , mooueth violently vpward ; and in many , downward also . in this respect it is very hurtfull to all sound bodies : for hippocrates sayth , healthfull bodies do hardly beare any purging at all . and celsus in the very beginning of his booke hath these words ; nourishment is fit for them that are in health , and physicke for the sicke onely . what though it be vsually taken by fume , and not in substance , or infusion ? yet that way it worketh the same effect in many ; and in all it draweth thin and moist humours , which all beholders perceiue distilling , or rather flowing from the mouth , nose and eyes of the takers of it . but admit that it doth not purge ; which is very euident ; yet it altereth the body much : and how can that be done in yoong and strong men without hurt ? it consumeth the moisture , and increaseth the heat of perfect constitutions , as the fire and sunne doe sensibly heat and drie things exposed to them . heat and moisture , in their iust mixture , are the preseruers of life : if the proportion of heat be increased , it consumeth moisture the faster : if moisture be diminished , there followeth a necessary decay of heat : for it is maintained and fed by that , as a lampe with oile : therefore tabacco , being armed with the excesse of both these qualities , professed enemies to youth , doth exercise cruell tyranny vpon it . galen sayth ; moistest bodies liue longest . to this agreeth that of aristotle ; they that inhabit hot countries are of shorter life : for the heat of the sunne draweth out much moisture from the body , and the continuall drawing in of hot aire by breathing , doth dissipate and consume it , and consequently hasteneth a drie and withered distemper , the messenger of death approching . doth not tabacco then threaten a short life to the great takers of it ? the often drawing in of this hot and drie fume , maketh them somewhat like those that liue in hot regions : though this be not continuall , as that is , yet the heat and drinesse of this doth farre exceed that . plato would not allow yoong men to drinke wine , though moderatly , because it carieth them headlong to lust and anger . doth not tabacco this much more ? wine is hot and moist : tabacco exceedeth it farre in heat ; for from the excesse of that , it hath the strong smell and fretting taste , and it hath drinesse associated to it in stead of the others moisture . beside this , wine nourisheth ; tabacco purgeth . so it is euery way farre more hurtfull than wine . it is in greatest request amongst our yoonger and stronger sort of gentlemen ; and the quicker spirits and hoter complexions are caried most violently to the often taking of it , being like to the yoong man that horace describeth . euery man , that hath but tasted of naturall philosophy , may easily comprehend it to be a dangerous and pernitious thing to cholericke constitutions : it inclineth them to burning agues , phrensies , and hectikes ; or carieth them into an vntimely melancholy : for the vnkinde heat of it , exceeding the naturall heat of the bodie , doth waste and destroy that , and so breedeth a melancholicke distemper by the long continued vse of it . choler is like to a coale burning cleere with his full heat , whose moisture as it consumeth , so the heat diminisheth , and in time it becommeth blacke , drie and cold : euen so the often drinking of this herbe , doth by his vehement heat burne the cholericke bloud , and maketh it grosse , thicke and blacke . this is wrought by small degrees and insensibly , youth , together with often powring in of drinke ( which is vsuall with them ) not suffering such alteration to be made in short time . galen sayth , the best complexions haue the best maners : and he writeth a whole booke to prooue that the affections of the minde follow the temper and constitution of the body . what though that be specially vnderstood of the originall temperature that we haue from our parents ; yet as that changeth with our age naturally , or accidentally by tabacco , or any other outward meanes ; so there is with that , great change of the affections , and inclinations of the minde . as heat & sharpnesse increase in the blood , so do hastinesse and furie in the minde : and when the blood groweth thicke and grosse , the minde is dull and sad . this is too apparent in many , though it be obscured by discretion in some . i see not therfore how tabacco can be acquited from procuring the ouerthrow of the perfect state both of body and minde : and that not onlie in tabacconists themselues , but in their posterity also ; for the temperament and constitution of the father is ordinarily transfused into the children , and the affections of the minde also , depending vpon the other . this is verified likewise in distempered and sicke bodies . fernelius saith , what disease so euer the father hath , that goeth into the childe . the father giueth the forme , nature and essence to the child , as galen affirmeth . therefore where the humours of the body haue contracted a sharpe heat and drinesse by drinking of tabacco , there the father getteth a childe like to himselfe , wanting that kinde moisture that should protract his life vnto olde age , and incline him to an ingenuous , courteous and kinde carriage . but many take it , imagining that it doth inable them in some actions . i confesse that it putteth a sharpe and fretting heat into the blood , which doth incitare : but they shall the sooner faile in their course ; for heat can not be preserued without moisture : and tabacco consumeth that , by infusing a drie qualitie into the body , by excesse of heat , and by drawing out of moisture . therefore tabacco ; though neuer so sparingly taken , can not be good for you , nor for yoong and sound bodies : and the often vse of it in such bodies , driueth them lentis gradibus into their graue long before that time that nature had assigned them . hippocrates sayth , that which is done by little and little , is done safely : and in diet as well as in other things , he commandeth all to be vsed with moderation . galen speaking of gentle opening medicines , affirmeth that the often vse of them drieth vp the solid parts of the body , and maketh the blood thicke and grosse ; which being burnt in the kidnies , breedeth the stone . this may as well be verified of tabacco ; for many take it oftener than euer such opening medicines were taken : and it hath also more heat and drinesse than those had ; and therefore greater power to hurt sound bodies . there may peraduēture be a profitable vse of it in cold & moist bodies : but it must be taken very seldome , and with great regard of sundry other circumstances . to conclude , sith it is so hurtfull and dangerous to youth , i wish ( in compassion of them ) that it might haue the pernitious nature expressed in the name , and that it were as well knowen by the name of youths-bane , as by the name of tabacco . the second thing is meat and drinke . our bodies , as galen affirmeth , are in assiduo fluore , in a continuall wasting , the inward heat alwayes consuming part of the very substance of them . the vse of meat and drinke is necessarie for the restauration of this dayly losse . these rightly vsed according to the rules of physicke , haue great power to preserue the body from diseases . this is verified by galen in the same booke . to him fernelius assenteth in these words ; he shall be troubled with no disease , that layeth temperance for the foundation of his life . and in the same chapter he addeth , that neither the aire , nor the affections of the minde , nor any other cause , doth breed diseases , vnlesse there be a disposition in the body proceeding from some errour in diet . there are fiue things to be obserued in the vse of meat : the substance , the quantity , the qualities , the times of eating , and the order . touching the substance , galen sayth , in victu salubri , &c. in healthfull diet the two chiefe things are meats of good iuice and not stopping . here , to auoid tediousnesse , i passe ouer meats of good nourishment , most of them being well knowen to you , and i will speake only of some few that are badde . meats of ill iuice fill the body with grosse humours subiect to putrifafaction , 2 which is one of the principall causes of most diseases . galen reporteth , that when there was great scarsitie of corne thorowout the romane empire , the people being compelled to eat roots and hearbs of bad nourishment , fell into diseases of sundry kindes . 1 this he doth further confirme by the example of his owne body ; for during the time of his eating of ordinary fruits , he was troubled with agues almost euery yeere : but after that he left them , and fed only on good meats , he protracted his life vntill extreame olde age without any sicknesse . the worst meats that are in vse with vs are , of flesh , bulles beefe , the blood whereof being accounted poison amongst physicians , may iustly make the flesh suspected , specially for colde and weake stomacks . all olde beefe is of hard digestion , and breedeth grosse and melancholike blood . bores flesh is much of the same nature , and the older and greater , the worse . there is the like reason of bucks , male-goats , and rammes , in their kinde : their ill iuice increaseth with their yeeres , and those vngelt are of harder and grosser nourishment . blood , howsoeuer it be prepared , is vtterly condemned by galen : so are the inwards of beasts , and the feet also , specially of the greater sort of them . of fishes the greater and older are the worst , and bring most labour to the stomacke : those that liue in muddy or standing waters are farre worse than those of the same kinde that keepe in grauelly or cleere riuers . ecles are iustly excluded from the number of holsome meats , because they breed of putrifaction . most english fruits are forbidden in diet . many of them are profitable in medicines : therefore galen sayth , apples , peares and medlers are not to be vsed as meats , but as medicines . the sooner ripe and the sooner subiect to corruption , are most condemned , because they are easily turned into putrifaction in the body . cucumbers are too vsuall with vs , being vtterly reiected by a galen for their ill iuice , and if they be not well concocted ( as they are neuer in a colde stomacke ) they are b almost like to deadly poison . our common raw salads are full of danger . lettice is one of the best of their vsuall ingredients , which though it be good in a hot stomacke , yet being taken in a great quantity , it pierceth to the heart and killeth , as galen affirmeth . it is not safe for any man in the vse of these bad meats to presume vpon his strong stomacke ; for though naughty meats be well concocted , yet a galen telleth vs , that when the iuice of them is caried into the veines , it reteineth the old nature . this point is more largely handled by ludouicus merca●us a learned italian . but i conclude with galen in the foresayd place ; we must abstaine from all meats of bad iuice , though they be easie of concoction : for by the vse of them our bodies will be filled with matter ready to putrifie vpon euery light occasion ; whereupon maligne and dangerous agues will follow . the second thing to be considered in eating is the quantity : this must not be proportioned to the appetite , but to the strength of the stomacke to concoct it perfectly : for the fault or defect of the first concoction is neuer amended in the second or third : if the liuer receiueth the chylus or iuice of meats raw and inconcocted from the stomacke , it conuerteth it into grosse and impurel bood , and so sendeth it into the lesser veines , where there is no power to refine it . it were superfluous to speake of defect in this point , for gluttony , that great murdering tyrant of the world , hath subiected most of the richer sort , and lead them by pleasant variety to the cruell prison of sicknesse , and from thence to mercilesse execution . a hippocrates sayth , where meat is taken in too great quantity , there it breedeth diseases . b health requireth little meat and much exercise . socrates maketh meat and drinke , taken beyond hunger and thirst , the breeders of sicknesse . c tully prescribeth meat and drinke in a small quantity , that we may thereby be refreshed and not oppressed . d fernelius a learned french man maketh gluttony the mother of all diseases , though they haue another father . of all the fiue things before mentioned , the error in quantity is most vsuall , and most dangerous , and therefore most carefully to be auoided . a full diet stuffeth the body with grosse humours , and with winde ; it breedeth obstructions , after which followeth putrifaction , and agues of sundry kindes : also it begetteth many colde diseases , as gouts , dropsies , palsies , and such like : it oppresseth both the outward and inward senses : it suffocateth & extinguisheth the natural heat , as a lampe with too much oile . thus were some of the great champions , that vsed to contend at the solemne games of olympus , suddenly choked with fulnesse , as galen reporteth . also it breedeth thicke & grosse spirits , whereby the wit is made obtuse and blunt , and the iudgement dull and weake . finally , it maketh a man vnfit not only for naturall and ciuill actions , but also for diuine meditations , according to that of galen : a the minde choked with blood and fatnesse , can not meditate of heauenly things . b horatius also speaketh to this purpose : the body being oppressed with the former errours in diet , cloggeth the mide , and presseth it downe to the ground . a slender diet bringeth forth contrary effects . many of these are set forth by galen c in his first booke de sanit . tuenda . d fernelius in the place aboue cited sayth , only temperance is the gouernour of a pleasant and healthfull life . e galen bringeth in sundry men that liued in health , with perfect vse of their outward and inward senses vntill extreme olde age , by the continuall vse of a slender diet . f there is a memorable history of one apollonius tyanaeus in the reigne of domitian , who hauing excellent gifts of nature , and confirming them by dayly hearing , reading and meditating , obteined such deepe and admirable knowledge , that he could tell many strange things , yea and foretell things to come : wherupon he was accused before the emperor to haue conference with diuels : but he cleered himselfe with this answer ; that he did alwayes seed on light meats in a small quantity , and without variety : this kinde of diet , sayd he , hath giuen such an excellent perspicuity to my inward senses , that i doe cleerely see , as in a glasse , things past and to come . josephus reporteth that the sect called esseni , inioyed life and health farre longer than other men , by their slender diet . the great philosophers of pythagoras sect had for their vsuall diet only bread and hony . to conclude this point , variety of meats is the greatest meane to allure the appetite , and consequently to procure ouerfeeding : therefore all physicians doe inhibit many sorts of meat to be eaten at one meale ; for beside the hurt of the quantity , the difference of their qualities procureth labour to the stomacke , and hindereth perfect concoction . the opinion of montanus is very strict in this point , for he doth rather allow one dish of meat , be it neuer so bad , than variety of good . one thing more is here to be obserued , that after you be past that flourishing state and full a strength of body , which you now inioy , then as your yeeres increase , so the quantity of your meat must be diminished ; for there will be a decay of your naturall heat , which you shall not perceiue , and consequently of perfect concoction , if the vsuall quantity of meat be continued . out of this the stomacke will breed raw b and incocted iuice , which will fill the body with matter fit for diseases , before there be any sensible feeling of it . this is confirmed by c hippocrates in these words : olde men haue little heat , and therefore should eat little meat ; for as an heape of greene wood quencheth a little fire , so , much meat extinguisheth the decayed heat of the stomacke . in this respect montanus forbiddeth olde men to go to feasts , lest by long sitting and inticing variety of meats , they should eat much . the third thing to be considered in meat is the quality : in which it shall be sufficient to obserue these two rules out of hippocrates : similiasimilibus conseruantur , and contraria contrarijs curantur ; an equall and perfect temper of the body is to be preserued by meats temperate , and without any excesse of heat , moisture , colde , or drinesse ▪ but if this eucrasia or perfect mixture of the elements be decayed , so , as some of these qualities haue obtained dominion , then the body is to be reduced to his former state by contraries ; as when it is too hot , the diet must be cooling ; and so of the rest . also the diet in summer must be much cooler and moister , than in winter : for in that season we draw in by breathing farre hotter aire : the sunne also infuseth into vs a burning heat , and sucketh out much of our moisture . furthermore , yoong men and olde are to obserue this difference in respect of their yeeres : for that age is like to summer , and this to winter . the fourth thing that is to be obserued in eating , is the times . new meat may not be put into the stomacke before the former be thorowly concocted and digested ; for so should both be corrupted , as a galen affirmeth . i know that b lud. mercat . counselleth otherwise , whereof a strong stomacke may make experience without hurt ; but i thinke it not safe for others to imitate . the iudgement of c fernelius is freer from danger , where he commendeth fasting as the best meanes to concoct crudity : they that are full of superfluous humors , sayth he , can hardly endure fasting : and yet while they endeuour to represse the violence and fury of the humour by taking meat often , they nourish not themselues , but their owne destruction : for all the offence that groweth by fasting , will soone be taken away by the continuance of it . the custome of our nation , for the vsuall times of eating amongst the better sort , agreeth not with the rules of physicke : for a large supper following so soone after a full dinner , heapeth vp crudity , fit matter for diseases . breakfast and supper without any dinner , would agree farre better with those that haue cold and moist bodies , or that vse little exercise , as lud. mercat . affirmeth in the foresayd place . this opinion is confirmed by the custome of the ancients . a galen vsed a piece of bread only for his breakfast , and abstained vntill supper . the great champions , that were purposely fed to be strong to fight at olympus , vsed bread alone for their breakfast , and porke for their supper , without any dinner . b hippocrates calleth gluttons diuers , in disgrace of their eating one meale in a day more than was at that time vsuall ; as c heurnius noteth . also d hippoc. setting downe a diet agreeable to winter , alloweth but one meale in a day , except to those that haue drie bodies , that by two meales they may be more moistened . it can not be strongly obiected against this , that the grecians at the siege of troy vsed to eat foure times dayly ; or three of those meales were only of bread & wine in a small quantity , and their supper was far larger of flesh . it seemeth that this often eating was extraordinary , according to their extraordinary labour in the warres : for galen , speaking of the custome of the countrey , maketh mention but of a light breakefast or dinner , and a larger supper . but to shut vp this point , sith you are continually at a plentifull table , and also at vnfit and vnequall distances of time , if you do not feed very moderately and sparingly at dinner , it were healthfull to inioyne your selfe a light penance by abstaining altogether from supper : for although the abundance of naturall heat , in these your flourishing yeeres , will not permit you any light feeling of this errour in laying one meale vpon another , yet this bad custome layeth a secret and hidden foundation for sicknesse , whereupon you shall dayly build without suspition , vntill it riseth to the full height of some dangerous disease . this is confirmed by the testimony of auicen : old age shall smart for the errors of diet committed in youth . the fift and last thing to be obserued in diet ▪ is the order of taking sundry meats at one meale . the custome of this land differeth in this also from the common receiued opinion amongst physitians , which is to eat those meats first that are lightest of concoction , that they may first passe out of the stomacke . but this opinion is reiected in a booke a ascribed to galen , and a reason annexed to disproue it : therefore in this doubt , i hold it safest for you to follow your woonted custome , which , as hippoc. sayth , is not suddenly to be broken , though it be a little woorse . the safest way to preuent all danger of disorder is , neuer to eat of aboue two dishes at one meale ; which is an excellent meane to preserue health . what though epicures obiect , qui medicè viuit , miserè viuit ? yet you shall thereby be happie in the fruition of your health , when they shall be wretched and miserable by the grieuances that follow the full pleasure and delight of the taste . touching drinke , there are three vsuall kinds of it with vs , as euery man knoweth , wine , ale , and beare . wine is first both in time and excellency : those which be sweet , are hot & moist : that which is white , sharpe and new , hath manifest power of cooling , as galen affirmeth . the older that wines are , the hoter they are . the benefit of wine is set forth by galen : it doth greatly helpe concoction , digestion , breeding of good bloud and nourishment . but this is to be vnderstood with distinction of wines , of complexions , and of yeres : for new wines haue in them a grosse and earthly substance , by reason whereof they are so farre from helping the concoction of meats , that they themselues are hardly concocted , as he sayth in another place . and hot wines are vtter enemies to all infirmities of the head . they are also very hurtfull to hot complexions ; therefore they are generally forbidden to youth and flourishing yeeres : as is plaine in sundry places in a a galen . b fernel . sayth thus of wine : it is to mens bodies as chalke to trees ; it hasteneth the fruit , but it killeth the tree . this is to be vnderstood of hot wines , in yoong men and hot constitutions . i omit plato his strict allowance of wine , confuted by c galen . ale is cooler than beere , because it wanteth the hop ; it fumeth not vp to the head , as wine and beere doe : therefore it is most healthfull in infirmities of the head ; but it is windy . hoppes , which make the difference betwixt ale and beere , are hot and drie ; therefore beere is farre hoter than ale , if they be equall in other things : it is also much more opening . the vse of drinke is to restore the moisture which the heat of the body dayly consumeth , as a galen sayth . b it is also cibi vehiculum : it maketh the chylus or iuyce of the meat more liquid or thinne , that it may be the casier carried into the veines , and distributed into all parts of the body . c hippoc. sayth , exercise , meat , drinke , &c. and all in a meane . heere is a plaine and manifest rule for the moderate vse of this : that it be neuer taken in great quantity . the words also conteine a more obscure rule for the time of drinking : that is , meales must begin with meat , and then drinke to follow : for so galen expoundeth that place , that the order of the words is to be obserued , and the things performed accordingly : first labour , then meat , after that drinke . this condemneth the common custome of drinking betwixt meales or immediatly before them . sacke before supper is as hurtfull , as vsuall , it carrieth the vnconcocted relikes of the meat into the veines before the due time : also it procureth a false appetite , whereby new meat is taken before the former be digested ; which is a pestilent enemy to health . the quantity of drinke must be proportioned to the meat , with a regard of the temperature of the body , and season of the yeere : for leane and drie bodies are allowed more than fat and moist ; and a greater quantity in summer than in winter . very little drinke hindereth concoction in some stomacks , and distribution in most . a great quantity oppresseth the stomacke , hindereth concoction , breedeth winde , offendeth the head , and filleth the whole body with superfluous moisture . drinke may sometimes be allowed betwixt meales to cholericke bodies , after the meat is concocted in the stomacke , as a ludouic . mercat . affirmeth ▪ also b crato , a learned germane , counselleth him that hath a hot liuer , to drinke after the first concoction . c galen alloweth drinke in the night , but to those only that are extreamely thirsty : but this liberty of drinking betwixt meales procureth much hurt to flegmaticke bodies , and to those that drinke for pleasure or custome without great thirst . hippoc. forbiddeth drinke to them that are ready to go to bed , because sleepe moisteneth sufficiently . the third thing to be considered for the preseruation of health is exercise and rest . exercise is defined to be a vehement motion of the body , whereby breathing is altered , or wearinesse procured . galen sayth , that all motion of the body is not to be accounted exercise , but only that which is violent , euen to the drawing of breath shorter . exercise is not safe in all bodies ; for if there be plethora , or cacochymia , fulnesse of blood in the veines , or of some bad humors in the whole body ; there it may driue the superfluous matter into some principall part , and so breed dangerous diseases : or into the ioynts , and procure extreame paines . therefore in this case the safest way is , first to take away this fulnesse by opening a veine , or by purging , or by a slender diet , and then to begin with gentle and moderate exercise , increasing it dayly by small degrees : for all sudden changes are dangerous , as hippocrates affirmeth . the fittest time for exercise , is the morning vpon an empty stomacke , when the supper is perfectly concocted , and fully digested : for if any man feeleth any relikes of his supper after he ariseth in the morning , it is farre safer for him to follow the counsell of celsus , and betake himselfe to sleepe againe , than by exercise to send raw a humours into the habit of the body . much more is that exercise to be condemned that is vsed soone after meat . b galen sayth , he that auoideth crudity , and doth not exercise himselfe after meat , shall neuer be sicke : and when exercise is omitted before meat , c he teacheth a remedy for that , parcius cibandum , the meale must be th e lighter . d hippoc. setteth forth the commendation of exercise moderatly vsed , and at fit times , in these few words ; corpus robustum reddit , it maketh the body strong . and in e another place he sayth ; labour is to the ioynts and flesh , as meat and sleepe to the inward parts . f plato sheweth the benefit of exercise , and the hurt of much rest : exercise strengtheneth , rest breedeth rottennesse in the body . to these accordeth that of the poet ; cernis vt ignauum corrumpant otia corpus : vt capiant vitium , ni mo●eantur aquae : idlenesse corrupteth a sluggish body , as waters soone putrifie , if they be not stirred . ludouic . mercat . in commending exercise , sayth it helpeth three wayes : first , it increaseth the naturall heat , whereby commeth perfect concoction , and plentifull nourishment : secondly , the spirits thereby are caried with greater force , which cleanseth the passages of the body , and expelleth the superfluous excrements better : out of these two riseth a third commodity , that the instrumentall parts of the body doe by this motion gather hardnesse and strength , and are more inabled to resist the diseases incident vnto them . the fourth thing to be obserued for continuance of health , is sleeping and waking . of this is that aphorisme of hippoc. sleeping , or waking , exceeding measure , are both ill . this he further confirmeth in another place : too little sleepe hindereth concoction , and too much is an enemy to distribution it hindereth the carriage of the chylus or iuyce of the meat into the veines : by this grosse humors are ingendred , the body made heauy and lumpish , and the wit dull . the a night is much fitter for sleepe than the day , because the spirits moue inward by reason of the darke . i will not trouble you with the b dissenting opinions of our authours about the maner of lying in sleepe : it shall be sufficient to note that it is not good to lie all night vpon one side ; and that the worst maner oflying is vpon the backe . the length of time allowed for sleepe is seuen or eight houres : longer sleepe is required after a large supper than after a light . a galen seemeth to allow nine houres for sleepe , which b cardan , a great patron of long sleepe , taketh holde of . sleepe moisteneth the body , therefore larger sleepe is permitted to drier bodies . the olde rule of rising c early presupposeth light suppers , which are hardly warranted by physicke , but when full dinners go before , or where there is some infirmity of the head . sleepe is not allowed vntil three or foure houres after supper : for vpon a ful stomacke a whole cloud of fumes & vapors ascend to the head in sleepe , a great part wherof is dispersed in waking . this reason doth inhibit sleepe after dinner , as an vtter enemy to the head : but when the stomacke is weake and the head strong , a short nap sitting is allowed , because it helpeth concoction , by drawing the heat inward . the fift thing for continuance of health , is retention and expulsion of superfluous excrements at fit times . euery concoction hath it seuerall superfluity : if any of these be reteined or kept too long in the body , or expelled too soone , or with great violence ; health is thereby impaired : if the bowels empty not themselues at fit times , the neighbour parts suffer offence thereby , and the head also receiueth vnkinde fumes : if the liuer and spleene want their timely vnloadings into the kidnies and bowels , diseases of sundry sorts follow after if the kidnies and bladder holde their vnprofitable burdens beyond their iust times , they are weakened by that heauy weight , by extending the parts , and by increasing of heat : if sweat or insensible transpiration be hindered , obstructions and putrefact●on succeed , and after them , agues of sundry kinds : if any of there or any other humour rush out of the body with great force , or issue quietly in too great quantity , the naturall heat and spirits passe out with them , whereby the whole body is weakened . there was a custome amongst the egyptians , to empty their bodies with medicines three dayes together in euery moneth , that no superfluous humour might hold long possession there . by this it appeareth what great danger they esteemed it to nourish their enemies within the walles of their city . but this course can not be iustified by the rules of physicke : it agreeth farre better with health to preuent this fulnesse by a slender diet , and moderate exercise . the errours committed in these two , are commonly the cause of the excesse and defect in this point . the sixt and last thing is , the affections of the minde : the excesse of any of these ouerthroweth the naturall and perfect state of body , as galen affirmeth . plato held opinion , that all the diseases of the body haue their beginning from the minde . moderate ioy and mirth do both preserue health and driue away sicknesse : the spirits are thereby stirred vp , heat is increased , and the humours are extenuated and clarified . quintus fabius , that renowmed romane captaine , being twelue yeeres afflicted with a quartane ague , was freed from it by the ioy of a victory obteined against hannibal . an ancient english poet singeth thus : as long liues neuer thee , as euer thee , and a yere the longer for his meritee . but this affection how profitable soeuer it be , ifit exceedeth the limits & bounds of moderation , it is sometimes deadly : therefore fernel . sayth , it disperseth the spirits like lightning , that they can not returne to mainteine life . there is a lamentable example of one a di●goras , who had three sonnes crowned victors in one day at the solemne games of olym●us : and whiles he embraced them , and they put their garlands vpon his head , and the people reioycing with them , cast flowers vpon him ; the olde man ouerfilled with ioy , yeelded vp his life suddenly in the middes of the assembly . but examples of this kinde are rare , and therefore not to be feared . sorow . sorow and griefe hath great power to weaken the ablest state of body : it doth ( as plato speaketh ) exercise cruell tyranny . tuscul . quest . cum omnis perturbatio m●sera est , tum carni●icina est agritu . do , &c. tully , discoursing of the affections of the mind , hath these words : euery perturbation is miserable , but griefe is a cruell torment : lust hath with it heat ; mirth lightnesse ; feare basenesse : but griefe bringeth farre greater things ; wasting , torment , vexation , deformity ; it teareth , it eateth , and vtterly consumeth the mind , and body also . histories affoord many examples of those that haue beene brought into consumptions , and to death , by sorrow and griefe . feare . feare is an expectation of ill ; it is commonly the forerunner of griefe ; it calleth the bloud suddenly from the outward parts to the heart , and leaueth them destitute of their naturall heat ; for want whereof they tremble and shake : the heart then suffereth violence also , as appeareth by the weake and slow pulse : and it is sometimes suddenly ouercome and suffocated by the violent recourse of bloud . feare killeth many . thus publius rutilius and marcus lepidus ended their liues , as pliny reporteth . there are sundry examples in histories of those that through extreame feare haue had their haire changed into a whitish hoarenesse in one night . skenk . obseruat . this opinion is confirmed by scaliger contra cardan . and the reason annexed . anger anger may adde somewhat to health in colde and moist bodies ; for it is an increase of the heat of bloud about the heart . gal. de sanit tu ▪ enda . lib. 2 ex aristot . this bringeth much hurt to cholericke bodies : it is comprehended vnder the first of the fiue generall causes of agues it is also sometime the cause of an epilepsie , or the falling sicknesse , as a a de locis affectis lib. 5 cap. 5. galen affirmeth in the history of diodorus the grammarian : but this affection , be it neuer so violent , taketh not away the life suddenly , as b b de sympt . caus . lib 2. galen and most other physitians affirme : for in cold and weake constitutions it can not be vehement ; magnani●s ob nullam animi aegritud . moriuntur . gal. de locis affect . lib. 5. and the strength of hot bodies , wherein it is alwayes most violent , will not yeeld vnto it . i know that some c c cardan . consil . 1. are of contrary opinion : but i may not enter into controuersies , hauing beene already so long . other affections i omit , as being neere the nature of some of these , and hauing lesse power to hurt the body . you see sir with what efficacy the affections of the minde worke into the body : therefore it is as necessary for health to holde a meane and moderation in them , as in the fiue other forenamed things . for though we liue in a sweet and pure aire , obserue a strict diet , vse sleepe and exercise according to the rules of physicke , and keepe fit times and measure in expelling superfluities out of our bodies ; yet if we haue not quiet , calme and placable mindes , we shall subiect ourselues to those diseases that the minde , yeelding to these passions , commonly inflicteth vpon the body : these are many in number , grieuous to suffer , and dangerous to life . thus i haue briefly run ouer these six things , which being rightly vsed with speciall care and regard , will preserue all strong bodies in continuall health , and preuent all diseases vntill the radicall moisture be consumed , and no oile left to maintaine the light of the lampe . a discourse of empiricks , or vnlearned physicians . a preface to the reader . the life of man is so precious , as that all which a man hath he will giue for the ransome thereof . neither is this care of preseruing his owne life alone , naturally implanted in the heart of man ; but that he may saue the life of others also , how dangerously will he aduenture ! somtimes casting himselfe into deepe waters to saue one from danger of drowning ; sometimes breaking into an house flaming on euery side , to deliuer one from perishing in the fire . and this naturall instinct hath beene the cause also , that publike persons haue by holesome lawes prouided for the safety thereof , and priuate men haue spent their thoughts in discouering those stratagems whereby the life of man is oppugned . now because none are more pernicious enemies to the same than are these empericks ( who vnder colour of drawing out the threed of mans life , doe most cruelly cut the same in sunder before the time ) there haue beene some in all ages , that haue vehemently inueighed ●ga●●st them , and laboured with all diligence to suppresse them , as it were to quench some gri●uous fire . but hitherto all labour hath beene lost , that was spent that way : for ( like the lernean monster against which hercules fought ) in the roome of one , seuen others haue arisen , and haue by opposition growen , both in number and estimation also with many : and that partly by their owne diuellish and detestable practises , and partly by the folly of others . and first for themselues , they will falsly vaunt what admirable cures haue beene performed by them : that no mottall man is able to doe more than they can doe . they will promise confidently to cure any disease though neuer so desperate ; as , to breake a confirmed stone in the bladder , or els to lodge it in some part of the bladder , that it shall neuer paine them after . and vnto such as are therefore left by the iudicious physician , because sentence of death hath already passed against them on an * indicatory day , they will warrant life , and that to the end they may be imployed after their betters , which is no small credit vnto them . now if they be found to haue missed the cushion , and the party dies ( as was foretold ) then will they pawne their liues that the disease was mistaken by the first physitian , and that if they had beene called to the cure but one day sooner , it had beene a matter of nothing to haue saued his life , for the partie died because he was let bloud ( if that were aduised by the other with good discretion ) or because he was not let blood ( if that were omitted vpon iust cause . ) on the contrary , the learned physitian ( though he haue no religion ) will not , for his credit sake , be found to vtter any vntrueth ; is very sparing in reporting his owne cures , thinking it a part of high wisdome , that another should praise him , and not his owne lips : and knowing how coniecturall in his art many things are , dares not promise more than he can iustifie by art , lest he make himselfe ridiculous : and not being ignorant of the desperate condition of some , and how incurable many diseases are , doth freely and ingenuously professe ( though he be many times dismissed for his labour ) that they admit of no perfect cure , and will not feed men with a false hope , that he may be fed by their purses : nor will seeke his owne praise by vniust censuring of others . neither is the number of empericks thus onely increased by these their cunning sleights and crafty cousenages , but also by the childish dealing of those that imploy them . for ( as a learned d●uine of our times sayth of witches ( one sort of empericks ) they doe so dote vpon them , that though she faile in twenty things , yet if she do but some one thing aright , and that very small , the world loueth her and commendeth her for a good & wise woman : but the physition if he worke six hundred cures , yet if through the waiwardnesse of his patient , or the punishment of his patients sinne , he faile but in one , that one faile doth turne more to his discredit , than his manifolde , goodly and notable cures doe get him praise . the chiefest cause why they be thus addicted vnto them , and magnifie them aboue the learned physician , is partly because they can imploy them for a lesse reward ( wherein notwithstanding they are often times deceiued ) and partly because they will supply the place of a foole to make sport with , aswell as of a physitian to cure their infirmities . therefore are they called in the beginning to the cure of ordinary sicknesses wherein is no danger at all ; whereas the other is then sent for , whenas either by medicines , not fitting the disease , the sicke person is brought to the pits brinke , or at the least by trifling away the opportunity of time with medicines that doe no good , the disease becommeth incurable . heere if the sicke person dies , all the fault will be layed by those that fauour these empericks vpon the last physitian , that they cannot see but that moe die vnder the hand of the learned physitian than vnder others , that they haue no good lucke , because they often times die to whom they come . by these and the like speeches , sicke persons are discouraged from sending for any other physitian than him whom they first imployed for feare they should die . but it were wel if these silly persons knew how dangerous a thing in sicknesse a little delay is : for then would they consult with the most able physitian in the beginning of any infirmity how slight soeuer it seemed to be . for it is not so in this businesse as in matters of law , where if any error be committed in the first proceeding by the ignorance or insufficiency of him that was imployed , it may be reuersed or ( to vse their owne terme ) trauersed , and come to a new triall , by which it will plainly appeare what difference there is betweene the learned and ignorant lawyer : but in this matter of greater importance where the life is in question , the opportunity of time that is let slip can not be recalled , and therefore though the learned physitian knoweth what things should fitly haue beene vsed at the first , yet when he is called to the cure , there is no place for him , because remedies are good in their season only , and then are they gods hands : but when the opportunity of vsing them is past , then either they are nothing or hurtfull . and here kinde neighbours also , especially those of the better sort , come now to be censured as faulty ; who visiting a sicke person persuade him to such a course , or such a medicine , as formerly they haue had experience to haue done good to others in the like case . here if they mistake the disease or the nature of it , who conceiueth not what hurt may ensue , though altogether against their wils ? but admit the thing prescribed be not hurtfull , yet whilest the remedy is vsed , the seasonable time slippeth away , and the disease groweth desperate : and thus by their vnseasonable good will they hurt them more than if they hated them . notwithstanding , because that which they do , is in vnfained desire of their welfare , & of a compassionate affection they haue of the distressed estate of their neighbor ; they are rather friendly to be admonished that hereafter they desist and aduise nothing without the direction of a professor of that art , than to be sharply reprehended . as for the empericks ( amongst whom also you may recken our common apothecaries ) because they haue not so much humanity in them as to mourne in the miseries of others ; but all that they hunt after is how they may inrich themselues , though it be with the losse , not of the goods alone , but of the liues of men also , they must be proceeded against with all rigour and extremity , as we do with members that haue the gangrene and are now come to perfect mortification , wherunto we apply nothing either to clense or comfort the part , but cut it off that it corrupt not other sound parts . but this is the magistrates duty , and must be left vnto him . that which is to be done by priuate persons , that is , to inform the magistrate of things amisse , that he may redresse them ; and to giue a caueat to such as will be warned , is performed by a learned man in this treatise ; wherein such multiplicity of reading is ioyned with plainnesse and perspicuity , that such as be learned may finde that which will thorowly satisfie them , and the simpler sort shall haue no cause to complaine of the obscuritie thereof , to whose vnderstanding also he laboured to frame this booke . if any shall reade it without preiudice , he shall be constramed to confesse that the world is much abused by this kind of ( rauenous birds shall i call them which pray only vpon dead carcases ? nay , of ) sauadge and cruell beasts , which feed vpon liuing men , and make many carcases for the wormes before the time ; vnlesse ( peraduenture ) they so torture them before , as that there is no flesh to be found on them , but only the skin to couer the bones . much bound vnto him therefore is this age , and the ages succeeding for this his learned paines , if men will not wilfully run the brittle barke of their life vpon the rocks and sands , discouered by him as by a skilfull pilot . let him therefore be of high account with thee ( good reader ) not onely because he is learned , but also for that he hath so well deserued of humane societie , aduertising all men of great danger which they may preuent , descrying and vncasing these masked enemies of mankind , that hereafter , not the asses eares will be seene thorow the lions skinne , but they will appeare to all that will not wilfully shut their eyes to be such as they are indeed . incourage him by thine acceptance of the first fruits of his endeuors , and & ; so mayst thou reape greater fruit of his labours in time to come . farewell . a discourse of empiriks , or vnlearned physicians . the second thing which you require of me , is to set downe at large my opinion concerning empiriks . this i know , if it should be knowen , would be a worke subiect to much enuy and hatred . for whether i mitate such authors as i haue read , or speake out of my selfe , i shal be compelled to lay a grieuous accusation vpon them . and although tully sayth , it is a bondage not to speake against whom we l●st ▪ yet he seemeth to speake that as an oratour in pleading , and not from h●s owne iudgement : for in sundry other places he inclineth to the contrary . he came alwayes ioyfully to the defence and acquit ng of the suspected , but heauily and as it were drawen to the accusing of any , as plainly appeareth in the first inuectiue that he made . one reason hereof he rendreth in these words : i haue often scene those that haue ript vp other mens faults openly , to haue more grieuously offended the minds of the hearers , than those which cōmitted them . and another he giueth in these : the life of them , which accuse no man , is much freer . therefore hauing duely examined mine owne strength , i would gladly haue eased my weake shoulders of this heauy burthen , did not the continuall flow of your manifold kindnesse towards me , prouoke me to the performance of any office , that may seeme acceptable vnto you . i am further encouraged vnto this , first , by the nature of the accusation , that standeth vpon a manifest and infallible truth : next , by the hamous facts of the accused , which tend not to the losse of credit or goods , but of the pretious life of man : in regard whereof i might rather to be iudged , as carried with a desire of the publike good , than with an humot of any piruate or personall respect . the name of an empirike is deriued frō the greeke word which signifieth experience : and by an empirike is , as you know , vnderstood a practitioner in physicke , that hath no knowledge in philosophy , logicke , or grammar : but fetcheth all his skill from bare and naked experience . ignorance then is the difference whereby these men are distinguished from other physitians . but because ignorance is sometime clothed with the outward garments of knowledge , and men are commonly iudged of by that which is most apparent , i will set downe some outward marks , whereby they may easily be discerned . the first shall be their loquacity , or much speaking : langius brandeth them with this marke in his epistles , and compareth them to geese that are alwayes gagling . the second , their hasty , rash and vnaduised iudging of diseases , and promising the cure of them , before they know the causes . the th rd , their forwardnesse in disgracing and slandering other physicians , whom they know to be many degrees before them in the knowledge of the arte. the fourth , the magnifying of their owne sk ll , the extolling their practise , and amplifying their strange and admirable cures . these i only mention , hauing a fitter place to speake more largely of them . i am not ignorant that there was a sect of physicians amongst the ancients called empirici : rome was full of these when galen came thither : they had more than a superficiall knowledge in the ground of physicke , and wrot many learned books . i purpose not to speake of any such , but only of those that haue no taste of learning , but spent their youth either in mechanicall trades , or in some other course of life that barreth them from the knowledge of any of the liberall sciences . neither shall my words extend only to the baser sort of them , whom i holde not worth the naming , but vnto all , whosoeuer they be , that hauing not applied their tender yeres to study in the grammar schoole and vniuersity , are notwithstanding sometimes fortunate by multitude of patients , and famous by popular applause . and to auoid confusion , first , i w●ll lay downe the difficulty of the arte of physicke , the ample and large lim t s of it , with the necessity of other kinds of learning that must goe before it ; whereby all empiriks must needs be disabled . secondly , my intent is to discouer part of the manifolde errours , and incuitable dangers of their practise . thirdly , i will take away the obiections which are vsually brought in defence of them . last of all , i will make knowen vnto you the true causes of their popular fame so falsly ascribed vnto them . all which being duely considered , it will plainly appeare that empiriks are as farre behinde rationall physicians ( as they are called ) in the knowledge of our art , as thersites was behinde achilles in fortitude ; or as farre as an ordinary man commeth short of the strength of that mighty sampson . neither is it my purpose to vouchsafe them that cred●t , as to compare them with such a physician , as tully faineth his orator to be , or castilio his courtier , one complete , absolute , perfect , as hippocrates was , of whom a learned man of this age speaketh thus ; qui in hominibus excessisse mihi humanum fastigium videtur : but the contention shall stand betw●xt the best empir●ks that can be , and the ordinary and middle ranke of scholars that pract se physicke . and yet you shall finde , i doubt not , that of the poet to be heere true , great things are compared with small . touching the first , the deepe and profound knowledge conteined in this arte , the long time of study that it requ reth , the ambigu ty and hardnesse of iudgement , and the perill of experiments are all expressed in the first aphorisme of the renowmed father of our arte , the life of man is short , &c. as if he should say , after that a man hath spent almost his whole life in the painfull and diligent study of physicke , he shall not then be able to see into the depth of it : his experiments shall be subiect to danger , and his iudgement shall meet with many ambiguous scruples . and in a another place speaking of physicke , he sayth , it bringeth great labour and trouble to him that professeth it furthermore , he b appointeth sixe guides or leaders to the study of this arte. this is confirmed by galen , with some difference of words , but they agree in substance ; he that will attaine to the knowledge of physicke , must first be apt and fit for it by nature ; then he is to apply his minde to study in his youth ; and of continue with labour and diligence : this is to be done in a fit place , that is , in schooles of learning ; there he must heare the best learned men , and reade the most approued authours ; there he must learne the method of the art , and then he shal be fit to begin to practise . the necessity of this timely beginning , of hearing many learned masters , and of long perseuerance in diligent study , is prooued by that which galen speaketh of one particular thing in physicke , the whole life is required to the perfect knowledge of the pulse . what can be here said in defence of empiriks ? hippocrates and galen , the most competent iudges of all matters belonging to our arte , require many things in all the professors of it , two whereof are not to be found in the best of them : for whosoeuer examineth their education , shall finde that they neuer applied their youth to studie ; neuer had learned man to instruct them ; neuer vnderstood method or order of study , and therefore can follow none in their practise : for want whereof all they do is confused , disordered and dangerous . the ancients did signifie the difficulty of this arte , by placing a cragged or knotty staffe by the picture of aesculapius ; meaning thereby that it was a deepe , intricate , and profound study , full of knots and doubts , which can not be explaned or dissolued , but by such as haue long laboured in the diligent search of the secrets thereof . apollo was accounted amongst the heathen to be the god of physicke , and to haue reuealed it vnto aesculapius his sonne : so there is the same god of wisdome and of physicke : and learned physicians were called by the ancients , the sonnes of the gods . but empiriks whose yoong yeeres were neuer blessed with the knowledge of inferior arts , cannot in their riper age attaine to any meane knowledge in this diuine profession . he that applieth not his minde to the study of the liberall sciences when he is yoong , shall practise physicke dangerously in his full age . it is well knowen that scholars bestow almost twenty yeeres in study , first in the grammar schoole , and then in the vniuersity , before they can take the degree of doctours . if there had beene a more easie and compendious way to this knowledge , all ages had greatly erred in following this long , laborious , and chargeable course . i might inlarge the difficulty of this arte in setting downe the definition and diuision of it ; but i desire to auoid ted . ousnesse : therefore i will omit the former , and touch the latter briefly . this i note by the way , that the knowledge of both these ●s necessary to euery meane physician , being the first step and entrance into that study . this can not be comprehended without grammar , logike , and philosophy : for where a philosopher endeth , there a physician beginneth ; and the other two are necessary guides to this . therefore empiriks being ignorant of all these , are not to be called physitions , the artists name being iustly denied to them that vnderstand not the arte. physicke is diuided into fiue parts : these haue no proper english or latine names , and therefore are strange to the best empiriks . the first comprehendeth those things which are of the essence and nature of man , and are in number seuen : the elements , the temperament , the humors , the spirits , the parts of the body , the faculties , and the actions . the second searcheth out diseases with their causes and signes . the third expresseth and explaneth the signes whereby the courses and times of diseases , and consequently of life and death , are prognosticated and foreknowen . the fourth preserueth health and preuenteth diseases . the last teacheth the meanes to take away diseases , and to restore the body to perfect health . the particulars contained vnder these heads are almost infinite , and haue filled many large volumes . galen wrot 659 books of them . that which hath beene written since will fill great libraries . out of all the best of these the learned professours of our arte haue increased their knowledge , and confirmed their iudgement : whereas empiriks haue not read any of them , being ignorant of the languages wherin they are written , and also destitute of other learning necessary to the vnderstanding of such books . of the fiue foresayd parts of physicke empiriks haue little to do with foure ; for vnder these the theory and speculation of our arte is comprised , and that is farre aboue their capacity : therefore they exercise themselues in the last , wh ch comprehendeth the practise only . this reason is sufficient alone to bring all their practise into contempt with all men that haue any taste of learning : for if of fiue parts necessary for euery physician to know , they be vtterly ignorant of foure , and haue but a slender and superficiall skill in the fift ; if they rush into the practise of an arte , hauing neuer learned the theory , which is in all learning accounted necessary to be knowen before the practise can happily be attempted , they shall be driuen into infinite errours , and precipitate many of their patients into the graue . i need not adde further proofe of the antecedent , i know you see a manifest and vndoubted truth in it : those things are to be learned in schooles only , into which empiriks were neuer admitted . further , there are in the arte of physicke sixteene indications , as we ca●l them : the knowledge of these is as necessary to direct a physician in the cure of diseases , as the pilots card in sailing . they are as guides and conducters to leade vs into the vnderstanding of all things that may helpe or hurt our patients . the consideration of euery one of these is so necessary , that the omitting of one doth oft times marre the cure , as heurmus affirmeth . empiriks can not attaine to the knowledge of these , though they had the experience of nestors yeeres . if it please you to heare some few of the obseruations , that the methodicall cure of one disease requireth , you may thereby coniecture the difficulty of the healing of that and others . i take for example a pleurisie ; wherein i omit as impertinent to this place , the vsuall errour of empiriks in taking other diseases for this , and the danger of the sicke by the course of physicke built vpon a false foundation . first the learned physician is to search out the proper signes of this disease , and by them to distinguish it from others that haue some affinity with it : then he looketh into the cause of it , into the differences , and into the symptomes or accidents that attend vpon it : he examineth the naturall constitution of the patient , his present state of body his former course of life , his age , his strength , the time of the disease , the season of the yeere , &c. he considereth the qualities and quantity of the humors ; from whence the matter of the disease floweth ; whether from the whole body , or from one part ; by what passages it mooueth ; whether swiftly , or slowly ; whether vehement paine draweth it , or the sharpnesse or plenty of the humor stirreth vp or prouoketh the motion . out of an aduised consideration of all these , first a diet is to be appointed : this can not be the same in euery one that laboureth of this sicknesse , but it requireth great variety and alteration agreeable to the foresaid circumstances . then followeth the consultation of the meanes of the cure : what kinde of euacuation is fittest ; whether opening a veine , or purging , or both , or neither : for sometimes the matter of the disease is discussed by outward medicines , and requireth neither of these two helps . sometimes there is a fit vse of fomentations , and after them , of bleeding , as hippoc. did , when the disease could not be mitigated by these outward meanes , he opened a veine the eighth day . in many other cases it is necessary to take away a great quantity of bloud in the beginning : therefore heurnius sayth , blood can not be taken away too soone , nor in too great a quantity , if the patient be strong : but in weaknesse it must be done often & by small quantities . in some bodies arte forbiddeth taking away of any bloud , though the patient be strong , and inioyneth purging . in some cases the passages are to be stopped , and the humor to be made thicke after bleeding , lest new matter should flow to the place affected . after the flux is stayed , then the weake parts are to be strengthened , and the matter impact in the side to be prepared or tempered , that it may be cast vp by coughing with greater facility . heere is a broad gate opened to a large field of medicines of sundry sorts , as ointments , plaisters , syrups , potions &c. some of these are very hot and much opening ; some very cold and binding . in the vse of these , and also of all the former things , the empirike is plunged into many doubts , and the patient into as many dangers : if he take away too little blood , he taketh not away the disease ; if too much , he taketh away life : if he purgeth when he should open a veine , or doth this when that is required , he committeth a pernicious errour : if he iudgeth not rightly of the humor abounding , of the complexion &c. ( of which only arte is the competent iudge ) he can attempt nothing in the cure safely , nor so much as appoint a fit diet . if he prescribeth locall or outward medicines of too hot operation , the heart is thereby inflamed the ague exasperated , and life indangered . if there be in them any defect of heat , the matter of the disease is bound faster into the side and chest with as great perill . if inward medicines be not proportioned to euery vnnaturall affect in the body , and to euery offensiue quality , as now heating , then cooling ; now moistening , then drying : sometimes extenuating or making the humor thinne , sometimes incrassating or making it thicke ; sometimes opening , somtimes stopping , &c. the patient doth neuer receiue any good , but commonly much hurt by them . neither is the pleurisie only to be respected , but there must be a vigilant eye vpon the ague also , which alwayes accompanieth the other , and may kill the patient as well as the pleurisie . moreouer there may be great malignity in the humor , as gesner reporteth in an epidemiall pleurisie all died in whom a veine was opened , and all liued that receiued cordials . in the great variety of these doubts , difficulties and distinctions there is a necessary vse of sound iudgement , confirmed by long study and profound knowledge both in philosophy and physicke . it is therefore cleere that the practise of empiriks , being destitute of these helps , must needs be vnfit and full of perill . it may well be compared to his , that forestus mentioneth , who wrot out sundry receits ouer night , and put them confusedly into a bagge : in the morning when patients came to him , after he had looked on the vrine , he put his hand into the bagge ( saying to the party , pray that you may haue a happy lot ) and plucking out that which came first to hand , he gaue it as a remedy for the disease . though our empiriks haue a farre better colour for their practise than this was , yet in effect they often agree . but i proceed to lay open some few of their grosse and palpable errors in their practise , for to speake of all requireth a whole volume . i will begin with their mistaking of diseases , a common errour with them , & exceeding dangerous to their patients . diseases are knowen and distinguished by their signes . the knowledge of this is comprehended vnder the second part of physicke before mentioned , whereof , because they are ignorant , they must needs fall often into this fault . this is seldome discouered but when rationall physicians haue opportunity to looke into their practise ; then they see the disease taken to be in the liuer , when it is in the lungs or kidneis ; to be in the heart , when it is in the head or mouth of the stomacke ; to be in the brest , when it is winde in the stomacke extending that region : and many such . what though they can iudge of the gout , the palsie , and the dropsie ? so can simple women doe : but to iudge rightly of the causes and differences of these diseases , of the manifold differences of agues , of simple and compound sicknesses , and of sundry diseases of the head ; that requireth arte , which is not in any empirike . hippoc. sheweth the misery that fel vpon many of the scythians by mistaking their disease and the causes of it , and thereupon by taking a wrong course in the cure ; of strong and able men , they became as effeminate as weake women , and spent all the remainder of their wretched life in the offices of that sex . heurnius reporteth that an vnlearned physician by mistaking the cause of the disease , put his patient into a bath , wherein he died presently ; and the empirike was iustly accused for killing of him . guanerius setteth forth the deadly error of another in the cure of a sicke man , who after extreme & intolerable paines , ended his life . a learned physician hauing a melancholike patient depriued of the right vse of his inward senses , amongst other things in the cure , appointed his head to be shauen , and then to be anointed and bathed according to arte : an empirike hearing of this cure , gat the receit of the outward medicines vsed in it ; and not long after , lighting vpon one sicke of a phrensic or inflammation of the braine , thought it to be the same disease with the former , because both the patients were madde : therefore he followed the steps of the other , with great confidence of the cure : this grieuous error in mistaking both the disease and the cause of it , brought the miserable man to a speedy and of his life , farre more cruell to himselfe , and more terrible to the beholders than the sicknesse could haue done . the reason of this is plaine and euident to euery meane physician . the cause of rauing in the former , was a cold humor ; in the latter , a hot : therefore hot medicines , which were fit to cure the one , were as fit to kill the other . but admit the empirike had beene called to the cure of the same disease , proceeding from the same cause , yet he could not haue obserued the circumstances which arte required , and therefore his receit was vaine and vnprofitable . if the course of these blinde practisioners could be obserued , it would be found to be like to this in euery disease . our books are full of such wofull examples . a huge volume will not conteine all the tragicall histories of the sicke of this age , manifestly killed by the ignorance of empiriks , being not able to discerne one disease from another , or to distinguish of their causes , or to proceed orderly in the cure . the eye can not discerne colours but by the light ▪ nor physitians diseases but by learning . in the night not only indiui lua , but species are mistaken ; as a man for a beast , or a tree for either of them . it is alw●●es night with empiriks : ignorance is darknesse , and knowledge is as the cleere light of the sun . and doubtlesse the learned physitian hath as great aduantage ouer empiriks in discerning of diseases , as they that iudge of the eyes obiect by the sunne , ouer those that iudge of it by the starres . they do the oftener fall into this errour , because some diseases agree in two or three signes , and yet are farre different . the perfect examining and comparing of signes , and referring of them to their seuerall causes , can not be performed without arte. but suppose they could distinguish of most diseases , whereof they come farre short ; yet to know the disease is not one step to the cure , vnlesse the method and maner of proceeding in it , be as well knowen . but to proceed in discouering their errours : the two most effectuall and vsuall meanes for the cure of most diseases , are opening a veine and purging . the speciall obseruations that are required in both these , are farre aboue the apprehension of vnlearned empiriks ; therefore they can not vndertake any thing fitly and safely in either of them . what a great regard is to be had in preseruing bloud in his naturall quantity and qualities , is euident in that it giueth nourishment and strength to the whole body : and it is as it were the meat whereby the natiue heat is fed , as galen sayth : therefore it may not be drawen out of the body without mature deliberation . the things that are to be obserued in opening a veine , are reduced vnto ten heads : these i must not mention , because i labour to be short . many of these conteine such doubts and difficulties , as require much reading and deepe knowledge . empiriks alwayes take away blood without due examination of these , ( for how can they examine those that they know not ? ) therefore oft times they take away life also . experience , their only mistresse , can not teach the difference of diseases , of complexions , and of the rest . what though they can iudge of them in a large latitude , as to perceiue a difference betwixt a great disease and a light , betwixt strength and weaknesse ? this euery ideot can do : as when two plots of ground are obiect to the eye , the one farre exceeding the other in greatnesse , euery beholder perceiueth a great difference ; but the iust proportion of that difference can not be found out , but by measuring them according to the rules of geometry . so empiriks for want of learning can not iudge of these things in so strait a latitude as arte requireth . but beside the foresayd ten heads , other consultations are necessary , whereof empiriks are lesse capable than of the former : as what veine is to be opened ; whether a large or small orifice be fitter ; what quantity of bloud should be taken ; whether it be safer to doe it at once , or at sundry times ; whether emptying simply , or reuelling , or diuerting be required ; at what time of the disease it should be done ; how many things do inhibit opening of a veine , or perswade delay . the learned physician is bound by the rules of his arte to consult of all these and many other , before he dare attempt so great a worke : but the empirike not foreseeing the perill of omitting these consultations , runneth rashly into it , and abuseth this excellent remedy to the losse of the life of many a patient , as galen plainly sheweth . errours in this kinde are obuious and common to them : one openeth a veine vnder the tongue ( by following some english booke , or imitating some learned physician , not knowing the obseruations necessary in that he attempteth ) in a squinsie , the patient being full of blood and the disease in the beginning : whereupon followeth present suffocation , by drawing a greater flux to the place affected . an other , as ignorantly , openeth a veine on the arme vpon the criticall day , when there are signes of the crisis by bleeding at the nose : by this action nature is crossed in her regular course , and compelled to yeeld to the disease . a third omitteth letting of blood in a sharpe disease , sundry indications , which he vnderstandeth not , concurring to perswade it , and none to disswade . a fourth taketh away too little blood in a great disease , or too much in a light . all these empiriks increase their credit out of these deadly errours , by extolling their owne skill , falsifying strange cures performed by them , and affirming that if they had come in time , they would not haue failed in the cure of these diseases : now they had performed all that arte required : the best doctour in the land could haue taken no other course . they that are eye and eare witnesses of these secret tragoedies , can hardly suspect the ignorance of these confident and glorious empiriks to haue beene the cause of them . thus you see sir , how infortunate , or rather indiscreet they are , that commit their bodies to the cure of an empirike , whose ignorance often bringeth death , where the disease threateneth no danger at all . it is a miserable thing when greater peril hangeth ouer the patient from the physician , than from the disease . the countrey is full of such pitifull practise . the empiriks lance is oft times as deadly as the butchers knife . he that promiseth life with his tongue , bringeth the instrument of death in his hand . therefore whosoeuer regardeth his life , let him not suffer a veine to be opened without the aduice of a learned physician . in other cases where life is not presently indangered , gr●euous effects follow . the taking away of blood from women and weake men , casteth them into palsies , gouts , dropsies , and such like di●eases . galen in many places doth inculcate the danger of opening a veine often ; it wasteth & consumeth the spirits , diminisheth naturall heat & strength , and hasteneth old age accompanied with many infirmities . yet the common people , ignorant of this , flocke together to empiriks in the spring to be let bloud , as if it were a preseruatiue against all diseases . few or none are refused , because they bring money ; few receiue good , many hurt , because the fornamed obseruations are neglected . the blame of this publike hurt lieth iustly vpon the head of empiriks , who partly for their owne gaine , and partly for want of iudgement , haue led the multitude into this errour . touching purging , as it is more common and vsuall than letting of bloud , so the errours committed in it are as many , and in many cases procure equall danger to the sicke . it is called a great worke , for it bringeth great ease and comfort to the afflicted when it is performed according to the rules of arte ; and on the other side , it tormenteth them , doubleth the disease , and indangereth life , when it is vndertaken rashly and vnaduisedly by such as vnderstand not all things that are to be considered in it , as none of our empiriks do . i confesse that experience will teach them what medicine will purge gently , and what strongly ; but what is that to the whole mystery of purging ? for the same authour sayth in the same chapter , he that will purge any man must diligently obserue and marke almost an infinite number of things . in which words he vtterly excludeth all empiriks from medling with it , because they are ignorant of the limits and marks whereby they should be directed in it . al o in other place discoursing of the danger of purging , he concludeth thus ; no man ought to giue a purging medicine without great consideration . hippocr . in sundry places sheweth the perill of rash purging ; against which he giueth this precept : nothing is to be done rashly or negligently : speaking of that action . ignorant boldnesse in the vse of purgers , with dangerous successe attending vpon it , was neuer so common as in this age . purgers are too full of perill for the vnlearned to touch . one sayth well of them ; in what thing soeuer god hath placed admirable power and vertue , there he hath also placed danger , as it were the keeper of that vertue . this hath an vndoubted trueth in most purging medicines ; the hurt and danger whereof commonly breaketh out when they are vsed by such as can not order them according to arte. in respect of this danger the herbalist , and others that haue written of simple or compound purgers in our vulgar language , giue this necessary caution ; not to vse them without the counsell of a learned physician . and this is vsuall amongst those of our profession ; the further that any of them hath waded into the depth of it , and the profounder knowledge that he hath , the more hardly he is drawen to communicate the vse of purgers with those that haue not studied the arte : because the errors in giuing them are many and great ; and the safe and fit vse is hidden and locked vp with other mysteries of physicke , in the writings of hippoc. and galen . a light errour herein bringeth oft times exceeding danger ; if the medicine be too strong , or too gentle ; if the quantity faileth in defect or excesse ; if the first qualities agree not with the disease and temper of the body ; if it be hastened before the iust time , or delayd after : the patient hath either his disease prolonged thereby , o● his life shortened . the first consulation about this action , is ▪ whether it be fit to purge , or not . here the artist discourseth methodically of euery particular concerning this point , which i passe ouer to auoid tediousnesse , holding it sufficient to point at the generals . after this point is cleered , and that arte perswadeth purging ; then there arise other things very aduisedly to be considered : as the nature of the humour offending ; whether it requireth preparing , or not ; in what part of the body it lieth most ; what kinde of medicine is fittest ; whether it should be in a solide , or a liquid forme ; whether it should be brought out at once with a strong medicine , or often with gentle , &c. empiriks can not consult of these things without arte , much lesse iudicially resolue of so many intricate circumstances and deepe points of learning : therefore their practise must be subiect to many errours . alas then , in what miserable estate are their patients ? for one errour followeth in the necke of another , like the waues of the sea . euery new medicine threateneth a new danger . confusion attendeth vpon ignorance : only arte obserueth order and method , without which no disease can be certeinly cured , as galen affirmeth . the vsuall all maner of purging amongst empiriks is , to giue a medicine full of scammony ; which , as galen witnesseth , is of all purges the greatest enemy to the stomacke : it draweth ill humors vnto it , and leaueth a long offensiue loathsomnesse behinde it ; it ouerheateth the body , breedeth winde , raceth and excoriateth tender bowels , and so procureth incurable fluxes . this is their common purger , because it worketh plentifully , and is of small price : the one pleaseth the vulgar , and the other profiteth themselues . they that vse gentler medicines are also subiect to dangerous errours ; one draweth the humor downward , when nature attempteth to expell it vpward ; another prepareth that , which should without delay haue beene sent out of the body ; a third purgeth raw humors , contrary to that approoued rule of hippoc. all of them wanting arte to obserue natures operation towards a perfect crisis , doe oft times hasten her sure and stedfast course , and driue it into such violence , as can not afterward be stayed . all these and infinite other errours empiriks commit in their practise , which learned and iudiciall physicians , guided by the rules of their arte , can not fall into . there is one sort of these empiriks , that vse but one kinde of purging drinke for all diseases . this is a lamentable kinde of practise : it driueth many into vncurable dysenteries , hectike feuers , and consumptions , and casteth them by heaps headlong into their graues . but i leaue these as the baser sort of them , and most woorthy to be purged out of the common wealth , and returne againe to the great magnifico's . there was about six yeeres since an epidemiall or popular flux raging thorow most places of this land . this disease stood vpon great putrefaction and corruption of humors . the course for the cure was to resist this putrefaction to temper and prepare the matter offending , and to driue it out with gentle purgers fitted to the humor , complexion , strength , and season . then the parts weakned were to be corroborated and strengthened both by inward and outward medicines . empiriks , being not acquainted with this disease , and finding little written in their english books for the cure ofit , tooke a contrarie course , and first of all gaue strong binders . this was very acceptable to patients for a while , for it stayed the violent flowing of the humors , it procured present sleepe , and mitigated paine . by this preposterous and dangerous course , though some few , that had strong bodies , and receiued this medicine towards the end of the disease , when almost all the infectious matter was expelled , recouered their health ; yet a great number had their lines cut off : some died sleeping , being stupied with that poisoned medicine : others had their ague increased , by stopping in the corrupt humor : in many the flux broke forth againe with farre greater fury . if these empiriks had euer read of the danger of this medicine , that it is neuer to be giuen to yong or old ; nor to women ; neuer to any but only in great extremities , and with many cautions ; they might haue auoided this deadly errour . but it was strange to see how the multitude flocked to those that were boldest in the vse of this medicine ; for the fame of it for present remedy was spread abroad by them that gaue it , and the danger concealed . thus the simple people greedy of the pleasant bait , swallowed downe the killing hooke . it was not easie for one to take warning by another , the subtill empiriks had so prouided for the credit both of the medicine and of themselues : for when any died , they gaue out that the medicine was not giuen soone enough , ( whereas the sooner it commeth , the more perill it bringeth ) or that the patient committed some fault , which was the cause ofhis death : for many had beene cured by this in other places . another pernicious error , whereinto ignorance carrieth them , is to seeke out medicines in the titles of diseases : as in some english bookes in the title of an ague , they finde that sorell is good for it , and carduus ben●dictus also ; the one being very hot , and the other colde . heere arte is necessary to distinguish of the humour and the complexion : for he that giueth that which is not fit for both these , bringeth no light danger . galen vtterly condemneth medicines giuen without distinction , and sheweth the danger of them by an example in the practise of an vnlearned physitian , who hauing cured many of patnes in the cares proceeding from a colde cause , gaue the same medicine in a hot cause with vnhappy successe . also he reporteth a greater error in another physician , who in the beginning of a sweat brought his patient into a bath ; whereupon followed present death . if all our learned physitians should bring together all the pitifull examples that they haue obserued in the practise of empiriks , they would fill large volumes . galen sayth , many die because they obey not their physician . but they that ob●erue the practise of our empiriks , may as truly say , many die because they obey their ignorant and vnlearned physicians . if their deadly errors could be perceiued by others , as well as by those that professe the arte , some of them might be as famous as themison , of whom iuuenal sayth , olde age is subiect to as many infirmities , as themison killed patients in one autumne . galen sette●h forth their errors very liuely in these words ; as often as they visit their patients , so often they erre by their inartificiall attempts . but i will examine their errors no further . the reasons brought in defence of empiriks are now to be confuted . the first and maine reason is , their experience , the very foundation of all their practise . it is thus defined by ga●en ; it is an obseruation and remembrance of that which hath fallen out often and after the same maner . this definition vtterly maimeth the practise of our best empiriks : for by this it is cleere that experience reacheth not to the theorie and speculation of the arte ; it teacheth not the knowledge of the difference of the constitutions of mens bodies , nor of the causes of diseases , nor method of curing them : for none of the●e fall out after the same maner : but it respecteth only some few things in the practise ; for in that also are many occurents , that fall not out after the same maner , and therefore can no● be learned by experience . diseases , as they haue sundry causes , so their symptomes and accidents are variable . heurnius speaking of one disease , sayth , it deludeth the physician a thousand wayes . what can experience learne in this great variety ? i confesse it is a necessary and effectuall meane to confirme the knowledge of a physician . the euent and successe of things past must be carefully obserued and layd vp in memory to be compared with things to come . many things also are found out by experience alone , as the nature of simples ; wherein galen commendeth it highly : in finding out the vertue of medicines we must begin at exper ence , sayth he . to this agreeth that which he speaketh of the same argument in another place . this first taught that rubarbe purgeth choler , and agarike flegme . gesner amongst others , was exceedingly industrious in this kinde , & found out many things in our art by his experience , as he affirmeth in his epistles . but this bringeth nothing to the credit of empiriks : for what are these few things in comparison of all those that are required in a physician ? one reporteth that a yong man walking by the sea side , and finding an old boat , purposed to build a ship therewith , neuer considering what a great number of other things were required to so great a worke . experience helpeth no more towards that great building of the art of physicke , than that did towards a ship . no learned man euer ascribed any commendation to experience in this arte , but when it was ioyned with learning . pliny speaketh thus of them that practise by experience without learning : they learne by our perils , and they trie experiments by our death . experience alone , with a little helpe of nature , maketh men skilfull in mechanicall trades , in merchandize , and in other kinds of buying and selling ; but the deepe knowledge conteined in the l berall sciences , and in other learning rising out of them , requireth much read ng , long study , great meditation ; and after the theoric or speculation of them is obteined , then practise and experience confirmeth and establisheth them : but without the former , the latter is weake , lame , and maimed . galen in sundry places expresseth the danger of experience without learning , and sheweth into what grieuous errou●s empiriks fall for want of knowledge . they runne rashly and without reason from one medicine to another , hoping at the last to finde out that which shall helpe . a dangerous and desperate kind of practise , when for want of the light of arte , they are compelled to wander gro●ing in the darke dungeon of ignorance , not knowing wh ch way to turne . and yet in galens time there were no such empir●ks , as in this age ; it was not then heard of , that a man vtterly ignorant in the foundation of all learning , durst presume to intrude himselfe into the practise of that deepe and intricate science . the difference betwixt an artist and him that worketh by experience , is set ●oorth by aristotle : an artist knoweth the causes and reasons of things subiect to his arte : an empirike knoweth many things also ; but he is ignorant of the causes of them . what thought he can in some things satisfie the ignorant vulgar with some shew of reason ? euery simple man can doe this in his trade : yet in the great and maine points of the arte , empiriks can yeeld no sound reason , being vo d of the knowledge of philosophy , from wh ch the causes of such things are drawen . galen setteth physicke , as a perfect man vpon two legges ; learning , and experience : therefore the best empirike is but a lame and left-legged physician . it is a full consent of all learned in physicke or philosophy , that nothing can be happily done in the art of physicke without method and order : and it is as true that experience can not teach this method . this is confirmed by plato ; he that thinketh he hath learned an arte without the method of ●t , let him know that he hath but the shadow of the arte , and not the arte it selfe . therefore all the practise of our long experienced men , being destitute of order and method , can haue no approbation amongst the learned , but it is to be vtterly reiected and banished out of the common-wealth , as a pernicious and perillous enemy to the liues of men . it is like to the walking of a blinde man in a knowen path , wherein , if there be a hole digged , or a blocke layed , he is in danger of falling so if there be any hidden thing in the disease , in the causes , or symptomes of it , as there is commonly , the empirike is beyond his skill , he stumbleth and falleth ; and the life of the sicke is in ieopardy . moreouer , if an empirike light vpon a rare disease , not seene before by him , or vpon a new disease , whereof he neuer heard , what safe course can he take here ? he wanteth learning , and experience hath taught him nothing that bringeth any sparke of hope in this case . here he is vtterly confounded : yet he will neuer confesse his ignorance , and counsell his patient to send to a learned physician : but not knowing what to do in the disease , nor able to giue any reason of it , he p●onoun●●th the patient to be bewitched ; and so leaueth him . therefore though the vulgar may suppose that experience is sufficient for the cure of common and ordinary maladies , yet it is absurd and senselesse , to imagine that it can inable then : in rare , extraordinary , and new sicknesses . an ague , that seemeth to be but an ordinary and light sicknesse , may haue some malignity in it , or may be secretly fixed in some principall part , or be accompanied with some other disease . heere experience can not distinguish : that must proceed from logicke , and from knowledge in naturall philosophy , but especially from anatomy and the grounds of physicke . therefore experience is a blinde and weake guide to direct in these cases ; and no patient can assure himselfe that his disease is not within the compasse of some of these . how can any man then call an empirike to the cure of his body without great danger ? you see , sir , what a weake ground experience is to build all the practise of physicke vpon . learning is as it were the very soule of this arte , which hath his full perfection when it is confirmed by experience : but this wi●hout that is to be condemned as a dangerous thing . but some men are so full of grosse ignorance , and so dull of conceit , that notwithstanding all that hath beene sayd , they will be obstinate in their senselesse opinion , that sufficient knowledge for the practise in physicke may be gotten by experience alone . i will not deale with these vnlearned men ; i write onely to you whom i know to be learned and iudiciall , and therfore satisfied in this point : and yet i will adde this out of galen : he that hopeth to heape vp the speculation of the arte of physicke by experience without learning , hath need of a thousand yeeres . this grand reason of experience is further vrged of some by the example of atturneys at the common law : most of these haue nothing to direct them but experience and obseruation , and yet sundry things passe thorow their hands as substantially and effectually performed , as by learned counsellers : therefore vnlearned physicians well instructed by experience may do some cures as well as great scholars . the answer to this is easie : there are many things in law which belong meerely to atturneys , and require no learning : also they follow presidents and vsuall formes , and many things wh ch they doe , are plaine transcripts , written out of bookes verbatim , wherein they cannot erre , if they follow their paterne . but it is farre otherwise in physicke : there is no vsuall forme to follow in iudging or curing of diseases ; things seldome fall out after the same maner ; the physician must alter and change his course , as the disease and accidents require , wherein experience can not guide him , but the rules of the arte. but if i should grant that empiriks are as atturneys , then it must follow that learned physicians are as learned counsellers : and as atturneys in doubtfull cases aske the opinion of them , so should empiriks do of the other : this would make their practise farre freer from danger , and preserue the ●ues of many of their patients . but the case of an atturney and of an empirike is not alike : if by his fault his client lose the day , the matter may somtimes be brought about againe ; but if life be lost by the error of the empirike , it can not be restored . the second reason brought in defence of empir ks is , that they reade english books sufficient to instruct them in their practise . this reason seemeth to proceed from one that vnderstandeth his mother tongue only : for if his iudgement were confirmed by the knowledge of learned languages , he would not vrge this weake argument . all the large volumes of hipp. gal. auicen and all other famous physicians both new and olde , were first written in the greeke or latine tongues , or afterward translated into one of them ; the ignorance whereof hath in all ages beene accounted a strong ba●●e to exclude all men from the profession of that arte. that which is written in english is very little and light in respect of the whole : nether can it be perfectly vnderstood without the helpe of grammar and logicke , as euery meane scholar will confesse . all nations christian , wherein the ciuill law is vsed , can not affoord one man of any meane account in that profession , that vnderstands not the latine tongue , wherein their large books are written . and i dare confidently affirme , that physicke is as profound and intricate a study as the ciuill law , and requireth as much reading and knowledge o● tongues , as that doth . therefore i see not why the practise of our most famous empiriks should not be brought into base and contemptible account . what though there be a profitable vse of ministers in our church , that vnderstand english books only , being yet able to execute their office in some commendable maner ? yet this reason holdeth not in empiriks : for first there is farre more diuinity than physicke written in our vulgar idiome ; all the grounds and principles of religion are set forth at large in it : whereas no part of hipp. gal. &c. is translated into that tongue secondly , ministers haue farre greater helps in hearing the learned of that profession , and in frequent conference with them : whereas empiriks labour alwayes to auoid the presence and company of learned physicians , being not able to speake any th ng sensibly in their profession , nor willing to haue it knowen that they aske counsell of any man , because they carry themselues as if they had the complete and absolute knowledge of the arte. thirdly , the maner of teaching differeth farre from the maner of practise , and is not subiect to so many errours . but on the other side , as no minister is able to confute a learned aduersarie , that hath not skill at the least in the latine tongue ; so no empirike is able to encounter with sicknesse , that great aduersarie to nature , without weapons fetched from the greeke or latine tongue . m. latimer sayth in one of his sermons ; english diuinity will neuer be able to expell popery out of this land : and it may as truly be sayd ; engl●sh physicians can not cure english diseases . the third reason is ; they do many cures . th●s maketh much for their credit with them that perceiue not the falshood of it . all cures are artificiall , naturall , or casuall . no man of iudgement can ascribe artificiall cures to them that are not artists . i am not ignorant that nature is sayd to cure all diseases ; nor how that is to be vnderstood : but by naturall cures i meane those that are performed by the strength of nature alone without any helpe of medicines ; and doubtlesse many of their cures are of this kinde : for when the disease is dangerous or vnknowen , as it is often to them , there the most circumspect of them commonly giueth some light medicine , that hath no power to alter the body , or mitigate the disease , as is required : this is , as one sayth , to leaue a ship in a great storme to the violence of the waues . if in this case the patient recouer by the aid of nature , then this fortunate empirike and his companions extoll and magnifie the cure , as if rare and extraordinary skill had beene shewed in it , when it was meerely naturall . by casuall cures i meane not such as are meerely casuall , and beside the purpose of them that giue the medicines : of this kinde are the histories in galen , of two desperately sicke of the leprosie , to both which was giuen wine wherein a viper had beene drowned : both the giuers had a purpose to kill them ; the one of compassion , the other of hatred : but both the patients were cured by the secret and admirable vertue of the viper . like to this is that which we reade of a woman that gaue her husband the powder of a toad to rid him out of a painfull dropsie ; but by the violent operation of the poison all the matter of the disease was expelled , and the man recouered . but by casuall cures i vnderstand such as are performed by hap or chance in respect of the arte , being done without order or method ; as when one shooteth neglecting all the fiue things required in an archer , and yet hitteth the marke : this is a meere chance , and falleth out seldome . such are the cures of empiriks . fulnesse of blood in the veines , and of ill humors in the body , are the common causes of most inward diseases : here the learned physician first collecteth all the signes of the disease , then he referreth them to their causes ; and hauing diligently reuolued in in his minde all the indications belonging to the art , he proceedeth to the cure by taking away the cause of the disease . the empirike in the same case , not knowing how to gather the signes of the sicknesse , much lesse how to referre them to their causes , attempteth the cure without consultation , and by a weake and inartificiall coniecture openeth a veine , or giueth a violent purger ; by both which rash and vnaduised courses many lose their liues : but when any recouer , the cure may fitly be called casuall , more by good hap than by learning . light errors in the cure of a disease doe neuer appeare in a strong bodie , as hippoc. saith , nor in a light disease , no more than the ignorance of a pilot in a calme : but a great disease and a violent storme trieth the skill of them both . sometimes grosse and gricuous errors are obscured and hidden : for where the strength of nature weareth them out , and the patient recouereth his health , the empericke can neuer be stained with the blot of them . therefore since almost all inward diseases proceed from fulnesse , some are cured in strong bodies by emptying , though that be done confusedly and without arte. but this reason is further inforced , that sundrie sicke persons recouer vnder them , which came out of the hands of learned physitians . this is no argument of their knowledge , for in long diseases patients are commonly desirous of change , when somtimes the cause of the disease is taken awaie before , and nothing required but time to gather strength . moreouer they that are tired with long sicknesse , do vsually submit themselues to a stricter course both of medicines and diet vnder their second physitian : and though nothing be administred in either of these agreeable to art , yet some few may escape , as a shippe or two , in the losse of a great fleet , may passe by rockes and sands , and a●iue at the wished hauen . also some that haue beene afflicted with long sicknesse , are willing to submit themselues to a farre stricter course vnder their second physitian , than vnder their first ▪ and are easily induced both to abstaine from things hurtfull , be they neuer so pleasing to them , and to take that which is offensiue . and although the best of these vnlearned practitioners cannot prescribe diet or medicine fitting to the temper of the body , and agreeing to the nature of the disease : yet a slender diet of rosted meats , and a drying drinke ( which is a common course with them all ) doth sometimes cure an old disease proceeding from a cold and moist humour , though all things be done confusedlie without order or methode . fernelius affirmeth , that some great and dangerous diseases haue had an happie end by a slender and strict diet onel●e , without any arte. and this is the reason why learned physitians doe sometimes faile in the cure of diseases of this kind , because intemperate patients will not be barred from eating & drinking according to their appetite , but as fast as the physitian diminisheth the matter of the sicknesse by emptying , so fast they renew it againe by filling . therefore a seruant , that by the basenesse of his condition , is bound to follow all that which is prescribed agreeable to the rules of our arte , is cured in a shorter time and with more facility , than those which are free , and wi●l not subiect themselues to ordinarie meanes . an empiricke then , that hath opportunity to draw patients ●rom their owne houses , where they haue all pleasant things at command and to bring them into his strict custodie , may well heale some by abstinence onely : as a plin. reporteth of one iulius a romane , and b b●neuenius telleth of a patient of his : both which were cured of a dropsie by abstaining from drinke . furthermore , ignorance , the mother of boldnesse , maketh empiriks more aduenturous in their practise , and more hardy in the vse of strong and violent medicines : by reason whereof they plucke vp the roote of some disease which a warie and circumspect physitian , forseeing the perill , would not attempt . and although this kind of practise be alwaies full of danger , and bringeth many a man to vntimely death , yet it is in daily vse with many ignorant practitioners . and when one amongst many receiue health by it , then the emperike taketh occasion to magnifie himselfe , and to disable the former physitian , were he neuer so learned : his owne fame together with the others infamie is blased abroad . but if their practise with other mens patients were well examined , it would plainly appeare , that for one that recouereth , very many end their liues , or increase their disease . tully saith , he that shooteth all day long , is like to hit the marke sometimes : and they that haue many patients may cure some in despite of arte. their cures are farre more noted because they doe earnestly endeuour to make them obiects to the eies and eares of all men , and labour as carefully to conceale the dangerous and deadly effects of their ignorant and desperate practise from the view of the world. men that runne thorow many great actions , if the few happie and fortunate they performe be set vpon a stage in the light of the sunne , and all the bad and vnhappie hidden in the darke , the vulgar shall finde much matter of commendation , though some few sharpe sighted shall see iust cause to condemne them . it is vsuall with empirikes to extoll and magnifie their owne cures , and with their smooth tongues to allure simple & credulous men to applaude and giue credit to their hyperbolicall and amplified discourse , and vaine glorious brags of their woonderfull and rare cures . but learned and ingenious physitians account it an odious and hatefull thing to boast of their cures , & therefore they haue commonly lesse applause and commendation of the multitude . when mens actions merit no true and iust praise , they are woont to seeke for false : and he is allowed to commend himselfe , whom no other will commend . the fourth reason to inable empiriks is , that they haue excellent medicines , yea some of them haue rare and admirable secrets . this is like a plaine iugling tricke , wherein things seeme to simple beholders farre otherwise than they are . hippoc. gal. and other renowmed physitians had no secrets , though some things in their bookes haue a sound and outward shew of them . for hip. saith , holy things ( meaning the secrets of physicke ) are not to be discouered to profane persons . and galen speaketh to the same purpose , we write not these things for the germanes , nor for other rude and barbarous people no more then for beares , or bores , or lions : but for the grecians , and for those that imitate their studies , though they be of the stocke of the barbarians . this they wrot to shew the base account that the learned grecians made of the rude and illiterate barbarians : but it is manifest out of their works that they had no purpose to conceale the mysteries of their art from learned men . for hipp. sweareth to teach his scholers all the mysteries and secrets of physick . and heurnius , speaking of hippocrates , saith , so great was the bountie of that great master , that he knew nothing whereof he would haue vs ignorant . also galen hath these words , a louer of the truth ought to hide nothing that he hath found out . and in another place he vttereth his disliking of concealing secrets in these words . it seemeth to me a very rude and clownish part to hide those things which belong to health . and he protesteth that he hath communicated to others all the secrets that he had found out . if it were esteemed odious and intolerable amongst them that had no knowledge of god , to locke vp those things in secret , which might preserue the bodie in health , or bring an happie and wished end to grieuous diseases : much more ought it to be condemned amongst religious christians . but in this boasting of secrets the common sort are carried into a double errour : for first , empiriks haue no such secrets : secondly , if they had , they cannot make a fit and safe vse of them . for the former , no man of iudgement can imagine that they haue them by their owne reading , that reade so little , & vnderstand farre lesse : and ( that which is much more ) that are ignorant of the languages , wherein it is most probable these secrets should be inclosed . neither is it credible that any learned man should discouer them rather to this ignorant brood , than to those of their owne ranke , learned and ingenious . all the secrets contained within the art of physicke are soonest found out by the profoundest scholers & greatest students . therfore if any be in the hands of empirikes : the same , yea many more are knowen to the learned . touching the latter , it is euident ( as hath beene partly prooued before ) that diseases are not cured by medicines & receits , but by a learned and methodical vse of them , whereunto empirikes cannot attaine . and if it were possible for any of them to ingrosse all the secrets of the world , yet his practise should deserue neuer the better estimation , for they should be but as so many sharpe weapons in the hands of a mad man , wherewith it is liker he should do hurt than good . the sharper a toole is , the more skilfull workeman it requireth : and the more effectuall or excellent a medicine is , the greater knowledge should be in him that vseth it . an ancient physitian saith , medicines vsed by the vnlearned are poison . apollo the god of physicke is said to hold sharpe arrowes in his left hand , threatning danger to the patients where medicines are sinisterly or vnlearnedly vsed . medicines cannot be rightly vsed , but by them that vnderstand the whole methode of physicke . the vnlearned physition before mentioned abused his excellent medicine for the eares . galen taught one a present remedy for paine in his stomacke , which he vsing afterward in the same disease , but proceeding from another cause , was farre worse for it . medicines therefore do oftner hurt then helpe , be they neuer so excellent , if there be not art in the giuing of them , to fit them to the cause of the disease , and other circumstances required . but to impart to you my confident opinion of these secrets grounded partly vpon my own obseruation , and partly vpon intelligence from learned and honest physitians : they are but triuiall and common things knowen to euerie meane apothecarie , or of baser account than the meanest drugge . one of these ignoraut and vaine glorious fellowes hauing spent a few moneths in following the warres beyond the seas , and being desirous to liue at home with more case and lesse perill , resolued to become a physitian . to the effecting heereof he procured some common receits from an apothecarie and returned hither . heere he gat some shifting companions to him , promising them part of his gaine , if they would extoll his skill and magnifie his medicines as rare and admirable secrets , farre fetched , and bought at a great price . thus he obtained great fame . one of these medicines so highly commended , came by chance to the hands of an apothecary : it was a very fine and pure white powder : and being diligently examined , it was found to be nothing but the simple powder of an egge shell : yet the cosener valued it as thirty shillings the ounce . thus subtill and deceiptfull empirikes grace their vile & contemptible medicines with the name of secrets , that they may the easier allure and illude the simple people , who are delighted with the supposed nouelty and rarenesse of them . and as they deceiue many with that falslie imposed name , so they vse another subtiltie to conceale them from those that know all vsuall medicines by their colour , smell or taste : for they mingle something with them onely to alter these qualities . by this tricke , that sauoureth of cosenage , and requireth a false tongue to purchase credit to it , many of our empiriks extoll their fame and increase their wealth . all these things duely considered , may make the very name of a secret , out of the mouth of an empirike , to be as a watchword to all men of iudgement to beware of the medicine , and of him that boasteth of it : for there is alwaies much falshood and deceit in the one and commonly little good , or rather much danger in the other . they which are knowen to haue no learning , seeke to establish their credit by these meanes , and they haue preuailed much , not onely with the vulgar , but with many of the better sort , whose iudgement , though it be sound in most politicke and ciuil affaires , yet in this it is much defectiue . for they esteeme too lightly of the deepe and intricate arte of physicke , ( wherein all the helps of nature do faile without a learned teacher , diligent and long study , and continuall meditation ) and are too forward in commending and vsing them , that haue raked vp together a little practise out of english bookes or the bils of learned physitians , and haue no ground of any learning to direct them . the fifth and last reason to grace empirikes , is their great skill in vrines , whereby they oftentimes tel the disease as well as a learned physitian . this maketh as little for their estimation , amongst men of iudgement as any of the former . for diseases haue many signes whereby they are made knowen , all which must be compared together and examined : the vrine is but one signe and that doubtfull and vncertaine : for those diseases that are in the lesser veines , or in others parts of the bodie without the veines , cannot be discerned by it . the head is subiect to many diseases that appeare not in the vrine : so are the eares , eies , nose , mouth , throate , necke , breast , midrife , bowels , ioints , flesh and skinne : diseases incident to all these partes doe neuer discouer themselues by the vrine alone . moreouer sometimes the same kind of vrine is to be seene in diseases of a contrarie nature , as in a phrensie , which is a hot disease , and in a cold distemper of the stomacke , the vrine is often in both of them pale and raw . in this case , he that giueth medicines out of the vrine , indangereth the life of the sicke . for the deceitfull vrine pursueth hot medicines , which in a frenzie are deadly : also the vrine is sometime red and high coloured as well in the weakenesse of the liuer , as in a vehement ague : if in the former , the empirike trusting to the water ( as many haue done in this case ) openeth a veine , he sendeth the patient headlong to the graue , whom arte might easily , or peraduenture nature would alone haue recouered . in the plague somtimes the better the water is , in the greater danger the sicke is : for the pestilent humour is impact into the hart , & nature not able to expell any of it . forestus saith , that in a great pleurisie with a vehement ague , the water is sometimes good , though the patient dieth . and euen in those diseases wherein the vrine affoordeth most knowledge , as when the disease is in the great veines , liuer , kidneies or bladder , there are sudden changes and alterations able to hinder the iudgement of a learned physician . therefore galen saith , the vrine is sometimes good this day , ill to morrow , and the third day good againe . beside , rubarbe or saffron maketh it high coloured : so doth fasting , watching , and violent exercise . leeks and such like giueth it a greene tincture , and cassia maketh it blacke . if you require further proofe of these bare assertions , and a full discourse of the light and doubtfull coniectures that are gathered from vrines , i refer you to a learned treatise written of that argument by forestus . there it is substantiallie prooued by sound reasons , and the testimonies of our most famous authours , that the vrine in most diseases giueth no light to a learned physician , wherby he may find out the disease without other signes . that no medicine can fitly be prescribed by the vrine alone . that it can not shew conception , nor yet distinguish sex certainly . that this custome of sending vrines to physicians was not vsed amongst the ancients and learned physicians , nor is at this day in italy and other places : but that it is newly brought in by ignorant and deceitfull empirikes partly for their owne gaine gaine , and partly to disgrace learned and honest physicians , who abhorre to tell strange and plausible things out of the vrine , which arte and a good conscience cannot iustifie . the foresaid authour in the same booke , speaking of these vnlearned physicians , saith , their discourse out of vrine conteineth nothing but monstrous and glorious lies , full of cosenage and deceite . and by this foolish babling out of the vrine , the vulgar are caught in a snare , spoiled of their mony , and often depriued of their liues . the lesse knowledge an emperike hath , the larger discourse he maketh out of vrine , the more subtillie he examineth the messenger , and gathering from him part of the disease , he repeateth the same in other words , amplifying and enlarging his speech , so as the simple hearer imagineth that he vttereth much knowledge out of the vrine : but if any man of iudgement heard him talke , he should find no truth in the matter , nor any sense in the words . if it please you to consider what manner of men most of these empirikes are , ( such as haue forsaken that occupation or last and laborious course of life wherein they were brought vp in their youth , and addicted themselues to professe that arte whereof they are vtterly ignorant ) you may easily perceiue that they are compelled to vse all staudulent and deceitfull meanes to establish their credit . ignorance cannot purchase estimation , vnlesse it be couered with the cloake of knowledge . craft and subtilty will preuaile when simple and honest dealing shal be of no account . large and strange talke , be it neuer so foolish and false , is pleasing to the multitude , but bare and naked truth , vttered in few words , is lightly regarded . this allureth the common people to flocke to empirikes and leaue learned physicians : for there they shall heare that the braine is perished , the hart is swelled , the lungs are consumed , the liuer is dried and the spleene wasted : and in all these they will warrant the cure : whereas first it is certaine , they can discern none of these by the vrine : and then it is as certaine that they can cure none of them . their light coniectures out of vrines stand vpon such casie and plaine rules , that a simple woman vsed to be about the sicke , may vnderstand them . for sicke vrines are for the most part high coloured , or very pale . in the former , they speake of a feuer that offendeth the head , procureth short and troubled sleepes , taketh away appetite , bringeth a loathsome taste to the mouth , oppresseth the heart , and causeth paine in the backe : this lesson serueth for all yrines of that colour : and oft times it fareth thus with the patient , for most agues haue these common symptomes . in pale vrines they haue another lesson : there they pronounce the stomacke to be weak , flegme to abound , want of digestion , heauinesse after meat , inclination to sleepe , the body full of winde and subject to stitches . these two obseruations with a nimble tongue , and much tautologie are sufficient to get a great opinion amongst the multitude . vnto these two rules they adde a carefull cie to him that bringeth the vrine : they obserue his countenance , his apparell , the vessell wherein it is , and such like . there is a prettie history of this in forestus : a poore man brought his wiues vrine to a famous empirike : it was in winter , and some of the water was spilt and frozen on the outside of the pot . the physician marking the heauie countenance of the fellow , coniectured thereby that the patient was some deere friend of his , and very sicke . and hauing viewed the vrine , he said , is not this your wiues vrine ? i perceiue she is very ill . the simple clowne answeared , sir , your skill is excellent : you haue iudged right . but what see you more ? the subtill empirike seeing the vrine to be well coloured , and to giue no suspition of any inward disease , gessed it to be some outward thing . the credulous and foolish man said , i wonder at your cunning : go on i pray you and tell me how her side came to be blacke and blew . the empirike taking hold of these plaine words , imagined that it happened by some fall or blow , and asked him if she had not a fall . he taking this question to be an absolute and vndoubted assertion , still magnified his skill , and said further vnto him , if you can tell me where and how she fell , i will hold you to be the onely physician in this land . the empirike smiling at his simplicity , and considering with himselfe the manner and fashion of poore country houses , answered , it was like she fell off a ladder . this simple fellow admiring the answeares as proceeding from rare and extraordinarie skill , asked further if he could see in the vrine from how many staues she fell . he presuming that the poore mans house was low , said , from eight staues : the clowne not satisfied with this , shaked his head , and desired him to looke better in the vrine , and he should find more . this crafty imposter perceiuing that he had gessed too few , and remembring that which he had spied before on the pot , demanded of him , if he spilt none of the water by the way , which being confessed , he said , there you may finde the rest of the staues , for i am assured there are no more to be seene in this vrine . this is their vsuall maner of telling wonders out of the water , when they meet with rude & seelie people . therefore the same authour saith , it is cleere that this diuining arte of telling strange and admirable things out of vrines , is meere cosenage , whereby they do craftily circumuent and deceiue the credulous and vnwarie multitude . how light account hipp. made of vrines in respect of other signes , doth plainly appeare in that he wrot so largely of them , and so sparingly of this . for discoursing of sharpe diseases , he filleth all the first booke , and part of the second with other signes and marks to know and iudge them by , before he maketh any mention of the vrine : and when he commeth to that , he passeth it ouer briefly . the pulse also giueth a farre greater light to the physician , than the vrine . therefore gal. wrot 18. bookes of that , which are extant , besides that vpon archigines , which are lost ; and not one of this . rhases saith , the strength of the sicke is the mistresse of physicians , and the vrine neuer sheweth that strength consisteth of the symmetry and perfect temper and proportion of the naturall , vitall and animall spirits . the fountaine of the first is in the liuer : of the second in the hart : of the third in the braine . the vrine sheweth a little of the first : much lesse of the second , which is farre more to be regarded : and nothing at all of the third . if they that had the perfection of arte cannot iudge of the strength of the sicke by the vrine , into what danger doe emperiks bring their patients in purging and letting of bloud by the vrine alone ? they must either arrogate to themselues farre deeper insight into vrines , than these men had , which is absurd , or else confesse that they haue led the people into a grosse and dangerous error , by perswading them that their diseases may be perfectly knowen and perceiued by that alone . i haue presumed vpon your patience in being so long in this point , because it is the great pillar of their credit . now i come to the fourth and last part , which is to shew the causes of empirikes fame . these are deriued partly from themselues , and partly from the vulgar . some of those from themselues haue beene touched before , as the extolling and magnifying their owne cures , both with their owne mouthes , and by procuring popular fellowes which frequent innes and tauerns , to be trumpetters and sounders abroad of their praise , without any regard of truth . their boasting of rare and admirable secrets , knowen to no other man. their large , senseles and fained discourse out of vrines . to these before mentioned may be added sundry reasons , as the cariage of themselues in all their practises , so as they may seeme to be ignorant of nothing appertaining to physicke . this cannot be effected without a false tongue and colourable actions . also they interlace their common talke with strange and vnusuall words and phrases , not vnderstood of the common sort : they rap out lame sentences of an english booke ( alas poore priscian ) hauing not a rag of grammar to couer their naked ignorance with . they hold this as a rule , to be full of words , and sometimes violent in their babling , all tending to publish their owne skill and disgrace others . some of them shew to their patients and acquaintance such bookes as themselues vnderstand not , as if they learned their practise out of them . others haue anatomies of mens bodies , which they shew at euery opportunitie , holding the beholders with long and foolish discourse out of them , and pointing at the very place , where they imagine the disease to be seated . this pleaseth plaine and vnlearned persons exceedingly , and bringeth them into a confident opinion of the truth of all that is vttered , and also of profound knowledge to be contained in it : in both which they are deceiued , for ignorance is an inseparable marke to all empirikes , and falshood to most . it is vsuall with the best of them falsely to grace themselues by stealing away the credit of other mens cures : as when a learned physician prescribed a course to a patient , and by reason of the distance of place , or his emploiment otherwise , leaueth the execution of this to one of them dwelling neere : if this patient recouereth , the empirike maketh it his owne cure , and yet he was but the instrument directed by another , and did no more then belongeth to an apothecarie . this fraudulent deuise hath added much to the credit of some : for when any of these cures are performed , the empirike publisheth with protestation that he folowed not the course set downe by the physician , but tooke another farre fitter and more effectuall . but in this case , if the patient die , then he la●●th the blame vpon the other , affirming that the medicines were vnfit : and if the cure had beene committed to him , he would not hauefailed in it . there are yet more deuises amōgst them to inlarge their credit , for some of them are risen to that height of impudency , that they blush not to brag of their degrees taken in the vniuersity , and that they haue disputed with doctors , and beene approued by them , and might take that degree : and yet they neuer came in any schole of learning , nor are more able to reason with any yong student in that profession , than to contend with a lion in strength . moreouer they promise the cure of all diseases committed to them , wherein when they faile , they impute the fault to some error committed by the patient , or to some secret thing in the body , which arte could not foresee . also they make diseases seeme greater and more dangerous than they are indeed : affirming euery light cough to be a consumption of the lungs : euery common ague to be a burning seuer : euery stitch on the side to be a pleurisie : euery little swelling in the body or feet to be a dropsie euery old vlcer to be a fistula , and euery ordinarie bile in time of infection to be the plague : by this deceit they get much more money , and farre greater credit , when they cure any of these , than they should do if they dealt truly . further they perswade their familiars that they are vsed in their profession by the chiefe personages in , or neere the place they inhabit , often naming those whom they neuer saluted . last of all they conceale the course of their practise from all that can iudge of it : for the better effecting where of they neuer send their bils to the apothecaries , as learned physicians doe , nor will admit any other of that profession to haue accesse to their patients . for their owne consciences accusing them of ignorance , they may iustly feare that by either of these meanes their vnfit and dangerous practise should be discouered , and consequently their credit impaired . heere they are often compelled to arrogate much vnto themselues , and to assure their patients that they are not inferiour to any man in the skill of their profession . thus masked ignorance , affecting and pretending knowledge , is induced to violate both naturall and religious lawes , in preferring gaine and estimation before the health and liues of men : in suffering none to be admitted to those cures which themselues cannot perfect , & might with facility be performed by others . by these and such like reasons they increase their reputation and inlarge their practise amongst the common sort . other reasons heereof are drawen from the simplicity of the vulgar , who being vtterly ignorant of the causes of naturall things , are thereby void of suspition and so credulous that they beleeue euery thing they heare of these empirikes , and are by these meanes brought into an ouerweening of them . out of this erronious opinion they ascribe as much vnto them , as vnto the profoundest physicians . tully reporteth that they which inhabited the iland called seryphus , and neuer went out of it , where they saw no other beasts but hares and foxes , would not beleeue that there were lions or panthers in the world : and if any man told them of the elephant , they thought themselues mocked . so it is with the simple multitude , they know onely their neighbour empirikes , which are but as hares and foxes : and if they heare of lions , that is , a sort of physicians , as farre aboue them in the knowledge of the arte , as the lion is aboue the hare and fox in strength , they will not be brought into that opinion , but reiect it as a false and fained fable : for the first conceit of the admirable skill they imagine to be in those whom they know , hath taken so deepe root in their mindes that it cannot be plucked out . how empirikes , be they neuer so ignorant , are magnified by the simplicity of the rude and sottish people , poggius setteth foorth in this tale : there was one of the meanest of these empirikes that had but one kind of pill for all diseases or infirmities whatsoeuer : and by this together with his cogging , had purchased great fame , and was esteemed cunning in all things . there came vnto him a foolish clowne that had lost his asse , desiring his counsell for the finding of him : the empirikes skill reached not beyond his pill , yet seeming to be ignorant in nothing , and desirous to take his money , he gaue him that to swallow downe , and told him that by the vertue thereof he should find his asse againe . the simple felow , returning homewards , felt the operation of his pill , and going out of the high way into a field , spied his asse feeding there : thus being in possession of that which he had lost , he confidently beleeued that this was wrought by the extraordinarie learning of this cosening empirike , and extolled him aboue all other physicians . credulity leadeth men into many grosse opinions , and specially in this arte. pliny saith , it falleth out onely in this art , that credit is giuen to euery one that professeth himselfe skilful in it , when as no lie bringeth greater danger . moreouer the base opinion that the ignorant multitude conceiueth of the deepe and profound arte of physicke , maketh much for empirikes : for the common people hauing nothing in themselues , but that which experience and obseruation hath taught them , cannot lift vp their dull conceits any higher , but confidently imagine that all knowledge is obtained by that alone , and needeth no helpe of scholes . therefore they iudge no otherwise of this learned and mysticall profession , than of ordinarie mechanicall trades , supposing it to be as soone and easily learned , as the plaine craft of a tailer or carpenter . this foolish and senseles opinion increaseth the reputation of empirikes and procureth them many patients : for heereby their light and superficiall skill is esteemed equall to the complete and sound knowledge that is in the most iudiciall professors of that arte. euen as a plaine countrie fidler is thought by his neighbours not to be inferiour to cunning musicians . another reason that moueth the vulgar to vse them , is the hope they haue to be cured by them with lesse charge . but this deceiueth them on both sides , for oft times their diseases are left vncured , and commonly the subtill empirike draweth more money from them than a learned physician would doe . their practise is also further inlarged by the ignorance of the common sort , who when they are sicke , vse to inquire after one that hath cured the like disease . heere is worke for these popular fellowes , who haue filled many credulous eares with a false report of their cures . i confesse it was an ancient custome amongst the egyptians to lay their sicke in open places , and to inquire of them that passed by , what they had heard or tried to haue holpen in the like case . but this was before the arte of physicke was perfected and brought into a methode . now the case is farre altered : there is a learned and iudiciall course confirmed and established for the cure of all diseases . therefore now the patient is to enquire after him that hath greatest knowledge and soundest iudgement in the art , and not after him that is reported to haue cured the like sicknesse : for many cures are falsely attributed to empirikes : and besides that , some diseases are healed by chance , and some by nature , as is before shewed . there is yet another errour in the multitude that profiteth these ignorant men much . for many binde themselues to that physician whom they haue vsed before , be he neuer so ignorant , supposing that he knoweth the state of their bodie better than a stranger . but in this they are also vtterly deceiued , for no empirike can know the state of any mans body : philosophy teacheth that and not experience . all that he can know is but whether the body be easie or hard to purge , and what is that in respect of all other things before mentioned , which are necessarie in euerie physician ? therefore let euery man of iudgement vse him that can by art find out the complexion and constitution of his body : that knoweth how to distinguish one disease from another , and prosecute the course fit for the cure , turning and altering it to euery occurrent . and let him that hath recouered out of the hands of an empirike , rest satisfied in his happy fortune , and euer after commit his body to the best learned . these are the weake and lame reasons whereupon the fame and great practise of these ignorant men is built . if in this tractate i had imitated galen , and others that haue written of them , it should haue beene farre sharper and much more pearcing . for galen compareth them to theeues : these , ●aith he , lay waite for men in mountaines and woods , those in townes and cities . langius and oberndorf , two learned germanes lay gri●uous accusations vpon them . the former speaking of their patients , saith , whole armies of them are killed , but verie few cured . and in the same epistle he addeth , i dare sweare that thousands of their patients perish euery yeere by their deadly errors . and doubtlesse many of our empirikes in england are not inferiour to those of germany in boldnesse and ignorance . the other forenamed germane imposeth many base tearmes vpon them , as coseners , mountibankes , murderers , and such like . there is much odious matter heaped vp against some of them by guin●er , erastus , libauius , cardan and many others , all which i omit . leonem ex vngue . the physicians of the colledge of london take an oath at their admittance , to pursue vnlearned empirikes and impostors , confounding the names , as if all empirikes were coseners . one calleth the baser sort of them , analphabetos nebulones , not hauing learned their crissecrosse . no man can heere obiect with iudgement , that all these learned men wrot out of a weake perturbation , & that it was , as the poet saith , one enuying another : and that these are contentions amongst physicians rising from varietie of opinions , as in other professions . for all these men oppugned are vtterly ignorant and vnlearned , and dare neuer attempt to speake one word of their profession in the presence of a learned physician . it is therefore knowledge against ignorance : naturall and christian compassion mouing these learned & ingenious men to protect the liues of their brethren by opposing themselues to the blind practise of empirikes , who fight with their eies shut against sickenesse , the great enemy to nature , as the men called andibatae did against their enemies . i remember a story of a blind woman famous for her skill in physicke , by whose dore a porter passing with a heauy burthen vpon his back , fell downe and cried out for helpe : the compassionate woman came speedily with aqua vitae , and feeling for his mouth , offered to powre in some , whereas halfe an eie would haue serued her to haue eased him of his burthen . it is vsuall with empirikes , for want of the eie of learning , to bring as ridiculous and senseles meanes of helpe to their patients : for when they see not the cause of the disease ( as they do very seldome see it fully ) they cannot fit a medicine to it . they may fondly purpose , foolishly consult , and largely promise to performe great matters in physicke : but in execution they will be found like to hermogenes his apes , who assembled themselues together to take counsell how they might be secured from the violent incursions and assaults of greater beastes , they concluded to builde a strong for t : they agreed vpon the matter and forme thereof . euery onè was assigned to his seuerall worke : some to cut downe timber , some to make bricke , other for other offices . but when they met to begin this great building , they had not one instrument or toole to worke withall , so their counsell was ouerthrowen . so empirikes may attempt to build vp health in a sicke body : they may promise the cure of diseases ; but what can be expected at their hands sith they want all the tooles of galen and hippocrates necessarie for so great a worke ? the consideration of all these things hath often moued me to compare their patients to them that crosse the seas in a smal leaking boate with an vnskilful pilot : they may arriue safe at the wished hauen : but wisedome trusteth to the strongest meanes , which alwaies promise , and commonly performe greatest securitie . one thing i will adde more of this odious generation : the multitude of them in this country is incredible . out of one rotten and maligne stocke spring many riotous branches . one master sendeth foorth many iourneymen , which haue beene his apprentises . if these old breeders be maintained , we shall haue , within these few yeeres , more empirikes , than butchers ; more killers of men , than of oxen . the number of them is so increased , that they are at enmity one with another . it is a sport to heare one of the most eminent of them ( being placed in a chaire for his great skill ) raile vpon vnlearned physicians , and yet he himselfe was neuer admitted vnto grammar schoole . but this doth exempt them from all suspition of ignorance amongst the vulgar , and procureth them many patients . but the more they are admired , and the greater number of patients they haue , the more they exceed in craft and falshood . for ignorance cannot purchase admiration , vnlesse craft and subtilty be ioint-purchasers with her . but to draw to an end , sith empirikes are vtterlie disabled by the difficultie of the arte of physicke : by their education in their youth ▪ by the want of grammer , logicke and philosophy : by their palpable ignorance in the theorie and speculation of that they professe : by the manifold errors they fall into . sith experience cannot teach them the methode and order of curing diseases : nor reading of english bookes affoord them any mediocrity of knowledge . sith most of their cures are naturall , or casuall : all their secrets triuiall and common ▪ their discourse out of vrines , grounded vpon subtiltie and deceit : their fame and multitude of patients rising from fraude and falshood in themselues , or from follie in the vulgar . finally , sith there is a full consent of all learned physicians iustlie condemning them . i may firmly conclude that their practise is alwaies confused , commonly dangerous and often deadly . therefore whereas ludouicus a mercatus saith , it is a good medicine sometimes to take no medicine at all . and b forestus affirmeth , sometimes the whole worke is to be left to nature , which when empiriks see not , they often kill the sicke . in my opinion this distinction of time may be cut off , and both these sayings made generall ; for where the pactise is wholly ingrossed by these men , there the best medicine is alwaies to take no medicine at all : and the whole worke is euer to be left to nature , rather then to be committed to any of these . for though they cure some , yet they kill many : the way of erring in the practise of physicke is so ample and broad , and the path , leading to the methodicall cure of diseases , so narrow and straight . thus , sir , you haue that which you required , directions for your health , and my opinion of empirikes . god almighty blesse you with the benefit of the former , or preserue you from the perill of the latter . ipswich , the third nones of iuly . 1605. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a19740-e130 a hippoc. de diaeta . lib. 3. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. what health is . d cont. iulianum . lib. 1. de sanit . tuenda . eam corporis constitution● , &c. three enemies to ▪ life . qui lib●ram vitā nactus est , &c. qui boni ha●itus sunt , &c. de feb . diff . li. 1. ca. 3. a in hippoc de morb . vulg . li. 3. 〈◊〉 . 3. 9. 1. the aire . a de re rustic● . lib. 1. b p●lit . 7. 11. lib. de aere , &c. sol non vidit vrbemsitu elegantiorem . tabacco . monard . the first qualities of tabacco . not safe for youth . comment . in lib. de victu s●lub . aphor. 2. 37. corpora salubri● difficulter feru● medic . alimenta sa●● . medicamenta aegris , &c. sound bodies need no alteration . humiditas caloris pabulum . qui maximè sunt bu●idi , maximè sunt long aeui . de san . tuenda . lib. 6. breuioris esse vitae eos , qui calidas regiones incolunt . it shorteneth life . 2. de legibus : quia eos ad libidinem & iram praecipites reddat . siccitas caloris stimulus . cereus in vitium flecti , monitoribus asper : sublimis , &c. it breedeth many diseases . it breedeth melancholy . sens●n sine sensu . de sanit . tuenda . optimi temperamenti , optimi mores . it hurteth the minde . it is ill for their issue . est in ●uuencis , est in equis patrum virtus . quocunque morbo pater gene●ans afficitur , ider● i● prolem transit . mas formam , foemina materian● dat . de semine . it shortneth life . quod paulatim fit , tutò fit . aphor. lib. 2. 4. de cib . boni & mali ▪ succi . ca. 2. youths-bane . 2. meat and drinke . lib. 1. de sanit . tuend . lib. 1. de morb . causes cap. 14. nulla calamitate , &c. de cib . boni & mali succi , ca. 4. 2 initio lib. 1. de sanit tuenda . & initio lib. de cibis boni & mali succi . 1 initio lib. 5. de sanit . tuenda . flesh . blood. de aliment . facult . fish . fruits . de cibis bon . &c. cap. 5. therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a de aliment . facult . b de cib . bon . & mal . suc . ●ap . 5. salads . de simp . medic . facult . lib. 3. a de aliment . facult . li. 2. ca. 6. . de indicat . li. 1. ca. 1. omnibus praui succi ●dulijs abstin . the quantity . plures interimit crapula quàm gladius . a 2. aphor. 17. vbi cibus , &c. b 6. epide● . 4. sanitatis stud●um , &c. c de senect . tantum cibi & potionis , &c. d de morb . caus . lib. 1. ca. 14. in hippoc. aphor . lib. 1. 3. a animus sanguine & adipe suffocat . b quin corpus onustum besternis vitijs , &c. sorm . li. 2 sat . 2. c mores probos reddit . d vna tempera●tia totius est iucundae , &c. e de sanit . tuenda , li. 5. f philostrat . 9. li. 3. de bello jud●ico . lib 2. panem & mel atticum . consil . 246. deterius est vti ciborū salub variet . quā vnico , v●cunq sit prauus . a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vigor . sensim sine sens● . b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . c 1. aphoris . 14. the qualities of meat . the times . a initio lib. de dissol contin b de indic . lib. 1. cap. ● . c lib. 1. de morb . causis , cap. 14. non se , sed suam perniciem alunt . the custome of our meales not agreeable to physicke . a de sanit . tu●nda , lib. 6. the champions diet . b lib. de acre , &c. pransores . c in hip. prognost . li. 2. 13. d lib. 3. de di●tae . two meales . suid●● . de sanit . tuend . lib. 6. horat. coena d●bia . li. 1. fen . 3. doct . 2. ca. 8. senectus luet adolescentiae peccata . the order . gal. in hippoc. de vict . rat . com . 3. 22. a de dissol contin . 2. aphor. 50. custome not suddenly to be broken . two dishes at one meale . of drinke . wine . de cib . bon . ca. 8. lib. an animi mores , &c. lib de cib . bon . cap. 8. a de sanit . tuend . a de morb . caus . b l● . ca. 14. fructum accelerat , sed arb●rem per●mit . c lib. an animi mores . a li. 1. de sanit . tuenda . b in hip. de vict . ratione lib. 3. c labor , cibus , potus , somnus , venus . not to drink betweene meales . sacke before supper not allowed . the hurt of much drinke . drinke betwixt meales . a de indic . lib. 1. cap. 2 consil . li 1. b epist . c in hipp. aphor . lib. 5. 27. exercise . de sanit . tuend ▪ lib. 2. gal. de sanit . li. 4. arthrit . sciatica , gon●gra , &c. celsus . a gal. de sanit . tuend . lib. 4. b de cib . bon . &c. c de dissol . contin . d de d●aet● . e de morb . popul . lib. 6. f in timaeo : exercitium roborat , &c. ouid. de indic . lib. 1. cap. 12. sleepe . 2. lib. aph . 3. 7. lib. aph . 68. a hipp. & gal. in hipp. de morb . vulg . lib. 3. 6. b cardan . in hipp. andr. laurent . a de sanit . tuend . lib. 6. b in hipp. prognost . 11. 12. c gal. s●pè . celsus . lib. 2. a. 17. sleepe after dinner ill . retention and expulsion . herodotus . the affections of the mind . de arte m●d●● . cap. 85. ●oy . chaucer . instar subuinis spiritus dissipa . g●lli● lib 3. cap 15. a gal. de symptom . causis lib. 2. pusillanimes ex gaudio per●er●●t . notes for div a19740-e3380 * that is , a day that sheweth what shall happen on the indicatory day , or day of iudgemēt , as the 4 , 11 , 17 dayes , declare the issue of the sicknesse the 7 ▪ 14 , & 20 dayes . m. greeneha● to●●● . in a sermon of a good name . pro pub. syl seruit●s est non dicere in quem vel● . in verrem ▪ saepē grau●tìs vidi of fendere animos auditorum , &c. mul●ò liberior est vita ●orum , qui n●minē accusant . qu●d ferre recusant , quid veleant humert . horat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what an empirike is . the outward marks of an empirike . lib. 3. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . gal. in h●p . de morb . vulg lib. 6. comment . 3. the diuision . medici rationales . lipsius . s. c parts is co●ponere mag●a sole●●● . 1 the difficulty of the a●te . hippoc. vita breu●s , ars longa , &c. a lib. de flat . mulum laboru , &c. b in lege . de const●tut . artis medicae . natura , institutio a puero , industria , locus studijs aptus , optimos quosque audire , methodum tenere . de pulsibus . totam vitam ad pulsus cognitionem requiri . empiriks condemned by hip. and gal. physicke is a profound study . idem deus supientiae & medicinae . medici dcorum filij . qui in 〈◊〉 m●rcur●● no● l● tat . frustra sit per plura , quod fi●●● potest per pa●cicrae , i●bi desinit philosophus , t●t inc●p●e med●c●es , arist . emparic● medicastri & pseudemedic● sunt . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . galenus floru●t a●no christi 140. no part of hip. or gal. in english . empir . ignorant of foure parts of physicke . indicatio est comprehensio rei i●●●●e● & nocentis gal. de opt . se●●a . omissa vnt , curs . tio saepè claisdicat . prax . lib. 3. of a pleurisie . empiriks commonly mistake diseases . donat. alsom . de pleuris . de morb . vulg . lib. 3. in historiae anaxionis . prax. li. 3. ca. 9. ●en . consuls . riol . obser . s●r. pr●● . ●yr depapa●● . argent . consult . epist. vromant . lib. 3. cap. 1. precare vt sorti●re benè . 2. the errours of empiriks . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . lib. de aere aquis , &c. the danger of mistaking diseases . in hippoc. prognost . pag. 181 , de calc ren . senselesse . imitation . of opening a veine . pabulum natiui caloris . de natur . facult . lib. 2. gal. de sang miss . cap. 6. experientia st●●●torum magistra . audaci● imperitiam artu significat . hippoc ▪ de arts . de venae sec . contra erasist . manie deadly errours in letting of bloud . deadly errours . miserum est cùm ma●us periculu● a medico , qu●m ● morbo impendet . bleeding dangerous to many . of purging . ludouic ▪ de indic l● . 1. ca 6 ●p●● magnum . qui quenquam purgatur●● sit , s●opos ferè infinitos , &c. nemo debet sine maxima consideratione , &c. lib. 1 de morb . pop . nihil temere , &c. malum quò communius ●o peius . bacon . de retard . se●●ct . in quacunque re deu● admirab●lem v. m , &c. purging is subiect to many dangers . an purgandum . vnda vnd&ā ; p●ll●t . fin● vnius mali grad●● est futuri . meth m●dendi . omnium purgant●um maximè cacost●ma●hum . 1. aphor. 22. many killed by purging . fluxus epidem . us . opium was then in great request . opium . ●apiuac . de venenis , cap , 9. gal. de compos . phar . de compos . phar . l● . 3. ca. 8. phar . maca indefi●ita . in h●pp . prognost . comment . 1 , in hipp. de morb . vulg . li. 6. pl●rimi mor●●ntur , &c. quot agros themison autumn● occider● vno d● dieb . decret l●b . 1. quoties aegros adeu●● , &c. experience de optun● sectae . eu● quod saep●u & codem mo●o , &c. many things in physicke can not be learned by experience . mille ●●odis medicum illudi● slat . hypochon . de simplic . phar . f●●●lt . meth. medend● . li. 10. ca. 10. g●●ner●●pist lib 29 cap. 1. discunt per ▪ cul● nostris , &c. ● meth. cap ● . de compo● phar . lib. 2 cap 1. a 〈◊〉 remedi● adaliud temerè ▪ &c. 〈◊〉 d●dilus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●rrore vias . de mor. ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meth. ●ed●nd . lb 9. cap 6. all empiriks lame . methodus est vitae ac spiritus sc●entiarum . qui artent sine methodo &c. galen de locis assect . li. 3 what can empiriks doe in rare diseases ▪ feb. symptoniat . morbus complicat . no patient secured by empiriks . in hipp. prorrhet . qu● speculationem ex obseruatione sine sc●ent●a aecer●●are , &c. atturneys . english book● . english 〈◊〉 the fox c&ō : meth not neere the lions denne . their cures . natura est omnium morborum medicatrix . naturall cures . lud mercat . de indic . casuall cures . de su●sigurat . empir . ●o . 1 , solenan l. consil . sect 5. aschams toxo philus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . de v●t●ri med●cina . de morb . caus . lib. 1. cap. 14. morbi fac●liùs ●●rantur in s●r●is , quam in liberi● . c●ls . lib. 3. cap. ●1 . a lib. 7. cap. 8. b cap 13. hippoc. de ●●te . qui totum diem iaculatur . o beat●s medicos , quorum praeclara facta sol videt , errores terra abscondit . nicocl●s . erasmi m●ria . rare medicines and secrets . res sacrae profanis non &c. in l●ge de sa●it tu●nd . nos neq , german●● , &c. in iureiurand . comment . in hip. prognost . de respir . veritat● cultor . de theriaca valde rusticum . de compos . phar . herophilus , medicamenta ab inde●●●●surpata venina sunt . gal. de compos . phar . 4. 6. gal methodo medendi . de aliment . facult lib. 1. gal. de compos . ph●● . lib. 6. an admirable secret discouered . the subtiltie of ●mpiriks . centoms co●su●ud● . their skill in vrines . many diseases can not be knowne by the vrine . no medicine is to be giuen by the vrine alone . quò melior , ed peior . obser . de pleurit . vrina hodiè bona , cras mala . vromantia . neither conception knowne nor sexe distinguished by vrine . lib. 2. cap. 3. portentosa & splendida mendacia , impostura & fraude referea . false discourse out of vrines . the facilitie of iudgeing of vrines as emperiks doe . vroma●● lib 2. cap. 5. an historie of a cousening empirike . liquidò co●stat , &c. de praesag . vires agrotantium medicorum hera . the causes of empiriks fame . stultiloquium vrine . lang. epist. pismater , diaphragma , aromatise , orifice . str●nu●● are magis , quò magis arte rudis . empiriks steale cures . their brags . their large promises . their false tongues . lib. 1. de nat . deorum . seryphi nati , nec unquam egressi , &c. a tale of an empirike , a foole and an asse . lib. 29. cap. 1. in hac artium sola eu●nit , &c. the simplicity of the vulgar . the custome of the egyptians . physicians are to be made choise of by their learning , not by their cures . no empirike knoweth the state of any mans body . gal. de praecognit . hi in montibus & syluis , illi in vrbibus insidiantur . lib. 3. epist. 6. integr●e phalanges &c. ausim deterare aliquot ●ill a , &c. thousands killed by empiriks . ad prosequendum indoctos empiri●os & impostores . thriuer in cels . lib , 1. cap. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scientia contra ignorantiam . andibatarum more clausis oculi● cum hoste d●m●cant . all empitiks are blinde . hermogenes apes . empiriks as vnskilfull pilots . mali corui malum ouum . the great number of empiriks . the hering man mockes the fisher man. ignorance can not purchase admiration . the conclusion . a de indic bonum medicamentum est &c. b vromant . no medicine to be taken of empiriks . polypharmakos kai chymistes, or, the english unparalell'd physitian and chyrurgian shewing the true vse of all manner of plants and minerals in which is explained the whole art and secresy of physick and chyrurgery ... / by d. border ... border, d. (daniel) this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a28815 of text r4185 in the english short title catalog (wing b3751). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 277 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 83 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a28815 wing b3751 estc r4185 11956237 ocm 11956237 51516 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28815) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 51516) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 56:7) polypharmakos kai chymistes, or, the english unparalell'd physitian and chyrurgian shewing the true vse of all manner of plants and minerals in which is explained the whole art and secresy of physick and chyrurgery ... / by d. border ... border, d. (daniel) [16], 144 p. printed by b. alsop ..., london : 1651. reproduction of original in british library. eng medicine -early works to 1800. a28815 r4185 (wing b3751). civilwar no polypharmakos kai chymistēs: or, the english unparalell'd physitian and chyrurgian: shewing the true use of all manner of plants and minera border, d 1651 46269 363 5 0 0 0 0 80 d the rate of 80 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-07 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} : or , the english unparalell'd physitian and chyrurgian : shewing the true vse of all manner of plants and minerals . in which is explained , the whole art and secresy of physick and chyrurgery . wherein is contained , 1. the cure of any internal disease , which hath taken effect , and brought forth symptoms , either outwardly or inwardly , in the head , stomack , back , belly , &c. 2. the making of diverse rare and excellent balsames , oyls , plaisters , and waters , with the effects thereof . 3. the making and use of purges , vomits , drinks , and clisters , according to rules of physick and astrologie . 4. the nature and temperature of herbs , plants , and vegetables , and the use thereof , and the influence of the planets as well over herbs and plants , as over the bodies of men . 5. the way to extract the spirits and quintaessences of several sorts of herbs and minerals , and the rare operations they have . 6. the making of salt of wormwood , balm , or any other herb. 7. the cure of any wound , contusion , puncture , or vlcer in any part of the body . all which have been prescribed and practised by several learned doctors and chyrurgians . by d. border , practitioner in physick . london , printed by b. alsop , and are to be sold at his house in grubstreet , near the upper pump . 1651 , to the right honourable the lord bradshaw lord president of the councel of state , &c. my lord , it hath been the general practise of writers , to dedicate their books of art and learning , to learned and honourable persons , under whose patronage they are protected , find the better acceptance abroad , and the instruments attaine the opportunity to acknowledge their duty and thankfulnesse to those whom they reverence & honor . the last whereof was the cause that brought these things into a book , and the book unto you . the main subject whereon it consisteth , is , the very quintaessence of hypocrates , galen , ioubertus , paracelsus ; and other learned men of these latter times , which for the most part have been experimentally tried and approved excellent , though in generall they have been kept secret and hidden from the publick ; for whose good i have taken some pains to put them into such a method , that all that have need may receive benefit and comfort . having such a talent in my hand i thought it my duty to improve it to the best advantage of the republick ; for herein the rich may at least take delight , the middle sort gain knowledge and experience , the poor find relief , when they want money to seek for other help , and all sorts of people remedies against all kind of maladies , sicknesses or diseases incident to mans body , if they be carefully administred and applied , according to the directions . set down , for here is variety of medicines according to the nature of the disease , whereas some emperick of our time , have but one plaister for all sores . here is also set down certain rules and directions for physitians and chyrurgians which are no lesse necessary to be known , then the subject or matter on which they are to work ; for i find it recorded , that paracelsus did more good in his time , by making known the theorie , then gallen did in all his life , which more then doubled the years of paracelsus . non nobis solum nati sumus , &c. is a true position , and was never more really practised then by your lordship , whom god hath raised up to be a principal instrument to preserve this nations peace and tranquillity : and for this cause the whole common-wealth challengeth an interest to your honour , and look upon you as their chief protector against the common enemy , the great physitian , to cleanse and purge the evill and maligne humors ; which are apt to arise in the body politick , that the godly receive comfortable and refreshing cordials , nay evē the dew from heaven , under a flourishing pious ministry , in a land of peace flowing with milk and hony . and the great physitian both of soul and body , preserve you with increase of honour , and length of days , which is the prayer of . your lordships humbly devoted in all service . dan , border . the table alphabetical of the wounds , maladies , diseases , and sicknesses , for which there be approved remedies prescribed in this book . a aches of all sorts cured chap. 45. pa. 21. &c. see more in oyls and oyntments . apoplexie and the cure see the vertus of herbs , &c. agues c. 129. p. 85. alopecia , or the coming off of the hair c. 58. p. 29. almonds swelled and inflamed c. 64. p. 33. see more in squinancy . antidotes and preservatives against infectious air c. 85. p. 50. asthma or the tysick c. 105. p. 66. st. anthonies fire c. 43. p. 18. b bursting and the cure thereof c. 111. p. 71. bruises c. 130. p. 85. c. 141. p. 91. back and reins c. 142. p. 91. benummednesse of the leggs or thighs c. 151. p. 95. burning or scalding , c. 154. p. 94. the artificial balsom and severall other excellent balsomes and the effects thereof c. 125. p. 81. c. 126. p. 82. &c. spitting of bloud , c. 73. p 40. &c. bleeding at the nose staied c. 62. p. 31. bloudy flux of long continuance c. 90. p. 52. c contusions in the head or any other part c. 9. p. 5. c. 17. p. 8. c. 97. p. 80. cancer in the breast c. 32. p. 15. contraction or shrinking of sinews with a consumption helped c. 55. p. 27. cough of the lungs , c. 69. p. 37. cough with shortnesse of breath c. 70. p. 38. cough and pain in the side c. 74. p. 43. cramp an excellent remedy against it c. 54. p. 27. catarrhe , rheum , cough and tysick c. 96. p. 58. corns on the feet c. 117. p. 77. chilblains , and their cure c. 116. p. 76. d dropsies , the signs and the cure thereof c. 77. p. 45. c , 78. p. 46. drink for the yellow jaundies c. 169. p. 107 drink for spitting bloud c. 170. ibid. drink for a surfeit c. 171 : ib. drink for restoring any decay of the inward parts c. 173. p. 108 drink for a woman in danger to miscarry c. 174. p. 109. drink for melancholly and choller c. 175. ib. drink for the scurvey c. 176. p. 110. diet-drink for any disease c. 177. p , 111. diet-drink opening obstructions , &c. c , 179. p. 104. deafnesse and the perfect cure thereof c. 204. p. 128. e eyes prickt or hurt c. 16. p. 7. eyes that are sore c. 61. p. 30. pin and web in the eyes c. ib. p. 31. pearl in the eyes c. ib. eyes that are dim , an oyntment c. 99. p. 81. ears that run c. 123. p. 81. emrods and their cure c. 91. p. 53. &c. 109. p. 69. electuary for gonorrhea or running of the reins c. 88. p. 51. electuary to expell wind , &c. c. 76. p. 45. f fistulaes in any part of the body c. 40. p. 17. another , c. 199 , p. 123. c. 156. p. 96 falling sicknesse c. 66. p. 34. feavers , pestilentia , &c. c. 83. p. 48. flux of all sorts c. 89. p. 52. the fingers and their infirmities , c. 118. p. 78. g gargarism to purge the brain c. 59. p. 29. ●outs c. 49. p. 23. gonorrhea , or the running of the reins c. 88. p. 50. another c. 108. p. 69. h head , the cure of any pain there c. 95. p. 57. head grievously wounded c. 5. p. 3. hicket c. 65. p. 34. hearbs of all sorts with the vertues and use of them c. 204. p. 127. i jaundies , c. 65. p. 35. c. 94. p. 56. itch , with small pustules taken away c. 39. p. 16. impetigo or lichen c. 41 , p. 18. impostume c. 74. p. 43. implaister c. 44. p. 19. implaister for the rheum , p. 141. inflamations of any part of the body . c. 73. p. 41. another . c. 43. p. 19 another c. 64. p. 33. k kidneys that are grieved with the stone c. 189. p. 118. another c. 187. p. 116. kernels c. 102. p. 62. kings-evil c. ib. p. 63 , l lips ulcerated c. 21. p. 9. legs uicerated c. 26. p. 11. leprosie healed c. 30. p. 13. lichen cured c. 41. p. 18. legs swelled c. 25. p. 11 lungs c. 69. p. 37. see more in the vertues of herbs . m memory c. 161. p. 103. medicine for the piles , c. 43. p. 18. mouth sore c. 20. p. 9. mundifying oyntment c. 40. p. 17. menstures c. 89. p. 52. another c. 61. p. 56. matrix c. 110. p. 71. melancholy purged , c. 175. p. 109. madnesse c. 188. p. 117. measels c. 193. p. 102. mother ibid. megrom c. 204 , p. 132 , see more in the vertues of herbs . morbus gallicus c. 22. p. 10. hardnesse of the melt c. 107. p. 68 medicines made of man c. ibid. p. 133. mirth . c. 138. p. 89. menstrues reteined . c. 92. p. 55. menstrues in melancholy persons . ib. melancholy and spleen . c. 82. p. 48 mother rising . c. 93. ib. miscarrying of women . c. 174. p. 109. minerals c , 203. p. 126. n neck drawn awry c. 56. p. 28. o oyl of balm c. 134. p. 87. oyl of lillies c. 133. p. 86. oyl of roses c. 132. p. 86. oyl of exceter c. 130. p. 85. obstructions opened c. 146. p. 92. oyl of worms and the virtues c. 135. p. 87. oyl of broom and the vertues c. 137. p. 88. oyl of hempseed and the use c 138. p. 89. oyntment , green c. 139. p. ib. oyntment for a crick c. 140. p. 90. oyntment for a bruise c. 141. p. 91. oyntment for the back c. 142. p. ib. oyntment for stitches c. 143. p. ib. oyntment for the ears c. 144. p. 92. oyntment for the lungs c. 147. p. 93. oyntment for deafnesse c. 148. ib. oyntment to break a sore c. 149. ib. oyntment for a scald or burn c. 150. p. 94. oyntment to take away a wen c. 151. p. 95. oyntment for sciatica c. 152. p. ib. oyntment for shingles c. 153. ib. oyntment for the gout c. 155. p. 96. oyntment against the palsie c. 156. p. ib. oyntment mundificative c. 40. p. 17. open obstructions and provoke vrine . c. 95. p. 56. p purge the head c. 59. p. 9. 2 pox . c. 46. p. 21. plurisies c. 73. p. 40. pains in the side c. 74. p. 43. pain in the belly of wind c. 75. p. 44. pustules c. 39. p. 16. plaister c. 44. p. 19. pains c. 45. p. 21. pin and web c. 61. p. 30. pearl in the eye c. ib. plaister for the stomack c. 76. p. 45. pestilent feavers c. 83. p. 48. poison , plague , and pestilence c , 85. p. 49. another c. 195. p. 121. preservatives c. 87. p. 50. piles cured c. 91. p. 53. pain in the eyes c. 99. p. 61. pavaricium c. 103. p. 63. purge for melancholy c. 159. p. 102. pills ib. pills of liquorice for a cold c. 163. p. 103. purge phlegm and choller c. 169. p 102. powder for the memory c. 160. p , 103. purging drinks , c. 167. p. 105 , &c. pricking of the eys , c. 182. p. 114. poultis , see vertues of herbs . precious waters c. 196. p , 121. q quartain of long continuance c. 80. p 47. quintaessence of mans blood , and use thereof c. 200. p 12● . quintaessence of herbs , roots , &c. c , 201. p ▪ 125. quintaessence of the four elements c : 203 : p : ib. quintaessence of gold c : 203 : p : 126. r ring-worms c : 34 : p : 16. see tetter . rhume in the head c. 96. p. 58. another c. 163. p : 103. reins of the back c : 108 : p : 69. running of the reins , c : 88 : p : 50. rules for physitians , c : 157 : p : 97. roots , see herbs . s sale made of wormwood , or any other herb c : 204 : p : 138. salve c : 204 : p : 129. scull wounded c : 7 : p : 3. another c : 11 : p : 5. scald head c : 23 : p : 10. stone in the reins or bladder c : 134 : p : 87. another c : 184 : p : 115. another c : 187 : p : 116. another c : 189 : p : 118. sores rotten c : 28 : p : 12 surfei : c : 181 : p : 114. shingles c : 37 : p : 16. scabs c : 39 : p : ib. searcloth c : 44 : p : 19 ▪ scurvey c : 50 : p : 24. swelling c : 52 : p : 26. sciatica c : 53 : p : ib. sinews shrunk c : 55 : p : 27. squinsey c : 57 : p : 2● . & c : 64 : p : 33. stitch in the side c : 69 : p : 37. short breath c : 70 : p : 38. stomack c : 76 : p : 45. another c : 191 : p : 119. swelling of the spleen , c : 82 : p : 48 suffocations c : 93 : p : 55. sight dim c : 99 : p : 61. scrophulae c : 102 : p : 62. swelling of the legs and feet c : 115 : p : 75. see more in oyntments t tetters c : 34 : p : 14 &c. tissick c : 96 : p : 58 , & c : 105 : p : 66. tooth ▪ ach c : 19● : p : 119. v vomits c : 166 : p : 105. vomiting stayed c : 71 : p : 38. vomiting of bloud c : 7● : p : 39. ulcers in the mouth c : ●0 : p. 19. ulcers in the throat c : 2● : p : 10. ulcers in the leggs , or any other part of the body c : 26 : p : 11. & c : 29 : p : 12 , & c : 104. p : 66. great ulcers in a child , c : 3● : p : 15. urine provoked c : 94 : p : 56 : &c. another c : 112 : p : 73 : unguent for the eys , c : 100 : p : 61. unguentum , see more in oyntments . vertues of herbs and waters cs 204 : p : 127 , &c. w worms c : 180 : p : 113. wounds in general c : 2 : p : 2. wounds in the head c : 5 : p : 3. wounds with fractures , c : 8 : p : 4. wounds contused c : 9 : p : 5. wounds by shot or lance c : 13 : p : 6. wound or puncture through the arm , &c. c : 18 : p : 8. wind in the stomack or belly c : 76 : p : 47 ▪ &c. water that comforteth the spirits , helpeth the palsie &c. c. 180 : p : 113. water of barley for an ague or feaver c : 186 : p : 116. warer for the falling sicknesse . c : 190 : p : 118. water against the small poxe , measels , feavers , &c. c : 193 : p : 120. water for a sore c : 194 : p : 121 , water very pretious c : 196 : p : ib. water against the pestilence c : 195 : p : ib. water for a weak back . c : 198 : p : 12● . a table of english names of such simples as are mentioned in this book . a anetum , anet or dill. arthemesia , mugwort . apium risne , chiverill . astrologia longae , red madder . astrologia ro●unda , gallingall . abrotonum , southernwood . allebrya , stubwort . avancia , bearfoot . altia , hollihock . amarusia , dog-fennell . allium , garlick . auricula , mouse-ear . apium emo , crow-foot . apium ranarum , water crowfoot . auriga , knapwort . anabulla , spurge . acus muscula , ground-meddle . arch-angell ,   b balsamanta vel menta aquatica . watermint . balsamenta , horsemint . barba angeli , blind-nettle . bigula , buglas . bovibax , cotten . bursa-pastoris , shepheards-pouch . brauca , sea-dock . borago silvestris , wild-burrage . basilicon , dragons . cerputari● , dragons . colabria , dragons . bigona cucurbica , wood nip . c cheverfoil vel capri●olium , woodbine . culumbaria , pennywort . cicuta , hemlock . centauria major , great centory . centauria minor , little centory . capi●li vencris , maiden-hair . crocus , saffron . canabarina , wild hemp. cepe , onyon . colubina , colts-foot . cardiaca ▪ cardiater or elespear . cicera , french-pease . caulus gallica ▪ cabage . cembaria , pennyworth . consolida major , red-dea●ie ▪ cnosolida minor , bothem , or dea●ie . consolida media , white bothem , or dea●ie . citrago , medewort . d dragancia , dragons . diptanum , dittany . deus leonis , dandelion . e enula campana , elecampane . edera , ivy. edera terrestris , ground-ivy . eufrebum , clarey . eleborus niger , clove tongue or podelion . epatica , liverwort . epina , fox-glove . ebulus , the lesse wallwort . enduna , liverwort . lacituca ▪ liverwort . epatica , liverwort . eupatorium , wild-sage . ambros , wild-sage . eufragium ▪ eye-bright . elleborus albus ▪ pellitory of spain . f flaminila , spearwort . fuimistere , femitory . fragia , strawberry . flos unguentorum , flower of oyntments . fabaria , brook-lime or ●averole . felix , fern . filependula , drop-water . feniculus porcus , swines ▪ fennell . febrifuga , fetherew . filago , field-water , or horewort ▪ flammula minor , the lesse spear-wort . flos campi , horse-cockle . fe●i●ugio ▪ horse ▪ gall . g granum solis , gromell . genestula , broom . gracia dei , favour of god . gladiolus , flag . gariofolus , gilli-flower . h hypericon , st : iohns wort. herba c●lera●a ▪ chiverill . i iusquianus , henbane . iris , flower de luce . jacia alba , goose-grasse . ipia major , pimpernel self heal or waywort . ipia minor , chickweed . jacitus rusticus , blew bothem . l lingua ceruma vel scrophularia , hearts tongue . ligustrium , primrose . lingua canis ▪ hounds tongue . labrum veneris , sow-thistle . lactuca silvestris , wild-lettice . lactuca leporica , h●re ▪ thistle . lollium , cockle . lappacium . red-dock . m mellilotum , honey-suckle . marubium album , mawort or white hore-hound . marubium rubium , red horehound . masturcium , town-cresses . masturcium aquaticum , water-cresses . masturcium gallicum , french-cresses . masturcium p●atium . mead-cresses . n nepta , nep. o oculus bovis , oxe-eye . ofinum , mystelto . orobus . mowse-piss . p papaver album , white poppey . polipodium , oak-fern . petrocilium , parsley . petrocilium egreste , wild parsley . pes pully , colts-foot . persutaria , ar●mart . pes arie●is , rams-●oot or lodewort . plantago major , plan●any . plantago minor . ribwort . q quinque folium , vel cinque foil , five leaved grass . quercula major . germander or hair cloath . r ruta domestica , rue . rubea major , red madder . rappaver , radish . resta bonis . cammock . s saturion minor , crowleek or harebell . sigillum sanctae ma●ia , st. mary's seal , satureia , savory , semperania , sengreen or howsleek . stasifragia , staves-acre . speragus . mawort . t trefoil vel mellileta , three leaved grass . tan●ecum . tan●e . the names of herbs out of which you may by the rules set down in this book extract salt , or take the spirits of any of them which is of very excellent nature and use . balm , sweet marserome , wormwood , fennel . rosemary , sage . angelica , costmary , cardus benedictus , bittony , mints , valerian , spike , saxafrage , elecampane , hore hound , hysop , colts-foot . winter-savory .   of these herbs following you may make sirrups which are of great use in severall cases . harts-tongue , horehound , mugwort , mirtel , champeties , maudlin , epithimum , rubarb , hysop , marsh-mallows , wormwood , scurvey-grasse , comfrey , bittony , succory , liquoris , balm , smallage , sparagus , fennell , parsley , bruscus . the chymicall physitian and chyrvrgian . conteining many excellent secrets , and approved cures and remedies for all kind of wounds , pains , acbes , diseases or sicknesses incident to mans body . chap. i. the discription of an expert chyrurgian . a good and true chyrurgian , is no other thē a minister and helper of nature ; who hath three operations to perform , in curing of wounds ; the first is that he join the separated parts close together ; the second , to preserve it from pain ; the third , that he kéep it from putrifaction : all the rest he may leave unto nature , which will work with good expedition . and this is a sure intention concerning the cure of wounds : never kéep the flesh open with tents or pledgets neither weaken nature by letting of blood , or by purging nor yet by strait diet to cause the pain to increase but kéep the woūd always clean ▪ washing it with aqua balsami , and lay upon the wound , cloaths wet in magno licore . this is a good and an approved order : whereof whosoever will know more , let him look in leonardo fioravante his book , of rational secrets , where he shall be satisfied more at large . chap. ii. the cure of all manner of wounds in generall . all kind of wounds , may be healed with these medicines following ( according to the method before mentioned ) viz. with our balsamo , with aqua balsami , balsamum artificiale , quintaessentia vini , oleum resinae pini , oleum cerae & terebinthinae , magno licore , cerotum magistrale , ●lixi● vitae , oleum hypericonis compositum , flos unguentorum , and paracelsis . chap. iii. the cause why wounds cannot heal quickly . though there be many more , yet chiefly they may be reduced unto two causes . the one is an immoderate and extream diet , which weakneth the stomack and body so much , that nature cannot prevail to conglutinate or soder the flesh together . and thus through want of naturall heat , the wound falleth to impostumation , gangrena , fistulaes , &c. and can hardly be cured . the second is the kéeping of them too much open by reason of their tents or pledgets , so that they cannot join together again , but grow to cancers , and fistulaes , whereupō many times the patient remaineth lame ever after , or else spéedy death is the end thereof . chap. iiii. of wounds in the head , how they must be dealt withall . all wounds in the head must be close joined & kept together , the bloud must be crushed out , then wash it wel , wt some thing that hath virtue to liquifie the blood , as the quintaess . of wine , or such like . then lay thereon lint ; wet in oleum benedictum : this medicin you shal chāg in four days , but every day once wash the wound round about with that quintaessence , and anoint with the said oil , and at the fourth days end dresse it again , and let it remain two days more and after that for a day more , and the wound ( by the help of god ) shal be cured in xii or xiiii days . thus may you deal with all wounds save those that are made in the belly . as for all other , either simple or compound wounds : you shal find their cure , methodically shewed , in the rational secrets of leonardo fioravante published in english . chap. v. the healing of a grievous wound on the side of the head . the wound was made on the side of the head , almost to dura mater : but it was healed in this māner . first there was put into the same the quintaessence aforesaid , then a little balsamo , then there was applied a cloath which was wet in magno licore , made very hot , upō which cloth was laid our secret powder , covered with lint , and thus he was dressed once every day , till he was whole . you must note ▪ that whensoever the scull is hurt unto dura mater , there must be cast up at y● nosethrils our balsamo : that the smell may pierce upward , and resolve the offence . sometime also instead of a defensative you may anoint round about the wound , with the foresaid balm , which preserveth from putrifaction and alteration . chap. vi . a dangerous wound in the head cured in five days . it was healed very quickly by putting therein our aqua caelestis and balsamo , and by applying ūto the same very hot cloths wet in magno licore . chap. vii . the cure of a wound on the ear to the scull . a sore wound was made on the ear , which was cut ●nto the scul of the head , and was healed in this māner first by anointing it with our quintaessence , which caused it to war very hot , the space of two hours . after that , there was put in ●ur oleum philosophorum , de teribinthina & cem , and so he dressed it every day once . chap. viii . how three wounds in the head , with fracture of the bone or scull were healed by , i. p. a certain miller in buckinghamshire called peter bull , being sore wounded in the head , whereof one wound was in the midst of the head with fracture of the scul , an other within an inch of that , six inches long , he had another wound over his eye-brow , two inches long ; besides the wounds in his head he had also a great wound in the bow of his arm , beside the elbow so that a man might have laid his thrée fingers in it , divers of his fingers were also cut , & he lost two joints : this man bled by the space of 7 or 8 hours before it was stinted : neither was he dressed untill the next day , but yet he was cured in this manner : first the hair was shaven away , round about the wounds on his head , and the wounds were made clean , then was there dropped into the wound balsamum sulfuris made very warm : and a fine cloath wet therein was applied to the wounds , and round about the wounds there was a defensative applied : thus he was dressed once in 24 hours and within the space of three wéeks , he was perfectly helped , that he ●id wear no plaister at all ; also you shall note , that upon the wound next the cloath , there was laid cerotum magistrale : forget not that this balsome be always used warm , with a fine linnen cloath or a peece of cambrick , and not with any ●int ; this balsome did cause the hair to grow so fast about the woūds , that it was fain to be shaved away very often . chap. ix . o● contused wounds on the head , or other parts of the body . the encient practitioners , have estéemed contused wounds to be very dangerous ; for they say , contus●ens must first be brought to putrifactiō , & turned into matter : which opinion is not to be allowed , for the bruises are to be dissolved without 〈…〉 ation ▪ which hath been a thousand times proved in the wars , after this manner to have been performed . recipe , magno licore , oleum benedictum , of each alike mi●● th●m , & being very hot wet cloaths there ▪ in & lay there on twice a day and in 3 or 4 days they will be ●●ssolved ▪ also the ●il of frankincense , or oleum philosopho●um de tereb . & cere , will dissolve any simple bruise in 3 or 4 hours , onely by continual anointing the place therewith , so fast as it drinketh in any ▪ provided that the bruise be n●t above 6 or 8 hours old , for if it be , then wil your work be somewhat the longer , before it be finished . chap. x. a contused wound in the head , healed by , i. p. a young man of 28 years of age that had a great contusion on the head with a staffe , was helped thereof in nine days , by applying thereunto balsamum sulfuris , before mentioned . chap. xi . a wound in the head , with fracture of the scull , cured by , i. p. a little boy with a fall from a horse ; had a fracture in the scull , which was healed with balsamum sulfuris , & cerotum magistrale leonardo . the child , did at his dressing vomit very often : which argued the breaking of his scul , yet was he healed in seven days . chap. xii . to heal wounds speedily . first wash them very well with our aqua balsami , then join them very close together , and lay thereon a cloth wer in oleo resinae pini : and ( through gods help ) they shall quickly be healed . chap. xiii . to heal wounds , by shot , or lance . he that will cure wounds that are made with sho● , lance , arrows , &c ▪ must first wash the wound well with urin , and dry the wound wel , then let him put therein ▪ the quintaess . of wine , and forthwith join the wound close and hard together . then let him put immediately therein , five or six drops of our balsamo artific . and lay ● cloath upon the wound , wet in magno licore , which must be applied so hot as he may suffer it ; thus must he do the first day . that being done , he must put thereon our quintaessence of wine , and then a little balsamo , after that some magno licore ( as before said ) and so let him hold on to the end of his cure . chap. xiiii . a most singular and wonderfull remedy to heal wounds quickly . vvdunds must be holpen with drying medicines , ( as was noted in the third chapter ) such medicines i say , as have birtue , to preserve the part offended from putrif●cti● . this wil be performed , wt our a qua balsami , & the oil distilled from vernice liquid : for these two , a●e apt to heal all sorts of wounds : if ye wash them with the water , and anoint them round about with the oil ▪ fo● they do not onely keep the wounds from putrifying ▪ but they help to cicarrise quickly , and in such manner , as it seemeth marvellous , most profitable for the wounded patient , but best for the good and honest surgeon , which abhorreth in his works to play the tinker , which in stopping of one hole is wont to make three , but with as much safety and speed , as nature and art will yeeld , to bring to passe all his honest intentions . chap. xv . a wound in the eye , with a splinter healed by , w. h. a splinter of wood leapt into the eye of a certain maiden , as she was chopping of sticks . the wound was so griebous , that the gelly of her eye came forth ▪ by the space of a moneth : all this while , she could neither see , nor take any rest . by the blessing of god within four days after she could thred a needle , and was recovered in this manner . first there was dropped into her eye , balsamum sulfuris warm , and then a cloath wet therein , was applied thereunto , by which only she was cured : the maid dwelleth in nottinghamshire . chap. xvi . a prick in the eye with a knife , healed by w. h. a child of seven years of age , had a pundure in the eye with a knife which was cured by dropping therein , balsamum sulfuris warm , and laying a defensative round about it . another cure performed in like manner by w. h. one george clark , servant to the right worshipfal m. butler of denham ( then high sheriff of bedford ) was healen of a puncture in the eye with the foresaid medicine . chap. xvii . an hand flat squatted , and contused , healed by . w. h. an old man , called thomas smith , of carlton in northamptonshire , husbandman , in lopping of a trée had his hand caught betwéen two boughs , and was squatted in pieces ; this contused hand , was presently put close together , and anointed with oleum philosoporum de tereb , & cera , and through gods goodnesse , was perfectly cured in eight days . chap. xviii . a wound or puncture through the arm , i. p. a young man called hudson , a carpenter of carlton in northamptonshire , being thrust through the arm with a pitchfork , was thus cured : first there was infected magno licore ( as hot as he could avide it ) into the woūd . then there was a linnen cloath wet in the same oil , applied unto the wound upon the which cloath , was also laid a pledget of cerocum magistrale : this wounded man was healed in five or six days . chap. xix . five wounds in the brest . a certain man that had five stocadoes into the body , was thus cured : first , there was put into the wounds the quintaessence of wine , then were the wounds dressed , with balsamo artific . which caused him to vomit , and to avoid much bruised blood . after that he drank every morning a little aqua balsami , and in short time by gods help was perfectly cured . verbum sapienti sat est , and a man may know by the half , what the whole means . by these few experimented secrets , you may proceed unto the cure of any wound , contusion , or puncture , in what part of the body so ever they shall be . the things wherewith you are to work , as balsamum sulfuris , oleum philosophorum de terebinthinae & cera , cerotum magistrale , &c. therefore let us proceed unto the experimented secrets , concerning ulcers , and sores , either simple , or complicate with diseases , as they have been observed by those which have proved them . chap. xx . the healing of sore mouthes . the ulcers and sores that have béen in the mouths of young and old , have been healed , by the lotion or gargarism , made with plantain water , honey suckle water , and barley water , mixed with saccarum saturni . chap. xxi . an ulcer in the upper lippe . a certain porter of london , having an ulcer on his upper lip , which was like a cancer ( some called it noli me tangere ) continually running , with filthy stinking sanies , was thus cured . first he was purged , with turpetum minerale ; then was the sore dressed with this medicine . take aloes lotae , half an ounce , salis preparati , two drams , mellis , four ounces , misce , & utere . chap. xxii . an ulcer in the throat , ex morbo gallico . a young woman , that was much troubled in the throat , with a grievous ulcer , was thus cured . first she was purged with aromatico , and twice or thrice with our quintaessence solutive , mixed with syrup of roses , then was the sore touched with aqua realis , two or thrée times , with a little lint , & lastly she used this gargarism . take mellis rosarum two ounces diamorum two ounces and a half of honey suckle water , sixe ounces , oleum vitrioli as much as will suffice to make it tart : this hath been often proved in dangerous cases . chap. xxiii . the healing of a scald head . a woman had all her head , covered with a most filthe scab , which was dry above , and moist underneath , very noisome to behold , who could neither be healed by purging , or locall medicines , that were used till this medicine was applied unto her . once in a day , oleum ligni guaiaci , was applied , and in short time , the scal fell away , like a scull of an head , and there began hair to grow underneath it : this cure was performed in twelve days . another cure performed upon a scald head . a maiden of eighteen years of age , having a huge great scal upon her head , was cured ( after she had taken one dose of aromatico ) by often washing the part affected , with mater balsami fioravante . chap. xxiiii . an ulcer on the thumb . one had such a filthy & stinking vlcer on the thumb , that the chyrurgians would have cut off the whole thumb . this party was afterward cured , by the application of fodicationum emplastri . chap. xxv . an ulcerated legge swoln . a young boy that had an ulcerated leg wonderfully swoln , was thus cured . he received at two several times , quintaessence solutive , with syrup of roses . then were the sores washed with salt of vitrioll , dissolved in plantain water : a cloth being wet therein , and applied thereto morning and evening . chap. xxvi . two putrified vlcers on the leg , healed by i. p. first this patient was purged with aromatico leon . once or twice : then his ulcers were dressed with this unguent made of rubified vitriol : and a cerot called the great cerot . this was applied unto the ulcers , with a pledget of lint & was suffered to lie 24 hours which mortified the sores . then was more of the same unguent applied , & with an instrument the escare was loosed round about , and in three or four days the escare came away easily , with a pair of mullets : then he healed it up with magno licore , & saccarum plumbi , within a while after . chap. xxvii . three ulcers in the leg , healed by w. h. a certain woman of bedford , had thrée ulcers in her leg who had sought her cure at the hāds of divers , the space of 4 years but could find no help yet she was afterward cured in this manner : first she took in the morning fasting aromatico leonardo , which evacuated her stomack and belly . then was there applied unto y● sores saccarum plumbi , thrée or four days together , which caused every day , a certain thin skin to come upon the ulcer● , much like the film of an egg , the same skin was takē away every day . with this medicine following , it was dressed the fourth day : which caused it to look fair and red , the next dressing : and so in short time it was perfectly cured . to one spoonfull of magno licore was put as much saccarum saturni , as would lie upon a thrée pence : and so it was incorporated warm : ye sores were dressed therewith every day . chap. xxviii . the cure of old rotten sores by w. r. a certain old woman did in this manner help divers old sores in the body : first she purged the patients , and then she applied this unguent to the sores take a pot of strong ale , and set it to boil over a gentle fire , till it was thick like a salve , and then use it . at the first this medicine will smart , and be somewhat painful to bear , neverthelesse it will cleanse and heal . also a friend of mine told me that the juyce of marigold leaves , or the leaves , boiled to an unguent , will heal all ulcers and wounds . chap. xxix . the healing of ulcers in most parts of the body , but chiefly in the head by , w. h. a certain mā being ful of ulcers , coming of the pocks , in most part of his body shewing themselves , but chiefly in the head , was cured in this manner . first he was purged twice or thrice , with panchimagogon , after that , he kept his chamber ( that had a good fire in it ) and took six grains of turpetum diaphoreticum , mixed with 1 dram of amuletum palmarij . half an hour before , he took a draught of fat broth , and kept his bed : and always as he vomited , he washed his mouth , with a convenient gargarism , and sweat thereon one hour or two , and then was dried with warm clothes : that done , he reposed a day or two , and took the foresaid turpetum again , in manner aforesaid : this he did thrée or four times . in the mean while , he anointed his fingers with oleum guaiaci , which did both cleanse and heal . also divers times , he used this potion in the morning , which caused him to sweat take 2 oūces of the water of lignum vitae , made by distillation , and as much of the syrrup of fumitory , and 1 scruple of the salt of lignum vitae , mixe them warm , and drink it fasting . thus in very short time he was cured . this one thing must not be forgotten , that when there shall come any inflamation or sorenesse in the mouth you do use this gargarism following . take plantain water , hony suckle water , of each 4 ounces , barly water 6 ounces , mel rosarum 2 ounces and a half , diamorum 2 ounces , oleum vitrioli , as much as will make it tart : this will heal any sore in the mouth . remember also , that if the ulcers be very corrosive and foul you shall touch them once or twice with oleum vitrioli or oleum tartari faetens , whereby they willheal the sooner ; this hath been often proved . chap. xxx . the healing of scabs like the leprosie by g. m. a young man which was thought to be infected we a leprosie , had on his head and most parts of his body , hard and dry scabs , but he was cured in this manner : first he was purged with aromatico leonardo once or twice . then every morning till he was cured , he took 1 scruple of the extract of camepiteos , either in a pill or in drink as he thought good . after that his sores were dressed , with this unguent . take succi sempermui 2 ounces succi plantaginis 4 ounces and a half , succi solani , 3 ounces , sacchari saturni 2 ounces and a half , mix them , and stir them wel together over a gentle fire , til all the saccharum●e dissolved , and therewith dresse the sores twice a day . chap. xxxi . the healing of a child that was full of vlcers , coming of the pocks . a young child four years old that was grievously tormented with the french disease , having extream pain in his body , and being full of sores , was thus cured . take the distilled water of lignum vitae , 1 ounce , salis ejusdem , 1 dram mix them , and thereof the child drank with syrrup of fumitory , or hops , morning and evening , and sometime the child sweat thereon . also the sores were anointed with this unguent . take oleum guaiaci , half an ounce , balsamum sulfuris half a dram , saccarum plumbi half a dram , oleum camphorae , five or six drops , the caput mortuum of aqua fortis 1 scruple , mix them wel , and grind them one a stone , with may butter , and therewith the sores were anointed morning and evening . chap. xxxii . a cancer cured by an old emperick . a certain emperick did help many cancers , in divers people ( that were troubled with them ) after this manner . he took certain worms , called in latine centumpedes , in english sows : they are such as lie under old timber , or betwéen the bark and the tres . these he stamped , and strained with ale , and gave the patient to drink thereof morning and evening . this medicine caused many times a certain black bug , or worm to come forth which had many legs , and was quick , and after that the cancer would heal quickly with any convenient medicine . chap. xxxiii . the healing of pocky pustules , with serpigo , by w , h. a certain man having a number of sores , all over his body , and a serpigo in the palm of his hand , so grievous thata man might have laid great straws therein , was healed in this manner : first he was purged thrée times , with six grains of turpetum minerale phaed●onis , mixed with half a dram of amuletum palmarij . that done , he anointed all his sores twice or thrice with oleum tartari faetens : afterward with unguentum ex lithargirio fioravante now touching his hands that had the serpigo , he held thē morning and evening over a bath of oats , and other warm herbs , that they might sweat , and then anointed them , with balsamum sulsuris , and in a short time they were holpen . an unguent made with saccarum saturni , and oil of roses , will do the like effect . chap. xxxiv . a tetter or ringworm cured by , w. k. there is a certain worm or tetter which many times cometh on the back of the hand or arm , and doth corrode like a serpigo , but it is none , which ( after the use of many other medicines ) hath béen cured in this manner . the place was anointed five or six times a day , with the syrrup of sugar , that the worm might come to the upper place or skin : then within thrée or four days after , he anointed the place with oleum tartari faetens : and in short time he was cured , though his disease had continued thrée years , coming and going . some have killed the worm , with oleum vitrioli . chap. xxxv . a man cured that was full of tetters . this was the manner of his cure . he took the rennet of a calf , and drank it in milk three or four times , and sweat thereupon : then he onointed the parts affected , with saccarum saturni , mixed with oil of roses warm . chap. xxxvi . tetters in womens brests , oftentimes cured as followeth . they took five spoonfuls of madder , and boiled it in ale , and then strained it clear , without pressing it at all , and drank thereof , thrée or four mornings . then with the foresaid ointment they used to anoint the parts grieved , and thereupon ( with gods help ) were quickly healed . chap. xxxvii . the healing of shingles . they took for them doves dung newly made ; and bar●ly meal ; stamped them well , and mixed them with half a pint of vinegar : they used it cold to the place grieved and applied vine leaves ( to kéep in the liquor ) round about it , then they bound it up with clothes ; and suffered it to lie thrée days , and then ( if need were ) refreshed it again with a new plaister , and at the most with the use of thrée applications . it was perfectly holpen . chap. xxxviii . the healing of a plague sore by w. k. he took of elder-leaves , as much as was sufficient he stamped them very wel with dry figs , and put there to auxungiae porcinae , and applied it warm to the sore , thrée or four times a day , and it quickly brake it . chap. xxxix . scabs , and itch , with small pustules , taken quite away by i. h. a certain man greatly troubled , with itch & pustules , in his hāds , procéeding of a dissolved salt in his body could find no help , till he used this course . he took panchimagogon twice in thrée days : that done , he washed his hands with the salt of vitriol dissolved in plantain water and shortly after they went quite away . chap. xl . three deep fistulaes in the breast , cured by w. t. there was a certain man called r. b. dwelling in london , which having thrée déep fistulaes in his breast had béen long under the hand of unskilfull chyrurgians consuming both himself and his substance : but afterward by gods help , he using this course was cured . first he was purged every second or third day , for 5 or 6 dayes together with turpetum minerale phaedronis , receiving thereof five or six grains in amuletum palmarij . afterward he was caused to sweat five or six times with this potion following . take the distilled water of lignum vitae two ounces , salis ejusdem i scruple , water of carduus benedictus 2 ounces , which being mixed he drank it warm in the morning , and sweat thereon two hours . after he was purged , he dressed the fistulaes two hours with this unguent untill they were mundified ) upon tents of shooe leather . when the fistulaes were cleansed , he dressed them onely with emplastrum fodicationis ( being made liquid , to wrap up the tent with ) till they were whole . the mundificative ointment was this . take oil of wax , of succinum , of guaiacum , oleum hypeconis compositum , of each 2 ounces , mix them without fire and use it with the aforesaid tents . also you shall note , that he drank no other drink then this , all the while . take lignum vitae , the bark , salsaparilla of each 4 ounces , the roots of tormentill , bistorta , virga pastoris , liquorice of each 2 ounces , juniper berries i ounce , mallow leaves senicle , alchimilla mugwort , hypericon , brunella , comferry of each 2 handfuls . bring these into powder and for every gallon of new tunned drink , adde theceto , two or thrée ounces of this powder , in a linnen cloath : let it be stale , and let him drink thereof . chap. xli . the cure of lichen or impetigo , by m. k. a certaine maiden sixtéen yeares old , had all the flesh on her thumb , and forefinger eaten away , with the foresaid disease : which was cured by strawing thereon , saccarum saturni , and applying thereto cerotum magistrale fioravante . chap. xlii . a great wenne taken away , by w. h. one that was troubled with a great wen , had it takē away , by washing it with strong lie made of ●ken ashes . i have béen told since of a certain , that i● ye rub the wen often with the hand of a dead man untill the wen wax hot it will consume away in short time after . some rost an egge hard , and cut it in the midst , and lay it thereon , and using this often the wen will wear away . chap. xliii . a medicine for the piles , and for st. anthonies fire , for the scalding of childrens water , to cool skin and heal all inflamations in elder persons . take three or four pound of butter fresh from the cherm , without any salt , set it on a few embers either in an earthern or silver pot , and let it clarifie untill it be clean , skum off the top and your it into an earthen pot and put to it as much of the flowers of elders picked from the stalks , and of the gréen fresh leaves , and of the inner gréen bark , the russet outside being scraped off , of elder and barkes of each a third part , so that there be two parts of leaves and barks , and one of flowers , chop the leaves and barks reasonable small , put them all into the clarified butter , and set it on some embers and let it stew softly a good part of a day , there must be as many hearbs as will go into the butter , it must be very gréen , if once doing will not serve you must do it twice , when the hearbs grow hard in the butter , then they are boiled enough , when it is almost cold , you must put in two pretty spoonfuls of ●ine searced sugar , and stir it well together ; if the sugar be put in , before it be somewhat cold it will stick to the bottome and so do no good , kéep this in glasses or pots for your use , for the piles lay a little lump upon a double rag , and apply it to the place . chap. xliiii . the making of a most excellent searcloath or plaister . on i. barber , aged about fifty , by an old bruise had his leg ranckled , and a tumor fallen down into it , whereby the flesh was eaten away to the bone , and was cured with the applying this plaister or searcloath . take a pound of bolealmonack , and a pound of red-lead and pound them in a mortar very fine , and searce them through a fine silk searcer , and when they be searced and mingled together , put them into a skillet , and put thereto as much sallet oil as will wet it throughly , and set it over the fire in a brasse skill●t till it begin to boil , then adde a spoonfull or two more of oil to it , and séeth it to thicken it again , and then adde a little more oil again , and still let it seeth upon a very soft fire , stirring it continually with a silver or brasse spoon , and so féed it still with oil , untill it come unto the perfection of a salve , which you shall know by the wetting of the end of a white linnen rag in it , and taking it out till it be cold for when you perceive by the rag so dipped , being cold ; that it féeleth oily and wet , then by that you may know that it is not yet come to perfection , and therefore you must let it boil more till it come to a better perfection ; ever and anon trying the cloth in it , which cloth you may afterward make a searcloath of , it must not be any hard cloath but soft , it will be somewhat above half an hour in boiling and it must be always stirred , and when it is boiled to the perfection ; dip your cloths throughly in it , and so take them up and let them cool and then role them up together , and wrap them up in lether made of shéeps skin let the lether be white , it will kéep good so 7 years , if you kéep it close , and if it grow dry anoint it over with a feather dipped in sallet oil when you apply this sear-cloth to any wound or sore , warm the searcloth before you lay it to it , and put so much white leather one the back side thereof , as you put sear-cloth , and so when the one side is worn long , you may use the other side to it , if the sores be many , and do stand close together , cut little pieces of the searcloth and lay them upon each sore , and then lay a big piece of sear-cloth over them all , but let not the great piece be bigger then to cover the sores , except the sores have much swelling about it , and in that case let it be bigger , the wound must be dressed morning and evening with the same sear-cloath , onely every time it is dressed wipe the corruption off from the sear-cloath , which it hath drawn from the sore , and so lay it one again , if the wound be rotten and stinking you may change the lesser plaisters which are next the sores once a week , but otherwise you may continue to use the same a fortnight or better , but stil at every dressing cleanse the filth off from them , it wil take away the ●ottennesse , and draw out the filth and heal it , but it wil not heal it till it have fully cleansed and drawn out the corruption , neither will it suffer any proud flesh to grow therein . the rare effects which have been wrought by this plaister is hardly to be expressed , and after good proof thereof mr. cradock of cambridge , gave 8 pounds for the receipt . thus much briefly , is expressed and declared concerning wounds and ulcers : wheresoever they be , or howsoever they arise , by which examples , the juditious practioner may undertake other things , which are not here mentioned . it followeth now ( in manner asoresaid ) to set down the observed practises of those that have cured internall diseases , which have taken effect and brought forth syntoms , outwardly or inwardly . chap. xlv . of the cure of grievous aches and pains , performed by w. h. a certain man was greatly afflicted with divers wofull aches and pains in his shoulders , who was cured , by receiving a dose of aromatico , and by application of emplastrum fae●idum , unto the grieved part . chap. xlvi . the healing of aches coming of the pocks , by w. h. one of a very dark and melancholly complexion , to wh●msome men in london , had given the fume , and the unction three or four times : and yet left him possessed with most pitifull aches and pains in his joints ; who for want of m●intenance was inforced to go into the country where he was born , and was there pities of an honest gentleman , which cured him in this sort . first he 〈…〉 ged him twice or thrice with aromatico leonardo : which done , he took for three or four days together half a dr 〈…〉 of the extract of hormodactiles , with white wine . th●●soan●● unto the particular parts that were grieved , apply emplastrum fae●idum , and thus , in short time he was healed throughly . chap. xlvii . a notable experience of a medicine that hath brought great ease , to any great ach or pain , as of the gout or otherwise , take one or two of the formost sucking whelps of a mastiffe or bear bitch , kill them , and take forth the guts , fill them with black ●nailes , rost them , and ●ast them with 12 ounces of oil of spike , coloured with sa●fron . reserve that which droppeth from them , and mi● it with as much oil of wax , and therewith anoint any ac● or grief . another remedy against an ach . take a pound of sage-leaves , a pound of rue , hall a pound of wormwood as much bay-leaves , boil all these in smith●-water , and apply them hot to the place . chap. xlviii . a particular way whereby the pain of the gout is soon eased and prevented . take minium the yolk of an egge , oil of tartar , oil of roses , as much of each as you think sufficient , and with a little saffron make it in form of a plaister , and lay it on cold . there was a gentleman grievously ve●ed with the gout , who was in this sort soon eased . first when he supposed that the pain would come , he took a dose of aromatico leonardo : then the next day unto those ●rieved parts , he applied this plaister . take a pickle ●erring , and cut forth the bone , stamp it very small with ● litle bolealmoniack , and rose water , and apply it cold to the grief from place to place as it goeth . many men , after they have been well purged , have had great ease by anointing the place three or four nights together with aqua balsami fioravante . also oleum cerae , is very profitable in that case . another for the same . take two quarts of pure live honey , and two pound of sage-flowers and distill them in a rose-water still with a soft fire , and drink every morning ten or twelve spoonfuls fasting , and fast an hour after , and it will marvellously abate the humour , and give ease unto the party grieved . another for the gout . take a red woollen cloath , lay pitch upon it , & melt it against the fire and make ● plaister of it , and lay it to the place as hot as you can suffer it , and when that hath lain all night , make another plaister as aforesaid and lay to the place . chap. xlix . the cure of gouts , and all other aches coming of heat , by l. f. first the party is to be purged with aromatico , then this plaister appllied , which is attractive , resiecative , resolutive , as being intentions far better fitting that purpose then any other . take the marrow of the bones of a calf now killed ● pound vit●ioll in manner rubified , i pound and a half , gantarides in fine powder , i ounce the ashes of the vine , 6 ounces , mixe them all on a small fire , untill they be incorporated , then with oil of w 〈…〉 make it in a liquid ointment , and spread it on a cloath and lay it on cold . and when it waxeth dry , chafe it till the pain be ceased : this hath eased many in a short time . chap. l. the remedy against the scorbute or scurvy ▪ and the gout , by w. t. a young man of 26 years of age , mightily troubled with the gout and scurvy , was after this sort cured . first he was purged with aromatico leonardo . then he used the purging drink every morning , that he might have each day three or four stools . at night he took two ounces of the distilled water of lignum vitae , with i ounce of the sirrup of couslips . also he used to eat these c●●serves following mixed together . take conserve of couslips 4 ounces , of sage , of rosemary flowers , of each ● ounces , of red roses ▪ 1 ounce ; the quantity which he took at once was as much as a walnut . also he anointed the grieved parts with this unguent . take auxungiae humanae distilled two ounces , oil of turpentine two ounces , of wax half a dram mixe them together . also in his usuall drink which he drank with his meat , was mixed chamepiteos , sage , rosemary , betony : this was the purging drink , take the strong decoction of lignum virae , put therein of the leaves of seva , four ounces , epithimum , two ounces , hermodactiles , four ounces , turbith , one ounce coloquintida , half an ounce , let them stand in warm sand 24 hours and strain it , this he drank in the morning fasting . chap. li. tumors in all parts of the body taken away by r. a. this medicine hath been so well approved , that it were infinite to recite the number of those that have found comfort by it . the party must first be purged twice with aromatico leonardo , then give unto him two ounces of quintaessence solutive , with one ounce of syrrup of roses , four or five mornings together : and after i● drink a little good broth made swéet with sugar : that done , drink this water following . take herbegrace , sathernwood , mugwort , wormwood , of each one handfull , junipor-berries , three or four handfulls , cut the herbs and bruise the berries , and infuse them in a gallon of white wine vinegar , 24 hours in a warm place . then distill it with a gentle fire : this done , take that distilled vinegar , and infuse therein fresh herbs and berries , and distill it again as before . at the last infusion , you shall put therein four ounces of good mitridate , or triacle , and distill them together , and kéep them close for your use . thereof the patients took at four a clock in the morning four ounces very warm , whereupon they laid them down and sweat , two or thrée hours , alway wiping it away with warm cloaths . every sweating time they changed their shirts . when this medicine was ministred to a woman , she took but two ounces thereof . in this sort ar● cured not onely tumors , but sores pustules , fevers , jaundies , gripings , emrods , piles , &c. and suffereth no grosse kind of humour to remain in any part of the body , making the skin also cléer , soft , and smooth . chap. lii . swelling of the cods mitigated and dissolved by r. a. a man riding on a trotting horse , had his stones swoln as big as ones fist , who was thus ●●lpe● . first he was purged once or twice with panchimagogon , then this cataplasin was applied warm unto the part , twice or thrice a day . take the 〈…〉 s of brown brea● , bean-flowr , of each as much as is sufficient , boil them with new wort ; when it is almost boiled put there●●● little commin-●éed , and a dish of fresh butter , and so apply it warm . another for the same . take a pint of pure honey , as much bean flowr , and two spoonfuls of vinegar , of commin-●éed 2 ounces , mixe them well together , and spread it on a cloath , and warm it a little against the fire , and apply it . chap. liii . the cure of a painfull ischiatica , by i. h. a man that was grievously troubled with the ischiatica , was healed in this manner . first he was purged with aromatico , then he took for five or six mornings together , two drams of quintaessence ●olutive , with syrup of roses , and after the taking thereof he drank a little swéet broth . that done , he drew a blister with cantarides , and when it had run enough , he anointed the place with oleum de terebinthinae & cera , and in short time he was holpen : since which time many have also béen helped of that grief by anointing the grieved parts with aqua balsami fioravante . another for the same . take an ounce of déers-suet , and two ounces of the best resin , and put it in a pipkin with the déer ●uet , and let them melt and boil together a quarter of an hour and more , stirring it sometimes in the boiling , and then take it off the fire , and pour it into a bason of conduit water , or river water , and let it remain , till it be almost cold , then work it up into little roles with your hands , and let it lie again in the water , til it be throughly cold , after which lay it up for your use : and when you have néed to use it , spread it upon white-leather , and warm it before you lay it to the sore , dressing it evening and morning , this will also heal any gréen wound , without suffering any proud flesh to grow in it . chap. liv. an excellent remedy against the cramp proved often by r. g. they that were infected therewith , did upon their bare skin and places grieved , wear the root of cōmon flag . also the skins of twenty silver é●ls , new ●lean , and chopped small , boiled in two pound of may butter , and four handfuls of rue , scum it wel , and anoint the place and it will work the same effect . a worshipful gentleman , that had divers times proved the same , desired for the great comfort he found by it , that it might be made publick . chap. lv . contraction or shrinking of sinews , with consumption of the party , holpen by w. h. a man 2● years old , having a sore and grievous ulcerated leg , fell into the hands of inexpert surgeous , who with their corrosives shrūk up his sinews , y● he could neither go nor stand , but in short time after , he was cured in this manner . he was once purged with aromatico , then he took quintaessence solutive two or thrée days together , in syrrup of roses , and drank thereupon a little broth . then did he use the bath divers times , and anointed him with sublime ointment , or the green ointment , which you will find towards the latter end of this book . another man having his hand shrunk together , upon the like occasion , was healed in the same order . this is the description of the bath . take two or thrée young whelps that cannot sée , boil them in water with mallows , hollihock , mellilot , walwort . camomill , of each a handfull , voil the whelps , till the flesh fall from the bones , that done strain it , and use to bath therewith very warm . chap. lvi . the cure of one whose neck was drawn awry , by w. t. a child had her neck drawn awry , with a kind of convulsion or cramp called tetanus , and was thus cured . first she drank every morning and evening a little aqua balsami fioravante , then was her neck anointed with some of the said water mixed with magno licore fioravante , and in ten days she was cured . another of thesa●me , by w. t. take oleum de lateribus , one ounce , oleum terebinthinae half an ounce , of juniper berries two ounces , of cloves one ounce nutmegs , maces , of each half a dram , mix them with oleum cera , so much as will make it in form of a liniment , and therewith anoint the parts , chap. lvii . the squinancy cured , by i. p. this medicine following , did help one that was so swoln and grievously pained , that he could scarcely eat or drink . take olei philosophorum de lateribus i ounce olei lini , six drams , olei cera , one ounce , mix them warm , and anoint the place infected oftentimes in the day . also one dram of the tooth of a wild bore , being drunk with three ounces of the oile of line-seed , doth help it presently . also another man was forthwith cured thereof , which drank one spoonfull of aqua balsami , and wetting a cloth therein applied it to his throat . chap. lviii . the cure of alopecia , by i. p. magno licore fiorauante , being anointed on the head causeth the hairs to grow again abundantly , which are fallen away , and to wax black . balsamum sulfuris also doth the same . chap. lix . a gargarism to purge the head , by i. s. take spiknard , alizander-séed , of each i ounce , beat them into powder and boil them in vinegar till half be consumed . then strain it , and put thereto half a pound of mustard , and four ounces of rose-water , boil it a little , kéep it close for thy use , and when you will , you may take a spoonfull warm in the morning , and gargle therewith . another gargarism to purge the head and brain , by dr. deodate , take six spoonfuls of wine vinegar , and twelve spoonfulls of water , and two spoonfuls of honey , clarifie th●● together and adde thereto one spoonfull of mustard , a●● gargle therewith . chap. lx . the pin , and web , cured by m. r. he took a handfull of centumpedes , or sows , stamped and strained them with ale , and gave the patient to drink thereof three or four mornings , and willed the patient to stop his nose and mouth , and to hang down his head , and therewith he was healed , as i was credible certified . chap. lxi . a water for sore eyes , proved by , m. e. ● gentlewoman with this water , hath cured a very ●reat number of sore eys . she took an egge hard ●odden , cut in the middest , and took forth the yolk , and pot thereto as much white coporas as a nut . then she closed it together , and wrapped it in red fennell , and laid it to steep four and twenty hours in rose water then she strained it hard through a cloath , and dropped it into the eys morning and evening , it was held 〈◊〉 a great secret . another manner or way to heal the pinne and web in the eyes . take nine of the worms called centumpedes , or sow● , stamp and strain them with the juyce of woodbine , or betony , for thrée or four mornings together warm : which being drunk will consume the web in the eye . another way to cure a web or pearl in the eye . take the white of a new laid egg beaten to an oil , and the juyce of deasy roots and leaves , and of the juyce of the leaves and roots of brown fennel , and of the juyce of the leaves & the roots of white hony-suckle with the three leaves and the figure of an eye in the leaf , take of these juyces two good spoonfuls , and put to the white of the eg , and a little spoonful of pure honey , and a spoonfull of womans milk and one spoonfull of rose-water , and a half penny-worth of sperma city , as much white sugar-candy beaten , and as much white coporas as a good nutines made into fine powder , work them all together with a silver spoon , and scum off the foam , and put it into a glasse close stopped , and lying on your back with a feather drop 2 or 3 drops at a time into your eye , using it so thrée times a day till it is well . chap. lxii . the staying of the bleeding at the nose , done by m. r. take burnt lome two handfuls , sharp vinegar half a p 〈…〉 mixe them well , and lay it between a linnen cloth : and bind it to the forehead cold , and in short space it will stint . another for the same , by i. h. a man of fifty years of age , had a great flux of bloud at the nosethrill , which had continued a long time , and could find noremedy , till he used this order and medicine following . first , his ring finger was bound h●d with a thred , then was the cataplasm following applied to his forehead and temples . lake burnt lome made in powder , strong vinegar , as much as wil suffice to make it in form of a cataplasm to be applied cold , thus in few hours the bloud stinted . neverthelesse he took morning and evening the fame of succinum album , at the mouth and nose : which stayed the flux and comforted the vitall and animall spirits . his diet was cold and drying , his drink was water , or red wine , wherein was put crocus martis . another kind of curing the same , performed by d. b. one bleeding at the nose a day and a night , was thus helped : he made a tent of lint , and dipped it in ink , and put it into his nosethrils , and laid a defensative over his eys and nose , made with sanguis draconis , bolealmoniack , and a little vinegar . another way . many have been cured , by applying unto their privities , a linnen cloath wet in vinegar . another . some have had the bleading stinched , by applying the harb peruinca unto the nose . other ways to do the same . carduus benedictus bruised , and put up into the nosethrills , qinteth the bléeading at the nose . the same it performeth in a wound . the herb geranium , which hath a red stalk , being put into the nosethrils or wound , doth the same : very often proved . in like manner , and to the same effect , worketh crocus martis . also the bloud of a man dried , worketh after the same order : both for the staying of bloud at the nose , and in a wound . chap. lxiii . spatting of bloud , stayed by i. h. a certain woman spat bloud three or four days in great quantity , who was cured by drinking the decoction of mints in vinegar . another for the same . also five or six drops of oleum machich , drunk in cina●non-water , staieth the spatting of bloud . chap. lxiiii. the falling down of vuula , and the inflamation of the almonds , in such sort , that they could not swallow their meat , nor fetch their breath well , cured by w. t. take white amber grossely beaten i ounce , and with a funnel take the sume thereof , cast on a few coals morning , noon , and night . then take one ounce of old leaven , and spread it plaisterwise on a cloath , strew thereon a little comminséed , and the powder of white ambar , and apply it half an hand breath to the crown of the head the space of a whole day , then at night lay on another , and in short time it will take away the swelling , often proved . chap. lxv . the cure of the hicket , by w. b. one that was divers times grievously troubled with the hicquet , was cured by applying a brown fa●● warm to his stomack : the tost was stéeped in eriacle and aquavitae . another . divers have béen cured by taking there of four or five grains of laudanum nostrum , in wine or malmsey . chap. lxvi . the falling sicknesse cured , by w. h. a certain woman , being a barbers wife in bedfordshire , which was grieved therewith every change of the moon , was preserved , by taking each day thrée drops of olcum heracles , with the extrad of pione . another performed by i. h. first you shall purge them with the extract of helleborus niger : the dose whereof is from eight grains to twelve , being before well corrected , and then drunk in some convenient liquor or potion . that done , he gave them morning and evening of this composition : the which the longer that they use , the better it will be for them . lake essenciae peoniae , conserve of rosemary flowers , of betony , of each so much as is sufficient , mixe them together inform of an eleduary : then adde thereto for every ounce of that composition , of oleum cranij humani , one scruple , and half a scruple of oil of kosemary flowers , and twelve ounces , of oleum vitrioli . hereof let them take half an ounce at a time , either by it self , or with some convenient liquor , broth , or potion . also the nuke of the neck must be anointed with oleum castorei : when they do fall you shall anoint their nosethrils with oieum succinum for that will in short time recover them again . it will also be very expedient to use those things that comfort the brain and heart . chap. lxvii . the cure of the iaundies , by i. p. a young maiden much infected with them , was in this sort cured , she was twice purged with aromatico , and as often with panchimagogon . this done , she felt her self very much eased , save onely in her yellow colour , which was thus also taken away . she took thrée or four mornings thrée ounces of the decoction of goose-dung , two scruples of the extract of centory which she drank warm , and so was cured . another for the same , by w. h. a woman that had the yellow jaundies above two years together was thus cured : first the took one oūce of balsamum artisiciale , with a spoonfull of white wine in the morning , which caused her the next day , to be as yellow as saffron , all her body over , yea her hair of her head , and the nails of her hands and séet , very strange so behold . the third day , she took the same again , and in three times she was perfectly cured . this was at carleton , five or six miles from bedford . certain practitioners , have found a great secret in the salt called lapilli urinae , or paracelsus his rebisola , against the jaundles and all obstructions . another way by the same person w. h , take nucis cupresfi , cassiae ligni , of each one ounce , extract centaurij , two scruples , mix them , and drink it in while wine warm : and they shall after the receipt thereof , evacuate in their urine , great store of yellowish choller , but by taking this medicine twice or thrice , it will vade quite away as hath béen often proved remember that before you take this medicine ( that it may work with better effect ) you receive a dose or two of aromatico . the cure of the iaundies , with obstruction of the menstrues , performed by w. h. a young gentlewoman eighteen years old was greatly grieved with the jaundies and suppression of her naturall sicknesse , but was in this sort cured . take water of madder roots , sage , and betony , of each four ounces , spiritus tartan two ounces , oleum vitrioli two scruples mix them and drink thereof morning and evening two or thrée ounces warm . also you shall note , that she was purged once ( before she took the drink ) with aromatico leonardo , and so was perfectly cured , and had her courses again , which before she wanted seven moneths and more . chap. lxviii . the healing and cure of great windinesse in the stomack , by i. h. a certain gentleman , was so afflicted with a windinesse in the stomack , that many times , with extream ●ain he fell into a sound . in this misery he continued three years and more , but in this manner he was holpen . first he took aromat. leon . which evacuated upward and downward , the grosse and viscous cause of this wind . after that he had used this potion following forty days together . he took every morning and evening spiritus tartari , corrected with his christaline salt half a spoonfull , aqua preservans as much this withdrew the cause , opened all obstructions in the body , so that in a moneth he remained perfectly cured . chap. lxix . cough of the lungs , cured by w. t. after this manner . take aquae marrubij six ounces , sirrup of juiubes thrée ounces mix them , & make thereof a julepe : whereof the patient took four spoonfuls ▪ with one dram of balsamum sulfuris , every four hours till he was well . another cured by w. t. which had also a sore stitch in the side . first he took aromatico leonardo , and then took this potion following for certain days . take carduus benedictus , hypericon , folefoole , a little enula campana , make thereof a decu●ction with ale , and he drank every morning one scruple of bassamum sulfuris , and a spoonfull of aqua balsami fioravante , morning and evening till he was cured . chap. lxx . shortnesse of breath with a cough , remedied by m. r. first he was purged with aromatico leonardo , then he used this diet , with hot and drying meats , rost or sodden , enula campana , hysoy and liquorice , were infused in his wine . also he used every morning to drink or eat in a rere egg , half a scruple of balsamum sulfuris , and thereby was safely and quickly cured . another remedy for shortnesse of breath . the wormes called centumpedes or sows , are of great virtue to discharge the lungs that are stuffed with fleam . chap. lxxi . an approved way to stay vomiting , by m. r. a man of thirty years old , was troubled a long time with sore vomiting , throwing up presently whatsoever he eat or drank and was thus relieved . take malmsey six ounces , oleum vitrioli , sixe drops or more , mixe them together , and take thereof every morning fasting ▪ one ounce , or thereabout , and in short time it will stay the vomit . to stay vomiting of bloud . take five or sixe drops of oil of mastick , and drink it in cinamon water . to stay vomiting another way . a pultus thus made as followeth , and applied to the stomack staieth vomiting . take rie leaven , and mixe it with the iuyce of mints , and a little vinegar over the fire , in form of a pultus , when you do apply it to the stomack , strew thereon the powder of cloves , and so oft as it cooleth apply it warm . also a rie toste stéeped in vinegar , is profitable for the stomack . the oil of wormwood that cometh by distillation ) being drunk with convenient liquors , or potions , and the same compounded with other convenient things , and applied to the stomack , doth worke a notable effect this way , and is good against many other maladies . chap. lxxii . vomiting of bloud , with a cruell flux of the belly , by m. r. a man forty five years old that had congealed bloud in his body , did vomit abundance of bloud , and avoided downward a certain black matter like unto pitch . he had a great stich in his side without a feaver : and always when he vomited it was thought he would have died , this man was by gods help thus cured . first he took this potion . take the water of nettis roots eight ounces , oleum vitrioli , as much as will make it tart he drank thereof cold , which pr●●ently mitigated both the fluxes . then unto the stomack and throat , was applied this pultus warm , both morning and evening which wrought an excellent effect . take the crums of riebread , red-wine or aligant , and boil them to the form of a pultus . then he took at the mouth and nose , the sume of succinum or amber , which strengthened the vitall and animall spirits . his side was anointed with this ointment , which took away the pricking and pain . take unguent de althea , four ounces , amigdalarum dulcium a●● ounce , mixe them , and therewith anoint the side , morning and evening . his diet was this , all his meat was boiled in red wine , or smiths-water his drink was the decoction of nettle-roots or red-wine , wherein steel had béen quenched divers times . vomiting joined with a feaver . a gentleman afflicted with these griefs , was in this manner comforted . take aquae balsami one ounce , aquae preserv . two ounces , oleum piperis ▪ six grains , mix them well with a good spoonfull of the sirrup of quinces , and so she drunk it at the beginning of the heat . chap. lxxiii . plurisie , with spatting of bloud , cured by m. r. first there was made this purging preparative . take senae six drams , carduus benedictus half a handfull ▪ sugar half an ounce , ginger half an ounce , lay them to infuse one night in warm whay , made of goats milk , one pound and a half , whereof ye shall give morning and evening four ounces warm : this purgeth gently , and causeth to spat easily . then thrée days after , they must bleed well on the liver vein , and their drink at meals , was the decoction of hysop , violets , liquorice , and raisins with sugar . a great and sore plurisie , cured by m. r. a certain man of twenty four years old was vexed with a most grievous plurisie , with pricking and shooting , and a cough , with a continuall feaver and inflamation of the tongue . first there was good store of bloud taken from the liver vein , on that side where the pain was . then were these syrrups that do deco●● and and purge ) ministred unto him take sirupi de liquericia , de hysopo , acetole , of each one ounce , ox●mmellitis squillitici , acetisquillitici of each thrée ounces , make thereof a loch , whereof in the morning he licked with a liquorice stick , which caused him to spat easily , and took away the heat or burning of the tongue , being used with this decoction . take french barley thrée ounces , carduus benedictus one handfull , roses , violets , of each one pound , liquorice scraped thrée drams , figs three . raisins of the sun stoned , one ounce and a half , sugar candy two ounces , boil them in sixteen pound of water , till two pound be wasted and so drink it cold . also his diet was light and thinne , as broth and drink , &c. plurisie with inflamation of the tongue , and costiveness of the body , cured by m. r. first they were purged with aromatico , and then used this gargarism . take sempervive or howsléek two handfulls , boil them in a quart of water till a third be wasted . then strain it , and put thereto two ounces of wine vinegar ▪ wherewith they gargarised warm oftentimes . then they used mel-rosarum , which took away the blacknesse of the tongue . their diet was moist and cooling as followeth . take french barly half an ounce , figs seven , raisins of the sun stoned , four ounces , boil and strain them , and put thereto oleum vitrioli so much as will make it tart , and so drink thereof . plurisie in a woman , cured . first she was purged with aromatico leonardo , then unto her side there was applied this unguent● seven or eight times a day , which took away her pain . take unguenti de althen two ounces , oil of sweet almonds half an ounce , mixe them together : the next morning she was let bloud in the basilike ●ein , on that side where her pain was . her diet was the same that was spoken of before . after meat she used a lochsanum before prescribed for this purpose , and so in short time she was cured . another woman cured of the same disease , by m. r. first there was ministred unto her this potion . take the water of carduus benedictus half a pound , oleum vitrioli , enough to make it tart like a pomegranate . the next day she was let bloud in manner aforesaid about ten ounces . after she had bled , she took this potion folllowing , five days together morning and evening , which caused her to sweat well , and there upon she was quickly cured . the diaphoreticall decoction . take cardui benedicti two handfull . liquorice scraped three ounces ▪ figs five , raisins two ounces sugar candy one ounce and a half , voil them in a sufficient quantity of water , and strain them to drink . a plurisie broken with a potion . for the breaking of his aposteme , there was ministred unto him aromatico leon . with honied water . the next day the basilick vein , on the pleuriticall side was opened . his drink at dinner and supper was this decoction . take isop dried one small handfull , violets two handfuls , six figs , liquorice scraped half an ounce , raisins four ounces , boil them in nine pound of water till one pound be wasted , then strain this pectoral decoction , and use it . another cured in this manner . first he took aromatico leonardo ▪ and thereupon drank the water of carduus benedictus . the next day they let him bloud on the same side where the pain was . his diet was moist and cooling , and he drank barley-water mixed with syrup of roses , and oleum vitrioli , and shortly after was cured . chap. lxxiv . an inward impostume or bastard plurisie , cured by m. r. a man having an impostume in his side , which would have turned to the plurisie , was thus cured . take a good sweet apple , and cut off the crown , take out the core , and fill it with powder of olibanum , bind on the crown again , and rost it under the embers till it be soft . then mixe with it thrée or four drops of oleum vitrioli , and let the patient eat it , and sweat thereon . also with the same medicine , at the same time , there was a boy helped , that had a plague sore on his neck . pain in the side , with a cough , cured by w. t. after this manner . take floris sulphuris two drams , the extract of enula campana one dram . ireos , and liquorice , of each one ounce , honey so much as will make it in form of an slectuary . before it be made up , put thereto half a scruple of oleum sulfuris , and use it morning and evening . chap. lxxv . pain , and wind in the body , cured by i. h. a certain woman twenty eight years of age , being often troubled with a griping pain , and wind in her body , was presently eased , by taking four or five grains of laudanum nostrum in malmsey , with two or thrée drops of oil of aniséeds . after this manner divers persons have béen cured . provided always that the body be loose , else must it be moved , either with some gentle glister or suppositary . the expelling of wind out of the body , by l. f. this course following , hath been divers times proved most effectuall , against the wind in the stomack , and other parts of the body . first let them take a dose of aromatico leonardo . then let them take morning and evening , half a dramme of this composition , thrée or four dayes together , either in potions or pills . take the essence of gentian , three drams , the essence of ginger , oil of aniséed , fennellseed , of each half a scruple , make thereof a masse , and kéep it to your use . chap. lxxvi . an excellent electuary to expell wind revive the spirits , it also purgeth melancholly and choller , and comforteth the stomack : with a most excellent and soveraign plaister to be made by the apothecary , and applied outwardly to the stomack administred and applied , by d. e. take aq. melis . menth . of each sixe drams , theriacal . still . cap. ceru . of each three drams , e se . aurant . two dropsie , diasco . half a dram , conf. de hyamith . one scruple , fyr veton rubr . half an ounce , cubi paei , two drams , clyss . cit●i . one scruple , fiat electar . the plaister . admovaet regirin ventriculi , emplast . stomachicum . chap. lxxvii . the signs and tokens , whereby you may know whether you have a dropsie or nor . there be these three symptomes or signs of a confirmed dropsie . first , the tongue is white and cold . 2. the yard is shrunk into the belly . 3. the veins on the belly are apparent , and visibly to be seen . and where these things are found , they are infallible declarations of a grounded dropsie . chap. lxxviii . the cure of the dropsie , performed by w. t. a man of three and forty years old , troubled with the dropsie , was in this manner cured . take the roofs of blew flower de luce sliced , and stéeped in vinegar three or four hours , and then dried half an ounce , of the bark of lawrell roote so prepared , as much ; the leaves of sena in powder one spoonfull aniseed and ginger , of each one dram , mixe them , and take of that powder every morning , from the weight of four pence , till it give you four stools a day continue herein so long as you shall think it good . chap. lxxix . the killing and expelling of worms in the stomack , by i : h. an infinite number of people , both young and old , have been cured thereof , with this composition following . take the séed of carduus sanctus , wormséed , dittany , semen caulium , cornucerui us●i , corralline , vermium terrestrium , of each half a dram , mixe them in fiue powder , and give thereof half a dram either with honey or sweet milk in the morning and evening anoint also the stomack and belly downward , with this unguent following , and apply a little unto the navill , with brown paper and no doubt of it within two or thrée days , the patient shall be cured . for it doth not onely kill the worms , but causeth them to come forth by siege , making the belly soluble , so that they shall have two or thrée stools in a day . the cataplasm or unguent is this . take farinae lupinorum , aloes , centauriae , myrrha , theriacae opt●mae , of each half an ounce , beat them into fine powder , and make thereof an unguent , with the juyce of peach leaves , and keep it to your use . also two or three drops of oleum vitrioli , being drunk with water of gramen , or such like , for three or four days , killeth worms . also two drams of quinta essencia solutivo phioravante , drunk with one ounce of syrrup of roses , killeth the worms , and expelleth them by siege . chap. lxxx . a quartain of long continuance , cured by l. f. first he was purged with twelve grains of lapetra philosophale leonardo fiorayante , mixed with half a dram of good mithridate , the next day he took of this decoction warm six ounces , and so continued fourteen days morning and evening . take chamepiteos one pound , white wine eight pound , white honey one pound , distill them with a gentle fire , till five pound be come forth . then let it cool and filter that which remained in the vessel , and mixe it with that which was distilled before , keep it in a glasse close stopped , and use it . also the reins of the back , was anointed every night with balsamum artificiale leonardo phiorayante , and so he was well cured . chap. lxxxi . an approved remedy against the pestilence , plurisie , and quartain . divers people have been cured of these foresaid diseases , by taking a dose of turpetum diaphoreticum , paraceli , either with amuletum palmarij , or with some excellent good mithridate , in the morning fasting , and sweating thereupon . sometime it is given with other potions or compositions , according to the disease ▪ chap. lxxxii ▪ the swelling of the spleen in a melanchollick perion cured by w. t. a certain melancholly man , was much grieved in his milt , heart , and head : but he was thus cured . first he was purged with one scruple of panchimagogon and one scruple of the extract of sena , mixed with syrrup of roses , and two or thrée drops of oil of vitrioll . that done , he took a quart of posset ale , made of white wine and burnet , and drank there of morning , noon and night a good draught , with half a spoonfull of aqua balsami fioravante . also now and then he took morning and evening a tost of white bread , stéeped in aquam preservans , and within ten days after , he purged again , and so remained in good health . chap. lxxxiii . frantick feavers for want of sleep , often cured by i. p. many that were so grieb●usly vexed , with a burning feaver that they could not sléep , and were in manner frantick , have taken five or six grains of laudanum , with conserve of succory flowers , and therewith were spéedily delivered out of their extremities . pestilent feavers with great thirst , cured by i. h. first they were purged once or twice with aromatico leonardo : then was the stomack comforted with some pectorall petion . that being don● , there was barley-water made with raisins liquorice and cool herbs . then strain it clean , and put therein as much oleum vitrioli , as will make it tart like a pomgranate , drink thereof when you are a dry for it comforteth nature , asswageth heat and thirst , wonderfully ▪ openeth al obstructions , and defendeth the body from putrified feavers . if they be grieved with the head-ach you shall cause them to be let blond under the tongue ▪ cutting those veins overthwart , and they shall presently be cured . chap. lxxxv . against poison , or the pestilence , a diaphoreticall potion , by w. t. take mirrhae ▪ croci , of each two ounces ▪ amuleti palmatij , one ounce , spiritus vini one pound ▪ oleum piperis , oleum ging●beris , of eace one dram , mir them in a glasse , and give thereof half an ounce in old sack at once , against the pestilence or poison . chap. lxxxvi . signs of death in the plague , by w. k. take a live frog , and lay it next the sore : if the party will escape the frog will burst in a quarter of an hour . then lay on another , and this you shall do , till no more do burst for they draw forth the venome . i have been told that a dried toad , wil in better sort do the same . if none of the frogs do burst , the party will not escape , this hath been often proved . chap. lxxxvii . antidotes , and preservatives against infectious air● on the water or land , by w. t. you shall use to chew or hold in your mouth , a little of essencia angelicae ▪ also it would be very profitable to drink three or four drops of the same fasting . also oleum camphorae , being drunk effecteth the same . in like manner aqua balsami fioravante , if it be drunk in the morning with wine , or allome , preserveth a man from ull poison and pestilent airs : and is a most singular remedy against surfeits or the pestilence . also , if you be in any infected ship or house , it were necessary to wear a bag of saffron under your arme-pits to defend the heart . also it were very necessary to drink two or three drops of the essence of saffron , for the same purpose . amuletum palmarij is also very excellent , being taken in the morning fasting . dissolved pearl , eaten or drunk , defendeth the heart , purifieth the bloud , and reviveth the spirits above all other things . you may make it in lozings or drink it in any cordiall , what quantity you please . chap. lxxxviii . an inveterate gonorrhea , either in man or woman , oftentimes cured by w. t. many have been cured of this , and such like infirmities , with this composition following . among the rest , a gentleman in buckinghamshire , who was vexed therewith above seven years continually . a gentlewoman also , was so grievously afflicted with the flux , that she waxed lame , and went with a staffe , these were both cured in twelve days . but one thing must be remembred that if it come ex lue venerea , it were necessary first to be purged and then to use these pills . take magisterij perlarum , one dram . gum tragaganth , half a dram ▪ fine bolearmoniack , terrae sigilla●ae verae , of each one dram , laudanum nostrum one scruple , 〈◊〉 an hard masse with turpentine , and take thereof half a dram when you go to bed , untill this quantity be spent : in the mean time also , you shall anoint the reins of the back with this unguent . take unguentum album camphora tum , two ounces , saccarum saturni two drams , and make thereof an ointment . another for the same , by w. t. first purge them with aromatico leonardo , once or twice , then let them tak morning and evening , half a dram of the pills following : and anoint the reins of the back , with the foresaid unguent . take symphiti crassulae of each two drams , magisterj perlarum , dissolved corall of each one dram , laudani i scruple , nucis moschatae , numero 2 , bole armon . terre sigillitae verae tem. paupau . albi tragacanth , of each two drams , make them up in a masse with turpentine , and use them in manner aforesaid . an electuary against gonorrhea , by w. t. a certain man being troubled with a stinking gonorrhea , was in this order cured . first he was purged with aromatico leonardo : the next day , he took a pill or two of uenice turpentine , washed in plant in water . that done he used to eat morning and evening , the quantity of a hazel nut of this electuaey , untill he was helped which was not long after . take the kernels of hazell nuts blanched , four ●un●●● , migisteri● perlarium , laudani nostri , of each one scruple , terrae sigillitae , boli ▪ veri , sanguinis draconis in grain , of each two scruple , seminis plantaginis , ras●nae ●bo●●● . of each one scruple , nucis moschatae . 3 or 4 , 〈◊〉 , ●n● dram , saccari thrée ounces , mix then well together and use it . also in the mean time , he anointed the reins with the foresaid unguent . chap. lxxxix . the immoderate flux , menstruall , suppressed or stayed , by w. t. a certain woman being grievously weakned with that disease and having great heat and pain in her body , was thus cured . take the roots of orpine and comfery thin sliced , clarey a good quantity , boil them with a chicken , and with that broth make almond milk , and to every handfull of almonds , ad one scruple of laudanum nostrum , grind them well together , and drink thereof morning and evening . also you shall anoint the reins , and other grieved parts with the unguent mentioned in the chapter aforesaid . another against the same . i was informed that the powder of a land frog , bound about the womans neck , doth stay the foresaid flux . chap. xc . a flux stopped , by g. f. dissolve bay salt in malmsey , and therewith wash the soles of your feet , and in thrée or four days it will stay the flux . divers souldiers in the wars have béen cured thereof , by setting their fundament in warm horse-dung . also the powder of red roses , drunk in red-wine , is very profitable for the st●pping of the fl●r . bloudy flux of long continuance , cured by w. t. take conserve of red ●●●es , marmilet of duinces , elect●a●y of suluhur , of each two ounces , amuletum palmarij half an ounce , essencia c●oci , l●●●danum nostrum , of each half a scruple , aquae pre 〈…〉 t is half an ounce , oleum vitrioh , & 〈…〉 uris of each half a scruple mix them , and take thereof one dram , morning and evening . chap. xci . the cure of the hemerrhoids or piles , performed , by i. h. and many others . take mullen , and fry it with butter , and therewith anoint the part divers times . the oil of eggs is a notable remedy to withdraw the said infirmity . balsamum sulfuris anointed upon them , doth with great speed and good successe , cure them : this also hath been oftentimes proved very excellent . if they be anointed with oleum tartari faetens if drieth them up in short time : but first , it were necessary to purge the body of the melanchollick original of that disease , both by vomit and siege . some use to make them away , by applying a caustick unto them . the cure of ficus , in ano , alias hemerhoids ex lue venerea , performed by i. p. many have béen sore troubled with warts or blathers in the fundament , which have in very short time been cured by anointing them with balsamum tartari ●aetens . among other men there was a strong lusty fellow fifty years old , of complexion melancholly , about whose fundament there remained 12 or 14 growing , whereof some were so big as a little fig , all of them did run or yéeld a loathsom yellow sanies or matter . this mā was cured with balsamum tartari ●aetens : without any pain to him and the warts were so dried that they were pulled off with a pair of mullets : after which he remained whole ; this man was healed in bedford ●hire . chap. xcii . the provoking of menstrues , by i. h. by this composition following , many more then it is here requisite to speak of have had their menstrues provoked and many other obstructions opened : especially if it be given with broths , liquors , or medicaments , appropriate thereunto . take extractionem camomillae , calenduiae , gentianae , brioniae , chamepiteos , paeon●ae centaurij , juniperi , genisiae , sabini , spicanardi ru●ae , melistae , chelidoniae , philipenduiae , matricariae of each one dram , essentiae zedoariae , croci , of each half a dram , mirabolanotum , castorei of each half an ounce mix them and keep it close the dose is from one scruple , to one dram , upon extremity either in pills or convenient electuaries . it must be ministred four or five days before the new moon , and as many after with the infusion of sena , or in sirrup of roses , for the inte●● above named . to provoke menstrues in melanchollick people , by w. h. take of the extract of helleborus niger , five grains . panchimagogon fifteen grains , make it into three small pilles , and anoint the pills with oleum anisi , and thereof take once or twice . after that take this composition following . take of the essence of gentian , sabina , angelica , of each one dram , essencia croci one scruple , castorei half a scruple , mixe them and make them up in form of pills , and take thereof each night when you go to bed one scruple , either in pills or dissolved in some convenient liquor , about the foresaid time of the moon . a very melancholick maiden , was cured in this manner . chap. xciii . suffocation and pains of the matrix , with retentation of menstrues , cured by ▪ i. p. take extract . drionae , one dram and a half , the leaves of sena half an ounce , ginger one scruple , cinamon , one dram ; sugar one ounce , lay them to infuse one night in a pint of warm whey , made of goats milk . then strein it , and drink thereof three mornings warm , about the new moon , keeping a warm and drying diet , your wine must be infused with rosemary flowers . another that hath cured the rising of the mother by r. c. take the flowers or buds of a walnut tree in may , give the patients as much thereof to drink as will lie on a great , and with two or three doses they shall be cured . also if you give one scruple of oleum succinum album , in wine , it will presently cure the same disease , a thing oftentimes proved with good successe . chap. xciiii . to provoke urine , and to cause the jaundies to flow , w. k. the powder of earth worms , drunk with white wine provoketh urine , and cureth the jaundies and t●●●ians . also gray sope two ounces , bay-salt finely beaten , one ounce , mix them , and therewith anoint the navill , and belly . also castile sope being drunk with warm wine , provoketh vrine . also if you shall apply quick earth-worms upon a whit blow called pavaricium ( of some paviricies ) they will cure the same . chap. xcv . to provoke urine , and to heal other obstructions , a most excellent and proved receipt , by i. h. and many other . this composition of artificiall salts breaketh ( and after a sort ) consumeth all tartarous diseases , as hath been very often and truly experimented by divers and sundry persons : yea it prevaileth much against the gout , taken with potions , electuaries and sirrups appropriate unto the particular ministrations . take the salt of radish , of eringos , bean-stalks , broom alizanders , auniper , ash , ani●eed , fennell , camomil , worm-wood , vervine , tartar christaline , of each alike quantity , mix thē in a warm morter , & keep it close , & in a dry place , for in the air & moisture it wil quickly resolve . the dose hereof , is from half a scruple to a whole ●●●uple and may be very safely administred , without perill , to any age or sexe : upon good occasions , and at times convenient , after that the body is prepared for the same purpose . i shall now proceed in order to speak of severall other griefs and diseases , incident to mans body , and shew you the cure thereof , according to the rules and practise of the most excellent expert philosophical physitians and chyrurgians , beginning first with the head . of the pain in the head . al or the most of physitians in the world do hold this position , that pain in the head is no other thing then vapors arising from the stomack , and ascend unto the head , which do offend membrana , whereupon ensueth pain . and besides this there be severall other causes . the first cause , is putrified bloud in leonichie . the second is , the vapours that ascend from the stomack , and offend the head . the third is , the humidity or moisture betwéen the skin and the flesh . so that the causes are thrée , and the remedies as many , to dissolve the antecedent causes . i have now shewed thée the originall and root of the pain in the head , about which thou shalt never more néed to beat thy head . or break thy brains , either in séeking the aphoris●s of hypocrates , the commentary of gallen , or the authority of avicen : for in these four or five words , i have said all . now of the cure of this disease , as it hath béen experimented , an infinite number of times : which way soever the cause cometh , work thou after this manner , and thou shalt never want credit , in giving others ease and curing thy self . when the pain in the head is confirmed , and that thou ●anst find no help by common theorick or pra 〈…〉 ick , do these things following . first let them bloud on leoniehie , cutting it overthwart , and let the patient spat as much as he can . then the next morning ▪ let them take aromatico fasting . the next day let the head be shaven , and lay thereon an attractive plaister , to draw out the humidity . in the end cause them to néese , and hereby all the pain in the head will cease . chap. xcvi . of the catarrhe , the rhume in the head , the cough and tysick . the catarrhe is a moist vapour , which assaulteth the head , and afterward falleth down again into the stomack where it ingrosseth and corrupteth . this moisture hath his beginning of the moisture of the lungs , and untill such time as the lungs be discharged thereof , the catarrhe will continue in his force . this infirmity raigneth more in flegmatick & melancholy bodies then in any of other constitutions . such as are troubled with it are not long lived , because their lungs are consumed by little and little and thereupon they are troubled with the tysick : and consequently they perish , if they be not quickly releeved . i wil now shew thee a rare secret to cure the same . take pulmonaria and sena that is fresh and new ; infuse them in ▪ wine and water , over a small and gentle fire till the wine have drawn out the virtue . then strein it and put thereunto quintaessence solutive , and keep it close in a glasse , let the patient drink thereof ▪ every morning ●●un●es luke warm , for twenty days together : let him eat good nourishing meats , for they agree well with his disease . if the patient he not too far spent , you shall ●e● your cure performed in short time : in the mean time , if the patient he weak , you shall give him new laid eggs 〈…〉 white wine . if the 〈…〉 ●e perceived not to be qui●e expelled & 〈…〉 , then give him aromatico : afterward comfort him again , with rest●rati●es and cor 〈…〉 him strong , and no doubt by the help of god he shall be cured . this method , of curing this infirmity , differeth from the common course that physitians take which would cure it with diet , and mollifying liniments , and causing them to spat and such like which are means rather to augment the catarrhe then to diminish the same . the second course , to cure the descention that cometh from the head to the stomack . use these five things , if y● wil cure this disease first electuario angelica ▪ ● quintaessence solutive , 3 p●●lulae pro de●censo 4 unguents for the stomack and head ▪ 5 quintaessence vegetable . the electuary cleanseth the head and stomack the quintaessence solutive evacuateth the body , the pills take away the cause of the descension , the unguents dry , and the vegetable quintaessence preserveth the body from all ill and noisome infirmities . the electuary must be taken first in the morning : of the quintaessence solutive , you must take a spoonfull in the morning in a little broth and sugar , keeping a reasonable good diet : and do this , four or six days . then take the pills in the evening , and in the mean time , anoint the head and stomack with oleum cerae , and drink every morning a little quintaessence solutive , which if you do use continually ) by the blessing of god upon it ) there is no doubt , but the body shall be free from many troublesome maladies . there was a certain woman , of the age of 58 years , who ●eing greatly troubled with a catarrhe : was cured by the use of aqua preservans , morning and evening , and by anointing the stomack with balsamo . one that was afflicted with a catarrhe , and a stitch in the side was thus cured . he took aromatico twice . then he took every morning a spoonfull of quintaessence solutive , with the broth of a capon for seven or eight days together , and every night when he went to bed , he anointed his stomack , with oleum incompostobile , and thereby was soon after cured . a woman that had great pain in her head and stomack and had her menstrues stopped ; with losse of her appetite was thus helped . first she took two doses of pillulae angelica , that done she took every morning , a spoonfull of quintaessencia solutivo , with broth and sugar ; for five or six mornings together . after that , she took every morning one spoonfull of aqua preservans : whereupon in short time after she was cured . chap. xcvii . a contusion in the head . a certain man ▪ had a great fall from an horse , where ▪ with he bruised his head most grievously , who was cured in four days ; by anointing the place , with oleum benedictum . chap. xcviii . the taking away , or healing of the white scall . this noisome malady , is perfectly cured , by purging the patients with aromatico , and anointing the head with oleum philosophorum . also the artificiall balsome doth the like , and oleum benedictum , effecteth the same . chap. xcix . pain in the eyes , with great dimnesse of fight . a certain man that had great pain in his eys , and was almost blind , recovered his fight by lettingbloud , under the tongue . the next day he took aromatico once : after that he used quintaessence solutive , seven or eight days together , and every night he anointed his stomack with oleum cerae rectified : then was dropped into his eys , the water hereafter set down for the dimnesse of sight , and thereby was he well curedi chap. c. anunguent or ointment for sore eys . take rose-water , fennel and eufrage-water , of each alike quantity , put therein a small quantity of uerdi grease , and boil it a little on the fire . then let it settle , till it be clear , and pour it off . with this water , sée that you wash auxungia porcina seven or eight times : and of that ▪ put a little into the eye , when you go to bed . chap. ci. to cure or stay the spatting of bloud . one that spat bloud , was cured in ten days , by drinking the liquor of honey , morning and evening . an other was healed by drinking the decoction of min● in vinegar , another by drinking of crocus martis . chap. cii . the description and manifold cures , of the disease called scrophulae , or forunculi , which some do call waxing kernels , but rather the kings evill . the scrophulae or waxing kernels ( so called of some ) which use to come in the thr●●t , or other parts of the bodies of young children do arise and are caused of great quantity of melancholly humors ▪ because that doth for the most part r●ign in persons that are weak of comple●●on . for you may easily sée that such as are vexed with that infirmity : are not very qui●k spirited . these scrophulae , are a long time , ere they will ●ome to suppuration : and before they ●reak and when they are broken , they cause excessive pain , and are hard to be cured . for all infirmities that come of melancholly , are troublesom to cure or resolve , as you may sée in the quartain and such like . but here i wil shew thee a secret to cure ye scroph●lae , first you must remove the cause , & then work the effect : for otherwise it were impossible to cure them with outward medicines . this melancholly is purged , with the drink following against melancholly , which you must use three wéeks or a moneth . that done , give them aromatico , which cleanseth the head and stomack , purifieth the bloud . as touching locall medicines ▪ lay to the place a plaister of waxe and butter , and anoint it with magno licore ▪ untill the escare be fallen out : and when it is m●ndi●ied , apply thereon the 〈…〉 of gualtifredo di m 〈…〉 , and use no other medicine , for it will in , carnate , 〈…〉 without scare . another remedy against the kings evill . one w. r. dwelling in cheap ▪ side london , at eightéen years old ▪ had the kings ▪ evill in a very great measure , and was throughly cured by this medicine following after he had been twice touched by the late king , and spent very much money on doctors , and found not any help . take the roots of scrophilari 〈…〉 , otherwise called brown-worts , the roots of orphin , the roots of pileworth , of each clean washed and picked two ounces , of the leaves of brown-worts , of hearb robert , of egrimony of each three handfulls , of mugwort , and smalage of each two handfulls , of scurvy-grasse , four handfulls , of water cresses , and horse ▪ radish ▪ leaves , of each two handfulls , of the roots of horse ▪ radish , one ●unce and a half , of caraway-seeds , and fennel-séeds , of each an ounce , shred the hearbs and roots small , then tu● to all this ( being put into a large boulter bag ) four or five gallons of new-drink of a reasonable strength , ready to work , having wrought stop it up close , being six or seven days old , then drink of this continually for a whole year or more , and let it be your continuall drink , and purge once a wéek with pulvis saema montagin . two drams , and cremor tartarij , two true scruples for a dose , in a draught of mace-ale boiled with currance , let your hearbs and roots be gathered in summer to dry cleanly , and kéep them for all the year dry , kéep to the place a discentent or dissolving plaister , and observe a good diet . another cure for the kings-evill . a certain young boy of 14 years , of complexion chollerick and melanchollick , who had scrophulae in his throat , on both the sides , was thus cured . the first medicine that he took was the infusion of rhabarb , with the trochisks of agarick , and acctum squilliticum , and water of maidenhair , mixed together , which he used by the space of ten days . then was laid upon the scrophulae a plaist●● of cerotum magistrale with cantarides , which drew forth the malignity of the ulcer , and great store of sanies being applied for fiftéen days together . this done , i gave him the decection of salsaparilla , with a good diet , for twenty days together . then i applied unto the sore ac●rote of gualtifredo di medi , which in a short time cured him , that had béen vexed with them four yeares before . another for the same . another which was a maid of thirteen yeares of age was vexed with scrophulae in her throat , which was also in this manner cured . first i gave her the extract of elleborus niger , wt mel rosarum ; which doth very effectually purge the melācholy humor . that done i gave her our sirrup against the melancholly humour , for eight 〈◊〉 ten days together : and applied unto the sores , an unguent of lytarge , boiled with the powder of scrophularia : th●● was she in short time cured ▪ another for the same . take uerdigrease , pelitory of spain dock ▪ root the suice of léeks , of the herb scrophularia , of each alike quantity , mixe them , and lay on lint , and apply it unto the scrophulae , but take some care thereof . chap. ciii . of pavaricium , or pavaricies , called the whit-blow . this grievous and intollerable malady ( as thoss know well that have felt them ) cometh on the end of the singer ; and is an infirmity bred in the liver , whereof nature being-willing to discharge her self , sendeth it to the extream parts of the fingers : and most commonly it cometh to the finger next the thumb , but seldome in the other . the reason or cause whereof is hidden , save that we may conjecture ( as we have said before ) an accident in the liver , which nature sendeth forth unto those parts to ease herself . when it cometh to the end of the finger , that it can go no further ; it causeth a sharp and excessive pain : and the accident coming unto that place , not having passage , is so hot , that in short time it putrifieth the sinews , muscles , and cartilages , and in the end rotteth both flesh and bone . the secret of this grief is not commonly known of the most surgeons : who with all their learning , cannot devise to cure it , as it ought to be cured . the most part of such as have that infirmity , loose their finger : but if thou wilt quickly help them follow this method . first let them bléed on the liver vein : then let them be well purged . afterward dresse the finger with oleum sulfuris : which will cause some pain , neverthelesse ( to have some ease ) you must abide it . the next day dresse it with magno licore , untill it be whole , which will be in short time , as i have often proved . chap. ciiii. of grievous vlcers in womens breasts . first they must be touched with oleum sulfuris : then make this unguent . take of the yolks of eggs , two ounces , turpentine , butter , barley , flower , honey of roses , of each half an ounce ; incorporate them all in a morter , and therewith dresse them untill they be whole . but if they come of any kind or spice of the foul disease , this unguent will be to very small purpose . but then shall you dresse them with vnguento magno : which is appropriate unto the disease , and look that you purge them with aromatico . chap. cv . of the disease called asthma , or tysick , and the cure thereof . this disease , which is called the tysick , is a certain infirmity , contained in the lungs , which doth harden and dry them in such manner , that such as are troubled therewith , cannot fetch their breath . it procéedeth of adustion of the bloud , that cannot run in the veins : and so the lungs lacking sustenance , worketh that effect . this disease is cured four manner of ways . first you shall let them bloud under the tongue , cutting those veins overthwart , and suck them as much as they can : for it evacuateth and openeth the opilation of the bloud , and easeth the lungs of all that evill matter which offendeth . secondly , you shall give them a dose of aromatico , which evacuateth the stomack , of all evill qualities that offend the lungs . the third is , to let them eat for a moneth together , every morning one ounce of electuario de althea . the fourth , to anoint the stomack , every night with magno licore . but every ten days , you must take a dose of electuario angelica , whereby thou shalt help them quickly . you must also kéep a sober diet : refraining fish , pork , slimie things , spice , baked meats , chéese , and such like , which nourish grossely , and do infect the bloud . chap. cvi. an excellent remedy , against the worms . you shall give the patient two ounces of unguento magno , to drink with mel rosarum , thrée mornings together , anoint the nosethrils therewith , and in thrée days they will be expelled , were they never so many . for the worms of all sorts . take of the powder of centuary leaves one ounce , powder of sena of alex. half an ounce . wormséed finely beaten one ounce : then take of good malmsey , a quarter of a pint or better , of the best honey two ounces , dissolve the honey in the wine with a gentle heat , and then put in all the powders , and stir it well together , which done put it into a clean bladder ; knit it close and hang it in the chimney untill it be an hard tump , you may use it as the wormséed alone is commonly used , give a child the weight of a great at a time , to the elder sort more , as you think good : it killeth the worms , and causeth them to void . chap. cvii . of the hardnesse of the milt , and the cure thereof . the spléen or milt is hardened by reason of superfluous humidity that it taketh from the liver and lungs . therefore , if you will help this infirmity , it were necessary , to use medicines a bstersive , and drying , which thou shalt do thus . first give them aromatico , then let them use this electuary , which is of marvellous virtue in that operation . take crocus martis , scolopendria , of each one ounce , spikenard , lapis lazuli , of each two scruples , cinamon half an ounce , mixe them , and make an electuary thereof with purified honey , and take thereof every morning one spoonfull , and every night ( two hours before supper ) an other spoonfull , and anoint the outward part , where the grief is with balsamo artific . and in short time , the disease shall be cured . another remedy very effectuall for the former disease . let them bloud on the two veins , under the tongue . that done , mixe mustard séed with the urine of a boy , and lay it betwéen two cloaths , and lay it to the part afflicted one night , and then ( if thou féel not good ease ) use it again till the disease be gone . also the decoction of oak helpeth the swelling of the milt . chap. cviii . the cure of the gonorrhea , or running of the reins , the forerunner of the soul disease . first you shall give them aromatico once in white wine . then morning and evening , for seven or eight days , use this potion following : anointing also the reins , and those parts , with aquae fae●ida , being cold and in short time they shall be healed . take the whites of four or five new laied eggs , two ounces of fine sugar , thrée ounces of rose water , mixe them well , and drink it morning and evening . this is a rare secret , and often proved : the drink must be drunk cold . chap. cix . of the hemerrhoids , and their cure ▪ the hemerhoids , are an alteration in the hemerhoidal veins , caused of a corrupt and putrified humour , whereof nature being willing to discharge her self , sendeth forth by those veins unto the extream or outward parts , where it cannot passe through , and causeth the alteration and inflation that is called the hemerrhoids . this corruption and putrifaction , is caused of the evill quality of the liver , which corrupteth the bloud , and is the cause of all this inconvenience . now for the cure , it were necessary to help the liver , to purifie the bloud , to alter the hemerrhoids , and to discharge nature of that imp●d●ment . first therefore , give them electuario angelica , the next day they shall take sirupo solutivo , whereof they shall take five or six doses . then let them anoint the hemerrhoids , with caustick ▪ once or twice , and they shall soon after be cured . of the divers sorts , and divers effects of the hemerrhoids and their cure . by reason of this disease , that cometh always at the end of intestino , or longanon , some have marvellous pain about the fundament , some burn wonderfully , and others do scald : which cometh because of the good or bad qualities in some , more than in other some , as experience sheweth . for ( as i said ) some have such a burning that they can take no rest , some have such pain , as they cannot fit , some have it scalding hot that it is intollerable . though this infirmity is more hurtfull in one complexion than in another , and the cure harder : yet you shall cure them in this manner . first give them aromatico , then purge the body five or six times with sirupo solutivo . then give him fume at the lower parts , with frankincense , and storax sitting on a close-stool thrée or four times , and then anoint the parts with balsamo artific . for that will dry and take away the pain altogether , and the patient shall be surely healed . there are divers kinds of hemerrhoids but two in principall . the one sort is in the fundament , and causéth great pain when they go to stool . the other so●● cometh forth of the fundament , and are not so painfull as the first . to cure those within the fundament you shall give the patient eight or ten days together , sirupo magistrale warm , let them take aromatico once , and use glisters , wherein is put half an ounce of aqua reale phioravante at a time , and so thou shalt help them . the best way for those that are come forth , is to make incision , or to make a little hole in them that the bloud ( which is putrified ) may come forth , and so by evacuation thou shall help them . also you shall understand , that vomiting is very necessary in the rure of both sorts , because it openeth the veins . also oleum ovorum , doth ease the pain of the hemerrhoids very greatly : so doth the oil of fig● , if you anoint them therewith . the tooth of an horse-fish , being worn in a ring on the finger after the body is purged , taketh them away by a secret and hidden quality , a thing proved more then an hundred times . chap. cx . of the cure of such as are troubled with suffocation of the matrix . a certain woman afflicted therewith having much pain and grief in her stomack , was cured by taking a dose of electuario angelica . then she used our sirrup against pains of the mother , eight or ten days , and anointed her stomack , with magno licore every night . a certain young woman afflicted in manner aforesaid , wanted also her naturall sicknesse , and began to loose her naturall heat : so that nature could not digest the superfluous matter in her body , was thus helped . first she took electuario angelica , and every night anointed her stomack , nosethrills , and pulses , with magno licore , and every morning drank of quintaessence solutive , and so was cured . chap. cxi . to cure a rupture or bursting in the beginning . in every ten days once give them aromatico , and every morning fasting , give them one ounce of white tartar , in water or wine , and two hours before supper you shall take the like : let your bread be dry , also you must wear a trusse fit for that purpose and use this remedy following . take of the spirit of wine twelve ounces , frankincense , olibanum , mastich sarcocolla , of each half an ounce , infuse them in aqua vitae , and therewith wash the rupture twice a day , then cast thereon the powder of bislingua , and the herb balsamina , and lay thereon a cloath wet in the said water , and bind on the trusse so hard , as he may possibly abide it ; and hereby shalt thou heal any great rupture , in an hundred days , but sée that you kéep diet accordingly . another for the same . take very stiff and thick paper wel gummed , chew it in the mouth till it be soft : then lay it upon the rupture , and lay thereon a trusse fit for the purpose . some use to stéep the paper in lie , and wring the same out till it be dry , and apply it to the rupture , changing it once in 24 hours . a most excellent medicine for bursting . take knotgrasse cōfery , ribwort , shepherds-pouch , of each alike quantity wash them & dry thē , then set them in an oven to dry , then beat them to powder & searce thē , to that powder take a like quantity of aniseeds , beat it with the powder & hearbs , searce them again , & when y● will use this powder take as much of it as will lie upon a six pence , for ten mornings together , drink it with a little malmsey fasting : then take of the foresaid hearbs being first sodden in fair water till they be tender , wring the water clean from them and apply it to the place not too hot ; let not the trusse be too strait for it will make the place rent further , gather the hearbs to make this powder in may , when the chief strength is in them , put a little oil of spike to the hear bs after they be boiled , and the water clean drawn from them , anoint the place with oil of spike , before you lay the hearbs to it . this hath béen often proved to be good upon children that have béen born so , and upon old folks , that have been many years broken . chap. cxii . of retention of urine , and the cure thereof . the retention of urine ariseth of many causes , one is gravell , that stoppeth the conduits where it should passe , an other is the want or weaknesse of the virtue expulsive ; so that nature cannot expell ; an other is a carnosity , which is an alteration caused of corrupt and putrified humours , which do so restrain the powers , and urine , that it cannot passe . there is another , and that is viscosity of the reins , so grosse , that it hinder●th the urine from passing . another cause , which is too too common , is the gonorrhea , when it changeth into stranguria , that it is a stopping or choking of the cenduits , that cary the urine to the bladder . all these foresaid causes , procéed of one original , even of the distemperature of nature , whereof if you ask the reason you shal understand that it ariseth of that filthy beginning , which bringeth the soul disease . that which moveth me to beléeve it , is the observation thereof divers and sundry times , for many have been cured , that were infected with the pocks which were troubled ( with carnosity before spoken of ) some with gravell , some with debility of the virtue expulside , some with gonorrhea ; all which when they were cured of the pocks , the other distemperatures were therewith also cured . for that disease is the cause of twenty mischiefs , and the reason why many physitians make a long cure of the former distemperatures , is for that they know not the main and principall cause of them . but now i will shew thee a true and excellent manner of curing the retention of urine , which way soever it cometh . first give them a dose of aromatico , then give unto them sirupo solurivo , eight or ten days , but in any wise kéep no strait diet , but a good government as you do most commonly use : and eat such meat as pleaseth thy stomack best : cause them also to sweat ▪ and in short time thou shalt thoroughly cure them . chap. cxiii . a most excellent remedy to cure the difficulty of urine . the difficulty , or retention of urine , caused divers ways , as of gravell viscosity , exulceration , &c. i● in this sort very well and safely cured . when the cause of this difficulty of urine is in the reins or kidneys , so that it be not a stone in the kidneys , or some great store of gravell see that you work thus . take the lungs and pissel of an hare , boil it in good wine , when it is well boiled ▪ stamp it small , and passe it thorough a strainer with the said liquor wherein it was boiled . remember that when you boil it there must not remain much liquor in the vessel . then take the said matter that you strained , and put thereto as much purified honey , and boil it on a soft fire , untill it come to the form of an electuary . when it is boiled put thereto for every pound of that electuarythese things following made into fine powder , of lignumaloes , of cinamon , of each iscruple cloves saffron , of each one scruple musk four grains , aquae rosarum one ounce , quintaessence solutive one ounce and a half . incorporate these well together , while it is warm and kéep it in a glasse close stopped . and when you will use it , you must first take a dose of electuario angelica , and while you use the electuary , remember to anoint the reins with aqua faetida , when you go to bed . of the electuary you must take one ounce in the morning , and fast thereon four hours , and use some exercise and in short time , th●n shall sée a marvellous good work performed . for the reins will be strengtheued , the viscosity will be resolved , the por●● will be opened , and the urine will be expelled , and cleansed , all which are effects necessary for him to regard , that will with henesty and credit , help the former malady . another often proved . if thou wilt presently help one that cannot make water , by reason of wind viscosity , or other grievous cause , vering the party ; anoint the reins , and the privy parts with balsamo artificiato , and kéep them very warm , and forthwith they shall make water , to their great satisfaction . chap. cxiiii . retention of the urine , with a stitch in the side . one was in very short time cured of these infirmities , after he had taken aromatico : and anointed him in manner above specified , with the balsamo artificiato , which you shall find under the title of balsome , &c. chap. cxv . the swelling of the leg , and foot , cured in manner following . first the patient took one dose of aromatico , then he used quintaessence solutive , thrée or four mornings together in a little broth that d●●e ▪ he drunk every morning a little qu●intaessence vegetable fasting , and every night , he anointed his leg , with oleum philosophorum nostrum . also now and then he took a dose of pillulae angelica , to keep the body soluble , he kept a reasonable good diet , he used not m̄uch walking , so that very shortly after , he was well cured . chap. cxvi . of chilblains , and their cures . you shall understand that chilblains ( as we t●rm them ) are caused of no other thing then of humours dried , and restrained in the bodie . for in winter when it is cold , the pores do shut so close together , that the humour cannot passe or come forth , neither by sweat , nor other exhalation or expiration . for that cause , the humours in a young man ( who is hot of complexion ) may not be kept in ; for then nature ( which would ease her self ) sendeth that exhalation , unto the extream parts of the body , that is , unto the hands and feet ; where remaining there is caused that alteration ; and in processe of time the skin doth open , and the humour goeth forth ; but cannot heal till the spring , when warm weather cometh in . howbeit , there is found out a secret to cure them quickly , and with great ease . first let them bloud , then give them a dose of electuario angelica : after that let them take sirupo solutivo , six or seven days together , not keeping any streight diet or rule . after this anoint them with oleum philosophorum de cera & terebinthina , at night when they go to bed : and do thus one week at the lea●t , and then no doubt thou shalt cure them , as i have often proved . also the oil and water of frankincense , will do the like . chap. cxvii . of corns on the feet and the manner to take them away . the corns that come on the feet , are a kind of hard tumor , or thick excressence caused of corrupt and putrisied humours , whereof nature being willing to discharge her self , sendeth them to the lower part of the feet whereout because they cannot passe , there do they make residence , ingendring that kind of tough excressence , which is grievous and painfull . many times the cause hereof ariseth of that noisome disease morbus gallicus , as some write , and then must it be remedied with medicaments appropriate thereunto . but if they come otherwise , then to take them away follow this order . when they are in their greatest state , and cause most pain , cut them untill they bleed , then anoint them with balsamo artificiato applying it so hot as you may suffer it ; thereupon go to bed . then touch them once or twice mith oleum sulfuris , and anoint them with olenm philosophorum de teribinthina & cera , untill they be whole . some take the juyce of semperuivum , and anoint the eyes therewith . then they take wormwood , and lay it upon an hot tile stone , and sprinkle it with strong vinegar , and being hot bind it upon the corns , and in three or four times so doing ( as i have been credibly informed ) the corns will be taken away . also the red plaister or sear-cloth before set down cureth the same . chap. cxviii . of an infirmity that cometh on the fingers ends , and in the feet , under the nails , and the cure thereof . many men are greatly troubled herewith , and in such manner , as thereby they are made altogether unfit to go . it commeth on the great toe under the nail or the side of the nail for the most part and a man would think that the nail grew in the fle●h , but it is not so , for the flesh groweth upon the nail though this infirmity appear not , to be a thing of great importance ( whereof the ancient writers have made little mention ) yet i● it a thing greatly to be regarded . for many great personages that li●e easily , and are tormented with the gout , have also this grief in those parts : but the order to cure them is this . first you shall cut the nail on that part where it most grieveth them ; then take it away , which you may do easily without any great pain to the patient ; for the nail is already separated from the grieved place . thus when the nail is taken away , touch it with our caustick whereof mention is made in our treatise of the plague . let it so remain thrée days together : then dresse it every day with magno licore , untill it be whole , which will be in a very short time , chap. cxix . of eri●ipcla , or tumour in the face , or any other part of the body , and the cure thereof . this disease ( as experience sheweth ) is caused of an hot and fiery moisture , arising in the face , arms and legs , for where it is , the pores are stopped , y● the said moisture , cannot have expiration , whereupon cometh tumor : as also a shutting and closing up of those pores , by means of the ordinary anointing them , with fats , oils , &c. or other cold things : a common course of common chyrurgians . against this there cannot be found a more present remedy , then the spirit of wine or aqua ardens , or bathing it with hot water : and if you wash the parts afflicted with our quintaessence , the pores will be opened , and it penetrateth and assubtilateth that humidity , causing it to come forth . also you shall find that by drinking our quintaessence and anointing the stomack with oleum cerae , divers are cured of a certain heat retained in the stomack . chap. cxx . the cure of warts . there is an herb called herba di vento : in the juyce whereof , if you wet a cloath , and bind it upon the warts , they will wear away in short time after . chap. cxxi . for giddinesse in the head . take the juyce of prim-rose leaves , or the flowers in the summer , or of the juyce of roots in winter , and put into your ear , and stop it with black wooll , and lie down upon it . chap. cxxii . to help one that is deaf . take the inner bark of an elder bough , stamp it and strain it , and put the juyce into your ears , stop your ears with wooll , and keep you warm with it . chap. cxxiii . for ears that run , and are full of water . take two parts of the gall of a barrow hog , half as much of the best honey , boil these together in thick glasses , in hot ashes till half be consumed and so use it , prescribed by dr. nicholas for henry medlex . chap. cxxiiii . for sore ears . take the juyce of knot grasse , and seeth it with honey and wine , and pour a quantity thereof into the patients ear , and stop the ear with cotten , and lie down on the contrary side . in the next place i shall shew you many rare and hidden secrets , for the making and , use of our balsamo artificiato , or the artificiall balsome ( often mentioned before ) and severall other excellent balsomes , oyles , and ointments , with the rare effects thereof . chap. cxxv . the making of balsamo artificiato , or the artificiall balsome , with a declaration of the effects and virtues thereof . take of uenice turpentine , one pound , of perfect oil of bays four ounces , oil galbanum , three ounces , of gum arabeck four ounces , of lignum aloes , galingal , cloves , consolida major . cinamon , nutmegs , zedoana , ginger , diptanum album of each one ounce , of olibanum , mirrha elected gum hedera of each thrée drams , of the best musk and amber of each one dram of rectified aqua vitae sir pound ; put all these in a new earthen pot and let them stand seven days , close stopped that no air goesin , then distill them in a glasse retortive in sand . and the first water that cometh is white mingled with oil after you have drawn a sufficient quantity of this increase your fire , and there will come a black oil and water , which you are to take in another receiver , increasing your fire according to art , til it drop no more ; then separate the oils from the waters and the black oil is the artificial balsame . the inventor of this balsom will never want praise so long as letters are printed , and mens bodies subject to griefs and infirmities for ( besides the many great and rare virtues you find it hath in the various applying thereof according to the rules set down in the severall places of this book . ) the first water is excellent good to clear the eyes , and preserveth the sight the face also being washed therewith , it makes it fresh , smooth and young . the white oil breaketh and dissolveth the stone or gravel in the kidneys , it being drunk , it provoketh urine , cureth all kind of wounds , sciatica's , pains and aches in the joints . the black water is called the mother of balsame and cureth scabs , botches , scurffs , and all sorts of ulcers , in any part of the body , in a very short time . there is an artificial balsomsold by the apothecaries very good for most of the things before specified . chap. cxxvi . another most excellent balsom , which cureth all wounds in a very short time , it is good for all pains and aches , for the cramp stiff members , shrunk sinews , &c. take of swéet oil olive ten pound , white wine one pound , boil these together till the wine be consumed , let it cool , and put it into a stone pot , then adde unto it , of the flowers of rosemary one pound and a half , of lignum aloes thrée ounces of olibanum , of bdellinum , of each five ounces , then stop your pot well with cork , pitch , and bladders , and bury it in the earth about the begining of august , and there let it remain about half a year , then take it out , and put in these following things . take of sage rosemary , betony , rue , yarrow , of the roots of consolida major , of leaves of vi●icella otherwise called balsamina , of the flowers of tapsus barbatus , of each thrée handfuls , of galingal , cloves nutmegs spica nardi saffron , of each half an ounce of sarcocolla , fanguis draconis , mastick , of each one ounce , of aloes epatica , rosin of the pins of each four ounces , of colophoina half a pound , of the tops with the séeds of hypericon , of musk half a dram of yellow war , of hogs grease , of each nine ounces of oil of wax and mans grease , of each three ounces . the hear●● y● shal cut smal , & stamp the rest of the things to powder , and put them all into the oil , mingle them well and set them all the summer in the sun , then boil them till the hearbs be dry , then strain the oil , & put in some of the apothecaries artificiall balsame , the quantity of ten ounces , and in the moneth of september , put in of the fruit of balsamina , when it is red one pound , then kéep it close stopped . in defect of balsamina , you may take y● tops of the madelin with the flowers , it is not amisse to adde to your balsame gum elemin . or the oil of gum elemin . distilled , if the gums , it must be put in with the other gume , about four ounces ; if oil put it in with the artificial balsame about two ounces , this gum is most pretious . chap. cxxvii . an excellent balsome to cure deep wounds and punctures , made by some narrow sharp pointed weapon , which balsam doth bring up the flesh from the bottom very speedily , and also healeth simple cuts in the flesh , according to the first intention , ( that is ) to glue or soder the lips of the wounds together , not procuring matter or corruption , as is commonly seen in healing of wounds . take oil of roses , oil of saint john wort , of either one pint , the leaves of tobaco stamped small in a stone morter two pound : boil them together , to the consumption of the juyce , strain it and put it to the fire again , adding thereto of uenice . turpentine two ounces : of olibanum and mastick , of either half an ounce , in most fine and subtile powder , the which you may at all times make into an unguent or salbe , by putting thereto war and r●●● to give it a stiffe body : which worketh well in maligne and virulent ulcers , as in wounds and punctures . chap. cxxviii . to make the italians belsam to heal a green wound pre●ently ; it is that which they which are called mountebanks use when they heal them whom they would and stab upon stages . it conglutinates and cements very suddenly any green wound by cut or thrust , though never so deep in the flesh , if it be not ranckled and festered . take a pint of sallet-oil , and three ounces of barrel-pitch , two ounces of yellow waxe , an ounce and an half of rosin , and seeth them about half an hour upon a soft fire , and mingle them very well upon the fire , and then take them off , and put them into little pots for your use ; and warm a little in a saw●er , and put it not very hot into the wound , but little more than bloud warm , and take also a soft linnen cloth and put it into the balsame and lay it over the wound , and use it fresh and new morning or evening , and it cures presently . chap. cxxix . to make a balsome of st. johns wort , take white-wine two pints , oyle olive four pounds oyl of turpentine two pounds , the leaves flowers and leeds of st. johns wort , of each two great handfuls gently bruised . put them all together into a great double glasse , and set it in the sun eight or ten days , then boil them in the same glass in a kattle of water with some straw in the bottom , wherein the glasse must stand to boil ; which done , strain the liquor from the herbs , and do as you did before , putting in the like quantity of herbs , flowers , and seeds , but not any more wine . dioscorides saith , that the seed drunk for fourty days together , cureth the sciatica , and all aches that happen in the hips . the same author saith that being drunk with wine it taketh away tertian and quartan agues . chap. cxxx . to make oyl of exceter good for all manner of aches or bruises . take a pound of the flowers of cowslips in may , stéep them in oil olive , in as much quantity as they may easily be laid in , then take calamint , herb john , red . sage , wild-sage , sugar , sotherwood wormwood , penyroyoll , lavender , pelitory , camomill , pelitory of spain , bays , howes , flowers of lillies , of either of the aforesaid herbs one handfull , and these herbs must be gathered in june , grind them in a morter as small as gréen sawce , when it is so done , take the flowers of couslips out of the oil , with clean hands , and put them in white wine a night and a day , and take as much wine as they may easily stéep in , then take the herbs with the wine , and boil them together with the oil olive , that the couslips were steeped in and let it boil so long over a fast fire , untill the wine and the water be wasted away . when it is boiled enough , take it off the fire and wring it through a strong linnen cloath , then put it in a vessel of tyn of glasse , for no other vessel will hold it . this oyntment will last 3 years , and it must be made in the moneth of june , it is good for all manner of aches and bruises . chap. cxxxi . to make oyl of roses the best way . take half a pound of red-rose ▪ leaves and stamp them very small , and then take a pound of oyl olive , and mingle with your roses , and put them in a glasse well stopped , and séeth them in a vessell with water , the space of six hours , and then strain them through a clean cloth , and kéep it in a glasse , and by this proportion you may make as much and as little as you will . chap. cxxxii . another way of making oyl of roses . take roses and oil olive of each alike quantity in weight , shred them and put them in a vessel of glasse stop it well , and hang it in a vessel of water , upto the neck two moneths , and every day stir it o●c● , uns●●p it again and strain it through a canvas ▪ and put away the grounds , so kéep it in a vessel of glasse well stopped , f●● this is a colder kind then the other . chap. cxxxiii . to make oyl o● lillies . take s●lle● oyl ▪ and put into it a good qu●●tity of the flowers of white lillies , then set it in a pot of 〈◊〉 water , and let your oyl & your lillies boil a good whi●e , then wring out your lillies , & put in more lillies , and set them in the sun , and let them stand so long as you think convenient , then take them out , and put in more lillies , so change them once or twice more as you think good ; for want of flowers , you may take the root and stamp it and boil it as aforesaid . chap. cxxxiiii . to make oyl of balm . take oil benedict one pound , gum of ivie , séed of balm , then take chosen how 's turpentine four ounces , mingle them together on a little fire , three or four times , till it hath a little colour and shining , and till it come to thicknesse of honey or turpentine , then kéep it pretiously . this oil is good for all aching of ●n●ws , coming of cold , it kéeps dead bodies from rotting and corruption . it is good for all other things , for the palsey ▪ and the falling sicknesse . and the stone in the reins , and in the bladder , and to cure all cor●ednesse of limbs . chap. cxxxv . to make oyl of worms for an ach . take a pint of sallet oil , and a pint of red worms , a handfull of rosemary , and a handfull of comph●ry , then take these , and ch●p them together very small , th●n put them into the oil , and let them boil till they 〈◊〉 enough , then strain them through a linnen cloath , and so keep them close covered , the older it is the better , when it is boiled enough , then it will s●mber softly , if it boil too much it will flame away . chap. xxxvi . to make oyl of st. johns wort. take the leaves , flowers and séeds of st. johns wort stamped , and put them into a glasse with oyl olive , and set it in the hot sun for certain wéeks together , and then strained it from those herbs , and the like quātify put in , and sunned in like manner , doth make an oyl of the colour of bloud , which is a most precious remedy for déep wounds , and those that are thrust through the body , for sinews that are pricked , or any wound made with an invenomed weapon . chap. xxxvii . to make oyl of broom . take a quart of may butter clarified in the sun , put thereto three pints of broom-flowers clean picked from the stalks , let it stand in a b●son till you can have elder-flowers , wherereof put in ● pint and an half , clean pickt also ; let them stand together a moneth , put it into the oven after bread , or in some other place where it may have a continual warmth , and stir it sometimes : strain it through a thin cloth , and set it in the oven again to cleanse it . this oyl of broom is very good to take out the fire of a burning or scalding , for the tooth-ach that comes of rhume , to anoint the chéeks and gums , being kept bound ; it is also good , taken in posset-drink , for any infections disease , and sweat upon it , it is good for a bruise in a ●●mans breast , or swell'd with milk , it will mollifie a gréen wound , it is good to drink for any inward bruise ; it helpeth any new ach or pain in the joynt or bone , & for the spléen ; mingled with yellow wax , and plaistred upon linnen cloth , it is good for sore heels , and for many other things . chap. cxxxviii . to make oyl of hemp-seed , which causeth a comely face , and maketh the person merry which useth it . take one pound of hemp-séed , and beat it very fine , then sprinkle and wet it with a little wine , and put it into a new earthen pot or pan well glased , and set it over the fire , heat it so long , till you cannot suffer your hand in it ; then put the same substance , into square bags , which you must presse hard , and an oyl will come forth , whereof if any drink the quanof one ounce at a time , it maketh him pleasant and merry ; and if a souldier drink it , it will make him both fierce and hardy to fight without any fear or doubt of his enemy . in this manner you may draw out any oyl out of all seeds . chap. cxxxix . to make a green oyntment . take of sage and rue of each a pound , of bay-leaves and worm-wood of each half a pound , of mellilot , herb or flower of camomil , of the flowers of spike , of rosemary , of rose-leaves , of st. johns wort ▪ and of dill , of each one handful , of marsh-mallows two handfuls : all these herbs chop as small as may be , and stamp them , and weigh and put thereto the like weight of shéeps-suet , chop it as fine as may be , and mince your herbs and it together , and stamp them in a stone mortar to one substance , that there be no suet séen , but all gréen : then put it into some fair earthen pot , then put thereto swéet oyl olive a pottle and pint : work these altogether in a pan with your hand to one substance , and cover it close with past , that no air go in or out ▪ so let it stand seven days , then take it forth , and put it into a pan , and set it on a soft fire till the leaves begin to wax parched hard , and then strain it into some clean pan , then have ready these oyls following : oyl of roses , of spike , of camomile , of white lillies , and of violets , of each one ounce , stirring them well together and reserve it in glasses or galley pots to your use , if you will have it more pleasant of smell , and more nourishing , adde thereto the gums labbamium one ounce and a half , beaten to fine powder , storax calaminted three quarters of an ounce , bruised fine to powder , mingle this with your other stuffe as before and so keep it to your use . this ointment is good for stitches for bruises , for the palsey , for the shrinking of sinews , gouts , and sciaticaes , for the ach of the back , lamenesse , plurisies , for the cough , the soles of the feet being anointed therewith , for extream pain in the head by cold , making a cap for the crown with linnen cloath , and lap it in wool pluckt from the flanks of a live sheep , make it clean from the filth and motes , and cartle it , then wet it in the ointment , and so paste it and lay it somewhat warm to your head , it is good also for the collick and the spleen , and the cold dropsie of the liver . chap. cxl . an oyntment for any ach or crick ▪ take 12 pound of butter in the moneth of may , one pound of broom-flowers , and stamp them , then boil them in the butter a good while , then strain it and put it into a glasse , and let it stand a while in the sunne to clarifie , when you use it , take one spoonfull of the oyntment , and three spoonfuls of sack , and boyl them together , then bath the place therewith as hot as you can suffer it , and dip a cloath therein , and apply it hot to the place . chap. cxli . another excellent oyntment for any bruise strain or pain in the joints . take two handfulls of rosemary , two handfulls of hysop , half a handfull of adders-tongue , half a handfull of egrimony , and boyle them together with hogs-grease , and a little rosin to a reasonable thicknesse and apply it . chap. cxlii . an excellent oyntment for the reins of the back or other part of the body that hath pain or crick . take a good quantity of neats-foot oyl , and put thereto a sufficient quantity of aqua vitae , mingle them well together , and anoint therewith for it hath béen often proved excellent . chap. cxliii . an oyntment for all manner of stitches and akings , in what place soever it be in mans body . take a peck of flowers of broom , and two ounces of galls , and put them in an earthen pot and fill the pot full of urine , and stop the pot fast , and put it in the earth at the door of the house , and let it be there twelve moneths , and then take that oyl that is in the pot and strain it , and put it in a vessel to kéep , and anoint therewith the place grieved , and it wil help , when all other medicines fail . chap. cxliiii . an oyntment for ears that run and are full of water . take two parts of the gall of a barrow-hog , half as much of the best honey , boil these together in a thick glasse in hot ashes till half be consumed , and so use it , dr. nicholas for henry medlex . chap. cxlv . an oyntment for an impostume in the ears . take two spoonfuls of oyl of roses , and as much virgin war as a nutmeg , melt it together , and make it very warm , then put to it a little saffron finely pounded , then take it off the fire , and stir it till it be almost cold , then put to it a quarter of the yolk of an egge , and stir it , and when it shall be like an oyntment , take the bignesse of a hazel-nut , and melt a drop of it into the ear , and so continue four or five drops , and anoint the ears round about , and stuffe it with unwashed wool round about , and keep it warm , this will ripen the impostume . chap. cxlvi . a singular medicine for any stopping at the stomack . take four ounces of lynseed , and boil it in a quart of milk , till it come to a pint , and anoint the breast therewith , then take a peece of scarlet , and wet 〈◊〉 throughly in the milk and when it is wet , lay it on your breast without warming . chap. cxlvii . an oyntment to clear the lungs . take the pap of rosted apples , as much oblibanum as a bean , twice as much sugar candie as oblibanum , mingle them together being beaten to powder ▪ if the patient be far goue , put to it a little oyl of sweet almon . and anoint the breast outwardly with oyl of almonds . chap. cxlviii an oyntment for deafnesse . take an english onion of the greatest you can get , and cut of the tip of it , then take out some of the meat and fill it up with the best sallet-oyl , then wrap it up in a brown paper , and rost it in the ●mbers ; when i● is rosted you must peel it , and then strain it through a fair cloath , this you may drop with a feather into your ears luke-warm morning and evening , and your head must be kept very warm . chap. cxlix . an oyntment to break a sore . take two drams of cantarides , a quarter of an ounce of pepper ▪ and so much vinegar as will make it a perfect oyntment , lay this upon a brown paper , and apply it . chap. cl . an excellent oyntment for scalding or burning by mr. iohn burghesse , which will do more in six weeks , then another in three moneths . take bacon that is very fat , cut of the sward , and cut it into collops very thin , and fry it till be black , then pour the liquor into water , take it out of the water and put it in the pan , and fry it again till it be black , then pour it into the water again , then take it out of the water and put it into the pan , and fry it till it be black , then pour it forth again , and beat it with a little water till it be white ; put your water clean from it , and put your liquor into a posnet , take a reasonable quantity of onions , pilled and chopped small , put them to the liquor , and boil them together , and strain it through a cloath , and keep it to your use : this cured a man that was scalded in a brewers vessell . chap. cli . for a burning or scalding . salt dissolved in water , or brine ; presently takes away the pain , and heat of any burning or scalding , if it be anointed therewith , and especially if it be bathed with linnen cloths dipt therein , & to heal it that it be not séen . take sheeps suet and sheeps dung , the inner rine of elder , and boil them through a course cloath , and when you use it warm it , and lay it on the burnt or scalded place with a feather . chap. clii. an oyntment to take away a wen. make powder of unslackt lime , and mire it with black sope , and anoint the wen with it , and the wen will fall away , and when the root is come forth , anoint it with oyl of balm and it will heal it perfectly . chap. cliii . an oyntment for the shingles . take adders-tongue in the moneth of may one pound and three quarters of a pound of fresh clarified hogs , grease , and stamp the adders-tongue very small in a morter , then boil them together , and stir them till they become a salve , then put it into an earthen pot , and anoint the shingles , and spread some of it upon a cloath , and lay it upon the shingles so far as they go , this is good against any biting or stinging of a serpent or ●adde dogge , by anointing the place very hot . chap. cliiii . an oyntment for the cold sciatica , or benummednesle in the thighs or legs . take a pint of aqua vitae , a pint of wine vinegar , a quarter of a pound of oyl of bays , the juyce of four or five handfulls of sage , a sawcer full of good mustard , the gall of an ore , and chase them in the bladder an hour or more , that the oyl may be well mingled with the rest , and anoint the place therewith against a good fire , and let him go warm into his bed and sweat . probatum est . chap. clv . an oyntment for the gout , and to comfort the joynts . take a fox , put the guts and skinne away , and cut him in small pieces , and take ● gallon of sallet-oyl , seeth them together with a soft fire , and put therein a handfull of mugwort shred small , two onnces of dill in powder , seeth it again in a pound of oyl olive , and a pound of fresh butter , seeth it till all the water be consumed , then strain it , and anoint the joints therewith . chap. clvi . an oyntment against the palsey . take ivy-berries , and capons grease three ounces , and the roots of celendine , a handfull of sage , of oil of bays two ounces , of oil olive half a pound , beat the hearbs and roots small seeth all these together upon a small fire , so strain it and anoint the place grieved this is very pretious . there is flos vnguentorum or the flower of oyntments sold by the apothecary , which hath very rare effects , for the curing of all old fistulaes and festred sores of long continuance , it draweth any broken bone . splinter , or thorn out of the flesh . it cureth aches or pains in the joints or bones and ( being rightly made ) is above all others the most pretious unguent as experience dayly teacheth . i have already shewed you many hidden secrets or rare experiments in physick and chyrurgery ; which thou must needs acknowledge to have produced wonderfull great effects ; yet are they nothing in comparison of these that are behind , the reading and right use whereof , will render thee a true imitator of him who by his unparallelled wisdome and morall philosophy , knew the virtues and use of all herbs and vegetables , from the tall caedar of libanon , to the hysop that groweth upon the wall . and foras much as there is none that can ( with assurance of good successe ) undertake any cure in physick , without observing certain rules ( as hath been already proved unto you in the practiso of chyrurgery , ) before i speak of purges , vomits , waters , drinks , and hearbs in generall , i shall recommend some particulars which i always observe in the ministring of physick . chap. clvii . certain rules to be observed by the learned and expert physitian . a skilfull physitian is a continuall votary or serbant of nature ; for the right ministring and applying such ●it and proper remedies as may help , defend , and sustein nature ; and wast or destroy the malady or disease , which that thou mayest effectually perform , search diligently to know the cause from whence the distemperature or disease ariseth , whether of phleghm , choller , bloud , or melancholly , and whether it be seated in the stomack , head , &c. or from a hot or cold cause , by which means thou art in a good measure enabled to find out the grief or disease , and apt to prescribe a proper remedy against i● . if thou findest it convenient and profitable for the patient to be let bloud thou must have resp●ct to the time of the year , the age of the party , the sign that governeth , the strength of the patient , and the disease . in purging also thou art to take notice and consider what humour is to be purged , and how far it aboundeth , and have as speciall regard to suit the medicine to the humour that thou wouldest purge as to the time , and the quantity thou givest thereof . but chiefly and above all i hold it necessary ( in all sicknesses or diseases ) you should observe the time when the patient falleth ill , and what planet governs , and what the aspects are , for by that you may judge whether it be a convenient time to minister physick , as for example . r. h. findeth himself ill this present day , being the first of aprill , 1651 , and seeketh unto me for remedy , i find at this time saturn in opposition with the moon , and mars with a quartille 12 degrées , a sextile with venus 6 degrées , by which i adjudge if not a good time to minister physick , and the next day like unto it , therefore unlesse i perceive the patient to be in great necessity . i perswade him not to take his physick untill the third day , which i find favoured with better aspects . these kind of observations are of great antiquity , and were in high esteem among the most learned philosophers , the practise whereof is of that singular use in these times that some in london and other places , which soar with the highest on the wings of same , give judgements this way , rather then by the vrine , and therefore i suppose thou wilt not think it losse of time , if i am the more large on this point . if thou wilt therefore be expert in this art thou must be throughly informed concerning the course of the heavens and the celestial bodies , and what the signs and aspects be , which thou hast more lively represented by this figure . an aspect of any of the planets is a certain distance betwéen the centers of two planets , wherein they notably help or hinder , prosper or afflict ; for by good aspects , as the sextile , and trine they assist and prosper , but by a quartile and opposition , they vex hinder and aflict : so that by this thou mayest perceive the conjunction is good with good and evill with bad . by a trine you are to understand a third part of the air , a quaril● is the fourth part of the air , a sextile a sixth part of the air . an opposition is when one planet is right against another , the half part of the air , and a conjunction is when they méet . but that which is of the chiefest use in matter of thy study and practiseis , the knowledge of the twelve houses , which astronomically are deciphered thus . in each house thou findest characterized one of the 12 signs , yet note that they do alter and change according to the quotidian and course of motions . thrée of these signs be of the nature of fire , three of air , three of water , and three of earth . the thrée fiery signs are aries , leo , sagitarius ; the thrée of the ayr be gemini , libra , and aquarius ; the three of the water , are cancer , scorpio , and pi●ces , and those of the earth are taurus , virgo , and capricornus , and when 2 planets are in one sign , and one degree of the zodiack there is a conjunction . therefore as it is necessary that theu shouldest know what the sign is , when thy patient falleth sick , so must thou likewise know what planet is lord of the house , then observe what the aspects are ( described in the first globe or sphear ) and it will not a little direct thy iudgment both concerning the disease , the remedy , and the time of continuance or abatement thereof . also the knowledge of the planets is the more desirable , for that it is the ●udgement of the wise philosophers , that they have not onely influence upon the bodies of men , &c. but also upon all hearbs , plants , and vegetables ; for the sun hath a speciall influence on the bay-trée , and other trées of that nature ▪ and we find by good experience the effects answerable ( of which more in the virtues of herbs , ) the study whereof will very much enable thée in the right ministring and applying such things as in thy practise thou shalt find requisite to be made use of : for a●comes the phylosopher chose to make his powders , ( whereof he giveth such large commendation , ) when the sunne entered the first degrée of aries . i shall now therefors procéed to set down certain generall remedies by way of purgations , vomits , glisters , drinks , and waters , with divers other hidden secrets for the curing of any disease or malady of the body either internall or externall . chap. clviii . an excellent purge . take diacatholiacon one ounce , confection of hameck one ounce , mixe them very well together , and put them into half a pint of white-wine and drink it . chap. clix. pills to purge melancholy and choller . take half an ounce of aloes sackatrina , and beat it to powder very small , then take a dram of rubarb , and slice it very thin , and dry it in a sancer upon embers , then beat it to a fine powder , and of powder of steel half as much in measure as the rubarb , and with a little claret-wine temper them together till they be like past , and then make them into pills , whereof take one every night 2 hours after supper , and in the morning drink some broth . chap. clx . to purge the head of grosse choller and phlegm . take pillule masticka fermely , i dram and a half of oyl teijme chymicall seven drops , of the spices of aromatica seven grains , mix these well , and make them into ten pills , an hour before dinner and an hour before supper , and use them as you have need . chap. clxi . a speciall powder for the memory , and to purge the brain . take thrée ounces of senae leaves , sednarij , commi● , parsley , and dill séed , of each an ounce . ginger one ounce and a half , cloves , nutmegs , calimus , galingal , pimpernill roots , sage , rue , valerian , annis-seeds , of each one quarter of an ounce , sagar three ounces , pound all these small and temper them together , and take thereof morning and evening one dram at one time . chap. clxii . another excellent purgation . take the flowers of the peach-tree , infused in warme water for the space of ten or twelve hours , then strain them and put thereto more of the flowers and put to the said liquor to infuse after the same manner six or seven times ; then put thereto as much suger as it will require , and boil it to the thicknes of a sirrup , whereof take two spoonfuls in the morning , and it purgeth the belly better then rubarb or agrick , for it worketh exceedingly upon moist and waterish humors without pain or gripings . chap. clxiii . to make , pills of liquoris to be taken after an extream cold , or the falling of the rhume from the head . take choise liquoris , and bea● it to fine powder , and put thereto so much hisop water 〈◊〉 will make it like paste with a little gum-dragon , & make pills thereof and let them dissolve in your mouth . another gentle purge . take a new-laid-egge , & put the yolk from the white , then put the yolk again into the shell and sup it off , then drink four spoonfulls of aqua vitae after it , and walk a while upon it . chap. clxiiii . a glister for the emrods . take a glister made of a quart of milk boiled to a pint , with two handfuls of mallows , and a handfull of mereury . then take frankincense , storax , and benjamin , and powder them , and take the fume thereof in a close-stool , and anoint the place with vnguentum album camphoreum . chap. clxv . another glister . take a pint and a half of strong ale , an ounce of fennell-seeds , and five or sixe ounces of course suger , four or five spoonfuls of sirrup of roses , or of sirrup of blew violets , your fennel-seeds must be beaten and boiled in your ale , it must boil half a pint away , then strain it , and put in your suger , and which of these sirrups you will , and give it warm . chap. clxvi . an excellent vomit . take antemony prepared , beaten small , one pennyworth , and infuse it in a penny-pot of white-wine , take sinamon bruised , strain it , and as you use it warm it , and one hour after , if it work not , drink warm posset-ale ; and if the water proceeding be tough and thick , put into the posset-drink a little sweet-butter , but be sure the sign be not in the upper parts , by reason the matter will not six and operate , the quantity you give may not be above two or three spoonfulls , according to the strength of the patient , four fpoonfulls will be enough for any strong body . a vomit for an ague . take the powder of stubin . according to the strength of the patient four , five , six , or seven grains , and give it to the party fasting in any convenient sign , and drink posset-drink between whiles . it purgeth both ways without danger . chap. clxvii . dr. giffords purging drink , take of the roots of parsley , red-fennell , sparagus , madder , of each two ounces , of red-dock roots two ounces , of setrach , maiden-hair , water-cresses , scabius , of each two handfuls , of burrage , buglas and violet-flowers , of each half a handful , of sena three ounces , of polipodium of the oak two ounces , of epithemum one handfull and a half , of white turbish , of gum mexican of each two ounces , of sax afrage , of ashen-trée bark , of capper-roots , of each one ounce , of annis-seeds , caraway-seeds , coiliander● seeds , of each two drams , let the hearbs and the roots be a little dried and cut that which is to be cut , and bruise the rest and make a grosse-powder , put it into a linnen bag , and put into a firkin of four gallons of six shillings beer , when it is cleansed put into it , a pint and a half of the juyce of scurvy-grasse clarified , put aside the setling from the dregs in the bottome , & drink a good draught of this every morning fasting , and at four of the clock in after-noon . chap. clxviii . a purging drink for a tough phlegm . take salsaparilla , hermadactiles picked , sena 〈◊〉 alexandria , liquorice , of each three ounces well bruised , the filling of guajacum four ounces , the bark of guajacum two ounces pounded , bay-berries , the husks taken off and brused , one ounce and a half , cinamon pounded half an ounce , two good nutmegs bruised , put all these into two gallons of new tunned ale , and three days being ended , the next morning at six of the clock , drink half a wine pint if you can of the ale , & as much at three of the clock in the afternoon make a spare dinner at ten of the clock , and the like supper at six , or else drink one draught at six and another at ten lest it make you rise in the night . chap. clxix . an excelent drink for the yellow jaundies . take tops of gréen broom a reasonable quantity , shred them small , then put to them half a pennyworth of saffron , stamp them well together , put to them of strong ale or beer , two good spoonfulls so let them stéep all night , in the morning strain it with a little more beer to make a small draught , let it be drunk be times and fast three hours , and use to swing the arms much , receive it three or four mornings making it fresh every morning . chap. clxx . a drink for spitting of bloud . take the juyce of betony , and temper it with goats milk , and give it the patient to drink three dayes , or take smallage , mints , rew , and betony , and seeth them well in good milk , and sup it off warm . chap. clxxi. a drink for a surfeit . take three quarts of strong ale , steep therein a quarter of a pound of liquorice , & half a quarter of anniseeds twelve hours , then still it in a limbock , & take a quart of the first water for the surfeit drink . to a quart of this aqua vitae , put a dram of hierapicra made into fine powder , as small as dust , and so put it into aqua vitae , and shake it half an hour together , then put it into a stove or cuboard near the fire where it may have a continuall warmth like the heat of the sun forten days , for that time shake it once a day very well , after these ten dayes it must stand a week to settle that it may be clean put from the bottome , when you pour it out ; the vses are , it may be safely given in surfeits of all sorts , one , two , or three spoonfulls at severall times to some complexions it will give some few stools , it must no way be given to a woman wt child unlesse she be in hard travel near delivery , in shew of danger nothing is better to speed delivery . chap. clxxii . another for the same . the distilled water of mallows sliced in small pieces when they be ripe , and drink once in a day three or 4 ounces for a moneth together & it doth greatly help the stone , causeth the vrine , and purgeth the kidneys and allayeth all inward heats , and not unnaturally , cooleth the liver and ceaseth thirst . chap. clxxiii . a restoring drink for any decay of the inward parts . take live honey , and put thereto tops of balme , couslip-blossomes , rosemary-flowers , burrage-flowers buglas , flowers , the flowers of red-cornations , let these remain in the hony a month , thē stop the pot very close that no air go in or out , & let it stand al the while in some warm place either in the sun or by a continu●all fire , then distill it in a glasse still and drink thereof every morning a good draught . chap. clxxiiii . a drink for a woman with child in danger to miscarry . if any woman great with child shall take this drink every other day in the morning , three hours before ●he eat any meat , beginning the same about ten days or a fortnight before the time of the birth it shall not onely be made more easie , but also she shall bring forth her child without pain . take of the great treacle one sccuple , which is the weight of twenty four barley corns , the powder of liquorice , and the powder of sinamon of either three grains , of good white wine one ounce and a half mixed altogether , and make thereof a drink , and let it be given to the woman with child , in such manner as is before sayed . chap. clxxv . an excellent drink to purge melancholly and choller , to cleanse the bloud and to comfort the heart . take of salsaparilla four ounces , of sena munda four ounces , of china roots two ounces , of rubarb thrée drams , of epithamum half an ounce , of polipodium roots three ounces , of madder roots one handfull of red-dock roots the pith taken out and sliced one handfull , of swéet fennell-roots and annis-séeds , of each half an ounce , of sinamon , mace and nutmegs , of each thrée drams , of scabius , and egrimony , of each one handfull . then take your salsaparilla ; china , rubarb , polipodium , and madder , and scrape and slice them , and beat them into grosse powder , and powder the fennell and annis-séeds , nutmegs , mace , and sinamon . and put the epithamum , dock-roots , sena , egrimony , and scabions whole into a bag of course boulter , or loomwork , incompassing the powder in the hearbs ; in putting them into the bay . and put the bag into an empty barrel , and after put six gallons of beer to it , but let n●t the barrell be full lest it work over , and stop it close , and after it hath stood seven dayes , drink thereof every morning a wine pint , and the like quantity about four of the clock in the afternoon . but put the bag first empty into the empty barrell , and after put in the ingredients thereto . chap. clxxvi . doctor deodats scurbubical drinke . take cardus benedictus , roman-wormwood , brooklime , scurvey-grass , water-cresses , water trefoil , of each one handful : of doder , cetrach , scolopendria , burrage , bugalos , sorrel , spéedwel , of each one handful , of elicompain roots one ounce ; to these hearbs clean picked and washed , put thrée ounces of reasons of the sun stoned , fiftéen slices of lemons , and as many of drenges . boil all these in as much white-wine as will well boil the hearbs , and let it boil till it comes to a pint and a half . a scurbutical sirrup to take with the former drinke . taake juice of scurvey grass , watercresses and brooklime , of each six ounces , of the juice of dranges and lemons , of each foure ounces . first clarifie the juices , then put to it a pound and thrée quarters of suger , let it boil to a sirrup ; then take two spoonfuls of it in foure spoonfuls of the drinke at the houres of six in the morning and four in the afternoon . chap. clxxvii . a diet-drinke for any disease that is curable prescribed by three dutch doctors . take of hermodacti●is two ounces , of salsaperilla four ounces , of séene alexandr. four ounces , of saxafras wood , two ounces , of liquorice one ounce , of annis-séeds one ounce , of long pepper half an ounce , of the leaves of scabius one handful , of egrimony half a handfull of water-cresses and brook-lime , of each one great handfull , of sea scurvey-grasse , two great handfuls , of good nutmegs one ounce , let all the woods be slit and cut small , and the hearbs shred and put into a bag and hang it in a barrell with six gallons of new ale , and let it stand and settle eight days , then drink continually of it and no other drink while it lasteth and eat bakers bread with cor●ander-séeds , and keep a good diet ; use this six weeks . chap. clxxviii . a purging ale . take of the juyce of scurvey-grasse four pound , of water-cresses two pound , of brooklime one pound of water mints half a pound , of the hearb of dry wormwood four handfulls , of the roots of madder four ounces , the roots of muncks rubarb three ounces , roots of horse-radish one ounce and a half , the roots of saxafras one ounce , of sena four ounces , juniper-berries half an ounce , of anni-séeds , earni-seeds , and ginger of each six drams . another . to a pint of the whay of goats-milk put of sena half an ounce , of ginger clean scraped and thin sliced , of anni-séeds , and sweet fennel-seeds well dusted and lightly bruised , of each the weight of four pence , let them stand so an hour , or an hour and a half , on warm embers , in infusing ; the next morning to a draught hereof put a spoonfull of sirrup of roses , and as this agreeth with you , take it two or three days together , or every other day . chap. clxxix . an excellent diet-drink . take the roots of monks rubarb , and red madder , of each half a pound , sena four ounces , anni-seed , and liquorice of each two ounces , scabius and egrimony of each one handfull , slice the roots of the rubarb , bruise the anni-séed and liquorice , break the herbs with your hand , and put them into a stone pot called a stean , with four gallons of strong ale to stéep or infuse the space of three days , and then drink this liquor as your ordinary drink for three weeks together at the least though the longer you take it the better : providing in a readinesse another stean , so prepared , that you may have one under another , being always carefull to keep a good diet . it cureth the dropsie the yellow jaundies , all manner of itches , scabs or breakings out of whole bodies , it purifieth the bloud from all corruption , prevaileth against the green sicknesse very greatly , and all obstructions or stopping , it makes young maids to look fresh and fair , & helpeth the stoppage of their monethly sicknesse . chap. clxxx . the making of a very precious water . take a gallon of good gascoin wine , the roots of galingal , nutmegs , grains , cloves , anni-séeds , fennell-seeds , caraway-seeds , of each a dram then take sage , mint , red-roses , garden time , pellicory , rosemary , wild-time , camomil , penny-royal , margerome , then beat the spices small , and beat the hearbs and put all into the wine , and let it stand for twelve hours stirring it divers times , thē distil it in a limbeck and keep the first water by it self for it is the best , then keep the second water , for it is very good , but not so good as the first . the virtues of this water . it comforteth the spirits , or vitall parts ; it healeth any inward disease that cometh of cold ; it is good against the shaking palsie ; and cureth the contraction of sinews ; and helpeth the conception of women that be barren ; it killeth worms in children or elder persons ; it helpeth the cold gout ; it cureth the cold dropsie ; it helpeth the stone in the bladder , and in the reins of the back and whosoever useth this water now and then and not too often , it preserveth him in good liking , and shall make him look exceeding young and youthfull . chap. clxxxi . a most excellent water for the stomack , and for a surfe● . take of the best & purest aqua-vitae you can get , and put thereto thrée dozen of reasons of the sun stoned , thrée figs sliced , two dates quartered , and the white taken out ; a quarter of an ounce of cloves , a quarter of an ounce of mace , and as much sinamon ; two races of ginger sliced , two ounces of annis-séeds , picked and rubbed , of angelica-séeds two drams , and of cardus-seed two drams , of turnsole one ounce and of fine suger a quarter of an ounce : stéep all these in the aqua-vitae for the space of sixtéen days , shaking of it twice every day , then take an hipocras bagg , and let it run through , and so put it up for your use , and put thereto an ounce of annis-seed comfits , and an ounce of amber comfits , an ounce of manus-christi , and one grain of musk , and take foure spoonfuls thereof fasting , or at night when you go to bed . chap. clxxxii . for heat and pricking in the eyes . fill an egg-shell newly emptied with the juyce of seengreen , and set it in hot embers , take off the green scum that riseth to the top , then it will be a water , strain it and keep it in a glasse , and put some of it into the hot eys four or five nights together , and it will ease the pricking and burning . chap. clxxxiii . an excellent water . the water of marigolds doth help all diseases of the eyes , and taketh away all pains of the eyes , and takes away all pains of the head , and the juyce of bay-leaves , dropped into the ears takes away deafnesse or other strange sounds . chap. clxxxiiii . to break the stone . take hawth●rn flowers , or for lack of them haws , and distill them , the flowers in may and the berries when they be ripe , take of this water three spoonfulls , with three spoonfulls of malmsey , a quantity of ginger , and drink it warm . chap. clxxxv . a water to be made when couslips are in their prime . take six handfuls of couslip flowers , one handfull of rosemary-flowers , half a pound of reasons of the sun stoned , half a pound of liquorice bruised , a quarter of a pound of aniseeds grossely beaten , put all these into thrée gallons of good ale or lées of wine over night , the next morning distil them in a limbeck , and when you have a quart of water kéep it by it self , two or thrée spoonfuls of this water is good for an ill stomack that is weak of digestion , and for the spléen and other infirmities of the stomack . chap. clxxxvi . to make barley-water for a fever , or an ague● take a little handfull of barley , and stéep it in a porrenger of fair running water , the space of two or three hours , then pour away the water from the barley , and take a pottle of the like water , and boil the barley in it ; then take it from the fire , and put the water from the barley , then put the barley in three pints of fresh water , with a parsley root , and a fennel root the pith taken out ; then being boyled to a pint , strain it , and use it thus . take thrée or four spoonfulls thereof , mixed with two spoonfulls of sirrup of vinegar , and use to drink thereof every five hours upon your good day and keep your body soluble with a suppositary once a day , if nature do not this office . drink also of it in your sick days , also the day after your fit at six of the clock in the morning . take half an ounce of liquorice , and a good handfull of annis-séeds grossely bruised and boiled with a wine pint of the broth of a chicken , let it lie so till it come to a full good draught then strain it hard out , and make it sweet , and so bloud-warm let him drink it up at one draught , and neither eat , sleep , nor sweat five or six hours after , and so the fever will away . chap. clxxxvii . a most excellent water for the stone . in the moneth of may , ●hen oxen go to grasse , take of their dung , neither too new nor too dry , then distil it fair and softly into some vessel or glasse of which you shall have a water without any ill savour , which will take out any spot or blemish in the face , if you wash therewith dayly . keep the same water in a vial or glasse close stopped , then take three or four radish-roots , cut them in pieces , and fill the vial with good muskadel , they being put into it : let it stand so in the sun one day and a night , then take one part of the wine , two parts of the water of the dung , a pint of strawberry-water , three or four drops of the juyce of lemons or citrons , and let there be of these waters distilled , and preportioned together , half a glasse full , or somewhat more , into the which you shall put a piece of sugar , or a little honey , and so give it the patient to drink , and you shall sée a wonderfull effect , and present remedy . probatum est . chap. clxxxviii . this water is very pretious for frantick and mad-men , very often proved . take of the flowers of rosemary , of burrage , and of the roots of fuglesse , of each half a pound , of saffron two drams , of quinces four ounces , of the best white-wine two pints , mix them altogether , and let them stand so for the space of a natural day , after that bury the glasse wherein all the same is , in horse dung for fifteene dayes , and then take it out and distil a water thereof according to art , two or thrée times over : kéep this water as the apple of your eye , for it is very piecious , and well proved in all melancholy sicknesses very effectually , and the pain and trembling of the heart : the quantity to be given at one time , is a dram , which is the weight of seventy two barley-corns , if you will prove it you will praise it . and this in the new jewel of health , with many more excellent things . chap. clxxxix . an excellent approved water for the stone . take a gallon of new-milk from a red cow , and put thereto one handfull of pelitory of the wall , one handfull of wild-time , one handfull of saxafrage , one handfull of parsley , and two or thrée radish roots sliced steep all these in the milk one night , the next morning distill the milk with the hearbs , with a moderate fire , the best time to distill this water is in the end of may or beginning of june , use it in this manner , take of the water eight spoonfulls , and of rhe●ish or white-wine five or six spoonfuls , a little suger , nutmeg sliced , make it luke-warm , and drink it fasting , and fast three hours after it using temperate exercise ; take this two mornings and two nights together to bedward , every fourteen dayes at the full of the moon , and at the decrease , or as often as need requireth . chap. cxc . a water for the falling sicknesse . take the water of garden lillies , and give a child to drink a spoonfull thereof at the appearing of the sicknesse , and when it is therewith visited , but to an older person thrée or four spoonfuls . probatum est , chap. cxci. an excellent water good for the stomack and head . take a pottle of white-wine , a handfull of balm , a handfull of bittony , a handfull of couslip-flowers , and a handfull of rosemary flowers clean picked , put all these into an earthen dessell with the wine close covered . let it stand six days , stir it twice every day , so done put them into a still ▪ with two ounces of the best mitridate , half an ounce of cinamon , half an ounce of cloves both bruised , paste your still close , and so let it work with a soft fire , and not open it till you find it all spent , and when you spend it , put into every pint four ounces of white sugar candy , and keep the first stilling longest , because it will be stronger then the latter . chap. cxcii . a water to cure the tooth . ach . take of claret-wine one pint , cloves one spoonfull , of rosemary , bittony , and bramble-leaves , of each half a handfull , boil all these over a soft fire , untill half be consumed . then reserve it for your use in pots close covered . chap. cxciii . to make a water cordially good against any infectious disc●se , as the small pox , measels , or pestilent burning fevers , and to divert any offensive or venemous matter from the stomack , or to be used after a surfeit or in passions of the mother , or for children in fits of convulsions , and is generally good to comfort and strengthen nature in all cold diseases . take of sage , celendine , rosemary , rue , rosa solas wormwood , mugwort , pimpernill dragons , scabius , egrimony , balm bittony-flowers , and leaves , centary-tops and flowers , marigolds tops and leaves of each of these a good handfull : then take your roots of tormentil , angelica , elecampane , pioney , liquorice ; all clean scraped , of each of these half an ounce , let all the hearbs be washed , and taken in a linnen cloath untill they be well dried , then shred all together , and let your roots be sliced thin and mixed with the hearbs , then put them all into a gallant pot of white-wine , and let them all stéep together in a large gally pot , or earthen pot that is well leaded , and so let them remain close covered two dayes and two nights , stirring them once in a day , then distill all together in an ordinary rose-still , and not in a limbeck with a soft fire , receiving a pot or a pint of the first water by it self for your strongest , also a quart of the second running water by it self , and of your last a weaker fort by it self , in several glasses close stopped with corks fast tied with leather . the strongest water when one is infected is to be taken by a spoonfull at a time every morning fasting , if they cast it up they must take it again . chap. cxciiii . an excellent water for any sore either old or new . take a quart of pure running water , a pint of white wine , thrée or four spoonfuls of lavender séeds , two spoonfuls of live honey , a little péece of of roch allom , boil them together , till the one half be consumed , then wash the sore therewith . chap. cxcv. a pretious water against the plague , pestillence , and poison . take the distilled water of diptanum , pimpernel tormentil and scabius , of each a like quantity , and mix them together and drink thereof . philosophers doe report that it were impossible for any man to dye of poison or pestillence , if he use often to drink these waters next his heart . it is called water imperial , and all great states among the sarasins use to drink thereof . chap. cxcvi. a precious water . take galingal , cloves , quibes , ginger , mellilot , cardemons , mace , nutmegs , of each an ounce , and mingle all the foresaid with the same juyce , and a pint of aqua vitae , and three pints of white-wine put all these together , into a stillatory of glasse , and let it stand so all night , and on the morrow distill it , this water is of secret nature , and helpeth the lungs without any grievance , and mightily healeth and comforteth thē if wounded and perished , it suffereth not the bloud to putrifie but multiplieth it in great quantity , yea , he that useth it shall not often need to be let bloud , it is good against heart-burning , and resisteth melancholy and flegm to puffe up or have domination above nature , it expelleth rheum mightily , and profiteth the stomack marvellously it conserveth youth in the fresh estate , and maketh a good colour , it keeps and preserves the orphage and memory , and destroys the palsie of the lims and of the tongue , and kéeps one from palsies , further , if a spoonfull of this water be given to man or woman labouring towards death it wil releeve them . finally of all artificial waters there is none better . in summer once a week use the quantity of a spoonfull fasting , and in winter the quantity of two spoonfuls . chap. cxcvii . a water to drink with wine to cool choller , take burrage-roots , and succory-roots , two of each sort , wash them and scrape them clean and take out the pith , then take a fair earthen pot of two gallons , and distil it with fair spring-water , and set it on a fire , with charcoal , and put the roots thereto , and eight pennyworth of cinamon , and when it beginneth to seeth put in four ounces of sugar , and let it seeth half an hour , and so take it off and let it cool , and afterwards drink it with wine or without at your pleasure . chap. cxcviii. an excellent water for the weaknesse of the back and pricking of the urine . take a pottle of mulmsey , a handfull of bettony five parsley-roots , five fennell-roots , clean scraped , and the pith taken out , a nutmeg minced , seeth all these together unto a quart , and clarifie it , and put thereto an ounce of white sugar candy , drink this water evening and morning , as hot as you can suffer it . chap. cxcix . the making of the fistula water . take bolearmonack four ounces , camphire one ounce , white coporas four ounces , boil your coporas and camphire in a little black earthen pot , untill they become thin , stirring them together untill they become hard in seething , then beat them in a stone morter to powder , and beat your belearmonack by it self to to powder , and then mingle them together , and kéep your powder in a bladder , till you need to use them , then take a pottle of running water and set it on the fire , till it begin to seeth , then take it off from the fire , and put in three good spoonfulls of the powder into the sodden water whilest it is hot , and after put therewith the powder into a glasse stirring the water twice a day for a fortnight , which will make the water stronger , but before you use it let it be well setled , and apply it as hot as the party can well indure it and lay a clean linnen cloath four double to the sore wet in the same water , and bind it fast with a rowler , to kéep it warm , do this moring and evening till it be whole ; this water must be put in an oyster-shell , and not in a sawcer , when you dresse the sore , otherways the sawcer will soak it up : remember to take three great spoonfuls , when you put them in the water : take heed you let none drink this water , put it not into any vessell you use after , if you please to make the water stronger , take an ounce of allome well beaten to powder , and mingle it well with the other powders before you put them to the water , this water cures all old sores , principally fistulaes , tetters , boils , canckers in the mouth , scabs , or scalls in the head , gréen wounds or any thing else in this kind . chap. cc. to draw a quintaessence of mans bloud . take the bloud of a young sanguine man and chollerick man at the barbers shops as thou mayest have it , and namely of such men as use good wines , then put away the water after it hath stood , and paste and bake it with ten parts of common salt , prepared to the use and medicine of man , then put it in a glasse vessell , and put it in horse dung til it be rotted and putrified all the bloud into water , and that may be within ten days , sometimes more ▪ and sometimes lesse . then put it in a limbeck and distill it by a good fire , and take thereof the water as much as thou may , and grind the dregs that it leaveth on a marble stone , and put all the water thereto and grind it again together , and then distill it , and so continue grinding and distilling as before many times untill thou have a noble water of bloud , of the which quintaessence may be drawn thus . take the same water and put it in the stillatory of circulation , and let it ascend and descend till it be brought to the great swéetnesse , and marvellous odour , and smelling as aqua vitae , as is taught in the book of quintaessence , and this is a marvellous and miraculou● quintaessence , as thou shalt well know and find by making use thereof . chap. cci. to draw a quintaessence from all fruits , leaves , roots , and hearbs . grind all fruits , leaves , roots , and hearbs , with the tenth part of prepared salt , then purifie it and distill it circumspectly , till it have the odour as is before said . chap. ccii. to draw a quintaessence of every of the four elements by it self . take thin grounds with ten parts of prepared salt , and put it to putrifie , and thereof draw a water as is before rehearsed by bloud and other things , take that water and distill it in balneo till there arise no more water , and then hast thou one pure element in the glasse . then put the said ●ater thus drawn , upon the effects in the glasse in balneo , somewhat warm that the effects and the water may mingle well together ; during right or ten dayes : the glasse well stopped that no air may go out . and then take it up and shake it well together , and put it in a furnace with asho● , and make a good fire under it , and thou shalt distill a water in form of oyl , red as gold ▪ then hast thou two elements water and fire , and to seperate water and fire , distill that red water in balneo , and the element of water will arise ▪ and the fire will remain in the very bottome of the stillatory , a red oyl . then to part fire from earth take seven parts of the element of water , and put it upon one part of the effects , as you did before by the space of eight or ten days , and do as thou diddest in separating the two first elements . but thou must make a stronger fire , and there shall ascend a red water , which is the element of the fire and water together , separate them in balneo as you did before , and in the stillatory shall remain the element of fire . and the element of earth , is that black water that thou leavest when the fire is drawn by virtue of the element of water , as all others are before . thus hast thou every element by himself , now mayest thou bring every of these elements , by himself into an oyntment by the vessell of circulation , or else distill every of them seven times . but the black-water must first be vapoured , and in a furnace of reverberation during twenty four or thirty dayes according to art . the use and effects of this quintecence is sufficiently declared in the foregoing chapters of this book . chap. cciii . here i shall shew you how to draw a quintaessence of all minerals , by example of gold . bring thy sol into a calx in this manner ; ●each thy sol with quick-silver , and then vapour away thy quick-silver , and in the vapouring away stir it all the while with a stick , and the sol will be a subtil powder , the which calx put in a glasse and put thereto wine vinegar , distilled , or old urine distilled thrée fingers bredth above the calx of sol , and set it in the hot sun , and thou shalt see a froth of sol gathered like unto a scum , upō the vinegar : gather that off with a feather , and have by thee another vessel of glasse with fair water , and wash the froth from off the feather in that water , and then gather more : and thus do as long as any scum will arise upon the vinegar . then vapour away the water with fire , and there will remain the oyl of sol , which is called oleum in combustibule , which is the very quintaessence of gold . and if thou use this quintaessence according to art , it shall restore nature , and bring again youth , and preserve mans life unto the day that god hath prefixed for him , which day shall no man passe . also quintaessence of gold hath great swéetnesse and vertue to asswage aches , and maladies of wounds and to heal wounds and ●otches , and many other infirmities . i have already given you many secrets and rare experiments concerning chyrurgery , physick , and chymistry . there remaineth some other things most worthy of observation , and as necessary to be understood , as any thing which hath hitherto been communicated ▪ i have proceeded to plaisters , distillations , extractions , quintaessences , purges , incisions , minerals , and other things very admirable , the effects whereof have been sufficiently approved . yet there remaineth some other things concerning the vertues and effects of plants , herbs , and gums , without the knowledge whereof , no artist can effectually undertake any cure ; therefore i shall proceed to that which followeth . chap. cciiii . the vertues of sage . sage is hot and dry in the third degree : it is singular good for the head and brain ▪ it q●ickeneth the sences and memory , strengtheneth the sinews , restoreth health to those that have a pal●ie that cometh of moisture , it taketh away shaking or trembling of the members . the juyce of sage taken with honey , is good for those that spet bloud , it expelleth wind , dryeth the drop●●● , and purgeth the bloud . the leaves of sage boyled with woodbine , plantan , rosemary , honey , allome , and a little white . wine maketh an excellent water for a canker , soremouth , &c. sage maketh an excellent and very wholsome ale , if you adde thereto bittony , egrimony . scabius , a little spike and fennel . the distilled water of sage , of couslips , and of primrose are good against the palsie being drank and to wash and bath therewith . a conserve made of the flowers of sage , and couslip-flowers , is exceeding good against palsies , convulsions , cramps , &c. the vertues of clary . the séeds of clary made into fine powder and mixed with hony taketh away the dimness of the eyes and cléereth the sight and taken inwardly is very good for the back also the herb infused in warm water and applied plaister , wise dissolveth all kind of swillings esp●ially in the joynts . but it is the more effectual if you a● thereto mallows and smallage . the vertues of pellitory of spain . this heab is good against the megrim , the vertigo , or the giddiness of the head , the apoplexie ▪ the faling sicknes , the palsie , and is singular good for all cold infirmities of the head and sinewes . the vertues of of tobacco . tobacco is of singular use both in phisick & chiurgery . oil of tobacco is good to anoynt the stomack and for many other griefs of the body , it healeth all manner of wounds and sores , if you make a salve thereof thus take oile of roses , oile of st johns-wort , of each one pint , the leaves of tobacco beaten small in a stone morter , two pound : boile then together to the consumption of the juice , strain it and put it to the fire againe , adding thereto of venis turpentine two ounces , of oblibanum and mastick of each half an ounce in fine powder , & put thereto so much wax and rosin as will make it into a salve . tobacco is also the ●est medicin that is for deafnes if you use it in this manner . take a quart of runing water , and put if into a new pi●kin , and put thereto 3. ounces of varinus tobacco opened into the leaf , and boil it to a pint , then strain it hard , and kéep it a glass vial for your use . when you go to bed warm a little of this water bloud warme , then soak therein a little black wooll and put it into both your ears , do thus every morning and evening as you find occasion . this cured a lady that was deaf sixtéen years . of the use and virtue of ebulus or dane-wort . take the buds of this vegetable , when they are young and green , perboil them in water , and make thereof a sallad , and give unto those that have costive bodies and it will provoke them to stool . it is an herb very profitable for the sinews , it comforteth the weak parts and preserveth such as are weak in the joynts from many accidents : it purgeth phlegm which ( for the most part ) causeth debility of the nerves . whosoever useth to drink of a sirrup , made of the berries thereof , shall not be troubled with ye gout nor any disease , in the articular parts . the seed dried is profitable against all infirmities caused of humidity . the use and vertue of black ellebore . the root of black ellebore being dried and kept two years may be safely used without other preparation , and may be ministred against any infirmity , that hath his originall of a melancholy cause . therefore it is most appropriate against the feaver , quartain , & lunatick persons vexed wt melācholy . the use and virtues of the hearb called gratia dei , a kind of geranium , in english blew storks-bill , take of gratia dei , dried in the shadow and beaten into fine powder one ounce , cinamen ● dram , cloves one scruple , wheat-flower one pound , orenges-condite one ounce , make thereof a paste with honey , and bake it in the oven with bread : but take great heed that it burn not . of this you shall give one ounce to purge against many infirmities : but above the rest against scrophulae , against scabs , and the white scall . for it evacuateth onely the superfluous humidity of the body , it drieth , and is appropriate for such kind of infirmities . howbeit you must note that all soluble medicines are not fit , for one disease or complexion : for chiefly and properly rubarb purgeth choller , black elebore avoideth melancholy , danewort dispossesseth the body of phlegm and this herb cleanseth the bloud . therefore every one hath his peculiar propertie : though sometime either of them may work upon more causes than one , yet not so properly or simply , but by accident , and in regard of circumstances . two drams of the powder of this hearb , drunk in wine or broth , provoketh vomite and siege , and is very good for such as are lunatick . it helpeth or at the least delayeth the extremity of the feaver : it is good against griefs in the stomack and wind in the belly . a decoction thereof made with lie , helpeth putrified vlcers if they be washed therewith ; for as it purgeth the stomack , so it cleanseth the sore , and healeth it quickly , if you wet a cloath in the said lie and apply it thereunto , the virtues of rubarb . the hearb called in ye italian tōgue , lappacia maggiore , or rombice domestiee , is a kind of rubarb , which among the learned herbarists , is termed by the name rha recentiorum : whereof one dram when it is new , will lose the body , evacuate choller , as the rhabarbarum doth . it is very good against the ●ppilations : it purgeth the bloud , and taketh away scabs . you shall have a most precious medicine thereof : if you mix the gréen root with honey , cinamon , saffron , ginger , and the powder of roses . if you rost the root in the embers , and mix it with condifed sugar it breaketh the scrophulae , and mundifieth them , and healeth them in short time . some do mix it with the gum called ammoniacum , and so do bring it into the form of an unguent , and apply it unto the parts affected with the scrophulae . the virtues of tithymale . gather the hearb tithymale ( called spurge ) in the moneth of may : take forth the juyce and mix it with sugar-roset or sugar-violet in fine powder : thē make of thē both a moist past , & keep it in a glasse close stopped . when you purpose to use it , minister two scruples thereof in broth or any other convenient sirrup . it purgeth without pain , helpeth all feavers that come of heat : working not only by ye stool but provoking of sweat also . it resolveth all continual and quotidian fevers , when the parties affected therewith be hot , and their sweat cold , yea though they be brought very low , it wil by gods help deliver them of their troublesome adversary . laurcola doth also move the body , by vomit and siege , but it may not be used in any continuall feaver or quotidian ; because it will inflame too much . the virtues of soldanella . this herb groweth in sandy and salt ground , and is hot and dry . it purgeth vomite and siege , and is excellent against the dropsie , all windinesse and unwholsome moisture in the body . being taken in lozinges , with aromatico , the quantity of one dram , it sendeth forth all the noisome waterinesse , out of the body , drying and heating those parts in an excellent manner . the virtues of cyperus . the herb cyperus called in english galingal , being put into new wine , giveth it an excellent good taste & smel , prevailing against inward passiōs caused of wind . it is good for such as are bursten , for it resolveth the wind , if you take the powder thereof being stamped very small , and make a plaister thereof with other things appropriate thereunto , applying the same to the rupture , and changing it once every day . also if the patient do once a day eat of the root , he shall in short space be helpen of that disease . the virtues of elder . take the roots of elder , wash them clean , and scrape them till you come to the wood , stamp that sul stance , and take the juyce and strain it , boil it , and scum it wel ; and for every ounce of the juyce , take one ounce of mel rosarum , and drink it for it will cool the stomack , help hot feavers quickly , and purge the bloud . the virtues of sweet margerome . take sweet margerome , and stamp it , and take of the juyce one ounce , oyl of bitter almonds one dram , and one scruple of mastich , and snuffe it up at the nose , thrée or four mornings together : and anoint the head with oyl of egs . this purgeth the head of all pains , dissolveth tumorsrquickeneth the sight and provoketh sléep . the use and vertues of persicaria . you shall understand , that this herb , doth work ( in a manner ) against all infirmities , most strangely to behold . for if you take the powder thereof , and put it upon copper molten , it will in the projection become like gold , and will draw if to a small quantity , and make it malleable , and soft like gold , except the colour . also if you make a strong lie of the ashes of perficaria , and therein boil yellow brunstone , it will draw out of it quick-silver , which is the phylosophers mercury . this herb doth also most notably preserve a man from many infirmities , if one part thereof be taken whiles it is dry , and one other part of specia venetiane ; being both of them well incorporate together , and used in your meats . of man and the medicines that are made of him . man is a rational or reasonable creature , whereof we have written at large in our book called phifica del fioravante . but here we will onely write of certain medicines , that may be made or derived from him : which are for the ease , help and remedy of divers infirmities which are in men and women . the reason whereof is very good , for every like rejoiceth with , and helpeth his like , and therefore man serveth for man . the fat of a man is ( as every man knoweth ) hot and penetrative , and mollifying if you anoint the parts therewith , ( where the sinews be hard ) and drawn together , or contracted , therefore it will quickl resolve them . i have made the quintaessence of mans bloud , rectified and circulated , with the which i have done most wonderfull cures , for if you give thereof one dram it will ●estore those that lie at the point of death . it is most profitable , against the infirmities that are in the bloud ; for it correcteth the malignity of the bloud , and preserveth it as well as the spirit of wine . if you put a little of it into an hogs head of wine it will purifie it , and preserve it along time more then any other thing whatsoever . so that this quintaessence worketh more effects , for the cure of great and dangerous infirmities then any other . also from the liver of a man will be drawn by distillation a water and an oyl . if the water be drunk every morning together , by the space of a moneth , in the quantity of one dram , with two ounces of liver-wort , it will recover such as are half ●otten through diseases of the liver , and hath divers other properties , whereof i will not speak at this time . from the flesh of man distilled , there will come forth a stinking water and an oyl , which is most excellent to anoint wounds withall , when they are badly healed , and that there remain any hurt in these parts , that they are not so sensible & pliant , ( as they were wont to be before ) this dissolveth them . and it mollifieth and softeneth all hardnesse of tumor , of what originall soever it shall come . from the forepart of a mans scull there is drawn by distillation , a water , an oyl , and a salt , which is most profitably used against the falling ▪ sicknesse . of bees and their medicinal use . bees are of nature hot & moist , having a generative property . for it they be given to any barren creature , they shall conceive in short time after . also if you lay dead bees in a dry place to putrifie , wetting them sometime wt wine , they wil revive again though not as they were before , but they will be much bigger and of another form . these bées if you bring into powder with as much cantarides ; boil them a little with oyl of camomil and anoint any part where the hair is fallen away , and it shall quickly come again and in a short space ; a most strange thing to behold . the use of frogs . the skins of frogs being boiled and made into the form of a plaister with wax and frankincense , is very profitable for such as have any maligne or troublesome accident about their legs through heat . the fat of frogs is a wonderfull medicine against fueco sacro , or st. anthonies fire , a disease happening unto children and others through the great he●t that is in their bloud . the use and vertues of the resine or gum called tacca mahacca . take thereof as much as you will , distil it in a re●ort of glasse , and from it there will come both oyl and water . of which i have séen divers medicines made against sundry diseases . anoint the belly with this oyl cold , when you go to bed : and it helpeth against the crudity of the matrix . if the genitel part of the man be anointed therewith before the act of generation , the woman shall be the more fit for conception : for by this means some kind of sterility is taken away . it helpeth and easeth pain in the head , procéeding of a cold stomack . it helpeth digestion and resolveth pain throughout the body , in what part soever they shall come , especially , when they have their beginning of cold . the water hereof dissolveth wind in the stomack helpeth digestion , provoketh vrine , mitigateth all feavers that come of cold . the virtues of the gum caranna , and the medicinall properties of it . take it and distill it in a retort with the yolks and whites of eggs , and there will come forth oyl and water , the oyl whereof will be black , and the water red . the water of carrana helpeth chilblains , and all chopps or clifts in the lipps arising of cold in the winter . it is a great ease for the sore breasts of women , that give suck . the oyl worketh wonderfull effects , in wounds of the head , arm or legs , anoint a simple wound therewith once or twice : and it will very spéedily be healed . take a quantity of this gum , and mix it with as much of the seed of water-cresses , and the white of an egge , and make thereof a cerot , to apply unto a rupture : wherewith it wil in ▪ short time be healed , all other circumstances being also observed . of liquid amber and the medicinall vertues thereof . take liquid amber and distill it in a retort : and from thence there will come a red oyl . this oyl is used against all indispositions of cold , and moisture or wind . the same healeth scabs , and is good for wounds . if you anoint the stomack therewith , it will exceedingly comfort the same : for it is a thing uncorruptible , and like unto balsamum . the vertues of oak-apples . the oak-apples are good against all flures of blend and lasks ▪ in what manner soever it be taken , but she best way into boil them in red-wine , and so prepared it is good against the excessive moisture and swillings of the jaws , and almonds or kernels in the threat . the decoction of oak-apples stays womens sicknesse , and causeth the mother that is fallen down ▪ to return again to his naturall place , if they do sit over the said decoction being very hot . the same steeped in strong white-wine vinegar , with a little powder of brimstone , and the roots of frocus mingled together , and set in the sun by the space of a moneth maketh the hair black , consumeth proud and superfluous flesh it taketh away any sun-burning , freckles , spots , the morphew , and all deformities of the face being washed therewith . the vertues of crabs . the juyce of crabs taketh away the heat of burning or scalding and all inflamation , and being laid on in short time after it is scalded , it kéepeth it from blisstring . the juyce or verjuyce is astringent or binding , and hath withal an abstersive quality , being mixed with hard yeest of ale or beer , and applied in manner of a cold oyntment , that is spread upon a cloathfirst wet in verjuyce and wrung out and then laid to : taketh away the heat of st. anthonies fire ▪ allinflamations whatsoever , it healeth scabbed legs , burning and scalding whatsoever it be . the virtues of adders-tongue . the leaves of adders-tongue , stamped in a stone morter , and boiled in oyl of ovide unto the consumption of the juyce , untill the herbs be dry and parched , then strained , will yield a most excellent green oyl : or rather a baisome for gréen wounds , comparable unto oyl of st. johns wort , if not far surpassing it by many degrées , whose beauty is such that very many artists have thought the same to have been mixed with uerdigrease . to make salt of any plant or herb. take a good quantity of what plant you please that is full of juyce , beat it in a stone morter , and put running-water thereto , then boil it to the consumption of the one half , strain it very hard , and boil this decoction to the thicknesse of a sirrup , and set it in a glasse eight days , and on the top you will find a kind of salt like sal gem , take that and wash it in the water of the herb whereof it was made and dry it . in this manner you may make salt of wormwood , balm , &c. the vertues of sow-bread . the root maketh the skin fair and clear , and cureth all scabs and scurffs , and the falling of the hair , and taketh away the marks and spots that remain after the small pocks and meazels , and all other blemishes of the face ; the root hanged upon women in travell causeth them to be delivered incontinently . the virtues of saxifrage . the root of sa●afrage drunk with wine and uinegar cureth the pestilence , holden in the mouth preserveth a man from the said disease , and purifieth the corrupt air , the same being chewed in the mouth maketh one to avoid much phiegm , draweth from the brain all grosse and clammy superfluities , asswageth tooth-ach , and bringeth speech again to them that are taken with the apoplexie , the juyce of the leaves doth take and cleanse away all spots , and freckles , and beautifieth the face , and leaveth a good colour , it is of excellent use against the stone . the vertue of maiden hair . maiden-hair being green , and stamped and layed upon a place that wanteth hair causeth it to grow . the vertue of the ash-tree . the ash-tree for such as are too fat or grosse men use to take dayly thrée or four ashen-leaves to drink in wine to the intent to make them lean . the vertues of violets . violets stamped and laied to the head alone , or mingled with oyl ; removeth the extream heat asswageth head-ach , provoketh sléep and moisteneth the brain , it is good therefore against the drinesse of the head , against melancholy and dullnesse or heavinesse of spirit . the vertues of hysop . hysop sod in vinegar , and holden in the mouth asswageth tooth-ach , the decoction thereof doth scatter congealed and clotted bloud , and all black marks that come of stripes or beating , and also cureth the itch , scratch , and foul manginesse if it be washed therewithall . gillow-stowers , or wall-flowers , the juyce thereof dropped into the eye , doth wast and scatter all dimnesse in the same . the vertues of oak-leaves . oak-leaves stamped very small do heal and close up green wounds , and doth stop the bloud being layed thereupon . the vertues of hoar hound . hoar-hound boiled in water cleanseth the breast and lungs , helpeth the pain in the side , is good against the tysick , and the ulceration of the lungs . of the barbil and to what use she serveth in medicine . in the moneth of may the barbil hath egs , which are of a soluble quality , and of some those eggs be eaten ; they shall be provoked to vomite . they have a quality contrary to other purgers , they must be dried in the sun mixed with a little sena , and then ministred in wine or water that is sodden . when it hath wel wrought , the patients must eat good meat to nourish them , and may drink wine , and when they are disposed thereto , suffer them to sleep . of centumpedees called in english sows . if you minister the powder of these creatures in-wine , it hath many excellent properties , but chiefly it hath béen experienced greatly to prevail againss the stitch in the side for it will help that grief presently . if you burn the little créeking creature called a cricket , and minister the power thereof in some diuretick liquor , it provoketh urine . mallows . alkakengi , centum nodi , centum grava , and the roots of rapes : are of like property , being handled and used according to art . there are oftentimes found in standing pools , and putrified waters , certain small creatures which are round like a cherry , having a tail and two feet , which are in lombardy called comazzi . take these , and distill thereof a water or liquor , wherewith you may very soon consume or break iron : a very great secret observed in nature . how to make a plaister for the rheum . take of dears-suet , uirgin-war , rosen , per●-osen , a quarter of a pound of each , obliganum , benjamin mastick , take of each a quarter of an ounce , two drams ▪ of camphire , beat these small , take thrée pennyworth of turpentine , boil all these together in a pint of white-wine except the turpentine which must be put in after it is taken off the fire , and stir it till it be cold ; then temper it in your hands , and so role it up in roles , and keep it close from fire . chap. ccv . the natures and temperatures of herbs in generall . these herbs be of their own nature hot and very cordiall and comfortable for the heart , and good against melancholy , viz. angelica . balm . the flowers of rosemary . cardus benedictus ▪ roman wormwood . margerom . mints . winter savory . these herbs be in like manner hot , but of a contrary quality that is , they tend to the comsorting of the stomack and to help digestion . common wormwood . lavender . camomilll . basell . these herbs be in like manner hot but tend to the opening of the lungs . isop . elecampane roots ▪ fennel . hoar-hound . these herbs be in like manner hot , but tendeth to the comforting of the brain , and drying up of rheum . bittony . penny●riall . germander . time . sage . costmary . valerian . these herbs be also hot and they be good for the obstructions of the liver , and spleea and good against the gout . camapitus . saxafrage . parsley . mugwort . motherwort . mother of time . fennel . sallandine . they are to be used in broth or to be distilled . these be also hot , and tend to the expelling of wind . alexanders . smallage . rue . maudline . fetherfew . saint johns wort. ladies mantel . lavender cotten . these roots be also hot and comfortable , and likewise good to strengthen nature . sateions . orenges . parsnep . these herbs of their own nature be hot , and of a mean temperature good to cause solublenesse . mercury . beets . violet-leaves . mallows . dill. holly-hock . dandelion . these herbs be of mean temperature as the rest but good for to strengthen the back . comfery . knot-grasse . shepheards-pouch . plantain . arch-angel . these be of a mean temperature and good against the stone . saxafrage . pellitory on the wall . water-cresses . cammock-roots . wake robin . these are of a mean temperature , good against all obstructions of the liver , centory . hops . cowslips . mugwort . harts-tongue . scabius . avens . doder . dandelion . liverwort . spoon-wort . these be as the rest good to cleanse the throat . wood-bines . collombines . sinkfoyl . these be of the same nature but tendeth to the opening of the lungs . colts-foot . setrack . maiden-hair . these be of a cold property and tendeth altogether to the cooling of the bloud , and quallifiing of the heat of the stomack . garden-sorrell . wood-sorrel . endiffe . succory . these be in like manner cold of their own nature , and to be used inwardly , they provoke rest . lettice . purslay . field-poppy . these are as the rest but rather colder , and are to be applied outwardly and not inwardly . night-shade . hen-bane . man-drake . penny-wort . great-poppies . these hearbs and oyl of roses is good to be applied with cloths to the temples of the head . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28815e-8730 note . note the divine physician, prescribing rules for the prevention, and cure of most diseases, as well of the body, as the soul demonstrating by natural reason, and also divine and humane testimony, that, as vicious and irregular actions and affections prove often occasions of most bodily diseases, and shortness of life, so the contrary do conduce to the preservation of health, and prolongation of life : in two parts / by j.h ... harris, john, 1667?-1719. 1676 approx. 238 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 114 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a45640 wing h848 estc r20051 11766955 ocm 11766955 48795 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a45640) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 48795) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 534:2) the divine physician, prescribing rules for the prevention, and cure of most diseases, as well of the body, as the soul demonstrating by natural reason, and also divine and humane testimony, that, as vicious and irregular actions and affections prove often occasions of most bodily diseases, and shortness of life, so the contrary do conduce to the preservation of health, and prolongation of life : in two parts / by j.h ... harris, john, 1667?-1719. [16], 201, [6] p. printed for george rose ..., and by nath. brook, and will. whitwood ..., [london?] : 1676. imperfect: lacking from amongst the recommendatory verses, there is a poem by g.r. of ten lines, the initial letters of which form the words iohn harris. cf. halkett and laing. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. 2005-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-04 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2005-04 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion imprimatur hic liber cui titulus , the divine physician . ab . campion , r mo . d no. arch. cant. à sacris domesticis . feb. 22. 1675. ex aedib . lambeth . the divine physician : prescribing rules for the prevention , and cure of most diseases , as well of the body , as the soul : demonstrating by natural reason , and also divine and humane testimony , that , as vicious and irregular actions and affections prove often occasions of most bodily diseases , and shortness of life ; so the contrary do conduce to the preservation of health , and prolongation of life . in two parts . by j. h. m. a. exod. 15. 26. — if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the lord thy god , and wilt do that which is right in his sight , and wilt give ear to his commandments , and keep all his statutes , i will put none of these diseases upon thee , which i have brought upon the egyptians : for i am the lord that healeth thee . prov. 10. 27. the fear of the lord prolongeth dayes : but the years of the wicked shall be shortned . printed for george rose , bookseller in norwich , and are to be sold by him there , and by nath. brook , and will. whitwood , booksellers in london . 1676. to the right worshipful , and much honour'd robert coke , esq now a member of the high and honourable court of parliament . sir , it is reported that when one presented unto antipater , king of macedon , a treatise of happiness , that he rejected it with this answer , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i am not at leasure : you shall find this a treatise tending to happiness here , and hereafter ; yet i assure my self , it shall find better entertainment when it kisseth your hand ; not only in regard of the novelty , and usefulness of the design , but also the author 's good intention . as to the novelty thereof , though i confess to have met , dispersedly , with many gleanings in sundry authors ; yet the scattered ears were never heretofore ( so far as i have searched ) collected into order ; the large field of this argument , lying as a barren soyl , or a desolate wilderness , untilled . as to the usefulness , since all goods may be reduced to bona animi , corporis , & fortunae , the goods of the mind , the body , and of fortune , as divine providence hath liberally furnish'd you with the last , this manual presents you with the two former . which three ( and tria sunt omnia ) rightly improv'd , will add such a lustre each to other , as will make you shine , not only as a star of the first magnitude in the sphaere you are in now , but as the sun it self hereafter , when you shall be higher and richer in the reversion of a celestial kingdom , whereof your temporal estate thus sanctified , & made comfortable by the health of soul and body , becomes an earnest . certes , he is as happy as solomon in all his glory , who hath health to enjoy his riches , and grace to preserve his health , and the hope of glory ( greater than that of solomon ) to remunerate his grace . riches without health , is but like meat without a stomack , which the best cook on earth cannot make relishing or grateful ; and health , unless it relates to soul as well as body , is but like a down-pillow to a restless head , which the best chamberlain cannot make easie enough or refreshing : but when goodness shall run parallel with greatness , and healthfulness with holiness , they must needs concenter in the pole of happiness . as to the auhtor's good intention , though i be a stranger to your honored person ; yet receiving my first breath , and part of my education within the sensible horizon of hill hall in holkham , and having known , for the space of more than three lives in the law , the splendid family of your predecessors there , and receiving from them ( i mean the two last of them ) no small favors and obligations , and not knowing how , better to testify my gratitude to them , than by expressing it to such a person as may be thought worthy in their room to inherit their praises with their vertues , as well as their estate , i have therefore presumed to make this dedication of the first-fruits of my labor , such as it is , humbly craving your patronage , or pardon ; and also beseeching in my orisons , that the almighty preserver of men would preserver you and yours in health and prosperity both of body and soul , together with length of days , ( subordinately ) by the observation of such rules as are prescribed in this enchiridion ; and that he would bless you no less with accumulation of honors , and fruitfulness of loyns , that as your fortunes look green and flourishing , so may your name also ; to the glory of god , the service of your country , the hope of your friends , and the joy of every one who is no less devoted to your service than sir , your well-wishing honorer , j. h. to the reader . to let pass threadbare apologie , worn by so many authors , in their epistles prefatory , ( namely ) importunity of friends ; let it suffice , that after i had drawn up some scattered notions into a body , for my private exercise , and satisfaction ; the glory of god , and the publick good , were the grand motives that encouraged me to permit my divine physician to see the light , and to travel abroad amongst his patients ; though he may chance to meet with as sharp censures , as the bodily physician , upon the miscarriage of his endeavours . i confess a more accurate and acute pen might with more confidence have undertaken , and better success accomplished the design of the following treatise : but in regard no full discourse of this nature hath ever presented it self to the author's cognizance ; it hath been my lot to undertake it ; and my endeavour by the natural , and general desire of bodily health , to promote the health of the soul ; and also by the health of the soul , to promote the health of the body : in which two points , all the lines of our several designs must concenter ; or else the happiness of this life , and also of the next , will prove eccentrick , and to lye beyond the sphaere of our reach . if then thou would'st vivere , & valere , live , and that in health , and enjoy gaius his wished prosperity , 3 epist. john vers . 2. take this advice , eschew evil and do good , shun vice and embrace vertue : for as in the former are lurking the seeds of diseases , and mortality ; so in the latter is contained such a spring of divine sap , as bringeth forth the blossoms of health , and the lasting fruit of long life . for it must be understood , that as there is an agreement and correspondence between the affections of the soul , and the temperature of the body ; and that as , naturally , mores sequuntur humores , the manners follow the crasis and complexion of the humours ; so the affections for their parts have great power and influence over the body ; and though their natures differ much one from another , and we cannot by the reasons of humane philosophy comprehend how spiritual , and corporeal beings are linck'd together , and conjoyned in one ; yet experience , and the effects demonstrate their joint influence , and concurrence in the production either of health , or diseases . therefore wee see that joy , which is an affection of the soul , is as it were a medicine to the body , and food to the natural heat and moisture ; in which two qualities life chiefly consisteth : and for this cause physicians frequently advise their patients to nourish that affection in them , and to avoide the contrary , ( namely ) sorrow and sadness ; which last being cold and dry , and so hindering the circulation of the blood , debilitating the animal , and natural vertues , and obstructing the distribution of due nourishment , becometh an enemy to life by the consequent consumption of the body . now upon this agreement and sympathy between the body and soul , the current of this discourse mainly ( though not only ) proceedeth . in which you have the best , and yet the cheapest physick , that can be prescribed ; brought unto you , not from the apothecaries shop ; but the treasury of the scriptures , the closet of the holy ghost ; and all this , not with a design of destroying the bodily physician 's practise ; ( for when all is done there will be still need of him , at one time or other : ) but of assisting him by a more divine , and expeditious method in his cures , as well as preventing some unnecessary trouble , and charge to the patient . and so i conclude desiring thee to cover the imperfections and errata's of this work , ( which may happen through the author's inadvertency , or the printer's negligence ) with the mantle of candour and charity , and to take that in good part , which is so well intended by thy well-wishing friend , j. h. to the ingenious author , mr. j. h. upon his divine physician . what in thy serious studies may we meet ! when even thy recreations are so sweet . thy book is grace and nature bound together ; take it which way you will , it answers either : so prettily , so piously compact , divinity and physick keep one act. strange treatise i can reach down from my shelf consists of soul and body like my self ! thou shew'st thy self ( believ 't ) in thy design , a good physician , and a good divine . and that physician to the mark comes close , that cures both soul and body with a dose . go on and prosper fourth and fifth edition , till john like luke be the belov'd physician . m. s. the author to his book . go little book , and try thy fortune where more good thou may'st , for least thou can'st do here : whil'st to a private shelf thou art confin'd , thou as to publick good art still behind , then venture forth , and freely shew thy skill , in curing such as shall thy rules fulfil . i would have sent thee in a better dress , before thou should'st have tumbled into press ; but want of time , and hast ' pon life and death may plead for thee , when thou art out of breath . howe're termed , fool , or a physician ; ( as suits best with carpers disposition ) yet let thou momus know , a fool in print , may sometime give to wiser men a hint , how dextrously to finish and compleat what e're in ruder draught is not so feat , and to accomplish what in thee 's design'd , ( in brief ) a body sound with a sound mind . the divine physician . the first part . demonstrating by natural reason , and also divine and humane testimony , that vitious and irregular actions and affections do prove often occasions of most bodily diseases , and shortness of life . the introduction . because method is mater memoriae , the mother of memory ; and words must be placed as at a feast , and not as at an ordinary ; in this respect i shall observe some order in the following tract . first , then let us consider the excellencies and commodities of health , and long life ; that so by their encomiums we may be drawn , and encouraged to follow after the best means , in order to the attainment or enjoyment of them . health then , in the first place , is the greatest bodily blessing , which god bestoweth upon any in this life : though in regard of its commonness , it be little regarded . the benefit of this most sweet sause of all other goods , is scarcely discerned by them that enjoy it , till sickness come : for then , not only orpheus his song , but much more our own experience teacheth us , that nothing is available to men without health : neither riches , nor honour , nor the greatest delights which solomon's walk can afford . yea life it self , which is so precious , that skin for skin , yea all that a man hath will he give for it , job 2. 4. ( as sathan answered the lord ) even that becomes uncomfortable without health . besides , health is a special furtherance , & help to us in the service of god , and in the performance of the duties of our callings , & the want of it a great obstruction , & impediment to us therein . for these reasons the beloved apostle did earnestly wish his well-beloved gaius prosperity and health . beloved i wish above all things , that thou mayest prosper and be in health , 3 ep. john 2. this is that blessing which the lord promiseth to the obedient . the lord will take away from thee all sickness ; that blessing which the apostle paul thought worthy to be preserved carefully , as appeareth , acts 27. 34. & likewise , 1 tim. 5. 23. in a word , that blessing whose sweetness is so well experimented and relished , after the bitterness of sickness , that it were but to light a candle before the sun , to bring forth any further testimony in the praise of it . secondly , long life may be accounted as another blessing , which by its magnetick and attractive vertue , may not only draw our affections as a load-stone , but also by its acuminating power , set an edge upon our endeavours as a whetstone . long life is a blessing , & he that shall account it less , doth not only forget his own natural desires , but also god himself , and his commandment , which promiseth length of dayes , as a reward of dutifulness to parents , natural , civil , or ecclesiastical . it was a blessing of god upon israel , that being in the wilderness forty years , their garments did not wear , as the garment of the gibeonites : so if in many years , some mens bodies , which are as the garmentss of the souls , hold out longer than other mens ; as though with the eagle he did renew their youth , and god did add certain years unto their dayes , as he did unto hezekiah , isa. 37. 5. this is a great blessing : for though we christians ( as the lord verulam saith , in his epistle of the history of life and death ) do continually aspire , and pant after the land of promise , yet it will be a token of god's favour towards us , in our journeyings thorow this worlds wilderness , to have our shoes , and garments ( i mean those of our frail bodies ) little worn , or impaired . surely , as it is a curse upon the wicked , not to live out half his dayes , psal. 55. 23. a plague upon the ungodly , that they die in their youth , job 36. 14. a punishment upon eli , and his sons , for their sins , that there should not be an old man in his house for ever ; but all the increase of his house should die in the slower of their age , 1 sam. 2. 32. so on the other side , it is god's blessing , if he increase the length of our dayes , and we die with job , being old , and full of dayes , and go in our grave in a full age , as a shock of corn cometh in , in his season to the barn , job 42. 17. & 5. 26. therefore that heathen ( cic. tusc. 1. ) was mistaken , who said , optimum est non nasci , proximum quam cito aboleri , the best thing is never to be born , and the second best to die assoon as we are born . for , though long life to some be as wearisome , as death is fearful ; though old age in many be a disease not curable , but by death ; yet these are but accidental ; life it self is a blessing ; and the longer we live , the more experience we have of god's favour , a greater loathing of the sins of our youth , and a larger time of repentance , as having space , wherein to grow wiser , and better , and thereby to make this life a large preparative to eternal life . health then , and long life being now considered as blessings , we will henceforth follow the means , and leave the blessing to god. chap. 1. the first means being to avoid sin in general ; which is , supernaturally , an occasion of bodily diseases , and shortness of life . diseases are the interests of sin ; till sin there were no such things : for this cause ( in general ) many are weak and sick : let a man take the best air he can , and eat the best food he can , let him eat and drink by rule , let him take never so many antidotes , preservatives , and cordials ; yet man by reason of sin is but a crazy , sickly thing for all this . for ( as one saith ) all sicknesses of the body proceed from the sin of the soul : i am not ignorant that the lethargy ariseth from the coldness of the brain , that the dropsie floweth from waterish blood , in an ill affected liver , that the spleen is caused from melancholly wind , gathered in the mid-riff ; but the cause of all these causes , the fountain of all these fountains , is the sin of the soul. and this truth , from the fountain of sacred writ , will be clearly derived unto us : our saviour said unto the man , that had been thirty-eight years diseased , behold thou art made whole , sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee , john 5. 14. jesus thus warning him , by shewing him the cause of his infirmity , which was sin. those physicians that derive all diseases from natural causes only , do not well understand that text ; for it is spiritually discerned . all sickness is certainly the fruit of sin ; and many physicians will acknowledge it , being induced thereunto by a consequence , from an instance of a particular ( though epidemical ) disease ; namely , the plague or pestilence , which is concluded , not only from the word of god , lev. 26. 25. but also from the confirmed , constant , and received opinion of all ages , to be flagellum dei pro peccatis mundi , the rod of god for the sins of the world : the word plague ( in the greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) signifying no less ; for 't is so furious a disease , as it disdains any general method of cure , when it is in its rage . so that we must needs conclude that ( whatever be the natural causes of diseases ) sin is the supernatural , and meritorious cause , not only of this , but also of all other diseases . let me instance but one particular disease more ; the palsy , when our saviour was about to cure a man sick of that disease ( mark 2. 5. ) he first pronounced forgiveness of sins to him ; to shew that his sins were the cause of his disease . i confess diseases in the godly are many times god's love tokens , and he doth not alwayes aim at the demonstrating of his justice in punishing sin , when he layeth sickness upon men ; ( for sometimes he layeth it upon his own children for other ends , as for the trial of their faith , and patience , &c. as we see in job's example ) yet it is true , that god doth not chastise , or punish those that are innocent , but such as deserve it by their sins ; otherwise he should be supposed as unjust . sin then , the spiritual disease , is the original and procuring cause of every natural disease , so as if there were no sin , there should be no sickness . but here peradventure some may object , and say , how do this appear experimentally , and exemplarily in some vicious persons , whose blood danceth in their veines , and whose bones are moistned with marrow , who are in health , when he whom christ loveth is sick , john 11. 3. as 't was said of lazarus ? to this i answer , that the like matter bad almost stifled , and amazed job , ( job 21. ) and asaph , ( psal. 73. ) but they soon understood a reason of the several dispensations of god's providence . one general reason might be this ; it may well stand with god's providence , as he is the father of mercies , and the god of justice , ( as he shall see cause ) to let both his mercy , and his justice meet together , both upon the wicked , and the godly . as for instance , many times he conferreth benefits upon the wicked , and suffereth them to go free from punishment : there is his mercy ; though short , and temporal : but the evil that is in them , he punisheth eternally ; there is his justice . again many times he punisheth the sins of his best servants with temporal afflictions ; but their goodness he rewardeth with eternal blessings : there is his justice in punishing temporally , his mercy in rewarding eternally ; and in both these the wisdom of god's providence is discovered . so more particularly , god doth sometime permit , the wicked to have a sound body , with a diseased soul , and the godly a diseased body with a more sound soul. but yet , for the most part , in the revolution of experience we shall find , that where sin reignes most , there most diseases , as hand-maids are attending upon her : and though every general rule in grammar hath its exception ; yet take this as general without exception , that original , and likewise actual sins are the seeds of bodily diseases : though by gods mercy , and providence all things , even the sharpest , work together for good to them that love god , rom. 8. 28. yea , sin is not only a spiritual or supernatural cause of bodily diseases ; but also of shortness of life . for ( as one saith ) through sin our bodies are become nothing , but the pest-houses of diseases , and death . sin hath corrupted mans blood , and rendered his body mortal and vile : before sin our bodies were immortal : ( for death and mortality came in by sin ) but now alas ! they must return to dust , and 't is appointed to all men once to die by statute law in heaven ( and 't is well if they die but once , and the second death hath no power over them ) they must see corruption : and this is the wages that sin allows to its servants ; ( for the wages of sin is death , rom. 6. 23. ) this is the largess or congiary that sin gives to its souldiers , viz. death of all sorts ; this is the just hire of the least sin ; and this hire is seldom long detained from them that have deserv'd it most . as the lord for the wickedness of the world reduced man's age , from almost a thousand , to an hundred and twenty years , gen. 6. 3. and afterward from that , to moses his arithmetick , three score years and ten , psal. 90. 10. so now for the same cause , he hath reduced it to a very little pittance , not only to 70. but to 7. for in law , no man's life is valued more : so that the life of man is but a span , and the weavers shuttle is no more swift than it is , job 7. 6. especially , when many vices are woven into it ; for then god's justice soon cuts it off , as a weaver cuts off his web from the loom , sometimes before it be finished : for every disorderly person , that hath shortned his dayes by his sins , may say as hezekiah did once : i have cut off like a weaver my life , isai. 38. 12. i. e. as some expositors render it , i have shortned my life by my sins . thus er , and onan , in the 38th . chap. of genesis , by their sins contracted their lives into the wicked man's abridgment , viz. into less than the moyety , not living out half their dayes . yea , so unquestio able is this truth , that it was taken for granted in job's dayes ; as appeareth by job's interrogation : how oft is the candle of the wicked putout ? and how oft cometh their destruction upon them ? job 21. 17. what pleasure hath he in his house after him , when the number of his moneths is cut off in the mid 〈…〉 21. and in solomon's dayes it became a proverb : the years of the wicked shall be shortned , prov. 10. 27. a truth that is exemplified in most of the wicked kings of judah , and of israel . first , the kings of judah : abijam , a wicked king , reigned but three years , 1 kings 15. 2. jehoram , of whom it is recorded , that he did evil in the sight of the lord , he reigned but twelve years , four with his father , and eight alone , 2 kings 8. 17. ahaziah , a wicked king , reigned but one year , 2 kings 8. 25. athaliah , a wicked queen , an usurper , she reigned but six years , 2 kings 11. 3. ahaz , a wicked king , reigned but unto the 37 th . year of his age , 2 kings 16. 2. amon , a wicked king , reigned but two years , and lived but twenty-four , 2 kings 21. 19. to be short , several others of the same line , are chronicled with short periods ; sin , and a sudden death reigning in them successively . secondly , we may instance in the kings of israel . nadab , the son of jeroboam , a wicked king , reigned but two years , 1 kings 15. 25. baasha indeed reigned twenty-four years ; but elah , his son , reigned but two years ; being slain in his drunken humour , by his servant zimri , 1 kings 16. 8 , & 9. zimri , a conspirator , reigned but seven dayes : for burning the king's house over him with fire , he died . now the cause is recorded : 't was for his sins which he sinned , in doing evil in the sight of the lord , in walking in the way of jeroboam , and in his sin which he did , to make israel to sin , 1 kings 16. v. 15. to 20. omri , a superlative sinner , reigned but twelve years , 1 kin , 16. 23. ahaziah , the son of ahab , was an idolatrous king , and reigned but two years , 1 kings 22. 51. he being sick , sent messengers to enquire of baal-zebub , the god of ekron , whether he should recover of his disease : but had his judgment by elijah , who said , thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up , but shalt surely die : which came to pass according to the word of the lord , which elijah had spoken , 2 kings 1. and now what shall i more say ? for the time would fail me to tell of jehoram , zachariah , shallum , menahem , pekahiah , pekah , and some others , who through sin lost their lives with their kingdoms ; being cut off by the hand of god's vengeance , either before , or in their middle age : and although some of the wicked kings of judah , and of israel , did reign many years , by the permission of a long suffering god ; yet the instances are so few , that they are much overballanced , by the short lives of those already mentioned . much also of this truth might be observed , in the short periods of the wicked reigns of sundry princes , not only of this , but of other nations : but thus much shall serve to have delineated , and demonstrated sin to be in general , a spiritual or moral cause of bodily diseases , and shortness of life , supernaturally effected . chap. ii. shewing that many sins are natural causes of bodily distempers , and shortness of life . most sins are sins of the flesh ; which are so named , because through our flesh ( to wit our seed ) or through carnal generation , sin is conveyed into the whole man , soul , and body : also for that the flesh , or body is the instrument to execute the lusts of our natural concupiscence , rom. 6. 13. thus piscator , and peter martyr do judge . now these fleshly lusts , we must understand , have a powerful influence and operation , in the production of fleshly or bodily diseases : and this will appear by an examination , of the numerous off-spring of excess and intemperance , which in many places of sacred writs , is deemed no less than the transgression of the bounds of god's law. now the off-spring , or fruits of intemperance are these . first , it brings upon us almost all diseases . secondly , it takes part with diseases , and makes them often incurable . thirdly , it shortens our dayes , and makes us die in agonies . from whence cometh soreness , and weariness , melancholy and heaviness of spirits , stiffness and pain of joints , belchings , crudities , feavers , distastings of meat , loss of appetite , and other tempestuous evils , but from excess and intemperance ? these experimental effects , who can deny ? since almost every man carries about him , and within him a convincing argument thereof . whence is the multitude of physicians ( saith a modern physician ) but from the frequency , and multitude of diseases ? and whence that frequency and multitude , but from excess ? this ( saith he ) is generally confessed , but the practise still continued , the understanding assents , but the affections over-rule . now intemperance in general , may be thus described : it is an inordinate and immoderate appetite , or desire in our affections , pleasures , gifts , and the use of the creatures ; more particularly , it is taken for an inordinate appetite , and immoderate desire , and use of meat and drink ; and this is when a due mean is exceeded in the too liberal and excessive use of them ; so that gluttony , and drunkenness are the two main supporters of intemperance , which is the mother of most diseases . democritus said , that intemperate men were valetudinis suae proditores , betrayers of their own health , and killers of themselves by their pleasures : he spake it of intemperance in eating , and drinking ; of which , and also of other sorts of intemperance , i shall further treat in the following sections . sect . i. of gluttony . this is such a sin , as christ gives us a strict caution against it : take heed to your selves , lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeiting , &c. and as it is a sin ; so a mother-sin , fruitful in the production of other sins , deut. 21 , 20. yea fruitful also in diseases of the body . the stoicks imputed all diseases to age ; but erasistratus did not ill to ascribe all , or most of them to excess in eating : for if a man feed too much ( as a physician saith ) these discommodities arise thereof , all natural spirits leave their several standings , and run headlong to the stomack to perfit concoction ; which if with all their forces they cannot perform , then brain and body are over-mastered with heavy vapours , and humours , so that he is ever under the arrest of some disease , or in danger of it . multos morbos fercula multa faciunt , many dishes bring or cause many diseases : it was the observation of temperate seneca ; and it is not without reason : for physicians do affirm , that crudities ( the fruits of repletion ) are the nurseries of all those diseases , wherewith men are ordinarily vexed . now that which we call crudities , is the imperfect concoction of food ; for when the stomack , either through the excess of meat , or for the variety taken at one meal , or some other evil quality , doth imperfectly digest what it hath received , the juice of the meat so taken , is said to be crude , that is to say , raw or to have a cruditie in it , which is the occasion of many inconveniences . for in the first place , they do fill the brain with many phlegmatick excrements , and overheat the bowels , whereupon many obstructions are bred in the narrow passages of them : moreover these cruduties do corrupt the temper of the whole body , and stuff the veins with putrid humours ; from whence proceed many grievous diseases ; for when the first chylus is crude , and what we eat is malignantly concocted , it is impossible ( to speak as to the less modern opinion ) that any good blood can be bred in the second chylus of the liver , for the second concoction can never amend the first . again these crudities are the cause that the veins through the whole body , are replenished with foul , and with impure blood , and mingled with many humour , which do break forth into desperate diseases . and this may be more fully seen , if we shall make make an inspection into a treatise of doctor charlton's exercitationes pathologicae p. 70. wherein we may observe how , and after what manner , food becomes the cause or matter of diseases . or if a sum of what he more largely deliberates upon , may be satisfactory , take it thus : from an ingurgitation of food , beyond the strength of nature , ariseth a repletion ; from a repletion flow a plethora , or an exuperance of good humours ; and when these by a continual motion have increased to corruption and putrifaction , there soon follows a cachochymia , or a redundance of ill humours , and out of these two spring a most fruitful field of diseases . hence arise feavers , inflammations , tumours , swellings , irruption of the vessels , bleeding at the nose , apoplexies , cathexy , or ill disposition of the body , when the nourishment is converted to ill humours ; scabiness , leprosie , and innumerable other diseases : for ( saith he , p. 71. ) quid mali , precor , est quod à corrupto sanguine non expectes , ac time as ? what evil distemper , i pray , is there , but may be both expected , and feared to arise from a corrupt blood ? thus you see , gluttony is a nurse to innumerable diseases . but this is not all ; it is a cut-throat to innumerable persons , ( according to the proverb , intemperance is a cut-throat ) destroying man's life frequently , and suddenly , according to that known saying , by suppers , and surfeits more have been killed , than galen ever cured . yea by surfeiting have many perished , as saith the son of sirach , eccl. 37. 31. thus gluttons dig their graves with their teeth , whil'st their kitchin is their shrine , their cook their priest , their table their altar , and their belly their god. hence also it is said , that meat kills as many as the musket ; and that pluaes pereunt crapulâ , quam capulo ; lantibus , quam lanteis ; the board kills more than the sword . i have read that the spartans , to deter others from luxurious feeding , erected statues , to represent the fatal , and fearsul end of those that were given to riot . what schollar hath not read in herodotus , of the minstrel of megara , ( whose girdle in the wast was three yards and a half long ) or of milo crotoniates that great pamphagus ? athen. l. 10. c. 1. yet they died both very weak men , and young , by oppressing nature . history records of the scots , that they punished their belly-gods in this sort : first , they filled their bellies as full of good meat as ever they could hold , then they gagged them , and threw them into the next river with their arms pinnion'd , saying , now as thou hast eaten too much , so drink too much . but they should not have needed to punish them by such an artificial destruction ; for had they waited with a little patience , they might have observed this sin to be its own natural punishment , destroying more frequently , and more generally , than any other means : for life ( as one saith ) is a lamp , excess in meat doth shorten the one , as too much oyl extinguisheth the other . the glutton then turning that into an occasion of death , which was given for preservation of life , seldom or never lives long : but as he is hateful unto god in idolizing his belly ; so he is hurtful to himself , as a felo de se , in hastning his own death . now if any should here require some rules of temperance in eating , whereby they may know , how to limit themselves within due bounds ; that so they may not run out upon the borders of intemperance ; i must suspend that enquiry with its full determination , until i shall have positively treated of temperance in general : only thus much may be inserted here , which doctor muffet , a famous physician hath written in his book of health's improvement . fools and idiots ( saith he ) know you when your horse , and your hawk , and your dog have enough , and are you ignorant what measure to allow your selves ? who will urge his horse to eat too much , or cram his hawk till she be over-gorged , or feed his hound till his tail leave waving ? and shall man , the measurer of heaven and earth , be ignorant , how in diet to measure the bigness or strength of his own stomack ? knows he by signs when they are over-filled ; and is he ignorant of the signs of repletion in himself ? namely of satiety , loathing , drowsiness , stiffness , weakness , weariness , heaviness , and belching ? but we will pass over this , and treat of the other branch of intemperance which follows . sect . ii. of drunkenness . that this is a sin , and that of no mean degree , we may plainly perceive by sundry texts of sacred writ , luke 21. 34. gal. 5. 21. eph. 5. 18. but most especially and most notably in that fearful commination , 1 cor. 6. 10. where we are informed , that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of god. and yet something they shall inherit ; namely , diseases not a few , contracted upon them , partly perhaps from their parents voluptuousness ; but chiefly , and most certainly from their own habituated disorders . drunkenness ( saith one ) dolores gignit in capite , in stomacho , in toto corpore acerrimos ; breeds grievous diseases in the head , in the stomack , and in the whole body . now by drunkenness , we must understand all excess in drinking with its degrees , ( as it is taken in scripture phrase , for overcoming of , or being overcome with strong drink , isai. 5. 22. jer. 23. 9. ) which tend to the alienation of the mind , dulling or clouding of the understanding , inflaming the blood , and confounding of health . in these and the like respects , solomon makes this interrogation , who hath wo ? who hath sorrow ? who hath babling ? who hath wounds without cause , who hath redness of eyes ? prov. 23. 29. and 't is answered in the following verse : they that tarry long at the wine , they that go to seek mixt wine . more fully we may consider the effects of drunkenness , as they are described by physicians ; to whose learning , and experience we owe no small honour , and credence . and they are resolution of the nerves , cramps , and palsies . inflation of the belly , and dropsies , redness and rheums in the eyes , tremblings in the hands , and joynts , inclination to feavers , and the scurvy , sicknesses at stomack , and sower belchings . pains of the head and teeth , crudities in the stomack , and weakness of the stomack . pain in the eyes , or dimness of sight , trembling of the heart , weakness of the liver , distillations , the cough , a corrupt breath , tumours , gouts . these and many more are the bitter fruits that grow upon that unhappy tree . and as this vice produceth almost innumerable diseases and distempers ; so consequently it shorteneth life . the cup kills as many as the canon ; and therefore those srothie companions , that pretend such kindness in a too free and frequent drinking their friends health do prove miserably unkind to their own bodies ( as well as souls ) while they drink themselves out of health , and life in the conclusion . for this cause drunkenness is said to oppress nature , and hasten death , by consuming the natural moysture , and also by its superfluous moysture drowning the natural heat : and thence it is that willows and such like , whose natural place is the rivers side , and whose natural property is ( as it were ) to be alwayes drinking , are of short continuance . hence it is that this vice by matrobius is called , cita senectus , a sudden old age ; because they that are often drunk soon grow old : or if some will say it is a preventer of old age , it must be in its cutting men off , before they can attain to it . instances , for the illustration of this truth , are not few in history . alexander the great , in the flower of his age , drunk himself to death , and killed forty-one more by excessive drinking , to get that crown of one hundred , and eighty pounds weight , which he had provided for him that drank most , plutarch . erasinus for the same cause hath called eccius , jeccius : for as he lived a shameful drunkard ; so being non-plu'st at ratisbon by melancthon , he drank more than was fit that night , at the bishop of mundina's lodgings ( who had store of the best italian wines ) and so fell into a feaver , whereof he died , jo. man. l. com. pag. 89. the same author , jo. manlius , tells us of three abominable drunkards , who drank so long till one of them fell down stark dead , and the other two escaped not altogether free from distempers . a modern author , in his book entitl'd the mirrour of examples , setteth down two or three remarkable stories , to our present purpose . at a tavern in bread-street , certain gentlemen drinking healths to the lords on whom they had dependance , one of them with an oath drinks off a pottle of sack to his lord : after which he could neither rise up , nor speak , but falling into a sleep , dyed within two hours after . at a place near mauldon , five or six appointed a drinking match , laying in beer for the purpose , drank healths in a strange manner ; whereof all of them died within a few weeks after . also at the plough in barnwel , near cambridge , a lusty young man with two of his neighbours , and one woman in their company , agreed to drink up a barrel of strong beer , which accordingly they did : but within twenty-four hours , three of them died , and the fourth hardly escaped after great danger and sickness . now the events of these men's lives , and their untimely ends , are not to be accounted so much accidental , as natural effects , occasioned by their foul enormities , and frequently attested by the experience of every age : though not prevalent enough with the sensual , and stupified drunkard , whom austin brings in , saying , malle se vitam quam vinum eripi , he had rather lose his life than his liquor : but did men seriously ( while they are sober ) consider , how injurious this sin is to the health of body and soul , how it shormeth men's lives , lengthneth their punishment here , and aggravates it hereafter , how it fills men brimful with diseases spiritual , and corporal ; they should ( methinks ) respect their welfare better than to buy so small a pleasure at so dear a rate . but in respect of bodily well-fare some may object , that avicenna , rhasis , and averrhoes , advise the use of wine , usque ad ebrietatem , even to drunkenness , pretending it to be physical , as it is a vomitory to evacuate these ill humours in the head and stomack , which are the causes of most diseases ; and that seneca indulgeth thus far , ( sen. de tranquill. 15. ) nonnunquan ad ebrietatem veniendum , non ut mergat nos , sed ut deprimat . eluit enim curas , & ab imo animum movet : & ut morbis quibusdam , ita tristititiae medetur , now & then we may drink more liberally , even unto drunkenness its self , not to overwhelm our parts but only to depress them a while . for it washeth away cares , exhilarates the mind , and as it cureth certain diseases , so likewise sadness . to which this answer may be returned , that herein many men foolishly erre , esteeming the cause of a hundred sicknesses to be the medicine of one , and the poison of the soul to be good physick for the body : no good bodily phisician will prescribe it , no spiritual physician will allow it . cum turpis est medicina sanari pudeat , when the medicine is so filthy and odious , let us be ashamed to make use of it . when it is so sinful , let us be afraid to make trial , whether the destruction of the soul be the preservation of the body . let us not do evil that good may come , rom. 3. 8. much less when nothing but evil comes from thence ; as may be still made to appear in this vice ; in respect of bodily distempers . for drunkenness is so far from conferring any thing towards bodily health , that it rather produceth sickness , even by that which amongst some sottish physicians is pretended as a cause of health , ( namely ) vomiting , which is a symptome of sickness , and also sometimes a cause of dangerous distempers , when it succeedeth a nauseous over-charging the stomack with drink : so that whatever be the effects of an evacuation by other kind of vomits , this by drunkenness is often a cause of many distempers , seldom or never a cure of any ; unless it be of the present sickness of stomack which this vice first caused : but how many other distempers and diseases doth it cause , which it never cures ? so that you see drunkenness is a certain cause of many diseases , and of shortness of life ; but seldom a cure ( unless it be by accident ) of any . sect . iii. of adultery , fornication , uncleanness , &c. the works of the flesh ( saith the apostle ) are manifest , which are these ; adultery , fornication , uncleanness , lasciviousness , gal. 5. 19. and they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of god , verse 21. now as these sins are very injurious to the soul , so also to the body : ( ezeck . 16. 28. ) for lust not satisfying such persons as are tainted with it , they soon fall into immoderation and excess , which hath these damages attending it : a dissolution of strength , and spirits , decay of sight , tainture of the breath , diseases of the nerves & joynts , as palsies , & all kinds of gouts , weakness of the back , involuntary flux of seed , bloody urine : but then ( as a modern physician saith ) if to immoderation be added the base and sordid accompanying of harlots and impure women : what follows ? but a consumption of lungs , liver , and brain , a putrifaction and discolouration of the blood : loss of colour and complexion : a purulent and violent gonorrhea , an ulceration and rottenness of the genitals : noysom and malignant knobs , swellings , ulcers , and fistulaes in the head , face , feet , groin , and other glandulous and extream parts of the body . these and many more being the effects of that detestable sin , when it meets with that detestable disease , the venereal pox , which by god's just judgment hath assailed mankind , not only in france , but in most parts of the world , as a scourge or punishment , to restrain the too wanton and lascivious lusts of impure persons , causing them to receive in themselves that recompence of their errour which was meet , as it is in the apostle's phrase , rom. 1. 27. though in a different sense . to this purpose mr. john abrenethy , in his pious and ingenious treatise of physick for the soul thus writeth , p. 369. this burning lust spendeth the spirits and balsom of life , as the flame doth wast the candle , whereupon followeth corruption of humours , rotting of the marrow , the joints ache , the nerves are resolved , the head is pained , the gout increaseth , and oft-times ( as a most just punishment ) there insueth that miserable scourge of harlots , lues-venerea , the french pox. also carnal love , or fleshly lust in young inamoratoes ( whose affections are stronger than their reason ) is a branch of wantonness , that is fruitful in the production of such diseases and distempers , as do extreamly afflict , and weaken the persons captivated ; as may appear in that example of amnon , who was sick with love , ( 2 sam. 13. 1. 2. ) as the cause , with a consumption , as the effect , being lean from day to day , by reason of his fair sister whom he loved . and hence it is that in such persons the heat abandons the parts , and retiring into the brain , leaves the whole body in great distemperature , which corrupting , & consuming the blood , makes the face grow pale and wan , causeth the trembling of the heart , breeds strange convulsions , and retires the spirits in such sort that they seem rather images of death , than living creatures , who are possessed with it . now for further illustration of this matter , and to revive the mind of the reader , i shall briefly and compendiously recite these two instances . the first is of king perdiccas , whom hippocrates observing , and finding him to be in a chronical sickness , which made his body to languish exceedingly ; after long inquiry , perceived his pining away to flow from a spiritual disease , for the love he had to phila his fathers concubine , saran in vita perdic. the other is of antiochus , son of king seleucus , who burning with an unspeakeable desire and lust for stratonice his stepmother , and being mindful what dishonest fires he carried in his breast , concealed his inward wound , and smothered the flame so long , till it reduced his body to the uttermost degree of a consumption : and thus lying in his bed like a dying man , his father was presently cast down with grief , as thinking onely of the death of his only son , and his own miserable condition in being made childless , plutarch . now how these two , perdiccas and antiochus were cured of their languishing distempers , is inconsistent with my present purpose , to declare . also sodomy , polygamy , and self-pollution are sins of uncleanness , that by transgressing the rules of temperance do prove frequently occasions of many distempers . yea likewise the immoderate , and unseasonable use of the marriage bed ( which is a breach of some divine precepts , 1 thes. 4. 4. lev. 18. 19. ) is too fruitful in diseases ; not only in respect of those derived to posterity , but also of those propagated on the parents themselves . for , according to the judgment of laevinus lemnius , and other learned physicians , it can hardly be expressed , what contagîon and mischief comes thereupon , when such immodest , and impure conjunctions are indulged : for where the right ends of marriage are not observed , there persons of both sex , at last , pay dearly for their unruly lust , when their bodies are tormented with the leprosie , or pox , gouts , aches , or other distemperatures : and therefore one adviseth , that in the private acquaintance , and use of marriage there be a seasonable restraint , with a moderation ; that so the pleasure therein be inter-mingled with some regard to the rules of health , and long life : to both which those fore-named sins of wantonness , and uncleanness are foul enemies . moreover these sins do shorten and contract life : for those that are defiled and corrupted by them , do very much sin against their own bodies , wasting their strength in pleasure , as the flame consumeth the candle , and therefore are like sparrows ; which aristotle saith , do therefore live but a short time , because of their insatiable copulation . and i read that the romans were wont to have their funerals at the gates of venus temple , ( plut. ) to signifie , that lust was the harbinger and hastener of death . yea the wisest of meer men , doth in his proverbs teach us the praedatory and destructive power of all uncleanness , in these words : and thou mourn at the last , when thy flesh and thy body are consumed , prov. 5. 11. it is a fire ( saith job ) that consumeth to destruction , job 31. 12. the lord verulam , in his history of life and death , p. 57. makes this observation , that the goat lives to the same age with the sheep ; ( which is seldom to ten years ) and though he be a creature more nimble , and of somewhat a firmer flesh ; and so should be longer liv'd ; yet because he is much more lascivious , that shortens his life . how many examples of goatish short-liv'd men could i extract out of history ? but being confined to brevity , i must hasten to answer an objection : and it is this ; some diseases are cured by incontinency and venereal evacuations , as anorexia , viz. queasiness of stomack , hysterical fits or suffocation of the womb , spermatick feavers , most vehement pains of the head , priapismus , satyriasis furor uterinus , &c. diseases felt and understood by such unmarried persons , whose blood is in its meridian ; and as by this means such diseases are sometimes cured ; so consequently life is prolonged . to which i may return a threefold answer , like a threefold cord which is not quickly broken , eccles. 4. 12. first , let all be supposed which is here objected ; yet surely it is but an ill method to cure the body , by destroying the soul , or to endeavour the prolonging the natural life , by shortning of the spiritual , the life of grace . we must not ( as i said before in respect of drunkenness ) do evil that good may come : no necessity of health , or life ought to persuade hereunto . ludovicus , a king of france , undertaking a long pilgrimage , and his queen not being with him , his health began to impair ; which his physicians observing , and knowing the reason of it , perswaded him in the absence of the queen , to take unto him another woman , because his health & safety required it , which he did utterly refuse , protesting he had rather die , then have his liie preserved by such an ungodly means . secondly , let the objection still be enforced ; yet there is no necessity to make use of an unlawful cure , when there is a lawful one provided , ( for every one that will ) in that excellent and divine institution of marriage ; which , as it is intended a good prevention of all lustful , and unlawful burnings , ( 1 cor. 7. 2. ) so by a more warrantable course it hath probably effected some natural cures upon the bodies of some , and also by confining the senses to one particular object , far less exhausted the spirits , and so consequently seldomer occasioned diseases , than a licentious indulgence and extravagant and insatiable luxury hath done . but because all this doth not directly meet the objection , or fully correspond to the design of my present undertaking ; therefore in the last place , i would answer more pertinently ; that if any of the asore-mentioned diseases have been cured , or prevented by such unlawful evacuations ; i verily believe as ill , or worse have been introduced and nestled into their room or in stead of them : so that still the stream runneth clear from the fountain , viz. that sin , more particularly the sin of incontinency and uncleanness is a cause of diseases , and consequently of shortness of life ; as i have sufficiently demonstrated unto any , whose reason doth not too much truckle under sense . sect . iv. of idleness , sloth , and sluggishness . idleness was the sin of sodom , ezeck . 16. 49. a sin reproved by the similitude of the labourers in the vineyard , especially in those words : — why stand ye here all the day idle ? mat. 20. 6. the slothful , and wicked man join hands , and go together , as one in the parable of the talents : — thou wicked and slothful servant , &c. mat. 25. 26. god puts no difference betwixt nequaquam & nequam , an idle and an evil servant . the sluggard , or he that is slothful in his work , were there no other respects , is in this much the worse , and that is in the condition of his estate , as well as soul , for and by reason of the non-improvement of his temporal talent : for ( as solomon saith ) he is brother to him that is a great waster , pro. 18. 9. and therefore is he reproved by the wise man , and sent to school to the ant , ( prov. 6. 6. 10. 12. ) to learn prudent industry and diligence . i could shew you how the afore-named sins do frustrate the end of our creation , become the sinks of all mischief , and evil , and so odious and detestable , that the very devils in hell are not guilty of them : but my design is onely to point out sin briefly , and then more largely to prove it to be an occasion of bodily diseases , and shortness of life . and of all sins , idleness , sloth , and sluggishness are not the least occasion , being the sediment and collection of excremental superfluities : for as standing waters soonest putrifie ; so do the humours of the body in stagno , the pool of idleness . the lacedemonians would suffer none of their subjects to spend their time in sports or idleness ; and when their magistrates were told of some that used to walk abroad in the afternoons , they sent to them , requiring that leaving their idleness , they should betake themselves to honest labours and imployments : for ( say they ) it becomes the lacedemonians to procure health to their bodies by labour , and exercise , not to corrupt them by sloth and idleness . idleness ( saith a modern author ) not only stupifieth the mind , but also groweth upon the body and blood , and betrayeth them to discomplexion , sickness , and to many infirmities . yea search the physicians library , and observe their conclusions upon the six non-naturals , more particularly upon motion and rest , and you may find the discommodities of this sin , ( namely ) crudities , obstructions , and a multiplication of excrementitious humours , and so consequently a languishing , loose , slabby , infirm body . hence it is that such persons , corrupted with this vice , are unavoidably in continual physick , have need of issues , and other artificial helps , for the evacuation , and exiccation of those superfluous moistures , contracted upon them by a sedentary and slothful life : but especially those women who have passed their youth undisciplin'd , and have been bred up in such a delicacy , that they know no other business but their pleasures , i say those find sensibly the pernicious effects of an idle life in those diseases it particularly disposeth them too , as obstructions of the liver , spleen , womb , and breast ; and in that grievous inconvenience it produteth , viz. long travail , difficulty , and danger in childing ; as might easily be confirmed by reason ; but that probably a great part of this sex is sooner convinced by an argument drawn from sence and their own dear experience , which is most commonly the mistress of fools . i might add hereunto , that they which ●ead sedentary lives , bear weak and sickly children ; and also demonstrate such vvomen to be injurious not only to themselves , but also their posterity . but i must hasten to shew you another natural effect of idleness , even in both sexes ; and that is a disease which is the leaven of diseases , viz. melancholly , which proceedeth oft-times from this vice , and excremental superfluities gathered together in the body : for no greater cause of melancholly than idleness ; as democritus jun. in his treatise of that subject doth largely shew in place thereof , and most compendiously conclude in another , ( viz. the epilogue ) this prescription , as an antidote against that disease : be not idle , be not solitary , burton's melancholy . moreover , there are many other disease that are the excrescences of this sin : but let it suffice in general terms to denote it as a main occasion of bodily distempers brooding , and hatching them by a sedentary life : so true is that of the poet ovid — ignavum corrumpunt otia corpus . idelness corrupts , wastes and destroys the body . and the learned galen saith as much otium reddit imbecillas vires membrorum com. 3. in lib. de off. c. 32. also in another place , otium liquefacit , com. 3. i● lib. 6. eped . c. 2. and also nature's great explorator , lord verulam , in his history of life and death , doth denote unto us that an idle life doth manifestly make the flesh soft , and dissipable ; and so consequently an enemy to long life . sluggishness is likewise much of the same nature , and property , bringing many from the couch to the bed of sickness , and from the bed to the coffin . for if the old rule be true , diluculo surgere saluberrimum est , to arise betimes in the morning be the most wholesom thing in the world ; then surely , regulâ contrariorum , by the rule of contraries , to play the sluggard , and to exceed that convenient measure of rest which nature alloweth , must be , if not the most unwholesom thing in the world ; yet one of the most . and this will appear , if we consider the inconveniences of immoderate sleep , as they are described by physicians . first , in that the heat being thereby called into the body , it consumes the superfluous moistures , and then the necessary ; and lastly , the solid parts themselves , and so extenuates , dries , and emaciates the body . and secondly , it fixes the spirits and makes them stupid ; it hardens the excrements , and makes the body costive , from whence follow many inconveniences . lastly , the brain being therby filled with vapours , the head-ach is caused , the natural motions of the humours are hindred and stopped , crude phlegmatick juices , and all manner of superfluous humours are heaped up and increased ; whence flows a notable spring of distillations , and such like cold , and long continuing diseases . i could add hereunto , what the patrons and supporters of ballance physick write , viz. by too much sleep the strength is suffocated , concoction diminished , perspiration hindred , the head , and bowels hurt , &c. d. sanctor's , and d. cole's new art of physick . but i must not forget my intended brevity . sect . v. of immoderate anger . anger , when it is immoderate , becomes sinful , when the sun goeth down upon it , soon becomes a work of darkness : and therefore the apostle after a concession , be angry , addeth a restriction , and sin not , let not the sun go down upon your wrath , eph. 4. 26. in which restriction , sinful and remaining anger are connexed , and prohibited . now as this remaining or immoderate anger is sinful , so it is unhealthful : for the incommodities thereof are many , and evil : as feavers , phrensies , and madness , trembling , palsies , apoplexies , decay of appetite , and want of rest , paleness , collicks , plurisies , inflammations , cholerick , caeliack , and iliack passions , &c. so that not without cause was the saying of eliphaz , wrath killeth the foolish man , job 5. 2. and to this purpose i shall infer what i find recorded in humane story . the emperour nerva ended his life in a feaver , contracted by anger . the emperour valentinian died by an irruption of blood , through anger , cuspianus chromerus l. 18. vinceslaus , king of bohemia , raging against his cup-bearer , fell presently into a palsie , whereof he died . also l. sylla , who in his anger had spilt the blood of many , at last in his fury , raging , and crying out against one that had broken promise with him , thereby brake a veine within him , vomiting out his blood , soul , and anger together , valer. maxim. l. 9. and ajax through anger fell into a deadly fury . now from these instances , we may conclude the truth of that sentence in eccl. 30. 24. — wrath shortens the life : and also of that old medicinal rule in schold salerni : si vis incolumem , si te vis reddere sanum , — irasci crede profanum . if thou wilt live in health , and free from sickness bane , then think thou choler in excess to be prophane . we may add hereunto , that anger in excess inflameth the blood , and increaseth choler , which is for the most part the cause of that acute , and dangerous disease , cholerica passio , or choler , which ( as the physicians write ) is often so sharp and vehement , that it doth deprive a man of life within the space of a day or two , even without a feaver . moreover it is observed , that children most fretful are usually short-liv'd ; and that anger if it be inveterate , causeth the natural spirit to feed upon the juyces of the body ; which must consequently produce consumptions , and abbreviate life . sect . vi. of envie , hatred , and malice . amongst many other , these ( as the apostle saith , gal. 5. 20 , & 21. ) are works of the flesh . envie is cousen german to hatred and malice ; and so they are all three upon the account , of a base and ignoble race : for the devil is their father , and concupiscence their mother . they are in the judgment of the holy ghost , no less than mental murder ; for whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer , 1 ep. john 3. 15. v. now ( saith christ ) the devil is the father of murderers , john 8. 44. as then we may conclude envie , hatred , and malice to be mortal sins to the soul ; so i shall prove them to be mortal and destructive to the body . envie ( saith the lord verulam , in the history of life and death ) is the worst of all passions ; and feedeth upon the spirits ; and they again upon the body ; and so much the more , because it is perpetual ; and as is said , keepeth no holy dayes . it is a sin that doth fret , and consume the body ; and so is a means to hinder health , and shorten life ; and of this the wise man took notice when he termed , envie the rottenness of the bones , prov. 14. 30. and justly it is called the rotting of the bones , because like a fever hectick it doth consume a man , and bring him to his end , as the rottenness of the marrow that lieth within the bones . envious men , cordis sui peste moriuntur , they die by the plague of their own heart , gregor . an envious man is sui ipsius carnifex , his own tormentor and executioner . the grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , homicidium , slaughter ; because the envious man killeth his own heart with this passion . or it may be derived from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , corrumpo consumo , because it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a consumption . livor tabificus malis venenum . yea envie to the heart is like rust to the iron , or blasting to the corn ; like the vultures eating up continually the heart of prometheus , or the foolish bee that loseth the life with the sting : it burneth the heart , and wasteth the body , and is like the worm that breedeth in timber , and consumeth it : so true is that of the son of sirach , envie , &c. shorten the life , eccl. 30. 24. hatred also produceth the like effects : for what is said of envie , may as well relate unto hatred and malice . envie slayeth the silly one ( saith job 5 ch . 2 v. ) and so doth hatred and malice by causing ill humours in the body : for according to the modern philosopher m. des-cartes , in his treatise of the passions , the pulse in hatred is observed to be uneven and weaker , and oftentimes faster than usual , that a man feels colds inter-mingled with sharp , and pricking heat in the breast , that the stomack ceases to do its office , is enclined to vomit , and reject the meats it hath eaten , or at least to corrupt them , and convert them into ill humours . all which considered , hatred can be profitable unto none : for ill humours are the springs of most diseases . again , hatred cannot be so small , but it hurts the body , because it is never without sadness , which brings me to the next section . sect . vii . of worldly sorrow , and immoderate grief of mind . by those epithetes worldly , and immoderate , the sorrow to be now treated of , is distinguished from godly sorrow which worketh repentance to salvation ; ( which is neither wordly , nor immoderate ) and may be thus described : worldly sorrow causing death of body and soul , is that which is immoderate , and humbleth not the heart kindly , but disquiets , disturbs , and distempers it , whether it proceed from outward evils and losses , or inward evils , as most from melancholious humours , and worst from an evil conscience , and this sorrow may be termed rather attrition than contrition : the sorrow , for our misery or punishment , being called attrition , for our sault , contrition . but to the point in hand : worldly and immoderate sorrow , though it may be look'd upon as a punishment of sin , rather then a sin it self ; yet doubtless it is little less than both ; being a plain aberration from the rules of christianity , so long as 't is leavened with avarice , despondency , distrust , despair , discontent . hence it is that the apostle paul interdicts excessive sorrow for the dead , because it argues despair and want of hope , but i would not have you ignorant , brethren , concerning them which are asleep , that ye sorrow not , even as others which have no hope , 1 thess. 4 , 13. excess in sorrow makes it sinful in christians . and here also hath place the caveat of the same apostle , — lest any be swallowed up with over-much sorrow , 2 cor. 2. 7. upon which place a modern expositor ( trapp . ) of our own , ventureth to say , that sorrow for sin , if it so far exceed , as that thereby we are disabled for the discharge of our duties , it is a sinful sorrow , yea though it be for sin . with much more confidence then may we term that a sinful sorrow , which the apostle saith ( 2 cor. 7. 10. ) worketh death , ( namely ) the sorrow of the world ; which by expositors is understood to be , that sorrow which is proper to men of the world , such as are not regenerated by the spirit of god , whose grief and sorrow is nothing but the bitter smart of their misery , without any serious and sincere repentance . or by sorrow of the world is meant a sorrow only for the loss of worldly things , or which is caused from the fear of god's judgments in unbelievers , whereupon there followeth commonly hardness of heart , and a reprobate sense , and at length ( if not prevented by repentance ) despair and damnation ; which do not only bring a spiritual , and eternal death , but also by wasting the body , hasten a temporal death . and this will appear in respect of the body , first by natural reason , secondly by divine and humane testimony . first , by natural reason . and here we must understand , that in sorrow or sadness the heat and spirits retire ; and by their sudden surrounding , and possession of the heart all at once , ( as the physicians observe ) do many times cause suffocation : they being likewise by uniting encreased , do violently consume the moisture of the body , and so beget drought and leanness , and through long continuance , consumptions . or as others thus , in sorrow or sadness there is a gathering together of much melancholly blood about the heart , which collection extinguisheth the good spirits , or at least dulleth and dampeth them : besides , the heart being possessed by such an humour , cannot digest well the blood , and spirits , which ought to be dispersed thorow the whole body , but converteth them into melancholy , the which humour being cold & dry , drieth the whole body , and maketh it wither away ; for cold extinguisheth heat , and drieness moisture , which two qualities principally concern life . secondly , by divine and humane testimony it further appeareth : for first , solomon saith , a merry heart doth good like a medicine : but a broken spirit drieth the bones , prov. 17. 22. also heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop , prov. 12. 25. it maketh it stoop , because it wasteth the natural vital , and animal spirits . hence also is that prescription of the son of sirach : remove sorrow far from thee : for sorrow hath killed many , eccl. 30. 23. and that of the same author , of heaviness cometh death , and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength , eccl. 38. 18. these with the fore cited places out of st. paul's 2d . epistle to the corinthians , might be thought sufficient to confirm this truth , did not some men require a further illustration of it by humane testimony ; and this may be considered in the next place , as useful to the same end . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . it is euripides . sorrows to men diseases bring . hence also , and for this cause are those trite and vulgar sayings : sadness and melancholy the path-way to sickness . too much sorrow maketh a man to run mad . sorrow is good for nothing but sin . hence also is that conclusion of aquinas in his summs , 1. 2. q. 37. 4. o. tristitiae magis corpori nocet quam aliae passiones , cùm vitalem motum cordis impediat , i. e. sadness doth more hurt the body then other passions of the mind , because it hindereth the vital motion of the heart . it likewise takes away appetite , overheats the heart and lungs , corrupts the nutritious juyce , causeth consumptions , and other cold diseases . out of which we may gather , that this affection , especially if it be more vehement and inveterate than ordinary , doth bring very many , and those grievous damages unto the body : some part whereof may be evidenced in these ensuing instances . plantius the numidian , at the sight of his dead wife presently died , laertius . diodorus the logician died for sorrow , because he could not answer the question of stilpo . homer died with sudden sorrow , because he was not able to answer a fishermans question , plut. aristotle , the prince of ancient philosophers , when he came to chalcis , and saw the ebbing and flowing of euripus , that narrow sea near boeotia , seven times in the twenty-four houres , because he could not find the cause , he fell into an incurable disease , caelius . phinehas's wife when she heard the sorrowful tidings of the taking of the arck of god , the death of her father in law , and husband , she bowed her self ( being great with child ) was delivered , and died through sorrow of heart , 1 sam. 4. 19 , 20. queen mary died ( as some supposed by her much sighing before her death ) of thought and sorrow of heart for the departure of king philip , or the loss of calice , act. & mon. 1901. now in all this argument we may take notice , what fearful effects immoderate sorrow doth produce upon our bodies , what a malign , cold and dry passion it is , wasting the radical humour , and by degrees quenching the natural heat of the body ; yea thrusting her poyson even unto the heart , whose vigour she causeth to wither , and consumes the forces by her bad influence ; whereof we may see the signs after death , when as they come to open those that have been smothered with melancholy : for instead of a heart they find nothing but a dry skin like to the leaves in autumn : so that all things exactly considered , we may say that there is not any passion , which doth so much shorten our life , or make it so infirm and miserable , as this in its excess . hitherto might be referred despair , an evil conscience , ( such as is neither quiet , nor good ) and such like self tormenting sins , which as they are sometimes causes of immoderate and excessive sorrow ; so by the like influence upon the body , do produce such a flow of diseases as suddenly ebb in death . and here lest it should be judged , that godly sorrow , which worketh repentance , ( because it is sometimes very intense ) should produce the same natural effects in the body that immoderate and vicious doth , you must understand that in true godly sorrow ( though it be sometimes very intense , vehement and zealous ) there are such intervals of spiritual joy , by reason of the cherishing hope of pardon , that all excess , with its natural effects , is diverted , mitigated , and in due season avoided . nocte pluit tot â ; redeunt spectacula mane . which in a metaphorical sence may be render'd thus : clouds , & showers of grief may endure a night : but glympses of joy return at day-light . or , as david , thus : — heaviness may endure for a night , but joy cometh in the morning , psal. 30. 5. the acrimony then in godly sorrow is so corrected by the sweet ingredient of inward consolation , that it never proves offensive , or prejudicial to bodily health , as wordly , and immoderate sorrow hath been fully declared to do . sect . viii . of sensual joy , and laughter in excess . solomon made trial of sensual joy , mirth and pleasure , thinking therein to find true content , and soul-satisfaction ; but in the conclusion found nothing but the husks of vanity , wherewith he at first , like a prodigal son , would fain have satisfied himself , but could not , as appeareth by his own words , i said in my heart , go to now , i will prove thee with mirth , therefore enjoy pleasure ; and behold , this also is vanity , eccl , 2. 1 , & 2. i said of laughter , it is mad : and of mirth , what doth it ? there is a woe denounced by christ , ( of whom st. augustin noteth that , 't is often read that he wept ; never that he laughed , st. aug. serm. 35. de sanctis . ) against all such as rejoyce in riot , revelling , carousing , luxury , and other forbidden pleasures of this world , in that comprehensive phrase : — wo unto you that laugh now : for ye shall mourn and weep , luk , 6. 25. all inordinate rejoycing , or rejoycing in unlawful pleasures , may justly have the apostle's reprehension applied to it ; — all such rejoycing is evil , jam. 4. 16. now as it is evil in respect of the soul ; so also in repect of the body : for that very oft swounding , and sudden death hath befallen to sudden and immoderate joy ; and that because the cordial blood , and vital spirits , are thereby so suddenly diffused to the exterior parts , that life goeth out therewith , and returneth not , as fernelius noteth . or as des-cartes , of this passion in its excess thus observeth : opening extraordinarily the orisices of the heart , the blood of the veines doth so huddle in , and in so abundant a quantity , that it cannot there be rarified by the heat soon enough , to list up the little skins , that shut the entries of those veins ; by which means it smothers the fire , which it used to feed , when it came into the heart in fit proportion , des-cartes of the passions artic. 122. hence i suppose , it is that the lord verulam saith , in his history of life and death p. 221. great joyes attenuate and diffuse the spirits , and shorten life . instances hereof are many in history ; let these few suffice . diagor as rhodius had his three valiant sons victors in one olympiad : who putting all their three crowns upon their fathers head : through too much joy he presently died , gellius lib. 3. cap. 15. xeuxis the painter , beholding the vive picture of an old wife , which he so cunningly did paint , burst forth so in laughter , that he presently died . sophocles , that worthy poet , and also dionisius the tyrant , after a victory in a tragedy , at the whole people's congratulation , through exceeding joy yielded up their life , plin. lib. 7. cap. 53. chrysippus philemon , at the sight of an ass eating figs , was so overcome with immoderate laughter , that he died , valer. maxim. chilo , the famous lacedaemonian philosopher , soon expired his last breath , when as overjoyed he beheld his son conquerour in the olympick games , ravis . philippides the athenian , an aged comick , overcoming the rest in poesie , and crowned for his great pains , died for his present pleasure , cael. lib. 3. c. 15. with such like instances i might further dilate upon this point : but lest an odd humorist should laugh himself out of breath , to think of them as improbable , or the significant caveats deduced from them as unseasonable in sad times , i here desist . sect . ix . of servile , slavish , and all unlawful fear in excess . there is ( as divines distinguish ) a divine fear , a filial fear , a dutiful fear , a wise fear ; and these are all lawful : but then there is also a slavish fear , a false fear , a distrustful fear , or a natural fear joyned with diffidence ; and these are unlawful . servile or slavish fear , whereby men do abstain from sin , rather in respect of the punishments ensuing thereupon , then out of an unfained hatred thereof , or a fear which ariseth upon the apprehension of god's justice , and wrath against sin , and the punishments and plagues for sin , is to be avoided as irregular : for we ought to serve god without this sort of fear , luke 1. 74. it is carnal , and such as doth no wise proceed from the working of the spirit , but is quite contrary to the same : for god ( saith the apostle ) hath not given us the spirit of fear , but of power of love , &c. 2 tim. 1. 7. the reason hereof may be in that the perfect love of god in us excommunicates it : perfect love ( saith st. john ) caseth out fear , 1 ep. john 4. 18. and as touching false fear ; though it be rather a fruit of weakness , and a punishment of sin , ( for so 't is threatned as a punishment by the lord , lev. 26. 17 , & 36. ) then a sin in it self ; yet , as it is irregular , it is concluded within the scope of this discourse , and as it is frequent , or excessive , may justly deserve reproof . distrustful fear is straitly prohibited by those apostles , peter ( 1 pet. 3. 14. ) and john ( rev. 2. 10. ) yea all natural fear , when it is joined with distrust and diffidence , or excess , is to be avoided as unwarrantable in sacred writ , num. 14. 9. 2 kings 6. 16. and was therefore by nehemiah resisted , nehem. c. 6. v. 11. now as all unlawful and immoderate fear is to be avoided in regard of the soul ; so also in regard of the body : for it is often the cause of diseases ; as first of that called in latin tremor , in english trembling or shaking of the members . metus dejicit vires , ac proinde tremorem inducit , saith the learned galen , com. 1. in lib. 3. epid. cap. 4. fear brings down the strength , and so causeth trembling . his meaning more largely might be thus : ( viz. ) that the heat which resides in the blood and spirits , being that which supports and fortifies the members of man ; those members being destitute thereof , can hardly support themselves , but tremble and shake in that manner ; and whereas the hands and lips shew greater signs of alteration then the rest , the reason is , for that those parts have a more strict bond with the heart , and have less blood then the rest ; and therefore cold doth more easily make an impression upon them . also it is sometimes the cause of that disease called cordis palpitatio , panting of the heart , deut. 28. 65. or at least of the like symptoms , and those as dangerous , especially when they precede a syncope or swounding , which is as proper an effect and catastrophe of this passion , as of that disease . moreover it is sometimes the extimulating & promoting cause of the lask or diarrhaea : for as the author of a certain natural history saith , if the natural heat leave the heart and go downward , the fear is not only encreased , but it bringeth withal a loosness of the belly . therefore it is written ( saith he ) in the book of job , where it is spoken of the fear that leviathan bringeth upon men , that the mighty are afraid : by reason of breakings they purifie ( or purge ) themselves , ( job 41. 25. ) i. e. for fear of him . neither is this all ; but experience teacheth us at a dear rate , that in immoderate fear , through the strength of fantasie , and imagination , sundry contagious diseases , as the small pox , measles , &c. are frequently imprinted in the blood , when guilt makes men fearful of deserved punishment ; according to that of the wise man , the fear of the wicked , it shall come upon him , prov. 10. 24. and as it causeth diseases , so consequently shortness of life . oft-times present death hath followed upon it , through suffocation of the vital spirits : it was almost present death unto the churle nabal ; he lived not many dayes after that he had been striken with it : it came to pass in the morning , when the wine was gone out of nabal , and his wife had told him these things , that his heart died within him , and he became as a stone , 1 sam. 25. 37 , & 38. and in the next verse we find , that he died about ten dayes after . it put the watch at christ's sepulcher into such a shaking fit , by an earth-quake under them , ( mat. 28. 4. ) and another within their hearts , that , but for god's mercy , it had shaked them into their graves , when they became as dead men. it seemeth to be a notable contraction of life , by its sudden introduction of the blossoms of old age , viz. gray hairs , which by the extremity of this passion , have been strangely effected in the space of a week or two , ( as 't is storied of one mr. baynings of london . ) yea , even in one night , as appeareth by record of a memorable example , during the reign of the emperour charles the fifth . for one francis gonzague having caused a young man of his house to be comitted to prison , for that he suspected he had conspired against him ; this miserable young man was so terrified with his affliction , as the same night he was cast into prison , his hair grew all white . but more fully to the matter ; we find the sad and pernicious effect of immoderate fear in this following narration . anno 1568. there was in breda , one peter coulogue , a godly man , who by his popish adversaries was cast into prison , and his maid-servant daily brought him his food , confirming and comforting him out of the word of god , as well as she was able : for which they imprisoned her also . not long after , peter was put to the torment , which he endured patiently . after him the maid was fetched to be tormented ; whereupon she said , my masters , wherefore will ye put me to this torture , seeing i have no way offended you ? if it be for my faith-sake , ye need not torment me : for , as i was never ashamed to make a confession thereof , no more will i now be at this present before you : but will , if you please , freely shew you my mind therein , ( vide clark's martyrol . p. 305. ) yet for all this they would have her to the rack . whereupon she again said , if i must needs suffer this pain , pray give me leave to call upon my god first . this they assented to : and whilst she was fervently pouring out her prayers to god , one of the commissioners was surprised with such fear and terrour , that he fell into a swound , out of which he could never be recovered . many such like instances might be heap'd up , were it not in vain to evince this point , per plura quod potest fieri per pauciora , by many words which may be done by few : and therefore i shall conclude it with the sentence of that atlas of experimental knowledge , lord bacon , in his translated history of life and death , pag. 222. great fears shorten the life ; for ( saith he ) in fear , by reason of the cares taken for the remedy , and hopes inter-mixed , there is a turmoil and vexing of the spirits . and so much shall serve for this section . sect . x. of immoderate desires , ambition , excessive cares , sollicitude , covetousness , &c. omne nimium vertitur in vitium , all extremes become vicious ; and those epithites , immoderate and excessive , signifie as much in relation to desires , ambition , cares , sollicitude , &c. and therefore the less shall need to be inferred for the arraignement of them . know then , briefly , that the above-named are all diseases of the soul. ambition , which is an immoderate desire or thirst after honour and worldly glory , is a spiritual dropsie that is not easily cured ; not only a great sin in it self , but puts men upon many others . there is nothing ( saith one , the author of the whole duty of man , p. 151. ) so horrid , which a man that eagerly seeks greatness will stick at ; lying , perjury , murder , or any thing will down with him , if they seem to tend to his advancement . and it is the more difficultly cured , in regard it is ( as one calls it ) the shirt of the soul , viz. the last vice we put off . in a word , it is condemned by many texts of sacred writ : but i shall instance only upon the 9 th . of st. luke v. 46 , 47 , & 48. where we find it lively reprehended , both by the real type , or example of humility in a young child set in the midst of the disciples , and by the doctrine which christ urged to them upon that occasion . sollicitude and excessive care is also frequently interdicted : for though a provident care for the things of this life , when it is moderate , seasonable , & without distrust of god , be warrantable , and commendable ; yet if it be otherwise , it is evil and forbidden . take ( saith our saviour ) no thought for to morrow , mat. 6. 34. and in st. luke 10. 41. we find martha for her immoderate , or at least unseasonable care , reproved by christ when even a well-meant courtesie to her saviour , rather then a love to her self , was the ground and occasion of that care . so covetousness taken in the largest sense , as it consisteth in an immoderate desire of filthy lucre , or any thing above ones allotted portion , is not undeservedly reproved , when by the apostle it is called idolatry col. 3. 5. for it is ( as he saith in another place ) the root of all evil , 1 tim. 6. 10. not only of the evil of sin , but also of the evil of punishment , and that punishment not only eternal , depriving a man of an heavenly inheritance , 1 cor. 6. 10. but also temporal , piercing him thorow with many sorrows , as the same apostle saith in the forecited , 1 tim. 6. the covetous man ( saith one ) hath three vultures alwayes feeding upon his heart , care in getting , fear in keeping , grief in spending , and parting with that he hath : so that he is , as it were in the suburbs of hell aforehand . but this is not all the evil that springs from the root of covetousness ; for it pierceth not only the heart with sorrows , but also the whole body with diseases ; which effect may as well be applicable to sollicitude , excessive cares , ambition , and immoderate desires . so true is that in schola salerni . — si te vis reddere sanum , curas tolle graves , — if thou wilt keep thy self in health , then banish carking cares for wealth . and no less true are the words of a modern physician , who largely , and learnedly reasoneth upon this point in linguâ latinâ : but to avoid prolixity , i shall as a translator give you his sense only in linguâ vulgari , in desire ( by which the soul is so out of measure run out and dilated upon a good , sometime represented as it were to come , as by reason of the delay of it , 't is presently as 't were contracted ) this singular occurreth ; that it agitates the heart more violently , and furnisheth the brain with more spirits , then any other of the passions . for ( as he noteth further ) out of a longing for the obtaining that which we ardently desire , the spirits from the brain are most speedily sent into all parts of the body , that may serve any wayes to actions requisite to that purpose ; but especially into the heart and blood contained in it , that being dilated more than ordinarily , and moved more swiftly , it may send back again a greater plenty of spirits to the brain , as well to maintain and fortifie the idaea of this desire , as to pass from thence into all the organs of the senses , and all the muscles which may be set on work , to attain what one desires . and from sollicitude , which is excited from the delay of enjoying the thing desired , the same spirits are drawn back again to the brain : whence it comes to pass that the more subtile blood being withdrawn together from the outward parts , the heart is as 't were straightn'd up , the circulation of the blood hindred , and by consequence the whole body rendred weak , faint , and sickly . so that it ought not to seem a wonder to any , that most of those persons , whom an amorous affection , or desire , ambition , avarice , or any other more fervent longing hath a long time exercised ; should be brought through a long continuing sollicitude , into the deepest languishment of body , into a contumatious disposition of ill humours , yea further into a consumption , and pining and withering away of the body , & also into other cold diseases . thus he. immoderate desire hath no rest , 't is endless , and a perpetual rack . the ambitious , si appetitum explere non potest , furore corripitur , if he cannot satisfie his desire , he runs mad with a phrensie . hereunto may be referred over-much study , or an immoderate desire of humane knowledge , which , as it was one sin which that heluo librorum , unsatiable reader , & miracle of learning dr. james usher , arch-bishop of armagh , lamented in himself ; that he should be as glad of munday to go to his book , as of the lord's day for his service ; so it is no less unhealthful than sinful : for we find in the history of his life ( i mean the arch-bishop's ) that he contracted to himself the sciatica by sitting up late in the colledge library of dublin , ibidem p. 108. overmuch study ( as machiavel holds ) weakens the body ; and ( as lemnius saith ) causeth melancholy ; in that by reason of the immoderate agitation of the mind , the native heat is extinguished , and the spirits , both animal and vital , being attenuated and weakned , soon decay and perish ; by which it cometh to pass , that the natural moisture being exhausted , the body doth decline to a cold and dry habit . yea , when study is extended unto unseasonable hours ( as is usual with some students ) it becomes very injurious to the body ; according to that old sentence in grammar : nocturnae lucubrationes longe periculosissimae habentur , night studies are accounted exceeding dangerous . they cause dryness of the brain , phrensie , dotage , emaciate the body ' , make the humours adust , increase choler , inflame the blood , and ( as may be added out of galen and avicenna , concerning immoderate watching , naturalem calorem dissipat , laesà concoctione cruditates facit , overthrow the natural heat , and hurting concoction cause crudities , galen . 3. de sanitate tuenda avicenna 3. 1. what shall i say more ? amongst many other diseases , it sometimes produceth consumptions , and sometimes madness : and in respect of this last , festus his proposition , which was indiscreetly applied to paul , may truly enough be referred to many a hard student , qui insanit cum ratione . — thou art beside thy self , much learning doth make thee mad , acts 26. 24. immoderate bookishness , seeking to fill the curious brain , fills it , and the whole body with crudities , rheums , and other maladies , that at last the scholler had need be bookish again , and study how to rid himself of diseases . these are the fruits that some men reap by their immoderate desire after the tree of knowledge : these are the consequences of that wisedom which is foolishness with god , as the spirit of god terms it , 1 cor. 3. 19. but again we will consider all the above-mentioned enormities and irregularities in this section , as they cause shortness of life . the condensation of the spirits ( as the lord verulam , in his history of life and death , p. 227. writeth ) is effectual to long life , and therefore especial care must be taken , that the spirits be not too often resolved ; for attenuation goeth before resolution ; and the spirit once attenuated , doth not very easily retire , or is condensed : now resolution is caused by over-vehement affections of the mind ; over-great cares , and carpings , and anxious expectations . not without reason then is that proverbial sentence ; care will kill a cat , ( though it be said to have nine lives ) or that observation of the son of sirach , carefulness bringeth age before the time , eccl. 30. 24. cura facit canos , care brings gray hairs . i. e. it antidates old age , and so consequently shorteneth life . hence it is , that almost in every village we shall find a covetous muck-worm drooping , and at length dropping into his grave ; not with pure old age , but beaten down , and overwhelmed with too much sollicitude and carking care , before that he can arrive to that maturity . also immoderate study , by its subtil , acute and eager inquisition after humane learning shortens life ; for it tireth the spirit , and wasteth it . solomon hinteth as much to us in these words : and further , by these , my son , be admonished ; of making many books there is no end , and much study is a weariness of the flesh , eccles. 12. 12. that is ( as bishop hall paraphraseth upon the place ) by these divine words , o my son , do thou content thy self to be admonished ; not roving in thy desires after multitude of other volumes , whereof there is no end ; in the compiling and reading of which there is much toil and weariness of the flesh , and much expence of the spirits . finally , many other irregularities and enormities there are ; but as most of them may be reduced to one , or other of the above-mentioned sections ; so the like consequential effects may be deduced from them . and so i conclude the whole chapter , having largely shewed and demonstrated , that many sins are natural causes of bodily diseases and shortness of life . chap. iii. containing an enumeration of sundry sins , as they are accidental causes of bodily diseases , and especially of shortness of life . that we may term an accidental cause , which produceth its effect , not naturally and immediately by it self , but by accident or chance or fortune , as the logicians define it . now how many sad accidents do sometimes result from sundry sins ; which expose men to divers diseases , and also to shortness of life , may appear by this following accompt , which ( the greater part thereof ) i must crave leave to draw from , and illustrate by a collection of several instances in history . first , in relation to gluttony and drunkenness , we find these following recorded , and adapted to our present purpose . gregory of tours reporteth of childerick a saxon , that glutted himself so full of meat and drink over night , that in the morning he was found choked in his bed . anacreon the poet , a grand consumer of wine , and a notable drunkard , was choked with the husk of a grape . philostrates , being in the bathes of sinvessa , devoured so much wine , that he fell down the stairs , and almost broke his neck with the fall , martid . lib. 11. alexander the son of basilius , and brother of leo the emperour , did so wallow and drown himself in the gulf of pleasure , and intemperance , that one day ( after he had stuffed himself too full of meat ) as he got upon his horse , he burst a vein within his body , whereat upwards , and downwards issued such abundance of blood , that his life and soul issued forth withal , melanct. lib. 4. within few years of my own knowledge ( saith mine author ) three , not far from huntington , being overcome with drink , perished by drowning ; when being not able to rule their horses , they were carried by them into the main stream , from whence they never came out alive again ; but left behind them visible marks of god's justice , for the terrour and example of others , beard 's theater of god's judgments . holofernes , while he besotted his senses with excess of wine , and good chear , judeth found means to cut of his head , judeth 13. yea , woful experience doth make manifest almost every day , in one corner or other of this land , that the lord punisheth many with sudden death and destruction , even in the midst of their drunken fits : although some again ( to shew his delight is in mercy , and not in the sudden destruction of his creatures ) he punisheth with some lingring distempers , whereof this vice of drunkenness is often an accidental cause , by exposing such persons to heats and colds , ( the adventitious causes of most diseases ) to falls , bruises , fractures , dislocations , wounds , contusions , combustions , &c. which are the occasions or accidental causes , not only of many organical diseases , but also similar ; as might be made apparent , if right reason , or mature experience were consulted . and therefore let that proverbial sentence , drunken folks seldom take harm , be hereafter exploded by all sober persons ; considering how harmful and prejudicial this enormity hath been declared to be , both to soul and body . and now , because vina parant animos veneri , whoredom is usually ushered in by drunkeness , we will in the next place consider lust , adultery , fornication , uncleanness , &c. as accidental causes of diseases ; but especially , of shortness of life . and here i might shew how all immoderate , and unseasonable use of venus doth impede concoction , and so consequently produce diseases : but i shall rather touch upon it , as a contingent cause of venereal pox , which , as in the former chapter , we considered as a natural effect , in respect of the virulent contagion communicated ; so in this , we look upon it as contingent and accidental , in respect of the persons communicating in the above-mention'd sins . but i shall choose rather to insist upon those sins , as accidental causes or occasions of shortness of life ; and to that end shall illustrate the point by these ensuing instances . shechem , the son of hamor the hivite , ravished dinah , jacob's daughter , for which cause simeon and levi , her brethren revenged the injury done unto their sister , by slaying shechem , and with him all the males that were in the city , gen. 34. in the 19th . and 20th . chapter of judges , we read that the levite's wife having forsaken her husband to play the whore , certain moneths after he had again received her to be his wife , she was given over against her will to the villanous and monstrous lusts of the men of gibeah , who so abused her for the space of a whole night together , that in the morning she was found dead upon the threshold : which thing turn'd to a great destruction and overthrow , not only of those children of belial in gibeah , which committed such lewdness and folly in israel , but also of their abettors ( the benjamites ) who lost above twenty-five thousand men in the slaughter , through that occasion . thus the first voluntary lust of the levite's wife was most justly punished by a second rape amongst the lustful gibeonites , whose lust when it had conceived , brought forth sin : and sin , when it was finished , brought forth death . amnon , one of the sons of king david , was so strongly enchanted with the love of his sister thamar , that to the end to fulfil his lust , he traiterously forced her to his will : but absalom , her natural brother ( hunting for opportunity of revenge for this indignity towards his sister ) invited him two years after to a banquet with his other brethren , and after the same , caused his men to murder him for a fare-well , 2 sam. 13. the same absalom that slew amnon , for incest with his sister , committed himself incest with his fathers concubines , moved thereto by the wicked counsel of achitophel : but it was the fore-runner , and occasion of his overthrow and untimely death 2 sam. 16 , & 18 chap. rodoaldw . the eight king of lumbardy , being taken in adultery , even in the fact , was slain without delay by the husband of the adulteresse . anno 659. in like sort john maletesta slew his wife , and the adulterer together , when he took them amidst their embracements , chron. phil. melancton . so did one lodewick steward of normandy , kill his wife carlotta , and her lover john lavernus , as they were in bed together . at naples it chanced in the king's palace , as young king frederick , ferdinand's son , entered the privy chamber of the queen his mother , to salute her , and the other ladies of the court , that the prince of bissenio waiting in the outward chamber for his return , was slain by one of his own servants , that suddenly gave him with his sword three deadly strokes , in the presence of many spectators : which deed he confessed that he had watched three years to perform , in regard of an injury done unto his sister ( and in her to him ) whom he ravished against her will , bemb . lib. 3. hist. venet. the spaniards that first took the isle hispaniola , were for their whoredoms and rapes , which they committed upon the wives and virgins , all murdered by the inhabitants , benzoni milan . infinite are the examples that might out of history be collected to this purpose : but to avoid prolixity , let it suffice only to add hereunto , that for these and the like sins , many thousands in the world , in every age , have either by the rage of jealousie in the persons wronged , or by the revenging sword of the higher powers punishing wrong , suffered the condigne punishment of death . thirdly and lastly , to summ up all further addition , that might be look'd upon as necessarily relating to this chapter , consider in few words , that immoderate anger , envie , hatred , malice , self-murder , unlawful duels , treason , murder of others , despair , rebellion , theft , ambition , covetousness , immoderate grief , atheisme , blasphemy , witchcraft , and such like , do either immediately by themselves , or mediately by other sins accumulated , and a succession of unprosperous events attending them , prove accidental causes sometimes of diseases , but most commonly of an untimely death . and so i proceed to the fourth chapter as followeth . chap. iv. containing an enumeration of sundry sins as they are , supernaturally , occasions of bodily diseases , and shortness of life . this chapter may seem to have some relation to the first ; and so it hath in genere : but in regard it differs from it in specie ; i have here placed it , as one of the chief corner-stones to adorn & strengthen , yea as a top-stone to finish and complete the four-square building of this first part of my discourse . but before i descend to particulars , give me leave here to lay down somewhat in general terms , as praeliminary to the present design . though god be the proper , efficient and super-natural cause of diseases ; yet as sin is the immediate cause of god's wrath and anger , and a provocation of his vindictive justice , in this respect it may be termed a principal ( though not immediate ) cause or occasion of diseases , more especially , of such as depend not upon the ordinary chain of second causes , but being above the sphaere of nature , are inflicted by the almighty , and unlimited power of god. and this the great secretaries of nature , as philosophers and physicians should do well to observe , according to the advice of hippocrates , who would have a physician to take special notice , whether the disease came from a divine super-natural cause , or whether it follow the course of nature . how this place of hippocrates is to be understood , paracelsus is of opinion , that such spiritual diseases ( for so he calls them ) are spiritually to be cured and not otherwise : but of this by the way in general . i shall now descend to particulars ; whereof i shall make demonstration de facto . and first , of the abuse of the ordinances of god , viz. the word and sacraments . theopompus a philosopher , being about to insert certain things out of the writings of moses into his prophane works , and so to abuse the sacred word of god , was striken with a frensie ; and being warned of the cause thereof in a dream , by prayers made unto god recovered his senses again , joseph . antiq. lib. 12. cap. 2. this story is recorded by josephus , as also another of theodectes a poet , that mingled his tragedies with the holy scriptures , and was therefore striken with blindness , until he had recanted his impiety . in a town of germany called itszith , there dwelt a certain husband-man , that was a monstrous despiser of the word of god and his sacraments : he upon a time in the midst of his cups , railed in most bitter terms upon a minister of god's word , after which going presently into the fields to over-look his sheep , he never returned alive , but was found there dead , with his body all scorched and burnt as black as a coal ; the lord having given him over into the hands of the devil , to be thus used for his vile prophaness , and abusing holy things , dr. justus jonas in luther's conferences reporteth this to be true . if you shall despise my statutes ( saith the lord ) or refuse to hearken unto my law , i will visit you with consumptions , and burning agues , and heaviness of heart , lev. 26. 15 , 16. moses for neglecting the sacrament of circumcision ( which is much the same , ( see rom. 4. 11. & col. 2. 11. 12. ) in a spiritual sense , with that of baptisme ) was struck immediately by the lord , and fell so sick by the way , that it was thought he would have died : and it came to pass , by the way in the inn , that the lord met him , and sought to kill him , exod. 4. 24. which words are by some elucidators ( bishop hall , &c. ) thus understood , viz. that the lord appeared visibly unto him , and sensibly afflicted him with some sudden and violent disease , which he knew to be done , in regard of his neglect of his sons circumcision . eutychus for sleeping at the sermon , fell down so as he had slept his last sleep , ( acts 20. 9. ) but that a merciful god , by the hands of paul , did raise him up again , to teach him ( and by him all church-sleepers ) the future danger of such negligence and irreverence in his house : his deadly fall not being so much accidental , as a judgment from god. and as concerning the unworthy receiving the lord's supper , st. paul telleth the corinthians , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for this cause , many are weak and sickly among you , and many sleep , 1 corinthians 11. 30. i. e. for these abuses of this holy sacrament , the hand of god hath been upon many of you ; so as many of you are afflicted with divers kinds of diseases , and many of you are striken with a temporal death , here called sleep . now from the apostles declaring this to be the true cause of that sickness and mortality that was amongst them , it is to be supposed that either they looked not after the cause at all , but took it to come only as a thing of course , or ( which is more probable ) that they mistook the cause , imagined that to be the cause which was not . a great mortality there was amongst them , many died , but that they thought might proceed from the distemperature of the body , or from the corruption of the air , or from want of exercise , or from not observing a good diet , or from immoderate labour : some they thought might die of one of these causes , some of another . but the apostle passeth all these over , and maketh known unto them , that however these might be considerable as causes in their due places ; yet the true , main , and principal cause they were utterly ignorant of ; and that was their abusive and negligent receiving of the sacrament of the lord's supper : for this cause many are weak , &c. a truth which had any less than an apostle delivered , he would have been esteemed a setter forth of new doctrine : or had the apostle delivered it in any dark and obscure phrase , flesh and blood would have found out twenty interpretations , before ever they would have thought of this : but the speaker is so divine , and the speech so plain , that it cannot be mistaken : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saith the text , for this cause , because of your unworthy receiving the body and blood of christ , many are sick , and many sleep . hence was that speech of saint anselme taken , who saith , that many diseases that reign in the summer ( though physicians may impute them to other secondary causes ) proceed from peoples irreverent receiving that sacrament at easter . that de facto this is a truth , see the 2d . of the chronicles , and the 30th . chap. v. 20. where you shall find , that for some abuses and disorders committed in the celebration of the passover , the jews were smitten with some troublesom disease : for 't is here said , that upon hezekiah's prayer the lord healed the people : which implieth plainly that they were diseased and sick before ; and yet this default was only in the circumstantial points of that sacrament : for 't is there also said , that every one had prepared his heart for to seek god. some defect there was only in some ceremonial rite to be observed . now what we find applied to the passover , we may without fear apply to the sacrament of the lord's supper : for however they differ in circumstances , yet for substance they are the same . sickness , we see , was sent for the abuse of that ; and therefore the same punishment appointed for the abuse of this , yea inflicted ; witness the corinthians , who for this cause were plagued with divers diseases , and sundry kinds of death . and indeed it is not unlike , that since these corinthians , there have been many thousands , who for the very same cause have not ( as the psalmist saith ) lived out half their dayes , but have been swept away out of the land of the living , and gone down with sorrow into the grave . true then it is de facto , god hath thus plagued the sinful neglect and abuse of his sacrament . i will now also demonstrate , that de jure it must needs be so ; and this will appear , if we consider the sin it self to be camelinum peccatum , a sin of a very large size , burdened with those following aggravations ; ( namely ) that 't is a sin immediatly against christ's own person , robbeth god of that which he is most tender of , his honour , and is in the judgment of the holy ghost , 1 cor. 11. 27. ( i suppose if will-fully committed ) no less than a spilling and shedding of the precious blood of christ , heb. 6. 6. in a word , that 't is a sin paramount like saul higher then his fellows . and therefore let us judge in our selves , whether the wages of such a sin unrepented of , can be less than corporal plagues , and temporal death . for , if we contemn the sacred body of christ , how can we think that god should take any care of ours ? if we make no reckoning of christ's death , 't is but just with god to disregard ours . oh then as we tender our health and our lives , let us never dare to approach unto that dreadful table , without due reverence and a competent measure of preparation . secondly , concerning the prophaning the lord's day , sacriledge , &c. we read several instances of god's wrath upon such , declared in corporal plagues and destruction . a certain godly minister preaching , and pressing the sanctification of the sabbath , and taking occasion herein to make mention of that man , who by the special command of god was stoned to death , for gathering sticks upon the sabbath day ; hereupon one in the congregation stood up and laughed , and made all the haste he could out of the church , and went to gathering of sticks , though he had no need of them : but when the people came out from the sermon , they found this man dead , with the bundle of sticks in his arms , lying in the church porch . this is attested by a credible author . yea , if time would permit , or this enchiridion extend to it , i could expatiate upon such instances , as might likewise demonstrate , that not a few have , upon the breach of the fourth commandment , been striken by the immediate hand of the almighty , with lameness , and sore diseases . and for sacriledge , that hath been severely punished in like manner : as in antioches epiphanes , who fell sick with grief upon the remembrance of the evils he did at jerusalem , in taking away the vessels of gold and silver that were therein , confessing that for this cause his troubles came upon him , and so suddenly died , 1 mach. chap. 6. also it is recorded that wicked alcimus , for his violation of the sanctuary ; and his sacrilegious enterprises , was immediatly taken with a palsie , so that he could no more speak any thing , but died suddenly with great torment , 1 mach. 9. cap. 54 , 55 , & 56. v. again , ananias and sapphira his wife , for their sacriledge cloaked with hypocrisie , at peter's rebuke fell down dead , acts 5. 5. & 10. thirdly , swearing , blasphemy , and perjury do sometimes in a supernatural manner , occasion diseases and shortness of life . mr. fox , acts & mon. p. 2101. telleth us of one , named john peter , son-in-law to alexander that cruel keeper of newgate , who being a most horrible swearer and blasphemer , used commonly to say , if it be not true , i pray god i may rot ere i die : and not in vain , for he rotted away indeed , and so died in misery . i read of a perjuter that forswore himself to the end to deceive and prejudice another thereby : but he had no sooner made an end of his false oath , but a grievous apoplexy assailed him ; so that without speaking any one word he died within few dayes . that story in eusebius is very remarkable , concerning narcissus a good bishop of jerusalem , and three lewd varlots his accusers , as it is recited by the above-named mr. fox . narcissus intending to accuse three notable malefactors of their misdemeanors , they thought to prevent his accusation by first laying a grievous crime to his charge , and to get credit thereunto , each of them bound it with their severeral oaths , one wishing to be consumed with fire , if it were not so , another to die of some grievous disease ; the third to lose both his eyes : narcissus seeing three to one was odds , gave place ; but what became of these perjured fellows ? the first was consumed by a fire set in his house : the second was taken with a strange disease , that over-spread his whole body , which brought him to a miserable end : the third seeing god's judgments upon his brethren in evil , confessed the fault , for which he continually shed such abundance of tears , that he wept out his eyes , becoming blind thereupon , euseb. lib. 6. p. 101. god who takes notice of mens oaths , takes vengeance of their breach and violation . also we find recorded , that in the reign of the emperour anastatius , there was a certain arian bishop , whose name was olympus , who , as he was washing himself in a bath , belched forth many blasphemous speeches against the blessed trinity ; whereupon lightning fell down from heaven upon him three times , and he was burnt and consumed therewith , paul. diacon . in the history of anastatius . there was also in the time of alphonsus , king of arragon , a certain hermite called antonius , a monstrous blasphemer , that belched out vile and injurious speeches against christ jesus , and the virgin mary his mother ; but he was striken with a most grievous disease , even to be eaten and gnawn in pieces of worms , until he died , aeneas silvius of the acts of alphonsus . fourthly , pride , vain-glory , ambition , haughtiness do sometimes produce the like effects , in the like manner , as may appear in these following instances . antiochus , ( the same with the aforenamed epiphanes , p. 100. ) a notable tyrant and persecutor of the jews , in his pride and fume said , that he would come to jerusalem , and make it a common burying place of the jews : but the lord almighty , the god of israel smote him with an incurable and invisible plague : for as soon as he had spoken these words , a pain of the bowels , that was remediless , came upon him , and sore torments of the inner parts , 2 mach. 9. howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging , but still was filled with pride , breathing out fire in his rage against the jews : but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot carried violently ; so that having a sore fall , all the members of his body were much pained ; and soon after , the worms came out of his body , and while he lived in sorrow and pain , his flesh fell away , and the filthiness of his smell was noysom to all his army : and so the wrath of god ended this proud man's miserable dayes . the other is that of king herod , surnamed agrippa , which put james the brother of john to death , and imprisoned peter , with purpose to make him tast of the same cup , acts 12. this man was puffed with sacrilegious pride ; for being upon a time seated in his throne of judgment , and arrayed in his royal robes , shewing forth his greatness and magnificence , in the presence of the ambassadors of tyre & sidon , who desired to continue in peace with him , as he spake unto them , the people shouted and cried , that it was the voice of god , and not of man : which titles of honour he disclaimed not , and therefore the angel of the lord smote him immediately , because he gave not god the glory : and he was eaten of worms , and gave up the ghost , acts 12. 23. josephus relateth the story , how that herod not reproving nor forbidding his pernicious flatterers , was presently taken with most grievous and horrible gripes in his bowels ; so that looking upon the people he uttered these words : behold here your goodly god , whom you but now so highly honoured , ready to die with extream pain , jewish antiq. lib. 19. cap. 1. thus did this miserable man exemplarily verifie the wise man's proverb : pride goeth before destruction : and an haughty spirit before a fall , prov. 16. 18. fifthly , adultery , fornication and the like , are also sometimes , supernaturally , occasions of diseases , and shortness of life , as may appear de facto in the succeeding instances . claudius of asses , counsellor of the parliament of paris ( a man very ill affected to the professors of the gospel ) committed villany with one of his waiting maids , in the very midst whereof he was taken with an apoplexie , which immediately after made an end of him , beard 's theater of god's judgments . in northamptonshire a noble man's servant , of good credit and place with his master , having familiarity with another mans wife , as he was about to commit villany with her in a chamber , he fell down stark dead , with his hose about his heels : which being heard ( by reason of the noise his fall made ) of those which were in the lower room , they all ran hastily up , and easily perceived both the villany he went about , and the horrible judgment of god upon him for the same , ibidem p. 372. pliny telleth of cornelius gallus and q. elerius , two roman knights , that died in the very act of filthiness , plin. lib. 7. pharaoh having taken abram's wife from him , was plagued with great plagues by the lord , and thereby compelled to restore her , gen. 12. 17. also abimelech , king of gerar , for taking away the same woman , even sarai ( afterward sarah ) from her husband , though the non-execution of abimelech's intention might partly excuse him , and the integrity of his heart , and innocency of his hands might plead for him , was yet notwithstanding forewarned , and admonished by god in a dream , saying unto him : behold thou art but a dead man , for the woman which thou hast taken : for she is a mans wife , gen. 20. 3. and a little after god saith unto him : now therefore restore the man his wife : for he is a prophet , and he shall pray for thee , and thou shalt live : and if thou restore her not , know thou that thou shalt surely die , thou and all that are thine , vers. 7. also the lustful sodomites for that sin , which deriveth its name from the wicked place of their habitation , were smitten with blindness , gen. 18. 11. a just and proper punishment to stop up those lights , that were the windows or inlets , and outlets of such abominable lust and concupiscence . lastly , what shall i more say ? ( to borrow the apostle's phrase , heb. 11. ) for the time would fail me to tell of miriam , who for sedition was punished with a leprosie , num. 12. 10. of gehazi , that for covetousness and dissimulation ; of king azariah , who for not removing the high places , 2 kings 5. 27. 15. 4 , & 5. and king uzziah , that for invading the priest's office , 2 chron. 26. 20. were smitten with the same virulent disease : and of belshazzar , who for rioting and revelling amongst his pots , had the end of his life , as well as kingdom , denounced against him by a bodiless hand-writing upon the wall , the lord's decree , dan. 5. and also of a cloud of witnesses more , in divine , and humane records , portending a showr of wrath and vengeance from heaven upon all impenitent sinners , even in this life , by corporal plagues , and destruction . i shall therefore add only thus much more to the summ , and then give you the total , viz. that as god is a supernatural agent , and his power is not to be limitted to natural means , in regard it is evident by many instances that he can , and sometimes doth work without means in the production of sundry diseases and mortal distempers : ( a truth not much taken notice of by such as would comprehend all causes and effects within the sphaere of nature ) so likewise the devil , by god's permission , for the punishment of some sins , hath power to cause sickness , and that supernaturally : so he did afflict saul with the vehemency of a frenzy and melancholy distemper , 1 sam. 16. 23. so he did the lunaticks , mark 9. and many daemoniacal persons with strange maladies ; luke 13. yea , and still doth act over his old part in these last dayes ( though not so frequently as in christ's ) getting possession in many , even in this nation , as history , and our own experience can demonstrate . and as he can perform this by himself , so likewise by his complices , and instruments , as witches and magicians , who by god's permission can cause most diseases , yea sometimes death it self to such as they bear malice ; as might more fully appear de facto , by a book intituled , the arraignement and trial of witches at lancaster and york : but yet their power is so limited by an higher , that not all whom they spleen are subject to it ; but only , or mostly , such as will not be gathered under the wings of god's providence and protection , straying so far in sin , as until they become a prey unto satan and his hellish spies ; who will at least infest their bodies with diseases and sudden mortality ; though mercy , perhaps , may step in betimes to redeem their souls . and thus may we discern the truth of this point , that those sundry sins , which i have mentioned in this chapter , are in a supernatural way principal occasions of bodily diseases , and shortness of life . a corollary . the result of the whole preceding discourse is , that as the body by a powerful influence works upon the affections of the soul ; so the soul works most effectually upon the qualities and temperature of the body , producing by her passions and perturbations wonderful alterations , as most diseases , and sometimes death it self . for sin is the cause of that excess , which is in the qualities of which our bodies are made , and consequently of the diseases that proceed from thence , which afterward bring death to the body . but this is not all : for sometimes it comes to pass that when those effects are not produced by such natural means ; the mind being corrupted and viciated , doth draw them down from heaven , being supernaturally wrought , for the greater testimony of god's power and vengeance upon obstinate offenders . so then that is most true which plato saith in his charmides : omnia corporis mala ab animâ procedere ; all the mischiefs of the body proceed from the soul. and thus much shall suffice to have run over the first part of this undertaking , which was to demonstrate by natural reason , and also by divine , and humane testimony , that vicious and irregular actions , and affections prove often occasions of most bodily diseases , and of shortness of life . the second part . demonstrating by natural reason , and also divine and humane testimony , that vertuous and regular actions , and affections do conduce to the preservation of health , and prolongation of life . chap. i. in a transition from the first part to the second , the terms , vertuous and regular , and explained , and the method of the subsequent discourse is declared . the cause of the disease being known , the cure is the more readily wrought ; and in this respect i shall be the more brief in this my second part ; because contraria contrariis illustrantur , contraries are illustrated by contraries ; and that in such a manner , as the first part being admitted for a truth , the second may regulâ contrariorum , by the rule of contraries , succeed as a necessary consequence . but before i proceed to further illustration , i shall explicate the terms . by the term vertuous we may understand godliness , honesty of life , and good manners : for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vertue , according to the ordinary known notion of it , signifieth probity of manners among men , as the generical word that contains all moral and christian vertues under it , in which sense it is used by st. paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , if there be any vertue , phil. 4. 8. and also by st. peter , ( 2 pet. 1. 3. ) as you may take notice of by viewing the original , and the annotations of the learned dr. hammond upon the same . so by the word regular we understand , such actions and affections as are squared according to the direction of god's word , which is a rule to go and work by . as many ( saith the apostle ) as walk according to this rule , ( or canon ) gal. 6. 16. hence the scriptures are called canonical , because they contain , and give a perfect rule of faith and manners unto the church ; which is bound to walk obediently , according to this rule , and to give testimony to it , and not by her authority to over-rule it , and the sense of it , as many do without blushing . likewise by this term regular , we may apprehend and comprehend whatsoever is according to the dictates or rules of right reason , in the whole course and carriage of a moral , prudent , christian , and religious conversation . and this i might easily prove , by shewing the great congruity that is between that light , and the laws , that god hath placed in our souls ; and the duties of religion that by the expresness of his written word he requires from us ; and demonstrate that reason teacheth all those , excepting only the two positives , baptism , and the holy eucharist , as a learned modern author hath said before me in his sermon ad clerum , upon rom. 12. and latter part of the first vers. — which is your reasonable service . but i shall now proceed to something more proper and adaequate unto the present purpose ; and that is to lay down a plat-form of the succeeding argument . in the next chapter i shall demonstrate in general and particular , that vertuous and regular actions and affections are , in a super-natural sense , conducing to the preservation of health , and prolongation of life ; and in the third chapter shall shew you that such actions and affections do in a natural sense conduce to the same end of health and long life ; and in the fourth chapter prove that the same means , through the blessed influence of divine providence , do become occasions of the same natural effects ; and in the last chapter shall answer some objections briefly , and then conclude the whole . chap. ii. shewing in general and particular , that vertuous & regular actions & affections , are in a super-natural sense , conducing to the preservation of health and prolongation of life . if we search the scriptures , we shall find a great cloud of witnesses and testimonies ushering in this truth , viz. that a life led in religion , vertue , and the fear of god , doth conduce much to the health of body , and also length of dayes : as for instance , it is written , ye shall serve the lord your god , — and i will take sickness away from the midst of thee , exod. 23. 25. also long life is promised as a blessing unto them that keep the commandments in these ensuing words , — that he turn not aside from the commandment , to the right hand , or to the left : to the end that he may prolong his dayes in his kingdom , deut. 17. 20. also in these : that thou mayest love the lord thy god , and that thou mayest obey his voice , and that thou mayest cleave unto him : for he is thy life , and the length of thy dayes , cap. 30. vers . 20. again health is promised upon like conditions : be not wise in thine own eyes ( saith solomon ) fear the lord and depart from evil : it shall be health to thy navel , and marrow to thy bones , pro. 3. 7 , 8. thus jesus christ , the grand exemplar of innocency and integrity , was without sin , and therefore without sickness . more particularly , these blessings are held forth as temporal rewards of sundry moral , civil , and religious acts and duties ; and this may appear both by divine , and humane authority . first , then in respect of obedience to parents , we find long life promised as a motive to it in the fifth commandment : honour thy father and thy mother ; that thy dayes may be long upon the land , which the lord thy god giveth thee , exod. 20. 12. which the apostle calleth the first commandment with promise , eph. 6. 1 , & 2. viz. the first affirmative commandment ; or the first in the second table ; or the first of all the ten with promise , in particular to them that keep it . which promise sheweth that a more plentiful blessing , in this kind , followeth from our obedience to this , than to the other commandments . and yet i confess , obedience in general meets with the same blessing ; as the psalmist doth denote unto us : what man is he that desireth life , and loveth many dayes , that he may see good ? keep thy tongue from evil , and thy lips from speaking guile . depart from evil , and do good : seek peace , and pursue it , psal. 34. 12 , &c. however there lieth a special emphasis upon the particular observance of the aforesaid commandment , by an express and particular promise of long life . but doth this promise alwayes hold ? yes surely , it holdeth generally and for the most part , in comparison of the wicked , who do not live out half their dayes ; psal. 55. 23. and if it fail , it is but rarely ; and then in exchange for the better , that ( as the prophet saith ) the righteous may be taken away from the evil to come , isay 57. 1. i say but rarely it fails ; for to say otherwise were to make the promise of no effect , and the tenor of the commandment very ambiguous . but do not the disobedient live long also ? truly they have no promise for it ; and commonly they are cut off by an untimely death ; or if some of them be reprived until old age , they are but comparatively few , being reserved only as so many examples of god's mercy and forbearance , as the rest ( being many ) are soon cut off , as examples of his justice . long life then is most commonly the reward of obedience and piety to parents ; and it must needs be so , when divine providence , which is more then a wall of brass to encircle and secure us , taketh such especial care in the protection and preservation of such as are endued with that eminent vertue ; as appeareth by what aristotle telleth us , viz. how that from the hill aetna , there ran down a torrent of fire , that consumed all the houses thereabout ; yet in the midst of those fearful flames , god's especial care of the godly and obedient , shined most brightly : for the river of fire parted it self , and made a kind of lane for those who ventured to rescue their aged parents , and pluck them out of the jaws of death . ipse dixit , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , arist. de mundo cap. 6. if providence then wrought so much in a miraculous way for the preservation of the lives of heathens , to reward their duty shewed towards their parents ; surely , christians , the children of god ( whose obedience to parents springeth originally from their obedience to their heavenly father ) may with much more confidence depend upon the same providence for the like preservation , and so by consequence the prolongation of their lives , as a reward of the same duty . now though i have insisted upon the afore-mentioned commandment in a literal sense , yet by the rules of extension , requisite for the interpretation thereof , we are to understand there , not only our natural parents , but as spiritual fathers , 1 cor. 4. 15. as ministers , and political fathers , gen. 45. 8. as magistrates , and oeconomical fathers , 2 kings 2. 12. 5. 13. as masters , and matrimonial fathers , as husbands , eph. 5. 22. to all which a respective obedience may , i suppose , claim a share or portion in the promise of long life . in the second place , devout and zealous prayer , in a super-natural way procureth bodily health , and so by consequence length of dayes , to enjoy the same . sick abimelech was sent to abraham a prophet to be healed by prayer : now therefore ( saith god ) restore the man his wife : for he is a prophet , and he shall pray for thee , &c. gen. 20. 7. so abraham prayed unto god : and god healed abimelech , v. 17. so then abimelech was healed by god as the supream and efficient cause , by prayer as the instrumental . hence it is the son of sirach adviseth us : my son , in thy sickness be not negligent : but pray unto the lord , and he will make thee whole , eccles. 38. 9. and also soon after sheweth us , that the good success of physicians depends upon something beyond the sphaere of natural means ; and that is prayer unto the physician of physicians , the lord omnipotent : there is a time ( saith he ) when in their hands ( i. e. the physicians ) there is good success : for they shall also pray unto the lord , that he would prosper that which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life , ibidem v. 13 , & 14. this excellent issue of devout prayer is further declared in these following instances . hezekiah being arrested by a violent and dangerous distemper , for some arrears due to the great landlord of heaven , and earth , was further afflicted by a sad message of being turn'd out of the tenement of his body by death : but by his humble supplication and mournful prayer unto his merciful lord , he had a lease of his life granted him for 15. years , subscribed with a promise , according to god's own order , and sealed with a miracle , to confirm it further , upon the dial of ahaz , as you may see more fully by a recourse to the sacred text , 2 kings 20. 1 , &c. i have read , that on a time there was a meeting appointed at haganaw , upon the rhine , where the reformed divines were to meet , and in a friendly manner , to debate differences : but , as melancthon was going thitherward , he fell sick at vinaria : luther and cruciger hearing of it , by long journeys hasted to him : and as soon as luther saw how miserably he was wasted with his disease , with sighs and tears he brake out into this speech : alas ! how precious and profitable an instrument of the church is miserably weakened , and ready to perish ? and therewithal , falling upon his knees , he prayed most earnestly for his recovery . and afterwards melancthon confessed , that if luther had not come , he had died , clark's lives of the fathers p. 247. yea , it is written of this luther , that by his prayers he could prevail with god at his pleasure . praying for the recovery of myconius , he let fall this transcendent rapture of daring faith : fiat voluntas mea , let my will be done ; and then comes off sweetly : mea voluntas , domine , quia tua , my will , lord , because thy will. beatus est qui habet quicquid vult , & nihil male vult : blessed is he that hath what he will , and wills nothing but what he should . also i find recorded , that the lady ann henage , lying sick of a violent feaver , which her physicians deemed to be mortal ; mr. fox was sent for , to be present at her ending : and when by instructions and prayer , he had prepared her for death , he told her , that she had done well , in thus fitting her self for her dissolution , yet that she should not die of that sickness . a knight , her son-in-law , being by , told him in private , that he had not done well , in thus discomposing her mind with hopes of life . to whom mr. fox answered , that he said no more then what was commanded him : for it seemed good to god that she should recover . which also came to pass , as an effect of fervent prayer , which prevailed , when natural means failed , idem 794. king edward the sixth , as he was constant , and fervent in his private prayer , so was he as successful therein , witness this example : sir john cheek , his schoolmaster , fell desperately sick , of whose condition the king carefully enquired every day : at last his physicians told him , that there was no hope of his life , and that he was given over by them , for a dead man. nay ( said the king ) he will not die at this time , for this morning i begged his life of god in my prayers , and obtained it . which accordingly came to pass , and soon after , sir john , beyond all expectation , wonderfully recovered , ful. history of the church p. 424. it is said of st. augustin , in a relation of his life , that he was alwayes powerful in prayer , so that sometimes thereby he cast out devils , and sometimes restored sick men to their health . it would perhaps be tedious to the reader to annumerate any further instances to this purpose , as by demonstrating what a wonderful decrease there hath been sometimes observed in the weekly bills of mortality , in several places of this kingdom , graciously succeeding , upon the humble and devout prayers of god's people : and therefore i shall content my self to insist only upon st. james his canon : is any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the church , and let them pray over him , annointing him with oil in the name of the lord : and the prayer of faith shall save the sick , and the lord shall raise him up : and if he hath committed sins , they shall be forgiven him , james 5. 14 , & 15. by the elders of the church we may understand the pastors , or ministers of the church , who are to be sent for by the sick , that they may pray for him , and with him : and their faithful prayer shall be a means ( ordinarily ) to save that sick person from the danger of his disease , and whereas sins are the cause of his sickness , even those sins of his shall upon humble and devout prayers be done away and forgiven . now as concerning the ceremony of anointing the sick body with oyl in the name of the lord , this was an extraordinary thing , communicated to those which had gifts of miracles , used by them as an outward symbole , and sign of the spiritual healing ; and so we deny not but it was an extraordinary temporary sacrament ; but now that miracles are ceased in the church , still to retain the outward sign , is a vain supertitious imitation ; although st. james his oil , and the popish ointment do much differ , see fulke on the rhem. test. again this usage as a bare ceremony , was not instituted by christ , or any way commanded to be continued by the apostles or their successors in the church , even while the gifts of healing did continue amongst them ; but was by the apostles themselves very frequently omitted in their working of cures ; as the learned dr. hammond hath observed in his annotations . prayer then , you see , was the more , yea the only effectual and substantial performance , or means in the cure , and the ceremony of annointing may now reasonably be omitted . obj. but against the use of prayer , some may object the words of job , job 7. 1. is there not an appointed time to man upon earth ? are not his dayes also like the dayes of an hireling ? what need then of prayer , when every man's time upon earth like the sea , is bounded , so as hitherto shall it come , but no further ? i answer only hereunto , at present , that this may be a general objection against the use of all other means , as well as prayer , in relation to the cure of diseases , and prolongation of life , and therefore shall be answered in its proper place designed . a 2d . object . against , some lukewarm christians may object further , and say , i have often prayed upon the account of health , for my self and others , in time of sickness ; but all my prayers have , like arrows shot up to heaven , returned upon my own head , without doing their errand . solut. to this i answer : our prayers many times come short of heaven , because they are not winged with zeal and importunity : it is the importunate beggar that getteth an alms : they that faint in their prayers , have such a faint heart as never winneth a fair blessing . and therefore as a corroborative against such faintings , let us consider , how oft we use a medicine for the body , before it can be whole , how many stroaks on oak must have , before it will fall , how over and over again we plough our lands and delve our gardens , before we can have our expectation ; and also how frequently earthly kings must be attended upon , before suiters can obtain their suite . surerely favours and mercies , even from the king of kings , would be slighted and undervalued , if fetched with a faint word . and therefore let us ( vis unita fortior ) join force to force , prayer to prayer , and so by a holy violence of zeal , besiege the kingdom of heaven ; and in time it will surrender its self to our lawful desires and requests . for ( saith the apostle ) the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much , james 5. 16. indeed if our prayers be without life , or come out of fained lips , or be distracted with wild and wandring thoughts , or if they be tainted with hypocrisie , pride , or incredulity , we can look for no favourable audience from heaven : for god heareth not sinners : but if a man doth his will , him he heareth , john 9. 31. god heareth not sinners , that is , wilful , presumptuous , and impenitent sinners : but if a man doth his will , ( by active , and passive obedience ) him he heareth , that is , either explicitely , by granting the individual or particular thing requested , or interpretatively , by granting that which is aequivalent , or far better . now if a righteous man prayeth for health , and a prolongation of his temporary life ; and god still continueth him upon his bed of sickness , and within a short time , by death giveth him eternal life , in exchange for his temporary , herein is no severe repulse or denyal , but a more favourable audience , more satisfactory concession , and more princely donation . but you will urge , that this last way of granting requests , doth not fully answer the scope of the present point . hereupon i must reply , that though the return of our most faithful prayers must be determined , and their success limited by the will of our heavenly father , according to the words of christ jesus : nevertheless not as i will , but as thou wilt , matth. 26. 39. yet we must understand , that it is the will , and usual favour of the almighty , to grant the very things we desire , and stand in need of , commonly by means ; and herein chiefly and principally by faithful prayer , which without natural means is often found more effectual then natural means without it . and to encourage us to make trial of such excellent means , we have a promise from truth its self : i say unto you , whatsoever things ye desire when ye pray , believe that ye receive them , and ye shall have them , mark 11. 24. and this brings me to propose or prescribe . in the third place , faith as an excellent means conducing likewise to the health of body , and ( consequently ) prolongation of life ; and this in a super-natural way also . there was a woman vexed with an uncomfortable disease twelve years , she suffered many things of physicians , mat. 9. 20. some torturing her with one medicine , some with another , none did her good , but much hurt , she had spent all her living upon them , luke 8. 43. and herein , saith erasmus , was bis misera her sickness brought her to weakness weakness to physick , physick to beggary , beggary to contempt . thus was she vexed in body , mind , and estate ; yet faith healed her . her wealth was gone , physicians gave her over ; but her faith did not forsake her : daughter , be of good comfort , thy faith hath made thee whole , mat. 9. 22. there was a woman bowed down with the spirit of infirmity eighteen years , luke 13. 11. yet loosed . there was a man bedrid eight and thirty years , john 5. 5. & 9. a long and miserable time , when besides his corporal distress , he might perhaps conceive from that , eccl. 38. 15. he that sinneth before his maker , let him fall into the hand of the physician ; that god had cast him away ; yet christ restored him . but may some say , it is not mentioned that either of th●se two last were cured by faith. i answer that doubtless christ saw the seed of faith in them , ( though it were but as a grain of mustard-seed ) and so rewarded them accordingly . again , we may instance in the samaritan , whose leprosie though hard to cure , yet faith was able to do it ; thy faith hath made thee whole , luke 17. 19. but may some say , it was not properly his faith , but christ's vertue that cured him : why then doth not christ say , mea virtus , and not tua sides , my vertue , not thy faith hath made thee whole ? true it is , his vertue only cures , but this is apprehended by man's faith. the miraculous cure was attributed to mans faith , not as to the efficient cause , ( for that was christ's divine vertue ) but as to the instrumental cause , or means by which he apprehended and applyed to himself that divine power , by which he was healed . thus in the afore-mentioned place , or instance in the 9th . of math. it is written , that the woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years , came behind jesus and touched the hem of his garment . for she said within her self , if i may but touch his garment , i shall be whole . and in mark 5. 30. we read that when that diseased woman had touched him , jesus knew in himself that vertue had gone out of him , and he turned him about in the press , and said , who touched my clothes ? yet speaking to the woman , he mentioneth not his vertue , but her faith ; daughter , thy faith hath made thee whole , mark 5. 34. object . but here some may object , that the gifts of healing with other miraculous gifts are ceased in the church ; and so ( consequently ) prayer and faith must needs be ineffectual to the cure of bodily distempers , without the conjunction of natural means . answ. to which i answer ; 't is true , the doctrine of the gospel having been long since sealed and confirmed by so many miracles in the primitive church , there is now the less need of them , more particularly , of the gift of healing ; and therefore i shall not urge those miracles which the church of rome boasteth of , as wrought of late times by some of her sons , or with her extend the promise of our saviour , mark 16 , 17 , 18. to all future times and ages of the church ; yet thus much i may avouch , that as god is still able to work miracles , so he hath sometimes , even in this latter age , wrought miraculously , for the convincing the present times of atheism , and the further confirmation of our faith in the gospel . and this mr. valentine greatraks , in his printed letter to the honourable robert boyle esq maketh appear : wherein he giveth an account of divers strange cures by himself performed as the instrument . whereunto are annexed about sixty testimonials of several credible persons , ( most of them eminent and worthy ) of the chief matters of fact therein related . which printed certificates being examined and compared with the original testimonials , which were left in the hands of mr. starkey the stationer to that end , ( namely ) for a certain evidence to mr. boyle , and for the full satisfaction of all those that are any wise scrupulous , that they might see that they were verbatim the same : in this respect . i suppose it unreasonable to interrogate with nicodemus , how can these things be ? john 3. 9. seeing there is such a clear demonstration de facto , of what was seen done . i confess ( saith a learned modern author of our own ) i cannot see any reason , why god may not yet for the conviction if insidels , employ such a power of miracles , although there be not such necessity of it , as there was in the first propagation of the gospel ; yet god may please ( saith he a little after ) out of his abundant provision for the satisfaction of the minds of men , concerning the truth of christian doctrine , to imploy good men to do something which may manifest the power of christ to be above the devils , dr. stillingfleet's origines sacrae , pag. 270. to be short , as our saviour being in the flesh had power on earth to cure incurable diseases miraculously , that is without natural means ; so being in heaven , his power is no less ( but rather greater ) over all bodily diseases to cure them , with or without means , whensoever he will. so that this may comfort us in time of dangerous sickness , though our disease be incurable by physick , or any natural means ; yet in this case we are to remember , the absolute power of christ jesus our lord , who can heal us without means , if he see it expedient for us : and that his will doth in this case frequently concur with his power , note further that man's extremity is god's opportunity , where man's help faileth , christ's help beginneth . let us then seek to him by prayer , and rest on him by faith ; not neglecting ordinary means , by a too frequent dependance upon , or expectation of miraculous cures , nor yet forgetting , that if the means fail , or cannot be had , his power is not tied to means , but is above them , and can , and doth sometimes , recover us without them , when he seeth it good for us . i conclude the point then thus , that gods blessing upon the natural means , and his blessing without means , are each received ( most successfully and comfortably ) by the hand of faith ; which is the extraordinary means conducing to the health of body , as the ordinary to the health of soul. fourthly , repentance , if true and sincere , doth in the same extraordinary way conduce to the health of body , and prolongation of life . and this may be proved , first , in express terms , and secondly , by consequence . first , in express terms , by sundry texts of sacred writ . miriam by repentance was freed from the leprosie , num. 12. 11. 21. 7. the israelites repenting obtained a remedy against the fiery serpents , and thereby were delivered from imminent death . david after the death of seventy thousand of his people , by repentance prevented the destruction of jerusalem , 2 sam. 24. 16 , & 17. rehoboam and the princes repenting at the preaching of shemaiah were delivered from destruction , 2 chr. 12. 7. hezekiah having received a message of death , upon his repentance had his life lengthened by a lease from above two lives more , in our law , isay 38. v. 1. 10. 6. secondly , by consequence . for sublatâ causâ tollitur effectus , the cause , which is sin , being taken away , the effect , which is bodily sickness and shortness of life , ( as i have fully declared and evinced in the former part of this treatise ) must needs cease and be removed , or prevented and avoided . and therefore repentance , as you see , may rationally be concluded , effectual for the health of the body , and the prolongation of a temporary life , as it was alwayes granted propitious to the health of the soul , in order to ever lasting life . to summ up all , let us not think it incredible , that these vertues and graces should in such an extraordinary manner conduce to the preservation of bodily health , removal of sickness , and prolongation of life , when we consider the power of god , with whom all things are possible , mat. 19. 26. and the manifestation of that power ; not only in the sundry miraculous cures of bodily diseases , recorded in the old and new testament , but also in some such cures ( or very like them ) taken notice of in our modern history , and experience . the miraculous cures , in both testaments , the reader may take notice of at his leasure : i shall instance now only in humane story , and modern evidence . a late intelligent author , and faithful relator , telleth us that to the kings of england , quatenus kings , doth appertain one prerogative , that may be stiled super-excellent , if not miraculous , which was first enjoyed by that pious and good king edward the confessor ; that is to remove and to cure the struma or scrofula , that stubborn disease called the kings evil. which manifest cure ( saith he ) is ascribed by some malignant nonconformists , to the power of fancy , and exalted imagination ; but what can that contribute to small infants , whereof great numbers are cured every year ? dr. chamberlain in his present state of england . the manner of the cure is briefly thus related : there is an appointed short form of divine service , wherein are read ( besides some short prayers pertinent to the occasion ) two portions of scripture , taken out of the gospel , and at these words [ they shall lay their hands on the sick , and they shall recover . ] the king gently draws both his hands over the sore of the sick person ; and those words are repeated at the touch of every one . again at these words , [ that light was the true light , which lighteth every man that cometh into the world . ] pertinently used , if it be considered that that light did never shine more comfortably , if not more visibly , than in the healing of so many leprous and sick persons . at those words , the king putteth about the neck of each sick person a piece of gold , called ( from the impression ) an angel , because in value about two thirds of a french pistol . thus far he. now the effect is clear de facta , and from experience , and cannot therefore be rationally denyed ; and 't is as clear that the cause must be super-natural , in regard that neither the hands of the king , not the piece of gold given by him , have any natural or accidental power , or tendency in themselves , to effect or produce such a cure ; especially in infants , whose imagination cannot be wrought upon , and disposed for the furtherance of it by such outward applications as are then used . another instance to our present purpose , we may find in a modern collection , being true and faithful relation of one samuel wallas , who was restored to his perfect health , after thirteen years sickness of a consumption , taken from his own mouth ; who for the last four years lay bed-rid , and so weak that he could not turn himself therein without help : by which distemper his body was so parched and dried , that he was almost like a sceleton , but upon this cure he recovered his former health and strength , whereby he was enabled to follow his trade , being a shoomaker , and living at stamford in lincolnshire : whereof he gave a large account , ( to which i must refer you for further satisfaction ) with much affection , and sensibleness of the lord's mercy and goodness to him , upon april 7th . 1659. now the story , as it is at large , being much noised abroad , divers ministers met together at stamford , to consider and consult about it ; and for many reasons were induced to believe , that the cure was wrought by the ministry of a good angel , clark's mirror , vol. 1. p. 18. more such instances as these might be inferred and exhibited to the reader : but ( i suppose ) those already mention'd are a full demonstration of god's omnipotent power , that he can work without means ; and also of his distinguishing mercy , that he sometimes doth so , for the benefit , welfare and encouragement of the godly , who are made either administrators , or receivers of this gift of bodily health . and this may more fully appear , if we consider that edward the confessor ( as dr. peter heylin's cosmog . noteth ) was a man of that holiness in his life , that he received power from above to cure many diseases , besides the kings evil ; and that samuel wallas was cured chiefly by observing the supposed angel's injunction in these words , but above all , whatsoever thou doest , fear god and serve him ; as it is recorded in the afore-mention'd story , to which i referred . the consideration of which instances doth assure us , that god's children have in a super-natural manner been sometimes agents , and sometimes patients , in bodily cures , and by consequence may be so still . and as touching longaevity , the time would fail me to tell of noah , abraham , isaac , jacob , joseph , moses , aaron , phineas grandchild of aaron , joshua , job , elizeus the prophet , isaiah the prophet , tobias the elder , and tobias the younger , old simeon , anna the prophetess , st. john the evangelist , simeon the son of cleoph as , called the brother of our lord , and bishop of hierusalem , polycarpus , disciple unto the apostles , and bishop of smyrna , dionisius areopagita , contemporary unto the apostle st. paul ; aquila and priscilla , first st. paul the apostle's hosts , afterward his fellow-helpers ; and some others whom i could name , who by ancient record appear all severally ( excepting simeon that was the prophet , luke 2. and st. john the evangelist ) to have survived an hundred years ; and this not so much through strength of nature , as the extraordinary grace of god thus rewarding their moral , and christian vertues . now to conclude this chapter : though we are not to depend wholly upon spiritual means , and super-natural assistances for bodily health and length of dayes ; yet we must principally and chiefly respect them , being as hinges upon which almighty god doth frequently turn the course of nature . for in him ( as the apostle citeth it out of aratus the poet ) we live , and move , and have our being , acts 17. 28. and job testifieth as much when he saith , i have sinned , what shall i do unto thee , o thou preserver of men ? job 7. 20. job knew as well as paul , that the wages of sin was death , and having sinned , how should he avoid that death , but by addressing himself to god , who is the preserver of men ? without him there is no balm in gilead sufficient , jer. 8. 2. no physician there that is able to recover the health of the people . which is true as well in a natural as in a metaphorical sense . hezekiah's lump of figs may be a soveraign plaister , but the prolonging of his life came from god ; the waters of bethesda were in themselves likewise very soveraign , but it was after they were moved by the angel from heaven . we may , yea we must use all honest and good means to preserve this our tabernacle of clay from ruin and dilapidation ; i say we must thankfully embrace the good means , which nature or art can minister unto us , for the preservation or recovery of health ; the skill and experience of the judicious physician may be made use of : and though it were job's complaint , that there were many physicians of no value , job 13. 4. and though such as these be mention'd with ignominy in the gospel ; that instead of taking away the poor womans superfluous blood , they had sucked away her necessary maintenance : she had spent all that she had , and was nothing bettered , but rather grew worse ; mark 5. 26. i say though such unskilful empiricks be mention'd with infamy , as deserving reverence or reward from none but a sexton , who finds most of his employment from such physicians desperate unskilfulness ; yet those of skill and experience , and of conscience , are worthy of a double honour , of reward & maintenance . luke the able , and beloved physician , deserves a remembrance in st. paul's catalogue , col. 4. 14. and such a physicians skill may be made use of with good success . but yet in the use of secondary means this proviso must go along , we must ascribe the main honour to god : for it is from him that health springeth forth speedily , as is hinted to us by the prophet isa. 58. 8. let them therefore who want health , together with an honest use of the means , address themselves with hezekiah unto god , who is the fountain of health ; and he will hear their prayers , see their tears , and grant them either that which they desire , or that which he knoweth in his alwise providence to be better for them . and for us that do enjoy the blessing of health , let us return our humble thanks unto god. the living , the living , they shall praise thee , as we do this day : the father to the children shall make known thy truth , isa. 38. 19. and we cannot praise him better then in the words of our church : to thee , o god , who hast redeemed our souls from the jaws of death ; we offer unto thy fatherly goodness our selves , our souls and bodies , which thou hast delivered to be a living sacrifice unto thee ; to thee which doest restore the voice of joy and health into our dwellings , we offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving , lauding and magnifying thy glorious name , for such thy preservation & providence over us , through jesus christ our lord. amen . vid. the two last forms of thanksgiving . chap. iii. shewing that vertuous and regular actions and affections do naturally conduce to the health of body , and length of life . a life led in religion ( as the lord verulam , in his history of life and death , noteth ) seemeth to conduce to long life . there are in this kind of life , these things ; leisure , admiration , contemplation of heavenly things ; joyes not sensual , noble hopes , wholesom fears , sweet sorrows ; lastly , continual renovations , by observances , penances , expiations ; all which ( saith he ) are very powerful to long life . unto which , if we add that austere diet , which hardneth the mass of the body , and humbleth the spirits , no marvel , if an extraordinary length of life do follow ; such as was that of paul the hermite , simeon stilita the columna anchorite ; and of many other hermites and anchorites . now hereunto i may add , that by the same rule or reason , that such a life doth conduce to long life , it doth likewise become propitious to bodily health . more particularly and plenarily these following graces and vertues , religious acts and dispositions are to be considered as effectual in some measure to the end designed . first , faith , as it is attended with a confidence of recovery , hath naturally a powerful influence upon the body : for confidence ( as galen saith ) doth more good then physick : and this it doth through the strength of imagination . now such is the force of imagination , and a man's conceit in working effects in the body , that hippocrates exhorteth physicians , if two kinds of meat were to be ministred to a patient , the one healthful , and the other a little hurtful , or not so good as the other , that they should prefer this being much desired , before that not so well liked : and generally , both philosophers and physicians maintain , that the opinion and confidence of the patient importech much for the cure of any maladie . the reason is plain ; for the imagination herein ( though erroniously conceiving things better then indeed and really they are ) causeth a vehement passion of hope , wherewith followeth an extraordinary pleasure in the things : which two passions awake or rouse up the purer spirits , and unite them together , qualifying and refining them in the best manner ; which thus combined , do most effectually co-operate with nature , and strengthen her in the performance of any corporal action or vital operation , in order to the mastery and expulsion of noxious humours . which brings me to say somewhat . in the second place , of hope , which of all the passions is most advantagious for health and long life , in regard the spirits therein , which corroborate and quicken all the parts , are moderate , she stops , and keeps them back that they cannot dissipate , nor make any vehement agitation ; for if the spirits be too active and violent in their operations , they may produce strong actions , but it shortens our dayes , because those spirits easily scatter , and so consume the natural moisture , which hope useth not to do ; because , i say , it keeps the spirits in a temperate motion , and preserves them from wasting too fast . therefore ( as the afore-cited lord verulam saith ) they which fix & propound to themselves some end , as the mark and scope of their life ; and continually , and by degrees , go forward in the same ; are for the most part long-liv'd : in so much that when they are come to the top of their hope , and can go no higher therein ; they commonly droope , and live not long after . we may add hereunto , that this may be one reason why kings & soveraign princes are not commonly so long-liv'd as others , because they have fewer things to hope for , and more things to fear . now if hope in general , as it is a passion of the soul , be so effectual in this kind ; much more is true christian hope , which is at anchor upon more firm ground , in as much as the object thereof is more sure , certain , and more durably satisfactory and delightful , cherishing and encouraging , then can be fix'd upon in the alone expectation of any terrene , temporal enjoyment . thirdly , love which is ( ●n the sense it may be understood ) a duty often inculcated in sacred writ , and is custos utriusque tabulae , the fulfilling of the law , rom. 13. 10. is also , by reason of that strict tye between the soul and body , a great promoter of bodily health : for it is observed by an eminent modern philosopher , that when this affection is alone , that is , when it is not accompanied with extream joy , desire , or sadness , the beating of the pulse is even , and much greater and stronger than ordinary ; that a man feels a gentle heat in his breast , and quick digestion of meat ; so that this passion is profitable for the health , mr. des-cartes in his treatise of the passion of the soul , artic. 97. and now i proceed to another passion , which being managed with wisdom , will alwayes be found in the track of vertue . fourthly , joy being regulated and moderated by its steers-man reason , and sanctified by the holy spirit , is a gracious disposition alwayes seasonable in a christian course : rejoyce evermore , ( saith the apostle , 1 thess. 5. 16. yea alwayes seasonable , because alwayes healtful to soul and body : to the body in this respect ( namely ) because by dilating and sending forth to the outward parts , it enlivens them , and keeps them fresh and active ; it beautifies the complexion , preventeth consumptions , and some other distempers , by assisting the distribution of salubrious nourishment to every part . from these considerations then we may understand , that christianity doth not teach us a stoical apathie , or take away our passions ; but only rectifies them ; and being thus rectified they conduce not only to the health of the soul , but also of the body , and its longaevity . fifthly , labour , industry , and diligence in a lawful calling , is no less healthful to the body then soul. for as by the old sanction we are taught to labour for our bread , gen. 3. 19. in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread ; yea , as paradise that was man's store-house , was also his work-house , he was put into the garden of eden , to dress it , and to keep it , gen. 2. 15. as also by the fourth commandment it is implied as a duty , that we should labour six dayes , and do all that we have to do ; lastly , as a provident , industrious and seasonable care and employment is so good and warrantable , that in this very thing the wise man prescribeth the pismire , ( prov. 6. 6. ) for our imitation ; and in this the apostle placeth , not only necessity , 2 thess. 3. 10. but also religion , 1 tim. 5. 8. so is the same very commendable in respect of bodily health , it being the salt of humane life , which drieth up those crudities which otherwise would prove offensive , and preserveth the humours from putrefaction . yea the commodities of moderate excerise are many , principally these following . 1. the increase of natural heat and spirit . 2. it assists the distribution of our nourishment . 3. it discusses vapours and fuliginous excrements , by the pores or spiracles of the skin , and adds colour and vivacity to the whole body . 4. it makes the juices of the body hard and compact , and so becomes propitious to length of life . 5. and lastly , by consuming and exiccating superfluous moistures in the body , it preventeth most diseases : so that indigent people ( as one observeth ) have this recompence to their poverty , that their necessitated labours keep them much in health , and without the need , trouble and charge of physick . i may add hereunto , that active and industrious persons , ( be they poor , or rich ) as they are longest free from diseases ; so also most commonly from the long continuance of those diseases ; the material cause thereof being consumed in such manner , by former labour and exercise , as there wants sufficient iewel to maintain the distemper , which like the external fire soon dieth and is extinct for want of nourishment ; and thereby nature ( in its sphaere the greatest agent in bodily cures , ) being exonerated of obnoxious humours , is ever in a tendency to reduce the body into its pristine , and symmetrical constitution . moreover it hath been observed , that epidemical diseases , as pestilential feavers , cathars , small pox , flux , &c. do much easier seise upon such , as by contracting an evil habit of body , through a sedentary and idle course of life , have rendred themselves more obnoxious , and disposed thereunto , in whom likewise they are more difficultly cured . and now , before i conclude this point , i would in kindness admonish those of the foeminine and teeming sex , that they would accustome themselves to moderate exercise , to diligence and industrie in some lawful and commendable employment , thereby to preserve their health , and facilitate their delivery . for it is observed that those women which are used to labour , endure child-bearing with far more ease ; and the irish women , because of their stirring and active lives , are quick in delivery ; and here in england also the industrious & laborious women , in city and country , are very quick at their labours , and allow themselves a very short retirement comparatively , with others of a contrary inclination : so that in this particular also , the active and stirring life is of no small advantage . i conclude with the wholesom advice of syrach : my son , hear me , and despise me not , and at the last thou shalt find as i told thee : in all thy works be quick , so shall there no sickness come unto thee , eccl. 31. 22. sixthly , temperanco , a fruit of the spirit , gal. 5. 23. and a vertue here considerable only as it consisteth in the moderation or regulation of the appetite , in eating and drinking according to the standard of nature , which is content with a little ; is of all vertues the most conducible to bodily health and long life . that saying of the wise man , it is not good to eat much honey , prov. 25. 27. sheweth unto us , that even the most wholesom and nourishing meat of all other , will prove dangerous and hurtful to our health , if it be not soberly and measurably eaten . temperance ( as one saith ) being not only the carver , but also the commander at our tables , should alwayes have a room thereat . timotheus having supped with plato , and eaten ( contrary to his custom ) very moderately , slept very quietly that night , finding neither cholick to awake him , nor belchings in the morning to annoy him ; wherefore as soon as he awaked , he brake forth into this exclamation , with a loud voice : how sweet , how sweet are plato's suppers , which make us in the night time to sleep , and in the morning to breath so sweetly ! marsil . fic . de sanis . slud . tu . yea the benefits of temperance are many : 1. freedom from almost all sicknesses . 2. length of life , and death without much pain . 3. a mitigation of incurable diseases . instances of these ; or some of these , there are not a few in history . socrates is said by sobriety , to have had alwayes a strong body , and to have lived ever in health ; and that by the good order of his diet he escaped the plague at athens , never avoiding the city , nor the company of the infected , though the greatest part of the city was consumed by it , aelian . lib. 13. it is also reported of galen that famous physician , that he lived one hundred and fourty years , and that after he was twenty eight years old , he was never grieved with any sickness , except the grudge of a feaver for one day : his rule was , not to eat or drink till he had an appetite , nor to eat and drink till he had none . this rule he observing , was seldom sick , and lived ( as sipontinus writeth ) to the abovesaid age . cyprian relates that maximinian the emperour seldom used to drink betwixt meals , and therefore lived in health to the end of his life . queen elizabeth was famous for this vertue . king edward the sixth called her by no other name then his sweet sister temperance , cambd. eliz. she did seldom eat but one sort of meat , rose ever with an appetite , and lived about seventy years , which is beyond the ordinary period of princes and princesses , who seldom attain to summ up experimentally moses his arithmetick in that psalm ( psal. 90. 10. ) appropriated to him . we read that the sect of the esseans , amongst the jews , did usually extend their lives to an hundred years : now that sect used a single , or abstenious diet , after the rule of pythagoras . metaphrastes in the life of saint john , writes , that he was so abstenious in the use of meats and drinks , that he took no more then would suffice to maintain life : he lived ( as ancient record mentions ) ninety three years . st. paul , the hermite , lived an hundred and thirteen years : now his diet was so slender and strict , that it was thought almost impossible to support humane nature therewith . but most memorable is that of cornarus the venetian , who being in his youth of a sickly body , began first to eat and drink by measure , to a certain weight , thereby to recover his health , this cure turned by use into a diet ; that diet to an extraordinary long life ; even of an hundred years and better ; without any decay in his senses , and with a constant enjoying of his health . 't is a common proverb , which , were it commonly observed , would make most physicians sick , and preserve their patients a long time sound : use mederation and temperance , and desie the physician . a saying that taken with a grain of allowance , doth favour much of truth , though little of urbanity . no less observable is that proverbial rithme . gulaepone metas , ut sit longior tibi aetas . which may thus be englished . to thy appetite set some timely bounds , for so the longer age to thee redounds . that intemperance is the extinguisher , and temperance the prolonger of the candle of our life , was long ago taken notice of by the son of sirach , in these words : be not unsatiable in any dainty thing , nor too greedy upon meats , eccles. 37. latter part . for excess of meats bringeth sickness , and surfetting will turn into choler . by surfetting have many perished , but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life . temperance then ( as may be gathered from the preceding instances ) is not only instead of preventive , but also curative physick . for , as many by intemperance have relapsed into their old distempers ; so by temperance some have dispossess'd their lingring maladies , and recovered their former state of health : and therefore the best physicians do alwayes remember , to prescribe to their patients a temperate diet , for the accomplishment of their cures , as knowing that temperance alone proves commonly more effectual to that end , than all their prescriptions and applications without it . for it is to be understood , that the perfect cuting of the diseased body , requireth not only the external , but also the internal physician . the internal physician vulgarly is called nature : but more properly , it is that interna mumia seu balsamum internum , our native liquor of life , and inbred balm of vital spirit . this in all men is the best and greatest physician : without the which no medicine can avail , no malady can be cured . this is that which doth digest , concoct , maturate , deopilate , purge , corroborate , expel , emitigate , restore , avert , and dispatch all sort of bodily griefs : unless it be over-burdened by intemperance , or extreamly debilitated by any other impediment or defect . the outward or external physician with all his art , method , simples , compounds , antidotes , catharticks , minoratives , diaphoreticks , corroboratives , anodynes , &c. is only but a servant , and all his endeavours but service unto the internal physician , viz. nature . as then in curative physick the principal method of wise physicians ( whose canon is cito , & tuto , suddenly , and safely ) consists in purgation , and corroboration , thereby first disburdening , and then strengthening nature , which in its operations hath a constant tendency to the more benigne constitution , so long as it is able to resist the morbifick humour : so temperance , which consisteth in the use of a temperate diet , no way burdening nature ; ( which not over-burden'd , will in time work out the noxious and superfluous humours ) but gradually strengthening it , may worthily be esteemed a great promoter of health ; though not so expeditious , as when it is conjoined with the assistance of external means . by temperance alone then it may seem probable to effect a cure ; and experience hath put it out of doubt , that many who have been unwilling or unable to undergo the trouble and charge of physick , have yet by the strength of nature , and a temperate diet , in a reasonable time , safely recovered their former health . aurelianus is said to have cured all excess by abstinence , and therefore to have had no physicians . and i read of the indians and other barbarous people , who wanting , or at least neglecting the means of physick , have yet ( many of them ) by temperance giving nature its free course , recovered of dangerous diseases , and also attained to a great age . yea , legimus quosdam ( sayes an ancient father , st. hierome ) morbo articulari & podagrae humoribus laborantes , proscriptione bonorum ad simplicem mensam & pauperes cibos redactos convaluisse : we have read of some , ( saith he ) who being sick of the gout through abundance of humours , did recover their health being forced to a poor and slender diet by consiscation of their goods . not that hereby i would derogate from the honour due unto the judicious physician , or detract from the use of medicines which the lord hath created out of the earth : ( for he that is wise will not abhor them , saith the son of sirach , eccl. 38. 4. ) but at present my design is only to enhance the price and esteem of temperance , which doubtless is the mother of health ; though it often stands in need of the midwisery of natural means to assist it in its productions . to temperance may be referred fasting , which , when it is religious , is thus desined . jejunium religiosum est voluntaria abstinentia à cibo & potu religionis causà , hommius disput. i. e. religious fasting is a voluntary abstinence from meat and drink for a religious end ; and thus understood , our saviour christ supposed it as a duty sometimes to be performed , when he gave directions to avoid vain-glory in it , mat. 6. 17 , & 18. and also assured us that if it be performed as it ought , not to please men but god , it will surely be rewarded by him . this duty he taught us by his own example , as well as doctrine : for not to mention divine record , so well known to most ; philo saith of him , that he seemed to transform his flesh into the nature of his spirit , by fasting and watching . and in imitation of christ's act in fasting , we read elsewhere , that the christians of the primitive times were generally very frequent in the practise of it . now though this religious fasting differeth from that which is moral in respect of the ends ; ( moral fasting being nothing else but temperance and moderation in eating & drinking ) yet in respect of the natural effect produced in the body , they are the same , and do equally conduce to bodily health , and consequently length of life , not only as preventive , but also curative physick . first , as preventive ; and this will appear by this following demonstration , deducted from the observation of the most judicious physicians . the deflux of an humour from the brain is called a rheume , which is the mother of most diseases . for sometimes it taketh course to the eyes , and thereof cometh a dropping and inflamation of the eyes , and a dimness and loss of sight ; sometimes it taketh course by the nose , and is called the pose ; sometimes to the mouth , and causeth great expuition and spitting , and the falling of the uvula , and tooth-ach ; sometimes to the wind-pipe , and thereof cometh raucedo , the hoarsness ; sometimes to the lungs , and causeth exulceration or putrifaction , or some great obstruction , which bringeth a difficulty of breathing and strangulation : sometimes it taketh course by the stomack , and causeth lack of appetite and ill digestion ; and if to the guts , then falleth out the flux of the belly called a lask ; sometime it setleth in the brain , and groweth into a gross and thick substance , either in the fore part , as in the nerves optick , which are the conducts whereby the power of seeing doth come unto the eyes , and causeth either dimness , or loss of sight ; or in the conducts that convey the power of hearing unto the ears , and there causeth a dulness of hearing or deafness : also if it settle in the fore-part , obstructing the cells or ventricle● of the brains ; three ill diseases do grow thereupon , called three of the dead sleeps , caros , & coma , & apoplexia . also if this gross rheumatick matter do settle in the hinder part , it causeth the lethargy , another of the dead sleeps , and the palsy , and the falling-sickness , and the convulsion , and oblivion or loss of memory . and if it come down backward into the neck , it causeth a kind of convulsion called teranos , when as the neck cannot turn to nor fro , but it standeth stiff and stark without motion . if it flow down to the back , it causeth another kind of convulsion , called opisthotonos , wherein the head and the heels are made to meet backward . if it flow forward into the muscles of the breast , another convulsion is caused , called emprosthotonos , wherein the head and the feet are drawn together forward . if it go to the joynts , it is morbus articularis , the joynt-gout ; if to the hands and fingers , it is chiragra , the finger-gout ; if to the knees , it is gonagra , the knee-gout ; if to the feet and toes , it is podagra , the feet-gout . also if it fall upon the kidnies , then the disease is nephritical , as the stone , or gravel in the reins . thus from the brain , the fountain of nerves , is derived that morbifick humour , which is the sourse of these , and many other diseases : but to obstruct and prevent the current thereof , there is need of fasting , and abstinence from excess . for whereas many a man complaineth of his brain , for sending down rheumes , the springs and foundation of all dangerous maladies , the brain ( as charron saith ) may answer him , desine fundere , & ego desinam fluere ; cease to pour in , and i will cease to pour out . fasting then , by consequence , is an especial prevention of most diseases ; and it may be further proved and illustrated by this following instance . a certain person lately living in the county of norfolk , and well known to the author , did , in the presence of a physician , give god thanks , that for the space of sixty years , he never knew , experimentally , what it was to feel three dayes sickness together , worthy complaining of . whereupon being requested by the inquisitive physician , to discover the means he used for such a continued preservation of his health ; he returned this following account . i fast often , ( saith he ) but then especially , when i find the least indisposition of body : for then , in such a neutral , or rather sickly constitution , i abstain from all usual sustenance , ( excepting timothy's allowance , a little wine for my stomack sake ) two , three , or more dayes , until i find that nature works off the matter and fuel of approaching diseases . upon which single instance we may ground this observation , that abstinence and fasting , so long as it is not in excess , but from excess , is an especial preventive or preservative against most diseases , by attenuating those vicious humours , which are heaped together through continual crudities , in a manner digesting and wasting them ; and also by that means hastening the circulation of the blood , and then promoting and facilitating the distribution of the nourishable juice , it renders the whole body pervious and open , dischargeth obstructions , discusseth wind ; moveth the excrements of the brain , and all the parts , and brings them down into passages , thorow which , by the extimulating force of nature , they are expelled out of the body . secondly , it may be considered as curative ; and this upon the same , or the like grounds and reasons whereby it hath been asserted as preventive ; and therefore there needs no repetition to confirm the point . but by way of illustration , we may take notice that the ancient egyptians cured their diseases either by fasting , or vomiting , which they used either daily , or every third or fourth day : for they were of opinion , that all diseases had their beginning from surfeiting and repletion , and that therefore that is the best physick to recover health , which taketh away the cause of the disease . moreover , i read that the sweating-sickness , proper to our english countries , at first esteemed incurable , was sithence experienced to be cured by the cheapest way of the world , even by abstinence alone ; and that in ireland they cure their agues only with fasting four or five dayes , from all kinds of meats , leaving nature alone to spend out those superfluous humours , which the moisture of their western air breathed into them . it is reported that a certain poor man having the dropsie , did earnestly entreat the physician for a remedy of his disease : the physician beholding the poor man , said merrily to him : per annum abstine à potu , & sanaberis , abstain from drink one year , and thou shalt be a sound man. the poor man took it as seriously spoken , and performed it , though with much thirst ; and being made perfectly sound at the years end , he returned to the physician , and gave him thanks for his advice , vid. cornel. a lapide in lucam , pag. 146. in a word , and to instance in our selves , or acquaintance , how ordinary it is for some constitutions to fast away , or starve an ague , the palsy , the sickness of the stomack , the dropsie , gout , and some other distempers arising from repletion , i shall leave to the determination of such , as probably by experience may hereto affix their probatumest . and now , before i conclude this point , it must not be forgotten what was in the former part of this treatise suspended , and reserved for this place , namely , a more plenary resolution of this enquiry : how may we confine our selves within the bounds and limits of temperance ? in performance whereof , we must make use of the advice of the most judicious and experienced physicians , who teach us not to approve , as to general practise , of that arithmetical proportion , or dieta statica , the allotment of a certain weight and measure of meat and drink , not upon any terms to be exceeded : because this were to go about to make a coat for the moon , or to fit every foot with the same shoo . for how can it be but that , where there is difference in constitution , age , sex , the manner of life , the nature of the meat , and the season of the year , and so diversities of heat and ability to concoct and digest , a different proportion should also be requisite ? leaving therefore the strictness of lessius and cornaro to speculative and monastick men , i shall prescribe two general rules of temperance , which in a practical observation may well enough suit and agree with all sorts of persons . the first rule is that of hippocrates , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , they that study their health , must not be satisfied with meat . but as avicen otherwise expresses it , must rise from the table , cum famis reliquiis , with the remainder of their hunger : by this means ( as a modern author of our own saith , dr. brook's conservatory of health ) the stomack will well overcome and digest what it hath received , and the remainder of thy appetite will be better imployed in perfecting thy digestion . the second rule is , that thou takest so much of the creature , as after it not to be disabled in the performances of holy duties , or in the duties of following thy vocation : for he that gluts his appetite with so much food , as thereby to hinder the clearer operation of the fancy , the understanding and the memory , and finds in himself a certain kind of dulness and heaviness in his spirit , which before was quick and active , may know for certain that he hath exceeded the bounds of temperance , and perverted the end of feeding , which is to refresh the strength and powers of the body . if therefore thou transgressest in this point , let thy abstinence be the greater , and thy care and circumspection doubled at thy succeeding meals . by these two rules alone may we learn to know the bounds and limits of temperance ; though in respect of its full praise , there can be no bounds : for it can never be sufficiently commended , which , in such a superlative sense , is so advantagious to the health both of body and soul. and therefore i shall put a period to this point , by referring the reader , for his further satisfaction , to the excellent treatises of lessius , and cornaro , who have written large encomiums of this vertue of temperance . lastly , i might instance in the reading of good books , in the good society of friends , their honest and wholesom discourses , exhortatory , and consolatory in time of sickness , ( which are very commendable , and agreeable to sacred writ ) and so more largely shew that these very things ( as seneca saith ) medicinae vim habuerunt , have the vertue of physick , et quicquid animum erexit , etiam corpori prodest , whatever hath raised and comforted the mind , hath also been profitable to the body , seneca epist. 79th . and also might by many examples illustrate these things , more especially by that of alphonsus , king of naples , who being abandoned of his physicians , as in a desperate case , and calling for quintus curtius , took such delight to hear him read , that he recovered his health again , obtaining that by a little consolation and delight , which could not be procured by physick . but to avoid prolixity , i shall here desist , and conclude the whole chapter , having ( as i suppose ) sufficiently proved and demonstrated , that vertuous and regular actions and affections do naturally conduce to the health of body , and length of life . chap. iv. shewing that vertuous and regular actions and affections do , through the blessed influence of divine providence upon means , prove often occasions of bodily health and long life . it is the duty of a christian to depend upon god in his providential administrations : for happy is that people , whose god is the lord , psal. 144. 15. and this happiness consisteth partly in that degree of peculiar providence , which respecteth the temporal salvation and preservation of the children of god from imminent dangers , more particularly those of mortal diseases , and sudden death ; and also in the ordination and disposition of means , in order to the recovery of bodily health , and the proroguing of life . and though there be swarms of contingencies that might be thought to hinder the success of means ; yet divine providence , for the welfare of the righteous , so hiveth them , and disposeth of them in such order , as they unite and combine together to produce the honey of health and long life . for it must be understood , that as sometimes , for the punishment of sin , the hand of providence may be seen in rendering the means used for health , successless ; a colledge of physicians , being physicians of no value , when and where the lord , the great physician , withdraws his manutenancy or succeeding hand of providence : witness this in asa , ( 2 chr. 16. 12 , & 13. ) who had his physicians , but not his cure : so sometimes the same providence , for the encouragement of the godly , is displayed in raising persons from the graves mouth , and recovering them when mortally sick in the judgment of the most accurate physicians ; and this sometimes by bringing to light such means which are very improbable to man's reason , though very proper for the recovery of the patient , who , like epaphroditus , was sick nigh unto death , but god had mercy on him , phil. 2. 27. also sometimes it is displayed in a fortunate concurrence of all needful contingencies , in order to the end here designed ; which some call the blessing upon the means , as ( namely ) when god by the method of his providence putteth it into the heart of the patient , or some friend about him , ( if the disease be dangerous ) to make a timely and seasonable address to a judicious and experienced physician , whose heart is providentially ( as it were ) inspired , and his memory prompted with such seasonable adaequate and proper prescriptions , as by the patients observation thereof , together with the use of other means represented to the mind by the hints and intercourse of the same providence , become very advantagious to health and long life . in this respect , though chiefly in a spiritual , i suppose that of the apostle holds good , all things work together for good , to them that love god , rom. 8. 28. and that which the wise man attesteth , is no less true : the preparations of the heart in man , and the answer of the tongue , is from the lord , prov. 16. 1. also , a man's heart deviseth his way : but the lord directeth his steps , vers , 9. likewise the peculiar & distinguishing providence of god , in the preservation of the lives of his children , is seen thorow the glass of these following instances . the king of israel , a wicked person , disguiseth himself , and hath his armour , ( 1 kings 22. ) yet an arrow finds its passage between the joints of his harness : on the other hand jehoshaphat , king of judah , a good king , who was in the same fight , and in greater danger than king ahab , is preserved : it came to pass ( saith the text ) when the captains of the chariots saw jehoshaphat ( in his royal robes ) they said , it is the king of israel : therefore they compassed about him to fight . but jehoshaphat cried out , and the lord helped him , and god moved them to depart from him , 2 chron. 18. 32. how often did saul hunt david's life , as a partridge on the mountains ? but the hedge of divine providence alwayes hindred saul's game , and secured david . yea , though saul had hedged him in round about , and gotten him in such a snare , as there was but a little distance betwixt david and death ; yet saul could not accomplish his designs ; providence , by way of diversion , had procured another hunting-match , the philistines had invaded the land. wherefore saul ( saith the scripture ) returned from pursuing after david , and went against the philistines , 1 sam. 23. 18. paul , the apostle and servant of jesus christ , how oft was he in the suburbs of death , by perils of waters , perils of robbers , perils by his own country-men , perils by the heathen , perils in the city , perils in the wilderness , perils in the sea , and perils among false brethren ? 2 cor. 11. 26. yet how often did the lord preserve his life , by a happy concurrence of providential contingencies and casualties ? when the jews went about to kill him , their design was ineffectual ; and paul giveth the reason thereof , saying : having therefore obtained help of god , i continue unto this day , acts 26. 21 , & 22. which place hath reference to another , where it is recorded that , as they went about to kill paul , tidings came unto the chief captain of the band , that all jerusalem was in an uproar , who immediately took souldiers , and centurions , and ran down unto them : and when they saw the chief captain and the souldiers , they left beating of paul , chap. 21. 31 , & 32. an admirable example of god's good providence , who delighted to reserve his hand for a dead lift , to rescue and save those that are forsaken of their hopes ; yea , sometimes , even by the hands of such a person as had no such intention ; as we may see in the following words , vers . 33. again we read in another place , ( chap. 23. ) of a combination of above forty conspiratours , who had bound themselves with direful curses , that they would eat nothing until they had killed paul : but providence revealed the plot and conspiracy to paul's sisters son ; and a sweet providence it was that this boy should be by , to detect and defeat their wicked counsel ; whereby paul escaped as a bird out of the snare . austin relates , how by losing his way , as he was travelling , he thereby saved his life , escaping an ambush of the bloody donatists , who had way-laid him . the stories are well known , how moulin at the time of the parisian massacre , was cherished for a fortnight by a hen , which came constantly , and laid her eggs there , where he lay hid . and at cales , how an english-man , who crept into a hole under a pair of stairs , was there preserved by means of a spider , which had woven its web over the hole , and so the souldiers slighted the search in that place . no less remarkable is the signal preservation of those vertuous and religious potentates , queen elizabeth , king james , and our now gracious soveraign charles the second , thorow an ocean of dangers , by that discreet pilot , divine providence . all which instances are a sufficient comment upon this text : he that is our god is the god of salvation , and unto god the lord belong the issues from death , psal. 68. 20. and the result of the whole point is this : that as man liveth not by bread alone , but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of god ; mat. 4. 4. ( that is to say ) as bread , though ordinarily it hath a nourishing property inhaerent in it , for the sustaining of man's life ; yet so only , as that the operation of that , and success of other means tending to the preservation of health , and prolongation of life , is guided by the power of god's providence and appointment : so the sweet influence of this providence is chiefly and principally intended and extended to the children of god , in blessing the means used by them , to that end and purpose . therefore are those sacred texts prescribed as corroboratives to the servants of god ; and ye shall serve the lord your god , and he shall bless thy bread and thy water : and i will take sickness away from the midst of thee , exod. 23. 25. also , are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father . fear ye not therefore , ye are of more value than many sparrows , mat. 10. 29 , & 31. if then the eye of god's providence be so watchful , to defend and preserve the meanest of his creatures , that sparrows , which are so cheap and worthless , and also such short-liv'd birds , ( as naturalists observe ) shall not perish or die without the permission and concurring will of god in second causes ; then surely we must not asperse our saviour's logick , by denying the inference from sparrows to the children of god , seeing this is the scope of the argument urged by our saviour in that place ; ( namely ) that if the eye of divine providence be so careful and circumspect in the preservation of the meanest creatures ; much more is the eye of the lord ( as david saith ) upon them that fear him : upon them that hope in his mercy : to deliver their soul from death , and to keep them alive in famine , psal. 32. 18 , & 19. and thus much shall serve briefly to have demonstrated in general , that vertuous and regular actions and affections do , through the blessed influence of divine providence upon means , prove often occasions of bodily health and long life . chap. v. some objections briefly answered . and the conclusion of the whole . obj. 1. the first objection is of those , who cry up an irresistible decree , a fatal necessity predetermining the bounds of man's life ; and so consequently cry down the use of all means , whether spiritual , or natural , as needless and frivolous , in order to the preservation of health and prolongation of life : and they bolster up their opinion with the forecited words of job , ( by them wrested ) is there not an appointed time to man upon earth , are not dis dayes also like the dayes of an hireling ? job 7. 1. doubtless an error herein hath been very prejudicial , not only to the physicians practice , but also the patients health : and lest it should likewise obstruct the good effect designed in this treatise , we will not let it pass uncontrolled . for whosoever alloweth this error , must of necessity disallow the petition in the lord's prayer , for our daily bread , as also of all the divine prayers made for the prolongation of life , and preservation from mortal danger or sudden death , as likewise of the dispensation of the gift of healing to the physician ( whom god hath created , and honoured to the same end and purpose ) and of all other means whatsoever , tending to the temporal end and design of this discourse . answ. now in answer hereunto , i shall endeavour to unfold those texts of sacred writ , wherein the main strength of the objection lieth , as ( namely ) the forecited place , and also that in the 14 th . of job v. 5 th . seeing his dayes are determined , the number of his moneths are with thee , thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass . here then the words of job , concerning the end of life limited , set , and appointed , are not to be referred unto causes of destiny , but to the obedience and disobedience of god's commandment . or we may more largely answer with some , ( see piscator upon psal. 55. 23. & marianus upon job 14. 5. ) that the term of mans life is twofold , 1. super-natural . 2. natural . 1. super-natural , as it is decreed from above , in the fore-sight and determination of god , which doth not alwayes agree with the natural ; and thus , as marianus saith , a primâ die pendet extrema , & in ortu sanxit quantum quisque victurus est ; the last day depends upon the first , and at our birth , ( yea before we were conceived ) god hath concluded how long every man should live , as he that fore-seeth as well the wayes that we would go , as the end which those wayes would bring us to . 2. natural , which a man may attain unto by his natural strength , unless he doth neglect the means , or shorten his own dayes by some unlawful deeds , and thus the godly may be said to prolong their dayes , when by their upright life , they have the assistance of the divine clemency , to produce them to the furthest period , that their natural strength could carry them ; so abraham lived to a good old age , gen. 25 , & 8. and so divers of god's saints became old men and full of years : and on the contrary the wicked may be rightly said , to shorten his dayes , when for his impiety , the divine hand of heaven doth abridge that ample time , which he might have lived , and when , according as he determined from the beginning when he fore-saw his wayes , he doth measure his life with a shorter line , then the strength of nature would have done : so lascivious zimri was cut off for his sins in the midst of his age , so the old world , so the sodomites , so the galileans , so all those sinners , that do provoke the hand of god to use the sword of justice , to cut them off for their murders , robberies , and the like ; and so the wanton onans , roaring duellers , drunkards , and all others , that are loose in their lives and disorderly in their diets or behaviours , may be said to be cut off each one of them , in die non suo , before his day ; that is , before that day , ad quem per naturam , juxta hominum opinionem pervenire poterat , to which nature , in the judgment of all men might have brought him , if he had not prevented the same by his unseasonable death , vel gladio , vel morbo , vel aliquâ aliâ causâ violentâ , morte non sua , either by the sword , or disease , or some other violent cause , as mercerus saith , mercerus in job 14. 5. or if that answer sufficeth not , consider this following : god almighty , who is the creator , and conservator of all things in the universe , hath appointed to every created thing both a beginning , and end or termination of subsisting and moving , and doth take notice not only of principal , but also of subsequent causes of things ; governing , moderating , disposing , and ordering them ; according to his free will ; and yet all this government is void of fatal violence , and most commonly cometh to effect , mediately and from deputed causes , which vulgarly are called second causes , which the divine majesty doth employ as the instruments of his will , so long as he doth so govern all things which he hath created , as also himself may suffer them , to exercise their proper motions ; for the will of man by divine ordination is the original of humane actions , freely electing what seemeth best for it self ; ( especially in externalls ) and herein the causes so answer the effects , as if the effects be necessary , the causes are also necessary , and if contingent , the causes are contingent ; nor doth the praescience or fore-knowledge of god , which is certain and not to be deceived , abolish the contingency of natural events ; but the future effect is disposed as it were by a divine providence necessarily , or contingently ; nor doth it null the freedom of the agent , nor is the creator obliged to the necessity , but moderateth all things freely according to his free will and pleasure ; and though his omnipotency can dispose of causes , and life with every kind of death at his own free pleasure , yet it will not urge any person to accept that term of life for a fatal determinination , but for a divine ordination of various causes , which by the election of the will , ( that as des-cartes saith ) can never be constrained , prove occasions either of sustaining or destroying life . in brief , if still the curious objector remains dissatified , i wish him convinced , potius verberibus quam verbis , rather with stripes than stress of words ; and the indicative story which i have read of , may apologize for me in my optative mood . a discontented gallant having drowned himself , and being much lamented by the spectators for youthful comliness , amongst them was one of this erronious opinion , who was pleased to read a lecture to them of the inevitable decree of the almighty , and not by him to be avoided , nor by them lamented . hereupon a young man ( of the contrary education ) gave her a great blow over the face , which made her challenge him of base cowardise , and as great incivility to the feminine sex ; who returned her in answer , that it was the inevitable will of god it should be so , and a truth according to her own doctrine ; which caused her to stagger in her opinion . let us not then scorn the means : for ( as solomon saith ) judgments are prepared for scroners ; and stripes for the back of fools , prov. 19. 29. obj. 2. another objection is of those whom we call star-peepers , nativity-casters , and fortune-tellers , who by birth-stars , that is , by stars which arise at every ones coming into the world , pretend an infallible prediction of the certain time of their health , sickness , recovery , what shall chaunce unto them , and of the time , and manner of their death ; and so thereby endeavour to overthrow the use of all means , tending to the preservation of health , and prolongation of life . solut. indeed we deny not unto that noble science , which they name natural astrologie , the knowledge of nature's order , and the motions of heavenly bodies : but we utterly disallow their superstition , who professing judicial astrology , ( for with this great and glorious title they deck and garnish their superstition , ) do measure and predict conjecturally every man's fortune and success , as touching sickness , life and death , by the hour of his birth . for , while these nativity-casters and fortune-tellers confess , that recourse must be made from the time of bearing , to the time of begetting ; what do they else but bewray their own vanity ? for it is not possible that they should hear and know for certain the very time of conception : so that though it be granted that the stars have some influence and power upon our bodies , in respect of health and sickness , life and death ; yet notwithstanding it may be rationally denyed that they can be certainly fore-told by any such judicial astrological predictions : because ( amongst many other reasons ) of the uncertainty of the time of conception or instant of begetting . let not men then search into their almanacks to calculate a nativity , and in the mean time neglect their bibles , which will never be out of date : but let them ( as our saviour adviseth ) search the scriptures , john 5. 39. and they may read ( judg. 8. 18. ) of many thousands dying a violent death nigh one and the same time ; and if an astrologer had been consulted before that time , it is likely that he would have fore-told the instanious deaths of an hundred and twenty thousand , when most of them without question ) had divers and sundry birth-stars ? again , had he read of esau & jacob twins born , would he judge them to have been of the same temper and constitution , and to have died at the same instant of time ? it is like he might ; but surely not without error . yea it may be inferred , and proved also by strict observation , that other children ( besides twins ) have been born at one instant of time , who notwithstanding died at several times . furthermore , if the time , and kind of death depend upon the stars , then by consequence , shall sins depend upon them too , ( for these are the proper cause of that ) and the promises of god , in respect of bodily health and long life , be of no effect . which consequences whoever grants as conclusions , without further examination of the premisses , ( i fear ) will scarce ever be directed to christ by a star. i shall therefore direct the eyes of such to the reading of that sacred irony in isaiah : let now the astrologers , the star-gazers , the monthly prognosticators , stand up , and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee , isay 47. 13. and also of that dehortatory lesson in jeremiah , thus saith the lord , learn not the way of the heathen : and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven , for the heathen are dismayed at them , jer. 10. 2. object . 3. a third objection may be drawn from the skill of chiromancy or palmistry , which undertaketh by marks and lines in the hands , especially by the line of life , to measure the extent of every man's life , with the time and degree of every dangerous disease incident thereunto ; and so thereby maketh void the use of all means tending to the temporal end of this discourse . solut. in the confutation of this error , let the testimony of a late author suffice : the lines in the hands , ( saith he ) which are counted nature's manuscripts , are but the folds of the skin when the hand bends inwardly , neither proper to any who have their feet alwayes extended ; by the same reason we have not those now , which we had in our infancy , but by accidents , diseases and labour are changeable ; a book fit for justices to discover idleness , dr. robinson in his miscellanious treatise . lastly , another objection is from those that pretend , wizards and witches , &c. the oracles of the devil , can prophecy or predict the certain term of man's life , with the manner of his death ; and if so , ( say they ) then how can vertue prorogue , or vice abbreviate man's life ? solut. i answer briefly , that sathan , though he can give a notable intelligence to some who are his oracles ; yet his knowledge for the most part is but conjectural . indeed his experience , as he is an old serpent , and his knowledge , as he is an angel , are both very great : he can quickly take cognizance of the position of matters , how things are in their precedent causes , both natural and moral . thus supposing that it was the devil in samuel's mantle , that did fore-tell the precise time of saul's death , 1 sam. 28. 19. yet it doth not imply the absolute certainty of the devil's prediction , or the fatal necessity of saul's death ; nor is it any wonder if the devil speaks as he doth : for david was anointed , saul grows worse and worse , and now the top-stone sin was laid on , namely , his going to a witch , and a battel was at hand to be fought , all the prodromi , or fore-runners of his approaching ruine . the conclusion . and now to conclude , the result of the whole , is that of the philosopher , ex sanitate in anima sit sanitas in corpore , from health in the soul ariseth health in the body , arist. lib. 7. meta. or ( if you will ) taste the summ and substance of the whole treatise , in the words of an eminent author , ( t. h. r. e. fellow of the royal society ) in his late discourse of the excellency of theology , p. 130. which just now saluted mine eye , and gave me such a fair prospect , in parvo , of my preceding discourse , as i will not let them pass , but shall here insert them , both for strength and ornament thereunto . he who effectually teaches men to subdue their lusts and passions , ( saith he ) does as much as the physician contribute to the preservation of their bodies , by exempting them from those vices , whose no less usual than structive effects are wars , and duels , and rapines , and desolations , and the pox , and surfeits , and all the train of other diseases that attend gluttony and drunkenness , idleness and lust ; which are not enemies to man's life and health barely upon a physical account , but upon a moral one , as they provoke god to punish them with emporal as well as spiritual judgments ; such as plagues , wars , famines , and other publick calamities , that sweep away a great part of mankind . and , a little further , he addeth , those teachers that make men virtuous and religious , by making them temperate , and chaste , and inoffensive , and calm , and contented , do help them to those qualifications , that by preserving the mind in a calm and cheerful temper , as well as by affording the body all that temperance can confer , do both lengthen their lives , and sweeten them . thus he. wherefore , since righteousness ( as the wise man saith ) tendeth to life ; and he that pursueth evil , pursueth it to his own death , prov. 11. 19. let our chiefest care be , ut sit mens sana in corpore sano , that a healthful mind be in a healthful body ; that as by the soundness of the one , we enjoy the sweetness of our temporal life ; so by the soundness of the other , we may have the happy fruition , both of temporal here , and of eternal life hereafter . finis . an alphabetical index . a dultery , fornication , uncleanness , &c. sins destructive to soul and body ; and an objection for the use thereof answered 33 , &c. ambition and the evils thereof in respect of soul and body . 73 , & 77. anger and its discommodities , when in excess . 48 , &c. astrology judicial , the vanity thereof , and that neither the certain time of sickness , nor term of man's life can be rationally predicted thereby . 194 , &c. b. blasphemy , vide swearing : c. care excessive and immoderate , hurtful to soul and body . 75 covetousness . ibid. chiromancy and the vanity thereof , shewing that the time and degree of diseases , and the extent of life can not be infallibly or rationally predicted thereby . 197. d. the devil , how far he can cause diseases . 110. diseases sometimes cured without natural means . 136 , 137. diligence in our calling , vide labour . drunkenness prejudicial to the health of soul and body , and also long life . 25 , &c. an objection for the use thereof answered . 31 , &c. e. envie a cause of diseases and shortness of life . 51. f. faith a powerful means of bodily health , and this in a super-natural way . 138 , &c. also in a natural way . 149. fear if slavish and excessive , dangerous to soul and body . 66 , &c. fasting a religious duty , and both preventive and curative physick to the body . 166 , to 174. g. gluttony , the evil effects thereof in soul and body . 18 , to 25. god , when natural means fail , by his almighty power can cure diseases without them . 140 , 144. grief if wordly and immoderate , an enemy to health and long life . 54 , to 62. h. hatred , vide envie . health its encomium , and the commodities thereof . 2. it cometh from god , and therefore thanks to be returned to him for it . 147 , 148. healing : the gift thereof whether ceased in the church . 135 , &c. hope very advantagious to health and long life . 151 , &c. i. idleness how injurious to health . 42 , &c. joy sensual and immoderate , injurious to soul and body . 63 , to 66. joy moderate and well-grounded a promoter of health . 153. imagination , the power thereof in relation to health . 150. intemperance and the many discommodities thereof . 17 , &c. k. kings and princes , why commonly they arrive not to any great age . 152. the kings evil miraculously cured , and the manner thereof described . 140 , &c. l. labour , the benefite thereof to the body as well as soul. 154 , to 158. laughter , vide sensual joy. learning , vide study . long life a great blessing . 3. whether the bounds of life be predetermined ; with an answer to an objection . 187 , to 193. the lord's day prophaned , what judgments have ensued upon the offenders . 99. love how it becomes advantagious to the health both of body and soul. 153. m. means , natural means must not be neglected in the cure of diseases , nor altogether relied upon , 138 , 145. n. nature in man's body ( under god ) the best physician ; yet stands in need of outward assistances . 163 , 164. o. the ordinances as the word of god , and the holy sacraments , baptism , and the lord's supper , being contemned , or abused , what bodily plagues , & temporal destruction have followed . 92 , to 99. obedience to paronts rewarded with long life , 117 , 118. and how the promise of long life is to be understood , 119. also what is meant by obedience to parents . 121 , 122 p. perjury , vide swearing . the physician learned , and conscientious , worthy of double honour , and his skill to be made use of with good success ; but yet with a proviso . 147. prayer being devout and zealous , a powerfulpromoter of bodily health and long life . 122. of annointing the sick body as a ceremony annexed to prayer ; and the judgment of our church concerning it . 127 , &c. some objections against the use of prayer , answered . 129 , &c. pride punished with bodily plagues and destruction . 104. divine providence , the manner of its influence in procuring health and long life to the godly . 178. r. repentance , how it procures health , and long life , how it prevents diseases , and destruction . 138. religion or a religious life how it becomes advantagious to health and long life . 149. s. sin in general an occasion of bodily diseases , and shortness of life , and this in a super-natural way . 6. also how it is a natural cause of diseases , 16 , 17 , &c. item how an accidental cause . 83. the sacrament of the lord's supper unworthily received , how dangerous to soul and body , vide the ordinances . sacriledge , the punishment of it declared in corporal plagues and destruction . 100. saints , the long lives of many prophets , and saints in holy scripture , and the cause imputed . 145. sloth and slugishness , vide idleness . society and good company how sometimes advantagious to health , by consolatory discourses . 177. sorrow , vide grief . the soul and bodies sympathy , and mutual concurrence in the production of diseases . 111. study , if immoderate and unseasonable , an enemy to health and long life . 78. swearing , blasphemy , &c. how punished . 101. t. teachers and preachers how much they contribute , by their wholesome discourses , towards the health and long life of their obedient auditors . 199 , 200. temperance , and the many commodities thereof , in relation to the prevention and cure of diseases , and to the proroguing of life . 158 , &c. the bounds of temperance . 174. v. vain-glory , vide pride . vertue and vertuous actions and affections explained . 144. w. witches and magicians how they can sometimes cause diseases and death . 110. they cannot predict the certain term of man's life , with the manner of his death . 198. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a45640-e1530 fuller's comment . on 11 chap. of 1 cor. p. 79. h. brook in his conservatory of health . hector boeth . history of scotland . h brook's conservatory of health , p. 187. 2d : part of the french academy p. 262. d. charton's exercitationes path. p. 112. vid. des-cartes de passionibus artic. 106. dr. bernard upon his life and death in a funeral sermon . p. 27 notes for div a45640-e11550 this is true when the sore is in the glandules of the neck : but when it is elsewhere , it is said by some that have been often touched , that the king gently toucheth only the cheeks of the party grieved . levamen infirmi: or, cordial counsel to the sick and diseased containing i. advice concerning physick, and what a physician ought to be; with an account of the author's remedies, and how to take them. ii. concerning melancholy, frensie, and madness; in which, amongst other things, is shew'd, how far they differ from a conscience opprest with the sense of sin, and likewise how they differ among themselves. iii. a miscellany of pious discourses, concerning the attributes of god; with ejaculations and prayers, according to scripture rule. likewise an account of many things which have happen'd since the creation. to which are added several predictions of what may happen to the end of the world. the whole being enrich'd with physical, pious, moral & historical observations, delightful to read, & necessary to know. by d. irish, practitioner in physick and surgery, now dwelling at stoke, near guilford in surry, where he is ready to serve any person, to the utmost of his skill. irish, david. 1700 approx. 237 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 75 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a45776 wing i1036 estc r221621 99832915 99832915 37390 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a45776) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 37390) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2187:21) levamen infirmi: or, cordial counsel to the sick and diseased containing i. advice concerning physick, and what a physician ought to be; with an account of the author's remedies, and how to take them. ii. concerning melancholy, frensie, and madness; in which, amongst other things, is shew'd, how far they differ from a conscience opprest with the sense of sin, and likewise how they differ among themselves. iii. a miscellany of pious discourses, concerning the attributes of god; with ejaculations and prayers, according to scripture rule. likewise an account of many things which have happen'd since the creation. to which are added several predictions of what may happen to the end of the world. the whole being enrich'd with physical, pious, moral & historical observations, delightful to read, & necessary to know. by d. irish, practitioner in physick and surgery, now dwelling at stoke, near guilford in surry, where he is ready to serve any person, to the utmost of his skill. irish, david. [8], 127, [1] p. printed for the author: and are to be sold by isaac walker, bookseller in guilford, london : 1700 copy has print show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng physicians -early works to 1800. mental illness -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. devotional literature -early works to 1800. 2003-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-11 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-11 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion levamen infirmi : or , cordial counsel to the sick and diseased ▪ containing i. advice concerning physick , and what a ●hysician ought to be ; with an account of the author's remedies , and how to take them . ii. concerning melancholy , frensie , and madness ; in which , among●t other things , is shew'd , how far they differ from a conscience opprest with the sense of sin , and likewise how ●hey differ among themselves . iii. a miscellany of pious discourses , concerning the attributes of god ; with ejaculations and prayers , according to scripture rule ▪ likewise an account of many things which have happen'd since the creation . to which are added several predictions of what may happen to the end of the world ▪ the whole b●ing enrich'd with phys●●al , pious , moral & historical observation● , delightful ●o read , & necessary ●o know . by d. irish , practitioner in physick and surgery ▪ now dwelling at stoke , near guilford in surry , where he is ready to serve any person , to the utmost of his skill . london , printed for the author : and are to be sold by isaac walker , bookseller in guilford , 1700. to the worshipful and much esteemed mr. robert berry , mayor of the ancient corporation of guilford in surry ▪ and to all my loving neighbours and friends . worthy friends , that i might pay a more than momentary acknowledgment for the many tes●●●●●ies of love and honour i have daily receiv'd at your hands ever since providence brought me amongst you , i humbly lay at your feet this little book : and since friendship is best preserv'd and cultivated by mutual obligations , i will ( which indeed is all i can do on my part ) in return of your many good offices ▪ when ever any of you , or your friends , are pleased to call for my assistance , make it my sole care and design to administer proper medicines , as the patients necessity shall require . another reason of my dedication , arises from the knowledge i have of your zeal ●or godliness , and the propagation of the true religion , to which i hope this my little book will in some measure contribute . i need no● stimulate you to the encouraging of virtue , and curbing of vice , since i know that you , according to the power god has invested you with , will take care to punish iniquity , and maintain the purity of the christian religion , which has suffer'd so long by the remisness of many of its professors , insomuch that atheistical principles and practices have strangely gotten ground of gospel truths , to the spiritual grief of all the godly . and now since i consider'd that spiritual and corporeal maladies are the two grand misfortunes of mankind , i have in these sheets endeavour'd to remedy both . physick is chiefly what i profess , nor am i asham'd since it is of such intrinsick worth , that it even adds honour to the most honourable practitioner : that it is profitable to the natural body , and consequently to the body politick , since the latter consists of the former as a whole do's of its parts , must be acknowledg'd by every one that is sanae mentis , and needs not helebore . hence the wise gre●ians did not without reason highly commend hypocrates , and the latines their corne●ius celsus , for their courage in first ven●uring , and wisdom in wading into the depth ●f this mystery , and for their transmitting in ●heir works this noble art to posterity . this art was anciently valu'd at so high 〈◊〉 rate , that apollo and aesculapius , steemed by some the first founders of physick , ●ere adored as gods for the excellence of their ●●vention . besides , the word of god , which ●ndeniably warrants our esteem for whatso●ver it extolls , mentioneth phisitians by way ●f honour before the giving of the law ; ●e which doth not only implicitly allow , but ●xpresly commands ( if the old english tran●ation be credited ) the use of physick ; see ●en . 50.2 . psal. 147.3 . exod. 15.26 . ●od giveth medicines to heal , health is the ●rince , the first born , as life is the king , of ●utward blessings . the widow in the gos●●l disesteemed all her substance in comparison 〈◊〉 this iewel : and job said , skin for skin , and all that a man hath to save his life . the phisitian , who is manus dei , brings ●his precious pearl , health to the oppressed sick , where god sees it n●cessary for their futur● good . god and nature ( qui nihil frustra agunt ) have appointed herbs not only for meat , but also for medicines , the virtue and value of which would never be found out , no● made serviceable to their right ends , if some did not employ their time and tallants in search thereof : tho' 't is a task full of difficulties ; for the natures or effects of simples alter according to the difference of places in which they grow , and according to the constitution of the persons to whom they are given . how miserable then are those places where nothing but ignorant pretenders abound , whose medicines are usually worse than ineffectual , an● such as take them are deliver'd up to th● mercy ( i should rather say , cruelty and execution ) of ignorant pretenders . on the othe● hand , what a great felicity and happiness is i● when the sick and diseased meet with persons both of much science and conscience , wh● ●nderstand and consider the cause of diseases , 〈◊〉 nature of ingredients , the constitution of ●atients , the difference of climates , and the ●roper seasons of administring physick , and ●aithfully , according to these circumstances , prescribe and apply it . yet , dear countrymen , all this without god●iness is not enough , which , as the diamond to ●he ring , addeth real value to all natural and ●cquir'd accomplishments , and which is the ●nly ark for the soul to be shelter'd in when a deluge overfloweth . o! how glad would ●●sanctified schollars be , who are now cry'd up for sublime wits , for the quintessence of learning , for living libraries , and divine eagles , for magistri sententiarum , doctores angelici , seraphici , subtiles , and what not , if they could pass at the great day for the greatest ignorants , and most illiterate innocents that ever were in the world. ' tho' my practice is physick , yet have i presum'd to write of holy and spiritual things , because religion is absolutely necessary in all ; and also to beget in all men diligent endeavours after true piety , as the onl● means to arrive at a right management o● their parts . the lord grant that what i have written ▪ may be apply'd as medicinal , to the health o● my own , and the souls and bodies of others ▪ which is the hearty prayer of honoured sir , and dear countrymen , your true friend , and humble servant , d. irish. david irish , practitioner in physick , his advice concerning physick . physicians are called by herophilus ▪ man●● dei , the hands of god , and not very improperly , since they are the instruments he often uses in restoring health , and repairing decayed nature : they ought with no less cheerfulness and diligence help the poor in their extremity for nothing , or at most , for a very small reward , as the rich for great sums , since it is not the physician , but god that cures ; for in exod. 15.26 . god saith , he will put away their diseases , and heal th●m , if they keep his commandments , it should go well with them , and they should be free from diseases . in other places god hath stiled himself iehovah rophe , the lord the physician , and worthily , for from him comes the gift of healing ; therefore , as i said before , physicians and chirurgeons also are but god's inst●uments , who act under him. 't is he only that can command health ; all the medicinal means physicians use are but the order in which he is pleased ●o work such effects on our bodies as he sees ●ittest for us . and no doubt but the science of physick ●●de a part of the great wisdom wherewith god ●●spired adam ; for , questionless , thi● enabled him to perform the office of a midwife , and to assist eve in her extremity ; for , as may be gathered from scripture , her travail-pains were as great as those of her posterity and sex are at this day . here it may not be imp●rtinent to observe , that children , as soon as th●y are born , ( a good argument of their original ) call out upon the two first letters of our first par●nts names ; the males crying a e , a e ; and the females , e a , e a , as a token of the miserable condition adam and eve ▪ by their disobedience , ent●il'd upon their pos●●rity ; for indeed , by their breaking god's first commandment , we had all for ever perished , were not god's mercy great and wonderful towards his people , in working a means for their redemption , as well as for their recovery of health , which is very ea●ie to be understood by the angels salutation , in his using the aforesaid letters e v a , the name of the woman , ( who at first ma●● us bondsmen ) to make us free , when the angel gabriel inverted their order , an● pronounced them a v e to the virgin mary . since , as is said , god is the great physician , whensoever we are sick , or any ways infirm , let us call upon him for help , and he will hear us , being alway●●eadier to give than we to ask , 2 king. 20.5 , &c. consider then what god said to hezekiah ; behold , ( said he ) i will heal thee . and isaiah said , take ● lump of figs , and they took them , and laid them on the boile , and hezekiah recovered , and lived 15 years after , isa. 38. and iohn 9.6 . which examples teach us , that without god the prescriptions of doctors signifie nothing , but where god pleases , even ordinary means have great power to procure health , which once obtain'd , men ought to give praise to god in perpetual gratitude for their recovery ; but men are in this , as well as in other duties , too remiss , as appears by the ten lepers which christ cured , of whom there was but one that return'd him thanks ▪ tho' he expects the same return from all , ( rom. 12 ▪ tit. 2. ) especially those he heal'd and cured of troublesome and dangerous diseases . we have his word to ground our hopes and boldness upon in asking , where he tells us , that he that heareth his word , and believeth on him , shall obtain eternal life . now , if upon such conditions he will give us eternal life , we need not doubt but that he will give us a temporary health , if he sees that it be good for us , or condusive to that life which i● everlasting . therefore let us , as those that are not without hope , be stedfast , unmoveable , always abounding in the works of the lord , forasmuch as we know our labour is not in vain in the lord , 1 cor. 15.58 . ex libris nemo evasit artifex , no man becomes an artist by books , only this , as in most arts , so in physick , is undoubtedly true . believe me , a greater insight is required to the making of a physician ▪ than what the best books in the world can furnish a man with ; one must have time and experience to gain an acquaintance with the k●owledge of man's body , and the use of instruments belonging to the art ; 't is practice that best teaches us the virtues of simples , and which alone can make medicines call'd experienced truly so . he that is only book-learn'd , his skill at best is but skin deep ; galen discreetly compares such to those pilots , who by books only will undertake to steer a ship into any part of the world , tho' they were never at sea before ; but the end of such a man 's undertaking would doubtless be as dangerous to himself , as the attempts of a book-learn'd unexperienced physician are to those he first practises on . yet we have store of young doctors , some of which not over-learned , who , as soon as ever they come out of the university , will undertake to write prescriptions to the apothecaries for medicines to cure the sick even of the most obstinate and intricate diseases , when they are void of all manner of experience and full of nothing at best but noise and speculative notions : but since these two contribute little to the recovery of the sick , they are not by wise men to be relied on , except when no others c●n be had ; of this i will say no more , but tell you what an emperor did on the like occasion , when a young doctor was brought to him . doctor , said the emperor , how many hast thou kill'd in the time of thy practice ? the young graduate answer'd , may it please your highness , not one . to him the emperor gave his fee , and bid him be gone ; for , said he , i 'll take nothing from such a doctor that has not kill'd any one in his practice ; he may try experience upon me , and so kill ●e first : fetch me an old experienced physician ; for i 've no mind to give beginning to any man's art by my end or d●ath . then they brought to the emperor an ancient , grey , old doctor , of whom the emperor , as of the former , demanded , how many he had killed in his time of practice ? the doctor answered , stroaking his beard with his hand , if your h●ghness can number these grey hairs on my chin , then i can tell you the number of those to whom my practice prov'd fatal ; but by my then killing , i have now well in●orm'd my self of the way of curing . god have mercy , old doctor , reply'd the emperor , i find by your confession that you are an experienc'd man , i 'll venture to take something from you , or by your directions , for i know , continued the emperor , that by the divine decree of god almighty , all metals , minerals , herbs and plants , enrich'd with various scents , tasts , colours and forms , grow and spring forth of the earth , possest with many and great virtues , insomuch , that i hold it a great offence to attribute to any other than to the deity the benefit of a blessing adapted for so many uses ; besides , the knowledge of the virtues of these things is no less than divine in its original ; for certainly no man's capacity could ever attain to the knowledge of these things at first , without the assistance of a supernatural power and inspiration ; this being so , 't will be easily granted , that when in the beginning god breathed into adam the breath of life , he then also taught him the knowledge of nature in all her intricate operations , faculties and virtues , that is , discovered to him , the secret energy of all things contained in the circuit of this universe ; and at this day we see the same god preserves by means all those beings he at first made without means . in fine , said the emperor , i will not adventure to be preserv'd by unexperienced men , lest i should shipwrack my self upon the rocks of horrid ignorance ; but will look for the continuance of my life from those whose experience , under god , has furnish'd them with the me●ns and methods of preserving nature . you see , reader , ●n example of a wise emperor , to teach thee a les●on of necessary caution since the lord has endow'd the earth and its ●umerous product with many medicinal virtues , 't is 〈◊〉 well irreligious , as 't is foolish in any , to di●own their being , or to abhor their use. from the lord , as we have elsewhere said , cometh the gift of healing ▪ which also appears from scripture , seeing god is therein stiled , the only physician . god was the first operator , as you will confess upon calling to mind his taking out one of our grand-father adam's ribs whereof to make a woman , which thing was so wonderful , that it may well be counted the greatest as well as the first operation . our blessed saviour ●ook his name from his healing nature , and to countenance our practice made use of ordinary means , as clay and spittle , in restoring sight to the blind ; not but that he was able to have alone perfected the cure by his powerful word , without such means , were it not that he meant to show us , by his example , that with means , and god's blessing thereon , much may be done in restoring health to the sick , and ease to those in pain . 't is above 5700 years since god first taught our great grand-father adam the virtues of all things , and consequently furnish'd him with the main materials fit for a physician and surgeon ; but as to the practick part , by what i have already said , the latter is more ancient . let us be moderate in our desire after knowledge , lest by a too hot pursuit , we , with adam , not only lose what we seek for , but our primitive science and happiness into ▪ the bargain ; therefore let us take our saviour's advice along with us , first to seek after the kingdom of heaven , and then all other things shall be added unto us . let us then take heed , that we set not our affections too much upon the things of this world , but rather let us seek after the true knowledge of god ; but we have no means to know god to purpose but by his word ; therefore let us study his word , that we may have eternal life , which word will in the next world bring us to it ▪ and then we shall know the great creator of the world , and us : and since even now all our little knowledge , arts and sciences , come from god , let us then wholly rely upon him ; for except we abide in him we can do no good thing , john 15.16 . next , i will give you to understand what manner of men physicians and surgeons ought to be ; omnibus aliis medicus praestantior unus . they ought to excel others in fearing god , and eschewing evil , as much as divines themselves ; for truly the divine and physician conveniunt in uno tertio ; they are both for curing ; the divine heals corpus per animam ; the physician , animam per corpus . every divine is a spiritual physician , and every physician ought to be a spiritual divine , tho' not by profession , yet by practice ; for into their hands god has put the lives of those he lov'd so well , that he redeem'd them by the blood of his only begotten son. st. luke , the beloved physician , was a divine evangelist , and commends the study of those great books of god , the book of his scripture , and that of his creatures , since the glory of god , and the good of his creatures , ought to be the mark to which all the endeavours of physicians ought to be directed . physicians should by no means give the least entertainment to such a monster as covetousness within their breasts ; nor ought they to have any respect to persons , but go as freely to the poor for a little money ▪ or for nothing , when need requires , as to the rich for ample rewards ; for those that give to the poor , lend to the lord , and may be sure god will reward them double-fold . on the other hand , a physician is not bound to behave himself in this manner to the rich , but may take his fee lawfully and cheerfully when it is offer'd ; but there are too many who are willing to have the physicians help , but slow in paying him . hence 't is observ'd , that a doctor appears to his patient in three different forms : first , when he tells the patient there is hopes ; o then he appears as an angel. next , when the cure is perform'd , the patient looks upon his physician as a god. but lastly , when the physician demands his reward , then his patient takes him for a devil . thus different circumstances beget different opinions in those hateful minds that are corrupted by avarice and ignorance . therefore it ▪ is the physicians and surgeons rule , accipere dum dolet , to take the sound fee whilst the sick hand gives it . life is short , art long , occasion sudden , experience dangerous , judgment difficult : hence we may conclude , there are but few good physicians ; and yet it is not sufficient , tho' the physician or surgeon do their parts or office , unless the patient and his attendance do their duty also , whereby outward things may be as well order'd as those that are given inwardly ; this is the main hinge upon which all the rest turn ; and therefore ought earnestly to be prest , and all too little to make servants diligent : the physician ought to be faithful and cautious in practice ; for life hangs as it were but by a slender thread , and is at best but short , yet is apt to be made much shorter by many accidents , and those very small ones too . art is long , if theory and practice are consider'd . diseases are sudden , and if not suddenly removed , may quickly ruine . past experiments , if not well understood , may lead the physician into errour ; besides , judgment is very difficult , through the variety of diseases and their causes , which , by the fault of the sick and his attendance , are many times not perceived even by physicians of greatest abilities . astrology , tho' in many of its parts is accounted ●idiculous , yet is greatly ( if not only ) useful for ●hose that study physick ; for without it the pre●ended physician can never have the true knowledge of the crisis , or critical and judicial days . it is most certain , that hippocrates and galen , the two pillars of the art of physick , found out the use of vegetables and their natures , as also many other physical things , by the influence of the stars . but god is the governour and disposer of all their seve●al virtues ; and when they are transplanted out ●f their natural soil , they lose their planetary vir●ues in a great measure , yet they continue with the ●ame colours and smells , tho' not so strong ; there●ore the chymical extractions made from them , where they naturally grow , are the best of medicines , ●f administred according to astrological rules , the want of knowing which , is the cause of great errors ●n many physicians ; but for finding out any disease , ● say with mepardus , potius lotium inspiciendum quam ●astra , that the vrin is rather to be look'd into than the stars . we read in holy writ , that the physician is honourable ; understand this of him that is expert ; for one ignorant in his art renders himself despicable and ridiculous . now the way to make him perfect , is to know nature , and her secret operations . it is not the physician 's feeling the pulse of the party , or questioning with him how he feels himself , and in what part of his body he is most afflicted , that can give a man a thorough understanding of his malady . the pulse is deceitful , and the patient himself is oft ignorant : these then , i say , are not s●fficient grounds for him to proceed upon , and yet without a good foundation the fabrick is not likely to be well built , or at lea●t not to stand long : how , alas , should man , ove●●ome with the weight of his own torture● or dis●ra●●●d with a too viol●nt desire for prese●● relief , ●●fine the state of his own , perhaps , unspea●able misery ; and yet , i ●ay , the cause of a disea●● must be first known b●●●r● the doctor can make 〈◊〉 medicine judicially pr●●er , or undertake with a 〈◊〉 conscience to make a cure ; this being so , the natu●● and temper of the patient ought to be known , an● that can never be d●●cer●'d by looking on the patien● and fee●ing the pulse , tho' this is all most of t●● ignorant pretenders ground their proceeding upon , when as that which unerringly signifies t●● complexion to be sanguine , phlegm●tick , choleric● or melancholly , is not any inferior thing : no , it 〈◊〉 the superior bodies that best explain the matte● thus saturn signifies melancholy , iove sanguin● mars choler , &c. and every one knows , that by th● moon convulsion-fits are foreseen ; therefore , 〈◊〉 galen , hippocrates , and all the rational and ancien● physicians and students of nature were eminently skill'd in this sort of astrology ; so they esteem'd ▪ and with reason , all pretenders to physick , that wer● ignorant of astrology , to be rather fools than physicians . hence galen admonisheth all men not to trust themselves in the hands of that physician , ( o● rather ignorant pretender ) who is not skill'd in astrology , since the ignorant therein are not abl● to perform with certainty any cure whatsoever ▪ besides , what will cure a flegmatick man of a fever , will not cure one that is cholerick ; and then the pret●nded physician seeing his medicine doth no● work the like operation as formerly , supposes the m●lady to be somewhat else , and himself mistaken , ●●d then he falls another way to work ; and so , to be ●●ort , kills the patient with a great many thanks 〈◊〉 gratuities both of money and gifts ; for ( as 〈◊〉 ignorant about him suppose ) he doing his en●eavour to cure the sick , ought to be well rewarded , ●●pecially if he can but talk of this rare cure , and ●hat excellent remedy , and preach himself up , and ●thers ( a thousand times more knowing than him●elf ) down , and now and then use some latin in his ●iscourse , and flourish it out with hard words to ●he ignorant ; i say , he carries it then , whether he ●ave or kill , and that with a great deal of credit , as 〈◊〉 and his ignorant friends think . likewise blood-●etting , if the heavens be not duly observ'd , is of no efficacy , and sometimes they hinder phlebotomy , which the ignorant surgeon colours with saying , ●he party is faint-hearted , or hath much wind in his ●eins , or with some such like ridiculous whimsie ; for they know no better , being ignorant of astro●ogy , which is a speculative science , very necessary ●n the administration of physick , being counted by the ancient practitioners of physick , rather divine , than diabolical or conjuring . i say more of this than otherwise i would , did i not greatly desire that all good arts , especially those i am conversant in , might be refined from their dross , and that knowledge might still encrease upon the earth . it is generally taken for granted among the unskilful , that the seventh and fourteenth days are critical , which they call the first and second crisis ; but 't is not true ; for the true crisis is thus known , look at the time of the parties first falling sick , in what sign , degree and minute of the zodiack the moon is in , and when she comes to the square thereof , that is the first crisis ; when she comes to the opposition or opposite place thereof , it is the second crisis ; the next square is , the third crisis ; and the same 〈◊〉 where she was at the first falling sick , is the four●● crisis , and so go on . again , the judicial days a● the middle , between the two crisis ; critical 〈◊〉 are known by astrology , and no otherwise . 〈◊〉 crisis is the sudden motion of the disease , eithe● towards health or death . by astrology also , 〈◊〉 the sight of the urin , the honest physician may clearl● discern which way the disease will tend . and th●● much of the excellent use of astrology , as the ancient practitioners used ; and thus far i allow 〈◊〉 astrology , believing stedfastly that the stars are fo● signs , and for seasons , and that god rules them ▪ therefore god is the governour of all things above and here below ; and therefore i pray thus , hi● will be done on earth , as it is in heaven . amen . there is , that i may speak all in a word , requir'd in a physician exquisite knowledge , long practice , great virtue , and good success . the sick is to be patient and obedient , apothecaries and surgeons exact , nurses also must be careful and diligent in observing the physicians directions ; nay , the air , linen , diet , and beds of the sick , ought to be convenient , and according to direction . medicine is an art , some say a science , removing diseases ; its subject is man's body , or indeed , i may say , all things sensitive are its object ; its end is health . in it are five parts . 1. physiologia , which is the knowledge of the body , fram'd of elements , temprements , parts , faculties and functions . 2. pathologia , which is exercis'd about things preternatural ; and such are all things that bring diseases . 3. semeiotica is that part of physick in which is handled the method of knowing , as well the present as the future estate of ●an . 4. hygeine is that part of physick employ'd out the preservation of health . 5. therapeutica , ●●ich is that part which respects the restoring lost ●ealth , and is divided into two parts ; the first con●●●ns the general method of curing , proposing all ●les necessary for the cure of all kinds of diseases , ●●ether similar , organick , or common : the second 〈◊〉 rules for the curing particular diseases ; it is 〈◊〉 practick , being nothing else but the practick ●ethod of curing each particular disease . chirurgery teaches how to contribute to the cure 〈◊〉 many diseases by manual operation ; it is in ●●ny things subordinate to physick ; for as some di 〈◊〉 arts into architectonick or magisterial arts 〈◊〉 ministerial arts ; so according to them the art 〈◊〉 physick is an art magisterial in a knowing phy●●●ian , who not only prescribes a remedy , but can 〈◊〉 show the reasonableness thereof , when as the 〈◊〉 ministerial is that which follows the directions 〈◊〉 the art magisterial , without giving the reason . 〈◊〉 for example . the art of breathing a vein in a ●●rgeon , whose province is to execute the commands 〈◊〉 the physician , tho' he know not the reason why 〈◊〉 physician so commands . the art of surgery is very ancient , for which ●eason perhaps it is that the words to the surgeons 〈◊〉 is , de praecipientia dei. 't is exercis'd espe●●ally on external parts , yea , and on internal too ▪ 〈◊〉 far as hand or instruments may reach . it con●●ins four parts , ( the knowledge of which makes a ●●mpleat surgeon ) viz. composorix , ablatrix , sepe●●trix , apposearix ; it con●iders anotomicks in the ●●ructure of humane bodies , &c. secondly , the ●●ysical state of the same . it also enquires into the ●isquisitions of things relating to humane bodies ; as 〈◊〉 preservation , agitation , and affections . the physician ought first to consider the maete●● medica . secondly , the pharmaica . and lastly , oug●● to know the names and kinds of diseases , the 〈◊〉 affected , the signs , causes , iudgments , and vario●●●ay● of curing all internal diseases , whether gen●ral or particular , acute or chronick , happening 〈◊〉 the bodies of men , &c. those that intend to be excellent in these art ought often to read good authors , have freque●● commerce with physicians , surgeons , chymists , 〈◊〉 apothecaries ; see preparations , and mechanick mi●tures , and to frequent hospitals , where they 〈◊〉 see great varieties . in summer they should he●balize . likewise travel will much advance the●● knowledge . these things , as they help experien●● and knowledge , will acquaint them with the mist●ries of art , and render them skilful in the ico●● and figures used in philosophical , zoological 〈◊〉 chymical parts , and prevent their being impos●● upon by ignorant pretending medicasters , &c. since i have made these things thus known to 〈◊〉 let it be thy care , good reader , not to adventu●● the being shipwrack'd upon the rocks of horr●● ignorance , and of being at once rob'd of heal●● and wealth too , by such as think all diseases 〈◊〉 be cured by chance , which indeed is a chance some ignorant pretenders to physick and surge●● cure one of a thousand . indeed some recover the●● health by the successful endeavours of nature , 〈◊〉 under the hands of the ignorant , and this gives 〈◊〉 unskilful pretender some reputation , tho' indeed 〈◊〉 deserve none ; for in reality the patient was reliev●● by meer chance , if what the pretender gave wroug●● the cure , since he was ignorant of the effect of 〈◊〉 medicines , or perhaps his medicines , as they did 〈◊〉 ●ood , so did little harm , and then i● was the pre●alency which endeavouring nature obtain'd over ●he disease which effected the cure , and in this cas● 〈◊〉 that can be attributed to such medicine-makers 〈◊〉 ●hat they , as i said , only gave the patient by 〈◊〉 something that very little or not at all 〈◊〉 the power of nature . many ●●lly women , and others as ●●mpl● as they ▪ 〈◊〉 mix many things together , w●ich con●●sting o●●any medlies of contrary na●ures , oft-tim●s works ●ery dreadful effects , for fomenting together they ●ecome poysonous , or what 's as ill , ●est●uct●ve o● 〈◊〉 patient's life ; y●t t●es● th●y 〈…〉 ●hich at best commonly prove a 〈…〉 good 〈◊〉 nothing . it requires art and skill ●o make a ●●ight mixture , that s●●ll be of a 〈◊〉 qua●●●y for the ●isease ▪ and diseased ●n hand ; there must be in it harmony , if you would have it put the body in 〈◊〉 ; what medicine soe●●● wants this , will put ●●ery thing out of order , 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 the patients ●e●tr●ction : and this is ●he to●a● 〈◊〉 can be ex●●cted from taking of medicines from those who ●●ow not how to make up a composition proper 〈◊〉 their patients malady . in the next place , tho' physick books are useful , 〈◊〉 i would not perswade any ●o so much levity , as 〈◊〉 try all sorts of medicines they shall find in books ▪ 〈◊〉 may be had in apothecaries shops , for he that ●●ould do so , shall scarce ever 〈◊〉 cured , or know 〈◊〉 true worth of any one medicine , but be ever to 〈◊〉 , and the further he goes , shall be the more out 〈◊〉 his way ; whereas , if he find a man of long ●xperience , honest principles , and good judgment , ●ho consequently is able to make choice of , or com●ound medicines excellent in operation , and curing many distempers , then those that stand in nee● may best supply their want by buying such approve● m●dicines , and so neither venture life or limb o● the unwholsome and un●xperienced compositions o● ig●orant pretenders . the ordinary way of curing most diseas●s i● begun by removing the ca●se or causes whence th● infirmity proceeds , grounded on ●hat axiom of th● philosopher , sublata causa tollitur eff●ctus . the c●use● of all diseases are commonly either breach of duty or s●ch accidents as befal us against our wills unlooked ●or . now , for the comfort of those that are afflicte● with any disease , and desire help , if they , or an● friend of theirs , think fit to make choice of me , t● administer such physick helps as their distempe● requires , i shall be ready and willing to supply them as re●sonably as can be desired , and shall give them such heavenly counsel as my slender skill doe● afford ; therefore take courage in the consideratio● of g●d's goodness , for he , through the means o● timely applications of the skilful physician , ( his in●trument for the recovery of health ) will , if it b● for your souls good , turn your sickness and pai● into health and indolence ; this being so , 't is hard ●o say this or that person is incurable ; for i am o● opinion , and my opinion is grounded upon experience , that many may be re●tor'd to their former strength and health , which have long , in an untimely despair , lay languishing under their distempers ▪ but let not any dispair or distrust god's ability of giving success to man's endeavours . let them make tryal of me , or of my most approved , safe , and often experienced medicines , skilfully prepared according to art for internal means . i ha●e also remedies for external applications , of whose virtue and efficacy i doubt not , but by god's blessing thereon , if us'd in time , the sick and diseased will be highly sensible ; for as far as physick can pretend , aided by divine assistance , they cure all curable diseases and infirmities , proceeding from what cause or causes soever , inward or outward . to give a relation of the causes and names of all manner of diseases and infirmities , would make too big a pamphlet to present you withall ; but considering that the generality of people are poor , and not able to give a large fee to a worthy and able physician , nor to answer the charge of an apothecary's bill , tho' but reasonable ; i therefore publish this book , to give notice to all persons , that i will afford my medicines more reasonable than any man can , by reason i make and prepare all my self , and will go when sent for to visit any patient cheaper than any man i know ; and for this my charity i hope your experience will crown my works , and a blessing attend my endeavours , in that i afford medicines of great worth for a little money . an account of the doctor 's remedies , and how to take them . i am not ashamed to give an account of what i profess , nor to express of what my pills and tincture are made , that those who are expert practitioners ( who indeed are only capable to judge of their excellence ) may give their opinion of them ; and those that desire further satisfaction of my abilities , let them examine those that have made tryal of me , and of my stomach pills and tincture , which are only an extract of the chiefest simples of the family of vegetables that are specificks , hepaticks , an● spleneticks . my antiscorbutick tincture is drawn from an infusion of scurvy-grass , liver-wort , hearts tongu● tamarask , and hepatick and splenetick ingredients therefore they are more proper for curing the scurv● with all its crowd of symptoms than commmo● spirit of scurvy-grass ; and consequently i may justl● commend my pilula stomachica & tinctura antiscorbutica ; that is , my stomach pill and tincture again●● the scurvy , to be most useful and profitable for al● those for whom i have the best wishes ; and therefore i advise all my friends and neighbours t● make tryal of these my pills and tincture , which wil● cure those complicated distempers intermixt wit● the scurvy , by rectifying the scorbutick humour● by cleansing the stomach from all peccant matte● that hinders digestion ; also they carry off all aci● or acrimonious iuyce , or any undigested thing tha● breeds adust choler , whence frequent diseases ar● derived ; therefore it is most proper to take a dos● or two of these pills , to carry off those humour● before one enters upon any other medicine to effe●● a cure. to apply things outwardly , as some do to brea●ings out , or sores of a scorbutick nature , is hurtful for it drives back the humours into the stomach which cause sickness and vomiting , want of appetit● pains and wind in the stomach , and adjacent parts and makes the stomach to lose its tone and rectitude , and then the body can enjoy no health ; besides , a bad chylification is the original of many diseases . how careful then ought people to be in keeping the kitchen of their bodies , i mean their stomachs , clean , since that would be the only means to prevent diseases , as well as cure them ; nay , this would so preserve health , that men might attain the happiness of seeing the utmost of their appointed days with ease and comfort . it was the opinion of the ancient physicians , that the stomach and spleen contained a ferment , which hindred them from performing rightly what they were intended for , because the abundance of fixt salt falling upon the stomach causeth soure and unsavoury belchings , from which also proceeds melancholick , tenacious , gross and crude humours , which mixing with the mass of blood causeth a cachexy , which obstructs the liver , and finally ends in scorbutick distempers . now my pills and tincture are the most excellent means yet known for their cure and prevention , by cleansing and sweetning the whole mass of blood and nervous iuyce , rectifying all the defects and injuries that putrifie the blood , which being corrupt , defileth the whole habit of body , and is the cause of eruptions , or all sorts of breakin gs out ; as itch , leprosie , spots , ring-worms , kings-evil , and all sorts of swellings in the joynts , or other parts , which sometimes turns into fistula's , or such fretting vlcers or sores that will hardly admit of cure till the scorbutick humours be carried off , and the mass of blood cleansed from the aforesaid humours , the primary cause thereof ; therefore you must first remove their cause , before you can effect a cure. sometimes these humours break out principally in the head , and then it turns to the scurff or scald-head . sometimes they fall on the eyes , and produce lachrymarious humours , which endanger the sight , by breeding cataracts and glaucoma's , and if they obstruct the optick nerves , incurable cataracts follow . sometimes these humours over-heat the brain , by reason of vapours which arise from the lower parts of the body , sent up to the head , and then they bring deafness , by obstructing the organs and auditory nerves , which hinder the drum and anvil from sending the eccho to the brain , and many times is the cause of more stubborn diseases ; as cancers in the breast , gouts of all sorts , dropsies , iaundice , collick pains , with griping in the bowels , stitches in the sides , pains and weakness of the back , obstructions of the liver , spleen , mesentary , diaphragma , tranchea , arteria , and stoppage of the pipes of the lungs ; hence come asthma's , and consumption , coughs , with shortness of breath ; and when the stomach is stufft with these ill scorbutick humours we are afflicted with giddiness of the head , convulsion-fits , and lastly with contraction of the nerves . sometimes by over-charging of nature with strong drinks proceed vapours , which cause apoplexies , belchings , and loss of appetite . sometimes these scorbutick humours produce numbness , and tingling in the flesh , and so turn to a palsie , with weakness and wearisomness , wasting of the flesh , and decay of body ; besides , in old and young these humours bring swooning , and by coagulating of the blood hinders its fermentation , and then the influx of spirit● to the heart is stop'd . there is no disease more like death than these swooning-fits . fermentation once hindred , any peccant humours that abound in the blood are no longer mixt with its mass , but soon separates by the pores of the arteries , and so sticking by its viscidity among the membranes of the stomach , causes vomiting , when the patient comes to himself . let this suffice for the cause of swooning in general . as for the vterine swooning of virgins , it arises sometimes from the womb , and shows it self by anxiety , and almost loss of breathing , yet sometimes these scorbutick humours by heat condence , and breed stone and gravel , which is the cause of stop-page and sharpness of vrin ; they may know their distemper by their urin , which is thin , pale , venous , and hath red gravel sticking to the pot. sometimes there is a scum or cream on the top of the urin. and thus much i thought fit to say of the scurvy , such as would know more may consult my little pamphlet i formerly set out , for the cure of the sick and diseased , through god's blessing , by my famous medicines , therein mentioned . this is the second edition , for some reasons i have left many things out that were in that . in that book i gave an account of three pills and a quart bottle of diet-drink , which three pills ▪ and bottle i sold for three shillings ; but this that i now offer i afford for half the price , viz. three pills and an ounce vial of this my present antiscorbucick tincture are sold for one shilling six-pence , and yet will serve longer than the other , and is more easie to be carried , 't is also as useful as that , having the same virtues which that had in curing the scurvy , and all it s complicated symptoms , which are almost like so many different diseases . that was only to be taken spring and fall ; this may be taken at all times and seasons of the year ; when necessity requires take it as follows : a strong body may take all the three pills in a morning alone in the pap of an apple , treacle , or honey . they must take immediately after them , and also now and then betwixt their workings , a little posset-drink , warm beer , or water-gruel , for the space of two hours , then eat some little fresh meat for dinner , or what is agreeable to the stomach , that is to say , easie of digestion . the next morning take forty drops of the tincture in half a pint or less of ale , or warm mild beer ; and let such as are afflicted with aches and pains take two pennyworth of mithridate in a little mul'd sack every third night , keeping themselves in a breathing sweat for two or three hours after ; but beware of throwing your bed-cloths off . keep taking the tincture every morning , and mithridate in mul'd sack for pains and aches every third night , till the tincture is done , and doubtless you will find much comfort and ease thereby . note . this is for those of full years ; but such as are 16 or 18 years old , may take two pills first at once in a morning , and thirty drops of the tincture the next morning , and so keep taking thirty drops every morning in warm ale till it is done ; but for pains and aches , sack and mithridate , as before . those of 10 or 12 years of age , may take one pill and twenty drops of the tincture in ale , as aforesaid . those from 6 years of age to 8 , may take half a pill and ten drops in ale , as aforesaid . children that are under that age , being rickety or weakly , may take a quarter part of a pill and five drops in ale every morning ▪ give such a little milk turn'd with wine or beer ▪ and sweetned with sugar , and a little nutmeg in it . give them this for their breakfasts . other young children that are under two years old , being troubled with worms , wind , or fits , may take three or four drops in new milk , sweetned with honey and a little juice of herbegrace , called rue ▪ let these take it every morning for a week together , and they will be cur'd beyond expectation . as to those that find an itch and tickling in their flesh in the time of taking it , they must be let blood , or if they find any flying pain more from one place to another , they must bleed , and that will ●ent the wind and foul corrupted blood which is the cause thereof ; by this means any may be freed from all ●hose scorbutick humours , in what nature or kind soever they appear . such as are afflicted with any kind of fits , must take it in the morning , and at other times when the fit is upon them , give it them in fair water ; but remember , that all such as take this tincture , should first take a dose of pills to prepare and cleanse the body , and then the tincture will effectually purifie the mass of blood , and cure them much sooner . such as are troubled with the stone , collick , slime , sand , gravel , heat , or sharpness of vrin , must take the tincture in white wine , mixt with a little ale , every morning , and withall a little venice turpentine wrapt up in sugar , every night , when they take the drops in the morning , and they will find much good thereby . such as are inclinable to consumptions , must take it each morning in sack , mixt with ale ; and if they are also troubled with a cough , take as much moss that grows on oaken boards , dry'd and powder'd , as will lie on a shilling , boil it in new milk , which drink when they go to bed , and take the tincture night and morning , till the bottle is done , and you will find much benefit . i have a curious scorbutick mouth-water and powder , which to admiration whitens the te●th , strengthens and cleans the gums , and beyond any thing now in use fastens loose teeth , utterly expelling the scorbutick humour from the mouth , which frequently so rots the teeth , and consumes the gums , that in many it causeth a stinking breath . and as there is scarce any thing more becoming than a white and sound set of teeth , so , on the contrary , few things disfigure us more than rotten , black and loose teeth , yet by the use of this powder and water , with one of which you must rub your teeth , and with the other wash them , your mouth and gums every morning , and by so doing you may keep your teeth sound and white even to old age , and thereby prevent those dangerous pulls and pangs which many poor creatures endure under tooth-drawers ; besides , tho' the operation be performed by men of skill , in such sort as little pain is endured , ye● at best the patient loseth a tooth , which is a great miss , and the cause not being taken away , we commonly see one tooth drawn after another , till the mouth , if i may so speak , is dispeopled of those inhabitants which god and nature ordained for the necessary uses of eating and speaking . therefore i advise all persons to make use of this powder and water in time , if either they would avoid that inconvenience , or take delight to have sound teeth and a sweet breath . it is also an excellent remedy for the tooth-ach ; for it seldom fails of giving ease in two or three minutes , if a little of the powder be snuft up each nostril , and some of the remaining powder wet with a little of their own water , and apply'd plasterwise outwardly upon the pained part . this will give immediate ease , as thousands can testifie . the pric● of each is one shilling . i have also a rare and wonderful water that has cured many of cankers , cancers , and such like vlcers as eat away the flesh. this water is to be applied twice a day , by applying lint that has been first dip'd therein to the corroding sore . i have antimonial stones , which are the most universal medicine in use for prevention of all diseases . this stone is neither hurt by age , nor does use in the least destroy its virtues . price but half-a-crown each stone , which is as good as the antimonial cup , which was formerly sold for five pounds . you have with 'em printed directions how to use them . i have a palsical oil , which , if timely applied , restores useless limbs , which became so through some suddden cold damps , or by reason of watry humours from the brain , which prejudice the spinal marrow of the back , and thereby so impedes the nerves , that their origination is stop'd , and thereby also the passage of the animal faculties is hindred , which , in fine , causes the loss of the use of limbs , &c. by many call'd palsies ; of which distempers many have been cured by the use of my palsical oil , used according to the printed directions given with it . my bezoartici morsuli electuarii far excells all lozenges or liquorish balls for curing of colds , coughs , and shortness of breath . 't is also excellent good for the green-sickness . i have the only panchimagogum febrifugum , which is so perfect a cure for all sorts of agues and fevers , that it can never be sufficiently commended . my golden mineral powder infallibly cures the whites , gleet , running of the reins , sharpness and heat of vrin , and all such distempers in men or women . i have a wonderful histerical spirit , far exceeding any other spirit yet known for the curing of all sorts of fits. besides , i have an unparallelled ointment , which , by external application , is good for all sorts of swellings in womens breasts , or in any part of the bodies of men , women , or children . 't is almost infallible . my powder for the piles in a short time cures them , being applied to the fundament every night , at your going to bed. i have a medicine which cures all sorts of worms in men , women , or children . 't is infallible . i likewise have medicines which cure those distempers only incident to the female sex , which , tho' for modesty not here mentioned , yet touching them any woman may have private instruction ▪ and certain cure from me or my wife . only i will here give you an account , that i have an experienc'd medicine , which if timely apply'd , or given , to women in travail , will procure their speedy delive●y with safety , whether their fruit be dead or alive . i cure barrenness . i have a medicine that will certainly prevent miscarriage in women ; it has often been experienc'd to admiration , insomuch , that you may assure your selves , with god's blessing , this will prov● beneficial to all those that in time apply themselves to me . i have many other rare medicines , which have been much admired for their powerful op●rations in relieving such as were afflicted with strange and most deplorable distempers ; but 't is too tedious here to particularize either the infirmities or persons ; besides , many are not willing to have their names and distempers put in print ; yet there are few that know me , but know this to be true . i cure all that are curable , whether they be afflicted with any sort of sickness , or melancholly , madness , or any strange convulsion-fits ; also blindness , deafness , swellings of all sorts , pains or lameness , ioint-gout or evil , vlcers , fistula's , cankers or cancers in any place . all sorts of wens , or any excrescences that any way deform or incommode the body . i have cured these , and many other infirmities , nay , when thought incurable by others . i cut hare-lips , and in a weeks time perfectly cure them . likewise i cut wry-necks , and put them to no pain , setting the head upright in less than half a quarter of an hour , and in an hours time they may go about their business , without any danger or trouble . i have also rare oils and waters , famous for the cure of most distempers of the eyes , without pain or smart . i couch cataracts as dexterously as any man whatsoever , restoring the sight thereby in less than half an hours time , so as they may see to tell money . no sight , no money is requir'd of them . i ask no reward till their sight is restor'd . so likewise for deafness , if i see the party , i will inform him where the defect lies , and what it is that obstructs or hinders their hearing , and also cure them if curable . i dexterously perform all chirurgical operations ; as amputations of all sorts , as cutting off mortified limbs , wens , or cancerated breasts , performing the operation with ease , safety and speed. i cut for the stone in the neck of the bladder , or in the carnosity of the yard . i set broken bones , or dislocated ioynts . limbs sprain'd or out of joynt , i restore to their perfect use and strength , in a short time . i let blood , and in all cases inform people which vein is most proper for them to have opened , which is a thing very necessary , since there are twenty four veins bleedable , and of them not many know which ought to be breath'd for such a distemper , and which ought not ; for it is not a thing indifferent ( as some foolishly think ) which you bleed . also , by virtue of the magnetick stone , i draw teeth , nay , even stumps of teeth , with little or no pain . as for my medicines in general , did i not know them to be good , i would never commend them as 〈◊〉 do , since i send them no further than i am known or whither i often go : i am able to justifie thei● goodness and safety , knowing there can be no mistake in their preparations , being honestly and carefully prepar'd according to art , not by the hands o● servants , but by my own , who have often experienc'● them with good success , by reason whereof , many mistakes and dangers are avoided , and for that i do prepare them my self , i can afford them more reasonable than others . in fine , if my directions be truly observ'd in their application , i am well assur'd they will certainly have the promised effect , to the patients ease and my credit : nay , i can by experience affirm , they fail not where there is any probability of the patients being cured ; besides , the like was never before sold upon a more reasonable proposal than what i make , which is , that if they find no benefit by them , after they have made tryal of them , let them return the book , the empty pots , viols and bills , and they sh●ll have their money return'd them again ; and because i know their great effects to be beyond all other ordinary means , i make this free and generous publication of my assured and much approved medicines , being both proper to cure the diseased , ●nd excellent in preventing diseases in those that are ●ot yet sick. and that the good i intend may be the more uni●ersal , if any person living remote please to sell my medicines for me , they shall have them with printed ●irections to instruct them in their use . any person may have of me the before mentioned medicines , or any other proper for their distempers , ●ny day in the week at my house in stoke near guil●ord in surry , and every saturday at the red-lyon in guilford , for the conveniency of those that come to ●hat market ; and every tuesday i go to my house ●t thorp near chersey , and stay there till wednesday ten of the clock , and then go to the swan at chersey ●here i stay till four in the afternoon , and then i go ●o my house in stoke , but my son is all the week at thorp , to dispose of my medicines to all that desire ●hem : he bleeds very well , and i instruct him in physick , and by god's assistance intend to make him ● proficient in that art. i resolve any that come to me at first sight of ●hem or their urine , what their distempers are , and whether curable or not ; for it is not my principle ●o delude any with vain hopes , where i find that there ●s no probability of a cure ; i tell all honestly and ●incerely what will probably be the event of their disease . for casting of urin , and giving my judgment thereon , i have only a six-penny reward . now , out of the great love i bear to my country-men , that they may not be impos'd upon , i will give you an account what fees properly belong to every phisitian and surgeon , and what they can lawfully demand when sent for , and if they demand more , you may refuse to give it , which is as followeth , to a graduate in physick , one that hath taken hi● doctors degree , his due is but ten shillings , thoug● he commonly expects or demands twenty . those that are only licensed phisitians , their du● is no more than six shillings and eight pence , thoug● they commonly demand ten shillings . now , all that are sworn phisitians , are obliged t● go , if sent for , at all times and seasons , day 〈◊〉 night , without a fee , but when they come to th● patient , they may chuse to give their advice or medicines before they are satisfied who will pay them and if they act contary hereunto , it will not stan● good in law ; and when they give in their bill , the● must incert all the medicines they administred b● name , and if you think or imagine you are charge● too high , you may shew the bill to some other pract●tioner , and if he hath reckoned extravagantly , 〈◊〉 him moderate it according to honesty and justice 〈◊〉 both sides , not undervaluing the medicines on 〈◊〉 one hand , or put too great a price on the other ; fo● if a phisitian sue a patient , the rates of the medicin● must be valued by a jury , part of which must 〈◊〉 practitioners in physick , so that in the end the doct●● will only recover what the jury upon a serious per●sal of the bill shall think fit . 't is the same thing with a surgeon that is sent 〈◊〉 to set bones broken or out of joint , or to 〈◊〉 wounds , or to let blood , for every sworn surge●● is bound to go when sent for , tho' he may chuse wh●ther he will act or no till he know who must pay hi● a surgeons just due is twelve pence a mile , be 〈◊〉 journey far or near ; ten groats to set a bone 〈◊〉 or out of joint , and for letting of blood one shillin● the cutting off or amputation of any limb is 〈◊〉 pounds for so doing , with the astringent and dressi●● the first time , but for the cure , there is no settled price , therefore he must have what is bargain'd for . and so much for the fees of physicians and surgeons . i have already said what sort of men physicians and surgeons ought to be ; now i will give an account what sort of men many of them are : some of the pretenders to these excellent arts are like the gr●ve , never satisfied ; and if at any time they by chance do cure the patients body , they are sure ( with aesop's physician ) to leave their purses in a consumption , and even their houses as empty of goods as their pockets of gold. others have little of the artist in them besides hard words and the latin tongue , mere accidental accomplishments , as all understanding men know , and , as i have elsewhere fully proved , is no ways essential to the making up of a physician or surgeon . there are others , who , altho' they have added to their skill in languages the dazeling addition of an university degree , yet , by being ignorant of astrology and anatomy , are , in the judgment of galen , no better than foolish pretenders , and with good reason , for where essentials ar● wanting , the fluttering ornaments of degrees , latin and greek , are but of small , ●ay , rather of no value at all ; and these are indeed of all quacks the most dangerous , because the most capable of wheedling honest people into their destructive hands : i have not time now to give instances of the bloody effects of their practice ; but let this suffice , that some by their bought titles in foreign universities , and loud pretences of practice in outlandish hospitals , become dangerously popular , and prodigious proud of their counterfeit honour : but , alas , what danger hangs over the heads of those poor sick creatures , who are decoy'd into the snares of ignorance and cruelty , by the specious pretence of feigned travels , counterfeit , or at the best , but empty titles , and chimerical hospitals . there are not a few who are nothing but froth , noise , and impudence , and by these links of the same chain fetter the easie , unthinking , and innocent people in the bonds of a deadly credulity : these empericks out-brave their betters , and boast that they excell most practitioners , and equal the best . i have observ'd in many of them this evil custom ▪ that whatsoever an honest man shall speak or perform , they will contradict and dispraise , resolving , that since they have no performances of their own to boast of , they will discredit those of other mens , thinking , by disgracing others , to advance the●● own reputation . 't is also common for the servants of deceased physicians , to usurp the name of doctor ; thes● make the ignorant believe they know much , by reaso● they copied out their masters bills and prescriptions and withal observed their benign success when properly apply'd : but , alas , in these mens hands the●● good prescriptions seldom work such wholesom● effects , because the givers know not in what quantit● time , and disease , they ought to be administred this is also the fault of many apothecaries , who● some skilful physician has long imploy'd , but all th●● is not sufficient to make a horse doctor , much less physician or surgeon : no , these arts are not to b● acquir'd without new labour , great care , and lon● practice ; so that i dare say , most of these , as we●● as those that have nought but greek and latin , 〈◊〉 more than they cure. there are some ecclesiastical men also that pra●tice physick , at which some phisicians cavil , but fo●●y part , i should very well approve of their doings , ●id they ( as they ought ) administer physick to their ●oor neighbours for charity , without any hopes or ●xpectation of a reward . in the next place i see a croud of women doctors , ●hom i have before characteriz'd ; these , as they are 〈◊〉 law and nature subject to man , ought not to ●eddle with an art far beyond a feminine strength ; am of the opinion , they would do much better , if ●hey would be more industrious in their houshold ●ffairs , in keeping their house sweet and clean , make ●heir beds well , boyl the pot , cullice barly broth , ●ake almond milk , and such like things , than to ●eddle with physick or chirurgery ; nay , even ladies , ●ho pretend to give physick for charity , and yet do ●ccept of presents of a greater value than a conscioable doctors fee : these may sit still for any good ●hey do the publick . there ar● of late a sort of erratick practitioners ●prung up to the scandal of art , called mountebanks , cannot but wonder that people will be so dis-inge●uous to their own welfare , that they will sooner ●rust themselves with these catterpillars , ( who stay no ●onger in a place than you feed them with money ) ●han with a known experienc'd phisician or surgeon , ●hat hath liv'd many years by them , that is able to ●o them service when ever they have occasion : but ●n the contrary , i have observ'd the meanest sort of people , who always plead poverty to a neighbour●ng phisician , will find money enough to give to a mountebank ▪ who perhaps ( in other places where he ●s known ) was not thought skilful enough to give a drench to a horse : these ignorant and impudent pretenders , who know nothing of physick , but mak● the poor unthinking people believe them to be 〈◊〉 fellows ; but if diligently observ'd by an indifferen● person , they will ●ind all their discourse to their auditors , nothing else but a company of egregious lie●● backt with noise and nonsense , and have the aud●cious impudence to pretend that they have the onl● arca●um or secret yet known to the christian worl● when at the same time ( it is well known to some that those few things they expose to sale on the● stage , or on horse-back , they are wholly ignorant 〈◊〉 the true vertue of them , which any artist may ea●il● discover , by asking them a question or two ; for ho● is it possible that tumblers and rope-dancers , an● other illiterate fellows , who know nothing of medicine , should undertake to cure people of all distempers , when indeed all their knowledge lies in 〈◊〉 making up five or six things they sell in their pacque● one of which they are pleased to call an ant●do●● which they say , ( if you dare believe them ) expell poyson , and if mr. mounteba●k will be pleased to ma●● an experiment upon himself first , we shall be bette● able to judge of his medicine : another is a balsa● to cure all sorts of wounds ; an oyntment to cu●● all sorts of burns and scalds ; a dose of pills whic● cures all distempers ; also an in●omparable stiptic● water which stanches the blood when legs and arm● are ●ut off ; but before i give too much credit t● this much applauded medicine , i shall beg the sam● request of him in this as i did of his antidote , that 〈◊〉 would be pleased try the experiment upon himsel● and then i doubt not but he will save the hangma● the labour : he hath likewise another great secret called an an●●l●● , which is an excellent remedy ( as he says ) against witchcraf● , but i think they are bewich'd that believe him . never was the world more pester'd with these impostors , for they creep now adays into small villages , telling a thousand lies to thrust off their trash and trumpery , making the poor ignorant people believe they are the only men in the world for curing all distempers incident to mankind : they commonly take half the money in hand they agree for , which is more many times than an understanding phisician would really have for performing the cure ; nay , they often leave the patient in a worse condition than when they first undertook them . on their stages they give a large account of their great performances in remote parts , which , if but throughly known , would be found for the most part as false as the narration is loud and vociferous . and if at any time they by chance perform a cure , they are so ignorant , that they cannot give the reason for such benigne effects . i cannot but stand in admiration at the folly and madness of such , who will let such strange fopperies , foolish pastimes , and iack-pudding tricks , chouse them out of their money , and of what 's more precious , their health too boot ! who would think that men would hazard their lives , ( which every one esteems so dear unto them ) by letting these unskilful and ignorant pretenders , try their skill ( with unknown medicines ) upon their bodies . i will appēal to any judicious person , is it not much better to make use of experienced men you have long been acquai●ted with , or else have been credibly inform'd of their great success in relieving mankind : i wish i could be so prevalent , to perswade you not to ●rust to improbabilities , nor to the performances of unskilful hands , whose avarice is such , that they will hazard their own reputation , as well as their patients life , for a small sum of money : 't is their money they only aim at , when they have gotten that , they have accomplish'd their desire : and thus much for these mountebanks , or rather vagabonds , who are in religion atheists ; in diet epicureans ; in habitation vbiquitarians ; who are of as little esteem among the best sort of people , as the wandring gipsies are among the greatest professors of christianity . and now i am come to a crew of cheats ( in balneo maria ) who would fain be accounted chymical doctors , which is much to be questioned whether they ever made any process in the chymical art , yet they have the confidence to talk and boast of their preparing the best medicines that can be perform'd in that most noble art , when alass , these bragging and bouncing fellows , are in no greater esteem among artists , than a mountebank is with an experienc'd phisician : they make a great noise of a chymical water that will cure the scrubbado , commonly called the itch ; and a most excellent chymical powder , that will restore decay'd nature , and make them look youthful , though much stricken in age ; also a most admirable arcanum or secret , which is a long while a preparing , a few drops being taken in a glass of good sack , will restore a lost maidenhead of seven years standing . if you will take the pains to go into their elabaratory , you will find there hath been hot doings , by the broken pots and glasses , and other chymical vtensils , which had long since gone through the fiery tryal , but hath of late days desisted from such a dangerous enterprise for fear of setting their houses on fire : from such a crew of salamander doctors and stage-mounters , i admonish all people to be aware of , as they tender their own welfare . now , my advise is , that all honest people would avoid the dealing with any of these dangerous pretenders , by adhearing to the prescriptions of experienced phisicians , who are the only men to be confided in . finally , i give the honour of the success of my labours unto god almighty , who restores all the afflicted , if it be his blessed will , to perfectness of health , stability of strength , chearfulness of mind , and liveliness of faith , purely out of his free mercy and bounty . lastly , i heartily wish that when this our precarious life is ended , we may all be elevated to those higher orbs and heavenly mansions of inviolable happiness , where the sun shall be no more our light by day , nor the moon by night , but the lord our god remain our everlasting light and glory , amen . this reader , is the daily prayer of your true friend and humble servant , d. irish. david irish , practitioner in physick , his advice concerning melancholy , phrensie , and madness . i purpose , dear countrymen , in this discourse , to shew the difference betwixt phrensie , madness , melancholy , and a distressed conscience opprest with the sense of sin , with many other things not unprofitable for thee to read , nor unbecoming me to write . before i define melancholy , for the clearer understanding of that wherein i mean to instruct you , it will be necessary to set forth the di●erse acceptations of the word melancholy , which therefore is very equivocal , for that under one name it is so differently apply'd , that it requires several definitions according to its diversity of significations . sometimes it signifies a certain fearful disposition of the mind deviated from reason , and sometimes an humour of the body commonly taken to be the cause that the reason is depraved through fear . this humour is of two sorts , natural or vnnatural , natural is either the grosser part of the blood ordained for nourishment , which through too great plenty or immoderate heat , overchargeth the body , and yieldeth up to the brain certain vapours , whereby the vnderstanding is obscured , or else is an excrement ordained to be emitted out of the body through so many alterations of natural heat and variety of concoctions , having not a drop of nourishing juice remaining , whereby the body , either in power or substance , may be relieved . if this excrement keepeth within bounds , it produceth less inconvenience or trouble to the body or mind ; but if it corrupt or degenerate further from it self and the quality of the body , then perturbations and passions are more vehement , and do so outragiously oppress and disturb the sedateness of the mind , that all the organical actions thereof are mixed and affected , ( i had like to have said infected ) with melancholy-madness , and reason thereby is converted in●● a vain fear , or becomes a down-right desperation ; and now the brain is quite alter'd in its complection , being as it were transported into an instrument of a different nature from what it was at first ; and i have observed , that these humours do according to the diversity of their setling , fill the patient with diversity of passions , and no wonder since thereby they diversly affect the understanding . in a word , they strangly alter the ▪ natural inclination and affection , especially if by corruption of nature , education or custom , the party be rash and hasty . the ●nnatural is an humour arising of the melancholy before-mentioned , or else from blood or choler , totally changed as it were into another nature by an unkindly heat , which violently turneth these humours that before were obedient to natures government , and by her kept in good order and decorum , into a quality wholly repugnant , whose substance and vapours gives such annoyance to all parts where it passes or is seated , that it makes strange alterations in mens actions , whether they be animal , voluntary , or natural , not depending on our will. and here observe , that all actions proceed from some faculty , and that man being composed of body and soul , has two sorts of faculties , viz. corporeal and spiritual , the corporeal faculties are such as belong to man , as he is a living creature , and are common to him and even to plants , or else are such as belong to him as he is a sensitive creature , and are common to him and beasts . the faculties common to man and plants are three , first , the nutritive , by which he is nourished , and converts aliments into his own substance . secondly , the auctritive faculty , by which he grows bigger . and lastly , the faculty of continuing his ●pecies , by which in his off-spring his nature as ma● is preserved or continued . the faculties common to man and beast are three , that is , sense , appetite , and power to move . sense is twofold , external and internal . the spiritual faculties of man , which are peculiarly proper to him as man , are three , vnderstanding , will , memory . now , the humours before mentioned , make strange alterations in mens actions , from what faculty soever they proceed . as to the definition , or what melancholy ●s , as was hinted before , the things being divers , ●●ough the word be the same , yet the definition must be diverse also ; therefore melancholy is of the humour , or of the passion : the humour is either a nutritive iuice or an excrement ; at this time then i will define the humour to be no other than that part of the blood which naturally is more gross than all the rest ; and the excrement to be the superfluity of the same , which if it putrifie , assumes a far different name , temper , and nature , commonly called black cholar . the melancholy passion is a doating of reason , occa●ioned by vain fear , procured by the prevalency of ●he melancholy humour : we divide this disease into melancholy cephalick , and hypocondriack . a cephalick is when the disorder has its residence ●bout the lower part of the abdomen , the brain is ●hiefly affected , which being disturbed , men frame ●trange fancies , and monstrous idea's of things ; all melancholy people are extraordinary fearful , sad , and ●nactive . according to the order i have observed in divi●ing melancholy , it remains that i now speak of that ●hich is called hypocondriack , which , for the most ●art , renders those afflicted therewith , more stupid ●han any other sort doth , insomuch that they are ●any times depriv'd of all sense and motion : this ●ort proceeds from flegm obstructing the hypocondria ●nd spleen . hypocrates asserts , that the soul in this distemper 〈◊〉 distinctly affected with the weightier matter with●n , and so neglects the bodies motions , by reason of ●he brains stupidity through the aforesaid humour . if the brain be hurt by communication from or by ●he spleen , hypocondria , or womb , then the melancholy humours are gathered there , and then the symptoms ●ommonly are gathered from the parts affected , as it ●ppears in child-bearing women whose lechia are ●●opt , or in maids when their terms do not flow , the ●lood is spoiled and becomes more fixt , and is turn'd into a melancholy dyscrasie , and that by this mea● this distemper arises , for which reason the ancien●● blame the spleen ; but our opinion is , that rather t●● morbid sourse than the disease it self lies there : th● famous willis thinks that both the heart and bra●● in this case are affected ; and some think the corpore●● soul to be the subject of it . helmont thinks it li● out of the brain , and is in the praecordia , and abo●● the mouth of the stomach : our own opinion in sho●● is , that it has its residence in the globous frame 〈◊〉 the brain , which being the principal part and fou●tain from whence the animal spirits issue out in●● every corner of the body ; if they be dull , langui●● and unactive , the hypocondria , spleen , liver , pancre●● mesentery , womb , &c. being thereby deprived 〈◊〉 their firmentations must needs suffer , and be recept●cles of latent evils . the causes of excess of this humour are diver● and all ( except it be received from the parent ) spri●● from fault of diet ; now , altho' meats and drin● chiefly do yield matter to this humour , yet , besid● we may add the complexions inclining to such tempe● 't is also encreased by perturbation of mind , by 〈◊〉 temper of air , and kind of habitation ; and that 〈◊〉 which otherwise would yield a nutritive iuice 〈◊〉 the best sort , by these occasions is turn'd into the dregs of melancholy . to conclude , if either hum●●● or excrement should have part in moving the 〈◊〉 , no counsel of philosophy , nor precepts 〈◊〉 wise men , are comparable for calming these 〈◊〉 passions unto the purging potions of physicians ; 〈◊〉 in this case several use the ellebores of anticera , 〈◊〉 , and colycinthy of spain , together with the 〈◊〉 of alexandria , but i have far better remedi●● than some of them , which my long experience 〈◊〉 to be almost infallible . there are several that pretend to cure melancholy ●nd madness as well as other distempers , but i shall ●ot so mispend my time , as to give an account of ●●ch hare-brain'd fellows , whose shallow capacities ●nd short experience are unable to fathom the depth ●f such a chronick distemper , but allow every sect to ●ollow their own doctors dictates , notwithstanding ●here are hippocrites in arts as well as religions . ●ut this by the by . now to my subject . this melancholy and excrement , let me tell you , is ●red of melancholy iuice drawn off the milt out of ●he liver by a branch of the porte veine , wherewith ●eing nourished , it rejecteth the rest as meer excre●ental , and voideth part into the mouth of the sto●ach to provoke appetite and hunger , and passeth ●he other part in some persons by the haemorrhoid ●eins into the siege : it aboundeth there when it is ●indred of such passage as nature requireth , or else ●y feebleness of the part it is not able either to suck ●he melancholy from the blood , or discharge it self ●nto those passages which nature has thereto or●ained ; such a●e always very hungry and lean . this member ( i mean the spleen ) of the whole body is greatest and worst favoured to behold , black ●f colour , and evil savoured if tasted , and giveth a ●anifest sign of natures strong desire to that whereto ●t is most like : hence the spleen delights more in , ●nd is better pleas'd with these muddy dregs , than it ●ould be with purer and finer blood , which if it ●hould be offer'd to other parts , they would abstain , ●xcept great want so far overcame their aversion as ●o make them entertain a little of it . thus much of ●he cause of natural melancholy , both iuice and ex●rem●nt ; it remaineth next to shew , what the h●mour ●s which raiseth this or any else called by the name of melancholy , and also to shew what burnt cholar and causes thereof . that kind of melancholy , called atra bilis , com● by excessive heat of the parts where it is engend●● or received , whereby the humour is made so add●●● that it becomes of such an exulcerating and frett●●● quality , as to wast those parts where it lighte● this most commonly ariseth of the melancholy e●crement before spoken of , and divers times of 〈◊〉 other thick part of blood , as also of the cholar 〈◊〉 salt flegm which contract such heat , partly by d●stempers of the body and partly by putrefacti●● which produceth an humour breeding most terri●●● accidents and pains to the body , which the melanch●●● and gross blood doth more forcably procure , beca●●● the grosser the substance is into which it is receive● the more violently it consumeth . cholar being 〈◊〉 nature of the hottest temper , carries with it mo●● degrees of heat than the other humours . now to know whether the perturbations rise 〈◊〉 the humour or not : the perturbations are take● commonly to rise of melancholy , cholar , blood , 〈◊〉 flegm , therefore we call men of a hasty dispositio● cholerick , those of sad dispositions melancholy , tho●● of heavy and dull flegmatick , others of merry an● cheerful sanguine . melancholy differs from phrensie and madness , tho●● in some respects they are near a kin , for they all disturb the reason ; they differ thus , a phrensie has always a burning fever ; those that are taken with thi● disease are so mad , that they furiously fall upon an● body , and it is strange and admirable they do no● destroy themselves , so exorbitant is the malady ; and such was their infirmity spoken of in the scripture , mat. 8.28.24 . they spare not their parents , nor ●●eir best friends , but are often most of all invete●●te against them , and 't is no wonder , since they bid ●●fiance to self-preservation ( the oldest principle of ●ature ) that they often attempt to lay violent hands ●●on themselves , therefore great care ought to be ●●ken of them : they are usually untractable , talk●●●ve , with strange gestures , as jumping , singing , ●ancing , and antickly tossing their heads , writhing ●●eir bodies , and generally look surly and haughty , 〈◊〉 sometimes they will seem mild. the common symptoms which attend most mad ●●ople , are constant watchings , and a prodigious ●●rculean strength ; they can endure the greatest 〈◊〉 , hungar and stripes , without any sensible harm ; 〈◊〉 sometimes swear , shout , and on a suddain make ●●●ange noises ; they play apish tricks , often pulling ●●eir own hair , tearing their cloaths , breaking their ●●ndows , &c. they are strong and never tired out , 〈◊〉 often muttering something to themselves as if it 〈◊〉 about great matters ; they are sometimes too ●erry , and often too sad , they sometimes laugh , and ●●●etimes cry , and are fearful where no fear ought 〈◊〉 be , and on a suddain become hasty , frappish , angry , ●●sterous , breaking their chains and fetters , beating 〈◊〉 pieces walls and doors , nay , every thing that ●●nds in their reach to be sure goes to wrack when 〈◊〉 surly fit is upon them ; tho' they sleep little 〈◊〉 or night , yet are they incredibly strong ; they 〈◊〉 very turbulent in their anger , showing much 〈◊〉 , brawling , shouting , and frame dreadful 〈◊〉 by reason of the fiery strength of the animal 〈◊〉 , which darts vigorously thro' all the pores of 〈◊〉 distempered body ; hence also it is that they endure the severest cold ( tho' stark naked ) with 〈◊〉 the least concern : some say they are not sensible of cold , &c. because ( as they imagine ) the soul is so bus●● within , that it does not attend to what is of less concern without , neither do they scarce perce●●● any inconvenience by such things as much annoy others ▪ sometimes they are as sav●●e as wild beasts , thei● eyes look stern , big , and attentive , and they are eve●● contriving some mischief , because the animàl spiri● pass furiously through the brain , by reason of whic● they are sometimes so mad as to reproach and cur●● themselves and others , at such times they ought 〈◊〉 be fetter'd . madness often derives its origen from the extr●vagant height of some passion , such as fear , lo●● ambition , covetuousness , care , study , &c. helm●● says , it proceeds from agony , fear , wrath , en●● ambition , love , pride , great study , care , shame , &c. the mad people are frequently solicitous about ma●ters above their reach , or about business that no wa● concern them . lastly , some are prone to vene●● delighting much in company , &c. the melancholy person walks in osbcure places , sad and heavy , oft museth , imagining and speaki●● many ridiculous things , but usuall● fixes upon 〈◊〉 trifle ; he will not be perswaded from what he fancie ●or tho' he fancy himself a king , a prince or proph●● or indeed any thing else , he will industriously im●●tate the person or character he puts upon himse●● . some that are afflicted with melancholy are weary 〈◊〉 their lives , have ill thoughts , talk idly , or witho●● any order or coherence ; they also take pleasure 〈◊〉 solitude , are subject to weep , and are often tak●● with a suddain dislike of what they formerly 〈◊〉 affected ; they are so jealous , that they think eve●● body cheats and lays snares for them ; they are afr●●● of being poysoned , their sleep is but little , and 〈◊〉 troubled with strange frightful dreams ; some have a silly foolish laughter ; and these are the most gene●al signs . but to lay open all the symptoms and their causes , would take up too much room ; they ought to refrain from wines , spirits , and hot cordials ; likewis● strong beer is hurtful , tho' they complain of a cold●●ss i● their stomach or elsewhere , yet such liquo●s mu●● be deny'd them ; and indeed as to strong ●rink ▪ i would have all men remember the ancient ●bserva●●on of the heathen , in drinking to the ho●our of their gods ; the first bowl was , they s●id ▪ ●o iup●t●● olympus , the second to the heroes , and the ●hird to iupiter sospiter ▪ or take it thus , the first to ●heir health , ●he second to their friend , and the ●hird to their rest ; what was more than this they ●eckoned madness , and injurious to their health : ●n lik● manner we physicians usually attribute the ●●rst glass to the quenching of our thi●st , the second ●o pl●●sure , the third to drunkenness , and the four●h●o m●dness ; but if ●hey drink more , you need not ●oubt but they 'l make as bad a bussel and noise as the ●oudest graduate in moorfi●lds college , alias bedlam ▪ ●or as a ●oaded ship in a great storm when the pilate ●s a sleep , or when her rudde● is lost , cannot stee● ●igh● , so ●hose that have their senses overwhelm'd ●ith wine or other strong liquors , or their minds ●pprest with strange imaginations and disorders , ●un against the rocks of folly ▪ 't was pythagoras his opinion , that all disorders of the mind or body , are ●o many causes of madness : therefore let all people ●ndeavour to be moderate in all ●hings , as well in all ●inds of studies , as in meats and drinks , which supply ●he four humours of the body , for if any of them do ●●per abound , diseas●s follow at best , if not some sort ●f mad●ess or other . for 't is no wonder if that liquors can transform and change the fickle mind of man. as the ordinary cure of all diseases and ways 〈◊〉 help infirmities , are to be begun with removing su●● causes as first procured the malady , even so the 〈◊〉 thing to be done in restoring melancholy men , is 〈◊〉 fortisie the brain and heart , and so bring them to better state of mind and chear , and this is to be eff●cted by removing such causes that first procur'd the●● indisposition ; but for perfecting the cure , if tho●● that are afflicted with this or any other disease , d●sire a physitian that will truly and justly proc●ed 〈◊〉 the cure of what he undertakes without any frau● this is then to certifie such , that if they think ●it 〈◊〉 make use or choice of me , i will honestly and exp●ditiously do my endeavour to restore them to th●●● former state of health , strength , and tranquility . but now it is time to shew the difference betwi●● the aforesaid melancholy and a distressed conscien●● first then , whatsoever molestation ariseth directly 〈◊〉 a proper o●ject of the mind , the same is not in 〈◊〉 respect melancholy , but hath a further ground th●● fancy ; and if the molestation proceed from a con●●deration of things done that are really sinful in themselves , such trouble has its ●rigen from conscien●● condemning the guilty soul according to those e●graven laws of nature , which no man is void of 〈◊〉 he never so mean , illiterate , or rude : this take● nothing of the body , nor intermeddleth with h●mours , but giveth a direct wound with those 〈◊〉 darts , which many thus afflicted most sensibly 〈◊〉 and complain of . nay , this infirmity is of so 〈◊〉 latitude , since all men are sinners , that there is one but what , more or less , betimes labour under it , ●nd some being highly culpable of the breach of ●ods laws , incur the punishment of condemnation ▪ ●nd thro' the sense of that miserable condition , fall ●●to deep despair : such say that they feel the wrath ●f god kindled against their souls , their anguish of ●onscience is so intollerable , that they find no releas●ent tho' prayers and supplications are made unto ●●e lord for them , by reason that in their own ag●ravating judgment they stand as reprobates to god , ●s excluded from his covenant , and void of all hopes ●f inheriting the kingdom of heaven , and rest assu●ed , that the termination of their life will be the ●eginning of a condemnation which will never have ●nd . i pray you , dear melancholy christian , consider god● ●ercies of old , and your own former experience of his ●avours ; call to mind those holy testimonies of ●lection , which no doubt but some of you have in ●●mes past found in your selves ; this done , consider ●hether you are not under some temptation , than ●as you imagine ) god's anger ; for satan tempteth 〈◊〉 in the very utmost recesses of our hearts ; for he ●eing a spirit , it is not to be doubted but that he hath 〈◊〉 spiritual access into our spirits to trouble them , and ●isorder their operations by a spiritual or subtile conference , whereby he bears too great a sway in ●hem ▪ this may seem the more probable , because 't is ●bse●v'd , that these in this sad condition alter the ●ccent of their speech , and shew gr●at disorder in ●he●r discourse , it being far otherwise than what i●●as before . nay , it may seem that their whole nature is at satan's beck , and their utterance wholly ●as he suggesteth ; but as to these speculations , and instructions in this matter , i refer you to the judgments and resolutions of divines , whose provinc● it is to consider , and who no doubt will put you i● mind how the spirit of god calleth satan the tempter , the deceiver of the world , the accuser of the faithful , the dragon and old serpent ; and in sine ▪ a lyar , and the father of lyes . now , if the condition of your affliction be onl● some kind of temptation , which i doubt not but to make manifest and plain , then ought you to estee● of your case as more comfortable than thro' erro● you do , and to attend with patience the issue , whic● in such as have been in like circumstances , have afterwards given evident testimonies of salvation : nay ▪ such have not only felt a spiritual joy and comfor● in themselves , but in the end , have also become abl● to confirm others , both by their own examples , and words of great consolation from their own experience ; besides , in all kinds of temptations there is hopes ; examples of a good issue are frequent in each kind : yea , tho' the corporeal inhabiting of satan is the greatest and fullest of terrors , yet the evangelists testifie of many that have been dispossest by the powe● of christ , which examples are writ for our instructions against the like afflictions , which are tryals only for a time. all god's children have their salvation founded upon his eternal decree of mercy towards them , 't is published by the preaching of the gospel , and is written and sealed in the hearts of his chosen by the power of the spirit of adoption , which cryeth , abba father , and testifieth in measure , to some more , and some les● ▪ according to the dispensation of grace . there is no evident and undo●bted sign of reprobation in any while they live ▪ ( because they may repent ) only that sin which is ●●lled the sin against the holy ghost is not pardon●●le , and for which the apostle forbids us to pray . this sin against the holy ghost , divines expound 〈◊〉 be an open wilful apostacy from god , with a ●●alitious hate against the profession of his known ●ruth . next unto this sin is final impenitence , which ●●nnot be known till death makes shew thereof , and 〈◊〉 off all time of repentance : the first example this kind was cain , who complained that his sins 〈◊〉 greater than he could bear : such also was the ●●●guish of esa● , when he found no repentance after 〈◊〉 had sold his birth-right . saul ( if not a reprob●te ) ●t was possessed , for the lord sent an evil spirit to ●●crease his torment ; but iudas was wholly give● 〈◊〉 to satan : this notorious traytor , this heinous 〈◊〉 despairing sinner before mentioned , executed 〈◊〉 punishment upon himself which all traytors ●●serve ; he took the revenge due for the betraying 〈◊〉 innocent blood upon himself with his own hands ; 〈◊〉 all whose consciences are loaden with grievous 〈◊〉 , feel the punishment they merit in their own ●arts , and many times are driven to cruel despair ▪ ●n which nothing either more dishonors god , or ●●ejudic●s man. also the prophane people of the ●orld , that either know not christ , or know him 〈◊〉 vain , outward profession only ; if they finally con 〈◊〉 patterns of iniquity , they will prove in the 〈◊〉 dismal examples of god's vengeance : but , if 〈◊〉 greatest offender repent , and turn to the lord , 〈◊〉 will wi●h arms of mercy receive and embrace 〈◊〉 . therefore , do works worthy of repentance ▪ 〈◊〉 beware you think no sin greater than god's in 〈◊〉 mercy , since that sin which is unpardonable , is only known to him from whom nothing is hi● hence in this as in all misteries , 't is the best way 〈◊〉 acquiesce , and not to search into them further 〈◊〉 god hath revealed , by whose oracles we are i●form'd , that only one kind of sin cutteth off all hop● of salvation , because it is of such a nature , that closeth up the avenues of repentance , being 〈◊〉 height of all iniquity , even equal with that of 〈◊〉 devils themselves , who are shut out of god's fav●● for ever . now let us seriously consider , whether you ha●● sinned against the holy ghost or not , which if 〈◊〉 deed you have , as your humour would lead 〈◊〉 where is the renouncing of god's religion whi●● you have hitherto profess'd and heartily embrac'● where is that malice which procured this mischi●● what persecution have you in word or deed 〈◊〉 against the truth of god's word ? what sword 〈◊〉 you drawn against it ? what volumes have you 〈◊〉 against sound doctrine , with a known and resol●● opposition to your own conscience ? if your hum●●● be not able to alledge such testimonies against 〈◊〉 self , what have you to fear since this alone is tho●●● to be the sin against the holy ghost ? tho●● it is not certain ( since god has not any where 〈◊〉 ) what particular sin it is , therefore be 〈◊〉 too cruel to your self , least by final despair , 〈◊〉 prevent that mercy you may , by a timely repenta●●● obtain . therefore , dear melancholicks , i pray give 〈◊〉 these imaginary conceits of distrustful and danger prejudices against your selves , and prepare your he●●● to receive the comfort which the word of pro●●ministreth unto you : remember that our perfec● lyeth without us , even in that unspotted lamb 〈◊〉 ●esus , whose sacrifice is all-sufficient for all kinds of sin. this perfection we are to hope for , and attend the ●onsummation of the rudiments of righteousness : ●his , and the advised consideration of god's pro●ises in his word , with means used , might easily ●elive● you ▪ and you may again ( as david was ) be ●esto●●d to the wonted joys of the sweet mercies of ●he lord. advertisement . this is to inform all persons whom it may concern , ●hat d. irish doth and will ( if god permit ) in●truct his son in the best and speediest way of curing melan●holy and madness . and likewise , those luna●icks which are not curable , he will take them for ●erm of life , if paid quarterly ; such , and all others , 〈◊〉 takes on reasonable terms , allowing them good ●ires , meat , and drink , with good attendance , ●nd all necessaries far beyond what is allow'd at bedlam , or any other place he has yet heard of and ●heaper , for he allows the melancholly , mad , and such ●hose consciences are opprest with the sense of sin , ●ood meat every day for dinner , and also whole●ome diet for breakfast and supper , and good table●eer enough at any time : they have also good beds ●nd decent chambers , answerable to their abilities ; ●ll which necessaries are daily allow'd and given ●hem according to agreement during the time a●reed for ▪ they are all carefully look'd after by ●imself at his house in stoke near guilford in surry , ●ein● a pleasant place and good air ; and such as ●lease ●o be at thorp , his son looks after them by his ●athers directions , who comes every tuesday to see them , and instruct his son in the true method of curing such distemper'd people . note also , that at thorp any person may have at any time d. irish's medicines of his son for any distemper incident to men , wome● , or children , at reasonable rates , and eve●y tuesday they may there also have d. irish's advice . the conclusion of this treatise . i shall not here give you an account , dear country-men , how to go through with the cur● of melanchol● by medicines and other means , which i daily experience to be successful , because i have no other maintenance but my practice , therefore i shall conceal th●se secrets , and will not impart them to any person whatsoever save only to my posterity , to whom ▪ if god send life , i intend to make expert in the cure , not only of this , but of all other diseases ▪ but ●s to you , my intention was not to make you a phisician , or to give you a warrant to adventure upon practise , as those do , who attempt to cure diseases ▪ by taking medicines upo● trust out of any book they meet with , many of which medicines are really insignificant or hurtful in most cases , and many of them tho' good , yet are not so to all ; for medicines are like a tool or instrument of the sharpes● edge , which if not wisely guided or handled wi●h the knowledge , dexterity , and judgment thereto belonging , they may bring death instead of health ; but i● wisely administred , they will either restore or preserve health ; therefore men are not to be admitted to administer physick who have no lawful call thereunto , no , the phisicians hands should be washed pure ●nd clean in the waters of understanding and wisdom , before they meddle with the hidden mysteries of physick . there are too many leud cozening va●lets which feed upon the simplicity of the ignorant , and make the pretence of physick the cloak of their idleness ; these knowing nothing themselves , ven●ure t●eir patients lives and their own credit , upon unknown and unexperienced receits , which y●t they boldly administer , and with them undertake to cure any disease tho' ignorant of the nature of the physick , and of the disposition of the body or part whereto they apply it ; yet alass , many apply themselves to such , before they will take the advice of able and experienc'd practitioners , which indiscretion often turns to their great peril , many loosing their limbs , health , and life , by such mens ignorant proceedings ; when as on the other hand , we see by the goodness of god , with the discreet applications of knowing and honest phisicians , many reap great benefit , being by them wonderfully restor'd to their former health and strength . the right phisician is indeed made of god for the health of mankind ; therefore take courage , for many have been restored to their former state which lay long languishing under the press●re of such most deplorable distempers as might be counted incurable ; therefore , you that are any ways by sickness ●ore afflicted , ought no● to dispair , nor distrust god's ability , with means used to r●store you to health and peace of conscience ; and when ( by god's blessing on man's endeavours ) you are recovered , let it be your care to keep your self void of offence towards god and man , 'till you put on a glorious immortality . in f●ne , as for my self , i humbly desire of the lord to help me while i am here in these lower regio●s , amidst such boisterous winds and weather , to endure all with a patience becoming a christian phisician , and in all things to obey his divine precepts , that when my soul shall be freed from the prison of my body , she may also be freed from all sufferings , and translated to the happy mansions of my god , to which those vapours that cause these storms and t●mpests can never ascend ; there all tears shall bè wiped away from my eyes , and my present sorrows turned into joy : there , o lord , thou wilt give me beauty for ashes , and the garment of gladness for the spirit of heaviness ; and put after all my many and grievous conflicts with the world , the flesh , and the wicked one , a crown of glory on my head ▪ a song of triumph in my mouth , a palm of victory in ●y hand , and so to reign with thee for ever and ever ▪ amen . to which happy state , that all men may arrive to , is the daily and fervent prayer of , kind reader , and loving countrymen , your faithful friend , and well-wisher . david irish. david irish , practitioner in physick & chirurgery , his missellany of pious discourses . gloria in ●xcelsis deo , glory be to god on high. i here purpose to give a short explanation of the great , infinite , and first being , who named himself iehovah , and whom we call god ; he ●old moses who he was , and what he should call him , and agreeable to the stile of moses , we have an account of him , rev. 1. vers . 8. he is the only true ete●●●l god , who was before all things , and gave being to all things ; he is everlasting , and hath his being of himself ; from him all things receive their bei●g ▪ and in him they end , saith t●e lord , which is , and which was , ●●d which is to come , the almighty . — had he not ●amed himself , man could not have told what name to have given so incomprehensible a being , who made all things by the power of his word , see gen. 1. man as well as all other beings , had his beginni●● from god , who is the divine author of heat , ligh● and life in all c●eatures whatsoever , whom he 〈◊〉 preserves and governs in their wonderful frame an● order ; he being only infinite , eternal , and all potent , far above all things that exist or have being i● follows ( since nothing finite can make it self ) tha● all finite things are the effect of his omnipote●● power ; for without him ( saith the sacred pages ) 〈◊〉 not any thing made that was made , joh. 1. gen. 1. whe●● we are told , that in the beginning of time , 〈◊〉 holy and undivided trinity , god the father , son and holy ghost , made the intire and beautif●● machin of the world , by which word , world , is mean● both the heavens , earth , and elements , togethe● with all their furniture ( if i may so speak ) and inh●bitants : he made all animals by pares , that fro● them others might derive their being . the heave●● ( as many believe ) were made incorruptible , and are ordain'd for the throne of the most high , for who● the earth is ordain'd a foot-stool , and all that go● made he approved of as good , gen. 1. yet some pa●● of his excellent handy-works soon degenerated fro● the perfection of their original state and became ba● therefore he prepared hell for lucifer , the prince 〈◊〉 rather ring-leader of the defection of the wicke● angels , and their successors , false prophets , an● evil doers : after this , we read our saviour prepared a place of honour for his saints , where 〈◊〉 spirits of the righteous are made perfect , and reig● with him . god created the angels to wait upo● and attend him their maker ; but lucifer's pride mad● him uneasie , even in the happiest of created conditions , to humble whom , god commission'd micha●● the arch-angel , to expel him from the sacre● mansions of god's holy city for his ambitious rebellion : this was quickly done , for the loyal champion hurry'd the rebel into the lowest hell ; and in a word , clear'd the palace of god from all the un●ra●eful confederates , some of whom it's thought remai● in the airy region , for which reason , perhaps , lucifer is called the prince thereof : others of the aspiring legions are debased , and rove to and fro , up and down the earth , seeking whom they may destroy : others were doom'd into the heart of the earth , which in an especial manner is called hell , where they remain tortur'd and tormenting all evil doers that are eternally lost for their iniquities . finally , as for lucifer himself , he is res●rv'd in chains in the river vphra●es till the day of judgment , and then 〈◊〉 all his wicked agents , will be hurried into the most dreadful burning lake . god created two great lights to give light to the earth , and made stars without number to adorn as it were the out-works of heaven , all which , in pursuance to god's command , run the course he at first appointed them . in short , all creatures which ( if i may so speak ) people the elements , are the handy works of god : man , tho' the chief , yet , perhaps to teach him humility , was made of the mould of the earth , and as some think , adam , the first man , was made on a friday about 3 of the clock in the after●oon , and out of him eve his wife , who bare several children ; and here i cannot but observe , that the first war was about religion , for cain slew his brother abel by reason of his more acceptable sacrifice : thus we may see , that in the worlds infancy , as well as now , goodness the mark that envy aim'd at , and innocence persecuted by the greatest guilt , and religio● suffer by the hand of hypocrisie and cruelty ; from which , good lord deliver vs. tho' as you have heard , god at first made all thing● good , yet , besides the mighty defection among th● angels , there grew also great iniquity amongst men ▪ so that god resolving to wash away the abominations of the world by w●ter , commanded noah t● build an ark , into which , according to god's appointment , all living creatures entred by couple● to replenish the earth anew ; but note ●ere , that 〈◊〉 some sorts there entred more than two , that no●● might not want proper sacrifices to offer to the lord ▪ and thus much of noahs flood . the scriptures both in the old and new testament , plainly and copiously declare the uncommunicable attributes of the lord , being the heraulds of his truth , and the witnesses of his mercies ; the instances they exhibit of his ample performing the tenure of his comfortable promises , are as sufficie●● testimonies of his infallible truth , as the sending o● his only son is of his mercy ; who , as his last prophet sealed up all the written verities and command●we are bound to believe and observe : this is the son of righteousness , whose refreshing beams 〈◊〉 mercy shine upon our souls to eternal happiness . here it will not be amiss to give an idea or notion of god , as far as the weakness of our understanding 〈◊〉 able to perform ; for none can say what the essence of god is , or which is the same , give a true and adequate definition of this infinitely perfect essen●e , because he is in all his perfections in●inite ; ● spiritual entity , whose exis●ence is eternally of him●elf ▪ independent of all other beings , dwelling in orbs 〈◊〉 inaccessable light , hence the message which we have heard of god in the first epistle of ●ohn , chap. 1. v. 5. tells us , that he is of a most pure , simple , holy , perfect , and glorious nature , resembled by no creature ●o much as by exquisite light , in which there is nothing but clear and exact brightness , without any ●he least mixture of darkness . he is incomprehensible , therefore none but himself can give an account what he is . he had no beginning , nor can he ever have an end , all times and things , whether past or to come , are ever present to him , so that as i often inculcate , it is impossible to speak him fully , yet so far as it hath pleased his divine majesty , out of his unspeakable goodness , to reveal himself in his word to us , we may to the utmost of our capacity express , as that he is a glorious spirit , full of truth , and must therefore be worshipped in spirit and in truth ▪ now , there is no way but by consulting his written word , to know in what particular manner we ought to honour and serve him . though , as is said , whatsoever we can say or conceive of god , comes far short of his excellency , yet it is lawful ( as far as our weakness can reach ) to say , or rather lisp what he is , still regulating our discourse by the line of his word ; therefore , i say , he is an independent being existing of himself , ego sum qui sum , exod. i am that i am , saith the lord , that is , he is alone of himself , for all other things are not , but by him , nay , in him we live , move , and have our being , saith st. paul. he is most perfect , because he is the fountain and origin of all perfection : be ye perfect ( saith christ ) even as your heavenly father is perfect . he is one. see ( saith the lord ) that i am alone , nor is there any other besides me . and again , thou shalt have no other gods but me ; according to which , we say in the belief , i believe in one god. he is simple , ●or ioh. 4.24 . he is called a spirit , now a spirit is a simple being , or a being void of material composition , therefore god , who is in all that he is superlative , is consequently most simple . he is eternal ; for saith the lord , vivo ego in aeternum , i live for ever , deut. 22. and the kingly prophet cries out , thou art the v●ry same , and thy years have no end . he is immutable , as he speaks in malachy 3. i am god , and not changed ; which is agreeable to reason ▪ thus , that is immutable , which neither can be augmented nor diminished ; but god cannot be augmented , because most perfect ; nor diminished because most simple ; therefore he is most immutablé . he is immense , as the wise man speaks , wisdom 1. the spirit of the lord hath filled all the world. he is infinite , for that is infinite which has no bounds , according to david , the lord is great , and of his greatness there is no end ; besides , he must needs be infinite , whose perfections are all vnlimited . he is omniscient , as appears from that of the psalmist , thou hast understood my cogitations afar off , and hast foreseen all my ways , and knowest all things before they are done . he is iust , according to that of david , iust is the lord , and he hath-loved iustice. he is most merciful , for the mercies of the lord ar● above all his works , psalm . he is most good , because the fountain of all goodness . he is most true , because the first truth . he is omnipotent , because he can do all that is possible , and from him is all power , both in heaven and earth ; by me kings reign , wisdom . he is lastly , most blessed , because he is the felicity of himself , and of all things whatsoever . 't is from the consideration of these divine attrites , that multitudes of reasons may be drawn to courage us in our duties : for example , the con●ering of god's justice and power , will stir up-in us ●ear of offending a being both iust and omnipotent , 〈◊〉 this fear will prove the beginning of the best of ●isdom ▪ i mean of an indefatigable endeavour to 〈◊〉 his written laws and commandments ; and ●●ese attributes will make us know , that from , and in , 〈◊〉 by him , we enjoy health , live , move , and have 〈◊〉 being , and that all we possess , descends from the ●ther of light , see iam. 1.17 . hence we ●ie under obligation of giving him hearty and frequent ●hanks for the daily benefits we receive from his ●●unty . begin therefore every work in god , that ●●ereby it may by him be perfected , and for his ho●●ur and glory ended . rely on jesus christ as the 〈◊〉 foundation that can be laid for us to build upon , testi●ieth both experience , practice , and the con 〈◊〉 of sacred writers , whose example i purpose to ●low , that with them i may enterprise every thing 〈◊〉 , proceed orderly , and produce an end to the ●onour of god , and the good of my self and fellow ●●eatures . the scriptures contain the profound misterie● of ●od's excellence , and man's salvation ; they are as ●earned father saith , so folded up by god , that unless 〈◊〉 be re●d with that spirit by which they were written , 〈◊〉 that with humility , and a hearty desire to know and gove●n'd by them , they cannot be understood ; unless 〈◊〉 spirit quicken our understanding , they are as a dead ●etter . they have inde●d in them such a miraculous ●ight and depth , that they may exercise the wisdom 〈◊〉 of the most learned ; yet do they also contain 〈◊〉 ●asiness and plainness , that the most simple may understand them to t●eir comfort and instructio● the difficulties couch'd in profound mysteries 〈◊〉 abate the insolence of the proud , while the comf●●table promises raise up the drooping spirits of hu●ble believers to the hopes of eternal salvation . 〈◊〉 sacred volume is that wonderful river , which alone both shallow and deep in the same pla●● wherein the lamb may wade , and the elephant swi● 't is only disbelief and sin ▪ that make them 〈◊〉 while faith and good works render them easie ; 〈◊〉 sinful vails of our hearts shade from us their meani●● nor can we open their difficulties , but by the key david , which opens where no man shuts , and 〈◊〉 where no man opens , which only can open that sea●● book : this considered , it was not without reas●● that moses called god wonderful , since he found his words and works to be so , even past mans fin●ing out and discovering . a certain old doctor 〈◊〉 the ch●rch , compar'd the old testament to 〈◊〉 moon , and the new one to the sun , for that 〈◊〉 old testament borrows its light from the new , the moon does hers from the sun ▪ the truth 〈◊〉 the new is contain'd in the old , and the old revea● in the new : in a word , they both contain rich 〈◊〉 precious comforts , profound learning , grave adm●nitions ▪ desirable promises , and dreadful threatning all which are powerful motives to faith and go●● works . the bible is the word of god , the writers wher●of writ after the dictates of the holy ghost , and 〈◊〉 they writ it , even so it was , and even so it is at 〈◊〉 present day , and even so it will remain full and inti●● for he th●t caus'd it to be writ for our instr●ctio● and rule ▪ will ever preserve ●t for us . the writings of aristotle that prince of philoso●hers , are ancient and profitable , as also are many ●ther books , but in comparison of the holy bible , ●hey a●e nothing to be regarded . and here , since i think an historical account of ●he bible , and its translations , will be well received , ●ake ●he following account . two hundred forty and one y●ars before the hu●anity of christ , the five books of moses were translated out of hebrew into greek , at the charge of pt●lemeus philadelphus king of egypt , by seventy do●tors or learned men at ierusalem in the time of ●eliazer the high priest , by which we may un●erstand ●heir antiquity , and the great value they obtain'd ●ven amongst the heathens . then ●24 years after the birth of christ , the old t●stament was translated out of hebrew into greek ●y a iew named aquila , who was converted to the christian faith in the time of adrian the emperor . and 53 years after this aquila , the bible was also tr●nslated by theodosius . and 33 years after theodosius , it was translated by symmachus under the emperor severus . and 8 years after symmachus , the bible was translated by one whose name i have not , but this translation was call'd the fifth translation . after this it was translated by st. hieronymus , who mended and corrected the seventy interpreters , and transl●ted it out of hebrew into latin , which translation , with the amendments of beza , is now used in ●he church for the upholding of the protestant ●eligion , while the roman catholicks zealously stick to the vulg●r latin translation , which , tho' very ancient ▪ is not counted to be very correct ▪ one lyra is noted above others to be the best hebrician , and a diligent translator of the old and new testaments . the bible is full of divine things , 't is the best and highest book of god , full of comfort in all manner of tryals and temptations ; it teacheth faith , nourisheth hope , preserves love ; and in fine , teacheth that after this poor , miserab●e , and precarious life ▪ there is another which is eternal and everlasting . we ought not to measure and censure the scriptures according to our sense and reason , as being byass'd by passions and errors , but by diligent prayer and humility search after the truth , and by often putting this in practice , the spirit of god will direct our understanding to their true sense and meaning ; 't is the holy ghost that alone can teach us here ▪ as well the divi●e as the disciple may without shame learn of such a tutor , if they intend to confound heresies , reduce schisms , and root out errors ; observe ●he scriptures ( saith christ ) and thou shalt live , luk. 10. he 's only a good pastor that is arm'd at all points with the text , and sufficiently learned , that is , well grounded in the bible ; but those that come to this perfection , have hearts prepared by god : to those that he reveals his word , to them he giveth mouths to utter it ; god's word is a fiery shield , which is of proof against all the fury of satan ; false zeal and error this shield cannot be batter'd or crush'd by the greatest violence : god's word remaineth for ever , protecteth all those that put their trust therein ; this is the weapon that the author of the epistle to the h●brews calls a two edged sword , for it cuts through all opposition of carnal and diabolical weapons . the new testament was written by iews as well as the old , for the apostles themselves were iews , and paul was an hebrew of the hebrews , yet by the power of the word , they not only became christians , but converted thousands to the same faith , for which in the end most of them laid down their lives . 't is observ'd , that in the books of moses , nothing is so oft . rehearsed as this , i am the lord thy god , that brought thee out of the land of egypt ; the cause thereof perh●ps was , that they should not soon forget what god had done for them : then let us not now forget what christ has done for us , in redeeming us at once from the tyranny of the law and sin. in the apostles time the gospel was preached , and ●he believers were but a little flock , but now it is further spread abroad : christ himself said to his disciples , ye shall do greater things or works than i. as if be should have said , i have preached in the corn●rs in the land of judea , but ye shall preach openly ●n the house tops , that is , through the whole vniversal world , and shall make the gospel known to all men in all nations . but here i desire , and earnestly admonish every good christian , that he slight not the plain and simpl● manner of stile in many places found in the bible , ●ince they are evidences of truth , and not patterns of rhetorick : there is no doubt but what we find ●n the holy scripture is true , though sometimes it ap●ears in a mean dress , which indeed is one of the pri●iledges of truth , when falsities covet the flowers ●f eloquence to hide their shame . the bible con●ains the words , works , acts , and judgments of the ●ost high ; 't is a book that makes fools of the crafty ●nd wise of the world , when yet it is understood by ●he plain and simple , as our saviour saith . the ●criptures are most high and precious relicks , a ●ountain which can never be exhausted ; in them ●hou findest the swadling-cloaths wherein christ lyeth , to which the angels directed the poor and simple shepheards : indeed they seem to be mean silly clouts , but dear and precious is the treasure in them ; for we have in them many promises , and god is faithful in fulfilling them in christ , from whom we have forgiveness of sins , and are delivered from everlasting death : god's word is a light that shines in dark places , so that those that are shadowed by the greatest cloud of sin and ignorance , cannot miss being found out by its penetrating beams , and by them directed to the paths of glory ▪ we see in the example of adams eating the forbidden fruit , how easie it is to be drawn into sin , and to forget god's word , and how hard a work it is to get hearts of repentance , by the long and hard task our saviour had to make a reconciliation with god for our offences ; and if we were to be sav'd by our own deeds , and not by the works of christ , we ●hould never attain salvation : therefore christ makes our task more easie , saying , whosoever relies on me ▪ and believes in my word , shall have everlasting life . some may ask what is here meant by his word , i answer , it 's christus est spiritualiter in sacramen●●● ▪ the same that he spake at his administring his last supper , when he said , the words which i spake are spirit and life , the flesh profiteth nothing , whosoever eats thereof shall live for ever . he seal'd it with his blood ▪ therefore it must be truth . some may say , how can we eat this his word ▪ answer , by laying it up with faith in our hearts , and leading our lives answerable thereto , which done after this life is ended , we shall neve● hunger no● thirst more , but shall live and reign with him fo● ever : the same is to be understood in baptism but the administring of the sacrament of the las● supper , doth shew forth his death till he comes again , at which time he will judge the world , then happy will those be who hear his welcome , with a well done true and faithful servant , enter into thy masters ioy : and now let us cry out , come lord iesus , come quickly . the holy scripture makes mention of sundry things done at certain hours of the day not agreeing with the hours of our account , as in iohn 't is said , the rulers son being healed of his sickness at the seventh hour , his ague le●t him . and the labourers that came into the vineyard , came at the eleventh hour . and in the passion of christ 't is recorded , that at the sixth hour there was darkness over all the whole earth . and about the ninth hour he cried with a loud voice , and so gave up the ghost : in which is couch'd , some think , a mystery , for adam was created ( as 't is supposed ) on a friday , about the same hour of the day as our saviour suffer'd : now , to understand what hours these were , know that the iews divided their artifici●l days into four quarters , allowing to every quarter 3 hours , and so began the first hour of the first quarter at the rising of the sun , and as they followed in order , they call each hour of each quarter the first , second , or third hour ; so that the third hour of the first quarter they ca●led the third hour , and the third hour of the second quarter they called the sixth hour , whi●h was mid-day , called by us twelve a clock ; and the third hour of the third quarter they called the ninth hour ; and the second hour of the fourth quarter they called the eleventh hour ; and they called the twelfth and last hour eventide : so that the rulers son healed at the seventh hour , with us called one of the clock in the afternoon ; and the sixth hou● when darkness was over the whole earth , was mid-day , called by us twelve a clock ; and their ninth hour , when christ yielded up the ghost , is called with us three a clock in the afternoon : the labourers that came into the vineyard , came at the elenth hour , about five a clock in the afternoon , or an hour before sun-set . likewise they divided each night into four quarters , called by them the four watches of the night , the first three hours was the ●irst watch , during which time , all the soldiers ( both young and old ) of any fortified town or garrison were us'd to watch. the second three hours t●ey call'd the second watch , which was about mid●ight , at which time the young soldiers only watched . and the third quarter of the night containing also three hours , was called the third watch , in it the middle aged soldiers kept watch. and the last three hours , called the fourth watch , was about break of day , in which the old soldiers only watched . the day is accounted with us for payment of money , between sun and sun ; but for indictments of murder , the day is accounted from midnight to midnight ; and so are fasting days , and festival days , as sundays , &c. i will now give you , after this digression , some examples which fully prove the omnipotence , the wisdom , and mercy , and some other attributes of god : the first shall be an instance of three most famous conjunctions which the scripture relate , and which are all worthily wonderfully wondred at , the like shall never happen again , all being occasioned by the second person of the blessed trinity his assuming humanity , which is a mystery wonderfully singular ▪ and singularly wonderful , even to that degree that the very angels saw it with amazement . the first conjunction is of god and man in christ : the second , of a mother and a virgin in the blessed virgin mary . the third of faith , and the heart of ma● in every christian , who truly believe that a virgin brought forth and became a mother , and though ● mother , yet that she , notwithstanding , remain'd a virgin ▪ another instance is god's fourfold bringing forth of man , as learned anselmus , a holy bishop of canterb●ry notes : first , he brought forth man without the help either of man or woman in creating adam . secondly , a woman out of man , without the help of a woman , in making eve. thirdly , by the help of man and woman , seen in the natural production of man. fourthly , and lastly , his bringing forth of man with the help of woman , and withou● the help of man , observ'd in the blessed virgin mary bearing our redeemer christ jesus , who neve● laugh●d , but as we read in the scripture , three times w●pt , first , when lazarus was dead . secondly , over ierusalem . and thirdly , upon the cross , where he delivered up his spirit to his heavenly father ; and these things all prove the said attributes of god. there are four duties incumbent upon man , which above others , he ought diligently to perform , that is to say , to god fear ; to his country love ; to his parents honour ; and to his neighbours favour : if we duly consider these duties , we shall look towards heaven , despise the world , and prepare a mansion for our selves in heaven . there are three especially miserable , first , he that knows and teacheth not . secondly , he that teacheth and doth not . thirdly , he that is ignorant , and yet l●arneth not . among the several commands our saviour hath laid upon us , that seems not to be the least , where he warns us , not to iudge , lest we be iudged ; for 't is said , with what measure you meet , the same shall be measured to you again . besides ▪ nothing i● more unreasonable than to impute the fault of one man to another ; but let us proceed in all cases with clemency and mildness , remembring that we all sprang from our grandfather adam , and cons●quently are all a kin to one another , which the minister confirms in his office for the burial of the dead , ( though to the meanest person ) in these words , forasmuch as it hat● p●●●sed almighty god , of his grea● m●rcy , to take unto ●imself the soul of our dear brother here departed , &c. so that it plainly appears that we are related to ●ach other : now , some of these kindred live in the fear of god , and by honest and industrious means procure a livelihood for their families ; others take ill courses , and become reprobates , hated both of god and m●n ; and in this case , why should any thin● ill of another for his brothers misdeeds , though he be so nearly allied ? i think he ought rather to be pittied by ●very good christian , for that he hath so wicked a relation . and since every one must answer for his own offences , and not those committed by father , brother , or friend , let us abstain from rash censures , and fly from evil , and do the things that are good , tha● we may live for ev●r , psal. 37.27 . again , remember th● last day , when only the just shall be saved ; then on thy right hand shall thy crying sins be accusing thee , and on thy left hand infinite numbers of devils expecting thee , and under thee the sulphurous furnace of hell burning , and above thee an angry judge giving sentance , within thee thy conscience tormenting , without thee the world flaming , when●e to fly is impossible , and to continue intollerable : this will be the sad condition of every one , that while living , do not refrain from sin , or having sin'd , do not truly repent of their iniquities ; therefor● it is said , agree with thy adversary while thou art ●n ●he way ; and while time is , prevent that which oth●rwise in time will be : for as one saith , if it be no● pr●vented , it will be repented . it is thought by some that there was no writing to instruct the ●eople before the flood baptised the earth , to wash away the curse which god laid upon it for the disobedience of our first parents ; yet others subscribe not to this opinion of the want of writing , but more wisely adhere to st. iude , and to the learned iosephus , who writ that enoch e●ected two pillers , the one of brick , and the other of stone , wherein he wrote of the two-fold destruction of the world , the one by water , and the other by fire : some notion of this was by tradition ( as some writers relate ) preserv'd even to the days of the apostles , iude 14. the next thing i shall speak to is , the final end of the world , which will be effected by the fiery destruction abovementioned : we read in mat. 24. that the apostles asked our lord christ about this matter ; the event was , that as for the day and hour he would not have them to be curiously inquisitive , because it is a secret not disclosed to the very angels in h●aven , but reserv'd in the hidden councel of god ; yet christ gave them some intimation of the condition and circumstances of the time wherein it should be , viz. that as it was in the days of noah ▪ before the universal deluge swept away mankind , so shall it be in that time wherein christ shall come to judge the world in fire , see ioh. 1.3 . and rev. 1. vers . 3.7 . but as to the time when it will happe● ▪ we are altogether in the dark , and have nothing to say but the conjectures of the learned , who suppose it may continue 6000 years from the creation , which , if true , yet would not the time of the world's end , or last conf●agration be known , because we have nothing but uncertainties touching the time of the worlds beginning . the world was at first a formless chaos , till god out of the abundance of his goodness , sent forth his holy spirit , which dove-like , with mighty out-spread wings , sate brooding on the vast abyss , and made it pregnant of the world , then darkness gave place to light ▪ and all the fulgent lamps of heaven appear'd ( as they truly are ) glorious ; all creatures receiv'd their being , and every plant , tree , herb , and flower , sprung from the verdant earth which was raised above the waters , every thing of use had seed in it self , or other means to preserve its kind , that a second creation should never be requisite , but as yet , man , the lordly creature , whose province was to rule and govern the other creatures , was wanting : he was framed with more solemnity than all his inferior creatures , being as it were the product of mature council and deliberation , stamp'd after the divine similitude , inspir'd with the breath of life , and honour'd with many advantages beyond what any other animal can pretend to ; the contemplating of which , long since made the royal prophet break out into this rapture , what is man that thou art mindful of him , and the son of man that thou visitest him ? thou madest him lower than the angels , to crown him with glory and worship ; thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands , and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet , psal. 8.4 . moses sets forth plainly that this glorious universe , bespangled with sparkling fires , every where adorn'd with wonderful objects , proclaming the wisdom and omnipotence of its great workman or creator , was in six days made out of an eternal privation of matter by the omnipotent fiat of god : hence , because that in six days , the world , and all that therein is was created , and because god rested the seventh day , it is probably collected , that in six thousand years , which are but as six days in god's account , the world shall ●gain be dissolved . when ( as is said ) god had created all things , he gave a real blessing unto them , willing and decreeing by an everlasting law , that animals should naturally multiply themselves by generation . at the making of man , as is hinted before , god , after a divine manner , consulted with himself , the father , son , and holy ghost , concerning the creation of his chief creature man , as it were to this effect , we have made our several sub●unary creatures in great variety , having given to them being , life , sense , and motion , but now let us make the creature for whose sake the rest have been created , consisting of a natural body , wherein he shall partake with other creatures in being , life , sense , and motion , and of a spiritual nature and substance , wherein he shall be like to us ; he shall be endu'd with all the faculties of a reasonable soul , with perfect knowledge and righteousness : thus in respect of his spiritual soul , was man created after the image of god , whom he likewise resembled in integrity , justice , and holiness , wherewith he was plentifully inspir'd ; his soul is immortal , immaterial , seperable from the body , and so man consisting of body and soul , became a perfect creature , being endu'd with all things necessary to accomplish both . god saw it not convenient for man to be alone , therefore , out of man , who was made of earth , he made woman , and g●ve a spiritual blessing to them , and said , be ye ( through that power of propagation which i give you ) fruitful , multiply , and replenish the earth , and be ye possessors and rulers of the same ; and god to show his care to preserve what he had thus made , gave them leave to eat freely of every tree in the garden , only with this limitation , that of the t●ee of the knowledge of good and evil , they should not eat . in a word , god finished the whole creation by his mighty power in the space of six days , and on the seventh day rested , rejoycing in the view of his glorious workmanship : hence god gave a special blessing to the seventh day , and honoured it with this priviledge , that it should be set apart for rest and holiness , that by this means men might be put in mind of the wonderful work of the creation , and might celebrate with holy zeal the celebrated rest of their creator . thus i have given an account of the creation , wherein the lord god , ( who hath eternal being of himself ) gave a being to the heavens ▪ earth , and all things therein , which will continue as long as god pleaseth , and is kept a secret in the mind of god , though , ●s i said before , it is probably collected , that in 6000 years ( which are but as six days in god's account as some suppose ) the world will be dissolved ▪ then cometh christs thousand years reign , who bringeth with him an everlasting sabbath of rest ; of this opinion were many of the fathers , and also other more modern writers ▪ who calculated for the end of the world thus : they allowed 2000 years before the law : 2000 years under the law : and lastly , 2000 years to be accomplished under the gospel , the end of which 6000 years they thought would be accompany'd by the last and most dreadful conflagration : so then , if we look back , we shall find that from the creation of the world , to the birth of our saviour , is 3948 years , according to the best chronographers , to which add the time from our savious birth , to this present yea● 1700 , and you will find that there only remains 352 years , according to this account before the end of this world : then as many are of opinion cometh the sabatical year , wherein christ will judge the world. here consider the destruction of ierusalem as a tipe , and an assurance of the destruction of the world , see mark 13. but as to the time , many things make it uncertain , chiefly the words of our saviour , saying , for the elects sake , the days shall be shortned : who knows then , dear reader , how near it may be at hand , it may even happen before what i am now writing be printed , or before any one read it when published . touching ●his fatal day , read 2 pet. 3. where the apostle discourses concerning the fiery d●struction of the world , which will dissolve and purifie all things : then consider what the scripture sai●h touching a new spiritual creation ; how old things shall pass away , and all things become new ; as ● n●w ierusalem d●scending from the new heavens to t●e new earth , for god's elect renewed people to dw●ll in , who will have new knowledge , and new names , and sing every moment new spiritual songs and praises to god for ever . what then , courteous reader remains , but that all good christians ought religiously to e●pect the end of the world , and the coming of christ , matth. 24. and so by a pious expectation , prepare themselves for it , and not too curiously pry into these hidden and unrevealed secrets , neither imparted to men nor angels , 't is god only knoweth this , who knoweth all things , and see●h in all places ▪ let us then every where take heed what we do , since we can do nothing out of his sight , for he will require an account from us for every thi●g , tho' never so secretly done , as well as for every idle word that we speak ▪ oh , we must be accountable to him for all the time we hav● mispent in this our pilgrimage on the earth ! all kings and princes must give an account how they have govern'd their kingdoms , whether they have ( as becometh god's vicegerents ) mildly , lovingly , and carefully trained ( by good examples and commands ) their subjects up in the true worship of god. bishops and ministers of the word of god ( who have taken upon them curam animarum , the charge of souls ) must give an account how they have behaved themselves in the ministry , whether they have fed their flocks carefully , or fed upon their flocks . the magistrates must give an account whether they have sought the maintenance of virtue , and the confusion of vice , or discountenanc'd the former by a shameful connivance at the latter . and all housholders must render an account how they have govern'd their families , whether in reading the sacred scrip●ures , and offering up o● daily prayers to the glory ●nd praise of god ; or suffering them to run without restraint to foolish pastimes , and into what vice the dictates of their depraved nature lead them : yea , every man and woman must give an account before the grea● judge of heaven and earth , of all their deceits and ill practices in their several callings : we must render an account of our works , 2 cor. 5. we must all app●ar before the judgment seat of christ , and there receive according to what we have done in the flesh , whether it be good or evil : how then will those griping vultures make their accounts , ●hat have oppression undone their brethren in very deed : the world is grown so cruel and hard-hearted , that many can see the poor starve in the streets and not relieve or succour them . nay , the ●ogs have the fragments of rich mens tables , not the poor , tho' lame or blind , or both ; but let such rich men remember , that if they would be partakers with the poor in heaven , they must let the poor partake with them of their good things on earth ; for to feed the poor , cloath the naked , relieve prisoners , is the same as if such works of mercy were done to christ. the safest way of laying up treasure is thus , to make a store-house of heaven , which at last day will afford no less than a crown of glory : make , o lord , the way pleasant to me that leads to such an end ; 't is no matter what raggs or colours i wear with men , so i may walk with my saviour in white , and reign with him in glory , luk. 13.3 . we must love o●e another , which is the very distinguishing mark of a disciple of christ ; as malice , hatred , and revenge , are the badges of an antichristian mind : we must in all things be reform'd from the evil of our ways , especially from our neglecting god's service , and the duties we owe to him ; nor must we be remiss in our duties to our king , to our co●ntry , and to our neighbours ; if we be , we may fall short of our glorious expectations . indeed , all ordinances of god are as it were the very face of god , and they who worship him therein , do solemnly ●ppear before him ; therefore , at such seasons all men are bound to be holy and recollected , especially ministers , when they read or preach god's word . god requires an exactness of deportment of them in his courts , and 't is no wonder , for do but observ● under the law , how choice he was about all thing● relating to his worship : the tabernacle was mad● of th● best wood , purest gold , and finest linnen ▪ in short , every part of it was done according to god'● prescription and order . such as offer sacrifice , mus● be without blemish , god expects to be serv'd b● holy men in the purest and holyest manner ; pur● must be the person , and pure the performance ; fo● men carry the temple of god about them , and therefore ought to keep their hearts and spirits clean fo● the reception of god ; ought they not then to b● very watchful over themselves when they are abou● religious duties , esp●cially those whose duty it is to lead and enlighten others to obtain the peace of god and everlasting rest ? but i 'le pursue this subject no farther , least i should too much r●semble a sheep that leaps out of the fold to lead the shedheard : i know well every one has his infirmity , the green-sickness is the maids , and covetousness the disease of some teachers , who preach up hospitality and other virtues to the people , but will not go to the cost of putting their own doctrine in practice : on the other hand , every thing has its virtue , the bee gathers honey out of every stinking weed , and every weed is of more value and use than to be thrown on a dunghill . 't is the apostles advise , that we do all things for the edification of others ; hence those that can , ought to read the script●res , and other good books , while those that cannot , ought attentively to give ear and lead their lives according as the word directs , see d●ut 6.11 . and to incite the minds of people to a more strict degree of piety , it would not be amiss for ministers to write ( or if there be enough already written , to buy ) some books of instructions according to scripture rules , and give away once a year to their parishoners : by this means the sheep will know the voice of their shepherd from the howling of devouring wolves , and also to keep them from wandring from christs fold , and runing astray after novelties thro' the wilderness of this world of errors . i know there are many well-meaning people who make a co●science of their doings , and are free from the folly of those that run to several places , that are not tost with every wind of doctrine ( as those commonly are ) that like any preacher better than their own , whom god ( by his providence ) hath set over them : these would willingly read what was thus given ●hem by their own shepherd or pasture ; nay , some of the other fickle headed men would also read their pastors gift purely out of curiosity ; this i say , would be a ready way to lead them to the house of the true shepherd ▪ ( i mean not where christ was born , at bethlehem ) to sing gloria in excelsis , but where christ now is , at god's right hand , interceeding for all his servants . 't is chiefly the ministers office to take care of christs flock , who have the power of the keys , the power to remit sins , by teaching the truth of christs word , and daily administring the sacraments , left as conduit-pipes to convey his grace to our hearts ; the doing of which being omitted by preachers , is the retaining of men in their sins ; for if men be so wicked that they will not ●elieve in christ crucified , after he hath been preach'd unto them , then their sins are retained , and the truth is not in them : good ministers have the keys to open and shut heaven , by preaching and administring the sacraments to their flock ; all that truly believe in gods word , which is the only rule we ought to follow , shall undoubtedly be saved . it is not every one that can pray or preach , hath power to remit sins , no , it is the undefiled , faithful , godly ministers , who lead their lives answerable to the true doctrine deliver'd in god's word that can do it ; they open and shut heaven as many good prophets did , by pouring out their fervent prayers to god almighty , do perform great things : one by prayer staid the course of the sun , another by prayer put it back , and when the clouds withheld from raining three years , a third offer'd up his prayers to heaven for rain , and god was pleased to send dow● rain to refresh the earth , that all things grew , and great plenty of all things made glad the he●rt of man : these instances make it appear what i before asserted , and that man has power with god to theologize astrology , that is , to put by , or prevent ( by prayers offer'd up to god ) what the stars foreshew to ensue , by the phaenomena's whereof , astrologers were wont to deter and frighten people from doing ill . let us fear god , obey his commands , and love one another , and believe in his word , who promised that whatsoever his true and faithful ministers should ask in his name , should ( if necessary ) be granted ; according to that gracious saying in the holy writ , that ● what time soever a sinner doth repent of his sins , he shall have pardon , with this proviso , he become a new creature by the amendment of his life ; such may come in favour with christ , the head shepherd of souls , who makes intercession with his father for all those that believe in him , and observe his commandments . and now to comprise all in a little , remember our saviours great commandment , which was , tha● you love one another ; and whatsoever you would that men should do unto you , that do you unto them , for this is the law and the prophets ; by the due observation of these words , we may obtain the peace of god which passeth all vnderstanding . now , to be out of peace with god is sad and deplorable , beyond the power of words to express ; humanity makes us justly grieve at the loss of a friend , a good neighbour , a loving wife , kind husband , or obedient child ; these are indeed great losses , but ought to be moderately lamented ; but the loss of christ is so great , that no sorrow is sufficient to set forth the sadness of such a state : other afflictions ( as to see christian families scatter'd by the violence of some grievous visitation ) is to be lamented , but is capable of a comfort from the hopes we have of a gracions meeting , with ample retributions in christ ; but the very thoughts of being out of god's favour , is enough to shut the door against all consolation , did not his goodness promise , that at what time soever a sinner repents , and turns from his wickedness , he would receive him with stretch'd forth arms of mercy : therefore , let us timely grieve for our sins , and take care never to offend him , who is able to cast soul and body into hell , and christ will ( as when he heard mary weeping at the sepulcher ) no longer absent himself : mary , said christ , she answered , rabbi , then her heart full of love and joy , cleaved to him , her arms circled him about , and she hears that golden message , go to my brethren and tell them , i go to my father and to your father : thus were her sorrows turned into joy and gladness : no christian , 't is observ'd , rises so high in divine consolation , as he that is lowest cast down in evangelical humiliation . mary was a great mourner , we seldom have a view of her in scripture without dew on her face , and tears in her eyes , luk. 7.38 . and 23 , 27. ioh. 19.25 . and 20.11.15 . and she had the special honour and favour , to see her lord , ( even our blessed redeemer ) before all others in the very ingress ( as i may call it ) of his exaltation ; for he appeared first to mary magdalen out of whom he had cast seven devils , mark 16.9 . as mary had sinned greatly , so she sorrowed greatly , which sorrow you see was of great value with god. peter wept bitterly , therefore christ took care to bind up his broken heart , by pouring the saving oyl of repentance into his wounded conscience : nay , he 's prefer'd too , for when a messenger is dispatch'● from heaven to acquaint the world with the joyful news of its saviours resurrection , no name is particularly mention'd in his commission but peters●punc ; go your way ( saith the angel to the two women ) and tell his disciples and peter , that he is risen , and goeth before you into galilee , there they shall see him : now peter was in an afflicted condition because he had forsworn christ , least christ should forget him ; but lo , his penitent tears had so reconciled him to christ , that our saviour ordered , that if but one in the world ( besides the two women at the sepulchre ) had notice of his resurrection , penitent and weeping peter should be the person . o! the powerful rhetorick of unfeigned tears ! repentance hath more prevalency with god , than all the riches , costly robes , crowns and diadems of the greatest potentates in the world. true repentanc● is an aversion from sin ; if they ( saith the lord ) will humble themselves , and turn from their evil ways , god will have mercy on them , 2 cor. 7.14 . we are so subject to sin , to offend , to err , and to conceive a miss of god , that we all stand in need of council , and of props to help us : the general misery of mankind is threefold , we are easie to be seduced , almost unable to do well , and weak to resist ; for if we would discern between good and evil , we are deceiv'd ; in doing good we quickly faint , and our greatest endeavours to resist evil are not so strong , but that we are easily overcome : the consideration of this frailty of our corrupt nature , made our saviour christ graciously to admonish his disciples , saying , watch and pray least you enter into temptation . what shall i say of the tyranny of the mighty ; of the misery of the poor ; of the abundance of wickedness , and of the spreading contagion of heresies ; all which , by variety of methods , draw or fright us from our duties : can i say better than what nestro did to his children , pray , for unless god help us , we all perish . finally , the fear of perishing , the shortness and uncertainty of life , and the suddenness of christs coming , his justice in judging , and many other reasons , should ( one would think ) make us not lightly over-pass and neglect his divine service and commands ; for what availeth it here to abound in wealth , excell in honours , and have all that the vanity of our desires prompts us to covet , if when christ shall come , we are found unready , and so lose our precious souls , mat. 16.26 . happy therefore is that servant whom the lord at his coming shall find watching and praying , expecting the bridgroom , with the oyl of faith in his heart , mat. 25.4 . and 24.25.10 . be therefore constant in the duties of watching and prayer , for all will be excluded the presence of our lord , who are found in them negligent , with i ●now you not , mark 13.33 . colos. 4.2 . watch and pray ; continue in prayer and thanksgiving . luk. 11.19 . ioh. 6.23 . there were never wanting powerful motives to stir up the faithful to daily prayer ; but , i perswade my self , it was never more nee●ful than now in this last , and as i may call it , old age of the doating world , wherein there do's more grievous and woful wickedness reign than ever heretofore : hence it may ye fear'd , that in the church will arise more horrible heresies , and in common-wealths more miserable confusions than ever did , except these impending evils be averted by daily and fervent prayer . the fountain of all true wisdom and learning , god the father of mercy , continue amongst us for his sons sake , the purity of his word , and the light of the gospel ; may he encrease the study of virtue , maintain peace and concord in his church , stimulate our desires continually to advance his glory , both in deed and word , and to keep his commandments to the utmost of our power , that living always in his fear , we may die in his favour , and rise again to everlasting blessedness with him to reign for all eternity . amen . of prayer and meditation . i may call the following meditations divine , pa●●ly because they are of divine matters , and concern the glory of god , and partly because they are taken out of the pure fountain of divine truth the scriptures , and partly because they are collected ( in part ) out of the writings of several eminent divines , whose volumes are too big , and of too great a price to be in the hands of many pious people : they are in a word , such as are not to be found in common authors . as to the necessity of the duty of prayer , read 1 tim. 2.1 . where you will find that the chosen vessel of god , st. paul , doth exhort , that first of all , deprecations , supplications , intercessions , and giving of thanks , be made for all men , for kings , and for all that are in authority , that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty . again , phil. 4.6 . he says , be careful for nothing , but in all things , let your petitions be manifest unto god in prayer and supplications , with giving of thanks ; by which places of scripture , we are not only pricked forward to the holy exercise of prayer , but taught also , that there are four kinds thereof , all necessary to be used every day . first deprecation , whereby we beg at the hands of almighty god , either altogether to turn away his heavy displeasure conceiv'd against us , through our sins , or at least to mittigate the punishment due for our offences . secondly , supplications , are prayers , whereby we crave such things as are necessary , either for the sustentation of this present life , or for our everlasting comfort in the world to come . thirdly , intercessions , are prayers made in the behalf of others . and lastly , thanksgiving , is when we praise god , and celebrate his holy name for all the benefits confer'd both upon our souls and bodies . some short ejaculations and prayers , according to scripture rules . i give thee most hearty thanks , o eternal god , father of our lord jesus christ , for that it hath pleased thee of thy unspeakable mercy and goodness , in all ages succesfully to send into the world men wonderfully endow'd with thy gifts , and adorn'd with the knowledge of thy will , to be revivers and preachers of thy word of truth , mat. 23.34 . ephes. 4.2.1 , 2. i likewise render most hearty thanks unto thy most sacred majesty , for sending thy only son , that great shepherd of thy church , to make known thy word to such as thou thinkest fit to teach thy people the truth of thy written word , for the gathering together thy church out of all mankind , to the building up of the body of christ. i humbly beseech thee , most gracious god , to continue always amongst us thy pure word , and through thy ministers , gather to thy self an infinite and everlasting congregation , and so instruct my heart with thy spirit of truth , that i may unfeignedly assent to thy wholesome word , whereby i may prove a lively member of thy body , and be incorporated into that society which doth in this world sincerely confess thee , and in the next world for ever enjoy thee , evermore extolling the holiness of thy name ; preserve in safety the ministers and teachers of thy word , and give them the certain knowledge of thy blessed will , that by thy word they may from time to time open unto us thine intent concerning the repairing of mankind , to the saving and redeeming of our souls thro' thy free mercy ; and also teach us here to live in new obedience , and to withstand the violence and allurements of our carnal desires which fight against the soul , 1 pet. 2.12 . inspire the preachers of thy word with the divine breathings of thy holy spirit , that they may utter thy will with the purity they receive from thy mouth , retaining the form of wholesome words , and sounding none but the doctrine manifested by thy son out of thy bosom , 2 tim. 1.13 . ioh. 1.18 . for by departing from the order of the faith and rule of thy word , they will greatly obscure the light of thy doctrine , and obtrude upon us the vanity of their own inventions for thy holy inspirations ; therefore let them speak thy word not deceitfully but sincerely , as from thee and in thy sight , 2 cor. 4.2 . grant also that by transforming thy divine ministry into earthly policy , they lord it not over thine elect , neither proudly contend about superiority and primacy in thy church , 1 pet. 5 ▪ 3. but only seek the glory of thy name , and the salvation of themselves and us committed by thy providence to their charge ; give them liberty of speech , boldly without fear , to blame and rebuke all false doctrine , blasphemous superstitions , and abuses in thy church , ephes. 6.19 . open unto them the door of utterance , that they may speak the mysteries of christ , and manifest them as they ought to do , so shall their doings be profitable to the godly , colos. 4.3 . assist them also with thy especial grace , that they disgrace not the doctrine which they teach and preach by impurity of life , 1 tim. 3.2 , 4. but especially assist the shepherd under thee whom i hear for the good of my soul , from whose mouth i learn thy blessed will : keep him , o lord , i heartily pray , in religion sincere and pure , from enormous offences in his outward conversation , endow him with a long and healthful life , ( if it be thy will ) that he may live to convert many by preaching thy word of wholesome doctrine , and then we shall be converted , because thou art our god , and being converted , we will do penance ; shew us our offences , that we may have a true sense and hearty sorrow for our sins ▪ o son of god , who art the lord and head shepherd of all thy flock , work thou effectually by thy preachers , and speak thou also within us to our hearts , the blessed will of thy eternal father , and confirm thy doctrine in our minds by thy holy spirit ; and grant , i beseech thee , that we may truly know and discern the same from the howling of wolves , and from the inchanting songs of hirelings , ioh. 10.12 . and 17.15 . and grant that we may know thee , even as thou knowest thy heavenly father , and walk religiously and righteously in thy sight , showing our selves to be that holy seed which praiseth thy name for evermore . come holy spirit , open my heart and ears , that i may conceive the profit of thy wholesome doctrine , and the sweet comfort revealed in thy holy words by the preaching of the gospel . i beseech thee pour into us godly cogitations , that we may never imagine as the wicked do , that the miseries and afflictions of this life fall upon u● 〈◊〉 chance and against thy will , but that we may 〈◊〉 believe that thy church is govern'd by thy p●●vidence , and that without thy permission no evil 〈◊〉 punishment cometh ; for thou lord sendest the s●me , amos 3.6 . then grant , i beseech thee , that we may suffer all injuries and adversities with quiet minds , and never attempt that which is contrary to thy commandments , but by an humble acknowledgment and submission to thy will , bear all sorts of calamities with calling for thy assistance , psal. 50.15 . tit. 22. most gracious god , keep i beseech thee , the power of mans immortal enemy , the prince of darkness under , that he compel not consciences loaded with the weight of sins to fall into fatal desperation , either by heaping up and aggravating their offences , or by extenuating thy mercy , enhance too much their own guilt , or lessen thy power of forgiving ; but grant that all sinners that are heavy laden , may with a true and lively faith come unto thee for ease and refreshment ; may they freely come unto thee by hearing thy word to repentance , that the angels in heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce at their happy conversion , luk. 15.7 . amen . see iames 5.16 . mat. 6.14 . and esa. 66.2 . where you may read what you ought to do if you would have god forgive you your sins , hear your prayers , and grant your requests . prayer is a vehement desire of the heart to obtain something at the hand of god , who look●● not upon the face as man doth , but beholdeth the 〈◊〉 ; neither doth he listen to the sound of the ●outh , but ●o the fervency of the mind : therefore christians praying have their affections bent towards god , they ●lways hunger and thirst after righteousness : the ●rayer of him who humbleth himself is accepted , as appear'd by the publican , luk. 18.19 . psal. 50 . 1● . mark 13.3.3 . coloss. 4.2 . luk. 11.9 . ioh. 6.23 . how excellent a thing it is for man to converse with god! this joyns man in society with angels , thro' ascribing with them due praise and glory unto the almighty : let nothing dismay a christian from praying unto god , for the prayer of the righteous is the key of heaven ; the prayer of the godly doth ascend , and the mercy of god doth thereby come down ; therefore we will sing praise unto thee , o lord , for as thou hast been our defence in the day of our trouble , even so i beseech thee to protect and save us everlastingly . amen . let us with st. paul , heb. 4.16 . come boldly to the throne of grace , that we may obtain mercy : that is , let us in confident assurance of god's readiness to help us , make our addresses boldly and chearfully to the throne of his grace upon all occasions , suing to our bountiful god for the relief of all our necessities ; and let us consider when we are about to offer up our petitions to god by prayer , what ou● necessities and wants are before we ask , least throug● temerity we ask amiss . his freeness to give , ma● well make us bold to ask ; his power to supply us , may give us hopes to obtain what is necessary for us , and his greatness ought to make us temper our addresses with humility ; as for choice of words , and elegant long harangues , let us not be too solicitous , for god regards not eloquence , and long harangues so much as the sincerity of those that invocate his majesty . men chiefly mind the neatness of expression ▪ god the truth and fervency of what is exprest : we are commanded to pray without ceasing , which is best done according to scripture rules , because no method is comparable to that which god has laid down for us , and christ taught us . when we groan under the weight of any affliction , we shall ever find help , by calling upon god , desiring the assistance of the righteous to be joyned with us in prayer , for the prayers of the faithful availeth much ▪ their help we are admonish'd to desire by the example of st. paul , who said to the romans , i beseech you brethren , for the lord iesus christ's sake , and for the love of the spirit , that you strive together wi●h me in your endeavours and prayers to god for me , ●or the light of ●is countenance , and for assisting in every duty , rom. 15.20 . some define prayer thus : an humble lifting up of the heart , or a pouring out of the soul to god in the name of christ ; it is crying abba , father .. as scrip●ure is god's letter wherein he openeth his mind to man , so prayer is man's letter , wherein he expresses ●is mind to god : a thought can fly speedily to the utmost part of the earth , but prayer in a moment ascends to the highest heavens , 't is as it were a speaking trumpet , one end of which being fastened to man's mouth , it carryeth the petitioning voice to god's ear , tho' spoken near so softly . prayer hath a twofold advantage of some other duties , in regard its influence is universal , and to ●ts exercise an opportunity is never wanting . a christian cannot always hear or read god's word , out he may pray continually . every saint is god's temple , and he that carries a temple about him , ●ay go to prayer when he pleaseth . a good chri●tian need not be very nice in chusing a place for de●otion , since to him every house is a house of prayer , ●nd every place he comes to an altar , whereon he ●ay offer up to god a sacrifice of prayer ; yet de●ency is not to be forgotten , ( as far as circumstance ●ill allow ) since even by it we express a kind of devotion to our god ; but many alass are so far from being curious in this point , that they forget to pay at all this duty , tho' most necessary to the obtaining their eternal salvation . if we are in doubts about our spiritual estate , let us in prayer go to god , who is marvellous in council ? are we in affliction , let us call upon him for help , and he will not only hear us , but also in his good time deliver us ? do's any affliction seize our bodies , which endangers our lives or disturb our tranquility , let us by prayer call upon him at midnight , and he will make hast to help us ; tho' we are troubled exceedingly , in a moment he can give us quiet and rest ; nay , tho' we should be encompassed with enemies , driven to the greatest of necessities , perplex'd with doubts , threatned with dangers , or like peter , falsly imprisoned , and watched narrowly night and day , lest we should make an escape ; yet prayer , as another moses , will go before us , and so engage god on our side , that he will vanquish our enemies , relieve ou● necessities , unfold our doubts , prevent our dangers ▪ convert our bondage into liberty , and guide us all the way thro' the wilderness of this world , 'till we arrive at the spiritual land of canaan , and be enroled citizens of the heavenly jerusalem , where christ is , infinitely exceeding that ierusalem where christ was , and whither the devout iews went once a year to worship . and here it will not be amiss , nor i believe unacceptable to my reader , to give him some account of the earthly ierusalem , and its many revolutions so much spoken of in scripture and other histories ▪ this ierusalem , by some called the holy city , and throne of god , was antiently a fort of the iebusites upon mount sion , not conquer'd by the valiant ioshua , but was fully subdu'd by the victorious arm of david , who built thereon the city , unto which was adjoyn'd mount moriah , and therefore call'd the daughter of sion , where abraham would have offer'd his son isaac , where david built his altar , and solomon his beauti●ul temple , of which great things are by all histori●ns recorded . 't is scituate in the midst of nations , ●t was the place of holy worship ; from this moun●ain ( which for many things is justly prefer'd before ●ll others ) did flow those salutiferous waters , that gave life where ever they ran ; from hence christ ●ent his apostles ( as so many spiritual fishermen ) to ●atch the souls of men. in this famous city stood ●he throne of david , establish'd here by the royal ●uccession of one and twenty kings , descended from ●he loins of this royal prophet . sin whose proper wages is death , brought many calamities , strange revolutions , and in the end , a ●●nal destruction to ierusalem : the convulsions and ●roubles of this city were many and violent before 〈◊〉 was utterly ruin'd ; as namely , by this hake king ●f egypt in rehoboams days , at which time the con●ueror carry'd away much treasure . by ioas king ●f israel , who in the time of amazias , brake down ●00 cubits of the wall ; it was besieg'd by resin and ●ekek king of aram and israel , whom god put back 〈◊〉 the reign of wicked ahaz . by zenecher king of ●ssur whose host in hezekiahs days the angel of god ●estroyed . by the assyrians who took manasia cap●●ve . by pharaoh necho who carried iehoazar pri●oner into egypt . and lastly , it was besieged by ●he caldeans , who both burnt the temple , and defa●ed the city , see kings 23.25 . it was after the captivity rebuilt by the returned ●ews , yet so , that in the days of christ , it rather seemed a place of slaughter , and a den of thieves than the royal seat of a king , or the place of holy worship ; for having slain their prophets , and persecuted the saints , they lastly filled the measure o● their iniquity , by shedding the blood of that grea● one , even jesus the lord of life , who by sufferin● death in ierusalem , sealed the redemption of th● world , fulfilled the law , changed their sabbath ▪ and in a word , put an end to the glory of the place ▪ soon after , by the sedition of the citizens , and th● caesars cruelties , it became so desolate , that one ston● was not left standing upon another , but as in th● destruction of sodom , so was it all destroy'd , 〈◊〉 walls removed , mount sion excluded , and calva●● taken ; the name ierusalem was changed for that o● aelia , an unclean swine set over the chief gate , and the iews forbid ( on pain of death ) to look back upon the city . in this state the romans held it till the year o● christ 615 , from whose empire the persians ●ore i● ▪ and kept it the space of twenty two years : th● sarazens were the next that conquer'd it in the yea● 637 , and possest it 372 years , till in the year 100● the turks took it , and immediately lost it to the sultan of egypt , who enjoy'd it the space of 90 year● at which time , being in the year 1099 , the christian● under their general godfrey bulloigne conquer'd 〈◊〉 and under the government of several christia● princes , one of which was richard the first king o● england , who was king of ierusalem , it continued 〈◊〉 years , that is , till the year 1187 , at which time it wa● surpriz'd by soladine king of persia , and by the persians held 330 years , when in 1517 it was invad●● and won by the victorious solimo the turkish emperor , and in it to this day the abomination of mahom●● is set up ▪ thus is sion become a plunged field , and ierusalem a heap of stones ; the holy land laid wast under the feet of the heathen , and the place of divine prayer made a den of dragons ; so that as it was foretold , neither in the mountain of samaria , nor in jerusalem , is the place of holy worship , see isa. 66.1 , 2. but every spiritual heart retaining the ark or testament of god's covenant in christ , is the ierusalem and temple wherein the lord will dwell , and where ●his spi●it with ours , as the two cherubins on the mercy seat , looking each towards the other , will witness our reconciliation by christ our high priest , who is entred before us into the holy of holies , even the highest heavens ; into which divine mansion , may he whom my soul loveth , say come ; in the mean while , let us consider what the angel said ●o the women when he sent them away from looking into the sepulcre , with he is risen , he is not here ; did he not thereby dehort them and us , from burying ou● affections in christ's grave , and admonish us rather to seek him where he is to be found . at this day a gracious heart maketh every place a ierusalem , where god may as well and as acceptably 〈◊〉 worshipped , as upon mount olivet , or christ's mount , so named , because it was his pulpit , as the whole land was his text , when he made that famous sermon on the mount : this son of righteousness had all palestine for his zodiack , and the twelve tribes for his signs : st. hierom observeth , as the two tribes which were first carried into captivity , so redemption was first preached in their countries . likewise in former ages there were the greatest examples of god's justice shown upon disobedient sinners : for example , lots wife for one farewell glance at sodom , was turned into a pillar of salt , which may teach us to measure a sin by the in●ini●eness of god who forbiddeth it . 't is observed the land of iudea became barrenou● af●er ou● saviours passion , of bringing ●orth their principle commodities , as balm , &c. whether because the tipe was to cease when the truth was come , or because that land was unworthy to have so soveraign bodily physick grow in her , where the phisitian of the so●l was put to death . another wonderful remarkable thing shown ●pon all the outward formal jewish worshippers soon after our saviours ascention , as he had foretold was the destruction of that city and land , by which we are made sensible that there was never sorrow like the sorrow of that land , who made the messiah a man of sorrow . if we consider , the siege of jerusalem began at the time of the passover , when in a manner all judea was inclosed in jerusalem , all private synagogues doing their duties to the mother temple , so that the city then had more guests than inhabitants . thus the passover which was at first instituted by god in mercy , to save the israelites from death , was then used by him in justice to hasten their destruction , and to gather the nations into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his anger , as our saviour had foretold them ; besides , those who had bought our saviour for thirty pence , were themselves sold thirty for a penny ; whilst this storm fell among the unbelieving jews , it was calm among the believing jews ; that is , those that were become christians , who forewarn'd by christs predicti●●● , fled betimes out of the city to pella , ( a private place beyond jordan ) which serv'd them instead of a little zore to save them from the eminent destruction of sodom . and now the chief head of the scattered unbelieving jews keep the meaner sort , as well as themselves , ●rom the use of the new testament , nay , they will ●oone : curse it , than look into it , the which thing is the hindrance of their conversion and salvation : and thus we leave them in a state most lamentable , and much to be pitied . lastly , it may justly seem admirable , how senseless religions should gain so much ground on christianity , such having neither substance in their doctrine , nor winning behaviour in their ceremonies to allure professors ; for what are many here●ies but the scum of judaism and paganism , yet like in growth to the river nilus , which is famous and well known for its overflowing streams , though hidden and obscure as to its fountain . it 's the justice of god to deliver them over to believe lies , who will not obey the truth . you are here put to understand , what diffe●ence of days there is betwixt the christians , jewish , and turkish sabbaths ; the christians keep theirs the first day of the week , call'd sunday ; the jews on saturday ; and the turks on friday , in scorn of christ , who was on that day crucified . the true church is an assembly , or such a congregation as believes things which do not appear , neither may be comprehended in the mind , that is , ●t depends only on god's word , what the same saith , the true church believes without any addition , giving honour to god , and taking that to be true which in the word is delivered unto them , isa. 5.3 . as to the place where this true church is , i answer , 't is wheresoever god's word is purely taught ; and the head shepheard of this church is christ jesus . since nothing more provokes the wrath of god against us , than the breaking and prophaning of his holy sabb●th ▪ the observance thereof can never be sufficiently inculcated int● mens minds ; for said the spirit of the lord to our fore-fathers , if you will no● hea●ken unto my words , and keep my sabbath holy , then wi●l i ki●dle a fire which shall devour the palaces of jerusalem , and none shall quench i● , jer. 17. ezek. 2● . 26.31 . god's severity has ●een remarkable on jerusalem , and upon the disobedient and wicked prophaners of his sabbath , as may appear by many instances . the first blow given to the german church was on the ●ord's day , which they carelesly observ'd ; the day of the lord will be a dreadful day to them that despise the day which christ has set apart for the zealous performanc● of religious duties . it is mark'd with a memento above all other commandments , remember the sabbath day to keep it holy . on the lord's day we should go into god's sanctuary and reverence the same ; see levit. 19.30 . we have god's hand and seal for our observing it ; see act● 20.7.1 cor. 16. ● , 2. rev. 10. god is pleased to esteem it his glory to have many beggers ( such are all men in respect of him ) to meet at his house or temple to pay their duty of thanks and holy worship for their all , since they have all things of him , mat. 18.20 . psal. 42.4 . christ himself went often into the synagogues , and peter and john went up into the temple at the hour of praper ▪ acts 3.1 ▪ and 13.23 , 4. the day which is to be sanctify'd is not the seventh , but the first day of the week , for the jews sabbath was buried in christ's grave ; so that the first day of the week is of divine institution , and honoured with the name of the lord's day in regard of its author , who rose that day in the morning from finishing the amazing work of our redemption ; upon 〈◊〉 day he brought forth his living water ; on this day he gave his bread of life , his body ; on this day h● met his two disciples ; 't was on this day that the saints which slept arose out of their graves ; on ●h●s day the holy ghost descended on the apo●tl●● ▪ on this day christ brought forth the light of his ●●ew heavens and earth by his powerful resurrection ; on this day st. iohn ●●d his glorious revelati●n ▪ containing the churches state till the dissolution of the world ; on this day christ visited his dea● apostles , saying , peace b● unto you ; behold my 〈◊〉 and feet ▪ on this day he burst asunder the bonds of death , and broke the gates of hell , led captivity captive , trampled upon principalities , suddued powers ▪ triumph'd over the grave , conquer'd sin ▪ absolv'd the curse of the law , and trod down satan ▪ upon this day he still rides triumphantly in the chariot of his ordinances , conquering all profane ●pposition , cutting down high thoughts , and ●●bduing sinners to himself ; blessed is the man that ●eeps the sabbath unpolluted , isa. 56. vers . 2. it i● likewise thought that his second coming will ●e on this day , called , the lords sabbath day , and blessed is that s●rvant whom he ●inds well doing when he cometh ; and since we know not in what hour of ●he watch he will come , whether at the dawning of ●he day , at noon , or at midnight , we ought there●●re with more care keep our selves upon the watch , ●●st he come upon us unawares and find us sleeping , ●●r neglecting our duty , for which we may be cast ●nto ●nquenchable fire as unprofitable servants , and ●o be for ever shut out of gods favour and presence ; ●or if on earth we do not frequent his divine pre●ence , by assembling our selves together for the re●erent performing the duty of prayer , he so oft has commanded us to observe , 't is in vain to flatter ou● s●lves with the expectation of being admitted i●to his presence hereafter ; therefore , l●t us here make our salvation su●e , that we may of his goodness gai● admi●tanc●●ereafter into his glorious presen●e , which is only to be obtain'd through chris● o●● lord , our only saviour and r●deemer , by o●ten asse●●●●ng ●ur selves togethe●●o give thanks , and offer ●erv●nt prayers to the lord in christ's name ▪ this i ●a● , will be the only way to obtain our desire which god grant we may all enjoy , and live and r●ig●●or ever with him , to give praise and glo●y to his holy nam● , for his gracious goodness in redeeming us to himself ▪ o! how happy will our stat●●hen be , we shall only be employed to sing praise and glory , and honour , world without end ; ther● we shall possess the fullness of joys , and never fading pleasure● , resting for ever from our labours ▪ an● singing with sain●s and angels new praises to hi● holy name : 't was the charming hopes of thes● cont●ntm●●ts which m●de t●e apostles so o●● conclude ▪ with a come lord iesus , c●me quickly . amen ▪ te●tullian was of opinion , that no souls did enjoy the beatifical vision till the resurrection ▪ at whic● time he supposed the order of rising would be according to the degrees of holiness men had attain●d to in this life . and to make his opinion th● more plausible , he affirm'd the resurrection woul● continue the thousand years of christ's reign upo● earth ; so that the highest rank of christians in hi● opinion , shall ri●e in the beginning of the said term and all others rise in their turn , according to thei●●leg●●es of piety and wickedness ; and therefore 〈◊〉 said , the most sloathful and negligent , would be d●fer'● to the conclusion , being ●o be held in prison till they pay the utmost farthing , ( for this parable he ascribes to the morae resurrectionis , ) that is , they are not to rise from the dead till towards the end of the thousand y●ars , 1 cor. 15. vers . 23.24 . the whole chapter g●ves a large account thereof . besides , st. iohn in his revelations tells us , that the last tru●pet is the seventh trumpet , ( that is , a m●●●●rious number , in which ( as by many instances ●●●ht be proved ) god seems peculiarly to delight . ) s● that the sixth trumpet , as it is expressed in the revelations , soundeth before this , shewing that the ●a●t end of all will not ●e till the last trumpet ; but yet there will be a vast tract of time within the time of the last trumpet , many things being to be performed within its compass , so that at the first beginning of the last trumpet , the enemies of god so fall , that the kingdoms of this world becomes the king●oms of the lord , and of his christ , &c. revel . 11. vers . 15.16 , 17 , 18. which is a summary preface , or a prefationary sum to the catastrophe or upshot of the revelations to follow unto the end. and in ●evel . 20. and the first seven verses , is expressed how l●ng this visible kingdom of christ on earth shall continue , and consequently so long is the last trumpet , viz. as the learned conclude a thousand years , but the last end of all and ultìmate period , shall not be till the last end of the last trumpet , rev. 20.12 . &c. and thus 't is probable the resurrection will continue the thousand years of christ's reign upon earth , touching this , see isa. 16.19 . & cap. 19.20 . and cap. 25 ▪ vers . 6 , 7 , & 8. and daniel 12. vers . 5. where it is said , go thy way unto the end and rest , and awake in thy lot in the end of days , for the lord hath spoken it . the lord will then remove the vail of ignorance which is now cast over the faces of all people so as they shall clearly see the great and wo●derful mistery of man's salvation . now , touching the place where christ shall sit in judgment , the scriptur●s make it out that it shall be in the air , over the valley of iehosaph●t , by mount olivet , near unto ierusalem , then w●ll chris● set for●h magnificently his holy spou●e , the church tri●●phant : first , all things will be made new , sitting for the merits of so beautiful a bride . secondly , there will appear the glory and excellency of ●he lambs wife . thirdly , the earnest desire of the elect , who will say , come lord iesus , to whom the fountain of mercy will answer , behold , i come quickly see revel . 3.11 . this will be a glorious spectacle , repleat with rareties far beyond what our weak fancies can imagine , it will not be like our transit●ry pageantry for a day , but such as will for ever fully employ the most pier●ing eyes of o●r souls with ravishing satisfaction . her● have we first the precursor , a iohn baptist going before , and giving warning , ecce ! behold he is coming who hath been oft foretold , and long the darling expectation of all nations , even christ the only begotten son of the father , venio , i come . thirdly , the manner of his coming will be wonderful , he will not come leasurely , as he rode to ierusalem upon a slow beast , but riding upon the wings of the swiftest wind , born up as it were by a bright cloud of angels , venio cito , i come , saith the lord , quickly . now , the many comings of christ , which are dispersedly related in the holy bible , i will set down in the order following , his first coming was virtual , from the beginning of th● world , full of the vigour and power of red●●ption , as he was a lamb slain from the begining of the world ; and thus abraham saw him as com● , 〈◊〉 his day as present . his other comings were actual , namely , in carne , when he came to man , by assuming his nature , when he came , ad suos , to the iews , and they received him ●ot , this coming was in humility and debasement , 〈◊〉 ●orma servi , in the form of a servant , to make us 〈◊〉 by his sufferings and bondage . his coming to ier●salem was local , being both a preparative to his c●●el passion , and a prefiguration of his glorious exaltation , venit ●ex , was the proclamation which was f●llowed by the royal acclamations , hosanna being sung to him , with a blessed be he that cometh in the name of the lord. he also has a spiritual and invisible coming into ●he secret recesses of our souls by grace , and ●he power of his holy spirit , which doth raise us from the grave of sin , and spiritual death ; this co●ing is in misericordia , in mercy . but his last coming is in justice , in majesty , and in glory , to judge the quick and the dead , and to render to every one according to his works , whether they be good or evil ; and to transform the church militant into the church triumphant : and this c●ming is called by st. paul the glorious appearance of our great god , and only saviour jesus christ : and himself has foretold , that he the son of man shall come cloathed with a triple glory , that is , in his own glory , in his fathers , and in that of the holy angels . now of the several comings i have hitherto spoken , some are past , some to come , and others are daily coming , and ever present as his coming ●o his chosen , by moving and changing their hearts , by renewing their spirits , by comforting and instru●●ing their souls ; present also in his coming to th● wicked and reprobate , in such mann●r as he cam● to pharaoh . but the last and most universal com●ng is , that which is not yet come , and is promised in th●se words , behold i come , rev. 5.6 . and this is usually call'd his second coming , which will be visible and proper , wherein it is suit●ble to his coming by in●arnation , and yet it much differs from that first in manner , that being in the depth of hum●●iation , this in the height of exaltation ; that in re●roach and infirmity , thi● in glory and p●●fection o● health ; then he came to die , and bear a crown of tho●●s , now to wear a crown of life ; in that he came to b● dispised and spit on by his enemies , in this to bruise his adversaries like a potters vessel , and to make his foes his footstool . secondly , in time , that being in the fulness of time , ( yet i● time ) when the vail of mosaical tipes and ceremonies was to be pull'd off , and yield to the substance , gal. 4.4 . this future , in the very end of time , when the whole frame of the earth is to be broke in sunder , the curtains of the heavens to be w●thdrawn , and all things sublimated and purified by fi●e , then shall men see the lord christ coming in the clouds , with omnipotent power , and infinite glory , with millions of angels , and all souls , whom he knows to be his by faith and good works , each of which will than move in an orb of glory , far surpassing the brightness of the suns meridian be●●●s , and yet the glory of christs body will infinitely exceed them all ; then will the joyful elect say , the ●ime is come of singing eternal halalujahs , and the voice of christ and his holy angels will be ●eard over the whole world in a diapason of most revishing notes , which will awaken and raise up all that are in their graves , who ( i mean the just ) shall come ●orth the grave like so many iosephs out of prison , and each soul and body separated by death , shall be conjoyn'd , though our bodies be turn'd to dust , yet shall they be made alive , and all possest with agility , ●he just shall in their bodily shape ascend , and joy●ully me●t the lord at his glorious coming in the air , and all the elect , who shall be sound living , ●hall ●e ●●ught up together to mee● their saviour in the air. and the fire shall burn up the corruption of the world , and the works therein shall in a moment , in the twinkling of an eye , overtake all that are then in ●eing , and whether it finds them either grinding in the mill of provision , or walking in the fields of pleasure , or lying in the bed of ease , it will put a ●●riod to their present enterprizes ; it will burn up ●he dross and corruption of mortals , making them put on immortality ; and this change shall be unto the righteous instead of death ; then shall they like ●●och , lift up their heads , and behold the glorious angels of the lord like so many gabriels flying towards them , to tell them that the day of their redemption is come , and to convey them through the region of the air to meet their redeemer . lo ! they are at hand , arise therefore my dove , my love , my fair one , and come away . nay , all the just , both quick and dead , being glorified , shall forthwith ( by ●he careful ministry of god's ●oly angels , be gathered together from all the q●arters and parts of the world , and be caught in the clouds to meet the 〈◊〉 triumphing in the air , and so shall become as a part of his glorious train , attending him in his procession to the judgment seat , where he and they will sit in judgment upon the reprobates and evil angels . the twelve apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones next unto christ , to judge the twelve tribes that refused to hear the gospel preached 〈◊〉 their ministry ; and as every one of the apostles received grace in this life to be more zealous of his glory , and more faithful in god's service than othe●● ▪ from that day for evermore they shall exceed the re●● in glory , and a●l the saints in honour and order , shall stand next to them that judge both the evil angels , reprobates , and bad minded men , who , for want of a true confidence in god , put trust in uncertain riches , or in false prophets , and run a who●ing after strange gods of their own making ; they will in ●ine , ●e judges of all such as have liv'd without a due fear of this judgment , as if there was no such thing . a sabbatism signifies a rest upon a seventh , most likely ( as iude hi●●s , verse 14. ) in the seventh and last age of the world. further , to explain this sabbatism , the apostle minds them to keep a sabb●tism every seventh day , out of which weekly seventh was form'd their petty iubilee of the seven times seven years , viz. beginning at the end of the forty ninth year . their ( viz. the iews ) longer rest in canaan was also a kind of sabbatism ; they counted the year of the world 2500 , a jubilee of jubilee's . their return out of babylon , where they had been about seventy years , was about the seventh jubilee from the creation . now , saith the apostle to the believers , in effect thus : you must have a sabbatism , a sabbatical rest , that must correspond to those former rests ever since the creation . but what sabbatism septenary , or seventh of rest , can we find out besides those aforesaid , but a sabbath of a thousand years , viz. the last thousand years of s●●en thousand , before the ultimate general day o● judgment . this the ancients assert with one cons●ur ▪ grounding themselves upon the scriptures ; ●●eir words , in summ , are these ; as every seventh d●y and year was ordain'd a day and year of rest and release ; so the seventh thousand years of the world is the time of the rest and release of the world , according to the 90 th and 92 d psalms . all orthodox divines distinguish the church of the mediatour into visible and invisible , and not in●o several kinds ; tho' the church may be made up o● several nations , yet the church and the word 〈◊〉 still of the same nature in essence ; the word makes the church of the same uniform from the beginning to the end ; the church that i speak of , is an uniform church in the internal form , which is union in and with christ , and through him with one another , eph. 4. in several ages it had several forms ; in adam's time it was outwardly most glorious , as well as inwardly perfect ; in the ten fathers time before the flood , it was in families with a mean outward glory ; in the time of tabernacles , made by moses , and of the temple , built by solomon , it had a world of g●orious types ; in the new testament , in the first 300 years , it was mean ; in constantine's time and downwards , it had a great deal of outward glory ; but of late times , in many places , very mean , yet still we truly confess one universal church in kind , nature , essence , and i● internal form ; when christ's time shall ●ome , he will make the church spiritually and eternally glorious , and she will sing allelujah for her safe delivery at the ultimate day of judgment ; but how long this ultimate day may be , how long ere the evening of the millenary day will be in coming , we cannot t●ll , because the prophets of the old testament in general have spoken of the times of restitution , but have not spoken of all things that are to be f●lfill'd ; and many things in the new testament , the apostles tell us , were hid in old time ; and st ▪ iohn's six first seals , trumpe●s , and viols , shew as much ; as also the binding of satan , &c. some think the opinion of the thousand years makes christ's kingdom to be earthly , but the scriptures make it to be spiritual ; neither doth the word of god make the kingdom of the m●diatour of two kinds , and of a different nature , but one and uniform from the beginning to the end , luke 1.32 . also in this new creation , when things shall be re-created , or made a-new , there shall be no noisome fumes , vapours , or any noxious exhalations , fier● or watry , &c. to cause sickness , death it self 〈◊〉 then be swallowed up in victory , 1 cor. 15. and all sorrow removed , rev. 21.4 . the air shall not be an habita●ion for devils as formerly , for which he was called prince of the air , eph. 2.2 . but the devil shall be chained up , re● . 20.2 . and every vnclean spirit shall be removed far away from the church , zech. 13.2 . as in the first creation god made all things in a short time , so will it be in the new creation ; for christ will then do great things suddenly , isai. 66.8 . the appearance of christ shall be on a sudden , matth. 24.27 . the change of the believers surviving at christ's coming shall be effected in a moment , in the twinkling of an eye , 1 cor. 15.51 . and lastly , the resurrection of the deceased shall be by christ effected at his coming . christ , as man , must judge men as men , and so have time to make his judgment , which in it self will doubtless be just . now this will take up a co●side●able time of the thousand years ; for chris● will judge the whole world upon the earth , and ●h●●arth will be the place of judicature , and all the bo●ies that ever were mus● appear in a place on the 〈◊〉 sit for that purpose ; i say on the earth , for 〈◊〉 in heaven the wicked cannot be to receive sen●ence , and only the saints are caught up in the clouds . satan , and the wicked hypocrites , and o●●er sinners , will be sentenc'd into outer dark●es● as to the place where this great assize will be hel● , the common opinion is , that it will be ●ear i●r●salem , in the valley of iehoshaphat , which cosm●g●aphers assign for the middle of the earth's super●●ies ; for if the termini à quibus , be the four parts 〈◊〉 the world , then the terminus ad quem must be ●bout the centre . another reason is , because the angel told the disciples , that as they saw christ ●s●e●d from mount olive● , which is over the valley of iehoshapha● , so he should in like manner descend ●rom heaven . now that the said valley , or some place adjacent to ierusalem , should be the place of judgment , 't is most probable ; because that as christ was ●hereabouts crucified , and put to open shame ; so it is likely that thereabouts his glorious throne ●hall be exalted in the air , when he shall appear in judgment , to manifest his majesty and glory ; and so he in that place will judge the world with ●ighteous judgment , where h● himself was unjustly ●udged and condemned . the order he will observe in giving judgment , will ▪ as some think , be first to pronounce the senten●● of absolution and bliss upon the elect , because ●e will thereby encrease the grief of the reprobates that shall hear it , and at the same time show that he is more prone to mercy than judgment , more forward to reward the good , than to punish the wicked ; therefore he will in the sight and hea●ing of all the world say to his elect , come , ye bless●d of my father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you from th● beginning of the world : come you now from labou● ▪ to rest ; f●om disgrac● , to glory ; from the iaws of death , to eternal life . after this every saint receives a glorious crown from the hands of their righteous and merciful judge , as the ample reward which he promised o● his free grace to all them that loved and hoped fo● this his last , and to the blessed , everlasting appearing ▪ then every one shall take his crown , and lay i● down as it were at the feet of christ , the generous giver , and prostrating themselves , shall with one heart and voice , in a heavenly consort , sing p●aise and honour , and glory , and powe● , and thanks b● unto thee , o blessed lamb , who sittest upon the t●ron● thou by d●●th redeem'd us from being sons o● wrath and perdition , to be the children of god ▪ out of every kindred , and to●gue , and people , and nation , thou hast made unto our god , kings and priests , to reign triumphantly with thee in thy kingdom for ever . next follows the dreadful sentence of condemnation against the hardned reprobates and evi● angels , immediat●ly after which christ from his exalted tribunal will arise , waited on by his numerous train of elect and holy angels , with whom in order and array , he will ascend triumphantly unto the heaven of heavens , and there present al● the elect unto his father , saying , behold , o righteous father , these are they whom thou gavest me i gave them thy word , and they believed it ; i have ke●● them , and none of them is lost ; therefore l●t them sing praises to thee their god and king ; let them be glad and rejoyce , and give honour unto thee , for the marriage of the lamb is come , and his spouse hath made her self ready , hallelujah , for the lord god omnipotent reigneth . every thing tendeth to its proper centre ; god ●s the centre of our souls , our chiefest good ; therefore the soul ( like noah's dove ) cannot rest nor ●oy till she return and enjoy him ; she is ever desiring ●o keep a perpetual sabbath with him , to the glory ▪ honour , and praise of the blessed trinity ; to which ●appiness when we once arrive , we shall not only ●now our friends departed in the faith of christ , ●ut also joyn in a league of perpetual friendship with all the faithful that ever were , or shall here●fter be ; our knowledge now is but imperfect , then it will be compleat ; for we shall know as we are known of god , or as the angels know one another . come all you that thirst after true and perfect knowledge , and employ yo●r utmost endeavours to ●●ome graduates in christ's heavenly university . ●n this world , the utmost pitch of knowledge , the ●ost diligent students , and the ablest professors , ●an with all their faculties attain to , is only the ●iscovery of the meer shaddow of our unspeakable ●reator ; but in heaven , we shall know god in rea●●ty , and in him all things perfectly ; we shall know ●he manner of that stupendio●s work of the creation ; ●e shall be able to solve the difficulty of making all ●hings out of nothing , and conceive the amazing ●ist●ry of our redemption . in fine ▪ our minds ●hich now labour in trifles , with a thousand invin●ible doubts , will then be enrich'd with the know●edge of all things possible ; and we shall conclude as an undoubted verity , that in the flesh we saw but a few of god's wonderful works in comparison o● what shall be revealed then unto us . let us then labour for heaven , and like wise merchants , traffick for eternal life , as a most precious pearl which is worth our purchase , tho' it cost us all we have , mat ▪ 13. abraham and sarah left their own country and possessions to look for this city , whose founder is god. david was so enamour'd with this divine mansion , that he rather desired to be there a door-keeper , than to dwell in the richest tabernacle of wickedness . it was into the kingdom of heaven that elias so earnestly besought the lord to receive his soul , to which he went most willingly , tho' in a fiery chariot . and st. paul having but once seen 〈◊〉 glimpse of heaven , ever after desired that he might be dissolved to be with christ ; and well he might , for as david saith , at god's right hand are pleasures ●or ever more . if ruth left what is usually accounted most dear , her own country , and followed naomi her mother in law , to dwell with her in the land ▪ of c●naan , ( which was but a tipe of heaven ) only upon the fame which she had heard of the god of israel , tho' she had no promise of any portion therein , ruth 1.16 . with how much more alacrity ought we to follow our mother the church , to go into the heavenly canaan , wherein god hath given us an et●rnal inheritance , assured to us by an holy covenant , ingrossed in the word of god , sign'd with the blood of his son , and seal'd with his divine spirit and holy sacraments . o how immense will our happiness be , when our life shall be an inseparable communion with the blessed trinity ; our joy , the eternal presence of our lord ; our exercises , singing harmonious halalujahs ; our consorts , saints and angels ; where youth flourisheth , and never waxeth old ▪ where beauty lasteth , and never fadeth ; love aboundeth , and never cooleth ; health continueth , and n●ver slacketh ; & life remaineth , which never endeth . o man , how happy and blessed thy estate is , being truly reconciled to god in christ , who will res●ore in thee god's image , and give thee power to reassume thy soveraignty over other creatures : thou art in this life inferior to the angels , but in the next , thou wilt be equal with them ; for in spiritual graces and everlasting glory , thou wilt become their brother ; yea , thou ( in respect of thy nature , exalted by a personal union to the son of god , and through him joyned to the trinity ) shall become superior even to angels themselves . since thou , o man , hast seen and heard how glorious and perfect an entity god is , and since the zenith of bliss and happiness consists in having an eternal communion with his majesty , now therefore i intreat thee , in the bowels of christ jesus , as thou tenderest thy salvation , seriously with me to consider the vanity of these things which screen from us the favour of god , and the hope of eternal life : therefore all the insignificant gaities of the world , without true and undefiled ▪ religion , are but as flowers about a dead corps : but the knowledge of christ is the excellence of a christian , i mean knowledge reduced to practice , for knowledge without practice , is like gaudy feathers , al● for shew , and nothing for use ; 't is by this practi●al knowledge we may attain a crown of glory : therefore , let us rouse up our spirits to a diligent ●ndeavour after true piety , ( the noble effect of true knowledge ) which will direct us rightly to manage those parts god has endow'd us with ; for though the depravedness of our nature makes these gifts of our mind rebel , yet piety will reduce them to obedience , and make them pay their homage to the king of saints . i will next speak a word or two about doctors . now the word doctor ( as some say ) is deriv'd fr●m do●or , and do●or signi●i●s a giver . but god is the giver of every good and perfect gift . hence perh●ps it was that our saviour said to ●is dis●iples , be y● not called doctors . and again he said , the whole need no ph●sician , intimating hereby , that his apostles were as well physicians as divines ; and in both respects they were forbid to bear the name of doctors . likewise they were order'd , as divines and physicians , to take no money ei●her for curing the diseases of the poor , or for preaching the gospel to them . these things , and his miraculous feasting of the multitude , made thousands follow him and his apostles , who preach'd and did all good works gratis , when as before that time the poor paid the tenth of all they had only for hearing the law repeated , nay , decimation th●n run so high , that even speer-mint , ann●●●ed , &c. were diligently tyth'd . 't is an abus● in some places for the pries● to impose upon the ignorant a b●lief , that except they give heaven's porter a peny , the greatest righteousness will not be able to gain ●hem admittance into those heavenly mansions ; but they must , for defa●lt b● f●●xed in purg●tory till that p●ny and much mor● be paid by their surviving friends , in getting interc●ssio● and pray●rs offered up for their souls ; but iob said , naked came i into the world , and naked i shall go out ; by which it appears , that as we have no money when we come into the world , so we shall have no occasion for any when we go out . besides , the scripture informs us , that the twelve gates belonging to that holy city are never shut day nor night , b●t are always open to all true believers of god's word , and observers of the precepts thereof ; so t●at be that so believes , and so doth as god's word dir●cts , shall undoubtedly be fed with the tree of life , even christ jesus , who would have all men that get wealth in this world , to do good , and distrib●te part of what they have to cloth and feed the poor , relieve prisoners , &c. with such sacrifices god is well pleased ; and be assured , that whatever deeds of charity you do to such as stand in need of your help , it is the same as if they were done to christ himself . hence i thi●k my self obliged to do my best to recov●r all who are pleas'd to make use of me , as ●n ●●strument under god ; and if any ask such as have been recover'd by my means , who restor'd them to health , let them answer , that it was god by d. irish his instrument ; and so in this , as in all other things , give the honour and thanks to almighty god , especially for making his word known to the meanest capacity through all nations . i have elsewhere , in part , given my opinion touching ●he vnderstanding of variety of languages ; and will here only add , that tho multiplicity of tongues have been generally held as a gentile accomplis●ment , yet were they never absolutely necessary till the world was to be gospelliz'd , matth. 28.19 . wh●ch we gather from several following circumstanc●s : for the apostles were commanded on●e and again to stay at ●●rusalem till christ should send the promise of his father upon them : and they waiting for abilities to their work till whitsunday , or p●●tecost was come , they were all with one accord in one place , and s●ddenly there cam● a sound from heaven , as of a r●shing mighty wind , and it filled all the house wherein they sate , and there appeared cloven tongues , like unto fire , and sate upon each of them , acts 2.1 , 2 ▪ 3. tongues appea●ed , the chief instrument of their work , which was to disciple all nations , and to pr●ach repentance and remission o● sins , luk. 24.47 . clove● tongues , because they were to divide the word ar●●●t , that every one in all nations and languages might have his portion ; they were as of fire , to shew the zeal , light , efficacy , and success of their endeavours , and therefore was this strange miracle usher'd in with such a rushing mighty wind , because none should be able t● resist the power by which they spoke , act ▪ 6.10 . and 24. and they were all filled with the holy ghost , and then they spoke apothegms , serious sayings , and sacred sentences . and they might well be amazed , vers . 11. when near twenty nations , of several languages , affirmed , they heard them speak in their own ●anguage the wonderful works of the lord , every man in his tongue where they were born . indeed , christianity was to speak all languages a● first , because it was to be preached to all nations ; the gospel only is able to make all nations wise unto salvation , 2 tim. 3.15 . if they would believe the same . we should also truly call upon god successively to send christian , good and godly governours , that they earnestly may stand for the christian ch●●ch , and true religion , which god hath caused to be taught among us , that the same may continue manfully to resist erroneous and false doctrine ; and now in our time god hath raised up certain high and mighty heads and princes , which have been nurses and protectors of the church : god preserve them mercifully for the same , and send continually men able and willing so to do , who shine with the beauty of acquired and natural parts , and ar● free to impart the●r knowledge , by explaining the true sence and meaning of god's word to all rational people , so as thereby they may come to the true knowledge of god , and his only son our blessed saviour jesus christ , so as all nations may be led by the word of t●at one shepherd , who gave his life for a ransom ●or all those that believe his word , which is the true ●ight that enlightens every man in the way to eter●al life . so god grant that his gospel may for ●ver flourish amongst all nations , to the end of the world. let me , in the next place , exhort all men to remember to crave a blessing of god , and be thankful to him for whatsoever they eat or drink , since it all ●omes from his bounty , which affords us what his wisdom thinks fit and necessary . for such gratis and gracious gifts as ●e daily confers upon us , let us , if we would avoid the just imputation of the greatest ingratitude , give his divine majesty thanks . how thankful was our blessed saviour for two loaves and a few fis●es , when he blessed god his heavenly father for them ; the issue was a miracu●o●s encrease , to show us , that if we were thankful to god for a little , he would give us much ; yet we daily see how wonderfully forgetful thousands are , when they sit down to plentiful tables , and mind not before nor after they eat to return the giver thanks for their nourishing varieties . i fear it will go bad with such one day , through their neglecting ●he du●y of thankfulness for what they daily receive from heaven's liberality . 't is god that gives , or at least ●ends us all we have , can we then do less than thank him for the same , which undoubtedly he expects , even from our hearts , as well as in formal verbal 〈◊〉 , which are but signs of our inward gratitude . what are such , i pray , better than heathens , wh● , knowing their duties herein , rise from meat u●san●tified . we ought not only to be than●ful , but also ●o bestow some part of what we have on the poo● , according to the directions found ●n sacred writ . such as fail herein must expect god's i●dignation and rebuke when he ●alls them to an account for their stewardship . repentance then will be too late for our now forgetfulness . now is the acceptable time to seek the lord , whilst he may be found ; for in this life , whenever we call upon him he will hear , and grant our request . let the words of my mouth , and the meditations of all mens hearts , be now and ever acceptable in thy sight , o lord god , our redeemer . most great and glorious lord our god thou art , and there is no other god besides thee in heaven nor in earth ; for the heavens are thy throne , and the earth is thy footstool , and the heaven of heavens is not able to contain thee ; the whole earth is full of the glory of thy majesty . o what miserable creatures are we , dust and ashes , not worthy of the least of thy mercies ! how dare we then present our selves before thee , who art so pure and holy a god ? yet still through thy mercy we have here our being , whereas thou mightest have placed us in the abyss of hell for ever , where there is nothing but weeping , and wailing , and gnashing of teeth ▪ where the fire burns , and never goes out ; and where the worm , namely the lost soul , never dies . let us all then with humility jointly say , we have sinned against heaven , and against thee . let us honou● our callings with the practice of good works , and f●llow p●ac● with all men. help us , o lord , now to press forward to make our election sure , and ●h●t we may live every day as piously as if it were o●r last , since we know not how soon thou may'st summon us to appear before the tribunal seat of jesus christ , to give an account of all our works d●ne here in the flesh. purge us with hyssop , and w● shall be clean . wash us in the blood of the l●mb , and then we shall be whiter than snow . take all our sins and cast them in a cloud behin● thy back , where they may be remembred no more . cr●ate in us new hearts , and new spirits , so as we may walk in newness of life , according to thy holy will and commandments . and if it be thy blessed will pity all those that sit in darkness , and under the shadow of death , that they may come at thy appointed time to the miraculous light of thy gospel dispenced to all true christians , by thy true and only son our blessed saviour , who sitteth at thy right hand making intercession for all those that put their trust in thee . grant , if it be thy blessed will , that we may all be taught by that head shepherd of thy church , who said , when you pray , say , our father , &c. such as would know more concerning their duties in prayer , publick or private , by the way of form , or would attain to pray by the spirit , according to their present necessities , or wants , let such read the incomparable little piece set out by robert russell , 1700. 't is the third edition ; in it are seven sermons . price bound 1 s. 6 d. in a word , i earnestly exhort all my readers to be piously mindful of their duties to god and man ; if you fail not in this , christian reader , god will remember you , and after this life , in eternal bliss you will live with him at rest. take but a serious prospect , by a powerful imagination , of all the several conditions observabl● amongst worldly men , and you will find that not one of them sits easie upon its possessor ; for the natural man is ever a repining , and a perpetual succession of doubts and fears compleat the measure of his inquietudes ; sometimes he c●mplains of the ac●●ons of his superiors and governors ; and if they i● the end should prove ●greeable to his fancy , he will yet keep up th● height of his misfortunes , by grieving at the unob●●ging deportment of his inferiors ; nor will it ever be otherwise with those that se●k cont●nt below ; hence those that are circled with the greate●t splendo● , find not their perturbations at all lessened by it , but think they might be muc● more happy , and therefore strain themselves afresh in the eag●r pu●suit of other worldly advantages , which , if obtain'd , bring ●ot the desired content , and the reason is , because they look for it in the things of this world ▪ where it is not to be found ▪ there i● no st●te of life , be it what it will , but what is att●nded with misery enough in those that live after the flesh. nay , many times the very courts of justice torment men abroad , as m●ch as their families care does at home ; the country life is opprest with continual labours ; at sea there is confusion of d●ngers , the merchant teaches his estate to swim ; and he that travels with riches , gives a great temptation to highway-men , and exposes his life and mon●y to the mercy of thieves ; the rich are plagu'd with the desire of encreasing , care of keeping ▪ and fear of losing riches , while the poor are obnoxious to scorn and contempt . marriage in general is no more ●han a conjunction of mutual perplexities and accidental calamities ; children are ●onuments of care , and for the most part , very un●●rtain comforts , especially in these days ; and on 〈◊〉 other side , a single life oft proves a solitary ●ischief or inconvenience ; the fruitful bring forth c●res , and barrenness is counted a curse ; youth is a tormenting fury , old age a meer lump of infirmi●ies , and an incurable disease : thus there is something in every life that proves the bane of our happiness , except we entirely give our selves up to the service of god , mat. 6.24 . no man can serve two masters , god and the world ; he that is a vassal to his wealth , can never make a true servant of god : he that is a rebel to his lawful prince , is no good subject of christs , tho' religion be the pretence : the parable of the rich man , and many other places of scripture , make out how hard it is for such who trust in uncertain riches , to enter into the kingdom of god : therefore mis●rable is the case of all covetous , rich persons , usurers , extorti●ners , thieves and robbers ; not can we think better of the envious , murderers , whore-mongers , sorcerers , idolaters ▪ sabbath-breakers , swea●ers , drunkards , gluttons ▪ and such as are given to detraction , and anger without cause , calling their brother fool ; to these add lying reprobates , the proud , the cruel , and ●●ard-hearted hippocrites , the sloathful and unbe●iever , and many pr●sumptuous sinners ; all which a●e threatned to be cast into unquenchable fire , as unprofitable servants : they are such as prefer vice before virtue , iniquity before godliness , falshood before truth , and their own dark works before the light of the gospel : also among the unprofitable servants , may be reckoned the rebellious , who by belying their lawful governours , rob the peoples hearts of obedience , and so fit them for rebellion , which is a kind of witchcraft and spiritual the●● . nay , those that corrupt the minds of others by leud examples , hippocrites , slanderers , teachers of lies , whereby ●he souls of th●ir hearers are rob'd of eternal life , a●e condemn'd . all that foolishly attribute to th●ms●lves the benefit of health , weal●h , or liberty , and so deprive god of his glory , are hither refer'd ; such as purloi● from their masters , parents , husbands , wives , friends , or neighbour● , suffer them to incur any loss or detriment whi●h they might prevent , are in the same class with the former ; such as rob their neighbours , either by false weights , measures , bad wares , or subtile practices ; all lawyers that make good causes bad , or bad good ▪ all debtors that never design to pay ; all creditors that cru●lly triumph over the bodies o● their poor insolvent debtors , by imprisonment , or any other kind of oppression . and lastly , envious men , who , when they have done a man what disgrace they ca●●y words , fall to the practice of unjust deeds , to over-throw and ruine those whom they causelesly hate ; such sure cannot so much as have the least pretence to be servants of god , but , on the contrary , slaves and vassals of satan . now , to know who are unprofitable servants , i say , ●●rst , they are such as are magistrates abusing their aut●ority , to the hurt of those they ought to protect . secondly , such as are no magistrates , but either neglect their calling , or deprave it by their wicked practice . thirdly , rich men , who relieve not the wants of the poor with their plenty . fourthly , learned and well instructed christia●s ▪ who suffer the ignorant to go astray without giving them good advice or necessary instructions . touching those that have their portion in the sulp●urous lake , which burneth with fire and brims●one , ( where men und●rgo ( as 't is call'd ) the second d●ath ) see revel . 21.1 . by this second death , is understood the deplorable separation of the soul and body for ever from the beatifical vision or presence o● god , and this is the death which the wi●ked must suff●r ; y●t the fulness of their punishment will not be inflicted ●pon them till the day of judgment , when th●ir souls and bodies are reunited , then they will receive their dreadful doom and condign punishment for their evil deeds : for your further instruction herein , see luk. 16.22 , 23. the 8.28 . the 10.23 . ●nd the 12.30 . mat. 23.23.31 . and 5.24 . and 13.14 . ●nd 14.31 . thess. 1.10 . 1 pet. 3.19 . iud● ● ▪ ● , 7. acts 7.5 . and in many other places the scripture g●ves a large account of hell , and of its torments , of which none can doubt , since our blessed saviour said , that heaven and earth should pass away , but hi● word should never pass away ; therefore , unless we be regenerate and renewed in christ , our condition i● d●sperate ; hence let us with all speed repent , and streighten the unevenness of our ways , according to the level of god's word and commandments ; let 's love one another , and do as we would be done by , ●nd shew the loveliness of our faith by the uprightness of our works ; for it is not every one tha● cryeth lord , lord , that shall enter into t●e kingdom of heaven . no , it is the doing the will of god that dwelleth in heaven that must bring us thither ; we must be born again , not of the blood ▪ nor of the will of the flesh , but of god , who in christ is our father , and will renew his own image in us every day more and more , and apply to us the merits of christ's sufferings fo● the blotting out of all our sins , original and actual , together with the guilt and punishment belonging to them ▪ blessed is he therefore to whom the lord hath not imputed sin , [ s●e ezek. 18.21.2 cor. 33.13 . ] for to s●ch all the righteousness of christ is freely and fully imputed , to the reconcili●tion of them unto the lord , who approveth them as righteous , not taking notice of ever● fault , but bearing with their frailties and infirmities , exod. 34.67 . rom. 4.8 . the godly man hath an assurance of god's fatherly care and protection day and night , which care god manifests in providing all things necessary for his soul and body , so that the godly man is sure of having enough ▪ ● god gives his holy angels [ as ministers ] a charge to attend upon the righteous , psal. 34.7 . and to prevent all da●gers , the angels pitch their tents about the lust for their safety where ever th●y go ; yea , god will d●fend them with a cloud by day , and with a pillar of fire by night ; and his providence shall hedge them from the power of the devil , see iude 1.9 . where 't is recorded , that micha●l the arch-angel was set to keep the body of moses , which being secretly hidd●n by god , was sought for by satan ; by which it appears , that god's good angels keep all such as live and die in the faith of christ , and in the fear of the lord , 2 kings 6.17 . the eyes of the lord are always op●n to see their state , and also his ears to hear t●eir complaint , and in his good time will deliver them out of all their troubles , and bring them to the glory of the church in her perpetual triumph in the world to come , when joyned to her bridegroom christ jesus , in joy that shall never have an end , a tast of which joy is in some sort made manifest unto us in the revelations cap. 2.22 . therefore let us all with st. stephen say , come , lord iesus , come quickly ; and in the mean time , the lord g●ant that we may be always purging out [ by true faith and repentance ] the malignity of our spiritual diseases , till we arrive at divine and saving health , that at the end of our bodily infirmities , the great physician may administer a cordial to us of his own living water ; and grant , that at the night of death , when our sun shall set , the sun of righteousness may rise upon us with healing under his wings , and make our souls [ as the lame-man's body in the gospel ] entirely whole , and so elevate us to those light orbs , and heavenly mansions , where the su● shall no more be our light by day , nor the moon by night , but the lord our god shall be ou● everlasting light and glory . which are the hearty prayers of , readers , your true friend , and faithful servant , david irish. advertisement . the small-pox being now in many places , i thought it convenient to publish , that if i see the small-pox break out of any , or but newly come out , i will tell them at first sight whether there be any danger of death by having them or not . and i do affirm , that i can , with god's blessing , give an antidote against them , and of such vertue to those that are not already infected , that tho they eat and drink , and be always with those that have them ▪ yet shall they not have them . so god preserve us all from all manner of contagious diseases , and f●om sudden death . amen . the eight sections of hippocrates aphorismes review'd and rendred into english, according to the translation of anutius foesius ; digested into an exact and methodical form and divided into several convenient distinctions, and every distinction into several chapters, wherein every aphorisme is reduced to its proper subject, whereby the reader may find out any desired aphorisme without the tedious revolution of the whole work ; wherein also many aphorismes are significantly interpreted which were neglected in the former translation. aphorisms. english hippocrates. 1665 approx. 202 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 88 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a43860 wing h2072 estc r21546 12567658 ocm 12567658 63382 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a43860) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 63382) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 961:19) the eight sections of hippocrates aphorismes review'd and rendred into english, according to the translation of anutius foesius ; digested into an exact and methodical form and divided into several convenient distinctions, and every distinction into several chapters, wherein every aphorisme is reduced to its proper subject, whereby the reader may find out any desired aphorisme without the tedious revolution of the whole work ; wherein also many aphorismes are significantly interpreted which were neglected in the former translation. aphorisms. english hippocrates. foës, anuce, 1528-1595. [4], 167, [1] p. printed by w.g. for rob. crofts ..., london : 1665. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. table of contents: p. [3-4] advertisement: p. [1] at end. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng hippocrates. medicine -aphorisms. medicine, greek and roman. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-01 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2007-01 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the eight sections of hippocrates aphorismes review'd and rendred into english : according to the translation of anutius foesius . digested into an exact and methodical form . and divided into several convenient distinctions , and every distinction into several chapters , wherein every aphorisme is reduced to its proper subject . whereby the reader may easily find out any desired aphorisme without the tedious revolution of the whole work. wherein also many aphorismes are significantly interpreted which were neglected in the former translation . the next page will shew the contents of every distinction . — facies non omnibus una nec diversa tamen . ovid. metam . licensed july 14. 1664. roger l'estrange . london , printed by w. g. for rob. crofts , at the crown in chancery-lane . 1665. distinction i. the first distinction contains all such aphorismes which are either diagnostick or prognostick , whereby the practitioner may find out the disease and judge thereof . dist. ii. the second distinction contains those aphorismes which treat of the regiment of diet convenient either for healthful or sick persons . dist. iii. in this distinction are handled such aphorismes which set down the general way of curing diseases . dist. iv. in this distinction are set down such aphorismes which concern the praeternatural affects distributed to mans body in every age , by the winds and seasons of the year . dist. v. this distinction contains such aphorismes which concern feavers and their accidents . dist. vi. this distinction contains such aphorismes which make mention of all the particular and internal diseases of the body from the head to the foot. dist. vii . in this distinction are contained such aphorismes which mention all the external diseases of man's body . the eight several sections of hippocrates aphorismes . distinction the first , containing all the aphorismes diagnostick and prognostick . this small book of aphorismes of hippocrates , doth fundamentally instruct those who shall throughly learn and observe them , with all the grounds belonging unto physick ; and whereas the invention and scope of a physician may be redived ( which otherwise would be infinite ) unto two heads , that is , preservative and curative ; to preserve the body of man in its integrity of healths : and secondly , being swerv'd from that to remove all cause ; which shall or may cause any preternatural affects or distemper . therefore for the more ease and and perspecuity to the reader , the aphorismes which respect both those intentions are distinctly and severally proposed under their proper heads ; and being it is necessary that the physician should rightly understand and judge by the particular signs before he undertake or administer any physick for the cure , whether the affects do refuse or perform their natural actions , therefore in the first place such informing aphorismes are set down , and they are these which follow . chap. i. the proem . life is short , art long , occasion sudden and dangerous , experience deceitful , and judgment difficult . neither is it sufficient that the physician be ready to act what is necessary to be done by him , but the sick , and the attendants and all outward necessaries must be lightly prepared and sitted for the businesse . sect. 2. aph. 4. neither fulnesse nor emptinesse , nor any other thing , if it exceed a mean in nature , is good . sect. 2. aph. 5. wearyishness , or a lazy indisposition arising of its own accord , is the forerunner of a disease . sect. 2. aph. 6. they who are grieved in any part of their body , and are scarce sensible of their grief , have their animal faculty distempered . sect. 2. aph. 26. it is better that a feaver succeed a convulsion , than a convulsion a feaver . sect. 2. aph. 27. sudden intermissions or alleviations in diseases are not much to be trusted unto , which happen without some reasons , neither ought we much to fear such evils which happen without a sensible cause . for many of those things are uncertain , neither are they wont to continue long . sect. 2. aph. 28. it is an ill sign when feaver-sick persons either retain their fulnesse of body , or else are overmuch wasted , and emaciated by the disease . for the one signifies a prolixity of the disease ; the other , weaknesse of the patient . sect. 2. aph. 30. the symptomes of every disease are most easie and light about the beginning and ending thereof , but in the state and vigor , most vehement . sect. 2. aph. 31. if any man being recovered of a disease is not profited by his meat taken orderly , it is an ill sign . sect. 2. aph. 33. it is a hopeful sign when the sick continues undisturb'd in mind and body after such things as have been administred unto him . but the contrary if contrary things happen . sect. 2. aph 39. old men usually are less sick then young men , but such daily diseases as do happen unto them , do commonly accompany them to their death . sect. 2. aph. 40. hoarsenesse and rhumes in very old men will not be concocted . sect. 2. aph. 42. a strong apoplexy is incurable , but a slight one is not easily cured . sect. 2. aph. 44. very gross and corpulent bodies by nature dye sooner then such which are spare and lean . sect. 3. aph. 45. young men are chiefly freed from the falling sicknesse by change of age , air , and dyet . sect. 3. aph. 50. such things unto which we are accustomed unto by long intervalls of time , although worse , are lesse irksom : and troublesome unto us , then such which are not familiar unto us ; wherefore we ought to make a change to those things which are not usual unto us . sect. 2. aph. 53. they who have their bodies soluble are in a better condition of health , especially while they are young than those whose bodies are hard and costive , but in their old age they live worse , because then their excrements are usually dryed . sect. 2. aph. 54. a tall stature of body in youth is comely and not unseemly , but in old men it is unserviceable , and worse then a short stature . sect. 2. aph. 30. such intermittent feavers are hardly to be judged , which return again at the same hour the next day , wherein the intermission was the day before , be it at what hour soever . sect. 4. aph. 43. if any part of the body were afflicted or troubled before the disease , the disease doth confirm and determine it self in that part . sect. 4. aph. 36. such sweats which expresse themselves in feavers , the third , fifth , seventh , ninth , eleventh , fourteenth , seventeenth , one and twentieth , seven and twentieth , thirtieth , or the four and thirtieth day , are beneficial , because they are critical ; but such as do not begin upon some of those days signifie danger , prolixity of the disease , and its reversion . sect. 4. aph. 38. sweats do declare a disease in the body . sect. 4. aph. 41. much sweat in the time of sleep without some manifest cause arising , doth argue that such bodies do use a more liberal dyet ; but if they happen to him which eateth but sparingly , they tell that there is a necessity of evacuation . sect. 4. aph. 42. if plenty of sweat , whether hot or cold always flow , the cold doth signifie a bigger , the hot a lesse disease . sect. 4. aph. 45. they who have swellings , or pains about the junctures after long feavers , do feed plentifully . sect. 4. aph. 51. if intermittent feavers are not dissolved by their first brises at the beginning , they then usually continue long . sect. 4. aph. 52. voluntary tears flowing in feavers or other diseases produce no inconvenience , but involuntary are more inconvenient . sect. 4. aph. 53. those feavers are most vehement wherein an edaminis humour caused by the feavers , grows to the teeth . sect. 4. aph. 54. he that hath a drye cough lightly moving and persevering in a burning feaver , is not much troubled with thirst . sect. 4. aph. 56. if sweat happen to one sick of a feaver , and the feaver cease not , it is ill : for the feaver is prolonged , and much moisture is thereby signified . sect. 4. aph. 57. a feaver succeeding , frees from a convulsion , or the distension of the nerves . sect. 4. aph. 58. a vehement cold or shaking , frees him who is sick of a burning feaver . sect. 4. aph. 59. an exquisite tertian is judged in seven circuits at the utmost . sect. 4. aph. 60. deafnesse occasioned by a feaver , is taken away by an issue of blood out of the nostrills , or a flux of the belly . sect. 4. aph. 62. the yellow jaundies coming upon a feaver , if it appear before the seventh day , is bad . sect. 4. aph. 63. such feavers as have rigors every day , are daily dissolved . sect. 4. aph. 64. if the yellow jaundies come upon a feaver , the seventh , ninth , eleventh , or fourteenth day , it portends good , unlesse the right hypochondrium be hard , then it is not good . sect. 4. aph. 68. interception of spirits in a feaver is bad , for a convulsion is thereby declared . sect. 4. aph. 80. if blood and clots be voided with the urine , if the party have a strangury , and the pain fall down into the lower part of the belly and the perinaeum the parts which appertain to the bladder are disaffected . sect. 4. aph. 81. they which voyd blood , suppurated matter , and small crusts or skales with their urine , and if an ill smell of the urine be concomitant , it signifies exulceration of the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 82. if a tumor rising upon the yard turn to suppuration , and break , a dissolution succeeds . sect. 4. aph. 83. much urine voided in the night season signifies but little dejection by stool . sect. 7. aph. 30. ejections and excrements which are frothy voided by stool descend from the brain . sect. 7. aph. 32. urines then at the top with bilious sediments , signifie an accute disease . sect. 7. aph. 33. variety of colours in the urine signifie a vehement perturbation in the whole body . sect. 7. aph 36. when the aforenamed signs do happen to those whose reins are disaffected , and if grief or pain be about the muscles of the back bone , because the pains are carried to the external parts , expect the abscess or imposthumation to be outward . but if the pains tend rather to the inward parts , we must expect the imposthumation to be more inward . sect. 7. aph. 37. vomiting of blood without a feaver is healthfull , but with a feaver it is evil , and then it is to be cured with such medicines as have a cooling and a restringent quality . sect. 7. aph. 38. distillations falling upon the upper belly within twenty days , turn to suppuration . sect. 7. aph. 40. if the tongue on a sudden be incontinent , or any part of the body struck , it signifies melancholly . sect. 7. aph. 41. if the hicket happen to elderly men by immoderate purging , it is no good sign . sect. 7. aph. 49. if a tumor or rednesse do happen in the breast of him that is sick of a squinancy it is a good sign , for then the morbifick matter is sent to the external parts . sect. 7. aph. 52. a feaver succeeding doth take away a vehement pain of the liver . sect. 7. aph. 54. when flegm is imparted between the midriffe , and the stomach , causing pain , and hath no passage either upward or downward , if that petuitous humour be carried by the veins to the bladder , the grief thereby is taken away . sect. 7. aph. 56. wine allayed with an equal proportion of water doth take away sorrow , yawning , or extreme quaking . sect. 7. aph. 57. [ you have this aphorisme before in the fourth section , aphorisme 82. ] sect. 7. aph. 61. much sweat either hot or cold alwayes flowing , signifies plenty of humours in the body , which in a strong body must be drawn away upward , but in a weak one , downward . sect. 7. aph. 63. small tumors turning to suppuration or pains in the joynts , do arise in such bodies who have had long feavers . sect. 7. aph. 64. they who are troubled with the aforenamed imposthumations or pains of the joynts by feavers , do use more then ordinary dyet . sect 7. aph. 65. meat exhibited to one sick of a feaver doth nourish the disease , but to a healthful body it gives strength . sect. 7. aph. 66. respect must be had to those things which are voided by urine , whether the sediments resemble those of sound bodies or not ; for by how much the more they draw from them , by so much the more they are more significative of diseases ; but the nearer they appear like the urines of sound bodies , the lesse diseased they argue the party by whom they are made . sect. 7. aph. 71. either sleep or watching exceeding a mean , is a disease . chap. ii. of prognosticks . prognosticks . the diseases , seasons of the year , and the vicissitudes of the circuits being compared together among themselves , whether they are made every other day or by great intervals of time , do shew the accessions and qualities of diseases . moreover , the symptomes also which presently appear shew the same things , of which condition is spittle in pluretick bodies ; if it appear in the beginning of the disease , it signifies its brevity ; but if it appear later , it argues that the disease will be long . the urines also , the excrements and sweats , when they appear do give notice whether the disease will have a hard or easy crisis , and whether it will be short or long . sect. 2. aph. 5. [ see this aphorisme in the second aphorisme in the diagnosticks . ] sect 2. aph. 13. when a crisis is intended by nature , the night before the access is tedious and vehement , but the following night usually is more tolerable . sect. 2. aph. 23. acute diseases are terminated by a crisis within fourteen dayes . sect. 2. aph. 24. the fourth day is the index of the seventh , the eighth of another seventh . the eleventh also must be had in consideration , because it is the fourth of another seventh . again , the seventeenth must be look'd upon , because it is the fourth from the fourteenth , and the seventh from the eleventh . sect. 2. aph. 27. [ you have have this aphorisme verbatim in the fifth aphorisme of the diagnosticks , to which i refer you . ] sect. 2. aph. 28. [ see this in the diagnosticks , aphorisme the sixth . ] sect. 2. aph. 33. [ this aphorisme is the same with the ninth aphorisme of the diagnosticks . ] sect. 2. aph. 44. [ this also you have word for word in the tenth aphorisme of the diagnosticks , unto which place i refer the reader . ] sect. 4. aph. 11. when the bowels are wrung , great torments about the navil , and a concomitant pain of the loins is present , if the morbifick matter be neither taken away by a purging medicine , nor any other means , it is confirmed into a drye dropsie or timpany . sect. 4. aph. 21. black dejections like melancholly blood , coming of their own accord , whether proceeding with a feaver or without a feaver , are the worst of all , and so much the worse by how much their colours are many and bad ; but if they are caused by a medicine , it is better ; and the more commendable , if their colours are many and not bad . sect. 4. aph. 22. if black blood issue forth either upward or downward at the beginning of any disease whatsoever , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 23. if they who have been emaciated by accute or continual diseases , by wounds or any other means whatsoever , do void black choller , or something like black blood , they dye the next day following . sect. 4. aph. 24. if an excoriation of the bowels or a dysentery take its original or cause from black choller , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 25. it is not good to void any blood upward of what kind soever it be , but if black blood be sent forth downwards , it is good . sect. 4. aph. 26. if small pieces of flesh be ejected with the excrements by him that hath a dysentry or bloody flux , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 27. they from whom by reason of a feaver much blood doth flow , be the flux from what part soever , when they are refreshed have moist bellies . sect. 4. aph. 28. succeeding deafnesse stayes and takes away bilious dejections , and deafnesse if bilious dejections arise is finished . sect. 4. aph. 29. those feavers have a very difficult crisis wherein rigors or extreme cold fits appear the sixth day . sect. 4. aph. 30. [ see this aphorisme in the same section and aphorisme in the diagnosticks . ] sect. 4. aph. 35. it is a mortal sign when in a feaver the neck is so wrested on a sudden no tumor pre-existent that the sick can hardly swallow . sect. 4. aph. 37. cold sweats arising in an accute disease signifie death , but in a more mild and benign disease the prolixity thereof . sect. 4. aph. 4. when mutations chance in the whole body , as if the body be now cold , and then hot again , or if one heat arise from another , the continuance of the disease is hereby signified . sect. 4. aph. 43. those feavers which afflict most vehemently every third day , and have no intermission , are more dangerous , but if any intermission be , be it after what manner soever , it signifies the patient to be out of danger . sect. 4. aph. 44. they who are sick of long feavers , have either tumors or pains about the junctures succeeding . sect. 4. aph. 46. it is a mortal sign if frequent rigors come upon a feaverish person he being weak , and the feaver not intermitting . sect. 4. aph. 47. all excreations by spitting , whether they be of a wan colour , bloody , ill savoured , and bilious , are bad in feavers not intermittent ; but it is a good sign if good excrements are sent forth either by stool or urine . but if any matter be sent forth by those places and profit not , it is a bad sign . sect. 4. aph. 48. if in a continual feaver the extreme parts are cold , and the inward burn , and the sick be very thirsty , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 49. in a not intermittent feaver , if either the lip , the eye-brow , eye or nose be turned away ; if the sick see not , or hear not , if any of these symptomes appear , death is at hand . sect. 4. aph. 50. difficulty of breathing , and dotings in continual feavers are mortal . sect. 4. aph. 55. all feavers caused by an inflamation of the kernels , are bad . sect. 4. aph. 61. all intermittent feavers usually return if they do not intermit upon unequal dayes . sect. 4. aph. 65. a vehement heat in feavers about the stomach , and a gnawing of the mouth of the stomach , is naught . sect. 4. aph. 66. convulsions , and vehement pains about the bowels in acute feavers , is naught . sect. 4. aph. 67. tremblings , or convulsions coming by sleep in feavers are bad . sect. 5. aph. 1. a convulsion caused by taking of hellebore , is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 2. a convulsion happening upon a wound is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 3. a convulsion or hicket succeeding a great fllux of blood presageth ill . sect. 5. aph. 5. if losse of speech happen suddainly to a drunken man , he dyeth convulsive , unlesse a feaver seize him , or his speech return to him at the same hour wherein nature doth usually digest the distemper . sect. 5. aph. 6. they who are taken with a convulsion , dye within four dayes ; but if they escape that time , they grow well again . sect. 5. aph. 7. they who are troubled with the falling sicknesse before they attain the age of fourteen , may be freed from it ; but they who are taken with it at the age of five and twenty , are usually accompanied therewith to their death . sect. 5. aph. 8. unlesse they who are sick of a plurisie be clensed in fourteen dayes , the matter is altered into suppuration . sect. 5. aph. 9. a consumption most commonly begins when we are of the age of eighteen , to thirty five years . sect. 5. aph. 10. if matter falling to the throat , and turn out to a squinacye , it settles upon the lungs , and the sick dye within seven dayes ; the which if they escape , the matter turns to imposthumation . sect. 5. aph. 11. if the spittle of consumptive persons ( being cast into the fire ) send forth an ill savour , and their hairs fall off , it argues death . sect. 5. aph. 12. the falling of the hair , and an extreme loosenesse succeeding in a consumption , is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 13. frothy blood cast forth by spittle cometh from the lungs . sect. 5. aph. 14. a diarrhaea or extreme loosenesse in consumptive persons is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 15. pluretick persons suppurated , if they are clensed within forty dayes after the rupture is made , are freed , otherwise they grow into a consumption . sect. 5. aph. 71. they which have their skin stretched forth , dry and hard , dye without sweating ; but they which have a loose and thin skin , end their life with sweating . sect. 7. aph. 1. coldnesse of the extreme parts in acute diseases is naught . sect. 7. aph. 2. wan and ill coloured flesh occasioned by the distemper of a bone foretells ill . sect. 7. aph. 3. the hicket and rednesse of the eyes caused by vomit , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 4. shivering after sweating is naught . sect. 7. aph 5. a dysentery , a dropsie or a vehement disturbance of the mind , ( called exstasis ) succeeding raging or madnesse , is good . sect. 7. aph. 6. abhorring of meat and sincere dejections by stool with continual disease portends ill . sect. 7. aph. 7. extreme chilnesse , and raging by much drink is bad . sect. 7. aph. 8. faintnesse , vomiting , or swounding are occasioned by an imposthume broken inwardly . sect. 7. aph. 9. madnesse or a convulsion caused by too much flux of blood , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 10. either vomiting , the hicket , convulsion , or raving caused by a disease of the thin gut ( called ileum ) is naught . sect. 7. aph. 11. if an inflamation of the lungs is caused by a plurisie , it is naught . sect. 7. aph. 12. a phrensy coming by an inflamation of the lungs is a bad messenger . sect. 7. aph. 13. a convulsion or the cramp , taking their original from extreme burnings , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 14. stupidity or dotings , occasioned by a blow upon the head , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 15. if imposthumated matter be voided by spitting , after spitting of blood , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 16. a consumption and flux succeed spitting of imposthumated matter , but when the spitting stops , the sick dyes . sect. 7. aph. 17. the hicket coming by the inflamation of the liver , is evil . sect. 7. aph. 18. a convulsion or raving occasioned by too much watching , is bad . sect. 7. aph. 19. an erysipclas is caused by the laying open of a bone . sect. 7. aph. 20. putrefaction or imposthumation caused by the tumor called erysipclas , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 21. a flux of blood proceeding by a vehement and conspicuous wound in the ulcers of the arteries , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 22. a continual pain in the parts which belong to the belly causeth suppuration . sect. 7. aph. 23. an excoriation of the bowels is caused by sincere ejections . sect. 7. aph. 24. if a bone be peirced or cut to the cavity thereof , it causeth a delirium . sect. 7. aph. 25. a convulsion caused by a purging potion , is mortal . sect. 7. aph. 26. an extreme coldnesse or chilnesse of the outward parts , occasioned by a vehement pain of those parts which belong to the belly , is naught . sect. 7. aph 27. an often and vain desire of going to stool , without any performance happening to women with child , doth cause abortion or miscarriage . sect. 7. aph. 28. if any bone whatsoever , a grissel or a nerve be cut in sunder in the body , it will neither be nourished , nor grow together again . sect. 7. aph. 29. a violent flux of the belly happening to him that is troubled with the dropsie , called lencophlegmatia , doth take away the disease . sect. 7. aph. 41. it is a bad sign when the hicket happens to elderly men by overmuch purging . sect. 7. aph. 42. plenty of warm water cast upon the head , removes a feaver , if it did not proceed of choler . sect. 7. aph. 44. suppurated persons being burnt or cut , if pure or white matter issue forth , they escape , but if the matter be something bloody , filthy , and ill savoured , they perish . sect. 7. aph. 45. they who are cauterized for an impost humamation of the liver , if pure matter and white issue forth they survive , because the suppurated matter is included in the coats or tumiles . but if the matter flowing forth resemble the lees of oyle , they perish . sect. 7. aph. 50. they whose brain is suddenly taken or benummed , dye within three dayes , the which if they escape they recover . sect. 7. aph. 55. if the liver being full of water empty it self into the omentum or kell , then the belly is fill'd with water , and the party dies . sect. 7. aph. 60. when there are mutations in the whole body , and the body be universally cold , and again hot , and doth not alter that heat , the prolixity or continuance of the disease is hereby signified . sect. 7. aph. 74. a water between the skin succeeds the dropsie , called lencophlegmacye . sect. 7. aph. 75. a dysentery or bloody flux succeeds a diarrhaea , or flux of the belly . chap. iii. of signes by the spittle . sect. 1. aph. 12. the diseases , seasons of the year , and the change of the circuits , being compared together , whether they are every day , or every other day ; or by greater intervals of time , will declare the accessions and qualities of diseases : moreover , the same things are judged by such symptomes as presently appear , of which nature is the spittle in pluretick persons ; if it appear presently and at the beginning of the disease , it foretels its brevity , but if later , the prolixity thereof . the urine also , excrements of the belly , and sweats when they appear , do give us notice how to judge whether the diseases will be easy or hard , short or long . sect. 5. aph. 11. if the spittle which is cast forth by coughing in consumptive persons ( being cast upon the coals ) send forth an ill savour , and a falling off of the hairs be concomitant , these are deadly signes . chap. iv. of sweats . sect. 4. aph. 36. those sweats in feavers are good which be in the third , fifth , seventh , ninth , or eleventh , fourteenth , seventeenth , one and twentieth , the seven and twentieth , thirtieth , or four and thirtieth day , for such sweats are critical and judicatory ; but those sweats which do not so expresse themselves , signifie labour , continuance of the disease , and its return . sect. 4. aph. 37. cold sweats appearing in a very acute disease , signifie death ; but in a more mild and gentle disease , the continuance thereof . sect. 4. aph. 41. much sweating in sleep without a manifest cause , shews that the body doth use a more than ordinary dyet . but if they happen to one that doth not eat , they give notice that the body hath need of evacuation . sect. 4. aph. 42. if much sweat flow continually , whether hot or cold , the cold signifies a greater , the hot a lesse disease . sect. 4. aph. 56. if sweat happen in a feaver without intermission of the feaver , the feaver is prolonged , and it is an argument of much moisture in the body . sect. 5. aph. 71. when the skin is stretched forth , is dry and hard , they dye without sweating ; but when it is loose and rare , they end their lives with sweating . sect. 8. aph. 4. vehement and swift sweats . which arise upon the critical dayes , and dangerous ; and such also which are expell'd upon the fore-head standing like drops of water or flowing , those also which are very cold and much , for of necessity such sweats must issue forth with violence , excess of trouble , and continual expression . chap. v. of urines . sect. 4. aph. 69. urines made in a feaver , which are thick , curdled , and few , if they alter to many and thin , are beneficial , especially if they are such wherein either at the beginning or not , much after a sediment appears . sect. 4. aph. 70. urines in feavers which are troubled like those of kine , signifie a pain of the head either present or to come . sect. 4. aph. 71. if a crisis happen upon the seventh day , the the urine hath a small red cloud in it upon the fourth day , and other things responsible . sect. 4. aph. 72. all urines which are very cleer and white , are bad , but such appear chiefly in phrenetick persons . sect. 4. aph. 73. they whose diaphragma being lifted up , makes a murmuring pain of the loins succeeding , have moist and soluble bellies , unlesse much wind break backward , or plenty of urine be voided ; these symptomes are contingent in feavers . sect. 4. aph. 74. when there is a probability of an imposthumation about the joynts , plenty of urine , thick and white being made , freeth from the abscess : such kinds of abscesses do begin to be carried every fourth day in feavers accompanied with a weariness , or lazie indisposition . and if an haemorrhagile , or bleeding at the nose happen at the same time , the disease will very shortly be dissolved . sect. 4. aph. 75. blood or suppurated matter , being made with the urin , signifies either ulceration of the reins or bladder . sect. 4. aph. 76. small peices of flesh , or something like hairs voided forth with the urine , are sent from the reins . sect. 4. aph. 77. when something like bran is sent forth with a thick urine , the bladder is troubled with a scab . sect. 4. aph. 78. they which pisse blood freely mixed with their urine , have a vein broke in their reins . sect 4. aph. 79. a sandy sediment appearing in the urine signifies the stone in the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 80. he that pisseth blood , and curdled matter with his urine , if he have the strangury , and the pain fall down into the lower belly and the perinaeum , is diseased in those parts which belong to the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 81. blood , suppurated matter , and small scales voided with the urine , if an ill sent accompany , signifie an exulceration of the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 83. plenty of urine made in the night , signifies but small ejections by stool . sect. 7. aph. 31. when the hypostasis or sediment of the urine of men sick of a feaver , happens to appear like grosse peices or gobbets of parched barly not exactly ground , it signifies that the disease will be long . sect. 7. aph. 32. bilious sediments , but thin above , signifie an acute disease . sect. 7. aph. 33. when the urines are sundry and divided , there is a vehement perturbation in the whole body . sect. 7. aph. 34. bubbles standing upon the upper part of the urine , signifie a disease of the reins , and that it will be long . sect 7. aph. 35. fat upon the top of the urine heaped together , signifies a disease of the reins , and that it is acute also . chap. vi. of signes by the flux of the belly . sect. 2. aph. 14. in fluxes of the belly , alteration of the excrements , unlesse they are changed to bad , are beneficial . sect. 2. aph. 15. when the jaws are afflicted , or if tumours appear in the body , the excretions or excrements are to be taken into consideration ; for if they are bilious , the body also is sick , but if they are like those voided by sound bodies , you may securely nourish the body . sect. 2. aph. 20. they whose bellies are moist while they are young , when they grow old are costive ; but such as are costive in their youth , have soluble bodies when they grow old . sect. 4. aph. 21. black excrements like black blood proceeding of their own accord , either with a feaver , or without a feaver , are worst of all , and so much the worse by how much their colours are more and worse . but they are better if they are caused by a purging medicine , and so much the better , if their colours are many and not bad . sect. 4. aph. 23. if they who have been emaciated by acute or long diseases , by wounds , or any other means , do void melancholly or black blood downwards , they dye the next day after . sect. 4. aph. 24. if a dysentery took its original from black choler , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 25. it is not good to void any blood whatsoever upward , but if black blood be voided downward , it is good . sect. 4. aph. 26. if little peices of flesh be voided by him that hath an excoriation of the bowels , it is mortal . chap. vii . of the time of the crisis appearing . sect. 1. aph. 12. to avoid a tedious and needlesse repetition of the same aphorisms , i must refer the reader for his satisfaction of this aphorisme , unto the former chapter of the signs by the spittle , where he may satisfie himself . distinction the second , containing the aphorismes treating of dyet . the former rehearsed aphorismes have discovered the essence and quality of the disease , the which being known , the next intention of the physician respects the cure of diseases , and the preservation of that which remains in the sick person , according to nature . the latter whereof is performed by a convenient course and rule of dyet , which our author hath delivered unto us in the following aphorismes . chap. i. of a convenient dyet in diseases . sect. 1. aph. 4. aslender and exact course of dyet , alwayes either in long diseases , or in acute , where it is not admitted , is little safe . and again , a dyet which cometh to an extreme slendernesse is grievous ; so also is fullnesse , if admitted to extremity . sect. 1. aph. 5. diseased persons offend in a spare and thin course of dyet , by which they are more hurt . for every error useth to be more grievous in a thin , than in a more full course of dyet ; and therefore also a thin and slender dyet by a certain prescription is lesse safe to healthful bodies , because they bear those errors more grievously : for the same reason therefore a thin and accurate dyet is for the most part more dangerous , than something a more plentiful and liberal . sect. 1. aph. 7. when the disease is very acute , it forthwith comes to its state and danger , and then it is necessary to use a most thin and slender course of dyet ; but when the disease is not very sharp and quick , but there is liberty given to exhibit something a fuller dyet , we may afford so much the more plentiful dyet , by how much the disease is abated of its extremity . sect. 1. aph. 8. when the disease is in its state and greatest vehemency , then it is necessary to use a most sparing dyet . sect. 1. aph. 9. but a conjecture is to be had from the sick , whether such a quantity of dyet be sufficient for him to subsist to the vigor of the disease , or whether he will fail and not be able to endure the assault , or whether the disease do first remit , or be lessened . sect. 1. aph. 10. therefore when the vigour of the disease is sudden , forthwith we must use a slender dyet ; but if the disease arrive to its vigour and state later , than at the time of the vigour and a little before , we ought to take away all meat ; but before the fit we may allow the sick such a dyet which may enable him to endure the assault . sect. 1. aph. 11. in the fit of an ague the patient must shun and avoid eating ; for it is hurtful to give meat to the sick then ; and we ought to suspect and fear those things in the fits , which grow worse and worse by the circuits . sect. 1. aph. 16. moist food is convenient for all feaverish persons , also for children especially , and others who have been accustomed to a dyet of the same nature . sect. 1. aph. 17. we must observe to whom we may allow food to once or twice , to whom much or little , or to whom meat is to be allowed by parts ; yet we may indulge something to the time , the region , the age and custome of the patient . sect. 1. aph. 18. we are more averse to meat in the summer time , and in the autumn , but in the winter we can endure them best of all ; the spring is the best season next the winter . sect. 1. aph. 19. to such whose fits return by circuits , neither give any thing , nor think of any thing ; but substract all food from them untill the crisis be over . chap. ii. of dyet convenient according to the ages . sect. 1. aph. 13. old men can most easily endure fasting , next to them such who are arrived at their full age ; young men worst of all ; but among all , boys chiefly , and among them such as are active and more prone to action . sect. 1. aph. 14. they which grow most abound with natural heat , and therefore want most nourishment ; for otherwise their bodies would waste . and seeing that in old men there remains but little heat , therefore they need but few nutriments , for by many that heat is extinguished . and by the same reason also , because their bodies are cold , acute feavers do not frequently happen to old men . chap. iii. of dyet for the seasons of the year . sect. 1. aph. 15. in the winter season our stomachs are hottest , and sleeps longest , during those seasons therefore we may use most plentiful dyet ; because then there being more natural heat we need the more nutriment . sect. 1. aph. 18. [ you have this aphorisme in the preceeding chapter of dyet convenient in diseases , sect. 1. aph. 18. unto which i refer the reader . ] chap. iv. of the quality , manner , quantity , and other conditions , required in dyet . sect. 2. aph. 8. the body which after recovery from a disease doth not regain strength by his dyet , doth overcharge nature with food ; but if it happen to one which eateth not much , it signifies that evacuation is necessary . sect. 2. aph. 10. the more you nourish foul and impure bodies , the more you offend them . sect. 2. aph. 11. our bodies are more apt to be refreshed with drink , then with meat . sect. 2. aph. 16. it is inconvenient to labour when hunger oppresseth . sect. 2. aph. 18. such meats as nourish universally and quickly , soonest digest and turn to excrements . sect. 2. aph. 22. evacuation cures those diseases which are caused by repletion , and repletion takes away such distempers as are caused by emptinesse ; so in other things contrary , is a remedy . sect. 2. aph. 31. it is an ill sign if the body be not strengthned by food taken orderly , after the recovery from a disease . sect. 2. aph. 32. usually all sick persons which have a good appetite to their meat at the beginning of their sicknesse , and are not benefited thereby , afterwards nauseate and loath their meat ; but they which at the beginning of their sickness , do very much loath their meat , and afterwards recover their stomachs , do live in a more healthful condition . sect. 2. aph. 38. meat and drink something worse , but if it be better rellish'd , is to be preferr'd before that which is better and lesse pleasing . chap. v. of milk. sect. 5. aph. 64. it is hurtful to give milk to such which are troubled with the head-ach ; it is bad also for feaverish persons , and such who have a murmuring in the hypochondries ; for those also who are alwayes dry and thirsty . it is hurtful also for such whose excrements are cholerick , or are troubled with an acute feaver , and for those who have voided much blood by stool . but it is convenient for such as be in a wasting condition , if they are not much feaverish ; and it may be allowed in long feavers , and to faint persons , so that none of the aforementioned symptomes are present . it may be given also to such as are extremely wasted . chap. vi. of wine . sect. 2. aph. 21. drinking of wine takes away hunger . sect. 7. aph. 56. wine mixed with an equal proportion of water , and drunk , takes away sadnesse , yawning , and horror . chap. vii . of water . sect. 5. aph. 26. vvater which is soonest hot , and soonest cold is most light . chap. viii of thirst . sect. 4. aph. 19. they who having taken a purging potion , and do not thirst while they purge , will not cease purging until they do thirst . sect. 5. aph. 27. it is a good sign when they which have a desire to drink in the night time , fall to sleep while they are thirsty . distinction the third , containing the aphorismes respecting the generall way of curing diseases . it is as requisite for a physitian to cure the diseases of the body , as to keep the same in strength and ability . to the performance whereof he ought to be armed with a judgement curative and preservative , the latter whereof he is enabled to perform by those aphorismes , which inform him , whom , what , which , how much , where , how , and when he ought to purge ; or revell offensive humours . chap. i. of indications in general . sect. 1. aph. 3. the healthful state of strong bodies arrived at its perfection , when it hath attained its extremity of fullnesse , in regard it cannot abide nor rest in that same state and condition , is unstable . now seeing it cannot rest , nor make a progresse to a better condition , it remains that it must lapse to a worse . for these very causes therefore it is expedient to release that more full habit of body without delay , whereby the body may assume a beginning of another kind of nourishing . neither must we proceed so far that the vessels may fail ( for that is dangerous ) but we must regulate our course according to the nature and ability of him upon whom this change is to be wrought . by the same reason extreme evacuations , and too hasty refections or nourishings are equally dangerous . sect. 1. aph. 19. [ you may be satisfied of this aphorisme in the chapter of dyet in diseases the ( last aphorisme ) whether for brevitie sake i refer you . ] sect. 2. aph. 20. [ you have this aphorisme in the chapter of the signs by the flux of the belly , the third aphorisme . ] sect. 2. aph. 37. physick is tedious and irksome to those who are of a good habit of body . sect. 2. aph. 7. those bodies which are attenuated by long intervals , must be refreshed slowly ; but such as were suddenly wasted , we may nourish speedily sect. 2. aph. 9. the body ought to be prepared and made soluble , before it be purged . sect. 2. aph. 22. as evacuation doth cure diseases caused by repletion , so repletion takes away such distempers which come by emptinesse ; so in the rest contrarily . sect. 2. aph. 50. those courses which we are accustomed unto by long use and continuance , although worse , are lesse troublesome unto us , then those unto which we are not used . wherefore we ought also to make a change also to such things unto which we are not used . sect. 2. aph. 51. it is dangerous to empty or fill , to heat or to cool the body too much on a sudden , or to alter the body violently by any other motion ; for every excesse is an enemy to nature . but those alterations which are effected by little and little , are secure , and then most especially when we make our progresse from one degree to another . sect. 2. aph. 52. if all things are performed according to reason , although the successe answer not thereunto , we may not alter our intention , if there be the same condition which seemed at the first . sect. 4. aph. 3. if such things are purged , which ought to be purged , it is conducible , and the patient bears it easily ; but otherwise they bear it grievously . sect. 4. aph. 2. in using purging medicines , we may with security and benefit to the patient , purge such things out which being voided of their own accord are profitable , but restrain such things which come forth after a contrary manner . sect. 5. aph. 18. cold is an enemy to the bones , teeth , nerves , brain , and the marrow of the back-bone , but heat is profitable . sect. 5. aph. 19. we must heat all cold parts , unlesse such which do send forth blood , or will shortly send forth blood . sect. 5. aph. 22. heat causing suppuration doth not exhibit unto us the greatest sign of security , in every ulcer it softens the skin , extenuates , takes away pains , rigors , mitigates distension of the nerves , takes away heavinesse of the head , but is very much available for broken bones , and especially those which are bare , and most of all to those who have ulcers in their head . it is profitable for such who are child with cold , or exulcerated parts , and corroding humours , either in the fundament , privities , wombe or bladder . to all these , heat is acceptable , and causeth a crisis , but cold is unfriendly and destructive . sect. 5. aph. 23. but we must use cold things , where there is , or is like to be a flux of blood , not upon the parts themselves , but they must be applied about those parts . and if there be inflamations , or fiery rednesse tending to a bloodish colour , caused by the fresh flux of blood , apply them thereunto ; for it induceth a blacknesse to inveterate sores . it helps an erysipelas which is not ulcerated , and hurts it when it is ulcerated . sect. 5. aph. 24. cold things , as ice and snow , are enemies to the breast , they cause coughes , eruptions of blood , and distillations . sect 8. aph. 6. those distempers which medicines cannot cure , are remedied by incision ; what the knife cannot cure , actual cauteries will perform . but those which are not cured by fire , we must judge incurable . chap. ii. of purging in general . sect. 1. aph. 2. in the purgations of the belly and vomitings , which are not forced , if such excrements are purged as ought to be , it is conducible , and the patient doth bear them easily ; but if not , it succeeds otherwise . the like also is in the emptying of the vessels ; if such evacuation be made as ought to be , it is convenient , and it is easily born ; but if not , it is otherwise . therefore we must consider the place , time of the year , age , and the diseases in which these evacuations ought to be procured or not . sect. 2. aph. 36. they which are of an unblamable constitution of body , when they are purged by medicines , do soon faint , so do they also which use an ill dyet . sect. 2. aph. 37. medicines are troublesome to those who are of a good habit of body or constitution . sect. 6. aph. 47. they who have need of phlebotomy or purging , ought to open a vein , or take a purging medicine in the spring season . sect. 2. aph. 29. if any evacuation be requisite , do it at the beginning of the sickness , for in the state thereof it is better to rest . chap. iii. of what quality , and what things ought to be purged . sect. 1. aph. 20. neither stir those humours which are under their crisis , or which have perfectly past it , either by medicines or any other provocations , but let them rest . sect. 1. aph. 22. thrust forth concocted humours by a purging medicine not undigested , neither at the begining of the disease , unlesse the humours tend of themselves to excretion , which hardly happens . sect. 1. aph. 25. if such things are purged as ought to be purged , it is profitable to the patient , and he doth bear it easily ; but contrarily , if the contrary happen . sect. 2. aph. 9. before the taking of purging medicines , the body ought to be prepared and to be made soluble . when purging medicines are made use of , if such things as are voided without provocation , are profitable , we must assist nature , and draw forth such by purging , but we must prohibit and hinder those things which proceed after a contrary manner . chap. iv. of the quantity of purging . sect. 1. aph. 23. we are not to judge of the matter purged by the quantity altogether , but whether those which are purged are expedient , and whether they are for the ease of the patient ; and sometimes , when occasion requires , we may empty the body to a syncope or sounding , and must do it , if the patient can suffer it . chap. v. of the place by which we ought to purge . sect. 1. aph. 21. when you intend to purge , observe whether the humour tend of it self , and there draw it forth by the convenient places . sect. 4. aph. 6. spare bodies and such which vomit with facility and ease , must be purged upward with a purging medicine , but be fearful of the winter . sect. 4. aph. 7. but grosse bodies , and such as vomit with pain and difficulty , must be purged downwards , and be fearful of the summer . sect. 4. aph. 8. consumptive persons are very seldome , and with great circumspection to be purged by vomit . sect. 4. aph. 9. bodies abounding with melancholly may be purged more plentifully downward , by the same reason we must observe the contrary way of purging other bodies . sect. 4. aph. 12. it is inconvenient purging those by vomit in the winter season which are troubled with a lientery or smoothnesse of the bowels . sect. 4. aph. 13. prepare such bodies with a plentifull and moist dyet , and with rest before the exhibition and taking of their potion , which having taken black hellebore are not purged easily by the upper parts . sect. 4. aph. 14. after the taking of purging medicines , rather move and stir the body , then admit sleep and rest . for even navigation upon the sea , doth demonstrate unto us , that that our bodies are provoked by motion . sect. 4. aph. 15. if you would have a purge to work force motion to the body , but if you desire it should cease working , let the body sleep , and move it not . sect. 4. aph. 16. hellebore given to sound and healthful bodies is danger for it induceth a convulsion . sect. 4. aph. 17. when you observe an abhorring of meat in one that hath no feaver , if there be a gnawing of the mouth of the stomach , a dizzinesse with a dimnesse of sight , and a bitternesse in the mouth , we must then conclude that to such bodies purging upward by vomit is necessary . sect. 4. aph. 18. griefs happening above the midriffe , which need purging , instruct us that in such distempers medicines which purge upwards are necessary . sect. 4. aph. 19. they which do not thirst ( having taken a purging medicine ) while the physick doth work , will not cease purging , untill they do thirst . sect. 4. aph. 20. if a tormenting pain of the bowels , a heavinesse of the knees , and grief about the loins be present without a feaver , these signes do shew unto us , that there is a necessity of purging the body downward , chap. vi. of the time of purging . sect. 1. aph. 24. in acute diseases we must very seldome , or at the beginning , use purging medicines ; and if it be convenient to use them , we must be wary and circumspect in using of them . sect. 2. aph. 29. if moving of the body be convenient , do it at the beginning , but in the state of the disease it is better to let it rest . sect. 4. aph. 4. in the summer time clense the upper belly with medicines , but in the winter rather purge the lower . sect. 4. aph. 5. medicines are troublesome to the patient , either in the dog dayes , or a little before them . sect. 4. aph. 10. in extreme acute diseases , if the humor of its own propensity intend to excretion we may and ought to purge the same day ; for in such cases delayes are dangerons . chap. vii . of purging of women with child . sect. 4. aph. 1. women with child may be purged , if the violence of the humour tend to expulsion , in the fourth month unto the seventh , but in the latter lesse . but in riper and younger issues , we must be very fearful and cautious . sect. 5. aph. 29. [ this aphorisme is the same with the former , therefore to avoid a tedious repetition , i have forbore the inserting of it . ] sect. 5. aph. 34. if a diarrhaea or strong flux of the belly , seize a woman with child , she is in danger of abortion . chap. viii . of judgement by purging . sect. 4. aph. 19. if they who having taken a purging potion , do not thirst while they are purged , they will not make an end of purging , untill they do thirst . a convulsion occasioned by a purging potion is mortal . chap. ix . of phlebotomy or letting blood. sect. 5. aph. 30. phlebotomy or opening of a vein doth cause women with child to abort , and then chiefly if the child be of any maturity or bigness . sect. 5. aph. 68. the opening of the straight vein in the forehead , profiteth him which is troubled with a pain in the hinder part of his head . sect. 6. aph. 47. if bleeding or purging be requisite and needful the spring is the most convenient time to use either means . sect. 7. aph. 46. the means to cure the pains of the eyes , after the exhibiting of a potion of wine , and the using of a bath of warm water , is by phlebotomy . sect. 7. aph. 48. the dropping of urine ( which is called the strangury ) and the difficulty of making of water , is cured by a potion of wine , and the opening of a vein . but the inward veins are to be breathed . chap. x. of the application of cupping-glasses . sect. 5. aph. 50. the most compendious and ready way to stop the flowing of the tearms in women , is by applying cupping-glasses to their breasts . distinction the fourth , containing such aphorismes as unfold and and declare the preternatural affects incident to the body of man , and distributed to it according to the ages , winds and seasons of the year . hitherto we have taken a view of such aphorismes which have treated of the general cure of diseases , in this distinction we shall expose to the reader those aphorismes which speak of or mention all the preternatural affects , as they have respect unto particular parts , the times of the year and ages , &c. and begin first with the diseases of the ages , and seasons of the year . chap. i. of the diseases of several ages . sect. 2. aph. 39. old men generally are lesse sick then young men , but if they are taken with any continual disease , they usually accompany them to their graves . sect. 2. aph. 54. a long and tall stature of body in young men is decent , and not unseemly , but in old men it is unprofitable , and worse than a lower stature . sect. 3. aph. 18. concerning the seasons of the year , children and such as are next to them in years , live best , and are most healthful , in the spring and the fore part of the summer ; but in the summer and so to the autumn , old men . but for the remainder of the autumn , and part of winter , such as are of a middle age between the two former live best , and are most healthful . sect. 5. aph 9. consumptions usually happen to man from the age of eighteen years , unto the age of five and thirty . chap. ii. of the diseases of children . sect. 3. aph. 24. diseases of this nature happen to children and new born babes , creeping ulcers of the mouth ( called aphthae ) vomitings , coughs , watchings , tremblings , inflamations about the navil , and moistnesse of the ears . sect. 3. aph. 25. when they come to breeding of teeth , itchings and prickings of the gums , feavers , convulsions , scourings , and then especially when they begin their sharp teeth called dogs teeth ; and these evils happen to those children especially who are of a corpulent body , and are usually costive . sect. 3. aph. 26. but when they are somewhat elder , inflamations of the tousills called the almonds of the ears , beatings upon the inward part of the vertebra which is in the hinder part of the head , difficulty of breathing , the stone , round-wormes and others , thin and small , called ascarides , in the streight bowell . warts , continual standing of the yard , swellings about the neck , called kernels , with other small pustles or pimples , but especially such before mentioned . chap. iii. of the diseases of young men . sect. 3. aph. 27. many of the afore-named diseases are also incident to those who have attained to riper years , and the age of fourteen years ; but now more especially continual feavers , fluxes of blood out of the nostrils , are common to this age. sect. 3. aph. 29. diseases usuall to young men are spittings of blood , consumptions , acute feavers , the falling sicknesse , and other diseases , but these especially . chap. iv. of the diseases of men. sect. 3. aph. 30. but to those who have past their youth , frequent asthmaes , plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , lethargies , phrensies , burning feavers , continual fluxes of the belly , choler , dysenteries , and lienteries , and the flux of the hemorrhoide veins are usual . chap. v. of the diseases incident to old age. sect. 3. aph. 31. but to old men difficulty of breathing , catarrhes causing coughs , the strangury and difficulty of making water , pains in the joynts and reins , vertigoes , apoplexies , and ill habit of the body , it chings over all the body , watchings , moistnesse of the belly , eyes and ears , redness of the eyes , and difficulty of hearing . we should here set down such aphorismes which touch the diseases of women , but we shall refer the reader to the chapter which speaks of the affects of the wombe hereafter . chap. vi. of the diseases of the times of the year . sect. 3. aph. 1. the changes of the seasons of the years , breed diseases chiefly . and in them there are great mutations of heat and cold , and other things are contingent according to their alteration and change . sect. 3. aph. 4. throughout the seasons of the year , when in the same day there is sometimes heat , sometimes cold , we must expect autumnal diseases . sect. 3. aph. 8. when the air is in a good order and setled , and the seasons are well constituted , such diseases are caused which easily come to their state , and are easily dissolved . but in a bad constitution of the air and seasons , such diseases which hardly come to their state , and are not easily dissolved . sect. 3. aph. 19. diseases of all kinds do afflict mans body at any time of the year , but some special diseases are both caused , and expressed at particular times and seasons of the year . chap. vii . of diseases happening in the spring . sect. 3. aph. 9. in the autumn most acute and deadly diseases do arise , but the spring season is most wholesome and lesse destructive . sect. 3. aph. 18. children and boyes live best , and are most healthfull in the spring , and the first part of summer , but in the summer until the autumn old men ; and in the remainder of the autumn and winter , such as be of a middle age . sect. 3. aph. 30. in the spring season , madnesse , melancholly , the falling evil , fluxes of blood , squinancies , rhumes , hoarseness , coughs , leprosies , dry itches , the disease called elephantiasis , many ulcerated pustles , small swellings , and pains about the joynts , do appear . chap. viii . of the diseases happening in the summer . sect. 3. aph. 6. if the summer season be constituted as the spring was , then we must expect feavers accompanied with much sweats . sect. 3. aph. 13. but if the summer be extraordinary dry , and the north winds blow cold , and if the autumn be extreme wet with south winds , expect that about the winter men should complain of head-aches , coughs , hoarseness , heaviness of the head occasioned by rhumes , and some of consumptions . sect. 3. aph. 21. some vernall diseases may appear in the summer , and quotidian feavers , burning feavers , and very many tertian , and quartans , vomitings , diarrhaeaes , sore eyes , pains of the ears , exulcerations of the mouth , putrid ulcers of the privities , and red angry pimples caused by bilious sweats . chap. ix . of the diseases happening in the autumn . sect. 3. aph. 9. the autumn doth produce most acute diseases , and mortal , but the spring is most wholesome and lesse pernitious . sect. 3. aph. 10. the autumn season is naught for consumptive persons . sect. 3. aph. 14. if in the autumne the wind be north and the air very cold , and without rain , the season is convenient for moist constitutions , and women ; but to other constitutions it occasions bleer eyes , acute feavers , quotidians , and to some melancholly . sect. 3. aph. 22. many aestival diseases do arise in the autumn , and quartane feavers , and erratick feavers , tumours of the spleen , dropsies , consumptions , stranguries , lyenteries , and dysenteries , sciaticaes , squinancies , frequent asthmaes , iliack passions , the falling evil , madnesses and melancholly . chap. x. of the diseases happening in the winter . sect. 3. aph. 11. if the winter be extreme dry and cold , and the wind north , but the spring very wet , with south winds , of necessity we must expect acute feavers , sorenesse of the eyes , excoriations of the bowells the next summer , but especially to the female sex , and to men of a moist constitution . but if the winter be very rainy , and mild and calm with south winds , but the spring extraordinary dry with north winds , women with child which expect deliverance in the spring , will abort upon every slight occasion . and if they are delivered , they will produce weak and sickly children , such as will suddenly dye , or if they live will be alwayes sickly and small . but to other people excoriations of the bowels , and bleer eyes will arise ; but to elderly persons , fluxes killing in a small space . sect. 3. aph. 13. a very dry and cold summer with north winds , and a moist autumn with south winds succeeding , doth produce head aches , in the winter coughs , hoarsenesse , heavinesse in the head , and to some consumptions . sect. 4. aph. 23. in the winter plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , lethargies , rhumes in the head , hoarsenesse , coughs , pains in the breast , sides and loins , head-aches , megrimes , and to some ptisicks are occasioned . chap. xi . of diseases caused by the winds . sect. 3. aph. 5. south winds produce dulnesse of hearing and sight , with a heavinesse of the head , they make the body dull and faint , when such winds are prevalent , we must expect such accidents in diseases . but north winds cause coughs , exasperates the jaws , hardens the belly , suppresseth the urine , stirs up cold horrors and pains of the sides and breast . when such winds are prevalent , sick bodies suffer such things . sect. 3. aph. 7. foggs and fowlnesse of air , produce acute feavers , and if the year shall be so disposed for the most part , we must expect diseases answerable to the condition and season so constituted . sect. 3. aph. 8. a good and seasonable constitution of the air , produceth such diseases which are easily consistent , and easily cured . but ill constituted seasons , such as are not easily consistent nor easily cured . sect. 3. aph. 14. north and dry winde in the autumn are commodious for moist constitutions , and women ; but to others they beget sorenesse of the eyes , acute feavers , quotidians , and to some also consumptions . sect. 3. aph. 15. amongst all the seasons of the year , great droughts are more wholsome and lesse destructive , then continual rains , and frequent showring weather . sect. 3. aph. 16. diseases for the most part are caused by continual showres , as long feavers , diarrhaeaes , putrid feavers , the falling evil , apoplexies , and squinancies . but by great droughts are occasioned consumptions , bleer eyes , sciaticks , droping of urine , and dysenteries . sect. 3. aph. 17. continual north winds do condense the pores of the body , renders men stronger , nimbler , better coloured , and better liking , dryes the belly , causeth prickings of the eyes , and if the breast be possest by any preceeding grief , they stir it and provoke it : but south winds dissolve the body and moisten it , they cause dulnesse of hearing , heavinesse of the head , and vertigoes , they produce difficult motion to the eyes and body , and moisten the belly . distinction the fifth , containing the aphorismes pertaining to feavers . that a physician may satisfie and perform all his intentions required , find out all requisite medicines , and apply them seasonably , it is not sufficient onely to preserve the strength of the patient , and remove morbifick causes , but it is also necessary that he know the nature of the disease , and the part affected very exactly , which will the better be performed , if he be throughly acquainted with those aphorismes which declare the diseases of the whole body in general , and those also which respect the praeter naturall affects of the particular parts of the whole body . the first where of the aphorismes of the discovery of feavers with their accidents , will manifest ; the second will be discovered by the following aphorismes . chap. i. of continual feavers . sect. 3. aph. 21. in the summer continual feavers , and burning , very many tertians and quartans do arise , &c. [ see the third aphorisme in the chapter of summer diseases . ] sect. 4. aph. 43. continual tertian feavers which have their paroxismes every third day , and no intermission are more dangerous ; but if they remit by any means howsoever , they signifie no danger to the patient . sect. 4. aph. 46. if frequent rigors happen in feavers , the sick being weak without intermission of the feaver , it is a mortal sign . sect. 4. aph. 47. excreations or spittings either wa●… of colour , bloody , stinking or bilious , are all bad in a continual feaver ; but if such are voided which are of a good condition , it is good , whether they are voided by stool , or urine ; but if any of these things are voided and ease not the sick , they are bad . sect. 4. aph. 48. in continual feavers if the external parts are cold , and the internal are inflamed , and the sick be extream thirsty , it is deadly . sect 4. aph. 49. in continual feavers , if the lip , eye-brow , eye or nose be perverted , or convulsive , if the sick hear not , or see not ; which soever of these do happen , do signifie death approaching sect. 4. aph. 50. difficulty of breathing , or a delirium happening in a continual feaver , is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 56. sweats happening in a not-intermitting feaver , if the feaver do not intermit , are bad , for the disease is prorogued , and much moisture is thereby signified to be in the body . sect. 7. aph. 72. [ this aphorisme is the same with the fifth aphorisme of this chap. sect. 4. aph. 48. ] sect. 7. aph. 73. [ this aphorisme nothing differs from the 49. aphorisme in the fourth section mentioned before in this chapter . ] chap. ii. of acute feavers . sect. 2. aph. 19. predictions of life or death in acute diseases , are not altogether certain . sect. 2. aph. 23. acute diseases are judged by their crisis within fourteen dayes . sect. 3. aph 7. foggs and stinking mists generate acute diseases , and if the year continue in the same constitution , we must expect diseases of the same nature . sect. 3. aph. 9. most acute diseases and destructive are most usual in the autumn , the spring is more wholsome and lesse pernitions . sect. 3. aph. 11. if the winter be extraordinary dry with north winds , and the spring very rainy with south winds , acute feavers , sore eyes , and dysenteries , must of necessity arise the following summer , especially in women and in men which are of a constitution more than ordinary moist . sect. 4. aph. 37. cold sweats in a very acute feaver , signifie death , but in a more mild disease , the prolixity thereof . sect. 4. aph. 66. convulsions , and vehement pains about the bowels , in acute diseases , are bad . sect. 5. aph. 64. [ see this aphorisme in the chapter of milk. ] sect. 6. aph. 54. breathings with groans in acute diseases with a feaver are ill . sect. 7. aph. 1. cold or chilnesse of the extreme parts , in acute feavers , is bad . chap. iii. of burning feavers . sect. 3. aph. 23. turn to this aphorisme in the chapter of diseases of the summer season . ] sect. 4. aph. 54. they who have dry coughs , lightly provoking in burning feavers , are not usually very thirsty . sect. 4. aph. 58. if a rigour or very cold fit happen to him which hath a burning feaver , the feaver is thereby dissolved . sect. 6. aph. 26. trembling happening in burning feavers , are taken away by a delirium or raving . chap. iv. of intermittent feavers . sect. 1. aph. 11. all meat is to be avoided in the fits and paroxisms of feavers , for it is hurtful to give meats then , and we ought to fear such accident in the accesses which grow more painful or worse and worse in the circuits or intermissions . sect. 1. aph. 12. the diseases , seasons of the year , and the changing of the circuits , being compared together , whether they are every other day or by longer intervalls of time , will declare the accessions and conditions of diseases . moreover the same judgement may be given by such symptomes as presently appear , of that nature is spittle in pluretick persons , the which , if it appears at the beginning of the disease , praedicts its brevity ; but if later , the prolixity thereof . the urine also , the excrements of the belly , and the sweats when they appear , do signifie unto us by judicature , whether the disease will be easie or hard , short or long . sect. 4. aph. 30. those intermittent feavers are hard to be judged of wherein the feaver returns the next day , at the same hour wherein it left the patient the day before , at what hour soever it were that the dismission happened . sect. 4. aph. 43. feavers which afflict the patient more violently every third day , and have no intermission , are more dangerous . for intermissions after what manner soever contingent , do signifie the sick to be without danger . chap. v. of tertian feavers . sect. 3. aph. 2. see this aphorisme before in the chapter of diseases incident in the summer , sect. 3. aph. 2. ] sect. 4. aph. 43. [ see this aphorisme before in the chapter of intermittent feavers , sect. 4. aph. 43. ] sect. 4. aph. 59. an exquisite tertian is judged in seven fits at the longest . chap. vi. of a quartane feaver . sect. 2. aph. 25. quartan feavers which begin in the summer are usually short , but such as begin in the autumn are long , especially if they continue unto the winter . sect. 3. aph. 21. [ see this aphorisme in the chapter of intermittent feavers , the same section and aphorisme . ] sect. 3. aph. 22. [ see this aphorisme in the chapter of autumnal diseases , the same section and aphorisme . ] sect. 5. aph. 70. men sick of quartan feavers are seldome taken with convulsions , but if they were convulsive before , they are freed by a succeeding quartan feaver . chap. vii . of quotidian feavers . sect. 4. aph. 63. quotidian feavers are dissolved by daily , rigors . chap. viii . of long feavers . sect. 2. aph. 25. quartan agues beginning in the summer , are usually short , but autumnal are long , especially if they continue until winter . sect. 2. aph. 28. it is an ill signe when bodies exercised with strong feavers do stand at a stay , and are nothing diminished , or wasted , or else are extremely and beyond reason wasted by the disease ; for the one signifies a long continuance of the disease , the other the weaknesse of the patient . sect. 3. aph. 16. daily showres , do cause diseases for the most part , as of long feavers , fluxed , putrid feavers , the falling sicknesse , apoplexies and squinancies . but great droughts do cause consumptions , sore eyes , pains of the joynts , droppings of the urine , and excoriation of the bowels . sect. 3. aph. 27. moreover to those of riper years , about the fourteenth year of their age , many of the former diseases and continual feavers and hoemorrhagies , or issuing of blood out of their nose , are incident . sect. 4. aph. 36. sweats in feavers are beneficial if they begin upon the third , fifth , seventh , ninth , eleventh , fourteenth , seventeenth , one and twentieth , seven and twentieth , thirtieth , or four and thirtieth dayes , for such sweats are criticall and judicatory . but sweats which do not express themselves upon some of the aforenamed dayes , signifie the long continuance of the feaver , and the reversion thereof . sect. 4. aph. 44. small tumors or pains of the joynts grow upon such bodies , which have had long feavers . sect. 4. aph. 51. such feavers which do intermit , if they are not dissolved within few crises at the beginning , signifie a prolonging of the disease . sect. 4. aph. 53. those feavers are most vehement , wherein clammy or gluttinous humours by reason of the feaver , groweth to the teeth of the sick. chap. ix . of sweats in feavers . sect. 1. aph. 12. the urine , excrements of the belly , and sweats , when they appear , do demonstrate unto us whether the diseases will have an easie or hard crisis , or whether they will be long or short . sect. 4. aph. 36. [ you may read this aphorisme in the same number of section and aphorisme in the preceeding chapter of long feavers . ] sect. 4. aph. 37. cold sweats in a very acute feaver , signifie death , but in more mild and benign feaver , the prolixity or long continuance thereof . it is an ill sign when sweats are contingent to a feaver-sick person without intermission of the feaver , for the disease is prolonged , and such sweat argues much humidity in the body . chap. x. of rigors in feavers . sect. 4. aph. 29. such feavers have a difficult crisis wherein rigors are contingent the sixth day . sect. 4. aph. 46. often rigors incident in continual feavers , the body being weak , are mortal . sect. 4. aph. 58. a burning feaver is discharged by the contingency of a rigor , or exceeding cold supervening . sect. 4. aph. 63. feavers which have daily rigors , are every day dissolved . sect. 5. aph. 17. the frequent use of cold things , causeth convulsions , distensions of the nerves , blacknesse , and feaverish rigors . sect. 5. aph. 20. cold things cause a gnawing in ulcers , hardens the skin , hinders from suppuration , causeth blacknesse , feaverish rigors , convulsions and distensions of the nerves . chap. xi . of convulsions in feavers . sect. 2. aph. 26. it is better that a feaver should come upon a convulsion , then a convulsion upon a feaver . sect. 4. aph. 57. a succeeding feaver frees him that is taken with a convulsion , or the cramp . sect. 4. aph. 66. convulsions and vehement pains happening about the bowels in acute feavers presage ill . sect. 4. aph. 67. tremblings and convulsions happening to feaverish persons in their sleeps , are bad . sect. 4. aph. 68. interception of spirits in feavers is naught , for it is an argument of a convulsion . sect. 5. aph. 5. if a drunken person be suddenly speechlesse , he dyes convulsive , unlesse a feaver succeed , or he recovering his speech the same hour that the humour is usually digested . sect. 5. aph. 70. those who have quartane feavers , are seldome taken with convulsions , but if they are first taken a succeeding feavers frees them . chap. xii . of the rest of the symptomes happening in feavers . sect. 4. aph. 27. they which have lost much blood by feavers , from what part soever the slux was , have soluble bodies when they are refreshed , or have recovered their strength . sect. 4. aph. 31. they which have a sense of lazinesse or indisposition caused by feavers , have tumors about their joynts , and chiefly about their mandibles or jawbones . sect. 4. aph. 34. a suddain strangulation happening in a feaver without any preceeding tumour in the jaws , is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 35. if the neck be perverted on a suddain , so that the sick can hardly swallow , and if no tumor do appear , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 44. tumours or pains about the joynts , do accompany those who have had long feavers . sect. 4. aph. 44. extremity of cold in the external parts , and burning heats in the internal , with a vehement thirst , is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 49. in continual feavers , if the lip , eye-lid , eye , or nose , be turned aside , if the sick see not , neither hear , and be very weak ; which soever of these signs happen , argue death approaching . sect. 4. aph. 50. difficulty of breathing , and raving happening in a feaver which hath no intermission , is deadly . sect. 4. aph. 51. if intermittent feavers are not dissolved by few crises at the beginning , they argue the length and continuance of the disease . sect. 4. aph. 52. voluntary tears argue no inconvenience to the sick either in feavers , or other diseases ; but tears falling unwillingly , are more inconvenient . sect. 4. aph. 53. those feavers are most vehement by which a clammy or gluttinous humour doth grow to the teeth . sect. 4. aph. 54. they which have dry coughs , lightly provoking , if they continue long in burning feavers , are not much troubled with thirst . sect. 4. aph. 55. all feavers proceeding from the inflamation of the glandules or kernels are bad but diaries . sect. 4. aph. 60. an hemorrhagia or bleeding at the nose , or a diarrhaea or flux of the belly , doth take away deafnesse caused by feavers . sect. 4. aph. 62. it is not good if the yellow jaundies appear , in feaver-sick persons , before the seventh day . sect. 4. aph. 63. daily feavers are dissolved daily by rigors . sect. 4. aph. 64. the jaundies coming upon a feaver is good if they appear upon the seventh , ninth , eleventh , or fourteenth day ; unlesse the right hypocondrium be hard , then it is not good . sect. 4. aph. 65. a vehement heat about the stomach , and a gnawing in the mouth of the stomach in feavers is not good . sect. 4. aph. 69. those urines in feavers are advantagious , which being thick , curdled , and few , do turn to thin and many , especially if they be such as have a sediment at the first , or not much after . sect. 4. aph. 70. urines very much troubled , like those of kine , do signifie a pain of the head either present , or suddenly to succeed . sect. 4. aph. 73. they which have a murmuring about the midriffe , with a succeeding pain in the reins , have soluble and moist bellies , unlesse plenty of wind be voided downward , or much urine be made , and these symptomes are contingent in feavers . sect. 5. aph 55. all women with child , if they are taken with a feaver and are very much extenuated , without a manifest cause , have hard and dangerous travail , or fall into hazzard of abortment . sect. 6. aph. 26. a raving frees from tremblings in a burning feaver . sect. 6. aph. 44. the iliack passion succeeding a strangury kills within seven dayes , unlesse plenty of urine be made , and a feaver succeed . sect. 6. aph. 50. a feaver and bilious vomitings must of necessity succeed , when the brain is hurt or perish'd . sect. 6. aph. 54. painful breathings with groans are bad in acute feavers . sect. 7. aph. 52. a succeeding feaver doth take away the vehement pain of the liver . sect. 7. aph. 65. meat exhibited to one sick of a feaver , doth nourish the disease , but it gives strength to a healthfull and sound body . distinction the sixth , containing the aphorismes which respect the particular diseases of the whole body , from the head to the foot . as the parts of the body , so are the diseases thereof divided into external and internal , those which speak of the internal diseases are interpreted in this distinction , those which touch the external in the following distinction . chap. i. of the diseases of the head . sect. 3. aph. 13. a summer more than ordinarily dry and cold , and a very wet and warm autumn , do cause head-aches , coughs , hoarsenesse , rheums in the winter , and to some ptisicks . sect. 4. aph. 70. troubled water in feavers , like those made by kine argue a head-ach present , or shortly to come . sect. 5. aph. 28. suffumigations of sweet odors bring down the monthly evacuations of women , and were often profitable for other purposes , if they did not cause a heavinesse of the head . sect. 5. aph. 64. it is hurtful to give milk to those who are troubled with pains in their head , &c. sect. 5. aph. 68. the breathing of the streight vein in the forehead , takes away the head-ache of the hinder part of the head . sect. 6. aph. 10. matter , water , or blood , flowing out of the nose , the mouth or ears , doth take away the head-ache , and the vehement pains thereof . sect. 6. aph. 51. if sudden pains of the head happen to healthful bodies , with losse of speech , and snorting in sleep accompany , they dye within seven days , unlesse a feaver lay hold on them . chap. ii. of the lethargie , dead sleep , and congelation . sect. 2. aph. 3. either sleeping or waking if they exceed a mean , are ill . sect. 3. aph. 23. in the winter , plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , and lethargies , &c. chap. iii. of the apoplexy . sect. 2. aph. 42. a confirm'd or strong apoplexy is incurable , a light one is easily cured . sect. 3. aph. 16. diseases for the most part are caused by continual rains , as long feavers , diarrhaeaes , rottennesse of humours , the falling sicknesse , and apoplexies . sect. 3. aph. 23. the diseases of the winter season , are plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , lethargies , rheums , hoarsenesse , coughs , pains of the breast , sides , and loins ; head-aches , megrims , and apolexies . sect. 3. aph. 31. diseases incident to old men , are difficulty of breathing , distillations causing coughs , stranguries , difficulty of urine , pains of the joynts and reins , megrims , and apoplexies . sect. 6. aph. 51. [ see this aphorisme in the last aphorisme in the chapter of the diseases of the head. ] sect. 6. aph. 57. apoplexies do most usually take men from the age of forty to threescore . chap. iv. of melancholly , and madnesse . sect. 3. aph. 20. in the spring time melancholly , madness , the falling sicknesse , profusions of blood , squinancies and rheums , &c. sect. 3. aph. 22. many of the aestival diseases do also happen in autumn . quartane feavers , and erratick , diseases of the spleen , dropsies , consumptions , dropping of urine , lienteries , and dysenteries , sciaticks , squinancies , frequent asthmaes , iliack passions , the falling evil , madness , and melancholly . sect. 4. aph. 9. melancholly persons are to be purged liberally downward , observing the contrary way in contrary affects . sect. 6. aph. 11. the haemorrhodes ( that is a flux of blood by the veins in the fundament , by which blood is commonly voided ) are conducible and profitable for melancholly affects , and the diseases of the reins . sect. 6. aph. 21. if melancholly blood be disposed to its proper veins , or if the haemorrhodes appear , madnesse is thereby taken away . sect. 6. aph. 23. continual fears and sadnesse , are signes of melancholly . sect. 6. aph. 56. the insults and prevailings of melancholly diseases , are dangerous , for they foretell a deprivation of some part of the body , a convulsion , madnesse , or blindnesse . sect. 7. aph. 5. excoriation of the bowels , a dropsie , or a vehement commotion of the mind , coming of madnesse , a good signe . sect. 7. aph. 40. it is a signe of melancholly if the tongue suddenly be loose and uselesse , or if any part of the body be deprived of sense and motion . chap. v. of a phrensie . sect. 3. aph. 30. but to such as have passed that age ( that is their youth ) these diseases are incident pursinesse , diseases of their sides , inflamations of the lungs , lethargies and phrensies . sect. 4. aph. 72. very cleer and white urines are bad : but it especially appears in phrenetick persons . sect. 7. aph. 12. a phrensie proceeding from an inflamation of the lungs , is a bad messenger . sect. 8. aph. 1. they do seldome perfectly recover which are phrenetical after the age of fourty years : for they are lesse endangered to whose nature and age the disease is familiar . chap. vi. of delirium or raving . sect. 2. aph. 2. it is a good signe when raving is appeased by sleep . sect. 6. aph. 53. those alienations of mind which come with laughter , are more safe ; but those which come by seriousnesse or study , are more dangerous . sect. 7. aph. 7. a rigor and raving caused by drink , are bad . vomiting , the hicket , or a convulsion or raving occasioned by the disease of the thin gut , called ileum , is bad . chap. vii . of dotage . sect. 7. aph. 9. either a convulsion or dotage caused by a flux of blood , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 14. stupidity or dotage occasioned by a blow received upon the head , is ill . sect. 7. aph. 18. a convulsion or dotage caused by watching , is naught . chap. viii . of the falling sicknesse . young men are freed from the falling sicknesse chiefly by the mutations of their age , the change of air and dyet . sect. 5. aph. 7. they who are troubled with the falling sicknesse before the age of fourteen years , are recoverable ; but if the disease take any at the age of five and twenty years , it commonly doth accompany them to their death . chap. ix . of convulsions , and other affects of the nerves . sect. 2. aph. 26. it is better that a feaver come upon a convulsion , then a convulsion upon a feaver . sect. 3. aph. 25. but when they are come to breeding of teeth pricking pains of the gums , feavers and convulsions , it is bad . sect. 4. aph. 16. it is dangerous giving black hellebore to sound bodies , for it causeth convulsions . sect. 4. aph. 57. a disension of the nerves or cramp , or a convulsion , is cured by a succeeding feaver . sect. 4. aph. 66. convulsions and violent pains about the bowels , are bad signes in acute feavers . sect. 4. aph. 67. tremblings and convulsions happening to feaverish persons , are naught . sect. 4. aph. 68. interception of spirits happening in feavers , is bad , for it shews a convulsion . sect. 5. aph. 1. a convulsion caused by black hellebore , is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 2. a convulsion happening upon a wound received , is deadly . sect. 5. aph. 3. a convulsion or hicket coming by a copious flux of blood , presageth ill . sect. 5. aph. 4. a convulsion or hicket succeeding profuse purging , are bad . sect. 5. aph. 5. if a druken man be taken with losse of speech on a suddain , he dyes convulsive , unlesse a feaver seize him , or return to his speech at the hour when the distemper useth to be digested . sect. 5. aph. 6. they which are taken with a disension of the sinews , dye within four dayes , the which if they escape , they recover . sect. 5. aph. 25. abundance of cold water cast upon them which have tumours in their joynts , griefs not ulcerated , gouts and convulsions , for the most part , diminisheth the pain , and takes away the grief ; for a moderate stupefaction hath a power to take away pain . sect. 5. aph. 56. a convulsion or syncope happening to women , in the time of their purgations , is bad . sect. 5. aph. 65. they which have tumours with ulcers , are seldome taken with convulsions , or droop into madnesse . but if they vanish backward , the parties are convulsive , and have distensions of the nerves . but if they vanish forward , either madnesse , plurisies , apostemes , or dysenteries succeed , if the tumours were red . sect. 5. aph. 70. they which have quartan agues are seldome taken with convulsions . but if they were convulsive before , they are freed by a succeeding quartan . sect. 6. aph. 39. a convulsion ariseth either from emptinesse or fullnesse , so doth the hicket . sect. 6. aph. 56. the assaults of melancholly diseases are dangerous ; for they foretell either sideration of some part of the body , convulsions , madness , or blindness . sect. 7. aph. 9. doting or a convulsion by a flux of blood , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 10. vomiting , hicket , convulsion or delirium , caused by the iliack passion , is bad . sect. 7. aph. 13. a convulsion or cramp caused by vehement inflamations , are bad . sect. 7. aph. 18. a convulsion or raving caused by watching , are bad . sect. 7. aph. 25. a convulsion caused by a purging potion , is mortal . chap. x. of stupor or numnesse of senses . sect. 7. aph. 14. a numnesse of the senses , or dotage caused by a hurt on the head , is dangerous . chap. xi . of the affects of the eyes . sect. 3. aph. 14. if north winds blow much in autumn , and the season be without rain , such a season is most commodious for bodies of moist constitution , and to women ; but to other constitutions it will produce sore eyes with blood-shed in them , &c. sect. 3. aph. 17. north winds condense the body , makes them stronger , nimbler , of a more lively colour , and in a better plight , dryes the belly , and grieves the eyes , &c. sect. 6. aph. 31. a potion of wine , a bath , somentation , breathing of a vein , or a purging medicine , do take away the pains of the eyes . sect. 6. aph. 52. regard must be had to such things which apappear out of the eyes in sleep . for if any thing appear from the white , the eye-lids being not shut , and it doth not happen by a flux of the belly or a purging potion , it is a bad signe , and very mortal . sect. 7. aph. 3. the hicket and rednesse of the eyes caused by vomiting , is bad . sect. 7. aph. 46. the diseases of the eyes must be cured by phlebotomy , draught of wine being first exhibited , and a plenteous bath of warm water . sect. 8. aph. 2. voluntary tears in diseases , are good signes , but involuntary , are not good . sect. 8. aph. 15. he that hath a vertigoe with a dark glimmering of his eyes , and is taken with a coma or much sleep , and extreme heat , is in a desperate condition . chap. xii . of the affects of the ears . sect. 3. aph. 5. southern winds do produce dulnesse of hearing , dimnesse of sight , and heavinesse of the head , &c. sect. 3. aph. 17. southern winds do dissolve our bodies , moisten them , and induce difficulty of hearing , heavinesse of the head , and vertigoes , &c. sect. 3. aph. 21. in the summer season are continual feavers , burning feavers , very many tertians and quartans , vomitings , diarrhaeaes , sore eyes , and pains of the ears . sect. 4. aph. 49. in continual feavers , if the lips , eye-lid , eye or nose be perverted , or turned away , if the sick neither see nor hear , and if he be weak in body , death is at hand . sect. 4. aph. 60. deafnesse caused by feavers , is taken away by a succeeding flux of blood out of the nostrils , or motions of the belly . sect. 6. aph. 10. matter , water , or blood issuing forth by the nostrils , by the mouth , or by the ears , doth take away head-ach , and the vehement pains thereof . sect. 8. aph. 14. cold ears , shining , and contracted , are signes of death . chap. xiii . of the affects of the nostrill . sect. 2. aph. 40. hoarsenesse , and the flux of humours to the nostrils , called in very old men are not concocted . sect. 3. aph. 13. if the summer be more than ordinary dry , and the wind northward , but the autumn exceeding rainy and wet , head-aches arise about the winter , coughs , hoarsenesse , stuffings of the head , and to some also consumptions . sect. 3. aph. 20. in the spring season , madnesse , melancholy , the falling evil , fluxes of blood , squinancies , stuffings of the head by rheums , and coughs are incident . sect. 3. aph. 27. when they have accomplish'd riper years , and have attained to the age of fourteen years , many of the former , but rather continual feavers , and bleeding at the nose will follow them . sect. 4. aph. 74. when there is an expectation that tumours should arise about the joints , plenty of urine thick and white frees from the abscess . tumors of this kind do begin in some every fourth day in feavers with a lazinesse . but if blood issue forth of the nostrils also , then the solution will be in a very short space . sect. 5. aph. 33. bleeding at the nose happening to women in the deficiency of their monthly purgations , is good . sect. 6. aph. 2. they are of a more sickly constitution which have their nostrils , and parts of generation extraordinary moist : but they which are of a contrary constitution are more healthful . chap. xiv . of sneezing . sect. 5. aph. 35. sneezing is good for women that are troubled with a suffocation of the matrix , or who have very hard labour and travail . sect. 6. aph. 13. sneezing , happening to one that is troubled with the hicket , takes away the hicket . sect. 7. aph. 45. sneezing is either caused , the brain being over heated , or the empty part of the head being over moistened : for the air there included , is dispersed abroad ; but the noise made by sneezing is occasioned , because the included hath its passage by streight and narrow instruments . chap. xv. of rheums . sect. 2. aph. 40. hoarsenesse and rheums in very old men , are not concocted . chap. xvi . of the affects of the mouth and tongue . sect. 3. aph. 21. in the summer season , diaries , burning feavers , and very many tertian and quartans , vomitings , diarrhaeaes , bleer eyes , pains of the ears ; exulcerations of the mouth , putrid ulcers about the privities , and pimples caused by cholerick sweats . sect. 3. aph. 24. spreading ulcers of the mouth called apthae , are a disease common to young infants and children . sect. 6. aph. 32. stammerers are most of all taken with a long flux of the belly . sect. 7. aph. 40. it is a signe of black choler when the tongue is loose and uselesse on a suddain , or when any part of the body becommeth benummed or dead . sect. 8. aph. 9. if the tongue be neither black , nor bloody , if either of these signes be absent , it is no very bad signe . for hereby is signified a lesser disease . chap. xvii . of the affects of the teeth . sect. 3. aph. 25. but when they are come to breeding of their teeth , pricking , itchings of the gums , feavers , convulsions , fluxes of the belly , and then chiefly when they begin to breed their dog teeth , and to those who are of a grosse constitution , and who are costive . sect. 4. aph. 53. those feavers are most vehement , whereby a clammy gluttinous humour doth grow to the teeth . sect. 5. aph. 18. cold things are offensive to the bones , teeth , nerves , brain , and marrow of the back-bone , but hot things are profitable . chap. viii . of the affects of the lips and gums . sect. 4. aph. 49. in continual feavers , if the lip , eye-lid , eye or nose be perverted and turned , if the sick neither see nor hear , and his body be weak , then death is nigh at hand . sect. 8. aph. 13. wan lips or pale , or resolved , turned in and out , and cold , are mortal . chap. xix . of the affects of the throat , squinancy , and asthma . sect 2. aph. 43. amongst those who are strangled , and dissolved , and are not quite dead , they seldome or very rarely return to life , which have froth gathered together about their mouth . sect. 3. aph. 16. diseases are usually caused by continual showers , as long feavers , fluxes of the belly , putrid feavers , the falling sicknesse , apoplexies and squinancies , &c. sect. 3. aph. 20. in the spring season , melancholly , madnesse , the falling-evil , profusions of blood , and squinancies , &c. sect. 4. aph. 34. a strangulation happening to him that is sick of a feaver , no tumour appearing in the jaws , is deadly . sect. 4. aph. 35. in feavers a sudden perverting of the neck happening , so that the sick can hardly swallow , no tumour appearing , is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 10. humours falling down to the throat , if they turn not to the squinancy they settle upon the lungs , and the sick dyes within seven dayes ; but if he escape that time , the matter turns to impostumation . sect. 6. aph. 37. it is a good sign if in a squinancy , a tumor do appear in the neck , for then the morbifick matter is sent forth . sect. 6. aph. 46. they which are made crook-back'd by an asthma , dye before they come to the age of fourteen years , or soon after . sect. 7. aph. 49. an impostumation or rednesse happening in the breast of him that hath a squinancy , is a good signe . because the matter is excluded to the external parts . chap. xx. of the affects of the breast and lungs , and first of the difficulty of breathing . sect. 3. aph. 43. in the winter season , plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , lethargies , rheums , hoarsenesse , coughs , pains of the breasts , sides , and loins , head-aches , megrims , and apoplexies , are common . sect. 3. aph. 31. difficulty of breathing , catarrhes causing coughs , the strangury and difficulty of urine , are diseases familiar to old age. sect. 4. aph. 50. if difficulty of breathing , and dotings happen in continual feavers , it is mortal . chap. xxi . of hoarsenesse and the cough . sect. 2. aph. 40. hoarsenesse and rheums in very old men , are not concocted . sect. 3. aph 5. but if the season be dry and cold , it causeth coughs , exasperates the jawes , hardeneth the belly and suppresseth urine . sect. 3. aph. 13. but if the summer be more then usually dry and cold with north-winds , and the autumn rainy with south-winds , expect head-aches , in the winter , coughs , hoarsenesse , rheums , and to some consumptions . sect 3. aph. 20. but in the spring , madnesse , melancholly , the falling sicknesse , profusions of blood , squinancies rheums , hoarsenesse and coughs will follow . sect. 3. aph. 24. these diseases happen to infants and children newly born , spreading ulcers of the mouth , called aphthae , vomitings and coughs . sect. 3. aph. 31. difficulty of breathing , and distillations inferring coughs do happen to old men . sect. 4. aph. 54. if dry coughs lightly provoking happen in burning feavers , and persevere long , the sick is not then much troubled with thirst . sect. 5. aph. 24. cold things , as ice and snow , are offensive and enemies to the breast , they cause coughs , eruptions of blood , and catarrhes . sect. 6. aph. 35. a cough happening in a dropsie is a bad sign . sect 6. aph. 46. if crookedness were occasioned by an asthma , the party thus affected dyes before he attain the age of fourteen years , or presently after . sect. 7. aph. 47. if a cough do hold him that hath a dropsie , he is in a desperate condition . chap. xxii . of hurt of sp●ech . sect. 5. aph. 5. if loss of speech happen on a suddain to a drunken man , he dyes convulsive , unlesse a feaver lay hold on him , and his speech return to him at the hour when nature useth to digest the surfet . sect. 6. aph. 52. they which are taken with sudden pains of the head , and were not sick before , and if their speech fail or leave them , and a snorting commeth withal , dye within seven dayes , unlesse a feaver lay hold on them . sect. 7. aph. 58. losse of speech must necessary ensue presently if the brain have bin hurt by any occasion . chap. xxiii . of inflamation of the lungs . sect. 3. aph. 23. but in the winter plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , and lethargies . sect. 3. aph. 30. but to those who are in their youth , thicknesse of breathing , diseases of the sides , and inflamations of the lungs are incident . sect. 6. aph. 16. a diarrhaea or flux of the belly , succeeding the plurisie or inflamation of the lungs , is bad . sect. 7. aph. 11. inflamation of the lungs succeeding a plurisie , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 12. a phrensie occasioned by an inflamation of the lungs , signifies ill . chap. xxiv . of empyema , or suppuration of the lungs . sect. 5. aph. 8. if pluretick persons are not clensed within fourteen dayes , the matter turns to impostumation . sect. 5. aph. 10. humours falling to the throat , if they turn not to a squinancy , settle upon the lungs , and the sick dye within seven dayes , but if they escape that time , the matter turns to suppuration . sect. 5. aph. 15. if pluretick persons being suppurated are purged and clensed within forty days , they are freed , otherwise do grow consumptive . sect. 5. aph. 65. they , in whose bodies ulcerated tumours do arise , are neither taken with convulsions , nor driven into madnesse ; but these tumours suddenly vanishing , they to whom it happens in the back parts have convulsions and distensions of the sinews ; but if it happen in the fore part , ragings and acute diseases of the sides , impostumations , and dysenteries do follow . sect. 6. aph. 27. they certainly dye , who are either burnt or cut for an impostumation of the breast , or for a dropsie , if matter or water slow forth upon heaps . sect. 6. aph. 41. when an impostumation is in the body , and it gives no signification of it self , the want of that discovery is either caused by the thicknesse of the matter , or place wherein it is contained . sect. 7. aph. 15. spitting of suppurated matter from spitting of blood is naught . sect. 7. aph. 38. distillations upon the upper ventricle are turned into suppuration within the twentieth day . sect. 7. aph. 44. when suppurated persons are cauterized or lanced , if pure and white matter issue forth they escape , but if it be somewhat bloody , filthy and ill favoured they perish . chap. xxv . of the ptysick or consumption . sect. 4. aph. 48. a dry and cold summer with north winds , and a wet autumn with south winds , cause head-aches in the winter , coughs , hoarsnesse and rheums , and to some consumptions . sect. 3. aph. 22. many diseases which are usually in the summer , appear in the autumn , as quartane and erratick feavers , diseases of the spleen , dropfies , consumptions , lienteries , and dysenteries , &c. sect. 3. aph. 29. young ▪ men are afflicted with spittings of blood , consumptions , acute feavers , the falling evil , and many other diseases , but especially those mentioned . sect. 4. aph. 8. in purging consumptive persons , we must be very wary , and fearfull in exhibiting vomitive medicines . sect. 5. aph. 9. consumptions happen especially from the eighteenth year of our age , until the five and thirtieth year . sect. 5. aph. 11. it is a mortal sign when the spittle of such as are in a consumption being cast upon the coals sends forth a grievous smell , if the hair of the head fall off likewise . sect. 5. aph. 12. it is an argument of death when the hair of the head of consumptive persons falls off , if a loosenesse of the belly succeed . sect. 5. aph 13. frothy blood cast forth by spittle , is voided from the lungs . sect. 4. aph. 14. a flux of the belly is mortal to consumptive persons . sect. 6. aph. 12. in the curing of the hemorrhoids or piles , unlesse one vein be left open , there is danger that a dropsie or consumption will succeed . sect. 7. aph. 16. a consumption , and flux are caused by spitting out suppurated matter . but when the spitting ceaseth , the sick dye . sect. 8. aph. 7. [ you have this aphorisme before in the same chapter . aph. 5. whether i refer you . ] sect. 8. aph. 8. all things which incline or tend to consumptions , are vehement , but some are mortal ; but it would be advantageous if the disease should seise the body at such a time when the season did afford some help for the disease , as the summer for a burning feaver , the winter for the dropsie ; for that which is according to nature doth obtain the victory , but in the diseases of the spleen , it is rather cause of fear . chap. xxvi . of the plurisie . sect. 3. aph. 23. but in the winter season , plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , and apoplexies . sect. 5. aph. 8. if pluretick persons are not clensed within fourteen dayes , the matter turns to impostumation . sect. 5. aph. 15. pluretick persons being suppurated , if they are clensed within forty dayes after the impostume is broke , are freed , otherwise they grow into a consumption . sect. 6. aph. 5. we must learn whether the pains in the sides , in the breast , and in other parts do differ much . sect. 6. aph. 6. a flux of the belly succeeding a plurisie , or the inflamation of the lungs , is a bad signe . sect. 6. aph. 33. they which have sour belchings , are not much troubled with plurisies . sect. 7. aph. 11. an inflamation of the lungs coming upon a plurisie , is bad . chap. xxvii . of spitting of blood. sect. 3. aph. 20. young men are troubled with spittings of blood , consumptions , acute feavers , the falling sicknesse , and many other diseases , but especially these . sect. 4. aph. 25. any blood whatsoever voided upward , is bad , but if black blood be voided downward , it is good . sect. 5. aph. 13. frothy blood cast forth by spittle , is brought from the lungs . sect. 6. aph. 10. matter , water , or blood , voided by the nostrils , the mouth , or the ears , take away the headache , and the vehement pains thereof . sect. 7. aph. 37. vomiting of blood happening without a feaver is good , but bad with a feaver , and the distemper must be cured with such medicines which have a cooling and restringent quality in them . chap. xxviii . of the affects of the heart . sect. 2. aph. 36. men of unblameable and perfect health , do quickly faint when they are purged , and such also who use ill dyet . sect. 2. aph. 41. such as are often and violently taken with a sincope or swounding without some manifest cause , dye suddenly . sect. 4. aph. 17. abhorring of meat , gnawing of the mouth of the stomach , a vertigoe withdrowsiness , and a bitterness in the mouth , without a feaver , do instruct us that purging by vomit is necessary . sect. 5. aph. 56. a convulsion , or sincope happening to women in the time of their purgations , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 8. faintings , vomitings , and swoundings , are caused by the rupture of a tumour inwardly . chap. xxix . of the affects of the breasts . sect. 5. aph. 37. if the breasts of a woman with child , grow slender on a suddain ▪ she is in danger of aborting , or miscarrying . sect. 5. aph. 38. if one of the breasts of a woman with child with twins , grow slender , she will abort with one of her children ; and if the right breast grow slender , she will miscarry a male , if the left , a female . sect. 5. aph. 39. if a woman which neither is with child , nor never had child , have milk in her breasts , her monthly purgations have failed . sect. 5. aph. 40. when blood is gathered together into a tumour of swelling about the breasts , raging or madnesse , is thereby signified to those women . sect. 5. aph. 50. if you would stop the flowing of womens courses , apply very large cupping-glasses to their breasts . sect. 5. aph. 52. plenty of milk runing forth of the breasts of women with child , argue a weak child ; but if the breasts are solid , they argue a more strong child , sect. 5. aph. 53. they which are like to miscarry , will have slender breasts , but if their breasts grow hard , they will have a pain in the breasts , or in the hips , in their eyes , or in their knees , and will not miscarry . chap. xxx . of the affects of the stomach . sect. 1. aph. 15. in the winter and spring our stomachs are most hot , and our sleeps most long , therefore in those seasons our meals ought to be more plentiful , because when there is most natural heat our bodies need more plentiful nutriment , which ages , and wrestlers signifie unto us . sect. 2. aph. 21. a draught of wine takes away hunger . sect. 4. aph. 65. a vehement heat of the stomach , and a gnawing of the mouth of the stomach in feavers , is naught . sect. 6. aph. 7. pains of the stomach , which are in the upper part thereof , are more light , and not so vehement as those which are in the lower part thereof . sect. 6. aph. 18. it is mortal , if the bladder , brain , heart , midriffe , any thin intestine or bowel , the stomach or liver be peirced or divided . sect. 7. aph. 54. when phlegm is included between the midriffe and the stomach , if it cause pain , and have no passage either way , if it be turned into the bladder by the veins , the diseases are dissolved . sect. 7. aph. 6. abhorring of meat and sincere dejections in a continual feaver , fortell ill . sect. 8. aph. 18. when the vital spirits above the navil ascend above the diaphragma , all the humour is burnt up then death is come . but when the lungs and heart , having lost their radical moisture , the heat being gathered together into mortiferous places , breath forth the spirits of heat altogether . moreover partly by the flesh , partly by the pores of the head , by which we say we live , the soul leave the cottage of the body , yeilds up this cold and mortal effigies , together with the choler , blood , flegm and flesh . chap. xxxi . of thirst . sect. 4. aph. 19. they which having taken a purging potion , and are not thirsty while they purge , will not leave purging , until they do thirst . sect. 4. aph. 48. to have the outward parts cold , and the inward burn with a vehement thirst , is mortal in continual feavers . sect. 4. aph. 54. if one sick of a burning feaver , have a long dry cough lightly provoking , he is not much vexed with thirst . sect. 5. aph. 27. it is a good signe , if such as have a desire to drink in the night , do fall asleep while they are thirsty . chap. xxxii . of vomiting . sect. 1. aph. 2. in vomitings and going to stool , which come of their own accord , if such things are voided which ought to be purged , it is conducible , and it is born with ease ; but if not , it succeeds otherwise , &c. sect. 3. aph. 24. diseases common to infants and young children are spreading ulcers of the mouth , vomitings , coughs , watchings , tremblings , inflamations about the navil , and moistnesse of the ears . sect. 4. aph. 4. it is most convenient to purge by vomit in the summer , in the winter , by stool . sect. 4. aph. 6. thinne bodies and such as vomit with ease , are to be purged by vomitive medicines , being very watry and fearful of the winter season . sect. 4. aph 7. but such as vomit with difficulty , and are moderately grosse , ought to be purged down●ard , but we must be very cautious in the ●…mmer . sect. 4. aph. 8. we must be very wary and fearful in purging consumptive persons by vomit . sect. 4. aph. 12. it is very inconvenient to purge such as have a lientery by vomit in the winter time . sect. 3. aph. 13. bodies which do not vomit easily after they have taken black hellebore must be moistened with plenty of meat and rest before they take their physick , sect. 4. aph. 17. abhorring of meat , gnawings of the mouth of the stomach , a dizzinesse in the head , with a dimnesse of the eyes without a feaver , if the mouth be bitter , shew unto us that a vomit is necessary . sect. 4. aph. 18. pains above the midriffe , if they ought to be purged , tell us that they ought to be purged by a medicine that will purge upward . but if they are beneath the midriffe , then they must be purged downward . sect. 4. aph. 22. it is a deadly sign if melancholsy blood be voided either upward or downward at the beginning of any disease whatsoever . sect. 4. aph. 25. any blood cast forth upward is bad , bu● if black blood be voided downwards , it is good . sect. 5. aph. 32. vomiting of blood is stayed and taken away by the eruption of the monthly purgations . sect. 7. aph. 3. the hicket and rednesse of the eyes occasioned by vomiting , is a bad signe . sect. 7. aph. 8. faintings , vomiting , and swoundings , are caused by the rupture of a tumour inwardly . sect. 7. aph. 10. vomiting , hicket , or delirium , caused by the iliacke passion , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 37. vomiting of blood , if it happen without a feaver , is wholsome , but bad with a feaver , and it must be cured with cooling and restringent medicines . sect. 7. aph. 70. when we intend to purge the body , it ought to be made soluble ; if you would have them fluxible upwards , you must stay the belly , but if downward , it is to be moistned . chap. xxxiii . of the hicket . sect. 5. aph. 3. a convulsion or hicket coming by a large effusion of blood , doth foretell ill . sect. 5. aph. 4. the hicket succeeding over much purging , is naught . sect. 5. aph. 58. the strangury succeeds an inflamation of the wombe , and of the streight gut , and suppurated reins . but the hicket succeeds , if the liver be grieved with an inflamation . sect. 6. aph. 13. if sneezings happen to him that hath the hicket , they take away the hicket . sect. 6. aph. 39. a convulsion ariseth of too much fulnesse or emptinesse , so also doth the hicket . sect. 7. aph. 3. the hicket or rednesse of the eyes , caused by vomiting , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 10. vomiting , hicket , convulsion or dotage caused by the iliack passion , portends ill . sect. 7. aph. 17. the hicket coming by the inflamation of the liver , is very bad . sect. 7. aph. 41. it is no good signe if the hicket happen to elderly persons , being over much purged . chap. xxxiv . of the affects of the midriffe . sect. 4. aph. 64. if the yellow jaundice come to a feaverish person , the seventh , ninth , eleventh , or fourteenth day , it is good , unlesse the right hypochondrium be hard , otherwise it is lesse good . sect. 4. aph. 73. they whose midriffe is elevated and rumbles , with a succeeding pain of the loins , have moist bellies , unlesse wind break forth backward , or plenty of urine be voided , these accidents are contingent in feavers . sect. 5. aph. 64. milk is inconvenient for those who have the head-ache , neither is it to be allowed in feavers or to such whose diaphragma being elevated have rumbling noises , &c. sect. 6. aph. 40. when there are griess about the midriffe without an inflamation , a succeeding feaver doth take away the grief . chap. xxxv . of the affects of the liver . sect. 5. aph. 58. a strangury succeeds an inflamation of the streight intestine , and of the wombe and suppurated reins , but the hicket succeeds when the liver is inflamed . sect. 6. aph. 18. if either the bladder , brains , heart , midriffe or any thin bowel , stomach , or liver be peirced or cut , death ensues . sect. 9. aph. 42. a stirrus of the liver succeeding to them which have the yellow jaundies , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 17. the hicket coming by the inflamation of the liver , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 45. if any man be cut or burnt for the suppuration of the liver , if pure matter and white follow , they survive , but if matter like the lees of oyle proceed , they perish . sect. 7. aph. 55. if the liver full of water empty it self upon the kell , the belly is fill'd with water , and the sick dyes . chap. xxxvi . of the dropsie . sect. 3. aph. 22. in the autumn many estival diseases happen , and quartan and erratick feavers , diseases of the spleen , dropsies , consumptions , &c. sect. 4. aph. 11. when the bowels are wound and wrested about , great pains about the navil , and grief of the loins are concomitant , the which if it be not cured by a purging medicine , nor any other means , is confirmed into a dry dropsie . sect. 6. aph. 8. ulcers arising in the bodies of hydropical persons , are not easily cured . sect. 6. aph. 11. in the dropsie if the water flow forth of the veins into the belly , the disease is dissolved . sect. 6. aph. 27. empiecal , or hydropical persons being burnt or cut , if either water or suppurated matter abundantly flow forth , the sick certainly dye . sect. 6. aph. 35. a cough happening to him that is sick of the dropsie , is naught . sect. 7. aph. 5. a dysentery , dropsie , or a vehement commotion of the mind , succeeding raging or madnesse , is good . sect. 7. aph. 55. if an hydropical liver issue violently forth upon the kell , the belly is fill'd with water , and the sick dyes . chap. xxxvii . of the jaundies . sect. 4. aph. 62. it is no good signe if the yellow jaundies do succeed a feaver before the seventh day . sect. 4. aph. 64. if the jaundies coming upon a feaver do appear the seventh , ninth , eleventh , or fourteenth day , the crisis is good , unlesse the right hypochondrium be hard , otherwise it is not good . sect. 5. aph. 72. icterical persons are not much subject to wind . sect. 6. aph. 42. it is an ill sign , if he that hath the jaundies have a scirrhus of the liver . chap. xxxviii . of the affects of the spleen . sect. 3. aph. 22. many diseases frequent in the summer happen also in the autumn , and quartan and erratick feavers , and diseases of the spleen , &c. sect. 6. aph. 43. when suppurated matter is in the body , and doth not exhibit any signification of it self , the cause either is from the grossenesse of the matter , or of the place where it resideth . sect. 6. aph. 48. a dysentery coming in spleenetick persons , is good . chap. xxxix . of the flux of the belly or diarrhaea . sect. 2. aph. 14. changes of the excrements in the flux of the belly are good , unlesse they change to bad . sect. 3. aph. 16. diseases are usually caused by continual showers , or rain ; as long feavers , diarrhaeaes , putrid feavers , the falling sickness and apoplexies . sect. 3. aph. 25. when children are breeding their teeth , itching and prickings of the gums , feavers , convulsions , fluxes of the belly do afflict them , and then more especially when they have begun to put forth their dog teeth , and to those most cheifly , who are of a more grosse constitution , and have their bellies hard . sect. 3. aph. 30. but to those who are now past their youth , frequent asthmaes , plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , lethargies , phrensies , burning feavers , continual diarrhaeaes , choler , dysenteries , lienteries , and flux of blood by the haemorrhoidical veins in the fundament . sect. 4. aph. 21. black excrements like dreggish or black blood proceeding without provocation either with a feaver , or without a feaver , are very bad , and so much the worse by how much the more their colour are many and bad . but if they are caused by a medicine , they are so much the better , by how much their colours are many , and not bad . sect. 4. aph. 22. an issue of black blood , either upward or downward at the beginning of any disease whatsoever , is deadly . sect. 4. aph. 23. if voiding of black choler , like dreggish or black blood , shall follow to such whose bodies are attenuated , either by acute feavers , or continual feavers , by wounds or any other means , the patient dyes the day following . sect. 4. aph. 24. a dysentery caused by melancholly blood , is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 26. if little peices of flesh are voided by stool , by him that hath an exulceration of the bowels , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 28. bilious dejections cease if deafnesse ensue , and deafnesse is taken away by bilious dejections succeeding . sect. 5. aph. 12. when the hairs of consumptive persons fall off , a flux of the belly succeeds , and they dye . sect. 5. aph. 14. a diarrhaea coming upon a consumptive person , is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 34. if a woman with child be taken with an extreme loosenesse , she is in danger of aborting . sect. 5. aph. 65. they to whom tumours with ulcers do appear are neither taken by convulsion , nor driven into rage or madnesse . but they presently vanishing , to such to whom this happeus backwards , convulsions , and distensions of the nerves are caused ; but if it happen forwards , ragings , acute diseases of the sides , suppuration of humours , or a dysentery doth happen , if the tumors were red . sect. 6. aph. 3. abhorring of meat in long dysenteries is not good , but worse if it come with a feaver . sect. 6. aph. 15. a diarrhaea which ▪ hath continued long , is taken away by a voluntary vomiting ; succeeding . sect. 6. aph. 16. a flux of the belly coming upon a plurisie or or an inflamation of the lungs , is naught . sect. 6. aph. 17. it is beneficial for those which are troubled with sore eyes , to be taken with a loosenesse of the belly . sect. 6. aph. 52. we must observe what things appear from the eyes by sleep , for if from the white , the eye-lids being open any thing appear , and not caused by a flux of the belly , or a purging ▪ medicine , it is a bad signe , and very mortal . sect. 6. aph. 43. splenetick persons which are afflicted with a dysentery , after a long succeeding dysentery , a dropsie or lientery happens , and they dye . sect. 6. aph. 48. a dysentery coming upon the spleen , is good . sect 7. aph. 5. a dysentery , dropsie , or an exstasis coming upon raging or madnesse , is good . sect. 7. aph. 23. a dysentery succeeds sincere dejections . sect. 7. aph. 29. a vehement flux of the belly cures that kind of dropsie which comes of white pituite , and is called lecophlegmatia . sect. 5. aph. 30. frothy excrements voided by stool come from the brain . sect. 7. aph. 75. a dysentery succeeds a diarrhaea . sect. 7. aph. 76. a lientery succeeds a dysentery . sect. 8. aph. 5. a flux of the belly succeeding a long disease , is bad . chap. xl. of a dysentery or excoriation of the bowels . sect. 4. aph. 24. that dysentery is mortal which was caused by black choler . sect. 4. aph. 26. in a dysentery , if small peices of flesh are ejected by stool , the disease is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 43. splenetick persons afflicted with a dysentery , after a long excoriation of the bowels , a dropsie or lientery succeed , and they dye . chap. xli . of a lientery or levity of the bowels . sect. 4. aph. 12. it is dangerous purging lienterical persons by vomiting medicines in the winter season . sect. 6. aph. 1. if sowre belchings , which were not before , succeed a long lientery or levity of the bowels , it is a good signe . sect. 6. aph. 15. a voluntary vomiting happening to him which hath had a long flux , doth take away the flux . chap. xlii . of the iliack passion . sect. 3. aph. 22. many aestival diseases happen in the autumn , and quartan and erratick feavers , diseases of the spleen , dropsies , consumptions , dropping of the urine , lienteries , dysenteries , pains of the hips , squinances , frequent asthmaes , iliack passions , the falling evil , madnesse , and melancholly diseases . sect. 6. aph. 44. if the iliack passion succeed a strangury , the sick dyes within seven dayes , unlesse plenty of urine be voided , and a feaver succeed . sect. 6. aph. 10. vomiting , hicket , a convulsion or dotage occasioned by the disease of the thin bowel called ileum , is bad . chap. xliii . of the pain of the belly . sect. 4. aph. 11. vvhen the bowels are wrung or wrested , pains are felt about the navil , and grief of the loins , is present ; if the distemper be cured neither by a purging medicine , nor any other means , it is confirmed into a dry dropsie . sect. 4. aph. 65. a vehement heat about the belly , and a gnawing of the mouth of the stomach , is a bad signe in feavers . sect. 6. aph. 5. we must observe and learn whether the pains of the breast , sides , and of other places are much different , or not . sect. 6. aph. 7. pains which are caused about the belly , if they are high and sublime , are more light and easie , but if they are not sublime , they are more vehement . sect. 6. aph. 40. a succeeding feaver dissolves such pains which arise about the diaphragme , without an inflamation . sect. 7. aph. 22. suppuration or impostumation is caused by a continual grief of those parts which appertain to the belly . a coldness or chilness of the extreme parts , caused by a vehement grief of the parts which belong to the belly , is bad . sect. 7. aph. 29. he that pisseth blood , and stuffe like curdled milk , and hath the strangury ; if the grief extend it self to the rorinaeum ; lower belly , and parts about the privities , hath a defection in those parts which appertain to the bladder . chap. xliv . of tenesmus or often desire to go to stoole . sect. 7. aph. 27. if a tenosmus or an often and vain desire of going to stool , without voiding any thing , happen unto women with child , it will cause abortion or miscarriage . chap. xlv . of the affect of the fundament and hamorrhoides . sect. 3. aph. 30. they which are beyond their youth , frequent asthmaes , plurisies , inflamations of the lungs , lethargies , phrensies , burning and continual feavers , diarrhaeaes , cholers , excoriations of the bowels , lienteries , and profusion of blood by the veins in the fundament , called the haemorrhoides . sect. 4. aph. 25. evacuations of blood upward , be the blood of what condition soever , is bad ; but if black blood , be cast down beneath , it is good . sect. 6. aph. 11. the haemorrhoides , or a flux of blood by the mouth of the veins in the fundament , whereby nature doth usually ease it self , are convenient and beneficial in melancholly affects and diseases of the reins . sect. 6. aph. 12. in the cure of the haemorrhoides , or continual flux of blood , by the veins in the fundament , unlesse one vein be preserved and kept , there is danger that a dropsie or consumption may succeed . sect. 6. aph. 21. if the veins do swell with melancholly blood , or if the haemorrhoidical veins flow and empty the body of blood , madnesse is thereby dissolved . chap. xlvi . of the affects of the reins . sect. 3. aph. 3. diseases accompaning old age , are difficulty of breathing , catarrhes causing coughs , stranguries , difficulty of pissing , pains of the joynts and the reins , &c. sect. 4. aph. 75. an exulceration of the reins or bladder , is signified by blood or suppurated matter , sent forth with the urine . sect. 4. aph. 76. small peices of flesh or something like hairs carried out with the urine , are sent from the reins . sect. 4. aph. 78. blood issuing forth freely with the urine , doth signifie the rupture of a vein in the reins . sect. 5. aph. 58. a strangury succeeds an inflamation of the streight intestine , an inflamation of the wombe , and a suppuration of the reins . sect. 6. aph. 6. the vices of the reins and bladder in old men are hardly cured . sect. 6. aph. 11. the hemorrhoides or blood sent forth by the veins in the fundament , is beneficial in melancholy affects and diseases of the reins . sect. 7. aph. 34. bubbles standing on the top of the urine , do signifie a disease of the reins , and the length thereof . sect. 7. aph. 35. when the upper part or superficies of the urine is fat and greasie , thick and gathered together , then is signified a disease of the reins , and that a sharp one too . sect. 7. aph. 36. but when the aforesaid signes do happen in those whose reins are diseased , and pains are felt about the muscles of the back bone , if they are carried to the external parts , expect that the abscess will be external ; but if they tend more to the inward parts , it is to be feared that the abscess will be inward . chap. xlvii . of the affects of the privities . sect. 3. aph. 21. in the summer time some of these diseases , and continual and burning feavers , very many tertians and quartans , vomitings ; fluxes of the belly , sore eyes , pains of the ears , exulcerations of the mouth , corruptions of the privities , and small pustles caused by cholerick sweats . sect. 4. aph. 42. a small ulcer growing in the yard , if there happen a suppuration , and break , a solution succeeds . sect. 5. aph. 22. heat causing suppuration doth not exhibit unto us the certainest signes of security in every ulcer , it softens the skin , extenuates it , takes away pain , aswage rigors , convulsions , and cramps , dissolves heavinesse of the head , is very much available for broken bones , and for such especially which are bare of flesh , and for those cheifly who have ulcers in their head , for such also who are stupified with cold , or are ulcerated for creeping , and eating sores in the fundament , yard , wombe , and bladder ; to all these things heat is acceptable , and doth cause a crisis , but cold is an enemy , and destructive . sect. 5. aph. 62. women which have cold and condens'd wombes , do not conceive , nor they whose wombes are overmolst , for in such the seed is extinguished , neither such who have extraordinary dry wombes and very hot , for in those the seed is corrupted for want of nutriment . but such who have naturally a moderate temperature , between those two extremes , do prove fruitful . sect. 5. aph. 63. there is the same reason also in men , for either by reason of the rarity of the body , the spirit is diffused abroad , so that it cannot send forth the seed , or by reason of its constipation or thickness the humour cannot be sent forth , or by reason of its coldness , the seed is not heated , so that it may be gathered to its proper place , or the same may happen by heat . sect. 6. aph. 19. if a bone , a grissel , a nerve , or any small particle of the jaw bone , or the foreskin of the yard , be divided or cut a sunder , it is neither nourished , neither doth it grow together again . chap. xlviii . of the affects of the bladder . sect. 3. aph. 5. if the season of the year be cold with north-winds , it causeth coughs , exasperates the jawes , hardeneth the belly , suppresseth urine , causeth horrors , and pains of the sides and breast ; when it so prevaileth such accidents are to beexpected in diseases . sect. 3. aph. 16. great droughts cause consumptions , sore eyes , pains of the joynts and stranguries , with diseases of the bowels . sect. 3. aph. 22. in the autumn many summer diseases do happen , and quartan and erratick feavers , diseases of the spleen , dropsies , consumptions , the strangury , lienteries and dyfenteries . sect. 3. aph. 31. these diseases are contingent to old men , asthmaes , catarrhes , the strangury , stopping of urine , and pains of the joynts and reins . sect. 4. aph. 69. urines in feavers , if they change from thick , and such as have curdled stuffe in them , and few , too many and thin do ease the patient , especially if such are made wherein there appears a sediment at the beginning , or not long after . sect. 4. aph. 70. troublesome urines , like those of kine in feavers , argue either the head-ache to be present , or to ensue . sect. 4. aph. 71. when a crisis doth happen the seventh day , the urine hath a red cloud the fourth day , and other things answerable thereunto . sect. 4. aph. 74. when an abscess is expected to the joynts plenty of urine thick and white , frees from the abscess , &c. sect. 5. aph. 72. cleer and white urines are all bad , but that appears chiefly in phrenetick persons . sect. 4. aph. 73. [ see this aphorism in the chapter of the affects of the hypocondries . ] sect. 4. aph. 75. if blood or corrupt matter be sent forth with the urine , an exulceration of the reins is thereby signified . sect. 4. aph. 76. when small peices of flesh , or things like hairs are carried forth with the urine , they are brought from the reins . sect. 4. aph. 77. when things like bran are voided with the urine , the bladder hath a scab . sect. 4. aph. 79. blood issuing forth wilfully with the urine , shews a vein to be broke in the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 79. sandy sediments seething in the urine , argues the stone in the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 80. he that pisseth blood and matter like curdled milk with his urine , and if he hath a strangury and the pain fall to the perinaeum , and the lower belly , hath a disease in those parts which belong to the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 81. he that pisseth blood and corrupt matter , and small scales with an ill odor in the urine , hath an ulcer in the bladder . sect. 4. aph. 82. if a tumour grow in the conduit of the urine , if that suppurate , and break , a solution happens . sect. 4. aph. 83. very much urine made in the night , argues but few excrements by stool . sects . 5. aph. 22. [ see this aphorism in the chapter of the affects of the privities . ] sect. 5. aph. 58. the strangury succeeds the inflamation of the the streight intestine and the wombe , and suppurated reins , but the hicket the inflamation of the liver . sect. 6. aph. 6. the affects of the reins and the bladder , are not easily cured in old men . sect. 6. aph. 18. if the bladder , brain , midriffe , or any thin bowel , stomach , or liver be cut into or divided , it is deadly . sect. 6. aph. 44. the iliack passion succeeding a strangury , kils within seven dayes , unlesse plenty of urine be made with a succeeding feaver . sect. 7. aph. 32. urines with bilious sediments but thin at the top , do signifie an acute disease . sect. 7. aph. 34. urines with bubbles at the top , argue a disease of the reins , and a long one too . sect. 7. aph. 35. but when a fatnesse is gathered together upon the top of the urine , it signifies an acute disease of the reins . sect. 7. aph. 39. [ this aphorism is the same with sect. 4. aph. 18. in this chapter . ] sect. 7. aph. 48. drinking of wine and breathing a vein , doth take away the strangury or difficulty of making water , but the inward veins must be opened . chap. xlix . of the testicles . sect. 8. aph. 11. if the right testicle be cold and convulsive , it is mortal . chap. l. of the affects of the wombe . sect. 3. aph. 12. if the wind be southward in the winter , and the season very wet , and the spring extraordinary dry , with north winds , women with child which expect to be delivered in the spring , do abort upon any occasion ; and they which are delivered produce but weak and sickly infants , so that either they dye presently , or if they live , are small and sickly , &c. sect. 3. aph. 14. a dry and cold autumn with north winds , is commodious for those who are of a moist constitution , and for women , &c. sect. 3. aph. 28. the diseases of children , are usually dissolved by their crisis , some within forty dayes , some within seven months , and others within seven years , or about the time of fourteen years . but those diseases which continue to children , and do not leave them at the age of fourteen , to males , and to females all the time of the eruption of their monthly purgations , usually are of a long continuance . sect. 4. aph. 1. women with child may be purged , if the humour incline of it self to evacuation , in the fourth month unto the seventh , but in these less . but when the issue is newly conceived , or very big , we must be very wary and circumspect . sect. 5. aph. 28. suffumigations of sweet odors , doth bring down the courses in women , and were also profitable for other things , if they did not cause a heavinesse in the head . sect. 5. aph. 30. phlebotomy or opening a vein , doth cause women with child to abort , and then most certainly if the issue be very big . sect. 5. aph. 31. if a woman with child be taken with an acute disease , it is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 34. a diarrhaea or flux of the belly , doth endanger abortion to great bellied women . sect. 5. aph. 45. if women of a rare texture or thin habit of body , do miscarry or abort in the second or third moneth , without a manifest occasion , the vessels of the wombe , called by the greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ are full of corrupt matter , so that by reason of their fulnesse and burthen , they cannot sustain the infant , but are burst in sunder . sect. 5. aph. 47. if the wombe be suppurated in that part which extends it self to , and resteth upon the hip-bone , the cure must be wrought by linements dipped in convenient medicines . sect. 5. aph. 49. medicines causing sneezing do expel the after-birth , but after the taking of them , the nostrils and the mouth of the patient must be close stopped . sect. 5. aph. 51. when women have conceived and are with child , the orifice of their wombe is contracted and shut close . sect. 5. aph. 54. if the orifice of the wombe be hard and solid , it must of necessity be close shut . sect. 5. aph. 55. if women with chiid fall into a feaver , and are emaciated or made lean without some manisest cause , they have difficult and dangerous travail , or else are in danger of abortion . sect. 5. aph. 58. a strangury succeeds an inflamation of the streight intestine of the wombe , or suppurated reins ; but the hicket an inflamation of the liver . sect. 5. aph. 62. they which have cold and thick wombes , or else if their matrix be overmoist , do not conceive , for the genitive matter is extinguished in them ; neither they which have over dry and hot wombes , because the seed is corrupted for want of nutriment . but they are most fruitful , which are of a middle and moderate constitution and temperature . chap. li. of the menstruum , or womens purgations . sect. 5. aph. 32. vomiting of blood is stayed by the breaking forth of the monthly purgations in women . sect. 5. aph. 33. an haemorrhagia or bleeding at the nose , is beneficial to women in the deficiency of their monthly courses . sect. 5. aph. 36. ill coloured purgations of women , and not proceeding alwayes at their appointed seasons , signifie a necessity of purging . sect. 5. aph. 39. it is an absolute sign of the deficiency or failing of her monthly purgations , if a woman who neither is with child , nor never brought forth child hath milk in her breasts . sect. 5. aph. 50. if you would stop the menstruous flux in women , you must apply great cupping-glasses to their breasts . sect. 5. aph. 56. a convulsion happening to women in the time of her menstruous purgations , is naught . sect. 5. aph. 57. both the overflowing of the monthly terms , and the suppression thereof , do cause diseases . sect. 5. aph. 60. if a woman with child have her courses , it is impossible that her child should be healthful . sect. 5. aph. 60. if a woman have not her monthly purgations , and neither horror nor feaver succeed , but a nausea or abhorring of meat happeneth unto her , believe her to have conceived with child . sect. 6. aph. 29. a woman is not troubled with the gout , until her monthly purgations have left her . chap. lii . of conception . sect. 5. aph. 41. if you would know whether a woman have conceived with child or not , give her water and hony mingled together when she goeth to sleep , and if she have wringings and gripings of the belly , she hath conceived , otherwise she hath not . sect. 5. aph. 42. if a woman be with child with a male , she is better coloured than if she were with child with a female . sect. 5. aph. 43. an erisipilas in the wombe of a pregnant woman , is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 46. they which do not conceive by reason of a preternatural grosseness , have the orifice of their wombe pressed by the kell , neither will they be pregnant or conceive until they are extenuated or grown thinner . sect. 5. aph. 59. if a woman do not conceive , and you desire to know whether she be fruitful or wil conceive , apply suffumigations to her beneath , she being very well wrapt close with clothes ; and if the sent or smell be perceived to passe to her nostrils and mouth , you may conclude her not to be unfruitful of her self . sect. 5. aph. 61. [ see this aphorisme the last but one in the sore-going chapter of womens monthly purgations . ] chap. liii . of abortion or miscarriage . sect. 5. aph. 30. breathing of a vein doth cause abortion , but more especially if the birth be somewhat big . sect. 5. aph. 37. if the breasts of a pregnant woman grow thin and slender on a suddain , there is danger of abortion . sect. 5. aph. 38. if either of the breasts of a pregnant woman with child with twins , grow thin and slender , she miscarries with one of her burthens ; if her right breast grow thin , she aborts a male , if the left , a female child . sect. 5. aph. 44. women which are made lean by some preternatural cause , do abort until they grow more full bodied . sect. 5. aph. 45. they which abort the second or third month , without some especial occasion , have the vessels of their wombe filled with filthy matter , so that by reason of that burthen they do break , and cannot contain the issue . sect. 5. aph. 55. if pregnant women fall into a feaver , and are very much wasted without some sensible cause , either have difficult and dangerous labour , or else fall into a hazard of abortion . sect. 7. aph. 7. a tenasmus , or a frequent and vain desire of going to stool without any performance , coming upon a pregnant women , doth make her abort . chap. liii . of the issue and the birth . sect. 5. aph. 35. sneezing happening to one troubled with the suffocation of the matrix , or else to one in hard travail , is commodious . sect. 5. aph. 48. male children are born in the right , and females in the left side of the wombe . sect. 5. aph. 52. store of milk flowing forth of the breasts of a woman with child , signifies a weak child , but solid and firm breasts argue a stronger and more healthful child . sect. 5. aph. 53. when the child is like to dye in the wombe , the breasts of the mother grow slender , but if they become hard , she will have grief either in her breasts , her hips , in her eyes or knees , and she will not corrupt her issue . sect. 5. aph. 55. feavers and extreme wastings happening to women with child , argue either a difficult and dangerous travail to them , or a hazard of abortion . sect. 5. aph. 6. it is impossible that that child should be healthful which is bread by one who hath her monthly courses in the time of her child-bearing . chap. liv. of the affects of the joints . sect. 2. aph. 46. when two pains are felt at one and the same time in different places of the body , the one doth very much obscure the other . sect. 1. aph. 16. great droughts cause consumptions , sore eyes , pains of the joynts , difficulty of urine , and excoriations of the bowels . sect. 3. aph. 20. in the spring season , madness , melancholly , the falling evil , fluxes of blood , squinances , rheums , hoarseness , coughs , leprosies , tetters , dry itches , ulcerous pimples , small swellings , and pains of the joynts do afflict mens bodies . sect. 3. aph. 31. difficulty of breathing , catarrhes , stranguries , difficulty of making water , pains of the joynts and reins , vertigoes , and apoplexies are incident to old men . sect. 4. aph. 20. extreme gripings and twistings of the bowels , heaviness of the knees , and a pain of the loins without a feaver , tell us that purging downward is necessary . sect. 4. aph. 31. when a sense of wearyishness occasioned by feavers , is present , then tumours do arise about the joynts , but especially about the mandibles . sect. 4. aph. 32. but if any part be full of pain after the recovering from a disease , the abscesses are made to that part . sect. 4. aph. 44. small tumours and pains of the joynts do appear to such who have had long feavers . sect. 4. aph. 45. they who have tumours , and pains about their joynts after long feavers , do feed more plentifully . sect. 4. aph. 74. when there is a probability that some matter will be sent to the joynts , plenty of urine and white being made , doth deliver from the abscess . such as usually begin to be conveyed every 4th , day in feavers with a wearyish indisposition ; and if a flux of blood break forth by the nostrils also , then the solution of the disease will be very shortly . sect. 5. aph. 25. plenty of cold water cast upon the tumours of the joynts , griefs without ulcers , the places affected with the gout and convulsive members , for the most part easeth them , diminisheth and takes away the grief ; for a moderate numnesse hath a property to take away pain . sect. 6. aph. 28. eunuches are not afflicted with the gout , neither do they grow bald . sect. 6. aph. 29. a woman is not troubled with the gout , before her monthly purgations cease . sect. 6. aph. 30. a boy is not troubled with the gout before he use the act of venery . sect. 6. aph. 49. the gout diseases do stop within forty dayes , the inflamation being taken away . sect. 6. aph. 55. the affects of the gout usually expresse themselves in the spring and autumn . sect. 6. aph. 59. in sciatick pains when the hip bone falls out of his place , and is received again , filthy matter is ingendred therein . sect. 6. aph. 60. they which are troubled with a continual sciatica , if the head of the hip bone fall out of its place , have their thigh wasted , and they halt unlesse they are cured by cauterizing . chap. lv. of the affects of the fingers and nails . sect. 8. aph. 12. if the nails grow black , and the fingers and toes either contracted or remisse , argue death approching . distinction the seventh , containing such aphorismes which respect external diseases of the body . the physician which desires to be complete and absolute in his practice , must not only have the knowledge of those aphorismes which respect the internal diseases of the body , but must also have those aphorismes in his memory which do treat of external diseases , and they are these which follow . chap. i. of the affects of the hair. sect. 5. aph. 11. if the spittle of consumptive persons being cast upon the coals send forth an ill smell , and if the hairs of the head fall away , it is mortal . sect. 6. aph. 28. eunuchs neither have the gout nor grow bald . sect. 6. aph. 34. they which are bald have not their veins swelled with melancholly blood , but they to whom such swellings so happen being bald , have the hair of their head grow again . chap. ii. of pimples . sect. 3. aph. 20. in the spring season , madness , melancholly , the falling evil , fluxes of blood , squinancies , rheums , hoarseness , coughs , leprosies , tetters , the dry itch , very many ulcerated pimples , small tumours , and pains of the joynts , do arise . sect. 6. aph. 9. broad wheals do seldome itch . chap. iii. of preternatural tumours . sect. 4. aph. 34. if a suddain strangulation seize him which hath a feaver without a praeexistent feaver in the jawes , it is mortal . sect. 4. aph. 35. if the neck of one that hath a feaver be on the sudden perverted and turned , so that he can scarce or hardly swallow , without a conspicuous humour , it is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 25. abundance of cold water cast thereon , easeth , diminisheth , and takes away the pains of tumified and painful places without ulcers , the affects of the gout , and of convulsed members ; for a moderate stupefaction hath a power to take away grief . sect. 5. aph. 65. they which have ulcerous tumours conspicuous , are neither convulsive , nor mad ; but they presently vanishing ; if the abscess be backward , they are taken with convulsions and cramps ; but if the abscess happen to the foreparts , they are troubled with ragings , acute diseases of the sides and suppuration of humours , if the tumours be red . sect. 5. aph. 66. it is a very great mischief when no tumor is seen acompanying great and shrewd wounds . sect. 5. aph. 67. soft tumours are good , crude naught . sect. 6. aph. 37. a tumour arising in the neck of him which hath a squinancy , is a good sign , for then the disease is thrust outward . sect. 6. aph. 49. a swelling or tumour appearing in the breast of him which is sick of a squinancy , is a good signe , for then the morbifick matter is secured to the external parts . chap. iv. of inflamation . sect. 5. aph. 23. these diseases are common to infants , creeping ulcers of the mouth called apthae , vomitings , coughs , watchings , tremblings , inflamations about the navil , and moistness of the ears . sect. 5. aph. 23. we must make use of cold things in these cases , when either there is a present flux of blood , or when one will presently ensue , but they must not be applyed upon but about the place from whence the flux is , and if an inflamation or fierinesse incline to a somewhat bloody or red colour , caused by a flux of fresh blood , appear , apply them thereunto , for they cause blacknesse to inveterate sores . they help an erisipilas not ulcerated , but offend an ulcerated . sect. 5. aph. 58. a strangury succeeds an inflamation of the streight bowel of the wombe and suppurated reins ; but the hicket succeeds an inflamation of the liver . sect. 6. aph. 40. a succeeding feaver takes away such pains which arise about the midriffe , which are not accompanyed with an inflamation . chap. v. of an erisipilas . sect. 5. aph. 23. see this aphorisme in the preceeding chapter of inflamation . sect. 5. aph. 43. an erisipilas happening in the wombe of a pregnant woman , is mortal . sect. 6. aph. 25. it is a bad symptome if an erisipilas being once thrust forth turn back to the inward parts , but if it come to the external from the internal parts , it is good . sect. 7. aph. 19. an erisipilas is caused by the laying bare of a bone . rottennesse , or impostumation caused by an erisipilas , is bad . chap. vi. of mortification and a gangrena . sect. 7. aph. 2. wan and pale flesh occasioned by a pained bone , doth signifie ill . sect. 7. aph. 50. if the brain be suddenly strucken or mortified the sick dyes within three dayes , the which if he survive , he becomes sound again . a bone decayes by mortification or a gangrene . chap. vii . of a cancer . sect. 6. aph. 38. it is more safe not to cure then to cure hidden and secret cancers , for if they are cured , the sick dyes quickly , but if left uncured he continue● longer . chap. viii . of spreading vlcers . sect. 5. aph. 22. see this aphorisme in sect. 5. aph. 22. in the chapter of convulsions . chap. ix . of the tumour called struma . sect. 3. aph. 26. but when they are a little more in years , inflamations of the almonds of the ears , impulsions toward the inward part of the vertebra in the hinder part of the head , frequent asthmaes , the stone , maw-worms , round-worms , and others thin and small , breeding in the streight gut , swellings in the neck , and other small tumours , but especially these . chap. x. of impostumes about the privy parts . sect. 4. aph. 55. all feavers coming of an inflamation of the glandulous parts are bad , but ephemeraes . chap. xi . of small tumours . sect. 2. aph. 15. when pains in the jaws , or small tumours arise in the body , the excrements must be observed , for if they are cholerick , the body is also sick , but if such are voided as come from healthful bodies , you may nourish the body without danger . sect. 3. aph. 20. [ see this aphorisme in the chapter of the affects of the joynts . sect. 3. aph. 26. [ see this aphorisme in the third chapter of the fourth distinction , in the chapter of diseases incident to children . sect. 4. aph. 44. small tumours and pains in the joynts , do succeed long feavers . sect. 4. aph. 45. they feed liberally who have small swellings or pains in their joynts arising after long feavers . sect. 4. aph. 82. if a small swelling arise in the conduit of the urine , when that is suppurated and broke , a solution happens . sect. 7. aph. 8. faintings , vomitings and swoundings are contingent , by the breach of an impostumation inwardly . sect. 7. aph. 57. [ you have this aphorisme verbatim in this chapter , aph. 82. chap. xii . of the swelling of the veins by melancholly blood called verrucae . sect. 3. aph. 26. i refer the reader for this aphorisme , to the chapter of the diseases of children , where he may be satisfied . chap. xiii . of wounds . sect. 5. aph. 2. a convulsion chancing suddenly upon a wound , is mortal . sect. 6. aph. 18. if the bladder be cut or wounded , the brain , heart , midriffe , or any thin bowel , either stomach or liver , it is mortal . sect. 5. aph. 66. if no tumour appear in great and naughty wounds , it is a very great mischeif . sect. 6. aph. 19. a bone wounded or cut , a grissel , nerve , or any small particle of the mandible , the foreskin of the yard called the praeputium , doth neither encrease nor grow together again . chap. xiv . of abscesses or impostumations . sect. 4. aph. 31. when there is a wearishness or indisposition of the body occasioned by long feavers , an abscess or impostumation will arise about the joynts , but especially about the mandibles . sect. 7. aph. 36. when in the pains of the reins besides other symptomes there are pains felt about the muscles of the back bone , because the matter is carried outward , we must expect the impostumation outward . but if the pains tend more to the internal parts , it is to be feared that the impostumation will be rather inward . chap. xv. of ulcers . sect. 3. aph. 20. see this aphorisme in the chapter of hoarseness and coughs in the fifth distinction . sect. 3. aph. 22. [ see this aphorism in the chapter of autumnal diseases in the fourth distinction . sect. 3. aph. 24. moreover these diseases happen to children , creeping ulcers of the mouth , vomitings , coughs watchings , tremblings , inflamations about the navil , and moisture of their ears . sect. 4. aph. 75. blood or suppurated matter voided with the urine , doth signifie an exulceration of the reins and bladder . sect. 5. aph. 20. cold corodes ulcers , obdures the skin , hinders suppuration , causeth blackness , rigors in feavers , convulsions , and cramps . sect. 5. aph. 21. yet sometimes in a distension of the nerves without an ulcer , to young and well proportion'd bodies in the middle of summer , a pouring on of cold water doth cause a revocation of heat , but heat must cure these distemperatures . finis . books sold by r. crofts at the crown in chancery-lane , where you may have all sorts of playes . officium quotidianum : or a manual of private devotions . by the most reverend father in god dr. william laud late lord arch-bishop of canterbury . the young clerks tutor ; being a most useful collection of the best presidents of recognizances , obligations , conditions , acquittances , bills of sale , warrants of attorney , &c. as also all the names of men and women in latin ; with the day of the date , the several sums of money , and the addition of the several trades or employments in their proper cases , as they stand in the obligations . together with directions of writs of habeas corpus , writs of error , &c. to the inferiour courts in cities and towns ; the whole work newly corrected and augmented . likewise the best presidents of all manner of concords , of fines , and directions how to sue out a fine ; with many judicious observations therein . there is also added several of the best copies both of court and chancery hands now extant ; by edward cocker . the young clerk's copy-book : containing the best presidents for court and chancery hands extant . and all other hands proper to clerkship . by edward cocker . old law , a comedy . marriage night , a comedy . polititian cheated a comedy . spanish gipsies , a comedy . carelesse shepherdesse . loves mistriss . father 's own son. dutchesse of malfy , &c. a physical treatise grounded, not upon tradition, nor phancy, but experience, consisting of three parts. the first, a manuduction, discovering the true foundation of the art of medicine. second, an explanation of the general natures of diseases. third, a proof of the former positions by practice. by william russell, chymist in ordinary to his majesty. russell, william, 1634-1696? 1684 approx. 212 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 104 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-08 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a57952 wing r2357 estc r218554 99830136 99830136 34586 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a57952) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 34586) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2018:15) a physical treatise grounded, not upon tradition, nor phancy, but experience, consisting of three parts. the first, a manuduction, discovering the true foundation of the art of medicine. second, an explanation of the general natures of diseases. third, a proof of the former positions by practice. by william russell, chymist in ordinary to his majesty. russell, william, 1634-1696? [14], 179, [13] p. printed for john williams at the crown in st. paul's church-yard, london : m dc lxxxiv. [1684] the words "first .. practice." are connected by a left bracket on the title page. includes index at end of text. caption title on pg. 1: a manuduction, discovering the true foundation of the art of medicine. caption title on pg. 55: of the general nature of diseases. caption title on pg. 70: a proof of the former positions by practice. reproduction of the original at the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. diseases -causes and theories of causation -early works to 1800. 2004-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-06 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2004-06 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a physical treatise , grounded , not upon tradition , nor phancy , but experience , consisting of three parts . the first , a manvdvction , discovering the true foundation of the art of medicine . the second , an explanation of the general natures of diseases . the third , a proof of the former positions by practice . by william russell , chymist in ordinary to his majesty . london , printed for john williams at the crown in st. paul's church-yard , mdclxxxiv . the preface to the reader . my blooming years , happening to be in that sullen time , wherein nothing here but storms and tempests appeared were so blasted ; that little else was manifest in me , but what those sad disturbances had impressed ; so that , at the one and twentieth year of my age , i found ambition to outweigh my natural inclination : which i had never discerned , had i not been overwhelm'd by the providence of the almighty , and by his great judgments ( both on mind and body ) brought to submit to his government . whereupon , it was clear to me , that the actions of childhood had not so blemished my understanding , as youthful ambition had done : from hence , a strife arose in me , which ended not , until ( through mercy ) a right apprehension was given to me again ; by which , after some series of time , i could and did willingly turn out this unnatural and haughty guest . hence proceeded my private life , which hath now continued for about thirty three years ; and given being to my principles , and practice ; and by consequence birth to this treatise , which is a brief account of my frequent experience , that being an unquestionable ground ; and every thing , that hath not its original from some such undeniable principle , can never have a certain effect . to fear god , and love our neighbour , are precepts , so universally adhered to ( as the summary of divine and moral acts ) that jews and christians , turks and pagans , have ever subscribed to them ; notwithstanding the various forms , and figures , wherein they have been represented . therefore do i think , that there is no sensible man , but must say , that remedies of an universal tendency , in which all apprehensions and inclinations agree , are more efficacious , safe , certain and speedy , than any particular remedy whatsoever , whereof there are doubts and different opinions ; in as much as nature never varyes , in all her endeavours , from the capacity , ordination and end of every individual ; and that , which all concur in , must needs be true : so that , whatsoever seed she manageth to generation , that still produceth the uniform figure and virtue , according to its primitive appointment ; unless by some accidental cause impeded . nevertheless , altho i seem in this whole treatise , to mind nothing but universal dispositions ; yet i have bid fair for particulars also , as my seven years living upon vegetables hath sufficiently demonstrated , and in that time my examinations of their particular virtues ; not by reading what others have written thereupon ; but by experimenting their operation on my own body , and on others also . but , since i do not find them useful , except particularly to some persons ; and tho specifical to diseases of each kind , yet unable to supply the defects of nature so well as things of an universal tendency ; being seldom singularly serviceable , till after other medicines are given : i presume no ingenious man will think i wholly decry their use , but rather exalt them in their proper place , intending ( in my explanation of this treatise ) to write more fully of them , whereby it may be known i have indeavour'd to understand the use of particulars , as well as of generals . but , let not any one think , the doctrine here asserted to be novel ; for 't is as ancient as physic , or physicians ; which hermes trismegistus his smaragdine table sufficiently declares , where he saith , as is that , which is above , so is that which is beneath ; and all is by the mediation of one thing . which true position of his hath been so far from being denyed by those men , who have observed nature in her secret meanders , from that time , unto this very day , that none of common reason will or dare contradict the same : for the egyptian learning plainly enough demonstrates hermes to be their prince ; and their hieroglyphicks shew , that not tradition , but natural sagacity should be the guide of all inquisitive minds , whereby to understand their powers and actions . this was so certainly believed in that age , that all the neighbouring nations , even in the times of the greeks , sought knowledge no where , but in that place ; and from thence the same hath been derived to us , as appears by the romans first admitting thereof , and bequeathing it to our climate . for , from esculapius his time , to hippocrates ( the 14th in descent from him ) it doth appear , nature was always allowed to be the physicianess of diseases ; and from that time , unto this day , none have denied it ; except such men , as sought innovation , and thought they could govern nature better , than she could govern her self . but since that age , there have risen a sort of people , that did not so ingenuously follow nature and reason , in the investigation of truth , as their predecessors did ; but have ( for interest sake , or else out of ignorance espoused , and imposed upon the world false doctrines suitable to their ambitious or covetous designs ; whereby they have clouded the understandings of men , and introduced erroneous positions , to the shame of sciences , and prejudice of mankind . aristotle , having a monarch to defend him , presumed to burn the books of his ancestors ; yet could not fully confute , nor wholly smother the truth therein contained . by these , and other like means , the very tract of the ancients is almost wholly lost ; and now nothing , but nature her self , can restore that to man of which there are no plain presidents , or evident footsteps . for , when christians had forsaken that simplicity , which was the crown of religion , and became asserters and ascribers of infallibility to themselves ; then arose the roman vicar , as their dictator , the limiter , bounder , and measurer of all divine and natural things which they themselves ( being seized with egyptian darkness ) could not distinguish ; so that , if any new matter was apprehended and declared , which was not affirmed by this governor , death ensued ; as appeared by that german bishop , who ( endeavouring to prove the antipodes ) was condemned to dye ; because he had presumed to assert that , which was not approved by this head of the church ; and the learning which many academicks ( at this day ) boast of , is not so much the result of natural sense , as of that politic government . nevertheless , these men own and acknowledg hippocrates to be their patron ; but did they ( as they pretend ) truly consider , and imitate him , they would not force , but follow nature . for , it appears ( by his rules and sayings ) that nature was his guide ; because he taught , that matter , while crude , was not to be expelled out of the body ; which is a perfect indication , that he would have us to expect a due time 'till nature shewed what she would have performed , and when she expected such assistance ; and not to precipitate her into actions , unto which she had no tendency ; and by taking her off from her own work , to take part with the disease . the same hippocrates long since declared , that the man , who in all his life brought forth nothing , which was of service or benefit to his neighbour , deserved no remembrance among men. therefore , if i have herein aimed ( according to my narrow talent ) to be serviceable to mankind , i am thereby but a disciple to that great master : yet , if what is contained in this treatise , be of any advantage to others , the thanks thereof is not so much due to me , as to my opposers , whose provocations have excited me to this vindication of my proceedings ; like the philosopher's contranatural fire , which ( in destroying the outward form ) excites the inward spirits to unite , and concenter , for their own preservation ; to the begetting or bringing forth of some new substance of another species . charge not on me the scribe's , or printer's faults , who see with others eyes ; but they whose thoughts vulgar opinion governs , are worse blind : in me the organ's dark , in them the mind . the first part. a manuduction , discovering the true foundation of the art of medicine . the practice of physick being various , ( and in the judgment of most very uncertain ) because the galenists have one theory , and chymists another ; i cannot perceive any thing herein more serviceable to the publick , than to distinguish their foundations , and what use i have made of them . the galenists have 4 humors , 4 complexions , and 4 qualities , to raise their structure on : and when either of these exceed their due temperament , they judg a disease present ; and to that apply their remedies ; never so much as thinking of a mover , or first cause of these disorders . the chymists , according to paracelsus and helmont , establish their theory on the first disturbance given to nature in her own inns , and acts ; not so much respecting effects as causes , nor the matter disturbing , as the spirit disturbed : and to this they apply their remedies . this later foundation , with me ( under great trouble of spirit ) at last overcame all doubtings , and i readily adhered to these sublime conceptions ; having for their basis such perspicuity as the light of nature did really demonstrate , and hippocrates , their allowed patron , doth attest , saying ; nature is the physician and curer of diseases . yet , upon examination of their remedies against this spiritual assault , or first being of diseases , i perceived they depended not upon any particular known medicines , but on universal dispositions , drawn from metals , minerals , salts , animals , or vegetables . hence , i began to despair of arriving at any certainty to attain remedies so gifted , as to be capable to reduce nature to her primitive unity with and in the faculties of the body . for , i well knew , that all the known remedies of these times , were not the medicines of our famous progenitors , nor capable to answer to those ends ; being the products and off-springs either of unfound hearts , or ignorant heads , too much devoted to gain and applause ; who , having forsook the substance , embraced the shadow ; and gave names to remedies , as paracelsick , which have as much difference from his in disposition , as light has from darkness . all their medicines were either endued with particular faculties , and hostile dispositions , ( as purging , and vomiting , the sound as well as the sick ) or else curtailed by fire , and fiery spirits , and so rendred diaphoretical ; under all which considerations , they became wholly unfit to answer that great end of nature , curation . i did not think those supream and general gifts were wanting in nature ; but ( because i knew not the artifice , by which they might be attain'd ) they were to me as things of no value or concern : having therefore suspended my thoughts , till i better understood them , i greatly bent my mind to animals , salts , and vegetables ; and from them endeavoured ( as far as in me lay ) to separate their terrestreity , and by mistion , their specificality ; and having spiritualized them , i found they were not unfit to be administred in any case , so far , as communication of strength was needful : and so great a blessing attended for some space of time , that they seemed to answer the utmost desires of nature . yet , my mind being not idle i allways feared , that this success might arise from the smallness of the malignity , or the happy genius that prompted me to these endeavours : nor was it long before my suspitions proved truths . for , when i found some persons not cured , thô the principal parts were not perished ; and that continual strife stirred up by nature , ended in her own conquest ; i positively concluded , that those medicines , that were fit to stir up action ( if not also endued with a vitality , to keep nature in union with and in her own organs , to act unto the time of death without loss of sensibility ) were far short of what a true physician should endeavour to compass . now was i again bewildred , my grief renewed , my ignorance seemed greater then at first , and my labours i undervalued as things of no moment , books could not help , and counsel ( at that time ) among men was not to be hoped for . therefore i accused my self as rash in attempting that , which seemed impossible to be attained ; and even despaired thereof . but , considering in my self , that these my endeavours had not their original in me by education , nor by any consideration of profit or honour , that might accrew from the pursuit of the same ; but from a natural propensity , strongly overweighing my other inclinations , which ( at that time ) to my outward man were pleasing enough , and not without great strife fully subdued ; i resigned my self to the good pleasure of the highest , and endeavoured stilness more then understanding . indeed i plainly viewed all things , but would not discuss them so far , as to raise any foundation therefrom , or to bring thoughtfulness in my self . for , i perceived a disquisition of ought , that stood not in unity with all things , would be particular , uncertain , and dangerous ; yea , utterly unfit to answer the ends of nature : because i found it wanting to the attainment of true healing : and in this way of simplicity i was found of what i knew not how to search for : nature , in stilness , brought forth that , which reason ( without light ) could never have acquired , even under its most acute scrutiny ; for , it not being sensible , there was no ground for reasoning . in this opening , i saw , that every universal remedy had its root in the first , or second life of minerals and metals ; the last life of them being either over-compact , or venomous . this aspect was grateful to me , and gave me strong hope , that time and stilness might produce more evidence . nor was i deceived : for the way of destroying the last life of some subjects ( endued with an universal tendency ) was in the properties of nature made manifest to me . then did i see , as in a glass , the wonderful gifts implanted in metals , minerals , &c. by the pleasure of the most high , as a relief to mortals , in this latter age of the world ; wherein diseases are increased and heightned by various venoms ( the relicts of popular distempers ) and complicated through the vices of life , and want of an unspotted vitality in our original constitution . besides , it appears that the world it self waxeth old , the powers thereof are much altered , all the external virtues of its superficies are declined ; but metals and minerals , that have not known the force of the external air ( the great propagator of life and corruption ) are less partakers of the universal debility , than those things which exist chiefly by that air. not that they have not their air also , but it is otherwise qualified ; rather to forward their compaction , and concentrate their virtues , than to corrupt them . by which means they seem to be appointed ( since , as to our air , they share an unspotted , unchangeable life ) as true succours , to withstand the impressions of our external air , and the many changes and complications of diseases , that reign amongst us . but vegetables , by reason of a seeming decay of vigour in the elements , or the declining state of the external virtues of the worlds superficies , ( thô they have many excellent and peculiar endowments , which wisely used may be sometimes serviceable in the cure of the sick ; when freed from their terrestreity and grossness , that in their reception , they put not nature to too much trouble of digestion ) yet , if they be not so universalized by vnition , that they no longer serve under their particular gifts , they indeed cannot contribute any thing to nature in her most deplorable cases : whereas , mineral and metalick virtues , being more concentrate , have more universal dispositions ; and so are more fit to serve nature , to all intents , than the other . for , minerals and metals are not specificated to this or that person , or to this or that disease ; but to the properties of nature , in her first operation in bodies : by which indeed , as to the noble parts of principal members , one mineral or metal may be more suitable , than another ; but , as to diseases and persons , there they solely act according to nature's deficiency and so become true succours : because , when they are prepared as requisite , they are not transchanged in the body , the light and vigour , or ray of them being the medicine . so that the substance of them passeth away unalter'd as to weight ; and therefore not being touched by our ferments , bringeth less trouble to nature , than one spoonful of wine would do ; and this is , because there is no reaction of nature upon them , as in other medicines : but if they be administred in so weak a state , as before separation of the form they are cast out by the draught , then they are altogether useless . minerals and metals have their gifts from god , not from man's art : for art doth not confer virtue , but by separating the shell discovers the kernel : and their implanted virtues are for our benefit ; posited there and not to be concealed , neglected or slighted , as things not to be used ; because envy and ignorance have condemned them : for , by that means , the end of their creation would be frustrated ; which will seem to the rational an evil conceit . shall wheat be contemned as unfit for nourishment , because it hath husks ? or almonds for their hard shells ? i write not of the external properties of minerals and metals , but of their inward parts , in which is concentred a more vital air than in other things , by which they famously manifest their universal disposition . air , we see , above all things visible , refresheth man ; now , the air inclosed in them is of an unsearchable power , purity , and penetration , beyond what is in any single concrete ; more friendly than ours , wherein we breath ; for though it be lyable to it's laws for transchangement , yet its virtues in order to sanity are thereby not diminished . but , the external parts of minerals and metals are indeed venomous , and may justly be censured as altogether unfit to be relyed on , for succour in diseases ; because they compel nature to expulsion , and are not subservient to her , in exciting natural vigour , except against their own poysonous hostility . therefore , what hath been , or shall be writ , concerning this , must not be understood of the exterior parts of metals or minerals , or of the medicines made thereof , which are commonly known ; but of such medicines , as truly perform what i have specified , by assisting nature , and are so vastly different from those of common use , that their subsequent operation can never be declared , before they are taken : to day they have one action , to morrow another , and the third day another , as the diseases happen to be changed by their virtues . as for instance ; in all acute diseases , if much material , vomits , stools , or vrine are largely provoked ; and then afterwards , sweats ; but after the feavers are extinguished , then stools again , till the relicts are removed . but in acute diseases , where there is more depression of spirit , and less matter , there sweats arise at first , and continue dayly till the evil be overcome ; and then stools for a day or two , according to the relict , and so they cease acting . and all this is effected by the same medicines ; which , if continued from the beginning to the end of distempers , will clearly manifest these properties . now , can any one imagin , that this variety of actions , in one and the same medicine , in the same body , and in the same disease , is any thing else , than the action of nature ? seeing it is evident , that vomiting and purging medicines never become sweaters or binders , except nature , through incapacity of expelling them ( falling under the burthen of their venome ) sends forth sweats , as signs of an evil guest . whatsoever therefore doth so directly fortify nature , as to make her act every way suitable to her own necessities , cannot be any other than virtue ; and seeing it hath pleased god to implant such virtues and powers , in minerals and metals , no unbyass'd person will say 't is unfit they should be inquir'd into . medicines thus endowed are more safe than others , as never performing ought that can be injurious , seeing nature only manageth them , and they purge not when they should provoke sweat ; nor do they vomit , when purging by vrine or perspiration is required ; they leave no relicts in the body , for they are clean , having all unnatural impurities removed . the child new born , the woman new layd , the most aged and most weak safely take them , without any the least dammage ensuing therefrom . i write not this conjecturally , but from the experience of more than twenty years . for , these remedies , having an universal tendency ( not working by vomit , stool , or sweat upon the sound ) do only in the sick operate , as nature findeth most convenient , and so are only her servants : but other medicines , that have not so universal a disposition , thô in former ages ( when diseases were more simple , and had rarely any thing extraordinary in them ) they might be very profitable , yet now they cannot be used without danger . for , where nature her self is undetermined , a remedy , that hath not a gift to reach the life , and strengthen her to compose those confusions , that cause so great a complication , and indetermination , may indeed by its particular act alter the scene , but not the tragedy ; and change the seat of a disease from one bowel to another ; but if any do impartially observe the event , they will soon perceive ; that the change of place hath rendred the disease ( before easily cured ) not curable , unless with great difficulty ; and not at all , but by general , remedies . yet , let no man mistake me so far , as to think these medicines ( i mention ) to be very easily obtained : no , the common preparations have no such endowments ; nor can the converting of a vomitive and purging medicine , into a diaphoretick , render its gifts more splendid : nay , rather , what before in it self had an universal disposition , is now become only a particular bemedy , being no otherwise serviceable , than where sweats are needful . and it is clear to every skilful labourer in the way of natural medicines , that every universal being , tormented by fire or fiery spirits , is not bettered thô changed : for every direct change is a diminishing of the natural gift ; and whosoever spends his time this way to alter general medicines , will injure both himself and his neighbour , and shall never arrive to any certainty in the true matter of medicine . the outward life of metals or minerals is poyson , which unless overcome , with conservation of the species of them , they cannot exhibit their natural gifts . for mineral virtues are like lillies among thorns : if a man remove not these , he will be wounded with their prickles , before he can attain the sweetness of those . the outward life of minerals must dye and be annihilated ; their middle life is medicine , antidote against poyson , an exhilirator and server of nature , without any determinate action ; a great light , impressed with a divine seal , capable to extirpate the characters of diseasy images , or at least to subvert their acts ; having a natural faculty to remove every occasional matter , by nature's own power ; not compelling but exciting her , as hath been sensibly experimented . this proved to me the truth of helmont's theory , which thô believed , yet without this testimonial act , i might ( with the generality of searchers ) have ruined my self , by adhering to what was visible , and supposing what i enjoyed not , as impossible to be attained . for every true natural medicine worketh not by its own power ( which is ever inimical to nature ) to vomit , purge , sweat , provoke urine , &c. but by nature's dispose ; being such as never operates on bodies well and in health , althô taken in a six-fold quantity ; nor on the diseased and sick , but in the way nature finds most conducent to health . because nature is the physicianess , and all that is ministred to her , ought to be at her dispose . and that she knoweth how to use medicines of an universal disposition , appeareth , in that she doth by them purge , vomit or sweat , where occasion is ; and that as forcibly and sensibly , as the strongest direct medicines can do ; yet with so different success , that sweats , thô endured for many daies , do not weaken so much as others ( thô only for some hours ) excited by a forcible diaphoretick ; nay , the patients ▪ each day grow stronger and stronger , than the first day of taking them . so likewise , in vomiting and purging , there is no debility of nature , thô they work many weeks together , in such a measure , that the gentlest of direct purgers ( if used so long , and wrought after the same manner ) would bring to death's dore , if not totally extinguish life : but these separate the occasional matter only , and weaken not . besides these properties mentioned , that prove their subserviency , ( which is but the dark part of vniversal remedies ) there are other more vital separations , which manifest their endowments ; insomuch , that the very same medicines that did provoke , do also stay vomiting , repress unnatural sweats , stop fluxes , cure the dysentery and gripings of the guts , as also all fluxes of the womb , white or red ; stay the menses if inordinate , and bring them down when stopped ; hinder abortion , further the birth when ripe ; prevent the after-pains , yet cleanse more securely , than any specifick whatsoever ; dissolve or ripen imposthumes , transmit seemingly fixed tumors from one part to another , so as sensible tumors of the womb , have by the use of them become imposthumes of the abdomen : an action , if well noted , of no small advantage to the sick , and of great comfort to an honest ingenious physician . i have also known urine ( in a great obstruction thereof , contrary to the common course of nature , yet naturally ) vented through the fleshy parts about the kidneys ; and that in such a quantity , as was not inconsiderable , had it been voided the usual way : thô this continued no longer , than the obstruction was separating ; for then nature assumed her usual passages . and for a crown to the reality of vniversal medicines , i shall add ; they more powerfully excite nature by insensible transpiration , than by all the usual passages ; which operation ( if physicians be not stark blind ) is of more service a thousand fold , especially in our days , than purging , vomiting , sweating , &c. were it not the grand unhappiness of mankind , to measure the offices of their living spirits , by the effects and consequences of their intemperate lives . for these remedies of an universal tendency , exciting nature to insensible transpiration , perform that part of medicine , which is least minded , thô of greatest concernment ; and althô of late years it hath been conceded to , as true , because sensibly experimented ; yet the medium , by which it is performed , is a mystery to the greater part of physicians . but to proceed to more sensible , and less disputable actions , ( what hath been already specified being most certain , because so often known by my self ) nothing , below an universal tendency , is capable of such different operations , nor can it be so disposed , as nature may be capable by the same , to extravert the introversate , and that without damage to the parts or organs , since it is not given to nature to create gifts , but to use them . for every particular remedy , thô most pure , cannot be extended beyond its gift : as for instance ; the purest stomachical , that hath gifts to fortifie , to cleanse and separate the impurities of that part , not being indowed with an universal disposition to strengthen nature ( to war against those dark images she hath conceived , and by that means impressed on another digestion ) and also a capacity of removing occasional causes ; it shall indeed corroborate the part for the present , but at the same time shall separate the impurity thereof to other digestions , and so rather render the party worse : because , the root of the disease being in the archeus , and that specifick is uncapable of communicating ought thereunto ( except what concerned that particular bowel ) the disease it self must necessarily be increased in the place to which it is transferr'd , and never be subdued , until the darkness , overwhelming the spirit , shall be driven away ; or the occasional matter ( in which those idea's are impressed ) nullify'd . whence it is clear in the light of nature , that remedies of an universal disposition are essential to true healing . not that i judge specificks altogether useless ; because i certainly know , that the great art of physicians consisteth in finding out and fitly applying the same : yet with this proviso , viz. that thay suit to parts and the operations thereof , and be universalized as to persons , so , that the sad , the merry , the cold , and hot constitutions may thence reap a like benefit ; which is no such hard matter to accomplish : for , if a specifick be fermented with an vniversal , by this means it is made more general , and mindeth not constitutions , but the offended part , in the operations thereof . yet these remedies must be used with great judgment ; because all specificks have a direct action , ( whether they be acidums or alkalies , aperitives , diureticks , diaphoreticks , vomiting , purging , resolving , separating , contracting or coagulating medicines ) and if unduly or unseasonably applyed , are direct evils . for , whosoever giveth a diaphoretick in the begining of a feaver , before any digestion happens in the febrile matter , doth by the same indeed produce sweats , but to the great disadvantage of the sick : because that action of the medicine , contrary to the disposition of nature , carrieth the more subtile parts of the occasional cause into the blood. and besides , the sweating remedy , because not gifted to strengthen nature , and incline her to her own acts , leaves the more gross and oft-times uncoctable diseasy matter in the stomach ; which proves fatal to the patient ; or at least renders the disease difficult to be healed . therefore specificks , thô never so pure or certain , and having an universal ferment , but not having thereby universal gifts , cannot be used generally without apparent danger : thô , in defects of parts and faculties , where nature indicates her own wants , they act more swiftly and certainly than remedies more general . yet it hath been obvious to me by manifold observations , that direct working medicines , given in the beginning of diseases , have generally injured the persons afflicted ; by removing the offensive matter to places , where nature ( without that force ) would never have done . let any one but observe the progress of malignant feavers , small pox , plague , &c. and he must necessarily discern , that any purging remedy , thô but a clyster , ( because nature endeavours to make separation another way by the skin ) doth notably hinder the then needful and necessary expulsion ; and , by attracting inward , brings death , or a very great danger thereof . now , althô in these acute diseases , by reason of their swift motion and sudden determination , errors are more obvious ; yet are they as certainly committed in the chronical and more slow distempers , and attended with the same consequences , thô longer before they be manifested . for , whensoever , by direct remedies , the diseasy-matter is transmitted from one digestion to another , must it not unavoidably be rendred worse ? and what was originally an evil in the stomach or spleen , if carried to the gaul or liver , ( and there hurting the actions and parts of the same ) shall it not be more difficult to cure , seing those bowels are remote from the stomach , and have a different digestion , and are not so easily reached by physick ? for , as mustiness in a barrel affects wine , beer , or vinegar , with the same odour ; so doth it in like manner affect any urinous liquor . how much more shall diseasy ferments , if by separation , without being overcome ( which no purgative remedy can do ) they be carried to the duodenum , necessarily infect the adjacent parts ? also , if i understand any thing in nature , the original of all chronical diseases , that are not seminal , proceeds rather from the errors of physicians , or the unruliness of patients , than from the weakness of nature , or strength of increasing diseases . for , it is almost daily seen , that one disease is changed into another ; not as progressing naturally thereto , but through irregular practice , by purging , bleeding , sweating , and other direct actions ; whereby acute diseases become chronical , and chronical acute ; by the one making the life miserable , and by the other inferring sudden death . which may easily be demonstrated , and i intend something thereof , when i shall treat of the progress of diseases . moreover , it is very manifest , that particular medicines ( how prevalent soever to any particular part , and the disease thereof ) where a complication of diseases is present , act rather against than with nature ; because they cannot be imployed by her against the complication , or the original of the defective part , for such remedies , acting particularly , and not generally , by cleansing the part render it more fit for reception of the complicating evil. so that , by such irregular practices , diseases of the first digestion consequently become distempers of the second or third , &c. and this is , because diseases of the first digestion , not being there subdued , but carried thence to the second or third , put on another nature ; and sometimes become complicated , thô simple before , through a natural disposedness to receive all depending evils of the place the diseased live in , or of the time or season of the year , or of the parts they possess . for , when diseases once degenerate , they are excited ( nature growing weaker ) by every adjacent evil : whereas in their first assault , one digestion alone being concerned , nature can much more easily overcome them . if i thought what is here expressed were not sufficient to prove the truth of this matter , i could easily demonstrate the same , by the practice , either of patients not timely using remedies , or of physicians using things improper . for , i do not find chronical diseases ( in their beginnings ) to have took root in us , except from the above specified errors . and althô some seminal dispositions derived from parents ( labouring under the same affects ) may beget diseasy inclinations ; yet they , not being able to act without matter , may well be subdued , or at least kept from further increase , if general means be timely used ; unless some principal vessel be naturally deficient . every seminal disposition is incorporeal , till matter ( through debility of nature ) be conjoyned with it ; for then it becomes active and a disease : but if the matter , which is the occasional evil , be removed , the action ceaseth . now , this matter at the first is easily expelled in a short time ; because , every such occasional matter is first manifested in the stomach . but when the seminal disposition and that matter have moved each with other any time , strange f●rments are begotten , and the actions of divers parts injured thereby . then indeed medicines , thô never so speedy in the beginning , cannot do much , but require length of time , by reason of the complication , which happens through the many digestions damnified . for , in the first motion thereof , the first digestion is but begun to be defiled therewith , and strives against it : then universal medicines can easily contest with the matter , and in small time overcome ; because the disease is yet undeterminate and floating ; no disease of any denomination having existence in the body ( except where some vessel or part is hurt ) till the first digestion submitteth to it , as an admitted guest , and ceasing to strive against it , sends superfluities ( as nourishment ) thereunto . this is apparent in every true gout ; before the paroxysm begins , loathing at the stomach , and a restless disposition is perceived for a day or two , and the pain never approacheth , till the burthen be thence removed ; thô indeed , the torture which happens afterward , doth many times cause , as it were , a loathing : yet that is rather the effect of anguish , than of matter . for , whereas at the first , these universal remedies work upon the matter , by vomits , sweats , stools , or urine , and when the pains exist in the joynts , have no action at all ; yet when the dolours are removed , then they operate the same way again . and this is a sufficient proof of the possibility of keeping even hereditary diseases , from growing , or increasing to any great height , by general medicines , if seasonably applyed . these general dispositions of medicines here treated of , are singularly useful , to keep physicians from error ; because medicines of an universal tendency do manifest the distempers of particular parts ; and ( as with the finger ) point at the seats of diseases , beyond the imagination of any , that have not proved them : for they most sensibly act on the diseased part. and , where such medicines are first administred , there particular remedies , that are specifick to parts , have afterwards the greater efficacy : because nature being assisted in general , doth readily dispose of the particular , according to its gift also . for , althô they cannot cure every disease , yet their clearing the first digestion , by strengthening and removing the evil thereof , cause the particular medicine to act , without any stop , upon the affected part . and by this method it is , that distempers accounted uncurable , have often been cured . but the great occasions of errors committed in the medicinal faculty , are : 1. ignorance of nature , what she is able to do . 2. want of knowledg of the possibility of remedies to be so universal in their nature , as to do , or leave undone , as it most conduceth to nature's help . 3. the grand mistake of practitioners , touching the causes of diseases ; judging all distempers to have their original from humorous filths , and in the mean while never thinking of venoms arising through ferments ▪ much less of the spirit that makes the assault . for , althô they hourly see the effects of anger , sorrow , envy , fear , &c. yet , when they apply remedies , the first obvious cause , that turns the whole frame of man , is not consider'd by them ; and only what they produce is the subject against which their medicines are directed . as for example : when rage kindleth choler , they seek to allay choler , that is only the product of rage . choler maketh not men angry , but anger conceived maketh that sensible ; for nothing liveth , but hath enough of that juice ( so called ) to be in rage sufficiently , yet unless the spirit be defiled by a wrathful image , there is no sense of it apparent . so also , when our thoughts are greatly exercised with a strong desire to attain what is unknown , the constringing fiat presently ferments the chyle with so great a sharpness , through the contraction of the spirit in that exercise , that it is manifest in the gust , or sensible tast , and is in nature the cause of what is called melancholy ; but , if persevered in so long till separation happen , without great helps , a certain distraction is produced , or some violence that is worse . envy and malice have not much different effects , for the former cause , when they are conjoyned with a strong desire , except that madness hence does more rarely happen ; yet in that cold dark harsh fire they impregnate the chyle , and induce great leaness on the body , harshness and darkness in the skin and hair , and are not curable any more than the other , by any means applied to the humour : for , althô that be altered by the force of physick to day , and wholly separated ; yet if the spirit strenuously persist in the same design , the disease ( in the twinkling of an eye ) is generated again : because , what is once done , may be done a second time , and needs not any intervening agent . althô 't is true , that matter once generated , augments the evil , and increaseth the darkness so largely , that the spirit is thereby more materiated , more exasperated , and in greater anguish . fear stagnizes the blood , brings coldness , sighing , intermittent pulses , convulsions , and ( if strongly persisted in ) sudden death , or great stupidity . now , it is true , that in case the occasion of fear be removed , it is no hard matter to conquer the effects ; and so , it is consequently true in other idea's : but if continued in , thô but in a mere dejection , or sinking of the life , they are rendred more difficult to cure , than the more evil and active passions . sorrow is accompanied with debility of faculties , a pining away of the body , and a wasting of the spirits ; and is a causer of pains in peculiar vessels , through the alteration of chyle , ( the parent of manifold evils ) yet if once overcome , the effects are not long in expelling , thô they have altered almost all the constitution . now , in as much as 't is evident , that disturbance of the spirit is the generator of defects in the body ; can it be thought , that real venomes ( whether epidemical , endemical , or artificial ) shall less distast then the aforementioned conceptions ; since they absolutely assault the spirit , and endeavour the extirpation of vital light ? the former arise as well from feigned as real objects ; the later only from real , active , and ( after a sort ) living essences : therefore in reason more perceptible , and causes of greater wrath , fear , stupor , sorrow , or irregular action in our nature ; unless we think every thing is agitated by necessity , as sparks fly upward , and that there is no living understanding and election in us. but , if we bring these things to a sensible test , it cannot be denyed , but that we feel the force of anger , fear , &c. in our bodies ; which , if the spirit in us were not the ruler , could never be so . yet , to come nearer to our selves : do not trivial errors , even of meats and drinks , heats and colds , primarily affect the spirit ? who is there , whom fulness of meats and drinks doth not affect with dulness and heaviness ? do not heats , when overmuch , cause faintings and languishments ; and doth not the supplement of cordials ( actual or potential ) supply that defect ? likewise , is it not apparent , that cold ( when offensive ) stagnizeth the bloud , giveth cause for dolour in the external parts to imposthumous humors ; or stirs up disorders internally , through the let of vital separations ; and is usually the begetter ( if the spirit be not helped to perform its natural separations ) of vomitings , fluxes , feavers , coughs , and what not , through the obstructing of the vital spirit ? yet however , this can be no more than the occasional cause ; the efficient must be the spirit erring in its own acts , that must constitute this formal part of distemperature , and bring it to a disease . and doth any thing sooner restore nature to her wonted action , than such things as fortifie her , and help forward transpiration , which the cold letted ? also , it is very clear , that if any one , upon the first sense of a distemper , doth but use such universal means , as can keep nature to act without disturbance ; he will certainly find , that all these distempers ( so generally afflicting ) are driven away almost as soon as they came . for , by the first assault , the archeus is only confused , and hath not throughly impressed the obstructed matter with a diseasy character . and this my patients do generally find true , insomuch that for many years , few of them know ought of a compleat disease , unless they neglect their remedies in the beginning . for every medicine of an universal tendency is gifted from above , to withstand the formation of diseases ( if the internal spirit hath not given to them a seminal being ) inasmuch as it addeth power and activity to nature , through the light and life that is in it , to act regularly . therefore , of how great concern is the knowledg of medicines strengthening , exhilarating , and pacifying nature ; since she is the only actor , as well as curer of her self ? how chary then ought a physician to be of what he gives to his patients , that he may not compel nature by the crudeness , contrariety , or poysonous property of medicines ( which qualities all direct purgers and vomiters have ) to exhaust her strength , by opposing one evil with another ? if physicians have not remedies more general , pure and friendly , than those that are usually given ( i mean such , as can excite nature to action , give her strength , be imployed by her to this or that operation , without leaving reliques offensive , nay sometimes more troublesome , than the disease it self ) the want of such can be no excuse to them : for god hath not left mortals deprived of remedies , of a more friendly and benign nature and condition , did not pride , covetousness and an overweaning conceit , accompanied with negligence , attend some book-doctors , keeping them from searching into the mystery of true practice . these men conclude , if they administer according to a written rule , set out by any they esteem able ( let the success be what it will ) 't is justifiable , because answearable to what was directed ; they themselves being judges ; thô it be contrary to nature in all respects . but , were nature more minded , and the receipts of doctors less , we should see an happier effect on diseased persons . and were the errors they commit , writ on their foreheads ; or the means , by which they have attained their grandeur among the people , duly examined ; they would be ashamed of the one , and abhor the other . nature is that we ought to observe , to strengthen her where she is weak , to enlighten her where dark , to pacify her when inraged ; that fear may vanish , rage may cease , and amazement be expelled . whosoever can accomplish this , shall find the most stubborn , and accounted uncurable diseases , to fly before him . but , diligence , a sound and unbyassed understanding , accompanied with patience , love and zeal , are essential to open these deeps , and to discover such medicines , as are fit to extirpate those exorbitances . alas ! those that have trod this path , have been very few ( or they have concealed themselves ) and what they have written rather stirs up desire , than satisfies . the famous medicines of paracelsus and helmont , notwithstanding their voluminous writings , and frequent citations of them , contribute little to us , only , that they incite us to follow nature : but the remedies themselves , either dyed with them , or are very secret : no general rule is extant , whereby such medicines may be obtained . what shall we do ? where shall we seek ? unless we can find the path of nature is general , we shall not be able by art to answer her deficiency in particular . the pious and learned silurist , in his silex scintillans , hath something fitted to this purpose , where he saith : when nature on her bosome saw her children dye , and all her fruits withred to straw , her breasts grown dry ; she made the earth ( her nurse and tomb ) sigh to the sky : till to those sighs , fetcht from her womb , rain did reply . so , in the midst of all her fears and faint requests , her earnest sighs procur'd those tears , that fill'd her breasts . what is most natural is most fit to be exemplary , and will seldom fail those that follow it . but , to rake the volumes of the dead ( when their sense is buryed with them ) to find understanding , is as irrational as for the blind to endeavour to discern colours . besides , it is a great undervaluing of mans own capacity , natures bounty , and god's blessing , to judg what hath been once done may not be done again . for , altho their medicines be dead with them , or obscured ; yet nature is still in being , and her lord ( the dispenser of every virtue ) lives for evermore , loves his creatures , created medicines for them , and never faileth to impar● gifts to the sons of men , according as they stand capacitated to receive them . but , if we think the old metho● of the ancients ( set the natural part thereof aside , which is the least particle thereof ) which is already known , and found to be uncertain , to be sufficient for diseases which were not then in being , it is as much as to fit one hat to every head , and one shoo to every foot. let it be inquired how remedies came first to be known , seing we know man is born into the world , with the least capacity to help himself ; and then knowledg must either arise by instinct , or by being acquired by experience ; or be attained to by education , or by something beyond all . assuredly , education cannot rightfully assume to it self the principal place ; for it is most certain , that that knowledg which is real , must either be taught from natural instinct , or be acquired from observation . and if from either of these , whensoever new diseases happen , must not the cures of the same naturally arise from one of them two ? because there is no rule , nor can be any for what was not in being before . if no rule , then certainly natural instinct , or experience acquired by observation , must be the only available and truly prevalent medium , by which the most certain and proper remedies of such new evils can be known . education in these cases cannot help ; for , 't is apparently manifest , that all education ariseth from certain received principles , of supposed conveniency or inconveniency : and as the principles are , true or false , particular or general , so do they enlarge or diminish the understanding . what takes being from experience is true ( if they , who possess the same , have a true sentiment of the experiment , and well understood the causes ) being sensible ; yet , as it hath being from effects , it is not always presidential for the future : but , what ariseth naturally , and hath the inborn principles in man for its guide , is the true patron of all general and particular knowledg ; i call to witness the testimony of all ages , and ask : who instructed the first authors of physick , when there were neither books , nor precedents ? who taught hippocrates so many ages since , to distinguish something divine in certain diseases , and to have a cure for a popular plague , never known or heard of before ? whence was it , that the same man ( in that age of the world , wherein diseases and their remedies were neither known nor distinguished in any measure ) did obtain a most clear light , not only to distinguish , but also to cure diseases with proper medicines ? how was basilius a monk instructed , who in his days became a most knowing physician ? did not paracelsus and helmont , neglecting the traditions of their predecessors , obtain medicines of greater efficacy , than all that went before them ? paracelsus , thô bred up in schools , chosen professor of physick in basil , raised not his knowledg from what he had read , but from the light of nature operating in him ; as sufficiently appears by his dissenting from every known rule ; and by his effectual cures ; as also , by his own declaration , that he had not read any book of philosophy or physick in ten years time together . and helmont acknowledged , that he found out more certainty , when discourse and phansy , or imagination was subdued , than by all his readings or conceptions : to the truth of which , some now in being can bear their testimony . and is it not daily manifest , that the indians , which have no books , by natural instinct only find out the virtues of plants , so that they rarely want a medicine for their common distempers ? do we not our selves often see sick persons ( given over by physicians ) to be cured by their own natural impulse ? one person is cured after one sort , another after another , altogetehr contrary to a known method ; which we ignorantly call chance , but it is so only to us : for , without doubt , this is nature , that naturally excites man to his cure ; as the dog , to quitchgrass ; the cat , to nep ; the swallow , to celandine , &c. if nature be ( as indeed she is ) the exciter of these animals , to their proper remedies , without any conception , fore-thought , or reasoning of their own ; how much more is she of man , in whom is latent a capacity of knowing things in their roots , so , that some men , void of much discourse or reasoning , when the internal man in them is touched or excited , utter wonderful things ; yet , are uncapable of reasoning how , or why they utter them ? even so , arts appear more polite , where nature bringeth them forth in man , without the consult of his reason . for as the strength of the lion , and fierceness of the tiger , the courage of an horse in time of battel , and the fearfulness of the hare , are not the consults of their strengths or weaknesses , or the effect of education , but ingenited properties ; so we see some apted to musick , to poetry , to limning , to arithmetick , the mathematick science , and mechanick arts , in so high a measure , that they evidently outstrip all others that have been educated therein . who did ever exceed appelles ? when did ever art make a poet come near homer , for exactness of phansy ? nay , 't is generally taken for granted , that poets are born , not made . our own days produced a child , capable of solving most solvable questions in arithmetick , without a teacher , or known rule . the merchants , that trade to the gold-coasts , have told me , that the negroes , upon their fingers , sooner account the value of commodities , thô in broken numbers , than our acutest merchants can with their pen. how many have we seen excellent artists in mechanick works , that never learned them of masters by education skilled therein ? but to conclude all , of whom did archimedes learn his admirable ( and as yet unparallell'd ) inventions of mechanick engins , by which he so long withstood the roman army , both by sea and land ; using his single artifice only , without the help of other weapons ? insomuch , that marcellus , general of that army , speaking in mockery to the engineers of his own camp ( as plutarch writeth ) said : what ? shall we never cease to make war with this briarean engineer , and geometrician here ? who , sitting still at his ease , in sporting manner , hath with shame overthrown our navy , and exceeded all the fabulous hundred hands of the giants , discharging at one instant so many shot amongst us ? whence , i say , had these men their instruction , while we , who have had their books and experiments ( or at least an indubitate relation of them ) yet attain not to their perfection , thô so many hundred years be past , and so many hands and heads have been imployed since their time ? surely nothing hath been a greater cause of this deficiency in us , than our supposing things declared to be a better rule to be gone by , than the principles they began upon , who declared them . and were it not for that , i cannot but , think , that we had been long ago so enlarged in our understandings , as these lines need not have been written at this time . but then , i would also be understood to suppose , that the foundation , in and by which these famous men attained to the perfection of their arts , be not neglected by us : for they , not regarding ( perhaps not having , or not using ) the frail and uncertain help of books , not trusting to the written experiments of others , suffered themselves in great simplicity ( as the child above mentioned ) to be taught by nature . this way they obtained a more certain knowledg , than wa● possible to be attained by any other way . wherefore , to be unlearned in the art of physick , is not to want the benefit of languages ; for a due observation of , and living up to the rules of nature in that case provided , are the chief things necessary to that science , which is more easily attain'd by a sound judgment , than by reading the most book-learned wits . for , since nature is the guide of the universe , and of each thing therein , it is not to be doubted , but that as she brings forth medicine , so she doth the physician also to administer the same , whether it be considered generally or particularly , as to those remedies , the gifts of which ( in all ages , times and seasons , to all persons and all diseases ) are alwayes the same : or to such remedies as are more specifick , or particular , which are produced by her in one place only , at one time , and for some persons ; as medicines fit for fome certain personal , or local diseases ; and in another place and time , for other persons and diseases . and it is clearly manifest , that the knowledg of the virtues of roots , herbs or plants , hath been nothing advanced since the days of theophra●tus ( a man naturally experienced ●herein , and the divulger thereof ) ●xcept what hath been discovered by observation from beasts , birds , old women , clowns , indians , or some such way unexpectedly . not , that nature hath been all this time ignorant , or uncapable of succouring her own off-spring , especially since diseases have multiplyed ; but those that pretend themselves physicians , have not been gifted by her , but have opposed and hindred her proper endeavours ; they , being bent and resolved to be wiser than she , and to compel her by remedies : a practice their fore-fathers never knew : thinking that man , who was made in the image of god , hath no light or guide in himself , sufficient to direct him to his own help , or the help of his neighbour . o great blindness ! what man ? the summary of all created things , that hath an immortal soul , shall not that in him , which descended from above , be capable to distinguish what is fit for his help ? shall birds and beasts have the priviledge to know the fitness of remedies , and man be judged uncapable thereof ? shall barbarous indians , and rude shepherds husbandmen or old women do greater cures , than the learned doctors of our age ? o shame ! for , to be ignorant of what illiterate persons know , is a great reproach to the learned ; if they , pretending great knowledg perform little , ( even in the faculty , of which they call themselves masters ) and the other , pretending little , are able to do much more than they . but , this is , because the one is excited by natural instinct , and the other only by credulous reading . althô , at present , these things may sound harsh to the ears of some , yet being true , and having nature for their foundation , they will , perhaps , out-live the enemies of the same ; and ( in this latter age ) be as generally received as heretofore ( in times of apostacy ) they have been denyed . our ancestors in art ( though vulgarly reverenc'd under the notion of antiquity ) were really but the infancy of the world ; 't is our age which , by following long after theirs , is indeed the true antiquity : why then should we dote wholly upon their childhood-inventions ; and not rather , having the advantage of example ( which the beginners must needs have wanted ) proceed and grow old in understanding , as well as in time ? a pigmey set upon a giant 's shoulders , may be able to see farther than him. the second part. of the general nature of diseases . a person is then properly said to be sick , when some part , at least , cannot perform its due action ; and whatever produceth that infirmity , is styled the cause ; and that disability of the part to do its proper office or function , is call'd a disease : of which some are simple , some are complicated . simple diseases are either natural , preternatural , or contranatural : pardon the coinage of the last word , because it seems as analogical , as the terms , supernatural , vnnatural , connatural , and the like . of the first sort are all hereditary diseases transferr'd from parents to children , and may be considered under the deficiency of parts , transmitted idea's , or corporeal venoms ; sometimes singly , as when any weakness of parts in parents ( not labouring under any other disease ) is conveyed to their off-spring , who have those deficiencies during life , in one measure or other ; yet are not at all thereby the more lyable to greater diseases , but to the trouble of nature's exercise , where that deficiency is ; except , nature failing in her own endeavour , admit retents of things to her further disturbance ; which yet may easily be prevented , by the help of remedies specifick to the parts . but , if to the weakness of a part , a material evil be added , then indeed the persons ( if not quickly cleared of that disease ) through the weakness of their inward parts , do either soon die , or live a miserable life . nevertheless , even in the conveyance of such morbifick idea's , if the parts be sound , and no accidental thing happen to give vigour thereunto , they perceive nothing thereof for a long time , as is observable in the derivative gout , which a child ( thô begotten by parents strongly possessed therewith ) feeleth many times nothing ▪ thereof , till 40 , or 50 years of age : for , it is absolutely necessary and essential to every ideal disease , ( except mental evils ) to have material filths for the idea to work upon . for instance i have observed , that those , who have contracted the poyson of the lues mummially , and have otherwise been of sound parts , have had no tokens , nor appearance thereof in several years themselves , ( and perhaps never may ) yet some of the children proceeding from the same bodies , have been naturally infected therewith . and likewise i have known other parents ideally defiled , to have had issues that appeared sound and free ( because seeds admit not of ought but idea's ) for 7 , 10 , or 12 years ; and afterwards that ideal disease , by occasional matter , hath manifested it self apparently as an hereditary communication . besides , it is observed generally , that those who are contaminated with that disease , by a seminal contact , have never any sense thereof for several months ; and others , on whom the disease ( so acquired ) breaks out at any time , are conscious of some disorderly acts , that have introduced superfluities , for captivating the spirits ; without which that malady , when seminally induced , is not made manifest . but , if the lues be materially contracted , then the soundest body , and the clearest spirit , escape not free from the sense thereof for many hours , or at the most not for above 3 days : because it materially affects the parts , discovers its proper signs , and manifesteth it self to be material ; and the archeus , striving against it , produceth sores and fluxes in the parts infected , thereby to center the evil in the part , to prevent its further progress in the body : by which means , gororrhea's newly gotten are quickly healed , all the internal parts being sound ; nor do they ever arise to the lues , except means be wanting to keep them from further spreading . for , material diseases , ( thô very venomous , by reason of their corporeity ) are easier overcome , than the spiritual or ideal ; because they aseend not to so great an height , as to captivate nature , so as to make her nourish the evil without resistance , except great errors are committed : whereas the ideal do at first darken the spirits , and then make them subservient ( through insensibleness of the unmateriated venom ) to prepare matter for the existence and nourishment of that spiritual evil , and then is the disease formed . now , for corporeal evils that are derived from parents , having their original from maternal nourishments , they manifest their cruelty so soon as the child is born , by one sign or other evident to the sense , as by vomitings , loosness , restlessness , thrush , or convulsions ; sometimes by acrimonies external or otherwise , by which their lives are quickly cut off , if they be not helped with remedies that can fortify the natural powers to resist those evils . and that general opinion ( grounded upon the defectiveness of common remedies ) that physick is not fit for children , hath in all probability cast away many , that might have been preserved : for material evils , how great soever they seem , are seldom mortal , if the internal powers are strengthened by natural medicines ; because the spirit in them is not so vitiated , as to nourish the evil : thô indeed a diseasy . idea , imprinted upon the archeus of a child , striveth to bring the disease into act , upon the advantage of every occasional disorder . preternatural diseases ( so called , because they have no root naturally from parents , or from diseasy seeds ; but are accidentally begot by variety of distempers , as the spirit or part is more or less vitiated ) are such as arise through the errors of digestion ; by fulness , emptiness , colds , heats , sorrow , anger , fear , hatred , &c. things transmuted , transmitted or retained ; or when one disease is changed into another through misapplication of physick , or the irregularity of the patient . under fulness , is comprehended gluttony , drunkenness , or any excess beyond the ability of nature to digest : for the disagreements likewise of foods ( which , thô taken in small quantities , may notwithstanding offend ) are to be numbred among excesses ; because , by reason of their properties disagreeing with constitutions , through want of use ; their difficulty to be digested in their being over solid , their tendency to corruption , their fermental dispositions , or their hostile venomes to particular natures ( by their antipathy thereunto ) may prove equally burthensome , as the over-charging of the stomach with agreeable meats and drinks : either of these are the foundations of surfets , which beget languishings in the body , vomitings , headaches , and loosnesses , through disability of the pylorus ; and if not conquer'd or healed in their primitive root and seat , then the jaundies ( black or yellow ) iliac or cholic passion , diarrhoea ; quotidian and tertian feavers , dysentery , lientery , imposthumes , and obstructions in the spleen , mesentery , and reins , have their existences : whence dropsies , consumptions , hysterical passions , cachexies , falsies , vertigoes , apoplexies , and epilepsies , have their original . for , when evils are not subdued in the stomach , but vitiously slide into other bowels , to defile and beget strange ferments in them ; then the spleen and stomach conspire to the maintenance thereof ; their own government being characterically blemished with the foregoing disorders . emptiness , if too much , makes a depression of the spirits , languishing of the vital powers , and an indisposition of the parts of assimilate nourishment . the only remedies of this , are foods of a nourishing and more spiritual operation . colds and heats , in too great a degree , congeal or resolve the natural spirits to an extream , and obstruct , or expend the same . contranatural diseases are all epidemics , endemics ; and every poyson , yea , all such maladies as derive not their original from the parent 's seed ; nor take beginning from preternatural excesses in meats and drinks , errors in digestion , or the like ; but immediately from without assault the life . of this kind are the pestilence , and all annual ( commonly autumnal ) distempers , by us called new diseases , which arise from the putridness of the external air , by which our internal air or aether , being primarily defiled , suddenly contaminates the spirit of life , so as to beget diseases correspondent to the calamity the spirit is oppressed with , under the predominating powers of stupor , rage , or fear . in stupor , the disease having enervated the efficacy of the spirits discrimination , finisheth the tragedy without resistance : and when 't is finished , nature her self gives testimony of her own vanquishment , by that small refuscitation of her proper powers , which plainly shews her incapacity to strive against the prevailing evil ; because , while sensible of the assault , she willingly yields to death , without strife : as was sufficiently manifest to me in those , that ( in the year 1665 , ) had the plague ; in whom , nature , so soon as she was sensible of her own inability of overcoming , voluntarily submitted to the prevailing evil. and , thô sense was perfect , yet , when the tokens appeared , each person so concerned , thô seemingly well ( weakness excepted ) as at any other usual time , seldom fayled of dying in 12 , or 24 hours ▪ under this manifestation of the prevailing disease , the pulses are equal ▪ thô slow , the vrine thin , and nothing visibly different from an healthful state : nevertheless in these , there are twitchings of the nerves , tendencies to convulsions , which ( except remedies be applyed of so benigne a nature , as to be capable and able to enliven the spirit to act against the disease , and resist its venome ) always end in death . in rage , nature being sensible of the evil , acts violently against it , moves in and by the fire of nature , stirs up vomitings , headaches , phrensies , and vehement burnings , blanes , buboes , carbuncles , pustles , &c. ferments the bloud sometimes to evacuation by the nostrils , bowels and vrine . but , if remedies be used , that can resist the venome and appease the rage , sweats following , all those inordinate acts cease ; blanes , carbuncles , and pustles ripen ; buboes dissolve , and the disease is by little and little overcome . fear betrayes the succours of nature , and renders all endeavours useless ; because ( through that ) she readily receives the venome , sinks under it , and rather endeavours to nourish , than strives against the enemy . the signs of which are faintings , languishings of the spirits , palpitations of the heart , tremblings of the pulse , and rarely ever any other testimony of the disease , than the tokens : and if such persons have ( as sometimes happens ) blanes , pustles , carbuncles , or buboes , they neither ripen , nor dissolve . in this case ( thô so desperate ) if high cordials be at first administred and continued , with those medicines , that resist malignity , then sometimes the sick are happily cured , otherwise they certainly perish . the distinctions of diseases , natural , preternatural , and contranatural , being premised ; it is now to be understood , that the change of one of them into another , or the mixtion of them each with other , beget a complication ; as the two general evils , the lues and scurvy ( in their progress , from their first beginnings in us , to the exit of our lives ) do clearly demonstrate . touching the lues , a distemper too well known , i forbear to speak ; but generally in the scurvy , a disease by me long observed , i find the power of contraction ( or congelation ) and resolution . for scurvys present themselves to our consideration , as arising either from too great constringency , whereby the effervency of the bloud is stayed ; or from an over-great tartness , or resolution of the chyle into an abounding fermentation . in the one case , the bodies of people afflicted are always ( or for the most part ) chilly , sleepy , numned , stiff , and indisposed to motion ; in ●he other , they labour under faintings , ●alpitations of the heart , involuntary ●weats ▪ and heats , and as soon troubled with cold again . for , in the assault ●●om without , are inferred numnesses , ●ontractions of the nerves , extream ●oldnesses and lamenesses . and when ●ature ( by the assault perverted ) er●neously strives against them , hor●ble pains ensue , and produce rheu●atisms , and scorbutick gouts , ( the effects of tartness ) known by dolors in the nerves , as well as in the joynts and , when the assault is more inward , then arise palsies , convulsions , vertigoes , and all other capital diseases , that have their original from congelations in the nerves . on the other hand , when resolution is present ( for congelations and resolution● are too frequent in every part of the body ; and , as paracelsus well observed , are the sources or originals o● all diseases ) there sometimes happen● a resolution of the members , by fermentations in the bloud , erysipela's all open sores , cancers , and the like also inordinate bleedings , preternatural fluxes of bloud , bloudy vomitings , vehement burnings , loosnesse of all kinds , and the like . for , th● diarrhea , lientery , dysentery , catarrhs , hectick feavers , solution o● the joynts , &c. are properly calle● diseases of resolution . i should now subjoyn a discour● touching the forms and operation of ●●enomes , foremention'd in this theory , but because they rarely come in play , i had rather supersede that treatise , until the doctors vouchsafe to allow them an existence ; wherefore i shall here put a short end to the general nature of diseases , whose universal work it is to put such an end to ours . the third part. a proof of the former positions by practice . now , i proceed to a direct explanation of my practice in cure of diseases , consonant to the theory above given . but , because i have elsewhere spoken of cures , by me performed in the same method , from the year , 1657 , to the year 1665 ; i will discourse only of those distempers , that since that time ( thô of the progress and determination of the plague alone then raging , i could write a large volume ) have fallen under my care , and been cured without the help of any of the compositions of the shops , or commonly known chymical remedies ; both which kinds of medicines , i do , in a manner , tacitly disclaim , as unfit to serve the extream necessities of nature ; yet , have i so far allowed of them , as they may in some sort or degree be of use in cases less difficult : well knowing , that 't is only the prudence of physicians , in a due application of remedies specifick to parts or juyces , which renders them serviceable to the end , for which they were made . nevertheless , for brevity sake , and because in my theory to this present practice of physick , i have at large discoursed about this matter , i shall say no more of them ; but go on , by the practice it self , to prove the use of general medicines to be rational , and true , certain in nature , and confirmed by experience . in order to which , i begin with the plague in the year 1665 , and the diseases of the following years ; wherein popular distempers ( the relicts of the preceding plague ) did sufficiently manifest themselves in their vigour , and reigned long , to the astonishment of those doctors , who ( the year before ) conscious to themselves of the deficiency of their own medicines , fit to resist that malignity , forsook their patients in a time , when their skill ( had it been worth esteem ) would have been of greatest service . having affirmed , diseases to be either simple , or complicated , resolved or congealed , as i must ( with paracelsus ) acknowledg all diseases are , it is now time to speak of their cures ; first particularly , and afterwards , generally . in order to which , for order sake , i intend to give a short hint of cures , both particular and general ( in discoursing of which , i shall be exceeding brief ) afterward , by many examples produced from my own experience , of more than eighteen years since the last plague , confirm the truth of this my theory , by my proper practice in a larger manner . therefore first , i thus say : in congealed distempers , remedies furthering transpiration , by resolving those acrid powers , that hinder the same , are most conducent to the cure of them . but , in resolution of the powers , where faintings , and palpitations are predominant ; there constringents are most serviceable . yet open tinctures , by which nature may ( as in a glass ) see her own deficiency , perform both the one and the other , more strongly or more remissly , according to the excellency of them . of the plague . in the beginning of the said plague , i used all the known anti-pestilential medicines ( both of ancient and modern physicians ) which i found would indeed provoke sweats ; yet not naturally , but by help of cloaths , where a great burning generally was , before the sweats appeared . by reason whereof , nature , ( being wearied ) through such a forcible way of acting , could not be supported sufficiently to the extirpation of that venome , so as to dissolve buboes , without maturation ; nor ripen blanes , or carbuncles , but by a long series of time , and great conflicts of the sick , which too frequently ended in death ; thô , the plague ( at that time ) was not come to the height of its malignity . perceiving this , i had recourse to my own medicines , which i had formerly found successful in most feavers : for , by these remedies , such as came to me upon the first assault , if the chyle was infected , and any fulness remained in the stomach , they usually vomited at first , and presently after fell into sweats , without preceding burnings , or the help of cloaths . and the sweats , for the first 12 , or 24 hours , were like drops of water from a bucket , for largeness ; yet was there not any depression of spirit , but more ease , and greater vitality or liveliness , and the continuation of the same sweats was pleasant and refreshing : by which means , buboes dissolved , and in the third day ( at farthest ) the malignity was separated : and , thô the same remedies were continued , yet after that time no sweats appeared , otherwise , than was usual in an healthful person , the time and season being considered . but where blanes and carbuncles appeared , there sweats were not so great , nor so continual ; but usually on the third day , the blanes and carbuncles opened , and their eschars were divided from the living flesh , and digestion so followed into matter , that in a short time ( comparatively to that , where other medicines were used ) perfect health followed . the different manner of assaults at that time . in the first assaults of that pestilence , some were taken with great shivering pains in the back and head : others were afflicted with lightness of the head , without pain ; but had tremblings and palpitations of the heart , and sometimes swoonings . some were assayled , as with a stroak , stab , or prick ; others with blanes , buboes , or carbuncles , without any manifest sickness at their first appearance . my method of cure. under all these various manifestations ( except where great fear was ) i always used one and the same method . when they were first taken ill , i ordered them to go to bed presently , and lay no more cloaths on , than they usually did in time of health ; then i gave them my pouder , in a spoonful of wine , ale , or beer : and i gave my aqua pestilentialis , if taken with shiverings , two or three spoonfuls ; but if hot , then but one spoonful , or one spoonful and half , perswading them to lye still ; which if they did , sweats presently followed , and for their supports therein , they were allowed mace-ale , posset-drink , sack or white-wine ; thin caudle with a little wine in it , and either of these somewhat often repeated , but in small quantities . my aqua pestilentialis was taken as often , as need required ; sometimes once in an hour , sometimes more , and sometimes less , as occasion was . my pouder was repeated once in two , four , or six hours , according to the capacity of nature : where diminution of sweats and of strength hapned , it was often taken ; but if the patients continued sweating , and strong and brisk , only once in six hours . but , if there seemed a tendency to a loosness , which ( in that disease ) was usually fatal , my coralline cordial was often used , a spoonful at a time every half hour , until the signs of laxity disappeared . where great thirst was concomitant with the disease , i used my simplex , mixed into the form of a small cordial drink , ordering one spoonful at a time to be taken into the patient's mouth , and swallowed down leisurely , as it were by drops . and if great restlesness hapned , through want of sleep , i administred ten grains of salt of hartshorn purified , and dissolved in cytron-water , or white-wine posset-drink , and repeated the dose once in two hours , not neglecting the foresaid pouder . this remedy thus seasonably given , seemed to me far more successful in relieving nature in that exigency , than any common dormative medicine , of what kind soever . but , if presently after the assault there appeared a stupor , drowziness , and a slow pulse ; then did i make a strong cordial of the simplex , and gave of it a spoonful at a time , once in an hour ( not neglecting either the said pouder , or the said aqua pestilentialis ) till the pulse was raised , and the sweats flowed free ; and then i proceeded in all things , as before specified . in great fear , thô i gave the pouder at first , yet i always used large quantities of the coralline cordial , to refresh the declining spirits , and to procure free sweats ; which if attained , then the method before spoken of was continued to the end of the cure. in the anguish of carbuncles and blanes , i applyed outwardly ( besides the internal medicines ) my resolving cerot , and changed the same once in 6 , or 12 hours , according as the dolours were more intense , or more remiss . for i had , by sad experience , seen the fruitlesness of all magnetical attractives , whether mineral , vegetable or animal : nay , the prepared toads , so famous in the year , 1603 , ( testifyed of by helmont , and before him highly extolled by paracelsus ) proved here of no use , either to extract the venome , or prevent the malignity of that disease . i here write nothing of buboes , because ( where my medicines were used ) they never ripened , but dissolved ; except , where patients were disobedient , and unwilling to continue in their sweats , and so gave occasion to the maturation thereof : which ( thô but seldom ) hapning , i then applyed only my resolving cerot , as before ; and found the same , as well in ripening as in resolving , to exceed all poultisses and plaisters , i ever used before , or since . remarks upon the carelesness of patients afflicted with the plague , or their attendants , &c. when some persons , using my medicines , had layn in sweats , for 24 hours , more or less , and found themselves seemingly well , and free from all disturbances , or sense of the pestilential venome , they ( notwithstanding their sweats continued large and free ) would needs rise out of bed , and so checked those sweats , inferring on themselves sudden death . for , i always observed , that no one , having that disease , who did rise out of bed before the third day ; or at least before sweats ( excited by the use of my medicines ) had wholly ceased , did ever recover ; except by that long and tedious way of maturation of buboes , which then admitted not of dissolution ; because after that time , sweats could never more be naturally excited . also , no less fatal errours were committed by nurses , and such as attended the sick , in laying on too many clothes , during the time of their sweats : for , so doing , violence was offered to nature , and the spirits , oppressed thereby , languished under their own burthen , and were no longer capable of help , by any means whatsoever . moreover , where people ( in time of the pestilence ) to please their appetites , eat large meals , or over-cooling foods , as fresh-fish , all sorts of fruits , melons , cowcumbers , &c. thô in a remiss degree ; yet , if the same persons were taken with that disease , great vomitings and loosnesses followed , which did generally end in death . because such persons could not ( by any remedies ) be brought to sweat , after the manner of those , that lived temperately , and avoided like excesses . also , these patients were wont , for the most part , to impute their extream loosnesses and vomitings , rather to their own inordinate eating , than to the power of the plague , then raging ; and so , sought not remedies against the invading venome , but used particular medicines , according as the present and ( by them thought ) only occasion required . whereas , on the contrary , those that lived temperately , and were watchful over themselves , so as to take remedies presently after the first sense of any assault of that venome , and followed the order before prescribed , very rarely miscarried . for , whole families , that have been large and infected , have all escaped , through their proper care , and prudence , in duly observing the directions above given . yet , which is to be lamented , i have observed , that when spots appeared , of what kind soever they were , the nurses and tenders of the sick , seeing them , were seized with so great amazement , that they forsook all their former care , insomuch as they gave up their patients for dead ; thô those spots were not the direct signs of mortality . for all i have seen , having such spots , ( except one ) did recover . but that spot , which whosoever was seiz'd with dyed under it , had a round circle , dark blew , and green , ( after the manner of mixtions of colours in the rain-bow ) and in the center thereof a crimson spot , that felt hard under the finger , in comparison of the softness of the other flesh. this , in that plague , was the infallible token of sudden death : therefore such spots were rightly called tokens . of the griping of the guts . this disease , for some years ( especially the first ) after the plague , did sufficiently manifest it self to be a relict of that popular distemper : for this malady exceeded all other acute distempers ; the patients , afflicted therewith usually dying at the third or fifth day . the reason of this , was because the veins opening , the bloud flowed out , like a torrent , and passing through the guts , no laudable excrement could be seen in the stools , but bloud , and a gelly-like matter , that smelt like boyled horns . the pains were excessive , stools almost continual , thô in small quantities ; and until such time as by the power of nature alone , or through the help of proper medicines , the bloud was restrained , the gelly-like-matter lessened , and excrements laudable ( both in odour and existence ) began to appear , this disease was never cured . my method of cure. upon the first assault , or great gripings , and appearance of bloud , or gelly-like-matter in the excrements , i gave my pouder ( above specifyed in the plague ) once every two hours , my coralline cordial once every hour , and applyed to the belly tripe parboyled , which was laid on warm ; and when that waxed cool or smelt , other warm parboyled tripe was applyed . by this method , the first day the bloud was restrained , and the pain somewhat mitigated : the second day , the gelly-like-matter lessened , and some appearance of excrement shewed it self : and on the third day , laudable excrements were seen , and the gelly-like-matter disappeared . then , by continuing the same medicines , in the former method , large sweats were produced , which ( being continued in but one day or two ) perfect health succeeded . nor did i ever know any one , from that time unto this very day , perish by ahe malignity of this disease ; if they took my medicines ( and begun with them at first ) according to this order . the order of diet , by me prescribed in this disease . i ordered gelly of hartshorn to be given to the sick , and thin broth made of tripe or sheeps-feet , with bread ( not oatmeal ) boyled in it : beer and wine i forbid , till the disease slackned . i permitted milk and water , with mallowes in it , to be frequently drunk , in small quantities at a time . but , where great thirst was , i allowed posset-drink , made white , ( not green ) with a little canary , or malago wine in it . remarks upon the errors of physicians at that time , in administring common binders , opiates , or other restringents . in the cure of this disease , i deservedly rejected all common binders , or restringents , too much at that time used by other physicians , how specifical soever they were , or might be supposed to be ; because i discerned , that nature , being enraged by the presence of that corroding venome , wanted only suitable helps , to restrain her own exorbitances . i likewise rejected opiats , because they were uncertain ; and thô they eased pains , they cured not . for , i had well observed , in this disease , that whensoever a forcible stop was made , either by opiats or restringents , ( if nature were not , at the same time very strong ) then light-headedness and sudden death followed . for , such remedies , having no power to expel the present venome , did only stop the passages , by which nature her self intended to separate that evil ; so that , instead of being natural helps , they proved no other , than unnatural introducers of death . of the scurvy . this being the general disease of our country , seemeth both nurse and tomb to all other distempers . the last plague was buried in it . for , when that pestilence waxed more mild , it plainly exhibited scorbutick symptomes . the lues is , by it , so masked , that its original cannot be discerned . autumnal distempers are hid therein ; and every preternatural disease , of what kind soever , if not radically expelled by suitable remedies , discovers it self under a scorbutick form. yea , paternal diseases , thô very various , do never appear without some signs of the scurvy commixed with them . hence it comes to pass , that when particular remedies are applyed to particular parts , or the vices of them , ( no general medicine being in the mean time used ) thô they may cure or remove the particular offences of these or those parts , yet it is but as the cutting off the hydra's head , in stead of which many more appear . now , as it is apparent , that all these diseases are covered by the scurvy ; so it is no less manifest , that the same distemper doth both nurse and nourish them . for the lues becometh more mild , through the dark cold and stupifying nature thereof ; so that it doth not so often occasion great pains in the bones between the joynts , as were usual ( when the lues was simple , and not complicated with the scurvy ) but wandereth in the nerves , disaffecteth the brain , produceth gouts of a new strain , rheumatisms , convulsions , palsies , vertigo's , lethargies , atrophea's , lamenesses , &c. in every of these diseases , thô particular , which by the ancients ( according to what we read of former ages ) were well known , and often cured ; yet , at this time , if they be remedied , it is rather casual , than real : because the greatest part of those patients , that in our time have been thus afflicted , were never cured by any medicines of the ancients , unless in a long series of time , where nature her self was the sole and principal actor : but , by general remedies , they usually obtained a safe and speedy cure. for , it is clear , that when the lues is new shaped , by the modifying power of the scurvy , that the remedies , usually successful in expelling and annihilating the rage of that disease , proved notoriously inimical to nature ; by reason of the cruel qualities of mercury , by the power of the venome of the lues , made corporeal . which corporeity , where the lues is simple , is found to be of great use and service in abating the rigour of that disease ; but when scorbutical it rather increases , than lessens the same : as i my self can ( by sad experience ) testify ; and hartmannus did many years ago , in his own practica chymiatrica , and in his annotations upon crollius his basilica chymica , sufficiently manifest the inimiciousness of mercury to persons in any measure afflicted with the scurvy ; yet he highly praiseth the virtue of antimony in scorbutick distempers ; which plainly shews he had a true sense of the different nature of such diseases and their remedies . the gouts of our time very rarely appear simple . for in all my practice , for 30 years past , i never could discern above three persons , afflicted with that disease ( which in them was hereditary ) that did exactly answer to the descriptions of the ancients : all the other have appeared rather scorbutical , than otherwise , and been by me cured after the same general method above specifyed . but in every true gout , simple and not complicated ( as in this our day all such distempers generally are ) the tormenting pain thereof is only in the joynt-water , or synovy between the joynts ; not elsewhere : whereas these complicated or scorbutick gouts are attended with pains in the muscles , nerves , between the joynts , and in the vertebra of the back , in the os sacrum , and head ; places never mentioned by the ancients ( in all their descriptions of that disease ) as lyable to arthritick dolours , or more or less to be affected therewith . therefore , having thus far given a brief , but true , definition of the nature of the scurvy , shewing how it intermixeth it self with other distempers , disguising , changing and nourishing them ; i now proceed to examples of cures of the same disease , as it hath manifested it self to us , in these our days , under several forms . example 1. a man of good repute , having for some years laboured under great debility of faculties , with dejection of spirit , and leanness of body , insomuch , that the physicians he then used , concluded an atrophea or consumption to be present ; therefore , as the best remedy for one in his condition , they ordered him to suck his wife's breasts : this means he used , and other remedies by them prescribed , notwithstanding which , a general lameness followed , with a palsey , and great convulsions , which wrought so great confusion in his physicians , that ( not knowing what to do further ) they gave him over for dead or uncurable . after which , application being made to me , when i had well weighed his deplorable state , heard what had been done , and saw the lamentable effects thereof , i discerned that the source of all was the scurvy , and that nothing could alleviate that evil , but medicines of another strain . therefore , i first of all gave him my scorbutic cordial ( the brain being deeply affected ) with my pouder , repeating that once in six hours , and the cordial as oft as he pleased . at night going to bed , i gave my arcanum metallorum , and my scorbutic tincture , 30 drops at a time , in all his drink , day or night . this method being continued for some few dayes , his convulsions ceased , the weakness of his limbs began to abate ; and , instead of great chilness and coldness , that formerly attended , warmth and itchings began to discover themselves , and ( at last ) gentle breathing sweats : by which means , his palsy was taken off , his lost speech restored , by little and little he recovered the use of his limbs , and was at length wholly freed from his disease , and lived ( thô alwayes a weakly man ) thirteen or fourteen years after . example 2. an aged gentlewoman , afflicted with rheumatism-like pains , ( after an autumnal feaver ) which physicians labouring to remove , by applying cooling and altering things , did indeed take off the external dolours ; but ( by their remedies ) retracted the matter causing those pains inwards to the bowels and mouth of the stomach ; which great evil deprived her totally of the use of her limbs . whilst in this sad and deplorable state , being utterly given over , as a dying person , or at least uncurable , by her physicians , i was sent unto . when i came , and had well considered her condition , and found her stomach to be so very weak , as not able to retain a glass of sack , without rejecting the same suddenly by vomit ; i did not in this case ( as in others ) give her my pouder at first , but my scorbutic cordial and scorbutic tincture , as i saw cause , and the exigency of her present state required . when , by these means , i discerned her spirits to be somewhat enlivened , and her stomach fortified in some competent measure , i then gave my pouder once a day , and my arcanum metallorum at night . having continued this method for six or seven dayes , i found her water began to change , and some signs of separation therein , whereby i judged her digestion to be in some measure recovered . this course i continued day by day for a long time together ; in which , i discerned that those pains , which were before ( by their medicines ) brought into her belly and mouth of her stomach , were again retired outward : after which many pustles came forth , and her limbs by little and little gathered strength ; and , about three quarters of a year after , she recovered her pristine state of health , and is now alive at this day , thô several years since . example 3. another woman , thô young ▪ yet through convulsions was so drawn together , as to go almost double ; and when no remedy could be had for her from other physicians , she came to me . after i understood from her how it had been with her , i proceeded to the cure as follows . i gave her my pouder every morning , my arcanum metallorum , and arcanum veneris at night ; sometimes one , sometimes the other , as occasion was , and the exigency of the disease required ; not omitting to give my scorbutic tincture to be taken in all her drink , during the whole time of the cure. continuing this method , she was recovered in a short time , and is yet living , thô several years since . example 4. a young gentlewoman , afflicted with a great congelation in the sternon , always inclining her head downwards to the stomach , as if it had been contracted and forced thitherwards , never having the benefit of sneezing , but long suffering great palpitations of the heart ; little or no sleep , and such as was , much confused , continually under terrour , and at the same time with child ; sustaining this misery until the time of her delivery , and after that finding no abatement of the evil , notwithstanding the advice of several physicians , and the frequent use of their remedies , did at last send to me . i , finding her in that sad condition , and understanding all the remedies she had used to be fruitless and unsuccessful , discerned her disease to arise from congelation , under the scorbutic power . therefore , the fourteenth day after her delivery being come , i first gave her my pouder , which quickly brought her to more sedateness , than she had found in some months before , and the small sleep , she then had , proved more refreshing than formerly , as she her self acknowledged . this encouraged me to proceed , and she ( according to the result of her own reason and judgment ) rationally submitted to the following course . my pouder was given once in 4 , or 6 hours ; my scorbutic tincture in all the drink she took ; my arcanum veneris , and arcannm metallorum every night alternately ; my hysteric cordial , and hysteric drops , upon every occasion , or exigency of nature ; not neglecting other cordials ( by intervals ) for support . this method , being dayly continued , till strength came , and she was able to move , did at last ( with a few other auxiliaries ) accomplish the cure so apparently , that the external cutis all peeled off , her whole mass of bloud renewed , and she seemed unto all ( that knew her ) to have assumed a new complexion , and nature . note : that this woman had not sneezed in 6 , or eight months ; but upon the first motion thereunto , the congelation seemed to be much more easy , and afterwards she sneezed usually twice a day , and by that means the contraction daily lessened , until it was totally dissolved . also , among the various scenes , that hapned in this disease , there never was any purgation by stools and vomits ; but the distemper gradually vanished , by transpiration , small sweats , and vrine , without any other sensible evacuation thereof . and now she hath attained her full strength , and perfect use of her limbs , with as great activity of spirit , as did ever attend her before , and hath since conceived with child . it cannot rationally be expected i should here set down every accident , that hapned , and the particular auxiliaries i used , in this and the other scorbutic diseases before spoken of : because , so doing , i should extend this treatise to too great a bulk , and render it less serviceable ( by augmenting the price ) than otherwise , as by me intended , it is like to prove . i could also here subjoyn many more examples of scorbutic distempers by me cured , after the former method ; but for the same reason i omit them , and proceed to examples of cures performed in other diseases no less deplorable . of palseys . palsies are four-fold , and therefore have rightly obtain'd four distinct denominations , as follows : palseys of contraction , palsys of resolution , numn-palsyes , and shaking palsyes ; which two last are partly resolved , and partly congealed , therefore cannot be ranged under either of the former . of the cure of these , by four examples only , i intend to speak , with as much brevity , as the subject matter it self can admit . example 1. of a contracted palsy . a mayden child , about ten years old , having her arms and legs drawn together , and her neck drawn of one side , ( this being certainly known to every physician , to be a paralytic contraction ) i began at first , as i had done in other cases , with my pouder , giving it twice the first day , and at night my arcanum metallorum . this method i continued day by day , using frequently my mixtura simplex , given five or six times every day . sometimes i gave her my volatile spirit ( not the fetid acid phlegm ) of tartar , in all her drink . by which method , in three weeks time , there seemed to be some amendment , the nerves were more relaxed , the head began to ake backward , and a warmth more than usual in that part ; and this descended down by the back-bone . soon after this appeared a drivling in the mouth . after the pouder had been taken for a month , it began to work every day , and wrought a whole month after by vomit and stool alternately : yet still , with increase of strength , and restoration of faculties . and , in about ten or twelve weeks time , she was perfectly restored to her pristine state of health , and is since married , hath had children , and is alive at this time . note . in this whole cure , no other medicines ( than what are above specified ) were used , except a resolving oyl , and that only for the first three or four weeks , untill the powder began to work ; then i ceased the use thereof . example 2. of a resolved palsy . in resolution of the members of a male child , where all the nerves were relaxed , so that arms ; legs , and neck , hung like parts , that never had capacity of motion ; i used only my powder , and my arcanum metallorum for three or four weeks together , and the child by little and little gathered strength , and was at length perfectly recovered ; is since become a strong man , and alive at this day . example 3. of a numn palsy . a man of seventy years of age , was numned all over one side , his speech for the present quite taken away ; but coming to me , and taking my medicines presently ( having long before been my patient ) he was cured in three weeks time , in manner thus : i gave him my powder twice a day , and my arcanum metallorum every night , with my scorbutick tincture in all his drink . this method being followed , in the first three days he could move some of his fingers ; and so , strength and heat coming gradually into every part , about the tenth day he began to drivel , and the powder to operate so , that he had loose stools every day ; and soon after recovered his speech , and the perfect use of his limbs , and is yet alive , though about ten years since . example 4. of a shaking palsy . a lad , about 14 years of age , labouring under an autumnal feaver , fell into a palsy , having a continual shaking , with strong convulsions also attending . to him i gave ( as to others i had don ) my powder , my arcanum metallorum , my mixtura simplex , and the arcanum of antimony prescribed by basilius . by which medicines , used after my former method , he was perfectly restored in a short time . of convulsions . convulsions take beginning , either from an unnatural fermentation of the juyces of the body , whereby every vessel or organ is overmuch disturbed ; or by particular compunction or compression of the nerves contracted ; or else from nature's true sense of what is fit to be separated from the parts offended , and her endeavour to separate the same ; as is apparent in the beginnings of the small pox , where the nutritive juyces are condensed , by reason of the morbific ferment , and so made unfit for the nutrition of the spirits , and the necessary separation appertaining thereunto ; being wholly uncapable to be distributed to the parts . here nature , regularly acting , makes convulsions , which open the nerves , and render that diseasy ferment fit to become the matter of the small pox , or feavers : for , so soon as the convulsions cease , the small pox appears ; as is sufficiently evident by the events : and it is apparently manifest , that such convulsions are sooner perioded , than the ideal . and althô the small pox or feavers be very malignant ; yet it is rare to see any one fail under those distempers where convulsions have preceeded : thô a convulsion happening after those diseases , is most frequently mortal . for , the first is the result of nature's strife against the disease ; but the other ( the disease being annihilated , and nature overcome ) ariseth from the terror of death , of which it is a general prodrome . also , the superfluities , that children bring with them into the world , are the occasional causes of those many convulsions , that attend them in their infancy . for , they being retents of the maternal nourishment , which ( coming then first under the dominion of the stomach of the infant ) cannot not be received as a guest , but are rejected , and opposed as an enemy to nutrition ; and if not subdued in the act of the first digestion , by vomiting , or stools , red or white-gum , &c. they become the matter of long continuing convulsions . likewise , in breeding teeth , convulsions often happen ; for , by the compression or punction of the nervous fibres in the gums , made by the ingrowing teeth , nature is enforced to make convulsions , that the teeth may break through those fibres , impeding their forth-coming . but most lamentable are the ideal convulsions , which have their original from terror , frights , or fears : for the spirit , by the amazement they infer , produceth a dark image , or impression , by which it is overwhelmed , and so driven to irregular actions , which occasion uncertain events ; because being surprized with stupor , and not knowing what to do , it doth nothing to right purpose , by reason of the variety of imaginations which ( in these cases ) are as various as the conceptions of the mind can be . of the cure of convulsions , that happen before the small pox , &c. in the cure of these convulsions , i generally use my pouder once in six hours , by which the rigour of them is usually abated ; but , if in a short time the convulsions be not lessened by the use thereof ; then i give my arcanum metallorum , or my arcanum of camphire ( administring either of them , as i see cause ) and repeat the dose once an hour , till the convulsions cease . note : here it is to be observed , that even in these convulsions ( where my medicines are used ) the fits are more frequent , but shorter , until wholly annihilated , and the small pox appears . of the cure of convulsions from relicts of maternal nourishment . these convulsions rarely happen , where my pouder is given to children , so soon as they are born , and often repeated ; and if they do afterwards arise , such convulsions are soon and easily taken off , by the use of other medicines prenominated . but , where convulsions happen in children , that have not had the benefit of such remedies ; there i must confess the work to be long , and irksome , requiring soundness of judgment in the physician , because of the great variation , that happens therein ; but more especially , by reason of the dissatisfaction of parents and nurses , seeing the fits more frequent , thô much shorter , when under my cure : for , i once knew a child , so afflicted that had an hundred fits in one day ; and this continued ten days together , the number not lessening ; yet , with this advantage , ( notwithstanding the fits were so numerous ) that the child became daily more lively , and each fit shorter and shorter . after the tenth day , this child had no more fits ; but was constantly attended with breathing sweats unto perfect recovery . note : in cure of this child , i used the same medicines as before ; but not without other peculiar auxiliaries , too long to be here recited : nevertheless i purpose to speak of them , when i write ( as i intend hereafter ) of particular diseases , and the remedies i used in cure of the same . of the cure of convulsions in breeding teeth . in the cure of these convulsions , i have by experience discerned , that thô the former medicines were effectually helpful in this case ; yet , if incision also were not used , the cure was not so easily compleated . of the cure of ideal convulsions . in ideal convulsions , i have experimentally found my pouder , and my arcanum veneris , to be of general use and service ; but could not ( so speedily as i desired ) compleat the cure by them , without the help of particular auxiliaries . for , in these convulsions , the variety of idea's is so great , that it requires a judicious application of various specificks . of lethargies , coma's , and apoplexies . these diseases have all their original from one dark and stupefactive source , where the gates of sleep continually stand open : for such as are afflicted with them , are either troubled with over-much drowsiness , or oppressed with sleeps too profound . these distempers differ only in the degrees of their power : in the two first , there are only subtile vapours , ( by the schools called smoaky ) which having their assent from the diseasy power of darkness in us , do after an obtuse manner stifle the natural faculties ; but in the latter , viz. apoplexies , they more intensly act , and materially by bloud , or otherwise suppress the faculties of life , and so absolutely overwhelm all the powers of nature , that the body ( or the spirit thereof ) becomes wholly insensible . i have great reason to speak of these diseases in this manner , having been much exercised therein . if called in the beginnings of them , i have found them to be sooner removed , than several other distempers of less danger : for if the spirit can be timely excited , to strive against the evil , they quickly vanish . what medicines are helpful to one , are really helpful to all , the dose only considered : but i never found , in any of these cases any other than general remedies to be profitable , or available in exciting nature to free her self from the imimpending danger ; therefore generally , in order to curation , i here begin with my cephalic drops , which i give once , and a little while after they have been taken , my arcanum metallorum ; and 6 hours after that my pouder , and so interchangeably using my pouder and arcanum , except that sometimes ( as i see cause ) instead of my arcanum metallorum , i give my arcanum veneris . i proceed always giving my cephalic drops once every hour , during the whole cure , which is usually compleated in three dayes time ; during which , sweats rarely happen , until the drowsiness be wholly over ; but now and then loose stools . and in real apoplexies , nature stirs up vomitings , sneezings , bleedings at nose , or else expels by urine great quantities of insipid water void of odour . note : where vomitings are , which usually precede an apoplexy , if any physician endeavour to restrain such vomitings , or the patients themselves be unwilling to bear them , then they inevitably fall under the burthen of that disease . a particular example of the method i used in the cure of a lady of sixty nine years of age. this lady alwayes dreading an apoplexy , by reason her relations had often dyed of the same ; desired i would give order , in case of a sudden assault , what should be used whereupon i left with her woman some of my arcanum metallorum , giving charge , that if the lady were suddenly taken with vomiting , o● lightheadedness , she should give that to her first , and not the pouder , thô she was formerly used to take it ; and to send immediately away for me , because she then lived four miles ou● of london . this assault happening my arcanum given , and i sent for , ● hastning thither , found her drowsie , thô the cold and stupidity were somewhat less , than before the taking what i had left for her . i then gave her the arcanum antimonii basilii ; which is not used or known by any one else that i can tell : after the taking of which , warmth increased , a little sneezing hapned , vrine came away abundantly ; insomuch , that in six hours time , there was above 3 pints of water received , void of all urinous odour , or saline tast. the head grew hot , bloud issued by drops at the nosethrils ; these actions happened in the first six hours after the assault . after this , the spirit became more lively , and the bloud more frequently issued out at nose and mouth , which continued more or less for three daies together : in the mean time her sleeps were short , but refreshing . then my pouder was given every 4 hours , my arcanum metallorum once in 12 hours , and my cephalic cordial once an hour . and in four daies time , all symptomes of the disease vanished , weakness only remained . note : this cure being taken in hand before the brain was fully stupified , the remedies had the greater effect ; for i have ( to my grief ) too often seen the same medicines prove useless , thô the dose was given in a threefold quantity ; and where they were serviceable to prevent the evil , they did not bring away so much bloud , but caused sneesings , and vrine in like quantity , and frequency . also i have observed , that direct vomitories , given in this disease , ( as they too often are ) are as dangerous , as things repressing vomits , before the patient is throughly seized with the disease ; but after the stupor is at its height , a forcible vomit , if it operate strongly enough , may do good , otherwise the patient certainly dies . the same may be said of sacrification , phlebetomy , ( thô that carry a seeming conveniency in sanguineous apoplexies ) blistering , clysters , and other forcible things , which cannot separate the sanguineous matter , except accidentally only ; therefore are uncertain helps ; whereas medicines of an vniversal tendency , and truly gifted , act just as nature requires , and so frequently act with greater force and certainty , than any of a specific operation can do . but there is too often a great failing in physicians , that they discern not apoplexies before they seize , and so cannot contribute help for preventing them ; which is much to be bewailed . of imposthumes . imposthumes are as various as the juyces of the body , yet all of them have but one original , which is the retents of superfluities , not capable to be separated without apertion of the skin ; except such remedies be used that can further the resolution of what is congealed or stagnized ; which resolution , so procured , yields more ease to nature , and is performed with less anxiety , than when turned into quitter . for it is clear , if nature can separate things , without corrupting them , her government is not then much blemished ; in the performance of which , general medicines are only capable to assist her . here books must be laid aside , all recipes dis-esteemed , conclusive judgment , and all indications neglected , but nature wholly tended , and referred to ; we in the mean while ( by a due application of suitable remedies ) adding light to her to act by , and power to overcome the present stagnization . for in so doing , the scene is altered , and nature rendred capable with ease to remove that , which before could not be removed , without too great molestation . for the wisest of men , upon the first appearance of a tumor , cannot by any known rule judge of nature's capacity or propensity to determinate the evil ; or whether it be more profitable to resolve , or suppurate the same . as is apparent in some tumors , where by attempting resolution , the subtillest or thinnest parts being separated , the remainder is so indurated , as not to be resolved or suppurated ; and so it becomes the same , that chyrurgeons call a schirrus . but , in suppurating tumors , great pains , anguish , and different symptomes , in differing forms of heats , colds , &c. often happen ; through the distress nature falls under , by reason of the largeness of the tumor , and the difficulty to bring such evils to perfect suppuration : and at last , unless they open themselves and be judiciously handled , they are often changed from one thing into another . for , 't is evident , that the opening of some tumors by incision , and keeping them open by cramming in of tents ( a practice too often used ) doth either change the nature of the tumor , or at least prolong the cure. whereas , in either case ( viz. in resolution , or suppuration ) if nature be well minded , no such symptomes or accidents happen . now , if such errors be committed , as is daily obvious they are , in external imposthumes , how much more in the internal ( i mean not those , that are internally caused by contusion , or other acts of violence ; because of them i have elsewhere spoken ) which are never seen , or known , but by their effects ? thô , in truth , every internal imposthumation hath the same occasional cause , as the external have : for they , being also caused by the relicts of nourishment not separated , fall under the laws of a disturbed , or sensible spirit ; which makes so great variety in them , not sensibly to be discerned by the physician , that he must of necessity , either refer himself to the help of such virtual remedies , as are capable to take off the disturbance , and fortifie the sensible power of right distinction in nature ; or he can never arrive to so much satisfaction in himself , as ( scientifically ) to declare how , or which way , the disease is , or may be cured . this is , by reason of the great uncertainty of the inclination of nature in these cases : for sometimes shee seeks to resolve , or maturate the relict , in the place , where it is , which is a true natural way ; at another time invirons the same with a cistis , in order to suppuration ; and at another season , and in another place , sends forth bloud out of the veins , intending thereby to separate that retent ( without digestion ) by the common passages ; which , if stopped or letted by the way , quickly tends to pus : and then ( if in that form it be separated ) the irruption is so violent , that it sometimes proves mortal ; as is too frequently apparent by those cataracts of bloud and matter , that ( in such cases ) issue out by the nosethrils , by the vreters , by vomiting , by stools , and by the womb. here nature her self erroneously acts , like those physicians , who inconsiderately attempt to purge out retents before they are digested , contrary to the mind of hippocrat●s , and the known rule of paracelsus , who saith , every disease ( to which i add , every diseasy-inclination ) ought to be cured in its own place . for 't is evident , that some imposthumes are not wholly sanguineous ; and the retents , being rarely such , ( because the veins as they have their own valves , so they have their peculiar passages to evacuate superfluities by ) the bloud that attends them , is rather in order to resolution , than putrefaction , provided nature be in her own path ; but if diverted therefrom , either through the want of light in her self to act by , or the physician 's error ( in mis-application of remedies ) those sad effects , above spoken of , do inevitably follow . for every retent , which nature can neither resolve nor digest , ( being forsaken ) naturally corrupts , by the heat and moisture of the place , and so maketh a real imposthume : but experience proves , that those actions of corrupting , may be prevented by a timely application of suitable remedies ; as is apparent by the following example . where relicts of preceeding feavers are , there nature sends bloud to be materiated , to maturate by putrefaction the offending evil , in order to its expulsion ; but if prevented by due medicines , and transpiration happens , then no putrefaction follows . for where proper means are used , bloud ( extra vasa ) is not corrupted , but kept from putrefying , or otherwise resolved without pus ; i my self having often seen bloud after long extravasation coughed up dry and hard , without the least sign of putrefaction . likewise every vessel ( of what kind soever ) being over-filled , and nature not capable to separate the same by the common passages ; that fullness ( by her forsaken ) becomes the matter of imposthumes . or if any matter be stagnized , that also is liable to the same transchangement , and produceth effects as bad , or worse than the former ; as is sufficiently witnessed by the dry belly-ache in the west-indies ; and by some of our country-men afflicted with the scurvey , in whom the knots in their nerves give a palpable testimony , not only of siagnization , but also of preternatural congelation ; not much unlike to our knotty gouis , or tophuses in the lues , which happen upon the bones ; where , for want of internal attraction of the parts , or external separation from them , the nutritive juice of the parts is indurated , and thereby becomes the matter it afterwards shews it self to be . for , when a floating evil , or diseasy spirit undetermin'd , assaults the life ; then nature sends forth bloud out of the veins , to encompass that spiritual evil , to materiate the same , and so makes fiery phlegmones , and diseases of like kind , which are true , real , and natural imposthumes , proper issues of her own intentions . of fiery phlegmones in general , and their cure. i forbear to write particular examples of these diseases , because they are so numerous , so frequently cured by my method , and so certainly known to the patients themselves ; but in general the tumors are large , the blood ( at first appearance ) uncorrupted ; yet it is not long before great pains , the forerunners of putrefaction , discover themselves . and thô at the first manifestation of these tumors , when only a weight and burthen upon the life is perceived , letting blood doth somewhat diminish the tumor , and prevent pain ; yet , if it have a diseasy character , that doth not hinder the foregoing determination of nature towards separation ; but allaying part of her fury , doth i acknowledge render the suppurative power less burthensome . but if quitter be begun to be made , then nature by phlebotomy is hindred of her own determination ; and being thereby weakened , languisheth , and labours to little purpose , making those distempers tedious in suppurating ; whereas , had not that supposed expedient been used , suppuration would much more speedily have followed . the cure. in the beginning of these diseases ( whether inward , or outward ) if there be a tendancy to pain , or no pain , if a burthen be , i give my powder once every 4 hours ; if sweats happen after taking it , and the pain be not great , the tumor is soon resolved . but if there be real matter made in these tumors , then thô the tumor seemingly decrease , yet the impostumation cannot be hindred ; but doth quickly and suddenly come to maturity ; and being throughly ripened , is as suddenly cured , yet if pains increase after taking the pouder , i give my arcanum veneris once in 24 hours , and my pouder ( as before is said ) once every 4 hours ; continuing this course unto the end of the cure. note also , in external cases , i apply my resolving cerot once in 12 hours . of an imposthume in the liver , and its cure. being called to a child 7 years of age , having hardness , weight and pain in his right side , and a short cough , with an unsavoury odour ; which i strictly observed , and thence presently distinguished ( especially after i had compressed the side of his belly under the ribs ) what the disease was , and that the seat of it was in the liver ; yet , not willing to be happy in my own distinction , i desired an intimate friend of mine ( one of the honoured society of the colledge of physicians ) to accompany mee , to see the progress of this distemper ; which he observing , fully concurr'd with me as to the seat of the disease . the cure hereof was thus perform'd ; the first day i gave my pouder once in 4 hours , my arcanum veneris at night , and my aperitive spirit in drink , as often as the child drank ; and outwardly i applied my resolving oyl . after the first or second day ( continuing the same method ) i found the tumor did not increase in magnitude , but the dolour was much augmented , till two nights were past . the third night , the pain lessened , and within a day or two after , the child being taken with great sickness , and vomiting , a large quantity of suppurated matter was cast forth ; and no sooner was a cessation of that vomiting , but great coughing happened , whereby more of the same putrid matter was plentifully spit up . after which , the child falling to sleep , and resting , no more vomiting followed ; but the coughing and spitting continued ( by intervals ) for 3 daies together . this time expired , the coughing began to abate , and the urine thenceforth was filled with purulent matter , which continued to come forth in great quantity ( with the urine ) for 7 daies together , not seeming to be diminished in all that time. about the eighth day happened a loose stool ( the child having been costive all the time before ) in which appeared the same purulent matter , as was before separated by vomiting , coughing , and urine . from that time , the urine began to clear , and so continued clearing each day unto perfect recovery . in this cure no other medicines were used , than those above specified . note : notwithstanding this child had stools each day after his first loose stool , yet ( except that once ) no pus appeared in the excrements . also , it is worthy of note , that during the whole cure , no bloud came forth with the purulent matter ; a sufficient testimony of the perfect suppuration thereof . of an imposthume of the stomach , and its cure. a young woman coming to me , having great dolour in her stomach , and that largely extended to hardness on the outside , yet compressive ; notwithstanding the many remedies she had taken ( according to the judgment of her physicians ) pro dolore ventriculi , the anguish of her stomach increased , her spirits languished , she was subject to great heats and colds , hysteric passions , fumings in her head , uncertain sleeps , &c. indubitate signs of an imposthume present . in this condition i took her into my care , and proceeded in her cure , as followes . i gave her my pouder once in six hours for the first day , and my arcanum metallorum at night ; and daily continued the same method , with my scorbutic tincture in all her drink . in 7 or 8 daies time , the imposthume opening , she voided by vomit a large quantity of pus ; and for 4 or 5 daies after ( taking the pouder ) vomited every day , and brought up part of the cistis . at 5 daies end the pouder wrought downwards , and the purulent matter came away by stools , with the remaining part of the cistis . note : here was no separation by urine , for that was clear ( as the urine of a sound body ) during the whole time of the cure. of an imposthume separated by vrine . a woman complaining of great pains in the sides of her belly and loyns , without any sign of tumefaction ( sensibly perceived by her self ) thô full of pain and torture ; when all means failed , used by other physicians , ( they judging her to be afflicted with cholic-passions ; because of the heats , colds , tying up , and great anguish she endured ) applyed her self to me . this deplorable case of hers , not being at all obvious to my distinction , and finding no place for any peculiar remedy , i gave my pouder first , as in other cases i had usually done ; and ( because the pain was in the descending parts ) my aperitive drops in all her drink , and my arcanum metallorum . the pouder i gave but once in a day , and the arcanum every night . this method i continued for 10 daies ; in which time the pains daily lessened , and all bad symptomes vanished . yet , being careful , that no relict might be left , i appointed the same medicines to be taken , in the same order , for 4 daies longer ; in which space of time came away by urine a little long bag ( some drops of bloud preceeding the exit thereof ) in which was contained matter perfectly suppurated . notwithstanding this , she continued the use of the pouder , for some weeks after , unto perfect recovery . note : here , in this cure , was no separation made , but by urine only . of an imposthume in the head , and its cure. a man of middle age , having weight , puncturing and a swimming in his head , being perswaded to take my medicines , used them for a small time according to my order ; but , finding his pain to increase , refused to be longer governed by my directions . after this , taking advice of others , he used sternutories , whereby issued by the nostrils a very small quantity of bloud and matter . these remedies not producing that ease he expected , his physicians advised him to purge ; in the doing of which , appeared both matter and bloud in his excrements : and , thô the purge was very gentle , yet this loosness continued upon him for several daies , infering so great weakness of body , that he was not able to walk the length of a room . bloud and matter issued at every stool , and the torment then was greater in his belly , than in his head. he languishing thus , and himself and his friends discerning their own inadvertency , to follow a specious ( but groundless ) hope of the advantage of separation by stools ; and finding his weakness greater than before , referred themselves a second time to me . then i gave my pouder every 2 hours , my coralline cordial once an hour ; which medicines , thô they did somewhat ease the pain in the belly , and lessen the quitter which was exonerated with the excrements ; yet was it full 10 daies time , before a stop was put to this unnatural way of separation . note : as the dolour of the patient's belly decreased , the pain of his head increased ; and then , to his own sense , his head was seemingly extended . perceiving this , i every night gave my arcanum veneris , and the pouder every 4 hours : then in 4 , or 5 daies the imposthume in the head opened afresh , yielding through the nostrils and mouth an indifferently large quantity of matter , but imperfectly concocted ; together with small pieces of skin , and at last so much skin , as extended upon a trencher , was as large in length , as the trencher it self . afterwards more small pieces of skin came away ; but in conclusion , nothing except bloud and matter was vented , till the extirpation thereof . of an opened imposthume in the head , and its cure. a woman middle-aged , having for some months laboured under the great trouble of an imposthume opened , as was manifest by the fetid matter , that flowed from her nostrils and mouth , having so great a swimming in her head , that she could not go half a flight-shot , without resting ; and so great a sense of fulness in her head , that ( putting her finger into her ear ) she could feel the floating matter moveable ; after all endeavors had been used , by errins , purgations , drying-drinks , and whatsoever other means her physicians thought most fit to be practiz'd ; the putrefaction being not changed , nor the fluctuation stopped , she applyed her self to me . in this case , i used nothing but my pouder twice a day , for several daies together , and my aperitive drops in all her drink during that time . by the continued use of these means , her head seemed ( to her ) more lightsome ; that ill savour of the descending matter was almost totally extinct . then , i gave my arcanum metallorum , after which a gleety-water flowed a great while , but void of savour . this method i continued for almost 9 months after ; in which time all that distemper seemed to be subdued , and nothing remained , except an ill habit , under a scorbutic form ; against which i administred what was formerly specify'd to be proper in scorbutic distempers . by which remedies , her head was reduced to its pristine state , weakness only continuing in that part. this cure was performed many years since . note : it is impossible to write of all particular cases of imposthumes , ( thô very briefly , they being so numerous , and daily presented ) without enlarging the present work to too great a volume ; therefore i refer the reader to the reasons urged by me in the foregoing prologue to these examples : because the medicines ( by me used ) are one and the same in every kind of imposthume ; without other variation , than what occasional accidents may cause me to use . of feavers , putrid , malignant , epidemical , or accidental . all these feavers are so well known , and so frequently happen , that they need no description : for , whether the patients be taken with chilness , head-ach , vomiting , pain in the back , or other symptomes ; they are all ( by me ) cured after one and the same method , with small , or very little variation . i alwaies give my pouder , in the beginning of these distempers , and order the same to be repeated every four hours . and then , if a tendency to putrefaction be in the chyle , the pouder either makes vomits , or stops them : yet , in these cases , sweats do not suddenly follow the taking the pouder , till all the putrefactive disposition is removed ; however , on the fourth day a laudable hypostasis will appear in the vrine : after which time , constant sweats follow unto the end of the cure , which ( if my simplex be daily used with the pouder ) is usually compleated on the 7th day . but , in epidemics , that are continual , if the patients take the pouder so soon as they are seized with shiverings , then sweats quickly follow ( unless the chyle be infected ) without vomiting , or loosness : and if the pouder be repeated once in four hours , it rarely happens , that the cure is not finished , on the third , fourth , or fifth day at farthest , if the sweats ( coming forth in the mean time ) have not been check'd . note : that in cure of these feavers ( viz. putrid and epidemic ) i administer all things , as in the former plague ; except my aqua-pestilentialis , and some other things only fitted for that present necessity . of feavers continual , and intermitting , complicated , and of feavers simply intermitting . in these continual feavers , thô stronger paroxysmes daily be , or every other day ; yet , in the intermissions the feaver is not wholly off . nevertheless , in these cases , i follow the same method , as in the other feavers , with this variation only , viz. that i give my simplex ( or febrifugal drops ) once in an hour or two ; both in the paroxysme , and intermission . this order being observed , these feavers are generally terminated , at the third or fourth fit : at which time usually 3 , or 4 loose stools happen , just upon the separation of the febrile power . in intermitting feavers , where no constant continuance is , between the paroxysmes , i also give the same medicines , thô not in the same quantity , and have alwaies found them to answer the ends of nature ; unless , by irregularity of patients , their proper effects have been impeded . therefore , in these cases , i could never see any just necessity for the use of the peruvian bark , call'd the jesuits pouder : for what repute soever that bark hath got in the world , the merit thereof is as yet undiscerned by me . by my medicines , both spirit and matter are separated , and not lockt up together , as by the peruvian bark they alwayes are . for , i have by experience discerned more grievous and long adhering calamities to follow the use thereof , ( especially in quartanes , or malignant feavers ) than those diseases themselves would ever have left . yet , i deny not , but that sound people ( of haile constitutions ) where no malignity is , having intermitting feavers , may receive benefit , by the taking off the fits by that way ; provided nature her self be strong enough to subdue the relicts afterward ; otherwise not . of quartanes . these feavers , according to my opinion , are far better and much more safely cured without ; than with the jesuits-pouder ; because i never found their long continuance prejudicial to nature ; except where nature her self , or physicians , have inferred dammage , by not resolving matter , and spirit , at the same time ; therefore , i here speak no further of them . likewise of small pox and meazles , diseases very well known , i forbear to write any thing ; except this observation , that their malignity is somewhat abated , their matter diminished , and the patients continue in sweats most of the time , by the use of my medicines : and of convulsions , preceeding the said small pox , i speak not here , because they are sufficiently treated of in the chapter of convulsions . of diseases of the womb. having hitherto said nothing of those grievous infirmities , incident to women only , that arise from the inordinacies , defects , and distemperatures of the matrix , ( which hath a peculiar government in their bodies ) and generally prove to be more frequent , lamentable , and dangerous , than most or all of the other diseases above treated of ; i thought it highly necessary here to subjoyn a peculiar , plain , and succinct discourse of them , shewing what remedies i used , and the method i alwaies observed in cure of the same of imbecillity of the womb. i call that an imbecillity , when the matrix is not capable of conception ; or after conception , hath not strength sufficient to retain the embryon . both these do naturally arise , either from some superfluity adhering to the part , or through indisposition of the archeus thereof : the one of these is spiritual , the other material . the spiritual is evident by the proneness of the archeus ( or spirit of life ) to form a too great contraction , or overmuch laxation in the part : the material is sensibly obvious , by overmuch moysture , or extream dryness . that , which is material , consisting of those excesses of dryness and moysture , is remedied by my pouder taken twice a day , three daies before the , monthly flux , and during that flowing , and for three daies after . this method being observed for two or three months , those weaknesses are for the most part removed , and the womb rendred apt to perform those natural offices , it could not do before . but , in contractions and laxations of the womb ( most true effects of the errour of the spirit , or archeus , of the part ) there is no observation of time required : only , when such patients come to me , i order them to take my pouder twice a day , for three daies together ( all the said three daies ▪ and during the whole time of their cure , taking my scorbutic tincture , 20 drops at a time , in all the drink they drink ) and when the three first dayes are expired , i give one dose of my arcanum veneris , every night going into bed , and my pouder every morning following ; always keeping this method , till the evil be sensibly removed . other accidents , that may inter●een , during such cures , cannot well be described here ; but must be referred to the judgment of physicians , to apply their helping-hand whensoever they do occur . of miscarriages . but , because ( in the former paragraph ) i but tacitely hinted at abortion , where i spake of the imbecillity of the womb , to retain the conceived embryon , i think it needful here to express my self further , touching such like accidents attending women with child ; of which , some are false conceptions , with the true ; others only tendency to abortion ▪ without any false conception ; in both which , i intend to declare , what hath been my judgment and practice , candidly and freely , and how ▪ i have cured , or helped the same ▪ where false conceptions have been ( in women with child ) which were usually followed with great floudings rendring the parties doubtful , whether they had conceived or not ; gave my pouder often , till the flou●ding ) ceased . then ( if the embryon wa● not too much injured by that flouding ) the false conception was explled and the true preserved . and , because in this case , there is often great faintings , i ordered my scorbutic● tincture to be given , 20 drops at a time ( in drink ) once in 2 , or 3 hours ▪ where no false conception was , and yet a tendency to abortion , perceivable by the falling of the womb and pains attending , i gave my pouder once in four hours ; and if i● twelve hours the pains ceased , th● continued use of my pouder perfectly cured , without other helps : but if ( as sometimes hap'ned ) those symptomes vanished not , i gave one dose of my arcanum veneris , at night , and six hours after my pouder , then i applyed my histerick plaster to the navel , and by these means compleated the cure. yet , where abortion unavoidable hap'ned ; i ( by experience ) found the continued observation of my method above prescribed ; with the addition of my hysterical spirit , did certainly take off all relicts of the said abortions without prejudice to the party . of child-bearing . if child-bearing women , before the birth , have floudings , and no pain , and yet the child be right ; the taking the pouder stops floudings , brings on pains ( if the time of the birth be fully come ) and causeth an happy delivery . but , if the child be not right , ( for which there is no help but the hand ) then if the due time of the birth be not fully come , the same medicine , stops floudings , and represseth pains till the natural time of delivery approacheth . when that comes , and the child is born , i give the same pouder ( according to the child-bed womans strength , or the exigency of nature ) either every two , four , or six hours to overcome the after-pains ; which it certainly in a short time takes off . also if false conceptions remained in the womb after the birth , or ( through ignorance , or carelesness of the midwife ) any part of the after-burthen were left ; none of these did ever putrify ( but were naturally expelled ) where my medicines were used : for i certainly know , that all such relicts were safely expelled ( without putrefaction ) if my pouder , hysterick cordial , and hysterick drops were taken according to my order . yea , i have by long experience known , that where my pouder was continually used ( twice a day ) by women lying in , during the whole month , they always found greater strength and liveliness , than could be discerned in others , not taking the same medicine ; thô the green water continued longer in such , than in those , unto whom none of my pouder had been given . therefore ( to prove the certainty of these medicines ) i can most truly assert , that never any woman using them in the manner above prescribed , died in child-bed ( of the diseases of child-bearing ) from the beginning of my practice unto this very day under my hands . of floudings in general . floudings , so well known , and too often lamented , are frequently stopped , but never cured , by particular remedies : therefore , in such cases , i give my pouder once in two or four hours , and continue the use thereof , in the same method , till the floudings cease , which usually is in a day or two after the first administration of the medicine ; also all acrimonies ( occasioned by those floudings ) are taken off , and the cure happily effected by the use of that remedy only ; which performs not this by a forcible stopping or binding , ( as particular medicines usually do , ) but by inciting nature to free her self from that inordinancy ; which being done every natural evil , usually attending such floudings , is certainly removed : for nature , assisted thereby , permits not the bloud to corrupt in the womb ; through the acrimony of which foul vlcers are often formed , nay , sometimes sphacela's are induced , and other evils , to the ruin of the patient . but , because what is hitherto written , will unto most men seem only an historical relation of womb-diseases in general ; no particular cure being hereunto annexed ; i therefore now descend to a more plain demonstration , particularly proving , by several examples , the power and extraordinary service of my remedies , when used as is fit , in those sad and deplorable cases above mentioned . example . 1. of an imposthume in the womb of a woman with child . a woman , about seven months gon with child , was afflicted with great pain and torture in her womb ; which manifested the proper signs of a contra-natural cause existent , by issue of bloud ( not flouding-like , but by driblings ) at last of quitter . upon these apparent signs of a suppurated imposthume , i was sought for and hearing what had hap'ned , could not but give judgment of an imposthume present . yet , having read hipocrates ( of whose sincerity and deep skill , in curing diseases of his time , no prudent man , unto this day , doubts ) and finding him to proclaim imposthumes , and vlcers of the womb , not curable in women with child , i was very loath to be concern'd in this case : but , importunity and necessity overweighing , i adventur'd to apply my self to the cure. in order to which i first gave my pouder , once in 8 hours , and my arcanum veneris , at night going into bed. this method was continued every day , without other medicines ( except some small cordials for support ) unto the time of her delivery . during which space of time , after the taking these medicines , matter flowed each day more than other , for a great part of that time ; in which time her pains nevertheless vanished , and she grew more lively , than before ; but when the time of her delivery drew near , the matter , that came forth , was less and less each day . after delivery , i viewing the bag , in which the child had been contained , did plainly discern the compass of the imposthume , and some part of the matter unresolved , upon the out-side of the bag. but afterwards to this same woman , so well delivered of a sound and well proportioned child , i gave my medicines ( all the time of her lying in ) in the same method , as is above prescribed ; and she recovered strength , and after this had several other children , and is now alive , tho this hap'ned fourteen years since . example 2. of a dropsy in the womb of a woman with child . a woman with child , before quickning , being swelled ( to outward appearance ) like one ready to be delivered , sent for me : i seeing the woman , and hearing how it was with her , could not but be amazed , and doubt of the reality of her conception . nevertheless because . i well knew the certainty , and effecacious power of my medicines ( above specified ) in cases no less deplorable , i rejected all thoughts of particular remedies , and applyed my self to that general method i had formerly used . accordingly , i gave my pouder , night and morning , for three days ; yet no separation hap'ned during that time ; but the woman found her self somewhat more lively than before . the fourth day , i gave my arcanum metallorum , and the following morning my pouder : that day came forth a dribbling of water , and the next day more . this method i continued , and , in three days time after , more than too gallons of water , was voided , and the dropsy separated . then i ordered the pouder to be taken night and morning , until quickning ; and all the time after of her being with child , i prescribed to her the same pouder , to be taken a day or two at a time , whensoever any appearance of a return of the dropsy was ; and , by this means , she went out her full time , had a sound child , and several children after , and hath continued well and in health for about these seven years since . example 3. of an vlcer in the womb. in this sad case , the neck of the womb was tumified , uneven , hard in one place , tender in another , and raw in a third ; as was clearly testified by divers midwifes then present : the sanies , that flowed from thence , was red , yellow , and greenish white . in cure of this woman , i gave my pouder every day once , and at night my arcanum of metals , and ( perhaps ) the next night my arcanum veneris , changing them as i saw occasion ; but my pouder i always gave once a day . during this cure , many changes and accidents hap'ned , to which i applied particular remedies , too long to be here incerted . after some series of time , all these accidents vanished , and the suppurated matter by little and little abated , and at length perfect health followed . this woman after her recovery conceived , and hath had several children since , and is alive at this day . this cure was performed about seven years ago . example . 4. of a tumified womb. a young woman , labouring under a natural deficiency propagated to her , striving to extrude it self by hemeroids and piles , being also at the same time afflicted with a tumified womb , hard and sore , so that she could not possibly bear the congress of her husband ; and having long sustained this calamity , and finding the remedies of other physicians useless , applied her self to me . i streight , in order to her cure , gave her my pouder every morning , and my arcanum veneris , every night , appointing my scerbutick tincture to be taken in drink , by twenty drops at a time , as often as she drank . and this method was continued for full four months ; after which time she quickly conceived with child , and hath ever since remained well , though she were cured of this malady divers years ago . example . 5. of a mola . being called to a woman , labouring under great floudings , who conceited her self to be with child ; when i had observed the great quantity of bloud , that came from her , the midwife ( then present ) gave me an account of the closure of the womb ; and so , an impossibility of distinguishing the concern . i finding her case such , caused the pouder to be given twice in one hour ; in which time , the flux of bloud began to stop , and the womb to open a little , yet no more than sufficed to admit the midwifes finger to distinguish somewhat unusual . whereupon i desired her to give me some more plain testimony of what she felt ; and by her words i judged it to be no child . and as i judged , so it proved : for , when the midwife could somewhat better reach , what she had before touched , she brought forth a gleuy matter , white and clear : i , seeing this , ordered her to bring it away as fast as she could ; but , she ( having no more place open , than for one finger to enter ) brought it away by piece-meal , i giving some cordial for support to the afflicted woman , in the mean time . this matter i caused ( when as much was brought away , as possibly could be by the midwifes finger ) to be put into a bason of water , where it joyned all together , and seemed in quantity to be no less than a quart would contain . now because ( without force ) the womb could be no further opened , the remainder was left to the power of medicine . therefore i gave my pouder every hour for twenty four hours ; at the end of which , this sadly distressed woman began to be pretty sedate and quiet , and no bloud appeared : for i think she had before evacuated all , or the greatest part of all she had . then i gave my pouder twice or thrice a day , for several dayes after , and sometimes my arcanum veneris . during this cure the cleansings were not sanguineous , but aqueous , and continued for seventy two days . in all which time no bloud appeared , but a cleansing water , sometimes of one colour , sometimes of another , as is common to other women after this , she each day increased in strength , and at length became perfectly well , and hath since had several children . now , forasmuch , as i have ( in all the diseases above-named ) made frequent mention of my pouder , shewing the particular use thereof in those cases ; but have never yet published the general use of the same , though it seems to me to be of greater concern to the publick , than any other medicine before specify'd ; i am therefore willing here to subjoyn a succinct and plain description of the general use of this pouder , and also of my scorbutic tincture ( the first being more material , the latter more spiritual ) for the necessary help of particular persons or families , where physicians are not easily to be had : experimentally knowing the pouder to manifest its operation chiefly in the first digestion , and the effects thereof ; and the tincture to be singularly useful , for purification of the bloud , opening the obstruction of the nerves , spleen , liver , and gall , separating the superfluous moisture of the glandules , and acrimonious humors in the reins . of the vse of the pouder . in the beginning of every disease , known or unknown , where the stomach is concerned , there i give the pouder first ; which , thô it may not cure ( as in apoplexies ) yet it is more safe than any other commonly known remedy , either of the shops , or of any modern physicians of publick note at this day : because it is not only subservient to nature in preventing the formation of diseases ; but is also ( if timely taken ) sufficient to enervate , or nullifie their existence when formed . for in the primary assault of any disease ( that is , upon the first perceivance of illness ) being once or twice taken , it either wholly prevents the growth and increase of that disease , or renders it fit to be more easily cured with other medicines . in diseases arriv'd to some height , as of two or three dayes , or longer continuance , especially if undeterminate , this pouder sometimes solely and alone works ( being taken at first ●wice or thrice a day , and afterwards morning and evening ) unto perfect recovery ; but , in intermitting fea●ers i alwayes give it an hour before ●he fit. in every epidemic , putrid , or acute feaver , it answers the regular intention of nature ; because it sometimes vomiteth , purgeth , and provokes sweats ( without the help of cloathes more than usual ) and otherwhile stayeth vomiting and loosness arising from nature's errour , or debility of parts , or organs ; rectifying her errour , and strengthening the parts . also it stops those morbific sweats , that arise from languishment ; or alters such sweats , as are produced by forcible diaphoreticks , unseasonably used , contrary to the intent of nature . in vertigoes , and all dolours of the head ; stomach , back , or sides , it is a medicine of general use and service . in the iliac and cholic passions , in numnesses , and all pains in the muscles , that happen from the scurvey ; or in any other congealed distemper , or what may be comprehended under the name of congelation , this pouder proves it self a powerful remedy ; because , if taken in hot posset-drink , sweats usually follow the taking thereof . also , in every scorbutic distemper it is very available , and acts as variously as the scorbutic forme is various ; for in all fluctuations , or diseases of resolution , it is no less serviceable , than in congealed distempers ; because being a medicine truly natural , nature can use it either way , to her own benefit . in pleurisies , bruises , and all imposthumes inward or outward , it will compleatly answer the desire of a good physician : for it powerfully resists putrefaction ; and thô it cannot always prevent imposthumation , or hinder putrefaction when begun ; yet it ripens the matter begun to be putrified , and afterwards expels it when perfectly digested . in the bloudy-flux it is a certain and speedy cure , even to admiration ; also in the griping of the guts , attended with vehement vomitings , and a continued loosness , it effects so much , beyond the power of other medicines , as is scarcely credible ; yet the same pouder , in extream costiveness , accomplisheth the work , by loosening the belly . in the small-pox , taken in the beginning of the disease , it causeth vomiting , purging , or sweats , and then binds the body ( as is fit ) and brings out the small-pox ; fortifying the life as far as it is gifted for that work . in the jaundies , no medicine , that ever i used , exceeds this : for it extirpates that disease , root and branch . this pouder , frequently taken , prevents the formation of worms in the body ; where matter of worms is made , it expels that ; and if worms be really formed , enableth nature to cast them out alive or dead . in surfeits , contracted from excesses of meats , drinks , or over-great labour it is singularly useful ; because it either causeth vomitings , or stools , or provokes sweats powerfully , thereby to clear the first digestion , or resolve the congelation , caused by those excesses . in convulsions , it is highly serviceable , as ( in the chapter of convulsions i have largely shewed ; ) and if given to children newly born , and for some time used , it prevents such fits , by carrying off those crudities children bring with them into the world. in all highly malignant , and pestilential diseases , it proves it self a true succour to nature , if taken every four hours . for in such cases it acts vigorously towards expelling all venomes . in feminine diseases , all intemperancies , inordinancies , and distemperatures of the womb , 't is a certain and speedy remedy . if women with child take the pouder upon any sense of illness , or where a tendency to abortion is ; it prevents the danger thereof by strengthening the womb. in the birth it brings on pains , and hastens the labour with safety ; but if the natural time of delivery be not near , it restreins pains until that time comes . it stops floudings , facilitates the birth , and cleanseth as is fit , curing the after-pains ; and in women lying in , answereth the necessities of the patient , either in cleansing or strengthening . likewise , the monthly flux is by this remedy brought into due order ; if inordinate , it checks that inordinancy ; if too little or not at all , it brings down the same in due time and order ; being taken at certain times of the moon , with respect had to the age of women or young maids . therefore , in the latter ( with other small helps ) it sometimes cures the green-sickness , altering the inordinacy of the appetite , and brings them to a due state of health , and right colour of complexion . in the piles and hemorrhoids it is a medicine of singular use : for it opens the piles , or dissolves them ; it opens also the hemorrhoids , and cures them when open'd , preventing vlcers in the parts . also in the sore or ulcerated breasts of women , this pouder is of great service . it strengthens a weak stomach , enabling it to retain the food , and digest it ; especially if taken so soon as the parties have eaten . and in all weaknesses of old age , so far as the first digestion is concerned , it is of use . the dose to a man or woman , full grown , is ʒj . to a child newly-born , 7 or 10 gr . and so proportionably to all ages , between the birth and full growth . it is to be repeated once in 4 , 6 , 8 , or 12 hours , according to the manner of its operation , and the necessity of the sick. the vehicle may be either breast milk , beer , ale , wine , or mace-ale , as the patients best like , or the necessity of the disease shall require . note : in the use of this pouder , let the following general rule be alwayes observed . whether it worketh by vomiting , purging , sweating , or vrine , so long as any such operation lasteth , it ought to be continued ; so likewise , in restreining diseasy sweats , contra-natural vomiting , or purging , continue the use of the same , until it be clearly seen , that nature hath no further need thereof in that exigency . of the vse and dose of the tincture . in apoplexies , palsys , vertigoes , and epilepsies , rheumatisms , gouts , stone , stranguries ( too frequent issues of the scurvey ) and other distempers , that have their propagation from things congealing , or too much acrimonious , inferring pains or numnesses , &c. i have by experience found this tincture to be of general vse and service , if taken in the following order . considering most of the diseases above-named , are either hereditary , or of long continuance , or both , it is expedient in all the aforesaid cases , that this tincture be taken daily four times a day ( in beer , ale , or wine . ) twenty drops at a time , when the stomach is most empty ; but more especially ; let it be taken in the morning fasting , and at night going into bed , without mixing the same with any specific , or direct-working medicine : though ( it must be understood ) that this tincture must never be taken , but in some liquor , or other . in scorbutick affects , appearing in other forms than above described , use the tincture in the same manner , until the diseases be abated , never using any other medicine with it , except my pouder , or other medicines above specified in the chapter of the scurvy ; only the dose must sometimes be increased ; as it must also in all tendencies to stagnization , whereof chilness , and coldness are fore-runners . in all impurities of the bloud , of what kind soever , whether pox , surfets , scabs , tetters , scales , ring-worms , spots , freckles , morphews , sores in the mouth , or other parts , if constantly taken ( in manner aforesaid ) for a month together , viz. four times a day , or as often as the afflicted party drinks , and the external parts washed , with his ( or her ) vrine every morning and evening , it will prove it self a very effectual remedy . in the green-sickness , and feminine obstructions , this tincture is of singular use , if taken three , or four times a day in drink : for , it restores their lost complexion , and opens all obstructions of spleen and liver . also it cleanseth the spleen and reins , easeth the dolours of the same ; and is of admirable service , in hypochondriac melancholy . but in these distempers it must be taken in all drinks , or liquid meats the patients use , viz. 15 drops at a time , and constantly every day , until their afflictions are altered in the distempers of old , or declining age , as asthma's , coughs , &c. that arise from the debility of the transpirative faculties ; by reason of which , they labour under shortness of breath , and troublesom phlegm , it is beneficial . for , althô this tincture cannot wholly take off these distempers from aged persons , yet it doth much alleviate them ; provided it be frequently taken , and that in a large quantity , viz. 40 drops at night going into bed , and also every morning fasting . in suppression , difficulty , or sharpness of vrine , it is an effectual remedy , if 20 drops be taken morning and evening in mace-ale , or in a decoction of mallowes if they design ease ; or parsley-roots , if they intend expulsion . in convulsions , lethargies , great pains , weights , or numnesses of the head , it is profitable , if taken 4 times a day , 20 drops at a time . against pains in the stomach , and the weaknesses thereof , it is very efficacious , if 30 , or 40 drops be taken at a time , twice or four times a day in drink when the pains begin to invade , and the use thereof continued , till the dolour ceases . only in this case , let the parties grieved be sure to take care , never to eat or drink , until they are assured , that what they eat and drank before be well digested . in imbecillity of the generative faculty , or in weakness , coldness , and vnaptness to conceive , this tincture is very profitable , if twenty drops at a time be taken in sack , three times a day , viz. in the morning fasting , one hour before dinner , and at four a clock after noon ; and the fourth time at night going into bed , in mace-ale , especially if the pouder be us'd with it . this method must be continued for a month together . for recovery of strength in consumptions , where the lungs are not ulcerated , this medicine ought to be given , by 10 drops at a time , as often as the languishing party takes any thing liquid ( whether broth , milk , iellies , or emulsions of any kind ) as also in all his or her drink . the same tincture is no less effectual in the jaundies , if 30 , or 40 drops be taken at a time , in what drink the afflicted party best liketh , in the same manner as before ; and the use thereof continued , till the vrine be clear , as it was before the disease invaded . against after-pains in childbed , and to open obstructions , this medicine effectually yields relief ; if 10 drops be given to women in that condition , in their usual caudle , every time they drink it . a child of a year old may take 2 drops , in two spoonfuls of breast-milk , and so proportionably . note : in taking , or administring this tincture it is very convenient to be careful , not to suffer your selves , friends , or patients , to be over-perswaded , by any arguments whatsoever , to take purging or solutive medicines , althô your own , friends , or patients bodies seem to be somewhat costive : for so doing you will much retard the benefit , which would naturally accrew from this tincture , by its transpirative vertue . and let this also be a caution to all , in every kind of distemper , where this medicine is used , not to take or intermix any other things , ( except as is above in this treatise described ) with the same . now , because i very well know the generality of people to be so far from believing these contrary operations , that they will exclaim against them , as impossibilities in nature , i thought it requisite here to subjoyn ( as is well known to practitioners in chirurgy ) that the herb st. johns-wort , doth as certainly dissolve congealed bloud in bruises , as by congelation an incised wound , stab , or prick : which being actions so different , may somewhat plead for the verity of what i have written . but , if this single example be not sufficient , let any one make experiment of the power of the ash-tree , cut down ( when sol is in gemini , with the girdle of orion , and just ascending ) and divided into small flat sticks ; for any one of them applied to a cut , stab , or prick , and held there for some small time , quickly and evidently heal the wound without suppuration . also in bruises , thô large and great , if a broad piece of that wood be rubbed gently upon them , he shall find a sudden resolution , in the space of a quarter of an hour ( if this be done at first ) and no blackness appearing : and if it be apply'd speedily , in burns , and scalds , no blisters will arise : in stingings of wasps and bees , and pricks of thorns , this wood is a speedy remedy , if presently applied : in bleeding at the nostrils , thô very great and large , if a piece of the wood be held to the nostrils , and rubbed just above the gristle of the nose ; you shall quickly see the blood stopped . likewise , in bitings of dogs , thô their teeth have entred deep , if suddenly applied , all the anguish , and danger of those bitings are as suddenly removed . if a single plant can perform such various and contrary actions , what then shall minerals and metals effect , wherein all the seven great properties of nature are concentred . i could enlarge this section with many other signal examples and proofs , but i shall conclude all with this corollary : that , since nature is the true preserver and curer in all distempers ; and is more active and subtile for her own preservation and recovery , than any adventitious agent can be . that preparation must needs be fitter , and more useful ( in those her methods ) which attends and assisteth her inclinations and actions ; than that , which disturbs her intentions , and imposeth operations upon her , contrary to her own designs : to which errors and mistakes all particular medicines , and the applyers of them , are very obnoxious . wherefore , if i have had the blessing to find out medicaments ( universal as to parts and persons ) which will be perfectly complyant , and subservient to nature ●s tendencies , as my long and successful experience of them perswades me i have done ; and whereof others may be likewise convinced , if they will make studious tryal of my receipts ; i would not have any prejudicate person wonder at this my assertion , that one and the same individual medicine can congeal and resolve , open and shut , work upwards and downwards , or ( in a word ) produce quite contrary effects , thô some doctors have averred to my face , this thing to be impossible : for , if nature in contrary exigencies , cannot but act contrary ways to her own relief ; then consequently the physic that doth not forcibly drive nature out of her course , but officiously follow her in her own motions , must like an handmaid necessarily trace the footsteps of her mistress . and what man , that does but understand , or possess a nature , is ignorant , that the means and passages which she takes in difficulties for her succour and safety , are strangely different , contrary and mysterious ; and yet most ingenious to a miracle ? here are no angry flames , only some bright beams of plain truth flowing from nature's light . finis ▪ the table . a. ancestors in art , the infancy of the world , 53 ancient artists how they attained the perfection of their arts , 50 apelles and homer commended , 48 archimedes his unparallel'd inventions of mechanic works , ibid. arts appear more polite , where nature brings them forth , 47 author , why he at first followed chymistry , 2 his good success therein , 4 how non-plus'd in following the same , 5 his satisfaction afterwards , 7 his patients how they preserve themselves , 38 first authors of physic who instructed , 45 b. basilius a monk , a most knowing physician , 45 book-doctors reprehended , 39 , 40 , 52 , 53 , 72 the reason why they are ignorant , 53 buboes , why the author writes nothing of them , 80 c. cause of deficiency in us , 49 change direct a diminishing of the natural gift , 16 a child capable of solving most solvable questions in arithmetic , 48 child-bearing , 149 choler maketh not men angry , 33 no sense of it unless the spirit be defiled with a wrathful image , ibid. cold stagnizeth the blood , 37 the begetter of various diseases , ibid. convulsions , 107 the cure of those that happen before the small pox , 110 the cure of those that happen from maternal nourishment , 111 the cure of them in breeding teeth , 112 the cure of ideal convulsions , 113 compositions of the shops , and commonly known chymical remedies , rejected by the author , why , and how far he allows them , 71 corporeal evils , hereditary , take beginning from maternal nourishment , 59 chymists differ from galenists , 2 d. disease defined , 55 diseases simple , natural , preter-natural , and contra-natural ; how complicated , 66 hereditary , what , 56 ideal , must have material filths , 57 by occasional matter manifest themselves , 58 darken the spirits , 59 preternatural , what , and how caused , 60 contranatural , and autumnal how caused , 63 diseases of the womb , 145 chronical , their original , 26 how they take root in us , and are changed one into another , 28 of the first digestion changed into distempers of the second , or third , how , 27 degenerated , how made worse , 28 have no existance in the body , till the stomach submitteth to them , 30 hereditary , kept from increasing , ibid. disposition , seminal incorporeal , 29 distempers , accounted uncurable , how cured , 31 , 40 suddenly cured , why , 37 disturbance of the spirit the generator of defects in the body , 35 dropsy in the womb. 55 its cure , 56 e. education , its insufficiency , 43 , 44 emptiness , its effects , and the remedies thereof , 62 , 63 envy , and malice , their effects not much different , 33 , 34 experience commended , what takes being from it , is true , how , 44 f. fear , its effects , &c. 34. 65 , 66 feavers , putrid , malignant , epidemical , or accidental , 140 continual , intermitting , and simply intermitting , 142 ferments , diseasy , strange , how begotten , 26. 29 floudings in general , 151 fullness , defined , 61 g. galen's method , why neglected by the author , 1 , 2 gonorrhea's , hurt not in the lues , except means be wanting , 59 gout , true , its symptomes , 30 derivative , may lye concealed until 40 , or 50 years of age , 57 griping in the guts , how cured , 84 , 85 order of diet in that disease , 87 remarks upon the errours of physicians in cure of that disease , ib. h. helmont , commended by the author , found out certainty by stilness , 45 , 46 his theory how proved true to the author , 17 i. imbecility of the womb , 145 imposthumes , 120 in the head , cured , 135 in the head opened , cured , 137 in the liver , cured , 129 in the stomach , cured , 132 in the womb , cured , 153 , 154 indians , without books , by natural instinct find out the vertues of plants , 46 inquiry , how remedies came first to be known , 43 instinct , natural commended , 44 k. knowledge , of medicines , of how great concern , 38 real , taught from natural instinct , or acquired by observation , 43 general , and particular , its true patron , 44 of the virtues of roots , herbs , or plants , not advanced since the dayes of theophrastus , 51 l. languages , not absolutely necessary in the art of physic. 50 lethargies , coma's , and apoplexies , 113 their cure. 115 a particular example of an aged lady cured of the apoplexy . 116 lues , and scurvey , the two general evils , 66 lues , materially contracted swiftly infects , why , 58 m. magnetic attractives fruitless , when , 79 medicines , natural , work not by their own power , but by nature's dispose . 17 the means to obtain such , 40 particular , act rather against , than with nature in complicated diseases ; why , 27 general , how they act in the humane body ; their safety and properties , 12 , 13 , 14. 18 , 19 of paracelsus , and helmont , why of little service to us , 41 marcellus , his speech to the engineers of his camp , 49 man hath capacity of knowing things in their roots , 47 men , void of much discourse , &c. utter wonderful things , ibid. method of the ancients uncertain , 43 metals and minerals , their outward life poyson , 11. 16 their virtues more concentrate , than those of vegetables , 9 not specificate to person or disease , ibid. their gifts from god , the light or ray of them true medicine ; not changed in the body ; but bring less trouble , than a spoonful of wine ; their virtues condemned , why , 10 their air , and its properties , 11 their operation against acute diseases , 12 , 13 their middle life medicine , antidote against poyson , &c. 16 , 17 miscarriages , 147 mola , and its cure , 159 , 160 n. nature , guide of the vniverse , 51 physicianess , and curer of diseases , 2. 18. the only actor , and curer of her self , 38 to be observed by physicians , 40 naturally excites man to his cure , 46 brings forth both medicine and the physician , 51 how restored to her wonted actions , 37 her incapacity to strive , when , 64 negroes , in accounting excell , 48 o. occasions of errors committed in the medicinal faculty . 32 opinion , that physick is not fit for children , refuted . 60 p. palsies , fourfold , their cure by four examples . 102 , 103 , 104 patients afflicted with the plague , and remarks upon their carelessness , 81 in whom the tokens appeared , their state described , 64 paracelsus his endowments , 45 , 46 pestilence , how caused , 63 plague , the last described , different manner of assaults therein , and the author's method of cure thereof , 76 , 77 , &c. antipestilentials of ancient , and modern physicians ineffectual , 73 34 persons , sick , cured by their own natural impulse , 46 phlegmones , firey , in general , and their cure , 127 , 128 physicians , ought to be chary what they administer , 38 practice of physic various , 1 , 2 things necessary to that science , 50 practicioners , their grand mistake , proved by example , 32 , 33 q. quartanes , 144 rage , its effects , 65 remedies , general , how serviceable . their difficulty to be obtained , 14 , 15 their dark part , what ; their properties , essential to true healing , 18 , 19. 22 their general dispositions keep physicians from errour , 31 remedies , particular , when useful , 21. 31 s. scurveys , whence they arise , and their effects , 67 of them in general , 89 their cure by ensamples , 93 seeds , admit not of ought but ideas , 57 spirit of life , or archeus , the ruler , why 36 how primarily affected , ibid. erring , becomes the efficient cause of diseases , 37 specificks , not altogether useless , 22 how made more general , 23 sorrow , its effects , 35 stupor , its effects , 63 surfeits , their foundation and effects , 61 , 62 t. tinctures , open , their singular use , 73 transpiration insensible , how excited , and the benefit thereof , 20 the medium thereof unknown , 21 v. vegetables , not so serviceable , as minerals , why , 8 , 9 venomes , 68 vertues , of st. john's-wort , and the ash-tree , 176 of natural subjects , not conferred , but only discovered by art , 10 ulcer , in the womb , and its cure , 157 urine , vented through the fleshy parts about the kidneys , 20 use and dose of the author's pouder , 162. 169 use and dose of the author's scorbutic-tincture , 170 w. vvomb , tumifyed , and its cure , 158 world , waxeth old , 8 finis . an account of the nature, causes, symptoms, and cure of the distempers that are incident to seafaring people with observations on the diet of the sea-men in his majesty's navy : illustrated with some remarkable instances of the sickness of the fleet during the last summer, historically related / by w.c. cockburn, w. (william), 1669-1739. 1696 approx. 221 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 98 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a33550 wing c4815 estc r24229 08084223 ocm 08084223 40814 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a33550) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 40814) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1226:9) an account of the nature, causes, symptoms, and cure of the distempers that are incident to seafaring people with observations on the diet of the sea-men in his majesty's navy : illustrated with some remarkable instances of the sickness of the fleet during the last summer, historically related / by w.c. cockburn, w. (william), 1669-1739. [9], 173, [1] p. printed by hugh newman, london : 1696. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine, naval. sailors -diseases. 2006-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-08 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-08 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an account of the nature , causes , symptoms and cure of the distempers that are incident to seafaring people . with observations on the diet of the sea-men in his majesty's navy . illustrated with some remarkable instances of the sicknesses of the fleet during the last summer , historically related . libera per vacuum posui vestigia princeps , non aliena meo pressi pede . horat. epist . xix . lib. 1. by w. c. of the colledge of physicians , london : and physician to the blue squadron of his majesty's fleet. london , printed for hugh newman at the grashopper in the poultry . 1696. to the right honourable the lords commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral of england , ireland , &c. my lords , your lordships having been pleased to appoint me one of the physicians of the fleet , i thought my self obliged , to use my utmost endeavours for discharging the trust you committed to me : and therefore i , not only , kept a journal of the mens names , and a history of their sickness ; but of the medicins i gave them , with the success they had . and when i had considered the way of their living , and other circumstances , there appeared to me a very reasonable view of the diseases at sea , which i first committed to paper for my own assistance in the service ; but am now perswaded to submit those thoughts to the censure of the world. yet , in this i shall run no great risque , under your lordships protection , which , i hope , you will not deny me ; since 't is your lordships gave them , first , life , and they have grown up under your favour to what they are : so that if they obtain the end , i design'd them for , the publick good ; 't is the publick must thank you for them. i am , with great respect , my lords , your lordships most humble and faithful servant , w. cockburn . the contents . the vsefulness of this work pag. 1 a prospect of it 3 what the sea victuals are 5 the consequence of this victualling 8 is first the scurvey 9 its description ibid. how these symptoms are produc'd 10 how that extraordinary weakness 13 and unequal pulse 15 how the inflammation of the gums 16 their rottenness and itching ibid. how the scurvy and melancholia hypochondriaca are distinguisht 17 what may follow upon the use of their bread 21 what from their burgoo 24 and pease 25 what the inconveniencies from their lodging 26 as catching cold 27 and a fever 28 its description 29 an hypothesis for helping us to account for its symptoms ibid. how the weight & heaviness is produc'd 31 how the lesser activity 32 and lesser weakness ibid. how the coldness over the whole body 33 how the coldness in the extremities 34 and not in the brain 35 how the pain is produc'd 36 and such an one as when one is beat 37 why the pulse is weak 38 rare ibid. and depress'd 39 how a want of appetite 40 and costiveness 41 how the sleepiness ibid. how the warmth begins 44 the pulse becomes great and strong ibid. they are restless 45 and very dry ibid. how the roughness of the tongue 46 and its blackness ibid. why they are hard of breathing ibid. how their breath is like fire 47 why they are light headed ibid. fevers end in death 48. or by sweating , a looseness , &c. 49 the former supposition is not a meer hypothesis ibid. this interrupted perspiration makes diarrheas 51 ▪ and agues 53 an enumeration of their symptoms ibid. the symptoms accounted for , and first the coldness after dinner 55 the paleness of their lips 56 their trembling ibid. their weak pulse 57 why they are insensible , while their external senses are right ibid. how their bodies like a corpse 59 and a great drought ibid. yet in the place of death comes warmth and heat 60 which ends in sweating 61 their pulse stronger and more frequent ib. and a beating in their head ib. a great drought 62 the pulse natural for some time 63 why it recurs every day , every third , or fourth 65 how it ends sometimes in death , and that in the return 70 the seamens life , as to what concerns their temperance , &c. ibid. a hint at the diseases got nearer or under the line 73 why i have neglected the common stories of poyson , &c. 74 why poyson ibid. why the chymical principles 77 why acid and alkali 82 the contents of the second part. the way of relating these observations 89 first observation of a fever 90 general hints for its cure ibid. why the practice is unsuccessful 91 what my thoughts are about these general hints 93 what of blee●ding , sweating , &c. 94 a remarkable history of a patient of dr. willis's 96 the particular cure 99 observation 2d of a fever 101 observation 3d 102 a remark 104 observation 4th 105 observation 5th 106 observation 6th 108 observation 7th 110 observation 8th of an ague 112 the general cure ibid. an account of the jesuits bark 116 a necessary corollary deduced from this account 119 the chymists have given no account of its way of working 121 it s astringent power is unaccountable 123 why the bark has sometimes so pernicious effects 125 the particular cure 126 observation 9th 128 observation 10th 131 an examination of helvetius's bark-clyster practice 135 citations from his book ibid. the answer 141 observation 11th of the scurvy 150 observation 12th 152 a particular remark 153 observation 13th of a diarrhea or looseness 154 observation 14th 155 a remark of a particular medicin 156 observation 15th 157 observation 16th 159 observation 17th of a decay 161 observation 18th of a clap 164 a singular way of curing it ibid. observation 19th of a quinsey 168 two remarks 169 part i. an account of those sicknesses that are incident to sea-faring people . there are none who have us'd the sea for any time , especially in the royal navy , but must be highly sensible how useful an undertaking of this nature is ; and how assisting to most of the surgeons , who pursue their employments at sea , and particularly in the meridian for which this is calculated ; and yet 't was never attempted by any , of what nation soever , as far as i can learn , either by reading or conversation . officers and sailers must needs have their courage ( which is naturally great , besides its being supported by the applauses and rewards of honour ) much augmented , by the security they may have in the suitable provision that is made for their health ; and the surgeons themselves , having a full view of all the maladies they are to encounter upon that element , will surely be better provided than when their expectations are more general . it s use , i think , by these small hints , is put beyond all exception ; and i do heartily wish i could have as good help to my practising in medicin in our world , the warry element ; but since i can have none , i doubt not but the ingenious will very easily pardon a treatise of this kind ; and almost any mistakes , i can fall under , since the paths of former curers are as little perceptible , as the furrows made upon the face of the angry abyss , by our lofty floating forts , can prove guides to the seamen that steer the same course but next hour : for my own part , i should have no more ventur'd upon it , than i should have been the first that put to sea , were it not that the station providence has plac'd me in , might seem to demand some testimony of my diligence in the same ; which , i must confess , is not so great as the service requires . this i was , once , resolved to perform by the way of a journal of those sicknesses , that happen ▪ d since my concern in the fleet ; but thinking , again , that this should be more complete , if i should consider in general , by their way of living , the sicknesses they might be most subject to , and then year after year , so long as i am to continue with them , to give the particular history of the sicknesses of that year , with an exact account of the success in the same ; which will be so many confirmations of my general theory , and evince how well or ill it is established . and therefore i shall first endeavour , to discover such sicknesses as may be peculiar to people that use our narrow seas ; to distinguish them from those that may be got nearer , or under , the line ; from those that may be common upon the land , to what we have sometimes at sea ; and lastly , in the history of this year , to denote , in some measure , the indications for , and the method of cure. but that all these may be pursu'd with the greatest exactness imaginable , it will be highly necessary , first to describe the particular way of their living ; that from this we may see and deduce as naturally , as is possible , those infirmities , that most especially follow thereupon ; and this we shall do , first by considering their victuals allowed them for their daily sustenance ; their way of living ; and lastly their life , as to their temperance or debauches . i am not ignorant how useful , yea necessary ▪ it had been , to have had some respect to , and consideration of the temper and constitution of the air , they live in , and how satisfying it would have proved to such as are curious and ingenious , to have made some remarks upon the differences of that at sea and land : but all i can say upon that head being so general and precarious , and of so little real use in my design , that i have rather chosen to pass it by in perfect silence , and not to offer that to the world , of which i have so little satisfaction my self : yet , this i did not leave quite unattempted , but did carry a very good baryscope on board with me , and did hang it as conveniently as i could contrive ; yet in the calmest weather , and at anchor , the heaving motion of the ship did so much disturb my mercury , that i did conclude it of no use , and perfectly unpracticable , when under sail with the easiest gale of wind ; and therefore to say no more of this , i do betake my self to the considerations i have just now proposed . and first , the victual , allow'd them for their daily sustenance , are pork and pease on sundays and thursdays ; on mondays oatmel ( burgoo ) butter and cheese ; on tuesdays and saturdays beef and pudding , or all beef , which they please ; on wednesdays and fridays but●er and cheese , or oatmeal and pease , and with all these abundance of bread. now all these victuals are so sound , and the meat so well salted ▪ that not only there can be no better found any where , but 't is generally believed , that the sea-pork , especially , is the best in england ; and they have a greater allowance of all these in their proper turns , than is sufficient to satisfy an ordinary eater . so that whatever a sailer may complain of in the royal navy , his victuals are a great deal better , and his allowance larger , than in any navy or merchant-ships in the world . their drink is as good table beer as any family in england can drink ; and the quantum is what they will. so that , in the general , if we consider the number of men , the length of the voyages , in convoys and cruisers , the grand fleet in the channel , and their work ; their diet will be found , in all these circumstances , to be almost as well provided and adapted , even for the preservation of health , as it can possibly be . 't is true , salt victuals have been found , by experience , the worst of all other to digest ; and sanctorius , in his book of statical medicin , has declared , that they are the victuals by which we perspire least ; and still less by pork than the rest ▪ and so , by the laws of perspiration , it must be concluded to contain the grossest juices and the worst nourishment : but all this will be more plain and evident , than i could here , without a needless digression , demonstrate , if we consider the requisits for digestion and nutrition , which i have laid down very plainly , and in few words , when i purposely treated of that subject , in the beginning of my aeconomy of the h●man body , printed last year , to which i refer you for a further information . yet , after all , the bodies of such working people , not only make the best of such solid food ; but this , ev'n , seems necessary for those who are oblig'd to undergo so great labour ; for tho the stomachs of sedentary people , and of those who use little exercise , are not able to reduce such parched and solid food into chyle , in twelve or fifteen hours time ; and when that is done , this chyle is so thick , that it is scarcely able to perform its first voyage thro the lacteal vessels , but stops and makes obstructions in those passages , and disposes such people to dropsies , the jaundice , and other cachectical diseases . and even tho it shou'd escape these obstacles , brought its full length , the contraction of the heart in those , and the force of their lungs in the exspiration are so faint , and most of their other muscles being seldom acted , the chyle , as it is carried along their blood-vessels , is not sufficiently press'd , or broken into small enough particles , that it may become homogeneous , at least to our senses , with the blood ; and so is apt to produce all those inconveniencies , grosser blood or bodies greater than the blood carried about in it , are said to do : yet things being quite otherwise with our sailers , and in one part of their business or another , scarce one muscle of the whole body being left unimploy'd , their digestion and nutrition not only go as well on with them in this diet , as the most delicate food with ladies ; but this sort of victuals is , even , necessary for their toyl and labour , and that which is finer and more easily digested , would not prove of long enough continuance for their work . from what has been said , 't is evident , that the greater the work and labour is , in this way of living , the digestion and nutrition will be the better perform'd ; the motion of the blood will be more exact , and the health of the sailers will be more firm ; and , upon the other side , the less their work is , the hardness of the food , and its saltness , will proportionably have their effects , and the indigestion that follows upon the one , and the fiery heat that attends the other , will be the more sensible and considerable ; and so , all this will fall more severely upon the seamen of the royal navy , than upon those in the merchant service ; because their labour and work is abundantly greater than that of the men of war : tho there is a sort of remedy against that , in their other victualling , as we shall see hereafter ; and in effect , none find the smart of this so much as the boatswains favourites ; for the most of them , especially of the press'd land-men , are very fit theaters for this tragedy , which is acted , indeed , to the life ; and their case is just the same with that of the ape 's puppies in the fable ; that which she hates comes to be a lusty strong monkey , while she overlays the other thro her fondness ; the seamen , whom the boatswain turns out to their watch , and who have the fatigue of the ship , are in perfect health , while his favourites are over-run with the scurvy ; which appears first in red spots , which afterwards become blue , and then black , upon the legs and other parts , with an extraordinary weakness , and besides attended with a redness , itching , and rottenness of the gums , and a looseness of the teeth ; their pulse all this while being very unequal , i. e. sometimes weak , and sometimes very great : and all these accompanied with a great many more severe symptoms singled out , and describ'd by ▪ riverius , and our learned doctor willis ; which , therefore , i shall forbear to enumerate , but especially since 't is none of my design to write a treatise of the scurvey , but only to give such illustrations , as may be useful for understanding our sea sicknesses , and helping us in their cure. 't is very evident from the heating properties of salt , and especially of its corrosive bittern , that 't is that only , which can produce such an extraordinary sense of heat , as we find after a meal of such victuals ; and because that heat cannot be produc'd , without a greater degree of velocity of the blood , and a greater secretion of animal spirits , which contract the heart , and produce this velocity ; and they cannot be separated without a greater attrition of the blood : therefore , since this heat is felt , it is this bittern of the s●lt that makes this attrition ▪ and produces this heat : now in this production , both the parts of the bittern , that divide and break the particles of the blood , and the parts of the blood thus broken and divided , possess a greater space than when they were compact , and before there were other bodies added . so that , in this greater possession of space , rarefaction , and artificial moles , as we may say , the thinner , and more capillary vessels have not cohesion enough to resist this new bulk ; but the blood breaks over its banks , and in as great a quantity as the force of the motion of the rarify'd blood , the greatness of the emissary , and the resistance of the place , into which it breaks , will allow ; so that if this be superficial , if any great quantity is separated , and the blood's motion so weak , that there is not matter enough perspired , which both by its quantity and force may keep it fluxile , and carry off some of the smaller parts of the blood , thus let out by its ow● common motion ; then , the blood , now fallen out , will corrupt after the same manner , we see it , when out of the body ; having , always , respect to the quantity separated , and the place where it is lodged , i. e. the blood being thus separated , is in a state of quiet and corrupts ; and , in the different degrees and transitions in this corruption is blue , black , &c. as we see in this , and cases of the like nature ; only , it is longer a corrupting , because of its small quantity , the fluxility of the perspiring steams , and the temper of the place ; as we might particularly demonstrate if it would not prove too long . and these mechaical intimations will take off the necessity of absorbing that is so much talkt of in this case . besides , this way of the blood 's possessing greater space , may still be augmented , if we consider , that their victuals , we have just now spoke of , must needs breed very thick blood ; which is not so easily broken in pieces , but ra●ifying in bulk , is more apt to stop , and by its stoppage to make a greater pressure in its channels , and to produce the abovemention'd effects . and since the extraordinary space is possest by this viscid and rarify'd blood , the blood vessels that are so fill'd , compress those parts that are contiguous to them , and have less power to resist , than their sides have to go outward ; and therefore , in this stuffing of the arteries in the soft brain , their sides , thus bending outwards , will especially press such vessels , that are touch'd by 'em , whether they are veins , arteries , or nerves ; if their resistance be less than the force that thrusts 'em out , and so the liquors stagnating in all those , must press the neighbouring vessels , and hinder the transmission of their liquors , in proportion to those powers by which they are prest . thus a smaller quantity will be carry'd along their cavity ; and by reason of this compression , the quantity of animal spirits that glides into the cavity of the nerves with an extraordinary weakness is diminisht , because their coats are deprest , and their channels straitned ; so that since by their influx into the nerves , and derivation into the muscles , their contraction is perform'd , and upon this the strength of the whole body depends ; then , in this small distribution of the animal spirits , which is less than what is natural , the contraction of the muscles is not so powerful as naturally it ought to be , and the weakness of the body extraordinary . moreover , since the heart hath the same properties , and is subject to the same laws , with the other muscles ; and they being more weakly contracted , because of a lesser quantity of animal spirits , that are deriv'd into them ; so must the heart be more faintly contracted too ; and since , by the consent of physitians , and the evidence of reason , the motion of the blood depends upon the strength of the hearts contraction ; the contraction of the heart being weaker , 't is plain , that this confus'd mixture of viscid and rarify'd blood , will have but a very weak motion ; which is continu'd in the blood , till its return to the heart , bating what it has communicated , in its circulation , to the arteries and blood to be propelled ; but since it is still losing part of its motion , the further it goes from the heart ; the blood will be , on all occasions , apt to stagnate in the smaller and remoter vessels ; and so produce those red , blue , &c. spots , we have spoken of . besides , since the pulse is only occasion'd , by the greater quantity of blood propell'd into the narrower sections of the arteries ; and this impulsion depends upon the contraction of the heart , as we have said ; therefore because , in this heated and rarify'd blood , there is sometimes a greater , and sometimes a less quantity of animal spirits separated ; and since the contraction of the heart depends on their separation and influx , that will be sometimes greater , and sometimes weaker , and so the protrusion of the blood being sometimes perform'd in a shorter time , and sometimes in a longer , and in a greater or smaller quantity ; consequently , the pulse will be quicker and slower , greater and weaker , as we find by experience . because the blood is thus viscid and rarify'd , and apt to stagnate in the capillary vessels , especially in the remotest parts ; and while 't is thus stopt by a greater power of obstruction , than the following blood has power to drive it forwards , the succeeding blood coming to the place , and not being able to propel the sticking blood , nor to recoil , because of the impetus of the blood that succeeds it ; it stagnates too , and encreasing in quantity , distends the sides of the vessels , in which it stopt , to their utmost extent . if those vessels are superficial and visible to the eye , the blood will shine thro in its ow● colour ; and because the gums are such , when they are thus stuff'd , they appear swell'd and red . and since the liquors that are thus slowly propell'd , and subsist , and are wholly obstructed in some parts , the parts , where this total obstruction happens , are ulcerated and stink ; for the stagnating liquors are entirely corrupted , and become too sharp and weighty for their channels , and so break thro , as inulcers . but if , before this total stoppage and obstruction , the parts of the blood now greater than ordinary , can be carried thro those parts by way of perspiration ; yet in their passage they effect the pores , rub upon them , and produce that sense of itching , which sometimes provokes us to scratch those parts ; and , by the bleeding that follows upon that , we frequently prevent a more sudden obstruction . yet , in all this misfortune , the teeth losing their security , must needs become loose , and fall out . 't is from this viscid and weaken'd state of the blood , that we see such swellings of the legs , in chronical diseases , especially in the evening , after it is somewhat weakned , by the little exercise our bodies have in the day ; while it cannot climb up , in its return to the ●eart , the steep precipices of our legs , out stops and begets that swelling we feel in the evening ; till by the adventitious warmth of the bed , and the direct posture of our legs , it goeth off again against morning . after the same manner , by considering the condition of our other liquors , and their motion , i could demonstrate their depravation , and explain , ( tho at too great a length for this place ) the other symptoms that appear . but seeing they may be brought from these fountains , which i have sufficiently dwelt upon ; i think , i have said enough to explain the way , how this sickness is produced with us , and to show that 't is a necessary consequence of an idle life , and of feeding on salt beef and pork ; and therefore i shall proceed to the next proposition , i laid down . only , i must put you in mind , that i am not for confounding this distemper with the melancholia hypochondriaca , as riverius , and some other authors do ; which makes us call every sickness a scurvy or scorbutical ; because there are some symptoms common to both : for if this principle were allowed , we could have no distinct notions of diseases , but they would all be involv'd in one confus'd and inextricable chaos . thus , for example , we frequently see vomiting in fevers , scurvys , the iliac passion , the stone in the kidneys or vreters , a fall , and many more ; yet would it not be thought ridiculous to say , that a fever is an iliac passion , the stone , a fall , &c. tho they are both attended with vomiting . and ( which is worse ) this would prove very fatal in the curing of diseases : and therefore it were to be wisht , that all diseases were exactly described , brought under certain classes , and confin'd to their respective families and tribes . i cannot upon this occasion omit , what the most expert physitian dr. sydenham says on that subject , in the 307 page of his practice of physick , printed at london , in the year 1685 , in the 5th chapter of that book ▪ of the rheumatism . hic enim ( says he ) obiter , sed & libere tamen dicam , quod licet nullus dubitemquin scorbutus in his plagis borealibus revera inveniatur , tamen eum morbum non tam frequentem , quam vulgi fert opinio , occurrere persuasum mihi habeo ; multos autem ex iis affectibus ( ne plurimos dicam ) quorum nomine scorbutum incusamus , vel morborum fientium nondum vero factorum , quique nullum adhuc certum induerunt typum , effe●tae esse ; vel etiam infelices , reliquias morbi alicujus nondum penitus devicti , a quibus sanguis , caeterique humores contaminantur , v. gr . &c. by the way i must observe , that tho i doubt not but the scurvy is really to be found in these northern countries ; yet , i am perswaded it is not so very frequent , as 't is commonly imagined ; but that many of those distempers ( if not the most ) we ascribe to the scurvy , are either the effects of approaching ills , not yet form'd into diseases , or the unhappy relicts of some unconquered sickness , which still pollutes the blood and other humours , v. gr . &c. 't is true , the learned dr. willis has spoke a little more distinctly , when he calls the one a cold , and the other a hot scurvy : but in this , he has too much sacrific'd to the humour of the ancients , since the last only deserves that name , and the other does not , really , differ from the melanoholia hypochondriaca ▪ of all men , i have the least inclination to dispute about words ; but if things were better settled by proper definitions and names , we should not fall into so many mistakes ; and there 's nothing more common , than to see people catching hold of some words , that are apt to mislead them in their practice ; for instance , besides the banter of openers , malignant , and the like , who does not , but at the name of scurvy , immediately fly to scurvy-grass , water-●resses , and horse-radishes ; but to what advantage , may be easily understood by our foregoing theory , and is fatally felt by such as are truly scorbutical ; but i 'm afraid i have wander'd already too far from my subject . and i shall proceed to the next thing to be consider'd in order , which may be sufficiently and easily understood , from what i have said of the preceeding two . the next thing i shall consider is their bread , of which every man is allow'd one pound a day . moderate eating of bread has , in all ages , been esteemed to contribute very much to the preservation of our health , tho none have approv'd of quantities . omnis repletio mala , panis pessima ; a surfeit of any thing is bad , but one of bread is the worst : its substance is tough and tenacious ; and therefore is not so easily broken and divided by the stomach , and if eaten at any time in a greater quantity , than is sufficient to give a body to the chyle , it is very apt to make way for obstructions , and to breed very thick and gross humours . but an entire abstinence from bread deprives the chyle of that due and necessary body , that is requisite to make its passage slow enough thro the guts , that it may be the better thrust into the indiscernible doors of the lacteal vessels : and therefore , in such a famine and scarcity of bread , the body is depriv'd of those juices that are made of our victuals , besides gripings , most troublesome loosenesses , and such other sicknesses as attend them . having spoken thus much of bread , in the general , i shall neither pretend to determin the sufficient quantities of bread that are to be eaten , nor enquire , whether the crumb of crust of bread are the most wholsome . for these questions are not proper for this place ; since all that concerns us , is the consideration of the effects our sea-bisket may have upon their bodies , who are oblig'd to make it a part of their daily food . first then , a pound of bread so dry and solid as that must be , that it may be the fitter for keeping , if it were brought to the consistence of common bread , would at least be thrice as big as it is , while in bisket ; which , i 'm apt to believe , is a little too much for men generally to eat . besides , after it is ground by the teeth , and sent into the stomach , 't is extremely hard to be digested , if it be not very fine ; and if fine , it so imbibes the small quantity of chyle , that is made of the other victuals , that the mass of blood receives a very small quantity of it ; and that mash which passeth the guts , where the lacteal vessels are inserted , is so hardned and compact , that people upon that diet but seldom trouble the stool ; which every one knows to be of very ill consequence , and especially at sea. from what has been said , 't is not only evident , that the abovementioned victuals , are not fine enough to produce those subtile animal spirits , that make people so easily advert to , and apprehend at sight , whatever is proposed ; and so , not fit to make wits : but by the grossness of their humours , the seamen are dispos'd to most chronical diseases , so soon as they are in the least overcome with idleness and laziness : tho , otherwise , all the inconveniencies that happen , are excessive costiveness , that troublesom attendant of our sicknesses . so that we may say , that a little too much eating of such bread , not only thickens the humours too much , and so disposes our men to other sicknesses ; but immediately produces that dangerous costiveness , which is apt to produce so many other maladies , and always obstructs the cure of fevers . for when our intestins are stuff'd with a great many days victuals , they are so distended , and the blood vessels in them so prest or straitned , that the circulation through them is very much interrupted , and not only the blood that us'd to flow that way , but even that of the neighbouring parts is forced from its channels , and equally filling the channels of the rest of the parts of the body , that have less resistance , in some degree press the origin of the nerves in the brain , and blood vessels of the eyes ; and so produce that stupor and thickness of sight , people frequently feel in that case . besides the chyle must needs be very much interrupted , and kept from being convey'd in a sufficient quantity for recruiting the mass of blood , by the pressure of the lacteal vessels , which are interwoven with the guts : for the chyle is forced along the whole length of the guts , with the grosser mash ; and so , the body is not only depriv'd of its necessary nourishment , but there 's an eminent hazard of obstructions in the lacteal vessels , which very often produces those dangerous ascites's that are so seldom cur'd . touching their oatmeal victuals ( or burgoo ) which of it self is very fit to correct that thickness of the humours and costiveness , that are the unavoidable consequences of the abovemention'd diet join'd with the least idleness : for oats being of a thin substance , and of all the grains we use for victuals , that out of which the greatest quantity of oyl may be drawn , they not only preserve that motion , that 's requisite to make a due perspiration , by adding spirits to the blood , but preserve it in a convenient degree of fluxility ; and by their cleansing power and vertue to keep the belly open , this burgoo victualling is highly necessary for our seafaring people . yet , 't is the least lik'd of all their victuals because of the small quantity of butter , they pretend is allowed them to sawce i● : and therefore perhaps 't were worthy the consideration of those , to whom it belongs to order this supply , and who are every way so careful of the seamen , to see whether an addition in their butter might be allow'd ; for i am sure , that if that part of the victualling were made more grateful and agreeable to the sailers , 't would infinitely contribute to the preservation of their health . what i have said on this subject , is in a great measure applicable to their pease , which in their own nature are more temperate than oatmeal , since they are esteem'd by physicians , and the learned galen , i de aliment . facultat . cap. 21. a sort of medium between things of good and bad nourishment . and therefore i shall proceed to the next consideration i proposed , which was concerning their lodging . this is as convenient , warm and easy , as may be at sea , and for such a number of men ; yet what by the pilfering of hammocks one from another , their lying on deck ▪ or betwixt decks , when they are pretty warm after a can of flip ; and the prest mens real want of cloaths , they sensibly contract a cold , which is the beginning of most of their miseries . 't is not necessary , i should demonstrate here , the way how that is catcht ; since 't is evidently so by that heaviness they complain of , pain of their breast , soreness in their bones , and such other symptoms , physicians have determined to be the constant attendants of a cold. but since i shall have occasion afterwards to treat more particularly of this subject , i shall at present content my self with putting you in mind , that i have already demonstrated in another place , and have put it beyond exception , in the judgment of very many , that there is no power in the air , different from its weight or gravity , able to produce those symptoms , that are said to follow upon obstruction , or shutting up of the pores , when we catch cold , and so may disturb and interrupt perspiration , and breed so many fatal distempers , which 't would be needless to insist upon in this place , since the thing is generally agreed upon ; yet i cannot forbear observing , that an untimely use of sweating medicines in some , and thickning lozenges in others , is more frequently the productive cause of fevers , phthisicks , &c. and of more fatal consequence than a cold could have been , if left to the strength of the blood and abstinence , without employing any other auxiliaries ; but more for the confirmation of this , may be easily collected from what follows in this discourse . i say , then , since so far is already clear ; and because too , the force of the perspiration is only kept up , by a certain impetus and degree of the velocity of the blood , and that is only interrupted by the falling or diminution of this , 't would be an easy task to give a more genuine and conceivable account of catching cold , than is generally assign'd to be done by ( i don't know what ) nitrosity or nitrous power in the air ; which , upon various occasions , authors make use of for making the blood fluxile and tenacious , two very different effects ; tho 't is fit for neither , as i have already prov'd in its proper place . but i shall content my self at present with enumerating those symptoms , that constitute the essence of a cold , and then proceed to consider the effects of this , by the different symptoms that naturally attend it . since then , i find 't is agreed on by all physicians , that perspiration in a catch'd cold , is not so free as in a natural state , but is interrupted ; and a great deal of that substance , that is usually sep●rated that way , is detain d in the mass of blood ! that which is so detain'd , will proportionably encrease its bulk , and fill the vessels ; and so becomes the source of all those symptoms that are observed to attend a catch'd cold , by a necessary consequence i shall afterwards have occasion to demonstrate : the symptoms that usually appear in this case are these , and in this order . first , a weight or heaviness , a pain in the breast , a less activity over all the body , sudden weakness , a coldness in all the extremities except the brain , costiveness , such a pain in the bones , as when one is beat , a weak , sunk , and depressed pulse , sometimes accompanied with a great inclination to sleep ; in a day or two the pulse is great and strong , they become very warm , restless , and thirsty ; the tongue is dry , black , and rough , the breathing difficult , the breath striking those that stand near the sick person like fire ; they are delirious , cannot sleep , and their sickness is terminated in death , by sweating , hemorrhagie , looseness , &c. having thus enumerated these symptoms , that appear constantly in our fevers , and in the same order in which i have rank'd them : i shall now endeavour to evince the necessity of their attending an interruption of perspiration , as i intimated before ; and hereafter i shall endeavour to demonstrate , that that fulness , which gives rise to all these appearances , is more especially to be attributed to an interruption of perspiration than any other cause ; and so the hypothesis , tho own'd by every one , will be more than one that is merely such . first then , an interruption of perspiration will encrease the moles or bulk of the fluids , proportionably to what is left unexpell'd , of the quantity which usually passeth thro the pores ; and because sanctorius in his statical medicin , has taught us that we perspire , according to the different constitutions of our bodies , about forty , fifty , or sixty ounces in 24 hours ; therefore if but a sixth part of this be detain'd , as i could prove it to be ; it must needs produce a very great plethora in a day or two , in such that were in perfect health before , besides the addition may be suppos'd to be made by our daily food , and , perhaps , rarifying liquors . the blood upon this consideration admitting of a vast augmentation , distends the sides of its channels , is more unfit for motion , and presseth the neighbouring parts , and so may easily produce the sense we have , and very often complain of an unnatural weight : for in this weight or heaviness we have the same sensation , as when loaded under a great burden , and therefore in this , the parts are the same way affected , as when a weight presses our body ; but by this weight , the membranes , nerves and muscles are so prest , and the bones so forc'd into their joinings , that they could not subsist , if it were not for the violent nisus of the muscles ; neither could those muscles be contracted , but by a more abundant influx of the animal spirits overcoming this pressure ; nor could they be propell'd thro the compressed nerves , unless they were pusht on by a greater force ; and by this greater force is known that by which is meant to press ; and therefore 't is evident , that the blood thus filling its vessels , may easily produce that sense of weight , as was said . the blood , while in this fulness , because of its bulk and the viscidity it contracts , by this stagnating fulness , both in its own nature , and by reason of the diminution of its motion , is not so capable to separate its subtile parts or animal spirits , because it is not so well divided or broken into such small particles . now since the abundance and separation of the spirits in the brain , are necessary for the motion of the muscles , upon the contraction of which the strength and activity of the whole body depends ; 't is plain that in such a case , where the motion of the blood is so languid , and the secretion of the animal spirits so small ; there will be a laziness and a diminution of activity over all the body . and because this artificial plethora , that lessens the activity is very sudden , i. e. in two or three days , this less activity will be sudden too , or a sudden weakness will happen ; which was to be shown . when the blood is thus stopt , and become very viscid , 't is evident that the body must proportionably want of its warmth ; since that is only an effect of the greater liberty the small parts of the blood , that make the heat , have , to disperse themselves over the body ; and this liberty is procur'd by the parts of the blood in their motion , justling and breaking each other into smaller parts . but the blood being viscid or tough , is not so easily , in its nature , broken and dissolved ; and therefore the warmth is still more violently lock'd up and confin'd . moreover , while the blood is so viscid , its motion is ev'n slower than naturally it should be ; and consequently the heat is lessen'd , and the blood not so well divided , because the breaking of it into smaller parts depends upon its motion . so that according as the motion is diminished , and the force of the viscidity greater , the coldness is proportionably greater over the whole body : and because the blood hath its motion from the heart , and in its whole journey round the body , is still losing part of that motion , ( for the reasons assign'd before ) more or less in respect of the wideness of the vessels thro which it is propell'd , and their distance from the heart ; therefore 't is evident , that that coldness will not be so sensible in the parts that are nearer the heart , or about the heart it self and the thorax , as in the parts that are more remote or the extremities of the body ; for , not only for the reasons we have just nam'd , this coldness is first felt in the parts that are furthest from the heart , but the motion of the muscles in the extremities is not so strong ; and therefore they do not so powerfully press the blood that glides thro those veins and arteries , that go to the composing of these muscles , as in the other muscles , whose contraction is perform'd with greater force and energy ; and consequently the blood too , will be more apt to stagnate in those remote parts than in the other ; so that this coldness will be more sensible in them , as was asserted . moreover , the vessels in those remote parts , growing always smaller and smaller , the further they go ; this thick blood will be propell'd with the greater difficulty thro these vessels , than if they were wider ; besides , that by reason of the glewiness of this ●ough and thick blood , 't is more apt to stick to the coats of the vessels ; and so more ready to subsist and to produce the abovemention'd coldness ; but tho this coldness is more apt to begin in the extremities , than in any other parts , and tho there are a great many small arteries in the brain , as well as in the other parts ; yet this coldness will not be felt in it so soon as in them , because the arteries are but short , and soon discharge themselves into the wide sinus's ; so that , tho the blood is very apt to stagnate , and produce that coldness in the extremities ; yet that happens not so soon in the brain . now , the real continuation of this coldness over the whole body , may be very well conceived , if we consider , that while the blood is thus stopt in the capillary arteries , we can assign no time in the whole circulation , in which a lesser quantity of blood flows not from the arteries into the veins , than would have flown in a natural state ; and therefore a lesser quantity of blood flowing more slowly , in the ordinary time of the circulation than is naturally usual , there will a lesser than a natural quantity come into the heart in every contraction ; and this small quantity will not fill the arteries in that proportion , that is necessary to force it forward , so as to break and divide it , and to display its heat . besides the blood being in this tough and viscid condition , there will ev'n be fewer of its fine and subtile parts separated in the brain , and dispos'd of into the muscles of the whole body ▪ and the heart in course will have a fainter contraction , and a weaker power to propel the blood , which consequently will not be so well divlded , nor the heat so well diffus'd . now supposing that this lentor or toughness could consist with the natural motion of the blood , and that the viscidity could not be broken or dissolv'd by the natural motion , it cannot be expected it ever should by a degree of motion , much below that which is natural ; and therefore this sense of cold must be felt in the other parts , and over the whole body . pain is nothing else but a solution or disjoyning of continuous parts , and while the blood stagnates , and its quantity is constantly augmented , it must needs distend the sides of its channels , where it stops , and ▪ stretch the arteries beyond their ordinary pitch . and therefore those vessels , that have not a natural or an adventitious resistance to oppose this forcing outward of the blood , will have their parts disunited , i. e. this sense of pain will be produc'd in them . now , the bones in themselves are not affected with pain , neither is there any such sensation produc'd in them , but by the membrane , that surrounds and invests them ▪ called the periostium : 't is evident , that because this may be affected with any sort of pain , the bones are said to be thus affected ; and in beating there are great contusions , i. e. the vessels have their sides so prest , by the weight and motion of the instrument , by which these contusions are made , that the blood either circulates very slowly , or not at all in those sections of the vessels so comprest . and the periostium is either so prest by the contus'd muscles , that this feeling is produced in it ; or , having its vessels a little comprest , the subsisting liquors in the comprest part do stop the succeeding liquors in the same channel , that they actually protrude the sides of their vessels , and make this sensation of pain : and since the blood in this accidental fulness and viscidity may affect the vessels after the same manner , 't is but natural to conclude , that such a pain , as when one is beaten , may be produc'd in this state of the mass of the blood . the blood in this state of viscidity , is less capable of separating its fine and subtile parts , as has been said ; and there being a less quantity of them , the contraction of the whole muscles will be so much the weaker ; and consequently , since the heart gives the greatest force to the blood's motion , and its contraction being weaker , the blood will be squeezed out of the left ventricle into the aorta , and thro the whole series of the arteries , with less velocity ; and therefore cannot distend the sides of the arteries , with that force that is usual , but affects our touch more weakly ; so that the pulse is weak in this state of the blood : for the same reason those spirits being produced in a less quantity , and longer in falling into the muscles , and their contraction not being so frequent : now the motion of the heart and arteries being synchronical , i. e. the contraction of the first , and the filling of the second , being perform'd at the same time , since the contraction of the heart is not so frequent , the sides of the arteries are not so frequently forced outward , and seldomer affect our touch , i. e. the pulse will be that which we call a rare pulse . the blood too , in this its thick and viscid state , is less attrited and less fluxil , as has been said ; but its parts being thus penn'd up and compact , cannot possess that space it did , when its parts roll'd more freely one upon another , and were kept at a greater distance , by the impulse of its subtile parts ; and therefore it has not force enough , to sustain the weight of the sides of its channels , and they falling closer one upon another , diminish , as to their bigness , sensibly , and even to our sight ; so that they being thus contracted , shrunk , and as 't were withdrawn from our touch ; and the pulse being thus removed , is said to be depressed , sunk , &c. while the blood is so viscid , and the contraction of the muscles so weak , so few animal spirits separated , and all the secretions almost stopt ; the musculous coat of the stomach will lose a great deal of its force , and the liquor of the stomach will be separated in a less quantity ; the contraction of the ventricle is not only weaker , but our victuals that are lodged there , are not dissolv'd , attrited and turned to chyle ; but putrifie and remain undigested ; and therefore the stomach being constantly full , there can be no sence of hunger , as our experience tells us . the same unactivity and want of contraction , we find in the muscles of the stomach , are felt , for the same reasons , in the muscles of the intestines ; so that their vermicular contraction being much abated ; whatever is contained in their cavity , will not be sufficiently comprest , that it may be protruded thro the whole process of the guts ; besides their incapacity in respect of the excrements , that are contained in them ; for these excrements being in a very small quantity , both because of the small supply that is sent from the stomach , and yet smaller from the blood , by the known passages ; they want of that weight , that is necessary to overcome the constriction of the muscles of the anus ; and little or no secretion being made into the guts from the blood , there 's somewhat wanting of that due fluxility for their easier propulsion thro the intestines , besides what excrements so fluxil may be suppos'd to do by way of stimulus ; so that upon all these accounts , especially by the help of our bisket , as has been said , there will be a vast disposition to costiveness . lastly , if at any time the blood is so viscid , that it is even interrupted , or has a great deal slower motion in the brain than is usual , and keeps the coats of the arteries bent outward ; then , both because of the small secretion of spirits there , and the arteries compressing the origin of the nerves , there cannot be a sufficient quantity of spirits derived thro these nerves ; and consequently is produced that stupor or sleepiness we sometimes observe . now since the warm parts of the blood are confin'd and penn'd up in its viscid parts , and if they be so prest , that the force of this pression ( together with the natural force , that the small , hot , and fiery particles have to extricate themselves ) be greater than the power that confines them ; these hot particles will at last break out , and running along by the sensible parts , excite the sense of heat ; and seeing this viscid blood stagnates and stops in the small arteries , they are so stuff'd up with that constant supply , that is made in the parts where it thus stagnates , that this compression will be very considerable , by the blood that is constantly added , and by the power of contraction in the arteries , that hinder this stuffing and bending outwards of their sides ; so that this compression being continually augmented , at length its power will become greater than the power of cohesion betwixt the viscid and small parts of the blood ; and so the heat will be extricated , and give its sense to the nerves : and after that some part of it is set at liberty , and moves to and fro with all freedom , it must mightily facilitate the setting at liberty of the other small parts from the viscid parts of the blood , by wedging themselves into them , and breaking their continuity ; and making the viscid parts themselves more fluxil . now since the hot and warm parts of the blood are delivered from their confining viscid parts ; because the power of compression is greater than the power of cohesion , which proceeds from that viscidity ; and since the power of compression is proportionable to the velocity of the blood , and its velocity is greatest in these arteries that are next the heart ; the power then of compression in those arteries , that are next the heart , will be greater than in these that are more remote , i. e. the heat will be felt in the parts that are more remote from the heart , or the extremities , a great while after 't is felt in the parts that are nearer the heart , and they have been warm ; and the coldness in the remote limbs , after the rest of the body has been warm , may last even till the power of compression in their arteries be augmented by the continual afflux of blood , and is able to subdue ▪ the force of the viscid and intangling parts ; and since these two powers are uncertain and undetermined , there can be no time assigned , wherein this coldness may last in the remote limbs , after the rest of the body has been hot ; only we may assert , that the coldness will last the longer in the extremities , the more viscid the blood is , and the more firmly and closely it envelopes and confines the heat . thus a great deal of heat being set at liberty , it is derived with the other parts , that can easily be dissolv'd and are more fluxile , into the veins ; and therefore this heat being more free , rarifies and warms the blood it meets with in the veins , and excites a great sence and feeling of heat over all the body . the heat then proceeding thus , the blood is more free , moveable , warm and rarified ; and consequently the arteries are fuller , and distend their sides further , and so seem to rise up out of the flesh , and to come nearer the skin : and the vessels being fuller , the pulse will also feel greater ; and because the blood is now more than naturally warm , more perfectly dissolv'd , and carried in a greater quantity to the brain , there is also a more plentiful secretion of animal spirits , which coming into the heart in a greater quantity and degree of determination , make its contraction the stronger , and consequently propel the blood thro the vessels with more force , and distend more strongly the sides of the arteries , and produce that sort of pulse we call strong : so that tho the pulse in the cold fit was not to be felt , either because the blood was not propell'd thro these parts , where we observe the pulse , or propell'd with lesser velocity than was necessary to affect our touch : yet the velocity being recovered , the blood circulates thro these parts again , affects our touch , and makes the pulse great and strong , as has been said : if we consider in the next place , the extraordinary warmth of which our patients complain , we shall not need to have recourse to any unnatural contraction of the muscles to account for their restlessness , and continual tossing about the bed ; but if we remember either what incites our selves to it , or what our patients tell us induces them , we may very fairly account for that symptom ; and this is nothing but a constant desire to remove into those places we had not lain in before , for a relief to our scorching heat ; and so as we warm in one place , we cast about and tumble into another , which is truly that restlessness we may observe . moreover , in this extraordinary heat there is a less secretion of spittle , and that which is separated is immediately exhal'd by this unnatural heat ; and therefore the tongue and all that neighbourhood being very dry , the sense of thirst is felt ; but because of this dryness , and the particular contexture of the tongue , which has its fibres running across in its composition ; these fibres rise , stare , are stiff and rough , and appear to our touch as if we run our fingers over a grater , so soon as it is depriv'd of its humidity ; and while the fibres and blood vessels stare thus , they cannot be easily contracted , and so the parts of the blood that are drier , cannot move , but stagnate under the surface of the tongue , while its more fluid parts are press'd forward ; and the parts of the blood , that are thus stopp'd , being of a high red colour , appear very easily to be black and a little inflam'd . and if this heat increases naturally or by art , 't is evident , that the blood will be mightily rarify'd , and flowing thro the lungs in this great and rarify'd quantity , 't will press them violently on all sides ; so that they will not be so easily expanded , and therefore the respiration will be also difficult , and the small quantity of air , that is received into the unexpanded lungs , being warmed with the hot blood which then circulates thro that part affects us so , when expir'd , as the air of a chamber that is agitated , by the small parts of our fires , that move among it , and this affects us with heat ; so the breath of those sick , strikes those that stand near like fire . seeing he blood is driven about in such a hu●●y ▪ the animal spirits separated i● so great abundance , the blood so very fluxile , and these spirits running thro a great many different tracts in the brain , present to us so many different ideas , according to which we express our selves ; and they being different , and of several sorts , our thoughts are found very incoherent and unconnected , which is to rave , or to be delirious . that watchfulness too we daily observe , proceeds from these live representations , and velocity of the blood and spirits . and since in all the stages of this illness , there either may be too great a distension of the blood-vessels in the brain , and so no spirits deriv'd into the nerves , which will entirely destroy the contraction of the heart , and bring death ; or the blood may be in such a condition , that it can give no supply of such spirits ; and upon this account too , there can be no contraction of the heart , no motion of the blood , which is the want of life it self : and in both these respects 't is evident , how death may be the fatal consequence of this sickness ; for in the first , the blood being either very viscid in the cold fit , or extremely rarify'd in the hot ( by the patients own constitution , the heat of the place where he liveth , or warming medicins ) is so interrupted in the arteries of the brain , and being augmented by the succeeding blood , it may distend the sides of the arteries , and produce the named effect ; or if the blood in the cold fit is so viscid , and confines the spirits , that they cannot be separated , or there be a real want of spirits in the blood , which turn to the same account ; there can be no secretion of spirits , where there are none ; and therefore there will none be derived into the nerves , for the motion of the muscles , and contraction of the heart . by the by , 't is no less evident , that when the blood is thus infinitely comminuted , and still broken down into parts lesser and lesser , by an indiscreet management , and want of drinking of something , that may be a body to the spirits ; the blood is not only depriv'd of that serum , that should have preserv'd its fluxility , and been that body , but of its spirits too , and so must needs produce the fore-going effect , and make this melancholy tragedy end at last in death . lastly , since the sick must continue in this condition , so long as the state of the blood is in this way , and seeing those parts , which are thus broken in this motion , may be carried off by the glandules of the skin , breaking open of the pipes , by the intestins , &c. and by these means the blood may be rendered more compact , and equal in its motion ▪ therefore 't is plain , that this sickness may be judged by sweating , hemorrhages , looseness , &c. thus having demonstrated the necessity of these symptoms , from the supposition of an interruption of perspiration , i would proceed to considerations of the like nature , if i were not first oblig'd to vindicate this hypothesis from one that is merely such , as i but lately promised : if therefore any one will take one , more , or all of these symptoms , and let him have no respect to any hypothesis , but read them backward , according to the known and familiar rules of nature , he shall find them necessarily proceeding from a real or factitious fulness , which are the same as to their effects ▪ and since we come by this fulness in our ordinary way of living , 't is plain , that 't is not that that is its cause : but there 's no way else we can acquire it , except by retaining somewhat for some time we usually lose ; and since 't is not the first , the last is either by the suppression of the secretions made by stool , by urine , in the respiration , or by the skin , or perspiration ; now , we see the foregoing symptoms rendezvous'd into a great number , while neither the evacuations by stool , urine , or respiration ( the others i name not , they being very inconsiderable ) seem to be much altered from what we see them in a natural state ; and therefore 't is perspiration only , that is able to produce these effects and this fulness , as i justly supposed . moreover , sanctorius has taught us , by making out the proportions of secretions in the 5 , 6 , 21 , 59 , 60th aphorisms of the first sect of his statical medicin , that secretion by perspiration , is at least double of all the other secretions ; and therefore , when that is interrupted , it can produce that fulness in as short a time as all the secretions together could , and since they , or the most of them are good , while the named symptoms have grown into a great number ; therefore this fulness has its rise from an interrupted perspiration , and so the supposition was just , and a great deal more than a mere hypothesis , as i was oblig'd to prove . the perspiration thus interrupted in hotter constitutious , hot countries , or a warmer season , these fevers do not begin with so long a continued coldness , but the heat succeeds a great deal sooner , as may be collected from what i 'm to say hereafter , when i give some intimations of the sickness of hotter countries . yet , the blood having sometimes that velocity , we assign'd it to have , in another place , when it is most apt to make secretions by the stomach , intestines and pancrea's ; which secretions being sent into the guts , in a greater or less quantity , and finding them less constricted , and the humour thus separated not so viscid as to subsist , it must needs get out the natural way and produce a looseness : and tho the guts were very firmly shut , yet if there be such a quantity , that the power of its moles is greater , than the force whereby they are constracted , it will make way to it self by the intestines , as before . but supposing the guts thus shut up , and the quantity so small , that it cannot make its way by the intestines , because of its moles , yet if it 's very thin , sharp , and forced forward , either by its own motion , or the compression of the neighbouring parts , or both ; so that it can dilate the guts , there will be a looseness , as is evident . but since in our way of living , and in the channel , where the air is seldom very sultrie , 't is but rare for our blood to be in these circumstances here required ; and almost never but in scorbutical cases ; therefore we shall trouble you no further about this affair , but mind you , we are to account our diarrhea's amongst our accidental sicknesses , and to be treated as such in these observations that make the second part of this . since we have seen , very plainly , these two different ways of the bloods being affected in an interrupted perspiration , or a catcht cold ; there 's a third , that in a colder season , with the blood a little weakned ; wherein not only the blood , but the rest of the humours , contract such a lentor and viscidity , as we spoke of just now ; yet , when 't is comminuted , and has past the several stages , as before , returns again by a fresh supply of such matter , that is able to produce the same , or like effects ; and in the discovering of this , i shall use the same method , i did in the former , i. e. i shall endeavour to give a plain and genuine history of the symptoms or appearances in that order they affect ; and i shall unfold them , in a natural , familiar , and conceivable way ; that we may be the better able to make such inferences , that may be useful in our practice . first then , they feel a coldness after dinner , their lips are pale , they tremble , their pulse is weak ; while they are thus affected they have an insensibleness , and trouble of mind , while all the external senses are right , and sometimes the external senses are faulty , when the mind is serene and thinks very clearly , their whole body like a dead corpse , and have a great drought ; yet instead of death comes warmth and heat , which lasts for some time and ends in sweating ; at this time the pulse is strong , and more frequent than is usual , they have a beating in their head , a great drought , and after the sweating the pulse becomes sometimes natural ; it recurrs every day , every third or fourth day inclusive , and acts over the same tragedy , it ends sometimes in death , and that in the return . we have seen very clearly in the foregoing part of this discourse , that this viscidity of the blood , that confines the hot and small parts , and makes it so apt to stagnate in the extremities , and afterwards in the other parts , is the true and genuine cause of that coldness we observe ; but the blood thus dispos'd , and not actually stagnating , and producing this coldness , is reduc'd to act by any thing that has greater parts than the parts of the blood ; so that they cannot be intimately mixed with the blood , and become one homogeneous body ; and since the chyle is of such a substance as is here requisite , as i have plainly shown in another place ; therefore this viscidity will have its power to make the blood stagnate , after the chyle has entered the blood , and not throughly comminuted by the lungs , so that the parts of the chyle may glide along equally with the parts of the blood . and since the chyle is separated from the other mass into the lacteal vessels in an hour and an half , or two hours after dinner ; therefore in an hour and a half , or two hours after dinner , this coldness is felt . now in this viscid state of the blood , it is more compact , and distends not its channels sufficiently , and they , as 't were , withdraw and disappear ; and because the vessels of the lips are more superficial , and are only covered with a very thin skin , so that the blood in a natural state , may almost , be seen running in these vessels , and give that fine red we daily see ; yet when the vessels thus subside , and withdraw , the blood is thicker and more compact , and nothing remains to be seen but the genuine colour of the membranes and fibres , that compose these muscles , and they being of a pale and clay ▪ like colour , the lips will be pale , as was said . the blood then being so viscid , weak , and having the spirits so confin'd , must needs separate very few animal spirits for the reasons often assign'd ; and so the nerves will be but not perfectly empty ; now the motion of the spirits i have already prov'd to be alternate , and the continual efflux to proceed only from the abundance of these spirits in the nerves ; and therefore , when at this time there are so few spirits separated , this fulness of the nerves ceases , and so must the continual efflux too ; and their alternate influx must be more sensible , i. e. because their motion is alternate , the motion of their propelling power being alternate , they flow alternately into the muscles , these weights which they are to sustain ; and because of that alternate influx , they are contracted alternately , and this alternate contraction of the antagonistial muscles being that which physicians call trembling ; 't is plain that there must be a trembling in this want of animal spirits ; tho physicians have thought fit to express it quite another way . now , supposing that this viscidity was so great , that it could even fill up the vessels in the brain , and therefore the viscid blood thus filling those vessels , being not so fit to separate animal spirits , and in this distention of the full vessels they do so compress the origin of the nerves , that those spirits are not derived into the nerves , and propell'd in that quantity into the heart , that 's fit to make its contraction able to force out the blood into the arteries , that they may affect our touch as usually ; and their sides neither being distended so much , as in a natural state , nor with so great a force , make that sort of pulse which is called a weak pulse . in the midst of all this viscidity , the spirits are both in a lesser quantity and more confin'd ; therefore in this real want of spirits , the mind cannot execute its office , they being necessary for the functions of the soul . thus the patient is insensible , while all the external senses may be in a good state ; tho the converse of this may be true , that , viz. any one , or all the external senses may be faulty , when the mind is in a thinking condition ; supposing that this viscid stuff is huddled up by chance in a greater quantity about any artery or plexus of arteries , and if these arteries involve or go round the nerve , that serves for hearing , seeing , tasting , &c. these arteries then being stuff'd up , and fill'd by the continual afflux of new blood , their sides will be more distended and bent outwards ; so that the nerve that touches with them shall be comprest ; till at length by this continual stuffing , the nerve is so totally comprest , that it hinders the motion of the animal spirits , or at least interrupts their motion , tho the sides of the nerve are not quite squeez ▪ d together ; and therefore it may very well happen , that one may be thick of hearing , or perfectly deaf , may not see , taste , &c. and yet recover of a sudden , the coldness being over , and this lentor protruded into the veins . and if this stoppage of the blood in the brain be so great , and its cohesion so firm , ●hat it cannot be dissolv'd by a thousand justlings in the plexus of the pia mater ; so that almost no animal spirits flow thro the nerves , either because there can be no spirits made out of this viscid blood , or that those few that are made , cannot be deriv'd in the nerves , that are shut up by the force of this stagnating blood ; then those spirits equally distributed into the muscles , keep them equally pois'd , and in this equilibration and viscidity there will be a want of motion and sense with an intense coldness , and these being the conditions of a dead body or corpse , 't is evident at this time our bodies will be like a corpse . this lentor being so great over all the body , 't is so too in the arteries that furnish matter , for the spittle that is separated in the glands about the mouth and throat , and no spittle can be separated from the arteries in these glands ; so that in this lesser secretion there can be no afflux of that moisture to these parts , and the want of that occasioning a driness and drought , therefore this stoppage is attended with a drought . yet tho there is but a small quantity of animal spirits separated in the brain , and they deriv'd into the comprest nerves and muscles very sparingly and disorderly ; so that the actions of the body seem at an end , and the muscles in equilibrio , the heart which has no antagonistical muscle shall have its contraction continued ; and if that motion thus continued can dissolve and attrite this blood not quite stagnating , the body that seem'd dead and a corpse shall become warm as before , and have its life prolong'd . so the blood being once more free and fluxil , and the body hot , in the way we demonstrated before ; the attrition and comminution , that produce this heat , depending very much upon the velocity of the blood , so that the greater it is , the greater is the solution of heat , and the greater the solution of heat is , the velocity is the greater too ; because there 's a greater quantity of animal spirits separated by this solution of heat ; and so successively , til● the viscid blood thus subsisting is so comminuted and attrited , and acquires that degree of velocity , we determined it to have when fit for perspiring ; and in that the small parts of the blood will be propell'd thro the neighbouring pores in a great quantity , and produce that appearance we call sweat , so that this warmth is continu'd and ends in sweat , as we shall see more clearly in the sequel . yet before this sweating , while the blood is thus commiuuted , there 's both a greater quantity of animal spirits , and this quantity is faster convey'd to the heart , and the heart is oftner contracted , and that with greater force , and therefore the pulse will be stronger and more frequent , than in a natural state . and because of the great rarifaction and comminution of the blood , and its rapid motion , the sides of the arteries are distended to a greater pitch and very strongly ; therefore the more superficial arteries going outward with a great deal of force , affect the parts that are touch'd by them , and produce that feeling and noise , that 's convey'd to us , upon the beating of one body upon another . while the blood is thus hurry'd about in this rapid and impetuous motion , and no great secretions of any sort ; there is a great driness in our mouth , because of the small quantity of spittle that is separated , and that little is so divided into insinite parts by the force and warmth of the circulating blood , that these parts are left perfectly dry , and they dispoil'd of their moisture , produce that insatiable drought . and since this lentor is at length entirely carried out of the arteries , they will be of their natural wideness , after it is carried out , and so the blood may be propell'd thro them , without its being more attrited , comminuted or dissolved , or the heat of the blood will not encrease in its progress thro the vessels : and since the blood thus dissolv'd , perspires very easily ; this heat shall not only not encrease , but be diminisht , the perspiration lessening its quantity . moreover , the heat thus dissolv'd partly perspires , as was said ; and is partly mixt with the rest of the blood , and is not comminuted , the slowness in which the blood moves thro the veins giving sufficient time for this mixture ; and the heat may easily insinuate it self into the grosser parts , and they may somewhat confine this heat , and restrain its force by opposing this penetration . besides , since there 's an abundance of time betwixt both excursus , the blood must frequently flow thro the lungs ; and so be frequently dissolv'd , and have its hot parts conveniently mixt with the other parts , and for this reason will be more natural ; from which every thing that 's natural will come ; and therefore the body will be in perfect health , at least for some time . tho then the paroxism is thus judg'd by the assigned perspiration ; yet if that viscidity that produc'd the first , is not consum'd , but returns in a certain time : or if that is consum'd and purg'd off by some of the known ways of excretion , or so comminuted , that it is chang'd into the nature of sincere blood ; yet the cause that produc'd the first viscidity , produces its like that can last out the same time , affect with the like symptoms , and be reduc'd to sincere blood like it ; and so there are two ways of making these returns , as we see . let us suppose then , that there are two returns every day , and at the same hour ( there may be assigned the same reason for the rest , that recurr in the same difference of time ) and the first is produced by a lentor that lasts for one day , and threafter is either purg'd out of the body , or chang'd into sincere blood and the second , by a piece of viscidity of the same quantity and quality with that which occasioned the first then , i say , that either of these lentors , or any other that can invade a● the same hour , and takes up a whole day before it is consumed , may successively and by degrees be stored up in the blood vessels , so that it eithe● flows thither insensibly , or constantly in the smallest particles , or be bre● within the same ; till it can produce ● sense of cold , and the other symptom that attend that . and because , before that this cold and its attendan● can seize us , 't is necessary that thi● lentor subsist in the capillary arteries which cannot be , unless its quantity i● so great , that it cannot be mixed with the blood , so that it may flow freely thro the arteries . therefore , eithe● this great quantity of lentor is bred a● once in the blood vessels , which i● possible ; or is at once derived into them from somewhere else , which i● not unconceiveable : but even this i● evident , that this very quantity ma● flow into the vessels by degrees , or b●bre● by degrees in the same ; and therefore 't is possible , that in the space of one day , either some lentor , or something that may breed this lentor may get into the vessels ; yet in so small a quantity , that only after one day there be such a quantity collected , that is able to produce that coldness with its attendants . and therefore , in the end of the day this coldness will begin again , and will make a new return by this lentor , that was stored up in the space of a whole day ; which lentor if consumed in the space of the next day ; and , in the mean while , an equal quantity of another lentor be stored up in the blood , 't will make a third return , and so it may be said of the rest , not made by the same lentor returning oftner , tho slowly , but made by a new one , the former being quite consumed : but this consumption may be sooner or later , in the same day , according to the different nature of that lentor , the bodies that are mixt with it , and their dissolution in the encrease and height of the disease . it can be no objection that this lentor or viscidity of the blood is collected gradually , and therefore may be exterminated or comminuted , as soo● as it can be collected , since it circulates thro the lungs and other part● some thousands of times in one day but this will seem not so difficult o● hard to be granted , if we conside● some examples of as great difficulty and yet most certain : for there 's non● that can be ignorant , how nurse● milk and our urine retain , mor● than one day , the ● colour an● smell of asparagus , onions , ca●sia , rhubarb , turpentine , &c. ● certain argument that there are some what of these bodies carried into th● breasts and kidneys , without ever losing of its nature ; tho it has bee● carried often , and even some thousands of times thro the lungs ; so that i● may be highly probable , that this visci● stuff may be very often carry'd roun● the body , without any considerable alteration . what is better known ▪ than that the poyson of a mad do● shews not itself before the thirtieth o● fortieth day , and sometimes longer so that before its appearing in these forty days , it has circulated some thousands of times thro the lungs , without suffering any diminution of its ●trength ; and therefore if some such ●hing be suppos'd of this viscidity , ●hat is mixt with the blood , there will be no place left for our further doubting . now , this lentor may be ●upplied by every thing that gives us ●ourishment , passions , &c. which are ●oo remote , to be of any great use to us in knowing them : and therefore i ●hall confine my self to consider this ●entor , either coming from the primae viae in our chyle or otherwise , or else being supplied by such viscera that are said to contain liquors : and first , if the chyle or any other humor to be mixed with the blood , should be generated according to nature in the unnatural state of the blood ( which is hard to be suppos'd ) yet this natural humour mixing with the blood would be chang'd into its nature ; and consequently become viscid , that is , a liquor fit to produce that lentor , which if mixt with the blood confusedly and without order , the returns too can have no order ; but if it be carried into the blood in an exact order , the returns will be very exact and orderly : for if the blood have still that unnatural power , and the humour brought into it still retain its natura● power , there will be always the sam● time required , to change that natura● humour into that which is not natural ; and this time may be one , two or three days ; but if any one or all o● them are of a different nature , th● proportion of time will be chang'● and the returns disorderly ; but ●● this natural humor is deriv'd at different times , from the same or differen● parts , and immediately , or in th● same distance and interval of time , acquires an unnatural power from th● unnatural blood ; there may be abundauce of returns orderly and disor●ly , as the derivations are orderly o● confus'd : and if those humors are o● different natures , consisting of par●● of different sorts , every one of the● requiring a different interval of time before they can degenerate into th● kind of lentor ; the variety of return will be altogether uncertain , and kee● no order . next , let us suppose that i● the viscera , that are said to have considerable secretions made in them , th● liquors being viscid are return'd b● their veins into the cava , and in th● order of the former viscid parts circulate with the blood thro the whole ●ody , till they acquire such a thick●ess or quantity of viscidity , that may make them fit to stagnate in the small ●apillary arteries , and to produce ●hat coldness and other symptoms , ●s before : 't is evident , not to resume our former reasoning , that their returns will happen in certain intervals of time , orderly and disorderly , accord●ng as the supply is made from all ●hose viscera , or from any one of them , and as that is mixt in a greater or less quantity , orderly or confus'dly . but if there is so great a quantity of this lentor mix'd with the blood , that it cannot be propell'd from the small arteries into the veins ; or tho the quantity be less , yet if its adhesion to the vessels be stronger than can be broken off , so that it cannot be carried thro them : then the blood cannot be propell'd , and in a short time the body will be cold , there will be no blood deriv'd into the muscles , it either comes not to , or totally stagnates in the brain , so that there can be no animal spirits separated in the nerves , and consequently there will be an irrecoverable deprivation of sense and motion , or ( which is the same thing ) there can nothing happen but death since that lentor is suppos'd to be so great , that it cannot be protruded and carried thro the arteries : and all this happens while this lentor stops in the arteries , and this stoppage being in the return , 't is evident , that death will also happen in the return . i have been longer upon this consideration than any of the rest , because the difficulties of fevers and agues are the greatest ; tho now , i presume , they are clearly demonstrated from the interruption of perspiration , that great and most considerable inconvenience of their lodging : and now i shall proceed , and reflect upon the other propositions , in that order they come to hand ; and therefore the next thing comes to be considered , is their life , in respect of their temperance and debauches . as to the first of these , 't is certain , as there is nothing more valuable than a temperate life , so that is never more valuable than at sea ; and if we look a little back , and remember their salt victuals , cheese and bisket , there will be no great rhetoric requir'd to defend their innocent saturday night's cabals , in drinking the wives ; for without the temperate use of spiritous liquors , their victualling , with all their fatigue , will be little enough to afford necessary chyle , gross enough to make their thick blood , that cannot be so easily sent round their bodies , without the help of a bowl of punch or a can of flip : so that , in short , they are so far from being disswaded from such moderate drinking , that 't is to be enjoyn'd for health's sake ; and i doubt not but this way of drinking will not only prevent , in a great measure , the sicknesses we have named , but even keep them from falling into the dropsie , jaundice , and melancholia hypochondriaca . yet to speak truth for the honest sailors , they seldom fail in this point , so long as they can have an occasion to exchange the base metal for the noble spirit of wine : but are oftner very ill husbands , exchanging all at once , and destroying the whole purchase at a down-sitting ; so that being got drunk , and not being able to crawl into their hammocks , they spend the night fast asleep upon the cold deck , and contract those sicknesses , that attend an interruption of perspiration : only their blood being full of the spirits of this liquor , they do not lye so long under the coldness that begins all fevers , as in fevers otherwise gotten ; for the small parts of the liquor soone● break and divide the viscid parts o● blood , than when it is without them and because of the comminution o● this lentor , the small parts of th● blood are set at liberty , and the hea● felt over all the body : therefore whe● the perspiration is interrupted , an● the blood full of these spirits , the attrition and comminution will be sooner perform'd , i. e. the coldness wil● be sooner at an end , and so the feverish heat begin a great deal th● sooner , which , according to the constitution and age of the patient , th● time of the year , and way of cure will make the disease of greater di●ficulty . thus having ended the discover of these diseases , that are peculia● to people , that use our narrow seas which is the first part of my promise i proceed to give an account of thos● that may be got nearer or under th● line ; which it will be sufficient to hint at in short , and leave that to be finished by others , whose peculiar province it may be ; and 't is enough at this time , to have given such necessary views , that may help our curing in the channel ; tho , in my opinion , the reasoning will hold somewhere else ; but to speak no more of this , i say , that since the diet and victualling here and in other places is much after the same way , whatever proceeds from that may reasonably be suppos'd to hold , since that is only to be thought a cause , which , when it is suppos'd , the effect necessarily follows : so that the only difference will be in the air ; which we know is more se●ene and warm in those places : and therefore , because of its gravity , ( which is always greatest in a serene air ) the blood and all that 's carried along in it , are more minutely broken and divided in the lungs , as i have demonstrated in another place at great ●ength ; and therefore is more apt to separate its small and fine parts , and so to have a greater motion and all the consequences that follow upon that : besides , the air too being very warm , the parts of the blood are extreamly rarify'd , take up an infinite space , and distend the sides of their channels to a great wideness , compress the neighbouring parts , induce weakness , and ev'n break thro the smallest and thinnest of their channels , overflow their banks , and produce all the inconveniencies , that might be made out according to the above-mention'd principles , if it was proper in this place . but as for those sicknesses that are not peculiar to the sea , but are also common to the land , i shall consider them as interloping diseases in the second part of this treatise ; where i am to lay down the indications for , and method of cure : but before i leave this part , i shall give a short account why , in this explication , i have not us'd the accustomed story of poyson , the chymical principles , and of acid and alkali ; and then proceed to the observations themselves , which make up the second part. and first , as to that poyson , which some assert to be in the spirits , fit to produce these fevers , 't is altogether unexplain'd by its patrons , and is very unintelligible as yet ; neither is it allowable for us to run straight to the animal spirits for the solution of every phenomenon , and to neglect the blood it self , of which they are made , and which must be always supposed in demonstrating their nature ; and truly there can be nothing found in the most malignant fevers , that does really distinguish them from any other continued fever , for the whole difference that can be alledged , is ad majus & minus , and i doubt not but that they may be naturally accounted for , by a greater or lesser quantity of this lentor , it s greater or lesser cohesion , and its different solution . 't is better then to give laws to that boundless and unaccountable poyson , so much spoken of by some authors , tho seldom more than by the name , without so much as its counterpoyson for a cure , which would been very necessary , considering how great differences there are betwixt poysons themselves . but what seems the strangest and most surprizing to me is , that if in a family of ten or a dozen people , there is one whom we should determine to have the best blood , to be of the most athletick and robust habit of body , before the invasion of this malignant fever ; yet this one shall catch it the soonest , and run the greatest risque in his life ; while the more sickly , aged , &c. shall never feel it , or if he does , recover without any great care or pains . but , in short , those fevers that are commonly reckon'd malignant , are not really different from the containing fevers ; and that they have their beginning from the same lentor that causes other fevers , may be evident from this ; that the most of those malignant fevers succeed these very fevers , both quotidian and tertian , in which there are greater quantities of heat and humidity , that dissolve this lentor ; tho they come not so frequently after quartans , in which the viscidity is greater , and the warm parts more confin'd : so a single intermitting fever easily degenerates into two intermitting fevers , coming in the same time that the former did ; they into two containing fevers per subintrantiam , and they into one , which is quickly call'd malignant . and since all these changes are only certain degrees of this lentor , as 't is more or less tenacious , and sticking to the vessels ; 't is evident , that no more can be said , but that the last of all these fevers suceeeding in that order , or the formidable malignant fever , is of the very same stock with the rest : and since they proceed gradually , from the smaller to the greater degrees of this lentor , this can only be said to have its time in a greater degree of the lentor , as i intimated before . as for the chymical principles , they are so far from being simple , and having the requisite properties of principles , as one of the learnedst chymists has demonstrated , that 't is strange any man should advise us to assume propositions so unknown , in order to the explaining of sciences , that have so useful and necessary a practice ; they think indeed , if they can tell us a story of the dissolution of some bodies , and give but a gross guess at the strength of their different menstrua , they may very well undertake the explication of all the phenomena in nature , by their different solutions and coagulations , before they have found out their universal dissolvent , which might prove of very great use : but they must commit infinit mistakes even in this , since they are intirely ignorant of those powers , that give fluxility , solidity , motion and rest to any body , tho their fermentations , solutions and coagulations depend upon them , as their frequent disappointments in their repeated practices must convince them , if the impudence , as well as ignorance , of the common chymists were not incorrigible : and we shall find as little truth or solidity in their way of arguing concerning the strength of their menstrua , if we pursue their ordinary way of reasoning ; so little do they know of their own fam'd and belov'd menstrua . for when they assert that such a menstruum is corrosive , and produces such effects by this power , 't is evident , that corrosiveness being the productive cause of those effects , then by adding somewhat else that is corrosive , it should produce them better ; whereas the contrary is so well known , that i shou'd not alledge any proof or instance , if i were not convinc'd they will deny what they daily see . let us then take aqua fortis , which , they say , is able to corrode silver , and dissolve it into the most minute atoms , by its corroding power it has from the vitriol and allom , of which it is made ; then , by adding another thing to the composition , that is equally sharp and corrosive , if not more , the menstruum should in all reason act the more powerfully ; and therefore by adding sal armoniac , which is a great deal more corrosive than allom or vitriol , it should still corrode the silver more , which is so far from being true , that it is not able to make the least impression upon it , unless the plate be extremely thin , and red hot , and not much then . and that nitre and sulphur , which is so much inflam'd in the blood , when we have a fever ; mixt together and burnt , make up the sal prunellae , so much us'd in curing inflamations and fevers ; but of this more hereafter : and i shall only add , that if the chymical principles were allowed to have half the certainty their authors pretend to , yet they never made them of use enough to us , since they were never able to give such laws , by which we may have any certainty of the degrees and application of motion in their fermentation and menstrua : and since it is motion in its different velocities , contacts and occurrencies , with other bodies in a different state , and in their several parts , that constitutes all the variety in the known world ; our work should be to enquire into that , and so we should be better able to judge firmly of things , tho we must not debar our selves of any help , that may assist us in this disquisition . and truly , when a chymist stumbles upon two or more liquors , that make a curious colour when mixt , he can say iust as much of it , as of a white , red , or yellow ribband and no more ; he can , perhaps , tell you how he made his liquors , but how by their combination they came to give this colour , he can give no better account than the dyer of his ribbands ; so that while we advance no further , we are like to make a wonderful progress in the knowledge of things . now because the chymists tell us , that a fever is nothing but too great a quantity of sulphur in the blood , or that too much exalted ; let 's enquire into its power of doing this and producing that effect . and that we may proceed with more order and exactness , let us suppose this rule , which is admitted by all the philosophers , as most agreeable to the dictates of nature ; namely , if any thing be suppos'd as a cause , and the effect always follows without the help of any thing else ; we may , without doubting , assert and believe , that to be the productive cause of this effect : and on the contrary , if the pretended cause be there , and the effect follows not upon it ; or if that which is said to be the effect , be present without the cause , then that cause never produces that effect . and therefore since adding of sulphureous medicins to the blood , will not only heighten the power of the sulphur in the blood , but produce more ; 't is plain that upon that addition we must always have a fever ; yet after the drinking salt and sulphureous bath ▪ waters , which are intimately mixt with the blood , and dispos'd over all the body , we see no such feverish fits produc'd . yea in a suppression of urine in the stone , the sharp and pungent ammoniacal salts of the urine , should infect the mass of the blood , and produce those feverish effects , which nevertheless are never observ'd to happen . besides , we know that we can pour a drachm or two of oyl of sulphur immediately into the blood of a live dog by his blood vessels ; and after the vessel , into which it is injected , is bound up with a moan or two , and the dog set at liberty ; he is so free and safe from any fever , that he skips about full of health , and eats up whatever comes in his way for his purpose : and therefore if the blood , when altered with so great a quantity of salt and oyl of sulphur , is not in the least feverish ; we must acknowledge that an alteration made in the blood by saline and sulphureous juices and spirits , is not the productive cause of a fever . and lastly , to discredit the principle of acid and alkali , it would be sufficient to observe , that they who set up for it have not let us know what it is , when they tell us , that an acid is that which can ferment with an alkali ; and we know , that some medicins both simple and compounded , ferment with such as are declar'd acids , and then with others that are determined to be alkalies ; and it might seem very needless to alledge their ridiculous evasion , but that they 'll mumble it over at the reading of the objection ; and 't is this , that that medicin contains some acid and some alkali in its parts , by which , in these two respects , it may ferment with both ; and so by this settlement they make neither acid nor alkali , because the bodies are mixt , and all mixt bodies partake and share of all the principles , whatever they be , according to the philosophers , and are said to be of this or that nature , acid or alkali , which ever predominates , and bears the greatest share in the composition ; and if they be suppos'd equal , our noble principles must scuffle for the mastery . and even tho this were partly allow'd , we might sufficiently disprove this hypothesis , by considering any one disease , where we may find a vast number of not only antecedent causes , but other symptoms enumerated by medicinal writers , that can never be accounted for , either by an acid or alkali . yea so much are its patrons in the dark about their principle , that we find them daily betray'd into the greatest absurdities . for instance , its great stickler dr. blankard , who is follow'd by all the rest , has expresly declar'd , in a whole system of practice he compos'd according to those principles , that all diseases proceed from the faultiness of the acid only , which is the most ridiculous thing can be said in a few words : for supposing , that acids and alkalies are the true ingredients or components of bodies , and that they concurr as principles in their action , and bear contre-parts in this action ; then , because the influence of either upon the other , may be augmented , diminished or lost , and this is to be faulty or vitious ; therefore 't is evident , that either of 'em may have its defects , and consequently that the blame should not be entirely laid upon one . i hope , by this time , no reasonable person will censure me , for not speaking a language , which neither i nor its admirers can understand , when i declare my thoughts about our sea-sicknesses ; which i have endeavour'd to dispatch with all the shortness , plainness , and accuracy , i am capable of . the end of the first part. the second part. containing some historical observations of the diseases in the fleet during the last summer . with the method that was observed in their cure. part ii. historical observations of the sicknesses of the fleet the last year , if , in relating our observations , i should oblige my self to give but the names of those i have visited , since my concern in the fleet , they would make up a book as large as these observations ought to be : and truly , considering the uncertainty of the event , either thro the negligence of some surgeons in pursuing directions , or sometimes the same medicins not being given according to order ; it would prove of no use to any body to be inform'd of such a practice ; and therefore i shall confine my self to such observations , i made on board the same ship , i was in my self , or in the hospital , by the help of mr. m'kie , and mr. connel , two careful and ingenious surgeons on board these ships . observation i. isaac pett was taken ill , on board his majesties ship the elizabeth , with a heaviness in his head , pain in his bones and thorax , want of appetite , and a sudden weakness ; his pulse was depress'd , and slower by 8 or 10 strokes in a minute ; about 30 hours after , his pulse was more free and quick , he had a great drought , and his tongue was very rough . in the cure of fevers , we see , that those people , that are left to themselves , and take no medicins , shake off their fever by sweating , looseness , a hemorrhagy , diabetes , &c. which gave the first intimation to practitioners to provoke sweat ( some with internal medicins , others in baths , and the irish of old by lapping themselves up in blankets , throughly wet in cold water ) to give clysters ( for farther their hellebor , aloes and scammony would not allow them to go ) to open a vein or an artery with lancets , or by cupping with glasses or horns ( which some use to this day ) to give medicins that provoke vrine , &c. but even all these have been disprov'd in part , in some one place of the world or another ; by observing , viz. in bleeding , that , because it is more frequently us'd in france and spain than in italy , they conclude , that if bleeding contributed notably to promote the cure of fevers ; then , where that is practised , more would recover , than where it is neglected ; and consequently , that if they did recover their patients in italy with as great success as in france or spain , bleeding may be reckon'd indifferent : and in turkey , where they cure their violent containing fevers ( as physicians call them ) with abstinence and sherbett , they condemn us for our frequent use of diaphoreticks and sudorificks ; and we return the charge upon them , without any further consideration . but , which is yet worse , men are apt to give up their reason , to such a degree , that they obstinately retain that sort of practice , in which they were bred , where ever they come , and will stiffly and positively maintain that to be the only safe method , and all others fatal and pernicious . but those countries too , that are settled to one sort of practice , so soon as by some alteration in the season , ( perhaps to the better ) and other circumstances of curing , they find their way not to answer , and to be more uncertain ( if any thing can be more so than a set practice ) ; then the disease is malignant , quite new , mankind chang'd , &c. which would make people believe , that , whatever certainty there may be in medicin , yet there is little or none in the cure of fevers . but besides all these mistakes , there is still another more considerable one , of which very many are guilty ; and that is , because we see , that all these different ways of practice , are and have been successful in different ages and countries ; therefore we may use them promiscuously , and all at once ; whereas we should also consider the conveniencies for putting them in practice , and the way how we expect they are to produce their effects ; and , because in the abovemention ▪ d methods , the way of performing the one is quite opposite to the other , we shall seldom , if ever , succeed by doing all at once ; and we are to bear with , any method already begun , and endeavour to make the best of it , even tho it is not the most genuine , natural , and convenient ; and must never venture upon any other in acute diseases , of which we speak , if it has been continued for some time . but to return to our subject ; if we reflect upon the theory demonstrated in the first part of this , 't will be evident , that because this disease proceeds always , with us at least , from an interruption of perspiration , and because the mass of blood is corrupted and vitiated , by the quantity of the steams thus detain'd , that the genuin and natural way of curing this , is by evacuation , either according to the quantity of the detain'd moles ; or at least in such a proportion , as may set the parts of the blood at greater liberty ; and so , because the different secretions depend upon the different degrees of the bloods velocity , when the blood acquires a velocity , like that which is natural , it will also have natural secretions , and in this manner be reduc'd to its natural contact and cohesion , i. e. it will be propell'd in its ordinary and natural way , and the patient will recover his health ; since health is nothing else but the most natural circulation of the blood . now since evacuation thus perform'd answers our designs in curing fevers , both by lessening the quantity and altering the mass , 't is certain , that all the consequences drawn from the former intimations are just , and may be put in practice upon reasonable occasions . the next question may be , which of all the mentioned ways may be the most natural and convenient for a general practice : and since blooding , sweating , and purging , are most commonly received among us , i shall enquire which of these we may most generally depend upon . and first , since both they that allow of sweating , and they who recommend purging for the most general practice , affirm that blooding is agreeable for both their designs , there is no occasion left for disputing about the necessity or usefulness of that operation , if the necessary cautions be observ'd with regard to the quantity of blood that ought to be taken away , so that the controversy lies intirely betwixt sweating and purging , which i shall endeavour to determine with all the impartiality imaginable , and that by enumerating the advantages and inconveniencies of both . and first , because the secretion by the pores , is double of all the other secretions in the rest of the body ; 't is plain , where this secretion can be perform'd , that there may be a greater quantity separated from the blood , in a certain time , than may be by all the other ways together in the same space of time ; so that for that reason it may seem the most convenient and agreeable ; yet since it must be excited by medicins , that supply the blood with spirits , and consequently unlock the spirits of the blood , that are confin'd by its viscidity ; if those medicins be given to sick people , that are young , have an abundance of blood , and that very rich , 't is plain that they must so break and divide the parts of the blood , and excite such a velocity , by which few or no secretions of any sort are made , as we see but too often in our daily practice ; and therefore this practice can only agree with those that are older , and have not so rich blood . i need not give my judgment about the other two ways of provoking sweat , since they are not in use with us ; yet i think it will not be far from the purpose , to remember you of a story dr. willis tells us , in his book of fevers , of a young woman that lay ill , and was his patient , and for whom he had prescrib'd a great many medicins , that might judge her fever by sweating , but all to no purpose ; and at last , i think , he gave her two drachms of the spirit of harts-horn , but nothing like sweating appear'd : on the contrary , her pulse was higher , she was very hot and delirious ; and among the rest of her idle talk , being doubtless incited by an extraordinary drought , she desir'd to go a swimming , and up she got for her journey ; but was kept in , till her friends resolving to humour her , concluded to carry her to the water ; and accordingly , they not living far from the river , carry'd her down ( whether with the doctors consent i remember not ) and when they had secur'd her from sinking , or going too far out of their reach , at length threw her into the water ; and , after she was brought out again , was put to bed , where she sweat off her fever . some such like cases happen very often to our sailers , who , in the time they are delirious or have calentures ( this word our surgeons use for violent fevers , yet 't is only a general word in spain for a fever ) when lying in their hammocks in a calm summers day , they see the sea thro the gun-ports very plain and smooth , and imagining it to be a green meadow , get up a walking , and fall into the sea , if they are not stopt in their way ; but if they get at last into the sea , and are taken up and laid into their hammocks , they sweat very plentifully , and shake off their fever . i do not take notice of these instances , with a design to perswade people to such a practice , while we can perform the cure a great deal better ; but only to be an example in practice for the proposition i have establish'd in a theory of the velocity of the blood somewhere else , and nam'd just now . and i think that proposition is very well confirm'd by these instances : since we see , that this rapid motion of the blood in this dilirious and mad state is check'd by the coldness of the water ; and being thus check'd sends out abundance of its parts by sweating , as i alledg'd . upon the other hand , if purging medicins can evacuate as much out of the blood , as the moles that 's detain'd amounts to , without heightening , or at least not considerably , the motion of the blood ; then that will be a more certain practice , and no less reasonable than the other . now , i could make it plain , by a great many experiments , that the detain'd steems , that produce these symptoms , we find in fevers , do not exceed three or four lib. and since 't is agreeable with our daily observation , that we can give medicins that evacuate by stool , a greater quantity without heating the body : therefore 't is very evident that the administring of medicins that evacuate by stool , will be a more certain and safe way of curing fevers . but whatever may be said on this subject , i admire how that practice can be thought agreeable at sea , where there is so piercing and sharp an air for , at least , eight months of the year , that none that 's overheated by any violent exercise , would think it convenient to go into , and far less to take a sweating medicin in it . this matter then being clear , i proceed to the way of curing our patient ; and because bleeding not only brings down the moles to a natural quantity , but sets at liberty the spirits thus huddled up ; and his pulse beating but about ten strokes less than naturally , i order'd twelve ounces of blood to be taken away , and prescrib'd him six grains of tartarum emeticum next morning ; that there might be no conveyance of any thing from the stomach , that might confirm the cohesion of the stagnating parts , but might even break and divide those that were already in a stagnating condition ; for the reasons to be mention'd hereafter . having thus been let blood in one day about ten a clock in the morning , and next day his vomit working very well ; about four a clock in the afternoon of that next day , his pulse was at least ten or twelve strokes higher than naturally , and therefore he took a dose of the following powder , to restrain that growing motion about the evening . ℞ ocul . canc . pptʒ iij. sal . prunel . ℥ ss . crem . tart. ʒ j m. ac divid ▪ in ix part ▪ ●eq ▪ capiat unam ter in die . all the while he drunk as much barley water , sharpned with vinegar , as he pleas'd , in pursuance of this design ; and after three days when his powders were done , i prescrib'd him that which follows to be taken next morning . ℞ pulver . cornach . ʒ ss tart. vitriolat . gr . v. m. ac ca●piat cum debito regimine . it purg'd him some eight or ten times very gently ; he slept very well that night , and got rid of his fever : but that he might recover his strength the better , he eat nothing for three days but burgoo , water-gruel , and the like , and drunk six ounces of the deco●tum amarum alterans every morning for that time ; all which he did with the desired success . observation ii. shelborow roydon , in the same ship , a man of about thirty years of age , and of such a constitution that has a pulse of sixty strokes , or thereabouts , in a minute , was taken ill with a pain in his head , a want of appetite , a sudden weakness , a costiveness , a depress'd pulse , which grew more frequent the second day , and then he was very hot , restless , and his tongue dry . i ordered him to be let blood , for the reasons i intimated before ; and because he had not gone to stool for two or three days , i desir'd he might have a clyster in the evening , that might purge him once or twice , and next morning six grains of tartarum emeticum , with which he vomited five times and purged twice ; he was very easy after his vomi●ing , his pains began to go off ▪ and his pulse to beat a great deal quicker ; on the third morning he took the first dose of the following powder . ℞ ocul . cancr . ppt . vel pulver . testar ▪ ovor ▪ non calcinat . ʒ ij sal prunell . ʒ jss . sal tart. ʒ ss aut ℈ ij . m. ac divid . in ix part . aequal . ut capiat unam ter in die . next morning after the taking all the doses of this powder , he was purged with that which follows . ℞ pulver . radic . jalapp . ʒ ss . resin . jalap . gr . iij. crem . tart. ℈ j. m. ac capiat hora septima matutina . during the whole progress of his sickness i allow'd him the barley decoction acidulated , as before : and while he took the powders , he had one or two stools a day ; and after his purging powder the fever was perfectly vanquished : but , that he might recover his strength the sooner , i order'd him twenty drops of elixir proprietatis in barley-water for three or four days ; and to begin to take them a day or two after his fever was perfectly over . observation iii. walter griffin , a man of five and twenty or six and twenty years , and of a bilious constitution , was taken on the fifteenth of june last with a shivering and coldness , that lasted ten hours , his pulse was depress'd , and he was troubl'd with pains over all his body : the same evening he began to be hot ; his pulse beat 90 times in a minute , and he had an insatiable drought ; about the time his pulse began to rise , and his heat to encrease , he had a very large sweating , but without any benefit . he was let xii ounces of blood that morning ; on the 16th he took iv grains of the vomiting tartar , by which he vomited six or seven times , and went thrice to stool ; and was a great deal easier the greatest part of that day ; on the 17th he begun to take a dose of the testaceous powders i prescrib'd , and continued till he had taken nine doses : but on the 18th his pulse was very high , and beat more than a hundred in one minute , and he inclined to be delirious . and therefore i order'd him to be let sixteen ounces of blood more , and to continue the use of the powders : only he took in the evening two grains of camphire in that dose , and had a very good night ; on the 19th he took his powder without any addition , and the following purgative on the 20th . ℞ decoct . tamarind . amar . purgant . an ℥ iij. syr. de rhamno ℥ i. m. this purg'd him twelve times very easily , and so he got rid of his fever : i order'd him all the time of his sickness to drink as much of the following ●ec●ction as he pleas'd ; and he drank at least three quarts in some days . ℞ radic . oxylappath . acetos an ℥ ii hord . mund . m. j. coq . l. a. in s. q. aq . font . ad lb ij . circa finem addendo passul . maj. integr . ℥ iij. colatur . clarae affund . acet . a●errimi q. s . ad gratam aciditatem pro potu ordinario . now , tho by this method our patients are speedily recovered , and are never , or very little delirious ; yet all the winter , and in the beginning of the spring , ( as i observ'd in visiting the fleet at black-stakes ) the coldness lasts four or five days , tho not such a coldness as we feel in agues ; and therefore there must be a great deal more circumspection us'd in bleeding , sometimes in a lesser , and sometimes , tho not so frequently , in a greater quantity ; but this must be done with respect to the patient's constitution and circumstances , provided always , that the powers of the faculties be not lessen'd ; at this time too , 't is sometimes necessary to repeat the powders and purgatives a second time , and sometimes to take the following powder , when the pains are more obstinate and hard to be removed . ℞ ocul . cancr . pat ʒ ss . antimon . diaphoret . sal . absynth . an . ℈ j. m. ac divid . in 3 part . aeq . quas consumat partitis vicibus eodem die . observation iv. william richards , on board the elizabeth , being about 30 years of age , whose natural pulse strikes 60 in a minute , was taken on the fifth of july last with a shivering , sudden weakness , a want of appetite , and pains in his bones ; then he grew hot , restless , had a great drought , and could not sleep . he was let 12 ounces of blood on the 6th , by which his pulse was sensibly rais'd while he was a bleeding . he took vii grains of emetick tartar , and being well plv'd with thin water-gruel , after his vomit began to work , he vomited five or six times , and went thrice to stool , and was very quiet all that day : i gave him no paregorick in the evening , as i do in some other cases , because i constantly observe , that all opiat medicins heighten the fever extreamly , and make the patient sooner delirious ; and therefore he took nothing else that day : but on the 8th in the morning he began the restaceous powders , of which i ordered nine doses to be prepar'd and taken as before . in the latter part of the tenth day he had a great blooding at the nose , and lost about twenty ounces that way , tho we had let him blood and vomited him before ; and he had a stool or two every day while he took his powders ; yet with his blooding his fever went off . he continu'd the barley-decoction sharpned with vinegar for his ordinary drink , and took the following purge on the 14th in the morning . ℞ decoct . amar . purgant . ℥ iv . syr. de rhamn . ʒ ij . aq . theriacal . ʒ ss . m. this purg'd him five or six times very gently , and he recovered daily . note , that his pulse was very high , and his face of a red and fiery color before the hemorrhagie ; which we did not very much endeavour to stop , tho he bled a pint. observation v. about the same time , when we had some very sultry days , john wheeler , in the same ship , about 38 years of age , was taken with a coldness , loss of strength , a want of appetite , and a nauseating of his victuals ; his pulse was depress'd , and he had a pain in his breast : about 12 or 14 hours after came a violent heat , which made him very restless and dry . i order'd him to be let nine ounces of blood on the 9th of july , and that evening he took a bolus of the conserve of wood-sorrel and sal prunellae ; next morning six grains of tartarum emeticum , which began to work half an hour after he had taken it , and he drunk a large draught of thin water gruel after every vomiting : he vomited six times , had two stools , slept four hours after , and was much easier . on the 11th he begun the testaceous powder , of which he had nine doses for three days , three to be taken every day , all that time he went to stool once a day , and pist a great deal ; on the 14th he took nothing but the decoction , i had ordered him for his ordinary drink , and on the 15th he took the following purge . ℞ pulv. radic . jalapp . ʒ ss . resin . jalapp . gr . iij ▪ crem . tartar. ℈ i. m. this purgative gave him eight stools , and had done working by 12 a clock , after which he found himself a great deal better , his drought abating , and his pulse more natural , he called for victuals , and eat a little water-gruel ; and that evening he lost six or seven ounces of blood at his nose , and recovered daily . observation vi. i one john wallin on board the hospital ship , who was put on board her that day ; he seem'd to have been a man of a very good habit of body ; but his blood running about like lightning ; his pulse beat 132 in a minute , he was very dry and delirious : he took that night conserve lujul. ʒss . sal. prunell . ℈ i. in a bolus with v. grains of camphire . i ordered a large blistering plaister to be laid to the nape of his neck , and one behind each ear ; they rose very well , and were removed next morning , and the parts drest with the empl. de melil . simpl . and so he was freed from his delirium : he rested indifferently well that night , and next day took this powder . ℞ occul . cancr . ppt . ʒ j sal. prunel . ℈ ij . pulver . serpentar . virginian . gr . xv . m. ac divid . in vi p. ae . ac capiat unam ter in die . next day in the afternoon , a clyster was injected , which purg ▪ d him thrice ▪ and made him very easy and sensible ; he drunk what he would of the following decoction , and recover'd on board . ℞ radio . oxylapat . ℥ ij . aoetos . ʒ i scorzoner . ʒ ss . hord. mundat . m. j. coq . in s . q. aq . font . ad hordei crepituram , circa finem addendo passul . maj. integr . ℥ iij. colaturae , per subsidentiam , clarificatae , adde aceti acerrimi q. s . ad gratam aciditatem . these , by the bye , are the fatal , but almost perpetual , consequences of a diaphoretical practice in fevers ; especially on young people , in a hot season of the year , or a warm climate : for when they are put into a sweat , they catch cold in the end , relapse , take new doses of diascordium , and venice treacle , which ( especially when they are not allowed to drink liberally ) dissipate and destroy the spirits and serum of the blood , that it cannot be kept fluxil , but by the hot parts of those medicins , which break down the almost solid blood , and supply animal spirits to the last drop of blood , and so dye unexpectedly as in hectick fevers ; only their fate is harder , and their exit not so deliberate , for they are kept mad and delirious all the while , whereas the other dye in their senses . observation vii . at the same time i saw another who was put on board there , on the 16th day of his fever ; his pulse did not beat above 37 strokes in a minute , he could not speak , but star'd , and made signs for drink . that night he had had three such plaisters , as i mentioned in the former case , applied to his neck and behind his ears . he took now and then two or three spoonfuls of a julep made of ℥ vi . of barley ▪ decoction , ℥ ss of a cordial tincture , and ℥ i of syrup of clove-gillo-flowers . this cordial tincture mr. m ▪ kie told me , he had made of the rad . serpentor . virginian . cochinel . and spirit of wine ; and , when by the use of these medicins he had recovered his senses , he began to use this powder . ℞ anʒl pulver . radic . serpentar . virginian . ʒss . m. ac divid . in vi . p. ae . capiat unam bis in die . he recovered apace while in the ship ; but she being ordered for england , our patient in a day or two was sent ashoar at portsmouth , to the care of dr. smith , and my most ingenious friend mr. heart . 't would be an easy task to produce many other instances of this kind , but these which are faithfully related , may suffice to convince us , that this method is surer than the diaphoretical practice . and therefore i shall proceed , first to give an account of our other constant sicknesses , and then of our interloping distempers . observation viii . mr. nobs , purser to the elizabeth , was taken after dinner with a coldness and trembling , which lasted six hours ; his pulse was all the while extremely depress'd , and beat not above 40 strokes in a minute ; then came the warmth , which first begun about the trunk of his body , and was afterwards diffus'd over all . as it encreased , he grew very restless , and his pulse became very quick and strong ; till at last he began to sweat , and his heat abated proportionably as the sweating encreased . he was well for the rest of that day and all the next , but was troubled with a looseness ; and the third day he was taken ill again , and suffered over all the former symptoms . 't is very plain from what i said in the first part of this book , that that viscid and slimy lentor , which first stagnates in the capillary arteries , and then in these larger vessels , must be broken and divided , that it may be made a substance capable of being carried round the body without stopping or stagnating . and because this lentor has its supply from the primae viae , the liver or other viscera that are said to separate liquors , by some or all of these liquors being viscid ; we must endeavour to cut off and intercept that supply , and to break and render fluxil the liquors that are thus tough and viscid . now from which of all these this lentor proceeds and is supply'd , is not always very evident , tho sometimes it may happen to be so . let us first suppose then , that this supply comes wholly from the primae viae ; and upon this supposition we may conclude , that those things which empty the stomach and intestines of those impurities will do the business effectually . and because a vomit performs that work with the greatest certainty , then a vomit would be all that 's requisit to compleat that cure , and the more gentle it is , 't would be more for the ease of the patient and satisfaction of the physician . but i have proved before , that the other viscera may discharge some of their vitiated liquors into the blood , which not being chang'd into the perfect nature of the blood , they stagnate in the capillary arteries in that quantity and way , that are fit to produce the foregoing phaenomena . and they being in such circumstances , as make them fit to affect the blood , 't is evident that those faulty and vitious humours must be broken and divided , that they may be fitted to circulate with the blood without stagnating ; and that the blood , which is thus affected , must be reduced to a state of greater fluxility . if they had their viscidity from the primae viae , that work could be done very easily ; but 't is certain that the blood may be infinitly chang'd , without any fault in these first passages ; and the viscera , that are now affected , must have their juices altered , or else they will still be in a condition to give a continual supply , supposing the blood to be otherwise in a good condition . now the only way that liquors , which stagnate in their channels , can be propell'd and made fluxil is , by some power that may compress , break and divide the liquors thus stagnating ; and because this breaking and dividing must be perform'd by somewhat , that contracts or violently compresses the obstructed parts , and breaks the stagnating juices ; and this can only be perform'd by the contraction of the muscles , and their compressing the viscera , that are near them ; therefore the moderate exercise of those muscles will be very agreeable : but in our natural or voluntary contractions , they have not that violence , that is necessary to make a sufficient compression fit to break and divide this lentor . and since there are a great many muscles , that are obstructed , and could have sufficiently broken the stagnating liquors in the neighbouring viscera , that cannot be moved and contracted by the power of our will ; some way must be contriv'd to make such a violent contraction of those muscles especially , that are able to compress the neighbouring viscera ; and if we examine all the consequences that attend the giving of any medicin , we shall find none that exercises more muscles , and that with greater violence than vomiting ; for not only the muscles of the thorax and abdomen are contracted with a prodigious force , and are able , by their contraction , to compress the lungs , stomach , liver , spleen , or any thing that may be contained in them , and in all their capacity , but even the whole muscles of the body are affected ; and therefore 't is vomiting only that can produce the required effect . thus we have demonstrated the way of cutting off the supply of this lentor , that is made by the primae viae and the viscera , that are said to contain liquors ; so that if there were not such a season of the year , in which the viscidity of the blood is much promoted and augmented , the blood extreamly weakned and dispirited with repeated paroxysms or otherwise , this disease might be conquer'd by these very means . but when the air is foggy , moist and cold , and the blood weak , we must have respect to that , if we will cure our patient ; and such things must be given , that may make the blood richer and maintain its fluxility . we have an infinit number of medicines , that are said to produce such effects ; but the long , tedious and unsuccessful practice of former ages convinces us of the contrary . we heard indeed a great deal of specifick medicins of opposit powers ; but never saw any thing , that deserv'd that name before the indian b●rk . we had diapho●etical and warming medicins , that broke and divided the blood , and made it more fluxil for some time , but were so far from being able to keep it so , that on the contrary having destroyed the native spirits and serum of the blood , they rendred it more apt to stagnate and to be obstructed . the indian bark then , or jesuits powder , being by daily experience that specifick we desir'd , we ought not to neglect it , tho it was not found in a matras . but not to insist upon experience in a thing , where we have so many reasonable proofs , tho that , of its self , is a sufficient proof : for we see how the sinking and languishing pulse is rais'd by the taking of it , and that without any burning and extraordinary warmth ; i. e. we find it has such a power as is able to introduce a freer motion , which cannot be done but by freeing the confin'd spirits , that they may be separated in due time and proper place . and since this ●●●●ing the spirits at liberty can only be ●●rformed by breaking the viscid blood , and this attrition is the thing required ; therefore the jesuits powder , quinquina , &c. answers our desire , and gives us what we require . now , tho 't is plain that the jesuits powder produces this effect , it is not the jesuits powder , as such , or its name alone , that is able to charm and lull asleep this intermitting fever ; but since we see plainly that it can do so , we should give it in a sufficient quantity to produce that effect ; and when we give it , to be sure it may be carried into the blood : for if this be not done , 't is quite as good , if not better , to keep it in the paper and look upon it , and from that to expect your cure , than to take it into a foul stomach , full of thick impurities , there to be clogg'd up in impure matter , and perhaps to be carried out of the body with the excrements , or else to be carried in this condition into the mass of blood to the misfortune of the patient : or , if neither of these happen , given in the time of a looseness , to be immediately carried off by stool , and never reaching the blood to communicate its efficacy and vertue . as to the way how its effect is produced , i know not , nor ever shall , without a revelation from that being , who knows the determined motion , size of the parts , and the different cohesion of matter , that produce the modified bodies we see ; and yet , i think , there may be sufficient certainty to assist us pretty exactly in doing such things , as the support of our infirm nature may require . for , considering the nature of intermitting fevers , of which we are as certain as of any thing in physicks , and that we have a medicin , that alters the condition of the blood and makes it more fluxil ; and this fluxility being acquir'd in a certain way , therefore the china china is endu'd with a like power to that which makes the blood fluxil . this knowledge ▪ we have of the barks efficacy , without the knowledge of its constituent parts is so sure , that we can deduce very certain and almost infallible corollaries from it , and this one for instance ; if this powder be able to break , divide , and make fluxil our viscid blood , then in a state where the blood is faulty thro its fluxility , richness ; and extraordinary motion , this powder is never to be given ; so that in a containing fever , where the blood is such , the jesuits powder must be very noxious ; and 't is very obvious to every mans observation , that the more the blood is in these circumstances , the consequence is always the more fatal . i cannot omit what that candid relater of medicinal cases dr. sydenham says , in the 36 p. of of his letters , as they are printed in the edition of his book in 1685 , at london : at in peste atque epidemicis continuis , quae eandem ordine excipient , debellandis , non alios effectus ex ejus usu expectare licet , quam eos , quos hodie in pleuritide , peripneumonia , anguina , ac id genus febribus inflammatoriis videmus , quibus non tantum non prodest , sed & plane obest . but in curing the plague and continual epidemicks , which will orderly follow these , no other effects are to be expected from it , than these we now find it produces in a pleurisie , peripneumonia , quinsey , and such other inflammatory fevers , in which case 't is not only useless , but evidently hurtful . but whatever may be thought of my pretended certainty ; 't is at least as well grounded as a great many maxims in the hydrostaticks , &c. which no ship-carpenter or man of sense doubts of ; but on the contrary , finds all his calculations and inferences orderly made , to ▪ answer his expectation in his practice . the chymists at present are engag'd in an extraordinary bustle and smoak with their fire and menstrua , to resolve by their instruments which they do not understand , the constituent parts of this specifick ; and at last tell us that 't is a rosin , and that its power in curing agues is lodg'd in its rosin , which is as much in plain english as the first question ; and we understand just as much , when they tell us of its vertue being in its rosin , as if they had told us , that it is in the bark . we know indeed that its tincture , made with any spirituous liquor , is the strongest , and that because 't is the property of rosins to be best dissolv'd in spirits ; 't is plain that this bark contains a great deal of rosin , which is all that can be concluded from this experiment . but to proceed , let us suppose , that all the vertue is extracted in this rosin , which cannot be pretended ( because of a like experiment of its yielding its sanative power in common water ) yet we shall still be as much puzzled about the way of this rosins working , as the working of the bark in powder , before it was a rosin ▪ and if they think they have answered the question , by telling us that it produces these effects , as it is a rosin , then all other rosins will do the same ; and therefore , they may trust to the rosin of jalap , or any other they 're oblig'd to by their principles ; and we shall have an opportunity to observe the conclusion . the other way , that has been taken , to account for the vertue of the bark , is by imagining it to be astringent ; a power quite destructive of the requisits , we have clearly laid down for curing an ague ; and no less repugnant to common observation , as i shall demonstrate . what has been the foundation of this assertion , i could no where find out so clearly , as in a discourse written by one of the members of the royal society , i think in the year 1678 ; where consuting the power of the bark in curing agues , he says , that if the patient be troubled with a looseness while he is taking the jesuits powder , it can have no success ; therefore , says he , the bark has its power in a contrary way , and is astringent ; then he subsumes for his own purpose , that , because it is astringent ▪ it must be very hurtful in a disease that must be cur'd by evacuation . to pass by at this time , our author 's neglecting to prove that this disease must be cur'd ●y evacuation ▪ which i very much doubt for the reasons intimated before ; i have said enough already to evince the weakness of his observation . 't is strange , that one should expect , that any kind of medicins , which produce not their effect in a minute , but require some hours , at least , to affect the blood ; should exert their vertue , when they never come thither ; and this being the case of the jesuits powder in a looseness , we may easily conclude , that the quinquina will not cure an ague in that case , whether it be astringent or not . by the bye , since i have had occasion to examine this argument against the barks power of curing agues , i cannot forbear taking notice of another very good argument this author brings for the poisonous qualities of the bark , and that is an experiment from its hindering the fermentation of yest and wort ; that , because if a due quantity of the jesuits powder be cast into wort , before the yest is added , the wort never ferments , and therefore this powder is poisonous . i confess , i know not how to answer an argument which i do not comprehend ; but if every thing that hinders the fermentation of yest and wort be poisonous ; what must become of us poor mortals in the poisonous times either of a frosty or very hot season , for the brewers find their ale and beer ferment but very ill in such seasons : and besides , sugar , spirit of harts ▪ horn , &c. poured into wort in a due quantity hinder its fermentation ; yet they were never reckon'd among the number of poisons : but , on the contrary , if i thought the hypothesis of acid and alkali tolerable , i should like the bark the better for the experiment this author has helpt me to : for in that way , the blood in an ague is viscid , by the power of the coagulating acid , which can only be destroy'd by a powerful alkali , such as this experiment proves the bark to be . now as for the astringent power asserted , because it is so , and for no reason yet assign'd , is very ridiculous : and if it cur'd agues as it is astringent , then as strong , or more powerful astringents would have the same effect , which is contrary to any trial or observation can be made : on the contrary , we know 't is used every day with the best success in hysterical fits , and the suppression of womens monthly courses , where no body ever advised so powerful an astringing medicin , as they would have the bark to be . 't is true , we have seen some ill symptoms appearing after the giving the powder ; but the question is , whether these symptoms are the disease's , the bark's , or the physitian 's ; and this i shall endeavour to resolve , by following out helvetius , a physitian in france , who has lately writ a book , he dedicates to the french king , and allows a great many of them to be owing to the powders being given by the mouth , and contrives a new way of giving it , and that by clysters . i shall first then enquire , how far his allowance is good , and to be follow'd , and what 's to be thought of his new practice ; which , i think , will be very obliging . but before i do this , 't will be necessary to shew , that i have not forgot my observation ; and therefore when i have related one or two more i shall come to those reflections . and first , because mr. nobs was troubled with a looseness ; and that it might not hinder the operation of the vomit , i intended to give him for the preceding reasons , the night before i prescrib'd him the following bolus to be taken going to bed . ℞ conserv . ros . rub . ʒ ss . sanguin . dracon . ℈ i. laudan . opiat . gr . jss . syr. de mecon . parum ut f. bolus . next day , being to have the fit about two a clock in the afternoon , i ordered him , upon the former design , vi grains of tartarum emeticum to be taken about noon ; he vomited five times , and drunk not so much after every vomiting , as i allowed my patients in fevers ; that the compression by the contraction of the muscles might be the greater , he went once to stool , and about the ●nd of the working his coldness began , and lasted only two hours ; then succeeded a very sharp heat , which went off sooner than before , by sweating , which was very plentifully : for i had desired him to bear with the hot fit , and lie very close , that he might sweat , else i would give him no medicin till the next fit ; which he did : and being temperate , the blood being now comminuted , and sufficiently fluxil for its motion , i ordered him to begin the powder i had caus'd to be made up , into an electuary , that it might be convey'd into the blood in its healthy state ; that it might too , comminute more easily any viscid matter that would be convey'd to the blood by any of its ways of supply ; and in that quantity i thought reasonably could destroy the viscidity of one paroxism , and this he took in as great quantities , as he could easily digest before he took more . ℞ . pulv. chin. chin. subtiliss . pulverat ℥ j conserv . ros . rub . ℥ ss . syr. e chalyb . q. s . ut f. electuar . cujus capiat quantitatem nucis myristicae majoris , tertia quaque hora , superbibendo vin. hisp . cochl . ij . in the dose he took before bed-time , i ordered him j. grain of london laudanum . he miss'd of his fit , and din'd at five a clock in the afternoon upon a chicken , and drunk a glass or two of red wine at dinner . next morning he began an infusion i had ready for him to take of , till his blood was strong and should recover its strength , and 't was this , ℞ . rad. gentain . ℥ ij . scorzoner . ℥ j. serpentar . virginian . ℥ ss . summit at centaur . min. m. ij . fl. chamom . m. j. cortic. aurant . ℥ ss . winter an ʒ ij . m. ae infundant . per biduum in vini xeresens . generosiss . lb ij . dein capiat cochl . v. bis in die . by the use of these medicins he recovered his health , without the least suspicion of a relapse . observation ix . mr. — lient , of the — , was taken ill after dinner with a coldness , which lasted an hour and a quarter ; his pulse was depressed , and beat about 50 in a minute ; for he being of a thin habit of body , his blood very warm , it beats about 80 in that time : he had a pain in his head , then came the heat , which began about the trunk of the body , and was sensibly diffus'd over the rest ; it lasted three hours , after which he began to sweat and judg'd his fit ; it recurr'd the third day inclusive , and had his cold fit not above half an hour , but the hot fit lasted some seven or eight hours before he began to sweat ; next day i wa● sent for , and ordered him iij grains of tartarum emeticum to be taken an hour and a half at least , before we expected the fit : he vomited some six or seven times , and went twice to stool ; i ordered him to drink largely between his endeavours to vomit : when the medicin was almost done working , the fit began to seize him and the cold fit lasted little more than a quarter of an hour , and as it was a going off , i order'd him to take the following powder . ℞ . pulver . gasconic . ℈ i laudan . opia● . gr . ss . m. after he had taken it about twelve minutes he fell asleep , and slept almost two hours ; but before he was awake he was in an excellent sweat , so he lay still till the end of the sweating , and thereafter begun this electuary . ℞ . pulver . quinquin . subtiliss . ℥ j. conserv . acetosel . ʒ vi . syr. e succ. citr . q. s . ●t f. electuar . molle . quod capiat ad magnitudinem avellanae tertia quaque hor a superbibendo vini rubri gallici cochl . ij . vel tria . by the use of this electuary he miss'd his fit ; and began next morning to this infusion , i ordered for the strengthning his blood , ℞ . rad. gentian . ℥ j. scorzoner . helen . ●n ℥ ss . fl . chamom . m. ij . summitat . cent. min. m. j. baccar . juniper . ℥ ij . cort. aureant . ℥ ss . tart. alb . crud . ʒ ij , pp●i● so a. affund . vin. rubelli lb ij . stent per biduum in infusione , dein capiat colat●r . clarae cochl . iv . bis in die . repetatur infusio super eadem medicamenta ad alteram vicem . he continued in the use of these medicins , and drunk both the infusions without any thing of a relapse . all the time i allowed him to eat any kind of meat that was easily digested and drink a glass of wine or two in a day . observation x. since the last two histories are two different cases , and we see required a different way of giving the cortex , that it might not overheat the last : now , that i may keep up the variety , which is always delightful , tho perhaps 't were necessary to have two or three of one sort , which is too long at this time , and it may be i may have another opportunity for this : i must ask the liberty not only to go into another ship , but ev'n go back one year to give you an observation of a poor man , that was miserably afflicted with an ague for eighteen months . this was one mr. humble in the grafton , to whom i was call'd may 1694 , at spithead , by mr. leckie , who was then surgeon to that ship. he was first taken with a tertian ague , for which he was put ashore ; and after he had staid out his time , he came back with it upon him , for he was some officer or another , and so would not leave the service ; and expecting his cure aboard , he was taking something all that time , but to no advantage . so , when i was call'd he had a quartan , and his cold fit used to last him some four or five hours , his hot or fever fit one hour , or an hour and a half , and then sweat : he was brought very low . i ask'd him when he expected the next fit , and he told me to morrow about eight in the morning ; for it shifted forward and backward , from tertian to quotidian , from quotidian to tertian , from a quartan to a hemitritaea , and from that to a quartan again . i ordered him to take iv grains of emetic tartar that morning , about 6 a clock ; which had just done working as his fit begun to come upon him ; his cold fit after his vomit lasted two hours , his hot fit two hours , and so went off by the sweating . i had been speaking to the surgeon about the giving him the jesuits powder ; but he told me he had been so often let blood , purg'd , and taken so much of the powder ashore and aboard , that he could not take more ; and therefore i was resolved to try the powder , my learned collegue dr. morton recommends in his book of fevers . ℞ . pulver . fl . chamom . ℥ j. sal. absynth . antimon . diaphoret . an ℥ ss . ac capiat ʒ ss . tertia quaque hora , superbibendo vini cujusvis generosi cochl . iij. he took his powders very orderly , till he had spent that vast quantity , but without the parting of his eighteen months companion . he did no more till the next return , but drunk of the following infusion . ℞ . rad. gentian . raphan . armorac . an ℥ ij . zedoar . serpentar . virginian . an ʒ ij . summitat . centaur . min. card. benedict . an m. j. ss . fl . chamom . m. j. cortic. aurant . ℥ ss . winteran ʒ ij . limatur . mart. ℥ j. tart. alb . crud . ℥ ss . m. s . a. ac infund . in vin. hispan . generosis . lb iij. stent per hor as vi . in baln . aren . ac bibat cochl . v. ter in die . and that morning he expected his fit , he took the preceding vomit , which wrought very well , and his cold fit lasted not above an hour , and his hot an hour and a half , and judg'd the fit by sweating . things succeeded so well , i desired he would try the jesuits powder once more , and if it had no success , he should be at his choice ; he was persuaded , and had it made up in this form . ℞ . pulver . patrum ℥ iss . conserv : ros . rub . ℥ j. theriac . andromach . ʒ ij . extract . gentian . ʒ j. sal absynth . ℈ ij . syr. e chal. q. s . ut f. elect. molle : cujus capiat quantitatem nucis moschatae maj . tertia quaque hora , superbib . vin. canarin . coch . iv . and if he scap'd his fit , to continue with the former tincture till he recovered his strength ; but the next day , after i left that ship , i was taken with a violent containing fever , which lasted five days with the practice before ; and e're i was fit to go abroad , our fleet was divided , and that ship went to the streights in company of the rest , that have made england the admiration of all europe , under the command of the right honourable admiral russel , who must needs make a great figure in the history of after-ages . i enquired , tho , of one of the surgeon's mates , after this humble , who , he tells me , is now in good health ; and recovered , he thinks , before he left the english air. and thus having ended the observations , i trouble you with , of agues , i proceed to the considerations about helveti●s's bark-clyster practice . the reasons , he saith , in the 4th page , made him look out for another way of giving the bark than by the mouth , are the complaints some make , of an unsupportable weight and a violent pain in their stomach : others finding their thorax chang'd very much , from what it uses to be in a natural state , and such an extraordinary heat in their breast as it were dried up : and lastly , because there 's an abundance of people , that make resolutions every day never to take it more , tho they have been cured in this way . passing the known inconveniencies page 5 of the quinquina , and the general complaint sick people make that way ; besides the particular grievances page 6 of its disagreeable and ill taste , its bitterness , which we can never remove from this medicin , in whatever way give it , provided we take it in at our mouth ; and 't is still the more incommodious , that , notwithstanding the aversion sick people declare against it at first taking , yet must needs renew this troublesome and nauseous impression , by taking it a great many times a day , for six weeks at least : not accounting upon our necessity to begin its use a second time upon the occasion of a relapse . and therefore 't was , that thinking upon the train of disagreeable circumstances , that attend this remedy , i have discovered this more convenient way of giving it , whereby we may enjoy all its good effects , and evite all that 's troublesom in it . and this way is no other than by giving it in clysters . page 7 therefore he says , we must take an ounce of the best quinquina in powder , and mix it well , without any addition , with a quart of milk-warm water . in intermitting fevers this clyster must be given in the end of the paroxysm , and must be repeated thrice every day , till the patient is perfectly cur'd , which is not long ●'re 't is done ; for 't is very extraordinary to see another fit , very rarely two , and i , almost never , see a third . after he is page 8 cur'd , we must be sure to take the like clysters for twelve days more , one in the morning and another in the evening for the first six days ; and one in the evening only for the last six . and because 't is very necessary , in page 9 this practice , to keep the clysters as long as is possible ; and there be some people that can keep them but a very little time , we must add for those , half an ounce of the syrup of white poppies to the powder of quinquina , which will mightily conduce to the keeping the remedy without any trouble . we must observe , that those that page 12 can keep it but a little time , must continue its use the longer , to do that by a greater number that cannot be done by one , and so to promote the cure. this must not only be understood of those , that take the whole dose , but of those too , that take but a part . there 's nothing amongst all the page 15 symptoms that attend fevers , that page 16 can forbid the use of this remedy , but the swelling of the belly . so there 's no more to be observ'd , but that as there are some people that cannot keep this clyster ; so there are others that give no further account of it , and they find themselves swoln as 't were , and puff'd up ; and therefore 't will be their best way to take a purging clyster once in two days , which will help them to disburthen it : and 't is not beside the purpose to take notice at this time , that those clysters not having a purgative faculty , and not being given for that end , the sick people need not be disquieted or concerned , if they see not an evacuation of bile and other humours ; as in our ordinary clysters . page 31 't is evident then , says he , that the sick person shall be no more offended with its bitterness , since he 's to take it no more by the mouth ; besides he can find that weight in his stomach no longer , because the thing that produc'd that effect , is no more there . page 32 but to get over the inconvenience of warming the patient he takes a wonderful way ; a l'egard , says he , de la chaleur , il est certain , que les parties grossieres du quinquina , qui en sont la seule cause , ne sejournant plus dans le corps qu' autant de temps qu' il en faut a la chaleur naturelle pour le digerer & en tirer ce qu' il a de volatil & de salutaire , le marc qui en reste etant rejette aussi-tot , sans etre oblige passer par toutes les voies qu' il parcourt quand il est pris par la bouche , le corps ne peut que profiter de tout ce qu' il y a ●aisse d'utile , sans jamais etre incommode de tout ce qu' il pourroit avoir de pesant , d'embarassant & de nuisible , qui est ce qui cause le chaleur dont on se plaint tant . touching this heat , says he , 't is certain that the gross parts of the powder , which are its cause , staying no longer in the body than is necessary for the natural heat to digest it , and to extract its parts that are volatile and wholsom ; and the mash that remains , being cast out of the body , without being obliged to pass all those ways it goes alongst , when taken in by the mouth : the body cannot but reap a vast advantage from all the useful parts that are left , without being , in the least , hurt by any thing of it that 's heavy , embarrassing and injurious , which are the things , that make all those heats they complain of . he adds in the next paragraph , that the people that have the piles , are the only to whom he gives not these powder-clysters ; either not in so great a quantity , because the rough powder , rubbing up the vessels in the passing , is apt to provoke the piles , or else he gives a strong decoction of it , which does almost as well , and entirely prevents this inconvenience , page 39 then , he rallies all his scattered proofs he had brought for the cures being more certain by taking the powder-clysters , than in any way it can be taken by the mouth : for first , it is given in a greater quantity than it can be by the mouth ; secondly , 't is always given in substance , and so has the greater force : and thirdly , the subtil parts , which only act upon the ferment of the fever , and destroy its ebullition , can insinuate themselves easier into the mass of blood by the orifices of these vessels , that open into the intestins : and lastly , experience puts this more ready and sure way of curing beyond dispute . thus having pickt out almost all this author says , either to the disadvantage of the q●inquina's being taken in at the mouth ; the benefit of his own way of giving it , and the consequences of that : i must confess the world is oblig'd to any one that endeavours to better any science by useful and well established theories , or intimations to perfect its practice , by discovering such instruments and helps , that can make it more sure : yet , i think , a man that communicates any thing , may claim and arrogate a little too much to himself ; except the practice or opinion he advances be , without controversy , better than those that were established and thought of before : and therefore to speak my mind freely , without a navy physitian 's declaring war against a french doctor , i think that this trial may stand us in very good stead , upon the pinch of saving the life of one , who rather chuses to die than taste this medicin ; and of these there are very few : but i should judge that man very rash , that would recede from the known way of giving the jesuits powder he has found so safe , that nothing can be more ; and would go to a practice so very doubtful , and hardly press'd with the same difficulties , can be brought against the taking it by the mouth , upon any lesser consideration ; as we shall see immediately by the answering his arguments , which i shall do with as great brevity and clearness as i can . as to the weight and pain some feel in their stomachs , after having taken the jesuits powder , 't is certainly a very great inconvenience ; but shall be judg'd by all the world , if that swelling they feel in their bellies be not quite as ill , and can sooner breed a dropsy , jaundice , &c. than any disease that can be so soon brought on by it : besides , if we will be at the trouble to look back to what i have said , in the first part of this book , about that symptom of an ague , the weight in the stomach ; he shall see it clearly made out , that this weight is nothing but a heap of undigested and slimy stuff that 's lodged there ; and therefore of it self is apt to make the necessary supply , to keep up the force of the ague ; and intercept too , any medicins that are given in by the mouth for its cure , as i have said since i begun to speak of agues . and if he would persuade us to the using his clysters in these circumstances , we shall never be able to cure this ague , tho they were supposed to have a hundred times the force he pretends to : whereas if we give a vomit to make a clear passage , we shall fell no such inconvenience , but especially if the fit were well judged before we began our medicin ; and so this complaint comes more from the neglect of something th●t ●hould been done , than from any defect in the bark ; unless , perhaps , it may add its own quantity to this nasty mass , and rarify that too by its subtile parts . and so the argument will go no further than this . opium , steel , antimony , &c. have been given in very ill times , and too great quantities , and no doubt there 's been abundance kill'd so ; but for all that , should we leave off the use of these medicins ? no surely ; and they will prove useful and noble medicins in good hands . but why may not our author try , what a decoction of the powder he uses for clysters upon certain occasions , can do , to shun this inconvenience of the powder ; especially since our learned collegue dr. morton , had published , some two years before this author wrote his book , such a decoction for this very end ; which would have prevented most misfortunes from that hand , when we know not this fit time to give a vomit . then for the second inconvenience , 't is much of the same kind ; and if any one will consider the proof i brought for the way how the bark had its effect , and the corollary i deduced from it , shall not be very much puzzl'd to find out , that 't is only those that are of thin habits of body , and whose blood is thin , easily rarify'd , and incline to be hectical , that find this burning heat our author assigns , and after they have taken the pure powder ; and i dare appeal to himself , or any man of practice , if ever they found this accident but in these circumstances ; and a wise physician can easily provide against that , as i have endeavoured in part , by giving the cortex as in my 9th observation . but to see what a miserable shift he takes to weather this difficulty is wonderful , from what he says in the 32 page ; and if he had done any thing he should first told us , what the ferment of the fever is he talks of in the 39 page ; how the parts , and what parts are fittest to bring it under ; and lastly , what vessels these are that have their mouths open into the intestins ; none of these things he has told us any thing of , yet they were necessary to be known ▪ and of all things in the world i doubt most of his certainty in the citation from the 32 page ; and would have thought the gross parts of any body the least capable to produce heat ; and to guide all this right , he tells us , that nature keeps it just so long , and not one half second longer , than was necessary to separate those sanative parts from its grosser hot parts ; this is indeed wonderful , but she that can do all this , why did she put him to the trouble of contriving syrup of white poppies , to cause some to keep their clysters longer , and purging clysters to help others off with theirs ; i 'le help him out for once , and remember him that nature 's of the she-kind , and he 's an old man. but of this banter too much . the rest of his citations are about the way of giving it , which i have nothing to do with here ; tho i thought fit to shew them , if any one be for them ; and all the rest may be comprehended in this , that they may be better given his way , because , as he says , the bark is given in substance , and in a greater quantity . and first , i believe all the physitians in france , at least all or most here , give it in substance , and have done these thirty y●●●s , as well as helvetius ; and in a way too , that our six drachms must turn to a greater account than his three ounces , and allow him ten more ; and this we shall make very plain , by considering that betwixt the lower end of the duodenum to the end of the ileon , there are infinite numbers of lacteal vessels to be seen , whereby this powder , its tincture made in the stomach , and other parts , may be very easily carry'd into the blood , and by which is carry'd of one substance and another , at least , 3 , 4 , 5 pounds in a day , and so may be a very good way for 3 drachms , ℥ ss , ʒvi , or ℥ j , of this powder , however digested and prepared in a clean stomach ; whereas in his way , all the lacteals that are said to be there , are supposed upon ill made experiments , and not one to be seen ; and so , i think , our six drachms can produce more powerful effects than his thirteen ounces , we have allow'd him ; but suppose all the colon were as full of milky-vessels , as the milky-way is full of stars ( which we see he ●ust not pretend to ) yet i 'm in the opinion he could not much better himself ; for his clysters could get no great length ; which will be very evident to any one , that will bring into his thoughts , or lay before his eyes the guts in their natural posture , and any one with a clyster-syringe impelling the liquor ; i say , if he considers this , he shall have no great difficulty to agree to my assertion : for first , if they were supposed full , then 't is evident the resistance of the excrements were to be accounted for ; and perhaps this would do the business : but now , we 'll suppose them perfectly empty , and their sides flaccid , as we see them at that time ; then , upon the one hand let us remember , that the motion they have is from the stomach downward , and that they are ten●ile ; then next , that the colon , where it joins the straight gut , lyes not rectum with the cavity of the straight gut , but cuts it at oblique angles ; and upon the other hand all the force this impell'd liquor has , is only by the compressing the sides of a bladder , or a more valid propulsion by the syringe ; and therefore passing the small resistance from the motion of the guts , there 's first so much motion lost by raising the sides of the straight gut , whereinto it may be propell'd without any other ; but so soon as it comes to the joining of the colon , it must reflect at every section of this gut , and the reflection too , is to be made upon a soft , tensil body , which is more than enough to overcome a ten times greater force , than can be conceiv'd to be given to this liquor by the propulsion by the syringe . and therefore , since the straight gut has no lacteals , and the colon were supposed to have ; yet his clysters not going any length there , could turn to no great account ; at least , not the twentieth part , very modestly speaking , as the other way . but next , for the convenience of this practice , i think 't is the most inconvenient could have been contriv'd ; for who can bear fifteen clystering days , and to take about twenty four clysters in that time ; and then as many in case of a relapse ▪ this is not only one of the most troublesom practices , but the most expensive that can be by the jesuits powder ; for supposing an apothecary should let us have them at crowns apiece , this is no less than 12 l. for these 48 clysters , besides other medicins , which is a great deal too much for the most that grudge 4ss . and a crown for an ounce of the powder , which always cures them with the help of such a tincture i have spoke of in my observations : and therefore by this time 't is plain , that helvetius's practice is neither so reasonable , nor so convenient , as the giving the powder by the mouth ; and the misfortunes complain'd of are truly the physician 's , and none of the bark's : but we must allow him that the taste will not be so ungrateful , as when taken our way ; tho in so many clysters it will be felt , as i have found in curing of some very tender people of claps by clysters , which in three or four days became almost as nauseous , as if they had taken medicines by their mouth ; yet at best this is but an inconvenience to a few , for a settled inconvenient , expensive , and unreasonable practice . observation xi . george manning , aged 27 years , of a bilious constitution , and a thin habit of body , was taken , on board the elizabeth , with an out-breaking of abundance of red spots upon his legs and arms ; a great many of those upon his legs became of an olive colour , yellow , blue , and black . 't is evident from what i said before of the scurvy , and as that is really distinguished from the melancholia hypocondriaca ; that the ●retty , rarify'd , and disunited parts are to be made closer , and of a stricter cohe●ion : and thus the small parts of the blood , not being separated in so great a quantity , in the brain , by the perspiration , into the intestines , &c. there can be no such feverish affections , faintings , quick and slow pulses eruption upon the skin , &c. as we see every day . now this compactness and stricter cohesion , can only be acquired by such medicins , that , by their quantity , or of their own nature , can give body to the blood , or make that more compact ; which must be in a natural state , and produce every thing that is natural , so soon as it acquires this natural cohesion . now , ashore , we have really great numbers of medicins , that answer this design , which can produce wonderful effects , when given in time , and in a way that this view shews us . those are all the medicins , we call temperate , besides those that are analeptical , and mostly prescrib'd in hectick fevers , into which this disease naturally runs , tho sooner when helpt on by the use of the common antiscorbuticks . but at sea , where all the victuals , that are for their nourishment , encourage this sickness so much , and encrease it : and all the provisions of medicins , that is made for our sea-sicknesses , have no respect to that : i think it not unreasonable to acknowledge that disease not to be cur'd at sea. yet i was willing to make the best i could of our patients in scurvies ; and therefore , that the medicins we have might have the better effect , and the chyle , that 's very often the best alterative , might be convey'd in its full force ; i order'd him a vomit of ʒss sal vitriol . in ʒiij of oxymel of squils , to be encouraged with large draughts of thin water-gruel ; he vomited three times , and an abundance of nasty stuff : then i ordered him to take as little of his beef or pork , for his meal , as possible ; and rather to live upon burgoo , or water-gruel ; his ordinary drink was barly decoction , to every quart whereof i ordered ℥ ij of syr. de alth. to be added ; and for medicins , i prescrib'd him the following electuary to be taken of thrice a day . ℞ . pulp . passul . maj . ℥ iij. cons . fl . cynosbat ℥ ij . fl . lujul. ℥ iss . ●c . 69 ppt . ʒ iij. syr. e suc. limon . q. s . ut f. elect. after these medicins were taken for three weeks , which time he was very exact in following directions , he recovered apace , and came to his perfect health . observation xii . thomas leonard , in the same ship , and much of the same habit of body , and constitution with the former , was troubled with red , blue , and black spots , which run into one , swell'd and became a stinking fetid ulcer . his ulcers were drest , and he had the same diet , and medicins , with what else the place would afford , to that design : he was a little better , but having no prospect of a perfect cure was sent ashore , where he recover'd his former health . these being all that had a true scurvy , in the whole summer i was in that ship , i very willingly leave off this melancholy practice of a disease , that 's put out of our power to be cur'd at sea ▪ and at land too , is one of the most troublesom , as every one , that knows its practice , unanimously acknowledges . but , before we leave this subject , i 'm oblig'd to remember my brethren of the navy , that of all the sicknesses in medicins , evacuation is to be done here with the greatest discretion . there is no sickness where blooding can do more harm , and is of greater advantage ; vomiting and purging medicins work more violently , and in lesser doses ; and every purgative that has aloes or scammony , for their ingredients , in any quantity , are intollerable ; and heighten the disease beyond what we can think . and all other ways of evacuating are not so much as to be dreamt of . observation xiii . t — b — was troubled with a looseness , that he went to ftool some 15 times a day , for two days . on the third i saw him , and ordered him next morning the following medicins . ℞ . rha. b. el subtil . pulv . cina●n . an . ℈ i. m. ac capiat mane cum regimine . this powder seemed not to make him go more frequently to stool than he had formerly , and rather not so often , for he had only eight stools by it ▪ yet , in the evening , i prescrib'd him the following julep . ℞ . aq. plantag . lact . alexiter . an ℥ ii . cinam . hordeat . ℥ i. syr. myrtil ℥ ss . diasc . fracaster . ʒ i. confect . de hyacinth . ʒ ss . m. ac capiat cochl . 3 vel 4. singulis horis . he slept very well that night , and had but two stools all the next 24 hours , and thereafter continued in a natural way , without any further help . 't is true those kinds of medicins serve our purpose pretty well , when the cause of diarrhea's is confin'd to the first passages , yet when they are produc'd in hot countries , in people of a thin habit of body , and that very hot , &c. they are not quite so certain , but we must depend upon medicins of greater force , and blooding to the strength of the patient . 't were a work of supererogation to unfold the nature , and different states of this sickness , after the way of the former , since it is not , so much , our constant companion ; and therefore , it should be a little from the purpose : yet , in short , i must advertise my brethren ( contrary to the most of practice ) that the most powerful medicins given in a liquid form , and in any quantity , cannot prove half so successful , as medicins of half the force in the contrary circumstances . observation xiv . george gardner , was taken ill with a looseness , for ten days , by which he went above thirty times a day , for all that time . when i saw him his pulse was weak and frequent , his tongue full of deep chinks , he had a great drought , and was a very skeleton . i ordered him a drachm of a powder , i give in such cases , made into pills with a little old conserve of red roses ; which he took about bed time , and drunk none for two hours after ; tho i allowed him as much of the decoctum album as he pleased to drink , when that time was over ; he slept indifferently that night , and had not a stool all next day , but recovered daily ; tho 't was at least ten days before he recovered his flesh or colour . i conceal this medicin , because i think it better than the fr. ipicochoana it self , by which helvetius has made so plentiful a fortune ; for i dare affirm with all modesty , that i have tried it with above 200 , when i thought a diarrhea was to be stopt , without ever missing of the success , and that without any vomiting or violent consequences that attend the other , and a great deal more certain . yea i have given it with bals . capoiv . opobals . bals . peruvian . and the like , with wonderful success , in dysenteries themselves , and but seldom was oblig'd to give a second dose . but it s further confirmation , i leave to experience , and the trial of others . i tried it for stopping gonorrheas , in their proper time , but it did not answer expectation . observation xv. james graham , of a thin habit of body , and very hot blooded , fell into a most violent looseness , such as physicians commonly call a colliquative diarrhea , he went some eight or ten times to stool every day . having no symptom , that could signify to me any thing of an indigestion , or of those impurities in the guts , that are said to , and may maintain , and produce a looseness , and his blood being of that nature , and velocity to make considerable secretions that way ; my design was to alter that cohesion and velocity by letting him blood : and therefore i ordered him to be let eight ounces of blood , which was all i judg'd he could spare for that end , and that the powers of the faculties might not be lessened ; accordingly all that day he had no stool , and was very regular ▪ that way thereafter ; but the rectum and anus being very much excoriated by the sharpness of the humour , which he complained of , as a violent heat in that part , three days after ; and therefore to prevent any inflammations and their attendants , as a sphacelus and gangrene , i thought it most reasonable to prescribe him the following clyster . ℞ . aq. font . moderat . tepidae ℥ x. syr. de alth. fernel . ℥ iij. m. f. enema . he kept this clyster two hours , and then rendered it , and was very easy and well . now , when i relate this , it brings into my memory a pretty singular sort of a case that happen'd last year , when i was on board the vanguard ; and because 't will not want its use , i shall presume to go back so far to relate it . observation xvi . mr. moxum , a very brave and good officer , then a lieutenant in the vanguard , had a looseness for a day or two , about the time the fleet was at diep ; it went off , but he was troubled with a most violent tenesmus , or a desire to go to stool . at that time i had been aboard the royal william , attending the marquis of carmarthen in a fever , and was commanded for england , at his desire , to perfect that cure ; so i knew nothing of that gentleman's illness at home , till about eight days after the fleet came to spithead ; and then i admir'd what a change was upon him , in ten days or a fortnight since i had seen him : he was a perfect skeleton , he could not rest a nights , and his tenesmus coutinued ; i advis'd him to go ashore for his recovery , which he did ; but the fleet sailing six days after to the downs , he followed the fleet in the ship 's pinnace , which happen'd to be ashore when the fleet sailed , and came to us six or seven hours after we came to an anchor in the downs ; he was then worse , and complained of an inflammatory sort of a pain in his intestines , which was very troublesom , when he grew warm in bed . he told me he could but die , and that he would do aboard , under my care , if i would not order him medicins ashore ; so he went ashore by capt. fairborn's leave , and before he was four days in deal , he was a great way in his recovery , by the use of the following medicins . ℞ decoct . fortior . brassic . & fl . melilot . in aq . commun . ℥ x. syr. de alth. ℥ ij . terebinth . venet. vitel. ovi solut . ʒ ii sal prunel . ʒ j. m. f. enema , quod injiciatur quoque mane hora nona , ac hora quinta pomeridiana . at bed times he took this bolus . ℞ bals . lucatel . ʒ ss . nitr . corollat . ℈ j. laudan . opiat . gr . j. syr. de ros . sicc . q. s . ut f. bolus . his ordinary drink was a small decoction of sarsa and new milk , and his diet , bread and milk , or bread and whey ; but after 4 or 5 days i allowed him chicken , and such victuals as are easily digested ; and about eight days after , he came aboard in perfect health , and only took those medicins for six or seven days more . observation xvii . — follen , a servant of capt. greenaway's , in the elizabeth , was ill of a spitting and vomiting of blood a whole year , by which he was brought very low and weak ; the night before i saw him he had vomited up a great deal , and was a spitting of blood that day . when i saw him i intended to make a revulsion , and preserve the full force and determination of the blood into some other part by letting him blood , yet in such a quantity that he should not be further weakened ; and therefore he was let seven ounces of blood in his right arm , with the orifice of the wound wide enough to allow the blood a quick and free passage ; all which succeeded so very well , that he declar'd he was a great deal lighter ; and easier while a doing , and spit nor vomited any more all that day : yet to make the blood thicker for some time , that the broken capillaries might the better unite , i prescrib'd him the following electuary ▪ ℞ conserv . ros . rub . antiquar . ℥ j. acetos . germin . querc . an ℥ ss . sang . dracon . ℈ ij . lapid . haematit . ppt . ℈ j. syr . de ros . sicc . q. s . ut f. electuar . de quo capiat quantitatem nuc . myristic . major bis in die . he consum'd this medicin in ten days ; in all which time he had nothing of his vomiting or spitting of blood . the next thing to be done , was to repair this skeleton , whose pulse was very frequent , and in every seven strokes intermitted the time of two ▪ and this i endeavoured by the following method . i first ordered him this p●isan for his ordinary drink . ℞ rad. sars . ℥ ii . symphit . ℥ j. chin . ℥ ss . lign . sassaf . ʒ ii . coq . l. a. in s . q. aq . font . ad lb ij . circa finem addendo passul . maj . integr . ℥ iv . colatura clara reponatur in lagaena vitrea pro usu . he took this electuary for six weeks . ℞ pulp . passul . major conserv . flor . cynosbat an ℥ ij . radic . helen . condit . cortic . aurant condit . an ℥ ss . theriac . andromach . ʒ ij . nitr . corollat . ʒ j. syr . alth . q. s . ut f. electuar . mollior consistent . capiat quantitatem nuc . avellan . bis in die , superbibendo vini canarini cochlearia d●o . 't was surprizing to see the change was made on him in a ●●rtnight or three weeks ; he recovered his flesh , strength and colour , till in the latter end of the year he got the kentish disease in the downs , and was put sick ashore at deal . then i ordered him first to be vomited , next to take the jesuits powder , as i have prescribed it in the 9th observation ; and then to begin the use of his former medicins , so soon as his ague was removed , but to take the following infusion , after his electuary , in place of the canary . ℞ radic . gentian . ℥ ss . fl . chamomil . summitat menth . an m. ij . cortic . aurant peruvian . an ℥ ss . pptis s . a. affund . vini rubelli lb ij . stent per biduum in infusione ; dein capiat cochl . 3 vel 4 tempore dicto . he miss'd of his ague by these medicins ; but i can say no further about his recovery , the ship i was on board of being ordered to the buoy of the nore . observation xviii . k — b — of the — was troubled with a pain in his yard , after an impure copulation ; which very soon appear'd in a running , and that but very small , at first ; but encreas'd daily , and was of a green colour , he had an chaude pisse , une chorde , and the erection was very painful . he complain'd of it to me when at sea , and i cured him of the gonorrhaea , and its appendices , in a fortnight , without taking one grain of mercury , mercurial preparations , turpentine , decoctions of woods , injections , and other medicins , that are generally prescribed with all the uncertainty imaginable . i could very willingly communicate this way of curing for publick use , if i might in honour ; being no longer at my own liberty to dispose of it , since i have communicated this method to a learned member of our college , in lieu of a practice he values very much . yet without any breach of faith , i assert , that the tedious , uncertain , and dangerous practices in this disease , have proceeded from the misunderstanding physicians are in about it ; whereas if its place , force , and way of communication were more sensible and obvious , we might soon discover more certain , genuine , and more natural ways of curing ▪ and those be , even , improved , beyond what any man has hitherto thought of . but it not being convenient , upon this occasion , to evince those mistakes too particularly , for this place ; i will content my self to prove , that the cause of this disease is not entertained in the prostatae , vesiculae seminales , or any ways further than the yard it self ; without going too deep into the argument , or answering the objections may be reasonably made against its being there , thinking it the first part of knowledge not to be imposed upon , and the second the putting things to rights ; and tho we are not able to do this , and are sure of the first , yet ought we fairly to confess our ignorance , that very substantial piece of humanity , rather than to speak things of which we have no thought , and a great deal less , to build our other reasonings and practice upon so sandy foundations : now that we may do the first , and discharge our thoughts of such a cheat , let us call into our memory the hypersarcoses we daily see , and let us but compare this spungy flesh , that thus fills up the passage of the urine , with any thing else we find upon other occasions ; and i 'm sure a man that sees like another , and has the sense to compare , can find it not much different ( but especially in its growing ) from the like excrescencies that happen , in curing wounds , ulcers , &c. a certain argument that there is a solution of unity in the part , where those mushrooms sprout , which cannot be kept down and checkt like other fungous flesh , and is seldom to be prevented in the healthiest people by a disorderly practice . i know it may be said , that there may be little ulcers bred in the urethra , by the sharpness of the matter that flows that way , from the affected parts , and they may make this false flesh , tho these ulcers can never supply this running : but to drive this argument no great length , and not to outshut a common sight , i shall demonstrate very plainly , that these ulcers are begun only in the yard , and afford this running from it ; and at some other time make it plain , that this running comes not from above three inches within the yard , and how that is done . for the present purpose let us remember , that our anatomy teaches us , that there is a valve placed at that end of the penis that 's next the belly , that hinders the regurgitation of the the urine ; and in the second place that runnings can be stopt by injections , tho very often to the misfortune of the patient . now these injections , at best , are as solid , if i may so say , as our vrine , and this valve hindering the repassing of the urine , we may conclude , that it hinders the passage of a body not more fluxil than the urine : but since these injections stop a plentiful running , and yet not going out of the yard , we may conclude , that it is in the penis they have their effects ; and if so , then it 's from the penis this supply is made , which was to be demonstrated , against the common hypothesis ; and therefore it is no wonder , that men are not able to better the practice , from so unthinking theories . i foresee distinctly , the inconveniences can be alledged against what i hint at , yet i should think it an unpardonable digression to obviate them in this place , and do promise to demonstrate , even to a certainty , the seat and nature of this disease , about which physicians are as much in the dark , if not more , as about the time it was first known in the world . observation xix . captain poulten , then commanding the charles galley , was taken with a violent quinsey , on our voyage to st. malo ; for which his surgeon gave him some things ; but that day being in very hot service , and being oblig'd to speak very much , in giving his necessary orders , the pain and inflammation were very great , and he could not sleep all that night : next day , being saturday , he sent for me in the morning ; and finding that he was sick three days before , my business was to discover the state of the disease , and to what height it was come , that accordingly as the symptoms of suppuration appeared , o● not , i might proceed in the cure. finding , then , no intimations of the suppuration , and a sufficient revulsion being made , by the blood his surgeon let him but two days before ; considering too the violence of the other symptoms . i ordered him to be let ten ounces of blood out of the jugular vein of the most inflam'd side ; which being done , i troubled him not with gargarisms , which are not always so safe , ev'n when they can reach the part affected ; but ordered him to keep the part warm , to eat only water-gruel , and to use the following decoction for his ordinary drink . ℞ rad. bardan . ℥ iij. acetos . ℥ j hord . mundat . m. j. coq . s . a. in aq . font . q. s . ad crepituram horde● . colatur . per subsidentiam depurat lb ij . add . mel . opt . q. s . ad gratiam . and next day he took this purging potion . ℞ fol. sen. sine stipitib . ℥ ss rad. rhabarb . el. & incis . ʒ ss cinnamom . acerrim . ℈ i. infund . per noctem in decocti passularum majorum ℥ vi ▪ colaturae per expressionem factae add . syr. de spin. cerv. ʒ iij. m. ac bibat h●ra septima cum regimine . it purg'd him ten times very easily , and he was mightily relieved ; he could swallow any thing down , and talk'd with any body if convenient . the inflammation being thus vanquished , i begun the use of such powders that promote the fluxility of the blood , but wrapt them up in a convenient syrup , left they should offend the parts , in the passing , by their roughness . ℞ ocul . cancr . ppt . coral . rub . ppti , an ʒ ss antimon . diaphoretic . gr . xv syr . alth . ℥ ij . m. ac capiat tribus vicibus , superbibendo cochlear . julapij sequentis , quod ℞ aq. spermat . ranar. fl . chamomil . ( seu eorundem decoct . ) an ℥ ij . aq . cinnamom . hordeat ℥ ss sal . prunell . ʒ ss syr . capil . vener . ℥ i. m. f. julap. he continu'd the use of the ptisan prescrib'd for his ordinary drink , and on the tuesday took his purging potion as before , and was perfectly well thereafter . there are two things i would have observed in this disease ; first , that the medicins upon the past design be never given till we be convinc'd that the obstruction in the capillary arteries , of the part thus affected , is not so powerful ; for when they are given before that time , as a great many authors perswade us , they only squeeze out the thinner part of the blood , and leave the rest despoiled of a vehicle fit to maintain its fluxility , and so very convenient to heighten the obstruction , which causes this inflammation and its consequences : and therefore he must be sure to blood plentifully , and the right way , before we think of giving internal medicines . the other is , that we busie not , nor amuse our selves with the idle , and not only idle , but useless , and impracticable distinction the authors make in this disease ; when they tell us , that since 't is an inflammation about the throat , if that be of the internal muscles of the larynx it must be call'd a cynanche ; but if of the external muscles , a paracynanche : and if on the internal muscles of the pharynx , a cynanche ; if on the external muscles of that part a paracynanche . and that this distinction is impracticable , is evident to any one that knows the anatomy of these parts ; how small the proper muscles of the larynx are , and how near the internal and external muscles are one to another ; and they only divided and parted by a thin membrane , which cannot only not hinder the inflam'd muscles of the one sort to press hard upon the other , but is even itself affected with this inflammation . but they should have told us too , the symptoms of this part 's being affected , and such signs whereby we may distinguish the inflammation of the one sort of these muscles from that of the other : but of this too much . thus i have run over , with an indifferent exactness , my disquisition into the marine diseases , and the history of those in the fleet last summer ; which , i presume , may correct a great many errors and mistakes in that affair , and highly contribute to an amendment of others , of the same nature : and cannot doubt , but that the candor of the ingenious will very easily cover any pieces of frailty i may have committed in this first essay ; and for that favour , i shall endeavour to better it , if i find encouragement suitable to the undertaking . yet , all these things will better appear , in the histories of the next years service , that are to be continued with this . finis . books lately printed for hugh newman , at the grashopper in the poultry . oeconomia corporis animalis . autore gulielmo cockburn , collegii medic. lond. perm . ac classis sereniss . regis magnae britanniae medicorum altero . octavo , price 1 s. 6 d. chirurgorum comes : or , the whole practice of chirurgery . begun by the learned dr. read ; continu'd and compleated by a member of the college of physicians in london . to which is to be added , by way of appendix , two treatises , one of the venereal disease , the other concerning embalming , octavo , price 6 s. dr. sydenham's compleat method of curing almost all diseases , and description of their symptoms . to which are now added , five discourses of the same author , concerning the pleurisy , gout , hysterical passion , dropsy and rheumatism . abridg'd and faithfully translated out of the original latin. with short and useful notes in the former part , written by a late learned physician , and never printed before , twelves , 1 s. 6 d. advice to a physician : containing particular directions relating to the cure of most diseases : with reflections on the nature and uses of the most celebrated remedies . by way of aphorisms . done from the latin . musaeum regalis societatis . or a catalogue and description of the natural and artificial rarities belonging to the royal society , and preserved at gresham colledge . made by nehemiah grew , m. d. fellow of the royal society , and of the colledge of physitians . whereunto is subjoyned the comparative anatomy of stomachs and guts , by the same author . illustrated with a great number of cuts curiously engraven on copper plates . folio , price 12 s. a treatise of the gout . written originally in the french tongue , by theodor. turquet de mayerne , kt. baron of aubonne , councellor and chief physician to the late king and queen of england ; whereunto is added , advi●e about hypocondriacal fits , by the same author . philosophical dialogues , concerning the principles of natural bodies : wherein the principles of the old and new philosophy are stated , and the new demonstrated more agreeable to reason , from mechanical experiments , and its usefulness to the benefit of mankind . twelves , price 1 s. 6 d. medela medicorum : or , an enquiry into the reasons and grounds of the contempt of physitians , and their noble art ; with proposals to reduce them to theit wonted repute ; maintaining the joynt interest of doctors , chirurgeons , and apothecaries , against all intruders . twelves , price 1 s. medecina magnetica : or , the rare and wonderful art of curing by sympathy : laid open in aphorisms ; proved in conclusions , and digested into an easie method drawn from both : wherein the connexion of the causes , and effects of these strange operations , are more fully discovered than heretofore . all cleared and confirmed by pithy reasons , true experiments , and pleasant relations ▪ preserved and published as a master piece in this skill . octavo , price 1 s. 6 d. every man his own gauger : wherein not only the artist is shown a more ready and exact method of gauging than any hitherto extant . but the most ignorant , who can but read english , and tell twenty in figures , is taught to find the content of any sort of cask or vessel , either full or in part full ; and to know if they be right siz'd . also what a pipe , hogshead , &c. amounts to at the common rate and measure they buy or fell at . with several useful tables to know the content of any vessel by . likewise a table shewing the price of any commodity , from one pound to an hundred weight , and the contrary . to which is added , the true art of brewing beer , ale , mum , of fining , preserving and bottling brew'd liquors , of making the most common physical ales now in use , of making several fine english wines the vintners art of fining , curing , preserving all sorts of wines , of making artificial wines . distilling of brandy and spirits from malt , malasses , &c. together with the compleat coffee-man , teaching how to make coffee , tea , chocolate , content , and the richest , finest cordials , &c. of great use for common brewers , victuallers , vintners , wine-coopers , distillers , strong water-men , coffeemen and all other traders . twelves , price 1 s. p. ovidij nasonis metamorphosem libri xv. interpretatione & notis illustravit daniel crispinus , helvetius , ad usum serenissimi delphini recensuit joh. freind aedis christi alumn . 80. romae antiquae notitiae : or , the antiquities of rome , in 2 parts . 1. a short history of the rise , progress and decay of the commonwealth . 2. a description of the city , an account of the religion , civil government , and art of war , with the remarkable customs and ceremonies , publick and private , with copper cuts of the principal buildings , &c. to which are perfix'd two essays : concerning the roman learning , and the roman education . by basil kennett of c. c. c. oxon , dedicated to his highness the duke of gloucester . 80. finis . tractatum hunc cui titulus [ an account of the nature , causes , symptoms and cure of those distempers that are incident to sea-●aring people , &c. ] dignum judicamus qui imprimatur . samuel collins , praeses . tho. burwell , rich. torlesse , gul. dawes , tho. gill , censores . datum in comitiis censoriis ex aedibus collegii , febr. 21. 1695. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a33550-e2640 the usefulness of this undertaking . it s order . their victuals . the consequence of this victualling . is first th●● scurvy . with an extraordinary weakness . and an unequal pulse . their gums inflam'd , rotten and stinking , and itching . the scurvy and melanchol . hypochon . are not the same . their bread. their burgoo . their pease . their lodging . the symptoms of our fevers . an hypothesis . the weight or heaviness . less activity . sudden weakness . coldness over the whole body . a coldness in all the extremities ▪ except the brain ▪ ●● pain . as when one is beat . a weak pulse . a pulse that 's rare and depressed . a want of appetite , and costiveness . sometime● a sleepiness . they are very warm . their pulse great and strong . they are restless , and very dry . their tongue is rough and black . the respiration difficult . their breath's like fire . they are delirious , and cannot sleep . they end in death . or the sickness cur'd by sweating , hemor . looseness . the vindication of the hypothesis . diarrhea's may be . they feel a coldness after dinner . their lips are pale . they ●emble . their pulse is weak . they may be insens●ble , the external senses being right . their body like a corpse . a great drought . in place of death comes warmth and heat , and ends in sweating . the pulse stronger and more frequent . they have beating in their head . a great drought . the pulse natural for some time . it recurrs every day , every third , or fourth , &c. it ends sometimes in death and that in the return . their life , as to what concerns their temper . &c. the diseases got nearer , or , &c. why i have neglected the common stories of poyson , &c. why poyson . why the chymical principles . why acid and alkali . notes for div a33550-e7960 observ . i. hints for curing fevers . the reason of unsuccessful practice . what our thoughts are about the former intimations . what of bleeding , sweating and purging . observ . 2. observ . 3. observ . 4. observ . 5 ▪ ●●●erv . 6. observ . 7. observ . 8. the general cure. observ . 9. obser . 10● . places marked from this author's book , p. 4. obser . 11. the scurvy . obser . 12. obser . 13. obser . 14. 4. obser . 15. obser . 16. obser . 17. obser . 18. obser . 19. the method of curing vvounds made by gun-shot also by arrowes and darts, with their accidents. written by ambrose parie of laual, counsellor and chiefe chirurgean to the french king. faithfully done into english out of the french copie, by walter hamond chirurgean. methode de traicter les playes faictes par hacquebutes et aultres bastons à feu. english paré, ambroise, 1510?-1590. 1617 approx. 204 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 78 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a08912 stc 19191 estc s100857 99836684 99836684 968 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a08912) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 968) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1180:12) the method of curing vvounds made by gun-shot also by arrowes and darts, with their accidents. written by ambrose parie of laual, counsellor and chiefe chirurgean to the french king. faithfully done into english out of the french copie, by walter hamond chirurgean. methode de traicter les playes faictes par hacquebutes et aultres bastons à feu. english paré, ambroise, 1510?-1590. hamond, walter, fl. 1643. [16], 123, [5] p. : ill. printed by isaac iaggard, and are to be sold in barbican, london : 1617. a translation of: la methode de traicter les playes faictes par hacquebutes et aultres bastons à feu. woodcut illustration on title page. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng wounds and injuries -treatment -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2003-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-01 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2004-01 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the method of curing wounds made by gun-shot . also by arrowes and darts , with their accidents . written by ambrose parie of laual , counsellor and chiefe chirurgean to the french king. faithfully done into english out of the french copie , by walter hamond chirurgean . london printed by isaac iaggard , and are to be sold in barbican . 1617. to the right honourable , generall cecill . my lord , the common-wealth hath beene compared by many ( and that verie fitly ) to a goodly and well-composed idifice , which consisteth of manie parts , different both in vse and substance ; whereof some serue to sustaine the waight of the building , as pillars , and such are the nobility : others , to containe or keepe the same in an vniformity , as beames ; and such may bee compared to the magistracy : others to defend and couer the frame , from the violence of outward iniuries , as rafters and postes , which may be referred to the comminalty . now , we doe obserue , that as in all priuate buildings that consisteth onely of these three parts , they cannot bee saide to bee perfect without other things for their finishings ; whereof some are ornaments , and serue but to beautifi● ; others for vse and nec●ssity . euen so , in the publike weale , besides the three aforesaide principall parts , there are required other seuerall adiuncts , which are to be e●teem●d and respected according to th●●r formall or necessary vses . amo●gst the which ( right honourable ) this following treatise may hold one chiefe ranke ( es●eci●lly in these times ) to continue it for occasion . it receyued birth from the lamentable experience of the french ciuill warres , by that famous and renowned chirurgean ambrose parie , cherished by diuers kings of france : and hauing bene gratefully accepted in most part of our christian world , it doth now giue it selfe vnder your lordshippes protection : put not into fine and rhetoricall phrases , but into our home-spun english ; such as best suiteth with this rough and boysterous subiect . c●ncerning the worthinesse of the author , or woorth of the worke , my testimony would rather detract then adde . onely thus much , that as amongst all humane sciences physicke is the most excellent ; and in physicke , chirurgerie is the most authenticke and ancient ; so this operation is of chirurgery the most vrgent and necessary , or rather an abstract of the whole art of chirurgerie . against obiection , i haue your lordshippes patronage for my defence , and therein i shall thinke my selfe as safe as in an armour of proofe ; knowing that it is a point of greatnesse , as well to defend the weake , as to resist the strong . by your lordships truly deuoted , walter hamond , chirurgian . to his louing brethren , the yong students and apprentises in chirurgery : more especially , those that doe th●ir country seruice o● the seas . walter hamond one of their society , wisheth all encrease of knowledge . louing brethren , and my kind companions and fellow-trauellors , you haue heere presented vnto your fauourable acceptance , a treatise of the cure of wounds made by gunne-shot : the worthinesse whereof , i cannot better expresse , then to say parie wrote it ; a man experienced with forty yeeres practise , at that time when france did most groane vnder the burthen of the vnciuill ciuill factions , bred by her home-bred enemies ; wherein there was not any notable assault , siege , nor battel fought , but ambrose parie was chiefely imployed about the cure of wounded souldiers , as hee himselfe testifieth in his owne booke of voyages and trauels . accept it therfore thankfully , as a gift from the author , as it was first intended . and although it may be obiected , that in these peaceable times this treatise is of little vse , and therefore vnprofitable : true it is , and with thankfulnesse to be acknowledged , we liue in a calme and quiet age , but is therefore this so necessary and worthy a document to be neglected ? because it hapneth but sildome , wee are the more vnacquainted with the cure : and as amongest all the engi●es that the malice of man could euer inuent for the ruine of man , artillery is the cruellest and most dangerous , because that neither strength or policy are able to preuent the fury therof : therefore the method that reacheth vs to cure those wounds after so easie and excellent a way as is here described , must needs be accounted most needfull and beneficiall . but howsoeuer , i doe not doubt , but that you my kinde friends , who with galen trauell to benefit your country , and enrich your experienccs , that you ( i say ) doe know the vse and necessitie of this subiect . and although there are diuers extant at this time ; yet neuerthelesse , this doeth deserue the best place in your good opinions , because that the translation heereof , was first vndertaken for your sakes onely . farewell . vvalter hamond chirurgean . to his most worthy , and euer to be respected master , arthur doughton , chirurgean . his seruant , walter hamond , humblie commendeth and committeth this treatise of gun-shot , vnto his most iudicious censure . sonet . not for you were my master ( though that name shall sway me more then any other can ) nor out of any priuate hope , or aime , more then my duty , i engaged am : but onely for you are a chirurgean ; and one whose practise and experience ( two things that crownes the artists excellence ) time and the vvarres , by sea and land began . then since you are most worthy this respect , i should be too ingratefull to neglect your wel-tride iudgement ( though the enuious grudge ) yet if with mildest c●nsure you suruay this following treatise , i dare boldly say , parie will haue a fauourable iudge . your seruant w. h. the preface . before i enter into the description of wounds made by gun-shot , and the curation of them , it seemeth vnto mee to bee very conuenient , ( to bring the reader into an appetite , before i place him at this table , serued forth in so many seuerall dishes , seasoned with salt-peter ) to discourse heere briefly of the first inuentors of this so pernicious & dangerous an instrument of warre : and into how many kindes it hath beene diuersified and varied , euery kinde thereof hauing a name imposed theron , according to his vse and hurtful quality towards mankind . polydorus virgill in his second booke of the inuentors of things , chap. 2. saith , that artillery was first inuented by an alleman of base condition : and that by a sudden and vnexpected accident . this man borne for the ruine and destruction of mankind , hauing kept in a morter for some certaine intention of the aforesaid powder ( which since by reason of the principall vse thereof hath beene called gunpowder ) the which hee couered with a stone : it happened , that in striking of fire with his steele and tinder , a small sparke fell into this morter , and presently the powder hauing taken fire , the force thereof did beare away the stone with violence ; the which did both astonish and amaze him , and also taught the force of that comixture not knowne before : so that making a little hollow instrument or pipe of yron , and composing of the aforesaid powder , he made tryall of that engine , and seeing the effect fall out according to his desire , he first taught vnto the venetians the vse of this deuillish inuention , in the warre which they had against the genowaies in the yeere of our redemption 1380. in a place heretofore called the clodian valley , but now chioggia . neuerthelesse , according to the opinion of petrus massa , in the eight chapter of the first part of his diuers lessons , this inuention should be more ancient , because that in the chronicle of alphonsus the eleuenth king of castile , who conquered the argezirian iles , it is recorded that in those warres , which was in the yeere 1343. the besieged moores shot at their enemies out of certaine mortors of yron the seuerall reports whereof , caused an exceeding horrible sound in the ayre , equall vnto that of thunder . the lord don pedro , bishop of leon , in the chronicle of king alphonsus hee that conquered toledo , writeth , that in a battell by sea , which was betwixt the king of tunis , and the king of seuill , a moore , ( it being foure hundred yeeres agoe and more ) whose part the king alphonsus fauoured : those of tunis had in their ships certaine engines of yron or bombards , with the which they shot against their enemies . by this it appeares that artillery hath beene heretofore in vse , although it neuer came to perfection till this present . the inuenter of this engine hath had but little recompence , for his name and profession are altogether vnknowen to the world , as being not vnworthy of any memory for such a wicked and damnable inuention . howbeit andrew the●et in his cosmographie speaking of the sweuians , a people neere about the low-countries , writeth out of the authority of an old written booke , that the aforesaid german had been in former time a monke , philosopher or alcumist by profession , of the countrey of fribourg : his name constantine anelzen . yet howsoeuer this engine was first called bombard , by reason of the sound that it causeth : which the latines conformably doe call bombus . since the time of the first inuention thereof , being before rude and imperfect : the time ; art , but aboue all , the malice of men haue added much vnto it . for first of all , for the matter it selfe , it being first of yron , they haue since beene cast of brasse or copper , mettals more forcible , and tractable : besides lesse subiect vnto rust . secondly , at the first they were but simply formed , and as it were but a rude masse of yron ; but since they haue beene diuersified into an hundred fashions , yea vnto the mounting of them on wheeles , to the end that they might be caried with the more swiftnesse ; and as it were run to the ruine and destruction of men ; the first mortor pieces not being sufficient or cruell enough to vomit forth fire and shot . from thence haue proceeded these horrible monsters , as cannons , doubles cannons , bastards , muskets , fowlers , and morter pieces , &c. these furious beasts of culuerings , serpentines , basilisks , sakers , falcons , falconnets , chambers , murderers , and infinite other kindes , all of diuers names , not onely drawne and taken from their figure and qualitie , but also from their effects and cruelty . wherein truely they shewed themselues wise and vnderstood well the thing they vndertooke . i meane those that first imposed such names which are not onely taken from the most rauenous animals , as from sakers , & falcons : but also from the most dangerous enemies of mankind , as from serpents , snakes , and basiliskes , to shew , that such engines haue no other vse ; and were not inuented for any other end or intention , but onely to destroy suddenly and cru●lly the life of man : and that hearing them onely named , we should haue them in horrour and detestation . i omit to speake of other pieces lesse in body and substance , but in force and cruelty more dangerous . for so much as they can take away our liues neere at hand , and may surprise vs by treason , being without all meanes of preuention : such are the pistols , dags , and such like , which easily may be hidden in a mans pocket . betwixt these two kindes before spoken of , the harquebuz of crocke holds a meane , the which cannot be shot off vnlesse it be first bound or fixed in some peece of wood : the caliuer which cannot be discharged at the cheeke , by reason of their thicke and short stocks , but are helde against the breast . also the common muskets all : which haue beene inuented for the commoditie of footmen for shot and bullets . the generall word imposed by the latines is sclopus , through the imitation of the sound , & by the italians sclopoterre , by the frenchmen , harquebuze , a word also taken from the italians , by reason of the touch-hole , by which the fire first entreth into the piece : for the italians call a hole buzio ▪ and it is called arc from the word arcus a bow , because they are vsed at this present instead of bowes formerly vsed in the time of warre . for in former time the archers held the same front in the battell , which the muskettiers doe at this present . from this miserable shop and magazin of cruelty haue sprong these mines , countermines , fire bals , fire pots , burning arrowes , lances , and crossebowes , murderers , wilde fires , and other hellish inuentions , bags , traines , torches , circles , oranges , grenados , crossebowes , chaineshot , winged shot , and such like . a most miserable inuention , by the which we sometimes see thousands of poore men in a mine pressed to death , and buried quicke in the bowels of the earth ; others in the heat of battel , being surprised with one of the aforesaid engines , doth burne them so cruelly in their armour , insomuch that the water it selfe cannot restraine and extinguish the fury of that fire . thus are both the yron and fire armed against vs , to take away our liues through the malice of men , for the conseruation whereof they were at the first created . truely when i heare the engines spoken of , vsed by our ancients , either in their warres or assaults : as their bowes , darts , crossebowes ; or to force and beat downe walles , as their rammes , horses , and such like : me thinks i doe heare spoken of children play-games , in comparison of those now in vse . the which , to speake properly and truely , doe surpasse in figure and crueltie the dreadfullest and cruellest thing that can be thought on . what can be imagined in this world to be more dreadfull and furious then the thunder ? and yet neuerthelesse , the ordinary and naturall thunder is nothing in a maner to these infernall engines : which may easily be comprehended by comparing the effects of the one with the other . nature would herein-honour and priuiledge man in this aboue all other creatures ; for man onely dyeth not alwayes being strooke with thunder : but to the contrary , other animals that are subiect to the thunder , being touched therewith , doe die suddenly . for all animalls being strooke with thunder , do fall on the contrary side : man only dieth not vnlesse he fall on the side stricken , or by not being presently turned by force from that side : but the artillery spareth man no more then beasts , without discretion on what side soeuer it hapned or strooke , on what side soeuer it doth reuerse them , it carieth away life and all . there are many remedies to preserue a man from the violence of thunder . for besides those charmes wherein the ancient romanes put much confidence , beleeuing that thereby the force of thunder might be coniured or diuerted . the thunder-bolts are neuer seene to descend lower then fiue foot into the earth ; from thence it commeth that those that are fearefull of thunder doe make themselues caues or hollow vaults in the earth , therein to retire themselues as in a place of saftie . it is said also that the bay tree is neuer strooke with thunder , and therefore in times past , and is at this day taken for a victorie . wherefore the emperour tiberius fearing thunder exceedingly aboue all other things , caused himselfe to be crowned with a wreath of bayes , at the least sound he heared in the ayre . i haue reade also that others for the like occasion haue made themselues tents of the skinnes of sea-calues , because that this animall hath this gift in particular , neuer to be touched by thunder . the eagle is said also to haue this priuiledge aboue all other foules , neuer to be touched by thunder , and therefore he is called iupiters bird , as saith pliny lib. 2. cap. 54. & 55. but against the artillery , charmes , and incantations preuaile nothing : neither the victorious bayes , nor the sea calfe , nor any thing whatsoeuer : no not an opposed wall it selfe , of ten foot in thicknesse . briefly , this sheweth the inuincible fury of artillery , in respect of thunder in this . for the thunder may be dissipated by the ringing of bels , the sound of basons , or by the discharging of ordinance : for the concussion of the clouds meeting together violently , causeth the thunder : and by the aforesaid agitation of the ayre ; they are discipated and dispersed . but the fury and pride of artillery will not be appeased by any thing whatsoeuer . there are some times and regions which are exempt and freed from thunder ; for thunder was neuer seene in the hart of winter , nor in the midst of summer , the which happeneth by two contrary reasons . for in winter the aire is very thicke , as also the cloudes ; and therefore those exhalations of the earth are easily dispersed and distinguished , being of themselues but cold and glaciall . from thence it commeth to passe that the country of scithia , and other cold countries thereabouts , as tartary , liuonia , muscouia , russia , & other neighbor countries are exempt from thunder , as to the contrary , egypt is seldom endamaged by thunder , by reason of the great heat in those part . for the exhalations and vapours of the earth , which are hot and drie : are conuerted through their vehement heat into small cloudes , which haue no force , as saith pliny . but as the inuention , so is the tempest and damage of artillery , dispersed as a contagious pestilence ouer all the earth , and at all times the heauens are sencible of the complaining cryes of those that feele the furious effects thereof . thunder for the most part hath but one blow , but one bolt , and neuer killeth but one man at a time . but artillery at one blow will massacre an hundred men . the thunderbolt oftentimes , as being a naturall thing , falleth as it happeneth , sometimes on a rocke , sometimes on a mountaine , sometimes on a tower , seldome on a man. but the artillery , being guided by the wicked dexteritie of man , coueteth nothing but man , hath quarrell to none but man , him alone hee slayeth , him alone hee chooseth among a thousand other things . the thunderbolt doth a good space of time giue vs warning by the voyce of thunder , the forerunner thereof ; to aduertise vs of the ensuing tempest : but the artillery it striketh in thunder , and thundereth in striking ; sending assoone his mortall bullet into the bowels , as he doth his sound into the eares . this is the reason why we do , & that iustly detest the author of such a hurtfull and pernicious inuention : as to the co●trary , we ought to esteeme those worthy of great praises , who either by words haue studied to reuoke all kings and princes from the practise of such a miserable inuention , or by effects and writings haue stvdied to ordaine and prescribe remedies to those that haue beene wounded thereby : the consideration whereof hath been a principall motiue to me to write of this matter and subiect . but before my pen shall run in this carriere , i will for the easier vnderstanding of the ensuing treatise , which i intend to publish , place two discourses in the beginning of the booke ; to extirpate certaine ancient opinions out of the fantasies of many , which seeme vnto me to be altogether false . vvhich errors vnlesse they are first conuicted ; it is impossible to vnderstand any thing of the essence of this euill , or to doe any profitable action in the cure therof . the first discourse is addressed vnto the reader , condemning by manifest reasons , the errors of vigo , who teacheth to cauterize and burne the wounds made by gunshot , thinking that they did participate of a certaine venenosity , to the contrary approuing , that those that cure those wounds by suppuratiues , is as salubrious and healthfull at that of vigo is cruell and dangerous . the second discourse is addressed to king charles the ninth ; vpon speciall command from his maiestie : shewing that the same wounds doe not participate of any venenosity , but that their malignant effects depend wholly on the corruption of the ayre , and the cacochymie or euil qualitie of the wounded bodies . the first discourse vpon wounds made by gun-shot , and other fierie engines . in the yeere of our lord , 1536. the victorious king frances sent a great army vnto piedmont to victual thurin , and to recouer those townes and castles which had bene taken by the marquesse du guast , lieutenant generall of the emperor , where mounsieur the constable , then great master , was lieutenant generall of the army , and mounsieur de monte-jan captaine generall of the foote-men ( of whom i was then chirurgian . ) a great part of the army arriued at the pas of suze , wher we found the enemie keeping the passage , and had made vnto themselues certain forts and trenches ; in such sort , that before they could be raised from thence , we entred into battell : in which conflict there was many hurt and slaine , as well on the one side as on the other . but they were inforced to quit that passage , and to recouer the castle ; which they helde not long , but were compelled to giue it vp ; marching away in their shirts onely , hauing each of them a white wand in their hands : of whom , the most part went to the castle de villane , where there was about some two hundred spaniards . to this castle my lord the constable drew his forces , beecause he would make his way cleere before him . it is situate vpon a little mountaine , which giueth great assurance to those within , that there can bee no ordinance planted against it to batter it down . they were summoned to restore it vp , or else were threatned to haue it battered in pieces ; which they flatly refused : answering withal , that they were as good and faithfull seruants to the emperour , as mounsieur the constable was to the king his master . their answere being vnderstoode , the same night there was mounted two great cannons , by the force of armes with ropes and cordes , by the switzers , where ( as mis-fortune would ) those cannons being planted , a gunner by indiscretion fired a barrell of gun-pouder , wherewith hee himselfe was extreamely burned , together with tenne or twelue souldiers . moreouer , the flame of the pouder was the cause of the discouery of the ordinance , whereby those of the castle the night following discharged their ordinance at that place where they discouered our cannons ; in so much , that we had many of our men hurt and slaine . the morrow after , very early we began the battery , and in few houres after the breach was made ; which those of the castle perceiuing , desired a parley , but it was too late ; for in the mean time some of our footmen perceiuing them to be astonished , mounted the breach , and entred the castle , putting euery man to the sword , except onely a certaine beautifull piedmontese , which a great lorde entertained into his seruice . the captaine and ancient were taken aliue , but were presently after hanged on the gate of the towne , to terrifie the rest of the emperors souldiers , not to be so foole-hardy to hold such places against so great an armie . now the soldiers of the castle seeing our men rushing in vpon them in such great furie , made all the resistance they could to defend themselues , in killing and wounding a great number of our souldiers with their pikes and muskets ; where the chirurgians had a great deale of work cut out to their hands . i was at that time but a yong chirurgian , and but little experienced in the art , because i neuer ( as yet ) had seene the curation of any woundes made by gunne-shot . true it is , that i had read iohn de vigo his first booke of woundes in generall , chap. 8. where he saith , that those woundes made by fiery engines , do participate of venenosity , because of the pouder ; and for their curation , hee commandeth to cauterize them with the oyle of elders mixed with a little treacle : yet neuerthelesse , because i would not be deceiued , before i would vse of the aforesaid boyling oyle , knowing that it brought with it extreame paine to the patient , i obserued the method of the other chirurgians in the first dressing of such wounds ; which was by the application and infusion of the aforesaide oyle as hot as possibly they could suffer it , vvith tents and setons : wherefore , i became emboldned to do as they did . but in the end my oyle fayled mee , so that i was constrained to vse in steede thereof , a digestiue made of the yolke of an egge , oyle of roses and terebinth . the night following , i could hardly sleepe at mine ease , fearing lest that for want of cauterizing , i should find my patients on whom i had not vsed of the aforesayde oyle , dead and impoysoned ; which made mee to rise earely in the morning to visit them : where beyond my expectation , i found those on whom i had vsed the digestiue medicine , to feele but little paine , and their wounds without inflammation or tumor , hauing rested well all that night . the rest , on whom the aforesaide oyle was applyed , i found them inclining to feauers , with great pain , tumor , and inflammation about their woundes : then i resolued with my selfe , neuer to burn so cruelly the wounded patients by gunshot any more . when we entred thurin , i was told of a chirurgian who was exceeding famous , especially for his curing wounds made by gun-shot , with whom i found the meanes to acquaint my selfe : yet it was neere two yeeres and a halfe before hee would acquaint me with his medicine which hee called his balme . in the meane time , mounsieur the marshall of monte-jan , who was lieutenant generall of the king in piedmont died : then i tolde this chirurgian , that i had a desire to returne to paris , withall requesting him , that he would perform his promise ; which was , to giue me the receipt of his balme , which he willingly did , seeing that i was to leaue that country . he sent me to fetch him two yong whelpes , one pound of earth-wormes , two pounds of the oyle of lillies , six ounces of the terebinth of venice , and one ounce of aqua-vitae : and in my presence he boiled the whelpes aliue in the saide oyle , vntill the flesh departed from the bones . afterward , he tooke the wormes ( hauing before killed and pu●ified them in white wine , to purge themselues of the earth which they haue alwayes in their bodies : ) being so prepared , he boyled them also in the said oyle till they became dry , this he strained thorough a napkin , without anie great expression ; that done , hee added thereto the terebinth , and lastly , the aqua-vitae ; and called god to witnesse , that this was his balme which he vsed in all wound● made by gun-shot , and in others which required suppuration ; withall praying me not to divulge his secret . from thence i returned to paris , where shortly after mounsieur siluius lecturer of the king in physicke , a man greatly esteemed among learned mē , requested me one day to dine with him , which i did willingly ; where hee asked me many questions , and among the rest , of the essence of wounds made by gun-shot , and of the combustions made by gun-pouder . whereupon , i presently proued vnto him , that the powder was not any thing venomous at all ; because that no simple that entreth therein is any way venomous , much lesse the composition . also i haue seene by experience , that some souldiers being hurt , will take of the sayde powder in wine , saying ; that powder so taken , doth preserue the body from the ensuing accidēts , the which i approue not . also others hauing vlcers on their bodies , do commonly vse of the saide powder dry , and heale them without any danger at all . and as for the bullets they cannot containe any such heate that they should haue the faculty of burning : for a bullet beeing shot against a stone-wall , it may presently be held in the naked hande , although the collission made against the stones , should in reason heate it the more : & as for combustions or burnings made by gun-powder , i neuer found any particular accident in it , whereby the cure ough● to bee diuersified from the cure of other combustions . whereupon , i related this historie . a certaine boy of the kitchin , of mounsieur the marshall de monte-jan , fell into a caldron full of oyle almost boyling hotte ; to dresse whom being sent for , i went presently to an apothecarie , demanding of him such cooling medicines which are commonly applied vnto burnings : an ancient country-woman being by , hearing mee speake of this burning , counselled me to apply for the first dressing ( to preuent the rising of pustules or bladders ) of raw onions , bruised with a little salt . i demanded of this woman whether shee had euer made experience of that medicine before : she presently sware vnto me in her language , si messé , à lafe de dé ; which did incite mee to make experience hereof on this scullion of the kitchin , where truely i found the morrow after , that in those parts where the onions had touched , to bee altogether free from vessickes or blisters , and the other parts where the onions were not applied , to bee much blistered . not long after , a certaine dutch-man , one of the guard of the saide lord de monte-jan , hauing drunke hard , by indiscretion set his flaske afire , which caused a great disaster both to his hands and face ; and being called to dresse him , i applyed of the saide onions on the one halfe of his face ; and on the other side , of other common remedies . at the second dressing , i founde that part vvhere i had applyed the onions to be altogether without blisters or any excorlation , and the other altogether blistred : then i first purposed to write of the effect of the saide onions . moreouer , i tolde vnto the saide syluius , that for the better extraction of bullets which are hidden in anie part of the bodie , it is requisite the patient should be placed in the same situation that he was in at that time when he was wounded . manie other things i discouered vnto him , which are contained in this booke following . my discourse ended , he prayed mee verie earnestly that i would publish it by writing ; to the end , that that false opinion of vigo might be altogether abollished the which i willingly consented vnto , and caused manie instruments to be cut , such as had not bene divulged , for the extraction of bullets , & other vnnatural things out of the bodie . and it was first imprinted in the yeare 1545. and well receiued , which caused me to renew it againe , and publish it the second time , in the yeare 1552. and lastly , in the yeare 1564. where i haue enriched it with manie other things , because i haue since followed the warres , haue bene in many battels , and besiedged townes , as in metz and hedin . also i haue beene entertained into the seruice of fiue kings , where i haue alwayes discoursed with the most excellent physitians & chirurgians of those times , to learne and discouer if there were any other method or way to cure those wounds made by gunne-shot ; whereof the most part ( especially those that haue followed the warres , and are guided by reason and experience ) are of my opinion , which is to vse suppuratiues in the beginning , and not boyling oyles . and i did protest moreouer to the said syluius , that i haue found those woundes as easie to cure ( being in fleshy parts ) as all other great contused wounds are . but where the bullet meeteth with the bones and neruous parts , it teareth , dilacerateth , breaketh , breaketh , and shiuereth in peeces , not only where it toucheth , but also the circumiacent parts , without any mercy ; causing great accidents which happen specialy in the iounctures or ioynts , and in bodies of euill constitution , and in times subiect to corruption ; that is to say , where the ayre is hot and moist , then is the cure most difficult , & oftentimes impossible ; not only of wounds made by gun-shot , but also of those which are made by other instruments , yea , though they were but in fleshy parts . therefore , the aforesaide accidents doe not proeeede from the venenosity which is in the powder , or by the combustion or burning of the bullet . for proofe whereof , i will alledge this obseruation which i haue experimented not long since on the person of the earle of courdon , lord of achindon , a scottishman , whome i cured by the commandement of the queene-mother , who was hurt with the shot of a pistoll cleane through both the thighes , without fracture of the bones ; he standing so neere the mouth of the pistoll , that the fire tooke hold of his breeches ; neuerthelesse , hee was perfectly cured in two and thirty dayes , without a feauer or any other euill accident . i drest him at sir iohn de latran , in the house of the arch-byshoppe of glasco , then ambassador for scotland , who came euerie day to see him drest . moreouer for testimony , i could produce mounsieur brigard , doctor regent in the facultie of physicke , who was an assistant with me : together with iames guillemean chirurgian to the king , & sworne at paris , who was with mee vntill his perfect curation . the same likewise mounsieur hanti● , doctor regent in the faculty of physicke can testifie , who sometimes came to see him . also giles buzet , scotchman and chirurgian , euerie of them meruailing how he became so soone cured without the application of hot and sharp medicines . now the reasons wherfore i haue made this little discourse , is to demonstrate that it is aboue thirty yeares ago , since i first found out this manner of curing wounds made by gunne-shot , without the vse of boyling oyles , or anie other sharpe or burning medicines , vnlesse i was constrain'd to vse them for such accidents which happened in cacochymed bodies , or through the euill disposition and malignancie of the ayre , as i will shew more amply in this discourse following , which i made vnto the deceased king , after the taking of roan . another discourse , being an answere vnto a certaine demand propounded by the victorious prince charles the ninth , as touching the quality and essence of woundes made by gun-shot at his maiesties returne from the siedge , and taking of the towne of roan . it one day pleased your maiesty , together with the queene mother , my lorde the prince of la roche-sur yon , and many other princes and great lords , to demand of me how it came to passe that in these last warres , the most part of such gentlemen and souldiers , who were wounded by gun-shot , and other instruments of warre died , or were very hardly recouered from their diseases , although the wounds which they receiued were but of small apparance , and the chirurgians which were employed for their cures , did performe their duties according to art ; i haue bene the bolder to publish this discourse , to satisfie in some measure the duty of my ar● , and that my profession might not be spo●ted with the least dishonor , and that your maiesty might vnderstand the reasons which might haue beene the cause of the death of so many valiant men ; the most part of whom i haue seene ( to my great greefe ) to finish their daies pittifully , without any possibility in mee , or any other more experienced then my selfe to giue them remedy . i know that this following discourse will astonish some , who reposing themselues vppon their owne particular opinions , and not examining the matter deepely , will finde the first front of my disputation very strange , because that the contrarie hath beene so long imprinted in their fantasies . for i do hold , that the cause of the malignancy of wounds by gun-shot , not to proceed from anie poison or venomous quality in the powder ( as they imagine ) or from the bullet it selfe , beeing rubbed or infused in any venomous mixture . neuerthelesse , if their meekenesse and patience will extend so far , as first to waigh the motiues which first mooued me to vndertake this subiect , which was a zeal of the publike good ; towards the which the law of nature bindeth mee to shew the vtmost of my power in such things which the singular prouidence of god hath reuealed vnto mee . and secondly , that they will examine with iudgement the reasons which i shall vse in this present treatise , then i shall bee sure , they will both accept my labours thankefully , and free it from all future calumny ; otherwise they will shew themselues to be so ●uill affectioned towards me , as if i should present my selfe before them , enriched with all the treasures of the ancient philosophers , and they should place mee in the number of the poorest and ignorantest men in the worlde . to preuent therefore all the arguments of venome and poisoning , which the aduersaries here aboue mentioned may alledge , i will make it plaine vnto your maiesty , that such as are wounded by gun-shot , i say the malignancie of such wounds not to proceed from the venom of the powder , being of it selfe simply considered : and much lesse from the combustion or cauterization which the bullet so heated by the fire of the powder can make in those parts , which it rendeth & dilacerateth thorough the violence thereof : although neuerthelesse some do striue to maintaine ; alledging for all reasons , that a certaine tower full of powder hath heeretofore bene seene ruinated in an instant , onely by the meanes of a cannon shotte . also of a thatcht house set on fire with a musket shot . moreouer , because that such woundes which are made by gun-shot , we commonly beholde their orifices and other circumiacent parts so black , as if an actuall cauter had passed thereon . as also the fall of a certaine escarre , as they say . al which arguments are so ill framed , that they deserue no authority being built on so slender a foundation : much lesse that the resolution of your demaund should be taken from them , as i trust to giue you plainely to vnderstand in the disputation following . the which ( after i had seene a great number of those woundes , and diligently obserued them , handling them according to the method ) i haue collected from the ancient philosophers , physitians , and chirurgians to present vnto your maiesty , and to with-draw your minde from the admiration of the lamentable deaths of so manie braue gentlemen and soldiers . now to enter into the matter proposed , and to answer the arguments before alledged , we are first to examine whether there be any poison inclosed in the powder , or no : and if there be , whether it may infect by meanes of the pretended poyson thereof . which that it may appeare plainly , wee must search into the composition of the said pouder ; considering that it is not of substance simple , but compound : and so by examining the nature of such simple which enter into the composition thereof ; i meane their qualities , effects , and operations , wee shall the sooner attaine to the scope and intention pretended . as for the simples , it is a most assured thing that there are but three in al which make the composition thereof , that is to say , coales of willow or birch , sulphure , and salt-peter , & sometimes aqua-vitae : the which ingredients seuerally considered , are altogether exempt & free from poison , or any venomous quality . and first for the coales , there is not any thing considerable in them , vnlesse it be a drying quality , of subtle substance , by meanes whereof it is apt to take fire , euen as a linnen cloth burnt into tinder doth the sparkes that fall from a flint stone . sulphure is hot and dry , neuerthelesse not excessiue , and of a more oyly and viscuous substance , yet not so easie to inflame as coales , although it doth retaine the fire more forcibly when it is once inflamed , & is very hardly extinguished . as for the salt-peter , it is such , that many make vse thereof insteede of salt . now let vs examine whether there be any venenosity in the nature of these simples , namely , in that of sulphure , which is the most suspected . dioscorides in his fift booke , chap. 37. prescribeth it to be taken in an egge , in the astmaticke passion , coughes , and to such which spit matter , and those that haue the iaundise . and galen in the 9. book of his simples , cap. 36. ordaineth it as a topicall remedy , vnto such who are bitten with venomous beasts ; and in all malignant practises or itchings ; as for the aquavitae , it is a thing so subtle , that it will euaporate if it be set in the aire , besides it is vsed by most chirurgians inwardlie in drinkes , and outwardly in embrocations as a most singular medicines . these thinges considered , makes me to affirme , that the whole composition of pouder is altogether free from venome or poison , seeing that the ingredients are altogether cleere from the least touch in that kinde . moreouer , i haue obserued it to bee the practise of the hollanders being wounded by gun-shot , to dissolue two charges of pouder in wine , and to drink it off , hoping by that meanes to be freed from all future accidents which might happen vnto theyr wounds ( although i do not approue thereof , because it is a most insufficient remedy . ) also , such vlcers which are made through the combustion of powder , are of no other nature then those that are made by fire , or scalding water . but wherefore should i alledge any forraigne example ? do we not see among our owne souldiers , i doe not know on what occasion , but onely to shew themselues braue fellowes , to emptie their charges of powder into their cups , and drinke it without any inconuenience at all ; and others likewise beeing hurt on any part of their bodies , will apply of the same on their vlcers to dry them , and finde much profit by it . as for those which do affirme that it is not in the powder , but the bullet , which being subtilly pierced in many places , or filled vp with venome , or steeped , rubbed , or mixed with anie poyson , causeth the aforesaide dangerous accidents ? to such i answer without further trouble , that the fire set to the powder , is sufficient to purifie the poyson of the bullet , if any there were ▪ the which cānot be done by impoysoned swords , pikes , arrowes , and such like , because they passe not through the action of the fire . briefly to confirme my opinion to be true , there is not anie one of those that were in your maiesties camp● at roan , that doeth not assuredly know , that those bullets which were shot against those of the town to be altogether free from poison . neuerthelesse , the besiedged townesmen affirmed , that all those bullets were poysoned . also the souldiours of your maiesties campe had the same opinion of such bullets which were shot at them out of the towne , that they were all impoysoned by them ; rather beleeuing and iudging of the quality of the wounds by their ill successe ; then by the causes whereby they were made . true it is , that as in physicke according to the sentence of hippocrates in the epidemies ; as gale● noteth on the 20. sentence , and the 71. of the 3 sect. of the 3. book , all diseases are cald pestilentiall and venomous , being excited from common and generall causes of what kinde soeuer they be , and such kill many persons : so in the like manner , we may cal such wounds which are made by gunshot venomous , which are more difficult to heale then others ; not because they do participate of any venonosity , but from some generall cause depending either from the cacochimie of the body , putrification of the aire , or the corruption of the victuals , whereby those vlcers are brought to be more malignant cacoëthes , and rebellious to al medicines . to affirme that it is only the combustion of the bullet which causeth the aforesaide danger , i cannot conceiue their reasons , seeing that the bullet is for the most part made but of lead , and therefore vnable to indure any great heate , without being altogether dissolued , the which we neuerthelesse see to passe through a coate armour , and to penetrate the body through and through , and yet to remaine whole . moreouer , we doe obserue , that if a bullet be shot against a stone , or against any solid matter , it may in the same instant bee handled of vs in our hands , without feeling anie notable heate , although the violent striking and colli●sion made against the stone , should in reason encrease the hea●e , if any there were . and which is more , if a bullet be shot against a bagge full of powder , the fire will not endanger it . this i dare bee bolde to say and affirme moreouer , that if a quantity of powder should take fire being kepte in a tower , or any other place , by the meanes of a bullet shot , it was not the heate of the bullet , but rather the violent striking of the bullet against the stones of the saide tower , which might cause sparkes of fire to fall among the powder , euen as the smiting of a steele against a flint stone . the like we may iudge of such thatcht houses which haue bene set on fire by a musket shot , to haue rather proceeded from some wad either of tow or paper , ram'd in with the powder , and so fired with it . but that which doth most confirme me in the assurance of my opinion , is , that if a bal of wax be shot out of a muske● , it feeleth no force of fire at all , for then it would melt ; neuerthelesse it wil pierce an inch boord . an argument of sufficient weight to proue that the bullet cannot be so extreamely heated by the force of the powder , that they should cauterize and burne , as many haue esteemed . and as for that blacknesse , which is ordinarily found to bee about the orifices of such wounds , and other ad●acent parts . i say that this accident doeth not proceede from any qualitie of fire accompanying the bullet , but because of the great contusion which it maketh . for it cannot enter into the body otherwise then by an extreme and incredible force , because it is of a rounde figure . vpon this point , if the wounded persons themselues be demanded , i beleeue they will testifie the truth of my saying ; because they are no sooner strooke with the bullet , but they feel in the same instant , as if a club or some heauie burthen were fallen vpon the offended part , in the which they feele a heauy paine , with a benummed stupifaction of the part ; which dissipateth and sometimes extinguisheth the naturall heate , together with the spirits contained therein : from whence there followeth oftentimes a gangrene and mortification of the part , yea sometimes of the whole body . and as for the escarre which they affirme there to be , and fall away as they say , they doe abuse themselues : for it is onely some certain portion of the membranes and contused flesh , dilacerated by the bullet , which becommeth corrupted , and so separateth it selfe from the sound parts which are greatly contused . although that these reasons do make it manifest enough , that there is no venomous quality in the powder , nor action of fire carried with the bullet , neuerthelesse many building their opinions vpon naturall philosophy , doe maintaine the contrary , affirming that cannon shot is like vnto the claps of thunder which burst foorth of the clouds in the middle region of the aire ▪ and so fall violently on the earth . from the which similitude they would infer and conclude , that there is both fire , and a venomous quality in the bullet , as it proceedeth out of the mouth of the cannon . i know ( i thanke god ) that thunder being ingendered from a grosse and viscuous exhalation , by meanes of vapour conioyned with it , doth neuer breake foorth of the clouds to penetrate heere below , but it draweth and bringeth immediatly with it a certaine fire , sometimes more subtle , sometimes more grosse , according to the diuersitie of the matter , whereof the exhalation is composed . for seneca writeth in the second booke of his naturall questions , chapter 49. that there are three kinds of thunders all differing the one from the other , according to the quantity and manner of their inflammation . the first , by reason of the matter thereof , it being most thinne and subtle , it doth pierce and penetrate suddenly the obiectes which it toucheth . the second kinde , by reason of the violence thereof , breaketh and dissipateth the same thinges because that the matter thereof is more violent , and compact as a tempest . the third sort being composed of a more earthy matter , burneth with manifest tokens of the heat therof . i also know , that the thunder is of nature pestilentiall and faetide , because of the grosse and slimie matter thereof ; which being burned , leaueth behinde it such a stinking sauour , that all animals do so much auoide it , that if it do happen to fall into their dens , or other places of haunt , they wil vtterly abandon and forsake such places ; so much do they hate the infectious stinke of that poyson . the same is noted by olaus mag●us , in his septentrionall history , that in certaine places where thunder hath falne , presently after the fall thereof , the fields haue beene found afterwards to bee couered and strewed ouer with sulphure , neuerthelesse vnprofitable , and almost extinguished . for all these reasons , i must not confesse that the blowes of gun-shot are accompanied with poyson and fire , as the claps of thunder a●e . for although they doe agree the one with the other , in some similitude , it is not therefore in theyr substance and matter , but rather in the maner which they haue to batter , te●re , and dissipate the obiects which they meere with , that is to say , the claps of thunder through the force of fire ; & of the bolt or stone sometimes engendred therein : and the blowes of gun-shot by the meanes of the aire forced away by impetuosity , and so conducting the bullet causeth the like disaster . what if i should be conuicted by stronger arguments , so that i were inforced to anouch that ▪ thunder and the cannon to be of like substance ; yet i shoulde neuer be forced to say , that the shot of cannons and muskets do participate of a fiery quality . pliny saith in the second book of his history , and the 51. chapter , that among thunder one kinde is composed of a meruailous dry matter , dissipating all such thinges it meeteth withall , neuerthelesse without any signe of burning : others , of a more humid nature , which in like manner burneth not : but blacketh and discoloureth much more then the first . and others are composed of a very cleere and subtle matter : the nature wherof is most meruailous , forsomuch that it is not to bee doubted ( as seneca hath well saide ) that there is therein a certaine divine vertue : and it is in melting golde or siluer in a mans purse , the purse it selfe not being so much as touched therewith . also in melting a sworde , the scabberd thereof remayning whole . also in dissoluing into droppes the iron head of a pike , without burning , or so much as heating the woode . in shedding the wine out of a vessell , without burning or breaking of the caske . according to the aforesaid testimony i can assure you , and that without any preiudice , that those thunders which onely breake and dissipate without any burning ; and such which leaue effects ful of great admiration , not to be much vnlike in substance to the cannon shot , and not those which carry immediately with them the action of fire . to proue my saying , this one example shall suffice . a certaine souldier receiued a wound in his thigh with a musket shot , from when i extracted a bullet ; the which being wrapped in the taffatie of his breeches , made a very deepe wound . neuerthelesse i drew it forth of the wound with the same taffatie , it being without any signe of burning . and which is more , i haue seene many men , who not being shot , nor any thing touched therewith , vnlesse it were in their apparrell onely , haue receiued such an astonishment by a cannon shot that onely past neere them , that their members thereby haue become blacke and liuid ; and shortly after haue falne into a gangrene and mortification , whereof in the end they haue died . these effects are like vnto those of the thunder before spoken of . neuerthelesse , there is not in them any fire or poison : which maketh mee conclude , that there is no poison in the common and ordinary pouder . seeing therefore that this disaster was common to all those which were hurt in these last warres , and yet neither by fire or poyson that so many valiant men died . to what cause may we impute this euill ? i am so confident of the true cause my liege , that i hope presently to make your maiesty vnderstand the same , to the end that your demand may be fully satisfied . those which haue consumed their age and studie in the secrets of naturall philosophie , haue left vs this among other things for authentick and approued of all times . which is , that the elements do symbolize in such sort the one with the other , th●t they doe sometimes transforme and change themselues the one into the other in such sorte , that not onely their first qualities , which are heat , coldnesse , d●inesse and moisture : but also theyr substances are chaunged by rarification or condensation of themselues ; so the fire doth conuert it selfe ordinarily into aire , the aire into water , the water into earth ; and contrarywise the earth into water , the water into aire , and the ai●e into fire . the which we may dayly behold and proue it by those bellowes of copper which the dutchman brings vs , being composed in the form of a boll , the which being filled with water , and hauing but one hole in the midst of the sphericall forme thereof , receiueth the transmutation of the water within it into aire through the action of the fire , neere vnto the which the boll must be placed ; and so thrusteth the aire forth of it with violence , making a continuall noise or sound vntill all the ayre be gone forth of it . the like may bee knowne by egges or chestnuts : for either of them being put into the fire before they are crackt , or the rindes broken , presently the watery humidity contained in them doth conuert it selfe into ayre , thorough the action of the fire : and the aire in making his passage bursteth the shell , beecause it occupyeth more place being in the forme of aire , into the which it was chaunged by rarification caused by the fire , then it did vnder the forme of water ; and not finding passage is constrained to make one by violence , according to the proposition helde for most certaine among all physitians ; that is to say , of that one part of earth is made tenne of water : and of one part of water is made ten of aire , as of one part of aire ten of fire . i do say and affirme so much of the matters contained in the saide gun-powder , which by meanes of the fire is conuerted into a great quantity of aire ; the which because it cannot be contained in the place where the matter was before the tran●mutation thereof , is compelled to yssue forth with an incredible violence : by meanes wherof , the bullet breaketh , shiuereth and rendeth all that euer it meeteth with , yet doth not the fire accompany it . euen as we see a bow , or a sling shoote forth an arrow or stone , without any aire at all . but the bullet driueth before it such a subtle winde , and so swiftly agitated that sometimes the very wind it selfe without the action of the bullet causeth strange and wonderfull effects . for sometimes i haue known it make a fracture in the bones without any diuision of the flesh . and heerein it may be compared as we saide before vnto the effect of thunder : euen so we see , that if the saide powder bee inclosed in mines and vaults of the earth , and being conuerted into aire through the action of the fire set vnto it , how it doth ruinate and reuerse huge masses of earth almost as bigge as mountaines . also in this yeare , in your maiesties town of paris , a certaine quantity of powder , bur newly ma●e in the arcenall , by taking fire caused such a great tempest , that the whole town shooke at it : for with an horrible fury it leuelled with the earth all the houses neere vnto that place , and discouered and battered downe the windowes of all those houses that stood within the fury of it . and to bee briefe ( euen as a ●lap of thu●der ) it did reuerse here & there many men halfe slaine ; ta●ing ●way f●om some ●heir eyes ▪ from o●hers thei● hearing , and left others no lesse torne and mangled in their members , then if foure horses had drawne them in peeces : and all this by the only agitation of the aire , into which substance the powder was conuerted . the which , according to the quantity and quality of the matter thereof , and according to his motion , either mo●e or lesse violent , hath caused so many won●erfull accidents in our prouinces ; altogether like vnto those which are caused through the inclosing of winds in the bowels and cauities of the earth not bein● perspirable . the which st●●uing to haue vent , bloweth with such a strong and violent agitation , that they make the ear●h to tremble and quake thereat : thereby debo●lishing cities , and ruinating buildinges , and transporting them from one place to another . as the townes of megara & egina , anciently much celebrated in the countrey of greece , perishing by earth-quakes can witnes vnto vs. i omit to discouer ( as but little seruing to our purpose ) how the wind inclosed in the entrailes of the earth , maketh a noise of d●uers sounds , & very strange according to the diuers forms of the conduits and passages through the which it yssueth by , euen af●er the manner of musicall instruments ; the which being large , do giue a great and base sound , and being narrow do make high and sharpe notes , and being crooked or replied mak● diuers sounds ; as wee see by experience in the huntsmans horne , and in trumpets , the which also being moystened with water , do make a hollow gurguling sound . in like manner , these noises , murmurings , and clamors are sundry wayes diuersified , according to the places whence they proceede ▪ in such sort , that sometimes hath bene hard a clamorous crie , representing ( as it seemed ) the assault of a citty , the cries and lowings of buls , or the neighing of horses , roaring of lyons , sound of trumpets reports of artillery & many other dreadful things ; yea sometimes humane voices . as it is reported by one , who had heard a voice ( as it were ) of a woman a beating , which made ( as he imagined ) such a wofull and greeuous lamentation , whereby he became so greatly affrighted , that hee had scarsely breath sufficient to make this report . but when he had well vnderstoode the cause of this plaintiue voice , he was presently deliuered from that fear● , which otherwise might haue killed him . but some perhappes will say , that these things haue alwayes bene , and no lesse ordinarie in the times past , then they are at this present : and therfore it is a great folly in mee to alledge them , for efficient causes of the death of so many men . the which imputation i should freely confesse , if i should present them for such : but seeing that by them i would o●ely paralel and compare the impetuosity of artillery with that of thunder , and the motions of the earth ; which beeing so , it will appear that it maketh nothing against my first intention , as i hope to demonstrate cleerely , that i am slandered without a cause , if you please to giue care to the deduction following . in the which , i will plainly and briefely describe the true causes of the late mortality which happened among your highnesse soldiers . amongest the things necessary for our liues , there is nothing that can more alter our bodyes then the aire ; the which continually ( willing or vnwilling ) we inspire by those cond●ites which nature hath apointed for that end ; as the mouth , the nose , and generally through all the pores of the skin and arteries therein infixed , whether we ea●e , drinke , watch , or sleepe , or doe any other action , whether naturall , vitall , or animal . from thence it commeth , that the aire inspir●d into the lungs , the hart , and the braine , and vniuersally in all the parts of the body to refresh and in some measure to nourish the same , is the cause that a man cannot liue one minute without inspiration ; according to the which wonderfull benefite , the excellent physitian hippocrates hath pronounced and that truly , that the aire hath a kinde of diuinity in it ; because that in breathing and blowing ouer all parts of the world vniuersally , it doth circumuolue all things therein contained ; nourishing them myraculously , strengthning them firmly , and maintaining them in an amiable vnion , altogether symbolizing with the stars & planets ; into the which the diuine prouidence is infused ; which changeth the aire at his pleasure , & giueth it power not onely ouer the mutation of times & seasons , but also of the alteration of naturall bodies . and therefore the philosophers and physitians haue expresly commanded , that wee should haue a principall regarde vnto the situation and motions of the heauenly bodies , and constitutions of the aire , when the preseruation of health , or the curation of diseases are in question : but especially the course and mutation of the aire is of great power , as we may easily iudge by the 4. seasons of the yeare . for the aire being hot and dry in sommer , our bodies in like manner doeth thereby become heated and dried : and in winter the humidity and coldnesse of the aire doeth likewise fil our bodies with the samequailities ; in such order neuerthelesse , and in so good a disposition of nature , that although our temperatures seeme to be changed according to the foure seasons of the yeere , wee neuerthelesse receyue no harme thereby , if those times do keepe their seasons and qualities f●ee from excesse . but to the contrarie , if the seasons be so peruerted that the sommer is cold , and the winter hot , and the other sea●ons in the like distemperature , this discord bringeth with it a great perturbation both in our bodyes , and in our spirits , constrained neuerthelesse to receiue the danger , by reason that the causes are extreame , and do on euery side enco●passe vs ; so that we are constrained to lodge it in vs by ●hose organes and con●uits appointed by nature to that end ; as par●ly , to expell the superfluous excrements of our nourishment , and partly to receiue the saide externall causes , which is the ayre or wi●●e , producing in vs diuers effects , according to those parts of the world from whence they do proceed . for it being so that the southerly winds are ●ot and moyst ; that of the north cold & drie ; the easterly winds for the most part are clere and pure ; and the westerly cloudy , and subiect vnto rai●e ; yet it is a most assured thing , that the ayre which we do inspire continually , holdeth in all , and through all the quality that is most predominant . and therefore we should of necessity consider in all diseases , and the inconueniences which happen therein , the quality of the windes and the power which they haue ouer our bodies ; as hippocrates hath learnedly left vs by writing , in the 3. booke of his aphorismes , chap. 5. and 17. saying , that our bodies do receiue a great alteration through the vissitude of the times and seasons of the yeere . as by the south-wind our bodies are subiect to all diseases , because that moisture is their primitiue cause ▪ it also weakeneth our naturall heate , the which in the opposite case is much fortified through a cold and dry wind , which also maketh our spirits more quicke and subtill . the verity of which sentence , the inhabitantes of the territory of narbonne doe too much experiment to their dammage . for being themselues between the lustiest and healthfullest people of all france ; yet neuerthelesse they themselues are very sickely for the most part , their bodies leane , their countenances sad and heauy ; their faces tawny , or of an oliue colour , do manifestly shew the same . also among other diseases , they are almost all subiect to the white leprosie ; and ●he least vlcers which they haue , which wee make no account of at poictiers or paris , do ordinarily continue with them a whole yeere together . not for any other cause , as they themselues confesse , and as al strangers k●ow that haue liued in their country ▪ but onely because they are for the most part , blasted and breathed vppon with a southerly vvinde , which in their language they call a●tan , and maketh the aire to be grosse and cloudy ; causing in their bodies al the effects which are attributed by hippocrates to the southerly windes , in his thirde booke and 5. aphorisme , that is to say , when it reigneth it dulleth the hearing , ●immeth the sight , swelleth and aggrauateth the head , weakneth and abateth all the forces of the body . also , when hippocrates compareth the temperatures of the one quality with the other , he resolueth vpon this point ; that the dry seasons are far more healthfull then the humid ●hat haue continued for a long succession of time , because excessiue humidity is the true matter of putrifaction , as experience telleth vs : for wee see , that in those places where the marine or sea-winds haue blowed long , all kinds of flesh ( though neuer so new & fresh ) will corrupt in lesse then an houre . these ●hings being considered , that it is most necessary for the conseruation of our bodies in health ; that the seasons should follow their naturall temperatures , without any excesse or contrarietie , there is no doubt to be made but that our bodyes will fall into many vnnaturall diseases , when the natural qualities of the seasons are peruerted through the euil disposition of the aire , and wind that predominateth therein . it being so that for these 3. yeares space heere in france , the seasons of euerie yeare haue not kept their ordinary qualities . in the sommer we haue had but little heate , in the winter a little or no cold at all . also the other seasons haue bene continually distempered with raine and moysture , together with much southerly windes , whose nature wee hau● declared before ; and this throughout all france . i know no man so little seene in naturall philosophy , or in astrologie , which will not finde the aire to bee the efficient cause of so many euilles , which for these three yeeres space haue happened in the kingdome of france . for from whence should proceede those contagious pestilences , which happened indifferently to olde and young ; to rich and poore , & in so many places , but from the corruption of the aire ? from whence should proceede so many kinds of feauers , ple●risies , aposthumes , catarres , defluctions of smal pox & meazels ? so many kinds of venomous beasts , as frogges , toades , grashoppers , caterpillers , spiders , flies , waspes , snailes , s●rpents , vipers , snakes , lizards , scorpions , and aspickes ; but onely from a purrifaction resulting from the humidity of the aire , accompanied with a languishing heate . this is it ( i say ) that hath engendered in vs , and in a●l the countrey of france , so many strange and vnknowne accidents . beholde therefore how our naturall heate hath bene weakned , how our blood and humors haue bene corrupted through the malignity of the aire , which these southerly winds hath caused thorough the hot and moist quality thereof . thus much i haue obserued , that where there hath bene neede of phlebotomizing , there hath beene but little blood drawne from any , whether they were yong , or olde , wounded , or not of so good or euill temperature ; but it hath bene corrupted , & appeared of white or greenish colours . this i haue alwaies obserued in these last warres , and in other places where i haue beene called to cure the wounded : such as haue beene phlebotomized by the prescription of the physitian , either for the preuention of accidents , or the furtherāce of the c●re . in all which , i say indifferently , i haue found the bloode putrified and corrupted . this being so , it must needs fol●ow that the fleshy parts of our bodies cannot bee otherwise then euilly disposed : and all our bodies cacochymate , seeing that their nourishment which is the blood is putrified , and the aire altogether corrupted . from whence it followeth , that those bodyes which were wounded in the fleshy parts were difficult to cure , considering that there was in them a perdition of substance ; the which hauing neede of the regeneration of the flesh , could not be accomplished nei●her by medicines , nor a●y art of the chirurgian , such and so great was the cacochimy or euill constitution of their bodies . euen as in an hydropticke person there can no flesh be regenerated , because the blood is too colde and watery : and in the elephanticke or leaprous disease , the flesh and other parts do abide in putrifaction , because of the corrupted bloode whereby they are nourished . in like manner , in wounds of cacochymed bodies , there can be no regeneration made of any good substance , because that to restore a lawdable flesh in the wounded part , it is required that the bloode should not offend neither in quantity nor quality , and that the offended part be in its naturall temperature . all these things wer wanting in the times of these last warres : and therefore it is not to be wondred at , if the wounds which were then receiued ( althogh they were but small and of little consequence in the noble or ignoble partes ) haue brought with them so many tedious accidents , and in the end death ; because that the air● which doeth incompasse vs , maketh the wounds to bee corrupt and pu●rified , by reason of the inspiration and transpiration thereof , especially when it selfe is corrupt and putrified by altering and corrupting the humors . of this point i haue had the experience of many woundes which i haue beene called to dresse that haue rendred a●most insupportable stinking fauour , as a certaine witnesse of corruption and infection , insomuch that the assistants coulde hardly endure to be present at their dressings . it neede not bee heere alledged , that this was for want of being cleanly kept , or often dressing , or for not administering vnto them things necessary : for this corruption was as common to princes and great lords , as vnto poore souldiours ; whose woundes ( if by chance one day escaped wherin they were not drest , so great was the number of the hurt souldiers ) you should find in them the morrow after , a great quantity of wormes , with a meruailous stinking sauour . and moreouer there happened vnto them many aposthumes in diuers parts of their bodies opposite to their hurtes . for , if they were shot in the right shoulder , they should haue an apostume on the left knee ; and if the wound were in the right leg , the apostume would arise in the left arme . as it hapned to the late king of nauar , to mounsieur de neuers , and to mounsieur de rend●n , and almost to all others . so it seemeth , that nature being so much oppressed with corrupted humors , could not be sufficiently purged and discharged of them by woundes onely , but sent some part of the corruption to some other part either hidden or apparent . for if the apostumes appeared not outwardly , they should be found in the inwarde parts , as in the liuer , lungs , or spleene . from those putrifactions were stirred vp certain vapors , which through their commination with the har● c●●s●●h continuall ●eauers ; with the liuer a let a●d hinderance of the generation of good blood ; and with the braine , swoonings , faintings , convulsions , and consequently death . now because of those aforesaide accidents , it is vnpossible for any chirurgian ( were he neuer so expert ) to correct the malignity of the aforesaid wounds : neuerthelesse ●hose that are emplo●ed therein ought not to be reprehended , because it is impossible for them to war against god , nor against the aire , wherein oftentimes are hidden the rods of his diuine iustice. if therefore according to the sentence of ancient hippocrates , who saith ; that all contused wounds ought to bee b●ought to suppuration , the●eby to bee perfectly cured ; which method we are sometimes constrained to change , because of the putrifactions gangrenacs and mortifications which doe accompan●e such wounds , through the corruption of the aire ; and can any blame or accuse vs , because wee are constrained through necessity to change & alter that manner of curation , and instead of suppuratiue medicines to vse other remedies , to resist such accidents which not onely happen in wounds made by gun-shot , but also by swords or staues : which remedies shall bee described in this present discourse . besides humane causes , that man is ill ●nstructed in the knowledge of celestiall thing●s , which doeth not beleeue for certaine , that the wrath of god hangeth ouer vs to punnish the faultes which ordinarily we commit against his maiesty ; his scourges are prepared readie , his rods and weapons haue their ministers alwaies at hand to execute the commandement of his diuine iustice , into whose secrets i dare enter no further ; but will conclude with the opinion of the best aduised practioners , that the principall occasion of the aforesaid mortality , did proceed from the ●ure and determinate will of god , who by the temperature which he hath giuen to the ayre and winds ( as the heralds of his diuine iustice ) hath made vs apt to receiue the aforesaid inconueniences , which we haue incurred by our iniquities . the method of curing wounds made by gun-shot , and other fiery engines . also by arrowes , and darts , and their accidents . chap. i. the diuision of woundes , according to the diuersitie both of the offended parts , & the bullets whereby they were made . all wounds made by gunshot on the body of man , whether they be simple , or compounded with dilaceration , contusion , distemperature , and tumor , are made some in the noble parts , others in the ignoble parts ; some in the fleshie parts , and others in the neruous and bony parts ; sometimes with ruption and dilaceration of the great vessels , as of the veines and arteries , and sometimes without ruption of them . such kinde of wounds are also sometimes superficiall , but most commonly profound and deepe , yea , euen to the penetrating through the body & members of them that receiue them . another diuersity is taken according to the differences of the bullets : amongest the which , some are great , some in a meane substance , and some are small as haile shot : whereof the matter ( which is ordinarily but of lead ) is somtimes turned into steele , iron , or tin , rarely into siluer , but neuer into gold. according to the which differences , the chirurgian ought to take diuers indications to operate , and according to them to diuersifie the remedies . now we ought not to iudge those great accidents which happen in these wounds to proceede from the combustion of the bullet , nor from the venonosity or other ill quality of the ponder , because of the aforesaide reasons alledged in the precedent discourses , but because of the contusion , dilaceration , and fraction which is made thorough the violence of the bullet in the neruous and bony parts . for when it hapneth that the bullet toucheth onely but the fleshy parts , and in bodies of good temperature , i haue found those woundes heeretofore to bee as little rebellious in their curations , and as easie to handle as those which are made by anie instrument of that kinde ; i meane such which make a round and contused wound , or of such a figure which the shot maketh : and therefore it is most necessary that there bee a greater regard had to the symptomes or accidents of the contusion , dilaceration , fracture of the bones and euill quality of the incompassing aire , then to the combustion which is thought to proceed from the bullet , or venenosity of the powder , because of the reasons a●oresaide . this i thought good to publish to the world to ayde yong and new practitioners in chirurgery , in the same manner & method which i haue my selfe experimented in following the warres , hauing therein continued for the space of forty yeares . wherein i protest i haue followed the counsel of physitians and people of my profession , such as were most renowned and approoued both by their doctrine and long experience : concerning whom i doe assure my selfe , that they do know more then my writinges can containe . and therefore i write not for them , but for the yong prentises in this art , & for such as want better meanes to helpe them in vrgent cases proceeding from these saide wounds , whome neuerthelesse i aduise to take the counsell of the chirurgian , if his owne reason and experience do not guide him in his operations . chap. ii. of the signes of wounds made by gunshot . in the beginning of the curation , you ought first to know whether the wounds was made by gun-shot or no ; which is easie to be seene if the figure of the wound be round and ●uid in colour , and the naturall colour of the part is chaunged , that is to say , yellow , azure , liuid , or blacke . also at the same instant that the patient receyued the blow , if he say that he felt an agrauating pain , as if he had beene strooke with a great stone , or with a club , or as if a great burthen had falne vpon the wounded part . in like manner , if the wound hapned not vppon any great vessell , if there haue issued but little blood from the wounded partes , which happeneth because they are contused , and greatly crushed , and therefore they tumifie presently after the blowe receyued ; insomuch , that sometimes the passage is so stopt , that there can hardly be conueyed in either tent or se●on ; and thereby it cometh to passe , that the flux of blood is suppressed , which otherwise would flow at their orifices . also the patient therein feeleth a great heate , which hapneth because of the impetuositie proceeding both from the violent motion of the bullet , and the veh●ment impulsion of the ayre , with the ruption of the flesh and neruous partes . sometimes also because of the fractured bones , which depresse and pricke the sayde parts ; from whence ensueth fluxion and inflammation . also because of the great contusion which the bullet maketh ; which by no meanes can enter into anie part of our body but by great force , by reason of the round figure thereof , whereby the place becommeth blacke , and the neighboring partes liuid : and from thence there followeth many great accidents ; as paine , fluxion , inflammation , apostume , sspasme , faintings , palsie , gangrena , mortification , and finally dea●h . they oftentimes send forth a sanies virulent , & very f●etide which proceedeth from the great abundance of humors which flow to the wounded part , because of the vehement crushing , contusion , and dilaceration of the parts , and for want of natural heat to comfort and gouerne them . also by reason of the cacochimy of the body , and the neruous partes , as the ioynts : also such wounds are founde for the most part greater then such which are made by the punction of a buckes horne , or the wound made by a stone or any other such like contusions , because that the thing it selfe was round , anb doth therfore require a greater and more violent impetuosity to make it penetrate into the inward parts of the body , wherein it seemeth to equallize the blowes of thunder . chap. iii. the manner how to handle the aforesaide woundes at the first dressing . first , it is conuenient that the chirurgian shold amplifie the wound ( if the part offended doe permit the same ) for these causes : that is , both to giue free ●ssue vnto the sanies , as also to giue ample passage vnto all such straunge bodyes which might haue bene conueyed in with the shot , and to draw them forth ( if any there be ) as any portion of the apparrell , wad , paper , peeces of harnesse , maile , bullets , shot , splinters of bones , dilacerated flesh , and other things that shall bee found therein ; and this to bee done at the first dressing if it be possible . for the accidents of pain and sensibility are not so great in the beginning , as they are afterwards . now for the better extraction of the aforesaid things , you ought to place the patient in the same situation that he was at the time when he was first shot , because that the muscles and other parts being otherwaies situate , may stop and hinder the way ; and for the better finding of the saide bullets , and other things , it is fitting that search bee made with the finger ( if it be possible ) rather then with any instrument , because that the sense of feeling is more certaine then any probe , or other insensible thing . but if the bullet haue pierced farre into the body , there it may be reached with a probe , round in the end thereof , for feare of causing paine : neuerthelesse it hapneth somtimes that the bullet cannot be found by the probe , as it hapned in the campe of parpignan , to my lord the marshall of brissac , who was wounded with a musket shot neere to the right omopl●●e or shoulder-blade , where many chirurgians because they could not finde the saide bullet , affirmed that it was entered into the capacity of the body , but i ●ot hauing that opinion , came to seeke for the bullet , where first without vsing any probe , i caused him to be placed in the same gesture of bodie as he was at that time when he was wounded : then i began wi●h my fingers gently to compresse about the neighbouring parts of the wound ; in doing wh●reof , i found a tumor and hardnesse in ●he flesh , with the sense of paine , and liuiditie of colour in the place where the bullet was , which was betwixt the lower part of the omoplate , and the seuenth and eight vertebre or turning ioynt of the backe . in which place , incision was made to draw forth the shot , whereby he was shortly after cured . wherefore it is very conuenient to search for the bullet not onely with the probe , but ( as i saide before ) with the fingers , by handling and feeling the part and places about the same where you may coniecture the bullet to haue penetrated chap. 4. a description of such instruments which are proper to extract bullets , and other strang● bodyes . as for the strange bodies which may be infixed in the wound , they may bee extracted by such instruments heereafter described , which are different both in figure and greatnesse according as neede shall require ; whereof some are toothed , & others not . and it is fit the chirurgian should haue of many and diuers fashions : some greater , and some s●aller of euery kind to accommodate them to the bodies and wounds , and not the bodies and wounds to his instruments . the crowes bill toothed . a cranes bill brought into the forme of an elbow , cubite , or bowed arme . this following is called the cranes bill , because of the similitude it hath thereunto ; the which in like manner ought to bee toothed ; and it is proper to extract any thing from the bottom of the wound both shot , maile , splinters of fractured bones , & other things . the cranes bill straight . this instrument is called t●e duckes bill , hauing a cauity in the extreamity or end thereof large and round , & toothed , the better to holde the bullet ; and it is proper principally when the b●llet hapneth in the fles●ty parts . the duckes bill . another fashion of draw-bullet . another fashion of draw bullet , called the lizards head to draw the bullet , marked with the same letters as the former . a. sheweth the pipe , or the hollow body of the instrument b. the rod , which opene●h & shutteth the head of the instrument . c. the ioynt . another instrument called the parrats bill , and it is proper to draw foorth any peeces of harnesse which may be inserted into the ●ottome of the member , or also into the bones . a. sheweth the stalke of the vice. b. the scrue . c. the runner , which by the meanes of a vice , is scrued higher or lower . dd the other part which is fixed with a cauitie in the middest thereof , wherein the runner is placed . another instrument which is callled the swans bi●l , which opneth wi●h a vice , accompanyed with a payre of fo●ceps , which heere before wee haue called the cranes bill , and it serueth to drawe foorth any strange body , after that the wound is dilated with the saide swans bill . if the strange bodyes , especially the bullet or shot , be not very deepe , they may be drawne forth by eleuatories . an instrument called the tire-fond . another instrument called the tirefond , the which is turned by a scrue within a pipe or hollow instrument ; a●d it is very conuenient to extract forth the aforesaid bullets when they are penetrated or are infixed in the bones ; for the point thereof is to be serued into the bullet , prouided that it be of lead or tin ( for it cannot enter in●o a harder body ) and by that meanes it may be easily drawne forth . a dilatorie . this instrument is named a dilatory , which may be vsed to open and dilate the wounds , to the end that the strange bodyes may the easier bee found and extracted , for by compressing together the two ends thereof , the other two do open , it may also serue in many places , as the nostrils , fundament ; and other parts . the instruments which follow are needles for the seton , and are very conuenient when as you would passe in a seton to keepe the wound & the way of the bullet open , vntill you haue drawne forth all the straunge bodies which might yet remaine therein ; besides , they may serue to explora●e or search into deepe wounds to find the bullet ▪ not causing any paine , because they are round and pollished towards their extremities . you must vnderstand that those probes which are vsed to serch the bullet ought to be of a mean greatn●sse , pollished and round on their extreamities , because that the edges of the wound , and the way whereby the bullet hath passed , doeth incontinently ioyne together , and touch the one side against the other . in such maner that the sayd wound or way of the bullet , will appeare in sight to be much smaller then it is : and for that cause those probes which are slender and sharp , are nothing so commodious ; for they will stop and stay on euery part of the reioyned wound , and cannot so easily be conducted to the place where the bullet is , as those which are somewhat greater . also those which are small and slender ▪ doe pricke and offend the flesh of the wound whereby the patient is much mollested , and is oftentimes a cause that the bullet cannot be found . also you ought in like manner to haue those which are greater & longer to passe through the thigh when necessity shall require . which length of them ought to be changed and diuersified according to the greatnesse of the wounded member . for i am of this opinion , that one should not striue too much to make them passe alwayes thorough the wounded parts for feare of induring paine and other accidents . for the patient may be cured as well although the seton be not passed thorough , as by experience it hath beene seene , that a bullet hath bene shot through the body , and yet without the passing through of a seton , they haue neuerthelesse bene cured . probes which may serue for setons . chap. v. the manner how to handle those woundes at the first dressing , after that the strange bodyes are extracted . after you haue drawne forth the strange bodies by the aforesaide meanes , the principall intention shall be to combate against the contusion and alteration of the aire , if it be hot & moist , and disposed to putrifaction ; which shall be done both by remedies taken inwardly , as by others applyed outwardly ; and also put or infused within the wound . for those which are to bee taken inwardly ought to be administred by the counsel & ordinance of the learned physitian , to whose doctrine i leaue all that may appertaine both to the manner of liuing , and the purgation of the patient . but as for the topical medicines , the chirurgian ( acc●rding to the things aforesaid ) ought to consider of the constitution of the times , and of the aire . for if there bee no danger of the part to fall into a gangrena , he shall vse suppuratiues , as in contused wounds , which are oleum catellorum or of a digestiue , hauing a regard to the nature of the part , because that the neruous parts doe require medicines more drying , then the fleshye parts do . for in the ioynts and neruous parts , you may vse of the terebinth of venice , or the oyle of waxe , of masticke , the yolkes of egges , adding thereto a little aqua-vitae rectified . such like things haue power to disiccate and consume the watrish humidity which issueth from the neruous parts , and a●so easeth the paine . ionbertus physitian in ordinary to the king , and chancellour of the vniuersity of montpellier , who hath most learnedly written of the woundes made by gunshot , because he hath seene many wounded when he followed the wars , in the treatise which he hath made , he saith ; that in the simple wounds made by shot , there ought not to be vsed any medicine escharoticke , or that causeth an escharre , either actuall or potentiall , because they doe endure paine , inflammation , gangrena , feauer , & other pernicious accidents . also because that the eschar or crust hin●ereth the suppuration which ought presently to bee indured , to separate the contused flesh , together with the sanies , lest that all should degenerate into putrifaction , as easilie it may when the superfluous humour putrifieth long in one place , not hauing free passage ; not so much as for the exhalatiō of the putrified vapors , because that they are enclosed and couered in with the eschar : which being inclosed doe multiply , insomuch that they do require a greater place then is permitted them ; then they passe and enter from the small vessels into the greater ; and from thence into the noble parts , from whence most commonly ensueth d●ath : neuer●helesse , if there bee any suspition of putrifaction , then in such a case you ought to passe from suppuratiues , vnto remedies that do resist putrifaction , leauing the proper care ●o come vnto the accidents . wherefore at the first dressing in the case aforesaide , in the wound may bee vsed this following vnguent . ℞ . puluer . alumin. rochae , vi●idis aeris , vitrioli romani , mellis rosat . an . ℥ ij . aceti boni quantum sufficit , bulliant omnia simul secundum artem , & fiat medicamentum ad formam mellis . the vertues of this vnguent is , that because of the heat & tenuity thereof , it inciseth and attenu●teth the humors , reuoketh the naturall heate which was repelled by the vehement impulsion of the blow , & the violent agitation of the aire conducted by the bullet . mo●eouer it correcteth the putrifaction of the virulent humor , which presently cleaueth vnto , and so disposeth the contused flesh in such manner , that it maketh an escharre . this vnguent when and as often as it shall be needfull may bee applyed with tents or setons , beeing first dissolued with a little wine or aqua-vitae : the which tents ought to be both great and long for the first dressing , thereby to inlarge and dilate the wound that the medicines may therby the better be conveyed in . but afterwards they ought not to be applyed so long or great . also that the medicine may the better be conueyed into the bottome of the wounds , it may bee incited in with a syringe . moreouer the vertue and strength thereof shal be diminished according to the temperature of the body , and sensibility of the hurt . as if the wound be in the neruous parts , it shall be mixed with the oyles of terebinth , or of hypericon , in such quantity as the expert chirurgian shall know to bee needfull . but the egyptiacum is not to bee vsed at all , vnlesse it bee in such times which are pestilentiall and dangerous for those saide wounds , & that they do decline to putrifaction . after the vse of egyptiacum you may separate & make the escharre fall , with remollitiue and lenitiue things , as the following oyle in vsing thereof a litle hotter then luke-warme . ℞ olei violati lb iiij . in quibus coquantur catelli duo nuper nati , vsque ad dissolutionem ossium , addendo vermium terrestrium praeparatorum lb j. coquantur simul lento igne , deinde fiat expressio ad vsum , addendo terebinthinae venetae ℥ iij. aquae vitae ℥ j. the said oyle is of great & meruellous efficacy , both to appease the paine , as also to suppurate the wound , and to make the escharre fall . but for want thereof this which followeth may be applied which is easier to be had . ℞ olei semin . lini , & liliorum an . ℥ iij. vnguent . basilic . ℥ j. liquefiant simul , & fiat medicamentū , de quo vulneri indatur quantum sufficit . i haue knowne that the saide oyles being applied in the beginning of the hurt reasonable warme to appease the paine , to lubrifie , relaxe , and moysten the edges of the wound , disposing it to suppuration , which is the true way to cure those woundes , as galen himselfe reciteth from hippocrates , saying ; that if the flesh bee contused , crushed , or battered with any dart , or in any other manner , that it ought so to be handled that it bee brought to suppuration as soone as may bee : for by this meanes the wound shall bee the lesse mollested with phlegmon ( or inflammation . ) also it is necessary that the contused flesh be putrified , liquefied , and conuerted into pus , that new flesh may afterwards be regenerated . ioubertus doth very much approoue this remedy , which i neuer yet did experiment , and it this . take of the pouder of mercury twice calcined ℥ j fresh hogs greace , or sweete butter , ℥ viij . camphire dissolued in aqua vitae , ʒ ij . mixe them together , adding thereto a little of the oyle of lillies or linseed . experience doeth shew that this remedy is excellent , and reason doth also confirm it . for the powder of mercury accompanyed with vnctious and moistning things , causeth the contused flesh to suppurate easily , & in short time without induring any great paine . as for the camphire , whether it bee hot or cold , it serueth greatly because of the excellent tenuitie of the parts thereof . by reason wherof , euery medicine of what quality soeuer it be , doth penetrate , and disperse the vertues thereof the better . moreouer , the saide camphire doth resist all putrifaction . some do instill into the wound aqua vitae , in the which they dissolue calcined vitrioll ; which medicine is not suppuratiue , but i● resisteth putrifaction ; of the which you may vse in times & seasons that are hot and moyst . another ℞ . olei terebinth . ℥ iij. aqua vitae . ℥ ss miscae . now , if the wound were giuen neere at hand , then of a certaine the wound may bee with burning , by reason of the flaming powder , and shall be applyed medicines proper vnto the combustion thereof , neuerthelesse not leauing the contusion : and as for the parts about the wound , there you shall not apply medicines which are refrigeratiue and astringent , but remollitiues and suppuratiues , for they cānot be vsed at the first dressing , because they do coole and weaken the pa●t , and hinder suppuration . also they do constipate the skin , which is a hinderance to the transpiration of the fuliginous vapors : from whence ensueth gangrena and mortification , thorough the vnfit application of such like medicines . vvhere the contusion shall bee great , there you may make many scarifications , therby to discharge the part of the bruised bones which is subiect to putrifie : but in the neighbouring parts , and about the contusion farre off from the wound , you ought to apply cooling & corroborating medicines to prohibite and hinder the defluxion of humours as is this . ℞ . puluer . boli armenis sanguin . dracon . puluer . myrrh . an ℥ j. succi solan . semperuiui , portulac . an . ℥ j. ss album ouorum iiij . oxyrrh . quantum sufficit , fiat linimen . vt decet . or other such like : whereof it is conuenient you should vse , vntill you are assured of the perfect preuention of the accidents . in like manner , great care ought to be taken in the apt cooling of the member , situating it in a figure proper , and without pain if it be possible at the beginning , vntill that the wounde beginneth to suppurate , you neede not dresse the patient but from 24. houres to 24. houres : and when the suppuration beginneth , and by consequence the paine , feauer , and disquietnesse shall augment , the patient ought then to be dressed euery twelue houres . but when there shal be great quantity of matter which doth molest the patient then it is needfull that he be drest euery 8. houres : & when the pu● beginneth naturally to diminish , the once euery twelue houres shall suffice . finally , when the vlcer beginneth to be filld with flesh and sendeth not forth much matter , then to bee dressed once a day shall be sufficient , as in the beginning . chap. vi. how the saide wounds ought to be handled after the first dressing . at the second dressing , and in the rest following , if there be no danger of putrifaction and gangrena , you may vse one of the aforesaid oiles adding thereunto of the egges , with a little saffron , which shall bee continued vntill the excrement of the wound bee digested and brought to suppuration . heerein it is to be noted , that in wounds made by gunne-shot , it is longer before they bee brought to suppuration then other wounds made by other instruments , because that the bullet and the aire which it thrusteth before it , dissipateth ( by reason of the great contusion thereof ) the naturall heate , and the spirites from the part , which causeth that the concoction is neither so soone , nor so well made , for want of naturall heate , from whence there followeth an exceeding foetide or stinking sauour of the sanies and other accidents very dangerous . neuerthelesse it is for the most part made in three or foure dayes , sometimes also sooner or later according to the temperature of the body , and of the part , & the quality of the aire hot or cold . these thinges done , it shall be needfull to begin to mundify by little and little the wound , by adding to the aforesaide medicine , of terebinth washed in rose water or barly water , or such like , thereby to take away the heate and mordacity thereof . if the disposition of the time be very cold , then you may adde vnto it of aquavitae , according to the counsell of galen , who teacheth that in winter ought to be applied hotter medicines then in sommer . afterwards you may vse of this mundificatiue , ℞ . aquae decoct . hordei quantum sufficit , succi plantaginis , appij , agrimoniae , centauri minoris , an . ℥ j. bulliant omnia simul , in fine decoctionis adde terebinth . venet . ℥ iij. mellis rosati . ℥ ij . far . hord . ʒ iij. croci ℈ j. miseantur omnia simul bene agitando fiat mundificatum mediocris co●sistentiae . another . ℞ . succi clymeni , plantag . absinth , appij , an ℥ . ij . terebinth . venet . ℥ iiij . syrrup . absinth . & mellis ros. an . ℥ ij . bulliant omnia secundum artem , postea colentur , in colatura adde puluer . aloes , mostich , i●e●s , florent . far . hord . an ʒ j fiat mundificat . ad vs●m dictum . or this ; ℞ . terebinth . venet . lotae in aqua ros. ℥ v. olei ros. ℥ j. mellis ros . ℥ iij. myr●h , aloes , mastich , aristo●och . rotundae , an ʒ j ss far . hord . ʒ iij misce , fiat mundificatiuum . the which shall bee applyed in the wound with tents and setons , neyther too long , nor too great ; because that then they may hinder the euacuation of the sanies or matter , & of the vapors eleuated from the wounds ; which if they should be retained , it is most certaine that they will heat the part , and acquire to themselues an acrimony , which afterwards will eate into the edges and other parts of the wound ; from whence insueth dolour , fluxion , inflammation , fluxe of blood , apostume , and putrifaction , which are easily communicated to the noble parts , and cause afterwards many pernitious accidents . and therfore the chirurgian need not to feare any thing at all , of the closing or conglutinating of the aforesaide wounds , because that the flesh being so greatly contused and dilacerated , cannot consolidate vntill the contusion be first suppurated and mundified . and therefore i aduise him not to vse any tents or setons but those that are very small and slender , to the end that they may not hinder the issue of the matter contained , and that the patient may indure them easily , thereby to auoyde the aforesaid accid●nts . the vse of tents and setons is to carry the medicine vnto the bottom of the wounds , and to keepe them open , especially in their orifices , vntill that the strange and vnnaturall things be expelled : but if the wound bee sinuous and deep in such maner that the medicines cannot be conueyed vnto all the offended parts , then you may make iniection with the decoction following . ℞ . aquae hordei lb iiij . agrimon . centauris , minoris , pimpinellae , absinth . plantag . an . m ss . rad. aristoloch . rotun . ʒ ss . fiat decoctio ad lb j. in colatura expressa dissolue aloes hepaticae ʒ iij. mellis rosat . ℥ ij . bulliant modicum . with this there shall be inuection made three or four times together , every time that the patient is dressed . and if this remedy be not sufficient to clense the matter , and to consume the spongy and putrified flesh , you may then mixe with the said decoction of egyptiacum , dissolued in such a quantity as necessity shall require ; as for a pound of the sayd decoction , an ounce of the said vnguent more or lesse , the which is of most great efficacy to correct the spongeous flesh from the bottome of the said wounds : the like also doth the saide egyptiacum , being applyed aboue on the excresence of the spongeous flesh . i haue in like manner experimented the powder of mercury and alom burned , mixed together in equall portions , to haue in that case the like vertue vnto sublimate or arsnick ( but in working it is nothing so painfull ) and it maketh also a very great eschar , whereat sometimes i haue much wondred . some practitioners doe vse oftentimes to leaue a great quantitie of their iniections in the bottome of such sinewous wounds , the which i approoue not . for besi●es the putrifaction and corruption which thereby it get●eth , it holdeth the parts extended , and doeth humid or moysten them : wher●by it commeth to passe , that nature cannot do her duty to regenerate the flesh , considering that for the curation of all vlcers ( that being an vlcer , as saith hippocrates ) the scope or intention ought to be to dissicate them , and not moisten them . many doe erre also in the too frequent vse of setons , in this ; that not applying themselues to reason , they do vse to renew them alwaies , wherby they rub and fret away the tender flesh on the edges of the woun● ; the which rubbing and chafing doth not onely cause pai●e , but also bringeth with it many euill accidents . and therefore i doe very much commend the vse of the hollow tent , which are made either of golde , siluer , or lead , such as are described in the wounds of thorax : i meane to be vsed in such places which haue lapasity sufficient , and where there shal be great quantity of sanies . also it is most needfull that there should bee applyed compresses or boulsters iust vpon the bottome of the sinus , thereby to comprimate those parts which are distant from the orifice , & to expell the sanies . to which end , it is fitting that the boulster be perforated iust vpon the orifice of the sinuous vlcer , and vpon the hollow tents ; & that therein there bee placed a sponge to receiue the sanies : for by this meanes the expulsion , euacuation , and absumption thereof , shall be much better . in rolling , the ligature ought to bee first begun on the bottom of the sinus , with a mean combustion , to the end that the matter bee not retayned within the cauity thereof . the rollers and boulsters proper to this operation , shall bee first moistned in oxycrat , or soure wine , or in any other astringent liquor , to roborate and strengthē the part , and to hinder the defluxion . but great heed ought to be taken , that ther be not too great an astriction made vppon the part , because that thorough the astriction or straight binding , extreame paine may be produced by meanes of the exhalation of the fuliginous excrements which therby are prohibited . also it may cause the member to become atrophied or withered thorough the too long continuation of the said rollers . chap. vii . of the meanes to draw foorth such strange bodyes , which shall yet remaine to be extracted . and where there shall remaine any splinters of bones , which at the beginning were not extracted by the aforesaid instruments : then you ought to apply this medicine , which is of great power to draw them foorth , and all other strange bodies . ℞ . radicis , ireos , florent . panac . & cappar . an . ʒ iij. aristolochiae , rotundae , mannae , thuris , an . ʒ i. in pollinem redecta concorporentur mell . rosar . & terebinth . venetae . ana ℥ ij . another remedy to take away the saide splinters , and corrupted bones . ℞ . resina pini siccae , ℥ iij , pumicis combusti & extincti in vin albo , radic . ireos , aristolochiae , ana ʒ ss thuris ʒ j. squamae aeris ss ij . in pollinem rediganter diligenter , incorporentur cum melle rosato , & fiat medicamentum . besides these remedies which haue in them , & from their nature , such power to attract foorth strange bodies , there are of others which haue the like effect and v●rtue by putrifaction , vt omnia stercor● animalium . also leauen and such like , as galen writeth . chap. viii . of the indications which ought to bee obserued in the saide wounds . the mundification and the extraction of the saide strange bodies being done , it followeth then to aide nature ; both to regenerate flesh , & also to cicatrice it , as wel by things taken inwardly , as by outward medicines hereunto conuenient , and to proceede therein by certaine indications , which are taken first from the essence of the disease , and from the cause thereof . if it bee present although that from the primitiue cau●e ( according to galen in the third of his method ) ●here ought no indication to bee taken , no more then from the time wherein hee meaneth from the absent cause , and from the time past . in like manner indication ought to be taken from the foure vniuersall times of the cureable disease , that is to say , from the beginning , increasing , state , and declination : according to the which times , the remedies ought to be diuersied . another indication is takē from the temperature of the pa●ient , which also changeth the curation . for euery rationall and methodicke chirurgian knoweth well , that other remedies are required in a chollericke body , then in a flegmatick ; and so of the other temperatures both simple and compound . vnder the which indication of the temperature , shall bee comprehended that of the age , which receyueth not all remedies alike , but demaundeth some for the yong persons , and others for the old . moreouer , indication is to bee taken from the custome or manner of liuing of the patient ; as whether hee hath beene accustomed to eate and drink much , and at all houres : for then you ought not to ordaine him such an exquisite dyet as vnto him that is accustomed to eate and drinke but little , and at certaine houres : and therefore the diet of panades are not so proper vnto vs as vnto the italians , because our bodies require more lenitiue things : which effect it woorketh with them , because of custome , which is a second nature . vnder this accustomed manner of liuing , ought to be vnderstood the condition of the life , and the exercise of the patient , forasmuch as you ought to vse stronger remedies vnto the robusticke & men of labour , such as haue their flesh hard , then you ought to vse vpon the delicate , and such which labour but little , and exercise lesse . some there bee that had rather comprehend this indication vnder that of the temperature . for my part i wil not dispute of it , but will leaue the resolution thereof wholly to the doctors . the indication taken from the vertue of the patient , is aboue all other things to be respected , because that it failing or being very weake , all other things ought necessarily to bee best to come vnto it . as when we are inforced through necessity to take off a member , or to make any great incisions , or such like things , if the patient haue not vertue sufficient to indure the paine ; it is necessary to deferre such operations ( if it possible ) vntill that nature be restored , and hath recouered her vertues both by good nourishment and rest . another indication may bee taken from the ayre which doth encompasse vs : vnder the which are comprehended the seasons of the yeere , the region , the place of our abiding , and the constitution of the time . for accordi●g to the heat , coldnesse , drinesse , and moysture of the aire , also according to the continuation of these qual●ties , the medicines ought to be prepared . and therefore ( as sayth guido ) the wounds in the head are more difficult to heale at paris then at auignon ; and the wounds in the legges are more tedious at auignon then in paris ; by reason that in paris the ayre is more cold and moyst then at auignon , which is a contrary thing , especially to all woundes in the head . contrarywise , in auignon , the heate of the incompassing aire doeth melt and subtillize the humors ; whereby such humours more easily and in greater abundance do fall downe into the legs : from whence it commeth that the wounds in the legges are more difficult to cure at auignon then at paris . but if any one doe alledge experience to the contrary , that the woundes in the head , do more often become lethall or mortal in hotte regions then in colde . to him i answer , that that proceedeth not by reason of the aire , inasmuch as it is hot and dry , but because of some superfluous humidity or euill vapour communicated with the aire ; as in those partes of prouence and italy , which are neere to the mediterranean sea . the indication of curation may also bee taken from the temperature of the wounded partes : for the fleshy parts doe require other remedies then the bones or the neruous partes , and so others . the like ought to bee obserued concerning the sensibility of the saide parts , which in like manner altereth the manner of curation : for it is not sitting to apply such sharpe and violent medicines to the nerues and tendons , as to the ligaments and other insensible parts . the dignity and action of the wounded parts hath no lesse priuiledge in the act of curation then the former . for , if the wound be in the braine , or in any other of the vitall or naturall parts , it behooueth that their medicines diuersified and applied according to their dignity and action , because that from the contemplation of these wounds , is oftentimes gathered a certain iudgement of the insuing accidents . for such woundes which doe penetrate into the ventricle of the braine , the heart , or in the great vessels , in the chest , in the neruous part of diaphragma , in the liuer , in the stomack , in the smal guts , and in the bladder , if the wound bee great , they are necessarily mortall . also such which are in the ioynts , or neere thereunto , and in bodies cacochymed or of an ill habitude are oftentimes mortall , as hath beene sayde heere before . in like manner , the indications which are taken from the position and colligance of the affected part ought not to bee forgotten , neither the figure thereof , as galan hath sufficiently explained in the 7. of his method , and in the second to glaucus . chap. ix . how diseases become compounded . moreouer in taking the aforesaid indication , you ought to consider whether there bee a complication of the disease , or not : for , euen as the simple disease proposeth a simple indication , so the complications of the indispositions against nature , do propose mix●d or compounded indications . now the aforesaide complications are made after three manner of wayes that is to say , disease with disease ; as a wound with an apostume or fracture of the bones . disease with cause , as an vlcer with defluxion . disease with symptome , as a wound with paine , or with a fluxe of blood . or all things against nature together , as disease , cause , and symptome . now that you might know how to handle artificially all these complications , you must followe the doctrine of galen , in the 7. of his method , who exhorteth vs to consider the complicated affections , as that which is the most vrgent , the cause ; and that w●thout the which the disease cannot be taken away . and these are things of great import●nce in the curation of all diseases ; & herein the empericke becommeth wauering and vncertaine , without counsell or resolution , not knowing with which of the affections hee ought first to begin withall for the cure . bu● the i●dicious physitian to the contrary is directed by those three golden word● : from the which depend both the order and method in all such complicated dispositions and affections . the symptomes inasmuch as they are symptomes , do not giue any indication at all , neyther do they charge or alter the order of the curation . for in taking away the disease , which is the cause of the symptome , they are remooued , because they depend thereon , as the shadow doth the body : although oftentimes we are constrained to leaue the disease in an irregular care , to come vnto the accidents of the disease ; the which if they are vrgent , doe holde the place of the cause , and not properly of the symptomes . to conclude , all the sayde indications are but to attaine to two endes , that is to say , to restore the part in its naturall temperature , and that the blood offend not neyther in quantity nor quality . that being done ( as saith galen ) nothing will hinder neyther the regeneration of the flesh , nor the vnion of the vlcer . bu● sometimes it is not possible to put the aforesayde indications in execution , either because of the greatnesse of the wound , or the excesse and disobedience of the patient ; or because of some other indisposition which hath happened through the ignorance of the chirurgian , or from the ill or disordered application of the medicines . and therefore by meanes of these things , there followeth great paines , feauers , apostumes , gangrenaes ( vulgarly and abusiuely called estiomenes ) mortifications , and oftentimes death it selfe . moreouer those that receyue wounds by gunshot , do eyther dye , or else remaine maymed and defectiue all their life after . chap. x. how the chirurgian shall proceede in the handling of the saide wounds . in the beginning therefore , great regard ought to bee taken to mittigate the payne as much as may be , by repercussing the defluxion , by ordayning a dyet according to the six vnnatural things , and they annexed , by anoyding all hot and sharp things , and by diminishing or altogether prohibiting wine , lest it should heat , subtillize , & make the humors flow to the part . his maner of liuing , ought in the beginning to be very slender , thereby to make revulsion . for when the stomacke is not filled sufficiently , it attracteth from all partes vnto it : by meanes whereof , the externe parts hauing affinity therewith , do remaine empty . and this is the reason wherefore the patient ought to keepe a slender dyet in the first dayes of his hurt . venus is altogether contrary vnto them , inasmuch as it enflameth the humors and spirits more then any other motion : and for this cause it maketh the wound to bee much enflamed and subiect to defluxion . and it wil not be amisse in the beginning if there be a sluxe of bloode , to let it moderately flow , thereby to discharge the body and the part : and where it hath not sufficiently flowed , you ought the day following to vse revulsiue phlebotomy , and to take away according to the fulnesse and vertue of the patient . you neede not feare of making of auersion of the blood toward the noble part● . for ( as we haue saide ) there is no venomous quality th●rein ; neuerthelesse it is generally ●bserued , that such wounds at that i●stant doe send forth b●t little bloode , because of the great con●usion made by the bul●et and t●e vehemence of the agitated aire , which doth repulse and driue back the spirits into the inw●rd parts , and into the circumiacent parts of the wound , as we haue sayd before . this is ordinarily knowne in those who haue had a member carried away with a great shot : for at the instant of their hurts , there issue●h but little blood forth of their wounds , although that there be many great veines and arteries broken & dilacerated . but a certaine time afterwards , as in the fourth , fift , or sixt day , and sometimes later , the blood will yssue foorth in great abundance : by meanes of the returning of the spirits , and natural heate into the affected pa●ts . as for the purgatiue medicines . i leaue them to the doctors . neuerthelesse in their absenc● , it is necessarie to relaxe and moue the belly of the patient at the least once a day , either by a●t or by nature , which shal be done r●ther by custers then purgations , especially in the fi●st dayes , because that the agitation of the humors in that case is to be suspected , least they shold ma●e a greater defluxion to the wounded part . n●uerthelesse galen in the fourth booke of his method . cap 6. speaking of the indications of bleeding and purging , where he saith ; that bleeding and purging are necessary , according to the greatnesse of the disease , althogh that the pati●nt be without repletion or cacochymy , or euill constitution . paine ought to be appeased , according to the intention and remission thereof , which to do if it happen that there is an inflammati●n , you may apply thereto as a locall medicine vnguentum nutritum , composed with the i●yce of plantane , housleeke , and night-shade , and such like . also the emplaister diachalciteos describ●d by galen in his first booke of the composition of medicines according to their kinds , chap. 6. dissolued vvith the oyle of poppy , of roses , and a little vinegar , and it is of no little efficacy for that purpose . also vng . de bolo , and many others of that facultie , if they be not properly anodins ( for all anodins are hot in the first degree , or at the least agreeing in heate with our bodies , as saieth galen in his first booke and 19. chap. of simples ) ●nd the aforesaid medicines are cold , yet not so much as that thereby they should become naucotick , the which are cold in the fourth degree . but to bee short , the aboue-mentioned in the aforesaid case , do appease the paine very comm●diously , because they are contrary vnto hot dist●mperatures , and doe prohibit the defluxions of humors , which oftentimes are sharpe and chollericke , which are more apte to flow then the cold , and do cause a greater pain . after the vsage of repercussiues , i do meruellously approue this cataplasme . ℞ . micae panis infusae in lacte vaccino lb j. ss . bulliant parum addendo olei violacei & ros● . an . ℥ iij vitellos ouorum numer quatuor . pul . rosar . rubr . florum chamemel . & melior an . ℥ ij . far . fabar . & hord . ana ℥ j. misce , & fiat cataplasma secundum artem . or for a medicine sooner prepared , thou must take of the crummes of bread , and so let it be a little boyled with oxycrat , and the oyle of roses . as concerning the curation of such apostumes which happen in these woun●es , it is expedient that their medicines should bee diuersied according to their times . for some medicines are proper in the beginning , others in the augmentation , and others in other times ; as hath beene sufficiently declared by galen in his thirde booke and ninth chapter of the faculty of medicines . and by guido in the curation of apostumes ; and by those that haue written thereof . and where nature shall incline to suppuration , it is most needful to attend her , as sayth hippocrates : for the physitian and chirurgean , are but the ministers and helpers of nature , to ayde her in those thinges whereunto commodiously she enclineth . chap. xi . of such bu●lets which haue remained in certain parts a long time after the curation of the wounds . sometimes the bullets of lead haue remayned a long time within the members , as for the space of seuen or eight yeeres and more , there following neuerthelesse not any euill accident , nor hinderance of the consolidation of the wound : & they haue continued there so long , till they haue bene thrust forth by the expulsiue vertue , discending downe by meanes of their grauity and heauinesse into the inferiour parts , in the which they will manifest themselues , and then ought to bee drawne forth by the operation of the chirurgean . now this continuation of them so long in the body , without any corruption or euill accident ( in my opinion ) doth proceede from no other thing but from the matter of the lead , whereof the sayd bullets were composed . for so it is , that lead hath a certain familiarity and agreement with nature , especially of the fleshy parts : euen as we see by ordinary experience , which teacheth vs , that lead being outwardly applyed , hath the vertue to close and cicatrise old vlcers : but if the bullet were of stone , of iron , or of any other mettal , it is a most assured thing , that they cou●d not abide long in the body , because that the iron bullet would rust , and thereby corrode the part where it lyeth ; from whence would ensue many pernitious accidents . but if the bullet be in the neruous or noble parts , although it were but of lead , it could not continue there long , wi●hout bringing with it manie great inconueniences : therefore when it cometh to passe that it remaineth a lo●g ti●e in the body , it is in the fle●●y parts , and in bodyes of good temperature and habitude , otherwise it cannot st●y there , without inducing pain and many other accidents , as hath b●ne sayd . chap. xii . of the great contusions and d●●acerations made by the bull●ts of great shot . moreouer if the bullet of a great peece of ordinance do strike against any member ▪ it ( for the most part ) doeth ei●her carry it away , or else breake and batter it in such a fashion , through the great veheme●cy there●f , that it shiuereth and breaketh the bones , not onely of those which it toucheth , but also of those that are farther off , because that the bonebeing hard doth in some sort make a li●tle resistance , by which meanes the bullet hath the greater force against it . that this is true , wee see ordinarily that ●he saide ordinance hath much more action & effect against a strong wall , then against a rampire of earth , or a woolsacke , and other soft things , as we haue said here before . therefore , it is no meruaile if after such wounds made by gun-shot , there follow dolor , inflammation , feauer , spasme , apostume , gangrena , mortification , and oftentimes death . for those great contusions of the neruous parts , the breakings or vehement concussions of the bones made by the saide bullets , do cause greeuous accidents , and not the combust●on and venenositie of the powder , as many doe thinke , not considering the matter of the sayd ●owder : the which ( as i haue said ) it is not venomous ; for if the wounde bee made in a fle●●y part , without touching the neruous parts , it onely requirech such remedies for their curati●n , a● a●l other contused wo●ndes do , without they degenerate ( as i haue saide here before ) into an euill quality , through the corruption of the ai●e ; the which cause● ( not many yeeres since ) the wounds that were then receiued to bee much altered and corrupted , with a great putrifaction in the fleshy and bony partes . from the which ( as i saide before ) were eleuated many vapors into the braine , the heart , and the liuer : from whence proceeded many euill accidents , & death to the most part . chap. xiii . of the meanes which ought to bee obserued to rectifie the ayre , to r●borate the noble parts , and to fortifie the whole body . and therefore the chirurgian ought to haue a great care to administer all thinges which haue power to rectifie the aire , and to roborate and strengthen the noble parts : also to fortify the whole body , which shall be done by the ensuing things ; which are to be administred both inwardly and outwardly . for the patient shall take inwardly in the morning , three houres before hee ●ate any thing , of the tabul . diarrhodon abatis , or de aroi● . ros . de triasant . diamoschi , de laetificans gal●nt , and other of the like vertue . outwardly shall be vsed epithemes vppon the region of the heart and liuer , a little more then luke-warme , applied with a peece of scarlet , or sponge , felt , or a fine linnen cloth . this following may serue for a form vnto euery chirurgian . ℞ . aquae rosarum ℥ iiij . aquae buglo . aceti boni , an . ℥ ij . coriand . praeparat . ʒ iiij . garyophyllor , corticum citri , an . ʒ j. santali rub . ʒ ss . corall , vtriusque ʒ j. camph. ℈ j. croci ℈ ss pul . diarrho . abbatis ʒ ij . theria . & mithridat . an . ℥ ss . pulu . florum camomillae , melilio ana ℥ j. misce & fiat epithema . moreouer , you ought to giue the patient odorifferous and refrigerant things to smell to often , to roborate the animall faculty , as this which followeth . r aqua rosaceae , aceti boni , ana ℥ iij. garyophyl . nucis mosca . cinamoni conquatassorum , therica galeni ana ʒ j. and therein let a handkercher or sponge bee dipped , which the patient shall aiwayes hold to his nose . he may vse also an aromaticke apple or pomander for the same intention , as is this . ℞ . rosar . rubrar . violar . ana ʒ iij. baccarum myrrhi & iuniperi , santali rubr . ana ʒ ij ss . benioin ʒ i. camph. ℈ ij . fiat puluis . postea ℞ olei ros. & nenuph. ana ℥ ss styracis calamitae , ʒ ij . aquae rosarum quantum satis est , liquefiant simul cum cera alba quantum suffic . fiat ceratum ad comprehendendos supra dictos pulueres cum pistillo calido , & fiat pomum . another . ℞ radic . ireos florent . maioranae , calami ariomatici , ladani , ben●oin , rad . cyp . garyoph . ana ℥ ij . mosci g. iiij . fiat puluis , et cum gummi tragachan . quantum sufficit , fiat pomum . another . ℞ ladani puri ℥ ij . benioin ℥ ss . styrac . calam ʒ vi . ireos florentiae ℥ ss garyophil . ʒ iij maiora , rosarum rubrarum calami aromat ana ʒ ss . puluerisentur omnia , et bulliant cum aqua rosarum quantum sufficit , et colentur , et colata liquefiant cum cer . alb . quantū sufficit , styracis liquidae , ℥ j. fiat ad modum cerati , comprehendantur per pistillum , addendo moschi ʒ j. fiat pomum . in like manner you may apply of your frontals to roborate the animall faculty , to prouoke sleepe , and to mitigate and ease the paine of the head , as this following . ℞ aqua rosaceae ℥ ij . olei rosar . et papaueris , ana ℥ j ss . aceti boni , trochiscorum de camphora ʒ ss . fiat frontale . the way to apply it is thus . take a linnen cloth , and folde it vp fiue or six times double ; that done , dip it in the aforesaid commixtion , and so apply it on the temples a little warme , which being dry ought to bee renewed againe . herein note , that in this case the head ought not to be bound hard , lest that therby the free pulsation of the arteries of the temples be hindred , whereby the paine of the head might bee augmentrd . there are many other exteriour remedies whereby the aire might be corrected ; as to make a good fire in the chamber of the patient with the wood of iuniper , of bayes , vine bra●ches rosemary , of floure de luce roots : also by things sprinkled in the chamber , as water and vinegar ; if the patient be rich , damaske water heerein is very proper . or this which followeth ; ℞ maiorauae , menthae , radicis cyperi , calami aromatici , saluiae , lauandule , foeniculi , thymi , stoechados , florum camo . melil . satureiae , baccarum lauri et iuniperi an . m. iij. pulu . garyoph . et nucis moscatae an . ℥ j. aquae ros . et vitae lb ij . vini albi boni et odoriferi lb x. bulliant omnia in balneo mariae ad vsum dictum . moreouer perfumes may be made to perfume the saide chamber , as these following . ℞ carbonis salicis ℥ viii-labdani puri ℥ ii . thuris masculi , lini et baccarum iuniperi ana ℥ j. xylaloes , benioin , styracis calamitae an . ℥ ss . nucis moscatae , santali lutei ana ʒ iij. garyoph . styracis liquidae ana ʒ ij . zedoariae , calami aromatici ana ʒ i gummi tragach . aqua rosac . soluti , quod sit satis : fiant auiculae cyprinae , seu suffitis , qua forma libebit . as for the putrifaction and corruption of the bones , wee will speake thereof hereafter more amplie . chap. xiiii . memorable histories . oftentimes the aforesaide wounds are accompanied with many indispositions , as oedemateus tumors , fracture of the bones , and the like , as ( for the yong chirurgians sake ) i will relate this historie for an example , of the hurt of the earle of mansfelt , gouernour of the dutchy of luxembourg , knight of the order of the king of spaine , who was hurt at the battell of moncontour , with a pistoll shot vpon the ioynt of his right arme or elbow , which fractured the bones ; whereof there were many that were fractured in such small peeces as if they had bene broken with a mallet , because he receiued the blow so neere at hand , and through the violence and force of the blow , there hapned vnto him many accidents ; as extreme dolors , inflammation , feauer , an oedemateous tumor ; a flateous or windy tumor all the arm ouer , yea euen to the ends of the fingers , together with a preparation vnto a gangrena . which to preuent , and also the totall mortification therof , m. nicholas lambert , and m. richard hubert , chirurgeons in ordinary to the king , had made many and deepe scarifications . now by the commandement of the king , i was sent for to come vnto the aforesaide patient to dresse him : where being arriued , seeing the aforesaide accidents to be accompanied with a most faetide putrifaction , we were resolued to apply on the saide scarifyed parts , of aegyptiacum fortified and dissolued in vineger and aqua-vitae and such remedieswhich are proper for the cure of gangrenaes . ouer and besides these accidents , the saide lord had a flux of the belly , by the which he expelled of the fanie quitture which came from the vlcers of his arme . this many will not beleeue , forasmuch ( as they say ) that if it should descend by the belly , it followeth of necessitie that the saide matter should be mixed with the blood . also that in passing neere vnto the heart , and through the liuer , it woulde cause many accidents , yea death it selfe . neuerthelesse i doubt not but that i haue sufficiently answered all these obiections , how and in what manner it is done in my booke of the suppression of the vrine ; wherefore , if any desire to know the reason thereof , he may haue recourse to the saide booke . in like manner , the said lord fel of●entimes into a syncope , by reason of the putrified vapours which ascended vp from the vlcers , which vapors by the nerues , veines , and arteries , were communicated to the stomack , and other noble parts . for which cause i gaue him sometimes a spoonefull of aqua vitae to drinke , wherein i dissolued a little treacle . mounsieur bellanger , physitian in ordinary to the king , and mounsieur le bon physitian to my lord the cardinall of guize , men of vnderstanding , and expert in physicke and chirurgerie , imployed all their skill ( as much as was possible ) to resist his feauer , and other accidents which hapned to him . as for the oedemateous and flatulent tumor which wholy occupied al the arme , i applied thereon staples wet in oxycrat , with salt , and a little aqua-vitae , and other remedies , which shortly shall bee shewed . then with double clothes i ●ewed them vp as strong & hansomly as i could possible , that is to say , as much as the said lord could indure it . this compression serueth both to containe the fractured bones in their places , and also to expell the sanies from the vlcers , and to repel the humors towardes the center of the bodie . and when the binding and rolling of his arme was omitted , the tumour did increase in such manner , that i verie much feared the natural heate of his arme would be suffocated and extinguished . now for to make anie other manner of ligature it was altogether impossible , because of the extreame paine that hee felt , if his arme had bene remoued neuer so little . there hapned vnto him also many apostumes about the ioynt of his elbow , and in other partes of his arme : wherefore to giue issue to the sanies , i made him manie incisions ; all which the saide lorde indured willingly , telling me that if two would not serue , make three , yea foure ; such was the desire that he had to be out of his paine , and to be cured . then ( smiling to my selfe ) i told him that he deserued to be hurt , and not these tender and delicate persons , who wil rather suffer themselues to rot , yea to indure the paines of death , then to indure anie necessary incision to be made for the restoring of their healths . now , to shorten his cure , he vsed of a vulnarie potion , and somtimes there was incerted with a syringe into his vlcers of aegyptiacum dissolued in wine , or else in the saide potion , or rather mel rosarum insteed of the egyptiacum to mundifie them , and to correct their putrifaction ; and other remedies which would be too tedious here to recite : and among others , of the powder of alome combusted , to dry vp and consume the high and spongeous flesh . also for the mundification of the said vlcers , i vsed a long time nothing but dry lint , which was as much in quantity euerie dressing , as a mans fist . and on a day , seeing that he was without paine , and that the flesh began to regenerate , i told him that now he began to bee wel : then he saide to me laughing , i know it very wel , for now i see you doe not vse the fourth part of the lint you did before . in the time of his curation , i protest that i tooke from him more then threescore peeces of bones . of the which , some were as great as my finger broken in a verie strange figure , yet notwithstanding the said lord ( thankes be to god ) was perfectly cured : onely it remaineth that he cannot , nor neuer will , bow or stretch forth his arme . mounsier de bassompierre , collonel of two hundred horse , the day of the aforesaide battaile , was hurt with such another shot , and had a great part of the aforesaid accidents : whom also i drest vntill his perfect curation , which ( thankes bee to god ) he attained . true it is , that hee continueth impotent as the other lord is . after that i had cured the aforesaid lords , the earle of mansfelt , and bassompierre , i was commanded by the king to imploy all my diligence in the curation of charles phillippes de croy , lord of hauret , brother to my lord the duke of ascot , nere to mons in haynault , who had alreadie kept his bed seauen months and more , by reason of a wound that he receiued by a musket-shot , three fingers aboue the knee , whom i found with these accidents following ; namely , extreame paynes , a continuall feauer , cold sweatings , losse of sleep , that part situate vpon os cauda , vlcerate in compasse as much as the palme of my hand ( because he had lyen so long time on his backe ) hee tooke not any rest day nor night , with losse of appetite of meate , but dranke inough . hee was somtimes surprized in his bed with the fits of the epilepsie , & had oftentimes a desire to vomit , with a continuall shaking , insomuch that he could not bring his hand to his mouth without the helpe of another ; he fel oftentimes into a syncope or fainting of the heart , because of the putrified vapors that were communicated to the stomacke and the noble parts , by the veines , arteries , and nerues : the which we eleuated from his vlcers , and from the corruption of the bones . for the thigh-bone was fractured and shiuered both long wise and ouerthwart , with diuers splinters ; whereofsome were already separated , others not . hee also had an hollow vlcer neere vnto the groine , which ended about the middle of the thigh . moreouer hee had other sinuous and caniculous vlcers about the knee . all the muscles both of the thigh and legge were extremely tumified and imbued with a flegmaticke , cold , moyst , and flatulent humor , in such sort , that the natural heate was verie neere suffocated and extinguished . seeing al these accidents , and the strength and vertue of the patient greatly decayed and abated , i was stroke with an exceeding sorrow , because that i was sent vnto him , and seeing little hope of recouery , for i feared greatly that he would die vnder my hands . neuerthelesse , considering his youth , i had some small hope , for god and nature bringeth sometimes such things to passe , which seemeth vnpossible to the chirurgian . i then demanded of the saide lord , if hee had a good courage : and told him likewise , that if hee would indure the making of certaine incisions , the which for his curation were very necessary , by that meanes his paines and his other accidents would cease . he answered , that he would willingly indure whatsoeuer i thought conuenient , yea , to the amputation of his legge , if i thought it necessary . then i was verie ioyful , and presently after i made two orifices to giue issue to the matter that lay about the bone , and in the substance of the muscles , wherby there yssued forth a great quantity . afterwards , iniection was made with wine , and a little aqua-vitae , wherein there was dissolued a good quantity of egyptiacum , to correct the putrifaction , and to dissicate the loose & spongeous flesh , and to resolue and consume the ordemateous and flatulent tumor , and to ease his paines , to refocillate and fortifie the natural heat which was greatly prepared to be altogether suffocated , because the parts could not concoct nor assimilate the nourishment necessary for them , by reason of the great quantity of matter therein contained . his chirurg●an , named m. anthony maucler , an honest man , of great experience in chirurgery , dwelling at mons in haynault , and my selfe , we concluded to make him fomentations , with the decoctions of sage , rosemarie , time , lauander , camomile flowers , melilot , and red roses boyled in white wine : and so a lexiue made with the ashes of oake , a little portion of vinegar , and an handfull of salt . this decoction so made , hath vertue and power to subtilize , attenuate , incise , resolue and to dissicate the colde , grosse , and ●legmaticke humor , and to roborate the wounded parts . the said fomentations were vsed a long time together , to the end that the resolution may thereby be made the greater . for being applyed long together , it resolued more , by liquifying of the humour which was in the profound partes : whereas otherwise it would haue but rarifyed the skin , or the fleshy parts of the muscles . and for this intention we made him many frications with hot kerchiefes in all manners , that is , from the higher parts downewards , and from the left side to the right : also circular wise , and this a long space together . for the breefe frications , i meane those that are made in short time , maketh attraction , but resolueth nothing at all . in like manner euery other day , there was applied all about his thigh and legges , euen to the sole of his foot , of brickes heated and sprinkled with vineger and white wine , with a little portion of aqua vitae ; and through this euaporation , you shoulde perceiue many aquosities to proceed foorth of the pores of the skin by sweating , whereby the tumor diminished , and the naturall heate was reuoked . also there was applyed compresses or boulsters on the tumified parts , dipped and infused in a levine made of the ashes of oake ; with the which , was boyled sage , rosemary , lauander , salte , aqua vitae and cloues ; and ligature was made with such dexterity as the patient could well endure it : and to so good purpose , that if it had bin but one day omitted , wee might easily perceiue the tumor . also there was applyed good big bolsters on the bottome of the sinus of the vlcers , to depresse and expell away the sanies . and sometimes for the better accomplishing thereof , the orifices of the vlcers were kept o●en with hollow tents . somtimes also to resolue the tumor , there was applyed a cataplasine thereon made thus : ℞ . far. hord . fabar . orobi an . ℥ vj. mellis com . terebinth . an . ℥ ij . pul . flor . camomel . mellioliti , rosar . rubrar . an . ℥ ss . pul . radic . ireos , florent . cyperi mast. an . ʒ ij . oxymellis simplic , quantum sufficiat fiat cataplas . ad formam pultis satis liquidiae . in like manner , wee made vse of the emplaisters of vigo sine mercurio , which helped greatly to ease his paines , and to resolue the saide tumor . neuerthelesse it was not applyed vntil the parts were first heated , by the meanes of fomentations , frications , and euaporations , or otherwise that emplaster could neuer haue wrought that effect thorough the cold distemperature of the parts . now for the mundification of the vlcers there was applyed remedies proper thereunto , chaunging and alteting them according as wee found occasion . also the catagmaticke powders to separate the bones , and to correct their putrifaction were not spared him : hee vsed also for the space of fifteene dayes of vulnary potion . i may not here omit to speake of the frications which hee suffered euery morning vniuersally ouer the whole body , which was greatly extenuated and weakned both by reason of his dolors , & other accidents ( as we haue saide ) and also for the want of exercise . the said frications did reuoke and attract the spirits and the blood , and resolued such fuligenous humors which were detained betweene the skin and the flesh . and therefore the parts were afterwardes better nourished and refreshed ; so that so soone as his paines beganne to passe away , as also the feauer , he began to sleepe well , and to haue a good appetite , and therefore we caused him to vse good meates , and to drinke good wine and good be●r● ; & we brake our fasts together , hee and my selfe euery morning , with good nourishing br●thes : and by this meanes he became fat and lasly , and perfectly cured . onely it remaineth that he cannot wel bend his knee . now the reasons that mooued mee to recite these histories , is onely to instruct the yong chirurgian to the practise thereof , and not that anie glory of praise might be attributed to me : but to restore them to god , knowing that all goodnesse proceedeth from him as from an euerlasting fountaine , and nothing of our selues . and therfore we ought to giue thankes vnto him for all our good workes ; humbly beseeching him to continue and augment them more and more in vs , through his infinite goodnesse . chap. xv. an apologie touching wounds made by gun-shot . there hapned into my hands not many dayes past , a certaine book written by a physitian ; wherin he very openly contradicteth that which i haue written heretofore , as concerning wounds made by gunshot and their curations . i protest that if there were no other cause , or that there were no other interest heerein then the contemning of me and my book , i would let these things alone , and passe them away vnder silence ; knowing well , that all answers and replies whereby we striue to stop the mouths of euill speakers , do oftentimes rather giue them a further occasion of speaking then otherwise ; and that there is no better way to stay such controuersies , then by not answering one word . euen as we see that the fire is extinguished when the combustible matter ceaseth , by taking away the wood . but when i did consider the euident danger that many wold fall into , if they came to follow those rules and instructions that the saide physitian setteth downe for the cure of the saide wounds , i therefore thought it my duty to preuent this euill , and to hinder it as much as lieth in mee , in regard of my profession . the which beyond that common affection which all men owe to the publike weale , doeth binde me particularly to this , in such manner , that i could not with a good conscience become deaf and dumbe , when both my particular and generall duties , do binde and constraineime to speake . this therefore was the true cause that did solicite me to make this apologie , rather then any passionate or boyling desire in me , to haue my reuēge of him who hath truly assaulted me . now in this booke , he pretendeth to despise & contemne the application of suppuratiue medicines , as bassilicon , and others of that nature . also of those that are sharpe , as egyptiacum , and such like . for ( saith he ) such remedies haue beene the cause of the deathes of an infinite number of men , whereunto they haue beene applyed ; yea , although that their wounds were but superficiall , and in fleshy parts . and that heerein the counsell of hippocrates ought not to be followed , who saieth , that all contused wounds ought to be broght to suppuration , because ( sayth he ) this is a new disease , and vnknowne to the ancients , and therefore it requireth new remedies . also that thunder and the violent effect thereof , ought not to bee compared to the reports of artillery . now seeing that he striueth to contradict all that i haue written before in my book of wounds made by gunne-shot , arrowes ▪ and dartes , i am constrained for my defence , to repeate somewhat of that which i haue heeretofore divulged , to reproue all these points ( as i hope ) one after another . first of all , that suppuratiue medicines are not proper in such wounds , it is against reason , authority , and experience : for euery one knoweth that the bullet being round and massiue , cannot make any entrance into our bodies , without great contusion and bruising ; the which cannot bee cured without suppuration , according to the authority not onely of hippocrates , but also of galen , and all other authors both ancient and moderne . and what doth it serue him to call such new woundes , to derogate from the saying of hippocrates whom we hold to be the father , author , and founder of the lawes of sacred medicine , which are worthy of all esteeme and praise aboue all others , because they are not subiect to change , as all others that are established by kings and princes , neyther are they tied to the prescription of times , nor the customes of regions . therfore if i haue herein followed the hippocratick doctrine , which is alwayes found true and st●ble , i perswade my self to haue done well . and therein i haue not bene in that conceit alone ; for mounsieur botall , physitian in ordinary to the king , and mounsieur ioubert physitian to the king also , and his lecturer in ordinary in the vniuersity of mont-pellier , men well experimented both in physicke and chirurgery , haue lately written of this matter . commending , and commanding the application of bassi●ic●n & other suppuratiues in the beginning of such wounds . these men , because they haue followed the warres , haue seene more wounded by shot , then our physitian hath done all his life time . as for experience , there is an infinite number of other good chirurgians , and greatly experimented , who haue and do vse of these remedies in the beginning , to bring those wounds to suppuration , if there be no indication that doth contradict it . i know moreouer that an empericall chirurgean , a neighbour of his called doublet , hath many and sundry times done meruailous cures , by applying onely in those woundes a suppuratiue medicine , composed of melted bacon , the yolke of an egge , terebinthinae , with a little saffron , and this he held for a great secret . there was also another at thurin in the yeere 1538. ( i being then in the seruice of the late marshall of monte-ian , lieutenant generall of the king at piedmont ) who had the report aboue all the chirurgeans in those partes , for his excellent cur●ng of those woundes with oleu● catellorum ; the description whereof , i procured of him thorough my earnest intreaty . this oyle is of power to lenisie and appease the paine , and to suppurate those woundes beeing applied a little more then luke-warme , and not boyling hote , as manie will. this an infinite number of chirurgeans haue vsed , after that i had described it in my booke of wounds made by gun-shot with good and happy successe . as for that which he writeth against the vnguent egyptiacum , certainely i beleeue that he abideth in that opinion and heresie alone , because there hath not bin yet discouered a more singular remedie to correct and preuent the putrifaction which happeneth most commonly in those wounds , the which doe degenerate oftentimes into virulent , corrosiue , ambulatiue , and malignant vlcers , casting forth a stinking sanies , whereby the part salleth into a gangrena , vnlesse it be preuented by egyptiacum , and other sharpe medicines . and for this cause they haue bene very much approued by the saide botal and ioubert , and of all good chirurgeans ; yet neuertheles our physitian maintaineth that they are venomous , because ( saith he ) that being applyed in woundes by gunne shot , they haue beene the cause of the death of many persons ; which is a thing so absurd and against reason , that i will leaue the resolution thereof to the towne-barbers , who i am sure are of skill sufficient to confute the grossenes of that imputation ; or if their want of iudgement be such that they cannot , yet the consideration of euerie one of the ingredients of the sayde aegyptiacum would suffice to shew , that it is so free from anie venomous quality , that it doth resist , & is directly contrary to all sorts of poisons and putrifactions which may happen in the fleshy partes , by reason of any wound or vlcer . he saith moreouer , that the disposition of the aire cānot be the cause to infect or restore wounds more daungerous at one time then at another . herein also he is of this opinion alone . but if hee had well read and vnderstood hippocrates , he had not so lightly contemned the constitution of the seasons , and the infection proceeding from the aire not simple and elementary ( for being simple , it neuer acquireth any putrifaction ) but by addition and commixtionwith other corrupted vapors , as i haue written in my treatise of the pestilence : for inasmuch as the aire that doth incompasse & inclose vs , is perpetually necessary vnto our liues ; it followeth therefore , that according to the indisposition thereof , our bodies also altered in manie and sundry manners , because we do draw it continually by meanes of the lungs and other partes , seruing vnto respiration ; and also by the pores & euery little inuisible hole throughout the bodye , and by the arteries dispersed in the skinne . and this is done both for the generation of the spirite of life , and also to refresh and foment our naturall heate . for this cause , if it be immoderately hotte , cold , moist , or dry , or otherwise distempered , it altereth and changeth the temperature of our bodies vnto its owne quality . this is cleerely seene : for when it is infected by the putrified and cadaueruous vapors produced from a great multitude of dead bodies that haue not bene buried soone enough ; as of men , of ho●ses , and other beasts . as it happeneth after any battell , or when many men haue perished by shipwracke , and haue bene cast ashore through the violence of the waues . as for example , the memory is yet f●esh , of the corruption of the aire which proceeded from deade bodies at the castle of pene , situate vpon the riuer of lot , in which place , in the yeare 1562. in the moneth of september , whiles the first troubles hapned about religion , there was a great number of dead bodies fell into a pit of an hundred fathome deepe , or thereabouts : from whence , two moneths after , there was eleuated such a stinking and venomous vapor , which dispersed it selfe ouer all the countries of agenois , and the neighbouring places within the compasse of thirty miles round , that thereby many were infected with the pestilence , whereof we need not wonder ; for the wind blowing ▪ and driuing the exhalations and corrupted vapors from one countrey to another , doeth infect them with the saide pestilence . in like manner , the euill constitution of the aire , whether the cause be manifest or hidden , may make wounds to become putrified , alter the spirits and the humors , and cause death . this therefore ought not to be attributed vnto the woundes , because that they which are hurt , and those that are not , are both equally infected , and fall into the same inconueniences . mounsi●●r d' alechamps in his french chirurgery spea●●ng o● these thinges which hinder the c●●●t●on of vlcers , hath not omitted , that when either the pes●●lence , or any epidemicall disease reigneth in any proui●ce through the corruption of the aire , it ma●●th vlcers become incureable , or of most ●●fficult curation . the good old man guido , in his treatise of vlcers hath also writ , ●hat the wounds of the heade were more h●r●er to cure at paris then at auignō , and that the vlcers of the legges were more difficult at auignon then at paris , forsomuch as at paris the aire is cold and moist , which is a contrarie thing , especially to wounds in the head . likewise in auignon , the heare of the aire doe liquefie and subtilize the humors : and therefore , more easilie and in greater abundance do the humors fall into the legges , whereby the curation of the vlcers in those partes , is more difficult at auignon then at paris . but if any one alledging experience shall say the contrary , that the wounds in the head are for the most part mortall in hot countreyes : to him i answere , that that proceedeth not from the aire , as it is more hot and dry , but rather because of some superfluous humidity and euil vapor communicated with the aire , as in the places about prouence , and of italy neere vnto the mediterrenean sea . now , there is not a chirurgean of so little vnderstanding , that knoweth not but if the aire be hot and moyst , the wounds doe easily degenerate into a gangrena and putrifaction . as for experience , i wil giue him a familiar example . wee see that in hot and moyst weather , and when the southerly winds blow , that flesh doth putrifie in lesse then two houres , though it were neuer so lately killed , in such fort that butchers in those times do kill no meate but euen as they sell it . also there is no doubt to be made but that humane bodies doe fall into affections against nature , when the qualities of the seasons are peruerted through the euil disposition of the aire : as hath bene seene , that in some yeres , wounded persons haue bin most hard to cure , and oftentimes dyed of very smal wounds , what diligence soeuer the physitians and chirurgians could vse . the which i noted well at the siedge which was planted before roan : for the corruption of the aire did alter and corrupt the blood and humors in such sort , by the meanes of inspiration and transpiration , that the wounds became so putrid and faetide , that they sent forth a cadauerueous smell : and if it hapned that one day had bene omitted wherein they had not beene drest , you shall finde the next day a great companie of wormes in them , with a meruellous stench ; from whence were eleuated many putrified vapours , which by their communication with the hart caused a continual f●uer , with the liuer hinderance of the generation of good bloode , and with the braine they produce alienation of the spirits , fainting , convulsion , vomitings , and by consequence death : and when their bodies were opened , you should finde apostumes in many partes of theyr bodies full of a greene stinking sanies , in such sort that those that were within the town seeing these things , that their wounded persons coulde not be cured , saide that those without had poisoned their bullets : and they without saide the like of those within : and then perceyuing that those wounds did rather turne to putrifaction then vnto any good suppuration , i was constrayned , and with mee the most part of all the chirurgea●s to leaue suppuratiues , and insted of them to vse the vnguent aegyptiacum , and other such like remedies , to preuent the said putrifaction & gangrena , and other of the aforesaide accidents . moreouer , if the diuers courses of the heauens haue power and force to imprint a pestilence in vs thorough the influence thereof , why is it not possible that the like may be done in a wound , to infect it after many wayes ? experience it self giueth vs a good and sufficient testimony , not onely in hot weather , but also in winter . for we see that euery patient whether he be wounded , or otherwise disposed against nature , are tormented more of their greefes when the weather is subiect to raine , then when it is faire weather . and the reason is , because the vapour and moyst aire , and southerne winds , do inwardly mooue and agitate the humors which afterwards do discharge themselues vpon the afflicted parts , & thereby increase their paines . our physitian hath also written , that in the battels of dreux and of s. denis , which were fought in the winter time , there dyed a great number of men , that i confesse too ; but i deny that it was by the application of suppuratiue medicines , or of corrosiues , but thorough the vehemencie of their wounds , and the disorder that the bullets made in their members , whereunto the nature of the wounded parts helped greatly , and the temperature of the patient , but aboue all the cold . for the cold causeth wounds to bee of most difficult curation ; yea , sometimes it causeth a gangrena and totall mortification , as witnesseth hippocrates . and if he had beene with me at the siedge of metz , he should haue seen many soldiers hauing their legges eschiomened by reason of the colde , and an infinit company of others that died of the colde , although they were not wounded at all . if he will not beleeue this , i will but send him to the top of the mount senis in the winter time , where many haue lost their liues , and were benummed and frozen in a moment ; witnesse the chappell of transis , which from thence had that name giuen it . he hath in like maner calumnied me , because i compared thunder with artillery . truly it may be saide that they haue like effectes : for this diabolical gun-powder doth such merueilous things that it is easie to proue a great similitude the one with the other . and first of all , we may compare the fire that we behold to issue forth of the cannon to the lightning in this , because it is seen before the thunder is heard , so is it with the other : and this happeneth , because the eare is not so quicke as the eye to receiue their obiects . wee may also compare the dreadfulnes of the reports of great ordinance to that of thunder . for when there is made any notable battery with great ordinance , their reports are heard sometimes twenty leagues off , more or lesse , according as the windes carrieth the eccho of their noise . the first reports are not heard so plaine , as those that follow ; and the cause is , for that the multiplication of the reports following and succeeding one another , that which is nerest doth driue or thrust forward that which is next him , and that in like manner thrusteth forwards the other , and that other the other , vntill it commeth to our eares . in like manner the bullets are carried by the force of the powder , with such an inestimable swiftnesse , that they breake and batter all that they meete with ; yea , they haue more force against hard and vnresistable things then against soft things : therein also they do resemble thunder , which shiuereth the sword in the scabberd , and yet the scabberd remaining whole , melting siluer in a purse , the purse vnburnt . in like manner ( as i haue said here before ) hath bene seene many whom the bullet hath neuer touched , yet neuerthelesse thorough the impetuosity of the aire caused by the violence of the powder issuing out of the mouth of the canon ; hath broke and shiuered the bones , without any manifest apparance of solution of continuitie in the flesh ; yea , to haue battered and killed them out right , as if it had beene with a thunder-clap . gunpowder also hath a stinking smell , senting of brimstone ; imitating therin that odour that continueth in that place where a thunder-bolt hath lately falne ; which smell , is not onely abhorred of men , but also all animalles are therefore constrained to abandon and forsake their dennes and caues when it hath fallen nere thereunto : so great is that sulphurous stinke that it leaueth b●hind it . but yet their similitudes is more manifested by the effects of the saide powder ; the which beeing enclosed in a mine , and conuerted into winde or aire by meanes of the fire that is put thereunto , it ouer-whelmeth peeces of earth as great as mountaines ▪ breaketh and demollisheth strong towers , reuerseth mountaines vpside downe . this i haue already manifested by that history which i haue elsewhere written , which was that at paris ; there was seene not long since a sodaine disaster by reason of the powder in the arcenall , which taking fire , it caused such a great tempest , that it made the whole towne to shake , ouer whelming those houses that were neere thereunto , vncouering & vnglasing those that were further from the furie thereof . to be breefe , euen as the thunder doth massacre and reuerse men halfe dead here and there ; taking from some their sight , from others their hearing , and leaueth others so torne in their members , as if foure horses had drawne them to peeces : and all this through the agitation of the aire into whose substance the saide powder was conuerted . the like acte happened in the towne of malignes , in the yeere 1546. by the fall of a thunderbolt , within a great and strong tower , wherein there was a great quantity of gunpouder , the which did ouerthrow and reuerse almost the one halfe of the towne , and killed a great number of persons , whereof i sawe a while since many remarkable tokens . these examples in my opinion are sufficient to content our physitian , and to shew him that there is a great similitude betweene the effects of gun-powder and thunder . neuerthelesse , i will not for all that confesse that gunshot is accompanied with poyson and fire as the claps of thunder : for although they do agree the one with the other , as doth appeare by the former similitudes , it is not in the substance and matter , but in theyr manner of breaking , battering , and dissipating of the obiects which they meete , that is to say , the thunder-claps by the meanes of the fire , and the stone engendred therein , and gunne-shot by the ayre impetuously agitated , which guiding the bullet , causeth the like tempestuous disaster , that the thunder doth . these things considered , may wee not therefore confesse , that those who haue written that the cannon shot and thunder to haue a great similitude together , haue had reason so to do ? finally , this physitian hath not taken much paines to prooue that gun-pouder was not venomous , and that the bullets are without anie burning at all . neither in like manner to inuent and name the instruments proper for the extraction of all strange bodies , because he hath found them already digested in my booke , with manie other things which he hath written , as euerie one may know by comparing his book with mine . he hath also inriched his book with many sentences and reasons which he hath collected from an italian author , named bartholomaeus magius , physitian of bolognia , who hath written sufficiently thereof in a treatise called de vulnerum sclopetorum curatione , although he doth not acknowledg him for his guide . but hauing traduced him almost word for word , hath made it neuerthelesse his owne , and of a translator , would bee called author . now let vs come to his goodly practise and new method to cure wounds made by gun-shot . first of all , hee would haue applyed suppuratiue medicines , the which neuerthelesse he doeth not vnderstand to be hot and moist , nor of an emplasticke substance ; but to the contrary , he ordaineth them to be hot and dry , because ( saith hee ) that this is not of the nature of an apostume , wherein there is required no other cure but only to suppurate them . but heere where the woundes are with contusion , many and diuers indications arise from thence ; for so much as the contusion would be concocted and digested , and the wound desiccated . to answer to this , i would send him to learne the nature and quality of suppuratiues in galen in the 5. of simples , and to take all in his way , vntill hee come to the tenth of his method , which will teach him , that in complicated diseases he ought to consider the cause , the order , and the vigent . moreouer , i would willingly aske of him if hee can heale that wound made by gunshot , vnlesse th● contusion be first suppurate ? i think not : and herein i refer my selfe to the iudgment of al good practitioners ; and therefore our basi●icon and oleum catellorum , and other such suppuratiue medicines , are proper to suppurate such woundes as are made by gun-shot . secondly , he would haue oxycratum put into the wound to stanch the fluxe of blood : and if by that means it cannot be stopped , to apply thereon a medicine made of the white of an egge , bole armoniacke , rose-vinegar and salt. i leaue you to consider whither such like remedies haue power to stay the flux of bloud or no , they being put with in the wound . truely they will rather make it flow more , because that the vinegar is of a gnawing and subtle qualitie , causing paine , defluxion , inflammation , & other euill accidents , as i haue knowne by experience : and i know no chirurgean that hath beene exercised in his art , will follow such a kinde of practise , least he finde himselfe deceiued in the end . to this purpose i do remember that i had a moor in cure , who belonged to mounsieur the earle of roissy , who was hurt before bologne by an english man , who gaue him a wound with a lance thorow the backe : whereuppon , to stay the fluxe of blood , i put into the wound a restrictiue , wherein there was vinegar insted of another , but presently after he came to me againe , telling me that he thought he had had fire in his arme , which caused me to dresse him anew , and to change the medicine of his wound , and to apply the saide restrictiue vppon it . i beleeue that this physitian knew not so much , otherwise i esteeme him so honest a man that i thinke he would not haue put it in his booke for a good restrictiue . moreouer , hee commendeth aboue all other things his balme made of the oile of wax & myrth beaten together with the yolke of an egge , or rather the naturall balsome which is brought from peru , and saith , that they do consume the superfluous humidity of those wounds , whereby they preuent the happening of any perillous accident . neuerthelesse , he saith , that they do vnite & consolidate those kinde of wounds , as they do which are incised . truly it seemeth very strange to mee , to see that any would go about to dresse and cure contused wounds , as simple woundes which demand nothing but vnion . ouer and besides , these balmes cānot be proper in wounds made by gunshot , because that by reason of their siccitie they doe hinder suppuration , without the vvhich they cannot be cured . and if they be needfull at all , it is onely after that the contusion is suppurated , & the wound mundified : and then i know not wher we should finde so many extractors of quintessences to extract and prepare so many balmes as shal be needfull to dresse those souldiers which shal be hurt in the assault of a town , or a skirmish in battell ? neither vvhere they shall get mony sufficient to counteruaile the charge thereof . let vs come to the rest . he ordaineth that these balmes should be instilled into the vvounds without tents , yet afterwards remembring himselfe , he saith , that it would be very good to put within them a little short one , onely to keepe the orifice of the wound open . how is it possible that these balmes and vnguents should bee conueyed into the bottome of the wound without tents or setons , whose vse is principally to carry medicines vnto the bottome of wounds , and to keepe them open to giue issue vnto all strange bodies ? all good practisers will neuer agree with him in this point , nor those which know what it is to handle such wounds . now there is yet another thing worthy to bee well noted , and that is this : after that he had reproued the vnguent of egyptiacum , hee neuerthelesse forgetting himselfe , commandeth it to be applyed from the beginning vntill the wound bee altogether suppurated , and to be thus vsed . take ( saith he ) of egyptiacum dissolued in a decoction on made of the tops of vvormwood , and of hypericon , and of the lesser centaury and plantan , and this to be iniected into the wound . h● describeth after that another , made of plantane water , and hony of roses boiled togither vnto the thicknesse of hony , and then scumming of it wel , therewi●hall mixe egyptiacum in equall parts : & ( saith he ) this vnguent doth suppurate those vvoundes which are made by gun-shot , i leaue the experimented chirurgicall readers to iudge whether such remedies be suppuratiue or not . as for me i do esteeme them to bee proper to mundifie and clense , and not to suppurate . he finally writeth , that the wound ought not to be dressed but once in foure dayes , and where there shall bee fracture of the bones once in eight dayes . he saith moreouer in another place , that it is conuenient to instill euery day ten or twelue drops of balme into the wound . truely this doctrine serueth rather to confound the yong chirurgean , as not knowing what manner of practise hee should followe : for whosoeuer should follow his , i am well assured he will open often both the heauens and the earth ; the heauens to receiue their soules , and the earth their bodies . but wee haue spoken enough of this matter for this time , inasmuch as i am well assured , that these small caui●lations shall nothing at all diminish the reputation of my booke , which is by strangers so much esteemed , that they haue translated it into their owne mother tongues , therby to haue communication therewith . therefore now we wil bid our physitian farewell , but first would pray him to review and correct his booke as soone as he could , to the end that the yong chirurgean bee no longer retained in those errours which they may apprehend by reading therein : for the shortest follioes are the best . chap. xvi . another discourse about the question of the venenosity of wounds made by gunshot . not many moneths since , i chanced to bee in the company of many learned physitians and expert chirurgeans , who by way of discourse began to put the venenosity of woundes made by gun-shot ; they principally striuing by fiue reasons to proue that venenosity may bee conioined with those woundes , not because of the powder , which they confesse with mee to be free from venome or poison both in the composition and essence thereof , but by reason of the bullet , within the which poyson may be infused , mixed , and incorporated . the first reason is , because that leade is verie rare and spongeous , as the facility of the dissoluing and softnesse thereof do shew , and therfore by consequence very easie to receiue the imbibition or infusion of any venomous liquor . i answer that that consequence seemeth to me to bee but of small assurance : for in all artificiall mixtions , as is that whereof we speake , there are two things to be considered ; the matter of the bodies which enter into the commixtion ; and the forme according to the matter . such bodies ought eyther to be liquid , or soft , or brittle , and easie to bee diuided into small portions ; to the end , that altogither and on euery part , they may meete , ioy●e , and vnite . according to the forme they ought to be alliable and computible th' one with the other . this is euidently knowne by the water , which though it be easie to mix with an infinit number of other things , yet neuerthelesse they cannot bee mixed together , by the reason of the antipathy of their formes . so golde and siluer are so amorous of lead , that when they are to bee dissolued , they are mingled therewith ; but brasse doth flye from lead as much as gold and siluer do fly from tin. if therefore lead and brasse be melted together , they can by no meanes be mixed together , thogh both are contained vnder metallicke kinds . how then can there be incorporated with lead any venomous thing , being different both in forme and kinde ? let vs come to the second reason . iron ( they say ) which is more hard , solid and compact , may neuerthelesse receiue a certaine venomous quality , as we see by impoysoned arrowes , whereof our ancestors haue heeretofore vsed ; and therefore lead ( by more reason ) may receiue the like venomous quality . to answere to that , i confesse that the poyson may well bee receiued on the superficies of the iron , but not in the inwarde substance thereof , by way of commixtion . now here the question is of incorporation , and not of a simple infusion or vnction . let vs heare the third reason . although that lead ( say they ) when it is melted , doeth leaue behinde it a kinde of grosse excrement : neuerthelesse , it is not therfore made vnapt to receiue the infusion of any straunge substance . for , euen as steele a mettall amongst all others the most solid , doeth receiue in the woorking thereof , a temper which doeth harden it of a cleane contrarie substance . for answer ( i say ) that when the temper is giuen to steele , it is not receiued within the inw●rd substance thereof ; for , if such a thing were necessary for the hardning thereof , it might bee easier done at that time when it is first drawn and melted , then to giue it the temper , it would better incorporate therewith then afterwards when it is taken and consolidate into a barre . this answer shall likewise serue to confute the fourth reason , by the which ( say they ) that the iuice of napellus and rhododendron of apium risus , and such like , who of their whole substance , do hurt & corrupt ours beeing mingled with lead , there may thereby be made such a venomous commixtion ; that those wounds which it maketh , must of nec●ssity become venomous . i say to the contrarie , that the mixture is only of things which may not onely be applyed , but also fixed , incorporated , & vnited the one to the other . now how can water or any other liquid iuyce only be made to adhere and cleaue to lead which is hard & solid , i meane in that fashion that they may be vnited : the variety heereof may bee iudged better by experience , then by reason . cause lead to be melted within the iuices heretofore recited , or any other that you will choose ( hauing first weighed them seuerally ) and you shall finde the iust measure of the iuices , and the true waight of the lead , as they were before : a most euident signe , that no part of the lead is incorporated with the iuyces , nor the iuyces to haue lost any of their substance . the first reason is this ; the bullet shot out of a musket against a stone or any bodye of the like hardnesse , is not thereby so much heated , but that it may neuerthelesse be handled in the bare hand though it be taken presently after it was shot : and therefore it is false to affirme , that the poyson infused in the bullet , may be consumed by the fire of the flaming powder . i answer , you must note that when i said that although the bullet may be handled , neuerthelesse , the fire would consume the force of the poyson ; my meaning was , not the fire of the flaming powder , when the musket is shot off , but that fire which is vsed to incorporate the molten lead with the sayde poyson , the which immediately working vpon the poyson , being not yet wholly enwrapped and couered in any strāge body ▪ and hauing time and leysure to worke that effect , and not at an instant and altogither , it may if not consume , yet at the least greatly abate the forces of the said poyson . those that wil not content themselues with these reasons , let them read matthiolus vppon the preface of his sixt booke of di●scorides . there are ( sayth he ) of late men so ignorant and fool●sh , that they do cause to cast amongst their gold and siluer when it is melted , wherewith they intend to make any drinking vessell●s of treacle , methridate , and other antidotes , to the end these mettals hauing acquired euen at the beginning the vertues of the aforesaid antidotes may resist all poisons . but howe ridiculous and foolish this opinion is , they thēselues may iudge , if they haue but any mean knowledge of naturall things , and principally of mettals . and therefore , there shall not neede a more euident refutat●on . behold the reasons , behold the authority , which haue retained in my first opinion , that wounds made by gunne-shot are not conioyned with any venenosity . heere let not the reader builde too much on the opinion of ambrose parie ; for i thinke there is not any chirurgean that will deny but that a bullet may bee poysoned , notwithstanding the former reasons , which i leaue to be considered by the iudicious and experimented chirurgean . chap. xvii . the differences betweene such wounds which are made by arrowes , and those made by gunshot . these wounds which are made by arrowes , crosse-bow shot , or such like instruments , do differ in two things from those which are made by gunshot and other fierie engines . for somtimes they are found without contusion , which neuer hapneth to wounds made by gunne-shot . oftentimes also they are empoysoned , and according to these two differences , their curations ought to be diuersified . now let vs consider the differences of arrowes and darts , because that consideration serueth greatly vnto the knowledge and curation of the said wounds . chap. xviii . of the differences of arrowes and darts . a rrowes and dartes doe differ in matter , in forme or figure , in magnitude , in number , in manner , and faculty or vertue . their differences in matter is , some of them are of wood , others of canes or reeds : some of them haue their extremities or heads garnished with iron , tinne , lead , brasse , horne , glasse , or of bone , and others not . their differences in forme are , some of them are round , others angular , others sharpe , others barbed ; some of them hauing their pointes turned backwardes , and some haue it diuided into two parts : some are made broad in their heads and cutting like a knife , and in many other forms and fashions inumerable . as for their magnitude , some of their heads are of three fingers in length ; others of a smaller size . their number causeth a difference herein ; because that some are simple , hauing but one point onely ; others are composed into two or many . also in them their manner is to be confidered ; for some of them haue the iron or head inserted within the woode of the arrow , and of others the arrow is inserted into the head . some heades are sixed and nayled vnto the shaft , and others not ; but haue so little hold , that in drawing them foorth , their heads remayne behinde in the wounds , whereby they become more daungerous . their faculty maketh them also to differ in this , because that some are ( as hath bene saide ) empoysoned and others not . such are the speciall and proper differences of arrowes and darts : according to the which , the dispositions which they leaue behinde them , doeth diuersifie their curation . thou mayst behold by this following figure the aforesaid differences . chap. xix . of the differences of the wounded partes . these d●fferences exposed . now wee must consequently speak of the diuersity of the affected parts , which are either fleshy or bony ; som of them are neere the ioynts , others within them . some with a great flux of bloode , and fracture of the bones , others not . some of them in the princall members , or in parts seruing them ; some are deepe , others but superficiall . and if in anie of these woundes there appeare any manifest signes of death , you ou●ht to make a true & sure iudgement thereof , before you meddle there-with , to the end that there be no occasion giuen vnto the ignorant people to speake euill of our art. now , to leaue the arrow in the body , would cause vneuitable death , and the chirurgean would be esteemed vnpittiful and inhumane , and by drawing it forth the patient may peraduenture escape . for , as wee haue saide ▪ it is better to attempt a doubtful remedy , then to let the patient dye , without any succour at all . chap. xx. of the extraction of arrowes . as touching the extraction of arrowes , you ought to auoyde the incising , dilacerating , and breaking of the veines , and arteries , nerues and tendons , if it be possible . for it would be an ignominious thing and against art , to offend nature more then the arrow . the manner to draw them foorth is two-fold ; the one of them is by extraction , and the other by thrusting it through the member . therefore , euen at the beginning , and at the first dressing , it is fittest to take foorth all strange bodyes ( if anie there be ) as the heads of the arrowes , the shafte or wood , and other such like things , as hath already beene saide of wounds made by gunne shot , and by the same meanes . and for their better extraction , it is conuenient that the patient bee situate in the same figure and posture , as at that time when he was hurt , because of the re●sons aforesaide ( if it be possible ) and then to vse instruments proper to that effect . as principally this following , which hath an hollow quill or pipe diuided in the middle , the outwar●e par● toothed ; into the which is inserted a rod , like vnto the tire-fond of gun-shot , as hath beene figured heere before , excepting onely that this is not made with a scrue in the extreamity or end thereof . also it is made greater , to dilate the hollow pipe , therby to fill the cauity of the iron head . this other instrument also is very proper , which dilateth by compressing the two extremities together , being toothed also on the outward part ; as you may see by these following figures on the other side the leafe . the first instrument is opened by meanes of a vice , which is inserted within the hollowe pipe thereof . the second instrument doeth dilate , by compressing the two ends together . the signes whereby you may know where the iron head is , that if you feele with your hande on that part where it is , you shall perceiue an asperity and inequality . also the flesh wil appeare contused , liuid , and blacke , and the patient will feele an heauinesse and continuall paine in the wounded part . the other two instruments are called tenacles , with a vice , together with a crowes bill : and is very commodious to draw forth the heads of arrowes , and to extract foorth maile and other smaller bodies . this instrument vnderneath , is another small hooke to draw forth maile , or any other strange body , that it cannot meete with : which also may serue thy turne for the same effect , in the woundes of gun-shor . but if it come to passe that the head bee barbed , whether it be of an arrow , pike , dart , or lance , and shall abide in any part of the bodye . as for example , in the thighe or legge , together with some portion of the wood broken therein , in that case the chirurgean shall cut away the woode or shaft as close as hee can , with incising or cutting tenacles . afterwardes he may draw foorth the head with tenacles that are toothed , as you may see by the figure before going . hippocrates in the fifte of his epidemies saith , that he hath drawne forth the head of an arrow sixe yeares after it was shot , it being lodged nere vnto the groine . chap. xxi . how you ought to proceede in drawing forth broken arrowes . bvt if it come to passe , that the head is broken , in such sort that it cannot by any meanes bee apprehended by the aforesaide tenacles , let it be extracted then ( if it be possible ) with the cranes bill , or crowes bill , or other instruments , that haue beene described heere before : but if the shaft be broken off so neere the heade , that there can bee taken no holde , neyther of the head thereof , nor of the shaft , with the cranes bill , then let it be drawne foorth with the tirefond of gun-shot , for if it will insert it selfe into lead , by a greater reason it may easily enter into wood . in like manner , if the head bee barbed , as most commonly your english mens arrowes are , then if it be possible , thrust it thorough the member , with an instrument proper thereunto . for , by that meanes you shall auoyde greater danger , because that in drawing it foorth , the barbils may rend both the nerues , veines , arteries , and the other parts , the which you ought to auoide carefully . and therefore it is better to make a counter orifice on the other part , iust oueragainst the wound , and so to thrust it cleane through . for , it may be supposed , that there is but a little thickenesse to incise ; so by this meanes , and with lesse danger the wounde will haue a double yssue ; the one on the former part , and the other on the hinder part ; and will therefore heale sooner , because you may apply your medicines both on the one side , and on the other , and it will also mundifie better . to the contrary , if the barbed head happen vpon a bone , or be inserted therein , which oftentimes commeth to passe in the bottome of the muscles of the thigh , of the arme , or legge , or other parts of great distance , there it is not conuenient to thrust them through , but rather to dilate the wound , auoiding the nerues and great vessels , as the good and expert anatomical chirurgean ought to do , and then gently and orderly to apply therein a dilatory hollow in the inward part thereof , and so to place it , that it may apprehend the two barbils of the iron head : then with the cranes bill it may be held steddy , and so draw them forth all three together , as this figure following sheweth thee . a ●ilatory which hath a certaine cauity in the inward pa●t thereof , with the cranes ●ill holding a barbed head . chap. xxii . what ought to be done when the arrow is inserted into the bone . now , if it happen that the arrow is so inserted and fixed in the bone , that it cannot be taken soorth by thrusting it thorough the member , but by drawing it foorth by the same way that it entered in , you ought then to mooue and stirre it too & fro discreetly if it sticke fast in the bone , wherein an especially care ought to be taken that you breake not the arrowe , and so leaue some part thereof sticking in the bone ; from whence might ensue many dangerous accidents . this operation may be done by the instrument named the crowes-bill , or by others heere before figured presently af●er the extraction of the arrowe . suffer the wound to bleed sufficiently , taking your indication from the strength or vertue of the patient , to the end that the part may thereby bee discharged , and lesse mollested with inflammation , putrifaction , and other euil accidents . the extraction being done , at the first dressing , if the wound be simple , thou shalt handle it as a simple wound : but if it bee with complication , thou shalt then cure them according as you shall finde the dispo●tions complicated , to appease the paine , thou mayest to thy great profite apply oleum catellorum of our description heere before declared , & to ouercome other accidents which may happen in thy cure , thou shalt haue recourse vnto our former bookes of woundes in genenerall , and of those made by gun-shot . chap. xxiii . of venomous or empoysoned wounds . now there remaineth to vnderstand and consider , that these woundes are sometimes empoysoned ( as we haue saide ) and that it proceedeth from the primitiue cause of the arrowes so prepared by the enemy . this may easily be known both by the report of the hurt person , saying , that he feeleth a great and pricking paine as if hee had bene stung with bees ( especially if the poison wer hot , which is most vsed in that case ) and also by the flesh of the wounded part , which presently after becommeth pale and liuide , with a certaine appearance of mortification : wherunto also there doth happen many other g●oefes , and greater accidents , which are not accustomed to happen in all other wounds , wherein there is not any venenosity . wherefore at the beginning ( after that you haue extracted foorth all the strange bodies , if any there be ) you ought to make diuers deepe scarifications all about the wound , and to set ventoses thereon with a great flame , thereby to make attraction and euacuation of the virulent matter . in like manner , the sayd attraction may be done , by causing the wound to bee sucked by another man , hauing in the meane time a little oyle in his mouth , wherein you must haue a care that hee haue not any vlcer therein , for feare left that the poyson so sucked and attracted cleaue not thereunto . also attraction may bee made by the application of vnguents , cataplasmes , emplaysters , vesiccatories , cauteries , and other things , which shall be declared heereafter in our particular booke intreating of the bitings and stingings of venomous beasts . finis . faults escaped . page 9. line 17. for sir , read saint . p. 15. l. 20. for practises r. prurities . p. ●2 . l. 22. for induring , read inducing . p. ● 5. l. 11. for escharotick , r. escharcotick . p. ibid. l. 16. for indured , r. induced . p. 59. l. 30. for cooling r. rowling . pag. 60. l. 21. r. the yolke of egges p. 75. l. 23. for naucotick r. narcotick . p. 85. l. 3. for staples r. stuphes . p. 90. l. 15. for lerine , r. lexiue . p. 104 ▪ l. 19. for eschiomened r. estiomened . a table of all the chapters contained in this following treatise . the diu●sion of wounds according to the diuersitie of the parts offen●ed , and the bullets where-with they were made . chap. 1. of the signes of the wounds made by gunshot . chap. 2. the manner of handling those wounds at the first dressing . chap. 3. a description of such instruments which are proper to extract bullets , and other vnnaturall thinges of the body . chap. 4. the maner to handle those wounds at the first dressing after the vnnaturall things are forth . chap. 6. the maner to extract such vnnaturall things which shall be left in the body after the first extraction . ch. 7 indications which ought to be obserued in the saide wounds . chap. 8 how and in what manner diseases are complicated chap. 9. how the chirurgean ought to prosecute the handling of the aforesaid wounds . chap. 10 of bullets which do remaine in the certaine parts of the bodye , a long time after the curation of the wounds . chap. 11 of the great contusions and dilacerations made by the aforesaid bullets of artillery . chap. 12 of the meanes which should be obserued ●n rectifying of the aire , and corrobating the noble parts , and to fortifie the whole body . chap. 13 memorable histories . chap. 14 an apologie touching the woundes made by gun-shot . chap. 15 another discourse vppon that question of the venenosity of wounds made by gun-shot . chap. 16. the differences betweene wounds made by arrowes and those made by gunshot . chap. 17. the difference betweene arrowes and darts . 18 of the difference of the wounded parts . chap. 19 of the extraction of arrowes . chap. 20 how you ought to proceede in drawing foorth broken arrowes . chap. 21 what ought to be done then when the arrow is infixed in the bone . chap. 22 of venomous or empoysoned wounds . chap. 23 notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a08912-e740 intention of the author . the venetians had the first vse of artillery . diuers opinions touching the time when artillery began . the author of artillery and his name . what things hath s●nce bin added to the artillery . diners names of the artillery : & whence they are taken from w●●●ce the word arquebuz is t●ken . diuers ar●if●cers of fi● . a comparison of the engines vsed by our ancients , with those of ou●s . the thun●er is not so cruell as the artillery . how man may be prese●●ed from thunder . plin. lib. ● cap. 5● . pliny lib. 2● cap. 55. what things are preserued from the force of thunder . sueto . in tib. artillery driueth away thunder . the times which a●e without thunder . lib. 2. cap. 50. designe and end of artillery . the reason that moued the authour to write of gunshot . the sum contained in the 1. discourse . the sum contained in the 2 discourse . notes for div a08912-e1420 pas of suze . the castle de villane besie●ed & taken . the author entereth into the matter . a remedie found by accident . gunpouder not venomous . woundes made by gu●shot are without combustion historie . yea sir , by the faith of god. histo●ie . how the patient ough● to be s●tuate in the extraction of bullets . the cause that maketh woundes by gunne shot hard to bee cured . history . notes for div a08912-e1990 occasion of this discourse . ●●sinuation into the good accept●nce of those who are of the contrary opi●ion . the author proposeth two points , whi●h h●e wold refute . viz. the poyson of the powder and the fire of the bullet . the prese●t disputation is taken frō philosophers , physitians , and chirurgians the composition of the powder . salt-peter is salt of stones . refutation of those that affirme the bullet to be impoisoned . refutation of those that affirme that the bullet causeth cōbustion . an example of a ball of wax . whence it p●o●e●deth ▪ that wou●d● m●de by gunshot are ●●dinarily blacke . reasons of those of contra●y opiniō seneca . 3. kindes of thunders . answere to the contrary reasons . a meruailous effe●t of thunder . example . the effect ●f artillerie like to the thunder . diuers sounds yssuing out of the veins of the earth . the true explicauo● of the questiō . hyp in the prefa●e of ●is prognest hyp. in the beginning of his booke de aere locis et aquis . the alienati●n of 〈◊〉 cause of diseases . lib. 3. ap●or 15. a similitude intollerable stinke proceedi●g frō the wounded parts of men . venomous . wounds . notes for div a08912-e2830 differenc●s taken from the matter of bullets . f●omwhēce proceedeth the malignity of woundes made by gunshot . 〈…〉 the s●tuation of the patient to ext●act vnna●urall things . of what bignes the probes ought to be . ●he prin●ipall intention of the chi●u●gian . why no escha●aticke medicine ought to be vsed . d●scription of ou●●gvp ●●a●um proper f●● the a●o●esaide wounds the vertue of campher combustion ioyned to woundes made by gunshot . time to obserue to dr●sse the patient . pu● is not so made by gunshot , as in all other wounds . aduertisement to the young chirurgian . a cath●●icke powder . compresses or boulste●s . indication taken f●om the temperature of the bodye . the indicatio● taken from the vertue of the patient . sentence of guido . indication taken from the wounded part . aph●ris . 18. boo●● 1● . the vrgent the cause , & the necessity the vs● of ind●●at●●n . phl●botomy necessary i● woūds made by gun●eiho● . ca●ses why th●●● h●pn●th 〈◊〉 alway● an●le mo●th●g● . hot humors are ap●er to slowe then cold . apho● . 31. b●oke 2. an aduertis●ment . causes of petillous accidents in woundes mad● by gunshot . hyp. lib. de vnla . cap. historie . aqua-vitae with a little trea●le recall 〈◊〉 presenthe the spirites , and comforteth the vital faculty . historie . another history . meruellous accidents . god & nature effect meruailous things . galen in the 6 of the method . the emplaster of vigo is resolutiue . the benefit of vniuersal frications . a iust occasio● of the author for his apology basilicon liquefied into an oyle , is proper in al woundsthat ●equire suppuration . hyp. in his ●●●ke of vl●e●s . doubles an empirick . answer● t● th● 〈◊〉 of igyptia●um . 1 similitude 2 similitude 3 similitude 4 ●imi●itude 5 similitude hor●ible effects of gun-powder . a new kind of suppuratiue . a pleasant answer , and to the purpose . euill p●actisers do open both the heaue●● and the ea●th . 1 reason . answer . 2 reason . answer . 3 reason answer 4 reason answer 5 r●ason . answer . a great anotation . ne●essarie iudg●ment to auoyde scandall . miscellania: or, a collection of necessary, useful, and profitable tracts on variety of subjects which for their excellency, and benefit of mankind, are compiled in one volume. by thomas tryon physiologus. tryon, thomas, 1634-1703. 1696 approx. 222 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 104 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a63799 wing t3185 estc r220931 99832315 99832315 36787 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a63799) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 36787) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2139:12) miscellania: or, a collection of necessary, useful, and profitable tracts on variety of subjects which for their excellency, and benefit of mankind, are compiled in one volume. by thomas tryon physiologus. tryon, thomas, 1634-1703. [14], 21, [1], 168 p. printed and sold by t. sowle, in white-hart-court in grace church-street, london : 1696. with two preliminary contents leaves. "true and natural methods, how to cure all sorts of cuts, bruises, pricks or thornes, weapon's, or any kind of wounds .." has caption title on p. 1. "healths grand preservative, or the womens best doctor" has caption title and separate pagination; register is continuous. print faded, with show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. 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logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-04 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion miscellania . or , a collection of necessary , useful , and profitable tracts on variety of subjects , which for their excellency , and benefit of mankind , are compiled in one volume . by thomas tryon physiologus . london : printed and sold by t. sowle ▪ in white-hart-court in grace-church-street , 1696. the contents . the true and natural methods how to cure all sorts of cuts , bruises , pricks of thorns , weapons , or any kind of wounds , also old vlcers , and to prevent gangreens , and other evils whatsoever . p. 3. how to cure pricks in any member of the body p. 4. to cure old vlcers , 5. to cure gauls , or the skin being rubbed off by any accident , 5. 61. an excellent poultis to cure sore breasts , 6. a rare poultis to ●llay all swellings , or contusions in any part of the body , 6. another excellent poul●is to dissolve , ripen and cure any rising , swelling , or boyls in the flesh , 7. the best spirit of scurvy-grass is made thus , 8. how you may make this plain spirit of scurvy-grass into a purging spirit , 8. an excellent drink against the stone gravel and other obstructions , 9. how to purgo by herbs and foods , 10. another way to purg● by foods and drinks , 11. an excellent poultis against the headach , pain in the side , also a rare remedy against the disease called st. anthony's fire , 11. an excellent remedy against any wound , stab , prick or cut with a sword , or other weapon , 12. pythagoras's method and advice to his disciples , 13. an excellent remedy against all old 〈…〉 and sores occasion'd by the disease called th● kings evil , p. 14 an vniversal f●mentation for all tumors , bruises ' hard-swelled members or parts of the body , 15 , a famous poultis against sprains , 16 a good method to cure sprains , if you can't have the forementioned poultis ( viz. ) 16 an excellent wash against all old aches , and sciatica's in any part or member of the body , 17. an excellent method to cure the sores occasion'd by the kings evil , 17. a rare poultis against all inflamations , rhumes , and other sores in the eyes , 18. a rare poultis against the headach , 19. an excellent poultis against all sorts of sprains , 20. a brave noble poultis against all hot tumors , bruises , or swellings , or the like , 20. a method how any person may s●●ply the place of hop● with wormwood to all extents and purposes , and please the pallats of the drinkers ▪ for wormwood is an excellent herb , and of far greater strength , power , and vertue , than hops , provided it be gathered in its pr●●er season , and dried in the sun , and bagg'd up 〈◊〉 hops are , so keep them for use according to the directions in our way to health , long life and happiness , viz. 21. of brandy , rum and rack , from page 1. to the 12. what powers meats and drinks have in the body , from p. 12. to 20. what inconveniences and evils the drinking brandy and other spirits , bring upon women and their children from p. 20. to 28. of eating of flesh , and its operation on the body and senses , from p. 29. to 53. of herbs , fruits and grains , and their inward operation on the body and mind , from p. 53. to 60. of cleanness in houses ; and beds , and the great evils of stale feather-beds , from p. 60. to 66. how buggs breed , from 60. to 70. other inconveniences arising from the same cause , to p. 73 how to prevent the generation of vermin , and preserve health , from p. 73. to 79. how the preservation of mens health resides in the wisdom and temperance of women , from p. 79. to 87. of the pain in the teeth , also from what cause , and how to prevent it , from p. 87. to 97. observations on the great frost , 1683. from p. 97. to 111. some considerations on the keeping christmas , with remarks on the many irregularities committed therein , from p. 111. to p. 137. good news for the poor , and better for the rich ; wherein is shown how 20 or 15000. l. might be weekly raised for support of the poor , and no body the worse , from p. 137. to p. 151. a true and natural method of preparing gruels and paps made of flower and pease , wherein is shown the great advantage and benefit the poor may receive thereby , from p. 151. to 156. a proposal to sr. t. lane lord-mayor , and the court of alderman , and other citizens of london , for the erection of 20 free schools for poor children , from p. 156. to 164. an excellent way to make water-gruel , or any other pottages , from 164. to the end. the preface . observing the tedious methods of some unskilful chyrurgeons , together with their improper compositions and unatural applycations , which do not only ruin and undo many poor necessitous people , but to the losing of their limbs and sometimes their lives too ; therefore i think it no worthless service to recommend unto the world , especially to the poor , the use of the following remedies , which are not only cheap and easily come-at-able , but certain in their operation , far beyond any things hitherto known or published . these are noble poultices , and all the ingredients do cast a friendly aspect to each other , being of a cleansing mild balsamick nature and operation , and therefore they do by their active penetrating power , strengthen and raise up the dismayed oyl or wounded spirits , by meliorating and asswaging the irritated or awakened fierce poysonous humors , by which this doth as far exceed the common and usual methods and practices of chyrurgeons , and other practitioners , as that light doth darkness . but here i shall meet with a swingeing objection , viz. why do you leave out of your poultices the great ingredient , viz. the fulsom grease of swine and other fat 's ? which all skilled in the art of curing , have for the most part advised , and for 〈◊〉 other reason as i know , then that their poultices should not offend the patient by sticking to the sore or wounded part , for their long lying on the grieved par● , if there were not some fat 's or oyles , the poultices would occasion them to become hard and stiff , and so stick to the sore , which we prevent by our often repetition ; for the spitituous vertues and qualities of fat 's , are so hid and lookt up in the oyly body , that nature cannot separate no● draw forth their fine sweet spirituous vertues to that degree , as she can from vegetations , as all men skilled in nature and chymistry do know , they being of a heavy dull flat nature and operation , very offensive to the tender spirits and blood , by which they im●ede and hinder the cure , therefore those poultices wherein fat 's are mixed , the fine spirits and vertues thereof do not so easily nor powerfully penetrate the wound as rich vegetations , whose spirit and lively vertues are as it were on the wing , and therefore poultices aptly compounded thereof , their vertues do in a moments time penetrate to the center , and incorporate with their similes , by which they strengthen and raise up the wounded spirits , and at the same time do qualify the fierce raging poysons , more especially if our method be observed ; and do effect the cure , not only in shorter time , but much safer , and with greater ease to the patient . for by this philosophical operation , of repeating it so often , it doth mightily advance and forward the cure : and note , that every fresh application of this homogenial-poultice to the grieved part , do add new and fresh supplies of vertue , for in all operations of this nature , the fine healing spirituous qualities thereof , do first impart and give themselves forth , which by a secret simpathetical power , do penetrate the whole , and incorporate with their similes , administring their sweet vertues , which gives a new life to th● wounded spirits , and dismayed oyles , and do at the same time withstand and allay the fierce raging awakned or irritated poysonous humours ; it being the way of nature for all homogenial bodies , that have passed through any preparation , digestion , or fermentation , when aptly applied or joyned to any proper subject or thing . for the fine cleansing healing qualities and good vertues , do give themselves forth and joyn or incorporate with their similes ; even as the fine sweet spirituous qualities of 〈◊〉 do imbibe or give themselves forth and incorporate with the hot water in● our mash-tub , in the method of brewing ; therefore every applycation does add new supplies of vertue and strength to the wounded spirits , and draws forth and consumes the gross humidity , and exalts the essential life of that part , and are as refreshing to the wounded spirits , as the pleasant influences and salutiferous breezes of wind in a hot season : for note , that the spirits and fine qualities of each thing , are light , volatile , ready , quick and powerful in operation , that in a moments time they penetrate even to the center ; for every particular quality in nature , has a key in it self to open the gate of its own principle ; what man in the world would believe the attractive inclination which the load-stone has upon iron , if it did not appear to his sight ; the very same simpathetical power have all other things , though in some it is more occult . and for this cause , one body works upon another , by a certain natural attraction and simpathetical inclination . thus the wise and wonderful creator , has endued every thing with an attractive and influential vertue ; it is not therefore the gross body of your poultice , that will do your business , that is full of corrupt and poysonous humours , which are awakened by the long continuation thereof , for these reasons , the long lying of poultices and plalsters , on wounds and sores , have no better effects , then the long continuation or standing of the liquor on the mault in your mash-tub , which if it continue more then two , three or four hours , it will spoil and corrupt the whole , for first , ( as i said before ) the fine sweet volatile spirituous vertues , imbibes or incorporates themselves with the hot liquor , and then if there be not a separation made in two , three or four hours , by drawing it off , but the applycation continued , then there will soon awaken another quality of a gross harsh sour ●een nature , which with a rapid motion , tinges or transmutes all the fine sweet healing vertues into their own qualities , which all brewers and good house-wifes are sensible of ; the like is to be understood in the applycations of poultices and plaisters , do not their long lying of them on the wounded or sore part , cause them to smell four and stink , when they have been continued on for twelve or twenty four hours , which do not only indanger the part , and prolongs the cure , but it puts the patient to great pain and torment , and often the limb is cut off , and sometimes the life too , which by this forementioned method might have been prevented ; for if physitions and chyrurgeons do not understand nature , then there can be no certainty in their operations or cures . also note , that during the time your poutices , plaisters , ointments , or salves , are making on the fire , that you keep them stirring , by which you keep the fine spirits and qualities living , for by this stirring , the friendly powers and thin spirits of the air do penitrate the whole mass or body , which incorporate and assist the spirits and good vertues , and keep them from being stagnated and suffocated , the air being the life of all things and where its friendly influences and circulations are prevented , the life and spirits becomes heavy , dull and gross ; for these reasons , all spoon-meats made thin , are sweeter and of a more quick penetrating operation and digection , then those made thick , therefore despise not our method , nor our plain home bread poultices , i could produce many living testimonies of its success , but it is needless , since every man's experience that tries it , will soon confirm the truth of what is here delivered , nor i am not much solicitous whether i am credited or not ; it is the consideration of the publick good it may do to many poor people , pomps me to publish it , whether you will follow the forementioned rules or not , i have done my duty in offering it , and therefore am satisfied . true and natural methods , how to cure all sorts of cuts , bruises , pricks of thornes , weapon's , or any kind of wounds . also old vlcers , and to prevent gangreans and other evils whatsoever , viz. to cure cutts , take spirit of wine , one pint , put in three ounces of double refined suger , shake it together , — with this wash your wound , or cut very well , then take some of the same spirit , and mix so much sugar as will make it as thick as a salve ; clap this into the wound , then bind it up for ten or twelve hours ; after this open it , wash it again with your sugared spirits very well , then sow it up with a small needle and silk ; then temper a little water , bread and sugar together , and lay a little on a linnen cloth , and bind it on . repeat this every five hours , always washing the outside of your wound , with your forementioned spirits : this will effect the cure in a few days , provided the humours be not too venemous , and the parties keep themselves temperate . how to cure pricks , in any member of the body . take one pint of double spirit of wine , three ounces of double refined sugar , one ounce of camphir ; mix them well-together , and if your prick or wound be deep , then take ths spirit , and with a good serringefrce it into the wound , then temper some of this camfired spirit with sugar as thick as a salve ; clap this on the mouth of the wound , then bind it up with a cloath , that the air may not penetrate the wound ; repeat this every seven hours , for five or seven times , every time cleansing the wound with your serringe , then ●ew it up , laying the forementioned poultis to it , repeat it as you did the former , and wash it every time you lay your poultis on with said spirits : — this doth likewise cure with great ease and safety . to cure old vlcers . take one pint of the best double spirits of wine , half an ounce of aloes beaten , three ounces of double refined sugar , half an ounce of mirrh , and mix them well together . use it thus , first wash your ulcer with rain water very clean , dropping some of the forementioned spirits into your ulcer , then apply this poultis following . take one quart of rain water , parsley , mint and balm of each a like quantity cut small , two ounces of good sugar , as much bread as will make it of a fit consistency for a poultis , make it boyilng hot , stirring it all the time , then put a glass of wine , sider , ale , or good beer into it , lay this poultis on every three hours , always washing it with the rain water and spirits : if this method be observed , it will cure almost to a miracle . to cure gaul's , or the skin being rubbed off by any accident . take spirit of wine and vinegar , mix it well together , wash your sore every hour , for a day or two , laying on it a diaculum plaister : this will heal and cure the most inveterate gaul in a few days time . an excellent poultis to cure sore breast's take one quart of rain or river water , some sorrel cut small , half an ounce of coriander seed beaten to powder , two ounces of good brown sugar , as much bread as will make it into a poultis , make it boyling hot , stirring it all the time , then it is done , — apply this every hour , or every two hours as warm as your blood on a linnen cloath for two or three days more or less , as you see occasion , and remember to wash your breast with good water and fresh butter beaten together , every time you apply the poultis , and you need not doubt but with god's blessing the cure will be effected in a short time . a rare poultis to allay all swellings or contusions , in any part of the body . take one quart of rain or river water , rosemary and balm cut small , two ounces of sugar , a glass of wine , sider , ale , or good beer , as much good bread as will make it into a poultis , make it boyling hot , stirring of it all the while , then it is done , — lay this pretty thick on a linnen cloath , as warm as your blood every hour , or at least every two hours , for a day two or three according to the occasion , washing of it well with spirit of wine , wherein sugar is disolved , this is a safe and secure remedy . another excellent poultis to disolve , ripen and cure any rising , swelling , or boyl in the flesh , viz. take white lilly roots , good figgs ▪ boyl them soft in river or rain water , then temper them together , add as much bread as will make it thick enough for a poultis ; add to this one ounce of white sugar , and half an ounce of carr●way seeds beaten to powder , stir them all together on the fire , till they are boyling hot , then it is done . apply this poultis every hour , washing the grieved part with ale and sugar every time you lay the poultis on , this is a noble poultis , and is likewise good to cure sore breasts , applyed as abovesaid , the best spirit of scurvygrass is made thus. take the leaves of scurvygrass , some horse-redish-roots scrapt small , put this into a glass , or earthen vessel , put to it as much strong double spirit of wine as will cover it , stop this vessel close , and let it stand three days and three nights , then pour it off into glass bottles ; when settled , you may put it into other bottles , and then it is fit for use . this is called the plain spirit of scurvygrass , and it is the best that is made ; you may take in a morning , of this spirit from 60 to 80. or 90. drops in good water , beer , ale or wine , fasting two or three hours after it , then eat some of our gruel with bread. how you may make this plain spirit of scurvygrass into a purging spirit . take one quart of this plain spirit , put into it , one ounce of rozin of scamony , and half an ounce of rozin of jallop , both beaten to powder ; let it stand one week , and● then it will be fit for your use . take 50 , 60. or 80. drops of this in a glass of ale , beer or wine , drink plentifully of our thin gruel after it , staying within , it will purge you very well , and not gripe , or but very little . an excellent drink against the stone , gravel , and other obstructions . take scurvygrass leaves , the seeds of dorcas , some horse-redish-scrapt , put them in an earthen vessel , and then add as much white-wine as will cover the herbs , seed and roots , let them stand five days and nights , then pour it off and keep it in glass bottles ; it will continue good four or five weeks . take a sack glass of this , and a like quantity of water every morning , fast two hours , and then drink at least a quart of our thin water-gruel , either of the cold or hot . the constant use of this , is not only a prevention and cure , but it moves most sorts of obstructions of the stomack , begets appetite , generates good blood , causing it to circulate freely . how to purge by herbs and foods . when you are minded to purge your self with both ease and safety , and to preserve your health , then observe the following method , viz. in the morning , drink a quart of our thin water-gruel , either the cold or the hot , eat a small piece of bread with it , at dinner take spinnage , lettis , onions , parsley and sage ; wash them and eat plentifully of them with your food , be it what it will , at night drink a like quantity of gruel and eat some good bread as you did in the morning ; this you must do for four or five or six days together more or less , as you see occasion ; the like method you are to observe , if you would purge your self with carrots , turnips and parsnips , as you did with herbs , with this variation , viz. drink your gruel and eat your bread mornings and nights , and at dinner , eat only carrots ; parsnips or turnips , boyled only in good water , and eat them freely with no other thing but a little salt and bread , during these several days , you may purge your self to what degree you please . another way to purge by food 's and drinks . drink in the morning at several times , three pints or two quarts of thin watergruel , at dinner drink a pint or a quart , at night drink a quart more , and eat some bread. this method will purge , or at least will keep your body open , let your foods at dinner be what it will , the body being kept open and cool doth prevent and cure various diseases in hot costive constitutions . an excellent poultis against the headach pain in the side , also a rare remedy against the disease called st. anthonies fire . take sage , parsley and balm , of each a like quantity cut small , one quart of rain or river water , one pint of whitewine , three ounces of white sugar , two ounces of coriander seed beaten , as much good bread as will make it fit for a poultis ; mix them and stir them over the fire till they are boyling hot , then it is done . spread this poultis on a linnen cloath indifferent thick , apply to the grieved part every hour or two at most , and by god's assistance it will effect the cure to your heart's desire . an excellent remedy against any wound , stab , prick , or cut with a sword , or other weapon . take spirits of wine , with some double refined sugar , or other sugar mixed with it ; wash or serringe your wound with this sugared spirit very well , then take a small quantity of the fine powder of refined sugar , and put into the said wound , and presently sow it up with a fine needle and silk , the quicker you do it , the better will the cure be performed , for the more the air is kept out of it the better : if this method be observed , it will do wonders ; the way of tenting is generally pernicious and prolongs the cures of the above mentioned hurts , keeping the parts from closing or cementing , for this prevents the flowing of the humors , and putrefaction and nature does her own work without trouble cost or pain . pithagoras's method and advice to his disciples , viz. whenever they had occasion to make any medicine , poultis , plaisters , decoctions of herbs , or any other thing , they were always to be mindful to take of those things that their genius did first dictate to them , and not only the herbs or seeds grains or other things , but likewise the number of their composition , that is , how many ingredients they were to mix together , the manner form and postures they were to observe in gathering of them , also what words , invocations and prayers they use , also naming the name of the person they operate for , expressing in words for whom they do it , for to cure such , or such a disease . and if you would know more of this , read pythagoras's , letters ( lately printed by t. sowle , in white-hârt-court ) and observe th● methods and numbers there treated off at large , and your understanding will be enlightened , if you are in good earnest , and live in the fear and under the dominion of the fountain of benignity whose signal character is plainness , simplicity and innocency . an excellent remedy against all old inveterate vlcer's and sores occasioned by the disease , called the kings evil , viz. first take rain or river water , with which wash the grieved part very clean , then take strong spirits mixed with white sugar , and wash it several times , and fill up the mouth , or cover the sore with sugar and spirits mixed thick , then apply this following poultis , viz. take two quarts of rain or river water , as much dried wormwood as the water will cover , let it lie and infuse two hours , then strain it off , and add as much good bread as will make it thick , add to it two or three ounces of white sugar , with half or a pint of good strong beer , or wine , then make it boyling hot , stirring it all the time , then it is done . apply this every two hours as warm as your blood , washing the sore every time with water , and then with the sugared spirits as is mentioned before . — remember that the water wherein the wormwood is infused two hours , must be cold , and after the ingredients are put in , made boyling hot , as in other poulises . an vniversal fomentation for all tumors , bruises , hard swelled members or parts of the body . take a good quantity of dried wormwood , put it into two , three , four or five quarts of rain or river water , make it boyling hot , then take it off the fire , and let it lie in the water one hour , then add to every quart of this wormwood liquor , half a pint of old wines , three spoonfuls of good spirit of wine , two ounces of double refined sugar , and one ounce of salt of tartar , with this wash or foment the part very well for half an hour together , or more , resting one hour , and in the interim apply this following poultis , viz. take two or three handfuls of the green leaves of sorrel , infuse them in two quarts of boyling water one hour , strain it off , and add to this water as much good mault flower as will make it thick ; to every quart put half a pint of ale , and two ounces of double refined sugar , apply it warm every hour fomenting the part as you are taught before , and you need not doubt but it will have a good effect and cure to admiration . a famous poultis against sprains . take two or three quarts of good water , and a quart of good strong beer , four ounces of refined sugar , make this just boyle , then put in it as much fresh gathered thyme as the liquor will cover , make it ready to boil again , and then strain it from the herbs , and add to it as much brown bread as will make it thick , stir this over the fire till it be boiling hot , then it is done . add to this three ounces of spirits of wine ; stirring it all well together , spread this thick on a linnen cloath and apply it every three hours as warm as your blood. a good method to cure sprains , if you cannot have the forementioned poultis , viz. so soon as you have sprained any member of your body , then presently put that part into cold water , wherein some wood-ashes are put , continue the grieved part one hour , or at least half an hour , this will give you ease , and have a good effect . an excellent wash against all old aches , and sciatica's in any part or member of the body . take rain water in march , april , may , iune , or iuly , and keep it in glass bottles open , standing either without doors or in airy rooms , wash your infirm part three times a day very well , the water must be cold , and the part or member must not be kept warmer then is usual , this do for two three or four weeks if you have occasion , but in many this method will effect the cure much sooner . an excellent method to cure the sores occasioned by the disease called the king 's evil. fist take water wherein wormwood is infused , wash the sore part very well , then take spirits of wine , mault or sider mixed with sugar , and wash it again , then apply this following poultis , viz. take three pints or two quarts of rain or river water ▪ make it boil , then put into it as much hyssop as the water will just cover , continue it on the fire till it boil , then take it off and strain it , add to this liquor as much bread as will make it thick , to every quart put two ounces of refined sugar , and half a pint of ale , spread this pretty thick on a linnen cloath , and repeat the application every hour , two or three , the oftner the better , the like is to be understood in all applications , of this nature , as we have demonstrated in our book entituled the good hous-wife made a doctor . a rare poultis against all inflamation● rhumes and other sores in the eyes , viz. first wash your eyes with rain or other good water , then apply this following poultis , viz. take one quart of water , the whites of three eggs beaten well together , with three ounces of double refined sugar , as much white bread as will make it into a poultis , then make it boiling hot , stirring it all the time , then it is done . spread this thick on a linnen cloath , apply it to your eye every hour fresh , and you will have your desire , but this course and repeated application must be continued for 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , or 6. days as you see occasion . observe that you never apply your poultis hotter then your blood , nor bind the grieved part hard , both are great evils , but more especially the last . a rare poultis against the head-ach . take one quart of rain or river water , one ounce of white sugar , as much mault flower new ground as will make it thick enough , add to it half a pint of good ale , making it boyling hot , and stirring it all the tim● , then it is done . spread this on a linnen cloath pretty thick , apply it as warm as milk from the cow , every hour , or every two hours , continue the application one , two or three days , more or less , as occasion . an excellent poultis against all sorts of sprains . take two quarts of rain or river water , make it boiling hot , or boil up , put to it as much good green sage as the water will cover , then make it just boil , take it off the fire , and let it stand one quarter of an hour , strain the water off , then add to this sage liquor as much bread as will make it thick , put to this three ounces of double refined sugar , and a quarter of a pint of red wine , and five spoonfuls of spirit of wine , sugar or mault , stir them well together , and make them boiling hot , stirring it all the time , then it is done . spread this likewise on a linnen cloath , and apply it warm as your blood , every hour or two , for one day or two resting all the time . a brave noble poultis against all hot tumors , bruises or swellings or the like . take two or three quarts of rain or river water , as much spinnage as the water will cover . but first let the water be boiling hot , then make it boil , take it off the fire , and let it stand one quarter of an hour , the vessel uncovered , strain it off , add to it as much house-hold bread as will make it thick , with two ounces of course sugar , make it boiling hot , then it is done . spread this on a linnen cloath , apply it every two hours as warm as your blood for two , three , four or five days , and you will find good effects thereof ; always observe and be careful that you do not bind the grieved part too hard , but very gently , there being nothing worse then hard binding , it often occasions great evils , even to mortification . wormwood smokt in pipes , being well dryed in the sun , and bagg'd in paper close , is far better and more a vail●ble for the help and cure of all , or most of the diseases , tobacco is taken in pipes for . a method how any person may supply the place of hops with wormwood to all intents and purposes , and please the pallats of the drinkers , for wormwood is an excellent herb , and of far greater strength , power and vertue then hops , provided it be gathered in it's proper season and dried in the sun , and bagg'd up as hops are , so keep them for use , according to the directions in our way to health long life and hppiness , viz. take what quantity you think fit of dryed wormwood , as you have occasion to keep your drink a longer or a shorter time , and put it into your hot water , in your mash-tub or vessel , and then presently put your mault in , and stir it together as is usual , and when it has stood the common time , draw it off , then you must take the wormwood out , and add some fresh to your liquor that you put up the second time , and do the like when you put up your third liquor , if you mash more than twice ; by this method or way you will only extract the thin fine saline vertues of the herb , and leave the gross churlish bitter behind , and drink thus made , doth not only drink pleasant and keep well but i● far more wholsome , and healthy than the best hopped drink and if your wormwood is well preserved , it will keep three , four or five years good , and the second and third year , it is better than the first . the very same method is to be observed in useing all other herbs . but if the forementioned way should make the grains so bitter , that cattel will not eat them . then observe the following method , viz. make of fine thin canvas baggs , both for your strong beer , ale and small beer , and put such a quantity of your wormwood as you think fit into them , and when your several sorts of drink is working in the tun , then hang these baggs in your working drink for three hours , and then take them out ; this being an approved way , which do impregnate or imbibe the fine airy spirituous vertues of the wormwood into the drink . the natural and common vertues of this drink is , it warms and strengthens the stomack , fines the blood , purgeth by urine , generates like pure spirits , and drink thus made , if not too strong nor too great a quantity drank , then it will prove a friend both to the eyes & head. — as well as to the stomach . healths grand preservative , or the womens best doctor . chap. i. of the nature and operation of bandy , rumm , and rack , which of late years are become as common drinks amongst many , as beer and ale , not only in england , but also in all the west-indies where the english inhabit , and of the evil consequences that do attend the drinkers thereof . brandy , rumm , rack , and other distilled spirits are all very pernicious and hurtful to the health of the body , if not sparingly taken on extraordinary occasions in a physical way ; for the intention of all such chymical preparations , when first invented , was for medi●inal uses , and not be used as common drink , as of late years indiscreetly they are , to the destruction of many thousands , the frequent use of them contracting such grievous and stubborn diseases , as for the most part are incurable . 1. all such spirits as are drawn by common distillation , though those cruel sulphurous fires , where the air hath not its free egress and regress , atheir volatile spirit and balsamick body , is as it were totally destroy'd : as for example , take the best sack ( which is the richest and most cordial of all wines , and hath the greatest body ) put it into a limbeck , or any other furnace of the like nature , and draw it off , and you shall have nothing but a strong harsh fiery spirit or brandy . the same you shall have if you distill sugar , only it yields a stronger spirit , for the more balsamick the body of any thing is , the stronger and fiercer is its spirit , when that balsamick body , and the pure volatile spirits are destroyed or separated from it . now here you will see , that the volatile spirit and sweet cordial qualities or body , both in the sack and also in the sugar , are destroved , and there doth remain , as is said before , only a fierce harsh brimstony spirit , void of all the wholsome qualities sack and sugar did contain ; for the volatile spirit or tincture , is the essential life of every thing , and its the maintainer of its colour , smell and taste . now these pure spirits will not endure any violent heat or harsh fire , but through the fiery heat , and want of the free egress and regre is of the air , they presently become suffocated , and then the sweet balsamick body is turned sour ; for this sweet balsamick body is the pleasant hab tation of the volatile spirit , and this pure spirit is the true life of that balsamick body ; they are inseparable companions , the one cannot subsist without the other ; destroy either , and both die . therefore all such spirits so drawn , do lose their balsamick body with all their cordial virtues and tinctures , put what herbs or liquors you will into such furnaces , they are presently plundered of their natural colour , and run off white , whereby it appears , that this common way of distillation destroys the pure natural virtues and tincture , for from the tincture proceeds all the variety of colours , both in vegetables , minerals , and animals , so that such spirits do only contain a harsh fierce fiery nature , and for that reason , if they be frequently drunk , do prey upon the natural heat , and by degrees weaken it , destroying the very life of nature , by way of simile : for every like works upon its likeness , whence it comes to pass , that in those who addict themselves to the drinking of these high fiery or brimstony spirit , their natural heat grows cold and feeble , and their app●tites are weakened , they destoying the power of the digestive faculty of the stomach , so that many such people after eating , are forced to drink a dram to help concoction ; all other drinks proving too cold for them , which constrains them to continue seoping of such liquor ; a sad remedy , when we go about to help a mischief by encreasing the application of the same ill means which first occacsioned it ; for these wrathful spirit , have awakened the central heat , which is the root of nature , that ought not to have been awakened or kindled , for if the central heat be stirred up by any unnatural meats or drinks , or other violence done to nature , then presently follows the consumption of the radical moisture , and the pure spirits and lively tinctures become suffocated , wherein consists the essential life of nature . and as in the before-mentioned example , the pure spirit and balsamick body in sack will not endure these cruel harsh sulphurous fires , where the air hath not its sree influence , but presently becomes suffocated , or destroy'd , & the most pleasant sweetness thereof turned into a stink , so neither will the radical spirits and pure oyl in the body , endure those sulphurous flames , and fierce spirits , without sustaining the like prejudice ; for that pure vertue or essential principle , which the lord in the creation endued every thing with ( which is the true life thereof , ) will not endure any violent motion or harsh fire to touch them ; especially if the circulation of the air be wanting , as it is in all such distillations , for these spirits are are so pure and subtle , that when any injury is offered to them , they either evaporate or become suffocated ; for this essential powder or pure life , is the moderator or friendly quality in all minerals , vegetables and animals , which doth mix and qualifie the harsh fiery dark principal , and does allay and moderate the cruel harsh nature of the dark fire , as does plainly appear in all the fore-mentioned liquors , and also in charcoal , for before the sack , or any balsamick liquor , was put in the still and drawn off , those very same fiery harsh sulphurous spirits were essentially in the wine , or whatever else it be , for it is the root of nature , and the original to every life , but being mixed or incorporated with the balsamick body and pure spirit , the fiery fierce sulphurous spirit is thereby swallowed up , and as it were hid and moderated ; for in what thing soever the pure balsamick body is predominant , there this dark furious spirit is hid or captivated ; an example whereof we have in sugar , where when the sweet balsamick body is potent , there also this fiery sulphurus spirit is strong , but not manifest ; but as soon as this essential spirit and balsamick body are separated or destroyed , this dark fiery brimstony spirit appears in its own form , and becomes like a mad furious devil in nature , its cloathing being the dark fire ; for this spirit hath lost its sweet water or friendly life in its separation , which before did qualifie its harsh fierce fire , it also loseth its pure colour , or bright native shine , because the essential oyl is consumed , in that separation , so that there doth remain no true life nor light in it , but being set on fire , its flame is of a dim brimstony colour , which demonstrates that the dark wrathful properties of saturn and mars , and their fierce fires are predominate in all such liquors or spirits . this is further manifest in charcoal ( as war hinted before ) which is made of wood , but in the making thereof the pure oyl or sweet water , which is the essential life of the wood , is suffocated or destroyed , for from that friendly quality , the wood had its bright shine or flamo , which is of a benevolent refreshing operation : now this pure oyl or balsamick body , the essential life and moderator of all harsh fiery dark fumes or qualities in the wood , being suffocated or totally destroyed in the making it , whereby the original dark sulphurous fire becomes strong and raging , giving greater and stronger heat than the fire of wood , but its flame is not bright , clear , and refreshing as that of wood , but it is of dim brimstony colour , sending forth strong fulsome fumes and va●ours very offensive to the pure spirits and health of those that are near it ; for having lost its pure spirits and oyl of life , in its making into charcoal , there does only remain in it , the fierce dark original fire , an untamable devouring spirit in nature ; for every quality in nature hath power only to kindle and awaken its likeness ; therefore all such things as have lost their pure spirits and balsamick body in the separation or preparation , must needs endanger the health , because they do awaken by simile their own , or like poysonous properties in the body ; and if it were not so , a little poyson taken into the body , would not destroy the life ; but poy●ons taken in , do by simile joyn or incorporate themselves with the internal poyson or destructive principle in the body , which before laid hid , or as a man may say , was mode●●●ted or captivated by the sweet body and pure spirits , even as the fiery spirits of brandy are in sack or sugar ; but so soon as the outward poyson that is taken in , incorporates it self with the inward poyson in the body , it does so powerfully strengthen and awaken it , that in a moment it over comes the pure oyl of life , and the pure spirits become suffocated , and then the natural life is at an end , for every property in nature ( both in the evil and also in the good ) does with highest diligence seck out its likeness , and wheresoever it findeth its simile , there it joyns forces , and mightily stirreth up its own quality ; which when it happens in the evil nature , as it does in brandy , rumm , rack , and other distilled liquors , then it endangers the health and wellfare of the body . nor is it otherwise in all sorts of food and other drinks , if the pure vertue thereof be separated or any way destroyed , for then forth with the dar● brimstony spirit is set at l●berty , which before the separation , the balsamick body and pure spirits did qualifie and hold captive , that it could not manifest its self in its own nature , but being separated from the good properties and friendly principle , this dark fiery sulphurous spirit , becomes of a furious nature and operation , endeavouring to bring all in subjection to it self ; therefore such liquors or spirits frequently taken , burn up the radical moisture and natural heat , and are grreedy devourers of the sweet oyl in the body , whence proceeds general obstructions , crude windy humours , consumptions , unnatural heats and flushings , loss of appetite , reachings to vomit , and many other disorders ; and if those of the female sex take to drink such spirits , as of late years they do too frequently , the evils are doubled unto them . 2. in all the before-mentioned spirits that have passed through those cruel harsh fires where the air hath not its free egress and regress , the pure spirit and sweet body is totally destroyed , which is the root of motion and fermentation ; therefore such spirits will not work or ferment as all other drinks and liquors will , even water it self ; but you may put what quantity of sugar you will to brandy , ramm , or any other distilled spirits , they will continue a strong fire , void of mo●ion or fermentation ; this doth further declare that all the good principles and vertues are destroyed by the preparation , and that there remains only a strong fixed fire , which has its uses in physick , as is mentioned before , but not otherwise . 3. such spirits being frequently drunk , do generate various diseases , according to each mans nature and constitution , and the climate whether hot or cold , for they do powerfully prey upon the natural heat , consuming the sweet oyl and pure spirits , for the balsamick body and pure spirits of all such liquors being destroyed , in the preparation , they become an extream , which nature in her simplicity hates , and for this cause such liquors cannot administer any proper or agreeable nourishment to the body , or to the pure spirits ; it cannot give what it hath not , it hath only power to awaken the central heat or fire , which ought not to have been kindled ; and this it doth by a sympathetical operation , for all meats and drinks have power in the body to awaken and strengthen their likeness ; for this reason all wise men skilled in the mysteries of nature , have commended simple meats and drinks , because most such things are as it were equal in their parts , having no manifest quality that does predominate violently over the other , but yet contains a sufficient noarishment for the body , and also for the spirit ; for meats and drinks ought to be equal in their parts , the spirit ought not to be separated from the body , nor the body from the spirit , but both ought to be administred together ; for the body without the spirit is of a gross heavy dull or dead nature , and the spirit without the body is too violent and fiery , but the health of mans body and mind , doth chiefly consist in the equality of both ; do not all meats and drinks wherein any quality or property of nature is ●xtream ( whether it be in vertue , or harmfulness ) if not sparingly taken , certainly discompose the harmony both of the body and mind ? for every quality begets its likeness , and so on the contrary ▪ concord and harmony are tain'd by their likenesses ; if there be not a sympathetical agreement between the stomach and the meats and drinks , both in quality and quantity , the unity and concord of the properties of nature are immediately broken , whence proceeds various diseases according to the degrees of the disorder . this every one ought to understand , or else they may unadvisedly lay heavier burdens than nature can bear ; for most diseases are generated through surplusage of nourishment . for unto weak heats there ought to be administred a proportionable food , but stronger heats will admit of stronger foods and greater quantity , which all persons might know , if they would but observe the operation of their own natures ; for no health nor harmony can be continued where the parts do disagree aniong themselves . what harmony can the most skilful master of musick make , if the strings of his instruments be some too sharp , and others too flat ; even so it is in the elements of the body , and also in the mind . 4. for man is the most beautiful and perfectest of all god's creation , and ●is image , called by the antients , the lesser world ; for in him is contained the true nature and properties of all elements ; numbers , weights , and measures , therefore man is both capable of and and ●lable to receive all all impressions , and to be influenced by all things he communicates with , or joyns himself unto , as all sorts of meats , drinks , imployments , communications , and whatever else he suffers his will or desires to enter into , the same things have power respectively to awaken their similes , therefore all extreams are perilous to the health : if men and women were but sensible of the danger , and terrible diseases that are contracted by the frequent eating and drinking of those things that are unequal in themselves , as brandy , rumm and other spirituous drinks and high prepared foods , they would not so eagerly desire them . do not all or most that do accustome themselves to such things , quickly spoil their their healths ? nature is simple and innocent , and the simplicity thereof cannot be continued , but by sobriety and temperance in meats and drinks that are simple and harmless , which will not only gratifie nature , but contribute both due and moist nourishment , for beyond all lushious fat , compounded dishes of the richest food , and spirituous drinks , as it appears by many hundreds of poor people , who are constrained by pure necessity , not by wisdom , to live for the most part on simple food and mean drinks , their labour hard , cloathing thin , open air , cold houses , small fires , hard beds , standing on earthen floors ; by all which means , they are not only preserv'd in better health , but also enabled to endure labour with more ease and pleasure , than the intemperately supet fl●ous can lie a bed , or sit by the fire . o then how excellent are the ways of temperance and sobriety ! they free the body from pain , and the mind from perturbations , sweetening all god's blessings , and giving the opportunity of time , which being well employ'd , affords many benefits both to the body and mind ; for what advantage is it if a man possess the whole world , if his body be full of pain through intemperance , which for the most part , no less affecteth and indisposeth the mind . 5. brandy , rumm , and all strong spirituous drinks are far more dangerous in hot climates and countries than they are in cold , and do sooner there destroy the health , though they be bad in both , except taken in a physical way ; i know this is contrary to the vulgar notion , but it is agreeable to truth , experience and reason ; for in hot climates the natural heat is not so strong by reason of the forcible influences of the sun , which do powerfully exhale the radical moistrue , open the pores , and too violently evaporate the spirits by continual sweatings , which dulls the edge of the appetite , weakening the digestive faculty of th●●tomach , whereby the inclination to drink is increased , for which reason many desire hot spiritual drinks , because they find a present refreshment , for all such drinks do powerfully awaken the internal spirit by simile , and make men quick , lively and brisk , during the time of their operation ; which is but for a moment , but after wards they find themselves heavy , dull , and indispesed , and their stomach seeble , cold , and raw , which does in●●ce ●●dd that do acc●sto●● themselves to such drinks , to take a hare of the same dog , ( as their phrase is ) and so they drink more , and are continually the more weakened , for all such fiery strong drinks do not only prey on the natural spirits , but also too violently do evaporate them . the very same operation have all strong drinks , as wine and the like , if temperance be wanting , but not so violently as the former . therefore in hot climates there ought to be double the care and temperance in meats , drinks and exercises , as in cold , of which the natives of most hot countries might be our examples ; for they do for the most part live very temperately , their drink being generally water , or wineallay'd with water , their food mean , or more simple than ours , whereby they are better preserv'd in health ; for the constitutions of all people in hot climates are weaker , or at leastwise not so able to endure great meals of food , and superfluous drinking of strong drinks , as they are in cold . for cold countries make men hardy , strong , and able to endure intemperance , for which cause it is observed that most of the northern climates are very intemperate in drinking and eating , and in hot they are the contrary . and therefore our english are much distemper'd , and many die when they travel into the west and east indies , because they take wrong measures , continuing the same disorder and intemperance as they did in their own country , or rather encreasing it , which nature cannot bear without manisest prejudice . 6. it is to be noted , that those that do accustom themselves to the frequent drinking of the forementioned fiery spiritual drinks in all the plantations in the west indies , and also the common-eating of salt-fish and flesh , which are all great extr●ams , do thereby become very obnoxious to the dry belly-ach , or griping of the guts , dropsies and the gout , for all such food and drink does violently stir up and consume the natural heat and moisture , wherethe digestive faculty of the stomach is rendered unable to concoct or make any perfect separation , either of the food or drink , which oppresses the whole body , whence are generated evil iui●es that fall into the joynts , infeebling and torturing them , and this is the original of the gout in other complexions , these disorders consume the airy flesh of the bones , taking away their natural strength and vigour , so that they languish away by degrees , and these you call consumptions , in others for want of heat and moisture , the excrement in the bowels is contracted into so hard a substance , that it cannot pass , and there is hardly a medicine found that will cure it , this is that which the learned call the illiacal passion , and the vulgar , the plague in the guts , being one of the most tormenting diseases in the world. and in other bodies the central heat being wasted by such unfit meats and drinks , so that great part of the food turns into a flux of humours , both windy and watry , which swell the lower parts of the body , and this is the generation of your dropsies ; but as god is always good , and his hand-maid nature , an indulgent mother , so they have as it were , chalk'd out the means , and prescribed a diet whereby these diseases may be prevented , would men but be so wise as to observe and follow it ; for all hot climates do furnish the natives with wonderful variety and plenty of herbs and fruits , far exceeding cold countries therein , both in quantity and quality ; for in those hot regions , the sun hath greater power to prepare all such things : and if our english would but accustom themselves to such harmless natural simple foods and moderate drinks , the forementioned distempers would hardly be known . 7. it is also to be noted , and much to be pitied , that of late years many english women have betaken themselves to the drinking of brandy and other spirits , and have invented the black-cherry-brandy which is in great esteem , so that she is no body that hath not a bottle of it stand at her elbow , or if ever so little qualm or disorder be on the stomach , or perhaps meerly fancied , then away to the brandy-bottle ; so that when such people come to be sick , which most of them are very subject unto , the physiciaus do not know what to adninister , they having in their health used themselves to such high fiery drinks , that their cordials seem like water to them : besides , there are many fatal inconveniencies attend the female sex , more than than the male , in drinking such drinks ; most of which are not so proper to be publickly mentioned in this place , and therefore i shall forbear , but some i cannot but instance in ; and though perhaps some women too much addicted to the delights of the bottle , may be offended with me for telling them the truth , and endeavouring to wean them from the beloved dram , yet to do them good , i shall venter the hail-shot of their tongues , and hope they will in time grow so wise , as not to indulge a foolish sottish humour , when it tends apparently to destroy , not only their own healths , and shortning of their lives , but likewise entails diseases and destruction on their poor innocent children ; for it is not only against the feminine nature to drink strong drinks , but also destructive to the generation of mankind ; it makes them masculine and robustick , filling them with fury and madness , and many other indecencies , which are no less pernicious than shameful in a woman . lt also distempers them by causing fumes and vapours to fly into the head , generating wind in abundance . therefore the wise antients did account it a crime for women to drink strong drink or wine , tho' their countries did afford wine in abundance ; and good reason they had , for the whole preservation of mankind resides chiefly in the temperance and government of the women ; if they are intemperate , the radix of men is corrupted ; are we not like to have very fine , hopeful , healthy children , when the mother by excessive pampering her unweildy carcass , has contracted more diseases than an hospital ? or when they are put out to some drunken nurse , that instead of affording them wholsome natural milk , suckles them up with the unconcocted dregs of that brandy with which she daily overcharges her filthy stomach ? the nature of women will not bear excess in meats and drinks , as mens will , without manifest danger to their healths , and also to the health of their children ; most windy diseases both in women and children , being caused by their intemperance both in quantity and quality , they overcharging their nature with food containing too much nourishment , and drinks that are too strong . this is chiefly observable amongst wanton citizens and the richer sort of people , who pay dearly for the lickerishness of their palats , by the diseases that thence arise , they being much more distempered than the ordinary pains-taking people . i confess their are hardly any women in the world so intemperate and such great lovers of there bellies as the english , nor is there any nation more subject to variety of diseases ; and therefore they are afflicted with divers distempers , which women in other countries know nothing of . and as our children are generally weak , peuling , rickety , and sickly , so the occasion thereof is too evident , since they are almost made gluttons from the very cradle , their mothers gorging and feeding them till they loath their victuals , and often cast it up again ; and when they have been cramming all day , the good woman entertains her gossips with stories , what a little stomach her child has , and that she can get it to eat nothing , and she wonders how it lives , and indeed so she may , but for a quite contrary reason , for this oppressing nature with excess in youth , is not only the cause of the death of many , but in others it sows such seeds , and lays foundations for distempers , that they can scarce out-grow them , also many women out of the like foolish fondness , give their children strong drink , which is very destructive to their health . nor is it become unfrequent , for women not only to drink brandy , but also to smoak tobacco ; which two things have a great affinity , tobacco being an herb of mars , and its poysonous fulsome attractive nature from saturn ; the common use of it in pipes is very injurious to all sorts of people , but more especially to the female bex , except it be taken very sparingly in a physical way , for some watery and windy diseases , but the usual taking of it destroys the physical vertues and operation thereof ; only the daily smoaking it may be profitable to gluttons , and those that eat and drink to superfluity of rich food and strong drink , and live idle lives , for such want evacuations , but exercise and temperance were much better for their health . tobacco and brandy are certainly utter enemies to women , and also to their children , for their spirits and balsamick body , whence their true life shines , is more volatile and tender than mens , and their natural heat is not so strong , for this cause women cannot bear or endure any extreams , either in meats , drinks , or exercises , without manifest danger to their healths , they being generally more sanguine than men , and their central heat weaker , therefare all kind of inequality makes deeper impression on them , and they are sooner moved to all kinds of passions : for women in their radix are compounded more of the sweet friendly sanguine nature , their dignifica●ion being chiefly from the element of water , but the root of mens nature is from the strong might of the fire . and for the same cause women are more chaste than men , and of colder natures , tho' many men do believe the contrary , but they are greatly mistaken in this particular , having no true understanding of nature ; they have judged thus hardly of women , because many of them are so easily drawn into inconveniencies by the pretended friendship of men , but i do affirm , that their being so easily overcome , is not from their unchaste desires , but chiefly from their friendly courteous efleminate natures , being of a yielding temper , which is essentially in the root of their lives , and when a man has once awakened in them the love-string , which is quickly done , he may command them as he pleases ; now finding them comply , they imagine that of them which they find in themselves : not but that some women are as unchaste as men ; but then such , through the power of their depraved free-wills and wanton imaginations , have forced nature out of her simple innocent ways , compelling her often to do that which she perfectly loaths . the wise antients understanding this nature and constitution of women , and considering that the whole welfare and health of mankind depended chiefly on their temperance and discreet conduct , did therefore direct them to an higher degree of temperance , and thought it requisite , and so absolutely necessary , that both the drink alotted for women in most countries , was , and is to this day pure water , and their food as innocent and natural ; they eat flesh sparingly , living much on raw and boiled herbs , fruits and greens , which is a most sublime diet. and by this means their women and children are not afflicted with such a number of cruel diseases . there is no country in the world where their children and young people are so generally subject to the small pox , kings-evil , joynt-aches , and many leperous and languishing diseases ; how many of them yearly die with convulsions and windy distempers , which generally they receive from their mothers ? how many miseries and aking hearts do women endure with their sickly children ? and what women are free from vapors and windy diseases , fainting fits , weak joynts and backs , their blood corrupted , breaking out in small spots in the flesh of several colours , their stomach cold , and their natural heat not able to digest their food without a dram , & c ? for all which evils , there is no remedy so long as our women do continue the frequent eating of fat gross flesh ( without herbs ) and other sweet high prepared food , and drinking strong liquors , as brandy , &c. and taking tobacco ; for these things do continually heat the whole body , thereby awakening the central heat , which is very injurious to women , for it presently sends fumes and vapours into the head , and the fierce fires with venemous particles do penetrate the whole body , drying up , and consuming the pleasant , moist , cool , airy vapours , suffocating the pure spirits , which otherwise would replenish the whole body and sharpen the appetite ; it also dulls the senses , and possesses the blood with a sharp fretting humour , and hinders its free circulation , causing the pure natural spirits , whose habitation is in the blood , to become impure , whence arises a general indisposition over the whole body . therefore all that love their own health , or the good of their children , ought to refrain such hurtful food , and learn to know , that brandy , tobacco , and all such things , are to be taken sparingly , and no otherwise than as people take physick . caap. ii. of flesh , and its operation in the body , and also on the senses . that the continual eating thereof , without the due distinction of proper times and seasons , does darken the spirits , and distempers nature . likewise of the exellency of herbs , fruits , and their inward operation on the body and mind . the eating of flesh was not allowed or practised in the first and purer ages , when men gave themselves to the study of wisdom , viz. to the knowledge of themselves , and were partakers of god's secrets in divine and humane things , and enjoy'd health and long life , drawn out to the age of many hundred years . for thus the holy scripiure tells us , gen. 1. the lord said , behold ! i have given to you every herb bearing seed , which is upon the face of all the earth , and every tree in which it the fruit of a tree yielding seed , to you it shall be for meat . and in another place it is said , flesh with the blood thereof , you shall not eat . it is not said , that the lord made all creatures for man to eat , as i have heard many affirm , but he made them for his own glory and eternal honour , and for the manifestation of his wonders , and that men should have dominion over all creatures and created things , which man hath lost by suffering his desires and imaginations to enter into the bestial nature , which does by degrees captivate the noble parts in men. but the wise ancients for divers ages of the world , did know but little of the variety of flesh and strong drinks , or of compounded dishes of twenty sorts of things , most of them of disagreeing natures : no , their food was simple and natural , easie to be procured without oppression to themselves , or to any of god's creatures , as herbs , fruits and grains , and pure water for drink , which things are endued with a most simple nature and operation , which neither dulleth the head by fumes , nor stupifies the senses by surplusage of nourishment , but being well prepared , and eaten moderately , do nourish by way of simile its like qualities in the body , being of lighter digestion , and of a more airy operation than flesh , being also void of all inclinations , senses , or passions of love or hate , whose original is more clean and nearer the unity in nature ; therefore the philosophical antients in former ages , incouraged the eating of herbs , fruits and grains , but on the contrary , made laws against the common eating of flesh without distinction . the great and most illuminated prophet moses did not admit the children of israel to eat any flesh during their forty years march through the wilderness : 't is true , when the people did murmur , the lord being provoked , gave them flesh in his wrath , and afterwards when they were admitted to eat flesh , it was with such distinctions , and with so many circumstances as could not be performed , but by abundance of labour and trouble , and other inconveniencies , by which laws and observations many of god's creatures became of little or no use in the creation , as swine and the like , if indeed they had only been made for men to eat . but the lord never commanded his people in any age to abstain from any thing , but it was always for their preservation ; for abstinence , cleanness , and sobriety in meats , drinks , exercises , and communications , do work wonderful effects , and have a sympathetical operation both in the body and senses , rendering the observers thereof healthful , with brisk powerful spirits , watchful , prndent , of good forecast , able to give council , and for matters of learning , they do easily grow to an excellency in the knowledge of themselves , and in all other things whereunto they do apply themselves . and as for prayers , meditations and contemplations , they do perform them with great facility , pleasure and spiritual delight , being always fresh in their minds , and free from diseases in their bodies . by this way of sobriety , cleanness and temeperance , many of the antients became admirable both in divine and humane wisdom ; 't is well known how scrupulously the pythagoreans ( one of the most learned and mysterious of all the sects of gentile philosophers ) abstained from flesh. the divine writer and great prophet moses , testifies that god made man in his own image ; and that he should have dominion over all things or creatures , not that he should eat all things , or hurt himself by devouring them , nor suffer his desires to enter into them , nor theirs into him , for man is a prince in this world , and in him is contained the true nature of all the inferior creatures ; for it it were not so , he could not be their prince , nor be sustained by them . and tho' man was made greater than other creature that is visible , and to be lord over all , yet nevertheless he having a simile with the nature of all things , is thereby rendered capable to be wrought on by every inferior thing he shall suffer his desires to enter into , and by degrees he is liable to become captivated unto that thing , be it either good or or evil ; for every like ( as i told you before ) works on and awakens its likeness ; this was the reason why moses commanded that unclean beasts should not be eaten , that the humane nature might not mix or incorporate in it self the beastial qualities ; for every indvidual man has essentially in him the true natures and essences of all the beasts of the field , and fishes of the sea , as also of all herbs and fruits , stones and minerals , and whasoever else can be thought of ; for it this were not so , then man would not be subject to be wrought on by all , neitheir would the various sorts of food agree with him or nourish him . the wise antients understanding this , and that every thing had power to attract unto it self such matter out of all things , as is capable to nourish its own body , therefore in those days the eating of flesh was not in such reputation as of late years it hath been ; especially as it is in england , who do make it their chief food ; all vegetables and fruits being in themselves of a clean simple nature and operation , which being well prepared and temperately eaten , have only power to waken their similies in the body and senses as foresaid . but on the contrary , all beasts , especially unclean beasts , are endu●d with all kind of beastial passions , as anger , revenge , covetousness , love and hate , which dispositions and passions of the flesh , but especially the blood , doth retain after such animals are killed ; and for that reason it was , that the blood of all sorts of beasts was so strictly forbidden , for the essential spirits dwell in the blood , and in the blood and spirits lie hid all the dispositions and inclinations the creature was endued withal , and therefore all sorts of flesh that were permitted to be eaten , were to be well purged from the blood. and also this same blood was either to be consumed by fire , or an hole made in the earth and the blood cast into it and covered , that the wrathful spirits and vapours thereof might not defile the air , which is continually breathed into our bodies ; for when any creature is killed , the great pain and agony they endure , does so powerfully awaken the center of the wrathful fire , and also the internal poysons which are the root of every life , that the said fierce poysonous spirits seize the blood on their right fountain of preservation , so that the blood does not only contain all the natural dispositions , passions and inclinations , but also the awakened poysons and irritated spirits which were violently stirred up by death's stroke . for when the natural life is in danger ( the continuation of which is so sweet unto all creatures , and they do so unwillingly part with it , especially when the creature is in perfect health , and strength ) what a strange fear and dread must needs attend the creature in this condition ? and how strongly and violently are all the centers and powers of nature stirred up ? and then are awakened the revengful spirits , which do contain the blood , for that is their habitation , which in this agonous condition does often spread it self through the whole body , and makes the flesh look red , but this is generally drawn back again by the drawing away of the blood where the wound is made . now if this blood be exposed to the open air , these fiery dark wrathful spirits do by degrees evaporate and incorporate themselves with the air , and so defiles it , and renders it pernicious . the very same is to be understood in all other uncleannesses ; and these are the chief reasons why the prophet moses commanded the blood either to be burnt on the altar , or buried in the earth , tho' there doth remain somewhat more to be said , why he commanded the blood to be consumed on the altar by fire , which i shall forbear , and speak of it in its proper place ; for those fiery wrathful spirits that do evaporate themselves into the air , being continually breathed into the body by such people as do communicate near such places , as slaughter-houses , and the like , and more especially those that are of killing imployments , those awakened wrathful spirits do enter them , and powerfully incorporate themselves with their similies ; for this cause all butchers and others , that do use such trades , are more fierce and cruel , sooner moved to wrath than others ; killing is as easie and familar to them as plowing the land is to the husbandman ; and in a word , they are far more inclined to violence than men of other imployments are . the same is to be understood in all other trades , and also in communications , as those that are brought up and have their conversasions amongst horses , are not most of them robustick , proud , bold and surly , like the creatures they communicate with ; the same is likewise to be understood in many other hard working rough trades and imployments ; are not most of them rash , head-strong , scarce endued with common humanity ? there is nothing so good , or so bad , but man is capable of being captivated to it ; from this ground it is that weak inclinations , that a man in himself is hardly sensible of , may either by imployments or communications be made strong , which is one reason why mens inclinations and their love and hate alters and changes , according to time , place , business , and communication , as some men have declared , that they did not fear being overcome with drink , women , or the like evils , becaue at that time they found no inclinations to such things , nevertheless , time , opportunity , communications , and other circumstances concurring , many of them have been overcome by those vices they so little stood in fear of , though also astrologick configurations , and influences have a share in altering and changing mens inclinations , and more especially when other causes concur : for this cause the most prudent in all ages have advised all men to avoid evil occasions , and the apostle paul saith , that evil communication corrupts good manners , the truth of which no man will or can deny . now if imployments , communications , labours , words , and all kind of outward business , have so great power of changing and altering dispositions and inclinations , increasing them , and the contrary , how can we imagine but meats and drinks received into the body , will have the same or greater power and operation , as those that feed much on unclean elesh , as on swine , and that have their conversation amongst animals , are not many of them much like those creatures , of sottish , dull , heavy , sordid dispositions , yet subtle and cunning in a bestial way ? and on the contrary , those that drink wine , and feed on the highest food , have not they spirits accordingly ? also those whose conversation is amongst men , as citizens and merchants ; have they not higher and greater spirits , being more tractable and humane , fair and ingenious in all their dealings , and conversations ? for all things have sympatheticil operation , whether it be imployments , meats , drinks or communications , every thing does secretly awaken its like property , which do often captivate the spirit of a man before he is sensible of it , being ignorant of the nature and sympathetical operation all things have with his own nature . 't is true , most men believe that evil company corrupts manner , and will acknowledge that some sorts of imployments do by degrees dispose people to inhumanity , violence and cruelty ; but if you tell them there is the same possibility and greater in meats , to vary not only mens bodies , but also their inclinations and minds , they shall laugh at it as a ridiculous dream , though in truth it is a most certain truth , and daily experience ( if we would but ●ear her voice ) bears witness unto it . why did moses prohibit his people the eating of swines flesh , seeing swine are not serviceable unto mankind any other way , but by being killed and eaten ; and besides , a swine is a creature , that being well ordered , becomes as wholesome nourishment , as some other animals that are counted clean , though there is somewhat to be said against the grossness of that sort of flesh ; but the chief thing the spirit of god in that great prophet regarded , was , no doubt , the spirit of that creature whose original and predominant quality stands in the dark wrath of nature , which is manisested by their shapes , cri●s , and tones , which spirit the humane nature ought not to joyn it self unto , lest it partakes of its nature , every thing having power to joyn its self with its likeness , and to strengthen its own property , doth not wine and strong drink precipitate men into fury and madness by simile ? that is , the spirits in wine do incorporate themselves with the natural spirits , and violently awaken them , making them burn too fierce , which sets nature into a rage , awakening the central spirits till all parts of the body burn like fire , till the oyl be consumed , and nature begins to languish , becoming dull , heavy , and stupid . the very same operation have all food in the body , and on the spirits and senses , but more slowly and hidden ; for great meals of food makes dull when first eaten , for all the time nature is a digesting , and making separation , ( which is four , five , or six hours a doing ) and then nature begins to be brisk and lightsome ; for what the stomach and natural heat do perform , as to fermentation and separation with the food , is done to natures hand by art in all sorts of strong drinks ; therefore all such fermented strong drinks have a present operation , but let drink be ever so strong , if it have not passed through fermentation and separation , it will lie heavy on the stomach , and send dark and dulling fumes into the head , if a quantity be drunk : therefore great meals of strong rich food , do endanger the health more than proportionable drinking of strong drinks , especially in hot countries , and in summer time in colder climates . that dispositions and inclinations are chang'd and alter'd by food , may further appear in all or most unclean creatures , are they not made much fiercer , if raw flesh and blood be given them , their wrathful unclean nature being thereby enraged and made stronger ? and is not the very flesh of those creatures men feed on , altered either for the better or worse , according to the nature of their food ; what a vast difference shall there be as to the goodness or badness , wholesomness , or unwholesomeness of the milk of the very same cow , when she feeds upon fresh delicate grass , herbs , and flowers , and when she is kept on course brewers grains , or the like ? the elements of man's body and natural spirits are compounded of the same matter as other creatures , are , and in respects , subject to the same or like alterations ; only the holy light and grace of god , which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world , if obeyed , is sufficient to subdue most natural inclinations , and to keep them within the bounds of temperance ; indeed this gift is the only power by which a man may overcome the evil and deny himself . 2. flesh is not so clean a food as herbs , seeds and fruits , for all forts of animals are subject to various passions , but on the contrary , all or most vegetables have a more simple and innocent original , therefore their operation on the body and senses is as simple , having no power to awaken any property in the body , but what is like themselves . furthermore we see that no creatures that are clean will eat flesh , except they be taught it , and brought to it by degrees ; on the other side , all such animals as naturally will eat flesh , are by all means counted unclean , as dogs , cats , bears , wolves , foxes , and many others , both in the sea and land , and most men will avoid the eating of such creatures , as being unclean in the root of their natures . therefore they desire such food as hath affinity with them , for every creature rejoyceth in its likeness . the prophet moses well understood this , when he commanded that unclean creatures and blood should not be eaten , because the blood ( as is mentioned before ) doth not only contain the spirits , but the very humour , dispositions and inclinations of the creature , therefore it was to be killed and dressed after such a manner , by which the blood and superfluous matter was extinguished , and if flesh should now be prepared after their way , we should not account it to have half the vertue as it hath in our way of preparation . indeed the way of killing and preparing of flesh and fish , that the law-giver prescribed to his people , was to cleanse the flesh from all blood in which stand the spirits , and all the dispositions and inclinations of the creature lie hid . by this means the uniting of the bestial nature with the human , was in a great measure prevented ; and for no other reason all unclean beasts , fowls and fishes were so severely forbidden . all created things have but one only ground and original . every particular creature contains the true nature and properties of the whole , only the qualities are in several degrees , one having one quality strong , and another the center , for in every creature one of the forms or properties do carry the upward dominion , and other qualities lye as it were hid , but some times do manifest themselves , but that property which is weakest may be awakened and made strong by its simile , as often comes to pass . from this very ground proceeds all sympathy and antipathy , concord and discord in this world. for all those whose predominate qualities stand nearest , and have affinity to each other , such are friendly one to another , but those whose predominate properties have antipathy each to other , such slight one another , and if the grace and holy light of god do not restrain them , they are very apt to speak evil and backbite one another . the same is to be understood in the divine principle of god's love , those that through the blessing and favour of the lord have , obtained the holy gifts of the spirit , be it more or less , all such people have affinity and bear good will each to other ; except the false prophet's opinion get in amongst them , which is a ravening wolf. every thing rejoyceth in its likeness , and the contrary in its death , therefore it is highly convenient , for every man to consider the variety and the possibility of its own nature , and that in himself is contained the true nature of every thing in the visible and invisible world , and that he bears a simile with all things , and is both capable and liable to be drawn either to vice or vertue by every thing he joyns himself to , whether meats , drinks , communications , or whatever else a man suffers his will or desires to run out after , or enter into , the same thing hath power to awaken its likeness , and for this cause all the wise men and prophets have advised to cleanness and sobriety , and to the reading of good mens books , which do stir up the good faculties in the soul , for all books do bear the image and spirits of him that wrote them , and so by simile do awaken the like spirit and desire ; and so on the contrary , if young or old give themselves to the reading of plays or books of romances , they will powerfully awaken by simile the vain wanton nature , which before lay as it were hid : therefore it was said in the revelations , come out from amongst them , and be ye separated , lest you partake of their evils . 3. the reason why most people love and so much desire flesh more than either herbs , fruits or grains , is not because it doth afford either better nourishment , or is pleasanter to the pallate or stomach , but it chiefly is because man is departed in his mind and desires from the innocent ways of god and nature , and through his free-will hath awakened the dark wrathful powers in himself , which have more affinity with the beastial nature , than with herbs or fruits : for the beasts are endued with the very same passions in all respects as men ; if it had not been so , the commandment had not been so strict against eating of flesh ; for the radix of beasts and men have a greater affinity : and the more ignorant and sottish people are , the more they desire to eat flesh , and the more flesh they eat , the more sottish , ignorant , and brutish they become . also , the more the dark poysonous wrath of god and nature is stir●ed up , and the more it does predominate in man , the more doth man desire food that hath a proportionable nature . from this very ground it is that some sorts of creatures esteem'd unclean ( whose predominant quality stands in the wrath of nature ) do so much desire unclean food , because it hath unity with their natures ; the very same is to be understood of those creatures which we call clean , they do as much on the contrary desire clean food , viz. fruits and herb , because such things have the nearest affinity with their natures ; and if men had not departed from the innocent ways of god and nature , and suffer their wills to enter into the wrath and beastial nature , they would not so much desire flesh ; for flesh cannot be eaten without violence done to nature , for the lives of all beasts are as sweet to them , and they as much desire to continue them , as men do , and as unwillingly part with them . and the groanings of these creatures that suffer oppression and pain , do awaken the wrath in them that do it , which is a certain retaliation or reward ; for all kind of cruelty does stir up and awaken the wrath of god in nature , and so on the contrary , all love and concord does powerfully beget its likeness . doth not every evil word , which does proceed and is formed from the principle of wrath and p●ssio● , carry the power of its principle with it , and awaken its simile in those to whom such words are directed ? on the contrary , do not soft and pleasant words pacifie wrath by awakening their simile ? every principle and property in nature must have its own food , or else it loseth its power and strength . mens coveting to eat so much flesh , is too plain a sign , that they are departed from that innocent and simple life for which they were made , and entered into the contrary ; for if the wrath of god in nature were not awakened beyond its proper degree , and did not predominate over the simple innocent life , then people would no more desire flesh than our holy ancestors in the first ages of the world. it is a token we are in aegypt , when we hanker so much after the flesh pots . as long as men were partakers of , and followers of the true knowledge of god's works , and lived in the simple path of nature , which led to health and long life , herbs and fruits were in as great esteem as flesh is now : it was a shame in former ages ; for a man to be seen to buy flesh , or to have carried it openly in the streets of cities , but now the best citizens count it the contrary , and make nothing to go openly to the flesh-markets in their plush-coats , and load a porter two or three time a week , with the spoils of their slaughtered fellow-creatures ; and if a man comes to their houses after dinner , there he may behold a very unpleasant sight , viz. greasy-platters , bloody-bones , and pieces of fat flesh lie up and down the kitchin , thereby rendered next door to a slaughter-house . and this trade is drove every day in the week , but more ●specially on the day they call their sabbath , tho'in truth they do not make it so , but rather a day of feasting , a day wherein they bury the dead bodies of slaughtered beasts , and a day on which our english belly-slaves and gluttons , make their servants do more work than any other day of the week , as to dressing of food . and day likewise whereon most people cloath themselves in all their bravery , and the women go to church to take notice who has the finest cloathes and the newest fashions , &c. but why do i blame the women , the men have been the occasion of all this and much more . if those of each sex did hearken to the voice of god and nature , they would forsake such sinful vanities , and not thus seek death in the error of their lives ; i have drawn the curtain , and given them a brief view of natures school , wherein the sons of wisdom learn to obey her dictates , and by their prudent conduct and temperance , avoid those many torturing diseases of body , and distracting perturbations of mind , to which the rest of the world necessarily enslave themselves 〈◊〉 their perverse folly . what i have delivered , is the very doctrine of nature , approved by religion , justified by reason , and confirmed by experience : those that wilfully slight so many monitors , will scarce deserve pity in their misery . chap. iii. i. of cleanness in food . what is more profitable for all lovers of health and wisdom , than food that is radically clean ? and as bread hath deservedly the first place , together with herbs , and various sorts of excellent fruits ; so the next is milk , which of it self is a brave , mild , and most friendly food to nature , very fit and profitable for all ages and complexions ; and if it do not agree with some people , it is because their stomachs are made sharp and sowred by superfluity of dainty food , and the continual use of strong drink . also milk being altered , it makes many sorts of wholesom healthy food . next to these , are various sorts of flesh , which being killed in their proper times and seasons , and when they are free from their uncleannesses , surfeits , and other inconveniences , which most beasts are subject to ; and if care be taken also that they be well and moderately seasoned with salt , and boyled in plenty of river of spring-water ( which is the best of all waters , except rain-water ) they become wholesom nourish●●nt . for , river-water hath the advantage of running through various sorts of earth , by which it sucks into it self a fat , oyly , and saline quality , which the surface of the earth does plentifully afford ; which also is the cause of all vegitation , and the lovely green colour , which all vegetables are cloth'd with , does arise from this saline quality . for these reasons , river-water will brew , boil , and wash , and it is more profitable in all uses in houswifery , than spring or pump-water , and far wholesomer for men and beasts to drink . also your vessel in which your food is boiled , ought to be uncovered all the time it boils ; for if the air have not its free egress and regress , the pure spirits in the food become as it were suffocated , and then the food so prepared becomes dull and heavy ; for the air is the essential life of the spirit ; and all food that hath not plenty of water , and the free influences of the air , in its preparation , does certainly lose its natural colour , with the pure smell and taste : for if those three qualities be not preserved in all preparations of food , then the genuine vertue and lively tinctutes are in part lost . the same is to be observed in all physical operations . and if the above-mentioned order be not observed , then the food is not so pleasant to the palate , nor so easie of concoction ; it lies heavy in the stomach , dulling and stupifying the senses ; it generates a gross nourishment , and bad blood , whence does proceed many diseases : whereas if the above-mentioned rules be observed , and your fire quick , that your food do not stand still , or cease from boiling , till it be sufficiently done , the effects are contrary . it is also much better the food should be a little under-prepared , than too much : for when the gross phlegmatick body of any food is by preparation digested , then presently the lively spirituous quality is set at liberty , whence does proceed a most pleasant smell and taste ; which pleasant quality , before the preparation , lay hid or captivated in the body of phlegm ; but so soon as this phlegmatick body is in part d●troye● , the spirit becomes volatile ; and then , if the preparation be continued , those pure spirits do either become suffocated , or evaporate ; and then the sweet balsamick body turns as it were sowr . for these reasons , all sorts of food , either over-prepared , or twice prepared , are of a strong fulsome taste and smell ; as all meats heat again , and also pottages , and all such things , do obstruct nature , and generate many diseases . but if the forementioned rules be observed , the food so prepared is not only more pleasant to the palate , but far lighter of digestion , and breeds better blood. for that universal distemper ( the scurvy ) which reigns so much in england , is chiefly caused by food ill prepared , and the eating of too much flesh , and fat things , especially in the improper seasons of the year , viz. from iuly to the last of november . in this season the sun , which is the true life and power of all things , declines ; and all sorts of herbage ▪ which is the food of all beasts that are generally eaten , doth the same : the grass all this season is fraught with a gross phlegmatick matter ; besides , it is a fainty hot time ; the air , which is the cherishing life of all things , is more gross , and full of humidity , than all other times of the year ; the spirits of all sorts of creatures are also weak , and on any accidents are quickly wounded , or evaporated , more especially those beasts that come from remote parts to great cities . besides , it is then the principal time of their generating , which renders them unclean . are not the people tenfold as sickly in this season , and double the number die , than they do at other times ? also you may observe , that the rots amongst sheep , and murrains that attend other beasts , are all or most of them in this season : therefore all sorts of people ought to be more careful of their health , both in exercises , meats , and drink , that they do not exceed either in quantity , nor eat things that are improper in quality . this is the time that all shepherds , and also those that are drivers of horses , and indeed all that have the government of cattel , ought to have and use double the prudence in the management of them , than at other seasons of the year , as i have more largely discoursed in a small treatise , of the ●●●servation of sheep from the rot , and horses from surfeits . there are three marks by which every one may know whether the flesh be good . the first is by its pure white and brisk red colour , when raw. the second is by its continuing its firmness , being plump or swelled when boiled , having a brisk and lively taste , and that after eating it feels easie and pleasant in the stomach . the third is , by its taking salt well ; for if your flesh be free from heat and surfeits , and not over-fed , which charge● the body with gross phlegm ; as also , if it be not kept longer after it is killed ( as indeed it ought not ) than it be thought to be cold , before it is salted ; all such flesh will take salt greedily , and it will not only keep longer from putrifaction , but it will eat much sweeter , and breed better nourishment . for , if any sort of cattel be over-fed , surfeited , or any other inconveniency attends them , and they be killed before they have recovered themselves of those injuries ; or if it le in august , september , or october , this flesh will not take salt so well as the former , neither will the saltpreserve it half so long from corruption . also as it is before-mentioned , if flesh 〈◊〉 kept too long after it be killed , such flesh will not receive salt into it , as other will , which is salted as soon as it is cold : for by keeping it does certainly lose its pure spirituous quality , so that the body becomes heavy , gross , and dull . does not the life and spirits of most sorts of food waste and evapor●te by keeping , if there be not a proper way of preservation used ? if flesh , by any inconveniences , have lost its pure lively spirits and vertue , salt then hath no power to preserve such flesh from putrifaction : for salt cannot preserve the body from corruption , but by vertue of the pure subtil spirits , which are a pleasant habitation for the salt to incorporate it self with : for salt will not preserve flesh from putrifaction , any longer than the vertue and power of the spirit does continue , as it does appear by all salted flesh and fish : for through length of time the spirits become either suffocated , or evaporated , and then it presently falls into purtifaction : and yet this same flesh does still contine salt ; for salt does not destroy and p●●ge the flesh from its corruption , but incorporates it self with the essential spirits , and those two do as it were tye or hold the corrupt part captive , till the spirit and life of the flesh be spent or wasted , and then the flesh falls into putrifaction , which cannot be recovered , either by salting , or any other art , to its first state : but if the salt had purged or destroyed the humidity and gross part , then there would have been no room nor matter for putrifaction , and then it would have continued firm and found , as many other things do , which are freed from that gross humid matter from which putrifaction does proceed . therefore flesh is naturally the most unclean of all food , is being of a gross phlegmatick nature ; and if care be 〈◊〉 taken , order and temperance observed in the eater , it generates ab●ndance of crude and noxious humours . 2. cleanness in houses , especially in beds , is a great preserver of health . now beds for the most part stand in corners of chambers , and being ponderous close substances , the refreshing influences of the air have no power to penetrate or destroy the gross humidity that all such places contract , where the air hath not its free egress and regress . in these shady dull places beds are continued for many years , and hardly see the sun or elements . besides , beds suck in and receive all sorts of pernicious exc●ements that are breathed forth by the sweating of various sorts of people , which have leprous and languishing diseases , which lie and die on them : the beds , i say , receive all these several vapours and spirits , and the same beds are often continued for several generations , without changing the feathers , until the ticks be rotten . besides , we have many feathers that are imported from several countries , which are the drivings of old beds , the uncleanness whereof is not considered . as to the nature of feathers , they are of a strong , hot , fulsom quality : for , fowls , of all creatures , are for the most part the hottest ; and their feathers contain the fame nature : therefore the constant lying on soft feather-beds , does not only over-heat the back and reins , weakning the joints and nerves ; but they have power also not only to receive but retain all evil vapours and excrements that proceed from , and are breathed forth by various diseased people . hence it comes to pass , that sundry distempers are transferred from one to another , by lying upon or in such beds , which distempers do secretly steal on a man by degrees , so that he cannot imagine whence the disorder proceeds , or what the cause thereof should be . but i would not have the reader mistake me ; all people are not subject to get diseases this way ; there are some whose constitutions are strong , and their natural heat and spirits are vigorous and lively , by the power and vertue whereof they withstand and repel all such evil vapours and scents as do proceed from such beds when a man is hot and sweats in them , that they have no power to seize the spirit : but , on the contrary , when such people shall lie on such beds , whose natural heat is weak , their spirits few , and whose central heat is not able to withstand or repel those vapours and scents which such beds send forth when a man is hot in them , this last sort of people are subject to receive injuries , and contract diseases : for those evil vapours do powerfully penetrate the whole body ; and if they are not withstood by the central heat and power of the spirits , then these evil vapours do seize the spirits , and incorporate themselves with their likenesses : for every particular thing does sensibly and powerfully seek out its likeness , and wheresoever it find , its simile , it hath power to incorporate , and become essential . these are the chief reasons why one man gets diseases by lying with diseased persons , and in unclean beds , and others not . it is a general custom , when men go abroad or travel , to desire clean sheets , imagining them to be a sufficient bulwark to defend them from the pernicious fumes and vapours of old stale beds ; but it is too short . for , it is certain , that most or all beds do perfectly stink , not only those in inns and houses of entertainment , but others : not but that every ones bed does smell indifferent well to himself ; but when he lies in a strange bed , let a man but put his nose into the bed when he is thoroughly hot , and hardly any common vault is like it . now this sort of uncleanness , which does proceed from old beds , is not only the greatest , but also the most injurious to the health and preservation of mankind , and the least care is taken to prevent it : every one that can , will have plentiful changes both of linne● and woollen garments ; for if they have not , experience does shaw , that the excrements and breathings of the body will generate vermin . also do not most people take care that their furnitures are daily br●shed and rubbed , and their very floors washed , as though they were to eat their food on them ▪ but all this while they lie on beds that have not been changed , or hardly aired , in several years . let any indifferent person judge , which is most pleasu●able and healthful , to have a clean floor to tread on , which c●sts many hard days labour to keep so , and is dirtied in a moments time ; or to have a clean sweet bed to lie on . there is no comparison to be made , the difference is so great ; the one being essential either to health or sickness , the other an indifferent thing . if there was but the tenth part of the care taken to keep beds clean and sweet , as there is of cloathing and furniture , then there would be no matter for the getting of diseases , nor for the generation of bugs . i would have all housewifes , and others , consider the reasons of these things . are not lice , that troublesome vermin , bred from the breathings of the body , for want of often change both of linnen and woolen ? and will not fleas breed from the very dust of chambers where people lie ? also any woollen that hath been used about beds , although the cold winter hath destroyed them , yet if these clothes lie in any close place , where the air hath not its free egress and regress , these very garments will generate fleas the summer following : but if these clothes had been used about men and women , they would never have bred fleas : for there is no matter of element in wooll or cloth for the generation of such creatures ; but wooll , cloth , furs , and hair , are chiefly the element of moths , and sometimes of small worms ; that is , if such things are kept in places where the refreshing influences of the air have not their free egress : for all such places do contract great store of moisture , which , when hot weather comes , causeth putrifaction , whence all such vermin do proceed . but if those things be in daily use , and exposed to the open element , they never breed any vermin : so that the generation of those things are generally caused by acciden●s ; not but that there is matter in the radixes of such things for the generation of such vermin . 3. from the pernicous smells and putrified vapours that do proceed from old beds , are generated the vermin called bugs , ( of which , neither the ancients , nor the modern writers of this age , have taken any notice ) according to the degrees of uncleanness , nature of the excrements , and the closeness of places where beds stand : for some peoples excrements are not so unclean as others : also in all close places , especially in cities and great towns , the spirits and thin vapours of the air are suffocated , which makes the same air sulphurous and humid , whence does pro●●ed putrifaction . therefore it is not to be thought a general rule , that all old beds should breed bugs , as some ( who are ignorant of the operations of nature ) will be apt to say , if one bed do breed them , why not all ? no , it is according to the nature of the uncleanness , and other accidents that do happen ; for where ( as is said before ) the thin pure air , with the refreshing influences of the sun and elements , have their free egress and regress , all such matter is destroyed whence such vermin is produced . the original of these creatures called bugs is from putrifaction , occasioned by stinking scents and vapours which do proceed from the bodies and nature of men and women , and the mixing or incorporating of these vapours with moist and sulphurous airs : for where there is no heat nor humidity , there can begin no putrifaction . therefore all that have attributed the generation of this vermin to wood , as bedsteads , and the like , are grosly mistaken in the productions of nature ; for there is no matter in wood that can generate such a vermin , it being productive only , or chiefly of two creatures in england , viz. of wood-lice and a small worm . these wood-lice , are never generated but in places where the sun and air have not their free influences , so that there is store of humidity contracted ; and when the sun comes to such degrees of the zodiack , this creature is generated , which is of as different a nature from bugs , as sweet wood is from a stinking bed. also wood does breed a certain small worm , but never till , the salts nature and power is decayed through length of time ; then the air enters it , which does presently cause it to contract a h●mid quality , from whence proceeds putrifaction , whereof , when the sun is powerful , this worm is bred , but so long as wood continues sound , and is kept dry , the air having its free influences on it , i affirm , that no sort of wood ever breeds any kind of vermin . 4. there are many also that attribute the generation of this creature to hogs hair , which being mixed with lime , and houses plaistered with it , does occasion ( say they ) the generation of bugs . now it is most certain , that there is no possibility in nature for this production ; for no kind of hair ever breeds any living creature , except it be put into water or mud when the sun is powerful , and then this creature , thus generated , retains its first species , viz. a hair , with a live head , which was its element from whence it proceeded ; but if you take it out of the water , it presently dies : so also it doth when the sun declines in heat , as most ●orts of vermin that are bred through heat and moisture do . but hair being mixed with lime , all matter of generation is thereby totally destroyed : for lime does chiefly contain a harsh , fiery , keen , sharp , coroding quality ; it is so sharp , that it does destroy all life , and is as contrary to it , as light is to darkness ; the predominant quality in it is the salts nature , from which no living creature can be produced . besides , if there were never so much mater in hair for the generation of such vermin , lime would destroy it ; for in lime there is only a sal-nitral fiery vertue . 5. if the reasons before-mentioned be not sufficient to convince the ignorant of their erroneous opinions in this particular , then i hope the following one will , which is more familiar to every one . it hath never been krown , that this troublesome vermin was ever seen in ware-houses , kitchins , parlors , dining rooms , or any places were beds have never been , except they have by accident been brought into such rooms or ware-houses , by furniture of chambers that have been troubled with them , though all such places have the same funiture as chambers , except beds . 6. from the same substance or matter whence bugs are bred , is also occasioned the generation of many nasty diseases in the blood ; so that the destruction of the matter that breeds them , is of greater consequence than most people are sensible of ; and if these following rules be observed , i dare affirm , that the generation of bugs will cease , and also many other inconveniencies and distempers , that are got by this sort of uncleanness , will be avoided . first , you are to destroy all press-bedsteads which stand in corners of rooms , being made up with boards so close , that the air cannot penctrate or dry up and consume the moist sulphurous vapours that are contracted . these sorts of beds that stand so , are apt to have them more than others . also you are to set your other sorts of beds as near as you can in the most airy places of your rooms , exposing them to the air the most part of the day , with your chamber-windows open , that the air may freely pass , which is the most excellent element , that does sweeten all things , and prevents putrifaction . in the night also you ought not to have your window-curtains drawn , nor your curtains that are about your beds ; for it hinders the sweet refreshing influences of the air , so that the air of all close places becomes of a hot sulphurous nature and operation ; the thin pure vapours , which do wonderfully refesh nature , are as it were suffocated : and this preventing the influences of the air , is in an especial manner observable , when people are sick , or out of order ; as though the sweet pleasant air had been the cause of their disease ; such rooms being so very close , with great fires in them , that if a healthy person do but continue three or four hours in them , the fulsom steams and thick vapours will much disorder him , and take away the edge of his appetite : and if so , what will the operation be on those spirits who are weak and disordered with distempers . what is more pleasant and healthful than good air ? it chears and comforts the spirits , it opens the passages of the joynts and nerves ; it purifies the blood , creates an appetite , increasing strength and vigour : but , on the contrary , hot , thick , sulphurous airs do not only obstruct the passages of the spirits , but suffocate them , loading the joynts and nerves with evil juices , whereby the limbs and members become full of pain , causing a general tenderness to possess the whole body , and destroying the appetite , and the power of the digestive faculty in the stomach . also , do not all houses and places grow musty , and contract too great store of moisture , if the air be any way prevented , by window-shutters , or the like , that it cannot have its free egress and regress ? therefore moderate cloathing , hard beds , houses that stand so as that the pleasant b●iezes of wind may air and refresh them , and also houses that are full of windows , are to be preferr'd ; for where the air hath not its free influences , the spirit becomes dull and heav● , this being the true life of the spirit in everything . 7. now the certain means and way not only to prevent the generation of this vermin , but also to preserve health and strength , are straw , or rather chaff-beds , with ticks of canvas , and quilts made of wooll or flocks , to lay on them ; which certainly is the most easie and pleasant lodging that can be invented : and a little custom will make it appear friendly to nature , and in every respect far beyond the softest feather-beds , on which , when a man lies down , he sinks into them , as into an hole , with banks rising on each side of him ; especially if two lie together , when first they go to bed they lie close , and after a little time , when they begin to be hot or sweat , they are generally willing to lie a little further off , that they may cool themselves , but cannot do it without great difficulty and trouble , by reason of the softness of the bed , and those banks that rise on each side . besides , such soft fea●her-beds do over-heat the reins and back , making all the parts tender , and causing sweatings and many other inconveniencies to attend the body . feather-beds also are nothing so easie as quil●s , after a little time being accustomed to them ; they are also extream fulsom , and by their heat they do powerfully dry up the radical moisture , causing a general faintness to attend the whole body . but , on the contrary , hard , even beds that lie smooth , are not only easie through custom , as is mentioned before ; but a man may turn freely , both sleeping and waking : they harden and strengthen the whole body , especially the back and reins , make the nerves and sinews strong , preventing the immoderate evacuat●ons by sweating , and keeping the body in a temperate heat . b●sides , such beds may be often changed , with but little trouble , and less cost , they send forth no stinking fumes or steams , as feather-beds do ; but are sweet and clean . certainly nothing is more healthy , nex● to temperance in meat and drink , than clean hard beds . 8. all sorts of beds , especially feather-beds , ought to be changed , driven , or washed , at the least three or four times in a year ; or else it is impossible to keep them sweet and clean , and to prevent the generation of vermin , or the other inconveniences before mentioned . would not every one condemn a man , if he should wear a shirt a year , and lie in sheets seven years ? which if any should do , it would not either endanger his heal●h , or bring half the inconveniencies on his body , as old stinking feather-beds do ; which possibly stunk before ever they were lain on , by reason of the fulsom excrements that the quills of the feathers co●●ain . also feathers do c●●tainly contain an unclean putrified matter , that hath a near affinity with the nature of bugs ; and therefore feather-beds are more apt to bre●d them , than wool , or flocks ; though both will do it , if the forementioned rules be not observed . but if you are not willing , or so lowly-minded , to have straw or chaff-beds under your quilts , then you may have flock beds , with canvas-tickings , which may be both aired and washed as often as you please , with little trouble and charge . if any shall question the truth of what i have alledged concerning beds , i desire they would please but to try the experiment , by filling a bed with the freshess and cleanest straw or chas● , which will smell very pleasant ; and having so done , let them lie on it half a year , in a corner of a room , as beds generally stand , and then smell to it ; and instead of sending forth a pleasant , scent , as it did at first , it will send sorth a strong , fulsom , musty steam or fume . and if this will do so , what will feathers do , that in the root of nature are unclean fulfom excrements , of a hot strong quality ? therefore they have the greater power not only to attract and suck in to themselves the fulsom excrements that are breathed forth of the body by sweatings , and the like ; but they have also power to retain such evil vapours : and when others come to lie on them , and are throughly hot , it awakens those p●●●icious steams , which often b●ing many inconveniencies on the body . besides , it is very unpleasant to lie in such beds ; a man must always be forced to keep his nose above-board . indeed each man 's own bed does not stink or smell strong to himself , because he is accustomed to it ; neither does a tallow-chandler smell those horrible scents and pernicious fumes that old tallow sends forth when it is melted : but let any other person , that is not accustomed to it , be near such things , and it will be very offensive to him . even so it is in all other stinking trades , and things of this nature : so that the greatest slut in the world does hardly smell her own house or bed stin● : for in man is contained the true nature and property of all things , both of good and evil ; therefore he is both liable and also apt to receive all impressio●s , and to be wrought on by all things he shall either communicate with , or joyn himself to , whether it be cleanness , or the contrary . also by meats , drinks , and communication , all things have power , by a sympathetical operation , to work on man , because he is like unto all , bearing a proportionable nature unto all things . if people did understand this , they would prefer , sobriety and temperance , with cleanness , far beyond what they do ; and then men would not be subject to so many diseases as now they are . 9. heat and moisture is the root of all putrifaction ; and therefore bugs are bred in summer ; but they live all the winter , though they are not then so troublesome . they harbour in bedsteads , holes , and hangings , nitting and breeding as lice do in clothes : but all men know , that woollen and linnen are not the element of ●ice , but they are bred from the fulsom scents and exrements that are breathed forth from the body . the very same radix have bugs ; and if there be any difference , they are from a higher putrifaction , and therefore they are a more noisom stinking creature . 10. the whole preservation , of mens health and strength does chiefly reside in the wisdom and temperance of women . therefore the ancient wise men in former ages , did direct and accustom their women to a higher degree of temperance than the men. which customs of sobriety the women of several countries do maintain to this day , as in spain , great part of france , italy , and many great countries under the dominion of the grand seignior . their women do always drink water , their food being for the most part of a mean and simple quality ; and for this reason neither they nor their children are subject to several diseases , which our women and children are . wine and strong drink should be sparingly drunk by women , till they are past child-bearing ; because the frequent and common drinking of strong drinks , does generate various distempers in the female sex , such as are notfit●o be discoursed of in this place , which their children often bring with them into the world. if the seed be good , yet if the ground be bad , it seldom brings forth good fruit. also women are our nurses for fifteen or sixteen years ; and they do not only suffer us to be gluttons , by letting us eat and drink often , of their ill-prepared food , beyond the power of the digestive faculty , and more than the stomach can bear ; but many of them will intice us to gluttony , and some will force their children to eat even against their stomachs , till they cast it up again . now if it be a difficult point for a man of age and experience to observe the necessary rules of temperance , how careful then ought mothers and nurses to be in ordering their children ? a great part of the children that die , especially in towns and cities , is occasioned either by the intemperance of their mothers , during the time they go with child , or afterwards by their unnatural and badly prepared food , and suffering them to eat to excess ; also by their keeping of them too warm , and too close from the air , and lapping of them up in several double clothes and swathes , so tight , that a man may write on them , and then puting them into warm beds , and covering them up close . if a strong man was so bound up , he could not endure it , without great injury unto his health . besides , the window-curtains are drawn , and also the curtains about the bed ; by which means the air becomes so hot , and sulphurous , that it causes great disorders to attend both the mothers and the children . this ill kind of management does also cause such a tenderness both in the mother and the child , that on every small occasion they are liable and apt to get colds , and divers other distempers . also women have the entire management of all things that concern our healths , during the whole time of our lives ; they prepare and dress our food , and order all things in our houses , both for bed and board . there is not one man of a hundred that understands or takes any notice whether his food be well prepared or not ; and if his bed stinks , he is used to it , and so counts it all well . mens time and study is chiefly taken up about getting a livelihood , and providing things necessary for themselves and families ; so that there is not one among a thousand that understands any thing what belongs to the preservation of his health : whatever the women do and say touching the preparation of food , and other ordering of families for health , most men believe , not making the least scruple or question of the truth thereof . and well they may : for the chiefest doctors of our times do bow before them , and are altogether as subject to the rules and directions of women , as other men. where are your doctors that teach men sobriety in their lives , or the proper and natural way of preparing meats fit for the stomach ? which of them adviseth against the evil custom of keeping their chambers so over hot , when people are sick , and in the time of womens lying in child-bed ? why do they not advise them not to have their curtains so close drawn , both before their windows an● beds , insomuch that they are often times in a manner suffocated for want of the fresh air ? for , i affirm , that all sorts of people that do keep their beds , let the occasion be what it will , have ten-fold more need of the refreshing influences of the air , than others that are up : for , the bed being much hotter than a man's garments are when he is up , the thin , refreshing , moist vap●urs , that do penetrate the whole body more powerfully when a man is up , are thereby hindered . this is one chief reason why a man cannot digest a supper so well in bed , as if he sits up . all men know , that the bed destroys app●tice , if a man go to bed a● eight a clock , and lies till eight in the morning , he shall not be hungry ; but it he goes to bed at the same time , and rises at four in the morning , though he s●s still without action , yet by eight he shall have a good stomach to eat and drink ; so great is the power of the air : for when a man is up , his body is cool , and the pure spir●s and thin moist vapours of the air have power to penetrate the body ; which element the body sucks in like a spunge thorow the pores ; and this doe not only cool and refresh ●he spirits and the whole body , but also powerfully strengthens the action of the stomach . but i pity the young children most , who are so tender , and of so delicate a nature , both in their body and spirits , that every disorder does wound them to the very heart . nothing is more grateful and refreshing to them , than the pleasant air : it comforts their spirits , and cau●eth a free circulation of the blood and radical moisture , begets appetite , and makes them grow in strength : but , on the contrary , hot sulphurous airs , with great fires , and warm clothing , do not only hinder the circulation of the blood , but suffocate the spirits , and destroy the appetite , causing an unnatural heat to possess the whole body ; whence does proceed various disorders and diseases , making them to cry , and be very froward . also close bindings , and over-warm clothings , and thick hot airs , do oft in weak-spirited children cause convulsions , vapours , and fumes to fly into the head , sometimes occasioning vomitting , which people call windy diseases . again , the food of most children , of late years , is so enriched with west and east-india ingredients , that is , with sugar and spices , that thereby their food becomes so hot in operation , that it does not only breed too much nourishment , which generates obstructions and stoppages , but it heats the body , drying up and consuming the radical moisture , and infecting the blood with a sharp fretting humour , which in some complexions and constitutions causeth languishing diseases , contracting the breast and vessels of the stomach , and hindering the passages of the spirits , so that the joynts and nerves become weak and feeble ; in others , with the help of bad diet , and other uncleanliness , does cause botches , boils , and various sorts of leprous diseases . also many that have wherewithal , will frequently give their children sack , strong drinks , and fat meats , as long as they will eat , which is abominable , and absolutely contrary to the nature of children . there are a hundred other disorders and intemperances that many mothers and ignorant nurses affect their children with , which i have no room in this place to discourse of : therefore i commend unto the women milk that is raw , only made so hot as the mothers or nurses milk is when the child socks it ; and sometimes milk and flower boyled together , giving it the ch●ld about t●e warmness of breast-milk ; and indeed , neither children nor others others ought to eat any food hotter . also no children ought to drink any kind of strong drink : i could commend water , as the most wholesom ; but it being contrary to our custom , ordinary beer may do well , or rather small ale. if women did understand but the hundredth part of the evils and diseases those indulging and intemperate ways do bring both to themselves and children , they would quickly be of my mind ; which i never expect ; they are too wise . chap. iii. a short discourse of th● pain in the teeth , shewing from what cause it does chiefly proceed , and also how to pr●v●nt it . the terrible pains and diseases of the teeth do chiefly proceed from two causes . the first is from certain filthy phlegmy matter which the stomach and vessels do continually breathe and send forth , which does lodge or center in the mouth , especially b●tween the teeth , and on the gums , and some people having fouler stomachs than others , such do breathe forth very sowr , stinky , phlegmy matter , which does not only increase the pain , but causeth the teeth to b●come loose and rotten : and for what of continual cleansing and washing , those breathings and this phlegmy matter turns to purifaction , which does eat away the gums , as though worms had eaten them : and this de●ect is generally attributed to the disease called the scurvey : but it is a mistake : the cause is chiefly , as is mentioned before , from the stomach , or for want of cleansings . 2. this distemper of the teeth and gums does also proceed from the various sorts of meats and drinks , and more especially from the continual eating of flesh , and fat sweet things , compounded of various things of disagreeing natures , which do not only obstruct the stomach , but fur and fo●l the mouth , part thereof remaining upon the gums , and between the teeth . for all such things do quickly turn to putrifaction , which does by degrees corrupt both the teeth and gums . besides , our beds take up near half the time of our lives , which time the body is not only without motion , butt he bed and coverings do keep it much hotter than the day-garments , especially of those that draw the curtains of their windows & beds so close , that the pure spirits and thin refreshing vapours of the air , are hindered of having their free egress and regress , which does dull & flatten the action of the stomach ; and this is the chief cause why suppers lie hard in the stomach , and require more than double the time for perfect concoction , than the same food does when a man is up , and in the open air : for this element , if it hath its free influences , is sucked in , as by spunges , through all the pores of the body , and does wonderfully refresh , comfort , open , and cleanse all the parts , having power to assist and help concoction : but hot , dull , thick airs do destroy the action of the stomach , and as it were suffocate the pure spirits , drying up and consuming the radical moisture . therefore the night does foul the mouth more than the day , furring it with a gross slimy matter , especially those that have foul stomachs , are in years , which ought to be well cleansed every morning . 3. whatsoever are the disorders in the body , the mouth doth always partake of them , besides the evils that the variety of food , and the improper mixtures of flesh and fish , and many other things , which do foul and hurt both the teeth and gums . when any person is disordered with inward diseases , does not the mouth quickly complain of the evils thereof ? this very few do consider in time . 4. it is to be noted , that most people do attribute the diseases of the teeth to colds , and rheumes , and other outward accidents . it is true , outward accidents will further thi●disease , but then there must be matter before hand , otherwise outward colds can have no power to cause this pain . the same is to be understood in all stoppages of the breast , and other obstructions , as coughs , and the like . for , if any part be obstructed , or there be matter for distemper , then , on every small occasion of outward colds , or the like accidents , nature complains . if your teeth and gums be sound , and free from this ma●ter , take what colds you will , and your teeth will never complain , as daily experience doth shew . for all outward colds , and o●her accidents of the like nature , have no power to seise any part of the body , except first there be some inward defect or i●fi●mity : suppose the teeth be defective , then the disease falls on that part ; or if it be the head , eyes , breast , back , or any other part or member of the body , that is obstructed , the evil is felt in that part. therefore if the mouth be kept clean by continual washings , it will prevent all matter which may cause putrifaction ; and then colds , and the like accidents , will have no power to seise this part , or cause this terrible pain . even so it is in all other parts of the b●dy . if temperance and sobriety be observed in meats , drinks , and exercises , with other circumstances belonging to health , then stoppages , coughs , colds , and other obstructions , would not be so frequent on every small occasion : for temperance has an inward power and operation , and does as it were cut off diseases in the very bud , preventing the generation of matter whence distempers do proceed , increasing the radical moisture , and making the spirits lively , brisk and powerful , able to withstand all outward colds , and other casualties of the like nature . 5. there are many various things , of divers natures , prescribed by physicians , and others , as washes to preserve the teeth and gums ; but most of them , if not all , to little or no purpose , as daily experience teaches : for all high , sharp salts , and things of a sowr or keen nature , do rather cause the teeth to perish , than the contrary ; as do all hot spirits , be they what they will : many have destroyed their teeth by the frequent use of such things , and it hath hardly ever been known that any such things have ever cured or prevented the aking pains of the teeth , but water only . many examples i could mention , if it were convenient . physicians , and other , do daily prescribe such things for the cure and prevention of this disease of the teeth , which most of them do know by experience can do no good , but rather the contrary : but when people come to them , they must give them something for their money ; for interest and ignorance have more affinity with this sort of people , than virtue and the true knowledge of the nature of things . most certain it is , that the shepherd and husbandman do know far better how to prepare their meat for their cattel , and also how to preserve them from disorders , than many physicians do their food or physick : and a man shall understand more by conversing with some of this sort of people , than with the learned : for the shepherd and husbandman understand something of nature ; but most of the learned are departed from the simple ways of god in nature , putting out their own eyes , and then boasting what wonders they can see with other mens : they have invented many words to hide the truth for the unearned , that they may get the greater esteem . this has chiefly been done to advance pride and interest ; so that the divine eye is departed from many of them , who never make any inspection into the true nature of things , being contented to take other mens words , let it be right or wrong , as long as they have authority and law on their sides , wherefore should they trouble their weak heads ? 6. the best and most sure way to prevent the diseases and pains in the teeth and gums , is every morning to wash your mouth with a● the least ten or twelve mouthfuls of pure water , cold from the spring or river , and so again after dinner and supper , swallowing down a mouthful of water after each washing : for there is no sort of liquor in the world to pure & clean as water ; and nothing doth cleanse and free the teeth and gums from that foul matter which does proceed from the breathings and purgings of the stomach , and from the various sorts of food , so well as water : the use of other washes is to little or no purpose ; but whosoever do constantly wash their mouths wi●h water , as is before mentioned , shall find an essential remedy . all hard rubbing and picking of the teeth ought by any means to be avoided , for that is injurious to them . also whensoever you find your mouth foul , or subject to be slimy , as sometimes it will more than an at others , according to the good or evil state of the stomach , though it be not after eating ; at all such times you ought to wash your mouth . this rule all mothers and nurses ought to observe , washing the mouths of their c●ildren two or three times a day ; and also to cause their children to swallow down a little water , which will be very refreshing to their stomachs : for milk does naturally foul and ●ur the mouth and teeth ; and if they be not kept clean by continual washing , it causes the breeding of childrens teeth to be the more painful to t●em . 7. to keep your teeth white , one of the best things is a iece of a china dish , or a piece of a fine dutch earthen dish , made into fine power , and the teeth rubbed with it . 8. few there be that understand or consider the excellent vertues of water , it being an e●ement of a mild and cleansing nature and operation friendly unto all things , and of universal use : but because it is so common , and so easily procured , i am afraid that many people will be like naaman the syrian , when the prophet elisha advised him to wash seven times in the river of jordan to cure his leprosie ; it being the ignorance and folly of most people , to admire those things they do not know ; and , on the other side , to despise and trample under foot thos● things and mysteries they do know ; which the learned in all ages have taken notice of : for , should some people know what apothecaries and other give them , they would depise the physick , and have but little respect for their doctor . all housewives do know , that no sort of liquor , be it what it will , will cleanse and sweeten their vessels , but only water ; all other liquors leaving a sowr stinking quality bekind them , which will quickly cause putrifaction : but water in its own nature is clean and pure , not only for all uses in housewifery , and the preservation of health ; but the saints and holy men of god have highly esteemed this element , by using it in the exterior acts of divine worship , as having a simile with the eternal water of life , that does puri●i●s and cleanse the soul from sin . chap. iv. observations on the frost , an. 1683. the present wonderful frost , which is the general theme of discourse , and under the ●ad effects whereof so many thousands of poor creatures shiver and pine , and ●anguish ; began about the midst of december , 1683. at first by mean and ordinary degrees , but towards christmas became very sharp ; the week of ianuary , the river of thames was so frozen , that people began to walk over ; on monday ianuary the 7th , on the change of the moon in aquary , there were expectations , and some likelihood of a thaw ; but presently after it froze more violently , and on the 10th and 11th in the morning , a coach plyed between the temple and the old barge-house ; yet towards night the 11th ( the moon having been in opposition to iupiter ) it thaw'd a little ; and the 12th and 13th was fine gentle weather , yet not much thawing ; the wind continuing still at north east : on the 13th it froze again briskly , till the 17th , when a great snow fell ; the 18th high , most sharp , and piercing winds , and on 23d the air was more severely piercing than ever , and more snow fell ; and being the first day of the term , coaches ply'd at the temple-stairs , and carry'd the lawyers to westminster on the ice ; and thence forwards the same continued , and whole streets of sheds every where built on the thames , thousands passing , buying , selling , drinking , and revelling , ( i wish i could not say on the lord's day too ) and most sorts of trades-shops on the ice , ( and amongst the rest a printing-house there erected ) balls baited , and thousands of spectators ; all which still continues at the writing hereof , being ianuary the 29th 168 ●● . nay , below the bridge , hundreds dal●y pass ; the river humber ( as i am credibly informed ) where 't is several miles broad , is frozen over , and vast flakes of ice are seen floating in the downs , of divers miles in length , and proportionable breadth . as for coelestial causes of this unusual coldness , though undoubtedly they were not wanting ( for god generally governs inferiors by superiors ) yet i find not that any of our common pretenders had the least apprehension , or gave any hints thereof . not that i wholly explode astrology ; i b●lieve there is something in it , and that it may not be unfit for a wi●e and modest. man to s●udy : but our annual prognosticators are generally men of little learning , and less philosophy , and ( what is worse ) many times very irregular in their lives ; the god of purity , who communicates his secrets to those that fear him , illuminates not debauchees , sordid flatterers , and time-servers , ( whose whole end is to make a noise , and cheat people of their money ) with the knowledge of supernal mysteries ; nor can it be expected , that those who neither know things past , by history , nor take notice of things present , by any steady judicious observation , should yet fore●ee things to come . whether from any of the late tripple conjunctions of the two superior planets , saturn and iupiter , or from some of the late unusual frequent comets , particularly the last in august , 1682. which in twenty days with a rapid motion , making its appearance in leo , hurried through all the signs virgo and libra , and disappear'd in scorpio . a sagacious artist might not have given some items of this strange weather , i will not determine : but if comets be only ( according to aristotles notion , which i question ) hot and dry exhalations drawn up from the earth , it would not be difficult to judge that severe colds should ensue here below : for extreams in nature , if they are not causes , are at least fore-runners of their contraries ; nor have there wanted grand configurations of the superior bodies ; during the time of this violent frost , as a trine of the sun and iupiter , an opposition of saturn and mars . but leaving the disquisition of these to the curious , having not room to inlarge here , upon them ; i hasten to satisfie the common reader with an historical review of former occurrences of this kind ; which may check that vulgar cry of ignorance , that never , o never was known the like . livy in his fifth book tells us of a winter so hard , that the river tyber was frozen over , a matter very strange in such a climate as italy . in the year 1234. the adriatick sea was so frozen , that the venetians went over the ice thereof with carts . zon●rus assures us that in the reign of that emperor constantine ( who for a nasty reason in his christning , was called copronimus ) about the year 750. the pontick sea was so congealed , that people for many miles travelled it on foot : and horses and carts loaden , passed over the fretum , or narrow part of it ; but withal he adds , that the summer following was so excessive hot and dry , that great rivers and most fountains were wholly dry'd up , and people and cattel perished for want of water . in the year 821. the greatest rivers of europe , as the rhine , the danubius , the elb , and the sein , were so incrusted with ice , that for the space of above 30 days , carriages freely passed along on them , as on the land. but to look nearer home — in the year of our lord 1365. and 49th year of k. edward the 3d , a frost lasted from the midst of september to the month of april ; but though so tedious , the cold was nothing so intense or violent as now . in the 15th year of the reign of k. henry the eighth , after great rains and winds , there followed so sore a frost , that many died for cold , and some lost fingers , some toes , and many their nails : ( i follow the very words of sir r. baker , fol. 297. ) the same author tells us . that in the seventh year of q. elizabeth , on the 21. of december , began a frost so extream , that on new-years-day even , people passed over the thames on foot , some plaid at foot-ball , some shot at pricks , as if it had been firm ground ; yet this great frost , the third of ianuary at night , began to thaw ; and by the fifth day , there was no ice to be seen , but great inundations followed . in the year 1609. ( which 't is not impossible , but some living might remember , being but 74 years ago ) a frost began in december , which continued till april following , with such violence , that the thames was so frozen , that carts loaden were frequently driven over it , most fowls and birds were destroyed . in the year 1637. was another frost , which rendred the thames passable ; so in the year 1664. immediately followed by the great sickness ; and the like towards the latter end of the year , 1676. some of the consequences of these extream frosts , i have mentioned , more i might , all are not convenient ; those that consult chronology , may ea●ily satisfie themselves , ; a man may soon err in assigning effects to such or such particular causes , or adapting events to signnificators ; modesty is the first lesson in wisdoms school . therefore as we have been studious in matter of fact , past ; but sparing as to sequels ; so we shall retain the same becoming tenderness as to futures ; wherein we shall steer our course rather by the guidance of nature in her usual operations here below , than by curious researches into remoter influential causes above ; though not neglecting them neither , for the universe is intire , harmonical , and sympath●tical ; and he that does not competently understand the right tone of the whole , and the true key of every part , will make but bad musick wherever he lays his clumsy fingers . first then i say , this extremity of cold presages many calamities and evils to attend mankind , and the rest of their fellow-creatures ; for as the innocent inhabitants of the air , or expanded suburbs of heaven , viz. birds and fowls , are endangered by the elements denying their usual benefits and provisions ( wherein another fourth part of the creation , viz. fishes , are somewhat concern'd ) so degraded man , taking advantage of this cruel weather , does for profit , or pleasure , or vanity , destroy many thousands of them : now this great destruction of them , is but a forerunner of mortality amongst creatures of greater value , and even of men themselves . would you know the reason ? i told you but now , universal nature is sympathetical . 2dly . this immoderate cold locks up the pores of mens bodies , and drives the natural heat more central , which occasions great appetite and draught , whence follows much and excessive eating and drinking of gross , fat , succulent foods , and strong drinks ; in all that have wherewithal to procure them ; which the voracious desires do at present seem able to bear and digest , yet really nature is not able to do it , and so by degrees there are seeds sown and foundations laid for diseases . on the other hand , amongst the poor , necessity of feeding on unfit and unusual viands , for their support at present , or defect of due nourishment , must to them do as much mischief ; for want is as great ( though i think not so common ) an enemy to nature , as superfluity ; the way to prevent these mischiefs , is , for the rich to observe sobriety and temperance , and for the poor to use discretion in their diet , for a pint of milk with a quarter of a pint of water , thickened with one spoonful of flower , and heated just to boyling , and then putting into it a few crums of bread , ( all which will not cost above a penny ) shall give any person as nourishing a meal as the best surloyn of beef or capon . i mention not this to prevent benevolences towards the poor , which all that are able are bound to afford , but only to advise them how to supply themselves when they meet not with other accomodations , but find rich mens charity more frozen than the thames . 3dly . this excessive frost condenses the air , and renders it sulphurous and unhealthy , especially in such cities as london , where sea-coals are generally used for firing , and most people ( especially women ) creep close to those fulsom fires , without using themselves to proper exercises , whereby their blood stagnates , and becomes thick and foul , whence are generated the scurvey , stoppages of the breast , coughs and shortness of breath ; the ill effects whereof will more manifest themselves next spring and summer . 4thly . this disharmony and inequality of the elements , portends a dry hot summer to ensue , for all extreams ( as before observed ) produce their contraries , which will not only encrease distempers , but i fear some epidemical disease , and it is also a forerunner of dearth and scarcity , and the latter , is the more to be apprehended , because we have had several plentiful and fruit. ful years , and very few of us ( scarce any ) have improved them to that end , for which they were given us by the lord , and his hand-maid nature ; but most that abound in plenty , have gratified their lusts and passions , and such as have not had wherewith to commit the same intemperances in act , have done it in their wills and desires ; and shall not our god visit us for these and other crying abominations , daily exhaled from our polluted streets and dwellings ? i will not take upon me to aver a plague or scarcity shall be the next year , iehov●h the all-wise , is the limiter of times and seasons for extraordinary judgments : but i may say , that probably , according to the prospect of natural causes , such calamities seem not far off , and 't will concern every man living to prepare for it . qui sapit ille animum fortunae preparat omni , — praevisumque potest , arte ▪ levare malum iuvare bonum . a wise man sits his mind for every chance , and whilst he doth in virtues paths advance , each promis'd good encreaseth by his skill , and kindly lessens every threatned ill , but to proceed . great and no less just are the cries of the poor , in such a sharp and pinching season as this ; for few of them have the opportnity , or at least the prudence and fore-sight , to lay up any thing to support them in necessitous times , how many thousands of very many trades about this populous cities , and elsewhere , cannot now possibly follow their callings , or get any thing whereby to sustain themselves and perishing families with bread ? and can you , whom god has but intrusted with plentiful estates , gorge your selves with over-charged tables even to a surfeit , and riot with excessive bottles of wine , whilst your brethren thus languish and die for want of necessaries ? can you but think that god at such a juncture calls upon you for his quit-rent , out of those vast revenu●s which you hold meerly by the tenure of his free and undeserved gift ? great and truly royal has our gracious soveraigns bounty and charity shew'd it self on this occasion , as well by bestowing a considerable summ himself , as commanding the officers of every parish to importune the charity of all able inhabitants . pursuant to this great and generous example , methinks all you that are loyal subjects , and would be thought good christians , should be forward to contribute to the common necessities ; and what if you should resolve for one day in a week , ( at least during such a hard time ) to restrain your selves from large eating and set meals , and wholly on that day forbear bibbing of wine and strong liquors ( i dare promise you , it shall be never the worse for your health , but the better , as also for your business ) and imploy what you so save , in charitable uses to the relief of the poor ? such a thing has been done on a worse occasion within our memory , and therefore is not impracticable . by this only means within londons bills of mortality , might easily be raised twenty thousand pounds a week for the poor ; and no man a farthing the worse , but even in his estate the better ( and much more in his health , which is more valuable than the greatest estate in christendom ) for without dispute there are within that circuit more than an hundred thousand families , whose dinners each day cost them ( one with another ) more than three shillings each , i mean e●tra●agantly , in flesh , fowls or fish , when a little bread and cheese , milk or the like , might as well ( nay i am sure would better ) for once at least in a week , supply nature : now one hundred thousand three shillings is fifteen thousand pound ; and then 't is not to be doubted ( since in this age generally more is spent in drink , than victuals ) but that there are above one hundred thousand persons that daily lavish away above twelve pence a day in wine , brandy , ale , or some strong liquors , which they forbearing but for one day in a week , and bestowing as aforesaid , thereby might be raised 〈◊〉 thousand pounds more , and so in the whole twenty thousand pounds a week , which justly distributed , would bravely supply fourscore thousand families , at five shillings a week a piece , or afford an hundred and threescore thousand poor people half a crown a piece every week . and will you suffer such a number of souls to perish , for want , rather than abridge your wanton palates , and insatia●e paunches of unnecessary , nay pernicious danties , one only day in a week ? look up , thou so●tish epicure , that denyest it ; and call thy self christian hence forward , if thou darest . chap. v. christmas-contemplations : or , some considerations touching the due keeping of that solemn festival . as likewise of several irregularities therein too frequently practised . at this time when most people supersede themselves from the common drudgery of business ; and yet too many are far worse imployed than in the ordinary duties of their callings ; i thought i could scarce better spend a few 〈◊〉 hours , than in serious 〈◊〉 on that subject , and drawing up some 〈◊〉 remarks that may 〈…〉 of such 〈…〉 them to repentance and amendment , who have already ( perhaps rather through inadvertency , and compliance with vain custom , than any wilful depravity ) been guilty thereof . in this disquisition my thoughts have chiefly centered on three particulars . 1. the grounds and proper end of keeping this festival . 2. the abuses and prophanations thereof . 3. some directions how better to observe it for the future . though i do not find any express precept in the evangelical or apostol●●●l writings , for the observation of this , or any other stated festivals ; yet since in the old testament , the like were instituted by god himself , and since great deliverances require expressions of more than ordinary gratitude , and signal mercies deserve to be celebrated with perpetual commemorations , i am far from that narrow morose humour of condemning simply , the setting apart this time to the happy remembrance of the most unspeakable loving kindness that god ever did , or indeed could do the sinful world ; but since 't is requir'd that all things be done to edification , and that he that keepeth a day , should keep it to the lord , i would wish it might be kept in some respect suitable to the dignity of the occasion . it is taken for granted by most professing the christian name , that at , or about this season of the year , the ever blessed creator of all things , of his infinite goodness and clemency , in pursuance of that gracious promise , that the seed of the woman should●break the serpents head , was pleased to send his well beloved son , the principle of light and love , into the world , to be manifested in the humane nature ; that thereby , and by his excellent doctrine and perfect example , and especially his most meritorious passion , that he might put the sons and daughters of men into a capacity of escaping that fierce wrath and condemnation , which they had justly rendred themselves obnoxious unto . now if we would rightly commemorate this mighty mercy and glorious work , ( so profound and abstruse , that the very angels are said to be desirous to pry and penetrate thereinto , as a matter of the greatest wisdom and wonder , how can it be more fitly done , than by serious reflections on the woful d●genera●y of man , whereby he that was made little lower than the angels , had by transgression depressed himself far below the beasts that perish ? how better , than by admiring infinite divine love in sending of christ , and his exceeding readiness for the loss of man , to undertake that blessed work ; so as to descend from the regions of glory , and cloath himself in our vile flesh , and suffer all kind of indignities ? and particularly should not we be affected with the mean and lowly manner of his appearance , the meekness , temperance , purity , and patience of his whole life and death ; and heartily endeavour to imitate him therein . for , tho' he was the maker , and consequently the owner and sovereign lord of the world , yet he came into it in the form of a servant . not according to the vain expectations of the iews , or fashions of haughty princes . his blessed mother and reputed father were persons but of mean condition , as to outward splendor ; nor could they , after a weary journey , get room in the inn. the grandeur of this apostumated world did not agree with the humble regenerating power and son of god ; for man had much more estranged himself from his ancient state , than the beasts had done from theirs ; for they continued still under the guidance of their original law , and therefore void of offence ; but man , who was made to live in and under the son 's holy innocent power , entered with his harsh will into wrath , fierceness , oppression , cruelty , violence , and all kinds of intemperance and devilishness , far beyond any thing of beastiality ; therefore divine goodness was pleased to be as it were at first an inmate with , or companion to the innocent bruits ; and that the poor carpenter's spouse , his blessed virgin mother , should be delivered of the king of glory in a stall or stable , where she had no stately rooms hung with arras , or cloth of tissue ; no damask curtains , nor gaudy quilts , nor down beds , nor delicate fine linnen ; nor a confectioners shop of variety of sweet meats ; nor was she accommodated with a multitude of nurses , rockers , or tenders ; or furnisht with wines or costly cordials , the inventions of splendid luxury , rather than assistants of natural necessity . this blessed amongst women , had in all probability , no better bed than might be made of hay or straw , since her sacred babe was contented with a manger for his cradle ; how mean and poor and despicable does this appear to eyes meerly humane , when compar'd with the gallantry , magnificence , vast preparations , numerous attendants , and all kind of excess , now commonly practis'd on such occasions ! yet will all or most men confess with their mouths , that this meek and humble president was used by the lord to draw man back out of pride , wrath and vanity , into regeneration , self denial , and his antient innocent estate ; but notwithstanding all such verbal acknowledgments , i must , ( if we may judge of trees by their fruits ) take leave to tell them , that they do utter lyes in hypocrisy ; and that they do not in their hearts believe it , because all their practises are diametrically opposite thereunto ; as was manifest by king herod , who was a prince in the wrath , and all such ever did , do , and will use all their utmost subtilty and diligence to destroy and kill the humble , lowly , meek child of love and light , which is the true regenerating power of god. again , the declaration or manifestation of this blessed birth was made by troops of angels to certain shepherds , as they were tending their flocks in the field ; who are a sort of people regarded by the pride and grandeur of the world , as mean , base and contemptible , unmeet for the conversation of persons of quality . and why to such is the happy news first communicated ? was it not because such persons do live nearer to , and more under the government of the holy power and divine light ? for have not all the great and wonderful overt res and gled tidings of salvation been principally made to , and in poor lowly minded men and women ? therefore our lord gives his father thanks , that he had hid the holy mysteries from the high and the learned , and had revealed them unto babes . and suitable to such objects , all the manifestations of god , and teachings of good men , have been in an humble child-like way , both their doctrine and practice being to lead people into humility , temperance , cleanness , self-denial , and resignation , which are true paths of regeneration . consider these things , o all you that vainly live in the outward observation of days and times , and yet neglect and despite the true ends and offices of such celebrations , lest you be ●ound like those hypocrites of old , who pretended to honour the sepulchres of the holy antients , but were ready to stone all such as lived in the spirit and practise of their virtues . for in the second place , let us consider after what sort this solemnity is kept now a days by the generallity of those that profess themselves christians : is it not become a matter of meer formality amongst such as would be countted the best , and of debanchery amongst the most of them ? rather as a feast to b●●chus , or some gluttonous pagan idol ; than as a sober religious commemoration of the incarnation of the holy and blessed iesus ? as if to honour christ's birth , were to renounce all the fundamental rules of christianity ? for what exc●ss of riot , un●leanness , prophaneness , intemperancies in meats , drinks , words and works , with all kind of superfluity of naughtiness , do the greater number of people not commit in these days ▪ which yet they call holy ) to the ruine of their souls , bodies and estates , without so much as giving themselves the leisure once to think or consider why the pious ant●ents thought it convenient they should be celebrated ? since no doubt it was , in the beginning , performed with great devotion , sobriety , prayer , and works of mercy , not of riot and superfluity . whereas now how few are there amongst us , who esteem our selves good christians , yet do not at this very season , more than any other time , let loose the reins to all licentiousness ? pampering our bodies to the s●arving of our souls , ●ating to superfluity , if not to sur●eit ; and drinking to ex●ess , if not down-right drunkenness ? entaining our selves ( like the rich glutton in the gospel ) with tables not only full-spread , but over-charg'd with heaps of high rich compounded foods , and variety of strong cordial drinks ; whilst multitudes of our poor neighbours want bread , and almost all the necessaries of humane life . we may flatter our selves with hospitality and charity , but generally it is either misplac'd or ill measur'd ; bestow'd on objects that need it not , or in such a vast profusion at once , as altogether abates its value , and renders it much more a crime than a virtue , and rather a temptation than a relief . is it not a frequent custom to invite the rich , and such as can invite you again ; which he for whose sake you keep this time , does expresly forbid ? and if a great man , or one you hope to get by , comes to your house to trifle away precious time in vain discourses , play , or lewd games , will you not treat him in a courteous manner , with the choifest foods and liquors you can get , and think you have not made him welcome , or discharg'd the part of a free house●keeper , if you do not persuade him to eat and drink beyond the power , as well as necessities of nature ? but when the poor neighbours , ( whom christ came to save as well as the others ) knock at the door , you either pretend you have nothing for them , or else assign them the worst and coursest fare ; ( a sorry pittance of bull-beef , or a little parboil'd meat , out of which you have extracted all the nutritive virtue to inrich your plum pottage ) even such as the proud wives and miniking daughters would scarce offer to their negro nos'd dogs , that are their table and lap companions , tho' one of the most ravenous and uncleanest creatures in nature . and indeed since man's degeneration , he delights much in the converse and company of the worst and vilest of animals , especially of such as are capable of being made , by his wicked industry , his butchers to hunt , tear , worry and torment the other creatures of greater value and innocency ; which is accasioned by simile , because himself is departed from innocence into wrath and fierceness . for the same reason , the rich and proud cannot endure the cries , or conversation of the poor and humble , and therefore rarely visit , or willingly admit them into their presence ; and when they crave an alms , will presently , like churlish nabals , reproach them as idle persons , that spend their money and time in ale-houses or drinking of brandy ; when in truth this reproof is not so much for admonishment , as to excuse your felves from giving them relief , and so at once saveboth your mon●y and your credit , as the proverb hath it ; tho' at the same time you your selves set them the worst examples , by wallowing in all kind of excess , intemperance , and waste of the good creatures of god ; and what is all this but vile hypocrisy ? if idle expence of time , and unnecessary tippling be so great a crime as renders men unworthy of common mercies , why do you practice it ? if you indulge your selves therein , why do you upbraid these poor creatures , that have far greater temptations thereunto ? it may reasonably be supposed , that scarce less than an hundred thousand pounds has excused the city of london and suburhs , in unjustifiable expences and superfluity this very christmas ; and if so , what vast sums may have been consumed in the nation ? how common is it at such times , especially , for a man to be almost jostled down , or otherwise abused by drunken men and boys , and to have his ears bor'd , and the air infected , and the streets polluted , with vollies of horrid oaths curses , execrations and blasphemies . o foolish people ! bethink your selves , & turn from these and the like ungodly vanities and abominations , and observe this time , and all other the short moments of your fleeting lives , to the ends for which the one was instituted , and the other lent you ; consider how uneasie and dreadfully prejudicial these courses will prove both to soul and body at the last audit ; how incapable they render you of answering the great ends for which you were created and sent into the world. let every one remember that he is but a steward here , and if god has given him a benjamin's portion , more than is needful for himself and family ( as many thousands have ) then it is his duty to improve the same by shewing mercy ●o all , and to distribute to the needy , the fatherless , and the widow in special manner , for with such sacrifices is our heavenly father well pleased ; nothing being capable of rendring us so like our maker as mercifulness , and deeds of charity ; for he makes his sun to shine on the just and unjust , and the fructifying dews of his upper chambers to fall with equality ; and affords his great and noble elements , viz , the earth , the water , and the air , with all their numberless productions , to all creatures , without respect of persons or things . therefore we are not to think our selves excused from doing good , and relieving necessitous persons , though pehhaps they have not improved their time and talents to the best advantage ; but rather from thence reflect what vain and unprofitable servants we have been our selves , and how unworthy of any of those mercies we enjoy . and the better to accomplish and render us capable of discharging these necessary duties , let all that would be good christians in earnest , betake themselves to the good and wholsome rules of sobri●ty , temperance , cleanness and order , in meats and drinks , which will not only make them more able to contribute to the necessities of their poor neighbours , but preserve their bodies and spirits sound , vigorous , healthful , and prompt to all good actions ; a sober , or irregular diet , having far greater power , not only on the corporeal parts , but also on the mind it self , to improve or weaken it , than most in our days imagine . did not our fore-fathers live to wonderful ages in perfect health , whilst their foods were simple and innocent , consisting chiefly ( if not wholly , as before the flood ) of herbs , fruits and grains , with pure water for drink , which of a●l other is most natural ; those holy patriarchs did not live by slaughter and violence , nor make their stomachs the burial places of dead bodies ; nor did they ransack the furthest corners of the earth for dainties . their provision was innocent and simple , cheap and ready at hand , whereby they became able ( as fire is quencht by withdrawing of fuel ) to check and regulate the extravagant motions of the mind and insurrections of the flesh. hence some of the antients have delivered it as a maxime , that none could understand god and his wonderful works , or enjoy health and long life , but those that abstain from flesh , wine , and vices ; bounding their desires according to the ends and necessities of nature ; not for insatiate appetite , or vain customs ; for were uncleanness and intemperance reigns , the soul is so subjected to a gross unweildy and polluted body , that it cannot discern things coelestial ; but sobriety and purity renders it the temple of god , wherein his blessed spirit delights to dwell and communicate his gifts and graces , so that where we see temperance and abstinence , we may justly expect a concatenation of all other virtues ; because there no superfluous matter is bred that may clog the organs of the body , or render them indisposed for the operations of the soul ; nor can the manifold benefits and advantages thereby acrewing , be conceived or understood by any but those only , that have abandon'd riot and superfluity ; for nothing but personal practise and perseverance therein , can make a man a competent judge in this matter , which i seriously recommended to all that would enjoy health of body or mind . for the power of temperance and sobriety proceeds from an inward principle , and they endow their observers with the riches both of time and eternity , making us truly sensible of god's blessings . the full stomach loaths ho ( figuratively put for the choicest and most delicate foods ) but to the hungry every bitter ▪ thing is sweet , saith the wise king. how pleasant , how relishing , how refreshing is every man's dish of food , to the sober mind , and well prepared stomach ! and how ready are such men to give the lord thanks and humble acknowledgments for the least of his mercies , because they see , feel , and taste the most pleasant operation of the divine hand in all things ; their bodies are both sustained and delighted with the coursest fare , their minds satisfied , their beds easie , their sleep sound ; they are not tortured with gouts , nor drowned with dropsies , nor burnt up with feavers ; their heads are not dulled with fumes , nor their stomachs oppressed with fainting fits , nor windy griping humours ; but they rise fresh as the morning-sun , and chearful as the early lark , soaring aloft towards heaven ; and on the wings of love and gratitude , chaunt forth anthems of praise to their adorable creator . for they are equally fit for exercises either corporeal or spiritual ; their fountain of life , natures balsamick oyl , the radical moisture flows freely thro' every part , like a pleasant breeze of wind that moderates the central fires , that they burn not too violently . for these reasons the wise and prudent in all ages have zealously courted temperance , abstinence , and cleanness , as their best guides and companions ; they abate extravagant desires , because a small matter will suffice a regular appetite ; they resist pride , covetousness , and vain-glory , and are the only friends or proper nurses to charity . they punish not the body with excessive labour , and at the same time ease the mind of distracting cares ; for what need they scrape , contend , or take thought for much , when they know how little will fully and comfortably supply all their real wants ? to do good and communicate of those gifts which god has intrusted us with , is one of the most fundamental precepts in the gospel , since nothing renders us more like our maker ; for he gives all things freely , and receives nothing , and likewise the same does naturally and by simpathy attract the sweet influences of the coelestial bodies , the vertues all elements , with the well-wishes and hearty prayers not only of the poor and needy , but of all good men ; which have a secret yet powerful influence on the souls and spirits of people so well disposed , and to obtain blessing on their persons and families . 3. therefore , let all that would observe solemn times , or feasts , observe them to the lord , viz. with serious pious meditations , holy conferences , humility , temperance , and alms-deeds ; and at such seasons especially , to avoid gluttony , riot , drunkenness , excess , superfluity , and prophaneness ; and not to sacrifice so many thousands of innocent creatures to their inordinate lusts , or ravenous desires , as now commonly they do ; which perhaps ought the rather to be regarded and avoided , since god's manifestation of his holy son of light , seems to have been in love and mercy to the whole world ; not only unto man , but likewise in some respects , to the rest of the under-graduated creatures ; for the everlasting gospel ( or divine power of god in his son ) was and is to be preached unto every creature under heaven , as the angel has it in the revelations ; for this act of grace , though some obtain greater priviledges by it than others , was universal ; and though the creatures were become subject unto vanity by man's degeneration and fall , yet they shall again receive that state of vnity and pleasure , which they should have enjoyed , if man had continued in his first estate ; and therefore the apostle aith , the whole creation groans to be delivered into the glorious liberty of the sons of god. that is , to be freed from those oppressions , violences and miseries , they now suffer under man's fierceness and tyranny ; for so far as man is truly redeemed from the wrathful fierce spirit , so far he freeth all creatures under his government . and therefore the scripture saith , the righterous man is merciful to his beast . and let us flatter our selves as we please , these extravagancies and violences to innocent creatures ▪ the spilling of their blood , and eating so continually of their carcasses ; does both awaken and strengthen the fountain of wrath within us , and will certainly in due time draw down a retaliation of vengeance . this we see every day in part fulfilled ; for are not our helioga●alus's , our mighty devourers , that continually gorge their paunches with the flesh of their fellow animals , severely punisht for their gluttony and cruelty , by a multitude of torturing diseases , as gouts , dropsies , consumptions , &c. and not only so , but when the evil grows generally predominant , it is chastized by some epidemical judgment , or pestilence . i pretend not to prophecy , nor would amuse people with vain threats ; but this i may modestly say , that if we look back into history , we shall rarely find but the plague hath visited the city of london , more or less in the circle of every twenty years . and if it hath now been free twenty two years , we may perhaps assign the nature causs thereof to the great fire , which purged its stench and pollutions , and that noble open way of rebuilding , whereby the whole city is become much more sweet and delightsome , and the particular houses more airy and pleasant , rendring the whole much more wholsome to the inhabitants ; this may defer , but will not i fear , be able altogether to prevent the returns of sweeping sicknesses ; and if we regard the course of nature , and especially the sins and provocations of people stirring up the divine wrath , i am very apt to fear some such terrible visitation within these two , three , or four years next at farthest ; but in this i am not positive , for god draws his destroying sword at his own appointed times ; however the caution can do no hurt , to admonish all persons of each sex , age , and condition , to repent and amend their lives , lest they be snatcht away suddenly , and there be none to deliver . which that they may do , and lay up treasures in heaven , by being liberal to the poor on earth ; i do again with all earnestness exhort them to sobriety , temperance , and works of mercy : and that this may be the more regularly performed , i shall propose an easie method , which each person may encrease or diminish as to the proportion of alms set down , according to their respective circumstances , provided they bestow freely , as in the presence of god , what they can spare , without any real injury to their family . since 't is a custom amongst most men , especially traders in cities and towns , at this time to cast up their stocks , to see how god has blessed them for the year past , as to their profits or losses , it would be highly convenient , if for every pound , it shall upon the ballance appear that they have gain'd , to give at least six pence to the poor , or other good uses ( as towards the education of poor children , which is the foundation of good government and order ) and as for gentlemen and persons of great estates , whose revenues come in without labour of their own , to allow , for every hundred pounds per annum , one shilling in the pound ; and farmers or renters of land , to give three pence for every pound they have gained in the foregoing year . and other men of great real or personal estates , which have been partly gotten by oppression or violence , or after great hazards at sea , where others have deeply suffered , but more especially in cases of estates acquir'd by man-slaughter ( though priviledg'd by worldly custom and laws ) for every hundred pounds per annum , or its equivalent in money or goods , to give fifteen pounds per cent , that is , three shillings in the pound . for though i cannot allow that uncharitable proverb , that every very rich man is either an unjust man himself , or the son of one . yet i must joyn with that other , estates that evil gotten are , seldom descends to the third heir . and i know no better conveyance or security to intail them , than by works of mercy , and alms● giving , which are the likeliest expedients to antidote against the secret canker , and give your posterity a lasting title , and obtain a blessing thereon , and upon all other your lawful endeavours , for want of which , how often do we see vast estates blasted , and suddenly transferred to new owners , and the most moyling industry defeated . nor would it be of small advantage both to the health of the body , and the good of the soul , for persons of estates , at least such whose callings are not laborious , to set apart a fasting-day once a weeek , or at least to eat meaner foods then , than ordinary ; and to appropriate the expences thereby saved , to charitable uses , viz. to the relief of the poor ( to whom he that giveth , lendeth to the lord , a debtor that will never prove bankrupt ) as likewise towards the maintaining of useful● schools , hospitals for the aged , lame , or diseased ; for the amendment of publick bridges , or high-ways ; or the planting of common walks of fruit , or other trees ; and many other accommodations ( especially in the country ) that would be both ornamental , delightful , and profitable ; and of far more advantage and honour , than what is now profusely squandred away in wanton superfluity , that opposes all christianity and moral vertue . this is somewhat of that which i thought fit to remind the stupid world of , on this occasion ; wherein let my good will at least be accepted , though some of my notions should happen not to be approved ; for he that contradicts inveterate customs , though never so unreasonable or impious , may justly expect to meet with censure , opposition , and perhaps derision . but i am long since arm'd against such rude attacques , being conscious of no other aim than the discharge of my duty , and to persuade men to be really , what they nominally profess themselves , viz. disciples and followers of iesvs christ ; in whose service i am , your well-wishing friend , t. t. ianuary 2 , 1687 / 8. chap. vi. good news for the poor , and better for the rich , &c. war is ever at the best , even to those that are most successful , a very disastrous calamity . and what through the judgment of god , the misfortune of our publick affairs , and the present discouragement of trade , the cries of the poor are exceedingly raised in this nation , and are like to be a great deal more , without the the interposition of some preventing relief . i would not say any thing that should give offence ; but it cannot be unknown that many hundred of families in and about this city , suffer extreamly upon that account . 't is therefore that i propose this easie and convenient method of raising fifteen or twenty thousand pounds per week towards the supplying those that really want : retrenching the luxurious superstuities of those that abound : and teaching those whose extravagance would carry their inclinations beyond their ability , the art of good husbandry . which things effectually pursued and practised , would be unconceivably beneficial as well to the rich as the poor , and in a great measure engage a blessing from god almighty upon our publick and private undertakings . 't is the best use we can make of heavens liberality , and will assuredly stand us instead , if providence should be pleas'd to turn up the reverse of our condition . 't is making the lord of the whole earth our debtor , and laying an obligation upon him of seeing us repaid , since he that gives to the poor , lends to the lord. this indeed is laying up for a wet day , and securing a treasure that no body can rob us of . no man alive is exempt from accidents and casualties , whereby it becomes of important concernment to be prepared for them . a wise man fits his mind for every chance , and whilst he doth in vertues paths advance , each promis'd good increaseth by his skill , and kindly lessens every threatned ill. there are at this time thousands of very many trades in and about this populous city , that have little or no work at their callings , whereby to support themselves , and supply their perishing families with bread. and can those whom god hath intrusted with plentiful estates , gorge themselves with overcharged tables , even to a surfeit , and riot in excess of wine , forgetting the afflictions of ioseph , whilst their brethren languish , and almost die for want of necessaries ? do they not think that god at such a time calls upon them for his quit-rent , out of those vast revenues that they hold meerly by the tenure of his bounty ? shall the heavenly magnificence be so extensive towards them , and theirs contracted towards their brethren ? his majesty has already shewn us the way , and as i am informed , given large demonstrations of his charity and compassion . how honourable would it be then for such who would be esteemed good christians and loyal subjects , to follow a generous and royal example ? one would think this should encourage them to be willing to contribute freely to the relieving the common necessity , and succouring those who labour under the burden of insupportable distress and want. which they might do with the greatest ease and least dammage imaginable . as for example , let us resolve , one day in the week at least , during the deadness of trade , and dearness of corn , to refrain from large eating , retrench the superfluous exorbitance of our tables , abstain from our customary excess , of wine and strong drinks ( i dare promise it would be never the worse for our health , but much the better , and likewise for our business ) and what we so save , employ in charitable uses for the service of the poor . by this only means , within the bills of mortality , might easily be raised twenty thousand pounds per week , and no man a farthing the worse , but infinitely the better both in his estate and his health , which is more valuable than the greatest estate in christendom . there are without dispute , within the above-mentioned circuit , near an hundred thousand families , whose dinners one with another cost them three shillings a day , i mean extravagantly in fish , flesh , fowl , strong beer , ale , wine , &c. when a little pap , pulp or grewel would do much better . or if they like not that , bread , butter , cheese , milk , &c. i am sure will supply natures wants in all things needful , if people would be so wise as not suffer false opinion , and that grand tyrant custom , to enslave both their souls and bodies . now an hundred thousand shillings is fifteen thousand pounds : and then it is not to be doubted , but generally more is spent in drink than victuals . there are more than an hundred thousand persons that lavish away daily above twelve pence in wine , brandy , and other strong liquors ; which expence if forborn but one day in a week , and bestow'd as aforesaid , would amount to five thousand pounds more , which makes in the whole , twenty thousand pounds per week , and this justly distributed , would supply eighty thousand families at five shillings per week a piece . or otherwise the one half might be imploy'd in the maintenance of threescore thousand families , and the other half to build schools and hospitals for the education of the poor children and orphans , and other miserable people , thousands being destroyed yearly for want of food and other conveniencies of life . and can we now suffer such a number of poor souls to perish for want , rather than abridge and deny our palates and insatiate paunches , some unnecessary , nay pernicious danties , only one day in a week ? let us then no longer make a god of our bellies , but endeavour to deserve our saviour's eulogy , i was an hungry , and you gave me meat . now considering the great scarcity and dearness of corn , and other provisions , whereby the families of poor people , especially those out of imployment , are become very pressing and deplorable : i count it no worthless service to the publick , to inform the world of the benefit and cheapness of dressing and eating of corn food , with the variety of their preparations , as they are very wholsom and salutiferously used in many countries , where they they have very little of any sort of other diet. for this is to be noted , that the flower of wheat , bar●ey , oats , or any other grain , made into paps or gruels , by a little boyling , doth not only advance them in quantity and strength , but it renders them more agreeable to the stomach , their digestion is more easie and more nutrimental . and a man may live as well , if not better , with a half , or third quantity of flower so prepared , than even with baked bread : that is , with half a pound of wheat or oa●meal flower made into pap with water , than with a pound of like flower made into bread. and this pap will support both health and strength to a higher degree , making a man more brisk and lively , free from drought and heat , or any other obstructions , eating a small quantity of bread with the pap , or between whiles . for the first invention of bread was not intended to be ea●en alone , but with fat foods as a good sauce or ingredient to mix with , drink up , or allay the oyliness of such things , and to render them more apt for separation and digestion . for all fat or oyly bodies furr the passages , and obstruct the stomach , and are extream heavy and hard to be divided . by which means , in all countries where people feed much on fat succulent foods , the common distempers are feavers , gout , stone , gravel and wind , all which are occasion'd by the oyliness and greasiness of their foods , and too great a quantity , which naturally generates thick cloddy blood , dull and impure spirits , which hinder the circulation of them both : and experience teaches that in the eastern country , where people live much on corn food , those cruel distempers are hardly known . now it is to be observed , that all flowe●s in their own nature , if eaten ●ry are very stopping , but when they are diluted and prepared with a proper quantity of water , they become of ano●ther operation and nature , as is manifest in all gruels , paps and spoonmea●s made thereof . when the flower of any corn is made into a strong paste or dough , wi●h a small quan●ity of water , and bak'd in the sulphurous fierce heat of the oven , the moisture being too small in quantity for the sal-nitral vertues or oyly spirituous qualities to soak or imbib● themselves in , the strong nutritive powers , or gellius glewy qualities , which is the band of nature , are by the predominancy of the heat broken as a man would break a stick in sunder . therefore bread will not thicken when put into milk , water , &c. and boyled , but easily separate , and not at all incorporate and become one body with the water , as flower will , before it is baked . so that the making flower into bread , by baking of it , doth not consume the quantity , but the natural quality of corn also : and too frequently eaten alone will obstruct the stomach and all the subservient vessels . 't is true indeed , bread as it is generally eaten , is a very good thing , and of great use , tho' in it self but of little nourishment , however being eaten with fat food it mightily helps concoction : but flower when dress'd after the forementioned method , affords the most nourishment , especially if there be good pot herbs added . but if you would divert and gratifie the stomach with a dryer and harder sort of food , which nature sometimes loves , make the flower into small dumplins , so called , but little bigger than crown pieces , put them into boyling water , and let them boyl quick ; they will presently be done . this sort of boyled bread does not only afford more and better nourishment , but is pleasanter to the palate , and more satisfactory to the stomach . this may be called boyled bread , and is best without salt , or any other ingredient . therefore flower properly diluted and prepared , best agrees with the eaters ; if it be the most part of your food , then thick is best : however thin is very healthful between whiles . but such as live upon solid fat food , their gruels ought to be thin , which will better cleanse the vessels of the stomach and ureters , preserve nature , and prevent the generation of the stone , &c. and rickets in children . now fish , flesh , &c. are loaded with a gross phlegmatick body , and the frequent eating thereof cannot but affect the eater with the like qualities . as is manifest from those cattle that feed on green food , as grass , &c. are not such beasts less able to travel and labour , and is not their flesh more gross , apter to putrifie , and salt it self will not preserve it from corruption ? on the contrary , such beasts as feed on corn , hay , &c. which are dry , they are not only strong and able to endure labour and travel , but their flesh is more firm and substantial , and durable when salted , than the former . we deceive our selves if we judge that flesh hath much nourishment , because it hath much juice or matter : by the same reason , grass would have more good nourishment and strength in it than corn : but the more gross matter and phlegmatick juices any thing is loaded with , the weaker and fainter that thing is , and consequently more subject to decay , and distemper the spirits , being but few , and those that are dull , cloudy and impure . so that upon the whole matter , flesh , fish , and fowl , &c. cannot have the preheminence of foods : neither are they indued with so much , nor so good nourishment as corn foods . but here we must give way to the prevailing tyrant custom , which is the champion i am to make war against ; and as the foods of beasts are better or worse● clean or substantial , their health , strength and ability are according . the like is to be understood of the food men live on , for it is not , as is said before , the gross juices that affords the true nourishment , but the fine , light , volatile spirituous vertues ; for this cause most are greatly mistaken , that attribute so great and good nourishment to flesh and fish. indeed they are full of gross matters and juices , which do serve chiefly to cloud the finer vertues and true life , which do also add weight and not spirit , so that the great eaters thereof , become dull and heavy , loading nature with too great quantities of phlegmatick juices and humours , which do not only oppress nature in all her operations , but is the root of many diseases both of the body and mind . green corn and grass are endued with more substance and juices than either hay or corn ; but it is earthly and gross , and affords a nourishment of a like nature : the more any thing is loaded or endued with gross or corrupt matter , the sooner it falls into putrifaction . but on the contrary , the dryer , firmer , and more spirituous any thing is , the longer it will endure and be preserved from corruption . but of all things men eat , flesh and fish do s●oner decay , because of the abundance of gross matter it does contain , which does as it were in a moments time cloud and suffocate the fine sal-nitral vertues . i am sure that a man may make a better meal with half a penny-worth of wheat-flower made into pap , and half a penny-worth of bread to eat with it , and a little salt , and be as strong , brisk , and able to perform any labour , as he that makes the best meal he can with either flesh or fish. so great is the ignorance , folly , blindness , false opinion and custom , of those that call themselves the learned . pray tell me what kind of ignorance and madness does possess the poor labouring man that hath but six pence , or one shilling to buy food for his whole family , and to lay it out in a sheeps head and gethers , or an oxes liver , which is his whole stock ; and the best food that can be expected from it , is a little corrupt broth or putrified pottage ; when with five times less charge in flower , he might have procured a far better meal , being made into pap or gruel , with a little bread and salt. it is also to be noted , that those that live on corn food , have not occasion to drink strong or cordial drinks , as those that eat flesh and fish ; the first being more spiri●uous and warming , the last cold , phlegmatick and gross , and harder of concoction . 't is likewise observable , that half the quantity of wine or strong drink will exhillerate a man that lives on cornfood to as high a degree as double the quantity will those that feed on flesh , &c. which is a good argument that corn food affords the cleanest and finest nourishment , and breeds the best blood and humours , the spirits being as it were always upon the wing , and consequently apter to be moved . the complexion of fish and flesh is cold and phlegmatick , ( but whilst living ) they are for the most part of a hot , lively-brisk temperament , each according to its nature and the food they live on . but when the great powers of life are destroyed by the baneful stroak of the butcher , all the airy brisk vertues bid the corp● adue , and the whole mass becomes a lump of a sad melancholick nature and operation ; what notions soever some have to the contrary . the true and most natural method of preparing the forementioned pottage , gruels and paps , made of flower , pease , &c. take one ounce of wheat● flower , which is a small spoonful , make a point of water near boyling hot , temper your flower with 3 or 4 spoonfuls of cold water , then stir it into your hot water , keep it stirring on your fire till it boyls up , then it is at the thickest , and is compleatly prepared , add some salt , and a few crums of bread , letting it stand till it be almost cold , this makes an excellent meal for any child , from five or six years of age to ten or twelve . or you may make it thus ; take an onion , cut it 〈◊〉 boyl it in your water a few minutes , then add your temper'd flower as before , seasoning it with salt and some crums of bread ; this eats very pleasant , and is very satisfactory to the stomach . onions are very wholsom in pottages and gruels , they naturally warm and open the obstructions of the brest and ureters , and are not prejudicial to the head nor eyes , when temperately used . another . take two ounces of flower beaten or mixed with cold water , stir this into one pint and a half of hot water till it boyls up , adding salt and a little bread , and those that have no bread may boyl an onion , in the water before the flower is put in , this eaten , makes a brave noble exhillerating meal for a man , which costs little more than one farthing , notwithstanding corn is at such a high price ; after this manner you may make what quantity you please thicker or thinner , as it agrees best with you , thick is best for strong healthy people , and for such as labour ; thin is more advantagious for sick people , or such as are troubled with foul stomachs , and obstructed ureters ; a mean or middle sort is most proper for those that are of a soft imployment , or live a sedentary life . oatmeal pottage . take a quart of water , make it boyling hot , then take a large spoonful of small , or ground oatmeal , or somewhat better than a spoonful , temper it with cold water , then set it on your fire till it begins to boyl up , then brew it again and it is done , add salt and a little bread , letting of it stand till it be almost cold ; with this alone a man may make as good a meal as with all the varities the four elements afford , for it renders the common eater thereof strong , lively and healthful . or you make it thus , if it be for a meal without other things , make your water boyling hot , then take an onion and some pot-herbs , let your herbs and onions boyl a little time in your water before you brew or stir the tempered oatmeal , after which you must stir your oatmeal in till it boyl up , or begins to boyl , then it is done , adding salt and bread ; this a most pleasant and wholsome pottage , and very nourishing ; but such as loves it plain , may have it so , and others that will have it with pot-herbs , without an onion , may please themselves , it 's a brave food , whether with or without herbs . but give me leave to tell you , that for such as live only on such flowered or corn foods , onions and pot-herbs are best and most pleasing both to the palate and stomach ; for variety of preparations are most acceptable to nature . of pease pottage . take one pint of pease , put them in three or four quarts of water , on a very gentle fire , where they may heat gradually , let them stand simpering or near a boyling heat for three or four hours , then let them boyl very gently , and when they are soft and incorporated into pottage , then take either dry'd sage that is well preserved in its proper season , give it a little drying by the fire , and then rub it into powder , add this and an onion , let it boyl a little , and then it is done : but if you have not dried sage , then take green and cut it small , and use it as you would the dryed , with an onion or without . but it is further to be observed , that after your onion and sage have boyled a little , then you must take a large spoonful of wheat-flower made into batter with cold water , and stir it into your pottage , and so soon as it boyls up it is done . this pint of pease will make near two quarts of brave pleasant pottage , which will serve a working man a day , and all the cost thereof will not be much more than one penny. if the poor were so prudent to observe the forementioned methods , they might live most happy and healthful , and would not be compelled to undergo so many troubles and great necessities as they are . besides , want is the mother of many great evils . chap. vi. a humble proposal to the honourable sir thomas lane , lord major , the court of aldermen , merchants , citizens , &c. of the city of london , for the erecting of twenty free schools in the poor parishes in and about the said city , for the education of poor children , whose parents are not able to pay for their schooling . may it please your lordship , and the rest of the honourable gentlemen , to whom this proposal is addressed , to take into your serious consideration , the deplorable ▪ estate and condition of many poor children , that for want of means to give them timely and proper education , in order to their being instructed in the methods of vertue and true religion , are suffered to play away about the streets the only seasons of their lives for knowledge and improvement , in idle , vain , & sinful sports and pastimes . in vain do your lordship , and the other magistates , so strenuously and commendably labour to reform mankind , by suppressing and correcting grown and addult wickedness , while by the connivance and toleration of this ungodly practise , the seeds of vice , like so many hydra's heads , grow upon your hands , still furnishing you with new matters of hopeless and unsuccessful toyl and vexation : for by this idle squandering away their time , they learn all kind of lewdness , swearing , lying , stealing , impudence , and dissimulation , which being then so timely and deeply imprinted upon their souls , all the punishment in the world can hardly ever return them afterwards : good manners , temperance , order , and proper learning , are the stays and supports of all good government , which ( if due care were taken ) might as easily and cheaply be planted , as the forementioned vices ; whereby in short time the world would be much better in general , and the magistracy in particular be discharged of abundance of ungratefulness and trouble . now since the laying a sure and lasting foundation of vertue and honesty is the noblest and most extensive charity imaginable , we cannot allow our selves to doubt of your lordships concurrence with the incouragement of so lawful and beneficial a proposal : and we are bold to affirm , that your lordship cannot begin your government , from whence the whole city justly expects so much happiness and advantage , under the influences of a more blessed and auspicious omen . it is therefore humbly proposed , that twenty schools , viz. ten for boys and ten for girls , be erected , which will require a hundred and twenty pound per annum one with another , for their maintenance , with their proper tutors , masters , &c. each parish or p●ecinct , building their school-houses at their own proper charge , low houses , all one floor , fifty foot in length , and twenty five in breadth , with chimneys , and other necessary convenienc●es . now twenty schools at a hundred and twenty pound per annum each , must have a settlement of land of two thousand five hundred pound per annum , which might easily be raised by a voluntary contribution ; for it is not to be doubted , but there are within the circuit of the bills of mortality , more than a hundred thousand persons that are able , without prejudice , to give ten shillings each ( that is ) one with another , which would amount to fifty thousand pound sterling , which being well laid out , would purchase in land two thousand five hundred pound per annum , and better ; but if any alledge they cannot conveniently spare such a sum as ten shillings it is proposed that there be a general fasting day for six weeks , from all sorts of costly foods , and strong drinks , one day only in each week , which by a modest computation , would raise ten thousand pound per week ; that is , in the whole sixty thousand pound , and no particular person or family one penny the worse , which also without doubt would be mightily increased every year by the gifts and liberality of charitable people , that d●op off the stage of this world into eternity . as an enforcement of what is proposed , give me leave to tell you , that this charity is not given to strangers , but to preserve and maintain our own posterity or off spring , even our own children , two thirds whereof , if no● more , within the compass and revolution of thirty or fourty years , by some private misfortunes , or publick calamities and alterations of state , come to extream poverty and straits . for it is reasonably supposed , that thirty years s●nce there were then in and about london , forty thousand gentlemen , merchants , shopkeepers and tradesmen , worth in estates from five hundred to ten thousand pounds , and these might possibly have three children each , one with another , which is a hundred and twenty thousand , so that at this time it is not to be questioned , if an exact scrutiny be made , and account given of each man's off-spring , but that there are now half , or two thirds of these that really want such a piece of charity as is here preposed . now if we will but look forward , we may rationally conclude , that thirty or forty years hence , our children or grand-children may be in the like poor condition ; so that money thus disposed of , as we have proposed , is a far better security to our posterity than the free land of any particular person can purchace for them : besides , you have the great god's word , and our saviour christ's promise , to indempnifie and save you harmless ; for he that gives to the poor , lends to the lord , and there shall be manifold restitutions made , with the blessings of this world , and with life eternal in the world to come , which is both personal and real security . neither do i believe there is any firmer or better way of conveying or intailing estates on our children and posterity , than by works of mercy and almsgiving , being assured according to the word of god , that they are the likeliest expedients and antidotes against the secret canker , and give our children a sure and lasting title to their inheritance : for retaliation of rewards and punishments is the indispensible law of god , which will have its execution either in this world or that which is to come . this our saviour further exemplifies in the parable between the sheep and the goats , when he says to the sheep on his right hand , come , ye blessed , into the kingdom prepared for you ; for i was hungry , and you fed me ; naked , and ye cloathed me ; sick , and in prison , and ye administred unto me : but to the goats he says , go ye cursed into everlasting darkness , prepared for the devil and his angles ; for you have neither fed , cloathed , nor administred to me . and further , when they expostulated with him , saying , lord , when did we see thee hungry , naked , sick , or in prison ? his answer was , insomuch as ye did it not to one of these little ones , ye did it not to me . hence it is evident , in so many plain words , what christ's sheep were justified for ; and for what the goats were condemned ; the first had charity , the latter not ; therefore to do good , and communicate those gifts the lord hath intrusted us with , is one of the most binding and fundamental precepts in the christian religion . charity being therefore the first true step to all vertue ; that we may obtain the blessing of the almighty upon the publick undertakings , and all our private lawful endeavours , let us resolve to go on chearfully , and lay up a treasure in heaven , by being liberal to the poor and needy upon earth . and for the better and more singular performance of these duties , our holy religion and interests obliges every one in his station , avoiding covetousness and expensive sensuality , to betake our selves to sobriety and temperance , which are the great promoters and encouragers of charity , with proper and due fasting , which is none of the least vertues , for they all proceed from the fountain of god's grace , and an inward ground or divine principle in the soul. this is what i have given my mind to think of , and do believe it my duty to recommend the same to my fellow citizens , wherein i humbly pray , that my good will , at least , may be accepted , though it should happen that some of my notions are not altogether approved of ; for i am conscious to my self of no other aim than the discharge of my duty , to persuade men to be really what they profess themselves nominally , viz. disciples and followers of jesus christ , in whose service i am , gentlemen , your well wishing friend , thomas tryon . the vse and vertues of several sorts of gruels and pottages ; viz. water-gruel and milk-pottage , have the first place , not only for their excellent qualities , and friendly agreement they have with the stomach , but also they are easy come at able by the poor and meanest of people ; next in rank do follow many other sorts of brave exhilerating pottages ; viz. pap , made with wheat-flower and water , or with milk , water , and flower ; barley-gruel , herb-pottage , pease-pottage , furmity , buttered wheat , possets , bonny-clabber , flummery , caudles made of beer , wine , cider , or other liquors , with oat-meal , also with eggs , and chocolate ; all which are the most agreeable , friendly foods to nature ; being easie of concoction , and do afford greater strength , and generates better blood and finer spirits , than most do imagine , which are the sinews of health ; and they may be eaten freely , without any danger of surfeits , either with bread or without ; for these liquid regions , do as it were contain the sominary vertues , both of dry and moist aliment , contributing a more sublime nourishment than strong , hard , salt foods , being tempered with such equality of parts , whence do proceed such an innocent power , and ravishing balsamick vertue , that the frequent eating thereof , do fortify , strengthen , and refresh nature to the highest degree , being endued with a certain innate power and vertue , not only to help to digest harder foods , but they cleanse and open all the passages , and are a powerful prevention of obstructions , and gross phlegmy humors , and at the same time supplying nature with a substantial , brisk nourishment , and sweet , friendly moisture , provided they are mixed and prepared with judgment ; and all that love their health , ought to eat them , at all times of the year , but more especially in summer , and hot seasons ; they make no noise , nor cause any insurrection in the body , so that after a meal of such foods , there is felt no inequality or indisposition , the body doth not burn with an unatural flame , nor the crown is not pestered with fumes and vapours ; in a word , they are endued with all the good united vertues , both of the vegetable and animals kingdoms ; besides these pottages have such a sympathetical agreement with the digesting liquor of the stomach , called the menstruum , whose office is to fit , qualifie , and prepare the food for separation and digestion , being of a mild , gentle nature and operation , imitating the dew of heaven , which doth bow , apply ▪ and incorporate , its sweet dews and moist vapours to all its off-spring , whence all things become impregnated with life , power and vertue : for this cause all pottages do not only strengthen the appetite , and the a●tractive facultie● and powers of nature , but they are easily melted into chyle , without any manifest trouble or molestation to the stomach ; for the nearer affinity the foods have to the menstruum , the easier they are digested , and sharper is the appetite , because the sweet vertues of such things are drawn forth into all the members and parts of the body , gently and mildly supplying them with a fit and proper nourishment , with far more ease and pleasure to nature , than from hard , strong , salt foods ; neither doth our friendly , homogenial pottages heat , consume , or dry up the menstruum , or radical moisture , as gross flesh , fish , and cheese do , from whence do proceed , after the eating thereof , indisposition , and an unatural drought , which renders the whole uneasie , and unfit , either for the business of the body or mind ; therefore it is observable , that in the eastern and southern parts of the world , where the natives drink water , their foods being most , or all , made into pottages , where they never , or very seldom , eat any flesh , fish , old cheese , salt butter , and but little bread in gross , as the custom is in the northern parts of the world , therefore the gout , stone , scurvy , and many other cruel diseases are not known ; which distempers do for the most part proceed , and are generated by the constant feeding on strong , hard , salt , crude foods , and the drinking of strong , harsh , sharp drinks , being all of a disagreeing nature to the menstruum of the stomach ; and therefore they do mightily obstruct nature , stop the passages , begetting sharp , windy humours , thick blood , dull and heavy spirits , which are the original causes of the gout , wind , stone , scurvy , and many other diseases : for this cause when any languish under those forementioned distempers , the learned advise them to live on some of the above-mentioned gruels and pottages ; for if such foods recover lost health , pars ratione , consequently it must maintain and promote it . thomas tryon . finis . the anatomie of vrines containing the conuiction and condemnation of them. or, the second part of our discourse of vrines. detecting and vnfolding the manifold falshoods and abuses committed by the vulgar sort of practitioners, in the iudgement of diseases by the vrines onely: together with a narrow suruey of their substance, chiefe colours, and manifold contents, ioyning withall the right vse of vrines. ... collected, as well out of the ancient greeke, latine, and arabian authors, as out of our late famous physitians of seuerall nations: their authorities quoted and translated out of the originall tongues, together with some of the authors owne obseruations. by iames hart of northampton. neuer heretofore published. hart, james, of northampton. 1625 approx. 367 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 72 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a68143) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 4002) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1176:3, 1202:11b) the anatomie of vrines containing the conuiction and condemnation of them. or, the second part of our discourse of vrines. detecting and vnfolding the manifold falshoods and abuses committed by the vulgar sort of practitioners, in the iudgement of diseases by the vrines onely: together with a narrow suruey of their substance, chiefe colours, and manifold contents, ioyning withall the right vse of vrines. ... collected, as well out of the ancient greeke, latine, and arabian authors, as out of our late famous physitians of seuerall nations: their authorities quoted and translated out of the originall tongues, together with some of the authors owne obseruations. by iames hart of northampton. neuer heretofore published. hart, james, of northampton. foreest, pieter van, 1522-1597. arraignment of urines. [18], 127, [1] p. printed by richard field for robert mylbourne, and are to be sold at his shop at the great south doore of pauls, london : 1625. intended as a second part to: foreest, pieter van. the arraignment of urines. "since field was dead by 14 dec. 1624, either the tp is postdated or the book was completed by his successor, g. miller"--stc. identified as part of stc 11180 on umi microfilm reel 1202. reproductions of the originals in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery and the british library. appears at reel 1176 (henry e. huntington library and art gallery copy) and at reel 1202 (british library copy, filmed following stc 11180). created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english 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characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng urine -examination -early works to 1800. medicine -early works to 1800. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-02 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-02 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the anatomie of vrines . containing the conviction and condemnation of them . or , the second part of our discourse of vrines . detecting and vnfolding the manifold falshoods and abuses committed by the vulgar sort of practitioners , in the iudgement of diseases by the vrines onely : together with a narrow suruey of their substance , chiefe colours , and manifold contents , ioyning withall the right vse of vrines . wherein is contained plentie of profitable and delectable histories concerning this subiect . collected , as well out of the ancient greeke , latine , and arabian authors , as out of our late famous physitians of seuerall nations : their authorities quoted and translated out of the originall tongues , together with some of the authors owne obseruations . by iames hart of northampton . neuer heretofore published . london , printed by richard field for robert mylbourne , and are to be sold at his shop at the south doore of pauls . 1625. of vrines , to wit , such as do decline from any one extreame , what concerneth the same , may easily , by that which hath bene said of the same extreame , be vnderstood . now if any shall enquire what is the cause i spend so much time about this subiect : i answer , it is by reason of the old inueterate opinion , or rather errour , which most people haue conceiued concerning this strumpet ; whom for this cause i haue here vnmasked , and layed open to the view of euery one that will not shut his eyes in the cleare sunne-shine ; and that to the end that none may be circumuented by the fraud and cozenage of such as abuse her for their owne benefit . but lest any should imagine these things to be but fancies fetcht from mine owne braine , therefore not contented to set down mine owne positiue opinion , i haue both backt , fortified and flanked it with the bulwarks of the best writers of ancient and later times , whose owne words i haue truly translated , directing thee likewise , learned reader , to the marginall quotations , where for thy recreation and better satisfaction , not the names of the authors onely , and the particular places , but the very words of the originall are often set downe , that so it may more euidently appeare , that this latter iurie finds her guiltie , as the former great enquest after the inditement found billa vera . the condemnation must then of necessitie follow , since the parties offending hauing had these three last assizes allowed them to pleade for themselues , haue said nothing . this sentence i referre to this * sage assembly , who , as i hope , will take this publicke businesse , as a matter of no small moment , into their serious considerations . but me thinkes i heare some say , what is then the vse of vrines in discerning of diseases ? or serueth it for no vse at all ? i answer , that so farre am i from abrogating this so ancient and necessarie a signe , receiued by all our ancient and late writers , which i do highly esteeme , and account of the same being rightly vsed , howbeit as it is commonly vsed , it is most shamefully abused . the right vse of vrine then is , together with all the rest of the signes and seuerall circumstances of the disease ( in such diseases i meane where it is of any force or validitie , in some diseases being of no vse at all ) to giue vs notice of the nature , together with the changes and alterations , as likewise what is like to be the issue of the same . the physitian is therefore first to enquire diligently into the nature of the disease , together with all the other signes and circumstances thereof : and then , comparing all together , to giue forth his best and most assured iudgeme●t . most foolish therefore and absurd is the sottish custome of the countrey people now a dayes , bringing the vrine to the physitian , it may be in some old oylie or inkie bottle , and then to demand of him as of some delphian oracle , the whole nature of the disease , the patients age , and diuerse other things wherewith they ought to acquaint vs , as also with all the other signes and circumstances of the disease : euen as the client is to lay open his cause to the lawyer , how learned soeuer , and skilfull in his profession . it is yet not vnworthie the obseruation , that one and the same vrine hath often diuers and seuerall significations , and therefore vnlesse by diuerse other signes and circumstances limited , can neuer affoord vs any certaintie , as hereafter both in the colours and contents the ensuing discourse shall make manifest . and thus may the right vse to the wise and vnderstanding easily appeare ; especially to such as haue bene or yet shall hereafter be admitted vnto such mysteries . and therefore ignorant empiricks , women , and many other such , haue no share or interest in these affaires , as not being able to diue into the depth of the premisses . and as for cleargie men , they cannot be ignorant , that they ought to be employed about businesses of an higher nature . and if they will haue a care of the soules entrusted to them , they need not trouble themselues with their bodies . now that one signe , in some diseases onely to be obserued to be of any vse , should with a papall prerogatiue assume all authoritie vnto it selfe , is both against common sense , daily experience , and the authorities of the learned . the pulse will pleade for a preheminence aboue the vrine : and to iudge of this , as of a number of other signes , it will of necessitie require the physitians presence . now that the vrines in many diseases , and those of vndoubted danger , do often shew thee no more then the ground thou goest on ; and that many other signes besides are of necessitie to be obserued , hath bene at great length related in the former tractate , and shall yet more plainly and particularly in this which followeth appeare . and for thy more particular information , i haue set downe the seuerall significations of vrines , and that according to the opinions of such authors as haue written of them ; together with some particulars which haue neuer yet bene published by any english writer that i haue as yet seene , as by the contents of the bookes and chapters may appeare . some things also which haue bene by others written and auouched for vncontrolled truths , i haue confuted as false and erronious : and that , as i thinkt , by vnanswerable arguments , illustrating the same with varietie of ancient and recent authorities , together with plentie of pertinent examples , being true historicall relations , obserued both by my selfe and other authors : the which howsoeuer they do not simply proue ; yet do they not a little illustrate the matter in hand , and make it more perspicuous to the meaner sort . now whereas i sometimes insert something of the ignorance and vnsufficiencie of some offenders , some may , perhaps , reply , that it may sometimes befall a good physitian to faile as well as any of them . i confesse indeed , bernardus non videt omnia : he is a good horse that neuer stumbled . neuer to faile is a priuiledge denyed to any of the ofspring of sinfull adam : howbeit the learned physitian building vpon reason and experience , keepeth alwayes an orderly and methodicall course in all his proceedings : and if he may sometimes erre ( as being a man and not a god ) how much more then an ignorant empiricke , a shee-physitian ( such a one as now liueth in northamptonshire , and in whom i wonder that any that hath any braines in his head can see any sufficiencie ) that i say nothing of a medling minister that neuer was trained vp in that profession ; shall they i say be obnoxious to error in so intricate an art , wherein they haue no interest , as being meere vsurpers vpon other mens right ? besides , the vulgar not being able to iudge of the sufficiencie of the learned physitian , preferreth often the paines of some ignorant empiricke , ( soothed vp it may be by the successe of some casuall cure ) before the labors of the most learned & honest artist . but my meaning is here of an ordinary erronious course of practising , euē against the rules of art , & the very grounds & principles of this physicall profession . of such errors i could haue set downe a multitude , besides those few which i had by relation , either from the patients themselues , or else from some of their most familiar friends and acquaintances , who haue protested , that they will be readie to iustifie the same vppon their oathes . neither yet let this suffice , that some of their proctors pleade for them a number of happy and successefull euents ; since that thus we may often magnifie the most vile wizard , and most ignorant old wife in the countrey : this argument taken from issue and euent being a meere paralogisme , a fallacie and deceit , taking that often for a true cause which is no cause indeed , as in the conclusion of this discourse shall more plainly appeare . and in this i appeale to the learned and honest artist , not to such a persons parasite , who taketh for good and current coyne what soeuer commeth out of his mint , nor yet their otherwise honest , yet in this point , too partiall patients , in this particular blinded with the mist of ignorance , or a preiudicate opinion of such mens supposed sufficiencie , they themselues not being able herein to discerne betwixt right and wrong . now that this hath bene no a vnusuall custome to brow-beat and ouerthow errors , euen in this profession , and for the maintaining of truth to pleade against imposture , might easily , as well by ancient as later authorities , be euinced , which would be too tedious here to relate . but amongst many , one late writer i cannot passe by ( the learned libauius i meane ) who hath wrestled with many such monsters ; as namely michelius , hartmannus , scheunemannus , the impudent priest gramau●s , and that famous , i meane infamous impostor ambaldus , author of that counterfeit b panacea , like our aurum potabile , supposed good against most , if not all infirmities ; who notwithstanding , for his ignorance not being able to vndergo the triall and examination of the physitians of the citie of ausburg , was most iustly by the magistate banished the same , and so his fame after a while turned to fume or smoke . and haue we not of late dayes had here at home c some maintainers of truth and opposers of imposture , some liuing euen at this day ? and against this same abuse in particular , besides forest , euritius cordus published in latine a learned booke : so did likewise guilielmus adolphus scribonius , the learned langius in some of his epistles , and many others also , as hereafter shall appeare . but i am not ignorant , that whosoeuer will publ●sh any thing in this last and learned age , cannot chuse but vndergo the censure of many iudges , as witnesseth the worthie d ●erome . some will perhaps say the stile is too meane and plaine : and others , if there were any elegancie in it , would cry out , he playes the orator ( perhaps odious in handling vrines ) not the physitian . and some preoccupied with a partiall and preiudicate opinion , like the diseased of some cholericke feauer , to whō the sweetest things seeme bitter : so whatsoeuer fruite groweth in some mens gardens , be it neuer so good , will giue no content to some mens ouer curious & nice relishes : so hard a thing is it to practise this one point , omnibus placeto . howsoeuer , kinde reader , if thou come with a desire to submit thy selfe to the rules of reason , to haue thy iudgement rectified if erronious , and with an earnest desire to be fully informed of the truth , let not my labour be lost , but peruse , i pray thee , this tractate , wherein thou mayest perhaps finde something for thy satisfaction . and howsoeuer , perhaps , the cookerie may not giue thee full content , yet remember the matter is but meane , in the which i haue had a greater regard to the matter it selfe , then to the curious manner of deliuering the same ; and a greater care to satisfie the simplest vnderstandings ( for whose cause i haue principally published these may paines ) then with the ornaments of an orator to please the eares of the most learned . optimum condimentum fames : a good appetite needeth no sauce . the germanes in diuerse places of saxony , in stead of currants bake their cakes with blacke poppy seeds : and in stead of stewed broth boyle wilde or horse radishes with their beefe . the french findeth a good rellish in his soure sauces : and a spaniard maketh often as great account of a lemmon , as an english man of a pecce of powdered beefe . whatsoeuer it is , and howsoeuer liked , yet my principall purpose was and is to profit the publicke . if i should pleade a priuiledge from backbiters , and immunitie from malignant tongues , i should su● for that which hath bene denyed the greatest and worthiest personages of ancient and later times . and some varlets haue bene found , who would rather fire the famous temple of diana , then not minister matter to talke of them . and as for my selfe , i deny not but i shall find some of the offenders here mentioned , who will snarle and grumble at my so plaine and vnpartiall reprouing of their faults . some , who should haue shewed better example , conscious to themselues of their owne guiltinesse , haue broken the ice already , & as i am informed , haue much repined at the preface of my former tractate . * if i haue spoken euill be are witnesse of the euill : but if well , why smitest thou me ? if they can iustifie their actions , let them publish their apologie , and let the reader iudge . but if they can do nothing else but maligne other mens labours , and themselues loyter , i wish them to be filent . carpere vel noli nostra vel ede tua . bring forth thy birth , or barke not thus at mine . but all they can say , moueth me no more then the barking of a dog , or the yelping of a foxe , as knowing that , obsequium amicos , veritas odium parit . flatterie gets friends , but truth oft enuie finds . it is for thy sake therefore , kind and vnpartiall reader , who hast learned to value vertue at her highest worth , that i haue vndertaken this taske : which i acknowledge to be so far frō perfection , that i confesse i haue but with a rude pencill pourtrayed out the lineaments of this picture , giuing hereby fit opportunity to some cunning apelles to perfect the same hereafter . homo sum , humani à me nihil alienū puto : a man i am , and as all the sonnes of adam , subiect to error . but let the righteous reproue me , it shall be as a precious ointment , and shall not hurt my head . so intreating thy patience to take these my paines in good part , not to be too sharpe and censorious , nor yet too open eared to hearken to enuious inuectiue speeches of any whose sores are here lanced , and to keepe one eare open for thy friends iust apologie , i rest , thy euer vnfained , well-wishing friend , a fauourer of the publicke good , and a profest enemie to all fraud and imposture , ●ames hart . the contents of the chapters contained in this whole tractate . in the first booke . chap. 1. the introduction , where some thing of the antiquitie , excellencie , and eminencie of physicke , and of the lawlesse intrusion of some ignorant persons vpon the profession of physicke , with the absurditie of the same . chap. 2. of the vncertaine iudgement affoorded vs by vrines in generall , together with their limitation to certaine diseases , & that out of a manie learned and approoued authors . chap. 3. that euen in diseases of the liuer and within the veines , the vrine doth often deceiue the most skilfull physitian . chap. 4. that by the vrine onely it cannot absolutely be knowne whether a woman be with child or no , contrary to the vulgar opinion . chap. 5. that the sexe cannot be discerned by the vrine . in the second booke . chap. 1. that the regions of the vrine are not answerable to the regions of the body of man , as also concerning the substance of vrines thicke and thin ; their manifold significations , and vncertaintie of iudgement by the same . chap. 2. of the accidents of vrine , the quantitie , smell , &c. and that no certaine and assured truth can by them be presaged or knowne . chap. 3. of the colours of vrines , how deceitfull they prooue , and first of the colour commonly called palew , & light saffron . chap. 4. of red vrines ; how easily one may thereby be deceiued : of pissing of bloud . chap. 5. of blacke vrines , and that they are not alwayes so dangerous as they are deemed . of blew , ash-coloured , leaden and greene coloured vrines , together with their seuerall significations and vncertainties . chap. 6. the manifold significations of white vrines , as also the great vncertaintie of iudgement by the same . chap. 7. of the circle or garland , spume , and froth , bubbles , smoke , or vapour , and fat in the ouermost region of the vrine , and what certaintie from thence can be collected . chap. 8. of the cloud , swimme , or sublimation , together with diuerse sorts of residences , and the vncertaintie of their significations . chap. 9. of the manner of pissing : the retention or stoppage of vrine , totall or in part : of inuoluntarie pissing , both in sicknesse and in health . chap. 10. of the fond and foolish opinion concerning distillation of vrines . of the water of separation , together with the vncertaintie of iudgement by such meanes . chap. 11. the conclusion of the whole discourse , where something concerning issue and euent , and of causuall cures . the names of svch famovs physitians as are alledged in this present tractate . actuarius . aetius . ancient greeke physitians . alexander benedictus . a learned italian physitian . alexander trallianus . an ancient greeke physitian . amatus . a learned portugall physitian . ambrosius paraeus . surgeon to three french kings . andreas laurentius . physitian to king henry the fourth . andreas libauius . a very learned germane physitian . antonius valetius . a learned french physitian . archigenes . an ancient physitian of syria . aretaeus cappadox : or of cappadocia . beniamin lobshuts . a learned germane physitian . chrystophorus à vega . a physitian to the high and mightie prince charles , prince of spaine , and d. of the chaire in the vniuersitie of complutum . claudius galenus . diomedes cornarius . physitian to maximilian archduke of austria , and brother to rodolphus and matthias late emperours . duncanus liddelius of aberdene in scotland , physitian to henricus iulius , the late and last duke of brawnswicke , and d. of the chaire for physicke and the mathematickes in the vniuersitie of helmstadt . felix platerus . physitian to the illustrious duke of wirtemberg , and one of the d. of the chaire in the famous vniuersitie of basil in switzerland . franciscus emericus , d. in physicke , and practicall professor in the vniuersitie of vienna . franciscus valleriola . a learned french physitian . gasper bauhinus . physitian to the late mentioned duke of wirtemberg , and d. of the chaire in the aforesaid vniuersitie of basil . guilielmus adolphus scribonius . a famous germane physitian . guilielmus rondeletius . d. of the chaire in the famous vniuersitie of montpeliers in france . hieronymus cardanus . a learned italian physitian . hieronymus mercurialis . a learned italian physitian , and d. of the chaire in the vniuersitie of padua . hieronymus montuus . physitian to frances the 1. french king. hieronymus reusnerus . a learned germane physitian . hippocrates . iacobus douinetus . a germane physitian . iacobus holliricus . a famous physitian of paris in france . iacobus syluius . a french physitian of good account . iean marinello , of forli in italie , an italian physitian . i. flesher . a learned english physitian . iodocus willichius . d. of the chaire in the vniuersitie of franckford on the oder in germanie . iohannes anglicus , or gatesden , the author of rosa anglica , a famous english physitian , who liued in anno 1320. iohannes belfortis . iohannes le bon. a french physitian of good note . iohannes caius . a learned english physitian . iohannes crato a kra●●theim . physitian to three emperours of the house of aust●ia . iohannes damascenus . iohannes fernelius . physitian to henry the 2. french king. iohannes heurnius . a learned low countrey physitian , and d. of the chaire in the vniuersitie of leyden in holland . iohannes langius . physitian to fiue electors , princes palatines of rhene . iohannes michael sauonarola . physitian to borsius sometimes duke of ferrara in italie . iohannes montanus . a learned french physitian . iohannes renodaeus . a famous physitian of the same nation . iohannes schenckius . a learned germane physitian . laurentius ioubertus . physitian to henry the 3. french king , chancellour in the vniuersitie of mont-peliers , and d. of the chaire there . leo roganus . a famous romane physitian . leonardus turnheisserus . a germane physitian . leuinus lemnius . a learned physitian of zeland . ludouicus mercatus . physitian to philip the 2. and 3. kings of spaine , and d. of the chaire in the vniuersitie of vallad'olid in spaine . marcellus donatus of mantua in italie , a physitian of good account , knight and d. in physicke . martinus akakia . a learned french physitian . matthaeus de gradi . nicolus florentinus . paulus aegineta . petrus forestus . a famous physitian of holland . petrus sphaererius . physitian to the archbishop of mentz . rembertus dodonaeus . physitian to the emperour rodolphus 2. rhases . an arabian physitian . rufus ephesius . timotheus bricht of cambridge . a learned english physitian . thomas rodericus à vega . a learned spanish physitian . besides these , many moe might haue bene to the same purpose , not impertinently produced , which i thought might well be spared , these being to an indifferent and vnpartiall reader sufficient . some other avthors . aelianus . aristoteles . bible . carion . catullus . cicero . henricus ranzouius . herodotus . homerus . ierome . iosephus . iuuenalis . lactantius . martialis . nicetas . plinius . polibius . sabellicus . statius . terentius . zonaras . the first booke of the anatomie of vrines . the argvment . in these two bookes is a continuation of the discourse concerning the vncertaintie of iudgement in diseases by the sole and bare inspection of the vrine onely , without the concourse of the rest of the other signes ; whereunto the sight of the patient is altogether necessary . in the first booke and first chapter , by way of introduction , something is said of the antiquitie , excellencie , and eminencie of physicke ; as also concerning the lawlesse intrusion of some ignorant persons vpon this profession , with the absurdities of the same . then in the next place follow certaine authorities of some famous physitians against this abuse in generall : and afterwards also in some such diseases where it is thought to be of greatest force and validitie . and after shall fully be confuted that foolish , absurd , and inueterate opinion , of discerning whether a woman be with child or no , by the bare inspection of the vrine onely : and that by vnanswerable arguments , together with some instances , both of mine owne and other ancient and late physitians of no small note . and lastly shall be plainly demonstrated , that the sexe cannot by the vrine onely be discerned , contrary to the vulgar opinion . chap. i. the introduction , wheresome thing concerning the antiquitie , excellencie , and eminencie of physicke , and of the lawlesse intrusion of some ignorant persons vpon this profession , with the absurditie of the same . ovr most great and omnipotent god , of his great goodnesse , hauing first created and framed these glorious globes and orbes of the vniuerse , together with the earth and all the ornaments and furniture of the same , at last made man , that microcosme , or little world , as it were an epitome or abridgment of this great vniuersall world : and that according to his owne likenesse , and placed him in earthly paradise . but not long after being by the serpent that old inuetera●e enemie of mankind , seduced to sinne , he became a map of miserie , obnoxious to death and eternall damnation ; and euen in this life subiect to innumerable sicknesses . so farre notwithstanding , did his makers bountie abound , that not onely sent he him a sauiour to redeeme him from damnation , but furnished him with innumerable remedies against his manifold infirmities . these adam taught his sonne seth ; and he againe ( lest water or fire should destroy them ) wrote the principles of physicke in hieroglyphicke letters , vpon two pillars ; one of stone , against the rage of the water , the other on bricke against the furie of the fire . thus came the art to be propagated to posteritie : and abrahams seed soiourning in aegypt that vnthankfull nation , yet for their hospitalitie to gods people reaped this benefit , that they were by them instructed in the principles of this profession , and many moe be●ides . the greeks gained this knowledge of the aegyptians , who were not idle , but improuing the same , would willingly haue assumed all the honour to themselues . in great honour and reputation was it amongst this nation for many yeares , and the professors of the same in great credit and account with the mightiest monarches : witnesse the honour exhibited to hippocrates and his posteritie , by the athenians in particular . and the account the persians made of it , may from hence euidently appeare , that the great artaxerxes sendeth to histanes gouernour of the hellespont this message . the fame and renowne of the noble hippocrates , of the race & linage of aesculapius , borne in the i le of cos , together with his great skill and sufficiencie , are come to mine eares : bestow thou therefore vpon him as much gold as he shall demand of thee , and whatsoeuer he shall haue need of , bestow it vpon him in most plentifull manner , and haue a care to send him to me : for he shall be equall in honour and dignitie with the greatest princes of persia . and moreouer , if there be any other wise learned man in europe , let him be enrolled amongst the kings domesticke & familiar friends , not sparing for any cost whatsoeuer : for such men are not euery where easily to be found . after many yeares , the turkish tyrannie like a violent inundation ouerflowing the most part of asia , together with no small part of europe , this profession being now banished out of greece it s owne naturall soile , together with the rest of the muses , it sought for shelter and succour amongst the rude arabians , where it was welcomed with such entertainment , as such a countrey could affoord it : where howbeit it was enlarged by many such simples as india and arabia would yeeld , yet haue their bookes bene so branded by barbarous translators , that they are not euen vntill this day freed from the same . amongst the romans likewise it was not a little respected , where that worthy emperour augustus hauing among many others , some intelligence of the great abuses committed by ignorant intruders vpon this profession , together with the great dammage redounding to the subiect , by meanes of this lawlesse libertie , made a law as followeth ▪ that no person , of what estate or degree soeuer , within the romane empire , should either teach or practise physicke , vndertaking the cure of any sicke persons , vnlesse he were first licensed and authorised by the emperor himselfe , or by such as should by him be deputed or appointed for this purpose . this law was long inuiolably kept by the succeeding caesars , vntill such time as the barbarous * saracens & turks , vnder the conduct of that monster of mankind mahomet , did with fire & sword waste and destroy a great part of asia , especially syria , together with greece and the countrey about constantinople : the goths , huns , & vandals omitting no kind of crueltie in the other parts of europe , italie in particular . these , besides many other miseries , did also subuert and destroy most of the vniuersities and schooles of good learning , burning the bookes they could come by , and bringing in by this meanes meere barbarousnesse and ignorance . this great inundation and deluge gaue no small encouragement to all manner of cozeners to practise their imposture , sparing neither the persons nor the purses of the oppressed people . this wofull calamitie continued vntill lotharius duke of saxonie was crowned emperour at rome . this worthy emperour both erected a number of new nurseries of good learning , and repaired such as were founded before his time , adding and increasing meanes for the maintenance of these new erected schooles and vniuersities . moreouer , he caused to be sent for out of euery countrey and kingdome , the most famous and learned men that were to be found , and such as did most excell in euery art and science . and for the better furtherance of this his purpose , he granted many priuiledges and immunities to the aforesaid vniuersities & schooles , the whole professors and students in the same . and thus physicke with the rest reuiued againe ; and being healed of her former wounds , was drawne out of the darke dungeon and prison wherin she had so long lien in thraldome and captiuitie , and by meanes of this noble emperour restored to her former dignitie and libertie againe . now to adde more grace and dignitie to this noble profession , he renewed againe that worthy law of augustus , inhibiting and discharging any person whatsoeuer , either to practise or professe this or any other art or science , vnlesse he were first licensed from the emperours court . but well foreseeing the inconueniences which might from hence arise , if all such businesses should depend vpon his court ; for this cause he granted this priuiledge and authoritie to the aforesaid vniuersities throughout the whole empire . this so wholesome constitution of lotharius all the succeeding emperours to this day haue continued . and thus came first in these titles of doctor , master , &c. not by the appointment of any priuate man , but by the lawes of emperours and kings of christendome . now besides the premisses , i would easily euince both the eminencie and excellencie of this profession from the vtilitie and necessitie , as being of necessarie vse for euery age , estate and degree ; as also the worthy subiect thereof , to wit , the body of man , so farre foorth as diseases are expelled , and health preserued ; it being also the shrine of the soule , & the costly coffer wherein it is contained , do conciliate no small authoritie vnto the same . neither yet is the skill in this profession so easily attained vnto , as many ignorant people do perswade thēselues . but that there are many things required in him who is to be called natures darling , and great secretarie of state , at all times to helpe and assist her , when oftentimes she cannot helpe her selfe ( vnto which this confused multitude neuer hath attained , and therefore vnworthy to be admitted vnto such mysteries ) hath euer bene receiued for an vncontrolled truth . the causes of the disease must be exactly knowne before the cure , and many other things besides . and thus it is recorded of aristotle , that at a certaine time falling sicke , his physitian there by him prating apace , answered very wittily after this manner . * neither cure me like a cowheard , nor yet like a plowman ; but first of all let me know the cause , then shalt thou find me obsequious to thy prescriptions . the euer praise worthy hippocrates , howbeit in few , yet in effectuall words , setteth downe such things as are requisite in a true physitian . whosoeuer will exactly and diligently purchase to himselfe a firme knowledge in this profession , must of necessitie be furnished with these which follow . nature ( that is , a potentiall aptnesse , wit and vnderstanding , with a certaine pronenesse and inclination to this profession ) precepts of art , a fit and conuenient place for studie ; instruction in the same from younger yeares ; diligent and painefull studie , together with a competent and conuenient time . this likewise did the ancients paint foorth vnto vs in the armes or enseignes of aesculapius , to whom were attributed all the badges and enseignes which do of right belong to a true physitian , and do all argue assiduitie and painfull industrie . the first was an owle , to giue him warning of the watchfull paines and care the learned physitian ought to take in finding out the seuerall signes and circumstances of the disease , to the end he may be the more able to foretell the seuerall issues and euents of the same . a crooked staffe in his hand ; which intimateth vnto vs , that he ought with great care and diligence bestirre himselfe , to attaine to the right and perfect knowledge , not onely of the structure of mans bodie , and euerie part of the same , as well inward as outward : but also the seuerall qualities and vertues of all manner of remedies appropriated for the vse of mankinde ; whether they be aboue the earth , enclosed in the intrals thereof ; or yet contained in the vast dominions of the endlesse ocean : as also with carefull circumspection , to obserue and marke the strength of his patients , and their seuerall natures and constitutions ; applying to each and euery one of them in due and conuenient time , such proper and peculiar remedies , as may best befit them , and that alwayes hauing a watchfull eye vpon the seuerall indications in such cases required . in his right hand he held a dragons head , coming from the greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , signifying a sharpe and cleare sight : and next vnto the same was a watchfull dog ; both of them declaring vnto vs , that the physitian ought with a certaine promptnesse of dexteritie of vnderstanding foresee the issue and euent of diseases , and then with as great ease and facilitie as is possible , and without sparing any paines , ease the patients griefe ; preseruing likewise and maintaining , as much as in him lyeth , his present healthfull state of bodie , and preuenting to the vttermost of his power , the imminent danger of dolefull diseases . in his left hand a pine apple , thereby letting vs to vnderstand , that the outward shell of this profession is very hard , the inward fruite and marrow , notwithstanding , being most pleasant , delectable and profitable . at his right side was the winged picture of health , with a pullet in her hand ; & that to the end the physitian might know , that he ought to aime at the health and happie estate of his patient principally , and not to become the slaue of base and filthie lucre and gaine : in like manner manifesting vnto vs , that by the paines and industrious skill of the learned physitian , health is oftentimes maintained ; as by his carelesse negligence , ignorance , & insufficiencie it is easily ouerthrowne . a pullet , to shew foorth the physitians care , in prescribing fit and conuenient diet , according to his patients nature and constitution , as also the qualitie and motion of the disease . for in acute diseases , and such as are of a sudden and speedie motion , as the remedies must be speedie , so must the diet be sparing , answering both to the strength of the patient , and nature of the disease ; not being in the meane time vnmindfull of his former custome , countrey or place wherein he liues , with many more circumstances in such cases required . in diseases againe of a long and lingring nature , we must not be so close fisted , but allow them more liberall allowance ; yet keeping alwayes in mind the former caueats and cautions . in the end he must be armed against all occasions and sudden occurrents , not forgetting to gratifie the sicke , so farre foorth as may stand with conueniencie . and lastly this aesculapian pourtraict was pictured with a beard : signifying hereby , that such as medled with such abstruse mysteries , hauing first bene trained vp in the grounds and principles of this profession , ought to be of a reasonable mature iudgement and vnderstanding , to the end they may proue so much the fitter to mannage such weightie matters . but to what end and purpose ( will some perhaps say ) tendeth this long discourse ? euen to the end it may more euidently appeare , into what disgrace and contempt this noble profession is now growne , and that by meanes of the lawlesse and vncontrolled intrusion of ignorant and vnsufficient persons . let the reader iudge ingenuously , whether the offenders be furnished with any such sufficiencie , and let this touch-stone trie them all . professions farre inferiour to this , haue a number of yeares allowed them to serue and learne , before any be suffered to exercise the same . but here , howsoeuer the vniuersities be not depriued of their priuiledges , in granting the degrees to the well deseruing : yet is there no restraint of the most ignorant and vnsufficient persons , of whatsoeuer sexe or calling . an ignorant empiricke that knoweth scarce the propertie of pepper , whether it be hote or cold , yet may practise publickly . now that i say nothing of ignorant apothecaries , surgeons , &c. the other sexe will needs haue a share in these businesses also : and yet in holy writ they are tyed to their houswiuerie . and the heathen poet bringeth in women medling with their spinning and carding . their fraile sexe is both vnfit and vnfurnished with sufficiencie for managing of so great matters . it is no wayes sutable to the modestie which ought to be seene in that sexe , to meddle with so publicke a profession . and besides , there being no small commerce betwixt the physitian and his patient , as witnesseth the worthy hippocrates , who seeth not the absurditie of this their practise ? and as for their sufficiencie , it may easily , by that which hath bene said alreadie , appeare . my purpose is not to dwell vpon this subiect , nor yet to vrge many arguments against it , the thing being so absurd in it selfe . i will relate but one tragicall storie out of a late writer , of a mother who made away her owne child , with an intent , as she thought to cure him . a countrey woman ( saith mine author ) hauing a young sonne of cacheoticall disposition , and now entring into a dropsie , by the aduice of her women-gossips , thrust him , sore against his will , his head foremost , into an ouen , immediatly after the drawing of the bread , stopping vp againe immediatly the mouth of her ouen . her gabling gossips were officiously attending a better euent then they found , as also helping her to bring to passe this braue exploit . he being once in , was presently suffocated with the smoke for want of fresh aire . the mother within a little space calleth to her sonne oftener then once in an audible voyce , enquiring what benefit he found ; who answered her no more then baal did his priests . these pratling gossips perswaded this simple woman , that his silence was an assured signe of the benefit he thereby receiued : the which this credulous woman , still hoping where no hope was , easily beleeued : but at length found that which she least looked for ; drawing out of the ouen her dead sonne , cured not onely of this , but of all other diseases also ; and then ( but all too late ) blameth as well her owne too too credulous simplicitie , as the malapert boldnesse of the she-physitians , inducing her to vse a remedie farre worse then the disease it selfe . as for you , ladyes and gentlewomen ( with your good leaues let me be so bold as to tell you my mind in a word or two ) howsoeuer i cannot but much commend your great charitie and loue , in affoording both your paines and your purses for the relieuing of sicke distressed people : yet let me intreate you , not to be too officiously busie , the life of a man being no matter of small importance , and which being once lost , can neuer till the resurrection be recouered . and remember , that there may be an ouersight as well in neglecting a fit and conuenient remedie in due time , as in exhibiting a dangerous and desperate remedie . and whereas often it cometh to passe , that either your necessitie or importunitie doth extort from the learned physitian good and wholesome remedies either for your owne or others infirmities : yet i intreate you , not to be so indiscreete , as to make one salue serue for euery sore . the remedie indeed may be good , but ( as often cometh to passe ) ill vsed , or rather abused . and that which you haue sometimes tried to be a soueraigne medicine for your selues ; yet another time , by reason of a number of new occurrents , the same remedie may produce an effect farre differing from the former : how much more then in another ? the constitution of the partie should be considered , the sexe , age , time of yeare , yea and of the disease it selfe ; as whether it be in the beginning , in the increase , in the height , or declining , with many moe circumstances are here to be considered . but put yet the case the remedie be good against such a disease ; yet may many other circumstances crosse this iudication in any indiuiduall person , which were here too tedious to relate . it may then easily appeare , that this is a businesse of an higher straine then many do well consider : but of this matter no more . now howbeit this fretting canker ( i meane of vnsufficient , vnlearned , and vnskilfull phisitians ) hath crept ouer the whole christian world , yet the inconuenience is not in all alike . for howbeit in germanie empiricks do so abound that they haue begun of late yeares ( supposing it may be that we are here vnfurnished ) to come and visit vs here in this iland , yet can i not but much commend and praise their care and industrie in prouiding for the maintenance of the honest and learned physitian . there each seuerall citie , towne , or corporation , hath certaine physitians entertained by stipends out of the chamber stockes ( which there by reason of their admirable industrie , as being much addicted to the publicke good are very rich ) a dwelling house being likewise allowed them for their liues : and each citie or towne according to the proportionable bignesse , hath moe or fewer of those stipendiarie physitians : and none among them admitted , but such as for their sufficiencie , and long time spent in the studie of that profession , haue taken their degrees in some famous vniuersitie . all the apothecaries and surgeons within the place where they liue are subiect to their censures , and by them to be controlled ; and the midwiues likewise by them must be admitted . and of all the apothecaries drugs , as well simples as compounds , they take a narrow suruey twice a yeare ; to wit , euery spring and fall : besides the viewing of their drugs immediatly after the buying of them ( which commeth most commonly to passe twice a yeare , at lerpzig or franckfort faire ) not being lawfull for them to make vse of any of them vntill such time as they be first visited and allowed by the aforesaid physitians . at the viewing and visiting of their wares , is appointed one frō the chiefe magistrate of the citie , commonly called the burger maister , to sit in commission with the physitians . if the apothecarie shall be found faultie , or his drugs any wayes vnsufficient , the aforesaid persons fine him at their pleasures ; as also set a reasonable rate or taxe vpon all his drugs and compositions , and that according to the rising or falling of the prizes of the drugs . neither yet may the apothecarie of himselfe make , mixe , or compound any great composition of many seuerall ingredients , vnlesse the physitians , one or more being present , first see all the seuerall ingredients , and then allow of the same . he can likewise take no apprentice into his seruice , but such as first shall be sworne faithfully to make and compound according to the physitians prescriptions , not altering any thing in his bill without his knowledge and allowance : the which oath the physitians haue power to exact of the aforesaid apprentices . of this so laudable and praise-worthy a constitution this benefit they reape , that first of all , the inhabitants are neuer vnfurnished of fit and sufficient physitians , to whom in time of need they may haue recourse for good , and wholesome counsell : as also that the inhabitants in their extremitie are preferred before strangers . the moderation of fees likewise , in regard of their standing stipends , is some ease to the purses of priuate men , but especially to the poorer sort , to whom by this meanes they are the better enabled to affoord their counsell for little or nothing . the countrey round about findeth likewise euery where learned physitians to aduise with , as also good and sufficient stuffe , neither fustie not sophisticate , and that at a reasonable rate . now how farre we come short of this so laudable and worthie pollicie , those that know any thing are not ignorant . we are apt enough to imitate that which is naught in our neighbour nations , and why make we not vse of such things as deserue praise and commendation ? from the aforenamed nation we haue so well learned quaffing and carrousing , together with their vnhappy healths , indeed hinderers of all health , that it seemeth now to be naturalized amongst vs : and why are we not as forward for this and such other laudable constitutions as tend to the benefit of the common-wealth ? but now to our purpose . one thing which doth principally encourage all manner of cozeners , and euery ignorant and vnsufficient person , to aduenture vpon this profession , is the vaine and idle inspection of vrines , as it is at this day euery where practised ; by meanes whereof most people are perswaded that the physitian is able to find out , not onely the disease in generall , but euen euery signe and circumstance of the same . i my selfe haue often bene importuned to tell that by this signe , which the wits of all the wisest physitians in the world could neuer assuredly and certainly find out . to instance but in one thing , to wit , the discerning of the conception , whether a woman be with child or no : there is not an empiricke or quack-saluer in the countrey , that will not make thee beleeue he can tell thee that assuredly . our she-physitians ( for such monsters now this countrey yeeldeth ) will say no lesse . but heare the iudgement of a learned french physitian concerning this point : to abuse the inspection of vrine , to know whether a woman be with child , or no , belongeth to a cozening impostor , and not to an honest physitian ; howsoeuer some haue not bene ashamed to vent such vanities . but of this at more length hereafter : now let vs proceed to the maine matter , to wit , to handle this subiect in order . chap. ii. of the vncertaine iudgement affoorded vs by vrines in generall , together with their limitation to certaine diseases , and that out of many learned writers . it is growne now adayes a common custome , by the sole and bare inspection of the vrine to vndertake to declare and lay open the whole disease , together with the state and constitution of euery part of the body , without any regard had to such things as the most wise and circumspect physitians haue left vs in this case to be considered : the which notwithstanding , is as impossible to bring to passe , as by the heat or cold of an house to iudge of the perfection of the same , together with the soundnesse of the walles and timber thereof : or yet by the rubbish of any house carried to some other place , to find out the statelinesse of the former building . to this end and purpose besides the authorities produced in the former discourse , i will yet bring in a cloud of witnesses to confirme this mine opinion . and in the first place , i will set downe some famous authors condemning this vromantical coniecture , and limiting and confining it within its lawfull lists and limits . afterwards also shall appeare how our iudgement may erre and mistake , euen in some such diseases as may sometimes by the same be discerned : proceeding afterwards to instance in some particular diseases : where shall not be omitted the confutation of the erronious opinion of the vrines of women with child , as also of finding out of the sexe thereby . then will we proceed to a particular confutation of all the parts of vrine ; whereby shall be set downe the true vse of the same . now the first author that shall march in the auantgard of this batallion shall be the learned langius ; and that both in regard of his great worth and learning , as also because our former author ( forest i meane ) had singled out these two following epistles , as making for the same purpose to set downe at the end of his discourse of vrines , which i haue thought good with some other authorities to insert into this place . concerning physitian● who by the inspection of the vrine onely , do rashly and vnaduisedly pronounce their opinion concerning the nature and substance of any disease . it seemeth not a little strange to thee ( kind gossip ) how it should come to passe that the same and reputation of germane physitians should be so little set by either at home or abroad , since notwithstanding , praised be god , germanie is a very fruitfull soile , stored with most excellent wits , where the liberall arts and sciences do not a little flourish ( insomuch as that most noble and illustrius picus earle of mirandole , truly praise-worthie and euer to be admired , as well for his high pedegree and noble descent , as for his excellent and admirable gifts in good learning , did witnesse that the riuer of tiber had now of late runne into the rhene : ) and yet for all this , the noble facultie of physicke lyeth contemned and despised . the causes of the same i haue elsewhere declared to be diuers , whereof this is the chiefe , to wit , that the chiefe and principall part of physicke diagnosticke or semioticke , which teacheth vs to know the nature , causes , and substance of the disease by the signes and grounds of the same , is either not knowne at all , or at least altogether , in regard of their idlenesse , neglected ; while as the ordinarie sort of physitians do onely labour to know and discerne the nature and substance of the disease by the sole and fraudulent indication of the stuckring vrine . but it is acknowledged of all true physitians , that the ground and beginning of finding out aright the true method of curing diseases , is the knowledge of the disease , together with the place seised with the same , which is not knowne by the bare inspection of the vrine onely , being but a doubtfull signe ; but ( as galen saith well ) the knowledge of the disease is collected by meanes of the place affected , together with the disposition of the same besides nature : which being the internall cause of the disease ( or the disease it selfe ) annoying the action , it is no maruell if the signes of each be common to both : and thus is the disease and place affected discerned and knowne , both by the parts of the substance therof , the contents , adherents , the action interessed , together with the accidents of the disease , from the parts of the substance of the part affected : as if we shall perceiue any gristle of the windpipe to be spit vp with coughing , it doth argue and indicate to vs an exulceration of the lungs , together with a consumption of the same . from the contents ; as if thou shalt perceiue the chyle ( that is , the meate receiued into the stomacke and a little altered ) or the ordure issue out of a wound , thou mayest from thence safely collect that either the stomack , or guts are wounded . such things also as do adhere or grow to the part , do both declare the disease and the part annoyed therewith . for if vpon a fracture of the scull there grow out little round lumps like vnto little mushromes , it doth argue the dammage and hurt of the membrane or skin couering the braines . no lesse doth the hurt of the action bewray as well the hurt of the organe and instrument of it , as the disease it selfe : as the retention of the vrine doth argue an obstruction in the pipes conueighing the vrine from the kidneyes to the bladder : or the excessiue fluxe of the same being crude and not concocted , doth argue the indisposition of the kidneyes . ioyne yet with the former , as most pregnant proofes and testimonies of the disease , these inseparable accidents of the same , commonly called pathognomonica , the which the disease it selfe doth procure and beget : as a stinging and pricking paine in the side , ioyned with a burning feauer , doth argue not onely a pleurisie , but also that the skin or membrane which enuironeth the ribs is inflamed . and vnto all the aforesaid signes thou mayest , if thou wilt , adde the intricate knowledge of the pulse of the arteries , rather then the vncertaine iudgement by vrine : the which as we do not altogether reiect , so do we not attribute so much thereunto as these impostors do . now what extraordinarie paines some of the ancient physitians tooke in searching out any thing which might affoord them any knowledge or insight in the nature of the disease , thou mayest from hence collect , that to the end they might more easily find out the nature and qualitie of the humour faulty and abounding in the bodie , they did tast of the very sweare that was rubbed off the bodie in the hotehouses , as also of that superfluous matter found in the eares : like as the horse-leaches were wont to taste of the horses dung , whom for that cause that pleasant poet aristophanes calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , what if by the authoritie of hippocrates i should prooue , that the colour of the tongue , and the rest of the bodie , giueth vs more assured and certaine knowledge of the state of the humours contained in the body and inward bowels , then the vrine ? and yet this the ordinarie sort of vrine-monging physitians will neuer be able to discerne , as not being present with the patient . for as in the yellow iaundise , a yellow and saffron like colour of the skinne doth better declare any obstruction of the gall-bagge , and an ouerflowing of choler ouer the whole bodie , then the vrine : so doth in like sort the leaden colour of the face , and the rest of the bodie , demonstrate better vnto vs some indisposition of the liuer and spleene then the vrine . no lesse also doth the colour of the tongue and tast , it findeth & performeth the like . for such as is the humor aboūding in the stomacke or veines , especially when it groweth fierce and vnruly , with such a colour and tast is the tongue most commonly imbrued . wherefore well and learnedly said the worthy hippocrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , the tongue giueth vs notice , as well of the state and nature of the vrine , as of all the rest of the humours of the body . but if thou wilt yet further contend and contest with me , behold i will appeale to galen , who ought to be as our common maister , so iudge also in such cases of controuersie . the sweate ( saith he ) giueth vs notice of the humours super abounding in the whole bodie , but the vrine onely of such as are contained within the veines . and howbeit these be the chiefe elements and grounds of the most principall part of physicke , called diagnosticke , without which the other part called therapeuticke , or handling the cure of diseases , cannot subsist , and that they be conuinced by most pregnant proofes and testimonies ; yet will they neither giue place to the same , nor yet obserue and marke them : but trusting to the vrine onely , loytering idle at home like the physitians of alexandria , and sitting in their chaires like apolloes priests , or some old wise fortune-teller by her crystal looking-glasse , it is a wonder to heare how doubtfully and perplexedly , without any sight of the sicke , but looking on the vrine onely , they will with brazen faces prate of the patients sicknesse : yea further yet , will pronounce of life and death thereby ; and that for so small a gaine , as scarce would the most common hedge-whore be hired for the same . what great ambiguitie and doubtfull speeches ( good reader ) need they here to vse , lest they be taken tripping ? now if it shall happen that any old wife that bringeth the vrine shall find them out , thou wouldest wonder to see the * changes of their countenances . but as if this were yet a small matter , to prate by the sight of the vrine onely , they are not ashamed to prescribe physicke to the parties ( whom they haue neuer seene ) and that by reading of bookes , of the which experiments they haue neuer made any triall at all : to whom thou mayest most iustly obiect the ancient prouerbe . * a mariner by his booke or sea card . but hippocrates and the ancient physitians of the race of asclepiades , not superficially , but solidly learned , did neuer settle their iudgements concerning the substance of the disease vpon the vrine alone : no nor yet if some contents had proceeded from the substance of the kidneyes , bladder , or parts contained in them , and so issued out with the vrine : but did rather by the colour , contents , swim or sublimation , obserue the strength of the naturall parts about the liuer and stomach , as likewise the concoction of the humours in the veines ; to the end that in feuers they might find out the times of the same ; and so might more easily foretell the time of the future crise , whether the same were like to be hopefull and healthfull , or dangerous and deadly ; and withall to find out the fittest time for purging . the which galen , hippocrates his true interpreter , doth intimate vnto young physitians in these words . the vrine giueth notice of these parts , to wit , the liuer , kidneyes , bladder , and the strength of the vessels which containe the bloud , and the weakenesse of the same , as also that facultie which engendreth the humors : but as concerning the infirmities of the braine , the chest , and lungs , there be other signes and symptomes of the same , whereby their diseases are discerned . all these things therefore the wise physitian is to enquire , search , and find out , from the sicke himselfe , and not from the vrine . for this cause well said damascenus in his aphorismes : concerning diseases pronounce not rashly thine opinion , neither yet looke thou vpon the vrine , vntill such time as thou hast first seene the sicke , and of him demanded and found forth euery circumstance belonging to the disease . with him doth rhazes an arabian physitian agree in his aphorismes , in these words : it becometh the physitian to aske diuerse questions of his patient , to the end he may attaine to the internall cause of the disease , that by such meanes he may afterwards be able to pronounce sound iudgement according to reason : neither yet let him be ashamed to aske of the patient , whether the disease be within or without the veine . but our physitians , being like vnto the lazie sedentarie physitians of alexandria , lest they should be by the vulgar people ( who do commonly beleeue , that the physitian knoweth all by the vrine ) taxed of ignorance , are ashamed to aske of the patient the causes and symptomes of his disease . and to the end they may the better accommodate themselues to the foolish humor of the simple and more ignorant sort , they are not a whit afrayed to prate of diseases by the inspection of the vrine onely . but would to god the truth were with them in greater esteeme then any popular applause , and that they would be warned by the poet persius : if troubled rome do too much dispraise any thing , then not to rest and relie vpon her iudgement : and that they would both ingenuously confesse , and tell the people how fraudulent and deceitfull , pernicious and lying , is this manner of inspection of the vrine , brought in by some physitians and impostors of later dayes , to the great mischiefe of mankind . then for certaine would they be more carefull and diligent in searching out the natures of diseases by their causes , the hurt and hinderance of the action , as also by the pa●hognomonicke signes : and then without all doubt should they cure a great many moe , as also by this meanes should their names become a great deale more famous , both among their owne friends and acquaintance , and among strangers . and by this meanes also should these wandring and cozening rogues , impostors , apostaticall monks , perfidious iewes , enemies to all christians , the ignorant parish-priests , alchymists , and all the rabble of such rake-hels , ( but i had almost forgotten those old trots , fortunetellers ) be thrust out from professing physicke : all the which offenders not hauing learned so much as the first grounds and principles of naturall philosophie or physicke , do without controll or punishment trie their desperate remedies , by the death of many a man. wherefore there could nothing be deuised more profitable and beneficiall for the good of the commonwealth , then that at length all christian people were freed from the tyrannie and mischiefe of these cruell impostors , who by meanes of the secret obseruation of the vrine , vnknowne to the vulgar sort , do conceale their owne ignorance , and haue , as drones do into the bec-hiue , crept into this profession . by the premisses , i hope thou hast heard what is the cause that physicke and the professors of the same are not of so high an esteeme in these our countries at this time . of the differences of signes , by the which physitians do discerne and know diseases , and do presage the future issue of the same . as i heare , these barbarous and wicked persons , falsly assuming vnto themselues the name of physitians , do mutter and grumble against me , because of condemning their mad , rash , and foole-hardie finding out of diseases , by meanes of the vrine onely , for whose slanderous backbiting i care not a rush . for such as cannot helpe , i see not how they can hurt me . no more can i conceiue what the physitian can performe , as concerning the cure of the disease , being ignorant of the nature and estate of the same . for this cause the ancient physitians did with great labour , trauell , and industrie , search out the cause , the nature and substance of the disease , from the which the indications of remedies are deriued , and not from the vrine onely , but from the signes called pathognomonicke , and from the whole concourse of the symptomes or accidents : who did likewise deuide physicke principally into two parts , to wit , that which we commonly call therapeuticke , whose most large and common scope , is to cure diseases by contrary remedies : and into that part which we call diagnosticke ; whose most common scope is to discerne the whole and sound from the like , and the sicke and infirme from the whole , being vnlike the one to the other . and this part of physicke doth farre excell the other , to wit , the therapeuticke , the which without the diagnosticke is of small vse or profit . and because it did lay open the perfect and absolute knowledge of the disease , by meanes of the signes pathognomonicke , proper and peculiar to euery disease , together with the concurrence of accidents , which the empiricks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( which were nothing else but the collection by obseruation of certaine accidents and circumstances of diseases ) the later physitians therefore gaue it the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or that part of physicke which handleth the signes of diseases . wherefore we cannot but much wonder at galen , a man of so great learning , who besides two hundreth and fiftie bookes written of diuerse sciences , and of all the other parts of physicke aboue foure hundreth ; all being likewise written in so good order and method , that notwithstanding he hath not brought to full perfection this so noble a part of physicke , called diagnosticke , but onely dispersedly here and there , especially in that booke called the constitution or ordering of the art of physicke , hath as it were sowne some seeds of the same . but yet auicenna , rhazes , and other arabian physitians , and such among the greeks as haue written of late after galen , as paulus , aegineta , aetius , actuarius , and alexander trallianus , following the footsteps of the ancient empiricks , did collect and gather together in euery seuerall chapter which did discourse of the disease , a great number of the signes and seuerall accidents of the same : but so confusedly and indistinctly , that hardly couldest thou discerne one manner of signe from another insomuch as thou mayest , not without cause , call their diagnosticke physicke , the confused chaos of democritus . and further they do not instruct vs sufficiently what signe of the disease doth argue or shew foorth the greater or smaller strength . but there is in germanie at this day , a sort of idle prating fellowes , more foolish then any others , who , as if all the signes of euery disease were to be seene in the vrine , are not ashamed , by the sole and bare inspection thereof , to prate and pronounce sentence concerning the substance of the disease , and the life and death of the diseased , as hath bene said alreadie . to the end therefore that their impudencie may be made manifest , and layd open to euery one , i purpose to insert something in this epistle concerning the differences of signes , to the end that i may minister occasion to some others more learned then my selfe , to handle the same by an absolute & exquisite method : the which taske i will also willingly vndertake for the good of the sicke , if i may obtaine so much time and leisure , that at length this so hainous a fault , and worthy of no small punishment , may be banished from among the companie of all honest and ingenuous physitians , and a right and perfect method , as well for discerning as for curing , may be set downe . now it is granted , as well among phylosophers as physitians , that the effects and accidents do indicate and declare their causes . it is likewise well knowne , that the accidents are nothing else but the effects of the disposition of the disease . no man therefore can deny , that the accidents ( of which number are also the actions interessed , and some things which essentially do adhere thereunto ) do indicate and declare , as well the disease as the place affected , as being the harbour and receptacle of the same , and vnto which the remedies ought to be applyed . now as concerning the accidents , some of them are called by the greekes epiphaenomena , that is , such as do appeare indeed , but vanish away againe before the disease be at an end : others againe called pathognomonica , which being of the essence of the disease , do both begin and end with the same . and these be inseparable and certaine signes of the disease , the concourse of which doth more certainly and truly declare vnto vs , the nature , manner , and kind of the disease , then any vrine can do . as a continuall feauer , together with a pricking and stinging paine in the side , a great cough and shortnesse of breath , when as they concurre together , and come as it were all at one instant , are euident and certaine signes of a pleuresie . but other accidents which do after succeed , are called epiphaenomena or synedreouonta , as if thou shouldest say , assessors or assistants to the disease , vnto the which also they are not inseparably annexed , nor yet haue their originall together with the same ; but for the most part , either seldome , or after a doubtfull manner , do accompanie the disease , not making vp the substance , but certaine differences of diseases . as in a pleuresie a red , bloudie , or yet yellowish spittle , a paine extending it selfe to the breast bone or neather part of the midriffe , watching , deliberation , and terrible dreames : these accidents are called assistant or accompanying , and do declare either the difference of the disease ; or else the mildnesse or malignitie of the same . now it behooueth the physitian to ponder and expend with himselfe in such a concourse of accidents equally , the strength of euery accident apart , and to compare together such as be dangerous , with the other which do promise greater securitie . for if those which are dangerous do vanquish and ouercome the strength and vigour of nature , either by their force or number , then mayest thou boldly pronounce , that danger is not farre from the doore . and againe on the contrary , if such as do promise securitie be of greater power then the former , then shall the sicke escape out of the deepe danger of scylla and charybdis , and by the vertue and power of a happy crisis , saile forth into the hauen of health : and that yet more assuredly , if in the meane time perfect signes of concoction shall appeare . amongst such signes some are called decretorie , or iudicatorie ; other signes of cruditie and concoction ; others againe do foretell the securitie or danger of the disease . now the signes of concoction , after the beginning of the disease is past ouer , and the humours by meanes of the naturall heate , well concocted , sequestred , and separated from that which is putride and corrupt , do appeare about the time of the increasing or vigour of the disease , in the vrine , spittle , suppuration of impostumes , ( which is not vnlike vnto concoction performed in the veines ) as also in other excretions : for the excretions of euery part of the body , as also of the humours , which are nothing else but the superfluities and relickes of concoction , do shew foorth the indisposition of the same . wherefore in the infirmities of the chest , and instruments of respiration , a spittle white , euen of an equall consistence , is alwayes a good and laudable signe of concoction . but if the sicke be not at all able to spit out any thing , then doth it shew foorth absolute cruditie ; and if he should chance to spit a spittle without any mixture , being thin , waterish , & of a leaden colour , or of the colour of verdigrease , it doth not onely argue cruditie , but doth also portend the vtter ouerthrow of the patient . but the vrine being an excretion of the second concoction , doth certainly shew foorth the crudity and concoction of the humours contained in the veines , guts , liuer , and places adioyning , the said parts being annoyed , either with feauer , inflammation , scirrhus , or yet any other distemper whatsoeuer . for if the same both in colour and substance be like vnto such vrines as are vsually seene in perfect health , hauing a residence white , euen , and like vnto well concocted matter , it doth truly witnesse vnto vs , not onely the concoction of the disease , especially in feauers , but also that the naturall force and power is a great deale stronger then the disease , and therefore that it is like to obtaine the victorie in the conflict with the crisis . but by this meanes the vrine is no pathognomonicke signe , and yet a necessarie signe of concoction and cruditie , and worth the obseruing in feauers , diseases of the neather belly or intrails , and places adioyning to them . wherefore galen in the exposition of the predictions of hippocrates , doth grant , that the vrine doth shew foorth and demonstrate the state and disposition of the parts of the liuer , kidneyes , and bladder ; as likewise of the strength or weaknesse of the vessels containing the bloud , and of the naturall power and vertue which is the ingenderer of the humours : howbeit the same galen againe affirmeth , that there are other pathognomonicke signes belonging to the braines , lungs , mother , sinewes , &c. and yet notwithstanding , might one , not without cause , auouch , that the vrine giueth notice of some infirmities of the place through which it passeth , not primarily and principally , but by accident , to wit , by reason of the contents thereof , which are nothing else but excretions proceeding from those parts which do conueigh and carrie the vrine . wherefore hippocrates witnesseth , that if any do void by vrine , either grauell , or little thinne scurfe , or matter like vnto scales , or coursest dressings of bran , little gobbets of flesh , congealed bloud , matter or small haires or threeds , like vnto the small veines knit together vnder the creuices taile ; these things declare that the bladder is annoyed with a scab , and the kidneyes with the stone , suppuration , the rupture of some veine , or some other infirmitie . but lest any should rashly apply the signes of vrine to any other then the aforenamed diseases , this famous father of physitians doth adde immediatly : take heed therefore lest thou be deceiued , the party making such an vrine when the bladder is amisse ; for then such vrines belong not to the whole body , but ought to be referred to the bladder onely . there is yet another fearefull and dangerous disease belonging to the kidneyes , called diabete or poldropsy ; being an extraordinarie fluxe of the vrine , called of the greekes by reason of this vnsatiable desire of drinking dipsacus . this disease is answerable to the disease called lienteria : and for this cause they are continually forced to drinke , all which being nothing at all changed , in colour , substance , or in smell , they do voide forth againe as they receiued it , and that by reason of the imbecillity of the returning and altering powers and faculties of the kidneyes . now that such an vrine is the proper and pathognomonicke signe of this disease , no man of vnderstanding , i thinke , will denie . followeth now the third sort of signes of concoction of superfluities , to wit , the excretions of the bellie , belonging to the first concoction ; the which being soft , fashioned according to the concauitie of the guts , and somewhat fastened or stiffe ▪ being also voyded at the accustomed time , and answering in proportion to the food receiued : then , as saith hippocrates , they do shew forth and declare the strength of the naturall faculties of the stomacke , together with the good digestion thereof . these three sorts of superfluities then giue particular notice of the proper state and disposition of such parts of the bodie as they passe thorow , together with the strength of the naturall powers : and first the superfluities of the meate do argue and declare the force and strength of the stomacke . for this cause the emperour antoninus his groomes of his stable did daily both taste and smell to the ordure of his stately horse , knowne by his greene furniture , to know whether he had well digested his food or not . now the vrines are signes of the state of the bloud in the veines , and disposition of the liuer , which is appointed to be the hote harth or kitchin for concoction of the humours . the spittle in diseases of the chest , is vnto vs a signe and token of concoction or cruditie : and those of the first sort , to wit , of cruditie , are for the most part euill , and often proue very dangerous : the others againe are often messengers of an healthfull and long looked for crisis : whence is this saying of hippocrates : concoction doth portend and signifie both the speedinesse of the crise and assured health : but on the contrarie , cruditie doth menace and threaten either the breaking forth of some tumour , or great swelling , or else some great paine or griefe , or yet a relapse into the same disease againe . there are yet many moe decretorie signes which concerne the future crise , as also diuerse prognosticke signes foreshewing life or death , the full explication of which would rather require a great volume then an epistle ( the which haue bene exactly described by hippocrates , ) but especially the intricate signes of prediction by the pulse , as also the signes both of the disease it selfe , and of the place affected or interessed ; the which also i willingly passe ouer , by reason that their power , force , efficacie , and signification , doth depend vppon the signes of concoction ; neither are there any amongst all the signes of concoction more necessarie for the physitians vse , then these pathognomonicke signes . and tell me , i pray thee , how shall the physitian euer be able to cure vncouth and vnknowne diseases , vnlesse the pathognomonicke signes first lay them open to his view and consideration ; in the finding out of which , the ancients tooke so great paines , as hath bene said alreadie . but since it is not the worke of the physitian , but of nature , to concoct and cure diseases , it shall be very needfull for the physitian to know assuredly the vigor and strength of the naturall power and force , whether it be like to ouercome the disease , or to faint vnder the burden of it ▪ by which meanes we shall attaine vnto more certaine and assured signes of life and death , then euer did those soothsayers and wizards , whom the romanes did maintaine for the benefit of their sicke people ; whose prophecies and predictions no man of sound iudgement will euer beleeue to containe any matter of truth . but such prognosticke signes as are collected from concoction , are so firme and sure , that galen doth boast and brag , that he was neuer by them deceiued . now our pisse-prophet physitians are either vtterly ignorant of them , or else notwithstanding set light by them ▪ who , notwithstanding , sitting idle at home , are nothing at all ashamed , by the vrine alone to deliuer their delphian oracles concerniug all diseases : who neuerthelesse , haue neuer so much as tasted of this so noble part of physicke called diagnosticke , without the which the other , to wit , therapeuticke , can neuer subsist : yet are they neither ashamed to assume vnto themselues the cure of vnknowne diseases , nor yet to arrogate and vsurpe the name of physitians . farewell , and write backe vnto me againe , after what method and order this diagnosticke part of physicke ought to be both written and taught . thus farre langius . we will now proceed to some moe authorities , prouing the imposture committed by some , assuming to themselues the skill of discerning any disease by the inspection of the vrine onely ; and then will we produce some authorities to tell vs what diseases may by the vrine be seene , and how in the verie same we may sometimes be deceiued . from the premisses it may plainly appeare , how easily such physitians are deceiued , who trust too much to the iudgement of the vrine onely : for such may well be compared to the vulgar sort of people , who are of opinion that not onely the disease it selfe , but euen the primitiue or externall cause may also be seene in the same : as did appeare by that clowne who reproched a very learned physitian , because he could not discerne his cart and oxen in his vrine . now that this our assertion is true , it may easily appeare , in that the vrine may alter and change vpon diuerse occasions : as by the quantitie and qualitie of diet : by reason of excessiue motion : by plentifull euacuation , &c. of the erronius and preposterous iudgement of diseases by vrine . georgius rithamer a gentleman of vienna , being incited by the great concourse of people which did daily in so great abundance stocke about this base roguing and c●zening empiricke ( who came hither of late ) to heare his opinion concerning their vrines , woulds needs likewise in some matter heare his opinion . hauing discoursed a little with this scoggia concerning the errand he came for , casting his eyes vpon the table , he espied a greeke booke lying vpon the same , whereupon he began presently to smell out his knauerie . for this cozening varlet was altogether ignorant of all manner of learning and good literature , insomuch that he could scarce speake two latine words : and as for the greeke , so farre was he from vnderstanding the same , that he knew not so much as one letter of that language , as being brought vp vnder an empiricke as ignorant as himselfe . he afterwards confessed vnto v● , that the sto●e where he lodged had two doores , at one of the which people ordinarily entred to talke with him : the other ioyned close to the kitchin , at the which a blind woman went out & in , who asked people before they came to speake with the impostor , what their errand was : and then hauing learned what she would , returned againe by the same way , acquainting the villaine with the whole matter and seuerall circumstances : by which meanes he did exceedingly abuse the simpler sort of people . it came to passe another time , that a certaine graue matrone did most earnestly require that she might haue accesse to him ( for he would not easily admit euery one to his presence , to the end his credit might seeme the greater ) affirming likewise to this blind woman , that her husband was now readie to dye by reason of his excessiue bleeding at the nose , vnlesse he had some present remedie prouided . she being at length let in , he told her presently without asking her any question , thy husband bleedeth at the nose , and so wrote her downe some thing in a paper , with the which she departed , & euery where did magnifie and extoll the great skill of this notorius cozening raskall . o most execrable fraud and imposture ! and yet now adayes , not a few , not without great ●urt and preiudice to the poore distressed patients , do thus increase their meanes , and by the like imposture posture purchase to themselues no small gaine . such a one is that notable impostor , the iew i meane , practising his imposture at vienna , these many yeares by past . but heare againe the cunning imposture of another of these knaues , recorded by the same author . it is not vnknowne to many , how that a few yeares ago there liued here a certaine cozening knaue , who by the bare inspection of the vrine onely did most boldly and confidently affirme , that euery one whose vrine was brought to him was either surprised with that feauer cōmonly called synochus ; or else would tell them some strange and more then ridiculous and monstrous tales : as that some drop of bloud was fallen downe from the heart into the neather belly , & so had produced the disease ; or else that the heart was enuironed about , as it were with some bonds , which did bind it hard , with many other such ridiculous conceits . after the deliuerie of this his so ridiculous vrinarie oracles , he prescribed most commonly for euery one to sweat ; administring to this end and purpose this medicine following , well knowne to euery apothecaries apprentice : to wit , a litle venice treacle , mingled with a litle campher : and after their sweating , he caused them bleed abundantly . in this age wherein we liue , there is euery where in these our countries so great and so frequent a number of them , which without any controll or punishment , euen in the best cities and townes , both wheres and iewes , as also any desperate villaine , and bold ignorant empirickes , do kill and destroy the simple and ignorant people . and all of them by meanes of this so necessarie a signe doth nothing else but practise their imposture . surely such rogues ought most seuerely and exemplarily to be publickely punished , and to be banished out of all well gouerned cities and commonwealths ; like as we see robbers and theeues by the high wayes to be driuen out of the thickets and forrests to be punished . but alas , so farre are we from banishing this abuse , that many of good worth amongst our selues , haue required , and do yet require , not of my selfe alone , but of many others also both iudicious and learned physitians , that by the sole inspection of the vrine , without any further inquisition or artificiall coniecture going before , we should prophet-like tell them , whether the vrine be a mans or a womans ; of what age the partie is , what is the nature of the disease ; as also what the antecedent and primitiue cause of the disease may be : and whether they haue contracted the same by drinking of bad wi●es , by eating too many puddings , or any such like thing . now if thou shalt herein professe thy selfe ignorant , and canst not lyncius-like see all this and more in the vrine , thou shalt heare them reply , thou art a dunce , knowing nothing , and that they haue bene with them who haue told them wonders by the water . thou seest then how absurd an opinion is crept in , not among the vulgar sort onely , but euen among many others also , who would seeme to be of a more refined vnderstanding ; as also what great danger doth from hence arise . but yet when as in some cases , with certaine cautions , we do attribute some certainty to the vrine , in giuing vs some notice either of the securitie of the disease , or yet the danger of the same : we are so farre from maintaining and vpholding such base b●ld varlets , that we desire nothing more , then the driuing of such dunces out of all well gouerned countries and commonwealthes . but now let vs proceed to declare the vncertainty of this signe , together with the limitation of the same to some certaine diseases , wherein it giueth vs best satisfaction : and we will begin with the famous fernel . now the vrine if it be neither mingled with too much drinke , or with some other mixture , giueth vs cleare and euident notice of the qualitie of the humours contained in the liuer and great veines : but more obscurely of such as are contained in the small veines and euery part of the bodie . and a little after . it doth in like manner euidently declare and set forth the infirmities of such parts as it passeth through : as of the kidneyes , the vrine-pipes , the bladder and the yard . for although it make no long abode nor stay in those passages , yet doth it cleanse away any filth or vncleannesse if any there be . for this cause doth it shew forth the infirmities of such parts as it doth immediatly touch . and againe afterwards . but now because the custome hath so preuailed , that besides the premisses , many there are who like prophets will seeme to diuine and coniecture by the sole inspection of the vrine , many things which concerne the disease : whosoeuer therefore for gaining of a little vaine-glorie and popular applause , will accommodate himselfe to imitate them , let him first of all reckon vp at once whatsoeuer he knoweth by the vrine . for by the exchange of many words foolish wits are easily entrapped , &c. and then concludeth thus : whosoeuer then shall vrge the physitian , as if he were some prophet , by rash aduenturing , to deliuer his iudgement concerning the sicke by the sole inspection of the vrine , shall carrie backe but vncertaintie ; and for the most part nothing but doubting for their paines . but he or she who after a wise and discreete manner doth craue the counsell of an vnderstanding physitian , shall reape for his paines the fruite of good and wholesome aduice . now let vs heare againe what the italian sauonarola sayes to this businesse . from the premisses then we may conclude , that the knowledge we haue of the vrine doth principally concerne the liuer ; and the gibbous or backe part of the same chiefly . next , and in the second place , concerning the infirmities of the veines : thirdly , and last of all , the infirmities of the other parts of the bodie . and a little after . from whence we may inferre , that the iudgement taken from the vrine onely , but especially of most other parts of the bodie , excepting the liuer , is not of any power or efficacie . mercatus a learned spanish physitian attributeth as much to the sweat as to the vrine . but heare himselfe speake . now comming to the infirmities of the liuer , we must declare and lay open such predictions as are taken from the vrine and the sweat : for these two do giue vs certaine notice and knowledge , not onely of this part and the veines , but sometimes also they prooue to be certaine signes of the state of the nourishing or vegetable power ouer the whole bodie . the same author in another place giueth the pulse a great preheminence aboue the vrine in many diseases , but especially in such as concerne the vitall facultie ; which place , as many others to the same purpose out of many learned and approued authors , for breuitie i will here passe by . but liddel , howbeit a late , yet a learned physitian , and borne in our owne iland , because he speaketh so to the purpose in this point of vrine now in hand , i could not nor would not passe by . wherefore since the vrines do chiefly proceed from the superfluitie of the parts of the bodie , they can giue vs but a generall knowledge of the disease , giuing vnto vs most euident notice of the good or bad disposition of the liuer , the veines , the bloud , and humours contained in them , as likewise of the concoction or cruditie of the humors within the veines . next , they shewforth the disposition of such parts as they passe by , to wit , of the kidneyes , vreters , or vrine-pipes , and the bladder : together with such parts whose superfluities they carrie with them : but do nothing so well set foorth the state and disposition of such parts as they do not touch , and from the which they receiue no excretions or superfluities . againe in the end of the chapter : but we must not rashly pronounce our opinion concerning the disease , or yet of the euent thereof , trusting solely to these signes of the vrine , except we be first acquainted with the state and constitution of the partie , and other accidents and occurrences which do concerne him . for sometimes in diseases void of danger , the vrines are farre vnlike to them which do appeare in perfect health , and do shew themselues in a most hideous and fearefull forme , especially vpon the approaching of the crisis ; or when as vpon the sudden , by the vigour and strength of nature , the obstructions being opened , a great part of the faultie matter is expelled forth by the vrine . on the other side againe , in dangerous and deadly diseases , as in pestilentiall and hecticke feauers , the vrines cannot be discerned from those that are made in perfect health : by reason that the malignitie of the disease hath seized vpon the solid substance of the heart , and therefore the whole matter of the disease hauing the course thither , there is no portion nor part of the same to be seene in the vrine . it were no hard matter for me to make an enumeration of many moe authors , tending all to the same purpose , and so to fill vp many moe pages , the which , i thinke , would be but to small purpose , since these ●ew may suffice in stead of many moe , all being of the same mind . now howbeit the vncertaintie of this signe hath sufficiently bene proued by the preceeding discourse , and it were easie for me to make vp a large volume concerning this particular onely , the which howbeit it be not my purpose , yet before i proceed to the vncertaintie of the same in diseases of the liuer , and within the veines , i will instance in two or three particular diseases . the first shall be of an impostume in the head . in the yeare 1617. in the beginning of ianuarie , a young gentlewoman vnmaried , and daughter to a gentleman of worth dwelling not farre from northampton , the season being very cold , and she before of a crasie constitution , was suddenly surprised with swounding fits , which ended with an extreame paine , especially about the crowne of her head , being accompanied with a suppression of her monethly disease . the paine was for certaine dayes without intermission , howsoeuer sometimes some remission might be obserued : as likewise both in her pulse and vrine signes of a feauer did plainly appeare . after i had vsed diuers meanes of diuersion , as well by phlebotomie and attractiue glisters , as by other meanes , not neglecting hypnoticke , cordiall , and deoppilatiue medicines , according to the seuerall occurrences , the disease gaue her some reasonable time of intermission , with some alleuiation of the accidents . the vrine also after a few dayes , began to flatter vs with a faire and laudable colour , shortly seconded with contents answerable . the pulse played his part also , and dissembled as well as his neighbour . the gentlewoman to any outward appearance , the very day before her death , was like to haue liued many , not onely dayes but yeares also : mouing and stirring with great alacritie and chearefulnesse vp and downe her chamber , busied about her ordinarie employments . when behold , he who spareth not the mightiest monarchs , on an euening knocking suddenly , demands his debt long before his day , and would scarce allow her full two houres respit for the payment of the same . after death issued out of her mouth and nose great abundance of corrupt bloud and matter , as was afterwards told me ; giuing vs intelligence of an impostume in the head , which had occasioned , not the former accidents onely , but euen death it selfe also . about the same time in this towne and countrey about vs , diuerse were surprised with impostumes , both in the head and other parts , whereof diuerse died , among the rest my counsell was craued for a maid about twentie yeares of age , suddenly suffocated by an impostume in her stomach , which after her death did appeare , by the great abundance of bloud and matter cast out of her mouth . at my coming to her , i found her depriued as well of speech , as of sense and reason , and scarce liued aboue 2. houres after my departure . but i will now relate a true historie of the deceitfulnesse of the vrine in a consumption of the lungs . in aprill 1622. my counsell and personall presence for a gentlewoman in bedfordshire being desired , i repaired thither , where i found her infirmity to be a quotidian feauer , accompanied with some accidents which did somewhat amaze her . during my abode in that place , there was brought to me the vrine of a young gentleman dwelling hard by , to haue my opinion of the same . hauing well viewed it , i found it both in colour and contents , answerable to the most healthfull mans vrine . but after certaine interrogatories , i found that he had bene for a long time troubled with a cough . being desired to see the partie , i found that he had bene for a long time vexed with this cough , accompanying an vlcer in the lungs : and seeing in him strength now decayed , with an * hippocraticall face , deaths trustie messenger , i left him to the prognosticke , which within lesse then the space of three weeks was verified . now would i willingly demand of the most cunning pisse-prophet , what could he haue found out by either of these vrines ? or could he euer haue attained to the height and depth of these diseases , by the bare inspection of the vrine onely ? and if he had bene beholden to the vse of the best perspectiue glasse that euer was made , could he euer haue seene any such matter in the vrine ? but concerning this point we will here surceasse , and proceed to the diseases within the veines . chap. iii. that euen in diseases of the liuer , and within the veines , the vrine doth often deceiue the most skilfull physitian . now it may seeme a small matter to instance in diuerse diseases without the veines , the vncertaintie of iudgement in diseases by the vrine onely ; but it will , perhaps , seeme more pertinent to declare , that the like vncertaintie sometimes is found in some such diseases as seeme to affoord vs greater certaintie , as in feauers , &c. now that the vrine is not alwayes a certaine signe in euery feauer , may from hence appeare , that often in that feauer commonly called synochus cum vel sine putredine , that is , that kind of continuall feauer which proceedeth from the abundance of bloud , with or without putrefaction , the vrine differeth little or nothing from the vrines of such as liue in perfect health , as witnesseth paulus aegineta . the reason why such vrines proceeding of so hote a cause , yet do not appeare of so high a colour , is because of the same immoderate and excessiue heate , which being increased by meanes of the feauer , conuerteth the bloud it selfe into the nature of choler : and thus are such vrines not of so high intense a colour , as those which proceed of choler . hence also may the error of such physitians easily appeare , who neuer admit of phlebotomie , but when the vrine is of high and intense red colour ; thinking that this doth alwayes argue abundance of bloud , which neuerthelesse is most false , as hath bene said . and besides , in that the vrines affoord vs but some generall notice of the cruditie and concoction of the disease , they can neuer informe our iudgement , whether the feauer be primarie or a principall guest , or symptomaticall accompanying the disease as the shadow doth the bodie , as is to be seene in pleuresiet and diuers other internall inflammations : which is , notwithstanding of no small moment for the methodicall curing of the disease . and y●t moreouer , how canst thou euer tell whether it be an intermittent or continuall feauer by this vncertaine signe ? neither hippocrates nor galen did euer presume to know so much ; howsoeuer a●●uarius in this , as in many other things concerning this point , hath troubled himselfe more then he needed . but againe , what if the feauer be composed of diuers humours , melancholy being one , which will not alwayes colour the vrine ? galen himselfe instructing vs what vrines accompanie a qua●tane in the beginning of the same , saith , they are thin , white , and waterish : and a little after , he ascribes the like vrines to the beginning of a quotidian . and i know for certaine , that sometimes in the beginning of a qua●tane , the vrine cannot be discerned from a sound and healthfull mans . and handling hereafter the colours of vrines , i shall make it appeare , that these thin , white , waterish vrines , do often accompanie other diseases . it is also worth the obseruation , that galen himselfe , where as of set purpose he handleth both the differences and signes of seauers , maketh so small account of the vrine , that he neither nameth it among the signes of the quotidian , tertian , quartane , nor yet of such as are continuall or without intermission . and a learned physitian borne in this kingdome , setting downe all the signes of a tertian , not omitting the pulse , yet maketh no mention of the vrine . but what if any malignitie be ioyned with a feauer , may it not marre thy iudgement ? it hath euer bene so agreed vpon by the learned , and daily experience teacheth vs this truth , that when greatest danger is nearest , it is then there least of all to be discerned . but concerning this point , heare yet the authoritie of a learned man borne within this land , speaking of that fearefull and terrible feauer , called commonly the sweating sicknesse . the vrine in this disease was somewhat coloured , thicke in substance , variable and inconstant in the swimme and sublimation ( for nature kept no certaine rule or order by reason of the violence of the venome ) and in all other parts kept within compasse . now to any vulgar eye , so great danger in the like vrine could neuer haue appeared . i my selfe haue viewed many more dangerous to the outward appearance , and yet neither death nor danger was to be feared . the vrines in maligne and pestilent feauers are very variable and hard to lay hold on . in some the vrine differeth nothing from a healthfull mans : sometimes againe but a little , as in this last instance . againe , in others it followeth the nature of the humour , shewing onely the abundance and putrefaction of the humours ; as i my selfe obserued 1610. at london in a lustie young fellow , seruant to a gentleman a friend of mine , and dwelling in the strand neare to charing-crosse . this fellowes vrine was very high coloured , with a copious residence of red and some yellow contents : and the feauer kept the peri●d of an intermittent tertian ague , as was related vnto me ; and was accompanied with a painefull swelling in the throate : his bodie plethoricke and cacochymicke , and of a strong constitution , and in the aprill of his age . for this cause i prescribed both phlebotomie and other euacuations . but the noise of the neighbours about , affirming it to be the plague ( as it proued indeed , many of them dying shortly of the same disease ) was the cause that meanes were by his friends neglected , and he after a few dayes dyed of this disease . but before we go out of our owne iland , let vs yet heare the authoritie of another learned physitian , who liued in this land about 300. yeares ago . heare therefore his owne words concerning quartanes and other diseases . now because the quartane ague is engendred of diuers humors , therefore the vrine is many wayes changed . and thus saith richardus concerning the predictions by vrines : i take god and all the saints in heauen to witnesse , that neither by skill and art , nor yet by vse and long experience in practise , i could euer attaine to any certaine knowledge of the vrine , either in the conception , a quartane ague , the falling sickenesse , &c. now although i might be a great deale larger in this point , yet will i content my selfe with that which hath bene alreadie said . let it then not any more be doubted , that the vrine is not alwayes a certaine and infallible signe of the estate of diseases contained in the vrine , as feauers &c. but what then ( may one reply ) doth it declare ? the cruditie or concoction of these diseases , together with the length or shortnesse of the same , according to the appearance , and the early or late appearing of the signes of the one or of the other ( i meane cruditie or concoction ) in the vrine . now omitting also many things which might be said concerning diseases proceeding from the same , i will instance onely in one , to wit , that loathsome disease of leprosie . now as our senses do teach vs , that in all the sorts of the same , the a skin is euer infected : so whether thou vnderstandest that which the greekes or yet the arabians so called , b it is agreed among all our physitians , that as well the liuer , which is the fountaine and roote , as the masse of bloud , which is as the branches or streames proceeding from the same , are much interessed and endammaged in this disease : and therefore by right the vrine here should carrie a great stroke , it being also the opinion of diuers physitians , that as well the bloud as the vrine of such as are infected with this loathsome disease do much differ from other mens . and yet heare i pray thee what a learned late writer of no small experience witnesseth concerning this matter . but as for my selfe , who haue these thirtie yeares and vpwards , most diligently viewed , and carefully obserued and marked the bloud of a great number of such as were infected with this loathsome plague of leprosie , i do most constantly and assuredly auouch , that neither i my selfe , nor yet such surgeons as assisted me , could euer in the bloud find out any assured marke or infallible token of leprosie : but in euery respect like vnto the blond of such as enioyed their perfect health : or if at any time it hapned to swerue from the foresaid perfection , that it then appeared no more corrupted or infected then ordinarily we do behold it in the ●aundise , feauer , or any such like disease . the like also i may truly pronounce of the vrine , on the which the vulgar sort doth so much dote . in the same ranke may i also with good right place the pulse , whose change and alteration to enquire after , were to search for a knot in a rush , &c. but now let vs proceed to a point surpassing vulgar capacitie , and which will seeme to many a strange paradox , or a tale of robin hood : my meaning is concerning women with child , whether by the vrine onely conception may be discerned : the which point , howbeit it hath bene touched in our former discourse ; yet because this is so inueterate an error that hardly can it be expelled out of the minds of many , i will insist a little the longer vpon the same , intreating a little thy patience ( gentle reader ) and i hope thou shalt not afterwards repent thee of this paines . chap. iiii. that by the vrine onely , it cannot absolutely be told , whether a woman be with child or no , contrary to the vulgar opinion . as in many other things , so in this point also concerning the conception , ignorance and error haue so farre preuailed , that he who cannot vpon the bare inspection of the vrine onely , tell whether a woman be with child or no , and whether of a male or female , is thought by many not to merit the name of a learned and skilfull physitian . the which hath made many , lest they should be discredited among the vulgar , cunningly sometimes to learne what they could concerning other signes of conception , and vpon the sight of the vrine , make them beleeue they had found out the whole truth by meanes thereof : and others againe , when as they could learne nothing , haue vpon some presumptions and probabilities put all to the venture , and told them that which they most longed after : and if the prediction happened right , then was this person admired as more then a mortall man : but if otherwise , then might he looke for a mocke or flout for his paines , besides the imputation of ignorance and insufficiencie . howbeit some are yet more cunning then others , to impute the fault to some other accident , by this meanes still maintaining the ignorant in their former error . this hath bene a great meanes that hitherto the people hath bene gulled , hauing conceiued a sinister and wrong opiniō of the honest & learned physitian , who would not sooth them vp in the same errour . for the better confutation of this point , my purpose is , first to propound some reasons against the same : and in the next place shall march some authorities of the learned : and in the last place something shall be added out of mine owne experience . now in the first place , according to the common rule set downe , and confirmed by a number of learned writers , that the vrine ordinarily giueth vs notice of such diseases as are contained within the veines , as also of such places through which it passeth , it is apparent , that the conception participateth of neither . for in the first place , it is apparent and manifest , that the matrix or wombe is none of those parts contained within the veines : neither yet in the next place , doth the vrine passe through the same . how then is it possible to perceiue any infirmitie of this part by the vrine ? now besides , the bladder and the wombe are two distinct and seuerall parts , appropriated to seuerall ends and vses . and put yet the case that sometimes something might be , by reason of the nearenesse of the two orifices , conueyed through the common passage , yet this would but seldome come to passe . and moreouer in women with child this conueyance could not be granted , in regard of the exact shutting vp of the aforesaid passage during the whole time of this burden , insomuch that the least superfluitie can then haue no passage , as witnesseth galen in diuers places . now if any will deny the truth of this point , in the first place i answer , that as i grant that sometimes there my be , notwithstanding that which hath bene said , some euacuation during that time , and that some part of the same matter might be conueyed into the bladder , yet this cometh to passe but very seldome , and in a few . and againe , this would make more against them : for all that is by the learned at the most granted in this case is , that the vrine may sometimes declare a retention and stopping of the menstruous fluxe , whereof if any part during their being with child is voyded foorth ( as sometimes some women haue some to spare ) the vrine can no more declare any stoppage of this fluxe , and by consequent nothing concerning the conception , vnlesse thou wouldest imagine that there be certaine ideas or shapes and pictures of young children conueyed at that time into the vrines of women with child . and yet if this were true , who told these vrine-mongers that the wombe daunced attendance on the bladder , to voyde their seuerall excretions at one and the same time ? but put yet the case that some part of this menstruous fluxe , now and then issuing out at the common conduit with the vrine , might shew vs something , yet could it not follow , but that a number of other signes were also necessarie , as hereafter shall appeare . their chiefe ring-leader actuarius himselfe , confesseth that the vrine alone is not able to leade vs vnto this truth . moreouer aristotle acknowledgeth , that the vrines of women with child do differ according to the time that is past since the conception ; so that there is not one certaine vrine whereon to repose our iudgement . and according to the opinion of diuerse others , the vrines of women with child alter almost euery day . one of these vrines therefore shall neuer giue notice of the conception , although it might be sometimes discerned by the vrine . and is not this absurditie , to presume to know that by one signe , which many ioyned together can hardly declare vnto vs ? diuerse contents are set downe by some authors following auicenna , which are said to be found in such vrines , which neuerthelesse , haue bene often obserued as well in the vrines of citizens as countrey people of the malekinde , who i am sure , were neuer so much as suspected to be with child . a certain practicall professor of the vniuersity of pisa in italie ( saith scribonius ) a graue ancient physitian , was wont to say , that such as trusted most to this prediction , were most of all deceiued ; and yet he neuer yet in his life time had obserued any such vrines in women with child , as auicenna describeth : and that moreouer he had often obserued such contents in mens vrines . adde yet this argument to the former , that the conception , as also the further growth of the child in the wombe , is properly a naturall action , and no disease at all : for this cause their vrines ought to differ little or nothing from other healthfull womans waters , especially in the first moneths , as i haue my selfe often obserued . againe what if a woman with child be surprised with some acute disease , as commeth often to passe , will this then thinke you , make no alteration in the vrine ? and if there were any certainty in this signe alone , what needed our physitians trouble themselues with so many ? and oftentimes all will not serue the turne . let it therefore remaine firme and ●●able , that no certainty can be collected by the sole obseruation of this signe , and that to maintaine the same , is nothing else but meere imposture and coz●●age . but that this is not mine owne priuate opinion onely , i will now make it appeare : heare therefore some of our learned physitians deliuer their owne minds , that out of the mouth of many witnesses this truth may be confirmed . let rondeletius first speake . it would seeme ( saith he ) iustifiable , as well by reason as by experience , that the vrine may giue vt certaine and assured notice of a womans being with child . and d. gabride said , he knew it as assuredly as if he had seene a child in the vrine . but of another opinion are all the ancient physitians , who haue left vs no signes of the same in the vrine : as also reason it selfe teacheth vs no lesse . for since the birth or conception is without the veines , and the vrine chiefly giueth vs notice of such diseases as are contained within the veines , it can giue vs no certaine assurance of this matter , vnlesse we ioyne therewith all other signes , as the retention of her monethly disease , swelling of her bellie , she , notwithstanding enioying her perfect health . &c. heare now the opinion of some of our italian physitians , and first of all let the learned mercuriall vtter his mind . be it knowne , notwithstanding , that i am not altogether of the arabian physitians mind , who haue deuised certaine contents which are not to be found in vrines , to wit , certaine grounds like vnto carded wooll , little motes , &c. no more am i of that opinion , that a physitian may assuredly know by the vrine whether a woman be with child or no ; by reason that of all the signes which hippocrates hath in diuers places set downe , there is not one that we can certainly trust to . the same opinion is by his countrey man sauonarola yet seconded . but here we must be very circumspect , in regard that all these signes of conception may sometimes be without the same , as in the stoppage of her monethly course , ioyned with a false conception ; in which case many famous physitians haue bene deceiued , and their too forwardnesse hath turned to their great disgrace and infamie : as it befell two learned and skilfull physitians in the vniuersitie of pauie , marsilius de sancta sophia , and petrus de tussignano , both in my time . let yong physitians therefore be carefull , that with the vrine they ioyne all the other signes belonging to conception ; amongst which one is chiefe , which belongeth to the midwife to find out , &c. and leo roganus , a learned romane physitian , is of no other opinion . the vrines of women with child ( saith he ) differ nothing but by accident from other womens , to wit , that then in such women , as well the action of the stomacke , as the appetite and concoction vse ordinarily to be troubled . and yet such is the block●shnesse and stupiditie of some physitians , that they are perswaded women with child make vrines differing from other womens . it is true , that in women with child , that bloud which was wont to be voyded monethly , is now stayed and kept in , wherefore because the same in the first moneths especially , not being wholly spent on the nourishment of the child , as being then but small , it commeth to passe that the action of the stomacke , as likewise the appetite , together with the concoction are not a litle troubled . and therefore being often , by reason of their longing desires , carried away with a desire of such things as engender little good nourishment , they engender great store of crudities , which may plainly be seene by their vrines , the which are also common to all such as abound in crudities . to the former we will adde yet a late writer of the same nation , because he speaketh so plainly and to the purpose . the booke was first written in the italian tongue , and since translated into french , out of the which i haue translated this parcell . truth it is , that we must not altogether relie vpon the vrine , to know whether a woman be with child or no. for the vrine can giue thee no further assurance of the same , then by the retention of her accustomed monethly course , and by the which we do commonly collect some presumption of conception . now it may easily come to passe , that a woman may be surprised with many infirmities , which may hide and darken the principall signe of conception ( if any there were ) in the vrine : such as be headach , any cold , especially being accompanied with a cough , cruditie , or indigestion of the stomacke , great paine in the kidneyes , &c. and which is yet more , the eating of raw fruite , sallets , milke , porke , pease , sperage , cabbage , artichocks , mushromes , and many other such kind of food , not being ordinarie or vsuall to the partie , are sufficient to alter and change , not the colour onely , but the contents of the vrine also . moreouer the vrine doth most properly and assuredly declare vnto vs , the infirmities of the parts from whence it commeth , and through the which at length it passeth . for the which cause it is more then manifest , that there is no assured knowledge to be had by the vrine concerning the conception , no more then by the retention of her monethly course , sin●e that without conception the foresaid retention and stopping is found , as well in maides as in married women . the last and most certaine signe of conception is , when as the child beginneth to stirre and moue . mercatus a learned spaniard , after he hath set downe a number of other signes , at length addeth these words . as concerning the vrine , howbeit in this case it doth affoord vs but a very vncertaine iudgement , yet may we sometimes draw some certainty out of the same . but how i pray thee ? by obseruing her seuerall vrines at diuerse times , beginning with the first moneth of supposed conception , and so obseruing the seuerall alterations vntill the time of her deliuery approach . then withall setteth he downe all the seuerall trials which the famous hippocrates hath left vnto vs , all which were needlesse and superfluous , if the vrine of it selfe were sufficient for this purpose . now let vs adde yet one storie of the deceitfulnesse of this signe in conception , recorded by a learned germane physitian . franciscus emericus doctor in physicke , and of the chaire in the vniuersitie of vienna , in his discourse entituled , whether the obseruation of the pulse or of the vrine doth affoord vnto the physitian more certaine and assured foreknowledge of the life or death of the patient , and printed anno 1557. relatet● , that in the yeare 1555. in the citie of vienna , a certaine friend of mine ( saith he ) called georgius rithamerus , a man of singular learning , being very desirous of issue , came to one of the physitians of the colledge of best note , bringing with him his wiues vrine , to know whether she were with child , as he deemed , or no. the physitian vpon the bare sight of the vrine onely , did peremptorily affirme , that she was for certaine with child , and that of a boy . after the which time rithamerus began quite to distaste me ; and that onely by reason that vpon the sight of her vrine , together with diuers other signes and circumstances thereto belonging , i had deliuered my opinion , that she was not at all with child . and besides , he prouided with all expedition both midwife , nurse , and all other things belonging to that businesse . it was afterwards constantly and confidently euery where noysed abroad , that she was with child . the women her attendants by reason of some accidents wherewith she was now and then troubled , appointed her diuerse baths , by meanes whereof being surprised with the falling sicknesse , she was in a very short time freed from all the miseries of this mortall life . of whose death being aduertised , i did very earnestly intreate the aforesaid rithamerus , that both in regard of that ancient bond of loue and amitie betwixt him and me , as likewise to finde out the whole truth of this matter , he would be pleased to giue way to the opening of the dead corps . the which at length , being ouercome , as well by my earnest suing vnto him , as for the great and earnest desire he had to be resolued of the truth of the matter , he did willingly yeeld vnto . in making the incision , we began first with the muscles of the neather bellie , discouering such parts as before were hid , & afterwards ripping vp the peritonaeum , we proceeded to the place where the wombe was situate ; and although we did perceiue it to be but very small , and to containe nothing within it ; yet to the end we might the more clearly see the truth with our eyes , we ript it vp also , and found it cleane , and empty of any thing within it . now in her life time she was of a whitish bleake colour , and of a cachecticall disposition , and had neuer in all her life time borne any child : from whence i did by very probable coniccture collect , that she was troubled with some other infirmitie . for the which cause we proceed still in our incision towards the stomacke ; whereas betwixt the peritonaeum , and the guts we found good store of water , which did according to the motion of the body , fall sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left side ; and from hence arose this erronius opinion of the supposed motion of a liue child . this being after this manner finished , i spake after this manner , my good friend george , you see now after what manner your wife proueth with child . and he , seeing the case so plaine , did ingenuously acknowledge , that he had wrongfully and vndeseruedly bene offended with me , and withall did freely acknowledge his errour . witnesses with me at this incision , were doctor lacobus walch , companion with me in my italian studies ; as also andreas perlachius , a great mathematician , being also the onely man who had so stedfastly maintained that she was with child . now with two instances of mine owne experience i will finish this point . a gentlewoman dwelling neere northampton some yeares ago , sent me her vrine , which in euery respect , as well in colour as contents , resembled the vrine of an healthfull yong man. hauing found out by some circumstances that it was a womans , i began to suspect that which afterwards proued true , that she was with child . the messenger demanding whether she was not entred into a dropsie : i replied , i rather enclined to the opinion that she was with child , the which proued to be true . the seruant confessed , another physitian had before put her in needlesse feare of a dropsie . the gentlewoman afterwards conceiued a better opinion of my skill in this point , then i confesse it deserued . the same haruest , within seuen miles of this towne of northampton , a lady great with child , being now within two moneths at most of her deliuerie , sent me first her vrine , and then desired mine owne personall presence for some infirmitie whereof she then complained . the vrine sent resembled , as the former , the vrine of a lustie young man in the aprill of his age : i obserued it very narrowly , and yet could i discerne none of those arabian contents , neither cardedwooll , flaxe , nor huswiues cloth . being afterwards with her , i found no alteration in her vrine , saue that it was paler coloured which was made in the night , and higher coloured which was made in the day time , contrarie to that which we commonly obserue ; and yet neither of them exceeding the colour of a cholericke mans vrine . the gentlewoman had bene for a long time , euen before her being with child , much troubled with a hote and feauer-like distemper . this point then being cleared , we proceed now to the sexe , where we shall find no lesse vncertaintie then in the former . chap. v. that the sexe cannot be discerned by the vrine . no lesse absurd an opinion then the former , is it to hold that the sexe may absolutely by the vrine be discerned . as for the sexe in the wombe , the same reasons which were brought against the discerning of the conception by the vrine , will here take hold also . as for the discerning of the sexe in those of riper yeares , the reason would seeme to be more fauourable . the chiefe and principall reason alledged for this is , because men are commonly of an hoter constitution then women , which is the cause that their vrines are dyed of an higher colour ; and moreouer , that the contents in womens vrines , in regard of their idle and sedentarie life , do often exceed mens in quantitie . but this must not simply be considered , but as we commonly say , caeteris paribus : that is , a man of a good and laudable constitution of body , vsing diet answerable both in quantitie and qualitie , and auoiding idlenesse : a woman likewise of a colder complexion , as often they are , vsing moderate diet , a sedentary and lazie life , auoyding hote diet . if , i say , one should bring thee two such vrines , demanding to know which were the mans and which the womans , then without great difficultie mightest thou giue out a right verdict . but if one shold bring vnto thee two vrines , the one of a man , the other of a woman , the one not differing from the other , and the womans perhaps higher in colour and thinner in substance , ( which may by diuerse meanes come to passe ) thou shouldest giue wrong sentence , then being thus gulled , thou mightest be made a gazing stocke to thy neighbours , by reason of thy peremptorie opinion . now that some women are of an hoter constitution of bodie then some men , i thinke who so denieth , deserueth rather to haue his pate purged , then to be dealt with with by any reason . i my selfe haue also knowne many a man make paler vrines , with greater quantitie of contents , then women : which may easily come to passe , by reason of great quassing , daintie fare , and abundance of ease and idlenesse , the engendrers of all manner of crudities . haue we not now adayes more then a good many whose god is their guts , fruges consumere nati , on whose vrines thou mightest long looke , before thou couldst discerne any thing materiall or to the purpose ? as for out women , what if their liuer and kidneyes be hote , as i haue not seldome obserued , may not this bring forth an high water ? and will not obstructions easily depriue it of contents . but especially if these women be well acquainted with a pipe of tobacco , a cup of good sherry sacke , malago , or canary , or yet a cup of good ●appy ale well brewed with sugar , nutmegge and ginger , may it not now and then not onely colour the vrines , but make their faces flourish with some orientall carbuncles and rubies ? besides the former reasons , will not fasting , watching , perturbations of the mind , diet in quantitie and qualitie , with diuerse other things moe , alter the vrine as well in man as in woman ? it were , perhaps , an easier matter to obserue this difference in some hoter climat then our owne , to wit , in france , spaine , or italy , where women drinke more water then with vs ; especially in italie , where the women are caged vp like linnets to sing , and are not so busie with the fruite of the grape , nor with the strong barley water as our british women . if i should instance also in our virgins , more manlike then many men , how were any able to contradict it ? but if i should send to the cunningest pisse-prophet in this kingdome the vrine of some hermaphrodite or man-woman , what would or could they say ? and to which of the sexes would they ascribe the vrine ? now that some such are to be found , cannot be denied . it hath bene holden for a truth in all ages : and of late yeares a learned physitian hath written a booke concerning that subiect , where he bringeth in a number of histories of ancient and later times . i haue bene also credibly informed of some such who haue liued here in these parts of the countrey . but if the woman shall be surprised with any hote and acute disease ( as the vrine is seldome sent to the physitian but in sicknesse ) will not these confound thy iudgement ? now if the sexe cannot be discerned by the vrine in persons of yeares , what absurditie is it to demand the knowledge hereof in a woman with child , where the conception it selfe cannot be thereby discerned ? as also where there are so many rubs in the way . it is also worth the obseruation , that whereas that learned mercatus discourseth of all the signes whereby one may know whether a woman be with child of a male or female , where he omitteth not so much as the blowing of the wind , yet speaketh he not so much as one word concerning the vrine : no more do many other authors of best note . iean marinello among many moe , setteth downe many signes to discerne the sexe in the wombe , yet speaketh he not so much as one word of the vrine . other authors for breuitie i will passe by . i cannot but wonder what should moue our vrine-mongers to be so peremptory in this their opinion of discerning the sexe by the vrines , as though there were some specificall difference alwayes to be obserued in these vrines : are not the humours alike , and the parts as well femilare as organicall alike in both these sexes ? but i will acquaint thee with one historie concerning the prediction of a parson-physitian , who would certifie a gentlewoman with child of what sexe it was . a gentlewoman dwelling within a few miles of northampton , left with child of her late deceassed husband , was very desirous to be certified of the sexe if it were possible . the reason was , because that if a sonne , then was he to be heire to great lands and possessions , which otherwise were entailed to the next heires male . this parson being by many reputed famous in vromancie , this gentlewoman had recourse to his oracle . the parson is peremptorie that she is with child of a sonne . the gentlewoman and her friends reioyce not a little . but the worst is yet behind : the parsons prediction proues false , and he a lying prophet : she is brought to bed of a daughter , and her mirth turned into mourning . if he had euer learned his phylosophie , he might haue learned that , de futuris contingentibus non est determinata veritas : of future things not yet come to passe , being contingent , no man can assuredly foretell the issue and euent . but thou mayest here see ex vnguibus leonem : what manner of men these be . the yeare 1622. a patient of mine of good account dwelling in northampton , purposing ( according to his vsuall custome ) to take some preuenting physicke in the spring of the yeare , wished his vrine to be sent to me . the vrine which was sent was of an high and deepe dyed red colour , of a meane substance , a copius red residence . meeting with him the same day , i asked him whether he complained not of some heate : who replyed , he fel● no manner of distemper at all . i wished him yet once againe to send me his vrine , which if it should so continue , i doubted phlebolomie would be requisite . the next vrine was of a pale straw coloured yellow , with some whitish residents , such as sometimes accompanie crudities . enquiring afterwards into the cause of this diuersitie of vrines in so short a space , his wife told me , that her vrine had the first day bene sent in stead of her husbands . i required of her , whether she did not complaine of any inward distemper of heate ; who replyed , that she complained of no distemper at all . but within a few dayes she found that distemper in such a measure , as she was glad to admit both of phlebotomie and other fit and necessarie remedies . the constitution of her bodie is hote , and her vrine answerably high coloured , vnlesse it be accidentally hindered . and this i dare boldly affirme , that during her husbands sicknesse , being a long and tedious , first tertian , then double tertian feauer , yet neuer saw i his vrine of so high and intense a colour as that of hers lately mentioned . and now i hope it doth plainly appeare , that neither the conception , nor sexe can be by the vrine onely discerned . let vs now proceed to the examination and anatomie of the vrine it selfe , together with the seuerall parts of the same . the second booke of the anatomie of vrines . the argvment . in this second booke is set downe a more particular suruey or anatomie of vrines , & their seuerall parts in particular : beginning first with the common diuision of the vrines into three or foure regions , with the idlenesse of that supposed correspondencie thought to be betwixt them and the regions of a mans bodie . then followeth the vncertaintie of iudgement by the substance , and afterwards by the accidents of the vrine , and first of the quantitie : the smell followeth , and if any be in loue with the last , he may trie it in the next place . then follow the chiefe colours , their seuerall significations , and doubtfull predictions thereby . the confutation of the crowne or garland is handled in the next place , and after it in order , the bubbles , spume , fat and froth , fume and vapour in the vrines . the great varietie of other contents challenge to themselues the next place , where we will begin with the cloud , swim or sublimation , then proceed to the grounds or residences of vrines : where besides varietie of contents commonly called difforme , are also contained diuers prodigious histories of seuerall sorts of wormes reiected by vrine . the obstruction and stopping of the vrine , either totall or in part , the seuerall causes of the same , and diuers predictions , as also the inuoluntarie excretion of vrine , shall not be omitted : and then a word with the alchymists concerning distillation of vrines . and finally shall follow the conclusion , where shall be answered the obiection concerning euent and casuall cures , with some instances of this error . and for the confirmation of my opinion , i proceed on still in my former method of reasons and authorities both of ancient and late writers , adding here and there some of mine owne obseruations . chap. i. that the regions of the vrine are not answerable to the regions of the body of man ; as also concerning the substance of vri●es , thicke and thinne , their manifold significations , and vncertaintie of iudgement by the same . it hath bene an inueterate opinion , and which hath taken deepe roote in the minds of many , and first brought in by actuarius , that the seuerall regions of the vrine , are answerable to the principall regions or parts of a mans body . of these regions in the vrine some make three , the highest part answering in proportion to the highest part of the body , to wit , the head and such other parts as adioyne to it : the middle region representing the middle parts of man , as the breast , the bowels , and the parts about them : the neather region of the vrine , the lowest parts from the bowels downewards . others againe make foure , appropriating the circle in the vppermost part of the vrine , called otherwise a crowne or garland , to the animall parts contained in the head : the ouermost part or superficies to the pectorall parts , heart , lungs , &c. the middle region to the parts seruing for nutrition or nourishment , to wi● , the stomach or maw , the liuer , spleene , guts , &c. the lowest or neathermost part in the bottome of the vrinall , to the parts appropriate to generation . but this opinion ( saith one ) is more curious and superstitious then true . meaning of the foure regions of the vrine , &c. and yet the same author maintaineth the three regions of the vrine to be answerable to the three principall regions of the bodie , which i will here confute as most false and erronious . now to this purpose i thinke it will not be amisse , to set downe the words of his interpreter , which may serue sufficiently to ouerthrow this error : hence may it euidently appeare , in how great an error those physitians are inuolued , who hold a proportion betwixt the height of the vrine and of a mans bodie . hence also cometh it to passe , that they affirme that the contents of the vppermost region do declare and lay open the griefes of the head , &c. did those men euer see fat fall to the bottome or middle region of the vrinall ? doth not oyle and any fat thing commonly and of its owne accord swim vpon the top of the vrine ? neither yet doth it therefore necessarily follow , that the head is principally affected ; but doth declare and shew foorth , either the wasting of the whole bodie , or some diseases of the kidneyes . let them shew vs the residence called hypostasis , in the garland or vppermost part of the vrine . the like may be said concerning the bubbles which do alwayes stay vpon the top of the vrine , and according to the doctrine of hippocrates , do prognosticate some long and lingring disease of the kidneyes . to what end and purpose then keepe they such aprating , that the bubbles which do in order compasse the whole crowne or garland about , do declare some great paine in the whole head : and if they compasse and enuiron but the halfe of the circle or garland , then do they argue a paine but in one side of the head ? how often are such people pained with the wind colicke or hypochondriacke melancholy ? in which case howsoeuer some wind may ascend vp into the head ; yet is not this axiome alwayes of vndoubted truth . the like iudgement may we pronounce concerning other things of the like nature , which most commonly follow the condition of their owne naturall inclination and matter , and not the altitude or situation of this or that part of a mans bodie . thus farre our author . and the troubled vrine so continuing , of the which shall be spoken in the next chapter , may serue to ouerthrow the supposed proportion betwixt the regions of the vrine and the body of man ; this headach being discerned by the whole body of the vrine , and neither by the circle or garland , nor yet by any bubbles , spume , or froth in the top of the same . but concerning the vncertainty of these particulars , as also concerning the crowne and garland , hereafter when we shall speake of the contents of vrines , i purpose to discourse at greater length . it is now time we come to the substance of vrines , and then to all the parts of the same . i will with the learned mercuriall , diuide the whole vrine into three parts , the substance , the accidents , and the contents . in the substance againe we are to consider , whether the vrine be thicke or thinne , and whether cleare , or troubled and muddie . and this we vnderstand of the whole bodie of the vrine . thin vrines according to vasseus haue manifold significations . first a failing of naturall heate . secondly , a stoppage of the liuer , kidneyes , and the vrinarie vessels . thirdly , weaknesse of nature . fourthly , that the attractiue power of the passage or pipes of the vrine is endamaged . fiftly , extreame coldnesse ioyned with drought . in acute diseases it argueth : first the weaknesse of the concocting facultie . secondly , the cruditie of the disease , and of the humours contained in the veines . thirdly , if it thus continue for a long time , death , if nature be not able to hold out : & if strength continue , some abscesse or impostume in the neather parts . and in a crisis threateneth a relapse , as in hermocrates 3. epid. now how shall any by the bare inspection of these vrines , be able to know whether it hath long thus continued or no , which neuerthelesse maketh much for a true prediction ? the partie seldome taketh notice of it , vntill such time it be sent to the physitian . the messenger employed , oftentimes hath not seene the partie since the beginning of his sicknesse , much lesse his vrine . thinne vrines which afterwards turne thicke in an acute disease , saith sauonarola , without any ease or alleutation ensuing , signifieth a wasting away of the whole bodie , &c. but concerning thinne vrines , which afterwards turne thicke , something shall be further said , when we shall speake of thicke vrines . and concerning thinne vrines in generall , because i shall haue some further occasion to speake hereafter when i shall handle the colours , i will not dwell so long vpon this point . but now come we to the thicke vrines . the same vasseus giues vs fiue seuerall significations of thicke vrines in generall . first the combat or fight betwixt nature and the humour . secondly , abundance of humors . thirdly , the thickening slime and the other parts next vnto it , by reason of cold , if thinne vrine went before . fourthly , the beginning of concoction , such in the fit of an ague so continuing . fiftly , the weaknesse of the strength , and no small store of humours . the same author againe diuideth these thicke vrines into two sorts : into thicke transparent , pellucide , and troubled , called by him turbida . this first sort signifieth ( saith he ) a dissoluing or melting of glassie phlegme , as we see in the vrines of epilepticke persons proceeding of phlegme . if it be of a citrine or yellowish colour , it signifieth choller , like the yolkes of egges . but because the other sort of thicke vrines called turbida , or troubled and muddie , is more obuious to the eye , and easilier discerned , i will insist a little the longer vpon the same . the same author assigneth three significations to such vrines . first , a great agitation and stirring of crude and vnconcoct humours , together with no small store of windinesse . secondly , abundance of humours , which neuerthelesse are by nature expelled . thirdly , the great trouble and encombrance nature hath in the expelling and sequestring such humours . but these troubled thicke vrines are yet diuided into three seuerall sorts . first , some being thinne at the first making , do afterwards thicken : others are made thicke , and after a while settle : and finally , some are made thick , and do so continue , being like vnto horse-pisse . such vrines ( saith ranzouius ) as are made thinne , sometimes suddenly thicken and grow troubled : this in health cometh often to passe after exercise , and to others after sicknesse . and after i haue drunke hard ( saith the same author ) i make a cleare vrine , which in a very short time groweth thicke , and so setleth to a great residence . others hold that it signifieth , that nature now beginneth to set vpon the humor , and to concoct it . i haue often obserued such an vrine , both in perfect health and before and after sicknesse . cold winter weather also often altereth thinne vrines into thicke . such as are made thicke at first , and after settle to a thicke residence , and become cleare , signifie and declare vnto vs , that the disease wasteth away ; as declaring nature now to make a separation , after which it expelleth at a place conuenient . vrines made thicke at the first , and so persisting , are generally accounted , and that not without cause , the worst of the three : which according to hippocrates , argue great headach , either present or imminent , being especially ioyned with a feauer . but this is not perpetuall , ( saith galen ) for a troubled vrine generally is an accident of the abundance of raw humours , either concocted or turned into wind , and not of a phrensie ; and yet such an vrine may both accompanie a phrensie , and be without it , as all other such accidents as neither are contrarie to phrensie , nor yet proper thereunto . of these vrines which do not settle ( saith a learned author ) but yet much more of such as being at first made thinne do afterwards thicken , we can giue no certaine prediction : for such vrines do sometimes onely signifie cruditie , and sometimes againe they are very bad . but the diligent and carefull physitian may by other signes distinguish the same . another author maketh vrines so persisting to be alwayes very dangerous . such an vrine ( saith he ) doth declare vnto vs , that naturall heate is so weake , that it cannoe separate the good from the bad . but yet must not this be absolutely vnderstood , but with a caution and limitation , common to many such other speeches : to wit , that with strength persisting , they signifie that the disease is like to be of long continuance , and without the same to signifie death . in such thicke vrines therefore ( saith roganus ) we must not alwayes be afrayed , as some ordinarie physitians are , but must likewise obserue some other signes . in young children ( saith reusner ) if these vrines be exceeding thicke , ( which oftentimes cometh to passe , howsoeuer seldome obserued ) besides the head-ach proceeding of windinesse , they do also signifie the paine of the heart , ( as they call it commonly ) that is , of the mouth of the stomach . such an vrine may proceed also from the windinesse of the passages . thinne vrines afterwards becoming thicke and troubled , if strength decay , it is an infallible token of death : and that by reason of the agitation and motion of the matter within the bodie , and the abundance of windie vapours from thence , which nature is not able to ouercome . but before i proceed any further , i cannot passe by a common error , which many as well in towne as countrey do hold , to wit , that when they see such a thicke vrine staine the vrinall , they are incontinent conceited all the danger of the disease is past . but this to be most false , i haue often my selfe obserued , and no doubt so haue a many moe besides my selfe . reusner maketh this one of his signes to know whether the vrine were thinne at the first making or no : for if it were so , then when it thickeneth , it commonly staineth the vrinall . now when the strength holdeth out , the patient may recouer , and not otherwise . i will instance in one onely , in whom i obserued the vanitie of this opinion , and shall serue in stead of a many to iustifie my assertion . some nine or ten yeares ago , i was sollicited to affoord my presence and best counsell to a parson , dwelling within some foure miles of the towne of northampton , surprised with a burning feauer . hauing diligently enquired what remedies he had hitherto vsed ( for if i remember right , it was the tenth day of his disease ) and by whose prescription , i learned that no lesse then three at least , if not foure parson-physitians had administred to him , and then the most famous for vromancie of all the countrey about : howbeit since that time some others are also crept into that societie . i enquired moreouer whether phlebotomie had bene as yet vsed . they replyed that phlebotomie had not bene so much as once mentioned by any of them , but that they had purged him , as i thinke with diaprunum , and i remember not what else , and appointed him some cooling drinkes . his wife added moreouer , that one of them thinking to purchase himselfe some praise beyond his fellowes , would haue bribed death with foue pounds worth of aurum pot●bile , which she willingly payed for , in hope of her husbands recouerie . but this importunate suter would haue no nay ; but vrged still the payment of the debt he came to demand . i told them that phlebotomie , in due and conuenient time administred , had proued a more soueraigne medicine for this disease , then all the gold of ophir and both the indies . i being by them much importuned to let him bloud , absolutely refused , his strength being now well nigh spent , and some ill signes ( the vndoubted harbingers of death ) offering themselues to my eyes , administring onely some cordials . the next morning i find all waxe worse and worse ; howbeit his wife , shewing me his vrine , which before had bene thinne , and now setled to a thicke residence , a part whereof did sticke to the sides of the vrinall and staine the same , which she , beleeuing her neighbours , began to conceiue some better hope of his recouerie , and that onely vpon this false ground . i assured her of the contrary , which shortly afterwards proued too true , and the same day , being saturday i departed . the monday after comes one of his former physitians ( not the parson who ministred aurum potabile ; for after the same he had no moe arrowes left in his quiuer ) who , if faire buttered speeches and peremptorie promises could cure diseases , he might cure more then euer did the apostles : who then all too late letteth his patient bloud , who suruiued not long after the losse of this liquor of life , but dyed either that night , or the next morning very early , being about the fourteenth day from the beginning of his disease . one thing i must yet adde concerning the signification of thicke vrines , which deserueth reprehension : to wit , that a physitian maintained , that he could know by the vrine that any were bewitched : to wit , that such a ones vrine was thicke and muddie , and could not by any heate be turned , as they terme it . to whom it was no lesse learnedly then truly replyed , did you neuer reade in hippocrates of vrina confusa ? i cannot but much maruell , that any man that had euer suckt in the principles and grounds of physicke , should be so farre ouerseene , this being a peculiar propertie of such vrines , that they will not be turned by any heate whatsoeuer . it is then apparent , how little certaintie is to be collected concerning the iudgement of diseases , by the sole inspection either of thick or thinne vrines : to wit , that after many cautions and diuers interrogations , if thou meete with an vnderstanding messenger , and the vrine sent at a conuenient time , and all other circumstances obserued ( which neuerthelesse , seldome or neuer concurre altogether ) and thou thy selfe being wise and vnderstanding , mayest perhaps , learne something concerning the state of the disease , as cruditie and concoction ; and it may be , some moe circumstances , and yet the strength of the patient ( which is most materiall , and the vulgar neuer able to iudge of the same ) together with many other circumstances , not to be neglected shall be concealed from thee : many of our countrey people , being so ignorant that they thinke their neighbour not a whit amended , vnlesse he be able , as at other times , to fill his bellie with bag-pudding & bacon . and moreouer the ordinary sort of people are seldome able to lay open either their owne or their neighbours infirmitie , they taking chiefly notice either of some accident common to many others , or else of some griefe most affecting them . but besides the premisses , may not the thicknesse of the vrinall , the dimnesse of thy sight , the excesse or defect of light , or yet if it be brought to thee at candle light ( so sottish and absurd is the vulgar sometimes ) make thee to faile in thy iudgement ? that i say no thing of the time of the yeare , according to the which as well the substance as the accidents do often alter in one and the same indiuiduall partie . others adde also the sexe , the age and many moe , which i here omitting , will hasten to the accidents of vrine . chap. ii. of the accidents of vrine , the quantitie , smell , &c. and that no certaine and assured truth can by them be presaged or knowne . the accidents of vrine are all reduced to two generall heads , the quantitie and the qualitie . the quantitie is either great , small , or meane , which is the best . abundance of vrine in health signifieth , 1. that the partie hath drunke store of rhenish or other searching wine . 2. abundance of moist meats . 3. little euacuation by stoole . 4. too liberall vse of diuretickes , or such things as prouoke vrine . 5. the concoction of crude and vndigested food . 6. the retention of sweat , menstruous fluxe , or other moisture detained within the chest or stomacke , vnburthening themselues this way . concerning the retention of the like humidities , it may not seeme so stra●ge that they may be turned towards the passages of the vrine , but it may seeme stranger that the faecall excrements should produce this effect ; and yet hippocrates witnesseth the truth hereof : and besides , aristotle relateth , that in pirinthus there was a cow , which neuer had the passage for her excrements open , but that the same were conuerted into a statuous or windie substance , and then into vrine , and so expelled . in sicknesse this abundance is likewise diuers wayes produced . 1. by meanes of the excessiue heate of the kidneyes , which draw abundantly such humidities , as in the diabeticall disease , called by some a pot-dropsie . 2. great euacuation of superfluous moisture . 3. the wasting away of the whole bodie , which commeth to passe in burning feauers , and which was obserued by that famous physitian marcus gatinaria in that maide of millan about some eighteene yeares of age , who voyded euery day for fortie dayes together , fifteene pounds of vrine , whereas the quantitie of euery dayes meate and drinke ioyntly did neuer exceed the weight of foure pounds . 4. the ending of the disease . and in acute diseases , the abundance of vrine is procured sometimes , 1. by meanes of the feauers relenting . 2. by the change thereof into an hecticke . 3. by a conuulsion . and besides the premisses , it may be yet procured by diuerse other meanes : as i remember a yong woman then vnmarried , who in the disease called the mither , voyded abundance of vrine , especially during the time of her fits , being in the afternoones , and that for the space of foure dayes together , as hereafter shall appeare when we shall speake of the colours of vrines . and often in the crises of acute diseases the vrine is multiplied . a man of sena ( saith scribonius ) euery day did pisse foure or fiue iugs of vrine , who scarce dranke halfe an english pint all the said space : what could a physitian haue iudged by this quantitie ? thus then when thou seest so many causes or one and the same effect , to which of them canst thou ascribe it , vnlesse thou be well acquainted with the particular circumstances from the patients owne mouth ? small quantitie of vrine is likewise procured , 1. by dry diet . 2. by the vse of tough and ●●mie meates . 3. by reason of obstructions . 4. by reason of plentifull euacuation . 5. by meanes of a violent feauer . 6. by some hurt of the vrinarie vessels , as commeth sometimes to passe by reason of the cold distemper of the bladder , procuring a palsie to that part . 7. by the decay of naturall heate , as commeth sometimes to passe in such as are readie to dye . 8. because the moisture is detained in some other part , as commeth to passe in a dropsie . 9. by reason of some impostume in the fundament , the necke of the bladder , or in the wombe , which may straiten the said passage , that the vrine cannot come away in any great quantitie . 10. the abundance of crude and raw humours may be a meanes of this so small a quantitie . but i will yet adde some more out of the aforenamed scribonius , because his words are so sutable for our purpose , the like verdict may we also giue forth ( saith he ) concerning the small quantitie of vrine , taking often its originall cause from the defect or scarcitie of meate and drinke ; as also by meanes of some other euacuations : such as are sweat , excretions by stoole , and such like , which carrying the matter of the vrine another way , hinder the passage thereof into the bladder , and by consequent the expulsion from thence . for this same cause such as be troubled with any laskes or fluxes do voide but a small quantitie of vrine , as galen himselfe declareth . againe a little after , he addeth these words : in the obstruction of the liuer and mesaraicke veines , experience it selfe doth often teach vs , that a very small quantitie of vrine is voyded . now if any ones seruant should bring vnto thee such an vrine , not acquainting thee with any other circumstance , why wouldest thou giue sentence for an obstruction rather then a laske ? or for a laske rather then an obstruction ? besides the premisses , in the stone , the dropsie , and such other diseases which hinder the generation of vrine , no certaine iudgement can be collected from the small quantitie of the same . and that thou mayest yet be more rauished with admiration , rufus ephesus in his booke of the infirmitie of the reines , maketh mention of one , who ( as saith praxagozas ) aboue the space of twelue yeares voyded all his vrine by the bellie , and not by the ordinarie passage . what then could a man haue iudged concerning this mans bladder , and the other parts depending thereupon ? and this shall suffice for the quantitie of vrines , with the vncertaintie of the same : now come we to the qualities obserueable in them . the next accident of vrine is the qualitie : and the qualities , as witnesseth mercuriale , according to the doctrine of the arabian physitians , are fiue : the smell , the tast , the sound , the touch , and the colour . as for the smell , vrines haue little or no smell , or else a sweet and pleasing smell , or finally a stinking smell . no smell , saith mercuriall , proceedeth from no other cause then from the extinguishing of naturall heate : howbeit it may sometimes proceed from drinke of a cold qualitie , like as we see in cold countries , and the like complexions , the smell of the vrine is not so much to be discerned . vrines smell well , either in regard of diet or drugs : but especially by meanes of a temperate heate concocting well . stinking vrines come by foure seuerall meanes . 1. by meanes of cruditie and indigestion of the food . 2. by reason of putrefaction . galen witnesseth , that whatsoeuer thing is putrified hath an euill fauoured smell . wherefore in pestilentiall feauers the vrines are most commonly of a stinking smell . as also if the vrines passe through any place oppressed with putrid vlcers ; or yet if any purulent matter be mingled with them , they become stinking . 3. the too long retention of vrine in the bladder may make it to stinke . 4. the qualitie either of diet or drugs , ( as hath bene said of the good smell of vrines ) may likewise procure vnto it an euill smell . looke at large what sauonarola saith of this point , if thou be disposed to see further . but what certaintie doth the smell of the vrine affoord vs ? whosoeuer shall thinke to helpe his vncertaine coniectures by the same , should leape out of the frying pan ( as the prouerbe saith ) into the fire . in the first place it is to be obserued , that as well in sicknesse as in health , vrines may offer no pleasing smell to the nose , and yet the party may be free from any danger at al. but because healthfull folkes seldome send their vrines to the physitian , we will let them passe , and come to the sicke . i will let scribonius speake for me . concerning the sicks vrine ( saith he ) most do teach vs that stinking vrines signifie putrefaction of humours , in so much that by the difference of the smels , they take vpon them to iudge of the seuerall humours so putrified . o wise woodcockes ! i willingly yeeld to them , that stinke or strong smell doth argue putrefaction in such vrines : but of which parts shall this putrefaction be ? whether of the bladder onely , or of the liuer also , of the chest , or other members ? nay so farre off is the stinking smell from giuing vs any particular notice of the disease , that it cannot so much as affoord vs any certaine generall knowledge of the same . for many sweet smelling simples ( saith montanus ) may cause a most stinking vrine . cholericke and hote complexioned men void often very strong smelling vrines , howsoeuer free frō any disease , as i haue often obserued in my selfe . and by what meanes , i pray thee , shouldst thou from the stinking smell of the vrine know putrefaction ? or how can this putrefaction procure this stinking smell ? if this were so , then would it necessarily follow , that whosoeuer were seised with a feauer proceeding from putrefaction of humours , should voyd stinking vrines , the which is most false . the truth of this assumption may from hence appeare , that for the most part among an hundred sicke of such feauers , scarce shalt thou find one of their vrines so to smell , nor yet their bloud at the opening of a veine . and for this cause well said sauonarola in his treatise of vrines , that there are other signes also to be obserued in the annoying of putrified members , if we purpose well and orderly to examine , trie and finde out any skill concerning vrines . and indeed a thousand causes there are which may alter and change their smell . by the smell then onely there can neuer be any certaintie collected to informe our iudgements concerning any disease . but i am afraid the reader will take it ill , that i so long detaine him among so vnpleasing smels ; and my selfe begin to waxe wearie of so vnworthie a thing , and as i neuer tooke any pleasure in the same , so here i leaue it to them that like it better . but if i should yet enter vpon the tast , i feare i should be worse taxed . i can tell no man their tast by mine owne experience . salt they haue alwayes bene counted ; as the teares likewise : if any be incredulous i will not hinder him . if our vrinemongers had no better beere allowed them , they would not so much adore the pissepot as some of them do . but yet if any purpose to practise this point , i wish him to go to the arabians , who haue written so curiously concerning this point ; and it may be , in regard of their aromaticall drugs , their vrines may be of better taste then those of our europaeans , who feed on grosser food . as for the other two qualities , the sound and touch , we will send them all in one ship to arabia with their fellowes : and now we come to the colours . caap. iii. of the colours of vrines , how deceitfull they proue , and first of the colour commonly called palew or light saffron . if euer vrine proued a strumpet , it is of all other parts of the vrine most apparently to be seene in the colour . for as sometimes some of the most infamous stewes strumpets , infected it may be , with the poxe , do most curiously decke and adorne , by curious painting , sumptuous apparell , and such other enticing trickes , their lothsome and filthie carkasses , to the end they may more easily deceiue such as will be caught in their snares : doth it not often fare euen so with the colour of the vrine ? for oftentimes when they make the fairest shew , doth not euen death knocke at the doore ? my purpose is not here to make any phylosophicall discourse concerning the causes of colours in generall , and then to apply the same to vrines in particular , and so to insist vpon each seuerall colour : for this might proue too tedious , and perhaps , not so pertinent to the purpose we haue in hand . and yet , notwithstanding , i will say something of each of the chiefe and principall colours ; by the which it may more easily be conceiued , that the like deceit may be seene in the others like vnto them . now my purpose is to begin with that colour which is the best of all others , being as it were the rule and square whereby we do discerne and iudge of the failings and defects of all the rest . this colour is called in latin subrufus , subaureus , or subcroceus : and in english , palew , or light saffron . this colour our physitians do generally account the best of all others , and that it best betokeneth exact concoction . neither yet must this first and best colour arguing good concoction , be simply and in it selfe so considered , but restrained to flourishing age . for in old men , women and children , ( whose vrines , especially childrens , do commonly decline towards white and pale ) it doth betoken that their bodies are too hote , either by reason of diet , exercise or some other meanes . but if one should bring vnto thee such an vrine , how couldst thou tell whether it were an old or a yong mans , a womans or a childs , the messenger not acquainting thee with the particular circumstances ? it may be thou wilt say , the contents will make the case cleare . i answer , that many causes may depriue them of contents in part or altogether , as hereafter shall appeare in the contents : and how the substance may alter , hath bene said alreadie . the common opinion is , the higher the colour is , the greater heat is argued ; which opinion to be most false & erronious , shall hereafter in other colours appeare . besides , may not a little extraordinarie watching , fasting , rheubarb , saffron , madder roots , or such like , colour the vrine without any excesse of heat ? and will the seuerall seasons of the yeare produce no alteration in the vrine ? that i say nothing of an infinite number of other causes , which may in like manner alter them . but one signification of such a coloured vrine i cannot here passe by , which i remember i once read in an english vrine booke : to wit , that a maide which maketh an vrine of this colour , desireth the companie of a man. doth not our maister vrine-monger now diue into the depth of the matter ? but good man , i know what , i can assure thee that tom and dicke in the countrey can tell as well , that maud the dairy maide would be married , by the reflected rayes and benigne aspects of her superiour orbs vpon their hemisphaers , and the suffering some syllibub ; and some other commodities committed to her custodie , now and then to come into their possession ; by this meanes hindering her mistresse to further her selfe in her suite : as the most cunning pisse-prophet in all the countrie shall do by the vrine , if he had as many eyes as euer had that watchfull argus , or his nose weighed downe with spectacles . the sanguine and best complexioned ( which by consequence should produce the best vrines ) are not alwayes the most amorous . many as ill coloured drabs as euer any hath seene , haue not sometimes bene behind the best complexioned gentlewoman in the land in such a case . and it is held by many that such are for the most part solaces . but now let vs proceed to some instances of these outward glorious appearances of vrines of the best note , which neuerthelesse falsified the trust reposed in them . and first i will instance in one taken out of a learned germane author , and then i will adde one of mine own experience . the iudgement of diseases by the sole inspection of the vrine , is hard to attaine vnto , and of great difficultie : for sometimes it commeth to passe that the vrine , as well in colour as in all other points , doth shew it selfe of a very laudable conditiō to the view of any indicious eye , when , notwithstanding , death standeth at the doore : the reason of this being , that all diseases are not easily discerned , nor yet the dangers of them perceiued by the vrine alone ; but such especially as haue their being in the bladder , veines , kidneyes and liuer . as it came to passe anno 1581. in a yong man about 24. yeares of age newly married . this yong mans vrine being , as well in colour as contents , most like vnto an healthfull vrine , he being neither depriued of his accustomed appetite , either to meate or drinke , neither troubled with excessiue headeach , thirst , watching , anxiety and tossing of his body too and fro ; nor yet distempered with any noysome heate which might by feeling be discerned . the pulse notwithstanding , being weake , frequent and swift with great inequalitie and feeblenesse , gaue vs some coniectures of i know not what kinde of feauer , the which now and then was not without some exacerbations . hence was i of opinion , that the vitall facultie did then by little and little decay ; the vse and necessitie whereof in euery action of this life is , not without great cause , thought to be of such weight and moment , that not onely doth it suffice as matter for the rest , but doth also stirre vp and perfect the same , in cherishing them after a most kinde and effectuall manner , in so much as no part of the body can enioy the benefit of nourishment without the influence of this vitall facultie . this yong man therefore , being now wholly depriued of the said spirits , it was no maruell if nature now decaying , and win● , by the counsell of a certaine physitian , being denied him now for certaine dayes , he did vpon the eight day make an exchange of this cottage of clay for a farre better and happier inheritance . but to omit many other stories by my selfe and others obserued , which would yet most pregnantly prooue and confirme the same , yet especially in the yeare 1617. did this most manifestly and plainly appeare . in the foresaid yeare , being generally moist for the most part ; the winter not winter like , furnished with such frosts and tempestuous stormes , as are not vnseasonable for that time of the yeare : it came to passe that besides the small poxe , measels , and diuers other diseases , there reigned not onely in northamptonshire , but in many other places of the kingdome , a certaine kind of maligne , if not pestilentiall feauer , the which , by reason it sweept away the lustiest people of either sexe , we may , and that not without good reason , call it stoup gallant . in this disease , as cometh often also to passe in others of the like nature , the vrines of some , such as liued not long after , did appeare to the eye , both for colour and contents , of as laudable a condition as the vrine of the soundest and healthfullest man in this kingdome . but among many i will mention but one , whereof i my selfe was an eye-witnesse . these foresaid feauers in the towne of northampton , and places adioyning , in the spring of the yeare were very frequent , fierce and furious : towards sommer they began somewhat to relent , reassuming their former fiercenesse towards the haruest quarter . in the aboue named yeare and quarter , about the latter end of september , a married woman of good account and reputation , liuing within this towne of northampton , was surprised with the foresaid feauer : of the which , because at the first it assaulted her after the manner of an intermittent tertian ague , she made but small reck●ning but after the space of three or foure dayes , fearing that which afterwards came to passe , being also hereunto perswaded by some of her friends , she vsed the aduise of another physitian and my selfe . in a few dayes were by vs administred all such meames , as either in reason or our daily experience we thought fittest to expell the cause of her disease , and restore her to her former health againe . but contra vim mortis , non est medicamen in hortis . wherefore at length discharging that debt which all the sonnes of adam owe , she was freed from the miseries of this mortall life , and entred into the possession of a better . two or three dayes before her death , her vrine might both for colour and contents , haue giuen such satisfaction and content to the most eagle-eyed physitian , that none by the sight of the same could euer haue suspected any imminent danger . in like manner if any one had felt her pulse , without due consideration of the former dangerous accidents , which could not be concealed from a iudicious eye , obseruing withall sensibly approach the dissolution of this crasie cottage , he would no doubt with old . agag haue concluded : surely the bitternesse of death is past . chap. iiii. of red vrines , and how easily one may thereby be deceiued , and of pissing bloud . passing by many other colours of vrine which authors do here mention , attributing to each of them a seuerall signification ; of all which , it were too much this short treatise should take vpon it to discourse ; considering also that the vncertaintie of the same may be partly collected from that which hath bene said alreadie , and partly by some things yet to be handled hereafter : now i will cleare this point concerning red vrines . this colour of vrine , howbeit it hath many degrees , some being of an higher , and some againe of a lower coloured red : yet ( saith galen ) all are coloured with a greater or smaller portion of bloud therewith mingled . neuerthelesse , that this same colour of vrine is procured by the mixture , more or lesse , not of bloud alone , but also of an high coloured choller , ioyntly or seuerally according to the greater or smaller quantitie thereof , is not by a small number of learned physitians maintained : as also that this same colour of vrine is often and vsually seene in hote and acute diseases , is not vnknowne to the very vulgar and vnlearned sort of people . now a many causes may bring foorth this effect : this colour of vrine higher or lower appearing in a many hote and acute diseases ; which would puzzle a good physitian , by the bare sight of such an vrine , to know what disease it were . but yet is not this rule so infallibly true , that it admitteth of no exception , as is the opinion of many . and therefore most erroneous and dangerous is the practise of such , as vpon the bare sight of an high coloured vrine , presently without any further deliberation or enquiry of circumstances , both prescribe phlebotomie , and administer all maner of cooling medicines , to the great & ineuitable danger and preiudice of the patient : from the which errour also the learned arabian auicenna is not free , as our learned late writers haue well obserued . and as i deny not but that this may often prooue true ; so on the other side , it is most certaine , that the vrine may be of such a colour , and yet either proceed from a cold cause , or else from some imbecillitie and weakenesse , as cometh somtimes to passe in dropsies , &c. but lest this should seeme stuffe of mine owne braine , and hatched at home , heare from the mouth of a worthie author , something concerning the same purpose . it is not seldome obserued , that the vrine , by reason of a commixtion of bloud with it , doth appeare of a red colour : but by reason that it is either thicke or clotted , it is no great difficultie to discerne the same . but that so thinne a bloud should bemingled with it , that not the substance of the vrine , but the colour onely should be altered , is but seldome seene . such a case befell a young man of 28. yeares of age or neare by . this young man voided an vrine of an high red colour , and thinne substance for many dayes together , being very like to the vrines made in hote acute feauers . the aforesaid patient had vsed the aduice of diuers ancient learned physitians , who had appointed him such meanes as are vsed for the cooling of hote liuers . at length he repaired to my selfe , at that time but a young physitian . looking on his vrine , and withall seeing it of so high a red colour , as also perceiuing him , who was there present , free from any feauer , i asked him whether heretofore he had complained of any : which he denyed , adding moreouer , that for some moneths by-past he had felt a chilnesse and coldnesse , together with a great extenuation or leannesse , and shortnesse of breath , ioyned with a generall decay of strength ; as also that hitherto he had found no benefit by such meanes as he had vsed . all which hauing attentiuely heard , i thought good to keepe by me the said vrine vntill the next day , and then to view the residence thereof , the which was of a colour like vnto bloud , as being indeed nothing else but bloud , the vrine aboue it , being but very little , dyed with a pale yellow colour ; shewing no signe or token at all of any feauer . for the which cause i did then collect , that there was no exorbitant heate in his liuer , but a great weakenesse in the kidneyes , by reason whereof the ends of the small veines being opened and loosened , let some part of the bloud passe away . and therefore i tooke a new course for curing of the same , by vsing such meanes as were fit for the corroborating and strengthening of the kidneyes and veines , not omitting fit and conuenient diet , and among other things , goats milke . and so at length the vrine came to its owne naturall colour againe , his bodie also enioying the benefit of nourishment as it was wont in former times : and thus in a short time recouered his vigour , strength , and former perfect health againe . such an excretion of bloud , which cometh thus to passe by reason of the loosenesse and widenesse of the mouthes of the small veines , or yet of the thinnesse of bloud , is commonly called diapedesis : that is , as much as a streining through . it cometh also to passe , that some bloud is voyded by vrine many other wayes : sometimes some great stone fretting the passages betwixt the kidneyes and the bladder , called vreteres , bloud doth also accompanie the vrine , but withall it is blacke and clotted . the stone continuing for some certaine space in the bladder , prooueth likewise sometimes the cause of this inconuenience , and that especially after riding , or some other violent motion of the bodie . in women also some part of their menstruous fluxe is sometimes intermingled with it . sometimes againe the bloud issuing out of the gummes , being suddenly stopt , doth search for it selfe a passage through the bladder . the kidneyes being wounded , first doth bloud issue out by the vrines , and afterwards matter mingled with it : as it befell that woman which was stabbed in the loynes with a dagger , first voyding blouddie vrines ; then afterwards mingled with matter , vntill such time as both the wound and the kidneyes were cured . and that this was a wound in the kidneyes , did plainly appeare , by some portion of the same taken out of the wound . the exulceration of the kidneyes is also accompanied with bloudie vrine , after the which ( vnlesse remedie be in due and conuenient time procured ) matter doth follow . it is likewise sometimes seene , that decrepit old men do voyd vrines mingled with bloud , which are of a blackish colour , accompanied with some red , the which doth declare , that the vigour and power of the kidneyes is almost quite abolished . but i wish thee yet to lend thine eare a little to the same author , yet againe in a storie or two more , which will adde not a little light to this matter . the vrine doth appeare of a reddish colour , not onely when the liuer is surprised with a gangrene , or the bodie with any hote or acute disease , such as are tertian agues , burning feauers , inflammation of the internall parts : but often also in the debilitie , weakenesse , and coldnesse of the liuer or stomach , proceeding from long and lingring diseases . the like tincture it receiueth now and then in the extreame pinching collicke passion , when as some tough and clammie humours possessing the guts , do hinder the passage of the faecall excrements . a gentleman of account ( saith he ) voyded vrine of a very high red colour , howbeit free from any feauer : being at the same time much tormented with the collicke , accompanied with a retention of the faecall excrements . after the iniection of an anodine , or mitigating glister , the paine was much eased , and withall the vrine became of a remisse and light colour , such as it was wont to be in his former health . after a short space his vrine reassumed againe its former high colour , vntill such time as by frequent reiteration of glisters , the vrine at length persisted in that laudable state and condition once before begun , the bodie also without any artificiall meanes performed its ordinarie functions . a citizen of good account , about fiftie yeares of age , being freed from a quartane ague , which had held him for the space of foure or fiue moneths , fell into that kind of laske which we commonly call lienteria . his excretions by stoole were very liquid and crude , and no remainder of the heate of the ague to be discerned . his vrines also were of as high a red colour , as is at any time to be seene in the most violent burning feauers , or inflammations of the inward parts . but yet did i not build vpon any so rotten a foundation , but hauing a more watchfull eye on other matters , i thought it necessarie in the first place to haue a care of the stomach , and in the next place of the liuer , both being by meanes of the former quarterne ague , not a little weakened . for this end and purpose i prescribed his diet in qualitie hote and drie , allowing him for his drinke the best and strongest wines , such as are sacke and canarie . physicall meanes were diagalanga , diatrion-pipereon , and such like . by continuance of which meanes , this much at length was obtained , that the saecall excrements did now shew forth good concoctiō , the vrines also as in his former perfect health . after all the premisses the aforementioned patient assuring himselfe of perfect health , did secretly fall againe to the too liberall drinking of beere . immediatly after this disorder , the colour of his vrine was againe altred into an high deepe red , vndoubtedly declaring vnto vs , that sometimes the vrines receiue an high and deepe colour , by reason of the cruditie and coldnesse of the stomach . after that time therefore he refrained againe from beere , vpon the which his vrine returned to its former laudable condition , neither did he after that vse any beere , vntill such time as he had perfectly recouered his former health againe . these things haue i related , because of the ignorance and error of many , who are perswaded , that the vrine cannot be died with so high a colour , any other way then by heate , who whensoeuer they see such an vrine brought to them , the patient being tormented with the collicke , they very vnaduisedly and rashly haue recourse to the cure of a feauer , neglecting the cure of the collicke , which by these meanes they are so farre from curing , that they do rather much increase the paine of the same . but if these men had read galen to glauco , they could not be ignorant y ● vrines sometimes do appeare of a reddish colour in cold diseases , or at least such as are not very much distempered with heate . for writing of the quotidian ague , which hath for materiall cause , crude and raw humours , thus he writeth : in quotidian agues the vrines are either white , or thicke and muddie , or else of a red colour . martinus akakia in his commentarie addeth , that the vrines then become of a reddish colour , when as by weaknesse of the liuer or the veines , the red waterish substance issueth out with the vrine . fernelius also , lib. 6. pathol . cap. 13. writeth that they are not a little deceiued , who do ascribe bloudie vrine , or that which is of a red windie colour , resembling the washings of raw bloudie flesh , vnto the imbecillitie and weaknesse of the liuer : for he cannot conceiue how that bloud can come from any other part of the bodie without some indisposition of the kidneys . but yet ( by the leaue of so learned a man ) many things there be which make against this assertion . for oftentimes by experience we see many plethoricke young men , feeding on abundance of daintie dishes , & liuing in ease and idlenesse , to pisse bloud by meanes of a relaxation of some veine , who by the onely meanes of phlebotomie , together with the application of some emplasticke remedie to the region of the liuer , ( about the which place they say , they find some weight ioyned with some distention , reaching vp to the right shoulder ) are perfectly cured . and who can here i pray thee , accuse the kidneyes , there being no paine nor trouble at all felt in the making of his vrine ? and thus may the deceit and vncertaine iudgement had by the varietie of these red vrines in hote or cold diseases easily be conceiued , for the which cause i will here surceasse from insisting any more vpon them : but now , because mention hath bene made of some small quantity of bloud issuing foorth with the vrines , we will say something of the abundant pissing of bloud , illustrating it by some authorities , as heretofore we haue done . now as these vrines of an high and intense red colour , do strike a terrour often in the beholders , much more doth this liquor of life ( the bloud it selfe i meane ) issuing out of the vrinarie pipes and passages , cause no small amazement to the eyes of the ignorant , and sometimes of the more iudicious beholder of it . and yet doth not this alwayes portend so infallible and vndoubted danger , as by many is deemed . sometimes indeed the danger is so great , that not onely a meane and ordinarie vnderstanding , but a more refined iudgement , may iustly feare the future danger : as in the rupture of some great veine neare the liuer , or the kidneyes , after which doth an vlcer often ensue , and after a long torturing and tormenting paine , death most commonly maketh an end of their so miserable and painfull life . sometimes againe this fluxe prooueth very safe and secure , as in criticall and periodicall excretions . but heare , i pray thee , an ancient author deliuer his opinion concerning this point . some men there are , who by certaine turnes , and at certaine times do pisse bloud abundantly , being a disease not vnlike to the haemorrhoides or piles . the state and constitution of their bodie also is not vnlike : for they are very pale , dull , sluggish , and lumpish : they loath their food , and after this excretion of bloud , there followeth a certaine resolution and faintnesse of their ioynts , their head notwithstanding becometh much lighter and better . but if at this accustomed and wonted period of time , there shall happen a suppression or stoppage of the aforesaid fluxe , they are presently surprised with a great head-ach , their eye-sight waxing dim , seconded with a giddinesse and swimming in the head . vpon which occasion it commeth to passe , that many of them fall into the falling sicknesse : some of them againe being puffed vp and swollen , with their eye-sight somewhat darkened , do resemble hydropicke persons : others are oppressed with melancholicke diseases , and some againe with paralyticke passions . all these inconueniences do follow vpon the suppression of any former fluxe of bloud . sometimes pissing of bloud ( saith hollerius ) is criticall , and commeth by certaine turnes and set times : and with such a one was troubled a certaine nun mentioned by musa , who euery moneth vpon the suppression of her monethly disease , did pisse bloud in abundance . archembault the counseller , by turnes did sometimes cast vp by the mouth , and sometimes did voyd it downewards by stoole , and againe at other times by the yard . some at the passing away of the spring do pisse bloud ; and this i find written by archigenes , that some do by certaine turnes voyd great store of bloud by the yard , being first collected in and about the kidneyes , and that they find themselues much eased thereby . i am very familiarly acquainted with one donatus arrigonius , a merchant of our towne , who in his iourney to the faire of bohan , which is held three or foure times a yeare , in his iourney obserued , that he was surprised with the iaundise . afterwards as he was vpon his iourney homewards to mantua , and fast asleepe in his inne , being accompanied with another friend , who lay in the same bed with him , vpon the sudden there issued out at his yard , of its owne accord , great store of blackish bloud ; in so much that his companion being all wet with the bloud wakened him , being almost halfe dead ; and with much ado , at length brought him home to mantua againe ; but withall quite freed from his iaundise . a certaine yong man , after the eating of great store of garlicke , pissed afterwards great abundance of bloud ; and after a little while signes of an impostume in the kidneyes might be obserued : to wit , some matter issuing forth from the same : from whence i did collect , that the sharpnesse of the humour had caused an excoriation in these parts , by meanes of the opening of some veine . i did see at mothon a man who with a fall off a ladder filled halfe a chamber pot with the bloud he pissed ; who immediatly after the taking of a little lemnian earth did recouer : the bloud came without any vrine ; and that , perhaps , because the contusion was not farre distant from his yard . about some nine or ten yeares ago , an inne-keeper of northampton , a fat and corpulent man , hauing now and then voyded some small quantitie of bloud with his vrine , did , notwithstanding but little regard the same ; vntill such time as he fell into a totall suppression of vrine ; the paine whereof made him cast forth such pitifull cries and complaints , that his sorrowfull neighbours did much commiserate his distressed estate . his wife no lesse perplexed then amazed , at this so sudden and vnexpected accident , at his desire sent to intreat my ayde and counsell in this his so great extremitie . some halfe an houre or lesse after the administration of a diureticke drinke inwardly , and a cataplasme outwardly applyed to his share , he filled almost a chamber pot with bloud , some small quantitie of vrine being mingled with the same : whereupon followed immediatly case and alleuiation of all his former annoyance . the same night , about an houre after , he sent me a little wooden dish almost halfe full of gobbets of congealed and clotted bloud , resembling the substance of the liuerie selfe . the next morning againe he sent me an vrinall almost full of bloud voyded at the same place , no vrine to the iudgement of the eye at the first to be discerned mingled with the same i caused him bleed oftner then once , besides other fit and conuenient remedies , as well in diet as otherwise ; and yet this fluxe continued lesse or more for some few dayes after . in the space of one weeke he lost in all aboue a gallon of bloud . for preuention i wished him , besides gooddiet ( hard to be obserued by people of that profession ) with corroboratiue and other medicines fit for that purpose , with speciall regard to the liuer , not to neglect phlehotomie , at least euery spring and fa●l , which he duely put in practise for the first yeare : and , for anything i could euer heare , was litle or nothing troubled after that time with this infirmitie . after this he liued at least three yeares , and then dyed suddenly ; of the cause whereof here to discourse , were besides my present purpose . diuerse others haue now and then by me bene obserued , troubled with the like euacuation , without any great hurt or hinderance to their health ; whom , to auoide prolixitie and tediousnesse , i here willingly passe by : onely one i will touch but in two words . a little child aboue fiue yeares of age , vsed at diuerse times to pisse pure bloud , not keeping any certaine times or turnes . this the gentlewoman her selfe the childs grandmother , dwelling not farre from the towne of northampton told me ; who did likewise affirme , that she had not discerned any hurt he had sustained by the same : yet notwithstanding for feare of some future inconuenience , and after ensuing danger , was desirous to vse some meanes for preuention : which being by some occasions then deferred , the child afterwards departed out of these quarters into another countrey , where what since befell him i cannot tell . but now let vs proceed to some other colours of vrines ; for here i thinke hath bene found as small certaintie as in the former . chap. v. of blacke vrines , and that they are not alwayes so dangerous as they are deemed : as also of blew , ash-coloured , or leaden and greene coloured vrines , together with their seuerall significations and vncertainties . the highest and intensest of all other colours , is the blacke ; the which when it presenteth it selfe to the view of the eye in any vrine , it striketh no small feare and terror in the minds of most men ; yea and sometimes of those of no ordinarie vnderstanding . that this feare was not altogether without some ground , may be seene by some passages of our old father hippocrates , who doth peremptorily affirme , that as well in men as in women , blacke vrines are alwayes dangerous . and of the like opinion and iudgement was once his trustie interpreter galen , confidently auouching that he neuer knew any one recouer whose vrine was altogether blacke ; howbeit the danger was the lesser if the residence onely were blacke : lesse againe if the middle part or swimme , and least of all if the cloud onely were of this colour . howbeit the same galen in another place affirmeth , that if there be a retention of a womans monethly fluxe of melancholicke bloud , there is no cause of feare , if in such a case the vrine appeare blacke to the eye . and againe , in the storie of that woman who being surprised with sicknesse the second day after she was brought to bed , the third day she voyded thinne blackish vrines . galen speaketh of no further inconuenience to ensue vppon the same , but maketh onely mention of a certaine commotion and agitation of the humours of the body , ioyned with a a certaine conflict : and yet of all sorts of blacke vrines this thin blacke is counted the best . blacke vrines may be voyded both in health and also in sicknesse , especially by way of criticall excretion . and first in health let this ensuing historie speake . i cannot well approue of the opinion of christophorus a vega , who maintaineth that it is altogether impossible that any liuing in perfect health should voyd a blacke vrine : his reason is , because so great a quantitie of that humour as may thus colour the vrine , can hardly be collected within the veines of an healthfull man. but howsoeuer in a laudable and healthfull constitution of body , it doth not so much abound in the veines as do the other humours , yet is it on the other side most certaine , that this humour doth abound in that temperature of body which is cold and drie , since that from thence the cold and dry constitution taketh its name . and this did i my selfe obserue in a certaine monke of the order of the carmes , and spaniard by nation , of the coldest and driest constitution of body that euer i did yet know , who for the space of sixe whole yeares , during his abode here with vs , and that in perfect good health , made alwayes a blacke vrine : and being yet further demanded of vs concerning the continuance of it , did confidently affirme vnto vs , that so had he done the whole course of his life . and why not ? may not a blacke and melancholicke bloud , supplying the place of the haemorrhoides or piles , being expelled by vrine , dye the same with the aforesaid colour ? as also the like excretion of vrine so colored hath bene obserued in one tardanellus and italian , who did all his life time ( liuing notwithstanding in perfect health ) continually voyd such an vrine . neither yet is it without reason , that the noysome humour is so scoured away , to the end that the state and constitution of the body , composed of , and cherished by such an humor , may be preserued sound and in perfect health . i did once see a knights vrine of a very blacke colour , who notwithstanding , was not sicke at all , and much lesse in danger of death . againe a little after . there was also a yong scholler , who being free from any disease , voyded sometimes vrine of so blacke a celour , that whosoeuer did see it , did suppose it to be inke . the storie of actuarius his seruant , doth also confirme , that in perfect health the vrine may be died with a blacke inkie colour without any further danger , as it came to passe in this partie , whose vrine after the drinking of a medicine against melancholie , at first was of a blackish colour like vnto inke , comming afterwards to a blewish , and at last to its owne naturall colour againe . i was my selfe very familiarly acquainted with a reuerend and graue diuine , who liued sometime in this towne of northampton , who did at diuers times , yet liuing in perfect health , voyde great abundance of blacke vrine . and yet a long time before his death , nor yet during the time of his sicknesse , i neuer knew him voyd any of that colour . that this blacke vrine may prooue a criticall excretion , not in acute diseases , but euen in such as are not partakers of that violence ; as in diseases of the spleene and kidneyes , cannot be denied , &c. but i produce my authorities . we must not vnaduisedly and without any limitation , iump with the iudgement of galen in condemning of blacke vrines . for howsoeuer he did neuer perhaps see any saued after the voyding of such an vrine , yet haue diuerse other of no small note and fame since his time seene and obserued the same : for the which cause it ought not so much to be condemned ; nay not if thou wouldest euen tye thine assertion to acute diseases : yea though thou shouldest yet further suppose many other bad and dangerous signes to concurre with the same . for besides rhases , auicenna , and actuarius , hippocrates himselfe , in his epidemicall histories , did obserue , that some with such vrines did recouer . the vrine therefore may be often of that colour without any imminent danger to the patient , and that vpon the taking of any meate , drinke , or medicine , of a blacke colour , & perhaps indued with a diureticall qualitie ; concerning which there is a prettie storie in actuarius . it proueth also often a criticall excretion in quartane agues , in diseases of the spleene , as also in the suppression of womens menstruous fluxes , and of the hemorthoides or piles in both sexes . and yet moreouer according to the minde of auicenna , it cureth sometimes feauers of long continuance , whether they take their denomination from the day or from the night . and yet further , in some infirmities of the kidneyes , or yet a stone congealed in the bladder , the vrine sometimes presenteth it selfe in the foresaid habit and colour . and finally , it doth sometimes presage the happie issue and euent of feauers by bleeding at the nose or sweating . since therefore sometimes it is a foretunner of extreme danger , to wit , when it doth proceed from extreme hear or cold , and sometimes againe secure and without any danger at all , rhases and auicenna do thus accord them . if the foresaid vrine be voyded in a great quantitie and thinne , succeeding a cleare and waterish vrine , as also if ease and alleuiation do follow vpon the voyding thereof , it doth presage nothing but good : and on the contrarie , without the foresaid circumstances , a blacke vrine is very dangerous ; and in the stoppage of womens monethly disease , it is an vsuall and accustomed , howbeit not a perpetuall and certaine signe . but now i will instance in some histories the proofe of these criticall euacuations . i am very familiarly acquainted with a church man , who ordinarily three or foure times a yeare complaineth of the swelling of his spleene to an excessiue bignesse , especially towards the spring and fall : and vpon the approaching of the foresaid disease , then doth he complaine of great griefe and paine in his sides , his bodie becomming all ouer of a leaden colour , and in this case daily waxing worse and worse , vntill at length by voyding abundance of vrine blacke like vnto inke , and that during the space of sixe or seuen dayes , the foresaid swelling , as also his great paine vanishing quite away , he recouered againe his wonted and accustomed health . it is now twelue , if not fifteene yeares since he was first acquainted with this criticall excretion by vrine , hauing before that time bene troubled with the piles or hemorrhoides , which notwithstanding did yeeld but little matter . i haue of mine owne experience obserued ( saith the learned laurentius ) such as haue bene troubled with the spleene , by meanes of a plentifull euacuation by blacke vrine to haue bene cured . now it is also to be obserued , that such vrines were blacke , not by generation , by reason that such vrines in hippocrates his prognost . praedict . and aphorism , are alwayes deadly . for such vrines do shew forth and declare , either an extraordinarie great parching heate , or else a totall extinction or ouerthrowing of naturall heate . but these vrines were blacke by permixtion of a melancholicke humor , the which the spleene did send forth through the kidneyes into the bladder . howbeit blacke vrines be by hippocrates condemned as deadly ( saith valeriola ) or at least very dangerous , especially in acute diseases ; yet doth experience teach vs , that this manner of vrine may proue criticall in some diseases ; as namely , in inflammations , or inueterate obstructions of the spleene : as i did my selfe obserue in a yong youth called iohn ruffus , sonne to our apothecary anthonie ruffus , who being once ( as was supposed ) readie to yeeld vp the ghost , by reason of an inflammation of the spleene , did vpon the twentieth day , by way of a crisis , voide aboue twelue wine pints of vrine as blacke as inke , the which i haue often also obserued in quartane agues . but now i will instance in some agues , and some other infirmities . vpon a time i went to a canon who lay sicke of a triple quartane ague , being troubled also with a scirrhus or hardnesse both of his liuer and spleene , who neuerthelesse did recouer of the foresaid infirmities , and that by meanes of thicke blacke vrine , together with such fit and proper remedies as are appropriated to the spleene , exhibited and applyed both outwardly and inwardly . syluius hath seene diuers who haue had euery yeare such fluxes of vrine , and that without any griefe or molestation whatsoeuer . but i will instance in a tertian ague , such vrines being more seldome obserued in this disease then in quartanes and the like : in the which my selfe being the patient , i cannot much be mistaken . after i had continued about the space of two yeares in france , and liuing at that instant in the towne of fontenay le compte , in the prouince of poictou , about the latter end of iuly , i was surprised with a bastard tertian ague , which thus continuing for the space of three weekes , yet without any violent accidents , i did at the first contemne . after the foresaid pace , the enemie assaulting me more fiercely then at first , and that by redoubling of the former fits , being now of a single tertian become a double , i armed my selfe with such weapons as were fit to encounter with so furious an aduersarie . after the vse of diuers fit and proper remedies for the extirpation of the foresaid infirmitie , i voyded for the space of three or foure dayes together great store of thicke blackish vrine like vnto inke , at the first sight whereof ( hauing read something before in hippocrates , concerning the danger of such vrines ) i was something afraid ; but after more mature deliberation i rested better satisfied . i remember i had for certaine dayes together drunke of an infusion wherein was some quantitie of sene leaues , which as it seemeth by the attraction of the humour of that colour did dye the vrine therewith . vnto this criticall excretion was shortly after added another : to wit , a violent laske , not without the mixture of some bloud , which lasted at least for the space of a full forthnight , and which did at length wast away the mateer of the disease before the approaching of winter ; howbeit the imbecillitie of my bodie was such that i recouered not my full former strength againe vntill the spring following . i gaue vpon a time to a patient of mine ( saith crato ) much troubled with the blacke laundise , some bezoar stone , and after a little while he voided great store of vrine as blacke as inke ; by which meanes the patient found great ease . rhases reporteth an historie of a woman that came to him , who voyded blacke vrines , and withall complained much of a paine in her loynes , and alwayes vpon the voyding of such an vrine she found immediatly ease . but after a while she fell into a night feauer accompanied with some shiuering . this woman was of a melancholicke complexion , whom i perfectly cured by such meanes as prouoke vrine . the sonne of angelus borne at ancona ( as relateth amatus ) being but fiue yeares of age , somewhat fat of body , being , as his parents supposed , carefully looked vnto both for diet and other things called not naturall ; became notwithstanding full of hard scabs , accompanied with an vlcer-like matter all ouer his head and necke , and for diuerse dayes did runne great store of this putrid matter from the foresaid sores . but after a moneths space , this child voyded abundance of thicke blacke vrine for the space of three dayes together , not without some acrimonie and sharpnesse , accompanied with a paine in his yard , yet without any feauer . this child did in a very short time after recouer ; neither would i suffer any thing to be applyed to his head for curing of his scabs , which did very shortly heale of it selfe . now this vrine proued to be in this child criticall for the remouall of this infirmitie . it may then plainly appeare , how little trust we are to repose in these vrines more then any other , either in sicknesse or in health ; and how easily the physitian may be deceiued , who shall giue too much credit thereunto . and who can tell by the sight of such a blacke vrine onely , whether it be criticall as we say , or symptomaticall , denouncing danger in an acute disease ? this the other circumstances , especially the sight of the patient , ( whereby thou mayest more easily consider of his strength then by the sight of a thousand vrines ) must bring to thy consideration . and besides all the premisses . mercuriall mentioneth out of rhases and auicenna , that if any annoint his bodie with the iuyce of the berries of the hearbe halcana , he shall vndoubtly voyd blacke vrines . the same author affirmeth , that blacke vrine after great trauell end exercise , doth prognosticate a conuulsion , and that a glister made of the decoction onely of high coloured red wine , hath produced a blacke vrine . and againe , out of rufus ephesius , who liued about the time of the emperour traian , that blacke vrine , voyded for a long time together in the time of health , prognosticateth the ingendring of a stone in the kidneyes . but i proceed now to some other colours of vrines , which by our authors are all referred to the former colour , and not much also disagreeing in signification . blew vrines , called commonly veneta & caerulea , being as it were a more remisse blacke , and not dyed with so great a quantitie of that humour , hath also diuerse significations . for being thicke withall , it signifieth that blacke choller , proceeding first from yellow choller very adust , doth colour the vrine : or else so great cold of the inward parts , that they are almost quite mortified . it signifieth moreouer , extraodinarie exercise of the bodie by running . in such as do recouer out of any disease , it is a signe of a laudable crise , especially if it come in any great quantitie : for by this meanes the a dust parts are voyded foorth . in old men , if such an vrine persist long , it argueth that the naturall constitution of the bladder is altered and changed by bad and corrupt humours . in such as are subiect to the stone , it is a signe of the approaching of the strangurie . the same vrine is also sometimes obserued to be thinne , then signifying the melting of melancholy , which doth but a little colour the vrine . and sometimes also it signifieth blowes and stripes , howbeit not in any violent or excessiue manner , and in such a case it is a laudable and good signe . as concerning greene vrines , of them our physitians commonly make two sorts : one properly so called , and the other called greene oylie vrines . as for the first , it signifieth according to our writers , abundance of choler adust , and of a maligne qualitie , and almost readie to be turned into blacke , being daily more and more parched and burnt vp . and commonly in the best signification it signifieth adustion of the humours , long continuance and perseuerance of the same . and sometimes cold in extreamest degree , as was said before of blacke , and then is mortall : especially if leaden colour and blacke follow successiuely at diuers times , pulse feeble , with thirst or short breath . sometimes againe a quotidian ague and yellow laundise , especially with an ague . and howbeit these vrines often proue dangerous , yet is not the case alwayes alike : for sometimes this colour may be also seene in found & healthfull bodies . galen doth willingly confesse the same . cholericke people ( saith he ) which fast long , do oftentimes make greene and fierie coloured vrines . and that feeding vpon certaine kinds of foode , may produce such an vrine , this ensuing historie may easily declare . there was a certaine physitian , who hauing fed on some nourishment of that colour , did afterwards voyd an vrine of the same colour , which he sent to another physitian , to fish out his opinion concerning the same . this other physitian gaue out his verdict concerning the great danger this vrine did threaten the owner . but the other sending him backe word againe , that vpon the feeding on such and such food it was no vncouth thing for him to voyd such an vrine : and withall aduised him not to pronounce his opinion so peremptorily vpon the colour of the vrine onely . the other sort of greene vrines is a light popiniay greene , called also an oylie vrine : that is , such whose substance is clammie and thicke , as oyle or fat molten . it commonly signifieth colliquation , and wasting of the fat within man or woman , as proceeding from excessiue heate . and yet such vrines , if blacke vrines went before , signifieth health at hand . if it come suddenly and in a short time , it argueth the colliquation or wasting of the kidneyes only . the higher this colour is , the worse they commonly hold it . but i will dwell no longer vpon this colour , since the vncertaintie thereof may be collected by that which hath bene said alreadie . as for ash-coloured or leaden coloured vrines , they haue not alwayes one and the same signification more then the former . if an vrine of this colour be thicke , and greene coloured vrine went before , it signifieth extreame heate an ●●urning : if pale coloured vrine went before , it doth portend extre a me cold and mortification . this kind of vrine may also proceed from the affluxe of melancholicke humours , or else by reason of great blowes or stripes : and then it may prooue a good signe , the expulsiue power expelling such residence towards the bottome . in feauers an vrine of this colour without any setling or residence , is a signe of death . but in a burning feauer it doth portend a strangurie . the same causes which did produce blew vrines , do also bring foorth this colour , but that in this all things are more violent . sometimes such an vrine is a signe of the blacke iaundise proceeding from melancholy . but then it portends health , especially if it be voyded in any great quantitie and thicke in substance , by reason of the euacuation of such thicke humours . it is then apparent that these colours signifie not alwayes one certaine thing , but sometimes quite contrary . for the which cause it is no maruell if a physitian who should settle his iudgement solely thereupon , might easily be deceiued . chap. vi. the manifold significations of white vrines , as also the great vncertaintie of iudgement by the same . white vrines , as also all other colours , are either very thinne and cleare , or else thicke in substance , and accompanied often with a copious residence . thinne white cleare vrines like vnto faire spring water , haue diuers significations , as witnesseth the learned rondeletius , with whom are ioyned in iudgement the rest of our learned physitians . and first of all this vrine is sometimes seene in indifferent good health , and doth now and then signifie some cruditie of the stomach . sometimes againe it signifieth obstructions of the liuer , spleene , and kidneys , which must be discerned by other signes also : to wit , such as be proper and peculiar to each part . in old age , as also in long lingring diseases , it argueth weakenesse of the naturall faculties . some likewise who do voyde such vrines , are from their very cradles of a weake and crasie constitution . a thinne and cleare vrine , made often , and in great abundance , doth accompanie the disease called diabete . in an obscure lurking or lingring feauer , it signifieth either the iaundise , or a resolution or dissolution of the strength . a thinne white vrine accompanied with other good signes , doth declare the decaying and decreasing of a quotidian ague , and if it do long persist , being depriued of any smell , especially if strength be much decayed , it portendeth either death , or else the long continuance of the disease . and finally with a burning feauer and phrensie , it is a most deadly signe , as may be seene elsewhere . as concerning the ages , as they are accounted dangerous in many ; so especially in little children , as may be seene in seuerall places of the workes of the famous hippocrates . wherefore we had need to consider many things before we proceed to deliuer our iudgement concerning such vrines . if therefore such an vrine were brought to the physitian , whether would he thereby pronounce a weaenesse of the stomach , or obstruction of the liuer , spleene or kindneys ? and why not a phrensie in a feauer ? and howsoeuer hippocrates pronounceth this to be a most dangerous vrine ; yet haue i my selfe often obserued the same without any danger to the party , as i doubt not but so haue many moe besides my selfe . about some eight or nine yeares ago , there came to me a yeoman of northamptonshire , bringing with him his vrine which well nigh filled the vrinall , being as cleare as any crystall , without any contents at all , except some few motes , such as they say are found in the vrines of women with child . and because i did see so great ods betwixt his complexion and his vrine ( he bring indifferent well coloured in regard of the vrine , howbeit neare siftie yeares of age ) not suspecting this vrine to be his owne , began to enquire some circumstances concerning the same , as namely the time of continuance . at length he freely and of his owne accord confessed , that the vrine was his owne , and that aboue the space of sixe yeares by-past his vrine had not altered nor changed from that i did new see it . he added moreouer , that he felt neither griefe nor trouble in his bodie , as being able to go about his ordinarie employments and workes of his calling ; that he was now and then troubled with some wind in his stomach , and that he himselfe wondered not a little at the long continuance of his vrine after this manner . i gaue him directions against obstructions ▪ and crudities , with somethings for the strengthening of his stomach , and neuer since heard any more newes of him . the like vrine haue i often obserued in many other cases , and will instance but in one : to wit , an hystoricall passion , commonly called the mother . some ten yeares ago i had in cure a young maid , much molested with that disease which is commonly called the mother . for foure dayes together , from twelue of the clocke at noone till night , her fits were so violent and tedious , and the intermissions so short , that both her father and other friends tooke ( as they thought● ) their iust leaue of her . in her time of intermission , or rather remission , when she was most sensible of her selfe , she voyded almost a chamber pot full at a time of thinne cleare vrine , like vnto spring-water , without any manner of contents discernable to the sharpest eye-sight , and this commonly foure or fiue times in an afternoone , and that during the dayes of the fouresaid fits . but being afterwards freed from this infirmitie , she was likewise freed from the aforementioned accident . neither did i euer since that time know her trouble with this disease , saue once since she was married , and yet was nothing in regard of the former extremitie . if any argus had bene there with his hundreth eyes , or yet the sharpe sighted lynceus himselfe , where such vrines had bene brought in two seuerall vrinals ( i meane the mans last mentioned , and this womans ) they had neuer bene able to discerne any difference betwixt these two vrines : much lesse then the ignorant empiricke , the peticoate or woman-physitian , or the cunningest pisse-prophet among them all : and if thou wilt , put in master parson-practiser to make better weight . and if any had brought such an vrine , so often , in so great quantity , to any physitian , was there any reason why he should not rather haue coniectured a diabete , or pissing euill , then any other infirmitie ? and this i thinke may suffice to prooue the vncertaintie of iudgement by thinne white vrines : now something of thicke white vrines . hippocrates , in the late alledged place , doth include very thicke vrines , of whatsoeuer colour they be , within the same degree of danger . and galen himselfe seemeth to second this opinion , auerring that the thicker an vrine is , the more danger hath he most commonly obserued in the same . rondeletius affirmeth , that white vrines which are not transparent , but thicke almost like vnto milke , do signifie abundance of phlegme , and secondarily wormes , the falling-sicknesse , head-ach , palsie , conuulsions , great coldnesse of the naturall parts : and finally , all manner of diseases proceeding from phlegme . if such an vrine then were offered to thy view and consideration , good master vrine-monger , for which of these diseases wouldest thou giue out sentence ? there being many moe phlegmaticke diseases besides the last rehearsed ; and many of them proceeding from other causes , must by consequent be accompanied with other vrines : yea and in the same cause the vrine may by diuers meanes not be the same . and these thicke vrines sometimes accompanied with a copious residence , and sometimes againe without the same . i will now proceed to some instances of both , where it shall appeare that sometimes some such vrines are not so dangerous as they are deemed . i did see in the castle of i●rum in the countie of sundoz , a young man about thirtie yeares of age , who did euery day make an vrine in great abundance , wherein did settle a white residence , like vnto curdled milke , filling the vrinall halfe full , howbeit aboue the same did swim a small quantitie of whitish vrine like vnto whey . they young man notwithstanding felt no inconuenience by the same , but still enioyed his perfect health . but a woman voyding the like vrine , yet was not blessed with so great a benefit , which notwithstanding for the strangenesse i thought good here to mention . in the yeare ( as i remember ) 1613. a woman of middle age , dwelling in the south suburbe of northampton , commonly called cottonend , sent me an vrine , if so it might be called , which was nothing else , as one would haue iudged by the eye , but thicke curdled milke , which did very neare fill the vrinall , onely on the top of it did swim a little liquor like vnto white posset drinke , being not halfe an inch thicke aboue the foresaid contents . and howbeit i did twice or thrice see her vrine afterwards , yet could i neuer againe see these curdled contents , it being onely like the aforesaid white posset drinke , howbeit she had sometimes before voyded such an vrine , as i was informed . she died about two moneths after : and as it seemeth , of a consumption and wasting of the kidneyes and other vrinary passages , as by some signes did appeare . and what if the spermaticall parts did participate with the former ? the woman had lyen long languishing , neither was i euer called to see her , and for any thing i know , had few or no meanes administred vnto her , being but of poore and meane estate . a thicke and milkie vrine hath also by others bene obserued in the exulceration of the kidneys , namely in a certaine polonian in the hospitall of the holy ghost , the which ( saith the author ) i often beheld . there are yet other white vrines , the which howsoeuer they are to the eye somewhat transparent , some more and some lesse , some of them being of a more bright & shining colour , drawing neare to the color of molten glasse , and some againe more darke , and not so transparent a colour , yet may they all most iustly be reckoned among the number of thicke white vrines , and that in regard of their tough and slimie substance , which may easily be both felt and seene to be such . this sort of vrine doth often argue great store of crudities , and tough phlegmaticke matter , with such diseases as are engendred of the same : but most commonly diseases of the bladder , as namely the strangurie or the stone , howsoeuer it cometh sometimes otherwise to passe . i was these yeares by past ( saith schenckius ) familiarly acquainted with a certaine noble man , now dead , whose name was vdalrichus , and brother to george master of the other of the knights of germanie , called ioannitae , being descended of the noble familie of hohenheimes , surnamed bombest , who without any hinderance to his health , did oftentimes , yea during the greatest part of his life time , voyd a thicke muddie vrine , and so tough and ropie , that any might haue drawne it an ell long , as if it had bene some glue or birdlime . he neuer in his life was troubled with the stone , and himselfe shewed me this vrine , offering the same to my triall . another voyded by vrine a certaine matter like vnto molten pearles being of a sine bright colour , of whom hollerins maketh mention , the same partie againe voyding a matter of thicker substance much like vnto the white of an egge boyled . the same author maketh mention in another place of another , who voyded by vrine , not without great paine and torment , little peeces of phlegme , round like little bullets , cleare like vnto crystall , cleare glasse or sine gellie . an ancient gentleman and acquaintance of mine dwelling in london , being at least threescore and ten yeares of age , at that time 1611. had for a long time voyded great store of such tough phlegmaticke matter , most like vnto birdlime or gellie , and on the top of the same some vrine was to be seene of a darke colour , not vnlike to transparent horne . his paine was exceeding great , prouoking him almost euery minute of an houre to this vntimely excretion of his vrine . the counsels of the best physitians were not wanting , some being of opinion it was a stone in the bladder , others iudging otherwise . my opinion being demanded , i told him i was not of their opinion , who held that there was a stone in the bladder , moued hereunto by some probable coniectures . but seeing him much macerated and weakened by much physicke , exhibited both by the learned physitian and by the ignorant empiricke also , my aduice was , that he should abstaine from all manner of laxatiue medicines , except it were now and then some gentle glister or lenitiue to procure the benefit of nature . i appointed him also fit and conuenient diet : and all his physicke was nothing saue some certaine emulsions , as also some iuleps composed of some syrupes and distilled waters , most proper and conuenient for his disease , and that not for a weeke or a moneth , but for three or foure moneths together . after two moneths were past he found sensible ease and alleuiation , but yet much more the next spring , this being towards the beginning of winter : and hath since that time scarce euer complained at all of this so tedious and tormenting infirmitie . and this last spring his strength spent , and the oyle in the lampe failing , being full of dayes , payed that debt which admitteth no baile nor suretiship . this then may appeare that the vrine here could giue vs no assured knowledge of the certaintie of the disease , whether the stone or strangurie . and thus the vncertaintie of this colour , as well as of the rest , cannot be concealed from the iudicious and vnderstanding reader : whose patience i must yet intreat to giue eare to some things yet to be said concerning the contents of vrine : concerning the which , howbeit here and there , and namely in this last colour , something hath bene said , yet was not this my principall purpose and intent ; but is as it were thrust in by head and shoulders . now shall something be said of set purpose , whereas i will forbeare to repeate any thing which hath bene said alreadie . chap. vii . of the circle or garland , spume and froth , bubbles , smoke or vapor , and fat in the ouer most region of the vrine , and what certaintie from thence can be collected . these contents are most cōmonly distinguished according to the three regions of the vrine . the ouermost vrine , as it claimeth the first place in the vrinall , so shall it haue here the preheminence aboue the other two . now as concerning the circle , ring or garland , it hath bene well obserued by some of our late writers , that neither hippocrates not yet galen euer made any mention of them , as being in their iudgements a thing not worth the consideration . rondeletius maketh auicenna and isaac arabian physitians , the first founders thereof : howbeit ( saith he ) some do attribute the first inuention of it to the vniuersitie of salerna , either perhaps , because since actuarius his time they had tried some conclusions by the same , or else did repose , much trust and confidence in this circle or crowne . two sorts of these circles or garlands find we mentioned by actuarius , which notwithstanding few authors that i haue read do remember . the first is that commonly so called , being nothing else but a certaine circle or round line in the ouermost part of the vrine , enuironing it round about like a ring ; and is so called by reason of the roundnesse of the vrinall , the like whereof may be likewise seene in any other liquor . the other circles or garlands are no such round rings or circles as haue bene mentioned , but onely some ouermost parts of the vrine which swimme in the liquor of the same , and for the same reason , of the roundnesse of the vrinall , called crownes or garlands . of the former of the two do our physitians most commonly make mention , and many things do many men prognosticate by the same , which neuerthelesse some of their chiefe ringleaders and vpholders do in a manner confesse to be but a nouelty , not practised by the learned ancient physitians : and yet lest they should seeme to controll the inueterate and common receiued custome , they must needs say something as well as their neighbours . hence haue we the proportion betwixt the regions of the bodie of man , and the regions of the vrine violently thrust vpon vs ; and as they will haue the other parts of the vrine answerable to the rest of the parts of the body ; so must the crowne or garland answer proportionably to the head , or some part of it at least . and not with this content , they ascribe seueral colours of these circles , not to seuerall humours onely , but to seuerall parts of the head also ; sometimes to the right , sometimes to the left : and againe sometimes to the hinder part , and sometimes to the fore pa●t ; diuing sometimes into the verie ventricles or inward concauities thereof . and yet to discerne these circles or garlands aright , a sharpe and very quicke sight is very requisite . moreouer , may not thine owne sight , together with the qualitie or quantitie of the light , the diuers manners of situation of the vrinall , one or all of these , easily alter the colour of this thy circle , making it appeare sometimes of one , sometimes of another colour ? besides , these circles or garlands are supposed to be seene in such vrines onely as are not of one colour , and the ouermost part thinner then the other . on the seuerall significations of the supposed seuerall colours thereof , with their proportions to the humours of the head , if i should particularly insist , and confute them , as some might perhaps expect , i thinke it would prooue but a needlesse and superfluous labour , the thing being so idle in it selfe , and of so small account . the learned rondeletius , i am sure , made but small account of them , and where he mentions them , whatsoeuer he saith is but the relation of the opinions of others , most of which he doth afterwards confute . his manner of speech intimateth no lesse vnto vs in these words following . wherefore we shall pronounce that a red circle ( if it signifie any thing at all ) doth signifie abundance of bloud in the whole head , &c. another learned author lately mentioned , would also willingly haue them banished out of all the hippocraticall common-wealth , in these words following : but perhaps in vaine do i labour to roote out this so inueterate and inbred opinion ( meaning concerning froth , spume and bubbles ) out of the minds of our ordinarie physitians . the like may i say concerning the crownes or garlands in vrines , the opinion whereof hath now almost so deeply possessed euery mans mind . it is most certaine that actuarius himselfe neuer did prognosticate any such thing by this circle or line compassing round about the ouermost part of the vrine , hauing onely brought it in , to the end he might prognosticate by the bubbles when as they do appeare in it . and who is so blind , that doth not see how ridiculous a thing it is to prognosticate by a certaine circle or roundring , which may be as well obserued in any other round vessell filled with any liquor , as in an vrinall ? as concerning that crowne or garland which is the superficies or ouermost part of the vrine , which actuarius seemeth to haue borrowed from hippocrates , we haue by the authorities of galen , alreadie reiected . wherefore in my opinion these crownes and garlands shall be banished farre from vrines . so farre our author . it is not also vnlikely , that if they had bene of such vse and necessitie , but hirpocrates or galen would haue mentioned them ; together with their seuerall vses in physicke , they both being so curious in searching out the seuerall significations of this signe . if any will yet obiect , that our moderne physitians haue added many things to former inuentions ; i could reply , it is true indeed , and might well come to passe in such things as neuer did present themselues to their senses , or else in such things whereof they had no experimentall knowledge : but i suppose they were as eagle eyed in asia and other parts , and could see as farre into a milstone as any of our late europaean physitians . and this shall now suffice concerning circles or garlands , we now proceed to the rest . bubbles , spume , or froth , are all accounted to proceed from one and the same cause , differing in some circumstances onely . now if we shall narrowly obserue and marke what can be said of them , we shall find no lesse vncertaintie in the predictions by them , then in the former . actuarius ( saith our aboue named author ) maketh mention of many things concerning this matter which neither galen nor hippocrates haue obserued , and that in my opinion ( saith he ) because they were not worth the obseruing . and againe a little after : such things as actuarius hath set downe concerning the spumes and bubbles , are nothing to be regarded . for who seeth not , that as well the spume as the bubbles stay longer in the crowne or garland of the vrine , and in the middle part of the superficies or ouermost part they are sooner dissolued . for the case is not here alike as in the garland , where the solid body of the vrinall is an occasion that they sticke longer and more firmely to the same . and this not in vrine onely , but in any other liquor in like manner may easily be obserued , to wit , that such froth and bubbles do longer persist in the circle ioyning to the vessell then in the rest of the ouermost part of the same , &c. this foundation then being rotten , the rest of the building must needs fall to the ground . they tell vs in the first place that bubbles which stand round about ouer the garland onely , and continue without parting , if they be of the same colour the vrine is of , they declare that there is great paine in all the parts of the head . but if they occupie onely the one halfe of the garland , then is that paine in one halfe of the head . but i assure thee , such bubbles may be seene , and thou not able to discerne whether the wind be in the head or taile . and besides thou mayest sometimes finde a good fellow who could quickly fill a baggepipe with his bum , and yet in his vrine see neither bubble nor any other such babble . but concerning the vncertaintie of these things , something hath bene said alreadie in another place , whereas mention was made of the regions of the vrine answering to the parts of mans body , which was proued most false . it is granted , that sometimes these bubbles do not appeare at the first in the beginning of the disease , howbeit after a while they begin to shew themselues : and then is it an argument that nature waxeth strong to concoct and ouercome the bad humours . in feauers therefore such do signifie the declining or decaying of the same . but if they haue bene from the beginning still so continuing , then is the danger greater , howbeit better with a thicke then with a thinne vrine . now put the case that in an vrine brought to thee from afarre thou mightest discerne some such bubble or froth , yet how shalt thou be able to discerne whether any were in the vrine at the beginning of the disease , or no ? the messenger for the most part can tell thee no more then the ground he goeth on : and it may be , that neither the patient nor any about him are able to obserue such nice curiosities , as often not obseruing matters of greater moment . but put yet the case thou couldst discerne some headach by the aforesaid contents , how shalt thou euer be able to discerne whether 〈◊〉 come , as we say , per sympathiam , by consent from the neather parts ( which is most common ) or per idiopathiam : that is , be primarily seated in the head ? and if thou knowest not this , thy knowledge is to small purpose , the cure differing according to the seuerall causes . of this the patient will giue thee better satisfaction then a thousand vrines . if bubbles do appeare in the vrine ( saith reusner ) together with the signes of defluxion or distillation of humours , especially if a feauer be therewith conioyned , they do portenda pleuresie , as also the gout : and great store of spume or froth appearing in the vrine without the shaking of it , besides wind in generall , it doth presage that the wind collicke threatneth such a partie . the same reusner affirmeth , that rhases writeth , that round bubbles do prognosticate bleeding at the nose ; and that such as be of a colour yellow like saffron with a little whitenesse , do portend some infirmitie of the lungs . but i beleeue he were a cunning physitian , that could tell or name the disease by the vrine onely . againe these frothie vrines according to galen , do signifie a certaine melting or wasting away of the bodie , or an vnequall perturbation of the same by reason of some windinesse : the first of these being dangerous , but not so the other , but rather prognosticating the long continuance of the disease . such frothie vrines with some bubbles are to be seene in feuers proceeding from the abundance of crude or raw humours . and not so onely , but in the infirmities of the kidneyes also ; hippocrates in his aphorismes affirming , that such vrines do both signifie infirmities of the kidneyes , and the long continuance of the disease . but from the froth we come to the smoke or vapor in the vrine , of the which an italian physitian maketh mention ; as is forced to be beholden to the arabians for the same . smoke or vapor ( saith he ) is sometimes to be seene in the vrine , and cannot be by euery one conceiued . it is engendred , sometimes of a thicke adust matter ; and then with the continuance of strength signifieth the long continuance of the disease : sometimes of an hote adust matter , and with the decaying of strength prognosticateth death : sometimes also of raw phlegme somewhat adust , and signifieth the prolonging of the disease . and if it continue all the time of the disease , it portendeth death , or raw phlegme ; which may be discerned from matter by the stinking smell . but because our sight is not so sharpe in this iland , we will leaue these smokie vrines to the sharpe sighted italians and arabians . but if any such smokie stuffe be found in any english vrines , it must needs be best obserued in our cōmon tobacconists , whose vrines it is a maruell that they are not wholly conuerted into smoke . but of this frothie and smokie stuffe sufficient , this being likewise so idle an opinion , that of its owne accord it vanisheth away into smoke : howbeit i thought good to acquaint the reader with all the hid mysterie of the imposture , and abuses concerning vrines . but now something concerning the fat swimming on the top of vrines . such vrines haue this fat swimming on the top , sometimes in a greater , and sometimes in a smaller quantitie : and sometimes againe like oyle , and sometimes also couering all the ouermost part of the vrine , like a spiders web . these fat vrines also signifie sometimes a wasting of the whole bodie , if there be a feauer ioyned with the same ; or of the kidneyes onely , if without it . this feauer is sometimes very speedy and swift in operation , wasting suddenly not the fat onely , but the solid substance of the body also ; called therefore by our physitians , febris colliquans ; and such are often pestilentiall feauers . it is againe sometimes an hecticke , which endeth in a marasme , vnlesse it be first preuented . but how shall one be able by the bare sight of the vrine onely , to discerne all these seuerall circumstances and differences ? but this is yet worth the obseruing ( saith roganus ) that when as these wasting or consuming feauers haue welnigh wasted away the whole bodie , then are no more such wasting excretions , which he calleth syntectica excrementa , either fat vrines or faecall excrements to be seene . for the fleshie parts being hardned and dried vp , that which melteth and wasteth away falleth now no more into the guts or the passages of the vrine , but passeth away like a vapour . this galen setteth downe by a very prettie and pertinent comparison , taken from flesh broyled on a gridiron . now if any one should conceiue some better hope by reason that this fat matter did no more appeare , should he not misse the marke , the case being now farre more dangerous then before ? the words of scribonius make not a little to cleare this point in hand . by these fat vrines ( saith he ) some do teach vs that we may easily discerne and know all the kinds of a feauer hecticke , by reason it signifieth a wasting and melting of the parts of the bodie . but whatsoeuer reason we render of the same , galen notwithstanding in expresse words affirmeth ; that the vrine of such as are surprised with a feauer hecticke hath no certaine signification . experience also doth teach vs , that some being of a cholericke constitution of body , as also such as haue eaten fat meates , or haue fat kidneyes , vse often to make fat vrines . what reason is there then to pronounce either a feauer hecticke , or yet any wasting or consumption thereby ? this is not erronious onely , but full oftemeritie also . the truth of this assertion may also in this more plainly appeare , that many haue dyed of such consumption and wasting , who neuer , notwithstanding had any fat swimme on their vrines . sometimes it hath bene also obserued , that the vessell wherein the vrine hath bene carryed to the physitian , hath before contained either oyle or some other fat matter , which hath by this meanes bene communicated to the vrine . it is therefore the physitians part diligently to enquire concerning all the circumstances of the disease , and not by the inspection of the vrine onely peremptorily to pronounce any thing . thus farre our author . many of my friends and patients haue voyded vrines with this fat like a spiders web floting on the top for diuerse yeares together , and yet were neuer subiect to any consumption or wasting , either in the whole bodie or their kidneyes . and how easily one may be deceiued in these fat vrines , may by this which followeth appeare . it is not yet full three yeares since i had vnder my cure in northampton towne a countrey woman diseased of that infirmitie which we call lienteria , or the fluxe of the stomacke , whom one day visiting , and viewing her vrine , i perceiued some fat like vnto some drops of oyle swimme on the top of it , which was againe the next day after to be seene after the same manner : she then seeing me narrowly view the same , told me that the vrine was vnaduisedly made both the dayes in a vessell wherein some oyle had before bene contained . what then if such an vrine had bene brought out of the countrey , either to my selfe , or yet to any other physitian , without any further information ? but we proceed now to the rest . chap. viii . of the cloud , swimme or sublimation , together with diuerse sorts of grounds or residences , and the vncertaintie of their significations . in the first place we are to obserue , that all vrines are not accompanied with contents , but many depriued of them ; which may proceed from diuerse causes . as namely , in case of cruditie , and the concoction being good , yet may some obstruction hinder any contents to passe . the like may be by fasting procured , and want of food , which may also make the vrine of an higher colour . the inflammation of any part of the bodie , by drawing of the humours thither , may produce the like effect . in lasks also or fluxes of the bellie , as the vrine shall be the lesser , so shall the contents be few or none at all . some certaine constitutions also gather no setlings in their vrines : and such as are in present health , and eate much , haue a more copious residence , and in winter it doth more abound then in sommer . laborious and very painfull people may also haue little or no contents at all in their vrines . the time of the sicknesse in which this cometh to passe , is also narrowly to be obserued : for in the beginning and increase of acute diseases , then this want of contents argueth great defect of naturall strength and vigour . in the declining of the disease it is not a messenger of so bad newes , yea although it were in the vigour and strength of it . and moreouer that many diseases are brought to a happie and expected issue without any contents at all , is no vncouth thing . what certaintie then can be collected , either by the presence or yet by the absence of the contents ? now howbeit heretofore some contents on the top of the vrine haue bene mentioned , yet are these last mentioned , most commonly and constantly to be seene ordinarily in vrines ; and therefore are more properly called contents , and so to be vnderstood by that name . now all these three , cloud , swimme , and grounds , haue one and the same materiall cause , and their generation is also alike , differing onely in place and situation , according to the weight of the matter and the concoction of the disease . when the disease is yet crude and not concocted , yet in some forwardnesse thereunto , then appeareth that which is commonly called a cloud , for the proportion and analogie it seemeth to haue with the clouds of the aire . when the disease is yet in a better forwardnesse , then is to be seene in the vrine , that which is commonly called the swim or sublimation , hanging as it were betwixt the ouermost and neathermost region of the vrine . but when nature hath now gotten the vpper hand of the disease , then doth this which we call ground , settle to the bottome of the vrinall . my purpose is not here to enter into a large discourse concerning the engendring of this substance , and farre lesse yet the controuersies about the same , which i leaue to be discussed in the schooles , my intent here being onely to discouer the vncertaintie of iudgement which these contents do affoord vs. now when thou seest the cloud , swim , or residence , what canst thou pronounce but some generall and indefinite verdict concerning the cruditie or concoction of the disease ? but what this thy disease is , thy vrine will neuer reueale vnto thee , nor any of the rest of the signes and circumstances to be obserued in diseases . and howsoeuer the materiall cause of all these three be one and the same , differing onely in circumstances , yet may sometimes the one be without the other . whersoeuer there is a swim ( saith scribonius ) there is also a ground or residence , which may also be vnderstood of a cloud : howbeit the ground may be without the former : to wit , if it do not containe such a flatuous matter as raiseth the same vp , according to the testimonie of galen . moreouer , the best and most healthfull vrine is accounted such as hath no such cloud nor swim in it , as witnesseth the same galen . and moreouer , if they be present , the iudgement by them is yet vncertaine . for who can tell whether this cometh to passe by way of crisis or otherwise , vnlesse he weigh in the ballance diuers other circumstances , according to the which criticall dayes are accustomed to be tried . and besides the premisses , all vrines do not suddenly settle , and they assigne vs seuerall times for the vrine to settle in : some assigne vs halfe an houre , some the sixt part of an houre , &c. but better it were when they are setled , then to giue out our iudgement of them . for i haue often let vrines stand by me , and could see no setling till the next day . now what couldest thou haue iudged of such an vrine the first day , especially if the messenger , according to the common custome , had hyed him home ? what couldest thou haue said concerning the same ? and yet is this a case which cometh not seldome to passe . moreouer , these contents do sometimes suddenly vanish away , and that after an houre or two after the voyding of the vrine . i● may then plainly , by the premisses , appeare ( saith the same author ) what counterfetting iuggling and deceit they vse , and how wicked their practise is , who without any other coiudicant signes , do by the vrines onely , giue out sentence concerning the infirmities of the bodie of man , their causes and beginning , their subiects adiuncts , &c. now something concerning the seuerall sorts of grounds or contents in the vrine , must likewise be said , that the errours and impostures in this point , as well as in other parts of the vrine , may be layd open to the capacitie of the most ignorant . as in the colours , therefore so in the contents , we will begin with the best of all others . that then is ●●●unted the best sediment , setling , or ground , which is white , duly knit and stable , and that continually all the time of the sicknesse : and that which declineth from the foresaid laudable conditions , is accounted worse , and that so much the more as it doth decline from them . it is generally agreed vpon among physitians , that great store of yellow grounds argueth great store of yellow choler in the bodie ; and the lighter coloured it be , it argueth the lesse , the higher coloured the greater excesse . now besides that thou canst not tell what particular disease proceeding from choler ( there being diuers ) it may signifie , as whether an ague , or some other disease : and againe , if an ague , of what sort or kind , continuall or intermittent : so much lesse art thou able to tell the time of it , which notwithstanding maketh not a little to informe thy iudgement concerning the vrine . for if at the first there be either small quantitie of choler , or yet none at all , and then it after increase abundantly , which is knowne by changing from a white thin to a saffron coloured ground ) it is a signe and token that nature doth vnburden it selfe of this heauie ballast of choler , and so consequently that health is like shortly to ensue . but if after a saffron colour it change to a white , it is a bad signe , especially without signes of concoction : for the which cause it will be requisite that thou obserue the seuerall alterations of the vrine , and then be well acquainted with the state and nature of the disease of the patient . the like may be said of red residence , the which in the beginning of diseases doth not portend any good , and that by reason it argueth great store of cruditie , which hindereth the concoction of the bloud ; and such are commonly seene in bastard tertian & quotidian agues . but yet such feuers as are incident to plethoricall and carechymicall constitutions , oppressed with abundance of bloud and bad humors , if they attaine to their expected issue , must needs be accompanied with such or the like residence . the bare inspection of the vrine onely will neuer acquaint thee with the particular . sometimes both the afore-mentioned contents are to be seene in one and the same vrine , which is sometimes deadly , and sometimes againe proueth a fore-runner of safetie and ●●●uritie : i will instance in two examples of mine owne experience , to make the truth of this appeare . about some three yeares ago , or a little aboue , a young gentleman in the countrey , to mine owne knowledge , voyded such an vrine for a quarter of a yeare together , and by appearance had so continued long before my sight of the same : and yet notwithstanding all the euacuations were vsed , it continued so more or lesse vntill his dying day . his disease was a dropsie , and with the same was ioyned the yellow iaundise , which did outwardly shew it selfe to the view of the eye . his liuer hote , and the whole constitution of his bodie participating of the same distemper . but in the yeare 1613. a woman of northampton of good account , being with child , voyded an vrine with the like residence , and that for as long a time at least , and yet did their diseases farre differ . for besides her being with a liue child ( for vntill that time was not my counsell craued ) she was for a many weekes together neuer free from a tertian , quotidian , or both agues conioyned : the which were accompanied with a continuall cough , proceeding from a thinne salt rheume , with spitting of bloud , reaching and casting , as also a great laske , all which accidents , or the most of them , did not forsake her till neare the time of her deliuerie . phlebotomie for diuerse considerations i durst not then attempt . other euacuations , both vpwards and downewards , came in greater abundance then was wished . it was now deepely imprinted , not in her owne onely , but in the conceits of her neighbours and others also of good vnderstanding , that ( in regard of her spitting of bloud ) she was now farre spent in an irrecouerable consumption . vpon the relation of others i inclined to the same opinion . but at my first sight of her , together with the sight of the bloud she spat vp i changed my opinion . and so , god adding his blessing to the meanes she vsed by my directions , she brought foorth at the time appointed , a liue manchild , which neuerthelesse liued not aboue the space of a moneth . the mother two or three dayes after her deliuerie was surprised with the measels , and afterwards recouered her health againe , the which at this present day she yet enioyeth . here was no dropsie at all , nor yet could i euer perceiue any signe of a hote liuer , and the matter of the iaundise was voyded both by stoole and vrine . it may then plainly appeare , how farre the diseases may sometimes differ , the residence being still alike in two seuerall bodies , sexes ▪ &c. as concerning bloudy residence , as was before said of bloudy vrine , it may come either of abundance of bloud in a plethoricall body , or else by weaknesse of the retentiue power , and of the liuer ; the which rightly to discerne , wee must be acquainted with diuers other circumstances , which the vrine can neuer make knowen . it hath beene likewise already related , that sometimes great quantitie of bloud it selfe hath beene voyded without any danger : and sometimes againe after the voyding of a very small quantitie thereof , death hath not long deferred his approaches . in the yeere 1614. about the beginning of ianuary , my counsell was demanded for a gentleman dwelling neare northampton , about fiftie yeares of age or vpwards . in his vrine at my first comming at him , was to be seene great store of yellowish contents , cleauing to the bottome of the vrinall , wherewith were intermingled some red streakes of bloud . and howbeit i often earnestly intreated him to admit of phlebotomie , as the onely remedy to preuent a greater inconuenience , yet could i not preuaile , vntill such time as bloud now issuing out in great abundance , both vpwards and downewards , his strength now decaying , and hairy irrecouerable occasion ouer past , with a too late repentance , he would willingly haue paied a good fine for the renewing of the lease of his life , but all too late . as concerning white , blacke , leaden , or ash-coloured ; as also greene and blew contents , the vncertaintie of these may be in some sort collected from that we haue already said of such vrines , and many other matters i willingly passe by , and hasten to the rest : to wit , diuers other sorts of residences or strange contents , called by some , difforme contents . purulent or mattery residence , doth much resemble a white residence or ground , which is so much commended for the best of all others ; and therefore requireth some iudgement to discerne the one from the other : and yet is there a crude and vnconcocted residence not vnlike this purulent matter to bee seene , as well in whole as in sicke bodies . this purulent or mattery residence , againe proceedeth either from the kidneyes or the bladder , as is most commonly receiued . but heare what the learned hollerius saith concerning the same . neither yet doth this mattery stuffe alwaies proceed from the kidneys or bladder . for it proceedeth almost from euery part of the vpper region of the body , by the great and admirable industry of nature , and by meanes of the body euery where made passable for such a purpose , doth disburden it selfe sometimes into the guts , and sometimes againe into the bladder . a certaine woman voyded , not without great paine and torment , such purulent and mattery vrines , who foure moneths after dyed , and the dead corps being opened , two stones were found in her heart , with many little impostumes , the kidneyes , together with the other vrinary passages , being free from any other hurt . galen ( saith ro●deletius ) did see an impostume of the lungs purged by vrine , by meanes of the emulgent or sucking arteries . the gibbons or backe part of the liuer , the kidneyes , bladder and yard , make vse of the same passage . now which of these places are affected , the griefe and tumor of the part giueth vs notice , and not the vrine onely . now red vetches or fitches in the residence , called therefore hypostasis orobea , or eruarea , are recorded by our authors , to signifie either great inflammation of the liuer , or colliquation of the whole body , or of the kidneyes onely . and so branny contents , signifie sometimes consumption of the whole body , or of the bladder onely with concoction , no ague ; and great heat wasting the substance of the liuer , and burning the bloud if it be red . so do fine branny contents signifie a collequation or wasting of the solid parts : sharpe sicknesse , and for the most part mortall , and some adde yet that it is sometimes seene in the vrines of women with child . and if this residence be red , they attribute it to extreame adustion of the bloud . scales , called lamine , squame , differ not much in signification . to haires or small filaments in the vrine , are attributed also diuers significations : as namely , a consumption of the whole body , a feuer then being ioyned therewith , or else of the kidneyes onely , and then is no feuer to be seene . they are according to galen , engendered of a tough phlegme , proceeding from the vse of grosse diet . sometimes also they are said to signifie exulceration of the reines or bladder : and sometimes also fluxe of seed from seuerall causes . and finally , womens white fluxe , from the matrixe or wombe . galen is of opinion , that such contents come neuer without a thicke vrine . but experience hath taught vs the contrary , saith hollerius . a certaine man voyded such hairy excrements , with a golden coloured vrine , aboue the space of twenty yeares , it not being thicke , but keeping a meane : and howbeit his constitution and state of body inclined to choler , yet was he of a reasonable square and corpulent body . the like commeth also to passe in many others , howbeit to others a thicke vrine is more frequent . if the reader please , he may yet reade a strange story in schenckius of a great quantitie of true and naturall haire , voyded by a woman with her vrine for a long time , the which the author tried , by burning a parcell of it in the fire . sand or grauell in the vrine affoordeth vs yet no greater certaintie . it is recorded by that famous hippocrates , that in whatsoeuer vrine a grauelly matter setleth to the bottome , it betokeneth a stone either in the kidneys , or in the bladder . it is likely he had most commonly obserued it so in the place where he liued : but we find often the contrary in our climate . i haue my selfe often obserued , both in old age and younger yeeres , such grauelly vrines without any stone . the widenesse of the vrinary passages , as also diureticall expelling medicines , may be a meanes of expelling such contents . and this disease may sometimes be accompanied with a thinne vrine without any grauell at all , as in the obstruction of the aforesaid passages . the physitian being present , is often encombred , notwithstanding the concurrence of all the signes together , to discerne a stone from some other disease , as hath heretofore appeared : what certaintie then can be expected from the sole deceitfull signe of the vrine ? the admirall annebault ( saith hollerius ) being much tormented in making his vrine for the space of eight moneths together , both p●ysitians and surgeons being in doubt whether there were a stone in the bladder or no , at length it was concluded to make incision for the stone . no stone notwithstanding was found , but a lumpe of flesh growne to the necke of the bladder , hindering the free passage of the vrine , which was cured by conuenient remedies , and the patient restored to his former health againe . some also are of opinion , it signifieth adustion of humours , as in diseases coming of choler , such as be burning agues , tertian agues , single and compound , and sometimes in diseases of melancholie , as quartaine agues long continuing . likewise the gout , paine of the ioynts and reines , leprosie , french poxe confirmed , emeraudes , costiuenesse , and heate of the liuer : if there be no paine nor heauinesse about the reines . but besides all the former contents , wormes haue sometimes bene voyded by the vrine , the which because it may seeme some thing strange , therefore i will walke with my guides . rondeletius maketh it plaine . gilbert griphon first of all shewed me worms in the vrine when i was but yet young , who was also the chiefe inciter of me to this profession . t●e wormes might be seene to mooue without any motion of the vrine . againe . i haue seene wormes in the vrine as large as gourd seedes , flat and aliue . argenterius hath seene the forme of a winged dragon come foorth with the vrine . the historie also annexed to the foresaid rondeletius his tractate of vrines , of foure wormes voyded by vrine at two seuerall times , do plainly witnesse the same . his countreyman hollerius maketh also mention of one beaucler a counseller , who after great paine in the kidneys , voyded a great worme . and of another , who after the voyding of some stones and grauelly matter , voyded two euill fauoured wormes . the same author againe . one demanded counsell of a spaniard by letters , and helpe for one that was troubled with grauell , who hauing voyded some stones and much sand , did also put foorth at his yard two little wormes , hauing pointed beckes , two hornes vpon the head like a snaile , the backe and bellie was as it were couered with scales , blacke like a tortoise , but vnder the bellie which was red . i haue wondered to see ( saith another author ) in mine owne vrine a great number of wormes , short and little , like vnto small lice . monsieur duret a phyisitian hath assured me ( saith ambrose pare ) that he did voyd at his yard , after a long and grieuous sicknesse , a little beast aliue , very strange and wonderfull to behold , which was of a reddish colour . charles earle of mansfield being very sicke of a continuall feauer , cast foorth at his yard a worme of the very forme of a blacke pye. leuinus lemnius reporteth that he hath seene in the vrines of diuerse that haue bene sicke of the french poxe , wormes like vnto antes . one being troubled with difficultie of making water ( saith schencleius ) voyded by his yard a little liue scorpion . and as another author affirmeth , in the bladder of some persons wormes do breed , and little beasts like to cockles of the sea . but now would i willingly demand of the cunningest pisse-prophet in the countrey , what would or could he presage by such a wormie vrine ? putrefaction thou wilt say , it may be . but of what part , i pray thee ? whether in the bloud or the bladder , the stomacke or maw , or in the guts ? i haue often administred meanes both to yong and old against this disease , euen against all the sorts of wormes commonly recorded by our physitians , yet could i neuer perceiue any in such persons vrines . and in how many young childrens vrines haue they found any such creatures ? but what if such creatures were conueyed from the stomacke through the mesaraicke veines into the great porter veine , and from thence into the great hollow veine , and so from thence distributed into the rest of the bloud , or else by the kidneyes into the bladder ? if thou wilt denie this long and tedious iourney , i will againe demand of thee , how come wormes into the bloud , as may appeare by this which followeth . in a certaine citizen at paris , the basilica or liuer veine being opened , in mine owne sight and presence came forth a worme about a spanne long . thus then thou seest what certaintie may be collected by the sight of wormes in the vrine . there are yet sometimes motes to be seene in the vrine , which according to our writers signifie diuerse things : as namely , putrefaction , as in the plague and french poxe , being accompanied with stinch . againe great agitation and commotion of the humours , as in the small poxe and measels . they are said likewise to signifie rhewme , the gout , diseases of the mother , and finally conception . let the vnpartiall reader iudge what assurance one can learne from such an vrine , concerning the particular circumstances of the disease . but we must not yet omit the very dust , which they will haue to signifie diuerse and sundrie matters ; and that according to the seuerall colours of the same , vpon the which i will not long dwell , but yet say something of the blacke , which may seeme to threaten greatest danger . such dust falling to the bottome , either blacke or of a leaden colour , proceeding of melancholie , is thought to signifie fluxe of the emeraudes , present , or shortly to follow : and sometimes vomiting of bloud . as also sometimes paine in the reines , loynes , &c. and stopping of the flowers , and at other times paine and diseases of the spleene , &c. in the beginning of the yeare 1623. my counsell and personall presence was craued for a ladie in northampton-shire of good account . in the bottome of the vrinall wherein her vrine was put , for certaine dayes together , some such blacke dust might be seene ; which a graue diuine there present thought to be so dangerous , that he told me he had seldome seene them liue many dayes after the sight of such cōtents in their vrines . and howbeit some strange and troublesome accidents did terrifie the spectators who beheld her with vulgar eyes , yet did her pulse put me in better hope , which was shortly seconded by a happie and prosperous issue , the ladie recouering her former health againe . neither heard i any complaint of such things as these contents are said to signifie . but hauing now finished both colours and contents , with other things belonging to this subiect , it is perhaps now exspected i should say something of the manner of pissing , as concerning not a little the matter in hand . chap. ix . of the manner of pissing : the retention or stoppage of vrine , totall or in part , as also of inuoluntarie pissing , both in sicknesse and in health . the manner of pissing , is either hard and vneasie , or else inuoluntarie . as for the first , the action is interessed three manner of wayes , as witnesseth hollerius and others . first , there is a great desire to pisse , but cannot be effected without force and hard straining , & sometimes not without paine . secondly , there is the like desire , but the vrine passeth away but by drops . thirdly , there is a stoppage or obstruction of the vrine , that it is not voyded at all , or else so little that it is to small purpose . painefull and vneasie pissing , may come to passe , either by the acrimonie and sharpnesse of the humour , or by the imbecillitie or weakenesse of the retentiue facultie , proceeding for the most part from cold : the which painfulnesse may in like manner be procured by reason of some inflammation , clotted or congealed bloud , an vlcer , a stone , &c. suppression of vrine proceedeth from diuerse causes : sometimes by meanes of the obstruction or stoppage of the guts , and sometimes againe by meanes of the emulgent or sucking veines : and that againe two manner of wayes : to wit , either by reason of the weakenesse of the drawing or sucking qualitie , or else by obstruction . this suppression is likewise procured by the obstruction or stoppage of the kidneys and vrine-pipes , and by meanes of the weakenesse thereof . by reason of the obstruction of the aforesaid passages , it cometh also diuerse wayes to passe : as either by meanes of an inflammation , knob or bunch of either of these parts , or others adioyning : or else by reason of a stone , clotted or congealed bloud , or some tough phlegme impacted and cleauing fast to the place : as also sometimes , howbeit seldome , by reason of some holes in the kidneyes , and that after the voyding of some stones , as mercatus hath obserued . suppression of vrine is likewise sometimes caused by meanes of the bladder or parts thereto adioyning , it being also thereby interessed . and in the first place , by reason of the want of the sense of feeling , the sinew descending from the loynes and the hucklebone being loosened . secondly , by reason of the failing of the expelling power of the bladder , &c. thirdly , the exceeding great quantitie of vrine distending and stretching out of the bladder , detained longer then is conuenient , may bring this sometimes to passe . fourthly , the resolution or loosenesse of the muscles of the neather bellie , which haue likewise some interest in the furtherance of this excretion . fiftly , by the totall ouerthrow of the expelling facultie : as we see sometimes come to passe in burning feauers , as witnesseth hippocrates . sixtly , by the defect and fault of the vrine-pipes , and that diuerse manner of wayes : for sometimes the muscle which shutteth vp the bladder is clinged together by a conuu●sion : the passage is likewise stopt , either by the meanes of some tough clammie humours , some clotted bloud , matter , knob or bunch , or any tumour , the outgrowing of some peece of flesh , some wart or scarre , and finally , by reason of a stone stopping vp the passage by the neck of the bladder . seuenthly , by the consent of the places adioyning , the bladder and the vrine-pipes are sometimes so shut vp , that they cannot freely deliuer the vrine , which cometh often to passe in women , by reason of the nearenesse of the wombe . eightly , by meanes of a palsie or resolution of the bladder . the vncertaintie therefore of the vrine in diseases of this nature and kind , may as euidently appeare as in any of the premisses . and there being so many causes producing paine and difficultie in making of vrine , to which of them wilt thou ascribe it ? againe , if there be a retention of the vrine , what wilt thou send to the physitian ? and if such an accident come to the cure of some empiricke or vnskilfull physitian , his conceit will straightway leade him to some stone , and so , according to their ignorance in this art , exhibite strong diuretickes , or medicines prouoking vrine , as i haue sometimes obserued : * which are so farre from procuring the intended good , that they produce rather a contrary effect . of a suppression of vrine by meanes of clotted bloud i haue instanced alreadie . this last spring a young gentleman of leicestershire , of good worth , trauailing towards london thorow this towne of northampton , was suddenly surprised with a suppression of vrine . being afraid of a stone in his bladder ( howbeit he had neuer heretofore complained of this infirmity ) yet tried he what the art of surgerie could doe , by meanes of a catheter thrust vp thorow his yard towards the necke of his bladder , together with some other meanes , which notwithstanding tooke no effect . the next morning , about eight of the clocke , i was sent for to the patient , whose belly began to swell , and some fumes to ascend into his head . by meanes of a gentle opening inlep , together with a cataplasme applied to his share , it pleased god to accomplish his desires : howbeit a messenger had bene already sent away to bring with him an expert surgeon to make incision . he voyded that day abundance of vrine of a laudable colour , and answerable contents ; so that none could find any fault in the same , and the next day he went forward in his intended iourney towards london . the passage of the vrine in this patient was somewhat narrow , as seemeth , and that by reason of some former infirmity ; and perhaps some wind gathered in the great gut might make some compression of the necke of the bladder . now that suppression of vrine in acute diseases is dangerous , hippocrates doth not deny ; other physitians also haue obserued it , and my selfe not long since , in one who died not long agoe . and because this history for diuers reasons is worth the relating , i will intreate the courteous reader that he would be pleased a while to lend his eyes and eares . this last yeere 1623. august the 28. an alderman of northampton , a man of good account in this corporation , neare fiftie yeares of age , subiect of late yeares to a great paine in his head , and sometimes my patient : riding abroad in his corne-field , about some three miles off this towne , was suddenly surprised with a chilnesse in his legges , and shortly after complained of the like in his backe , bones , and vpper parts of his body : vpon which occasion he hyed him home , and imagining it to be some cold , continued ill that night , and the next day and night following . the satterday after , and the third day of his disease , by perswasion of some of his friends , his vrine with a letter was carried to a parson practiser , dwelling about a dozen of miles hence , one of our chiefe calculators of natiuities in all the countrey . the parson sent backeword , it was a blind ague , and withall sends him a vomit , and prescribes phlebotomie . the surgeon being sent for , perceiues a iaundise , and the patient complaines of some faintnesse ; vpon which occasion he refuses to let him bloud , wishing his friends to acquaint the parson with these occurrents . the parson repeales his former sentence , and commends the surgeon for being so sparing . and indeed he dealt honestlier then the parson : for he trusted none but his owne eyes , and so told his mind freely to his friend : but the parson both saw with other mens eyes , and heard with other mens eares ; and building vpon this s●ndy foundation , sent his oracle to the absent , which he as easily recalled againe vpon the first information , and sends him another oracle written now in a peece of paper , and withall sends him an electuary and iulep for his laundise , and some directions for a drinke . but let vs heare the laudable effects of this vomit . it wrought vpwards effectually , and something downewards : and while the patient was able to take any sustenance , it returned backe by the same way it went in . and besides , after the operation of this vomit , the iaundise appeared , a suppression of vrine and ordure , together with a troublesome and tedious hicket , which neither day nor night forsooke our patient . to the former accidents was shortly added a difficulty in swallowing , with an extreame sorenesse in his mouth , which like a canker spread it selfe ouer all the parts of the same , with an vlcer ( as appeared ) in the almonds or parts adioyning , which yeelded such abundance of white corrupted matter at first , and afterwards coloured , as i neuer did obserue the like in euery respect . the parson being earnestly intreated to affoord his patient his presence in this his so great extremity , no prayers would preuaile ; but sent him backe word , that the iaundise now appearing , he hoped the worst was past . the patient seeing himselfe forsaken now in his greatest need , hauing learned by a too late repentance , that his parson proued not so trusty a friend as he supposed ; cum nemini obtrudi potest iturad me . on the thursday after , about two a clocke in the morning , and the beginning of the eight day since the beginning of his disease , he sent for me , most earnestly intreating me that i would be pleased to affoord him my presence with what speed i could ▪ i preferring christian charitie and loue of my old friend before any late ingratitude , repaire presently to his house , where i find him in that case i haue alreadie related . hauing acquainted his wife and friends with the extreame danger i then found him in , yet being both by himselfe , his wife and all his friends earnestly intreated to do my vttermost endeauour to helpe him in this extremitie , and at least to ease him of these troublesome accidents ; so much by glisters and other mild meanes in two dayes space i preuailed , that most of the aboue-named accidents vanished quite away : his vrine also came in great abundance , of a laudable colour , without any bad contents , and the other egestion obserued now a good and orderly course : the hicket came but seldome , and with small annoyance . but the pulse played not his part so well as i wished , and the sorenesse of his mouth increased so fast , that it began to get ground vpon his lips . the which i then perceiuing , as likewise that he was not as yet free from his feauer , willing to trie if phlebocomie would any thing auaile , i gaue way to the vsing of this remedie . about sixe ounces of very corrupt bloud were taken from him on saturday morning , ( his nose hauing made some offer twice or thrice before , and once after his phlebotomie ) not without alleuiation , whereupon ensued reasonable good rest the night following . on sonday morning was little alteration to be discerned , but that he complained much of faintnesse , and yet was bitter able to swallow then before : the sorenesse of his mouth began likewise to amend , being duly dressed diuerse times of the day : his hicket also was no more to be heard . not full two houres after our departure , death sends him new summons by some change and alteration to the worse , which could not be concealed from the most vulgar eye . in the afternoone visiting him , i found no further hope or encouragement to proceed , and yet farre lesse on monday morning , saue that i wished them still to continue the giuing of him a cordiall inlep there in a readinesse , and so left visiting him any more , and he ere nine of the clocke at night , obeying deaths last summons , discharged that debt which we haue yet to pay . but now master parson , our patient resting in peace , i would willingly expostulate a little concerning your carelesse ( and as i thinke ) irregular and ignorant proceeding in this businesse , which concerned no lesse then a mans life : the life , i say , not of an ordinary man , but of a magistrate , whom this corporation could not so well at this time haue spared ; besides the interest his wife and children and other friends had in him . in the first place your oracle being asked , it answered , his disease was a blind ague . of maligne feauers i haue both read , and knowne them possesse now and then some of my patients ; but as for blind agues , we leaue them to parsons that cannot see . and what be the pathognomonicke signes of a blind ague , and what authors write of it ? the vrine told you no such matter , and i dare say , the messenger was much amazed at so blind an oracle . but this is no new practise of your selfe and others of your cloth , lest you should seem to be ignorant of any thing , to coyne new names for diseases , whereof you are altogether ignorant . and thus another of your double profession , some few yeares ago , his iudgement by a gentleman concerning his disease being demanded , answered , it was a disease in his spirits . the gentleman died within a few dayes after of a feauer , which tooke possession of the whole bodie ; and a physitian that came afterwards to him , thought it to be a squinancie , and that the parson had wronged him in deferring phlebotomie too long , by the which he gaue the patient some ease for the present . if this parson had euer learned the grounds of physicke , he could haue told that that feauer which we call ephemera , not exceeding foure and twentie houres , is properly said to be in the spirits , being commonly free from danger : but if it exceed this terme , then turneth it to some other feauer , and so loseth the former name . but what remedies were by you appointed for this patients blind ague , as it pleaseth you to call it ? if a blind ague , it had as blind a remedie , a vomit was exhibited , phlebotomie prescribed . as for your vomit , although i neuer did see it , yet i am not ignorant of the matter and nature of it . but be what it would , that it was then vnseasonable , i thinke any of common sense cannot deny . for in the first place he had not long bene sicke , neither yet came his sicknesse by any surfet , to induce you at first dash to prescribe him such a vomit before any other remedie . againe , you ought not to be ignorant , that in most diseases ( acute especially ) the appetite faileth at first , and yet vse we not alwayes to begin with strong stibiate vomits . but what were the effects of your vomit we haue heard , and the patient fared the worse for it . he was subiect to an old paine in his head , and with this vnseasonable vomit the torrent of those sharpe and maligne cholericke humours wherewith his bodie abounded , were drawne vp towards the throate , and other parts adioyning : hence had he that exulceration in his throate and mouth , the hicket , &c. i know your grauitie would disdaine the name of an empiricke , but pardon me good master parson , this course was too empiricall . i wish both your selfe and some of your brethren to be more circumspect in exhibiting your vomits . it is too well knowne in the countrey , that strong stibiate vomits are vsed by many of you , almost in euery disease , as some famous panacaea or aurum potabile , falsly supposed good against all diseases . the other parson lately mentioned , within these few yeares gaue two vomits in one day , the one to a woman dwelling seauen miles off this towne , who died presently : the other to a woman of this towne of good account , and since my patient , at that time being big with child , and the vomit wrought with great violence from seauen a clocke in the morning till foure a clocke in the afternoone , and hardly escaped she the like danger , or abortion at least . some few yeares ago my presence was required for a gentlewoman at a knights house within seauen miles of northampton . her disease was a squinancie , and had bene before my comming , by the aduice of a neighbour parson ( for such are in most corners of the countrey to be found ) at least twice phlebotomised , howbeit without any successe , and then had this cunning aesculapius left her a stibiat vomit , as his last anchor of hope . at my coming i found her not able to swallow any thing at all , the drinke which she assayed to swallow coming out at her nostrils againe . the ladie asking me whether she might take the parsons vomit or no , i replyed , it was absurd both in * reason and common sense , and that both in regard it could not descend into the stomach , as also for feare of attraction of the humour towards the place affected . in three dayes space , by meanes of attractiue glisters , which the parson had omitted , and some other meanes i vsed , the patient , by gods helpe recouered againe her former health . but to our purpose againe . the next remedie by you prescribed was phlebotomie . i denie not the necessitie thereof , howsoeuer your prescription was but by ayme , as being ignorant of his strength , wherein the messenger might easily be mistaken , as it often cometh to passe . within these two yeares past , i tooke aboue fiftie ounces of bloud from a man of middle age in this same towne , being seised with a burning feauer , accompanied with a strong deliration , whom his friends supposed to be so weake , that after i had seene him , & acquainted them with the truth , scarce could i perswade them to yeeld to this remedie . and this was performed in a weekes space , the patient taking nothing in the meane while but a little drinke , or milke and water , being both then and a long time after depriued of his naturall rest , by his owne vnrulinesse , and his friends carelesnesse , and yet recouered he his health . but why was not this remedie administred to our patient ? because the parson was informed of the appearing of the iaundise . but did the iaundise crosse the former indication of bleeding the a iaundise proceedeth of diuerse causes , and therefore the cure is accordingly to be accommodated . it cometh sometimes solely and of it selfe , without any other disease , and sometimes prooueth nothing else saue a symptome or accident of some other disease , as of a scirrhus , or inflammation of the liuer , &c. it is also sometimes occasioned by poyson , and sometimes by meanes of some b stone or stones growne within this ga●-bagge . and againe , the learned are not ignorant that it is sometimes a criticall excretion : safest after the seuenth day in acute diseases , more dangerous , or at least doubtfull before the same . our patients iaundise appeared in an acute disease , before the seauenth day . that phlebotomie in this c case is required , our authors do witnesse , and in many other sorts of the same : yea euen when the iaundise is but a beginning , saith a learned spaniard , and that according to the opinion of paulus aegin●ta and ●ctuis , two famous ancient greeke physitians : especially in the abundance of bloud , with a concourse of choler , which was manifest to the eye-sight in this our patient . and this same author approoues of it in this disease , euen after it hath continued a long time , and that by meanes of inueterate obstructions , as also in the suppression of any wonted euacuation . this then was no contrarie indication to dehort or hinder you from so methodicall a course . and as for some faintnesse , it is not vnusuall in this disease , where there is neither feauer nor danger of death . the vomit was a great deale worse then the opening of a veine . fiue dayes after , when by reason of hote and sharpe humors towards his throate , procured by your vnseasonable vomit , this remedie brought alleuiation , with some rest after ensuing . what then might it in probabilitie haue procured , if at the first , and in due time administred ? and why was there no mention of a purge or glister for this iaundise ? it had bene but according to the d rules of reason and precepts of art . and those who attended him can testifie that one glister by me prescribed , gaue him more ease then all your physicke . but let vs come to your prognosticke : you hoped the worst was past . vpon what ground ? because now the iaundise came foorth . cuius contrarium verum est . the case is quite contrarie : you ought therefore to haue deemed some danger . fie master parson , such a rabbi as you thinke your selfe , whom the vulgar adore like the e image of diana , which the foolish ephesians thought came downe from iupiter . old f hippocrates could haue told you , that such a iaundise seldome portended securitie . and howsoeuer he and some others make mention of some who in such a case haue recouered : yet do all our authors hold the case to be very dangerous . g at my first coming to our patient i found apparent danger , not onely by reason of this accident , but of diuerse other dangerous and deadly signes , wherewith i at that instant acquinted his friends . and if you please to reply , that your absence could not see so much as my presence might discouer , i do not denie it : yet was not this iaundise concealed from you , nor that it succeeded or came after a blind ague , as you call it , and that before the seauenth day , as hath bene prooued . and the messenger was an vnderstanding young man , able to relate some other dangerous accidents , and besides he had no small interest in our patient . but what was wanting by information , might haue bene supplyed by your owne presence : the which howbeit earnestly desired , yet could not be obtained , saying , that your directions were sufficient . and yet it was told me , that coming to his house to speake with some at the assises , you promised him great kindnesse . now is the time of triall : your friend in danger of his life , requesteth and earnestly intreateth your ayde and best assistance , with your personall presence : he entrusts you with his life , and yet will you not affoord him your presence ? your golden promises produce scarce leaden effects . h is this the kindnesse to your friend ? why vndertooke ye the cure of him , whom you had no purpose to see if intreated ? besides , the patient was of sufficient abilitie to giue you satisfaction . if there be hope of a good bootie , your presence will not be wanting : witnesse your voyage into leicestershire in sommer 1623. to a patient of yours , who howbeit he died before your coming , yet were your fees more then doubled : and yet master parson must not be called couetous . now besides the iaundise , the * hicket in acute diseases , euen in the iudgement of the vulgar and most ignorant , but especially after so vnseasonable a vomit , must needs presage some great euill to ensue . and suppression of vrine concurring with i other dangerous signes , maketh the danger yet apparent . and yet the parson hopeth the worst is past . but how came it to passe , that all your twelue houses in the heauens forgot you at this time , and made you become a lying prophet ? where were all your maligne aspects ? k luno lucinafer opem . will neither mercurie nor the moone , who are nearest , come to your aide ? and where was old frostie father gray-beard ( saturne i meane ) and angrie mars ? i adhere to none of your iuggling genethliacks , and yet besides the former signes , i could reade death in our patients eyes , yea and in some motions of his hands , &c. better then the vrine and all the caelestiall orbes could tell you . l but many other such pranks are played by your selfe , and others that are partakers with you in the same offence , wherewith i would be loth to enlarge this treatise . but master parson , make more account of mens liues , and discharge more conscionably that calling from which you take the denomination , and yet busie your selfe too little about it . i haue neuer heard much commendation of your diligent preaching ; not so much as in season , farre lesse yet out of season : and as for your care in this other profession , this our patients friends , and this whole corporation haue no great cause to magnifie it . but it is not much to bee maruelled at , that he who setteth so light by the soule , makes as small account of the body , but for his owne benefit . and how many of yours and others such beneficed mens m errors are buried in the bosome of the earth ; howsoeuer your adherents may cry out , great is diana of the ephesians . let the iudicious reader iudge then , whether all physicks sufficiency be couered vnder a clergy mans cassocke . but we hope the reuerend fathers of the church will confine you within your owne orbes ; or at the least enforce you to resigne the one wholly , and betake your selues to the other . a prelate of prime note of late yeares ( as i am informed ) and yet liuing ( and long may he liue ) gaue one of these pragmaticall ministers his choice , to which of the two he would betake himselfe : and he hauing found in his owne experience this to be true , dat galenus opes , being forced , forsooke his pastorall charge , which affoorded him not aboue fiftie pounds ; yearely comming in . but now to the maine matter in hand againe . the second branch of the manner of pissing , is inuoluntary pissing , which commeth to passe either in sicknes or in health . and in sicknesse it commeth to passe , by reason of the hurt , weaknesse , or decay of the retenti●e facultie of the passages of the vrine ; as kidneyes , bladder , &c. as commeth to passe in the palsie , apoplexy , and falling sicknesse . and in the pissing euill , called diabete , this commeth likewise to passe . and againe , when the muscle sphincter shutting the necke of the bladder or sinewes helping thereto , are hurt , either by a fall , a wound , or some such other occasion : and sometimes againe in reasonable good health , they are weakned by meanes of some cold distemper , or too much moisture ; as commeth to passe in children , and moist constitutions . drinesse sometimes is likewise said to produce the like effect in old age . and some perturbations of the mind , as great and sudden feare and astonishment make men often void , not the vrine onely , but other excrements also against their will. and yet were our pisse-prophets neuer able by any such vrine onely to finde out the true cause of any such infirmitie . that this proueth also often a dangerous , if not deadly signe in acute diseases , i could by many instances both of my owne and other mens obseruations make it appeare , but that now i feare i haue too much abused thy patience courteous reader ; and therefore i hasten to the conclusion , if thou wilt giue me leaue to talke a word or two by the way with master alchymist . chap. x. of the fond and foolish opinion , concerning the distillation of vrines : of the water of separation , together with the vncertaintie of iudgement by such meanes . the aschymists well perceiuing this vecertaintie affoorded vs by this signe , haue set their wits a worke another way . one of their great masters , a thuenheuserus by name , to the end that paracelsus and his disciples might be thought to surpasse all other physitians , deuised a new way to iudge of diseases by vrines : to wit , by diuiding it into three seuerall principles , mercury , sulphur , and salt : and so by distillation to finde out that which we demanded . b libanius mentioneth a certaine water of separation , which besides diuers other effects hath this also , that one onely drop of it being mingled with the patients vrine , it maketh a present separation of the aforesaid elements , insomuch that the predominant element shall apparently lay it selfe open to the sight of the eye , and shall withall declare and lay open the cause of the disease . parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus . great cry and little wooll . our paraceleists would faine feed vs with many such smoaky promises . then come they to weigh the vrine , which they will ordinarily in a healthfull and sound man , not to exceed eight ounces and a halfe : if it exceed this weight , they thinke it argueth great abundance of a tartareous or terrestrious substance : esspecially if this be to be seene after the separation ; from whence they do inferre a great number of such tartareous diseases , as they call them : and yet the wisest of them cannot tell which . but let vs heare c reusner speake . after the separation of the aforesaid elements ( saith he ) the vapors ascending sticke to some part of the still , answering in situation to that part of the body of man in the which lyeth hid the very fountaine and spring of the disease , and doth withall so plainly and clearely represent vnto vs , both the kind and the nature of the disease , that it may easily appeare to what element and principall part it is to be referred . so farre reusner . but let vs now see whether there be any hold to be taken of these more then hyperbolicall promises . if we shall narrowly pry into this point , i doubt we shall find the old prouerbe true , out of the frying pan into the fire . but heare the cōfutation out of the mouth of a learned physitian , often quoted in this discourse . this doctrine of thurnheusers ( saith * he ) cannot by any sound argument be demonstrated . for admit that the vrine be separated into seuerall elements , according to the seuerall parts thereof , yet can nothing but the elementarie qualities ( as they call them ) heat , cold , &c. be discerned by the same . and by this meanes shall we onely be able to iudge of the diseases of the solid parts ; as of obstructions , exulcerations , and the like . and is not the vrine an excrement of the bloud contained in the veines , that is of one body ? what vtilitie or profit therefore can come by this separation into seuerall parts ? thou shalt thus onely obserue the number of the parts which are in the substance of the bloud , and of what nature and kind it is . thou mayest perhaps perceiue it either to bee caused of mercurie , sulphur , or salt. but wilt thou straight-waies maintaine , that all mercuriall diseases are seated in the head onely ? &c. if this bee true , then will it follow , contrary to that which thou and paracelsus maintaine , that these three grounds or elements are not common to all diseases . for i am of opinion , that if we will needs vse the names of these three ; as well such diseases as haue their originall from this sulphureous and salt matter , as any that proceed from a mercuriall cause , haue their root and originall from the head , &c. thus farre our author . and may not this opinion seeme so absurd in it selfe , that it needeth no further confutation ? for if when thou hadst vsed all thy art and cunning , a countrey-man should aske thine opinion concerning his vrine , and thou shouldst tell him hee were troubled with some sulphureous , mercuriall , or saltish and tartareous disease , would he not laugh thee to scorne , and thinke , it may be , thou hadst beene that day too well acquainted with some pots and pipes of tobacco ? and if hee should desire to know what were his particular disease , and where or what particular part of the body it had taken vp for its abode ; would it seeme strange if he looked for some extraordinary skill after so great an outward oftentation ? and if he should go home and tell his wife of a tartareous , sulphureous , or mercuriall disease , who knowes but she might call him good-man wood-cocke for telling her such a tale of robin-hood ? but put the case thou mightest yet see some sulphureous disease ( as they terme it ) by meanes of this separation and distillation ; yet amongst many such sulphureous diseases , vpon which of them wouldst thou fasten thy coniecture ? as if a feauer might be found out , how may the kind be knowne , whether a continuall or inmittent ; and whether symptomaticall or dependant vpon some other disease ; or else be it selfe a principall guest , with many moe circumstances ? the like may be said of the other two principles . so that it may euidently appeare , there is greater vncertaintie in this then the other way . but if they will be so skilfoole , i wish they would distill the other excrement also ; for i am sure they may learne of both alike . but yet wish i them to take this prouiso with them , that the ioynings of their stils and alembicks be well luted with lutum moschatum , or ambarinum , that none of this fragrant smell be carried away with the wind , and so some part of this precious liquor lost . but it may be , when the patient had cast vp his account , he would find this manner of casting of waters , as they terme it , more costly then the ordinary . but for my part , i wish our vrine-mongers would vse it : for by this meanes this great abuse might the better be suppressed . but this opinion being so absurd in it selfe , needeth no further confutation . but fearing some infection , or at least annoyance to my nose by such mercuriall and sulphureous smels , i thinke it is more then time to withdraw my selfe out of so stinking a place . the like libertie is allowed thee kind reader , to whom i am afraid i haue now bene too tedious ; but yet i must once againe intreat thy patience to heare the conclusion , and then mayest thou quietly depart in peace . chap. xi . the conclusion of this whole discourse , where something concerning issue and euent , and casuall cures . by the premisses then , i hope , doth plainly appeare the absurditie of this erroneous and inueterate opinion of magnifying the vrine , and the iudgement concerning diseases which may from hence be collected . and therefore i hope the iudicious and vnpartiall reader will with me subscribe to the generall conclusion ; to wit , that there is no certaintie or assurance to be collected for the information of the iudgement , either concerning the disease it selfe , together with the particular symptomes and seuerall circumstances ; and yet farre lesse for the cure of the same , by the bare inspection of the vrine onely . and therefore i cannot see any iust cause why it should not bee pronounced guiltie of man-slaughter at the least , if not of murther ; and therefore is not a thing so slightly to be passed ouer , as many may idlely imagine . but me thinkes i heare some of the vulgar sort , who thinke it a prettie thing to heare one prate ouer an vrine , obiect , that our censure seemeth too sharpe , since that daily experience doth not deny , that some haue from the inspection of the vrine , often attained to the knowledge of that they desired . now as i denie not , but that sometimes one may through hap ( as we say ) hit the naile on the head : so on the other part , that this manner of casuall coniecture hath euer bene allowed of by the learned and more iudicious , i do vtterly denie . if christians would hold their peace , yet will the heathen pleade on my side . the poet wished them a bad successe , whosoeuer iudged of an action according to the issue or euent . besides , that it is often a fallacie , a non causa pro causa , making the ignorant beleeue , they see that in or by an vrine , which neuer had allowance of any learned authoritie . and may not any ignorant empiricke , a cozening quacksaluer , or any old woman , now and then guesse aright at an vrine , and by cunning interrogatories and some other shifts , learne of the vnwarie messenger , as well the substance as the circumstances of the disease , at least as farre as they are able to relate ? and this to be true , hath bene sufficiently prooued alreadie . besides , that oftentimes the messenger himselfe cannot sufficiently informe the physitian concerning the particular circumstances of the disease : and againe , his owne ocular inspection often bringeth that to the eyes of his vnderstanding , which neither the messenger nor yet the patient himselfe were euer able to relate , and farre lesse the vrine make knowne . what hast thou then gained , when one of these vnsufficient persons hath told thee some truth by the vrine ? to wit , that then thy conceit carrieth thee ( howbeit most erroniously and falsly ) to apprehend some extraordinarie sufficiencie in that person , as being best able to free thee from thine infirmitie . thus then we see , vno dato absurdo mul●a sequuntur : one errour draweth on another . the prosperous euent sometimes seconding their bold attempts , inuolueth the vulgar daily in this dangerous errour . but arguments taken from euent haue neuer had allowance , where the rules of reason might take place . and if this argument from euent may take place , then will this absurditie thereon ensue , that we shall be forced to allow of many vnlawfull things . many witches and wizards haue sometimes performed such cures as haue often astonished some of great vnderstanding : that i say nothing of our spelmongers , curing by characters , figure-casting , with a world of other forbidden trash . are we therefore warranted by these actions to turne our backe vpon god , and make a couenant with his enemie ? the diuell himselfe no doubt , as well in the ancient oracles as of later dayes , hath sometimes told truth . i should be too tedious to instance in examples . but did not that counterfeit samuel , to wit , the diuell himselfe , tell saul the whole truth , both concerning the euent of the battell and his owne wofull and wretched end ? but who will notwithstanding maintaine the lawfulnesse of asking counsell at the diuels oracles , but he who meaneth to haue his habitation with him in hell ? farre sounder was the opinion of a noble man of this kingdome , in these words . examples which fall out by chance were neuer currant where the cause is to be iustifyed by reason . and therefore till a man can as readily produce a certaine ground to make his guesses good , as score vp a register of blind euents , we may rather commend his lucke then his learning . reasons and arguments ( saith a heathen ) must be produced for the confirmation of mens courses , and not examples of euents both casuall and vncertaine . so farre were the ancient aegyptians from maintaining this opinion , and so carefull of mens liues , reiecting this coniecturall , casuall , and empiricall manner of curing diseases , and iudging of the sufficiency of the physitian by the euent or issue of the disease ; that at their owne cost and charges they maintained many sufficient and skilfull physitians : and moreouer , set downe an inuiolable law and or dinance , that if any physitian following the precepts and rules of art , recorded in the bookes of the learned in that profession , yet could not attaine to the height of his hopes ; the patient through the violence of the disease yeelding to fatall necessitie , he was then freed from all danger of law . on the other part , if he recouered his patient , yet neglecting the aforesaid rules and meanes , his punishment was no lesse then the losse of his life . what if ( saith mine author ) this wholesome law were brought in amongst vs ( as it were good reason it should ) where could we find so many executioners condignely to punish such impostors , empiricks , women-physitians , busie-bodies , &c. thus farre our author . now as concerning such remedies thus casually and vnskilfully administred , howsoeuer at sometimes they may either doe , or at least seeme to doe some good , which i will not deny : yet i am sure they do often more hurt then good ; & more hurt then on the sudden is perceiued , many often praising them for the authors of their health , who haue bene the instruments of their vtter ouerthrow & ruine : for howbeit the patient reape some present ease , yet is his body by meanes of such medicines vnskilfully exhibited , left more infirme , and becommeth afterwards more crasie : their cure being imperfect , accidentall , vncertaine , and voyd of rule and reason . and howbeit i could make this small tractate swell vp into a big and voluminous booke , if i should instance in a many of these casuall cures , performed by empiricks , and such others , which for feare of tediousnesse and prolixitie i am loth to go about : yet before i make an end , i will offer to the readers view , two or three stories . during my abode at paris , one master robin , ouer-seer of the garden of simples , related vnto me this which followeth . a few yeares agoe ( saith he ) the plague of pestilence preuailing daily more and more in this famous cittie of paris , whereof no small numbers , especially of the meaner sort , died daily : the learned physitians did their best endeuours when their counsell was craued , and the ignorant empiricks also were not idle . amongst the rest was a certaine countrey clowne carried on the wings of fame , for his extraordinarie supposed skill in curing this disease , who was said to haue cured more then some of the most expert physitians . the duchesse of longueuille being acquainted with these occurrents , sendeth for her physitian , desirous to know the cause of so happie successes by so meane a person performed : which howbeit alwayes aymed at , yet are not alwayes attained vnto by men of greater merit . the physitian well knowing the insufficiencie of this fellow , yet not fully acquainted with the particulars , and withall knowing how much is commonly attributed to these casuall euents , answered onely in generall at that instant , that many things seeme often otherwise then they are indeed : and false fame maketh some men famous , whose names deserue rather to be buried in obliuion : and after some further discourse concerning that subiect ( all which notwithstanding , would not satisfie her more then nice curiositie ) he taketh his leaue for the present . a few dayes after , causing carefully to watch and obserue the actions of this aesculapius , he was obserued to go to a certaine place within two little leagues of paris , called bois de vincennes , that is , vincence wood , and there to dig vp certaine rootes . the physitian therewith acquainted , resorteth thither with speed , and finds that it was nothing else but a certaine kind of spurge ( whereof there grew in that place and about no small store ) whereof this clowne had at seuerall times digged vp great store , easily discerned by the holes there round about that place , some being but new digged . after a narrow search , he found that most of those whom this new aesculapius was said to haue cured , either died after a certaine time of a bloudie fluxe , this violent medicine hauing procured an excoriation in their guts ▪ being especially exhibited , without any preparation of the ill qualitie , or obseruation of the due dose or quantitie : or else that they liued a languishing life , worse then a speedie dispatch by a sudden death , from whose mercilesse clawes notwithstanding this former purgatorie was not able to free some of them . the physitian repairing againe to the duchesse , acquainteth her grace with these seuerall circumstances : as also that it seemed most of those people were able , strong , and cacochymicall bodies , who would preferre the counsell of this clowne , before that of the learned and iudicious physitian . the issue notwithstanding did make it appeare , that if any did recouer , it came not to passe through his skill or sufficiencie , which as seemeth , was none at all , but by the strength of nature , able to expell both the plague and the poyson of the medicine . the learned and iudicious physitians againe met for the most part with thin and tender bodies , brought vp in ease and idlenesse , and for this cause aptest to receiue the poysoned impressions of the pestilentiall aire , and therefore the disease prouing greater then the meanes were able to ouercome , the patients were often forced to faint vnder the burthen . neither were such dangerous , or r●ther desperate meanes , as this empiricke vsed , in their opinions to be administred to any , much lesse to persons of qualitie and weake constitution . the noble woman hauing heard the physitians apologie , was afterwards better pleased with her physitian , and after that time conceiued a better opinion , both of the art and the professors of the same . i was likewise informed during my abode at leua in germanie , of many rare cures seemed to be performed by that medicine which they call the philosophers stone , aurum potabile , and many other such hyperbolicall medicines , exhibited by the paracelsists of those parts . and yet most of them to whom they were exhibited , before the full period of a twelue moneth , went to visite their friends in another world : and little better successe for the most part had their maister paracelsus himselfe . some few yeares before my coming to this towne of northampton , a certaine empiricke , and irish by nation , was accounted one of the most famous vrine-mongers in all the countrey about , but especially in telling whether women were with child or no. and yet his skill in physicke was confined to one forme of purge , composed of a certaine portion of the electuarie diaphoenicō , mingled with so much powder of diagridium as he could take vp betweene his finger & his thomb , which were his ordinary weights and scales , as i 〈◊〉 since by our apothecarie informed : by which his butcher like boldnesse he cast many into most dangerous laskes , accompanyed sometimes with diuerse other euill accidents , as i haue heard since from some of themselues : and this chiefly was then to be seene , when this medicine was exhibited to thinne and weake bodies . now howbeit i could instance in a number of other examples , all tending to the same purpose , yet fearing too much to offend the readers patience , referring them to some opportunitie , i thinke it is now high time to turne my sailes towards the shore , and to cast anchor for the present . and the assembling of so many sage senators , according to the ancient and laudable custome of this kingdome , to apply fit salues to the festered sores of the same , putteth me in good hope of some redresse , as well of the abuses here complained of , as of diuers other disorders . i am not indeed ignorant , that affaires of high consequence , are to be handled in this honorable assemblie . and yet i hope the life of man is not a matter of smallest moment . agitur de corto humano . skinne for skinne , and all that a man hath will he giue for his life . let this gangrene therefore in time be looked to , lest it grow to a greater euill . since therefore errors of this kind are so full of danger , as hath bene both in the precedent , & now in this present discourse plainly prooued , both by a great and smaller enquest , of such persons with whose worth the delinquents i am sure dare not compare , i wish it may not be forgotten . sed verbum sat sapienti . a word , yea a nod , is enough to a wise man. and therefore i leaue it to your honourable considerations . consider the matter , consvlt , and give sentence . finis . faults escaped . pag. 5. line 2. for would reade could . p. 13. l. 29. r. stincking vrine . p. 16. marg . note l. 8. r. victu . p. 21. l. 12. r. deliration . p. 23. l. 17. r. pot-dropsie . l. 29. r. retaining , and marg . note l. 2. r. fo rs . p. 33. l. 13. r. of a high . p. 33. marg note . l. 20. r. à vitiosa . p. 39. r. an absurditie . p. 55. l. 29. r. foure pounds . p. 70. l. 36. r. winie colour . p. 77. l. 5. diseases alone . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a68143-e160 * the honorable court of parliament . the right vse of vrines . foolish custom of the countrey people . the pulse in many diseases to be preferred before the vrine . quand●que b●nus dormitat h●merus . horat. casuall cures sometimes succeeding , do not proue a sufficiencie in the par●ies thus practi●ing . a an vsual & ordina●ie custome to browbeat & ouerthrow errors and imposture , and to pleade for truth . b this panacaea was a certaine medicine made of saffron , quick siluer , vermilion , antimonie , and certaine sea shels made vp in fashion of triangular lozenges , stamped and sealed with certaine strange characters , and sold at a very deare rate , the very name importing asmuch as a medicine against all diseases ; and was in as great , or greater esteeme among the germanes , as euer aurum potabile once here amongst our selues . liban contra ambald & defens . syntagm . a●can . chym . contra henuingum scheunem . c d. gwin . & d. ra●igh against aurum potabile , d. cotta against this and diuers ignorant erronious practisers . d hieron epist . ●32 . partis tertia referente langio . * iohn 18. 23. martia● . terent. terent. psal . 141. 5. notes for div a68143-e2500 ioseph . antiquit . iudaic. l. 1. cap. 4. zonaras annal . lib. 1. high account of physicke amongst the graecians . amongst the persians . hippocr . in epist . vide sabell ennead . 9. lib. 2. zonar . annal . tomo . 3. aliosque neoter . entertainment amongst the arabians . amongst the romans . the law of augustus caesar against ignorant and vnskilfull practisers of physicke . * vide supra , & inter neoter . chronic. carion . aedit . 1608. in 8. mars enemie to minerua . lotharius first emperour of the house of saxony restored learning and learned men in the west . de his vide orationem doctoris beniamin lobschuts impressam cum obseruat . medic . diomedis cornarij medicina doctoris . first originall of doctors and other degrees in the vniuersities . vtilitie and necessitie of this profession . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aelian . lib. 9. cap. 23. polib . lib. hist . 2. & 3. indeque lang. epist . medicin . lib. 2. epist . 48. hippoc. lib. 2. de lege . the armes or enseignes of aesculapius . a crooked staffe . a dragons head in his right hand and a dog hard by him . a pine apple in his left hand . the winged picture of health with a pullet in her hand . how carefull the physitian ought to be in prescribing diet according to the nature of the disease and diseased . aesculapius bearded . liberty allowed ignorant physitians , cause of great mischiefe . prouerb . 31. terent. in andr. hippocr . lib. de medico . women altogether vnfit to practise physick . a tragicall storie . alexand. bened. de curand . morb . lib. 15. cap. 25. 1. king. 18. 26 27. 28. soles occidere & redire possunt ▪ nobis cum semel occidit breuis lux , nox est perpetua vna dormienda ▪ catull. a good remedy ignorantly or out of season exhibited , may yet proue dangerous to the diseased . the laudable custome of the germane natiō in prouiding fit and learned physitians , and allowing them good maintenance . they often visit the apothecaries shops , and take a s●●uey of his drugs . the great commoditie of this so laudable a custome . the idle inspection of vrine , as it is at this day practised , openeth a gap to euery cozener & impostor . iohann . le bon . de therap . puerp . it is impossible to iudge of the disease , & what concerneth the same , by the inspection of the vrine onely . langius tom● . 1. epist . 11. in symposio . de republica . the great care of the ancient physitians in searching out the signes of diseases . lib. 4. salub . the sweat a more generall signe then the vrine . de alexandrinorum medicorum desidia . gal. lib. 2. de natura humana . lib. 6. epid . & passim alibi . * victu quintiliane colorem . thus do most of our practising parsons and vicars become suddenly physitians . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . damascenu● in aphorism . rhaz. in aphor . si quid turbida roma eleuaret , &c. pers . sat . 1. epist . 83. and in england also . diuision of the signes . signes of concoction . vrine no pathognomonick signe of concoction , and yet to be obserued . praenot . lib. ex edit . pres . vel prognost . 2. ex edit . heur . & lib. de natura hominis circa finem . diabete . iohann . michael ▪ sauonar . lib. de vrin . cap. 1. historie . d●omedes cornariu● , lib. consil . medicinal . de histor . admirand . ra●●● . of such base stuffe we are not vnfurnished here at home . another . idem ibidem . ●●rnel . pathol. 〈◊〉 . 3. cap. 8. sauonarolo loco supracitato . mercatus tom . 2. lib. 3. pag. 25. edit . pali● . 1608. tom. 2. pag. 492. duncan . liddel . art . med . lib. cap. 8. historie . deceitfulnesse of the vrine in an impostume and paine of the head . another . in an vlcer of the lungs . * of the hippocraticall face see our arraignment of vrines . lib. 3. cap. 3. leo rogan . lib. 3. de prouid ▪ ex vrin . cap. vlt. paulus aegineta lib. 2. cap. 27. dangerous errors . galen lib. 2. de cris . cap. 3. & 6. timoth. brichius cantabrig . lib. de m●d . the. 1. aph . pag. 94. i●hannes caius britannus de ephemera britannica , pag. 136. the vrines in maligne and pestilent feauers very deceitfull . historie . iohannes anglicus , vulgo gatesden , in opere practico communiter rosa anglica nuncupato . what the vrines do here declare vnto . vs. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , id est , vitiligo , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 siue pruritus aut prurigo , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , id est , impetigo , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , nomina sunt affectionū , in quibus omnibus male afficitur cutis , à vinoso aliquo succo , qui nescit assimulari , &c. holler . schol . ad cap. 64. lib. 1. de morb . intern . b in quouis horum affectuum ( lepra scilicet & morbo gallico ) membra nutrimentalia ( praecipue iecur , à quo omnes corporis partessuum recipiunt alimentum ) sere habitualiter laborant . mercat . oper . praedict . tom . 2. pag. 126. felix plater . oper . pract . tract . 3. cap. 4. arguments euincing that by the sole inspection of the vrine , it cannot be discerned whether a woman be with child or no. in aphor . 51. & 54. lib. 6 & 3. de natur . facult . cap. 3. 6. de locis affect . cap. 5. 15. de vsu part . arist . 4. de gener . anim . cap. 6. gu●l . adolph . scribon . lib. de vrin . inspect . rondel . lib. de vrin ▪ cap. 40. de vrina praegnantium . mercur. lib de vrin . cap. 7. sauonarola libr. de vrin . cap. 2. rubr . 10. de vrin . praegnantium . leo roganu● lib. 2. de caus . vrin . cap. 15. de vrin . v●ero gerentium . iean marinello de formie lib. 3. chap. 5. de maladie des femmes . 2. mercat . tomo . 3. lib. 3. pag. 669. historie . diomedes cornarius in lib. consil . medicin . inter historias admirandas , historia tertia , & prima de pe●uerso vrin . in ●icio . historie of a woman with child in the first moneths . another of one in the latter moneths . absurditie of this opinion proued . some women of an hoter constitution then men . gaspar . bauhinus de hermaphroditis . historie . of a peremptory parson determining of the sexe in the wombe . historie . of a womans vrine higher in colour and contents then a mans . notes for div a68143-e6210 actuarius the first inuenter of these regions , &c. iodochus willichius de probat . vrin . part . 4. c. 1. hieron . reus . schol . ad cap. praedict . prope finem . aphor. 34. lib. 4. diuision of the vrine . of the substance of vrines . diuerse significations of thin vrines . iohannes vasseus meldens . lib. de vrin . iudicijs . pag. 30. &c. hippocr . 3. epid. sauonar . lib. de vrin . cap. 3. of thicke vrines idem vasseus ibidem . significations of thicke vrines . diuision of thicke vrines . of thicke troubled vrines . their seuerall significations . diuisiō of thick troubled vrines . henricus ranzonius lib. de conserannda valetud . cap. 19. aph. 10. lib. 4. in lib. 1. prorrh . comment . 1. leo roganus de prouid . ex vrin . lib. 3. cap. 2. hieron . reusn . in cap. 6. part . 1. iodochi willich . de probat . vrin . loco nuper citato . loco iam citato . consutation of an erroneous opinion of the vulgar sort concerning the staining of the vrinall . historie . this parson a chiefe proctor for au●um po●abile in northampton shire . absurd opinion of a physitian , affirming one to be bewitched by the vrine onely . many things alter the iudgement of the vrine . accidents of vrine twofold . diuerse significations of great abundance of vrine in health . aphor. vltimo lib 4. lib. 4. degeneratione an●m cap. 4. in sicknesse . historie . mercur. lib. de vrin● cap 6. ex marco gatinaria . guil. adolph . scribon . devrin . inspect . pag. 41. 42. another . small quantitie of vrine by diuers meanes . idem ibidem . aphor. 83. lib. 4. another . mercur. lib. de vrin . cap. 6. of the smell of vrines . vrines without smell . vrines smelling well . stinking vrines with their seuerall significatiōs . galen lib. 5. de simplie . med . facult . lib. de vrin . cap. 3. rub . 1. loco prius citato . medici certe de hac iudicandi ratione scribentes digni essent , qui in dies lotium potare cogerentur . vpuparū potius quam medicorum haec tractatio erit . idem ibidem . vrina meretrix . palew and light saffron colour . called the key of vnknowne knowledge , or a shop of fiue windowes . leuinus lemnius de occuitis naturae mirac . lib. 2. cap. 37. historie . iacob . douinetus apol . lib. 1. cap. 8. in the yeare 1617. many dangerous maligne feauers . another . 1. sam. 15. 32. dangerous to let bloud vpon the bare sight of an high red coloured vrine . rhamb . dod. obseruat . medic . cap. 32. historie . idem d●d . in schol . idem obseruat . medicin . cap. 31. historie . another . idem ibidem . vrine sometimes red by reason of the cruditie of the stomach . lib. 1. cap. designis quotidianae intermitt . in comment . in praedict . locum . hieron . reusner . in schol . ad cap. 22. ioh. willich . de prob . vrin . per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . of pissing of bloud . aretaeus cappadox . lib. 4. cap. 3. diuturn . morb . holler . schol. ad cap. 52. lib. 1. de morb . vde ibidem plura , vt & apud schenck . obseruat . medicin . lib. 3. tit . de sang . mictu . historie . marcell . donat. lib. 4. cap. 29. hist . med . another . another . another . another . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hippoc. prognost . lib. 2. aph . 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . idem in coac . sect . 27. aph . 16. 1. de cris . cap. 12 & alibi . comm. 3. in lib. 3. epid . comm. 3. in lib. 1 epid . of blacke vrines . historie . iohann . bel. for comm in lib de vrin . gal. attrib . p● 72. another . guil. adolph . ●cribon . lib. de ●rinar . inspect . actuar . lib. 2. cap. 20. de iudie. ●rin . another . blacke vrines critical in diuers diseases . thomas a vega comm . ad lib. 6. gal. de loc . affact . pag. 342. nocturnae 〈◊〉 diurnae febre . another . anton. valet exercit . 40 ad holler . de morb . intern . another . andr. laurent . anat . lib. 1. quaest . 38. francise . valer. comm . ad libr. gal. le constit . art . med . pag. 355 another . another . iacob douin●● . apol . lib. 3. cap. vlt. another . of a bastard tertian in my selfe . another . iohann . crato consil . medicin . col . 446. aedit . hanou. in fol. 1612. another . amatus lusitanus centar . 5. turat . 54. mercur. lib. de vrin . cap. 6. of blew vrines . of greene vrines . 3. de rat . vict . acut . historie . guil. adolph . scribon . de inspect . vrin . prope finem . of popiniay greene , oylie vrine . of ash-coloured , or leaden coloured vrines . of thin white vrines . rondelet . lib. de vrin . cap. 15. their diuers significations . forest . obseruat . medic . tomo . 1. lib. 2. schol . ad obseruat . 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hippcrat . prognost . lib. 2. aph . 30 historie . another . of thicke white vrines . historie . nichol. flerent . serm . 3. tract . 10. cap. 21. another . a petro sphaerorio medico referente schenck . lib. 3. obseruat . medicin . lib de vrin . another . iohann . schenck . ibidem . another . holler . inter raras obseruat . num . 2. another . idem schol . ad cap 30 lib. 1. de morb . intern . another . of the circle , ring or garland . not mentioned by the ancients . lib ▪ de vrin . cap. 31. de circulo . the originall of it . it is twofold . leo reganus de differ . vrin . lib. 1. cap. vlt. posteriores eiusdem ( coronae ) iuditia subiecerunt veteribus non vsitata , & in quibus iustae saepe causae desiderantur : verum vt scenae inseruiamus eadem iudicia subdere placet . villich . de probat vrin . part . 4. cap. 39. loco proxime citato . idem reganus de prouid . ex vrinis lib. 3. cap. 8. idem lib. 2. de caus . vrin . cap. 9. of bubbles , spume or froth . idem lib. 2. de caus . vrin . cap. 9. see before in the beginning . schol. in cap. 30. part . 4. iodo●● willich . de probat vrinar . comment . 3 ▪ libr● prorrh . aph. 34. sect . 7. sauonarola de vrin . cap. 3. rubr . 17. of smoke or vapour in the vrine . of fat swimming on the top of vrines . gal. comm. 3. in lib. 3. epid . de prouid . ex vrinis lib. 3. cap. 6. lib. 1. meth . med . cap. vlt. guil. adolph . scrib . de inspect . vrinar . prope finem . 3. de praesagit . ex puls . historie . 〈…〉 all vrines are not accompanied with contents . and may proceed from diuers causes . the cloud . the swimme . the ground . lo●o proxime citato . 2. prorrh . 1. & 2. in 6. epid . 37. seuerall times to be assigned for the setling of vrine . et ex his pr●inde vniuersis optime facillimeque intel●igi p●sse opin●r , ●uantu● fucus , ●●anta deceptio , ●uanta denique malignitas , sit omnium illorum qui absque alijs coiudicantibus vllis nude & simpliciter ex allata sibi vrina aliquas corporis male affecti causas & originem , subiecta , adiuncta & sic deinceps , vel exploratissime se cognoscere posse autumant . idem . s●ribon . ibid. of yellow contents or grounds red residence . historie . another . bloudie residence , and the seuerall causes of the same . historie . see somewhat in the colours heretofore . purulent or matterie residence . schol. ad cap. 50. lib. 1. de morb . intern . historie . lib. de vrin . cap. 38. red vetches or fitches . brannie and sealie contents . scales . haires in the vrine . comm. 1. ad aph . 76. sect . 4. loco proxime supra citato . historie . schenck obseruat . medic . lib. 3. tit . de vrina . sandie or grauelly residence . aph. 79. sect . 4. historie . ibidem . flesher . worms reiected by vrine . rondel . de vrinis , cap. 38. montuus . idem rondel . lib. de morb . cognos . cap. 17. historia didymi obrechti ad finem libri rondel . de vrinis adiecta . loco iam supra citato . ibidem . hieron . cardan . comm . in aph . 76 lib. 4. ambros . par. chirurg . lib. 19. cap. 3. de occult . nat . mirac . lib. 2. cap. 40. obseruat . medicin . l. 3. sect . 312. alexand. bened. anat . lib. 2. c. 22. iohann ▪ renodaeus de mat . med . lib. 3 cap. 33 & antidot . lib. 1. sect . 1. cap. 20. circa finem . motes in the vrine , together with their seuerall significations . of dust in the vrine . historie . of painfull and vneasie pissing . suppression of vrine . the seuerall causes of the same . de internor . morb . curat tomo . 3. lib. 4. cap. 12. suppression of vrine by meanes of the bladder diuerie wayes procured . * calculus renum rare aut nun quam diuretica huius aut illius sortis citra damnum admittit , &c. mercat . tome . 1. lib. 3. par . 3. class . 3. quaest . 217. historie . aphor. 62. lib. 4. another . raro aut nunquam eisdem accidentibus & conditionibus insignata apparet huiusmodi febris , sed pro varietate corporei apparatus & aliarum rerum , quae corpus humanam mutare habent , variari subinde ipsam contingit . mercat . tom . 2. lib. 7. cap. 2. gal. 1. de differ . febr . cap. 1. strong stibiate vomits ordinarily vsed by our parson-practisers in most diseases , and for the most part without the sight of their patient . historie . * si igitur valēter etiamnum fluxio irruat , ad contraria reuellere studebimus : vtique si in superioribus vlcus co●sistat , per inferna purgantes : sin autem in inferioribus sit , superiorera ventrem purgantes . gal. meth. med . lib. 4. a 〈…〉 vel paruitate eius , aut ab imbecillitate facultatis att●actri●● eiusdem , aut a m●atuum ●●sìructions siue ●orum sit per quos bilis allicitur , siue corum per quos pellitur ad inces●na , quo regurgi tat ad vena● bil●s , & praedictū gignit affectum . hepa●cus efficitur ●cterus ab n●●atu obstruct●ne , sctrrno , iustant●●●tiore , aut calida distemperie : ad qu●d etiam membrum reducitur venarum caliditas exurens , & tetius etiam corperis siue etiam corrumptatur in venis & 〈◊〉 a corpore sangu●●b earum intemperamentum citrahepatis affictum , aut à veneno assumpto , aut eiaculato à fera , vel assumtis catharcticis non purga●t●bus , 〈◊〉 duplex existit : salutarn vnus , qui rursus sit dum 〈…〉 natura , aut in mecrborum iudicationibus , quae septimo die art post septem , ●icbus ●iticus incidit , a●t●gressis coctionis siguis , &c. alter verò est 〈◊〉 à moto maligns morbi quem etiam symptomaticum dicere possumus , qui semper antè septimum incidit &c. 〈◊〉 ●e intern . morb . curat . tom● 3. lib. 4. cap. 5. b aliam adhuc adlit causam hollerius , calculum vnum , vel plures in vesica sell a saepce ceneretes de morb . intern . lib. 1. cap. 37. c multis rationibus sanguis in hac affectione vltiliter mitti potest , primo quidem malo incipiente retractionis gratia : ob id l'aulus statu●t consilium esse venam in dextro cubito secare , vbi meatus vesicae bilis vtrique sunt obstipati , vel alter duntaxat . item si simul sanguis abundet , aut sit praecipua obstructionis occasio : quopropter dixit aetius duo maxima esse in hoc affectu remedia , nimirum , venae sectionem , & purgationem , &c. & paulo post . si ex morbe acuto ante septimum prodeat sanguinem mittes , &c. idem mercatus ibidem . d verum si suspitio aliqua est excrementi in ventre & primis venis cassiae aut catholics ℥ j. ex sero lactis imperabis . et quia in hoc morbo aluus fere astricta est , vtilissimus est clyster , cuius materia sit ex ijs quae stercus durius emolliunt , &c. sic enim placuisse veteribus aphrodisaeus scriptum reliquit . holler , loco nuper citato . e acts 19. 35. f aphor. 62. lib. 4. g medicum arbitror operae praetium esse prouidentiam consectari praesentiens enim atque praedicens apud aegros res praesentes , pr●teritas atque futuras , & eitam quas ipsi agri praetermittunt explicans , existimabitur facile perceprsse notitiam singularem rerum ad aegros pertinentium : eoque fiet vt confidentius credant homines seipsos medico . medicinam autem optime faciet medicus , si ante praesenserit quid euenturum sti cuique affectui . hippocr . prognost . lib. 1. aph . 1. h 2. sam. 16. 17. * singultus in sebre periculosus nisi sit criticus & signa coctionis manifestae appareant . avmitu quoque malum : cum enim vomitus qui remed i● esse debet singultum gignit , ab inflammatione cerebri vel stomachi metuendum . holler . lib. 1. de moreb . intern . cap. 33. i signa saepius memoranda & obseruanda in aegrotantibus . nam ex continua inspectione , exquisitam ●orū potestatis habemus notiatiam . semper mente reuoluere opertet , ac considerare quaenam signa sunt optima quae pessima , & quae in medio confinio horum veluti gradus quosdam habentia , nonnulla quidem optimis , nonnulla vero deterrimis proximiora , & quae quidem minus , quae vero sunt magis proximiora vel remotiora , & quaenam exquisite media ponenda sint inter bona & mala signa . deinde considerandum quaenam semper mala sunt , & quae continuo bona , &c. gal. 1. de cris . cap 13. k terent. in andr. l sexcenta licet ei●smodi proferre . m q●ot themison aegros a●tumno occiderat vno . iu●eu . of inuoluntarie pissing . it is produced by diuerse causes . dangerous in acute diseases . a lib. de distillat . vrinar . b est aqua quaedam que dicitur alkali secretat cuius vsus ad sehres , ad foetum mortuum & alia . inter haec est etiam separatio succorum . nam si tantum vna gutta proij●iatur in vrinam aegroti , statim fieri dicitur elementerum separatio , adeo vt praedominans elementum aperte inconspectum prodeat , & causam mortificum manifestet . laban . in alch. pharm●● cap. 8. ex penoto . c cap. de spa , iricorum 〈◊〉 prorsus vrinae prolat . * guil. adolph . scribon . de in . spect . vrin . sub finem . absurditie of this opinion . obiection . answer . careat successibus opto quisquis ab euentu facta notanda putat . quid. in epist . arguments taken from issue or euent , not to be trusted to . 1. sam. 28. 18. l. h. howard of blind prophets . argumentis & rationibus oportet quare quicquam ita sit docere non ruantis . cicer. de diuin . lib. 2. medici ex publico victum sumant , agro● secundum legem curant , ab antiquis medicis comprobatisque scriptoribus traditam . si quis normam libri sequutus infirmum sanare nequiuerit omni caret crimine . si praeter ea quae libris continentur , curauerit illum , morte punitur . lang. epist . medicin . lib. 1. epist 80 ex diodero siculo . historie . dangerous medicines exhibited by paracelsists . another . iob 2. 16. blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases and infirmities ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation ... : also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets worthy our knowledge, relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural or ... from sorcery or witchcraft, or by being possessed of an evil spirit, directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed, with sundry examples thereof / by joseph blagrave of reading, gent. ... blagrave, joseph, 1610-1682. 1671 approx. 405 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 85 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28315 wing b3112 estc r13219 11697220 ocm 11697220 48251 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28315) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 48251) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 14:17) blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases and infirmities ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation ... : also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets worthy our knowledge, relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural or ... from sorcery or witchcraft, or by being possessed of an evil spirit, directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed, with sundry examples thereof / by joseph blagrave of reading, gent. ... blagrave, joseph, 1610-1682. [24], 187 [i.e. 139], [2] p. : ill. printed by s.g. and b.g. for obad. blagrave ..., london : 1671. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of 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2007-07 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-07 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion blagrave's astrological practice of physick discovering , the true way to cure all kinds of diseases and infirmities which are naturally incident to the body of man. being performed by such herbs and plants 〈◊〉 grow within our own nation , directing the 〈◊〉 to distil and extract their vertues and making up of medicines . also , a discovery of some notable phylosophical secret worthy our knowledge , relatin● to a discovery of all kinds of evils , whether natural or such which com-from sorcery or witchcraf●ts or by being possessed of an evil spirit : directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is ●ossessed with sundry examples thereof . by joseph blagrave of reading gent. student in astrology and physick . london , printed by s.g. and b. g for obad. blagrav . at the printing press in little brittain , 167● . the truth is , i find by good experience , especially in very cold infirmities , as agues , dead palsies , and such like , its impossible to make a sympathetical cure when saturn is strong , were it not so that those observations before-going were in force , and approved : as for example , if the patient be old , his grief cold , his complexion cold , the season of the year cold , and his remedies to be applyed cold , it must needs destroy nature , for where heat is wanting there can be no life : but if saturn be the afflicting planet and weak then herbs which are under the dominion of the sun and jupiter being of known vertue to cure the distemper or grife will do it ; they being by nature hot and moist , whereas saturn is by nature cold and dry , clean differing in elemental qualities , and this is called an antipathetical cure ; but in all infirmities whatsoever which are caused by the evil influence of mars , he being strong in the heavens , the remedies used must be by such herbs and plants which are under his own dominion , together with herbs of the sun but if the complexion of the patient , their age , and the season of the year doth naturally produce heat , then to use some small numbers and dose of such herbs which are under the dominion of venus , may be proper at some convenient times to give the patient towards the refreshing of nature , yet chiefly in point of cure you must adhere unto those herbs and plants which are under mars and the sun whereby to work your cure , for if you should give cooling remedies in hot distempers when mars is strong , 't will destroy the patient as i have sufficiently proved ; but as i have elsewhere expressed if mars be the afflicting planet and weak , then those herbs and plants under the dominion of venus and the moon ; together with a select number of herbs under the dominion of the sun will do it . in all cures whatsoever , a select number of herbs under the dominion of the sun must be used . these rules being well observed and carefully followed , may through gods blessing produce wonderful effects ; as i have sufficiently proved in my many years practice and experience , as you will find in this book . to the truly learned , and my most honoured friend elias ashmole of the afiddle temple esq windsor herauld at armes , and comptroler of the excise for his majesty . sir , although somwhat abashed ( when i consider those admirable guifts , both of learning and knowledge which are seated in your worthy person as by your admirable works in print are manifest ) to dedicate these my laboues , yet being imboldned not only by our former acquaintance , as having ever found those noble parts in you , both of wisdom and affability : but also considering the great love and affection you did always bear unto philosophy : and so by consequence , a true lover of such , who are well-willers thereunto , according unto that maxime in philosophy , every thing delighteth in its own element , and doth sooner adhere unto it , than to its contrary : and should this book come into some mens hands who are not delighted in these kinds of studies , although wise and well learned in other things , yet they will assuredly slight , and not regard what i have written , nor yet willingly shew any love or countenance to the writer , for according unto that notable expression of yours to the reader , in your excellent book , intituled , the way to bliss : that 't is as possible to shape a coate for the moon , as in writing to please every genius : so various are the generality of our inclinations , &c. what i have written in this book is no translation , but meerly the subject of 〈◊〉 many years practice and experience in the ●●●rological way of physick : and published , not 〈◊〉 for my own vindication in point of art 〈◊〉 practice , but also to instance others to do the like cures as i have done ; for i may truly say , 〈◊〉 wonders have been wrought , as in this book will appear : yet many people i find are unsatisfied concerning any way of practice in physick , the reason i conceive is , because many illitterate persons , and others who are ignorant of the art of astrology do foolishly speak against it , verifying that notable saying of the poet ars non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem . concerning the lawfulness of the art , i have sufficiently given satisfaction to the wise , in the epistles of those almanacks of mine , dated anno , 1658. and 1659. besides , there are many excellent men who have written both learnedly and largely thereupon ; should i mention your most worthy self , who is known to be a great master herein , and not only in astrology but also in philosophy , the most excellent part having i dare say , few or no equals living . sir , for the love i bear unto your most worthy person , and to those most excellent guifts which god hath endowed you withal , i heartily wish i had higher and more excellent things to present you , that so you might take delight in reading , and increase in knowledge thereby : however , i question not , but that when you have read it over , you will find somewhat herein worthy your perusal which may ( if ad nothing unto your wisdom and knowledge ) put you in mind of greater mysteries : even as in motions , the lesser wheels being moved , causeth the greater wheels to be set on work . craving pardon for the boldness of him who heartily wisheth your increase , both in coelestial , and terestial wisdom , health , and happines in this life , and eternal joy in the life to come ; and who shall ever remain , sir , your assured friend and servant to command jos . blagrave . to the right worshipful sr. john davis knight , one of his majesties deput . leift. and justice of peace for the county of b. right worshipful , having for many years past had the happiness to be acquainted with your worship , and having ever found seated in your most worthy person , those most excellent guifts of knowledge , both in divine and moral things ; but most especially , that most excellent guift and noble quality of affability , being a vertue of the greatest demonstration of true generosity . we find it recorded , that this noble vertue did abound with antonius the emperour ( called for his wisdom the philosopher ) who would permit the meanest of his subjects to come unto his presence and to converse with him ; for which quality , he was ever held in high esteem , and well beloved : but on the contrary , such who have abandoned this vertue , ill have befell them : i shall instance one example hereof , in julius caesar who so long as he continued affable and loving unto his subjects they intirely loved him ; but when once he lest off this vertue , and fell into pride , they quickly forsook him , altering their good affection of love unto disdain ; and shortly after conspired his death : and would he but have vouchsafed to have read a note which a me in person delivered him when he went to the senate , he might for that time have saved his life , there being written in it , the whole discovery of the plot. sir , i needed not to have mentioned these things , presuming your worship is sufficiently acquainted therewith already , as having read these moral vertues , and vices : not only in antonius , and julius caesar , but also in many others . sir , i want words to express the love and good affection i did always bear unto your worthy person ; having ever found you to be a true lover of such , who were studious in all lawful arts and sciences . that which i here present your worship withal , is not only astrology , which is the first and chiefest of all liberal arts and sciences ; but also the true astrological way of my many years practice in physick ; for without knowledge in astrology , it 's impossible to be either a phylosopher or good physician , for hath the theory and practick thereof is derived from astrology . in all ages astrology was ever held in high esteem ; the knowledge whereof ( as testi●ieth josephus ) was taught by god himself unto adam , and from him , unto posterity ; this worthy author further saith , that he saw the art of astrology graven in stone in assyria , done by seth before the flood : also those magicians or wisemen which came to worship christ , were great astrologers , without question ( next unto divinity ; it s the most excellent study in the world ; for those who are but me only read in this art , must needs know , that a mighty and powerful hand hath wrought those wonders which ●●●●is●●●y ●●en in the heavens , as the sun , moon , stars , and p●ane●s with their m●●ions and powerful app●ri●ians upon all su●●una●y c●●●ure● . sir , i know i need an arguments to perswade you unto the lawfulness o● excel e●●y of this worthy science , well knowing , that your worship , as i have already declared , was ever a true 〈◊〉 th●re●f : i question not , but that when you have read once ●h●se my labours , you will not only be the more confirmed in your good ●pinion hereof , but also find somewhat ●e●●in which may increase your knowledge in these secret mysteries . sir , may these my writings prove acceptable unto your most worthy hands , i have obtained the end of my 〈◊〉 , which was in some measure to demonstrate the great affection which i did always bear unto your most worthy person , and shall ever remain , your worships servant to command jos . blagrave . to all my loving countrey-men in general , but especially to those of reading , being the place of my nativity . it was the saying of our blessed saviour that a prophet could not be without honour save in his own country . although i count my self no prophet , yet by the rules of astrology i have predicted such things which ( to our sorrow ) have come to pass as may appear in my almanack for the year 1665. and others formerly written : i presume , i have both friends , and enemies amongst●y u● ; it s well known unto many , that i have done very great cures both in the town , and places adjacent , although i have not mentioned their names in this book , yet i find that many being unsatisfied concerning the legality of my way of cure , have refused to come or send unto me for help to cure their infirmities : and many of 〈◊〉 wh● did come , c●●me for the most part privately , fearing either loss of reputation or reproaches from their neighbours , and other unsatisfied people ; and also fear●●● then what i did , was either diab●lical , or by unlawful means . i question not but when you have read over this book , although some things may seem mistical at the first , especially unto such who never before read any books of this nature , yet by oft perusied and well heeding what i have written , i am confident it may , and will give satisfaction unto any of reasonable capacity : and for the benefit of those who de●ire knowledge in the astrological and chymical way of physick ( which is the most assured way extant ) i have both briefly and plainly instructed the learner herein , so that those who can but read and will take pains may assuredly attain unto it , and be inabled thereby to do the like cures as i have done : and as concerning the resolution of questions by figures , a thing much questioned by some , i have in this book given sufficient reasons thereof according unto art , thereby inabling others ( if they please to take the pains ) to do the like . what i have formerly done herein , was more to satisfie the earnest importunity of others , than for any gain or profit which came unto me , for i alwayes ( although some reward was given me for my pains therein ) accounted my self a loser thereby , in regard of my practice in physick ; and let the artist be never so careful to give content , yet what will the most men say , ( especially such who are ignorant of the art ) if we discover the thing sought after , surely he doth it by the devil , otherwise , how could he do it , but if we chance to fail , as sometimes we may by taking a wrong ascendant , then they will assuredly say , they are cheated of their money : i speak seriously i take no pleasure in such questions , for the reasons aforesaid , having denied many which came unto me therefore . kind country men and women , my thoughts are better of you then wholly to blame you , for i dare say it was either false reports , or ignorance of the way i profess , which caused many of you to be enemical unto me ; wherefore , i have the rather published this treatise that so f●r time to come , you may not only be setled in your opinion , but also be fully satisfied , that what i have already done , or shall for time to come do in the astrological or chymical way of physick , which is the way of my practice , is both honest , just , and lawful ; and is no more then what every industrious physician ought to know , and without knowledge therein , its impssible to be an expert physitian , as in this book will appear : concerning the legality of this art of astrology , if any are unsatisfied they may read ●y epistles of those almanacks dated , 1658. and 1659. besides there are many authentick authors who have written both learnedly and largely thereupon , for i intend not at this time t● trouble my self or reader much farther herein , only thus much at present , i say , next unto divinity it is the most to be admired and most excellent study in the world , and worthy our knowledge ; for there is so much seen of the wonderful work of god in it , that it must needs convince the most unbelieving persons whatsoever , and cause them to know that a mighty and powerful hand hath wrought those wonders which we visibly see , is the heavens , sun , moon ; stars and planets , with their motions and powerful operations over all sublunary creatures ; and hath given unto man so much knowledge thereby ( next unto the angels ) that he is able to reveale and make known in a great measure his heavenly will thereby unto his people , that so they may be forewarned of his wrath to come . if i find this book hath acceptance with you , i shall be incouraged to labour in my study and profession to do you and the country farther service , and shall ever remain , your assured loving country man and servant . jos . blagrave . in nobilissimi , & magni astrologi encomium . intima sanguinei scrutatur pectora tauri agmine plebeo cinctus spect ante sacerdos , imperiumque suum est quoties argenteus alti solis avis tendit romana insignia bello . augur cede viro , cede ô geometria magno astrologo , claroque jovi summeque perito ad sua multiplices deducere sydera morbos . non aesculapius talem cognoverit artem , nedum virgilius magnus , non thessala tempe talem frugifera conspexit vertice doctum . ex tripode haud quaquam sacro grynaeus apollo verius ad sortem humanam dedit ore loquelas . astra regunt morbos , morbi sacrantur avitis planetis , veluti summis piacula sanctis . aurea mundanis celebratur regula velis . quis super atra silex jamjam casura cadentique imminet assimilis , veniunt hic circis ad antrum , contenti rediere omnes . h. pratt . generosus . the contents of this book . a catalogue of the herbs and plants appropriated unto their several planets . pages , ● , 2 , 3 , 4. general rules whereby to know under what planet every herb or plant is governed , p. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. rules concerning the gathering of herbs and plants at the right planetary hours . 12 , 13 , 16 , 17. concerning numbers attributed unto the planets with the reason thereof . p. 18 , 19. the way to find the disease by the sun or moon afflicted . pag. 21. to know the time of death or recovery by the critical figure . pag. 22.23 . judgment upon a decumbiture figure , and also upon acute and perperacute sicknesses . p. 24.25 . judgment upon another decumbiture of a sick person . pages 25 , 26 , 27. the characters of the seven planets : twelve signes ; and the five usual aspects : and the houses of the planets . pag. 28 , 29. the sick-mans glass , with the use of an eph●meris . pag. 30 . 3● . how to erect a scheme or figure for any time given . p. 32 a decumbiture figure set for the time of my friends falling sick : with judgment thereupon . p. 3● , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38. observations concerning the ascendant . pag. 39.40 . brief rules concerning long or short sicknesses : and whether the patient is like to live or dye . p. 73.74 . the bodily shape and infirmities atributed unto the twelve signes . pag. 75. the bodily shape with the parts and members of the body together with the diseases which the planets generally rule . pag. 77. concerning the moon of mars or sol afflicted in any of the twelve signes . pag. 79. concerning the moon of saturn or jupiter afflicted in any of the twelve signes , pag. 82. how to make dyet-drinks , or to extract the spirits of plants or herbs . how to make syrups , lambitives , pills , glisters , fa●mes , fumigations , cataplasms , oymments , and bathes . pages . 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90. of purgations and the manner of purging , vomiting , bathing , sweating , blooding , with some other additions necessary to be known . pag. 91 , 92 , 93. a catalogue of choyce herbs or plants , collected for the curing of all kinds of grief● or infirmities whatsoever , alphabetically expressed , beginning at pag. 94 , and ending at p. 113. one cure done at oxford , anno dom. 1658. another cure done at oxford , anno dom. 1659. p. 64.65.115 , 11● , 11● . one cure done at tylehurst near reading , anno 1667. pag. 118. the way to cure the evil , commonly called the kings evil , with an example . another kind of evil and the cure thereof . 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123. another kind of evil which cometh from sr●m sore●ry or whichcraft with the way of cure . 127. a boy suddainly struck dumb and so continued three years how cured . pag. 144. how to make the sympathetical powder with its application . pag. 131. the vnguent its making and use p. 131. concerning witchcraft and sorcery , with the way of cure . pag. 135. some experimental rules whereby to afflict the witch . pag. 154. the way to cure both witchcraft and sorcery . p. 155. some notable phylosophical secrets whereby to cure sundry distempers . pag. 15● . two pretty secrets in philosophy pag. 160. some practical and experimental rules whereby to give judgment astrologically upon thefts , strayes , fugitives , decumbitures of sick persons , vrines , or any other h●rary question , from page 161 , to page 168. concerning the casting forth of devils out of such who are possest , and how performed by the author . form . p. 168 , to 17● . concerning agues and quotidian infirmities with the way of cure thereof 176 , to page 183. concerning all kinds of madness , its cause and cure . postscript to the reader pag. 184. a short epistle unto those who are students and well-willers unto the art of astrology , page 108. an introductory preface to the reader . haveing formerly spent some of my youthful years in the study of astronomy and astrology , and since that , in philosophy and the practice of physick , and finding by good experience how each part doth depend upon the other , for without some knowledge in astronomy , one can be no astrologer ; and without knowledge in astrology , one can be no philosopher ; and without knowledg both in astrology and philosophy , one can be no good physitian : and whosoever desireth to make practice , either in the astrological or chymical way of physick ( as for the drug way , there can be no certainty in careing thereby , as will plainly appear in this book ) having laid his foundation as aforesaid ( which if any practitioner or student in physick be ignorant of , this book will sufficiently instruct them therein ) must build and rely upon these five substantial pillars following , without which , there can be no admirable cures done , or wonders wrought in this noble art of physick , viz. time , vertue , number , sympathy , and antipathy . first , time is of great concernment whereby to gather each herb or plant at the right planetary hours , which this book will sufficiently inform you ; and likewise to know the hour and time when to administer your physick aright , for if the physick be administred at a wrong hour , be it purge or vomit it will work contrary effects , as i have oft times proved : example , if you give a purge when the moon is in an earthy sign , aspected by a planet retrograde , and that the ascendant with its lord doth correspond , then the purge will turn unto a vomit : and on the contrary , if a vomit be given when the moon is in a watery sign , aspected by planets swift in motion out of watery signs , the signs ascending with its lord corresponding , then the vomit will turn to a purge : also an exact time must be obtained whereby to erect your figure aright , whereby to give judgment upon the disease , its cause and termination , which this book will sufficiently instruct you in . for by urine alone , no true judgement herein can be given , except in some few infirmities which proceed from the blood , or passages of urine , for urine is but the excrement of blood : there are many other considerations to be made use of by vertue of time , which i for brevities sake am willing at present to pass over , and so shall proceed unto the word vertue , which is in brief , a right knowledge and understanding of the nature , properties , elemental qualities and effects which each herb or plant hath , whereby to cure all kinds of griefs or infirmities whatsoever , either by sympathy or antipathy , as this book will sufficiently inform you ; and all growing within our nation . i shall not trouble my self or reader in setting forth the dangers in using forrain drugs , yet i deny not , but that some drugs , whose vertue and operations are well known unto us may in many respects be useful , by reason our climate doth not afford some ingredients which are necessary to be used in some distempers , as figs , raisons , currants , sugar , wine , and spirits . &c. which are oft times made use of , whereby to make our dyet-drinks and spirits of plants extracted the more savory , and doth help to work a more forceble effect in many distempers , as you will find in this book : and i have accordingly in some infirmities made use thereof . thirdly , concerning number : there are certain numbers attributed unto the planets , which every astrological or chymical physician ought to know ; more especially , such who use this way of cure by herbs or plants which is the most assured way extant as best agreeing with our english bodies , yet as i have already declared both in decoctions , and in chimical extractions , ingredients , together with herbs may be used to make it the more forceable and savory ; but should we take all herbs or plants which are accounted good for every grief , not having regard to any select number , there being so many sorts of herbs approved good for the same , there would be no certainty either for the gathering of the herbs at a right hour , or yet know when you have enough whereby to work your cure : the certainty of a select number is not only according unto my own experience , but also it s the opinion of cornelius agrippa , an excellent philosopher , and many others : what numbers are attributed unto each planet , and the reasons thereof , i have elsewhere in this book expressed . fourthly , concerning sympathy , that is , when any planet who is strongest in the heavens by essential dignities , shall afflict the principal significator of the sick : especially , if more strong than that planet which is of a contrary nature ; then those herbs or plants which are under his dominion , shall according unto their vertues and numbers be collected to cure the infirmity , alwayes provided , they are gathered at the right planetary hours , which this book will inform you ; example , if mars be the afflicting planet and is more strong in essential dignities than venus , then you must make choyce of such herbs which are under the dominion of mars to cure such infirmities which he usually produceth , which this book will also acquaint you with . there is no infirmity or disease whatsoever , but in a second cause proceedeth from the evil influence of the afflicting planets ; and what infirmity soever any planet causeth , he hath herbs by sympathy to cure it : in this condition , heat must fetch out heat , even as if one should burn ones finger , and then heat it against the fire , which cureth by sympathy : likewise , i have known a great cold taken , to be cured by a pippin taken in cold water , venus being strong in essential dignities ; and if we should give cooling remedies when mars is strong , it will destroy the patient , as i have often proved ; for it stands by reason , that if a weak man contend with a strong man well armed , he must needs be worsted : but if mars be the afflicting planet , although strong , and venus also be near equal in strength , then we must chase a select lesser number of her herbs to joyn with mars , and so the dose must be proportionable according to their strength and weakness , and so the remedies will be between both , rather adhereing unto the strongest planet . fifthly , concerning antipathy , admit the moon or principal significator of the sick be afflicted by saturn , a planet cold and dry , and he weak in the heavens , and the planet which is of a contrary nature is strong , as instance jupiter who is hot and moist , then a select number of herbs under the dominion of jupiter , being of vertue to cure the distemper must be used , provided they are gathered at the hour when jupiter raineth , which this book will inform you . but if saturn and jupiter be near equal in strength , then use a medium between both , and let one part of your herbs be by sympathy under saturn , and the other part under jupiter , alwayes adhereing unto the stronger planet , both by number and dose ; and ever remembring in all cures whatsoever to use a select number of herbs which are under the sun , in regard he is fountain of life , and sole monarch of the heavens ; and all those herbs which are under his dominion are always approved good to comfort the heart , brain , nerves , arteries , and vital spirits , and are likewise good to resist : poyson : likewise in all cures whatsoever , you must have regard unto the age of the patient , together with their complexion , and the season of the year , that so you may help to support natures defects , for a cholerick or sanguine man or woman by nature requireth things more cooling then flegmatick , or melancholy man or woman , and a flegmatique or melancholy man or woman requires things more heating than a cholerick or sanguine man or woman ; consider the like between youth and age , and the season of the year . note , that each herb or plant mentioned in this treatise , is set down by way of catalogue under the planet which owneth the plant or herb , it being done according unto their elemental qualities and vertues ; having given sufficient reasons thereof , i confess i much differ from authors , for what i have written in this book is no translation , being meerly according unto my practice and experience for many years , by vertue of which herbs and plants ( through gods blessing ) i have done many great and wonderful cures , i dare say , greater hath not been done since the apostles times , for i have caused the blind to see ; the deafe to hear ; both lame and bed-rid people to go ; the dumb to speak , such who have been in extremity of pain , i have eased them ; likewise i have cured all kinds of evils , and all kinds of agues ; together with all sorts of madness , having in this book given sufficient reasons for the same : i have likewise inserted in this book , the names , and places of dwelling of sundry persons who have been by me cured of such infirmities and griefs aforesaid , and how performed ; that so others may be informed how to do the like : i have also instructed the learner , how by the moon in acute , or sun in chronick griefs , or infirmities to find the disease with its cause , and termination . i have also shewed the way how to erect a figure , and thereby to give judgment , either upon the decumbiture , sight of the urine or any strong fit of the patient . and for the benefit of such who desire farther inspection into this art of astrology , having by the rules in this book , or by their own study attained unto the perfect way of erecting a figure : i have shewed the way how to give judgment upon any horary question , as thefts , strayes , fugitives , and urins , &c. it being according unto my way of practice and experience for many yeares . i have also shewed the way and manner how i have cast forth devils , out of such who were possest , that so others may be informed to do the like . courteours reader , what i have written in this book , is not only for my own vindication against all scandals and false aspertions which are usually cast upon me , by such who are ignorant of my way of practice , but chiefly to instruct others , and to inable them to do the like cures as i have done , that so many hundreds may be kept from perishing . there are many who do admire at the cures by me done , but being unsatisfied of the legallity of my way of cure , do thereupon refuse to come , or send to me for help , to cure their infirmities . and as for the vindication of the art of astrology , i shall not at present trouble my self or reader therewith , but shall refer those who are unsatisfied , unto those epistles in my almanacks , dated anno , 1658. and 1659. and unto many other authentique authors in print . some observations concerning sympathy of cure. vvhereas in the catalogue of plants , the planet saturn hath but very few herbs or plants allotted unto him : yet notwithstanding in my epistle before going , i told you , that what griefs or infirmities soever any planet caused , there are herbs by sympathy , as well as antipathy to cure it ; wherefore know that , although an herb or plant may by elemental qualities be under the dominion of mars , as being hot and dry , and so gathered at his hour , yet in regard of his vertues , and being approved good to cure such infirmities which are under the dominion of saturn , it may justly and rationally be called a sympathetical cure , by reason mars is exalted in capricorn the house of saturn . example , agues , especially quartans , are usually caused by saturn . now worm-wood , carduus , and such like plants being hot and dry , are properly attributed unto mars , both in point of gathering and numbers , yet in regard these herbs and plants are of known vertues to cure agues which saturn causeth ; and mars being exalted in capricorn which is the house of saturn : therefore it may properly be called a sympathetical cure : and so herbs under the dominion of sol , cure infirmities by sympathy caused by mars , because the sun is exalted in aries the house of mars : and so herbs under venus cure by sympathy infirmities under jupiter , by reason venus is exalted in pisces the house of jupiter ; and so herbs of jupiter cure by sympathy such diseases which are under the dominion of the moon , by reason jupiter is exalted in cancer which is her house : the benefit which we have from this observation is as followeth ; if saturn , mars or any other planet , be the afflicting planet , and strong ( which argueth a complyance ) then those herbs which are under the dominion of that planet which is exalted in his house , being good for to cure the infirmity may be used and ( for the reason aforesaid ) it shall be called a sympathetical cure , for when planets are strong and afflicting we must comply with them , as i have elsewhere expressed . note , that in all sympathetical cures whatsoever , there must be one elemental quality in the planet of complyance , with the nature of the planet afflicting ; as for example , herbs under mars have the quality of drith with saturn ; and herbs under the sun have the quality of heat with mars ; and herbs under venus have the quality of moysture with jupiter ; and herbs under jupiter have the quality of moysture with the moon , blagrav's astrological practise of physick . a catalogue of the herbs and plants in this treatise mentioned being rightly appropriated unto their several planets , according unto their elemental qualities and virtues , and agreeing with the author's experience and practice for many years : there are many other herbs , which might have been incerted herein , but these here mentioned are the most material and useful , being all english plants and well known , and without question , if rightly applyed , may well serve to cure any infirmities , whatsoever that are cureable , as i have sufficiently proved . but those that please may insert-others , having knowledge of their elemental qualities and virtues , according unto the rules hereafter expressed . saturn . alder-black ●irds-foot . bull se . clounds woundwor● , cats-tail . hauk weed . hemlock . henbane . mandrake . m●sse of oak . night shade oak . poppey black . poly podium of the oak , tway blade , or two . leaved-grass . jupiter . agrimony . alexanders aromatical-reed . beans-blew bittony of the wood . bittony of the water . borrage . cinkefoil . cammels-hay . columbi●es with blew flowers . cresses . comfrey with blewish or purple flowers bugloss . bugloss wilde . dodder of time , or of any other jupiter plant . dog stones . elm-tree leaves and bark . fell-wort . fetherfew . flower-de-luce . fooles-stones . fox gloves , with purple flowers . fumitary . goats-beard , or josephs flower gromel , flowers and leavs . gander-gosse . harts tongue . hyssop . knot grass . lark-spur with blew flowers . mallowes . orach with blew flowers . poppy with blew flowers perwinckle . purplewort . parsnip . parsnip wilde . spleenwort . satirion . saracens consound . scurvey-grass . smallage . time. mother of time. wild flax . mars . agnus castus . ale-hoofe , or ground ivy . anemony . anet . archangel , with red flowers assarabacca . arsmart . asphodil . beans red . beets red . bell flowers bend weed . birthwort . bishopsweed bitter-sweet . blites , with red flowers . box tree . bramble . brooklime . broom . butchers broom . broom rape . briony . buckthorn . butter-bur . butter wort . carduus benedictus . catmint . coloquintida . charlock . cotton-thistle . cockle . crowfoot . crossewort . danewort . darnel : dittander . dittany or paperwort dock ▪ dogs tooth . dragons . doves foot . dropwort . dyers weed . elderbuds fern. filipendula fleabane . furzbush flowers . gallanga . garlick . germander . gladdon stinking . glassewort . goutwort ground pine . heath . hellebore . helmet flower . hore hound . haw thorn . hemp. hops . holly . horse tail jack by the hedge . ivy. knapweed . louse berries . leeks . monkshood . mouse ear . mustard mercury . ●edge-mustard . nettles . nep. onyons . osmond royal both flags osmond water both flags park-leavs , or tudson poppey red flowers . pilewort . pepperwort . radish . ragwort . rocket . rhubarb . bostard-rhubard . rupturewort . sawwort . savin . saxifrage . sciatica cresses . scabious . scorpion-grass . spurge . self heal . sene. shepheards needle . sheapheards purse . sneesewort . sopewort . spearwort solomo's seal . swallowwort . tamaris . thistles . tarragon . toothwort , or dentory . our ladies thistle . wake robin . cuckow pint . wormwood . wood waxon . woad . wallwort . wood sage . sun. ale cost or costmary . angelica . anise . ash-tree . almonds . allgood . atens . bazil-street . birds eye . burnet . bugle . calamint . cammomil . centory . chervil , or sweet cicely . celandine . clary . catmint . cowslips . comfrey with yellow flowers . crown imperial good for palsies . daffydils , or daffydowndilly . dill. ditany . eglantine . elecampane . eye-bright . fennel figwort . golden rod. gilly-flowers sweet . herbs ears . holly rose . hig●aler flowers yellow with woolley leavs . saint katherines flower saint johnswort . saint jameswort . ladies bed-straw : with yellow flowers juriper . lavender . lavender cotten ladies man●le . lovage . lillies yellowish flowers . mary golds . marjerome sweet maudlin sweet . masterwort . may weed . melilo● mints garden . misletoe . mugwort . motherwort . mallein . one blade , or herb true love . oxlips . parsly saint peters wort . palma bristi . peny royal . pimpernel piony . roses red . rosa solis . rosemary . roses damask . rue saffron . sanicle . sage . sampire . saunders . scordium . setwall . savory , summer . southern wood . sun-flower . sundew . spignel . tansey tree of life . tormentil . valerian . vervain . walnut leaves . woodbine flowers , or honey suckles . wood-rose . vipers bugloss . venus . adders tongue . apples . arrach stinking arch-angel ; white-flowers . arrow head . artechokes . alkanet . barley . beans-white . bears-breach . beech-leavs . blites-flowers white . beets white . bucks horn plantane . cleavers , or goose-grass . colis foot . columbines with white flowers . crab tree , cherry-tree and fruit cranes-bil . cud-weed . comphrey roots . daisies . dandeli●n . ducks meat . e●de● flowers . flea-wor● . ●elli-●ry● flixweed . groundsel . gourds . harts-ease or herb of the trinity . herb true love . herb two pence , or money wort . hounds tongue . larks spur , with white flowers . lillies with white-flowers . maiden hair . moss on apple-trees or crab-trees . mulberries leaves navel wort . orrach flowers white peach flowers . pellitory of the wall . plantane . perwinckle , wild . pond weed . poppy flowers white . pauls bettony . primrose . ribwort . roses white . rushes . saunders flow . white snakeweed . sorrelwood sowthistle . stich-wort . spinach . staw berries . sycomore tree . thro●●-wort , or bell flower . three leav'd grass . turnip root . vine leavs . violets , leavs & roots water cresses . mercury . alkanet , all good . barberries . blood wort . bell flower . blew bottle . dog grass . ●ndive . fluellin . liver-wort . loose-strife . loose-wort . lung-wort mede-sweet . medlar tree . maddir . millet . privet . quinces . succory . rampion . sorrel-garden . star-wort . wh●r●e-berries . willow-tree . wood bine-leavs . wild tansey . yarrow . moon . cabbage . chick-weed . coleworts . cucumber . housleek or sengreen . lettuce . mellions . orpine . pompions . pompions . purslane . moon wort . general rules to know under what planet every herb or plant is governed by the only use of an herbal , with the true reason thereof , according unto the author's experience and practice for many years ; as followeth . the first thing considerable , is to take n● 〈◊〉 of the elemental qualities of each planet ; viz. whether hot and dry , hot and moist , cold and dry , or cold and moist ▪ and of what decrees ; as first , second , third or fourth . secondly , we must by an herbal find the nature or elemental quality of the plants ; if you find that both the planet and plant do accord in elemental qualities then we may conclude , that such an herb or plant is under such a planet : for any reasonable philosopher well knoweth , that every element doth naturally sympathize with its own like , even as the actions of men doth naturally sympathize with their complexion and condition of that planet which hath predominancy over them , as i have elsewhere expressed example ♄ saturn is a planet cold and dry in the third and fourth degree : now by the herbal i find , that hemlock , henbane , night-shade , and such like , are cold and dry in the third and fourth degree ; and therefore may justly be attributed unto the planet saturn . ♃ jupiter is by nature hot and moist : now by the herbal i find , that burrage , mallows , and the herb or plant called dog-stones , are by nature hot and moist ; and therefore may justly be attributed unto jupiter . ♂ mars is by nature hot and dry in the third and fourth degree : now by the herbal i find , that carduus , wormwood , tobacco , rhubarb , hellebore , box , and such like , are all under the dominion of mars , as being hot and dry in the third and fourth degree . ☉ the sun is by nature hot and dry in the first and second degree , and near unto the third : now by the herbal i find , that angelica , baum , marigolds , rue ▪ sweet marjoram , and such like , are all hot and dry in the first and second degree , perhaps rear unto the third ; and therefore are all attributed unto the sun. ♀ venus is by nature cold and moist in the first and second degree : now by the herbal i find , that violets , spinage , white beets , white beans , and such like , are all under the dominion of venus , as being cold and moist in the first and second degree accordingly . ☿ mercury is by nature cold and dry in the first and second degree : now by the herbal i find , that endive , succory , woodbine , lung-wort , liver-wort , and such like , are all cold and dry in the first and second degree , and are therefore under the dominion of mercury . ☽ the moon is by nature cold and moist in the third and fourth degree ; and by the herbal i find , that cabbage , sea-green , chickweed , orpine , purslain , and such like , are all cold and moist in the third and fourth degree ; and therefore are under the dominion of the moon . another way whereby to attribute each herb or plant aright unto the planet , that so hey may agree both in elemental qualities and virtues , more especially of the first part in the degrees of heat or cold , it being the way of my practice , and that with good success . first , having by an herbal found the virtue of the plant which is approved for the curing of such infirmities or diseases which are under the dominion of such a planet , as causes them , although the herb or plant agree but in the first elemental quality of heat or cold , yet the herb or plant may justly and rationally be attributed unto the planet which owns the grief , and so thereby make a sympathetick cure : as instance , jupiter who is by nature hot and moist , and hath predominancy over the liver , lungs , blood , veins , plurisies , and the like : now by the herbal we find , that lung-wort , wood-bittany , agremony , scurvigrass , and such like , are all good to cure such infirmities , notwithstanding they are all hot and dry in the first and second degree , yet having the first elemental quality of heat , together with virtue to cure such defects which jupiter causeth , they may justly be attributed unto jupiter ; and so plantane , white beets , and dandelion , accounted by authors cold and dry , may justly be attributed unto venus , as having the first elemental quality of being cold ●n the first or second degree , and hath virtue to cure by sympathy such defects which venus causeth , or otherwise by antipathy unto mars , as doth plantane , which cureth cuts and wounds which mars causeth : now white beets and dandelion cureth by sympathy ; the first bringeth down womens courses , the other helpeth to cleanse the passages of urin , always provided in these particular applications , that the first elemental quality of heat or cold doth agree , as aforesaid , without which there can be no true gathering or attributing the plant aright unto the planet , as i have shewed more at large elsewhere . and farther , should we not sometimes use this particular way herein expressed , both jupiter and venus , who are great friends unto nature , would have very few herbs or plants allotted unto them , especially jupiter who is the greater fortune ; for by the herbal you shall find very few herbs or plants which doth accord in elemental qualities of heat and moisture with jupiter ; and the truth is , i find that authors do most of them agree in the first elemental quality , or part of heat or cold , but in the latter part of drith or moysture somewhat differing ; and without question they do but guess thereat , or otherwise by tradition follow each other ; neither do they give true knowledge therein ( especially in many herbs and plants ) as instance dandelion , which hath a known virtue to open and cleanse the passages of urin : now if this plant were cold and dry , which most authors hold , how could it have this virtue to open and cleanse ? for of necessity moisture must do it , for all plants which are drying , are usually stopping and binding ; and so saturn , a planet cold and dry , when afflicting the ☽ in earthy signs , always produceth bindings in the body : also the blossoms of plants are somewhat to be regarded , more especially when they agree in the first elemental quality of heat or cold ; as instance , wood-bittany , hyssop , bugloss , burrage , and such like , whose blossoms are blew , a colour which ♃ owneth : and notwithstanding they are all hot and dry ( except burrage ) yet they are rightly appropriated unto jupiter , by reason of their virtues , as curing such defects which ♃ causeth . but should we grant that herbs and plants , which are by nature cold and dry , to be under jupiter ( as many learned authors do hold as i could name ) as instance endive , succory , and such like , there can be no reason given for it , by reason they are so much differing in elemental qualities , for the plants are cold and dry , and the planet jupiter hot and moist , clean opposite unto each other ; wherefore it standeth by reason , and is rational to be under mercury , whose nature doth sympathize , as being cold and dry , and so to cure by antipathy unto jupiter , the herbs being of known virtue to cure such distempers , which jupiter causeth ; likewise i find that many authors do attribute , clary , mints , peny royal , and many others , unto venus a planet cold and moist , whereas the herbs are all hot and dry , of a clean contrary nature . now these plants doe properly belong to the sun ; and the rather in regard of their virtues , as being comfortable unto the heart and vital spirits , and being of sweet smell and pleasant taste : i could instance many more , which authors do wrongfully apply , as instance they attribute angelica , sage , box , and such like to be under the planet saturn whereas the herbs are all hot and dry especially box who is hot and dry in the fourth degree , both the first plants are without question under the dominion of the sun , as being of a good smell ▪ and taste , and are of known virtues to comfort the heart , arteries , and vital spirits and to resist poyson . the other being very hot , and of bitter taste rightly belongeth unto the planet mars as agreeing in elemental qualities , i confess , i have read many authors , and i find many of them accord , but clean out of the way of truth : the reason is , as i conceive , because their works are many , or most of them but translated , and so following by tradition each other , not well weighing the reasons have likewise erred , but as to the virtues of herbs and plants they do for the most part accord , giving reasons for the same . what i have written in this book i● not by imitation of others ; but from my own daily practice and experience . and should i set down the many , difficult cures , which i have done by virtue of herbs i should hardly be believed , except by such who are well versed in the secrets of astrology and philosophy : for many countrey people think , they make a bold adventure , when they come unto me for cure , presuming that what i do is more than natural . they not considering , or at least being ignorant of the extraordinary virtue of herbs and plants more especially being gathered at the right planetary hours together with the right numbers of herbs and plants belonging unto each planet being collected and being truely in due times administred ; for time , virtue and number , together with the right understanding of the way of cure by sympathy and antipathy are the five principal pillars of our work in the astrological or chymical way of physick , as i have already declared in my before epistle to the reader . here followeth some necessary rules to be observed concerning the gathering of each herb or plant aright according unto the true planetary hours , without which no great cures can be done or wonders wrought in the astrological and chymical way of physick . i have also set down the way how to reconcile any difference , which may sometimes arise by way of application of the plant unto the planet : for i must confesse by reason of the difference amongst herbalists concerning the qualities and vertues of some particular plants there may happily be some rational contest therein . the way to gather such herbs and plants which are of known elemental qualities and virtues out of contest is as followeth . before we proceed herein it will be necessary for the reader to understand the planetary hours , which are inserted at the beginning of the second book together with the almanack perpetual adjoyning for both the planet , which is lord of the hour and the plant which is to be gathered must both agree in elemental qualities especially of the first part of heat or cold . example , if i were minded to gather baum , rosemary , marygolds angelica , and such like plants or herbs , which are under the dominion of the sun ; upon sunday the fourteenth of march 1699. now from the suns rising until he is an hour in highth which is until seven a clock , is the hour of the sun , likewise the sun reigneth again the eighth hour , which is between one and two a clock after upon at which times you may gather any herbs or plants under the dominion of the sun. now if any one were minded to gather any herbs of the sun upon tuesday the sixteenth day then between seven and eight a clock in the morning is the hour of the sun. and likewise between two and three a clock afternoon , as appeareth in the almanack answerable unto the day of the month , also by the same rules you may gather any other herbs or plants at the right planetary hours accordingly , which are out of controversie . rules whereby to gather such herbs and plants , which are in controversie , that so you may have the true planetary influence notwithstanding as followeth . vvhen you are minded to gather any herb or plant in controversie , as instance dandelion before mentioned , this plant being by my rules under venus , but by some autho●s appropriated unto jupiter by reason it hath a virtue to open the obstructions of the liver ( being under jupiter ) but it hath also a virtue to open and cleanse the passages of urine , as i have already declared ( which is under venus ) but chiefly it hath the first elemental quality of being cold , agreeing with venus , whereas jupiter is hot . now to reconcile this or any other difference of the like nature , do as followeth ; let both planets in question at the time of gathering be in conjunction , sextile or t●ine , aspect unto each other . or otherwise let the moon be seperating and applying by any of those aspects from the one planet to the othe● , by this rule you may have the true planetary influence of both planets in question : alwayes provided that the lord of the hour doth accord with the first elemental quality of the planet be it hot or cold , wherefore in this condition venus must be lord of the hour at the time of gathering the herb or plant accordingly . i shall instance one herb more ; suppose , i was minded to gather sweet-marjerome , which plant is by many authors appropriated unto the planet mercury , the reason they give is because mercury is conjoyned in some particular operations of the brain , and this plant is of known virtue to comfort the brain . but by my rules and dayly experience , i find it to be under the dominion of the sun ; first by reason of its elemental qualities as agreeing with heat and drith : secondly in regard of its virtues , for all herbs and plants , which are of sweet smell , and are of approved virtues to comfort the heart , brain , nerves and arteries , and vital spirits , as this plant is are justly and rationally accounted to be under the dominion of the sun who is the fountain of life , lord of leo and exalted in aries , whereas mercury hath only predominancy over some particular operations of the brain , as he hath in all the five sences . it s generally approved of all authors that the bulk of the brain in all creatures , is under the dominion of the moon . the vital and quickning part under the sun , the operation of mercury as aforesaid . now to gather this plant at the right planetary hour , that so you may have the influence of both planets in question , you must do as before expressed , let those planets concerned be in either conjunction , trine , or sextile , aspect unto each other , at the time of gathering , or otherwise let the moon be separating and applying from the one planet to the other at the time of gathering by any of the before going aspects : example , if i were minded to gather the said sweet marjerome in september , 1669. about which time such like plants are in their prime to gather . in which moneth upon the fourteenth day the sun and mercury are in partil conjunction , but their influence holds above a week before and after , for until they are separated ten degrees from each other their orbs , raies , or influence holds strong unto perfection , wherefore you may gather this plant aright upon sunday the fifth day , or upon sunday the tenth day or upon sunday the fifteenth day from the suns rising until the sun is about an hour in hight ; and likewise in the afternoon between one and two of the clock as appeareth in the perpetual almanack for the day appointed . also you may gather any days of those weeks , when the sun is lord of the hour , and if the moon be in friendly aspect it s the better how to find the lord of the hour , i have shewed elsewhere at the beginning of the second book note , that in gathering all kinds of herbs and plants whatsoever , more especially , when you intend to do any great cure , you must get the influential virtue of one of the fortunes , viz. the sun , jupiter , or venus to be joyned or be in some friendly aspect with that planet , which owns the plant having regard unto the infirmity or grief which either by simpathy or antipathy hath any relation to the fortune , as instance endive , which is cold and dry under mercury yet in regard its approved good to cool the heat of the liver , which is under jupiter , therefore let jupiter be in conjunction , trine , or sextile aspect unto mercury or the moon separating and applying by any of those aspects from the one planet to the other , when you gather the plant , this is to be done , when an infortune owns the plant or herb you are minded to gather . a plain and easie may how to gather herbs or plants aright that so you may have the benefit both of the day and hour , when each planet reigneth , which owneth the plant throughout the year : and will generally serve to gather any herbs or plants aright for the use of physick , being fitted for every ten dayes of the month throughout the year and so for ever . note , all herbs and plants , which are under the dominion of the sun are gathered on sundayes : and all those herbs and plants which are under the dominion of the moon are gathered on mondayes : and all those under mars on tuesdayes : and all those under mercury on wednesdayes : and all those under jupiter on thursdayes : and all those under venus on fridayes : and all those under saturn on saturdayes ▪ now every planet which is lord of the day , ●uleth the first and the eighth hour of the day , each day being divided into twelve equal parts , which we call the planetary hours ( and so the planetary hours are near twice so long in the highest of summer , as they are in the midst of winter ) example , suppose i were minded to gather herbs or plants under the dominion of sol upon one of the first ten dayes of january : then upon sunday from the suns rising , which is six minutes after eight a clock until 46 min. past eight in the morning , and likewise from 40 minutes past noon until 20 minutes past one , you may gather any herb or plant under the dominion of the sun by which account you have the benefit both of the day and hour as aforesaid as appeareth in the table following , you may do the like for any other plant or herb whatsoever , alwayes remembring that the planet which is lord of the day ever ruleth the first and the eighth hour , divided as aforesaid into twelve equal parts . january the first 10 days . length of the planetary hours bef . noon from the suns rising which is 6 min. after 8 until 46 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 40 min. past noon , until 20 min. past 1. 0 40 january from the 10 day to the 2● day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 47 min. after 7 until 30 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 43 min. past noon until 20 min. past 1 0 43 january from the 20 unto the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 26 min. past 7 until 30 min after 8. h. m. aft. noon from 43 min. past noon until 26 min. past 1. 0 46 february the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 12 min. after 7 until 8 a clock . h. m. aft. noon from 48 min. past noon until 36 min. past 1. 0 48 february from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 57 mi. past 6 until 40 min. past 7. h. m. aft. noon from 51 min. past noon until 14 min. past 1. 0 51 february from the 20 day unto the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 36 min. past 6 until ●8 in min. past 7. h. m. aft. noon from 54 min. past noon until 48 min. past 1. 0 54 march the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 7 min. past 6 until 5 min. past 7. h.   aft. noon from 58 min. past noon until 58 min. past 1. 0 58 march from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 6 a clock until 7 a clock . h. m. aft. noon from one a clock until 2 a clock . 1 0 march from the 20 day to the mon. end .     bef noon from the suns rising being 28 min. after 5 until 33 min. past 6. h. m. aft. noon from 5 min. past 1 until 11 min. past two . 1 5 april the first 10 dayes .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 3 min. after 5 until 13 min. past 6. h. m. aft. noon from 10 min. after 1 until 19 min. past 2. 1 13 april from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 45 min. past 4 until 58 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 13 min. past 1 until 25 min. past 2. 1 13 april from the 10 day to the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 8 min after 4 until 48 min. past 5 : h. m. aft. noon from 14 min. past 1 until 29 min. past 2 1 14 may the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 8 min. after 4 until 37 min. past 5. h. m. aft noon from 19 min. past 1 until 37 m. past 2. 1 19 may from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 56 min. after 3 until 17 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 22 min. after 1 until 42 min. past 2. 1 22 may from the 20 day unto the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 45 min. after 3 until 8 min past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 23 min past 1 until 45 m. past 2. 1 23 june the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 39 min. after 3. until 3 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 24 min. past 1 until 47 min. past 2. 1 24 june from the 10 to the 2 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 39 min. after 3 until 3 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 24 min. past 1 until 47 min. past 2 1 24 june from the 20 unto the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 44 min. past 3 until 7 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 23 min. past 1 until 46 min. past 2. 1 23 july the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 35 min. after 3 until 16 min. after 5. h. m. aft. noon from 21 min. past 1 until 42 min. past 2. 1 22 july from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 8 min. past 4 until 27 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 19 min. past 1 until 37 min. past 2 1 19 july from the 20 day unto the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 26 min. past 4 until 49 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 16 min. past 1 until 22 min. past 2. 1 16 august the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 45 min. past 4 until 58 min. past 5. h. m. aft. noon from 13 min. past 1 until 25 min. past 2. 1 13 august from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 3 min. after 5 until 13 min past 6. h. m. aft. noon from 6 min. past 1 until 13 min. past 2. 1 10 august from the 20 day to the end .     bef noon from the suns rising being 23 min. after 5 until 47 min. past 6. h. m. aft. noon from 6 min. past 1 until 13 min. past two . 1 6 september the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 47 min. after 5 until 47 ●in . past 6. h. m. aft. noon from 2 min. after 1 until 4 min. past 2 1 2 septem . from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 6 min. past 6 until 5 min. past 7. h. m. aft. noon from 59 min. after noon until 58 min. past 1. 1 59 septem from the 10 day to the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 26 m. after 6 until 22 min. past 7 : h. m. aft. noon from 56 min. after noon until 50 min. past 1. 1 56 october the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 50 min. after 6 until 42 min. past 7. h. m. aft noon from 52 min. after noon until 43 min. past 1. 1 52 october from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 11 min. after 7 until 8 a clock . h. m aft. noon from 19 min. past noon until 37 min. past 1. 1 49 octob. from the 20 day unto the end     bef . noon from the suns rising being 27 min. past 7 until 14 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 46 min. past noon until 31 min. past 1. 0 46 november the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 48 min. after 7 until 30 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 43 min. past noon , until 24 min. past 1. 0 43 novem. from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 3 min. after 8 until 43 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 40 min. past noon until 19 min. past 1 0 40 novemb. from the 20 day unto the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 45 min. past 8 until 53 min after 8. h. m. aft. noon from 38 min. past noon until 15 min. past 1. 0 38 decemb. the first 10 days .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 20 min. after 8 until 57 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 37 min. past noon until 14 min. past 1. 0 37 decemb. from the 10 day to the 20 day .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 20 mi. past 8 until 57 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 37 min. past noon until 14 min. past 1 0 37 decemb. from the 20 day unto the end .     bef . noon from the suns rising being 15 min. past 8 until 53 min. past 8. h. m. aft. noon from 38 min. past noon until 15 min. past 1. 0 38 concerning numbers attributed unto the seven planets with the reasons thereof , agreeing with cornelius agrippa an excellent philosopher , besides my own daily practice and experiencè . saturn . numbers attributed to the plan . to this planet ♄ belongeth three numbers , viz. two , seven , nine ; the number two as being next beneath the starry firmament , and also as being one of the two infortunes , the number seven , as being the seventh in order , and highest from the earth . it s also a number fatal and climacterical ▪ as joyned with the number nine . also the number nine is a number fatal and climacterical , as joyned with the number seven : for nine times 7 makes 63 , which number all philosophers do hold to be fatal and climacterical by reason the nines and the sevens do meet . 2 7 9 jupiter   jupiter hath three numbers , allotted unto him , viz. one , three eight ; the number one , as being the head and chief fortune ; the number three , as being the the third star or planet in order from the starry firmament beneath saturn also , as being one of the three fortunes . the number eight as containing the mistery of justice and religion : for jupiter in astrology doth always represent the sober priest or minister , according unto which number christ was circumcised : also we read of eight degrees of blessedness , &c. 1 3 8 mars .   mars hath four numbers alloted unto him , viz. two , four seven , nine : the number two , as being one of the two infortunes : the number four , as being the fourth in number from the starry firmament next unto jupiter : the number seven as being a number fatal and climacterical as joyned with nine : also he hath the number nine as being a number fatal and climacterical , as joyned with seven . this planet as likewise saturn are both enemies unto nature . 2 4 7 8 sol.   the sun hath five several numbers alloted unto him , viz. one , three , four , seven , ten , twelve . the number one as being sole monarch of the heavens : the number three , as being one of the three fortunes : the number four , from the four quarters of the year : the number ten ▪ as being the number of the end of life , as multiplyed by seven : the number twelve as passing through the twelve signs of the zodiack . 1 3 4 10 12 venus .   venus hath three numbers alloted unto her , viz. two , three , nine : the number two as being female . the number three as being one of the three fortunes : the number six as being the number of generation consisting of two threes . 2 3 6 mercury .   this planet mercury hath two numbers alloted unto him , viz. two five : the number two , as being part male and part female . and therefore called the hermaphrodite . the number five as having predominancy over the operation of the five senses . 2 5 moon .   the moon hath three numbers alloted unto her , viz. two , six , nine : the number two as being female : the number six as being the number of generation : the number nine , as being the utmost receptacle of all coelestial influences . 2 6 9 the astrological way , whereby to discover all kinds of diseases , or infirmities incident unto the body of man : and likewise how to know whether the sick shall live or die : also the time , when either recovery or death may be expected ; with the true astrological way of curing each disease which is cureable , as followeth . in the first place , before we come to set forth the method of cure , it will be necessary to find what the grief is , and from what cause ; without which its impossible to do any great cures . there are two wayes by which judgment may be given herein : the one astrologically by a figure of twelve houses , which is accounted to be the most assured and exactest way : the other is by the moon according as she is afflicted by the malevolent planets , having regard to the signs or constellations , wherein she was afflicted , at the time of decumbiture : this way may serve generally in acute diseases , and i do find by my daily practice , that one shall seldom err herein , but in case of such diseases , which are natural from the birth , or have been of very long standing , or more especicially , if there be any suspition of witchcraft , a figure of twelve houses is most rational i shall briefly shew the way of both : but in regard a figure of twelve houses and the astrological way in giving judgement thereupon may seem difficult at the first , especially unto those , who have never formerly read or studied any whit in this science : and farther considering that many , who are well willers hereunto either may want time , or be unwilling to take the pains herein , may neglect the study hereof , and so this my writing may prove uselesse unto them , i have for the satisfaction and incouragement of all well willers unto this study and practice of physick , set forth one general way in giving judgment , either by the moon afflicted in acute diseases , which terminate in a month , or by the sun in chronick diseases , which are of above a months standing : this being the very way of my own daily practice and experience for many years , wherein you shall seldome or never fail , especially in acute diseases , as for other chronick and long lasting griefs there will be more time allotted to consider of them : the truth is long continued infirmities ( and some others ) doth require more inspection than that only of the sun and moon afflicted and therefore a figure of twelve houses will be proper to give judgement therein for many times the ascendant , sixth and twelfth houses with their lords will be concerned therein , as shall be shewed in order . also it will be necessary after the grief is known , to know the critical , intercidental , and judicial daies and times ; being the times for change either of life or death ▪ which is done by a critical figure divided into 16 equal parts , as shall be shewed in the next paper . the way to find the disease by the sun and moon afflicted . in the first place by an almanack take notice , what sign the moon is in , when the sick first takes their bed , and by what planet or planets she is afflicted , whether of saturn or mars ( or mercury , which is much of the nature of saturn ) then having recourse unto the rules elsewhere in this book under the titles of the moon by saturn or mars afflicted ; there you shall find the disease and the cause thereof . the almanack , which you use herein must be such a one which setteth forth the daily motions of the planets : i shall give one or two examples hereof , as followeth , a friend of mine took his bed the 10th day of october 1667 at a quarter past one a clock after noon , the moon being of nine degrees in sagitary and mars in eight degrees thirty five minutes in virgo , which argueth that mars is in platick square to the moon , we call that a platick aspect , which doth not perfectly accord in degrees and minutes , and if mars had been but one degree in virgo , yet we should account it a platick square , by reason that the orbs , rayes , or influence of the moon unto any planet doth begin to opperate , when she is within ten degrees aspecting any planet ( as is shewed at large elsewhere ) now to find the grief with its cause , you must repair unto the place in this book intituled , the moon in sagitary of mars oppressed , as in page 57 which sheweth that the sick is tormented with a strong fever and cholerick passions , &c. occasioned by surfeiting or too much repletion as there more at large appeareth : the next thing considerable is to know whether the sick shall live or die , and the time when either death or recovery may be expected : now in regard that the moon is applying by a friendly sex to aspect unto venus a fortune , and free from combustion and not in that part of the zodiack called via combusta ( as shall be shewed more at large elsewhere ) i did conclude that the sick would recover ( and so he did ) had the moon applyed unto the infortu●s ♄ or ● and no fortune interposed his friendly rays , then i should have concluded that the sick would have died of this sickness , to know when the time of recovery will be is found by a critical figure or circle divided into 16 equal parts , i shall not stand or spend time to give you the definition of each term of art ; onely thus much i say , the intercidental time , or divident part of the circle is not so dangerous , as the judicial time or part , nor yet the judicial time so dangerous as the critical time . the : cui steali . cirkle of 1c equall pts begining whear the moon wes at the ●lecum litus doict ♏ ♐ 4 / 9 note , that in this critical figure each part containeth 22 deg . 30 min. you must begin where the moon was at the decumbiture , viz. in 9 deg . ♐ unto which you must add 22. deg . 30 min. now in regard there is 30 deg . in every sign you most set down 1 deg . 30 min. capricorn for the first intercidental time into which 1 deg . 30 min. you must add 22 deg . 30 min. which maketh 24 capricorn , for the first judicial time : now if you add 22 deg . 30 min. unto the last number it maketh 6 deg . 30 min. aquarius , which is the second intercidental time and if you add 22 deg . 30 min. unto the last number , it maketh 9 deg . pisces , which is the first crisis or mortal time , according unto which account you must go round the circle , as appeareth by the figure , now to know when the time of recovery will be you must observe by a critical figure , when the moon upon a critical day doth meet with any friendly aspect of either of the fortunes , viz. jupiter or venus or sol or leo , for then the time of recovery may be expected . this critical figure being set for a friend of mine at the time aforesaid . i did observe each change , and alteration of his distemper ; and i alwayes found that upon the critical and judicial dayes and times , he was ever most afflicted . the reason is because the quartiles , oppositions , and semi-quartile aspects are more pernitious and hateful aspects , then any other , as the intercidental times , which happen between the critical and judicial times consisting only of 22 deg . and a half , which we call a semi semi quartile aspect , they seldom prove mortal , by reason the aspect is not so bad and forceable as the other , it being but half the half quartile aspect , yet notwithstanding sometimes in perperacute mortal sicknesses , i have known the sick depart , when the moon came unto a partile evil aspect of the infortunes , no fortune interposing their friendly rayes upon an intercedental time , but this is not usual ; but as concerning the time of recovery of my friend before mentioned it was upon the fourth and last critical day , the moon being returned unto the place she was in at the decumbiture : at which time she applyed to the sextile of venus and trine of jupiter , which happened upon the sixt day of november after midnight , would my friend have been let blood , he might questionless have recovered upon the second crisis , at what time the moon applyed to the trine of venus , now had this sickness continued longer , than we account the grief chronick , and then we give judgement by the sun afflicted , as before we did by the moon but all acute griefs do end usually before the moon goeth round the zodiack ; some griefs are peracute and those end sooner , others are perperacute , and those commonly make a quick dispatch one way or other . but of this i have treated more at large elsewhere . judgment upon an imaginary decumbiture , for the better explanation hereof i shall instance two or three imaginary decumbitures as followeth . suppose one should take his bed april the 10th 1668. at noon , the moon being then in 12. deg . 50 min. in the signe leo and saturn , in 12 deg . 50 min. in the signe aquary now this is called a partile opposition aspect , by reason the moon and saturn are just in the same deg . and min. opposite unto each other : had the sick took his bed 16 hours sooner , or later , then it would have been called a platick opposition , for as i have said elsewhere , the influence of the moon and planets doth begin to appear when she is 10 deg . distant from any aspect which will take up near 20 hours motion before and after separation ; now to know what the grief is , you must seek out the place in this book intituled the moon in leo of saturn oppressed , which argueth the sick shall be troubled with unkindly heat in the breast , and a violent feavour , with faintness at the heart , or swounding fits , and inclining to the black jaundies occasioned from ill melancholly blood , &c. now to know whether the sick shall live or dye , and the time when either recoverie , or death may be expected , is as followeth . first the moon is increasing in light . secondly she is not in that place in the zodiack called via combusta , which is from the middest of the signe libra unto the middest of scorpio thirdly the moon seperateth from jupiter a fortune , and applyeth unto a friendly trine aspect of the sun fountain of life . fourthly , the moon is free from combustion of the sun. a planet is under combustion when he is not fully elongated 7 deg . 30 min. from him . we have only two testimonies of death , which is first , saturns being in opposition of the moon at the time of decumbiture . secondly his being more strong then the moon , yet commonly a planet strong is not so malicious as those which are weak and peregrine ; however it appeareth that there is foure testimonies of life and but two 〈◊〉 death , wherefore we may conclude according to the rules of art that the sick shall recover : now to know the 〈◊〉 when ▪ you must by a critical figure of 16 equal parts , 〈…〉 when the moon upon any intercidental , judicial 〈…〉 day doth meet with any benevolent aspect of the 〈…〉 , be it sun , ●upiter , venus or dragons head , no evil 〈◊〉 interposing their bad influence for then the sick shall 〈◊〉 , which according unto the critical figure will be upon the 12th . day of april about one a clock at night , at which time the moon will be in 14 deg . of the signe virgo and jupiter in 14 deg . of taurus making a partile trine to each other , but the sick shall begin to recover sooner at the first intercidental time , which is about six a clock in the morning ( at which time the moon will be 5 deg . 20 min. in virgo , which is 22 deg . 30 min. distance from the place she was in at the decumbiture ) for as i have already declared the influence of the moon doth begin to opperate , when she is ten degrees distant from any aspect of the planets . concerning acute griefs . note , that at the time of decumbiture of any sick person , if the moon be free from the bad aspects of the infortunes , which is saturn , mars , mercury , or dragons tail that then ( more especially ) if the infortunes jupiter or venus attend upon the next judicial or critical day or time that the moon meeteth with any friendly aspect of the fortunes , no ill planet opposing the sick shall recover : but commonly acute griefs are seldom ended before the first critical time , at which time the moon maketh a quartile aspect unto the place she was in at the decumbiture , consisting of 90 deg . the moon alwayes goeth this 90 deg or fourth part of the zodiack in lesse than eight dayes ; sometimes acute griefs last untill the moon hath passed over three critical days or times , viz. until she returneth unto the place she was in at the decumbiture making the fourth crisis ; an example hereof is of my friend before mentioned : and if by the rules aforesaid you find that the grief is mortal , then you must proceed forward round the critical figure , until you find the mortal time , according unto the rules before mentioned , and you must do the like upon the rules for the time of recovery . concerning peracute griefs . there are are also some infirmities and sicknesses which end ▪ usually before the first judicial time is over ( called peracute griefs ) at which time the moon maketh a semi-quartile aspect to the place she was in at the decumbiture , consisting of 45 deg . now this aspect is not so pernicious as the quartile , yet oft-times the sick dyeth before this aspect is over ; more especially when the moon at that time meeteth with the infortunes , and no fortune interposing their friendly rayes . this semi quartile aspect or judicial time , the moon finisheth in less than four days likewise on the contrary by the rules aforesaid the sick may recover at the said judicial time . concerning perperacute sicknesses . there are also some sicknesses perperacute , and such griefs commonly terminate before the first intercedental time is over at which time the moon maketh a semi semi quartile aspect to the place she was in at the decumbiture , which consisteth of 22 deg . 30 min. containing the 16th . part of the critical figure , more especially when the infortunes doth afflict the moon , at that time no fortune attending : it was observable , that in the time of the plague , that many thousands died before the first intercidental time was over , which number or time the moon finisheth in less than two dayes . and many lived not one day , dying immediately so soon as they were struck , which we call the time of decumbiture or first mortal time . i have known the like both in appoplexies and convulsions , mother fits , and risings in the throat , and such like griefs . another judgement given upon a decumbiture figure . i shall take an imaginary time , and so give judgement thereupon for the better informing of young students herein i could have inserted many exemplary figures of my own , but considering that new almanacks may be had when happily old ones may be lost i therefore thought this way most profitable to instruct the learner . i shall instance the 22 day of april 1668 about nine a clock at night , at which time i will suppose one took his bed : now the question is what the grief is , and whether the sick will live or die : and when either death or recovery may be expected , you must in the first place by an almanack find in what sign the moon is , and how aspected : now at the hour and time aforesaid , the moon will be in 5 deg . 48 min. of the sign aquarius , and at the same time . i find mars to be in 5 deg . 48 min. of the sign scorpio , which maketh a partile square aspect consisting of 90 deg . : now to find what the grief is you must repair unto the place in this book , where it is written , the moon in aquarius of mars oppressed , which argueth , that the sick shall be troubled with great pain at the heart and with swooning fits also very feavourish , likewise a pain in the breast with difficulty of breathing , and the blood swelling in all the veins , the cause of this sickness proceeding from violent affections and vehement passions , &c. now the next thing considerable is to know whether the sick be like to live or die ; and the time when either death or recovery may be expected . first the moon is decreasing in light , secondly the moon departeth from the square of mars and applyed unto the conjunction of saturn both enemical planets : thirdly , neither sol , jupiter , or venus doth cast their friendly rayes or influence at the time aforesaid unto the moon , wherefore according unto the rules aforesaid , the sick person will die : to find the time , when you must frame a critical figure of sixteen equal parts as aforesaid , begining at the place where the moon was at the decumbiture , making that the first critical or mortal time , which if the sick escape , then at the next critical or mortal time , you must observe how the moon is aspected , at which time you shall find the moon meeteth with the opposition of ♂ being upon the 29th . day of april in the month aforesaid at one a clock after noon : now in regard there is no fortunate planet interposing their friendly rays at that time we may conclude that the sick wil depart , and not before , because the sun at intercedental and judicial times meeteth with no bad aspect of the infortunes . yet notwithstanding i have known some , who have been mortally struck according , unto any rational mans judgment at the decumbiture in acute griefs , who through gods blessing , having an expert and skilful physitian , and having withstood the bad influence of the afflicting planets , at the first mortal time beyond expectation upon the next critical time have recovered , and so it may happily prove to some , who shall take their bed at the time aforesaid . the reason is because between the time of decumbiture and first crisis , there is usually near seven days time , during which time ( especial remedies being applyed ) the sick may happily be the better enabled to with-stand the encounter , more especially if the intercedental and judicial times be freed from the evil aspects of the infortunes , as here it falleth out at this last decumbiture . the truth is life and death is in the hands of god , and whatsoever stars foreshew , yet he by his power and blessing upon the means used can preserve life , when he pleaseth , wherefore the sick ought not at any time to despair , for i my self have oft times recovered my patient having out lived the first mortal time as aforesaid , but i must needs say such changes and chances are seldom seen , for where one doth escape many dieth , for the stars are god's messengers , and what they do foreshew , do assuredly without miracle come to pass . concerning the way and manner how to cure each distemper , i have shewed elsewhere . concerning the astrological way of giving judgement by a sign of 12 houses . although what is already written , i have known by good experience to hold true by many examples it being for the most part the method of my daily practice ; yet for the benefit and better satisfaction of practitioners , and others , well-willers thereunto , especially such who desire further inspection into this art. i shall in the next place shew how in an astrological way judgement may be given by a figure of 12 houses . for i must confess that in such infirmities , which are natural from the birth , and likewise some chronick griefs , which have been of long continuance , and likewise such infirmities , wherein there is any suspition of witchcraft , cannot so exactly be discovered by the sun or moon afflicted , as by a sign of twelve houses for the ascendant sixth , eighth , and twelfth houses with their lords will be for the most part concerned therein as shall be shewed in order as followeth . in the first place you must erect your figure ; either for the time of decumbiture , or for the time of any strong fit ( if any be ) or upon the receipt of the urin , or time of the first visitation of the patient , and you must be sure for to frame , and vary your ascendant , that it together with its lord may exactly personate the sick. secondly you must in order set down the cuspe of every house . thirdly you must set down the characters of the planets in every house , which for to do , and likewise how to frame the ascendant , i shall briefly declare . but before you can proceed herein , you must perfectly know the characters of the seven planets , and twelve signs , and the five aspects of the planets , and the houses of each planet . the characters of the seven planets with the dragons head and tail. ♄ saturn ♃ jupiter ♂ mars ☉ sol ♀ venus ☿ mercury ☽ luna ☊ dragons head ☋ dragons tail the characters of the twelve signs , with the parts of the body by them signified ; and how they stand opposite unto each other in the zodiack , as followeth . ♈ aries head and face . ♉ taurus neck and throat . ♊ gemini arms & shoulders . ♋ cancer breast , stom . & ribs . ♌ leo heart and back . ♍ virgo bowels and gutts . ♎ libra reins and loins . ♏ scorpio secrets and bladder . ♐ sagitary the thighs . ♑ capricorn the knees . ♒ aquary the leggs . ♓ pisces the feet . the five aspects of the planets . ☌ conjunction , that is when any two planets are in one and the same degree of any sign . ⚹ sextile , that is when any two planets are 60. degrees from each other : and containeth a sixth part of the zodiack . □ square , that is when any two planets are 90. degrees from each other : and containeth a fourth part of the zodiack . △ trine , that is when any two planets are 120. degrees from each other : and containeth a third part of the zodiack . ☍ oppsition , that is when any two planets are 180. degrees from each other : and containeth half the zodiack . note , that there is 30 deg . in every sign , and two signs make a sextile aspect , three signs make a square , four signs make a trine , six signs make an opposition , which containeth half the zodiack . the whole containeth 360 deg , which is 12 times 30 deg . the houses of the planets . ♄ saturn hath two houses ; viz. the signs ♑ capricorn , and ♒ aquarie : ♃ jupiter hath two houses ♐ sagitary , and ♓ pisces : ♂ mars hath two houses ♈ aries , and ♏ scorpio : ☉ sol , hath but one house , which is ♌ leo : ♀ venus hath two houses ♎ libra and ♉ taurus : ☿ mercury hath two houses ♊ gemini and ♍ virgo , ☽ the moon hath but one house , which is ♋ cancer . how to frame the twelve houses , and what every house concerns , in a decumbiture figure . the sick : mans : glass shewing what euery house concernes in case of sicknes ; 1 the sick mans ●son : 2 his estate : 3 his kindred 4 his father somtimes his grave 5 his children 6 his sicknes and servants 7 his wife his phissi●ion and publick enemies 8 his death 9 his religeon 10 his mother and phissick 11 his frindes 12 his privat enemies and selfendings the next thing considerable is , to have knowledge how to insert the twelve signs upon the cusp of every house , and likewise to set the seven planets in those signs : but before we can proceed therein it will be necessary to understand the use of an ephemeris or almanack , which setteth forth the daily motions of the planets . and for the better informing of young students herein , i shall for example set down in order for the month of october , 1667. the form as usually is printed , and shew the use thereof until the tenth day of the said month ; which will be enough whereby to understand , not only the residue of that month , but also every other month throughout the year , provided alwayes that your almanack must be such a one which setteth forth the daily motions of the planets , whose title page to every month is as followeth , october hath xxxi . dayes . month days week days the daily motions of the planets and ☊ ♄ ♃ ♂ ☉ ♀ ☿ d ☊ ♑ ♉ ♍ ♎ ♎ ♎ ♌ ♊ 1 a 25 35 1 59 3 8 18 2 7 21 3 25 1 48 10 29 2   25 36 1 51 3 45 19 1 8 36 5 9 14 25 10 26 3 c 25 37 1 43 4 21 20 1 9 51 6 45 27 25 10 23 4 d 25 39 1 35 4 57 21 1 11 6 8 25 10 ♍ 16 10 20 5 e 25 40 1 27 5 33 22 0 12 2 10 6 24 48 10 17 6 f 25 42 1 19 6 14 23 0 13 37 11 47 8 ♎ 18 10 14 7 g 25 43 1 11 6 48 24 0 14 52 13 28 21 47 10 11 8 a 25 45 1 3 7 23 25 0 16 7 15 9 6 ♏ 18 10 8 9 b 25 47 0 55 7 59 26 0 17 22 16 50 23 39 10 4 10 c 25 49 0 47 8 35 27 0 18 38 18 32 8 ♐ 31 10 1 concerning the use of the ephemeres . the first column on the left shews the days of the month , the second column sheweth ' the week dayes , the next column sheweth the daily motion of saturn , the sign next beneath his character sheweth what sign he is in , and the numbers next beneath that sheweth how far saturn is entered into the sign for every day , the first number is for degrees , the the second minutes , and so forwards fot every planet accordingly : example , ♄ saturn the first day is 25 deg . 35 min. in the sign capricorn : the second day he is 25 deg . 36 min. in capricorn : the third day he is 25 deg . 37 min. in capricorn : the fourth day he is 25 deg 39 min. in capricorn and so forward . in the next column is ♃ jupiter and the sign ♉ taurus beneath which argueth that ♃ jupiter is in the sign ♉ taurus , and over against the first day is the numbers 1 deg . 59 min. which sheweth that he is so far in the sign : the second day is but 1 deg . 51 min. the third day he is 1 deg . 43 min. the fourth day he is 1 deg . 35 min. the and so onward , this planets numbers decreaseth daily by reason he is retrograde and moveth backward , as somtimes all the rest will , except the sun and moon in the next column is ♂ mars and underneath the sign virgo , and under that the numbers 3 deg . 8 min. which argueth that mars the first day is gotten so far in the sign capricorn , the second day he is 3 deg . 45 min. in the sign capricorn , the third day 4 deg . 21 min. the fourth day he is 4 deg . 57 min : in virgo , and so downward as you find in the table ; you may do the like for the rest of the planets accordingly . how to erect a scheme or figure according unto any time given . the usual time whereby to erect a figure concerning any patient , is first by the time of falling ill , or most properly , when the patients first betake them to their bed , which we call the time of decumbiture : but if that may not be had , as sometimes 't will fall out , especially in chronick griefs , then you must take the time , when the urin is first brought , or the time of any strong fit , if any be . or the time when you first visit the patient , provided alwayes that you so vary your ascendant , that it together with its lord may exactly personate the sick , without which no true judgment can be given , by reason the ascendant , fourth , sixth , eighth , and twelfth houses are concerned , now if you fail in the first , there can be no certainty in the rest , how to know what bodily shape belongeth unto each figure , and planet is shewed elsewhere in this book : for the better understanding hereof i shall insert one example as followeth , a friend of mine being very ill took his bed , october the 10 1667 , at a quarter past one a clock in the afternoon , according unto which time i did erect a figure as followeth , having by an almanack found out that page intituled the daily motions of the planets , as is before expressed for the month of october , you must seek for the 10 day of the said moneth , and move forward in a strait line , untill you come unto the sixth column , and under the characters over head thus expressed ☉ there you shall find the number 27 , which sheweth that ♎ the sun is gotten into the sign libra 27 deg . upon the tenth day aforesaid , with this number 27 you must enter the table of houses , which you shall find at the end of the almanack , and seek out the page , where it is written sol in libra . and in the column under 80 min. the signs going down in a strait line , there you shall find the number 27 , and in the column next adjoyning on the left hand under the title of time from noon moving downward unto the same line where is the number 27 before mentioned , there you shall find the numbers thus printed , viz. 13 , 40 , 12 , but the number 12 being but seconds you may leave out and so take only the two first numbers 13 , 40 , which you must set in some place by it self , then you must add to that number the time of the day , when the sick first took his bed being a quarter past one a clock afternoon , as for example   h. m. time from noon 13 40 the time of the day , when the sick took his bed 1 15   14 55 note that the 15 min stands for a quarter of an hour , there being 60 in an hour . a figure for the time of dccum biture october the 10th h / 1-m / 15 p : ìn . annc doni 1667 : ☽ a = ♂ ad ⚹ ♀ the next thing material is to set the planets in those figures , and houses , which for to do you must by the almanack find out the page before mentioned , for the month of october . and from the tenth day moving in a right line , you shall in each column find the numbers of degrees and minutes according as each planet hath gotten into each sign : example , the first number is 25 deg . 49 min. and saturn is over the head of capricorn , which argueth that saturn is so many degrees and minutes entered into capricorn , which degrees and minutes you must set in the first house , as by the figure appeareth . in the next column is 0 deg . 47 min. and jupiter is over the head of taurus , which sheweth that jupiter is forty seven minutes in taurus , which number with the character of jupiter must be set in the third house . in the next column is 8 deg . 35 min. and mars is over the head of virgo , which argueth that mars is gotten so far into virgo , and must be set in the eighth house . in the next column is 27 deg . and sol is over the head of libra . in the next column is 18 deg . 38 min. and venus is over the head of libra . in the next column is 18 deg . 32 min. and mercury is over the head of libra . in the next column is 8 deg . 31 min. and luna is over the head of sagitary , which argueth that the moon was at noon so far entered the sign sagitary , but in regard it was above an hour after noon when the sick took his bed , there must be half a degree , which is 30 minutes added unto the moons motion , for by reason of her quick moving , she getteth one degree in two hours , wherefore we must set the moon in nine degree● sagitary ; you must do the like in all other figures : had he took his bed at midnight you must have added six degrees , and then the moon would have been fourteen degrees thirty one minutes entred sagitary . now having set the signs on the cuspes of every house , and the planets in those signs as by the figure appeareth : i shall in the next place shew how to give judgement thereupon , and so thereby discover the grief as followeth how to give judgement by the figure of twelve houses . the general way , especially in acute griefs , is to give iudgment by the moon being in any of the twelve signs and by the infirmities afflicted , as i have already declared : and this being an acute grief , judgment must be given accordingly , yet notwithstanding i shall by this figure set forth his natural infirmities or griefs , and so instruct ●●e learner how to give judgement in any other chronick griefs by the signs on the ascendant , sixth house and their lords afflicted . for some lasting and obscure griefs cannot be discovered by the sun and moon afflicted in the first place you must observe whether the ascendant , which is the first house , or the sixth house or their lords be any way afflicted by the malevolent planets saturn , mars , mercury , or the sun , for sometimes the sun may and will afflict more , especially if the grief lie●h about the heart , or in the arteries , or vital spirits . in the ne●t place it will be necessary to know whether the grief be natural , or whether it came by witchcraft or sorcery : now if you find the lord of the twelfth house in the ascendant or if the lord of the twelfth being in the sixth , or lord of the sixth in the twelfth , or if the lord of the ascendant be combust , that is , when the sun is not above eight degrees thirty minutes distant from him , or if one planet be lord of the ascendant and twelfth house , and an infortune , then you may conclude that the grief is more than natural , more especially where there is any just suspition thereof , which may be somewhat deferred by heeding well the nature of their distempers , as i have shewed elsewhere : but in this figure i find no such thing ; wherefore i did conclude , the grief was natural ; occasioned by his own disorder of body : as shall be shewed in order . sometimes i have known the ascendent , the sixth house , or their lords have been afflicted by the lord of the twelfth house and yet the sickness was not from witchcraft , notwithstanding , those suspected evils ; for if jupiter and venus , or the sun , do cast their friendly aspects unto the afflicted planet or cusp of the house aforesaid , that then the grief came by some disorder of body : also , if that lord of the ascendant be in the twelfth , or in the sixth , the grief is natural : for from the twelfth house , we give judgment of self-undoing so well as otherwise ; but any rational experienced practitioner may easily distinguish , the natural diseases , from the unnatural , by heeding well the manner of their distempers , as aforesaid : and generally i find that those who are taken in this snare of witchcraft , that at the time of any strong fit , or when they are more than usually tormented , that then the ascendant together with its lord doth exactly personate the sick ; and at that very time , the lord of the twelfth house doth one way or other afflict , either the ascendant , or its lord ; or that an infortune lord of the ascendant and twelfth house , which may so happen , when the proper ascendant is intercepted in the first house , as i have oft times experimented . i shall now proceed to give judgment upon the decumbiture figure before mentioned ; and in the first place , describe the person of the sick . secondly , y rules discover , whether the sick shall live or die , if live , how long time before recovery . thirdly , i shall by rules set forth , what the grief is , and from what came . fourthly , how and which way he was recovered . the mans person is described by the ascendant capricorn , and saturn his being therein who is lord thereof , viz. one of a middle stature , full and well set , of a dark or swartish complection , ●ad brown hair , as you may find more at large in this book . signes of recovery , was first saturn lord of the ascendant , being his significator is strong as being in his own house , and is more strong than mars who is the afflicting planet . secondly the moon doth separate from mars , and apply first unto venus and from thence to the sun and jupiter , all fortunes . thirdly , the sun is increasing in light . fourthly neither the moon , or saturn are combust ; planets are said to be combust , when they are not elongated eight deg . thirty min from the sun. fifthly , she is not in that part of the zodiack called via combusta , which is from the middle of libra to the midst of scorpio . lastly , venus lady of the fourth house , which usually sheweth the end of all things of this nature , was in friendly aspect to the moon , at the time of decumbiture ; all which are arguments of recovery . the time when followeth , first , the angles of the figure are part fixt , and part common . secondly , the moon was in a common sign which argueth , that the grief was not perfectly , acute , nor yet chronick , but between both and so it proved , for upon the last critical day the feaver left him , at which time the moon came to the place , she was in at the decumbiture viz. unto the ninth deg of sagitarius : yet notwithstanding , at the last critical time he had a very strong fit , the moon being then in square to mars ; but venus fortune and lady of the fourth house , being in friendly aspect to the moon , and she together with saturn being both more strong than mars , who was the afflicting planet , put an end to this sickness at the time aforesaid . the next thing considerable , is to discover the grief , and from what cause ; and likewise , what infirmities she was naturally subject unto from the birth : now concerning the present acute grief , i found the moon being in the sign sagitary , was the platick square of mars afflicted , for between the sign virgo , the place where mars is , and the sign sagitary , the place where the moon is , containeth ninety deg . which number maketh a square had the moon been but one degree in the sign sagitary yet that would have been a platick square , for if we consider the moity of each orb , there will be ten deg . allotted , at which time and distance , the influence of those planets doth operate , both before and after any aspect . now to know what the present distemper was , by reason it was an acute grief ; you must find out the place in this book entituled , the moon in sagitary , of mars oppressed , which argueth a high and strong fever with the flux , or lask and cholerick passions ; the pulses few and taint heating slowly , his blood over heated . the bright star of the harp : and the star called the swans-bill , both of the nature of mars and jupiter in the ? a cendant ? made the fever the more violent : the cause of this sickness was from inordinate exercise , surfeiting , or too much repletion , as you may find more at large at the place aforesaid . the way of recovery was by application antipathetical unto mars the afflicting planet by reason that venu was more strong in essential dignities , as being in her house . now in regard that mars is by nature hot and dry , i made choice of such herbs and other remedies , which were cold and moist ; wherefore i advised that such decoctions , syrrups , or cordials , which were administred should be cooling and cleansing , also glisters the like , ever remembring as in this , so in all other cures , to fortifie the heart and vital spirits with herbs under the dominion of the sun : would the patient have been perswaded to let blood , the fever would without question , have left him , upon the second critical time , the moon meeting then with the friendly aspect of venus a fortune and strong . note , that as we give judgement by the sun and moon afflicted , in acute and chronick griefs , so by the same rules you may give judgement by the lord of the ascendant or sixth house afflicted , example , in the last figure , mercury being lord of the sixth house , and in the sign libra , is in platick square to saturn , and conjunction of the sun , who is much of the nature of mars , only the sun striketh more upon the vital spirits : now according unto the rule in giving judgement by the moon afflicted in the sign libra , it sheweth a severish distemper and blood over heated , occasioned from surfeiting . the next thing considerable is to know , what infirmities naturally he was subject unto from the birth . in this question judgement must be given from the ascendant , sixth house , and their lords afflicted ; first the ascendant is no way afflicted , save onely by the presence of saturn , who is lord thereof : now in this question saturn is not accounted an enemy , notwithstanding he is naturally evil , as being in his own house , and lord of the sick mans person , for according unto the old saying , the devil will not hurt his own . also the sixth house is no way afflicted , wherefore we have onely mercury lord of the sixth considerable herein , and he i find is in libra in platick coniunction of venus lady of the fourth . now any planet although he be naturally a fortune may afflict so well , as the infortunes being lord or lady of the fourth , sixth , eighth , or twelfth houses , for every planet must do his office to know what the grief is ; you must take notice of the sign , where mercury lord of the sixth house is , videl . in libra , and what parts of the body is signified thereby , also what griefs or infirmities are under the dominion of venus : first under the sign libra is reins , and loyns , and under venus is also the reins together with back , belly and members of generation and passages of urine : to my knowledge he hath for many years past been oft-times perplexed with difficulty of making water , and with pains in his reins , back , and belly . what i have written i presume will be sufficient to instruct the learner , but practice and experience will be the only means to inlarge the practitioners ●●dgement herein , for 't is impossible for any man to write , be he never so curious and exact in any art , but that somewhat may be added unto it . observations concerning the ascendant . that which i have found by daily practice and experience , is carefully so to erect your figure ( either for the time of decumbiture , or the time of any strong fit , or when the patient was more than ordinarily sick or afflicted , or for the time when the urine is brought , or when you go to visit the patient ) that the ascendant together with its lord may exactly personate the sick , for if neither the ascendant nor the lord thereof doth agree in shape , complexion , and hair with the body of the sick , you cannot safely give judgement by a figure of twelve houses , especially in many infirmities , as i have often experienced ; for the first , fourth , sixth , eighth , and twelfth houses will be especially concerned therein ; wherefore if you fail in the first foundation , the whole building must needs be obstructed and out of order . example , in the decumbiture figure before mentioned , ha● i erected the figure , but for one hour sooner , sagitary would have ascended , whereof jupiter is lord , and then the person of the sick must have been described accordingly . now jupiter signifies a man of an upright and tall stature , complexion ruddy , face oval , full , and fleshy , and a kind of a bourn brown hair : also the sign sagitary represents a man much after the same shape and likeness , by which it appears what a vast difference it might produce by takeing a wrong ascendant , both in regard of the personal shape , and likewise in the discovery of the grief of the sick : whereas it appears by taking the true ascendant , that it doth not on-only dilineate his person , as is before expressed , but doth exactly discover his present distemper , and natural infirmities : for let the time of decumbiture or the time for receipt of the urine , or the time of any strong fit be brought , and the artist never so curious by enquiry , except by chance , he shall not get the true ascendant , for many reasons may be objected to the contrary : first clocks may fail , and so sick persons will hold out longer then others before complaint , and the urine may by the messenger be hastened , or retarded , you see one hour maketh a mighty alteration . i shall quote another example , suppose a man or woman , who is under the dominion of sol lord of leo , should fall sick , which represents one of a large stature , fat , full , and fleshy , complexion sanguine , and yellowish hair . now perhaps when the urine is brought , or through mistakes of clocks or time , gemini should ascend , whereof mercury is lord , what a mighty difference could this produce : for the planet mercury represents one of an upright and tall stature , spare body , long face and nose , of a dark swarthy complexion , and sad hair : also the sign gemini signifies a tall body , a dark and obscure complexion , and sad or black hair . i could instance many more , wherefore advise all practitioners in this art so to vary their ascendant , that it together with its lord or planet posited in the ascendant may exactly personate the sick , without which no true judgment can be given especially in many chronick griefs or infirmities , and in case of witchcraft and sorcery . some brief rules concerning long and short sicknesses ; and whether the patient is like to live or die . first of long or short sickness . i a fixt sign on the cusp of the sixt , or the lord of the sixt , or lord of the ascendant , or the moon in accute , or sun in chronick griefs be in fixt signs afflicted by the malevolent planets , or by the lord of the 12 , 8 , or 4th , argueth long and lasting griefs or infirmities ; if adhering unto a partil aspect , the grief encreaseth ; if drawing from partil aspect , the grief diminisheth : also fixt signs gives moneths , and sometimes years before recovery ; common signs gives weeks , and sometimes moneths , moveable daies or weeks before recovery . now concerning the number of daies , weeks , moneths or years , you must observe how many degrees is wanting before the influence is over , accounting by the moity of their orbs , and so many moneths , weeks , daies or years it will be before recovery ; but if the figure sheweth death , then you must account how many degrees is wanting to make the partil aspect of the principal significators , and so account so many daies , weeks , moneths or years before the time of death 2 the principal significator of the sick changing his sign , argueth a change of the disease , either for life or death 3 the latter degrees of a sign on the cusp of the sixth house , or the significator of the sick in the latter degrees of a sign , argueth a sudden change either for life or death . 4 the lord of the ascendant , or principal significator of the sick person , being stronger then the afflicting planets sheweth recovery , in moveable signs the sooner ; but if the afflicting planets be strong , and the principal significator of the sick weak , more especially if the afflicting planets hath relation unto the eighth or fourth houses , it sheweth death . 5 if the lord of the ascendant , or lord of the sixth , or if the ☽ in accute , or sun in chronick griefs be afflicted in azemine degrees , it sheweth a continued sickness , if not sudden death . 6 if the lord of the ascendant , or principal significator of the sick turn retrograde , it sheweth a relapse , and the cure goes backward . 7 the lord of the ascendant , or principal significator of the sick strong , swift in motion , with a fortune attending especially in a moveable sign , sheweth a speedy recovery lastly , we must heed the nature of the disease , for strong fevers , convulsions , apoplexies , risings in the throat , with some pestilential infirmities , and such like desperate griefs , will sooner terminate , then such which are usually lasting , as consumptions , dropsies , agues , gouts , and such like . some brief rules concerning recovery . first , a fortune , or the ☽ in accute , or ☉ in chronick griefs strong in the ascendant , and not afflicted , nor yet being lord of the sixth , eighth or twelfth houses , sheweth recovery . secondly , the lord of the ascendant strong , and more strong then the afflicting planets , sheweth recovery . thirdly , the lord of the ascendant , or the ☽ in accute , or ☉ in chronick griefs ioyned unto , or friendly aspected with a fortune , or applying unto a fortune , sheweth recovery . fourthly , the ☽ encreasing in light , swift in motion , and strong applying unto a fortune in accute griefs , sheweth recovery fifthly , if the lord of the ascendant doth dispose of the afflicting planet , especially being equal in strength , sheweth recovery . signs of death . first , the lord of the ascendant weak and afflicted by the malevolent planets , and no fortune interposing , sheweth death . secondly , the lord of the ascendant , or the ☽ afflicted in the fourth or eighth , or by the lord of the eighth , argueth death , or if the lord of the eighth be in the ascendant . thirdly , the lord of the ascendant combust in the ascendant fourth , sixth , eighth , or twelfth , or in the way called via combusta , sheweth death . fourthly , if the ☽ in accute , or ☉ in chronick griefs is ●●●●cted by the infortunes , or by the lord of the eighth or ●●ar●h , no fortune interposing their friendly rays , more especially if the lord of the ascendant be weak , it sheweth death . fifthly , the ascendant , or lord of the ascendant , or the ☽ in accute , or the ☉ in chronick griefs meeting with fixt stars of the nature of the infortunes , no fortune interposing his friendly rays , sheweth death . sixthly , the ☽ applying unto combustion in the ascendant fourth , sixth , eighth , or twelfth houses , or via combusta , sheweth death . seventhly , the ☽ applying from the lord of the ascendant to the lord of the eighth , and the lord of the ascendant weak , sheweth death . eighthly , an eclipse of the ☽ in accute , or of the sun in chronick griefs upon a critical day , and the lord of the ascendant weak , no fortune strong interposing their friendly rays , sheweth death , generally in all decumbitures , the nearer the afflicting planets are to the earth , the worst . the bodily shape and infirmities attributed unto the twelve signs . aries ♈ signifieth one of a reasonable stature , dry body , strong limbs , and big bones , but not fat , somewhat long face and neck , complexion somewhat brown , their hair and eye-brows inclining unto blackness : the diseases incident unto this sign is pushes , whelks , polipus , or noli me tangere all diseases which proceed from the head , as convulsions , dead palsies cramps , madness , virtigo , megrims , falling sickness , and such like taurus ♉ signifieth one short , but full and well set , full face and eyes , broad forehead , large strong shoulders , full hands , thick lips , and black rugged hair ; under this sign are all diseases incident to the throat , as kings evil , quinzies , fluxes of rhumes falling from the head into the throat , impostumes and wens in the neck . gemini ♊ those persons usually who ate under the dominion of this sign , are tall and straight of body , with long arms , of a dark sanguine complexion , and blackish hair , their body strong and active ; under this sign are all diseases in the arms , hands and shoulders , with windiness in the veins , corrupted blood , sometimes it produceth distempered fancies . cancer ♋ signifies one of a low and small stature , bigger made from the middle upwards then downwards , face big and round , of a whitely pale complexion , sad brown hair , one apt to be sickly ; under this sign are all imperfections of the breast and stomack , as cancers , ptisick , salt-flegms , rotten coughs , weak digestion , cold stomack , dropsical humors , and impostumations . leo ♌ signifies one of a large fair stature , full and fleshy , narrow sides , and broad shoulders , full and great eyes , sometimes goggle-eyed , yellow or dark flaxen hair , sometimes curling , of a sanguine or ruddy complexion ; under this sign are all tremblings or passions of the heart , violent burning fevers , pains either at the heart or back , sore eyes , plague , pestilence , and yellow jaundies virgo ♍ signifies one of a mean stature , but well composed , a brown ruddy complexion , black hair , shrill and small voice , well favoured , but not very beautiful : the diseases which are incident unto this sign , are all such which belong to the belly , as obstructions in the bowels , and miseraicks worms , wind collick , spleen , hy●ondriack melancholly , and such like libra ♎ personates one of a well shamed body , straight and tall , a round and beautiful visage , a pure sanguine complexion but not very high coloured , the hair yellowish or sandy-brown , and somewhat smooth ; under this sign are all diseases of the reins and kidneys , also all diseases proceeding from wind , and corruption of blood . scorpio ♏ signifies one of a middle stature , strong , full , and well set , somewhat broad-faced , of a muddy or darkish complexion , sad or black hair , bow-legged , short-necked , and somewhat hairy : the diseases incident unto this sign , are ulcers , inflammations . gravel or stone in the bladder , all imperfections and difficulties of urine , ruptures , hemorhoids , the french pox , and running of the reins , priapismus , and all diseases which infect the privities both of men and women . sagitary ♐ signifies one of a fair stature , and strong body , long face , but full and fleshy , complexion sanguine or ruddy , the hair a kind of chestnut colour ; the diseases which are under this sign are fevers , and such infirmities which are occasioned through heat of blood : the sciatica , and all pains i● the hips and thighs , falls from horses , and hurts by four-footed beasts . capricorn ♑ signifies one rather short then tall , narrow , 〈◊〉 ●ace , thin beard , black hair , narrow breast , small neck , complexion swarthy ; under this sign are all diseases in the ●●●●es and hams , leprosies , itch and scabs , all diseases of ●●●ancholly , all schirrous tumors , sprains , fractures and dislo●●●●●●s . aquary ♒ represents one of a thick squar corpor●ture , strong and well composed , not very tall , visage long , complexion fair and clear , hair sandy-coloured , but if ♄ be in this house at the birth , then black hair , and the complexion will be more sanguine , with distorted teeth ; under this sign are all diseases incident to the legs and ancles , and all melancholly winds coagulated in the veins and blood ; also cramps pisces ♓ represents one of a short stature , not decent , but rather ill composed , a large face , complexion pale , the body fleshy or swelling , and somewhat incurvating with the head ; the diseases subject unto this sign is all lameness , and aches incident to the feet , and all diseases coming of salt flegm , and mixt humors , all blood putr●fied , as scabs , itch and botches , or breakings out about the body , small pox and measles ; also all cold and moist diseases , and such which come of catching cold and wet at the feet . the bodily shape , with the parts and members of the body and diseases which the planets generally rule . ♄ saturn represents one of a middle stature , broad and large shoulders , sometimes crooked , his thighs lean , his feet and knees indecent , many times hitting or shovelling one against the other , broad forehead , eyes little , complexion muddy or swarfish , looking downward , thick lips and nose , thin beard , black hair : diseases and sicknesses subject unto this planet are quartan agues , and diseases proceeding from cold , dry , and melancholly distempers ; the retentive faculties , all impediments in the right ear , and teeth , also rhumes , consumptions , black jaundies , palsies , tremblings , and vain fears , dropsies , the hand and feet gout , the spleen and bones . ♃ jupiter signifies one of an upright and tall stature , a large deep belly , thighs and legs strong proportioned , his feet long , face oval , full and fleshy , complexion brown , ruddy , and lovely high forehead , his hair soft , and a kind of a 〈…〉 brown , much beard , his speech sober : the diseases under this planet are plurifies , and all infirmities in the liver , lungs , ribs , sides , veins , blood ; the digestive faculty , cramps , pain in the back-bone , squinzies , windiness , and put●efaction in the blood , feavers proceeding from wind , and ill blood . ♂ mars signifies one of a middle stature , body strong , big bones , not fat visage , round complexion , ruddy , the hair between red and sandy flexon , crisping or curling , hazel eyes , a bold confident man or woman , and fearless : the sicknesses incident to this planet are ●ertian fevers , and pestile●● burning fevers , the plague , bloody flux , small pox , a●● diseases of choler , the shingles , gall , and left ear phrensies , and sudden distempers in the head , carbuncles fistulaes , all scars and hurts by iron . ☉ sun those who are under the sun are of a strong large corporature , and well composed body , fat and fleshy , of a yellow saffron ruddy complexion , goggle or large eyes , hair yellowish : the sicknesses under this planet are all diseases of the heart and brain , palpitations , tremblings , sudden swoundings , catars , the nerves and arteries , the right eye of men , the left eye of women , and vital spirit of both ; all infirmities of the eyes , and diseases of the mouth , rotten fevers , and stinking breaths . ♀ venus signifies one somewhat short , but full and well set , fat and fleshy face , round complexion , dark , but lovely light brown hair , and smooth , a rowling eye , and full of amorous inticements , a body well shapt , and delightful : sicknesses under this planet , are all diseases of the matrix , and members of generation , running of the reins , french pox , also griefs of the belly , back , and navil , any disease arising by inordinate lust , priapisme , diabetes , or pissing disease , hernias , and impotency in the act of generation , the throat , womens breasts , and the milk in them . ☿ mercury denotes one tall of stature , spare body , long arms and hands , long face and nose , thin lips , little hair on his chin , but pretty store on his head , inclining to blackness , an olive or sallow complexion , eyes between black and grey , oft-times much partaking of the planet he is joyned withal : sicknesses under this planet , are all diseases of the brain , as madness , vertigoes , lethargies , or giddiness in the head , ptisick , stammering , memory , dry coughs , snufling in the head or nose , dumbners , all evils in the fancy , or intellectual parts , and tongue , the nerves , the defects of the uvula , or gargareon . ☽ moon the moon generally representeth one of a fair stature , flegmatick full , fat , and fleshy round face , complexion whitely , lowring looks , hair light brown , grey eyes : sicknesses and diseases are apoplexies , palsey , collick , belly-ake , the menstrues in women , dropsies , fluxes of the belly , all ● old rhumatick diseases , and cold stomack , surfeits , rotten ●●●ughs , convulsions , falling-sickness , kings evil , apostems , ●●●all pox and measles , the collick , bladder , and members 〈◊〉 generation . concerning what effects the moon worketh in any of the twelve signs upon the body of the sick , she being afflicted by the conjunction , square , or opposition aspects of mars at the decumbiture . note , that the sun afflicting the moon , doth work near the same effects , only the ☉ striketh more upon the heart and vital spirits . the ☽ moon in ♈ aries of ♂ mars afflicted or oppressed . if at the time of decumbiture the moon be in ♈ aries of ♂ or ☉ oppressed either by ☌ □ or ☍ , then the sick shall be tormented with continual fevers , with little or no rest or quietness , a continued extreme thirst , and driness of the tongue and breast , an inflammation of the liver , tending unto a phrensie , high and inordinate pulses , sometimes a deprivation of senses , and the patient ready to run mad , or hath some extreme pain or grief in their belly , or small guts , occasioned by cholerick obstructions : the original cause of this disease shall proceed from a distempered affection of the membranes , or pellets of the brain , and excess of cholerick matter . if venus be stronger then mars , then cooling remedies will be suitable ; however 't will be necessary to let blood . concerning the way how to cure each distemper , is set down elsewhere in this book . the moon in taurus of mars afflicted . those that take their bed under such configuration , as aforesaid , shall be afflicted with a continued fever , the whole frame of the body obstructed , with an inflammation of the throat , neck , and hinder part thereof , and ach of the bones ; also insomniation , or inordinate watching , very thirsty , longing after cooling things : oft time the sick will be afflicted with the strangury , or stone , with gravel in the reins and kidneys , pestilent sore throats , or hoarsness , or some ill matter setled there : the cause is from much ill blood , choler , and sweet flegm . the moon in gemini of mars oppressed . those who take their bed under this configuration , shall he afflicted with a violent burning fever , and with obstructions , their blood extreme windy and corrupted , some great pains or lameness in their arms or joynts , the pulses long and inordinate ; oft-times the patient is troubled with the stone or heat in the reins , and sometimes spitting of blood : the cause of this distemper usually is from ingurgitation , or too much drinking of strong wine or beer , and some cholerick matter . the moon in cancer of mars oppressed . those that take their bed when the ☽ is in cancer of mars afflicted , the sick will be troubled with much flegm , and ill matter setled at their breast and stomack ; also with eversion , and turning of the ventricle , oft-times desiring to vomit , with some defect in the blood : this disease cometh from surfeiting , or too much ingurgitation , and oft-times turneth unto a loosness , or a rotten cough , and sometimes spitting blood . the moon in leo of mars oppressed . those who take their bed when the moon is in leo of mars afflicted , shall be subject unto a strong fever , with a disturbed brain , and strong raging fits ; also they will be subject unto much drowsiness and heaviness all over their body ; also the heart oppressed with faintness and swounding fits , and the party almost raging mad , with little or no appetite : the cause of this distemper is from excess of choler , and blood abounding , over-heated . the moon in virgo of mars oppressed . those who take their bed under this configuration , shall be subject unto a flux in the belly , small fevers , the pulse , remiss avertion of the ventricle , also tormented with wind in the belly or guts , and chollick , bad stomack many times , weakness or pains in the legs near the anckles ; the cause from original choler , melancholly , and sharp fretting humors . the moon in libra of mars oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in ♎ of ♂ oppressed , will be subject unto an inflammation all over the body , also fevourish , unapt to sleep , their pulses high , troubled with wind and plenitude of blood , many times they have the stone or gravel in the kidneys or great heat therein : the cause is from surfeiting or disorder in diet , also plenitude of blood . the moon in scorpio of mars oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in scorpio of mars oppressed , argueth that the sick is afflicted , or hath some grievous infirmity in their privy parts . if children or young-people , then it argueth the small-pox or measles . also it sheweth ( more especially in times of pestilential diseases ) the pestilence , or some poisonous or pestilential grief : many times it causeth boiles or scabiness to break forth . the cause is from blood extreamly corrupted , or from some infectious and poisonous grief , accidentally taken into the body by smell or taste . the moon in sagitary of mars oppressed . those , who take their bed the moon being in sagitary of mars oppressed shall be tormented with high fevers , and cholerick passions , with the flux or lask , the pulses few and faint , the sick burns extreamly many times , it sheweth the hand and foot gout with breaking out , and sore throats , sometimes sharp rheums offend their eyes . the cause is from surfeiting or gluttony , or too much repletion . also from inordinate exercise , and blood over-heated . the moon in capricorn of mars oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in capricorn of mars oppressed , shall be troubled with excesse of choller , and with great desire to vomit , no perfect concoction , and oft returning fevers , a puffing up the sinews , and a flux of the belly immediately followes an inflamation of the breast ; some exulceration in a cholerick humour offends the party in his hands or joynts of his fingers , also the sick is inclining unto the yellow jaundies . their blood all over the body disaffected . the cause is from choller , and evil digestion , and blood corrupted . the moon in aquary of mars oppressed . those who take their bed the moon being in aquary of mars oppressed , are troubled with swooning fits , and pained at the heart , and are very feaverish , pulses are high , and the blood swelling in all their veins , oft-times complaining of great pain in their breast , drawing their wind with great difficulty . the cause is from most sharp and violent affections or vehement passions . the moon in pisces of mars oppressed . those who take their bed when the moon is in pisces of mars afflicted shall be tormented with sharp burning feavers and vehement thirst , and usually oppressed with a violent looseness ▪ complaining of great pain in their bellies , or an extraordinary rotten cough , also a deflux of rhuem falling from the head to the throat , they being near suffocated therewith , their bellies swolne and in danger of a dropsie , oft-times they are troubled with itching and a salt humor in the blood . the cause of the distemper is from two much ingurgitation , and drinking of wine and strong drinks , and the body abounding with choller , and salt flegm , and bloud corrupted occasioned by disorder . concerning what effects the moon worketh in any of the twelve signs , upon the body of the sick , she being afflicted by the conjunction , square or opposition of saturn at the time of decumbiture . note , that mercury afflicting the moon worketh the same effects onely be striketh somewhat more upon the brain and nerves . the moon in aries of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in aries of saturn or mercury oppressed , shall be troubled with head-ach , and a distillation of rhuems falling from the head into the throat and wind-pipe , also a stuffing in the head , with dulness of the eyes , inordinate drowsiness , and dulness of mind , and bad stomach , intemperate sweats , being hot within and cold without , more afflicted in the night then by day . the occasion of this distemper is from great cold taken , and want of exercise , and sometimes by eating trash contra●● to nature . the moon in taurus of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in taurus of saturn or mercury oppressed , shall be feaverish proceeding from obstructions aod distempers of the precordiacks and arteries , viz. of the inward parts , near the heart , liver , and lungs , some ulceration there abouts , their pulses are lofty and high , and an inflamation of the whole body . the disease proceedeth from too much luxury , or from surfeiting or inordinate repletion , also melancholly and ill diet . the moon in gemini of saturn or mercury oppressed , those who take their bed under this configuration shall be indanger of a feaver , and the pain disperses it self all over the body , but principally in the arteries and joynts : also the sick is inclinable to a consumption : the vitals much afflicted , the pulse low and little : also they will be subject unto frequent sweatings with symptomes of the spleen . the disease more troublesome in the night than in the day . the cause of this distemper is from much waiting , weariness of the mind , and overburdening with multiplicity of affairs , excess of labour , or violent exercise . the moon in cancer of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in cancer of saturn oppressed , shall be afflicted in the breast with tough melancholly matter or thick flegm : also troubled with coughs , catharrs , hoarseness , and a distillation of rhuems or humours falling into the breast , their pipes are narrow and obstructed , inordinate feavers , pulses little and low , oft-times a quotidian , but now especially a quartane ague followes with belly-ake , or some infirmness in the reins or secrets . if the moon be decreasing and near the body of saturn , the sickness is like to be long and lasting . the cause is from great cold and inordinate eating or drinking , and want of moderate exercise . the moon in leo of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in leo of saturn oppressed , shall be oppressed with much heat in the breast and intension of the heart-strings , with augmenting feavers , the pulses keeping no course annoyed with external and internal heat : also great faintness of heart or swooning fits , after some time , if not cured the sick will be subject unto the black jaundies . the cause it from grief taken , and ill melancholly blood . the moon in virgo of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their beds , when the moon is in virgo of saturn oppressed , shall be troubled with in ordinate feavers , pricking or shooting under the ribs : also viscous flegm obstructing the bowels , sometimes the wind chollick afflicts them : also the gout and aches in the thighs and feet : i oft-times find they are much troubled with wormes . the cause of this distemper is usually from crudities , and evill digestion in the stomack and contrary diet . the moon in libra of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , when the moon is in libra of saturn or mercury oppressed shall be troubled with pains of the head , breast , and stomach disaffected ; the cough , hoarsness , and distillation of rhuems shall afflict them , and losse of appetite , small fevers troubling them by night , oft-times great pains in their joynts , knees , and thighs : also some defect in their reins , kidneys , and bladder . the cause is originally from surfeting or glutton and meat not fully digested or excess of venery . the moon in scorpio of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , the moon being in scorpio of saturn afflicted , shall be subject unto some defects in their secret parts , hemorhoids , piles , or some exulceration , their no retention of urine , oft-times vexed with the stone or stop in the bladder , sometimes if a man ▪ the gonorrea , if a woman too much of menstrues . the cause is of corrupt flegm , or disorder of body . the moon in sagitary of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , when the moon is in sagitary of saturn oppressed , shall be tormented with defluction of thin sharp humors , and aches of the sinews , and arteries , extreamities of heat and cold , and oft-times a double access of a feaver , and most commonly a violent burning feaver at the first being ill . the cause is from blood infected with choler and melancholy , and sometimes by great pains taking or violent exercise and cold taken thereupon . the moon in capricorn of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , whilst the moon is in capricorn of saturn oppressed shall be afflicted with heaviness at the breast and stomach , and difficulty of breathing , and dry coughs , their lungs oppressed , more pained by night than day , with intended feavers , oft times troubled with head-ach , and noise in their head . the cause is from great cold , melancholy and disorderly dyet . the moon in aquary of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed the moon being in the sign aquary of saturn or mercury afflicted , shall be troubled with much melancholy , winds coagulated in the veins , the malady ceaseth on them unequally with remission and intension , their heads pained with wind or noise . also troubled with faint fits or passion of the heart , sometimes a sore throat , or troubled with a rising there , being in danger of suffocation . the cause is from excess of labour want of sleep whereby to refresh nature , and much trouble of mind . the moon in pisces of saturn or mercury oppressed . those who take their bed , when the moon is in pisces of saturn oppressed shall be troubled with much sighing and pricking or shooting of the breast and under the paps , and continual augmenting feavers , with extensions of the precordiacks and heart-strings , or arteries ; also their throat is oppressed with thick flegm , and their breast with a rotten cough , and store of watry matter lodging there . the cause is from extreamity of cold taken by bathing , or otherwise by much wet . the way to make diet drinks by decoctions or to extract the spirits of plants or herbs : also to make syrups , lohochs , or lambetives , pills , gly●●ers , fumes , suffumigations , cataplasms , oyntments , bathes : also the making and administrating of purgations and vomits , and concerning blood-letting , &c. concerning decoctions and dyet-drinks . having by the rules elsewhere expressed in this book collected the herbs together suitable to the cure according unto their virtues and numbers , alwaies remembring in all cures to fortifie the heart with herbs proper , you must take the herbs and chop them small : but unto all diet drinks i usually add as followeth , to make it the more strong and useful , viz. raisons , currants , ( sometimes figs ) liquorish , and aniseed , and if the patient be much troubled with wind , then you may also put into it sweet fennil-seed , coliander-seed and such like , which are good to expel wind . these additions must be bruised well in a mortar , and so boiled with the herbs , when its boiling you must keep them close covered , whereby to keep in the spirit , you may boil these herbs , with the addition in bear or ale . if you desire to make it strong and nutritive , then when it is new boiled you may put into it white-wine , muscadel , or brandy , according unto the temper of the patient . a good handful of all sorts of herbs put together will be sufficient for three or four gallons of liliquor ; you may let it boil until a forth part or thereabouts be wasted , for if you keep it close covered it will not waste very much in the boiling : now of this diet drink we usually give the patient thereof three times a day , viz morning , afternoon and at night , and every morning about an hour after they have taken the diet drink , you must give the patient water grewel or broath made with either the same herbs , or other herbs which are suitable to the cure , according ●nto their virtues and numbers . how to extract the spirits of plants and herbs . if the patient be weak , and must take smal quantities , then you must do as followeth , having collected the herbs together suitable to the cure , shred them small with the addition according as in the decoction aforesaid , and put them into a limbeck still , and put into it a quantity of bear or ale with some white-wine , muskadel , and brandy to make it proportionable unto the quantity of liquor and herbs before expressed , viz. a good handful of herbs with the additions unto two quarts or better of liquor , this will keep a long time . there is yet another way to extract the spirit as followeth . take the herbs with the additions , being shread small and bruised put them into warm water , and put some berm unto it , let it work three dayes , as doth bear , and then distil it in a limbeck still , if you desire to have it strong you may put brandy or spirit of wine unto it , and put fresh herbs to it , and still it over again . the way to make syrups . take the roses , herbs or flowers , and bruise them , put them into a convenient quantity of fair water , my usual dose is about three pints of water to a pound of flowers , roses , or herbs : let the water be hot , and let it stand with the herbs or flowers in it , about twelve hours , then strain it and infuse more of the same herbs or flowers , and heat more water and put unto it ; you must sometimes infuse the roses , herbs , or flowers whole without bruising to make it have the smell of the plant : the more of the roses , herbs , or flowers you do infuse into the liquor , the stronger it will be , and the oftner you do infuse the better : the last infusions i usually boil , and then gently strain it , and to every pint of liquor add a pound of the best sugar at the least , you must cimber it over the fire , until it be a syrup , you may know when 't is enough by cooling some in a spoon , when 't is made you must keep it in glasses or stone pots , bound over onely with paper , or such like , you must not stop it close with cork , least it break the glass . concerning lohochs or lambatives the making and use . having made your election of such herbs , which are of virtue to cure , such inward defects required , shread and boil them by way of decoction , and when you have strain'd it , put twice its wait of honey or suger , and so boil it to a lohoch , which is somewhat thicker than a syrup , if the grief be of flegme , then honey is best . these lambetives are usually taken with a liquorish stick . and are most usually taken for inflamations and ●ulcers in the lungs , coughs , asthmaes and difficulty of breath , and such like infirmities . concerning pils their making and use . all kinds of pils are made onely by beating the substantial matter into a powder , and so with syrup ( or little gum tragacanth dissolved in distilled water ) made up into pils . they are usually taken at night . if it be one●y to cause the patient to go to stool the next day , then so much alloes as will heap on a two pence for a strong body or less for a weak body mixt with a little mirrh and saffron will be enough , these pils are also good for the head and stomach . there are many forts of pil● made for several infirmities , as you may find in the london dispensatory , unto which i shall refer you . i confess i seldom use any pils , except what i haue mentioned ; for i find the astrological way of cure by herbs doth ( if rightly applyed ) cure all distempers , and griefs whatsoever , loosen the body and alay any pain of the head , and the like as you shall find in this book , yet sometimes when the patient is bound in body and the destemper requireth a decoction made of such herbs , which are commonly heating , and so for the most part binding , such as are palpetations , convulsions , palsies● , apoplexies , and such like . then i usually give the patient pils at night made as aforesaid , if need require . concerning glysters . if the patient be much afflicted in the belly and guts , or is very costive in body , as sometimes it will fall out , more especially when the grief requireth herbs heating and binding to work their cure , then i usually apply glisters and ointments made of such herbs , which are antipathetical to the afflicting planet : but most especially such herbs , which are good to comfort the heart , to expell poison , and cleanse the guts . also you must be careful that the herbs be gathered at the right planetary hours , not omitting their numbers which he longeth to each planet . when you have gotten the herbs together , shred them small , and boil them in milk , together with such seeds and roots , which are good to expell winds , about a pint and a half of milk boiled until it be near half wasted will be enough , for any reasonable man or woman ; after its boil'd and strain'd i usually put into it three or four spoonfuls of sallet oyle , and a spoonful of hony or course sugar . and so give it the patient blood warm . but my usual way is first to give the patient a suppository made of sal-gem . to bring them first to stool , by which means i find the glyster worketh the more effectual upon the humour offending . for many times if no suppository be first given the glisters , will not stay , by reason the patient cannot keep them in their body . concerning fumes . if the head and brain be disaffected by reason of superfluous moisture , then fumes are proper to be used by reason they have a drying quality , provided they be made antipathetical unto the afflicting planet , you must shred , bruise , and dry those herbs , plants , or roots , which you intend to use , and so bring them into powder , and when you intend to fume their heads put some of this powder upon hot coles , and let the patients hold their heads over it , twice a day is enough , viz. morning and evening . they must be careful to keep their head and feet warm . concerning suffumigations . if the head and brain be disaffected by reason of great drought , be it hot or cold drought , you must make choice of such herbs according unto their vertues and numbers , which are antipathetical unto the afflicting planet , shread them small and boil them , either in strong bear , ale , or strong maulted water , and while it is hot , let the patients hold their head over it , and be careful they take no cold afterwards . concerning cataplasms . cataplasmes are oft-times used to help cure agues and sometimes to apply unto the feet to draw from the head , and more especially in such infirmities and defects wherein the nerves and arteries are concerned being laid to the pulse , neck , and other parts of the body , as occasion is offered , i commonly use them in convulsions , appoplexies palpitations , and such like distempers . the way to make them is thus , you must make choice of such herbs according unto their virtues and numbers , which are good to cure the grief as you shall find in this book , shread them small and pound them in a mortar , with a quantity of white salt , and a few raisons , honey , a litle venus turpentine , or burgelary pitch to make it hold together , you must lay it on hot . concerning oyntments . those oyntments which are made heating must be made with sallet-oyle , and those oyntments , which are cooling must be made with either neats foot , oyle , or sweet lard ; i usually put into both a little sheep suet , so make it thick : the way to make each kind is as followeth : and first of the oyl heating , having by the rules in this book made choice of such herbs , according unto their virtues and numbers , which are proper to cure the desect , shread them small and bruise them well in a morter ; then put them into a convenient quantity of oyl , imagine unto two handful of herbs about a pint of oyl ; if you cannot stay to make it by reason of your present occasions , then set it over the fire , keeping it close covered , and when it s near crisp strain forth the oyl , and if you desire to make it very strong , then shread more herbs , and bruise them and boil them in the same oyl again , until it be crisp , and so strain it , and keep it for your use . but if you desire to make it strong , and have convenient time to do it , then bruise the herbs and put them into the oyl , and set them in the sun for a week or two , then strain it and infuse more herbs , and at length boil them until they be crisp , and having strain'd it keep it for your use . if you intend to make a cold oyl , then infuse the herbs being shread and pounded , as foresaid , into sweet-lard or neats-feet oyl , you may take some of each , and make it after the same manner , as you did the hot oyl aforesaid . if these ointments be used about wounds , running sores , or ulcers , then ●twill be convenient to dissolve half an ounce of turpentine in two ounces of oyl by the heat of the fire , more especially if you use the hot oyl thereunto , otherwise not for every cure , for the most part is antipathetical unto the afflicting planet , except the afflicting planet be very strong in the heavens , for then you must in some measure comply as i have else where in this book expressed . concerning bathes or fomentations . bathes are used either in case of hot or cold swellings , sometimes for aches , ulcers , wounds , burnings , or scaldings , and such like , having by the rules in this book made choice of such herbs and plants , which are necessary for the cure , cut them small and boil them in strong maulted water . my usual way is to boil the water and mault together , about three or four pints of mault , to seven or eight pints of water ; when the liquor is strong strain it from the mault and put the herbs into the liquor , and so soon as it boils take it from the fire ; you must bathe or foment the place grieved warm with the bath , and then immediately use such oyntments , as are proper for the cure , and so by swath or otherwise according , as the grief is make it up . i commonly use the same herbs in the bath which makes the oyl : once a day , being at evening , is my usual time to do it . of pvrgations . when you give a purge , let the moon be in a watry sign , or let a watry sign ascend , and let the moon be aspected by any planet which is direct , if swift in motion and under the earth the better . but by no means let the moon be aspected of any retrograde planet , for then the patient will be apt to vomit . secondly , if you desire to purge any humour , or element predominant , do as followeth . let the planet be weak which is of the nature of the element offending . and let the moon apply unto or be in trine or sextile with that planet , which is of contrary nature ; as instance mars , who ruleth choler , being by nature hot and dry , now if you desire to purge choler , then let mars be weak , and let the moon be applying unto venus , and if you desire to purge melancholy , which is under ♄ , then let ♄ be weak , and the moon applying unto jupiter : and if you desire to purge flegm let venus be weak , the moon decreasing and applying to the sun by trine or sextile aspect : and if to purge blood let jupiter be weak , and the moon applying unto mercury : you must do the like in purging any other parts or members of the body , by observing what planet hath predominancy over it , as instance saturn ruleth the spleen , jupiter ruleth the liver and lungs , mars the gall , sol the heart , venus the reins and vessels of generation , yet notwithstanding if any planet , which owns the infirmity , be lord of the ascendant of the patient , and if he be strong its the better , but let the moon apply by any friendly aspect unto a fortune , and if she be in the sign , which represents the part of the body grieved its the better . of the manner of purging the body . if the body require a strong purge be sure to eat no supper , but if any let it be light of digestion , and take it early before you go to bed . also before you go to bed take a little aloes in the pap of an apple , so much as will heap on a single peny , but not bruised too small , or otherwise take two or three small pils made suitable to the humour offending ; and if the patients body be much bound , take either a suppository made with sal-gem , or a glyster to open and prepare the body , before the physick works : take the purge in the morning early , and let the moon be in a watry sign or else let a watry sign ascend , as is above expressed ; take either water-gruel or thin broath , about an hour after , and likewise after every stool , and fast at the least six hours after ( i mean from meat ) or any other diet . how to purge the heal , or remote parts . when you intend to purge the head or remote parts of the body , you must give the patient ●●ls made up in a hard form , for the longer it remaineth in the body the better it works upon the remote humours offending . how to purge choler . that which purgeth choler gently is peach-flowers , blew-violets , damask roses , cent●ury : but i chiefly use aloes , and rubarb , provided the body be strong , else not . how to purge flegm and water . elder-buds , elder-flowers , broom-flowers , flower-de-luce roots , hyssop , spurg , dwarf-elder . orri : but i chiefly use bryony-root or jallop , the body being strong . how to purge melancholly , pollipodium , sumitory , white and black hellebore , dodder , epithimum , inde mirabilaus , lapis lazuli . but that which i chiefly use it sena and seamony . how to purge blood. to purge the blood is best done by decoctions made with such herbs , which are suitable to the grief , as you may find elsewhere in this book ; but if you desire to purge gross humours , proceding from corruption of blood ; as boils , botches tumors . itch , or scabs : then i commonly use the powder called pulvus sanctis , or holy powder , made according to the london dispensatory . of vomits . when you intend to give a vomit , let either the moon or lord of the ascendant be in an earthy sign aspected by a planet retrograde , and let the sign ascending be an earthy sign , when the vomit is taken ; or let the moon be aspected by planets stationary or slow in motion , if about the earth the better : any one of these observations will serve where there are no testimonies against it . of bathes , or sweats . enter bathes or sweats for hot diseases , when the moon is in a a watry sign , as ♋ , ♏ , ♓ . enter bathes or sweats , for cold infirmities , when the moon is in fiery signs , as ♈ , ♌ , ♐ . of fluxes . rheums , and laxes , to stay fluxes , rheums , and laxes let the moon be in an earthy sign , as ♑ , ♉ , ♍ . of clysters . take glysters when the moon is in aiery or watery signs , especially in ♑ or ♏ . of blood-letting . let blood on the right side at spring , and on the left-side at the fall . cholerick persons must be let blood , when the moon is in watry signs , as ♋ , ♏ , or ♓ . flegmatick persons must be let blood , when the moon is in fiery signs , as ♈ , ♐ , but not in ♌ , because that sign governs the heart . melancholy persons must be let blood , when the moon is in aiery signs , as ♎ and ♒ , but not in ♊ , because that sign governs the arms , except you let blood in some other part of the body . sanguin persons may l●t blood , when the moone is in my sign except ♌ , or the place signified by the sign where the moon is . young people may let blood before the first quarter is over . middle age from the first quarter to the full. elder people from the full to the last quarter . old people from the last quarter to the change . good to comfort the vertue . attractive the moon in ♈ ♌ ♐ retentive ♉ ♍ ♑ degestive ♊ ♎ ♒ expulsive ♋ ♏ ♓ here followeth a catalogue of such choice herbs , which cureth the most usual infirmities and diseases incident unto men and women ( being discovered by the sun and moon afflicted in any of the twelve signs , or by a figure of twelve houses ) out of which you may make diet drinks , intments , baths , glysters , fumes , suffumigations , cataplasms , and the like , according unto the humour offending : and without question , if rightly understand , may serve to cure all griefs and infirmities whatsoever , although not by me named , as for example , if one shall desire cure for the asthmah or shortness of breath , these herbs which openeth obstructions doth it . note , that all inward griefs or infirmities are usually cured only by decoctions and the spirits of plants , which are extracted from them : and such diseases or infirmities which proceed from the heart and brain , and lye in the nerves and arteries and vital spirits , such as are convulsions , appoplexies , palpitations , palsies , and such like are not cured onely by decoctions , but also by ointments and cataplasmes applyed unto the pulses and other parts suitable : and as concerning all pains , aches , humours , and swellings , baths and ointments , suitable to their condition are most proper : not omitting diet drinks , corresponding in all cures whatsoever . note , that i do not use all the herbs named for every cure , but only a select number , as is else where expressed . a a abortion to hinder , snakeweed or bistort , madder , mosse , sage ●anfie , tresoil . aches coming of cold , or taken under cold planets to help , rosemary , camomil , rue , bayes , saint johns wort , lavender , marjerom , sage , cink-foil , broom , wormwood , ragwort , mugwort , elmpeel , smallage , comphrey vervain , wild-tansey , brooklime , arsmart , goutwort , calmint , hyssop , charlock , scabious , southernwood , marigolds . aches coming of heat , or taken under mars , camomil , saint johns wort , baume , arsmart , grouncel , sorrel , archangel , mallowes , honey-suckles , violet leaves , elmpeel , elder-flowers , comphrey , mugwort , smallage , henbane , chick-weed , seagreen , turnip , cabbage , cinkfoil , plantain , orpine , daisie , lettuce , spinage , endive , adders-tongue , pimpernel , trefoil , sow-thistle . after-hirth and secundine to expel : angelica , camomil , chervil , horehound , mallowes , mugwort , marygolds , peny-royal , time , wake robin , alessander , fennel , garlick , house-tongue . agues , if you intend to cure all kinds of agues you must take notice under what planet the patient is most afflicted , whether under saturn or under mars or both as i have elsewhere expressed in this book , and so make choice of herbs accordingly : rosemary , lovage , camomil , rue , centaury , southernwood , wood-bitany , sage , vervain , fetherfew , horsemint , savin , assarabacca , carduus , wormwood , tobacco , burdock , mustard , rhubarb , sorrel , grouncel , plantain , calamint , cinquefoil , fumetary , black hellebore , smallage , satirion dodder , bryony , agrimony , hyssop , vipers-grass , endive , succory , burrage , trefoile , periwinckle . appetite to procure : sorrel , sloes , apples , barberies , capers , black-cherries , mulberies , mints , goose-berries , grapes ; generally such herbs , plants , or fruits , which are sower , having no unpleasant relish are good . saint anthonies fire : rhubarb , rue , saffron , bugloss , brooklime , adders tongue , houseleek , chickweed , night-shade , white poppy , pondweed , crab-tree , dane-wort , hounds-tongue adders-tongue , henbane , lentils , mandrake , hemlock . appoplexies : misletoe , lavender wall-gilly-flowers , melilor , box wild citruls , lillie , marjoram , sage , pellitory , fennel , master-wort . apostumes , adders-tongue , bears breech , melilot , onions , rye , chickweed daisie , liverwort , privet , vervain , flax , mugwort . b b back and reins to strengthen : saint john's-wort baum , angellica , rosemary , misletoe clary , mints , cowslips , comfrey lungwort , burrage-blossoms , sweet-maudline , costmary , mace , solomons-seal , wood-bittany barrenness to help : barren-wort , clary , saint james-wort , ladies mantle , mercury , horsmint , sage , shepheards-needle belching sour to repress : aniseed , bitony , cammomil , marjoram , wormwood , hares-foot , wood-bitony , burnet belly-ach : cammomil , centory , sweet-marjoram , plantaney , smallage , rue , angelica , sage southernwood , time , hyssop , gronnd-ivy or alehoof fenel-root , and fennel-seed , fern , stinking gladwin , marsh-mallows . belly to looson : basil , baise , white-beets , elder-buds , fumitory , hounds-tongue , laurel mallows , maiden-hair , mercury , mirabilan , mulberries peach flowers , roses , poppy , potatoes , rhubarb , satirion , scabious , sene , spurg , spinach , violet-flowers , leaves , and roots belly to bind : bulleys , caltrop chesnuts , cowslips , eglantine , saint john's-wort , lentils , ginger , dates , medlars , quinces rice , services , whortleberries , hot stued pruens , red-wine . bladder to cleanse : angelica , rosemary , pimpernel , dandelion , burrage , burdock , assarabacca , furzbush-flowers , featherfew , chervil , dodder , amphier southernwood , spignel , vine , white-wine . vide , stone in the kidneys , reins and bladder . bleeding to stay : aloe , red-beans , golden-rod , hawes , ladies bedstraw , liverwort , moss , arch-angel , plantaney , yarrow , saunders oak , drydates , chesnuts , comfrey , tormentil , roses , rosemary , burnet cats-tail , herb two pence , horse-tail : moon-wort , mulberries : if the bleeding be at nose , my usual way is to tie the small of the leg and the hand-wrist on that side which bleedeth , and to dry some of the patients blood to a powder , and let them snuff it up into their nostrils . blood to cleanse : angelica , rue , sage , scurvey-grass , rhubarb , blood-wort , liver-wort , scabions , burrage , hyssop , blew-bottle , broom-buds , fox-gloves , watercresses , elderbuds and berries , burdock , chervil . breast and stomach to cleanse , vide , obstructions to open and remove . breath-stinking to help : rosemary , cowslips , rue , wormwood , balsome , butchers-broom , smallage , pomecitron , burnet , angelica , sage . broken-bones to help knit : bugle ▪ elm-peel , butchers-broom , holly , mastick-tree , self-heal , solomons-seal , yarrow , bugle . burning and scalding to cure : adders-tongue , asphodil , balm-apple bears-breech , burdock chick-weed , cat tail , coltsfoot , danewort , daffodil , elder ▪ henbane , water-bitony , housleek lettice , orpine , plantane , purslain , tobacco , friers-cowle , cabbage , juyce of crabs , or sower apples , sheeps-dung . burstings or ruptures to cure : saint john's-wort comfrey , cinkfoil , solomons-seal , sanickle , rupture-wort , elme-peel , vervain , calamint , yarrow , daisie , golden-rod , knapweed , mouse-ear , valerian , tway-blade , adders-tongue , horse-tail-baum , century , bugle , juniper , venus wake-ro , bin saturn tway-blade , germander , birth-wort , saturn hawk-weed , saturn birds-foot , mars osmund-royal , mars and water-osmund . c c carbuncles to cure : spurge , tobacco , walnut , vetch , fennel , colewort , or cabbage . catarrhs or thin rheums to stay : saffron , angelica , sweet-marjoram , sweet-maudlin , cost-mary , lavender , saint james wort , bugloss , calamint , tobacco , spignel , storax . child-birth to help : bugloss , balm-apple , horehound mother-wort , mugwort , parsely , wood-bind , sun-dew columbine , carrawaies , cinnamon , parsnip , vine , trefoil , spikenard , mallows , and marshmallows . choler and flegme to purge : black-alder , aloes briony , centory , elder-buds , endive , fennel , stincking gladdon , black hellebore , hyssop , lungwort , mercury , spurge , sycomore , tamarind , tormentil , woad , violet leaves and roots ▪ glasswort , gourds , flower-de-luce , fleawort , saint johns wort , mezereon . chollick of wind to ease : agrimony , aniseed , angelica , apricock , bettony , bezar-tree , briony cammomil , sweet-sennel-seed , coliander-seed , carroway-seed centory , cranes-bill , daisie , danewort , eglantine , fethersew , galingal , herb true-love , jack by the hedge , lavender , parsley , peach-flowers , horse-radish , ribwort , rue , saxefrage , tobacco ▪ tamarisk ▪ zedory yarrow , mouse-ear colds , coughs , and hoarseness to cure , angelica peny-royal , bettony , borage , colts-foot , cinquefoil , clary , horehound , calmint , cumfrey , daffodil , elecampane , figs , fennel , germander , stincking gladdon , jack in the hedge , juniper liquorice , maiden-hair , mosse , parsely , mouse ear , rocket , rue , sage , sun-due , time , tobacco , valerian , vine ▪ zedoary . consumptions to cure : balsame , barly cicely , mouse eare china , cullians , melons , mosse , vine , burdock , snails , aniseed , arrow-head , borrage , bugloss , dandelion , hore-hound . convulsions to cure , saint johns wort , misletoe , centaury , bame , angelica , clary , mints , cowslips wood-bitany , wall-gilly-flowers , sage , sweet-marjoram , lavender , southern-wood , elecampane , bryony , haukweed mellilot , worm-wood , carduus , garlick , hyssop , asphodil , calamint , dane-wort , stinking gladdon , hearts ease , sea-holly , sage , time , valerian . courses of women or monthly terms to provoke : flower-wort , motherwort , nep , sage , dill wood-bittany , bayberies , elecampane mercury , wild carrots hactaper , germander , clary white-beets , mugwort stincking gladdon , flower-de-luce , euckopint , birthwort , calamint catmint , fetherfew , gilly-flowers , gooseberries , groundsel , honeywort , hore-hound saint johns wort , lovage , peny-royal , piony rosemary rue saffron , savin , savory , briony , southernwood , spignal , tansie wake robin , woolfs-bane . courses of women or the reds to stop : saint johns wort : red beers , red-nettles arrach , comphrey roots ▪ yarrow , red corral , red pibble-stone , ribwort , corriander , rind of oke , in fume to sit over , juniper , ladies mantle , lentils , periwinkle , quinces , sanickle , saunders , red poppy , tamarisk tree . cramps to ease : asphodil , bazil , bears breech , calamint , wild carrat , elecompane , dane-wort , flower-de-luce , garlick , sea holly , misletoe , peniroyal , rosemary , saffron , southern-wood , tobacco , turpentine , vine , woodbine , wolfs-bane , fennel , camomil . d d deafness to cure : angelica , bay , bawm , lavender , wood-bettony , holly , ivy , rue , wall-nuts , tobacco , hellebore , savory , sene , wormwood , carduus , henbane . digestion and concoction to help : angelica , bawm , sweet-marjoram , peniroyal , spearmint , elecompane , sweet-maudlin , costmary , rocket , tarragon , jack by the hedge , lovage , radish , camphire , vine , carroway , eglantine , cinnamon , cloves , coriander . dogs mad their bitings to cure : hounds tongue , bawm , bettony , burdock , eglantine , sea-dogs grass , hore-hound , mug-wort , mercury , pimpernel , mints , sene , yarrow , box : the flesh of the same dog present cure . dropsie to cure : agrimony , asarabacca barley , bazil , camomil , celandine , centory , burdock , broom , broocklime , ash , bryony , coffee , dittany , elder , flower-de-luce , garlick hellebore , box , sea holly , lawrel , marjoram , sweet-maudlin , peniroyal , pimpernel , moss , spurge , tobacco , wormwood , cardus , rosemary , lavender , bays , rue , smallage , sage , st johns wort , hyssop , varven , tamarisk , rubarb , saffron , bettony , anniseed , parsley . e e ears pain and noise to help : jews ears , bettony , bazil , asphodil , clivers , coriander , danewort , dittany , fennel , hemp-seed , ivy parsley , pellitory rubarb , tamarisk , melilot bays , leeks , peach , plantane , marjoram . eye-sight to quicken : eye-bright , celandine white roses archangel , angelica , bawm , centory , germander , hawkweed , heath , lavender , lovage elecompane , melilot , medesweet , rue , savory , vine , vipers grass , sparagus , wake-robin , valerian . eyes inflamed , red or blood-shot to cure ; blew bottle , clary , eye-bright , housleek , ivy , larkspur , marjerom , mede-sweet , marygold , moss , mullein , plantany , poppy , southern-wood , tansey , trefoile , wolfs-bane yarrow , myrtle , violets , endine . f. f. falling sickness , piony , misletto rosemary , sweet-marjerom , southern-wood , lavender , elecompany , germander , hysop , wood-bittany , sage , costmary , cinquefoile , burrage , master-wort , staggerwort , worm-wood cardus garlick , cowslip , fox-gloves , penny-royal , elder-buds , violets grouncel , mallows , box , bryany , black cherries , ditany , fennel , rue ▪ hellebore , sea-holly juniper laserwort , moss , mousear , purslain , satirian sene , sundew , tyme vine , trefoile feavers to cure , marygolds , roses , hysop dandelion , blew-bottle , herb two pence , purslain , snakeweed , worm wood . feavers burning to cure , adders-tongue , barley bourage , butter-burr , crowfoot , currants , daises , dandelion , endive , hazel-tree lilly , limons , violets feavers pestilential to cure , angelica , rue , saffron , bishops-weed , carnations , dragons , ducks-meat , fluellin , sorrel , scabious , worm-wood , sage , burnet , violets . flegm to purge , bryony , butchers-broom , daffedil , dodder , feverfew , fox-gloves , fumitory , stinking gladdon , endive , succory , birthwort , hawk-weed black hellebore , henbane , hissop , holly-berries , bind-weed , alheal , butter-wort , elder-buds . flowers of women , see courses . flux of the belly , and humours to stop , red beets , blood-wort , box , brambles , bugloss , burnet cinquefoile , cocks-head , cud-weed , flower-de-luce , cranesbil , germander , golden-rod , harts-tongue , holly , ore-hound , ladies-mantle , moss , orpine , periwinckle , pimpernel , plantainy , quince , rice , rupture-wort , services , sheapherds-purse , spikeneard , worm-wood flux bloody to stay , addders tongue , agrimony , barberries , red beans , bullais , burnet , chesnuts , cinquefoil cowslips , pruens , hot dry dates , dock , hazle-nuts , hearb two peace , holly , rose , house-leek , lilly ▪ madder , maudlin , costmary , mede-sweet , moss , mulberries , oke , oxlips , rosemary , sorrel , whortle-berry , yarrow , tormetil , periwinckle , quinces , tansey , self-heale . french-pox to cure , rue , smallage , hissop , sea-holly , sage , alloes , marsh-mallowes , southern-wood , plantany , damask-roses , asarabacca , cowslip , primrose , hemlock , angelica , worm-wood , violet-leaves and flowers , box , dane-wort , hounds-tongue , tobacco , tormentil , vipers-grass , hops , vine , tamarisk , dodder , pellitory : there is also two sorts of wood used in dyet-drinks , viz. guaicum , and fraxinus , or the gums of them . note , that in curing this disease , those herbs which are used for bathes must be drawing , clensing , and healing , such as is rue , smallage , hissop , tobacco , marsh-mallows , box , eringo , &c. and the herbs used for diet-drinks must be good to expel poyson , purge and cleanse , as rue , aloes , angelica , sage , bayes , cowslips , primrose , plantany , violets , roses , &c. also the wood or gum called guiacum , and fraxinus . the herbs which makes the oyles or oyntmenes must be good to resist poyson , cooling and healing , such as rew , angelica , cowslip , damask-roses , plantany , violets , prim rose● , henbane , hemlock , &c. in this distemper , you must let blood in the neither vein of the yard : by this rule you may cure , if begun in time , but after long continuance in this condition fluxing and other extremities must be used . fundament ▪ falling to remedy , snake-weed , gals , blew pimpernel , star-wort , cuckowpint , wake-robin . g. g. gall , to open , asarabacca , buggle , calamint , rubarb , hemp-seed bitter-sweet , celandine , centory , endive , saffron , ale-hoof , or ground ivy , cammomil , dandelion , dodder of time or other dodders , quich-grass . green-sickness to cure , asarabacca , broom , centory , marygolds rubarb , maudlin , vine , powder of steel . guts stopt , or the illiack passion to cure , ivy , mints , sheapheards needle , plantane mallowes , southernwood , summer savory . gout to cure , see aches hot and cold . h. h. head-ach to cure , aloes , bazil , betony , bryany , butchers-broom , cudweed , cummin dodder , fluellin , frankinsence , hellebore , housleek , ironwort , medesweet , melilot ▪ mints , mugwort , moss , night-shade , enny-royal , spickneard , roses , sycamore , tobacco , time , vine , vervain , woodroof . head-ach , to draw unto the feet by way of cataplasm , rue , smallage , bryony , henbane , worm-woo , cardus , mallowes , lavinder , hissop , hactaper . by this way i cured one mrs. forrest in oxon a stationers wife who was a long time pained after she had tryed many others . heads giddiness and swimmings to cure , aniseed , catmint , bryony , fennel , bears-ears , beets , severfew , pellitory , peniroyal , sene , solomons seal , maudlin , master-wort , olives ▪ saffron , box , time , tobacco , wolfs bane , vipers-grass vine head to purge : celandine , elder-buds , stinking gladdon , lawrel , sweet-marjoram ▪ maudlin , costmary , dragons , pimpernel , rosemary , sene , sneeze-wort , solomons seal , sow-bread , clary , vine heart to fortifie against infection , and likewise to comfort , angelica , rosemary , marigolds , bawm , borrage , bugloss , carnations , saffron , rue , sage , sene , zedoary , mother-wort , cinamon , damask roses , lavender . hearts fainting or palpetations to cure : angelica , marigolds , borrage , bawm , rosemary , bay-berries , costmary , burnet , cinamon , cloves , endive , sage , saffron , nutmeg , strawberries , damask roses spikenard , galingale , harts tongue , lavender , saunders vipers grass : also the hearts of creatures which are good to eat . hearing lost to cure : bawm , lavender , bay , briony , henbane , wood-bittony , rocket , southern-wood , tobacco , worm-wood rue , cardus , sweet-marjoram , eye-bright , cocks head , turpentine , woodbind hickock to stay : birth-wort , fennel , harts tongue , marjoram ▪ shepherds needle , time , skirrets , woodbind dill . hemorhoids or piles to cure : pilewort , cuckopint plantany wall peniroyal , pelatory of the wall , chickweed , catmint , stinking gladdon , gout-wort , hounds tongue , lawrel , leeks , tobacco , lupine , fig-wort , fig-tree , garlick , vine , fumitory : the root of hounds tongue dried under embers in paste , or wet paper made into a suppository gives present ease . hoarsness , and loss of voice to help : burdock-root , cherry-tree gum chervil cinkfoil , liquorish , horehound , violets , leeks , rosemary , saffron , colts-foot turnop tobacco , lavender . humors gross to expel : aloes , bay , camomil , costmary calamint , centory , catmint fox-gloves fumitory garlick , hyssop , juniper , lavender liquorish , misleto , mother-wort , sage rue , scurvigrass southern-wood , sycamore parsley , heart-wort fennel nettle , scabious , turbith vine horse-radish lovage , spearmint , peach-tree peniroyal , st. peters wort , pollipody of the oak , roses . i i iaundies yellow to cure : aloes agremony , the inner yellow bark of black elder , asarabacca , bay , wood-bittony , calamint , doder of time , flower de-luce , furz-bush flowers , hemp , mouse-ear , hedge-mustard , eringo and sea-holly , hops , horehound , madder , rosemary , rupture-wort , succory roots , wormwood , bazil , butchers broom , briony , centory , docks , liver-wort , marjerom , roses , rubarb , rue , saffron , spikenard , tormentil , tamarisk , vine , broom-blossoms , fumitory . inflamations to asswage ; apples , barley , beets , bugloss , claver , colewort , colts foot , endive , succory , gooseberries , hemlock , henbane , horsetail , housleek , saint johns wort , knot-grass , ladies mantle , lilly , liquorish , liverwort , melilot , moss , mulberries , night-shade , orpine , pimpernel purslane , ribwort , saunders , solomons-seal , sorrel , sowthistle , violets , wheat , woad , madder , marjerom , clavers . joynts pained , see aches hot and cold . illiack passion , see guts stopt . itches to cure : alehoof or ground ivy , bay , calendine , chick-weed , cuckow-pit , dock , fumitory , vinegar , hyssop , hops , plantane , roses , cockle , elecompane , mugwort , rhubarb , sene , tobacco , wormwood , vine , stinking gladdon , madder , pondweed . k kernals and knots in the flesh to cure : archangel , cinquesoil , mandrake , mugwort , mustard , lupine , pondweed , rib-wort , rue , spikenard , tormentil , woad , figwort , white-lilly root . kidneys to cleanse : kidneywort or wall peny-royal , garden-tansey , furz-bush-flowers , dodder , elder , fluellin , hops , juniper maiden-hair , parsley , piony , plantane , fennel , broom-blossoms , southernwood , saxifrage , shepheards-needle time , spignel . kings-evil to cure : angelica , bay-berries , cammonil , baume , burnet , eye-bright , marigold , primrose , costmary celandine , clary , wood bittony , burrage , sweet , marjerom , arch-angel , melilot , lavender , bugloss , endive , misletoe , sorrel , hearts-tongue , fox-gloves , pimpernel , southernwood , barley flower or meal , pilewort , rosemary , or the lesser celandine , cleavers , figwort or throat-wort , stinking-gladdon , burdock , mints , broom-blossoms . l lasks or looseness to stay : agrimony , barberries , bulleis , burnet , chesnuts , couslips , barley , black-cherries , cinnamon , clivers , darnel , st. johns-wort , mints , nutmeg quinces , yarrow , sage , harts-tongue , furzbush , flowers , hazel-nuts , filberds , oake , wheat , prewons hot , red wine , red pibles broke into powder , rupture-wort . leprosie to cure , ash-tree-bark , bryany , stinking gladdon , black-helebore , darnel , the mealior flower , calamint , elm-tree-bark or leaves , flaxweed , mustard bay , saffron tamarinds , time , vine , virgins-bower ▪ viper-wine , a snake first rosted with salt , and afterwards burnt and brought into powder of which give the patient a dram every morning in liquor convenient . lethergy or drousie evil to cure , sow-fennel , water-cresses , lavender , mustard , onions , penny-royal rosemary , sage , summer savory , iack by the hedge time , vine . liver obstructed , to open and purge liverwort , agrimony , dandelion , asarabacca , bay , wood-bittany , angelica , celandine , centory , costmary , daisiees , harts-tongue dodder , elder-buds , cammomel , elecompane , broom-blossoms , furz-bush-flowers , horehound , hemp , sea-holly sweet marjerom , plantain , saffron , sorrel , scurvy-grass , sene , tormentil , juniper , liquerish , fox-gloves , germander , peach , spicknel , shepheards-needle , vine . lungs to open and cleanse , longwort , hounds-tongue , pollipody of the oak , hissop , alexanders borrage , chervil , cinquefoile , cudweed , horehound , colts-foot , burdock , vervain , st. james-wort , rubarb , sundew , liquerish , bay , tormentil , angelica , apples , feverfew , sweet marjerom , saffron , sene , dodder , alexander , birth-wort , figs , time , vine rubarb , zedoary . m. m. melancholy to repress and purge , apples , bacom , angelica , burrage bugloss , elecompane , arch-angel flowers , cowslips , costmary , burnet , dandelion , feverfew , fumitory , madder , penny-royal , bazil , dodder , frankincense , lavender , saffron , marygolds , tyme , scurvy-grass , tormentil , sene , vine . mirth to cause , angelica , bawm , burrage , burnet , carnations , chervile , rosemary , marygolds , saffron , time , rise arch-angel , blossoms , sweet marjerom , also all pleasant fumes . mother-fits , suffocation or rising to cure , motherwort , stinking arrach , bawm , bay , burdock , cammomil , mugwort , ele-companie , sparment , rosemary , wood-bittany , bishops-weed burnet , butter-bur , caraway , fetherfew masterwort , catmint pellitory of the wall , peony , summer savory , walnut-tree , fennel , germander , jack by the hedge , juniper , lovage , marigolds , mustard peny-royal , rosemary , rhubarb , tobacco , southernwood , spignel , wolf-bane , vine . milk to cause in womens breast : burrage buglos , lettuce , vipers , bugloss , barley , cabbage purslane , rocket , sow-thistle , turnip , milk-wort trefoile anemony ▪ herb-frankincense , saint katharines flower , bel-flower . milk to dry up in womens breasts : asarabacca , basil red-beans , rue , vine . monthly courses , see courses of women . n n nose bleedi●g to stop see bleeding to stay . numness to remove : hyssop , lavender bears-breech , nettles , wormwood , rosemary , clary , chervil , burrage , angelica , costmary . o o obstructions to remove : angelica , baum , centory , loveage , rue , rosemary , cammomil , saint johns wort , penyroyal , mints , tansey , costmary , sweet-maudline , wood-bitony , endive , succory , dandelion , liver wort , blood-wort , burrage , lung-wort , hyssop , sage , elder-buds , sweet-marjerom , elecampane , germander , fumitory rhubarb , saffron , scurvy-grasse , vervain , vipers-grasse , vine , liquorish , hore-hound . opening plants : angelica , bettony , cammomil , calamint , borrage , broom asphodil , bishops-weed , bay , dandelion , docks , fennel , fethersew , figs , fox-gloves , lovage , fea-holly , rose , sage , marigolds , peach rue smallage , taragon , time , dragons , dropwort saint johns wort , germander , sampire , radish , roses , ditany , cucumbers , wild citruls , horehound , tamarisk . p p palsey to cure : angelica , bag●● , rosemary , clary , misletoe , mase marigolds , borrage , blossoms , cowslips , sage cammomil , chervil , hissop , lavender southernwood , saint johns wort , burnet , blew-bottle fetherfew balsome , bears-ear , box , daffodil , parsnip , sage , summer savory , saxifrage sene mother-wort , juniper , oxlips , pelitary , pepper , pine , vine , tobacco piles to cure , see hemorrhoids . plague or pestilence to cure or prevent , angelica , baum , celandine , carnations , cicely , colombines , elecampane , dyers-weed , sage , fumitory , marigolds , snakeweed one blade , blew-bottles , but turbur , chervil or cicely , cinkfoil , cuckow-pint , devils-bit , germander , herb-true-love , horehound , ivy , mary-golds , pimpernel , rue , scabious , vervain , wheat-meal , jack by the hedge , juniper , rhubarb , saffron , southernwood , vipers-grass , yarrow , a chicks fundament laid to the plague sore killeth the chick and cureth the patient . pleuresie to cure , angelica chervil , flea-wort , lovage , marsh-mallows , hedg-mu●●ard , scabious , violets , clary , cummin , haukweed , rhubarb , sage , trefoil , aloes , centory , saint katherines-flower , mullein , laser wort netle , almonds . ptisick to cure : bilberries , chervil or cicely , costmary , sweetmaudlin , knapweed , liquorish , marsh-mallows , parsley , plantane , polipody of the oak , rosemary , bay , bears-breech , daffodilly , lungwort , mouse-ear , purslain , ribwort , sundew , saffron , master-wort , cranes-bill , moss . purples to cure : bishops-weed , snakeweed , fleawort , purplewort , tormentil , water-germander . purging the body of ill humors : aloes , asarabacca , briony , box , butter-wort , alder-tree danewort , endive , featherfew , laurel , juniper , rhubarb , saffron , tobacco , scabious , spinach , marjoram , swallow-wort , spurge , broom , blossoms , saxifrage , turbith , bindweed , herb-terrible , vine . q q quinsey to cure : cudweed , cinkfoil , lovage , orpine , ragwort , violets , wormwood , calamint , mulberries , vine , broom-blossomes , leeks , madder , rhubarb , saint james wort , dane-wort . r r reins to cleanse : sparagus roots , sea-holly or eringo , featherfew , filipendula the roots , hops , saxifrage , succory , tansey , grasse , pellitory , pimpernel , rhubarb , mercury . running of the reins to cure : blites liverworr , dock , aromatical reed rupturewort , solomons-seal , spleenwort , artichoakt , apples , comfrey , dandelion , sea-holly , bares-foot , sanicle , venus turpentine , snake weed , yarrow , flower-de-luce , knot-grass , saunders , red-roses , amber and venis turpentine given with the white of an egg roasted morning and , evening cureth , probatum ▪ rheums to stay , costmary , sweet-maudlin , sciatica-cresses , knotgrass , dogs-mercury , nep or catmint , plantane , red-roses , sage , bay , bugloss , hounds-tongue , hazle-nuts , aromatical-reed , corriander . rest to procure , see sleep . rickets , ashen-keys , coffee . herbs which are good to open obstructions , and are cleansing strengthning and cordial , bein made into oyntments and diet drinks will cure . ringworms , barberries , borrage , bugloss , celandine , hemlock hops , sengreen , liverwort , dogs-mercury plantane , rue scabious , sorrel , oyl of wheat , alcanet , garlick , hellebore vine . ruptures , see burstings . s. s. scabs and scurfs to heal , alehoof or ground-ivy , black alder-tree , ash-tree-bark , bay , barberries , beets , wood-bittany , bryany , bugle , bur-dock , clary sciatica-cresses dock , flaxweed foxgloves , golden-rod , hops , hore-hound , cow-parsnep , pellitory of the wall , agrimony , catmint , fumitory , scabious , savin , sene , tobacco , spurge , dodder , elecompane , beech , beets , bloodwort . scaldings to cure , see burnings . for a scaldhead the bark of ash-tree burnt , to ashes , and made into a lye to bath withal doth cure , probatum est sciatica or hip-gout to cure , alehoof or ground-ivy , angellica , arch-angel , sparagus , burdock , cinkfoile , sciatica-cresses , dock , flaxweed , fumitory , stinking gladwin , groundcel , henbane , st. john's-wort , kidney-wort , or wall penny royal , mustard , nettles , the white poplar , ragwort wild-tansey , asarabacca , broom , lesser centory , goutwort , jack by the hedge , madder , rue , southern-wood , tobacco , time , trefoile , laser-wort , mallowes . serpents-stingings , or venemous-bitings to cure , adders-tongue , alexanders , asarabacca , calamint , elecompane , sern , asphodil , bittony , buglosse , harts-tongue , sea-holly , horehound , housleek , madder , moss , nettles , piony , bayes , rue , scabeous , sperage , sycomore , trefoile , woolfs-bane , burdock , cudweed , germander , scorpion-grass . spleens , diseases , obstructions and inward swellings to cure , alehoof or ground-ivy , alexanders arch-angel , asarabacca , baum , baise . beets , wood-bitony , calaminnt , cammomil , centaury , dandelion , water-fern , furz-bust-flowers , germander , stinking gladwin , harts tongue hauk-weed , hops , horehound , ivy , lavender , broom-flowers , marsh mallows , misletoe , mustard , horse-radish , southernwood , ladies-thistle , tormentil , winter-gilly-flowers , woad , marjerom , rocket , tamarisk , time , vervain , wormwood , dittander , dodder of time , angelica rhubarb , scurvy grasse , spleen-tree , sumitory , sene , rosemary , peach-flowers , parsley , sampire , elder-buds . stomach bad to help , cleanse strength : agrimony , aples , avens , baise , wood-bitony , chervil , costmary , sweet-maudlin , crossewort , endive , elecampane , flower-de-luce , haukeweed , hounds-tongue , peach-flowers or leaves , dock bastard , rhubarb , the seed or root , sorrel , currants , angelica , baum , alexander , sweet-marjerom quinces , capers , succory , dandelion , dodder , jack by the hedge , liquorish , lovage , mints , mosse , young charlock , mustard , tansie , time , wormwood , roses , scurvey grass , horse-radish , vine , cammomil , peny-royal , goose-berries , purslain , spinage , lettuce , oranges , straw berries , mosse , vine , walnuts , mirobalans , fennel , rue , spignel , limmons , saint johns wort . stiches or side-pains to ease : avens , wood-bittony , briony , cammomil , wild-carrots , parsly sage , our ladies thistle , garden valerian , asphodil , birthwort , chervil elecampane , cammomil , fennel , germander , larkspur melilot , misletoe , rupturewort stichwort , trefoil , time , rue vine . for the stone : saxsfrage , pellitory of the wall , mother of time parsley , radishes , stilled out of milk in a cold still . stone and gravel to expel : apples , apricock , bean , bramble , brook lime , broom blossoms , fursh-bush-flowers , bittony , dandelion , baise , burdock , cammomil , carnations , adonis flower , wild carrots , blach-cherries , colombine , cockle cowslips , fetherfew , sorrel , mugwort , pimpernel , cranes-bil , dittany dodder , dropwort , eglantine , fennel , golden-rod , couch-grasse , haws , jack by the hedge , saint james wort , saint johns wort , ladies bed-straw , liver-wort , marsh-mallows , master-wort , maiden-hair , medlar-stones , melilot , mints , mosse , netle , nutmeg , ox-eye , parsley , parsnet , pellitory , peny-royal , periwinckle , piony , purslane , violet , radish , rhubarb , spignel , tansie , time , vervain , wolfsbane , trefoil , vine . stone in the kidneys and reins to expel aromatical reed , balsome , beech ' birch-tree , bramble , cabbage , dane-wort , golden rod , mayden-hair , parsley penny-royal , rupture-wort , saxifrage , dandelion , furzbush flowers straw-berries , medler-stone , young turnip-leaves , butchers-broom broom , groundsel . strangury or pissing stopt to help agrimony angelica , alexanders , rosemary , pimpernel , aples , bazil , bettony , brooklime , dandelion , dasies , broom , sweet marjerom , asarabacca , butchers-broom , fetherfew , fennel-root , borrage , bramble , liquorish , centory diptany , dropwort , eglantine , germander , stinking gladwin , couch-grass , gromwel , hawkweed , hops horse-tail , juniper , lark-spur , mercury , mints , pellitory , spikenard radish , saxifrage , southern wood , tansey , time , tormentil , trefoile , valerian , vine , groundsel . swellings , see aches hot and cold . swounings and ●aintin●s to cure aromatical reed , bazil borrage , balm , dodder of time mother-wort , sweet marjerom , penny-royal rosemary , angelica , sun-few , vine , cinamon , endive , costmary , tobacco vine , vipers-grass , quinces , cherries . sinews shrinking to help , cammomil , chickweed , elmpeele , comfry , oyl of trotters , sow-fennel , laserwort , turpentine oyl of young puppies under nine dayes old . sinews to strengthen , balsom , centory , cowslip , fennel , flower-de-luce ladies bed-straw , mints , rosemary , sage , pellitory , yarrow , tansie , st. johns's-wort . spitting of blood to stay ▪ clowns-woundwort , borrage , comfry , dock , elecompane st. johns's-wort , inner bark of oak , plantane , sage , bettony , fennel , harts-tongue , red beets , red arch-angel , leeks , long-wort , bramble moss purstain , ribwort , sanickle , trefoile , blood-wort , rubarb , shepheards-purse , arrowhead , barberries , almonds , horehound , holly rose . spots , freckles , and pimples in the skin to clear , bazil , bayes , bell-flower , broom blossoms , bryony , elecompane , fetherfew , fumitory , roses , calamint , celandine , coleworts , daffodil , dittander , endive , flower-de-luce , hawk-weed , lovage , onions , parsley , penne-royal , radish , roket , rosemary , savin , scurvey grass , solomon's-seal , strawberries , tansie , vervain , wheat . sleep to procure , anet , barley cowslips , endive , lettuce , saffron , white poppy , purslain , roses , sensitive herbe , tobacco , virgins bower , wormwood , henbane , hemlock , lilly , parsley , nightshade , nutmeg , onions , herb true-love , vine , mandrake , moss , dandelion , plowmans-spikenard , stinking gladwin . scurvey to cure , brooklime , water-cresses , horse-radish , cuckow-flower , danewort , juniper , scurvy-grass , horse-taile , fluellin , vine , wayfaring-tree , tamarinds , cloud-berries , coffe . shingles to cure , cinquefoile housleek , rue , pellitory , olive-tree , egyptian-thorne , lentil , cow , parsnip , plantane . surfeits to cure , angelica , coleworts , liverwort , wormwood , broom-blossoms , red poppy , saffron violets , red roses , clove-gillie-flowers , aniseed , coleander , figs , reasons . t. t. termes . see courses . tetters to heale , beech-tree , celandine , hops , horehound , liverwort , plantane , sorrel , oyle of green wheat , darnel , alcanet , almonds , cresses , fluellin , jessemine , hellebore , st james-wort , limons , myrtle , pine , rubarb ▪ swallow-wort , vine . throtes-almonds to help , dil , boxthorn , bramble , cedar , cink-foile , divils-bit , caltrops , elder , fumitory , mustard , pellitory , primrose , smallage . throates-kernels and swellings to waste , sorrel , black-thorne-leaves , alder , clivers , fumitory , hyssop , st james-wort , orach , plumbs rampions , rubarb , snake-weed , start-wort , throat-wort , or bell flowers , cammomel . throat-sorenes and diseases to help , ground-ivy , pellitory of the wall , red-roses , sage , self-heale , black-thorn leaves , vine-leaves , elder-flowers , barley , bulleis , columbine , fig-tree , hissop , toad stools , wood-bine , golden-rod , cammomel . throates-inflammations to asswage , cuckowpint-root , walnut-tree , straw-berries , throat-wort , toad-stools , vine-leaves , violets , worm-wood , cammomel . tooth-ach to help , black-alder , arsmart root or seed , sparagus-root , red beet-root , broom , ivy-berries , broom-rape cink-foil-roots , flower-de-luce roots , penny-royal , tamarisk-tree , angellica , asphodil , bazil , box , burdock , cammock , celandine , crow-foot , dentary , henbane , hemlock , mustard , neetles , pellitory , poppy , pockweed , rubarb , saffron , spurge , sundew , tobacco ; tamarisk , taragon , vervain , wormwood , yarrow , hissop . v. v vertigo see heads-giddiness . venemous-beasts or vipers-bitting to cure , ash tree , sweet-bazil , white-beets , borrage , burdock , cabbage , centory , dane-wort , or dwarf-elder , elecompane , flower-de-luce , harts-tongue , hounds-tongue , hissop , hore-hound , st. john's-wort , knot-grass , mustard penny-royal , cliver , woad , or dyers-weed , wormwood , scorpion-grass , juniper , vipers-grass , woundwort , yew , tresoile . vlcers and sores to heale , agrimony , black-alder , alheale , aloes , angellica , balsam , barley , bettony , birthwort , bu●le , bryony , broom-blossoms , bramble , centory , clary , butter-bur , campion clivers , cockle , colts-foot coleworts comfry , dandelyon , dodder , elder-blossoms , eleeompane , cudweed , winter-cresses , fox-gloves , ground-pine , goats-beard , gourds , germander , harts-ease , herb true-love , hellebore , henbane , horehound , misseltoe , pimpernel , sage , savin , st. john's-wort , juniper , hissop , hounds-tongue , master-wort , cudweed , holly , rose , lilly , mullein , pondweed , plantain , pine , rubarb , poppy , roses-red , smallage , snakeweed southernwood , self-heale valerian , wakerobin or cuckowpint , zodoary , yarrow , lentils , bares-ears . vlcers or sores running and spreading to cure , adders-tongue , avemony , arsemart , asphodiss , endive , egyptian-thorn , darnel dodder , camels-hay , celandine , crossewort , dragons , figwort , fluellin , friers-cowl , bares-eares , holly , rose , hemlock , jack by the hedge , hops , horse-tongue , housleek , ivy , knapweed , medesweet , moss , oates , oyl-pulse , olive-tree , poud-weed , rose-wood , smallage , tobacco , tamarisk-wood , woolfes-bane , vetch , foxstones , cinksoil , blewbottles , red wild campions . vlcers-hollow , and fistuloes to cleanse st. james'-wort , hellebore , hounds-tongue , fox-stones , fryers-cowl , spurge , knapweed , juniper , ivy , plantane , rib-wort , tormentil , vervain , yarrow , winter-green wound-tree . vlcers hollow to fill with flesh honey-wort , frankincense , lentills , maudlin , costmary , pitch , thorow-wax juniper . vlcers in the privy parts to cure , apples , aver baum , bramble , bugle , cranes-bill , plantain , cresses , ducks-meat , senugreek , golden-rod , holly , rose , knot-grass lung-wort , sage , tansie , woodbine , throat-wort , galingale , privet . vomiting to repress , spearmint , craks , onyons , adders-tongue , cinnamon , ash-leys , cranes-bill , currants , sennel , couch-grasse , egyptian thorn , ladies mantle , liverwort , marjerome , mastick-tree , mirabalans , moonwort , moss , peny-royal purslain , quinces , sol●mons seal , snakeweed , tormen v●til , tresoile , wortle-buries , wormwood , zedoary , vine 〈◊〉 ●ine to provoke : alexanders , aniseed , apples , aromatical-reed , artichoke , assarabacca , asphodil bazil , bays , white-beets , bramble , bryony , burdock , butchers broom , calamint cedar , bears-breech , carrowaies , carrots , black-cherries , chervil , cocks-head , corrander , crabs , water-cresses , do●d●r , dragons , dandelion , dropwo●t , dyersweed , elecampane , endive , fennel fluelline , fumitory , furz-hush-flowers , galingale , garlick , germander , stinking gladdon , golden-rod , gooseberries , hartwort , he●b two pence , sea-holly , hops , horse-tongue , jews-thorn saint john● wort , juniper , ivy , knot-grass , lavender , laurel , leeks , liverwort , lovage , lupine , madder , sweet-marjerome , master-wort , maudl●ne , costmary , medlars maiden-hair melilot mercury , miller , moss , mirtle , netle , oak , onions , parsley , parsnip , pellitory , peny-royal , petiwinckle , radish , poley , rocket rosemary , rhubarb , rue , safron , sage , sampier , savin scabious , shepheards needle , smallage , southernwood , spiknard taragon , time , tresoil valerian-wood-bind vine . vvula fallen to help : columbine , dittany , harts-tongue , mouse-ear , mulberries , prim-rose , cowlli●s cuckow-pint , or wake robine . w. w. wind to expel : angelica alexanders , aniseed baise , dil elecampane , balsome birth wort bryony , cammomil , fetherfew fennel , masterwort , mililot carawaies , carmint , cinnamon , coffee , cummin , dragons , mints , oats , parsley , elder-buds , galingale , garlick ginger , hemp seed , holly , rose , hissop , juniper , ivy , loveage , jack by the hedge , winter , and summer savory , valerian , walnuts , nutmeg pepper , pockweed red-poppy , rosemary , rue , safron , sage , tobacco , tansie , time , toothwort wormwood , motherwort , zedoary vine , tamarish . whites or reds to stay : agrimony , adders-tongue , red-beets , red arch-angel , snake-weed cinkfoil , comfrey , liver-wort , red-roses , mirtle , oak , rosa solis or sun dew , rosemary-flowers . womb to open and cleanse : angelica , bishops-weed , balsame , betony , birch-tree , birthwort briony , fetherfew , butchers-b●oom , cammomil fennel-figs , flower de-luce , lavender , dogs-mercury , mandrake , rue , mouse ear , savin , vine . worms to kill : agrimony , aloes arrow-head , arsmart , sweet-apples , pearmain and pippin , butter-bur , celandine , devils-bit , box calamint , century , ivy-berries , onions , dane-wort , horse-radish , wormwood , garlick , wormseed , fetherfew , eglantine elecampane , fern , gall of an ox , hazel-tree , hemp , henbane hops , horehound hissop , juniper , lavender , sweet-maudlin mustard , rocket , rhubarb , southernwood tobacco , tansey , time , vervain , walnut-tree , wolfs-bane , zedoary . make a plaister with wormwood , garlick , celandine , fetherfew , and mints , stampt together with the gall of an ox and vinegar ; apply this plaisterwise to the belly , and it will both kill and bring forth the worms . wounds green to help : adders-tongue , agrimony , wood bitony , birds-foot , blew bottles , al-heal , arsmart , broom , bugloss , celandine , cranes-bil , diers-weed , elecampane , elm , plantane , bugle , burnet , fluellin , fox-gloves , herb true love , hissop , saint james wort , saint johns wort , lungwort , melilot , mallows , moss , orpine , self-heal , sensitive herb , tobacco , yarrow , shepheards-purse , trefoil , clowns wound-wort , comfrey , cud-weed , sanicle , devils-bit , fern , fig-wort or throat-wort , hounds-tongue , loose-strife , pear-tree . wounds , inflamations to asswage : adders-tongue , chick-weed , daisy , hore-hound , loosestrife , one blade , straw-berries , ve vain , yarrow , balm-apple housleek , sopewort , primrose orpine , purslain . wounds to heal : asarabacca , balm-apple balsame , baum , bears-ears , addars-tongue , birds eye , blew-bottle , arsmart , bugle , buglosse , burnet , cranes-bil , crossewort , daisie , fern , elder-buds or flowers , golden-rod , herb two-pence , bea sears , horehound , saint johns wort , ivy , hounds-tongue , loosestrife , lungwort , madder , mastick . maudlin , costmary , moonwort , oak , plantane , rue , sanicle , self heal , satirion , solomons seal , southernwood , sun dew or rosa solis , to mentil , turpentine , valerian , twayblade , woad , yarrow , zedoary , wood-roof , tobacco , ladies mantle , clowns-wound-wort , fox-gloves , hissop . y y yellow jaundies , see jaundie● here followeth some examples of such griefs and infirmities which were by the rules aforesaid both astrologically discovered and cured . i shall relate only two cures done at oxon : i could have inserted many more done within that city during the time of my abode there , but i am unwilling over-much to enlarge my book , or trouble the reader therewith ; these two being enough for satisfaction . 1. i cured the daughter of mr. brown living in high-street in oxon , anno 1658. this was the first cure i did within that city : this maid having been about twelve moneths under the cure of several doctors , and her father finding that her grief rather increased than diminished , and hearing by some what great cures i had done in other places , came unto me , and after some communication i erected a figure , by which , according unto the rules of astrology i quic●ly found what was the distemper and the cause thereof ; which i am confident no drug doctor could do by the urine : her grief proceeding from an extraordinary distemper of the heart and brain , and not without some rising in the throat by flegm , and ill matter setled between throat and stomack ; her condition for the time being , was as followeth ; she had near a dozen firs a day , which took her somewhat like the falling-sickness but mixt with convulsion , for during the time of her fit , she seemed senceless with some small striving and so revived again , but not without some sighing and sadness : she was afflicted under the sun and mircury , the one having predominancy over the heart , the other the brain and so by consequence the nerves and arteries oppressed ; the one causing deadness , the other sencelessnes for the time being of her fit : i judged it to be one kind of evil , which would without question ( if not cured ) have turned unto that which is usually called , the kings-evil ; for in length of time ▪ when the nerves are oppressed , it many times causeth white kernels , swellings sometimes in the throat , and at other times in the eyes , and indeed in any part of the body , more especially in that part signified by the sign wherein the principle significator of the sick is afflicted , and then , but not before it 's usually called the kings-evil : the way of cure , was as followeth in the first place i gave her three solary herbs to wear about her , having a ●ertue agreeing with the uature of gold , and serveth instead of gold , for as gold is under the dominion of the sun as being a metal , so likewise are many herbs and plants under the dominion of the sun accordingly as being vegetable , and being gathered at the right planetary hours according unto their number worketh the same effects in cure , being worn or otherwise . this cure was effected by such herbs suitable to the grief which were by antipathy unto mercury , a planet cold and dry , viz. under jupiter , a planet hot and moist , but by herbs which were by sympathy , under the sun , for let the sun be strong or weak there it no opposing of him , as being fountain of life ; for in all cures whatsoever , herbs of the sun must be used , and the rather in this cure , by reason the maid was by nature melancholy , and likewise afflicted under mercury a melancholy planet . in all kinds of evils , the plants and herbs used for cure , must be gathered at the right planetary hours according unto their vertues and numbers : had this maid been by nature cholerick , then we might have used herbs under venus , or the moon , as being afflicted under the sun , for in all cures we must help to support natures defects , so well , as to fortify the heart ; but most usually melancholy people are afflicted under melancholy cold planet : and cholerick people under hot planets , more especially in evils , for every element naturaly doth sympathise with its own like , and doth more vehemently strike thereupon then on the contrary , even as the actions of men and women do naturally sympathise with their complexions be it choller , or melancholy , &c. an other cure done in ▪ oxon on the daughter of mr. collens a baker , anno 1669. this maid for some time was troubled with convulsion-fits , now her parents being willing to have remedy , went unto several doctors , and others for remedy , who used such physical means , and other remedys as they thought meet : at length they used hot bathes wherein they shrunk up both her legs , after which , not knowing what more to do for her , they willingly left the cure ; by which it appeared , that the remedy was worse than the disease ; for instead of curing her distemper , they left her limbs useless ; whereupon , hearing of me , and the many great cures which i had done for others , they came unto me , desiring to know , whether i could help her distemper , and cure her limbs ? for as they said , having spent much money upon her already , they would not willingly part with any more , except i would undertake to perfect the cure : after some discourse , having taken an exact time whereby to erect my figure , and finding that it was radical by the rules of astrology , i found that the maid was curable ; whereupon , having agre'd with them for the cure , at a price , provided if i did not perfect the cure , i was to lose both my charges and pains : i made entrance thereupon , and within some short time i did ( through gods blessing ) reco●er both her health and limbs , and she hath s● continued ever since . by the figure , i found that the moon and mercury were principally concerned , as having the greatest predominancy over her distemper , the one ruling over the bulck of the brain , the other over the acting and sensitive part of motion , and so between them making her fits violent and strong : these afflicting planets having relation to the twelfth house , ( and no fortune ▪ or lord of the tenth house , enterposing , gave strong suspition of an evil upon the maid , neither in my opinion was it otherwise and that was one great reason why the doctors and others could not help her ; for evils are of that nature that except they be cured by the rules of astrology ( without a miracle ) they are seldom , or never cured , for the more they are tampered with , the worse commonly they will be ; for in this condition , those herbs and plants which are used , must be gathered at the right planetary hours , and according to their numbers , elemental qualities , and vertues , as i have elsewhere expressed ; the manner of cure was as followeth , first , having gotten three solary plants which were gathered at the hour of the sun , i gave them the maid to wear about her neck instead of gold , for as gold is a metal under the sun , and hath a strong vertue to withstand the evil , so likewise such herbs which are under the sun are approved to have the same vertue accordingly , being gathered as aforesaid . secondly i made choice of such herbs and plants which were antipathetical unto the moon and mercury ; and so to oppose mercury , i took herbs under the dominion of jupiter a planet hot and moist , whereas mercury is cold and dry and to oppose the moon , a planet cold and moist , i took herbs under mars and the sun both hot and dry , out of which herbs being collected according unto their numbers , elemental qualities and vertues , and gathered at the right planetary hours : i made dyet-drinks oyles , and cattaplasms . the manner how to make them i have shewed elsewhere in this book : only to the oyl applyed unto her le●s , i did mix it with oyle of young puppies under nine days old ▪ and with the jelly of calves legs which did help cause the sinews being shrunk to extend and stretch forth : after i had used this oyl about nine days , having gotten good help , we stretched forth her leggs and did splet them fast , and about a week after she assayed to move with crutches , after which continuing the oyntment , and keeping her leggs splitted in some short time being young she recovered : also by dyet-drinks ▪ & applying cataplasms to the hand-wrists , not omitting planetary oyles , applyed to the heart and brain made out of those herbs collected as aforesaid , she was likewi●e recovered of her convulsion fits , but against the good will and liking of those who had her formerly in cure , and some others their partakers , for it seems they were so troubled about the cure by reason they could not do it , that they made the vice chancellour acquainted therewith , pretending that i had cured this maid by unlawful means , whereupon , mr collins this maides father was sent for , to give him account concerning the way and means used for his daughters cure , who it seems gave him such ample satisfaction therein , that i never was much troubled more , only the said chancel●our sent two schollers to dispute with me , the one was , as i was informed a doctor , the other a master of arts , who after two or three hours discourse , were fully satisfied concerning the legallity of my art and profession and as they told me at parting , they did believe , i should have no more trouble therein , yet notwithstanding , those who were my adversaries would not rest contented , but did on the sabbath day put up bills unto the ministers to pray and preach again●t me , and my art ; which when i understood , i could not forbear to smile , remembring a pretty story of a rich usurer who lived in london ▪ a friend of his desired him to go with him hear a sermon , the preacher having notice of his coming spake much against usury and usurers , and all those that went unto them ; whereupon , the sermon being ended , the usurers friend askt him how he liked the sermon , he said very well , and wished there more such preachers , why said his friend ? to speak against you , and all those of your profession ? i care not for that said the usurer , for the more it s cryed down , and the fewer there be of my profession , the more custom i shall have ; for the usurer was resolved preach while they could against it , never to give over his trade . and the truth is , after the ministers had preaehed against me and my art , i had twice so much custom as i had before , for they could not have done me better service for many which before had not heard of me made much enquiring after me , hearing what great cures i had done . not long after came two men who warned me to depart by a day , pretending they had order , i was informed they were apothecaries however to avoid trouble , in regard i was no graduat doctor , nor yet free of the city , i thought it best to depart and live where i formerly had done in the parish of aldermarston near reading : but the citizens never left me , for unto this day , i have many cures out of the city , and places near adjoyning notwithstanding , i live ten miles distant would i have been at the charge of a license i would have lived there in spight of all my adversaries , but i am well plea●ed to live where i am having practice enough . one cure lately done in bark-shire , anno. 1667. one mr. peter wickenss , living in the parish of tile-hurst , in the county of berks , having lain bed-rid for some time past , who could wagg neither hands nor legs , he made tryal of many physicians , mounte-banks and others , but could find no help , continuing rather worse than any whit amending : at length he sent to me , for as i have already declared , i am seldom imployed but in case of great necessity , ( the reasons i have shewed elsewhere ; ) and having by the rules of astrology discovered the grief with its cause and termination : i did undertake the cure at a price , and did perform the same in about eight weeks time , he hath been since at london and hath gone several other journeys , and hath continued well unto this present time of my writing hereof : the cure was performed as followeth , having by the rules of astrology discovered saturn to be the afflicting planet who was both weak and peregrine , i effected the cure by antipathy , viz. by herbs under the dominion of jupiter , and sol , what herbs are good for dead-palsies i have set down elsewhere in this book , and likewise under what planet each herb is governed out of which having collected a select number agreeing unto each planet by the rules before going : i did make both oyles cataplasms , and dyet-drinks with the oyles we annoinred the brain reins of his back , cliches of his armes , groyn , knees and anckles , together with heart and stomack . the cataplsams we applyed to the feet , and hand-wrists . the dyet-drink i ordered him to take three times a day ▪ viz. morning , and after dinner , and at night . i also ordered him to take water-grewel made with herbs suitable unto his condition every morning about an hour after he had taken the dyet-drinks ; sometimes in this infirmty we use suffumigations to the head more especially when we find the patient under a cold dryth : also the dyet and food which they eat who are in this condition must be nutritive and of easy digestion ; the patients in this condition will be very apt to be bound in their body , not only for want of exercise , but also by reason the applycations are for the most part hot , wherefore sometimes we give them glisters , pills , or suppositers according unto discretion . here followeth the way astrologically not only to discover but also to cure all sorts of evils , together with that commonly called , the kings-evils . concerning the evil commonly called the kings-evil , and the cure thereof as followeth . it 's generally called the kings-evil , in regard it pleased god to give the kings of this nation that great gift of curing these kinds of infirmities : 't is not as many foolishly do imagine , called the kings-evil in regard of any sins by them committed , and so for that cause it should fall upon the subject : for the evil is directly from themselves occasioned by some extraordinary distemper of the brain , and so from thence dispersed by the nerves into several parts of the body sometime i have known it fall into the eyes and at other times into the neck and throat with white kernels , swellings ; and sometimes 't will be in any other parts of the body and the swelling is alwayes white . now in regard that chyrurgions and doctors in former times were ignorant , not only of the cause but also of the way of cure by reason it lay wholly in the nerves , for these kinds of evils coming wholly from the brain as aforesaid : at the first beginning never toucheth upon the flesh , brain , or blood only the nerves are puffed up and riseth in kernels white , whereupon such applications which usually cured other swellings were clear antipathetical unto these kinds of swellings , and rather increased than any way diminished their pain : i have cured many of this kind of evil also , as is well known unto many in the country . many times it falleth out to be in the optick-nerves , and then the eyes are in a very sad condition . about a year a go i cured the daughter of one john alexander , living in mortimer in the county of berks , she was taken in both eyes , they were so cloased up , that she could not endure to have them opened whereby to apply any remedy , she lay thus above six moneths quite blind , besides what time the grief was drawing on before , and the more they tampered with her the worse she was ; at length they were fearful that her eyes would perish in her head , ( as it seems one maids did who was of their acquaintance . ) whereupon they came to me and having agreed upon the price for the cure ▪ i did undertake and perform it in about a moneths space ; the manner how i did perform it i shall relate before i conclude , i do find that in , former ages multitudes perished through these kinds of evils , by reason ( as i said before ) that doctors and chyrurgeons were ignorant of the true cause of the distemper , and so by consequence of the cure ; whereupon it pleased god to give this gift of healing , first , unto king edward the 1. who for his piety was called the confessor , who was the first english king , who suecceeded after the deans wete extinguished , and after him successively this great gift hath continued unto the kings of this nation : i shall now proceed to set forth the way of cure , not only of this mans daughter in question , but also how to cure it in any part of the body , provided it be taken in hand in time , before the nerves , flesh , and bones are perished , for in length of time , if it be not cured , 't will get into the flesh , bones , and blood : and then in the end , commonly that limb or member of the body , be it arm , foot , legg , and sometimes thigh and all is cut off : the way of curing this maides eye , was as followeth . in the first place i made choice of three solary herbs which are esteemed good for the nerves viz. rosemary , angellica , and bawm , these herbs i cau●ed to be made close up in a linnen cloath ( taking a small quantity of each , being all gathered at the hour of the sun ) and gave it her to wear about her neck instead of gold , for as gold is a metal under the dominion of the sun , and hath a vertue to comfort the brain ; for the sun hath predominancy over the brain , as i have shewed elsewhere : see also these herbs being under the dominion of the sun hath the like sympathetick vertue to comfort the brain : accordingly also i made choice of a select number of solary herbs to make a dyer-drink by way of decoction ; and likewise to make an oyl to annoynt th● brain . but unto the eyes i applyed only celandine-water , given in a small tincture of roman-vitriol ; but at the first beginning of the cure , i did for a few dayes apply raw-fresh meat to the powl or neck to help dry and divert the humour from the eyes ; by this means through gods blessing she was soon recovered . now the way to cure this kind of evil when it setleth in any other part of the body , is as followeth , you must in the first place make use of three solary herbs , as aforesaid , to wear about their neck : also you must make a bath of solary herbs , according unto the number before mentioned , belonging unto the sun , and being gathered at the right planetary hour : also out of the same herbs , you must make an oyntment , and once a day you must bath the place grieved pretty hot , and then immediately with this oyntment anoynt it , and keep it moderately warm , you must be sure to make choice of such solary herbs , which are esteemed good for the brain and nerves , as you will find in this book elsewhere : i shall relate one example , this year i cured a maid , who was the only daughter of mr. henry bulstrode , living in warfield parish in the county of berks , she had the evil in her ear and right side of her head , being most grievously pained therewith : her father tryed many doctors and others to his great cost and charge , but instead of mending she grew worse every day than other , and the more they tampered with her , the more she was afflicted ; the swelling was white , she was in this condition about nine moneths : at length finding no remedy , and hearing by some of his neighbours , what great cures i had done for others , her father came unto me , and having agreed with me about the charge , i did undertake the cure , and in about six weeks time did perfect the cure accordingly . the way which i used was according to what i have already declared : viz. by diet-drinks , baths ointments , and herbs to wear about her neck , as is before expressed . all the herbs used were solary . and gathered at the true planetary hour , agreeing with the number attributed to the sun. note , that when the sun or any other planet , whose herbs you intend to use be strong in the heavens , the lesser numbers will serve ; but when they are weak then the greater numbers must be used : a planet is said to be strong when he is in essential dignities , and weak when out of dignities in the heavens , the reasons i have shewed elsewhere in this book . another kind of evil , commonly called atake . most people call this kind of evil atake , by reason , that the patient is on the sudden perplexed with great pain , whereas usually natural infirmities doe first mind the patient , before it increaseth unto extreamity , according as the influence of the afflicting planets draweth unto partile aspect of the significator of the patient ; and if a figure be set for the time , when the pain did first assault the patient , one may by the rules of astrology easily discover from what cause the grief came , and whether natural or from witchcraft . the way which the witches usually take for to afflict man or beast in this kind , is as i conceive , done by image or moddel made in the likeness of that man or beast they intend to work mischief upon , and by the subtilty of the devil made at such hours and times , when it shall work most powerful upon them by thorn , pin , or needle prickt into that limb or part of the image , which answereth to that limb or member of the body afflicted . for example , i shall relate what happened lately as i am credibly informed . an old woman , who lived near the devises in wiltshire , ( she was imprisoned about the time , when i began to write this book , in ●nno 1667. for the fact ) being in a lone place was observed to stoop and imploy her self in digging or making a hole in the earth . now immediately after she was gone , they went to the place , and there found an image like a man with a thorn prickt into it , at which time there was a man in the parish , who was in great tormenting pain in one of his limbs , which by compare did answer to that limb prickt with a thorn into the image : and when they took forth the thorn , the man had present ease , but when they put the thorn in again the man was tormented . when witchcraft is wrought only by image prickt as aforesaid , the patient is usually pained outwardly , in one limb , member , or part of the body and the swelling if any is usually white : there is no pain whatsoever more tormenting , than it , and commonly such pains are white swellings ; and usually with most people called evils or takes , not thinking from what cause it cometh . yet i am of opinion and do find by experience , that all white swellings are not such evils , which cometh from evil persons , for it may proceed from some extraordinary distemper of the nerves , such as is the evil commonly called the kings evil , as i have already declared . it s observable that in all kinds of evil , the more they are tempered with the worse they are ; for except the right way of remedies be applyed , the patient will be but the more tormented : i know many have lost their limbs and sometimes life , and all in regard those who have undertaken to cure them , being unskilled in the way of astrology could not effect the cure . i have cured many , who have been taken in this condition , and to my knowledge have never failed , where the patient was cureable but when the bones , sinews , nerves , and arteries , and flesh is perished before one begins , and joynts dislocated , then there can be no perfect cure expected , although some good may be wrought in staying farther proceedings . there is no grief or infirmity whatsoever , but may through witchcraft and sorcery , by the help of the devil be wrought upon the bodies of men and beast , and i could instance many , which i have cured . i shall mention two examples : the first being a cure done upon a maid living at newton near newbery in the county of berks , she lay two years bed-rid , and could wag neither hand nor foot ; her father told me he had tryed many doctors , which cost him above an hundred pounds , but she was never the better , but rather the worse ; she took no sustenance , save onely verjuice posset , for if at any time she took ought else , she soon did vomit it up all , her body and limbs outward , were taken in the nature of a dead palsie and her inward parts with a great stop at the breast and stomack , her father told me the time when she first took her bed , by which i erected a scheme , and according unto the rules of astrology , i told her father , i found she was taken either by witchcraft or sorcery , if not both , and that was the reason why the drug doctors ▪ could not help her ; i undertook the cure at a price , and within eight weeks , i recovered both her body and limbs , and she hath continued well ever since , it being above nine years ago , since the cure was done . the way how to cure either witchcraft or sorcery is set down in another place in this book . the cure was effected . in the first place i endeavoured to afflict the witch ; and then by diet drinks and ointments made of planetary herbs antipathetical unto the afflicting planet ( being saturn ) gathered at the planetary hours , their qualities , virtues , and numbers , corresponding ; the herbs used were under the dominion of the sun and jupiter . it appeareth that both witchcraft and sorcery had been wrought upon the maid , by reason that both her limbs outward , and body inward , were afflicted as aforesaid . objection , if witchcraft worketh alone only but upon one limb or member of the body as before is declared ; then how cometh it to pass , that her whole body and limbs generally were thus made useless , to which i answer that if the thorn , pin or needle were prickt in the head , when the sign that is the moon was in aries , and that the infortunes as instance saturn were in bad aspect unto her ( as probable it was ) when the witch first began her mischief , then it might unhappily work mischief or damage unto the whole body : for it standeth by good reason that if the brain , which is the fountain from whence the nerves do proceed be oppressed , that then the motion of the whole body must needs be obstructed , for the nerves which is a small string that runneth under the veins throughout the whole frame of the body proceeding from the brain are the onely sensitive part of motion ; insomuch that if a chirurgion happen to prick a nerve , when he letteth any one blood , the limb will be in danger to be useless , and i heard of two , who lost the use of their arms thereby when i lived in oxford , and as it fareth with the body to be senceless and so useless , when the brain and nerves are oppressed , so likewise it fareth with the body , as being dead , and void of life , when the heart and arteries are oppressed , i shall instance one example hereof , about eight or nine years ago i cured a maid , whose name was mary boyer , she was about eighteen years of age , her father , together with this maid did live in glassenbury , being above eight miles from my dwelling : he brought her to my house where i now dwell to be cured ; her condition was as followeth , every day near the same hour she was taken with a great pain and pricking at her heart , and then immediately , sounding fits followed , lasting two or three hours ; she was above twelve moneths in this condition before i undertook the cure ; and as her father told me , he had been at great charge going after many doctors , and yet notwithstanding , was rather worse , than any whit amended , and no marvel , for how can any doctor cure such distempers , when they are ignorant of the cause , for witchcraft or sorcery can no way be discovered , nor yet cured , but by the way of astrology , except a miracle be wrought , 't is true , god can do what he pleaseth ; but i never knew , or heard of any man or beast that was cured ( since the apostles times ) that were bewitched , any other way , than by the astrological way of physick : and 't is a great mercy , that god is pleased to raise up , and to give knowledge unto a mortal man to do it ; for , although the afflictions of this kind cometh from the devil and his instruments , which we commonly call evils or takes , yet the cure cometh by , and through gods blessing upon the honest industry of the astrologers and philosophers , who are the men only acquainted with these kinds of cures : and as it pleaseth god to suffer the devil and his instruments the witches to afflict his people , by reason of their neglect of duty and prayer : so again , it pleaseth god through prayers joyned with lawful means , to take off their power , and to return the evil back from whence it came , and so to have their infirmities and diseases cured : these cures are not done as many foolishly do imagine , by such who are called white witches , for the white witches and the black witches are all one , as i shall make appear , and t is but a m●e ▪ cheat or delusion , for the one witch by image or meddel afflicts the patient by thorn , pin , or needle prickt into it . the other witch being confederate gives forth , that she can cure , whereupon , when the patient cometh , these two confederate witches divides the gain , and the cure is quickly done , for t is but pulling forth the thorn or pin , out of the image , and the patient is cured ; but i have known sometimes when the patients have been ill of long continuance and so the grief being gotten into the flesh , bones , blood , nerves , arteries and the like , that then they could not cure them , for then remedies proper made with planetary herbs , as dyet-drinks , bathes , oyntments , and such like remedies , as i have elsewhere expressed , must be used , for 't is not enough when gotten into the flesh and blood , to take out the thorn or pin ; and those who go unto such cunning women , if they stay too long as aforesaid , are afterwards inforced to come unto me , or some others , who are skilled in the art of astrology and philosophy for cure , for witches cannot help them ; and i have known sometimes , that suspected witches when they could not help their patients , have come unto me for remedies , and i have cured them . i shall relate the manner how the cure was effected upon the maid before mentioned , with some passages which happened thereupon . in the first place , for the incouragement of all such who are conversant in daily prayer unto god , i shall relate what i have proved by many examples , for in all my practice , i could never find , that ever any man , or woman that did daily pray , especially in the morning , were ever taken in the snare of witchcraft that day : and this maid now in question , was as a man may say , taken napping ; i shall relate the manner how she became insnared : but first i shall declare , what happened between her father , and my self concerning her devotion : after her father and my self were agreed about the cure , i told him , 't was pitty that she did neglect her duty towards god , for if she had used daily prayer , she had never been brought into this condition ; he answered , that to his knowledge that could not be the cause , for she did usually every morning pray , before she went forth of her chamber : then i told him , that if she would affirm it upon oath if called thereunto , would cure her for nothing , more especially , if she prayed that day she was took in this condition , whereupon he called in the maid , and after some exhortations given , i askt her the question , she answered , that she did not pray that morning when she was taken in this condition and desired her father not to be angry , and she would declare the reason of her neglect , which was as followeth , her mother being minded to brew , called her up very early in the morning to fetch water from the conduit , now the custom is , first come , first served ; it so fell out , that this maid and another maid meeting at the place , fell together by the ears concerning who should be first served , whereupon , the other maid being worsted vowed revenge ; and the same day immediately after , she was taken in this condition , as i shall relate : now her father told me , that the other maid lived with one who was much suspected to be a witch , and according unto my figure which was set for the day and hour when she was first taken in this condition , i found , that she was afflicted by the planet saturn , lord of the twelfth , which is the house of witchcraft , which planet , according unto the rules of astrology did exactly personate the suspected witch . the power of witchcraft was so strongly wrought upon this maid , that for twelve moneths together she could not go into any bed until after midnight ; besides her daily fits , which usually took her near one hour of the day as followeth ; first , when the fit began it would prick about her heart , as if needles were thrust into her , and then immediately after it would disperse throughout her whole body by the arteries , and then for some hours she would seem dead : and further , the power of witchcraft was so strong upon her , that if at any time of the day , or night , ( before midnight ) she did but touch any bed , she would immediately fall into a fit , as i at her first coming did make several tryals , i conceive , that the witch did not only work by witchcraft alone , by image prickt into the heart which by sympathy , through the subtilty of the devil did work upon the heart and arteries of the maid , but also did use some way of sorcery whereby to aflict her inward parts , for she was much troubled with griping pains in her belly and stomack , whereas formerly she was healthful : now the way used for the curing of this maid , was as followeth , first , according unto the rules hereafter mentioned , i did endeavour to afflict the witch to the end , she might forbear to act any farther in her villany . secondly i made her dyet drinks , by decoctions with such herbs being gathered at their right planetary hours , which were under the dominion of the sun and jupiter , being antipathetical unto the afflicting planet saturn ; and likewise with those herbs i made oyntments proper to comfort the heart and arteries , with cataplasms to the hand-wrests , sometimes when i found the veins high , i let her blood , fearing the arteries might be oppressed thereby , for as i have already declared the arteries and nerves run both under the veins : i likewise for a time accustomed her to eat hearts ●oyled , baked , or stewed , which might by sympathy help to fortify her heart : i also gave her water-grewel made with such herbs which were agreeable to her condition , to be taken an hour after she had taken her dyet-drink every morning as indeed we usually do in all distempers , according unto which rules before going this maid was well and perfectly cured within ten weeks , notwithstanding , she was above twelve moneths in this condition before she came unto me : and notwithstanding , her father as he told me had tryed many doctors to his great charge , for as in this , so in all other kinds of evils , the more they are tampered with the worse the patient will be , except they had the knowledge by the rules of astrology and philosophy to understand the way of cure. another kind of evil which cometh from sorcery . i find by experience , that there is another kind of evil wherewith many are infected , and i shall instance one example . a woman living at a place called nutbeam within a mile of way-hill where once a year the great fair is kept , was taken with this kind of evil as followeth : the cause of this womans distemper was from sorcery , as by my figure was discovered and the party suspected was the minister of the parish , by my figure described to be a man of saturn , in the times of mercury , which signifies a man of reasonable stature swarthy complection , and of a lumpish countenance , and sad or black hair ; he was a man of small wealth , only hired to execute the office or function , for the time being : the occasion which moved him to do it , was , as the woman told me , because she would not trust him for mault ; whereupon he threatned revenge , and at a gossiping feast he had the opportunity to do it , as followeth ; first , he moved to have a health go round the table , and so did undertake to spice every ones cup , but when it came unto this womans turn to drink , she did observe , that he took spice out of another paper which he had prepared , pretending that it was all one : this woman told me she was not willing to take it , fearing least he should do her some mischief ; but being unwilling to disturbe the company , well-hoping that his malice would not have lasted so long , she drank it , after which , before the day was ended , she began to be very ill , being taken with a great pain and griping in her belly , and likewise every day encreased in bigness of body , being grown so big as three ordinary women , insomuch , at length a reasonable horse could not well carry her ▪ she tryed many doctors , and spent much money ▪ but could find no help , at length hearing of me , her husband brought her unto me ; she was above two years in this condition before i did undertake the cure , yet notwithstanding i did recover her in about three moneths time , staying not only her griping pains in her belly , but also , did very much lessen the extream groth of her body : the way which i used for her recovery was , by decoctions , oyntments bathes , sweats and glisters : she was taken under saturn who was lord of the twelfth house , and in the ascendant : the cure was performed by antipathy , viz. with herbs under the sun , mars , and jupiter : what herbs are good for dropsical humours under the planets before mentioned , you may find in this book ; and likewise , how to make decoctions , bathes , oyls , and glisters , suitable unto her condition . now concerning this minister , i shall relate what followed , i having by my art made some discovery , and this woman for the reasons aforesaid , justly suspecting him , both she and her husband were minded to have him before a justice , but that i somewhat disheartned them , and told them , that the discovery which i had made , could be no evidence against him , whereby to implead : but not long after , this priest having upon some other occasion differed with an other of his parishioners , after prayers ended , his son standing in the church-yard , this minister came unto him , took off his hatt and gave him a tap on the head , saying , ( before some of the neighbours ) thou shalt lye by it some time for thy fathers sake : immediately after , this boy , being very sick , took his bed , and came no more abroad in a long time : whereupon , this womans husband , and the boys father resolves to prosecute against him , and accordingly , sent for a warrant , intending to have him before a justice , but the priest having some notice thereof fled , and as i am informed , was never heard of unto this day . another cure done upon a boy living at throxford , in the county of berks , who was suddenly struck dumb , and so continued during the space of three years . i shall in the first place relate the manner how this boy was taken in this condition : as followeth , this boy living with his unckle ( his father being dead ) was imployed to drive , and fetch home milch beasts , being kept for a dairy ; now in a morning being holy day having on his best array , being somewhat pleasant , meets with a woman , who was very much suspected to be a witch , and minding to make sport with her , calls her old witch , demanding whether she was going , she not answering , he threw several stones at her , with that she began to be angry , and saith unto him ( as the boy after he could speak related ) sirrah i will make you hold your tongue , using many threatning speeches ; and indeavoured to run after the boy , who was too nimble on foot for her : after which time during three years , as abovesaid , he became speechless and seeming simple , and so might without question have continued unto this day ( without miracle ) had not the astrological way been used both for the discovery and recovery of his distemper . the friends of this boy told me they had spent much mony about his cure , but to no purpose , having as they said tryed many doctors and others , insomuch that they thought him uncureable : but by accident hearing of me , and of the many cures by me done , the friends of this boy came unto me , desiring to know whether i would undertake to help him to his speech again : i ask'd them , if they could tell the time , when he first lost his speech , which they readily told me . it being done upon a holy day , they could the better do it , whereupon having erected a figure , according unto the day or time given , i quickly found the cause of his distemper ( without which there could be no cure wrought ) and told them , that i was confident through gods blessing , that i could help them the planet afflicting was ♄ a cold , dry , melancholly , earthy , evil planet : the defect lay wholly in the vvula or gargarean ; and as men who are taken with extream cold , which usually settleth in this part , are seemingly speechless , or at least speak with little or low voice , so this boy being more vehemently afflicted under so sad a cold planet , could not speak at all : and likewise he seemed to be foolish , for there was a great cold defect in the brain and head , so well as in the vvula . now having by the rules of art discovered the cause so well as the distemper it self ; the friends of this boy and my self agreed upon a price for the cure , which i performed in less then a months space . the cure was effected as followeth , having in the first place by the rules hereafter mentioned , endeavoured to afflict the witch , that so she might be discouraged to act any further in her mischief . i used herbs antipathetical unto the afflicting planet being saturn , viz. herbs under the dominion of the sun and jupiter , according unto their numbers and virtues , being gathered at their right planetary hours , three of which hetbs being under the domion of the ●un . i caused him to wear about his neck , it being in virtue answerable unto gold , and a number which properly belongeth unto the sun , as i have shewed elsewhere , and as gold is a metal under the dominion of the sun , and hath a virtue to withstand all kinds of evils , and to comfort the heart , arteries , and vital spirits , so likewise hath these herbs under his dominion the like properties , as also the ruby amongst stones ; generally all those pains , aches , distempers ▪ or afflictions , which are caused by witchcraft are called evils , and sometimes these kinds of evils will turn into white kernels , swellings , proceeding from some extraordinary distemper in the nerves ( as i have elsewhere expressed , and then it s usually called the kings evil. ) having collected my herbs together according unto their numbers and virtues , being under the dominion of the sun and jupiter , as aforesaid , and caused a mixture , then out of these herbs , we usually make diet drinks ointments , and suffumigations ; of the diet drink , i gave him three times a day , viz. morning , afternoon , and night , also every morning we usually give them water-grewel made with some of those herbs about an hour after they have taken the diet drink , by which means through gods blessing the boy within a month was cured , and hath so continued ever since . i believe it will be a warning unto him , how to meddle with such creatures in a morning without prayer . i shall relate one passage , which happened between the boys unkle and my self , as followeth ▪ the month being expired , wihich was the time set for the boys cure , he came to see whether the boy could speak or no , whereupon i called in the boy and bad him speak to his unckle , which he did , desiring to know how all his friends did ; whereupon his unkle seemed to be much troubled , and sad , for as he told me afterwards , he did verily believe , that i had infused a spirit into the boy to make him speak ; and his reason was because the doctors and others , who had undertaken to help him ( but could not ) said he would never be cured , as they verily believed by any man whatsoever : whereupon the boys unkle desired me to keep him somewhat longer , and then he would come and bring money for the cure : the reason why he brought no money with him , was , because he did not believe i could help him ; and he made his bargain so , that if i did not cure the boy , i was to have nought for my charge and pains . and about a week after he came privately to my servants , desiring to speak with the boy , which he did , and then , but not before he was satisfied , for the boy could both pray and readily give answers unto questions . after which , about a week following , he came again with one of his neighbours , who both heard the boy speak and pray again , and was fully satisfied , paying me , what we had agreed upon for the cure . it seems they were not onely disheartened by physitians , but also hearing that i did many times set figures , concerning nativities , thefts , strays , and fugitives , &c. as though i had wrought the cure by unlawful means . but before we parted , i gave them both such ample satisfaction , that they went away well contented and satisfied , being joyful , that it was their good hap to come unto me . now whether this boy was by this woman bewitched or whether it pleased god to lay such an affliction upon the boy . it may be a question worthy of answer ; unto which i shall briefly reply in point of art , that in regard the only afflicting planet was lord of the twelfth and an evil planet , i did conclude that the infirmity might proceed from fascination or witchcraft , but not without gods permission , for ( as i have elsewhere declared ) if we neglect daily prayers , we lie lyable unto the assaults of sathan , and his instruments for the time being ; especially in our bodies : for our saviour jesus christ taught us to pray daily , not only for bread but also to deliver us from evil , wherein , if we fail , the fault is ours . how to make the sympathetical , powder with the way to apply the same , for the curing of wounds , and sundry distempers : especially such which any way concern the blood or vital spirits . take of roman vitriol six or eight ounces , beat it very small in a morter , then search it through a fine search , do it when the sun enters leo , which is about the twelfth of july , then spread it finely upon an earthen glased pan , set it daily in the heat of the sun during forty days , and keep it warm at night , and be careful it takes no wet or cold , afterwards you must continually keep it dry , with this powder alone kept dry and warm , great cures may be done , i shall instance one example , a brother of mine living in southcote near reading in the time of the late war had a mastiffe dog shot into the neck and head , with a brace of bullets . the dog being very much swell'd , lay pining away and was in appearance near unto death . a gent. who came by accident having some of this powder in his pocket was desirous to make some tryal thereof upon this dog , whereupon with a linnen cloth we took some of the corruption , which was about his neck , and immediately applyed a small quantity of the powder unto it keeping it very warm , whereupon presently the dog revived , stood up and wagged his tail ; then presently for further tryal , we laid the powder with the corruption to the air , and then the dog fell down as dead again , shivering , and then immediately we closed it up again , and ever afterwards kept it warm , and the dog in a short time recovered . the way to apply this powder for the curing of distempers and infirmities , especially such , wherein the blood and vital spirits are concerned . vvhen you are minded to cure any disease or infirmity , you must by the help of this book take notice what herbs are good to be used to cure the grief or infirmity , out of which you must take a select number according unto their elemental qualities and virtues , being rightly appropriated unto their severall planets , and gathered at the right planetary hours , which this book will sufficiently instruct you , dry them so that you may pound them and searce them into fine powder . then take the quantity of half a dram thereof , and the like quantity of the sympathetical powder , and mix them well together in a mortar , ever after keeping the powder warm and dry : and when you are minded to cure thereby ▪ you must warm the powder very well over a few coals , and while its warm put a small quantity of the patients blood into it , and mix it very well together , always keeping it warm , and so make it up in a little bag , and let the patient wear it next their skin , that so it may always be kept warm . i have by virtue of this powder done many very great cures , and should have still continued in this way of practice , but that i found many were unsatisfied , concerning the legality thereof , taking it for a kind of charm , by reason i ordered the patient to wear it about their necks , and i believe they did the rather conceipt so in regard , i did use to resolve many questions in astrology , as thefts , strays , fugitives , &c. there is but one danger in this way of cure , which is as followeth . if the patient happen to lose this mixture from their necks or body wheresoever worn , or otherwise let it take cold , the grief will be apt to return a●ain , more especially if the patient be not perfectly recovered . but when the patient is through well , than they may burn it . i could have inserted many cures , which i have effected by vertue of this powder , i shall only mention one for example , as followeth about nine years ago , there lived a woman in newbery , in the county of berks , she was daily troubled with fits , which at the first , would begin with a kind of trembling about the heart , and from thence by degrees set al the arteries to work throughout her whole body , after which , for some hours she would be as seemingly dead , and could wagg neither arm or leg ; for cure whereof , i let her blood in the heart vein , and having my powders made in readiness , according unto what is before expressed ; i mixt some of her blood with the powder , and while it was warm made it up into a little bag , which i caused her to wear about her neck , by vertue of which , not omitting dyet-drink suitable to her condition ; she was in about a months space recovered ; notwithstanding , she was near twelve moneths in this condition before she came unto me : the cure being perfected , her husband , according unto our agreement paid me for the cure , but it so chanced , that within some small time after , she carelesly lost this from her neck , whereupon , her fits began to mind her again , and more and more increased , insomuch , that she was almost so bad as at the first , for as i said before , except the patient be for some time perfectly well , at least a moneth , the grief will be apt to return , especially , when the principal matter of cure is lost or neglected , for it s not sufficient in any distemper whatsoever ▪ only to cure , except for a time there be a perfect settlement for we daily find , that relapses are very dangerous and apt to befall many who think themselves well recovered . this womans husband came to me again , and told me , that his wife was so bad as ever ( being much discontented ) he not knowing the reason ; i askt him , whether she had not lost the little bag from her neck which i gave her to wear he told me he thought she had : the truth is , through carelessness she had lost it , whereupon , i once more let her blood , and did as is before expressed , desiring her to take care of it , which she did ; after which , she became well again , and her fits left her , and so hath continued well ever since , as i am informed . this cure being effected about eight or nine years ago . the vnguent , or wonderful oyntment for wounds : composed of the four elemental parts of mans body . the seven planets being applyed thereunto : it s making , and use ; followeth : the ingredients . the moss of a dead mans scull 2. ounces . of mans grease 2. ounces . of mummy ½ . ounce . of mans blood ½ . ounce . oyl of lindseed 2. ounces . oyl of roses 2. ounces . bolearmeniack ½ . ounce . the three last ingredients are the rather added unto it because it helpeth to bring it unto a subtile oyntment : and without question , there is also great vertue in them . elements . nature . complection . planets . water . cold and moist . flegm . venus and luna . fier . hot and dry. choller . sol and mars . earth . cold and dry. melancholy . saturn & mercury ayr. hot and moist sanguine . jupiter . all these things before mentioned must be mixt together and beaten well in a morter until it become an oyntment then keep it in a close thing from ayr for your use . the way to use this unguent whereby to cure , is as followeth : take the blood or matter of the wound upon the weapon or instrument which made the wound : or otherwise , dry it upon a piece of wood , then put the wood into the oyntment , or else anoint the blood , being kept dry upon the wood with the oyntment , and keep it from air ; you must every day wet a fresh linnen rag with the urine of the patient , and so bind up the wound : do it early every morning . also you must be very careful that the oyntment which is applyed to the blood take no cold , with this unguent wonderful things may be done if it be rightly managed according unto the directions aforesaid . i shall quote one example concerning the tryal of this unguent as followeth , one day being at dinner with sir humphrey forrester of aldermaston in the county of berks. the gentlewoman , who usually waited on his lady was extreamly tormented with the tooth-ach , we caused her to prick her teeth with a tooth pick , and to blood it , immediately we put the tooth-pick into the ointment , and the gentlewoman had present ease ; after some short time , we took forth the tooth-pick , and put it into vinegar , whereupon she was presently in extream pain : we took the tooth-pick forth of the vinegar , and applyed it to the unguent , and she was immediately well , and so continued . i could have inserted many great cures done by virtue of this unguent , which for brevities sake onely i am willing to omit . concerning witchcraft , and sorcery , with the cure thereof , as followeth . the way to know whether the patient be bewitched or not i have already set down , elsewhere in this book . i find by experience , that those , who are taken in the snare of witchcraft are usually afflicted in some outward limb or member of the body caused by an image made in the likeness of man or beast , and through the subtilty of the devil made at such hours and times , when by sympathy it shall reflect upon the man or beast whom they intend to hurt or destroy ; it being done by thorn , pin , or needle prickt into that part of the image , which answereth unto that part of the body of man or beast wherein they are pained or grieved . an example hereof i have already mentioned , concerning the woman lately taken at the devises in wiltshire : but that which i conceive is the most usual way practised by witches is most properly called sorcery : for by the help of the devil some poysonous matter is prepared , and mixt with some blood and vital spirit of the witch , and so by smell or taste infused into the body of man or beast bewitched , or rather by which they are infected : for its observable in philosophy : si acceperis terram cadaverosam cujuscunque viri mulierisve , qui notabili quocunque morbo moriebatur , eandemque des ullo masculo aut foeminae , eodem morbo contaminabuntur ; in morbis aliquibus odore tantùm hoc efficitur , exempla gratia , in peste , lue venereae , seu morbo gallico elephantiasi sive lepra . those who are thus wrought upon by sorcery may be infected with most kinds of diseases whatsoever : as i have sufficiently discovered in my practice of physick ▪ besides i have known many things , which through sorcery have been so infected and spoiled , as instance bear cream , and milk , whey , and such like , that neither housewife or dairy maid could make any good use thereof . i shall relate one example hereof . when i was a boy my father kept a dairy at a place called shenfield near reading , and one of my sisters had the charge thereof , upon a time my father desired her to make some wilde curds , and to send them home ; which she did endeavour to do , but could make none . the reason was , as she conceived because an old woman ( suspected for a witch ) was at that time denyed whey , who went muttering away discontented . the next day my father came with one of his brothers , named john blagrave , a man of great knowledge in astrology and philosophy , as appears by his many works in print now my father askt her why she sent him no curds , she told him , she could make none , notwithstanding she had used her best skill ; and related what is aforesaid concerning the woman suspected : now my fathers brother aforesaid being desirous to make further tryal hereof went into the house , and caused the whey to be hung over the fire again which no sooner was done , but presently it rumbled , and made a noise , as if many bullets had been in it , whereupon he caused the kettle and whey to be taken from the fire , and caused a greater fire to be made : he also called for a cord and an iron wedge , he took the cord , and bound the kettle round about , and wrested it very hard , and then caused the kettle with whey to be set over the fire again , and having heat the wedge red hot , put him into the whey , and immediately there was abundance of curds rose up , after which my unckle sent a messenger to the suspected witches house to know how she did , who brought word , that after much knocking at length she opened the door , where he found the witch or suspected person shrunk up like a purse or leather put into the fire . by which it appeareth , that part of the vital spirit of the witch was infused into the whey , for otherwise it could not have wrought so violently upon her , for should the poysonous matter , or thing be given or used alone without some blood or vital spirit of the witch mingled with it , the burning of the patients blood or urin would not hurt them , or the putting this red hot wedg into the whey , could no way have afflicted her , which it did by sympathy , as appeared by her body being shrunk up as aforesaid . the true way to cure both witchcraft and sorcery , according unto the authors experience and practice . the curing of such who are bewitched , is not done only by such , who are called white witches , ( as many foolish do imagine ) for the white witch and the black witch are all one , as i have elsewhere expressed , they are but confederate witches , the one witch by thorn , pin , or needle pricks into the image through the subtilty of the devil causeth the infirmity , pain , or lameness ; the other witch giveth forth , that she can cure , and so when the friends of the bewitched cometh unto the white witch , or cunning woman ( they divide the gain ) and the cure is quickly done , it s but pulling forth , the thorn , pin or needle , and the patient is cured , and i have been credibly informed by some who have gon to these cunning women , or white witches ; that their cattle , or the patient afflicted have been perfectly well before they have gotten home : but as i have already declared , after either man or beast have been bewitched above moneth , they cannot cure them , especially , if the pain continue in one place all that time but sometimes they will move the thorn , pin , or needle into some other part of the body , that so they may have remedy when they come unto them ; for after the pain or infirmity have been of above a moneth standing , the grief will get into the flesh , blood and vital parts , and then the pulling forth of the thorn , and the rest will do the patient but little good , and cannot possibly help them , wherefore in this condition the patients friends must of necessity repair unto such who are well skilled in astrological and philosophical way of cure as i shall declare in order hereunto , but before we proceed unto the way of cure , it will be necessary to shew , how to afflict the witch , that so she may be discouraged to act any further in her mischief : for notwithstanding their witchcraft by image , as aforesaid , yet i seldom find , especially where the patient hath been above a moneth bewitched , but that sorcery is wrought so well as witchcraft , upon the patient ; and sometimes immediately together with the witchcraft , especially , where there are no confederate witches , for the white witches cannot help , where sorcery hath been wrought upon the patient , by reason it breaketh forth immediately into some poysonous or infectious inward grief or infirmity , which can no way be cured ( except by accident ) but by the astrological , philosophical way of physick . here followeth some experimental rules , whereby to afflict the witch , causing the evil to return back upon them . 1. one way is by watching the suspected party , when they go into their house ; and then presently to take some of her thatch from over the door , or a tile , if the house be tyled ; if it be thatch you must wet and sprinkle it over with the patients water , and likewise with white salt , then let it burn or smoke through a trivet , or the frame of a skillet : you must bury the ashes that way , which the suspected witch liveth . it s best done either at the change , full , or quarters of the moon : or otherwise , when the witches significator is in square or opposition to the moon . but if the witches house be tiled , then take a tile from over the door , heat him red hot , put salt into the patients water , and dash it upon the red hot tile , until it be consumed , and let it smoke through a trivet or frame of a skillet , as aforesaid . 2. another way is to get two new horseshooes , heat one of them red hot , and quench him in the patients urine , then immediately nail him on the inside of the threshold of the door with three nailes , the heel being upwards : then having the patients urine set it over the fire , and set a trivet over it , put into it three horse nails , and a little white salt : then heat the other horshooe red hot , and quench him severall times in the urine , and so let it boil and waste until all be consumed ; do this three times and let it be near the change , full , or quarters of the moon ; or let the moon be in square or opposition unto the witches significator 3. another way is to stop the urine of the patient , close up in a bottle , and put into it three nails , pins , or needles , with a little white salt , keeping the urine alwayes warm : if you let it remain long in the bottle , it will endanger the witches life : for i have found by experience , that they will be grievously tormented making their water with great difficulty , if any at all , and the more if the moon be in scorpio in square or opposition to his significator , when it s done . 4. another way is either at the new , full , or quarters of the moon ; but more especially , when the moon is in square or opposition to the planet , which doth personate the witch , to let the patient blood , and while the blood is warm , put a little white salt into it , then let it burn and smoke through a trivet , i conceive this way doth more afflict the witch , then any of the other three before mentioned by reason the blood hath more life in it then the urine ; for the urine is accounted , but as the excrement of blood : the reason why the witch is tormented , when the blood or urine of the patient is burned , is because there is part of the vital spirit of the witch in it , for such is the subtlety of the devil , that he will not suffer the witch to infuse any poysonous matter into the body of man or beast , without some of the witches blood mingled with it , as appeareth by the whey before mentioned . for 't is the devils policy , either by this means to detect them or otherwise by torment to bring them unto their ends : for the devil well knoweth , that when the blood or urine of the patient is burned , that the witch will be afflicted , and then they will desire to come to the place , for to get ease , for by the smell thereof , their pain is mitigated by sympathy ; even as by sympathy , when the blood and urine is burning , they are tormented , yet sometimes they , will rather indure the misery of it than appear , by reason country people oft times will fall upon them , and scratch and abuse them shrewdly . i conceive the onely reason the devil doth suck the witches blood is mearly to detect them , or otherwise one way or other to bring them to their ends , and sometimes they are discovered by their tet , at which place the devil usually sucketh their blood , whereby to mix with the poison , which they by their wicked ways do infuse into the body of man or beast , and so infect them . i do find by practice and experience that few or none are bewitched by image or moddel alone , but that there is sorcery wrought with it for otherwise the burning of the blood or urine of the patient could no way afflict them in any sympathetick way , as aforesaid ; having by the rules aforegoing set forth the way , how to afflict the witch . i shall in the next place discover the general way of cure . the way to cure both witchcraft and sorcery , commonly called evils or takes . having by a figure discovered under what planet the patient is afflicted , and in what part of the body the grief or pain lyeth ; whether outward in any limb or part of the body , or throughout the whole body , as it will sometimes fall out when the nerves or arteries are oppressed , proceeding from the heart and brain , or whether inward in the bowels , guts , liver , lungs , heart , breast , or stomack ; or be it what other disease or distemper whatsoever , for as i have already declared there is no disease or distemper whatsoever , but may be brought upon man or beast by witchcraft and sorcery , as i have already in several examples demonstrated : if the grief , pain , or distemper , be in the outward parts , limbs , or members of the body , then the cure must be by bathes and ointments made antipathetical unto the afflicting planets ; as instance if saturn be the afflicting planet , then herbs must be used under the sun and jupiter . if mars be the afflicting planet , then herbs must be used under the dominion of the sun and venus : alwayes provided that the herbs be gathered at the right planetary hours , according unto their virtues and numbers : if the ●rief lieth inward at the breast , stomach , and heart , then you must chuse such herbs , which are under the dominion of that planet , which is antipathetical unto the afflicting planet , and are good to open obstructions , and to comfort the heart and arteries , ever remembring in all cures to use a select number of herbs , under the dominion of the sun , in regard he governeth the heart and is fountain of life , a●d sole monarch of the heavens . it the grief lie in the bowels and guts , then sometimes glisters must he used made with such herbs especially which are good to expel poyson , being under the dominion of sol , which this book will sufficiently instruct you in , together with such herbs , which are of a contrary nature , unto the afflicting planet , but if the afflicting planet is more strong than the planet which is a contrary nature , then you must chuse a small select number of herbs of his own nature , which are good to cure the infirmity , and mix them with the other herbs before mentioned , concerning the way to make glisters , bathes , oyls , decoctions , or diet drinks , and what else is meet to be used in all cures whatsoever , i have already elsewhere in this book expressed . note . that in the curing of all kinds of evils , i do usually cause the patients to wear a select number of solary herbs gathered at the hour of the sun , the reasons i have shewed elsewhere in this book . i could have been more copious in setting forth the way of curing both witchcraft and sorcery , but that i have sufficiently treated thereof in the way of curing all kinds of evils before mentioned , for i conceive , that generally those evils before mentioned , came from witchcraft and sorcery , onely some particular evils may proceed from some extraordinary distemper of the nerves as i have elsewhere expressed with the reasons thereof , here followeth some notable philosophical secrets worthy our knowledge . how by the magnet of ones body to extract a spiritual mummy whereby to cure most diseases incident unto the body of man : it being done either by seminaion or transplantation hereof into a growing vegitable , as followeth . the magnet of ones body is the dung or excreement , which must be dryed seven or nine days in the shade , and kept from wet this magnet thus prepared must be laid unto that part of the body , which doth naturally evacuate by sweat from the vital or natural part of the body defective but if we make a general medicine , then the magnet must be applyed unto all parts , which doth naturally evacuate by sweat . this magnet must be so prepared , that we may transplant the same , when the moon increaseth , and if she apply from that planet , which is lord of the ascendant of the patient , or from the planet afflicting unto one of the fortunes , 't wil work the stronger , provided that the fortune , which the moon applyeth unto be antipathetical unto the afflicting planet ; as if mars be the afflicting planet then let the moon apply unto venus , if saturn afflicts then unto jupiter , if the lord of the ascendant or the afflicting planet be a fortune , then let the moon apply unto the other fortune , the manner how to transplant the imbibed magnet whereby to cure by semination is , as followeth . take the imbibed magnet , and mix it with a reasonable quantity of earth , and then sow in it such seeds of herbs , which are proper to cure the infirmity , which this book will sufficiently instruct you in , let the earth thus mingled be placed in as fruitful a place as conveniently you can , that it may grow the better , you must sometimes more especially when the moon is in conjunction , trine , or sextile of the sun or one of the fortunes , mix the patients water with some of their excrements ▪ and so water the seeds , but you must not do it too often , once a week will be enough , for fear you should destroy the seed , for the rain and other fertile waters will be most proper and natural to make it grow . there is yet another way , by me used , which is to take the imbibed earth , prepared as aforesaid : and having a plant , which either by sympathy or antipathy is most rational to cure the infirmity taken up clean with its root , place it into the imbibed earth , and so water it as aforesaid : both ways are effectual to cure if rightly ordered . lastly , when you find that by semination , or transplantation , the grief is changed into a 〈◊〉 , we must do as followeth ; if the disease be dry , and of a combust nature , as the yellow jaundies or the like ; then you must take the herbs or plants with its earth and cast them into running water : if the disease be of moisture , then burn the earth and plants . if the grief be aiery , then hang the earth and plants in the smoke to dry , and the patient will be firmly cured . how to cure any swelling , sore , s●irrhous tumor , or warts . take the flesh , hand , or any part of any man that is newly dead , with it rub or stroke any place defective , and then bury it : as the dead mans hand or flesh perisheth or wasteth in the earth , so the swelling , sore , or schirrous tumor , or warts will fade away , and the patient be recovered . the reason in philosophy is thus , as the northern property is an enemy to southern heat , so by his contact it causeth all unnatural things growing to fade away , in changing the vegetating nature growing touched , into the mortifying nature dying . how to work the same cure by herbs or plants . take arsmart or adders-tongue gather it at the hour of mars the moon increasing , let mars be in trine or sextile to venus or the moon applying from mars to venus , or from venus unto mars ; steep the herb or weed first in fair water , until it be well moistened , then apply it unto the place defective , until it be warm , after which bury the plant or weed , and as it perisheth in the earth , so the patient will recover . how to cure an atrophy or wasting limb. bore a hole in a willow-tree with an augur unto the pith ; save some of the bored stuffe , and apply it unto the limb or member of the body defective , at the new of the moon 24 hours , then take the paring of the nails , with some hair , and the scraping of the skin from the limb or member of the body defective , put all these into the hole of the tree , and stop them up close with a peg of the same wood , do this when saturn is weak , the moon increasing , the fortunes in some friendly aspect to the moon , in fruitful signes : also a hole bored in the root of a hazel-tree , and ordered as aforesaid , the bark being taken off , and laid on again , and then covered with earth will do it . how to cure the hot or cold gout . bore a hole in an oke to the pith , then take the bored stuff and apply it to the limb or member defective , three days before the change of the moon ; then take the pairing of the nailes , and hair of the limb or member defective , and put it together with the bored stuff into the hole of the tree , and stop it up close with a peg of the same wood : do this , when saturn is weak , if the gout be of cold , or when mars is weak if the gout be of heat , and let the moon be in trine or sextile to venus : if the gout be of heat , or unto jupiter if the gout be of cold , you must be sure to stop it up close , and semon it up from air . how to cure a plague-sore , and draw forth the venemous matter . take a living chick and apply the fundament of the chick unto the plague-sore , it will draw forth the venom , kill the chick and cure the patient . also a dryed toad macerated in vinegar , and laid to the soar will draw forth the venemous matter , and cure the patient . how to cure the hernia , or rupture . bore a hole in an oak to the pith : but first so , take off the bark that it may glutinate and grow : lay on the bored stuff to the place defective three days and nights before the new noon ; then take some hair from the privy parts , together , with the pairing of the nailes ▪ and the boared stuff , and put them into the oak , and so stop it up with a pegg of the same tree , then lay on the bark , and with tree-wax , or tempered clay , or paste , seament and daub the place up from air : and as the bark doth glutinate and grow , the hernia , or rupture will close ; also a hole bored in the root of a hazel-tree will do it , being ordered as aforesaid , and kept close covered with earth ; this is best done in the spring quarter ▪ by reason the bark will glutinate and close the better . here followeth two pretty secrets in philosophy . how to know how any kinsman , friend , or acquaintance doth during their absence , being traveled into any far country . you must cause your kinsman ▪ or friend to be let blood , and while its warm , infuse a small quantity of the spirit of wine into it , and keep it close stopt up in a glass from ayr ; now if your friend be well and contented , the blood will look lively and fresh accordingly , but if he chance to be ill , or discontented , the blood will be changed , and the ●ore ill or discontented your friend is , the more will the blood be changed accordingly ; if he be much perplexed , vexed , or fevourish the blood will be high coloured ; if melancholy , weak and faint , the blood will be pale and wan . and after sickness , if he recover health , the blood will look lively and fresh again , as at the first ; but if they happen to dye , the blood will putrify and stink accordingly , as doth the rest of his body . how to know each others mind at a distance , it being done by sympathy of motion as followeth . let there be two needles made of one and the same iron , and by one and the same hand , and touched by one and the some load stone , let them be framed north , and south , when the moon is in trine to mars , and applying unto one of the fortunes : the needles being made , place them in concave boxes , then make two circles answerable unto the diameters of the needles , divide them into twenty four equal parts , according unto the number of letters in the alphabet then place the letters in order round each circle , now when you desire to make known each others mind , the day and hour being first concluded on before hand ; you must upon a table or some convenient place fix your boxes with the needles f●●●d therein , then having in readiness pen , ink , and paper , and with each party a load-stone , those who intends first to begin , must with his load-stone gently cause the needle to move from one letter unto another , until a word is perfected , according unto which motion the other needle will answer : and then after some small stay , they must begin another word , and so forward until his mind is known , which being done , the other friend with his load-stone must do as before , moving gently from letter to letter until he hath returned answer accordingly : this will hold true if rightly managed . here followeth some practical and experimental rules whereby to give judgment astrologically , either upon thefts , strayes , fugitives , decumbitures of sick persons , or vrins , or any other horary question whatsoever . in regard it hath been my custom together with my daily practice in physick for many years past , by the rules of astrology , not only to give judgment upon decumbitures and urines of sick persons , but also upon nativities ; and to resolve all horary questions , as thefts , strays amongst cattle , and fugitives , and by reason whereof , many foolish and ignorant people , and other , who think themselves wise also hath rashly and unadvisedly judged my ways and actions of this nature , to be diabolical ; and thereupon , hath not only themselves refused to come or send unto me for help , in case of sickness , but hath also diverted others upon the like occasions whereupon to satisfie both my friends , and others , antagonists ; i have inserted these judgments following , according unto the rules of astrology , which may serve , together with other directions in this book elsewhere expressed , if well heeded ; not only to satisfie the learned in this art , concerning the legallity of my way of practice herein , but also to instruct others who are young students in this art : i could have inserted figures for every question , having many hundreds lying by me , but being unwilling to spend time , or blot paper therewith , presuming that what i have written will be sufficiently satisfactory unto each friendly reader , yet for farther satisfaction i shall refer the desirous herein unto my ephemeris for the year , 1658 , wherein i have not only by scripture , and reason vindicated the art of astrology , but also have inserted therein three schemes with judgments astrological thereupon , the one concerning strays amongst cattle : the second , concerning thefts : the third , concerning sickness : i confess , i have denyed many , concerning questions of thefts , for it neither brings credit , nor yet much gain to the artist : for let a man be never so exact herein what will they for the most part say ? if by the art we discover the theef , and way of the goods , surely he doth it by the devil , how could he so exactly else discover the theef and way of the goods ; but if we chance to miss , as sometimes we may do by taking a wrong ascendant ; and more especially , when a wrong time is given for the time of loosing : then they will assuredly say : we do but cozen and cheat people of their mony , besides it oft times brings trouble to the artist : i shall relate one accident which besel me herein : once a butcher of our parish having lost some linnen , and linnen cloathes , came with his wife to my house , desiring me to erect a figure , and thereby to inform him who had it , or what became of the linnen ; now by the figure , i did discribe a maid servant ▪ who lived in the house ; when he came home , he unadvisedly caleth his maid theef , saying , she had stoln his linnen , whereupon , she goeth to the justice for a warrant , to bring her master before him , pretending , that he had done her much wrong , in defa●eing her ; now , her master to excuse himself , layeth the fault on me ; whereupon , i was sent for by warrant , to appear at a day set , which accordingly i did , where i met with a minister of reading , who was a great enemy unto astrology , who , as i was informed came on purpose to aggrevate the matter against me , maintaining , that the art was diabolical ; whereupon having heard all my accusations with many vile reproaches , with so much patience as possibly i could , i at length , desired the justice that i might be heard , and not interrupted until he had fully heard , what i could say , which was granted ; whereupon in the first place , as touching the maid , i told the justice that what i said unto the butcher , was no more than what i discovered by the art of astrology , which art was known , and allowed in all schools of learning through the world ; and that i could both by scripture , and reason prove it to be lawful , it i might be heard ; the minister replyed , he would maintain the contrary , i askt him , if he would argue it with me in point of art , which i thought he understood not ; or , in divinity , that which he professed ▪ he said , by divinity , i answered , that i was content : after some arguments i desired his answer , concerning the 1. of samuel , the 9 , chapter where we find that saul , together with one of his fathers servants was sent forth to search for his fathers asses that was lost , who after three days search in the wilderness could not find them : whereupon , they communed together what to do , who concluded , to go to the seer ; which was samuel the prophet : for prophets , as the marginal notes testifies , were sometimes called seers , without question , a by-word given them as sometimes astrologers are called cunning-men : but saith saul to the servant , what have we to give the man ? by which it appears , they thought he would take mony ( and good reason for his pains ) the servant answered , i have four shekles , then come saith saul , let us go ; and when they came to samuel , after some communication , he tells them , the asses are found and at home , bidding them , return in peace . the minister hearing this after some pause , said , samuel was too blame : now the matter of discovering goods lost was the only thing urged against me ( for he could not be ignorant of the strong influence which the stars and planets have upon all sublunary creatures in other regards : ) the justice hearing his weak reply , told him plainly , that for ought he could perceive , i was too hard for him , and wished him to give over his discourse , unless he could produce better matter ; not long after , notwithstanding this maids impudence , maintaining the contrary against her master and dame and my self : at a fair she was apprehended at reading and brought before the same justice with some of her dames linning cloathes upon her , and then she kneeled down and beg'd for mercy , but what punishment she had , or what became of her afterwards i never inquired , neither do i desire as i said before , to be troubled with such questions . of horary questions . by a horary question , any one matter or thing may be resolved which concerneth the querent , provided , that the ascendant , together with its lord ▪ or planet posited in the ascendant , or sign where the lord of the ascendant is , doth personate the querent : and that the figure be radical . there is no matter or thing whatsoever , but will be concerned in one of the twelve houses : as for example , if it concerns the querents person , then the first house doth it ; if his estate the second house ; if his kindred or neighbours , the third house ; if his father , or lands , or dwellings , or the end of any thing , the fourth house ; if his children play , messengers , or agents , then the fifth house ; if his servants , sickness , or small cattle , the sixth house ; if love questions , his wife , publick enemies , or thefts , the seventh house ; if wills , legacies , the dowry of the wife , or manner of death , the eighth house ; if long voyages , or journeys , church matters , religion , or dreams , the ninth house ; if honour , office , or preferment , then the tenth house ; if his friends , the eleventh house ; if private enemies , great cattle , or witches , then the twelfth house ; there may be many other matters or things resolved by the twelve houses , but these are the most usual , and material . of thefts and strays amongst cattle . there are two wayes in giving judgment , in case of losses : the one is by erecting a schem for the time of a thing being lost or strayed , or otherwise ; if the party be present that lost the goods , or that was trusted with the goods , to take the present time when first the question was propounded , and so to erect a figure , taking care that it be radical , and that the ascendant together with its lord , or planet posited in the ascendant doth personate the querent ; if it concerns cattle or any other thing lost or mist , and that the querent is uncertain , whether it be stoln , straid , or casually lost , you must in this case examine by an ephemeris , or almanack , which hath the daily motions of the planets , whether the lord of the first , or second house , or lord of part of fortune , or the lord of the house of the moon , or of her term , doth seperate from any planet by any aspect whatsoever ; then you may conclude , that the thing is not stoln : all planets which are lowest in their spheres . are said to seperate from a higher planet ▪ when they depart from them by any aspect whatsoever ; but if a higher planet happen to be retrograde , that is , going backward in motion , then the higher planet may be said , to separate from a lower ; now if on the contrary you find , that neither the lord of the ascendant , or second house ; or lord of part of fortune , or lord of the house of the moon or of his term , doth separate from other planets , but that other planets doth separate from them , then we may conclude , that the cattle or thing lost is stoln , if the separations be near equal , then the plurality of testimonies must be regarded ; if you find by the rules before going , that the cattle or thing mist , is straid or casually lost , and not stoln ; then you must have regard to the moon , & lord of the twelfth , if it be great cattle ; or to the lord of the sixth , if it be small cattle , as sheep hogs , goats , and such like ; and observe what signs the moon , and lord of the house of the cattle are in ; or part of fortune , or his lord , and judge by the strongest ; and then observe the nature of the sign , whether fiery , farthy , airy , or watery , and what places they represents and then observe , whether the planets be in angles , succedant or cadent houses and whether in moveable , fixt , or common signs ; and how many signs or degrees there is , betwixt the ascendant and planet which representeth the cattle lost , and so judge accordingly ; fixt signs , and cadent houses alwayes signifie the greatest distances , and we usually alow for every fixt sign , four miles ; for common signs , and succedant houses we usually allow somewhat above half so much as we do for fixt signs , that is about two miles and a half for every common sign ; moveable signes and angles sheweth the cattle to be near the place , and for every moveable sign , we usually allow but half a mile : now had the goods lost been gold rings , or gold , plate , or silver , or linnen , or pretious sones , as rubies , or diamonds , or the like ; then we must take notice , what sign the lord of the second is in , and likewise , what sign the part of fortune is in , and his lord ; also the lord or significator of the thing lost , what sign he is in , as if gold which is under the sun , or silver under the moon , or linnen under venus , likewise a diamond is under venus ; and the ruby under the sun ; also the fourth house , and his lord are to be regarded , as shewing the end of all things , and you must judge according unto the plurality of testimonies ; if the significators be in fiery signes , it sheweth , the goods lost to be near the fire , or chimney ; if in earthy signs , then in some low place , or with earth ; if in watery signs , then in , or near some water , as sink , pump , or sestern , or such like : if in airy signes , then above staires or in some high place . but if on the contrary , by the rules aforesaid you find the thing stole , then the description of the thief , and what became of the goods , is as followeth ▪ first the thief is described by that planet which is peregrine in an angle , if no peregrine planet be in an angle , or second house , then the lord of the seventh house shall be significator of the thief , sometimes the lord of the hour will do it , when the time of losing is certainly known : if many peregrine planets be in angles ; more especially , when a double bodied sign ascends , then it shews so many thieves . a planet is said to be peregrine , when he is out of all essential dignities , viz. neither in his house , exaltation , triplicity , term , or face , having found by ptolomies table in the almanack what planet or planets are peregrine , you may describe their persons in this book , under the title of the bodily shape , and which of the planets generally rule . the way of the goods if found thus , if the lord of the second house , and significator of the thief be joyned together , or have any friendly aspect unto each other , or be in one triplicity , or if the significator of the thief doth dispose of the querents part of fortune , or the lord of the second house , or the significator of the goods , then we may conclude , that the goods are with the thief , and at his disposing ; but if the significator of the thief be separated from what is aforesaid , and doth apply ; or if the moon , or any other other inferiour planet doth separate from the significator of the thief and apply unto another planet , he shall be the receiver , which is signified by that planet , you must judge the way and distance of the theif according unto the signs and quarters of heaven , where the significator of the thief is accounting from the ascendant , as is before expressed . of fugitives . as in questions of thefts and strays , so the like in fugitives , judgement is given either by erecting a scheam , for the time of straying or going away , or otherwise , for the time of the querents coming : if you have the exact time of the fugitives going away . then the ascendant , its lord , the moon and planet posited in the ascendant or angle , especially if he personate the fugitive , shall be significators of the fugitive , and according unto the nature of the signs , and places by them signified and quarters of heaven , wheresoever we find them together with their applications unto other planets judgements is usually given : if those significators be in or apply unto the sign gemini , then we conclude they are travelled towards london , if in capricorn then oxford ; if in virgo , reading ; if cancer , ●cotland ; if taurus , ireland ; if the principal significator as in the ninth house , or joyned to the lord of the ninth , then we conclude they are for a voyage or long intended journy : north signs shew northward , east signs castward , west signs westward , south signs southward : alwayes observing the quarter of heaven : if the planets concerned be swift in motion , and in movable signs , then they go apace , if in fixt signs and slow in motion then they go but slow ; but if the time of flying be not perfectly known , then we erect the figure according unto the time when the question was propounded , and so the lord of the seventh house joyning there with mercury and the moon , but more especially that planet , which doth own the fugitive according unto shape and profession : also we must consider what relation the fugitive hath to the querent , whether wife or husband , kindred or servant , and the like , and if the personal shape of the fugitive doth correspond with the planet which is lord of the house inquired after , you may with the more confidence give judgement thereby , i have oft-times given judgement upon these questions , and i find they will hold true , if well heeded . of vrines . the astrological way whereby to give judgement at the view or first sight of the urine , both in acute and chronick griefs , is immediately to erect a figure , and so to vary your ascendant that it may be radical and that the ascendant together with its lord may personate the sick , and if the griefs be acute , then the time of decumbiture or first falling ill , must be inquired after , that so the assured place of the moon in any of the twelve signs may be obtained , for by the moon in any of the twelve signs afflicted of the infortunes , the grief is discovered together with its cause and termination . but if the grief be chronick that is of above a months standing then from the sun the ascendant sixth house and their lords afflicted , judgment is usually given . in regard i have already at large set forth my way of practice herein , i shall in this place onely in brief set down , what i find concerning my experience in urins , for although an exact judgement both concerning the grief , together with its cause and termination ( by urine ) cannot be obtained , yet some general judgements thereby may be given , which may well serve for a four penny reward : first if the urin be of an amber colour ( and the patient ill ) for generally that coloured urine sheweth health of body ) then the grief or infirmity lyeth in the vital and animal spirits from whence doth proceed palsies , palpetations , and convulsions , and such like distempers : in this condition the urine is not concerned by reason the blood and those passages from whence the urine doth proceed , are not infected , for the urine is but the excrement of blood ; if the urine be white or paleish , it sheweth great weakness both in stomach and body , and if the urine be high coloured and red , it argueth a fever , or that some extraordinary pain doth afflict the sick , but the place where and cause why cannot be known without a figure : sometimes it sheweth plenitude of blood ; especially if the veins be high , if gravel or red sand appear at the bottom it sheweth the stone in the reins , kidnies , or bladder . if the urine be of a light sandy colour , and somewhat thick , it sheweth great cold taken , and oft times it turneth unto an ague , and if the urine be slimy and somwhat thick , it threatneth worms in young people , and consumptions in elder ; but if the urine be green or black coloured it usually sheweth death to ensue , also if the urine be of a sad brown colour it threatneth death , i question not but that authors have largely and learnedly written hereupon , unto whom i shall i do seldom trust , or rely upon my judgment herein , neither do i administer any physick thereby for the astrological , sympathetical and antipathetical way of administring physick cannot be done without a figure , for the strength and weakness of the planets afflicting and afflicted must first be discovered ; those who are well versed in the art of astrology need no urine , for i my self oft times , when the urine hath been brought in a stone bottle have described what kind of urine it was , and how coloured by my figure , more especially in acute griefs , when the time of decumbiture or first falling ill have been known . concerning the casting forth of devils out of such , who are possessed , with the true way and manner how to do it according unto the authors experience and performance thereof , with some observations , whereby to know whether they are possessed or no. the occasion which first moved me to undertake the casting forth of devils was as followeth . one goodman alexander a turner by trade , living at basing-stoke in the county of southampton had a daughter , who was not onely perplexed with very strong fits , which usually took her every day near the same hour , every fit lasting above twelve hours , being very terrible to behold , during which time with many shrieks and cries , and through extream torment she was brought so low , both in body and spirit , that she could not move or wag any part of her body or limbs from the middle downward ; her father told me he had spent much money upon several doctors and others but they could do her no good , whereupon hearing by some , what great cures i had done , he came and told me what her condition was , as i have in part related , desiring me to undertake the cure . i desired to know at what hour and time her fits usually did begin , which he told me , according unto which time i did erect a scheam , and according to the rules of astrology in this book elsewhere expressed , i did find she was either bewitched or possessed : her father was very earnest with me to undertake the cure , and i could not blame him she having been in this condition , above twelve months ; and besides he made his bargain so , that it i did not effect the cure , i was to lose all my pains and charges upon which , agreement being made ; the maid was brought to my house , whereupon observing and taking notice of her kind of sits , and having made some tryal upon her by way of questions , and her answers , for she could not say , or once name god , jesus christ , or deliver us from evil , or the like but that immediately she would be tormented , falling into strange fits ; whereupon , i told her father , that she was possessed by the devil , and that it would be impossible to cure her , except the devil were first cast forth ; i also advised him , to get one godly minister or other to try what he could do by his means , and devotion ; whereupon , and not before he told me ●hat he had done that already : for the minister of the parish , whose name was mr webb one reputed to be a very honest , godly , and learned man did undertake to do it : and came to his house two several times to that purpose , but could not prevail ; notwithstanding he spent about three hours time in tryal thereof at his first coming , yet he was forced to desist : but withal , told her father , that at the next coming he would be better prepared , and accordingly he did come the second time , but could not prevaile then neither , during all the time that he was in action about this business , the maid was extreamly tormented , it being as before near three hours before he ●nded , who then said to her father , lord have mercy upon me i cannot do it , wherefore i advise you to look out farther , per adventure you may meet with one another who may have strength of faith , and a gift to do it , and likewise to cure her distemper . i confess , when i heard by her father , what the minister had done , i began to be somewhat danted , but when i considered that it would much reflect upon my reputation , to send the maid home again uncured ; and farther considering , that by prayers , and strength of faith it might be done ; more especially , where it pleased god to give any one that gift , which gift is obtained by prayer , and strength of faith : i also farther considered , that both before and since christs time devils were cast forth out of such who were possessed , as appeareth by the answer of our saviour jesus christ unto the jews , who taxed him , saying , he casteth forth divels through belzebub the prince of devils if i say our saviour cast forth divels through belzebub , by whom did your fathers cast them forth : by which words it appeareth , that the jews had done it before christs time : and further telleth them , that a kingdom divided cannot stand &c. considering these reasons aforesaid , according unto the method hereafter expressed , i did undertake and through gods blessing perform this great work , unto whom be ascribed all honour , power , and glory , with thanks-giving , for ever more , amen . before i proceed to set forth the way and manner , how i did through gods blessing perform this great work , i conceive it will be necessary to say somewhat concerning the tryal of the patient , whereby to know , whether they are possessed or no , which is as followeth , if they can without stop or starting say the lords prayer : also pronounce god , jesus , christ , and likewise say , i defie the devil and all his works , and other such like godly expressions : then 't is probable they are not at that time possessed : and then you must try them again at another time : for as we find in scripture , there are some which are possessed at certain times , and at other times the devil leaveth them . but as concerning this maid in question , the devil did never forsake her , from the time he first entred into her . also some are possessed with devils which speak within them at certain times , as instance , this maid was : others are possessed with dumb spirits which will not speak , nor yet many times suffer the patient to speak , nor yet to pray , or pronounce god , jesus christ , the holy trinity , or any other such like expressions , for fear of being tormented with fits . i have cast forth of both kinds , out of s●●h who were possessed , as shall be shewed in order . i shall first begin with this maid in question , whose fits began about nine a clock at night , and lasted until eight a clock the next morning ; during which time she was most sadly afflicted , making many kinds of noises , as sometimes crying , sehritching , howling , also sometimes using strange actions and gestures of her body , as twisting , and twyning her self about , sometimes crawling about the room with many other strange passages now from eight a clock in the morning until noon , she would resolve all questions whatsoever , and give true answers unto them as have many times been proved , more especially , if propounded by her mother , for she did not desire to talk with any other body except by accident ; during this four hours they did usually put many questions unto her , as sometimes asking , what became of any one that was dead , whether they went to hell or to heaven , and she would instantly resolve them ; and so far as they could guess she answered truly ; for those who had been evil livers she would tell all their faults and misdemeanours , and how they lived , and dyed , and what disease , and where they were buried likewise : such who were godly persons she would say they went to heaven and point upwards , although they were such whom she never saw or knew . also she would tell the names of any ones father , or grandfather , ( although they were strangers ) and where they lived and dyed , and of what disease . she would likewise during the time aforesaid resolve any question of ●est , whereof they had many tryals , i shall instance o●e example , upon a market day , one chanced to lose a sack of corn out of the market : the man having pitched his sack down in the market , and went away to set up his horse , but before he returned , his sack of corn was stole , and no body could tell what became of it : at length understanding that this maid could tell any thing that had happened for any time past , he went to the said goodman alexander the father of this maid , desiring him to use the means that so his daughter might discover what became of his corn , whereupon , the mother of this maid desired her to tell this man , who had his corn , and what became of it , and where it was at that instant : this maid said , that one , calling him by his name , had the corn , and had set it under his staires ; the man that stole it , was a porter that used to carry burthens in the market , more especially corn , when it was bought or sold . the man who lost the corn went presently to the place aforesaid , where he had his corn accordingly . i could instance many more such passages , but i suppose this one is enough for satisfaction herein . now as concerning the way and method by me used , in casting forth of both kinds of devils ; or evil spirits before mentioned ; i shall relate as followeth , ( there are three principal causes or things considerable in casting forth of devils , viz. prayer ▪ faith , and the especial gift of god thereupon , for except that you find that your faith is strong , it s in vain to undertake this business : ) first , you must heartily pray that god would be pleased to give you this great gift , and to strengthen your faith , and to enable you to perform this great work : this was the substantial matter of my prayer , as for matter of form i had none ; the room being made in readiness so close as i could , i made a fume of three substantial matters , or things which , were solary , which number three i conceived to be a most choice select number for many persons , and is attributed to the sun , it s the number of the blessed trinity , it s also the number of time , viz. past , present and to come ; also i considered , that the three wise men brought gifts unto christ , viz. gold , frankinsence , and myrrh , which gifts are all of a solary quality and vertue , and are under the dominion of the sun , whereupon i made choice of the two latter , viz. frankinsence and myrrh , but instead of gold i took rose-mary with these i made the fume , which i continued until the work was ended : i also oft times gave the maid of the distilled waters of marygolds , rosemary , and angelica , or such like solary plants , being all three under the dominion of the sun , and gathered at the right planetary hours , when i first began , i laid my hand upon the patient , but finding that she , together with the devil began to strive ▪ and so to get from me , she being marvellous strong , yet i held fast , and desired her father ( who was by me all the while i was about it ) to help me , which he did , but for the most part i held her my self , having gotten her at the best advantage i could : i often prayed , and repeated these words following , viz. by this high and mighty power and name tetragrammaton , and in the name of the blessed trinity , father , son , and holy ghost , i charge , and command the devil and unclean spirit to come forth of this maid , and to depart from her in peace , and not to molest or trouble her any more ; after this , when i saw that the unclean spirit would not come forth , i said three several times , in the name of jesus of nazareth i charge thee to come forth , yet notwithstanding , ( as yet ) the devil would not come forth : the truth is , i find that all devils or evil spirits , when once they are gotten into the possession of any one will be very unwilling to come forth of their habitation ; more especially , when they have been long setled in the body : i often gave the patient of the distilled waters before mentioned , and then pray'd again as at the first ; i also repeated those words before mentioned oftentimes , resolving not to give over until the devil was inforced to leave her , and during the space of above two hours i continued sometimes in prayer , and between whiles repeating the words over before rehearsed ; at length the devill came forth but invisible , with a great cry and hideous noise-raysing a suddain gust of wind , and so vanished , doing no harm either to her father ( who was present all the while ) nor yet to my self , or any part of the house : her father seemed to be very fearful , and sate trembling , ( and truly i do not much blame him for i believe he was never present at any such business before ) but i cheared him up so well as i could , bidding him fear nothing , and willed him to trust in god not doubting : the truth is , when i saw him so fearful i willed him to depart , telling him , that except he found that his faith was strong , and he throughly resolved to indure the danger , cries noise , and trouble of it , he might unhappily interrupt me when i was most busie ; for he knew by what the minister had done before , that we should have some strugling , but his answer was , that what ever came of it , he was resolved to live and dye with his child , rather than fail ; whereupon i went on with the work , but before i had half done my task , he hearing , and seeing how grievously his daughter was tormented , his spirits and faith began to fail him , desiring me by all means to desist , and give over ; but i being very earnest with him , and telling him of his breach of promise , and using some arguments unto him , and telling him that except he would either sit still and not any more interrupt me , or otherwise depart the room , i would not meddle any further in the cure , whereupon he resolved to indure it , and promised me once more , that he would be silent until i had finished , which accordingly he did perform ; immediately after the devil left her the maid began to speak , and he fitts never troubled her any more ; and within a few weeks after , with dyet-drinks , bathes and oyntments , this maid was perfectly recovered both of her health , and limbs ; notwithstanding , for a year past , she could not move from the middle downwards , her limbs being useless , and of no strength , except during the time of her fits , and then sometimes she would be very strong and at other times seemingly dead , someing at the mouth , sometimes she would shreek , cry , and groan , sometimes crawle about the room , as in part i have before related : i shall relate one passage more which happened , constantly in the time of her fits , there was alwayes brought unto her three pins and but one at a time , at the receipt thereof she seemed to rejoyce and smile , saying , ah and then presantly she would put the pin into her mouth , which when her father and mother perceived , they would instantly get it from her , fearing she should choak her self with it ; sometimes they were much troubled to get it from her , for she would be very unwilling to part with it ; they shewed me a box near full of them for she had three brought her every night during twelve moneths ; and that night when i cast the devil forth of her she had two brought her in my presence but no more ever afterwards ; also 't was observable , that during the time that i was imployed about this business , there was seen by my people and servants three women to walk about the house , and more especially near the window where i was imployed , which women her father did judge were three suspected witches , who had spake some words , and were afterwards prosecuted by the maids father , one of them dyed , as i was informed at the prison in winchester , and weat became of the other two i knew not , for i never inquired more after them . i shall now proceed to set forth the way and manner how i did cast forth a dumb spirit out of one who was possessed , as followeth . that which confirmed me and others of this maid now in question , of her being possessed of a dumb spirit , was in regard that she could not say or once name god , jesus christ , nor yet endure to pray , or suffer any one else either to pray , or repeat any sacred words or expressions , but that immediately she was tormented , and sometimes would fall down dead : this spirit would not answer to any question as the other speaking devil did , not yet suffer the maid : in her fits she was alwayes dumb and silent , her fits usually began about five a clock in the morning , and lasted four hours , during which time she would not utter one word , but would sometimes leap about with her arms and legs like a frog , sometimes she would play cop-head , over and over ; sometimes with all the might she had , she would knock her head against the beds-post or wall , which was nearest . also being in a chamber she would strive to get to the stairs that so she might through her self down . now the way which i used to cast forth this dumb spirit , was as followeth , in the first place the room being made so close as i could with conveniency , i made a fume of such solary ingredients as is before expressed ; which fume i continued all the time i was in this action : the time which i took to cast forth this dumb spirit , or devil , was between the hours of nine and twelve a clock upon the sabbath day : the prayers which i used , was according unto what i have already related in casting forth the speaking spirit ; and likewise i oft repeated the same wayes as aforesaid . but this dumb spirit would not come forth until the third sabbath day : notwithstanding , i was near three hours every time in action , & during all the time i was implyed in this business , she would be much afflicted ; upon the third sabbath day between the hours aforesaid , this dumb spirit came forth in a kind of vomit , no shape or form of any thing appearing , after which , by dyet drink and oyntment made of planetary herbs , antipathetical to the afflicting planet , she was soon recovered and never had any more fits after the third sabath day before mentioned . note , that dumb spirits are far more difficult to be cast forth than those which speake : and that was the only reason why i took the benefit of those hours upon each sabbath day , it being the usual hours of prayer in all churches , and congregations . i know there are some foolish people , who being ignorant of the scripture , that do , and will judge unrighteously concerning this great work , unless they are convinced , and truly i need not use any other arguments then what we find written by the holy evangelists and apostles , as first , the answer of our blessed saviour to the jews , as is before mentioned . secondly , we find that our saviour gave that especial gift unto his apostles and disciples ; and without question unto all other believing christians , who may through strength of faith do it ; as appeareth in mark chap. 16. ver . 17. and when the apostles told our saviour that they did forbid some who did undertake to do it , our saviour said , forbid them not , &c. but unto such who presume to do it who wanted faith and did not believe : nay , although they used the very words of the apostles , yet the devil would not obey , nor yet be commanded forth by them : as you may find in the 19. chap. of the acts of the apostles , there you shall find , that one sevah a jew had seven sons who were exorcists , or conjurers , these following paul and the apostles , and hearing the words which they used , assayed to do the like , presuming to cast forth a devil out of one who was possest , saying , i adjure you by jesus , whom paul preacheth to come forth , but the evil spirit answered and said , jesus i know , and paul i know , but who are ye ? and the man in whom the evil spirit was , fell upon them , heat them and tore all the cloathes from their backs , and without question put them into a great fright , for we find , that they all seven ran out of the house wounded , and naked , and glad ( i warrant you ) that they escaped so , this act of theirs was noised abroad , and also known throughout all the city of ephesus , and fear fell on them all , insomuch , that i believe never any jew durst to attempt any such thing afterwards unto this day ; for st. mark saith plainly , these signes shall only follow those that believe in christ jesus : in his name shall they cast out devils ; wherefore , unto those who believe not in christ jesus , it plainly appears they shall not do it . and whosoever doth , or shall undertake this business , his faith and belief must be strong without doubting , otherwise he may fail in the performance , for although some ceremonies may be used herein as i have before related , yet without gods especial blessing upon the words , wayes , and means used , together with strength of faith , believing , no man can prevail herein , as plainly appeareth by those seven exorcists , or conjurers aforesaid . concerning all kinds of agues , and quotidian infirmities , with the astrological way of cure. there are three kinds of agues , viz. qutidian / tertian , and quarta● ; of all which kinds i have cured many : and to my knowledge and best remembrance i never failed where i have undertaken , i once cured a woman who had a tertian ague nine years , being brought so low therewith , that she was not able to go without help , she had without question as she told me , taken many things for it , but without success . i find there are many receipts by authors set forth in print , but i could never find any certainty in them : i dare say , there are so many wayes invented for the curing of agnes , as there are people sick of them : there can be no certainty in curing any of these kinds of agues , or daily fits , or griefs , except it be done by the rules of astrology , for many reasons , for some are afflicted under the planet saturn ▪ and then their fits will be most of cold : others are afflicted under mars , and then their fits will be most of heat : and some are afflicted under both planets , viz. saturn , and mars , and then their fits will be never equal both in cold and heat . secondly , sometimes the afflicting planets are weak in the heavens , and sometimes strong , which must be considered in the cure thirdly , the age and complection of the patient must be taken notice of . lastly , you must by a fi●ure discover whether any witchcraft or sorce●y hath been wrought upon the patient , or from what natural cause the sickness began i shall now briefly discover the reason of each kind of ague , or quotidian infirmity , and then set forth the way of cure as followeth , i shall begin with the quotidian ague , which usually assaulteth the patient daily , near one and the same hour , at which time as also in tertians and quartans the sick usually is troubled with wind and cold watery flegmatick matter setled at the stomack , which at the first beginning of the fits causeth a shivering , after which followeth a fevorish burning hot fit ; also i find , that not only the quotidian ague , but also there are many other infirmities , as appoplexies , convultions , palpitations , risings in the throat and stoppings at the breast and stomack and some kinds of evils which daily begin to afflict the patient near the same hour : now upon observation upon all these kinds of daily agues or infirmities before mentioned . i constantly find , that the sign ascending , at or near the beginning of each fit , together with its lords doth exactly personate the sick , and without doubt was their proper ascendant at their birth , by vertue of which ascendant , together with the sixth and twelfth houses , and their lords afflicted , i always discovered the grief , with its cause and termination : the truth is , except a figure be set for either the time of decumbiture , or first fit , or some other strong fit , there can be no true discovery made from what cause it began , and if the true cause be not known , there can be no certainty in cure ; for although the moon in acute and the sun in chronick sicknesses by the planets afflicting , doth generally discover each distemper with its cause , yet in these particular infirmities as quotidian griefs before mentioned , i find by experience , that the fits have constantly kept their course , and have been very strong when neither sun or moon have been afflicted , wherefore it appears , that the sign or constellation under which the patient was born ( which sign we usually call the ascendant ) doth wholly reflect upon the patient both at the beginning and durance of their daily fits aforesaid ; and truly i find even as in quotidian agues , and other infirmities aforesaid , so likewise in evils ▪ the ascendant doth usually personate the sick , more especially when the fits are usually near one hour , or at the time when the patient undergoeth any strong pain or torment more then other ; for such is the subtilty of the devil , that he knowing each bodies ascendant , can thereby the better instruct the witch how to frame the image , that so it may thereby work the stronger upon the patient when the sign ascendeth , and by that means the witch may by the rules of astrology be the more easie discovered , and oft-times are thereby detected , for it s well known unto many , that in a philosophical way when a talesman is framed for the destruction of vermine , as instance , the scorpions , the way to make it is when the sign scorpio ascends , &c. concerning the tertian ague . the tertian ague usually keepeth one hour , as the quotidian ague doth , only there is one days respite between , now i find , that in tertian , and quartan agues the moon is much to be regarded , for , from the time of the first fit , which may probably be called the time of decumbiture , the place of the moon in the zodiack must be observed , and so by account according unto the critical figure of sixteen equal parts ( what the critical figure is , and how framed , i have shewed more at large elsewhere ) each fit doth answer unto the intercedental , iudical , and critical dayes and times , and so the second fit maketh the intercedental time ; the third fit the iudical time , the fourth , the second intercedental time , the fifth the crsis , and so you may go round the zodiack : after which the grief is chronick , and may unhappily continue a long time , if not cured . note , that notwithstanding by account , according unto the critical figure , of its equal parts there is but 22. deg . 30. min. allotted for two dayes motion of the moon , whereas usually she moveth 24. deg . at the least ; yet if we consider the beginning , and duration of each ague fit , and likewise what degrees are alotted unto the orbs or influence of the moon ; it will sufficiently satisfie those degrees in question . now as in the quotidian ague so in this , if you fear sorcery or witchcraft , and make doubt of the true cause of the ague , a figure set for the time of the first , or any other fit , more especially when it s very strong will be needful , which to do i have shewed elsewhere . concerning the quartan ague . the quartan ague usually gives two dayes respite between every fit and as in the tertian ague so in this , the moon hath an especial influence upon both , all ague fits cometh sometimes sooner , and sometimes later , according as the moon is swift or slow in motion more especially , when evilly aspected of the infortunes . the degrees of the moons motion which by account are numbred between each quartan ague fit are 45. deg . making a semi-quartile aspect to the place she was in at the decumbiture , or first fit : and so the second fit may be called the judical time . the third fit the crisis or mortal time consisting of 90. deg . making a square aspect to the place she was in at the decumbiture aforesaid ; in quartan agues the critical figure is divided but into eight parts ; the intercedental time being left out as useless , in regard the fits are at such known distance from each other ; it seems hypocrites and galen never used any other division in their times : but since we find by experience , that at the intercedental time many have departed , as i have shewed else where , especially in perperacute griefs all quartan agues are under the dominion of saturn , and usually , if the moon be evilly aspected of him , at the time of any quartan ague fit , then it will be more violent and strong ; although these quartan agues are usually of long continuance , yet they are seldom mortal ; the reason is ( i judge ) because there is usually two dayes respite between every fit , whereby nature hath time to rally up its forces against the incounter . what i have written concerning agues , and quotidian infirmities is from my own daily practice and experience , for i never met with any author either in print or by manuscript which did shew the reasons of each kind of ague , nor yet any certain way of cure : i shall in the next place set forth the certain way of cure , as followeth . the way to cure each kind of ague according unto the rules of astrology : there being no certainty in any other way , as i have oftentimes experienced . in the first place ( according unto the rules in this book elsewhere expressed ) you must erect a scheam either for the time of the first fit if that may be had , or for any other strong fit ; you must be careful so to vary the ascendant , that it , together with its lord may exactly personate the sick , for if you take a wrong ascendant which you may easily do for many reasons , as first the difference in clocks , secondly , the swiftness or slowness of the moons motion , thirdly some men and women being strong hearted will not yield to lie down in bed so soon as others who are more weak and faint hearted , &c. wherefore if you fail in the ascendant no true judgment can be given ▪ except in ordinary , natural , acute , and chronick griefs , or where there is no suspition of sorcery or witchcraft , for then judgment may be given by the sun or moon afflicted , as is shewed elsewhere : when your scheam is erected , and the figure radical as aforesaid , you must take notice , whether the lord of the ascendant , or first house be in the twelfth house or whether the lord of the twelfth be in the ascendant , or whether one planet be lord of the ascendant , and twelfth , and an infortune , or if the lord of the twelfth afflict the lord of the ascendant , or whether the lord of the twelfth afflict the moon , in acute griefs which are under a moneths standing , or the sun in chronick griefs , then you may conclude that the quotidian fits of any kind ▪ and likewise the tertian and quartan fits of any ague are more than natural ; and that either fascination , witchcraft , or sorcery , have been wrought upon the patient ; such is the subtilty of these wretches , that many times they are not mistrusted , much more discovered , except by the rules of astrology , described as i have shewed elsewhere , and who more bold and forward to visit and frequent neighbours , and oft-times are imployed both for nurses , and tenders upon those whom they have bewitched , and yet not mistrusted , and were there no wayes to afflict them , there could be no cure wrought upon such whom they daily visit or are imployed as tenders upon : for by their wretched ways , they would soon infect them again : example , once a friend and neighbour of mine , after she was delivered of her child fell into strange fits , whereupon , some thought she had taken great cold , others thought , some one thing and some another , at length her fits grew so strong , and the woman so weak , that her husband thought at every fit she would have departed , whereupon , he was advised to come unto me ; but to prevent his coming , the tender or nurse being a lusty you●g hussie would needs perswade him to send her with the water , which he did , at her first coming she seemed to be very merry and jocund alwayes laughing , i askt her why she was so merry , considering her dame was so bad , she told me for no harm , i believe she thought to have fooled me , as she had done others ( but she was greatly mistaken ) for having viewed the urine , i demanded of her to tell me whether she had any fits , and when her first fit began , which she readily told me , not thinking that i could thereby discover her villany ; i quickly found by the figure , that sorcery or witchcraft had been wrought upon the sick , and by a female body , much resembling her person ; for either the lord of the twelfth house , more especially of that is the afflicting planet or the sign where the sun is , do●h usually personate the witch ; whereupon i told her that i could send no answer by her , in regard , i must first speak with her master ; at which answer she seemed somewhat danted , but replyed , she would speedily send him , and so went away , but when she came home , she clean contrary to my message told him , that she had order to gather herbs and make his wife dyet-drink , and none but she must give her any thing to help her ; whereupon , the man marvelling much at this message came to me on purpose to know the truth , why none but she must be trusted , and brought his wifes brother with him whereupon i told him , what i found by the figure , his brother presently replyed , that to his knowledge , both her mother and grandmother were both suspected for witches , and one of them dyed in reading-goal , being committed by the justice with intent to bring her unto tryal : having made this discovery upon her , i advised him speedily to put her away , and to take another nurse or tender who was of better repute , which he did ; after which , by such wayes and means as were agreeable to her distemper , according as i have declared at large elsewhere , she was soon recovered . i shall now proceed to set forth the astrological way of cure , for there is no certainty in any other way ( notwithstanding , sometimes the patient is cured by other means , ( as i shall declare in the sequel ) more especially when the original of the fits , either of agues or other quotidian infirmities before mentioned , be from sorcery , or witchcraft , for then in the first place , you must by the rules before going indeavour to afflict the witch , otherwise she will continually renew the grief so fast as you cure , more especially ▪ where the witch is not suspected . secondly , you must be careful that such herbs which are used for the cure , be gathered at the right planetary hours , with the numbers of herbs according as they are attributed unto each planet : what herbs are to be used herein , together with the time of gathering , administring , and the numbers of herbs are set down elsewhere . the true way of curing all kinds of agues , and other quotidian fits must be by antipathy , not omitting , as in these , so in all other cures , to take a select number of herbs to fortify the heart and vital spirits . there are four things considerable to be done in curing all kinds of agues , besides the afflicting of the witch , in case of sorcery , or witchcraft , first , dyet drink ; secondly , cataplasms laid to the hand wrests . thirdly , a vomit , to be given at the coming of the fit : fourthly , to let blood if the ague have been of longe continuance fifthly , to cause the patient to wear one or more solary plants : the way which i alwayes used , is as followeth , having by the figure found under what planet the patient is most afflicted , as instance mars , then take herbs under venus ; if under saturn , then take herbs under jupiter ; if both saturn and mars afflict , as sometimes 't will fall out , then let your herbs be under jupiter and venus ; but if saturn and mars be strong in the heavens , and more strong than the fortunes jupiter and venus , then their own herbs will do it ; alwayes provided , that one of the smallest numbers of herbs under one or both the fortunes , together with herbs of the sun be used together with the rest ; but if the infortunes be weak , then the smallest number attributed unto them , and the greater number of the fortunes together with a select number of herbs under the sun will do it , for the dyet-drink you may together with the herbs , aforesaid , add raisons , currants , liquorish , aniseed , sweet fennel-seed , or coryander-seed , to make the dyet-drink nutrative , as also more pleasant and good to expel wind : the dyet-drink is made by way of decoction and given to the patient three times a day viz. morning , afternoon , and night : i have cured many only by dyet-drink and herbs , suitable as aforesaid , laid to the hand-wrests , made up by way of cataplasm : the herbs which you lay to the hand-wrests must be shred very small and pounded in a morter with raisons and white salt , you may add a little venus-turpentine to make it hold together , you must use the quantity of two walnuts , it must be laid on hot and bound fast to the hand-wrest : if the patient doth not mend after one or two fits tryal , then you must give the patient a vomit , just when the fit doth begin as followeth : take one dram of stibium more or less according unto the strength and age of the patient , beat it into a very fine powder with a pestel and morter , then warm a quarter of a pint of white wine and put the powder into it , keep this in a glass twenty four hours and shake it often , and when the ague is ready to come put forth the wine into so much new milk , but leave the dregs behind and give it the patient blood warme and let them take posset drink after every vomit , if the patient doth not amend after one or two fits tryal , then you must let the patient blood , for after the patient hath been afflicted above a moneth 't will get into the blood also , if need require you must give the patient another vomit , more especially , if the ague have been of long continuance , and i have sometimes been inforced to let blood more than once ; you must ●●ill give them dyet drink until they are well ; if you heed well what i have written you need not doubt of curing all kind of agues , although of long continuance , as also from what cause soever it had its beginning . by the rules aforesaid i cured a woman who had a tertian ague nine years , as aforesaid . another way whereby to cure all kinds of agues astrologically ; together with other infirmities which are in the blood or vital spirits , as i have oftentimes proved , is as followeth . vvhen you let the patient blood , take a small thimble full of sympathetical powder , and the like quantity of the powders of such herbs which are sutable to the cure , as aforesaid , mix them well together and put a small quantity of the blood into this powder , and be careful that it take no cold , for both the powder and blood must be put together warm , and let the patient wear it next their skin , you must be careful that the herbs used , be gathered at the right planetary hours according unto their numbers as formerly mentioned , by this way , i have cured both agues and other infirmities . there is yet another way whereby to cure agues . this way is performed only by a certain writing which the patient weareth . now whether there were any such words passed between our saviour and the jews as the writing mentioneth who can tell , for without question there were many memorable actions , things , and words , said , and done by our blessed saviour which are not recorded in holy writ , and we find words in scripture , tending unto that purpose : the words are as followeth . when jesus went up to the cross to be crucified the jews asked him , saying , art thou afraid , or hast thou the ague ? jesus answered and said , i am not afraid , neither have i the ague . all those which beareth the name of jesus about them shall not be afraid , nor yet have the ague , amen , sweet jesus , amen , sweet jehova , amen . i have known many who have been cured of the ague by this writing only worn about them ; and i had the receipt from one whose daughter was cured thereby , who had the ague upon her two years . concerning several kinds of madness , with the true astrological way of cure , as followeth . i shall not enter upon any large discourse hereof nor yet take notice of authors , who without question have written learnedly hereupon my intent being only to write what i find by my own daily practice and experience herein : according unto which i find , that there are several causes of madness , and several kinds of madness i mean in relation to their actions and behaviour , whilst they are in this condition : first , concerning the cause , for except it be known , its impossible , except by accident to work a cure , which for to find , you must erect a figure , either for the time of the first fit , or any other more than ordinary strong fit , and to be sure , so to vary your ascendant , that it together with its lord may exactly personate the sick , and then by the rules of art , examine whether the grief be natural or otherwise , from witchcraft or sorcery : if natural , then from what original cause , as whether from love , loss of honour , friends , estate , or any other , more than ordinary vexation , and such like ; for then the distemper will be wholly in the animal and vital spirits , for we may be assured , that whatsoever the external or internal sences do comprehend , which proceed from the brain : the vital spirits ▪ which proceedeth from the heart doth immediately put into action be it mirth or sorrow : in curing these kinds of madness , you must heed the complexion and temper of the patient ; for as in drunkenness , so in madness , you will assuredly discover their elementall , qualities , and natural conditions : if choler abounds , then they will be violent in their actions . and very apt to quarrel . if they are by nature sanguine , then they will be inclined unto mirth , as singing , dancing , and the like . and such who are by nature melancholy , and mad , usually are given unto sadness , sighing and much silence , seldom pleased . and those who are by nature flegmatick , mad , are usually sluggish and idle , not careing to do any thing , except forced thereunto , and much given to sleep , they will lye in bed two or three days together , if not disturbed the way to cure all these kinds of distempers before mentioned must be by decoctions , made of such herbs under such planets which are antipathetical unto each several complexion before mentioned ; not omitting oyntments to the heart and brain , and fumes to the head , if the brain be moist and suffumigation if dry if the patient have been long distempered , then 't will get into the blood , and then 't will be convenient sometimes to let them blood ; and then if you take a small quantity of the sympathetical powder and mix it with so much powder of the herbs proportionable for the cure , it will mightily help forward the cure , you must order it and wear it as directed in the cureing of agues : there are several other kinds and causes of madness as followeth , sometimes height of blood will ascend up to the head and so disturb their brain , which will cause madness , the cureing whereof is by oft letting blood , and dyet drink made suitable by antipathy unto their complexion , as aforesaid ; for if we should apply herbs which are by nature hot , although good in general for the brain , to a cholerick mad body , it will rather increase , then mittigate their fury , but in all cures you must ever remember to fortify the heart and vital spirits : the sympathetical powder in this kind of madness , mixt and ordered as aforesaid , is most proper ; the truth is , this kind of madness is easily cured by any drug-doctor , for their general way is to cure by blood letting , and purgation , which kind of physick is proper for this distemper . ●here is another kind of madness which cometh by being costive & bound in body , of which i have cured many , and i always found by the figure , that the chief significators of the distemper were in earthy signs : for the time being , these who are taken in this condition will be as mad , as any according unto their natural complexion , be it choler , sanguine , melancholy , or fiegmatick ; at the first they will be ill only in head and stomack , but after some time it will make them light headed , and forgetful ; and by reason of that great stop in natures course , it will more and more cause inordinate vapours to ascend up to the head and brain , and at length bring madness , insomuch , that they are not able to discover their own condition nor yet their friends ; i have known some who have dyed in this condition , before their grief was perfectly known , or at least , were so far gone that doctors could not help them . i had once a maid ( who was a farmers daughter , living in the parish of goring in the county of oxon ) brought tyed and bound fast in a cart with cords , who was only mad by reason of this condition , her friends not knowing what she ayled , some thought it might be through love , others thought she was either bewitched or possessed ; some thought one thing , and some another : the truth is , she looked very gastly and wild but being by nature of a sanguine complection , she would hoop , hollow , sing , and dance day and night if she might be suffered : having by a figure discovered the cause of her distemper , i bargained with her father what to have for the cure , i quickly with suppositer and glister brought her to stool , and within three days she grew sensible and quiet , and in a week was perfectly recovered . i have known sometimes that an afright hath caused madness ; in this condition applications must be chiefly to the brain , not omitting dyet drink , made suitable by antipathy to their complexion : i have known some females who have been mad only by the stop of their monethly course ; the cure is by herbs proper to help such infirmities , as you shall find in this book . i have known some women , who have fell mad after they have been delivered of their child ; occasioned sometime from great cold taken , or disorderly dyet and sometimes by witchcraft as i have already declared , occasioned by the tender , or nurse ; for their bodies being open and weak , any infirmities may the easier be wrought upon them by such wretches , and yet the cause undiscovered and the patient many times dyeth . the worst kind of madness that i know is occasioned from sorcery or witchcraft ; and i believe there are multitudes of this kind in beathlaem , and elsewhere , that lye many years in this condition ; for except the witches power be taken off and staid , it s in vain to administer physick ; more especially , where the witch sometimes may have admittance to come to the patient : others may perhaps be possessed , and then the devil must be cast forth ; for ( as i have said already , except the true cause of each kinds of madness be discovered , its impossible to cure without a miracle , except by accident ; now to cure this kind of madness which cometh from witchcraft : in the first place , you must by the rules of art , endeavour to afflict the witch , and then by herbs antipathetical unto the afflicting planet and complection of the patient you must make dyet-drinks oyntments , and glisters , not omitting some ingredients suitable , as figs , raisons , currants , liquorish , aniseeds , or any other seeds good to expel wind , &c. & sometimes when the body is bound , which most mad people are very subject unto ; you must make choyce of such herbs amongst your numbers which are purging and losening . note that i alwayes found in my practice , that the afflicting planet and complexion of the patient were usually one , as instance , cholerick people are commonly afflicted of mars , and melancholy under saturn ; for such is the subtilty of the devil , and the witches , that they strike most upon that humour whereunto they find the nature of men and women most prone , and apt to receive impression if these rules which i have inserted , be well observed and followed , there is no one mad body whatsoever , but may ( through gods blessing ) be recovered : to my knowledge i have not failed these many years where i have undertaken ; notwithstanding , some whom i have cured have been mad many years : but i must needs say , the longer they are mad before a right means is used , the more difficult the cure is , and somewhat the more time it will require to perfect their cure : for according unto that saying in philosophy , custom produceth a second nature , &c. finis . to all such who are students , and well-willers unto this most excellent science of astrology , i presume , that no sooner are these following books come forth , but some will be ready to say , what needs this treatise , since we have so many books of this nature extant , written both so learned and copious even in our own language that one would think , nothing more could be written of this subject ? but yet we know , that in all arts and sciences whatsoever , no man can so curiously and exactly write of any matter or thing , of what nature soever , but that something might be added thereunto ; and were it but only a confirmation of what have been written formerly by other authors , yet it s but reasonable , that such persons who have been practitioners and students in this art , should likewise have liberty to write their knowledge and experience herein : and although in general we keep close unto one intire method and rule , as in our introduction appears , compared with others , even as with young scholars , so in this science , there must be beginning or entrance at the first , after which , each industrious student and practitioner may increase in knowledge , and so make farther progress and discoveries herein ; and having attained thereunto some perfection , may do well to communicate their knowledge unto others , that so this art may continually be inlarged : we find that in all ages this art hath still increased , by means of those worthies who have been students and practitioners therein , whose books are extant of this nature : i confess , in some material matters and circumstances i differ from many authors , yet i keep close unto the principles of art , giving sufficient reasons for what i write ; those that read my books , being compared with other authors may follow that way and method ( which by tryal ) doth manifest its self to be most effectual : i do not intend by this my vvriting , in the least , to disparage other vvorthy authors , but do highly praise and extol those excellent works vvritten by our learned and ingenious countrey-men , vvho have taken much pains in demonstrating the art ; only as i have already said , vvhere there is a continuance of practice each ingenious person may vvithout doubt add something to the increase of knovvledge ; and i question not , but that each practitioner and young student vvill gain somevvhat by my labours herein . and as for such vvho are vvell learned in this art , although my vvriting may not adde much unto their knovvledge herein , yet in point of vvisdom and love to the art and artists i presume they vvill take vvhat i have vvritten in good part , and pass by my failings ( if any ) vvith silence : but as to the envious , they shall not much trouble me , considering their persons vvill be sufficiently revvarded , as being to themselves most destructive . but unto such vvho are loving and true lovers of the art , i vvish a blessing upon their studies and that they may increase in knovvledge , vale. books sold by obadiah blagrave , at the printing press in little brittain . alstedii aencyclopedia 2. vol. fol. aretius in n●vum testamentum fol. agu●nii commentaria , in psalmos . fol. biblia junii & trimelii , fol. beza in novum testamentum , greek & latine . fabricius in psalm●s , fol. marloret in novum testamentum , in psalm●s , & in is●aiah . junii opera , 2. vol. fol. causins holy court in five tomes , fol. the c●mpleat statesman , fol. car●i's commentary on job , in twelve several vollumes . q●arta . allius chain of scripture , a chronology from the creation of the world , to the death of jesus christ , q●art● . the pilgrim , by j. hall , twelves . gee , of magistracy , octavo . sr. kenelm digby , of bodys , and of mans soul ; to discover the immortality of reasonable souls : with two discourses of the powder of sympathy , and of the vegetation of plants . culpepers translation of riverius , fol. culpepers translation of bartholinus anatomy , fol. culpepers translation of the london dispensatory . culpepers english phisitian . culpepers directory for midwives . culpepers last legacy to his wife , being his choyce secrets . blagraves's astrological practice of physick , aristotles problems in english . ramsey of the nature of poysons . wits interpreter , the english parnassus ; or a sure guide to those admirable accomplishments that compleat our english gentry in the most acceptable qualifications of discourse or writing , octavo . blounts accademy of eloquence . the accademy of complements . the history of the seven champions of christend on . quintus curtius in latin or english . erasmi adagia , fol. clerks phrasalogia puerilis . octavo . sydelii manuale , gr. & latin. octavo . turnerii orationes , octavo . testamentum latinum , octavo . testamentum graecum , octavo . ho●les easie entrance into the latin tongue . translation of aesop . corderius colloquies . sententiae pueriles confabulatiunculae . cato . terence . choice and rare experiments in physick and chirurgery, or, a discovery of most approved medicines for the curing of most diseases incident to the body of men, women, and of children together with an antidotary of experiments never before published / found out by the studie and experience of thomas collins, student in physick neer the city of gloucester. collins, thomas, student in physick. 1658 approx. 302 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 112 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a34011 wing c5388 estc r20775 12117547 ocm 12117547 54371 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a34011) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 54371) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 88:6) choice and rare experiments in physick and chirurgery, or, a discovery of most approved medicines for the curing of most diseases incident to the body of men, women, and of children together with an antidotary of experiments never before published / found out by the studie and experience of thomas collins, student in physick neer the city of gloucester. collins, thomas, student in physick. 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experiments in physick and chirurgery or ● discovery of most approved medicines for the curing of most diseases incident to the body of men , women and of children , together with an antidotary of experiments never before published . ●ound out by the studie and experience of thomas collins student in physick neer the city of gloucester . london , ●●●nted by i. t. for francis eglesfield , at the sign or the mari-gold in pauls church-yard . 1658. to the honourable and truly vertucus gentlewoman , mistris ursula bucke , health , honour , hapiness and heaven . when i had compiled , and with much diligent and industrious labour colected into one volume , most of all the choice , select and approved medici●able remedies , for most diseases as are ●ncident to the bodies of men , of women ●nd children , together with an antidota●y of medicaments vniversal , all which ●eing the secret observable and approved ●xperiments of the most excellent physiti●ns , as well modern as ancient ; i was then ●dvertized by certain friends no less iudi●ious then learned ; who reviewing t●●●●me , and conceived it to be a piece of ●uch worth as is not ordinarily obvious of ●ny yet extant in the like kinde , to cause it to be published ; to whose importunacy i condescended , although otherwise intended , and to private use ; considering non nobis solum n●ti sumus &c. and as then revolving to whom i might devote this subject , and could commemorate not any more then your worthy sel● , since you are a favouress of the muses , esteeming and honouring all good literature and learning so , that onely i desire to present it unto your tuition , which resolving of your favourble acceptation , that you would be pleased to let it pass forth under your worthy name , although the quantity of the volume , the manner of handling , or the author be not in any wise proportionable t● your unvalued and unparalelled worth ; ye● the subject in it self is worthy and honourable ; all which i desire to refer unto your discreet censure and favourable approbation who am , mistress , yours devoted in all humble observance tho ▪ collins courteous reader , what hath been the experience of the ancients , and of those of latter dayes for the bene●it of the health of man , you are here presented with . cast but your eye upon the first part of this experience , and youl 'e see remedies for the distempers of men and women from head to the inferiour parts : and having seen how youth and old age are supplied with meet and convenient remedies for health , peruse the second part and there thou wilt , in like order , finde the helps of infancy , that so childhood may not altogether be lest remediless vnde● the burden of its many tedious and irksom distempers . from whence there is but one little st●p to an antidotary ●raught with many excellent gener●l remedies ; all which , what ever hath been the labour of the author in collecting them , take thou and use freely to the commodious benefit of the health of thy self and of thy friends and neighbours . farewel . these books are printed for fran. eglesfield , and are to be sold at the marigold , in pauls church-yard . the works of that famous mathematician edmund gunter , sometime professor of astronomy in gresham coll●dge , with correctio●s and additions of master samuel foster late professor at the same colledge the art of dialling , by master samuel foster , in quar . the needles excellencie , or a book of cut-works in quar . aesops fables in prose and verse , grammatically translated , illustrated with pictures , exactly translated out of the original greek , together with the history of his life in twelves . the office and duty of constables , church-wardens , and other officers , by nicolas layer counsellor at law in octav . the map of england , with the kings of england , excellently done by w holler . school-books . reusneri symbola exactly corrected , & the defects of the tables in ●ormer editions rectified . rhetorices elementa . the english rudiments of the latine tongue , explained by question and answer . vestibulum linguae latinae ; all by william du-gard , master of merchant-tailor● school . formulae oratoriae in usum schol●rum concinnatae , by iohn clark of lincoln . phraseologia puerilis , or select latine and english phrases , in octav● by iohn clark possclii syntaxis , in greek 〈…〉 dux grammaticus by iohn clark of lincoln with additions . divinity books . the excellency of a gracious spirit , together with moses self-denial . the saints inheritance , and the worldlings portion , by ieremy burroughs in octav . the saints di●nity and duty , with the danger of ignorance and hardness , by tho hooker . the souls possession of christ , by tho hooker . three treatises , 1. the young mans memento . 2. now if ever . 3. the danger of being almost a christian ; all published by iohn chish●ll of ●iverton in devon. a treatise of the attributes of god unfolded and applied , by master thomas larkham minister of gods word at tavestock it devon. a philosophical discourse of urines by henry hamond . these books are now in the press . master david dixon his excellent exposition on all saint pauls epistles , in english , in folio . a new volum of doctor prestons , never before published . choise and rare experiments in physick and chirurgery with variety of excellent receipts , never before published ; discovered by the elaborate pains and industry of master thomas collins , practitioner of physick neer the city of glocester . master iohn cotton on the covenant of grace , reprinting by a copy much larger then the 〈…〉 ●riends hands , and exactly table of the remedies for all diseases of the bodys of man and woman , that are contained in this book . a ●oplexy to cure page 15 aposthema , and to cure aposthema persons 52 ●ppetite to procure 70 ●gue quartane 80 ●gue tertian 86 in time of the fit . ibid. ●gue of a long continuance 84 ●●ch in the back 67 96 97 135 ●f●er-pain of a woman delivered 1●7 ●f●er-burden of a dead child ibid. ●reath that is stinking to destroy 41 ●reath to make swee● 42 43 ●reath that is short 51 52 ●rest , the diseases 44 ●rest that is sore to break it , ibid. 56 57 ●rest to heal 53 ●rest to keep from breaking 53 54 ●rest to skin that is raw 54 ●rest that is hard ib. ●rest that is broken 55 ●oling in a womans brest 56 ●lood to cleanse 88 ●owes diseased 91 back weak 97 back over ho● 98 consumption 9 47 60 chest stopped 48 cough of the lungs 58 cataplasme 63 choler to ●v●id ●● collick ●● cawdle for one with child 1● cough and phlegm ●● deafness to cure 32 33 34 35 3● dropsey to cure 74 75 12 delivery of a woman quick 12 deliver a woman of a dead child 12 diarrhea , or the humeral flux 1● epilepsy of children 1● eye diseased with gummy matter 1● eye weeping ib. 18 23 25 2● eyes to keep cleer and cool , and to take away th● redness , and kill the itching 17 18 22 23 2● ey●id overturned 1● eyes swelled 2● eyes pained ib. 21 3● eye grown hard ●● eyes troubled with a humor 2● eyes cured by mr davis water 2● eye troubled with a mote 2● eye with a pearl in it 2● eye sight to restore ibid eye with a pin or web in it 3● ear that hath a noìse in it 31 4● ear pained ibid ear that hath an impostume in it 3● falling sickness 11 12 13 1● fainting 6● feaver 81 82 83 8● feaver to cool ibid. fundament to cure 92 93 flux 102 103 flux humoral to stop ibid. 104 119 flux cured by an irish medecine ibid. flux that is desperate and bloody 105 106 flowers to suppress 120 flux red in women 123 flux of the matrix 120 118 french pox 100 gall diseased 75 76 gonorrhoea 98 100 green sickness 1●2 gout 128 131 132 133 134 head ach 1 3 5 6 7 8 9 head ach extream ib. 4 head ach for ever to cure 7 head , to purge 9 28 head to expell cold out of it 9 hearing hindered through pain of the head 33 hearing 35 36 hoarsness 50 heart weak 64 heart trembling 65 heart beating ibid. heart that hath an ach , or troubled with worms ib. impostume 62 iaundies 77 iaundies black ibid. iulep for the liver 73 ●tching to kill 17 kings evil 50 51 liver diseased 72 73 lues venera 100 legs swoln 113 megrims 7 mouth 43 madness 66 melancholy 78 matrice 119 120 matrice to cleanse 126 mother 120 124 125 menstruus overflowing 121 menstruus to provoke 122 miscarrying to prevent 26 murre and cough 50 milk coagulating in the brest 56 nose that stinketh 41 43 nature to restore 97 nature to preserve from wasting 99 oyl for an ach 135 oyl for the palsey 10 oyntment for an ach in the back 97 palse● 10 phegm 4● 58 59 phtysick 57 58 61 63 pox 100 piss well 111 powder to restore nature and preserve it 97 pl●ster for the gout 131 pulvis ducis for the stomach 70 rheum 45 rupture 92 93 reines to restore that are sore 98 101 running of the rains 99 rains to mundify 108 sight to preserve 9 17 sight dim 19 20 25 sight decayed 26 sight to get though blind 28 29 s●itch in the side 63 swooning 66 stomack that is weak 67 stomack troubled with winde ib. 69 stomack cold 68 70 stomack pained ibid. stomack to comfort after vomiting 68 stomack to cleer 69 stone 77 106 108 ston● in the reines 107 stone to break 109 an oyntment for the back , if the stone come away painful 109 stone to slip with a pultis 110 113 114 sir traver williams receit for the stone 114 stone to prevent ibid. 115 s●one in the kidnies 117 sciatica 134 135 spee hiess with the palsey 10 tooth ach 39 37 40 teeth rotten and stinking 38 tooth ach never to vex you more 39 t●eth loose 40 teeth to leave aching , or fa●l out 40 teats of a woman impostumed 57 termes to bring down 122 voice hoarse 44 voice hoarse of long continuan●e ibid. vein broken to knit 69 vrin that is sharp 111 v●in that is hot and burning 112 vrin that is foul or red 113 vrin to prov●ke ibidem vomiting 68 white and weaknesse of nature 124 125 wheesing in the chest 48 water for the sight 18 27 water that is pretious for many sicknesses 10 walnuts preserved for a cough & a consumption 47 windy colick 91 web in the eye 24 a table of the remedies for children● diseases . for the diseases of the head 139 for the diseases of the eyes 143 for the diseases of the ears 145 for the diseases of the teeth and mouth 146 for the diseases of the neck throat and breast 149 for the diseases of the stomach 151 for the diseases of the navel 156 for the diseases of the reins and bladder 158 for ruptures 159 for the small pox and measels 162 for agues and feavers . ibid. for the diseases of the cods 166 for the shingl●s 166 for burning and scalding 169 for to kill and destroy lice . also the manner how to make divers sorts of most pretious waters , balsomes , oyles , with other rare and excellent medicines , with their uses , vertues , and wonderful operation● , page 175 ▪ to the end . choice and rare experiments in physick and chirurgery . the head , the remedies for its distempers . head-ach . here followeth the brief description of inward and outward diseases of the body , with the most wholsom and expert remedies for the cure thereof . and first of the sickness of the head. and it is to be noted , that the cure or remedy must be appropriated according to the nature and cause of the grief , which if it be not rightly considered , it would be but vain to apply any medicine : and therefore the right judgement of an expert physician is very requisite & needful in such cases as you may plainly conceive ; for the multipli●ity or diversity of causes in some diseases , maketh the cure of more difficulty : as also the methodical way of applying the same , in observation of the circumstances of the patients age , constitution , strength , sex and the like , which must of necessity be observed in the administring or prescribing of all medicines , that should take effect perfectly to cure , &c. and now headach chanceth oftentimes of divers and sundry causes , as of blood , choler , flegm or melancholy , or of ventosity , and sometime of heat of the sun , or of too grea● cold of the air . if it come of blood ; the cephalick vain o● the right arm is to be cut or opened ; if the pai● continue , on the vain of the forehead on tha● side the pain is , then lay upon the place ●yl o● roses , vineger and rose-water , or a bagge wit● roses , sprinckled with rose-water . and it is to be noted aswell in this cause a● all other , that if his belly be hard and bound first ye must give him an easie clyster , or else o● cassi● newly drawn out of the cane , or some other easie laxative to provoke the duty of th● womb , else all applications of medicines wil● be nothing worth at all . if the headach proceed of choller , there 〈◊〉 sharp pain and heat , chiefly on the right side o● the head. ye must give him morning and evening , 〈◊〉 drink s●rup of violets , with a mean draught 〈◊〉 endive water in a glass , or of cummin wa●●● s●dden and cooled again : and instead of the syrups you may drink water of endive , succ●ry , pu●slain and nenup●ar mixed together , 〈◊〉 one of them by himself , two or three dayes at even and morn : then give a dram of pilulae sine quibus at night to bedward , or about midnight , and the day following keep you i● your chamber . instead of these pills ▪ it is good every morn to take an hour before sun a medicine to drink , that shall be made of half an ounce of succo rosarum , mixt with two ounces of endive water . instead of the said succo rosarum ye may take half an ounce of dia prunis laxative , and ye must take heed in giving such purgations , that the patient be strong , for if he be weak , ye may give him but half of the said pills or of the other laxatives . and if in diminishing the quantity of the said medicines it worketh not with the patient , as it should , it is convenient to give him a common clyster . another remedy for the same pain . ye must lay thereon a linnen clothe moisted in rose-water , plantaine-water , morrel-water & vinegar , or else take the juice of lettice and roses and a little vinegar , and warm it together , and dip therein a linnen cloth , and lay it to the pain . for an extream heada●h . pound euphorbium with vinegar , and if the grief be on the right side of the head , then ●ay it on the left , or on the right when the pain ●s on the left side , for it mitigates all pain very excellently , but we must suffer the same to continue thereon no longer then the space of saying a pater noster , and then wash it off . another . take nine or ten pieces of zeduaria being smal , cut it in parcels , or else pound it somewha● grossely ; infuse thereon clear water , and the● put it into a glass , and madesie clouts therei● of the breadth of two fingers , and apply them on the forhead and temples of the same , and the same being dryed moisten them again . for burning headach . take a handful of houslick , beat it with womans milk , and with a little rose-water , ti'● it be like unto a poultis or pap , and therewit● anoint your head . for shooting in the head. pound poppy-seed with yelks of eggs till 〈◊〉 be like paste , and lay it on the grief . against continual headach , and singing of the ears . beat elder leaves and rose-leaves , with o● of ivy-leaves one amongst the other , and depress the juice thereout ; tye these leaves o● the head , and with the juice thereof anoint th● head . for headach in the forepart . take eldre leaves made hot between tw● stones , and applied to the temples . and for the better understanding of the sickness , chancing in the head , ye shall know , that sometime it chanceth because of other diseased members , as of the stomack , or of the mother , of the rheums of the liver , or of the spleen , and not of any cause of the head it self ; therefore ye ought to cure such sickness by helping of the same members as shall be shewed here following . and ye may know that the headach c●m●th of diseases ; of the stomack , when the patient hath great pain in the stomack ; of the mother , when the woman feeleth great pain in her belly ; of the reins , when there is a great pain in the back ; of the spleen when he feeleth pain and heaviness under the left side ; of the liver when the pain is on the right side , about the liver which is beneath the ribs . remedies appropriate to the head of what cause soever the pain is . take a handful of betony , an handful of camomil , and an handful of vervine leaves picked , stamp them and seethe them in black wort , or in ale for lack of it , and in the latter end of the seething put to it a little cummin braid , the powder of a harts-horne and the yelks of two eggs , and saffron a little , stir them well about , and lay a plaister hot over all his forehead and temples . this is an excellent remedy also for the megrim , it shall pi●rce the better if ye add a little vinegar . another . make a plaister of bean flower , lineseed , and oyl of camomile , or in lack of it goos● grease or ducks gre●se , and rub the place with aqua vitae , and after lay the plaister hot upon it . another . take wormwood brayed well and boyled in water , and binde it to his temple upon the grief : it will mitigate the pain and cause him to have a pleasant sleep . another . take a sp●onful of m●stardseed , and another of bay berries make them in powder , and stampe them with a handful of earth worm● split and scraped from their earth , and a little oyle of roses or of camomile , or capc●s grease , and lay it to the grief . also it is good to take the juice of ivy-leaves mixt with oyl and vinegar , and so rub therewith your temples and your nostrils . pills for a●l pain of the head although inveterate . take aloes epat . washed three ounce . bryon ▪ m●stic . elect ana . one ounce . diagrv● . h●ee drams . let it ●e consected with juice of coleworts . the dose from two scruples , even unto four . it taketh away all pain of the head , and rejoy●●th and comforteth the memory . to remedy all manner of headach and megrim . camomile , betony , vervine leaves of each an handful , stamp them , seethe them in white wine or ale , adding therto pounded cummin-seed a little , three spoonful of vinegar , the yelkes of two eggs and a little saffron , fiat emplastrum & appona●ur fronti , &c. & sanabis . a remedy teaching that one shall never feel headach . take pills of aloes succotrine made in powder , and mixt with the juice of colewort● , the bigness of a bean at a time . for the headach . take wormwood and camomile of each like much , one handful , and as much of maiden-wort , and a half penny w●rth of cummin , and make it into powder and cast it t●gether , and put it into a cloth of the breadth of a span , and warm it against the fire , and then lay it to his head , &c. for the headach or megrim . take rosemary , lavender flowers , winter savory , camomile , bayes and lavender , with both new and old mintes and fennil , seethe all these together in runing water , and put thereto a good handful of bay salt , then take some of the same liquor , herbs and all , and wash your seet twice therewith every morn and even , for the s●ace of four dayes ; and in so doing it will take away any pain of the head , although it be never so extream or grievous . this hath been proved . another . take majerom-water , and hold your nose over it , and then draw your winde hard unto ●ou , untill such time as the winde hath entred into your ●ose divers times , and your head will cease aking speedily . for dizziness in the head . take pilulae cochiae one ounce● , temper it with twenty drops of oyl of anniseeds , and make seven pills of it , and swallow them and keep warm in your chamber till it have done working , then eat any warm broth , made of veal , mutton , or chicken , and comfortable herbs . after this purge so used , this electua●y following . take betony-flowers , and rosemary-flowers , three ounces , powder of carduus benedictu● leaves , powder of marigold leaves one ounce , boil them with one pound of beaten sugar , and half a pint of bugles-water , and marjerom-water , and betony-water , and balm-water of each two ounce , boil together over a gentle fire to the thickness of honey , and use thereof as much as a nut morning and evening till it be spent ▪ probat . chew every morning cloves fasting , or whole mace , and use coriander comsits or the seeds prepared , and use after meat marmalade of quinces to cl●se the stomack , and repress the vapors that fume up thence to the brain . for the headach and ●o stop the rheum . dry wheat-bran , and beaten henbane seed , and put them in a bag , and lay them warm to the nape of the neck . to dry up and draw rheum out of the head . a quilt made with bay-salt , dry sage and cummin is good for the rheum to draw it out and waste the humors , and in like case is the leaves and flowers of mustard-seed , bruised and so laid to the crown of the head . to purge the head and preserve the sight . drink beer every morning a good draught fasting , wherein the roots of dog fennel or motherwort is steeped , the roots somewhat bruised , and it will presently work in your eyes and head . to expel a cold stomack or head , and to expel a consumption or either of them . take a pint of white wine vinegar , and half a pound of the best fine hard sugar , mix them and a head of garlick trimmed clean , & bruised to mash , then put them altogether into a pipkin and boil them softly till half be wasted , and take thereof morning and evening a small quantity . it will help the cold , and expel a consumption . an oyl to cure the cold palsie and shaking palsie . take a young cub fox , case him and gut him , and chop him in peices and boil him in three gallons of water with a great handful of her be-grace bruised , and ever as the first scum ariseth scum it of , and cast it away , and all the rest of the scum and fat which riseth , scum into a fair glass as long as you can get any , and cover the glass close and anoint the place with the said ointment where the palsie beginneth ▪ and you shall be cured and to anoint the sha●ing palsie cureth it in a short time . for quaking hands . take fennel , rue , and wheat-bran , seethe them in water and wash th● hands therewith , also to wash thy hands in claret wine is excellent for the same , being often proved . for them which a●e speechles● with the palsie . take sharp mustard and give it to drink in ale or beer warm ; also primrose roots cut in slices , and a slice l●id under the tongue , will help in the like case . a precious water against many sicknesses . take nutmeg , cloves , cresses-seed , cubeb● maces : grains , ginger and cinnamon , of each alike much , and beat th●m to powder , and put them in white wine a limbeck , and distill them with a soft fire . this water drunk fasting helpeth all cold sicknesses , putteth away all diseases in the eyes and redness and watering : it helpeth the spleen , the liver , the fistu●a in the body , the palsie , the cold gou● , the palsie , with many other diseases , and much comforteth the stomack . for the falling sickness● take a good handful of single piony , stamp them in a pottle of white wine , having in it some saffron within a cloth ; then give three spoonful of this three dayes before the change of the moon and three dayes after the change , the day of the change being not reckoned for one . take three spoonfuls of this three mor●ings , and three nights , press well the juice ou● of the roots . hang a piony root as neer the heart as you can . another . take the weight of half a crown in silver , or half an ounce of red fox gloves , and the like weight of southernwood , let them lie twelve hours a steep in a pint of ale , then strain it , and give it blood warm fi●st and last , do so for three da●es together about the time of the moon your fit com●th . if it be for a chi●de , ● pint may be given at four d●aughts , it maketh the party sick but it cureth . for the falling sickness or disease neer unto it . take one once of piony root dryed and finely beaten , and put it in a pint of ale ●r beer or both , boil it and drink it morn and evening , an● it will help you . it is proved . for the falling sickness . take three nails made in the vigil of saint iohn baptist , commonly called midsummer eve , drive them in the ground so deep , that they be not seen in the place where the sick party fell , naming the parties name whiles it is in doing . it will drive away the disease which misaldus credibly reported . a powder against the falling sickness . take of christal prepared one dram . of red coral prepared two scruple● . of pearl prepared one scruple . of o●iental smaragd prepared half a dram . the half part of which is one dose in the water of our ladies thistle . cae●ar accounted this for a great secre● , and with which men that were somewhat aged , as also those which have been long subject to this disease after purgation , were cured . zacutus lufitanus wi●nesseth and reporteth , de prax. med. adm lib. observat . 20. that he hath seen many , and also of great age , having this disease of the falling sickness , having tryed many remedies , as well of an hidden as manifest quality , which nothing profited or availed them , onely with the syrup made of the green leaves of tobacco and hony , to have been cured , taking of the same three ounces three hours after supper for fourty dayes ; if gree● tobacc● 〈◊〉 wanting , dry of good note , or the best , may be used instead thereof . another excellent remedy for the salling evil . take a good handfu● of piony roots , and a handful of misselto that groweth upon a black●horn , and a handful of polypodium , otherwise called in english oakefearn , and two good ●andful of selendine , if it be possible it may ●e had , and stamp them very well , and then ●et them to steep either in ale or beer for the ●pace of two hours or more , and then put it in●o your earthen pot , where it maybe kept close ●rom any air , and let the party grieved drink a ●ood draught thereof every morning fasting , ●nd last in the evening , and let him use it for ●he space of fourteen or fifteen dayes , and by gods help it will cure him in short space . against the epilepsie of children . take coriander prepared , m●stard-seed , nutmegs of each half a dram , piony-seed seven ●rams , diptamni two drams , make thereof a ●owder , and let it be given in the morn with ●ot wine . another expert against the epi●epsie . take red co●al , the forepart of the skull of a man , of grains of piony , of each one ●ram , mix it and make a powder thereof , of which powder must be given at three times , at morn , noon , and night with some broth or ●ome water appropriated , and if it help not at once , then renew it in the same manner and ●ose as before . it is found that many things have a natural vertue against the fa●li●g evi● , not of any quality elemental , but by a si●gular property , or rather an influence from heaven , which almighty god hath given unto things here on earth , as by these and other saphi●es , smargdes , red co●al , piony , misseltoe of the oak ●aken in the moneth o● march and the moon d●cr●asing ▪ time , savin , dill and the stone found in t●e belly of ● young swallow and others ; these or one o● them hang●d about the neck of the child , saveth and pr●serveth it from the said sickness . take ●he root of piony , and make it in●o powder , and ●ive it the child to lick in a little pap and sugar . they that are of age may eat of it a good quantity at once , and likewise of the black seeds of the same piony . item the purple violets that creepeth o● the ground in gardens with a long stalk , and i● called in english hear●s●ase , drunk in water o● in water and hony , helpeth this dis●ase in ● young childe : moreover the muskle of the oak rased and given in milk , and water and hony is good . also ye may still a water of the flowers of linde , it is a tree call in latine tilia , take the same flowers , and distill a water , and let the patient drink thereof now and then a spoonful , it is a good remedy . item , the root of the sea-thistle called erigum in latin , eaten in broth or drunken , 〈◊〉 exceeding good . some w●ite that cichory is a singular remed● for the same disease , it is meant by wilde cichory growing in corns . the flowers of rose●ary ●ade a conserve hath the same effect in curing this dis●ase . i could declare many other r●m●dies commended of authors , but these are sufficie●t . for the falling sickness . take the skul of a dead man , which is cleanly tak●n out of the grave pulverizate very s●all , add also hereunto five or six piony kernels well pounded , take hereof in the morn one d●am with wine , and it is for this disease one of the best remedies . an excellent medicine sor the apop●exia and falling sickness . take aqua vitae perfectly rectified without flegm , one pint , oyl of vitriol one spoonful , mix th●m and let the patient drink thereof every morn one spoon●ul , and he shall be holpen , although he have had it ten years and ●●ll every hour . and for apoplexia , ye shall give it in the said ord●r , but if he cannot drink it so , ye shall give it as you think good , so that he have it in his body , and pr●sently he shall amend , although he have had i● a long while and were lame over all his body , &c. for the falling evil. take the secundum of a boy child , dryed to powder in an oven , and the forepart of a dead mans skul● wash'● in water of betony , and the seed or root of piony dryed into powder , and of galingale , all into several portions , to the quantity of a spoonful of each , mo●e or less , in the distilled water of cowslipe flowers according to the strength of the patient , and give to drink , drink three dayes together , and then rest three dayes , and then drink it three dayes together again , then rest three dayes , and so till he have took it nine dayes . the eyes , the remedies for its distempers . a medicine to take all gummy matter or filth out o● the eyes . take housleek , otherwise called singreeen , and stamp it well , and strain it through a fine linnen cloth , and with the juice thereof wash the eyes often , and it will both clear the sight and purge the eyes from all manner of filth and matter . a powder for weeping and running eyes . take red coral one dram , tutia half an ounce , and burn them in a vessel of earth , then put into it fine pearl half a dram , and beat it small into fine powder in a stone morter , and search it through silk , and put of it into the eye morning and evening , and close up the eye till t is dry . this is a great secret , and is excellent for a pearl and dimness of sight . for the sight . ● marvellous good water to recover the eye sight ●he same being 〈◊〉 by any cause whatsoever ▪ take three drams of tutia made into ●hall powder , an● like quantity of aloes ●paticum , and three drams of fine sugar , 〈◊〉 ounces of rosewater , and as much white ●ine , mingle all these together and put them to a glass , and stop it close , and set it to and in the sun by the space of a moneth ●●●rring it together once every day . then ke the quantity of six drops at a time of the me water , and drop it into your eyes both orn and even , and so continue for a short ace , and it will cause your sight to come a●in , and be as clear and as perfect as ever it as before . this hath been proved by one hat recovered his sight , having lost it a mo●th before it was ministred unto himself . most singular good medicine to keep the eyes clear , cool , and from redness , and to kill the itching of them . take a good handful of housleck , and two andfuls of plantaine , and stampe them well ●gether , and strain them , then let the juice and and settle for a little space , and when it ●well settled , power out the clearest from the ●sidue ; and put thereto half as much red ose water as is of the juice , and half a quarter 〈◊〉 white sugar candy beaten to fine powder , and then take a piece as big as a walnut , or somewhat more of lapis calaminaris , and let it slake ten or twelve times in the same water and let the patient take four or five drops a● he lyeth upright in his bed thereof , and put i● into his eyes and it will help him . this hat● been proved . for running eyes of a cold . take tutiae ten drams , coralli rubri , mirabola● citrini , succo●● ▪ aloes alike two drams , piperis ha● a dram fiat pulv , and put often into the eye . here is a precious water for the sight , and for th●● that be fair clear blind . take smallach , red fennel , rue , vervin● betony , cinqfoile , pimpernel , eu●race , sag● selendine , of each a quar●ern of a pound , an● wash them clean , and stampe them and d● them in a clean brazen pan , and take fi●●e●● pepper corns and bruise them all to powde● and cast them to the he●bs , and a pint of goo● white wine , and three spoonful of life hony and five spoonfuls of a man-childs urine that 〈◊〉 innocent , and boil them altogether on th● fire a little , and strain them . a medicine for them that may not well see and if the eyes be red . take the white ginger , and rub it on ● whetstone in a clean basin , and take there●● as much salt as thou hadst of the powder , an● temper them with white wine , and let it stan● ●n the bason all a day and a night , then do that clear that standeth above into a clean glass , ●nd anoint thine eyes a li●tle therewith when ●hou goest to bed with a soft feather and do so often , and forsooth he shall be hole on warran●ise . for them that the eye-lids be over-turned beneath . take arnement and hony , and the white of ●ggs , of all alike much , and temper them together , then take hurden of flax , and wet ●hem in water , and wring out the water clean , ●nd lay these three things on the hurds plaisterwise ; and if evil blood be within thy eyes , ●t shall drive it out and heal them . de ophtha●mia . there happeneth sometime debility and ●ulness of sight which must be holpen accor●ing to the divers causes thereof as followeth . take fennil , vervine , celidone , rue , eye-●right , and roses , of every one of them alike much , a●d distil them as ye would distil rose-water , and use the●eof a little in your eyes , ●oth in the morn , and when ye go to bed . a water proved to clarifie the dimness of sight : take the juice of fennil , of celidony , rue , ●nd eye-bright , of each two ounces , hony an ●unce and hal● , aloes , tutiae , and sarcoc●lle , of ●ach half an ounce , the gall of a capon , chick●n or cock , two drams , nutmegs , cloves and saffron , of each a dram , sugar candy six drams , put all into a limbeck of glass and distil it , and of this water put in your eyes once in a day . for the same . ye must use every day to eat nutmegs , and to take once in a week a myrabolane condite . take green walnuts , liu●ks and all from the tree , with a few wallnut leaves , and distill ther●of a water to drop into ●our eyes . pills good for the sight . the pills sine quibus , asswaged with trochisk● of agarick and pi●ulae lucis are excellent good to purge the brain , and comfort the sight . for swelling of the eyes . take a quince and seethe it in water till it b● soft , then pare it and bruise it , and mix i● with the yelk of an egg , and the cru●s o● wheat or white bread steeped in the said water and put thereto a little womans milk , and tw● penny weight of saffron , bray them altogethe● and l●y it over the forehead and the eyes . to resolve gummy matter in the eyes y● shall use to wash your eyes oftentimes wit● th● juice of hou●leek , otherwise called sen●green . for great pain of the eyes . take an ounce and an half of oyl of roses the yelk of an egg , and a quarter of an ounce o● barly flower , and a little saffron , mix all togeher and put it between two linnen cloths , ●nd lay it to the pain . another . take crums of wheaten bread or white an ●unce , and seethe it in nightshade or morrel-●ater , then mix with the said bread two yelks ●f eggs , oyl of roses and camomile , of each ●n ounce and a half , mucilage of lineseed an unce , and use it as aforesaid . another . take six leaves of henbane and rost them , hen beat them very well in a morter and lay hem to the pain . for redness of the eyes . in the beginning of the redness , lay upon ●he eye tow dipped in the white of eggs , but et the whites be well beaten first with rose-●ater , or with plantaine-water . another . take red roses and seethe them , and let ●hem be set warm to your eye . this taketh ●way spots of blood that sometime chanceth ●n the eyes : also it is good for all diseases of ●he eyes , and it is good for redness of the ●yes that cometh by striking or any such vio●ence . if at any time there happen a spot or ●lemish in the eye by a stroke , ye must by and ●y lay to it tow wet in rosewater and in whites of eggs , and after the pain is mitigated ; ye must lay to it a plaister upon the eye made of a raw egge , barly flower , and the juice or mucilage of mallows , and then if the eye be not holpen of the said blood , ye must lay to it a plaister both dissolutive , defensive , and partly appeasing the pain , which must be made of wheat flower , the juice of mallows , mint●● and smallage , and the yelk of an egge . of hardness that hath been long in the eye . take a scruple of aloes succotrine and mel● it in water of selendine at the fire , then receive the fume of it , and afterward , wash the eye with fennel-water . another . take the powder of cummin mixt wit● wax like a plaist●r , and lay it upon the eye . another . take roses , sage , rue , celidony , of eac● alike much , with a little salt , and distill 〈◊〉 water , and put thereof a drop or two in you● eye morning and evening , instead of that w●ter it is good to take juice of vervine , rue and a little rosewater . for all redness of the eyes ▪ take the bigness of a nut of white copp●ris , and a scruple of ireos and powder it and mix it with a glassful of well water , then put two o● three drops in your eyes . for the same . water of strawberries made and put in the ye is good . a singular powder that dryeth and take●h away the redness of the eyes . take tutiae preparatae an ounce , and timonie ●alf an ounce , pearles two drams , red ●oral a dram , and an half , powder all these ●hings very fine and keep it in a box o● tin ●nd use it . for to stop watering of the eyes . take a plaister of powder of mastick , fine frankincense , bole-armoniack , and gum ●ragagant with white of egg● mixt together , ●nd lay to the forehead and temples . also it ●s good to lay ventoses on the nape of the ●eck . also ●t is good to make a collyrie to put ●nto the eyes as ●olloweth . take tutiae preparat . and the stone called lapis hematites of each a dram , aloes half a dram , pearls and camphire of each a scruple , powder them all very fine , and mix them in ●hree ounces of water distilled of the knops of roses and thereof make a collyrie . also for to stop all humours descending to the eyes , these things aforesaid are good mixed w●h rain water , wherein olibanum or frankincense hath been ●odden . for webbes of the eye . it may easie be holpen in young folk , but 〈◊〉 aged pe●sons it is very hard ; and in the beginning ye must mollific them with a decoct● on of the fl●wers of camomile , mellilote , 〈◊〉 cool leaves , receiving the fume of the 〈◊〉 decoction within the eyes , and th●n put there in a little powder made with sugar candy sa●gemme , and egge shells brent , and afte● distill into them womans milk , with the decoction of fenugreeke . another singular receipt for webbes in the eyes . take snayles with the shells on , and 〈◊〉 them eight times , and distill them in a co●mon stillatory , then take hares galls , 〈◊〉 corall and sugar-candy with the said wate● distill them again , and put every morning a● evening a drop into your eyes . another . this water is made of white copperis , s●gar candy , and rosewater , with whites of egg sodden hard , and strained through a lin● cloth , and put into your eye after dinn● and at night to b●dward . to stay the humours that fall in the eyes . take mastick , sanguis draconis , the whi● of an egge , and rosewater , of every one a sm●● ●uantity mixt them altogether , and make a ●la●ster thereof , and spread it on a piece of ●elvet and lay it to the temple vain , and let it ●ick ●here till it fall of it self . to clear the eyes that be dim of sigh● . take the juice of caprifolium , or wood●inde , and dry it in the sun till it come to a ●●e powder , after it is pounded , strained , and ●rought to fine powd●r , blow some of it ●to the eyes and it will help god willing . the juice of caprifolium , is called at the ●pothecaries lycium , you ought not to wash ●he woodbinde before the straining , especially ●hen you make lycium for the eyes . to destroy rheum that it fall not into the eyes . take raw beef a fair slice , as broad as your and and lay it in a pewter platter , and put to asmuch aqua vitae as will cover the beef , and ●t it on a chaffing dish of coles , let it boil in ●qua vitae until it be ready , as though it should ●e eaten , then take it out of the aqua vitae , ●nd lay it to the neck of the grieved partie , ●nd there let it remain and use it , and it will ●ive the rheum that doth offend the eyes . ●roved . master davies water , for the clearing of the eye sight being much decayed . take two great handfuls of eye bright when is well sprunge up , and in full flowring , and ●●e handful of balm , and still them together , ●nd scum the water nine dayes , then use every morning to wash your eyes , and eye-browes therewith and use so quarterly nine dayes tother , and it will cause you in short space to read without spectacles , if you have used spectacles before time . probat . to draw a mote out of the eye . take white sope , and scrape a little of it into a sawcer , and dry it by the fire , very dry , and then put it into a little fair water , but make it not too thin , put it into the sore eye with a feather and its good for man or beast , probat . a cure for the sight decayed . take 3. pintes of barly flower finely boulted , make paste thereof with fair water , or with distilled water of tormentil , and make your paste stiff and roul it like venison pastie , and fill it full of the leaves , flowers , and wyers of tormentil , and put thereto one peny of life-hony , and close it and bake it with cakes , and when it s baked , break it in small pieces , and put it in a steane pot of ale of three gallons and drink no other drink neither at meat , nor any other times , for the space of two moneths , and this shall restore the sight if possible . pro●at . a powder to clear ●he sight much decayed and near gone . take of the powder of eye-bright made of the leaves and flowers stripped together and ●o fine powder four ounces , of mace one ●ince , mingle them and take thereof , the ●ight of three pence before meat . water to preserve the eye-sight which hath been commended to be the best in the world . take hepatis hircini sani & recentis 4. ounces , l●mi aromatici melli , one half ounce , succi a one scr●ple , aquae celidoniae , six drams , ue feniculi , aquae verbenae , aquae euphragiae of ch 4. drams , pi●eris longi , nucis moschat , igario●orum of each grains fifteen , croci , grains two , ●is rerismarini aliquantulum , contusi pugillum ●is , sarcocolle , aloes hepatice one scruple , of e gall of a hen , and of a capon of each ●ee drams , hony of roses one dram , mingle em , and distill them in a glass , still first brui●g them and putting to them one quarter of ounce of the best refined sugar . some three four drops in each eye at a time is thought ●ficient , it s also a fine smelling water with a ●tle smell , not very easily perceived , nor ●elling far off . it s not much matter , whether 〈◊〉 liver of the kid be of a he kid , or a ●e kid , but of the two , the he kid is ●ought to be the better . a preservative for the eye sight . make comfits of turnepseeds , and eat a ●re of them after dinner , and supper , as ●ny immediately after the said meats it was ●ected that nine or ten of the said comfits ●ould be eaten , after meales , they are to be ●led in sugar . to purge the head and preserve the sight . drink beer every morning a good draugh●●asting , wherein the roots of dog fennell o● motherwood is steeped , the roots somwhat bruis●d , and it will presently work in your eye● and head , probat . for all infirmities in the eyes . take ground jvy called cill gee by the ground alias ale-hoof , celendine and daysies the flowers , leaves and roots of each one o● these herbs , and a like quantity of the● stamped and strained , and a little sugar , an● red rose water put thereto , and dropped wit● a feather into the eyes , it taketh away all ●●flamation and spots , scabs , scales , itch , sma●●ing , or any grief whatsoever in the eyes , y●● although the sight were almost gone . a g●od water for sore eyes . take a pint of running water , half an ha●●ful of singrene leaves and a little of unico●● horn , and boil it all together and pour out ● water and wash the eyes therewith . proved . a precious medicine for the eyes , then which no better be , for though a man had been ten years , within eleven d●yes he shall be stored to his sight again of very truth . take smallach , brown fennile , vervi● 〈◊〉 ●etonie , avence , pimpernel , strawbe●● wis● , filago , eufrace , c●lendine , sage , of e●● alike much and lay them all a night to sleep in a childs urine that is a virgin , and after put ●t into a morter and put seven corns of pep●er and stamp it small and temper it with the s●me ●rine aforesaid , and then strain it and keep it in boxes and anoint the eyes in the morning and evening . for sight of the eyes lost , how to restore the same , and to clear the eyes and to help the dimn●ss of t●em . take eye-bright water made of all the whole eye-bright and anoint the eyes ofte● ▪ and eat often the powder thereof and drink the water , use it long , sanat . to cleanse the eyes and do away the pearl . take the red roses and maiden-●air , and rue , vervine , eusrace , endive , and sing●e●n , hill-worte , red fennel , ●f each alike three ounces and wash them cl●an , and lay ●hem in white wine all day , and all night , and a●●●r distil them . and the first will be like gold , and the second like silver , and the third like eawm , this is for the eyes , a worthy water and a good , &c. to restore their eyes that are as though they did see and yet see not . the decoction of tormentil daily drunk three moneths , and no other d●ink , and the same tormentil every night laid pla●ster wise on the eyes , doth it pro certo . to kill the pin or webbe in the eye . take leaves of celendine and stamp the● well and strain them , and with a feather 〈◊〉 one drop of the same juice into the eye of the patient and it will presently help . a very good medicine to kill a pearl or web●e the eye . take a good quantity of three leaved gra●● that beareth the honey suckles ▪ and bruise● well in a mortar , or else in a wooden dish , and then strain it , & let the party grieved put some of the same juice into his eye , and by using this twice or thrice a day , for the space of si● , or seven dayes together it will help him . a good medicine for eyes that be blood-shot and red . take housleek and stamp it well , then take a new laid egg , and make a hole in the one end of it , and draw out all the meat of it , and put the juice of housleek into it , and set i● on the embers , and so distill it , and scum it clean with a feather , and at night when you go ●o bed , let a drop thereof fall into your eye , with the feather , lying upon your back , and this will presently help you . for eyes that runn● . take occulus christi and celendine , red fennil , and daysies , and stamp them together i● a mortar and take the juice and put it into the eye . for the apple of the eye . take the juice of terfylle , the yelk of an egg a prettie portion of hony , and the milk of a woman , flour of wheat , and make a plaister , and l●y thereto till it be whole . the ears : remedies for all diseases in the ears . for noise and sounding of the ears . take pilulae cochiae , or fetidae because the sound is of ventosity or phlegm , and before ye take the said pills , it is good to drink three ounces of fennel water , two hours before meat , four or five dayes : after the operation of the said pills ye must dip a tent in oil of rue , castor or of salt with the juice of leek● , and often in the morning fasting to hold his ear over the decoction of marjerom , rue , wormwood , camomil and melilote . for pain in the ears . goose-grease with a little hony swageth the pains of the ears . item , oyl of almonds especially of the bitter almonds hot . ●em , if there be water in the ears , it shall be had out with a little goose-grease , and the juice of onions ; sometimes there chance●● deafness by winde which is in the ear , the which causeth ●inckling in the ear , and then one must put a little aloes in hot water , or in white wine and distil into the ear , then put a little euphorbium in powder into his nose for to make him to neese , and avoid asmuch humors as ye can . sometime deafness cometh 〈◊〉 phlegm which when it is old , it is uncurable ▪ but when it beginneth it must be purged a● ha●h been said in the remedy of the sound o● the ears ; then take powder of bay berries , and s●ethe it in oyl of lilies , and put it warm into ●our ear , and a little black wool to stop the ear with , that no air ●nter . an approved medicine for deasn●ss . take sweet sallet oyl half a pound , add to it wormwood , sorrel , aniseed , perwinckle , of each one dram , dry all to powder , the powder of old roses one ounce , as much of coloquintida boiled in the said oyl , strain and use it three drops into the ear at a time warm . to recover the lost hearing or deasness in the ear. take civet a grain , musk one grain , and good tar one scruple , mix all these together ▪ and put it into a fine linnen cloth or peice of silk , and binde it fast with a thread , and put it into the ear cloth and all , and binde the thread about the top of the ear , and so wear it in the ear , and thou mayest take it forth , when thou wilt , it doth then help the h●ad , and recover the hearing . a sove●aign medicine for the pain and buzzing in the head which hindreth the h●aring . take a clove of garlick , and pill it clean ●nd make three or four holes in the midst of it ●nd dip in it a little english hony , and put it ●nto your ear , and put a little black wooll in ●st●r it , & for that night let the patient lye up●n the contrary side , and let the ea● that is ●topt be upright , and the next night following ●et him use the other ear in like sort , and lie ●n the other side as before ; and so let him al●r it every other night , and use it for the ●ace of eight or nine dayes together ; and this ●ill expulse all ill humors out at his nose ▪ eale ●he pain and restore the hearing . an experienced medicine for deafnes● in the head . take bay leaves , bay berries , betony and ●ticades , of each ●of them one handful , and ●eethe them in white wine , till one hal● be ●onsumed , but if it be an aged person use mal●esy instead of white wine , and then put it ●●to a vessel that hath a narrow mouth and let ●he patient hold his ear upon it , it being un●opped , so that he may suff●r the same , ●eing neither too hot nor too cold ; then take ●yl of bitter almonds , and put three or four ●ops into his ears , and then stop it close with ● lock of sheeps wooll that groweth between ●he sheeps legs , and if he put a little musk , 〈◊〉 civet , it will be the better . this was pr●ved . a present remedy for one that cannot hear . take an hedghog , and flea him , and ro●● him , and let the patient put some of the grea●● into his ear , and he shall recover his hearing in short space : this hath holpen those that could not hear almost any thing at all , and hath bee●●roubled with this impediment for the space of twenty years and yet were holpen with this . medicine . an excellent good medicine for deafness in the head . take a quart of malmesy , and a quarter 〈◊〉 pint of clear running water , a pennyworth of cummin , and eight or nine leaves of beton● ▪ and boil them altogether until half the liquor be consumed , then take the pot wherein the medicine is boiled and cover it close with ● tunnel , binde it close about the verge o● brim whereby the heat may not issue forth● then put a quill into the other end of the tunnel , and let the patient hold his ear close that the heat may ascend up into his head , and when he is weary of holding the one ear , let him turn the other to the same place ; and w●ilst the heat is ascending up into one of his ears , let the other be well stopped with black wool , and let him also apply hot cloths to keep in the heat on the other side of his head w●ilst the medicine worketh , and let both sides be used alike , and let the patient use this three times a day , that is to say , at morn , noon and night , and so continue it for the spa●e of eight or nine dayes together ; and during all which space he must abstain from any open aire , and doubtless this will help him , for by experience it is known , that it hath cured both men and women that were above fifty years of age . for deafness or noise in the head , an excellent remedy . take of the juice of a radish root a pretty quantity , of the oyl of bitter or sweet almonds , with a pretty deal of colocynthis , and warm all these together in a little white wine , and when it is well mingled and bloodwarm , then pour a drop of it warm into thine ear ; and this using the patient shall be remedied . good for the ●earing . the juice of betony cast into the ear luke-warm , is very profitable against the pains of deafness or other impediments of the ears . item , the fat of a fox doth greatly cure the pain of the ears : also the juice of hyssope mix● with oyle and bloodwarm put into the ears , taketh away the painful aches of the ears . for to make a man hear . take a red onion and pick out the top , and fill it full of fair hot hens grease ▪ and lay the top on again , and rost it in the embers till it be tender , and then quish out the oyl into the ears of the sick man or woman , and then stop the ears with black wooll . an approved medicine for deafness . take sweet sallet oyl half a pound , add to it wormwood , sorrel , anniseeds , perwinkle , of each alike one dram , dry all to powder , the powder of the old r●ses one ounce , as much of coloquintida boiled well in the said oyl , strain it and use it three drops at a time in the ear warm . another approved . take oyl of castory , and of bitter almonds and of roses , let them be boiled in aqua vit● till the aqua vitae be wasted or consumed , and so distil a drop at a time into the ear . for deafness , and for an impostume of the ear , to break it , a rare secre . take the juice of young elder buds , and the inner rinde thereof , either of them and use , it helpeth . for a man that may not well hear . take the block of an ash , and lay it to the fire , and gather the water that cometh out o● both ends of the block , and the juice of jubarbe and white wine , the grease of eel , of all these alike much , and seethe them well together , and put it into his ears till he be whole , &c. the teeth , remedies for all their diseases . remedy for the toothach . paain of the teeth ( as galen saith ) among other pains that are not mortal , is the most ●ruel and grievous of them all . it may come divers wayes , of a cold or hot cause ; if it come of a hot cause , the gums are red and very hot , wherefore it is very good to hold in his mouth water of camphire , or to seethe a little camphire in vinegar , and hold in his mouth ; also take henbane roots , and seethe them in vinegar and rosewater , and hold in his mouth . if it come of cold causes , since in such cas●s oft times there distilleth abundance of water into the mouth , purge it with piulae cochiae , afterwards keep in your mouth warm wine wherein hath been sodden pellitory , mintes , and rew. another . take the middle barke of elder , salt and pepper , of each alike much , and stampe them together , and lay it to the sore teeth . item , gum of ivy with a little lint dipped ●n vinegar or aqua vitae , applyed is very good . for rotten and stinking teeth ▪ stampe a quantity of sage , with as mu●● salt , and make thereof pretty pasties , b●● them in an oven until ●hey wax black , a● with the pouder thereof wash well your tee●● both mornings and evenings . take the inner ri●de of elder , and the inn● rinde of the withwinde , and the inner rin●● of woodbinde , then shred it small , and pou●● it small , then pound into it pouder of pep●● and a little salt , and pound it again , then put i● into a linnen cloth and binde it fast a piece ● bigge as a damson , & hold it between the for● teeth , let the moisture run out , when it do●● stint running , then take another ball so made ▪ and hold it between your teeth doing the lik● and at the third or fourth ball it will help if ●● come of rheum , but if it come of blood , yo● must let them bleed . the decoction of colocynth with s●rong vinegar taketh away the pain of the teeth . to draw teeth , take the brains of an hare ▪ and seethe them in red wine , and therewith anoint the teeth , that you would have ou● , and they will fall out without pain . i●em , the gum of ivy tempered with wax , and put to a pained tooth , will draw it out without pain . to draw a tooth without pain , rub it and none other with powder of the gum of ivy. a water to keep the teeth from stinking . take long pepper ▪ mintes ▪ purslane , aristology ro●unda , salve green , seethe all together in wine , and use to wash thy teeth , and it will ●eep them both white and sweet . for the toothach . take a spoonful of aqua vitae , and a spoon●ul of triackle , half a spoonful of pepper in fine powder , boil all these together upon a chaffing-dish of coles , and then put it into a box , and put it into the tooth where the pain is . fill the hollow tooth with the gum of ivy , it will take away the tooth-ach . touch the tooth that aketh with the root of water crowfoot ' incontinent it taketh ●way the pain and breaketh the tooth . in ● vehement ach , put a little of the juice of ground ivy in thine ear , on that side as thy ach is , it will a little grieve thee , but incont●nent thy teeth shall cease aching . put the powder of red coral in the hole of thy tooth , and it will fall out by the root . put henbane seed upon coles , and receive the smoak thereof into thy teeth by holding t●y mouth over it . it killeth the worms and as●wageth the pain ; this hath be●n proved . that thy teeth never ake , take the powder that cometh of filing of an harts horn , and let it seethe in water in a new earthen pot , and so put it into thy mouth where thy grief is . a medicine that the too●hach shall never vex you mor● . take twenty leaves of ivy , a little long peppe● , and boil them with a handful of salt in old wine , and then put the liquor when it is well boiled into your mouth on that side that is vexed with the ach , and you shall prove that the ach shall be destroyed in sempiternum . a most expert and true medicine for the pain of the teeth and presently easeth the pain . take lupines dryed , let it be a little rubbed in your hands , after put it into strong vineg●r , and boiled a little , then strain it , and press it out , of which wash the mouth and gums , for it is wonderful . for a tooth that is loose . take gum of ivy , and red vinegard , and boil them together in a pewter sawcer , till they be molten together , wet therein a clou● , and put down the tooth therewith , &c. to help the too●hach of any sort . ivy berries sodden in white wine or in vinegar , this water being strained . to fasten teeth , and to purge the head . the roots of pellitory of spain chewed in the mouth , & fiet pro certo ▪ to make a tooth ●eave aking , or to fall out . stampe neppe , and put it into a cloth , and lay it on the tooth , and it wil● either leave ●king or fall out . the nose , the remedies for its diseases . remedies for stinking of the nose . take cloves , ginger , and calaminte of each a like , and seethe them in white 〈◊〉 , and therewith wash thy nose , after put ● powder of piretrum to provoke you to 〈◊〉 ▪ and if there be repletion of phlegm in ●e head , first ye must purge it with pills of ●ochiae , or of hie●a picra , also if the stinking ●ome f●om the stomack , fi●st help the stom●●k , as shall be said hereafter in the remedies ●f the stomack . the mouth , remedies for its diseases . to destroy a stinking breath . take three handfuls of cummi● beat them in a mortar to powder , then take a pottle 〈◊〉 wine , and put the powder into it , and let it ●ethe till it come to a quart , then drink first ●nd last of this wine by the space of fifteen ●ayes , as you may suffer it ▪ probatum est ▪ to make a sweet breath . take the juice of mintes ▪ or the wate● rue , cummin , coliander , liquorice , cin●●mon , alike four ounces , seethe all these 〈◊〉 wine , and give them to dr●nk that hath 〈◊〉 stinking breath , and surely it shall be s●eet . another for the same . take the powder of sage one ounce , 〈◊〉 mary blossoms three ounces , cloves and gil●● flowers five drams , cinnamon one dram and half , nutmegs one dram and a half , mus● little quantity , then take as much as is su●●●cient to make the said compositions into corporation like unto marmelade , and ea●● this fasting , and at night a little quantity a● time , so shall your breath be sweet , and you go into any suspicious place of the pe●●lence or any other corrupt air , if you take ● this next your heart , it shall defend you fro● the jeopardy thereof . for stench in the mouth . take pulial mountain , make powder thereof , and eat it fasting . another . take costmary , drink it every day fastin● wash thy teeth every night when thou go● to bed with vinegar . another . take the juice of gladin with old wine , and wash thy mouth every morning and evening . another . take mastick and incense , and seethe it in sweet wine and drink thereof early and late ▪ another for the stench in the nose . take the juice of mintes , and put it into ●hy nose . another . drink the juice of rue , and five leaved grass . another . take the juice of ivy , mingled with wine ●nd oyle olive ▪ probat . to take away stinking of the mouth . ye must wash his mouth with water and vi●egar , and chew mastick a good while , and then ●ash thy mouth with the decoction of anni●eeds , mintes and cloves sodden in wine . ye must wash your mouth before and after meat ●ith warm water , for to cleanse the mouth , ●nd to purge the humours from the gums ●hich descend out of the head , it is good ev●ry morning fasting to wash your mouth , and to ●ub the teeth with a sage leave , pills of ci●ron , or with powder made of cloves and nutmegs , forbear lettice , raw fruit , all tart meats , and the chewing of hard things . also ●ll meats of evil digestion and vomiting . the breast , remedies for distempers thereof . remedies for diseases of the breast . and first for h●arsness of the voice ye 〈◊〉 avoid all eag●r , salt , and s●arp things , an● sleeping by day , too much watching , grea● cold , much speaking , and too l●ud crying : 〈◊〉 sweet things are good as apples sodden wi●● sugar , great raisins , figgs , almond milk , whi●● pills , sugar candy , and the juice of liqueri●● for a hoarse voice . take the broth of red coleworte a●● mingle it with s●ven or eight penidies , and a● ounce of syrup of maiden-hair and give un●● the patient wh●n he goeth to bed . another . take diairis simple and eat a lozenge o● the same at morning and at night . for hoarsness of long continuance . take raisins , figgs , sugar , cinnamon , an● cloves of every one a little , seethe them i● good wine , of the which ye shall give to drin● morning and evening , two ounces at a ti●● ●xcept he have a fever ; it is good to take ●orning , and evening a fpoonful of the syrup of ju●ubes mixt with a root of liquerice in ●anner of a lohoch . a syrup for cough , rheums , catarres , and other like diseases . take althaea leaves seven handfuls , stamp them in a mortar , then take a pot that will hold seven pints , boil in it these ●hings follow●ng ▪ liquerice two ounces , sage , rosemary , cardu●s benedictus , figgs , raisins , barly flower , of each a handful succory leaves and roots , a handful ; let all these boil one hour and a half , then let it cool so that you may strain it , then take the water , and put in two or three pounds of french mallowes setting it to boil on the fire again three hours or more , then strain it as you did before , then take the decoction and set it on the fire with asmuch hony or little less , taking off the scum when it hath boiled a good space , ad● to it one ounce , or as much as you wil● of cinnamon ; then take it immediately from the fire putting it forth and covering it close . this secret is so excellent that if a man use it in winter , warming it when he taketh it , it is not possible for him to be vexed with c●ugh , rh●um , catarrhes , and like diseases . a medicine for the cough . take the yelk of an egg ▪ and put it into an emptie egg shell , and put to it five grains weight of the powder o● saffron ▪ and roste the same very rear , and to bedward sup it off warm , being well stirred together , it cureth the cough or giveth much ease . against the cough . take anniseeds licquerice of each an ounce● hysop one handful , sugar candy , four ounces , strong beer three pints , boil altogether till half be consu●ed , then strain forth the simples and give the patient every night , when he goeth to bed four ounces warm . for an old cough . take elicampane roots and boil them tender , then pound it in a wooden mortar , then rub it in through an hair sieve , then take clarif●●d hony , and lay a course in the bottom of a stean then a course of sliced wardens , then a course of the elicampane and so again as long as you please ; and then put the stean into a● oven and bake them two or three hours , then take it two or three times a day , a spoonful at a time ▪ another for a cough with a rheum . take brown sugar candy and put it pounded into a calves bladder , and lay it in spring water 24 hours , then cut the bladder and eat t with a liquerish stick as the cough doth trouble you . ●pre●erve wallnuts for a cough or consumption . ●ake a pound of walnuts before they be 〈◊〉 , and pa●e them very thin , then steep 〈◊〉 in water a night , then boil them in run●● or standing water , until they be so tender ●ou may put an hard rush through them ; 〈◊〉 stick in each end of every walnut a 〈◊〉 ; then lay them hot togeth●r in a ●●ney bason , then take a pound and a half ●ugar and strew upon them hot , and cover 〈◊〉 , and let them lie covered all night with●he warmth of the fire ; and the next day 〈◊〉 them up , and put them into a pot . a good syrup for an old cough , and it mundi●eth the breast and the lungs and for pain under ●he side coming of cold . ●ake liquerice scraped and bruised two ●ce● , maiden hair one ounce , of hysop dried 〈◊〉 an ounce , put all this into four pint● of ●●ing water , and let them stand in that wa●●● 〈◊〉 one day and one night , and then seethe 〈◊〉 till half the liquor be consumed , then 〈◊〉 the liquor from the herbs , and put in 〈◊〉 liquor pure english honey , white 〈◊〉 and penidies each of these eight ounces water five drams , boil all this with an easie 〈◊〉 till it come to the thickness of a syrup 〈◊〉 alwayes as the scum ariseth gather it off , 〈◊〉 keep it to your use . for wheesing in the chest. take a toste of bakers bread and pour 〈◊〉 let oil on it , upon either side as you wo●●● butter a toste , & strew heaten sugar on eit●●● side and use it first and last till you find ea●● for delivering from phlegm . take hyssop and parsely and stamp the● temper them with wine , or ale , and drink 〈◊〉 night and morning . another for wheesing of the chest. take spring water one quart , put to it 〈◊〉 ounce of white sugar candy , and two ounc● of liquerice pared and cut small in shive●● and half an ounce of pure cinnamon a litt●● bruised , let them steep in the water all nigh● drink of it first and last , until it be ●pent . p●●bat . remedies for the cough . take hyssop , great rai●ins , and figgs of ex●●● a handful , liquerice an ounce , boil them 〈◊〉 water till the third part be wasted , then gi●● it him to drink twice a day in the morni●● two hours before meat , and at night one ho●● before supper , & immediately after it is goo● to eat a lozenge of diairis , or diapenidion . another remedie . take sugar candy , white pills of diairis , and ●iagragant of every one , an ounce , liquerice ●wo drams , make a powder and let him eat a ●oonful thereof morning , and evening , and ●rink after it three ounces of water of hyssop ●r of scabious with sugar and without sugar . in stead of these waters ye may take the ●roth of red cole worts without salt . another remedy . take syrup of liquerice , and of hyssop , ●nd drink it evening and morning with a ●tisan , or of one of the same syrups with a ●●oonful of ptisan is good . another . take powder of diairis simple and lique●●ce , of each a dram weight , and with four ●unces of sugar make an electuary to be ●aten first , and last after meat . it is good to take lohoc sanum with a stick ●f liquerice at the coughing , and after ●eat . and there is another loch called ●och de pino as good at all times as the ●ther is . and it is good to anoint the brest ●orning and evening with oil of lilies , sweet ●lmonds , and may butter without salt . remedie against the cough coming of a hot cause . take syrup of violets , and of jubes and drink thereof morning and evening with a litle ptisan sodden . for the same . it is good to take first and last a lozenge of di●tragagant and afterward to drink draught of good ptisan . a good receit against the cough . take the root of elicampane , horehound , hollihock of each alike much , seethe the●● altogether in white wine , with a dozen of sat figgs and a little liqu●rice , drink of it a draught every day twice . for the cough and murre . take aqua vitae a sufficient quantitie , temper it with sugar candy . a medicine for hoarsness in the throat . take three or four figgs and cleave them in two every one , and then put into them ● prettie quantity of ginger finely beaten into powder , and then roste them upon a clean hearth or tile stone , and then let the partie eat them as hot as possible he can ; this har● holpen some that have been troubled with hoarsness four or five years together before . to heal the s●r●f●●a or disease called the king ev●l take barly ●lowre , liquid pitch , wax and o●● ●live in equal quantitie boil it altogether with childs urine and brought to a plaister and applyed . fiet . to cure the kings evil . mistris athinson , the wife of the man else●here mentioned , at the same time as her hus●and was cured of a broken vein , affirmed that ●her certain knowledge , the roots of hounds●●ngue cut in the shape of dice and put into a ●●nen bagg of about two inches square un●●l it be almost full , and hang it about the neck ●f the partie grieved to lie upon the pit of ●e stomack , and let it be renewed once in two 〈◊〉 three dayes , as the vertue decaies , it will ●reak the disease , if not broken ; if broken it ●●ll cure it , especially if it run brown water , white then with more difficultie . against shortness of winde . shortness of winde proceedeth oft-times of ●hlegm that is tough and clammish , hanging ●●on the lungs , or stopping the conduits of the ●●me , being in the hollowness of the brest , or 〈◊〉 catarrhous humors that drop down into the ●ungs , and thereby cometh straitness of draw●●g of breath , which is called of physicians ●yspnoea , or asthma . and when the patient can●●ot bend his neck down for fear of suffocation , ●s called orthopnoea , for every one of these di●●ases there be very wholsom medicines de●ared before . the receipt for asthma . take an ounce of great raisins picked from the kernels , two figgs , the meat of a date , dry hyssop , maiden-hair , liquerice and the lungs 〈◊〉 a fox washed in wine water , of scabio●s of every one a dram , penidies two ounces with syrup of liquerice ; let all be incorporated and make a loch to eat a good whil● after meat , with a stick of liquerice . to cure asthmatick persons . take lowes a●as in latine porcelliones and burn them to white powder upon a little stone and make them into an electuary with life honey is excellent against the disease called asthma . an oyntment for shortness of breath . take two ounces of oil of sweet almonds one of may butter unsalted , a little saffron and of new wax and make an oyntment , wherewith ye shall anoint the brest morning and evening . to break a sore brest . take a lily root , and a piece of leave● s●ethe it in milk until the lilly be very 〈◊〉 a●d plaister like , and so as warm as the par●● can suffer it lay it morning and evening . ●o keep the brest from breaking , if it be not too far gone . take clay that is without stones , and knead 〈◊〉 with sharp vinegar , the y●lks of two eggs a ●ittle english saffron , and work it into the clay ●nd so take asmuch as will cover the redne● of ●t , you must use it cold , some br●sts will have ●o colour and such are not lightly saved from ●reaking . to heal the breast . take as many mallowes as will into a charger , ●nd chop them , and seethe them in ru●●i●g ●ater till they be tender , pour the wa●er from ●hem and put them into a pottle of good ale-dr●ggs , and a peny loaf of leaven br●●d ●g●ated with a quart of white wine , let th●se ●eethe together till you think it be thick ●nough , then put thereto half a quarter of a ●ound of deares suet , and lay it to the sore as ●ot as the party can suffer it , morning and ●vening , and after that the heat be such as it ●ryeth , this will help any sore in the breast or ●ny other places . you must wash the place be●ng broken with white wine at every dressing . to heal any kinde of ach or sore brest . pare off a cap of the root of white bryonie ●nd make a hole in the root as hollow as you ●an , and cover the root close with the cap you ●ut off , or with a piece of a tile-stone and cover ●ll again with earth , letting it still grow , and three dayes after open the said root , and the hole will be full of water , then take that water and put it in a glass and anoint the place where the grief is , and use it . a plaister for a sore brest . take wheat meal , and pure life honey and cla●ified bores grease , of each like portions boil them a little and make a plaister and lay thereto . probat . a medicine to skin a womans sore bre●t which is ●aw . take a pint of sweet thick cream , and put it into a pan with three spoonfuls of the juice of brown fennel , boil it to an oil , and therewith anoint the sore brests morning and evening till it be whole , probat . to help the hardness in women brests . wheat flower , honey oil olive and the juice abundantly of yellow gilly flower , together with the juice of rue . sanat . for the aking of a womans brest . take cinquefoil or five leaved grass , and stamp them with swines grease , and make thereof a plaister , and lay it to well brayed together and it will take away the aking . another for the same . take and boil rue and put there to flower ●f wheat and make thereof a plaister and lay hereto . ●●r womens brests , or swelling that cometh by cold in child birth . take and lay chickweed upon a tyle●one , and rose leaves upon , chick●eed upon the rose leaves again , so that h●re be of them two or three leaves , then ●●rinkle it with vineger , and boil all these ●pon the tyle-stone ; and when it s well boil●d , take another tyle and lay upon tha● , and ●ut it asunder and lay to the swelling and it ●ill take away the pain . ●n approved medicine for them that ha●e cold in their brests . take oil of camomil and aqua composi●● , ●ingle them together against the fire ; chafe ●●e breast well withall that it may enter into ●●e stomack and veines : this hath holpe●●any . ●pproved medicine for a sore brest that is broken . take mal●owes and boil them with sheeps ●llow till they be very tender , then strain it ●●d keep it in boxes and , if the brest have ●eed to be tented , take a piece of the stalk of ●●e mallowes that are ●●dden , and tent it with●●l , this is proved . for bolning of a womans brest . take apples of the oak and stamp them with oil and lay it to the bolning . for a very sore brest . take hartshorn or a buls horn for need , and grate it into a pint of good white wine , and give the woman to drink thereof , and le● her sleep upon the same medicine and it shall cease . for coagulation of milk in a womans brest . take eg●miony , vervine , fennel , and bray it altogether and lay it thereon , and be whole , &c. a soveraign medicine for a sore brest . take a pottle of smiths water , the elder it is the better , if it smell a little , so much the better , also you must take a quarter of a pound of old alume , and white salt asmuch as ye can hold on the two fingers from the second joynt forth , two handfuls of sage , two heads of housleek put all these into the water and seethe it till it come to a quart , then let it stand with the herbs in it , and wash the sor● breast well with the herbs , and the wate● twice a day , and at every time ye wash it lay upon the sore , or sores , green sage leaves till it be whole , this hath been proved and h●aled a breast so sore as it was thought uncurable . ye must warm the water and herb● every ●ime ye dress the brest . a medicine for the woman● brests if the sore 〈◊〉 of mil● . take mallows as ye get to be holden in a ●harger , and cut them small , and seethe them ●n a gallon of running water , and when they ●esodden soft , put thereto a potile of the ●ro●nds ●f ale , and a quart of white wine , ●nd two penny white loaves , cutting off the ●rusts leavened , make it thick , and put into it ●eers sue● , or sheeps sue● , and lay it upon a ●lew cloth or linen cloth , and lay it warm to ●he sore brest every day as long as its sore , ●nd it shall be healed by the grace of god. a plaister for a postume on womens teats . take linseed , and seethe it well and long 〈◊〉 fair running water , then take fresh shee●s ●allow , and fry the linseed therein , and e●●n as hot as ye may suffer it , lay it thereon . remedies for the pthisick . pthisis is an ulceration of the lungs , by ●hich all the body falleth into consumption , 〈◊〉 such cas● , that it wasteth all save the sl●in , y●●ay know him that hath a pthisick , for ●rom 〈◊〉 to day he waxeh ever leaner and dryer , ●nd his hair falleth , and hath ever coug● , and ●itteth sometimes matter and bloody strings ●ithall . and if that which he spitteth be ●ut into a bason of water , it falleth into the bottom , for it is so heavy . a remedy . take two o●nces of pimpernel in powder , and thereof make an electuary with sugar , and use it every morning two drams with pimpernel water three ounces . water of snails distilled , is proved good to them that be pthsicke , every morning in drink , and for all them that are dry and lean . another . first take a quantity of running water , and boil it half away . the ingredients that you are to put into the composition , are two ounces of anniseeds , one ounce of coliander seeds , one ounce of liquerice sliced , one ounce of sugar candy , one handful of coltsfoot , half a pound of raisins of the sun , one quarter of a pound of ●iggs , and one handful of liverwort , a handful of maidenhair , a quantity of hartstongue , and two penniworth of dates . the composition made and put into the water , boiled hal● a way , take it and strain it , and scum it , sweeten it and drink it . for the cough and consumpt●on of the lungs . take fox lungs fresh killed , pull them from the windepipes and the straines which hange by the same ; then wash the lungs in sack or white wine l●●ewarm three or four times until they be clean from the blood , th●n dry them in a pot in an oven after the ba●c● drawn forth , so well dried , beat them to powder . take anniseeds , fennel seeds , maiden hair● of each like quantity of weight to your fox lungs , beat all these together to fine powder , and see the s●me well mingled ; take also a like weight of liquorice , as the fox lungs or som● deal more , and lay it in water fourteen hour● , first clean scraped and a little bruised , then seethe your liquorice in the same water until half be consumed , and so strain the liquor from the liquorice , and with the liquor seeth as much fine sugar beaten s●all as he weight of the receit amounteth unto , till it thick like a syrup , then put to this syrup as it cooleth , all your powder , well stir●ing and incorporating the same altogether , and so keep it for your use . p●ohatum est . take the lungs of a fox dryed , the juice of liquerice , maidenhair , fennel-seed , of ●ach ● like four ounces , make it in sugar sodden in water as much as will suffice , some make it with the juice of myrts , and then it is comfortable for the stomack , this is a present remedy for a consumption . for the phlegm and cough . take an handful of coltfoot , of liquerice shaved and bruised two ounces , an handful of maidenhair , of anniseed three ounces l●t it be boiled in three pound of fou●tain ●r spring water till half be consumed , strain it and then put into it three ounces of white sugar . give thereof five spoonfuls for the space of eight dayes warmed . for a consumption . take syrup of limons half dram . syrup of coltsfoot syrup of hyssop , alike one ounce . syrup of liquerice one ounce . floris sulphuris half a scruple . spirit of the seed of fennel , four drops , and mix it all together . for the consumption . take a handful of rosemary tops , a handful of red sage , a handful of horehound , a handful of plantaine leaves , a handful of hyssope , a handful of winter savory , a pint of english hony , a pint of runing water , half a pound of blew figs , half a pound of raisins of the sun , a stick of liquerice , boil all these in a new pipkin , with a cover to it , cut them small , and put them into the pipkin , and let it boil softly un●il it be half consumed , then take and strain it through a cloth very well , then give the party four spoonfuls morning and evening . another excellent for the same . take a quarter of pure red rosewater , put it in a pewter platter or bason , set it over a chasfing dish of coales , take clean anniseeds , and bruise them a little in a mortar , put thereof into your rosewater a good handful , and put also of sliced liquerice , bruised and tore in 〈◊〉 three or four stick , and as much of par 〈◊〉 roots , the pith taken out , bruised , and sliced 〈◊〉 put therein , then last put in a good spoon●●● of the tender crops of hys●ope , so let them 〈◊〉 from a quart to a pint , still bruising them 〈◊〉 a spoon as they boil , and when it is ●●fficient boiled , strain it into a glass , and take ●●ereof warm in the evening a pretty draught , 〈◊〉 two hours after , and before meat fast two 〈◊〉 , use this , it hath done wonders . &c. ●he sides , remedies for their distempers . ●eu●isie , a thing most certain to remedy the greatest pleurisie possible . take the delicatest apple , that may be had , make an hole therein , pull out the 〈◊〉 , if it may be , not breaking the apple , 〈◊〉 which hole put in olibanū of the best the ●●antity of three or four grains , and cover the 〈◊〉 of the apple , then put the apple into 〈◊〉 embers , there to soken till it be tender but it must not burn , ) then break the apple , 〈◊〉 the olibanum into four or five pieces , and give it , the patient to eat , and forthwith 〈◊〉 impostume of the pleurisie breaketh , and 〈◊〉 patient recovereth pro certo oyl of scor●ons anoynted often to the griefs vatet ●wrod● . see that you apply withal thin cakes made with the said oyl , and the fleying 〈◊〉 dryest hot , one after another , one at once and anointing the grief , before any cake 〈◊〉 laid on with the said oyl hot , and thus the 〈◊〉 cakes oyl and hot ashes breaketh the impostume of the pleurisie . for to cure an i●postume , which groweth in the 〈◊〉 side of the ribes of the side , when no other me●ic●●● will cure the same . take pipins , and bruse them , and stray● the juice thereof , to the quantity of a prett● draught , and put thereto a dram of the juice 〈◊〉 the herb called bearfoot , and give it to th● grieved to drink , and it shall presently hel● him . another good medicine . take aqua vitae and capons grease , of eac● of them a prety quantity and boil them together : then take a little black wool , and 〈◊〉 it therein and lay it hot as may be suffered to the stomack of the party grieved and it will ease him very spedily . to destroy an impostume and an● swelling . take the roots of hollihock , sod till they be very soft and the water halfe consumed and more , then put into the same water the flower of linseed , fenugreck , a like much , seethe it until the water doe rope , then put the said ●ollihock roots to it being well pounded , and add a handfull of barly meal , and fry them all ●ith boars grease , and if you will , you may ●dd sheepes suet , apply it hot , probatum est . a cat●plasme . take the flowers of camomil , melilote of ●ach one handful , of the leaves of rue , mar●row , nepthe , of each one pugil , of the seeds 〈◊〉 annise two drams , of the laurel berries ●hree ounces , boil it moderately , pound it , 〈◊〉 asmuch ho●y as is sufficient and apply it . another . stamp , mallowes roots well sodden , then 〈◊〉 butter , hony , and pigeons dung very well ●ixt , et fiet . for the stitch . anoint the place with oil of melilot , and ap●ly melilot plaister to the place , upon a piece of leather , and change it once a week . an experienced good medicine for a pleurisie . take brooklime , sheeps suet and a little fair ●unning water , and fry them together in a fry●ng pan , and make a plaister thereof and lay it ●he side of the patient ▪ and it will draw forth ●ll the corruption ; this hath been proved . the heart , remedies for its distempers . remedies for weakness and feebleness of the heart . give him that hath a feeble heart and ready to saint , either for fever or extream hea● the w●ight of a french crown of trochisk of camhire , with wine of pomegranates and lay upon his left side limon dipped in water of roses and vineger ; in stead of these tr●hisks , ye may use a electuary called diamargariton frigidum , every morning a lozenge . and it is good to give him for the same feeblenes conserve of roses , violets , water lilies mingled together , and after to drink water of sorrel , and to smell roses , water lilies , rose-water and vineger . other whiles and most often debility of heart chanceth of a cold and drie cause , and is without fever with great fear and heaviness , the remedy whereof is this . take an electuary called diamoschum and use every morning a lozeng ▪ and drink after it a lit●le good wine or bugloss water , and anoint the brest with oil of spikenard , moreover use once in a week before meat the weight of half a crown of good triackle , or mithridate so it be well tempered with a little white wine and with a few maces . for beating or trembling of the heart . if it be without offence ; take two drams 〈◊〉 the third part of elect. de gemmis , then 〈◊〉 two or three ounces of bugloss and ●awme mixed together ▪ for the same . it is good to drink every morning three ●●nces of water of bugloss , wherein hath ●een sodden cloves . and it is good to drink in a morning four ●unces of julep made of half a pound of ●awm water and three ounces of sugar . for the same . it it good to drink every morning 3. ounces 〈◊〉 water of bugloss wherein hath been sodden ●oves ; and it is good to drink in a morning 〈◊〉 ounces of ju●ep made of half a pound of ●arm water , and three ounces of sugar . the ●onfection of diajacinthy is singular and ex●●llent for trembling of the heart , but it is for ●oble men , not for poor folk . ●or ach at the heart which are commonly a knot of worms . take unset leeks one handful chopped small ●●d frie it with butter and bay salt , and lay it 〈◊〉 the stomack upon a napkin . take a pinte of white wine , english liquerice 〈◊〉 sugar , boil it together in a pot close stoped take it fasting● to help a mad body . take the flowers of rose-mary , of burrag● and of the roots of buglosse of each a pound sa●●ron two drams , of quinces four ounces , 〈◊〉 the best white wine a quart , mix them together , let them stand a day , put them over th● head fifteen days in an horsmixon the mou●● of the glass not covered quite , then distil it then take of it first and last a dram at a tim● it is a precious secret , it helpeth the tre●bling of the heart . for them that swound or are faint-hearted . take rosemary , sage , betony , and marjerom of each an handful , seethe them in a gallo● of fair water till a quart be consumed , the● take away the herbs , and put to the said wate● a pinte of good hony , then scum it well , the● put in an ounce of staechades tied in a fair linnen cloth , let it seethe a little , then tak● out the staechades , and add an ounce of cinnamon , three quarters of an ounce of nutmeggs , and asmuch in ginger in powder , drink it warm thrice every day six or seven dayes , ●●fiet : a potion for sainting . take of the confection of alchermes two drams , of garden blew violet water and excellent red rose water of each two ounces , and syrup of violets two ounces and an half , and syrup of lymons one ounce ▪ mingle them well together and take hereof four or five spoonfuls at a time when you see eause or when you please . the stomack , remedies for all pains of the stomack . for weakness of the stomack . take pilulae stomachiae two or three hours before meat , more or lesse according to 〈◊〉 quantitie of the fulness of the stomack , 〈◊〉 after give him every morning , two hours 〈◊〉 ore meat , and one hour after supper , at every me a lozenge of an electuary called diaga 〈◊〉 ga , or another called diacinimum which 〈◊〉 consume ventosities and with their com●●●table heat , drive away the cold and windy ●●mplexion of the stomack . for windiness of the stomack . take in a morning two hours before meat a ●●zenge of aromaticum rosat . and if ye have 〈◊〉 aching stomack , and cold , take every morn 〈◊〉 a lozenge of dianis● , or diacinimum , and drink after it a spoonful of wine . a present remedy for pain and ach in the stomack . maiden-hair , bruised , plaistered and laid to 〈◊〉 stomack sanat . to help the pains of the stomack a rare secret . take every night last three drams of 〈◊〉 . for a windie and cold stomack . take aromaticum garyophillat . one ounce . electuar de aromatibus , one ounce● et diattrion piperion , one ounce . mix it together and take it first and last ● the quantity of three nut k●rnels . for pain of the stomack . take two drams of diacinna●on of dianist , 〈◊〉 diagalanga , and drink it with a little goo● wine an hour or two before meat , drink a little castor with good wine . another . drink two hours before meat three or 〈◊〉 ounces of the decoction of mintes , anni●● seeds , cummin and fine frankincense . also drink an electuary ca●led arcu●aticum whereof receive one lozenge every m●rnin● fasting . to comfort the stomack after vomiting . it is good to give unto the patient ever● morning an ounce of syrup of wormwood , 〈◊〉 mintes ; instead of which it is convenient 〈◊〉 take a lozenge as azromaticum rosatum , or di●galanga . for the same . take evening and morning three hours before meat two cloves in powder with a spoon●●l of the juice of mintes , or half a spoonful 〈◊〉 rue dried with a little wine also it is good to take powder of cloves , 〈◊〉 d lignum aloes to the weight of a crown with 〈◊〉 ine , two hours before meat . ●n excellent purgation to avoid choler for men of all ages . take half an ounce of cassia newly drawn ▪ dram of good rubarb infused a night in wa 〈◊〉 of endive with a little spikenard an● an ●unce of syrup of violets , mix all these things ●ith three ounces of ptisan , or whay and ●●rink it warm . a medicine for winde in the stomack . take a spoonful of hony , and two spoon●●ls of rosewater , and set them upon a chaffing 〈◊〉 sh of coales , and as the scum ariseth take it ●ith a feather till be clear . then take it off ●●e fire , then take a groa●s weight of long ●epper , asmuch of white , asmuch of black ●●d asmuch of cummin seed , asmuch of ginger ●●d beat all together in a mortar not very 〈◊〉 all and put them into a box ; then put in 〈◊〉 ony and rosewater unto them , and mix them ●ogether with a knife , and eat them after din●er , asmuch as a pease , and you may keep it as ●●ng as you will , and ever as it dryeth , put ●hereto more hony clarified with rose water . to clear the stomack ▪ take stale ale and boil it , and put it two branches of hyssop to boil with it , and drin● first and last . a notable sauce to procure an appetite in them whic● be brought low to get them a stomack . take vine leaves and stamp them , a●● strain them and put in sugar to the juice , a●● cinnamon powder with sippets of manche● boil them as sorrel sops , eat them with chicken or what you will. it is excellent 〈◊〉 a fever or other sicknesses . to make pulvis ducis out of master cogans caj 〈◊〉 of the we●kness of the stomack . pag. 194. pulvis ducis as he saith is usually ●●de of on ounce of sugar , and one ounce of cinnamo● finely powdred both , and then mixed togegether ; and this pulvis ducis being mingled the quantitie of one dram with half a pint o● aqua vitae , well tempered together , and thr●● pints of rosewater , and so let run twice o● thrice through an hyppocrates bagg , an● thereof take oft-times in the week one spoonful in the morning fasting especially in winte● time is excellent good for a bad stomack of cold cause . a drink for a bad stomack . brew beer or ale , and when you tunne i● before it work take a pound of wormwood and asmuch of the roots of red docks , the pi 〈◊〉 taken out and washed , and put them in a bag● with a stone to make it sink , and hang the drink and drink it in the morning fast 〈◊〉 g and at four of the clock in the after●●on . probatum . another for the stomack ▪ ●●ke cakes like apple cakes , or pasties in 〈◊〉 or may , and fill them full of wormwood , 〈◊〉 bake them hard ; the paste must be of ●eat meal undrest , and brew a stand of strong 〈◊〉 beer , and when it 's turned and given 〈◊〉 e ●urging , ●ak●●he ●akes when they be 〈◊〉 d , and cut them into quarters , and put ●●em into the barrel , and stop it up close , and ●hen it 's settled and clear , drink a bowl full draught in the morning fasting , and so use 〈◊〉 heat in the stomack which maketh the throa● sore . ●●ke an handful of columbine leaves , and a ●●ndfull of cuarrnts , boyl them in a pin●e of ●●w milk , then take out the currants and the ●eaves , and shred them together , and eat ●●e currants and the leaves , and then sup the ●ilk as hot as you can . the liver , remedies for its dis●empers . against stopping of the liver , called opila●i● drink every morning the syrup of oxy●● sqyllitick , wi●● half a d●augh● o● mo 〈◊〉 of the decoction of the roots of small● fennel and parsely . another for stopping of the liver . take venice turpentine to the quantity a bean , and put it into a spoon until it doe m 〈◊〉 and then put there to a li●●le white sugar , 〈◊〉 let them eat of it every day fasting . take a good ha●dful of iver wort t●● groweth upon stones , and another of fumito●● with as much hearts tongue , and drink the every day twice . the liver of an hare dryed good for all diseases of the liver , also for t●● heat of the liver seethe barberries in whe●● and drink them . remedy . if it come of gross blood , give the patie● medicins that do pierce and are su●til , as is wi●● of pome-granates , srup of endive , with t●● decoction of cicers ; then let him blood 〈◊〉 the liver vein , and everymorning eat a l●●zeng of triasan●ali . sometime the said opilation cometh of ●●bundance of som● humour viscou● , co●d and 〈◊〉 egmatick stopping the veins of the ●iver , ●●d then the urine as clear as water , and then ●●e patient must use the syrup above written ● viz. ) oxymel scylliticum . a iulep for heat of the liver . take half a pound of rose water , one quar●●r of wa●er of endive , and five ounces of ●●gar , make a julep , of which you shall drink ●●sting a good draught , and if he will needs ●rink between meals , let it be mingled with ●●o parts of the wa●er of the w●ll , and if ye ●●ill have it more cooling a●d unto it two ●unces of vin●ger , or the juice of pomegra●ate . in stead of the said medicine , too cost●● for poor folk , you may make b●les of half ●n ounce of cassia , and three drams of the ●lectuary de succo rosarum and eat it three ●ours after midnight , and steep it , and so drink ●● , mix the said boles with whay , or e●dive ●ater and drink it at five in the morning , but ●eep not after it . a drink to cool the liver . take an ounce of sena alexandrina , a far●hing worth of anniseeds , and a sarthing worth ●f liquerice , and a dram of rubarbe de spain , ●nd make a powder of the s●me , with half an ●unce of polypodie of the oak , when the ●owder is fine , boil it in three pints of white ●ine , before you do put it in , make ready ●hree roots , that 's a fennel root , a parsly root , a mallow root washed fair and clean , bruise these three roots and boil them in white wine , from three pintes to a pinte upon a still fire , and be s●re to stir it about , and let not the flame nor smoak come to it . this purgeth the liver , and spleen , then strain it through a clean cloth and drink in the morning fasting , in the second day of m or the first day of sagittari●s , and when ye drink it , take a brown toste and wet it in vineger and sm●ll to it , & fiet . a good r●c●ipt for the d●opsie . take the salt of wormwood three daies i● a moneth , a spoonful at a time , and you shall feel the dropsie water fall into your leggs , every time you may take it away by setting your leggs up to the knees in hot water . to purge dropsie water abu●dantly , for the shedding o● nature called gonorrhaaea , verbatim , out of master cogan , pag. 5. in flower deluce . take a new laid egg , pouring out the white , put into the yelk so much of the root of flower deluce , as was of the white after , set the same egg into the embers , which being sufficiently warmed sup off fasting in the morning ; and the patient shall after send forth a●u●dance of water , and so be eased of the dropsie . or else you may take a dram or two o● the dry root made into powder and drunk in w●ay clarified , ●or its good also to p●r●e the dropsie water ; and if you put a little cinna●on to the juice of flowe●-deluce in the ●●g yelk its a very good medicine for the ●●dding of nature as hath been often proved . for the dropsie or tympany . take the flower of dane wort and of the ●●●ves , and distill them in a stillatory , and ●●●nk four or five spoonful at a time with the 〈◊〉 er of herb grace ; in six or seven spoonfuls 〈◊〉 white wine , one spoonful of the water of ●●●b grace will serve ; this is the excellentest ●●dicine one can give , for this will void the 〈◊〉 er out of the belly by usage . prob●t . by 〈◊〉 er for which propertie of daneworte gerards herball . the gall. against diseases of the gall. he gall is placed in the hollowness of the liver to receive the superfluity of cho 〈◊〉 and to send it to the bowels to be avoid 〈◊〉 ●ith the grosse excrements to the intent to 〈◊〉 se the blood of the said choler ; to the 〈◊〉 ch cometh opilations in the parties about 〈◊〉 he liver , or beneath it , in it self n●xt the 〈◊〉 els , causing great pain , by reason whereof 〈◊〉 choler turneth again into the liver , and 〈◊〉 e is mingled with the blood , and spread 〈◊〉 ad into the veines of all the body , and 〈◊〉 deth a disease named iaundise , ictiritia . if the jaundise happen in an ague befo 〈◊〉 the seventh day . it is great danger of his li●e but if it app●ar on the sixth day , being a da● judicial or critick of the ●gu . , o● after , it is very good sign . and th●n ye must succo● nature with refreshing and di●●sting the ch●●ler with syrup of violets given in the mor●●ing , syrup of endive with wat●r of cicho 〈◊〉 aft●r this purge choler , and then give hi● a lozenge of triasand●l with ru●arbe ev●●● morning , two hours before meat , and d 〈◊〉 a little water of endive , and cichory afore 〈◊〉 said lozenge . moreover it is good to hath the liver , 〈◊〉 wash the patients eyes with vineger , and 〈◊〉 mans milk , an● drink a ptisan made of b 〈◊〉 i querice , prunes and roots of fennel . 〈◊〉 if when the fever is past the jau●dize ta 〈◊〉 still , the patient must drink water of 〈◊〉 r●ll and fennel , with the syrup of oxysa●●h 〈◊〉 composit . jaundise sometimes cometh witho●● a fever , and may be healed thus , drink ev 〈◊〉 morning four ounces of the decoction of ho 〈◊〉 hound made in white wine ; ye may let 〈◊〉 drink seven , or eight dayes together in 〈◊〉 morning a good dra●ght of the decoction politrichon or maid●nhair . the decoction of woodbin●e , or the water of it distilled a common still is a soveraign medicine ●●r said disease . another singu●ar remedie . take cowes milk , and white wine of 〈◊〉 a pinte , and distill them in a still , keep 〈◊〉 water a moneth , and then give it the 〈◊〉 ●hree ounces in the morning two hours before ●●at , and likewise after supper when he go●th to bed . a ●●medy for the iaundise and strangury and dyssury and straitness of breath , and to break the stone in the bladder . a●ian●hes otherwise called gallitricum in eng●ish maidenhair , or maidenweed ( the leav●s ●re i●e coliander ) sodden in pure water , or in ●ine , and therewith make a syrup with sugar ●nd when ye seethe it , put in the root ●f fennel , march the branches and leaves of 〈◊〉 ●me or borwo●t and give it with wi●e , ●nd thou shalt see the marvellous cures in ●hese dis●as●s . a perfect help of the black iaundise . the powder of shell snayles eaten , and ●runken killeth the black jaundise pro certo . for the yellow iaundise . take one handful of chickweed , and stamp 〈◊〉 and strain it into a draught of ale and use 〈◊〉 three dayes fasting , and last . probat . the spleen . for dis e●ses of the spleen . in oppilations caused of a hot humour● must give the pati●●t four or five m●rnin● fasting syrup of endive water , and heart● tongue , then a purgation made thus . a ●urgation to avoid melancho●y . take an ounce of succo rosarum , and thr●● ounces of the decoction of the roots of c●●●parus and har●stongue and ●ake a d●ink , t●● which ye may minister in a good day to tak● purgations for melancholy . drink sy●up of staechados or heartstongue● or oxym●l diureticum w●th water of the d●coction of h●●●stongue , e●ithyme , s●allag● roots , parcely root● , tamariscus and mintes ●r else on●ly with the decoction of hear●s tong●e , and roots , of capers ▪ and the● after purge from such melancholy hum●● with an ounce of diaca●holicon , and tw● drams of dia●ena ▪ dissolved in three ounce of the said decoction or water of wormwood or heartstongue ; and aft●r this ye must anoin● the side of the spleen with oil of ●lies , o● of dill , or anoint the said side with dialthe● . an expe●t medicine for all diseases of the spleen . take the leaves and cods ●f sena , the bark● of an ash tree , scraped and cut , maidenhair hartstongue and liquerice , seethe them all i● clear whay , and after they be strained drink of it twice or thrice till he be amended . for the spleen that is great and aking . take the barke of the clefts of ●he ash , a●d cleanse them ▪ and bruise them well in a mor●a● and seethe them well in white wine from a pottle to a quart , and of that liquo● milk warm ; d●ink at morning and at evening the quant●ty of seven spoonfuls and thou shalt be whole . for diseases o● the spleen . ye must give syrups and purgations , a● is ●for●said , and to be let blood of the vein sal●ar●lla , and after dive●s times to apply ven●oses upon the spleen without sca●●●y●ng ▪ a●●●rward ye must lay ●n it a lift w●t in good ●ineger ▪ an keep it there so long as he●t re●aineth in the said lift , and warm it three or ●our times , afterward anoint the sple●n with dial●hea and so continue four or five dayes , and other four or five dayes lay upon the plaister made of two ●unces of gum armo●iack diss●lved in vineger and sp●ead upon leather ; and if by the aforesaid t●ings the patient be not eased , the doctors of physick ●a● that he must receive the medicines again ●t the least once every moneth for half a y●ar ●ogether . an approved medicine for the spleen . eat capers and drink after them the water ●n a smiths cole trough , sanat pro certo . an approved medicine to take away an ag●● though a quartain . take of bay-salt a spoonfull , of the blackest sope asmuch ; pepper finely beaten , n●ng●e those in the yelk of an new laid egg , adding thereto of aqua vitae with some raisins of the sun stoned , with a spoonfull of red sage chopped small , apply it plasterwise to the wrests before the fit . for the spleen . doctor butler of cambridge did use to prescribe ten raisins o● the fun , torrified o● parched upon a clean tyle stone by the fire , until they did swell and then to be eaten fasting . a diet drink for the liver and spleen . take a handfull of red dock roots , and make them clean , and a handfull of tamarisk , boil them together in a quart of clear posset ale , and drink it morning fasting , and after walk or use some other exercise for one hour or more . doctor simons medicine proved both for the ag●● and quartane . take southernwood and minse it small , and put sallet oil into a sawcer and put the herb to it and let it be an hour or two in it , then let them simper a little upon the fire , then take it and anoint the wrests and soles of the feet and the nape of the neck and down between the should●rs , and this must be done before the ●it comes , in three times doing they shall be ●hole . for the fever . take a pinte of stale ale o● malmesey and ●oil in it powder of sage and powder of ●inger , and drink it a little before the shak●ng . for the quartan proved by doctor simons . ●a●e a red d●ck root and slice it and lay it i●●almesy four and twenty houres and drink it ●very day fasting . for the ague . take a posset made of milk and clarified ●ith a good deal of camomil that the stren●th ●ay be in the posset ale , and then let the sick ●ri●k of it . an approved medicine for the ague . ●ake three spoonfuls of aqua composita , and six ●●oonfuls of malmesey and put ther● to a quan●●t● of long pepper beaten and asmuch g●aines , 〈◊〉 it as you would d●es a cup of ale with ●●nger a●d nu●meg , and when the co●● is upon ▪ ●●e sick , give him a good draught to drink ▪ . for a fever quartan . take a handfull of maydenhair , and choice mirrhe one ounce , drink with water , and in the same water mix a little triacle , and give to the patient with a fasting stomack , and so continue , and he shall be certainly cured . for the ague . take a handfull of rue , a ●ed onion : be●● them small together with the glare of an egge , and lay it to the wrist . an approved medicine to take away an agu● ▪ take of bay-salt a spoonful , of the blackest sope asmuch , pepper finely beaten , mingle these in the yelk of a new laid egge , adding thereto of aqua vitae with some raisin● of the sun stoned , with a spoonfull of red 〈◊〉 chopped small ; apply it plasterwise two houres before the fit . for a burning fever , a medicine approved ●●ue . take six spoonfulls of fair running water and put it into a fair glass or other vessel , an● put thereto one spoonful of bay salt 〈◊〉 picked from filth , and let the salt melt 〈◊〉 the said water , then put to it a pretty quantity of saffron finely beaten , and let the patient drink thereof in the beginning of his hear● and it will lay the heat , and in short spac● drive away the fever , and the sooner if th● siek be made soluble or loose bellyed ; and thi● approved to be true . another for a burning fever . take a handful of c●llendine , a handful of bay salt , an hard ●gge , and a raw egge , a r●sted onion , and a raw oni●n stamped altogether , and make two plasters , and binde them to the soles of your feet , and with two plasters you shall have remedy . a medicine to precure sleep in a fever . take of the seeds of white p●ppie two spoonfuls , of the white seeds of l●ttice being t●e best one spoonful , make them into powder and drink it going to bed in a draught of clarified m●ce ale warm , and it will cause quiet sleep ; the ordinary use is two small spoonfuls to bedward . probat . for the fever in angine , and for bloody matter . seeth parsly in white milk , and p●t the ●ot milk to cold butter , and it will be a posset , you must use that posset ale first and last a week together , it cu●eth also such as ●ake bloody water . to make a breath to cool one in a fever . ta●e fair water , and put th●reto french barly , boyl until the wat●r be red , th●n pour the red water from it , and put into barly the hot water , some liquorice , some cooling herb , as violet leaves , and strawbe●ry leaves , and put in some lettice seeds , and let it boil until the barly be very so●t , then strayn the barly from it , and let it cool , and when it 's cold , put in some vinegar and sugar , and so drink it : you must put in your vinegar and sugar as you drink it . for an ague of long continuance . take of se●a two ounces , of polypody o● the oak half an ounce , bay-berries half an ou●ce , of fenel seeds half an ounce , of aniseeds half an ounce , of liquerice half an ounce , one red dock root the pith taken ou● , of scurvy grass one handful , and a half , bruise all this together in a mortar , then put them in a linnen bag and hang them in a gallon of n●w ale three dayes , then drink thereof near a pint at eight in the morning fasting , and at four in the afternoon till all be out . a remedy to cure the new ague and to cleanse the stomack by vomit . take a dram of pure toba●co and open the the lea● , if it be in roul , and st●ep the leaves of the said dram all night in half a pinte o● white wine , then strayn it and drink it next your heart , and ●ast two hours after , and you shal have you● stomack well purged and cleansed of phlegm and choler . this will our eng●●sh garden tobacco do . probatum also either steeped green but especially the dry leaves of it , as with esseth mr. parkinsons herbal . for an ague if it be given before the first fit . take dandelion , stamp and strayn it , and ou● triacle or mithridate to the juice , and drink it on your good dayes two or three dayes as your good dayes do fall out , and it will h●lp , for it hath been proved many ●imes . an excellent plaster to put away the ague fit , either quotidian or tertian . take a good spoonful of bay salt ▪ asmuch ●rankincense bruised both so small as you can and put to them the bigne●s of an ●gge of the root of white briony , and half an handful of smalledge , let the briony and smalledge be both pounded together , and put with them your bay salt and frankincense , and lay it to both your wrest● of your arms a hand breadth , so cold as may be two hours before the course of your fit ▪ being spread a good thickne●● on two fai● clothes . let it be unremoved twentie four hours , then renew it ; this helped a dozen at one time in my lord harringtous house . a plaster to put away the new ague . take the middle bark of a walnut tree well steep●d in rose vin●gar , th●n stamp it with a spo●nful of bay salt , and one spoonful of olibanum , and lay it on a cloth , spread well and thick to the left hand wrest le●in● it ly there four and twenty hours . probatum . what to give one in the fever or ague ▪ give them one dram of theriaca andromac●● mix it with one ounce of conserves of red roses , and with dragon water , or water of cardu●● benedictus two ounces , with one ounce of syrup of limons , and take of this mixture one spoonful in your extremity at a time . le● blod , if need require , the sixth day of you● sickness , in the hepatica vein six or seve● ounces . for a tertian ague , a soveraign drink proved . take vervine , and mouseare , and camomil one handful , boyl them in a quart of ale to a pint , and strayn it into a pot , and when your cold fit is upon your , drink a good draught of it , and in two drinkings it will help . prebatum . for an ague . juice of wormwood and sugar , doth help the ague in short time . a special medicine for the ague . drink at the coming of the cold fit the distilled wat●r of germander and it helpeth surely . to cure a fever . take spring water , and boyl it either in silver or other clean skillet , or in a pewter pot set in hot water , and let it onely boil and no more , and then cool it , and let the patient make it his drink untill the fever be gone , and if the party have a choice palate , put in a little white sugarcandy to take away the taste of the water . a diet drink for the scorbutum or scurvy , and to put away the malum habitum corporis . pr●batum . take seven gallons of good middle ale wort and put it into a pan , with seven handfus of scurvy grass , or for want thereof take three handfuls of pepper , three handfuls of water cresses , and three handfulls of brooklime , boyl these , being fair washed and pulled in pieces , in the water until six gallons remain , then order it as you would order beer , and tunne it up in a barrel having ready a fine linnen bag , wherein put a stone or plum with three ounces of sena and one ounce of fine rubarbe cut in small slices , with the powder of grains , long pepper , anniseeds , fennel seeds , and liquorice scraped and bruised flat , one half ounce of spicknard and galingal vera beaten small , one two ounces of the wood and rinde of pure sassafras , half an ounce or one ounce , if the wood be not v●ry good , cut in smal pieces , then sow them all in the bag , and fasten a long double strong thread to the bagge , and hang it so in the barrel near the tunning hole , see that it touch not the bottom by two inches , fasten the thread to the top of the barrel , then put barme to your said ale , and after purging , stop it up close , and after three dayes s●tling drink continually of this drink , and no other so long as it lasteth , and ●at to your breakfast and supper pottage made of water cresses and brooklime made with veal or mutton , and eat what good meat you best like , see it be rabbe● , capon , mutton , or ve●●l d●y rosted , continue this diet twenty dayes or so long as your drink lasteth good , and this by god● grace will recover your health and abate the swelling of the ●p●een , and cure perfectly the scorbutum or lassitudo in man or woman . the signs of this disease which comes of melancholy , are certain s●eckles appearing on the hand the armes and legs , which will go away suddenly and come again , the teeth are as it were eaten with cankers about the gums , apt to bleed and imp●stume , & they wax loose , a weariness of the whole body and werin●ss of the leggs , with a swelling in them towards night , and the stomack decreaseth by little and little , and the patient , if he have not help in time , falleth into a dropsie or consumption . a good drink to cleanse the blood . take water cresses four hands is , brooklime two handfuls scurvy g●ass , half a peck , sena two ounces . rubarb an ounce and a hal● , liquerice an ounce , sweet fennel seeds two ounces , he mi●dle ba●k or ● barb●ry t●ee an ounce , new wort three ga●lo●s , bruis● all that is to be bruised , cut the bubarb in thin slices and cut the herbs small , and put all together into a bag made o bou●el cl●ath , and let it hang in the d●ink five dayes before you give it to the party , and then cause him to take it every morning fasting , and about the clock ●n the afternoon . this drink is good against the scurvy , whosoever takes this drink spring and fall ▪ needs no other medicine . a very good drink against the scurvy , take yellow dock roots finely sliced , horsradish roots bruised small , of each a pound and a half , succory roots their piths taken ●ut four ounces , egrimony and fun●itory of each four handfuls , water cresses six handfuls , scurvy grass a peck , ginger bruised one ounce ▪ nutmegs one ounce and half , anniseeds and ●assafras r●ots of each one ounce , wash and pick and dry the herbs with a clothe , stamp them altogether in a stone mortar , and wring ●ut the juice and put the herbs after they are ●trayned with the r●st of the simples into a ●ag made of bowtel clothe , and hang them in ● vessel of five gallons of new ale , and put in the ju●ce that was strained out of the herbs , ●nd let it stand four or five dayes , and then drink every morning fasting and every even●ng half a pinte at a time , and if the party please let him make new drink thereof some ●ime in the day . to make a laxative beer of scurvy grass taught by mr. doctor butler unto the lady finch , which takes away the swelling of the egs and stomack , ad makes to sleep well . take fennel and partly roots wash it , scrape ●t and slice it , and the piths taken out , alike four ounces , green asparagus roots , whole fo● ounces , steep all this twenty four hours in quart of white wine and mix them with half 〈◊〉 pound of scurvy leaves , clean picked wate● cresses , brooklime , egrimony each 〈◊〉 drams , wrap all these leaves and roots in ● cloath , and lay them in a pye of thick rye past● made without butter , and bake them tw● hours in an oven , after cut open the pye and le● the herbs and roots cool , bruise the roots and herbs with the inside of the rye pye in a mortar , take sa●saparilla sliced in the midst , c● short and bruised , polypodium , sena alex. bruised a little three ounces , of rubarb thin slice● one half ounce , of sweet fēnel & carroway seed● of each one ounce , white fennel seeds bruise● one half ounce ▪ liquerice scraped and thin sliced one ounce mix all these ingredients together , and put them into a bag , run them 〈◊〉 in two gallons and a half of beer , let the● work together for the first day , and as they work , let one squeeze the juce out of the ba● twice , and t●ice the second day , let the ba● hang continually in the drink by a thread to the bung , then stop the vessel close . when 〈◊〉 dayes old , drink three quarters of a pint ●● once two hours before dinner , and two hours before supper , use to eat the sprigs of asparagus in a sallet often times or the roots boyled 〈◊〉 aforesaid in white wine and water . a medicine for a surfet . take a handful of wormwood , an handful of sage , an handful of centory , a handful o● mintes and seethe them in a quart of ale , or beer , and drink it blood warm in the morning fasting . the bowels . diseases of the bowel● . the colick and iliaca passin come oftentimes both from one cause , that 's to say of the opilation of the bowels , and are diseases very eager and sharp , and almost importable of pain , whereof many times followeth defection of the strength with variety of medicines , ye ought incontinent to help them first when the said pains come by stopping of the belly , you must give him a mollificative cl●ster made of the decoction of mallowes , violets , beers , anniseed and fenugreek , with cassia and common hony and oil olive , and afterward the herbs of the said clyster bruised ▪ and fryed ●ayed hot betwixt two linnen clothes , and applyed to the belly , but if the pain cease not give him a suppository long enough made of hony and sal gem . for the winde co●ick . if it come through windiness , and then the pain is changeable and moving from place to place , and is known also by the rumbling which is a noise in the bowels , with griping ●nd great pain . a suppository for the winde colick . take a dram of rue in fine powder , and half a d●am of cun min dried and powdred , and with hony scummed make a suppository . a plaster . take two handfuls of rue in fine powder , mirthe and cummin powdred of each half ● ounce ; four yelks of eggs and make two plasters with honey , and lay the one at night and the other in the morning upon the belly . water of camomil or a decoction of the ●ame drunken is good . also a dried acorn i● powder and given to drink in white wine is very good . to cure a rupture in the belly . take the root of male comphry ground into powder , one d●am of polypodium of the oak asmuch of the root thereof , of white daysie mor●s asmuch ; and asmuch of the root o● osmund which g●oweth in brooks all beaten into fine powder , mingle them together , and give the same to the patient to drink the space of nine dayes every morning , together with four spoonfuls of malmesey , all this while let the patient wear the iron hoop with the ●russe and leave off the trusse until three weeks a●ter he is perfectly whole . for the fundament coming out . take aloes , mirrbe ana . one ounce , terend● terantur subtiliter and cribrentur , and anoi●t the fundament with the oil of almonds , and lay of t●is powder th●r●●p●n , and wit● a skarlet ●●ot● hot put up the fun●ament : this used will h●lp with gods g●ace . ●o a mans fundament when it comes out ● true medicine . take red nettles and stamp them well , and put them into an ear●hen p●t and pu● to them a portion of wine and seethe it well and give it the patient to d●ink . a special good medicine proved to heal a rupture or broken man , probat . first pu●ge him with easie purg●tions and let him keep good and straight diet ●●ll ●he matter be up within his body . then take the juice of polypodie of the oak , of daysies , comp●ry , avens and be●ony , in the winter , take the juice of the root● and all of each one handful , stamp them , and strain them without other liqu●r : and put the same juice into a quart of stale ale , and drink a quantitie thereof evening and morning blood warm for nine dayes , keeping good diet , and sure trussing ; you may put sugar candy to it if you will , probat . against ruptures or burstings . take the herb and root of cranesbill dry it , make it into very fine powd●r , and give one spoonful every morning fasting , & every night when he goeth to bed in red wine , or claret wine , for xxi . dayes together . it cureth miraculously , but in aged persons to mix with it the powder of red s●ails , those that that are without shells dried in an oven , this medicine never faileth although the rupture be great and of continuance . it likewise profiteth much those that are wounded in their bodies , the decoction of the herbs made with wine , prevaileth mightily in healing inward wounds ; all this hath been well proved . if ye know the pain of the belly cometh through winde , apply upon it a great ventose , without incision , for by that means the pain will surely go away or diminish : if not it sheweth that it is caused of some other humor as phlegm or choler . a purgation for col●ck coming of phlegm . take five drams of diaphaenicon , three ounces of wormwood water , and make a drink , the which received fasting four or five hours before meat is very profitable . for pain of the colick coming of choler . if the said pain come of choler which is known by the application of hot things , the pain increaseth , ye must make a clyster of violets , or give him half an ounce of succo rosarum with ptisan , endive water , or wine . and the next morning let him drink a ptisan of the decoction of prunes and violet flowers , and anoint the belly with oil of violets , or wet a linnen cloth in cold water , and lay it thereupon , and if the pain ●●me of cold ye must anoint his belly with of bayes and goose grease . for the winde colick . ●t is good to drink the syrup of elecam●● , & to wear a plaister upon the belly made ●●ony , wormwood and aloes , pilulae co●● are very good for the said disease , especi●●● when the cl●ster doth not suffice to ●ge the cause of the same . also diamuscum 〈◊〉 diacinnamum , are very good electuaries , if ●ake one of them a lozenge fasting 2 hours ●ore meat ; likewise it is good to take ●hridate with a little white wine , or with decoction of camomile four or five hours 〈◊〉 dinner , if his belly be naturally lax , or ● by some suppository or clyster . 〈◊〉 back and reins , the remedies of their distempers . a purgation for choler coming of phlegm . ●●ke five drams of diaphaenicon , three ounces wormwood water , and make a drink , the ●●ch received fasting four or five hours afore ●t is very profitable . ●scour , c●eanse and cool the reins of the back ▪ ●ake half a pound of brown sugar candy , and one pint of endive water , and anothe● pint of red rose water , boil all th●se togethe● from a quart to a pint , and until it come to thick syrup , which then put into a fair g●as● and keep it to thy use . this syrup cleanseth the reins and cook●● the heat th●reof , it must be taken fasti●● chiefly and last towa●ds bed , yet it may be use as occasion s●rveth . for a pain in the back . take a quart of w●ite wine , and a quar● of running water , then take of the cr●p , 〈◊〉 r●semary asmuch as both the ha●ds can cla●● seethe them till half be consu●ed , t●en tak● sugar g●ains , as ye think good , and drink 〈◊〉 first and last . for ache in the back . take a good onion or two and rost the● in the embers , then stamp them and stra●● out the juice , and mix it with asmuch malme● as juice , and drink th●reof blood warm fir●● and last , probat . another . take egrimony , and mugwort both leav●● and roots , and stamp them small , then ming● them with good dears su●t , then smear 〈◊〉 anoint the place therewith very warm , and ●●ter binde it up . a good ointment for the back and restorative for the same . take the mosel of a hart or stagge , and make powder of it , and boil it in white wine with bursa pastoris , knot grasse , plantain and comphry , and when it s well boiled , strain it and let it cool , and it will be a jelly , and if you will eat of it , put to it sugar , cinnamon and saffron , for its a great restorative so eaten , also with the jelly aforesaid , anoint a weak back on either side the back bone , and chafe it well in , but do not anoint the back bone with the hand , use it thrice a week to bedward till you be well , probat . for the weakness of the small of the back . take one handful of baulme , one handful of clarie , wash them not , they must be gathered in the heat of the day , dry them in an oven and make them into power , the powder will be green , if it be done right , then lay a new layed egg into the fire , let it be not half rosted , then put into it asmuch of the powder as will lie upon the point of a broad knife , and so eat it . a powder to knit and restore nature well proved . take the roots of tormentil , the best of them are red when they are broken , take of the powder of these roots two parts and the third par● of fine galingale in powder , and of the powder of red mintes asmuch as of the galingale , and mingle them , and use of this powder in your broths , and meats , and sawces . pro gonorrhaea . take aqu. calendulae extractae ex foljis florum , et bibe singulis diebus cochlearia tria & sanus evades . to restore a man that wasteth , and for soreness of the reins . take sperma caeti and powder of mints and use to drink this with a spoonful of red rose● water and make it luke warm , the sperma caeti , will relent anon , for this is a soveraign medic●ne . for heat in the back . take the white of an egg , a little red rose water , and a little nutmeg , beat it well together and drink it mornings . it s an admirable thing to cool it . for feeble reins . take burre roots and stamp them , and boil th●m in stale ale , and drink thereof at evening hot , and at morning cold . to preserve nature from wasting . take acorns and steep them three dayes in wi●e vin●ger , and dry them , and let him drink the powder ; the cup is as good , if not better then the acorn its self , so they may be both together . for the running of the reins . take an handful of cumphry , a handful of clary , and so much of mousear , boil them in a quart of red wine , with powder of cinna●on , saund●rs and sugar , and drink a good ●raught of thi● fasting . for the running of the reins . take white wine , rosewater , plantain ●ater of each alike much in quantitie one ●●arter of a pint , two nutmegs grated , two ●enny worth of cinnamon pounded , and as●uch of bolearmony as a nut beaten ●inal , the ●hite of an egg beaten to oil and put toge●●er , and for three dayes use it not , but every 〈◊〉 shake it together in a glass , and then take ● morning and evening , provided that you 〈◊〉 a syring now and then , either with white ●ne or else rose water , together or several , ●nd this is a special remedy for the running of 〈◊〉 reins often times proved . to knit a broken vein . one master atkinson having a broken vein his back could not be cured by any doctor , 〈◊〉 home to die ; having a continued issue of 〈◊〉 the person of the parish advised him take a spoonful of the juice of pla●tain ●ing , which he did three or four times and was cured and is well , and verifies this in j●ly , 1652. for the help of the disease called the french pox . take two peny worth of white wine and 〈◊〉 peny worth of honey , one peny worth o● ro●h a●lame , these three sorts to be boiled to●●ther , and the same to be placed where 〈◊〉 gri●f doth lie or most offend . a diet drink ●o cure lues venerea or any desper●● disease in mans bodie . take seven gallons of spring water in ●rom p●t , and put into it sar●aparilla flic● and bruised three ounce● , set it on the 〈◊〉 and let it infuse or boil very gently two hou●● th●n p●t into it f●ur ounces of chosen 〈◊〉 leaves and cods , and half an ounce of 〈◊〉 beaten to powder and half an ounce stychad●s , and asmuch of epithymum , of cho●●● liqu●rice scraped , sliced and bruised flat t● ou●ces , of camomile flowers one o●nce , 〈◊〉 them into a pot and let them boil all together one hour or more , then take it from the 〈◊〉 ●●d strain it into an earthen pot , and 〈◊〉 and till it be cold then pure it and 〈◊〉 bottles and drink thereof morning and e●●ing , a reasonable good draught . a● morbum gallihidropicum & cetera . acci , e vini albi pounds 96 alias gallons ▪ 〈◊〉 , lib. ss gy●yrrhiz . iib. 2. sea● 〈◊〉 , ●ib . ● . cert●ci● guiaci lib. 2. colo●●● one ounce , coque in balneo mariae per 24. horas , i● non ●●aporet , & exprime , colaturae ad mit●ridatum optimum , one ounce , per du●s dies , bibat ●●antum potest & nihil comedat per quatu●r 〈◊〉 , postea comedat semel in die & postea comedat 〈◊〉 in die . perficitur cura in duodecem diebus . pain of the reins is called nephretica passio . and cometh of some stone or gravel , and it is most like unto the colick in cu●e , but in ●ourses they be clean contrary , ●or the colick beginneth of the lower pa●ts on the right s●de and goeth up to the higher parts on the 〈◊〉 side o● the belly , and it lieth rather more ●●rward then backward , but ne●h●etica passio beginneth contrariwise above descending downward , and ever lieth more toward the back ; a●so nephretica is pain●uller a sore meat , and the colick is more grievous after . and ofte● the colick chanceth suddenly but neph●●tica contrary , for commonly it cometh by little and little , and evermore before one shall fe●l pain of the back with difficultie of urine , item there is more difference , for the colick sheweth dry●ess as it were coloured , but nephretica is clear and white like water , afterward waxeth thick and then appeareth in the bottom of the v●ssel , like red sand or gravel . remedy ●or pain of the reins . you must use things aperitive to cause you to make water , but afore ye ought to loose the belly in taking an ounce of cassia , an hour before meat : but if your belly be hard or bou●d you must take a clyster before you take the said cassia . in stead thereof you may take cowes milk , with two yelks of eggs in manner of a clyster , the clyster must be great in quantitie . drink water of pellitory , of cresses or of roots aperitive , the which waters are good to purge the gravel and stone . likewise a very good electuary , for the ●●me philantropos , or lithontripon , if one take ● dram or two after operation of a clyster of ca●sia , or a pill of ante cibum and after to drink one of the s●id waters or else a little white wine warmed . if ye will make a julep , take water o●●intes and of ba●m of each half a pound , sugar a quartern and make a julep of the which one may drink evening and morning after mea● a dra●ght . every morning is good to take a lozenge of the elect. that followeth . a nob●e e●ectuary for the fluxe . take powder of diagalanga a dram and a half , of red corall and masticke , of each a scruple , tr●chiskes of terra s●gillata half a d●am the barkes of citrons confite and quinces , of each one three drames , sugar dissolved in water of mintes four ounces , make an electuary . o●ls of wormewood , mint and of narde and masticke are very holsom to anoynt withall the belly and the stomack for the said flux , and the things declared of the flux lienteria be very good in this case taking ever after meat a morsel of marmalade . red wine is very good in this flux to drink at meat with the water of a smith , and likewise all spices are good in this case . medicines to restrain the flux of what cause s●ever it be . take the peisel of an hart and dry it into powder , and drink it , the water of oakbuds , or the very acorns dryed and made in powder , and drunk in ●ed wine , is very good ▪ remedie f●r the flux humoral , called diarhaea . the said flux ought not to be restrained a sore the fourteenth day , i● nature be not v●ry much infe●●led , and sometime it cometh of hot causes , as of color , and then the patient must drink be●ore his meat syrup of ribes , syrup of roses or syrup of quinces , and very smithes water . after ye have purged the principal matter o● the disease the second intention shall be by and by to stop the said issue . to stop the said flux . take trochiskes of white amber and make them in powder , and give a dram every morning , and anon after drink an ounce or two o● plantain water . instead of those trochi●kes he may make a powder of sanguis draconis , bole armony , white amber , and red coral , drinking one dram with plantain water , as is aforesaid . another medicine to stanch the said flux . take two ounces of old conserve of roses , of the seed of plantain two drams , sanguis draconis , bole armony , of every one a dram and a half , white cortal and red one dram , make a confection with syrup of mirtles and give it to drink morning and evening two houres afore meat at every time ●he quantity ●● a mean chesnut . an irish medicine to stay any flux . take a handful of sage , chop it small and put thereto the yelks of eggs , and fry them with as little butter as may be , and eat them as hot as you can , and drink not of 4 hours , and in four dayes after it helpeth . for the b●oody flux . take ●owder of comphry , and make tosts of wheat bread , and put them in red wine , a●d powder of cinnamon therewith , and also eat it alone . to cure the bloody flux . take of rubard grated one ounce , harts-horn burnt and made into powder half a dram , mix them with conserves of red roses , of the last year and make thereof two or three boles , and let him take it at once , this scoureth away the cause of the flux and bindeth him presently after . to cu●e any dangerous flux which is ●f ●orce to bring a man in danger of a consumption . take fine wheat flour boulted finely , and tye it in a linnen cloath of the bigness of two eggs ; and boyl it in a pottle of running water , with a handful of mother of time , wh●n it is half boyled away , then take up the flour whhich will be hard , and in looking upon the flour you must take of a skim which will be on it , then take some of the said flour and thicken a quantity of new milk , boyled as a thin flour meat , and drink it as ye see cause until you have recovered strength . this will recover a man of the bloody flux , even when he is t●ought past help , and also to rost an egge stone hard , and ●lit it and lay it hot to the fundament , stayeth any monstrous flux , and to wear napkins hot , and to keep them as hot as one can well endure to the navel and fundament , shi●ting them as they grow cold , is excellent in th●s case . for the bloody flux . womans milk drunk nine dayes togethe●●●sting , cureth the bloody flux in any : another for the same . note that the powder of misselden of the oak given in red wine , helpeth that flux , ●●hatum . a sure experiment to cure the bloody flux , when a man avoideth as it were black gobbets of flesh . take cumphry , knotgrass , sheppards purse , cinqufoil , plantain , ribwort , strawberry leaves , one handful , the middle rinde of a black thorn , & of cinramon one half ounce broken in small pieces , boyl all these in a pot of spring water , with a wheat bread crust unto a quart , and clarifie it , and put nine spoonfuls of wine vinegar unto it with sugar , and make a iulep , drink thereof morning and evening , not drinking after of two hours . probatum . the bladder , remedies , for its distempers . a medicine for the stone . take grommel seed , pa●sley seed , red nettle seed and saxi●rage all these made in powder by even portions , or else take the juice of al● these herbes , and of lettuce and endive of all juices alike much and strain it through a cloath and set● it in a vessel on the fire , and take halfe so much of honey , as of the juices and cast them all together and seeth them till they be thick , and keep it safe as treasure , for this is a gracious electuary for the stone , of the cure of the stone in the reines and bladder . to break the stone , take the kernells that are within sloes and drie them on a tilestone , then make of them a powder by it selfe , after that take the roots of alisander , parsly , parietary and hollihocke , of every one alike much and seethe them all in white wine or in the broth of chickens , then strain them out into a clean vessel , and when ye drink of it adde asmuch of the said powder , as ye think convenient , half a silver spoonful or more , for without doubt it hath great effect in bringing out the gravel . another expert medicine . there groweth in the galls of some open a certain yellow stone , sometimes , in bignes of a wallnut somewhat long and brittle , if ye take that stone and make of it a powder , and eat it in your pot●age , the weight of one scruple , or more according to your strength , it is a singular medicine for them that cannot pi●s for stopping of the conduites ; another singu●ar medicine . take the seed of smalledge , parsly , lo●vage vage , and saxifrage , the roots of philipendula , cherry stones , gromel seed and broom seed , of every one alike much , make them in fine powder , and when ye be diseased of the stone , eat of this powder a spoonful at once in pottage or broth of chickins , and eat nothing after in two or three hours . a goodly syrup to mundifie the reins . take the broth of a young chicken sodden till the bones fall assunder three pound , melon seed a little bruised an ounce , parcely roots and alisander roots three ounces , damask prunes , sebesten of each six in number , great raisins half an ounce , clean liquerice ●o drams , water of borage , endive and hops of each three drams , and with sufficient white sugar boyl them all unto the consumption of half and mor● and afterward strain them and make a goodly syrup . this is a thing of excellent operation and an high secret in mundifying the reins , and keep right diet , the dose of it is one cyath or a little cupfull in the morning early and sleep after it a little , if yee would have the foresaid syrup to purge more choler then put in a dram of fine rubarb with a liter cassia . a powder for the stone and colick or either of them . imprimis carawayseeds two ounces . gromel seeds two ounces . anniseeds two ounces . rubarb two ounces . liquerice four ounces . parsl● seeds two ounces . fenn●l seeds two ounces , dryed in an oven , elecampana roots dryed as the rubarb , else neither of them will beat to powder , bruise all these very small and put to them asmuch sugar as the quantity of them all and searce them through a sieve , then every morning take an heaped spoonful and put in your broth or what you like best . if you cannot away with the gromel , put the more into of the other seeds , for that doth more prevail either against the stone or colick . this receipt hath often been proved to be good either for the stone or colick . another for the stone and to break it . take ripe elder berries and distil then , and drink the water with sugar and it shall break and come out in one night , probatum . some four ounces of the water will serve at a time . for the stone which letteth a man to make water , take southernwood stamp it small and temper it with small ale and use to drink it every morning fasting and it shall break the stone . when you have used this drink eight or nine times together , then put a little galbanum into the end of your yard and that will draw out the stone . an oyntment for the back if the stone come painfully from you . take red dock roots and may butter and beat them together in a morter very well and fry a little in a fryingpan and then strayn them and anoynt the back . a pultis to cause the stone to slip when it s broken . make a pultis of oatmeal , and white wine vinegar , and after its made put to it a convenient quantity of aqua composita , and apply it to the place where you feel the stone to lie , and it will cause the stone to slip forward or downward . a medicine to avoid the stone in the bladder . take a pinte of white wine , and put it in a pan and boil it , and put thereto asmuch powd●r of nutmegs , and drink it with ale evening and morning , and you shall be whole , probat . for the stone . take coliander seed , parsley seed , broom seed , allexander seed , the seed of asnen keyes , hasel nut keyes , red bramble berries , ivy berries , of each of them alike quantitie , and dry them , & beat them to fine powder altogether and searce them fine , let the partie make a posser of white wine as clear as may be , and put in asmuch of this powder as will go into an hasel nutshel and take it three or four mornings together fasting , and if you please you may seethe your powder in your posset drink and so take it , probat . also the syrup of althea commonly called the syrup of mallowes , and put in posset drink , and drink it and it will cause water presently , probat . a soveraign medicine for them that cannot pisse , well proved by the lady of northumberland . take alexander seeds and parsly seed of each alike much , and beat them t●gether in a mortar , and seethe it in malmesey , and seethe withall unset time , and parsly leaves and seethe it from a pottle to a quart , and strain it , drink it warm . to make one make water presently . take the inner skin , or pill o● the gizem ●f a dove , dry it to powder , and give it to drink with white wine , i think the skin of one gizern is scarce enough . to procure a man to pisse well . take the kernels of ash keyes dryed and made into fine powder , and drink a scruple of the powder fasting in seven spoonfuls of white wine warm . to procure urine that is stopped . take borrage roo●s mundified and sliced , and boil them in clarified posset ale , made with ale and white wine , and drink a good draught thereof with a little sugar at any time in your infirmity . probat . a special receipt to help sharpness of urine . make posset drink of a pint of milk , and a pint of ale , then take three roots of housleek , and pick the leaves , stamp and strain them , and put the juice into the posset drink , let it boil a walm or two , then drink it warm at any time of the day morning and evening , but not at meales , and as oft as you think good . an injection for burning of urine . take of fountain water four pound . passul ▪ exacinat . five ounces , foliorum plan-taginis five handful : foliorum fragariae , poligoni , rosarum one pulgil , quatuor seminum frigid . majorum mundatorum one ounce , aluminis three ounces , boil them and add two pound of the decoction mellis rosati colati , six ounces , i doubt the allume is of the most for smarting , which if it be , somewhat les●e may be put in next the mel rosarum . i think the lesse to be with the most , but that is a good wholsome , cleansing , healing and mitigating thing , so that there can be no hurt with it , but the waste of it . a powder for the heat of urine . take seminis portulac● one ounce , endivi● seminis , lactucae , scariolae , acetosae , one half dram , seminum communium frigidor ▪ majorum one ounce , papaveris albi , half one ounce , sacchari ad duplum , f●at tra●ea ; and a little before dinner and supper eat a spoonful of this powder for this purpose , but if the patient have a shaking ague withall then the coldness of the powder is apt to draw on the 〈◊〉 and to make his fits come often as hath been proved . f●r them which make very foul or red water . take the juice of ribwort , and drink it warm with ale once or twice a day , also for man that pisseth blood seethe garlick in water till two parts be wasted , and let him drink ●f that water and he shall be whole . to provoke urine and a asswage the belly . dry pellitory into powder , and drink a ●●oonful of the powder in white wine first and ●ast , and it shall asswage you , you may take ●esl● sometimes , as now and then half a spoonful with a messe of pottage or broth . a receipt for the stone . drink the distilled water of bean f●owers at ●●l times when you feel heat in your back , ●hich will bring away all gravell and loose ●ones , it s not good to use it too often , lest ●● should break the stones too fast . ● good medicine for one that cannot pisse by reason of the stone . take snayls that carry shells , a good hand●● , lay them in the fire , and they will creep ●ur of their shells , then take the shels and beat ●hem to powder and let the party drink the ●owder in some posset ale , or such like drink . for the stone . take white saxifrage roots , parsly , pierstone , the kernels of ashen keyes , of each an handful , of ringus roots two handful● , bruise them well in a mortar , and then boil them with si● gallons of ale or beerwort so long as wort is usually boiled , then put all into a v●ssel , and when it shall be stale enough drink every morning next your heart half an ale pint . this being very often or every day taken , you shal● never be troubled with the stone , though you had been much troubled with it before . a receipt for the stone used by sir trever williams . take the quantity of a walnut of the best leaven and half so much of bay salt , put them together in a pinte of milk and stir them with a spoon until they dissolve ; then let them stand covered all night , then strain it , and drink it in the morning , fast one hour after and for that space keep your self walking . to prevent the stone . take a peny pot worth of white wine , and put into it the quantity of a small nut of the finest castle sope scraped very small , and then warm it a little by the fire , and then drink it , and walk after it one hour , take this two dayes in a week , or in a moneth as you finde your self by your water . to make a water for the stone . in the moneth of may , or in the beginning of june , when oxen go to grasse , you shall take of their dung not too fr●sh , nor too dry , which you shall distill fair and softly , that it may not smell of th● smoke , into some vessel ▪ of glass . then take two or three radish roots cut into small pieces , and put the radishes so cut into a vial and fill it with greek or good white wine , or good strong malmesey , letting it stand in the sun close stopt all one day , and one might ; and then take one part of that wine , and two parts of the water of ox dung , half a pinte of strawberry water , three or four drops of lymons juice or citrous juice , and let there be of all half a glassful or somewhat more , into the which you shall put a piece of sugar to taste it withall , which medicine must be given in the morning and the patient must walk after it , you must also incorporate inh●s water this powder following , or else this medicine is of small effect . the powder for the stone : take the seeds of blew violets or march violets , and the seeds of common burrs with their ●ittle seed and all , or ripe burrs , put them to dry in a oven , for else it will be hard to stamp them ●o powder , then stamp them with their seed . ●his done take a quick hare and strangle her ●hat no drop of blood be lost , with a strong ●ord , put him so whole or in pieces into an ●●arthen pot close stopped , the feet , head , guts , skin and all , and so let the pot in a 〈◊〉 that the hare may be burned to powder , and then stamp your hare with your other two powders of burre and violets , and dry oaken leaves well beaten to powder four ounces , of dry saxifrage or of sampier one pound beaten to powder , bay-berries five ounces let all these things be well beaten to powder , sisted and well mingled together . give unto the patient so much as will lie upon a groat , making him to drink it to his breakfast in the morning fasting , in white wine . and let him do this o●t-times , it s the most exquis●test thing in the world : and although both new as ●ell as old physicians have very well travelled for this disease of the stone and strangury , yet this is the best and soveraignest thing that can be given to a christian man. both the water going before , and this powder must be applyed as one medicine , so it seemeth that this powder may be taken either in white wine , or in the aforesaid water , or in white wine mingled with the said water , or in the said water without any white wine , which is thought to be the best , the said water being accounted so precious for this purpose , and of purpose distilled for this use as appeareth in the end of the receipt of the said water . note mr. louth saith , that the very blood 〈◊〉 the hare dried to powder & drunk with white wine is excellent for the stone , and in red wine for womens diseases for the superflui●● of the flowers , probat . for the stone in the back , bladder , kidnies and stomack . take the roots of philipendula , that 's to say the round knots thereof , gather them after lamma● and grate them and take it in ale , or white wine . the cold diureticks are the best for the stone , when diureticks are to be used for it or f●r any other obstructions of the kidnies which are the four cold seeds , the greater , semen alkakengi , radix graminis & acetosae . and therefore is cited valeseus who saith that nothing is more excellent for the stone then vinum alkakengi or the distilled water thereof , and to use the wine in winter , and the water in summer , the branches and fruit of alkakengi being in equal portions mixed and then bruised and then put into the wine , which must be used when the effect cometh from a cold cause , and the reason is that the hot diureticks , which are wont to be used against the stone do increase the hot distemperature engendring the stone ; and therefore what good the said hot diureticks do one day , they do hurt another . and the cold diureticks are not onely good for the present evil but do also resist the efficient cause and do stay the generation of the said stone . thus much out of valeseus as aforesaid , whereby i gather that in a hot cause the water of the said alkakengi is best and fittest and to use the wine and ale , for he prescribeth the win● when the effect proceedeth from ● cold cause , and also the wine in winter , and the water in summer , which observe , whether th● stone may proceed of a cold cause , obstructions of slyme may , th●refore for the stone the water is likely to do best , the wine in winter may be good as he sai●h , and for s●ime the wine may be good or better , if cold slime wi●hout biting heat , but it seemeth the coldness which he commend●th i● the coldness of the diuerticks ; and if the ●ffect do pr●ce●d f●om a cold , then the wine may do well ●r b●st wi●h it . als● mr. ●ogan in his chap●e● of the p●eservati●● 〈◊〉 cu●● of the stone in the kidneys , and bladder , ●●th that the water of glamen or c●uchgras● with a little pure thin wine is a si●gula . m●dicine for that purpose , also he saith that win● of alkakengi , is a good preservative , or the fruit condited with sugar . thus much for the stone . the womb , its remedies . for the flux of the w●mb . in all fluxes of the belly , cause the excrements to be duly searched , for if the disease be such , that the meat cometh forth , as it was received , or not half digested , the said flux is called lienteria , if great abundance of watery humours have their i●●●e below , the said flux is named diarhaea , which is as much to say as flux humoral , and if blood or matter appear with the excrements in the sickness , then they call it dysenteria , which is a great disease and dangerous fo● to cure . take the rindes of mirabolane cirtin ba●e● ●●e dram , rubarb a little dryed , half a dram , ●rup of quinces one ounce , water of plantain three ounces , mingl● altogether & let the pati●●t drink th●m , ●our hour●s before meat , and ●hen give him a clyster retentive made thus , ●ake oyl of roses or quinces , of mastick of ●ach ●e three ounces , ●ole a●moniack in powder a ●●ains , meddle alltogether & give it as a clyst●● , here is to be noted that the clyster : that ●e given to stop a flux must be very little in ●uantity . ye may heal the flux dysenteria as the flux ●um●ral , and take afore your re●ast two d●ams ●f conserves of quinces , and he ought to drink ●●ter wherein hath been quenched gads of ●eel , ye must avoyd diversitie of meats . a purgation for the flux humora● . take two drams of mirabolanes dryed on tile , half a scruple ●f agarick in trochisk , half ● ounce of syrup , of mintes , or two ounces of ●●ater of bawm , and make a potion to be re●ived three or four hours afore meat . for the suffocation of the matrice . the matrice in a woman oftentimes mounteth ●wa●ds the mid●●ffe and the stomack with in●●lerable pain & is called suffocation , because 〈◊〉 it is choaked , ov●rcharged with some evil ● superfluous matter , as by stopping of due ●g●tions or too much abstenence of venus , ●hereby often chanceth shortness of breath , ●●in of the head , swooning , trembling of the ●●art , contraction of members , and otherwhiles ●●th without remedy . a drink for pain of the mother . take one dram of mithridate and dissolve in an ounce and a half of water of wormwoo● and give it her to drink afore she go to me● four hours . another to provoke the flux of the matrice . see the marigolds , nept and savine in good al● and drink it with a good quantity of saffr● and a little honey and sugar . item fifteen bla● seeds of piony drunken in wine with safir● purgeth the matrice of humors , and other f●teen of the red seeds stancheth it again or a●other flux of ●he mother . these he●bs a● good to purge the matrice , rue , piony , savin● betony , nept , valerian , maydenhair , hor● hound , savary , parsley , gromel , alisader , marigolds , smalledge and time. the terms or flowers , their r●●medies . f●r suppression or retaining of the flowers or m●●struus . if the blood be too gross and thick you mu● every month give her the syrup of sumito●● with the decoction of borage and bugloss a●● ●ther bath her self with fresh water hot . and ●hen she goeth out of the bath into the bed ●e must receive the afor●said syrup and de●●tion of the herb called rubea tinctorum or ●●adder , s●dden in clear water . in stead of sy●ps ye may take the very juice or decoction the herbs . and if the womans blood be slimie , cold , ●nd phlegmatick , then she must drink syrup of ●●echados and of oxymel diuretick and after●●rds take the pills called faetidae and of aquae ●●rick , and every morning after she must ●●ke a dram of trochiskes of m●rrhe with two ●●nces of the decoction of iuniper berries ●d thereupon drink two ounces of water of ●●gwort . moreover it is a proved & expert medicine , ● give the first day of the new moon a ●●im of powder made of borax , which the●●ldsmiths do occupie , with asmuch cinnamon ●●d a little water of smallage . it is good to help and provoke the said purtion by such things as open , which must be ●en at such time of the moon as the said wo●●n were wont to have the same . ● the overflowing of the menstruus and for the retaining of the same . to provoke the termes a most expert ●●dicine , and secret . a certain herb called ●●ri●n , not that with co●s and stones in the ●●t , but that which hath a root like the hand ● man with fingers , and the root of one ●● drieth and groweth in the end of the ●●r , the other a green root ; take three leaves , otherwise one or two , otherwise thre● green roots of that herb dayly and give it fo● nine dayes in broth , or rosted or fryed without broth as you will and it shall eff●ct , an● give of the dry roots in the same and the● shall cease , &c. a most approved experiment to provoke the menstruiss . take of tryphera magna the quantity of great nut , and put to it the sal gem the quantity of a filbird nut , let them be mixed an● tempered with white wine , or eat it with rue● for the dropsie and to provoke the flowers a●● urine . cantharides ( the head and other things t●ken away , ) burnt and brought to a powde● the dose is a dram with white wine in th● evening , probatum est . item , a gum called serapine , mixed with t●● juice of savine or centory , and it causeth a dea● childe to issue forth . to bring down womens termes . bruise the roots of celendine and wear the in your socks , next to your bare feet , and will cause them to break and come down wit● in four dayes or lesse in plentiful manner which then presently take away . a medicine for the green sickness and to cause●● flowers . take nep , unset hyssop , lavender cotte● ●ngelica leaves , mother of time , french mal●wes , germander , fetherfew , of each a good ●ndful , boil them in two gallons of spring ●ater to one gallon , then strain it , then put to two good sticks of liquerice scraped and ●uised flat , and one pint of pure clarified ●●y , then boil it again four or five walmes ●●d drink thereof fasting and one hour before ●pper , and use exercise . a medicine to stop over much abundance of flowers . take shepherds purse , knotgrass , and red ●changel , a little quantity , pound them a●der and not all together , then take the juice each of them , and put one spoonful of ●●e juice of every one of them into six spoon●●● of stale ale , for ale is better then beer this case , and drink it of , and use this drink ●orning and evening . to make this electuary , take red coral in ●●e powder two ounces & a half , white coral fine powder two ounces , sanguis draconis fine powder three ounces , put to it two ●●nces of conserve of red roses and mingle ●●em well together ; of this electuary , first take ●●e quantity of three beanes morning and ●●ening to bedward , and within one quarter of hour after take of the drink aforesaid cold , warm will hinder the force of it , this is a ●●ble electuary and drink in that case . for the red flux in women . take a dram of persicum philonium in a sufficient quantity of plantain water to carry down as a vehiculum , which is the physician● word to carry things down , drink this fasting and anoint the navel and the belly about the navel and all the back over with vnguentum comit●ssae , & make two plasters the one for th● belly about the navel , and the other , for th● other for the whole back parts and appl● them thereto and wear them nights and day●● for a good while , you must take the phy oniu● persicum divers dayes together in manne● aforesaid for four or five dayes together and stay to see what good you finde , if you hav● not found it stay before , and if it be n●● stopped , then you must take it again and 〈◊〉 the ointment and plaster still until it sto● and if this will not help it and stop it , n●thing will do it , as one master ber●ington ●● confidently assure out of his own practise . for the whites proved . take a pint of spring water and stone the● in half a pound of prunes and put ther● with them two spoonfuls of sugar , and ●● mornings together drink three or four spo●●fuls of the water , and fast an hour after . for rising of the m●ther . take some knops of amber otherwise led succinum , and cast them upon a chaf● dish of coal● until they make a great smot●● and then hold your mouth open over chaffing dish and receive the fume 〈◊〉 as you can , and cast a good , linnen cloth ab● your head and face to keep in the fume that as little go by as may be . a specia medi●ine for the mother or winde or spleen which riseth about the heart . take fenugreek , liquerice , fennel seeds , anniseeds , alisander seeds , co●●ander seeds prepared , parc●ly seed one ounce , and beat them together ; then take cinnamon half an ounce and saffron one scruple and beat them to powder altogether , and temper with clarified hony or sugar making thereof an electuary and eat of it morning and evening . probat . a medicine for the whites and weakness of nature . take the whites of four eggs dryed and made into powder , two nutmegs , ●he weight of six pence in cinnamon , the weight of two pence in mace , the weight of ten pence in ●ed saunders make all these into fine powder and take of this powder asmuch as will lie on a six pence in a rear egg or with muscadine or mace ale , and sometimes broath every morn●ng for a mone●hs space together ; for your di●t forb●ar milk , butter , roots , and herbs , claret and w●ite wine , and especially pigeons flesh . to cure the mother . take gr.ii. of musk in conserve of gilliflowers ●nd it must be taken inward , it will melt in ●our mouth . a good medicine for one that feareth to misca● with childe . take yarrow and stamp it and strain th● juice and three spoonfuls of new milk war● from the cow , mingle them together an● sweeten with sugar . to make a caudle to strengthen one that is with childe and is weak . make a caudle with whites of eggs and ● y●lks , and boil in it a stick of cinnamon , whic● rose leaves , and white archangel flowers , an● har●shorn ; boil all these together and so drin● it . to make a woman have a quick delivery and sma●● pain . take leaves of betony , stamp them an● strain them , or else make powder of them an● give the woman to drink in a little water . to cleanse the matrix after the childbirth . take a quart of claret . wine and burn i● and set it on the fire again , and as it boileth p●● into it 2. or 3. spoonful of embers , then stra●● it from the ashes this do two or three time● then powder it with powder of sugar and suc● syrups as are fit for the womans body , if s●● be hot and costive , syrup of violets , but if s●● be laxative not that but syrup of cowslips , 〈◊〉 good to give her in broth oyl of sweet a●monds . to drive away the after pain of a woman . take mother time , picked clean from the stalke and shred small , the quantity of a spoonful , and put to it asmuch salt as the quan●ity of a hasell nut , and put it in a draught of broth or caudle and give it the woman to drink immediately after shee 's delivered , the sooner the better , the herbs must be raw . a medicine to fetch away a dead childs after burden . take a handful or two of mugwort stampt ●● chopt which you please , then take a quantity of barly meal and mingle it with a little fair water set over the fire , and boil till it be ●o thick to spread on a cloth , then put into it some barrowes grease asmuch as an egg , and so 〈◊〉 and spread it on a cloth and lay it beneath the navel of the woman and not above in any ●●●e , and assoon as it hath brought away an●●hing , take it away , for it maketh that way as ●●ng as it s on , and will bring away that which ●● should not bring , if it lie on after thats gone which you would have away . a present remedy for a woman that travaileth with childe . take hyssop , vervine and betony of each ●●e handful , stamp them well and temper ●hem with stale ale , then strain it , and wring ●ut the juice and give a good draught thereof 〈◊〉 her to drink , and she shall be delivered with speed , and the childe saved and she both , fo●●ts proved . to deliver a woman of a dead childe . take camomil and give it in clear posse● drink , is good to ease t●e pain , colick or griping pain of the body , stamp it and strain it in● to white wine , and give it a woman that hath a dead childe within her and it will cause he● presently to be delivered . the gout . remedies for the gout . the pain in the joynts of a mans body as in the hands and feet is generally calle● arthritis or gout , which proceedeth sometime of debili●y of the sinewes being las●t and unable to consume the humours that continually flow unto them . and for the most part they are derive● from the member mandant , that is to say th● brain , for he is very grosse and engendret● every humour in himself , by reason whereo● much of the said humours are derived int● the nuke and muscles of the back , and from thence they descend into the feet or to th● hucklebone or else into the hands . remedy . and since all the said kindes come or are caused of one beginning , and for the better expedition in that , we will be brief , ye shall first take away the superfluous moisture of the brain , which is the root and fountain of all the said diseases , and that ye may do four manner of wayes . the first observance is of diet inclining to dryness and to avoid all fulness of meat and drink , and not to sleep in any wise after meat . and ye must beware that ye eat no vaporous meats nor thin wine , nor d●ink much after supper ; and if perchance the pain be very sharp it shall be wholsome to abstain from all kinds of wine , and ●o use himself to small drink which thing if he cannot do , let him drink claret wine mixed with a good quantity of water . the second is to purge the brain once a moneth with the one half of pills of cochia ●nd another half of pills of assajareth and in ●ime of harvest and of summer with pills 〈◊〉 quibus and pil. imperial . whereof ye shall give one dram the night before the full moon , ●nd the day following ye may give him to eat little broth of cicers , with a little quantity of raisins of the sun . the third is to repress ●he sumes that ascend into the brain after ●eat , which thing may be done by eating a ●●ttle dredge made of aniseed and coriander . the fourth is to perfume the brain with cer●ain things comfortative as for example thus . take fine f●ankincense , sandrach and mastick , ●f every one an ounce , of lignum aloes a d●●m , make them all in grosse powder and perfum● therewith stupes made of flax or o● cotten and lay upon the head ; and when ye● have by this meanes well and duly comforted the brain and defended the original cause o● the said disease , ye shall proceed to take away the matter conjoynt that is descended into the sinevves and ye shall begin thus . first ye must preserve the body from in ● gendring of humours , in taking every morning next your heart a conserve made of alcherine● and of flowers of rosemary mingled with ● little nutmeg and mastick , and if ye be 〈◊〉 povver , ye may drink a good draught o● ipocras or other spiced drink after meat● , 〈◊〉 dinner and at supper . secondly ye shall understand that whosoever doth intend to be holpen of the gout , he must every year 〈◊〉 purged two times , prepa●ing fi●st the matte● to digestion with syrup of staecados and duobus radicibus with the one half of vvaters of sage primeroses and marjerom in manner of spiced ●ulep with cinnamon , taken five continua● mornings , tvvo hours after ye eat any othe● meat , and after that ye must receive a dra●● of pills called arth●eticae or hormodactyl , or o● both together equal portions , or take half 〈◊〉 ounce , of diacarthami tvvo hours after night and of diaturbith , of every tvvo drams vvit● a little syrup of hyssop . the rest of the said curation , shall be accomplished with the applying of divers loca● remedies , whereof there be sundry sorts her● declared , ye ought to rub the place that is sor● with oyl of roses and a little vinegar , and after sprinkle upon the same , fine powder o● myrtles . another plaster also as hereafter followeth , a plaster for the gout . take the emplaster called melilot , two ounces , of populeon , an ounce and an half , red roses , myrtles and flowers of camomile , of every one a dram , make a plaster and lay upon the gouty ioynt . another . take oyl of roses , crums of bread , yelks of eggs , and cowes milk with a little saffron , seethe them a little together , afterward spread them upon clouts , and lay upon the sore . another . make lye of the ashes of rosemary or of oak or of bean-stalks , and boyl it in sage , mol●in , prime rose , camomile and melilor , and receive the fume upon the sore place , or wet clouts in the said decoction , and lay them upon the pain . all the said remedies are very good , to asswage the pain of the gout , after the which done , it is good to goe about the comforting of the joynts and sinews , and to that intent apply oyl of camomile , and of althea or holihock , oyl of a fox , oyl of earth wormes , oyl of primerose , turpentine , wherewithal or with one or two of them , ye may anoynt the sore place , and comfort both the joynts and sinewes marvellously : also this oyntment that followeth , is singular good for the same purpose . t●ke five or six handfuls of walwort , and seethe them wel in wine , then strayn them and with a little wax , oil of spick , and aqua vit● make an oyntment , wherewith ye must anoynt the place morning and evening every day . medicines for the gout appropriate in all cases . take cowes dung and seethe it in sweet milk , and lay a plaster to the gout hot , a●so the yelks of eggs , womans milk , lins●ed and saffron , altogether in a plaster swageth the diseases of the gout and if ye be disposed to break the skin , and so let the humors issue , as by such many one is eas●d ye shall make a plaster of b●ack sope and aqua vitae , which will blister it with●ut any great pain . also very old hard cheese cut and sodden in the broth , of a gamon of bacon , and afterward stamped with a little of the br●th and made in manner of a plaster , is a singular remedy for diseases of the gout , and was first practised by galen the prince of all physicians . a medicine to ease the gout and to bring down any swelling in feet , leg , ●r arm . take a quart of milk f●om the cow and crum into it a peny white loaf and put into 〈◊〉 asmuch dears suet as a pullets egge , and boyl ●t to the thickness of a pultis , and spread it w●ll and thick on a cloath , so broad as will cover the g●ie and renew it once in twenty four hours , and if your pa●n cease not use it so as long again , and it will cure the grief and draw out streaks o● blood . this medicine cured one in such extremity and pain of the gout , when he continually crved , and could neither go nor ride ; and never grieved since so perfectly was he cured . for l●gs swollen of any manner of disease . take pell●●ory and seethe it well in white wine and wash the leg● in the water , and lay the herbs about the l●gs plasterw●s● and it will asswage within five hours . p●obatum est . for the gout . take half a peck of snails , a quart of bay salt , and put them in a bowl and bruise them together , then take them and put them in a bag , and let them drop in any thing so you preserve the oyl . to cure and ease the gout . apply to the gouty place , a pultiss made of barly and brooklemp hot in the time of extremity and let it lye twenty four hours . a pultis of barly to asswage swelling in the legs to mo●lifie the hardness , boil in a gallon of water , one quart of hulled barly very tender , and put therein a good allume stone , and being tender , drain the water from it , and to bedward lay it on a cloth a good thickness and lay it over the swelling reasonable warm , leeting it lie twenty four hours , and u●e it three or four daye● togethe● probat . for the gout : take caro costinum an ounce and dissolve 〈◊〉 in white wine , and drink it about half a pint and use the partie as after a purge , and th● effect is wrought by purging , approved by many gent. a medicine for the sciatica . for a man take the urine of a man child● and let it stand in some vessel for nine daye● and then separate the clear urine from th● thick , and put it into a vessel , and put to th● clear urine a good quantity of the juice 〈◊〉 cullerage , male culrage , which hath spotte● leaves of a black colour , and boil it togethe● till half be consumed , and it will be an oyntment , with which anoint the patient by th● fire , and he shall be cured , which hath been often tryed . and for a woman take the urine of a femal● childe , and of the ●uice of culrage withou● spots and do as for the man. an experienced medicine for the sciatica . take jvy , mugwort , wallwort and the inner rinde of an elder tree , and seethe them in fair water with a good quantity of salt , and bath the sore place well therewith three or four times a day for the space of nine dayes ●ogether , and doubtless this will cure it ▪ an excellent oil for an ache onely to be made in the moneth of may , oil of rosemary flowers . take a thin glass of a pottle , and fill the glass ●ull of rosemary flowers very finely and purely picked , put no liquor at all thereto but the pure flowers onely , and stop the glass very close that no air get therein , then set the said glas● in the sun against a wall out of the winde , and there let it stand all the said moneth of may ▪ in the end of may you shall ●ind the said flowers dissolved into a very s●eet oil , which oil clarifie it into another glas●●rom the grounds ; and this said oil stop close and keep it diligently , for its an excellent and proved remedy , against any manner of ache in the joynts or otherwise . a powder for the sciatica . take betony ce●taury one two ounces , dit●anie , rue , one 6 ▪ ounce make all these into fine powder searced and kept in a box , the dose to be given is one dram in a draught of white wine bedward to sleep , probatum . a plaster f●r all aches and pains in any part of the body . take a quarter of a pound of pure rosen , and unwrought wax , dears suet , or sheepes suet of equal quantity , melt them altogether , three or four spoonfuls of sallet oyl , black sope of the bigness of a wallnut , stir all together , take it from the fire , put in your linnen first made fi● for the place grieved , then hang them on a string till it be cold . it will take away the pain and disease , use it to any par● of the body where th● pain is , whether in the joints , swellings , sciatica , often proved upon my self ▪ i will not leave the use of it f●r gold . childrens diseases . the head , remedie●●or the distempers of their heads . for the apostume of the brain and swelling . in which cases the childe cannot rest and is ever loath to have his head touched cryeth and vexeth it self as it were in a phrensie . remedy . make a bath of mallowes , camomil and lillies sodden with a sheepes head till the bones fall , and with a spunge or soft clouts all to bath the head of the childe , in a cold apostume with the broth hot as may be suffered , but in a hot matter , with the broth luke warm , or in the cooling and after the bath set on a plaster thus . take fenugreek , camomil , wormwood , of every one a handful , seethe them in a close vessel till the third part be consumed , then stamp them in a mortar and stir them , to the which ye shall put of the same broth again enough to make a plaster wi●h a little bean flower , yelks of eggs and saffron , adding to them fresh butter or ducks grease , sufficient , and apply it ; in a cold matter let it lie a day but in a hot cause ye must remove it every six hours . for swelling of the head , which cometh of a windie matter , which is manif●st to the sight by the swelling or puffing up , and pressed with the fing●r there remaineth a print , which is a sign of winde and viscous humours , ye shall heal it thus ; take an hand●ul o● f●nnel , smallach and di●l , and seethe them in water in a close vessel , afterward stamp them , and wi●h a little cummin and oil of bitter almonds make it up and lay it often to the child warm ; in default of oil of almonds take goose grease adding a little vineger . and it is good to bathe the place with a s●ft cloth or a spunge in the broth of these herbs . rue , time , marioram hyssop , fennel , dill , cummin , salintra , mints , radish roots , rocket , or some of them , ever taking heed that there drop not the medicines in the babes eys , mouth or ears . for scales and ulcers in the head ▪ if ye see the scales like shells of oisters , blac● and dry cleaving upon the ●kin one withi● another , ye may make a fomentation of ho● and moist herbs , as fenugreck , holihock , bear● breech , linseed and such other sodden , all 〈◊〉 some of them , in the broth of neats feet , an● so to bathe the scres , and after that apply 〈◊〉 soft plaster of the same herbs with goose grease or butter , using this still till ye see th● scab removed : and then wash it with the juic● of horehound , smallach and betony sodot● together in wine , and after the washing pu● upon it powder of mirrhe , aloes , and frankincense , or hold his head over a chaffing dish 〈◊〉 coals wherein ye shall put frankincense an● saunders in powder . but if ye see the scab very sore and matterie with great pain an● burning of the h●ad ye shall make an ointmen● to cool the matter thus . take whi●e lead and litarge of each fiv● drams , lie made of the ashes of a vine thre● drams , oil of roses an ounce , wax an ounce melt the wax first then put to the oil , and li● with the rest , and in the end two yelkes o● eggs , make an ointment and lay it to the head . this is the composition of rasis . another . take betony , groundsel , plantain , fumitory and daysies , of every one like much stamp them , and mingle them with a pound of fresh swines grease , and let them stand closed in a moist place eight dayes to putrifie , then fry them in a pa● , and s●●ain them in a clean vessel and ye shall have a green ointment of singular operation for the sa●d disease and to qu●nch all unkinde heats of the body , also ye must use to shave the head , whatsoever things ye do lay unto it . if there do lack cleansing of the sores and the childe wounded , ye shall do well to make ointment of a little turp●ntine , buls gall and hony and lay upon the sores . the juice of morrel , daysie leaves and groundsell fryed with grease and made in an ointment , cooleth all unkinde heats and p●stules of the head . moreover the childs head may not be kept hot for that is sometimes the cause of this disease . sometimes there breedeth in childrens heads as it were little warts or knobbes somewhat hard and cannot be resolved by the said medicines . an excellent remedy for warts or knobbes of the head . take litarge and white lead of each a like quantity , of brimstone and quick silver quenched with spittle ▪ of each a less quantity , twice asmuch oil of roses and a spoonful or two of vineger , mix them all together on a marble till they be an oyntment and lay it on the head , and when it hath been dry an hour or two , wash it off with water wherein was sodden marjerone savory and mintes , use it thus twice a day morning and evening till ye see it whole ▪ this thing is also good in the other kinde o● scales . rhasis description . anoint the forehead and temples of th● childe , with oil of vi●l●ts and vineger , putting a drop or two into the nostrils , and if y●● can get any syrup of poppie give to the child● to lick , and then mak● a plaster of oil o● saffron , lettuce and the juice of poppie , o● we● cloutes in it and lay it overthwart th● temples also the seed● a●d the heads of poppie ca●led ches●uls stamped with r●sewa●er , an● mixt with with womans milk , and the whit● of an eg● beaten altogether and made into ● plaster causeth the childe to receive his natural sleep . also an ointment made of the seed of poppie and the heads one ounce , oil of lettuc● and of poppie of each two ounces , make a● ointment and use it . they that cannot get these oils may tak● the herbs or juice of lettuce , purslane , hous● leck and poppie and with womans milk , make a plaster and lay it to the forehead . oil of violets , of roses , of nenuphar ar● good , and oil of populeon , the broth of mallowes sodden and the juice of water plantain . the cure of a palsie in a childe is not like to that in elder age , for the sinnewes be very nesh and tender and they ought to have a much weaker medicine , evermore regarding the power of the sickness , and the vertue or ●ebilitie of the grieved patient . 〈◊〉 shal be good for the nurse to eat a electuary made after this sort . take mintes , cinnamon , cummin , rose leaves ▪ dried mastick , fen●gr●ck , valerian ameo● , dor●●ici zed●arii , clove● , sa●●ders and lignum aloes , of ev●ry one a d●a● ▪ mu●k half a dram , make an electuary with clarified hony and let her eat it , and give the child● asmuch as half a nut every day to swallow . a p●aster . take an ounce of wax and a dram of euph●●bium at the apothecaries , and temper it with oil olive on the fire , & make a cerecloth to comfort the back bone and si●ewes take lie of ashes and seethe therein bay-berries and asmuch piony seeds in a close vessel to the third part , and wash the childe often with the sa●● . i●em , a bath of savory , marjoram , time , sage , nepte , smallage , and mintes or some of them is very good and wholsome , also to rub the back of the childe and limbs with oil of roses and spike mixt together warm and in stead of it ye may take oil of bayes . of the cramp or spasmus . this disease is often seen among children and cometh very lightly , as of debility of the nerves and cords , or else of grosse humours , that suffocate the same , the cure of which i● delared by authors to be done by frictions and ointments that comfort the sinewes , and diss●lve t●e matter , as oil of flower de luce and the roots of piony ▪ ●tem . oil of camomil , fenugreck and melilote , or the herbs sodden , betony , wormwood , vervine and time are exce●ding g●od to wash the childe in , i●em , the plaste● of euphorbium written in the cure of the palsie . of starkness and stiffness of the limbes . when a young child● is so taken with a cold i esteem it best to bath the body in luke warm water wherein hath been sodden marj●ram and time , hyssop , sage , mintes an● such other good and comfortable herb● , then to relieve it with meats of good nourishment according to the age and necessity , and if need be when ye see the limbs yet stark make an ointment after this form . take a good handful of nettles and stamp them , then seethe them in oil to the third part in a double vessel , keep that ointment in a dry place , for it will last a great while and it is a singular remedy ●or the stiffness that cometh o● cold , and whoso anointeth his hands and f●et with it in the morning shall not be grieved with cold all the day after . the seeds of nettles gathered in harvest and kept for the same intent , is exceeding good sodden in oil , or fryed with swines grease , which thing is also very good to heal the kibes of heel , called in latine perniones . when the cause cometh not by extream cold but of ●ome other affection of the sinewes and cords , i● best to make a bath or a fomentation of ●erbs that resolve and comfort the sinewes ●ith relaxation of grosse humours . the eyes , remedies for their distempers in children . ●●mours , and to open the pores , as by exampl● thus . take mallowes , hollihock and dill of each a ●●ndful or two , seethe them in the water of ●eat●feet , or in the broth of flesh without 〈◊〉 , with a handful of bran and cummin , in ●hich ye shall bath the childe as warm as he ●ay suffer , and if ye see necessity ▪ make a ●●aster of the same herbs and lay it to the 〈◊〉 with a little goose grease , or ducks grease , it may be got , oil of camomil , of lilies and 〈◊〉 dill , clothes wet in the said decoction and 〈◊〉 about the members helpeth . of blood ●●otten eyes and other infirmities . the cause is often too much crying , for the ●hich drop into the eye a little of the juice morrel , otherwise called morel , and to ●noint the forehead with the same , and if 〈◊〉 eye swell , to wet a cloth in the juice and 〈◊〉 white of eggs , and lay it to the grief . 〈◊〉 the humour be clammish and tough and cleaveth to the corners of the eye , so that the childe cannot open them , af●er his sleep it shall be removed with the juice o● housleek d●opped on the eye with a feather ▪ when the eye is bloodshot it is a singular remedy to put in the blood of a young p●g●on , or a dove , or a pa●ri●ge , ●●ther hot from the bird or else dried and made in powder as subti● 〈◊〉 may be possible ▪ a plaster for swelling and pain of the eyes . take qu●ices a●d crums of white bread and see●he it in wat●r till they be soft , the● stamp them , and with a little 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 yelks of two eggs , make a plaster to th● childes eyes and ●o●ehead ; ye may let him receive the fume o● that decoction . it is als● good in the meg im . for watring eyes . hartshorn brent in powder and washe● twice , guiacum otherwise called lignum sanc● corticum thuris ▪ antimony , of each one part , mus● the third part of one part make a fine powde● and use it with the juice or water of fennel . the ears , remedies for distempers of the ears of childr●n . for pain in the ears , it is good to drop into the ears the juice 〈◊〉 organy and milk . for swelling in the ears . painters oil , which is oyl of linseed is exceeding good for the swelling of the ear● , and for pain in the ears of all causes . if ye see the apostume break and run , ye may cleanse it with the juice of smallach , the white of an egg , barley flower and honey , which is a common plaster to mundifie a sore . when the ●ars have received water or any ot●er l●quor , it is good to take and stamp an onyon , and ●ring out the juice with a little goose grease , ●nd drop it hot into the ears as may be suffered and lay him down on the contrary side an ●our , after that cause him to neese if his age ●ill suffer with a little pellitory of spain , or ●eesing powder , and then incline his ear downward that the matter may issue ▪ for worms in the ears . take myrrhe aloes and the seed of colocynthis ●●lled colloquintida at the apothecaries , a ●uantity of each , seethe them in oil of roses , ●nd put a little in the ear. myrrhe hath a great ●ertue to remove the stench that is caused in ●he ears by any putrifaction , and the better 〈◊〉 oil of bitter almonds , or ye may take the 〈◊〉 of wormwood with hony and salt 〈◊〉 . for winde in the ears and tinckling . take mirrhe , and spicknard , cummin , dill 〈◊〉 oil of camomile and put a drop into the 〈◊〉 ea●s . they that have not all these may take some of them , and apply it according to discretion . to amend deafness ye shal● make an ointment of a hares gall , and the grease or dropping of an eel , which is a soveraign thing to recover hearing . for neesing out of measure . anoint the head with the juice of purcelaine , sorrel and nightshade , or some of them and make a plaster of the white of an egg and the juice , with a little oil of roses , and emplaster the forehead and temples with the milk of a woman , oil of roses and vineger a little . the teeth . to help the breeding of them . if it come of cold rheum , make a plaster o● mastick , frankincense , mirrhe , wine , an● apply it to the former part of the head . ●fume of the same received in flax and laid upon the childs head is wholsom . to procure easie breeding of teeth . anoint the gums with the brains of an har● mixt with asmuch capons grease and hone● or any of these things alone is exceeding goo● to supple the gums and the sinewes and when the pain is intolerable wi●● ap●stume or infl●mmation of the gums , m●k● an ointment with oil of roses with the ju●●● of morrel otherwise called nightshade , and in lack of it anoint the jawes within with a l●ttle fresh butter and hony . for lack of th● har●s brain ye may take the conni●● , for they be also of the kinde of hares , wh●se mawes are of the same effect in medicine as the mawes of ha●es . if the gums apostume or swell with so●t flesh full of matter and painful , the best shall be to anoint the sore place with the brain of an ha●● and c●pons grease , equally mixed together , and after that ye have used this once or twice , anoint the gums and apostumations with hony . if this help not t●ke turpentine mixt with a little hony in equal portion . and make a bath for the head of a childe in this manner following . take the flowers of camomil & dill of each an handful , and seethe them in a quart of pure running water until they be tender , and wash the head afore any meat every morning , for it purgeth the superfluity of the brain , the seames of the skull , and withdraweth humours from the sore place , finally comforteth the brain and all the vertues animal of the childe . the mouth , the remedies of its distempers in chidren . to cause easie breeding of teeth . take red coral hanged about the neck , where upon the childe should often labor his gums , it helpeth children of the falling evil , and is very good to be made in powder and drunken against all manner of bleeding of the nose or fundament . remedies for the canker in the mouth of children . take drie red roses and violets , of each a like qu●ntity , make them in powder and mix them with a little hony , this medicine is very good in a young sucking childe , and many times healeth without any other thing at all . but if there be great pain and heat in the sore , ye shall make a juice of purcelaine , lettuce and nightshade and wash the sore with a fine piece of silk , this will abate the brenning , asswage the pain , and kill the venome of the ulcer , but if ye see the cank●r yet encrease with great corruption , and matter ye shall make an ointment after this manner . take mirrhe , galias , or in default of them open apples , dried frankincense , of each a like much , of the black berries growing on the bramble , taken from the bush while they be green , the third part of all the rest , make them all in powder and mix them with asmuch hony and sa●fron as is sufficient and use it . another stronger medicine for the canker in the mouth of children . take the root of celidonie dried , the rinde of pomegranate dried , red coral in powder , and the powder of an h●r●shorn , of each alike , ●och al●o●n a li●tle , fi●st wash the place with wine , or warm water a●d hony , and afterward put on the aforesaid powder , very fine and subtile . the neck , the throat and breast , remedies for their distempers in children . another singular medicine for the canker in the mouth of all ages . take hyssop , sage , rue , of each one good handful , seethe them in wine and water to the third part , then strain them out and put in it a little white copper as according to the necessity : that is to say when the sore is great put in the more , when it is small ye make take the lesse , then add to it a quantity of hony clarified and a spoonful or two of good aqua vitae , wash the place with it , for it is a singular remedy to remove the malice in a short while , which done ve shall make a water incarnative and healing thus . take ribwort , betony and daisies of each a handful , seethe them in wine and water , and wash his mouth two or three times a day with the same juice . of quinsie and swelling of the thr●at . the quinsie is a dangerous sickness both in young and old , it is an inflamation of the neck swelling and great pain , sometime it lyeth in the very threat upon the weasand pipe , and then it is exceeding perillous , for it stoppeth the breath and strangleth the patient an●n , otherwhiles it breaketh out like a bouch on the one side of the neck , and then also with very great difficulty of breathing , but it choketh not so soon as the first doth , and it is more obedient to receive curation . the signes are apparent to sight , that the childe cannot cry , neither swallow down his meat and drink without pain . remedy . it is good to anoint the grief , with oil of dill or oil of camo●il and lilies , and to lay upon the head hot clouts dipped in the waters of rosemary , lavender , and savory , the chiefest remedy commended of authors in this ●utragious sickn●ss , is the powder of a swallow brent with feathers and all , and mixt with hony , wh●reof the patient might swallow down a little and the rest anointed upon the pain . i●em , another experiment for the quinsie , and swelling under the ears . take the mushrom that groweth upon an elder tree , called in english jews ears , heat it against the ●fire and put it hot in any drink , the same drink ●s good and wholsom for the quinsie . some hold opinion that who so useth to drink with it shall never be troubled with this disease , and therefore carry it about with them in journies . of the cough . stamp blaunched almonds and wring them out with the juice of fennel , or water of fennel and give it the childe to feed with a little sugar . first anoint his head over with hony and press his tongue with your finger , holding down his head that the same may issue . against the great cough and heat in the body . take heads of white poppie and gum d●agagan● , of each alike much , long cucumer seeds asmuch as all , seethe them in whey with raisins and sugar , and let the childe drink of it twice or thrice a day luke warm or cold . the stomack , its remedies in children . for straitness of winde . against the straitness of winde which is no quinsie , the consent of authors do attribute a great effect to linseed made in powder , and tempered with hony , for the childe to swallow a little at once . for vomiting . it is very good to wash the stomack with warm water of roses , wherein a little musk hath been dissolved ▪ for that by the odour and natural heat giveth a comfort to all the spiritual members ; and then it is good to r●st a quince tender , and with a little powder of c●oves and sugar , and give it to the childe . to eat conserve of quinces wi●h a little cinnamon and cloves , is singular good for the same intent , also ye may make a juice of quinces , and give the childe to drink with a little sugar . an ointment for the stomack . take gallia moschata at the apothecaries xx . g●ain weight , mirrhe a very little , make it up in ointment form with oil of mastick and water of roses sufficient . to recover an appetite lost . take a good quantitie of rank and lustie rue and seethe it in a pint of vineger to the third part or lesse and make it very strong , whereof if it be a childe , ye may take a tost of brown bread and stamp it with the same vineger , and lay it plaisterwise to the stomack , and for a stronger age , besides the plaster , let him sup morning and evening of the same vineger . this is also good to recover a stomack lost by coming to a fire after a long journey , and hath a singular vertue to restore a man that swooneth . for a yeaxing or hicket . make him vomit with a feather or by some other light means , that done , bring it asleep and use to anoint the stomack with oil of castor , spike , camomil and dill , or two or three of them joyned together warm . for colick and rumbling in the guts . wash the childs belly with hot water wherein hath been sodden cummin , dill and fennil , after that ●ake a plaster of oil and wax and clap it hot upon a cloth to the belly . remedy for the flux in a childe . first make a bath of herbs that do restrain , as of plantain , st. iohns weed called hypericon , knot-grasse , bursa pastoris , and other such or some of them , and use to bath him in it as hot as ye may well suffer them , then wrap him in with clothes and lay him down to sleep . and if in twice or thrice using the belly be ●o● stopped , ye may take an eggs yelk hard rosted & grinde it with a little s●ff●on , mirrhe and wine , made a plaster and lay to the ●a●il hot , if this succeed not , take powder of knotgrass , or the juice there of in a posset drink , or a plaster of the same herb and of shepherds purse , bolea●mony and the juice of plantain with a little vineger , and wheat slower is exceeding good in this case . another . take sorrel seed and the kernels of great raisins , dried aco●n cups , and the seeds of white poppie of each two drams , sa●fron a good quantity , make them in powder and temper them with the juice of quinces or syrup of red roses , this is a soveraign medicine in all fluxes of the womb . the pizzle of an hart or stagg dried in powder and drunk , is of great effect in this case , which is also approved ▪ in the liver of a beast called in english an otter , the stones of him drunk in powder a little at once , thirty dayes together , hath healed men for ever , of the falling evil . for stopping and hardness of the belly . in this case ye must alway put a little hony in the childs meat , and let the nurse give him hon● to su●k upon his fing●r , and if this will not help , then the next is to mixt a little fine and clear turpentine with hony , and so to r●solv● it in a sawcer , and let the childe sup of it a little . the gall of an ox or cow laid upon a clout on the ●avil causeth a childe to be loose bellied , likewise an emplaster of a rost●d onyon , the g●ll of an ox and butter laid upon the belly as hot as he may suff●r it . if these will not help ye sha●l take a li●●l● cotto● and dipped in the said gall put it in the fundament . and ●t ●s to be noted , that a natu●al flux is nev●r to be feared a●o●e the seventh day , and except there issue blood it ought not to be stopped afore that time . remedies for worms in chi●dren . the herb that is found growing upon oysters by the sea side is a singular remedy to d●stroy worms , and is called ●herefore of the greeks scolitabotani , that is to say the herb that killeth worms . it must be made in powder , and given with sweet milk to the childe to drink . the physicians call the same herb corallin● . to kill worms in children . take red currants and lay them in vinger of white wine , and let them remain one night steeped in the vinger , and take sugar and make it sweet and take two or three spoonfuls and give the patient to eat and this will make them come away . for worms in the belly or stomack a most excell●nt approved medicine . take the green buds of elme , and fry them with fresh butter and lay it hot to the belly or stomack and it presently cur●th the grieved and will cause the worms to avoid . for worms . take powder of centory , carduus bene●ictus , and lavender co●ton , one ounce , and towards the full of the m●on , give one s●●uple , with wort or pure triacle to bedward and it helpeth , also you may spread thereof on the rough side of leather cut round like a trencher for fruit , and lay it on the childs navil and warm clothes aloft . to kill and avoid chest worms . take great raisins , pick out the stones and fill them with powder of mirrhe , and give the childe fasting and he shall finde ease presently . a singular receip● to kill worms . if the childe be of age , or of strong constitution , ye may make a few pills of aloes , and the powder of wormseed , then winde them in a piece of a singing loaf , and anoint them over with a little butter , and let them be swallowed down whole without chewing . the n●vil , it● remedies . for swelling of the navil . take spike , or lavender , half an ounce , make it in powder , and with three ounces of fine and clear turpentine temper it in an ointment , adding a portion of oil of sweet almonds . but if it come of crying take a little bean flower , and the ashes of fine lin●en clouts bu●nt , and temper with red wine and honey and lay to the sore . a plaster for swelling of the navil . take cowes dung and dry it in powder , barly flower and bean flower of each a portion , the juice of knot grasse a good quantity , cummin a little , make a plaster of all and set it to the navil . take cowes dung and seethe it in the milk of the same cow and lay it the grief . this is also marvellous effectual to help a suddain ache or swelling in the leggs . for the stone in children . though it be very hard to be cured , yet in the beginning it is healed thus . first let the nurse be well dieted , or the childe if it be of age , abstaining from all grosse meat , and hard of digestion , as is beef and bacon , salt meats and cheese , then make a powder of the root of piony dried and minister it with asmuch hony as shal be sufficient , or if the childe a●hor hony make it up with sugar molten a little upon the coles , and give unto the childe more or lesse according to the strength twice a day till ye● see the urine passe easily , ye may also give it in a rear egg ▪ for without doubt it is a singular remedy in children . reins and bladder , their remedies in children . an ointment for the same . oil of scorpions , if it may be gotten , is exceeding good to anoint wi●hall , the m●mbe●s and the neither part of the belly , right against the bladder . a singular bath for the same intent . take mallowes , holihock , lilly roots , linseed and parietary of the wall , seethe them all in the broth of a sheepes head , and therein use to bath the childe oft times , for it shal open the strai●ness of the conduits that the stone may issue , swage the pain and bring out the gravel with the urine , but in more effect when a plaster is made and laid upon the reins and belly , immediatly after the bathing . a plaster for the stone . take parietary of the wall one portion and stamp it , doves dung another portion and grinde it , then fry them both in a pan with a good quantity of fresh butter , and as hot as may be suffered , lay it to the belly and back , and from four hours to four let it be renewed , this is a soveraign medicine in all manner of ages . item , another powder which is made thus , take the kernels or stones that are found in the fruit called mespiles or of some m●dlers , make them in fi●e powder , which is wonderful good to break the stone without danger , both in old and young . the chestworms dried and made in fine powder , taken in the broth of chickens or a little sugar , helpeth them that cannot make their urine . of pissing in the bed , a powder . take the weasand of a cock , and pluck it , then brenne it to powder , use it twice or thrice a day , the stones of an h●dgh●g is of the same vertue powdred , item ▪ the clawes of a goat made in powder drunken or eaten in pottage . ruptures . of bursling . if it be not utterly incurable it may be healed after this sort . first lay the patient so on his back that his head be higher then his heels , then take and reduce his bowels with your hand into due place , afterward ye shall make a plaster to be laid upon the cods and bound with a lace round about the back , after this form . take rosin , frankin●ense , mastick , cummin , linfeed and a●niseed of every one alike , powder of osmund roots , that is to say , of the ●road fearn the fourth part of all , make a plaster with sufficient oil olive and fresh swines grease , and spread it on a leather , and let it continue except a great necessitie , two or three weekes , after that apply another like till ye see amendment , in this case it is very good to make a powder of the ears of an hare and to temper it with sugar , or conserve of roses and give it to the childe every day . if it be about the age of seven years ye make make a singular receipt in drink to be taken every day twice thus . take matfellon , daisies , comfery and osmunds of every one alike , feethe in the water of a smiths forge to the third part in a vessel covered on a soft fire , then strain it and give to drink of it a good draught at once morning and evening . the fundament , or right gut , the falling of the fundament . if the gut called rectum intestinum hath been long out or swollen , that it cannot be reposed , or by coldnes of the air hath bin so congealed , the best counsel is to set the childe on a hot bath made of the decoction of mallowes , ho●●●hock li●seed and the roots of lilies , wherein ye shall bath the fundament with a soft clout or spunge , and when the place is suppled thrust it in again , which done then make a powder thus . a powder for falling of the fundament . take the powder of an hartshorn brent , the cups of acorns dried , rose leaves dried , goats clawes brent , the rinde of a pomegranate and of galls , of every one a portion , make them in powder and strow on the fundament . it shall be the better if ye put a little on the gut , afore it be reposed in his place , and after it be setled to put more of it upon the fundament , then binde it with hot linnen clothes , and give the childe quinces or a rosted warden to eat with cinnamon and suggar . another good powder for the same . take galls , mirrhe , frankincense , mastick , and aloes of every one a little make them in powder and strow on the place . another good remedy . take the wool from between the leggs or the neck of the sheep which is full of sweat and ●at , then make a juice of unset leeks , and dip the wooll in it , and lay it to the place as hot as may be suffered , and when it waxeth cold remove it , and apply another hot , this is a very good remedy for the falling of the fundament . if the childe provoke many times to siege and can expel nothing , that disease is called of the greeks tenesmos for the which it shall be very good to apply a plaster made of garden cresses , and of cummin in like quantity , fry them in butter , and lay it on the belly as hot as he may suffer it . small pox and measils in children and their cure . to avoid ill humours in a childe of tender years . take a quantity of liquerice , anniseeds , and small raisins , with a handful of hyssop boiled in white wine and strained , also linseeds beaten into small powder and rolled up in hony in pills , divers of them , and cause the childe to swallow down two or three o● them in a day . for children that breed the pox and measils . take a piece of fair fat pork that is young and seethe it in fair water , and no salt thereto let it seethe until it be tender then take i● out and keep the broth , and wash the child therewith and it will make the pox an● measils come fair out and keep the sores fro● pockers and blemishes . a medicine for the small pox. take oil olive and a good handful of the re● berries of the white brioni● , and two handful of the leaves of yarrow chopped small an● bruised with the berries , boil them lea●● surely in the oil till it be greenish , then strai● it into a glasse , and being cold cover it clo●● and with a feather anoint the face and eye therewith , and any part of the body you wil● ●f you have no oil , for need you may take ●●ream and stamp and strain the berries and ●●rrow , and blood warm anoint the place ●ith a feather , but let the pox be come out ●●st five dayes , least they stick in again . ● medicine for the small pox in the throat , or any ill or soreness in the throat . take and rost an apple that is cored , and fill 〈◊〉 the hole thereof with fine sugar candy ●●ten , and so eat the butter and pulpe of it ●●rm and it giveth you present help . to keep the small pox out of the throat . take diaprunis the quantity of a good nut●●gg , and dissolve it in broth , and give it ●●●o the partie grieved in the morning fasting . for chafing of the skin . in the beginning ye shall anoint the places ●●th fresh capons grease , then if it will not ●●al make an ointment and lay to the place . an ointment . take the root of flower-deluce dried , of 〈◊〉 roses dried , galingale , and mastick , of each ●●ke quantity , beat them into most subtil ●●wder , then with oil of roses or of lin●●●d make a soft ointment . item , bean flower , barly flower , and the ●●wer of fitches tempered with a little oil of ●es maketh a soveraign ointment for the ●●me intent . of small pox and measils . the best and most help in this case is not 〈◊〉 meddle with any kinde of medicines , but 〈◊〉 nature ●ork her operation , notwithstandin● if they be too slow in coming out , it shall b● good for you to give the childe to drink s●●●den milk and saffron , and so keep him close an● warm , but in no case to administer any thin● that might represse the swelling of the skin , 〈◊〉 to cool the heat that is within the members . if the wheales be outragious and great , 〈◊〉 decoction of water betony is approved go●● in the said disease , likewise the ointment made mention of in the cure of scabs is ●●●ceeding wholsome after the sores are rip●● moreover it is good to drop into the patien● eye , five or six times a day a little rose fennel water , to comfort the sight , left it hurt by continual running of the matter ; t●● water must be ministred in the summer co●● and in the winter luke warm . the same ro●●●water is good to gargle in the mouth if t●● childe be then pained in the throat ; and l●● the conduits of the nose should be stopped● is expedient to let him smell often to a spun wet in the juice of savory , strong vineger an● little rose-water . fevers in children , their cure . to take away the spots and scars of the small poxes and measils . the blood of a bull , or of a hare is much commended of authors to be anointed ●ot upon the scars , and also the liquour that ●●●eth out of sheepes clawes , or goats clawes ●o● in the fire . fevers . if the fever use to take the childe with a ●●●at shaking and after hot , whether it be ●●tidian or tertian ; it shall be singular good ●o give it in drink the black seeds of piony ●●de in fine powder , searced and mingled with ● little sugar . also take plaintain , fetherfew 〈◊〉 vervine and bath the childe in it once or ●●ice a day , binding to the pulses of the hand ●●d seet a plaster of the same herbs stamped , ●●d provoke the childe to sweat afore the fit ●ometh . some coun●el in a hot fever , if be a ●●ak patient , to take dry roses and powder ●●em , then temper the powder with the juice 〈◊〉 endive or purcelain , rose water and barly ●●wer and make a plaster to the stomack . item , an ointment for his temples , arms , and ●●ggs , made of oil of roses and populeon , of ●●ch alike much . a good medicine f●r the ague in children . take plan●ain with the root & wash it , th● seeth it in fai● running water to a thi●d pa●● whereof ●e shall give it a d●aught , if it be 〈◊〉 age to drink , with suffi●ient sugar , and lay t●● s●dden herbs as hot as may be suffered the pulses of the hands and feet , this m●●● be d●ne a li●tle afore the fit , after cover with clothes . the oil of nettles is exceedi●● good to anoint the members in a cold shaki●● ague . codds , the cure of their di●●stempers in children ▪ of the swelling of the codds . take a quart of good ale and set it on 〈◊〉 fire to seethe with the crums of bro● bread strongly leavened and a handful cummin or more in powder , make a plas●●● with all this and sufficient bean flower and ●●●ply it to the grief as hot as may be s●ffered . another . take cowes dung , and seethe it in mi●● then make a plaster and lay it meetly hot 〈◊〉 on the swelling . another . take cummin , anniseeds , and fenugre●k of each a like portion , seethe them in ale and ●tamp them , then temper th●m with fresh may ●utter , or else oil olive and apply to the sore . another . take camomil , holihock , linseed and fenu●●reek , seethe them in water and grinde all to●●●her , then make a plaster with a handful of ●ean flower . another in the beginning of the grief . if there be much inflammation or heat in the ●odds , ye may make an ointment of plantain , ●he white and yelk of an egg and a portion of 〈◊〉 of roses , stir them well about and apply it 〈◊〉 the grief twice or thrice a day : when the ●in is intolerable and the childe of age or of ●●rong complexion , if the premisses will not ●elp , ye shall make a plaster after this sort . take henbane leaves a handful and an half , ●●llow leaves an handful , seethe them well in ●ear water then stamp and stirre them , and ●ith a little of the broth , bean flower , barly ●ower , oil of roses and camomil sufficient , ●ake it up and set it on the swelling luke ●arm . henbanes is exceeding good to resolve ●he hardness of the stones by a secret qua●●tie , notwithstanding i● it come of winde , it ●●all be better to use the said plasters that are ●ade of cummin . shingles , their cure. of the erisipelas or shingles . the remedies for burning are also good in this case , take at the apothecaries o● unguent . galeni an ounce and half , oil of rose● two ounces , unguent . populeon one ounce , th● juice of plantain and nightshade one ounce o● more , the whites of three eggs , beat them all together and ye shall have a good ointmen● for the same purpose . item , the dung of a swan or goose , with the white and yelk of an egg is good , item , dove● dung stamped in salt , oil or other is a singula● remedy for the same purpose . of burning and scalding . when ye see a member burnt or scalded take a good quantity of time , which is mad● of water and salt not too exceeding eager o● strong , but of a mean sharpness , and with ● clout or spunge , ●ath the member in it cold at least blood warm , three or four hour● together , the longer the better : for it shal● asswage much of the pain , open the pores cause also the fire to vapour and give a grea● comfort to the weak member , then anoint th● place with one of these med●cines . take oil of roses one part , sweet cream tw● parts , hony half a part , make an ointment an● use it . item , a soveraign medicine for burnin● and scalding , is thus made , take a dozen or more of hard rosted eggs , and put the yelks in a pot on the fire by themselves without liquor , stir them and bray them with a strong hand , till there arise as it were a froth or spume of oil to the mouth of the vessel , then presse the yelks and reserve the liquour , this is called oil of eggs , a very precious thing in the aforesaid cure . irem , the juice of lilies five parts , and vineger one part , hony a little , maketh an excellent medicine , not onely for this intent but for all other kindes of hot and running ulcers . whatsoever you use must be laid to bloodwarm , also for avoiding of a scar , keep that place moist with medicine . an approved medicine for a burning , or for a childe that falls into the fire and burns any part of it . take hens dung , or capons dung , and ground ivy and stamp them together , then take sheepes suet and fry the dung and herbs withall and strain it , and where the burning is ●noint it two or three times a day , till it be whole and keep the salve in a box , to use it at ●eed , probat . for a burn or a sca●d . take mousear , a good handful , of prim●ose leaves an handful , fearn roots an handful , ●ound these together and boil them in thick ●ream till it come to a butter , then strain it , ●nd so anoint the place . another for the same . take the yellow moss or scurse of an ashbough and put into cream and boil it to butter . of consumption or leannesse . when a child consumeth or waxeth lean without any cause apparant there is a bathe commended of authors , to wash the childe many tim●s & is made thus . take the head and feet of a weather , seethe them till the bones fall asand●r , use to bath the childe in this liquor , after anoint him with this ointment following . take butter without salt , oil of roses and of violets of each an ounce , the fat of raw pork half an ounce , wax a quarter of an ounce , make an ointment wherewith the childe must be rubbed every day twice , this shall with good feeding increase his strength by the grace of god. lice . to destroy lice . make a lavatory to wash , scour the body twice a day thus , take brine and strong ly● o● a●hes of each a like portion , wormwood a h●n●ful ▪ ●eethe them a while and after wash the body with the same liquor . a goodly medicine to kill them . take the grounds or dregs of oil , aloes , wormwood , and the gall ●f a bull or of an ox , make an ointment : which is singular good for the same purpose . item , stavisacre , brimstone and vinegar is exceeding good . it is good to give the patient often in his drink powder of an hartshorn brent stavisacre with oil is a marvellous wholsom thing in this case . an expert medicine to drive away lice . take the grounds and dregs of oil , or in lack of it fresh swines gr●ase , a sufficient quantity , wherein ye shall cha●e an ounce of quicksilver till it be all sunk into the grease , then take powder of stavisacre , searce and mingle all together make a girdle of woollen list meet for the midle of the patient and all to anoint it over with the said medicine , then let him wear it continually next his skin , for it is a sing●lar remedy to chas● away the vermin . the onely odour of quicksilver killeth lice . for scabbinesse and itch. take water of betony two good handfuls , daisie leaves & alehoof , otherwise called judmur or ground ivy , of each one handful , the red dock roots two or three , stamp them all together a●d g●inde them well , then mingle them with fresh grease and again stamp them , let them so stand eight dayes to putrifie till it be hoar , then f●y them , and strain them out and keep for the same intent ; this ointment hath g●eat effect both in young and old , and that without repercussion or driving back of the matter , which should be a perilous thing for a young child● . the water betony alone is a g●eat medicine to quench all unkindly heats without danger , or the seething of it in clear well water to anoint the members . another remedy for scabs and itch. take the roots of docks and fry them in fresh g●ease , then put to a quantity of brimstone in powder , and use to rub the places twice or thrice a day . brimstone powdred and supped in a rear egg , healeth the scabs , which thing is also very good to destroy worms . a g●odly sweet sope for scabs and itch . take white sope half a pound and steep it in sufficient rosewater till it be well soked , then ●ake two drams of mercury sublimed , disolve it in a little rosewater , labour the sope and the rose water well together , and afterward put in a little mu●k , or civet and keep it . t●is sope is exceeding good to ●ure a great scab or itch , and without peril , but in a childe shall suffice to make it weaker of mercury . ano●her approved medicine for scabbiness and it●h . take fumitory , dock roots , scabious and the roots of walwort , stamp them all and set them in fresh grease to putrifie , th●n fry them and strain them , in which liquor you shall put turpentine a little quantity , brimstone and f●ankincense very finely powdered and sifted a portion , and with sufficient wax make an ointment on a soft fire , this is a singular remedy for the same purpose . and if need be to make a bath of fumitory , centaury , featherfew , tansie , wormwood & sage alone , if ye see the cause of the itch or the scab to be worms in the ●kin , for a bitter decoction shall destroy them and d●y up the moisture of the sores . ad scabiem tam si●cum quam humidum praesens auxilium . take the roots of elecampane and of dock● ana . and scrape them clean and wash the● , cut them into small slices , and seethe them in vineger until they be soft , then pound th●m very small as is possible , then take th●reof a pound and of , barrowes grease , of common sivil oil , ana three ounce . of new wax one ou●ce , of quicksilver mortified , of turpentine washed ana two ounces , of common salt , half an ounce . melt your oil , your ●arrowes grease , and your wax together , then put in your roots prepared and after your qu●cksilver , then strain it and in the end put in the turp●ntine and salt made in powder , but it were more safe to leave out the quicksilver and to pu● instead thereof three ounces of the juice of limons , both be good , but the former more vehement . a clear and white water , that will heal in five dayes at the most all manner of scabs aswell inward as outward . take plantain water two glassful , rose water , one glassful , of the water of the flowers of citrons or o●anges half a glassful or less , put all together into a clear pan or vial of glass , and put to it one ounce of mercury sublimated , beaten into fine powder , and beat it well with fasting spittle and put to the aforesaid water● , then let it boil fair and softly a qua●t●r of an hour , take it from the fire and let it cool , then put it into some vial and wash the scabbie places at night with it , and let it dry of it self , and let them alone so the next day without washing them , and wash them again the third day , but not the fourth day , and the first and second time they are washed , it will make all the scabs in the body break forth ; and at the third time you shall have it so dried up that you shall finde all neat and clean within and without . this water maketh the flesh white , it s good for the pox , the gout & many other infirmities , and namely for that the sublimate is good to eat away all the evil and corupt flesh , and all dead flesh and to heal wounds incurable . here followeth the making and description of divers waters , balsoms , or balms and other rare and excellent medicines with their use and wonderful operations and vertues . to make the precious quintessence of the learned mathiolus as followeth . take of cinnamon two ounces , of ginger four drams , of each sort of saunders six drams , of cloves , galingale , nutmeggs , of each two drams and a half , of mace and of of cubebs of each one dram , of both kinds of cardamomum and of the seed of nigella komana of each three drams , of zedoarie half o●e ounce , of the seeds of annis , sweet f●nnel , wilde carrets and basil , of each two d●ams , of the roots of angelica , liquerice , great valerian called setwall , calamus odoratus , of each two drams , of the leaves of setarie or clary time , neppe , and pennyrial , min●es , wilde time , sweet marioram , of each two dram● , of red roses , of flowers of sage , betony , rosemary , stechados , buglos , borrage of each one half an ounce , of the rinds of citrons three drams , of the powder of amber , aromaticus rosatus , diamos●hi dulcis , diamargariton , diarh●don abbatis , electuarium de gemmis , of each of these three drams . beat all these together to powder that are to beaten ; and steep them together in 12. pound of the best aqua vitae made of excellent wine in a glass vessel , but doctor stephens water is better then aqua vitae , letting all these things so steep there 15. dayes together , keeping all the while the mouth of the glass v●ry close stopped , continually ▪ afterward put on your limbeck of glas● , & still this there , a balm o● water temperately making very close the head of the still that no breath may get out ; and keep the stilled water in another fair glass v●ss●l ▪ and put thereto of sweet saunders cut small , two ounces , and put into it of the best musk and amber grease , both knit in a fair thin cloth , of each half one scruple , of pure clear syrup rosat ▪ one pound , then shake all these together in the glasse , till the syrup and water in the glass be well tempered together , then shut the glass very close with wax and pa●chment and so let it rest in some close place 15. dayes together , and after 15. dayes clear it into another glass , and keep this for a noble medicine and right excellent , whose singular vertues are as followeth . the use and vertues of the quintessence devised by the famous mathiolu● . this quintessence if your use to drink of it , and especially if ●hey which have cold bodies pestered with cold moist humours do daily drink one spoonful or two of this water , it taketh away inward rottenness , it preserveth , nourisheth , and repaireth and defendeth , encreaseth and prolongeth li●e , and doth not only nourish natural heat and keep it in his strength , but also doth quicken and regenerate the vital spirit , it warmeth the stomack and and the brain , and sharpeneth the wit , it purifieth the eye-sight and refresheth the memorie , it healeth the rawn●ss of the stomack and swelling that cometh of winde , swimming of the head , the falling sicknes , faintness , melancholy passions , beating and trembling ●f the heart , sounding , slumbring and the pain of the belly and sides above the navil , about which the liver and the spleen lyeth , also one ounce weight hereof , with a convenient quantity of fine triacle or mithrida●um mingled with it and put into a clyster for those which have the colick which cometh of cold and winde and ministred , presen●ly healeth it ; and to be short it is , being used , of a m●st excellent remedy ●gainst all cold diseases or griefes . and marvellously preserveth the life and lustie estate of man , known and approved a true and present remedy to restore the speech lost , & good for the mother wh●rewith women be often grieviously vexed , and being given to a person that is even now ready to passe from this life , it so long retaineth him in life , that it shall seem miraculous to the beholders , to make a precious oil , w●erewith to cure the obstructions of the liver and the sp●een , which is of force to help the same , when the said grief cannot be cured by any other mean● or med●cine . take the rust of an anchor , or anchors of ships craped of which file asm●ch quantity as you list and this ru●● being ground or beaten into very fine powder , steep it in very sh●r● white vineger ▪ in a balm of warm water in a glasse vessel so as long until you see the vinegar be tur●ed very red with the rust aforesaid , then pour the said vinegar the clearest from the grounds into another vessel and keep it diligently , then pour more vinegar upon the said ground or residens & steep it as before in your balm of warm water until it be red also , then clear it as you did the first and likewise keep it . and yet again steep more vineger upon the same grounds again and again , steeping and in all such things continuing as you did before until you see that the vinegar will be no more stained red ; then pour all your said red steeped vinegar into a glasse still , and put your still into a furnace , and cover it with hot ashes and still it until all the vinegar be stilled out as other stilled water will be , and keep it , then take the glass or still out of the furnace and break it , and take the substance which lieth in the bottom and pound it small and put it into another glass vessel , and put to it the common water fresh distilled and let that steep again in warm balm as before , the space of two dayes , then take all out and let it drop tho●ow a jelly bag , and save all that liquor in a pure vessel and keep it until it be grown unto a salt , which salt again beaten into powd●r and put the same into a glass with a crooked neck which the common distillers called a retort & st●ll it as you do a balsamis , and with a very strong fir● you shall out of the same still an oil , which oil will be in colour red ; which receiving keep diligently , for you shall have hereof a rare and excellent medicine . the use and vertues of the said oil followeth this oil prevaileth against all manner of obstructions of the liver and spleen . and when these obstructions cannot be healed nor cured by any other means then will this oil heal and cure the same . the manner how to administer the same to the patient . first the grieved must be purged by the advice of a learned physician with such a purgation as hath a propertie to attenuate the humours and draw down the belly , which done you shall give the patient that is obstructed in the liver , of this oil the weight of one dram , first mingling it with a prettie quantity of the water of endive , or succory or egrimony , and if you seek to help the spleen , take the like quantity of this oil and give it as before to drink with the water of maiden hair , ●r of wal-fearn , or of tamariss , which is an herb so called , this medicine is of an approved truth . an antidote or confection called theodoret● anacardies taken out of nicoia●s myrepsus a greek author . take of spici nardi fol. which is a leaf of india , cloves , saffron , cinnam●n , epi●hymi , which is a herb like a round lace growing in some countries upon time , the flowers of mucus odora●us which the apoth●caries call squinantum , myrabolanorum , which is a little hard fruit and somewhat long , of each of these three drams , of aloes flavae twelve drams , of chestnuts , ginger , mastickes of each one dram , of ir●●s the best , six drams , anacardij , agarici , of each one dram , of the roots of asarabacca half a dram , of the seeds of parcely one dram , of costus half a dram , of pepper three drams , of fennel seed one ounce ▪ of the juice of fennel one ounce , pound ●he green fennel in a mortar and then soak or infuse the same in vineger three dayes , then seethe it well and strain it handsomly . and let all the other things be well pounded and made in a powder and finely searced , to the which add or put asmuch clarified hony or sugar as shall suffice , and seethe all together unto a reasonable thickness that is until the medicine be brought unto the thickness of hony or triacle . the effects of this medicine followeth . this medicine is good for any strong disease , as for the falling evil , for those that be vexed with an evil spirit , for the headach , for the diseases of the brest , for the plurifie , shortness of winde , the inflammation ●r apostumation of the ●●ngs , and those that have sowre bel●hing and also for ●hose that have an evil disease about their stomack or belly , it is profitable also to those that have a languishing after a long disease , and that have an ill colour , it helpeth those that have the yellow jaundise , and that have the dropsie proceeding from the lungs , it helpeth the tissick and pain of the reins of the back , and the continual grief of the colick , it strengthneth them that be troubled in all their body , it helpeth also the inordinate strange and long diseases and agues that cometh by course , and with order , if it be given between the courses , it eas●th the gout of the feet if it be given before the accidents come● , and in especial it profi●eth much for womens diseases , in which number are acc●unted the strangury or the purching that happeneth throug● the mother , or the suffocation of the mother or troubles of the same , and it profiteth also those women with childe that are in danger of abortion , it looseth also the belly , it healeth the stirring or rising of the mother , the inflammation also and raging of it ; and to speak a●solutely and in ●ew words it is the gift of god , for whos●ever shall use it to eat of it shall finde good successe . and any shall use it once or twice in the spring time and harvest , so he offend not over much in diet , he shall not be subiect to diseases , for taking fasting the quantity of a filberd nut , it will soon dissolve all evil humours . the making of a precious water called for the vertue aqua mirabilis and pre●iosa , otherwise the admirable water of england . take galingale , cloves , cubebs , ginger , meli●ote , cardamomum , macis , nutmegs , cinnamon , of each of these a dram , then take of the juice of celendine half a pinte . mix all the spices being beaten together into the powder with the said juice of celendine , then take a pint● of good aqua vitae and three pintes of good white wine or sack , and put all together into a stillatory of glass & let it stand in●used a night , and in the morrow distill it with a very sober fire , the first pint that cometh is best , the rest that runneth i● good but not so good as the first . the vertue of this water . this water hath a secret nature , it dissolveth the swelling o● the lungs without any grief , and the lungs being perished it presently cure●h it , and it comforteth and suffereth not the lungs to putrifie , he shall not need to be let blood that useth it , and suffereth not the heart to ●e hot , neither melancholy or flegm to be about it , nor to have domination above nature . it also expelleth the rheum and p●rfecteth the stomack and comforteth youth in its own estat● , engend●eth a good colour and keepeth and comforteth the visage and memorie , helpeth the palsie of the limbs and tongue . and this water to be given to any person in extremity one spoonful delivereth them . of all waters artificial it is the best , in summer use fasting once a week the quantity of a spoonful and in the winter you may take two spoonful to prevent the diseases and sicknesses aforesaid . a marvellous water to heal the leprosie and all spots of the face or elsewhere and to make one look young and to have a good colour . take the filing of gold , silver , iron , brasse , lead and the powder of storax and put all together to sleep a whole day in the urine of a maid male child● being warm , and as long in pure white wine , and the third day in the juice of fennel , the fourth day in whi●es of eggs , then take all the liquour with the filings and powder and still it with a slow fire , and keep the water in a glass and it shall have all the vertues before specified . by a day is meant xxiiii . hours . a comfortable water or medicine for these diseases as followeth , that is to say , it cureth the sto●● in the bladder and the reins of the back , it helpeth a stinking breath , it comforteth and helpeth the spirits and inward diseases that cometh of cold . it is good for the stomack and shaking palsie , and cureth the contraction of the ●●ewe● and helpeth the conception of women that are barren , it killeth worms in the body , it helpeth the cold cough , it comforteth the stomack much , it cureth the cold dropsie ; whoso useth this medicine every moneth and not too often it will make him seem young again . take a gallon of good and pure gascoin wine of the best you can get , ginger of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . galingale of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . cinnamon of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . nutmegs of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . grains of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . cloves of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . maces of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . anniseeds of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . carrawayseeds of every of them a like quantity , that is to say a dram weight of each of them . then take sage , mintes roses , pellitory , rosemary , of every of them gather an handful and most of the roses , rosemary , wilde time , camomil lavender p●nyroyal , then break the spice small and bruise the herbs and put all the wine , and let it stand twelve hours and stir it divers times together in the wine and still it by a limbeck and keep the first water by it s●lf , for it is the best , and keep the s●cond by it self , but not s● good as the first , and use this as you have need thereof . a water called the mother of the bawme . take tu●pen●ine six pounds , olibanum two ounce , aloes citrine , cub●bs , mastick , cloves , galingale , cinnamon , nutmegs of everich one ounce , gum of the fig-●ree and of the juice , of each three ounces , then make the drugs in powder and put all into a limbeck of glas● , w●ich you must joyn to the capitel with hot flower ashes and whites of eggs , so that no breath come out , and let it still with a slow fire , ●nd the first water will be white and clear , the second like hony and the third like bawm , which you shal receive into three receptories . these be of vertue as they be in order , they will burn in fire and a drop will turn a vessel of milk as bawm it self will , two drops thereof powred into the ears will take away the great noise that some have in their head● , likewise in the eyes will heal all watrie and red eyes and other diseases of the face , it c●reth any impostume , green wounds and ulcers , scabs and all other superfluous humours and the tooth-ach , ye any fis●ula or canker in nine dayes , also the no●i me tangerea , the small pox if you wash the places therewith , it is good for all old hurts and for dry blowes of staves or stones , it heal●th , strengtheneth , and all other things , rectifieth the ●i●ewes , it is so hot and penetrative that it will run through your head without grief to you , it healeth all pain● of the leggs and joints , with all other diseases that come of cold and it is as precious as bawm it self . to make the water of life . take balm leaves and stalkes , burnet leaves and flowers , a handful , of rosemary , tormentil leaves and roots , rosa solis , a handful , red roses a handful . carnations a handful , hyssop a handful and ●smuch of time , red stringes t●at grow upon saverie one handful , red fennel leaves and roots , red mintes a handful , p●t all these herbs in a great pot of earth glassed , and put thereto asmuch white wine as will cover the herbs , and let them soak therein eight or nine dayes ; then take an ounce of cinnamon , asmuch ginger , asmuch of nu●meggs , cloves and sa●iron a little , a quantity of anniseeds , of great raisins one pound , half a pound of dates , the hinder part of a good old conny , a good fleshie running capon , the red flesh with the sinewes of a legg of mutton , four young pigeons , a dozen of larkes , the yelks of twelve eggs , a loafe of white bread , cut in sops in muskadel or bastard ●s much as sufficeth to distill all these things at once in a limbeck , and put thereto mithridate two or three ounces or else asmuch perfect triacle and distill it with a moderate fire . and keep the first water by it self , and the second alone , and where there cometh no more water with strings , then take away the limbeck and put into the more wine upon the same stuff , and still it again , and you shall have another good water and 〈◊〉 shall remain good in the first ingredience of this water . you must keep this wa●er in a double glass warily , for it is restorative of principal members , and defendeth against all pestilential diseases and against the palsie , dropsie , spleen yellow or black jaundise , worms agues and sweatings and pestilential sorrowes , melancholy , and streng●hneth and forti●ieth the spirits and strings of the brain , the heart and stomack and the liver , taking a spoonful or two or three at a time , by it self or with ale or wine and sugar , it helpeth digestion and breaketh winde , stoppeth lask and bindeth not ▪ to make water of rosemary . take rosemary flowers and in the midst of may ere the sun arise in the morning , take the rosemary and strip the leaves from the stalks and take four or five great roots of elecampane and an handful or two of sage and beat the rosemary the roots and sage together in a stone mortar till they be very small , ●h●n take it up and take three ounces of cubebs and half a pound of anniseeds and beat the spices in a mortar of brasse every spice by it self , then take all the herbs and all the spices and put them in four or six gallons of white wine , then put all these spices herbs and wine in an earthen pot and stop the pot close so that no air come thereto with a cover , made of earth , and set the same pot in the ground by the space of fifteen dayes , then take it and still it in a stillatory of tin otherwise called a limbeck with a soft fire . a notable water of great vertue . take fennel , eyebright , endive , betony silermontain , rosemary , rue , maidenhair of each an handful and let all these steep in good white wine xxiiii . hours , and afterward distill all together and keep the first water as silver , the second as gold , and the third as bawm , this will heal all swelling and running of the ears and falling of the hairs off the head and browes , it healeth all diseases of the eyes , and killeth the worms in the teeth and maketh the breath sweet , it breaketh the impostume in the head , if it be put into the ears with bumbast , a cloth steeped therein and laid upon the stomack easeth the pains of the same , and likewise mollifieth the hardness of the spleen . also it taketh away all spots of the face , if you mingle a little thereof with white wine , and put thereto a little roch allom. an excellent water against the colick the mother and all pains in the belly . take cinnamon two drams , cloves two drams , galls one dram , grains two drams , nutmeggs one dram , beat all these to grosse pow●er and put them in a stillatory covered over ●ith muscadel or good malmesy and let it ●tand so xxiiii . hours , then still it with a slow f●re and you shall have a very sweet and wholsome water which you shall use thus . take ● cup of pleasant and strong wine and pour five or six drops of this water into it and let the patient drink it up , also four or five drops thereof poured into a great quantity of warm water will make it have a pleasant smell to wash hands or other things . to make a special aqua composita to drink for a cold or su●fet in the stomack , well proved . take a handful of rosemary and a good root of elecampana and an handful of hysso● half an handful of time , half a handful of sag● six good crops of red mints and as many 〈◊〉 penyrial , half a handful of hore●ound , six crop of marjerom , two ounces of liquerice we●● bruised , asmuch anniseed , and take three galons of good strong ale and take all the sai● herbs wringing asunder , and put them into th● ale in a brasse pot well covered and close an● let them stand till they begin to boil , the● take them from the fire and set upon it you limbeck and stop it just with paste that ther● cometh no air out and so keep it forth with soft fire as aqua vitae is made , put more ther●to , half an handful of red fennel , half handful of hartstongue and half an ounce 〈◊〉 maces . a marvellous ba'm made by art most laudable . take fine turpentine one pound , of oil of bay four ounces , o● galbanum four ounces , of gu●● arabick four ounces , of pure frankincense , 〈◊〉 mi●rh , of gum jvy and of lignum aloes , 〈◊〉 each four ounces , of gal●●gale , zedoary , o● ginge● of the white dittany of leaves of conjoli●● minor , of nutmeggs , of cinnamon of each on dram , of musk and ambergrease of each on● dram ▪ all these b●at together , pour upon 〈◊〉 pints of the best aqua vitae distill it secundu● ar●em . the vertues are th●se , it breaketh and di●solve ●n the st●ne in the kidneys , causeth th● patient to pisse , which otherwise is letted 〈◊〉 a piece of flesh , it helpeth consumption , sci●tica , or ach in the head , fowl scurse , wounds i● the head , it helpeth the plurifie . give on dram with water at a time helpeth any swel●ng in any part of the body , the coldness in ●●e head , it helpeth hot sickness aswell as cold . take a borrage more , and boil him in half pinte of wine ▪ and half a pint of rosewater , 〈◊〉 drunk fasting in the morning . it com 〈◊〉 , the heart and brain , it healeth the ●emorie and wit , it purgeth the evil blood , ●●covereth phrensiness . 〈◊〉 making of venice balsam and the vertues thereof . take a handful of the flowers of dogs●●ngue , of st. iohn wor●t the flowers , a hand●●l , white wine somewhat more then a quarter 〈◊〉 a pint , of gum elemie one ounce , five peny●orth of saffron , one penyworth of venice ●urp●ntine , one ounce of candied oil , or 〈◊〉 oil half a pinte . if the flowers of the herbs are not infused 〈◊〉 the oil , then boil it in the white wine by ●●emselves , and then boil the gum elemie in ●●e oil by it self , and then clarifie it and cast ●way the dreggs , and then boil it again all to●ether , and last of all put in the saffron and 〈◊〉 turpentine when you are ready to take 〈◊〉 boiling a little , and so clarifie it again , ●nd when it is almost cold put it into a glass to ●●e : the best way is to infuse the flowers of the herbs with red roses or damask in sallet ●●il for a year or less . the gum elemie will ●●il in the oil a quarter of an hour , and after 〈◊〉 boiling it together it will be a quarter of a 〈◊〉 hour , the flowers are to be strained out , ●odden in wine or the oil . the vertues of it are as followeth . it will cure all diseases coming of cold , ei● pains or achs in the head , or the dea●ness i● the eare ; the same ballam 〈◊〉 wa●med and anointing the place g●ieved and a warm cloath applied thereunto , and for t●e ears to lip ● little black wool in the same balsom and 〈◊〉 then th●rewith . this is good for the g●av● and pain in making of 〈◊〉 , and the co● lick , to take the same in a little mut●o● broath to the quantity of a great b●an and drink it every mor●ing fasting and an● in th● place grieved . moreover for all cold ague drink but half an ounce in broath before the fit comes . again for pain or swelling of the spleen or milt , and for the mother , anoin● the le●t side therewith well war●●d and i● will dissolve all hardness , cast out all slime and sand and open the stopping in the kidneye● and bladder , it c●reth all aches in what par● of the body soever , rubbing the place grieve● with a cloath first well warmed and then anoint it with the same balsam , being made warm ▪ and binde the place with a warm cloath afterward : it cureth all lameness and shrinking of the sinews and all green wounds suddenly , it hath more vertues then i have here written . to make the most e●dellent water of treacle or mithridate , which is a most precious remedie against all outward and inward poysons or pestilence . take of excellent venice triacle or mithridate one pound , which put into three pounds of ardent water rectified to be there digested in a furnace of circula●ion , and in a circulating v●ss●l , the fire all that while be ver● soft and slender , which done pour it into a cucurbite and put on the alembick , and distill the same so long in a balneo mariae as ye may see the liquor issue out clear and bright , but when ye see the colour thereof become clear and yellowish then take away the receiver and keep that clear water by it self to be drank in such times of need as is asoresaid . to draw out another liquor from the s●●is whence this liquor was distilled , super●●ctum . take the cucurbite with the saecis from whence this liquor was distilled and lute the said still over , then set it upon ashes and make a hot fire and draw from it such liquor as will distill , and receive the said liquor into a bladder , which set under the nose o● the ale●bick and keep it and therewith anoint the skin or outward parts , and they shall be preserved from the contagion , as aforesaid . to make cinnamon milk or liquor , after another sort most precious for a restorative . take the waters of bugloss , borrage , balme , and of the lesser cen●aury , of each a pound and an half , into the which put of cinnamon wel● choyce of the best sort two pound well beaten to powder first , which then steep in the said waters together in one glass vessel 15. dayes : and after that distill it upon hot ashes first with a lent fire so long as any liquor will issue clear and fair , which clear liquor keep apart , but when ye see certain drops issue like unto whey or milk , then change the receiver and reserve therewith all that milk liquor by it sel● , for it is most excellent , of which if ye give unto any aged or weak person or to a woman in childbed thereof a spoonful , or a spoonful and a half , it doth wonderfully strengthen them . a ba'm for a wound . take good white wine one pinte , oil olive half a pinte , st. iohns wort , hypericon of every one half a handful , shred them small and boil in the oil and wine to the consumption of the wine , and then strain it and set it over the fire again , putting frankincense and mir●he in fine powder , alwayes stir●ing in putting in the powder . and in the end put to it turpentine and then strain it again into some glasse , alwayes remembring for every pound of of oil one ounce of turpentine . this cureth wounds without tenting at all . a medicine for all manner of ulcers and sores , very pleasant , called lycion . the making of virkin lycion is the juice of capri foli . lycion cureth the canker in the matrice and in the skin and bones . lycion is a principal medicine boiled with ho●y unto the thickness of hony , it may be made thus . take the juice and set it in the sun for to dry that it may be powder , and this powder of lycion serveth dark eyes , for it is called luci●um ocu'o . it profiteth also chirurgery & that is thus , take the juice of caprisolij by it self and put thereto asmuch clarfied hony and seerhe it unto the wasting of the hony , let it be kept unto the time of your use , and this availeth unto all fraudulent ulcers of the leggs , in such time of the year ▪ if the herb be so dried that the juice will not be pressed out , th●n may the leaves be infused in good white wine , or red , and then may the juiee be pressed our , for to know that caprifolii ought not to be washed with water , but with this white wine and especially when there ought to be made licium for the c●re of the eyes . also leaves of caprifoli bruised by themselves with all his substance without medling of any other thing put it upon an ulcer of a legg d●sperate and sti●king and puting out foul blood , it cureth them marvellously , and this was proved in the legg of a great man , having a pustule ▪ in cu●ing of which all medicines failed and with this onely was cured . for to make mermale . take camomile , betony , sage , hey how , sothernweed , mugwort , wormwood , water cresses , mallowes , holihock , hor●ound , red nettle , laurel leaves of each a good handful and half , and wash them and pick them clean and st●●p them small , and put there to may butter and temper them well together , then put thereto a pint of oil ol●ffe and m●ddle them well together , and then put them in an ea●then pot , and cover it well and set it in a moist place the space o● seven dayes then put it in a clean pan and set it over the fire and let it fry well and stir it well with a slice that it cleave not to the bottom and then strain it and set it over the fire again and put thereto two ounce of virgin wax and four of weathers tallow melted , and boil them a little , then put thereto four ounces of fine frankincense fine powdred and stir it well together till it , be well medled and take it down ▪ and strain it and let it cool , then karn and let the water and turn and cleanse it on the oth●r side , and warm it , and a little skumme it with a feather and do it in boxes , this ointment is precious for joints or for sinewes and for many other diseases diaflosmus . diaflosmus is thus made . take juice of smallage and wormwood , mollein , walwort , speldearge , crowfoot , melilote , dowfoot , weybred , mugwort , avence , daisies , woodbind , burris , hony suckles , of every of the juice of these herbs take two ounce● s●ve onely of woodbinde , thereof take three ounces , clarified hony , two pound and four ounces then mix your hony & your juice together and set it on an easie fire and boil and stir them so long , till it be wel●●gh as thick as hony , that is m●lting , then take it from the fire and put it in an earthen pot and keep it to your use , for now it is called capsimel hony of molloin . but when ye will use of this most precious medicine in surgery , take of this capsimel four ounces , and of wheat meal three ounces , put these together and set them upon an easie fire , and all to stir it that it cleave not to the pans bottom , and when it is through hot , take it off , then take oil of clare or of roses & virgin wax of each three ounces , and mix them together , and then put all together and mix them well together , and when it begins to cool then put to it 2. ounces of turpentine and stir it very well together and then it is called diaflosmus idem est quod flosmus anc . molleyn . take of this byster and spread on stupes of clean linnen cloth without slyms or on carpe , and lay it to a fistula in the fundament , or to a canker , marmole , fester , plague , wolfe or noli me tangere and it healeth not only this , but every most horrible sore as bruises , rucomes , swellings and all others . a balm of great vertue . take of turpentine four ounce , of frankincense half an ounce , of lignum aloes two drams , of mastick , of cloves , galingale , of cinnamon zedoaria , of nutmeggs and of cubebs of each two drams , of gum elemie one ounce and a half this baw● marvellously worketh , in that it putteth away both wayes in applying of it both within and without the body , and many other incurable diseases as the canker and the fistula , &c. a very precious aqua vitae . take cinnamon half an ounce , lignum aloes five dram● , cubebs , cloves , three drams and a half , galingale three drams , yellow saunders , three drams and a half , red rose leaves dryed four drams and a half , nutmeg and mace a dram , musk half a dram , amber greese ten grains , syrup of the bark of citrons , one pound , syrup of quinces half an pound , aqu● vitae three pottles , powder those things which are to be powdred and put all together into an earthen pot well leaded , and let them stand and infuse the space of a moneth , stirring them twice or thrice a day , then strain them and keep it close in a glasse well stopped . this water restoreth memory lost , strengtheneth the senses and comforteth the stomack . the sublimated vine of master callus , physitian to the emperour charls the fifth is most admirrable , for the use thereof caused him to live 129 years without any disease , and is made thus . take cubebs , cinnamon , cloves , mace , and ginger , nutmeggs and galingula one three ounces , of rhaberbe half an ounce , angelica two drams , mastick four ounces , sage lib. 1. two ounces , first steep them in lib. two , ounces six of aqua vitae which was six times distilled , then distill them all together , this wine comforteth the brain and memory , expelleth melancholy and breaketh the stone , provoketh appetite and reviveth weak spirits , and causeth a man to wax young and lustie , it may be taken twice a week and not above one spoonful at a time . a special iulep made of white wine and sugar and rosewater , which comforteth and refresheth the body , much causing the spirits to wax lively . put two pounds of sugar in three pounds of white wine and one pound of red rose water , boil it till come almost to a syrup , this julep is so acceptable to nature that it supplyeth the use of meat and drink . to make triacle water . take three pints of carduus water and put into it an ounce of hartshorn and boil it till it c●me to a quart , then take gentian roots , roots elicampane roots , cyperus roots , rinde of pomegranates , of each a ounce beat them into grosse powder , of the herbs o● carduus and angelica one ounce , of the flowers of rosemary , marigold , bur rage & bugloss of each of them half an ounce also one pound of venice triacle dissolved into six pints of whi●e wine and three pints of red rose water , infuse all these things xxiiii . hours together , this still in a glasse still , or another still that stills with water . the vertue of this triac●e water . take a spoonful or two at a time upon finding the stomack ill , or upon fears , or to drive away any thing from the heart , to restore the spirits and speech and sowning and ●ainting , ten grains in a spoonful of posset drink made of ale going to bed is good against fears . for a surfet . take the grounds of strong ale two gallons , of the lees of sack two quarts , a quarter of a pound of anniseeds , bruise them and put them together and distill the water , then put into the water an ounce of cinnamon , a dozen bruised cloves , one race of sliced ginger , a quarter of a pound of prunes dried fair but not washed , 2. quarts of thunder baggs or corn rose leaves with the bottoms cut off . then sun it a moneth and if the water be not of a deep crimson then renew the leaves and sun them a while longer , take of these a spoonful at a time , an hour after a second , and an hour after a third . to make a drink for all manner of fevers and impostumes and for sickness in mans body . take hyssop , rosemary , violet leaves , vervine , herb iohn , mouseare plantain , avence sage and fetherfew of each an handful and wash them clean and put them into a mortar and bruise them a little and put them into an earthen pot that was never occupied . and put therein a gallon of good white wine and so let it stand all night covered and in the morning boil it till it come to a pottle , and let it run through a hair sieve , & put it into a clean vessel covered , and let the sick use these first and last nine dayes at evening warm , and at morning cold , every day and night half a pint , and he shall be whole by the grace o● god. a note of a diet prescribed by three dutch doct●rs fo● a man past cure so judged . take hermodactils two ounces , sarsaparillae four , of sassafras 2. ounces , sene alexandriae four ounces , liquerice one ounce , anniseeds one ounce , long pepper , half an ounce of the leaves of scabious : one great handful of egrimony , half asmuch of betonie , half a handful of water cresses and brook lime , one great handful of scurvy grasse of the sea two great handfuls , of good n●timegs one ounce , let all the wood be sliced and cut small and the herbs shred and all put into a bagg and hanged in a barrel with six gallons of new ale to work with it and when it hath wrought stop it up , and let it stand and settle , eight dayes , then drink continually of it and no other drink so long as it la●●e●h , your b●ead must be bakers bread with coriander and anniseeds , your breakfast of the bread and blaunched almonds and raisins of the sun , and your diet drink , your dinner dry rosted veal , hen , chicken , mutton or rabbet , your supper as your breakfast , or some small repast of dry rosted 〈◊〉 or rabber , continue this six weeks and beware of cold , and if you keep your chamber have merry company , this diet will cure any desperate disease in the body that is to be cured and many times indeed those which be past c●re . probat . a medicine for the sweat . take three pints of ale , one ounce of sugar , six sage leaves , boil all these together and scum them clean , and put th●rein a cr●st of white bread or a few crums and seethe then a pen●worth of powder of maces and keep it warm in an carthen pot , or in a p●wter pot and drink nine or ten ●poonfuls at your pleasure the twenty four hours , and sometime drink ale blo●d warm with a penyw●ight of powder imperial at a time . use manus christi at your pleasure if you feel your self sick or faint at your heart . then take a great weight of the queens preservatives with a spoonful of the s●dden ale aforesaid , or else ale blood warm or else on a knives point once in twenty four hours . also eat no manner of spices but mace onely and drink no manner of wine in the said twenty four hours , take no manner of cold nor take not too many o● clothes but competent . to make the queens preservative . take half an ounce of triacle , powder imperial two peny worth , of powder sedwall a peny worth , mingle all these together and put it into a box and use it as aforesaid when need requireth , and old people may eat the q●antity of a nut to preserve them fasting in the morning . for them that are poisoned a remedy . take the powder of betony put in wine , a ●poonf●l of powder to a draught of wine , a 〈◊〉 boiled by the fire being drunk doth help them presently that have drunk poison before , and whoso drink it in a morning fasting no poison can hurt him . a medicine diminishing all kinde of sickness if it be not unto death and prepareth the body for recovery of health . take of the best triacle adding thereto a few drops of oleum vitrioli and let it stand till thou use it , then any lying sick not unto death , give the weight of a french crown of the same medicine and if he be not over weak give a little more ; let him drink it hot with wine in the morning fasting four hours before he eat , washing out of the cup also with wine , which being also taken and well covered in his bed and wrapped about his bead and all covered onely his mouth : there let him sweat four hours asmuch as its possible and not sleep in any wise these four hours , then change the sheetes and let them be very dry and warm , then let him lie and not sweat before he rise or eat the space of three hours , then let him eat some good thing , and drink good old wine after his meat . then afterward the physician may use either medicine both purgative or corroborative as the necessity and occasion requireth . this medicine dim●nisheth the cause of all sickness and prepareth the body in the way of health speedily and never fails the physitian . see that he sweat plentifully without sudden cold and use good diet afterward . an oil of the philosophers drawn out of turpent●ne . take of clear turpentine eighteen ounces ▪ of sweet yellow wax twelve ounces , of the ashes of the vine tree six ounces , these put all together into a retortartly luted and fenced , which after the setting into the ashes distill according to art , maintaining a stronger and stronger heat unto the end of the work which you shall perceive by the neck of the retort within wax curded , which is a marvellous signe the distillation is performed . it healeth wounds in four times , dropping in the person that cannot pisse two drams helpeth presently , it helpeth the stitch in the side and many other griefes , &c. for to make the white plaster . take two pound and four ounces of oil oliffe of the best , of good red lead one pound , of white lead one pound very well beaten into dust . then take 12. ounces of spanish sope and incorporate these all together into an earthen pot well closed , and when they are well incorporated that the sope cometh upwards , put it upon a small fi●e of coles continuing the fire for the space of an hour and an half still stirring it with an iron or the end of a stick ; then make the fire a little bigger until the redness be turned into a grey colour , but you must not ●eave stirring it until the water be turn●d into oil somewhat darker , then drop it on a wooden trencher , if it cleave not unto the fing●r or trencher , then make it up in rols , it will last twenty years , the older the better . the vertue of this plaster . the same being laid to the mouth of the stomack , helpeth digestion , taketh away the offence and grief that riseth in the stomack , it helpeth the colick in the belly being applyed thereto , it s good for the flux if it be applyed to the reins of the back , it easeth the heat of the kidneys and weakness of the back , it helpeth all swellings and bruises and taketh away aches , it doth break ●ellons pushes , and other pushes and impostumes and healeth them , draweth out any running humour withou● breaking the skin , and applyed to the fundament helpeth any diseases there growing , its good for the falling of the willow or palate being laid to the crown of the head . it also easeth the head-ach being applyed to the temples or forehead , it s good against the rheum that falleth into the eyes , being applyed to the belly of a woman , it helpeth conception . a plaster proved on sir william farrington knight of a grievous marmole , that was on his legg and could not be remedied it was so horrible of stink till a french man healed it with this following . take one pound of litarge of gold , make powder of it as you can ●earse it , then take one quarter of oil of roses and a pint of white wine and half a pint of urine well clarified and half a pint of vineger and temper all these together on the fire , but put in the urine last , then make a plaster of it and lay to the marmole and it will heal marmole , canker , fester , wound & all other sores ▪ and if you put thereto one ounce of virgin wax , libanum and one ounce of mirrhe , it will be the more fine and the more precious , probatum . a plaster called plaster emanuel , chief for impostumes and other malodies , it hath more vertues then man can tell ▪ i healeth wounds anon ▪ take litarge one pound , and one dram of gum armoniak , a dram of galbanum , mirrhe two drams , verdigreece one dram , frankincense one dram , bdellion one dram , mastick half a dram , opoponax half a dram , aris●ol●gie three ounces , of old oil olive one pound and an half . take the gums and beat th●m ●mall and fry them in a skillet on the fire and cleanse them , and then do thereto thy litarge , and thy verdigreece and do in these things by and by one after another , alwayes stir it well , and last put in the aristologie and so boil it unto a plaster , this plaster may soon heal marmole on the legs and all manner of diseases and impostumes , this plaster cometh of god and not of man. an approved medicine against the plague , against carbuncles , hot impostumes and such like , it will break them & expel the poison & causeth health , take ivy berries dryed in the shadow and after dryed and made into powder and drink them with plantain water , it hath helpt the plague in two dayes . probat . the partie must sweat in bed and must change the linnen being aired every four and twenty hours , it hath holpen the plague in one day and a night . an approved syrup by the lady harrington . take a pint of vineger , and more then a pint of running water one pound of sugar and let it seethe till the sugar be melted , then take a good quantity of succory and put it to the vineger and water , and let it seethe from a pint to half a pint . for venom or poison . triacle in all causes especially andromachus triacle with the snakes flesh in it , and the root of affodil ▪ having in it vertue to quicken and strengthen , doth cherish the heart by defending it from poison and keeping it in strength . a medicine for the plague or for any ague . take the best mithridate half an ounce or one ounce , london triacle one ounce , jeane triacle one ounce , powder of saffron one scruple , florum sulphuris or white brimstone in fine powder half an ounce , mix all these well together with the distilled water of wormwood to the form of an electuary and give the patient to drink five spoonfuls of the wormwood water with the quantity of three nuts of the aforesaid electuary bloodwarm in bed and it certainly cureth the ague or plague by sweat and driveth out the botch and saveth his life which is infected , probat . to ripen and break the botch . take the black roots of crowfoot , pound them and lay on a cloath to the risen , if the place be white it is deadly , but this plaister will presently &c. against all pesti ent sicknesses or plague and to break the botch and to cure , &c. take the ●uice of scabious in ale and give it to the patient warm with a little triacle , and take the root of scabious stamped with swines grease and spread it on a cloath cold as thick as you can , and lay it to the plague sore or any other impostume , it must not be changed in twenty four hours . scabious which is also called divels bit is best for the plague sore . to help assuredly divers diseases thats to say to preserve the body from all diseases being drank first and to kill impostumes to make good colour , to resist the plague and to help it . to heal the p●isick , it breaketh the stone in the reins , it h●lpeth the sple●n , it purgeth the belly , it maketh good colour and expelleth all corrupt blood , it healeth wounds in the belly , it cleareth the sight . take one pint of gentian and two parts of centaury , stamp them together and put white wine to them , let them soke five dayes then distill them , keep the water distilled in a close vessel , use it first and last , it is comparable to gold . a medicine for the plague . take a fair onion , make a hole in it and take out the inner core , then take dragon water , triacle and pepper and bruise them a little and put them into the onion , and rost the onion in the embers and after bruise the onion and strain it with malmesey and give it to the patient to drink . and if it be taken before the heart is infected , it s a present remedy . probat . for the canker in the body . take the roots of dragon and cut them in small pieces and dry them into powder ▪ and seethe it in white wine very well and let the ●ick drink thereof three dayes together fasting and he shall be whole . for the canker . take an handful of woodbind and an handful of sage , stamp and strain them and seethe them to the third part with hony and allome till it be thick and wash the canker therewith , to cure a canker in the mouth . take rock allome and burn it and make it into fine powder , and scrape some bole-armoniake into i● , and when you use it put drops of wine vineger unto it a●d anoint the place . for the canker in the mouth the best way . take two ●ennyworth of pure coral , asmuch as a wall-nut of roch allome and half asmuch of white copperas and a pint of strong white wine vineger , woodbind leaves , and sage leaves of each ten & one spoonful of bay-salt & half a spoonful of english hony , and a branch of rosemary , boil all together till half be wasted , then strain and keep it in a glasse , this water will remedy it in twice dressing when you wash your mouth put a little in a sawcer and ●ash the canker therewith but let none go down . a water to cure a fistula . take bolearmoniake , roman vitriol , allome , of each two ounces , boil these in eight pound of water till half be consumed , with this you may wash any fistula . a diet drink for a fistula . take egrimony , self●hea● , sanicle , ladies mantle , madder , hempe , mugwort , fetherfew , wilde tansie brier tops one hand●ul , lignum , gi●acum lib. 1. corticis ejusdem two ounces , in●use al in twelve pound of water twelve hours , then boil them to the third part , post concoctionem ad mellis optimi lib. 1. or cola . a medicine most excellent for the spitting of blood . take a raw eggshell and cast away the inner skin thereof , th●n dry it in such order as may be finely powdered , of which powder take two drams with three ounces of plantain water well mixed together . or if you will have this remedy more effectual then give it five days together in the morning two drams of the same powder diss●lved in this syrup following , take syrupi de rosis siccis syrup de portulaca syrup de myrtis one ounce , misce. in like manner it s a fore re●●edy aswell in the cure as in the preservation for the patient to chew in his mouth every morning fasting one scruple of rubarbe torrified . for any sore which is poisoned with a contrary and unproper salve . make a posset of white wine and ●ay th● curde thereof to the sore and it will take a● the malice away , so that another salve ma● work ; also take new milk from the cow and wash the sore therewith and it will do the like . for any that is wounded to keep it from ranckling ▪ take the juice of parsly and drink it , and it shall not ranckle . te heal an impostume in the body . dioscorides saith that mintes stamped and drunk with ale destroyeth all impostumes in the body . an ale salve to cure most sores . take a quart of the first running of alewort , boil it to a pint then put into it two ounces of fresh unsalted butter and so boil them to the thickness of hony , and if it chance the sore to have dead flesh , put in the salve an half peny worth of allome probat . to remove pain and exceeding dolour in an impostume or wound . apply the whites of eggs or the whites and yelks together , being well wrought together with oil of roses , or else take the crums of wheat bread steeped in hot water and pressed out one pound , yelks of eggs in number two . for hemerods that come forth . take wormwood and drink it fasting and make a plaster thereof and mingle with burnt garlick to powder and the sick shall be whole by gods grace . finis . the accomplish'd lady's delight in preserving, physick, beautifying, and cookery containing i. the art of preserving and candying fruits & flowers ..., ii. the physical cabinet, or, excellent receipts in physick and chirurgery : together with some rare beautifying waters, to adorn and add loveliness to the face and body : and also some new and excellent secrets and experiments in the art of angling, 3. the compleat cooks guide, or, directions for dressing all sorts of flesh, fowl, and fish, both in the english and french mode ... 1675 approx. 400 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 203 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a66834 wing w3268 estc r8138 12710291 ocm 12710291 66090 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a66834) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 66090) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 371:16) the accomplish'd lady's delight in preserving, physick, beautifying, and cookery containing i. the art of preserving and candying fruits & flowers ..., ii. the physical cabinet, or, excellent receipts in physick and chirurgery : together with some rare beautifying waters, to adorn and add loveliness to the face and body : and also some new and excellent secrets and experiments in the art of angling, 3. the compleat cooks guide, or, directions for dressing all sorts of flesh, fowl, and fish, both in the english and french mode ... woolley, hannah, fl. 1670. [4], 382, [10] p., 3 leaves of plates : ill. printed for b. harris, and are to be sold at his shop ..., london : 1675. title on added engraved t.p.: the accomplisht-ladys delight. three parts have special title pages: the physical cabinet, new and excellent experiments and secrets in the art of angling, and, the compleat cook's guide, all with imprint date 1675. attributed, not without some doubt, to mrs. hanna woolley. cf. dnb; halkett & laing (2nd ed.). dedication signed: t.p. reproduction of original in bodleian library. includes index. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create 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aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng cookery -early works to 1800. canning and preserving -early works to 1800. medicine, popular -early works to 1800. beauty, personal -early works to 1800. fishing -early works to 1800. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-01 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-03 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2002-03 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the accomplisht ladys delight . in preserving , physick , beautifying and cookery . the accomplish'd lady's delight in preserving , physick , beautifying , and cookery . containing , i. the art of preserving and candying fruits & flowers , and the making of all sorts of conserves , syrups , and jellies . ii. the physical cabinet , or , excellent receipts in physick and chirurgery ; together with some rare beautifying waters , to adorn and add loveliness to the face and body : and also some new and excellent secrets and experiments in the art of angling . iii. the compleat cooks guide , or , directions for dressing all sorts of flesh , fowl , and fish , both in the english and french mode , with all sauces and sallets ; and the making pyes , pasties , tarts , and custards , with the forms and shapes of many of them . london , printed for b. harris , and are to be sold at his shop , at the stationers arms in swithins rents by the royall exchange 1675 to the ladies & gentlewomen . ladies , though there have been many books extant of this kind , yet i think something hath been deficient in them all , i have therefore adventured to make another , which i suppose comprehends all the accomplishments necessary for ladies , in things of this nature . for you have here 1. the art of preserving and candying all fruits and flowers , as also of making conserves , both wet and dry , and also the preparing of all sorts of syrups , iellies , and pickles . 2. here are some ex●ellent receipts in physick and chirurgery , for curing most diseases incident to the body . together with some rare beautifying waters , oyls , oyntments , and powders , for adornment of the face and body , and to cleanse it from all deformities that may render persons vnlovely ; there are also added some choise secrets and experiments in the art of angling ; a recreation which many ladies delight in , and is not therefore thought altogether improper in a book of this nature . lastly , you have here a guide to all manner of cookery , both in the english and french mode , with the preparing all kind of sallets and sauces proper thereunto . together with directions for making all sorts of pyes , pasties tarts , and custards , with the forms and shapes of many of them to help your practice , with bills of fare upon all occasions . so that in the whole , i hope it may deserve the title of the accomplish'd ladies delight , and may acquire acceptance at your fair hands , whereby you will very much encourage and oblige , ladies , your very humble servant , and admirer , t. p. the art of preserving , conserving , and candying , fruits and flowers , as also of making all sorts of conserves , syrups and iellies . 1. to make quince cakes . bake your quinces in an oven with some of their own juyce , their own coars being cut and bruised , and put to them , then weigh some of this juyce with some of the quince , being cut into small pieces , taking their weight in sugar , and with the quince some quantity of the juyce of barberies . then take the clearest syrup and let it stand on the coals two or three hours , and let them boyl a little on the fire , then candy the rest of the sugar very hard , and so put them together , stirring it while it is almost cold , and so put it into glasses . 2. to make conserve of barberries . when the stalks are pickt off , boyl th●m in fair water till they swell , and be very soft , then bruise them in a morter , then strain them , and boyl them again by themselves , then take for every pound of them two pound of sugar , and boyl them together but not too long , for then it will r●pe . 3. to make conserve of roses . take of the buds of red roses and slip away the white ends , and then slip the rest of the rose as small as you can , and beat them fine in a marble morter ; and put to every pound of roses , three pound and a half of sugar , then put it up in a gally-pot and set it in the sun for a fortnight . 4. to make cinnamon water . take a quart of white-wine , a quart of rose-water , a pint of muscadine● half a pound of cinamon bruised , lay the cinamon to steep in the wine twelve hours stirring them now and then afterward put them into an alerubick and still them with a gentle fire , and you may draw off from it three pints . but if you will not have it strong , instead of muscadine put in so much rose-water or white-wine . 5. to preserve quinces white . take to every pound of quince , a pound and a quarter of sugar , clarifie this sugar with the white of an egg , coar your quinces , but not too much , then put this sugar , and water , and quince being ra● together , and so make them boyl so fast that you can see no quince , but forget not to turn them , and take off what scum you can keep them boiling thus fast till you think they are enough . 6. to preserve raspices . take of the faire● and well coloured raspices , and pick off their stalks very clean , then wash them , but be sure not to bruise them ; then weigh them , and to every pound of raspices , put six ounces of hard sugar , and six ounces of sugar-candy , and clarifie it with half a pint of fair water , and four ounces of juice of raspices being clarified : boyl it to a weak syrup , and then put in your raspices stiring them up and down , and so let them boyl till they are enough , and you may keep them all the year . 7. to make mackroons take almonds , blanch them , and beat them in a morter , with serced sugar mingled therewith , with the white of an egg , and rose-water , then beat them altogether till they are thick as fritters , then drop it upon your wa●ers , and take it . 8. to preserve cherries . take some of the worst cherries and boil them in fair water , and when the liquor is well coloured strain it , then take some of the best cherries you can get , with their weight in beaten sugar , then lay one laying of sugar , and another of cherries , till all are la●d in the preserving pan ; then pour a little of the liquor of the worst cherries into it , boil your cherries till they be well coloured , then take them up , and boil the syrup till it will button on the side of the dish and when they are cold put them up in a glass covered close with paper , untill● you use them . 9. to make conserve of oranges and lemons , or pippins . boil any of these fruits , as you would do to make past thereof and when it is ready to fashion upon the pye plate , then put it into your gally-pots , and never dry it ; and this is all the difference betwixt conser●e and past , and this serves for all ●ar● fruits , as pippins , oranges and lemmons . 10. to make symbals . take fine flower dry'd , and as much sugar as flower , then take as much whites of eggs as will make it past ; put in a little rose-water , with a quantity of coriander-seed and anniseed , then mould it up in the fashion you will bake it in . 11. to make syrup of clove-gilli-flowers . take a pound of clove-gilli-flowers , the whites being cut off , infuse them a whole night in a quart of fair water , then with four pound of sugar dissolved in it , make it into a syrup wishout boiling . 12. to make syrup of violets . take of violet flowers fresh and pickt , a pound , clear water boiling one quart , shut them up close together in a new glazed pot a whole day , then press them hard out , and in two pound of the liquor , dissolve four pound and three ounces of white sugar , take away the scum , and so make it into a syrup without boiling . 13. to make murmelade of quinces . take a pottle of water , and four pound of sugar , and let them boyl together , and when they boyl , scum them as clean as you can , then take the whites of two or three eggs and beat them to froath , put the froath into the pan to make the scum ●●se , then scum it as clean as you can ; take off the kettle and put in the quinces , and let them boil a good while and stir them , and when they are boiled enough put them into boxes . 14. to make hippocras . take a gallon of white-wine , two pound of sugar ; and of cinamon , ginger , long pepper , mace n●t bruised , grains , galingal cloves not bruised , of each two penny-worth , bruise every kind of spice a little , and put them all together into an earther pot for a day , then cast them through your bags two or three times , as you see cause and so drink it . 15. to make almond butter . take your almonds and blaunch them , and beat them in a morter very small , and in beating put in a little water , and when they are beaten pour in water into two pots and put half into one and half into another , put sugar to them and stir them , and let them boil a good while ; then strain it through a strainer with rose-water , and so dish it up . 16. to preserve quinces red . pare your quinces , and coar them ; then take as much sugar as they weigh , putting to every pound of sugar one quart of water , boil your quinces therein very leasurely being close covered , turn them to keep them from spotting● and when they are so tender that you may prick a hole through them with a rush and that they are well coloured , then boil the syrup till it will button on a dish and so put your syrup and them up together . 17 to pickle cucumbers . wash your cucumbers clean and dry them in a cloath , then take some water . vinegar , salt , fennel tops , and some dill tops , and a little mace , make it fast enough and sharp enough to the tast , then boil it a while , and then take it off , and let it stand till it is cold ; then put in the cucumbers , and lay a board on the top to keep them down , and tye them up close , and within a week they will be fit to eat . 18. to candy pears● plumbs and apricocks to look as clear as amber . take your apricocks or plumbs , and give every one a cut to the stone in the notch , then cast sugar on them and bake them in an oven as hot as for maunchet close stopt , bake them in an earthen platter and let them stand half an hour , then take them out of the dish , and lay them one by one upon glass plates , and so dry them ; if you can get glasses made like marmalet boxes to lay over them , they will be the sooner candyed . in this manner you may candy any other fruit . 19. to preserve oranges . take a pound of oranges , and a pound of sugar , pill the outward rind , and inward white skin off then take juice of oranges and put them into the juice , boil them half an hour and take them off . 20. to make oyl of violets . set the violets in sallad oyl , and strain them , then put in other fresh violets and let them lye twenty days , then strain them again and put in other fresh violets , and let them stand all the year . 21. to mak cream of quinces . take a roasted quince , pare it and cut it into thin slices to the coar , boyl it in a pint of cream with a little whole ginger , till it tast of the quinces to your liking , then put in a little sugar and strain it , and always serve it cold to the table . 22. to make a march-pan , steep two pound of picked almonds one day and two nights in fair water , and blaunch them out of it , then beat them well in a morter , and bedew them with rose-water , put to your almonds so many pound of sugar , and beat your sugar with your almonds ; then make very fine ●rust either of past or wafer , and sprinkle it with rose-water and sugar ; then spread the stuff on it , and bake it at a very soft fire , always bedewing it with damask-water , civet , and sugar ; and lastly with a gut of dates guilt or long comfits guilt , or with cinamon-sticks guilt , or the kernels of the pine-apple and ●o ●et it forth . 23. to make almond milk. boyl french barley , and as you boyl it cast away the water wherein it was boil●d , till you see the water leave to change colour ; as you put in more fresh water , then put in a bundle of straw-berry leaves : and as much cullumbine leaves , and boyl it a good while ; then put in beaten almonds and strain them , and then season it with sugar and rosemary , then strew some sugar about the dish , and send it to the table . 24. to preserve apricocks , or pear-plumbs when they are green . you may take any of these fruits and scald them in water and peel them , and s●rape the spungy substance of the apricocks or quinces , so boyl them very tender , taking their weight in sugar , and as much water as to cover them , and boyl them very leasurely ; then take them up and boil the syrup till it be thick , and when they are cold put them up with you● syrup into your preserving glasses . 25. to pickle french beans . you must take your beans and string them boyl them tender● then take them off● and let them stand till they are cold , put them into the pickle of beer vinegar , pepper and salt cloves and mace with a little ginge . 26● to make an excellent jelly . take three gallons of fair water , and boil in it a knuckle of veal , and two calves feet slit in two , with all the fat clean taken from between the claws , so let them boil to a very tender jelly keeping it clean scum●d , and the edges of the pot always wiped with a clean ●●ath , that none of the scum may boil in , strain it from the meat , and let it stand all night , and the next morning take away the top and the bottom , and take to a quart of this jelly , half a pint of sherry sack , half an ounce of cinamon , and as much sugar as will season it , six whites of eggs very well beaten , mingle all these together , then boil it half an hour , and let it run through your jelly bag . 27. to make aqua-mirabil is . take of cloves , galanga , cubebs , mace , cardamums , nutmegs , ginger , of each one dram ; juice of celandine half a pound , spirit of wine one pint , white-wine three pints , infuse them twenty four hours , and draw off a quart with an alembick . 28. dr. stevens water . take of cinamon , ginger , galanga , cloves , nutmegs , grains of paradise , seeds of annis , fennel , ●arraways , of each one dram● herbs of time , mother of time , mints , sage , penny-royal pellitory of the wall , rosemary , flowers of red roses , camomile , origanum , lavender , of each one handful , infuse them twelve hours in ●welve pints of gascoign wine , then with 〈◊〉 alembick draw three pints of strong-water from it . 29. to make good cherry wine . take the syrup of cherries , and when it hath stood a while bottle it up , and tye down the cork , and in a short time it will be very good pleasant wine . 30. to make wa●ers . take a pint of flower , a little cream the yolks of two eggs , a little rose-water , with some searced cinamon and sugar work them together , and bake them upon hot irons . 31. to preserve grapes . stamp and strain them , let it settle a while before you wet a pound of sugar or grapes with the juice , stone the grapes , save the liquor , in the stoning take off the stalks give them a boiling , take them off , and put them up . 32. to pickle purslain . take the purslain and pick it into little pieces , and put it into a pot or barrel , then take a little water , vinegar and salt to your tast , it must be pretty strong of the vinegar and salt , and a little mace , and boil all these together , and pour this liquor boiling hot into the parslain , and when it is cold tye it close , but lay a little board on the top to keep it down , and within a week or two it is fit to eat . 33. to preserve green walnuts . boil your walnuts till the water tast bitter , then take them off , and put them in cold water , and pill off the bark , and weigh as much sugar as they weigh and a little more water then will wet the sugar , set them on the fire , and when they boil up take them off , and let them stand two days , and then boil them again once more . 34. to prese●ve currants . part them in the tops , and lay a lane of currants , and a lane of sugar , and so boyl them as fast as you do ras-berries , do not put them in the spoon but scum them , boil till the syrup be pretty thick ; then take them off , and let them stand till they be cold and put them into a glass . 35. to make goose berry cakes . pick as many goose-berries as you please and put them into an earthen pitcher and set it in a kettle of water till they be soft , and then put them into a five , and let them stand till all the juice be out , and weigh the juice , and as much sugar as syrup , first boyl the sugar to a candy , and take it off , and put in the juice and set it on again till it be hot and take it off , and set them in the press till they be dry , then they are ready . 36. an excellent broath . take a chicken and set it on the fire , and when it boils scum it , then put in a mace , and a very little oatmeal , and such herbs as the party requires ; and boil it well down , and bruise the chicken and put it in again and it is good broath : and to alter it you may put in six prunes , and leave out the herbs or put them in as you please , and when it is well boyled , strain it and season it . 37. to make angellets . take a quart of new milk , and a pint of cream and put them together in a little runnel , when it is come well take it up with a spoon , and put it into the vate softly , and let it stand two days till it be pretty stiff ; then slip it out and salt it a little at both ends , and when you think it is salt enough set it a drying , and wipe them , and within a quarter of a year they will be ready to eat . 38. to make ielly of harts-horn . take four ounces of the shavings of harts-horn of the inside , and two ale● quarts of water , put this in a pipkin , and boil it very gently till it come to a quart , the harts-horn must be steeped 3 or 4 hours first afterwards put a little into a saucer till it be cold , and if it be cold and jellieth it is boil'd enough● then being warm take it off the fire , and strain it hard through a cloath , and set it a cooling till it be hard jelly , then take two whites of eggs , and beat them very well , er with a sprigg of rosemary or birch , ( but not with a spoon ) till a water come in the bottom , then put these beaten eggs and the water thereof into a skillet and all the jelly upon it , with three spoonfuls of damask rose-water , and a quarter of a pound of sugar , and when it boils , sti● and lay it pretty well , then strain it through a cloath and let it cool , and of this take four spoonfuls in the morning fasting , and four a clock in the afternoon and this is excellent good for the weakness of the ba●k . 40. to preserve damsons red , or black plumbs . take their weight in sugar , and water enough to make a syrup to cover them , so boil them a little therein being close covered turning them for spotting , let them stand all night in their own syrup , then set them upon a pot of seething water , and suffer your plumbs to boyl no faster then the water under them ; and when they are both sweet and tender take them up , and boil the syrup again till it be thick , then put up your plumbs and it together in your preserving glasses . 41. to make rosemary water . take the rosemary and the flowers in the midst of may before sun-rise , strip the leaves and flowers from the stalks , then take 4 or 5 elecampana roots , and a handful or two of sage , then beat the rosemary , sage and roots together , till they be very small , then take three ounces of cloves & as much mace , and half a pound of anniseeds , and ●eat these spices every one by themselves then take the herbs and the spices , and put thereto 4 or 5 gallons of good white-wine , then put in all these herbs , spices and wine into an earthen pot , and put the pot into the ground about sixteen days , then take it up and distil it with a very soft fire . 43. to make pomatum . take fresh hogs suet clean sed from the films and washt in white-wine one pound and as much sheeps suet washt in white-wine , then take about sixteen pomwater apples cleansed and boyl d in rose-water ; add to these rose-wood , sassafras , roots of orrice florentine of each six drams , of benzoin , storax calamita half an ounce of each and so make it into an oyntment . 44. to maks oyl of sweet almonds . take dryed sweet almonds as many as you please , beat them very small and put them into a rough hemp●n● loath , and without fire by degrees press out the oyl . 45. an excellent water against fit● of the mother . take briony-roots , elder-berries ripe , and d●estat a gentle heat in a furnace and cleans'd from their stalks , of each two ounces ; leaves of mugwort , dittany , featherfew , nep , basil , penny-royal , rue , sabine , all dryed in the sun● of each half an ounce , peels of oranges the out-side dry'd an ounce and a half , myrrh , castoreum , of each three drams , saffron one dram ; powder them and steep them eight days in two quarts of the spirit of wine ; then strain through a very quick hair strainer , keep the strained liquor in a glass very well stopt . 46. to make syrup of wormwood . take roman wormwood , or po●tick vvormwood half a pound , of red roses two ounces , indian spike three drams ; old rich white-wine and juice of quinces of each two pints and a half , bruise them in an earthen vessel twenty four hours , then boil them till half be wasted , strain it , and put to the straining two pounds of sugar , and boil it to a syrup . 47. to make conserve of quinces . take three quarts of the juyce of quinces clarified , boil it until two parts be wasted then put to it two pounds of white sugar , then boil them to the thickness of honey . 48. to make syrup of poppies . take the heads and seeds of white poppy and black , of each fifty drams , venus hair fifteen , licorice five drams , jujubes thirty drams ; lettic● seeds forty drams , and of the seeds of mallows ; and quinces tied up in a fine rag , of each one dram and half ; boil them in eight pints of water , untill half be wasted , strain it , and to every three pound of liquor put thereto perrides , & sugar of each 1 pound , boil them to a syrup . 49. to make honey of roses . take of pure white honey dispumed , fresh juice of red roses one pound , put them into a skillet , and when they begin to boil , throw into them of fresh red rose leaves picked , four pounds , and boil them untill the juice be wasted ; alway● stirring it , then strain it , and put it up in an earthen pot . 50. to make syrup of lemmons . take of the juice of lemmons purified by going through a woolen strainer with crushing , three quarts and an half , and of white sugar five pound ; boil them with a soft fire to a syrup . 51. to make spirit of wine . take of good claret , or white-wine , or sack , enough to fill the vessel , wherein you make your distillation to a third part , then put on the head furnished with the nose or pipe , and so make your distillation first in ashes , drawing about a third part from the whole ; as for example , six or eight pints out of four and twenty , then still it again in b. m. drawing another third part , which is two pints , so that the oftner you distil it , the less liquor you have b●t the more strong , some use to rectifie it seven times . 52. to make syrup of maiden-hair . take of the herb ●aiden-hair , fresh gathered and cut a little , five ounces , of roots of licorish scraped two ounces , steep them twenty four hours in a sufficient quantity of hot water then boil them according to art ; add four pounds of sugar to five pints of the clarified liquor , and then boil them to a syrup . 53. to make syrup of licorish take of the roots of licorish scraped two ounces of colts-foot four handfuls ; of maiden-hair one ounce of hysop half an ounce , infu●e them twenty four hours in a sufficient quantity of water , then boil them till one half be wasted , add to the strained liquor , a pound of the best clarified honey , and as much white sugar , boil them to a syrup 54. to make the kings perfume . take six spoonfuls of rose-water , and as much amber-greece as weigheth two barley-corns , and as much cive● , with as much sugar as weigheth two pence beaten in fine powder ; all these boiled together in a perfuming pan is an excellent perfume . 55. the queens perfume . take four spoonfuls of spike water , and four spoonfuls of damask water , thirty cloves , and eight bay leaves shred as much sugar as weigheth two pence ; all these boiled make a good perfume . 56. king edwards perfume to make your house smell like rosemary . take three spoonfuls of perfect rosemary , and as much sugar as half a walnut beaten in small powder ; all these boiled together in a perfuming pan upon hot embers with a few coals is a very sweet perfume . 57. to make conserve of rosemary . take your flowers of rosemary , which you may gather either in march or september , when you have beaten them to pap , take three times their weight in sugar , pound them all together and set them in the sun and so use them . 58. to make syrup of cowslips . take the distilled water of cow-slips , and put thereto your flowers of cow-slips clean pickt , and the green knobs in the bottom cut off , and boil them up into a syrup , take it in almond milk , or some other warm thing ; it is good against the palsi● and ●renzy , and to procure sleep to the si●k . 59. to make marmelade of lemmons and oranges . you may boil eight or nine lemmons or oranges , with four or five pippins , and draw them through a strainer ; then take the weight of the pulp all together in sugar and boil is as you do marmelade of quinces and so box it up . 60. to make angelica wat●r . take a handful of carduus benedictus and dry it , then take three ounces of angelica roots one dram of myrrh , half an ounce of nutmegs , cinamon and ginger four ounces of each , one dram and half of saffron ; of cardonius , cubels , galingal , and pepper , of each a quarter of an ounce ; two drams of mace , one dram of grains , of lignum aloes , spikenard , iunius odoratus ; of each a dram ; sage , borage , buglos , violets , and rosemary flowers of each half a handful , bruise them and steep them in a pottle of sack twelve hours , and distill it as the rest . 61. to make quiddany of cherries . when your cherries are fully ripe , and red to the stone , take them and pull out the stones , and boil your cherries till they be all broken then strain them and take the liquor strained out , and boil it over again , and put as much sugar to it as you think convenient , and when it is boil●d that you think it is thick enough put it into your boxes . 62. to dry cherries . take six pound of cherries and stone them● then take a pound of sugar and wet it with the juice of the cherries , and boil it a little , then put in your cherries and boil them till they are clear , let them lye in the syrup a week then drein them from the syrup , and lay them on thin boards , or sheets of glass to dry in a stove , turn them twice a day , and when they are dry , wash off the clamminess with warm water ● and dry them a little longer . 63. to make brown metheglin . take strong ale-wort , and put as much honey to it as will make it strong enough to bear an egg ; boil them very well together , then set it a cooling , and when it is almost cold put in some ale-yeast , then put it into a strong vessel , and when it hath done working , put a bag of spices into the vessel and some lemon peel and stop it up close , and in a few days it will be fit to drink , but the longer you keep it the better . 64. to candy oranges or lemons , after they are preserved . take them out of the syrup , and drain them well , then boil some sugar to a candy height , and lay your peels in the bottom of a ●ive , and pour your hot sugar over them , and then dry them in a stove or warm oven . 65. to preserve oranges after the portugal fashion . open your oranges at the end , and take out all the meat , then boil them in several waters , till a straw nay go through them , then take their weight ann half in fine sugar , and to every pound of sugar , a pint of water , boil it and scum it , then put in your oranges and boil them a little more , then take them up , and fill them with preserved pippins , and boil them again till you think they are enough , but if you will have them jelly , make a new syrup with the water wherein some sliced pippins have been boiled , and some sine sugar , and that will be a stiff jelly . 66. to make good vsquebath . take two gallons of good aquavitae four ounces of the best liquorice bruised , four ounces of anniseed brui●ed , put them into a wooden , glass , or stone vessel , and cover them close , and so let them stand a week , then draw off the cleerest and sweetest with molosso's , and keep it in another vessel , and put in some dates , and raisens stoned , keep it very close from the air. 67. to make italian bisket . take serced sugar ; and a little of the white of an egg , with some ambergreece and musk , beat them all to a past in an alablaster morter , and mould it in a little anniseed finely dusted , then make it up in loaves , and cut them about like maunchet , then bake them in an oven , as hot as for maunchet , and when they are risen somewhat high upon the plates take them forth and remove them not of the plates till they be cold , for they will be very apt to break . 68. to make french bisket . take half a peek of flower , with four eggs half a pint of ale-yeast , one ounce and half of anniseed , a litle sweet cream , and a little cold water , make all into a loaf , and fashion it something long , then cut it into thick slices like tosts , after it hath stood two days , and rub them over with powdred sugar , and lay them in a warm sun , and so dry them and sugar them as you dry them three , or four times , then put them into boxes for use . 69. to make sugar plate . take serced sugar , and make it up in past with gum-dragon steeped in rose-water , and when you have brought it to a perfect past , rowl it as thin as ●●e you can , and then print it in moulds of what fashion you please , and so let them dry as they ly . 70. to make pomander . take half an ounce of benjamin , and as much storax , and as much lapdanum , with six grains of musk , and as much civet , and two grains of amber-grease , and one dram of sweet balsom , beat all these together in a hot morter , then roul it up in beads as big , or as little as you please , and whilst they are hot make holes in them to serve for your use . 71. to make conserve of damsons . take ripe damsons and put them into scalding water , and half an hour after set them over the fire till they break ; then strain them through a cullender , and let them cool therein , then strain them ( through a peice of canvas ) from their stones and skins , and then set them over the fire again , then put to them a good quantity of red wine , and so boil it often stirring it till it be thick , and when it is almost boil d●enough , put in a convenient proportion of sugar , and stir it very well together , and then put it into your gally-pots . 72. to bake oranges . peel all the bark off , and boil them in rose-water , and sugar till they are ●●nder , then make your pye , and set them whole in it , and put in the liquor they are boil●d in into the pye , and season it with sugar , cinamon and ginger . 73. to preserve peaches . take a pound of your fairest and best colour'd peaches and with a wer linnen clo●t● wipe o●● the white hoar of them , th●n parboil them in half a pint of white-wine and a pint and a half of running water , and being parboil'd peel off the white skin of them and then weigh them ; take to your pound of peaches three quarters of a pound of refined sugar , and di●●olve it in a quarter of a pint of white-wine , and boyl it almost to the height of a syrup , then put in your peaches , and let them boil in the syrup a quarter of an hour or more if need require , then put them up & keep them all the year . 74. to preserve goose-berries . take goose-berries , or grape , or barberries , and take somewhat more then their weight in sugar beaten very fine and so lay one laying of fruits , and another of sugar , till all are laid in your preserving pan , then take six spoonfuls of fair water , and boil your fruits therein as fast as you can , until they be very clear , then take them up , and boil the syrup by it self , till it be thick , when they are cold put them into gally-pots . 75. to preserve pippins white . pare your pippins and cut them the cross way , and weigh them , add to a pound of sugar a pint of water ; then put the sugar to the water and let it boil a while , and then put in your pippins , and let them boil till they be clear at the core , then take them off and put them up . 76. to preserve grapes . it settle a while , then wet a pound of sugar or grapes with the juice , stone the grapes , save the liquor in the stoning , take off the stalks , give them a boiling , t●ke them off , and put them up . 77. to preserve angellica roots . wash the roots and slice them very thin , and lay them in water three or four days , change the water every day , then put the roots into a pot of water , and set them in the embers all night , in the morning put away the water , then take a pound of roots four pints of water , and two pound of sugar , let it boil and scum it clean , then put in the roots , which will be bo●l●d before the syrup then take them up and boil the syrup after , they will ask a whole days work very softly , at st. andrews time is the best time to do them in all the year . 78. to make syrup of quinces . take of the juice of quinces clarified three quarts , boil it over a gentle fire til● half of it be consumed , scum it and add to it three pints of red wine , with four pound of white sugar , boyl it into a syrup , and perfume it with a dram and half of c●● namon , and of cloves and ginger , of 〈…〉 two scruples . 79. to make walnut-water . take of green walnuts a pound and half , garden radish-ro●rs one pound , green afarabacca six ounces , radish seeds four ounces ; let all of them being bruised be steeped in three pints of white-wine-vinegar for three days , and then distil them in a leaden still till they be dry . 80. to make treakle water . take of the juice of green walnuts four pound , juice of rue three pound , juice of carduus , marigolds and balm , of each two pound , green peta●● is roots one pound and half , the roots of burs one pound , angelica and masterwort of each half a pound ; the leaves of scordium four handfuls , old venice treacle and mithridate of each eight ounces , canary wine six quarts , vinegar three quarts , juice of lemons one quart , digest them two days either in horse-dung or in a bath , the vessel being close shut , then distil them in sand , in the distillation you may make a theri●cal extraction . 81. to make syrup of cinamon , take of cinamon grosly bruised 4 ounces ●●eep it in white-wine , and small cinamon water of each half a pound● three days in a glass by a gentle fire ; strain it , and with a po●nd and half of sugar boil it gently to a syrup . this syrup refiesheth the vital spirits and cherisheth the heart and stomach , helps digestion , and cherisheth the whole body exceedingly . 82. to make syrup of citron peels . take of freth yellow citron peels , five ounces , the berries of cherms , or the juice of the● brought over to us two drams , spring-water two quarts ; steep them all night , boyl them till half be consumed , take off the scum , strain it , and with two pound and half of the whitest sugar , boyl it into a syrup : let half of it be without musk , but perfume the other half with three grains of musk tyed up in a rag . 83. to make syrup of harts-horn . take of harts● tongue thee● handfuls , polipodium of the oak , the roots of both sorts of buglos , barks of the roots of capers and tamaris , of each two ounces , hops , dodder , maiden-hair , balm , of each two handfulls ; boil them in four quarts of spring-water till it comes to five , strain it , and with four pound of sugar , make it into syrup according to art. 84. an oyl perfume for gloves that shall never out . take benjamin two ounces , storax and calamint each an ounce ●ut the two first must be finely bearen by themselves ; then take a pound of sweet almonds , and mingle it with the storax and benjamin upon a marble stone , and then put it into an earthen pot with more oyl , then put in your gloves powdered , and so let it stand very close covered ; and when you will perfume a pair of gloves , take a little fair water in a spoon , and wipe your gloves very fine with ; take another spoon , and dip it in your oyl , and rub it on your gloves , and let them dry this is excellent . 85. an excellent water for one that is in a consumption . take three pints of milk , and one pint of red wine , twenty four yolks of new laid eggs , beat them very well together , then add so much white bread as will drink up the wine , and put to it some cow-slip flowers , and distil them : take a spoonful of this , morning and evening , in chicken , or muton broth , and in one month it will cure any consumption . 86. to make barley water , take a penny-worth of barley , a penny-worth of raisins of the sun , a penny-worth of anniseeds , a half penny-worth of liquorish , about two quarts of water , boil all together till half be consumed , then strain it , and when it is cold drink it , your liquorish must be sliced into small pieces . 87. dr. deodates drink for the scurvy . take roman wormwood , carduus benedictus , scurvy-grass , brook-lime , water-creases , water-trifoil , of each one handful , dodder , cetrach , soolopendria . burrage , buglos , sorrel , vervain , or speedwel , of each half a handful , elicampane root one ounce , raisins of the sun three ounces , slices of oranges and lemmons , of each fifteen , boil , or rather infuse these in a double glass , with so much white-wine as will make a pint and a half of the liquor when it is done . 88. a conserve to strengthen the back . take eringo roots , and conserve them as you do damask , white and red roses in every respect the pith being taken out ; one pound and a half of sugar is enough for every pound of roots , with three pints of water stew them closely at first as you do your roses ; if you add to them five or six grains of amber grease beaten to fine powder , it will be much more cordial . 89. to make excellent aqua composita for a surfeit or cold stomach . take a handful of rosemary , a root of ●nula● campane , a handful of hysop , half a handful of thyme , six handfuls of sage , as much mint and as much penny-royal , half a handful of hore-hound , two ounces of liquorish well bruised and as much anniseeds : then take two gallons of the best strong ale , and take all the herbs afore●aid , and wring them asunder , and put them into an earthen pot well covered , and let them stand a day and a night , from thence put all into a brass pot , and set it on the fire , and let it stand till it boil , then take it from the fire and set your limbeck on the pot , and stop it close with past that there come no air out of it , and still it out with a soft fire , you may add to it 1 handful of red fennel . 90. to make balm water . take four gallons of strong stale ale , half a pound of liquorish , two pound of balm two ounces of figgs , half a pound of anniseeds , one ounce of nutmegs , shred the balm and figgs very small , and let them stand steeping four and twenty hours , and then put it in a still as you use aqua-vitae . 91. to pickle broom-buds . take as many broom-buds as you please , make linnen bags and put them in , and tye them close , then make some brine with water and salt , and boil it a little , let it be cold , then put some brine in a deep earthen pot , and put the bags in it , and lay some weight on them , let it lye there till it look black , then shift it again still as long as it looks black , boil them in a little cauldron , and put them in vinegar a week or two , and they will be fit to eat . 92. to make good raspberry wine . take a gallan of sack , in which let two gallons of raspberries stand steeping the space of twenty four hours , then strain them and put to the liquor three pound of raisins of the sun stoned ; let them stand together four or five days , being sometime stirred together , then pair off the clearest and put it up in bottles and set it in a cold place if it be not sweet enough you may put sugar to it . 93. to make excellent hippocras in an instant . take of cinamon two ounces , nutmegs , ginger , of each half an ounce , cloves two drams , bruise these small , then mix them with as much spirit of wine , as will make them into a past , let them stand close covered in a glass the space of six days in a cold place , then press out the liquor and keep it in a glass . a few drops of this liquor put into any wine giveth it a gallant relish and odour , and maketh it as good as any hippocras whatsoever in an instant . 94. to make artificial malmsey . take two gallons of english honey , put into it eight gallons of the best spring-water , set these in a vessel over a gentle fire , when they have boil'd gently an hour take them off , and when they be cold put them into a small barrel or runlet hanging in the vessel a bag of spices , and set it in the cellar , and in half a year you may drink thereof . 95. to make artificial claret-wine . take six gallons of water , two gallons of the best syder , put thereto eight pound of the best malaga raisins bruised in a morter , let them stand close covered in a warm place the space of a fortnight , every two days stirring them well together ; then press out the raisins● and put the liquor into the s●id vessel again , to which add a quart of the juice of ras-berries , and a pint of the juice of black cherries ; cover this liquor with bread spread thick with strong mustard , the mustard-seed being down●ward , and so let it work by the fire side three or four days , then turn it up and let it stand a week , and then bottle it up , and it will tast as quick as bottle beer and become a very p●easant drink , and indeed far better and wholsomer then our common claret . 96. to make spirit of amber-grease . take of amber-grease two drams , of musk a dram cut them small , and put them into a pint of the best spirit of wine , close up the glass hermetically , and digest them in a very gentle heat till you perceive they are dissolved , then you may use it ; two or three drops or more if you please of this spirit put into a pint of wine , gives it a rich odour , or if you put two or three drops round the brims of the glass it will do as well , half a spoonful of it taken either of it self , or mixt with some specifical liquor is a most rich cordial . 97. an excell●nt sweet water . take a quart of orange-flower water , as much rose water , with four ounces of musk-willow-seeds grosly bruised , of benjamin two ounces , of storax an ounce , of latdanum six drams , of lavender flowers two pugils , of sweet marjoram as much , of calanius aromaticus a dram , distil all these in a glass still in balneo , the vessel being very well closed that no vapour breath forth ; note that you may make a sweet water in an instant , by putting in a few drops of some distilled oyls together into some rose-water , and brew them well together . 98. dr. burges plague water . take three pints of muscadine , and boyl in it sage and rue , of each a handful till a pint be wasted , then strain it , and set it over the fire again , put thereto a dram of long pepper , ginger and nutmeg , of each half an ounce being all bruised together ; then boil them a little , and put thereto half an ounce of andramachus treacle , three drams of methridate , and a quarter of a pint of angellica water . take a spoonful or two of this morning and evening . 99. to dry cherries or plumbs in the sun. if it be small fruit you must dry them whole by laying them abroad in the hot sun in stone or pewter dishes , or tin pans turning them as you see cause ; but if your plumbs be large slit them in the middle and lay them abroad in the sun ; an if they be very large then give each plumb a slit on each side , and if the sun do not shine sufficiently , then dry them in an oven that is temperately warm . 100. to preserve pippins green . take pippins when they be small & green off the tree , and pare three or four of the worst , and cut them all to peices ; then boil them in a quart of fair water till they be pap ; then let the liquor come from them as they do from your quiddany into a bason ; then put into them one pound of sugar clarified , and put into it as many green pippins unp●rd , as that liquor will cover , and so let them boyl softly , and when you see they be boil●d as tender as a cod●ing , then take them up and peel off the outermost white skin , and then they will be green , then boil them again in the syrup till it be thick and you may keep them all the year . 101. to maks syrup of hysop . take of hysop one handful , of figgs , raisins , dates , of each an ounce , boil these in three pints of water to a quart , then strain and clarifie it with the whites of two eggs , and two pound of sugar , and so boil them to a syrup , and being boil●d enough keep them all the year . 102. to make rosa solis . take liquorish eight ounces . anniseeds and carr●way of each an ounce ; raisins ston'd and dates of each three ounces , nutmegs , ginger , mace , of each half an ounce , galingal a quarter of an ounce , cubebs one dram , figgs two ounces , sugar four ounces ; bruise these and distil them with a gallon of aqua-vitae as the rest , but when it is distilled , you must colour it with the herb rosa solis or alkanet root . 103. to make muscadine com●●ts . take half a pound of musk sugar beaten and searced , then take gumdragagant steeped in rose-water , and two grains of musk and so beat them in an alablaster morter till it come to perfect past , then roul it very thin , and cut it in small diamond pieces and then bake them , and so keep them all the year . 104. to make conserve of burrage-flowers . let your flowers be well coloured , and pick the blacks from them , then weigh them and to every ounce of flowers you must take three ounces of sugar , and beat them together in a stone morter with a wooden pestle till they be very fine ; then take them out and put the conserve into a pipki● , and ●ea● it thorow hot , put them up and keep them all the year . 105. to candy ginger . take very fair and large ginger and pare it , and lay it in water a day and a night ; then take double refined sugar and boil it to the height of sugar again , and when your sugar begins to be cold , take your ginger and stir it well about while your sugar is hard to the pan ; then take it out piece by peice and lay it by the fire four hours , then take a pot and warm it and put the ginger in it tye it up close and every other morning stir it about throughly , and it will be rock-candyed in a little time . 106. to make manus christi . take half a pound of refined sugar , and some rose-water , boil them together till it come to sugar again , then stir it about till it be somewhat cold , then take leaf gold and mingle with it , then cast it according to art into r●und gobbets , and so keep them . 107. to make conserve of strawberries . first boil them in water , and then cast away the water and strain them ; then boil them in white-wine , and works as in prunes ; or else strain them being ripe then boil them in white-wine and sugar till they be stiff . 108. to make conserve of prunes . take the best prunes put them into scalding water , let them stand a while , then boil themover the fire till they break ; then strain out the water through a cullender , and let them stand therein to cool , then strain the prunes through the cullender , taking away the stones and skins , then set the pulp over the fire again and put thereto a good quantity of red wine , and boil them to a thickness still stirring them up and down , when they are almost enough put in a sufficient quantity of sugar , stir all well together and then put it up in your gally-pots . 109. to make fine christal ielly . take a knuckle of veal , and four calves feet , put them on the fire with a gallon of fair water , and when the flesh is boil'd tender take it out , then let the liquor stand still till it be cold , then take away the top and the bottom of the liquor , and put the rest into a clean pipkin , and put into it one pound of refined sugar , with four or five drops of oyl of cinamon and nutmegs , and a grain of musk , and so let it boil a quarter of an hour leasurely on the fire ; then let it run through a jelly-bag into a bason , with the whites of two eggs beaten ; and when it is cold you may cut it into lumps with a spoon , and so serve three or four lumps upon a plate . 110. to make ielly of strawberries , mulberries , raspisberries or any other such tender fruit . take your berries and grind them in a stone morter with four ounces of sugar , and a quarter of a pint of fair water , and as much rose-water ; and boyl it in a skillet with a little ising-glass , and so let it run through a fine cloath into your boxes and you may keep it all the year . 111. to candy rosemary flowers . pick your flowers very clean , and put to every ounce of flowers two ounces of hard sugar , and one ounce of sugar-candy , and dissolve them in rosemary flower water , and boil them till they come to a sugar again , when your sugar is almost cold put in your rosemary flowers and stir them together till they be enough ; then take them out and put them in your boxes , and keep them in a store for use . 112. to candy brrrage flowers . pick the flowers clean and weigh them , and do in every respect as you did your rosemary flowers , only when they be candyed you must set them in a still , and sokeep them in a sheet of white paper , putting eve●y day a chafing-dish of coals into your still , and it will be excellently candyed in a small time . 113. to make bisket cakes . take a peck of flower●● four ounces of coriander-seed , one ounce of anniseed ; then take three eggs , three spoonfuls of ale-yeast , and as much warm water as will make it as thick as past for maunchet● , make it into a long roul and bake it in an oven an hour , and when it is a day old , pare it and slice it , sugar it with searced sugar and put it again into the oven , and when it is dry take it out , and new sugar it again , and so box it and keep it . 114. to make past royal. take a pound of refined sugar , beaten and searced , and put into a stone morter , with an ounce of gumdragagant steeped in rose-water , and if you see your past be too weak put in more sugar● if too dry more gum , with a drop or two of oyl of ci●amon , beat it into a perfect past , and then you may print it in your moulds , and when it is dry guild it and so keep them . 115. to make apricock cakes . procure the fairest apricocks you can get , and let them be parboil●d very tender ; take of the same quantity of sugar whereof the pulp is , and boil them together very well always keeping them stirring for fear of burning too ; when the bottom of the skillet is dry they are enough , then put them into little cards sewed round about , and dust them with fine sugar , and when they are cold stone them and turn them , and fill them up with some more of the same stuff , but let them stand three or four days before you remove them from the first place , when you find them begin to candy take out the cards and dust them with sugar . 115. to make conserve for tarts all the year . take damsons , or other good ripe plums , and peel off their skins , and so put them into a pot , but to pippins pared , and cut in pieces , and so bake them ; then strain them through a piece of canvas , and reason them with cinamon , sugar , ginger , and a little rose-water : boyl it upon a chafing-dish of coals , till it be as thick as a conserve ; and then put it into your gally-pots , and you may keep it good all the year . 116. to dry pippins . take the fairest yellow pippins , and pare them , and make a hole through every one , then par-boyl them a little in fair water , then take them up , and put them into as much clarified sugar as will cover them , and let them boyl very gently a little while , in that syrup ; then take them out , and put them into an earthen platter , then cast fine sugar upon them , and set them into the oven half an hour , then take them out , and cast some more sugar on them , ( being turned ) and do so three times , and they will be well d●yed . 117. to make paste of genua . take two pound of the pulp of quinces , and as much of peaches ; strain it , and dry it in a pewter platter upon a chasing-dish of coals ; then weigh it , and boyl it to the height of manus christi , and then put them together , and so fashion it upon a pye-plate , and dry it in an oven with a chafing-dish of coals till it be through dry , and then if you please you may spot them with gold. 118. to make leach . make your jelly for your leach with calves feet , as you do your ordinary jelly , but a little stiffer ; and when it is cold , take off the top , and the bottom , and set it over the fire with some cinamon and sugar ; then take your turnsole being well steept in sack , and crush it , and so strain it in your leach , and let it boyl to such a thickness , that when it is cold you may slice it . 119. to dry any kind of fruits after they are preserved . take pippins , pears , or plums after they are preserved out of the syrup , and wash them in warm water , and then strew them over with sugar finely sierced , as you do flower upon fish to fry , and set them into a broad earthen pan , and lay them one by another ; then set them into a warm stove or oven , until they be dry , and turn them every day till they are quite dry ; and if you please , you may candy them therewithal ; cast sugar upon them three or four times as you dry them . 120. to make quiddany of quinces . take the kernels out of seven or eight great quinces , and boyl the quinces in a quart of spring-water , till it come to a pint ; then put into it a quarter of a pint of rose-water , and one pound of fine sugar , and so let it boyl till it come to be of a deep colour , then take a drop and drop it into the bottom of a saucer , and if it stand , take it off ; then let it run through a jelly-bag into a bason , then set it over a chafing-dish of coals to keep it warm , then take a spoon and fill your boxes as full as you please ; when they be cold cover them , and if you please to print it in moulds , wetting your moulds with rose-water , and so let it run in , and when it is cold , turn it into boxes . 121. to make sweet cakes without either spice or sugar . take parsneps , and scrape or wash them clean , slice them thin , and dry them well , beat them to powder , mixing one third part thereof with two thirds of fine wheat-flower ; make up your paste into cakes , and you will find them very sweet and delicate . 122. to make wormwood-vvine . take small rochel or comahe wine , put a few drops of the extracted oyl of worm-wood therein ; brew it together out of one pot into another , and you shall have a more neat and wholsom wine for your body , than that which is sold for right wormwood-wine . 123. to make sweet bags to lye among linning . fill your bags only with lignum and rhodium finely beaten , and it will give an excellent scent to your linnen . 124. to make spirit of honey . put one part of honey to five parts of water , when the water boyleth dissolve your honey therein , scum it ; and having boyled an hour or two , put it into a wooden vessel , and when it is blood-warm set it on fire with yeast , after the usual manner of beer and ale ; turn it , and when it hath lain some time , it will yield spirit by distillation , as wine , beer , and ale will do . 125. to preserve artichoaks . cut off the stalks of your artichoaks within two inches of the choak , and make a strong decoction of the rest of the stalks , slicing them into thin small pieces , and let the artichoaks lye in this decoction ; and when you use them , you must put them first in warm water , and then in cold , and so take away the bitterness of them . 126. to make syrup for a cough of the lungs . take a pottle of fair running water in a new pipkin , and put into it half an ounce of sydrack , half an ounce of maiden-hair , and a good handful of elecampane roots sliced ; boyl all together , untill half be boyled away , even to a syrup ; then put into it the whites of eggs , and let it boyl two or three walms ; and give the patient a spoonful morning and evening . 127. to make banbury cakes . take four pound of currants , wash , and pick them very clean , and dry them in a cloath ; then take three eggs , and put away one yolk , and beat them , and strain them with yeast , putting thereto cloves , mace , cinamon , and nutmegs ; then take a pint of cream , and as much mornings milk , and let it warm ; then take flower , and put in good store of cold butter and sugar , then put in your eggs , yeast , and meal , and work them all together an hour or more ; then save a piece of the paste , and break the rest in pieces , and work in your currants ; then make your cake what quantity you please , and cover it very thin with the paste wherein were no currants , and so bake it according to the bigness . 128. to make ginger-bread . take a quart of honey , and set it on the coals and refine it , then take ginger , pepper , and licorise , of each a penny-worth , a quarter of a pound of anniseeds , and a penny-worth of saunders ; beat all these , and sierse them , and put them into the honey , add a quarter of a pint of claret wine , or old ale ; then take three penny manchets finely grated , and strew it amongst the rest , and stir it till it come to a stiff past ; make them into cakes , and dry them gently . 129. to make vvormwood-vvater . take two gallons of good ale , a pound of anniseeds , half a pound of licorise , and beat them very fine ; then take two good handfuls of the crops of wormwood , and put them into ale , and let them stand all night , and let them stand in a limbeck with a moderate fire . 130. to make paste of quinces . first boyl your quinces whole , and when they are soft , pare them , and cut the quince from the core ; then take the finest sugar you can get finely beaten or sierced , and put in a little rose-water , and boyl it together till it be stiff enough to mould , and when it is cold , roul it and print : a pound of quinces will require a pound of sugar , or thereabout . 131. to make thin quince cakes . take your quince when it is boyled soft , as before , and dry it upon a pewter plate with a soft heat , and stir it with a slice till it be hard , then take sierced sugar to the same weight , and strew it upon the quince as you beat it in a wooden or stone mortar , and so roul them thin , and print them . 132. to make fine cakes . take a pottle of fine flower , and a pound of sugar , a little meale , and good store of water to mingle the flower into a stiff plate , with a little salt , and so knead it , and roul out the cakes thin , and bake them on papers . 133. to make suckets . take curds , and the paring of limons , oranges , or pome-citrons , or indeed any half-ripe green fruit , and boyl them till they be tender , in sweet wort ; then take three pound of sugar , the whites of four eggs , and a gallon of water ; beat the water and eggs together , and then put in your sugar , and set it on the fire , and let it have a gentle fire , and let it boyl six or seven walms , then strain it through a cloath , and set it on again , till it fall from the spoon , and then put it into the rindes , or fruits . 134. to make leach lombard . take half a pound of blanched almonds , two ounces of cinamon beaten and sierced , half a pound of sugar ; beat your almonds , and strew on your cinamon and sugar , till it come to a paste , then roul it , and print it , as afore-said . 135. to make a rare damask water . take a quart of malmsey lees , or malmsey , one handful of marjoram , as much basil , four handfuls of lavender , one handful of bay-leaves , four handfuls of damask-rose-leaves , as many red-rose , the peels of six oranges , or else one handful of the tender leaves of walnut-trees , half an ounce of benjamin , calamus aromaticus as much , of camphire four drams , of cloves an ounce , of bildamum half an ounce ; then take a pottle of running water , and put in all these spices bruised into your water and malmsey together in a pot close stopped , with a good handful of rosemary , and let them stand for the space of six days , then distill it with a soft fire , and set it in the sun sixteen days , with four grains of musk bruised . this quantity will make three quarts of water . 136. to make washing balls . take storax of both kinds , benjamin , calamus aromaticus , labdanum , of each alike , and bray them to powder with cloves and orris , then beat them all with a sufficient quantity of soap , till it be stiff , then with your hand work it like paste , and make round balls thereof . 137. to make a musk-ball . take nutmegs , mace , cloves , saffron , and cinamon , of each the weight of two pence , and beat it to fine powder , add as much mastick , of storax the weight of six pence , of labdanum the weight of ten pence , of amber-grease the weight of six pence , and of musk sour grains ; dissolve and work all these in hard sweet soap , till it come to a stiff paste , and then make balls thereof . 138. to make imperial vvater . take a gallon of gascoin wine , ginger , galingal , nutmegs , grains , cloves , anniseeds , fennel-seeds , caraway-seeds , of each one dram ; then take sage , mint , red roses , tine , pellitory , rosemary , wild thyme , camomile , and lavender , of each a handful , then beat the spices small and the herbs also , and put all together into the wine , and let it stand so twelve hours , stirring it divers times , then distill it with a limbeck , and keep the first water , for it is best ; of a gallon of wine you must not take above a quart of water . this water comforteth the vital spirits , and helpeth the inward diseases that come of cold , as the palsie , and contraction of sinews ; it also killeth worms , and comforteth the stomack , it cureth the cold dropsie , helpeth the stone , and stinking breath , and maketh one seem young. 139. to make verjuice . gather your crabs as soon as the kernels turn black , and lay them a while in a heap to sweat , then pick them from the stalks , blacks , and rotteness , then crush and beat them all to pieces in a tub , then make a bag of course hair-cloath as big as your press , and fill it with the crusht crabs , then put it into the press and press it as long as any moisture will drop out , having a clean vessel underneath to receive the liquor ; then tun it up in sweet hogsheads , and to every hogshead put half a dozen handfuls of damask rose leaves , then bring it up , and spend it as you have occasion . 140. to make dry sugar leach . blanch your almonds , and beat them with a little rose water , and the white of one egg , and then beat it with a good quantity of sugar , and work it as you would work a piece of paste ; then roul it , and print it , only be sure to strew sugar in the print , for fear of cleaving to . 141. to make fine iumbals . beat a pound of sugar fine , then take the same quantity of fine wheat flower , and mix them together , then take two whites and one yolk of an egg , half a quarter of a pound of blanched almonds , then beat them very fine altogether , with half a pound of sweet butter , and a spoonful of rose-water , and so work it with a little cream till it come to a stiff paste , then roul them forth as you please ; you may add a few fine dryed anniseeds finely rub●d , and strewed into the paste , with coriander seeds . 142. to make dry vinegar . to make dry vinegar , which you may carry in your pocket , you must take the blacks of green co●● , either wheat or rye , and beat it in a mortar with the strongest vinegar you can get , till it come to paste , then roul it into little balls and dry it in the sun till it be very hard , and when you have occasion to use it , cut a little piece thereof , and dissolve it in wine , and it will make a strong vinegar . 143. to make excellent date leach . take dates , and take out the stones , and the white rinde , and beat them with sugar , cinamon , and ginger very finely , then work it as you would work a piece of paste , and then print them as you please . 144. to make white ielly of almonds . take rose-water , gum-dragant , or isinglass dissolved , and some cinamon grosly beaten , boyl them all together , then take a pound of almonds , blanch them , and beat them fine with a little fair water , dry them in a fine cloath , and put your rose-water and the rest into the almonds , boyl them together and stir them continually , then take them from the fire , and when it is boyled enough take it off . 145. to candy orange peels . take your orange peels after they are preserved , then take fine sugar , and rose water , and boyl it to the height of manus christi , that is , till it is sugar again , then draw through your sugar ; lay them on the bottom of a siev , and dry them in an oven after you have drawn bread , and they will be candied . 146. to make paste of violets . you must take violets ready pickt , and brui●e them in a marble mortar , and wring the juice from them into a porringer , and put as much hard sugar in fine powder , as the juice will cover , dry it , and then pouder it again ; then take as much gum-dragant steeped in rose water as will bring this sugar into a perfect paste , then take it up & print it with your moulds , and so dry it in your stove . 147. to preserve pippins red. take your best coloured pippins and pare them , then take a piercer and bore a hole through them , then make syrup for them as much as will cover them , and so let them boyl in a broad preserving pan , put to them a piece of cinamon , and let them boyl leisurely , close covered , turning them very often , or else they will spot , and one side will not be like t'other , and let them boyl till they begin to jelly , then take them up , and you may keep them all the year . 148. to make spirit of roses . bruise the rose in his own juice , adding thereto , being temperately warm , a convenient proportion either of yeast , or ferment ; leave them a few days to ferment , till they get a strong and heady smell , near like to vinegar ; then distill them , and draw so long as you find any scent of the rose to come , then distill again so often till you have purchased a perfect spirit of the rose . you may also ferment the juice of roses only , and after distill the same . 149. to make syrup of elder . take elder berries when they are red , bruise them in a stone mortar , strain the juice , and boyl it away to almost half , scum it very clean , take it off the fire whilst it is hot ; put in sugar to the thickness of a syrup , put it no more on the fire , when it is cold , put it into glasses , not filling them to the top , for it will work like beer . 150. to make orange-water . take two quarts of the best malaga sack , and put in as many of the peels of oranges as will go in , cut the white clean off , steep them twenty four hours , then still them in a glass still , and let the water run into the receiver upon fine sugar-candy ; you may still it in an ordinary still . 151. to make a caudle of great virtue . take a pint and a half of the strongest ale may be gotten , twenty jordan almonds clean wiped , but neither wash'd nor blanch'd , with two dates minced very small and stamped ; then take the pith of young beef , the length of twelve inches , lay it in water till the blood be out of it , then strip the skin off it , and stamp it with the almonds and dates , then strain them altogether into the ale , boyl it till it be a little thick , give the party in the morning fasting six spoonfuls , and as much when he goeth to bed. 152. an excellent surfeit vvater . take cellandine , rosemary , rue , pellitory of spain , scabious , angelica , pimpernel , wormwood , mugwort , betony , agrimony , balm , dragon and tormentile , of each half a pound , shred them somewhat small , and put them into a narrow mouthed pot , and put to them five quarts of vvhite vvine , stop it close , and let it stand three days and nights , stirring it morning and evening , then take the herbs from the wine , and distill them in an ordinary still , and when you have distill'd the herbs , distill the wine also , wherein is virtue for a weak stomack . take three or four spoonfuls at any time . 153. to make a syrup for one short-winded . take a good handful of hyssop , and a handful of horehound , and boyl them in a quart of spring-water to a pint , then strain it through a clean cloath , and put in sugar to make it pleasant . stir it morning and evening with a licorise-stick , and take about three spoonfuls at a time . 154. to make syrup of sugar candyed . take sugar candyed , and put it into a clear bladder , and tye it , but so that it may have some vent , then put it into a bason of water , so that the water come not over the top of the bladder , and cover it with a pewter dish , and let it stand all night , and in the morning take of it with a licorise-stick . 155. to make an excellent syrup against the scurvy . take of the juice of garden scurvy-grass , brook●ime , and water-cresses , of each six ounces , and after it hath stood till it is clear , take sixteen ounces of the clearest , and put to it four ounces of the juice of oranges and lemmons , make it a clear syrup with so much fine sugar as will serve the turn . 156. to make syrup of roses . vvhen your liquor is ready to boyl , put as many roses as will be well steept into it , cover it close , and when the roses are throughly white , then strain it , and set it one the fire again , and so use it thirteen times , and to every pint of your water or liquor , you must put a pound of sugar , and let it stand together steeping for the space of one night , then scum it clean , and seeth it over a quick fire a quarter of an hour , then take some whites of eggs and beat them well together , take off your pot , and put in the whites , and then set it on the fire again , and let it boyl a good space , then let it run through a jelly-bag , till it will stand still upon your nail . 157. to make a comfortable syrup . take a handful of agrimony , and boyl it in a pint of water till half be consumed , then take out the agrimony , and put in a good handful of currans , and boyl them till they are ready to break , then strain them , and make a syrup of them , then set it on a chafing-dish of coals , and put thereto a little white saunders , and drink it either hot or cold . 158. to make an almond caudle . take three pints of ale , boyl it with cloves and mace , and slice bread in it , then have ready beaten a pound of almonds blanched , and strain them out with a pint of white wine , and thicken the ale with it , sweeten it if you please , but be sure to scum the ale when it boyls . 159. to candy cherries . take your cherries before they be full ripe , take out the stones , put clarified sugar boyled to a height , and then pour it on them . 160. to make syrup of saffron . take a pint of endive water , two ounces of saffron finely beaten , and steep it therein all night , the next day boyl it , and strain out the saffron , then with sugar boyl it up to a syrup . 161. to make rose water . stamp the leaves , and first distill the juice being squeezed out , and after distill the leaves , and so you may dispatch more with one still , than others will do with three or four ; and this water is every way as medicinable as the other , serving very well in all decoctions , and syrups , &c. though it be not altogether so pleasing to the smell . 162. to make suckets of green walnuts take vvalnuts when they are no bigger than the largest hasel nut ; pare away the uppermost green , but not too deep ; then boyl them in a pottle of water , till the water be boyled away , then take so much more fresh water , and when it is boyled to the half , put thereto a quart of vinegar , and a pottle of clarified honey . 163. to make white leach of cream . take a pint of sweet cream , and six spoonfuls of rose-water , two grains of musk , two drops of oyl of mace , and so let it boyl with four ounces of isinglass ; then let it run through a jelly-bag , when it is cold slice it like brawn , and so serve it out . this is the best way to make leach . 164. to preserve pome-citrons . you must take a pound and a half of pome-citrons , and cut them in halves and quarters , take the meat out of them , and boyl them tender in fair water , then take two pound of sugar clarified , and make syrup for them , and let them boyl therein a quarter of an hour very gently ; then take them up , and let your syrup boyl till it be thick , then put in your pome-citrons , and you may keep them all the year . 165. to pick●e clove-gilly flowers for sallets . take the fairest clove-gilly-flowers , clip off the whites from them , put them into a wide-mouth'd glass , and strew a good deal of sugar finely beaten among them , then put as much wine vinegar to them as will throughly wet them , tye them up close , and set them in the sun , and in a little while they will be fit for use . 166. to make leach of almonds . take half a pound of sweet almonds , and beat them in a mortar , then strain them with a pint of sweet milk from the cow , then put to it one grain of musk , two spoonfuls of rose-water , two ounces of fine sugar , the weight of three shillings in isinglass that is very white , boyl them together , and let it all run through a strainer , then still it out , and serve it . 167. to candy marigolds in wedges , the spanish fashion . take of the fairest marigold flowers two ounces , and shred them small , and dry them before the fire , then take four ounces of sugar , and boyl it to a height , then pour it upon a wet pye-plate , and between hot and cold cut it into wedges , then lay them on a sheet of white paper , and put them in a stove . 168. to candy eringo roots . take your eringos ready to be preserved , and weigh them , and to every pound of your roots take of the purest sugar you can get two pound , and clarifie it with the whites of eggs exceeding well , that it may be as clear as crystal , for that will be best ; it being clarified , boyl it to the height of manus christi , then dip in your roots two or three at once , till all be candyed , and so put them in a stove , and so keep them all the year . 169. to candy elecampane roots . take of your fairest elecampane roots , and take them clean from the syrup , and wash the sugar off them , and dry them again with a linnen cloath ; then weigh them , and to every pound of roots take a pound and three quarters of sugar , clarifie it well , and boyl it to a height , and when it is boyled dip in your roots , three or four at once , and they will candy very well , and so stove them , and keep them all the year . 170. to make cinamon-sugar . lay pieces of sugar in close boxes among sticks of cinamon , or cloves , and in short time it will have the tast and scent of the spice . 171. to make a triste . take cream , and boyl it with a cut nutmeg , add limon peel a little , then take it off , cool it a little , and season it with rose-water and sugar to your tast ; let this be put in the thing you serve it in , then put it in a little rundlet to make it come , and then it is sit to eat . 172. to make quiddany of plums . take one quart of the liquor which you preserved your plums in , and boyl six fair pippins in it , pared , and cut into small pieces , then strain the thin from it , and put to every pint of liquor half a pound of sugar , and so boyl it till it will stand on the back of a spoon like a jelly ; then wet your moulds , and pour it thereinto , and when it is almost cold , turn it off upon a wet trencher , and so slip it into wet boxes . 173. to candy barberries . first preserve them , then dip them quickly into warm water , to wash off the ropy syrup , then strew them over with siersed sugar , and set them into an oven or stove three or four hours , always turning them , and casting more fine sugar upon them , and never suffer them to be cold till they be dryed , and begin to look like diamonds . 174. to make cream of apricots . first boyl your apricots with water and sugar , till they be somewhat tender , and afterwards boyl them in cream , then strain them , and season it with sugar . 175. to make quince-cream . take a roasted quince , pare it , and cut it into thin slices to the core , boyl it in a pint of cream , with a little whole ginger , till it tast of the quinces to your liking , then put in a little sugar , and strain it , and always serve it cold to the table . 176. to preserve barberries . take one pound of barberries pickt from the stalks , put them in a pottle-pot , and set it in a brass pot full of hot water , and when they be stewed , strain them , and put to them a pound and half of sugar , and a pint of red rose-water , and boyl them a little ; then take half a pound of the fairest clusters of barberries you can get , and dip them in the syrup while it boyleth , then take the barberries out again , and boyl the syrup while it is thick , and when it is cold , put them in the glasses with the syrup . 177. to make a cullice . take a cock , and dress him , and boyl him in white wine , scum it clean , and clarifie the broath ( being first strained ) then take a pint of sweet cream , and strain it , and so mix them together ; then take beaten ginger , fine sugar , and rose-water , and put them all together , and boyl it a little more . 178. to make a cordial strengthning broath . take a red cock , strip off the feathers from the skin , then break his bones to shivers with a rolling-pin ; ●●t it over the fire , and just cover it with water , put in some salt , and watch the scumming , and boyling of it , put in a handful of harts-horn , a quarter of a pound of blew currans , and as many raisins of the sun stoned , and as many pruans , four blades of large mace , a bottom crust of a white loaf , half an ounce of china root sliced , being steeped three hours before in warm water , boyl three or four pieces of gold , strain it , and put in a little fine sugar , and juice of orange , and so use it . 179. to candy grapes . after they are preserved , then dip them into warm water to cleanse them from the syrup , then strew them over with sierced sugar , and set them into an oven or stove three or four hours , always turning them , and casting more fine sugar upon them , and never suffer them to be cold till they be dry'd , and begin to sparkle . 180. to make sugar-cakes . take one pound of fine flower , one pound of sugar finely beaten , and mingle them well together , then take seven or eight yolks of eggs , then take two cloves , and a pretty piece of cinamon , and lay it in a spoonful of rose-water all night , and heat it almost blood-warm , temper it with the rest of the stuff ; when the paste is made , make it up as fast as you can , and bake them in a soft oven . 181. to take spots and stains out of cloaths . take four ounces of white hard soap , beat it in a mortar with a limon sliced , and as much roch-allom as an hasel-nut , roul it up in a ball , rub the stain therewith , and after fetch it out with warm water , if need be . 182. to keep chesnuts all the year . after the bread is ●rawn , disperse your nuts thinly over the bottom of the oven , and by this means , the moisture being dryed up , the nuts will last all the year ; but if you perceive them to mould , put them into the oven again . 183. to preserve cucumbers green. you must take two quarts of verjuice , or vinegar , and a gallon of fair water , a pint of bay-salt , and a handful of green fennel or dill , boyl it a little , and when it is cold , put it into a barrel , then put your cucumbers into that pickle , and you may keep them all the year . 184. to preserve white damsons green. scald white damsons in water , till they be hard , then take them off , and pick as many as you please , take as much sugar as they weigh , put two or three spoonfuls of water , then put in the damsons and the sugar , and boyl them , take them off , then let them stand a day or two , then boyl them again , take them off , and let them stand till they be cold . 185. to make cakes of limons . take of the finest double refined sugar , beaten very fine , and sierced through fine tiffany , and to half a porringer of sugar put two spoonfuls of water , and boyl it till it be almost sugar again , then grate of the hardest rinded limon , and stir it into your sugar , put it into your coffins , and a paper , and when they be cold , take them off . 186. to make artificial walnuts . take some sugar-plate , and print it in a mould made for a walnut-kernel , and then yellow it all over with a little saffron-water , with a feather ; then take cinamon sierced , and sugar a like quantity , working it to a paste with gum-dragon steeped in rose-water , and print it in a mould made like a walnut-shell , and when the kernel and shell be dry , close them together with gum-dragon . 187. to make black-cherry-vvine . take a gallon of the juice of black-cherries , keep it in a vessel close stopped , till it begin to work , then filter it , and an ounce of sugar being added to every pint , and a gallon of white-wine , and so keep it close stopped for use. 188. to make rose-vinegar . take of red-rose buds ( gathered in a dry time , the whites cut off , then dry them in the shadow three or four days ) one pound , of vinegar eight sextaries ; set them in the sun forty days , then strain out the roses , and put in fresh ; and so repeat it three or four times . 189. to make syrup of vinegar . take of the roots of smalledge , fennel , endive , each three ounces ; anniseeds , smalledge , fennel , of each an ounce , endive half an ounce , clear water three quarts ; boyl it gently in an earthen vessel , till half the water be consumed , then strain , and clarifie it , and with three pound of sugar , and a pint and half of white-wine-vinegar , boyl it into a syrup . this is a gallant syrup for such whose bodies are stuffed , either with phlegm , or tough humours , for it opens obstructions or stoppings , both of the stomack , liver , spleen , and reins ; it cuts and brings away tough phlegm , and choler . 190 , to make syrup of apples . take two quarts of the juice of sweet-scented apples , the juice of bugloss , garden , and wild , of violet-leaves , and rose-water , of each a pound , boyl them together , and clarifie them , and with six pound of very fine sugar , boyl them into a syrup , according to art. 191. to make the capon-water against a consumption . take a capon , the guts being pull'd out , cut it in pieces , and take away the fat , boyl it in a close vessel in a sufficient quantity of spring-water : take of this broath three pints , of barrage , and violet-water a pint and a half , white-wine one pint , red-rose leaves two drams and an half , burrage-flowers , violets , and bugloss , of each one dram , pieces of bread out of the oven half a pound , cinamon bruised , half an ounce ; still it in a glass still , according to art. this is a sovereign remedy against hectick-fevers , and consumptions ; let such as are subject to those diseases , hold it as a jewel . 192. to make elder-vinegar . gather the flowers of elder , pick them very clean , dry them in the sun , on a gentle heat , and to every quart of vinegar take a good handful of flowers , and let it stand in the sun a fortnight , then strain the vinegar from the flowers , and put it into the barrel again , and when you draw a quart of vinegar , draw a quart of water , and put it into the barrel luke-warm . 193. to make china broath . take an ounce of china-root clipped thin , and steep it in three pints of water all night , on embers covered ; the next day take a cock chicken , clean pickt , and the guts taken out , put in its belly agrimony and maiden-hair , of each half a handful , raisins of the sun stoned , one good handful , and as much french barley ; boyl all these in a pipkin close covered , on a gentle fire , for six or seven hours , let it stand till it be cold , strain it , and keep it for your use : take a good draught in the morning , and at four in the after-noon . 194. to make paste of tender plums . put your plums into an earthen pot , and set it into a pot of boyling water , and when the plums are dissolved , then strain the thin liquor from them through a c●oath , and reserve that liquor to make quiddany , then strain the pulp through a piece of canvas , and take as much sugar as the pulp in weight , and as much water as will wet the same , and so boyl it to a candy height , then dry the pulp upon a chafing-dish of coals , then put your syrup and the pulp so hot together , and boyl it , always stirring it till it will lye upon a pye-plate , as you lay it , and that it run not abroad , and when it is somewhat dry , then use it , but put to it the pulp of apples . 196. to make cream of codlings . first , scald your codlings , and so peel off the skins , then scrape the pulp from the cores , and strain them with a little sugar , and rose-water , then lay your pulp of codlings in the middle of the dish , and so much raw cream round it as you please , and so serve it . 196. to make sugar of roses . take of red-rose-leaves , the whites being cut off , an ounce , dry them in the sun speedily , put to it a pound of white sugar , melt the sugar in rose-water , and juice of roses , of each two ounces , which being consumed by degrees , put in the rose-leaves in powder , mix them , put it upon a marble , and make it into lozenges , according to art. 197. to make a cream tart. cut the crust of a manchet , and grate it small , and mix it with thick cream , and some sweet butter ; then take twenty-four yolks of eggs , and strain them with a little cream , putting thereto a good quantity of sugar ; mix these very well , and set it upon a small fire , and so let it boyl till it be thick ; then make two sheets of paste as thin as you can , and raise the sides of one of them , the height of one of your fingers in breadth , and then fill it , and cover it with the other sheet , then bake it half a quarter of an hour , then put sugar on it , and so serve it . 198. to make artificial oranges . take alabaster moulds made in three pieces , bind two of the pieces together , and water them an hour or two , then take as much sugar as you think will fill your moulds , and so boyl it to a height ; then pour it into your moulds one by one very quick : then put on the lid of the mould , and so turn it round with your hand as quick as you can , and when it is cold , take it out of the mould , and they will be both whole , and hollow within , and so it will appear , and resemble the mould wherein it is put , whether oranges , limons , cucumbers , or the like . 199. to make poppy-water . take of red poppies four pound , put to them a quart of white-wine , then distill them in a common still , then let the distilled water be poured upon fresh flowers , and repeated three times , to which add two nutmegs sliced , red poppy-flowers a pugil , white sugar two ounces ; set it to the fire , to give it a pleasing sharpness , and order it according to your taste . 200. to make mathiolus bezoar water . take of syrup of citron-peels a quart , and as much of dr. mathiolus great antidote , with five pints of the spirit of wine , five times distill'd over ; put all these in a glass that is much too big to hold them ; stop it close , that the spirit fly not out , then shake it together , that the electuary may be well mingled with the spirit , so let it stand a moneth , shaking it together twice a week ( for the electuary will settle at the bottom ) after a moneth pour off the clear water into another glass , to be kept for your use , stopping it very close with wax and parchment , else the strength will easily fly away in vapours . 201. to make marmalade of red currans . take the juice of red currans , and put into a pretty quantity of white currans , clean pickt from the stalks and buttons at the other end ; let these boyl a little together , have also ready some fine sugar boyl'd to a candy height , put of this to the currans , acording to your discretion , and boyl them together , till they be enough , and bruise them with the back of your spoon , that they may be thick as marmalade , and when it is cool put it into pots : you need not stone the whole currans , unless you please . 202. to make a syllabub . take a pint of verjuice in a bowl , milk the cow to the verjuice ; then take off the curd , and take sweet cream , and beat them together with a little sack and sugar , put it into your syllabub-pot , strew sugar on it , and serve it . 203. to make pleasant mead. put a quart of honey to a gallon of water , with about ten sprigs of sweet-marjoram , and half so many tops of bays , boyl these very well together , and when it is cold , bottle it up , and in ten days it will be ready to drink . 204. to make steppony . take a gallon of conduit-water , a pound of blew raisins of the sun stoned , and half a pound of sugar , squeeze the juice of two limons upon the raisins and sugar , and slice the rindes upon them : boyl the water , and pour it boyling hot upon the ingredients in an earthen pot , and stir them well together , so let it stand twenty four hours ; then put it into bottles , having first let it run through a strainer , and set them in a cellar , or other cool place . 205. to make syder . take a peck of apples and slice them , and boyl them in a barrel of water , till the third part be wasted ; then cool your water as you do for wort , and when it is cold , you must pour the water upon three measures of grown apples . then draw sorth the water at a tap three or four times a day , for three days together . then press out the liquor , and tun it up ; when it hath done working , stop it up close . 206. to make cock-ale . take eight gallons of ale , then take a cock , and boyl him well , with four pound of raisins of the sun well stoned , two or three nutmegs , three or four flakes of mace , half a pound of dates ; beat these all in a mortar , and put to them two quarts of the best sack ; and when the ale hath done working , put these in , and stop it close six or seven days , and then bottle it , and a moneth after you may drink it , 207. to make a caraway-cake . take three pound and a half of the fineest flower , and dry it in an oven , one pound and a half of sweet butter , and mix it with the flower , till it be crumbled very small , that none of it be seen ; then take three quarters of a pint of new ale-yeast , and half a pint of sack , and half a pint of new milk , with six spoonfuls of rose-water , and four yolks , and two whites of eggs ; then let it lye before the fire half an hour , or more ; and when you go to make it up , put in three quarters of carraway-comfits , and a pound and half of biskets . put it into the oven , and let it stand an hour and an half . 208. to make strawberry-wine . bruise the strawberries , and put them into a linnen bag , which hath been a little used , that so the liquor may run through more easily ; then hang in the bag at the bung into the vessel . before you put in your strawberries , put in what quantity of fruit you think good , to make the wine of a high colour ; during the working , leave the bung open , and when it hath work'd enough , stop your vessel : cherry-wine is made after the same fashion , but then you must break the stones . 209 , to make a cordial water of clove-gilly flowers . put spirit of wine , or sack upon clove-gilly-flowers , digest it two or three days ; put all in a glass-body , laying other clove-gilly-flowers at the mouth of it upon a cambrick , or boulter-cloath , ( that the spirit rising , and passing through the flowers , may ting it self of a beautiful colour ) add a head with a limbeck and receiver : then distill the spirit as strong as you like it , which sweeten with syrup of gilly-flowers , or fine sugar . 210 to make an excellent surfeit-water . take mint and carduus four parts , angelica one part , wormwood two parts ; chop and bruise them a little , put a sufficient quantity of them into an ordinary still , and put upon them enough new milk to soak them , but not to have the milk swim much over them . distill this as you do rose-water , stirring it sometime with a stick , to keep the milk from growing to a cake . 211. to make mint-water . take two parts of mint , and one part of wormwood , and two parts of carduus ; put these into as much new milk as will soak them : let them infuse five or six hours , then distill as you distill rose-water , but you must often take off the head , and stir the matter well with a stick : drink of this water a wine-glass full at a time , sweetned with fine sugar to your taste . 212. to pickle artichoaks . take your artichoaks before they are over-grown , or too full of strings , and when they are pared round , then nothing is left but the bottom , boyl them till they be indifferent tender , but not full boyled , take them up , and let them be cold , then take good stale beer , and white wine , with a great quantity of whole pepper , so put them up into a barrel , with a small quantity of salt , keep them close , and they will not be sour , it will serve for baked meats , and boyled meats all the winter . 213. to make rasberry-cream . when you have boyled your cream , take two ladle-fuls of it , being almost cold , bruise the rasberries together , and season it with sugar , and rose-water , and put it into your cream , stirring it altogether , and so dish it up . 214. to make snow-cream . break the whites of six eggs , put thereto a little rose-water , beat them well together with a bunch of feathers , till they come perfectly to resemble snow ; then lay on the said snow in heaps upon other cream that is cold , which is made fit for the table ; you may put under your cream in the bottom of the dish , part of a penny loaf , and stick therein a branch of rosemary or bays , and fill your tree with the said snow to serve it up . 215. to make hydromel . take eighteen quarts of spring-water , and one quart of honey ; when the water is warm , put the honey into it , when it boyls up scum it very well , even as long as any scum will rise ; then put in one race of ginger , sliced in thin slices , four cloves , and a little sprig of green rosemary ; boyl all together an hour , then set it to cool till it be blood-warm , and then put to it a spoonful of ale-yeast , when it is work'd up , put it into a vessel of a fit size , and after two or three days bottle it up ; you may drink it in six weeks , or two moneths . 216. to make a whipt syllabub . take the whites of two eggs , and a pint of cream , with six spoonfuls of sack , and as much sugar as will sweeten it , then take a birchen rod and whip it , as it riseth in froth scum it , and put it into the syllabub-pot , so continue it with whipping and scumming , till your syllabub-pot be full . 217. to make marmalade of cherries . take four pound of the best kentish cherries before they be stoned , to one pound of pure loaf-sugar , which beat into small powder , stone the cherries , and put them into a preserving-pan over a gentle fire , that they may not boyl , but dissolve much into liquor . take away with the spoon much of the thin liquor , leaving the cherries moist enough , but not swimming , in clean liquor ; then put to them half your sugar , and boyl it up quick , and scum away the froth that riseth ; when it is well incorporated and clear , strew in a little more of the sugar , and continue so by little and little , till you have put in all your sugar , which will make the colour the fairer ; when they are boyled enough , take them off , and bruise them with the back of a spoon , and when they are cold , put them up in pots . 218. to make a flomery-caudle . when flomery is made , and cold , you may make a pleasant , and wholesome caudle of it , by taking some lumps and spoonfuls of it , and boyl it with ale and white-wine , then sweeten it to your taste with sugar . there will remain in the caudle some lumps of the congealed flomery , which are not ingrateful . 219. to preserve fruit all the year . put the fruit into a fit case of tin , and soder it together , so that no air can get in ; then lay it in the bottom of a cold well in running water . 220. to make a most rich cordial . take conserve of red roses , conserve of orange-flowers , of each one ounce ; confect . hyacinthi , bezoardick , theriacal powder , of each two drams , confection of alkermes one dram , of powder of gold one scruple ; mix all these well together in the form of an opiate , and if the composition be too dry , add to it some syrup of red currans , as much as is needful ; take of this composition every morning , the quantity of a nut. 221. to pickle red and white currans . take vinegar and white-wine , with so much sugar as will make it pretty sweet , then take your red and white currans , being not fully ripe , and give them one walm , so cover them over with the said pickle , keeping them always under liquor . 222. to make red currans-cream . bruise your currans with some boyled cream , then strain them through your strainer , or siev , and put the liquid substance thereof to the said cream , being almost cold , and it will be a pure red ; so serve it up . 223. to preserve medlars . take the weight of them in sugar , adding to every pound thereof , a pint and a half of fair water , let them be scalded therein , till their skin will come off ; then take them out of the water , and stone them at the head , then add your sugar to the water , and boyl them together , then strain it , and put your medlars therein ; let them boyl apace till it be thick ; take them from the fire , and keep them for use. 224. to preserve mulberries . take the like weight of sugar , as of mulberries , wet the sugar with some of the juice thereof , stir it together , put in your mulberries , and let them boyl till they are enough , then take out your mulberries , but let your syrup boyl a while after ; then take it off , and put it into your mulberries , and let them stand till they be cold , for your use. 225. to make white mead. take six gallons of water , and put in six quarts of honey , stirring it till the honey be throughly melted ; then set it over the fire , and when it is ready to boyl , scum it very clean ; then put in a quarter of an ounce of mace , and as much ginger , half an ounce of nutmegs , sweet marjoram , broad thyme , and sweet bryar , of all together a handful , and boyl them well therein , then set it by till it be throughly cold , and then barrel it up , and keep it till it be ripe . 226. to make naples-bisket . take of the same stuff the mackroons are made of , and put to it an ounce of pine-apple-seeds , in a quarter of a pound of stuff , for that is all the difference between the mackroons and the naples biskets . 227. to make chips of quinces . scald them very well , and then slice them into a dish , and pour a candy syrup to them scalding hot , and let them stand all night , then lay them on plates , and sierse sugar on them , and turn them every day , and scrape more sugar on them till they be dry . if you would have them look clear , heat them in syrup , but not to boyl . 228. to make lozenges of roses . boyl sugar to a height , till it is sugar again , then beat your roses fine , and moisten them with the juice of limons , and put them into it , let it not boyl after the roses are in , but pour it upon a pye-plate , and cut it into what form you please . 229. to make conserve of bugloss-flowers . pick them as you do burrage-flowers , weigh them , and to every ounce add two ounces of loaf-sugar , and one of sugar-candy ; beat them together , till they become very fine , then set it on the fire to dissolve the sugar , and when it is so done , and the conserve hot , put it into your glasses , or gally-pots , for your use all the year . 230. to pickle limon and orange-piel . boyl them with vinegar and sugar , and put them up into the same pickle ; you must observe to cut them into small thongs , the length of half the piel of your limon , being pared ; it 's a handsom savoury winter sallet : boyl them first in water , before you boyl them in sugar . 231. to make goosberry-paste . take gooseberries , and cut them one by one , and wring away the juice , till you have got enough for your turn , boyl your juice alone , to make it somewhat thicker ; then take as much fine sugar as your juice will sharpen , dry it , and then beat it again ; then take as much gum-dragon steeped in rose-water as will serve ; then beat it into a paste in a marble mortar , then take it up , & print it in your moulds , and dry it in your stove , when it is dry box it up for your use all the year . 232. to make suckets of lettuce-stalks . take lettuce-stalks , and peel away the out-side , then par-boyl them in fair water , and let them stand all night dry , then take half a pint of the same liquor , and a quart of rose-water , and so boyl it to a syrup , and when the syrup is almost cold put in your roots , and let them stand all night to take sugar ; then boyl your syrup again , because it will be weak , and then take out your roots . 233. to make musk-sugar . bruise four or five grains of musk , put it in a piece of cambrick or lawn ; lay it at the bottom of a gally-pot , and strew sugar thereon , stop your pot close , and all your sugar in a few days will both smell and taste of musk ; and when you have spent that sugar , lay more sugar thereon , which will also have the same scent . 234. to make prince-bisket . take one pound of very fine flower , and one pound of fine sugar , and eight eggs , and to spoonfuls of rose-water , and one ounce of carraway-seeds , and beat it all to batter one whole hour , for the more you beat it , the better your bread is ; then bake it in coffins of white plate , being basted with a little butter , before you put in your batter , and so keep it . 235. to candy rose-leaves . boyl sugar and rose-water a little upon a chafing-dish of coals , then put the leaves ( being throughly dryed , either by the sun , or on the fire ) into the sugar , and boyl them a little ; then strew the powder of double-refined sugar upon them , and turn them , and boyl them a little longer , taking the dish from the fire , then strew more powdered sugar on the contrary side of the flowers . 236. to preserve roses , or gilly-flowers whole . dip a rose that is neither in the bud , nor over-blown , in a syrup , consisting of sugar double-refined , and rose-water boyled to it 's full height , then open the leaves one by one with a fine smooth bodkin , either of bone or wood , then lay them on papers in the heat , or else dry with a gentle heat in a close room , heating the room before you set them in , or in an oven , then put them up in glasses , and keep them in dry cup-boards near the fire . 237. to make ielly of quinces . take of the juice of quinces clarified six quarts , boyl it half away , and add to the remainder five pints of old white-wine , consume the third part over a gentle fire , taking away the scum , as you ought ; let the rest settle , and strain it , and with three pound of sugar boyl it , according to art. 238. to make ielly of currans . take four pound of good sugar , and clarifie it with whites of eggs , then boyl it to a candy height , that is , till it go into flashes ; then put to it five pints , ( or as much as you please ) of the pure juice of red currans , first boyled , to clarifie it , by scumming it ; boyl them together a while , till they be scum'd well , and enough to become a jelly , then put a good handful or two of the berries of currans whole , and cleansed from the stalks and black end , and boyl them till they are enough . you need not boyl the juice before you put to the sugar , neither scum it before the sugar and it boyl together , but then scum it clean , and take care that the juice be very clear , and well strained . 239. to make syrup of mint . take of the juice of sweet quinces , and between sweet and sour , the juice of pomegranats , sweet , between sweet and sour , of each a pint and half ; dryed mint half a pound , red roses two ounces ; let them lye in steep one day , then boyl it half away , and with four pound of sugar boyl it into syrup , according to art. 240. to make honey of mulberries . take of the juice of mulberries and black-berries , before they be ripe , gathered before the sun be up , of each a pound and half , honey two pound ; boyl them to their due thickness . 241. to make syrup of purslain . take of the seed of purslain grosly bruised half a pound , of the juice of endive boyled and clarified two pints , sugar two pound , vinegar nine ounces ; infuse the seeds in the juice of endive twenty four hours , afterwards boyl it half away with a gentle fire , then strain it , and boyl it with the sugar to the consistence of a syrup , adding the vinegar toward the latter end of the decoction . 242. to make honey of raisins . take of raisins of the sun cleansed from the stones two pound , steep them in six pints of warm water , the next day boyl it half away , and press it strongly ; then put two pints of honey to the liquor that is pressed out , and boyl it to a thickness : it is good for a consumption , and to loosen the body . 243. to make syrup of comfrey . take of the roots and tops of comfrey , the greater and the less , of each three handfuls , red roses , betony , plantain , burnet , knot-grass , scabious , colts-foot , of each two handfuls , press the juice out of them , all being green and bruised , boyl it , scum it , and strain it , add to it it's weight of sugar , and make it into syrup , according to art. 244. to pickle quinces . boyl your quinces whole in water till they be soft , but not too violently , for fear of breaking them ; when they are soft take them out , and boyl some quinces pared , quartered , and cored , and the parings of the quinces with them in the same liquor , to make it strong , and when they are boyled , that the liquor is of a sufficient strength , take out the quartered quinces and parings , and put the liquor into a pot big enough to receive all the quinces , both whole and quartered , and put them into it when the liquor is through cold , and keep them for use close covered . 245. to make plague-water . take a pound of rue , of rosemary , sage , sorrel , celandine , mugwort , of the tops of red brambles , pimpernel , wild dragons , agrimony , balm , angelica , of each a pound ; put these compounds in a pot , fill it with white-wine above the herbs , so let it stand four days , then distill for your use in an alembeck . 245. to make quince-cakes white . first clarifie the sugar with the white of an egg , but put not so much water to it as you do for marmalade , before you clarifie it keep out almost a quarter of the sugar ; let your quinces be scalded , and chopt in small pieces , before you put it into the syrup , then make it boyl as fast as you can , and when you have scummed it , and think it to be half boyled , then jamire it , and let the other part of your sugar be ready candyed to a hard candy , and so put them together , letting it boyl but a very little after the candy is put to it , then put in a little musk , and so lay it out before it be cold . 246. to make red quince-cakes . bake them in an oven , with some of their own juice , their own cores being cut and bruised , and put to them ; then weigh some of the quince , being cut into small pieces , taking their weight in sugar , and with the quince some pretty quantity of the juice of barberries , being baked , or stewed in a pot ; when you have taken the weight in sugar , you must put the weighed quince , and above three quarters of the sugar together , and put to it some little quantity of water , as you shall see cause , but make not the syrup too thin ; and when you have put all this together , cover it , and set it to the fire , keep it covered , and scum it as much as you can , when it is half boyled , then symmer it ; let the other part of the sugar have no more water put to it , then wet the sugar well , and so let it boyl to a very hard candy , and when you think they be boyled enough , then lay them out before they be cold . 247. to make clear cakes of quinces . prepare your quinces and barberries , as before , and then take the clearest syrup , and let it stand on the coals two or three hours , then take the weight of it in sugar , and put near half the sugar to the juice , and so let them boyl a little on the fire , and then candy the rest of the sugar very hard , and so put them together , stirring it till it be almost cold , and so put it into glasses . 248. to make ielly of raspices . first strain your raspices , and to every quart of juice , add a pound and half of sugar , pick out some of the fairest , and having strewed sugar in the bottom of the skillet , lay them in one by one , then put the juice upon them with some sugar , reserving some to put in when they boyl , let them boyl apace , and add sugar continually , till they are enough . 249. to make all sorts of comfits , and to cover seeds , or fruits with sugar . you must provide a bason very deep , either of brass or tin , with two ears of iron to hang it with a rope over an earthen pan , with hot coals , then provide a broad pan for ashes , and put hot coals upon them , and another clean bason to melt your sugar in , or a skillet , as also a ladle of brass to run the sugar upon the seeds , together with a slice of brass , to scrape away the sugar from the bason that hangs , if there be occasion . then take some of the best and fairest sugar you can get , and beat it into powder ; cleanse your seeds well , and dry them in the hanging bason ; put a quarter of a pound of seeds , whether anniseed , or coriander-seeds , to every two pound of sugar , and that will make them big enough , but if you would have them bigger , add the more sugar , which you must melt thus ; put three pound of sugar into your bason , adding to it one pint of clean running-water , stir it well with a brazen slice , till it be well moistened ; then set it over a clear fire , and melt it well , and let it boyl mildly till it ropes from the ladle , then keep it upon hot embers , but let it not boyl , and so let it run upon the seeds from the ladle : if you would have them done quickly , let your water be boyling hot , and putting a fire under the bason , cast on your sugar boyling hot ; put but as much water to the sugar as will dissolve the same , neither boyl your sugar too long , which will make it black ; stir the seeds in the bason as fast as you can as you cast on the sugar , at the first put in but half a spoonful of the sugar , moving the bason very fast , rubbing the seeds very well with your hand , which will make them take sugar the better , and let them be very well dryed between every coat ; repeat this rubbing and drying of them between every coat , which will make them the sooner ; for this way , in every three hours hours you may make three pound of comfits . a quarter of a pound coriander-seeds , and three pound of sugar will make very large comfits ; keep your sugar always in good temper , that it run not into lumps . when your comfits are made , lay them to dry upon papers , either before the fire , or in the hot sun , or in an oven , which will make them very white . 250. to candy nutmegs , or ginger . take a pound of fine sugar , and six or seven spoonfuls of rose-water , gum-arabick , the weight of six pence , but let it be clear ; boyl all these together , till they rope , put it then out into an earthen dish , put to it your nutmegs or ginger , then cover it close , and lute it with clay , that no air enter in ; keep it in a warm place about twenty days , and they will candy into a hard rock-candy ; then break your pot , and take them out : in the same manner you may candy oranges and limons . 251. to make currans-wine . pick a pound of the best currans , and put them in a deep streight-mouth'd earthen pot , and pour upon them about three quarts of hot water , having first dissolved therein three spoonfuls of the purest and newest ale-yeast ; stop it very close , till it begins to work , then give it vent as is necessary , and keep it warm , for about three days it will work and ferment , taste it after two days to see if it be grown to your liking , then let it run through a strainer , to leave behind all the currans , and the yeast , and so bottle it up ; it will be very quick and pleasant , and is admirable good to cool the liver , and cleanse the blood ; it will be ready to drink in five or six days after it is bottled , and you may drink it safely . 252. to make a sweet-meat of apples . make your jelly with slices of iohn-apples , but first fill your glass with slices cut round-ways , and pour in the jelly to fill up the vacuities ; let the jelly be boyled to a good stiffness , and when it is ready to take from the fire , put in some juice of limon and orange , if you like it , but let them not boyl , but let it stand upon the fire a while upon a pretty good heat , that the juices may incorporate well ; a little amber-grease added doth very well . 253. to make conserve of sage . take about a pound of flowers of sage , fresh blown , and beat them in a mortar , afterward put them in a glass , and stop them close , and then set them by a warm fire , or in the sun , and be sure to 〈◊〉 them once a day at the least , and it will keep good a twelve-moneth at the least . 254. to make paste of cherries . boyl some fair cherries in water , till they come to a pap , and then strain them through a siev ; then boyl some good pippins unto pap also , put a quarter of a pound of the apple-pap to a pound of the pap of cherries , and mingle them together , then dry it , and so make it up into paste . 255. to make marmalade of oranges . after you have pared your oranges very thin , let them be boyled in three or four waters , even till they grow very tender ; then take a quarter of a hundred of good kentish pippins , divide them , and take out the cores , boyl them very well to pap , or more , but let them not lose their colour ; then pass your apples through a strainer , and put a pound of sugar to every pint of juice , then boyl it till it will candy ; then take out the pulp of the orange , and cut the peel into long slices very thin , put in your peel again , adding to it the juice of two or three limons , and boyl up to a candy . 256. to make paste of apricots . let your apricots be very ripe , and then pare them , then put them into a skillet , and set them over the fire without water , stir them very well with a skimmer , and let them be over the fire till they be very dry , then ●ake some sugar and boyl it into a conserve , and mix an equal quantity of each together , and so make it into paste . 257. to pickle artichoak-bottoms . take the best bottoms of artichoaks , and par-boyl them , and when they are cold , and well drain'd from the water , and dryed in a cloath , to take away all the moisture , then put them into pots , and pour your brine upon them , which must be as strong as you can make it , which is done by putting in so much sait to it as it will receive no more , so that the salt sinks whole to the bottom ; cover over your artichoaks with this water , and pour upon it some sweet butter melted , to the thickness of two fingers , that no air may come in ; when the butter is cold , set up your pot in some warm place , covered close from vermine . before you put the bottoms in the pot , you should pull off all the leaves and choak , as they are served at table : the best time to do this is in autumn , when your plants produce those which are young and tender , for these you should pickle , before they come to open and flower , but not before their heads are round ; when you would eat them , you must lay them in water , shifting the water several times , then boyl them once again , and so serve them . 258. to make marmalade of grapes . take of the fairest , and ripest blew grapes , gathered in the heat of the day , that their moisture be dryed up throughly , spread them upon a table , or hindle in some room , where the air and sun may come in , let them lye so for fifteen or sixteen days , that they may both sweat and shrink ; if it be cloudy or cold weather , you may put them into an oven , when it is only warm ; after which , press them well with your hands , cleansing them from all the seeds , and stalks , putting the husks and juice to boyl in the kettle , carefully scumming and clearing it from the seeds ; reduce this liquor also to a third part , diminishing the fire as the confection thickens , stirring often about with your spoon , to prevent it's cleaving to the vessel , and to make it boyl equally ; then strain it through a siev , or course cloath . bruising the husks with your wooden ladle to squeeze out the substance , and then serving it out in a press , then set it again on the fire , and let it boyl once more , keeping it continually stirring till you think it be sufficienty boyled , then take it off , and pour it into earthen pans , that it may not taste of the kettle , and being half cold , put it into gally-pots to keep : let your pots stand open five or six days , and then cover them with paper that the paper may lye upon the conserve , and when the paper grows mouldy put on another , till all the superfluous moisture is gone out , which will be in a little time if your confection was well boyled , but if it were not , you must boyl it again . 259. to pickle cornelians . gather the fairest and biggest cornelians when they first begin to grow red , and after they have lain a while , put them up into a pot or barrel , filling them up with brine , as for artichoaks , and put to them a little green fennel , and a few bay-leaves , to make them smell well , then stop them up very close , and let them stand for a moneth : if you find them too salt , make the pickle weaker before you serve them to table . 260. to make ielly of apples . take either pippins or iohn-apples , and cut them into quarters , either pared , or un-pared , boyl them in a good quantity of water , till it be very strong of the apples ; take out the clear liquor , and put to it a sufficient quantity of sugar to make jelly with the slices of apples ; boyl all together till the apples be enough , and the liquor like a jelly ; or else you may boyl the slices in apple-liquor without sugar , and make jelly of other liquor , and put the slices into it , when they be jelly , and it is sufficiently boyled ; put to it some juice of limon , and amber , and musk , if you will. 261. to make ielly of gooseberries . let your gooseberries be full ripe , then strain them through a strainer , and to every two pound of juice put three quarterns of sugar , boyl it before you mix it , and then boyl it again together ; when they are mixed try , it upon a plate , when it is enough , it riseth off . 262. to make bragget . put two bushels and a half of malt to one hogshead of water , the first running makes half a hogshead very good , but not very strong ; the second is very weak : boyl but half a quartern of hops , put your water to the malt the ordinary way , boyl it very well , and work it with very good beer-yeast : now , to make bragget , take the first running of this ale , but put less honey in it than you do for your ordinary mead , but twice or thrice as much spice and herbs ; then put it in a vessel , after it's working with the yeast , hang within it a bag of bruised spices , rather more than you boyled it with , and let it hang in the barrel all the while you draw it . 263. to make italian marmalade . take fifteen pound of quinces , three pound of sugar , and two pound of water , and boyl them all together ; when it is well boyled strain it by little and little through a cloath , as much as you can , then take the juice and put to it four pound of sugar , and then boyl it ; try it on a plate , to know when it is enough , and if it come off , take it presently off the fire , and put it in boxes for your use. finis . the physical cabinet : containing excellent receits in physick and chirurgery , for curing most diseases incident to the body . together with some rare beautifying waters , oyls , oyntments , and powders , to adorn and add loveliness to the face and body . as also some new and excellent secrets and experiments in the art of angling . london , printed in the year 1675. physick and chirurgery . 1. an approved remedy for the stone and gravel . take the hard roe of a red herring , and dry it upon a tile in an oven , then beat it to powder , and take as much as will lye upon a six-pence every morning fasting , in a glass of rhenish-wine . 2. an excellent drink for the scurvey . take a pound of garden-seurvy● grass , six handfuls of wormwood and elder-tops , one ounce of carraway-seeds , and one ounce of nutmegs ; put them all together into six gallons of new ale , and let them work together , and after a convenient time of working , drink of it every morning fasting . 3. a receipt for the cout , known to be very helpful . take five or six black snails , and cut off their heads , then put to them one penny-worth of saffron , and beat them together , and spread it on the woolly side of a piece of sheeps leather , and apply it to the soles of the feet , anointing the sore place with the marrow of a stone-horse . 4. for griping of the guts . take anniseeds , fennel , bay-berries , juniper-berries , tormentil , bistort , balaustius , pomegranate-pills , each one ounce , rose-leaves a handful , boyl them in milk , strain it , and add the yolk of an egg , six grains of laudanum dissolved in the spirit of mint ; prepare it for a glyster , and give it warm . 5. a sovereign medicine for any ach or pain . take barrows-grease , a lap full of arch-angel-leaves , flowers , stalks and all , and put it into an earthen pot , and stop it close , and paste it ; then put in an horse dung-hill nine days in the latter end of may , and nine days in the beginning of iune ; then take it forth , and strain it , and so use it . 6. for the sciatica , and pains in the ioynts . take balm and cinquefoil , but most of all betony , nep , and featherfew , stamp them , and drink the juice with ale o● wine . probatum . 7. for an ague . take the root of a blew lilly , scrape it clean , and stice it , and lay it in soak all night in ale , and in the morning stamp it , and strain it , and give it the patient luke-warm to drink an hour before the fit cometh . 8. for all fevers and agues in sucking children . take powder of crystal , and steep it in wine , and give it the nurse to drink , also take the root of devils-bit , with the herb , and hang it about the childs neck . 9. a good medicine to strengthen the back . take comsrey , knot-grass , and the flowers of arch-angel ; boyl them in a little milk , and drink it off every morning . 10. for the head-ach . take rose-cakes , and stamp them very small in a mortar with a little ale , and let them be dryed by the fire on a tile-sheard , and lay it to the nape of the neck , to bed-ward . proved . 11. for the yellow iaundise . take a great white onion , and make a hole where the blade goeth out , to the bigness of a chesnut , then fill the hole with treacle , being beaten with half an ounce of english honey , and a little saffron , and set the onion against the fire , and roast it well that it do not burn , and when it is roasted , strain it through a cloath , and give the juice thereof to the sick three days together , and it shall help them . 12. for the black iaundise . take fennel , sage , parsley , gromwell , of each alike much , and make pottage thereof with a piece of good pork , and eat no other meat that day . 13. for infection of the plague . take a spoonful of running-water , a spoonful of vinegar , a good quantity of treacle , to the bigness of a hasel nut ; temper all these together , and heat it luke-warm , and drink it every four and twenty hours . 14. for the cramp . take oyl of camomile , and fenugreek , and anoint the place where the cramp is , and it helpeth . 15. for the ach of the ioynts . take marshmallows and sweet milk , linseeds , powder of cummin , the whites of eggs , saffron , and white grease , and fry all these together , and lay it to the aking joynt . 16. for an ague . take a pottle of thin ale , and put thereto a handful of parsley , as much red fennel , as much centory , as much pimpernel ; and let the ale be half consumed away , and then take , and drink thereof . 17. to make the countess of kents powder . take of the magistery of pearls , of crabs-eyes prepared , of white amber prepared , harts-horn , magistery of white coral , of lapis contra yarvam , of each a like quantity ; to these powders infused , put of the black tops of the great claws of crabs , the full weight of the rest : beat these all into a fine powder , and sierse them through a fine lawn sierce : to every ounce of this powder add a dram of oriental bezoar , make all these up into a lump , or mass with jelly of harts-horn , and colour it with saffron , putting thereto a scruple of amber-grease , and a little musk also finely powdered , and dry it in the air , after they are made up into small quantities , you may give to a man twenty grains , and to a child twelve grains . it is excellent against all malignant , and pestilent diseases , french pox , small-pox , measles , plague , pestilence , malignant or scarlet fevers , and melancholy ; twenty or thirty grains thereof being exhibited ( in a little warm sack , or harts-horn-jelly ) to a man , and half as much , or twelve grains to a child . 18. for the falling sickness , or convulsions . take the dung of a peacock , make it into powder , and give so much of it to the patient as will lye upon a shilling , in a little succory-water , fasting . 19. for the pleurisie . take three round balls of horse-dung , and boyl them in a pint of white-wine till half be consumed , then strain it out , and sweeten it with a little sugar ; let the patient drink of this , and then lye warm . 20. to prevent miscarrying . take venice-turpentine , spread it on black brown paper , the breadth and length of a hand , and lay it to the small of her back , then let her drink a caudle made of muskadine , putting into it the husks of about twenty sweet almonds , dryed , and finely powdered . 21. for the worms in children . take worm-seed boyled in beer and ale , and sweetned with clarified honey , and then let them drink it . 22. for the whites . take white washed turpentine , and make up in balls like pills , then take cinamon , and ginger , and roul the balls in it , and take them as you would do pills , morning and evening . proved . 23. for a dry cough . take anniseeds , ash-seeds , and violets , and beat them to powder , and stamp them , of each a like quantity , then boyl them together in fair water , till it grows thick , then put it up , and let the patient take of it morning and evening . 24. to make unguentum album . take a pint of oyl-olive , and half a pound of diaculum , anniseeds a pretty quantity , and put them together , and put thereto a pound of ceruse small grounded , boyl them together a little , and stir them alway till it be cold , and it is done . 25. to destroy the piles . take oyl of roses , frankincense , and honey , and make an oyntment of them , and put it into the fundament , and put myrrh unto the same , and use often to annoint the fundament therewith , and let the fume thereof go into the fundament . 26. for the canker . take a handful of unset leeks , with the roots , and a small quantity of yarrow , and boyl them in white-wine , till they be all very soft , then strain and clarifie them , and let the patient drink thereof morning and evening blood-warm . 27. for the itch. take the juice of pennyroyal , the juice of savin , the juice of scabious , the juice of sage , the juice of pellitory , with some barrows grease and black soap ; temper all these together , and make a salve for the itch. 28. for the kings evil. take two ounces of the water of broom-flowers distilled , and give it in the morning to the patient fasting , and it will purge the evil humour downward , and wasteth , and healeth the kernels without breaking them outwardly . 29. to break an imposthume . take a lilly-root and an onion , and boyl them in water till they be soft , then stamp them , and fry them with swines grease , and lay it to the imposthume as hot as the patient may suffer it . 30. for biting of a mad dog. stamp large plantain , and lay it to the grieved place , and it will cure the sore . 31. for the green-sickness . take the keys of an ashen-tree , dryed and beaten to powder ; and take of red fennel , red sage , marjoram , and betony , and seeth them in running-water , from a pottle to a quart , then strain them , and drink thereof a good draught with sugar , morning and evening luke-warm . 32. for deafness . take of wild mint , mortifie it , and squeeze it in the hand till it rendreth juice , then take it with it's juice , and put it into the ear , change it often ; this will help the deafness , if the person hath heard before . 33. for the dropsie . take a gallon of white-wine , and put into it a handful of roman wormwood , and a good piece of horse-radish , and a good quantity of broom-ashes tyed in a cloath ; then take a good bunch of dwarf-elder , beat it in a mortar , and strain out the juice , and put it into the wine when you will drink it ; but if the dwarf-elder be dry , you must steep a good quantity in the wine . take of this half a pint morning and evening . 34. for a sprain in the back , or any other weakness . take a quarter of a pint of good muskadine , a spoonful of madder , incorporate them well together , then give it the patlent to drink for three mornings together , and if need requireth , you may use it often in a day . this will strengthen the back exceedingly . 35. an excellent water for sore eyes . take a gallon of pure running-water , and eight drams of white coperas , and as much of fine white salt , mix them together , and let it simper half an hour over a slow fire , and then strain it for use. catholicon . 36. a most excellent cordial . take half a peck of ripe elder-berries , pick them clean , and let them stand two or three days in an earthen pan , till they begin to hoar or mould , then bruise and strain them , and boyl the liquor ti●● half be consumed , then putting a pound of sugar to every pint of liquor ; boyl them to syrup . 37. a medicine for an ague . take a quart of the best ale , and boyl it to a pint , and let the party drink it as hot as he is able , and then let the patientlye down upon a bed , and be covered warm when the first fit grudges , and let a bason be ready to vomit in . 38. another for an ague . take a large nutmeg , and slice it , and so much roch-allom beaten to powder , and put them both into one pint of the best white-wine , and incorporate them , well together , and let the patient take one half thereof about half an hour before the the fit , and then walk apace , or use some other laborious exercise , and when the fit begins to come , take the other half , and continue exercise . both these i have known to cure , to admiration . 39. for a great lax , or looseness . take one quart of new milk , and have ready one half pint of distilled plantain-water , and set your milk over the fire , and when your milk by boyling rises up , take two or three spoonfuls , as occasion shall be , to allay the rising , and and when it rises again , do the like ; and so in like manner till the plantain-water be all in , and then boyling up as before , let the patient drink thereof warmed hot , or how else he likes it ; i never yet have sound it fail of curing . 40. for curing of deafness . take herb-of-grace , and pound it , then strain it , and take two spoonfuls of the juice , & put thereto one spoonful of brandy-wine , and when it is well evaporated , dip therein a little black wool , or fine lint , being first bound with a silk thread , and put it into your ear. 41. for the scurvey . take half a peck of sea-seurvey-grass , and as much water-cresses , of dwarf-elder , roman wormwood , red sage , fumitory , harts-horn , and liverwort , of each one handful ; wash the water-cresses , and dry them well ; the other herbs must be rubb'd clean , and not washed , then add one ounce of horse-raddish , and a good handful of madder-roots ; beat these with the herbs , and strain the juice well out , for the last is best , then set it on a quick fire , and scum it clean , then let it stand till it be settled , and when it is quite cold bottle it up , and keep it in a cold place : you must take four or five spoonfuls with one , spoonful of syrup of limons put into it , each morning fasting , and fast one hour after it . 42. an excellent remedy to procure conception . take of syrup of mother-wort , syrup of mugwort half an ounce , of spirit of clary two drams , of the root of english snake-weed in fine powder one dram , purslain-seed , nettle-seed , rochet-seed , all in subtle powder , of each two drams : candied nutmegs , eringo-roots , satyrion-roots preserved , dates , pistachoes , conserve of suceory , of each three drams ; cinamon , saffron in fine powder , of each a seruple , conserve of vervain , pine-apple-kernels picked and pilled , of each two drams ; stamp and work all these ingredients in a mortar to an electuary , then put it up into gally-pots , and keep it for use. take of this electuary the quantity of a good nutmeg , in a little glass full of white-wine , in the morning fasting , and at four a clock after-noon , and as much at night going to bed , but be sure do no violent exercise . 43. for a sore breast not broken. take oyl of roses , bean-flower , the yolk of an egg , a little vinegar ; temper all these together , then set it before the fire , that it may be a little warm , then with a feather strike it upon the breast morning and evening , or any time of the day she finds it pricking . 44. to heal a sore breast , when broken . boyl lillies in new milk , and lay it on to break it ; and when it is broken tent it with a mallow-stalk , & lay on it a plaister of mallows boyled in sheeps tallow ; these are to be used if you cannot keep it from breaking . 45. for a consumption . take a pound and half of pork , fat and lean , and boyl it in water , and put in some oat-meal , and boyl it till the heart of the meat be out , then put to it two quarts of milk , and boyl it a quarter of an hour , and give the patient a draught in the morning , after-noon , and evening , and now and then some barley-water . 46. for the falling sickness . take powder of harts-horn , and drink it with wine , and it helpeth the falling-evil . 47. for the tooth-ach . take feathersew , and stamp it , and strain it , and drop a drop or two into the contrary ear to the pain , and lye still half an hour after . 48. for a wen. take black soap , and mix it with unslaked lime , made into powder , and lay it upon the wen , or kernel . 49. for the wind. take the juice of red fennel , and make a posset of ale therewith , and drink thereof . 50. an excellent medicine for the dropsie . take two gallons of new ale , then take setwel , calamus aromaticus , and galingale , of each two penny-worth , of spikenard four penny-worth ; stamp all together , and put them into a bag , and hang it in the vessel , and when it is four days old drink it morning and evening . 51. for a scald head. wash thy head with vinegar and camomil stampt and mingled together ; there is no better help for the scald : or grind white hellebore with swines grease , and apply it to the head. 52. to make the plague-water . take a handful of sage , and a handful of rue , and boyl them in three pints of malmsey , or muskadine , till one pint be wasted , then take it off the fire , and strain the wine from the herbs , then put into the wine two penny-worth of long-pepper , half an ounce of ginger , and a quarter of an ounce of nutmegs , all grosly bruised , and let it boyl a little again . then take it off the fire , and dissolve in it half an ounce of good venice-treacle , and a quarter of an ounce of mithridate , and put to it a quarter of a pint of strong angelica-water , so keep it in a glass close stopped , for your use. this water cureth small-pox , measles , surfeits , and pestilential fevers . 53. a precious eye-water for any diseases of the eye , often proved . take of the best white-wine half a pint , of white rose-water as much , of the water of celendine , fennel , eyebright , and rue , of each two ounces , of prepared tutia six ounces , of cloves as much , sugar rosate a dram , of camphire and aloes , each half a dram ; wash the eyes therewith . 54. a cordial iulep . take waters of endive , purslain , and roses , of each two ounces , sorrel-water half a pint , juice of pomegranats , and for lack thereof , vinegar , four ounces , camphire three drams , sugar one pound . boyl all these together in the form of a julep , and give three or four ounces thereof at a time . 55. to make the green ointment . take a pound of swines grease , one ounce of verdigrease , half a scruple of sal gemm●e , this oyntment may be kept forty years ; it is good against cancers , and running sores , it fretteth away dead flesh , and bringeth new , and healeth old wounds , put it within the wound , that it fester not . 56. for fits of the mother . take a brown toast of soure bread of the neither crust , and wash it with vinegar , and put thereto black soap , like as you would butter a toast , and lay it under the navil . 57. for the rickets in children . take of fennel-seeds , and dill-seeds , but most of the last ; ●boyl them in beer , and strain it , and sweeten it with sugar , and let the child drink often . probatum . 58. for the shingles . take the green leaves of colts-foot stamped , and mingled with honey , and apply it , and it will help . 59. to heal a fistula , or ulcer . take figgs , and stamp them with shoomakers-wax , and spread it upon leather , and lay it on the sore , and it will heal . 60. for a woman in travel . take seven or eight leaves of betony , a pretty quantity of germander , a branch or two of penny-royal , three marygolds , a branch or two of hyssop , boyl them all in a pint of white-wine , or ale , then put into it sugar and saffron , and boyl it a quarter of an hour more , and give it to drink warm . 61. to make a vvoman be soon delivered , the child being dead or alive . take a good quantity of the best amber , and beat it exceeding small to powder , then sierse it through a fine piece of lawn , and so drink it in some broath or caudle , and it will will by god's help cause the patient to be presently delivered . 62. for infants troubled with wind and phlegm . give them a little pure sugar-candy finely bruised , in saxsifrage-water , or scabious-water in a spoon well mingled together . 63. a most excellent medicine to cause children to breed their teeth easily . take of pure capons grease , very well clarified , the quantity of a nutmeg , and twice as much of pure honey , mingle and incorporate them well together , and annoint the childs gums therewith three or four times a day , when it is teething , and they will easily break the flesh , and prevent torments and agues , and other griefs , which usually accompany their coming forth . 64. for agues in children . take a spoonful of good oyl of populeon , and put thereto two spoonfuls of good oyl of roses , mingle them well together , and then warm it before the fire , annoint the childs joynts and back , also his fore-head and temples twice a day , chasing the oyntment well in . 65. to cause a young child to go to stool . chafe the childs navil with may butter before the fire , then take some black wool , and dip it in the butter , and lay it to the navil , and it will procure a stool : this is also good for one in years , that can take no other medicine . 66. for vvorms in children . take of myrrh and aloes , very finely powdered , of each a penny-worth , and put thereto a few drops of chymical oyl of wormwood , or savine , and a little turpentine ; make these up into a plaister , and lay it to the childs navil . 67. to help one that is blasted . take the white of an egg , and beat it in a mortar , put to it a quarter of an ounce of coperas , and grind them well together , till it come to an oyntment , and therewith annoint the sore face , and it will ease the pain , and take away the swelling ; and when it is well nigh whole annoint the place with a little p●puleon , and that will make the skin fair and well again . 68. an excellent salve . take half a pound of bees-wax , a pint of sallet-oyl , three ounces of red lead , boyl all together in a new earthen pipkin , keeping it stirring all the while till it grows of a darkish colour ; then keep it for use , or make sear-cloaths of it while it is hot . it is most approved against any pain , sore , scald , cut , burn ; to strengthen the back , or remove any old ach whatsoever . 69. a iu'ep of dr. trench , for the fits of the mother . in the time of the year distill black-cherry-water , piony flower-water , cowslip-water , rue , or herb-grace-water ; then take of the waters of cowslip , black-cherries , piony , rue , of each an ounce , and add to them water of castor half an ounce , cinamon-water one dram , syrup of clove-gilly-flowers three drams ; mix all these together , and take two spoonfuls at a time of it , as often as you please . 70. for a tympany . take a handful of the blossoms of marigolds , stamp them , and strain them , and give the juice thereof to the patient in a draught of ale fasting . 71. to provoke terms , a good medicine take wormwood and rue , of each one handful , with five or six pepper-corns , boyl them all together in a quart of white-wine or malmsey , strain it , and drink thereof . 72. for the bloody-flux , or scouring . take a great apple , and cut out the core , and put therein pure virgins-wax , then wet a paper and lap it therein , then rake it up in the embers , and let it roast till it be soft , then eat of it as your stomack will give leave . 73. for a rheumatick cough , or cold. take a pint of hyssop-water , syrup of gilly-flowers , syrup of vinegar , syrup of maiden-hair , syrup of colts-foot , of each one ounce ; mingle them all together , and drink of it when you please . 74. to kill a fellon . take an egg , and roast it hard , and take out the yolk thereof , then roast an onion sost , and beat the yolk and the onion together , and lay it to the sore , and it will kill the fellon . 75. for the white flux . take the powder of the flowers of pomegranats , and drink it in red wine . 76. for the red flux . take sperma caeti , and drink it , and tru●s up your self with a piece of black● cotton . 77. for the cancer in a vvomans breast . take the dung of a goose , and the juice of celandine , and bray them well in a mortar together , and lay it to the sore , and this will stay the cancer , and heal it . 78. for an ague in the breast . take grounsel , daisie-leaves and roots , and course w● eat sisted ; make a poultess thereof with the parties own water , and lay it warm to the breast . 79. for bleeding at the nose . take betony , and stamp it with as much salt as you can hold betwixt your two fingers , and put it into your nose . 80. for spitting of blood. take smalledge , rue , mints , and betony , and boyl them well in good milk , and drink it warm . 81. to stanch the bleeding of a wound , or at the nose . there is not a better thing than the powder of bole armoniack , to stanch the bleeding of a wound , the powder being laid upon it ; or for the nose , to be blown in with a quill . or take the sha●ings of parchment , and lay it to the wound , and it stancheth and healeth . 82. to make the g●scoign powder . take of pearls , white amber , harts-horn , eyes of crabs , and white coral , of each half an ounce , of black thighs of crabs calcined , two ounces ; to every ounce of this powder put in a dram of oriental bezoar , reduce them all into a very fine powder , and sierse them ; then with harts-horn-jelly and a little saffron put therein , make it up into paste , and make therewith lozenges , or trochices for your use. get your crabs for this powder about may , or in september before they be boyled ; dry your lozenges in the air , not by fire , nor sun. 83. for the megrim , or imposthume in the head. take four penny-weight of the root of pellitory of spain , a farthing weight of spikenard , and boyl them in good vinegar , and when it is cold , put thereto a spoonful of honey , and a saucer full of mustard , and mingle them well together , and hold thereof in your mouth a spoonful at once , and use this eight or nine times , spitting it out continually . 84. for pain in the ears . take the juice of wild cucumbers , and put it into the ears , and it asswageth the pain . also put the wood of green ash in the fire , and save the liquor that cometh out at the end , and put it into the ears , it causeth the pain to cease , and amendeth the hearing : also beat the juice of wormwood , and drop it into the ears . 85. a precious water for the eye-sight , made by k. edward the sixth . take smalledge , red fennel , rue , vervain , betony , agrimony , pimpernel , eufrane , sage , celandine , of each a like quantity ; first wash them clean , then stamp them , and put them in a fair brazen pan , with the powder of fourteen or fifteen pepper-corns , fair ●iersed into a pint of good white-wine ; put them into the herbs , with three spoonfuls of honey , and five spoonfuls of the water of a man-child , that is sound ; mingle all together , and boyl them over the fire , and when it is boyled , strain it through a fine linnen cloath , and put it into a glass , and stop it well and close , till you use it ; and when you need , put a little thereof into the sore eyes with a feather , but if it be dry , temper it with white-wine , and it profiteth much all manner of sore eyes : this water was used by k. edward the sixth . 86. my lord dennies medicine for the gout . take burdock-leaves and stalks , cut them small , and stamp them very small , then strain them , and cleanse them , and when you have so done , put them into glasses , and put pure oyl of olives on the top of them , and stop it close from the air , and when you would use it for the gout , pour it into a porringer , and warm it , and wet linnen cloaths in it , and apply it warm to the grieved place , warming your cloaths one after another , as they grow cold that are on . 87. dr. stephen's sovereign water . take a g●llon of good gascoign wine , then take ginger , galingale , cancel , nutmeg , grains , cloves , anniseeds , carraway-seeds , of each a dram ; then take sage , mints , red roses , thyme , pellitory , rosemary , wild thyme , c●momile , lavender , of each a handful ; then bray both spices and herbs , and put them all into the wine , and let them stand for twelve hours , divers times stirring them ; then distill in an alembeck , but keep that which you distill first by it self , for that is the best , but the other is good also , but not so good as the first . this water comforteth the vital spirits , and helpeth inward diseases which come from cold ; it helpeth conception in women that are barren , and killeth worms in the body ; it cureth the cold cough , and helpeth the tooth-ach , it comforteth the stomack , and cureth stinking breath ; it preserveth the body in good liking , and makes them look young. 88. the vvater called aqua mirabilis & pretiosa , made by dr. willoughby . take of galingale , cloves , mace , cucubes , ginger , cardamum , nutmegs , mellilot , saffron four ounces , and beat all these into powder , agrimony-water the quantity of a dram , and somewhat more ; then take of the juice of selandine half a pint , and mingle all these together , with a pint of good aqua-vitae , and three pints of good white-wine ; put all these together in a still of glass , and let it stand so all night , and on the morrow distill it with an easie fire as may be : this water dissoveth the swelling of the lungs without any grievance , and helpeth , and comforteth them being wounded , and suffereth not the blood to putrifie ; he shall never need be let blood , that useth this water , it suffers not the heart to burn , nor melancholy , nor rheum to have dominion above nature ; it also expelleth rheum , and purifieth the stomach . 89. to make allom-water . take a pound of allom , and beat it to powder , then take a gallon of clean water , and set it on the fire , letting it boyl till all the allom be melted , then take it off the fire , and when it is cold put it into a glass , and keep it for your use. 90. to make an excellent electuary , called the electuary of life . take scorlegio , morre , gentiana , grandoret , and ialaom , of each a like quantity ; stamp them , and strain them , and mingle them with honey , that hath been well boyled on the fire , and scummed clean : this is excellent for sickness in the stomach , or pain in the belly , heart , or head ; or for those that are bitten with any venemous beast , or poysoned ; it must be taken in water , three or four spoonfuls at a time , in the morning fasting ; if the disease be of any long time standing , he must drink it fifte●n days together , and he will be whole . probatum . 91. against heat of the liver . take fennel , endive , succory , plantain , of each alike ; distill them with red wine and milk , and use it every morning , nine spoonfuls at a time , with a draught of wine and sugar , or else five spoonfuls thereof alone . 92. for swooning fits. for swooning , and weakness of the heart in fever and sicknesses , or if it come of other cause , stamp mints with vinegar , and a little wine , if the patient have no fever , then toast a bit of bread , till it be almost burnt , and put it therein till it be well soaked , then put it in the nose of the patient , and rub his lips , tongue , gums , teeth , and temples ; and let him chew and such the moistness thereof , and swallow it . 93. a water for the eyes , to make a man see in forty days , who hath been blind seven years before , if he be under fifty years of age. take smalledge , fennel , rue , betony , vervain , agrimony , cinquef oil , pimpernel , eye-bright , celandine , sage , of each a quartern ; wash them clean , and stamp them , do them in a fair mashing-pan , put thereto a quart of good white-wine , and the powder of thirty pepper-corns , six spoonfuls of live honey , and ten spoonfuls of the urine of a man-child that is wholsom ; mingle them well together , and boyl them till half be wasted , then take it down , and strain it , and afterwards clarifie it , and put it into a glass vessel well stopt , and put thereof with a feather into the eyes of the blind ; and let the patient use this medicine at night when he goeth to b●d , and within forty days he shall see : it is good for all manner of sore eyes . wild tansie-water is good for the eye-sight , and eating of fennel-seed is good for the same . 94. for a web in the eye . the leaves of white honey-suckles , and ground-ivy , of each a like quantity ground together , and put every day into the eye , cureth the web. or else salt burnt in a flaxen cloath , and tempered with honey , and with a feather annointed on the eye-lids , killeth worms that annoynt the eye-lids . 95. for moist scabs after the small-pox . take lapis calaminaris , letharge of gold and silver , of each two drams , brimstone and ceruse two ounces ; bring all these into a fine powder , and then beat them in a mortar with so much barrows-grease as is sufficient to make it up in an oyntment , and annoint the places therewith evening and morning . 96. to bring down the flowers . take of alligant , muskadine , or claret a pint , burn it , and sweeten it well with sugar , put thereto two spoonfuls of sallet-oyl ; then take a good bead of amber in powder in a spoon , with some of the vvine after it : take this evening and morning . 97. to stay the flowers . take amber , coral , pearl , jeat , of each alike ; grind them to a fine powder , and sierse them , take thereof as much as will lye upon a six-pence with conserve of quinces , and drink a draught of new milk after it : use this every morning . 98. to cure corns . take beans , and chew them in your mouth , and tye fast to your corn , and it will help : do this at night . 99. to make oyl of roses . take red rose-leaves a good quantity , and stamp in a mortar , and put thereto oyl-olive , and let it stand in the sun twelve days , and then put it in a glass ; and bind the glass fast about with ropes of hay , and set it in a pan full of water , and let it boyl softly two hours , and then ●et it cool , then put it in small glasses , and put thereto the leaves of red roses , all whole , and stop it fast , and set it in the sun for sixteen days , and so use it at your need . 100. for any itch , or breaking out . take frankincense , and beat it small in a mortar , and mingle it with oyl of bays , and therewith annoint all over , and it will destroy the itch. 101. for the piles after child-birth . make a bath of vvormwood , southern-wood , cinamon-rinde , and the bark of cassia fistula boyled well in vvine ; when the vvoman delivered goeth forth of the bath , put bombace , or cotton with powder of alloes , mixed with oyl of penny-royal , unto her lower parts . 102. for a stich in the side . take three handfuls of mallows , boyl them in a little raw milk , and put thereto a handful of vvheat-bran , and let the● boyl together , and then wring out the milk , and lay it hot to the stitch , apply it often . or take a few leaves of rue and yarrow , stamp them together , and wring out the juice , and drink it with a little ale. 103. for a tertian , or double-tertian ague . take a good quantity of celandine , a spoonful of salt , and the bigness of an egg in leven , and as much alligant and spanish soap ; stamp them well in a mortar , and make a plaister of them , and apply them to the patients feet one hour before the coming of the fit ; add thereto four or five yolk of eggs. or take of anniseed-water , the best you can get , half a pound of oyl of vitriol , shake them well together , and drink one or two spoonfuls thereof , an hour before the fit comes . 104. for the spleen . boyl the rindes and keys of an ash-tree very tender in white-wine , and drink a good draught thereof for six or seven mornings together , and it will much ease the patient ; when you drink this annoint the spleen with unguentum dialthea every morning and evening , applying also a plaister of melilot to the place . 105. an excellent powder for the green-sickness . take four scruples of gentian made into fine powder , of raspt ivory , and harts-horn , of each two scruples ; make these into fine powder , and give a spoonful thereof with white-wine , or the like at once . 106. a drink that healeth all wounds without any plaister , or oyntment , or without any taint , most perfectly . take sanicle , milfoil , and bugle , of each a like quantity , stamp them in a mortar , and temper them with wine , and give the sick that is wounded to drink twice or thrice a day till he be whole : bugle holdeth open the wound , milfoil cleanseth the wound , sanicle healeth it ; but sanicle may not be given to him that is hurt in the head , or in the brain-pan , for it is dangerous . this is a good and tryed medicine . 107. for pricking of a thorn. take of violet-leaves one handful , stamp them together , and take a quantity of boars-grease , ond of wheat-bran one handful , set it on the fire in clean water , and make a plaister thereof , and lay it to the grief . 108. to make oyl of st. johns wort , good for any ach , or pain . take a quart of sallet-oyl , and put thereto a quart of flowers of st. iohns wort well picked , let them lye therein all the summer , till the seeds of that herb be ripe , the glass must be kept warm , either in the sun , or in the water all the summer , till the seeds be ripe , then put in a quart of st. iohns wort-seeds whole , and so let it stand twelve hours , the glass being kept open , then you must boyl the oyl eight hours , the water in the pot full as high as the oyl in the glass ; when it is cold , strain it , that the seed remain not in it , and so keep it for your use. 109. for the tissick . take two ounces of licorise , scraped and bruised , of figgs three ounces , of agrimony , horehound , enula campana , of each a handful , boyl them all together in a gallon of water , till the half be wasted , then strain the herbs from the juice , and use it early and late . also for the dry tissick , stamp fennel-roots , and drink the juice thereof with white-wine . 110. to make oyl of fennel . put a quantity of fennel between two tile-stones , or plates of iron , make them very hot , and press out the liquor ; and this oyl will keep a great while , for it is good for the tissick , dry scab , burning and scalding . iii. to make the black plaister for all manner of griefs . take a quantity of oyl-olive , a quantity of red lead , boyl these together , and stirr them with a slice of wood continually , till it be black , and some what thick ; then take it off the fire , and put in it a penny-worth of red wax , and a pound of rosin , and set it to the fire again , but do not blaze it , and stir it , then take it off , and let it stand till it be cold , and make it in a lump : it is good for a new wound , ●or to stanch blood , pour a little of it in a dish , and if it stick fast to the dishes side , then it is enough ; keep it for your use as need requireth . finis . beautifying waters , oyls , ointments , and powders , to adorn , and add loveliness to the face and body . 1. to make the hair very fair. wash your hair very clean , and then take some allom-water , warm , and with a sponge moisten your hair therewith , and it will make it fair . or you may make a decoction of turmerick , rubarb , or the bark of the barberry-tree , and so it will receive a most fair and beautiful colour . 2. another . take the last water that is drawn from honey , and wash your head therewith , and it will make the hair of an excellent fair colour ; but because it is of a strong smell , you must perfume it with some sweet spirit . 3. to make the hair grow thick . make a strong lye , then take a good quantity of hyssop-roots , and burn them to ashes , and mingle the ashes and the lye together , and therewith wash your head , and it will make the hair grow ; also the ashes of froggs burnt doth increase hair , as also the ashes of goats-dung mingled with oyl . 4. to make the hair grow . take marsh-mallows , and boyl them , roots and all , and wash the head therewith , and it will grow in a short time : also take a good quantity of bees , and dry them in a siev by the fire , and make powder of them , and temper it witth oyl-olive , and anoint the place where the hair should grow : also take the oyl of tartar , and warm it , and annoint any bald head therewith , and it will restore the hair again in a short time . 5. to make the hair fair. take the ashes of a vine burnt , of the knots of barley straw , and licorise , and sow-bread , and distill them together in fair water , and wash the head with it ; also sprinkle the hair while it is combing , with the powder of cloves , roses , nutmegs , cardamum , and galingale , with rose-water ; also the head being often washed with the decoction of beech-nut-trees , the hair will become fair . 6. to make the hair grow . taste hasle-nuts with husks and all , and burn them to powder , then take beech-mast , and the leaves of enula campana , and stamp the herb and the mast together , then seeth them together with honey , and annoint the place therewith , and strew the powder thereon , and this will make the hair grow . 7. to take away hair. take the juice of fumitory , mix it with gum-arabick , then lay it on the place , the hairs first plucked out by the roots , and it will never permit any more hair to grow on the place : also annoint your head with the juice of a glo-worm stamped , and it hath the same virtue . 8. for the falling of hair. take the ashes of pigeons-dung in lye , and wash the head therewith ; also walnut-leaves beaten with bears-suet , restoreth the hair that is plucked away . also the leaves and middle rinde of an oak , sodden in water , and the head washed therewith , is very good for this purpose . 9. to make the face fair. take the flower of beans , and distill them , and wash the face with the water ; some say , that the urine of the party is very good to wash the face withal , to make it fair. 10. for cleansing the face and skin . if the face be washed with the water that rice is sodden in , it cleanseth the face , and taketh away pimples . 11. a vvater to adorn the face . take eggs cut in pieces , orange-peels , the roots of melons , each as much as is sufficient , in a large vessel with a long neck , distill by an alembeck , with a strong and careful fire . 12. to beautifie the face . take of cuckow-pintle a pretty quantity , bruise the thick parts with rose-water , dry them by the sun three or four days , then pouring more rose-water on it , use it . 13. to make the face look youthful . take two ounces of aqua-vitae , bean-flower-water , and rose-water , each four ounces , water of water-lillies six ounces , mix them all , and add to them one dram of the whitest tragacinth , set it in the sun six days , then strain it through a fine linnen cloath ; wash your face with it in the morning , and do not wipe it off . 14. a vvater to take away wrinkles in the face . take of the decoction of briony and figgs , each alike quantities , and wash the face with it . 15. an excellent water , called lac virginis , or virgins milk , to make the face , neck , or any part of the body fair and white . take of alumen plumost half an ounce , of camphire one ounce , of roch-allom one ounce and a dram , sal gemmi half an ounce , of white frankincense two ounces , oyl of tartar one ounce and half ; make all these into most fine powder , and mix it with one quart of rose-water , then set it in the sun , and let it stand nine days , often stirring it ; then take littarge of silver half a pound , beat it fine , and sierce it , then boyl it with one pint of white-wine-vinegar , till one third part be consumed , ever stirring it with a stick while it boyleth , then distill it by a philter , or let it run through a jelly-bag , then keep it in a glass vial , and when you will use those waters , take a drop of the one , and a drop of the other in your hand , and it will be like milk , which is called lac virginis ; wash your face , or any part of your body therewith , it is mo●● precious for the same . 16. to take away sun-burn . take the juice of a limon , and a little bay-salt , and wash your face or hands with it , and let them dry of themselves , and wash them again , and you shall find all the sun-burn gone . 17. to make the face very fair. boyl the flowers of rosemary in white-wine , with the which wash your face ; also if you drink thereof , it will make you have a sweet breath . also to make the face white , make powder of the root of serpentine , and of powder of sepia , and mingle them with rose-water , and let it dry , and then let it be put to the same water again , and dry again , do this four or five times , and then use to annoint the face therewith . 18. to clear the skin , and make it white . take fresh boars grease , and the white of an egg , and stamp them together with a little powder of bays , and therewith annoint the skin , and it will clear the visage , and make it white . 19. to take away freckles in the face . annoint your face with oyl of almonds , and drink plantain-water , or annoint your visage well and often with hares blood . 20. to smooth the skin . mix capons-grease with a quantity of sugar , and let it stand for a few days close covered , and it will turn to a clear oyl , with which annoynt your face . 21. to blanch the face . take the pulp of limons , and take out the kernels , and put to them a quantity of fine sugar ; distill these , and keep the water to wash your face every night . 22. for morphew , or scurf of face or skin . take of brimstone beaten into powder two ounces , mix it with as much black soap that stinketh , and tye the same in a linnen cloath , and let it hang in a pint of strong wine-vinegar , or red-rose-vinegar , for the space of eight or nine days ; and therewith wash any kind of scurf , or morphew , either in face or body , dipping a cloath in the vinegar , and rubbing it therewith , and let it dry of it self . also drink the water of strawberries . distilled , or tincture of strawberries , it certainly killeth morphew or scurf . 23. for taking away spots in the face , after the small-pox . mix the juice of limons with a little bay-salt , and touch the spots therewith often●times in a day , for it is excellent good . 24. a good oyntment for the same . take oyl of sweet almonds , oyl of white lillies , of either one ounce ; capons-grease , goats-tallow , of each four drams , litharge of gold one dram and half ; roots of briony , and of ireos , of either one scruple , sugar-candy white one dram ; make powder of all those that may be brought into powder , and sierce them , then put them all in a mortar together , beat them together , and in the working put thereto rose , bean-flower , and white lilly-water , of each a good spoonful , put in by little and little , and so work them together till they become an oyntment ; annoint your face and hands with it every evening , and in the morning wash it away in water boyled with barley , wheaten-bran , and the seed of mallows . 25. to take away the holes or pits in the face , by reason of the small pox. for helping of this accident , i have tryed many things , and the best means i have found , is to wash the face one day with the distilled water of strong vinegar , and the next day with the water wherein bran and mallows have been boyled ; and continue this twenty days , or a moneth together . 26. for redness of the hands or face after the small-pox . take barley , beans , lupines , of each one handful ; bruise them all in a mortar grosly , and boyl them in three pints of water , till it grow thick like a jelly , then strain it , and annoint the face and hands therewith three or four times a day , for three or four days together , and then wet the face and hands as often with this water following . 27. another . take vine-leaves two handfuls , bean-flower , dragon , wild tansie , of either one handful , camphire three drams , two calves feet , the pulp of three limons , a pint of raw cream ; shred the herbs small , as also the limons , and break , and cut the calves feet small , then mix them together , and distill it in a glass still , and use it . also the water of may-dew is excellent good for any high colour , or redness of the face . 28. for pimples in the face . wash your face with warm water when you go to bed , and let it dry in ; then take the white of an egg , and put it into a saucer , and set it upon a chafing-dish of coals , and put into it a piece of allom ; beat it together with a spoon , till it become thick , then make a round ball , and therewith annoint the face where the pimples are . 29. for heat and swelling in the face . boyl the leaves of the blossoms of rosemary , either in white-wine or fair water , and use to wash thy hands and face therewith , and it will preserve thee from all such inconveniencies , and also make both thy face and hands very smooth . 30. for a red face . take brimstone that is whole , and cinamon , of either of them an even proportion by weight , beat them into small powder , and sierse it through a fine cloath upon a sheet of white paper to the quantity of an ounce , or more ; and so by even proportions in weight mingle them together in clean clarified capons●grease , and temper them well together till they be well mollified , then put to it a little camphire , to the quantity of a bean , and so put the whole confection in a glass , and use it . 31. to take away pimples . take wheat-flower mingled with honey and vinegar , and lay it upon them . 32. an excellent oyntment for an inflamed face . take an ounce of the oyl of bays , and an ounce of quick-silver , and put them in a bladder together , with a spoonful of fasting-spittle , and then rub them well together , that nothing of the quick-silver be seen ; take of this oyntment , when it it made , and annoint the face therewith , and it will heal it well and fair ; proved true . 33. for a rich face . take three yolks of eggs raw , as much in quantity of fresh butter , or capons-grease without salt , camphire two penny-worth , red-rose-water half a pint , two grains of sivet , and boyl all these together in a dish , then strain them through a clean cloath , and set it to cool , and take the uppermost , and use it . 34. to make the skin white and clear . boyl two ounces of french barley in three pints of conduit-water , change the water , and put in the barley again ; do this till your barley do not dis-colour the water , then boyl the last three pints to a quart , then mix half a pint of white-wine therein , and when it is cold , wring the juice of two or three good limons therein , and use it for the morthew , heat of the face , and to clear the skin . 35. an excellent pomatum , to clear the skin . wash barrows-grease , or lard often-times in may-dew that hath been clarified in the sun , till it be exceeding white ; then take marsh-mallow-roots , scraping off the out-sides , make thin slices of them , and mix them , set them to macerate in a balneo , and scum it● well till it be clarified , and will come to rope ; then strain it , and put now and then a spoonful of may-dew therein , beating it till it be through cold in often change of may-dew ; then throw away that dew , and put it in a glass , covering it with may-dew , and so keep it for your use. 36. to take away spots and freckles from the face and hands . the sap that issueth out of a birch-tree in great abundance , being opened in march or april , and a glass receiver set under it to receive it : this cleanseth the skin excellently , and maketh it very clear , being washed therewith . this sap will dissolve pearl , a secret not known to many . 37. to take away freckles and morphew . wash your face in the wane of the moon with a sponge , morning and evening with the distilled water of elder-leaves , letting it dry into the skin ; you must distill your water in may : this i had from a traveller , who hath cured himself thereby . 38. to make the teeth white and sound . take a quart of honey , and as much vinegar , and half so much white-wine , boyl them together , and wash your teeth therewith now and then . 39. a dentrifice to whiten the teeth . take of harts-horn and horses teeth , of each two ounces , sea-shells , common salt , cypress-nuts , each one ounce ; burn them together in an oven , and make a powder , and work it up with the mucilage of gum tragacinth , and rub the teeth therewith . 40. to make the teeth white as ivory . take rosemary , sage , and a little allom and honey , and boyl them together in fair running-water , and when it is well boyled , strain out the fair water , and keep it in a glass , and use it sometime to wash your mouth and teeth therewith , and it will make them clean : also wash your teeth with the decoction of lady thistle-root , and it will cleanse and fasten the teeth , and the sore gums made whole● also the root of hore-hound drunk , or chewed fasting , doth quickly heal the gums , and maketh the teeth clean : strawberry-leaves also cleanseth the teeth and gums , a sure and tryed experiment . 41. to make the teeth white . take one drop of the oyl of vitriol , and wet the teeth with it , and rub them afterwards with a course cloath ; although this medicine be strong , fear it not . 42. for a stinking breath . take two handfuls of cummin , and stamp it to powder , and boyl it in wine , and drink the syrup thereof morning and evening for fifteen days , and it will help . proved . 43. to make the breath sweet . vvash you mouth with the water that the shells of citrons have been boyled in , and you will have a sweet breath . 44. to sweeten the breath . take butter and the juice of feather-few , and temper them with honey , and take every day a spoonful . also these things sweeten the breath , the electuary of aromaticks , and the peels of citrons . 45. to cleanse the mouth . it is good to cleanse the mouth every morning by rubbing the teeth with a sage-leaf , citron-peels , or with powder made with cloves and nutmegs ; forbear all meats of ill digestion , and raw fruits . 46. for running in the ears . take the juice of elder , and drop i● into the ear of the party grieved , and it cleanseth the matter and the filth thereof● also the juice of violets used , is very good for the running of the ears . 47. for eyes that are blood-shot . take the roots of red fennel , stamp them , and wring out the juice , then temper it with clarified honey , and make an oyntment thereof , and annoint the eyes therewith , and it will take away th● redness . 48. to make the hands white . take the flower of beans , of lupines of starch-corn , rice , orice , of each six ounces ; mix them , and make a powder , with which wash your hands it water . 49. a delicate washing ball. take three ounces of orace , half an ounce of cypress , two ounces of calamus aromaticus , one ounce of rose-leaves , two ounces of lavender-flowers ; beat all these together in a mortar , siersing them through a fine sierce , then scrape some castile-soap , and dissolve it in rose-water , mix your powders therewith , and beat them in a mortar , then make them up in balls . 50. for the lips chopt . rub them with the sweat behind your ears , and this will make them smooth , and well coloured . 51. to prevent marks of the small-pox . boyl cream to an oyl , and with that annoint the wheals with a feather as soon as they begin to dry , and keep the scabs always moist therewith ; let your face be annointed almost every half hour . 52. to take away child-blains in the hands or feet . boyl half a peck of oats in a quart of water till it grow dry ; then annoint your hands with pomatum , and after they are well chased , hold them within the oats as hot as you can endure them , covering the bowl wherein you do your hands with a double cloath to keep in the steam of the oats ; do this three or four times , and it will do : you may boyl the same oats with fresh water three or four times . 53. to take away pock-holes , or any spot in the face . wet a cloath in white-rose-water , and set it all night to freeze in the winter , and then lay it upon your face till it be dry ; also take two or three poppies , the reddest you can get , and quarter them , taking out the kernels , then distill them in a quart of red cows-milk , and with the water thereof wash your face . 54. an excellent beauty-water , used by the d. of c. take of white tartar two drams , camphire one dram , coperas half a dram , the whites of three or four eggs , juice of a couple of limons , oyl of tartar four ounces , and as much plantain-water , white mercury a penny-worth , two ounces of bitter almonds ; beat all these to powder , and mix them with the oyl , and some water , and then boyl it upon a gentle fire , strain it , and so keep it ; when you use it , you must first rub your face with a scarlet cloath , and at night wash your face with it , and in the morning wash it off with bran and white-wine . 55. against a stinking breath . take a handful of wood-bine , and as much plantain , bruise them very well , then take a pint of eye-selt , and as much water , with a little honey and allom ; keep all these waters together in a glass , and wash your mouth well therewith , and hold it in your mouth , and it will destroy all cankers , and cure a stinking breath , and preserve the teeth from rottenness . 56. to procure an excellent colour and complexion in the face , used by the c. of s. take the juice of hyssop , and drink it in a morning fasting , half a dozen spoonfuls in ale , warm ; it will procure an excellent colour , is good for the eye-sight , destroyeth worms , and is good for the stomack , liver , and lungs . 57. to keep the teeth white , and kill worms . take a little salt in a morning fasting , and hold it under your tongue till it be melted , and then rub your teeth with it . 58. to procure beauty , an excellent wash . take four ounces of sublimate , and one ounce of crude mercury , and beat them together exceeding well in a wooden mortar , and wooden pestle ; you must do it at least six , or eight hours , then with often change of cold water , take away the salts from the sublimate , change your water twice every day at least , and in seven or eight days it will be dulcified , and then it is prepared ; lay it on with oyl of white poppy . 59. a beauty-water for the face , by madam g. take lye that is not too strong , and put two peels of oranges , and as much c●tron-peel , blossoms of c●momile , bay-leaves , and maiden-hair , of each a handful , of agrimony two or three ounces , of barley-straw chopt in pieces , a handful , as much fenugreek , a pint of vine-leaves , two or three handfuls of broom-blossoms ; put all these into the lye , and mingle them together , and so wash the head therewith , put to it a little cinamon and myrrh , let it stand , and wash your face therewith every evening : it is good to wash the head , and to comfort the brain and memory . 60. against stink of the nostrils . take cloves , ginger , and calamint , of each a like quantity , boyl them in white-wine , and therewith wash the nose within ; then put in the powder of piritrum to provoke one to sneeze : if there be phlegm in the head , you must first purge the head with pills of colchie , or of hieva picra : or if the stink of the nose come from the stomack , purge first . 61. to make the hands white . to make the hands white and soft , take daffodil in clean water till it grow thick , and put thereto powder of cantarium , and stir them together ; then put thereto raw eggs , and stir them well together , and with this oyntment annoint your hands , and within three or four days using thereof they will be white and clear . 62. a sweet water for the hands . take of the oyl of cloves , mace , or nutmegs , three or four drops only , and mingle it with a pint of fair water , stirring them a pretty while together in a glass , having a narrow mouth , till they are well mingled together , and wash your hands therewith , and it will be a very sweet water , and will cleanse and whiten the hands very much . 63. for heat and worms in the hands . bruise a little chick-weed , and boyl it in running-water , till the half be wasted away , and wash your hands in it as hot as you can suffer it , for the space of six days , and it will drive away the heat , or worms in the hands . 64. to make the nails grow . take wheat-flower , and mingle it with honey , and lay it to the nails , and it will help them . 65. for nails that fall off . take powder of agrimony , and lay it on the place where the nail was , and it will take away the aking , and make the● nails to grow . 66. for cloven nails . mingle turpentine and wax together , and lay it on the nail , and as it groweth cut it away , and it will heal . 67. for nails that are rent from the flesh . take some violets , and stamp them , and fry them with virgins-wax , and frankincense , and make a plaister , and lay it to the nail , and it will be whole . 68. another . annoint your fingers with the powder of brimstone , arsenick , and vinegar , and in short time you shall find great ease . 69. for stench under the arm-holes . first pluck away the hairs of the arm-holes , and wash them with white-wine and rose-water , wherein you have first boyled cassia lignum , and use it three or four times . 70. for the yellow iaundies . take the juice of wormwood and sorrel , or else make them in syrup , and use to drink it in the morning . 71. to take away vvarts from the face or hands . take purslain , and rub it on the warts , and it maketh them fall away : also the juice of the roots of rushes applyed , healeth them . 72. to smooth the skin , and take away morphew and freckles . annoint the face with the blood of a hare , or bull , and this will take away morphew and freckles , and smooth the skin . finis . new and excellent experiments and secrets in the art of angling . being directions for the whole art . london , printed in the year 1675. new and excellent experiments and secrets in the art of angling . to make the lines . take care that your hair be round , and free from galls , scabs , or frets , for a well chosen , even , clear , round hair , of a kind of a glass-colour , will prove as strong as three un-even scabby hairs , that are ill chose . let your hair be clean washed before you go about to twist it , and then not only chuse the clearest hair , but hairs that are all of an equal bigness , for such do usually stretch altogether , and not break singly one by one , but altogether . when you have twisted your links , lay them in water for a quarter of an hour at the least , and then twist them over again before you tye them into a line , for those that do not so shall usually find their links to have a hair or two shrunk , and be shorter than all the rest , at the first fishing with it , which is so much of the strength of the line lost , for want of wetting it at first , and then re-twisting it ; and this is most visible in a seven hair line , which hath always a black hair in the middle , called by anglers , the herring-bone : those hairs that are taken from an iron-gray , or a sorrel stone-horse , and the middle of the tayl , are best . a cement for floats to fish withal . take black rozin beaten , chalk scraped , bees-wax bruised , of each a like quantity ; melt all these over a gentle small-coal fire in an earthen vessel well leaded , and so warming the two quills , fix them with a little of it ; it cools immediately , and being cold , is so hard , strong , and tite , that you can hardly pull the two quills asunder with both your hands , without breaking them in pieces . to sight your caps for the float aright . let the uppermost be at the distance from the top of the quill , and the lower cap near to the end of the quill , as in the description of it . to dye bone or quills red for ever . take some urine , and put into it as much powder of brazile as will make it very red , which you shall know by dropping some with a feather upon a piece of white paper , and put therein bone or quills , being first well scraped , and laid a while in a water made of argol , and let them lye in it ten or twelve days , then take them out , and hang them up till they are dry , and rub them with a dry linnen cloath , and they will be of a transparent colour . observations . a pike is called , the first year a shotterel . the second , a pickerel . the third year , a pike . the fourth year , a luce. fish are fattest about august . all fish are in season a moneth or six weeks after they have spawn'd . to cleanse worms . take a piece of a hop-sack ( because that is not so close struck in the weaving as other cloath is ) and wash it clean , and let it dry , then take some of the liquor wherein a piece of fresh beef hath been boyled , but be sure you take not the liquor of salt beef , for that will kill all the worms ; dip the piece of hop-sack in the liquor , and wring it out , but not hard , so that some of the liquor abide in the cloath ; put the worms into this cloath , and lay them in an earthen pot , the worms will run in and out through the cloath , and scour themselves ; let them stand from morning to night , then take out the worms from the cloath , and wash the cloath as before , but not dry it , and wet it again in some of the liquor ; thus do once a day , and thus you will not only preserve your worms alive for three weeks , or a moneth , but also make them red and tough . probatum . the secrets of . j. d. would'st thou catch fish ? then here 's thy wish : take this receipt t● annoint thy bait. thou that desirest to fish with line and hook , be it in pool , in river , or in brook ; to bliss thy bait , and make the fish to bite , loe here 's a means , if thou ca●st hit it right . take gum of life fine beat , and laid to soak in oyl , well drawn from that * which kills the oak . fish where thou wilt , thou shalt have sport thy fill ; when twenty fail , thou shalt be sure to kill . probatum . it 's perfect and good , if well understood ; else not to be told , for silver nor gold. to unloose the line in the water . of these there are several sorts , according to several mens fancies ; that which i approve of , as being the surest , is a forked stick , about two yards long , if it be not long enough to reach the bottom , you may lash it to any other stick . these fish rise best at a flye . salmon . trout . vinber . groyling . bleak . cherin , or chub. roch. dace . ad capiendum pisces . recipe musilago vel scholaris fortes ( anglicè white mullen ) collectae circa medium maii , quando luna , sit plena , distemperata cum nigro sale & serva in olla terrea , & quando vis occupare ungue manus & lava eas in loco ubi sunt pisces . a good bait for fish all seasons of the year . take wheat-flower , and tallow of a new slain sheep , and the white of an egg , beat them all together , and make a paste therewith , and bait with it . roch and dace . from the tenth of march to the tenth of may is the spawning time for roch and dace . a paste for roch , dace , chub. fine manchet , old fat cheese of the strongest , rusty bacon ; beat these in a mortar , and moisten it with a little brandy , and colour it with turmerick or cambogia , or red vermilion . baits . 1. take the flesh of a rabbit , or a cat cut small , and bean-flower , and for want of that , other flower ; mix these together , and put to them either sugar or honey ( but i judge honey the best ) beat these together in a mortar , or sometimes work them in your hands ( being very clean ) then make it into a ball , but you must beat it so long , till it be so tuff , that it will hang upon the hook , yet not too hard neither , that you may the better dough-knead with your paste a little white , or yellow wool ; if you would have this paste keep all the year , then mix with it virgins-wax and clarified honey , and work it together with your hands before the fire , then make it into balls , and it will keep all the year . 2. another . take a handful or two of the best and biggest wheat you can get , boyl it in a little milk ( as furmity is boyled till it be soft ) and then fry it very leisurely , with honey and a little beaten saffron dissolved in milk ; you will find it a choyce bait , and good i think for any fish , especially for roch , dace , chub , and cheven . 3. another . the tenderest part of the leg of a young rabbit , whelp , or catlin , as much virgins-wax , and sheeps suet ; beat them in a mortar , till they are well incorporated , then with a little clarified honey , temper them before the fire into a paste . 4. another . sheeps-kidney-suet , as much old strong cheese , fine flower , or manchet ; beat it into a paste , and soften it with clarified honey . 5. another . sheeps-blood , old cheese , fine manchet , clarified honey ; make all into a paste , as before . 6. another . cherries , sheeps-blood , saffron , fine manchet ; make all into a paste , as before : you may add to any of these , or other pastes , cocalus indi●e , assa faetida , oyl of polypody of the oak , the gum of ivy dissolved ; i judge there is virtue in these oyls , but especially in the gum. 7. another . pull off the scale from a boyled prawn , or shrimp , bait the hook with it , and it is an excellent bait for roch , dace , bleak . 8. another . bean-flower , honey , and the white of a egg made up into a paste , is an excellent , an d long experienced bait for small fish , which if they once taste of , they will never for sake till death . 9. another . gentles , of which kind the best are those that are bred upon a cat , because they are the quickest , and liveliest . if you put some gentles into a box , where vermilion hath been , they will live in it two or three days , and will become of a very transparent colour , and keep so in the water when you fish with them . when you fish in a quick stream , a long quill or float is best . but in an eddy , or still , stream , the shorter the quill or float is , the better . when you fish at the well-boats , or at the bank-side , be there at half ebbing water , and fish upon those well-boats that lye nearest to the shoar , till the water falls away from them , then go to the outermost boats. some of the well-boats do sheer to and again from the place where your ground-bait lyeth , to prevent which , and that you may always fish in that place where you have cast your ground-bait , you must have a buoy to lye out , and then you are sure to fi●h right . 10. another bait. dry sheeps-blood in the air upon a dry board , till it become a pretty hard dry lump , then cut it into small pieces for your use. 11. another . you shall find in the moneths of iune , iuly , and august , great quantities of ant-flyes , go to the ant-hills , and take a great handful of earth , with as much of the roots of the grass as you can ; put all into a large glass bottle , then gather a pottle of the blackest ant-flyes , but take heed you bruise them not ; roch and dace will bite at these flyes under water , near the ground . directions how to make your paste . first , wash your hands very clean , then get some of the finest manchet , of two or three days old , and cut away all the crust , then lay it in water , or milk , which is better ; let it lye no longer than till it is soaked just through , then squeeze out all the water very well , then knead it in your hands very well , with a little bit of sweet butter , to make it stiff , colour it with vermilion ; if you make it over-night , keep it in a wet linnen rag , all the water being wrung out of it ; in the kneading scrape a little old cheese among it . how to bait with gentles . put your hook through the middle-part of the gentle , and no more , then he will live longest ; i mean through the skin and no more : but if you could get some oyl of ivy , that is rightly taken from the tree in the moneth of may , and cast but two drops of it among the gentles before you use them , you would have sport beyond expectation . when to drag upon the ground , and when not . when you fish in a quick stream drag a quills length , or more . also when the water is not clear , but of a white or clay colour , and if you put a little piece of scarlet a little above the hook , the fish will see the bait the better . sometimes when you are at the sport the wind ariseth , and makes your float dance upon the waves , then always observe , and watch well the motion of your float under water , and not the top of your float . i saw an angler whipping for bleaks and dace with a may-flye , but he put on a gentle upon the hook besides , and he had excellent sport . carp and tench . baits . 1. a carp will take a red worm dipt in tarr , at the bottom . 2. malt-flower , old cheshire cheese , english honey , eggs ; temper these together with a little water ( but i should think milk is far better ) colour it with saffron , and put as much upon the hook , as the bigness of a large hasle-nut . bait the place where you intend to fish , very well over night , with grains and blood ; the next morning very early fish for him , with a well scoured lob-worm , or the past above-mentioned . you may dip your worm in tarr , and try what that will do . a carp choseth the deepest , and stillest places in ponds and rivers , and so doth the tench , and also green weeds , which he loves exceedingly . late in the evening the ale , grains , and blood , well mixed together , is bait very good for carp , tench , roch , and dace to prepare , if early in the morn at the river you are . strong tackle for carp , for roch and d●ce fine , will help thee with fish sufficient to dine . for the carp , let thy bait the knotted worm be , the rest love the cadis , the paste or the flye . chub , pike , and bream . the pike chuses sandy , or clay ground , in still pools full of fry ; the bream loves a gentle stream , and the broadest part of the river ; the chub loves the same ground , and spawns in may. one , who was the best trouler of pikes in england . used always to troul with a hazle-rod twelve foot long , with a ring of wyre in the top of his rod for his line to run through , within two foot of the rod there was a hole to put in a winder , to turn with a barril , to gather up his line , and loose it at his pleasure ; this was his manner of trouling with a small fish. there are several other ways to take pikes ; there is a way to take a pike , which is called the snap , for with angling you must have a pretty strong rod , for you must angle with a line no longer than your rod , which must be very strong , that you may hold the fish to it ; your hook must be a double hook , made of a large wyre , and armed with wyre one or two links long ; you must bait the fish with the head upwards , and the point must come forth of his side , a little above his vent . in all your baitings for a pike , you must enter the needle where the point cometh forth , so draw your arming through , until the hook lyeth as you think fit , then make it fast with a thread to the wyre , but first tye the thread about the wyre , otherwise the fish will skip up and down , so fall to work : the bait must be a gudgeon , a small trout , roch , or dace . now , i will pawn my credit , that i will shew a way , either in ware , pond , or river , that shall take more pikes , than any trouler shall do by trouling ; and it is this . first , take a forked stick , a line of twelve yards long wound upon it , at the lower end leave a yard to tye ; either a bunch of flaggs , or a bladder , to buoy up the fish , to carry the bait from the ground , that the fish may swim clear ; the bait must be alive , either a small trout , gudgeon , roch , or dace ; the forked stick must have a slit on the one side of the fork to put the line in , that the live fish may swim at the gauge you set the fish to swim at , that when the pike takes the bait , the pike may have the full liberty of the line for his feed ; you may turn as ●ou please of these loose in the pond or river all day long , the more the better , and do it in a pond-wind ; the hooks must be double hooks . to bait the hook. take one of the baits alive , and with your needle enter the fish within a straws breadth of the gill , so put the needle in betwixt the skin and the fish , then draw the needle out at the hindermost fin , drawing the arming through the fish , untill the hook come to lye close to the body ; but i hold it better , if it be armed with wyre , to take off the hook , and put the needle in at the hindermost fin , and so come forth at the gill , then put on the hook , and it will hurt the live fish the less , so knit the arming with the live fish to the line . but i judge the baiting with a live fish is done far better , as it is done , baiting with a minew , to fish for a trout . a rod twelve foot long , and a ring of wyre , a winder and barril will help thy desire , in killing a pike ; but the forked stick , with a slit and a bladder , and the other fine trick , which our artists call snap , with a goose or a duck , will kill two for one , if thou have any luck . chub takes a black snail about august ; and for a bait , take the fourth receipt prescribed for roch and dace , but colour it with saffron , or gambogia . the pike in the moneth of march , before which time it is good fishing for him , but after march it is not good till the middle of may : a smelt is a rare bait , a pole for trouling should be eleven foot long , for the snap twelve foot. when you troul , the head of the fish must be downward at the bent of the hook ; but when you snap , the head must be upward at the shank of the hook . if you fish at snap for a pike , give him leave to run a little before you strike , and then strike the contrary way he runs . if you fish with a dead bait for him , take this as a most excellent one . take a minew , or yellow frogg , a dace , or a roch , and having dissolved some gum of ivy in oyl of spike , annoint your bait therewith , and cast it where the pikes frequent , and when it hath lain a little while at the bottom , draw it up to the top , and so up the stream , and if pikes are in the place where you fish , you will quickly perceive them to follow it with much eagerness . perch . the perch loveth a gentle stream , of a reasonable depth , seldom shallow . baits . 1. his bait is most commonly a red knotted worm , or a minew . 2. another . make a bait with the liver of a goat , and bait your hook therewith . 3. another . take yellow butter-flyes and cheese made of goats-milk , of each half an o●nce , of opoponax the weight of two french crowns , of hoggs-blood half an o●nce , galbanum as much ; pound them all well , and mix them together , pouring upon them red wine , and make thereof little balls , such as you use to make perfumes into , and dry them in the shade . 4. another . to bait your hook with a live minew , when you fish for a trout , or perch , with a running line . first put your hook in at his mouth , and out at his gill , then having drawn your hook two or three inches beyond , or through his gill , put it again into his mouth , and the point and beard out at his tayl , and then tye the hook and his tayl with a white thread , which will make it apter to turn quick in the water ; then pull back that part of your line which was slack , when you put your hook into the mouth the second time ; i say , pull that part of it back , so that it shall fasten the head , that so the body of the minew shall be almost● streight on the hook ; then try how it will turn by drawing it cross the water , or against the stream , and if it do not turn nimbly , then turn the tayl a little to the right or left hand , and try again till it turn quick , for if not , you are in danger to catch nothing ; for know , that 't is impossible it should turn too quick : but if you want a minew , then a small roch , or stickle-back , or any other small fish will serve as well ; if you salt your minews , you may keep them three or four days fit for use , or longer ; bay-salt is best . 5. another . to bait with a lob-worm , to fish for a trout or perch with a running line , with a swivel . suppose it be a big lob-worm , put your hook into him above the middle , then draw your worm above the arming of your hook , enter your worm at the tayl-end of the worm , the point may come out toward the head , and having drawn him above the arming of your hook , put the point of your hook again into the very head of the worm , till it come to the place where the point of the hook first came out , and then draw back that part of the worm that was above the shanker arming of the hook. and so fish with it , you cannot lose above two or three worms before you attain to what i direct you , and having attained it , you will find it very useful , for you will run upon the ground without tangling , but you must have a swivel . trout . the trout loves small purling brooks , or rivers that are very swift , and run upon stones , or gravel ; he feeds while he is in strength in the swi●test streams , behind a stone , log , or some small bank that shooteth into the river , and there lyes watching for what comes down the stream . he spawns about october . baits . 1. you shall find in the root of a great dock , a white worm with a red head , with this worm fish for a trout at the bottom , he lyes in the deep , but feeds in the stream . 2. another . he also takes very freely a worm , called a brandling , of which sort the best are sound at the bear-garden , amongst the bears dung. an universal bait to take all manner of fish , but especially trouts , which hath been experienced by an ancient angler , and made by a chy●ist , in 1668. take of the juice of ca●●omile two spoonfuls , oyl of spike four drams , spirit of vitriol one ounce , oyl of comfrey by infusion , six drams , goose-grease one ounce ; dissolve these over the fire , being well melted , let it stand till it is cold , then put it into a strong glass , and let it stand three or four days before you stop it up , with a good cover made of parchment and leather , and it will keep good for seven years . gudgeons . a gudgeon spawns in may , and sometimes in april . bait. a gudgeon takes nothing but a red knotted worm , in a horse dung-hill . barbel . the barbel ( as gesner saith ) is one of those leather-mouth'd fishes , having his teeth in his throat . there are divers ways of fishing for him , as with a casting-line of small whip-cord , a plummet , and a pair of small drablers of hair. others fish for him with a standing-line , either of silk , or small brass wyre well nealed , with a plummet of one , two , three , or four ounces , according to the swiftness of the stream , and a pair of drabbers , as before . some fish for barbel with casting-lines , as at london-bridge , a plummet of one pound and half , and a pair of drabbers . baits . his baits are green gentles , strong cheese , sometimes a lob-worm , and sometimes a piece of pickled herring . eels . to reckon up the several ways of taking eels , were almost , if not altogether , impossible ; and therefore i shall only tell you how the anglers here in london take them . take a shooting-line , of 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , or 20 hooks , as many , and as few as you please ; and this cannot but be an excellent way , either in pond , ●river , or moat . the manner of making it is very well known to all those that sell hooks and fishing-tackle in crooked-lane , where you may buy them ready made . baits . his bait is green gentles , strong cheese , lob-worms , pickled-herring , powdered beef , or periwinkles . your plummet must be three pound , or three pound and an half of lead . bream . the bream loveth a red worm , taken at the root of a great dock , it lyeth wrapt up in a knot , or round clue . he chuseth the same waters as the pike . salmon . the salmon 〈◊〉 ●arge swist rivers , where it ebbs and flowes ; he spawns at the latter end of the year . to fish for salmon . the first thing you must gain , must be a rod of some ten foot in the stock , that will carry a top of six foot ; stiff and strong ; the reason is , because there must be a wyre ring at the upper end of the top , for the line to run through , that you may take up , and loose the line at your pleasure , you must have the winder within two foot of the bottom of your rod , made in the manner exprest , with a spring , that you may put it on as low as you please . the salmon swimmeth most commonly in the midst of the river , in all his travels he desires to see the uppermost part of the river , travelling on his journey in the heat of ●he day , he must take a b●sh , if the fisher-man espye him , he goeth at him with his spear , and so shortneth his journey . the angler that goeth to fish for him with a hook and line , must angle for him as nigh the middle of the water as he can with one of these baits . take two lob-worms , and put the hook so near through the middle of them , that the four ends may hang of an equal length , and so angle as near the bottom as you can , feeling your plummet run on the ground , some twelve inches from the hook . if you angle for him with a flve ( which he will rise at like a trout ) the flye must be made of a large hook , which hook must carry six wings , or sour at the least ; there is judgment in making these flyes . the salmon will come at a gudgeon in the manner of a trouling line , and cometh at it bravely , which is fine angling for him ; you must be sure your line be of twenty six , or thirty yards long , that you may have your convenient time to turn him , or else you are in danger to lose him , but if you turn him , you are likely to have him , all the danger is in the running out , both of salmon and trout . you must fore-cast to turn the fish as you do a wild horse , either upon the right or left hand , and wind up your line as you find occasion in the guiding the fish to the shoar , having a large landing-hook to take him up , close to the bottom , in the midst of the water , i fish●d for a salmon , and there i caught her . my plummet twelve inches from the large hook , two lob-worms hung equal , which she ne●r ●orsook : nor yet the great hook , with the six winged flye , and she makes at a gudgeon most furiously . my strong line was just twenty six yards long : i gave him a turn , though i found him strong . i wound up my line , to guide him from shoar ; the landing-hook helpt much , but the cookery more . the names of the flyes that are used in angling , with the times when they are in season , and what the bodies and wings are made of . 1. astone fly , which is in season in april , the body of it is made with black-wool , made yellow under the wings , and under the tayl ; the wings are made of a mallards feather . 2. a ruddy fly , is in season in the beginning of may ; the body is made of red wooll wrapt about with blue silk , the wings are made of the wing of a drake , and a red hackle . 3. the yellow , or greenish fly , in season in may , made of yellow wool , his wings made of red hackles , and the wing of a drake . 4. the dun fly is sometimes of dunwool , and sometimes black , in season in march ; his wings made of partridge . feathers , black drakes feathers , and the feathers under his tayl. 5. the black fly , in season in may , made of black-wool , and wrapt about with peacocks tayl , the feathers of the wings of a brown capon , with the blue feathers in his head . 6. the sad yellow fly , in season in iune , made of black-wool , with a yellow list on either side ; the wings of a buzzard , bound with black braked hemp . 7. the moorish fly , in season in iune , made of duskish wool , the wings the black male of a drake . 8. the tawny flye , good till the middle of iune , made of bears-wool , the wings made contrary one against the other , of the whitish male of a wild drake . 9. the wasp-fly , in season in iuly , made of black-wool , wrapt about with yellow silk ; the wings of a drakes feathers , or buzzards . 10. the shell-fly , good in the middle of iune , made of greenish wool , lapt about with pearl of a peacocks tayl ; the wings of a buzzards feathers . 11. the dark drake-fly , made of black-wool wrapt about with black silk ; in season in august , the wings , the male of the black drake with a black head. 12. the may-fly , made of greenish coloured cruel , or willow colour , and darken it in most places with waxed silk , or ribb'd with a black hair , or some of them ribb'd with silver thread , and such wings for the colour , as you see the fly to have at that season . 13. the oak-fly , the body made of orange-tawny , and black cruel ; the wings the brown of a mallards feather . the best way of dressing these , and all other sorts of fish , you may find in the next part following . finis . the compleat cook 's guide . or , directions for the dressing of all sorts of flesh , fowl , and fish , both in the english and french mode ; with the preparing of all manner of sawces and sallets proper thereunto . together with the making of all sorts of pyes , pasties , tarts , and custards ; with the forms and shapes of many of them . with bills of fare , both for ordinary , and extraordinary . london , printed in the year 1675. the compleat cook 's guide . 1. to make a lamb pye. first , cut your lamb into pieces , and then season it with nutmegs , cloves , and mace , and some salt with currans , raisins of the sun , and sweet butter ; and if you will eat it hot , when it is baked put in some yolks of eggs , with wine-vinegar and sugar beaten together ; but if you will eat it cold , put in no eggs , but only vinegar and sugar . 2. to make a rice-pudding . take thin cream , or good milk , of what quantity you please , boyl it with a little cinamon in it , and when it hath boyled a while , take out the cinamon , and put in rose-water , and sugar enough to make it sweet and good ; then having your rice ready beaten , as fine as flower , and siersed as some do it , strew it in , till it be of the thickness of a hasty-pudding , then pour it into a dish , and serve it . 3. to make cheese-cakes , the best way . take two gallons of new milk , put into them two spoonfuls and a half of runnet , heat the milk little less than blood-warm , cover it close with a cloath , till you see the cheese be gathered , then with a scumming-dish gently take out the whey , when you have dreyn'd the curd as clean as you can , put it into a siev , and let it drain very well there ; then to two quarts of curds , take a quart of thick cream , a pound of sweet butter , twelve eggs , a pound and half of currans , a penny . worth of cloves , nutmeg and mace beaten , half a pound of good sugar , a quarter of a pint of rose-water ; mingle it well together , and put it into puff-paste . 4. to make an egg-pye , or mince-pye of eggs. take the yolks of two dozen of eggs hard boyled , shred them , take the same quantity of beef-suet , half a pound of pippins , a pound of currans well washt , and dry'd , half a pound of sugar , a penny-worth of beaten spice , a few carraway-seeds , a little candyed orange-peel shred , a little verjuice and rose-water ; fill the coffin , and bake it with gentle heat . 5. to carbonado mutton . broyl a shoulder , or breast of mutton , then scotch them with your knife , and strew on minc'd thyme and salt , and a little mutmeg ; when they are broyled , dish them up : the sauce is claret-wine boyled up with two onions , a little camphire and capers , with a little gravy , garnish'd with limons . 6. to stew a pheasant , french fashion . roast your pheasant , till he be half roasted , then boyl it in mutton-broath , and put into the broath whole pepper , whole mace , and sliced onions , and vinegar , and make it sharp , and put in pr●ans and currans , and colour your broath with bruised pruans . 7. to make bisket-bread . take half a peek of flower fine , two ounces of anniseeds , two ounces of coriander-seed , the whites of six eggs , a pint of ale-yeast , with as much warm-water , as will make it up into a paste , so bake it in a long roul ; when it is two days old , pare it , and slice it , then sugar it , and dry it in an oven , and so keep it all the year , 8. to make a dish of marrow . take a piece of fine paste , and roul it very thin ; then take the marrow all as whole out of the bones as you can , and cleave it into four quarters ; then take it and season it with a little pepper , salt , sugar , and dates small minced , then lay one piece in your paste , and make it up like a pescod ; so make half a dozen of them , and fry them in clarified butter , scrape sugar on , and serve them . 9. to make a herring-pye . put great store of sliced onions , with currans and raisins of the sun , both above and under the herrings , and store of butter ; put them into your pye , and bake them . 10. to make black-puddings . take a quart of sheeps-blood , and a quart of cream , ten eggs , the yolks and the whites beaten together ; stir all this liquor very well , then thicken it with grated bread , and oat-meal finely beaten , of each a like quantity , beef-suet finely shred , and marrow in little lumps , ●●●son it with a little nutmeg , cloves , and mace mingled with salt , a little sweet marjoram , thyme , and penny-royal shred very well together , and mingle them with the other things , some put in a few currans : then fill them in cleansed guts , and boyl them very carefully . 11. to make a good spanish olio . take a rump of beef , or some of a brisket or buttock , cut it to pieces ; a loyn of mutton with the fat taken off , and a fleshy piece of a leg of veal , or a knuckle , a piece of inter-laided bacon , three or four onions , or some garlick , and if you will , a capon or two , or else three great tame-pigeons . first , put into the water the beef and bacon , after a while the mutton , veal , and onions , but not the capon or pigeons , only so long till they are boyled enough ; if you have garavanza's , put them in at the first , after they have been soaked with ashes all night in heat , wash them well in warm water ; or if you have cabbage , roots , leeks , or whole onions , put them in time enough to be sufficiently boyled . you may at first put in some crusts of bread , or venison pye-crust ; it must boyl in all five or six hours gently , like stewing ; after it is well boyled , a quarter , or half an hour before you intend to take it , take out a porringer full of broath , and put to it some pepper , and five or six cloves , and a nutmeg , and some saffron , and mingle them well in it , then put that into the pot , and let it boyl , or stew with the rest a while , put in a bundle of sweet herbs , salt must be put in when it is scumm'd . 12. to stew venison . if you have much venison , and do make many cold baked meats , you may stew a dish in hast thus : when it is sliced out of your pye , pot , or pasty , put it in your stewing-dish , and set it on a heap of coals , with a little claret wine , a sprigg or two of rosemary , half a dozen cloves , a little grated bread , sugar , and vinegar , so let it stew together a while , then grate on nutmeg , and dish it up . 13. to boyl a leg of veal and bacon . lard your leg of veal with bacon all over , with a little limon-peel amongst it , then boyl it with a piece of middle-bacon ; when your bacon is boyled , cut it in slices , season it with pepper and dryed sage mixt together ; dish up your veal with the bacon round about it , send up with it saucers of green sauce ; strew over it parsley and barberries . 14. to make furmety . take french-barley , and pick it , and wash it , lay it in steep one night , then boyl it in two or three several waters , and so cover it as as you would do wheat to make it swell ; then take a quart of good cream , and boyl it with a race of ginger cut in two pieces , one blade of mace , and half a nutmeg all in one piece ; then put thereto so much of the barley as will thicken it , and when it is almost boyled , stir in two or three yolks of eggs well beaten , and fo strained with a few beaten almonds and flower , or five spoonfuls of rose-water ; then take out the whole spices , and season your furmety with salt , and sweeten it with sugar , and serve it . 15. to make a pig-pye . flea your pigg , and cut it into pieces , and season it with pepper , salt , nutmeg , and large mace , lay into your coffin good store of raisins of the sun , and currans , and fill it up with sweet butter , so close it , and serve it hot . 16. to make a neats-foot-pye . first boyl your neats-foot , and take out the bones , then put in as much beef-suet as in quantity thereto , and so mince them , then season it with cloves , mace , nutmeg , sugar , and salt , and put it into your coffin with some barberries , currans , and raisins of the sun , then bake it , and always serve it hot . 17. to make an orang ado-pye . make a handsom thin coffin , with hot butter'd paste , slice your orangado , and put over the bottom of it ; then take some pippins , and cut every one into eight parts , and lay them in also upon the orangado , then pour some syrup of orangado , and sugar on the top , and so make it up , and bake it , and serve it up with sugar scraped on it . 18. to make a pork-pye . boyl your leg of pork , season it with nutmeg , pepper , and salt ; and bake it five hours in a round pye. 19. to make a fricasie of veal . cut your veal in thin slices , beat it well with a rowling-pin ; season it with nutmegs , limon , and thyme , fry it slightly in the pan , then beat two eggs , and one spoonful of verjuice ; put it into the pan , stir it together , fry it , and dish it . 20. to make a quince-pye . take a gallon of flower , a pound and half of butter , six eggs , thirty quinces , three pound of sugar , half an ounce of cinamon , half an ounce of ginger , half an ounce of cloves , and rose-water ; make them into a tart , and being baked , strew on double-refined sugar . 21. to make a gooseberry-fool . pick your gooseberries , and put them into clean water , and boyl them till they be all as thick that you cannot discern what it is ; to the quantity of a quart , take six yolks of eggs well beaten with rose-water , before you put in your eggs , season it well with sugar , then strain your eggs , and let them boyl a while ; put it in a broad dish , and let it stand till it is cold , and serve it , 22. to make a tart of green-pease . boyl your pease tender : and pour them out into a cullender , season them with saffron , salt , sweet butter , and sugar ; then close it , and let it bake almost an hour , then draw it forth and ice it , put in a little verjuice , and shake it well , then scrape on sugar , and serve it . 23. to souce an eel . souce an eel with a handful of salt , split it down the back , take out the chine-bone , season the eel with nutmeg , pepper , salt , and sweet herbs minc'd ; then lay a pack thread at each end , and the middle roul up like a collar of brawn , then boyl it in water , salt , and vinegar , a blade or two of mace , and half a slice of limon , boyl it half an hour , keep it in the same liquor two or three days , then cut it out in round pieces , and lay six or seven in a dish with parsley and barberries ; and serve it with vinegar in saucers . 24. to make a bacon-tart . take a quarter of a pound of the best jordan-almonds , and put them in a little warm water to blanch them , then beat them together in a mortar with three or four spoonfuls of rose-water , then sweeten them with fine sugar ; then take bacon that is clear and white , and hold it upon the point of a knife against the fire , till it hath dropt a sufficient quantity , then stir it well together , and put it into the paste , and bake it . 25. to make an umble-pye . lay beef-suet minc'd in the bottom of the pye , or slices of inter-larded bacon , and cut the umbles as big as small dice , cut your bacon in the same form , and season it with nutmeg , pepper , and salt , fill your pyes with it , with slices of bacon and butter , close it up , and bake it ; liquor it with claret , butter , and stripped thyme , and so serve it . 26. to keep asparagus all the year . par-boyl your asparagus very little , and put them into clarified butter , cover them with it , and when the butter is cold , cover them with leather , and about a moneth after refresh the butter , melt it , and put it on them again ; then set them under ground , being covered with leather . 27. to roast a hanch of venison . if your venison be seasoned , your must water it , and stick it with short sprigs of rosemary : let your sauce be claret-wine , a handful of grated bread , cinamon , ginger , sugar , a little vinegar ; boyl these up so thick , as it may only run like batter ; it ought to be sharp and sweet : dish up your meat on your sauce . 28. to carbonado hens . let your sauce be a little white-wine and gravy , half a dozen of the yolks of hard eggs minced , boyled up with an onion , add to it a grated nutmeg ; thicken it up with the yolk of an egg or two , with a ladle-full of drawn butter ; dish up your hens , and pour over your sauce , strew on yolks of eggs minced , and garnish it with limon . 29. to fry artichoaks . when they are boyled , and sliced fitting for that purpose , you must have your yolks of eggs beaten with a grated nutmeg or two ; when your pan is hot , you must dip them into the yolks of eggs , and charge your pan ; when they are fryed on both sides , pour on drawn butter : and if you will fry spanish potato's , then the sauce is , butter , vinegar , sugar , and rose-water ; these for a need may serve for second-course dishes . 30. to make a hedge-hog-pudding . put some raisins of the sun into a deep wooden dish , and then take some grated bread , and one pint of sweet cream , three yolks of eggs , with two of the whites , and some beef-suet , grated nutmeg , and salt ; then sweeten it with sugar , and temper all well together , and so lay it into the dish upon the raisins , then tye a cloath about the dish , and boyl it in beef-broath , and when you take it up lay it in a pewter dish , with the raisins uppermost , and then stick blanched almonds very thick into the pudding , then melt some butter , and pour it upon the pudding , then strew some sugar about the dish , and serve it . 31. to stew a leg of lamb. cut it into pieces , and put it into your stewing-pan , being first seasoned with salt and nutmeg , and as much butter as will stew it , with raisins of the sun , currans , and gooseberries ; when it is stewed , make a caudle with the yolks of two or three eggs , and some wine-vinegar and sugar beaten together , and put it into your meat , and stew all a little longer together ; then dish it , strew sugar on the brims , and serve it hot . 32. to bake a pickerel . boyl your pickerel , and pull out the ribs and bones , then put it into your paste , and season it with pepper and salt , and put in some butter , and raisins of the sun , and so bake it . 33. to make a haggess-pudding . take a fat haggess , par-boyl it well , take out the kernels , shred it small , and temper it with a handful or two of grated manchet ; then take three or four eggs well beaten , rose-water , sugar , cloves , nutmeg , cinamon , and mace finely beaten , currans and marrow good store ; temper them all together with a quantity of cream , being first moderately seasoned with salt . 34. to make a dish of meat with herbs . take sives , parsley , thyme , marjoram , & roast three or four eggs hard , and a quantity of mutton-suet , beef , or lamb , chop them fine all together , and season it with cloves , mace , ginger , sugar , and cinamon , and a little salt ; then fry them with a little sweet butter . 35. to make cream of eggs. take one quart of cream , and boyl it , then beat four whites of eggs very well with two spoonfuls of rose-water ; when the cream is boyled enough , take it off the fire , and when it is cool , stir in the eggs with a little salt ; then garnish your dish with fine sugar scraped thereon , and serve it always cold , for a closing dish . 36. to make a fine pudding in a dish . take a penny white loaf , and pare off all the crust , and slice ir thin into a dish , with a quart of cream , and let it boyl over a chasing-dish of coals , till the bread be ●lmost dry ; then put in a piece of sweet butter , and take it off , and let it stand in the dish till it be cold , then take the yolks of three eggs , and the quantity of one with some rose-water , and sugar , and stirring them all together , put it into another dish well butter'd , and bake it . 37. to broyl scollops . first boyl the scollops , then take them out of the shells , and wash them , then slice them , and season them with nutmeg , ginger , and cinamon , and put them into the bottom of your shells again with a litle butter , white-wine , vinegar , and grated bread , let them be broyled on both sides ; if they are sharp , they must have sugar added to them , for the fish is luscious , and sweet naturally ; therefore you may broyl them with oyster-liquor and gravy , with dissolved anchovies , minced onions , and thyme , with the juice of limon in it . 38. to boyl wild-ducks . first , half roast them , then take them off , and put them in a shallow broad pan that will contain them , with a pint of claret-wine , and a pint of strong broath , a dozen of onions cut in halves , a faggot or two of sweet herbs , with a little whole pepper , and some slices of bacon ; cover your pan , and let them stove up , add gravy to part of the liquor at least so much as will serve to dish them : garnish them with bacon and onions if you please . 39. to make a venison-pasty . when you have powdered your haunch of venison , or the sides of it , by taking away all the bones and sinews , and the skin , or fat , season it with pepper and salt only , beat it with your rolling-pin , and proportion it for the pasty , by taking away from one part , and adding to another , your paste being made with a peck of fine flower , and about three pound of butter , and twelve eggs ; work it up with cold water into as stiff a paste as you can , drive it forth for your pasty , let it be as thick as a mans thumb , roul it up upon a rolling-pin , and put under it a couple of sheets of cap-paper well flowered , then your white being already minced and beaten with water ; proportion it upon the pa●ty to the breadth and length of the venison ; then lay your venison in the said white , wash it round with your feather , and put on a border , season your venison on the top , and turn over your other leaf of paste , so close up your pasty ; then drive out another border for garnishing the sides up to the top of the pasty , so close it together by the rolling-pin , by rolling it up and down by the sides and ends ; and when you have flourish'd your garnishing , and edg'd your pasty , vent it at the top , set it in the oven , and let it have four or five hours baking at the least , and then draw it . 40. to make a damson-tart . take damsons , and seeth them in wine , and strain them with a little cream , then boyl your stuff over the fire , till it be thick , and put thereto sugar , cinamon , and ginger , but set it not in the oven after , but let your paste be baked before . 41. to roast a rabbet with oysters . wash your rabbet , and dry it well , then take half a pint of oysters , wash them , and wipe them clean one by one , and put them into the rabbets belly , a couple of onions shred , whole pepper , large mace , two or three sprigs of thyme , sew up the belly ; and for the sauce , as usual ; the liver and parsley , and a hard egg , shred them together , and beat some butter thick , put into the dish , and serve it . 42. to stew collops of beef . take of the buttock of beef thin slices , cross the grain of the meat ; then hack them , and fry them in sweet butter ; and being fryed fine and brown , put them in a pipkin with some strong broath , a little claret-wine , and some nutmeg ; stew it very tender , and half an hour before you dish it , put to it some good gravy , elder-vinegar , and a clove or two ; when you serve it , put some juice of orange , and three or four slices on it , stew down the gravy somewhat thick , and put unto it when you dish it , some beaten butter . 43. to make a beef-pasty like red-deer . take fresh beef of the finest , without sinews or suet , and mince it as small as you can , and season it with salt and pepper , and put in two spoonfuls of malmsey ; then take lard , and cut it into small pieces . and lay a layer of lard , and a layer of beef , and lay a shin of beef upon it like venison , and so close it up . 44. to bake a hare . take the best of the hare , minced and seasoned with pepper , salt , and mace ; then make a proportion of the head , or shoulders , as you make for an hare-pafty , and lay in a layer of flesh , and a layer of lard , and butter aloft , and beneath , and make a gallentine for it in a saucer . 45. to boyl a salmon . take as much water as will cover it , then take rosemary , thyme , and winter-savoury , and salt ; boyl all these very well , and then put in some wine-vinegar , and when your salmon is boyled , let him remain in the same water always , untill you have occasion to eat of it . 46. to make an oyster-pye . first , dry your oysters , and then put them into your coffin with some butter , and whole large mace , and so bake it ; then take off the lid , and fill it up with more butter , putting some of the liquor of the oysters also thereunto ; then season it well with sugar , and serve it hot to the table at the first course . 47. to butter eggs upon toasts . take twenty eggs , beat them in a dish with some salt , and put butter to them , then have two large rolls , or fine manchets , cut them in toasts , and toast them against the fire , with a pound of fine sweet butter , being finely butter'd in a fair clean dish ; put the eggs on the toasts , and garnish your dish with pepper and salt , otherwise half-boyl them in the shells , then butter them , and serve them on toasts , or toasts about them . 48. to make a fricacie of chickens . scald three or four chickens , and flea off the skin and feathers together , put them in a little water ; take half a pint of white-wine , and two or three whole onions , some large mace and nutmeg tyed up in a cloath , a bundle of sweet-herbs , and a little salt ; and put them all in a pipkin close covered ; let them simper a quarter of an hour , then take six yolks of eggs , half a pound of sweet butter , four anchovies dissolved in a little broath ; shred your boyled spice small , take a quarter of a pound of capers , and shred them very small , put the anchovies dissolved into the eggs and butter , and capers , and so stir it all together over a chafing-dish of coals , till it begin to thicken , then take the chicken out of the broath , and put lear upon them ; serve them with sippets , and limon sliced . 49. to make an eel-pye , with oysters . wash your eels , and gut them , and dry them well in a cloath ; to four good eels allow a pint of oysters well washed , season them with pepper , salt , and nutmeg , and large mace ; put half a pound of butter into the pye , and half a limon sliced , so bake it ; when it is drawn , take the yolks of two eggs , a couple of anchovies dissolved in a little white-wine , with a quarter of a pound of fresh butter , melt it , and mix all together , and make a lear of it , and put into the pye. 50. to make puff-paste . break two eggs in three pints of flower , make it with cold water , then roul it out pretty thick , and square ; then take so much butter as paste , and divide your butter in five pieces , that you may lay it on at five several times ; roul your paste very broad , and break one part of the same butter in little pieces all over your paste , then throw a handful of flower slightly on , then fold up your paste , and beat it with a rolling-pin , so roul it out again ; thus do several times , and then make it up . 51. to make barley-broath . put your barley into fair water , give it three qualms over the fire , separate the waters , and put it into a cullender , boyl it in a ●ourth water with a b●ade of mace , and a clove ; and when it is boyled away , put in some raisins and currans , and when the fruit is boyled enough , take it off , and season it with white-wine , rose-water , butter , and sugar , and a couple of yolks of eggs beaten with it . 52. to bake a pig. take a good quantity of clay , and having moulded it , stick your pig , and blood him well , and when he is warm , put him in your prepared coffin of clay , thick every where , with his hair , skin and all ( his entrails drawn , and belly sewed up again ) then throw him into the oven , or below the stock-hole under the furnace , and there let him soak , turn him now and then when the clay is hardened , for twelve hours , and he is then sufficiently baked ; then take him , and break off the clay , which easily parts , and he will have a fine crispy coat , and all the juice of the pigg in your dish ; remember but to put a few leaves of sage , and a little salt in his belly , and you need no other sauce . 53. a grand sallet . take a quarter of a pound of raisins of the sun , as many blanched almonds , as many capers , as many olives , as much samphire , as many pickled cucumbers , a limon shred , some pickled frenchbeans , a wax tree set in the middle of the dish , pasted to the dish ; lay all their quarters round the dish , ( you may also mince the flesh of a roasted hen , with sturgeon , and shrimps ) and garnish the dish with cut beans , and turneps , in several figures . 54. to make a sallet of a cold hen , or pullet . take a hen , and roast it , let it be cold , carve up the leggs , take the flesh and mince it small , shred a limon , a little parsley and onions , an apple , a little pepper and salt , with oyl and vinegar ; garnish the dish with the bones and limon-peel , and so serve it . 55. to boyl a capon , pullet , or chicken . boyl them in good mutton-broath , with mace , a faggot of sweet herbs , sage , spinage , marygold-leaves and flowers , white or green endive , burrage , bugloss , parsley , and sorrel ; and serve it on sippets . 56. to stew ducks , the french fashion . take the duck , and half-roast it , put half a score onions in the belly whole , some whole pepper , a bundle of thyme , and a little salt ; when it is half-roasted , take it up , and slash it into pieces , put it between two dishes , and pierce the gravy , mix some claret-wine with that gravy , and a little sliced nutmeg , a couple of anchovies , wash them , and slit them , slice the onions in the ducks belly , cover the dishes close , so let them stew while enough ; take some butter , beat it thick , and shred a limon in it , and serve it : garnish your dish with the limon-peel , and your onions . 57. to make a florentine . take the kidney of a loyn of veal , or the wing of a capon , or the legg of a rabbit ; mince any of these small with the kidney of a loyn of mutton , if it be not fat enough ; then season it with cloves , mace , nutmegs , and sugar , cream , currans , eggs , and rose-water : mingle these four together , and put them into a dish between two sheets of paste , then close it , and cut the paste round by the brim of the dish ; then cut it round about like virginal-keys , turn up one , and let the other lye ; prick it , bake it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . 58. to make curd-cakes . take a pint of curd , four eggs , take out two of the whites , put in some sugar , 〈◊〉 nutmeg , and a little flower ; stir 〈◊〉 together , and drop them in , 〈◊〉 fry them with a little butter . 59. to roast a leg of mutton , the french way . take half a pound of mutton , and a quarter of a pound of suet , season it with sweet herbs , and a little nutmeg , and two or three shallots ; slice these very small , and stuff the mutton round ; then take some of the best hackney turneps , and boyl them in beef-broath very tender , then squeeze the water from them a little , set them in a dish under the leg of mutton , when it is half roasted , and so let the gravy drop into them ; and when the meat is roasted , serve them in the dish with it , with a little fresh butter and vinegar : garnish your dish with sliced onions and parsley , and some of the turneps slic'd . 60. to stew a carp. take a living carp , and knock him on the head , open him in the belly , take heed you break not the gall , pour in a little vinegar , and wash out all the blood , stir it about with your hand , and keep the blood safe ; then put as much white-wine into a pan or skillet , as will almost cover , and set it on the fire ; put to it an onion cut in the middle , a clove , or less of garlick , a race of ginger shred , a nutmeg quartered , a faggot , or bundle of sweet herbs , and three or four anchovies ; your carp being cut out , and rubbed all over with salt , when the wine ( into which you may put in a little water ) doth boyl , put the carp in , and cover him close , and let him stew up about a quarter of an hour , then put in the blood and vinegar , with a little butter ; so dish up the carp , and let the spawn , milt , and revet be laid upon it ; the liquor that boyled him , with the butter is the best sauce , and is to be eaten as broath : garnish the dish with limons and grated bread . 61. to make marrow-puddings . take a pound of the best jordan-almonds , blanch them , beat them fine in a stone , or wooden mortar ( not in brass ) with a little rose-water , take a pound of fine powder-sugar , a penny-loaf grated , nutmeg grated , a pint of cream , the marrow of two marrow-bones , two grains of amber-griece ; mingle them all together with a little salt , fill the skins , and boyl them gently , as before . 62. to make a sack-posset . set a gallon of milk on the fire , with whole cinamon and large mace ; when it boyls , stir in a half , or whole pound of naples-bisket grated very small , keeping it stirring till it boyls ; then beat eight eggs together , casting of the whites away ; beat them well with a ladle-full of milk , then take the milk off the fire , and stir in the eggs ; then put it on again , but keep it stirring , for fear of curdling ; then make ready a pint of sack , warming it upon the coals , with a little rose-water : season your milk with sugar , and pour it into the sack in a large bason , and stir it apace ; then throw on a good deal of beaten cinamon , and so serve it up . 63. to hash a rabbit . when your rabbit is wash'd , you must take the flesh from the bones , and mince it small ; then put to it a little strong broath and vinegar , an onion or two , with a grated nutmeg , and let it stew up together ; then mince a handful of boyled parsley green , with a limon cut like dice , and a few barberries ; put it into the hash , and toast it all together ; and when it is enough , put a ladle● ful of sweet butter to it , and dish it upon the chines , and garnish it with limons . 64. to make a fresh cheese . take some new milk. or cream , and a race of cinamon , scald it ; then take it off the fire , sweeten it with fine sugar , then take a spoonful of runnet to two quarts of milk , set it by , and keep it close covered , and so let it stand ; when the cheese comes , strew a little fine sugar and grated nutmeg , and serve it in with sippets , sops in sack , or muskadine . 65. to make an artichoak-pye . take the bottoms of six artichoaks , boyled very tender , put them in a dish , and some vinegar over them , season them with ginger and sugar , a little mace whole , and put them in a coffin of paste ; when you lay them in , lay some marrow and dates sliced , and a few raisins of the sun in the bottom , with good store of butter ; when it is half baked , take a gill of sack , being boyled first with sugar , and a peel of orange : put it into the pye , and set it in the oven again , till you use it . 66. to make marrow-pasties . shred the marrow and apples together , and put a little sugar to them ; put them into puff-paste , and fry them in a pan with fresh butter , and serve them up to the table , with a little white sugar strewed on it . 67. to make green sauce . take a good handful of sorrel , beat it in a mortar with pippins pared , and quartered , with a little vinegar and sugar ; put it into saucers . or take sorrel , beat it , and stamp it well in a mortar , squeeze out the juice of it , and put thereto a little vinegar , sugar , and two hard eggs minced small , a little nutmeg grated , and butter ; set this upon the coals , till it is hot , and pour it into the dish on the sippets : this is sauce for hen , and veal , and bacon . 68. to pickle oysters . take a quart of the largest great oysters with the liquor , wash them clean , and wipe them , add to them a pint of fair water , with half a pint of white-wine-vinegar , half an ounce of whole pepper , an handful of salt , a quarter of an ounce of large mace , with the liquor of the oysters strained ; put all together in a pipkin over a soft fire , let them simper together a quarter of an hour ; when the oysters are enough , take them up , and put them into a little fair water and vinegar , till they be cold , the pickle boyling a quarter of an hour after the oysters are taken up ; both being cold , put them up together : when you use them , garnish the dish with barberries , and limons , and a little mace and pepper , and pour in some of the pickle . 69. to make s●●●●● cellops , of ve●● cut out your fillet 〈◊〉 very broad slices , fat and lean , not to thick : take eight eggs , beat them very well with a little salt , grate a whole nutmeg , take a handful of thyme , and strip it ; then take a pound of sausages , half a pint of stewing oysters of the largest , wash and cleanse them from the gravel , then half-fry your veal with sweet butter , then put in your sausages and oysters ; then take a quarter of a pound of capers , shred them very small , with three anchovies dissolved in white-wine and fair water , so put in your eggs , shred capers and anchovies , butter and spice , and mingle them , and strew them in the pan upon the veal and oysters , serve it with sippets , with a little fresh butter and vinegar , with limons sliced , and barberries , with a little salt. you must have a care to keep the meat stirring , lest the eggs curdle with the heat of the fire . 70. to make a rare white-pot . take three pints of cream , whole cinamon , a little sliced nutmeg ; set on the cream and spice , and scald it , take a penny-loaf , and slice it very thin , take a couple of marrow-bones , lay the marrow sliced on the bottom of the dish , upon the marrow lay the bread , then lay raisins of the sun over the bread , and lay marrow again , as before : to the three pints of scalded cream add nine yolks of eggs well beaten with rose-water ; sweeten the cream with white sugar , and take out the whole cinamon , and beat the cream and eggs well , fill up a broad shallow bason , and bake it , when it is enough , scrape fine sugar on it , and stick it with red and white muscadoes , and so serve it . 71. to make a very fine custard . take a quart of cream , and boyl it with whole spice ; then beat the yolks of ten eggs , and five whites , mingle them with a little cream , and when your cream is almost cold , put your eggs into it , and stir them very well , then sweeten it , and put out your custard into a deep dish , and bake it ; then serve it in with french comfits strewed on it . 72. to make minc'd pyes of an eel . take a fresh eel , flea it , and cut off the fish from the bones , mince it small ; then pare two or three wardens , or pears , mince of them as much as of the eel , temper them together , and season them with ginger , pepper , cloves , mace , salt , a little sanders , some c●rrans , raisins , pruans , dates , verjuice , butter , and rose-water . 73. to bake rabbits , to be eaten cold . when your rabbits are par-boyled , take out all the bones you can well take out , and lard them , then season them with pepper , salt , cloves , mace , and nutmegs , with a good quantity of savoury , and forc'd meat ; then put them into your prepared coffin , put in butter , and close your pye , bake it , and when it is cold , fill it with clarified butter . 74. to bake a ioll of ling in a pye. let your ling be almost boyled , and then season it with pepper only , ( the skin being first taken off , strew the bottom of your prepared coffin with an onion or two minced small ; close your pye , and bake it ; then take the yolks and whites of about a dozen eggs , not boyled altogether hard ; mince them small with your knife , and put them into drawn butter , toss them together ; then draw your pye , and pour in this lear of eggs all over , and shake it together , so put on your lid , and dish your pye. 75. to bake a turkey . boyl and lard your turkey , when it is par-boyled , season it with pepper , salt , and a little cloves and mace ; then put him into your prepared coffin , lay on butter , and close it ; put the head on the top with your garnish , then bake it , and fill it with clarified butter when it is cold . 76. to roast calves-feet . first , boyl them tender , and blanch them , and being cold , lard them thick with small lard , then spit them on a small spit , and roast them ; serve them with sauce made of vinegar , cinamon , sugar , and butter . 77. to bake a goose. break the bones of your goose , and par-boyl him , then season him with pepper and salt , and a little cloves and mace ; if pou please , you may bake a rabbit or two with it , because your stubble-geese are very fat , and your rabbits dry , you need not lard either ; bake it in good hot butter-paste . 78. to make apple-pyes , to fry. take about twelve pippins , pare them , cut them , and almost cover them with water , and almost a pound of sugar , let them boyl on a gentle fire close covered , with a stick of cinamon , minced orange-peel , a little dill seed beaten , and rose-water , when this is cold and stiff , make them into little pasties , with rich paste , and so fry them . 79. to make a rare dutch pudding . take a pound and a half of fresh beef , all lean , with a pound and a quarter of beef-suet , both sliced very small ; then take a stale half-penny loaf , and grate it , a handful of sage , a little winter-savoury , and a little thyme ; shred these very small , take four eggs , half a pint of cream , a few cloves , nutmegs , mace , and pepper finely beaten ; mingle them all together very well with a little salt , roul it all up together in a green colwort-leaf , and then tye it up hard in a linnen cloath : garnish your dish with grated bread , and serve it up with mustard in saucers . 80. to make sausages . take pork , more lean than fat , mince it exceeding small together ; then take part of the fleak of pork , which is the suet , in pieces , about the bigness of the top of your finger , season each apart , with sage minced , good store of pepper and salt , with some cloves and mace mixt in the seasoning each of them ; then take small sheeps-guts , and cleanse them , ( some use capons-guts ) and fill them with your funnel ; always putting some of the fleak between the minced ; if you have it ready , you may sprinkle a little sack on the top of the sausage-meat , and it will make it fill the better . 81. to stew beef in gobbets , the french fashion . take a flank of beef , or any part but the leg , cut it into slices , or gobbets as big as pullets-eggs , with some gobbets of fat , and boyl it in a pot or pipkin with some fair spring-water , scum it clean , and after it hath boyled an hour , put to it carrots , parsnips , turnips , great onions , some salt , cloves , mace , and whole pepper ; cover it close , and stew it , till be very tender ; and half an hour before its ready put into it some pick'd thyme , parsley , winter-savoury , sweet marjoram , sorrel , and spinage ( being a little bruised with the back of a ladle ) with some claret-wine : then dish it on fine sippets , and serve it to the table hot ; garnish it with grapes , barberries , or gooseberries : or else use spices , the bottoms of boyled artichoaks put into beaten butter , and grated nutmeg , garnished with barberries . 82. to boyl a capon , or chicken with sugar-pease . when the cods be but young , string them , and pick off the husks ; then take two or three handfuls , and put them into a pipkin , with half a pound of sweet butter , a quarter of a pint of fair water , gross pepper , salt , mace , and some sallet-oyl ; stew them till they be very tender , and strain to them three or four yolks of eggs , with six spoonfuls of sack. 83. to boyl perches . let your liquor boyl , and your pan be seasoned with a little white-wine , a couple of onions cut in halves , a bunch of sweet herbs , and a little white pepper ; boyl them up very quick , and flea them on both sides , and dish them upon sippets : then take a little white-wine , gravy , and vinegar , with a grated nutmeg , and almost boyl it over a chafing-dish , then pour sweet butter over it ; garnish it with barberries , and sliced limons . 84. to boyl eels . cut the eels , and stew them ; when they are half done , beat a little ale with vinegar , and put into the liquor , with some parsley and sweet herbs ; dish them , and serve them up in their broath with a little salt . 85. a turkish dish of meat . take an inter-larded piece of beef , cut into thin slices , and put it into a pot with a close cover , or stewing-pan ; then put into it a good quantity of clean pick'd rice , skin it very well , and put into it a quantity of whole pepper , two or three whole onions , and let it boyl very well , and take out the onions , and dish it on sippets ; the thicker it is , the better . 86. to boyl a chine of beef powdered . take either a chine , rump , surloin , brisket , rib , flank , buttock , or fillet of beef , and give them in summer , a weeks powdering , in winter a fortnight , you may stuff them , or let them be plain ; if you stuff them , do it with all manner of sweet herbs , with fat beef minced , and some nutmeg ; serve them on brewis , with roots , or cabbage boyled in milk , with beaten butter . 87. to make a hash of a capon or pullet . take a capon , or partridge , or hen , and roast them , and being cold , mince the brains and wings very fine , and tear the legs and rumps whole , to be carbonado●d ; then put some strong mutton-broath , or good gravy , grated nutmeg , a great onion and salt ; then stew them in a large earthen pipkin , or sauce-pan , stew the rumps and legs in the same strong broath in another pipkin ; then take some light french bread chipt , and cover the bottom of the dish , steep the bread in the same broath , or good mutton gravy , then pour the hash on the steeped bread , lay the legs , and the rump on the hash with some fryed oysters , sliced limon , and limon-peel , the juice of an orange , and yolks of eggs strained , and beaten butter ; garnish the dish with carved oranges , limons , &c. thus you may hash any kind of fowl. 88. to dress a cods-head . cut off the cods-head beyond the gills , that you may have part of the body with it , boyl it in water and salt , to which you may add half a pint of vinegar , the head must be little more than covered : before you put it into the cauldron , take a quart of the biggest , cleanest oysters , and a bunch of sweet herbs and onions , and put them into the mouth of the head , and with a pack-thread bind the jaws fast , you must be sure to pick it , and wash it very clean : when it is boyled enough , take it up , and set it a drying over a chafing-dish of coals ; then take the oyster-liquor , four anchovies , and a sliced onion ; put to them a quarter of a pint of white-wine , and sweet butter , and melt them together , and pour it on the cods-head ; stick all , or most of the oysters upon the head , or where they will enter , and garnish it over with them ; grate on a little nutmeg , and send it smoaking up ; garnish the brims of the dish with limon , and sliced bay-leaves . 89. to boyl widgeons , or teal . par-boyl your widgeons , or teal , and then stick whole cloves in their breasts , put into their bellies a little winter-savory , or parsley ; boyl them in a pipkin by themselves , thicken it with toasts , season it with verjuice , sugar , and a little pepper ; garnish your dish with barberries , and pruans , and so serve them . 90. to make a veal-pye . when your paste is raised , then cut your leg of veal into pieces , and season it with pepper , nutmeg , and salt , with some whole large mace , and so lay it into your prepared coffin , with good store of raisins of the sun , and currans , and fill it up with sweet butter ; then close it , and set it in the oven , and when bak'd , serve it hot . 91. to make fry'd puddings . take grated bread , currans , cloves , and mace , with beef-suet , and sugar , and one yolk of an egg beaten ; mix all well together , and make them into flat bowls , then fry them in beef-suet , and garnish your dish with sugar ; serve them always at the first course . 92. to bake a breast of veal . first , par-boyl it , and take out the long bones , and so lay it in a dish in vinegar two or three hours ; then take it out , and season it with pepper and salt , and so lay it into a thin fine paste , with good store of fine sweet herbs , finely chopt , and good store of butter , or marrow ; then bake it , then put in some juice of oranges , and sugar , and serve it hot . 93. to make a paste for all manner of tarts . take very sweet butter , and put into fair water , and make it boyl on the fire ; then take the finest flower you can get , and mix them well together , till it come to a paste , and so raise it ; but if you doubt that it will not be stiff enough , then you may mix some yolks of eggs with it , as you temper all your stuff together . 94. to make a baked pudding . grate a penny-loaf , and put thereto more suet than bread minc'd small , with some nutmeg and sugar , and two yolks of eggs , tempering it only with rose-water : then butter a little pewter dish in the bottom , and put your stuff after it is well tempered , thereinto , then bake it ; when 't is bak'd , stir it up from the bottom of the dish , and so turn the under-side uppermost , then strew some sugar upon it , and upon the brims of the dish , and serve it first to the table . 95. to boyl sparrows , larks , or other small birds . take a ladle-ful of strong mutton-broath , a little whole mace , and a handful of parsley ; put in a little winter-savoury , season it with verjuice , sugar , and a little pepper ; thicken it with a spoonful of cream , and the yolk of an egg. 96. to boyl a capon with asparagus . boyl your capon , or chicken in fair water , and some salt , then put in their bellies a little mace , chopped parsley , and sweet butter ; being boyled , serve them on sippets , and put a little of the broath on them : then have a bundle or two of asparagus boyled , put in beaten butter , and serve it on your capon , or chicken . 97. to boyl a chicken , or capon in white broath . first , boyl the capon in water and salt , then three pints of strong broath , and a quart of white-wine , and stew it in a pipkin with a quarter of a pound of dates , half a pound of fine sugar , four or five blades of large mace , the marrow of three marrow-bones , a handful of white endive ; stew these in a pipkin very leisurely , that it may but only simper , then being finely stewed , and the broath well tasted , strain the yolks of ten eggs with some of the broath , before you dish up the capons , or chickens , put the eggs into the broath , and keep it stirring , that it may not curdle , give it a walm , and set it from the fire ; the fowls being dish'd up , put on the broath , and garnish the meat with dates , marrow , large mace , endive , preserved barberries , oranges , boyled skirrets , pomgranats , and kernels . make a lear of almond-paste , and grape-verjuice . 98. to boyl a capon with sage and parsley . first , boyl it in water and salt , then boyl some parsley , sage , two or three eggs hard , and chop them ; then have a few thin slices of fine manchet , and stew all together , but break not the slices of bread ; stew them with some of the broath wherein the capon boyls , some large mace , butter , a little white-wine , or vinegar , with a few barberries , or grapes ; dish up the chickens on the sauce , and run them over with sweet butter and limon cut like dice , the peel being cut like small lard , and boyl a little peel with the chickens . 99. to fry rabbets with sweet sauce . cut your rabbet in pieces , wash it , and dry it well in a cloath , take some fresh butter , and fry the rabbet in it ; when your rabbet is little more than half fryed , take some slices shred very small , a quarter of a pint of cream , the yolks of a couple of eggs , some grated nutmeg and salt ; when the rabbet is enough , put them into the pan , and stir them all together ; take a little vinegar , fresh butter , and sugar , melt it together , and so serve it with sippets , the dish garnished with flowers , &c. 100. to make a french pottage , called skink . take a leg of beef , and chop it into three pieces , then boyl it in a pot with three pottles of spring-water , a few cloves , mace , and whole pepper ; after the pot is scumm'd put in a bundle of sweet marjoram , rosemary , thyme , winter-savoury , sage , and parsley , bound up hard , some salt , and two or three great onions whole , then about an hour before dinner put in three marrow-bones , and thicken it with some strained oatmeal , or manchet sliced and steeped with some gravy , strong broath , or some of the ●●tage , then a little before you dish up the ●●●nk , put into it a little fine powder of saffron , and give it a walm or two ; dish it on large slices of french bread , and dish the marrow-bones on them in a fine clean large dish ; then have two or three manchets cut into toasts , and being finely toasted ; lay on the knuckle of beef in the middle of the dish , the marrow-bones round about it , and the toasts round about the dish brim : serve it hot . 101. to make gooseberry-cream . first boyl , or you may preserve your gooseberries ; then having a clear cream boyled up , and seasoned with old cinamon , nutmeg , mace , sugar , rose-water , and eggs ; dish it up , and when it is cold , take up the gooseberries with a pin , and stick them on in rounds as thick as they can lye upon the said cream , garnishing your dish with them , and strew them over with the finest sugar , and serve them up . 102. to make a quaking-pudding . take a quart of sweet cream , and near half a pound of almonds blanched , and finely beaten ; then strain them ; and boyl it with large mace , and season it with rose-water and sugar ; then take ten eggs , and five of their whites well beaten with small cinamon , and two or three spoonfuls of flower ; mix all well together , and make it of the thickness of batter , then wet a cloath , and rub it with flower , tying your pudding round therein , and boyl it in beef-broath two hours ; take it up , and put a little white-wine , sugar , and sliced nutmeg into a pewter dish , and put your pudding into it ; then scrape some sugar on the brims , and serve it . 103. to make clouted cream . take new milk , and set it on the fire from morning till evening , but let it not boyl : and this is called , my lady youngs clouted cream . 104. to souce a young pig . scald a young pig , boyl it in fair water , and white-wine , put thereto some bay-leaves , whole ginger , and nutmegs quartered , and a few whole cloves , boyl it throughly , and let it lye in the same broath in an earthen pot . 105. to make polonian sausages . take the fillets of a hog , chop them very small with a handful of red sage , season it hot with ginger and pepper ; then put it into a great sheeps-gut , let it lye three nights in brine , then boyl it , and hang it up in a chimney where fire is usually kept : these sausages will keep a whole year , and are good for sallets , or to garnish boyled meats , or to relish a glass of wine . 106. to keep salmon fresh a whole moneth . first , boyl your salmon as usually , then put it into an earthen pot , and cover it in good white vinegar , putting thereto a branch of rosemary , and keep it very close covered ; and so you may keep it , that it will retain its perfect taste and delicacy for a moneth , or more . 107. to make tender and delicate brawn . put a collar of brawn in a kettle of water , and set it into an oven , as for houshold-bread , cover it close , and let it stand as long as you would do bread , and it will be very excellent brawn . 108. to keep powdered beef , after it is boyled , sweet five or six weeks . when your beef hath been powdered about a fortnight , then boyl it well , and dry it with a cloath , and wrap it in dry cloaths , and put it into some pot or vessel , and keep it close from the air , and it will keep sound two or three moneths . 109. to dress neats-tongues and vdders . when they are boyled enough in beef-broath , and scumm'd , you must have your turneps ready boyled , cut in pieces , and soak'd in butter , or else colliflowers and carrots , or all of them ; then put the turneps all over the bottom of a large dish , then slice out the tongues , and lay the sides one against another , slice the udders , and lay them between , opposite to one another ; garnish the colliflowers all over them , and the carrots up and down between the colliflowers , with barberries and parsley on the brim of the dish . 110. to make pannado . take a quart of running-water , and put it on the fire in a skillet , then cut a light roul of bread in slices , about the bigness of a groat , and as thin as wafers , lay it on a dish on a few coals , then put it into the water , with two handful of currans pick'd , and wash'd , a little large mace , when it is enough , season it with sugar and rose-water . 111. to make liver-puddings . take the guts of a young hog , wash them very clean , and lay them two or three days in water , take the liver of the same hog , and boyl it , till it will grate , then grate it very small and fine , take to the weight of the liver almost the weight of beef-suet , season it with salt , cloves , mace , and nutmeg finely beaten , a penny-loaf grated , a pound of the best white sugar , two pound of good currans , a pint of good cream , a quarter of a pint of rose-water , three eggs ; mix all together to such a thickness , that you may fill the guts , then prick them , and put them into boyling water , and keep an even fire for half a quarter of an hour ; then take them up , and lay them upon straw ; you must have a care not to tye them too hard , nor too slack , lest they break in boyling . 112. to make a rare citron-pudding . take a penny-loaf , and grate it , a pint and half of cream , half a dozen of eggs , one nutmeg sliced , a little salt , an ounce of candyed citron sliced small , a little candyed orange-peel sliced , three ounces of sugar ; put these into a wooden dish well flowred , and covered with a cloath , and when the water boyleth put it in , boyl it well , and serve it up with rose-water and sugar , and stick it with wafers , or blanched almonds . 113. to bake a gammon of bacon . water it fresh enough , and seeth it as tender as you may to handle it , then pull off the skin , and stuff it with parsley , penny-royal , thyme , marjoram , marigolds , camomile , and sage , chop them small , and season them with salt and pepper , cloves , small ra●sins , yolks of eggs hard roasted ; then stuff your bacon , and cut off the lean of the bacon , and mince it small , and take a handful of your stuffing , and mingle it with three or four yolks of raw eggs , and then put it upon the gammon , then close on the skin again , and close it in paste . 114. to boyl woodcocks , or snites . boyl them either in strong broath , or in water and salt , and being boyled , take out the guts , and chop them small with the liver , put to it some crumbs of grated white-bread , a little cock-broath , and some large mace ; stew them together with some gravy , then dissolve the yolks of two eggs in some wine-vinegar , and a little grated nutmeg ; and when you are ready to dish it , put in the eggs , and stir it among the sauce with a little butter ; dish them on sippets , and run the sauce over them with some beaten butter and capers , a limon minced small , barberries , or whole pickled grapes . 115. to make a made dish of apples . put on your skillet of water with some currans a boyling , then pare about a dozen of pippins , and cut them from the core into the said water ; when they are boyled tender pour them into a cullender , when the water is drained from them , put them into a dish , and season them , ( but stay till they are cold , lest it melt your sugar ) with sugar , rose-water , cinamon , and carraway-seeds , then roul out two sheets of paste , put one into the dish bottom , and all over the brims , then lay the apples in the bottom round and high , wet it round , and cover it with the other sheet , close it , and carve it about the brims of the dish as you please , prick it , and bake it , scrape sugar upon it , and serve it up . 116. to make a fool. set two quarts of cream over the fire , let it boyl , then take the yolks of twelve eggs , and beat them very well , with three or four spoonfuls of cold cream , and then strain the eggs in the skillet of hot cream , stirring it all the time to keep it from burning , then set it on the fire , and let it boyl a little while , but keep it still stirring , for fear of burning , then take it off , and let it stand and cool , then take two or three spoonfuls of sack , and put it in the dish , with four or five sippets , set the dish and sippets a drying , and when they be dry that they hang to the dish , sweeten the cream , and pour it into the dish softly , because the sippets shall not rise up ; this will make three dishes : when it is cold it is fit to be eaten . 117. to boyl flounders , or iacks , the best way . take a pint of white-wine , the tops of young thyme and rosemary , a little whole mace , a little whole pepper , seasoned with verjuice , salt , and a piece of sweet butter , and so serve it ; you may do fish in the same liquor three or four times . 118. to boyl a haunch of venison . first , stuff your venison with a handful of sweet herbs , and parsley minced , with a little beef-suet , and yolks of eggs boyled hard ; season your stuffing with pepper , nutmeg , ginger , and salt ; put your haunch of venison a boyling , being powdered before ; then boyl up three or four colliflowers in strong broath , and a little milk : when they are boyled , put them forth into a pipkin , add to them drawn butter , and keep them warm by the fire ; then boyl up two or three handfuls of spinage in the same liquor , when it is boyled up , pour out part of the broath , and put in a little vinegar , and a ladleful of sweet butter , and a grated nutmeg ; your dish being ready with sippets in the bottom , put on the spinage round toward your dish side ; then take up the venison , being boyled , and put it into the middle of your dish , and put in your colliflowers all over it , pour on your sweet butter over your colliflowers , and garnish it with barberries , and the brims of the dish with green parsley minced ; cabbage is as good , done in the same manner as colliflowers . 119. to make an eel-pye . wash , flea , and cut your eeels in pieces , put to them a handful of sweet herbs , parsley minced with an onion , season them with pepper , salt , cloves , mace , and nutmeg , and having your coffin made of good paste , put them in , and strew over them two handfuls of currans , and a limon cut in slices , then put on butter and close the pye ; when it is baked , put in at the funnel a little sweet butter , white-wine , and vinegar , beaten up with a couple of yolks of eggs. 120. to bake steaks , the french way . season the steaks with pepper , nutmeg , and salt lightly , and set them by ; then take a piece of the leanest of the leg of mutton , and mince it small with some beef-suet , and a few sweet herbs , as tops of thyme , and penny-royal , grated bread , yolks of eggs , sweet cream , raisins of the sun , &c. work all these together , and work it into little balls , or puddings , put them into a deep round pye on the steaks ; then put to them some butter , and sprinkle it with verjuice , close it up , and bake it , when it is enough cut it up , and liquor it with a juice of two or three oranges or limons . 121. to make a warden , or pear-pye . bake your wardens , or pears in an oven , with a little water , and good quantity of sugar , let your pot be covered with a piece of dough ; let them not be fully baked by a quarter of an hour ; when they are cold , make a high coffin , and put them in whole , adding to them some cloves , whole cinamon , sugar , with some of the liquor in the pot , so bake it . 122. to stew a trout . take a large trout fair trim'd , and wash it , put it into a deep pewter dish ; then take half a pint of sweet wine , with a lump of butter ; and a little whole mace , parsley , savoury , and thyme ; mince them all small , and put them into the belly of the trout , and so let it stew a quarter of an hour ; then mince the yolk of an hard egg , and strew it on the trout , lay the herbs about it , scrape on sugar , and serve it up . 123. to make sauce for pigeons . melt some vinegar and butter together , and roast some parsley in the belly of the fowl ; or else vine-leaves , and mix it well together , and pour it on . 124. a general sauce for wild-fowl . the most general sauce for wild fowl roasted ; as ducks , mallard , widgeon , teal , snipe , shel-drake , plovers , puets , and the like , is only mustard and vinegar , or mustard and verjuice mixed together ; or else an onion , water , and pepper . 125. to roast a cows vdder . boyl your udder very well , then stick it thick all over with cloves , and when it is cold spit it , and lay it on the fire , and baste it very well with sweet butter , and when it is sufficiently roasted and brown , draw it from the fire , and put some vinegar and butter on a chafing-dish of coals , and crumb in some white-bread , and boyl it till it be thick , then put to it good store of sugar and cinamon , and putting it into a clean dish , lay the cows udder therein , and trim the sides of the dish with sugar , and so serve it . 126. to make a spinage-tart . take of good spinage , and boyl it in white-wine , till it be very soft as pap ; then take it , and strain it well into a pewter dish , not leaving any unstrain'd : put to it rose-water , good store of sugar , cinamon , & rose-water , and boyl it till it be as thick as marmalade , then let it cool , and afterward fill your coffin , and adorn it , and serve it ; it will be of a green colour . 127. to make a tart of rice . pick your rice very clean , and boyl it in sweet cream till it be very soft , then let it stand and cool ; put to it good store of cinamon and sugar , and the yolks of a couple of eggs , and some currans ; stir and beat all well together : then having made a coffin as for other tarts , put your rice therein , and spread it all over the coffin , and break many small bits of sweet butter upon it all over , and scrape some sugar over it , then cover the tart and bake it , and serve it as other tarts . 128. to make a codling-tart . take green apples from the tree , and coddle them in scalding-water without breaking , then peel the thin skin from them , and so divide them into halves , and cut out the cores , and so lay them into the coffin , and do as in a pippin-tart , and before you cover it when the sugar is cast in , sprinkle good store of rose-water on it , then close it , and do as in the pippin-tart . 129. to make a pippin-tart . take of the fairest pippins , and pare them , and then divide them just in halves , and take out the cores clean ; then roul the coffin flat , and raise off a small verge , of an inch or more high ; lay the pippins with the hollow side down-ward , close one to another , then put in a few cloves , a stick of cinamon broken , and a little piece of butter ; cover all clean over with sugar , and so cover the coffin , and bake it as other tarts ; when it is bak'd boyl some butter and rose-water together , and annoint the lid all over with it , then scrape , or strew on it good store of sugar , and so set it in the oven again , and then serve it up . 130. to make a cherry-tart . take the fairest cherries you can get , and pick them clean from leaves and stalks , then spread out your coffin , as for your pippin-tart , and cover the bottom with sugar , then cover the sugar all over with cherries , then cover these cherries with sugar , some sticks of cinamon , and a few cloves ; then lay in more cherries , sugar , cinamon , and cloves , till the coffin be filled up , then cover it , and bake it in all points as the codling , and pippin tarts , and so serve it . in the same manner you may make tarts of gooseberries , strawberries , rasberries , bilberries , or any other berry whatsoever . 131. to make a minc'd-pye . take a leg of mutton , or a neats-tongue , and par-boyl it well , the mutton being cut from the bone , then put to it three pound of the best mutton-suet shred very small ; then spread it abroad , and season it with salt , cloves , and mace ; then put in good store of currans , great raisins , and pruans , clean washed , and pick'd , a few dates sliced , and some orange-peels sliced ; then being all well mixt together , put it into a coffin , or many coffins , and so bake them , and when they are served up open the lids , and strew store of sugar on the top of the meat , and upon the lid. 132. to make a calves-foot-pye . boyl your calves-feet very well , and then pick all the meat from the bones , when it is cold , shred it as small as you can , and season it with cloves and mace , and put in good store of currans , raisins , and pruans ; then put it into the coffin with good store of sweet butter , then break in whole sticks of cinamon , and a nutmeg sliced , and season it with salt then close up the coffin , and only leave a vent-hole , put in some liquor made of verjuice , sugar , cinamon , and butter boyled together , and so serve it . 133. to make a tansey . take a certain number of eggs , according to the bigness of your frying-pan , and break them into a dish , taking away the white of every third egg , then with a spoon take away the little white chicken-knots , that stick upon the yolks , then with a little cream beat them very well together ; then take of green wheat-blades , violet-leaves , strawberry-leaves , spinage , and succory , of each a like quantity , and a few walnut-tree-buds ; chop and beat all these very well , and then strain out the juice ; mix it then with a little more cream , put to it the eggs , and stir all well together ; then put in a few crumbs of fine grated bread , cinamon , nutmeg , and salt ; then put some sweet butter into a frying-pan , and as soon as it is melted , put in the tansey , and fry it brown without burning , and with a dish turn it in the pan as occasion shall serve , strew good store of sugar on it , and serve it up . 134. to stew a pike . after your pike is drest and opened in the back , and laid flat , as if it were to fry , then lay it in a large dish , put to it white-wine to cover it ; set it on the coals , and let it boyl gently , if scum arise , take it off , then put to it currans , sugar , cinamon , barberries , as many pruans as will garnish the dish , then cover it close with another dish , and let it stew till the fruit be soft , and the pike enough , then put to it a good piece of sweet butter ; with your scummer take up the fish , and lay it in a dish with sippets ; then take a couple of yolks only , of eggs , and beat them together well with a spoonful of cream , and as soon as the pike is taken out , put it into the broath , and stir it exceedingly to keep it from curdling , then pour the broath upon the pike , and trim the sides of the dish with sugar , pruans , and barberries , with slices of oranges and limons , and so serve it up . 135. to roast venison . if you will roast any venison , after you have wash'd it , and cleansed all the blood from it , you must stick it with cloves all over on the out-side , and if it be lean , lard it either with mutton , or pork-lard , but mutton is best ; then spit it , and roast it by a soaking fire , then take vinegar , crumbs of bread , and some of the gravy that comes from the venison , and boyl them well in a dish , then season it with sugar , cinamon , ginger , and salt , and serve the venison upon the sauce when it is roasted enough . 136. to roast a piece of fresh sturgeon . stop your sturgeon with cloves , then spit it , and let it roast very leisurely , basting it continually , which will take away the hardness ; when it is enough , serve it upon venison-sauce , with salt only thrown upon it . 137. to boyl a gurnet , or roch. first , draw your fish , and then either split it , or joynt it open in the back , and truss it round ; then wash it clean , and boyl it in water and salt , with a bunch of sweet herbs ; then take it up into a large dish , and pour into it verjuice , nutmeg , butter , and pepper ; after it hath stewed a little , thicken it with the yolks of eggs ; then remove it hot into another dish , and garnish it with slices of oranges and limons , barberries , pruans , and sugar , and so serve it up , 138. to make a carp-pye . after you have drawn , wash'd and scalded a fair large carp , season it with pepper , salt , and nutmeg , and then put it into a coffin , with good store of sweet butter , and then cast on raisins of the sun , the juice of limons , and some slices of orange-peels , and then sprinkling on a little vinegar , close it up , and bake it . 139. to make a chicken-pye . after you have trust your chickens , then break their legs and breast-bones , and raise your crust of the best paste , lay them in a coffin close together , with their bodies full of butter , then lay upon them , and underneath them , currans , great reasons , pruans , cinamon , sugar , whole mace and sugar , whole mace and salt ; then cover all with good store of butter , and so bake it ; then pour into it white-wine , rose-water , sugar , cinamon , and vinegar mixt together , with the yolks of two or three eggs beaten amongst it , and so serve it . 140. to make almond-cream . take blanched almonds beaten in a mortar very small , putting in now and then one spoonful of cream to keep them from oyling ; then boyl as much cream as you please with your beaten almonds , together with a blade of mace , and season it with sugar ; then strain it , and stir it , till it be almost cold , and then let it stand till you serve it , and then garnish your dish with fine sugar scraped thereon . 141. to make an almond-pudding . take two pound of blanched almonds , and beat them small , put thereto some rose-water and amber-greece often thereinto as you beat them ; then season them with nutmeg and sugar , and mix them with grated bread , beef-suet , and two eggs , and so put it into a dish , tying a cloath round about , and so boyl it . 142. to make water-gruel . take a pottle of water , a handful of great oatmeal , pickt and beat in a mortar , put it in boyling ; when it is half enough , put to it two handfuls of currans washed , a faggot or two of sweet herbs , four or five blades of large mace , and a little sliced nutmeg , let a grain of musk be infused a while in it ; when it is enough , season it with sugar and rose-water , and put to it a little drawn butter . 143. to stew sausages . boyl them a little in fair water and salt , and for sa●c● , boyl some currans alone ; when they be almost tender , pour out the water from them , and put to them a little white-wine , butter , and sugar , and so serve it . 144. to make a rare fricacie . take young rabbits , young chickens , or a rack of lamb , being cut one rib from another , and par-boyl either of these well in a frying-pan with a little water and salt , then pour the water and salt from it , and fry it with sweet butter , and make sauce with three yolks of eggs beaten well , with six spoonfuls of verjuice , and a little shred parsley , with some sliced nutmeg , and scalded gooseberries ; when it is fryed , pour in the sauce all over the meat , and so let it thicken a little in the pan ; then lay it in a dish with the sauce , and serve it . 145. to make an oatmeal-pudding . take a pint of milk , and put to it a pint of large , or midling oatmeal , let it stand on the fire till it be scalding hot , then let it stand by , and soak about half an hour , then pick a few sweet herbs , and shred them , and put in half a pound of currans , and half a pound of suet , and about two spoonfuls of sugar , and three or four eggs ; these put into a bag , and boyled , do make a very good pudding . 146. to make an almond-tart . raise an excellent good paste with six corners , an inch deep ; then take some blanched almonds very finely beaten with rose-water , take a pound of sugar to a pound of almonds , some grated nutmeg , a little cream , with strain'd spinage , as much as will colour the almonds green , so bake it with a gentle heat in an oven , not shutting the door ; draw it , and stick it with candyed orange , citron , and put in red and white muskadine . 147. to boyl pigeons with rice . boyl your pigeons in mutton-broath , putting sweet-herbs in their bellies ; then take a little rice , and boyl it in cream with a little whole mace , season it with sugar , lay it thick on their breasts , wringing also the juice of a limon upon them , and so serve them . 148. to barrel up oysters . open your oysters , take the liquor from them , and mix it with a reasonable quantity of the best white-wine-vinegar , with a little salt and pepper ; then put the oysters into a small barrel , and fill them up with this pickle , and this will keep them six moneths sweet and good , and with their natural taste . 149. to make a cowslip-tart . take the blossoms of a gallon of cowslips , mince them exceeding small , and beat them in a mortar , put to them a handful or two of grated naple-bisket , and about a pint and a half of cream ; boyl them a little on the fire , then take them off , and beat in eight eggs with a little cream ; if it do not thicken , put it on the fire till it doth , gently , but take heed it curdles not ; season it with sugar , rose-water , and a little salt : bake it in a dish , or little open tarts ; it is best to let your cream be cold before you stir in the eggs. 150. to bake a calves-head , to be eaten cold . you must half-boyl a fair calves-head , then take out all the bones on both sides , and season it with the afore-said seasoning , and lard it with bacon , and a little limon-peel ; then having a coffin large enough , not very high , nor very thick , but make it four-square , lay on some sheets of lard on the top , and butter ; when it is bak'd , and cold , fill it with clarified butter . 151. to make pear-puddings . take a cold capon , or half roasted , which is much better ; then take suet shred very small , the meat and suet together , with half as much grated bread , two spoonfuls of flower , nutmegs , cloves , and mace ; sugar as much as you please , half a pound of currans , the yolks of two eggs , and the white of one , and as much cream as will make it up into a stiff paste : then make it up in fashion of a pear , a stick of cinamon for the stalk , and the head of a clove . 152. to make a hotch-pot . take a piece of brisket beef , a piece of mutton , a knuck●e of veal , a good cullender of pot-herbs , half minced carrots , onions , and cabbage a little broken ; boyl all these together untill they be very thick . 153. to make a tart of medlars . take medlars that are rotten , then scrape them , and set them upon a chafing-dish of coals , season them with the yolks of eggs , sugar , cinamon , and ginger ; let it boyl well , and lay it on paste , scrape on sugar , and serve it . 154. to make a limon●caudle . take a pint of white-wine , and a pint of water , and let it boyl , put to it half a manchet , cut as thin and small as you can , put it in with some large mace ; then beat the yolks of two eggs to thicken it , then squeeze in the juice of half a dozen limons , and season it with sugar and rose-water . 155. to make an italian pudding . take a fine manchet , and cut it in small pieces like dice , then put to it half a pound of beef-suet minced small , raisins of the sun , cloves , mace , dates minced , sugar , marrow , rose-water , eggs , and cream ; mingle all these together , put them in a butter'd dish ; in less than an hour it will be well baked , when it s enough , scrape on sugar , and serve it up . 156. to make a rare pudding , to be bak'd or boyled . beat a pound of almonds as small as possible , put to them some rose-water and cream as oft as you beat them ; then take one pound of beef-suet finely minced , with five yolks of eggs , and but two of their whites ; make it as thin as b●tter for fritters , mixing it with sweet thick cream , seasoning it with beaten mace , sugar , and salt ; then set it into the oven in a pewter dish , and when you draw it forth , strew some sugar on the top of your pudding , and garnish your dish with sugar , and serve it always first to the table . 157. to make a gooseberry-custard . when you have cut off the sticks and eyes of your gooseberries , and wash'd them , then boyl them in water till they will break in a spoon , then strain them , and beat half a dozen eggs , and stir them together upon a chafing-dish of coals with some rose water , then sweeten it very well with sugar , and always serve it cold . 158. to make a fricacie of rabbits . cut your rabbits in small pieces , and mince a handful of thyme and parsley together , and season your rabbits with a nutmeg , pepper , and salt ; then take two eggs and verjuice beaten together , then throw it in the pan , stick it , and dish it up in sippets . 159. to make cracknels . take five or six pints of the finest wheat-flower you can get , to which put in a spoonful , and not more , of good yeast ; then mingle it well with butter , cream , and rose-water , and sugar finely beaten , and working it well into paste , make it into what form you please , and bake it . 160. to make pancakes . put eight eggs to two quarts of flower , casting by four whites , season it with cinamon , nutmeg , ginger , cloves , mace , and salt ; then make it up into a strong b●tter with milk , beat it well together , and put in half a pint of sack , make it so th●n , that it may run in your pan how you please , put your pan on the fire with a little butter , or suet , when it is very hot , take a cloath and wipe it out , so make your pan very clean , then put in your batter , and run it very thin , supply it with little bits of butter , so toss it often , and bake it crisp and brown . 161. to make a iunket . take ewes , or goats-milk , or for want of these , cows-milk , and put it over the fire to warm , then put in a little runnet , then pour it out into a dish , and let it cool , then strew on some cinamon and sugar , and take some of your cream and lay on it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . 162. to make excellent marrow-spinage-pasties . take spinage , and chop it a little , then boyl it till it be tender ; then make the best rich light crust you can , and roul it out , and put a little of your spinage into it , and currans , and sugar , and store of lump of marrow ; clap the paste over this to make little pasties deep within , and fry them with clarified butter . 163. to make a pine-apple-tart . beat two handfuls of pine-apples with a prick'd quince , and the pulp of two or three pippins ; when they are well beaten , put to them half a pint of cream , a little rose-water , the yolks of six eggs , with a handful of sugar , if it be thick , add a litte more cream to it , so having your thin low coffins for it dryed , fill them up , and bake them ; you may garnish them with orangado , or lozenges of sugar-plate , or what else you please . 164. to dry neats-tongues . take bay-salt beaten very fine , and salt-petre , of each alike , and rub over your tongues very well with that , and cover all over with it , and as it wastes put on more , and when they are very hard and stiff they are enough ; then roul them in bran , and dry them before a soft fire , and before you boyl them , let them lye one night in pump-water , and boyl them in the same water . 165. to stew birds , the lady butlers way . take small birds , pick them , and cut off their legs , fry them in sweet butter , lay them in a cloath to dry up the butter ; then take oysters , and mince them , and put them in a dish , put to them white-wine and cinamon , put in the birds wi●h cloves , mace , and pepper ; let all these stew together covered till they be enough , then put into it some sugar , and some toasted manchet , and put it in the dish , and so serve it up to the table . 166. to make a sweet-pye , with lamb-stones , and sweetbreads , and sugar . slit the lamb-stones in the middle , and skin them , wash the sweetbreads , both of veal and lamb , and wipe them very dry ; take the lambs liver , and shred it very small , take the udder of a leg of veal , and slice it ; season all with a little salt , nutmeg , mace , and cloves beaten , and some whole pepper ; then shred two or three pippins and candyed limon and orange-peel , half a dozen dates sliced , with currans , white sugar , a few carraway-seeds , a quarter of a pint of verjuice , and as much rose-water , a couple of eggs ; roul up all these together in little puddings , or balls made green with the juice of spinage , and lay a pudding , then a sweetbread , then a lamb-stone , till you have filled up the pye , and cover them with dates , and sliced citron , and limon . when it is drawn , take two or three yolks of eggs , beat them , and put to them a little fresh butter , white-wine and sugar , and pour it into the tunnel , scrape some loaf-sugar upon the lid , and so serve it . 167. to roast eels . when they are flea'd , cut them to pieces , about three or four inches long , dry them , and put them into a dish , mince a little thyme , two onions , a piece of limon-peel , a little pepper beaten small , nutmeg , mace , and salt ; when it is cut exceeding small , strew it on the eels , with the yolks of two or three eggs ; then having a small spit ( or else a couple of square sticks made for that purpose ) spit through the eels cross-ways , and put a bay-leaf between every piece of eel , and tying the sticks on a spit , let them roast ; you need not turn them constantly , but let them stand till they hiss , or are brown , and so do them on the other side , and put the dish ( in which the eel was with the seasoning ) underneath , to save the gravy ; baste it over with sweet butter . the sauce must be a little claret-wine , some minced oysters , with their liquor , a grated nutmeg , and an onion , with sweet butter , and so serve it . 168. to boyl cocks , or larks . boyl them with the guts in them in strong broath , or fair water , and three or four whole onions , large mace , and salt ; the cocks being boyled , make sauce with some thin slices of manchet , or grated bread in another pipkin , and some of the broath where the fowl , or the co●ks boyl ; then put to it some butter , and the guts and liver minced ; then take some yolks of eggs dissolved with vinegar , and some grated nutmeg ; put it to the other ingredients , stir them together , and dish the fowl in fine sippets , pour on the sauce with some sliced limon , grapes , or barberries , and run it over with beaten butter . 169. to broyl oysters . lake the biggest oysters you can get , then take a little minced thyme , grated nutmeg , grated bread , and a little salt , put this to the oysters ; then get some of the largest bottom-shells , and place them on the grid-iron , and put two or three oysters in each shell , then put some butter to them , and let them simper on the fire till the liquor bubbles low , supplying it still with butter ; when they are crisp , feed them with white-wine and a little of their own liquor , with a little grated bread , nutmeg , and minced thyme , but as much only as to relish it , so let it boyl up again ; then add some drawn butter to thicken them , and dish them . 170. to pickle oysters . take a quart of the largest great oysters with the liquor , wash them clean , and wipe them , add to them a pint of fair water , and half a pint of white-wine-vinegar , half an ounce of whole pepper , an handful of salt , a quarter of an ounce of large mace , with the liquor of the oysters strained ; put all together in a pipkin over a soft fire , let them simper together a quarter of an hour ; when the oysters are enough , take them up , and put them into a little fair water and vinegar till they be cold ; let the pickle boyl a quarter of an hour after the oysters are taken up ; both being cold , put them up together : when you use them , garnish the dish with barberries and limon , and a little of the mace and pepper , and pour in some of the pickle . 171. to make english pottage . make it with beef , mutton , and veal , putting in some oatmeal , and good pot-herbs , as parsley , sorrel , violet-leaves , and a very little thyme , and sweet marjoram , scarce to be tasted , and some marigold-leaves at last ; you may begin to boyl it over-night , and let it stand warm all night , and make an end of boyling it next morning ; it is good to put into the pot at first twenty or thirty corns of whole pepper . 172. to stew beef . take very good beef , and slice it very thin , and beat it with the back of a knife , put to it the gravy of some meat , and some wine , and strong broath , sweet herbs a quantity ; let it stew till be very tender , season it to your liking ; and varnish your dish with marygold-flowers , or barberries . 173. to make excellent minced-pyes . par-boyl neats-to●gues , then peel and hash them with as much as they weigh of beef-suet and stoned raisins , and pickt currans ; chop all exceeding small , that it be like pap ; employ therein at least an hour more than ordinarily is used , then mingle a very little sugar with them , and a little wine , and thrust in up and down some thin slices of green candyed citron-peel ; and put this into coffins of fine , light , well reared crust ; half an hours baking will be enough : if you strew a few carraway comfits on the top , it will not be amiss . 174. to pickle roast-beef , chine , or surloin . stuff any of the afore-said beef with penny-royal , or other sweet herbs , or parsley minced small , and some salt ; prick in here and there a few whole cloves , and roast it ; then take claret-wine , wine-vinegar , whole pepper , rosemary , bays , and thyme bound up close in a bundle , and boyled in some claret-wine , and wine-vinegar ; make the pickle , and put some salt to it , and pack it up in a barrel that will but just hold it , put the pickle to it , close it on the head , and keep it for your use. 175. to make a double-tart . peel codlings tenderly boyled , cut them in halves , and fill your tart ; put into it a quarter of a hundred of codlings , a pound and half of sugar , a few cloves , and a little cinamon ; close up the coffin and bake it . when it comes out , cut off the lid , and having a lid cut in flowers ready , lay it on , and garnish it with preserves of damsons , rasberries , apricots , and cherries , and place a preserved quince in the middle , and strew it with sugar-biskets . 176. to make a warden , or pear-pye . bake your wardens , or pears in an oven , with a little water , and good quantity of sugar ; let your pot be covered with a piece of dough , let them not be fully baked by a quarter of an hour ; when they are cold , make a high coffin , and put them in whole , adding to them some cloves , whole cinamon , sugar , with some of the liquor they were baked in , so bake it . 177. to bake a pig , court-fashion . flea a small young pig , cut it in quarters , or in smaller pieces , season it with pepper , ginger , and salt , lay it into a fit coffin , strip , and mince small a handful of parsley , six springs of winter-savoury , strew it on the meat in the pye , and strew upon that the yolks of three or four hard eggs minced , and lay upon them five or six blades of mace , a handful of clusters of barberries , a handful of currans well washt and pickt , a little sugar , half a pound of sweet butter , or more ; close your pye , and set it in an oven as hot as for manchet , and in three hours it will be well baked ; draw it forth , and put in half a pound of sugar , being warmed upon the fire , pour it all over the meat , and put on the pye-lid again , scrape on sugar , and serve it hot to the table . 178. to make a pudding of hogs-liver . boyl your liver , and grate it , put to it more grated bread than liver , with as much fine flower , as of either , put twelve eggs , to the value of a gallon of this mixture , with about two pound of beef-suet minced small , and a pound and half of currans , half a quarter of a pint of rose-water , a good quantity of cloves and mace , nutmeg , cinamon , and ginger , all minced very small ; mix all these with sweet milk and cream , and let it be no thicker than fritter-batter ; to fill your hogs-guts , you make it with the maw , fit to be eaten hot at table ; in your knitting , or tying the guts , you must remember to give them three or four inches scope : in your putting them into boyling-water , you must handle them round , to bring the meat equal to all parts of the gut ; they will ask about half an hours boyling , the boyling must be sober , if the wind ri●e in them , you must be ready to prick them , or else they will flye , and burst in pieces . 179. olives of beef stewed and roasted . take a buttock of beef , and cut some of it into thin slices as broad as your hand , then hack them with the back of a knife , lard them with small lard , and season them with pepper , salt , and nutmeg ; then make a farsing with some sweet herbs , thyme , onions , the yolks of hard eggs , beef-suet , or lard , all minced , some salt , barberries , grapes , or gooseberries ; season it with the former spices lightly , and work it up together ; then lay it on the slices , and roul them up round with some caul of veal , beef , or mutton , bake them in a dish in the oven , or roast them ; then put them in a pipkin with some butter and saffron , or none ; blow off the fat from the gravy , and put it to them , with some artichoaks , potato , or skir●ets blanched , being first boyled , a little claret-wine , and serve them on sippets , with some slic'd orange , limon , barberries , grapes , or gooseberries . 180. to make a french-barley-posset . put two quarts of milk to half a pound of french-barley , boyl it small till it is enough ; when the milk is almost boyled away , put to it three pints of good cream , let it boyl together a quarter of an hour ; then sweeten it , and put in mace and cinamon in the beginning when you first put in your cream ; when you have done so , take white-wine a pint , or sack and white-wine together , of each half a pint , sweeten it as you love it , with sugar , pour in all the cream , but leave your barley behind in the skillet ; this will make an excellent posset , nothing else but a tender curd to the bottom ; let it stand on the coals half a quarter of an hour . 181. to bake chucks of veal . par-boyl two pound of the lean flesh of a leg of veal , mince it as small as grated bread , with four pound of beef-suet ; then season it with biskay , dates , and carraways , and some rose-water , sugar , raisins of the sun , and currans , cloves , mace , nutmegs , and cinamon , mingle them altogether , fill your pyes , and bake them . 182. how to stew a mallard . roast your mallard half enough , then take it up , and cut it in little pieces ; then put it into a dish with the gravy , and a piece of fresh butter , and a handful of parsley chopt small , with two or three onions , and a cabbage-lettuce ; let them stew one hour , then season it with pepper and salt , and a little verjuice , and so serve it . 183. to stew a rabbit . half-roast it , then take it off the spit , and cut it into little pieces , and put it into a dish with the gravy , and as much liquor as will cover it ; then put in a piece of fresh butter , and some powder and ginger , pepper and salt , two or three pippins minced small ; let these stew an hour , and dish them upon sippets , and serve it . 184. to make a pigeon-pye . truss your pigeons to bake , and set them , and lard the one half of them with bacon , mince a few sweet herbs and parsley with a little beef-suet , the yolks of hard eggs , and an onion or two , season it with salt , beaten pepper , cloves , mace , and nutmeg ; work it up with a piece of butter , and stuff the bellies of the pigeons , season them with salt and pepper , as before : take also as many lamb-stones seasoned as before , with six collops of bacon , the salt drawn out ; then make a round coffin and put in your pigeons , and if you will , put in lamb-stones and sweetbreads , and some artichoak-bottoms , or other dry meat to soak up the juice , because the pye will be very sweet , and full of it ; then put a little white-wine beaten up with the yolk of an egg , when it comes out of the oven , and so serve it . 185. to stew a fillet of beef , the italian fashion . take a young tender fillet of beef , and take away all the skins and sinews clean from it , put to it some good white-wine in a boul , wash it , and crush it well in the wine ; then strew upon it a little pepper , and as much salt as will season it ; mingle them very well , and put to it as much wine as will cover it , lay a trencher upon it to keep it down in a close pan , with a weight on it , and let it steep two nights and a day ; then take it out , and put it into a pipkin with some good beef-broath , but none of the pickle to it , but only beef-broath , and that sweet , and not salt ; cover it close , and set it on the embers , then put to it a few whole cloves and mace , and let it stew till it be enough ; it will be very tender , and of an excellent taste : serve it with the same broath as much as will cover it . 186. to boyl a capon , or chicken with several compositions . you must take off the skin whole , but leave on the legs , wings , and head ; mince the body with some beef-suet , or lard , put to it some sweet herbs minced , and season it with cloves , mace , pepper , salt , two or three eggs , grapes , gooseberries or barberries , bits of potato or mushromes ; in the winter , with sugar , currans , and pruans : fill the skin , prick it up , and stew it between two dishes , with large mace , and strong broath , pieces of artichoaks , cardones , or asparagus and marrow ; being finely stewed , serve it on carved sippets , and run it over with beaten butter , limon sliced , and scrape on sugar . 187. to broyl a leg of pork . cut your pork into slices very thin , having first taken off the skinny part of the fillet , then hack it with the back of your knife , then mince some thyme and sage exceeding small , and mingle it with pepper and salt , and therewith season your collops , and then lay them on the grid-iron ; when they are enough , make sauce for them with butter , vinegar , mustard , and sugar , and so serve them . 188. to make a fricacie of patridges . after you have trussed your patridges , roast them till they are almost enough , and then cut them to pieces ; then having chopped an onion very small , fry them therewith ; then put to them half a pint of gravy , two or three anchovies , a little bread grated , some drawn butter , and the yolks of two or three eggs beaten up with a little white-wine ; let them boyl till they come to be pretty thick , and so dish them up . 189. to bake calves-feet . you must season them with pepper , salt , and currans , and then bake them in a pye ; when they are baked ; take the yolks of three or four eggs , and beat them with verjuice , or vinegar , sugar , and grated nutmeg ; put it into your pye , then scrape on sugar , and so serve it . 190. to fry neats-tongues . first , boyl them , and after blanch them , and then cut them into thin slices ; season them with nutmeg , sugar , cinamon , put to them the yolks of raw eggs , and a limon cut into little square pieces , then fry them in spoonfuls with sweet butter ; make your sauce with white-wine , sugar , and butter , heat it hot , and pour it on your tongues , scrape sugar on it , and serve it . 191. to roast a hare . when you case your hare , do not cut off his hinder legs , or ears , but hack one leg through another , and so also cut a hole through one ear , and put it through the other , and so roast him ; make your sauce with the liver of the hare boyled , and minced small with a little marjoram , thyme , and winter-savoury , and the yolks of thre or four hard eggs , with a little bacon and beef-suet ; boyl this all up with water and vinegar , and then grate a little nutmeg , and put to it some sweet butter , and a little sugar ; dish your hare , and serve it . this may also serve for rabbits . 192. to roast a shoulder of mutton with oysters . par-boyl your oysters , then mince winter-savoury , thyme , parsley , and the yolks of five or six hard eggs , hard boyled ; add to these a half-penny loaf of grated bread , and three or four yolks of eggs ; mingle all these together with your hands , when you have spitted your mutton , make holes in it as big as you think convenient ; put in your oysters , with the other ingredients , about twenty five , or thirty oysters will be enough , let it roast indifferent long , then take the remainder of a quart of oysters , for you must have so many in all , and put them into a deep dish with claret-wine , two or three onions cut in halves , and two or three anchovies ; put all this in the dripping-pan under your mutton , and save your gravy , and when the meat is enough , put your sauce upon the coals , and put to it the yolk of an egg beaten , grated nutmeg , and sweet butter ; dish your mutton , and pour in your oysters , sauce and all upon it , garnishing your dish with limons and barberries . 193. a rare broath . take a couple of cocks , and cut off their wings and legs , and wash them clean , and par-boyl them very well , till there rise no scum , then wash them again in fair water ; then put them in a pitcher with a pint of rhenish wine , and some strong broath , as much as will cover them , together with a little china-root , an ounce or two of harts-horn , with a few cloves , nutmeg , large mace , ginger shred , and whole pepper , and a little salt ; stop up your pitcher close , that no steam may come out ; boyl the pitcher in a great pot of water about six hours , then pour out the broath , and strain it into a bason , and squeeze into it the juice of two or three limons , and so eat it . 194. to bake sweetbreads . boyl your sweetbreads , and put to them the yolks of two eggs , new laid , grated bread , with some par-boyled currans , and three or four dates minced ; and when you have seasoned it lightly with pepper , sugar , nutmeg , and salt , put to it the juice of a limon ; put up all these together into puff-paste , and so bake it . 195. to make pottage of french-barley . pick your barley very clean from dirt , and dust , then boyl some milk , and put it in while it boyls ; when it is well boyled , put in a little salt , sugar , large mace , and a little cream ; and when you have boyl'd it pretty thick , dish it , and serve it up with sugar scraped thereon . 196. to boyl a hanch of venison . first , stuff your venison with a handful of sweet herbs and parsley minced with a little beef-suet , and some yolks of eggs boyled hard ; season your stuffing with nutmeg , salt , and ginger ; having powdered your hanch , boyl it , afterwards boyl up two or three colliflowers in strong broath , adding to it a little milk ; when they are boyled , put them into a pipkin , and put to them drawn butter , keeping them warm ; then boyl up two or three handfuls of spinage in the same liquor ; when it is boyled up , pour out part of your broath , and put to it a little vinegar , a ladle-ful of sweet butter , and a grated nutmeg ; your dish being ready with sippets on the bottom , put the spinage round the sides of your dish ; when the venison is boyled , take it up , and put it in the middle of the dish , lay your colliflowers over it , pour on sweet butter over that , garnish it with barberries , and some parsley minced round the brims of the dish . 197. to make a florentine of sweet-breads , or kidneys . take three or four kidneys , or sweet-breads , and when they are par-boyled , mince them small ; season it with a little cinamon and nutmeg , sweeten it with sugar and a little grated bread , with the marrow of two or three marrow-bones in good big pieces , add to these about a quarter of a pound of almond-paste , and about half a pint of malaga sack , two spoonfuls of rose-water , and musk and amber-greece , of each a grain , with a quarter of a pint of cream , and three or four eggs ; mix all together , and make it up in puss-paste , then bake it ; in three quarters of an hour it will be enough . 198. to stew a rump of beef . season your beef with some nutmeg grated , together with some salt and pepper , season it on the bony side , and lay it in the pipkin with the fat side downward ; then take two or three great onions , and a bunch of rosemary tyed up together with three pints of elder-vinegar , and three pints of water ; stew all these three or four hours together in a pipkin , close covered over a soft fire ; dish it upon sippets , blowing off the fat from the gravy , put some of the gravy to the beef , and serve it up . 199. to make pottage of a capon . take beef and mutton , and cut it into pieces ; then boyl a large earthen pot ot water , take out half the water , put in your meat , and skim it , and when it boyls season it with pepper and salt ; when it hath boyled about two hours , add four or five cloves , half an hour before you think it is enough , put in your herbs , sorrel , purslain , burrage , lettuce , and bugloss , or green pease ; and in the winter , parsley-roots , and white endive ; pour the broath upon light bread toasted , and stew it a while in the dish covered . if your water consume in boyling , fill it up with water boyling hot . the less there is of the broath , the better it is , though it be but a porringer-full , for then it would be as stiff as jelly when it is cold . 200. to make a pye with pippins . pare your pippins , and cut out the cores ; then make your coffin of crust , take a good handful of quinces sliced , and lay at the bottom , then lay your pippins a top , and fill the holes where the core was taken out with syrup of quinces , and put into every pippin a piece of orangado , then pour on the top syrup of quinces , then put in sugar , and so close it up ; let it be very well baked , for it will ask much soaking● especially the quinces . 201. to boyl pigeons , the dutch way . lard , and set your pigeons , put them into a pipkin , with some strong broath made of knuckles of veal , mutton , and beef , let them be close covered , and when they are scumm'd , put in a faggot of sweet herbs , a handful of capers , and a little large mace , with a few raisins of the sun minced very small , about six dates quartered , a piece of butter , with two or three yolks of hard eggs minced , with a handful of grapes , or barberries ; then beat two yolks of eggs with verjuice and some white-bread , a ladle-full of sweet butter , and a grated nutmeg ; serve it upon sippets . 202. to make excellent black-puddings . beat half a score eggs , the yolks and whites together very well ; then take about a quart of sheeps-blood , and as much cream ; when you have stirred all this well together , thicken it with grated bread , oatmeal finely beaten , of each a like quantity ; add to these some marrow in little lumps , and a little beef-suet shred small , season it with nutmeg , cloves , mace mingled with salt , a little sweet marjoram , thyme , and penny-royal shred very well together ; mingle all together , put to them a few currans , cleanse your guts very well , fill them , and boyl them carefully . 203. to make a pye of neats-tongues . par-boyl a couple of neats-tongues , then cut out the meat at the root-end as far as you can , not breaking it out at the sides ; take the meat you cut out , and mingle it with a little suet , a little parsley , and a few sweet herbs , cut all very small , and mingled together ; season all this with ginger , cloves , mace , pepper , salt , and a little grated bread , and as much sugar , together with the yolks of three or four eggs ; make this up together , and season your tongues , in-side , and out-side , with your seasoning afore-said , and wash them within with the yolk of an egg , and force them where you cut forth the meat , and what remains make into a sorc'd ; then make your paste into the fashion of a neats-tongue , and lay them in with puddings , and little balls , then put to them limon and dates shred , and butter on the top , and close it ; when it is baked , put in a lear of the venison-sauce , which is claret-wine , vinegar , grated bread , cinamon , ginger , sugar , boyl it up thick , that it may run like butter , and let it be sharp and sweet , and so serve it . 204 , to stew a breast , or loyn of mutton . joynt either your loyn or breast of mutton well , draw it , and stuff it with sweet herbs , and parsley minced ; then put it in a deep stewing-dish with the right side downward , put to it so much white-wine and strong broath as will stew it , set it on the coals , put to it two or three onions , a bundle of sweet herbs , and a little large mace ; when it is almost stewed , take a handful of spinage , parsley , and endive , and put into it , or else some gooseberries and grapes ; in the winter time , samphire and capers ; add these at any time : dish up your mutton , and put by the liquor you do not use , and thicken the other with yolks of eggs and sweet butter , put on the sauce and the herbs over the meat ; garnish your dish with limon and barberries . 205. to make a sallet of green pease . cut up as many green pease as you think will make a sallet , when they are newly come up about half a foot high ; then set your liquor over the fire , and let it boyl , and then put them in ; when they are boyled tender put them out , and drain them very well ; then mince them , and put in some good sweet butter , salt it , and stir it well together , and so serve it . 206. to make a sallet of fennel . cut your fennel while it is young , and about four fingers high , tye it up in bunches like asparagus ; gather enough for your sallet , and put it in when your water is boyling hot , boyl it soft , drain it , dish it up with butter , as the green pease . 207. to make a tansie of spinage . take a quart of cream , and about twenty eggs , without the whites , add to it sugar and grated nutmeg , and colour it green with the juice of spinage ; then put it in your dish , and squeeze a limon or two on it ; garnish it with slices of orange , then strew on sugar , and so serve it . 208. to make a hash of a duck. when your ducks are roasted , take all the flesh from the bones , and hash it very thin ; then put it into your stewing-pan with a little gravy , strong broath , and claret-wine , put to it an onion or two minced very small , and a little small pepper ; let all this boyl together with a little salt , then put to them about a pound of sausages , when you think they are ready , stir them with a little butter drawn : garnish it with limon , and serve it . 209. to make french puffs with green herbs . take a quantity of endive , parsley , and spinage , and a little winter-savoury , and when you have minc'd them exceeding small , season them with sugar , ginger , and nutmeg ; beat as many eggs as you think will wet your herbs , and so make it up ; then pare a limon and cut it in thin slices , and to every slice of limon put a slice of your prepared stuff , then fry it in sweet butter , and serve them in sippets , after you have put to them either a glass of canary , or white-wine . 210. to make excellent stewed broath . take a leg of beef , boyl it well , and scum it clean , then take your bread and slice it , and lay it to soak in your broath , then run it through a strainer , and put as much into your broath as will thicken it ; when it hath boyled a pretty while , put in your pruans , raisins , and currans , with cinamon , cloves , and mace beaten ; when your pruans are boyled , take them up , and run them also through a strainer , as you did the bread , then put in half a pint of claret , then let it boyl very well , and when it is ready , put to it rose-water and sugar , and so serve it . 211. to stew a dish of breams . take your breams , and dress them , and dry them well , and salt them ; then make a charcoal fire , and lay them on the grid-iron over the fire being very hot ; let them be indifferent brown on both sides , then put a glass of claret into a pewter dish , and set it over the fire to boyl , put into it two or three anchovies , as many onions , and about half a pint of gravy , a pint of oysters , with a little thyme minced small ; when it hath boyled a while , put to it a little melted butter and a nutmeg . then dish your bream , and pour all this upon it , and then set it again on the fire , putting some yolks of eggs over it . 212. to boyl a mullet . having scalled your mullet , you must save their livers and roes , then put them in water boyling hot , put to them a glass of claret , a bundle of sweet herbs , with a little salt and vinegar , two or three whole onions , and a limon sliced ; then take some whole nutmegs and quarter them , and some large mace , and some butter drawn with claret , wherein dissolve two or three anchovies ; dish up your fish , and pour on your sauce , being first seasoned with salt : garnish your dishes with fryed oysters and bay-leaves ; and thus you may season your liquor for boyling most other fish. 213. to farce , or stuff a fillet of veal . take a large leg of veal , and cut off a couple of fillets from it , then mince a handful of sweet herbs , and parsley , and the yolks of two or three hard eggs ; let all these be minced very small , then season it with a couple of grated nutmegs , and a little salt , and so farce , or stuff your veal with it , then lard it with bacon and thyme very well , then let it be roasted , and when it is almost enough , take some of your stuffing , about a handful , and as many currans , and put these to a little strong broath , a glass of claret , and a little vinegar , a little sugar , and some mace ; when your meat is almost ready , take it up , and put it into this , and let it stew , putting to it a little butter melted , put your meat in your dish , and pour your sauce upon it , and serve it . 214. to make a pudding of oatmeal . take a quart of milk , and boyl it in a skillet , put to it a good handful of oatmeal beat very small , with a stick or two of cinamon , and mace ; put in this oatmeal as much as will thicken it , before the milk be hot , then keep it stirring , and let it boyl for about half an hour , putting into it a handful of beef-suet minced very small , then take it off , and pour it into a dish , and let it stand to cool , if it be too thick , put to more milk , then put in a nutmeg grated , a handful of sugar , with three or four eggs beaten , and some rose-water , then rub the dish within with butter , and pour out your pudding into it ; let it be as thin as batter , let it bake half an hour , scrape sugar on it , serve it up . 215. to make a pudding of rice . take a good handful of rice beaten small , and put it into about three pints of milk , adding a little mace and cinamon , then boyl it , keeping it always stirring , till it grow thick , then put a piece of butter into it , and let it boyl a quarter of an hour , then pour it out to cool , then put to it half a dozen dates minced , a little sugar , a little beaten cinamon , and a couple of handfuls of currans , then beat about half a score eggs , throwing away two or three of the whites , put in some salt , butter the bottom of your dish , pour in your pudding , bake it as before , put on a little rose-water and sugar , and serve it . 216. to make a florentine of spinage . take a good quantity of spinage , to the quantity of two gallons , set your water over the fire , and when it boyls very high , put in your spinage , and let it remain in a little while , then put it out into a strainer , and let it drain very well , and squeeze out all the water , then take it and mince it small with a candyed orange-peel or two , add to it about three quarters of currans boyled also , season it with salt , ginger beaten , cinamon , and nutmeg ; then lay your paste thin in a dish , and put it in , adding butter and sugar , close it up , prick it with holes , and bake it ; when it is nigh baked , put into it a glass of sack , and a little melted butter and vinegar , stir it together with your knife , scrape sugar upon it , and serve it . 217. to make a tansey of cowslips . take your cowslips or violets , and pound them in a wooden or marble mortar , put to them about twelve eggs , with three or four of the whites taken out , about a pint of cream , a quartern of white sugar , cinamon beaten small , nutmeg , and about a handful of grated bread , with a little rose-water ; then take all these together , and put them in a skillet with a little butter , and set them over the fire , stirring it till it grow thick ; then put your frying-pan on the fire , and when it is hot , put some butter into it , and then put in your tansey ; when you think it enough of one side , butter a pewter plate , and turn it therewith ; when it is fryed , squeeze on a limon , scrape on sugar , garnish it with oranges quartered , and serve it . 218. to make excellent white puddings . take the humbles of a hog , and boyl them very tender , then take the heart , the lights , and all the flesh about them , picking them clean from all the sinewy skins , and then chop the meat as small as you can , then take the liver , and boyl it hard , and grate a little of it and mingle therewith , and also a little grated nutmeg , cinamon , cloves , mace , sugar , and a few carraway-seeds , with the yolks of four or five eggs , and about a pint of the best cream , a glass of canary , and a little rose-water , with a good quantity of hogs-suet , and salt ; make all into rouls , and let it lye about an hour and half before you put it in the guts , laying the guts asteep in rose-water before , boyl them , and have a care of breaking them . 219. to stew flounders . draw your flounders , and wash them , and scorch them on the white side , being put in a dish , put to them a little white-wine , a few minced oysters , some whole pepper , and sliced ginger , a few sweet herbs , two or three onions quartered , and salt ; put all these into your stewing-pan , covered close , and let them stew as soon as you can , then dish them on sippets ; then take some of the liquor they were stewed in , put some butter to it , and the yolk of an egg beaten , and pour it on the flounders ; garnish it with limon , and ginger beaten on the brims of the dish . 220. to draw butter for sauce . cut your butter into thin slices , put it into your dish , let it melt leisurely upon the coals , being often stirred ; and after it is melted , put to it a little vinegar , or fair water , which you will , bea● it up till it be thick , if it keep its colour white , it is good ; but if yellow and turn'd , it is not to be used . 221. to roast a salmon whole . draw your salmon at the gills , and after it is scaled , washt , and dry'd , lard it with pickled herring , or a fat eel salted ; then take about a pint of oysters parboyled , put to these a few sweet herbs , some grated bread , about half a dozen hard eggs , with a couple of onions ; shred all these very small , and put to it ginger , nutmeg , salt , pepper , cloves , and mace ; mix these together , and put them all within the salmon at the gills : put them into the oven in an earthen pan , born up with pieces of wood , in the bottom of the dish , put claret-wine , and baste your salmon very well over with butter before you put it in the oven ; when it is drawn , make your sauce of the liquor that is in the pan , and some of the spawn of the salmon boyled with some melted butter on the top ; stick him about with toasts and bay-leaves fryed , take ●ut the oysters from within , and garnish the dish therewith . 222. to make excellent sauce for mutton , either chines , legs , or necks . take half a dozen onions shred very small , a little strong broath , and a glass of white-wine ; boyl all these well together : then take half a pint of oysters , and mince them , with a little parsley , and two or three small bunches of grapes , if in season , with a nutmeg sliced , and the yolks of two or three eggs ; put in all these together with the former , and boyl it , and pour it all over your meat , and then pour some melted butter on the top , and strew on the yolks of two or three hard eggs minced small . 223. another good sauce for mutton . take a handful of pickled cucumbers , as many capers , and as much samphire ; put them into a little verjuice , white-wine , and a little strong broath , and a limon cut in small pieces , and a little nutmeg grated ; let them boyl together , and then beat them up thick , with a ladleful of butter melted , and a couple of yolks of eggs , and a little sugar ; dish your meat upon sippets , pour on your sauce , and garnish it with samphire , capers , and barberries . 224. to make sauce for turkies , or capons . take a two-penny white loaf , and lay it a soaking in strong broath , with onions sliced therein ; then boyl it in gravy , together with a limon cut in small pieces , a little nutmeg sliced , and some melted , put this under your turky , or capon , and so serve it ; you will find it excellent sauce . because many books of this nature have the terms of carving added to them , as being necessary for the more proper nominating of things ; i have thought good also to add them : as also some bills of fare , both upon ordinary , and extraordinary occasions . terms of carving , both fish , fowl , and flesh. allay a pheasant . barb a lobster . border a pasty . break a deer , or egript . break a sarcel , or teal . chine a salmon . culpon a trout . cut up a turky , or bustard . dis-member that heron. display that crane . dis-figure that peacock . fin that chevin . leach that brawn . lift that swan . mince that plover . rear that goose. sauce a capon , or tench . sauce a plaice , or flounder . side that haddock . splay that bream . splat that pike . spoil that hen. string that lamprey . tame a crab. thigh a pigeon , and woodcock , and all manner of small birds . timber the fire . tire an egg. tranch that sturgeon . transon that eel . trush that chicken . tusk a barbel . unbrace a mallard . under-tench a porpuss . unjoynt a bittern . unlace a coney . untach that curlew untach that brew . particular directions how to carve , according to the former terms of carving . unlace that coney . lay your coney on the back , and cut away the vents , then raise the wings , and the sides , and lay the carkass and sides together ; then put to your sauce , with a little beaten ginger and vinegar . thigh a woodcock . raise the legs and wings of the woodcock , as you would do of a hen , then take out the brains , and no other sauce but salt . allay a pheasant . raise the leggs and wings of the pheasant , as of a woodcock , as also of a snite and a plover , and only salt . display a crane . unfold the legs of the crane , and cut off his wings by the joynts ; then take up his wings and legs , and make sauce of mustard , salt , vinegar , and a little beaten ginger . to cut up a turkey . raise up the leg very fair , and open the joynt with the point of your knife , but cut it not off ; then lace down the breast with the point of your knife , and open the breast pinion , but take it not off , then raise up the merry-thought betwixt the breast-bone and the top , then lace down the flesh on both sides the breast-bone , and raise up the flesh , called the brawn , and turn it outward upon both sides , but break it not , nor cut it off , then cut off the wing-pinions at the joynt next the body , and stick in each side the pinion in the place you turned out the brawn , but cut off the sharp end of the pinion , and take the middle piece , and that will fit just in the place ; you may cut up a capon , or pheasant the same way . break a sarcel , or teal , or egript . raise the legs and wings of the teal , and no sauce but salt . wing a partridge , or quail . raise his legs and wings , as of a hen , and if you mince him , make sauce with a little white-wine , and a little beaten ginger , keeping him warm upon a chafing-dish of coals , till you serve him . to untach a curlew , or brew . take either of them , and raise their legs , as before , and no sauce but salt . to unbrace a mallard . raise up the pinion and legs , but take them not off , and raise the merry-thought from the breast , and lace down each side with your knife , waving it two and fro . to sauce a capon . lift up the right leg of the capon , and also the right wing , and so lay it in the dish in the posture of flying , and so serve them ; but remember , that capons and chickens be only one sauce , and chickens must have green sauce , or verjuice . bills of fare for all times of the tear ; and also for extraordinary occasions . a bill of fare for the spring season . 1. a collar of brawn and mustard . 2. a neats-tongue and udder . 3. boyled chickens . 4. green geese . 5. a lumbard-pye . 6. a dish of young rabbits . second course . 1. a haunch of venison . 2. veal roasted . 3. a dish of soles , or smelts . 4. a dish of asparagus . 5. tansie . 6. tarts and custards . a bill of fare for midsomer . 1. a neats-tongue and colliflowers . 2. a fore-quarter of lamb. 3. a chicken-pye . 4. boyled pigeons . 5. a couple of stewed rabbits . 6. a breast of veal roasted . second course . 1. a artichoak-pye . 2. a venison-pasty . 3. lobsters and salmon . 4. a dish of pease . 5. a gooseberry-tart . 6. a dish of strawberries . a bill of fare for autumn , or harvest . 1. a capon and white broath . 2. a westphalia ham , with pigeons . 3. a grand sallet . 4. a neats-tongue and udder roasted . 5. a powdered goose. 6. a turkey roasted . second course . 1. a potato , or chicken pye. 2. roasted patridges . 3. larks and chickens . 4. a made dish . 5. a warden pye , or tart. 6. custards . a bill of fare for winter season . 1. a collar of brawn . 2. a lambs head and white broath . 3. a neats-tongue and udder roasted . 4. a dish of minc'd pyes . 5. a venison , or lamb-pye . 6. a dish of chickens . second course . 1. a side of lamb. 2. a dish of wild-ducks . 3. a quince-tart . 4. a couple of capons roasted . 5. a turkey roasted . 6. a dish of custards . a bill of fare upon an extraordinary occasion . 1. a collar of brawn . 2. a couple of pullets boyled . 3. a bisk of fish. 4. a dish of c●rps . 5. a grand boyled meat . 6. a grand sallet . 7. a venison pasty . 8. a roasted turkey . 9. a fat pig. 10. a powdered goose. 11. a haunch of venison roasted . 12. a neats-tongue and udder roasted . 13. a westphalia ham boyled . 14. a joll of salmon . 15. minced pyes . 16. a sur-loyn of roast beef . 17. cold baked meats . 18. a dish of custards . second course . 1. jellies of all sorts . 2. a dish of pheasants . 3. a pike boyled . 4. an oyster-pye . 5. a dish of plovers . 6. a dish of larks . 7. a joll of sturgeon . 8. a couple of lobsters . 9. a lumber-pye . 10. a couple of capons . 11. a dish of patridges . 12. a fricacie of fowls . 13. a dish of wild-ducks . 14. a dish of cram'd chickens . 15. a dish of stewed oysters . 16. a marchpane . 17. a dish of fruits . 18. a dish of tarts . a bill of fare for fish-days . 1. a dish of butter and eggs. 2. a barrel of oysters . 3. a pike boyled . 4. a stewed carp. 5. an eel-pye . 6. a pole of ling. 7. a dish of green fish buttered with eggs. 8. a dish of stewed oysters . 9. a spinage sallet boyled . 10. a dish of soles . 11. a joll of fresh salmon . 12. a dish of smelts fry'd . second course . 1. a couple of lobsters . 2. a roasted spitcheock . 3. a dish of anchovies . 4. fresh cod. 5. a bream roasted . 6. a dish of trouts . 7. a dish of plaice boyled . 8. a dish of perches . 9. a carp farced . 10. a potato-pye . 11. a dish of prawns buttered . 12. tenches with short broth. 13. a dish of turbut . 14. a dish of eel-pouts . 15. a sturgeon with short broth . 16. a dish of tarts and custards . a bill of fare for a gentlemans house about candlemas . 1. a pottage with a hen. 2. a chatham pudding . 3. a fricacie of chickens . 4. leg of mutton with a sallet . garnish your dishes with barberries . second course . 1. a chine of mutton . 2. a chine of veal . 3. a lark-pye . 4. a couple of pullets , one larded . garnished with orange-slices . third course . 1. a dish of woodcocks . 2. a couple of rabbits . 3. a dish of asparagus . 4. a westphalia gammon . last course . 1. two orange-tarts , one with herbs . 2. a bacon-tart . 3. an apple-tart . 4. a dish of bon-chriteen-pears . 5. a dish of pippins . 6. a dish of pear-mains . a banquet for the same season . 1. a dish of apricots . 2. a dish of marmalade of pippins . 3. a dish of preserved cherries . 4. a whole red quince . 5. a dish of dryed sweet-meats . finis . a table to the art of preserving , conserving , and candying . a. almond-butter . pag. 7 almond-candle . 69. almond-milk . 10. angellets to make . 15 angelica-roots preserved . 30 angelica water . 23 apricot-cakes . 48 apricots preserved . 10 aqua composita . 35 aqua mirabilis . 12 artichoak-bottoms pickled . 118 artichoaks to pickle . 94 artificial claret-wine . 38 artificial malmsey . 28 artificial oranges . 87 artificial walnuts . 81 b. banbury-cakes . 54 barberries candyed . 75 barberries preserved . 76 barley-water . 34 baum-water . 36 bisket-cakes to make . 36 black-cherry-wine . 81 bragget to make . 122 broom-buds to pickle . 36 burrage-flowers to candy 47 dr. burges plague-water 40. c. cakes of limon . 80 capon-water . 83 carraway cake . 91 candying pears , plums , and apricots . 8 caudle of great virtue . 66 cherries to candy . 70 cherries dryed in the sun. 41 cherries preserved . 4 cherry-wine . 13 cherries to dry . 24 chesiuts kept all the year . 79 china-broath . 84 chips of quinces . 10● crystal jelly to make . 45 cinamon s●gar . 74 cinamon-water . 2 clove-gilly flowers to pickle . 72 comfortable syrup . 69 comfits of all sorts to make . 112 conserve of barberries . 2 conserve of burrage-flowers . 43 conserve of bugloss flowers . 101 conserve of damsons . 28 conserve of oranges . 5 conserve of prua s. 44 conserve of qunces . 19 conserve of roses . 2 conserve of rosemary . 23 conserve of sage . 116 conserve to strengthen the back . 35 conserve of strawberries . 44 conserves for tarts all the year . 49 cock-ale to make . 9 cordial strengthning broath . 77 cream of apricots . 76 cream of codlings . 8 cream of quinces . 9 cream-tarts . cornelians to pickle . 120 cordial water of clove gilly flowers . 92 cucumbers to pickle . 8 cucumbers preserved green . 79 cullice to make . 77 currans preserved . 14 currans-wine . 115 d. damask-water . 57 damsons preserved . 7 dr. deodates drink for the scurvy . 35 date-leach . 62 dry vinegar to make . 62 e. elder-vinegar . 83 elecampane-roots candyed . 74 eringo roots candyed . 73 excellent broth. 15 excellent hippocras presently . 37 excellent jelly . 10 excellent sur●eit-water . 93 excellent sweet water . 40 f fine cakes . 56 flomery-caudle . 97 french beans to pickle . 10 french bisket to make . 27 fruits dryed . ●0 fruits preserved all the year . 97 g. ginger to candy . 43 ginger-bread to make . 55 gooseberry-cakes . 14 gooseberry paste . 102 gooseberries preserved . 29 grapes to candy . 78 grapes preserved . 13 h. hartichoaks preserved . 53 hippocras to make . 6 honey of mulberries . 107 honey of raisins . 108 honey of roses . 20 hydromel to make . 95 i jelly of almonds white . 62 jelly of apples . 121 jelly of currans . 106 jelly of harts-horn . 16 jelly of quinces . 105 jelly of strawberries and mulberries . 46 jelly of gooseberries . 121 jelly of raspices . 111 imperial water . 59 italian bisket . 27 italian marmalade . 122 jumbals to make . 61 k. kings persume . 22 k. edwards persume . 22 l. leach of almonds . 72 leach lumbard . 57 leach to make . 50 limon and orange-peel pickled . 102 lozenges of roses . 101 m. manus christi . 44 marmalade of cherries . 96 marmalade of currans . 88 marmalade of grapes . 119 marmalade of oranges . 11● marmalade of oranges and limons . 23 marmalade of quinces . 6 mackroons to make . 4 marchpane to make . 9 marygolds candyed in wedges . 73 mathiolus bezoar water . 88 mead , or metheglin to make 25 mead pleasant to make . 89 medlars preserved . 99 mint-water . 93 muscadine comfits . 42 musk-balls to make . 59 musk-sugar . 103 mulberries preserved . 99 n. naples-bisket to make . 100 nutmegs to candy . 114 o. oranges and limons candyed . 25 oranges to bake . 28 orange-peels candyed . 63 oranges preserved . ● oranges preserved portugal fashion . 25 orange-water . 65 oyl of sweet almonds . ●8 oyl of violets . 9 p. paste of apricots . 117 paste of cherries . 116 paste of genua . 50 paste of quinces . 55 paste royal. 47 paste of tender plums . 85 paste of violets . 63 peaches preserved . 29 pears or plums to candy . 18 perfume for gloves . 33 pippins dryed . 49 pippins preserved green . 41 pippins preserved red . 64 pippins preserved white . 30 plague-water . 109 pome citrons preserved . 71 pomander to make . 28 pomatum to make . 18 poppy-water . 87 prince-bisket . 104 purslain to pickle . 13 q. quiddany of cherries . 24 quiddany of quinces . 51 quiddany of plums . 75 queens perfume . 22 quince-cakes to make . 1 quince-cakes clear . 111 quince-cakes red . 110 quince-cakes white . 109 quince-cakes thin . 56 quince-cream . 76 quinces preserved red . 7 quinces preserved white . 3 quinces to pickle . 108 r. rasberry-cream . 94 rasberry-wine . 37 raspices preserved . 3 red currans-cream . 98 red and white currans pickled . 98 rich cordial . 98 rose-leaves candyed . 104 rosemary-water . 17 rosemary-flowers candyed . 46 roses preserved whole . 10 rose-vinegar . 8 rose-water . 70 rosa solis to make . 4 s. snow-cream . 9 spirit of amber greece 35 spirit of honey . 53 spirit of roses . 64 spirit of wine . 20 dr. stephens water . 12 steppony to make . 90 strawberry wi●e . 92 spots out of cloaths . 79 suckets to make . 56 suckets of green walnuts . 7 suckets of lettuce stalks . 10 sugar-cakes to make 78 sugar-leach . 61 sugar of roses . 86 sugar-plate to make . 27 surfeit-water . 66 sweet cakes without sugar . 52 sweet meat of apples . 115 sweet bags for linnen . 52 syllabub to make . 89 symbals to make . 5 syrup of apples . 82 syrup of citron-peels . 32 syrup of cinamon . 32 syrup of comfrey . 108 syrup of cowslips . 23 syrup of elder . 65 syrup of clove gilly flowers . 5 syrup of harts-horn . 33 syrup of hyssop . 42 syrup of licorise . 2● syrup of limons . 20 syrup for the lungs . 53 syrup of maiden-hair . 21 syrup of mints . 106 syrup of poppies . 19 syrup of purslain . 107 syrup of quinces . 31 syrup of roses . 68 syrup of saffron . 70 syrup for short-wind . 67 syrup of sugar-candy . 67 syrup against scurvy . 68 syrup of violets . 6 syrup of wormwood . 19 syrup of vinegar . 82 syder to make . 90 t. trifle to make . 74 treacle-water to make . 31 v. verjuice to make . 60 ●s●●ebah to make . 26 w. walnuts preserved . 14 walnut-water . 31 washing-balls to make . 59 wasers to make . 13 waters against consumptions . 34 water against fits of mother . 18 wormwood-wine . 52 wormwood water . 55 white damsons preserved green . 80 white leach of cream . 71 white mead. 100 whipt syllabub . 96 the table to physick , beautifying waters , and secrets in angling . a. ach of the joynts . 132 ach or pain . 129 ad capiendum pisces . 211 ague in the breast . 156 agues in children . 151 ague to cure. 129 another . 132 another . 140 another . 140 allom-water to make . 162 b. back to strengthen . 130 baits for barbels . 230 baits for bream . 232 baits for carp or tench . 219 baits for chub and pike . 220 baits for eels . 231 bait for fish all the year . 211 baits for gudgeons . 229 bait with gentles . 2●7 baits for perch . 225 baits for roch and dace . 212 baits for salmon . 233 baits for trout . 228 beauty to procure . 196 beauty water for the fa●e . 197 beauty-water , called , lac virginis . 178 biting of a mad-dog . 137 blasting to cure. 152 bleeding at the nose . 1●6 bleeding of a wound . 156 bloody-flux , or scowring . 154 black plaister for all griefs . 172 bone or quills dyed red for fishing . 207 breath to make sweet . 191 breath to sweeten , another . 191 c. cancer to cure . 136 cancer in a womans breast to cure . 155 caps to sight for fishing . 207 cement for floats to fish. 207 childblains in hands or feet to cure . 194 conception to procute . 143 consumption to cure . 144 cough dry to cure . 135 cordial julip . 147 corns to cure . 166 cramp to cure . 132 d. deafness to cure . 138 deafness , another . 142 delicate washing-ball . 19● dentrifice to whiten the teeth 189 drink to heal wounds . 169 dropsie to cure . 138 dropsie , another . 146 e. ears running to help . 192 ears pained to cure . 158 electuary of life . 162 excellent beauty-water . 195 excellent complexion to procure . 196 excellent cordial . 140 excellent salve . 152 excellent wash for beauty 195 eyes blood-shot . 192 eye-water . 147 f. face and skin to cleanse . 177 face to adorn. 177 face to beautifie . 177 face to look youthful . 177 face to make fair . 176 face to make very fair . 179 face pitted by the small-pox . 183 face to whiten . 181 falling off of hair to prevent 176 falling-sickness , or convulsions . 134 falling-sickness , another . 145 fevers or agues in children . 130 fellon to kill . 155 fishing-lines to make . 205 fishing●lines to unloose in water . 210 fits of the mother . 148 fistula , or ulcer . 149 fits of the mother , a julip . 153 flowers to bring down . 165 flowers to stay . 166 flyes used in angling , to make . 235 flux red to cure . 155 flux white to cure . 155 freckles in the face . 180 freckles and morphew . 188 g. gascoign powder to make . 157 gout to cure . 128 gout , lord dennies medicine . 159 green-sickness to cure . 138 green-sickness , a powder . 169 griping of the guts to cure . 128 h. hands to make white . 192 hands to whiten . 198 hands , a sweet water . 199 hair to make grow . 174 hair to grow thick . 174 hair to make fair . 173 hair to take away . 176 head-ach to cure . 130 heat of the liver . 163 heat and swelling in the face . 185 heat or worms in the hands . 199 i. jaundies black to cure. 131 jaundies yellow to cure. 131 imposthume to break . 137 inflamed face to cure. 186 itch , or breaking out to cure . 167 itch , another . 136 k. c. k●nts powder to make 132 kings-evil to cure . 137 l. lax , or looseness . 141 lips chopt to cure . 193 m. marks of small pox to prevent . 193 megrim , or imposthume in the head. 1●7 mis-carrying to prevent . 134 moist seabs after small-pox . 165 morphew or scurff of pace or skin . 181 mouth to cleanse . 191 n. nails cloven to cure . 200 nails that fall off . 200 nails to make grow . 199 nails rent from the flesh. 200 nostrils stinking to cure . 198 o. oyl of fennel . 171 oyl of st. iohns wort . 170 oyl of roses . 166 oyntment green to make . 148 oyntment for pimples in the face 186 p. paste for fishing . 2●2 piles to destroy . 136 piles after child-birth . 167 pimples in the face to cure 186 pimples in the face , another 184 plague to cure . 131 plague-water . 146 pleurisie to cure . 1●4 pock holes in the face . 194 pomatum to clear the skin . 187 powder for green-sickness . 169 r. red face to cure . 185 redness , hands and face by small pox . 183 redness to take away , another , 184 rich face-to help . 186 rheumatick cough or cold. 154 rickets in children . 149 s. scald head. 146 sciatica , or pains in the joynts 129 scurvy to cure . 127 scurvy , another . 142 secrets in angling , by j. d. 209 shingles to cure . 149 skin to clear . 187 skin to smooth , and take away freckles . 201 skin to make white and clear . 180 skin to make smooth . 180 sore breast to cure . 144 spitting of blood. 156 spleen to cure . 168 sprain in the back . 139 dr. stephens water . 161 stinking breath to cure . 190 stitch in the side . 167 stench under the arm● holes 201 stone and gravel . 127 sun-burn to take away 179 swooning-fits 163 t. termes to provoke 154 teeth to make white and sound 189 teeth to keep white and kill worms 190 teeth white as jvory 119 teeth in children to breed easily 150 toothach to cure 145 tertian or double tertian ague 168 thorn to draw out 170 timpany to cure 153 tissick to cure 171 u. unguentum album to make 135 w. warts in the face or hands 201 washing b●ll to make 193 water for eyesight by king edward the 6. 158 water for the eyes excellent 164 water for sore eyes 139 web in the eye 165 wen to cure 145 dr. willoughbyes water 161 wind to help 145 wind & flegun in children 1●0 woman in travel 149 woman soon delivered 150 worms in children 152 worms in children another 135 worms to clease for fishing 208 wrinckles in the face 178 whites to cure 135 y. yellow jaundies 201 young children to go to stool 151 the table to the compleat cooks guid. a. almond cream 317 almond pudding 317 almond tart 320 apple pyes to fry 281 artichoakes fryed 255 a●ichoake pye 274 b. bacon tart 25● b●rley broth 2●7 beef pasty like red deer 262 beef to keep sweet 298 beef to stew 333 beef to stew french fash●●n 283 black puddings 245 birds to stew l. butlers way 328 bisket bread 244 brawn tender & delicate 298 b. breams stewed 358 breast or loyn mutton stewed 3●4 breast of veal baked 289 butter to draw for sauce 364 c. calves foot pye 312 calves feet baked 344 calves feet roasted 280 calves head baked 322 capon or pullet boyld 269 capon boyld with sage and pa●fly 293 capon boyld with asparagus 221 capon boyld with sugar pease 284 capon boyld with white-broth 292 capon or chicken several compositions 343 carp pye 316 carp to stew 271 cheescakes to make 242 cheese fresh to make 274 chine of beef poudered 286 cherry tart 310 chicken pye 316 chucks of veal to bake 339 citron pudding 300 clowted cream 296 cods head to dress 287 codling tart 309 cocks or barks to boyl 331 collops of beef stewed 262 cows udder roasted 308 cows●ip tart 321 cream of eggs 258 cracknels to make 326 custards to make 278 d. damson tart 261 dish of marrow 244 dish of meat with herbs 257 dutch pudding 282 e. eels to boyl 285 eel pye 305 eel pye with oysters 266 eels to roast 330 eels to soufe 252 egg pye 243 excellent mincet pyes 334 f. feasant stewed french fashion 244 fillet beef stewed ital. fashion 342 fine pudding in a dish 258 flounders or jacks to boyl 303 flounders stewed 365 french barley posset 339 french pottage called skink 294 fricasy of chickens 265 fricasy of rabbits 325 fricasy of veal 2●0 furmity to make 248 g. goose to bake 281 goosberry cream 295 grand sallet 268 green sauce 275 h. haggis pudding 257 haunch ofvenison boyled 304 haunch of venison rosted 254 hare to roast 345 hash of a capon or pullet 28● hen carbonadoed 254 herring pye 245 hotchpot to make 323 i. italian pudding 324 iunket to make 327 l. lamb pye 241 leg of pork broild 343 limon caudle 323 m. made dish of apples 302 mallard to stew 340 marrow pasties 275 marrow puddings 272 medler tart 323 n. neats f●ot pye 249 neats tongues to dry 328 neats tongues fryed 345 neats tongue-pye 353 neats tongue & udder 298 o. oatmeal pudding 360 oysters to pickle 332 p. pannado to make 299 past for all tarts 290 pear or warden pye 306 pe●ch●● to boyl 284 pig to bake court fashion 336 pig to souse 256 pidgeon pye to make 341 pickarel to bake 236 pippin pye 351 polonian sausages 297 pottage of a capon 350 pudding to bake ●90 pudding of rice 361 pudding of hogs liver 337 puff-past to make 266 q quaking pudding 295 quince pye 250 r. rabbits to bake 279 rabbits to hash 273 rabbits to stew 340 rare broth 347 rare pudding 324 rice pudding 242 rice tart 309 rost beef pickled 334 s. sallet of a cold hen 268 sallet of green pease 355 salmon to boyl 263 salmon to keep fresh 297 sauce for mutton 366 sack posset to make 273 sauce for pidgeons 307 sauce for turkys & capons 367 sauce for wildfowl 307 sansages to make 282 scotch collops of veal 276 scollops to b●oil 259 shoulder of mutton and oysters 346 spanish oleo 246 sparrows and larks to boyl 291 stewed broth to make 357 sweet breads baked 347 t. tansey to make 312 tansey of cowslips 362 tart of spinage 309 trout to stew 307 v. veal pye to make 288 venison pasty 260 venison to stew 247 umble pye 253 w. watergruel to make 318 widgeons or teal to boyl 288 finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a66834-e15090 * that which kills the oak , i conjecture to be ivy. the preternatural state of animal humours described by their sensible qualities, which depend on the different degrees of their fermentation and the cure of each particular cacochymia is performed by medicines of a peculiar specific taste, described : to this treatise are added two appendixes i. about the nature of fevers and their ferments and cure by particular tastes, ii. concerning the effervescence and ebullition of the several cacochymia's ... / by the author of pharmacho bazagth. floyer, john, sir, 1649-1734. 1696 approx. 437 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 145 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a39844 wing f1389 estc r35680 15538920 ocm 15538920 103643 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39844) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 103643) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1149:16) the preternatural state of animal humours described by their sensible qualities, which depend on the different degrees of their fermentation and the cure of each particular cacochymia is performed by medicines of a peculiar specific taste, described : to this treatise are added two appendixes i. about the nature of fevers and their ferments and cure by particular tastes, ii. concerning the effervescence and ebullition of the several cacochymia's ... / by the author of pharmacho bazagth. floyer, john, sir, 1649-1734. [23], 264 p. printed by w. downing for michael johnson and are to be sold by robert clavel, sam. smith and benjamin walford ..., london : 1696. contains half-title page. errata: preliminary p. [23] imperfect: stained. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. body fluids -early works to 1800. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 john latta sampled and proofread 2007-02 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion tractatum hunc cui titulus the preternatural state of animal humours , &c. dignum judicamus quî imprimatur . samuel collins , praeses . tho. burwell , rich. torlesse , will. dawes , thom. gill , censores . dat. in comitiis censoriis ex aedibus collegii nostri , dec. 6. 1695. the preternatural state of animal humours described , by their sensible qualities , which depend on the different degrees of their fermentation . and the cure of each particular cacochymia is performed by medicines of a peculiar specific taste , described . to this treatise are added two appendixes . i. about the nature of fevers , and their ferments , and cure by particular tastes . ii. concerning the effervescence and ebullition of the several cacochymia's ; on which all inflammations , tumours , pains , and fluxes of humours depend ; especially those in the gout and asthma ; and the particular tastes of the medicines curing ebullitions , are described . by the author of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . london , printed by w. downing , for michael johnson . and are to be sold by robert clavel , sam , smith , and benjamin walford , in st. paul's church-yard , 1696. to the much honoured sir charles holt , bar t. at aston in warwick-shire . sir , your great skill and judgment in the practice of physick , is so well known to all your countrey , as well as to many of the learned'st of our faculty , that i can need no apology for the dedication of a physical treatise to you. if i reflect on those favours i have received from your honoured family , they may justly claim this expression of my gratitude for them : but i think my self most particularly obliged to make this publick acknowledgement of those great advantages i have had by your learned conversation . your chymical experiments have given me clear notions of the principles of many particular bodies , and their sensible qualities , by anatomical dissections . you have procured for me some animal humours to taste and examine ; and by your microscopes , i have observed more of the consistence of fluids than i could otherways have known . these notions which i here present you , were the subject of our frequent conferences ; and i never liked any of them so well as those your judgment approved of . when your kindness to your neighbours , or charity to the poor , obliged you to prescribe physick , ( which frequently you do ) i have observed , when i was called to any consultation with you , your exact judgment in distinguishing the nicest cases , your rational prescriptions , grounded on the true indications , taken from the history of the particular case , and directed against the cause of the disease ; and also , your great value for simple medicines , prescribed in their due quantity ; and i can most truly affirm , that a great success always attended this rational practice . sir , your exact judgment in physick deserves the highest expressions of esteem from the most ingenious writers in our art ; but i must depend on that great candor and civility you constantly express to our whole faculty , for your accepting of the patronage of these papers which are presented by him who has a real value both for your vertue and learning ; and who am , sir , your most humble and faithful servant , john floyer . lichfield , july 26 1695. the preface . it is very reasonable , that the present age should admit all the sensible observations made on human bodies by the preceeding . and those it ought farther to explain and illustrate by the philosophy of the present times ; for that of every age soon alters , and the variety of hypotheses , and terms , confounds all ordinary readers ; and the present being so extravagantly different from those of ages very remote , the old authors become most unacceptable to the moderns ; but they who are conversant in all the natural phaenomena will easily take the sense both of the old and new writers , and give a candid censure of both. my design in this treatise , is , to explain animal humours by the observations given of them by the ancients , as well as by those improvements made by modern philosophy , chymistry , and anatomy . the ancient physicians explained animal humours by sensible qualities ; and also their morbid state by the same . by the touch they explained the heat , which shews us the high degree of fermentation in our humours ; and the cold intimates the depression of our natural fermentation . by the same sense they observed the moisture , by which we understand the fulness of the habit of the body , and intimates a plethoric state of humours ; and the dryness of our bodies is evident in thin , lean habits , where the nutritious juyces are deficient . because a high fermentation or digestion may happen in a full , moist habit , or a lean , thin one , and a low fermentation may happen in both , they have therefore observed various compositions of our constitutions , not dis-agreeable to the nature of them , which depend on the particular digestion , and quantity of our humours , and not immediately on any mixture of qualities and elements ; for particular bodies , such as plants and animals , cannot be explained by those general elements , which constitute the great mass of matter in the world ; but both have their origin from some matter prepared . by fermentation or digestion , plants theirs from a bituminous nutriment ; and animals theirs from an albuminous liquor . chyle was not esteemed by the ancients any of the humours ; but from it they deduced the several humours constituting the blood. the red part of blood they most particularly called blood , which tinges the whole mass , and makes the blood and face florid . they described it as hot , moist , and sweet ; and by these contrary tastes , viz. the cold , the dry , the bitter , they used to correct it . the choler they observed by the yellowness in the arterial blood. they described it as hot , fiery , bitter , acrid , and dry ; and to correct it , they used the cold and moist tastes : but we observe , as the salso-acid of urin corrects coloquintida bitterness , so the salt of blood and chyle alters the taste of the choler mixed with both , and makes it sweet or insipid ; and lixiviums have the same effect on choleric humours . the bilis nigra made the body , and blood , and spleen black , cold , dry , and humours acid ; and by the warm , sweet and humid tastes they corrected it . they observed that blackness was given to oyly humours by adustion . phlegm was described , as the coldest humour , sweet , and moist , and preternaturally acid , and salt ; and these they esteemed the matter of all defluxions , as , in reality , the lacteal and serous lympha's be ; but the sweet phlegm is the chylous liquor . the hot and dry tastes are contrary to phlegm . they observed , that heat corrects cold ; moisture , dryness ; and sweet and oyly things , the acerbity and austerity of humours . though the serum and fibrous cake of the blood were the chief parts of the mass of blood , and well known to the ancients , yet it did not agree with their hypothesis to make them principles of the sanguineous mass ; but the mentioned humours , by exceeding in quantity or quality , produced these several cacochymia , and defluxions of humours . the old writers wanted a full knowledge of fermentation , by which the chief morbid alterations are produced in the humours ; and they attributed their preternatural state either to crudity of digestion , or adustion . there is a remarkable instance in galen , which shews most plainly a notion , not much different from wine , about the preparation of our humours , viz. the blood is in the middest of those humours we call bilious ; and those whose genus is called by one name , the crude humour or phlegm ; for they are produced by over-digestion of blood ; but these by its imperfect digestion ; and there are innumerable differences of both kinds . and in another place he asserts , that both biles are from an excess of heat , and acidity from indigestion , and saltness from putrefaction . a pure temperament is only an idaea of fancy ; but that which comes nearest to it , is the sanguineous constitution , in which there is the most exact digestion of humours ; and because there is also the greatest sweetness of them , there is generally a fulness of the habit of the body from the quantity of nutriment , and a floridity in the face from the good digestion of the red part of the blood ; and here the nutritious humours are most free from those ill qualities , which make them unapt to assimilate , or which stimilate the sensible parts to evacuate them out of the body . the various natural constitutions or qualities in wines , resemble the various temperaments of our humours , which , like them , depend on some certain degree of fermentation natural to both ; and because that degree of digestion causes sometimes the watery or slimy , sometimes the acid or acerb , or the oyly sweetness , to predominate , the ancient writers believed that this depended on the greater mixture of some of the elements . the crude wines , are the waterish , the austere , the acerb , the pendulous or slimy , the new , sweet , flatulent ; but those wines which depend on a very high digestion of vegetable juyces , are the bitter wines , the old , hot , spirituous and sharp ; the faeculent , viscous or thick ; the fragrant or foetid . many of these ill qualities are produced in wines by long keeping , or preternatural preparations of them . by a weak fermentation a pendulous sliminess is produced , which answers a pituitous state , or an acerbity , which resembles the tartar of our humours , or waterishness , which is like the serosity of our blood. by over-fermentation , or long keeping , wine becomes bitter , as the caecubum ; sharp , as in hock , like the vitriolic acidity ; they grow thick , like the viscidity of our humours ; or foetid , like the putrid state of them . these are the preternatural states of wines , and animal humours , occasioned by various fermentations , which galen observed , when he explains the alteration of humours by new , sweet wine fermenting by its own heat ; and he compares the effervescence on the wine to choler , and the faeces to melancholy . many phaenomena may more easily be explained now , than they could be in former ages , when the circulation of humours , the fermentative dissolution of our meats , and the defluxions through particular glands , were unknown . the motion of particular humours was accounted for , by the old writers , by the attraction of parts , which drew their like ; but the pulse , which circulates several humours , as well as the blood , better explains all the motion of humours . galen observes two species of styptics ; and that the styptic quality is greater in the acerb , than the austere ; but the explication of the virtues of specific medicines he imputes to their substance , which may be more easily made by the particular taste of them , which raises or depresses the fermentation of humours , and they frequently have a similitude or contrariety to the secretitious humours in taste and quality . the ancients imputed sanguification to the liver ; but we , more properly , to the gall , and a mixture of the salt lympha's , and also a long circulation with the blood it self . the digestion of meat was explained by heat , which the moderns more clearly deduce from a fermentation which half putrefies the food , and dissolves it out of its hollow fibers , whether they be animal or vegetable ; for it is their juyces chiefly which are our food ; for the solid parts turn into excrements . but the best explication we can yet give of the vital and animal spirit , is not much different from that of galen , who affirms , that the vital spirits are bred in the arteries and heart , and that the matter of them is from the air inspired , and the vapours of the blood , and that the animal spirits are made out of the vital . this hypothesis is more fully explained in another book ascribed to galen , de usu respirationis ; constat autem vires corporis esse ex nervorum tensione , causa autem tensionis nervi nulla est alia quam spiritus nervum inflans — spiritum autem voca , non solum vaporem sanguinis , sed etiam aerem inspiratum , qui ei admiscetur . the innate heat differs not from the vital spirit , which he deduces from an unctuous humour in the blood , after the same manner as flame is produced from the oyl of a lamp , and both are in a continual motion , like the water of a river . all the eructations he imputes to the air , which , mixed with our meats , create wind , and this air passes included in the pores both of our solid and liquid meats ; and this , upon fermentation of our food , is intermixt with its light or volatile parts , and gives them that elasticity observable in all fermented liquors ; and these elastic particles give a strong pungency to the taste , and a strong odor to the smell : these rarefie fermented liquors into bubbles , and give the great force in breaking their vessels ; and these easily evaporate into air , having that naturally in their mixture ; but that the spirits are not purely aerial , is evident , because they both smell and taste of their vegetable . these spirits we artificially separate in distilling brandy spirits , which are evidently light , oyly parts mixt with a volatile acid. windy spirits we commonly experience upon the digestion of our meats in the primae viae , and there we feel inflations , and find windy bubbles in the contents of the intestines ; and we observe no liquor so full of them , as the fermented be . all spirituous liquors of vegetables inflame our animal and vital spirits , by producing an effervescence and heat in the blood , and some affection in the nerves , of tremor , stupidity , or giddiness . and since our juyces are made of the vegetable , they are probably fermentiscible like them . the semen puts females into a fever upon impregnation ; and all animal humours which poyson , are putrefying ferments . the eggs of insects ferment the juyces of the plants , into which they are inserted ; and there are many poysonous plants which certainly affect both the blood and spirits of animals , which produce both fever and delirium . the greatest poyson for darts , is believed to be made of putrid humours . it seems impossible to the ancients , to impute the sudden running of pains to any other cause ; but some of our humours rarefied into spirits , or vapours . melancholy distempers are deduced from spirits drawn from that cacochymia . the phrenitis from choleric spirits , and the epilepsie from fumes . as to the use of the brain , galen observes , that the skins , and outward part of the brain , may be cut away without loss of sense or motion ; but when the medullary part of the brain or nerves is wounded , both perish . he asserts , that the nerves bring the faculty of motion to the muscles , by this experiment ; if a nerve be cut , or the spinal marrow , all the parts below the incision lose their sense and motion , but those above preserve it . he was as much perplexed about the porosity of the nerves , as the moderns ; but neither can otherways explain the diseases of the nerves , than by supposing some aerial , and innate animal particles , like vapours , passing through the nerves , to give them a tension . and as no age could ever doubt of the passage of the chyle into the blood , before the discovery of the lacteals ; so we are forced to confess the contents of the nerves , though we can no way discern them ; for , upon the death of an animal , the spirits may readily sink into the muscles , or veins , or lymphatics , and glandules ; or else be so aerial , as many liquors be , which evaporate upon the least approach of air ; or else their minute canals suspend their liquors , as small glass-pipes do : but it seems most probable , that proper experiments have not yet been made , by ligature or incisions , in living animals , which might demonstrate the nervine lympha ; and it is impossible , at present , for us otherwise to explain the nature of the spirits , than by comparing them to air or fire , till we can , by some lucky experiment , discover the contents of the nerves , and their particular qualities . i have added two appendixes to this treatise of animal humours ; the first describes the nature of fevers , and their ferments ; and the second deduces many diseases from the simple ebullition , effervescence or orgasmus of the blood , on which most inflammations , tumours , pains , and fluxes of humours , depend ; and without a due respect to that effervescence , none of the mentioned diseases can be rationally cured . in the ensuing treatise i have endeavoured to explain the opinion of the ancients , in all their discourse of fevers ; but we are obliged to the ingenious car. piso , for giving the first hint of diseases depending on an effervescence of the serum ; but that wanted a farther explication , because he knew not the circulation of humours , nor the use of the glands , nor the true nature of the serum of the blood , and that the effervescence is in the mass of blood , and the serum has only a violent motion given by the ebullition , which forces it to pass those glands , through which the fluxion is made ; and that pains cause fluxions , only by stopping the circulation of humours , by contracting the vessels , by help of the convulsed nerves ; and that all tumours happen by the obstruction , or stagnation of humours in the circulating vessels . books printed for , and sold by r. clavel , at the peacock in st. paul's church-yard . the church history clear'd from the roman forgeries and corruptions found in the councils and baronius : in four parts . from the beginning of christianity , to the end of the fifth general council , 553. by thomas comber , d. d. dean of durham . aristophanis comoediae duae , plutus & nubes , cum scholiis graecis antiquis . quibus adjiciuntur notae quaedam simul cum gemino indice . in usum studiosae juventutis . the reasons of praying for the peace of jerusalem : in a sermon preached before the queen at white-hall , on the fast-day ; being wednesday august 29. 1694. by thomas comber , d. d. dean of durham , and chaplain in ordinary to their majesties . printed by their majesties special command . a daily office for the sick ; compil'd out of the holy scriptures , and the liturgy of our church ; with occasional prayers , meditations , and directions . the catechisms of the church , with proofs from the new testament , and some additional questions and answers , divided into twelve sections , by z. j. d. d. author of the book lately published , entituled , a daily office for the sick , with directions , &c. a church catechism , with a brief and easie explanation thereof , for the help of the meanest capacities and weakest memories , in order to the establishing them in the religion of the church of england , by t. c. dean of d. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : or , the touch-stone of medicines . discovering the vertues of vegetables , minerals , and animals , by their tastes and smells . in two volumes : by sir john floyer of the city of lichfield , k t. m. d. of queens-college , oxford . the pantheon , representing the fabulous histories of the heathen gods , and most illustrious heroes ; in a short , plain and familiar method , by way of dialogue , for the use of schools . written by fra. pomey , of the society of jesus ; author of the french and latin dictionary , for the use of the dauphin . what mistakes have happened i desire may be corrected by the errata's here annexed . pag. 11. l. 2. it ought to run thus , the fat is produced from the buttery part of chyle . p. 26. after , and that depends on , is omitted in the last line secretitii . 33. l. 18. the stop after sometime . 43. l. 6. so they are , r. which are . l. 11. cold not old . 44. l. 21. dele as in rhue . 45. l. 2. r. cure instead of are . l. 11. one drachm not one ounce . l. 19. catchup , divide it from mango . l. 48. omit the comma betwixt milk and water . 49. l. ●3 . for which flames , r. with flannel . 53. l. 10. dele so . 66. ●●● 8. r. pungent . 83. l. 25. r. compare . 95. l. 21. r. hog fenil . 96. l. 20. r. acid not acrid . 102. l. 16. r. for not fat . 107. l. 25. r. rapid . 112. l. 22. r. fat cows , not faulcon . 114. l. 14. r. flowers , not flames . 117. l. 10. no breach . 127. l. 15. r. soon , not some . 129. l. 1. r. the. 155. l. 24. r. are . 157. l. 17. r. preter , not pretty . 171. l. 8. r. stomach , not sumach . 181. l. 2. r. onions , not crocus . 188. l. 24. r. from , not above . 199. l. the last . r. aq. panatae . 191. l. 1. r. mild , not wild . 202. l. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 206. l. 22. dele as . 208. l. 28. r. of , not or . 209. l. 21. add less . 211. l. 11. r. for , not so . 224. l. 2. r. bursa pastoris . dele and. 260. stop after italy , the , not they . add of after use . 261. l. 6. r. oxymels . the preternatural state of animal hvmovrs described , &c. chap. i. of diseases in general , and particularly of those of the solid parts . the ancient doctrine of hippocrates , divided the parts of an animal , into the containing and contained : the containing are the vessels , and the parts contained are the humours , amongst which we reckon the spirits , which are also of a fluid nature . the anatomy of an embryo evidently confirms this doctrine ; for at its first formation and increase in the egg , there appears nothing but humours and membranes containing them , which are plainly of a nervous nature . the first stamina which appear in an embryo after incubation , are probably the arteries , which have some pulse ; and from these arise all the viscera and vessels , as veins , lymphatics , nerves , and glandules . the veins , in which the thicker mass circulates ; the lymphatics into which the serum of the blood is received from the arteries : the glands ( which are conglomerate ) are vascular , and are prolongations of the arteries designed for the secretion of humours ; the brain is also vascular ; and the nervous fibrillae also , like the other lymphatics , receive a clear lympha from the arteries , and seem to return their nervous lympha by the conglobate glands into the lymphatics ; the substance of the spleen , kidneys , and liver , is also glandulous , arising from the arteries . since the arteries not only appear first in an embryo , but also they supply all the other vessels with their several liquors , i do not improbably assert , that they are the root of all the animal vessels and solid parts . the fibrillae of the brain compose the several membranes of the body , which cover the vessels , viscera , and constitute the substance of the lungs , guts , stomach , skin ; and the flesh of all the muscles is made up of these membranous fibers , which their membranous tendons evidently prove . nothing is observed in an embryo , more hard , firm , and solid , than its membranes ; so that its bones , teeth , nails , hair , and horns , were at first tender membranous fibrillae , stuffed with a viscid nutriment , from which they have their rigidity and hardness ; so the woody substance of vegetables is only a bundle of hollow tender pipes ; and after the same manner the solidity of the parts of animals may be produced . by the preceeding description we may observe , that all the parts of the body are originally of the same membranous or nervous nature , and therefore they are really to be accounted similar , and from the various conformation of the similar parts , and their complications , arise all the dissimilar parts ; so from the veins , nerves , bones , membranes , all the organical parts are framed , which are designed for sensible impressions , as the eye , or ear , &c. or some animal motion , as the muscles ; or the preparation of the animal humours , as the stomach and guts ; or the secretion of them , as the glandulous viscera . since all the animal parts , are either vessels which make the solid parts , or else humours and spirits , which make the fluid , i will divide all the diseases of an animal according to those parts ; viz. into , 1. the diseases of the solid parts . 2. the diseases of the humours . 3. the diseases of the spirits , which are the most fluid , or aerial parts of our humours . 1. the intemperies of the solid parts , depends on , 1. the humours circulating through them , as the blood and spirits , and they communicate either a sense of heat or coldness to them . a dry intemperies is only a defect of the nutritious juices , and a moist intemperies a fulness of the nutritious liquor . 2. the humour which nourishes the solid parts , must give them their quality with their nutriment ; an oyly hot blood will give a nutriment of the same quality : an acid nutriment will produce a coldness in the parts , a viscid nutriment gives a dryness , and a serous an hydropical humour . and since the intemperies depends on those humours , the correcting of their several preternatural states , cures all these preternatural dispositions of the similar parts ; for these may be esteemed as symptoms depending on the other , and need not be more particularly treated of . but i will only add , that the transient intemperies depends on the circulating humours , and is soon altered , but the permanent , which depends on nutriment , more difficultly . 2. the due magnitude of a part , is either increased by too much nourishment , or by fulness of viscid humours impacted , and the due natural magnitude is abated by the defect of the nutriment , or the obstruction of the vessels by viscid humours ; so that this species of the diseases of the solid parts , depends on the different state and motion of humours , and that being altered , the preternatural magnitude is cured . 3. the natural cavities of the solid part or its vessels , are chiefly obstructed by viscid or coagulated humours , and on them depends the cure of obstructions , which also sometimes depends on an external tumour compressing the vessels , or the growing together of its vessels after an vlcer . 4. the tone of a solid part is altered by the relaxation of its nervous fibers , which happens through defect of the spirits , or the obstruction of the vessels by viscid humours ; and therefore this diseased state is cured by supplying the quantity , or altering the quality of the humours . the curing of the vitiated tone of a part which depends on too much extension , or humidity of it , belongs to chirurgery . 5. the continuity of the solid parts is vitiated by the plethora of humours , which burst the vessels ; or the corrosive quality , which eats them . the cure of wounds properly belongs to chirurgeons . 6. the natural and voluntary motion of parts depends on the influx of spirits , and other right dispositions of the organs , so that all preternatural alterations of motion , whether increased , lessened , depraved , or abolished , depend on the different disposition of organs and motions of the spirit , and by rectifying them are cured . 7. the pain of the solid parts is the corrugation , or violent agitation of their fibers when the spirits are irritated by sharp humours , or the motion of humours obstructed ; from choler is a hot burning pain ; a cool gnawing pain from acid melancholy humours ; a corrosive pain , neither hot nor cold , from the salso-acid serum ; a distending pain from rarefied windy spirits ; a heavy pain from pituitous humours ; a beating pain from the pulse of the artery ; a tensive pain from the distention of the parts by the fulness of humours . these diseases from pain are onely cured by evacuating the quantity , and altering the quality of the humours . all other pains depending on external objects , relate to chirurgery . 8. the natural figure of the solid parts may be altered , the cure of which belongs to chirurgery , when it does not depend on the fulness or vitious state of humours . 9. the number of parts exceeding or deficient , is properly supplied or abated by chirurgery . 10. the undue situation or connexion of parts in fractures , luxations , hernia's , or the prolapsus of the anus or vterus , are to be rectified by chirurgical means . these are the chief preternatural indispositions of the solid parts , which hinder their use and actions ; and they are called the diseases of the solid parts , or alterations from their natural constitution , state , or qualities ; and i have observed , how far each of them depends on the preternatural state of humours as their cause , that they may be more easily cured by removing that , and that the species of diseases might not unnecessarily be multiplied , but reduced to the sewest heads . chap. ii. of the preternatural state of the humours , or the diseases of the fluid parts . the fluid part of an animal body is usually called the humours , with which not only the sanguineous , or chyle , or lymphatic vessels do abound , but also all the nervous and membranous tubes or fibrillae , which are filled with a spirituous liquor , which is the vehicle of the animal spirits , and many other humours , secreted by their peculiar glands from the blood or chyle , are contained in their vessels , or rejected by nature out of the body . although these humours be of different kinds in an adult animal , yet whilst the animalculum begins to increase in the egg , they all have their production from the white of the egg , colliquated by the heat of the hen ; and that liquor which begins to circulate is white and serous at first , not unlike the albuminous nutriment by which it is increased , but by the digestive heat of the hen , and the long circulation , the several parts of the sanguineous mass are produced . the fibrous parts of the blood are produced from the viscid particles of the albuminous liquor , which , upon boyling , are made thick and white , of which colour the fibers of the blood appear when they are washed with water . the red part of the blood is from the oyly and acid parts long digested into a purple colour , and that tinges the whole mass of blood. the serum or watery vehicle , in which the other parts swim , is only the albuminous liquor less digested . the secretitious humours of animals arrive not at their perfection in an embryo , till after a long circulation , digestion , and volatilization of their principles , for their spirits are poor and phlegmatic , their choler but a little bitter , nor their lympha very salt , nor their blood much vitriolic ; for these qualities are the products of a stronger heat , and a longer digestion . in an animal brought forth , the chyle is the first and original liquor , from which the blood receives its several parts . 1. it s fibrous parts are from the caseous parts of chyle . 2. it s oyly red part from the butyrous parts of chyle . 3. it s vitriolic acid from the acid tartar of chyle . 4. it s serum is the chyle it self in a middle state betwixt chyle and blood , whose waterish particles are the same as was in the chyle it self . these are the principles of animal humours , out of which all the several kinds of them , according to their several degrees of digestion or mixture of those principles , are naturally constituted and distinguished from one another . these following humours are separated from chyle it self , by the conglomerate glands , and therefore have the same mixture of principles , and a like digestion as the chyle it self . 1. the spittle and the pancreatic juyce , whose chylous lympha's agree in their vse , colour , and glandules . 2. the lympha of the guts and stomach . 3. the mucus of the wind-pipe and nose , and many other cavities , as that of the joynts , is of a more viscid consistence , useful for the defending the membranes of those parts . 4. the spirituous lympha of the brain , eyes , and nerves , serving for a vehicle of the spirits . 5. the milk in the breasts . 6. the seminal lympha's in both sexes . 7. the fat of chyle is produced from the buttery parts . from the serum of the blood , is produced the salt lympha . 1. the lympha of the lymphatics . 2. the nutritious juyce in the amnion , which is saltish , and is designed for the nourishment of the embryo . 3. the salt lympha in the pericardium , necessary for the motion of the muscles of the heart . 4. the salt lympha of the eyes . as the milky lympha's are designed chiefly for the producing of the chyle , which is the first digestion in an animal ; so the salt lympha's are designed for the turning of it into the serum of the blood , by its saltness , which must be esteemed the second degree of digestion in animal humours . the third digestion is when the serum is fully sanguified , and the secretitious humours prepared , which require the highest digestion , as the spirits , the semen , the choler , and the vitriolic acid of the blood. from the blood it self well digested are separated these two humours . 1. the choler , which is precipitated from the blood by the vitriolic acid of the spleen , and was its oyly and red part. 2. the sub-acid and slimy humour of the spleen , which is separated by the spleen from the viscid and vitriolic particles of the blood ; and this chiefly serves the separation of the choler from the blood ; but the choler is designed for the correcting the crudities of the chyle ; and by this means the liver sanguifies , and helps chylification . i have given this large catalogue of the animal humours , that the original liquors , from whence each secretitious humour is prepared , may be observed , upon whose healthful constitution the perfect natural temper of each secreted humour depends . it would cause endless repetitions to treat of the preternatural state of each secreted humour , for they have the same as their original liquors , which are the chyle , the serum , and the blood it self . 1. the chyle must be well prepared by fermentation from proper food , and acquire that degree of fermentation which is natural to each animal . 2. the chyle ought to be well changed , and digested into serum . 3. the serum must be truly sanguified by a long digestion . 4. the quantity of humours ought to be proportionable to their vessels , and to be contained in them . 5. humours ought to have their natural circulations , as the blood , the lympha , and spirits ; and the secretitious humours , their full secretion ; and those that be unuseful , their expulsion out of the body ; and those that be useful , their return into the blood , as their common ocean ; or to be preserved in their several vessels . these are the natural states of the humours , which are necessary for the healthful constitution of animals , and the contrary to those many alterations from them in an unhealthful or a diseased state ; of which , i shall make the following scheme . first , if the animal humours are ill prepared or digested , or fermented to any degree below their natural state , some of the cold cacochymia's are produced ; of which , i shall reckon these several degrees . 1. a mucilaginous state of the chyle , or other humours , and this is what is commonly called the pituitous cacochymia . 2. the tartareous or acerb state of chyle , or other humours , and they appear in bodies subject to sowreness , and is a higher degree of digestion than the pituitous state , but both stand below the natural digestion or fermentation of the meat . 3. a flatulent temper or state of the chyle , or other humours , when the spirits of the chyle are begun to separate , and have half fermented the chylaceous mass , and then it has the state of new drink not fully ripened by fermentation . 4. a serosity of blood is the natural consequent of a mucilaginous , tartareous , or flatulent chyle . secondly , if the chyle be over-fermented or digested too much , it becomes bitter , acrid , rancid , or putrid , for we often perceive the meat in the stomach either burning , or bitter , or oyly , or stinking ; and from this state of chyle are produced these several degrees of the hot cacochymia in the blood , and other humours . 1. a bilious , bitter , acrid state of humours ; and this is known by the bitterness in the stomach , and the abhorrence of bitter things , and the continual heat in the habit of the body , as well as the passions of the mind , as anger , revenge , courage . 2. a viscid state of blood , which produces pains and inflammations , and is evident upon bleeding , when there is a defect in the serum , or a viscid consistence of the chyle , upon the top of the blood , which is called its siziness . 3. the vitriolic acidity of the blood , which appears by any black humour evacuated , and by the affections of fear and sadness . 4. the serum of the blood acquires a salt acrimony , which corrodes and eats the gums , infects the skin with spots , and is the hot scurvey . 5. the putrefaction of any humour is the highest resolution or dissolution of its principles , from that state and mixture which made it the humour of a particular animal ; of which , these several species are very evident ; 1. diseases depending on an inward ferment , altered by the ill use of the six non-naturals , as fevers intermitting , with the several symptoms attending them . 2. those diseases which depend wholly on an outward ferment received into , 1. the flesh ; as hydrophobia , by the bite of a mad-dog ; or the poyson of any venomous animal , by its bite or sting . 2. the serum , by the infection of the touch of a salt humour , to which the morphews , scab , pox , and scald-head , are referrable , and leprosie ; all which are in some measure infectious , by a corrosive humour . 3. all venomous medicines which corrode and ferment the humours , become poysonous to the animal . 4. all malignant fevers , as the small-pox , measles , and plague , or pestilential fevers , have their original from the malignity of the air , and the poysonous sulphurs of the earth . 5. worms and lice are either produced by an egg received into the animal , or the putrefaction of its humours . thirdly , if the chyle be very plentiful , it breeds the following diseases . 1. an over-abundance of milk in the breasts of women . 2. a satyriasis , or an abundance of seminal lympha's . 3. a fatness , or over-growing of the habit of the muscular flesh , or the great quantity of fat , both which is called an obesity , or too fat , with an abundance of the chylous lympha's . 4. an undue increase of the viscera , or other parts , whilst the others decay , as in the rickets , and the imposthumations of the viscera , especially the liver . the rickets are a species of the palsie . 5. a plethora of blood. fourthly , if the chyle , or other nutritious humours , be wanting or deficient , these several kinds of defects are produced . 1. a defect of milk in the breasts . 2. a defect of the semen in sterility . 3. an atrophy of the body , or any part of it , or the viscera . 4. a defect of the saliva in thirst . the following diseases depend on the vitiated motion of humours . all obstructions depend on the stoppage of the motion of the animal humours through their vessels . i. the obstruction of the chyle-vessels , which produces the tumours of the mesentery , and its glands . ii. the obstruction of the blood-vessels . 1. as in the polypus , and suffocating catarrhs . 2. the reflux of blood is stopt in inflammations and tumours , varices , and haemorrhoids . iii. the secretion of humours through their several glands is hindred . 1. in the jaundice the choler is hindred from its secretion . 2. in the diseases of the spleen the separation of the vitriolic slimy humour is stopt , and that evacuated into the stomach . 3. the secretion of the salt lympha is hindred in the scrophula , and in catarrhs ; or else of the milky lympha's in the cooler kind , and in the tumours of the breasts . 4. the secretion of animal spirits is hindred through the glands of the brain : in apoplexies , lethargies , or any other sleepy distempers . fifthly , the motion of the animal humours , which are excrementitious , are suppressed in the following diseases . 1. in an ischuria , which is a stoppage of vrine . 2. in a want of stools , or astrictio alvi . 3. in the stoppage of transpiration or sweat. 4. in a suppression of the menses . 5. in a suppression of the lochia . 6. in the long retaining of a mola . 7. in the suppression of the haemorrhoids . sixthly , the preternatural evacuation of nutritious humours out of the body , are , 1. by a continual vomiting . 2. by a diarrhaea or looseness . 3. by a diabetes . 4. by a ptyalismus . 5. by a gonorrhaea . 6. by the fluor albus . 7. by too much sweating . 8. by an abortion . 9. by an epiphora or flux of tears . 10. incontinence of vrin . these are the fluxes which cause diseases . seventhly , the evacuations of blood , are , 1. the bleeding at nose . 2. spitting of blood from the throat or lungs . 3. the great flux of the haemorrhoids . 4. the flux of blood , like the washing of meat , in fluxu hepatico . 5. too great a flux of the menses . 6. the pissing of blood. 7. the vomiting of blood. eighthly , the preternatural evacuation of serous humours into the cavities of the body , are , 1. in an ascites , when the water fills the cavities of the belly . 2. in the dropsie of the breast , or head , or testicles , it fills those particular cavities . 3. in an anasarca it fills the muscular habit of the body . these diseases depend on the vitiated motion of animal spirits , and their preternatural qualities . first , the motion of the animal spirits is stopt in the nerves by the viscidity of their succus nervosus . 1. in those belonging to half the body , or the whole , in palsies . 2. in those belonging to the heart , or pulse , in fainting , or syncope's . 3. in the nerves of the eyes , in a gutta serena . 4. in those of the ears , in a deafness . 5. in those of the tongue and nose , in the loss of their smell and taste . 6. in those of the stomach , in the want of appetite . 7. in the nerves of the generating organs , in venere languida . 8. in those of the oesophagus , in deglutitione impeditá . secondly , the motion of the animal spirits into the senses is continued longer than usual , and this expansion is called vigiliae , or want of sleep , and depends on a hot flatulency , or elasticity of spirits . thirdly , the animal spirits are sometimes irritated , and violently agitated in particular parts by some ungrateful object : and this is called pain : whose species are , 1. cephalalgia , or pain of the head. 2. cardialgia , or pain at the stomach . 3. colica , or pain in the stomach or guts . 4. odontalgia , or pain in the teeth . 5. otalgia , or pain in the ear. 6. stranguria , or pain in the making of vrin , from sharp humours . 7. calculus , or pain in the vrin passages , from the stone . 8. podagra , or pain in the joynts . 9. arthritis scorbutica . 10. all the inflammations and vlcers following them cause great pain : whose species are , 1. aphthae , or inflammations of the mouth . 2. angina , or inflammations of the throat . 3. inflammations of the vvula , and tonsils , and gums . 4. parotis , or inflammations of the glands about the ears . 5. the inflammation of the stomach or intestines . 6. the inflammation of the anus , and haemorrhoids . 7. the inflammation of the liver or spleen . 8. nephritis , or the inflammation of the kidnies . 9. phrenitis , or the inflammation of the membranes of the brain . 10. ophthalmia , or the inflammation of the eyes . 11. peripneumonia , the inflammation of the lungs . 12. pleuritis , the inflammation of the pleura and muscles of the breast . 13. inflammations of the breasts . 14. rheumatismus , or the inflammations of the muscles of the limbs in general , or else of some particular muscles , as those of the hip , in the ischias ; or the back , in lumbago . 15. inflammation of the stones . by the continuance of the inflammations , imposthumes and vlcers are bred in all the parts of the body , the chief of which , are , 1. vomiea , or an abcess in the lungs contained in a bladder . 2. empyema , or a collection of matter in the cavity of the breast . 3. phthisis , or an vlcer in the lungs . 4. dysenteria , or an vlcer in the intestines . 5. tenesmus , or an vlcer in the intestinum rectum . 6. vlcers of the eyes . 7. vlcers of the kidneys and bladder . 8. vlcers of the anus . 9. vlcers of the viscera , as liver , spleen . 10. vlcers of the glands in the scrophula or kings-evil . 11. vlcers of the mouth and throat , nose or ears , gums and stomach . 12. gonorrhaea , or vlcers of the prostatae . all these vlcers may conveniently be treated of immediately after the instammations of their several parts , to which each vlcer must be referred . because the fever attending inflammations for the most part , though at first it occasions them , yet afterwards it depends on the tumour and pain ; i chose to referr them to the class of pains , rather than to that of fevers ; and also , because many inflammations depend on other causes than fevers ; but all are attended with great pain . fourthly , the animal spirits are some time in an explosive motion , by which they cause convulsions , which depend much on the hottest flatulency of humours ; as , 1. epilepsia is a convulsion of all the outward parts , with a falling down suddenly . 2. passio hysterica is a convulsion of the inward parts , as the lungs , diaphragma , mesentery , womb , and muscles of the belly . 3. chorea s ti viti , is a species of convulsion observed in the lameness of girls , before their puberty , with shaking of their leg and hand . 4. the convulsions of children from pain , as in the breeding of teeth , gripes , or worms . 5. the convulsion from serous matter in the heads of children , or the metastesis of a malignant fever thither . 6. the palpitation of the heart is a convulsion of it . 7. singultus is a convulsion of the stomach and diaphragma . 8. coughing is a convulsive motion of the breast . 9. sneezing is a slight convulsion from humours irritating the nose . 10. priapismus is a convulsion of the penis , which causes painful erection of it . fifthly , the animal spirits have sometimes a violent , tumultuous , or restless motion in the brain , by which the judgment is depraved , and the idaea's confused . 1. mania is a furious motion of the animal spirits , with the passion of anger and boldness ; these spirits are from a rancid , cholerick blood. 2. melancholia is a restless motion of the spirits , joyned with the passion of fear and sadness ; from a vitriolic state of blood. 3. furor uterinus is a delirium joyned with an immoderate appetite of venery , in which case the spirits , as well as the other humours , are tinctured with the seminal faetid lympha . sixthly , the animal spirits acquire some crude or mixt flatuosity ; or become windy , as in bottled liquors , or the spirits of those not fully fermented . these distempers happen in a flatulent cacochymia . 1. vertigo , which is a vertiginous motion of spirits . 2. tympanites is a permanent inflation of the membranes of the abdomen , by flatulent spirits . 3. asthma is the inflation of the membranes of the lungs , and of the membranes covering the muscles of the thorax , but does not continue long . 4. incubus is an inflation of the membranes of the stomach , which hinders the motion of the diaphragma , and lungs , and pulse , and motion , but with a sense of a weight oppressing the breast . 5. a windy inflation of the vterus , after child-bed , in many hysterical women , and those especially who have oft miscarried , are sensible of wind passing from the womb. 6. the flatulent tumours of particular parts . seventhly , the animal spirits are unfit for the motions of sense or reasoning , or memory , by their depauperated or waterish state , or some indisposition in the canals of the nervous fibers in all fools , which we call morofis , and the low , phlegmatic , or waterish , or tartareous cacochymia's . each cacochymia produces animal spirits of a peculiar temper suitable to it ; so that by observing the cacochymia , we may know the particular ill state of the spirits ; and this cannot be cured without altering the other . the spirits are a secreted humour , and often circulating through the blood ; they must partake of its several cacochymia's ; and this observation is most certain ; qualis chylus , talis est sanguis ; qualis sanguis , talis est succus nervosus , caeterique omnes humores secretiti . chap. iii. of the preparation of animal humours by fermentation . from the crude and watry juices of vegetables , we prepare all our wines by fermentation , which dissolves the slimy mucilage of the grapes , or other fruit , into a more fluid consistence ; it separates the acid particles from the more earthy , and volatilizes the oleous particles , and unites them with the acid ; for we observe that all fermented liquors ( whether from fruits or corn , ) are composed out of a sweet rarefied and well digested mucilage , and of acid oleous particles , ( which are their pungent spirits , ) all which being dissolved in a watry vehicle , the fermented liquors obtain a clear , lympid , and equal consistence . the particles which compose our chyle , are very like those mentioned of fermented liquors , and by the following discourse it will be manifest , that the chyle has its preparation by being fermented as other liquors be . chyle has the same principles as milk , a viscidity from the caseous parts , an oyliness from the butyraceous parts , and an acidity from the tartareous , which we taste in butter-milk ; besides , a waterish serosity , in which the other principles swim and are mixed . it is scarce doubted by any of our modern physicians , that the chyle is prepared by fermentation , when they consider the nature of the saliva , how much it ferments animal humours ▪ when any one is bitten by a mad dog or other venomous creature ; and the most familiar use of the runnet is to ferment our milk , and give a strong foetor to cheese . besides the saliva , there is observed in the stomach of animals , a slimy lympha issuing from the glandules of the cavities there , which being slimy , foetid , sub-acid , or salso-acid , it resembles the natural temper of the rumet , and likewise its use , by being an animal ferment . in birds there are no reliques of the former digestion in their craws , or gizards , and therefore the lympha of the primae viae , suffices for a ferment without the acid reliques , and the same suffices in the first digestion of the succus nutritius in an embryo . that i may the better explain the fermentative nature of the saliva , and the other lympha's of the stomach , i will compare it with barm , which , 1. is separated from a fermenting liquor , and contains the spirits of it in bubbles ; so the saliva is separated from the chyle new mixt with the serum of the blood , and from thence it has its preternatural acid , bitter , or salt taste . 2. barm has viscid parts , it smells strong , and gives a heat on the tongue . i have distilled a vinous spirit from it , so that it contains spirits fit to ferment . the saliva is viscid , and gives a milky crust , when dryed , on the tongue ; it is naturally frothy , and it much weakens the digestion to spit much ; it has no considerable smell or taste , because it ought to take sapid particles from other bodies in most animals , but birds who swallow whole grains can have no taste . wheat meal , with the white of an egg , ferments in the want of barm , and the white of an egg is a glandulous milky lympha . 3. the spirits included in barm , agitate the spirits of new drink , so the saliva contains an oyly acid in it , which gives it a whiteness like chyle , and these active particles give a ferment ative motion to those included in the new meats . this foetor in the lympha of the stomach , is from the spirits of the animal , ( for it resembles the smell of each animal , and no foetor is produced without a high fermentation . ) this therefore easily communicates its internal agitation , ( when the food comes chewed and broken into the stomach ) to the oyly acid particles of the alimentary mass , whose viscid particles are rarefied by the mentioned agitation , and the oyly acid dissolved in the liquid part , and hence is the colour and consistence given to chyle . that the meat in the stomach is dissolved by fermentation , appears by the following observations . the contents in the stomach , after their dissolution , strike the nose with a pungent acidity , from the volatilization of the tartar of the chyle . there is also in the contents in the stomach a flatulency , and a great foetor , which are the natural effects of fermentations in vegetables , and of putrefaction in animals , which is the highest degree of fermentation . we know not yet any menstruum which can so suddenly dissolve flesh meats , but we find that they soon putrefie , and those that be half putrefied , are easiest digested . as to our drink , that is wholly prepared by fermentation ; and we find , by our experience , that all fermented meats and drinks are easiliest digested ; and those unfermented , by barm or leaven , are very hardly digested . but the fermentation of our chyle will appear more evidently , by observing , that whatsoever medicine helps the fermentation of wines , those of the same nature promote also the preparation of our chyle , which is by raising its fermentation . 1. calx viva and gypsum put into fermenting wines , help their fermentation , by precipitating their crude tartar which fixes the oyly spirits , and coagulates them . after the same manner physicians , by their fixed and volatile salt , and testaceous medicines , exalt the fermentation of the blood , and free the oyls from the austere tartar , with which the medicines mentioned are coagulated , and pass off by stool or vrine , and the same medicines help the digestion in the stomach . 2. aromatics , as cubebs , cinnamon , nutmegs , orris , or cloves , are usually put into crude poor wines , to give them more oyly spirits , and to excite their languid motion ; and for the same end crude wines are included in resinous vessels ; and we add resin , or shavings of fir to vapid wines . these are easily turned into a flame by fire , and these therefore more readily produce heat and ebullition in fermenting wines , which is only a less degree of fire , from a less intense motion of its oyly acid particles . physicians for the same end use all sorts of aromaticks , and resinous plants , that by their volatile oyls , they might agitate and rarefie the oyly particles , both in the chyle and blood , and by that means raise their fermentations . 3. bitter acrid plants help the fermentation and depuration of all mault liquors , and therefore mustard and ginger are sometimes added to bcer or cyder , to promote their fermentation ; and hops or worm-wood have the same effect . our blood and humours are much heated by bitter and acrid medicines ; they excite our appetite , and hasten the digestion of our food , as every ones experience does evince . 4. the greeks use sulphur in the preparation of crude wines , and in many places , the vessels are sulphurated with brimstone ; by experience we are taught , that metallic sulphurs exagitate the oyls of animals , and thereby promote their chylification and sanguisication . 5. vinous liquors abound with an oleous acid spirit , whereby they much promote the fermentation of other liquors , and for this reason vapid wines are put upon the lees of more noble wines to give them a spirit , and for the same reason we stum our crude wines to new ferment them , and to renew their spirits . in the crudities of the chyle , all animal ferments are useful , as old cheese , in which the runnet lies : vinous liquors which have undergone a fermentation , are apt to produce the same in other liquors ; so spirituous liquors cause the chyle and blood to boil and ferment , and sometimes produce a fever . we use the inward skins of gizards of hens and pidgeons , in which the animal ferment lies , to help our digestions ; we invent new sauces and pickles , which resemble the animal ferment in taste and virtue , as the salso-acid gravies of meat ; the salt pickles of fish , anchoves , oysters ; pickled fruits , as mangoes , olives , capers , chatchops , and an indian liquor ; all which promote the fermentation of our meats , and so produce a surseit ; sometimes french wines and rhenish heat the blood and ferment the chyle . the same medicines not only ferment both the chyle and wine , but also the fermentation is restrained and stopped by the same alike . the heat of the fire promotes fermentation , and much cold checks it ; so we apply heating medicines or skins outwardly to a weak stomach , and we find all cooling things inwardly and outwardly to cause pain and gripes in weak digestions . acids , fat 's , austere juices , and those that are very mucilaginous and watry , are difficultly fermented by art , but hinder both the fermentation of wines and the chylaceous mass , for these tastes hinder the agitation of the oleous acid particles , because they consist of particles difficultly moved . this fermentation by which the chyle and blood are prepared , may be depraved both ways , for it may be depressed under its natural state , or exalted above that degree which is suitable to the natural temper of any animal , of both which errors , and the cachochymia's depending on them , i shall next discourse . but i shall first farther observe , that though the chyle is prepared by fermentation , yet all other humours arising from it , as the serum and blood , and all the secretitious humours from each of them , are prepared only by circulation and a longer digestion , by mixture and secretion ; for by these they may acquire their peculiar crases and tastes ; by the ferment of the stomach , the various kinds of meats are changed into the natural temper of each animal , and the lympha of the stomach has most eminently the specisic taste of each animal , as will appear to any person who will taste it . if the chyle be rightly fermented , all the humours arising from it are duly prepared ; but if the fermentation of that is vitiated , all the other humours produced from vitiated chyle , retain a tincture of its defect in their preparation . whatsoever ferments the meat , helps and raises the digestion of all other humours , and therefore we need not enquire for any ferment or other digestives , for the particular humours of animals , besides those which ferment the chylaceous mass . all the conditions requisite to a fermentation , are to be found only in the stomach , and its fermentation very clearly explained , by comparing the digestion of the stomach with artificial fermentations of vegetables ; for we first pound the plant which is to be fermented , and dilute it with water in which some ferment is dissolved , and afterwards it is to be placed in some warm place till it acquires a vinous acid smell , and then it is fit for the yielding a brisk inflammable spirit . after the same manner our meat is chewed and swallowed into the stomach , and there mixed with the saliva , and the viscid slime of the stomach , which are its ferments . the stomach has a gentle digesting heat from the neighbouring viscera , which are sanguineous , whose warmth digests the meat into a pulp , which smells sub-acid and foetid , and that stimulating , the stomach excites its expulsion ; for if it should stay longer there , it would become putrid ; but no more is requisite , but the loosening the natural texture of our aliments , and making the oyly acid parts and the viscid free to dissolve into an alimentary tincture , which is only the juyces of vegetables and animals dissolved out of their fibrous vessels , and then they will as easily ferment as they did in the plant or animal in which they were first produced . the capacity of the stomach makes it fit for a fermenting vessel , and its membranous substance makes it fit for the distention necessary upon a fermentation , and its two orifices are prepared for the letting forth of the rarefied spirits in ructus or windiness , the common effects of all fermented liquors . chap. iv. of the depressed fermentation of humours in general . when a slimy , acerb , or flatulent chyle is produced , and when from thence a watery serous blood is digested , we must acknowledge that both the chyle and blood have had too weak a fermentation , and by that are ill prepared ; of which defect we usually observe these causes . first , when the meats we use have some vitious quality , which gives the same tincture to the chyle , and that is not corrected by the digestion , as in meats hardly fermented , as those which have a tough consistence : all meats of a watry , mucilaginous , acerb , viscous , oleous , acid , austere , and fat taste , and such as the meat is in any eminent quality , such is the chyle , and the state of humours thence arising , for we observe a mucilage in crude corn ; and those green-sickness girls , who eat great quantities of oat-meal , abound with an extraordinary quantity of crude mucilaginous chyle which oppresses their stomachs , and stusss their lungs , and gives a great paleness to the whole habit of the body . not only the quality of our diet depresses the fermentation in the stomach , but the quantity may be more than the ferment can concoct or suffice to dissolve and agitate ; so by frequent debauches , the digestion is weakned , and after too great a fulness the stomach is oppressed , and flatuosities produced in it . secondly , the preternatural state of the ferment which ought to be separated from the chyle , well circulated and exalted in the blood , by the glands of the primae viae , and to have the faetid animal spirits mixed with a chylous mucilage , and tartareous acid , whilst it retains , its healthful constitution , but it is altered from this state in a depressed fermentation . 1. when the ferment of the stomach is vapid , or less impregnate with the faetid animal spirits , when its consistence is too viscid or phlegmatick , or its acidity too acerb or crude and less volatile . 2. the bile if it be insipid , watery , viscous , depresses the fermentation of the chylaceous mass , for by its bitterness and acrimony , it ought to correct the acidities of it , which are produced by the fermentation in the stomach , and by the same tastes , like bitter plants in other liquors help their depuration , and fermentation , and with the acid unite into an animal volatile salt. 3. these ill qualities of the ferment and the bile depend on a crude , watery , austere , mucilaginous blood , derived from parents , or otherways produced ; for the ferment will retain the crude state and temper of the humours , from which it is derived . 4. a remiss circulation of the blood ill digests , and worse separates the ferment from it . 5. waterish humours , which ought to have been separated by other glands , being detained in the blood , they deprave and enervate the ferment , which are also transmitted to the stomach with it ; so by the suppression of the menses , or other evacuations , and especially by fevers , and a catarrh , the stomachical ferment is vitiated . 6. great evacuations which carry off the nutritious humours , weaken the ferment , as haemorrhagies , which depauperate the blood by vomitings and loosness , which carry off the fermenting mass , convulsive distempers , and all nervous effects , which spend the animal spirits , or divert them from the stomach . 7. some of the six non-naturals alter the ferment , as our diet , which is mentioned above , and idleness , or want of motion , hinders the secretion of the ferment , and distribution of the chyle , from which it is prepared . sleep causes the same stagnation of humours , if immoderate . fear stops the circulation of blood , and secretion of the humours . too much heat in the summer time causes the blood and humours to evaporate their volatile parts , which promote the fermentation . in a cold and moist region the ferment is too slimy and waterish . thirdly , digestion is vitiated by the diseases of the stomach ; when it wants its rugosity , the meat descends undigested too soon , or is vomited up ; when it is stopt by any tumour , contraction or compression about the pylorus , the meat turns sowre and flatulent . the cure of a weak digestion consists , i. in avoiding all these evident causes which produce it , and by using the contrary ; as , 1. avoiding waters , fat , acerb , acid , austere or viscous vegetables , and all drinks half boiled , and half fermented , turbid or acid . 2. the most convenient diet , is that of flesh-meats , in which there is a foetid oyliness , and a natural saltness , and no crudities . the most convenient liquor , is small ale for constant drink , or else small wines . the physical tastes in our diet which help a weak digestion , are , the aromatic , the salt , the bitter , the acrid , or vinous taste , these help the fermentation in the stomach , and are to be commonly mixed with our meats . the flesh-meats of an easie digestion , are the flesh of all young animals , as pig , lamb , rabbit , chicken , potched eggs , and fresh fish ; but the diet which has the physical tastes above-mentioned , is more easily digested by weak stomachs . bread well fermented , and small ale , are the most easily digested by a weak english stomach . salt meats excite the appetite , keep the body open , cut the phlegm , strengthen the stomach , and help digestion . 3. motion helps the depuration of wines , if carryed in a ship , or shaked ; so exercise helps the distribution of the chyle , the circulation of the blood , and secretion of humours , and the digestion in the stomach , as well as sanguification of the chyle , for an external motion of fermenting liquors promotes the internal agitation of parts , in which the nature of fermentation consists . 4. instead of fear and sadness , joy and anger are to be indulged ; for these make a brisker motion of humours ; but the former check the expansion of our spirits , and cool the body . 5. all natural evacuations of humours must be restored ; but too much venery cools the humours . 6. a serene and clear thin air helps digestion , by giving a greater expansion to the spirits . 7. cares and watching excite the animal spirits to a brisker agitation ; but long sleep dulls them : sleep of 7 or 8 hours is sufficient . ii. the second intention respects the correcting the ferment , and the faults of the humours from whence it arises , and the evacuating of the quantity of any preternatural humours , by vomiting and purging , which is described in the cure of the following cacochymia's . iii. the third intention , is the suppressing of all preternatural evacuations , which will be described in the cure of them . iv. the supply of the defect of the ferment , by medicines like it in taste and vertue . v. the diseases of the stomach are to be cured by the prescribed method for those particular distempers , so they are of want of appetite , inflammations , or pains of the stomach , the stopping evacuations by vomit or stool , &c. the following tastes are the general digestives in all the old cacochymia's , which depend on a low fermentation . these promote the fermentation of the chylaceous mass , the circulation of blood , and secretion of humours . these deterge the viscous phlegm from the membranes of the stomach , and corroborate its fibers ; and upon these accounts these tastes are the general stomachics . i. the cresse acrids , as horse-radish , scurvy-grass insused in wine and mustard-seed . ii. the corrosive acrids , as aaron-roots in powder or wine , and pulvis ari compositus ; these two tastes quicken the appetite , and garlic preserved does the same . iii. the bitter acrids of a wormwood taste , as conserve of wormwood , and wormwood in rhenish or sack , or wormwood-cakes made with the oyl and sugar . iv. the bitter nauseous plants , as centaury , buck-bean , gentian , of which thea may be made or wines by infusion , and aromatics added , or sal volatile taken with them . v. the aromatic acrids . 1. of the sweet class very burning or biting , as ginger , galanga , calamus aromaticus , orris , zedoary , cardamum . 2. of the sweet fenil class , as seeds of fenil , anise , caroway , cummin , dill , angelica , and imperatoria roots . 3. of the laurel class , as orange and limon peals , winter-bark , bay-berries , cloves , cinnamon , lign'aloes , nutmegs , jamaica pepper , myrtil-leaves ; and these are properly infused in wine , or made into powders , or lozenges , as of the distilled oyls , of oyl of cinnamon and cloves . 4. of the corrosive class , as pepper , cubebs , species diatrion , pipereon , in rotulis . 5. of the terebinthinate class , as juniper-berries candied , as in rheu , balsamum peru , mechae , mastich . 6. of the bitterish styptics , as rosemary , mint , marjoram . vi. the mineral sulphurs which exagitate the animal oyls , and so promote fermentation , as chalybeates , antimonial , and common sulphur . vii . the testaceous stony medicines , and all salts , volatile and fixed , the ashes of vegetables , and calces of minerals , are acidities . viii . all these tastes prescribed in the cure of the defect of a ferment , supply its office , and contain an animal ferment in them . as , 1. the mucous , sub-acid , faetid diet , made of animal humours ; as cheese , the inward skins of gizards , which have the tincture of the gall , or ℥ i of rennet of a hare , or calf ; all meat or fish somewhat putrefied , as anchoves , pickled oysters ; and outwardly we apply leaven , with the juyce of mint . 2. by artificial sauces we imitate the natural foetid and sub-acid slime of the stomach , as in catchupmango plumbs , mushrooms , and some indian liquors or sauces of garlic , assa foetida , — salt , and aromatics , mustard-seed , with vinegar in common mustard . 3. by the salso-acid medicines , as tartar. vitriolat . sal armoniac . arcan . duplicatum , terra ful. tartari , lixivium of lime and oyster-shells , we help fermentation . 4. by the vinous , sweet , and sub-acid spirits or juyces , spiritus nitri dulcis , sweet rit of salt , spirit of bread , elixir vitrioli , spirit of mastich , which is acid , spirit of verdegrease , juyces of citrons , limons , oranges , berberries , currans , spirit of vinegar , all sharp rhenish wines , old hock , conserve of hips , water of vine leaves , or other acid juyces , and all physical , aromatic vinegars . acids before meat excite an appetite , salso-acids with meats , and aromatics are good after meat to help digestion . fourthly , external applications are described below , which encrease the heat of the stomach , and strengthen the fibers . chap. v. of the mucilaginous state of animal humours , and especially the chyle , and chylous lympha's , which is usually called the pituitous cacochymia . the food of animals contains in it much of a sweetish mucilage , as is in all corn , grass , milk , and the legumens ; neither does flesh-meat want their sliminess . the white of an egg is ropy , slippy , and is a nutritious lympha separated from the chyle by the glands of the ovarium . the decoctions of fish have a great mucilage ; and the gellies of broih sufficiently prove the viscid sliminess in the flesh-meats we eat . from our food animals necessarily take the matter of their mucilaginous humours , as will appear by these causes of phlegm . 1. all drinks occasion a great quantity of slimy phlegm , which is only the mucilage of barley extracted from the solid parts of the grains . all mauli-drinks may be boiled into the consistence of a slimy syrup , or that of a plaster . all sweet fruits have their mucilage , as grapes , gooseberries , &c. and therefore these yield much phlegmatic matter in digestion ; and all thick wines made of them are accounted phlegmatic . all the legumens , as peas and beans , have an evident sliminess ; and so have all cakes , and crusty baked pyes , or such like ; and all meats prepared of flower . all the olera , as cabbage , turnips , lettuce , spinage , cucumbers , melons , &c. have an evident sliminess , which they always produce in animals , who eat them . this mucilage in plants is their crude juyce , and is of an oyly nature , as appears evidently in linseed ; this is of a cooling quality , as phlegm is accounted : from their crude slime many plants prepare their sweet , bitter , acrid or aromatic tastes ; and phlegm is a nutritious juyce , which may be farther digested into blood. the nervous parts of animals yield the greatest slime , as the calves feet and head ; the guts are membranes of animals , the shavings of horns , and the decoctions of bones . the liver , spleen , and brains , have much slime . fish and water-fowl , who feed of turbid and muddy slimy water , are accounted to be the causes of phlegm , especially eels . all flesh full of nourishment , as beef , pork , gellies , gravies , and eggs , increase the matter of phlegm . young creatures , as pig , lamb , &c. yield a very great slime , if eaten too young . goats-flesh cats very slimy . all fat meats are slimy , and of hard digestion ; and fat bodies are usually phlegmatic ▪ oyl has a slimeness , and so has fat always joyned with it . milk breeds much phlegm from the caseous parts in it ; and butter is accounted phlegmatic from its oyly fat parts . too great a quantity of meat , and often drinking great quantities , breed a sliminess in the chyle , by hindring the fermentation of the meat , and its perfect dissolution . 2. sleep and idleness hinder the circulation of humours , and produce a stagnation of them , by which , their viscid , oyly or sibrous parts cohere and unite into a slime . 3. a mucilage is increased in the humours by a fenny , wet countrey , or moist air , which clogs the spirits fermenting ; and a cold air coagulates the humours ; so the lymphatic liquor , exposed to the air , immediately grows thick or gellies : and all our strong broths grow thick and viscid by cooling . 4. cares and sadness stop the motion of humours , and thicken them ; and hence it is that melancholy persons are phlegmatic , and spit much viscid phlegm . 5. the suppression of evacuations , as the menses in girls , and stoppage of a cough , or spitting , encreases phlegm in the stomach . 6. haemorrhages , long fevers , fluxes of the belly , or other chronical diseases , produce much slime . 8. those who have been born of phlegmatic parents , or live in a moist , cold countrey , near standing waters , or the sea-side ; those who are of a great age , for want of a perfect digestion ; and those who are very young , as children , through their much and disorderly eating ; women , by reason of the lesser degree of fermentation in that sex , abound most with phlegm . the cold and the moisture of the air stopping the pores in the winter-time , makes that season to be accounted most phlegmatic . 9. the mucilaginous temper of the blood , chyle , and ferment of the stomach , is natural to some constitutions , who dissolve their meat only into a mucilaginous juyce , which is the greatest crudity of our digestion ; and therefore , from this arises all our phlegm ; for that was accounted , by the ancient physicians , the coldest humour ; which being a nutritious juyce , it , by only fasting , was turned into blood. this crude chyle swims in the blood , and appears as milk in the blood , let out of some persons who are greatly cachectic ; and by putting spirit of harts-horn to such milky blood , i have turn'd it reddish , or of a rosy colour . such was the blood of a gentleman who had drank hard , and bled much ; this milky blood ▪ in him was never turn'd into serum ; but in others of a less crudity , the milky chyle is imperfectly turned into serum , but that is very much in quantity , and watery or insipid , rather than very salt . the sanguification is hindred for want of an acrid bile ; and the saltness thence proceeding . the circulation is hindred by the viscidity of the slime , and the secretion of most of the glandulous humours . the chyle is never digested further than to a nutritious sweetness , and from hence the habit of the body is very fleshy and fat ; but the pulse slow , soft , and weak ; the spirits are dull and torpid ; the bile ropy and sweet , rather than bitter , or acrid ; the juyce of the spleen very mucilaginous , for want of digestion , and the blood has more of a gelatinous consistence , than fibrous ; and tumours happen in the viscera or glands . in the brain , sleepy distempers , and dulness of the senses , or stolidity from the thick sliminess of the nervous juyce ; the vrin is pale and waterish , with thick and white farinaceous contents , or without any , if there be obstructions , and an appetite is wanting . the sweats are cold and viscid , for phlegm offends by both those qualities . the succus nutritius abounds with slime , and causes a leucophlegmatia , or pale tumour of the habit of the body . the seminal lympha's are cold and slimy in sterilities , and the fluor albus , or gonorthoea simplex , and so becomes unsit for the use of a ferment in generation . the lympha lactea is most abundant in the phlegmatic , for that is immediately produced from the mucilaginous chyle , and separated by the glands of the mouth , whence the slimy phlegm is hawked up ; and this is plentifully emptied into the stomach , where it causes a loss of appetite , a saburra pituitosa , and windiness ; and in the lungs it causes coughs , and ●●oppage of phlegm , or dyspnoea , with lassitude in the limbs , a slow fever , and palenes , of vrin , and of the countenance , and palpitation of the heart , which are the signs of a pituitous cachexia , evident in the green-sickness . all outward oedematous tumours arise from the succus nutritius of a pituitous temper . this chyle , and the lympha lactea , is the natural and alimentary pituita , which the ancients described as insipid : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , is galen's description of it : this is the humid , cool , and sweetish part , which is so agreeable to the taste of the blood ; and they esteemed that blood pituitous naturally , which abounded with an exceeding quantity of sweetish chyle , which remained something undigested in the blood , and was not wholly sanguified , but capable of it ; this , of all the humours to the touch , was , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or coldest , and they called it most viscid , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , when it is made so by the great ebullition of blood in inflammations , for they thicken it into that tough skin which covers the blood , when cooled in the dish . but when this chylaceous part of the blood , or the lympha's thence arising , become preternatural , galen describes the phlegm thus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the lacteal lympha's have their acidities from stagnation in their glands , or the tartar abounding in chyle . they have their saltness from the saltness of chyle , and that of the serum in catarrhs . in respect of the consistence , the pituita is watery and thin , or mucous , or slimy , or tenaceous , when the thin parts are evaporated , the vitreous pituita is from the thickness of chyle , or its stagnation in the lungs , and this is clear , like gum-tragacanth dissolved . cold may coagulate a pellucid lympha into such a consistence . the tartareous or gypsea pituita is from the earthy petrefying parts , mixt with the viscid phlegm , which is salso-acid . by the following signs , the ancients guessed at the differences of the pituita . 1. by the pale , clear vrin , and want of appetite , they discerned the insipid phlegm , or the lowest state of digestion . 2. by a pale , thin , milky water , and the greatness of the appetite , they knew the acidity of the phlegm . 3. by a lacteal , pale , thin water , with a globous troubled residence , ( and the cholic ) they guessed at the vitreous phlegm ; but this is frequently spit up , and evacuated by stool or vrin , and so best observed . 4. by the citrine vrin of a thicker consistence , and high-coloured sediment , the saltness of phlegm is known . the mucilaginous state of humours is to be cured , first , by avoiding the diet , and all the other evident causes above-mentioned , which produce them , and using the diet mentioned in the cure of a weak digestion or fermentation . the diet in which there is least slime is best , as wheat-bread well baked , and dry ; wine and water ; the flesh of birds ; roasted meats , as mutton , rabbit , larks , sparrows ; and all salt meats , or broiled meats . fasting spends the phlegm . secondly , the abundant mucilaginous phlegm must be evacuated , i. by vomiting ; and those of , 1. a. bitter , acrid taste , as vinum scylliticum . 2. or vitriolic taste , as sal vitrioli . 3. or sulphureous , as infusio croci metallorum . 4. mercurial styptic , as merc. vitae . ii. by purgers . 1. aloetics , which are acrid , bitter , and nauseous , as tinct . sacra , pil. hierae cum agarico , aloephanginae , stomach . mastichin . de ammoniac . pil. foetid . cum gummi , aloe rosata , elix . proprietat . 2. by acrid purgers , as jalap , agaric , scammony , which contain an acrid , corrosive rosin , with a sliminess . 3. by mercurials , a plentiful evacuation of phlegmatic humours are procured , for the acid phlegm , like spittle , easily mixes with the mercury , and mercury injected into the conglomerate glands , through the artery , easily passes them iii. by sudorifics , which are bitter and acrid , as decoctions of the woods , for the sweets often appear glutinous , and smell acid or sowre . iv. by diuretics , the phlegm is sometimes evacuated , or , at least , corrected by their acrimony . v. in women , acrid pessi evacuate an albuminous pituita from the vagina . vi. by the errhines ( which also excite a cough ) from the nose and lungs , a pituita is evacuated . vii . salivation and masticatories evacuate considerably , but salivation many pints of phlegm in a day , and very much by chewing of tobacco . these are the natural evacuations of the pituitous lympha , which the physicians procure by art , and imitate the natural evacuations of it , through the secretory glands . thirdly , the fermentation of the chyle is to be reduced to its natural degree , by the tastes above-mentioned , in the cure of a weak digestion ; and , 1. more particularly all acrid and bitter gums seem appropriate specifics by their mucilaginous consistence , by which they adhere to the slyme ; but by their bitterness they deterge it , and by their acrimony dissolve it ; such is ammoniacum , bdellium , galbanum , assa foetida , myrrha , and all terebinthinate gums and balsams . 2. the ropy consistence of wines is cured by a lixivium made of vine branches , by calx viva , or chalk , or flints burnt , which precipitate the crude tartar with the slyme ; and for the phlegm , we use the ashes of vegetables , and the calces of minerals . 3. ropy wines require styptic precipitators , as alumen ustum ; or salso-acids , as bay-salt : and the bitter styptics may effect the same in the blood , as ash-bark , and the cortex peruvianus . we add salt to our dough to attenuate its mucilage ; and sal armoniae . and tart. vitriol . dissolve the phlegm . 4. we use bitter acids , as elixir proprietatis , or spirituous acids , to deterge the phlegm of the stomach , and the precipitating of it ; and for this reason we sulphurate the vessels of ropy wines . 5. all the bitter , nauseous medicines deterge the pituita , as gentian , aristolochia , &c ▪ and the bitter slimy , as carduus , &c. help the clearing of beer . 6. the ropy phlegm is dissolved by volatile and fixed salts , which dissolve all our mucilaginous gums ; and for this end sylvius prescribes sal volatile oleosum with our diet , or immediately after it , which may be used then with milk , water , and sack. stum is added to ropy wines , and spirit of wine , that we may excite a new fermentation in them : and by the same experiment we are taught to use all things of a fermenting , nature , both in our diet and medicines ; for nothing dissolves the viscidity of a mucilaginous liquor like giving it a fermentation ; so the white of an egg is dissolved into a colliquamentom by the incubation of a hen , which is also made very liquid or sluid by becoming rotten , and putrefied by keeping ; and then , if eggs be boyled , they will never grow thick , like new eggs boiled . the white of an egg is made thin , and more fluid , by beating of it ; and from hence we learn , that much exercise attenuates humours that are slimy , and fermentation does the same , which is an internal agitation of parts , whereby the viscidity of vegetables is dissolved in any liquor , as in making of m●…-liquors and wines . all 〈◊〉 liquors before they have undergone ●…tion are ropy and sticking , but 〈…〉 their consistence becomes more fluid . by experience we find that all hot fermentative medicines , as oyly , resinous vegetables , steel and salts , cure the pituitous cacochymia in the green-sickness ; and to such persons we give stum it self , as a great ferment to their cold humours . quicksilver medicines easily mix with phlegm , and so are fit to evacuate it ; but by its acidness it seems to depress the fermentation of humours , and so is not a fit medicine , as an alterer in this cacochymia . fomentations of wines , and aromatic astringents , or brandy , which flames , and aromatics infused , hot oyly and resinous plasters , or cataplasms , excite and cherish the inward heat and digestion ; and outward heat helps the digestion and putrefaction of all other bodies , whether vegetables or animals . the greatest quantity of the slimy pituita is lodged in the stomach , and without a vomii it is almost impossible to remove the great quantity of phlegmatic humours . i found a great quantity of phlegm in the stomach of a pig fed with peas , which could not proceed immediately from the meat it self , because , though that was dissolved , it differed in colour and consistence from the phlegm , and in taste also ; besides , in the glandulous ring above the gizards of birds , there is a viscid phlegm , though the corn pass through it intire and unbroken into the gizard ; this phlegm then arises from the chyle , and passes through the glandules of the stomach , to whose skins it constantly adheres , and fomentations outwardly may help the secretion of it through its glands , and the dissolution of it from the stomach . that fermentation is the most natural way of curing the phlegmatic cacochymia , appears by our ordinary preparation of bread ; for the ferment and baking perfectly corrects the slimy mucilage of corn ; and we observe how heavy and slimy , and how hard to be digested , all bread unfermented or unleavened proves . if we view mucilages , such as the white of an egg , or cherry-tree gum , dissolved in the magnifying glasses , we cannot discern any globuli , but an uniform consistence . the small particles of mucilages exclude all air , and cohere close , which makes them ropy and tenaceous ; but if we look upon milk , which is little different from chyle , and therefore is made out of the mucilaginous juyces of plants , we may observe the particles of milk to be only a heap of globuli . fermentation makes all mucilaginous liquors fluid , by agitating their particles , and dividing into small parts the viscous mass ; so that the air may incompass each particle , and form them into globuli , as it does great drops of water in the falling of rain . water is nothing else , as it appears in those glasses , but a congerics of globuli ; by which observation , i may probably guess , that the nature of fluidity consists in having the small particles of liquors divided into globuli by the air ; and the nature of a mucilage , in having no air intermixt betwixt its particles , nor globular figure to yield upon any pressure or motion . we observe in fermented bread how many airy bubbles are intermixt in the whole mass after baking ; and also in all fermenting liquors , how full of air the fermentation makes it . barm it self is almost all froth , whose efficacy lies in exciting the spirits of the fermenting liquor into an agitation , to break its viscidity , and admit the air to frame the globuli necessary to all fluidity . we could not observe any motion in the globuli , to which the fluidity of liquor might be imputed , but seemed wholly owing to the globular figure of the particles , which appeared clearly in water , the most fluid of all our liquors . oyl and butter appear in the glass of the same uniform figure as the mucilages do , and this makes them easily to mix together . i mixt divers medicines with a mucilage of quince-seeds , and the white of an egg , that i might thereby inform my self more in the nature of mucilages , and their coagulations . spirit of vitriol soon coagulated the mucilage of the seeds . green vitriol and alum thickened the mucilage , and the white of an egg was curdied by alum . common sal armoniac . and common salt , rather thinned than thickened the mucilage , but made no great change , nor cream of tartar. salt of wormwood , and sp. sal. armoniac . made the mucilage more thin , and gave it a marmolade colour . brandy made no alteration in the mucilage , but curdled reddish on the top of the white of an egg. aqua fortis and saccharum saturni , turned the white of an egg into a coagulated milk , which shewed the original of the animal slimes to be from chyle . the heat of the fire seemed to make the mucilage more thin ; and to dry it into a skin , like the mucilage of the conglomerate glands of the joynts , which , as dr. havers informs us , is like the white of an egg , of a saltish taste ; and this , he says , with the heat of the fire , turns into a liquor more tenulous than it is naturally , and produces upon evaporation a thin film on the top , with some little white coagulum , and what remains is not a thirteenth part . he made these further experiments on it . vinegar coagulated it , but testaceous medicines would not dissolve it . claret , which is styptic and acid , produced a coagulation like a jelly ; but white-wine and sack less . alum , vitriol . sacc . saturni coagulated it ; and vinegar more , than oyl of vitriol . sal armoniac . dissolved all the coagulations by acids or styptics , and so does oleum tart. per deliquium made without niter . aqua fortis and spirit of niter coagulated it like milk. styptic plants , as decoction of galls , red roses , the cortex , coagulated it . these experiments being made on an animal mucilage , shew the coagulation of it by acids ; for which reason i transcribed them from the ingenious dr. havers's book . chap. vi. of the tartareous acidity or acerbity of animal humours ; especially the chyle and lacteal lympha's , which commonly appears in the sourness of our stomachs . all vegetables have their tartar or sour part , altho they taste nothing of it , but are very bitter , yet their juyces being boyled to an extract , manifest their tartar to the taste , as in extract of wormwood . all liquors prepared from vegetables , and bread made of them , are apt to sour by keeping , and therefore manifest the tartar which lay concealed in it before , under the sweet oyly taste . not only vegetables , but the animal chylous juyces have a sour tartar in them ; for milk which is a depurated chyle , sours by keeping , and butter-milk has an evident acidity in it . the chyle of animals is often observed to be coagulated by its own innate tartar in the glands of the mesentery , or other viscera , where cheesie coagulations are often cut forth . the milk in the breasts , is often coagulated by its own acidity or external cold , and by its stagnation produces tumours . the lacteal lympha is often coagulated in the conglomerate glands of the mouth , nose , throat , and in the bladders of the lungs , by its own tartar or cold ; and the taste of the saliva is often observed to be sour . the serous salt lympha is coagulate in rheumatic pains in the lymphatics , and in the conglobate glands in scrophulus tumours . the lympha of the nerves may be coagulated in the palsie and cataracts . the blood it self is coagulate and grumous from too acid chyle , which causes a low pulse and fainting . the austere juice of the spleen produces obstructions in the hypocondria , and coagulates the bile like alum . the contents of the guts being austere , they produce cholics , and the binding of the belly , and a compression in the stomach and breast . if we consider only the principles which chymistry extracts from animal humours , we shall find no sensible animal acid pure and evident in them ; for they only shew us a volatile salt , and foetid oyl , and phlegmatic water ; but if we examine the stomachs of animals , and both smell and taste the contents , there we shall observe a manifest acidity ; from whence i shall observe , that our bare senses , if diligently imployed about natural subjects , inform us more truly than the chymical experiments by strong fires , about the nature of them . a different quantity and quality of acids appears in the stomachs of animals , according to the difference of their meats . in the stomachs of rabbits a manifest pungent acidity may always be observed , if they feed on grass . in the stomach of a lamb an acid taste and smell may be observed very different from the former , like the sowreness of milk. in birds who feed on grass , the same acid smell appears as in rabbits . in the carnivorous animals , and in granivorous birds , the acid is less evident , and their lymphatic ferment tastes insipid or sub-acid ; but the contents of carnivorous stomachs coagulate milk ; and i believed the digestion of ram and beef was sub-acid , as i observed . from hence it appears , that acidity is produced by the digestion in the stomach , and is only a consequent of it , and not the cause . acidity is more observable in young creatures , who feed on liquids , than in the elder ; but these ought to have had a stronger acid menstruum , ( if our meat were to be dissolved by it ) which , if it were as strong as aqua fortis , it could not dissolve corn , which is very easily dissolved by fermentation , for it is nothing but the sweet slimy juyces of plants which yield the nourishment to animals , and that is easily dissolved out of the bladders of plants by any menstruum , and as easily prepared by fermentation ; for its becoming a nutritious juyce , and the solid bladders and fibers of plants mixt with a slime and choler , constitute the exerements of granivorous birds . this acid is natural , and necessary to the health of animals . 1. to help digestion , and excite appetite . leaven has a spirituous acidity in it , and then it ferments best . not every acid helps the digestion , but a spirituous acid is chiefly required ; and those acids which are well tempered by a salt or earth , as common salt , or the sal armoniac . of animals . 2. by the acid of digested meats the choler is coagulated in the guts , and there the animal salso-acid is produced , the blood is cooled , and its consistence thickened , and the volatility of its salts allayed . 3. all acids in animals are from our food , and when the food contains a greater acid , the more of it appears in the stomach , as in cyder , french and rhenish wines , vinegar , sorrel , verjuice , limons . 4. all acidities are produced naturally by fermentation ; so herbs , fruits , and all liquors , as pottage , milk , whether fermented without , or in the stomach , sensibly afford an acid smell or taste . the close union of the oyl , acid and earth , which is naturally in all vegetables and animal bodies , being loosened by fermentation , which is an inward agitation of particles , the acid begins to appear , as well as the oyl , and both give a quick strong smell , and a spirituous quick taste to fermented liquors . this acidity in the stomach is volatile , like spiritus salis , & nitri dulcis ; and this acidity gives the heart-burning to animals , if it be very sharp and active ; but if in a natural state , it passes first off the stomach , and is corrected in the guts by the choler . our vinegars , made of acid , oleous plants for sawces , resemble this acid , creating an appetite in some , but in others , heart-turning them , if corrosive , or meeting with a choleric humour in the stomach . 5. the reliques of the fermented meat are more sowre ; so when we distil the spirit of elder-berries , the spirituous acid comes off first , and a more fixed sowre acid remains in the still . this acid may be compared to the sowreness of acid liquors , whose spirituous parts are evaporated , as sowre beer . the contents of the colon are of a sowre , foetid , acid smell in rabbits ; but the acidity of their stomachs is more grateful and spirituous . by a great quantity of acid meats there are more crudities produced than can be corrected by the animal choler ; and then the chyle and salts are made very acid , and the consistence of the blood thickened like jelly ; and this sort of diet pleases most in hot weather and fevers . when this acerbity , or tartareous state happens , we observe it by sowreness in the stomach , which , like vinegar-vessels , tinctures all our aliments with the same taste , the belly is bound , gripes and windiness attend it , and all sowre medicines and meats increase it ; the blood appears grumous , like the gellies of sowre fruits , or like blood mixed with an acid spirit ; and therefore the natural heat is depressed , and the pulse low , and the vrin pale and turbid , sharp or milky ; and in children , the bellies swelled with obstructions of the mesentery : in older persons , the acidity which always abounds in the cholic-guts , give hypochondriacal or splenetic symptoms ; the face looks pale ; there is no thirst nor fever . the evident causes of this tartareous state of humours , are , 1. food which abounds with it , as the fruits , and sharp liquors made of vegetables , red , white , rhenish wines , and cyder , stale drink ; and all sweet things , as honey , sugar , broths , and milk , and spoon-meats ; and all sorts of herbs offend such stomachs , and produce great acidities , as experience daily confirms . well-waters , and standing vitriolic , or boggy waters , are also very injurious . 2. cold air , in which a nitro-sulphureous part abounds , coagulates humours , especially the phlegmatic lympha's , and increases acidities , and a greater appetite is produced . 3. sadness and melancholy breed an acidity , by dissipating the spirits , and causing stagnation of humours , which also hinders the separation and exaltation of the oyl , which naturally tempers the tartar , and gives it a fluidity in liquors . 4. the binding of the body encreases acidities . 5. a defect in our exercise produces it , for that is necessary to help the distribution and digestion of our nourishment , and the circulation and secretion of other humours , and many times the sweat smells sowre , and so evacuates it that way . the internal causes of the tartareous state of humours , are , 1. a depressed and weak fermentation ; and the same happens to crude and unfermented wines , for want of a due fermentation . 2. the acrimony of the bile is wanting , which being less pungent and bitter , it cannot correct the acidity of the digested meat , nor turn it into salt , nor , consequently , perfectly sanguifie the chyle , which is the chief office of choler . in the jaundice the choler is wanting ; and the icterical have a great sowreness , and gripes , with windiness . 3. the chylous humours , like milk kept in a hot place , if they stagnate in the guts or lacteals , they soon coagulate , and become acid. 4. divers diseases which depend on a vitriolic acidity in the blood , and are produced by too high a fermentation , as the hypochondriac , and hysterical distempers , when they have long continued , weaken the natural fermentation , and so produce that sowreness in the stomach , of which those patients complained very much . the cure of this tartareous state , is , i. by vomiting , with some gentle antimanial , or wine of squills , or sal vitrioli . ii. by purging , with aloetics , as pil. aloephanginae , salt of wormwood , and extract . gent. or tinct . sacra ; adding aethyops mineralis , steel , or testaceous powders , to the aloetics . iii. by correcting the acidity or tartar , by raising the fermentation to its natural state , by the medicines above-mentioned ; the chief of which are the acrids , aromatics , resinous , bitters , chalybeates , and salt tastes ; so we add stum to crude , sowre wines , to raise the fermentation . alteratives do more good than purgers in this state of humours . iv. the tartar may be precipitated and carried off by vrin . 1. by lixivium of lime or oyster-shells , and both sixt and volatile salts . 2. by the calces of minerals , or ashes of animals , and egg-shells burnt . 3. by testaceous medicines , or stony minerals , as chalk , crabs-eyes , corals , pearls , egg-shells , &c. v. sudorific decoctions evacuate the sowre humours by sweat ; as salts , mineral sulphurs , and bitter acrids . vi. clysters draw off the acid reliques restagnating in the colon. vii . the acrimony of choler is to be increased , and its passage through the liver promoted , by bitter , acrid , hepatics , by steel , and salts , and aromatic or foetid gums or oyls . the defect of the choler is supplyed by those medicines which precipitate the tartar , as all burnt animal ashes , especially eggs and oyster-shells ; so from sowre wines we precipitate the tartar by burnt marble , or flints , or lime , chalk , or lixivium ; so vinegar is sweetned by crabs-eyes , and when the tartar is precipitated , the oyly part is raised , and that conceals and tempers the acidity of tartar. viii . the circulation of stagnating humours must be promoted by steel , and salts , and aromatic , acrid tastes . ix . the diet ought to be of sweet , not sowre small ale , of bread well fermented , and flesh-meat ; but if the acidity be much , no fermented liquor in which there is tartar , nor no vegetables , nor liquids , will agree with the stomach ; but these physical tastes may be given to our diet. 1. aromatic ; as pepper , ginger . 2. acrid ; as mustard , garlic . 3. bitter ; as aloes , wormwood , and hopp'd drink , and mum. 4. saltness ; as all high brines ; for salt it self abates the sowre in vinegar , and oysters cure heart-burning . 5. roast , and broiled , and baked meats , and those that are burnt , are most agreeable : chearfulness , moderate exercise , constantly keeping the body open , and a dry air and marl-pit water , are very agreeable to sowre stomachs ; and springs flowing from chalk-stones , bath-waters , and strong chalybeate waters in small quantities , may agree well ; and wine and water in many constitutions for ordinary drinks . i have observed , that those who have too much acid in their stomachs by a natural instinct , refuse all meally meats , and eat little bread , as we observe those who abound with much choler to have a great abhorrence to all bitter medicines ; and the observing the diet of our patients will frequently give some intimation of the particular state of their humours ; for i believe it is generally true , that all persons naturally desire that food which is contrary to the present preternatural state of humours , as watery liquors , and acids in fevers , ashes , and terrene absorbers in the sowreness of their stomachs , bitter drink in jaundice ; a weak stomach is pleased with stronger liquors , and hot constitutions with the smaller drink : this agreableness of some tastes every person naturally observes ; and if they use them moderately , they may preserve the natural state of their humours , and correct the disorders of them . there is a remarkable observation in sir theodore mayhern , about the use of diuretic liquors , which ought to be used after a perfect distribution of the nourishment , to which he attributes much in the cure of the scrophulae , by a diuretic drink , qui tartarum liquidum ante sui coagulationem ad renes ablegare , & per vesicam expurgare , citra coneoctionis praecipitationem , potuit . from this observation , i think a useful rule ought to be drawn to use our diuretic diet-drink : towards 5 or 6 a clock at night , so many hours after meat , and , again , in the morning , to carry off the tartar-acid of our chyle ; and to take some testaceous lozenges or pills with our diuretic drinks , which may coagulate with the acids at that time . chap. vii . of the flatulent , crude cacochymia of the chyle , and other humours . when the aliments are half fermented , and then are checked in attaining their perfect dissolution ; or their ferment is too weak to perform it , a windiness is produced in the stomach , for the spirits of the meat being somewhat loosened , are lodged in a slimy mass , but cannot render it fluid , but only rarefie it into bubbles , which distending by the heat of the stomach burst , and create eructation or wind. the most weak stomach produces an insipid wind , but the acid ructus is a sign of some degree of digestion . in these cases there is an oppression , or fulness at the stomach , and weight , ructus frequently happen , and all hot meats and medicines agree well , but the cold ones do much injury . the stomach it self is loaded with slimy , acid phlegm , which is its weak ferment , and the guls distended by wind. the constitution of humours is crude , mucilaginous , and windy , as appears by the paleness of the vrin , and frothiness ; and the spleen is generally obstructed and pained , and the stools like barm , the serous lympha being vitiated by the same crude , windy chyle , it produces a heaviness in the limbs of the whole body , and a fulness , or wandring , dull pains , &c. the chief effects of the wind appear in the primae viae , where the chyle ferments ; or in the spirits , which are made of the crude , windy spirits included in the slime ; and for want of a due volatilization , they produce in the nerves , 1. a pandiculation , or oscitation , or stupor , or cramp in the muscles ; the noise in the ears , and vertigo in the brain , and wandring pains . 2. inflations of the parts , as tympanitis , and windy tumours in the limbs . 3. an inflation of the lungs , as the asthma of the stomach in sleep , as the incubus of the vterus , after hysterical fits , of the penis in a priapism . many other species of windiness are produced from too high a fermentation , when the ructus are bitter , acrid , or foetid ; or the acrid choler ferments like contrary salts , with the sharp acid of the digested meat in the jejunum , and there produces flatuosities ; or when some extraneous ferment extraordinarily rarefies and putrefies our humours ; but these belong to that state of humours which depends on too high a digestion . the external causes of flatulency , are , i. crude meats which are hardly fermented and digested , as the hard , the acerb , watery , oyly , viscous styptic , and too great a quantity of meats ; for these , by the strongest ferment , will rarely attain a due fermentation in the stomach . 1. the watery , as broths , and milk-meats are windy to stomachs troubled with acid ferments ; and all small liquors hinder their digestion ; and for these stomachs , the more solid diet of flesh-meat is best , and small ale , and nothing of vegetables , but well fermented breads . 2. the viscous vegetables , which contain a pungent salt mixed with much mucilage , as onyons , leeks , garlic , radish , turnip , cabbage ; these have a mucilage hard to be digested , and an acrimony which rarefies it into wind , and ructus ; and from hence we know all windy herbs , by having an acrimony lodged in a mucilage . 3. all the sweet and mucilaginous legumina , as beans , peas , are hardly digested , by reason of their sliminess and sweetness , apt to ferment . wines of the sweet and mucilaginous fruits , as figs , raisins , grapes , and other fruits , and all the mault-liquors made of corn , are full of a vegetable mucilage , and contain also an oyly , acid spirit , which is stopt from its due fermentation by the sliminess , or outward accidents , or for want of a due ripeness in the fruit it is made of ; for this reason , wines made of our acid and crude english fruits are very windy , the airy , elastic particles seem to mix with the oyly , acid spirits of all vegetable liquors ; and when they are not thorowly fermented those elastic particles remain mixed with the crude , slimy liquor , and create the windiness of it ; or if any fermenting liquor be shut up in bottles before those elastic , airy particles have evaporated , which are observed to produce the froth in all fermenting liquors ; they create a great windiness in those bottled liquors , and they become very unhealthful to flatulent bodies . sugar and honey make windy liquors , because they are apt to ferment , and their spirits are depressed , and the airy , elastic , fermenting particles are detained by their innate gummosity . 4. oyls and fat 's are hardly digested , because of the mucilage they have joyned with them ; so butter , oyl , and fat meat , lie long in the stomach , and are hardly turned into a thin chyle ; and for this reason chessnuts , and all oyly nuts , are commonly thought windy . 5. all crude plants , as spinage , lettuce , purslain , mushrooms , are windy , by reason of their crude mucilage , and unaptness to be digested . 6. all acids , and acerb fruits , are windy , as being less apt to ferment , unless with contrary salts . mr. boyl's vacuum proves all liquids to be full of airy particles , which rise upon the pumping of the air ; but that acids have the least of it ; and therefore i have observed march-drink to have the least windiness , and all other ripe liquors . 7. all very mucilaginous flesh-meats , as the extremities of animals , and fish , and water-fowl , are accounted windy , by reason of their abundant sliminess . ii. all external causes which hinder a just fermentation , produce windiness , as idleness , want of due exercise , too much sleep , cold air , fear , sadness , too much evacuation by venery , baths , exercise , spend the spirits too much , which help the invigorating of the stomachic ferment , and all evacuations stopt in the haemorrhoids or menses vitiate the stomachic ferment , by mixing the guts with it ; and in obstructions of the viscera are blown up continually . the internal causes of a cold flatulency , are , 1. a stomachic ferment which wants spirits , being only sowre , or mucilaginous , acerb , or austere . 2. the vapid , watery , mucilaginous or crude state of blood and humours ; for they who have a strong heat , or due fermentation , have no flatulencies , unless the meat be of the qualities above-mentioned , which are unfit for fermentation , and so cannot throughly be dissolved by it , by reason of their unaptness to ferment . they who have a very low digestion have no windiness , because they cannot raise the spirits in the slimy meat so far as to become windy ; but those only are flatulent who can digest to some degree , whereby the spirits begin to separate , but do not perfectly volatilize themselves , and separate the aery particles from the fermenting liquor , which , by its sliminess , retains much of the aery , elastic particles . 3. when the pylorus is so obstructed , that the alimentary tincture does not descend to the guts , it becomes windy in the stomach . 4. when the choler does not correct the acidities of the aliments digested , as in the jaundice , flatuosities are produced . 5. in the obstruction of the viscera , the spleen-juyce , or the hepatic , is mixt with the animal ferment in the stomach , and vitiates the digestion ; or the conglobate glands send their serous lympha's thither in catarrhs , or the obstructions hinder the distribution of the chyle . the cure of flatulency consists , 1. in evacuation of the slimy humour , which burthens the stomach , by vomits , and purges , and clysters , which are carminative and phlegmagogues . 2. by avoiding all noxious , windy meats and drinks , and using a contrary diet to help digestion , as those above-mentioned , and all the carminative aromatics added to it ; as pepper , ginger , cloves , nutmegs ; and by avoiding all fulness of diet , and surfeits , and to use a very simple diet of flesh-meats , small ale , and bread , and no other ; to avoid suppers , and venery after meat , and much exercise , and all sorts of vegetables in diet , as legumens , mault drinks , and sallets . 3. the pituitous , acerb and vapid temper of the stomachic ferment , and of the blood , must be corrected by digestives above-mentioned ; and the phlegmagogues must evacuate it , as pilulae aloephanginae , &c. 4. the matter rarefied into flatus must be evacuated by pil. mastich . aloephangin . by clysters and vomits . 5. the flatuosities must be discussed . 1. by sweet aromatics ; as semen ammcosʒss . boiled in wine , or caraways , cummin , fenil , aniseed , dill , lovage , parsly-seeds , infused in wine , or eleosacchara of them ; as , fenil . ol. gutt . 6. in wine , daucus-seeds in beer . ●…eptic powders of the seeds mentioned , and restaceous powders , roots of angelica in powder or wine , spirit or tincture of imperatoria , wild parsnip-seeds , lovage-roots , boiled . 2. by the acrid aromatics ; as pepper , whose tinct . with brandy , or spirit of sal armoniac , or diatrion , pipereon in rotulis , cum sacch . & ol. feniculi , cubebs , cardamom in spirit , tincture or wine . 3. the laurel aromatics ; as ol. cinnam . caryophill . cum sacch . forbiculi , addend . ambr. grys . confect . è baccis lauriʒij . ante pastum ; orange peels and limons , nutmegs , winter-bark in tincture or wine , or bay-berries in wine . 4. terebinthinate aromatics ; as juniper-berries candied , no. x. or syrup of the same made with wine , or juniper-wine ; enula compound candied . 5. acrid , sweet aromatics : calamus aromaticus , ginger , zedoary , galanga , which may be infused in wine or brandy thus , ℞ calami aromatici , zedoarii , galangae , zinzib . an . ʒij . senaeʒvi . agarici , turbethi , an . ʒiij . cardamom ʒi . fiat infus . in vin. alb . lbij. colat . capiat ℥ iij. let zedoary be chewed in the mouth , or infused in wine . use costus and iris in wine or tincture . 6. cephalic , acrid , styptic aromatics , and hitterish ; as calaminth , mint , penny-royal , thyme , rosemary in wine , or their oyls in lozenges , or spec . diacalaminth in lozenges . 7. bitters deterge the phlegmatic matter joyned with aromatics ; as wormwood-wine with sal volatile oleosum , or enula , and orange peels , chamomil flowers two handfuls in a bottle of sack ; bitter wines of centaury , gentian , and orange peels . decoction of polium montanum in wine , or conserve of tansie . theriaca , or mithridate with wine , syrup of carduus ℥ iij. with ℈ i. of extract of calamus aromaticus . 8. foetids ; as rheu in wine , or syrup , or distilled , or in clysters ; and outwardly , oyl of rheu , and amber . 9. animal foetids ; as castor , and the dungs of animals , as that of pigeons , and hens ; or infusion of horse-dung , and the same fryed in oyl , applied outwardly . 10. vegetable acrids , or corrosives ; garlic , and onyons , and aaron roots . 11. terebinthinate foetids ; rad. asari , nardi , savin . boiled in wine , and applied as a cataplasm , and the wine drank . 12. narcotics : ℞ . aqua fl. cham. ℥ iv . menth. mirabilis , an . ℥ iss . spir. nitri dulcisʒss . laud. gr . ij . ol. anis . gutt . 2. syr. foeniculi ℥ i. misce . the external applications are fomentations of aromatics boiled in wine : calamus , zedoary , galanga , cyperus , mace , cinnamon . of bitters : wormwood , chamomil , bay-berries , mint , empl. de baccis lauri , de cymino . balsams : ol. nutmegs expressed ℥ ss . balsam . peruʒij . oyls : chymical ol. salviae , caryophill . dill , rheu , amber . bags of millet , cummin , aniseed , fryed with salt and oats . bread or flannels dipt in brandy , in which the aromatics are infused . clysters of sack , and carminative oyls , or ℥ ij . of aqua vitae added . or purgers added , as benodict . laxativ . ℥ i. infus . croci metall . ℥ iij. to a carminative decoction of calamint , penny-royal , origanum , fl. chamomil , and the seeds , with el. è baccis lauri ℥ iss . oyl of aniseeds ℈ ss . in the yolk of an egg. a cake may be fryed of yolks of eggs , and cummin seeds , and oyl of chamomil . aniseeds , and chamomil flowers , infused in aqua vitae for a fomentation . cupping-glasses applyed to the belly . plaster tachamahac , caranna , and plaster of bay-berries mixt in equal parts . a pound of ginger may be boiled in a vessel of small ale , for ordinary drink . in the cure of flatuosities we must insist chiefly on digestives , which promote the fermentation of humours ; the discussing the present flatuosities , and evacuating the slimy matter cannot hinder the production of new flatulencies : but the curing the low fermentation , perfectly cures all flatulencies ; but those which depend on the obstruction , and tumour of the viscera , cannot be cured without a respect to these distempers that occasion the flatuosity . such are the flatuosities in the tympany . and the distempers of the nerves , as hysteric fits , and asthma , which produce symptomatical inflations of the guts , which cause windiness ; and that is cured by removing the original distemper . the windiness appears much in all new fermented liquors ; and the further they are fermented or ripened , the less windy they are . the bottling liquors stops their fermentation ; and therefore , such liquors are to be avoided in the windy cacochymia of our chyle . if the matter in which the windy spirits are included be not well evacuated , the carminatives occasion a greater flatuosity , by rarefying the wind. ginger and hot sherry i have observed very good in windiness of the stomach , and cholics thence produced . boiling any liquor that is windy evaporates the spirits , and the same windy spirits may be discussed out of animal humours by exercise or bathing . the drinking boiled or warmed drink with steel , may be convenient in the windiness of the stomach . the drinking the bath-waters washes off the sowre tartar from the stomach and blood ; and bathing in those sulphureous waters very much exalts the fermentation of the chyle , and higher digests the blood ; and upon these accounts , both inwardly and outwardly , it agrees with most cases depending on a depressed fermentation of humours , but disagrees with the contrary , which arise from too high a fermentation of our humours , especially in their beginning , whilst a high fermentation lasts ; and for this reason , bathing dis-agrees with hot bloods , the hypochondriac , hysteric , asthmatic , nephritic , convulsive . chap. viii . of the serous cacochymia of animal humours . when the chyle is no way changed into the serum of the blood , but swims mixed with it , that is the lowest state of crudity in the blood ; for the chyle ought to be changed into the serum , by the saltness and oyliness of the blood , which absorbing the acid of the chyle , it loses its milkiness . the serum and chyle differ most by their colour and consistence ; for acid spirit of nitre makes the serum milky , and spirit of sal armoniac . makes it clear serum again . we often observe the chyle on the cake of blood in milky spots , or mixed much with the serum in cachectic persons ; and this is cured by chalyboates , and volatile salts , which turn it to serum . the next degree of crudity in the sanguification of our chyle , is , when the serum is not digested into a gelatinous lympha , fit for the nourishment of the solid parts ; for the viscid part of the serum , which evidently contains the caseous parts of the chyle , as appears by its inspissation by the fire , or coagulation by alum , or other acids , is naturally changed , by a long circulation and separation of its superfluous humidity , by sweat or vrin , into the lympha salsa serosa , which being exposed to the cold air , when it is taken out of the lymphatics , it presently turns to a jelly . there may be a further degree of crudity reckoned , when the gelatinous salsa lympha , made out of the serum , does not become fibrous , for want of a due viscidity or gumminess ; for then we believe humours have attained their perfect digestion , when there appears a fibrous hypostasis in the vrin , which depends upon the viscid part of the serum turned into the fibrous cake of the blood. the rosy or red oyly particles of the chyle ought to become more red and florid , by a long digestion , by their mixture with the volatile salt , and red oyl of the blood ; but in cachectic persons we observe the cake of blood to be of a pale , pink colour , and less florid , like milk and blood mixed . the acid part of the chyle ought to be digested into the vitriolic acid of the blood ; but by reason of the crudity of the blood , it keeps its tartareous nature , and hinders the rarefaction of the blood , and abates the volatility , both of the volatile salt , and oyl in the blood. the abundant aquosity of the serum ought to have been evacuated by sweat and vrin ; but the chyle being not fully digested , the watery part cannot easily be separated from the viscid contents ; neither can it acquire its salt tastes , which fits it for a secretion by its proper glands : hence it will inevitably follow , that the veins and lymphatics are greatly filled and distended by the abundance of the serum , which produces divers distempers in several parts . i. if it stagnates in the habit of the body , and is mixed with crude chyle , which cannot circulate through the lymphatics , it produces an anasarca . ii. if it stagnates in any particular part , it produces external tumours containing water . iii. if it be evacuated into divers cavities , it produces divers sorts of dropsies ; as , 1. hydrops ascites , when the serum breaks the lymphatics , and fills the cavities of the belly , either by fulness of the serum , or by the distention of the vessels , which are compressed by the tumours of the viscera . 2. the serum may be evacuated into the cavity of the head , in the hydrocephalus . 3. hydrops thoracis , is when it is evacuated into the cavity of the breast . 4. in the dropsy of the womb , the water is contained in the cavity of it , or its testicles , or distends the lymphatics into vesiculae . 5. in the hydrocele , the water is evacuated into the cods . these distempers depend on too great a serosity of the blood ; but they being evacuations of it into particular cavities , ought to be treated of under that head . the external causes of the serosity of the blood , are , i. a wet and a moist region , which supplies great , foggy air , for our respirations ; and by that we imbibe its humidities , and that also hinders transpiration , and so increases the serosity . ii. a crude , watery , mucilaginous diet of vegetables , fish , immoderate drinking , milk-meats , broths , water drinking , herbs , and fruits . iii. the intermission of dew exercise , which ought to discuss by sweat ; and that also helps chylification , sanguification , and the circulation , and secretion of humours . iv. the suppression of evacuations by sweat and vrin in the stone , or the suppression of fontinels , menses , haemorrhoids , or looseness , make the blood more serous . v. the sanguification is weakened by great evacuations , as haemorrhagies , dysenteries , fluxes of the menses ; as also , by the fluor albus , and vomitings , and quartanes . vi. sadness and sleep stop the motion of our spirits and humours , and by that means hinder our sanguification of the chyle . the internal causes of too much serosity of the blood , are , 1. a weak ferment , and a watery chyle . 2. a vapid , watery blood , which is less florid and oyly , and wants its due saltness , by which it ought to turn the new chyle into the serum , and the cake of blood. 3. the circulation of the blood being hindred by any inward polypus , or tumour of the viscera , as the lungs , liver , spleen , kidneys , either cause an extravasasion of the serum , or hinder its digestion and sanguification , and the stagnation of it is observed in some part . the circulation of the blood is deficient in the languid and dying , and their legs pit . the circulation being often stopt , occasions that dropsies follow , asthma's , hysterical fits , and other convulsions . the signs of a serous constitution , and of the serous cacochymia , are , the use of watery meats and drinks , evacuations of sweat or vrin , or any other stopt . the swelling of the belly , legs , or face , under the eyes , much sweating , or great quantity of pale vrin , watery stools , and much water contained in the blood , when let forth , above an equal weight of the serum , in respect of the cake . the cure of the serous cacohymia requires , first , a dry diet , and that which is heating , drinking wine , or strong beer , roast rather than boiled , all manner of salt , bitter , acrid or aromatic pickles , and abstinence from much liquids , only lbiss of wine in a day , for 40 days , or else with wormwood , juniper-berries , anti-scorbuties , and ashes in constant drink . secondly , the evacuation of the chyle , which is watery , from the primae viae , blood , or cavities of the body . 1. by purgers , which , by their tithymaline acrimony , carry off the water ; as extract . esulae , pil. de gambogia . turbeth . 2. or by purgers which have an acrid resin ; as jalap , mechoacan , scammony , with merc. dulcis . 3. or by nauseous bitters ; as syrup . de spina , roots and seeds of dwarf elder , juyce of briony , solanum lignosum , soldanella , troches of alhandal , elaterium , extract of hellebor . or by other gentler acrids ; as jayce of iris. or vitriolic minerals ; as crystals of silver , squamae aeris , antimonials , infusion of crocus metallorum , mercurius vitae , turbeth . mineral . and these work by vomit , and evacuate the serum both ways . thirdly , the serum must be evacuated out of the cavities by paracentesis , unless the dropsie depend on a schirrus of the viscera , for that is incurable . the parts may be pricked with a needle above the knee , and escarotics applied of ash-ashes , or blystering plaster . fourthly , the serous matter is most plentisully evacuated by vrin . 1. by lixiviums of broom , juniper , bean-ashes infused in white-wine , with orange and limon peels , or flints extinguished in wine . 2. by salso-acids , tart. vitriol . sal armoniac . or salt of wormwood , and spirit of salt dissolved in any diuretic . julep . sal. succini , sal. prunell . or salt of tartar nitrated , the herb kali half a dram three mornings successively . 3. by acrid and caustic turpentines , juniper-berries . golden rod , conyza roots , enula campane , squinanth . asarabacca roots , spikenard . leaves of arse-smart . savin , or pine leaves . hepatica terrestris . 4. by watery caustics . ranunculus hederaceus , aaron roots . anagallis mas , ros solis . squills , garlic , acrids ; as garlic infused in ale , or its juyce in broths or onions , or leeks in the same , or nettle roots , which have a caustic juyce in them . 5. by cresse acrids . infusion of mustard-seed in wine , spirit of scurvy-grass , and the leaves of scurvy-grass , juyces of water-cresses . 6. by aromatic , sweet acrids ; as , daucus , parsley , fenil , dill-seeds , distilled water from water parsnip , roots of long fenil , smallage , parsley , chervil . 7. by the smoaky , bitter acrids ; as , eryngo , scabious , carduus , roots of burdock , and the seeds . 8. by the aromatic , bitterish acrids ; as , penny-royal , hyssop , rosemary , sage . 9. by the acrid legumens ; as , asparagus , and butchers broom-roots , periclymenum flowers , broom . 10. by the acrid foetids ; as , rheu , crocus . rheu boiled in white-wine , posset-drinks , help the tympanitical to make water plentifully . 11. by the bitter acrids of a wormwood taste ; as , sea , and common wormwood . 12. by the acrid bitters of a mather taste ; as , radix rabiae . 13. by acrids of a laurel taste ; as , bay-berries , ash seeds , tops of holly , and ivy-berries . 14. by acrid insects ; as , millepedes , earth-worms , scarabaei , grashoppers . 15. by burning acrids of the orris kind ; as , xyry , acorus . 16. by the bitter acrids ; as , grana alkakengi , bacc. fraxini , bubulae . 17. by volatile salts , and chymical , acrid cyls of vegetables , or bitumens . 18. by acid minerals , spirit of salt , oyl of vitriol . by acid vegetables , juyce of limons , cream of tartar. vinegar helps the thirst . 19. by the lamium faetids ; as , hedera terrestris . 20. by the strong bitters ; salvia agrestis , lupulus , scordium , chamaedrys , marrubium , vervein . 21. by the sweet , nauseous bitters ; as , centaury , trifolium palustre , gentian . fifthly , the serum may be evacuated by clysters ; as , 1. vrinous . 2. terebinthinate . 3. of the bitterest purgers ; as coloquintida . 4. by sulphurous medicines ; as infusion of crocus metallorum . 5. by tithymaline acrids added ; as gambogia ʒss . dissolved in sack. sixthly , a sweating diet of guaiacum ; and with that he may dilute his wine for ordinary drink . baths , or fomentations , or the frequent use of venice treacle , discuss by sweat ; and the balsamum polychrestum . seventhly , all hydropical tumours may be discussed by baths , fomentations , cataplasms , oyntments , plasters . 1. by the acrid , foetid , and aromatic plants above-mentioned , being boiled in salt liquors ; as sea-water , a lixivium of ashes , or aqua calcis . 2. by the stercora of animals boiled in wine , vrin , or a lixivium , and sulphur added to them . 3. by purging vnguents ; vng . aprippae , arthanitae , oyntments of elder bark , and dwarf elder . by oyntment of birch-bark and leaves . 4. by caustic plants , or animals boiled in oyl ; as oyl of scorpions , oyl of flammula . 5. cataplasms of roots of wild cucumbers . indication requires the higher fermentation of the mucilaginous chyle , by the tastes mentioned in the cure of a low fermentation ; but these more specifically respect the serosities , and cause its sanguification . first , all sorts of bitters . i. the nauseous bitters , or lychnis bitters ; as centaury , buck-bean , saponaria . ii. the mather bitters ; as rubia , celandine . iii. the wormwood bitters . iv. the smoaky bitters ; as carduus . v. the turpentine bitters ; as enula , eupatorium . vi. lamium bitters ; as chamaedrys , marrubium , scorodaria . vii . the pea bitters ; as broom . viii . the laurel bitters ; as ash , and birch , bark , and seeds . ix . bitter gums ; as aloes , myrrh , ammoniacum . 1. these bitters supply the want of the bitter acrid of choler , necessary for digestion and sanguification of the chyle . 2. all acrid and caustic plants make the blood more florid , and so we find them to help sanguification . 3. all salt tastes , volatile and fixed , make the blood more florid ; they supply the want of an animal salt , which , by absorbing acids , turns the chyle into blood , and promotes the mixture and sanguification of both . 4. testaceous medicines , the calces of minerals , and ashes of animals , by absorbing the acidities of chyle , help the mixture of it , and the blood. 5. oyly , acrid , and resinous or oyly plants , exagitate the red part of the blood , and supply its defect ; as all aromatics , and aromatic wines , and volatile , oyly salts . 6. mineral sulphurs raise the oyly , red part of the blood ; as chalybeats , antimonials , cinnabarines . i tryed the salt , clear , limpid water , taken out of the belly of an hydropical person by tapping , and could neither inspissate it by fire , nor coagulate it by vitriol or alum . this was the crude , lymphatic liquor , too serous and crude ; the spleen was schirrous after a quartain : this lympha sometimes appeared milky . though all the serum be evacuated by purgers , diuretics or blisters on the legs ; yet it will regenerate , if the digestion of humours be not raised , and the schirrosities cured which caused its evacuation into the cavities , and the breach of the lymphatics stopt , which seems impossible . an hydropical gentlewoman was tapped once a week , for fourteen weeks , and lived in a tolerable state for some time longer , by the help of five grains of laudanum every night . no diuretic caused water ; but wine and water helped that most , and allayed the hectical symptoms . every time after tapping more water was made by vrin ; but the belly filled with the serum in a weeks time , and a gallon or two was taken out every week ; but , at length , the belly did not fill much , but sank , and a plaster laid on helped its tumour ; and a consumption , at last , most afflicted the person who was before so hydropical . i have observed that fomentation after tapping abates the hardness of the belly and viscera . chap. ix . of the fermentation of the humours into degrees above their natural state. when the fermentation in the stomach is carried too high , the contents of the stomach become bitter or rancid , very acid , acrid , or salt ; and so are all the humours thence produced . by a strong fermentation all the parts of the chyle acquire an acrimony ; the oyly part becomes rancid and bitter , and stinks ; the acid tartar , being volatilized , becomes corrosive , or acid-acrid ; the earthy part neither adhering to the acid nor oyly part , is left in the primae viae , to go off by stool ; and the mucilage of the meat being attenuated by a high digestion or putrefaction , the chyle becomes more thin , and fluid , and nidorous ructus frequently rise from the stomach . not only the chyle , but the blood also is vitiated by too high a state of the principles of the chyle , and from the volatility of the oyl , and the pungency of the acid , the blood is made more florid , and the vitriolic acid more sharp or corrosive , like the spirit of acid juyces high fermented . a rosy chyle will make a florid blood , and an acrid , bitter , salt , acid chyle will give the same quality to the blood , and a putrid , thin chyle will make a putrid blood. all the diseases depending on this state of humours , are , the hot constitutions of humours , and are contrary to the former described ; which are the several species of cold constitutions ; fat to the mucilage of humours ; a putrefied thin consistence is contrary ; and to the acerbity , a vitriolic acidity and saltness ; and to the serosity , an inspissation or viscidity ; and to a crude flatulency , a rancid flatuosity , and nervine , wandering pains . when the oyly , acid , earthy or viscid principles of chyle acquire too high a state by fermentation , they produce these several species of hot cacochymia's . 1. a bitterness of the chyle and humours in choleric constitutions . 2. the chyle and blood in the hot scurvy have a rancid , oyly state. 3. a viscidity of the serum , or inspissation of the new chyle mixed with it , as in inflammations and rheumatisms . 4. a saltness of blood. 5. a vitriolic acidity , or corrosiveness of blood. 6. a putrefaction of blood , which causes its want of fibers , or thinness , or fluidity . 7. a nidorous ructus from the stomach , and a hot , nervine flatuosity , with convulsive pains , or hypochondriac or hysteric symptoms , and a feverish temper of blood. the evident causes of too high a digestion , are , 1. a hot diet , which digests and ferments too quick ; so acrid , aromatic , vinous , salt , and very sweet meats , produce an acrid , aromatic , salt , vinous chyle ; and honey and sugar , and sweet wines , are apt to ferment too much . all flesh-meats high salted , peppered , or pickled , fryed , broyled , or baked meats , breed a chyle too rancid or hot . fish , as salmon , or crabs , lobsters , are apt to surfeit , and putrefie in the stomach . all meats a little putrid before they be eaten exalt the fermentation too much . all gravies , anchovies , oysters , and the indian sawces , are too great stimulaters of a fermentation in the stomach , and all those meats which contain an animal ferment in them , as old cheese . ii. by immoderate labour , by the heat of the season , or the countries nearer to the sun ; by cares , watchings , anger , joy , pain , the blood is heated , and its circulation quickened , and sanguification is much promoted . iii. the same causes produce a bitter , acrid bile , which promote digestion much , and sanguification also . fasting sharpens the choler ; and those who are apt to vomit yellow choler , and those who digest too fast , have choleric fluxes . in young men , and hot seasons , choler much abounds . iv. the retention of salt , foetid serum , for want of evacuation by sweat or vrin , produces feverish dispositions , which cause a high fermentation in the blood. the internal causes of too high a fermentation , are , 1. a spirituous , foetid , sub-acid or salt ferment in the stomach , and this ferments too much all our aliments . 2. a natural oyly , acid , foetid , or acrid , salt temper of the blood , which is apt to ferment too much . 3. a bitter , acrid choler , which , with the tartar of the meat , produces a great saltness of the blood. 4. a frequent and impetuous circulation of the blood , which raises the digestion of it , which happens often in summer , and to young men , by passions or surfeits . 5. foetid humours retained ferment the humours ; as , the salt serum , the semen , the choler , and many extraneous ferments come into the blood from without , as in the itch , leprosie , pox , the ferment of infectious fevers , or the poysons from mad-animals , or venomous bites of them : all which have their effects on the animal , by fermenting its humours . such as the blood and spirits of animals be , as to their qualities , such is the temper of their stomachic ferment , for that rises from the other ; and any errour committed in chylification is communicated to the blood and spirits . the cure of too high a fermentation requires , first , that all the evident causes be avoided , and that we use a contrary diet of crude , acerb , watery , mucilaginous styptics ; as crude vegetables , bistort , lettuce , spinage , cucumbers , sorrel , melons ; fruits ; as apples , plumbs , cherries , strawberries , sloes ; the legumens , as young peas , beans , boiled wheat ; and all the farinaceous meats of oat or barley meal , rice , or pudding , panados . the drink ought to be small beer , or water two parts , with a little wine ; or else the drinking mead , elder-wine , or wood-drinks , or water it self , or thin milk. milk-meats are very useful in this state , for we add milk to fermenting wines to stop their fretting . secondly , all choleric humours ought to be evacuated , and the rancid contents of the stomach . i. by vomiting , with carduus , or sal vitrioli , or squills . ii. by cholagogues , and those , 1. nauseous dock-bitters ; as chewing of rhubarb , or its infusion with manna by dock-beer . 2. by aloetics ; elixir proprietatis cum acido . 3. by bitterish and nauseous pea-tastes ; as sena . iii. by the bitterish , purging waters . iv. by diagrydiates mixt with tartar , or some acid , rhubarb pouder , by pil. tartareae . v. by lenitive , sweet purgers ; as manna , el. lenitiv . thirdly , the oyly , bilious or salt temper of the ferment and blood , and its frequent circulation , are to be corrected and checked , 1. by acids ; as spirit of salt , vinegar , sulphur , niter , alum , conserve of roses , vitriolated cum tinct . rosar . which coagulate the chyle , the bile , the salt serum , and the oyly particles of the blood , and thereby fix them . bitters are always corrected by acids , so the bitter of aloes , coloquintida is abated by spirit of sulphur , or vitriol . 2. styptics preserve the consistence of the blood , and hinder or cure fevers ; as plantain , house-leek , tormentil , cinquefoil , purslain . 3. the mucilaginous incrassate or thicken the consistence ; as gum tragacanth , and icthyocolla , borrage , bugloss , emulsions , lettuce . 4. watery liquors temper and dilute hot humours ; as mineral waters , whey , with syrup of violets , and cool , bitterish , slimy or acid juyces , milk-waters , drinking milk and water . 5. bitterish , crude plants deterge away the choler ; as the cichory bitters , as decoction of cichory-roots , or dandelion in whey , with cream of tartar. 6. opiates stop the vapid circulation of blood. 7. mercurial medicines depress the fermentation and cool humours , and stop putrefaction . fourthly , frequent bleeding abates the fulness of humours , and checks their fermentations , or fervors , or ebullitions . fifthly , all evacuations suppressed ought to be renewed , and all extraneous ferments to be corrected or evacuated . sixthly , externally we may check the ebullition of the blood , by applying water and vinegar to the pulses , stones , forehead , feet , and in an extraordinary case the patient ought to be put into cold water , or dipt , according to the method communicated to me by my ingenious friend dr. baynard , a member of the college of physicians ; whose success by it in curing such diseases as depend on too high a fermentation of the blood , is very well known ; and the practice seems to me very rational , if managed according to the rules his experience has found out . the diseases which chiefly affect the stomach upon too high a fermentation , are , an oyliness and rancidity of its contents , and a nidorous ructus ; the causes of these are , 1. a salso-acid , spirituous ferment . 2. meats which are half putrid , or oyly , or rancid , or fat , or fryed with fat , and corrosive vegetables ; as garlic , onyons , or the much use of tobacco . 3. choleric or salt humours mixed with the natural ferment . since these nidorous ructus depend on the acrimony of humours , and the foetid spirituosity of the ferment , and the putridness of the meat , they are improperly imputed to a crudity ; for a foetor is rather a sign of a putrefaction , and in no crudity are the oyly , acid spirits so far volatilized in the stomach . the cure of this nidorosity , is , 1. by evacuation , by vomiting and purging , as is directed . 2. by correcting the oleous temper of the bile , or ferment , or meat , by the acids mentioned , as cream of tartar , juyce of limon , decoction of tamarind , spirit of niter dulcified , with spirit of mint or aniseeds . or by salso-acids ; as sal prunellae . 3. by externals , styptics , aromatics , and acids ; as quinces and mint , with vinegar and leaven . by too great a fermentation of the meat , the lacteal lympha , as the saliva , becomes nauseously sweet and sharp , and the ferment of the stomach of the same quality , which produces a nauseousness ; and by its salso-acid , a hot cholic . the mucus of the larynx and aspera arteria becomes sharp , or salso-acid , and produces coughs . the milk in the breasts becomes bitter , rank , oyly , salt , thick , which gives gripes to children , and vomits them . the semen becomes salt and stimulating ; as in furor vterinus . the succus nervosus salt , or more lucid than ordinary ; as in deliriums , and more oyly and foetid . the salt lympha becomes more salt ; as in the gout , stone , haemorrhagies , and the scurvy . those are most disposed to this state of blood , who are of choleric , hot constitutions ; for the same kind of diet produces much choler , which over-ferments the blood ; as all acrid , bitter , salt , aromatic and sweet things , and all hot meats and medicines injure them , but cool ones , and those that are serous , refresh them . the choleric have their senses and actions of the mind , and motions of the body , very quick and ready , their passions of anger and revenge violent , and their dreams cruel , and little sleep , and their pulse full and hard , and all these symptoms depend on fiery or choleric , hot spirits . the abundance of choler abates the appetite , creates thirst , and requires a cool-diet , and disposes to fevers , and phrensies . the erysipelas , and choleric vomitings , and loosenesses , and a bitterness in the mouth , the vrin is thin , yellowish , or flame coloured , or red . the habit of the body is generally lean , and the colour of the face yellowish , and the hair yellow or black . by these signs mentioned we may know when humours are too high fermented , and choler produced : but that the nature of choler may be more fully explained , and the cure of its bitterness by coagulations , i will annex the ensuing discourse about its nature , use , and colours , and its coagulations by acids . choler may be compared to the juyces of bitter plants , for their bitterness depends on an oyl and acid , mixed with much earth , digested into a particular state , and by the mixture of these principles they acquire the texture of particles , necessary to a bitter taste . there is a good quantity of water mixt with choler , whose superfluity is drawn off by the lymphatics , that the choler might be left more ropy . some of the bitterness goes off with the lympha , which gives a bitterness to it , if it be tasted in the vessels , which return the lympha from the vesica bilaria ; and because this meets the chyle in the common receptacle , it certainly helps there its sanguification , which the ancients , by mistake , imputed to the liver its self , but that is more rationally ascribed to choler , which is produced by the liver . the principles of choler are easily mixed with watery liquors , and diluted by them . when it is too slimy or hot , we use much whey or water for that end to dilute it . a great quantity of an earthy principle appears in choler , because it is apt to breed stones , and it leaves a great thickness or crassamentum upon evaporation . the oyliness in choler appears in its ropy sliminess , and for this reason it serves painters to mix ( like oyl ) with their colours ; and it is used for the washing of cloaths , because of its oyly parts . i have observed in faulcons a small quantity of gall in the bladder of gall , the oleous parts of chyle being spent most on the fat , and not digested so high , as to produce choler ; and the reason that fat constitutions are more cool than the lean , is , because they breed less choler . spirit of harts-horn put into the yellow choler of a hog precipitated it a little , from whence , i supposed some acid might be in it . there is naturally no volatile salt in choler , but that is made by fermentation of it , or by a strong fire in distillation . this ought much to discourage physicians from confiding in chymistry for the explaining the nature and principles of animal humours , since it produces so much of a volatile salt , which is not naturally in choler ; and i think i have a much clearer and certain notion of choler , and its use , from its sensible qualities , especially its taste . the green choler of a cow tasted sweet , bitter , sub-acrid , or a little pungent , and it turned syrup of violets green . the yellow choler of a hog had the same , but a stronger taste , and it turned syrup of violets green . the florid part of the blood is that which the ancient authors meant by the bilis alimentaria , or natural choler ; for the florid part being of an oyly and acid nature , it is the immediate matter of choler ; but the great slime observable in choler , is sent to the liver by the spleen . all choleric persons have very florid bloods , and that very hot , which both depend on the oyly , acid , red part of the blood. choler is easily mixed with blood , if they be stirred together , and so gives a very florid colour to it , which shews a great agreement betwixt the red and yellow in animal humours . the change of the red , oyly acid in blood , to a yellow colour in choler , is from a further digestion of the same humour , or a mixture of a spleen acid with it ; so brimstone , in its natural state , is mixed with much acid and earth , and is of a greenish colour ; but when sublimed , it has less earth and acid , and then is of a yellow colour ; but if the yellow flames be melted with salt of tartar , the hepar sulphuris is red , and the balsam made of it , or its tincture ; but if a lixivium be made of the hepar , and it be precipitated by a good quantity of acid , it becomes milky , as in lac sulphuris . the oyl in animal humours gives us as great a variety of colour , according to its different kinds or quantities of acid mixed with it , as sulphur does in the experiments mentioned , or in the variety of the colours of metals , which depends on their different digestions , or mixtures of their sulphur with a mineral acidity . i. the oyl or butter in chyle gives a milky colour , by the mixture of it with a tartar acid , and resembles the colour and mixture of lac sulphuris . ii. the oyl gives a florid colour to the blood , by its mixture with the volatilized vitriolic acidity and saltness there , and this resembles the hepar sulphuris in colour and mixture of less acidity , with a saltness . iii. the oyl in the choler is of different colours , according to the difference of its spleen acid mixt with it , or the acid of the meats digested in the stomach . 1. it is green in sheep , hens , rabbits , cows , dear , who feed on herbs , which supply a great quantity of crude or acerb tartar to the animal humours . if we drop spirit of nitre into yellow choler , it turns it greenish , and our excrements look green from chalybeate water , in which there is the acid of sulphur joyned with a stypticity . all our green vomits in women are from a mixture of yellow choler , and an acid in the stomach ; they taste and smell sowre : they are cured by the grossest steel in hysterical women , or testaceous medicines in children , when they are griped by a green humour ; from which observations it appears , that the bilis porracea is from a crude tartar acid mixed with yellow choler in the stomachs of the hysterical , or hypochondriacal , or children griped by that humour ; and the green choler of the animals above-mentioned is , from the red florid parts of the blood , too much fixed by a crude acid , and much of earth , which those animals have from their food of crude grass . these animals have a milder heat than those who have yellow choler ; the lowness of their fermentation may be discerned by a less offensive foetor of their bodies , and the watery paleness of their vrins in a natural state : from hence we may observe , that all green humours are signs of indigestion , and a crude acidity , and they are to be cured as the tartar acid of chyle , already described . 2. the paleness of choler is from a great serosity mixed with it ; and this is a sign of a great weakness of digestion , and a serous cacochymia . 3. the sliminess and sweetness of choler is from a weak , pituitous blood , and a sign of it , and belongs to fat constitutions . 4. iv. in animals , whose heat is very strong , and their fermentation more violent , and whose bodies have a stronger foetor , as men , pigs , cats , dogs , &c. the choler is of a yellow colour . v. the bilis vitellina differs from the yellow choler only in consistence and acrimony ; it is compared to the yolks of eggs , and is a sign of a viscid state of blood. vi. the blue choler is commonly called isatodes , like the colour woad gives . this i once observed in a young hysterical woman , who vomited blue after the death of her father , and upon a surfeit . i observed the same blue was vomited by a young person , when all his stools were black ; and this blue choler must be attributed to the vitriolic acidity of the spleen , or such a state of acid mixed in the stomach with yellow choler , and this colour of preternatural choler the ancients attributed to too much adustion of choler , or torrefaction , which brings it near to the nature of atra bilis , and this choler ought to be esteemed the lowest state of the atra bilis . vii . choler of a deep orange colour , is what the ancients called aeruginosa bilis , and is the effect of a cholera , when the yellow choler is altered by the splenetic acid , and made corrosive , as the ancients describe it , but it is of no considerable taste , as those that vomited it described it to me ; it is of a brown and yellow mixture , as appears by the linen stained by it . this vomited plentifully often proves fatal . the cure of this ought to be managed , as in the cholera , by vomiting plentifully at first , by glysters and laudanum , but not purging . it seems very probable to me , that it is the effect of an intermitting fever , and a symptom of it , and requires the use of the cortex , with laudanum , after evacuation , with aqua pulli , or posset-drink , and glysters , and bleeding , if the pulse will bear it . this choler is a sign of a putrid state of humours . viii . choler of a flaming colour seems to be of a high state of digestion ; so i have observed in a fitchet which stinks much , a choler of a red , flaming colour , and the higher or hotter the choler is , the less acerb acidity there is in the body , and the higher its colour is , the more the body stinks . in river-fish , the choler is of a citrine colour , which is only a thin yellow , and is produced by a lower state of digestion than the yellow choler of quadrupeds . yellow choler becomes citrine by diluting it , as it is probable that of fish is much more diluted than the other . i tasted the choler of a jack , which was sweet , bitter , sub-acrid , slimy , and of a colour like oyl of amber , fish choler bites the tongue , but is less bitter than other choler , because there is less fat in fish , and therefore the choler is less oleous or bitter . the acrimony or pungency in choler , is like that of acrid plants , or insects , without a salt taste , and it seems an oyly acid , which , like that in soot , is in a near disposition to be made a salt , by fire or fermentation . the colour of the oyls amongst vegetables very much explains their several digestions . their paleness is a sign of a serosity in oyl of walnuts , and milky juyces are turpentines dissolved in water . their sliminess of a crudity in oyl of linseed . their greenness of an acidity in oyls of olives . the sweetness of oyls shews the middle state they are in betwixt a high and low digestion . to the yellowness of turpentine is joyned its acrid taste , and bitterness . the blue turpentines are higher digested in flos solis , and hypericum . the rosins , and thick turpentines , resemble the consistence of the thick vitelline choler . the citrine balsams ; as that of mecha , and the black ones , as that of peru , represent the state of black or citrine choler . there are foetid balsams and gums which may answer the state of putrefied foetid choler , which is in stools of a putrefied smell . as to the atra bilis , i will reserve the discourse of it to the chapter of vitriolic acidity . choler may be coagulated by divers acids , like the serum of the blood ; but choler most easily . i put to the yellow choler of a hog , which was about ℥ ij . a small quantity of spirit of vitriol , by which it turned into hard and yellow curds , the serum swimming on the top . i have observed such hard concretions in the stools of some icterical persons , which proceed from such coagulations by an acid. spirit of salt coagulated it less , and the coagulations were of a paler colour . spirit of niter coagulated the choler into green curds , which were very hard , and the serum was very clear above the coagulations . the oyl of tartar nitrated coagulated choler by its nitrous acid. the green choler of a chicken was made by spiritus nitri dulcis , of a more clear green colour . vitriolate tartar coagulated green choler , and the coagulum looked yellowish , as the green choler always does by the mixture of the white cremor in the guts , which is sub-acid . alum coagulated the green choler into yellow curds , but they looked white by adding a fixed salt ; so alum waters precipitate a white colour by spirit of sal armoniac . neither sal armoniac , nor common salt , nor sal chalybis , coagulate choler . salt of wormwood made no effervescence with the green choler ; whence i inferr , that there is no loose acid in it to produce its greenness . chymical oyl of wormwood swam upon choler , whence it is evident , that choler is not wholly oyl . green choler looked yellow by a mixture of burnt harts-horn , which may abate or alter the acid of the green. it is evident , that choler is not purely a stercus liquidum ; for then it ought not to have been emptyed into the guts so near to the stomach , for its gall-bladder being there inserted , every motion of the guts or stomach , near its insertion , must evacuate some part of it , to mix with the digested meat descending from the stomach . the first use i shall ascribe to choler , is the correcting the acidities of the meat digested in the stomach , for that might other ways gripe the belly , or coagulate the chyle , or thicken the blood. an acidity is produced always by artificial fermentations , and the same is evident in the contents of the stomach of pigs , rabbits , sheep , to any ones smell . the contents of the carnivorous coagulate milk ; and i found that bread digested in the stomach of a dog coagulated milk. the bitterness and acrimony of the choler corrects this acidity of the digested meat , and , by this means , volatilizes the chyle , because nothing fixes the blood and chyle so much as acids do , especially the oyls and salts in animal humours are coagulated by them . thus sulphur is opened by fixed salts , and spirit of wine by salt of tartar is rectified . ii. the second use of choler is to prevent too great a fermentation , or a perfect putrefaction of our meats ; so hops and wormwood prevent the decay as well as sowring of our liquors . myrrh , and other bitter gums , preserve dead carcases from putrefaction . other bitters , as the cortex , gentian , centaury , and chamaedrys , by their bitterness , stop the fermentation of fevers , and hinder the putrefaction of humours , and the gangreen of the solid parts ; from hence we may inferr , that choler may prevent the corruptive fermentation of our meat and humours , as well as correct their acidities . iii. the coagulation of the choler by the acidity of the digested meat , helps the oyl of the meat to separate from the faeces , which are of an earthy nature , to which it was united by an acidity , and the thick nutritious parts of the meat are easily extracted from the rest by the liquid juyces of the stomach , and both the oyly and nutritious parts being dissolved in a liquor constitute the white milky liquor , which is our chyle . i took some dry reliques of peas , digested in the stomach of a hog , who was fed twenty four hours before he was killed with peas only , and water , which smelt like boiled gooseberries , pleasantly acid : i put some water to the digested peas , and made it milky , by addition of some of the hog's gall. to the liquor squeezed out of the contents of the stomach , i put some gall , which was coagulated by it ; from whence it appears , that choler is naturally coagulated by the acid reliques of the stomach . i put some spirit of sal armoniac to gall coagulated by spirit of vitriol , and it produced a milky colour ; from both these experiments i did collect , that the coagulation of choler by the acid of the digested meat , together with the oyly parts of the meat , produce the white colour of our chyle ; so in preparation of lac sulphuris , the milky colour follows the precipitation of the tartar by an acid spirit , and the oyly parts of the sulphur give a milky colour ; oyly or resinous liquors , as tincture of benjamin , turpentine it self , being diluted with water , become milky . emulsions are milky from the oyliness of their seeds . the best oyls thickened by cold , and the fat of animals have a white colour ; and milk it self has its whiteness from the caseous fibers , and its buttery oyl . iv. the choler has its grosser parts separated by the acidity of the digested meat , and that gives colour and consistence to the excrements , and the choler abounding with much slime , as appears by its ropyness that inviscates the gross indigested parts of the alimentary mass , whereby the chyle ( like liquor clarified by the white of eggs ) becomes more pure from the sediment of choler , and the indigested parts of the meat , and so only consists of a thin , slimy , nutritious juyce , with volatile , spirituous , oyly parts , which can only pass the canals of the lacteals . v. the fifth use of choler , is to help sanguification , and the production of an animal salt , of which i will discourse in the chapter of saltness . i mixed the bitter decoction , sine senâ , with volatile and fixed salts , and these abated its bitterness , which may intimate the use of them in some choleric cases . cream of tartar and spirit of sulphur more evidently destroyed the bitterness of it . common salt and spirit of salt seemed rather to increase than destroy the bitterness of the decoction . mercurius dulcis made it muddy , but little altered it : the same effect probably those medicines will have on bitter choler . chap. x. of the hot scurvy , or oyly , vitriolic , rancid state of the blood. that dyscrasie of the blood , wherein the oyly and acid particles are too highly exalted , is commonly called the scurvy , which is divided into the hot or cold scurvies , according to the various constitutions of blood it falls into , for where the oyl is more abundant in the blood than the acid , it produces the hot scurvy , the signs of which are , the high colour of the vrin , red spots in the skin , from the coagulated or putrid blood fixing there in its circulation , the gums are bloody , they are subject to fevers , dysenteries , choleric diarrhaea's , night-sweats , and consumptions ; these symptoms are produced by the rancid or scorbutic bloods ; but in the nervous liquor , the following symptoms , the running gout , or rheumatism in the nerves , convulsions , palsies , apoplexies , hot cholics , and asthma , and crackling of the bones . since the scurvy is cured by acid fruits , and crude plants in seamen , who have long lived on a salt diet ; i may hence , as well as from the mentioned symptoms , observe , that the scurvy depends on too high a fermentation of the blood. the causes which produce the oyly , acid temper of the blood , are those evident causes which excite an ebullition , or effervescence in it , as in all hot diet of wines , strong drinks , and salt meats , sea air , and fish , which some putrefie . 2. the passion of the mind , and studies , and a sedentary life , or suppression of evacuations . 3. the scurvy is hereditary , or contagious , or succeeds other diseases ; as fevers , rheumatisms , melancholy , agues , especially the quartan . i. the cure consists in evacuating the hot , salt , bitter , acrid , and vitriolic or viscid humours , by the vomits and purgers mentioned in the cure of too high a fermentation , and frequent bleeding . ii. by evacuating the salt serum by gentle sweats , as will be hereafter mentioned , or a diet-drink of sarsa and china , of each half a pound , harts-horn and ivory shavings , of each one ounce , boil all in eight gallons to six , and add juyces of water-cresses , brooklime , of each two pints , of gill and liver-wort , of each one pint , six nutmegs sliced , put all into six gallons of ale , drink three draughts in a day of it . iii. the salt serum may be evacuated by vrin . by terebinthinates ; as tops of pine in all our ale. iv. the oyl acid foetor of the blood , and its high fermentation , is to be corrected , by , 1. acids ; as wood-sorrel , juyces of oranges and limons mixt with the cooler antiscorbutic juyces , conserve of hips , wood-sorrel . 2. the mucilaginous crude juyces of some legumens are used ; as juyce of fitches ℥ ij . in white-wine , or juyce of fumitory , or green peas , or green corn distilled . 3. other cooling mucilaginous plants , or animal parts , are used to cool the blood , and dilute it ; as juyce of borrage , bugloss , barley water , emulsions , drinking milk and water , antiscorbutic milk waters , mineral waters , or fountain water , or water and wine , lettuce water , with sal prunell . and syrup of limons . 4. the acerbs supply their quantity of cruder acids wanting in the humours ; as juyces of apples , grapes , the sorrels , house-leek , the juyce of spotted arsesmart , or house-leek in bilious diarrhaea's . coral prepared with juyce of limon . purslain water with sal prunell . these styptics , acerbs , stop the hot fermentation of humours ; as plantane boiled in broths , and ribwort plantane . 5. austere styptics do the same , as bark of tamarisk , ash , the cortex . 6. sweet styptics of the fern class ; as polypody , ceterach , maiden hair do the same . v. the coagulations by the scorbutic acidity may be dissolved , 1. by the watery antiscorbutic acrids ; as juyces of brooklime , and its conserve , and scurvy-grass and water-cresses may be put into milk with the juyce of orange and white-wine , and that to turn into posset-drink . spirit of scurvy-grass and sal armoniac may be given in milk , or the juyce of scurvy-grass may be so used . ℞ conserv . beccabungae , rad. cich . lujuloe , an . ℥ ij . ras . eboni pulv. ʒiij . sal prunell . diatrion , santal . an . ʒij . cum syr. lujuloe . f. elect. 2. by vitriolic chalybeates ; as sal vitrioli dissolved in antiscorbutic milk waters , or willis's steel so dissolved , or mineral waters chalybeate , steel prepared with juyce of apples , or wood-sorrel , or oranges , and a tincture may be extracted with spirit of scurvy-grass , tartar chalybeate ; as cremor tartari ℈ ij . sal prunell . ℈ i. vitriol . martis gr . iij. capiat cum jusculis alterantibus . 3. by mixed salts ; as sal armoniac . arcanum duplicat . vitriolat . tartar. nitrous acids ; as sal prunell . or mixture of different salts ; as cream of tartar , and salt ; spirit of salt , and spirit of scurvy-grass mixt . 4. by testaceous medicines ; as crabs eyes . vi. the choler must be cleansed , 1. by cichoraceous bitters ; as cichory , dandelion roots . 2. by dock bitters and sorrel roots in beer , or clarefied whey . 3. by chewing rhubarb , and purging waters , and the chalybeate . 4. it must be diluted by milk and water , by avoiding fermented strong liquors , and all hot diet. chap. xi . of the viscidity of the serum , or inspissation of the chyle new mixed with it in the sizie , rheumatic , or inflamed bloods . there is a natural slimy viscidity in all the lacteal lympha's , and milky humours of animals , and this is like dissolved watery gums in its natural state ; but beside this viscidity , there is another naturally in the cake of blood , which makes it congeal and stiff when cold : this natural viscidity is altered by too high a fermentation of humours , and becomes like inspissate gums , which is the gummy viscidity , or gelatinous , like jelly broths . 1. the lympha lactea , such as the spittle , becomes of a gummy consistence , and covers the tongue with a white skin , and all the phlegm from the salivatory glands is viscous . 2. the mucus of the aspera arteria is viscid , and is formed into globuli , such as the grando pulmonum : this mucus is also thickned by stagnation , during which , the heat of the body dries it ; or the air by its cold , or nitrous particles thickens it ; or the nutriment of the nervous membranes is deposited into the vesiculae , being depraved or hindred in its assimulation . the sub-acid mucus of the stomach and guts is made more viscid by fevers , or hot diet , and this lines the insides of the stomach with a pituitous saburra , which hinders the sense of the appetite . 4. the lymphatic vehicle of the spirits is made more viscid in the palsie , apoplexy , and sleepy distempers . 5. the humours of the eyes are sometimes very viscid , and reflect the light by flying about in the eye , like motes in the sun , and the thickness of the watery humour is a cataract , but that of the crystalline produces a glaucoma . 6. the thickness of the chyle produces obstructions in the lacteals , and that in the breast inflammations . by the thickness of the lacteal lympha's scrophulous tumours are produced in all the conglomerate glands , or at least catarrhs . the seminal lympha of the vagina or testicles being too viscid , may produce sterility . this viscidity of the chyle , and its lympha's , may be called the gummous viscidity , which is produced by thickning their natural mucilage , for a watery gum differs only from a mucilage by its inspissation ; for the mucilages of plants may be boiled into a gummy , tenaceous or emplastic consistence , and the white of an egg grows hard by the heat of the fire . there is another species of viscidity proper to the serous lympha , when it is inspissate by heat , or congeals by cold , or coagulates by an acid. broths long boiled become viscid jellies , and they melt with the heat , because of the oyliness mixed with them . turpentines and oyls leave a colophony upon the separation of their thinner oyl ; and such a sticking gluey substance is made by the oyl of harts-horn , when the thinner oyl is distilled off from it . the serum of the blood inspissates , as it does in a spoon at the fire , by long fevers , and it produces tumours , and obstructions of the parts , and rheumatic pains , and pustules in the skin . this viscidity of the serum makes the vrin to have thick contents ; as in rheumatisms , and all inflammations , catarrhs , fevers . it produces pains by stagnating in the lymphatics , and by being stopt out of its glands . the blood it self becomes of a viscid consistence , and produces polypous concretions , and palpitations , and sudden syncopes . the viscid blood stops the flux of the menses . the consistence of the choler is thickned by too hot a diet , which thickens its ropy slime , and produces the jaundice . the slimy lympha of the spleen , thickned by too high a fermentation , produces obstructions in the spleen , or this is thickned by being coagulated by its own innate vitriolic acidity , or by stagnation of the slimy humour , or transmission of viscid humours there after quartans . the ropy vehicle of the bile may be coagulated by the vitriolic acid of the spleen , and produce the atra bilis . the salso-acid temper of the blood may coagulate the new chyle which comes into it , and so produce all the inflammations , pains , tumours , sudden death , suffocations in catarrhs . the evident causes of the gummous and gelatinous viscidities , are , 1. too much external heat of air , cloths , baths , fire which inspissate by evaporating the watery vehicle of the caseous parts of the serum and lympha's . 2. too much cold thickens liquors , which , by constriction or compression , stops the motion of the active particles , which cause their fluidity , and their viscid particles cohere like oyls thickned by cold , or the blood thickned by the cold air , when out of the vein . 3. acrid meats , or the aromatic spices , or vinous liquors , by their fiery particles thicken the mucilaginous humours ; so the white of an egg is hardened by spirit of wine , and the serum of the blood in them who drink brandy . 4. the thin serous parts are evaporated by too much sweat , immoderate exercises ; by watchings and passions the quantity is abated ; by diarrhaea's , much spitting in taking tobacco , or great fluxes of vrin , by which , the blood is made grumous , or void of serum . 5. the great use of viscid meats ; as fish , jellies , mealy vegetables , rice , wheat , &c. or by strong , thick , viscid ale or wines , or the much use of white bread made without bran. the internal causes of viscid humours , are , 1. a rancid , hot fermentation of the meat , so as to resemble fryed eggs by their ructus . 2. acrid choler , which hastens the digestion , and quickens the sanguification , and evacuates the serum by vrin . 3. the natural , oyly temper of the blood , which resembles the ropy consistence of other oyly liquors , or the salso-acid temper which carries the serum off by vrin , as the medicines of that taste , or else a preternatural fermentation , which makes the blood of the scorbutic like a jelly . 4. the blood is often coagulated by its own acids so , if , through exercise , or hot diet , it be rarified , and suddenly cooled with external accidents , as sitting in a cool place , or cold air , the serum of the blood , or the new chyle mixed with it , becomes a viscid jelly , which stopping its circulation in the glands , membranes , and muscles ; it produces all the inflammations with pain and heat , so milk , when sowre , often coagulates by being boiled , and milk injected into a vein is presently coagulated . 5. the vitriol acid of the spleen coagulating the lympha lactea produces the scrophulous tumours , or the cancerous ; by coagulating the serum it produces the arthritis vaga scorbutica , and this is properly the caseous viscidity which is in all animal humours , and may be precipitated from them by mixing an acid to precipitate it , and coagulate it . 6. a putredinous ferment coagulates all humours , as milk with rennet is turned ; the plague infection coagulates the blood , and the exanthemata are it s coagulated and mortified parts ; the serous lympha , by the venomous ferment of the itch and pox , is turned into putrid matter ; and the bite of a viper coagulates the blood , and precipitates its viscid parts from the rest of the mass . the cure of the viscidity requires , i. a thin , watery cool diet , and abstinence from fermented liquors ; as whey , milk and water , wine and water . ii. the hot contents and ferment of the stomach , and acrid choler , must be evacuated by the vomits and purgers described in the cure of too high a fermentation . but it must be observed , that purges in all inflammations are improper in the beginning , but very profitable after large phlebotomies ; when the viscid has had time to putrefie and digest , it will easily pass the intestinal glands , which it cannot do at first ; and , for the same reason , diuretics nor sudorifics do no service till the latter end , that is , after fourteen days , when the viscid is putrefied ; and this is agreeable to experience in rheumatisms . iii. frequent bleeding carries off much of the viscid serum , and vomiting that of the viscid slime in the stomach , as well as the choler . iv. the acrid ferment , and sharp choler , and the great fervour of humours , must be corrected by the tastes mentioned in the cure of too high a fermentation . v. the preternatural scorbutic fermentations must be cured as the hot scurvy , or prevented . vi. all putredinous ferments are to be avoided , as well as sudden taking cold , or drinking cool liquors . vii . the viscidity of humours must be diluted by watery liquors ; as asses milk , whey , mineral waters , and milk waters , which may supply the thin serum which is evaporated . viii . the viscidity must be attenuated , and incided , and gently putrefied , by which it is made more fluid , so that it may pass off by stool , or vrin , or sweats ; so the viscid spittle in the pipes of the lungs is at first glutinous , and sticks too fast to be coughed up ; but after some days it becomes purulent , and more fluid . in rheumatisms the siziness putrefies after some time , and passes off thick contents in the vrin , or glutinous sweats : the salso-acids will help its passing off ; as sal prunell . vitriolate tartar , sal armoniac . we know no medicines which will help the putrefying of the viscid , but those which ripen imposthumes , or help the ripening of the phlegm in the lungs , as the sweet slimy roots ; and fruits may be useful , as pectoral decoctions , and ptysans , and keeping the body in a moderate heat , and moist thin diet. the watery antiscorbutics dilute the viscidity , and incide it , or else are good diuretics ; but i learnt by the following experiment , that no pungency can incide or attenuate the sizy blood. i cut the skin off the top of such blood , after it was cool in the dish , and put it into spirit of sal armoniac , which could not at all dissolve it , neither do i think it possible to reduce the white of an egg boiled , to its former fluidity . it is , therefore , by putrefaction alone that nature dissolves and attenuates all our viscid humours , and that makes eggs fluid . ix . the coagulation of the chyle or lacteal lympha's , or the serum , must be prevented . 1. by evacuating all acids by vomits , and aloetic purgers , to which salt of wormwood , steel , or mercurial powder , or the testaceous , are added . 2. the acidity is cured by steel , or mercurial medicines , or salts , ashes of animals and vegetables , the calces of minerals , by petrefied stones , or the testaceous powders . x. the circulation of viscid humours may be promoted by chalybeate vitriols , by volatile , oyly salts , or by the aromatic acrids , or bitter plants . so agitation alters the viscid sliminess of the white of an egg. xi . the attenuated or putrefied viscid must be expelled by sweats . 1. by the acrid woods , or volatile salts . 2. by cathartics of mercurials , which precipitate the viscidities by their stypticity , and mix with all animal acids most freely , as appears by killing it with spittle , and passes the lymphatics and glands most easily of any medicine . or by cathartics , which are gummous , and by that cohere with the viscid slime of animals , and purge them off , as gum pills , with purging rosins . xii . the putrid viscid may be precipitated out of the blood by styptics , as the cortex , or acerbs ; so sloes pounded in a mortar are put into ropy wines , to precipitate their mucilage , and they shake them together , and after eight days it is clear . vitriol . martis much helps the depuration of the blood after rheumatisms . chap. xii . of the saltness of the blood , and other humours . 1. an animal saltness may be tasted in the stomach of the carnivorous animals ; but that depends on the taste of their flesh-meat digested , which contains the salt , serous and nutritious juyces of another animal , or else it is the natural taste of the lympha , which is the ferment of their meat , and is produced in the blood , and brought thence into the stomach ; but this saltness depends upon the nature of our diet , and is externally taken into the humours , and not produced by them ; but we may inquire whence those animals have a saltness of blood , who seed on vegetables which taste not salt in the stomach . 2. a salt is made in the guts of birds , and other granivorous creatures , by the mixture of acrid bile , and the acidity of the cremor , expressed in the gizern , from the seeds on which they feed , and which have not acquired any salt taste in the stomach by digestion . that an acid makes part of a salt taste , is sufficiently evident by the dissolution of crabs eyes in vinegar , which produce a saltish taste . common sal armoniac tastes more salt than either volatile or fixed alkalies , both which probably have some acid in their composition , as well as that ; for green plants yield more salt than the dry ; and because we observe no acid in the distillation of volatile animal salt , nor much fixed in the caput mortuum , it is probable , that the acid in the humours is spent in the composition of the volatile salt , and gives a salt taste , for an acid put to a volatile or fixed salt makes them taste more salt. ʒi . of salt of harts-horn will imbibe ʒij . of spirit of salt before the ebullition ceases , and they be resolved into a liquor ; and from hence it appears , how much the volatile acrid of bile , and the salt produced in the blood , may imbibe from the acid of digested meat . common salt yields a great deal of acid upon distillation ; and we can meet with nothing of a salt taste in nature , but what is made of an acid and earth , or other salt. the volatile and fixed salts are made by the fire , and they are most clear from acidities . we taste this saltness in the chyle as soon as it comes into the lacteals , and this is of a salso-acid taste ; but when it is vitiated by too great an acidity of the meat too high digested , or the acrimony of the choler , it may properly be called a muriatic saltness . this natural saltness swims in the serous part of the chyle , and passes with it into the blood , and the vrin seems to be produced from this salso-acid serum , when it has parted with the more caseous , nutritious parts of the chyle in the blood vessels . that the choler may help to produce the excrementitious parts of the vrin , as well as that of the stools , seems probable , because we observe stones to be bred in the gall bladder , as well as in the vrinary passages , which seem to be choler coagulated . bitters are accounted diuretics , and the gall does naturally pass by the vrin in the jaundice , and usually gives a citrine , or red , or yellow colour , or black to the vrin . choler easily dissolves in water , and seems to give it a colour like vrin . all mixt salts resemble the mixture of choler , and the acid of the meat , and are diuretic ; as sal armoniac , tart. vitriol . sal succini , sal prunellae . all acids are diuretic by fixing on the choler , as the tartar acid of the stomach does ; and volatile salts mix with the acid in the stomach , and pass by vrin . the superfluous parts of the chylous substance produce the contents in the vrin , which makes it probable , that the salso-acid part of the chyle produces the salt , serous part of the vrin , and that salso-acid is produced from the choler . 3. there is another sort of saltness which we taste in the serum of the blood , and this is in a great quantity . those animals who feed only on grass and fruits digest their meats in their stomachs only into a volatile acidity , and not a salt taste ; these therefore must farther digest their nourishment till it come near to a putrefaction before it can produce an vrinous salt , for we cannot extract any volatile salt out of vegetables till they have been putrefied , and then they yield vrinous spirits , and by putrefying blood , vrin , or choler , a plentiful volatile salt is produced , separable by a gentle heat . the sanguification of our aliments , dissolved by digestion , seems to have these several steps ; for by correcting the acidities of them , they are turned into blood. first , the choler mixes with the acidity , and turns the chyle white . next , the salt serum of the lymphatics mixes with the chyle , and turns it rosy or reddish . last of all , the salt of the blood , and the oyly parts of the blood , unite with the oyly acid parts of the chyle , and the more serous part turns into serum , which contains the caseous and watery parts , and the salso-acid aqueous superfluities pass off by vrin . the natural tartar in the chyle mixing with the salt generated in the blood produces the armoniac salt of the blood , which if it were purely volatile , it would preserve the blood from coagulation , as spirit of harts-horn does , and would more easily rise by distillation , but neither of these happen ; and spirit of sal armoniac blackens the blood , which is taken from the vein , if we bleed upon it ; but the natural salt of the blood rather makes , or at least does not hinder , the floridity of the blood , and therefore i call the salt of the blood a mixt armoniac salt , produced by a half putrefaction , or long resolution of the parts of our chyle , in which the oyly acids of the blood joyn with some terrene parts , upon the ultimate resolution of the nutritious juyces , and produce a salt which has that taste from the mixture of an acid and earth , and the volatility and pungency depends on the volatile oyl mixt with them ; this smells vrinous , and is carried off naturally by sweat and vrin . by the rise of the muriatic saltness from the choler it appears , that bilious states of humours , by a higher digestion , become saline , or muriatic , and the signs of each constitution differ only in degrees . the pulse is great , frequent , and hard ; the thirst is great , and they drink frequently ; their taste of the saliva is salt ; the colour of the vrin thin , citrine , salt or bitterish ; the habit of the body is thin and lean ; the heat is sharp , and the stools of a burnt yellow colour . cool things agree with them , but salt and hot inflame them , and they ill bear fasting . the chyle is salso-acid , and that makes the lacteal lympha of that taste , and then produces thirst , vomiting , or gripes , diarrhaea's , or catarrhs , and inflammations of the mouth . the semen is made stimulating in the salacious . the nervous juyce being salt , produces wandring pains . the salt serum being over salt , produces the stone , and gout , and strangury . the saltness of nurses milk produces pains in the breast , and gripes in the children , and sore mouths . the saltness of the nutritious juyces produces the scab , or consumption of the parts ; it destroys its natural caseous , nutritious parts , and carries them off by vrin . the blood is made more thin by being very salt , its thick viscid parts being corroded or precipitated , as in haemorrhagies ; and corrodes , as in the menses . the choler is made more acrid and bitter , and of a darker brown colour . the juyces of the spleen become salso-acid , and less slimy , and less fit to separate the choler from the blood. the tears of the eyes corrode and inflame them when over salt , and dry into a gumminess . the salt saliva corrodes the teeth , and the gums shrink or dry , and waste away , as in the hot scurvy . an atrophy dries up the flesh , as meat over-salted shrinks . the external causes of the muriatic saltness , and the armoniac saltness , very much are the same , but these particularly of the muriatic saltness . 1. salso-acid aliments , salt fish , salt water , salt sea air. 2. the evacuations of the acrid choler , and the spleen acid or tartar acid being stopt in the binding of the belly . the external causes of the vrinous saltness , or the armoniacal , are , 1. acrid , vinous , bitter and aromatic meats . fasting makes the humours more acrid , and sweet diet becomes bitter , acrid , on digestion . 2. a laborious life , with much exercise , too much addictedness to venery ; for the lympha returning from the testicles becomes foetid , and ferments the humours more . 3. too much watching , anger , cares , inflame the spirits . 4. the evacuation of the salt serum by water or sweat being suppressed , or the binding of the body . whatsoever ferments the blood too much breeds choler , and that the animal saltness . the internal causes of saltness , are , 1. the natural saline temper of the blood , which supplies a ferment for the chyle of the same nature , to turn it into the like saltness . 2. too quick a circulation of the blood excites too great an ebullition , and makes the choler more acrid , and the salt more sharp , and in greater quantity . 3. the acrid choler , and sharp acid of the spleen , or tartar acid , which is corrosive , produce the sharpest salt. 4. a preternatural putrefaction in fevers , or long effervescences , make the blood very salt . so a cancer , fistula , the itch , or lues venerea , or consumptive lungs , kidnies , or other viscera , give a ferment to the blood , and putrefie it into a saltness . the cure of the muriatic and armoniac saltness requires , i. to abstain from fermented drinks , and to use watery liquors ; as milk and water , and the decoction of the cooler woods , wine and water , or water boiled with coriander seeds and sugar . to abstain from salt meats , and those dried in smoak , or pickles . to abstain from ferments ; as old cheese , fish . to use slimy meats ; as new cheese , fruits , farinaceous meats , and milk meats , snails , tortoises , jellies , cray fishes , tripes , and the feet of animals , and young pigs , goat , lamb , veal . in short , the diet must be crude , watery , acerb , mucilaginous , farinaceous , subacid . the air dry , and not foggy sea air. ii. the salt humours must be evacuated by the sennate , rhabarbarate , and sweet manna purgers , with acids added , or the purging waters , which are nitrous , or aluminous , or vitriolic ; these wash and cool by their waterishness , and precipitate the salt by their stypticity . hydragogues , which evacuate the serum , abate the saltness . iii. the salivation by mercury evacuates plentifully the salt serum , and aethyops mineralis and merc. dulcis correct the saltness by joyning with the salso-acid of the blood ; and all mercurials depress the over-fermentation of the blood as much as chalybeates exalt the low fermentation . iv. the salt serum is sweat off by salso-acid or urinous medicines , and for the same end we use baths , and much exercise , the decoctions of the acrid woods , and frictions , and fontanels . v. diuretics plentifully evacuate the salt serum ; as all acid diuretics , and the testaceous and bitter cichoraceous plants . vi. the saltness of the blood , and the ferment of the stomach , the acrid bile , or splenetic , sharp acid , or that of the stomach , must be corrected , and the frequent ebullition , circulation or putrefaction removed . 1. all acids correct volatile salts and oyls which are foetid , and all lixiviums are made more mild by acids . 2. the mucilaginous temper , the acrimony of salts ; as gum tragacanth powders , decoction of snails , althaea roots , and emulsions . 3. the saltness may be diluted by a watery diet or medicines ; as thin broths , whey , chalybeate waters , milk diet , and distilled milks , watergruel . 4. opiates and styptics stop the motion of the blood. 5. bleeding evacuates the old blood , which is most salt ; and the new blood , which comes in its room , is more fresh , and less salt ; so broths of flesh meat are salter by long boiling . 6. all extraneous ferments ought to be removed from the blood ; and by the cortex , or other antifebriles , the fermentation must be stopped . that the vrin contains an acidity naturally in it , appears by the correcting of coloquintida by it , whose bitterness is made near insipid by it ▪ the purging quality in the coloquintida is enervated by the vrin , as well as its bitterness . hence it appears , how great a correcter of choler the vrin may be , and how much it may preserve the humours from putrefaction , as it preserves vlcers by its salso-acid taste . a lixivium of oyster-shells changes the bitterness of the species of the bitter decoction boiled in it into a sweetness , and this therefore may be used to correct choleric heart-burning in the stomach , and this may correct the bitterness , as well as acidity of humours . but from this experiment let our prescribers consider , whether they do not abate the vertue of the cortex , by extracting it with a fixt salt , since the taste of it is altered thereby . i remember , a tincture of wormwood made with brandy , and salt of wormwood , did not taste very bitter by being made with a fixt salt ; but that made with spirit of wine , and a little oyl of sulphur , was very bitter ; and in the vomitings of our patients we find both very bitter , and very sowre , which did not correct each other , but a fixt salt in this case may correct both sowre and bitter . chap. xiii . of the vitriolic acidity of the blood. in the most healthful blood , we discern many tastes besides a sweetness and saltness ; a vitriolic or chalybeate taste is evident , therefore we cannot doubt of the vitriolic acidity of the blood , nor that it is produced from the tartareous acidity of the chyle , which , by digestion , is exalted , and volatilized into a sulphureous spirit . the acid sulphureous fumes from the earth , produce the tartar in plants , as it is mixt with earthy parts ; but by the animal digestions , and fermentations , and precipitation by salts , the acid may recover its mineral nature , and appear to be a vitriolic acid in the blood , or else it may acquire that savour by its mixture with the oyly , acid , foetid particles of the blood , which somewhat resemble sulphur . this vitriolic acidity was the natural alimentary melancholy of the blood , which the ancient physicians observed in it . they called it a black humour , which gave the blackness to the blood ; for it is certain , that acids turn the blood black . they believed there was an astriction in this humour to bind the belly ; and it is plain , by the vitriolic taste , that it is capable of binding the body ; for spirit of vitriol and vitriolum martis bind the body by their stypticity , though tartar acids purge , and have not that effect , unless they be acerb . they believed it to be cooling and drying , because of the cooling quality of vinegar ; and by being a great diuretic , both vinegar and the vitriolic acid dry up or evacuate the succus nutritius . all melancholy persons are great spitters , and make too much vrin , and the ancients called those constitutions dry , who had little of the succus nutritius in them to make the habit of the body plump , as it is in lean persons , and the fat more moist constitutions . they esteemed this natural melancholic acidity to be the limous or slimy , faeculent part of the blood , like to the lees of wine , and so compared it to the element of earth , for in all tartar there is a great deal of earth , which makes it to subside in the wine ; and this black melancholic acidity colours the bottom of the blood most , when it is cool in a dish . this chalybeate taste is in all blood , and is natural to it ; part of it constitutes the splenetic humour , when it is mixed with a sliminess , and it is separated by its glands , for the use of the choler , which is precipitated from the blood by it . i boiled a a fresh spleen of a hog , which made a very slimy decoction ; i put some choler to it , and they readily mixed together ; and i thought it very probable , that the sliminess which makes choler ropy was from the spleen : this vitriolic acidity may give a consistence to the blood : it fixes its salts and oyls , by coagulating with them into a salso-acid taste , and by that disposes the serum for its passage by the kidnies . i have described the tartar acid above , but here must consider only the vitriolic acidity , as an effect of too high a digestion , or fermentation of the humours , and being in this state , the ancients called it atra bilis , which is extreamly hot , corroding , burning , exulcerating , and being spilt upon the earth , it ferments it like vinegar , or aqua fortis , and excites bubbles . the ancient physicians reckon four species of this atra bilis , but in reality there is but one , which is produced from the vitriolic acid of the blood , by a fervor or putrefaction of blood , and the differences of the atra bilis are either from a mixture of choler with it , or blood , or serum of the blood , or corruption of some of our diet in a surfeit . 1. they attribute one species of the atra bilis to the exustion of choler , which , in reality , is nothing but a mixture of the splenetic acidity too high digested with sharp choler , and this mixture is either naturally made in the gall bladder , and hepatic vessels , and the choler is then observed to look black in the vesicâ felleà upon dissection ; or else , this vitriolic acidity being pretty naturally evacuated into the stomach and guts , it there mixes with the choler , and produces black vomits , and stools black , and this appears in the black jaundice by the black colour of the skin , and in some fits of the cholic . generatio atrae bilis à nimio calore dependet , quia humores valde adurere solet , was the observation of sennertus . 2. they attribute a second species to putrid , burnt blood , which is only the high digested vitriol acid of the blood , mixed with putrid blood , which is made very black by the acidity , and this appears like pitch or tar when it is evacuated from some artery in the stomach in the black hypochondriac vomitings , or from the blood-vessels in the piles , or bloody stools . the real atra bilis is distinguished from this , because it does not grow thick , as blood being cold does . this species gives a blackness to the vrin , and if the blood be taken from a vein , the black faeces subside to the bottom of the dish , as this may be observed , for which reason i cause such blood to be taken in a glass . i have met with a remarkable instance of this kind in a gentleman , after a long fit of the gout ; he was about fifty years old , and always subject to pains , and vomiting ill humours from his stomach . he vomited a black serum in great quantities : i guess four or five gallons in a weeks time ; what came by stool was black , as tar ; his blood let out of the veins of the arm had a great black sediment , like that he vomited ; the blood taken away looked very sizie or rheumatic , and the black sediment filled half the glass , which was full of blood ; upon the humour which was vomited , i made the following experiments . the black serum turned reddish with spirit of harts-horn , and it had the same colour from salt of wormwood mixed with it , whence it is evident , that this black serum was originally blood , the red part being blackened by an acid ; this would not inspissate by the fire , and therefore was not pure serum , neither did it contain much viscidity in it , for oyl of vitriol could not coagulate it , neither did it change its colour , because it was changed black before , to which acids change the blood ; neither for the same reason did alum coagulate it , or change its colour , for putrefied humours neither can be inspissated by the fire , or coagulated by acids . sublimate alone coagulated it , and changed it into a greyish colour . galls did not blacken the humour more , but set to the fire it turned whitish ; and hence it appears , the vitriolic acid of the blood does not strike a black so great as common steel vitriols . syrup of violets mixt with the black serum became reddish , as if an acid were mixed with it ; and from hence i collect , that some acid was in that black humour . i observed no smell in that humour , nor the patient any taste , as he informed me . i evacuated this humour , being corrupt , by small beer plentifully drank , by which he vomited plentifully , being sick ; and i purged him with sena every day , or gave glysters . when this black humour stopt its evacuation , he was very sick , and it caused convulsions . i could not procure the opening of this gentleman , when dead , and so wanted an information whether this humour came from the arteries of the stomach , or the bileducts . 3. the third species of atra bilis was attributed , by the ancients , to the pituita salsa , which , by long adustion , grew corrosive , and this seems only to be a sharp , fiery salt of the blood mixed with the vitriolic acidity , by which it is made a black serum or sanies , such as in cancerous , or other putrid vlcers . 4. the fourth species of atra bilis the ancients make the natural melancholy , burnt , or putrefied , or over-fermented , and this is that i call most properly the atra bilis , which , by mixtures , makes the several species mentioned : and one more i find authors have forgot , but i have met with it in my practice , and that is the meats that corrupt and putrefie in the stomachs of those who have that atra bilis in their bloods , for this blackens the vomits in such constitutions , and gives also black stools ; and this i lately observed in a person very healthful , of a good stomach , but black countenance ; at first he vomited black , and bluish humours afterwards , but the stools were all black , with fainting , and cold sweats . i let this patient blood , but found no blackness in it ; so that these black serum stools were no corruption of that ; neither would spirit of harts-horn turn this humour reddish , as it did the black humour which was produced from the blood. i purged him , but after some few stools at first black , none of the last were so ; and by purging off the surfeit , which was made by stale beer , and hanged beef , he recovered . the signs of the vitriolic humours are chiefly the evacuations of the black humour by vrin , and black spittle from the lungs , like a spider's web over it in the asthmatic , and splenetic . the saliva tastes salso-acid in catarrhs , vlcers of the mouth and gums , and rottenness of the teeth . the mucus of the larynx being coughed up causes consumptions , spitting of blood , catarrhs , and tastes sweet , vitriolic , like blood it self . the slimy lympha of the stomach being vitriolic , causes vomiting , heart-burning , or a great appetite , hypochondriac ructus , and pains of the stomach . the nervous lympha is vitriolic in melancholies , which causes a fear and sadness without a manifest cause , an implacable anger , watchings , or dreams of black things , or devils . their motion is slow and grave , their aspect inconstant , sad , and frightful . the serous and nutritious lympha is salso-acid in the hypochondriac , by which it is made unfit for nourishment , for nothing nourishes but a sweet humour . the acidity curdles the serum , and that stops in the conglobate glands , and breeds the scrophulae , and schirrous tumours of the liver and spleen . the vrin is pale , and plentiful in melancholy constitutions , and frequently full of a sediment , which sticks to the sides of the pot. the pale vrin gives an acid dysuria to be tempered by harts-horn spirit , or steel . the blood , the choler , the serum , and the juyces of the stomach , look black by the atra bilis . the skin appears dry , hard , cool , and rough . the colour of the face is brown , or black , or lead coloured , from the atra bilis mixed with the succus nutritius . the habit of the body is thin , and lean , and the hair is black , hard , and curled . the black humour is vomited , and purges downwards ; the haemorrhoids swell , and break ; there is much spitting , but the belly is bound ; the vrin is black , livid , thick , but sometimes thin and white ; a cremor swims on the vrin with much farinaceous sediment . the pulse is slow and hard . melancholy distempers preceed ; as quartans , swelling of the spleen , leprosie , varices of the legs , haemorrhoids , great voracity , and little thirst , but acid ructus . their parents were melancholy . the age betwixt forty and sixty , and a vitriolic , natural temper of blood and spirits , and the autumn dispose to melancholy . the external evident causes of the atra bilis , are , 1. a high fermenting diet ; as old cheese . flesh-meats which are strong and blackish ; as venison , hare , swines , beef , which abound with a black blood ; birds feeding in fens ; as geese , ducks , woodcock , snipes , swans , &c. by drinking fen , vitriolic waters , have both black blood and flesh ; fish in ponds , and sea-fish , which are called the cetacei , salted or dryed in the smoak , have a salso-acid taste , and breed melancholy : the drinking of such boggy , vitriolic waters dispose to melancholical humours . strong wines or drinks , fryed meats , and those dryed in the smoke , acrids and aromatics in our diet , over-ferment the blood ; as fasting does , and all produce an atra bilis . the salt sea air fills the blood , with the sulphur fumes from it , and the fens with vitriolic , sulphureous exhalations ; for vitriolic , blue concretions swim on such waters . 2. the melancholic evacuations stopt by the suppression of the haemorrhoids , or the hepatic flux which is from the arteries of the mesentery , or the varices vanishing , or the stoppage of sweat , in a sedentary life . 3. by too much evacuation of the spirits , by watchings , cares , studies , solicitude , anger , exercise , the motions of humours are quickned , and the digestions heightened , and the oyly parts of the humours evaporated , and the vitriolic remain , and prevail over all . the inward causes of the vitriolic acidity . 1. a black , vitriolic humour in hot and dry constitutions , which makes the blood black , and the colour of the face so too , and this is increased by being in a hot region , or hot time of the year , by hot diet , or violent passions , &c. 2. the evaporation of the oyly spirits ; so vinegar is prepared , when by the heat of the sun , or fire , the spirits are evaporated . there is in the spirit of wine some acidity , by which brandy curdles milk ; and that there is such an acidity in animal spirits is probable , for the animal spirits , like that of wine , are very inflammable , or a thin lucid flame ; and it appears , that some acid makes oyls more inflammable ; for oyl of turpentine , and fresh aqua fortis , upon their mixture , turn into a flame . all the spirits of fermented liquors are acid , oleous , and are very pungent on the tongue by their acid ; but if the oyl be separated , they taste only sowre , or sharp , from their tartar. after the same manner the spirits of animals are compounded of a foetid oyl , and vitriolic acid ; and the spirituous parts of all fermented liquors have the same composition ; and these being the most volatile parts , must needs compose the spirits of animals , which are produced also by the fermentation in the stomach , and after are prepared by a long digestion , or circulation in the blood ; therefore , if the oyly part be evaporated by violent passions , or diseases , the spirits remain vitriolic , or like aqua fortis in the melancholy and hysteric persons ; and this acidity of the spirits infects the blood. 3. there is another way of preparing vinegars besides the evaporation of the spirits mentioned , which is , by addition of a new ferment to wines ; and by both these ways the blood becomes vitriolic . i have mentioned the evaporation of its oyly spirits ; and now will describe the ferments which sowre it . the viscera filled with putrid humours ; as in the phthisis , old jaundices , wherein the lungs and liver are ulcerated , send a putrid ferment into the blood , and these ferment the blood into an acetous temper . so the natural humours long detained , as the seminal matter , which is of a fermentative nature , or by the haemorrhoids or menses retained , the blood suffers an ebullition , and it is not unusual , that any aminal humour corrupted should become a ferment , as appears in the saliva of a mad dog ; and in all contagious diseases ; as the itch , pox , and malignant fevers , wherein the corrupt humours ferment those which they infect into the same preternatural state. burning fevers are commonly the occasion of the atra bilis , for they make the blood black and thick ; and pestilential fevers have the same black humours both in the skin , and sometimes evacuate it by stools , or vomiting , or vrin . galen affirms , that all who evacuate black humours in the plague die ; but those who do not , have the black mortified blood in the skin , where it spots it ; and he imputes this blackness to the over-heating or adustion of the blood ; and he imputes all melancholy cases to the same extraordinary adustion of the blood , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this atra bilis happens in haemorrhagies , where the fibers of the blood are putrefied , and black in the bottom of the chirurgeon's dish . the ancient physicians esteemed the spleen to be the place where the atra bilis is bred , which , in old and hot animals , appears very black ; but in young ones , or those of a cooler constitution , more reddish ; for the vitriolic acid is more strongly digested , and becomes more sharp , and blacks more in the old and hot animals , than in the contrary . they thought the spleen attracted such a humour as the lees of wine , or the amurca of oyl ; and this is the vitriolic acidity mentioned . 4. the obstruction of the spleen , when schirrous or inflamed , obliges the vitriolic humour to pass through the arteries into the stomach , and there it corrupts its ferment , and changes all the mass of meat towards an acidity , like too much sowre leaven in our bread ; so that hysterical persons vomit a great deal of acid humours , and so do the hypochondriacal , and both eat too much , and have their bodies too much bound . or else the vitriolic acidity passes through the hepatic artery into the bile vessels , and there , by fermenting with it , it produces those fluxes of choler which happen in the cholera , or cholics , or diarrhaea's , and the various colours of them . the cure of the muriatic acidity of the chyle , and the vitriolic and armoniacal of the blood require , 1. the evacuation of acidities from the stomach by vomits , in hysteric and hypochondriac cases , and the frequent gentle evacuation by stools , and keeping the body open by lenitives of sena . 2. all the evident causes mentioned must be avoided , especially a tartareous or muriatic diet. moderate warm things agree well with them , but no very hot ones , nor no strong purgers . the diet must moisten , or be thin and nourishing , as well as a little warm . all passions , studies must be avoided . 3. the muriatic and vitriolic acidities are naturally evacuated by vrin and sweat , and therefore we use diuretics and sudorifics . 4. the secretion of the vitriolic humour through the spleen , must be promoted by steel medicines , which resemble its vitriol taste , and the abundant acidity in the chyle and blood precipitated , as in the cure of the tartar acerbity . 5. all extraneous ferments are to be avoided , and humours suppressed evacuated . 6. this vitriolic acidity at last fixes the blood , and makes it congeal , and then the digestives mentioned in the cure of a low fermentation are necessary , which , by exagitating the oyly parts of the chyle and blood , give them a predominancy over the acidity . 7. the high fermentation of humours must be checked by the diet and medicines prescribed in the cure of too high a fermentation of humours . when the vitriolic acidity chiefly troubles and infects the blood , it may be esteemed the cold scurvy ; but when the nerves are also affected by the vitriolic acidity it produces the hypochondriac affections , and the spleen is obstructed also . it coagulates in the kidnies with some terrene matter , like lime-stone , and there produces all the calculous concretions . the corrosiveness of humours depends much on too high a state of the vitriolic acidity ; and the splenetic flatuosities on a violent agitation or expansion of spirits . first , of the vitriolic , oleous scurvy . in this scurvy , the vitriolic acidity prevails over the oyly spirits , and for that reason it produces many of the symptoms attending a low fermentation of blood ; for the blood becomes ropy , mucilaginous , and sharply acid , by too high a fermentation of a depauperated chylous blood , naturally more acid than oyly ; the vrin is pale , and a salt cremor swims on it ; there are no spots in the skin , but the spirits are weak , unfit for motion , whence the lassitude proceeds , or fainting , palpitation of the heart , and dull pains , and windiness , and the asthma , a streightness of the breast , a wandering fever , with sudden changes of heat and cold ; these are the ordinary symptoms attending the cold scurvy , which in respect of the hot , oyly , vitriolic state of blood in the hot scurvy mentioned above , it may be called the cold scurvy , because the blood is more poor , and less spirituous ; but this is also produced by an over-fermentation of such kind of blood ; and the cold symptoms depend on the greatness of the vitriolic acidity , which coagulates the blood , and fixes all the volatile salts and oyls , and that is the reason it must be cured as in the tartareous acidity . i. the acid must be evacuated by aloetic purgers , pil. ex ammoniac . ruffi , sumach ; or by sennates , or those of black hellebore . ii. the fervour of humours may be diluted by the watery liquors ; as whey , stilled milks , asses milk , steel waters , wine and water . see the cure of too high a fermentation . iii. all acid liquors must be avoided ; as wines , cyder , beer that is stale ; and all the evident causes producing acidities . iv. the scorbutic acidity must be evacuated by vrin , and the digestion of humours raised . 1. by acrid plants ; as scurvy-grass , horse-radish , water-cresses , rocket , lady-smock , mustard-seed . 2. by volatile and fixed salts . 3. by turpentine plants ; as pine tops , and juniper-berries in drink , gilead balsam . 4. by bitters acrid of the wormwood class ; as wormwood wine . 5. by the acrid aromatics ; as angelica roots , galanga , zedoary , contrayerva , cardamoms , orange peels , winter-bark . 6. by the laurel , bitter acrids ; as the bark and seeds of ash , decoction of guajacum , and the use of the cortex . 7. by the foetid , lamium bitters ; as chamaedrys , marrubium , wood-sage , ground ivy , and ground pine. 8. by the leguminous bitters ; as broom . 9. by nauseous bitters ; as gentian , centaury , buck-bean . 10. by the corrosive acrids ; as aaron , lesser celandine , arsesmart , piperitis . 11. chalybeates , which are of least heat ; as vitriol martis made into pills with gum tragacanth , or else dissolved in distilled milks . secondly , of the hypochondriac affection . this seems to differ from the cold scurvy , by being a higher degree of it . when the vitriolic acidity has so far coagulated the blood , as to produce many obstructions in the viscera , especially in the spleen , whence the abundant vitriolic humour is thrown upon the stomach , where it produces corrugations , and pains , and inflations , a great appetite , and continual windiness , and vomiting ; after the meat the face is red , and the hands burn , the countenance is black , and the habit of the body lean . when the vitriolic humour affects the brain , it produces vertigo's , various fancies , head-aches , convulsions , palsies , alterations of the pulse , oppressions , trembling , and palpitation of the heart , constriction of the breast , a sense of formication , and stupor in the extream parts . the vrin is various , commonly turbid , and thick , or blackish , with sandy , red sediment . the belly is bound , and the stools frequently black . a thin vrin preceeds some fits. i am not singular in my opinion , that the acid of melancholic blood is vitriolic ; but can quote a remarkable part of sennertus , where he says , atram bilem ipsamque melancholiam vitriolatae naturae participem , aut certe ei cognatam esse , & ferrugenei quid sapere , nemo facile negaverit . this affection happens about the thirtieth year of our ages , and then the blood seems to be at its highest digestion ; but by accidents acquiring a great ebullition , it loses its spirits . those constitutions in whom much soure ructus and phlegmatic vomits are observed , bear the hotter medicines ; and those who have choleric vomits burning in the hypochondria , and thirst , and fury in the spirits , require the coolest medicines . sweet things ferment , and are offensive to the hypochondriac and hysteric , which was anciently observed . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the cure requires , i the avoiding of a tartareous diet , and that which is muriatic , and vinous ; to avoid passions , studies , too much solicitude , and labour , and to help all evacuations stopt , especially that of the haemorrhoids . ii. the saburra pituitous , tartareous , or bilious , must be evacuated often by vomits , and the body kept open by aloetics , and sennate medicines , or wines , and clysters , or purging waters , and a pill of ammoniacum once a week . iii. frequent bleeding small quantities checks the preternatural fermentation , and keeps the humours from stagnation and obstructions , especially the opening the haemorrhoids , procuring the menses , and giving way to the varicous swellings in the legs , without binding them . bleeding at the nose does good . iv. in the cold melancholy we use hot digestives ; as , 1. acrids . 2. causticks . 3. bitters ; elixir antiscorbuticum , tinct . sacra . 4. the salts volatile ; as sal volatile oleosum , sal absynthii , cochleariae , and testaceous medicines . 5. the aromatics , all which are mentioned in the cold scurvy . 6. the chalybeates , which are most sulphureous ; as chalybs cum sulph . praep . and the filings . v. in the hotter constitutions all strong drinks and hot medicines are offensive , and these require , 1. watery liquors and medicines , according to the observation ; melancholici non diutius curantur , quam humectantur ; and for this end they use whey , and syrup of violets in all black humours , and cool clysters to evacuate it . we use distilled milks , mineral waters , &c. wine and water to cool and moisten . 2. cichoraceous bitters ; as decoct . of dandelion , conserve of cichory flowers and roots , decoct . of scorzonera . 3. the mucilaginous bugloss , borrage leaves , and flowers , syr. borraginis , de pomis citri . 4. sub-acid ; as juyce of limons , citrons , syr. de pomis , which syrups are good in whey , and spirit of alum to fix furious spirits ; but vinegar is injurious to the melancholic . 5. the fern styptics ; as polypody , spleenwort , ceterach , these stop the fermentation of humours . boil them in whey , or small ale , with antiscorbutics . vi. the vitious acidity of the spirits must be corrected by , 1. aromatic cephalics ; as penny-royal , thyme , sage , bettony , lavender , the spirit of lavender . 2. by cardiac , odoriferous medicines of ambergrease . lozenges made of species of diamber , or laetificans galeni with oyl of cinnamon . cubebs candied with sugar are good for the vertiginous . some tincture of aromatics with ambergrease . 3. testaceous medicines , and powders of antimony , steel , cinnabar mercury , lapis lazuli with purgers . 4. narcotics . diascordium , and confect . alchermes with laudanum . fomentations to the hypochondria , with proper oyntments ; for schirrus of the viscera , baths of warm water are much commended ; an issue betwixt the first and second vertebra of the neck or shoulders . the best diet for hypochondriac affection is , fresh flesh-meats , and small ale , with pine-tops , dock-roots , and other antiscorbutics . vii . anti-splenetics , which open the obstructions of the spleen ; for the secretion of the vitriolic and viscid humours from the blood are absolutely necessary ; for the hypochondriac winds are to be cured by vomiting up the corrupt , sowre ferments , by diverting the splenetic humour from the stomach , and keeping the body open by aloetics , tinct . sacra , pil. ammoniacum . we use hot medicines in hypochondriac cases , because of the obstructions by viscid humours , and the evaporated spirits must be supplyed by spirituous medicines ; and in all long chronical diseases a decay happens in our digestions , for want of spirits , and a crude saburra of humours is produced , though the original distemper proceeded from a hot cause , that is an over-fermentation of blood. thirdly , of the concretion of stones or sand in the humours of an animal . the vrin contains three parts . 1. the viscid particles of the succus nutritius , which make its contents . 2. the salso-acid and oyly particles , which give the salso-acid or bitterish taste to the sweat and vrin . 3. the thin , serous , watery part , which carries all the other parts and dilutes them . when the oyly part of the vrin , which i suppose to be the choler , is too high digested , it looks red , and flame coloured , or deep yellow . the red part of the blood seems , in some hot bloods , to colour the sediment red . when the vitriolic acid abounds , it joyns its self with such earthy particles as are observed in all liquors , ( for lime-stone particles may be observed in all waters , but most plentifully in the purging ones ) and that , with these stoney particles , coagulates into sand or stones . the same vitriolic acid coagulates the lympha's into tophaceous or cretaceous stones in the joynts , and limbs , and lungs : not only the milky lympha's , but the serous , are subject to this coagulation , as appears by the stones in their several glands . if the salts of the blood were only coagulated by this vitriolic acidity , they would not appear in any firm tenaceous consistence in the stone ; but all stones would be friable , like tartar , therefore this acid coagulates some viscid parts with the saline . if there were no earthy parts , then the stones would appear gummy , or tenaceous only , and not solid . stones are generally bred like tartar , which consists of the acid part of the wine joyned to the earthy , and mixed with the slimy foeces into a hard , stony substance : so from the tartar of vegetables , coagulate with stony particles , the stones and hard cases of their fruits and seeds are produced . the evident causes of the stone , are , 1. a hot , acrid and aromatic diet , and a muriatic diet , which over-ferment the blood , and supply a salso-acid matter for the stone , or a viscid , as all diet of that kind . 2. strong diuretics force the salso-acid to the kidnies too much , if used too oft , or mixed with our diet. 3. too much venery , baths , passion , flannel , or hot cloaths on the back , or soft beds , lying on the back , exercise after meat , much riding ; all these weaken the kidnies , by heating them , or forceing the calculous salso-acid thither . the inward causes , are , 1. a rancid , viscous chyle from hard drinking strong liquors . 2. a saltness of blood , and a bilious temper . 3. a vitriolic acidity of the spleen . 4. narrow pores , or canals in the kidnies . 5. such a conformation of pores , or temper of humours , may be derived from the parents , and children have stones bred in them before they are born , for the same reason ; and because they retain their vrin so long in their vrinary vessels , whilst embryo's . the stone is often bred from the nurses milk. the cure of the stone consists , i. in evacuating and correcting the rancid chyle , the saltness and viscidity of blood , and the vitriolic acidity , as is above-directed , and evacuating the calculous serum by diuretics . ii. in making the passages slippery , 1. by vomiting , with posset-drink , in which althea roots are boiled in the beginning of fits. 2. by a mucilaginous glyster , and bolus of cassia . 3. by emollients , baths , or fomentations ; as crocus , mallows and pellitory fryed with butter , and applyed . by emollient plasters and oyntments , empl. melilot . 4. oyly medicines ; as oyl of sweet almonds , and sperma ceti ; an oyly glyster , oyly emulsions , butter and sugar , or milk half churned . 5. watery liquors force it ; as distilled waters with diuretics , whey , milk and water , asses milk , mead , posset-drink with chamomile flowers , pellitory and mallows , chalybeate waters , and water distilled from birch juyce and daucus seeds . 6. vomits , sneezing , leaping , standing on the head , and cupping-glasses , riding , stroaking the loins and belly , or cupping-glasses , help to remove the stone ; and bleeding in the arm or foot , and purging , to which laudanum must be added . 7. narcotics allay the pain . 8. the glysters may be made deterging ; as of turpentine , vrin , and purgers ; or carminatives and diuretics , with soap and oyls . the preservation from the concretions of stones requires , 1. vomiting and cholagogues , purging waters , or purging antiscorbutic diet drinks ; or purging once a month. 2. the salso-acid or vitriolic blood is corrected by chalybeate or bath waters , asses milk drank , distilled milk , oat mault . whey with antiscorbutics , water drinking , a toast and water , and nutmeg , every morning fasting ; or antiscorbutic , cooling juyces , emulsions , strawberry water . 3. the vitriolic acid requires temperate chalybeates , testaceous , salts volatile and fixed , tinct . antimonii , tartari . 4. the use of vulneraries which deterge ; as veronica , strawberry roots , virga aurea , hypericon , millefoyl , ground ivy , pine tops , ceterach boiled in beer or water , to which honey and white-wine must be added , and lucatellus's balsam taken at night , or turpentine pills with bole cum mastich , or rhubarb . a plate of lead must be worn on the back . the stone in the bladder must be cured , 1. by diuretics , if the stone be small , and can pass ; as by the acrids or caustics , as water distilled from caicus , or the powder of millepedesʒi . 2. by lixiviums . 3. by cutting : if the stone cannot pass the chalybeate waters do injury in such a case , and the palliative cure requires the evacuating the calculous matter which increases it ; the allaying the pain and strangury by gum and mucilaginous medicines ; as comfrey roots , milk and water , emulsions , and asses milk , and narcotics , and vulneraries . fourthly , of the hypochondriac flatulencies arising from too high a fermentation of humours . windiness is an extraordinary complaint in all hypochondriacal cases , which arises either symptomatically , from the obstruction , schirrus , or inflammations and imposthumations of some of the viscera ; or else it depends on some viscid , sowre phlegm lodged in the stomach ; or some putrid humour which ferments the new mass of meat into continual eructions , which taste either hot , burning , broyling , fat , foetid , or very sharp , sowre , according as the ferment of the stomach is tinctured , either with too much bitter choler , salt serum , or the vitriolic spleen juyce , which is also viscid , and thrown upon the stomach . the cure of this flatuosity requires the evacuation of the flatulent mass , and the vitiated ferment , and afterwards the humour that tinctures it must be carried off by those glands , which are made for its secretion . we must , lastly , use those cooling alteratives which are prescribed in the over-fermentation of humours . this is the flatulency properly of the chyle over-fermented ; but the second species of hot flatulencies is from too great a rarefaction or expansion of the spirits in the mass of blood ; and such a fret of the spirits we observe in all vinous liquors , when they are kept too hot ; for then those liquors are very windy , and taste hot , and froth much . such is the temper of the natural spirits of the blood , when it is apt to febrile effervescences upon very slight occasions , in hysterical , hypochondriacal , or scorbutic persons , who are sensible of sudden alterations of heat and chilness ; and i have observed in a scorbutic person , a sudden tumour rising in the flesh , which would immediately subside again . this flatulent effervescence of spirits must be cured as an ephemera , removing the occasion , and tempering the humours by acids , acerbs , mucilages , and opiates , as will hereafter be described , and the disposition to this flatulency will be removed by a long use of the cortex , and those cooling alteratives which depress too high a fermentation . there is a third kind of hot flatulency , which happens in the nerves , who receive their flatulent spirits from the blood. in the nerves , the spirits being rarefied or expanded , produce the asthma , of which i shall particularly treat ; or the tympany , cramps , and running pains . poysons tumifie the body , by rarefying the spirits ; and some who die of convulsions are prodigiously swell'd ; those who die of the iliac-passion have their bellies much swelled . this nervine flatulency requires the same method for curing the inflammation of the spirits , as in an ephemera ; and also the same method for preventing any new fit of windiness in the nerves , as is mentioned above ; for the natural and animal spirits differ not in nature ; for what is in the blood now , after a small time is carried through the nerves , and so returns into the blood again . the ferment producing hot flatulencies , was esteemed , by the ancient writers , to be , humores adustos , atrabilarios , acidos instar fermenti sese habentes , as sennertus describes it ; and of this opinion was diocles , carystius ; for which he quotes galen's third book , de locis affectis . the crude flatulencies are produced by a weak heat , as they called it ; that is , a low , crude ferment , which does not thoroughly ferment the meat , and that is either serous , or a viscid slime in the stomach , or tartareous acidities ; but in all hot flatulencies , the ferment producing the flatulencies is either bilious , saline , vitriolic , or putrid . some flatulencies are imputed to the contrarieties of humours ; as that which is produced by fixt salt , or alcali , and acid spirits , such may be observed in the guts , betwixt acid meats , and acrid choler , which produce the nitrous flatulency . these following flatulencies are not produced by a weak heat or fermentation , but by adust humours ; that is , an over-fermentation , as the flatus in a hot cholic are from inflammation of the guts . the tympany depends on a hot flatulency rather than on a cold , or low fermentation . the hypochondriac affection is accompanied with so much flatulency , that it is called , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and depends on too high a fermentation , and the blood is too thick , and hot , and the spirits inflamed . these are flatulencies depending on the hot ferments mentioned ; and these produce it from any kind of meat taken ; but there is a different flatulency arising from the hot spirits lodged in some kind of meats ; as in poysons , garlic , and many oyly fruits , and fryed meats , and all other diet which turns nidorus on the stomach . any animal humour kept to putrefie , as the serum of the blood long bottled , becomes flatulent ; putrefaction , in all tumours ripened , swells them ; by which it appears , that all windiness is an effect of some preternatural ferment , either too strong or weak , or mixt with other humours , by which it preternaturally ferments them ; for when the stomachic ferment does its office well , no ructus are produced ; and from hence it appears , that the windy fumes or vapours are nothing but the natural spirits of our humours ill fermented ; and these coming into the nerves , produce what we describe by vapours in the hypochondriac and hysteric cases ; for all sorts of convulsions , as epilepsies , hysteric and hypochondriac fits , vertigo , the palpitation of the heart , singultus , chorea sancti viti , depend on the highest and hottest flatulency of our spirits ; but the tympanites , asthma , incubus , are different from the former , as much as a gradual elasticity or expansion of the gentle air does from a violent blast or storm . i will here annex a strange account of a priapismus , from windiness , first premising , that it is no effect of a venereal distemper , nor a melancholic fancy . the person is of a middle age , and fat habit of body , who every night has a priapism in his sleep , cum emissione seminis ; it never seizes him but in his sleep at night , and never in the day-time , though he sleep then . this painful erection he imputes wholly to windiness , and thus he describes it ; i often plainly and loudly hear the wind to make a noise in that part , like that of the guts , especially in a morning ; for , constantly , as soon as i wake , the wind begins to return from that part , and in going back is very audible for near a quarter of an hour , till the part is fully fall'n ; and sometime when it is returning i find a pain , and fulness ensues in my breast ; and , at the same time , i have constantly a noise and piping in my ears . he bled in the penis without any benefit ; and drank chalybeate waters without any great success , and used steel and nervines , fomentations and vnguents . the medicines against a priapism , above the hot flatulencies , are nitrous medicines , spirit of niter , emulsions , acids , narcotics externally and internally , bath waters , chalybeate waters . the hot carminatives are camphire , rheu , cummin seeds , species diambrae , agnus castus seed , and hemp seed . glysters do more than purges . the indications in the cure of the hot , foetid flatulencies , are , i. to evacuate by vomits , or gentle purges , or glysters , the nidorous , acid , bitter salt , or foetid mass from the stomach , and by frequent purges to divert those humours from thence , which give an ill tincture to the ferment of the stomach . cholagogues and all the specific purgers are here proper , purging waters especially . ii. to correct the cholerick , salt , vitriolic or putrefactive state of the blood , which insects the stomachic ferment ; and for this we must use those alteratives which are prescribed for each cacochymia . iii. all the hot flatulencies of humours must be depressed , by fixing the fermenting spirits . 1. by acids , sp. nitri dulcis , salis dulcis , succi citri , ribium , decoct . tamarind . elixir vitrioli , elixir proprietat . cum acido , crem . tartari , spirit of vinegar . ℞ aq. menth. simp. fl. chamomeli , foeniculi . an . ℥ iv . sp. carui ℥ iss . sp. aceti ℥ i. ocul . canc. vel antimonii diaph . ʒi . syr. corticis aurant . ℥ i. laud. gr . iij. gas. sulphuris , cochi cum aq. paratae haustu . 2. by salso-acids . acids mixt with volatiles , mixtura simplex . sp. carminans secretus ex tartaro & nitro . sal prunellae , sal armoniac , and all nitrous medicines ; sal succini . 3. by watery liquors ; as aq. parata , distilled waters , drinking wine , and two parts of water , or wood-drinks , spaw-waters , milk and water in salt cacochymia's , the bath waters inwardly , but outwardly they increase all hot flatulencies . cold water is more useful , or vinegar and water , dipping or immersion in cold water , solutions of niter , and sal armoniac . the cool juyces of plants ; as sempervivum , purslain , brook-lime , plantain , and raw fruits , cool such flatulent bloods . but since all the hot flatulencies procure a decay of spirits , the fermentation becomes at length depressed ; and as in all chronical diseases a saburra is produced , which requires digestives of the cooler kind to renew the fermentation of the blood , and depurate it from some secretitious humour suppressed . as , 1. the cool chalybeates ; as vitriolum martis , chalybs willisianus in milk waters . 2. the wild aromatic carminatives , and gentler bitters ; as chamomile flowers , zedoary , angelica , orange peels . 3. the use of a moderate diet , in which there is little slime , or acrid parts , especially liquors in which no spirituous parts are , and which are not apt to ferment . the nervine , hot flatulencies cannot be composed without opiates , which weaken the elasticity of the spirits . all hot nervines , as castor , the hot gums , assa , galbanum , and all amber medicines , increase the hot flatulencies , and also all chymical oyls , balsams , and all salts , whether volatile or fixed , and also all hot applications outwardly ; but the cool medicines mentioned above , which cool and temper the sanguineous spirits , have the same effect upon the animal , or succus nervosus . it often happens that there is a cool flatulency depending on a weak digestion in the stomach , when a hot flatulency infects the blood and nerves , as in the asthma , tympany , hypochondriac and hysteric cases , and then the medicines must be mixed , and of a middle temper , neither too hot , nor too cold . ℞ aq. menth. fenicul . an ℥ iij. sp. carminativ . sylvii ℥ iss . sp. nitri gr . xx . ol. juniperi gr . vi . syr. cort. aurant . ℥ iss . laud. gr . iij. capiat cochleat . fifthly , of the corrosiveness of the humours . when humours are corrosive they produce pains , burning , vlcers , rottenness of the bones and teeth , and fluxes of the belly , or haemorrhagies , and a thin , foetid sanies in ulcerated parts . 1. a corrosive acidity in the stomach and belly produces the pain and heart-burning in the stomach , a cholera , or cholick , or dysentery , or boulimia , and vlcers . 2. a corrosive temper of the spittle corrodes the teeth and gums , and occasions sharp catarrhs . the corrosive temper of the mucus of the aspera arteria produces a phthisis , spitting of blood ; and the corrosive temper of the mucus of the nose an ozena . 3. a corrosive acrimony in the seminal lympha produces salacity , gonorrhaea simplex , and fluor albus , if with pain and corrosion . 4. the corrosiveness of the lympha nervosa is made evident by wandring , corroding pains of the head , and limbs in the scurvy , and lues venerea , and in convulsions , or cramps , and melancholies . 5. the humours of the eyes have a salso-acid corrosiveness , which inflames and ulcerates them . 6. the milk in womens breasts acquires a corrosive acidity , which produces cancrous or schirrous tumours . 7. the blood has a corrosive saltness in the scurvy and haemorrhagies . 8. the salt serum and the lympha serosa have a muriatic corrosiveness , which corrodes the flesh , and hinders the nourishment . 9. the vrin is corrosive in the strangury . 10. the bile is corrosive in diarrhaea's . 11. the spleen-acid is corrosive in melancholies . the external causes of corrosiveness , are , 1. sharp , corrosive diet , of sharp , stale beer , and salt meats , and smoaked , dryed meats , burning brandy spirits , and sharp , acid wines . 2. violent passions , sadness , anger , anxiety , and watching , studies . 3. immoderate labour , and venery . 4. suppression of sharp humours usually evacuated . the internal causes . 1. the ebullition , or high fermentation of humours , which stands next to the putrefied state ; for whether the corrosive acrimony be vitriolic , saline , or muriatic , which is a mixture of both ; it depends on a violent , immoderate fermentation of humours . as the natural acidity , saltness , and muriatic or armoniac salso-acid depends upon a natural and moderate fermentation of humours . corrosive , acid spirits are prepared by chymists , with an extraordinary degree of the fire ; and so are the salt , acrid , pungent acrimonies , as that of volatile salts , which taste fiery , burning , salt , and pungent . there is a burning acid in oyl of vitriol , in which the acid is combined with sulphur , and fiery particles . the chymists prepare another corrosive kind of medicines from an acid and metal , which mix in a cutting , tearing texture , such as is that in the crystals of silver , and sublimate . in the tithymalline , corrosive plants there is a milky juyce made of the oyl and acid , both which are very volatile . in minerals there is a natural corrosive texture in arsenick ; which contains a mixture of sulphur and sharp acid. whatsoever corrosive qualities our nourishment can acquire by distillation by a strong fire , the same may be produced by fermentation , and digestion in the humours , when they are over-digested . from animals , a volatile , fiery salt may be produced , and by that the chyle and blood , and all their secretitious humours are made salt , and the hotter the animal , or the stronger the fire is , the greater is the corrosiveness of the salt. 1. the salt in the animal humours is made corrosive by its too great volatility , and by this the apthae in fevers are produced in the tongue and mouth , as the tongue is blistered by spirit of sal armoniac very volatile . this i call the vrinous corrosiveness , and it is cured by the same medicines as the saltness of humours ; for these states differ but in degree of a high fermentation , by which they are prepared , and therefore requires the same specific tastes of watery , acerb , tartareous and mucilaginous medicines ; but those which are more strong can only succeed in the corrosive state. 2. the next species of corrosive acrimony is produced from a tartareous , or natural vitriolic acidity much raised by fermentation , when , being joyned to the volatile oyl of blood , it is made more sharp ; so from bread , and all tartareous vegetables , an acid spirit may be distilled . the acrimony of the spurge juyce resembles this acrimony . the oyl is manifest by the milkiness of the juyce ; and that an acid is in the same juyce , appears , because it changes the colour of the knife which cuts it . moreover , this milky juyce is dryed into a resin , and all rosins yield much oyl , and a little acid. 3. the third species of corrosiveness is from the mixture of a pungent , burning salt , and a high vitriolic acidity , like that in sal armoniac , which burns and corrodes the mouth , and this may be called a muriatic or armoniacal corrosiveness . 4. the fourth and highest species of corrosiveness arises from putrefaction . all putrefaction is joyned with a foetor , and all foetid matter corrodes the vlcer . the cure of corrosiveness is by the correcting the vitriolic acidity or saltness , by the medicines above-mentioned , and by stopping the high and putrefactive fermentation of humours . the acrimony of aqua fortis is corrected by the oyliness of spirit of wine , or the caput mortuum of the same minerals from which it is distilled ; so the acid corrosiveness of animal , vitriolic acidities is tempered by minerals , or animal ashes , and volatile salts . and the salt corrosiveness by the crude tastes ; as tartar acids , and styptic , mucilaginous plants . the saturnine styptics stop fermentations most strongly , and so do acerb styprics , as plantane , and opiates also . all evacuations by bleeding , purging , are necessary , and a cooling diet also . chap. xiv . of the putrefaction of animal humours . 1. the meat in the stomach is sometime putrid by too high a digestion in a foetid ructus , which is very nidorous , or the vlcers of the stomach . 2. the saliva has a nauseous , foetid savour , sometimes from putrid fevers , or the corruption of the foetus in the womb , or vlcers in the lungs or mouth . 3. the mucus of the aspera arteria , and the nose is foetid , from the vlcers in those parts . 4. the seminal humours are foetid , by the vlcers in the genitals ; and the blood of the infected , by the pox is full of a putrid ferment , or acrid salt , which makes their sweat and breaths to have a foetid savour . 5. the spirits themselves become very foetid in putrefied bloods , by pains 〈◊〉 passions , and infections . by ●…mous bites the foetor is also in●…ased . 6. the milk putrefies by the stagnation in the breasts . 7. the humours of the conglomerate and conglobate glands putrefie and ulcerate in the scrophulae . 8. the blood putrefied has lost its fibers , which makes it not to coagulate when cold , and it smells foetid . 9. the salt serum of the blood is turned by extraneous or internal ferments into the matter of the itch , leprosy , and vlcers . upon the evaporation of the natural spirits , the vitriolic acid prevails , on which depends the chylous whiteness of matter , which is precipitated and changed by it ; so the serum of the blood is changed into a white , milky liquor by spirit of niter . 10. the vrin and sweat stink in putrid fevers , as the bilious stools do , and the blood it self . there are three kinds of thinness in animal humours . 1. an aquous serosity , which is evident in the blood , which is crude . 2. a more fluid consistence of blood , depending on a great rarefaction of blood , whereby it s own oyly and salt particles , by their agitation , attenuate and dissolve the natural viscidity of the blood , as appears in hoemorrhagies , and the hot scurvey ; this is only the next degree or step to putrefaction . 3. the third cause of tenuity in the humours is the putrefaction of them , which is a perfect destruction of all their viscid or fibrous consistence , by a high and a long fermentation ; so in the perfect , ripe matter of an vlcer , the viscidity is destroyed ; and in putrefied eggs their ropy consistence is altered , and made fluid , so as not to thicken by boyling . the causes of putrefaction , and a high fermentation , differ only in degree . 1. the natural fermentation produces only nutritious humours , and no farther resolves the alimentary mass than what is necessary for the perfection of a fit nutriment ; but a preternatural high fermentation proceeds farther , and produces both the acrimony , saline , or vitriolic , or a thick consistence by coagulation of the chyle upon the blood ; but in the putrefactive fermentation it is continued to the perfect dissolution of all the viscidity of our humours , according to the observation of crato , fibrae sanguinis , cum mittitur infectis peste ita putridae sunt , ut concrescere nequeunt ; and this is properly called the putrefactive fermentation ; for in the plague , the infection putrefies the blood , and the coagulate or putrid parts are thrown upon the skin , and the whole body stinks ; so that the eremite , whom borellus mentions , knew a place infected by the plague only by the smell , which smell was as he related ; foetidus instar calceorum ustorum ; and crato observed , contagii & foetoris magnam esse similitudinem . whatsoever other causes produce a high fermentation , and continue the same very long , they cause a putrefaction in the blood , as all feverish ferments . 2. when an extraneous ferment corrupts a particular humour , as the pox doth the feminal humour , the itch , and external venoms from the bites of mad or poysonous animals , infect the succus nutritius , or blood near the skin , and this is a virous putrefaction . 3. any inward humour stagnating corrupts , and becomes a ferment , as the sanies in the vlcers of the lungs , liver , or kidnies , or cancers , or gangreens , which infect and putrefie the whole mass of blood by little and little ; and this may be called an vlcerous putrefaction , such as is procured by suppuratives laid to apostemes . 4. there is a cadaverous putrefaction in gangreens , with the greatest foetor , and bladders containing a sharp water . cancers have such a smell , and that is a corroding vlcer . in the scurvy there is a foetor of the mouth , and the teeth and gums are corroded . the humour which issues from a carious bone being tasted is salt , as mr. regis affirms . by the great foetor we may know the putrefaction of vlcers , and the corrosive sharpness of the humours ; and this may be called a scorbutic putrefaction . the cure of putrefaction requires , 1. the avoiding of the evident causes of putrefaction of humours , and the insisting on an incrassating diet , which may produce a viscid consistence in the blood ; as all viscid broths , and jellies of calves feet , harts-horn , ivory , iceing-glass . all the mealy diet is here very convenient , and milk diet , and all the diet prescribed in the cure of too high a fermentation ; but the diet in fevers must be thin . 2. the sharp choler and acrid ferment in the stomach , and oyly temper of blood , must be evacuated , and corrected by the medicines mentioned in the cure of a high fermentation , for to that all putrefaction must be imputed , according to the observation of our ancient physicians ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whatsoever putrefies is made hotter . 3. every extraneous ferment , and all kind of purulent matter , must be evacuated according to the old rule ; non alterari quod putridum , sed tolli postulat . these following tastes check the fermentation , and preserve the consistence of liquors , and precipitate the ferment . 1. acids , by which we stop fermentations and putrefactions . we preserve our plants in vinegar , when pickled . we find the vinegars , which we call theriacalia aceta , to do much good in putrid fevers , and the plague . treacle water has much of an acid in it . we ferment gangreened parts with vinegar ; and the juyces of vegetables are preserved from corrupting by the acid fumes of sulphur , which also restore them to their former vigour . the oyl of vitriol is useful to putrid parts . 2. the salso-acids are very good in all putrefactions , and therefore all gangreens are fomented with brine , sea-water , or vrin ; and common salt preserves our humours from putrefaction ; and spirit of salt is useful for imbalming and freserving of bodies , and against the putrefactions in the mouth . 3. styptics , acerbs , and austeres ; as tormentil , pentophil , bistort roots , bole , terra sigillata , are used as preservatives in malignant fevers , and the bitings of mad-dogs . these following tastes preserve the mixture of humours , and their fluidity . 1. fixed salts hinder putrefaction and fermentation ; so we foment mortified parts with lixiviums and lime water . both volatile and fixed salts hinder the fermenting of milk by rennet , and volatile salts hinder the putrefaction of animal humours by the bite of a viper . 2. bitters preserve fermented liquors from decay . our chyle is preserved from putrefaction by the bitterness of choler ; and our bitter turpentines , as well as cedar it self , preserve dead bodies from corruption ; and we prevent gangreens by bitter plants ; as roots of gentian , aristolochia , leaves of centaury , rhue , wormwood , scordium ; and by myrrh , aloes , and meal of lupines : and we give inwardly treacle and mithridate ; all which have a great bitterness . 3. we use acrid plants inwardly and outwardly in gangreens . by the scurvy , as water-cresses , horse-radish , spirit of scurvy-grass , mustard-seed , lesser celandine , and garlic or leek pottage . outwardly , decoctions of turnips , and cataplasms . 4. by the acrid aromatics we sweat , and outwardly discuss humours ; as roots of serpentariae , contrayerva , yellow flag . by spirit of vine , vlcers are preserved from their foetor ; and for the same end we use spirituous cordials inwardly . 5. we use vitriolic styptios , which are corrosive , also outwardly ; as burnt alum , sublimate , and precipitate , which , by their stypticity , stop the creeping vlcer ; and by their caustic acrimony , they deterge the sordid vlcers , and separate the dead flesh . appendix i. chap. xv. of fevers . in a feverish state of blood there happens a violent fermentation of the whole mass of blood , as appears by the quick pulse , the high-coloured water , the alterations of heat and chilliness . this sudden and great alteration of the humours the ancients explained by putrefaction of the blood , or of choler , or melancholy , or pituita . there are many other notions framed for the explicating the nature of fevers , and their symptoms ; but i shall endeavour to explain more particularly the opinion of the ancients , and to accommodate it to the modern hypotheses . that a fever is a putrefaction of the blood , or some of its parts , seems probable by the foetor of the sweat and vrin in that disease , by the infectious nature of it , which lies in its foetid effluviums , which reduce the blood of another animal to the same state and symptoms . none can deny the putrefaction in the plague , which putrefies all our humours to a mortified state. the petechiae and purple spots shew malignant fevers , and the small-pox and measles , to be lower degrees of the same putrefaction . the violent heats in ordinary intermitting fevers produce a putrefactive dissolution of humours , which are thrown off in sweats , and appear in the precipitated sediment of our vrin , as well as by the evacuation in a cholera , diarrhaea , salivation , which are symptoms of the fever , the whole succus nutritius is dissolved from the solid parts , as well as the mass of blood. hence the body becomes flaccid , and empty of nourishment after long fevers ; and then we supply that defect by a nourishing diet , as after the fever . since there appears so much of a putrefaction in fevers , i think that notion of the ancient writers ought to be inserted into the definition of a fever . i shall next consider the notion of a fever , described by a fermentation , or ebullition of blood , caused by some extraneous ferment . and such a commotion of blood happens by too high a diet , which stums or ferments the humours ; or else any of the humours , which are naturally to be evacuated , being stopt in their expulsion , become an extraneous ferment to the blood , or else the succus nutritius , as soon as it arrives at the blood , is perverted by some dyscrasie of it into an extraneous , morbific nature , and becomes a ferment , or else the nutritious juyces are precipitated from the blood by external cold , and become the ferment of all intermitting fevers . the particular ferment which produces each kind of fever differs by some cacochymia which was in the blood , or succus nutritius before it was precipitated , by some abuse of the non-naturals , or surfeits , or colds , though the succus nutritius , altered by external causes , is the general ferment of all fevers ; yet that differing , according to the several cacochymia's that may happen to it , the ferment of each fever ( being the immediate cause of its ebullition , and the first thing to be removed or changed ) ought most particularly to be described , because the cacochymia , with which the succus nutritius abounds , produces the most eminent symptoms of each intermitting fever , and that cacochymia does very much alter the general cure of an intermitting fever . as for instance , if rheumatic pains accompany an intermitting fever , the cacochymia preceeding the fever is a viscid state of the succus nutritius , and the blood is sizie , as in rheumatisms . in the curing of this , the common method for curing the intermitting fever is not sufficient , of giving the cortex without due preparation , viz. for the cacochymia infecting the succus nutritius , there must preceed the evacuations , indicated by a viscid state of blood , viz. bleeding , and purging , or vomiting , but not so much as in a rheumatism , without an evident intermitting fever . the symptoms preceeding the fit generally denominate the particular kind of fever , and if great , the whole depraved succus nutritius being evacuated upon a particular part , the cure is chiefly to be managed by removing that particular inflammation , as pleurisie , or peripneumonia , without any or very little regard to the intermitting fever . the notion of a fever being produced by the irritation of the spirits in the blood and nerves , very well explains the action of the air , and infectious or animal humours , for those are first infected ; and that the febrile effervescence , commotion , ebullition , expansion ( call it as you please , for the same thing is understood by all these terms ) is managed by the animal spirits , which circulate from the nerves into the blood , and from thence to the nerves again , is very probable , and this galen seems long since to have described , when he defines a fever to be the turning of the innate heat ( which is the spirits ) into a fiery nature ; but it is as evident , that every person has some antecedent cacochymia , by which the particular symptoms of the fever are produced , and this , by exceeding the strength or expansion of spirits , makes the fever malignant , or by being in no great quantity , or more loosely mixed with the succus nutritius , the fever is mild , and easily cured . the several stages of the disease are very naturally described by the separation of the greater quantity of the succus nutritius from the blood , in the increase of the fever , and the crisis is a full or perfect separation of all the depraved succus nutritius from the mass of blood , when the fever is curable , and then the febrile effervescence ceases ; but if the succus nutritius be but in part separated , the mass of humours remain turbid and undepurated , and the fever becomes fatal . the spirits being the chief instruments of all fermentations , the several stages of this disease must be managed by them ; but we must look farther , and describe the humours which irritate them first into motion , and the depraved humours , which the irritate spirits endeavour to exterminate from the mass of blood , the motion of the spirits would soon be stopt , as we find in ephemera's , if some depraved humour in the blood did not support the irritation of them , who cannot naturally depurate the blood under 14 or 21 days , or longer . hence it appears how reasonable the opinion of our moderns is , who describe a fever as an effervescence of the blood , by which it clears it self of some heterogenious particles , which , as they produce the effervescence , are called a ferment ; and as they irritate the spirits a venenum ; and as they are the depraved matter of the succus nutritius , the putrid particles of it , or febrile sediment , appearing in the vrin . it is not my design to oppose any author's judgment , but to reconcile these several opinions , and put them all into the definition of a fever , thus . a fever is a preternatural fermentation or effervescence of the blood , occasioned by some ferment irritating the spirits of the blood and nerves ; so the dissolving , or putrefying , and separating some part of the cacochymical succus nutritius from its mixture with the mass of humours . the tumultuous agitation of the spirits in the ephemera happens by the ill use of the six non-naturals . 1. as surfeits , which are cured by a vomit , purge , clyster , by which the putrefying diet , which is the ferment here , is carried off . 2. the heat of the sun being excessive inflames the spirits ; and opiates , and cool things , readily compose them , and oxyrrhodines . 3. too much labour spends and agitates the spirits , in which case spirituous cordials , wine , and rest , are necessary . 4. anger disorders the spirits , whose surious motions are best repressed by opiates , and cool emulsions . 5. long watchings require opiates and anodynes . 6. grief agitates the spirits , and spends them ; for which , wine , spirits , and opiates , are necessary . the cure of an ephemera , which is a tumultuous motion or inflammation of the spirits , requires these tastes . 1. acids in cool liquors , sp. nitri dulcis , sal prunell . tamarinds , gas sulphuris , or the juyces of acid fruits . 2. mucilaginous and watery liquors , aq. hordei , cum syr. limonum , milk waters , emulsions . 3. opiates . 4. diaphoretics of a mild nature , bitterish . 5. styptics watery to stop the fever , plantane . bleeding , purging , clysters , vomiting , quiet , and abstinence , or a thin diet , often stop the effervescence , by carrying off the fermenting humours . the ancient writers distinguished putrid fevers by the putrefaction of blood , choler , melancholy , and phlegm ; and this is to be explained by an effervescence happening in such a particular cacochymical blood. the common fever in england is an intermitting fever ; and that is the putrid fever the old physicians have described , and this is produced by the changes of our air , the viscid nature of our diet , or the infectious vapours of the earth , and seas encompassing us , which precipitate or putrefie the nutritious juyces of our bodies , and that is evident in our vrins , and is the matter of all critical evacuations , by which the fever is cured , and this supplies all the humours for colliquative evacuations in fevers ; as diarrhaea's , salivations , sweats , &c. this being evacuated upon particular parts produces the several inflammations ; as quinsie , apoplexies , lethargies , palsies , pleurisies , rheumatisms , cholics , which are the symptoms of the ordinary intermitting fever , and distinguish it into its several species . this depraved succus nutritius , by natures method , ought to be fully separated from the blood ; but physicians do not commonly trust that tedious way , but by the cortex they precipitate what is easily separable of nutriment by the vrin , and re-assimulate the rest of the nutritious serum to the blood , as will manifestly appear by observing the several changes of the vrin , and its sediment ; and we observe that bitters , like choler , are the best sanguifiers , and also the best febrifuges , and the cortex has a most eminent bitterness , not unlike the bitterness of bitter almonds , by which it re-assimulates part of the nutritious juyces to the mass of blood. i will mention the several cacochymia's , which are only the several states of the nutritious humours , antecedent to the febrile effervescence , by which , the several species of the intermitting fever are distinguished ; but i must first observe , that the intermitting fever differs little from the ague , but by having more of the succus nutritius putrefied , and precipitated from the mass of blood , and that so much of it is not sweat off by every paroxysm in the intermitting fever , as is in the ague fit , which makes the fever less in the intervals of the fit ; but the intermitting fever often changes into the ague , and is cured by the same method . first , if the fever happens in the bilious cacochymia of blood , and in young persons in the summer time , a causus is produced , with extream heat and thirst , and in this the heat and thirst is much abated by acids , and the fever is to be treated by such methods as respect both the bilious cacochymia , and continued or intermitting fever , whether the tertian ague has the same cacochymia , and intermits every other day . the cure of this cacochymia indicates , i. vomiting in the beginning , and purging on the days of intermission , with decoct . amarum , or glysters , to evacuate the abounding choler . ii. the choler is to be precipitated from the blood , by vrin , and sweats , and the liver opened . 1. by acids ; as crem . tart. ʒi . in chamomile flower posset-drink , given before the fit , or juyce of limons , with water and wine , or spirit of sulp. 20 drops in fountain-water or purslain-water , with sp. sulph . ℈ ss . and syrup of limons . 2. salso-acids are diuretics and sudorifics ; as tart. vitriol . sal armoniac . arcanum duplicatum , of any gr . xv . oc. canc. ℈ ss . or the salt mixture of riverius ; as sal absynth . ʒss . sp. sulph . gut . xii . syrup of poppies ℥ ss . carduus-water ℥ iij. or mixt salts ; sal absynth . prunell . antim . diaph . ana gr . xv . 3. bitters have the same effect of sweating , or re-assimulating the nutritious juyces ; as aq. plantag . ℥ iij. theriacaeʒi . before the fit , gentian , centaury , feverfews , chamomile-flowers , chamaedrys , vervein , &c. decocted , and given with myrrh or mithridate , before the fit ; these open the liver , for the better passage of the choler ; they also depurate the succus nutritius , and prevents its putrefaction in fevers . chelandine and saffron are also useful in tertians , by opening the liver , and helping the secretion of choler , as is also dandelion . iii. the feverish ebullition may be suppressed by acerbs ; as decoction of ribwort , plantain , or the juyces of plantain , house-leek , sorrel , purslain , polygonum ; or by austeres ; as avens , cinquefoil , roots of plantain , st. john's wort , roots of tormentil , vlmaria leaves , juyce of millefoil , barks of ash , tamarisk ; but in general use the cortex has the greatest commendation . alum is also much extolled ; but repeated bleeding , and all the methods for curing the cacochymia , i constantly use before the cure of the fever by the cortex , unless the danger of delay be great . outwardly we apply , 1. styptics , nut-tree-bark steeped in vinegar , and mouse-ear , or shepherds purse , goose-tansie steeped in the same , with salt applied to the wrists . 2. opiates externally as well as internally , vng . populeon ℥ ij . opium gr . iv . spiders web , s . a. applied to the wrists . 3. salso-acids externally as well as internally , sal. gemm . sal armoniac . and niter , soot and vinegar , with spiders web , sea-salt , currans and hops , applyed to the wrists . secondly , if an intermitting fever happens in a mucilaginous constitution of blood , such as is in phlegmatic persons , women , or children , the putrid fever takes the type of a quotidian , the paroxysms last many hours , and the disease 40 days or more , and a paroxysm happens every day , with great cold , and the heat is not very great afterwards . in this pituitous dyscrasie of blood , we must vomit off the quantity of pituita , and purge upon intermissions , and the pituitous cacochymia must be corrected by bitters ; as , 1. bitter decoction , wormwood-wine , myrrh , juyce of wormwood one spoonful , or juyce of chamomile in wine , before the fit , mithridate or treacle before the fit , or carduus-leaves powdered . elixir proprietatis ℈ i. aq. lumbric . ℥ ij . before the fit. radix serpentariaeʒss . externally . the stomach may be fomented with gentian , wormwood , mint and aromatics boiled in wine . 2. fixed salts and volatile evacuate the cacochymia , both by sweat and vrin . sal absynth . sp. sal. arm. in aq. card. & theriac . 3. aromatics , sal volatil . oleosum . the external applications are such as quicken the pulse , and thereby keep off the cold ; as camphire , soot , saffron , galbanum , turpentine with olibanum and bole , myrrh , saffron , aloes , onion , gun-powder and soap , nettles , rheu , featherfew , wormwood , bruised together . this fever sylvius calls his salivaris , or pituitosa . thirdly , if an intermitting fever falls into a tartareous blood , or lympha , this fever has gripes , and pains of the belly attending it , a low pulse , little thirst , crude and watery vrin , but much cold ; for the curing of which cacochymia , vomits and clysters , such as are used in the cholic , much conduce to discharge the tartareous lympha , and for the correcting of it . 1. volatile salts . 2. distilled , aromatic oyls , which correct the chilliness attending this fever . oyl of cloves , mace , or sal volatile oleosum , with laudanum , for the pains . fourthly , if the intermitting fever falls into a flatulent , crude blood , a distension is perceived in the belly , or inflation , short breathing in the lungs , and wandring , nervous pains in the limbs , with giddiness , and noise in the ears . in the cure of this fever the flatulencies must be removed , as well as the effervescence suppressed . fifthly , if a fever happens in a serous cacochymia , the conglobate glands are affected , and the limbs with lassitude or pains ; the conglomerate glands are also affected , as appears by dulness of the head , and sleepiness ; by coughs , hoarseness ; and this sylvius calls , the catarrhal fever , and the cure of this requires , the evacuations of the serum , by purging , vrin , sweating , as well as the cure of the effervescence . errhines , masticatories , and fumes , are useful . sixthly , if a fever happens in a rancid , oyly state of blood , it produces a scorbutic fever , with high-coloured vrin , and spots in the skin ; and in this antiscorbutics are as necessary as the febrifuges . seventhly , if an intermitting fever happens in a sizie , viscid blood , it produces rheumatic pains , and all kinds of inflammations ; as the apthae , or inflammations of the mouth , the quinsie , parotis , or the inflammation of the glands , the inflammation of the intestines , or stomach , or liver , or spleen , nephritis , or inflammation of the kidnies , phrenitis , or the inflammation of the brains , ophthalmia , peripneumonia , pleurisie , inflammation of the breasts , the vterus , or stones , lethargies , apoplexies , palsies , rheumatisms , and all hot pains . these are the distempers attending fevers , when the blood is sizie , and that requires all the methods proper for altering that , as well as stopping the fever . eighthly , if the fever happens in a salt blood , it has great thirst attending of it , and haemorrhagies , and runs into a tabid state. in this fever , i observed a haemorrhage to preceed every fit of the intermitting fever ; in mr. schrimsher of aquilate , who , through an aversion to the cortex , lost his life in it , and died convulsed after divers fits of the fever , with a haemorrhage , which returned at a certain hour . ninthly , if the intermitting fever happens in a vitriolic state of blood , all the hypochondriac symptoms are joyned with the fever , and the fever appears under the type of a quartan : the cure of which requires evacuating , i. of the vitriolic humour in the stomach , by vomiting , and purging off the same on the intermitting days . ii. the vitriolic humour must be corrected , 1. by bitters , bitter decoction , wormwood wine , elix . proprietatis , myrrh , with treacle . 2. by fixed salts , extract . carduus with salt of wormwood . take conserve of hips , wormwood , enula , scurvy-grass , citron pills , of each ℥ i. saffron ℈ ij . sal absynth . ʒij . confectio alcherm . ℥ ss . with syrup of citron , make an elect. 3. chalybeates are absolutely necessary after the fever is stopt , to correct the vitriolic humour ; and sometimes the fever cannot be stopt till the humour is corrected , as i have often experienced in my younger son , who had the quartan four years by relapses . no febrifuge could put off his fit till he had used steel fourteen days , or three weeks , and the cortex could do him no service , nor would put off a fit ; at last , he having used at least a pound of it , by often repeating of it , profuse bleeding , as 40 ounces of blood from a child of nine years old , did more for the cure of his ague than all the febrifuges , for his blood was extream viscid , and steel always cured his cachexy . i gave him vitriolum martis sometimes , and dr. willis's steel at others , dissolved in a convenient julep . 4. the earthy calces ; as antim . diap . bezoar minerale , with fixed salts and volatile , may be reduced into pills , with extract of gentian . the ashes of oyster-shells are good to correct the vitriolic humour . iii. the paroxysm must be checked or stopt , 1. by bitter styptics ; as the cortex . the reason of its inefficacy in the dose , in which it was formerly given , is the mixing of the chips of the tree with the bark ; and it is evident , that the bark exceeds the taste of the wood in all trees , and is of a stronger virtue . let therefore the apothecaries keep the chips for decoctions , and use the cortex only in powder ; for they well know , that the cortex of guaicum is stronger than the wood. lignum colubrinum , ash , guaicum , black cherry-tree , are much oommended for quartans ; as are also myrtle-leaves , and misletoe . five-leaved-grass , potentilla , avens , plantain-roots , are austere . 2. by acerbs ; as the leaves of ribwort plantain boiled in posset-drink , which cures some where the cortex has failed . alum is very much used , ℈ i. in bitter decoction , or with nutmeg . 3. nauseous bitters ; as carduus leavesʒss . alum ℈ i. taken in ale before the fit , or myrrhʒss . in wine , or treacleʒi . before the fit. 4. by acrid terebinthiuates ; as roots of asarum , valerian , serpentaria , decoction of ivy-wood , and savin applied to the pulse with salt. 5. by other acrids of the orris class ; as zedoary , ginger , contrayerva ; or other acrid aromatics ; as pepper , radix imperatoriaeʒi . cum vino , pepper 14 grains in wine . 6. foetid acrids ; as rhue one handful , red sage as much , infused in wine , and given before the fit. a nutmeg roasted in an onion . 7. salso-acids ; as sal absynth . ℈ iss . sal prunell . ℈ ss . sacch . perl . ℈ ij . the acerbs and bitter styptics precipitate the depraved succus nutritius from the blood , the acrids and salts throw it off by sweat and vrin . a purge given six or eight hours before the fit evacuates the digested succus , and is successful after six or eight months . 8. opiates stop the pulse , and all fermentations . 9. the pericarpia are of styptics ; as bole , mastich , bursa , and astoris , knot-grass , argentina . or acids ; as vinegar with gun-powder . or caustics ; as nettles , ranunculus , black soap . tenthly , if the fever happens in a blood putrefied , the several sorts of malignant fevers are produced , with a low pulse , feverish symptoms , watching , delirium , convulsions , and a sudden failing of the spirits . i. the spirits being decayed , fixed , or oppressed , or weakened by evaporation , become unfit to manage any extraordinary fermentation ; for the depurating of the blood by an effervescence from any of its depraved succus nutritius ; and , in this case , all the medicines against malignity , which are of the following tastes , are very necessary ; as , 1. volatile salts and fixed , cineres eufonum , salt of vipers . 2. acrids , angelica , zedoary , imperatoria , petasitis , serpentaria virginiana , contrayerva , aq. ber. spec . liberantis . 3. bitters : decoct . amarum sine sena , mithridate , or treacles , syr. of carduus , scordium , veronica , vervein , or the juyces or extract of them . 4. foetids , camphire , garlic , castor , troches of vipers flesh , rhue . 5. mineral sulph . and calces , antimon . diaph . bez. miner . cinnab . antim . 6. acids , acetum bezoardicum , syr. of citrons , spirit of vitriol . 7. salso-acids made by mixing contrary salts . ii. the second species of a malignant fever is from the translation of the depraved succus nutritius upon the head and nerves in the intermitting fever , which requires all manner of revulsion ; as bleeding in the neck , glysters , blisters , cataplasms to the feet ; besides diaphoretics , diuretics , and cordials , to support the spirits , and the fermentation . iii. the third species of a malignant fever is from the infection of the air , whose foetid sulphurs cause divers degrees of putrefactions in several parts of our bloods , and accordingly produce the several epidemical , malignant or pestilential fevers . 1. in the petechial , spotted fever , and the scarlet fever , or measles , the florid particles of the blood are corrupted , or coagulated , or putrefied , and thrown into the skin . 2. in the small-pox , not only the florid , but also the viscid particles of the serum are coagulated , and thrown into the skin to putrefie , and be expelled . we observe in the small-pox a sizie blood , as well as a putrefactive state of humours ; the siziness makes it an inflammatory fever , and commonly requires bleeding before and afterwards . we keep a thin and low diet , both in respect of the inflammation and fever . we use also medicines against malignity , because of the imbecillity of spirits in so great a putrefaction of blood , and that we may expell the putrid particles of the succus nutritius . we use also , after the expulsion of the succus , febrifuges , as the cortex , to remove the paroxysm of the intermitting fever , joyned with the small-pox or measles . and we ought to consider the several cacochymia's which distinguish the species of the small-pox . 3. in the plague and poysons , which putresie the blood , the whole mass is putrefied ; in this , a great pain of the head , with the greatest faintness , seizes ; a stinking breath , wandring pains about the emunctories , heat and cold , are the usual symptoms . the bubo's , carbuncles , and petechioe , are particles of the blood drove into the skin . all things which preserve from putrefaction , preserve from the plague . as , 1. bleeding , and purging with aloetics ; as pil. ruffi . elix . proprietatis . 2. the antidotes are , 1. bitters ; extract of gentian with myrrh , conserve of tansie , wormwood , rhue with diascord . treacle , and conserve of wood-sorrel . 2. acids ; as spir. of sulph . niter , salt , vitriol in wine , drink , or broths , or juyce of limons , rhue , vinegar , with bread and butter . posset-drink with acetum bezoardicum . juniper-berries steeped in vinegar . 3. aromatic acrids ; chewing zedoary , angelica , mace steeped in vinegar , marigold-flowers in vinegar . in pure bodies the aromatics do injury ; and to infants vehement dryers ; camphorates , myrrhates , and bitters . 4. foetids ; rhue , vinegar , and camphire , are to be smelt to , and tobacco smoaked in the morning , and the bitter wine in the morning , and a sudorific elect. at night . sulphur with honey is accounted an excellent antidote . salt-peter and sulphur correct the air by their fumes , or gun-powder , or acetum theriacale . 3. styptics ; as bole , tormentil , pimpinella , vlmaria in wine . in the summer , young men , take heed of hot things , and use acids and styptics , and moderately hot ; as borrage , balm , saffron , burnet , citron pills , clovegilly-flowers ; or moderate aromatics internally , and vinegar with gamphire . aromatics inwardly are fittest for winter and old persons ; oyl of amber , bals . peru , nutmegs . outwardly , and in fumes , pitch , frankinsence , assa foetida , turpentine , myrrh , and other resinous plants . juniper , cedar-wood . all the bezoardics above-mentioned are necessary to promote sweat , and drive forth the putrefied particles of the blood. the pestilent camp fever is from eating of putrid meats , which ought to be vomited and purged off , and after bezoardics for the malignity , or putrid state of humours . in all putrid fevers authors advise to respect the malignity , as well as the fever . the continued fever differs not from the intermitting , since it remits in the beginning , or intermits at length , and they frequently change from one to the other , and the depraved succus nutritius is the ferment of both ; but in the continued fever it is not so easily precipitated from the blood , and discussed by a paroxysm , as in the intermitting , and their cure differs little . 1. all evident causes of those fevers must be removed . 2. the depraved chyle , or its quantity , must be evacuated by vomits , purges , clysters , that no new matter may be supplyed to irritate the blood. 3. the effervescence of blood must be depressed if too high . 1. by a thin diet , sub-acid or mucilaginous ptysans . 2. by tartareous acids , syrups of limons , citrons , and acid spirits , or quiddanies of fruits . 3. by acerbs , tinct . of roses , plantain , sorrel decocted , sedum , posset-drink , servises , berberries . 4. by watery and mucilaginous liquors ; as emulsions , purslain , lettuce-waters . by the cichoraceous plants ; barley-water , or milk-water , or whey . 5. opiates . 6. by bleeding , glysters , vomiting , purging in the beginning . 4. the effervescence of the blood must be raised , if depressed through weakness of spirits , or multitude of corrupt succus nutritius , which stops the circulation . the bezoardics above-mentioned excite a greater effervescence . 5. the depraved succus nutritius must be precipitated from the blood in the beginning , or increase of the fever , by acids , acerbs , styptics , which are the best febrifuges : but the salts , both volatile and fixed , best precipitate the tartareous parts of the blood , separated by a long effervescence at the end of the fever , and they separate it by vrin or sweats ; but the acids , acerbs , and styptics , are good precipitators of the viscid salt , and oyly particles , which promote the increase of the fever . 6. the disturbed crasis or consistence of the blood must be restored ; that is , some of the succus nutritius remixt with it into an equal consistence , and that by digestive medicines , which partly precipitate the looser particles , and re-unite the rest . such are , 1. bitter acrids ; as theriaca , rad. serpent . contrayerva . 2. salso-acids . 3. the calces of minerals , and testaceous medicines . 4. bitter styptics ; as the cortex , which precipitates , as is evident in the vrin , by its stypticity , and digests , unites , or assimilates the depraved succus nutritius to the mass of blood , which , for want of a due dose , separates again from the blood , and renews the fever . that the succus nutritius depraved is the ferment of a fever , is evident , because any animal , nutritious humour depraved and suppressed , produces a fever . 1. the milk in the breasts produces the febris lactea , which being repelled , or putrefying in the breasts , is the ferment of that fever , and is to be evacuated by a plentiful sweat , or the lochia . 2. the suppression of the lochia produces the purple fever in women , which langius calls , pestis sororum ; and this must be cured by restoring the evacuation ; for the lochia are here the ferment of the fever ; and by bezoardics , the putrid blood must be exhaled . 3. the suppression of the menses , or seminal matter , produces the febris alba , with pain of the head , stomach , back , and sudden effervescences happen , with lassitude , palpitation , dyspnaea , and inflation of the hypochondria . this is to be cured by restoring the evacuation of those humours which ferment the blood. 4. the suppression of transpiration produces a fever , with rheumatic pains , and till that viscid serum is cleansed by vrin , or sweat , that is the ferment of a fever . a vinous or high diet is often the occasion of fevers , and in this case the depraved chyle is the ferment . many of the colliquative fevers are cured by nature's evacuation of the depraved succus nutritius by stools , vomiting , sweating , or spitting , bleeding ; and the reason of these different evacuations , is , because the succus nutritius is tinctured by some of the humours , which ought to be secreted by the secretory glands for that humour ; as choleric vomits , or diarrhaea's , are by the liver ; phlegmatic evacuations by salivation , or pancreas ; and critical evacuations of blood by the nose . in inflammations , the fever preceeding it depends on a viscid succus nutritius , which being all evacuated on any particular part , the fever abates , which sufficiently intimates what was the ferment of that fever . a hectic fever is produced by the depraved succus nutritius , which , by reason of the viscidity and saltness of the blood , cannot be assimilated to the mass , but it becomes a febrile ferment , and it is evacuated by sweats , vrin , spitting , and looseness , and then the hectic fit is over , when the succus nutritius , which is the ferment , is wholly spent . the matter of an apostemum is the ferment of a hectic ; as in those of the liver , lungs , kidnies ; and this hectic cannot be cured , without curing the imposthume ; but the former scorbutic hectic must be cured by altering the viscidity and saltness of the blood , by frequent bleeding , and diluting of it , by milk diet , or the chalybeate waters , decoction of the woods , emulsions , distilled waters , and leaving off fermented liquors , pectoral decoctions , and using a thin diet , most apt to mix with viscid blood. when i had observed , that all sorts of cacochymia's were joyned with fevers , i could not omit this discourse about fevers , as not impertinent to my design , of describing the preternatural state of humours . i will farther observe , that the several cacochymia's depend not on the fever , as an effect of it , though that , after some time , may produce some of them ; as a viscid , salt , vitriolic or putrid state of humours : but the fever finds the cacochymia in the blood , which produces the symptoms preceeding the paroxysm ; as pains , coughs , vomitings , gripes , diarrhaea's , &c. hence it appears , that the antecedent cacochymia depends on the same causes , as at other times , when there is no fever ; but the febrile effervescence agitates the cacochymia , and thereby produces the evacuations , or inflammations , to which it pre-disposed the patient . and these symptoms require the same method of cure , as at other times , but care must be taken because of the complication with the fever , that nothing may be done in cure of the cacochymia , which may prejudice the general cure of the fever . the cacochymia alters the nature of the fever , for a pituitous , tartareous , serous or flatulent cacochymia depresses the feverish ebullition too much ; and for these , the old authors rationally used digestives in fevers , to correct the cacochymia , and to raise the fermentation , which is depressed by them , that the succus nutritius may be more easily digested , or putrefied , and , at last , by a crisis separated from the blood. in a bilious , rancid , salt or putrid state of blood , the fever is generally too acute , and ( unless in the malignant fever or plague ) must be depressed by cool alteratives , which are the digestives or precipitators in such fevers ; and this seems to be a general rule in fevers , that as the general cure of the fever must not increase the cacochymia , so neither must the cure of the cacochymia either too much irritate or depress the fever ; but by bleeding , vomiting or purging in the beginning , we abate the quantity of the cacochymia , and , by digestives , dispose it for a separation from the blood , which , at length , the fever expells , with the depraved succus nutritius , or , at least , prepares it for a purgation afterwards , which ought to respect the particular cacochymia's after the fever , as well as before . if we consider the various causes of a cacochymia above-mentioned , we cannot believe but every body is inclined to some one or other of them . we have some particular degrees of fermentation , by which our humours are prepared that arise to a particular quality , by which the constitution is called either pituitous , tartareous , flatulent , or serous , if they be too cool , or else they are too hot , as the choleric , or scorbutic , salt , viscid , vitriolic or putrid constitutions of our humours . we have some of these from our parents , and the age , as it runs on , produces a various temper of our humours . in children , the blood is like the milk they feed on , apt to turn sowre ; and for that reason , vomitings , gripes , and loosenesses , attend their fevers , as well as coughs , and sore mouths , and comatous effects from the serosity of their bloods . in the middle age , the blood is florid and salt , by which , they of that age are disposed to haemorrhagies , and all sorts of inflammations , consumptions , and the hot scurvy , which are frequently complicated with fevers in the middle of our ages ; as pleurisies , quinsies , phrensies , rheumatisms . in the consistent age , the blood grows vitriolic , and produces dysenteries , cancers , cholera's , melancholic winds , which , with lethargies , apoplexies , peripneumonia's , are frequently , at that age , complicated with fevers . in old age , the feverish ebullition runs low , and it is most easily stopt with a smaller dose of the cortex ; and since the saltness , viscidity , and vitriolic acidity , abounds in old men , as well as the pituitous and serous cacochymia , they have some of the diseases depending on them ; but especially catarrhs , and atrophy , and pains of the limbs , are complicated with the fevers of old men. particular cacochymia's are not only produced by our several ages , but also the different seasons of the year incline us to different cacochymia's . the winter disposes us to rheums , pains , and coughs , which depend on too much serosity retained , or stopt in the blood ; and the cold checks the fermentation of blood , as well as other fermented liquors , which hinders the thorough digestion or fermentation of humours ; from hence it appears , that winter fevers have coughs , rheums , pains , and greater coldness attending them , and are longer . the sudden alterations of hot and cold produces a siziness of blood , and makes the spring attended with pleurisies ; rheumatisms , apoplexies , lethargies , and intermitting fevers , have then such symptoms . cold is not so injurious as the moisture of the air , which makes the transpiration less , and the pressure of the air also less ; and , for this reason , fevers frequently happen in wet weather , with looseness , heaviness of the senses , and many inward inflammations ; as apoplexies , quinsies , epilepsies . in the spring far advanced the blood becomes more heated , and choleric , and then tertians and erisipela's are complicated with the fever and haemorrhagies . in the summer , the blood is more rancid , salt , viscid , and hot , and produces the highest burning fevers , with vomiting , diarrhaea's , and inflammations , and sore eyes . in autumn , the blood is most vitriolic , on which , quartans , melancholies , dysenteries and epilepsies much depend on . this is the chief season for the intermitting fever , with which the preceeding diseases are frequently complicated . since the late severe , cold winter , it has been observed , that the blood has been more sizie than usual ; and it is not improbable that such a cacochymia , may last some years in the blood of all persons , which may , upon the fit of a fever , produce the rheumatic pains , and inflammations lately observed in fevers . it seems probable , that after some time this state of blood may be altered to another of a different kind , as a putrid , and then we must expect a pestilential fever . if there be a common epidemical state , or cacochymia of humours , ( which the common changes of the air , or the seasons of the year , or the particular digestion of our diet , or some secret effluviums of the earth , or mineral tinctures in our water , may produce ) as we must observe by some common distemper , which seizes many every year ; we may very well allow , that the same cacochymia , which produces the epidemical disease every year , should also occasion some particular symptoms in the intermitting , stationary fever , not unlike the nature of the epidemical disease , as if that were complicated with the fever ; so we may observe , that rheumatisms have been frequent of late , and all our fevers have rheumatic stitches very much . it seems very probable , since the plague visits us once in about forty years , which depends on a putrid state of humours , that all the other cacochymia's , which produce the several different kinds of fevers , have also some kind of revolution , in which they return also ; and when it is mucilaginous , the fever is like a quotidian ; when tartareous , it has cholical symptoms ; when serous , it is a catarrhal fever ; when flatulent , a vertiginous fever , with windiness in the primae viae , and running pains : but if the cacochymia be choleric , a tertian is produced ; if rancid , oyly , a scorbutic fever ; if viscid , rheumatic pains ; if vitriolic , quartans are produced . these several cacochymia's , and their epidemical disease , and stationary fever , both depending on the same , may be observed every year ; and by keeping an exact account , we shall , in time , find what cacochymiae and fevers succeed each other , and in what periods we may expect their returns , though , it is probable , we shall never discover the general causes which introduce the several cacochymia's , upon which all epidemical diseases depend . appendix ii. an introductory discourse to the treatise of the asthma ; containing an explication of the old notion of the defluxions of humours , whereby the asthma , and divers other chronical diseases , are produced . all the diseases which depend on a sudden preternatural motion , or flux of humours , are produced either by an intermitting fever , or an ephemera . that most diseases may be symptoms of fevers , does sufficiently appear to a diligent observer of the phaenomena of fevers , and they are described in the books of our modern writers . the particular cacochymia in our humours cannot produce the symptoms of fevers , without being rarified , impelled , or transmitted by defluxion on some particular part ; and the occasion of this flux , the ancients imputed to the intemperies of some parts , which was the terminus à quo , as the head or liver ; but the true cause of the defluxion is an effervescence in the blood , and the terminus à quo is the blood it self . the vessels through which the flux is carried , are , the veins , arteries , lymphatics , and nerves , and several excretory glands . the terminus ad quem , is the part affected with sudden pains ; as in rheumatisms , or in sudden inflammations ; as in pleurisies , quinsies , peripneumonia , &c. or sudden evacuations of the serous , nutritious humours , in vomitings , diarrhaea's , coughs , sweats , diabetes , &c. or else by haemorrhagies ; as haemoptoe , fluxus mensium ; and most of the nervous distempers ( like those of other glands ) depend on the admission or propulsion of cacochymical serum into the nerves ; as in apoplexies , lethargies , carus , epilepsies , convulsions , vertigo , asthma , palsies , tympanies . all tumours which rise suddenly depend on the defluxion of humours on that part in which they stagnate ; as buboes , erysipela's , herpes , &c. all the preceeding diseases are frequently the symptoms of an intermitting fever , occasioned by the fevers agitating , or impelling a particular cacochymia upon some part. if this cacochymia , which disposed the blood to that particular symptom , be evacuated , or altered by the fever , none of those symptoms remain ; but when the fever is too soon suppressed , those symptoms become periodic , chronical diseases , or at least anniversary , as appears in the asthma , hemicrania , and other pains , inflammations , convulsions , or evacuations , which have periodic fits ; or , at least , return upon the changes of the year , or when any external causes , or hot medicines , occasion an effervescence in the blood : then the symptoms of the former fever appear ; and the cure of the defluxions , depending on a suppressed intermitting fever , is as followeth ; 1. we must evacuate the particular cacochymia by vomits and purges ; and afterwards it is to be corrected by its particular specific tastes , which must either raise or depress the natural fermentation of humours . 2. the disposition to a fermentation must be stopt by a febrifuge , as the cortex , for that precipitates by its stypticity , and re-assimilates , by its bitterness , the depraved nutritious serum , which is the immediate ferment of intermitting fevers . a simple ebullition of blood , such as happens in ephemera's , is sufficient to produce many defluxions . of humours , in which there appears no putrefaction of the succus nutritius , as in putrid intermitting fevers , which we discern to be putrid by a precipitation of a high-coloured , thick sediment in the vrin , ( which is of a brick colour , like blood calcined , as mr. boyle observed ) and we call the fever unputrid , when the vrin is always pale , as in ephemera's , without the former sediment . when only an ebullition happens in a cacochymical blood , the mass is only agitated or rarefied , ( in which is contained the serous , salt lympha , the chyle and its lympha , and the whole succus nutritius of an animal ) . this chylous or serous mixture being lately fermented in the stomach , is , of all the mass , most readily fermented or rarefied ; and , again , this serous , nutritious mass is more readily circulated into the cutaneous , or remotest parts of the body , than that sanguineous or red mass of the blood , or , at least , more easily secreted through the glands and lymphatics . this is the more immediate subject of an ephemera , or rather an immediate ferment , or occasion of it , when it is an irritated ebullition by inward causes ; as the fulness , or acrimony , of the cacochymia , or depend on the abuse of the six non-naturals . this nutritious serum is not colliquated by the fever , as authors affirm , ( liquatur & funditur ) for that is only the effect of a pestilential putrefaction ; and the serum , by a violent effervescence in an intermitting fever , becomes more viscid , and thick , which disposes it to precipitate , and putrefie ; whereas , in an ephemera , the gentle heat can only occasion an effervescence , as to rarefie the nutritious serum , and drive it through the several strainers of the glands , which are appointed for the several cacochymia's , with which it is saturated . the signs of these chronical defluxions , depending on an ephemera , are , pale water , like the healthful at first , a gentle heat , a general lassitude , such as is observed in wet weather , heaviness in the head , and an inclination to sleep , and great quantity of water . this effervescence depends on the general changes of the year . the alteration of the weather then produces irregular fermentations in our bloods , as it does ebullitions in wines , and all other fermented liquors ; and also the changes of the weather at other times , when rains succeed fair weather , or the east or north wind blows after warm weather , which causes the same ebullition , both in wines and blood ; for by these , the pressure of the air is altered , the transpiration of our bodies is stopt , and the different degrees of heat and cold expand or check the rarefaction of our spirits , by which our bloods , as well as all other fermented liquors , are agitated , depurated , digested , or changed ; and on these external causes the sudden effervescence of our humours immediately depends ; to which , the plenitude of humours , or their vitious qualities , disorderly , hot diet , too much exercise , passions , or other accidents , very much conduce , which also produce ephemera's . those parts of the body are most usually affected with the flux of humours , through which vitious humours ought to be evacuated , or to which the vitiated succus nutritius can most easily circulate , or where its motion is most easily stopt , or most frequently , or the tone of a part vitiated by former distempers . though the occasion of the effervescences , on which the defluxion depends , be external for the most part , yet there is an inward disposition in the blood to an inflammation , which makes the blood apt to impell its cacochymical humours upon some part. the several species of these defluxions i will enumerate , according to the number of the several cacochymia's , ( which i have described in another discourse of them ) and their complication with intermitting or ephemera fevers . first , if the blood , abounding with a pituitous cacochymia , effervesces , as in an ephemera , it depurates its self from some of the lacteal lympha through the glands of the mouth , or lungs , and , by that flux , produces a catarrh , or much coughing , or spitting , which is always complicated either with an intermitting fever , or an ephemera , which resembles the effervescence in beer or wine , whereby they clear themselves of barm or lees. i have observed a chin-cough , complicated with an intermitting fever , which was cured by the cortex after general evacuations . if the pituitous cacochymia be transmitted to the stomach , it produces nauseousness , want of appetite , a pituitous diarrhaea , and cholics . if it is evacuated into the trachaea , or stagnates in the vesiculae of the lungs , it produces a dyspnaea , as in the cachexies of virgins ; in whom also it produces a paleness in the skin , and frequently oedematous tumours , when the pituita suffers a flux , according to the notion of the ancients ; that is , when it is suddenly evacuated through the conglomerate glands , or impelled on some particular part where it stagnates . secondly , if an ephemera be raised in a tartareous , acid constitution , on a sudden , corrosive pains are produced on the membranes , with fluxes of the lacteal lympha ; as in pains of the teeth , and head ; or else gripes , or pains in the stomach , are produced . when the blood , or chyle , and lacteal lympha , are tinctured with an acid cacochymia ( whose chief vehicle they be ) upon any accidental effervescence , the viscid parts of the serum , or sanguineous mass , may be precipitated by their own acidity , ( like milk which is very salt , and turns into posset by boiling ) ; and such kind of coagulations seem to happen in rheums , fluxes of vrin , dysenteria alba , or in scorbutic and melancholic salivations , or sweats , or diarrhaea's . thirdly , if an ephemera be produced by any external cause in a flatulent cacochymia , the blood is tumultuously moved with sudden effervescences , and a crude or acid windiness distends the hypochondria , as appears by a ructus of the same nature , wandring pains may be observed in the limbs , noise in the ears , vertigo in the head ; such are the disorders which happen in hypochondriac and hysterical persons , upon the least occasion , which excites an effervescence in their bloods . a remarkable instance of windiness , complicated with an effervescence , may be observed in a priapism , which always happens by the heat of the bed , by which the flux of windy spirits is made into the penis ; for such patients usually complain of noise in their ears , of nubming pains in the hands and arms in their sleep , and their sides , which goes off with a prickling and tingling pain upon waking ; and as the erection subsides , a noise is heard in the belly , and wind breaks forth in a crepitus , and a deadness or numbness remains in the part , as well as many other parts of the body . fourthly , if the serous cacochymia be agitated by an ephemera , tumours happen in the limbs suddenly , which are pure , watery , hydropical tumours , or else the serum is suddenly evacuated into the cavities of the head , breast , belly , scrotum , or testicles of women , of which , cases are mentioned by the ingenious carolus piso , de morbis à serosâ colluvie ; but he seems mistaken in this description of the serum , as if it were only aqua pura puta , because the serum contains the nutritious , fibrous or caseous parts of the chyle , as well as its watery elements . piso mentions an hydrocephalos which returned by fits , and that cannot but depend on an effervescence in the blood ; it was cured by him by purges , and a lixivium to wash the head. he also relates a case of sleepiness , with pains on the head , depending on a serous blood ; and that increased towards night , which was cured by an actual cautery applied to the hinder part of the head. he mentions a carus , with a fever depending on the serum passing the brain , to which children are most subject ; this was purged off the ninth day ; and he believes nocturnal convulsions to depend on the serum impelled into the nerves . the conglobate glands , designed for the passage of the serum , are frequently swelled by an effervescence depurating or impelling the serum ; and when the vrin , which ought to be transcolated from the serum by the kidnies , is suppressed , a sleepiness seizes the head , or gripes the belly from the serum translated to that part. the great quantity of serum is usually imputed either to the quantity of serous diet , or the retention of its evacuation . fifthly , an ephemera in a bilious state of blood occasions the jaundices , by a sudden translation of the bilious serum into the skin , or else it is evacuated into the stomach in a cholera , or the intestines in a diarrhaea . if the serum be both viscid and bilious , it produces an erysipelas with a fever . piso describes an hemicrania , which returns upon the changes of the year , and alterations of the weather , to wet , with vomiting of bilious serum , inclination to sleep , and convulsive pains in the belly , and the pains in the head preceed those in the belly ; the pulse and thirst shew the fever ; and he concludes , sudores sunt remedium hemicraniae , prophylacticum , & praecipuum , & seri evacuatione , curatur . an exquisite drying diet , and an oxyrrhodine applied to the head helps much . sixthly , in a scorbutic , salt blood , a simple effervescence produces the scorbutic spots , or blisters in the skin , which suddenly appear , and subside again , and all other scorbutic pains depend on a sudden effervescence , which make the vrin high-coloured . in a salt blood this simple effervescence , usually called an ephemera , produces divers pains and inflammations ; as the tooth-ach , ophthalmia , otalgia , gout , nephritic pains , ( which usually happen in autumn ) and a fever usually goes along with all pains , which excite symptomatic fevers , and that is always referred to the class of ephemera's . if the salt serum be inclinable to stony or sandy coagulations , an effervescence of the blood , tinged with that humour , produces the gout , and stone fits. this effervescence preceeds the gout some days , with a lassitude in the limbs , and heaviness of the body , and a preternatural heat , watching , thirst , nauseousness , and a dryness on the tongue . this effervescence or fever lasts usually 30 or 40 days , which is the common term of great fluxes and acute fevers . this fever has exacerbations towards night , and remits in the morning ; but the ingenious piso thinks it to be febris imputris , synocha legitima , potius quam putris , quae dolores arthriticos comitatur . the effervescence in the blood of gouty persons forces the salt serum upon the nervous parts of the joynts , through their glands , whereby the acute pains of the gout are produced , and the convulsive cramps preceeding the fit. the water is pale in the beginning , and afterwards high-coloured , with thick sediment . the fit of the gout is cured as usual . fluxes depending on an ephemera , by bleeding once or twice , by glysters , and opiates , and by a thin , spare diet for the three first days , or a perfect abstinence ; but afterwards water-gruel , chicken-broth , sack-posset-drink : after a week , when the fever and pain decline , which will appear by the vrin . purging agrees well , by some lenitive ; as decoct . senae . an anodyne poultess at first must be laid to the part , and afterwards discutients and nervines are necessary . for the preventing the fit , frequent vomitings once in a month , purging with rhubarb three days before the full and change of the moon , and three days after them . a spare diet , and abstinence from all strong liquors , with moderate exercise , are absolutely necessary . all hot arthritics are injurious in the fit ; as theriaca , sp. c. cervini , guaicum : and it is a general errour of practisers , to prescribe hot specifics during the effervescence , which occasions a defluxion ; but they are more properly used in the intervals of the fit , to correct the cacochymia ; and we find too long use of them occasions a new effervescence and defluxion . bitters help the digestion of the arthritic ; and drinking bath-waters cures the saltness of their bloods , or else asses milk alters the saltness . seventhly , if the serum be both salt and viscid , and by any accident effervesces , haemorrhagies are produced at the nose , lungs , arms , womb , which are accompanied with a feverish effervescence . and we may observe , that bleeding , the cortex , opiates , and cool antiscorbutic juyces , and abstinence from fermenting , liquors , by abating the fever , cure more successfully than any styptics whatsoever . if the effervescence be in a viscid blood only , it produces rheumatisms , pains of the hips , shoulders , loyns , knees , head , as in the hemicrania ; but that of the muscles generally is called a rheumatism ; but if it fall inwardly , it is a pleurisie , or peripneumonia when it affects the middle region ; if on the kidnies , it makes a nephritis ; if on the brain , externally a lethargy , or more internally an apoplexy on the nerves , a paralysis on the guts , a cholic , on the eyes ophthalmia , &c. in all the fore-mentioned cases there is an effervescence preceeding the pains and inflammations , as appears by the chillness and shivering which first seizes them in the beginning of those diseases , which soon are succeeded by burning heats , high-coloured water , and quick pulse . eighthly , a febrile effervescence in a melancholic or vitriolic state of blood , is the occasion of the following diseases . 1. hot pains , and windiness in the stomach and guts , from a hot windiness . 2. pains in the spleen , and sides , and limbs , from a windy spirit . 3. in the nerves the windy spirits produce palpitations of the heart , want of sleep , sinking of the spirits , and divers kind of convulsions ; as hysteric fits , epilepsies , and all the inflations of the nervous parts ; in the asthma , tympany , ephialtes , priapismus . all which depend on a simple ebullition of humours . the immediate cause of the asthma , is the constriction of the trachaea , or bronchia , which streightens the passage of the air , and produces the wheezing ; and the vesiculae of the lungs being also contracted , a laborious inspiration is necessary to force the air into the lungs . there being no tumour , inflammation , or pain , in the respiratory muscles , they cannot occasion the asthma ; but in pure convulsive cases , in which they often produce a dyspnaea . the fit of the asthma happens suddenly , through the effervescence of blood , occasioned by external causes , which separate the lympha lactea from the blood , and that stops in the swelled glands of the lungs , and is at length evacuated into the trachea . in the spitting asthma , and in the hysteric , the serum of the blood seems to be forced into the nerves by this effervescence ; or into the lymphatics of the lungs , where , by stagnation , it may irritate the fit. though the water be pale , and the pulse low , and the extremities cold , yet the asthmatic fever is evident , for they have an inward sense of heat , and great restlessness of spirits in the fit. caelius aurelianus observes , in his description of the asthma , the ferver igneus , and a color morbidus , though the asthma is not always joyned with a fever . i have observed the asthma , frequently joyned with an inflammation of the lungs , or intermitting fever , and at all other times with an ephemera , which appears by the general lassitude , oppression of the breast and head , want of sleep , thirst , and those causes which excite an ephemera , produce the asthma ; as extream heat or cold , the dog-days heat , in which wines are apt to ferment ; and whatsoever produces an inflammatory disposition in the blood , produces the asthma ; as high diet , strong wines , all hot pectorals , or digestives , or anti-convulsive medicines , steel , or strong purges ; hot diaphoretics , or febrifuges , which , by exciting an effervescence , increase , and produce the asthma , and cannot cure it : but whatsoever cures the ephemera , cures also the asthma fit ; as bleeding , clysters , opiates , cool pectorals , with ol. sulphuris , sal prunell . gas sulphuris , milk-waters , thin emulsions , ptysans . for the preventing a new fit , these two indications must be respected . 1. to cure the mucilaginous , serous and flatulent cacochymia by vomits , purgers , and digestives of specific tastes , contrary to the mentioned cacochymia's ; as alteratives , or diuretics , or sudorifics , as decoction of the woods . 2. to prevent the sudden effervescence of the blood , by avoiding fulness , and variety of meats , and all strong , fermented liquors , which produce frequent effervescences of our humours ; and to remember piso's caution , parcissime bibendum ; for after drinking our horses are most asthmatic ; and for avoiding the watering of them , we wet their hay . those cool febrifuges , which cure the effervescence in the fit , seem proper to prevent the return ; but we must not always rely on the cortex , for that does not succeed so well in the spitting , as hysteric asthma ; but , in many cases , a draught of fair water with a toast , or a draught of pectoral drink with gas sulphuris , three days before the new and full moon , and three days after them , may be given in the morning to prevent the fit. sarsa drink and lucatellus's balsam best cleanse the lungs in the spitting asthma after the fit. if an inflammation of the lungs be joyned with the asthma fit , bleed three or four times , give emulsions , pectoral drinks , oyly mixtures , and laudanum , and a decoction of the cortex , which may be mixed with that of the pectoral drink ; and gas sulphuris a spoonful may be given in a draught of pectoral drink to cool . after fourteen days purge with decoct . senae and manna ; after which repeat the laudanum and cortex again ; and , at last , for cleansing the lungs , lucatellus's balsam , and decoct . sarsae ; and this method i have found very successful . all other asthma's depending on the tubercula of the lungs , or collection of matter , serum , blood in them , or the cavities of the breast , as also that on the gibbosities , or ill formation of the thorax in the rickets , or tumours of the viscera , are improperly called asthma's . though they produce an ephemera by stopping the nutritious serum in its circulation , yet they have an evident cause which requires to be removed before they can be cured . children subject to rheums , with scabbed heads , if that be ill cured or repelled , they become asthmatic , with returning fits about the solstices and aequinoctials . in this case all the methods for scald heads must be used ; as decoct . sarsae , mercu. dulcis , bath-waters , sulphur medicines , vitriolic waters ; but these generally dis-agree with the asthmatic ; and by giving them a catarrh , produce the fit ; and much drinking of fountain-water produces dropsies in the lungs , to which they are subject . ammoniacum medicines , used to some ounces , much help the viscidity of a mucilaginous slime in the lungs ; but that , and the cortex , has failed me , when the blood , by an accident , as the use of the bath , is made more than ordinary prone to an effervescence ; and all high diet and strong liquors make all specifics ineffectual , till the aptitude to an effervescence be taken off by bleeding , vomiting , purging , or , above all , by a cool , thin diet , and abstaining from fermented liquors , by which method , my asthma has intermitted three or four months , which before was rather irritated by all other medicines this winter . the anointing the breast , and keeping it hot , or rubbing it , and cupping-glasses , and all hot medicines , were the errours of the ancients ; but , as the fit declines , the pectorals are necessary to deterge the phlegm ; and the drymphagia , which caelius aurelianus mentions , is very proper to help expectoration . he commends acetum scylliticum before meat , and nitre with vinegar , decoction of hyssop and figs , pine-nuts with mulsum , turpentine with honey or nettle-seeds , or cress-seeds with honey or bitter almonds . he recommends travelling or navigation , the drinking bath-waters . in italy they use theriacae antidoti . and he also recommends the cold immersion , vtilis consuetudo frigidi lavacri , quam pseucrolusian appellant . he mentions cataclysmus sive illisio aquarum supernè iisdem locis , qui patiuntur . but though the pumping of the breast may give the scorbutic or hypochondriac symptoms some ease , yet they rather do injury for the future . he orders the asthmatic , jacere altioribus stramentis , thorace & capite sublevato , loco lucido atque calido mediocriter . adhibitâ requie & abstinentiâ cibi usque ad tertium diem si vires permiserint . he dislikes strong purges of diagrydium , and the spurges . he mentions castor to be used in and out of the fits , which probably they used for the hysteric asthma ; but that , i fear , cannot cure them without laudanum , and the cortex . i believe the old oxymels , with proper evacuations , have cured more asthma's than the moderns , by their anti-convulsives ; for the notion of the asthma , being a defluxion of humours , when clearly stated , gives very true and useful indications ; whereas the convulsive inflations are symptoms of the effervescence only ; and all the medicines designed for the cure of the convulsive symptoms , by increasing the effervescence , occasion more frequent fits of the asthma , and cure none . ninthly , an ephemera , in a putrid state of blood , produces the impetigo , scab , scald head , which are , by an effervescence , thrown into the skin spring and fall , as common experience informs us . the cure of the simple effervescence , which is generally called an ephemera , though it sometimes lasts thirty or forty days , is in the following manner . i. by bleeding : for vessels full of liquors are most apt to ferment ; and , therefore , upon the fermenting of wines , we draw off some of the liquor ; and for preventing the ebullitions , some part of the vessels is left empty ; and the same effect bleeding has , which is done in proportion to the fulness , and by that we check fluxes , pains , inflammations , which depend on the ebullition of our humours . ii. by glysters : at first the fermenting mass in the guts is drawn off , which resembles the lees in wines , that occasion frequent fermentations . iii. specific purges , ( after seven , eight , nine or fourteen days ) when the ebullition remits , are necessary to evacuate the fulness of some particular cacochymia . iv. all diuretics ought to be cool ; as decoct . pectoral , rad. graminis , cichorei , liquiritiae , decoct . sarsae , chinae , ras . eboris , c. cervini , emulsions . all hot specifics irritate the fever . v. ante-febrile medicines check the ebullition . as , 1. styptics , which hinder the ebullition of blood , as well as the fluxes of humours . decoct . corticis mixed with any specific decoctions . the powder of acorns allays the pains and inflammations in pleurisies . 2. acids , ol. sulph . cum conserv . ros. gas sulphuris , sal prunell . in pectoral drinks . 3. opiates , which suppress the expanded spirits , that produce the nervous inflations . vi. all pains must be treated with anodynes , and tumours discussed , and fluxes stopped by proper specifics . vii . the diet must be thin , such as is in fevers ; or perfect abstinence for one or two days is very necessary to cure the effervescence . for the preventing the return of these effervescences . 1. the cacochymia must be evacuated by vomits repeated monthly , or quarterly ; by purges once in fourteen days , and an opiate the night after ; by bleeding spring and fall ; by a long use of specifics , for the several cacochymiae : and moderate exercise , and a cooling , spare diet , is necessary to prevent that fulness of the succus nutritius which produces the ebullition in chronical cases . 2. the inflammatory disposition of the blood , and its effervescence , must be checked by the cool febrifuges above-mentioned ; by the decoction of the cortex at the changes of the year ; or that of the moon , when the fluxes or fits usually happen ; or gas sulphuris for three days before and after the changes of the moon , when the alterations commonly happen in the weather , which excites the effervescence , and especially in the extream hot time of the dog-days , when wines are most apt to ferment , and when the intermitting fevers begin ; and , by the observation of all asthmatics , that is the worst time of the year for the asthma . the inflammatory disposition of the blood is best cured by the cool juyces of herbs ; as dandelion , brooklime , sorrel , water-cresses , milk-waters , sarsa-drinks , whey , milk and water , abstaining from mault drinks , or by the cold immersion . 3. the tumour of any part , or the obstruction in its vessels , or the weakness of its tone , must be cured , that it may become less subject to defluxions . 4. all external accidents must be avoided , which may excite an ephemera ; but chiefly hot diet , strong drinks , and tobacco ; and , if possible , all fermented liquors , and full meals , and changes of weather . finis . praxis medicinæ reformata: = or, the practice of physick reformed being an epitome of the whole art: wherein is briefly shewed, the true causes, signs, prognosticks, and cure, of most diseases. published for the benefit of all persons. by robert johnson, med. professor. johnson, robert, b. 1640? 1700 approx. 464 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 182 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a46940 wing j817 estc r216577 99828303 99828303 32730 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a46940) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 32730) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1950:11) praxis medicinæ reformata: = or, the practice of physick reformed being an epitome of the whole art: wherein is briefly shewed, the true causes, signs, prognosticks, and cure, of most diseases. published for the benefit of all persons. by robert johnson, med. professor. johnson, robert, b. 1640? [6], xxii, [4], 203, [1], 204, [1], 205-317, [7] p. : ill. (port) printed for brabazon aylmer, at the three pigeons, in cornhil, london : 1700. with engraved frontispiece. text is continuous despite pagination. an additional leaf of text numbered 204 on recto appears to be tipped in between leaves o6 and o7. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng medicine -early works to 1800. diseases -early works to 1800. 2004-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-07 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2004-07 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion vera effigies . roberti iohnson praxis medicinae reformata : or , the practice of physick reformed . being an epitome of the whole art : wherein is briefly shewed , the true causes , signs , prognosticks , and cure , of most diseases . published for the benefit of all persons . by robert johnson , med. professor . medicina experientiâ & ratione fundari debet . london : printed for brabazon aylmer , at the three pigeons , in cornhil . 1700. to the reader . in this little tract , i have bestowed some pains , in searching out , and proposing the true causes and cure of diseases : which , i hope , will induce other ingenious-spirited artists to a farther enquiry , that so the art of physick may be the better illustrated , and many things in it that are yet obscure , may be made known . the chief end of physick , is to maintain and recover health ; wherefore i think it would be more for the honour of all learned physicians , to employ themselves in the improvement of the materia medica , ( which have been hitherto too much neglected ) than to content themselves with a formal way of practice : for diseases cannot be cured by scholastick twattle , or fine words , but by good remedies . the great platerus , helmont , and the famous franciscus de la boe sylvius , &c. did endeavour to reform the practice of physick , and excelled many others ( their contemporaries ) in the most difficult cures ; yet because they had recourse to chymical remedies , in the cure of many diseases , the more lazy tribe of physicians made it their business to traduce them . truly there are too many such carping zolius's at this day ( who envy glory to all , except themselves ) from whom i must expect the same fate : i can do no more but pray for them ; lord , forgive them ; for they know not what they do . from the lower-most door , on the right-hand , in norfolk-street , in the strand . the introduction : containing the causes and cure of diseases in general : as also , some choice specificks for the cure of diseases . the causes of diseases depend on lympha any way vitiated , because it will ( in time ) corrupt the whole mass of blood. quicquid enim , sive bilis sit , sive pituita , sive succus pancreaticus , sanguisve menstruus , lympham reddere potens acriorem , dolorem & morbos facile causat , parte affecta male sese habente . this is the hypothesis of most eminent physicians , both ancient and modern . spittle being continually swallowed down , and adhering to the gut , the more fluid part of it is dissolved by the continual conflux of choler , and the juice of the pancreas , or sweet-bread , in the small guts . if choler ( which abounds with a bitter volatile lixivial salt ) be mixt with the juice of the pancreas , which is naturally sourish , ( as hath been sufficiently evinced by the indefatigable industry of the most ingenious anatomist , regnerus de graaf ) they must of necessity stir up an effervescency in their concourse there . as long as the aforesaid humours are well tempered , the effervescency will be mild , and friendly to nature , and therefore cannot be perceived in healthy people . the humours rising from this mild effervescency , pierceth into the lacteal veins , and circulates with the lympha to the heart , and seems to give the natural consistency to the bloud . the more viscous part of these humors , passeth by degrees to the thick guts ; and being there mixed with the excrements , makes them more viscous and yellow , and helps the excretion of them . but if there be an obstruction of the lacteal ducts , or branches of the panereas , or sweet-bread , by reason of viscous flegm , which being separated from the bloud by the glandules of the pancreas , is there collected by degrees ; it is sent from thence ( in too large a quantity ) to the main duct , or pipe thereof , which detaineth the juice of the pancreas contrary to nature , which ought continually to flow into the small guts . the juice of the pancreas being compelled to stagnate , or stand still in its passage , quickly grows acrimonious , because the volatile spirit ( which is naturally conjoin'd to it to temper it ) doth gradually fly away , by which it becometh more acrid , and acquires a putrefactive ferment , whence at length it makes way through the obstructing flegm , and is effused into the small gut , called duodenum ; where meeting with choler ( peccant , in a lixivial salt acrimony ) it stirs up a vitious effervescency , or preternatural ferment , which raiseth acrimonious humors , and halituous or flatulent vapours , which are carried through the lacteal veins , and thoracick passage , and so through the vena cava , ascendens to the right ventricle of the heart ; from whence it circulates with the spirituous blood and lympha , vitiating , and corrupting the whole mass of it with its fermental acrimony : which is the cause of most chronical diseases , as the famous franciscus de le boe sylvius , hath accurately observed . if the acrid humours do affect the head , it may cause most distempers incident to it , as head-ach , convulsions , epilepsie , palsie , apoplexy , &c. if it invades the lungs , it causeth difficulty of breathing , inflamations , ulcers , and phthisis , or consumption . if it penetrates the membrane pleura , it causeth the pleurisie . if it possesseth the joints , it causeth arthritick pains , or the gout ; which hath its name from the part affected . if there be a defluxion of acrid humors on the reins , bladder , or womb , it may cause inflammations , ulcers , or cancers in them . if it be conveyed to the obscene parts , ( especially after too much impure coition ) it may cause malign eruptions , &c. if the lympha becomes very acrid in the conglobated , and conglomerated glandules , and if nature be over-burthened by its plentifulness , it may be the cause of catarrhs , rheumatisms , scrophula , &c. if acrid humors be luxuriant in the blood , and lympha , it may be the cause of all eruptions , as itch , scabs , erisipela's , leprosie , &c. acrimonious and flatulent vapours , may be the cause of all ague-fits , with all their symptoms , as in the beginning , horror , chilness , cold , shaking , &c. then follows reaching , yawning , and vomiting , &c. at length these sharp halituous vapors are carried to the right ventricle of the heart , and by their acrimony alters and troubles its vital effervescency ; and by over-stirring the heart , causeth a more frequent pulse , and many times produceth grievous symptoms , as great heat and thirst , difficulty of breathing , raving , heart-ach , swooning , and all other symptoms that happen in all intermitting fevers . if choler become peccant , not only in a lixivial salt acrimony , but also an inflamable oyliness ; the humours ( that are produced from its vitious effervescency , with the too tart pancreat juice , and over-viscous flegm in the small guts ) will be the more acrid and fervid ; and circulating ( with the spirituous blood and lympha ) to the heart , will cause an effervescency in the right ventricle of it , which will stimulate and incite it to a more forcible motion , whence the pulse is continually produced more frequent against nature ; after which follows great heat and burning , &c. and therefore may be called a fever ; so that this may be the cause of all continual fevers not putrid . if the stomach by dietetick errors , as in eating , or drinking too much sour fruit , or juices , be over-charg'd with acids , it may prove hostile , injurious , and a morbisick cause of that which we call the heart-burning , &c. with sour belchings , and sometimes a nauseousness even to vomiting . in this case , after the operation of a gentle emetick , you may administer half a dram of the pouder of pearl crabs-eyes , or any of the testaceous pouders , ( twice or thrice in a day ) to absorb the peccant acidity ; chalybeates may be also safely administred . likewise in all chronical diseases , caused by the over-sourness of the juice of the pancreas , &c. as aforesaid ; after general evacuations , the finest filings of iron turn'd to rust , may be given to half a dram at a time , in a stued prune , or any other vehicle , twice in a day ; because the stomach by its incisive acidity , ( together with other accidental , or concomitant acids ) doth penetrate the particles of the iron , and rarifie its vitriolick salt , which will not only help digestion , but kill worms , and circulates with the blood and lympha , and will in time purifie the whole mass of it . but if choler be peccant as aforesaid , causing fevers , and other acute diseases ; then after evacuation , by vomiting , or purging , i commend acid liquors , and juices , as lemons , &c. also purified niter may be given in all fevers . but here we may note , that it is the nature of all acids , to coagulate and thicken the blood and its serum ; wherefore we must be cautious , that we do not let blood , nor give too many . acids in the small-pox , and malignant fevers , because in these distempers , the blood is preternaturally viscid , and therefore it abounds with too much acidity ; of which you may read more at large in the ensuing treatise . i come now to mention some choice specificks for the cure of diseases , for the sake and benefit of the poor , who have not money to pay a doctor for his long receipts , nor the apothecary for medicines . salt niter purified , is an efficacious medicine in the cure of most diseases ; it may be poudred with an equal quantity of white sugar , and given to half a dram at a time every six hours , in all fevers , the whole time of sickness , and also before and after ; because it is an acid salt , and contains in it a volatile incorruptible sulphur ; and by reason of its acidity , it refrigerates the inflamed blood , and powerfully checks the preternatural fermentation of it , and preserves its natural consistency : for ( by the subtilty of its spirit ) it insinuates it self into the whole mass of bloud , and penetrates into all parts , and so strengthens and recreates the heart , as to make it resist and overcome all putrefaction , and therefore it is a great antidote against the plague , and all contagious fevers . if it be dissolved in any liquid vehicle , and drank a little often , it will dilute . the lixivial salt of choler , and being mixed with proper catharticks , and balsamick medicines , it will conduce much to the cure of most chronical distempers also ; for it discusseth wind , opens all obstructions , and causes the vitious humours to precipitate , and to be evacuated both by urine and stool . quicksilver boil'd in water , with a few raisons of the sun to sweeteen it , and the liquor drank freely , killeth worms . the quicksilver may be boiled a thousand times , and always have the same weight ; so that the water partakes of mercurial irradiation , by which it becomes destructive to worms . a strong decoction of ground-ivy , or alehoof , sweetned with sugar-candy , and a quarter of a pint of it taken twice or thrice in a day , helps distempers of the breast and lungs ; and a strong infusion of it in aqua vitae , or brandy , cureth the colick . the decoction of herb robert , and patronichia , or whitlow-grass , with leaves like rue , ( given inwardly every day , 'till the mass of blood , and juices of the body be impregnated with the vertues of the herbs ) cureth the king's-evil . the juice of penny-royal clarified ; and a little sweetned with sugar-candy , and given the quantity of a spoonful , three or four times in a day , cureth all sorts of coughs . cows and goats-milk boiled in an equal quantity of water , ( wherein unslak'd lime hath been quenched , and a little cinamon , and the young bark of the oak bruised and boiled in it , 'till a third part be consumed ) cureth all kinds of fluxes . glauber's sal mirabile , is an excellent lenitive cathartick : it may be safely given to men , women , or children , in all diseases where purging is necessary . the dose is from half a dram to an ounce , dissolved in warm whey , or milk and water . a few drops of rectified oyl of vitriol , mixed with a quarter of a pint of fair water , to a light acidity , a little sweetned with white sugar , and drank every day for some time , killeth worms , and quencheth thirst in fevers . if you mix an ounce of rectified oyl of vitriol , with two ounces of oyl of ben , or pure oyl of olives , stirring it 'till it be well incorporated , you have a good balsam to ease pain , and cure an inflammation in any part , by anointing once in a day or two , you may apply a colwort-leaf , ( or a plaister of diachilon , or a poultis of white-bread and milk , with a little butter in it ) to the grieved part , after anointing ; but you must have a care that it does not touch your linnen . a strong tincture of catechu , or japonian earth , ( with half its weight of jesuits bark , both in fine pouder ) in small cinamon-water , cureth catarrhs , and all sorts of fluxes . take a quarter of a spoonful thrice a day , in any vehicle . sweating is good in most diseases , if strength permits . virginia snake-root , and the root of contra yerva , bruised and boiled in fair water , and sweetned with a little sugar ; and given a quarter of a pint every four hours , to any that are bitten with an enraged viper , soon cureth the patient , especially if you bathe the part bitten with the same decoction , ( without sugar ) so hot as can be endured . gambogia finely poudred , and mixed with an equal quantity of pure niter , and given to half a dram at a time , twice or thrice in a week , soon cureth the yellow-jaundice , and dropsies . the best gum arabick , given at least a dram , twice or thrice in a day , either in pouder , or dissolved in small ale , or any other convenient vehicle , doth wonderfully mitigate the sharpness of urine . a strong decoction of woody nightshade , a little sweetned with sugar , and given to a quarter of a pint every morning , will purge gently , and open all obstructions , and cure the yellow-jaundice , dropsies , &c. the decoction of hearts-ease , sweetned with sugar-candy , cureth the pleurisie , and other inflammations . it is an excellent antivenerian , &c. and therefore it may be a chief ingredient in decoctions to cure the french-pox . a decoction of groundsel is an universal medicine for all diseases coming of heat : it purgeth gently ; and if the stomach be nauseous , it may cause vomiting : it is very safe , and may be given in all distempers , where purging is necessary . the fresh herb , boiled in milk 'till it be tender , and then strained out , and the herb bruised and boiled in the same milk , with crumbs of white-bread , or fine oatmeal , into the consistence of a poultis , and a litle oyl , or hog's-fat put to it , and applied to any inflamation , or swelling , it will soon give ease , and either dissolve the tumor , or bring it to suppuration . native cinnaber , finely powdred and washed , ( from its volatile malignant salt ) often in warm water , and rectified spirit of wine burnt over it two or three times , doth wonders in curing most chronical diseases . the dose is from ten grains to twenty , in any vehicle . missleto dried , and finely poudred with double its weight of white sugar , and a few drops of oyl of amber mixed with it ; half a dram of this pouder given twice or thrice in a day , cureth convulsions , and the epilepsie . crude antimony flux'd ( at least an hour ) with decrepitated sea salt , in a strong fire , and afterwards washed from the salt in warm water , is friendly to nature , and cureth fevers . the dose is from five grains to ten , in any vehicle . the jesuit's bark finely poudred , and given from half a dram to two drams , or more at a time , infused in wine , and drank at the going off of the fit , and afterwards every four hours , is such a specifick for the curing of all intermitting fevers , or agues , that it seldom fails , especially if the patient be well purged before he take it . you must continue the use of it for at least ten days , that the particles of the pouder may be continually conveyed into the bloud , by which the febritick ferment may be destroyed . give the sick a little broth of mutton , or chicken , with a few crumbs of white-bread , ( or any other food easie of digestion ) within half an hour after the taking of each dose , which will mix with the chile , and the bloud will be impregnated with the vertue of it . it also cureth all kinds of fluxes . three or four drops of the juice of ivy , or of asarabacca clarified , and dropt into each ear warm , every other night , ( and the ear gently stopt afterwards with cotton , or wool ) will soon cure deafness ; snuff up the juices into each nostril also , to purge the head. two grains of each of the aforesaid herbs dried , and finely poudred , and snuffed up each nostril , at night going to bed , twice in a week , will purge the head of rheum , and cure an inveterate head-ach , tooth-ach , and inflammation of the eyes , &c. the syrup of the juice of buckthorn-berries , or of wild cucumbers , taken an ounce at a time , with two drams of pure nitre , dissolved in ale or whey , twice or thrice in a week , cureth the dropsie . the pouder of olibanum , or mastick , or equal parts of both , mixed with old conserves of roses , and taken the quantity of a nutmeg , twice or thrice in a day , cureth a catarrh , especially if you blow some of the pouder into the throat every night going to bed , to strengthen the salival glands . lapis haematites , or the bloud-stone , being applied to the bleeding part , will stop the hemorrhage . it is likewise an excellent medicine taken inwardly , being repleted with the primum ens auri ; from which ( being finely poudred ) may be drawn a gold-like tincture , with a strong aqua regis , made of the rectified spirit of nitre , and sal armoniack ; to which you may add four times the quantity of rectified spirit of wine . take twenty drops of it in a glass of ale or wine , two or three times in a day : it cureth most chronical diseases . the true lapis nephriticus , cureth the stone , being prepared and taken after the same manner . ens veneris is good to cure the rickets ; three or four grains of it may be given to a child twice a day , in any vehicle . half a dram of the fine pouder of gum of guiacum , mixed with an equal quantity of factitious cinnaber in fine pouder , given every other morning , ( in a spoonful of milk or whey ) for thirty or forty days , cureth the venereal pox , and most other chronical diseases . oyl of walnuts , or linseed-oyl , ( by expression ) ( either exhibited inwardly , or given in clysters to four ounces at a time ) giveth ease in the stone and collick , &c. a dram of oyl of amber unrectified , ( mixed with an ounce of populion ) cureth the piles . purified honey is a universal balsam : it cureth sore-eyes , being spread on a fine rag , and applied ; mix it with gargarisms for sore mouths , and with injections for hollow ulcers , &c. the gross pouder of mastick is excellent ( to smoke in a pipe ) for a defluxion of rheum on the lungs , &c. saccharum saturni , ( dissolved in water ) mortifies sharp humors in the eyes , and all other inflammations ; it is a great anodine , cures burnings , and scaldings in a short time , stops bleeding , and prevents accidents in amputations , for it resisteth putrefaction . if you give half a dram of it twice a day , in any vehicle , it will soon quench the flame of lust. half an ounce of burnt alum , mixed with two ounces of white-wine-vinegar , cureth an inflammation in any part , being spread on a rag , and applied . sulphur of copper , or vitriol ( called sulphur of venus ) is an incomparable anodine , far exceeding any opiate . roman vitriol calcin'd to redness , stoppeth all fluxes of blood in a moment , and cures wounds by the first intention . you may dissolve half a dram of it in three or four spoonfuls of warm water , and dip a pledget of lint in it , and apply it to the wound , keeping the lips of it close : but if the wound be deep , it must be injected with a syringe . any other vitriol is of the same virtue ; but not so potent . half an ounce of quicksilver , mixed with an ounce of pomatum , ( spread on a long linnen rag , two inches broad , and covered with another linnen rag for a girdle ) worn for some time , cureth the itch. but you must purge once or twice in a week , to prevent salivation . the small bone in a black snail's-head , used as an amulet , to hang about the neck ; and rings made of an elk's-hoof , or of the teeth of a true sea-horse , and worn continually , are all of the same virtue , and cureth the cramp . the hand of a dead man or woman , being laid upon a scrophulous tumor , and there kept 'till the patient do feel the coldness of it penetrate to the innermost parts of the swelling , it will dispel and cure it by often doing . it likewise cureth a dropsie of the belly . the roots of contra yerva , or counterpaison , virginia snake-root , and zedoary , all , or either of them , is good against the plague , and all contagious fevers , any way used . here followeth some receipts of choice medicines , which i use in my own practice . pulvis balsamicus noster , our balsamick pouder . take of sarsaparilla grosly poudred four ounces ; let it be infused in two quarts of rectified spirit of wine , for two or three days , then press it out very hard , and add the same quantity of sarsaparilla as before ; do this for eight or ten times , the ostner the better ; add to the spirit , of the best gum of guiacum , in fine pouder half a pound ; the balsam of peru and tolu , of each two cunces , mix them all together in a glass resort , lute a receiver to it , and digest it for ten days , then draw off all the spirit with a gentle heat in balneo mariae when it is cold , break the retort , and take out the pouder , and keep it for use . it is an efficacious medicine against the rheumatism , gout , venereal pox , and all chronical diseases . the dose is half a dram in a spoonful of whey or milk , or any other vehicle , every morning fasting ; or mix it with an equal quantity of factitious cinnaber in fine pouder , and give it every morning and evening for some time . electuarium antiscorbuticum nostrum , our electuary against the scurvy , &c. take of the berries of bays , ivy and juniper , of each four ounces ; the seeds of dwarf-elder , burdock , ash , broom , peony , gromwel , the bark of elder , of each two ounces . let them be all bruised , and boiled in the juices of elder-berries , and wild cucumbers , of each one pound ; the juice of buckthorn-berries , four pound , 'till half of it be boiled away ; then press it out very hard , and boil it to the consistence of a pulp ; to every pound of it , add an equal quantity of white sugar , and boil it again , 'till it be almost as thick as an electuary ; then dissolve in it ( whilst it is very hot ) the same weight of pure nitre , as there is of sugar . to every pound of the electuary , add four ounces of balm of gilead , two ounces of our balsamick pouder before mention'd , one ounce of factitious cinnaber , in fine pouder ; and two drams of oyl of juniper ; mix all together , according to art. it is an excellent cathartick in all diseases which requires purging , for it potently evacuates all vitious humours promiscuously out of the body ; it cureth the king's-evil , rheumatism , gout , dropsie , scurvy , dry belly-ach , and all curable diseases . the dose is from two drams to an ounce . it may be given in the form of a bolus , or dissolved in ale , whey , or any other liquid vehicle , and taken in the morning fasting . sal chalybis noster , our salt of steel , or iron . take the finest filings of iron , or steel , rectified oyl of vitriol , of each one pound , mix them together in a large earthen-pan , well glazed ; let it stand for two or three hours , then pour into it two or three quarts of fair water , and it will presently effervesce , and the salt will stick about the pan ; take it out , and keep it for use . tinctura chalybis , the tincture of iron , or steel . take the finest filings of iron , or steel , four ounces ; rectified spirit of nitre half a pound ; mix them together in an earthen-pan , well glazed , when the effervescency is over , let it cool , and add to it spirit of wine rectified , five pound , mix it well together , then filter it through brown paper , and keep it for use . both of these medicines are great aperitives , opens all obstructions , cures the rickets , green-sickness , stoppage of the terms , yellow-jaundice , &c. they strengthen the stomach , kills worms , and purifies the whole mass of blood. you may give from half a scruple , to half a dram of the salt , in any vehicle , every morning . the tincture may be taken from ten to forty drops at a time , in beer , ale , or wine . aqua styptica nostra , our stiptick water . take of pure white vitriol , roch-alum , of each four ounces , let them be poudred , and calcined in a crucible , 'till it be red-hot , then quench it with wine-vinegar , and calcine it again . take it out of the crucible , and dissolve it in a gallon of spring-water ; add to it two ounces of saccharum saturni ; then strain it , and keep it for use . it cures the itch , and all other eruptions , the grieved parts being wash'd with it three or four times in a day . it likewise cureth hollow ulcers , and fistula's , the gonorrhaea in men , and the whites in women . you may inject it with a syringe warm , twice in a day . an index of the chapters , comprehending all the diseases of this book . the contents of the first book . chap. page i. of the head-ach . 1 ii. of the palsie , and apoplexy . 13 iii. of convulsions , and the epilepsie . 22 iv. of the night-mare , and vertigo . 35 v. of the lethargy , coma , carus , and catalepsie , or catochus . 38 vi. of the phrensie , and madness 44 vii . of catarrhs . 55 the contents of the second book . chap. page i. of shortness of breathing . 69 ii. of the pleurisie , and other instammations . 72 iii. of the consumption , or phtisick and hectick-fever . 83 iv. of the palpitation of the heart . 92 v. of an universal languishing , as also of swouning , and syncope . 96 vi. of fevers in general . 103 vii . of intermitting fevers . 116 viii . of malignant fevers , and the calenture . 124 ix . of the plague , or pestilence . 129 x. of the small-pox , and measles . 136 the contents of the third book . chap. page i. of the thirsty disease . 141 ii. of hunger vitiated , or of a depraved appetite . 144 iii. of want of appetite , or loathing of victuals . 148 iv. of the hiccet , or hiccough . 152 v. of belching . 156 vi. of vomiting , and of the cholerick , and iliack passion . 158 vii . of pain in the stomach , and of various pains of the guts , as colick , &c. 168 viii . of worms . 179 ix . of loosenesses , or fluxes of the belly . 185 x. of the dry belly-ach . 196 xi . of the yellow-iaundice . 202 xii . of a cachexy , or ill habit of body . 207 xiii . of dropsies . 211 xiv . of the scurvy , and hypochondriack suffocation , commonly called fits of the mother . 222 xv. of the green-sickness , and suppression of the courses . 231 xvi . of the immoderate menstrual flux , and the whites in women . 237 xvii . of the falling down of the womb , and fundament . 242 xviii . of barrenness . 245 xix . of abortion , or miscarriage . 249 xx. of hard travel in child-birth . 252 xxi . of nephritick pains , and of the stone in the reins and bladder . 257 xxii . of extraordinary pissing . 269 xxiii . of involuntary pissing , commonly called pissing in bed. 272 xxiv . of the stoppage of urine , and the strangury . 274 xxv . of the scalding or sharpness of urine . 277 xxvi . of venereal affects . 279 xxvii . of the rachites , or rickets . 288 xxviii . of the gout and rheumatism . 303 praxis medicinae reformata : or , the practice of physick reformed . being an epitome of the whole art : wherein is briefly shewed , the true causes , signs , prognosticks , and cure , of most diseases . book i. chap. i. of the head-ach . the head-ach may be divided into three kinds . the first is the momentany head-ach , it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , caput , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , dolor . the second is an inveterate head-ach , and is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , quod tegit calvarium . the third is a pain on one part of the head , before , behind , or on one side ; this is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cranium , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , dimidium . there is little difference between cephalaea and cephalalgia ; only per cephalaeam affectae partes multo redduntur quam in cephalalgia debiliores . these distempers are caused by halituous vapours , and humours , fuming up ( from the stomach and other parts ) to the head. 1. if the pain be external , so that the combing of the head be troublesome , then the pericranium is affected : but if the pain be internal , reaching to the eye-roots , then the dura mater is invaded with the peccant humours . 2. if there be pricking , distending pain with great pulsation , it is from sharp bilious humours , or halitus ; but if the pain be heavy , it is caused from viscous phlegm or melancholy . 1. if a violent head-ach come suddenly on a healthy person , and the party become dumb , and snort , 't is a mortal sign , unless a great fever do immediately happen . 2. if corrupt waterish matter or bloud do issue out of the nostrils , mouth , ears or eyes , ( especially on the fourth day ) the sick will suddenly recover ; but if the pain be very violent , and do suddenly vanish without a crisis , 't is doubtfull . 3. if the pain be without a fever , accompanied with noise in the ears , deafness , or megrim , with numbness of the extreme parts , an apoplexy or epilepsy , is at hand . 4. those that have cholerick stomachs , are most subject to a hemicrania ; and if it continue long , it causeth weakness of the eyes , and sometimes blindness . if the head-ach proceed from phlegmatick viscous humours abounding , first give this clyster . take of vervain , betony , mallows , mercury of each one handfull : let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in a quart of posset-drink , 'till half of it be boiled away , then strain it and dissolve in it one ounce of the electuary caryocostinum , oil of chamomel two ounces ; mix it for a clyster . sour things , and all that have a lixivial salt , either fixt , or volatile , and all aromaticks do correct and amend the viscous phlegmatick humours . let these forms serve for example . take the waters of baum , and mint , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water , and aqua coelestis , of each half an ounce ; syrup of fennel , and mint , of each six drachms ; spirit of salt , as much as will make it of a gratefull taste , mix it , and give three spoonfulls of it often . take salt of tartar vitriolated half a drachm ; cream of tartar one drachm ; white sugar-candy two drachms ; make it into a fine powder for four doses , which may be taken every morning and evening in white or rhenish wine . for the rich you may prepare a medicinal wine . this may serve for example . take the roots of elicampane , calamus aromaticus , of each one ounce ; of rue , sage , vervain , sweet marjoram , of each three handfulls ; anise-seed , sweet fennel-seed , of each an ounce and half ; orange-peel half an ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused in two quarts of white-wine . it may be given to three or four ounces in the morning fasting , with twenty drops of elixir proprietatis , you may also give it by it self , at dinner and supper . when the wine is used , fresh wine may be put to the ingredients , for a second infusion . but farther to correct , and gently evacuate the viscous phlegmatick humours . this opening apozeme is effectual . take of the five opening roots of each two ounces , liquorish an ounce and half ; guiacum half a pound , anise-seed , sweet fennel-seed , the berries of bays , and juniper , of each half an ounce ; vervain , betony , of each one handfull ; let them be cleansed , bruised , and infused in two quarts of rain-water very hot , for twenty four hours ; then strain it out very strongly , and add the best manna , syrup of roses solutive with senna , of each four ounces ; tincture of cinamon three ounces ; salt of tartar vitriolated half an ounce ; mix it , and give three ounces every morning fasting . if there be need of stronger physick you may administer these purging pills . take of extract . rudii , pil . foetidoe , cochioe , of each half a drachm ; mercurius dulcis twenty grains ; mix it for three doses . if the pain be old and stubborn , apply vesiccatories to the neck , also leeches to the temples , and haemorrhoids ; or open the jugular , or frontal vein , which hath often prov'd effectual . errhines , sternutatories and apophlegmatisms may also be used , and ventoses with scarification if need require . baths of sulphur ( whether natural or artificial with cephalick herbs ) are good to bathe the head and whole body . some approve of the fume of amber , taken into the mouth and nostrils . also spirit of cranium humanum , or spirit of salt armoniack , held to the nose in a narrow-mouth'd vial , giveth present ease in all cold pains of the head. also you may touch the nostrils and temples with oil of amber , or nutmegs , or apply this epitheme to the temples and forehead with linnen-rags . take the waters of vervain and betony , of each one ounce ; vineger of roses , ointment of alabaster , of each half an ounce ; laudanum opiatum one scruple ; mix it . cold distempers of the head , may also be corrected by hot cephalicks quilted in a cap for the head. take of sweet marjoram , stoechas , vervain , betony , sage , flowers of chamomel , of each one handfull ; nutmegs , cloves , wood of alloes , the roots of galangal , cyperus , calamus aromat . of each half an ounce ; let them be all beaten into powder for a quilted cap. before you put it on , let the hair be shaved close , and the head gently rub'd for some time , the better to open the pores . let the sick abstain from fat and viscous food , and let the mind be compos'd to chearfulness . if the juice of the pancreas abounding in the body , be over sour , it causeth a vitious effervescency , being oppos'd by choler and phlegm in the small guts ; from whence sour and ungratefull vapours may be sent to the stomach , and thence to the head. if the humours be over sour , the sense of hunger will be encreased , notwithstanding the pain of the head. this distemper is to be cur'd by giving those things which temper , and amend the acid juice in the body , and do prevent its encrease . those things abounding with either a lixivial or volatile salt , do powerfully destroy this acid juice ; as pearl , crabs-eyes , coral , chalk , amber , bloud-stone , filings of steel , &c. take this as a form of a powder . take of crabs-eyes , pearl , red coral prepar'd , of each half a drachm ; white sugar half an ounce ; let it be made into fine powder for six doses ; which may be taken morning and evening in two or three spoonfulls of the following cordial julep . take waters of baum and mint , of each three ounces ; scurvigrass-water two ounces ; cinamon-water , syrup of worm-wood , of each one ounce and half ; oil of juniper one drachm ; mix them together for a julep , of which you may also give two or three spoonfulls every fourth hour . i prescribe no purgers in this distemper , because i am taught by large experience , that the sour humours in the body may be stirr'd up indeed , but not purg'd , unless with very great gripes , which will doe more hurt , ●●an good . the encre●●e of the acid juice , may be pr●●●nted by abstaining from the use of ac●●● ▪ let the patient's diet be moist , and fatty , as fat broths , jellies aromatiz'd , &c. when the head-ach proceedeth from a hot cause , if the patient be costive , first give this clyster . take of mercury , violets , lettice , mallows , dandelion , of each one handfull ; damask prunes twenty ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two pints of fountain-water , till half of it be boiled away ; then strain it , and add electuary lenitive , one ounce and half ; oil of lillies two ounces ; mix them for a clyster . after its operation , you may open a vein and draw eight or nine ounces of bloud . some authours will not consent to phlebotomy in any head-ach , except the pain be intollerable ; but i have had sufficient experience , that it may be done safely in any pain of the head. elixir proprietatis , taken in wormwood-wine , to the quantity of half a drachm at a time , a little before meat , doth wonderfully conduce to amend the vitious quality of choler . choler may be evacuated by vomit , most commodiously by antimonial preparations . take of the infusion of crocus metallorum one ounce ; oximel of squills half an ounce . give it in the morning . but if the patient be averse to vomiting , the choler may be evacuated by stool , by this or the like cathartick . take of baum-water one ounce , cinamon-water two drachms , syrup of roses solutive , the best manna , of each half an ounce ; powder of cream of tartar twenty grains , diagredium ten grains ; mix it for a potion , which may be given in the morning fasting . also these most gratefull tablets of scammony may be prepared , and kept for use . take cristals of tartar two ounces ; scammony one ounce ; white sugar four ounces ; with gum dragon dissolv'd in rose-water as much as is sufficient ; let it be made into troches according to art. half a drachm of these troches may be given to a child with carefull governing ; a man or woman may take two drachms of them . they who are fearfull of scammoniats , though safe and potent , let them take the following infusion . take of choice rhubarb two drachms ; cream of tartar one drachm ; infuse them in four ounces of endive-water for a night ; then strain it and add syrup of roses solutive , syrup of cicory with rhubarb , of each half an ounce , cinamon-water two drachms ; give it in the morning fasting : this electuary is also an excellent cholagogue . take the pulp of damask-prunes ten ounces ; powder of scammony , cream of tartar , of each two ounces , rhubarb ten drachms , cinamon half an ounce ; yellow sanders two drachms ; the best manna , syrup of cicory with rhubarb , of each eight ounces ; mix all together into an electuary according to art. the dose is from two drachms , to half an ounce , taken either in a bolus , or dissolved in a sufficient quantity of endive-water , or any other convenient vehicle . these excellent medicines do not onely purge choler abounding , but purify the bloud and other humours ; and here we may note , that if a purging medicine do not operate according to expectation , it may safely be repeated the same day without any danger . if the head-ach be accompanied with a great fever , and thirst be augmented ; the following medicines will much conduce to asswage it . take of barley-water two pints ; cinamon-water two ounces ; syrup of violets four ounces ; salt prunella half an ounce ; mix it , and give the sick three or four spoonfulls of it often . this tincture is also very effectual take of barley-water two pints ; red-rose-buds one ounce ; spirit of vitriol twenty drops , or as much as is sufficient to make it of a good tincture , let it infuse all night , then strain it , and add syrup of jujubes four ounces ; mix it , and give three or four spoonfulls every three hours . if an emulsion may please better , take this following form . take of sweet almonds one ounce ; the four greater cold-seeds of each half an ounce ; white poppy-seeds two ounces ; let the almonds be blanched , and all well beaten in a stone mortar ; then with four pints of barley-water , make an emulsion ; strain it , and add syrup of the juice of limmons , diacodium , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water two ounces ; of which let the sick drink often , four spoonfulls at a time . you may also have a little fine sugar , and salt prunella equally mixt , which may be kept in the mouth , to deceive the thirst. but where rest is hindred by the choler abounding , and cannot be obtain'd by the emulsion , which gently procureth sleep ; you may dissolve two grains of laudanum opiat . in two or three spoonfulls of it , and give it at night ; or you may order this or the like julep . take the waters of lettice , water-lillies of each two ounces ; syrup of red poppies one ounce ; cinamon-water half an ounce ; laudanum opiatum four grains ; oil of vitriol six drops ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls of it to cause sleep . this epitheme may be applied to the temples , and fore-head with linnen-rags . take the oils of violets , and water-lillies of each half an ounce ; the waters of red roses , lettice , and houseleek , of each two ounces ; vineger of roses half an ounce ; mix it . you may also anoint the temples and fore-head with this ointment . take the ointment of alabaster , populion , oil of mandrakes , of each half an ounce ; mix it . let the patient's diet be mutton or veal-broth without salt . when a salt catarrh , or the like spittle is the cause of thirst augmented , you may administer a pill of styrax , or cynoglosson , which will temperate the saltness of the humours ; and if salt serous matter abound in the bloud , you may purge it by stool and urine , for which there are variety of medicines prescrib'd in the chapter of catarrhs . chap. ii. of the palsie , and apoplexy . the palsie is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , quod a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. a solvendo , eo quod nervorum genus resolutum , facultate animi defluere prohibita sensu motuque destituatur . it may be also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. dimidia apoplexia . in latin it is called nervorum resolutio vel relaxatio . it is a privation of sense and motion of one side of the body , or of some particular part . the apoplexy is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , percutior , attonitum reddo . in latin 't is called stupor corporis , it being an abolition of sense and motion through the whole body . the parts affected are the brain , spinalis medulla and nerves ; the motion of the animal spirits through them being deprav'd . the causes are either external , or internal . the external is much cold and moisture , which doth chill and over moisten the head , and extreme parts ; and this seems to prove that phlegmatick and watry humours abiding about the ventricles of the brain , and nerves , may over moisten , and perhaps so far loosen the tunicles or membranes of them , that it may render them unfit to let the animal spirits pass through them ; hence it is that sometimes one particular member hath been paralytick by too much cold and moisture ; and sometimes more parts have more or less lost sense and motion . it is the opinion of most eminent physicians both ancient and modern ; that the animal spirits being severed from the bloud in the brain , &c. are from thence carried through all the nerves to exercise the external senses and animal motion ; which is continual and equal in healthy persons , but changeable and unequal , according to the divers diseases of the body or mind . wherefore when no animal spirits are carried to the organs of the external senses , or animal motion ; the functions of seeing , smelling , tasting , hearing and touching : and the sense of heat , as also of motion in the palsie and apoplexy , cease all that time . the signs of the palsie are manifest ; to wit , deprivation of sense and motion of the paralytick parts ; the eye , and half the tongue , ( viz. of that side affected ) is much weakned , and deprav'd . the signs of the apoplexy approaching are these , a sudden crying out for help , with an abolition of sense and motion . 1. if the palsie , or apoplexy do invade the sick in the decrease of the moon , and the patient be old , 't is an ill sign . 2. if the sick do snort , and is droughty , and cast spume or froth out of the mouth , and have great sweat with difficult breathing , 't is mortal . but if the person be young , and a strong fever immediately happen , 't is a good sign ; for the fever consumes the superfluous moisture , and makes a dissipation of the gross and phlegmatick matter . 3. a palsie coming after the apoplexy is ill , and many times turns to the apoplexy again . when any of the extreme parts be paralytical , or when the head is ill affected by the external coldness of air , water or snow ; or a stoppage of the head be also bred thereby , or the defect of the animal spirits chiefly urge ; then the sick may be cur'd by driving out whatsoever cold has pierc'd into the head , or any other parts of the body , which may be done by spirituous and volatile sudorificks ; for they do not onely alter and correct the cause of cold , and other evils accompanying it , but do also amend the harm entring into the body , containing , and contained . to this end i commend this following form. take of treacle-water one ounce ; fennel-water , and epidemical-water , of each two ounces ; syrup of red poppies , and syrup of the juice of scurvigrass , of each half an ounce ; bezoar-mineral , antimony diaphoretick , of each ten grains ; laudanum opiat . three grains ; spirit of salt armoniack twenty drops ; oil of cloves four drops ; mix it , give the sick three or four spoonfulls of it , and expect to sweat , being meanly covered ; and a spoonfull every half hour afterward , till the sweat break forth ; then give them some pure broth , with a little wine in it , whereby strength may be recreated , and the patient enabled to bear a sweat longer ; for nothing so much helps the sick as a sweat continued mildly a while , which experience hath often taught me . for by the help of this spirituous , and volatile , and also aromatick medicine , or one like it , the troublesome cold , and dulness of motion are discust . they who let bloud in this distemper caused by external cold ; or think they can carry out the cause of this evil either by vomit or siege , put the sick into danger of death , or at least of most grievous evils . but when phlegmatick and watry humours stick about the nerves , &c. and too much moistening and loosening their membranes and marrow , be the cause of the palsie and apoplexy , and if the same humours much abound in the body ; then phlegmagogues , and hydragogues may conduce to the cure , after clysters , and internal aromatick sudorificks . wherefore to begin the cure of this ; you may first give this or the like clyster , which must be made strong . take of sweet marjoram , betony , sage , penny-royal , hyssop , rue , mercury , marsh-mallows , the lesser centaury , the flowers of chamomel , and stoechas , of each half a handfull ; anise-seed , sweet fennel-seed , juniper-berries , of each half an ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in a quart of fountain-water , till half of it be boiled away ; then strain it , and dissolve in it the electuary diaphoenicon , benedicta laxativa , of each half an ounce ; pil . cochioe twenty grains ; common salt one drachm ; oil of rue two ounces ; mix it for a clyster . the next day ( if the sick have a plethorick body ) you may draw bloud from either arm , to eight or nine ounces . if phlebotomy cannot be done , apply ventoses with scarification to the shoulders ; afterward sweat the patient with the aforesaid sudorifick . sometimes suppositories may be used in stead of clysters . this may serve for example . take the powders of coloquintida , salt-niter , hiera-picra simple , of each one drachm ; euphorbium half a drachm , honey boiled as much as will make it into a suppository . but if it appear that phlegmatick and viscous humours do abound in the body , purgers may be prescrib'd most conveniently in the form of a pill , because the gums are most apt ( above all other medicines ) to loosen and cut viscous phlegm ; neither can they be easily dissolv'd in any liquour . let this , or such a like form of pills serve . take the gums amoniacum , and galbanum , of each two drachms ; dissolve them in vineger of squills , strain it , and boil it , to a due consistence ; then add powders of troches , alhandal , scammony , mastick , of each one drachm ; oil of anise-seed eight drops ; make it into a mass of pills according to art. let the sick take five or six small pills of this in the morning fasting , and an hour after drink some thin broth . if the humours be more serous , i commend this electuary . take juniper-berries one pound ; boil them in six pints of fennel-water , till half of it be boiled away ; then add the fruit of tamarind eight ounces , and pulp them both through a sieve : to which add powder of jalap , and scammony prepar'd , of each three ounces ; cinamon , sweet fennel-seed , of each half an ounce ; white sugar one pound , make it into an electuary according to art. the dose of this effectual medicine , is to half an ounce , to people of age ; a child may take from half a drachm , to a drachm , either by it self , or dissolv'd in whey , or parsley-water , or in any other convenient vehicle . after universal evacuation hath been made , and the patient's stomach be still nauseous , this vomit may safely be given . take the infusion of crocus metallor . vinegar of squills of each one ounce , give it in the morning with care : after the operation of it , give some of this cordial julep . take the waters of sage , couslips , lillies of the valley , of each two ounces ; cinamon-water one ounce ; syrup of peony-flowers , stoechas , of each six drachms ; spirit of castor two drachms ; spirit of salt as much as will make it of a gratefull taste , of which you may give the sick three or four spoonfulls every fourth hour . to correct a slow ferment , and also to amend phlegmatick viscous humours , a medicinal wine may be prepared for the rich , in this form . take the roots of galangal , elecampane , of each half an ounce ; the tops of wormwood , mint and calamint , of each one handfull ; powder of cinamon , anise-seed , of each half an ounce ; nutmegs two drachms ; let them be cleansed , bruised and insused in six pints of white-wine . the sick may drink of this physick-wine at dinner and supper , adding to every draught , five or six drops of elixir proprietatis . when the wine is almost consum'd , more may be poured on , till it cease to be aromatical . external means for the palsie , and apoplexy are also to be used . bathing is much commended , both natural and artificial ; and how excellent it is daily experience doth manifest . this artificial bath , or one like it , may be prescrib'd , where a natural sulphureous or nitrous bath cannot be had . take sage , penny-royal , betony , organ , sweet marjoram , hyssop , rue , time , ground-pine , of each six handfulls ; flowers of chamomel , melilot , of each four handfulls ; roots of briony , pellitory , of spain , of each four ounces ; bay-berries , juniper-berries of each three ounces ; brimstone six pound ; salt-niter two pound ; let all be bruised and boiled in twenty gallons of spring-water , till the third part be consumed . let the sick be well bathed with this as often as strength will permit . after bathing , anoint the hinder part of the head and neck , and down the vertebra of the back with this oil ; upon which let a fox-skin drest be worn . take chymical-oils , of juniper-berries , turpentine , spike , of each half an ounce ; oils of chamomel , earth-worms , rue , foxes , of each one ounce ; spirit of castor two drachms ; mix it . this plaister may be applyed to the head. take galbanum , opopanax , of each half an ounce ; mustard-seed , white pepper , euphorbium , castor , of each two drachms ; chymical oil of sage and rue , of each twenty drops ; oil of spike and turpentine , of each a drachm ; make it into a plaister which you may spread on leather , and apply it warm to the head. or you may make the quilted cap as is prescrib'd in page 6. to wear constantly ; oil of nutmegs is good to embrocate the ears and nostrils ; also errhines , sternutatories , and apophlegmatisms may be used with good success . take castor , sweet marjoram , betony , root of white hellebor , of each a drachm ; beat them all into a fine powder . blow up some of this powder ( with a quill ) into the nostrils , to cause sneezing . let the patient's diet be such as may not breed phlegm , and let it be thin and spare , as water-gruel , in which boil some mace ; or you may make broth of mutton , &c. in which boil sage , rosemary , time , sweet marjoram , couslips , &c. of this broth you may make panado's with the crums of white bread , and the yelk of an egg. let anise-seed , or sweet fennel-seed be baked with the bread . abstain from all clammy diet , as fish and milk , &c. and eat little or no supper . chap. iii. of convulsions , and the epilepsie . the cramp or convulsion is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in latin convulsio . it is a very painfull , involuntary contraction of the nerves and muscles towards their original . there are generally two sorts of convulsions . viz. a true convulsion , and a convulsive motion . a true convulsion is either universal or particular . of the universal there are three kinds . the first is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in latin tentio ad anteriora ; when the body and head is drawn forward . the second is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin tentio ad posteriora when the head and body is drawn backward the third is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek , and distentio in latin , in this the whole body is inflexible . the particular convulsions are various . if it be in the eye , it is called strabismus . that of the mouth , is call tortura oris , &c. the falling-sickness or epilepsie , is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , invado , quod sensum atque mentem pariter apprehendat . it is called also in latin epilepsia vel invasio ; item morbus hominem ita invadens , ut retineat & sistat sensuum actiones , because the mind and senses in this disease are suddenly surprized . it may be called morbus caducus , a cadendo , or morbus puerilis because it is most subject to children ; or more properly noverca puerorum , quod eos male tractat . it is also called herculeus , & elephantiasis a magnitudine , because it is difficult to cure . some call it morbus lunaticus , because the sick are most subject to the fits at the change of the moon ; but enough of the names . the epilepsie is an universal cramp or convulsion of the whole body , with deprivation of sense and motion in the time of the fit . the parts affected are not onely the brain , cerebellum and spinalis medulla , but all the nerves and museles . the causes are either external or internal . the external , may be by the biting of some venemous creature ; or by a wound or puncture of a nerve or tendon . sometimes it may be caused by surfeiting or drunkenness ; and also by the taking of hellebor , &c. it may be also caused by a mineral gas fuming from the mines of lead , or antimony , &c. which infecteth the air with noxious metalline exhalations of a venemous malignity ; which is many times the cause of convulsions , as they can tell by experience , that live near those mines . the internal causes are acrimonious and flatuous vapours , rising from the small guts , because of over viscous phlegm , and the over acidity and tartness of the juice of the pancreas , which causeth a vitious effervescency of the humours , by which the lympha is also rendred very sharp . these sour flatuous vapours continually ascending to the head , together with the spirituous substance of the bloud , and going forward into the ventricles of the brain , and cerebellum , and so to the first spreading of the nerves ; and corroding them , causeth an inordinate agitation , and very fierce motion of the animal spirits ; and by a continual and grievous irritation , urging about the beginning of the spinalis medulla , is the cause of an universal convulsion , or epileptick-fit , in which all the muscles of the body are most vehemently contracted . the irritation in a particular convulsive motion or the cramp , which may be oft observ'd in the thigh or leg , and other extreme parts , may be also ascrib'd to the same sharp and sour flatuous vapours , carried to the beginning of the nerves and tendons of the said members , fretting and gnawing them sometimes with great pain . the signs of convulsions are manifest . the preceding signs of the epilepsie , are trembling , sadness , fearfulness , vertigo , numness , debility of the senses , troublesome sleep , with great pain of the head. the signs of the epilepsie presently approaching , are a vehement shaking of the whole body , foming at the mouth , and a sudden deprivation of all the animal functions . 1. a convulsion or epilepsie , being hereditary , is incurable . 2. if a pregnant woman be taken with either of them , it is very dangerous ; and also after abortion . 3. children are most subject to these diseases , because they abound with abundance of moisture , and flatulent vapours in the brain ; and because they have nervorum poros angustos , whereby the brain is easily filled with such vapours ; and therefore we see that children are often troubled with them , young people more rarely , and old folks but seldom ; and we find that children better suffer them than either of the other , who frequently die of these fits , especially of the epilepsie , when in their falling there follows snorting , gnashing of the teeth , a ghastly countenance , much some at the mouth , involuntaria seminis effusio , and great cryings out . 4. of all the kind of convulsions , tetanos is the most difficult to cure ; because it is ( as it were ) composed of the other two kinds ; but if a fever happen in this or any other convulsion , the sick will suddenly recover , because a fever dissolveth it ; but if a convulsion should succeed a fever , it is very dangerous , especially from a wound , or proceeding from venemous matter . so likewise it is very dangerous if it be caused by taking of hellebor . when a particular convulsion is caused from a prick of a nerve or tendon ; as it may happen sometimes by the unskilfulness , or precipitancy of the chyrurgeon in opening a vein , then most speedily pour into the wound or puncture , the oil of turpentine , with rectifi'd spirit of wine , both actually hot ; as that famous chyrurgeon mr. ambrose parey adviseth in his ninth book , chap. 11. of which i have had large experience with good success . the like course may be taken with all other wounds of the nervous parts . but if the wound of the nerve or tendon yield not to this medicine , the same is to be cut asunder cross-ways , seeing it is safer to lose the action of one part , than that the sick should be exposed to the danger of a deadly convulsion . when the nerves or tendons of the muscles are prickt by sharp splinters of bones , the grievous pains succeeding , soon cause a particular convulsion of that part , and at length an universal convulsion will attend the patient , if there be not speedy help . wherefore if possible , the sharp fragments of the bone must be cut away ; or if this have been neglected , or could not be done , and an universal convulsion be feared , you must hasten to amputation of the member ; for , necessitas non habet legem . if a particular convulsion be occasion'd by a hot tumour or any other sharp pain , which hath rais'd an inflammation ; let the pain be diminisht as well by internal , as external anodines and narcoticks , to allay the over encreas'd motion of the animal spirits . to this end you may give the sick two or three grains of laudanum opiat . at a time , either in a pill , or dissolve it in a little wine or other convenient vehicle . and if the ingenious and judicious physician , or chyrurgeon , do add a little volatile salt , either of animals or vegetables , to his topical medicaments , whether fomentations , cataplasms , or ointments , he will wonder at the incredible benefit ; for by the help thereof the tumour will be mollified and dissolved , the internal obstruction loosned , and the pain eased . if a convulsion be caused by the taking of hellebor , or any other venemous matter ; administer an antimonial vomit with all speed . but if it be a child , give it ten grains of salt of vitriol , or half an ounce of oxymel of squills , with a drachm of oil of almonds . after the operation of the emetick , ( and also at other times ) you may give some of this julep . take of black-cherry-water , the water of line-flowers of each two ounces ; briony-water compound , syrup of peony , of each one ounce ; tincture of castor half an ounce ; confection of alkermes one drachm , spirit of salt armoniack twenty drops ; mix it , and give three or four spoonfulls every fourth hour . having briefly hinted at the cure of particular convulsions ; i come now to those more universal , as likewise convulsive motions , and the epilepsie . and seeing there is little difference , in the remote causes of them in the body ; these diseases may ( for the most part ) be cured with the same remedies . 1. first then the peccant humours are to be temper'd , and diminisht . 2. the rising of vapours is to be hindred , and their expulsion procur'd by sweat , or insensible transpiration : by which the over motion of the animal spirits will be restrain'd and brought to tranquillity , that is a more quiet motion . all aromaticks , and all things abounding with either a fixt or volatile salt , do not onely correct , and by cutting amend the viscous phlegmatick humours ; but do powerfully temper and destroy the over acidity and tartness of the juice of the pancreas . to temper and diminish these humours , i commend these medicines . take the roots of male-peony , valerian , missletoe of the oak , and peony-seeds , of each two ounces ; castor half an ounce ; let them be all bruised , and infus'd in peony-water compound , the water of line-tree-flowers , of each one pint , for the space of twenty four hours ; then strain it out very strongly , and add syrup of peony and stoechas , of each three ounces ; spirit of castor half an ounce ; mix it , and give three spoonfulls at a time every fourth hour , with which you may mix spirit of salt armoniack , elixir proprietatis , of each six drops . also you may give the patient half a drachm of the following powder in three or four spoonfulls of this infusion , with the aforesaid spirit and elixir . take of crabs-eyes , salt of tartar vitriolated , salt prunella , of each half an ounce ; volatile salt of harts-horn , salt of amber , of man's skull prepar'd , of each two drachms ; make it into a fine powder , which may be taken half a drachm at a time , morning and evening . the peccant humours being temper'd and diminisht , by the frequent use of the abovesaid medicines ; the inordinate , involuntary and impetuous motion of the animal spirits , ( in convulsive and epileptick fits ) will be the better reduc'd to a calm and voluntary motion , by the help of volatile and spirituous sudorificks , mixt with anodines , and narcotick medicines us'd in a small quantity , and at times ; which two will be expedient to be given together , because then they will the better circulate to the animal spirits , and temper and educe the hurtfull flatuous vapours . for which i commend the following form . take of treacle-water , fennel-water , of each one ounce ; syrup of peony , syrup of the juice of scurvigrass , of each half an ounce ; antimony diaphoretick , bezoar mineral , crabs-eyes in powder , of each ten grains ; laudanum opiat . four grains ; tincture of castor one drachm ; oil of cloves three drops ; spirit of salt armoniack ten drops ; mix it , and let the sick take it , being well cover'd with cloths , whereby the sweat will the easier come forth . if the body be costive , let it be made soluble by a clyster , or suppository ; such as is prescrib'd in the cure of the apoplexy . as often as the stomach is naufeous , or the sick inclines to vomiting ; let the emeticks before mention'd be carefully administred ; and likewise three or four days before the full of the moon . but if the sick be averse to vomiting , and pills or potions are more acceptable , take the following as examples . take of extract . rudij , pil . foetidoe ex duobus , of each a drachm and half ; castor , black hellebor prepar'd , of each half a drachm ; salt of amber twenty grains ; oil of rosemary twenty drops , with syrup of stoechas ; make it into a mass for pills ; of which you may give half a drachm twice a week . also this purging infusion is very effectual . take of the best senna , rhubarb , and cream of tartar , of each an ounce and half ; liquorish , and the five opening roots , of each one ounce ; guiacum , china-roots , of each six ounces ; missletoe of the oak , anise-seed , sweet fennel-seed , bay-berries , and juniper-berries , of each half an ounce ; let them be all bruised , and infused in black-cherry-water , and the water of line-tree-flowers , of each a quart , very hot for the space of a night ; then strain it very hard , and add syrup of roses solutive with senna , syrup of succory with rhubarb , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water two ounces ; salt of tartar vitriolated half an ounce ; mix it . let the sick take four ounces of this purging infusion every morning , whereby the viscous humours and flatuous vapours may be both corrected , and also evacuated gently by degrees . if bloud abound , let a vein be opened ; in women open the saphoena in either foot , but in men you may apply leeches to the hemorrhoidal veins . &c. bathing hath been often us'd ( with good success ) in these diseases . a natural sulphureous bath , such as is in the city of bath , is excellent ; but when it is not to be had , an artificial bath may serve . that which is set down in the cure of the palsie and apoplexy , is of excellent virtue , and very effectual in these distempers . after bathing , let the spina dorsi , and other affected parts be anointed with the following ointment . take the oils of euphorbium , rue , castor , petre , spike , turpentine , bricks , dil , chamomel , of each half an ounce ; oils of amber and juniper , of each two drachms ; the ointments martiatum and aregon of each one ounce ; mix them for an ointment . issues are approved of , either in the neck , or arm ; also ventoses with scarification , sternutatories , errhines and masticatories are all commended . this masticatory may serve for example . take the roots of pellitory of spain , ginger , calamus aromaticus , of each one ounce ; mustard-seed ; all sorts of pepper , nutmegs , castor , mastick , of each half an ounce ; beat them all into fine powder , and with fine honey boild into a syrup , make them into troches according to art. when they are drie you may chew them one after another , when you please to draw the rheum out of the mouth . when the fit is coming , or upon the party , blow up some sneezing-powder into the nostrils , or the smoak of tobacco into the mouth . embrocate the temples , fore-head and nostrils with oil of amber ; and hold the spirit of salt armoniack to the nose , in a narrow-mouth'd viol . make a noise in the ears ; and let the sick be kept in a light room , with the head upright . let the teeth be kept open with a stick , or rather with a little viscus quercinus , if it may be had . let the soles of the feet be well rub'd with salt and vineger ; also frictions and ligatures may be used in the parts affected . some commend a pigeon cut asunder , and applied hot to the navel ; for hereby the venemous halituous vapours are partly drawn away . i might add variety of medicines for the cure of these diseases ; but those before mentioned are sufficient to give light to the ingenious artist , who knows how to prepare diversity of them , as well milder for infants and children , as stronger for adults . i will therefore prescribe a powder to preserve children from convulsive and epileptick-fits , and so conclude this chapter . take the roots of peony , valerian , of each half an ounce ; the moss that groweth upon a man's skull , the triangular bone of a man's skull prepar'd , missletoe of the oak , elks-hoof , the seeds of peony , sweet fennel and annise , of each two drachms ; red coral , whitest amber , and emerald prepar'd , of each one drachm ; white sugar the weight of them all , let them be reduc'd into a fine powder . you may give a child twenty grains of this powder with a little oil of sweet almonds , so soon as it is born , which may happily preserve it from convulsions , and epileptick fits . and because obstructions of the belly in children , exposeth them to flatuous vapours , and gripings , and so consequently to convulsive and epileptick-fits ; i advise you to keep the belly open , either with a little manna , or a carminative clyster , so often as you see convenient . let the sick live in a serene air , and abstain from all food that breeds bad nourishment , and flatulent vapours . chap. iv. of the night-mare , and vertigo . i shall treat of these two distempers in one chapter , because if either of them continue long ; they are forerunners of the palsie , or apoplexy , and sometimes convulsions , or epilepsie . the night-mare is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in latin 't is called incubus ab incubando , quod externa vis quoedam aut moles incubare videtur . it is called the night-mare , because it oppresseth the sick in the night , at which time they think that some great weight lieth upon them , by which they seem to be almost suffocated . it happens most commonly after the first sleep , whereby the party oppressed , is deprived of speech and motion , and sometime breathing for a time . when the fit is upon the sick , they do imagine that some witch or hag lieth hard on their breast or stomach , ( from whence it hath also acquired that name ) in which they cannot stir , nor call for help , though they have a great desire , and do strive very much to cry out , but are possessed with a panick fear . the cause of this distemper , is most commonly intemperance in eating and drinking , especially in the night ; whereby crude halituous vapours are bred in such plenty , that nature cannot disperse nor dissolve them before sleep ; and therefore they are raised up to the ventricles of the brain , by which imagination , sense and motion are all depraved . the giddy motion is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. obscuritas oculorum . in latin 't is called vertigo , ex vertendo quod caput vertere videtur . in this disease the animal spirits are wrong mov'd , which makes the sick believe that not onely all things they look on , go in a circuit about , but their head and other parts , seem to turn round ; which many times causeth them to be in danger of falling , or tumbling headlong . the cause of the giddy motion , is either external , or internal . the external are either an intent looking at any object that turns round , or about , especially if very remote ; or a frequent turning about of the body it self . the internal cause , is the ascent of flatuous vapours to the head , together with the spirituous part of the bloud , and carried with the animal spirits , into the passages of the brain , and cerebellum ; by which the motion of wheeling about is communicated to the animal spirits , and anon carried to the cristalline humour of the eyes , by the optick nerves ; and so a giddiness seems to be produc'd . for the cure of these diseases ; seeing they are the forerunners of the apoplexy , and epilepsie ; i refer you to those excellent medicines prescrib'd for the cure of them . let such as are subject to these distempers , be very sparing in their diet ; let them avoid all herbs , roots and fruits , that are windy ; and all viscous and gross diet , such as is of hard concoction . let the external causes be remov'd , and the internal causes corrected . sublata causa tollitur effectus . chap. v. of the lethargy coma , carus , and catalepsie or catocus . the lethargy is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , id est , ab oblivione & inertia . because in this disease , the sick is very forgetfull and slothfull . in this distemper , there is a very great propensity to sleep , accompanied with a symptomatical fever , and sometimes with the hiccough , with difficulty of breathing , dulness of the head , and many times a deprivation of the senses . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sopor altus , is an insatiable inclination to sleep ; the sick being called unto , they open their eyes , and answer , but presently fall a sleep again . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , is called in latin crapularis redundantia ; because it is sometimes caused by surfeiting , end drunkenness . it is deep and profound sleep , whereby imagination , sense and motion are all depraved . in these there is no fever , in which they differ from the lethargy . catalepsis , vel detentio , is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies a with-holding , or restraining , because in this distemper , the mind , with the senses , and motion are all suddenly surprized , so that the sick remain stiff , and immoveable , in the very same posture in which they were taken , with their eyes open . the causes of these diseases are either external , or internal . the external causes are gross food , idleness , spirituous wine , or any other inebriating liquour taken in excess ; and sometimes by the air inspir'd , which is defil'd by the smoak of coals , or other mineral fumes , by which the air may be infested . the internal cause , is a narcotick force mix'd with the animal spirits , bred by degrees in the body , by the frequent use of opiats , not well corrected , which not onely dulls the mind , but causeth a sluggishness of the whole body ; for the animal motion being deprav'd , the external , as well as internal senses , will be thence soon infected , and defil'd . these diseases are all very dangerous , and except they are speedily cur'd , they will soon hurry the sick into the boats of acheron , or devouring jaws of death . but if a phrensie cometh immediately after any of them , it cureth the patient with little help of medicine . to cure these diseases , let the drowsie animal spirits be stir'd up , and rais'd from sleepiness , and stupidness , by potent external objects , which may sharply move the external senses ; let the sick be kept in a light room , and be often called upon very strongly , and let sharp smells be applied to the nostrils , such as spirit of salt armoniack , harts-horn , &c. also sharp spices or salts should be put into the mouth , and gentle frications us'd ( with warm cloaths ) to those parts that are affected with numness . the animal spirits may be freed from the narcotick force mingled with them , ( and likewise slothfulness , and sleepiness may be ( by little and little ) diminished , ) by the frequent use of sharp volatile salts , and all medicines endued with an aromatick biting ; such as pepper , cloves , castor , garlick , horse-radish , mustard , scurvigrass , &c. of which you may make diversity of medicines , for example . take the waters of hedge-mustard , scurvigrass , of each two ounces , syrup of the juice of scurvigrass one ounce ; tincture of castor two drachms ; oil of cloves four drops ; mix it , and give the sick two or three spoonfulls every two hours . this decoction is also very effectual . take the roots of horse-radish , the best china , of each two ounces ; roots of galangal half an ounce ; scurvigrass , hedge-mustard , of each one handfull ; cloves one drachm ; let them be all cleansed , bruised and infused in white-wine , and fountain-water , of each a quart , for the space of a night very hot ; the next morning boil it gently for half an hour , then strain it , and add syrup of hedge-mustard , scurvigrass , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water two ounces ; mix it . let the sick lying in bed , meanly covered take often in a day five or six spoonfulls of this decoction , whereby a light sweat may break forth to ease them . by the frequent use of these medicines , the animal spirits will not onely be freed from their drowsiness , but even the narcotick force bred in the body ( either in the length of time , or received in from without ) may be corrected , and by degrees gently educ'd by insensible transpiration : so that at length , these dangerous distempers may happily be overcome . let clysters , and suppositories be often administred , as need requires . those prescrib'd in page 17 , 18. in the cure of the palsie and apoplexy , are very effectual here . if strength and age permit , let a vein be opened in either arm or foot , as you shall see cause ; for generally authours consent to it , besides experientia docet . let ventoses with ( or without ) scarification be applied to the shoulders and hinder part of the neck . and let sternutatories be often snuft up into the nostrils , to provoke sneezing . take the roots of pellitory of spain , white hellebor , of each half a drachm ; castor , nutmegs , white pepper , of each twenty grains ; flowers of lillies of the valley one drachm ; beat them into a fine powder . if the stomach be foul , and the sick incline to vomit , give this or the like . take the decoction of horse-radish , two ounces ; the infusion of crocus metallorum , oxymel of squills , of each half an ounce ; oil of sweet almonds newly drawn , two drachms ; mix it , and give it in the morning . but if the sick had rather take pills or potions , let the following serve . take extract . rudii , pil . foetidoe , ex duobus of each half a drachm ; powder of castor twenty grains ; oil of cloves six drops , with syrup of stoechas , make it into pills , for three doses . you may give them twice a week in the morning fasting . this purging infusion is also very effectual . take of the best senna , rhubarb , polypodium , of each half an ounce ; mechoacan , agarick , turkey-turbith , of each three drachms ; ginger , anise-seed , of each two drachms ; let them be bruised and infused in eight ounces of ale very hot , for the space of a night , then strain it , and add the best manna ; syrup of roses solutive of each one ounce ; spirit of castor twenty drops ; mix it for two doses . let the affected parts , as the head , &c. be bathed with this or the like fomentation . take the roots of master-wort , angelica , zedoary , of each three ounces ; bay-berries , juniper-berries , of each four ounces ; sage , marjoram , rue , rose-mary , betony , flowers of lavender , melilot , chamomel , of each two handfulls ; let them be all cleansed , bruised and boiled in white-wine-vineger , and fountain-water , of each three quarts , till half of it be boiled away . after bathing anoint the hinder part of the head with this oil. take of oil of rue , marjoram , of each half an ounce ; oil of amber , rose-mary and bricks , of each two drachms ; oil of bays , euphorbium , castor , of each six drachms ; mix them . for revulsion , let the soles of the feet be washed with salt and acet . scillitic . vesiccatories may also be applied to the coronal suture , and behind the ears ; or upon the shoulders , neck , arms , thighs , &c. avoid all vaporous and phlegmatick nourishment . chap. vi. of the phrensie , and madness . the phrensie is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mens ; quia mentis morbus . the phrensie is an inflammation of the brain and meninges , both the dura and pia mater ; causing an acute continual fever , which remains from the first moment of its invasion , to the last of its duration , thence a delirium , and raving madness , together with great trouble of mind , afflicts the sick in a superlative manner . madness is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , insanio , 't is called in latin amentia , furor , insania . it is a furious alienation of the mind , or a vehement delirium without a fever ; in which it differs from the phrensie . i know there are not wanting the works of great physicians , who have written very learnedly of these diseases ; but omitting the opinion of others ; i shall in a few words , relate that which seems true to me , to be the cause of these furious distempers . none who are ingenious searchers of truth ; and have weighed accurately ( with an attentive mind ) both the fabrick and ways , or vessels of the containing body , and the natural motion of the bloud , and other humours ; will deny , that almost innumerable diseases do arise from the vitious effervescency of over fat choler , the too tart pancreat juice , and over viscous phlegm , flowing together in the small guts ; for by this vitiated mingling not onely hurtfull humours are produc'd , but often wind , and halituous vapours , causing much harm to humane bodies . wherefore i judge , when phlegm is very viscous , or otherwise vitious , and the juice of the pancreas too tart and harsh ; sharp halituous vapours are thence produc'd , elevated from the small guts , because of a vitious effervescency there rais'd ; and thence continually ascending to the head ; and with the spirituous bloud , circulate into the ventricles of the brain , by which the animal spirits are vitiated , and troublesomely mov'd , and hindred of natural rest and tranquillity ; therefore 't is no wonder that the empty mind of the sick is thereby disturb'd , and at length the sick become distracted and mad . but if choler be predominant , these vapours become very cholerick and acrimonious ; which rarifies the bloud by degrees more and more ; so that at length the heat and burning fever in the heart , ( and thence through the whole body ) is encreased by choler successively over-ruling , which causeth the phrensie . no marvel then if heat , pain , and inflammation , and pulsation of the head do chiefly vex the sick in this grievous distemper ; seeing no part of the body hath so many arteries , and receives so much bloud as the head ; wherefore the pulsation of the temples is felt more troublesome than elsewhere , because of the remarkable windings of the brain , through which great arteries are carried ; from whence great watchings , and at length raving madness do molest the sick . but there still remains something requisite to be set down , as the chief cause of these , and most other distempers , which ought not to be despis'd ( either by jew or gentile ) seeing we have the word of god for it ; and that is the crying sins of mankind continually drawing god's judgments on them . you may reade the 28th . chapter of deuteronomie , where the prophet moses enumerates the many diseases , with which god would smite the children of israel , for the wickedness of their doings , whereby they had forsaken him . and not onely they , but we also shall be subject to these grievous distempers , and eternal destruction also , if we do not turn to the lord by unfeigned repentance , except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish , saith our blessed saviour jesus christ in luke 13. 3. verse . those poor creatures who have been miserably afflicted with these furious diseases , and happily recovered ; can tell by sad experience , that they have been many times hurried almost to desperation , by the cunning wiles and temptations of satan ; which hath prevail'd on many to lay violent hands on themselves ; from which let us pray , libera nos domine . 1. the phrensie is a most acute and dangerous disease , insomuch that it ends most commonly in seven days ; for in that time it either terminates by the recovery of the sick , or else they go over the threshold of the other world . 2. if the phrenetical party hath a crisis either by sweating , bleeding at the nose , or haemorrhoids , &c. or a tumour appear behind the ears , there is hopes of recovery : but if the sick gnash with his teeth , and his excrement and urine be whitish , and no crisis appear , 't is mortal ; so likewise is it very pernicious , if it turn either to the lethargy , or convulsion . in the mania or madness , if the stomach or appetite decay , and the sick be very fearfull , and hath continued long , it is most difficult to cure : but if the party be merrily conceited , it is not so dangerous . 3. if the swelling of the veins in the legs , called varices , or the haemorrhoids , or menses , or any other flux of bloud should happen to them that are mad or frantick , there may be hopes of recovery . and that we may pass on to the cure of these lamentable diseases : let the following golden precept be speedily observ'd . principiis obsta , sero medicina paratur : cum mala per longas invaluere moras . for unless speedy help be procur'd for the phrensie , it killeth the party in a short time : and likewise mania or madness becomes oft ( by degrees ) so stubborn , and rebellious , that it can be cur'd onely late or never . ttherefore the friends of the sick are to be admonish'd to consult with the honest physician , so soon as the signs begin to be manifest ; for when it hath taken deep root , it is hard to be eradicated , or overcome , unless by an herculean labour . first therefore let a clyster be administered . take of mallows , marsh-mallows , violets , lettice , beets , pellitory of the wall , mercury , centaury , water-lillies , of each one handfull . damask prunes twenty . boil them in a quart of barley-water till half be consumed , then strain it , and add electuary lenitive , syrup of violets , roses solutive , of each one ounce ; oil of violets two ounces ; common salt one drachm . mix it for a clyster . after the operation of it , you may open a vein in the arm. but if menses , or the haemorrhoids be suppressed , then open the saphena , in either foot ; and let the orifice be made pretty large , because thereby sharp and fatty vapours may more plenteously be effus'd together with the bloud : whereby the troublesome heat will be the better temper'd , and not a little diminisht . neither will it suffice to let bloud once , but this evacuation is oft to be iterated , till ( by the diminisht feverish heat ) it appears that the cause is remov'd or overcome . but let phlebotomy be warily done , where choler abounds , because sanguis est fraenum bilis : wherefore i advise the young practitioner to take away but little bloud at a time , which may be done so often as need requires , either by an instrument , or leeches to the haemorrhoids . ventoses with scarification , may be applied to the shoulders , also vesiccatories to the armes , thighs , & inter scapulas , in extremis morbis , extrema sunt adhibenda remedia . choler over plenteous in the body , may be safely diminisht by a mild chologogue ; for example . take of dandelion , succory , sorrel , of each two handfulls ; tamarind-fruit two ounces . boil them in a quart of barley-water till half be consumed ; strain it , and add the waters of cinamon , and fennel of each one ounce ; the best manna , syrup of succory with rhubarb , of each three ounces ; spirit of niter twenty drops . let the sick take oft a draught of this julep , till the body be made soluble ; but if there be a strong constitution of body , i refer you to those excellent medicines prescribed in page 8. 9. of this book , which evacuates choler more powerfully by stool . but where the stomach is full and nauseous , let a vomit be administred without delay ; and here i prefer antimonials before all o-thers , both because they do most happily empty any humours promiscuously , and because they are most friendly to humane nature , bringing all the humours by degrees ( after a peculiar manner ) to a most laudable state . and because in this distemper , the sick is always attended with a greivous and furious raging ; let those things be given which will not onely promote sleep , but powerfully temper the sharp cholerick humours . to this end i commend any fixt mineral , sulphur of vitriol or antimony , which will temper the acrimony of choler , and free the bloud from such matter perhaps before all others . but where these choice medicines are not to be had , opium well prepared will conduce beyond any commonly known medicine ; which may be used both internally and externally . this cordial opiat is of great virtue . take the waters of sorrel , lettice , penny-royal , fennel , of each two ounces ; cinamon water , syrups of red and white poppies , of each one ounce ; laudanum ten grains ; tartar vitriolated half a drachm ; oil of vitriol ten drops ; mixit , and give two spoonfulls of it often , whereby the body may the sooner be reduc'd to sleep , and the mind to tranquillity . the following epitheme , and linament may be used outwardly to give ease , and promote sleep . take the waters of betony , red roses , of each two ounces ; vinegars of roses , and marygolds , of each half an ounce ; opium twenty grains . mix it . let linen cloaths be dipt in it being warm , and applied to the forehead , and region of the temples ; and as often as the cloaths are dry , moisten them with the same , till pain be diminisht , and sleep follow . take populion half an ounce ; opium dissolv'd in oil of poppies half a drachm ; mix it for a linament ; wherewith anoint each region of the temples , and spread some of it on brown paper and apply it . let the diet be very thin and cooling : avoid hot spices , wine , and other strong liqours , and let the common drink be barley-water with syrup of limmons . pigeons cut asunder , and applied to the soles of the feet , do many times avail , by drawing down hot vapours and fumes from the head. by this you may know how to cure not onely phrensies , but all ravings and watchings , which are ingendred by fevers ; for it will not be very hard from what is aforesaid , to frame or join such helps as may conduce to the same . in mania or madness ; when phlegm is over viscous , and the juice of the pancreas too tart and harsh , exceeding , and over-ruling the other humours in the body ; whereby sharp halituous vapours are continually rais'd , disturbing the sick both in body and mind : speedy care must be taken to correct and educe the vitiated humours , to amend and discuss the hurtfull flatuous vapours , and also to compose the immoderate passions of the mind . volatile salts and aromatick oils do not onely correct viscous and acid phlegm , but sour and tart vapours also ; for they have power to cut and dissolve that which is viscous , to temper and correct that which is sour and tart , and to discuss and dissipate what is vaporous and windy . the following julep , whose power is singular and stupendious , may be deservedly preferr'd before many others . take the waters of parsley , fennel , mint , penny-royal , scurvigrass , of each two ounces ; the waters of treacle and cinamon , of each half an ounce ; syrups of fennel , poppies , and the five opening roots , of each one ounce ; laudanum opiat . twenty grains ; spirits of salt armoniack and niter , of each twenty drops ; oils of annise-seed and cloves , of each ten drops ; mix them . by the frequent use of this julep or such like ; the hurtfull humours and vapours will not onely be corrected , and amended ; but a new production of them will be hindred , and both body and mind reduc'd to a more quiet frame . these pills will be also usefull to correct more , and mildly educe , or expell the vitious humours . take of galbanum prepar'd with vinegar of squills ; powders of mastick , troches alhandal , rozin of scammony , and jallop , of each one drachm ; powders of castor , mirrh and saffron , of each twenty grains ; oils of cloves , harts-horn , balsom of sulphur with oil of anise-seed , spirit of salt armoniack , of each ten drops ; beat them all into a mass for pills , of which you may give half a drachm at a time , in the morning fasting . it will be convenient to take these pills twice a week , for the better vanquishing the rebellious and redoubl'd humours . also let antimonial vomits ( rightly prepar'd ) be sometimes administred , they being endued with an universal force of cleansing man's body from all harm and impurity . by these forms any judicious practitioner , may easily invent other prescriptions in some things to be varied , as the disease requires . thus having premis'd a rational , and dogmatical cure of these grievous diseases , confirm'd by experience ; i think it my duty ( once for all ) to admonish the honest physician , and others who attend the sick ; to be often seeking the lord for a blessing on the means . and if all refuge fails , to take the advice of the apostle james in the 5th . chapter and 14 , and 15. verses . this was the custome of the primitive christians without doubt , and i wish it were more in use amongst us at this day ; for god is as able to heal the sick now , as he was then , for he is the same yesterday , and to day and for ever . i thank god , i have had some experience of his great goodness and mercy , extended towards some of his poor creatures , by means of this ordinance , when all other help of medicine , &c. have prov'd unsuccessfull , for which uni deo & trino gloria . chap. vii . of catarrhs . the catarrh is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , fluo . it is called in latin distillatio , because it is a defluxion of excrementitious and sharp rheumatick humours from the head , into most parts of the body ; invading not onely all the conglobated , and conglomerated glandules ; by which the circulation of lympha and spittle are deprav'd : but also the nerves , which causeth intense or vehement pains , and inflammations in the parts ill affected , which is most commonly attended with a symptomatical fever , especially if the rheum be thin and sharp , and do flow very violently . and seeing this distemper is not enough explain'd in authours , either ancient or modern ; i therefore ( god prospering my indeavours ) will bestow some pains in searching out , and proposing the true causes and effects of it ; which i hope will induce other liberal and ingenious spirited artists to a farther inquiry after the occult causes , not onely of these , but other obscure diseases daily occurring in practice ; that so by little and little , many things in the art of physick , as yet most obscure and confus'd , may be illustrated , and most commodiously explain'd . experience confirms , that there are many kinds of catarrhs ; some are more thick , others more thin ; some acid and salt , others more sweet ; some rheums are hot and sharp , flowing more violently , other cold and pituitous , flowing but slowly ; hence it is , that some catarrhs are attended with fevers , and some without . the causes of catarrhs are either external , or internal . the external cause is from external sudden cold , shutting the pores of the skin , hindring the discharge of sweaty vapours by insensible transpiration ; for if the usual ports of the skin do deny passage to the sweat , it will in a little time condense , and thence become sour , by which the extreme parts are chilled , which doth manifest it self by a shivering ; as any one may experimentally observe after taking cold. these humours having not vent through the porous skin ( which is absolutely necessary ) by the habit of the body ; they are conveyed to the head ( together with the lympha ) through the lymphatick vessels . the internal cause arises from pituitous humours , gradually collected ( besides nature ) in the conglobated glandules , observeable about the plexus choroides in the side ventricles of the brain , and elsewhere ; perhaps in the tonsils , and all the rest of the small glandules about the trachoea arteria ; hence the lympha becomes sourish salt , as is tasted in a coryza . whence also we may probably conclude , what way soever the conglobated glandules are hurt , that the lympha declines from its natural state and quality : and as its depravation is milder or sharper , more grievous , or lighter pains are thence bred ; of which we have many times an ocular demonstration in the flowing down of the rheum through the nostrils , which is oft so sharp , that it doth corrode the skin , and superficies of the face where it comes . if it be in quantity moderate , it is conveighed to the infinite little salivary ducts or chanels , in the conglomerated glandules , which open into the palate of the mouth , and there pour out the salival liquour which they contain ; which is either swallowed down into the stomach , or else it is evacuated by spitting ; and if nature be overburthened by its plentifulness , it is also sent forth by the nostrils . but if the lympha becomes more sharp , acid and salt in the glandules before mention'd , it produceth first a stoppage , and burthensome pain of the head , which overcomes the retentive , and provokes the expulsive faculties ; so that nature being driven to most violent motions , doth extravasate , and intravasate the rheumatick humours , hic & ubique , a capite ad calcem , through the most abstruse and inconspicuous passages of nature ; so that it is the opinion of many learned physicians , that a catarrh is the original of many diseases incident to humane bodies . 1. catarrhs happening to children , are dangerous , especially if there appear plenty of humours , because they abound with moisture , and are full of excrements : wherefore if a sudden defluxion happens to any of a tender age , desperate accidents may follow . 2. if the rheum flow through the nostrils , it is but gentle ; if to the throat 't is worse , but if to the lungs , worst of all ; and if it becomes inveterate , it is very hardly cured . in the cure of catarrhs , the head is chiefly to be taken care of , because the rheum doth continually flow from it ; therefore the head ought to be corroborated , and the superfluous moisture thereof to be dried up : and likewise the part or parts ( to which the rheum flows ) must be strengthned ; the vitious quality of lympha , and the other humours is to be corrected , and their plenty diminisht . as catarrhs consist of a different matter , and afflict divers parts , so they require diversity of medicines to cure them ; for if the matter be thick and viscous , it must be attenuated and cut with aromaticks , and afterward evacuated with phlegmagogues : so likewise serous and salt catarrhs are to be temper'd with oily things and opiats , and the plenty of humours to be diminisht with hydragogues ; by which means the cure will be the sooner performed . for viscous catarrhs , accompanied with a cough , i commend these following medicines . take the waters of hyssop , mint , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water , syrups of fennel and red poppies , of each one ounce and half ; laudanum opiatum six grains ; spirit of salt armoniack twenty drops ; mix it , of which you may give three or four spoonfulls , every three hours . by the frequent use of this aromatick julep , the viscous phlegm will not onely be attenuated , but the over sharp vapours will be discust , and the other humours temper'd . after the phlegmatick humours , &c. are thus prepared ; it will be convenient to evacuate them downwards , by gentle purgation , with powerfull and effectual phlegmagogues ; and such are all mercurials , colocynthis , hermodactils , &c. to be taken chiefly in the form of pills . take extract . rudii , pil . ex duobus , of each one drachm ; mercury dulcis half a drachm ; oil of cloves four drops ; mix them for three doses . if the sick be averse to pills , give this potion . take of rhubarb , agarick , hermodactils , polypodium , of each two drachms ; cinamon , cloves , of each one drachm ; sage , rosemary , of each one handfull ; sweet fennel-seed , juniper-berries , of each three drachms ; bruise them and insuse them in hyssop-water very hot , for the space of a night , then strain it , and dissolve in it syrup of roses solutive , electuary diaphaenicon , of each one ounce ; mix it for a potion . every night give the patient a pill of styrax , or hounds-tongue , to stay the rheum , and to give ease and rest . if the catarrh be serous and hot , accompanied with a fever , and the sick have a costive body , this clyster will be effectual . take the common decoction for clysters twelve ounces ; diacatholicon , electuary of the juice of roses , of each six drachms ; oil of chamomel two ounces ; common salt one drachm ; mix it for a clyster . after the operation of it , you may open a vein in either arm , and take away eight or nine ounces of bloud . then give this purging decoction . take borage , lettice , purslain , endive , violets , of each one handfull ; the four greater coldeeds , of each one drachm ; damask-prunes ten , anise-seed , sweet fennel-seed , of each two drachms ; let them be bruised , and boiled in eight ounces of the pectoral decoction till half be consum'd ; then strain it , and dissolve in it syrup of roses solutive , electuary of the juice of roses , of each half an ounce ; spirit of niter six drops ; mix it for a potion . you may give this potion twice in a week ; which will both temper and gently evacuate the serous and acid humours ; and flatuous vapours will also thereby be discust , and gently educ'd . to cause rest , and thicken the rheum , let one of these pills be given every night to bed-ward . take of laudanum three grains ; powder of olibanum , extract of saffron , of each four grains , with a little pectoral syrup , make it into four pills . or you may give a pill of styrax every night going to bed . when the rheum flows down from the head , into the trachoea arteria , it stirs up a coughing more or less , according to the sharpness and plenty of the humours , which are many ways vitiated ; wherefore a cough may be diversly cur'd , according to the diversity of its cause . if the humours be over sour , they may be corrected with pearl , coral , crabs-eyes , &c. if the rheum be too serous and salt ; the aforesaid pil . estyrace & cynaglos . &c. is excellent to temper it . becchical troches , both white and black are not onely effectual , but gratefull to the sick in this coughing distemper . if the humours be thick and viscous , they require sourish sweet things , and aromaticks to attenuate and cut them . the fore-mention'd julep may be prescrib'd in this case . when the salt , sharp and serous humours abounding , are corrected and temper'd ; they may be diminisht by hydragogues . the hydragogue electuary prescrib'd in page 18 is an effectual and gratefull medicine , which may be often us'd to the profit of the sick . children may take from one drachm to two , and adults to half an ounce ; of this excellent medicine once or twice a week . as in other distempers always , so let me here admonish you in general , to be very diligent to attend to the medicines that most conduce to every particular body , whereby they may be prefer'd before the rest ; and as long as they profit , continue in the use thereof , that so the health of the sick may be every way promoted . when much bloud is voided by coughing , there is great danger ; wherefore we must hasten the more to its cure ; left the opportunity here ( if any where urgent ) be lost by delay ; for the singular substance of the lungs is easily infected and corrupted , but difficultly restor'd and repair'd ; wherefore bloud carried down from the head into the lungs , and raising a cough , is to be stopt in its efflux . to this end let a vein be opened , especially if a plethora concur , or there be a notable heat of bloud , or a suppression of its wonted emptying . after bleeding , let the over great heat be allay'd with sour and tart medicines ; for example take the following decoction . take of plantane , housleek , wood-sorrel , of each two handfulls ; boil them in barley-water one quart till half of it be boiled away , then strain it , and add syrup of jujubes three ounces ; salt prunella one drachm ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls every three hours . the flux of bloud may be stopt by conglutinating medicines , which have power to close the vessels , either broken by violent coughing , or corroded by the sharpness of the descending rheum . take the waters of comfry , plantane , of each two ounces ; cinamon-water , distil'd vinegar , of each one ounce ; syrup of mirtles , comfry , of each six drachms ; powder of dragons-bloud , red coral prepar'd , of each one drachm ; laudanum opiat . six grains ; oil of sulphur per campanam twenty drops ; mix it , and give three or four spoonfulls every two hours . this choice medicine often taken , will cure the most ruptions of vessels , and will soon stop the flux of bloud , beyond expectation ; but i advise , that a sparing use of it should be continued for some time , after the disease is cur'd to sense , whereby the affected parts may be strengthned against the access of a new evil . the bloud distilling into the sharp artery of the lungs , will soon corrupt and turn into purulent matter , if not prevented by convenient medicines , which hath power to dissolve the coagulated bloud , that it may be the easier expectorated . the following form may be prefer'd . take the waters of hyssop , fennel , of each two ounces ; cinamon-water , distill'd vineger , of each half an ounce ; syrup of hore-houud one ounce ; powder of crabs-eyes , antimony diaphoretick , of each half a drachm ; mix it , and give two or three spoonfulls every two hours . if the lungs be ulcerated , the cure thereof will be promoted , if you add two or three drops of balsam of sulphur , with oil of annise-seed , to every spoonfull that you give of the aforefaid medicine , or in any pectoral decoction ; it must be given oft in a day ; the better to finish the cure. in all catarrhs if the rheum have been long , you may use a decoction of china , which will wonderfully temper the humours ; or you may add lign . sanctum , sassaphras , sarsaparilla , &c. which will dry up the rheum by degrees . the sharp humours being temper'd , and the matter of rheum partly evacuated by phlegmagogues , and hydragogues , &c. outward means that dry up rheum are likewise to be used ; as caps for the head , perfumes , errhines , sternutatories , masticatories , apophlegmatisms , &c. ventoses with scarification , may be also applied to the neck and shoulders ; and fontinels may be made in the neck and arm , for they have been often profitable in catarrhs . also vesiccatories applied to the coronal future , and inter scapulas will avail much . let the temples and parts adjacent be anointed with oil of amber , oil of nutmegs , &c. and let the fume of amber or mastick be often drawn up into the nostrils . also a sternutatory ( such as is prescrib'd in page 21. in the cure of the palsie ) is very effectual to cause sneezing , twice or thrice in a day . a cap may be also quilted for the head ( of the following things ) with cotton-wool and red sarcenet . take of sweet marjoram , betony , baum , bazil , red-rose buds , of each half a handfull ; the berries of mirtle and juniper , the seeds of peony and white poppy , of each one drachm ; calamus aromaticus , nutmegs , cloves , frankincense , mastick , styrax calamitis , laudanum , of each two drachms ; let them be all beaten into a gross powder , for a quilted cap. also this following powder may be prepar'd , to fumigate the head and cloaths ; morning and evening . take of olibanum , styrax calamitis , amber , of each two drachms ; red roses , coriander-seeds prepar'd , mastick , gum of ivy , cloves , mirtle-berries , white poppy-seeds , of each one drachm ; let them be all beaten into a gross powder . also this masticatory may be often used . take of mustard-seed , roots of pellitory of spain , master-wort , capers , mastick , amber , of each one drachm ; let them be all beaten into a gross powder , and tye up some of it in a linen-rag , and chew it in the mouth every day before dinner and supper . or you may chew either mastick , amber , or the root of pellitory of spain by it self , which will draw the serous humours away by spitting . errhines may also be used ; they are either moist or dry , the dry are made with pepper , betony , rosemary , stavesacre , &c. the liquid are made with the juices of rosemary , ivy , beets , mercury , sweet marjoram , &c. and it may here be noted , that when rheum doth flow down to the throat , lungs , &c. then errhines may be used ; but when the humours flow to the eyes , nose , &c. then use masticatories , for a revulsion ; revulsio enim est humoris fluentis attractio in partem contrariam . the spirit of salt armoniack , held to the nose in a narrow mouth'd glass , doth wonderfully conduce above all others , not onely to dissolve the viscous phlegmatick humours , obstructing the glandules : but also temperates the acid saltness of catarrhs . plaisters may be also applied to the head being first shaved , to dry up the rheum , and strengthen the brain . this may serve for example . take of the plaisters ad herniam , and cephalick , taccamahac , of each half an ounce ; mix it , and spread it on leather , and apply it to the head. let the rheumatick live in a warm and dry air , and use a drying diet with moderation in eating , drinking , sleeping , and all other things . jejunet , vigilet , sitiat : qui rheumata curat . book ii. chap. i. of shortness of breathing . shortness or difficulty of breathing , is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro , vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. afflo calidum ori . it is a disease in which the bronchia of the lungs are so stuffed with viscous phlegm , that the sick can hardly breathe , but with wheasing , blowing or puffing , and do make a great noise with snorting ; in which the diaphragma , and intercostal muscles are violently moved . if the lungs onely are stuffed , it is without snorting , and is then called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aegre , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro . in this the conduits of the lights are much stopped , causing hardness , or straitness of breath , and pursiness . but if the patient fetcheth breath with much difficulty , with the neck stretched upright ; it may then be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , rectus , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , spiro , i. e. erecta cervice spirare . the cause of this disease , is the juice of the pancreas growing more sour by its obstruction , joined to viscous phlegm in the small gut , by which it becomes more flatulent ; and being stir'd up in its effervescency with choler , it riseth to the thoracick passage , by the lacteal veins , and so to the heart and lungs , and filling the airy conduits thereof , and sticking there , it causeth a breathing with snorting . the same humour is also carried to the stomach , which causeth many sour belchings in this distemper ; and if these flatuous humours become more sharp than viscous ; so often as they come to the lungs , they pierce into the sharp artery , and do so provoke and molest it , that thereby the lungs are compelled to cough , by which the expiration of air is deprav'd . if there be much moisture contain'd in the sharp artery , it will be the easier expelled by the help of coughing , but if the trachea arteria be affected with driness , then nothing is spit out , though with great and much labour , but the universal body is wearied in vain with indeavouring to cough ; whence there is sometimes raised a vehement pain both of the head and hypochondries , and other parts ; yea sometimes a rupture is bred by it , and the urine and excrements are thereby often involuntarily extruded . 2. if this disease be not speedily removed , it will prove chronical and hard to be cur'd , unless the patient be young and of a strong constitution , for otherwise it will end in a cachexie or dropsie . an asthma , or wheasing anxiety may happily be cured ( in the beginning ) by an antimonial vomit , especially in those who do vomit easily , because the phlegmatick humours ( which are contained in the sharp artery , &c. ) are thereby immediately brought up ; but if vomiting hurts the sick , the humours may be evacuated downwards by gentle purgation , with powerfull and effectual phlegmagogues , and hydragogues , such as is prescrib'd in the chapter of catarrhs . page 56. 57. if the patient hath a costive body , let carminative clysters be often administred ; and if the body be plethorick , let a vein be opened , either in the foot , or apply leeches to the haemorrhoid veins , which will much conduce to free the respiration . such medicines as have an expectorating quality , and have power to temper and discuss the over sharp vapours , may be often us'd in a little quantity . the following julep may be commended in this case . take of the pectoral decoction half a pint , cinamon-water , syrups of hore-hound , fennel , of each one ounce and half ; spirits of salt armoniack , niter , of each twenty drops ; laudanum opiatum ten grains ; oil of sulphur per campanam ten drops , mix it . quercetanus his syrup of tobacco , is commended in this distemper . also tobacco taken in a pipe , or chewed in the mouth , draweth abundance of viscous phlegm out of the stomach and lungs . many more medicines might be inserted , but i refer you to the chapter of catarrhs , where you may be throughly furnished . chap. ii. of the pleurisie , and other inflammations . the pleurisie is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 latus , quod tunicoe costos succingentis lateris dolor . it is also called in latin pleuritis , & inflammatio ; it being an inflammation of the pleura , and also of the intercostal muscles , and other adjacent parts , as the mediastinum , pericardium , diaphragma , &c. it is attended with many symptomes , as difficulty of breathing , shooting and pricking pain of the sides , which is the more exasperated by coughing , and is common in this distemper ; the patient hath also a continual acute fever , which is most commonly symptomatical . the inflammation of the lungs is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 circum & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pulmo , quod a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro . it is also called in latin peripneumonia , & peripneumonicus morbus . it is not different in the causes or signs from a pleurisie . the cause of the pleurisie , and peripneumony , and all other inflammations , is an obstruction of the capillary vessels , ( in the inflamed part ) by glutenous phlegm , carried together with the bloud through them , and if a plethora concur , the bloud and humours will soon be stagnated , and become acrid and fervid , which preternaturally distends the vessels , by which circulation of the bloud is hindred , so that at length the vessels break , and the bloud is poured into the part affected ; which there corrupts and increaseth the pain and inflammation , and consequently produceth a tumour , whee the putrid bloud and humours , ( being ●y degrees corrupted , ) are converted into ●urulent matter ; for the bloud being stagnated , or standing still in any part , the s●irituous , and more volatile and s●btle parts , that are wont to temper both the acid and salt parts , do afterward begin to vanish , whence both being made sharper , do more fiercely rise up one against another , and stir up an hot effervescency , because of the oily parts of the bloud present ; yea by degrees do so corrupt the bloud , as it turns it into matter , which is different according to the variousness of the bloud corrupted . 1. the sooner the inflammation and tumour comes to suppuration , the more easie will be the cure. 2. if a pleurisie follow an inflammation of the lungs , there may be hopes of recovery ; but if a peripneumony follow a pleurisie , or quinzy , 't is dangerous , and ( for the most part ) mortal . 3. if much matter be expectorated by coughing , and there still remain difficulty of breathing , 't is an ill sign ; so likewise is it , if in coughing nothing be spit up . 4. if the pleurisie , or peripneumony remain above twelve days , an empiema will inevitably ensue ; for the bloud standing still , is by little and little collected in its vessels , and be●ng peccant in a great excess , it distends them more and more , till at length they burst ; whence there happens an effusion of blo●d into the cavity of the breast , and being there collected , and corrupted into matter , it constitutes a suppuration called empien●a . to ●ure a pleurisie , and any inflammation , and aposteme following , it is required , that 1. the obstruction of the vessels be opened , that the circulation of the bloud stopt , and standing still may be restor'd . 2. that the bloud effus'd out of its vessels ( if possible ) may be discuss'd , before it turns to matter . 3. that if the suppuration cannot be hindred , it must be promoted with all expedition , that the purulent matter collected , might be evacuated . 4. that the cleansing and consolidation of the ulcer be speedily performed . an obstruction of the vessels by viscous phlegm , or bloud coagulated in them , may be cur'd by volatile salts , prepar'd not onely of several parts of animals , but also of scorbutick plants , viz. dandelion , hedge-mustard , scurvigrass , garden and water-cresses , &c. to these may be referred crabs-eyes , the jaws of a pike , the bone of a harts-heart , mummy , sperma coeti , antimony diaphoretick , opium prepar'd , &c. as also all fixt metallick and mineral sulphurs . these volatile medicines have an egregious power of dissolving all things coagulated , and conglutinated in man's body , and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity , and do mildly promote sweat ; hence it is that often by one such diaphoretick given in season , both a pleurisie , and piripneumony , and also inflammations of other parts have been most happily and safely cured without phlebotomy . but where a plethora concurs ; after a stool hath been procur'd by a carminative clyster , let a vein be opened , for thereby the bloud standing still will be restor'd to its wonted circulation ; for some of the bloud being let out , there will be a larger space made in the veins , for a more brisk and swift motion of the universal mass of it . after a sufficient quantity of bloud is taken away , it will be profitable to give a sudorifick . this may serve for example . take the pectoral decoction four ounces ; the waters of hyssop , fennel , parsley , juice of horse-dung clarified , distilled vineger , of each three ounces ; treacle-water , cinamon-water , syrups of the five opening roots , and of red and white poppies , of each one ounce ; powder of crabs-eyes , two drachms ; mummy , sperma coeti , of each half a drachm ; laudanum opiatum ten grains ; volatile salt of harts-horn half a drachm ; spirit of salt armoniack twenty drops ; mix it . let the sick take often a spoonfull of this julep , which is rich in volatile salt , and powerfully corrects the acidity of the bloud ; by the help whereof the clottering of it will not onely be hindred , but it s over thick parts incided , and by degrees attenuated ; and it s over thin parts will be discust , and evacuated together with sweat or insensible transpiration : it s over sharp parts will be also temper'd , and the pain asswaged , and at length wholly taken away ; as also the obstruction it self will be loosened and dissolved ; for when the volatile salt of the sudorifick comes to the place of obstruction , it attempts the matter obstructing be it what it will , and cuts , attenuates , loosens , and makes it fluid ; whence it is farther driven forward together with it more easily . the bloud is also thereby more and more rarified , and becomes more fluid , and moveable ; wherefore there needs no farther care for elaborated medicaments , and methods . frustra fit per plura , quod fieri potest per pauciora . as for topical medicaments , or external applications , the following are excellent . take the roots of briony , smallage , fennel , of each four ounces ; the tops of elder , dwarf-elder , hedge-mustard , agrimony , wormwood , mint , vervain , flowers of melilot , chamomel , of each two handfuls ; cummin-seed , the berries of bays and juniper , of each two ounces . let them be all cleansed , bruised and boiled in two gallons of rain-water till half of it be boiled away , then strain it for a fomentation . let the inflammation or tumor be well bathed with it , as hot as may be suffered , either with woollen cloaths , or soft spunges , fit to cover the part affected ; after which let it be anointed with the following ointment . take ointments of marsh-mallows , martiatum , of each one ounce ; oils of dill , bays , lillies , poppies , henbane , of each half an ounce ; oils of amber , turpentine , bricks , of each one drachm ; camphire two drachms ; mix it . then let this plaister be spread on leather , or linen cloath , and applied . take yellow wax four ounces , sperma caeti , two ounces ; galbanum prepar'd with vinegar , one ounce . make it into a plaster according to art . this egregious plaster doth not onely preserve the bloud from coagulation in any part where it is applied ; but milk also from curdling in the paps . but if it be not to be had , the following dissolving , and mollifying cataplasm may be substituted . take of onions rosted under the ashes two ounces ; dwarf-elder , hedge-mustard , vervain , elder , chervil , water-cresses , of each one handfull ; powders of album graecum , lupines , a swallows nest , barley-meal , of each one ounce ; butter-milk as much as will make it into a pultis . apply it meanly warm to the inflam'd part , for thereby the internal obstruction will be the better opened ; but it must be renewed as often as it begins to dry . when the bloud is effus'd into such places , out of which it cannot be well remov'd , or discust ; suppuration or the generation of matter , must be promoted , and hastned ; which may be done by emollient and ripening medicines , as the roots and leaves of mallows , marsh-mallows , white lillies , onions , squills , the powder of fenugreek , and flax-seed , the meal of barley and beans , the marrow of all bones , and all kind of fats , and almost any oil that is exprest of seeds , or kernels ; as also divers sorts of gums , as galbanum , liquid styrax , bdellium , amoniacum , and also wax and turpentine , &c. of these you may prepare cataplasms , oils , unguents , emplasters , &c. which judicious physicians and chyrurgions may doe as they see occasion . but when there is much heat in the part inflam'd , beware of all unctuous things , and let your fomentations and cataplasms be made with butter-milk , which doth egregiously temper heat , and hinder st. anthonie's fire from being easily join'd with the inflammation . the generation of matter being promoted , and the tumor come to suppuration , let it be opened either with an instrument or potential cauterie , in the softest and lowest part of it ; and let the matter be evacuated by little and little , because otherwise the strength of the sick will not be a little prostrated , especially when there is much matter contained in the aposteme ; wherefore let not the tumor be pressed hard , which is familiar with many chyrurgions , but often proves prejudicial to the patient . if the orifice be too small , you may dilate it with a tent made of spunge dipt in melilot plaster , and afterward pressed ; but it is better to lay it open by incision , if it may conveniently be done ; after which you must forth-with proceed to cleanse and consolidate the ulcer ; to which end several medicines are wont to be applied , all which i neither blame nor carp at . i have often considered ( with admiration ) the laudable effect of balsam of sulphur with oil of turpentine , &c. in this case incredible to many , if a little of it be mixt with a milder balsam , and dropt in or applied to the ulcer ; for shortly after , the generation of new phlegm is so diminisht , that oft by the help of this one balsam , i have in a few days perfectly cur'd notable apostemes after inflammations , bred both in the breasts and elsewhere . by this experiment not a little to be esteem'd i judge the cleansing and consolidation of ulcers following apostemes , to consist in the correction of acid and corroding matter , adhering to the ulcer , and corrupting the bloud , ( at least in part that is apt to nourish it ) and turning it into new matter ; which may be corrected by the mention'd balsam of sulphur which is not onely aromatical , but abounds with a volatile oily salt ; by which the acid spirit ( which corrupts the bloud into matter ) is not onely dull'd , but so amended , that the bloud flowing to it soon repairs the parts before consum'd , and finisheth the last consolidation . what farther may be deduc'd from this experiment , to perfect physick and chyrurgery also in other cures , let both ingenious physicians , and chyrurgeons , weigh and judge . if a pleurisie , or peripneumonie , be not carefully cured , and empiema ( which is a collection of purulent matter in the cavity of the breast ) will unavoidably follow . wherefore if these humors cannot be evacuated by expectoration , nor by sweating , pissing , or purging ; the matter may be drawn out by a * paracenthesis made in the breast . the apertion may be made four or five inches from the sternon ; not so near the upper as the lower rib , because under each rib there is an intercostal vein , arterie and nerve . i do not approve of the old way of performing this operation , viz. after the orifice is made , to put in a perforated pipe of gold , silver , or lead , and there to remain till the matter be all discharged . there is now a safer and surer way wherein is not onely avoided many difficulties and dangers , but 't is also done with less trouble and pain to the patient . the instrument must be made of steel , sharp at the point like a lancet , and hollow like a quill , with holes in several places towards the point , the better to evacuate the matter . when the quantity ( which you intend ) is discharged , draw out the instrument , and put a little pledget of dry lint on the orifice , and upon it a sticking plaster ; the next day ( according to the strength of the sick ) repeat it , either in the first place , or make a new apertion . thus you may doe every day , till the matter be all discharged . by this instrument may a hydrocele be also discharged , and likewise the dropsie of the breast and abdomen . they that desire more directions in this operation , may peruse hieronymus fabricius ab aqua pendente , in libro de operationibus chirurgicis . chap. iii. of the consumption or phthisick , and an hectick fever . the consumption is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , tabesco , because in this disease the sick doth consume or waste away . it is called in latin tabes , which is a general name for all consumptions , whether it be atrophia , cachexia , or phthisis ; but it may most properly be taken for an extenuation of the whole body , caused by an ulcer of the lungs . the purulent matter of the ulcer circulating with the bloud , doth infect , and by degrees corrupt the whole mass of it , which makes it unfit for nourishment ; hence it is that all the parts of the body do waste and consume . the causes are many , sometimes purulent matter may be communicated to the lungs , from the plurisie or empiema , inflaming and corrupting them , which causeth an ulcer . sometimes a salt and sharp rheum flowing down from the head to the trachea arteria , which doth not onely cause a vehement coughing , but doth corrode the lungs being naturally tender ; hence an ulcer will be caused . also many times pustules , or tubercles , are generated in the lungs , and coming to suppuration , they break ; and the matter flowing to the bronchia , it may be spit up , if the patient have strength ; but oft times an ulcer remaineth , which causeth a consumption . these causes depend sometimes on choler , sometimes on the juice of the pancreas , sometimes on spittle , sometimes on chyle , sometimes on lympha any way vitiated , by which the mass of bloud ( in time ) becomes also corrupted . when the lungs decline from their natural consistency , they will soon become hard and tumorous , and so by degrees they will be corrupted , and ulcerated ; and the matter of the ulcer corrupting , and makeing the mass of bloud glutinous , in circulating with it , doth so weaken and corrupt all the parts of the body , that they become unfit to perfect natural nourishment ; and therefore of necessity the universal body must consume and pine away ; sometimes it is caused by an obstruction of the lacteal veins , which hindreth the natural passage of the chylus . authours mention many more causes of consumptions ; as gonorrhoea , nocturnal pollutions , want of nourishment , &c. the signs of a consumption begun , are a great defluxion of rheum into the sharp artery , causing a violent cough , by which the lungs are exasperated , and there follows a hectick fever , sometimes putrid , from the purulent matter flowing into the veins . to know whether the lungs be ulcerated , let the patient spit into water ; if it sinks it is matter , which is an infallible sign of an ulcer ; for phlegm always swims in water . when the ulcer is confirm'd , there is difficult breathing , and wasting of the whole body ; the spittle is thick , and of various colours . if the ulcer of the lungs , and consumption hath not been long , and the strength of the sick remains , there may be hopes of recovery ; & e contra . the hectick fever is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. ab habitu ; quod in habitu corporis , vel in partibus solidis consistat . it is an unnatural heat which hath seized upon the solid parts , and wasteth the moisture of them . the heat in an hectick fever is but little , and therefore rarely troublesome to the sick , except one or two hours after meat ; at which time the heat is a little sharpned and increased , which may be known by an over frequent though weak pulse ; but it soon returns again to its former equality . but here it will not be amiss to shew you that there is a threefold moisture in the body , viz. bloud in the veins and arteries , a dewy substance in every part , and also a glutinous moisture ; which doth not onely nourish , but moistneth it , and keepeth the substance of each part together . in the beginning when the moisture begins to fail , the hectick fever is not easily discerned because there is still sufficient moisture to entertain the natural heat ; but if ( by the long continuance of the hectick fever ) the radical moisture of the solid parts begins to consume , it may then be easily known , for there follows a continual and lingring leanness of the whole body ; which being reduc'd to its extremity , may be call'd in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in english an extenuating fever . the latin authours call it marcor , which signifies corruption or rottenness . it is an immoderate dryness , and consumption of the whole body , by reason of the defect of the substantial humidity . there are two degrees of it according to galen , the one is , when this extenuation of the body is in fieri , in consuming ; the other is when it is in facto esse , or consummate ; in which the body is reduc'd to such leanness , that it seemeth to be nothing else but a walking sceleton . the causes of an hectick fever , are external or internal . the external causes are all that may occasion any of the other fevers , for oft times hectick fevers are observ'd to follow other diseases , and especially fevers of one day , proceeding from a great errour in diet , and also from continual , and intermitting fevers , when they are very vehement ; but most frequently from inflammations of the bowels , especially of the lungs , for when an ulcer follows , then the whole mass of bloud is infected by matter , and gets a singular glutinousness ; which being communicated to the other humours , spoils them with the same fault , and renders them unfit to perform the natural functions rightly . sometimes hectick fevers are observ'd to arise immediately from excess of the nonnatural things , as most vehement anger , too much watchings , immoderate sorrow , continued labour , want of food , &c. the internal cause is , the over viscousness of the bloud and humours , because of which not onely the appetite of all food is diminished , and at length dejected , but the nourishment of all the parts of the body is dayly decreas'd ; for when there is loathing of food , then fermentation , separation of usefull from unusefull parts , sanguification , generation of the animal spirits , &c. is hindred and destroyed ; whence the toughness , and sluggishness of choler , spittle , the juice of the pancreas , and lympha , is dayly augmented , and the evil becomes by degrees greater , and at length incurable . if you perceive that there is so much of the radical moisture remaining , as is able to cherish the natural heat , which you may discern , if the colour of the body be fresh , if the figure be decent , if the proportion of the parts be according to nature , and the sick can ( in some good measure ) perform all actions , you may conceive some hopes of recovery . but if the body be extenuated , almost like a sceleton , viz. when the body seemeth to be nothing else but skin and bone , ( as the vulgar proverb is ) acquaint the sick with the danger , least death seize upon them unprepared . nevertheless , if the sick implore your aid of christian charity , withdraw not what comfort you are able to procure unto them . the cure of a consumption , and hectick fever , will differ not a little , according to the diversity of causes producing them . when an hectick fever comes with , or succeeds fevers with or without fits , then upon their account , the cure may be varied according to the divers harm of the humours , differently peccant . if a consumption , or hectick fever , be caused by purulent matter from an ulcer of the lungs , &c. then you must endeavour to free the bloud and humours from matter , which may be done by any antimonial medicines rightly prepared , perhaps before all others ; whether they be diaphoreticks , purgers , or vomiters , as experience doth manifest ; for it hath been observ'd , ( even in a phthisick , and an inveterate great ulcer of the lungs ) to bring away a good quantity of matter , by stool and urine , so that then for many days , no matter was cast forth by a cough . among common things , all vulnerary plants are good used in decoctions . let this or one like it , be a form of a decoction in this case . take the roots of plantain , comfry , round-birthwort , liquorish , of each two ounces ; fennel , scabious , plantain , of each two handfulls ; figs , raisons of the sun stoned , of each four ounces ; let them be all cleansed , bruised and boiled in three quarts of barley-water till a third part be boiled away ; then strain it , and add syrups of hore-hound , and hyssop , of each two ounces ; laudanum opiatum ten grains . mix it . let the sick drink two ounces of this decoction oft in a day ; and if you add one or two drops of balsam of sulphur with oil of annise-seed to every draught , it will be the more effectual . the balsam prepared of the truly sulphureous and inflameable flowers of antimony , is most excellent in this distemper , if it may be had , which may be taken as the balsam of sulphur . also those medicines may be used which mildly amend and correct the viscousness , and glutinousness of all the humours ; for which i commend all mild aromaticks , and oily volatile salts , as that cut and alter every viscous humour , and reduce it into its natural state . those medicines are to be selected as do most conduce to , and agree with the constitution of every sick person . vitriolated tartar is an excellent medicine , which will agree with all constitutions , and may be taken from ten to twenty grains ( every other morning ) in a little warm broth. also the following medicine is very effectual . take the powder of cream of tartar , and tartar vitriolated , of each half a drachm ; volatile salt of harts-horn , salt of amber , of each ten grains . mix it for two doses , which may be taken in chicken broth , in the morning . these choice medicines will conduce much to cleanse the bloud and humours from all purulent matter , if there be any hopes of the patient's recovery . all effusions of bloud , seed and milk , are to be shun'd , except the wonted emptyings , which are natural and serve the individual . let the motions of the mind be moderate , and the exercise of the body be gentle , and let sleep and watchings keep a mediocrity . appoint a moistning and nourishing diet , which is of easie fermentation , as broth , and jellies of young creatures , and milk of goats , sheep and cows , and chiefly of wholsome women . a panado made with the broth of a chicken , the crums of white-bread , and the yelk of a new laid egg , may sometimes be given the sick for a change . let cooling herbs be boiled in the broth , and jellies ; adding other ingredients that are cooling , moistning and cordial , both to strengthen nature , and revive the spirits . let the sick drink barley-water , made pleasant with some pectoral syrup ; and if they have been accustomed to drink wine , let it be well diluted with water . as for fruit , apples are much commended , especially pippins , and permains , which will much refresh the sick . if the patient be costive , you may sometimes administer a clyster of milk and the yelk of an egg. the worst symptome that can attend these diseases , is a loosness ; if it so happen , give goats or cows milk , wherein steel hath been quenched , and rice boiled in it , adding a little powder of cinamon , and let the sick eat commonly of it . chap. iv. of the palpitation of the heart . this disease is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin , palpitatio cordis , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , quod leviter ac frequenter commovet ; because there is an over frequent pulsation or leaping of bloud in the heart , &c. it is a convulsive motion of the heart , with a vehement systole , and diastole of it ; which sometimes hath been so inordinate , that the pulsation hath not been onely seen , but heard at a notable distance ; yea sometimes it hath been so great , that the adjacent ribs in young and tender people ( who have been afflicted with this distemper ) hath been dislocated , and the aorta or great artery , hath been much dilated . see fernelius lib. 5. cap. 12. pag. 292. this deprav'd motion , or palpitation of the heart , is for the most part caused from sharp , viscous and flatuous humours , frequently arising out of the small guts , and transmitted to the ventricles of the heart , and adhereth to them , by which the heart is provoked to a vehement and unequal contraction of it self , without intermission . these humours are mov'd and driven forward , either by their vitious effervescency ; or else they are stirr'd up by violent motion or exercise of the body , especially in the quick ascending of a steep hill ; and sometimes they are constrain'd , or urg'd by grievous passions of the mind . sometimes there have been observ'd fleshy tumours , and cartilaginous excrescencies in the substance of the heart , when dissected ; and those poor creatures when living were never free from a vehement palpitation . also worms have been found in the pericardium , of some that have been dissected after death ; which without doubt caused a deprav'd motion , or pulsation of the heart when living . that which is caused by fleshy tumours , cartilaginous excrescencies , worms , or any other extraneous thing in the pericardium , or substance of the heart , is incurable . but the palpitation of the heart which is caused by acrimonious , flatuous and viscous humours may be cured . those medicines must be administred , that cut , and discuss , and temper an acid acrimony . the following julep may serve for an example . take the waters of parsley , fennel , of each three ounces ; tincture of cinamon , syrup of mint , of each two ounces ; chymical oil of mace ten drops ; spirit of salt armoniack twenty drops ; laudanum opiat . ten grains ; mix it , let the sick take a spoonfull of it every quarter of an hour , till they get some ease . if the distemper hath persever'd long ; the peccant humours must be emptied out by purging ; and to educe them , i prefer before all others , pills to be made of gums , seeing they loosen the glutinous humours , and dispose them to be easier carried out . for example . take of galbanum prepar'd with vinegar half an ounce ; powder of scammony prepar'd , troches alhandal , of each two drachms ; oil of carraway twenty drops ; make it into a mass for pills . take five or six of these pills in the morning fasting , twice a week . they who abhor pills , may use an aromatick and purging decoction . the following though bitter is very efficacious . take the five opening roots , of each one ounce ; roots of angelica , berries of bay and juniper , of each half an ounce ; the best senna , orange-peel , carraway-seed , coloquintida , of each one drachm ; guiacum four ounces ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain-water till half of it be boiled away , then strain it , and add syrup of roses with senna four ounces , cinamon-water two ounces ; mix it . let the sick take four ounces of this bitter decoction , every other morning ; which will by degrees diminish , and mildly educe the hurtfull humours by purging . but seeing not onely the cause ought to be removed , but also the symptomes asswag'd , by refreshing the heart ; you must administer cordial medicines which have power to corroborate the heart , and to cherish and strengthen nature . the following cordial may be preferred in this case . take the waters of baum , mint , borage , cinamon , of each three ounces ; syrups of baum , red poppies , of each two ounces ; laudanum opiat . amber-greese , of each ten grains , mix it . let the sick take two spoonfulls of this rich cordial every three hours , which will wonderfully refresh , and delight the sensible stomach , from whence the perfumed impressions will soon be communicated to the whole body ; by which all the vital and animal functions will be refreshingly cherished , and strengthned , and the palpitation of the heart eased and abated . if the patient hath a costive body , let a carminative clyster be sometimes administred , and if a plethora concur , let a vein be opened , either with an instrument in the arm , or by leeches applied to the haemorrhoids . chap. v. of an universal languishing , as also of swouning and syncope . an universal languishing of the strength of all the parts and functions , is sometimes observ'd to remain after some disease preceding , not rightly cured ; especially when the infirmity hath been grievous , for then a weariness or defect of the animal motion doth usually concur , together with a weak or little pulse , and dulness and debility of the internal and external senses ; whereby the sick continues weak and more languishing ( by certain intervalls ) than is natural . all the kinds of swounings , may be divided ( for methods sake ) into two , viz. the lighter kind , and the most grievous . the lighter kind of swouning or fainting is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in latin animae defectio , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 anima , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficere , because it is an imbecility or feebleness of the heart and courage . the most grievous and singular kind of swouning , is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concido , to cut away ; quod praeceps virium omnium lapsus . it is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. pulsus privatio , because there is no pulse ; neither indeed ( presently in the fit ) is there any animal or voluntary motion or respiration to be observ'd , so that they are more like dead than living creatures . the signs of these fits approaching are yawnings , a cardialgy , anxiety of compression of the heart , griping and distension of the belly , tinkling in the ears , dimness before the eyes , and a giddiness ; and at the approach of a syncope , there are often convulsive motions , with a cold and glutinous sweat , and paleness of all the parts of the body . the causes of these distempers are either external , or internal . the external are many , as extreme weariness of the body , exceeding passions of the mind , prolong'd hunger or thirst , ungratefull smells , the sight of any person or thing that is envied , too great effusion of bloud , seed or milk , over great evacuation of the humours , by vomit , stool , sweat , urine , &c. it may also be caused by the biting or stinging of any venemous creature , and by any other vehement pain . sometimes it is produc'd by a great heat , either of the sun , fire , bath or fever . any of these causes mention'd ( being extreme ) may so change , and diminish the natural effervescency , and rarefaction of the bloud , that the heart it self is not thereby enough expanded , and contracted : so that the vital bloud cannot be sufficiently effus'd into the arteries ; and therefore the pulse is felt less and more languishing , yea sometimes none . the internal cause is glutinousness encreased in the bloud , and the other humours ; and sometimes an encreased acidity in the juice of the pancreas , lympha and spittle ; by which the circulation of the bloud and humours becomes too slow ; hence the ventricles of the heart are not enough dilated , which causeth the pulse to be weaker than is natural , for the effervescency of the bloud and humours being not potent enough , cannot provoke the heart to contract it self , and therefore a swouning or syncope will inevitably ensue . they who are much subject to a swouning or syncope , dye suddenly . those fits which are produc'd from some evident cause , as vehement passions of the mind , immoderate evacuations , &c. are less dangerous than those which come from an internal cause , as glutinousness of the bloud and humours , &c. which in a great measure hindreth its free circulation through the ventricles of the heart , whereby there is a sudden and swift sailing of the vital spirits , and consequently of all strength . to cure an universal languishing , as also a swouning and syncope ; the phlegmatick , glutinous , and acid humours must not onely be corrected , but when they abound , must be diminish'd and educ'd out of the body . therefore to correct and amend the said humours abounding , both in the universal body , and bloud ; i will here set down some forms of select medicines , for the sake of young physicians . the following decoction , is an efficacious medicine . take the roots of elicampane , galangal , angelica , calamus aromaticus , the sive opening roots , of each one ounce ; sage , baum , betony , sweet marjoram , the tops of hore-hound , centaury , wormwood , the flowers of rosemary , staechas , chamomel , clove-gilliflowers , of each one handfull ; the seeds of anise , sweet-fennel , parsley , cardamoms , berries of bays and juniper , of each two drachms ; orange-peel , cinamon , of each half an ounce ; nutmegs one drachm ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused in two quarts of fountain-water for a night ; then boil it gently till a third part be consumed ; strain it , and add syrup of mugwort , staechas , tincture of cinamon , of each two ounces ; mix all together . two or three ounces of this decoction may be taken at any time , twice in a day , either before or after meat , that so the power of the medicine may mildly mix and incorporate it self , not onely with the food , but with spittle in the stomach , and also with the threefold humour flowing together in the small guts ; and thence with the universal bloud and humours in all the veins and arteries ; whereby the desired amendment , and correcting of them will be performed , sooner , easier and more happily . if any like a medicinal wine better , they may infuse the aforesaid ingredients in a sufficient quantity of white-wine , and drink it daily both at dinner and supper time . these choice medicines may be continued for some time ; but when the sick is weary of them , you may use the same ingredients in the form of a powder , or electuary , or make them into troches , with syrup of staechas , mugwort , &c. or you may make use of those compound powders which are to be sold at the shops , viz. spec. diambr . diagalangae , dianthos , &c. all or either of which may be used as aforesaid . if any will be better pleas'd with pills than other forms , you may prescribe these , or some like them . take of galbanum prepar'd with vinegar two scruples ; powder of amber , mastick , of each one scruple ; frankincense , mirrh , castor , of each ten grains ; vitriol of mars prepar'd to whiteness , half a drachm ; chymical oil of mace , eight drops ; beat them into a mass for pills . let the patient take four or five of there pills in the morning fasting , or at night an hour after supper ; whereby the viscous phlegmatick and acid humours will be potently corrected , and temper'd ; which being done , the peccant humours may be effectually educ'd with these hydragogue pills . take gum , sagapenum prepar'd with vinegar half a drachm , rosin of jallap , gambogia , of each one scruple ; oil of juniper four drops ; mix them into pills . four or five of these pills may be administred at a time ; or more or sewer , as the sick is more difficult or easie to be purg'd . when a swouning fit or syncope is near approaching , give those things that will powerfully concentrate the sour flatuous vapours , and discuss the glutinous phlegm . the following volatile , and aromatick cordial will conduce much to this purpose . take the waters of mint , fennel , betony , scurvigrass , cinamon , of each one ounce ; syrups of borage , mint , of each six drachms ; tincture of castor , confection of alkermes , of each two drachms ; salt of amber one drachm ; spirit of salt armoniack twenty drops ; laudanum opiat . amber-greese , of each six grains ; mix it . the sick may take two or three spoonfulls of this cordial in time of the fit , and likewise both before and after , which will much repair both the vital and animal strength , which is wont not a little to languish in these fits . none but they who have try'd , will be easily perswaded of the wonderfull efficacy of the aforesaid medicines ; not onely in preventing , but in diminishing and soon curing swounings and the syncope . when either of these fits urgeth , or is upon the party , you must use those outward things , which may stir up the external senses ; as frictions of the external parts , shoutings in the ears ; also make a smoak with amber , or partridg feathers at the nose , or hold the spirit of salt armoniack , ( in a narrow mouth'd glass ) to the nostrils . you may also wring the fingers , and pull the hair , &c. if you have not a cordial ready , give cinamon , or treacle water , or the apoplectick or antepileptick waters , or for want of them , brandy , aqua vitae or strong wine may serve . chap vi. of fevers in general . a fever is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vel a feritate morbi , that is from the fierceness of the disease . it is called febris in latin a fervore , quasi fervens , because it is a hot distemper . a fever is a nonnatural heat , which may be so termed , because it is more than nature requires , for the continual management of her vital functions ; for when nature is grieved , or over-burthned by any distemper , there is a strugling endeavour of nature her self to remove it , which causeth this non-natural heat . it may be called the prince of diseases , because it is the general door , through which most of humane mortals take their exit of this world . the cause of the preternatural frequency of the pulse , is either a permanent and over rarefaction of the bloud , or any sharp , sour , or salt vapour carried to the heart , corroding the internal substance of it ; by which the archaeus or vital airy spirit of the heart is provoked to allarm all the faculties , and powers both vital and natural , that it may the more couragiously resist its invading enemy , so that the spirits are thereby much stirred up and inflamed ; from whence proceedeth a conflagration , or vitious effervescency of the bloud and humours throughout the whole body . fevers are either continual , or intermitting . a continual fever is that which remains from the first moment of its invasion , to the last of its duration . when a continual fever is very mild , and remains but one day ; it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dies , quod diem durans . it is called in latin diaria , & ephemera febris . this fever is often excited by sudden passions of the mind , as vehement anger , &c. and also by our abode too long in the sun , or by vitiously using any other of the six nonnatural things so called ; for which there is no great need to prescribe medicines for a cure , it being not difficult , the very nature of such a fever terminating it self , most commonly by a breathing sweat , especially if you substract the patient from the inflammatory cause . if the fever continues longer , it may be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , continuo . from whence it is called in latin febris continua , quae nullas hujusmodi mutationes habet , quae accessiones videri possint , sed unicam modo accessionem a principio usque ad finem nullis exacerbationibus distinctam . the continual fever is also called homotona , quae fimilem calorem ad finem usque servat . it is also called acmastica , quae continuo crescit & intenditur . a synochus , or continual fever , may be divided into two sorts , viz. that which is not putrid , called in latin synochus non putrida , and that which is putrid , called synochus putrida . in a synochus non putrida , the bloud , and other humours is a little sharper than is natural , and the heat somewhat great and vaporous , declining a little to the nature and manner of those called putrid . continual fevers are oft times mixt or compounded with those intermitting , having some fits , and again remissions , so that they are not intermitting , but still remain continual . these fits come sometimes every day , sometimes the third , and sometimes the fourth day ; whence it may deservedly be nam'd , either a quotidian , tertian , or quartan continual fever . these fevers upon the account of their divers causes , may not unfitly be distinguish'd into cholerick and lymphatick fevers . and because under the general name of lympha , we do not onely comprehend , that lympha which goes from the conglobated glandules , and other parts to the heart ; but also the juice of the pancreas , and spittle it self , proceeding from the conglomerated glandules , and also the liquour that ariseth from the three-fold sway of the guts , all mixt together with lympha , and the bloud in circulating with it . hence may lymphatick fevers be subdivided into glandular , pancreatick and salivary fevers . all these fevers may differ something according to the divers constitution of other humours together being in the body . but i shall wave the nice descriptions and differences of fevers , and let the dextrous , and judicious physician put a difference between them , as their symptoms shall direct and indicate , for though there are many sorts of continual fevers not putrid , yet the cure is almost the same in all ; i shall therefore ( in a few words ) mention some of their differences , taken from the more grievous symptoms oft accompanying them ; after the example of famous practioners , and chiefly great platerus , and the most famous helmont , and judicious sylvius , &c. 1. first , let us take notice of the exceeding heat , and most urgent burning , which attend some fevers . it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which doth signifie burning ; in which the sick is very dry and thirsty , which is hard to be quenched . this heat is not of the essense of the disease , but proceedeth from the inflamed spirits , as is before mention'd in page 98. neither doth the great thirst in fevers , proceed from heat and driness , as in a true and natural thirst , but from some excrementitious matter , which adhereth to the sensitive faculty of the internal membrane of the stomach , which is common to the throat , mouth and lips , as that famous physician , and ingenious anatomist doctour alexander read , did well observe ; which is also the cause , that those parts are always afflicted in this dry and thirsty distemper . in this symptome , choler is peccant , not onely in a salt acrimony , but also an inflamable oiliness ; hence the pulse is very great , and over frequent , &c. 2. raving may be oft observ'd in many fevers , which is grievous to the sick for some time , chiefly when the fever is malign , or epidemical . the cause of this is choler peccant as aforesaid , which so diminisheth the viscousness of the juice of the pancreas , that it causeth a vitious effervescency with it , and being made sharper , it produceth a humour not much unlike black choler , which causeth the head-ach , and watchings , and hence ravings , and at length sometimes convulsions , and death it self . there are many more symptoms belonging to continual or synochal fevers . 1. as first , a speedy wasting of several parts of the body , caused by choler , the cure whereof may be referred to the cure of a hectick fever . 2. a malignity , which suddenly dejecteth the vital strength , without manifest cause ; which for the most part is epidemical . but of this i intend to treat particularly in chap. 8. of this book . 3. the last symptome which i shall here mention , is seldom observ'd ; in which ( all the time of the disease ) the external parts are cold , while the internal parts burn ; and therefore 't is called by the latins lipyria febris , and in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , quia destituitur ardore externo . some think this distemper consists of a double fever , cholerick , and pancreatical ; and not without reason , because such like vapours may be continually rais'd in the small guts , by the juices of the pancreas universally over-sour ; which may be confus'd onely with the mass of bloud , and breed a sense of cold in the habit of the body , whilst a burning heat is stir'd up in the internal parts by a fever , caused by choler more oily than sharp . the cause of every continual fever not putrid , is sometimes choler vitiated , sometimes lympha together with the juice of the pancreas and spittle , and many times all these together are ill affected . these vitiated humours flowing always to the heart , cause a continual effervescency in the right ventricle of it ; whence the pulse is continually produc'd more frequent against nature . fevers in children are caused either by the food abounding in quantity , or by some vitious quality of it , or from an ill disposition of the digestive ferment . milk is the general food of children , and there is such a propensity in its own nature to curdle , that if it be not quickly digested , it obeyeth the acid ferment of the stomach , and is soon coagulated like new tough cheese , and if it be not speedily vomited up , it begets a putrefactive ferment , which produceth terrible symptoms , as griping , scouring , vomiting , &c. i know a woman , that had a young child about a month old , which was taken very ill with convulsions , after which followed a thorough thrush , with a fever , accompanied with the aforesaid symptoms , as griping , &c. which continu'd many days , till the whole body was so maciated , that it was in a total atrophia ; and when there was no hopes of recovery , the nurse gave the child a little of the infusion of the antimonial cup , which caused it to vomit up a curd , three or four inches long , very green , and as tough as new cheese : after which the child did wonderfully recover and grow fat . continual acute fevers are oft times accompanied with a secret malignity , and therefore dangerous ; parvoe febres quandoque valde malignoe . the stomach ( in continual fevers ) is most commonly primarily affected through undigestion , or else from excrements , not being separated and orderly evacuated ; which causeth an irregular ferment , or nonnatural heat in the stomach ; which ( though begun else where ) is much aggravated by vitiating juices , found in this first elaboratory of decocting nature . for as in humane frame , the first heat of nature ( preparatory to all her depending motions ) is the digestive heat for chylification in the stomach ; so likewise the corrupting or exasperating of the same , either by the sour ferments , or too much of the overflowing gall , is the cause of most fevers . therefore in the beginning of the cure , evacuation by vomiting never ought to be neglected by the carefull physician ( provided it be duely timed ) because then most commonly it removeth the sole cause of the feverish intemperature , without the help of any other means . and here i commend antimonials well prepared , before all others , seeing that antimony as well rightly prepar'd , as administred , serves no less to purifie man's body than gold. but if the patient's body be costive , and there be eminent signs of a plethora , or great fulness of bloud ; then let a carminative clyster be first administred , and after its operation let a vein be opened , and draw seven or eight ounces of bloud at a time , and if there be occasion let it be reiterated ; for i always prefer it s repeated less diminution , ( as need requires ) sometimes instituted in the same day , before great evacuations made suddenly , which hath brought many evils to the sick . it matters little what vein be opened , unless in women , because of the monthly terms either at hand , or hindred . and seeing it is the duty of every honest physician to be natures helper , he ought to endeavour to remove all impediments , whereby the sick may be cured more quickly , safely and pleasantly , without demurs , to magnifie the cure , and inflame the reckonings . wherefore since the first curative intention of most fevers , is the discharge of the first turgent monitor from the stomach , and adjacent parts by vomiting , as is before said . let the patient ( upon the discovery of the assaulting enemy ) take an antimonial emetick , and if one doth not suffice , let it be reiterated ; by which the morbifick matter will be evacuated , nature calmed , and the contemperating of the incited , or enraged nonnatural heat , will be the easier performed . but here the sex is to be consider'd , the female not so well enduring this evacuation ; because emeticks cause great commotions , and flatuous vapours in them ; which may also prevent or corrupt natures own intentions in her great discharge of turgent humours . wherefore administer no emetick to them , except they vomit very easily ; but rather let the peccant humours be diminisht , or emptied out gradually by the following decoction to be taken twice a day to three or four ounces . take the roots of parsly , fennel , plantain , peony , dandelion , succory , of each two ounces ; the leaves of endive , house-leek , fumitory , damask-roses , of each one handfull . let them be cleansed , bruised and infused ( for a night ) in one quart of fountain-water very hot , then boil it gently till a third part be consumed , strain it and add syrup of succory with rhubarb , the best manna , of each two ounces ; powder of cream of tartar , and tartar vitriolated , of each two drachms ; oil of sulphur twenty drops ; mix it all together . this pleasant medicine will conduce much to correct the salt sharpness of choler , and will also amend its oily inflameableness , and separate it from the bloud , and mildly dispose it , and the rest of the abounding humours to be voided out by stool . after these evacuations , give the sick the following medicine twice a day in a little thin broth , or water-gruel . take salt of amber , volatile salt of harts-horn , tartar vitriolated , of each six grains ; mix it . this excellent volatile medicine is both abstersive , and diuretick , and will cleanse the stomach and intestines of the remaining sordes , and expell them by urine . in the declination of the fever , if sleep be wanting ; this following julep will much avail , both to cause rest , and refresh the spirits . take the waters of carduus benedict . fennel , of each two ounces ; treacle-water , syrup of red poppies , of each one ounce ; laudanum opiatum six grains ; salt of wormwood half a drachm ; spirit of salt twenty drops ; mix it , and give the sick three or four spoonfulls every three hours . by the frequent use of this cordial julep , ( or one like it ) all pains will be eased , nature quieted and relieved , and the importunate thirst allayed . but if thirst still urgeth , give the dulcified spirit of salt , or of niter , in posset-drink , and all the liquids they take , from six , to ten or twelve drops at a time . if you fear there be any malignancy in the fever ; give the sick eight or ten grains of bezoardic . mineral . every fourth hour , in a spoonfull or two of the aforesaid julep , or good sound canary-wine , to keep the patient in a breathing sweat . as for the cure of fevers attended with grievous and furious raging , and watchings , &c. i refer you to the chapter of phrensies , which is full to this purpose . i shall now give some directions to young physicians and nurses , and so conclude this chapter of fevers in general . 1. first , give no opiats in the beginning of a fever , because they tye up the archaeus of the stomach , and first passages , thereby hindring it from expelling , the occasional cause of the disease . 2. give the sick neither mithridate , nor diascordium ( as is the common custome ) nor apply it to the wrists , nor stomach , ( nor any thing else that is nauseous ) whilst nature and the disease are strugling ; but if the patient tends to coldness , you may moisten a piece of rose-cake , or a tost of stale bread in sylvius's spirit , or for want thereof in brandy dulcified , and apply it to the stomach twice a day , which will revive nature , and fortifie it against the invading enemy . 3. give no meat whilst the disease is on them , for the stomach is not fit to receive it , neither hath it strength to digest it ; and therefore it will become a recruit or supply to the disease , except it be speedily vomited up again . 4. if it be a child , give it not any milk , and if it suck , wean it ; for milk is the first matter , and foundation of this disease in them ; neither give it beer , nor water , nor any cooling things to correct the heat , because it will weaken nature , and strengthen the disease . but hot posset-drink turn'd with white-wine , or sound beer with a little vinegar , may be drank liberally , after the cause is removed . 5. if the sick be adult , you may give two parts of water , and one of good wine , either french wine or sherry ; but malaga , or any other sweet wine is not so good . 6. when the patient begins to recover , the plainest broths , and gruels , are the best ; till then a little is too much ; and if you did use salt and vinegar , instead of spice and sugar , it would agree better with them . chap. vii . of intermitting fevers . an intermitting fever is that which returns after intervalls , sometimes longer , sometimes shorter in divers fits ; whence according to the divers space of every access or fit ; the same gets also divers names , for if a new fit return daily , answering the precedent in proportion , it is called a quotidian . if it comes every other day , it is called a tertian . if the fit return after two days intermission , it is called a quartan , and so forward , although quintans , sextans , &c. are seldom observ'd . and here you may note , that intermitting fevers do but seldom return in the exact intervall of natural days of twenty four hours ; but return quicker or slower , for the most part ; wherefore then they are said to anticipate the expected time for some hours , which is disliked , or to come later , which is commended by some . although it matters not , whether the fits anticipate , or come later ; if so be that their continuance , and the grievousness of symptoms ( daily accompanying ) be diminish'd . there is great diversity among authours concerning the causes of intermitting fevers , which i shall not insist on ; but in a few words will set down the true causes of them . the causes then , are either external , or internal . the external cause of agues is a stop of the usual necessary discharge of fermenting humours ; the porous skin ( being shut by external sudden cold ) denies passage to the constant discharge of the sweatty humours , which happens most commonly about autumn ; and likewise when any comes suddenly out of a hot climate , into a cold region ; for the sweatty vapours being detain'd by the constipation of the skin , or shutting of the pores , the same condense , and thence become sour , which chills the external parts , and causeth the shaking , or shivering cold fit , at the first invasion of this disturbing foreigner ; after which the inflaming ferment of choler ( being exasperated ) doth act its part , and ( having gain'd dominion ) it doth rarefie the bloud by degrees ; whence the pulse becomes greater and stronger ) which is increas'd by an irritation of the acrimony of choler , and the rarefaction of the bloud at the heart ; for the heat and burning in the heart , and thence in the whole body , is increas'd by choler successively over-ruling . the internal cause of agues or intermitting fevers , is an obstruction of one or more of the lateral ducts or branches of the pancreas or sweet-bread , by reason of viscous phlegm ; which being separated from the bloud by the glandules of the pancreas , is there collected by degrees ; whence it is sent ( in too large a quantity ) to the main duct or pipe thereof , which detaineth the juice of the pancreas contrary to nature , which ought continually to flow into the small gut called duodenum . the juice of the pancreas , which is naturally sourish , being compelled to stand still in its passage , quickly grows more acrimonious , or acid ; because the volatile spirit ( which is naturally conjoin'd to it , to temper it ) doth gradually fly away ; by which this juice ( becoming more sharp and acid ) acquires a putrefactive ferment ; whence at length it makes way through the obstructing phlegm , and is effused into the duodenum , where meeting with choler , it stirs up a vitious effervescency , or preternatural ferment , from whence comes the ague fit , with all its symptoms ; as in the beginning horrour , chilness , cold , shaking , &c. then presently follows reachings , yawning , and vomiting , &c. at length acrimonious and flatulent vapours ( raised by the aforesaid vitious effervescency ) are carried through the lacteal veins , and thoracick passage , and so through the vena cava ascendens , ( in what form soever ) to the right ventricle of the heart ; and by its acrimony , alters and troubles the vital effervescency , and by over stirring the heart , causeth a more frequent pulse ; and many times produceth grievous symptoms , as great heat and thirst , difficulty of breathing , heart-ach , raving , swouning , and all other symptoms , that happen in all intermitting fevers . the nature of viscous phlegm is such , that though it be pierced through by the juice of the pancreas too acid and acrimonious , yet it doth presently run together and unite again , and so repairs and renues the obstruction that was in part opened ; and the juice of the pancreas being stopped as before , grows sour by standing still as aforesaid , so that it forceth through the phlegm that stopped its natural passage , and so produceth , a new fit ; sooner or later , as the phlegm ( obstructing the lateral passage of the pancreas ) is pierced through by the foremention'd juice . for if the obstructing phlegm be not very glutinous , and the juice of the pancreas be plentifull and acid , a new fit of an intermitting fever will return in the space of twenty four hours , and therefore 't is called a quotidian but if the phlegm be very viscous and plentifull , and the juice of the pancreas be little in quantity , and also tart and obtuse ; so much the slower will the new fit of the intermitting fever be produced ; so that it is sometimes three , sometimes four days , before the returning of the fit ; from whence it is called a quartan , or quintan , &c. so likewise as oft as the obstructing phlegm , and the juice of the pancreas are in a medium , viz. the phlegm more glutinous and plentifull , than in the quotidian , but not so much as the quartan ; as likewise the juice of the pancreas is more in quantity , and more acid than in the qutartan , but not so plentifull and acid , as in a quotidian ) so oft new fits of intermitting fevers will return almost every other day , from whence they may be called tertians , which much differ in their symptoms beyond what other intermitting fevers do , although none of them return in the exact intervall of the days or hours before mention'd , but return quicker or slower for the most part . the cure of all intermitting fevers will be perform'd . 1. first , if the glutinous coagulated phlegm , ( which is the cause of the obstruction ) be cut and dissolv'd , and wholly carried out of the body . 2. if the increas'd acidity , and acrimony of the juice of the pancreas , be temper'd and corrected . 3. if its vitious effervescency with choler , &c. in the small gut , behindred and amended . phlegm obstructing will be cut most commodiously with aromaticks , and any volatile salt. this volatile aromatick julep may serve for example . take the waters of carduus , parsley , fennel , fumitery , succory , treacle , cinamon , of each one ounce ; syrup of carduus , the five opening roots , of each an ounce and half ; powder of crabs-eyes , tartar vitriolated , of each one drachm ; salt of amber , antimony diaphoretick , of each half a drachm ; laudanum opiat . ten grains ; oil of cloves six drops ; mix it . take a spoonfull of this volatile medicine , often in a day throughout the whole cure , using some exercise , that thereby the whole body may grow warm , and the force of the medicine being disperst over all the body , may come at last to the lateral passages of the pancreas , and dissolve the obstruction . three or four hours before the coming of the fit , you may give three or four spoonfulls of the aforesaid cordial , which will not onely cause a breathing sweat , but will temper and correct the increas'd acidity and acrimony of the juice of the pancreas , and hinder , and amend its vitious effervescency with choler , &c. in the small gut , which will conduce much to a cure. three hours before the return of the next fit , administer an antimonial emetick , which is in this case proper before all others ; for by the help thereof , not onely choler abounding , but also phlegm obstructing , will be expell'd to the small gut , and thence to the stomach , and at length by the mouth ; and the straining to vomit doth many times procure a stool or two , which is very beneficial . but if the sick be a female , or vomiting be prejudicial , or not approv'd of ; then such things as cut and purge phlegm downwards , may be administred , for example . take of pil . faetidae one drachm ; mercur. dulcis , powders of troches alhandal , scammony prepar'd , tartar vitriolated , of each half a scruple , salts of amber and worm-wood , of each one scruple ; spirit of salt armoniack , oil of amber , of each ten drops , with syrup of buckthorn ; make it into a mass for pills . take four or five of these pills , four hours before the coming of the fit ; which will both cut , and purge the viscous phlegm out of the body , and also educe other peccant humours . after purging or vomiting , let the sick often take the following powder in a glass of generous wine , or in two or three spoonfulls of the cordial diaphoretick before mention'd , to provoke sweat as is there directed . take volatile salt of harts-horn , salts of amber , worm-wood and carduus , tartar vitriolated , of each ten grains ; sugar of pearls the weight of them all , mix them for two doses . you may take a dose of it two or three hours before the access of the fit ; which will wonderfully conduce to dissolve the obstruction , and cause a breathing sweat . let these evacuations be as often reiterated as occasion requires . if the intermitting fever hath continu'd long , or the sick hath a plethorick body , let a vein be opened . by these few forms the young practitioner may easily invent other effectual medicines , in some things to be varied as the distemper requires . chap. viii . of malignant fevers . in the chapter of fevers in general i told you , that synochal , or continual fevers , were without any fit , to their last and complete ceasing ; and likewise i did distinguish them into putrid , and not putrid . those that are not putrid , have little or no malignity in them , but the putrid are always accompanied with malignity . a malignant fever differs from others in this , that it draws its putrefaction immediately from its own matter , putrefaction being joined with it ; from whence the vital strength is suddenly , and unexpectedly dejected ; or far more grievous symptoms occur , than are wont to be observ'd in such a like disease . malign fevers are either more acute , ending in few days ; or longer , continuing more days . and they are either contagious , and epidemical raging among many in the same time , having a common cause , as the air or food vitiated , &c. infecting others , or else they are not contagious . among contagious fevers , we may not neglect to speak something of a calenture , because it is a contagious distemper , assaulting not onely those which use the sea ; but also many that live near the sea-shore , in sea-port towns , &c. are subject to it . the signs of this disease are a great pain of the head , sometimes with violent raging fits , and delirium , the rest of the body being in good temper ; the sick do fancy the water to be a green meadow , and will indeavour to get into it . the cause of a calenture is the intemperature of the climate , together with ill diet , causing strong obstructions , and an ill habit of body , by which flatuous vapours are encreas'd in the body , and in time ascend to the head. the cause of the malignity ( in this , and all other putrid fevers ) is a sharp volatile salt in the air , which is drawn into tbe lungs by degrees , and weakens the liquor of the glandules ( which is naturally sourish ) and makes it sluggish , and of little force , whence the natural consistency of the bloud is diminish'd , and the separation of the animal spirits often hindred . the sharp volatile salt aforesaid , may be also swallowed down with food or spittle into the stomach , or it may enter the pores of the body ; by which not onely the liquor of the glandules , but the bloud also may be infected ; hence depends the variety of symptoms which may be observ'd in these diseases . in malign fevers , there oft precedes a light shivering , after which a gentle heat soon follows ; the pulse is frequent and unequal , though little and weak , and sometimes deficient , the sick is often drowsie , and possest with a kind of lethargy ; and when they sleep , they are often vex'd with turbulent dreams ; they are often grip'd in the stomach , and troubled with loathing and vomiting , accompanied with the head-each , raving , giddiness , &c. also there is great thirst , weariness , and unquietness of the whole body ; sometimes there happens cholerick and fetid loosnesses ; and also a haemorrhage at the nose or womb doth often concur . 1. if tumors in the glandules , and spots and little pimples , divers both in colour and greatness , do break forth in many parts of the body , they are signs of great malignity . 2. if the sick get no ease after sweating promoted by art , there is little hopes of recovery ; also if the extreme parts soon wax hot , and again are presently cold , 't is an ill sign . first to preserve and defend the body from all malignity , and infection in time of contagion . i commend the frequent , and moderate use of sour and tart things mixt with all things potable , for the patient's drink , or food ; as barberries , quinces , oranges , pomgranates , limmons , wood-sorrel , verjuice , vinegar , &c. in the beginning of malign fevers , and also the calenture , if a loathing urgeth , part of the acrimonious volatile salt adheres to the tunicles of the stomach ; wherefore in this case , first administer an antimonial emetick , which is well prepared , mild and fixt , because it hath an admirable sulphur in it , whereby any sharpness is wonderfully temper'd , and the malign poison is thereby in part sent out by vomit and stool . after the operation of the emetick , let a cordial sudorifick be presently administred , that the remaining part of the malign poison may be driven forward , and expelled most safely , and commodiously out of the body . the following cordial may serve for example . take of epidemical water , spirit of vinegar , of each one ounce ; the waters of treacle , and cinamon , of each half an ounce ; the waters of carduus , scabious , of each two ounces ; syrups of the juice of carduus , clove-gilliflowers , of each one ounce and half ; antimonie diaphoretick , bezoar-mineral , of each one drachm ; venice-treacle , two drachms ; mix it . let the sick take a quarter of this diaphoretick julep , and dispose the body to sweat , and after half an hour , take one or two spoonfulls more , and so go on , till a profitable sweat follow . in the interim if the sick be thirsty , let them drink a little warm broth temper'd to a gratefulness , with juice of oranges , citrons , or verjuice , &c. whereby the breaking forth of the sweat will not onely be promoted , but also the hurtfull acrimony of the peccant salt will be corrected , and asswaged . after this excellent medicine hath been sufficiently and rightly us'd , so that you perceive the malign poison to be carried out of the body ; yet you must persist in the moderate use of it , as likewise in the use of four things , a little harsh , mixt with drink , or broth as beforesaid ; because they much conduce to restore ( by degrees ) the former consistency to the bloud . in calentures , phlebotomy may be safely used . chap. ix . of the plague or pestilence . the plague or pestilence is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , solvo , quod vitam solvat . it is called in latin pestilentia , & pestis , ex depascendo , quod veluti incendium depascat . it is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , percutio hinc angl. the plague . pestis significat omne malum ; quod tam inanimis quam animatis mortem & exitium repentino adfert . the plague is a contagious disease , suddenly afflicting the heart , and all the vital , animal and natural faculties with many grievous symptoms . the cause is chiefly the sins of mankind , provoking the great god to send this pestiferous distemper as a judgment on them for their impiety . the cause ( next to god's judgment ) is a sharp venemous and contagious volatile salt in the air , very much heightned ( inspired with the air into the lungs , or is swallowed down with the food or spittle into the stomach ; it may also get in through the pores into the body ) by which the acid liquor in all the conglobated glandules is weakned and made sluggish , that it doth not circulate with its wonted force : whence the natural consistency and rarefaction of the bloud is diminsht , and the separation of the animal spirits hindred ; and the vital strength is much opprest , by which the pulse becomes not onely little , but also languishing ; till at length the spirits are extinguisht , and death ( unexpected to many ) carries them speedily ( torrenti similis ) in fiery chariots , god knows where . all the signs in malign fevers are common ( and much heightned ) in the pest ; besides many other grievous symptoms , as diarrhaea , hemorrhage at the nose , ears , eyes , mouth and secrets ; sometimes yellowness of the eyes , buboes in the groins , armpits , and behind the ears , and in some white bladders , and carbuncles , also spots called the tokens , with raving , &c. 1. the pest is deceitfull above all other diseases , therefore no certain prognostick can be drawn of it ; for many have died when there hath been great hopes of recovery , and on the contrary , many have escaped with mortal signs . 2. a bubo is less dangerous than a carbuncle , and it than the spots , ( vulgarly the tokens ) which most commonly portend death wheresoever they are . 3. buboes incompassed with a blue or livid circle , are most commonly a mortal sign , especially if they suddenly disappear , unless the malign humour be sent to some other part ; and if with a bubo behind the ears , there be pain of the throat without inflammation 't is mortal . 4. if a carbuncle rise after a bubo , and look white , with a litle push or tail at the end of it , 't is dangerous , except the fever do very much abate ; and if after cauterizing , or cupping , the carbuncle abate not in twenty four hours , 't is a sign of death approaching , except matter appear ; and if carbuncles seize the stomach , guts , bladder , or other intrails , it portends death . 5. deliriums , drowsiness , heart-ach , trembling , convulsions , great driness of tongue , are all bad signs ; also a dysentery is most commonly mortal ; but a hemorrhage at the nose , or menses are not so dangerous . to preserve from this pestiferous distemper , although transmigration in the fear of god may be lawfull , yet let none think to escape by flying , and so neglect their duties to god , for 't is impossible to run out of his reach , for he filleth heaven and earth with his presence ; wherefore let servent prayers be put up to god , whose compassions fail not ; and then make use of an honest physician . 1. you must endeavour to purifie the infected air , with great fires , wash the house daily , and after sprinkle it with vinegar ; and fume either with pitch , frankincense , mirrh , amber , benjamin , wood , and berries of juniper , &c. 2. avoid all passions , watchings , and immoderate exercise and venery . 3. eat nothing that is hard of concoction , and use a moderate diet though easie of digestion , and drink good sound wine , &c. 4. go not forth with an empty stomach , but always take some preservative against infection . for example , take spirit of vinegar , julep of roses , of each one ounce ; mix it . vinegar , verjuice , oranges , limmons , citrons , pomgranats , barberries , quinces , wood-sorrel , &c. are all very good , used as before directed in malign fevers . this poison must not be sent out by vomiting or purging ; neither is phlebotomy allowed . for it is known by manifold experience , that the cure of the pest is most happily instituted by cordial sudorificks , rightly prepar'd of antimony , because it hath an admirable sulphur in it , whereby not onely sharpness is wonderfully temper'd , but the malign poisonous volatile salt is thereby most safely driven forward , and expelled by sweating out of the body ; to which may be added other cordials , as followeth . take the powders of crabs-eyes , tartar vitriolated , antimony diaphoretick , bezoar-mineral , of each one scruple ; bezoar-stone of the east , red coral prepar'd , salts of rhue , scordium , of each half a scruple ; venice-treacle , two drachms ; spirit of salt ten drops ; mix it into an electuary with confectio de hyacintho . let the sick take half a drachm of this cordial electuary every three hours , and drink three or four spoonfulls of this cordial julep after it . take of epidemical-water , the waters of carduus , borage , scordium compound , of each three ounces ; the waters of treacle , cinamon , syrups of the juice of carduus , and limmons , syrup of saffron , of each one ounce ; salt prunella , and salt of wormwood , of each one drachm ; laudanum opiat . ten grains ; mix it for a cordial . let the sick person take the aforesaid medicines , till sweat is plentifully provoked ; then let the sweat be gently wiped off with warm linen cloaths . in the mean while give the sick a little hot chicken-broth , or other broth of fresh meat , temper'd to a gratefulness with some sour thing , as was directed in malign fevers , as barberries , wood-sorrel , limmons , &c. you must persist in this course till the danger be over , and some time after , ( though the sick think themselves well ) lest the disease deceive you by a sudden surprize again . there are many cordial confections always to be had ready at apothecaries shops , as mithridate , diascordium , venice-treacle , london-treacle , treacle-water , &c. any of which may be used by the rich or poor , for they will not onely cause sweating , but also will temper and moderate the hurtfull acrimony of the volatile salt before mentioned . you may dip a hot toast in aq . prophylactica , and apply it to the region of the stomach , and also tye some of it in a rag , and smell to it . if there be great drowsiness , avoid opiates , and take the cordial julep without the laudanum ; but if there be great watching , vomiting , flux of the belly , or hicket , you may give it with the laudanum prescrib'd , for it will much conduce to ease the sick of all these symptoms . if there be a bubo , apply a strong vesiccatory , and when the blister is well raised , open it , and dress it with mustard , and basilicon , of each equal parts ; after cure it according to art. if there be a carbuncle , apply leeches , or ventoses , with scarification , or the actual or potential cautery , after which often apply mithridate , 'till the eschar be separated ; then dress it with unguent . basilicon , and aegyptiacum , or else you may use butter of antimony 'till the ulcer be well cleansed and fitted for the last consolidation which may be performed by any desiccative medicine . chap. x. of the small-pox , and measles . the small-pox , and measles are called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin morbilli , quasi parvi morbi , vel parvorum morbi . they are also called variolae , & pustulae , ex vario , vel varium facio , quod cutis fit varia . because the skin is of various forms . these distempers are most commonly attended with a malign fever , which oft proves epidemical , contagious and mortal , and therefore may justly be termed pestilential . the small-pox is a cutaneous eruption , or large pustules , something like to warts on the skin , with inflammation , which in few days comes to suppuration , if the sick recover . the measles are little pustules in the skin , with a deep redness , and may be best perceived by feeling ; they are usually discussed in five or six days without suppuration . there is an other sort of pustules , or tubercles , like little bladders , incident to men , women and children ; which are without inflammation or redness ; and also without a fever . some call them cristals , others blisters , but country people call them swine-pox , hen or chicken-pox , &c. to these also may be referred , those red fiery spots which break out about the fourth or fifth day ( in malign fevers ) all over the body ; and if the sick recover , they vanish about the eighth day , after which the cuticula cometh away in flakes ; this is commonly called the scarlet fever . the signs of the small-pox approaching , are pains of the head , shining before the eyes , with redness and swelling of the face , and sometimes bleeding at the nose ; also a grievous pain of the back , which reacheth to the neck , with great heat and pricking all over the body ; there is often loathing of the stomach , and vomiting , with trembling of the heart , great terrour in sleep , difficulty of breathing , and sometimes raving and convulsion . the cause of the small-pox and measles , is an ill quality or impurity of the mothers bloud , with which the child was nourish'd in the womb , which doth communicate pollution , and defile the mass of bloud ; and after the child is born , when there is an ill disposition of the air proportionable to the disease , there followeth a peculiar effervescency or ebullition of the bloud and other humours , by which nature is inraged and provoked to cast forth the impurity . the excrementitious matter is either thin or thick ; if it be thin , the measles follow , if thick , the small-pox are produced . and if there be a malignant constitution of the air , it causeth not onely a purging forth of the corrupt matter of the bloud , &c. but corrupteth the whole mass of bloud , and so produceth a dangerous and epidemical small-pox . if they come out red , and soon ripen or turn white , being round pointed , and outward in the skin ; if the voice and breathing be free , without any grievous symptoms , there is no danger , but if there be a great fever ( which is not abated after their eruption ) with great thirst , and difficulty of breathing , also black or bloudy urine , or stool , hemorrhage at the nose , mouth , &c. doth signifie a great acrimony , and malignancy of the bloud , that nature is compelled to evacuate it by such preposterous ways ; and are most commonly mortal signs . so likewise if it be long e'er they come out , and they be green , blewish , or black , and sink in again , the sick is in great danger of death . as for the cure of these distempers , if they be malignant , or epidemical , let the same means be used as is prescrib'd in malignant fevers , but if there be little or no sign of malignancy , you may first administer an antimonial emetick , and after its operation , give this or the like cordial . take the waters of carduus , dragons , treacle , scordium compound , of each two ounces ; venice-treacle two drachms ; syrups of the juice of limmons , carduus , saffron , of each one ounce ; confection of hyacinth one drachm ; mix it for a cordial . let the sick take two or three spoonfulls of this every half hour till a sweat be promoted ; after sweating , keep the patient in a warm room , till the danger be over . before the eruption , ( if there be eminent signs of a plethora , and the sick be adult ) phlebotomy may be used with good success . bezoar and gascoign's powder , and diascordium are commonly used in these diseases . you must endeavour to defend the inward parts with the pectoral decoction , to which you may add a little saffron . also a saffron stay , in which is put a few sows ( called millepedes ) bruised , is excellent to defend the throat . for the eyes , this water is good . take the waters of plantain , white roses , of each three ounces ; of camphire , saffron , of each ten grains ; mix it . or you may use womens milk , and saffron . if the throat and mouth are inflamed , make a gargarism with plantain-water and syrup of mulberries . to defend the nose , put up this with a rag or feather . take of red rose-water , vinegar of red roses , of each one ounce ; powder of red saunders , camphire , of each one drachm ; mix it . when the small-pox begins to dry , anoint them often with oil of sweet almonds , and oil of the yelks of eggs , which will prevent their pitting . of diseases of the belly . book iii. chap. i. of the thirsty disease . this is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sitio , to be thirsty . in latin 't is called sitis morbosa . thirst is the first natural passion of mankind , and also of beasts ; as is manifest by their first sucking milk out of the breast to asswage it . the causes of thirst augmented , are either external or internal . the external are the air over heated by the sun , over salt food , too much exercise of body , vehement passions of the mind , as much anger , &c. prolong'd watches , the body either too costive , or too loose , much sweating , urine voided too plentifully , any notable evacuation of bloud , milk or seed , &c. the internal cause is deduced ( for the most part ) from too sharp choler , carried down into the small gut ; where it raiseth such an effervescency with the juice of the pancreas flowing thither , that thence are elevated salt vapours to the stomach and gullet , and there produceth a sense of drought . it may also pierce through the lacteal vessels , and so to the heart , and infect the bloud too much with its saltness , whence the spittle , and the other humours also become too salt , by which a great thirst is stirred up and augmented . the signs are manifest , for the patient's complaint for want of drink , will inform you . this distemper may be cured by such acid liquours , and oily emulsions , which will dilute the lixivial salt of choler , and potently change its acrimony , and asswage its sharpness , and deduce it to the bladder . the following julep may serve for example . take tincture of red-roses , barley-water , of each twelve ounces ; cinamon-water two ounces , syrup of violets three ounces , salt prunella two drachms ; mix it , and give the sick three spoonfulls every two hours . this emulsion is also of great virtue , not onely to restrain thirst , but mildly to procure rest also . take of french-barly boiled four ounces ; sweet almonds blanched ; white poppy-seeds , of each two ounces ; let them be well beaten in a stone mortar ; then with two quarts of barley-water , the waters of cinamon and fennel , of each two ounces ; make an emulsion ; to which add julep of roses four ounces , syrups of violets , and the juice of limmons , of each two ounces ; mix it . let the party thirsting , drink a moderate draught of this emulsion , often in a day , which will be very acceptable . you may also make gratefull troches , or pellets of sugar , and salt prunella , to be kept in the mouth , to deceive the thirst. if salt serous matter abound in the body , purge it by stool or urine . this gratefull medicine may serve for both intentions . take the roots of flower-de-luce , parsley , china , of each two ounces ; dandelion , agrimony , of each one handfull ; senna one ounce ; rhubarb half an ounce ; agarick , turky , turbith , jallap , of each three drachms ; cinamon , cloves , of each two drachms ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused in two quarts of white-wine , for the space of twenty four hours , then strain it , and add syrup of the five opening . roots four ounces ; of which you may give the sick four ounces every third day in the morning fasting . if there be a salt catarrh , it may be temper'd with pills of styrax , you may administer a pill every night going to bed . let the patient's diet be mutton or veal-broth , without salt. chap. ii. of hunger vitiated . hunger may be called the appetite of meats , as thirst is of drinks . it may be many ways deprav'd , viz. when it is augmented , diminish'd , or abolish'd . hunger augmented may be deprav'd two ways , either in quantity or quality ; if it be in quantity , there is more nourishment desired than the stomach can digest . this distemper is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fames ; quod affatim edatur . it is called by the latines fames canina , and in english dog's appetite ; because in this distemper the sick do feed insatiably ; after which some do purge and vomit like dogs ; and are presently hungry again , and sick if they do not eat . if hunger be deprav'd in quality , then vitious things , which are not food , ( as coals , ashes , clay , turfs , leather , and i know not what ) are desired . this is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and pica also in latin ; ab ave pica , vel quod varia appetant , ut pica varii est coloris , vel ex eo quod & pica terram mandet . if this distemper be in women with child , it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin also gravidarum malacia , which is an inordinate longing in them , of which i shall treat more at large in the chapter of the hypochondriack suffocation . hunger diminish'd is caused of too fat and viscous spittle , swallowed down ( by little and little ) into the stomach ; and being unfit to promote the fermentation of food , it passeth into the small guts , and there generates viscous phlegm like to it self , which doth not onely dull the moderate acidity of the juice of the pancreas , but thereby at length all the acidity in the body becomes less sharp and dull . choler also being too fat , arising from the small gut , to the stomach , doth there corrupt both the remainders of food and spittle , and prostrates their gratefull acidity by which means the appetite becomes dull . these causes being complicated , if they be most grievous ; will at length quite take away and abolish hunger . the cause of hunger augmented is sometimes worms in the stomach , which devour the chylus ; but most commonly it is caused by the over-sourness of the juice of the pancreas abounding in the body , and chiefly in the small gut ; whence it sendeth sour vapours to the stomach , which do potently urge and increase the sense of hunger . the cause of hunger deprav'd in quality , ( as pica , &c. in women ) is the suppression of their monthly courses , which is more or less corrupted about the womb , and having not its natural evacuation , it returneth , and ( in circulation ) is mixed with the whole mass of bloud , by which it is all vitiated , and deprav'd ; and so produceth a cachexy , or ill habit of body , which in time corrupteth all the other humours ; from whence not onely hunger , but all the functions are deprav'd . hunger augmented needs no other sign , than the devouring of food . the signs of hunger deprav'd in quality are also manifest , as the longing desire for those things which are not food , as coals , &c. before mention'd . if these distempers continue long , they are difficult of curation , because the sick will easily fall into a cachexy , dropsie , consumption , vomiting , fluxes , &c. hunger increas'd , may be cur'd by giving those things which destroy , and do temperate and amend the over acidity of the juice of the pancreas , and do prevent its increase . there are variety of medicines ( proper for these intentions ) prescrib'd in the 6th . and 7th . pages of the first book . if hunger be diminish'd , or abolish'd , it may be cur'd by medicines that correct and educe the viscous phlegmatick humours , of which you may be throughly furnish'd in the 3d. and 4th . pages . if hunger be suddenly diminish'd by choler , either over fat , or abounding in plenty ; it may commodiously be evacuated by an antimonial emetick . many other proper medicines are set down in the 8th . and 9th . pages . chap. iii. of want of appetite , or loathing of victuals . want of appetite is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sine , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appetitus . in latin 't is called inappetentia , because in this distemper the sick hath no desire after food , but their minds are averse to , yea they loath most kind of meat and drink , which sometimes riseth to that height , that it takes away their strength . this differs from vomiting onely in degrees , it being a desire to vomit up whatsoever troubles the stomach , but cannot , either by reason of weakness , or toughness of the matter . loathing is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 navis , quod navigantibus proecipue contingit . all loathing is either natural , or adventitious . the natural ( for the most part ) is common to women with child ; wherein 't is thought by some , that the mind of the child in the womb is affected , as well in this distemper , as in the disease called malacia , or longing ; wherein if the woman have not presently what the longs for , wheresoever she first puts her hand on any part of her body , in that part the child is mark'd , as we may see often by experience . the adventitious loathing , or that which cometh by accident , is stir'd up in healthy people by prejudice , they esteeming some sorts of food ungratefull , or prejudicial to their health , and therefore their stomachs loath them . sometimes nauseousness , and loathing even to vomiting , immediately follows intemperance in eating and drinking , which is dangerous . that we may the better judge of the causes of this distemper , let us first consider what is the natural cause of hunger , by which we may the easier discover it . i judge the chief cause of natural hunger to be the remainders of food fermented in the stomach , and the longer it stays there , it is still more and more fermented by the spittle ; which is continually swallowed down , and intermix'd with it ; and at length it raiseth a somewhat sour and gratefull vapour , which pleasingly affects the upper orifice of the stomach , and so natural hunger seems to be produc'd . and if food be with-held somewhat longer than ordinary , then this hunger is increas'd even in healthy people ; which i think is promoted and augmented by the juice of the pancreas , having a friendly effervescency with choler and phlegm in the small guts , from whence sour and gratefull vapours are sent to the stomach , which increaseth hunger ; and if food be seldom taken , it may proceed to fainting fits . hence we may gather , that if there be a vitious effervescency of the aforesaid humours in the small guts , then vitious vapours are thence produc'd , which rising up to the stomach , and other parts adjacent , not onely diminish hunger , but more or less deprave thirst , as also the senses of tasting and smelling ; hence it is that the sick do loath all sorts of food , as soon as they smell , taste or see it . 1. want of appetite or loathing is a digression from the natural state , and is therefore dangerous ; and is worse in children than adults , because they require more nourishment . 2. in all diseases this is an evil symptome , and if the sick recover and want appetite , or loath their food , there is danger of a relapse . this distemper ( either in healthy people , or those that are sick ) may be cur'd , 1. first by freeing the mind from every prejudice . 2. by correcting or purging out the vitious and peccant humours . if the humours incline upward , they may be safely carried out by an antimonial vomit ; and after the operation , at night going to bed , let the sick take this cordial opiate . take the waters of damask-roses , baum and cinamon , of each one ounce ; syrup of clove-gilliflowers , red poppies , of each half an ounce ; confectio alkermes half a drachm ; laudanum opiat . four grains ; oil of vitriol six drops ; mix it . but if the humours be very viscous , ( and the stomach be not nauseous ) let them be purged out by stool , with such medicines as have power to alter , amend and evacuate the vitious humours . for example . take of the decoction of senna gereonis four ounces ; the best manna , syrups of epithymum , roses solutive with senna , of each half an ounce ; mix it for two doses , to be taken in the morning fasting . after purging , the stomach must be strengthned ; which may be done by this excellent diet-drink . take the roots of china , sarzeparilla , of each eight ounces ; guiacum two pound ; cinamon , mace , nutmegs , of each one ounce ; raisins of the sun stoned one pound ; anise-seed , liquorish , of each one ounce and half ; let them be bruised and infused in two gallons of fountain-water very hot , for the space of twenty four hours , then boil it to the consumption of the third part ; strain it , and add syrups of cinamon , and of the juice of rasberries , of each four ounces ; mix it , and let it be put into bottles . the sick may drink four ounces of it three times in a day . also candied ginger , and nutmegs preserv'd are good to corroborate the stomach ; a little of either of them may be eaten before the taking of the diet-drink . you may anoint the stomach with oil of mace by expression ; after which apply a plaster stomachicum magistr . to the region of the stomach . chap. iv. of the hicket , or hiccough . the hicket is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin singultus , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum , & gula , quod fere gula fiat ; vel a sono gulae . it is called in english a sobbing or yexing , being something like the clocking of hens with chickens . this disease was thought by the ancients to be a deprav'd motion of the stomach onely , by which it striveth to expell something which is hurtfull ; but experience doth manifest , that it is a convulsive motion of the midriff , and not of the stomach , because in this distemper , expiration is deprav'd ; and this is chiefly perfected by the muscles of the belly , both by drawing down the breast , and compressing all that is contain'd in the belly , and driving them forward towards the midriff , and so compelling it upward ( its proper motion together concurring ) by which a greater straitness is made in the breast , which causeth the lungs also to be straitned , and consequently the air contain'd in them to be suddenly expir'd . 't is true , in this distemper , the stomach is primarily affected by sharp vapours , wind , or humours whencesoever proceeding , which piercing to the membranous centre of the midriff , provoke it by pricking , or corroding , to perform that convulsive motion ; in which the diaphragma is contracted with a great force towards the region of the stomach , which suddenly and violently driveth it forward and outward , the convulsive motion soon ceasing , and again often repeating . the causes of the hicket are either external , or internal . the external are hurtfull , sharp and poisonous food , or medicines , taken into the stomach , by which the midriff is soon affected , and compelled to this violent , and presently interrupted convulsive motion . the internal cause riseth up out of the small gut , by the vitious effervescency of the humours there meeting ; from whence sharp , halituous or windy vapours are rais'd to the upper orifice of the stomach , by which it is soon corroded ; and thence the sharp flatuous humours , or vapours , are presently carried through the vessels of the diaphragma , and sticking in its substance , do corrode its sensible parts , and compell it to that convulsive repeating contraction of it self . when the hicket is the symptome of any other grievous disease , as an acute fever , inflammation , &c. it is dangerous , and sometimes mortal . in most ordinary hickets , the party is easily restor'd , either by stopping the breath , or by suddenly surprising them with fear . but as often as sharp poisonous food or medicines , or any flatuous humours be in the stomach ; &c. causing the hicket ; they must be presently expelled by an antimonial emetick , which will not onely empty the peccant humours upward and downward , but will correct and amend the hurtfull humours in the body . after the operation of the emetick , the following cordial opiate will conduce to dissipate the molesting vapours , which remain about the mouth of the stomach ; and will stay the hicket , and mildly procure sleep . take the waters of treacle , cinamon , syrup of mint , of each one ounce ; the waters of baum and mint , of each two ounces ; coufectio alkermes two drachms ; laudanum opiatum six grains ; spirits of harts-horn , niter dulcified , of each twenty drops ; mix it . let the sick often take two spoonfulls of this opiate , till they be dispos'd to rest . if this distemper be obstinate , and yields not to the aforesaid medicine , it shews that over-viscous humours are conjoin'd to its cause . therefore in an obstinate hicket , it is better that the peccant humours be emptied downwards , with such medicines as will both cut , and educe them . for which i commend these pills . take pil . foetidae , ex duobus , of each fifteen grains ; oil of harts-horn four drops ; make it into pills ; take them in the morning fasting . let these or the like aromatick pills with gums be taken at least twice a week ; which will not onely educe the hurtfull humours , but discuss vapours , and wind. in the interim , let not the frequent use of the aforesaid cordial opiate be neglected , for it will wonderfully conduce to the cure. sometimes it is good for the patient to sneez , for it hath often prov'd succesfull . drinking of warm milk from the cow is also much commended , because it will asswage the hurtfull humours which remain about the stomach , &c. chap. v. of belching . belching is called in latin ructatio & ructuatio esculenta , quae fit ab homine saturo , because it comes most commonly after a full stomach . any thing which breaks up from the stomach in the kind of a rift , or windy vapour , and is expell'd by the mouth with noise , may properly be called belching . the cause of this distemper , is either outward , or inward . the outward is from windy food , or other flatuous things taken , as beans , pease , radishes , &c. the internal cause is either from a phlegmatick viscous humour adhering to the stomach , where it is rarefied into wind by aromaticks taken ; or from the same viscous humour in the small guts , turned into wind by choler over fat , and volatile ; and thence it is driven forward to the stomach , whereby the fermentation of food is deprav'd into a noisome crudity ; whence belches like rotten eggs , &c. are rais'd , which doth distend and gnaw the stomach . if the phlegmatick matter , which cleaveth to the ventricle , or small guts , be very tough , the belching is more hardly excluded ; whence often a swelling , and troublesome distension of the stomach follows ; & e contra . the cure may be safely and happily perform'd , onely by correcting , and educing the phlegmatick viscous humours abounding ; for which there are variety of medicines prescrib'd in the third and fourth pages in the cure of the head-ach . chap. vi. of vomiting , and of the cholerick and iliack passion . vomiting is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vomo . it is a deprav'd motion of the stomach , and a certain sign of health weakned ; for in perfect health nothing is wont to be expell'd out of the stomach by the mouth . in vomiting , sometimes food , ( either crude , or more or less fermented ) is cast out by the gullet and mouth ; sometimes bloud , sometimes choler , and other times manifold humours and matter of divers colours , taste and consistency ; and sometimes the excrements returning to the stomach ( as in iliaca passio ) is expell'd by that preposterous way of vomiting , wherein , omnia naturae praepostera legibus ibant . all the differences occurring in several sick people , are very difficult to be numbred , or reduc'd into a certain order ; and much more to make an exact examination of all the symptoms , and thence to give a solid judgment of every one . in this distemper the stomach is either primarily , or secondarily affected . the stomach is primarily affected to vomit , when the cause is in it self . as by taking a vomit , or when there is an inflammation , or exulceration of it ; for then it is easily stir'd up ( by food , or any other thing swallowed ) to a violent and preternatural contraction , and turning of its motion , whereby it is compell'd to cast out whatsoever is contain'd in it . the stomach is secondarily affected , when it is drawn by consent of other parts first distemper'd ; as by the contracting motion of the guts , either in part or wholly , in that most grievous disease called ileos , or iliaca passio ; or by the vehement shaking of the midriff , together with a potent contraction of the muscles of the belly , caused sometimes in a grievous cough : by which all the bowels contain'd in the belly are compressed upward , toward the breast , and urge the stomach to change its natural motion . as often as cholerick humours are plentifully voided out , as well upward , as downward with great force , accompanied with troublesome anxieties of the midriff ; it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bilis . and in latin cholerica passio . when there is a forcible pouring out of bloud by vomiting , it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin vomitio sanguinis . the cause of ileos , or iliaca passio , is an excrementitious viscous matter that doth adhere unto the gut called ileo ; which in time is coagulated into a very hard substance , almost in the form of bullets ; ( of which i have had large experience ) whence all passage through for the excrements by siege is stopt , and anon their regress and ascent to the stomach follows , with a miserable vomiting of them . the rupture of the peritonaeum may be also the cause of this grievous disease , especially if it be so great , that not onely the small guts , but the great ones also fall through the lacerated hole , either by reason of their weight , or else by the perpetual approaching of what is contain'd in them , which renders them uncapable to be reduc'd , or put back through the same hole ; whence the excrements , ( having not passage downwards ) are more and more hardned to that degree , that they can hardly be dissolv'd , so that a hard and unsupperable tumour doth soon follow , which hinders the reflux of bloud , and causeth an inflammation , and consequently a gangrene of the guts , attended with a violent vomiting of the excrements , 'till death do put a period to the patient's misery . these evils are often encreas'd by fomentations too hot apply'd , as also by a preposterous and strong rubbing of the swell'd part , and violence us'd to repell the guts . the immediate causes of the cholerick passion , are sharp , putrid , cholerick humours collected in the stomach and bowels , because of external errours commited in diet , or by the taking of poison uncorrected , which doth immediately disturb and corrupt all the humours . the cause of vomiting bloud , is to be deduced ( most commonly ) from the pancreas , by reason of some vessel open'd by its over sharp juice , caused by a vitious effervescency with choler , from whence most of it is driven up to the stomach to be vomited out ; whilst some of it may descend downward to be voided by stool . this distemper may also be caused by bloud flowing out of the vessels of the stomach or guts , either broken by vehement coughing , or corroded by sharp humours . 1. if vomiting be from repletion , or be critical , 't is a good benefit of nature , and therefore must not be stopped : but if it be symptomatical , 't is an ill sign , especially if it be caused by inflammation of the stomach , or adjacent parts , or by poison taken . 2. if the cause of ileos , be from excrements indurated in the gut ileon , it may be cur'd , if taken in time ; but if it be from a rupture of the peritonaeum , 't is dangerous , and for the most part mortal , especially if there be inflammation and tumour of the guts , &c. 3. if the sick vomit bloud , 't is dangerous : neither is the cholerick passion without danger . the cure of this manifold vomiting , may be performed diversly , according to the variety of each cause . if vomiting be rais'd too much by an emetick , or any other nauseous thing taken , it may be represt by this aromatick opiate , or one like it . take of mint-water , four ounces ; tincture of cinamon , half an ounce ; syrups of mint , erratick poppies , of each six drachms : laudanum opiatum six grains ; spirit of nitre twenty drops ; mix it . let the sick take a spoonfull of this every quarter of an hour , till the vomiting ceaseth . if a catarrh be the cause of vomiting look for the cure in its proper chapter . if the cholerick passion be caused by poison , or plentifulness of cholerick humours in the stomach , &c. then nothing hinders but that a gentle antimonial emetick may be given , to which may be added those things which will temper the too great effervescency of the aforesaid humours . for example . take of the infusion of crocus metallorum , mint-water , of each six drachms ; cinamon-water , two drachms ; syrup of erratick poppies , half an ounce ; laudanum opiatum , two grains ; mix it . after the evacuation of the peccant humours upward , and downward , an opiate may be profitably used ; because it will not onely temper the acrimony of choler , but asswage the acid juice , and stupefie the outward sense , and procure rest , which will be very gratefull to the sick . take the waters of fennel , plantain , mint , purslain , of each two ounces ; cinamon-water , syrups of myrtles , purslain , white poppies , of each one ounce ; confect . de hyacintho , diascordium , venice-treacle , of each two drachms ; laudanum opiat . eight grains ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; mix it . let the sick take two spoonfulls of it often , which will conduce to amend the faultiness of any humours , whether acrimonious , salt or sour ; for in the disease of cholera , it will powerfully asswage the too much effervescency that is raised in the small gut , staying the fierce motion of the troubled humours . a bloudy vomiting requireth speedy help , whence soever the bloud cometh . the following astringent medicine will wonderfully conduce to the cure . take the waters of plantain , comfrey , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water , distill'd vinegar , of each an ounce and half ; syrups of mirtles , quinces , of each one ounce ; powder of dragons-bloud half a drachm ; laudanum opiatum six grains ; mix it . the sick may take two or three spoonfulls of this astringent julep every hour , with good success , for it will cure the most ruptions of vessels , and stop the flux of bloud beyond expectation . after vomiting is supprest , if the patient be troubled with belching of wind , &c. in this case , the following exemplary mixture may bear the praise ; for it doth not onely conduce to curb and discuss wind , remaining as well in the stomach , as guts ; but it doth temper and correct both phlegm and choler , and hinder wind in its rise , and will dissipate it , when it is bred . take the waters of mint , fennel , of each four ounces ; the carminative water of sylvius , syrup of mint , of each two ounces ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; chymical oil of mace ten drops ; laudanum opiatum ten grains ; mix it . let this be taken by spoonfulls , often or more slowly , as pains or stretchings do more or less urge . if bloud be thought or feared to be clotter'd in the cavity of the guts ; to dissolve it , you may add to the above mentioned carminative julep , pul . ocul . cancror . antimon . diaphoret . sperma coeti , of each one drachm . the voiding of matter by vomiting and stool , is not to be staid , but mildly promoted , seeing it is wholly unnatural , and hurtfull to the body : but its new rise is to be hindred as much as may be , seeing it is bred of bloud , which is the fuel of our vital fire , and the sustenance of all parts of the body . among all the medicines that move or promote the voiding of matter , and hinder the continual breeding of it , out of corrupt bloud ; i prefer and commend antimonials , rightly prepar'd ; as well emeticks , as other preparations of it , as antimonium diaphoretic . and above all , a balsam made artificially of its flowers , which will powerfully conduce to alter and correct the harms befalling the body by matter , and hinder the new producing of it . also balsam of sulphur with oil of anise-seed is excellent to cleanse and consolidate any inward ulcer ; if two or three drops of it be taken often in a day in any pleasant healing vehicle . in all preternatural vomitings keep the belly open , so that the sick may have ( at least ) every day a stool , either by nature or art ; and let the peccant humours remaining be emptied out by siege , with these or the like pills . take extract . rudii half a drachm ; resin of jallop , salt of wormwood , tartar vitriolated , of each ten grains ; oil of cinamon three drops ; mix it for two doses , to be taken in the morning . the cure of ileos , or iliaca passio , may ( for the most part ) be performed by the aforesaid medicines . but for the sake of young practitioners , i shall add some few directions for the cure of this lamentable contracted motion . wherefore to appease the troublesome irritation of the guts , let fat broths be often taken in at the mouth , and also injected into the fundament as a clyster ; but if an emollient clyster can conveniently be made , let the following be prepared and often used , the decoction of which may be also taken at the mouth , with a few drops of oil of anise-seed . take the roots of marsh-mallows two ounces ; of mallows , marsh-mallows , mullein , of each two handfulls ; the seeds of anise , sweet-fennel , coriander , flax , faenugreek , of each two ounces ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in a quart of spring-water till half be consumed , then strain it , and add oil of white lillies , the fat of a hen , of each one ounce ; mix it for a clyster . of which ingredients you may also make fomentations and cataplasms to be applied to the region of the navel , moderately hot , adding swines or goats dung to the pultess . the following emulsion will conduce not onely to allay the irritation , and temper the sharp humours , but will make the passages slippery , and ( by degrees ) moisten the hard excrements contained in the small gut , and in the mean time , will mildly procure rest , and stop vomiting . take of sweet almonds blanched , white poppy-seeds , of each two ounces ; french-barley boiled four ounces ; the waters of fennel , plantain , roses , of each half a pint ; barley-water a pint , let it be made an emulsion ; to which add syrup of violets three ounces ; confectio alkermes de hyacintho , of each two drachms ; laudanum twenty grains ; spirit of niter forty drops ; mix it . let the sick take three spoonfulls of it often . in this grievous disease , nothing is to be neglected , either outward , or inward , that may procure ease to the patient . the intrails of animals , as sheep , &c. applied very warm in hot cloaths , and often repeated , are very effectual . also ventoses applied to the navel have prov'd succesfull ; after which let a little civet wrapt in cotten be put to the navel , and upon it apply a plaster e cymino , or sylvius's carminative plaster ; or else let the aforemention'd pultess be applied warm . golden bullets swallowed are excellent , but for want of them , leaden bullets may serve . some give great pills of antimony ; and crude mercury or quick-silver well depurated is also highly commended , to be given to three pound at a time , and walk or ride after it , to agitate the body ; but before you give either of them let the sick take an ounce of oil of sweet almonds or sallet oil , and likewise after it : and be sure that no acid thing be given after the quick-silver till it be evacuated , lest it coagulate the mercury , and hurry the patient to the grave . chap. vii . of pain in the stomach , and of various pains of the guts , as cholick , &c. the pains of the stomach may be distinguish'd or divided into two sorts , viz. of the upper and lower orifice . if the upper orifice of the stomach , ( which is of exquisite sense , by reason of the intertexture of nerves with which it is wonderfully furnish'd from the vaga sexta , whereof branches are also communicated to the heart ) be affected , it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cor. it is also called in latin cardiacus dolor , cui os ventriculi dolet , & per consensum cordis , ergo vocatur affectio cordis , seu oris ventriculi . for the mouth , or upper orifice of the stomach being primarily affected , the heart suffers by consent . if the lower orifice , called pilorus , be affected , it is called dolor seu colica ventriculi ; especially if it come of wind . the pains of the guts may also be distinguish'd , because one while the small guts , and other whiles the thick guts are griev'd . as often as the upper part of the small gut , ( nearest the stomach , ) is pain'd , because that part of the gut is over the right region of the lions , it maketh the patient ( and sometimes the physician ) think that the pain is in them . but if that part of the small gut which riseth up from the loins and mesenterie , ( towards the left hypochondrium ) be afflicted with rendings and distensions , with a notable hardness , this is attributed to the spleen , even by some physicians , although without any solid reason ; when indeed this distending pain is altogether hypochondriacal . if the pain be in the gut ileon , it is thence called iliaca passio , which hath been already treated of . whatsoever pain is rais'd in the gut colon , may be called colica passio . these may be distinguish'd from one another , chiefly from the situation of either gut. for the gut ileon is for the most part contorted hither and thither , up and down about the region of the navel , and from thence a little upward ; but the colon from the navel downward , the pain of the cholick generally pressing to the bottom of the belly , as well as to each side , and the back , &c. according as the gut is writhed which is almost in the manner of a roman s. being roll'd to the navel , and from thence with a remarkable winding through the middle of the belly , it is writh'd to the left kidney , and groin , and so down to the os sacrum , and bladder , and ends in the right gut , whence the pain rising in the circuit and circumference of the belly below the navel may truly be called cholical . sometimes there is a hot distending pain with pulsation and inflammation in the latter part of the thick guts called rectum ; and this is either with a troublesome rending , as in the internal or blind hemorrhoids ; or else it is a corroding pain , accompani'd with more or less itching , perpetually provoking to siege as in the tenesmus , which oft times follow a dysentery or bloudy flux . in these various pains of the guts , there is one while a hot burning with pulsation , and other whiles a cold chilness seemeth to be fixt ; pricking , and ( as it were ) boring the bowels ; sometimes there is a distension of the bowels , pressing them with a sense of weight , wonderfully writhing and contorting them with such a tearing corroding pain , that the sick cannot give an explanation of the grief , and misery which they endure . the causes are either external , or internal . the external are wounds or contusions , caused by external violence . the internal causes are divers ; sometimes worms may be the cause . but a burning pain is produced either by an obstruction of the capillary veins of the stomach or guts , by which the bloud is forc'd to stand still in the vessels till at length ( after a great distension ) the vessels burst , and the bloud is effus'd , which breedeth an inflammation , and a manifest pulsation about the part affected , by which it may be distinguish'd from any other kind . but for the most part , a burning and corroding pain riseth from choler too fat , powerfully and vitiously raising an effervescency with the juice of the pancreas too acid ; as experience teacheth in outward things ; for if you pour spirit of vitriol to oil of turpentine , it will presently raise an effervescency join'd with a notable heat and burning . this burning pain is chiefly felt in the region of the loins , because there is the conflux of choler , and the juice of the pancreas ; and from thence ariseth vitious sharp vapours , which produce griping pains of the stomach , and pricking pains in the guts , as also other wandring pains therein . if the pain be chill and cold , it is caus'd from the juice of the pancreas very acid and sharp ; which raiseth a vitious effervescency with choler ( not oily ) and phlegm together , as we may observe , if we mix spirit of vitriol with any volatile salt not oily , how it will raise an effervescency , coupled with a notable chilness , and coldness onely sensible ; hence we may conclude , that the operation of the acid spirit in producing cold , is much promoted by phlegm . the cause of the colick is over viscous phlegm , mixed with choler , peccant both in its saltish acrimony , and volatile oiliness ; by which the viscous phlegm is rarifi'd into wind ; and if the excrements are contain'd beyond their course , they harden , and adhere to the gut , whereby the natural ferment is vitiated , and the windy blasts are more and more rarifi'd , and being shut up and remaining in the cavity of the gut colon , it causeth a violent distension and contraction of it . but if the aforesaid humours be mixt with the juice of the pancreas over sharp , acid and harsh ; then there is a wonderfull sense of contortion in the part affected , urging and writhing from place to place , according to the winding or rolling of the gut. if this wind pierceth through the guts , into the cavity of the belly , it expandeth the peritonoeum , and so inflateth the whole abdomen , and causeth a tympany . these distempers are all dangerous , and sometimes mortal , especially if a violent fever be complicated with them . we must vary the cure according to the diversity of the causes . a burning corroding pain may be cur'd , by tempering too fat choler with acids , as spirit of niter , &c. being mixt with opiates . for example . take the waters of fennel , fumitory , sorrel , succory , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water , distill'd vinegar , syrups of violets and white poppies , of each two ounces ; laudanum opiatum ten grains ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; mix it . let the sick often take a spoonfull of this julep , till the heat and pain be diminished , and sleep be procured . the following emulsion is also profitable , and therefore may sometimes be given for a change . take the four greater cold seeds , white poppy-seeds , of each one ounce ; french barley boiled four ounces ; with two quarts of barley water ; let it be made an emulsion ; and add to it syrups of violets , and white poppies , of each two ounces ; salt prunella half an ounce , spirit of niter thirty drops ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls every two or three hours . if choler be two plentifull , let it be educ'd with this or the like mild cholagogue . take damask-rose water two ounces ; manna , diaphaenicon , electuary of the juice of roses , of each two drachms ; tartar vitriolated ten grains ; mix it , and take it in the morning . the cholagogue electuary of sylvius is also excellent , of which you shall have the receipt at the latter end of the book . chilness and cold pains may be cur'd by tempering the over sharp acidity of the juice of the pancreas . lixivial salts both fixt and volatile are excellent in this case , as also any aromatick spirit of wine , treacle water , &c. with which may be mix'd coral , pearl , crabs-eyes , antimon . diaphoret . &c. and let the body be compos'd to sweat . the following forms may serve for example . take the waters of treacle , fennel , syrup of the juice of carduus , of each half an ounce ; powder of crabs-eyes , antimony diaphoretick , salt of wormwood , of each ten grains ; mix it , and give it the sick to cause sweat . you may also give some of this cordial julep , to uphold the spirits when they sweat . take of tincture of cinamon , the carminative spirit of sylvius , of each half an ounce ; the waters of mint , baum , of each two ounces ; syrups of the juice of oranges , clove-gilliflowers of each one ounce ; laudanum opiat . four grains ; oil of cloves six drops ; mix it , and give two or three spoonfulls of it often . let sylvius's carminative plaster be spread on leather , and applied to the region of the stomach and navel . as for the cure of the cholick , let an emollient clyster ( which discusseth wind ) be given often , at least twice in a day . take the roots of marsh-mallows one ounce ; pellitory of the wall , mallows , marsh-mallows , the flowers of melilot ; chamomel , of each two handfulls ; the seeds of anise , sweet fennel , dill , the berries of bays and juniper , of each one ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of whey till half of it be consumed ; then strain it , and add electuary diaprunum , cariocostinum , benedicta laxativa , of each half an ounce ; oils of dill , chamomel , roses , of each six drachms ; oil of harts-horn ten drops ; mix it for two clysters . the smoak of tobacco may be blown into the clyster-bladder , and given with it , with good success . besides , a clyster may be made of canary wine , or warm cows milk , and a little honey , or malossus , and given sometimes to soften the hard excrements , and to dissolve those that are too viscous , whereby they may be the easier evacuated , and also wind invited to an easie outlet . to drink the decoction before prescrib'd , will much conduce to ease the sick ; also of the same ingredients , you may make fomentations and cataplasms , but if the patient do not care for the trouble of such medicines ; you may anoint the belly with this ointment . take ointments of marsh-mallows , martiatum , oils of capers , white lillies , of each one ounce ; oil of bricks half an ounce ; mix it . after which apply a large plaster of sylvius's carminative empl. to the belly . the following julep taken often by spoonfulls will much conduce to ease the pain , and discuss the wind . take the waters of mint , scurvigrass , fennel , lovage , penny-royal , of each one ounce ; the carminative spirit of sylvius , tinctures of cinamon and castor , of each half an ounce ; syrups of mint , fennel and mirtles , of each six drachms ; oil of mace distill'd ten drops ; spirits of harts-horn and niter , of each twenty drops ; laudanum opiatum ten grains ; mix it for a julep . the oil of harts-horn is a very potent , though ungratefull remedy in this disease . also the balsam of sulphur made with oil of anise-seed , amber , or juniper is excellent in vanquishing this rebellious distemper . after the violence of pain is abated , you may purge the body with this following decoction . take of guiacum four ounces ; roots of china , sassafras , lovage , of each one ounce ; seeds of anise , sweet fennel , berries of bays and juniper , of each two drachms ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain-water till half be consumed , strain it , and add of the best manna , syrup of succory with rhubarb , of each four ounces ; cinamon-water two ounces ; spirit of niter two drachms ; mix it , and take two ounces of it every morning and evening . the following pills with gums will be also very usefull , and potent to educe the viscous phlegm , &c. take galbanum prepar'd with vinegar of squills two drachms ; resins of jallop and scammony , powders of castor , mastick , mirrh , vitriol of mars calcin'd to whiteness , of each half a drachm ; saffron ten grains ; powder of troches , alhandal two scruples ; oils of harts-horn , cloves , of each ten drops ; beat them all into a mass for pills . let the sick take three or four of these pills in the morning fasting , which will kindly expell the vitious humours . after which let them take some of the aforesaid julep to procure rest and ease . oily volatile salts , and spirit of niter are excellent , not onely to correct choler , and other peccant humours , but do potently discuss wind . chap. viii . of the worms . worms may be generated in all parts of the body ; those which are bred in ulcers , may more fitly be called maggots , in latin termetes ; but i shall onely treat of those which are bred in the internal parts of the body . every man living in all places , and climes , doth more or less suffer by the frequent generation of these little intestine enemies ; especially the weaker state of man , as infants and the female sex ; whose ferment , or digestive heat being not sufficiently master of their great moisture ; part of it is turned into putrefaction , which corrupteth the humours . wherefore it is no wonder that active nature ( being never at rest ) by the quickning animating heat , which causeth concoction , doth frequently generate worms either in the stomach or guts , according to the various occurrences of matter , and seminal dispositions . there are three or four kinds of these inbred disturbers , which we may take notice of . the first are called in latin teretes , a terendo , quod quasi terendo rotundum sit , vel ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. terebrando . they are long and round like earth-worms but whiter ; they are more common than the rest , and are bred in the guts , but do sometimes get up into the stomach . the second are called lumbrici lati & longi , because they are broad and long . they are also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , tendo . i. e. fascia extensa . because they are something like a womans head-band . this worm is full of joints , and is a native of the jejunum , which is a fit place to nourish these milk-suckers , or craving vermine ; there being the most supply of milky juice , by reason of the numerous lacteal vessels . some of these worms have been of an incredible length . pliny lib 11. nat . hist. cap. 33. affirmeth that some have been thirty foot in length . if you peruse schenckiu's his observations , lib. 3. pag. 411. you may reade variety of such histories . the third are called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , salio . in latin they are called vermes exigui intestinorum , quod ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , è sordibus nascantur . they are little and slender ; some call them arse-worms , because they commonly lye in the intestinum rectum , near the sphincter muscle . there is another kind of worms ( though seldom seen ) in the colon , like the botts in horses ; they may be called in latin vermina , ex vertendo , quod rependo torqueant sese , & vertant cum quodam minuto motu . ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 serpo . the material cause of all worms is ( most commonly ) the inconcocted part of the chylus which is produc'd of such nourishment as easily putrifieth in the stomach ; as green fruit , &c. which gives sufficient matter to these intruding vermine . this part of the chylus being crude , and unfit for sanguification , is left ( undrawn by the lacteal veins ) in the intestines , where it is mixed with pituitous humours , and elaborated by the temperate heat of the guts , which is the efficient cause of such like generations . the form which lay hid in this matter before , is afterward generated by the temperate heat of the bowels , and according to the diversity of the latent forms , sundry sorts of worms are bred . in the aforemention'd title of schenckius , you may reade of the stupendious figures of worms , set down by learned and famous men in their monuments . the signs of worms are many . if they be round , there is a pinching or gnawing pain in the belly , especially being hungry ; also a stinking breath , a frequent dry cough , loathing , and sometimes vomiting and looseness , with distention of the belly , and a symptomatical fever ; the sleep is often disturb'd with horrible dreams , and starting and gnashing of the teeth ; the face is pale the nose itcheth ; wherefore children that have them , do often rub and pick their nose . if the long broad worm be in the small guts , the party hath an insatiable appetite , the body consumeth , having quick stools after eating , in which there is often a substance like to the seeds of cucumbers . if the small worms called ascarides , be bred in the intestinum rectum , there is a painfull itching in anus with provocation to stool , in which they often come away . if the short thick worms like botts be bred in the colon , there is a wringing troublesome pain , and they often come from the patient night and day , without any excrements , or motion to stool . these last mention'd , are of all others the worst , and most difficult to destroy , especially if they continue long , and grow numerous , because they enclose themselves in a cystis or bladder for shelter , which they run out and in to , as a coney into her burrough , whereby they defend themselves from the power of those things which are given to kill them . the broad long worms are also hard to destroy ; and if the round ones continue long , and are many , they cause convulsions , and sometime epilepsie ; and if they come out alive in acute fevers , it betokeneth great malignity of the morbifick matter , which they labour to shun . the ascarides are not dangerous , for they may be easily killed with clysters . as for the curation , it is perform'd by two indications ; the first is by killing of them , the second by expelling of them when killed and here the place or residence of the offending vermine is to be considered , viz. whether it be the stomach or bowels ; if the bowels , whether the most external , as the rectum , or more internal , as the colon , ileon , or jejunum ; and according to the different seat of such internal offensives of life , we must differently level our remedies , and manner of cure. if the stomach be the residence of these notorious offenders ; they may then be killed , and pumped upwards by an antimonial vomit . but large worms , which are not natives of the stomach , but ( as is said before ) of the jejunum , or other next productive guts , may be most properly conveyed downwards by the force of aloetick and mercurial medicaments . and for as much as the passage is tedious for such slow marchers as worms are ; which being but sick it may be with one dose , and loath to be dislodged ; therefore they must be often stimulated to their exit ( at least five or six days together ) by protruding medicaments , till they be all destroy'd , and evacuated . the following pill is excellent . take extract . rudii , pil . ruffi , of each one scruple ; mercur. dulcis sixteen grains ; oil of juniper three drops ; make them into eight pills . a young child may take a small pill of this every day , and those that are adult , three or four of them , for five or six days , till all the vermine are kill'd and ejected . and to render the whole region of the bowels an uneasie residence to such unwelcome guests , an aloetick plaster applied to the navel is never to be omitted ; and farther to specificate the same , and all other medicines , either internally exhibited , or externally applied ; i advise you to mix some of the powder of the ejected worms ( of what kind soever ) with them , which you will find most effectual to destroy the living vermine . also all medicaments which partake of mercurial irradiation are destructive to worms where-e'er they are . our common quicksilver , if boiled an hour or two in fair water , renders the whole ( without communication of taste or scent , and also without any loss of weight ) a certain destroyer of worms in humane bodies ; which may be either given at the mouth , or sweetned with sugar , and given as a clyster ; after which give two or three doses of the aforesaid pills to expell the dead vermine , and verminous matter . chap. ix . of a looseness , or flux of the belly . as often as the expulsion of what is contain'd in the guts , happens quicker , oftener , and more plentifully than is natural , it may be called a looseness ; of which there are divers sorts , which may be distinguisht according to the different things voided . 1. if food be evacuated crude and undigested , it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin also lienteria , i. e. levitas intestinorum . 2. if the food be fermented in the stomach , and the chyle passeth into the guts , and the nutriment of the chyle be not there separated from the excrement , but is voided whitish like a pultess , much like the excrements of those that have the jaundice , it may be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin coeliaca , i. e. alvinus , vel ventralis dispositio ; of which there is another kind , which for distinction sake may be named the chyle-like looseness ; wherein the food is both fermented , and severed into chyle and excrements , and yet are voided confusedly together . 3. if not onely food , but waterish and cholerick humours are often and plentifully voided , it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fluo . it may be called in english a cholerick looseness . there are divers other kinds of looseness , which may be called diarrhoea ; for if thick and viscous phlegmatick humours are frequently and plentifully voided , it may thence be call'd a phlegmatick diarrhoea ; if the humours be serous , it is a serous diarrhoea ; if fat and oily excrements are frequently evacuated , it may thence be nam'd an unctuous diarrhoea , &c. 4. if the dejection be purulent , corrupted , excrementitious matter , together with pure bloud , it may then be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , quod hic non tam difficultatem quam detrimentum notat , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intestinum , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intus . it may be called in latin tormina quod dolore torquentur intestina ; in english 't is vulgarly called the bloudy-flux . if there be a perpetual endeavour to go to stool , and nothing but a little mucous purulent matter voided with great pain and straining , it may be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tendo . in english it may be called a neediness , there being a continual need and desire to go to stool . this distemper properly belongeth to a dysentery , because it doth most commonly follow it , and sometimes with a procidentia ani. to a bloudy-flux may also be referred the immoderate flux of the hemorrhoids , which may be known from a dysentery , both from the place affected , and the great quantity of the bloudy purging . it is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sanguis , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , profluvium . also the flux of the liver ( if there be any such disease ) may be referred hither , in which the excrementitious liquour ejected , is like the washing of bloudy flesh . this distemper is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , qui ex hepate laborant . in latin 't is called hepaticus affectus , vel fluxus est serosi et sanguinei humoris per alvum excretio , propter hepatis imbecilitatem . the causes of all fluxes of the belly , are either external , or internal . the external , are any of the six non-natural things immoderately used , which weakens the stomach , also the taking of any venemous thing , as arsnick , mercury sublimate , &c. which presently destroys the ferment of the stomach and guts . the internal cause of the lientery , is weakness of the stomach , that it cannot retain any food received into it , but striveth to expell it . the jaundice-like flux is caused by the sluggishness of choler , so that it is not carri'd down to the guts , to promote the separation of the usefull , from the unusefull parts of the chyle . the chyle-like flux is also caused by the same , so that the straining of chyle through the spongy crust of the guts into the lacteal veins is hindred ; the orifices or pores tending to the lacteal veins , being obstructed by over thick and viscous phlegmatick humours . a cholerick diarrhoea is caused by over-salt , sharp and serous choler ; together with phlegm , and the juice of the pancreas too watry and fluid . a phlegmatick diarrhoea is caused by such things as do breed much viscous phlegm . a serous diarrhoea ariseth most frequently from spittle , and the juice of the pancreas too serous . a fat , oily , or unctuous looseness , doth follow the over much use of too fat food . a dysentery doth proceed either from the thickness of the bloud , by reason of over viscous phlegm , being mixed with lympha , or the juice of the pancreas too acid , accompani'd with sorrow of mind ; whereby the bloud doth become too gross for its wonted circulation through the capillary vessels of the guts ; wherefore it causeth a great distension of them , till at length they burst , and pour out the bloud into the cavity of the guts . or else it may be caused from choler too salt , sharp and plenteous in the bloud , whereby it doth become extravagantly serous , and eager , through extraordinary fermentation , extremely agitating the humours to a colliquation , especially where fierceness of anger or great heat of mind do concur ; by which the bloud is the more rarifi'd to pierce through the tender restraint of the vessels , and doth flow out by indirect ways , sometimes by great loss , to the endangering of life . a tenasmus is caused by a phlegmatick viscous humour , joyned with a sharp acid humour , which doth fret the gut about the siege , stirring up a troublesome ulcer there . the flux of the hemorrhoids , and of the liver , is to be deduc'd from much serous matter mixt with the bloud , and also relaxing the vessels . the hemorrhoids are either critical , which useth to ease the sick ; or symptomatical , and much weakneth them . the signs of fluxes are manifest , from what hath been said . 1. if any looseness continue long , with loathing , 't is an ill sign , especially if it be with a fever . 2. if the small guts are affected , the pain is sharper than when it is in the thick guts . 3. in the dysentery , if the dejections be very bloudy , or black and fetid , with great thirst , hicket , &c. for the most part they are mortal signs ; but if the erosion be onely in the internal membrane of the gut , and there be no great pain , nor other bad symptome , there is great hopes of recovery . if the bloud and humours be too thin and serous , they must be corrected , and evacuated . chalk , and harts-horn , ( or any other burnt bone ) reduc'd to powder , and given often in a small quantity , doth imbibe and correct watry moisture , and also over much fatness , which may be the cause of a looseness . after which the peccant humours may be evacuated by stool with hydragogues , and by sweat and urine , with sudorificks and diureticks . toasted rhubarb will satisfie to many indications , seeing that it doth not onely evacuate water together with choler abounding , but will soon correct the over-loose body , by its mild tartness . wherefore when the bloud doth abound with much serous liquour , let the sick take this powder in a little broth. take the powder of jallop , cinamon , of each fifteen grains ; powder of rhubarb tosted half a drachm ; mix it after the operation of it , you may give the following cordial by spoonfulls . take the waters of plantain , comfry , of each two ounces ; cinamon-water half an ounce ; syrup of mirtles one ounce ; confectio de hyacintho , diascordium , of each one drachm ; laudanum opiat . four grains ; mix it . it will be also convenient sometimes to educe the humours by urine and sweat ; for which i commend the following decoction of china , &c. take the roots of burdock , the five opening roots , sarzeparilla , contra yerva , of each one ounce ; china four ounces ; gromwell-seeds , juniper-berries , of each half an ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain water , 'till half of it be boiled away ; then strain it , and add syrup of the five opening roots six ounces ; spirit of niter one drachm ; mix it . l●t the sick take a quarter of a pint of this warm , twice or thrice a day , and especially in the morning fasting , which will the easier procure a breathing sweat , or else urine more plentifull , by which the serosity of the bloud will be consum'd by little and little , so that the bloud and humours will thereby become more pure . if a dysentery , or bloudy-flux arise from a sharp humour corroding the vessels ; it may be cur'd by correcting , and tempering the sharp acid humours , and consolidating the vessels fretted . the following powder is excellent to correct and amend the aforesaid acid humours , and stop all fluxes of bloud . take the powders of red coral , pearles prepared , white chalk , dragons bloud , of each half a drachm ; mix it for six doses , which may be taken in three spoonfulls of the following julep , every two or three hours . take the waters of plantain , comfry , of each two ounces ; tincture of cinamon , syrups of quinces , mirtles , of each one ounce ; laudanum opiat . ten grains ; oil of juniper ten drops ; mix it . if there be an ulcer in the thick guts , and clysters can come to the part affected , let the following be often injected , and instruct the sick to retain them so long as they can . take new milk wherein steel hath been quenched one pint ; honey of roses one ounce ; venice turpentine half an ounce ; the yelk of one egg ; balsam of sulphur four drops ; mix it . the following bolus may be sometimes given in the morning fasting . take the powder of rhubarb tosted two scruples ; nutmeg one scruple ; make it into a bolus with conserves of red roses . and this bolus may be given at night going to bed . take diascordium , conserves of red roses , of each half a drachm ; laudanum opiat . three grains ; mix it . by the frequent use of these choice medicines , the ulcer will be cleans'd , the gripes asswag'd , and the consolidation of the ulcerated gut ( both in the tenasmus and dysentery , &c. ) will be wonderfully promoted . but if the ulcer be in the small guts , the following vulnerary decoction will more conduce to the cure. take the roots of comfry , plantain , knot-grass , of each two ounces ; the tops of saint john's wort , sanicle , germander , red roses , of each one handfull ; shavings of harts-horn , cinamon , of each half an ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in three quarts of fountain-water wherein steel hath been quenched , till half of it be boiled away , then strain it , and add syrup of dried roses , tincture of cinamon , distill'd vinegar , syrup of marsh-mallows , of each two ounces ; mix it , and give the sick four spoonfulls every two or three hours . if you add two or three drops of balsam of sulphur , made with oil of anise-seed to every dose of the decoction , &c. it will be the more effectual both to cleanse and consolidate the ulcer . the flux of the hemorrhoids , if it be symptomatical , and weaken the sick , is then to be hindred , which may be effectually done by the afore-mention'd medicines . if much serous liquour can so dilute the bloud , and relax the vessels , that part of it may be carried out of them into the guts , and produce a flux like the washing of flesh , commonly called a flux of the liver ; it may be cur'd by driving forward the serous liquour out of the body , by sudorificks , and diureticks ; and also by tart strengthning things that repair the hurt of the loosened vessels . the diuretick decoction of china , before mention'd , is excellent in this case , to be taken as is there directed . also the following diaphoretick may be sometimes used with good success . take the waters of treacle , cinamon , of each half an ounce ; plantain-water two ounces ; distill'd vinegar three drachms ; confectio de hyacintho , diascordium , of each one drachm ; powder of crabs-eyes , antimony diaphoretick , of each half a drachm ; syrups of mirtles , dried roses , of each six drachms ; mix it for two doses . also the powder and astringent julep prescrib'd in page 192 , 193. is excellent to corroborate the loosened vessels , &c. anoint the belly with the oil of quinces , mirtles , roses , wormwood , &c. mixed with unguent . comitissae ; which is also good in all fluxes of the belly . chap. x. of the dry belly-ach . this cruciating disease may be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin spasmus abdominis , quod sub umbelico est ad pubem ; and because of the additional torments , it may be also named tormen abdominis , quod dolore torquetur abdomen . this disease doth also need as well the name , as the invocation of miserere mei deus ; the sick being in such extreme misery , that 't is incredible to all but them that have endur'd it . the most urgent and exquisite pain under this affect , being in that most tender and sensible part , viz. the belly , may seem to have some alliance with the iliack or colick passion ; and indeed they are sometimes its concomitants , but much different from it . the causes of this lamentable distemper , are either external , or internal . the external general occasional cause is contracting cold in the region of the belly , &c. which doth cramp not onely the muscles of the abdomen , but also the tender fibres of the intestines , cruciating all the affected parts with obdurate contractions ; which is more aggravated when the moon doth come to opposition with the sun. which may be also observ'd in all spasms and convulsive motions , that about the full of the moon , the tide of such nervous diseases doth rise highest : especially in those places where the direct aspects of the nocturnal luminary have the most power ; which demonstration will evince to be between the tropicks , which many of our mariners , ( who have sailed that way ) can tell by wofull experience . another external procuring cause of this grievous disease is a mineral gas ascending from the caverns of the earth , infesting the air with its poisonous fumes , whereby not onely the tender fibrous , and nervous parts of the belly are oft times crampt with convulsive spasms ; but the mineral fumes being inspired with the air into the body , produce most eminent apparent evils , as the corruption of the chyle into porraceous and adust choler , from whence followeth irritating vomitings , and the constipation of the belly , with obdurateness of the excrements , which inflames the bowels , and entails a symptomatical fever , with a heavy and slow pulse ; and as the pain doth aggravate more and more , there is want of sleep and rest , with other uneasiness , and commotions of body and mind ; as the operatours in chymistry have sometimes experience of ( to their cost and trouble ) in mineral preparations ; for if a vessel chance to break , the sharp and acid vapours , or gas of the mineral , immediately seiseth the animal spirits of all that are in the elaboratory ; by which they are mov'd unequally ( against the will ) through the nerves to the musculous parts , which causeth convulsive motions , with trembling and shaking of the limbs , and other accumulated evils . the like grievous symptoms ( though not so violent ) happen to many people that inhabit near the mineral mines in hungaria , and also in some places of england as derbyshire , &c. where there are lead-works , from whence mineral fumes continually ascend from the separating oar , which infesteth the air , and is a great producer of such convulsive effects . at the first seisure of this evil , the muscles of the abdomen , and sometimes those of the breast and back , ( through contractions ) prove hard and painfull , as in our ordinary cramps ; which symptoms will evince , that these vapours are peccant in an acid acrimony . the internal cause , is also sour vapours arising most commonly out of the small guts ; which the concurring symptoms ( consider'd and weighed with an attentive mind ) will confirm ; for these vapours being sharp , are driven forward into the nerves , and gnawing them with great pain , aggravate and produce this convulsive spasm . 1. if this miserable and afflictive distemper hath continu'd to a long durance , it causeth such obstructions in the fibrous and nervous passages of the muscles , that thereby lameness and an atrophy soon succeeds , increasing the weakness of all the members of the body , till at length it ends in a paralitical resolution of them . 2. if a pregnant woman , or a woman after abortion , be afflicted with this grievous evil ; it is very dangerous , and many times mortal . as for the cure , we must endeavour to ease the pain , and strengthen the weak parts with all expedition , the pain may be eased , and diminish'd as well by internal , as external anodynes and narcoticks ; to allay the violent motion of the animal spirits , and abate the grievous spasms succeeding . the following cordial diaphoretick opiate is excellent in this case . take the waters of fennel , peony , treacle , of each one ounce ; syrups of stoechas , peony , scurvigrass , of each half an ounce ; powder of crabs-eyes , antimony diaphoretick , bezoar-mineral , salt of tartar vitriolated , salt of amber , volatile salt of harts-horn , of each one scruple ; tincture of castor two drachms , spirit of salt armoniack , oil of cloves , of each four drops ; laudanum opiat . six grains ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls every three hours . by the frequent taking of this volatile and anodyne sudorifick , the peccant humours will be temper'd and diminisht , and the inordinate , involuntary , and impetuous motion of the animal spirits will be reduc'd , and brought to tranquillity , by which the binding constrictions of the belly-ach will be the easier remov'd . bathing in this distemper , hath been often us'd with admirable success ; for by the frequent use thereof , the cutaneous and muscular fibres will not onely be relax'd from contracted spasms ; but the pores will be also kept open for the constant discharge of transpiring particles . a natural bath , such as is in the city of bathe , is excellent ; but when it is not to be had , an artificial bath may be very usefull for the ends propos'd . for example . take of elder , dwarf-elder , vervain , betony , chamomel , bays , rhue , time , hyssop , ground-pine , organ , penny-royal , sage , sweet marjoram , of each six handfulls ; flowers of stoechas , chamomel , melilot , of each four handfulls ; roots of pellitory of spain , briony , master-wort , virginia snake-root , of each four ounces ; spicknard , berries of juniper and bays , of each two ounces ; brimstone six pound ; salt niter two pound ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in twenty gallons of fountain-water , till a third part be boiled away . let the sick be well bathed in it , as often as strength will permit ; and let them sit therein , as long as they may well bear the same . then let them be rub'd dry , and remov'd into a bed ; and let the affected parts be well anointed with this ( or the like ) fragrant ointment . take oil of earth-worms , ointment of orange-flowers , jessamy , of each three ounces ; oil of mace by expression one ounce ; oil of juniper , bricks , of each two drachms ; mix it . as often as the body is costive , let a suppository , or carminative clyster be administred to make it soluble . let the weakned parts be fortifi'd with the aforesaid unguent ; upon which apply a plaster of sylvius's carminative emplaster spread on leather , which you may remove once in twenty four hours , using warm frictions to the pained parts , and apply the plaster again ; and over it you may apply a fox-skin drest , which will keep the parts warm , and conduce to the cure , which course may be continu'd 'till strength be restor'd to the grieved limbs . chap. xi . of the yellow iaundice . the yellow jaundice is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab avicula quoe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur , quod ea oculos flavi vel aurei coloris habet . it is also called icterus in latin ; it being a spreading of a yellowish colour over the whole body . it was the common received opinion of the ancients , that the chief cause of this disease , is an obstruction of the cystick passage to the small gut , so that choler is thereby wholly hindred in its natural descent ; wherefore it doth ascend to the liver , and so to the bloud , with which it is transfer'd to the habit and superficies of the body , where it doth shew it self in its colours . but it may be manifested from many observations , and experiments , both anatomical , and practical ; that the jaundice may be produc'd without an obstruction of the passage of choler . although i suppose that the jaundice may probably be raised by an obstruction of the meatus hepaticus : for if there should be a great stoppage in this vessel , by any glutinous or lapidescent matter , the choler that is generated in it may possibly regurgitate ( there being no valves to hinder it ) and thereby become mixed with the blood , by which means it may ( in a short time ) be conveyed over the whole body . but if the meatus cisticus should be stopped by a small stone , &c. as i have sometimes seen in dissecting icterical patients , where i observed that the excrements were not dyed so yellow as usual : yet it is impossible that there should be any regurgitation of choler to the liver out of the gall , by reason of the three valves looking from without inwards , which do potently hinder the recourse of it : and although the meatus hepaticus is without valves , yet seldom in a jaundice , is either that passage , or the ductus communis obstructed , but many times wider , as the most ingenious salmon hath accurately observed . wherefore that we may the better judge of the true cause of this disease , let us first consider that man's body abounds with an animal salt , which doth circulate with the blood through the whole body , so that not onely the internal , but superficial parts are replenished therewith . 2. secondly , it is the nature of volatile and animal salts to sublime , and upon their mixture with other fit bodies to excite or stir up new appearances of colours according to the nature of the salt ; for if a solution of salt of tartar be mixt with a solution of sublimate in fair water , it gives in a moment a reddish , yellowish or orange tawny colour , although both the solutions be as clear as cristal , and with armoniack salts in proper liquors , may be made many colours to appear . from whence we may judge , that if the animal salt of man's body become too volatile , or be too much sublimed : which may be done , either by the biting of an enraged viper , or by the power of poyson , or from the over heating of the body by violent exercise , or by exceeding sorrow of mind , or great passion , or by excessive drinking of hot liquors , or from burning feavers ; whereby the universal body comes to be inflamed , the spirits vehemently agitated , and thereby the volatile saline principle to be violently moved out of its place or domicil , to the circumference of the body ; but meeting with the viscous juice of the cutis is there hindred from flying away ; and being dissolved and mixt with the cutaneous humidity it excites the jaundice , whether yellow , black or greenish , according to the colour of the poyson which the patient hath casually taken , or predisposition of the body to so notable a mutation . hence it is that many ( who have been in perfect health ) have been suddenly invaded with this disease : some by the biting of an enraged viper , others by running a race , &c. who immediately after were all over as yellow as if they were dipt into the juice of saffron ; and yet notwithstanding it could not be judged that the gall-juice was either affected or disaffected in the least measure : for it cannot in reason be supposed , that the venome or poyson of the viper should be so particularly directed to the gall , to work such an effect in so short a time , as to distribute that viscous heavy juice so universally over the whole body : much less can any one imagine , that either the drinking of strong liquours , or any violent exercise , &c. should any ways so operate upon the cholerick humour , as to volatize it , and so immediately disperse it universally over the whole humane frame ; for it is impossible that the glutinous substance of choler should be dispersed in so short a time to all the superficial parts of the body . therefore it is more probable , that the volatile animal salt of the body , being moved , and carried out of its domicil , by the extream heat of the internal parts , and violent motion of the spirits , and being mixt and dissolved with the cutaneous juice ( as is before mentioned ) doth not onely excite the jaundice , but may possibly be the cause of purple spots in the spotted feaver : as also of many other sudden and great changes in the bodies of humane kind . the jaundice invading a patient in a fever ( before the seventh , viz. the critical day ) is dangerous : if it comes upon an inflamation of the liver , or a schirrus and the cure be not hastned , a dropsie , cachexy , or deadly pining will in a short time succeed . if it be critical upon acute feavers nature effects the cure : if it be symptomatical , the cure depends upon the cure of the disease by which it comes . if it be essential from the obstruction of the meatus hepaticus , the obstruction must be opened . if sorrow of mind or great passion be the cause , it ought to be prevented as much as may be , both by philosophical and theological reasons about any troublesome matters , and by confirming the mind , whereby the sick may be the better enabled to bear and suffer stoutly any adversity . this ought to be observed also in all other diseases . if ebriety be the cause i commend sobriety to cure it . sublata causa tollitur effectus . if the humours be over viscous or glutinous , the following decoction will not onely alter and correct , but mildly educe the peccant humours , by which the jaundice may in a short time be cured . take of rhubarb , the roots of madder , smallage , the greater celandine , of each one ounce ; the flowers of broom one handfull ; hemp-seed two ounces ; the seeds of anise , parsley and columbines , of each half an ounce ; saffron two drachms ; white tartar three drachms ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in white-wine , and fountain water , of each three pints , till the third part be boiled away , then strain it , and add the best manna , syrup of succory with rhubarb , of each three ounces ; mix it . let the sick take four spoonfulls of this three times a day , till the viscous phlegm and choler be sufficiently evacuated , and the natural colour of the body restored . as oft as the jaundice is caused by the poison of a viper , or any other venemous thing whatsoever , you must administer ( as soon as possible ) a volatile sudorifick to correct and expell the venome . the following will serve to both indications . take the waters of carduus , fennel , fumitory , of each two ounces ; treacle-water , syrups of the juice of carduus , red poppies , of each one ounce ; tincture of saffron two drachms ; venice-treacle half a drachm ; bezoar-mineral , antimony diaphoretick , salt of harts-horn , of each one scruple ; spirit of salt-armoniack six drops ; laudanum opiatum six grains ; mix it , and give three or four spoonfulls to provoke sweat , and after it breaks forth , give a spoonfull or two , now and then , to promote it . also this decoction , or one like it may be prescrib'd for the icterick patient , it being both sudorifick , and diuretick . take the roots of scorzonera , juniper , of each two ounces ; roots of master-wort , sassaphras , of each half an ounce ; berries of juniper and bays , of each one ounce and half ; seeds of nettles , hemp and columbines of each one ounce ; shavings of harts-horn three drachms ; the tops of carduus , scordium , scabious , the lesser centaury , of each one handfull ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain-water , till half of it be boiled away ; then strain it , and add syrup of the juice of carduus four ounces ; treacle-water two ounces ; salt of tartar vitriolated two drachms ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls every two or three hours . soap of any sort , conduceth to the cure of the jaundice , upon a twofold account , both by reason of its fixt lixivial salt , and also by reason of its fatness or oil ; for the lixivial salt doth correct and diminish the over volatileness and spirituousness of the vitiated choler , and the oil doth blunt the sharpness of the volatile and spirituous salt ruling in choler . the following mixture is very effectual . take of hemp-seed two ounces ; soap two drachms ; bruise the seed , and boil it in half a pint of new milk , till half of it be consumed ; then strain it , and add syrup of saffron half an ounce ; tincture of saffron two drachms ; laudanum opiatum four grains ; mix it , and give half of it in the morning fasting , and the remainder at night , going to bed . chap. xii . of a cachexy . an ill habit of body is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , malus , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , habitus . it may be called in latin mala corporis habitudo . there are many causes of this distemper , which may be distinguisht according to the diversity of the conjoin'd symptoms . it doth accompany all chronical diseases , as dropsies of all kinds , hypochondriack suffocation , scurvy , pox and gout , &c. for it doth spare none , neither peer nor peasant , of any age or sex ; but it most frequently seizeth on women when their monthly terms are supprest . the cause is either external or internal . the external cause is either bad diet , a long time receiv'd , or for want of good refreshing food after sickness , for the stomach being weak cannot digest course diet , by which the nutriment of the body doth by degrees become peccant in quality , vitiating the humours , and bloud it self , so that an ill nourishment of the body doth follow . the internal cause may be the suppression of the terms in women , which is more or less corrupted about the womb , having not its natural evacuation , from whence the whole mass of bloud is indued with a vitious quality , by which the nourishment of all parts of the body is deprav'd . also choler , and the juice of the pancreas ( which are always confus'd with the bloud ) being alike vitious or peccant in quality , do not onely corrupt the separation of usefull and unusefull parts , but by the vitious effervescency of these humours manifold flatuous vapours are rais'd , which do not onely increase anxieties about the midriff , but being carried to the heart , there follows a pressing pain and palpitation thereof ; and in circulating through the lungs , it causeth a dyspnoea , or difficult breathing ; and being thence transferr'd every way throughout the body , it doth breed a general weariness in all parts . but when the vitious humours abound together in plenty , then several kinds of the dropsie at length succeed ; if not the universal body groweth lean by degrees . from what hath been said , the production of every cachexie may easily be deduced by a judicious physician . the signs are paleness of the face , shortness of breath , palpitation of the heart , and often apressing pain of it , accompanied ( for the most part ) with a lingring fever , either continual , or intermitting , or compounded of both , in which the urine is crude or watry ; at length there is a weariness of the universal body , which in some doth pine and become lean , but in others the body doth swell , and is turgid . if this disease be not helpt in time , it will become by degrees so stubborn and rebellious , that it will puzzle the wisest and most experienced physicians to cure it ; for by the long continuance thereof , phlegm becometh very tough and glutinous , on which all chronical , or prolong'd diseases depend ; besides , all the other humours are by degrees vitiated , which incorporate with the bloud , and diminish its effervescency , so that the separation and excretion of the excrementitious parts ( to be voided together with urine ) do not follow , from whence many grievous symptoms succeed , which oft proves mortal . the cure of every cachexie will consist in the correction and amendment of the bloud any way vitiated . if flegm be tough and glutinous , it must be corrected and evacuated , for which there are variety of choice medicines prescrib'd in the fourth page , of the cure of diseases of the head ; in the use whereof you must persevere for some time , or else the laudable success , and happy wisht for cure will be expected in vain . any other humours that are peccant in quality ( by which the bloud is vitiated ) must be alter'd and reduc'd to their natural constitution by selected medicines , which will amend and empty them out by degrees . in the interim good food ( which is easie of digestion , and wholsome nourishment ) must not be neglected , whereby nature may be cherished , and health by degrees procured . those medicines which are prescrib'd for the cure of the dropsie and scurvy , are proper for this disease , wherefore i shall forbear prescriptions here . chap. xiii . of dropsies . the dropsie is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aqua , quod nomen sumpsit ab aquoso humore cutis . the ancients have assigned three sorts of dropsies . 1. the first is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uter , pellis . 't is called in latin aqua intercus , ex inter & cutis , because the water is between the skin and the flesh. this is the most proper dropsie , in which the abdomen , secrets , thighs and legs are affected . 2. the second is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , quod tumor est ad similitudinem tympani , vel tympani sonum referens . as this is the most rare , so 't is the most cruel and afflictive . 3. the third is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caro , quod hydrops toto corpore diffusus ; it is also called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 album , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , phlegma vel pit uita ; because it is caused of white phlegm gathered in all parts of the body . some authours make a difference between anasarca , and leucophlegmatia ; that anasarca is caused by a serous humour , and leucophlegmatia by a phlegmatick and more viscous humour ; but all dropsies except tympanies seem to me , to be little less than a distinction of degrees of one and the same disease . the ancients did take the liver to be the chief part male-affected in these distempers ; but helmont ( who was happy in a remedy to cure it ) doth severely reprove them , and is so bold to tax the whole schools with the ignorance of anatomical dissections ; he having inspected many carcases of dropsical persons ( of whom he makes distinct mention ) doth assert the livers of them all no-way vitiated , and therefore he concludes the liver faultless in dropsical affects ; and he derives the cause of dropsie to be an obstruction of the kidneys with the stone or gravel ; and so the water which should be transferr'd through the kidneys , to the bladder , ( to be evacuated by pissing ) is forced into the cavity of the abdomen . but experience teacheth that dropsies may be caused many ways ; wherefore i shall betake my self to a more evident description thereof . the causes of dropsies are either external , or internal . the external cause is the constipation of the porous skin , impeding transpiration , whereby the discharge of sweaty vapours through the habit of the body is lessned and interrupted ; hence what moisture is usually carried off by sweating , doth rebound inwards , and condense into an ichorous water , and is there ( by degrees ) aggravated and increased , through the hindrance of the necessary transpiration ; till at length a great quantity of water is accumulated , and stagnating in the affected parts , in time may work farther alterations on the subjected bowels . matter of fact hath evinced this to me , having cured several hydropical patients onely by sweating , and external applications . the internal cause of the dropsie , may be over viscous chyle , or phlegm of the guts , coagulated in the lacteal veins , and causing an obstruction in more or fewer of their branches , so that the liquour rising either from the continual conflux of choler , the juice of the pancreas , and the phlegm of spittle ; or else from chyle , or from drink plentifully drunk , being stopt and intercepted in its motion , it doth by degrees more and more distend the vessels , that at length they burst ; and the moisture receiv'd into them , is poured out between the membranes of the mesentery , and presently after into the cavity of the abdomen . this disease is sometimes suddenly produc'd by much drinking in a burning fever , join'd with an urgent and permanent thirst. after the same manner ( though difficult to be known ) may a dropsie of the breast be caused , viz. by an obstruction of the lateral lymphatick vessels , by glutinous phlegm carried together with lympha into the said vessels , and there coagulated , by which the motion of lympha is hindred , so that the lymphatick vessels being much distended , by the great quantity of lympha gathered in them , at length they burst , and the lympha piercing ( through the pleura ) into the cavity of the breast , procureth a dropsie in it . the cause of a tympany is wind , together with a serous humour piercing through the guts into the cavity of the belly , and being there detained , it is more and more rarified , by which the peritonoeum is not onely expanded , but the whole abdomen inflated , and violently distended . the signs of ascites , are swelling and fluctuation of the belly , difficult breathing , a dry cough accompanied sometimes with a symptomatical fever , and great thirst. the signs of anasarca are weakness , faintness , and swelling of the whole body , which being pressed with the finger , it doth pit , and leave an impression , breathing is also difficult , with a continual fever . in a tympany the belly is distended , and being struck upon , there is a noise like a little drum. 1. every dropsie is difficult of curation , especially if it hath been of long continuance . 2. if the hydropical persons have a good digestion , and void more moisture both by stool and urine , than they either eat or drink , it is a hopefull sign of recovery , & e contra . dropsies may be cured by strong hydragogues , sudorificks , and bathing , and sometimes by a paracenthesis or boring the belly . the best hydragogues are prepared of elder , dwarf-elder , jallop-roots , elaterium , gum-gutty , crystals of silver , &c. of which you may prepare purging infusions , pills , &c. for example . take the roots of flower-de-luce , dwarf-elder , madder , liquorish , the five opening roots , of each one ounce . the tops of saint john's wort , centaury the less , agrimony , the best senna , of each one handfull ; the barks of capers , ash , tamarisk , cinamon , of each six drachms ; flowers of beans , elder , dwarf-elder , broom , of each half a handfull ; seeds of sweet fennel , parsley , gromwell , juniper-berries , of each one ounce and half ; cloves , salt of tartar , of each half an ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused in two quarts of white-wine , for two or three days ; then strain it , and add syrup of succory with rhubarb , six ounces ; mix it , and give four ounces of it in the morning fasting . if any like pills better , i commend the following . take the resins of jallop , and scammony , tartar vitriolated , mercur. dulcis , of each half a drachm ; oil of juniper one scruple ; make it into pills with venice-turpentine , of which you may give twenty grains at a time , in the morning fasting . the following pills are also very effectual . take of elaterium , gambogia , resin of jallop , of each ten grains ; oil of nutmegs six drops ; make it into pills with venice-turpentine for two doses . the obstructions in the lacteal veins , or lymphatick vessels , may be cur'd by medicines that do powerfully cut , and happily open the said obstructions . this aromatick sudorifick may be commended for these intentions . take the waters of treacle , scurvigrass , fennel , of each one ounce ; waters of parsley , fumitory , of each two ounces ; distill'd vinegar half an ounce ; syrups of the juice of carduus , and the five opening roots , of each six drachms ; powder of crabs-eyes , antimony diaphoretick , salt of amber , beans , worm-wood , of each one scruple ; spirits of salt armoniack , niter , of each twenty drops ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls of it every two or three hours . after the vessels are freed from the noted obstruction by the medicines before-mention'd , or such like ; they will be easily consolidated again by conglutinating food , in which you may boyle the roots of comfry , plantain , and solomon's seal , for the more quick and easie cure . in a tympany , the dulcifi'd spirit of niter is excellent , being taken in broth or sack , three or four times in a day , from six to twelve drops at a time , for it doth correct both phlegm and choler , and hinder wind in its rise , and dissipate it when it is bred . also the following exemplary julep doth curb and discuss wind , remaining as well in the stomach as guts . take the waters of mint , fennel , of each four ounces ; the carminative spirit of sylvius , syrup of the juice of mints , of each two ounces ; laudanum opiat . eight grains ; spirit of niter one drachm ; salt of amber half a drachm ; chymical oil of mace ten drops ; mix it , and take three or four spoonfulls every three hours . you may prepare a medicinal wine for the rich , very beneficial in dropsies . take the seeds of anise , fennel , caraway . coriander , berries of bays , and juniper , of each two ounces : salt of tartar half an ounce ; let them be bruised , and infused in three pints of white-wine , for three days , then strain it , and add spirit of niter half an ounce ; salt of amber two drachms ; syrup of mint three ounces ; mix it , and take four or five spoonfulls of it often . sweating is very profitable in all dropsies , either in bed , with the forementioned sudorifick , or in a bagnio , or hot-house , by which the water standing beside nature in any part of the body , will ( by degrees ) be emptied through the pores of the skin . also it may be necessary , especially in persons more elderly , to use warm baths . that which is prescrib'd for the cure of the belly-ach in page 201 , 202. is also very profitable in dropsies ; into the which it may be agreeable to descend at evening , before bed-time , and there to continue so long as the patient can well endure without fainting ; after which frications may have their proper use , and great benefit . and to strengthen the cutaneous fibres , and restore their true tone , for their better service of the offices of nature : let the affected parts be anointed with the following fragrant balsamick ointment . take of flanders oil of bays , nerve-oil , oil of earth-worms , of each two ounces ; oil of mace by expression , half an ounce ; mix it . galen commendeth a cataplasm of snails bruised with their shells , and laid upon the navel . but a pultess prepar'd of the ingredients of the bath , and applied to the affected parts , will be more effectual to discharge the ichorous water . or you may make a cataplasm after this manner . take the tops of elder , dwarf-elder , vervain , worm-wood , chamomel , of each two handfulls ; horse-radish-roots four ounces ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of the juice of wild-cucumbers , till they are very tender , then strain it , and beat them very well , and add barley-meal , one pound ; and with the same liquor boil it into the consistence of a pultess . let the patients diet be drying , and let them drink moderately ; you may infuse juniper-berries , tamarisk and elicampane-roots in their ordinary drink . and for the benefit of those physicians and chirurgeons , that live in the west-indies ; there groweth ( almost every where in moist places ) a large cane , much like the sugar-cane ; the planters generally call it the dumb cane , because they that taste it , are presently dumb , and unable to speak for two or three hours ; after which the tongue returns to its former use and volubility without any prejudice . the reason why this remarkeable plant doth so affect the tongue upon the touch of it , is its power of attracting such plenty of moisture into it , as doth distend all the vessels thereof , and render it immoveable , till the crouded moisture be gradually discharged . hence we may conjecture , and indeed experience teacheth , that of this plant may be prepared diversity of medicines as cataplasms , oils , ointments , &c. which will be effectual to attract , and easily and kindly discharge the swollen part of the ichorous water ; which may be used for some time after the evacuation of it , the better to prevent a farther accumulation , or return of the disease . likewise may medicines be prepared , ( by a skilfull artist ) of this plant , very effectual to be taken inwardly , not onely against dropsies , but the scurvy , gout , &c. if these choice medicines are not to be had , and nothing be effected by other means ; a harmless paracenthesis may be instituted in the dropsie of the breast , or abdomen ; provided the apertion be made by such a little hollow instrument as is describ'd in page 81 , 82. of the cure of the pleurisie , for by such a small wound , there is no danger to the sick . but this operation must not be delay'd , lest the humour collected , get an hurtfull acrimony , and by degrees corrode and corrupt the membrane , and hence the substance of all the parts contain'd , and so make the disease incurable . chap. xiv . of the scurvy , and hypochondriack suffocation , commonly called the fits of the mother . the scurvy being a hypochondriack disease , it will not be amiss to treat of them together . the scurvy is called in latin scorbutus ; it is a complication , or concatenation of diseases , generated by the conjunction of divers causes contributing to a scorbutick deformity . the scurvy is generated , or planted essentially in the vital principles , or digestive offices , and therefore it is not discerned by sense , but the effects are distributed throughout the body , and are augmented more or less , according to the strength and debility of parts , to resist or consent and be depraved . the hypochondriack suffocation is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vel quod ad hypochondria pertinet , vel sub cartilagine fita fit . it is called by the latins hypochondriaca melancholia . the ancients thought that this was an uterine disease , in quibus mulieres uteri fuffocatione laborant ; and therefore it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in latin morbus hystericus , vel hysterica passio ; and in english 't is called fits of the mother ; it being most subject to women , from the suppression of their monthly courses . but because men are also molested with longing , and suffer often both the sense and disease of suffocation , especially when they become cachectick , or of ill habit of body : and also they are cured with the same medicines , that women are cured with , when they are vexed with this distemper , therefore i think this suffocation may be more properly called hypochondriacal . it may be called the mother of the scurvy , because the vital principles ( in this disease ) are seduced to declension and deviation from their rectitude , the digestive offices being all depraved . the causes of these diseases are either external , or internal . the external , are sometimes a sedentary studious , and melancholy life , by which the vital principles do receive much prejudice , decay and fall off from their functions , and become languid and feeble ; also the air being infested with noxious vapours , is a procuring cause of these distempers ; for such air being drawn into the body by inspiration , doth commix with the spirits , and debilitate and deprave the faculties , from whence scorbutick and hypochondriack effects do ensue ; and as the body is perspirable or impervious , these diseases are more or less varied , and remitted in their symptoms ; and therefore the constipation of the pores , prohibiting transpiration , is a partial organical cause of preternatural spots in the scurvy , which appear chiefly upon the thighs and legs ; not from the gravity of the material cause , and ponderous propension of gross matter downwards ; but because those parts are more weak in their assimilation , being remote from supply of vital spirits , therefore they have the first tokens of defection . the internal cause is a vitious quality of all the humours , and also of the animal spirits , which are confus'd with the bloud , and communicate their faultiness to it , by which the bloud is also vitiated , so that the nourishment of the body is deprav'd several ways , according to the variety of the quality peccant ; in which the colour of the native skin , and especially of the face languisheth , and is changed pale . in these diseases , not onely the appetite of food , but its fermentation is also deprav'd ; wherefore anxieties about the midriff and hypochondries , and a pressing pain of the heart will soon follow . for when the food is ill fermented , and driven forward through the small gut , it is confus'd with the juice of the pancreas and choler , which are a like vitious , the pancreatick juice being too sharp and acrid , and the bile over thick and salt ; from whence the separation of usefull and unusefull parts , is not onely corrupted , but also by the vitious effervescency of these humours , are rais'd manifold halituous vapours , which do not onely increase the fore describ'd anxiety , but being carried to the heart do breed a palpitation of it , whence it circulates through the lungs , and causeth a difficulty of breathing , and thence being driven every way , it causeth a weariness in all parts of the body ; and if an acrimony of the humours do concur , then it is manifested internally with pain . the cause of the inordinate effervescency of bloud , in the hypochondriack suffocation , is not onely the unequal flowing of lympha , but also of the liquour rising out of the threefold humours , vitiously effervescing in the small gut , from whence vitious vapours are sent to the right ventricle of the heart , and procure a great confusion , and disturbance in it ; hence followeth a notable palpitation of the heart , by which sometimes the effervescency of bloud seemeth to cease in the right ventricle for a time , with its motion and pulse , and also respiration is taken away to outward sense . the symptoms and signs of these diseases are very many , yet are never seen to concur in one and the same body . the usual signs are pain of the head , palpitation of the heart , puffing up of the stomach , loathing , vomiting , belching , hicket , cough , tumour and putrefaction of the gums , with much spitting ; looseness and blackness of the teeth , and sometimes great pain in them ; the breath stinketh , and is sometimes fetched with much difficulty ; also convulsions , palsie , gout , dropsies , and all other obstructions ; sometimes the colick , and trembling and looseness of the lims , with red purple spots dispersed ; also the pleurisie , pain of the hypochondries , and also of many of the external parts , as the neck , arms , hands , thighs , legs , feet and anckles , with laziness , and often faint sweats ; there is also sometimes malign ulcers , dry hard tubercles , erisipelas and edematous tumours with many others , which to enumerate , were to comprehend an universal genus of atomes , within a very narrow limitation . 1. these diseases ( for the most part ) are of long continuance , and are seldom cured , and therefore may be called the disgrace of physicians . 2. if the patient hath a continual pain and giddiness of the head , it doth threaten an epilepsie , or apoplexy . 3. the more aged the sick are , the more grievous are the symptoms , and the more dangerous and difficult to be cured . 4. vomiting , flux of the belly , and hemorrhoids , if they are moderate , are hopefull signs of recovery . in some regions , these diseases are complicated with most other distempers , or at least do easily degenerate into them , by which they are rendred the more difficult of curation . as for the cure of these stubborn and rebellious diseases , the sick must observe a good diet , without which physical means will profit but little ; and here we may also observe , that no aliments , or medicines ( whether altering or purging ) will be very profitable , unless specifick antiscorbuticks be mixed with them . the best antiscorbutick simples , are the roots of horse-radish , butter-bur , liquorish , dandelion , scorzonera , china , zedoary , angelica , elicampane , polypodium , the five opening roots ; the wood and bark of guiacum and sassaphras , the herbs scordium , scurvigrass , brook-lime , water-cresses , sorrel , rue , fennel , golden-rod and penny-royal ; fruits of oranges , limmons , pomcitrons , pomgranates , apples , &c. seeds of mustard , angelica , radish and juniper-berries , cum multis aliis ; of which may be prepared diversity of good medicines both chymical and galenical . the volatile salts both of animals , and vegetables , are excellent to open all obstructions , and temper the humours ; also elixir proprietatis , the spirit of salt armoniack , horse-radish and scurvigrass , the spirit of niter and of salt dulcified , salt of steel , wormwood , and tartar , oil of juniper , cloves , and cinamon , are all specifick antiscorbuticks . the hypochondriack suffocation having great affinity with the scurvy , the same medicines are proper for both . the following julep is both diaphoretick , and diuretick , and very profitable for the sick in these diseases , to be taken two or three days in a week . take the waters of penny-royal , scurvigrass , treacle , syrup of the juice of fennel , of each two ounces ; tincture of castor , half an ounce ; oils of amber , mace , and cloves , of each six drops ; spirit of salt armoniack , twenty drops ; mix it , and give three spoonfulls every two or three hours . this electuary may also be prefer'd . take of conserves of scurvigrass , three ounces ; confectio alkermes , half an ounce ; powder of crabs-eyes , two drachms ; flowers of salt armoniack , tarter vitriolated , of each half a drachm ; spirit of castor one drachm ; oil of cloves twenty drops ; mix it , and give two drachms morning and evening . after the frequent use of this electuary , you may purge with this powder . take powder of cream of tartar , half a drachm ; salts of wormwood , amber , scurvigrass , resin of scammony , of each ten grains ; mix it for two doses . if the patient like pills better , these may serve . for example . take extract . catholicon , rudii , of each ten grains ; resin of jallop , agarick , salt armoniack , of each six grains ; oils of amber , cloves , of each two drops ; make it into eight pills , for two doses . a medicinal wine may be prepar'd very effectual in these distempers . take of water-cresses , brook-lime , scurvigrass , rue , of each one handfull ; roots of polypodium , jallop , horse-radish , angelica , cream of tartar , of each half an ounce ; white nettle-seed , one ounce ; orange-peel , cinamon , salt of tartar , of each two drachms ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused , in three quarts of white-wine , for two or three days , then strain it , and give four spoonfulls in the morning fasting . in the hypochondriack suffocation , you may often hold to the nostrils , a glass with a narrow mouth , containing the spirit of salt armoniack ; for by its sharp smell , the sick for the most part are wont to be rais'd , both from that suffocation , and from the epilepsie . if the gums are putrified , let the mouth be washed with the following tincture , mixed with some plantain water , and syrup of mulberries . take powder of gum lacca , one ounce ; burnt alome half an ounce ; the small spirit of salt armoniack , one quart ; let them digest together 'till it be of a red colour , then filtrate it through brown paper , and keep it for use . if the sick hath a costive body , you may administer a carminative clyster once or twice a week . in pains of the belly and hypochondries , this linament is effectual . take oils of earth-worms , scurvigrass , chamomel , of each one ounce ; oil of mace by expression half an ounce ; mix it , with which anoint the parts affected . this antiscorbutick water will be very profitable , to be taken two or three spoonfulls at a time , morning and evening . take the barks of ash , and capers , the roots of tamarisk , polypodium , horse-radish , of each three ounces ; water-cresses , scurvigrass , brook-lime , sorrel , centaury the less , harts tongue , of each four handfulls ; berries of bays and juniper , goose-dung , of each one ounce ; the seeds of citrons , mustard , carduus benedictus , cloves , cinamon , nutmegs , ginger , of each half an ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and digested , in one gallon of white-wine , and two quarts of spirit of wine , being close covered for three days ; then distill them with a glass still according to art , and keep it for your use . frictions , ligatures , ventoses , sternutatories , &c. are all profitable to stir up the sick in the hypochondriack suffocation . chap. xv. of the green-sickness , and suppression of the courses . the green-sickness is called in latin icteris , & febris alba ; in english the virgin 's disease , the white fever , and the white jaundice ; because in this disease the native colour of the face is pale . this disease is caused either from defect of bloud , or it proceedeth from plenty of crude , viscous , phlegmatick humours , obstructing the veins about the womb , by which the courses are supprest ; the veins of the matrix being obstructed , that superfluous bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way , having not passage , doth return to the greater vessels , and is circulated with the whole mass of bloud and humours , by which they are in time vitiated , and a cachexie or ill habit of body is thence caused ; for the bloud and natural humours , being indued with a vitious quality , the nourishment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways , according to the variety of the quality peccant ; whence likewise not onely the fermentation of food , but also the appetite of it is deprav'd ; wherefore anxieties and palpitation of the heart , &c. troubleth the sick , as well before as after food taken in . this distemper may be also caused by external coldness of the air , &c. and sometimes great fear , and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression ; also aliments , and medicaments that are too astringent taken inwardly . in these diseases the urine cometh away crude , thick and less colour'd , because the phlegmatick , watry humours abounding , incorporating with the bloud , do diminish the desired effervescency ; so that the separation , much less excretion of the excrementitious parts , to be voided together with urine , doth not follow . if the hypochondries be afflicted , and the veins of the womb obstructed , there will be great loathing of wholsome food , and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten , as ashes , salt , coals , &c. which is called pica , and in women with child malacia , of which we have hinted in the chapter of hungar vitiated , page 145 , 146. 1. these distempers are sometimes of long continuance , causing much weakness , and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted : and if they do conceive , they bring forth weak and sickly children , and those that are very melancholy , are in danger of falling into madness , or other grievous affects , as palpitation of the heart , swouning , vertigo , epilepsie , apoplexy , &c. 2. if the obstruction be onely of the vessels of the womb , and have not been of long continuance , it may be easily cur'd . 3. bleeding at the nose , is sometimes beneficial , but if the bloud doth disburthen it self by the eyes , ears , mouth , or bladder , it is preposterous , from whence may arise other bad symptoms . in the cure of these distempers such medicines are to be selected , which will mildly ( and by degrees ) alter , correct and evacuate , tough and glutinous phlegm , seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it , either wholly , or at least in part ; for by the frequent use of such medicines , the bloud and peccant humours will be the easier reduc'd to their natural constitution ; especially by the help of good food , easy of digestion : in the mean while , not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nannatural things . an obstruction of the vessels by viscous phlegm , may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours , and again make them fluid . all fixt metallick and mineral sulphurs , and also volatile salts , prepar'd not onely of several parts of animals , but also of scorbutick plants , ( such as are the juice of hedge-mustard , scurvigrass , garden and water-cresses , dandelion , &c. ) conduce before all others , to loosen and dissolve phlegm coagulated , or bloud clotter'd , as having an egregious power of dissolving all things coagulated , and conglutinated in humane bodies , and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity , and moreover to move sweat , which together being mildly promoted , the desired dissolution of the aforesaid viscous humours , &c. will be obtained much easier , and sooner . an example of such a sudorifick i have here set down for the sake of young practitioners . take the waters of treacle , dandelion , parsley , scurvigrass , fennel , syrups of hedge-mustard , white poppies , of each half an ounce ; spirit of salt armoniack , harts-horn , of each ten drops ; laudanum opiatum , four grains ; mix it . the following is also very effectual . take the waters of fennel , hyssop , of each two ounces ; distill'd vinegar six drachms ; the carminative-water of sylvius half an ounce ; syrup of the five opening roots one ounce and half ; powder of crabs-eyes one drachm ; sperma coeti , mummy , antimony diaphoretick , of each one scruple ; laudanum opiat . four grains ; mix it . let the sick often take two spoonfulls of either of these mixtures , especially in bed , to promote the power of the medicine , and to facilitate a sweat ; by the help whereof the mention'd power of the sudorifick will the better come to the place of obstruction , and will attenuate , loosen , and make fluid the matter obstructing ; the whole mass of bloud will also become more fluid and moveable , being rarefi'd by the volatile salt of the medicine . if the patient be plethorick , let the saphoena vein be opened , for by opening and breathing a vein , the motion and circulation of the bloud will be the better restor'd ; for a larger space being made for the universal bloud , it will circulate more swiftly and potently . the phlegmatick viscous humours must be corrected , and evacuated by phlegmagogues . the following medicines are of great efficacy . take of salts of mugwort , ash , amber , tartar vitriolated , of each ten grains ; powder of cream of tartar , white sugar-candy , of each half a drachm ; mix it , and give it in white wine in the morning fasting . the next day you may administer the following pills . take of pil . foetidoe , ex duobus , of each half a drachm ; amber , prepar'd steel , borax , mercur. dulcis , of each one scruple ; mirrh , castor , saffron , of each twelve grains ; oil of cloves , spirit of salt armoniack , of each six drops ; make it into ten pills for two doses , which may be taken in the morning fasting . if a medicinal wine be acceptable to the sick , the following or one like it may be used . take the roots of horse-radish , the five opening roots , of each one ounce ; savin , vervain , penny-royal , hyssop , calamint , mugwort , of each one handfull ; senna , cinamon , sweet fennel-seeds , juniper-berries , orange-peel , liquorish , of each half an ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused in one gallon of white-wine for three days , then strain it , and keep it for use . you may add more wine to the ingredients so long as there is any aromatick taste . four or five spoonfulls of this wine may be taken two or three times a day , with which you may mix salt of tartar vitriolated ten grains ; elixir proprietatis six drops . if you expect a laudable success , you must persevere awhile in the use of these , or such like medicines . chap. xvi . of the immoderate menstrual flux , and the whites in women . the monthly terms being immoderate , may be called in latin mensium fluxus immodicus . and the whites in women alboe mulierum fluxiones . the causes of too many courses are either external , or internal . the external causes may be by an ulcer in the matrix , or some outward violence , and sometimes by too much coition . the internal causes are either a sharp serous humour abounding in the bloud , increasing its fluidity , or else an over great heat in the womb , stirring up a more potent , and therefore a swifter rarefaction of bloud , provoking an expulsion of it , either by breaking , ( or some other preternatural opening ) of the vessels of the womb. the white flux of the womb , is an excrementitious humour flowing from it . this distemper is subject not onely to women , but sometimes to maids also . these humours may be bred in the womb , either by a cold or hot distemper therein . the cold doth render it unable to digest its nourishment . a hot distemper corrupteth it , hence cometh this excrementitious humour . also abortion , contusion , inflammation , imposthume or ulcer in the womb , may weaken and dispose it to breed such humours . the signs that distinguish between this distemper , and an ulcer in the womb , and gonorrhoea , are these . 1. if there be an ulcer there , the womb will not admit of coition , without pain , and the matter which floweth from her is stringy , and more digested , and sometimes bloudy . 2. in the gonorrhoea , the seminal matter cometh in a small quantity , and seldom , except it be gotten by acting with an unclean person , then the urine is sharp , with many other malignant symptoms . all long hemorrhagies of bloud are dangerous , especially those of the womb ; if it be caused by exulceration , and be in elderly women , 't is incurable . the white flux is not very dangerous , but is often difficult of curation , especially in old women , because they abound with phlegm ; and 't is hard to divert the humours from this chanel , it being the sink of the body , through which the superfluous humours of a healthy woman are every month evacuated . if this distemper continue long , it may breed great evils , as barrenness , falling out of the womb , &c. these diseases may be both cured by the same medicines . if the courses have continued too long , the following mixture will soon stop the flux of bloud , and will cure most ruptions of vessels . take the waters of plantain , comfry , of each three ounces ; cinamon-water , syrups of mirtles , quinces , of each one ounce and half ; distill'd vinegar one ounce ; red coral prepar'd one drachm ; dragons bloud one scruple ; laudanum opiat . six grains ; mix it , and give three spoonfulls every four hours . when the flux of bloud is stopt , you may purge with the following . take of manna one ounce ; powder of rhubarb tosted , cream of tartar , of each half a drachm ; resin of jallop four grains ; mix it , and take it in broth . if the patient like pills , i commend the following . take resins of jallop and scammony , extract of rhubarb , agarick , salt of amber , powder of dragons-bloud , of each ten grains ; oil of mints six drops ; with syrup of rhubarb , let it be made into twelve pills for three doses . after purging , these astringents will be profitable . take of cinamon , the roots of bistort , tormentile , rhubarb , seeds of plantain , dill , flowers of red roses , balaustins , red coral , sealed earth , whitest amber , harts-horn , gum-dragon and arabick , of each two drachms ; saccharum saturni , dragons-bloud , salt prunella , of each two scruples ; laudanum opiat . camphire , of each ten grains ; let them be all finely powder'd and searced , and with honey of red roses , syrups of quinces and comfry , of each equal parts ; let it be made into an electuary according to art. let the sick take the quantity of a nutmeg of this electuary , every morning and evening , either upon the point of a knife , or dissolve it in two or three ounces of red wine , to which you may add a few drops of tincture of red coral , and drink it . this julep is also of great virtue . take the waters of comfry , plantain , oak-buds , knot-grass , red wine , of each four ounces ; in which infuse red rose-buds , balaustins , flowers of comfry , bugloss , of each one handfull , for the space of twenty four hours , then boil it gently for half an hour ; strain it , and add tincture of red coral , syrups of dried roses , comfry and mirtles , of each two ounces ; oil of vitriol twenty drops ; mix it , and take six spoonfulls every three hours . let the region of the womb be anointed with this linament . take unguent . comitissoe , oil of mirtles , of each one ounce ; saccharum saturni one drachm ; camphire ten grains ; mix it . after the part is anointed , let this plaster be applied . take the plaster against ruptures , diapalma , of each one ounce ; the carminative plaster of sylvius half an ounce ; mix it , and spread it on leather , and apply to the region of the womb. in the whites , let this be used for a fume . take of olibanum , amber , cloves , of each half a drachm ; red rose-buds , balaustins , of each two drachms ; beat them all together into a gross powder ; put a little of it at a time upon a pan of coles , and let the woman sit over it . chap. xvii . of the falling down of the womb and fundament . if the womb falleth down , it may be called in latin procidentia matricis . so likewise if the fundament cometh down , it is called procidentia ani. the causes of these distempers are either external or internal . the external causes may be any violent exercise , with much striving , also falls or blows , on those parts ; also bathing in cold water , &c. the internal causes are serous and phlegmatick humours , a dysentery with a tenasmus , the whites continuing long , a violent drawing the child , or after-birth out of the womb ; also much sneezing or coughing , especially in child-bed ; to conclude , all things that may cause a rupture or relaxation of the ligaments of the womb , or sphincter muscle of the anus , may be the cause of these griefs . in a procidentia ani , there is always a mucous and purulent dejection , from a phlegmatick , viscous , and sometimes also a sharp acid humour adjoining about the seige , which often causeth a troublesome ulcer by fretting . in young people these distempers may be easily cur'd , if they have not continued long , and do not come very far out , and be not ulcerated . but if there be a rupture of the ligaments of the womb , it is incurable ; likewise great pain and inflammation are very difficult ; and if either the matrix or anus be gangrenated it is mortal , without speedy amputation . you must begin the cure with removing the symptoms and discharging the guts of their excrements , either with clysters or lenitives . then anoint the part with some astringent oils , and endeavour to reduce it gently by degrees . the manner of the reduction every ingenious artist knows , and therefore needs not any directions . when the womb is reduc'd it may be kept with a pessary fram'd of cork as thick as necessary , and cover'd with wax mixed with a little castor , and assafoetida , which may there continue . if there be pain and inflammation , let the part be bathed with this . take the flowers of chamomel , elder , of each one handfull ; marsh-mallow-roots one ounce ; seeds of flax and foenugreek , of each half an ounce ; boil it in two quarts of milk till half be consumed , then strain it , and add malaga wine one pint ; mix it . let stuphs be moistned in this and wrung out and applied hot ; after which apply a plaster of ad herniam to the lower part of the belly . before you reduce the anus , anoint it with oil of mirtles and bestrew it with powder of album groecum , or the following . take of red roses , pomgranat-rinds , cypress-nuts , mastick , crocus martis , burnt lead , of each half an ounce ; beat them all into a fine powder . a bag quilted with the following astringents , and applied hot to either griev'd part three times a day , will conduce much to keep it up . take of plantain , sanicle , buds of oak and medlar , red rose-buds , balaustins , of each one handfull ; roots of comfry , tormentil , bistort , cypress-nuts , seeds of anise , sweet fennel , of each one ounce ; beat them all into a gross powder . inwardly may be given astringents and strengthners , but not in time of the courses ; those prescrib'd against the immoderate flowing of the terms are good . chap. xviii . of barrenness . barrenness is called in latin sterilitas . it may be called in english unfruitfullness , it being an impotency of conception . we reade in the scripture that the women of old did think it a reproach to be childless ; and therefore when elizabeth had conceived who before was barren , she said the lord hath taken away my reproach among men ; as you may reade at large in the first chapter of luke's gospel . very few women in a marriage state but desire children , yea some would give all they have in the world for a child , and are very impatient if they do not conceive . rachel said to jacob in gen. 30 ver . 1. give me children , or else i dye . i will now briefly shew you , what may be the cause of sterility . 1. first , want of love between a man and his wife , way hinder conception . 2. any malignant distemper in the womb , may corrupt the seed , and be the cause of barrenness . some are of opinion that witch-craft may be the cause . but to conclude , the whites or any moist distemper of the matrix , may be the cause of barrenness . sometimes the cause is in the man , for if he doth want sperm , or is unable to erect his genital by reason of any weakness or distemper in his secrets ; or if he be effeminate and taketh little or no delight in the act of venery , he is not fit for venus school . there are some rules left by the ancients to try whether a woman be naturally barren or no. hippocrates adviseth to put a clove of garlick or a little galbanum into her womb , and if her breath do smell of it , be sure she is fruitfull . if barrenness be caused by any disease afflicting either the man or the woman , then there may be hopes of conception when health is procured ; but if it be evil shape of of the members in the woman , or the man not fit for venus-school , patientia est optima virtus . in the cure , you must endeavour to remove whatsoever hindreth conception . many things are antipathetical to fecundity , as jet , glow-worms , saphires , smaragds , the matrix of a goat or mule , likewise vinegar , mints , watercresses , beans , &c. all which i advise you to avoid , and make use of those things which have a peculiar virtue to help or cause conception , and remove barrenness . the after-birth of a woman dried and powdred , and taken often a drachm at a time ; also the stones and liver of a bore-pig , the juice of sage , the roots of satirion and eringo candied , are all good . there are many medicines prescrib'd in authours to help conception . quercetanus doth commend this infusion . take the matrix of a hare and the stones of a ram prepar'd with whitewine , of cinamon , ginger , mace , cloves , seeds of bishops-weed , of each half an ounce ; saffron two drachms ; kernels of fistick-nuts one ounce ; let them be all bruised and infused in a quart of muskadel-wine for two or three days ; then strain it , and add more wine to the ingredients for a second infusion . the following electuary is also excellent . take the roots of satirion and eringo candied , of each one ounce ; candied ginger and preserv'd nutmegs , of each two drachms ; kernels of hazle-nuts and fistick-nuts , of each half an ounce ; powder of a bull's-pizle , of ivory , seeds of rocket , bishops-weed , of each one drachm ; species diambroe , diamosc . dulcis , of each six drachms ; confectio alkermes one ounce and half ; with syrup of the juice of citrons ; make it into an electuary according to art. let the woman take the quantity of a nutmeg of it every night going to bed , and drink a glass of sack or muskadel , or of the aforementioned infusion after it . if a cold and moist distemper of the body and womb , accompanied with the whites be the cause , look for the cure in its proper chapter . if it be caused by witchcraft , there are some things commended by authours to be worn about the party against fascination , viz. the pizle of a wolf , a diamond , a jacinth-stone , rue , squills , sea-holly , sagapenum , amara dulcis , hypericon , &c. but above all , let fervent and devout prayers be put up to the throne of grace for help ; and reject and despise incantations or charms , and all other diabolical means . chap. xix . of abortion or miscarriage . abortion is called in latin abortus , vel intempestivus foetus . because it is an untimely birth ; the child being brought forth , either dead or alive before its fit time of deliverance . this is the worst symptom , that attends breeding women . it may happen from the first moment of conception , to the end of the sixth month ; but it is most usual in the end of the third , or the beginning of the fourth month. the causes are either external , or internal . the external causes are a great excess in things nonnatural , as too great anger , fear , and other passions , or else it may be through defect ; for if the mother undergo penury or famine , or lose much bloud , the child wanteth nourishment . many times things longed for , and not obtained , kill the child . also strong purging medicines , that provoke the terms , and all fetid smells , falls , blows , lifting , carrying , dancing , running , riding or any other outward violence , may be the cause of abortion . the internal causes may be the depravedness of the humours , by which the mass of bloud becometh vitious ; also acute or chronick diseases , especially of the womb ; and also violent coughing , sneezing , vomiting , convulsions and fluxes of the belly , may loosen the ligaments of the womb , and so cause miscarriage . the signs of abortion at hand , are great pain about the loins , and share-bones , sometimes with shivering ; the breasts growing little and flaggy , the situation of the child changed towards the bottom of the belly , with a bearing down , and evacuation of bloud , &c. 1. women who have moist and slippery wombs are most subject to miscarry , but with little danger , except it be the first child , and that very big . 2. much bleeding , with fainting , raving , or convulsions is for the most part mortal . to prevent abortion ; if there be an evil disposition of the body , or womb , you must endeavour to remove it ; if the woman hath a plethorick body , let a vein be opened in the arme , especially in the first six months . if ill humours abound , purge often with gentle means . this purging infusion may serve . take of cinamon , rhubarb , anise-seed , of each two drachms ; let them be bruised , and infused in four ounces of plantain-water very hot , for the space of a night , then strain it , and add syrup of succory with rhubarb , the best manna , of each half an ounce ; mix it , and give it in the morning fasting . also the pills prescrib'd in page 240. may be used in this case . if the woman be troubled with a rheumatick distemper , accompanied with wind ; and if she be pretty strong , you may sweat her gently sometimes with this or such like cordial diaphoretick . take the waters of treacle , carduus , fennel , of each one ounce ; cinamon-water two drachms ; syrups of the juice of carduus , coral , of each half an ounce ; confectio de hyacintho half a drachm ; spirit of niter six drops ; oil of cinamon two drops ; laudanum opiatum three grains ; mix it , and give to provoke sweat . let the womb be strengthned with cordial astringents : those prescrib'd in page 239. 240. are excellent . chap. xx. of hard travel in child-birth . hard labour may be called in latin partus , vel enixus laboriosus ; quod ipse nitendi & pariendi actus . the time of a natural birth ought to be accomplished in the space of twenty four hours ; if the womans travel continue longer time with vehement pains and dangerous symptoms , it may be called hard labour , or difficult travel in child-birth . there are various causes of hard labour , sometimes tender women by reason of pain , are very fearfull , and do endeavour to hinder pains , and consequently the birth also . sometimes the child being weak or dead , and not following the water in due-time , before the passage be too dry may be the cause ; especially if the mother be weak , by reason of any disease afflicting her , or by too much evacuation of bloud , or there be not sufficient motion of the womb , and muscles of the belly . sometimes the child's head may be too big , or the passage too strait . also the child may be turned in the womb , and the hands , shoulders , back , belly , or buttocks , &c. may come forward to the birth , and then the endeavour to bring forth will be painfull and difficult . the signs of hard labour are easily known ; if the child do stir , and there be strong pains , and no water appear , the secundine is strong . if pains be weak , and long before they return , and more in the back than belly , the infant is weak . if the woman be little , and her husband big and full shouldred , then there is a great child , which will cause tough work . 1. hard travel in child-birth is very dangerous , for sometimes the mother , sometimes the child , and many times both do lose their lives . 2. if the woman be in travel above four days , the child can hardly be alive ; and therefore must be drawn away before it be too late ; for if it be neglected , it will cause fevers , faintings , convulsions , sleepiness , &c. which are the forerunners of death . 3. if sneezing cometh of its own accord , it is a good sign of deliverance . first give this cordial to strengthen both the mother and child . take waters of baum , vervain , cinamon , of each two ounces ; syrup of clove-gilliflowers , saffron , of each six drachms ; spirit of saffron , confectio alkermes , of each one drachm ; mix it . if the child be situated on os pubis , it must be removed , and all other unfit postures must be rectified . then such things as hasten the birth may be safely administred . to encrease the pains , and further the womans labour , i commend sneezing , and also the following medicines . take the livers of eels prepar'd with cinamon-water , and dried , one drachm ; powder of borax , whitest amber , mirrh , saffron , dittany of crete , round birth-wort , of each half a drachm ; mix it , and give a scruple of it at a time , in three spoonfulls of this julep . take the waters of vervain , mugwort , of each two ounces ; syrup of saffron one ounce ; confectio alkermes one drachm ; extract of saffron six grains ; oils of cinamon , amber , of each three drops ; mix it . some things have a peculiar property to help the birth ; as the stone aetites , loadstone , storax , the eyes of a hare , &c. held near the privities . the time being come , the woman must be put into a posture , ( which every midwife doth understand ) and let her not labour too much , till strong pains come ; and then let her resolve on patience , and not be disorderly in the time of her travel . if she be faint , you may give her some of the formention'd cordial julep to comfort her . let your hands be anointed with some anodine ointment . after the water is broke , if the head cometh with the face towards anus receive it ; if not endeavour to place it right : then turn your finger round about the child's head gently , to make way for the birth . if the child cometh any other way , you must endeavour to gain the feet , and bring it away with the face towards anus , as before mention'd . the child being born , you must bring away the secundine gently by degrees , after which put a closure to the woman to prevent cold from entring the womb. then prepare her for the bed , and give her some sperma coeti , or irish-slate in a little burnt white-wine with cinamon . if the woman doth flood much , or be troubled with after-pains , give her some of the following cordial opiate . take of small cinamon-water , the waters of red poppies , baum , of each two ounces ; syrups of clove-gilliflowers , white poppies , of each one ounce ; laudanum opiat . three grains ; oil of cinamon two drops ; mix it , and give three spoonfulls of it often . if the child be born alive , after the navel string is secured , give the child ten grains of prepar'd coral in a little breast milk , or black cherry-water dulcifi'd with syrup of peony , to which you may add a little oil of sweet almonds new drawn . if the child be troubled with gripes , you may give it a little powder of anise-seed in the pap. but if the child be dead , and the labour gone ; or if the child's head be very big , and the passage too strait ; so that the midwife cannot doe her office ; you must then speedily implore the help of the man-midwife , as we are called . if a woman in child-bed hath a costive body , give her a suppository of castile-soap , or honey boiled ; and after three or four days , you may administer , an emollient , carminative clyster . if a woman ( after hard travel ) cannot hold her urine , bathe her secret parts and region of the womb with this or the like decoction . take of plantain , comfry , shepherds-purse , tops of brambles , penny-royal , rosemary , sage , stoechas , of each one handfull ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in a gallon of smiths-water , till half of it be boiled away , then strain it , and bathe the parts affected very warm with woollen stuphs . afterward anoint the grieved parts with this linament . take the ointment comitissoe , oil of mace by expression , of each one ounce ; oils of earth-worms , foxes , lillies , goose-grease , of each half an ounce ; mix it . chap. xxi . of nephritick pains , and of the stone in the reins and bladder . diseases of the reins are called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ren. in latin they are called morbus renum , which comprehends not onely any ach in the kidneys , but also the stone and gravel in the reins . nephritick pains may be caused divers ways . 1. first by a sharp salt matter , or a sharp and serous lympha in the kidneys , which doth easily concrete into a stone , especially when the ferment of the reins is much vitiated ; which may be known by those cruel torturing fits , that come by intervals . 2. worms in the kidneys , which for the most part arise from bloud there corrupted , may be the cause of pain . 3. an abcess or tumour in the kidneys , following an inflammation , doth hinder the passage of urine , and is always accompanied with great pain . 4. it may also be caused by glutinous phlegm , obstructing the fleshy parts of the kidneys , and hindring the separation of urine ; so that it is not strein'd into the funnels of the reins as usual , but is deprav'd and vitiated : whence the natural descent of the urine , through the ureters into the urinal bladder is also hindred . the same also may happen sometimes by a stone sticking in the funnel , and stopping the entrance of the ureters . although i think that stones sticking in the ureters themselves , cannot long hinder the passage of urine ; because it hath been found by experience , ( in dissecting of dead bodies ) that stones near the bigness of a doves-egg ; have been sticking in the ureters ; by the sides of which stones , urine descended freely , which was evident , because the ureter was no were distended , unless where the stone did stick : neither was there any urine contain'd in the ureter , above the obstruction ; besides when the party was living , there was no stoppage of urine . those fits which come by intervals , are caused by a debility or vitiousness of the ferment of the kidneys , which generates crude , salt and sharp matter , which causeth those cruel tortures ; and should all the gravel and stone come away , the pain would not be the less , untill the kidneys themselves be reduc'd to their right temper : for many in perfect health have voided much gravel at a time without the least pain , and therefore it is evident that gravel is onely the product , and not the producer or primitive cause of this pain . the symptoms of nephritick pains are so much like that caused by the stone , that they cannot be easily distinguished ; for the signs of both are great pain of the loins , loathing or vomiting , there being a great consent between the reins and stomach . the patient often pisseth bloudy water , and when the reins are ulcerated , the matter is often evacuated with the urine . wherein the force of concreting or growing together of stones ( in divers parts of the body ) consists , is not enough known ; i will freely declare what i conjecture in this obscure matter , whereby i may ( according to my power ) the more help others ( that are ingenious ) to search out this hidden truth . all the stones that are generated in the body , may be dissolved in the sour spirit of salt peter or niter ; whence i conclude that the coagulation of stones cannot be expected from an acid spirit as such , therefore from another somewhat contrary to it in part at least . if any consider the several things , that promote the growing together of natural things , they will find that such force is in tart things ; whence the glutinousness , and toughness of fluid things is wont to be produc'd ; to which if earthy , and volatile salt parts be join'd , something will be produc'd not much unlike stones . i incline therefore to this opinion , that an earthy and salt matter , join'd to that which is glutinous , groweth together into stones by help of a tart humour . also gravel of all kinds ( that is usually seen in the bottom of urine ) testifieth that the conglobated glandules are all affected , by a frequent external cold , or else by sour things taken in , and when the gravel is great it is then near to the nature of stones , yea sometimes groweth together into stones , especially in cold phlegmatick bodies , where ( for the most part ) it giveth stones their first rising , and daily cherisheth their production , and increaseth them ; and the more especially where a glutinous , stone-making faculty doth concur in the body . many histories mention , that stones are produced from a stone-making spirit , or breath out of the earth , which hath turned the bodies of men , beasts and other things into stone . riverius , ( in his last edition ) quoteth aventius annal. bavar . lib. 7. anno 1343. who saith , that above fifty men , with many cattle were turned into stone . ortelius telleth the like story , that whole herds in russia have been turned into stone . and camerarius reporteth , that in the province of chilo in armenia , at the blast of a south-wind ( which happeneth four times in a year ) whole troops of horse have been turned into statues of stone , standing in the same warlike posture , in which they were marching . children are most inclinable to this monster in nature , because they have much moisture , and weak digestions , which generate crudities . stones are generated in many parts of the body , as the gall , reins , bladder , &c. i once opened a woman that had sixty four stones in her gall. i also dissected another whose ureters were stony ; and out of her gall i took out a large stone , and a small one ( about the bigness of a hazle-nut ) out of the neck of the gall. 1. these distempers are very dangerous , and bring many sad symptoms to the afflicted patient ; as great pain , inflammations , exulcerations , long watchings , weakness , fevers , suppression of urine , and death it self . 2. pain from acrid lympha , &c. may be cured in those that are young , if the strength be not too much dejected , nor the disease hereditary . that we may now address our selves to the cure of these grievous diseases ; i would advise those who are not very skilfull in the art of physick , to forbear giving of any thing in these distempers , without the advice of an experienc'd physician ; for i believe many stones have been bred in those bodies ( who before were free from it , and were onely troubled with nephritick pains ) by the frequent taking of ill medicines ; for many remedies have been invented to dissolve the stone ; but experience teacheth that they are most of them inimical to the reins and bladder , and debilitate their ferment . the solvent of the stone ought to be homogenious , and so singular , that it submit not to any digestions , or fermental powers , through which it passeth in its way to the parts affected ; for the virtue of all common remedies taken at the mouth , are alter'd and transmuted in passing three digestions : for acid things , ( from which much hath been hoped ) as soon as they are past the stomach , lose their acidity , and are converted into a saline nature , so that the dissolving power of the acid is wholly transmuted before it gets either to the reins or bladder . likewise those medicines which are injected into the bladder with a syringe , ought to be agreeable to its ferment , that it may not be painfull thereto ; for if but a small quantity of any sharp medicine be injected , it stirreth up an intolerable strangury , it being wholly foreign to the ferment of the part . and seeing the stone , and all other distempers of the reins and bladder , are wont to be bred , and increased in length of time ; the remedies which you administer must be long us'd , before you may have experience of their effects . i will here set down some choice medicines , not onely to hinder the increase , but to dissolve small stones in humane bodies , if they be long enough us'd . amongst which we may deservedly attribute the first place to spirit of niter ( seeing stones of any kind are so easily and manifestly broken and dissolved by it ) which may commodiously be mixt in any ordinary drink , or wine and broths , &c. to a light acidity ; whose excellent effects all may admire . if the patient have a costive body , you may give the following lenitive three or four times in a week . take of cassia newly drawn one ounce ; venice turpentine half an ounce ; crystal prepar'd , salt of tartar vitriolated , of each one drachm ; oil of juniper , spirit of salt armoniack , of each four drops ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; mix it for two doses . the following is also very effectual . take of cio-turpentine half an ounce ; powder of rhubarb one drachm ; the yelk of one egg , mix it for two doses ; give it in the morning fasting , and drink four ounces of this julep after it . take the decoction for syrup of marsh-mallows one quart ; the waters of horse-radish , pellitory of the wall , speedwell , winter-cherries , syrups of marsh-mallows and the five opening roots , of each two ounces ; crystal prepar'd , salt prunella , of each half an ounce ; tincture of salt of tartar two drachms ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; laudanum ten grains ; mix it and give four or five spoonfulls of it often . this powder is also excellent . take salt of tartar vitriolated two drachms ; powder of crabs-eyes , salts of pigeons-dung , broom , beanstalks , wormwood , of each half a drachm ; mix it , and give twenty grains of it every morning and evening in the foremention'd julep . if the patient be plethorick , phlebotomy may be used with good success . if a stone chance to stick in the ureter , which causeth numbness , by its pressing upon the muscle psoas , and the nerves , in this case , apply a ventose on os ilium , which may bring the stone by degrees into the bladder ; afterward anoint the parts grieved with rabbets fat . if the stone in the bladder be very big , there is little hopes of dissolving of it , wherefore if the patient ( being in continual pain ) be willing to submit to lithotomy ; i advise them to make choice of an experienc'd artist ; lest by precipitancy the operatour neglect to cleanse the bladder , after the extraction of the stone ; by the neglect of which , many have generated the stone again , and have been forced to endure that dreadfull operation the second , and sometimes the third time , under which many have died , and others who recovered , have never held their urine . in other nephritick pains , if the fleshy parts of the kidneys be obstructed , they may be opened by diureticks , that cut , attenuate , and make glutinous phlegm fluid . for example , take of eringo-roots , the five opening roots , of each one ounce ; the tops of agrimony , the greater celandine , of each two handfulls ; the berries of juniper and winter-cherries , of each two drachms ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain-water , till half be confumed ; then strain it , and add syrups of marsh-mallows , and the five opening roots , of each two ounces ; tincture of salt of tartar two drachms ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls of it every morning and evening . they who like juleps better , may use this or the like . take the waters of fennel , parsley , pellitory of the wall , of each two ounces ; the carminative spirit of sylvius , syrups of marsh-mallows , the five opening roots , of each one ounce ; oil of juniper , spirit of salt armoniack , of each ten drops ; spirit of niter twenty drops , laudanum opiat . four grains ; mix it , and give three spoonfulls every three or four hours . the patient may also drink freely of the mineral diuretick-waters of tunbridge , &c. which will conduce much to the cure ; especially if some old diuretick-wine , and a little oily volatile salt ( made of diuretick , vegetables ) be mixed with the water . when the glutinous phlegm is prepar'd , and loosned , it may be educ'd with some convenient phlegmagogue , either in the form of pills or potion , of which there are variety mention'd in page 3. and four , &c. the fixt sulphurs of minerals and metalls , exalted to their highest perfection , do ( before all others ) mildly temper all the humours ; next to which oily volatile salts come , and aromaticks next to these : by the force of which ( prudently us'd ) not onely an effervescency of somewhat contrary humours ( most agreeable to man's nature ) is bred in the small gut , and afterward in the heart ; but the preternatural growing together , and uniting of the more sharp humours ( being first moderated by them ) is again dissolv'd in the bloud . i speak these things by experience , and because it is of great moment in practice , i commend them to the truly studious of physick . if the urine be bloudy , it testifieth the opening of some vessel of bloud in the kidneys , ureters , bladder , or its neck . to heal and consolidate this harm the following is excellent . take the waters of parsley , plantain , of each two ounces ; cinamon-water , syrups of mirtles , comfry , marsh-mallows , of each half an ounce ; powder of dragons-bloud , red coral prepar'd , of each ten grains ; laudanum opiat . three grains ; spirit of niter ten drops ; mix it , and give three or four spoonfulls every two hours . if there be an ulcer in any of these parts , it may perhaps be more happily cur'd by the daily taking of balsam of sulphur ( made with the oil of amber , juniper , anise-seed , or turpentine ) in any convenient vehicle , than by any other medicine hitherto known . in all suppression of urine , the following is very effectual . take the waters of chamomel , golden-rod , winter-cherries , of each four ounces ; syrups of marsh-mallows , the five opening roots , of each two ounces ; powder of egg-shells calcin'd one ounce ; tincture of salt of tartar two drachms ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; mix it , and give four spoonfulls every three hours . chap. xxii . of extraordinary pissing , &c. this distemper is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. pertransire , quod urina ureteres , & urethram subito pertransit . it being a quick or plentifull pissing or making of water . the cause is either external , or internal . the external , or primary efficient cause , is an immoderate drinking of stale beer , sider , or acid wines , either french or rhenish ; by which an incurable diabetes hath been ofttimes suddenly contracted . the internal cause of this disease , is sharp , serous humours abounding in the bloud , by which not onely the whole mass of it doth in time become too thin , but the nervous juice is also thereby ill affected , and consequently the reins inflam'd , by the continual flowing of the over acid serous humours : whence the attractive faculty of the kidneys is increas'd , drawing the serosity of the bloud more potently from the emulgent vessels into the funnels , and provoking the expulsive faculty , it is soon sent ( through the ureters ) to the bladder , from whence it is often evacuated by pissing . the signs are a continual pissing , so that much more moisture is voided , than is taken into the body , by eating and drinking . it is always accompanied with an extraordinary thirst ; the sick is also feverish , something like a hectick . if it continue long , it will decay all the radical moisture of the body , which will render it incurable , but if it be taken in the beginning , and the patient be young , it may be easily cured . all things which have power to incrassate the thinness of the bloud , and temper the over acidity of the humours , may be administred in this distemper . in the beginning of the cure , after a stool hath been procured by an emollient clyster , you may open a vein in the arm. the next day a gentle purge of rhubarb may be administred ; but if the stomach be foul , and the sick can vomit easily , you may give an antimonial emetick with good success , because it will potently draw the sharp peccant humours from the emulgent vessels and reins , and evacuate some of them both by vomit and stool . after the operation of the emetick , let the sick take two spoonfulls of this cordial opiate often , which will ease pain , and thicken the humours . take the waters of barley , red poppies , of each four ounces ; cinamon-water , syrups of coral , and comfry , penidies , of each one ounce ; gums arabick and dragon , of each half an ounce ; powder of dragons-bloud , red coral prepar'd , of each one drachm ; laudanum opiatum six grains ; let the gums be dissolved in the distill'd waters , and strained , then mix all together according to art. you may prescribe this , or such a like decoction , for the patient 's ordinary drink . take the roots of china , sarseparilla , comfry , plantain , red sanders , of each two ounces ; liquorish , red roses , hemp-seed , of each one ounce ; raisins of the sun stoned four ounces ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in a gallon of fountain-water , till half of it be boiled away , then strain it , and keep it for use . let the diet be cooling , and thickning broths and jellies made of knuckles of veal , with the roots of china and comfry boiled in it , is excellent . you may also make panado's of the aforesaid broth , with a few crums of whitebread , and the yelk of an egg. also milk ( wherein the aforesaid roots are boiled ) will be very effectual . chap. xxiii . of involuntary pissing , commonly called pissing in bed. when the urine floweth involuntarily ( which in children is vulgarly called pissing in bed ) it may be called in latin urinae incontinentia , pro impotentia sive imbecilitate retinendi . the causes are either external , or internal . the external cause is a large wound in the sphincter muscle of the bladder , which sometimes happens in lithotomy ; for by extracting a great stone , the sphincter muscle may be so much lacerated , that it ceaseth to be contracted , and the orifice of the bladder to be shut , wherefore the urine distilleth of its own accord . it may be caused internally by the palsie , apoplexy , epilepsie , syncope , &c. sometimes ebriety may be the cause of the resolution of the nerves , which from the loins are inserted into the neck of the bladder , and so render the sphincter muscle incapable of contraction ; hence the urine is involuntarily voided . in children , this distemper is curable , if taken in time ; but if it happen to old folks , or if it be caused by a wound in the sphincter muscle of the bladder , it is incurable . that which is caused by the palsie , epilepsie , syncope , &c. look for the cure in their proper chapters . if it be caused by ebriety , sobriety may be commended to cure it , especially by the help of inward means to strengthen the parts affected . many things have been given to children , that have been troubled with this distemper ; the most effectual are these . fried mice , the inner skins of hens-gizzards , cocks-weasands , pudenda suilla , stones of a hare , snails with the shells , all or any of these dried and poudred ; also the powder of agrimony , egg-shells , the burnt ashes of an hedge-hog , &c. any of these may be given in red wine , or in lime-water chalibeated , which may be dulcifi'd with syrup of comfry . if phlegm do abound in the body , you may purge it with phlegmagogues . also sweating with gentle diaphoreticks , is very effectual . those already mention'd are proper , onely consider the age and strength of the patient . chap. xxiv . of the stoppage of urine , and the strangury . the stoppage of urine is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comprimo , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urina . 't is called in latin urinoe suppressio . the strangury is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. urinoe difficultas , vel urinoe per guttas excretionem . ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stilla , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urina . these differ onely in degree , for when the urine is totally obstructed , it may be called ischuria , but when little is voided , and by drops , it may be called stranguria . these distempers may be caused by viscous phlegm , or coagulated bloud in the ureters , or urethra , especially if a stone , or some gravel do also stick in the passage , by which the obstruction will be more strengthned . sometimes it is caused by a schirrous tumour , or other excrescency of flesh , as a carbuncle , &c. growing in the urethra , or chanel of urine . sometimes it is caused by a preposterous holding in of the urine , either , for shame or want of opportunity to evacuate it ; so that the bladder being extremely fill'd and distended , it hath not power to contract it self , hence the voiding of urine is supprest . it may also be caused by sharp humours , fretting and ulcerating the internal superficies of the bladder , by which it is continually stirred up to contract it self , and expell the urine which is in it ; so that the bladder is empty , having little or no urine in it , as i have known by experience . this may be called a bastard ischuria , which may be also caused by some hurt in the attractive or expulsive faculty of the reins . if the aforesaid causes be violent , it causeth an ischuria , but if remiss , then a strangury is stirred up , in which there is a perpetual irritation to extrude the urine , although slowly ; and by drops , with exceeding pain and trouble . suppression of urine is dangerous , and if it continue long , it is mortal ; especially if the patient's breath stinck of piss , or hath a hiccough , or tenasmus . if the cause be in the neck of the bladder or urethra stopt , you may clear it , and draw away the urine with a catheter , as i have often done both from men and women with good success . if the cause be from the reins or ureters , seek the cure in the chapter of nephritick pains , &c. glutinous phlegm , and coagulated bloud , may be cut and attenuated with aromaticks boild in water or wine , and mixed with oily volatile salts , spirit of niter , &c. stone-horse dung is rich in volatile salt , wherefore if you mix the juice of it with rhenish-wine , and drink it often , you will admire its wonderfull effects , in curing not onely stoppage of urine , but most other obstructions . those diureticks prescrib'd in page 266 , 267. are also very effectual here . let the belly and parts affected be anointed with dears-suet , which will conduce much to give ease . when the urethra is obstructed by a caruncle , &c. you must gently thrust in a hollow instrument made of lead or silver , being first anointed with some consolidating ointment . you may leave the instrument in , till the fear of a new closing of the passage be remov'd . chap. xxv . of the scalding or sharpness of urine . this distemper is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urina . the causes are either external , or internal . the external cause may be by the application of cantharides , or some other stronger poison . the internal causes are sharp , salt and acid humours mixed with the urine , which do corrode , and ulcerate the internal superficies of the bladder , and sphincter muscle . sometimes it is caused by sharp stones , occasioning an ulcer . if the bladder , or sphincter muscle , or the urethra be ulcerated , it is hard to be cured ; especially if the patient be old , and the distemper hath continu'd long , & e contra . if the bladder or urinal passage be ulcerated , it may be effectually cured by the balsam of sulphur , made with the oil of anise-seed , amber , or juniper , taken to two or three drops , twice or thrice daily in any convenient vehicle , especially a vulnerary decoction , which is most effectual . the salt , acid , corroding humours may be corrected with crabs-eyes , perle , &c. and also all volatile oily salts , taken often ( in a small quantity ) in any refrigerating diuretick . this decoction is effectual . take the roots of mallows , marsh-mallows , of each two ounces ; lettice , endive , purslain , violets , of each one handfull ; jujubes , sebestins , of each one ounce ; winter-cherries half an ounce ; the four greater cold-seeds , of each two drachms ; red roses , water-lillies , of each half a handfull , let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain-water , till half of it be boiled away ; then strain it , and add syrups of red poppies , violets , of each two ounces ; laudanum opiat . ten grains ; oil of vitriol ten drops ; mix it , and give three spoonfulls every two hours . an emulsion of the cold-seeds , or chamomel-flowers boiled in milk , is also very effectual . if the patient be costive , give emollient clysters , or gentle cholagogues , and hydragogues , to evacuate the peccant humours . or else you may give a gentle emetick for revulsion . if the pain be very great , you may inject an emulsion ( made of the cold-seeds ) into the urinal passage , and anoint the privities with unguentum populion , &c. chap. xxvi . of venereal affects . this scourge of transgressing humanity , being as it were a murrain , or common destruction to venereous persons , may be called in latin lues venerea , a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solvo , vel quod corpus omnino dissolvit , vel quasi luens usque ad nihil . lues enim ista , pestis est species , vel qualiscunque contagio , quoe homines inficit , debito supplicio scelus luere . the first knowledge of this pocky intestine enemy ( at least in the european parts of the world ) was at the siege of naples , by the french ; being brought thither ( as some authours affirm ) by the spaniards , that came with christopher columbus from the west indies , and they like plaguy persons that croud to infect others ( contrary to their reserved temper ) being inflam'd with a venereal itching , and being also free of their flesh , they communicated ( as a great rarity ) this new found foul distemper , to the italian women , which among others they had engrost to themselves from the animal indians , in their american tyrannical conquests . many of those poor creatures being deeply infected with the monstrous yaws ( so called by the indians ) from whence this foul distemper had its first original . hence it was first called the neapolitan , and afterward the french disease ; since which time , many of the precipitant youthfull europeans ( to their great costs and pain ) have been punished with this impure venereal affect . this itch in spite of mortals will be catching , ( where there is no fear of god to restrain ) but the beginning natural momentany pleasure , will often urge a smartfull end ; so that this is the product of that sin of uncleanness , for which god hath pronounced , hebrews 13. 4. whore-mongers and adulterers god will judge . to describe this virulent contagious disease , it is an universal sour taint of the spermatick parts ; the seed in the spermatick vessels being first corrupted with a cold indigested putridness , is sometimes conveyed outward to the groins , infecting the obscene parts with a filthy eating crusty scab . but if the poisonous malign quality ( gotten by impure coition ) be transfer'd to the liver , which is the chief subject of its more easie invasion , and its special residence ; it must necessarily suffer egregious corruption , from whence the afflicting taint is dispersed into the whole habit of the body , vitiating and corrupting the nutrition of every part ; by which the sick becomes wholly cachectick , and the filthy pox ( without speedy help ) tyrannizing with many malign symptoms , and afflicting both the body and mind , doth at length hurry the patient into the pit of silence . the cause is chiefly , the carnal use of venereous persons . also children sucking of those nurses that are infected , may receive the pollution from the poisonous malignity of the milk . it may also be hereditary , the seed of venereous parents being polluted . the most apparent signs , are a dulness of the whole body , white face , intolerable pain between the joints , especially in the night , which hindreth sleep ; sometimes buboes in the groins , &c. as is before mention'd , also ulcers , and hard pustules in many parts of the body , as head , chin , &c. there is sometimes a relaxation of the uvula , with hoarsness and corruption of the palate , and tumours of the adjacent glandulous parts , there is also sometimes a cariosity of the skull , and other bones . cum multis aliis . 1. it is difficult of curation , if it hath continu'd long , or the patient be consumptive ; or if it be in a sucking infant . 2. if it be hereditary , 't is incurable ; but if the patient be young , and newly infected , it may be easily cured . as for the cure of this filthy disease , first i advise the patient to repent from the bottom of the heart , for this great sin of uncleanness , &c. then make choice of an honest physician . the cure is easiest effected in the spring , or fall of the leaf ; but if necessity urge , you may begin the cure at any time . first let the body be prepared , the following apozeme may serve for example in most constitutions . take the five opening roots , liquorish , china , of each one ounce ; cinamon , anise-seed , senna , of each half an ounce ; agarick , rhubarb , cream of tartar , of each two drachms ; let them be cleansed , bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain-water , till half be consumed ; then strain it , and add syrup of roses solutive four ounces ; salt of tartar vitriolated two drachms ; spirit of niter twenty drops ; mix it , and give six spoonfulls every two hours . if the patient be plethorick open a vein ; after which you may purge with these or the like pills . take of extractum rudii , one scruple ; mercur. dulcis , salt armoniack , of each half a scruple ; make it into four pills , and take them in the morning . if you perceive by the excrements , that the patient's body be very foul , you may administer another dose of pills after two days intermission . then you may prepare the following decoction , or one like it , to cause sweat , &c. take of guiacum , the roots of china , sarseparilla , of each one pound ; raisins of the sun stoned , hermodactils , polypodium , barks of guiacum and sassaphras , of each four ounces ; juniper-berries , anise-seed , liquorish , elicampane-roots , of each one ounce ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused in four gallons of rain-water , very hot for the space of a night ; then boil it gently till a third part be boiled away ; strain it , and keep it for use . let the sick take four spoonfulls of it , with ten grains of antimonium diaphoret . every morning and evening , for four or five days following , and sweat after it in bed , or in a hot-house , or bagnio , so long as can be well endured . then omitting a day or two , you may take another dose of pills ; then sweat seven days more , after which purge as before ; this doe for forty days , or till the cure be perfected . you may make a second decoction of the ingredients , for ordinary drink . but if the sick have extreme pains in the night , ten grains of the following pills may be given to bed-ward instead of the decoction . take gum of guiacum two drachms ; antimony diaphoretick , bezoar-mineral , flower of brimstone , diagredium , mercur. dulcis , humane bones calcin'd , of each one drachm ; saffron , laudanum opiatum , of each half a drachm ; with syrup of saffron , make it into a mass for pills . if there be a defluxion of rheum on the lungs , you may give ten or twelve drops of balsam of sulphur , in a little of the decoction every morning , and the like quantity with half a drachm of venice-treacle every night ; after which drink four ounces of the aforesaid decoction , to promote a gentle sweat . you may also make fontinels in the arm and leg with good success . but if the sick be of a hot constitution , and the disease be inveterate , and stubborn ; the shortest and best way of cure will be by salivation . i do not approve of unction with mercurial ointments , to raise the flux , nor turbith-mineral to be given inwardly ; but the safest way is to administer mercur. dulcis , but let it be well prepared . then you may give twenty grains of it with a little diascordium , or conserves of roses : give it three or four mornings successively , and drink a draught of the diet-drink after it . also the second decoction may be sometimes made use of for ordinary drink , all the time of the cure ; and warm posset-drink at other times , when desired . when the salivation is rais'd , let the sick have a piece of gold between the teeth ; and keep warm , and continue spitting till the spittle become insipid , which is commonly in twenty days . in the mean time , wash the mouth with plantain-water , and syrup of mulberries . when you would abate the spitting , administer a carminative clyster , or a clyster of milk and sugar every night ; and after its operation , give the following bolus . take of diascordium half a drachm ; gascoigns powder fifteen grains ; oil of vitriol two drops ; with syrup of poppies make it into a bolus ; give it at night going to bed . pustules , tumours and ulcers of the mouth , tongue , gums , or any other place , will be all easily cured , when the salivation is over . you may dress the sores with the following ointment , which is very effectual to cure all pocky ulcers . take of verdigreece , and common salt , of each two ounces ; powder them , and calcine them together ; then mix it with eight ounces of unguentum enulatum . when the filthy enemy , or neapolitan disease , is cast out by salivation , you may sweat the patient with the decoction of china , &c. before mention'd , for sometime , as is there directed . let the diet be drying ; rost meat is better than boil'd . mutton , chickens , partridges , rabbets , &c. are all good food . when strength doth begin to increase , bread and raisins may be eaten . the greater symptoms of this disease , are the running of the reins , nodes , caruncles , &c. the running of the reins is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 semen , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fluo , it being a flux of natural seed of man or woman unwittingly . if the gonorrhoea be virulent , it is a praeludium to the pox , and must be cur'd the same way ; but if it be newly contracted , it may wholly and most safely be absolved by purgation . the same apozeme , and purging pills , before mention'd , are very proper , which must be continu'd till the running of the reins cease . if the patient be plethorick , let a vein be opened . to strengthen the spermatick parts , the following balsamick pills are effectual . take of mummy , bole armenick , gums dragon and arabick , of each one ounce ; balsam of sulphur two drachms ; with syrup of dried roses , make it into a mass for pills , of which you may give half a drachm every morning and evening . if there be nodes , caruncles or ulcers in the urinary passage , the following medicine may be daily injected . take the water of the spawn of frogs four ounces ; honey of red roses one ounce ; white troches of rhasis one drachm ; powder the troches , and mix all together for an injection . after injection , put in an hollow instrument made of silver or lead , being first anointed with some consolidating ointment , as was directed in the stoppage of urine . i do not approve of astringents in the beginning of the cure of a gonorrhoea , till the patient be well purged , and the running begin to cease ; because all astringent means conduce to prolong the distemper ; but after the cause is eradicated by purging , then they may be safely administred , if the cure be not effected without it . to prevent the return of the distemper , i advise the patient to purge , and bleed every spring and fall. also keep a good diet , be moderate in exercise , and all other of the nonnatural things . when thou art recovered , give god the praise ; and have a care of committing the like sin again , lest a worse thing befall thee ; for it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living god. hebr. 10. 31. chap. xxvii . of the rachites , or rickets . this disease may be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . it may be called in latin morbus spinalis , it being a disease of the spine of the back . this spinal disease is commonly called in english rickets . it is peculiar to children , because they abound with a crude phlegmatick matter ; for if they labour under a cold moist distemper , there is presently a penury and paucity of the animal spirits ; for the brain , cerebellum , and spinalis medulla , being more compact than is wont , is unfit for percolation , so that the most spirituous part of the bloud cannot pierce , or be strein'd through it : hence the separation of the animal spirits is diminisht . for the aforesaid cold , moist , phlegmatick humours , compacting the soft substance of the brain , &c. it is thereby too much thickned and straitned in its porous passages . the coldness of air , water , or snow , vehemently affecting the head , seems to confirm and prove this opinion ; because when the glandules of the brain are affected and thickned by a stuffing of the head with coldness , then a more sparing production of the animal spirits useth to follow . the essence of this disease consists not onely in the animal , and vital , but natural constitution also , all the functions being ( in time ) vitiated : for the spinalis medulla being primarily affected , all the nerves which proceed from it ( in its passage through the spina dorsi ) must of necessity be stupifi'd , and vitiated with a loose feebleness ; hence also all the nervous , membranous , and fibrous parts , through which those nerves are carried , or inserted into , must consequently be vitiated with an inward weak slipperiness ; so that the very ends of the bones , as well as all the faculties of the body , bear a share in this distemper . when the rickets is confirm'd in infants , it seems to have some affinity with divers other diseases , viz. a chronical fever , an extenuation or leanness of the body , and an hydrocephalus , and many more , which are frequently complicated with this affect . and indeed not onely this , but most other diseases ( in process of time ) do unite unto themselves other affects of a different kind , and therefore ( for the most part ) there is a complication of chronical diseases before death . the causes are either external , or internal . the external may be any of the non-naturals exceeding , either in excess or defect . all things cold and moist do powerfully contribute to this disease , especially an over cold and moist air , which is most frequent in the spring ; the air being then cloudy , thick , rainy , and full of vaporous exhalations . hereupon the children of those which inhabit near the banks of the sea , or great rivers , ponds or marshes ; ( that are obnoxious to too much rain , or are fed with a great number of springs ) are more or less subject to this affect ; for by the continuance of such cold and moisture , the bloud and humours becomes too slippery , and therefore ( in their circulation ) they must unavoidably cause a softness and looseness in all the parts . also experience testifieth that those children which are born , and nursed near the lead-mines in derby-shire , &c. are generally affected more or less with a languidness of the limbs . for the air being infected with noxiousmetalline exhalations , which ( for the most part ) fight against the inherent spirits of the parts , by a kind of venemous malignity ; by which the spirituous pulsificative force of the external parts is extinguished , and the strength of the limbs , and whole body much weakned and diminish'd . hither we may also refer fine soft linen , applied actually cold and moist , ( being not well dried by reason of the moistness of the weather ) to the spine of the back , which is near the original of the nerves ; the use thereof being too long continu'd , it cherisheth the roots of this disease in that tender age. likewise aliments of any kind , which are too moist and cold ; or too thick , viscous and obstructive , do manifestly cherish this distemper . and i am induced to believe that ebriety in english people , especially the gentry ; and eating of much flesh ; and not using frequent labour , or exercise , may be a reason why this disease is more common and natural to children in england , than in other regions , perhaps far exceeding it both in cold and moisture ; as scotland , holland , &c. wherein this affect hath not been observ'd to be very common . and therefore ebriety and eating of much flesh , and defect of motion , and want of exercise doth most frequently , and most effectually concur to the production of it ; because the inherent heat ( in stupid and sluggish people ) is not sufficient to resist and expell the superfluous moisture by a due transpiration : by which means the circulation of the bloud is become slow and lesned , and the production of the vital heat very feeble , and weak ; so that nature is thereby forced to permit all the parts of the body to be affected with a certain softness , looseness , and internal lubricity , more than is meet ; which do sufficiently evince , that this is an efficacious cause , and a part of the essence of this disease . hence we may easily infer that the children of such parents are more inclined to this distemper , than others who drink moderately , and eat less flesh , and are more active and lively . the internal causes , are excrementitious humours luxuriant in the body , especially phlegm and serous humours retained , and vitiated , being naturally cold and moist , and little spirituous , and affected with an internal slipperiness , wherefore upon a superfluous accumulation of these humours , the production of this affect succeedeth ; because thereby a colliquation of the parts , and a dissipation of the inherent spirits will be easily introduced ; whereby all the parts will afterwards be rendred obnoxious to this cold and moist distemper . many diseases preceding this affect , may be the cause of it ; especially those which do extenuate , and much weaken the body , as all fevers , &c. and also all cold and moist , phlegmatick , and cachochymick distempers , which will induce a stupour and dulness in the affected parts , and cause obstructions . also any great pain , inflammation , tumour , fracture , luxation , or any other preternatural affect , that hinders the standing and playing of the child , may be some cause of this disease . presently after the beginning of the disease , a kind of slothfulness and numbness doth invade the joints , and by little and little is increased , so that daily they are more and more averse from motion ; besides in the beginning of this affect , there is usually observ'd , a certain laxity , softness , and flaccidity of all the first affected parts ; after which followeth a great debility , languidness , and enervation of all the parts subservient to motion ; so that ( for the most part ) they speak before they walk , which is vulgarly held to be a bad omen ; and if it vehemently increase , they do not onely totally lose the use of their feet , but can scarce sit with an erected posture , and their weak and feeble neck can hardly sustain the burthen of the head. in the progress of the disease , the head and face increaseth in bigness , but the fleshy parts below the head , are daily more and more worn away . there is also observ'd in this affect , certain swellings , and knotty excrescencies about some of the joints ; these are chiefly conspicuous in the wrists , and somewhat less in the ancles , and in the tops of the ribs ; the bones in the armes and legs , and sometimes the thighs , and shoulder-bones wax crooked ; the teeth come forth slowly , and with greater trouble than usual , and at length the breast becomes narrow , and the abdomen swollen , with an extension of the hypochondriacal parts , which hindreth the free motion of the diaphragma downwards ; and by consequence doth somewhat interrupt the breathing , so that respiration becomes difficult , accompanied with coughing , the pulse being also weak and small ; and in the increase of the disease , all these signs become more intense and evident , and many , and more grievous , are daily accumulated . 1. if this disease be light and gentle , the children affected therewith may be easily restored to health ; sometimes by the sole benefit of age , the vital heat being increased , and summoned forth to the external parts by the force of frequent exercises . but if it so vehemently prevaileth , that the increase thereof cannot be prevented by the best internal means , and also most prudent applications , then there is imminent danger . 2. if it proceed from other diseases , or be complicated with them , it will be the more difficult of curation ; especially if the bones of the armes , and legs be crooked , and there be great bending and tumour of the joints of the wrists , ancles and ribs . but if the symptoms decline , and the child do easily endure agitation , and have often eruptions in the skin , as wheals , pimples , or itch , then there is great hopes of recovery . 3. if they be not cured in five years , they will grow deformed and crooked , and ( for the most part ) will become dwarfs , and live sickly , being either cachectick , or phthisical , till death do put a period to their miserable life . as for the cure of this disease , both the child and nurse must keep a good diet which is easie of concoction . in the mean time you must not neglect the best chyrurgical and pharmaceutical means which will most conduce to the speedy recovery of the weakly infant . universals being premised , the most effectual and approved chyrurgical means in this affect , are incision or scarification of the ears , and little fountains or issues ; although many more may be used , viz. frixions , blisters , ligatures , &c. incision or scarification in the ears , is to be performed on the ridge , in the inside of the ear above the hole ; which must be stopt to hinder the bloud passing into it . this operation must be often repeated , at least once or twice in a month ; which hath proved successull when many other remedies have been ineffectual . and here it may be noted , that scarification being made in that place , must needs be of greater efficacy than if it were instituted in any other part of the ear , or elsewhere . 1. first , because the beginning of the fifth pair of nerves is near that place , many of their branches being distributed through the hollow of the ear , and are thence conveyed into the spinalis medulla , from whence it shooteth out little branches which accompany the nerves of the marrow of the back , to the ends of the very legs and feet ; as many ingenious anatomists have accurately observ'd . wherefore scarification being there made , it is probable , that the matter ( which commonly oppresseth the very beginning of that nerve ) is immediately evacuated , by which it is freed from obstruction ; and having also gotten vigour ( being excited by the pain and inflammation ) it driveth out all stupidness from within it ; by which means the branches of the nerves from thence arising , which are communicated to the spinalis medulla , and many other parts may be in some measure excited also . 2. because by this means , there is a particular evacuation of the head , which is wont to be oppressed with fullness in this affect . besides , the bloud being somewhat lesned , the thickness and toughness thereof must thereby be corrected ; and ( by consequence ) an equal distribution of it promoved to a more regular nourishment of the parts . issues in the neck are also much approved in this disease , because they very much conduce to lessen the unusual magnitude of the head , and to evacuate the superfluous watriness thereof , and repress the inordinate increase of the bones ; also it manifestly drieth up the too much humidity of the spinal marrow , exciteth heat , strengthens the nerves , and expelleth the astonishment . as for the pharmaceutical or physical means , you must be sure to cleanse the first passages either by clysters , vomits or lenitive purgations . when the belly is costive and the excrements are hardned , or some flatuous humours afflict the bowels with vehement pain , then clysters are chiefly required ; and they may also be injected before any preparation , vomit or lenitive purgation . i need not prescribe any forms , because a little milk and sugar , with a few anise-seeds boiled in it may serve . also an emollient or carminative clyster ( that is gentle ) may be injectrd when there is occasion . emeticks if well prepared , and prudently administred are very efficacious , and will conduce much to the cure. and here i again commend antimonial vomits before all others . 1. first , because they not onely powerfully evacuate crude or corrupt humours , and all manner of impurities contained in the stomach by vomit ; but by an agitation and commotion , raised in all the parts , especially in the bowels , they loosen the gross and viscous humours adhering to the guts , and convey them through their many involutions and labyrinths , by which they are expelled by stool ; in which respect they are also profitable against torments of the colick , and very conducible to unlock obstructions . 2. they most effectually irritate the expulsive faculty of all the parts of the body , by which they compell forth the hidden and unappearing causes of diseases , especially of intermitting fevers ; for by the very straining to vomit , the guts are also instimulated to cast out by siege ; the liver poureth away the choler by the biliar pore ; the juice of the pancreas is voided into the small guts ; the spleen perhaps doth unburthen its excrement into the stomach ; the kidneys exern through the ureters ; the lungs by a strong cough eject their phlegm through the wind-pipe ; the head emptieth it self of salt waterish rheums by the palate , nostrils and eyes ; finally the whole body ( for the most part ) is rendred more prone to a diaphoresis , either by a manifest sweating , or else by insensible transpiration . if any are afraid of antimonial preparations ( though most safe and potent ) they may administer salt of vitriol , from five to ten grains , either in posset-drink or any other convenient vehicle . also the following may be safely administred . take the clarified juice of asarabacca half a drachm ; syrup of the juice of sorrel two drachms ; mix it , and give it in the morning fasting . but here we may note , that vomiting is not to be provoked in very weak children , unless they are naturally apt to vomit , and the humours tend upwards of their own accord , and they easily indure it ; and then they ought to be gentle and given in a small dose . those that are averse to vomiting may take lenitive catharticks , which must be made pleasant and potable , that the young patient may not loath the taking of them . manna , syrup of cichory with rhubarb , syrup of violets and syrup of roses solutive are all good pleasant medicines ; which you may mix according to your discretion , in any proper distill'd water , or in the decoction of sennoe gereonis . the following drink is of excellent virtue , and will conduce much to the cure of this disease . take of anise-seed , the barks of ash , ivie , tamarisk , shavings of harts-horn and ivory , the roots of sassaphras , liquorish , china , sarseparilla , butterbur , of each half an ounce ; mace one drachm ; let them be cleansed , bruised and infused in two quarts of small ale for two or three days ; then strain it out very strongly , and bottle it up for the child 's ordinary drink . in the cure you must endeavour to resist all symptoms , as fluxes , worms , venereal affects , breeding teeth with great pain , &c. in any flux , gripes or urgent pain , you may give half a grain of laudanum opiat . dissolved in any convenient vehicle , so often as necessity urgeth . if worms or venereal affects be fear'd , you may sometimes adminster this gentle purging bolus . take of mercur. dulcis six grains ; diagredium , rezin of jallop , of each three grains ; with syrup of roses solutive , make it into a bolus ; give it in the morning fasting . in your broths and panadoes , you may boil harts-tongue , ceterach , liver-wort , maiden-hair , sage , the bark of tamarisk , red sanders , saffron , the roots of china , and sarseparilla , &c. but let all things be made acceptable to the palate . all kinds of exercise unto which children are accustomed , may be usefull in their time and season ; as rocking , going , swinging , playing , &c. also frixions are excellent , in which begin at the spina dorsi , and rub with a course warm linen cloth , and also under the short-ribs , and afterwards all other parts ; let it be done gently , to cherish and incite the natural and vital heat , and attract the nourishment to the affected parts . external medicines may be also applied , to strengthen the weak parts , as emplasters , ointments , &c. these forms may serve for example . take ointments of the opening juices , tobacco , marsh-mallows ; oils of capers , wormwood , elder , earth-worms , bricks , balsam of peru , of each half an ounce ; mix it . with which let the weak parts be anointed with a warm hand , before a fire . take the plasters nervinum , de minio , ad herniam , of each one ounce ; the carminative plaster of sylvius , balsam of peru , of each two drachms ; mix it , and spread it on thin leather . it may be applied to the back , or any other weak part after anointing . if the lungs be affected , anoint the breast with the following ointment . take the pectoral ointment two ounces ; oil of mace by expression , oil of violets , of each half an ounce ; mix it . after which apply a plaster . they that desire more variety of medicines , &c. let them peruse that excellent and learned tract of the rachites written by the famous doctours and fellows of the college of physicians at london . ornari res ipsa negat , contenta doceri . chap. xviii . of the gout , and rheumatism . the gout is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 articulus , quod articulos infestet ; hence it is called in latin articularis morbus , it being a disease of the joints . this is a general name for all gouts , or when all or most of the joints are affected . but when any particular joint is infested with a gouty distemper , it doth from thence take its denomination . for if it invadeth the jaw-bones , it may be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maxilla , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soevio , quod maxillarum usum impediat . it being ( for the most part ) accompanied with a fierce and cruel pain . and so likewise if it invade any of the rest of the joints . if the vertebroe of the neck , &c. be affected , it may be termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 collum , vel cervix , &c. that which molests the shoulders , may be fitly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humerus . &c. if it affects the collar-bones , you may call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clavis , vel clavicula , &c. that in the elbow may be termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cubitus , &c. the gout in the hand is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manus , &c. that in the hip may be called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coxa , &c. quod ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lumbus . in latin coxendicum dolor , quod coxendices proecipue infestat . if it be in the knee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 genu , &c. if in the foot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pes , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soevio , quod pedum usum impediat , which may be added to every particular . this and all other gouts are most commonly accompanied with a fierce , cruel , tormenting pain ; and thus much , if not too much of the names of the gout . the causes are either external , or internal . the external causes are gluttony , drunkenness , immoderate venery , idleness , external cold , and excess or defect of any of the non-naturals . the internal cause of all arthritick pains , is the juice of the pancreas too acid and sharp , which raiseth a vitious effervescency with choler , &c. whereby a fermental sharpness is increased ; and when it is exorbitant , it is sent forth into the extreme parts , and meeting with that seedy glue , which is between the joints , doth not onely affect it with its fermental acrimony , but is also the grand cause of the virulent tormenting pain and inflammation in the part affected . but seeing the pains are different , not onely in divers people sick of this distemper , but also the pains of the gout are divers in the same sick party , we must therefore , as well by reason as experience , search into the true cause thereof . therefore in as much as the present molesting pains , are not always freed with the same medicines , no not in the same fit ; much less all that are gouty . we may hence consider that divers humours , as choler , phlegm , &c. are diversly mixt and fermented with the juice of the pancreas , which is peccant in a sour acrimony , being the primary cause of all gouts . and here we may note , that this over acid humour doth molest the sick ( chiefly in the beginning of the fit ) with a corroding pain ; but after a while , when choler ( by its exceeding heat ) hath gotten the predominancy , it causeth a divers burning pain , according to the diversity of its faultiness . but if viscous phlegm be predominant , the pain is much dull'd , and the motion of the part hinder'd with a phlegmatick tumour , rather than an acute pain ; which ought to be accurately observ'd by every ingenious artist . when the gouty humour hath invaded any joint , there is presently an unusual heat , and more exquisite sense in it , than formerly , so that the least touch of any hard thing doth hurt the part ; and the longer it continues , the more the pain increaseth , with redness and swelling of the part affected , and most commonly attended with a symptomatical fever . 1. the gout is a chronical disease , attended with violent pain , but is seldom mortal , except in very weak bodies that are much decay'd by sickness , or old age. 2. if it continue long , till the joints are knotty , it is incurable , according to ovid , tollere nodosam nescit medicina podagram . but if there be no knots in the joints , and the patient is laborious , and the body is ( for the most part ) soluble , and there be swelling of the veins called varices , then it may be happily cured . 3. if it becomes habitual to the sick , the morbifick idea is implanted in the vital spirit , and transfer'd through the seed , which makes it hereditary . the cure of the gout will consist , 1. first in defending the afflicted joints , as well against future pain , as freeing them from that which doth molest at present . 2. in the universal amendment of the juice of the pancreas . 3. in the correcting and evacuation of the vitious choler . 4. in the altering and diminishing of phlegm any way peccant . to asswage the present pain i commend the following medicaments , which will conduce much to mitigate the sharpness of the acrimonious humours in all gouty people , and ease the part affected . when there is excessive heat , you may bathe the gouty part with this fomentation very hot , with wollen stuphs , which must be often renewed . take the waters of the spawn of frogs , fumitory , elder , of each one quart ; vinegar of mary-golds one pint ; opium , camphire , of each half an ounce ; mix it according to art. but when the pain is more corroding than burning , i commend the following to be used as the former . take of treacle-water half a pint ; the waters of the spawn of frogs , parsley , of each one quart ; opium , camphire , of each half an ounce ; mix it . after bathing with either of these ; apply this cataplasm . take powders of the roots of marsh-mallows , flax-seed , barley-meal , of each four ounces ; new milk three pints ; boil it to the consistence of a pultess , and add oils of flax-seed , earthworms , the ointment martiatum , of each three ounces : camphire half an ounce ; mix it according to art. where exceeding heat doth concur , and the body abounds with sharp choler ; instead of sweet milk , you may substitute butter-milk . also a pultess made of the crums of white-bread , new goats or cows milk and saffron , with oil of lin-seed , and earth-worms , may be deservedly commended , to asswage any pain . if the sick be very phlegmatick , and impotency of motion doth afflict , more than pain ; then opiats may be omitted , and things more aromatical may be used in all external applications . the following pultess , or one like it , may serve for example . take the powders of orris-roots ; the flowers of chamomel , and elder , cummin-seeds , barley-meal , of each four ounces ; the tops of wormwood , mints , of each four handfulls ; boil them in two quarts of water of the spawn of frogs , to the consistence of a pultess ; when it is almost cold , add treacle-water , oils of chamomel , earth-worms , of each three ounces ; mix it . also the root of briony , and cuckow-pintle bruised , and made into a pultess with cow-dung is excellent . if you add volatile salts of animals , or vegetables to your medicines , whether fomentations , cataplasms , or ointments , they will be the more effectual . you may prepare an excellent volatile salt of earth-worms ( of great virtue ) for the gout , which may be resolved into liquour by fermentation , and putrefaction . if the gouty patient do abound with phlegm , or the juice of the pancreas exceed in an acid acrimony causing a corroding pain ; it may happily be mitigated and remov'd with balsam of sulphur made with oil of amber , with which let the grieved part be embrocated , and it will forthwith raise a very hot effervescency , which will presently cease again , and remove the great pain in a moment , even to admiration . after the pain is over , you may apply one of the former cataplasms , or some anodyne ointment , to comfort , and ( by degrees ) restore again the membranous parts . the following linament may serve for example . take oils of earth-worms , scurvigrass , saint john's-wort , of each one ounce ; chymical oils of rosemary , rue , of each twenty drops ; mix it . afterwards , you may apply a plaster of de minio cum sapona . in the mean time , inward means ( to take away the cause , and ease the pain ) must not be neglected . if the patient have a plethorick body , after a stool hath been procured , by a carminative clyster , with electuar . caryocostinum , &c. let a vein be opened . bloud drawn from the vena poplitis , or sciatica vein , hath been succesfull in the sciatica . but leeches applied to the hemorrhoidal veins , are effectual in all gouts . two or three days after bleeding , you may administer the following pills . take of pills hermodactils , faetidae , ex duobus , mercur. dulcis , of each one scruple ; mix it for two doses , and give them in the morning fasting . or you may give half a drachm or two scruples of pul . arthriticus in any convenient vehicle . but if the sick be inclining to vomit , administer an antimonial emetick . you may purge and bleed so often as you see occasion . issues near the part affected , and also to raise blisters upon the part , have been found by experience to be very effectual . also bathing and sweating in nitrous or sulphurous baths , either natural or artificial , are much approv'd of . that which is prescrib'd in the chapter of the belly-ach , is very effectual , which may be used , as is there directed . i might fill a volume with receipts against the gout , but i shall onely commend the following water or spirit to be often taken inwardly in any fit vehicle , the quantity of half a spoonfull at a time . take the roots of orris , angelica , saffaphras , of each two ounces ; the tops of ground-pine , penny-royal , sage , mother of time ; the flowers of saint johns-wort , chamomel , prim-roses , rosemary , lavender , of each three handfulls ; the berries of bays and juniper , of each one ounce ; castor two drachms ; let them be all cleansed , bruised and infused in six quarts of spirit of earth-worms compound for the space of twenty four hours , then distill it in an alembick according to art. the rheumatism is called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fluo ; it being a distillation of rheumatick humours , not onely affecting the joints , but the adjacent parts , yea sometimes the whole body ; especially the muscles , membranes , and periostium of the thighs , legs , and hip-bones . the humour is of a very malign nature , and soon causeth a cariosity of the bones , if it be not prevented . the cause is the same with the gout , but sharper . 't is seldom mortal , but may be of long continuance , with great pain , so that the sick cannot endure to be touched . in the cure of this distemper , phlebotomy must be often repeated , and carminative clysters often administred . foment the pained parts with stale urine ( made very hot ) wherein castle-sope is dissolved ; after which anoint with this following . take spirit of salt armoniack , oils of guiacum , bricks , of each two ounces ; in which dissolve opium one ounce ; spanish sope four ounces ; then add oil of roses six ounces , and make it a linament according to art. if you would have it for a plaster , you may add so much empl. de minio to it , as will give it a sufficient consistency . the medicines and directions prescrib'd in the cure of the gout , are also proper here . from these few observations , it will not be very difficult to select other choice medicines out of the writings of practitioners , to cure both the gout and rheumatism . to prevent a relapse , purge and bleed spring and fall , and keep a good diet , and use moderation in all things . i have now finisht this little tract , or manual of physick , which i have written for the common good ; not onely to serve young beginners of the art of physick , but also for the sake of the sick themselves . god grant that it may prove succesfull , and tend to the good of them both . now unto the onely wise god and our saviour jesus christ with the holy ghost our comforter ; three persons , and one god , be ascribed , and given all laud , honour , glory and dominion , from this time forth , and for evermore . amen . postscript . having often prescrib'd the carminative spirit of sylvius , and also his preservative water against the plague , and his carminative plaster , &c. i will here give you the receipts of them in english , that you may make them for your own use , as you see occasion . the carminative spirit of sylvius . take angelica-root two drachms ; the roots of masterwort , and galangal , of each three drachms ; the tops of rosemary , sweet marjoram , garden-rue , centaury the less , basil , of each one handfull ; bay-berries six drachms ; the seed of angelica , lovage , and anise-seed , of each an ounce ; ginger , nutmegs , mace , of each half an ounce ; cinamon one ounce and half ; cloves , orange-peel , of each two drachms . all these things being grosly bruised , pour thereon spirit of malaga or spanish-wine six pints . digest them two days in balneo marioe , and draw off all the spirit . you may pour upon what remains the same quantity of spirit of wine ; and after two days digestion , draw it off as before , which may be kept apart , as weaker than the former , but of much virtue to discuss wind. aq. prophylactica , or the preservative-water against the plague . take the roots of angelica , and zedoary , of each one ounce ; roots of butter-bur two ounces ; the leaves of garden-rue four ounces ; of baum , scabious , marigold-flowers , of each two ounces ; unripe wall-nuts cut two pound ; new pome-citrons cut one pound ; bruise them all together , then pour on twelve pints of the best wine-vinegar , distill'd by it self to three fourth parts in sand in a glass cucurbit , then digest them all night , in the morning distill the water with a slow fire . this gratefull medicine may be mixt with ordinary drink , broth or any decoction or cordial julep , &c. to a gratefull acidity , for any that are sick , to take away thirst , and to promote a mild sweat. the plaster of sylvius discussing wind. take gum galbanum , bdellium and amoniacum , of each half an ounce ; male-frankincense , red mirrh , of each two drachms ; opium of thebes one drachm ; dissolve them in vinegar of squills , and when they are again thickned , add yellow wax , coloph●ny , of each three drachms ; natural balsam , oil of bricks , of each one drachm ; oil of earth-worms half a drachm ; distill'd oil of caraway a scruple ; venice turpentine what sufficeth to make it into a plaster according to art. this egregious plaster may be spread upon soft leather , first form'd according to the shape and greatness of the tumour to be dissolv'd . the cholagogue , electuary , or diaprunum of sylvius . take the pulp of prunes sourish-sweet , ten ounces ; powder of cream of tartar , best scammony , of each two ounces ; powder of rhubarb ten drachms ; cinamon half an ounce ; yellow sanders two drachms ; refin'd sugar a pound ; make it into an electuary according to art. the hydragogue electuary of sylvius . take of juniper-berries boild in water exprest , and reduc'd to the consistency of a pulp ; the pulp of tamarinds , of each four ounces ; powder of jallop-root one ounce and half ; diagredium one ounce ; sharp cinamon , sweet fennel-seeds , of each two drachms ; clarifi'd sugar ten ounces ; make it into an electuary according to art. the dose of either of these electuaries , is from two drachms to half an ounce ; they are gently effectual , and no ungratefull medicines ; they may be dissolv'd in any convenient distill'd water , as parsley , fennel , &c. or it may be taken by it self in the manner of a bolus . finis . advertisements . this is to give notice to all persons , chiefly country physicians and chyrurgeons , that all the medicines prescrib'd in this book , are faithfully prepared by the authour hereof , and may be always had of him at reasonable rates , without adulteration , or any other deceits . all sorts of chymical preparations , are faithfully prepared without the least sophistication or adulteration , and to be sold at reasonable rates , by christopher pack chymist , at the globe and furnaces in the postern , by more-gate , where a catalogue may be had gratis . an interpretation of certain hard words , which you shall meet with unexplained in this treatise . a. abdomen , all that part of the belly , which is between the ribs and the privy members , consisting of skin , fat and muscles . abcess , an impostume , or gathering of ill humours to one part of the body , and there drawn to a head. abstersive , a cleansing medicine . acerbity , sourness . acid , eager , sour , or sharp . acrimony , sharpness . an acute disease is a sharp sickness , which doth quickly either dispatch or deliver the sick. aetites , the stone with child , found in an eagles-nest . affected part , the part grieved , or distempered . alchimy , the art of melting or dissolving metals , &c. and separating the pure from the impure . alexiterion , alexipharmacum , a preservative medicine against poison , and infection . amputation , the cutting off of a member . amulet , any thing hanged about the neck . anatomy , the trunk of a dead body , from whence all the flesh , sinews , &c. is cut off , and nothing remaining but the bare bones . anodyne , appeasing pain . antidote , a preservative against poison and infection . antimonial , made of antimony . anus , the fundament . apertion , an opening . apophlegmatism , a medicine which chewed , draweth phlegm and other humours out of the head , and voideth them at the mouth . apoplexy , a general palsie of the whole body . apozeme , a thin decoction of herbs . aromaticks , medicines made of spice . arteries , hollow vessels , wherein the vital bloud , and spirits are contained , which causeth the pulse , as you may feel at the wrists , &c. arthritick pains , the gout or any other pain of the ioints . aspera arteria , the wind-pipe . astrictive , astringent , which hath power to bind . b. balneo , bath . balsamick , healing , of the nature of balsam . bechical , easing the cough . bile , choler . bolus , a lump , a morsel . bronchia , the gristles of the wind-pipe . bubo , a sore about the groin . c. cachexy , ill habit of body . cacochymy , ill iuice in the body . calcinate , to burn into ashes . capillary , as small as a hair. carbuncle . a plague-sore . cardiack , cordials . cariosity , rottenness . carminative , that cleanseth the body of wind. cartilage , a gristle . caruncle , a little piece of flesh. catagmatical , medicines to cure broken bones . cataplasm , a pultess . cataract , a disease of the eyes . catarrh , a rheum . cathartick , a purging medicine . catheretick , a medicine to consume supersluous flesh. cauterize , to burn or sear . cephalicks , med. for the head. cerebellum , the little brain . chalybeate , red-hot steel in any thing . chylus , a white iuice coming of the meat digested in the stomach . cholagogue , a medicine that purgeth choler . chronical , staying long . coliries , medicines for sore eyes . colliquation , a dissolving . coriza , a snottish rheum . crisis , iudgment . cuticula , the scarf-skin . cystick passage , the passage of the choler from the gall. d. defluction , a flowing down of humours , delirium , dotage , light-headed . desiccative , a drying medicine . diaphragma , the midriff . diaphoretick , a sweating cordial . diaphoresis , evaporation by sweat . diarrhea , a flux or lask . diastole , dilatation of the heart , &c. diuretical , causing urine . dormative , to cause sleep . ducts , little pipes for water , &c. dura mater , the strongest skin encompassing the brain . dysentery , the bloudy-flux . disuria , scalding of urine . e. effervescency , a working , a fermenting . elixir , a quintessence . embrocate , to bedew . embryon , an imperfect child in the womb , without shape . emetick , a vomit . emplastick , a clammy medicine . emulsion , a medicine like milk . epilepsie , the falling-sickness . epidemical , ill , the plague . epispatick , a medicine to raise blisters . epithems , are certain powders , put in little bags , and wet in wine , &c. and applied to the regions of the heart , liver , &c. errhines , liquid medicines to snuff up the nose . escharotick , a potential cautery . exulcerate , to blister . f. fascinate , to bewitch . fibers , small hairy strings . fistula , a hollow ulcer with callocity . filtration , a straining fire . foetus , the young . fomentation , an asswaging bath . g. gargarism , a liquour to wash the mouth . gargarise , to wash the mouth . gangrene , an inflammation tending to mortification . gonorrhaea , the running of the reins . h. haemorrhage , an excessive or continual flux of bloud . haemorrhoids , the piles , also the veins in the fundament . hepaticks , of or belonging to the liver . hernius , broken bellied . homogeneous , homogeneal of one kind . hydromel , water and honey . hydrocele , a waterish rupture . hydrocephalos , a dropsie in the head. hydragogue , a medicine to purge water . hydropical , that have the dropsie . hypochondries , the fore-part of the belly about the short ribs . hypochondriacal , a windy melancholy . hysterical , of or belonging to the womb. i. icterical , having the iaundice . icchorous , waterish , mattery . jejunum , the hungry gut. ileon , the third small gut. iliack passion , a grievous disease in the gut ileon . impostume , vide abcess . inflammation , an hot angry swelling . ingredients , that which goeth into the making of a thing . intercostal , between the ribs . ischuria , stoppage of urine . jugular vein , in the throat . l. lacteal veins , milkie veins . lethargy , a slothfull sleepy disease of the head. lientery , a looseness , caused by undigestion . ligament , a bond or binding . linament , a kind of hard ointment . lipothimy , fainting , sounding . lithotomy , cutting out of the stone . lixivial , made of lye. lixivium , a lye made of ashes . lympha , a waterish humour . m. masticatory , a medicine to chew in the mouth . medicinal , of or belonging to physick . membrane , a thin skin . menstruous , a woman having her menses , or monthly terms . mercurial , made of quick-silver . mesentery , the thick fat membrane , that fasteneth the guts , &c. muscle , an instrument of voluntary motion in the body . n. narcotical , stupefactive , that hath power to stupefie , or make the body insensible . neopolitan disease , the pox. nephritick , of the reins . nitrous , made of salt petre. o. opiate , made of opium , to cause sleep , and give ease . ophthalmy , inflammation of the eye . optick nerve , the sinew which bringeth sight to the eye . p. palate , the hollow of the mouth above . panchymagogon , a medicine which purgeth all humours . pancreas , the sweet-bread . paracenthesis , a tapping for the dropsie , &c. pralitical , that have the dropsie . pectoral , of or belonging to the breast . pericardium , the membrane involving the heart . periosteum , a thin skin enwrapping the bones . peripneumony , an impostume of the lungs . peritonaeum , the inner rim of the belly . pest , the plague . pharmacy , medicine . phlegmagogues , medicines that purgeth phlegm . phlebotomy , bloud-letting . phrenetical , that hath the phrensie . pia mater the tender skin enwrapping the brain . pituitous , phlegmatick . pleuretical , that hath the pleurisie . plethorick , fullness of bloud . prohylactick , a preservative against the plague , &c. p●isan , barley-water . pulsation , a beating . pulverize , pulverate , to beat into powder . puncture , a pricking . purgative , which hath virtue to purge . purulent , full of matter . pustule , a wheal or blister . q. quartan ague , that cometh every fourth day . quintan ague , that cometh every fifth day , but seldom observ'd . quotidian , that cometh every day . r. radical , of or belonging to the root . rarefaction , a making thin of what was thick . rectum , the arse-gut . respiration , fetching of breath . rupture , a breaking . s. saline , saltish . salivation , spitting , or fluxing at the mouth . sanguification , the changing of the nourishment into bloud . saphena , the vein by the inner ancle . scamoniats , medicines made of scammony . scarifie , to cut or lance . sceleton , a dry carcass , of bones onely . sciatica , the hip-gout . scorbutick , that have the scurvy . scrofulae , the kings-evil . secundine , the after-birth . seminal , of the seed . serosity , the wheyish , or waterish part of the bloud . sphincter muscle , the round compassing muscle of the fundament , &c. ordained to prevent untimely excretion . soluble , loose . solvent , that hath power to melt or dissolve . soporiferous , causing sleep . spasm , the cramp , or convulsion . spermatical , of or belonging to the seed . spina dorsi , the back-bone . spinalis medulla , the marrow of the back . spirituous , full of spirit . spissitude , thickness . sternutatory , to cause sneezing . sternon , the breast-bone , where the ribs meet . sterillity , barrenness . strangury , a pissing by drops . sudorifick , that causeth sweat. suffocate , to choak . suffumigate , to smoak underneath . sulphur , brimstone . superfetation , a conceiving the second time . suppuration , a gathering to matter . symptom , any grief following a disease , or sensibly joyned with it , as head-ach with an ague , &c. systole , contraction of the heart , &c. t. tenasmus , a neediness to go to stool . tenuity , smallness . thoracick , of or belonging to the breast . torsions , gripings of the guts . trachea , or aspera arteria , the wind-pipe . transfer , to carry from one place to another . transmute , to change . transpiration , sweaty vapours coming forth of the pores of the skin . tubercles , pimples , wheals . tumour , a swelling . turgid , after a swelling manner . tympany , the windy dropsie . v. vaperous , full of vopours . varices , swelling of the veins in the legs . vegetables , roots or plants . vehicle , any thing that carrieth , &c. ventoses , cupping-glasses . verntricle , the stomach , &c. verminous , full of worms . vertebra , the back-bone . vertigo , giddiness . vesiccatory , a medicine to draw blisters . virulent , deadly , poisonous . viscous , clammy like bird-lime . vitiate , to corrupt . volatile , that flieth . u. ulcerate , to blister , to break out into sores . unguent , an ointment . ureters , the vessels by which the urine passeth from the reins to the bladder . urethra , the passage of urine from the bladder , through the yard , &c. uvula , a fleshy substance , hanging down , like a grape , from the roof of the mouth , towards the root of the tongue . advertisement . a new idea of the practice of physick ; written by that famous franciscus de-le-boe sylvius ; late chief professour of physick in the university of leiden . the first book ; of the diseases either constituting , producing , or following the natural functions of man not in health . wherein is contain'd , beside a new method in general , a vindication of the spleen and mother from fits attributed to them . as also a new discovery of intermitting fevers , the yellow-jaundice , and other diseases , never before discover'd . all clear'd by anatomical experiments , and chymical demonstrations ; as also by their cures . faithfully translated by richard gower , formerly student under the authour . printed for brabazon aylmer , at the three pigeons against the royal exchange in cornhill . in octavo . the end notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a46940-e3060 cephalalgia . hemicrania . signs . progn . cure. clyster . iulep . powder . a medicinal wine . apozeme . purging pills . epitheme . for a'quilted cap. signs . cure. powder . cordial iulep . clyster . vomit . purging potion . troches . purging infusion . electuary . observation . iulep . tincture . emulsion . iulep . epitheme . ointment . paralysis . apoplexia . cause . cause internal . signs . progn . cure. cordial to cause sweat . observation . clyster . suppository . purging pills . purging electuary . vomit . cordial iulep . medicinal wine . bath . oil. plaister . sneezing powder . spasmus . epilepsia . partes affecte . causes . signs . progn . cure. iulep . infusion . cordial to cause sweat. purging pills . infusion . ointment . masticatory . epileptick powder . incubus . cause . vertigo . cause . lethargus . signs . coma. carus . causes . progn . cure. iulep . decoction . sneezing powder . vomit . purging pills . purging infusion . fomentation . oil. phrenitis . mania . cause . progn . cure. clyster . iulep . opiat . epitheme . linament . dieta . iulep . purging pills . cause . progn . cure. iulep . purging pills . purging potion . clyster . purging decoction . pills opiat . tussis . sputum sanguinis . decoction . astringent julep . pectoral iulep . for a quilted cap. powder to fume the head , &c. masticatory . note . plaster for the head. notes for div a46940-e11100 asthma . cause . progn . cure. . pectoral iulep . pleuritis . signs . peripnmonia . caus progn empiena . cure. cure. sudorifick . fomentation . ointment . plaster . pultis . balsam sulphur . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * compunctio . caution . tabes . causes . signs . progn . febris hectica . signs . liber 12. de marc . cap. 4. causes . progn . cure. powder . cause . progn . cure. iulep . purging pills . purging decoction . cordial iulep . syncope . signs . causes . progn . cure. decoction . purging pills . purging pills . cordial iulep . difference . symptomes . causes . lipiria febris . cause . hystory . progn . pars affecta . cure. cautio . purging decoction . volatile powder . cordial iulep . observation . causes . the cause of the return of the fit . quotidian . cure. cordial iulep . purging pills . powder . difference . calenture . signs . cause of malignity . signs . prog● cure. cordial sudorifick . cause . signs . progn . cure. cordial electuary . cordial iulep . signs . causes . progn . cure. cordial iulep . phlebotomy . water for the eyes . gargaris . nodulas . notes for div a46940-e18800 cause . signs . cure. iulep . emulsion . purging infusion . pica . malacia . cause . cause . cause . signs . progn . cure. nausea . cause . progn . cure. cordial opiat . purging decoction . diet-drink . cause . progn . cure. cordial opiat . purging pills . cause . progn . cure. ileos . choler . cholerica passio . hoemoptysis . cause of ileos . causes of the cholerick passion . causes of vomiting bloud . progn . cure. cordial opiate . cure of cholerick passion . vomit . cordial opiate . cure of bloudy vomiting . astringent iulep . carminative iulep . purging pills . cure of iliaca passio . clyster . emulsion . cholica passio . tenesmus signs . causes . cause of the colick . observation . tympany . progn . cure. iulep . emulsion . purging potion . cordial diaphoretick . cordial iulep . cure of the cholick . clyster . ointment . empl. carminative iulep . purging decoction . purging pills . teretes . taenia . ascarides . vermina . signs of teretes . signs of taenia . signs of ascarides . signs of vermina . progn . cure. purging pills . lienteria . coeliaca . diarrhoea . dysentery . tenasmus . hemorrhoids . causes . causes of lientery . cause of the iaundice-like flux . cause of the chyle-like flux . causes of the divers kinds of diarrhoea . cause of a dysentery . cause of tenasmus . cause of hemorrhoids , &c. signs . progn . cure. purging powder . cordial iulep . decoction . powder . astringent iulep . clyster . purging bolus . bolus . opiat . decoction . sudorifick . causes . signs . progn . cure. diaphoretick . opiate . bath . ointment . icterus . cause . i. progn . cure. decoction . sudorifick diuretick decoction . opiate . cachexia . signs . progn . cure. hydrops . ascites . cause . cause . cause of a tympany . signs of ascites . signs of anasarca . signs of a tympany . progn . cure. purging infusion . purging pills . pills . sudorifick . carminative iulep . medicinal wine . ointment . pulcess . hypochondriacus . causes . progn . cure. iulep . electuary . purging powder . medicinal wine . tincture . linament water against the scurvy . cause . signs . progn . cure. cordial to cause sweat. powder . purging pills . medicinal wine . cause . cause of whites . signs . progn . cure. astringent iulep . purge . purging pills . astringent electuary . astringent iulep . linament plaster . fume . cause . signs . progn . cure. bath . powder . for a quilted bag. progn . cure. infusion . electuary . causes . signs . progn . cure. purging infusion . cordial to cause sweat . causes . signs . progn . indications . cordial iulep . powder . iulep . cordial opiate . clyster . fomentation . cause . observacion . signs . cause of the stone . histories . history . progn . cure. purging bolus . iulep . powder . decoction . iulep . cordial astringent . iulep . cause . signs . progn . cure. cordial opiate . decoction . pissing in bed. causes . progn . cure. cause . progn . cure. causes . progn . cure. decoction . lues venerea . cause . signs . progn . cure. apozeme . purging pills . decoction . purging pills . bolus . ointment . balsamick pills . injection . observatio . causes signs . progn . cure. vomit . observatio . infusion . purging bolus . linament plaster . pectoral ointment . arthritis . causes . observatio . signs . progn . cure. fomentation . pultess . cataplasm . linament . purging pills . water against the gout . rheumatismus . cause . progn . cure. linament . a choice manual, or rare secrets in physick and chirurgery: collected, & practised by the right honourable the countesse of kent, late deceased. whereto are added several experiments of the vertue of gascon powder, and lapis contra yarvam by a professor of physick. as also most exquisite ways of preserving, conserving, candying &c. choice manuall kent, elizabeth grey, countess of, 1581-1651. 1687 approx. 366 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 210 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a47269 wing k317 estc r218777 99830345 99830345 34796 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a47269) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 34796) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2072:20) a choice manual, or rare secrets in physick and chirurgery: collected, & practised by the right honourable the countesse of kent, late deceased. whereto are added several experiments of the vertue of gascon powder, and lapis contra yarvam by a professor of physick. as also most exquisite ways of preserving, conserving, candying &c. choice manuall kent, elizabeth grey, countess of, 1581-1651. w. j. the nineteenth edition. [18], 190, [2], 191-233, [27], 140 p. : port. (metalcut) printed for h. mortlock at the phœnix in st. paul's churchyard, london : 1687. an edition of: a choice manuall. "the epistle to the reader" is signed: w.j. 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keying and markup 2005-01 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-02 ben griffin sampled and proofread 2005-02 ben griffin text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion elizabeth late countess of kent . a choice manual , or rare secrets in physick and chirurgery : collected , & practised by the right honorable the countess of kent , late deceased . whereto are added several experiments of the vertue of gascons powder , and lapis contra yarvam by a professor of physick . as also most exquisite ways of preserving , conserving , candying , &c. the nineteenth edition . london , printed for h. mortlock at the phoenix in st. pauls churchyard . 1687. to the vertuous and most noble lady , laetitia popham , wife of the honourable and truly valiant col. alexander popham . thrice noble and truly vertuous lady . after mature deliberation , what to tender unto your acceptance worthy your patronage , not●ing occurred more probable than this small manual ; which was once esteemed a rich cabinet of knowledge , by a person truly honourable . may it auspiciously pro●ure but your honourable friendly estimation , and then i doubt not , but it will find an universal acceptance amongst persons of greatest eminency . sure i am , it may be justly deemed as a rich magazine of experience , having since taught the world its approved excellency , yea , even in many dangerous exigencies . all i humbly crave for the present is , my boldness may be favourably excused ; since 't was my lawful ambition , thereby to avoid ingratitude , for the many singular favours i have already received from your endeared truly honourable husband , my always true noble friend , and most happy country-man . god multiply his blessings upon all your noble family , and make you no less honourable here on earth , than eternally happy hereafter ; which shall be the daily prayer of him : whose highest emulation , is , in all due ways , abundantly to honour and serve you , w. j. to the reader . courteous reader , well remembring that we are all born for the weal-publick good : i here tender to thy perusal this small , and yet most excellent treatise , entituled , a choice manual of rare and select secrets in physick : if thereby thou suck abundance of profit , i shall be superlatively glad , but if any , or perchance many unlooked for mistakes , for want of a due application , bid thee entertain contrary thoughts , the effect not answering thy curious expectation , upon a most serious reflex , know , that nothing is absolutely perfect , and withal , that the richest and most sovereign antidote may be often misapplied : wherefore the fault not being mine , excuse and cease to censure : for which just , and but reasonable favour , thou shalt deservedly oblige me , thine , w. j. a table of the contents . a for an ague , pag. 27. 64. 137. 146 for an ach 28. 39. 59. 62. 120. 127 aqua composita 115. 126. 136 for an ach in the back 128 for a tertian ague 155 for the stinging of an adder 156 mr. ashleys ointment 162 for an ach in the joints 164 the vertue of aqua bezar 191 spirit of confection of alkermes its vertues 196 extract of ambergreece ibid. b for a bruise 10. 30. 56. 77. 95 104. 110 for restoring breath 110 a strengthening meat for the same 29 a cordial for a break-fast 22 for the griping of the belly 22 to clear the blood 31 for burning of the back 33 for weakness of the back 34. 103 for a sore breast 38 for a stinking breath 39 for one that pisseth blood 48 for the bone-ach 63. 149 for a burning by lightning 83 to stanch blood 85 for the black jaundies 89 for burning with gun-powder 96 a plaister for the back 115 to make balm-water 144 for an inward bruising 110 for a blast 169 balsamum 170 c for a consumption and cough of the lungs 1. 20. 25. 133. 179 to make a jelly and glister for the cough 51 for an extream cough and cold 11. 34 china broth for a consumption 23 another broth for a consumption 25 for corns 51 for a canker 52. 103. 118 for pain after child-birth 68 for swollen cods 69 for the cholick 81 for all manner of cuts 86 for a dead child in a woman 91 to deliver a child in danger 133. 157 to cool choler 136 for the cholick passion 137 for children that are troubled with an extream cough 143 for a cold 168 powder of crabs claws 186 the vertue of a root called contra yarva 188. 189. 190 vertues of spirit of clary 191 vertues of spirit of comfrey 196 d. for the dropsie 31 for the biting of a mad dog 63. 70. 157 vertue of spirit of diasatyrion 194 e for all infirmities and diseases of the eyes 30. 49. 50. 148 for a pin , and web , and redness in the eye 36. 75. 147. 148 for the emeroids 95. 128. 152 for rheum at the eyes 127. 131 for sore eyes 172. 174. 175 several experiments made of the countess of kents powder 198 f for faintness 4 for flegm 11 to know whether he that hath the flux shall live or die 47 for the falling sickness 56. 172 for the bloody flux 56. 174 to kill a felon 65 to break a felon 65. 122. 129 oil of foxes its vertues 104 jelly of frogs 178 for a red face 182 g for the gout 43. 91. 92 for the green-sickness 84 gascons powder 198 gascons powder by the apothecaries 185 h to make horse-raddish drink 7 to take away hoarsness 13 to take away head-ach ib. a cordial for the heart 16. 17 for coldness in the head 34 for the hearing 44. 91. 122 for the breaking out of childrens heads 55 for the swelling of the head with a fall 70 for a new hurt 72 to cleanse the head 74 for singing in the head 91 for a heat or burning , or scalding 125 oil of hypericon 170 for a scald head 173 for heat of the soles of the feet 193 i for the itch 10. 174 oil of st. johns wort 80 for a strain in the joints 161 k for kibes 26. 112 the countess of kents powder 187 l for the liver 11 for a lask 69. 95. 112. 118 against grief of the lungs 73 to cause easie labour 77 to keep ones body loose 181 m. against melancholy 113 aqua mirabilis with the vertues thereof 4. 5 to prevent miscarrying 10 for the mother 119. 153 the vertues of aqua mariae 192 the vertues of spirit of mints 193 the compositum of oleum magistrale . 204 p for the plague 9. 154. 155. 180 for the pleurisie 26. 74 for the dead palsie 38. 102 a good purge 59 for a pricking with a nail or thorn 96. 107. 117 to make the leaden plaister 105 the vertue of the plaister 106 for the phthisick 121 for pricking and burning in the soles of the feet 125 for a push 130 the best paracelsus salve 158 an excellent plague-water 167 a defensive plaister against the plague 168 r running of the reins 35. 68. 82. 125. 168 pectoral rowls 37 for the reins of the back 61 for rheum in the head 95 for one that hath a rupture 99. 100. 117 vertues of flowers of rosemary 192 vertues of spirit of roses 194 s for stone in the kidneys 75. 94 for a stitch 62. 99 for scabs 10 for the scurvy 31 to strengthen the stomach 33. 150 for sun-burn 35 for a swelling 39. 51. 52. 53. 72. 115 for spitting of blood . 46. 71 against surfeiting 60. 111. 175 for sinews that are shrunk 93 dr. stevens water . 65. 144 to cause one to sleep 71. 103. 119. 122 for pain in the stomach 75 a cordial for the sea 78 for the stone 81. 88. 94. 112. 134. 135 for an old sore 89. 90. 101. 109. 128. 145 to make oil of sage 87 for a scald 97. 123. 152 to make oil of swallows 116 a water for the sight . 121 for the stiffness of sinews 138 for the spleen 151 vertues of spirit of saffron 103 vertues of spirit of strawberries 195 t for stopping in the throat 11 to distil treacle water 12 for a tetter 97. 181 to keep teeth clean 86 to cure the gargee in the throat 90 to quench thirst 120 for the tooth-ach 88. 170 to fasten the teeth ibid. to make one take their meat 179 the vertues of aqua theriacalis 193 v how to stay vomiting 33 how to stop the bleeding of a vein 47 for a vein ill smitten 48 for vlcers 55 flos unguentorum 57 against biting of venemous beasts 70 against falling of the vvula 183 w a cordial for wind in the stomach 147. 156 restoratives for the same 16. 17. 18 for a green wound 27. 54. 69. 70. 83. 109. 128. 132 for one that is weak 42 to stanch bleeding of a wound 46. 96. 168 for a woman travelling with child 48. 79 for a wen 54 for cankered wounds 62 dr. willoughbies water 66 to draw an arrow-head , or any iron out of a wound 69 for a woman that hath her flowers too much 91 to cause a woman to have her sickness 94 to kill worms . 94. 154 for the wind-cholick 102 for one that cannot make water 114. 182 to take away warts 121 y yellow jaundice 37 a choice manual , or , rare and select secrets in physick , by the right honourable the countess of kent a very good medicine for a consumption and cough of the lungs . take a pound of the best honey as you can get , and dissolve it in a pipkin , then take it off the fire , and put in two penny worth of flower of brimstone , and a pennyworth of powder of elecampane , and 2 pennyworth of the flower of liquorice , and 2 pennyworth of red rose-water , and so stir them together , till they be all compounded together , and put it into a gally-pot , and when you use it , take a liquorish-stick , beaten at one end , and take up with it as much almost as half a walnut , at night when you go to bed , and in the morning fasting , or at any time in the night when you are troubled with the cough , and so let it melt down in your mouth by degrees . sir john digbies medicine for the stone in the kidneys . take a pound of the finest honey , and take 7 quarts of conduit-water , set them on the fire , and when it is ready to seeth , scum it , and still as the froth rises , scum it , and put in 20 whole cloves , and let them seeth softly for the space of half an hour , and so bottle it up for your use , and drink it morning and evening , and at your meat , and use no other drink until you are well . a medicine for the falling sickness . take a penyweight of the powder of gold , six pennyweight of pearl , 6 pennyweight of amber , 6 pennyweight of coral , 8 grains of bezoar , half an ounce of piony seed , also you must put some powder of a dead mans skull that hath been an anatomy , for a woman , and the powder of a woman for a man : compound all these together , and take as much of the powder of all these , as will lie upon a two-pence , for 9 mornings together in endive water , and drink a good draught of endive water after it . for cordials and restoratives use these things following . in any faintness take 3 drops of oil of cinnamon , mixed with a spoonful of sirrup of gilliflowers , and as much cinnamon-water , drink this for a cordial . against melancholy . take 1 spoonful of gilliflowers , the weight of 7 barly corns of bever-stone , bruise it as fine as flower , and so put into 2 spoonfuls of syrrup of gilliflowers , and take it four hours after supper , or else four hours after dinner , this will cheer the heart . if you be sick after meat use this . take of the best green ginger that is preserved in syrrup , shred it into small pieces , put it into a gally-pot , and put cinnamon water to it ; then after dinner or supper eat the quantity of two nutmegs upon a knifes point . aqua mirabilis . take three pints of white-wine , one pint of aqua vitae , one pint of juice of celendine , one dram of cardamer , a drachm of mellilot-flowers , cubebs a dram , galingal , nutmeg , mace , ginger , and cloves of each a dram : mingle all these together over-night , the next morning set them a stilling in a glass limbeck . the vertues . this water dissolveth swelling of the lungs , and being perished doth help and comfort them , it suffereth not the blood to putrifie , he shall not need to be let blood that useth this water , it suffereth not the heart-burning , nor melancholy or ●egm to have dominion , it expel●eth urine , and profiteth the stomach , it preserveth a good colour , the visage , memory and youth , it destroyeth the palsie . take some 3 spoonfuls of it once or twice a week , or oftner , morning and evening , first and last . another way to make aqua mirabilis . take galingal , cloves , quibs , ginger , mellilip , cardimomie , mace , nutmegs , of each a dram , and of the juice of celendine half a pint , adding the juice of mints and balm , of each half a pint more , and mingle all the said spices being beaten into a powder , with the juice , with a pint of good aqua vitae and 3 pints of good white-wine , & put all these together in a pot , and let it stand all night being close stopt , and in the morning distil it with as soft fire as can be , the still being close pasted , and a cold still . a medicine for the stone in the kidneys . take a good handful of pellitory of the wall , a handful of me●d parsley , saxifrage , a handful of wild thyme , a handful of garden-parsley , three spoonfuls of fennel seed six horse-radish-roots sliced , then shred all these together , put them in a gallon of new milk , and let them stand & steep in a close pot 1 whole night , and then still them , milk and all together , this must be done in may or june , for then herbs are in their best state , & when it is taken you must put two or three spoonfuls of this water , as much white-wine as rhenish , and if you please a little sugar , and so take it two days before the change , and two days after , and two days before the full , and two days after , continuing taking the same all the year , and the patient undoubtedly shall find great ease , and void many stones , and much gravel , with little pain . to make horse-raddish drink . take half a pound of horse-raddish , then wash and scrape them very clean , and slice them very thin-cross-ways on the root , then put them into six quarts of small ale , such as is ready for drinking , which being put into a pipkin close covered , set on the embers , keeping it a little more than blood warm for twelve hours ; then take it off the fire , and let it stand to cool until the next morning , then pour the clear liquor into bottles , and keep it for your use , drinking a good draught thereof in the morning , fasting two hours after , and the like quantity at four in the afternoon , this drink is excellent good against winds , as also for the scurvy and dropsie , being taken in time . an excellent syrrup against melancholy . take four quarts of the juice of pearmains , and twice as much of the juice of bugloss and borage , if they be to be gotten , a drachm of the best english saffron , bruise it , and put it into the juice , then take two drachms of kermes small beaten to powder , mix it also with the juice ; so being mixt , put them into an earthen vessel , covered or stopt forty eight hours , then strain it , and allow a pound of sugar to every quart of juice , and so boil it to the ordinary height of a syrrup , after it is boiled , take one drachm of the spices of dramber , and two drachms of the spices of diamargariton frigidum , and so sew the same slenderly in a linnen bag , that you may put the same easily into the bottle of syrrup , and so let it hang with a thred out at the mouth of the bottle , the spices must be put into the syrrup in the bag : so soon as the syrrup is off the fire , whilst it is hot , then afterwards put it into the bottle , and there let it hang : put but a spoonful or two of honey amongst it , whilst it is boiling , and it will make the scum rise , and the syrrup very clear . you must add to it the quantity of a quarter of a pint of the juice of balm . an excellent receipt for the plague . take one pound of green walnuts , half an ounce of saffron , and half an ounce of london treacle , beaten together in a mortar , and with a little carduus , or some such water , vapour it over the fire till it come to an electuary : keep this in a pot , and take as much as a walnut , it is good to cure a feaver , plague , and any infection . an excellent cordial . take the flowers of marigolds , and lay them in small spirit of wine ; when the tincture is fully taken out , pour it off from the flowers , and vapour it away till it come to a consistence as thick as an electuary . for a bruise or stitch under the ribs . take five or six handfuls of cabbage , stamp it , and strain it , after it is boiled in a quart of fair water , then sweeten it with sugar , and drink it off in a wine-glass in the morning , and at four in the afternoon , for five or six days together , then take a cabbage leaf , and between two dishes stew it , being wet first in canary wine , and that lay hot to your side evening and morning . an excellent receipt for an itch , or any foul scabs . take fox gloves , and boil a handful of them in posset-drink , and drink of it a draught at night , and in the morning , then boil a good quantity of the fox gloves in fair running water , and anoint the places that are sore with the water . a receipt good for the liver . take turpentine , slice it thin , and lay it on a silver or purslane plate , twice or thrice in the oven with the bread till it be dry , and so make it into powder , every day take as much as will lie on a six-pence in an egg. for flegm , and stopping in the throat and stomach . d. t. take oyl of almonds , linseed oyl , buds of orange flowers , boil all these in milk , and anoint the stomach well with it , and lay a scarlet cloth next to it . for an extream cold and cough . take of hyssop water 6 ounces , of red poppy water four ounces , six dates , ten figs , and slice them small , a handful of raisins of the sun , the weight of a shilling of the powder of liquorish , put these into the aforesaid waters , and let them stand 5 or 6 hours upon warm embers , close covered , and not boil , then strain forth the water , and put into it as much sugar of roses as will sweeten it , drink of this in the morning , and at four of the clock in the afternoon , and when you go to bed . to distil treacle water . take one ounce of harts-horn shaved , and boil it in three pints of carduus water till it come to a quart , then take the roots of elecampane , gentian , cypress , tormentil and of citron rinds , of each one ounce , borage , bugloss , rosemary flowers , of each two ounces , then take a pound of the best old treacle , and dissolve it in six pints of white-wine , and three pints of rose-water , so infuse all together , and distil it . it is good to restore spirits and speech , and good against swooning , faintness , agues and worms , and the small pox . treacle-water . take three ounces of venice treacle , and mingle it in a quart of spirits of wine , set it in horse-dung 4 or 5 days , then still it in ashes or sand twice over ; after take the bottom which is left in the still , and put to it a pint of spirit of wine , and set it in the dung till the tincture be clean out of it , and strain the clear tincture out of it , and set it on the fire till it come to be a thick consistence , it must be kept with a soft fire . and so the like with saffron . to take away hoarsness . take a turnip , cut a hole in the top of it , and fill it up with brown sugar-candy , and so roast it in the embers , and eat it with butter . to take away the head-ach . take the best sallet oyl , and the glass half full with tops of poppy flowers which grow in the corn , set this in the sun a fortnight , and so keep it all the year , and anoint the temples of your head with it . for a cough . take sallet oyl , aqua vitae , and sack , of each an equal quantity , beat them all together , and before the fire rub the soles of your feet with it . to make jelly of harts-horn . take a quart of running water , and three ounces of harts-horn scraped very fine , then put it into a stone jug , and set the jug in a kettle of water over the fire , and let it boyl 2 or 3 hours until it jelly , then put into it 3 or 4 spoonfuls of rose-water , or white-wine , then strain it : you may put into it musk , or ambergreece , and season it as you please . to make a glister . take half a quart of new milk , or 3 quarters , set it on the fire , and make it scalding hot , then take it off , and put it into it the yolk of a new laid egg beaten , two ounces of brown sugar-candy , or black sugar , give it to the party blood-warm . another . take the bone of a neck of mutton or veal clean washed , set it on the fire to boyl in 3 pints of fair water , and when it is clean scummed , then put in the roots of fennel and parsley clean washed and scraped , of either of them , the roots bruised , a handful of cammomil , and mallows a handful , let all these boyl together till half be wasted , then strain it , take 3 quarters of a pint of this broth , brown sugar-candy two ounces , of oyl of flax seed two ounces , mingle all these together , and take it for a glister , blood-warm ; when it is in your bod● , keep it half an hour , or three quarters of an hour , or an hour if you can . a comfortable cordial to chear the heart . take one ounce of conserve of gilliflowers , four grains of the best musk bruised as fine as flower , then put it into a little tin pot , and keep it till you have need to make this cordial following , viz. take the quantity of one nutmeg out of your tin pot , put to it one spoonful of cinamon-water , and 1 spoonful of the syrrup of gilliflowers , ambergreece , mix all these together ; and drink them in the morning fasting 3 or 4 hours , this is most comfortable . a cordial for wind in the stomach , or any part . take six or eight spoonfuls of penniroyal-water , put into it four drops of oyl of cinamon , so drink it any time of the day , so you fast two hours after . restorative . take a well flesht capon from the barn door , and pluck out his intrails , then wash it within with a little white-wine , then flea off all the skin , and take out his bones , and take the flesh , only cut it in little pieces , and put it into a little stone bottle , and put to it one ounce of white sugar-candy , six dates slit , with the stones and piths taken out , one large mace , then stop the bottle up fast , and set it in a chafer of water , and let it boyl three hours , then take it out , and pour the juice from the meat , and put to it one spoonful of red rose-water , and take the better part for your break-fast four hours before dinner , and the other part at three a clock in the afternoon , being blood-warm . another restorative . take half a pint of claret wine , and half a pint of ale , and make a caudle , with a new-laid egg , put in half a nutmeg cut into two pieces , then take it off the fire , and put in seven grains of ambergreece , drink this for two break-fasts , for it will increase blood and strength . another restorative . take two new laid eggs , and take the whites clean from them , and put the yolks both in one shell , then put in two spoonfuls of claret wine , seven grains of ambergreece small bruised , and a little sugar-candy stir all these together , and make them blood-warm , and sup them up for a breakfast three or four hours before dinner . another restorative . take a young leg of mutton , cut off the skin and the fat , take the flesh being cut into small pieces , and put it into a stone bottle , then put to it two ounces of raisins of the sun stoned , a large mace , an ounce and half of sugar-candy , and stop the bottle very close , and ●et it boyl in a chafer three hours , and so put the juice from the meat , and keep it in a clean glass , it will serve for three breakfasts ; or if he will he may take some at three a clock in the afternoon being made warm . a restoring broth. take 2 ounces of china-roots , first slit very thin , then put it in a new pipkin with five pints of running water being close covered , and set it upon embers all night long , where it may be very hot , but not seeth , then put to that water a great cock chicken , and when it is clean scummed , put into it two spoonfuls of french barly , six dates slit , with the piths and stones taken out , two ounces of raisins of the sun ston'd , a large mace , let all these boyl together , till half be consumed , then take out the cock , and beat the flesh of it in a clean mortar , and a little of the broth , then strain it all together throughout a hair cullender , then put in two spoonfuls of red rose-water , and sweeten it with white sugar-candy , drink of this broth , being made warm , half a pint in the morning early fasting , and sleep after it if you can , drink a good draught at three of the clock in the afternoon , this broth is very good for a consumption , and the longer they take it , it is the better . a strengthening meat . take potato roots , roast them or bake them , then pill them , and slice them into a dish , put to it lumps of raw marrow , and a few currans , a little whole mace , and sweeten it with sugar to your tast , and so eat it instead of buttered parsnips . broth for a consumption . take 3 marrow bones , break them in pieces , and boyl them in a gallon of water till half be consumed , then strain the liquor through a cullender , and let it stand while it be cold , then take off all the fat clean and put the broth into a pipkin , and put to it a good cock-chicken , and a knuckle of veal , then put into it the bottom of a white loaf , a whole mace , two ounces of raisins of the sun stoned , six dates slit , let all these boyl together till half be consumed , then strain it , instead of almonds , take a few pistachs kernels , and beat them , and strain with your broths as you do almond milk , and so sweeten it with white sugar , and drink half a pint early in the morning , and at three a clock in the afternoon , and so continue a good while together , or else it will do you no good . another cordial . take a preserved nutmeg , cut it in four quarters , eat a quarter at a breakfast , and another in the afternoon , this is good for the head and stomach . a cordial for a breakfast , fasting . eat a good piece of pomecitron preserved , as big as your two fingers in length and breadth , and so at 3 of the clock in the afternoon . a restoring break-fast . take the brawn of a capon , or pullet , 12 jordan almonds blanched , beat them together , and strain out the juice with a draught of strong broth , and take for a breakfast , or to bedward . a medicine for any griping of the belly . take a pint of claret wine , put to it a spoonful of parsley-seed , and a spoonful of sweet fennel-seed , half a dozen cloves , a branch of rosemary , a wild mallow root clean washt and scrapt , and the pith taken out , with a good piece of sugar , set this on the fire , and burn the claret very well with all these things in it , then drink a good draught of it in the morning fasting , and at 3 a clock in the afternoon . to keep the body laxative . take half a pint of running water , put it in a new pipkin with a cover , then put into the water two ounces of manna , and when it is dissolved , strain it , and put to it four ounces of damask prunes , eight cloves , a branch of rosemary , let all these stew together while they be very tender , then eat a dozen of them with a little of the liquor an hour before dinner or supper , then take a draught of broth and dine . to make the china broth for a consumption . take china roots thin sliced two ounces , steep it 24 hours in eight pints of fair water , letting it stand warm all the time , being close covered in an earthen pipkin , or iron pot , then put to it a good cockrel , or two chickens clean dressed , and scum it well , then put in five leaved grass two handfuls , maiden-hair , hearts-tongue , of either half a handful 20 dates sliced , 2 or 3 mace and the bottom of a manchet , let all these stew together , until not above one quart remains ; then strain it , and take all the flesh , and sweet bones , beat them in a stone mortar , and strain out all the juice with the broth , then sweeten it with two ounces of white sugar-candy in powder , and take thereof half a pint at once , early in the morning warm , and sleep after it if you can , and 2 hours before supper at your pleasure ; when you steep the root , slice two drachms of white sanders , and as much red sanders , and let them boyl in the broth . a gentle purge . take an ounce of damask roses , eat it all at one time , fast , three quarters of an hour after , then take a draught of broth and dine . another purge . take the weight of 4 or 5 pence of rubarb , cut it in little pieces , and take a spoonful or two of good currans washt very clean , so mingle them together , and so eat them , fast an hour after , and begin that meal with broth , you may take it an hour before if you will. broth for a consumption . take a coarse pullet , and sow up the belly ; and an ounce of the conserves of red roses , of the conserves of borage and bugloss flowers , of each of them half an ounce , pine apple kernels , and pistachs , of each half an ounce bruised in a mortar , 2 drachms of amber powder , all mixed together and put in the belly , then boil it in 3 quarts of water , with agrimony , endive and succory , of each one handful , sparrow-grass roots , fennel-roots , caper-roots , and one handful of raisins of the sun stoned , when it is almost boyled , take out the pullet and beat it in a stone mortar , then put it into the liquor again , and give it three or four walmes more , then strain it , and put to a little red rose-water , and half a pint of white-wine , and so drink it in a morning and sleep after it . to prevent miscarrying . take venice turpentine , spread it on black brown paper , the breadth and length of a hand , lay it to the small of her back , then give her to drink a caudle made of muscadine , and put into it the husks of twenty three sweet almonds dried , and finely powdered . for boils , or kibes , or to draw a sore . take strong ale , and boyl it from a pint to four spoonfuls , and to keep it , it will be an ointment . to make cammomil oyl . shred a pound of cammomil , and knead it into a pound of sweet butter , melt it , and strain it . a receipt for the pleurisie . take three round balls of horse-dung , boyl them in a pint of white wine till half be consumed , then strain it out , and sweeten it with a little sugar , and let the patient go to bed and drink this , then lay him warm . for an ague . take a pint of milk and set it on the fire , and when it boyls put in a pint of ale , then take off the curd and put in 9 heads of carduus , let it boyl till half be wasted , then to every quarter of a pint put a good spoonful of wheat-flower , and a quarter of a spoonful of gross pepper , and an hour before the fit , let the patient drink a quarter of a pint , and be sure to lye in a sweat before the fit . an excellent balm for a green wound . take two good handfuls of english tobacco , shred it small , and put it in a pint of sallet oyl , and seeth it on a soft fire to simper , till the oyl change green , then strain it , and in the cooling put in two ounces of venice turpentine . for an ach. take of the best gall , white-wine vinegar , and aqua vitae , of each a like quantity , and boyl it gently on the fire till it grow clammy , then put it in a glass or pot , and when you use any of it , warm it against the fire , rub some of it with your hand on the aking place , and lay a linnen cloth on it , do this mornings and evenings . to make a sear-cloth . virgins wax , sperma ceti , venice turpentine , oyl of white poppy , oyl of ben , oyl of sweet almonds . for wind in the stomach , and for the spleen . take a handful of broom , and boyl it in a pint of beer or ale till it be half consumed , and drink it for the wind and the stomach , and for the spleen . a most excellent water for a consumption and cough of the lungs . take a running cock , pull him alive , then kill him , when he is almost cold , cut him abroad by the back , and take out the intrails , and wipe him clean , then cut him in quarters , and break the bones , put him into such a still as you still rose-water in , and with a pottle of sack , a pound of currans , a pound of raisins of the sun stoned , a quarter of a pound of dates , the stones taken out , and the dates cut small , two handfuls of wild thyme , two handfuls of orgares , two handfuls of pimpernel , and two handfuls of rosemary , two handfuls of bugloss and borage flowers , a pottle of new milk of a red cow , still this with a soft fire , put into the glass that the water doth drop into , half a pound of sugar candy beaten very small , one book of leaf gold cut small among the sugar , 4 grains of ambergreece , 12 grains of prepared pearl , you must mingle the strong water with the small , and drink 4 spoonfuls at a time in the morning fasting , and an hour before supper , you must shake about the glass , when you drink it . for a bruise . take six spoonfuls of honey , a great handful of linseed , bruise these in a mortar , and boyl them in a pint of milk an hour , then strain it very hard , and anoint your breast and stomach with it every morning , and evening , and lay a red cloth upon it . the eye water for the infirmities and diseases of the eye . take of the distilled water of the white wild rose , half a pound of the distilled water of celandine , fennel , eye-bright , and rue , of each two ounces , of cloves an ounce and a half , of white sugar-candy one drachm , of tutia prepared these ounces , pulverize all these ingredients each by themselves , saving that you must bruise the camphire with your sugar-candy , for so it breaks best , then mix all the powders together in a paper , put them in a strong glass , pour the distilled , waters upon them , and three pints of the best french white wine that can be had , shake it every day 3 or 4 times long together for a month , and then you may use it : remember to keep it very close stopt . this is verbatim as it was had from the lord kelley . a medicine very good for the dropsie or the scurvy , and to clear the blood. take 4 gallons of ale , drawn from the tap into an earthen stand ; when the ale is two days old , then you must put in of brooklime , of water-cresses , of water-mints with red stalks , of each four handfuls , half a peck of scurvy-grass , let all these be clean picked , and washed and dried with a cloth , and shred with a knife , and then put into a bag , then put in the ale and stop it close , so that it have no vent , stop it with ri● paste ; the best scurvy-grass groweth by the water side , it must be 7 days after the things be in , before you drink it . take two quarts of water , and put in 4 ounces of guiacum , two ounces of sarsaparilla , one ounce of saxifrage , put it into a pipkin , and infuse it upon the embers for 12 hours , and then strain it , and put it into the ale assoon as it hath done working , this being added makes the more caudle . for sore eyes . take half a pint of red rose-water , put therein 4 penny-worth of aloe succotrina , as much bolearmoniack in quantity , let this lie 24 hours in steep , then wash your eyes with it evenings and mornings with a feather , and it will help them . a sirrup to strengthen the stomach , and the brain , and to make a sweet breath . take rinds while they be new , one pound of running water the value of 5 wine pints , then seeth it unto 3 pints , then strain it , and with one pound of sugar , seeth it to a syrrup , and when you take it from the fire , put to it four grains of musk. for the burning in the back . take the juice of plantain , and womans milk , being of a woman with child , put thereto a spoonful of rose-water , and wet a fine cloth in the same , and so lay it to your back where the heat is . a very good medicine to stay the vomiting . take of spear-mints , worm-wood , and red rose leaves dried , of each half a handful , of rye-bread grated a good handful , boyl all these in red rose-water and vinegar , till they be somewhat tender , then put it into a linnen cloth , and lay it to the stomach as hot as you can endure it , heating it 2 or 3 times a day with such as it was boyled in . for weakness in the back . take nep , and clary , and the marrow of an oxes back , chop them very small , then take the yolks of 2 or 3 eggs , and strain them all together , then fry them , use this 6 or 7 times together , and after it drink a good draught of bastard or muscadine . to make a cap for the pain and coldness of the head. take of storax and benjamine , of both some 12 penny-worth , and bruise it , then quilt it in a brown paper , and wear it behind on your head . to make pectoral rouls for a cold. take 4 ounces of sugar finely beaten , and half an ounce of fearced liquorish , 2 grains of musk , and the weight of two pence of the syrrup of liquorish , and so beat it up to a perfect paste , with a little syrrup of hore-hound , and a little gum-dragon , being steeped in rose-water , then roul them in small rouls and dry them , and so you may keep them all the year . for the running of the reins . take the pith of an oxe that goeth down the back , a pint of red wine , and strain them together through a cloth , then boyl them a little with a good quantity of cinnamon , and a nutmeg , and a large mace , a quantity of ambergreece , drink this first and last daily . for sun-burn . take the juice of a lemmon , and a little bay-salt , and wash your hands with it , and let them dry of themselves , wash them again , and you shall find all the spots and stains gone . for a pin , and web , and redness in the eye . take a pint of white rose●water , half a pint of white-win● as much of lapis calaminaris , as walnut bruised , put all these in glass , and set them in the sun o● week , and shake the glass ever● day , then take it out of the sun and use it as you shall need . a special medicine to preserve the sight . take of brown fennel , honey suckles of the hedge , of wild dal● sie-roots picked , and washed , an● dried , of peal-wort , of eye-brigh● of red roses , the white clippe● away , of each of these a handfu● dry gathered , then steep all thes● herbs in a quart or 3 pints of th● best white-wine in an earthen●pot , and so let it lie in steep 2 or ● days close covered , stirring it ● times a day , and so still it with ● gentle fire , making two distil●lings , and so keep it for your use● a proved medicine for the yellow jaundies . take a pint of muscadine , a pretty quantity of the inner bark of a barbery tree , 3 spoonfuls of the greenest goose dung you can get , and take away all the white spots of it , lay them in steep all night , on the morrow strain it , and put to it one grated nutmeg , one penny-worth of saffron dried , and very finely beaten , and give it to drink in the morning . to make pectoral rouls . take one pound of fine sugar , of liquorish and annise seed two spoonfuls , elecampane 1 spoonful , of amber , and coral , of each a quarter of a spoonful , all this must be very finely beaten and searced , and then the quantity that is set down must be taken , mix all these powders together well , then take the white of an egg , and beat it with a pretty quantity of musk , then take a brazen mortar very well scoure● and a spoonful or two of the pow●ders , and drop some of the egg 〈◊〉 it , so beat them to a paste , the make them in little rouls , and la● them on a place to dry . a plaister for a sore breast . take crums of white bread , th● tops of mint chopped small ; an● boyl them in strong ale , and mak● it like a poultess , and when it 〈◊〉 almost boyled , put in the powde● or ginger , and oyl of tyme ; so spread it upon a cloth , it wil● both draw and heal . a medicine for the dead palsie , and for them that have lost their speech . take borage leaves , marrigold leaves , or flowers , of each a good handful , boyl it in a good ale posset , the patient must drink a good draught of it in the morning , and sweat ; if it be in the arms or legs , they must be chafed for an hour or two when they be grieved , and at meals they must drink of no other drink till their speech come to them again , and in winter , if the herbs be not to be had , the seeds will serve . an approved medicine for an ach or swelling . take the flowers of cammomil , and rose leaves , of each of them a like quantity , and seeth them in white-wine , and make a plaister thereof , and let it be laid as hot as may be suffered to the place grieved , and this will ease a pain , and asswage the swelling . an approved medicine for a stinking breath . take a good quantity of rosemary leaves and flowers , and boyl them in white-wine , and with a little cinnamon and benjamin beaten in powder , being put thereto , let the patient use to wash his mouth very often therewith , and this will presently help him . a good broth for one that is weak . take part of a neck of lamb , and a pretty running fowl , and set them on the fire in fair spring water , and when it boyleth , scum it well , so done put in two large mace , and a few raisins of the sun stoned , and a little fennel root , and a parsly root , and let them boyl , if the party be grieved with heat or cold in the stomach , if heat , put in two handful of barley boyled before in two waters , and some violet leaves , sorrel , succory , and a little egrimony ; if cold , put in rosemary , thyme , a little marrigold leaves , borrage , and bugloss , and boyl this from 4 pints to less than one . a receipt for purging . d. t. take the leaves of new sene 6 ounces , of chosen rubarb one ounce and half , leaves of sage , and dock roots , of each one ounce , of barberries half an ounce , cinnamon , and nutmeg of each an ounce , annise-seeds and fennel seeds , of each six drachms , of tamarisk half an ounce , cloves and mace , of each half a drachm , beat them into a gross powder , and hang them in a linnen bag , in six gallons of new ale , so drink it fasting , in the morning and at night . to comfort the stomach , and help windiness and rheum . take of ginger one penny-worth cloves 4 penny-worth , mace seven penny-worth , nutmeg 4 penny-worth , cinnamon 4 penny-worth , and galingal two penni-worth , of each an ounce , of cubebs , corral , and amber , of each 2 drachms , of fennel seeds , dill seed , and carraway seed , of each one ounce , of liquorish and annise seeds , of each an ounce , all beaten into fine powder , 1 pound and a half of fine beaten sugar , which must be set on a soft sire , and being dissolved the powders being well mixed therewith till it be stiff , then put thereunto half a pint of red rose-water , and mix them well together , and put it into a gally pot , and take thereof first in the morning , and last in the evening , as much as a good hasel nut , with a spoonful or two of red wine . to make a callice for a weak person . take a good chicken , and a piece of the neck end of lamb or veal , not so much as the chicken , and set them on the fire , and when they boil and are well scummed , cast in a large mace , and the pieces of the bottom of a manchet , and half a handful of french barly boiled in 3 waters before , and put it to the broth , and take such herbs as the party requireth , and put them in when the broth hath boiled half an hour , so boil it from 3 and a half to 1 , then cast it through a strainer , and scum off all the fat , so let it cool , then take 20 good jordan almonds , or more if they be small , and grind them in a mortar with some of the broth , or if you think your broth too strong , grind them with some fair water , and strain them with the broth , then set it upon a few coals and season it with some sugar , not too much , and when it is almost boiled , take out the thickest , and beat it all to pieces in the mortar , and put it in again , and it will do well , so there be not too much of the others flesh . for the gout . take 6 drams of ciriacostine fasting in the morning , and fast 2 hours after it , you may roul it up in a wafer , and take it as pills , or in sack , as you conceive is most agreeable for the stomach ; this proportion is sufficient for a woman , take 8 drams for a man , and take it every second day , until you find remedy for it , it is a gentle purge that works only upon winds and water . the poultess for the gout . take a penny loaf of whitebread , and slice it , and put it in fair water , 2 eggs beaten together , a handful of red rose leaves , 2 pennyworth of saffron dryed to powder , then take the bread out of the water , and boyl it in a quantity of good milk , with the rest of the ingredients , and apply it to the place grieved , as warm as you can well endure . for them that cannot hear . put into their ears good dried suet. a soveraign water , good for many cures , and the health of bodies . take a gallon of good gascoign wine , white or claret ; then take ginger , galingal , cardomon , cinamon , nutmegs , grains , cloves , annise seeds , fennel seeds , carraway seeds , of each of them 3 drams , then take sage , mint , red rose leaves , thyme , pellitory , rosemary , wild thyme , wild marjoram , organy , pennymountain , pennyroyal , cammomil , lavendar , avens , of each of them a handful , then beat the spices small , and the herbs , and put all into the wine , and let it stand for the space of 12 hours , stirring it divers times : then still it in a limbeck , and keep the first water by it self , for it is best , then will there come a second water , which is good , but not so good as the first , the virtues of this water be these : it comforteth the spirit vital , and preserveth greatly the spirit vital , and preserves the youth of man , and helpeth all inward diseases coming of cold , and against shaking of the palsie ; it cureth the contract of sinews , and helpeth the conception of the barren , it killeth the worms in the belly , it killeth the gout , it helpeth the tooth-ach , it comforteth the stomach very much , it cureth the cold dropsie , it breaketh the stone in the back , and in the reins of the back , it cureth the canker , it helpeth shortly the stinking breath ; and whosoever useth this water oft , it preserveth them in good liking ; this water will be better if it stand in the sun all the summer , and you must draw of the first water but a pint , and of the second as far as it will run , until the whole gallon of wine and herbs be all done out , but the last water is very small , and not half so good as the first ; if you do draw above a pint of the best water , you must have all things more as is aforesaid . to stench the bleeding of a wound . take a hounds turd and lay it on a hot coal , and bind it thereto , and that shall stench bleeding ; or else bruise a long worm , and make powder of it , and cast it on the wound ; or take the ear of a hare , and make powder thereof , and cast that on the wound , and that will stench bleeding . for spitting of blood after a fall or bruise . take bettany , vervain , nose-bleed , and 5 leaved grass , of each alike , and stamp them in a mortar , and wring out the juice of them , and put to the juice as much goats milk , and let them seeth together , and let him that is hurt drink of it 7 days together till the waxing of the moon , and let him drink also osmory and comfry with stale ale , and he shall be whole . for to heal him that spitteth blood. take the juice of bettony , and temper that with good milk , and give the sick to drink four days , and he shall be whole . for to know whether one that hath the flux shall live or die . take a penny weight of tresoile seed , and give him to drink in wine or water , and do this 3 days , and if it cease he shall live , with the help of medicine , if not , he shall die . for to stench the bleeding of a vein . take rue and seeth it in water , and after stamp it in a mortar , and lay it on the vein , then take lambs wooll that was never washed , and lay that thereon , and that shall stench bleeding . for a vein that is evil smitten . take beans and peel away the lack , and seeth them well in vinegar , and lay them on the vein hot , in manner of a plaister . for one that pisseth blood. take and seeth garlick in water , till the third part be wasted away , let him drink of the water , and he shall be whole . for a woman travailing with child . take and give her tittany to drink in the morning ; and she shall be delivered without peril , or else give her hysop with water that is hot , and she shall be delivered of the child , although the child be dead and rotten , and anon when she is delivered , give her the same without wine , or bind the herb argentine to her nostrils , and she shall be soon delivered , or else polipody and stamp it , and lay that on the womans foot in manner of a plaister , and she shall be delivered quick or dead , or else give her savory with hot water , and she shall be delivered . against surfeiting and digesting . take the bottom of a wheat loaf and toste it at the fire , till it be brown and hard , and then take a good quantity of aqua vitae , and put upon the same roasted , and put it in a single linnen cloth , and lay it at the breast of the patient all night , and with the help of god he shall recover , and he shall vomit or purge soon after . a water to comfort weak eyes , and to preserve the sight . take a gallon and a half of old wheat , fair and clean picked from all manner of soil , and then still it in an ordinary still with a soft fire , and the water that comes of it must be put in a glass , then take half a pound of white sugar-candy , and bruise it in a mortar to powder , and after 3 days , when the water hath been in a glass , then put in the powdered candy , then take an ounce of lapis tutia prepared , and put it into the glass to the rest of the stuff , then take an ounce of camphire and break it between your fingers small , and put it into the glass , then stop the glass close , and the longer it stands , the better it will be . for tender eyes , or for children . take a little piece of white sugar-candy as much as a chesnut , and put it into 3 or 4 spoonfuls of white-wine to steep , then take it out again and dry it , and when it is dry , bruise it in a clean mortar that tastes of no spice , then put it upon a white paper , and so hold it to the fire that it may be thorow dry , and then search it thorow a little sieve . for hot and red eyes . take slugs , such as when you touch them will turn like the pummel of swords , 12 or 16 , shake them first in a clean cloth , and then in another , and not wash them , then stamp them , and put 3 or 4 spoonfuls of ale to them , and strain it through a dry cloth , and give it the party morning and evening , first and last . for corns . take fair water half a pint , mercury sublimate a pennyworth , allum as much as a bean , boil all these together in a glass still , till a spoonful be wasted , and always warm it when you use it , this water is also good for any itch , tetter , ring-worm or wart . searcloth for a sore , or sprane , or any swelling . take vervain 7 ounces , of sires 7 ounces , of camphire 3 drams , of oyl of roses ten ounces , let the wax and this oyl boyl till the wax be melted , then put in your sires finely beaten , stirring it on the fire till it look brown , then put in the camphire finely beaten , and let it boyl 2 or 3 walms and then dip in your clothes . a poultess for a swelling . take a good handful of violet leaves , and as much grundsel , of chickweed and mallows , half a handful , cut all these with a knife , and so seeth them well in conduit water , and thicken it with barly meal , being finely sifted , and so roul it sure , and lay it to the swel'd place , and shift it twice a day . to make a strong water good for a canker or any old sore , or to eat any lump of flesh that groweth . take of celendine a handful , of red sage a handful , and of wood-bind leaves a handful , shred all these together very small , and steep them in a quart of white-wine and a pint of water , letting it stand all night , and on the morrow strain it , and put therein of borax , and camphire of each nine penny-worth , and of mercury four pen●yworth , and set them on a soft fire , boyling softly for the space of an hour , and when you will use it , warm a little of it , dip in it a cloth , and lay it on the sore , or dip it in any cotton . to heal any bruise , sore , or swelling . take two pound of wax , and two pound of rosin , and two pound and a half of butter , and four spoonfuls of flower , and two good spoonfuls of honey , put in your wax , rosin , and your butter altogether , boyl all these together and clarifie it , then put in two ounces of carmerick , and when it hath thus boyled a quarter of an hour , put a little water in a dish , and put it in , and let it stand till it be cold , and when you will use it , you may melt it on a soft fire , and put in your clothes , and make a searcloth , and you may spread it plaister-wise to heal any wound . a medicine for any wound old or new . take a pint of sallet oyl , and 4 ounces of bees wax , and two ounces of stone pitch , and two ounces of rosin , and two ounces of venice turpentine , and one pennyworth of frankincense , and a handful of rosemary tops , and a handful of tutsan leaves , and a handful of plantain leaves ; these herbs must be stamped , and the juice of them put to the things aforesaid , and let them boyl together about a quarter of an hour , or thereabouts , this being done , put it into an earthen pot , and when it is cold you may use it as you have occasion , and keep it a year , a most excellent medicine . a medicine for a wen. take black soap and unquencht lime , of each a like quantity , beat them very small together , and spread in on a woollen cloth , and lay it on the wen , and it will consume it away . for breaking out of childrens heads . take of white-wine , and sweet butter alike , and boyl them together till it come to a salve , and so anoint the head therewith . for to mundifie , and gently to cleanse vlcers , and breed new flesh . take rosin eight ounces , colophonia four ounces , era & oliva , ana one pound , adipis ovini , gum ammoniaci opoponaci , ana one ounce , fine aeruginis aeris , boyl your wax , colophoni and rosin , with the oyl together , then strain the gums , being first dissolved in vinegar , and boyl it with a gentle fire , then take it off , and put in your verdigreece , and fine powder , and use it according to art. a fomentation . take the liquor wherein neats-feet have been boyled , with butter , and new milk , and use it in manner of a fomentation . for the falling-sickness , or convulsions . take the dung of a peacock make it into powder , and give s● much of it to the patient as wil● lie upon a shilling , in succory-water fasting . for a tetter , proceeding of a salt-humour in the breast and paps . annoint the sore place with tanners owse . for the bloody flux . take the bone of a gammon o● bacon , and set it up on end in the middle or a charcoal fire , and let it burn till it look like chalk , and that it will burn no longer , then powder it , and give the powder thereof unto the sick . a plaister for all manner of bruises . take one pound of mede wax , and a quartern of pitch , half a quartern of galbanum , and one pound of sheeps tallow , shred them and seeth them softly , and put to them a little white-wine , or good vinegar , and take of frankincense , and mastick , of each half an ounce in powder , and put it to , and boyl them together , and still them , till it be well relented , and spread this salve upon a mighty canvas that will overspread the sore , and lay it thereon hot till it be whole . to make flos unguentorum . take rosin , perrosin , and half a pound of virgin wax , frankincense a quarter of a pound , of mastick half an ounce , of sheeps tallow a quarter of a pound , of camphire two drams , melt that that is to melt , and powder that that is to powder , and boil it over the fire , and strain it through a cloth into a bottle of white-wine , and boyl it altogether , and then let it cool a little , and then put thereto a quartern of turpentine , and stir all well together till it be cold , and keep it well , this ointment is good for sores old and new , it suffereth no corruption in the wound nor no evil flesh to be gendered in it , and it is good for head-ach , and for all manner of imposthumes in the head , and for wind in the brain , and for imposthumes in the body , and for boyling ears and cheeks , and for sauce flegm in the face , and for sinews that be knit , or stiff , or sprung with travel ; it doth draw out a thorn , or iron , in what place soever it be , and it is good for biting or stinging of venemous beasts ; it rotteth and healeth all manner of botches without , and it is good for a fester and canker , and noli me tangere , and it draweth out all manner of a king of the liver , and of the spleen , and of the mervis , and it is good for a king and swelling of many members , and for all members , and it ceaseth the flux of menstrua , and of emeroids , and it is a special thing to make a fumed cloth to heal all manner of sores , and it searcheth farthest inward of any ointment . an ointment for all sorts of aches . take bettony , cammomile , celendine , rosemary , and rue , of each of them a handful , wash the herbs , and press out the water , and then chop or stamp them very small , and then take fresh butter unwashed and unsalted a quart , and seeth it until half be wasted , and clarified , them scum it clean , and put in of oyl of olives 1 ounce , a piece of virgins wax , for to harden the oyntment in the summer time , and if you make it in the winter , put into your ointment a little quantity of foot-fennel instead of the virgins wax . an excellent syrrup to purge . take of sena alexandria one pound , polipodium of the oak 4 ounces , sarsaparilla two ounces , damask prunes 4 ounces , ginger seven drams annise seeds one ounce , cummin-seed half an ounce , carraway seeds half an ounce , cinnamon 10 drams , aristolochia rotunda , peonia , of each 5 drams , rubarb one ounce , garlick six drams , tamarisk two handfuls , boyl all these in a gallon of fair water unto a pottle , and when the liquor is boyled half away , strain it forth , and then put in your rubarb and agarick in a thin clean handkerchief , and tie it up close , and put into the said liquor , and then put in two pound of fine sugar , and boyl it to the height of a syrrup , and take of it the quantity of six spoonfuls , or more or less as you find it worketh in you . to make drink for all kind of surfeits . take a quart of aqua , or small aqua vitae , and put in that a good handful of cowslip flowers , sage-flowers a good handful , and of rosemary flowers a handful , sweet marjorum a little , pellitory of the wall a little , bettony , and balm of each a pretty handful , cinnamon half an ounce , nutmegs a quarter of an ounce , fennel seed , annise seed , coriander seed , carraway seed , grumwel seed , juniper berries of each a dram , bruise your spices and seeds , and put them into your aqua or aqua vitae , with your herbs together , and put to that 3 quarters of a pound of very fine sugar , stir them together , and put them in a glass , and let it stand nine days in the sun , and let it be stirred every day , it is to be made in may , steeped in a wide mouthed glass , and strain'd out into a narrow mouth'd glass . a medicine for the reins of the back . take housleek , and stamp and strain it , then dip a fine linnen cloth into it , and lay it to the reins of the back , and that will heal it . a medicine for the ach in the back . take egrimony , and mugwort both leaves and roots , and stamp it with old bores grease , and temper it with honey and eysell , and lay it to the back . for a stitch. take roses , and cammomile , of each a handful , and oyl of roses , and oyl of cammomile , of both together a saucer full , and a quantity of barly flower , boyl all these together in milk , and then take a linnen bag , and put it therein , and lay the plaister as hot as may be suffered where the stitch is . to make a salve for wounds that be cankered and do burn . take the juice of smallage , of morrel , of waberb of each alike , then take the white of eggs , and mingle them together , and put thereto a little wheat flower , and stir them together till it be thick , but let it come near no fire , but all cold , let it be laid on raw to the sore , and it shall cleanse the wound . a medicine for a bone-ach . take brook-lime and smallage , and dasies , with fresh sheeps tallow , and fry them together , and make thereof a plaister , and lay it to the sore hot . for sinews that are shrunk . take young swallows out of the nest a dozen or 16 , and rosemary , lavender , and rotten straw-berry leaves , strings and all , of each a handful , after the quantity of the swallows , the feathers , guts and all , bray them in a mortar , and fry all them together with may butter , not too much , then put it into an earthen pot , and stop it close 9 days , then fry it again with may butter , and fry it well , and strain it well , when you shall use it , chafe it against the fire . a water for the biting of a mad dog. take scabius , matfiline , yarrow , nightshade , wild sage , the leaves of white lillies , of each a like quantity , and still them in a common still , and give the quantity of 3 or 4 spoonfuls of the water mingled with half a handful of treacle , to any man or beast that is bitten within 3 days after the biting , and for lack of the water , take the juices of those herbs mingled with treacle , it will keep therefore from rankling , take bittany , egrimony , and rusty bacon , and beat them fine together , and lay it unto the wound , and it will keep it from rankling . a proved medicine for any one that have an ague in their breast . take the patients own water , or any others that is very young , and set it on the fire , put therein a good handful of rosemary , and let it boyl , then take 2 red clothes , and dip them in the water , then nip it hard , and lay it on the breast as hot as it may be endured , and apply it till you see the breast asswaged , then keep it very warm . to kill a fellon . take red sage , white sope , and bruise them , and lay it to the fellon , and that will kill it . to break a fellon . take the grounds of ale , and as much vinegar , the crums of leavened bread , and a little honey , and boyl them altogether , till they be thick , and lay that hot to the joynt where the fellon is , and that will heal it doctor stevens soveraign water . take a gallon of good gascoign wine , then take ginger , galingal , cancel , nutmeg , grains , cloves , annise seeds , carraway seeds , of each a dram , then take sage , mints , red roses , thyme , pellitory , rosemary , wild thyme cammomile , lavender , of each an handful ; then bray both spices and herbs , and put them all into the wine , and let them stand for 12 hours , divers times stirring them , then still that in a limbeck but keep that which you still first by it self , for that is the best , but the other is good also , but not so good as the first . the vertues of this water are these , it comforteth the spirits vital , and helpeth the inward diseases which come of cold ; and the shaking of the palsie , it cureth the contraction of sinews , and helpeth the conception of women that be barren , it killeth worms in the boyd , it cureth the cold cough , it helpeth the tooth-ach , it comforteth the stomach , it cureth the cold dropsie , it helpeth the stone , it cureth shortly a stinking breath , and whoso useth this water enough but not too much , it preserveth him in good liking , making him young . doctor willoughbies water . take galingal , cloves , cubebs , ginger , mellilot , cardaniome , mace , nutmegs , of each a dram , and of the juice of celendine half a pint and mingle all these made in powder with the said juice , and with a pint of good aqua vitae , and three pints of good white-wine , and put all these together in a still of glass , and let it stand so all night , and on the morrow still it with an easie fire as may be . the vertue is of secret nature , it dissolveth the swelling of the lungs without any grievance , and the same lungs being wounded or perished it helpeth and comforteth , and it suffereth not the blood to putrifie , he shall never need to be let blood that useth this water , and it suffers not the heart to be burnt , nor melancholy or flegm to have dominion above nature , it also expelleth the rheum , and purifieth the stomach , it preserveth the visage or memory , and destroyeth the palsie , and if this water be given to a man or woman labouring towards death , one spoonful relieveth . in the summer time use once a week fasting the quantity of a spoonful , and in winter two spoonfuls . a medicine for them that have a pain after their child-bed . take tar ; and fresh barrows grease , and boyl it together , then take pigeons dung , and fry it in fresh grease , and put it in a bag . for the drink : take a pint of malmsey , and boyl it , and put bay-berries and sugar in it , the bay-berries must be of the whitest , and put therein some sanders . take some fair water , and set it over the fire , and put some ground malt to it , when they use these things they must keep their bed . for the running of the reins . take venice turpentine rolled in sugar and rose-water , swallow it in pretty rolls , and put a piece of scarlet warm to your back . for cods that be swollen . stamp rue and lay thereto . to draw an arrow-head , or other iron out of a wound . take the juice of valerian , in the which you shall wet a tent , and put it into the wound , and lay the same herb stamped upon it , then your band or binding as appertaineth , and by this means you shall draw out the iron , and after heal the wound as it requireth . a plaister for a green wound . take flower and milk , and seeth them together till it be thick , then take the white of an egg and beat them together , and lay it to the wound , and that will keep it from ranckling . for a lask . take an egg , and aqua vitae , and boyl it with the egg till it be dry ; then take cinnamon and sugar and eat it with the egg. for him that hath a bunch or knot in his head , or that hath his head swollen with a fall . take one ounce of bay salt , raw honey 3 ounces , turpentine two ounces , intermingle all this well upon the fire , then lay it abroad upon a linnen cloth , and thereof make a plaister , the which you shall lay hot to the head , and it will altogether asswage the swelling , and heal it perfectly . against the biting of any venemous beast . assoon as the person feeleth himself bit with any venemous beast , or at least , so soon as it is possible , let him take green leaves of a fig-tree , and press the milk of them 3 or 4 times into the wound : and for this also serveth mustard seed mingled with vinegar . a perfect remedy for him that is sore wounded with any sword or staff. take taxas barbatas , and stamp it , and take the juice of it , and if the wound bleed , wipe it , and make it clean , washing it with white-wine , or water , then lay the said juice upon the wound , and the herb whereof you take the juice , upon it , then make your band , and let it abide on a whole day , and you shall see a wonderful effect . a bag to smell unto for melancholy , or to cause one to sleep . take dry rose leaves , keep them close in a glass which will keep them sweet , then take powder of mints , powder of cloves in a gross powder , and put the same to the rose leaves , then put all these together in a bag , and take that to bed with you , and it will cause you to sleep , and it is good to smell unto at other times . for spitting of blood. take the juice of bettony tempered with goats milk , and drink thereof three or four mornings together . an ointment for all sores , cuts , swellings , and heat . take a good quantity of smallage , and mallows , and put thereto 2 pounds of bores grease , 1 pound of butter , and oyl of neats foot a quantity , stamp them well together , then fry them , and strain them into an earthen pot , and keep it for your use . salve for a new hurt . take the whitest virgins wax you can get , and melt it in a pan , then put in a quantity of butter and honey , and seeth them together , then strain them into a dish of fair water , and work it in your hands , and make it in a round ball , and so keep it , and when you will use it , work some of it between your hands , and strike it upon a cloth , and lay it upon the sore , and it will draw and heal it . against the biting of a mad dog , and the rage or madness that followeth a man after he is bitten . take the blossoms or flowers of wild thistles dried in the shade and beaten to powder , give him to drink of that powder in white-wine half a walnut shell full , and in thrice taking it he shall be healed . against the grief in the lungs , and spitting of blood . take the herb called of the apothecary vngula caballina , in english , colts foot , incorporated well with the lard of a hog chopped , and a new laid egg , boyl it together in a pan , and give it to the patient to eat , doing this nine mornings , you shall see a marvellous thing , this is also good to make a man fat . against spitting of blood by reason of some vein broken in the breast . take mice dung beaten into powder as much as will lie upon a groat , and put it in a half a glassful of the juice of plantane with a little sugar , and so give the patient to drink thereof in the morning before breakfast , and at nigh● before he go to bed , continuin● the same , it will make him whol● and sound . for to cleanse the head. take pellitory of spain , and chew the roots three days , a good quantity , and it will purge the head , and do away the ach , and fasten the teeth in the gums . a good remedy against the pleurisie . open a white loaf in the middle new baked , and spread it will with treacle on both the halfs on the crum side , and heat it at the fire , then lay one of the halfs on the place of the disease , and the other half on the other side of the body directly against it , and so bind them that they loose not , nor stir , leaving them so a day and a night , or until the imposthume break , which i have sometimes seen in two hours or less , then take away the bread , and immediately the patient will begin to spit and void the putrefaction of the imposthume , and after he hath slept a ●ittle , you shall give him meat , and with the help of god he shall shortly heal . for a pin , or web in the eye . take two or three lice out of ones head , and put them alive into the eye that is grieved , and so close it up , and most assuredly the lice will suck out the web in the eye and will cure it , and come forth without any hurt . a remedy to be used in a fit of the stone when the water stops . take the fresh shells of snails : the newest will look of a reddish colour and are best , take out the snails , and dry the shells with a moderate heat in an oven after the bread is drawn , likewise take bees and dry them so , and beat them severally into powder , then take twice so much of the bees powder as the snails , and mix them well together , keep it close covered in a glass , and when you use it , take as much of this powder as will lie upon a six-pence , and put into a quarter of a pint of the distilled water of bean flowers , and drink it fasting , or upon an empty stomach , and eat nor drink nothing , for 2 or 3 hours after . this is good to cause the party to make urine , & bring away the gravel or stone that causeth the stopping , & hath done very much good . a syrrup for the pain in the stomach . take 2 good handfuls of young rue , boyl it in a quart of good white-wine vinegar till it be half consumed , so soon as it is through cold , strain it , and put to every pint of the liquor a pound and a quarter of loaf-sugar , and boil it till it come to a syrrup , when you use it , take a good spoonful of this in the morning fasting , and eat nor drink nothing for 2 or 3 hours after . it is good for pain in the stomach that proceeds of windy vapours , and is excellent good for the lungs and obstructions of the breast . receipts for bruises , approved by the lady of arundel . take black jet , beat it to powder and let the patient drink it every morning in beer till it be well . another for the same . take the sprigs of oak trees , and put them in paper , roast them , and break them , and drink as much of the powder as will lie upon a six-pence every morning , untill the patient be well . to cause easie labour . take 10 or 12 days before her looking , 6 ounces of brown sugar-candy beaten to powder , a quarter of a pound of raisins of the sun stoned , 2 ounces of dates unstoned , sliced , half an ounce of annise seeds bruised , a quarter of an ounce of cowslip flowers , one dram of rosemary flowers , put them in a fine lawn bag with a flint stone that it may sink into a pottle of white-wine , let it steep 24 hours , and after take of it in the morning , and at 4 in the afternoon , and in the evening , the quantity of a wine glass full . a cordial for the sea. take 1 ounce of syrrup of clove-gilliflowers , 1 dram of confectio alchermes , an ounce and a half of borrage water , and the like of mint-water , 1 ounce of mr. mountfords water and as much of cinnamon water , temper all these together in a cordial , and take a spoonful at a time when you are at sea. a plaister to strengthen the back . take 8 yolks of eggs new laid , 1 ounce of frankincense beaten into fine powder , mingle them well together , put in as much barly flower as will make it thick for a plaister , spread it on leather , lay it to the small of the back , letting it lie nine hours , use four plaisters one after another , you must slit the plaister in the midst , so as it may not lie on the back bone . a present remedy for a woman with child , that hath taken harm by a fall , or fright , or any mischance . to stay the child , and strengthen it , take one ounce of pickerel jaws fine beaten and searced , of date stones , and bole armoniack , of each one ounce , of sanguis draconis half an ounce , give of these , being well searced and mingled together , a french crown weight in muskadine or malmsey , and let the woman keep her self very warm . for a weak back . take of red lead half a pound , of white lead half a pound , boyl these in three pints of sallet oyl in a pipkin , stirring them continually with a piece of iron , until it be of a gray colour , then rowl it up in rowls , and keep it for your use . oyl of saint john's wort. take a quart of sallet oyl , put thereto a quart of the flowers of st. johns wort well picked , let them lie therein all the year , till the seeds be ripe , the glass must be kept warm , either in the sun or in water all the summer untill the seeds be ripe , then put in a quarter of st. johns wort seeds whole and so let it stand 12 hours , then you must seeth the oyl 8 hours , the glass being kept open , and the water in the pot full as high as the oyl is of height in the glass , then when it is cold strain it , that the seeds may not remain in the oyl , then put up the oyl for your use . a green salve for an old sore . take a handful of groundsel , as much housleek , of marigold leaves a handful , pick and wipe these herbs clean , but wash them not , then beat all these herbs in a wooden bowl as small as is possible then strain out all the juice , and put in a quantity of hogs grease , as much as two eggs , beat all these together again , then put in the juice again , and put in 10 eggs , yolks and whites , 5 spoonfuls of english honey , and as much wheat flower as will make all this as thick as a salve , and so stir it very well together , and put it close up in a pot that it take no air , and so keep it for your use . a most excellent powder for the cholick and stone . you must take morning and evening before you go to bed , sperma ceti one ounce and a half , cloves and mace 1 quarter of an ounce , annise seeds , and perstone , of each 2 ounces , cinnamon , and small pepper of each 1 quarter of an ounce , date stones a quarter of an ounce , liquorish , fennel , and sage , bay-berries , of each three quarters of an ounce , acorns one quarter and half of an ounce , lilly roots two drachms , the white of oyster-shells burned in the fire one quarter of an ounce , beat all these into fine powder , and drink as much thereof in ale or beer as will lie on a six-pence , and fast one hour or two after it ; if the party be sore grieved , take one handful of parsly , and seeth it in ale till half be sod away with 20 or 30 prunes therein strained , and put thereto two spoonfuls of this powder , and drink it mornings and evenings somewhat warm . a present remedy for the running of the reins . take an ounce of nutmegs , half an ounce of mastick , then slice the nutmegs , and put them in steep in rose vinegar all one night , then lay them in a dish to dry before the fire , then take the mastick , and lay it in papers , and beat it with a hammer very small , and put a little coral well beaten unto it , and as much ambergrease , then mingle these things together with sugar and make it pleasant to eat , and so take a good quantity morning and evening . a salve for a green wound . take 2 handfuls of water-dittany , 2 handfuls of rosemary shred very small , a quarter of a pint of turpentine , half a pound of yellow wax , a quart of sallet oyl , half a pint of white-wine , boyl all these together while the white-wine be quite consumed , then it will be green and come to the height of a salve . a proved medicine for a burning or scalding by lightning or otherwise . take hogs grease , or sheeps treacles , and alehoof , beat these very well together , then take more hogs grease , and boyl it to a salve . to use it . annoint the place grieved with this ointment , and then lay upon the sore so annointed , colewort-leaves , which must be boyled very soft in water , and the strings made smooth with beating them with a pestle . a powder for the green sickness , approved with very good success upon many . take of cloves , mace , nutmegs , of each one quarter of an ounce , beat them severally , and then altogether very well , fine sugar very small beaten one quarter of a pound , and then mix and beat them all four together , pearl the sixth part of half an ounce finely beaten , mingle it with the rest , and beat them altogether again , the filing of steel or iron an ounce and a quarter , sift it very fine , and mingle it with the rest , but if so small a quantity will not serve , add a quarter more of the mettle , let it be sifted before you weigh it : but if all this will not serve the turn , put in a little rubarb , or a little aloe succatrina . the manner of using this powder . in the morning when you rise take half a spoonful of it , as much at four a clock in the afternoon , and as much when you go to bed , walk or stir much after the first taking of it , i mean every morning and evening , fast one hour after the taking of it , or more , and then eat some sugarsops or thin broth . the patients diet. she must forbear oatmeal in broth or any other thing , cheese , eggs , custards , or any stopping meat : take care that this be not given to any woman that hath conceived or is with child . a drink to stench blood inwardly . take the juice of one handful of shepherds purse , of parsly , and five-finger , of each as much , take five slips of egrimony , strain all these juices into the milk of a red cow , and drink thereof early and late warm . a powder to keep the teeth clean , and from being worm eaten . take rosemary burned to ashes , cuttles bone , harts-horn burned to powder , sal gemmae 12 penny weight , the flowers of pomegranates , white coral , of each a six-penny weight , make all these into powder , and with a little rosewater , and a sage leaf , rub the teeth . a salve to heal all manner of sores and cuts . take one pint of turpentine , one pint of oyl of olives a quarter of a pint of running water , nine branches of rosemary , one ounce of unwrought wax , 2 ounces of roses , seeth all these together in a little pan over the sire , let it seeth until there arise a little white scum upon it , then stir it with a stick , suffering it to boyl , until one quarter be consumed , then take it from the fire , strain it through a coarse cloth , but it must be done quickly after it be taken from the fire for cooling , after you have strained it in an earthen pot , let it cool , and keep it for your use . to make oyl of sage , good for the grief in any joynt , or for any ach . take sage and parsley , seeth them in the oyl olive , till it be thick and green . a medicine to purge and amend the heart , stomach , spleen , liver , lungs and brain . take alexander , water-cresses , young mallows , borrage and fennel roots pared , mercury , harts-tongue , and clare , and make of these pottage . to drive infectious diseases from the heart . take mithridate and centory , of each 2 ounces , 8 spoonfuls of dragon water , one pint of white-wine , 7 spoonfuls of aqua vitae , boyl altogether a little , strain it , then set it on the fire again a little while , and drink of it morning and evening . for the tooth-ach . take pepper and grains , of each one ounce , bruise them , and compound them with the water of the diseased , and make it of a good thickness , and lay it outward on the cheek against the place grieved , and it will help it for ever after . another . take dried sage , make powder of it , burnt allum , bay salt dried , make all in fine powder , and lay it to the tooth where the pain is , and also rub the gums with it . for the strangullion or the stone . take the inner rind of a young ash , between 2 or 3 years of growth dry it to powder , and drink of it as much at once , as will lie on a six-pence in ale or white-wine , and it will bring a present remedy ; the party must be kept warm two hours after it . for the stone . take the stone that groweth within the gall of an ox , grate it , and drink of it in white-wine , as much as will lie upon a six-pence at once , for want of white-wine make a posset of ale , and clarifie the ale from the curd , then boyl one handful of pellitory therein , and drink of the powder with it . for the black jaundies . take earth-worms , wash them in white-wine , then dry them , and beat them into powder , and put to a little saffron , and drink it in beer . a drawing salve for an old sore . take rosin half a pound beaten to powder ; sheeps tallow a quarter of a pound , melt them together , and pour them into a bason of water , and when they begin to cool a little , work them well with your hands in the water , and out of the water , drawing it up and down the space of one hour till it be very white , then make it up in rowls , and reserve it to strike thin plaisters upon old sores . a water to wash sores withal . take wormwood , sage , plantain leaves , of each one handful , allum 2 ounces , honey 2 saucers full , boyl all these together in 3 pints of water till half be consumed , then strain it , and reserve that liquor to wash the sore withal . a medicine to cure the garget in the throat . take a pint of may butter , and put it on the fire in a posnet , and put into it of the inner bark of elder one good handful , and some dasie roots , seeth it to half the quantity , and strain it , and so keep it cool , take this ointment and annoint your throat , then take the ointment and strike a long plaister with it very thick of the ointment , then strike upon the ointment the best jane treacle , and upon that strew gross pepper very thick , strike it on with a knife , warm the plaister , and bind it round your throat to your ears , renew it once a day with the ointment , and the treacle and pepper , and lay it on again , before you use this ointment , scour your mouth and throat with the powder of roch allum burned , mix it with the powder of madder or pepper . for the hearing . take an onion , take the core out of it , fill it with pepper , slice it in the midst , being first wrapt in a paper , and roasted in the embers , lay it to each ear . for a dead child in a womans body . take the juice of hysop , temper it in warm water , and give it the woman to drink . for a woman that hath her flowers too much . take a hares foot , and burn it , make powder of it , and let her drink it with stale ale. a medicine for the gout . take tetberry roots , and wash and scrape them clean , and slice them thin , then take the grease of a barrow hog , the quantity of either alike , then take an earthen pot , then lay a lane of grease at the bottom , then a lane of roots , then the grease again , and so roots and grease till the pot be full , then stop the pot very close , and set it in a dunghil 21 days , then beat it altogether in a bowl , then boyl it a good while , then strain it , and put in a pennyworth of aqua vitae , then annoint the place grieved very warm against the fire . a diet drink for the running gout , ach in the joynts , and for all infections . set 7 quarts of water on the fire , and when it boyleth , put therein four ounces of sarsaparilla , bruised and let it boyl 2 hours very softly , close stopped or covered , then put in 4 ounces of sene , 3 ounces of liquorish bruised , of staecados , hermodactyl , epithymum , and of cammomil flowers , of every one half an ounce , and so boyl all these two hours very softly , then strain it , and keep it in a close vessel close stopped , when it is cold , then boyl again all the aforesaid ingredients in 7 quarts of water , 4 hours , with a soft fire close covered , then strain it , and keep it as the other by it self , and take of the first a good draught one hour before you rise in the morning , and a draught at the beginning of dinner , and another at supper , and going to bed , and at all other times , drink of the latter when you list , and eat no meat but dry roasted mutton , capon , rabbet , without salt , and not basted , but to your breakfast , a poached egg , no bread but bisket , or dried crust , and at night raisins of the sun , and bisket bread , drink no other drink but this . a plaister to heal any sore . take of sage , herb-grace , of each like quantity , ribwort , plantain and dasie roots , more than half so much of each of them , with wax , fresh grease , and rosin , make it a salve , if the flesh grow proud , then put always upon the plaister , before you lay it to the sore , burnt allum , and it will correct the flesh . to cause a woman to have her sickness . take egrimony , motherwort , avens and parsly , shred them small with oatmeal , make pottage of them with pork , let her eat the pottage , but not the pork . for the stone . take the green weed of the sea , which is brought with oysters , wash it , and dry it to powder , drink it with malmsey fasting . to kill worms . take aloe succatrina 2 ounces , let it stand in a quart of malmsey eight hours , drink it morning and evening . for a hot rheum in the head. take rose-water , vinegar and sallet-oyl , mix them well together and lay it to the head warm . for a lask . take the nether jaw of a pike , beat it to powder , and drink it . for an itch or any scurf of the body . take elecampane roots or leaves , stamp them ; and fry them with fresh grease , strain it into a dish , and annoint the patient . for one that is bruised with a fall . take horse-dung , and sheeps-suet , boyl them together , and apply it to the same place , being laid upon a cloth . for the emeroides . take hops and vinegar , fry them together , and put it into a little bag , and lay it as hot as it may be endured , to the fundament , divers bags one after another , and let one continue at it . for one that is burned with gun-powder or otherwise . take one handful of groundsel , twelve heads of housleek , one pint of goose dung , as much chickens dung , of the newest that may be gotten , stamp the herbs as small as you can , then put the dung into a mortar , temper them together with a pottle of bores grease , labour them together half an hour , and strain it through a canvas bag with a cleft stick into an earthen pan , and use it when need requireth , it will last two year . to heal a prick with a nail or thorn. take two handfuls of celendine , as much orpen , cut it small , and boyl it with oyl olive and unwrought wax , then strain it and use it . to stop the bleeding of a cut or wound . take hop , stamp it , and put it into the wound , if hop will not do it , then put to it vinegar with the hop . for a scald . take the leaves of ground ivy , three handful , housleek one handful ; wash them , and stamp them in a stone mortar very small , and as you stamp them , put in a pint of cream by little and little , then strain it , and put it in a pot with a feather , take of this , and annoint the scalded place , and then wet a linnen cloth in the same ointment , and lay it on the place , and over that rowl other clothes . an ointment for a tetter . take sal armoniack one ounce , beat it into fine powder , then mix it with sope , and fresh grease , of each two ounces , make an ointment and annoint the place . for the singing in the head. take one onion cut out the core , and fill that place with the powder of cummin , and the juice of rue , set on the top again , and roast the onion in embers , then put away the outside , and put it in a cloth , wring out the juice , take black wooll and dip it in , put this into thine ear where the singing is , and if it be on both sides , then serve one after another . a drink for one that is weak , and misdoubting a consumption . take 3 handfuls of rosemary , bruise it a little , and close it in paste , bake it in an oven until it be well dried , then cut the paste , and take forth the rosemary , infuse it in 2 quarts of claret wine , with two ounces of good treacle , 1 ounce of nutmegs , of cinnamon and ginger , of each half an ounce bruised ; let them stand infused 2 nights and one day , then distil it in a limbeck , drink hereof one spoonful or two next your heart . a drink for the plague . take red sage , herb-grace , elder leaves , red brier leaves , of each one handful , stamp them and strain them with a quart of white-wine , and then put to it aqua vitae , and ginger , drink hereof every morning one spoonful , nine mornings together , and it will preserve you . for a bruise or stitch . take the kernels of walnuts and small nuts , figs , rue , of each one handful , white salt the quantity of one walnut , one race of ginger , one spoonful of honey ; beat them all together very fine , and eat of it three or four times every day , make a plaister of it , and lay it to the place grieved . a drink for one that hath a rupture . take comfrey one good handful , wild daisie roots as much , and the like of knotted grass , stamp all these together , and strain it with malmsey , and give it to the patient to drink morning and evening 9 days , blood warm ; if it be a man , that hath been long so , he must lie nine days upon his back , and stir as little as he can . if he be a child , he must be kept so much lying as you may for nine days , if you think the drink too strong for the child , give it him but 5 days in malmsey , and the rest in stale ale ; have care that the party have a good truss , and keep him trussed one whole year at the least . a plaister for a rupture . take the juice of comfrey , wild daisie-roots , and knotted grass , of each a like quantity , fresh butter and unwrought wax , of each a like quantity , clarifie them severally , then take of the roots of comfrey , dry it , and make powder of it , take the powder of annise-seed , and cummin-seed , but twice as much cummin-seed , as annise ; boyl these powders in the butter and unwrought wax on a soft fire a good while , then put in your juice , let it boyl a walm or two , so take it from the fire , stir it altogether till it be cold , take hereof and spread it , and lay it to his cods as hot as he can suffer it , and use this till he be whole : this plaister is most excellent for a child that is burst at the navel . gratiosa cura . a water for a cut or a sore . take honey-suckles the knots nipt off , flowers of celendine , flowers of red sage , of each three spoonfuls , five-finger , comfrey such as is to knit bones , daisies with the roots thereon , ladder of heaven , blossoms of rosemary , setwel , herb-grace , smallage , red roses with the knots on , or else red rose cakes , adders-tongue of each of these one handful , seeth all together in six gallons of water that runneth towards the east , until two gallons be sod in , then strain them , and put to the water 3 quarts of english honey , one pound of roch-allum , one pennyworth of madder , one penny-worth of long pepper , seeth all together until one gallon be consumed , then cleanse the water . for the wind colick . take the flowers of walnuts , and dry them to powder , and take of them in your ale or beer , or in your broth as you like best , and it will help you . to make a soveraign oyl of a fox for the nummed palsie . take a fox new killed , cased and bowelled , then put into the body , of dill , mugwort , cammomil , camepites , southernwood , red sage , oliganum , hop , staecad , rosemary , costmary , cowslip flowers , balm , bettony , sweet marjorum , of each a good handful , chop them small , and put thereto of the best oyl of castor , dill and cammomil , of each 4 ounces , mix the herbs and oyls together , and strow over them aphronium a good handful , put them all into the fox , and sew up his belly close , and with a quick fire roast him , and the oyl that droppeth out , is a most singular oyl for all palsies or numness . approved . to comfort the brain , and procure sleep . take brown bread crums , the quantity of one walnut , one nutmeg beaten to powder , one dram of cinnamon , put these into a napkin with two spoonfuls of vinegar , 4 spoonfuls of rosewater , and one of womans milk. for the weakness in the back . take the pith of an ox back , put it into a pottle of water , then seeth it to a quart , then take a handful of comfrey , one handful of knotted grass , one handful of shepherds purse , put these into a quart of water , boyl them unto a pint , with 6 dates boyled therein . for a canker in any part of the body . take fil-bird nut-leaves , lavender cotten , southernwood , wormwood , sage , woodbind leaves , sweet brier leaves , of each a like quantity , of allum and honey a good quantity , seeth all these till they be half sodden , wash the sore with it . for an old bruise . take one spoonful of the juice of tansie , and as much nip , two pennyworth of sperma ceti , put it into a little ale , and drink it . oyl of foxes , or badgers , for ach in the joints , the sciatica , diseases of the sinews , and pains of the reins and back . take a live fox or badger of a middle age , of a full body , well fed , and fat , kill him , bowel and skin him , some take not out his bowels , but only his excrements in his guts , because his guts have much grease about them , break his bones small , that you may have all the marrow ; this done , set him a boyling in salt brine , and sea water , and salt water of each a pint and a half , of oyl three pints , of salt 3 ounces , in the end of the decoction put thereto the leaves of sage , rosemary , dill , organy , marjorum , and juniper berries , and when he is so sodden that his bones and flesh do depart in sunder , strain all through a strainer , and keep it in a vessel to make linaments for the ach in the joynts , the sciatica , diseases of the sinews , and pains of the reins and back . to make the leaden plaister . take 2 pound and 4 ouuces of oyl olive of the best , of good red lead one pound , white lead one pound well beaten to dust , twelve ounces of spanish sope , and incorporate all these well together in an earthen pot , well glazed before you put them to boyl , and when they are well incorporated , that the sope cometh upward , put it upon a small fire of coals , continuing upon the fire the space of an hour and a half , still stirring it with an iron ball upon the end of a stick , then make the fire somewhat bigger , until the redness be turned into a gray colour , but you must not leave stirring till the matter be turned into the colour of oyl , or somewhat darker : then drop of it upon a wooden trencher , and if it cleave not to the finger , it is enough : then make it up into rowls , it will keep twenty years , the older the better . the virtue of the plaister . the same being laid upon the stomach , provoketh appetite , it taketh away any grief in the stomach , being laid on the belly , is a present remedy for the cholick , and laid unto the reins of the back , it is good for the bloody flux , running of the reins , the heat of the kidneys , and weakness of the back : the same healeth all swellings , bruises , and taketh away ach , it breaks fellons , pushes , and other imposthumes , and healeth them , the same draweth out any running humours , without breaking the skin , and being applied to the fundament , it healeth any disease there growing , being laid on the head is good for the uvula , it healeth the head-ach , and is good for the eyes . for a pricking of a thorn. take fine wheat-flower , bolted , temper it with wine , and seeth it thick , lay it hot to the sore . a medicine for the plague . take a pint of malmsey , and burn it well , then take about six spoonfuls thereof , and put to the quantity of a nutmeg of good treacle , and so much spice grains beaten , as you can take up with the tops of your 2 fingers , mix it together , and let the party sick drink it blood-warm , if he be infected it will procure him to cast , which if he do , give him as much more , and so still again and again , observing still some quantity till the party leave casting , and so after he will be well : if he cast not at all , once taken it is enough and probably it is not the sickness : after the party hath left casting , it is good to take a competent draught of burnt malmsie alone with treacle and grains , it will comfort much . another medicine for the plague . take of setwel grated one root , of jane treacle two spoonfuls , of wine vinegar 3 spoonfuls , of fair water 3 spoonfuls , make all these more than luke-warm , and drink them off at once well steeped together , sweat after this six or seven hours , and it will bring forth the plague sore . to break the plague sore . lay a roasted onion , also seeth a white lilly root in milk , till it be as thick as a poultess , and lay it to the same , if these fail , launce the sore , and so draw it and heal it with salves for botches , or biles . to make a salve to dress any wound . take rosin and wax of each half a pound , of deer suet , and frankincense of each one quarter of a pound , of mastick in powder one ounce , boyl all these in a pint of white-wine half an hour with a soft fire , and stir it in the boyling that it run not over , then take it from the fire , and put thereto half an ounce of camphire in powder , when it is almost cold , put thereto one quarter of a pound of turpentine , after all these be mingled together , then put it into white-wine ; and wash it as you wash butter , and then as it cools , make it up in rowls . a most excellent water for sore eyes . take a quart of spring water , set it upon the fire in an earthen pipkin , then put into it 3 spoonfuls of white salt , and one spoonful of white coperas , then boyl them a quarter of an hour , scum it as it doth boyl , then strain it through a fine linnen cloth , and keep it for your use . when you take it you must lie down upon the bed , and drop two drops of it into your eye , so rest one quarter of an hour , not wiping your eyes , and use it as often as need shall require . if the eye have any pearl or film growing upon it , then take a handful of red double dasie leaves , and stamp them , and strain them through a linnen cloth , and drop thereof one drop into your eye , using it three times . a plaister for one that is bruised . take half a pint of sallet oyl or neats-foot oyl , half a pint of english honey , 2 or 3 pennyworth of turpentine , a good quantity of hogs grease , 2 or 3 pennyworth of bole armoniack , half a pint of strong wine-vinegar , half a dozen of egg-shells , and all beaten very small , one handful of white salt , put all these together into an earthen pot , stir and mingle them together exceeding well , then as much bean-flower , or wheat-flower as will thicken it plaister-wise , then with your hand strike it , on the grieved place once a day , and by gods help it will ease any sore that cometh by means of striking , wrinching , bruising , or other kind of swelling that proceedeth of evil humours . balm water for a surfeit . take two gallons of strong ale , and 1 quart of sack , take 4 pound of young balm leaves , and shred them , then take 1 pound of annise-seeds , and as much liquorish beaten to powder , put them all into the ale and sack to steep 12 hours , put it into a limbeck and so still it , it is good for a surfeit of choler , for to comfort the heart , and for an ague . a restorative water in sickness , the patient being weak . take 3 pints of very good new milk , and put thereto one pint of very good red wine the yolks of 21 eggs , and beat them together , that done , put in as much fine manchet as shall suck up the milk and wine , then put the same into a fair stillory , and still it with a soaking fire , and take a spoonful of this water in your pottage or drink , and this in 1 or 2 months will prevent the consumption . to make a caudle to prevent the lask . take half a pound of unblanched almonds , stamp them , and strain it in a quart of ale , and set it on the fire , then take the yolks of four eggs and make it for a caudle , and so season it with a good quantity of cinnamon and sugar , and eat it every morning at breakfast . for one that cannot make water and to break the stone . pare a reddish root , and slice it thin , & put it into a pint of white-wine , and let it infuse 6 or 7 hours , then strain it and set it on the fire ; and put thereto 1 parsley root , and one spoonful of parsley seed , and half a handful of pellitory of the wall and seeth it until half be wasted , and give it luke-warm to drink . a diet against melancholy . take sene 8 ounces , rubarb six drams , polipody of the oak , s●rsaparilla , and madder roots , of each four ounces , annife-seeds , fennel seeds epithymum , of each 1 ounce , mace , cloves , and nutmegs , of each 2 ounces , egrimony , scabious , and red dock roots of each 1 handful ; make them all small , and put it into a long narrow bag or boulter , hang it in a vessel of ale that containeth 6 gallons , when it is a week old , drink it morning and evening for the space of one fortnight , keep you all that time warm , and a good diet . a syrrup to open the liver . take lungwort , maidenhair , egrimony , scabious , of each one handful , chamepitis , hysop , of each a dozen drops , endive and succory , of each 3 or 4 leaves , of young fennel and parsley , of each one root , one stick of liquorish , one spoonful of barberries clean washed , one spoonful of annise seeds , 20 raisins of the sun stoned : boyl all these in a pottle of water to a quart , then strain it , and put thereto of the best sugar one quarter of a pound , conserve of violets one ounce ; and so boyl it as long as any scum arise , then strain it again , and use this very warm . for one that cannot make water . take the seeds of parsley , of red fennel , of saxifrage , of carraways , of the kernel of hip berries , of each a like quantity , put in some powder of jet , mingle these , being beaten to powder well together , and drink it in stale ale lukewarm . to make aqua composita . take of annise-seeds , and liquorish , bruised , of each half a pound , thyme and fennel , of each half a handful , calamint 2 handfuls , coriander and carraway seeds bruised , of each two ounces , rosemary and sage , of each half a handful , infuse these a whole night in 3 gallons of red wine or strong ale , then still it in a limbeck with a soft fire . an ointment for a swelling . take of marsh mallows , of wormwood , of smallage , of each one handful , boyl it with one pound of the grease of a barrow hog until it be very green , then strain it and keep it very close . lady pawlet . a plaister for the back . take half a pint of oyl of roses , four ounces of white lead ground into fine powder , put your oyl into a clean posnet , and set it on the fire , and when it is warm , put in your white lead , ever stiring it , then put into it of your wax one quart , stir it until it be black , then take it from the fire , and in the cooling put thereto two pennyworth of camphire , of white sanders , and yellow sanders , of each the weight of four pence , fine bole & terra sigillata , of each 2 penniweight , in fine powder all , still stirring it till it be almost cold , and so make it up in rouls : use it as need requires , for all weakness , wasting , or heat in the kidneys . cranash . to make oyl of swallows . take one handful of mother-thyme , of lavender-cotten , and strawberry leaves , of each alike , four swallows , feathers and all together well bruised , 3 ounces of sallet oyl , beat the herbs , and the swallows , feathers & all together , until they be so small that you can see no feathers , then put in the oyl , & stir them well together , and seeth them in a posnet , and strain them through a canvas cloth , and so keep it for your use . for a thorn , fellon or prick . take the juice of fetherfew , of smallage , of each one saucer full , put to it as much of wheat flower , as will make it somewhat thick , and put to it of good black sope the quantity of a walnut , mingle them together , and lay them to the sore . a drink for one that hath a rupture . take the comfit , otherwise called bonesel , a pretty handful , of woodbitten as much , bread , plantain , and leaves of cammock , somewhat more than a handful , of vervain , as much as of the cammock , of dasie roots a small quantity , of elder tops , or young buds , the least quantity , stamp all these together and put unto them , being stamped , one pint of pure white-wine , then strain it , and drink of it morning and evening , one hour or more before breakfast or supper , a good draught blood-warm . if it be a sucking child , let the nurse drink posset ale of the aforesaid drink , and let the child suck immediately , if he be an old body let him take it lying in his bed 9 days , if it may be conveniently , or otherwise to use no straining . for a lask or flux . take one quart of red wine , as much running water , one ounce of cinnamon , seeth these half away , and give the patient six spoonfuls to drink morning and evening , if you think it be too harsh put in a piece of sugar . a lotion water for the canker . take one gallon of pure water , four handfuls of woodbine , of marigolds and tetful , of each two handfuls , of celendine , rue , sage , and egrimony , of each one handful , boyl all these to a quart , then strain it , and put thereto two great spoonfuls of the best english honey , and one ounce of roch allum , boyl them all again as long as any scum ariseth , then take it off and put it in a close bottle , and use it blood warm when need requires . for the mother . take 3 or 4 handfuls of fern that groweth upon a house , seeth it in rhenish wine till it be well sodden , then put it in a linnen cloth , and lay it to her navel as hot as she may suffer it , four or five times . a water for all old sores . take honey-suckles , water betony , rosemary , sage , violet leaves , elder leaves , cut them all small together , and seeth them in a quart of running water , put thereto two spoonfuls of honey , and a little allum . for one that hath a great heat in his temples , or that cannot sleep . take the juice of housleek , and of lettice , of each 1 spoonful , of womans milk six spoonfuls , put them together , and set them upon a chafing dish of coals , and put thereto a piece of rose cake , and lay it to your temples . to quench or slake your thirst. take one quart of running water out of the brook , seeth it , and scum it , put thereto 5 or 6 spoonfuls of vinegar , a good quantity of sugar and cinnamon , 3 or 4 cloves bruised , drink it l●kewarm . for one that hath a great heat in his hands and stomach . take 4 eggs , roast them hard , peel them , lay them in vinegar 3 or 4 hours , then let the sick man , hold in either hand one of them , and after some space change them and take the other , and it will allay the heat . against all aches especially of a womans breast . take milk and rose leaves , and set them on the fire , and put thereto oatmeal , and oyl of roses , boyl them till they be thick , and lay it hot under the sore , and renew it so that it be always hot . for the phthisick and dry cough . take the lungs of a fox , beat them to powder , take of liquorish and sugar candy a good quantity , a small quantity of cummin , mix these all well together , and put them in a bladder , and eat of it as often as you think good in a day . to take away warts . take snails that have shells , prick them , and with the juice that cometh from them rub the wart every day for the space of 7 or 8 days , and it will destroy them . a perfect water for the sight . take sage , fennel , vervain , bettony , eyebright , pimpernel , cinquefoil , and herbgrace , lay all these in white-wine one night , still it in a stillatory of glass , this water did restore the sight of one that was blind three years before . to restore the hearing . take rue , rosemary , sage , vervain , marjoram , of each one handful , of cammomil two handfuls , stamp them , and mould them in rie dough , make thereof one loaf , bake it as other bread , and when it is baked , break it in the midst , and as hot as may be suffered , bind it to your ears and keep them warm and close one day or more , after it be taken away , forbear ye to take cold . for a fellon in the joints . take rue , featherfew , bores grease , leaven , salt , honey , six leaves of sage , shred them altogether small , then beat them together , and lay it to the sore place . to comfort the brains , and to procure sleep . take a red rose-cake , three spoonfuls of white-wine vinegar , the white of one egg , three spoonfuls of womans milk , set all these on a chafing dish of coals , heat them , and lay the rose cake upon the dish , and let them heat together , then take one nutmeg , and strew it on the cake , then put it betwixt two clothes , and lay it to your forehead as warm as you may suffer it . a medicine for a forehead with a scald . take one peck of shoomakers shreds , set them over the fire in a brass pan , put water to them and seeth them so long as any oyl will arise , and evermore be scumming off the oyl , then take plantain , ribwort , housleek leaves , ground ivy , knotted grass , wild borrage , tutsan , herb bennet , smallage , setwel leaves , of every one alike quantity , and beat them in a mortar and strain them , then take half a pennyworth of rosin , half a pennyworth of allum , a little virgins wax , beat them , and put them into a pan , and set it over the fire , put thereto the herbs and the oyl , let them seeth till all be melted , then strain them into a pan , and stir them till they be cold , and put it into a box for your use , when you dress your head , heat a little in a saucer , annoint it every day twice , pull out the hairs that stand upright , and with a linnen cloth wipe away the corruption . a salve for a green wound , or old sore . take the leaves of green tabacco two pounds , of valerian two pound , beat them very small , then strain them , and take the juice thereof , put one pound of yellow wax , one pound of rosin , one pound of deer suet , boyl them together till they be very green , and when it is cold , put to it a quarter of a pound of turpentine , and keep it for your use . for the running of the reins . approved . take the roes of red herrings , dry them upon the coals till they will beat to powder , then give it to the patient to drink in the morning fasting , as much as will lie upon a shilling in 5 spoonfuls of ale or wine , be he never so weak . for the burning and pricking in the soles of the feet . take have a pound of barrows grease , two handfuls of mugwort chopped very small , boyl it with the barrows grease upon a soft fire by the space of 4 hours , then strain it from the mugwort , and put it up in an earthen thing for your use , and annoint your feet as you go to bed . a medicine for any heat , burning , or scalding . approved . take half a pint of the best cream you can get , and set it in a fair posnet , upon the fire , then take two good handfuls of dasie roots , leaves and all , clean washed , and very finely shred , put them into the same posnet , and boil it upon the fire until it be a clear ointment , then strain it through a cloth , and keep it for your use . to make aqua composita to drink for a surfeit , or a cold stomach , and to avoid flegm and glut from the stomach . take one handful of rosemary , one good root of elecampane , one handful of hop , half a handful of thyme , half a handful of sage , 6 good crops of red mints , and as much of pennyroyal , half a handful of horehound , six crops of marjarom , two ounces of liquorish well bruised , and so much of annise seeds , then take 3 gallons of strong ale , and put all the aforesaid things , ale and herbs , into a brass pot , then set them upon the fire , and set your limbeck upon it , and stop it close with paste , that there come no air out , and so keep it with a soft fire , as other aqua vitae . for an ach in the joynts . take clarified butter a quarter of a pound , of cummin 1 pound , black sope a quarter of a pound , 1 handful of rue , sheep suet 2 ounces , bay-salt 1 spoonful , bray these together , then fry them with the gall of an ox , spread it on a plaister , and lay it on as hot as you can , and let it lie seven days . a plaister to lay to the head for a rheum which runneth at the eyes . take the power of rose leaves , rose-water , and bettony-water , of each a like quantity , and a little vinegar , put your powders into the water and vinegar , still them and temper them , and make them in a plaister , and put to it a little powder of terra sigillata . a water to be used with the plaister above said for the same purpose . take one quart of new milk , two pound of green fennel , a quarter of a pound of eyebright● put the herbs and milk into a stil●latory , cast half an ounce of cam●phire thereon , and with this wa●ter wash your eyes and temples . for the emeroides , approved . take a piece of tawny cloth● burn it in a frying-pan to powder , then beat it in a mortar a fine as may be , searce it , then la● it on a brown paper , and wit● spittle make it plaisterwise , and lay it to the place , and truss it up with clothes . to break any sore . take hot bread to the quantity of a farthing loaf , grate it , pu● thereto sallet oyl 3 or 4 spoonfuls and a pint of milk , and seeth then together to a good thickness● spread it on a cloath , and lay it to the sore ; instead of sallet oyl yo● may use deer suet . a bath for an ach in the back , and limbs . take mugwort , vervain , fether●few , dill , rosemary , burnet , tunhoof , horehound , and white mints , senkel , and sage of each 1 handful , seeth all these in 4 gallons of running water , and let it seeth till 1 gallon be wasted , then bath your legs 5 nights together . a medicine for any joynt that is numb with any ach , approved . take virgin wax 1 ounce , verdigreece half a quarter of an ounce , brimstone , sope , oyl of eggs , of allum , of honey , of each a like quantity , temper them all together , and lay it upon the place grieved , somewhat warm . a medicine for a fellon of any finger . take as much bay-salt as an egg , wind it in gray paper , lay it in the embers a quarter of an hour , then beat it in a mortar very fine , then take the yolk of a new laid egg , beat it with this powder until it be very stiff , spread it upon a cloth , lay it upon the joynt grieved 24 hours , and so dress it 3 times . for a boil or push . take the yolk of a new laid egg● a little english honey , put it into the shell to the yolk , put in as much wheat meal as will make it to spread , then take 1 branch of rue , and one of fetherfew , shred them very fine , and put it to the same medicine , stir them very well together , spread it upon a piece of leather , and lay it to the place grieved . an electuary to cause good digestion , and to comfort the stomach . take setwel and gallingal , of each three slices , nutmegs , ginger , and cinnamon , of each two slices , three bay-berries sliced fine and husked , three slices of liquorish , half a spoonful of annise-seeds clean dusted , one long pepper cut small , white pepper six grains , as much black pepper , beat them all into a gross powder , then put thereto two grains of musk , one grain of ambergreece , then take mint-water and sugar , boyl them together , and when they are come to the right perfection of thickness , put in those powders above mentioned in the cooling with a little conserve of rosemary flowers ; of this take the quantity of a nutmeg , half an hour before you eat or drink at meals . a powder for the rheum or sore eyes . boyl one pint of hop-water , made when the hop is in the flour , till it be scalding hot , then put into it half a pound of liquorish in very fine powder , the water being taken from the fire , for the liquorish must not boyl in the water , stir them together till the water be clean consumed , then add to them of annise seeds , and fennel seeds , of each half a pound made into very fine powder through a searce , angelica roots , elicampane root , and leaves , add flowers of eyebright made into very fine powder , of each one ounce and a half , mingle these together , and so keep it close , and when you eat of this powder , weigh out of the whole quantity two ounces , whereunto add as much good aqua vitae as will moisten it , or angelica water , or rosa solis , to keep it from being musty , set it near the fire , eat of these powders at any time as much as you may take up with a groat , and it is special good for the rheum , for cold or for sore eyes . mr. bendlow . a salve for any wound . take rosin , perosin , wax , of each eight ounces , of sheeps suet , and frankincense , of each four ounces , one ounce of mastick made in powder , boyl all these in a pint of white-wine half an hour , then take it from the fire , and put thereto half an ounce of camphire in powder ; when it is almost cold put thereto 4 ounces of turpentine , and make it up in rowls , but before it be rowled you must wash it up in running water . a. t. how to deliver a child in danger . take a date stone , beat it into powder , let the woman drink it with wine , then take polipody and emplaister it to her feet , and the child will come whether it be quick or dead , then take centory , green or dry ; give it the woman to drink in wine , give also the milk of another woman . a most singular syrrup for the lungs ; and to prevent a consumption . take egrimony , scabious , borrage , bugloss , of each twenty leaves , fole-foot , lungwort , maiden-hair , of each half a handful , succory and endive , of each six leaves , of carduus benedictus , horehound , nip , of each four crops , unset hop , half a handful , fennel roots , parsley roots , smallage root , of each 3 roots sliced , and the piths taken out , elecampane 4 roots sliced , iris roots half an ounce sliced , quince seeds one ounce , liquorish three good sticks scraped , and sliced small , twenty figs sliced , raisins of the sun 1 good handful sliced , and the stones taken out . boyl all these in a gallon of running water till half be consumed , then take it from the fire , and let it settle , then strain it , and boyl it again with as much white sugar as will make it thick as syrrup , that it may last all the year . a powder for the stone . take haws and hips , of each a good handful , ashen keys half a handful , 3 or 4 acrons , the shells of three new laid eggs , grumwell seeds , parsley seeds , of each half an ounce , perstone a good handful , camock roots half a handful , make all these in fine powder , then put thereto two ounces of sugar-candy beaten something small , take a six-penny weight of this powder at a time in the morning fasting , and drink not after it one hour . for the cholick and stone . take 1 handful of fili pendula , of rosemary , of saxifrage , of ivy growing on the wall , of harts-tongue , of thyme , of parsley , of scabious , of each 4 handfuls , of marigolds one handful , of marjorum 3 handfuls , of brown fennel , of londebeese , of spernits , of borrage , of each 2 handfuls , of maiden-hair 3 handfuls , still all these in may , keep it in a glass till you have need of it , then take of it five spoonfuls , and three of white-wine , and of clean powder of ginger half a spoonful , put these together and warm it lukewarm , and let the patient drink it in the morning 2 hours before he rise out of his bed , let him lay more clothes upon him , for it will provoke him to sweat , after the sweat is gone , let him rise and walk whither he will. a good water to drink with wine , or without to cool choler . take borrage roots , and succory roots of each two , wash and scrape them fair and clean , and take out their cores , then take an earthen pot of two gallons , fill it with fair spring water , set it on a fire of charcoal , put the roots in it , and 8 pennyworth of cinnamon , when it beginneth to seeth , put into it 4 ounces of fine sugar , and let it seeth half an hour , then take it off , let it cool , and drink thereof at your pleasure . how to make aqua composita for the cholick and stone . take strong ale one month old , as many gallons as your pot will hold , and for every gallon take two ounces of liquorish , and as much annise seeds , and of these herbs following two handfuls of each to every gallon , of birch leaves , burnet , pasphere , pellitory of the wall , watercresses , saxifrage , grumwell seeds , filipendula , pennyroyal , fennel , half a root of elecampane , of haws , of hips , of berries , of brambles , and barberries of each half a pint , still them as you do other aqua vitae . a medicine for the cholick passion . take the smooth leaves of holly , dry them , and make them into powder , of grumwell seed , and box seed of each a little quantity , let the patient drink thereof . how to take away the servent shaking and burning of an ague . take of the rind of the wilding-tree , with the leaves in summer , of each half a handful , as much bettony , 3 crops of rosemary , seeth them in a quart of posset-ale to a pint , and let the sick drink of this as hot as he can , and so within 3 times it will ease him . for the hardness and stiffness of the sinews . take 12 fledg'd swallows out of the nest , kill them , beat them feathers and all in a mortar , with thyme , rosemary and hop , then seeth them with may butter a good while , then strain them through a strainer , as hard as you can , and it will be an ointment , take the strings that grow out of the strawberries and beat them amongst the rest . how to stay the flux . take white starch made of wheat 2 or 3 spoonfuls , and take also new milk from the cow , stir these together , and let them be warmed a little , and give it to the party grieved in manner of a glister , a present remedy . an approved medicine for the plague , called the philosophers egg : it is a most excellent preservative against all poysons , or dangerous diseases that draw towards the heart . take a new laid egg , and break a hole so broad as you may take out the white clean from the yolk , then take one ounce of saffron , and mingle it with the yolk , but be careful you break not the shell , then cover it with another piece of shell so close as is possible , then take an earthen pot with a close cover , with warm embers , so that it shall not be buried , and as those embers do cool , so put in more hot ; and do so for the space of two days , until you think it be dry , for proof whereof you shall put in a pen , and if it come out dry it is well , then take the egg and wipe it very clean , then pare the shell from the saffron , and set it before the fire , and let it be warm , then beat it in a mortar very fine , and put it by it self , then take as much white mustard-seed as the egg and saffron and grind it as small as meal , then searce it through a fine boulter , that you may save the quantity of the egg so searced , then take a quarter of an ounce of dittany roots , as much tormentil , of nuces vomicae one dram , let them be dried by the fire , as aforesaid , then stamp these 3 last severally , very fine in a mortar , then mix them 3 well together , after that take , as a thing most needful , the root of angelica and pimpernel , of each the weight of six-pence , make them to powder , and mix them with the rest , then compound therewith five or six scruples of unicorns horn , or for want thereof harts horn , and take as much weight as all these fine powders come to , of fine treacle , and stamp it with the powders in a mortar until it be well mixt , and hang to the pestle , and then it is perfectly made , then put the electuary in a stone pot , well nealed , and so it will continue 20 or 30 years , and the longer the better . how to use this electuary . first when one is infected with the pestilence , let him take so soon as he can , or ever the disease infect the heart , one crown weight in gold of this electuary , and so much of fine treacle , if it be for a man , but if it shall be for a woman or child take less , and let them be well mixed together , and if the disease come with cold , give him the electuary with half a pint of white-wine warm , & well mixed together , but if it come with heat , then give it him with plantain water , or well water , and vinegar mixt together , and when he hath drunk the same , let him go to his naked bed , and put off his shirt , and cover him warm , but let his bed be well warmed first , & a hot double sheet wrapped about him , and so let him sweat 7 , 8 or 10 hours , as he is able to endure , for the more he doth sweat the better , because the disease fadeth away with the sweat ; but if he cannot sweat , then heat 2 or 3 bricks or tiles , and wrap them in moist clothes wet with water and salt , and lay them by his sides in the bed , and they will cause him to sweat , and as he sweateth , let it be wiped from his body with dry hot clothes , being conveyed into the bed , and his sweat being ended , shift him into a warm bed with a warm shift & all fresh new clothes , using him very warily for taking of cold , and let his clothes that he did sweat in , be well aired and washed , for they be infectious ; and let the keepers of the sick beware of the breath or air of the party in the time of his sweating , therefore let her muffle her self with double old cloth , wherein is wormwood , rue , fetherfew , crums of sowr bread and vinegar , and a little rose-water , beat all these together , and put it into the muffler made new every day while you do keep him , and let the sick party , have of it bound in a cloth to smell on while he is in a sweat , then after do it away , and take a new ; and because he shall be faint and distempered after his sickness , he shall eat no flesh , nor drink wine the space of nine days , but let him use these conservatives for his health , as conserve of bugloss , borrage and red roses , and especially he shall drink 3 or 4 days after he hath sweat morning and evening , 3 ounces of the juice of sorrel mixed with an ounce of conserve of sorrel , and so use to eat and drink whatsoever is comfortable for the heart , also if one take the quantity of a pea of the said electuary , with some good wine , it shall keep him from the infection , therefore when one is sick in the house of the plague , then so soon as you can give all the whole houshould some of this receipt to drink , and his keeper also , and it shall preserve them from the infection , yet keep the whole from the sick as much as you can , beware of the clothes and bed that the sick party did sweat in . to make balm water . take 4 gallons of strong ale & stale , half a pound of liquorish , two pound of balm , two ounces of figs , half a pound of annise seeds , 1 ounce of nutmegs , shred the balm and figs very small , and let them stand steeping 4 and 20 hours , and then put it in a still , as you use aqua vitae . to make doctor stevens water . take one gallon of good gascoign wine , of ginger , galingals nutmegs , grains , annise seeds , fennel seeds , carraway seeds , sage , mints , red roses , garden-thyme , pellitory , rosemary , wild thyme , pennyroyal , cammomil , lavender , of each one handful ; bray your spices small , and chop the herbs before named , and put them with the spices into the wine , and let it stand 12 hours , stirring it very often , then still it in a limbeck closed up with coarse paste , so that no air enter , keep the first water by it self , it is good so long as it will burn . an ointment for any strain in the joynts , or any sore . take 3 pound of fresh butter unwashed , and set it in an oven after the bread be drawn out , and let it stand 2 or 3 hours , then take the clearest of the butter , and put it into a posnet , then take the tops of red nettles as much as will be moistned with the butter and chop them very small , and put them into the butter , set it on the fire , and boyl it softly 5 or 6 hours , and when it is so boyled , put thereto half a pint of pure oyl olive , and then boyl it very little , and take it off , and strain it into an earthen pot , and keep it for your use . if you think good , instead of nettles only , you may take these herbs , cammomil , rosemary , lavender , tunhoof , otherwise alehoof , five-finger , vervain and nettle tops . for an ague . take the inner bark of a walnut tree , a good quantity , boyl it in beer until the beer look black , and then take a good draught , and put it into a pot , then take six spoonfuls of sallet oyl for an extream ague , brew it to and fro in two pots , then drink it , and let the party labour at any exercise until he sweat , then let him lie down upon a bed very warm , until he hath done sweating , this do three times when the ague cometh upon him . a powder against the wind in the stomach . take ginger , cinnamon and gallingal , of each 2 ounces , annise seeds , carraway and fennel seeds , of each 1 ounce , long pepper , grains , mace and nutmegs , of each half an ounce , setwel half a dram , make all in powder , and put thereto 1 pound of white sugar , and use this after your meat , or before at your pleasure ; at all times it comforteth the stomach marvellously , carrieth away wind , and causeth a good digestion . for a pin and a web in the eye . take the white of an egg , beat it to oyl , put thereto a quarter of a spoonful of english honey , half a handful of daisie leaves , and in winter the roots , half a handful of the inner rind of a young hazle , not above one years growth , beat them together in a mortar , and put thereto 1 spoonful of womans milk , and let it stand infused two or three hours , and strain al● through a cloth , and with a feathe● drop it into the eye thrice a day . for blood shotten , and sore eyes coming of heat . take tutty of alexandria , o● lapis tutty 1 ounce , beat it unto fine powder , and temper it with a quart of white-wine , put thereto 1 ounce of dried rose leaves , and boyl them all together with a soft fire until one half be consumed , then strain it through a fine linnen cloth and keep it in a glass and use it evening and morning , and put it into the sore eyes with a feather , or your finger . if the tutty be prepared it is the better , which is thus done , steep the tutty in rosewater , and let it lie half an hour , then take it forth , and lay it on a white paper to dry , then take it when it is dry , steep it , and dry it again , as before , twice or thrice , and then use it as before . for an ach in the bones . take southernwood , wormwood , and bay leaves , of each one handful , one ox gall , one pint of neats foot oyl , put all these together and let them stand 2 or 3 days , and let them boyl upon a very soft fire , then put in of deers suet a good quantity , strain them , and put them into a pot , and so annoint the patient , put to this a good quantity of tar , and as much pitch as the bigness of a walnut and of the juice of pimpernel a good quantity . for children that are troubled with an extream cough . take hyssop water , and fennel water , of each half a pint , of sliced liquorish , and sugar , of each a pretty quantity , seeth them easily over a good fire , strain it , and let them take a little hereof an ounce , and often ; you may dissolve pellets therein , and you may annoint their chest with oyl of almonds , and a little wax . a medicine for sore eyes . take red fennel and celendine , of each one handful , stamp and strain them , that done take five spoonfuls of honey , and white copperas , the quantity of 1 pea , rose-water five spoonfuls , boyl all these together in an earthen pot , skim it well , and clarifie it with the white of an egg , this is an excellent medicine to clear the sight of the eye , if there be any thing in the eye superfluous to hinder the sight ; but if there be nothing but heat , it is nothing so good . to help one that is inwardly bruised . take of borrage and red sage , of each a handful , stamp these together , and strain them ; and put thereto as much claret wine as the juice thereof , and let the party drink it warm , and if it keep within him 24 hours after , he will recover ; if he be bound in the body , let him take 3 spoonfuls of syrrup of damask roses , and two spoonfuls of sallet oyl , and drink it fasting , and an hour after let the party take some warm broth . for the spleen . take of lavender , fennel , parsley , cammomil , thyme , wormwood , angelica , of each one handful , of sage , and rue , one handful , of annise seeds , and fennel seeds , of each one handful , of cummin seeds , two handfuls , of cloves four spoonfuls , and of mace two spoonfuls , gather these herbs in the heat of the day , and dry them in the sun two days , laying them very thin on a sheet and bruise the seed grosly , and steep them in as much sallet oyl as will cover all these things , and somewhat more , and set them in the sun ten days , which being done , strain your oyl from your herbs , and your spices , and then infuse once again as before with herbs and spices in like manner , add to this oyl that infused or strained , and bitter almonds , and oyl of capers half a pint , then take a quarter of a spoonful of the said oyl , and put in your hands , your hands being warm , rub them together , and annoint and rub the patient grieved with both your hands , the one on the right side , the other on the left , from the loyns down to the bottom of the belly , drawing your hands as hard as you can , and make them to meet at the bottom of the belly , and continue in continual rubbing about a quarter of an hour . for a burning or scald . take a quantity of sheeps suet , the white of hen dung , and fresh grease , boyl all these together , strain it , and annoint the party with a feather . for the emeroids and piles . take juice of elder , may-butter , and deer-suet , melt them , letting the juice and the butter simper , and then put the suet to them ; make them into pills , and if you make a suppository , you must put in more deers suet . for the canker in the mouth or nose . take the ashes of green leaves of holly , with half so much of the burnt powder of allum : blow with a quil into the place grieved , and it will help man , child , or beast . a remedy for the mother . when the fit beginneth to take them , take the powder of white amber , and burn it in a chafindish of coals , and let them hold their mouthes over it , and suck in the smoke , and annoint their nostrils with the oyl of amber , and if they be not with child , take 2 or 3 drops of the oyl of amber in white-wine warm or cold , but the oyl of amber must be taken inward but once a day , and outward as often as the fit taketh them . a medicine for the worms . take one pennyworth of alloes , with the like quantity of ox-gall , and mithridate , mix them together , and lay them on the childs navel upon a plaister . a preservation against the plague . take one dry walnut , take off the shell and peel , cut it small , and with a branch of rue shred fine , and a little wine-vinegar and salt , put all into a sliced fig , take it up fasting , and then you may drink a little wormwood after it , and go where you list . a pill for those that are infected . taker of aloes-succatrina half an ounce , of myrrh , and english saffron , of each a quarter of an ounce , beat them into small powder , with malmsey , or a little sack , or dioscoridon , make two or three small pills thereof , and take them fasting . a poultess to break a plague-sore . take a white lilly-root , and seeth it in a pennyworth of linseed , and a pretty quantity of barrows grease , beat the linseed first very soft , afterwards beat all together in a mortar , make thereof a plaister . an electuary for the plague . take the weight of ten grains of saffron , 2 ounces of the kernels of walnuts , 2 or 3 figs , 1 dram of mithridate , and a few sage leaves stampt together , with a sufficient quantity of pimpernel water , make up all these together in a mass or lump , and keep it in a glass or pot for your use , take the quantity of 12 grains fasting in the morning , and it will not only preserve from the pestilence , but expel it from the infected . against a tertian ague . take dandillion clean washed , stamp it , and put it in beer , and let it stand all night in the beer , in the morning strain it , and put half a spoonful of treacle into it , make it lukewarm , and let the patient drink of it fasting upon his well day , and walk upon it as long as he is able , this hath been approved good for an ague that cometh every second day . against the wind. take cummin seed , and steep them in a sack 24 hours , dry them by the fire , and hull them , then take fennel seed , carraway seed , and annise seed , beat all these together , and take every morning half a spoonful in broth or beer fasting . another . take enula campana , grate it , and drink half a spoonful fasting . for the sting of an adder . take a head of garlick , and bruise it with some rue , add some honey thereto , and if you will , some treacle , and apply it to the place . for the biting of a dog. take ragwort , chop it , and boyl it with unwasht butter to an ointment . a medicine for a woman that hath a dead child , or for the after-birth after deliverance . take date-stones , dry them , and beat them to powder ; then take cummin seed , grain , and english saffron , make them in powder , and put them all together in like quantity , saving less of the saffron than of the rest , then searce them very finely , and when need is to drink it , take a spoonful at once , with a little malmsie , and drink it milk-warm , it is good to bring forth a dead child , or for the after birth , or if the woman have any rising in her stomach , or flushing in her face during her child-birth , the date-stones with round holes in the side , are the best ; if you put a quantity of white amber beaten amongst the powder , it will be better . to make the best paracelsus salve . take of litharge , of gold and silver , of each 3 ounces , and put to it one pound and half of good sallet oyl , and as much of linseed oyl , put it in a large earthen vessel well leaded , of the fashion of a milk bowl , or a great bason , set it over a gentle fire , and keep it stirring till it begin to boyl , then put to it of red lead , and of lapis calaminaris , of each half a pound , keep it with continual stirring , and let it boyl 2 hours , or so long till it be something thick , which you may know by dropping a little of it upon a cold board or stone , then take a skillet , and put into it a pound of yellow wax , as much black rosin , half a pound of gum-sandrach , of yellow amber , olibanum , myr●h , of aloes hepatica , of both the kinds of aristolochias round , and long , of every of these in fine powder searced , one ounce , of mammir one ounce and a half , of oyl of bayes , half a pound , of oyl of juniper six ounces , dissolve all these together in the aforesaid skillet , and then put them to the former plaister , set it over a gentle fire ; and keep it with stirring till it boyl a little . then take your five gums , popanax , galbanum , sapagenum , ammoniacum , and bdellium , of each of these three ounces , which must be dissolved in white-wine vinegar , and strained , and the vinegar exasperated from them before you go about the plaister , let there be 3 ounces of each of them when they are thus prepared , then when the plaister hath gently boyled , about half the bigness of a nutmeg at a time , continuing that order until all the gums be in and dissolved , then set it over the fire again , and let it boyl a very little , but before it boyl , be sure that the gums be all dissolved , for else it will run into lumps and knots , after it hath boyled a little , take it from the fire again , and continue the stirring of it very carefully , and put it to these things following , being in a readiness , take of both the corals red and white , of mother of pearl , of dragons blood , of terra lemnia , of white vitriol , of each of them 1 ounce , of lapis haematitis , and of the loadstone , of each of them one ounce and a half , of the flowers of antimony two drams , of crocus martis two drams , of camphire one ounce , of common turpentine half a pound , mix all these together , but first let those things that are to be pounded , be carefully done , and fully searced , then put them all together among the former things , and again set it over the fire with a moderate heat and gentle , to boyl till it be in the form of a plaister , which you may know by dropping it on a cold piece of wood , or stone , or iron , you must also remember to keep it with continual stir●ing from the beginning to the ending , when you make it up , let your hands , and the place you rowl it on , be annointed with the oyl of saint johns wort , and of each worms and juniper , cammomil , and roses together , wrap it in parchment or leather , and keep it for your use . memorandum , that the camphire be dissolved in the oyl of juniper , mix them together with the gum-sandrach , and put them in towards the latter end . an ointment for any strain in the joynts , or for any sore . take 3 pound of fresh butter unwashed , and set it into an oven after the bread be drawn out , and let it stand 2 or 3 hours , then take the clearest of the butter , and put into a posnet , then take the tops of red nettles , and chop them very small , and put so many nettles to the butter as will be moistned with the butter , and so set it on the fire , and boyl it softly 5 or 6 hours , and when it is so boyled , put thereto half a pint of the best oyl of olive and then make it boyl a very little , and take it off , and strain it into an earthen pot , and keep it for your use . mr. ashley's ointment . take six pound of may butter unsalted , one quart of sallet oyl , four pound of barrows grease , one pound of the best rosin , one pound of turpentine , half a pound of frankincense ; to this rate take these herbs following , of each a handful , videlicet , smallage , balm , lorage , red sage , lavender , lavender-cotten , herb-grace , parsley , comfrey , called boneset , sorrel , laurel leaves , beech leaves , lungwort , marjorum , rosemary , mallows , cammomil , saint johns wort , plantain , alheal , chickweed , english tobacco , or else henbane , grunsel , woundwort , bettony , egrimony , carduus benedictus , wild wine , or white-wine , called brian , adders tongue , mellilot drink all these herbs clean , wash them , strain them clean from the water , all these must be gathered after the sun rise , then stamp all these herbs in a stone or wooden mortar so small as possible may be , then take your rosin and beat it to powder with your frankincense , and melt them first alone , then put in your butter , your hogs grease and oyl , and when all is melted , put in your herbs , and let them all boyl together half a quarter of an hour , then take it from the fire , and leave stirring of it in no wise a quarter of an hour after , and in that time that it is from the fire , put in your turpentine , and 2 ounces of verdigrease very finely beaten to powder ; and when you put in your turpentine and verdigrease , stir it well , or else it will run over , and so stir it until it leave boyling : then put it in an earthen pot , stopping the pot very close with a cloth and a board on the top , and set it in a dunghil of horse muck 21 days , then take it up and put it into a kettle , and let it boyl a little , taking heed that it boyl not over , then strain all through a coarse cloth into an earthen or gally pot , and when all is strained , put to it half a pound of oyl of spike , and cover the pot close until you use it , and when you use it , make it warm in winter , and use it cold in summer . an approved medicine for an ach in the joynts whatsoever . take half a pound of rosin , half a pound of frankincense , olibanum and mastick , of each one ounce , wax , deers suet , turpentine , of each 2 ounces , camphire 2 drams , beat the olibanum , mastick , rosin and frankincense , and camphire into powder , then put it in a brass pan with a pottle of white-wine , and put in the wax and deer suet into it , and when it doth boyl , put in your turpentine , and let it boyl a quarter of an hour , then take it from the fire and let it stand and cool until the next day , then work it with your hand to work out the wine , annointing your hands first with oyl , then make it up in rowls , then as need will serve , take thereof and spread it with a warm knife upon the fleshy side of a sheeps skin , and apply it warm to the grieved place , and take it not off until it fall off of it self , pricking the plaister full of holes . a searcloth to be used against carbuncles , red sores , biles swellings , or any hot causes . take a wine pint of pure sallet oyl , and put into an earthen pot that is very large , and set it upon a very soft fire of charcoal , and when it beginneth to boyl , stir it with a hasel stick of one years shooting , then put into it 2 ounces of venice sope that is pure white , half a pound of red lead , one quarter of a pound of white lead , letting it boyl very softly , stirring it continually with this hazel stick for the space of 2 or 3 hours , you shall know when it is boyled by this ; drop one drop thereof on a board , and it will be stiff when it is enough , then take it from the fire , and put into it half an ounce of oyl of bayes , then let it boyl again a little , then let your clothes be but of a reasonable size to dip them in it , then you must have two sticks , which must be hollow in the middle , to strip the clothes through , then lay them abroad until they be cold upon a board , then rowl them up and keep them , and when you use them , lay them upon the place grieved , and let them lie 12 hours , then take it off and wipe it , and lay the other side , and let that lie as long . a plague water to be taken three times , for the first helpeth not . take a gallon of white-wine , ale or beer , and to that quantity take a quarter of a pound of each of these herbs following , rose-water a quarter of a pint , rue , sage , vervain , egrimony , bettony , celendine , carduus , angelica , pimpernel , scabious , valerian , wormwood , dragons , mugwort , all these herbs must you shred in gross together , and steep in the aforesaid liquor , the night before you distil it in a rose-water still , and then keep the first water by it self , being the weaker , and therefore fitter for children ; it helpeth all fevers , agues and plagues , being thus taken , seven spoonfuls or thereabout of the strongest blood warm , and give it to the party to drink in an ague or fever , an hour before the fit come , and so to sweat , either by exercise , or in your bed , but your stomach must be empty , and if it be taken for the plague , then put it into a little diascordium or mithridate . a defensive plaister . take the white of an egg , and bole armoniack , spread it on leather . a syrrup for a cold. take colts foot water , hyssop water and honey , put liquorish , annise seeds and elecampane , put thereto the juice of fennel , and boyl them . to stay the bleeding of a wound . take charcoal red hot out of the fire , and beat it to powder . a poultess . take milk , oatmeal , and red rose leaves and a little deers suet . for the running of the reins . take cups of acrons , and grate them ; and grate some nutmeg : put this in beer , and drink it . for a poultess . take linseed and beat it to powder , boyl it in milk with mallows and sheeps suet . for a blast . take a good quantity of vervin , and boyl it in milk , and wash the blast therewith very well , then bind the herb very close to it some few hours , after wash it again , the milk being warmed , and so bind it up again , the oftner it is done the better , and in a day or two it will be well , if it be taken before it fester . another . take a good quantity of vericon being green , with as much dill , chop them together , and boyl them in boars grease as much as will cover them , and for want thereof , so much may butter , and when they be boyled together , let them stand 2 or 3 days , and then boyl it a little , and so strain it through a cloth . a balsamum . take in the latter end of september good store of honey suckle berries , and put them in a body of a glass still stopped , and set it in hot horse-dung 8 days , distil it in balneo , then when you have drawn the water forth , pour the water into the stuff again , stop it close , and put it into the dung 24 hours , then set it in ashes , and distil both water and oyl with a great fire , as much as will come forth , and at last separate the water from the oyl in balneo . to make an excellent oyl of hypericon . take flowers , leaves and seed of hypericon as much as you list , beat them together , and infuse them in white-wine , that they may be covered therewith , and set them in the sun for ten days , then put thereto so much oyl-olive as all the rest do weigh , and let it stand ten days more in the sun , but look that you weigh the oyl to know how much it is , then put thereto for every pound of oyl two ounces of turpentine , and 1 dram of saffron , and of nutmegs , and cloves of each half an ounce , of myrrh and rosin of each 1 ounce , and of the root of briony 2 ounces , put them all in a vessel of glass , and mix them well together , and set them in a vessel of hot water , and then set thereto a head of glass , and receiver well shut , and boyl it so long until no more will distil from it , which will be about 24 hours , then take it out and strain it whilst it is hot , and keep it in a vessel of glass , and when you first use it , heat it well , and apply it upon a wound without using any tent at all ; this is excellent for a green wound , especially if there be veins , sinews , or bones offended or cut , it keepeth wounds from putrefaction , it cleanseth them and easeth pain , and doth incarnate and skin them , it helpeth bruises , pains , aches , or swelling in any part , and is wonderful good against venom or poyson . for the falling sickness . take the roots of single pionie , grate them , drink them , and wear some of them about your neck . for the kibed heels . take a turnip , make a hole in the top of it , take out some of the pith , infuse into that hole oyl of roses , then stop close the hole , roast the turnip under the embers ; when it is soft apply it plaisterwise warm to the kibe , bind it fast . lapis prunellae . a medicine for sore eyes . take one pound of saltpeter , boyl it in a goldsmiths earthen pot , with a very hot fire round about it , let it boyl till it be very black and melted , then take a quarter of an ounce , or 6 pennyweight of roch-allum , and a quarter of an ounce of brimstone , break them and put them in the saltpeter by little at once as it boyleth , and let it burn till the flame go out of it self , then pour it in a brass ladle , or into a chafer , and so let it stand till it be cold , and when you will use it , scrape it very fine with a knife , and put a little of it to the sore eyes , hold down the eye-lids till the pain be gone , then let the water drop out of the eye : this medicine taketh away the pearl , pin and web in the eye , and all sores and blood-shed , it also helpeth the toothach , being put into the hollow tooth , with a little lint , if the tooth be not hollow , rub it outward : finally , it helpeth a stinking breath , being eaten in the morning fasting . for a scald-head . take a handful of grovers shreds , and a handful of dock-roots , the pith taken out , and boyl them in strong ale until they be reasonable thick , and annoint the head therewith . for a bloody flux . take rubarb and roast it , then grind it to powder , and take as much as will lie upon a six-pence , and keep warm that day , the next day eat conserve of roses , mixed with coral , and drink that day if you will , posset ale made of cammomile . for the itch. take a pound of butter unwashed and unsalted , 3 good handfuls of red sage , and as much brimstone beaten into powder , as a walnut , boyl these well together , and strain it , and put in half an ounce of ginger beaten small . for sore eyes . take new hens-dung out of the nest , and put it into an oven almost cold , let it lie there all night , and take the white of it , and beat it being dried , and take as much of the powder of ginger finely beaten , and put to that half in like quantity of sugar-candy , all which all which must be beaten very well and searced , then put it into the sore eyes every night , and in the morning , and wash it out with water . a water for sore eyes . take a pint of fair running water , of wild dasies , and 3 leaved grace , of each a good handful , wash the herbs very clean in a cullender , and put them into a clean skillet of water , let them boyl very well over the fire , until the water look green , then take a little piece of allum and put into the water , and when it is boyling then tast of the water , and when it sticks to the mouth , take as much honey as will make it very sweet , then after it hath boyled a little while , take it off the fire ; strain it and drop a little every night into the eyes . an approved application against any surfeit . take the bottom of a muncornloaf , cut it about an inch thick , and as broad as the palm of your hand , toast it very well , then take of sallade oyl and claret-wine of each a like quantity , as much as will wet the toast well & throughly , warm it hot , then put the toast into it , when the toast is well soaked , strew the powder of cloves and mace hereupon thick , then apply it to the stomach of the patient as warm as he can endure it , it will purge upwards and downwards as often as you apply a fresh toast made as aforesaid , that may be applied so often as any one findeth their stomach ill at ease , although then it will not purge , except in case of surfeit . a medicine against the plague . take of the root called set-well the quantity of half a walnut , and grate it , of treacle green , one good spoonful , of fair water 3 spoonfuls , make all these more than lukewarm ; and so drink them off in bed , and sweat six or seven hours , and in your sweat drink small posset ale made of small drink as you need , but not till an hour and half after , the taking of the potion , and it will bring forth the plague sore . if you cast the medicine , you may take it the second , third , or fourth time , by the whole , half , or less measure as your stomach will bear it : if any do take it and thereupon happen presently amendment , or a rising or sore , you may think it to be the sickness , for the nature of the medicine is to prevent the plague , and in others to expell the sore , if it be not taken too late , in which case the stomch will not brook it easily , and after two or 3 times taking , if you minister it to any , let it be at their first sickness , lest if their disease be other , they may receive 〈◊〉 thereby . jelly of frogs . take the jelly of frogs in march and still it in a glass-still , it is a good medicine to stop blood , and for the heat and redness of the face , and good to cure green wounds . for the tooth-ach . take spearmints , and ground-ivy , of each a handful , and a good spoonful of bay-salt , stamp all these very well together , and boyl them in a pint of the strongest vinegar that you can get , let these boyl all together until they come to a quarter of a pint , then strain it , and put it into a glass , and stop it very close , when your teeth do ake , take a spoonful of it blood warm , and hold it in your mouth on that side the pain is . to make the teeth stand fast . take roots of vervain in cold wine , and wash the teeth therewith . for the perillous cough . take white hore-hound , stamp it , wring out the juice , and mingle it with honey , and seeth it , and give it to the sick to drink , or else sack , and garlick seed , and roast it in the fire , and take away the peelings and eat the rest with honey , or else take sage , rue , cummin , and powder of pepper , and seeth all these together in honey , and make thereof an electuary , and take thereof a spoonful in the morning , and another at night . for a man that hath no tast in meat or drink . take a pottle of clear water , and a good handful of dandilion , and put it in an earthen pot , and seeth it till it come to a quart , and then take out the herbs , and put in a good quantity of white sugar , till you think it be somewhat pleasant , and then put it into a vessel wherein it may cool , and then take 20 or 30 almonds , blanch them and beat them in a mortar , and when the water is cold put it to the almonds , and strain it through a clean cipris bag without compulsion , and if it be thick let it run through again , and so keep it in a vessel , and drink of it often , at all times as you please . to preserve a man from the plague . take aloe apaticum , and aloe succatrine , fine cinnamon and myrth , of each of them 3 drams , cloves , mace , lignum aloe , mastick , bole armoniack , of each of them half a dram , let all these things be well stamped in a mortar , then mingle them together , and after keep them in some close vessel , and take of it every morning 2 penny weight , in half a glass full of white-wine , with a little water , and drink it in the morning at the dawning of the day , and so may you by the grace of god , go safely into all infection of the air and plague . for a tetter or ring-worm . take mercury a quarter of an ounce , camphire 1 penny weight make them into powder , and rub them in a fair porrenger , then take and mix them with the water of the wine 4 or 5 spoonfuls , stir them well together , then put as much more water to that , then strain it through a cloth , and take poppey seeds one quarter of an ounce , beat that in a stone mortar , with a spoonful of water of the wine , putting a little and a little till you have spent the quantity of a pint , then put to it half an ounce of the milk of cokernut , so mix them well together with your receipt , and strain them as you make almond milk through a fair cloth , then keep it in a glass for your use . to keep ones body loose whensoever you need . take two ounces of syrrup of roses , 1 ounces of sene , one penny-worth of annise seeds , one stick of liquorish , one pint of posternwater , seeth them all together till it seeth to half a pint , then strain them forth , then boyl the two ounces of syrrup of roses , and drink it warm . for a red face . take brimstone that is whole , and cinnamon of either of them an even proportion by weight , beat them into small powder , searce it through a fine cloth upon a sheet of white paper , to the quantity of an ounce or more , and so by even proportions in weight mingle them together in clean clarified capons grease , and temper them well together , until they be well mollified , and then put in them a little camphire to the quantity of a bean , and so put the whole confection in a glass . for a young child to make water . boyl organy in fair water , and lay it warm to the childs navel . a medicine for the falling of the vvula into the throat . take a red colwort leaf , whereof cut away the middle rind , then put the leaf into a paper , and let it be burnt in hot embers or ashes , then take the leaf out , and lay it hot on the crown of the bare head , and it will draw it up into his place , and rid you of your pain . a medicine for the heat of the soles of the feet , that cometh by them or blood . take a quantity of snails of the garden and boyl them in stale urine , then let the patient bathe and set his feet therein , and using that often , he shall be cured . gascon's own powder . take of powder of pearl , of red corral , of crabs eyes , of harts horn , and white amber , of each one ounce , beat them into fine powder , and searce them , then take so much of the black toes of the crabs claws as of all the rest of the powders , for that is the chief worker , beat them , and searce them finely as you do the rest , then weigh them severally , and take as much of the toes as you do of all the rest of the five powders , and mingle them well together , and make them up in balls with jelly of harts-horn , whereinto put or infuse a small quantity of saffron to give them colour , then let them lie till they be dry and fully hard , and keep them for your use . the crabs are to be gotten in may or september , before they be boyled . the dose is 10 or 12 grains in dragon-water , carduus water , or some other cordial water . the apothecaries in their composition of it , use to put in a dram of good oriental bezar to the other powders , as you may see in the prescription following . this is thought to be the true composition invented by gascon , and that the bezar , musk , and ambergreece , were added after by some for curiosity , and that the former will work without them as effectually as with them . the apothecaries gascon powder , with the use . take of pearls , white amber , harts-horn , eyes of crabs , and white corral , of each half an ounce ; of black thighs of crabs calcined two ounces , to every ounce of this powder put in a dram of oriental bezar ; reduce them all into very fine powder , and searce them , and with harts-horn jelly , with a little saffron put therein , make it up into a paste , and make therewith lozenges or trochisces for your use . you must get your crabs for this powder about may , or in september before they shall be boyled , when you have made them , let them dry and grow hard in a dry air , neither by fire nor sun. their dose is ten or twelve grains , as before prescribed in the former page . the powder prescribed by the doctors in their last london dispensatory 1650. called the powder of crabs claws . take the prepared pearls , eyes or stones of crabs , of red coral , or white amber , of harts-horn , of oriental bezar-stone , of each half an ounce , of the power of the black tops of the crabs claws to the weight of all the former ; make them all into powder , according to art , and with jelly made with the skin or casting of our vipers , make it up into small tablets , or trochisces which you must warily ●ry , as before prescribed , and reserve for your use . the countess of kents powder , good against all malignant and pestilent diseases , french pox , small pox , measels , plague , pestilence , malignant or scarlet fevers , good against melancholy decoction of spirits , twenty or thirty grains thereof being exhibited in a little warm sack , or harts-horn jelly to a man , and half as much , or twelve grains to a child . take of the magistery of pearls , of crabs eyes prepared , of white amber prepared , harts-horn , magistery of white coral : of lapis contra yarvam , of each a like quantity , to these powders infused , put of the black tops of the great claws of crabs , the full weight of the rest , beat these all into very fine powder , and searce them through a fine lawn searce , to every ounce of this powder add a dram of true oriental bezar , make all these up into a lump , or mass , with the jelly of harts-horn , and colour it with saffron , putting thereto a scruple of ambergreece , and a little musk also finely powdered , and dry them ( made up into small trochisces ) neither by fire , nor sun , but by a dry air , and you may give to a man twenty grains of it , and to a child twelve grains . the virtue of a root called contra yerva , being made into a fine powder . 1. it withstands the plague being taken in treacle-water . 2. it is good in all pestilent diseases , taken in posset drink with saffron . 3. it is good against a fever , taken in carduus water . 4. it is a great antidote against all poysons taken in sallet oyl . 5. it doth cure the bitting of a mad dog , drunk in rose vinegar , and then drink nothing else but spring water during the cure . 6. it causeth a speedy delivery , given in balm-water , bettony water , or in burnt wine . 7. it doth take away the after-throws , given in the same liquors . 8. it is good cordial in all fits of the mother given in rue-water . 9. it is very soveraign in swouning fits , given in sack , or borrage water . 10. it is very powerful to withstand all melancholy , given in sack. 11. it doth help convulsions in children given in spring water . 12. it helpeth the worms given in goats milk . 13. it is good for a short breath , given in rue-water . 14. it helpeth the head-pain , given in rue-water , or rosemary-water . 15. it helpeth the yellow jaundise , given in celendine water . 16. it is very powerful in the palsie , given in sage-water . 17. it is a good antidote against the gout , given in sage-water . 18. it withstandeth the growing of the stone in the reins , given in rhenish wine . 19. it causeth a good and quiet sleep taken in white-wine . 20. it is a great preserver of health , and means of long life , taken sometimes in mede . 21. it may be used as a treacle or bezar against surfeits . 22. it is a general good upon all occasions , and may be given at all times , when you do not know what the disease is ; in any of the aforesaid liquors . the dose for a man or woman is from one scruple to two scruples , and to a boy or girl twelve or fourteen grains in convenient liquors . the epistle . friend , being given to understand , that you were reprinting the countess of kents manual ; i thought good to communicate unto you , for the more accomplishment of your next impression , the virtues of some select cordial spirits , of very great use in weak and sickly persons , which were first composed by sir walter rawleigh , during his imprisonment in the tower , and dispersed by him to divers worthy personages , in their several occasions and necessities , and were imparted to me by captain samuel king , who lived long time with him in the tower , and in his expeditions ; this king being my loving friend , and school-fellow both in canterbury and westminster schools . i have also inserted hereunto certain experiments of gascons powder , or the countesses , for their operations are much of the same nature , which have many times with very happy success been tried , upon several persons by my self and divers others by my directions , assuring my self it will be of very great use and benefit of such persons as shall have need of such helps and comforts , and so i rest , your friend w. j. the virtues of aqua bezar . it is good against contagious diseases , as plague , purples , spotted fevers , small-pox , and measels . the order to take it , is with carduus benedictus , or angelica in posset ale , and so sweat moderately upon the taking of it . it is good against surfeits , and easeth the stomach opprest with wind , crude flegm , and superfluities , and helpeth digestion . the dose is from two or three spoonfuls at one time . the virtues of spirit of clary . it is good to restore one in any weakness , chiefly of the back : it preserveth against the consumption and phthisick ; it comforteth the heart , and increaseth radical moisture . it also strengtheneth child bearing women after their delivery . the dose is one or two spoonfuls morning and evening . the virtue of aqua mariae . it is good for all infirmities of the spleen and to open the obstructions thereof , it comforteth the vital parts , and is good against all passions of the heart ; it preserveth the meat in the stomach from putrefaction ; it helpeth digestion , and expelleth wind . the dose is one spoonful at one time . the virtues of flowers of rosemary . it is good against all infirmities of the stomach , and to suppress all offensive fumes rising up from thence to the head , keeping them down , and helpeth memory , it openeth all stopping of the liver and milt , it preventeth vertigo , scotomia , palsies , apoplexies , diseases of that kind arising from cold humours , it breaketh wind , and easeth the cholick . the dose is 1 spoonful at 1 time . the virtues of spirit of mint . it is good for the stomach , and strengthens the retentive faculty , good against vomiting , and all passions of the heart , it comforteth the vital spirits , and is good against the consumption , it expelleth wind , and helpeth digestion , and is an infallible help for all melancholy . the dose is from one to two spoonfuls . the virtues of aqua theriacalis . it is good against all diseases of the spleen whatsoever ; it preventeth and helpeth contagions , and sudden oppressions and qualms of the heart . the dose is one spoonful to prevent , and 3 to the infected , who ought to sweat after taking it . the virtues of spirits of saffron . it is good to comfort the vital spirits , passions , trembling , and pensiveness of the heart , and helpeth all malignity oppressing it , and expelleth wind , suppresseth rheums which arise from the spleen , and go up to the head , and openeth the obstructions of it : it is excellent against all melancholy , and very good for women in travail , so it comforteth and hasteneth delivery . the dose is morning and evening one spoonful , for three days together . virtues of spirit of roses . it is good to open the obstruction of the lungs , and preventeth consumptions and other infirmities of that nature ; it preserveth from putrefaction , and keepeth the breath from being corrupted . the dose is a spoonful at noon , at four in the afternoon , and as much at bed time . the virtue of the spirit of diasatyrion . the spirit made of diasatyrion magis gretum , prescribed in the last london dispensatory , comforteth and much restoreth decayed nature , strengtheneth the weak back , increaseth seed , and advanceth generation , being taken thrice a day a spoonful at a time , that is , in the morning fasting , at four in the afternoon , and last at bedward , with this caution , that the weak parties abstain from venereal acts till after their first sleep . the dose is one spoonful at one time . the virtues of the spirit of strawberries . it is excellent good to purifie and cleanse the blood ; it preserveth from , and also cureth the yellow jaundies , and deoppilateth the obstruction of the spleen ; it keepeth the body in a sweet temperateness , and refresheth the spirits . the dose is a spoonful at a time , when need requireth any of those helps for the aforesaid diseases . spirits of confection of alkermes its virtues . it is an excellent comforter of the spirits vital , natural , and animal , in weak and delicate persons , and against all trembling pensiveness , and sudden qualms of the heart . the dose is one spoonful at one time . the virtues of spirit of comfrey . it hath all the virtues which spirit of clary hath , only it is of greater efficacy in inward hurts , bruises and ruptures . the dose is one spoonful at one time . extract of ambergreece . take a drachm of ambergreece , grind it very small on a painters stone , then put it in a boult-head , then take of the best spirit of wine , either canary or maliga-sack , half a pound , of spirit of clary two ounces , mingle them well together , and pour of the menstrua one pint to this proportion of amber , see them to digest in a gentle balneo about 8 hours , shaking it together 3 or 4 times , then take it out , and being cold , pour it forth , and put almost as much more of the mixed spirit , digested as before in a gentle heat by balneo , then put it forth to the first extracted , and add half as much more spirits the third time , and digest it again , and then have you extracted all the special part of the amber , and leave nothing but a black dead earth of no value . then take a pint of the spirit of what herb you will use , and dissolve therein 1 pound of pure white sugar candy , or at the least 12 ounces , very finely powdered and searced through a fine searcer , for the speedier resolution thereof . it is best to dissolve it cold ; this resolution must be twice filtered through a thin cap paper to make it very perfectly clear ; then take 3 parts of this dulcified spirit , to one of your extracts of amber drawn with spirit of wine , then shake them well together , and let them stand in a square glass very close stopped , until it shall be perfectly clear , 1 dram of this extraction of amber will serve to dulcifie and make fit 2 quarts of spirits of mints or clary , or the like , and give it a most excellent tast and efficacious virtues . several experiments made of the countess of kents , or of gascons powder , by a professor of physick . 1. a child aged about 5 years , troubled much with flegm , and drawing on ( as the parents conceived ) to his end , with 10 grains of this powder exhibited in a specifical vehicle to the proportion of 1 spoonful , about 7 of the clock at night , with the like dose exhibited the next morning , was within 3 days space perfectly recovered , and went abroad . 2. a child aged about fourteen years , being suddenly surprized with dangerous fits , and trembling of the heart , with 12 grains of this powder exhibited in a spoonful of aqua theriacalis , was that very day recovered . 3. a stationers child aged about five years being suddenly taken so ill , that the parents feared the life of their child , with ten grains of this powder exhibited in a spoonful of cordial spirit , being laid down , and well covered ( we suspected it would prove to be the small pox ) became within 2 or 3 hours somewhat chearful : and with this medicine continued once a day , the pox broke forth , and the child mended . 4. a boy aged about sixteen , being taken with sudden qualms about his stomach and heart , with ten grains of this powder exhibited in a spoonful of doctor mountfords water upon his fit , and the like quantity exhibited again when he went to bed , was the next day recovered . 5. a child about three years old , being troubled with grievous torments and gripings in the belly , with wind , with 9 grains of this powder , exhibited with ten drops of special oyl against the cholick , in a spoonful of stomach water , was eased in few hours . 6. a child about 7 years old , being troubled with convulsion-fits , with ten grains of this powder , mixed with spirit of castor , in a few spoonfuls of black cherry water , annointing the two neck veins near the ears , with a few drops of oyl of amber and cloves , was suddenly recovered of his fit. 7. a gentlewoman near forty years old , being oppressed with crude and flatuous humours , so that her friends thought her departing , was with twelve grains of this powder , and two drops of a cordial oyl , exhibited in a spoonful of cordial water , being had to bed , within three days recovered , and followed her domestick business . 8. a youth about twenty years old , much oppressed with wind and crudities of the stomach , with 12 grains of this powder , exhibited in 2 drops of specifical cholick oyl , as in the fifth experiment , with a cordial water was speedily recovered . 9. a young maid about eighteen years old , troubled with fits of the mother , and convulsive fits , with twelve grains of this powder given her in a few spoonfuls of piony water , gathered and distilled in due season , with a drop of oyl of cinnamon , and two of amber mingled together being held upright before a warm fire , within four hours recovered out of her fit , and went up to her chamber ( though her teeth were set in her head , and small appearance of life , but that only her feet were warm , was discovered in her . ) 10. a gentlewoman aged about fifty , being very much troubled with flatuous and crude humours oppressing the stomach , with sixteen grains of gascon powder , and with 3 drops of oyl of oranges , duly prepared , exhibited in an ounce of aqua theriacalis , being well shaken and mingled together , being exhibited at two several times , that is at night when she went to bed , disposing for rest , and betimes the next morning , found much ease and comfort , and gained some quiet rest that night , and shortly recovered . 11. a young woman aged about four and twenty , not without some suspicion of the plague , having a rumor long while arising on her groin , with 3 several doses of gascons powder , exhibited at 3 evenings when she disposed for rest ; by 12 grains for every dose in a spoonful of treacle water , drinking every morning a spoonful of spirit of saffron for those 3 days together , was perfectly recovered , and followed her domestick business . these and many other experiments have i with good success tried , and with gods blessing recovered divers several patients . this powder is good against small pox , measles , spotted or purple fever , exhibited in specifical waters fit for their several diseases ; it is good in swoonings and passions of the heart , arising from malignant vapours , or old causes , as also in the plague or pestilent fevers ; always observing to keep the persons upright warm , and well covered after their taking it . the dose of this powder in children , is from eight to twelve grains , in persons more aged , from twelve to fourteen grains , but exhibit the dose twice or thrice if need require . in the plague you may use a greater quantity , with such medicines as are prescribed in the child-bearers cabinet , and it will not be amiss to mingle it with some aqua theriacalis . the composition of the oyl called oleum magistrale , said to be invented by one named aparithus , a spaniard ; being special good to cleanse and consolidate wounds , especially in the head. take a quart of the best white-wine you can get ; of pure oyl of olives three pound , then put thereto these flowers and herbs following : of the flowers and leaves of hypericon half a pound ; of carduus benedictus , of valerian , of the leaf sage , of each a quarter of a pound ; if it be possible , take the leaves and flowers of every one of these , then let them all steep 24 hours in the aforesaid wine and oyl , the next day boyl them in a pot well nealed , or in a copper vessel over a soft fire , until such time as the wine be all consumed , stirring it always with a spattle : after you have thus done , take it from the fire , and strain it , and put to the straining a pound and a half of good venice turpentine , then boyl it again upon a soft fire the space of a quarter of an hour , then put thereunto of olibanum five ounces , of myrrh 3 ounces , of sanguis draconis one ounce , and so let it boyl till the incense and myrrh be melted , then take it off , and let it stand until it be cold , then put it into a glass bottle , and set it 8 or 10 days in the sun , and keep it for your use . this oyl , the older it is , the better it is , it must be applied to the patient wounded as hot as may be endured , first washing the wound with white-wine , boyled with a handful of incense to comfort , and wiping it clean with a linnen cloth before you dress it , which must be if it come by any bruisings or bitings twice a day , that is about eight of the clock in the morning in winter , and at summer about nine in the morning , and about four in the afternoon , but if they be green wounds , you shall not need to change it again until the next day , neither need the patient to observe any precise diet . additions . a rare searcloth , with the virtues . take of oyl olive one pound and a half , red lead one pound and a half , of white lead one pound , castle-soap 4 ounces , put your oyl olive in a pipkin , and put thereto your oyl of bays , and your castle soap : seeth these over a gentle fire of embers , till it be well mingled , and melted together , then strew a little red lead and white , being mingled together in powder , still stirring it with a spatler of wood , and so strew in more of your lead by little and little till all be in , stirring it still by the bottom to keep it from burning , for an hour and half together , then make the fire somewhat bigger , till their redness be turned into a gray colour , but you must not leave stirring it till the matter be turned into a perfect black colour , as pitch , then drop a little upon a wooden trencher , and if it cleave not to the trencher , nor your finger , it is enough ; then take the long linnen clothes , and dip them therein , and make your sear-cloth thereof : they will keep twenty years ; let your powder of your lead be searsed very fine , and shred the soap small . the virtues of this searcloth , are ; being laid to the stomach , it doth provoke appetite , and taketh away any pain in the stomach ; being laid to the belly it is a present remedy for the cholick ; being laid to the back , it is a present remedy for the flux , and running of the reins , heat of the kidneys , and weakness of the back ; it helpeth all swellings and bruises , taketh away aches , it breaketh fellons and other imposthumes , and healeth them , it draweth out any running humour , and helpeth them without breaking of the skin , and being applied to the fundament helpeth any disease there ; it helpeth all old sores , and will be made in six hours . for a surfeit . take 3 pints of muskadine , one handful of rue , one handful of red sage ; boyl these together 3 or 4 walmes , take a quarter of an ounce of nutmegs , half an ounce of ginger , 2 or 3 corns of long pepper , beat them all together , and boyl them until the 3 pints come to a quart ; strain it , and put in it a quarter of an ounce of mithridate , half an ounce of london-treacle , a quarter of a pint of strong angelica water , all these being well mixed together , put them up in a glass . it is good for one that hath surfeited to take 3 or 4 spoonfuls , keeping them very warm in bed , the same quantity taken is good against the small-pox , or measles . it is good against the wind , or pain in the stomach , taking one spoonful in the morning , or any infection . an excellent receipt against a cough of a consumption . take a quarter of a pound of the best honey , a quarter of a pint of conduit-water , boyl them as long as any white scum ariseth , and take it off , then take a quarter of a pound of the best blew currans , put them on the fire in a pint of fair water : boyl them until they be tender , then pour the water from them , and bruise them through a hair sive , and put that juice , and honey together : add to it one ounce of the powder of liquorish , one ounce of the powder of annise seeds ; mix all these together , and put them in a gally-pot , and when it is cold tye it up ; the party troubled may take of it upon the point of a knife morning or evening , as often as the cough taketh them . lucantelion's balsom , admirable for wounds , and many other things . take of venice turpentine a pound , oyl olive three pints , yellow wax half a pound , of natural balsome one ounce , oyl of st. johns wort one ounce , of red saunders powdered an ounce , six spoonfuls of sack : cut the wax and melt it on the fire , and then let it catch the fire , take it off , put in the turpentine to it , having first washed the venice turpentine thrice with damask rose-water , and having mingled your sallet oyl with the sack , put also the oyl to them , and put them all on the fire , and stir it till it begin to boyl , for if it boyl much , it will run over speedily , then suffer it to cool for a night , or more , until the water and wine be sunk all to the bottom , then make some holes in the stuff , that the water may run out of it , which being done , put it over the fire again , putting to it the balsom and the oyl of st. johns wort , and when it is melted , then put the sanders to it : stir it well that it may incorporate , and when it first begins to boyl , take it off the fire , and stir it the space of 2 hours , till it be grown thick , then put it up , and keep it for your use as most precious , for thirty or forty years , or more . the virtues . 1. it is good to heal any wound inward or outward , being squirted warm into the inward wound ; being applied to an outward wound with fine lint , or linnen , anointing also those parts thereabouts , it not only taketh away the pain , but also keepeth it from any inflammation , and also draweth forth all broken bones , or any other thing that might putrifie or fester it , so that the brains or inwards , as the liver , guts , or heart be not troubled , it will heal it in 4 or 5 days dressing , so that nothing be applied thereunto . 2. it also healeth any burning and scalding , and healeth also any bruise or cut , being first annointed with the said oyl , and a piece of linnen cloth or lint dipt in the same , being warmed and laid unto the place , it will heal it without any scar remaining . 3. it helpeth the head-ach by anointing the temples and nostrils therewith . 5. it is good against the wind-cholick , or stitch in the side , applied thereto warm with hot clothes , morning and evening together a quarter of an ounce . 5. it helpeth the biting of a mad dog , or any other beast . 6. it is good against the plague , anointing only the nostrils , and the lips therewith in the morning before you go forth . 7. it also healeth a fistula , or ulcer , be it never so deep , in any part of the body , being applied as aforesaid is directed for a cut. 8. it is good against worms , or canker , being used as in a cut , but it will require longer time to help them . 9. it is good for one infected with the plague , or measles , so as it be presently taken in warm broth , the quantity of a quarter of an ounce 4 mornings together , and sweat upon it . 10. it likewise helpeth digestion , anointing the navel and stomach therewith when the party goeth to bed , it will stanch any blood of a green wound , put in a plaister of lint on it , and tye it very hard . 11. the quantity of a nutmeg in sack blood-warm , and sweat therein , it bringeth forth all manner of clotted blood , and takes away all aches . 12. it also healeth the rose gout and scurvy . 13. it helpeth all pains in womens breasts , all chops or wolf that cometh with a bruise . 14. it helpeth the small-pox , being anointed therewith without any scar. 15. it helpeth all sprains and swellings , and indeed i cannot tell what comes amiss unto it . a most certain and proved medicine against all manner of pestilence and plague , be it never so vehement . take an onion , and cut it overthwart , then make a little hole in either piece , the which you shall fill with fine treacle and set the pieces together as they were before : after this , wrap them in a sine wet linnen cloth , putting it to roast , and covered in the embers or ashes , and when it is roasted enough , press out all the juice of it , and give the patient a spoonful , and immediately he shall feel himself better , and shall without fail be healed . how to make the ointment of tobacco , jobertus . take of green tobacco-leaves two pound , of fresh hogs grease diligently washt , one pound , bruise the herbs , and infuse it a whole night in red wine , and then let it boyl with the hogs grease with a gentle fire , until the wine be all consumed : then strain it , and add to the ointment the juice of tobacco one pound , good and clear rosin four ounces , then boyl it again till the juice be consumed , adding towards the end , of round birth-wort-roots in powder two ounces , new wax four ounces , or so much as is sufficient to make it into an ointment . the virtues of it are these . it cures all tumours , aposthumes , wounds , ulcers , gun-shot , botches , itch , stinging with nettles , bees , wasps , hornets , or venemous beasts , wounds made with poysoned arrows , all burnings and scaldings , although it be with oyl , or lightning , and that without any scar ; it doth help all nasty , rotten , stinking , putrified ulcers , although they be in the legs where the humours be ready to resort most in fistula's ; although the bone be afflicted , it will scale it without any instrument , and bring up the flesh from the bottom ; your face being anointed with it , it taketh away suddenly all redness , pimples , sun-burns : a wound dressed with this ointment , it will never putrifie , it will cure a wound when no tent can search it ; it cures the head-ach , the temples being anointed therewith ; the stomach being anointed with it , no infirmity will harbour there , no not imposthumes , or consumption of the lungs , the belly being anointed therewith ; it helpeth the cholick , and iliack passions , the worms ( and what not ) too tedious here to relate : it helpeth the emeroids , or piles , it is the best ointment in the world for all sorts of gouts whatsoever , and there can nothing come nigh unto it . a very good conserve for the help of a consumption and cough . take half a pound of blew raisins , the blackest sort is the best , and stone them , and skin them , and two ounces of white sugar-candy , and two ounces of oyl of sweet almonds , and bruise them well , and when they be well incorporated together , use it to eat morning , noon , and night . a very special drink against a consumption . take of colts-foot , hysop , scabious , and maidenhair , of each a handful , and a quarter of a pound of figs , and cut them in two pieces , and a quarter of a pound of raisins , and stone them , and take ten dates and stone them , and so boyl them in four quarts of fair water , and after it hath boyled a little , put into it half an ounce of liquorish scraped and bruised , and so let it boyl till one quart be boyled away , then take it off , and when it is cold , strain it into a pot , and drink half a pint each morning at four of the clock , and so much after dinner , at four of the clock . for worms in children . wormseed boyled in beer or ale , and then sweeten it with clarified honey , and let them drink it . how to drive away the yellows of the face that is caused by the over-flowing of the gall. approved . take a great white onion , and make a hole in the top of it , and then put into it the quantity of a nutmeg of good treacle , and then stop the hole again with the said piece that is cut out of it , but mingle the treacle with saffron powdered ; this being done , roast the onion in hot embers , being wrapped up in wet paper , and when it is well roasted , wring out the juice thereof hard , and give the party this drink in the morning , and sweat an hour after it , and so continue for three months together , and then let the party take a gentle purge , & fiat . an excellent medicine for the dropsie , made for queen elizabeth by doctor adrian and doctor lacy. proved . take polypodium , spikenard , squat , ginger , marjoram , galingal , setwel , ana a pennyweight sena leaves and cods , so much as all the rest grosly beaten ; put them into a bag , and hang it in an earthen pot of two gallons of ale , and every four days cover the pot with new barm , and drink no other drink for six days , and this shall purge all ill humours out of the body , neither will it let the blood putrifie , nor flegm to have domination , nor choler to burn , nor melancholy to have exaltation , it doth encrease blood , and helpeth all evil , it helpeth and purgeth rheum , it defendeth the stomach , it preserveth the body , and ingendreth a good colour , comforts the sight , and nourisheth the mind . for the dropsie that swelleth . eat water-cresses , and raisins , use it often , and it will send down the disease into the legs and feet , and when it is there , take the green bark of elder in the winter , and the crops in summer , and boil them well in fair water and oatmeal , to a poultess , and apply it to the grief , and this will heal it . the celestial water the best in the world for the eyes . aqua celidonia , aqua euphrasia , aqua fenicula , of each a quarter of a pint . lapis calaminaris , lapis tutia , of each . a drachm . an excellent water for one that is near , or in a consumption . take milk three pints , red wine one pint , twenty four yolks of new laid eggs , beat them very well together , then add so much white bread as will drink up the wine , and put to it some cowslip flowers , and distil them , and take a spoonful first and last in broth made of a chicken , or mutton , and in one month it will cure any consumption . for to stay vomiting presently . take a little mastick , and 〈◊〉 it upon a hot coal , and set a funnel over it , and receive the furne into your mouth , and let it go into your stomach , et fiat . doctor turcables green balsom . take in the month of may , rosemary-crops , wormwood , balm and rue , ana two ounces , red sage and bay-buds , ana four ounces , sheeps-suet twelve ounces , beat all these very well together in a stone mortar , till it be all as a salve , then put it into a clean pipkin well stopt , and set it for eight days in a cold place , then put it all in a clean brass chafer , and add to it a pound of sweet sallet oil , and as many of the said herbs as aforesaid well bruised , and let them boil over a soft fire very softly , the space of an hour , and stir them all the time with a wooden spatula , then take them from the fire , and presently put into it an ounce of spike oil , and stir them together , then with a spoon take off the oily substance from the herbs , and then strain it into a gally-pot and keep it very close stopt , and set it in a cool place , it will keep good two or three years . the vertues are these . the virtue of the said balm is , in all perfection good to cure all that is here under-written , and the said oil is good to cure any wounds either inward or outward , proved . being inward squirted into the said wounds warm ; and outward , being applied with fine lint or linnen , and anointing all the parts thereabouts . 1. it doth not only take away the pain , but it doth also keep it from inflammation , and draweth forth also all broken bones , or any thing else that may putrifie or fester , if the brains , heart , guts , liver be not touched , it will heal in four or five times dressing , if no other thing be applied thereunto . 2. it healeth any burning or scalding by fire or water , or by any other means , it healeth any . a most excellent powder , much used by a person of quality , lately deceased , with the virtues . take pearl magistrale prepared , coral red and white , prepared amber , prepared harts-horn , of each half an ounce , contra yarva one ounce ; mingle them well together , then take three ounces of the black claws of crabs before they be sodden , they must be taken in june or july , the sun being in cancer , mingle all well together , then put to it four ounces of white sugar candy powdered , and mingle with the sugar-candy , ambergreece , musk citron-seed skinned , ana ten grains ; beat the seeds , sugar-candy and ambergreece by themselves , very fine in a stone mortar , all the rest must be passed through a fine searce : then make a strong gelly of harts-horn being boiled with white-wine , and infuse therein saffron powdered , two drams , and with this jelly perfume the powder , being all mixt into a paste , so make it up into little balls , and set them in a warm oven to dry , and then put them up to your use , the closer they be kept the better . the vertue of this powder is most excellent . 1. for to bring out the small-pox , or if they be come out , take ten grains in dragon-water each three hours , for nine hours . 2. for the plague , take ten grains in dragon-water each three hours , for nine hours , and sweat and keep your self warm . 3. for a hectick , take for nineteen days together , six grains every morning in borrage water . 4. for a consumption , in agrimony-water , take six grains for 14 days together . 5. for the cough of the lungs , six grains , in half bettony , and half hysop-water , for fourteen days . 6. for an ague or fever , for three days , every third day take seven grains every three hours , for nine hours , in carduus-water . 7. for poison twelve grains boiled in a little milk. 8. for a woman that is sick after labour , take seven grains every three hours , for nine hours in agrimony water . 9. there is no unicorns horn comparable to it in contagious times : it is good to take five grains every morning in a little sack. 10. for the passion of the heart , and convulsion fits , seven grains in borrage-water , and it is a great preserver of health , working only as a cordial , and you may safely take ten , twelve , fourteen , or sixteen , or eighteen or twenty grains at once for a full dose . 11. and if it be a great fever , small-pox , plague , poyson , or for a woman in labour , put into every dose three grains of bezoar-oriental . how to strengthen the back , and to make one lusty . take half a pint of malmsey , and a handful of the pith of an ox back , but take the pith out from the skin , then take four or five stalks of artichoaks , and take the pith out of them , but first cut the stalks into pieces so long as your finger , and then parboil them well , and then put it to the other things , and boil it gently to a jelly , and when you have done so , let it be cold , and then eat it upon the point of a knife morning and evening , and at any time of the day , so much as you shall think fitting , and if you would have it pleasant , make it sweet with white sugar-candy , but not with sugar . for one that cannot make his water . take thyme , and stop it in wine-vinegar one night or more , then take of this three spoonfuls blood-warm , after that you have eaten , at morning , noon , and night . how to help a stinking breath that cometh from the stomach . take two handfuls of cummin seeds , and beat them to powder , and seeth it in a pottle of white-wine until half be boiled away , and then give the party a good draught thereof first and last , morning and evening , as hot as he can suffer it , and in fifteen or sixteen days it will help . for the sciatica or the gout , my lord of sussex medicine , called flesh-unguetors . take of rosin half a pound , of perofin half a pound , of virgins-wax four ounces , of olibanum four ounces , of mastick half an ounce , of sheeps tallow , or of harts-tallow two ounces , of camphire three drams , and of turpentine three ounces the way to make it . first , beat all your gums aforesaid , every one by themselves , then take your tallow and your wax , and set them together on the fire , that done , put in your rosin , then your olibanum , and last of all your mastick : and when all is relented together over a soft fire of coals , then strain it through a thin canvas cloth into a pottle of white-wine , and then let them all boil together again until half the wine be wasted and sod away , then take it from the fire , and let it cool , then afterward when it is almost cold , anoint your hands with the oil of sweet almonds , and work it up in rowls like wax rowls , and in the time of the working thereof , cast in your camphire , beaten in fine powder by it self alone : this observed , that before you put in your camphire into the mortar for to be beaten into powder , you must always beat in the same mortar two or three almonds , for else your camphire will not be made into powder . the ordering of the same medicine . first , you must spread it upon a fine linnen cloth , plaisterwise , and so lay it upon every joynt where the pain is , but before the laying of your plaister , you must anoint all your joynts with the oil of roses , and the stuff of your plaister must be half an inch thick , and according unto the property of the same , you must let it stick and cling where you lay it , for the space of 9 or 10 days together , notwithstanding it doth put you to some pain or itch in the mean time , yet you must in any wise let it lie on still , for it will both draw out the sinews by little small pimples , and also heal it again , and this one plaister must serve during all the time of your disease without any manner of renewing . prob. of witness by my lord of suffolk . a table of the contents of the additions . b. lucanelions balsom , admirable for wounds , and many other things pag. 211 the vertues 212. 213. 214. 215 dr. turcables green balsom , with its vertue 224. 225. 226 how to strengthen the back 22● how to help a stinking breath that cometh from the stomach 230 c an excellent receipt against a cough of a consumption 210 a very good conserve for the help of a consumption and cough 218 a special drink against a consumption 219 an excellent water for one that is near , or in a consumption 223 d an excellent medicine for the dropsie , made for queen elizabeth , by doctor adrian , and doctor lacy 221 for the dropsie that swelleth 222 e the celestial water in the world for the eyes 223 g for the gout 231 l how to make one lusty 229 p a most certain and proved medicine against all manner of pestilence and plague , be it never so vehement 215 a most excellent powder much used by a person of quality late deceased , with its virtues 226. 227. 228. 229 s a rare sear-cloth , with its virtues 207. 208 for a surfeit 209 for the sciatica or the gout , my lord of sussex medicine , called flesh-unguetors , the manner of making and ordering the same 231. 232. 233 t how to make the oointment of tobacco , jobertus , with its virtues 216. 217 u for to stay vomiting presently 224 w for worms in children 220 for one that cannot make his water 230 y how to drive away the yellow of the face , that is caused by the overflowing of the gall 220 finis . a true gentlewomans delight . wherein is contain'd all manner of cookery . together with preserving , conserving , drying , and candying . very necessary for all ladies and gentlewomen . published by w. g. gent. london , printed for henry mortlock , at the phoenix in st. paul's church-yard , 1687. to the virtuous and most hopeful gentlewoman , mrs. anne pile , eldest daughter of the honourable sir francis pile baronet , deceased . most accomplisht lady , the many singular favours which i have received , not only from your worthy self , but also from your thrice noble progenitors , justly oblige me by all the duties of gratitude , to tender a just acknowledgment : i wish the same heart , that for many and just causes truly honours , you , had any present worthy your acceptance . now shall it be your singular goodness to patronage this small treatise , which ( if i mistake not ) carries with it two parts , delight , and utility . i doubt not then , but that it will find a general acceptance among all those who are any way the least lovers of such pleasing and all delightful studies . i intend not to paraphrase upon its worth , its use , and singular profit , which abundantly speaks it second unto none that hath been published of the like nature : so hoping you will accordingly esteem of it , i beg pardon for my boldness , and rest ever , a true and faithful honourer of your transparent virtues w. j. to the reader . friendly reader , here thou hast a small treatise , entituled a true gentlewomans delight , presented to thy view ; be so courteous as to read before thou censure it . if then the effect be answerable to its name , i shall be right glad : if here be any error , it will be no error , but a singular token of thy exemplar humanity to pass it by , and sign it with thy pardon , for which i engage my self , thine on the like occasion , w. l. a table of the contents . a to make apple cream p. 3 to fry apple pies 16 to make an artichoak-pie 18 to make angellets 21 to preserve apricocks 44. 57 to make apricock cakes 44 to candy apricocks 50 to make cakes of almonds 60 to preserve angelica roots 68 to make almond butter 75 to make flesh of apricocks 76 lady of arundels manchet 117 b to bake beef like red deer 19 to make fresh broth 30 to pickle broom buds 35 to make buket-bread 49 to make paste of barberries , or english currans 52 how to make pap of barly 59 a broth to drink 71. 73 a broth to eat on fasting days ib. how to stew beef 75 how to boil brawn 82 to boil a gammon of bacon ib. to bake a gammon of bacon 95 to bake fillets of beef , &c , 94 how to souce brawn 106 how to make bonny clutter 114 how to make drawn butter 117 c how to make a crystal jelly 2 how to make clouted cream 4 how to make quince cream 5 how to make a fresh cheese ib. how to make codling cream 6 how to make cheese-cakes 9 how to make slipcoat cheese 11 how to make cheese-loaves 12 how to make curd-cakes 16 how to make a chicken pie 18 a good way to stew chickens 31 how to pickle cucumbers 33 to do clove-gilli flowers up for salletting all the year 34 how to preserve currans 41 how to make a calves-foot pie 66 to boil a capon with brewis 69 how to make a spice cake 70 how to boil a chicken , &c. 72 to make a caudle 74 to dry cherries 79 to boil a capon in white broth 81 to boil chickens and sorrel-sops 85 to stew calves-feet 88 to stew cold chickens 90 to make paste for a custard 91 to bake calves-feet 94. 123 to bake a chicken pie 96. 119 to fry a chicken 104. 105 to make a tart of cherries 112 to boil cream 116 a calves-head pie for supper 124 a frigasie of chickens 132 to make a cake 133 to souce a calves-head 137 d how to make a made dish 15 how to make a forced dish of any cold meat 26 how to make a forced dish of a leg of mutton or lamb 27 how to boil a duck 28. 139 how to preserve white damsons 45 how to preserve damsons 7. 57 how to make fine diet-bread 56 how to boil a duck with turnips 84 e how to make essings 65 how to souce eels 107 how to souce an eel 136 f how to make a white fool 7 how to make a fool 8 how to make furmenty 17 how to candy all kind of fruitrage , as oranges , &c. 64 how to candy all kind of flowers , ib. how to boil flownders , &c. 76 how to boil divers kind of fish 86 to bake a florentine 98 to make fritters 105 to marble fish 110 g to make a goosberry fool 7 to make a goosberry custard 8 to make grout 36 to make goosberry tarts 40 to preserve goosberries 42 to make goosberry cakes 43 to do goosberries like hops ib. to preserve grapes 47 to preserve grapes to look clear and green 50 to make paste of goosberries 52 to souce a carp or gurnet 70 h to bake a hare 95 to roast a hare 99 to make a tart of hips 113 an artichoak pie 122 i to make an excellent jelly 1 to make a jelly of marmalet 37 to make a junket 114 k a florentine of kidneys 118 l to make leach 11 to make yellow leach ib. to fry a coast of lamb 28 to make cakes of lemons 48 to candy lemons and oranges 59 to make white lemon cakes 61 a lamb pye 120 a lark pye 125 a frigasie of lamb 131 m to make sauce for a shoulder of mutton 120 to roast a shoulder of mutton with thyme 20 to roast a shoulder of mutton with oysters ib. to boil a leg of mutton 32 to preserve medlers 41 to make makarooms 44 to preserve mulberrries 45 to boil a mallard , &c. 84 to stew a mallard 88 to roast a shoulder of mutton 100 to roast a leg of mutton 101 to roast a neck of mutton 102 to roast a chine of mutton ib. to roast a gigget of mutton 104 to make a tart of medlers 112 to scald milk after the western fashion 113 to harsh a shoulder of mutton 133 to make a leg of mutton three or four dishes 134 n to make broth for a neats-tongue 70 to roast a neats-tongue 100 a hot neats-tongue for supper 127 a cold neats-tongue pye ib. o to pickle oysters 36 how to make paste of oranges and of lemons 52 how to preserve oranges 78 an oyster pie 122 p how to make a sack posset 10 how to make black puddings 22 how to make white puddings ib. how to make almond pudding 23 how to make a pudding to bake 24 how to make a boil'd pudding ib. how to make a cream pudding to be boiled 25 how to pickle purslain 34 how to make a jelly of pippins 38 to preserve pippins white 46 to make paste-royal in spice 53 to candy pears , plumbs , &c. 54 to make paste-royal white , &c. 55 how to preserve pomecitrons 62 how to make a very good pye 67 how to make a fine pudding 71 how to make a ponado 74 how to souce a young pig 76 how to dry peaches 79 to boil a pike in white broth 85 to stew a pullen or capon 90 to make paste for a pasty of venison ib. to make paste for a pye to keep long 91 to make paste for buttered loaves , 92 to make paste for dumplings ib. to make puff-paste 93. 129 to make an italian pudding 97 to roast a pig with a pudding in the belly 101 to souce a pig 106 to make a tart of green pease 11● to make a pippin tart 113 to make a pudding in haste 11● to make a pudding in a dish 11● to boil pigeons 11● a pork pye 11● a potato pye for supper 12● pigeon or rabbet pye ib. to make a pudding 13● q to keep quinces all the year 32 to preserve white quinces 40 to make quince-cakes 46 to preserve quinces red 48 to make flesh of quinces 77 to bake quinces or wardens , &c. 95 r to preserve rasberries 40 to candy ringus roots 63 to boil a rabbet 83 139 to stew a rabbet 89 139 to make a tart of rice 111 a frigasie of rabbets 132 s to stew sausages 28 to make sugar-cakes 66 to make simbals 68 to make a sallet of all manner of herbs 87 to stew steaks between two dishes ib. to stew smelts or flounders 89 to bake a steak pye 97 to make a tart of strawberries 112 a skerry pye 124 t to make a tansie 13 to make black tart stuff 14 to make a yellow tart stuff ib. to make gallendine sauce for a turkie 31 to stew toruts 88 to bake a turkie 90 to fry tongues 105 to souce a tench or barbel 108 u to make cakes of violets 48 to make oil of violets 62 to boil veal 80 to bake chucks of veal 96 to roast a breast of veal 99 to roast a haunch of venison 102 to roast a shoulder or fillet of veal 103 to souce a breast of veal 108 to souce a fillet of veal 109 to marble beef , mutton or venison ib. a frigasie of veil 131 w to make a white-pot 26. 115 to make white-broth with a capon 29 to preserve green walnuts 39 to make a tart of wardens iii a true gentle womans delight . to make an excellent jelly . take three gallons of fair water , boil in it a knuckle of veal , and two calves feet slit in two with all the fat clear taken from between the claws , so let them boil to a very tender jelly , keeping it clean scummed , and the edges of the pot always wiped with a clean cloth , that none of the scum may boil in ; then strain it from the meat and let it stand all night , the next morning take away the top , and the bottom , and take to every quart of this jelly , half a pint of sherry-sack , half an ounce of cinnamon , and as much sugar as will season it , six whites of eggs very well beaten , mingle all these together , then boil it half an hour , and let it run through your jelly bag . to make a crystal jelly . take two calves feet , slice them and lay them in fair spring water with a knuckle of veal , shift it in half a dozen waters , take out the fat betwixt the claws , but do not break the bones , for if you do , the marrow of the bones will strain the jelly , when they are soft , and pickt very clean , boil them very tender in spring water ; when they be boiled tender , take them up , and use them at your pleasure to eat , let the broth stand in an earthen pot or pipkin , till it be cold , then take away the bottom and the top , and put the clear into a fair pipkin , put into it half a pound of fair sugar-candy , or other sugar , three drops of oyl of nutmeg , 3 drops of oil of mace , and a grain of musk , and so let it boil leisurely a quarter of an hour , then let it run through a jelly-bag into a gally-pot , when it is cold you may serve it in little careless lumps being taken out with a childs spoon , and this is the best way to make your crystal-jelly . to make apple-cream at any time . take twelve pippins , pare and slit them , then put them in a skillet , and some claret-wine , and a race of ginger shred thin , and a little lemon-peel cut small , and a little sugar . let all these stand together till they be soft , then take them off and put them in a dish till they be cold , then take a quart of cream , boil it with a little nutmeg a while , then put in as much of the apple stuff , to make it of what thickness you please , and so serve it up . to make a trifle cream . take some cream and boil it with a cut nutmeg , add lemon-peel a little , then take it off , cool it a little , and season it with a little rose-water and sugar to your taste : let this be put in the thing you serve it in , then put in a little runnet to make it come , then it is fit to eat . to make clouted cream . take 3 gallons of new milk , set it on the fire till it boileth , make a hole in the middle of the scum of the milk , then take a pottle or 3 pints of very good cream , put it into the hole you made in the middle of the milk , as it boileth , and let it boil together half an hour , then put it into 3 or 4 milk-pans , so let it stand two days , if the weather be not too hot , then take it up in clouts with a scummer , or a slice , and put it in that which you will serve it in , if you like it seasoned , you may put some rose-water between every clout as you lay one upon another with your slice in the dish you mean to serve it in . to make quince cream . take the quinces , and put them into boiling water unpared , then let them boil very fast uncovered that they may not colour , and when they are very tender , take them off and peel them , and beat the pap very small with sugar , and then take raw cream , and mix with it , till it be of fit thickness to eat like a cream , but if you boil the cream with a stick of cinnamon , i think it the better , it must stand till it be cold before you put it to the quinces . to make a fresh cheese . take a pint of fresh cream , set it on the fire , then take the white of six eggs , beat them very well , and wring in the juice of a good lemon to the whites , when the cream seeths up , put in the whites , and stir it about till it be turned , and then take it off , and put it into the cheese-cloth , and let the whey be drawn from it , then take the curd , and pound it in a stone-mortar with a little rose-water and sugar , and put it in an earthen cullender , and so let it stand till you send it to the table , then put it into a dish , put a little sweet cream to it , and so serve it in . to make a codling cream . after your codlings be throughly cooled and yielded , put them into a silver dish , and fill the dish almost half with rose-water , and half a pound of sugar , boil all these liquors together until half be consumed , and keep it stirring till it be ready , then fill up your dish with sweet cream , and stir it till it be well mingled , and when it hath boiled round about the dish , take it up , sweeten it with sugar , and serve it cold . how to make a goosberry fool. take your goosberries and pick them , and put them into clean water , and boil them till they be all as thick that you cannot discern what it is , to the value of a quart , take six yolks of eggs well beaten with rose-water , and before you put in your eggs , season it well with sugar then strain your eggs and let them boil a little while , then take it up , put it in a broad dish , and let it stand till it be cold , thus it must be eaten . how to make a white fool. take a quart of cream , and set it over the fire , and boil it with whole cinnamon , and sliced nutmeg , and sugar , then when it is almost ready , take the white of six eggs well beaten with rose-water , and scum off the froth from them , and put it into the cream , and boil it together a pretty while , then season it , and take the whole spice out of it , and put it up in a broad dish , and when it is cold , then it must be eaten . to make a goosberry custard . take as many goosberries as you please , boil them till they be soft , then take them out , and let them stand and cool , and then drain them , draw them with your hand through a canvas strainer , then put in a little rose-water , sugar , and three whites , and stir them all together , put them in a skillet , and stir them apace , else they will burn , let them stand and cool a little while ; take them off , and put them in a glass . to make a fool. take two quarts of cream , set it over the fire , and let it boil , then take the yolks of 12 eggs , and beat them well with 3 or 4 spoonfuls of cold cream ; before you put the eggs into the hot cream , take 3 or 4 spoonfuls of the cream out of the skillet , and put into the eggs , and stir it together , and then strain the eggs into the skillet of hot cream , stirring it all the time to keep it from burning ; then set it on the fire , and let it boyl a little while , but keep it still stirring for fear of burning , then take it off and let it stand and cool , then take 2 or 3 spoonfuls of sack , and put it in the dish , and some 4 or 5 sippets , and put them in the dish , set the dish and sippets a drying , and when they be dry , that they hang to the dish , sweeten the cream , and pour it in the dish softly , because the sippets shall not rise up , this will make three dishes : when it is cold , it is fit to be eaten . to make cheese-cakes . for the crust , take half a pint of flower , and 4 spoonfuls of cold water , and 3 parts of a quarter of a pound of butter , beat and knead these together , and put the paste asunder several times , then roul it square , and turn it over , then take a pint of cream , and 7 eggs , and a quarter of a pound of sugar , and a quarter of a pound of currans plumpt before you put them in , and a whole nutmeg grated on a knife , and some pepper beaten , but not too much , it must be gently boyled and stirred as you do butter'd eggs , the stuff must be cold , and then put in the coffin , and so bake it . to make a sack-posset . take two quarts of pure good cream , a quarter of a pound of the best almonds , stamp them in the cream , and boyl amber and musk therein , then take a pint of sack in a bason , and set it on a chafing-dish till it be blood-warm , then take the yolks of 12 eggs , with 4 whites , and beat them very well together , and so put the eggs into the sack , and make it good and hot , let the cream cool a little before you put it into the sack , then stir all together over the coals , till it be as thick as you would have it , if you take some amber and musk , and grind it small with sugar , and strew it on the top of the posset , it will give it a most delicate and pleasant tast . to make leach . make your jelly for your leach with calves-feet , as you do your ordinary jelly , but a little stiffer , and when it is cold take off the top and bottom , and set it over the fire with some cinnamon and sugar , then take your turnsels , being well steept in sack , and crush it and so strain it in your leach , and let it boyl to such a thickness , that when it is cold you may slice it . to make yellow leach . your yellow leach is just the same , but instead of turnsels , you must colour it with saffron , and when it is boyled enough , then put in your saffron , and not before , it must not boyl in it . to make a slipcoat-cheese . take five quarts of new milk from the cow , and 1 quart of water and 1 spoonful of runnet , and stir it together , and let it stand till it doth come , then lay your cheese-cloth into the vate , and take up your curd as fast as you can , without breaking , and put it to your vate , and let the whey soak out it self , when you have taken it all up , lay a cloth on the top of it and 1 pound weight for one hour , then lay 2 pound weight for an hour more , then turn him , when he hath stood 2 hours , lay three pound on him for an hour more , then take him out of the vate , and let him lie 2 or 3 hours , and then salt him on both sides , when he is salt enough , take a clean cloth and wipe him dry , then let him lie a day or a night then put nettles under the upon him , and change them once a day , the cheese will come to his eating in 8 or 9 days . to make cheese-loaves . take the curds of a tender , new-milk cheese , and let them be well pressed from the whey , and then break them as small as you can possible , then take crumbs of manchet and yolks of eggs , with half the whites and some sweet cream , and a little fine flower , mingle all these together and make a paste of it , but not too stiff , then make them into little loaves , and bake them , when they be baked , cut off the tops , and butter them , with sugar , nutmeg and melted butter , and put it in with a spoon , and stir it altogether , then lay on all the tops , and sear them with scraped sugar . how to make a very good tansie . take 15 eggs , & 6 of the whites , beat them very well ; then put in some sugar , and a little sack , beat them again and put about a pint or a little more of cream , then beat them again , then put in the juice of spinage or of primrose-leaves to make it green , then put in some more sugar , if it be not sweet enough , then beat it again a little , and so let it stand till you fry it , when the first course is in , then fry it with a little sweet butter , it must be stirred and fryed very tender , when it is fryed enough , then put it in a dish , and strew some sugar upon it , and serve it in . to make black tart stuff . to a dozen pound of prunes take half a dozen of maligo-raisins , wash and pick them clean , and put them into a pot of water , set them over the fire till all these are like pulp , and stir them often lest they burn to , them take them off , and let them be rubbed through a hair sive hard with your hands , by little and little , till all be through , then season them to your taste with searced ginger . to make yellow tart stuff . take 24 eggs , & beat them with salt together , and put into it a quart of seething milk , stirring it until it caudles , then take it off , and put it into a napkin , hanging it up till all the whey be run through , when it is cold take it and grind it in a stone-mortar with sack and sugar to your taste , and otherwise to make it look white , leave the yolks , and instead of sack put in rose-water . to make a made dish . take a quarter of a pound of almonds , beat them small , and in the beating of them put in a little rose-water to keep them from oyling , strain them into cream , then take artichoak bottoms , and marrow , and boyl the redness of the marrow out , then take a quart of cream , & boyl it with dates , rose-water and sugar , & when it is boyled to a convenient thickness , take it off , and take your artichoaks and pare off the leaves and lay them into a dish , and some marrow upon them , then pour some cream upon them , then set it on coals till you serve it in . a sauce for a shoulder of mutton . take a few oysters , and some sweet herbs , and an onion , and a pint of white-wine , and a little beaten nutmeg , a little salt and a large mace , a little lemon pilled , and a little sugar , a little leaker posset , if you have no oysters take capers in the room of them , and some gravy of the mutton . to fry apple pies . take apples and pare them , and chop them very small , beat in a little cinnamon , a little ginger , some sugar and a little rose-water , take your paste , roul it thin , and make them up as big pasties as you please , to hold a spoonful or a little less of your apples , and so fry them with butter not too hasty , lest they be burned . to make curd cakes . take a pint of curd , four eggs , take out two of the whites , put in some sugar , a little nutmeg , and a little flower , stir them well together , and drop them in , and fry them with a little butter . to make furmenty . take a quart of sweet cream , 2 or 3 sprigs of mace , and a nutmeg cut in half , put it into your cream , so let it boyl , then take your french-barley or rice , being first washed clean in fair water three times and picked clean , then boyl it in sweet milk till it be tender , then put it into your cream , and boyl it well , and when it hath boyled a good while , take the yolks of 6 or seven eggs , beat them very well , to thicken on a soft fire boyl it , and stir it , for it will quickly burn , when you think it is boyled enough sweeten it to your tast , and so serve it in with rose-water and musk-sugar , in the same manner you make it with wheat . to make an artichoak pye. take the bottom of six artichoaks , being boyled very tender , put them in a dish , and put some vinegar over them , season them with ginger , and sugar , and a little mace whole , putting them into a pye , and when you lay them in , lay some marrow and dates sliced in , and a few raisins of the sun in the bottom , with good store o● butter , so close the pie , when it is half baked take a dish of sack , being boyled first with sugar , and a pill of orange , put in into your pie , and set it in the oven again till you use it . to make a chicken pie. make your paste with good store of butter and yolks of eggs and sugar , then take six small chickens , taking out the breast-bone , & trussing them round , take 2 nutmegs and a good quantity of cinamon , & cut it in little pieces , take 2 yolks of eggs , and beat them with six spoonfuls of verjuice , then take your juice and verjuice , & a little salt , stir them well together , take a good deal of butter , and wet it in the verjuice , and put it in the bellies of the chickens , so lay them in the pie with butter under them , then take half a pound of currans washed and dried , so lay them on the top of the chickens , with a piece of marrow , barberries , grapes , and good store of butter and sugar , as will season it , a little before you draw out your pie , put in verjuice and sugar , boyled together . to bake beef like red deer . take a pound of beef and slice it thin , and half a pint of good wine vinegar , some 3 cloves , and mace above an ounce , 3 nutmegs , pound them all together ; pepper and salt , according to your discretion , and a little sugar , mix these together , take a pound and a half of suet , shred and beat it small in a mortar , then lay a row of suet , a row of beef , strow your spices between every lane , then your vinegar , so do till you have laid in all , then make it up , but first beat it close with a rowling pin , then press it a day before you put it in your paste . to roast a shoulder of mutton with thyme . draw your shoulder of mutton , and when it is half roasted save the gravy , and cut a good deal of the inside of it , and mince it gross , and boyl it in a dish with the gravy , and thyme , clarret-wine , and sliced nutmeg , and when your shoulder is roasted , lay it in the dish with sliced lemon , but remember to scotch your mutton in roasting , as you do when you boyl it . to roast a shoulder of mutton ▪ with oysters . when you open the oysters , save the liquor , then season them with pepper , and a little cloves , and mace , and herbs finely chopped , and the yolks of 2 or 3 eggs chopped small and some currans parboyled a little , then stuff your shoulder of mutton thick with your oysters , then season it and lay it to the fire and roast it , then take the rest of your oysters , & boyl them with a little white-wine , and some butter , this is sauce for your shoulder of mutton , when your oysters are opened , you may parboyl them in their own liquor , then take them out and season them . to make angellets . take a quart of new milk and a pint of cream , and put them together with a little runnet , when it is come well take it up with a spoon , & put it into the vate softly and let it stand 2 days till it is pretty stiff , then slip it out and salt it a little at both ends , and when you think it is salt enough , set it a draying , and wipe them , and within a quarter of a year they will be ready to eat . to make black puddings . take your blood when it is warm , put in some salt , and when it is throughly cold , put in your groats well pickt , and let it stand soaking a night , put in the herbs which must be rosemary , large savory , pennyroyal , thyme , and fennel , then make it soft with putting of good cream hot until the blood look pale ; then beat 4 or 5 eggs , whites and all , and mingle it , then season it with cloves , mace , pepper , fennelseeds , then put good store of beef-suet in your stuff , and mince your fat not too small . to make white puddings . after the humbles be very tender boyled , take some of the lights with the hearts , and all the flesh and fat about them , pricking from them all the sinews and skin , then chop the meat small as can be , then put to it a little of the liver v●ry finely searced , some grated bread searced , four or five yolks of eggs , a pint of very good cream , a spoonful or two of sack , a little sugar , cinnamon , cloves and mace , a little nutmeg , a few carraway-seeds , a little rose-water mingled with a god deal of swines fat , a little salt , roul it in rouls two hours before you go about it , let the fat side of the skin be turned and steeped in rose-water till you fill them . to make almond puddings . take a pound of almonds blanched , and beat them very small with a little rose-water , boyl good milk with a flake of mace , and a little sliced nutmeg ; when it is boyled , take it clean from the spice , then take the quantity of a penny loaf , grate it , and searce it through a cullender , and then put it into the milk , and let it stand till it be pretty cool , then put in the almonds , and 5 or 6 yolks of eggs , and a little salt & sugar , what you think fit , and good store of beef-suet , and marrow very finely shred . to make a pudding to bake . take a penny loaf , pare it , slice it in a quart of cream , with a little rose-water , & break it very small ; take 3 ounces of jordan almonds blanch'd , and beaten small with a little sugar , put in some 8 eggs beaten , a marrow-bone , and 2 or 3 pippins sliced thin , or any way , mingle these together , and put in a little ambergreece , if you please . to make a boyled pudding . take a pint of cream , or milk , boyl it with a stick of cinnamon a little while , and take it off , & let it stand till it be cold , put in 6 eggs , take out 3 whites , beat your eggs a little before you put them into the milk , then stir them together , then take a penny roul , and slice it very thin , and let it lie and soak , and then bray it very small , then put in some sugar , and butter your cloth before you put it in , it will take but a little while seething , and when you take it up , melt a little fresh butter , and a little sack and sugar , beat all these together and put it into the dish with your pudding to be served in . to make a cream pudding to be boyled . take a pint and a half of thick cream , and boyl it with mace , ginger , and nutmeg quartered , then put to it 8 eggs , with four whites beaten , and almonds blanch'd a pound , and strained in with the cream , a little rose-water , and sugar , and a spoonful of flower searced very fine , then take a thick napkin , wet it , and rub it with flower , and tie the pudding up in it , boyl it where mutton is boyled , or in the beef-pot ; remember to take out the whole spice out of the cream when it is boyled ; the sauce for this pudding is a little sack , sugar , and a pretty piece of butter ; you must blanch some almonds , when they are blanched , cut every almond in 3 or 4 pieces the long way , and stick them up an end upon the pudding very thick . to make a white-pot . take a pint and a half of cream , a quarter of a pound of sugar , a little rose-water , a few dates sliced , a few raisins of the sun , six or 7 eggs , and a little large mace , a sliced pippin , or lemon , cut sippet fashion for your dishes you bake in , and dip them in sack , or rose-water . to make a forced dish of any cold meat . take any cold meat and shred it small a little cloves and mace , and nutmeg , and 2 yolks of eggs , a spoonful or two of rose-water , a little grated bread , a little beef-suet shred small , make it up in balls , or any fashion yo● please , and boyl them in tried suet between two earthen dishes , your suet must boyl before you put in your meat , for sauce a little butter , verjuice , and sugar . to make a forced dish of a leg of mutton or lamb. take a leg of mutton or lamb cut out the flesh , and take heed you break not the skin of it , then parboyl it , and mince it with a little beef-suet , put into it a little sweet herbs shred , 3 or 4 dates sliced , a little beaten nutmeg , cloves , and mace , a few currans , a little sugar , a little verjuice , 3 or 4 eggs , mix them together , and put them in the skin , and set it in a dish and bake it . to boyl a calves-head with oysters . take the head , and boyl it with water and salt , a little white-wine , or verjuice , and when it is almost enough , then cut some oysters , and mingle them together , and a blade or two of mace , a little pepper , and salt , and a little liquor of the oysters , then put it together , and put it to the calves-head , and the largest oysters upon it , & a slit lemon , and barberries , so serve it in . to fry a coast of lamb. take a coast of lamb , and parboyl it , take out all the bones as near as you can , and take 4 or 5 yolks of eggs beaten , a little thyme and sweet marjoram , and parsly minced very small , and beat it with the eggs , and cut your lamb into square pieces , and dip them into the eggs and herbs , and fry them with butter , then take a little butter , white-wine and sugar for sauce . to stew sausages . boyl them in fair water and salt a little , for sauce boyl some currans alone , when they be almost tender , then pour out the water , and put in a little white-wine , butter and sugar . to boyl ducks . when they be half boyled , take a quart of the liquor and strain it , and put a quart of white-wine , and some whole mace , cloves , and nutmegs sliced , and cinnamon , and a few onions shred , a bundle of sweet herbs , a few capers , and a little camphire , when it is boyled , put some sugar to season it withal . to make white-broth with a capon . truss your capons , and boyl them in fair water , and when they are half boyled , take out 3 pints of the liquor , and put it into a quart of sack , and as much white-wine , and slice 2 ounces of dates , half or quarterwise , as you please , a little whole mace , cloves and cinnamon , a nutmeg sliced , of each a little quantity , boyl the broth in a pipkin by it self , until the dates begin to be tender , then put in the marrow of two bones , and let it boyl a little , not too much , then when your capons be near ready , break twenty eggs , save the yolks from the whites , and beat the yolks until you may take up a spoonful , and it will not run beside the spoon , then you must put a little cold broth to him , and so strain them through a cloth , then take up some of the hot broth to beat your eggs , because else it will turn , let it have a walm or 2 after the eggs be in , but not seeth too much for fear it turns , then dish your capons , and pour your broth on them , and garnish your dish as your please . to make stewed broth. take a neck of mutton , or a rump of beef , let it boyl , and scum your pot clean , thicken your pot with grated bread , and put in some beaten spice , as mace , nutmegs , cinnamon , and a little pepper , put in a pound of currans , a pound and a half of raisins of the sun , 2 pound of prunes last of all , then when it is stewed , so season it with a quart of claret and a pint of sack , and some sanders to colour it , and a pound of sugar to sweeten it , or more if need be , you must seeth some whole spice to garnish your dish withal , and a few whole prunes out of your pot . to make gallendine sauce for a turkie . t●ke some claret-wine , and some grated bread and a sprig of rosemary , a little beaten cloves , a little beaten cinnamon , and some sugar . an exceeding good way to stew ▪ chickens . take chickens , fley them , and cut them in pieces corss-way , then put them in a pipkin or skillet , and cover them almost with pepper , and mace , and water , so let them stew softly with a whole onion in it , till part of the liquor be consumed , then put in as much white-wine as will cover them again , take parsley , sweet marjoram , winter-savory with a little thyme , and shred them very small , and put them in , and let them boyl till they are almost enough , then put in a good piece of butter . to boyl a leg of mutton . take a leg of mutton , and stuff it , for the stuffing , take a little beef suet , and a few sweet herbs , chop them small , and stuff it , then boyl it , and put in a handful of sweet herbs , cut them small , mingle a hard egg amongst the herbs , and stew it upon the mutton , melt a little butter and vinegar , and put into a dish , and send it in . to keep quinces all the year . first , you must core them , and take out the kernels clean , and keep the cores and kernels , and set over some water to boyl them , then put them in when you set over the water , then let them boyl till they be a little soft , and then take them up , and set them down till they be cold , then take the kernels and stamp them , and put them into the same water they were boyled in , and let them boyl till they be thick , see you have as much liquor as will cover the quinces , and if you have not enough , take of the smallest quinces , and stamp them to make more liquor , and when it is boyled good and thick , you must strain it through a coarse cloth , and when the quinces be cold , then put them into a pot , and the liquor also , and be sure the liquor cover them , you must lay some weight upon them to keep them under , so cover them close , let them stand 14 days and they will work of their own accord , and they will have a thick rind upon them , and when they wax hoary or thick , then take it from the liquor , for it will have a skin on it within a month or six weeks . to pickle cucumbers . take the cucumbers , and wash them clean , and dry them clean in a cloth , then take some water , vinegar , salt , fennel-tops , and some dill-tops , and a little mace , make it fast enough , and sharp enough to the tast , then boyl it a while , and then take it off , and let it stand and be cold , then put in the cucumbers , and lay a board on the top to keep them down , and tye them close , and within a week they wil● be fit to eat . to pickle purslain . take the purslain , and pick it i● little pieces , and put it into a po● or barrel , then take a little water vinegar and salt to your tast , it mu●● be pretty strong of the vinega● and salt , and a little mace , an● boyl all these together , and po●● this liquor in seething hot into the purslain , and when it is cold , tie it close , but lay a little board on the top to keep it down , and within a week or 2 it is fit to eat . to do clove-gilliflowers up for salletting all the year . take as many clove-gilliflower● as you please , slip off the leaves , then strow some sugar in the bottom of the gally-pot that you do them in , and then a lane of gilliflowers , and then a lane of sugar , and so do till all the gilliflowers be done , then pour some claret-wine into them , as much as will cover them , then cut a piece of a thin board , and lay it on them to keep them down , then tye them close and set them in the sun , and let them stand a month , or thereabouts , but keep them from any rain or wet . to pickle broom-buds . take as many broom-buds as you please , make linnen-bags , and put them in , and tye them close , then make some brine with water and salt , and boyl it a little , let it be cold , then put some brine in a deep earthen pot , and put the bags in it , and lay some weight on them , let it lye there till it look black , then shift it again , so you must do as long as it looks black , you mu●● boyl them in a little cladro●● and put them in vinegar a wee● or two , and then they will be 〈◊〉 to eat . to pickle oysters . take your oysters , and pic● them out of the shells , and save th● liquor that cometh from them then take your oysters one b● one , and wash them clean out ●●grist , then strain the liquor , an● take a quantity of white-wine , 〈◊〉 a large mace or two , and 2 or 〈◊〉 slices of nutmeg , & pepper gros● beaten , and salt them , boyl it together , then put in your oysters , an● boyl them , then take the yolk of a● egg , and beat it well with wine● vinegar , then take up your oyster● and let them cool , then put in yo●● egg , and let it boyl , take it off , le● it cool , and put it up together . to make grout . take some wheat and bea● and when you have made it int● malt , then rittle it , take some water , or some small wort , and heat it scalding hot , and put it into a pail , then stir in the malt , then take a piece of sowre leaven , and stir it about , and cover it , and let it stand till it will cream , then put in some orange-pills , then put it over the fire , and boyl it , keeping it stirring till all the white be gone . to make jelly of marmalet . take quinces , and pare them , cut them into water into little pieces , and when you have done all , then take them out of the water , and weigh them , and to every pound of quinces , take five quarters of a pound of sugar , and half a quarter , then put it into the skillet , and put as much water , as will make it pretty thin , then set it on the fire , and clarifie it with the white of an egg , and scum it off clear , then put in your quinces , and let it boyl a pretty space , and cover it close till it is pretty thick , then leave stirring it till it is thick enough for marmalet , and take it off , and put it in a glass , and do it with your knife in little works , when you have done let it stand , your posnet must boyl all the while , you must put in as much water as will make it pretty thin , when it is boyled to a pretty good colour , then strain it , and weigh it , then take of loaf-sugar , as much as it weighs , and boyl it all together to a jelly , then pour it into your marmalet glass , then put it in a stove , and put some fi●e in every day . to make jelly of pippins . take pippins , pare , quarter and core them , lay them in water , and when you set them on the fire , shift them in another water , and put them in a skillet , and put as much water as will cover them , and a little more , set them over the fire , and make them boyl as fast as you can , when the apples are soft , and the liquor tasts strong of the apples , then take them off and strain them through a piece of canvas gently , take to a pound of juice a pound of sugar , then set it on the fire , when it is melted , strain it into a bason , and rince your skillet again , set it on the fire , and when it is boyled up , then scum it , and make it boyl as fast as you can , and when it is almost boyled , put in the juice of 3 lemons strained through a cloth , if you will have orange-pill , pare it thin , that the white be not seen , and then lay it in the water all night , then boyl them in the water till the pill be soft , then cut them in long pieces , then put it into the syrrup , and stir it about , and fill your glasses , and let it stand till it be cold , and then it is ready to eat . to preserve green walnuts . take walnuts , and boyl them till the water do tast bitter , then take them off and put them in cold water , and pill off the bark , and weigh as much sugar as they weigh , and a little more water than will wet the sugar , set them on the fire , and when they boyl up take them off and let them stand 2 days and boyl them again once more . to preserve white quinces . take a pound of quinces , boyl them with the skin on , but core and pare them , take a quarter of a pound of sugar , with water no more than will wet the sugar , put the quinces into it presently , boyl them as fast as may be , and skin them , when the syrrup is thick , take it up . to make goosberry tarts . take a pint of goosberries , and put them into a quarter of a pound of sugar , and 2 spponfuls of water , and put them on the fire and stir them as you did the former . to preserve rasberries . take as many as you please , a lay of sugar , and a lay of rasberries , and so lay them into the skillet , and as much water as you think will make syrrup enough , and boyl them , and put two spoonfuls of water in , bescum it , take it off , and let it stand . to preserve currans . part them in the tops , lay a lane of currans , and a lane of sugar , and so boyl them as fast as you do rasberries , do not put in the spoon , but scum them , boyl them till the syrrup be pretty thick , then take them off , and let them stand till they be cold , and put them into a glass . to preserve medlars . take the just weight of sugar as they weigh , to a pound of sugar put a pint and half of water , scald them as long as the skin will come off , stone them at the head , put the water to the sugar , and boyl it , and strain it , put in the medlars , boyl them apace , let them stand till they be thick , then take them off . to preserve goosberries . take the fairest goosberries you can get , with the stalks on , prick 3 or 4 holes in every one of them , then take the weight of them in sugar , lay the best part of the sugar in the bottom of a silver or pewter dish , then lay your goosberries one by one upon it , strew some of the rest of the sugar upon them , and put 2 spoonfuls of the water into half a pound , then set the goosberries on a chafing-dish of coals , and let them stand uncovered , scalding upon the fire a pretty while before they boyl , but not too long , for then they will grow red , and when they be boyling , let them not boyl too fast , when they be enough , put them up , you must put the rest of the sugar on them as they boyl , and that will harden them , and keep them from breaking . to make goosberry cakes . pick as many goosberries as you please , and put them into an earthen pitcher , and set it in a kettle of water , till they be soft , and then put them into a sive , and let them stand till all the juice be out , and weigh the juice , and as much sugar as syrrup , first boyl the sugar to a candy , and take it off , and put in the juice , and set it on again till it be hot , and take it off , and set them in press till they be dry , then they are ready . to do goosberries like hops . take pricks of black thorn , then take goosberries , and cut them a little a cross , take out the stones , put them upon the pricks , weigh as much sugar as they weigh , and take a quart or a pint of water , and put into the sugar , and let it boyl a while , then put in the hops , let them stand and scald 2 hours upon the coals till they be soft ; then take out the hops , and boyl the syrrup a while , then take it off , and put in the hops . to preserve apricocks . first , stone them & weigh them , and take as much sugar as apricocks , put in a bason , some in the bottom , and some on the top , let them stand all night , set them on the fire till they be scalding hot , then heat them twice more . to make apricock cakes . take as many apricocks as you please , and pare them , put as much sugar as they weigh , take no more water than will melt the sugar , then boil the sugar and it together , till they be pretty stiff , then take them off , and put them in saucers . to make mackerooms . take half a pound of almonds , put them in water , stamp them small , put in some rose-water , a good spoonful of flower , 4 eggs , half a pound of sugar ; in the beating of the eggs , put in the almonds ; heat the oven hot enough to bake a custard , put them in , when you have taken them out , let them stand till they be cold , they must be baked in earthen pans round , and buttered very thin . how to preserve white damsons green. take white damsons , scald them in water till they be hard , then take them off , and pick as many as you please , take as much sugar as they weigh , strew a little in the bottom , put 2 or 3 spoonfuls of water , then put in the damsons and the sugar , and boyl them , take them off , then let them stand a day or two , then boyl them again , take them off , and let them stand till they be cold . how to preserve mulberries . take as many mulberries as you please , and as much sugar as they weigh ; first , wet the sugar with some juice of mulberries , stir your sugar together , then put in your mulberries , then boyl them apace till you think they are boyled enough , then take them off , and boyl the syrrup a while , and put in the mulberries , let them stand till they be cold . to preserve pippins white . take some pippins , and pare them and cut them the cross way , and weigh them , add to a pound of sugar a pint of water , then put the sugar to the water , and then let it boyl a while , and then put in the pippins , and let them boyl till they be clear at the core , take them off and put them up . to make white cheese cakes . scald quinces , and let them stand till they be cold , but not seethed till they be tender enough , then take them off , and pare them , then scrape off the softest , and do it through a sive , and then weigh as much sugar as it doth weigh , and beat it , and sift it into the quinces , and stir it all together , and set it on the coals , and stir it about , but let it not boyl at all , but let it stand and cool till it be pretty thick , then take it off , & put it in glass saucers . to preserve grapes . stamp and strain them let it settle a while before you wet a pound of sugar or grapes with the juice , stone the grapes , save the liquor , in the stoning , take off the stalks , give them a boyling , take them off , and put them up . to preserve damsons . take as many as you please , and weigh as much sugar as they weigh , and strew some on the bottom , and some on the top , and you may wet the sugar with some syrrup of damsons , and a little water , then set them on the fire , and let them stand and soak softly about an hour , then take them off , and let them stand a day or two , then boyl them till you think they be enough , take them off , and put them up . to make cakes of lemons of violets . take of the finest double refined sugar , beaten very fine , and searced through fine tiffany , and to half a silver porringer of sugar , put to it two spoonfuls of water , and boyl it till it be almost sugar again , then grate of the hardest rinded lemon , then stir it into your sugar , put it into your coffins or paper , and when they be cold , take them off . how to preserve quinces red . take your quinces , and weigh them to a pound , put a pound of sugar , and half a pint of water , put your water to your sugar , and let it stand , your quinces must be scalded till they be tender , take them off , pare them , and core them , but not too much , then put them into the skillet where the sugar is , then set them on the fire , and let them boyl two hours , if it be not enough , boyl it a little more , pour it to the quinces , and stop it close . to make bisket-bread . take a pound and a half of white loaf sugar , and so much flower , as much annise-seeds , coriander-seed , and carraway-seed as you please , and 12 eggs , 3 whites left out , take the sugar , and sift it fine , and the flower also , and beat your eggs a little , and mingle them well together with four spoonfuls of damask-rose water , beat them well together , and put in two spoonfuls more , and beat it again about an hour and a half in all , then butter plate-trenchers , and fit them with stuff , scrape some sugar on them , and blow it off again , heat your oven hot enough to bake a pye , and let the lid stand up a little while to draw down the heat from the top , then take the lid down again , and let it stand till it be cold , that you may suffer your hand in the bottom , then set in the plates , and set up the lid again until they rise , then take them out , and loose them from the plates , and scrape the bottoms , and let them stand four hours , then they be fit to eat . how to preserve grapes to look clear and green . take a pound of grapes with no stalks on them , when they do begin to be ripe , then weigh as much double refined sugar , beaten small , then take the grapes that are weighed , stone them at the place where the stalks are , pull off the skin , and strew some sugar in the bottom of the thing you do them in , and so lay them in the sugar you did weigh , till you have stoned and pilled them , and so strew the sugar upon them , and set them on the fire , and let them boyl as fast as can be , till the syrrup be pretty thick , then take them off , and put them up until they be cold . how to candy apricocks . take your apricocks , the fairest , and scald them , and pill them , between two cloths crush the water softly out of them , as dry as you can without too much flatting them , then take of searced sugar almost as much as they weigh , and boyl it all together to a candy height ; then take it off the fire , and lay the apricocks in it one by one , with a feather anoint them over , then set them on a chafing-dish of coals , and let them be thorough sod , but not boyl , then take them off the fire , and set it on the stove or oven blood-warm , and twice a day set them on the fire , and turn them once at every heating , anoint them with a feather , and the same syrrup every time you take them off the fire , this do till you see the syrrup begin to spattle , and be full of eyes , then take them out of the syrrup , and lay them on glass-plates , and dry them in a stove or oven , turning them a day or two till they be dry : white pear-plumbs may be done thus . how to make paste of goosberries , or barberries , or english currans . take any of these tender fruits , and boil them softly on a chafing-dish of coals , then strain them with the pap of a roasted apple , then take as much sugar as it weighs , and boil it to a candy height , with as much rose-water as will melt the sugar , then put in the pap of your fruit into the hot sugar , and let it boil leisurely , till you see it reasonable stiff , almost as thick as for marmalet : then fashion it on a sheet of glass , and so put it into the oven upon 2 billets , that the glass may not touch the bottom of the oven , for if it do , it will make the paste rough , and so let it dry leisurely , and when it is dry you may box it up , and keep it all the year . how to make paste of oranges and lemons . take your oranges and lemons and set on the fire 2 vessels of fair water at once , boil them , and then shift the water 7 times , that the bitterness may be taken from them , slit them through the midst , and take out the kernels , and wring out all the water from them , then beat them in an alabaster mortar , with the paps of 3 or 4 pippins , then strain it through a fine strainer , then take as much sugar as that pap doth weigh , being boiled to a candy height , with as much rose-water as will melt the sugar , then put the pap of your oranges and lemons into the hot sugar , and so let it boil leisurely with stirring , and when you see it stiff as for manchet , the fashion it on a sheet of glass , and so set it in a stove or oven , and when it is throughly dry , box it up for all the year . how to make paste-royal in sauce take sugar , the quantity of four ounces , very finely beaten and scarced , and put it into an ounce of cinnamon and ginger , and a grain of musk , and so beat it into paste , with a little gum-dragon steeped in rose-water , and when you have beaten it into paste in a stone mortar , then roul it thin , and print it with your moulders , then dry it before the fire , and when it is dry , box it up and keep it all the year . how to candy pears , plumbs , or apricocks , that they shall look as clear as amber . take your apricocks & plumbs , and give every one a cut to the stone , in the notch , and then cast sugar on them , and bake them in an oven as hot as for manchet , close stopped , bake them in an earthen platter , let them stand half an hour , then take them out of the dish , and lay them one by one upon glass plates , and so dry them ; if you can get glasses , made like marmalet boxes to lay over them , they will be the sooner candied ; this is the manner to candy any such fruit . how to make paste-royal white , that you may make court boles , caps , gloves , shooes , or any pretty thing in moulds . take half a pound of double refined sugar , and beat it well , and searce it through a fine lawn , then put it into a fine alabaster mortar , with a little gum-dragon steeped in a little rose-water , and one grain of musk , so beat it in a mortar till it comes to a pretty paste , then roul it thin with a rouling-pin , and print it with your moulders , like gloves , shooes , or any thing else , and some you may roul very thin with a rouling-pin , and let it dry in an ashen dish , otherwise called a court cup , and let it stand in the dish till it be dry , and it will be like a saucer , you must dry them on a board far from the fire , but you must not put them in an oven , they will be dry in two or three hours , and be as white as snow , then you may gild box and cup. how to make fine diet-bread . take a pound of fine flower twice or thrice drest , and 1 pound & a quarter of fine sugar finely beaten , and take 7 new laid eggs , and put away the yolk of 1 of them and beat them very well , and put 4 or 5 spoonfuls of rose-water amongst them , and then put them in an alabaster or marble mortar , and then put in the flower and sugar by degrees , & beat it or pound it for the space of 2 hours until it be perfectly white , and then put in an ounce of carraway-seed , then butter your plates and sawcers , and put in of every one , and so put them into the oven : if you will have a glass and ice on the top , you must wash it with a feather , and then strew sugar very finely beaten on the top before you put it into the oven . how to preserve apricocks . take your apricocks and put them into a skillet of fair water and put them over the fire until they be something tender , then take them up out of the water , and take a bodkin , and thrust out the stones at the top , and then pill off their skins , and when you have done , put them into a silver dish or bason , and lay sugar very finely beaten over and under them , and put a spoonful or 2 of water unto them , and set them over a very soft fire until they be ready , then take them up , and lay them into another dish a cooling , and if you see good , boil the syrrup a little more , when they are cold , and the syrrup almost cold , put them up in a gally-pot or glass together . how to preserve damsons . take a pound or something more of pure sugar finely beaten , and then take a pound of damsons and cut a scotch in the side of each of them , and put a row of sugar o● a silver dish or bason , and then lay in a row of plumbs , and then cover it with sugar , and so lay it in til● they be all in , and then take two spoonfuls of clear wheat , and make a hole in the middle of them , and set it over a soft fire , and look to 〈◊〉 carefully for fear the sugar should burn , and when the sugar is all dissolved , shake them together , and stir them gently , and then set the● down and cover them till they be cold ; and when they be cold , s●● them upon the coals again , and then let them boil gently till they be ready ; and when they are ready , take them down , and take them every one by its stem , and cover them with the skin as wel● as you can , and then put them al● one by one in a dish , and if the syrrup be not boiled enough , set it over , and let it boil a little longer , and when the plumbs be cold , put them in a gally-pot , or glass , and pour the syrrup to them , while it is a little warm , you must not forget to take away the skin of the plumbs as it riseth . how to make pap of barley . take barley , and boil it in fair water softly until it begin to break , then put that liquor out , then put as much hot liquor to it as you put forth , and so let it boil till it be very soft , then put it into a cullender and strain it , then take a handful of almonds , and grind them very well with your barley , and some of the liquor , so season it with sugar , and a little rose-water , a little whole mace and cinnamon , and boil them well together . how to candy oranges and lemons . take the peels of your oranges and lemons , the white cut away , and lay them in water 5 or 6 days , shifting them twice every day , then seeth them till they be very tender , then take them out of the water , and let them lie until they be cold , then cut them in small pieces square , the bigness of a penny or less , then take to every 3 , two ounces of sugar , put to it a quantity of fair water , and a less quantity of rose-water , and make a syrrup thereof , then scum it very clean , and put in your peels , and let them boil for the space of an hour , or longer if you find your liquor wanting , you may put in more water at your pleasure , then boil them a little space after with a little sharp fire , stirring it always for burning , then take it off the fire 3 or 4 times , stirring them all the while , and set them off again until they be candied . how to make cakes of almonds . take 1 pound and a half of fine flower , of sugar 12 ounces beaten very fine , mingle them well together , then take half a pound of almonds , blanch them , and grind them fine in a mortar , then strain them with as much sack as will mingle the flower , sugar and almonds together , make a paste , bake them in an oven not too hot . how to make white lemon-cakes . take half a dozen of white lemons , the best you can get , then cut and pare them , leave none of the yellow behind , then take away the sowre meat of it , and reserve all the white , and lay it in water 2 days , then seeth it in fair water till it be soft , then take it out and set it by till the water be gone from it , then weigh it , and take twice the weight in sugar , mince the white stuff very fine , then take an earthen pipkin , and put therein some fair water , and some rose-water ? if you have a pound of sugar , you must have half a pint of water , of both sorts alike , let your water and sugar boil together , then scum it , and put in the stuff , and so let them boil together , always stirring it till it be thick , it will shew very thin , and when it is cold , it will be thick enough . to make oyl of violets . set the violets in sallet-oil , and strain them , then put in other fresh violets , and let them lie 20 daies , then strain them again and put in other fresh violets , and let them stand all the year . to preserve pomecitrons . take pomecitrons and grate off the upper skin , then slightly cut them in pieces as you think good , lay them in water 24 hours , then set over a posnet with fair water , and when it boils put them in , and so shift till you find the water not to be bitter ; then take them up , and weigh them , and to every pound of pomecitron put a pound and a quarter of sugar , then take of your last water a pint and quarter , set your water and sugar over the fire , then take two whites of eggs , and beat them with a little fair water , and when your sirrup begins to boil , cast in the same that riseth from the eggs , and so let it boil , then let it run through a clean fine cloth , then put in a clean posnet , and when your sirrup begins to boil put in your pomecitron and let it boil softly 3 or 4 hours until you find your sirrup thick enough ; be sure you keep them alwaies under sirrup , and never turn them , take them up and put them into your glass and when they be cold cover them . to candy ringus roots . take your ringus roots , and boil them reasonable tender , then pill them and pith them , then lay them together , then take so much sugar as they weigh , and put it into a posnet with as much rose-water as will melt it , then put in your roots , and so let it boil very softly until the sugar be consumed into the roots , then take them , and turn them , and shake them till the sugar be dried up , and then lay them a drying upon a lattice of wyer , until they be cold , in like sort you may candy any other roots , what you please . to candy all kind of fruitages , as oranges , lemons , citrons , lettice-stocks , sugar-candy , such as the comfit makers do candy the fruits with . take 1 pound of refined sugar and put it into a posnet with as much water as will wet it , and so boil it till it come to a candy● height , then take all your fruit being preserved and dried , then draw them through your hot sugar , and then lay them on your hurdle , and in 1 quarter of an hour they will be finely candied . to candy all kind of flowers in ways of spanish candy . take double refined sugar , put it into a posnet with as much rose-water as will melt it , and put into it the pap of half a roasted apple , and a grain 〈…〉 let it boil till it come to a candy height , then put in your flowers , being pick'd , and so let it boil ; then cast them on a fine plate , and cut it in waves with your knife , then you may spot it with gold , and keep it . to make essings . take 1 peck of oatmeal-grout the greatest you can get , and the whitest , pick it clean from the black , and searce out all the smallest , then take as much evening-milk as will cover it and something more , boil it and cool it again till it be blood-warm , then put it to the oatmeal , and let it soak all night , the next morning strain it from your milk as dry as you can through a cloth , then take three pints of good cream , boil it with a mace , and the yolks of 8 eggs , when it is boiled put it into your stuff , then put in six eggs more , whites and yolks ; season it with a 〈◊〉 quantity of cinamon , nutmeg , and ginger , and a less quantity , of cloves , and mace , put in as much sugar as you think will sweeten it , have good store of suet , shred small and forget not salt , so boil them . to make sugar-cakes . take one pound of fine flower , one pound of sugar finely beaten , and mingle them well together , then take 7 or 8 yolks of eggs , and if your flower be good take one white or two as you shall think good , take 2 cloves , and a pretty piece of cinnamon , and lay it in a spoonful of rose-water all night , and heat it almost blood-warm , temper it with the rest of the stuff , when the paste is made , make it up with as much hast as you can , bake them in a soft oven . to make a calves-foot pye. take your calves feet , boll them and blanch them , then boil them again till they be tender , then take out all the bon●● 〈…〉 with cloves , mace , ginger , a●● cinnamon , as much as you shall think good , then put in a good quantity of currans and butter , bake your pie in a soft oven , and when it is baked take half a pint of white-wine vinegar , beat 3 yolks of eggs , and put to the coals , season it with sugar , and a little rose-water , alwaies stirring it , then put it into your pie , and let it stand half a quarter of an hour . how to make a very good pie. take the backs of four white herrings watered , the bones and skin taken away , then take so much wardens in quantity pared and cored , half a pound of raisins of the sun stoned , mince all these together , and season it with cinnamon and ginger , and when the pie is baked , put in a little rose-water , and scrape sugar on it , if you put in butter , then put in a handful of grated bread . 〈…〉 cimbals . ●ake fine flower dried , and as much sugar as flower , then take as much whites of eggs as will make it paste , and put in a little rose-water , then put in a quantity of coriander-seed , and annise seed , then mold it up in that fashion you will bake it in . how to preserve angelica roots . take the roots and wash them , then slice them very thin , and lay them in water 3 or 4 daies , change the water every day , then put the roots into a pot of water , and set them in the embers all night , in the morning put away the water , then take a pound of roots , 4 pints of water , and two pound of sugar , let it boil , and scum it clean , then put in the roots , it will be boiled before the sirrup , then take them up , and boil the sirrup after , they will ask you a whole daies work , for they must boil very softly , at st. andrew's time it is the best time to do them in all the year . to boyl a capon with brewis . take a capon , and truss him to boil ; then set on the fire a good quantity of water , scum it very clean before you set on your capon , put a little water , savory and thyme into the belly of it , and a little salt , and gross pepper , when you have scummed it clean , cover it close to boil , then take a good handful of herbs , as marigolds , violet-leaves , or any such green herbs as you shall think fit , wash them and set them on the fire with some of the uppermost of the broth that boils the capon , then put into it good store of mace , and boil it with the capon , when the herbs be boiled and the broth very green , and almost consumed away , take the uppermost of your capon , and strain it together , and scald your brewis , and put it into a dish , and lay the capon on them . to make a spice cake . take one bushel of flower , six pound of butter , eight pound of currans , two pints of cream , a pottle of milk , half a pint of good sack , 2 pound of sugar , 2 ounces of mace , 1 ounce of nutmegs , 1 ounce of ginger , twelve yolks , 2 whites , take the milk and cream , and stir it all the time that it boils , put your hot seething milk to it and melt all the butter in it , and when it is blood warm , temper the cake , put not your currans in till you have made the paste , you must have some ale-yeast , and forget not salt . to make broth of a neats-tongue . take claret-wine , grated bread , currans , sweet butter , sugar , cinnamon , ginger , boil them altogether , then take the neats-tongue and slice it , and lay it on a dish upon sippets , and so serve it . to souce a carp or gurnet . take fair water and vinegar , so that it may be sharp , then take parsly , time , fennel , and boil them in the broth a good while , then put in a good quantity of salt , and then put in your fish , and when it is well boiled , put the broth into a vessel and let it stand . to make a fine pudding . take crums of white bread , and so much fine flower , then take the yolks of four eggs , and one white , a good quantity of sugar , take so much good cream as will temper it as thick as you would make pancake-batter , then butter your pan , and bake it , so serve it casting some sugar upon it ; you must shred suet very small and put it into it . to make a broth to drink . take a chicken and a little of the neck of mutton , and set them on , and scum it well , then put in a large mace , and so let it boil while the chicken be tender , then take the chicken out , and beat it all to pieces in a stone mortar , and put it in again , and so let it boil from four pints to a little more than half a pint , then cast it through a strainer , and season it . to boil a chicken , or partridge . take your chicken , and set it a boiling with a little of the neck of mutton , and scum it well , then put in a mace , and so let it boil down , and when it is almost boiled , have some few herbs parboiled , as lettice , endive , spinage , marigold-leaves , for note , these herbs are usually used to be boiled , which by course will hold their colour in boiling , and put some of these aforesaid herbs to the chicken and mutton , if you think your broth strong enough , take out your mutton , then you may put a little piece of sweet butter , and a little verjuice , and a very little sugar , and salt , so serve it in with sippets . a broth to drink . take a chicken , and set it on , and when it boils , scum it , then put in a mace , and a very little oatmeal , and such herbs as the party requires , and boil it well down , and bruise the chicken , and put it in again , and it is a pretty broth ; and to alter it , you may put in half a dozen prunes , and leave out the herbs , or put them in , so when it is well boiled , strain it , and season it . a broth to eat on fasting-days . take fair water , and set it a boiling , and when it is boiled , put to it so much strained oatmeal as you think will thicken it , and a large mace , a handful of raisins of the sun , as many prunes , and as many currans , if your quantity require so boil it , and when it is boiled , season it with salt & sugar , and a piece of sweet butter if the time will allow it ; and for an alteration , when this broth is boil'd , put in a quantity of cream , and it will do well . to make a ponado . the quantity you will make set on in a posnet of fair water , when it boils , put a mace in , and a little piece of cinnamon , and a handful of currans , and so much bread as you think meet , so boil it , and season it with salt , sugar , and rose-water , and so serve it . to make a caudle . take ale the quantity that you mean to make , and set it on the fire , and when it is ready to boil , scum it very well , then cast in a large mace , and take the yolks of 2 eggs , for 1 mess , or one draught , and beat them well , and take away the skin of the yolks , and then put them into the ale , when it seetheth , be sure to stir them well till it seeth again for a young-ling , then let it boil a while and put in your sugar , and if it be to eat , cut three or four toasts of bread thin , and toast them dry , but not brown , and put them to the caudle , if to drink put none . to make almond butter . blanch your almonds , and beat them as fine as you can with fair water 2 or 3 hours , then strain them through a linnen cloth , boil them with rose-water , whole mace and annise-seeds , till the substance be thick , spread it upon a fair cloth , draining the whey from it , after let it hang in the same cloth some few hours , then strain it and season it with rose-water and sugar . to stew beef . take a good rump of beef , cut from the bones , shred turnips and carrots small , and spinage , and lettice , put all in a pan , and let it stew 4 hours with so much water , and a quart of white-wine as will cover it , when it is stewed enough , then put in a wine-glass full of elder vinegar , and serve it in with sippets . to souce a young pig. take a young pig being scalded , boil it in fair water , and white-wine , put thereto bay-leaves , whole ginger , and nutmeg quartered , a few whole cloves , boil it throughly , and leave it in the same broth in an earthen pot . to boil flownders or pickerels after the french fashion . take a pint of white-wine , the tops of young time and rosemary , a little whole mace , a little whole pepper , seasoned with verjuice , salt , and a piece of sweet butter , and so serve it , this broth will serve to boil fish twice or thrice in , or four times . to make flesh of apricocks . take apricocks when they are green , and pare them , slice them , and take half their weight in sugar , put it to them , so put them in a skillet , and as much water as you think will melt the sugar , so let them boil , and keep them stirring till they be tender , and so take them off , and scum them very clean , so put them forth of the skillet and let them stand , take as much sugar as you had before , and boil them into a candy height , and then put in your apricocks and set them over a soft fire but let them not boil , so keep them with oft stirring , till the syrrup begin to jelly , then put them in glasses , and keep them for your use . to make flesh of quinces . take quinces , pare them , and core them , and cut them in halfs , boil them in a thin syrrup till they be tender , then take them off , and let them lie in syrrup ; then take quinces , pare and quarter them , take out the cores , put as much water to them as will cover them , then boil them till they be very tender , and then strain out the liquor clean from them , and take unto a pint of that liquor a pound of sugar , put as much water to the sugar as will melt it , then boil it , to a candy height ; then stir the quinces that are in the syrrup as thin as you can , when your sugar is at a full candy height , put in a pint of the liquor , then set it over a soft fire , stirring it leisurely till the sugar be dissolved , then put in half a pound of your slices , keeping it still stirring , but not to boil , you must take the jelly of quinces kernels that have lain in water 2 or 3 hours , take 2 good spoonfuls of it , and put it to the flesh , so keep it stirring leisurely till it begin to jelly upon the spoon , then put it into thin glasses , and keep it in a stove . to preserve oranges . take a pound of oranges , and a pound of sugar , pill the outward rind , and inward white skin off , take juice of oranges , put them into the juice , boil them half an hour , and take them off . to dry cherries . take the fairest cherries , stone them , take to six pound of cherries , a pound of sugar , put them into a skillet , straining the sugar among them , as you put them in , then put as much water to them as will boil them , then set them upon a quick fire , let them boil up , then take them off , and strain them very clean , put them into an earthen pan or pot , let them stand in the liquor 4 days , then take them up and lay them severally one by one upon silver or earthen dishes , set them in an oven after the bread is taken out , and so shift them every day upon dry dishes , and so till they be dry . to dry peaches . take peaches and coddle them , take off the skins , stone them , take to four pound of peaches , a pound of sugar , then take a gally pot and lay a lane of peaches , and a lane of sugar , till all be laid out , then put in half a pint of water , so cover them close , and set them in embers to keep warm , so let them stand a night and a day , put them in a skillet , and set them on the fire to be scalding hot , then put them into your pot again , and let them stand 24 hours , then scald them again , then take them out of your syrrup , and lay them on silver dishes to dry , you may dry them in an oven when the bread is taken out , but to dry them in the sun is better , you must turn them every day into clear dishes . to boyl veal . take veal & cut it in thin slices , and put it into a pipkin with as much water as will cover it , then wash a handful of currans , and as much prunes , then take a court-roul , and cut it in long slices like a butchers skiver , then put in a little mace , pepper and salt , a piece of butter , and a little vinegar some crumbs of bread , and when it hath stewed 2 hours take it up and serve it . to boil a capon in white broth . truss a capon to boil , and put it into a pipkin of water , and let it boil 2 hours , and when it is boiled take up a little of the broth , then take the yolks of eggs , and beat them very fair with your broth that you take up , then set it by the fire to keep warm , season it with grated nutmeg , sugar , and salt , then take up your capon , and pour this broth on with a little sack , if you have it , garnish it with sippets , and serve it , remember to boil whole mace with your capon , and marrow if you have it . to boil a capon or chicken in white broth with almonds . boil your capon as in the other , then take almonds , and blanch them , and beat them very small , putting in sometimes some of your broth to keep them from boiling : when they are beaten small enough , put as much of the uppermost broth to them , as will serve to cover the capon , then strain it , and wring out the substance clear , then season it as before , & serve it with marrow on it . how to boil brawn . water your brawn 24 hours , wash and scrape it 4 or 5 times , then take it out of the water , and lay it on a fair table , then throw a handful of salt on every collar , then bind them up as fast as you can , with hemp , bass or incle , then put them into your kettle , when the water boileth , and when it boileth scum it clean , let it boil until it be so tender that you may thrust a straw through it , then let it cool until the next morning . by the souced meats you may know how to souce it . how to boil a gammon of bacon . water your gammon of bacon 24 hours , then put it into a deep kettle , with some sweet hay , let it boil softly 6 or 7 hours , then take it up with a scummer and a plate , and take off the skin whole , then stick your gammon full of cloves , strew on some gross pepper , and cut your skin like sippets , then garnish your gammon , and when you serve it , stick it with bays . how to boil a rabbet . fley and wash the rabbet , & slit the hinder leg on both sides of the back-bone , from the forward , and truss them to the body , set the head right up with a skuer , right down in the neck , then put it to boiling , with as much water as will cover it ; when it boils , scum it , season it with mace , ginger , salt and butter , then take a handful of parsley , and a little time , boil it by it self , then take it up ▪ beat it with the back of a knife , then take up your rabbet , and put it in a dish , then put your herbs to your broth , and scrape in a carret-root , let your broth boil a little while , put in salt , pour it on your rabbet , and serve it in . how to boil a mallard with a cabbage . half roast your fowl , then take it off , and cast it down , then put it into a pipkin with the gravy , then pick and wash some cabbage , and put to your mallard , with as much fair water as will cover it , then put in a good piece of butter , and let it boil an hour , season it with pepper and salt , and serve it upon sops . how to boil a duck with turnips . half roast her , then cover her with liquor , boil your turnips by themselves , half an hour , then cut them in cakes , and put them to your duck with butter and parsley chopt small , when it hath boiled half an hour , season it with pepper and salt , and serve it upon sops . how to boil chickens , and sorrel-sops . truss your chickens , and boil them in water and salt very tender , then take a good handful of sorrel , beat it stalks and all , then strain it , and take a manchet , & cut it in sippets , and dry them before the fire , then put your green broth upon the coals , season it with sugar , and grated nutmeg , and let it stand until it be hot , then put your sippets into a dish , put your chickens upon them , and pour sauce upon it , and serve it . how to boil a pike in white broth. cut your pike in 3 pieces , and boil it with water and salt , & sweet herbs , let it boil until it strain , then take the yolks of half a dozen eggs , and beat them with a little sack , sugar , melted butter , and some of the pikes broth , then put it on the fire to keep it warm but stir it often lest it curdle , then take up your pike , and put the head and tail together , then cleave the other pieces in two , take out the back-bone , and put one piece on the one side , and the other piece on the other side , but blanch all , then pour on your white broth , garnish your dish with sippets and boiled parsley , and strew on powder of ginger , and wipe the edge of the dish round , and serve it . how to boil divers kinds of fish. bat , conger , thornback , plaice , salmon , trout or mullet , boil any of these with water , salt , and sweet herbs , when they boil , scum it very clean , then put in vinegar , and let it boil till you think it is enough , your liquor must be very hot of the salt , then take it off , you may let it stand 5 or 6 days in the liquor , then if you would keep it longer , pour that liquor away , and put water and salt to it , or soucing drink , you must remember to let your mullets boil softly , and your thornback and other fish very fast , you must blanch your thornback while it is warm , and when you serve any of those fishes , strew on some green herbs . how to make a sallet of all manner of herbs . take your herbs , and pick them clean , and the flowers , wash them clean , and swing them in a strainer , then put them into a dish , and mingle them with cucumbers and lemons sliced very thin , then scrape on sugar and put in vinegar & oyl , then spread the flowers on the top , garnish your dish with hard eggs , and all sorts of your flowers , scrape on sugar , and serve it in . how to stew steaks between two dishes . you must put parsley , currans , butter , verjuice , and 2 or 3 yolks of eggs , pepper , cloves and mace , and so let them boil together , and serve them upon sops , likewise you may do steaks of mutton or beef . how to stew calves feet . boil them , and blanch them , cut them in two , and put them into a pipkin with strong broth , then put in a little powder of saffron , and sweet butter , pepper , sugar , and some sweet herbs finely minced , let them stew an hour , put in salt and save them . how to stew a mallard . roast your mallard half enough , then take it up , and cut it in little pieces , then put it into a dish with the gravy , and a piece of fresh butter , and a handful of parsley chopt small with two or three onions , and a cabbage-lettice , let them stew one hour , then season it with pepper , and salt , and a little verjuice , then serve it . how to stew trouts . draw your trouts , and wash them , and then put them into a dish with white-wine , and water , and a piece of fresh butter , then take a handful of parsley , a little thyme , and a little savory ; mince these small , and put to your trouts with a little sugar , let them stew half an hour , then mingle the yolks of 2 or 3 hard eggs , and strew them on your trouts with pepper and salt , then let them stew a quarter of an hour and serve them . how to stew smelts or flounders . put your smelts or flounders into a deep dish with white-wine and water , a little rosemary and thyme a piece of fresh butter , and some large mace , and salt , let them stew half an hour , then take a handful of parsley and boil it , then beat it with the back of a knife , then take the yolks of 3 or 4 eggs , and beat them stiff some of your fish broth , then dish up your fish upon sippets , pour on your sauce , scrape on sugar , and serve it . how to stew rabbets . half roast it , then take it off the spit , and cut it in little pieces , and put it into a dish with the gravy , and as much liquor as will cover it , then put in a piece of fresh butter , and some powder of ginger , some pepper and salt , 2 or 3 pippins minced small , let these stew an hour , then dish them upon sippets . how to stew a pullet or capon . half roast it , then cut it in pieces , put it into a dish with the gravy , and put in a little cloves and mace with a few barberries or grapes , put these to your pullet with a pint of claret , and a piece of butter , let these stew an hour , dish them upon sippets & serve it . how to stew cold chickens . cut them in pieces , put them into a pipkin of strong broth , and a piece of butter , then grate some bread and a nutmeg , thicken your broth with it , season your meat with gross pepper , and salt , dish it upon sippets , and serve it . how to make paste for a pasty of venison . take almost a peck of flower , wet it with two pound of butter , and as much suet , then wet your paste , put in the yolks of 8 or 10 eggs , make reasonable light paste , then roul it and lay it on suet , first lay a paper under your paste , then lay on your venison , close it , pink it , baste it with butter , and bake it , when you draw it out , baste it with butter again . how to make paste for a pye to keep long . your flower must be of rie , and your liquor nothing but boiling water , make your paste as stiff as you can , raise your coffin very high , let your bottom and sides be very thick and your lid also . how to make past for a custard . your liquor must be boiling water , make your paste very stiff , then roul out your paste , and if you would make a great tart , then raise it , and when you have done cut the bottom a little from the side , then roul out a thin sheet of paste , lay paper under it , strew flower that it may not stick to it ; then put your coffin on it , of what fashion you will , then dry it , and fill it , and bake it . how to make paste for buttered loaves . take a pottle of flower , put thereto ginger , and nutmeg , then wet it with milk , yolks of eggs , yest , and salt , then make it up into little loaves , then butter a paper , and put the loaves on it , then bake them , and when they are baked , draw them forth , and cut them in cakes , butter them , then set them as they were , scrape on sugar , and serve them . how to make paste for dumplins . season your flower with pepper , salt , and yest , let your water be more than warm , then make them up like manchet , but let them be somewhat little , then put them into your water when it boileth , & let them boil an hour , then butter them . to make puff paste . take a quart of flower & a pound and half of butter , and work the half pound of butter dry into the flower , then put in 3 or 4 eggs to it , and as much cold water as will make it a little paste , then work it in a piece of a foot long , then strain a little flower on the table , & take it by the end , beat it while it stretch long , then put the 2 ends together , and beat it again , and so do 5 or 6 times , then work it up round , and roul it out broad , then beat your pound of butter with a rouling pin that it may be light , then take little bits of your butter , and stick it all over the paste , then fold up your paste close , and coast it down with your rouling-pin , and roul it out again , and so do five or six times , then use it as you will. to bake a gammon of bacon . you must first boil it two hours before you stuff it , stuff it with sweet herbs , and hard eggs chopt together with parsley . to bake fillets of beef , or clods , instead of red dear . first , take your beef , and lard it very thick , then season it with pepper , salt , ginger , cloves and mace good store , and a great deal more pepper and salt than you would do to a piece of venison , then close it , and when it is baked , put in some vinegar , sugar , cinnamon , and ginger , and shake it well , then stop the vent-hole , and let it stand three weeks before you spend it . how to bake calves feet . season them with pepper , salt and currans , when they be baked , take the yolks of 3 or 4 eggs , and beat them with verjuice , or vinegar , sugar , and grated nutmeg , put it into your pie , scrape on sugar , and serve it . how to bake a turkie . take out his bones and guts , then wash him , then prick his back together again , then parboil him , season him with pepper and salt , stick some cloves in the breast of him , then lard him , and put him into your coffin with butter , in this sort you may bake a goose , pheasant or capon . to bake a hare . take out his bones , and beat the flesh in a mortar with the liver , then season it with all sorts of spices , then work it up with 3 or 4 yolks of eggs , then lay some of it all over the bottom of the pie then lay on some lard , and so do until you have laid on all , then bake it well with good store of sweet butter . to bake quinces or wardens , so as the fruit look red , and the crust white . your wardens must be stewed in a pipkin with claret-wine , sugar , cinnamon , and cloves , then cover your pipkin with a sheet of paste , and let it stand in the oven five or six hours , then raise a coffin of short paste put in your wardens with sugar , and put it into the oven , when it hath stood an hour , take it out and wash it with rose-water and butter , then scrape on sugar and put it in a quarter of an hour more , and it will be red upon the top , then scrape on sugar and serve it . to bake chucks of veal . parboil 2 pound of the lean flesh of a leg of veal , mince it as small as grated bread , with 4 pound of beef-suet , then season it with biskay , dates and carraways , and some rose-water , sugar , raisins of the sun , and currans , cloves , mace , nutmeg , and cinnamon , then mingle them all together , fill your pies and beat them . to bake a chicken pie. season your chickens with nutmeg , salt , pepper , and sugar , then put them into your coffin , then take some marrow and season with the same spice , then roul it in yoks of eggs , and lay it on your chicken , with minced dates , and good store of butter , then bake it , and put in a little sack , or muscadine , or white-wine and sugar , then shake it , scrape on sugar and serve it . how to bake a steak pie. cut a neck of mutton in steaks , beat them with a cleaver , season them with pepper , and salt , and nutmeg , then lay them on your coffin with butter and large mace , then bake it , then take a good quantity of parsley , and boil it , beat it as soft as the pap of an apple , put in a quarter of a pint of vinegar , and as much white-wine , with a little sugar , warm it well , and put it over your steaks , then shake it , that the gravy and the liquor may mingle together , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to make an italian pudding . take manchet , and cut it in square pieces like a die , then put it to half a pound of beef-suet minced small , raisins of the sun the stones picked out , cloves , mace , minced dates , sugar , marrow , rose-water , eggs and cream , mingle all these together , and put it into a dish fit for your stuff , in less than an hour it will be baked , then scrape on sugar , & serve it in . how to make a florentine . take the kidney of a loin of veal , or the wing of a capon , or the leg of a rabbet , mince any of these small , with the kidney of a loin of mutton ; if it be not fat enough , then season it with cloves , mace , nutmegs and sugar , cream , currans , eggs and rose-water , mingle these four together and put them into a dish between two sheets of paste , then close it , and cut the paste round by the brim of the dish , then cut it round about like virginal keys , then turn up one , and let the other lie , then pink it , cake it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to roast a breast of veal . take parsley and thyme , wash them , and chop them small , then take the yolks of five or six eggs , grated bread and cream , mingle them together with cloves , mace , nutmeg , currans and sugar , then raise up the skin of the breast of veal , and put it in your stuff , prick it up close with a skuer , then roast it , and bast it with butter , when it is roasted , wring on the juice of a lemon , and serve it . to roast a hare . case your hare , but cut not off her ears nor legs , then wash her , and dry her with a cloth , then make a pudding , and put into her belly , then sow it up close , then truss her as if she were running , then spit her , then take some claret-wine , and grated bread , sugar , and ginger , barberries , and butter , boil these together for your sauce . to roast a shoulder of mutton . roast it with a quick fire , that the fat may drop away , and when you think it is half roasted , set a dish under it , and flesh it with a knife a-cross as you do pork , but you must cut it down to the bone on both the sides , till the gravy run into the dish , baste it no more after you have cut it , put unto the gravy half a pint of white-wine vinegar , a handful of capers and olives , five or six blades of mace , a handful of sugar , and stew all these together , and pour it on your meat . to roast a neats-tongue . boil him and blanch him , cut out the meat at the butt-end , and mingle it with beef-suit as much as an egg , then season it with nutmeg , and sugar , dates , currans , and yolks of raw eggs , then put your meat to the tongue , and bind it with a cawl of veal or mutton , then roast it , baste it with butter , save the gravy , and put thereto a little sack or muscadine , let it stew a little while , then pour it in to your tongues , and serve it . how to roast a pig with a pudding in his belly . fley a fat pig , truss his head looking over his back , then temper as much stuff as you think will fill his belly , then put it into your pig , and prick it up close , when it is almost roasted , wring on the juice of a lemon , when you are ready to take it up , take four or five yolks of eggs , and wash your pig all over , mingle your bread with a little nutmeg , and ginger , then dry it , and take it up as fast as you can , let your sauce be vinegar , butter , and sugar , the yolk of a hard egg minced , and serve it hot . how to roast a leg of mutton . cut holes in a leg of mutton , with a knife , then thrust in slices of kidney suet , and stick it with cloves , roast it with a quick fire , when it is half roasted , cut off a piece underneath , and cut it into thin slices , then take a pint of great oysters with the liquor , 3 or 4 blades of mace , a little vinegar and sugar , stew these till the liquor be half consumed , then dish up your mutton , pour on the sauce , and serve it . how to roast a neck of mutton . cut away the swag , and roast it with a quick fire , but scorch it not , baste it with butter a quarter of an hour , after wring on the juice of half a lemon , save the gravy , then baste it with butter again , wring on the other half of the lemon , when it is roasted , dry it with manchet , and grated nutmeg , then dish it , and pour on your sauce . to roast a shoulder or haunch of venison , or chine of mutton . take any of the meats , and lard them , prick them with rosemary , baste them with butter , then take half a pint of claret-wine , cinnamon , ginger , sugar , grated bread , rosemary and butter , let all these boil together , until it be as thick as water-gruel , then put in a little rose-water and musk , it will make your gallentine taste very pleasantly , put it on a fitting dish , draw off your meat , lay it into that dish , strew it with salt . to roast a shoulder or fillet of veal . take parsley , winter-savory , and thyme , mince these small with hard eggs , season it with nutmeg , pepper , currans , work these together with raw yolks of eggs , then stuff your meat with this , roast it with a quick fire , baste it with butter , when it is roasted , take the gravy and put thereto vinegar , sugar and butter , let it boil , when your meat is roasted , pour this sauce on it , and serve it . to roast a gigget of mutton . take your gigget with cloves , and rosemary , and lard it , roast it , baste it with butter , and save the gravy , put thereto some claret wine , with a handful of capers , season it with ginger and sugar , when it is boiled well , dish up your gigget , and pour on your sauce . to fry a chicken . boil your chicken in water and salt , then quarter them into a pan with sweet butter , and let them fry leisurely , then put thereto a little verjuice , and nutmeg , cinnamon and ginger , the yolks of two or three raw eggs , stir these well together , and dish up your chickens , pour the sauce upon them . how to fry calves feet . boil them , and blanch them , then cut them in two , then take good store of parsley , put thereto some yolks of eggs , season it with nutmeg , sugar , pepper , and salt , then roul your calves-feet in them , and fry them with sweet butter , then boil some parsley , and beat it very tender , put to it vinegar , butter and sugar , heat it hot , then dish up your feet upon sippets , pour on your sauce , scrape on some sugar , and serve it hot . how to fry tongues . boil them , and blanch them , cut them in thin slices , season them with nutmeg , sugar , cinnamon , and salt , then put thereto the yolks of raw eggs , the core of a lemon cut in square pieces ●ike a die , then fry them in spoonfuls with sweet butter , let your sauce be white-wine , sugar and butter , heat it hot , and pour it 〈◊〉 your tongues , scrape on sugar , and serve it . how to make fritters . make your batter with ale , eggs and yest , season it with milk , cloves , mace , cinnamon , nutmeg , and salt , cut your apples like beans , then put your apples and batter together , fry them in boiling lard , strew on sugar , and serve them . to souce brawn . take up your brawn while i● is hot out of your boiler , then cover it with salt , when it hath stood an hour , turn the end that was under upward , then strew , 〈◊〉 salt upon that , then boil you● soucing-drink , and put thereto 〈◊〉 good deal of salt , when it is cold 〈◊〉 put in your bra●●● with the sa● that is about it , ●nd let it stan● ten days , then change your so●●cing drink , and as you change 〈◊〉 put in salt , when you spend it , 〈◊〉 it be too salt , change it with fre● drink . to souce a pig. cut off the head , and cut you● pig into two sleaks , and take o● the bones , then take a handful 〈◊〉 sweet herbs , and mince them small , then season your pig and herbs with nutmeg , ginger , cloves , mace , and salt , then strew your herbs on the inside of your pig , then roul them up like two collars of brawn , then bind them in a cloth fast , then put them a boiling in the boiling-pot , put in some vinegar and salt , when they are boiled very tender , take them off , let them stand in the same liquor 2 or 3 days , then put them into soucing-drink , and serve it with mustard and sugar . how ●●●ouce eels . take 2 salt●●els , and fley them , cut them down the back , and take out the bones , and take good store of parsley , thyme , and sweet marjoram , mince them small , season them with nutmeg , ginger , pepper and salt , strew your herbs in the inside of your eels , then roul them up like a collar of brawn , put them into a cloth , and boil them tender with salt and vinegar , when they are boiled , then take them up , let it be in the pickle two or three days , and then spend them . how to souce a breast of veal . take out the bones of a breast of veal , and lap it in water 10 or 12 hours , then take all manner of sweet herbs , and mince them small , then take a lemon and cut it in thin slices , then lay it with your herbs in the inside of your breast of veal , then roul it up like a collar , and bind it in a cloth , and boil it very tender , then put it into soucing-drink , and spend it . to souce a tench or barbel . first cut them down the back , then wash them , and put them a boiling in no more water than will cover them , when they boil , put in some salt and vinegar , scum it very clean , when it is boiled enough , take it up , and put it into a dish fit for the fish , then take out the bones , pour on as much liquor as will cover it , with grated nutmeg , and powder of cinnamon , when it is cold serve it . to souce a fillet of veal . take a fair fillet of veal , and lard it very thick , but take out the bones , season it with nutmeg , ginger , pepper , and salt , then roul it up hard , let your liquor be the one half white-wine , the other half water ; when your liquor boileth put in your meat , with salt and vinegar , and the peel of a lemon , then scum it very clean , let it boil until it be tender , then take it not up until it be cold , and souce it in the same liquor . to marble beef , mutton , or venison . stick any of these with rosemary and cloves , then roast it , being first joined very well , then baste it oft with water and salt , and when it is throughly roasted take it up , and let it cool , then take claret-wine and vinegar , and as much water , boil it with rosemary , bayes , good store of pepper , cloves , salt ; when it hath boiled an hour , take it off , and let it cool , then put your meat into a vessel , and cover it with this liquor and herbs , then stop it up close , the closer you stop it , the longer it will keep . to marble fish. take flounders , trouts , smelts or salmons , mullets , mackrels or any kind of shell-fish , wash them and dry them with a cloth , then fry them with sallade-oyl , or clarified butter , fry them very crispe , then make your pickle with claret-wine and fair water , some rosemary and thyme , with nutmegs cut in slices , and pepper and salt , when it hath boiled half an hour , take it off , and let it cool , then put your fish into a vessel , cover it with liquor and spice , and stop it close . how to make a tart of wardens . you must first bake your wardens in a pot , then cut them in quarters , and core them , then put them into your tart , with sugar , cinnamon , and ginger , then close up your tart , and when it is almost baked , do it as your warden-pie , scrape on sugar and serve it . to make a tart of green pease . take green pease , and seeth them tender , then pour them out into a cullender , season them with saffron , salt , and sweet butter , and sugar , then close it , then bake it almost an hour ; then draw it forth , and ice it , put in a little verjuice , and shake it well , then scrape on sugar and serve it . how to make a tart of rice . boil your rice , and pour it into a cullender , then season it with cinnamon , nutmeg , ginger , and pepper and sugar , the yolks of 3 or 4 eggs , then put it into your tart , with the juice of an orange , then close it , bake it , and ice it , scrape on sugar and serve it . how to make a tart of medlars . take medlars that are rotten , then scrape them , then set them upon a chafing-dish of coals , season them with the yolks of eggs , sugar , cinnamon , and ginger , let it boil well , and lay it on paste , scrape on sugar and serve it . how to make a tart of cherries . take out the stones , and lay the cherries into your tart , with sugar , ginger , and cinnamon ; then close your tart , bake it and ice it , then make a sirrup of muskadine , and damask-water , and pour this into your tart , scrape on sugar and serve it . how to make a tart of strawberries . wash your strawberries , and put them into your tart , season them with sugar , cinnamon , ginger , and a little red-wine , then close it , and bake it half an hour , ice it , scrape on sugar and serve it . to make a tart of hips . take hips and cut them , and take out the seeds very clean , then wash them , season them with sugar , cinnamon and ginger , then close your tart , bake it , ice it , scrape on sugar , serve it . how to make a pippin tart. take fair pippins and pare them , then cut them in quarters and core them , then stew them with claret-wine , cinnamon and ginger , let them stew half an hour then pour them out into a cullender , but break them not , when they are cold , lay them one by one into the tart , then lay on sugar , bake it , ice it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . how to scald milk after the western fashion . when you bring your milk from the cow , strain it into an earthen pan , and let it stand two hours , then set it over the fire till it begin to heave in the middle , then take it off , but jog it as little as you can , then put it into a room where it may cool , and no dust fall into it , this milk or cream you may keep two or three days . to make a junket . take ewes or goats milk , if you have neither of these , then take cows-milk , and put it over the fire to warm , then put in a little runnet to it , then pour it out into a dish , and let it cool , then strew on cinnamon and sugar , then take some of your aforesaid cream and lay on it , scrape on sugar and serve it . to make cream clutter . take milk , and put it into an earthen pot , and put thereto runnet , let it stand two days , it will be all in a curd , then season it with some sugar , cinnamon , and cream , then serve it , this is best in the hottest of the summer . to make a white-pot . take a quart of cream , and put it over the fire to boil , season it with sugar , nutmeg , and cinnamon , sack and rose-water , the yolks of seven or eight eggs , beat your eggs with sack and rose-water , then put it into your cream , stir it that it curdle not , then pare two or three pippins , core and quarter them , and boil them with a handful of raisins of the sun , boil them , tender , and pour them into a cullender , then cut some sippets very thin , and lay some of them in the bottom of the dish , and lay on half your apples , and curians , then pour in half your milk , then lay on more sippets , and the rest of your apples and raisins , then pour on the rest of your milk bake it , scrape on sugar , and serve it . how to make a pudding in hast . take a pint of milk , and put thereto a handful of raisins of the sun , and as many currans , and a piece of butter , then grate manchet , and nutmeg also , and put thereto a little flower ; when your milk boileth , put in your bread , let it boil a quarter of an hour , and put in a piece of butter in the boiling of it , and stir it always , then dish it up , pour on butter and serve it . to make a pudding in a dish . take a quart of cream , put thereto a pound of beef-suet minced small , put it to your milk , season it with nutmeg , sugar , rose-water and cinnamon , then take some seven or eight eggs , and beat them very well , then take a cast of manchets , and grate them , and put unto it , then mingle those together well , then put it into a dish , and bake it , when it is baked , scrape on sugar , and serve it . to boil cream . take a quart of cream , and set it a boiling with mace , whilst your cream is boiling cut some thin sippets , then take seven or eight yolks of eggs , put them with rose-water and sugar , and a little of your cream , when your cream boileth take it off the fire , and put in your eggs , and stir it very fast that it curdle not , then put your sippets into the dish , pour in your cream , and let it cool , when it is cold , scrape on sugar and serve it . to draw butter . take your butter , and cut it into thin slices , put it into a dish then put it upon the coals where it may melt leisurely , stir it osten , and when it is melted , put in two or three spoonfuls , of water , or vinegar , which you will , stir them and beat it until it be thick . lady of arundels manchet . take a bushel of fine wheat-flower , twenty eggs , three pound of fresh butter , then take as much salt and barm as to the ordinary manchet , temper it together with new milk pretty hot , then let it lie the space of half an hour to rise so you may work it up into bread , and bake it , let not your oven be too hot . to boil pigeons . boil them in water and salt , take a handful of parsley , as much time stript , two spoonfuls of capers minced all together , and boil it in a pint of the said liquor a quarter of an hour , then put in two or three spoonfuls of verjuice , two eggs beaten , let it boil a little , and put to a little butter , when you have taken it off the fire , stir this all together , and pour it upon the pigeons , with sippets round the dish . a florentine of sweet-bread or kidneys . parboil three or four kidneys , and mince them small , season them with nutmeg , one stick of cinnamon , beat as much sugar as will sweeten it , and a penny loaf grated , and the marrow of three bones in good pieces , and a quarter of a pound of almond paste , a glass of maligo-sack , two spoonfuls of rose-water , a grain of musk , and one grain of ambergreece , and a quarter of a pint of cream , three or four eggs , and mix all together , and make it up in puff paste , and bake it three quarters of an hour . a pork-pie . boil your leg of pork , season it with nutmeg and pepper , and salt , bake it five hours in a round pie . a chicken-pie . scald and season your chickens with nutmegs , as much sugar as cinnamon , pepper , and salt , then put them in your pie , then put three quarters of quartered lettice , and six dates quartered and a handful of goosberries , and half a sliced lemon , and 3 or four branches of barberries , and a little butter , you may use to four chickens 3 marrow-bones rould in yolks of eggs , and ringo-roots , and some preserved lettuce , make a caudle , and put in when the pie cometh out of the oven , an hour and a half is enough to stand in the oven . a lamb pie. take the same ingredients you did for the chicken-pie , only leave out the marrow , the ringo-roots , and the preserved lettuce , make your caudle of white-wine , verjuice and butter , put it in when the pie comes out of the oven . sauce for a shoulder of mutton . take a spoonful of herbs , and as many capers , half a pint of white-wine , half a nutmeg , and two eggs ; when it is boiled put a piece of butter to the gravy , when is is boiled , take it off , and put the butter in . a lumber-pie . take three or four sweet-breads of veal , parboil and mince them very small , then take the curd of a quart of milk , turned with three eggs , half a pound of almond-past , and a penny loaf grated , mingle these together , then take a spoonful of sweet herbs minced very small , also six ounces of oringado , and mince it , then season all this with a quarter of sugar , and three nutmegs , then take five dates , and a quarter of a pint of cream , four yolks of eggs , three spoonfuls of rose-water , three or four marrow-bones , mingle all these together , except the marrow , then make it up in long boles , about the bigness of an egg , and in every bole put a good piece of marrow , put these into the pie ; then put a quarter of a pound of butter , and half a sliced lemon , then make a caudle of white-wine , sugar and verjuice , put it in when you take your pie out of the oven , you may use a grain of musk and ambergreece . an oyster pie. season your oysters with nutmegs , pepper , and salt , and sweet herbs , your oysters being first thrown into scalding water , and parboiled , season them , and put them into the pie ; put 2 or three blades of mace , and half a sliced lemon , and the marrow of two bones rouled in the yolks of eggs , and some butter , then let your pie stand almost an hour in the oven , then make a caudle of verjuice , butter and sugar , put it into your pie ; when you take it out of the oven , you may use two nutmegs to one quart of oysters and as much pepper as the quantity of 3 nutmegs , but less salt , and one spoonful of sweet herbs . an artichoak-pie . take the bottoms of boiled artichoaks , and quarter them , and take the meat from the leaves , season it with half an ounce of cinnamon , and half an ounce of beaten nutmeg , and two ounces of sugar , and put them into your pie , and boiled marrow rouled in yolks of eggs , and six blades of large mace , lemon sliced , six quartered dates , and a quarter of a pound of ringo-roots , half a pound of fresh butter , then let it stand in the oven one hour , and when you take it out , put a caudle into your pie made of white-wine , sugar and verjuice . a calves-foot pie. mince your calves-feet very small , then season them with two nutmegs , and three quarters of an ounce of cinnamon , 1 quarter of a pound of sugar , half a pound of currans , two lemon peels minced , ten dates minced , 3 spponfuls of rose-water , and half a pound of fresh butter , bake it an hour , and put a caudle into it , made of white-wine , sugar , and verjuice . a skirret pie. take a quarter of a peck of skirrets blanched , and sliced , season them with three nutmegs , and an ounce of cinnamon , and three ounces of sugar , and ten quartered dates , and the marrow of three bones rouled in yolks of eggs , and one quarter of a pound of ringo-roots , and preserved lettice , sliced lemon , four blades of mace , three or four branches of preserved barberries , and half a pound of butter , then let it stand one hour in the oven , then put a caudle made of white-wind , verjuice , butter and sugar , put in into the pie when it comes out of the oven . a calves-head pie for supper . boil your calves-head almost enough , cut it in thin slices all from the bone , season it with 3 beaten nutmegs , a quarter of an ounce of pepper , and as much salt as there is seasoning , then take a spoonful of sweet herbs minced small , and two spoonfuls of sugar , and two or three artichoak bottoms boiled , and cut them in thin slices , and the marrow of two bones rouled in yolks of eggs , a quarter of a pound of ringo-roots , & quarter of a pound of currans , then put it into your pie , and put a quarter of a pound of butter , and a sliced lemon , three or four blades of mace , three or four quartered dates , let it stand an hour and more in the oven , then when you take it out , put into it a caudle made of sugar , white-wine , verjuice and butter . a lark pie. take three dozen of larks , season them with nutmegs , and half an ounce of pepper , a quarter of an ounce of mace beaten , then take the lumber pye-meat , and fill their bellies , if you will ; if not , take half a pound of suet , and one pound of mutton minced , half a pound of raisins of the sun , and six apples minced all together very small , then season it with a nutmeg , pepper and salt , and one spoonful of sweet herbs , and a lemon peel minced , one penny loaf grated , a quarter of a pint of cream , two or three spoonfuls of rose-water , three spoonfuls of sugar , one or two spoonfuls of verjuice ; then make this in boles , and put it in three bellies , and put your larks in your pie , then put your marrow rouled in yolks of eggs upon the larks , and large mace , and sliced lemon , and fresh butter , let it stand in the oven an hour , when you take it out , make your caudle of butter , sugar , and white-wine vinegar , put it into the pie. a hot neats-tongue for supper . boil your tongue till it be tender ; blanch it , and cut it in thin pieces , season it with nutmeg , and a quarter of an ounce of pepper , and as much salt as seasoning , then take six ounces of currans , season it all together , and put it into the pie , then put a lemon sliced , and dates and butter , then bake it , and let it stand an hour and half , then make a caudle of white-wine and verjuice , sugar and eggs , and put it in when you take it out of the oven . a cold neats-tongue pie. your tongue being boiled , blanched and larded with pork and bacon , season it with the same ingredients the deer hath ; that is , three nutmegs , three races of ginger , half an ounce of cloves and mace together , and half an ounce of pepper , beat your spice all together , more salt than seasoning , and likewise lay in the liquor , bake it two hours , but put one pound of butter in your pie before you lid it . a potato pie for supper . take three pound of boiled and blanched potatoes , and three nutmegs , and half an ounce of cinnamon beaten together , and three ounces of sugar , season your potatoes , and put them in your pie , then take the marrow of three bones rouled in yolks of eggs , and sliced lemon , and large mace , and half a pound of butter , six dates quartered , put this into your pie , and let it stand an hour in the oven , then make a sharp caudle of butter , sugar , verjuice and white-wine , put it in when you take your pie out of the oven . a pigeon or rabbet pie. take one ounce of pepper 〈◊〉 more salt , than season your pigeons or rabbet , and take two nutmegs , grated with your seasoning , then lay your rabbet in the pie , and one pound of butter ; if you heat the pie hot : then put in two or three slices of lemon , and 2 or 3 blades of mace , and as many branches of barberries , and a good piece of fresh butter melted , then take it and let it stand an hour and half , but put not in the fresh butter till it comes out of the oven . to make puff-paste . break 2 eggs in three pints of flower , make it with cold water , then roul it out pretty thick and square , then take so much butter as past , and lay it in a rank , and divide your butter in five pieces , that you may lay it on at 5 several times , roul your paste very broad , then rake one part of the same butter in little pieces all over your paste , then throw a ●●●●dful of flower slightly on , ●●en fold up your paste , and beat ●t with a rouling-pin , so roul it out again ; thus do five times , and make it up . a pudding . take a quart of cream , and two eggs , beat them , and strain them into the cream , and grate in a nutmeg and half , take 6 spoonfuls of flower , beat half a pound of almonds with some cream , and put it into the cream , and mix this together , boil your pudding an hour and no more , first flower the bag you put it in , then melt fresh butter , and take sugar & rose-water , beat it thick , and pour it on the pudding , you may put to it a little milk , and stick blanched almonds and wafers in it , add to the same pudding , if you will , a penny-loaf grated , a quartern of sugar , 2 marrow-bones , 1 glass of maligo-sack , six dates minced , a grain of ambergreece , a grain of musk , 2 or 3 spoonfuls of rose-water , bake the pudding in little wood-dishes , but first butter them , your marrow must be stuck to and again ; then bake it half an hour , five or seven at a time , and so set them in order in the dish , and garnish them with a sprig in the middle , and wafers about it , strew sugar about the branch , and sliced lemon , set four round , and one in the top . frigasie of veal . cut your meat in thin slices , beat it well with a rouling-pin , season it with nutmeg , lemon , and tyme , fry it slightly in a pan , beat 2 eggs , and 1 spoonful of verjuice and put it into the pan , and stir it together , and dish it frigasie of lamb. cut your lamb in thin slices , season it with nutmeg , pepper , & salt , mince some thyme , and lemon , & throw it upon your meat , then fry it slightly in a pan , then throw in 2 eggs beaten in verjuice & sugar into the pan , also a han●ful of goosberries , shake it together and dish it . frigasie of chickens . kill your chickens , pull skin and feathers off together , cut them in thin slices , season them with thyme and lemons minced , nutmeg , and salt , a handful of sorrel minced , then fry it well with six spoonfuls of verjuice , one spoonful of sugar , beat it together , so dish it with sippets about . another frigasie of chickens . take the former ingredients , and add to it boil'd artichoak bottoms with the meat of the leaves , and a handful of scalded goosberries , and boiled skirrets & lettice tossed in butter and when they are boiled , and 2 spoonfuls of sugar , 2 eggs and verjuice beaten together , and lay your lettice upon your chickens as before , and sliced lemon upon it , and sippets upon the dish . a frigasie of rabbets . cut your rabbets in small pieces , and mince a handful of thyme , and parsly together , and a nutmeg , pepper and salt , season your rabbets , then take two eggs , and verjuice beaten together , and throw it in the pan , stick it , and dish it up in sippets . to hash a shoulder of mutton . half roast your mutton at a quick fire , cut it in thin slices , stew it with gravy , sweet marjoram and capers , and onions , 3 anchovies , oysters , half a nutmeg , half a sliced lemon ; stir this altogether with the meat , let it stew till it be tender in a dish , then break 3 or four yolks of eggs and throw it in the dish with some butter , toste it well together , and dish it with sippets . to make a cake . take half a peck of flower , two pound and a half of currans , 3 or 4 nutmegs , one pound of almond paste , 2 pound of butter , and one pint of cream , three spoonfuls of rose-water , 3 quarters of a pound of sugar , half a pint of sack , a quarter of a pint of yest , and six eggs , so make it , and bake it . to make a leg of mutton three or four dishes . take a leg of mutton , cut out the flesh and the bone , but save the skin whole , divide the meat in three pieces , and take the tenderest , and cut in thin slices , and beat it with a rouling-pin , season it with nutmeg , pepper and salt , & mince thyme and lemon-peel , fry it till it be tender , then beat 2 eggs , with a spoonful of verjuice , throw 2 anchovies into the pan , shake it all together , and put it into the dish with sippets round the dish , being drest with barberries scalded , parsley and hard eggs minced . another part of the same meat stew in a dish , with a little white-wine , a little butter , and sliced lemon , one anchovy , two oysters , two baldes of mace , a little thyme on a branch , and one whole onion ; take out the thyme and the onion when it is stewed ; do it all together on a chafing-dish of coals till it be tender , then dish it , garnish your dish with hard eggs , and barberries , and sliced lemons , and sippets round the dish . take another part of the same meat , mince it small with beef suet , and a handful of sage , to 3 quarters of a pound of suet add one pound of meat , you may use a spoonful of peper and salt , mix this all together , & stuff the skin of the leg of mutton hard , skuer it close , and spit it at a quick fire , and well roast it in an hour . take another part of the same meat , then put in the pepper and salt with a grated nutmeg , some sweet herbs , and a lemon-peel minced , a penny-loaf grated , one spoonful of sugar , a quarter of a pound of raifins , and a quarter of currans , minced all together with the meat and the suet , and the rest of the ingredients , put to 2 spoonfuls of rose-water , and as much salt as spice ; then make it up in little long boles or roules , and butter your dish , and lay them in with a round hole in the middle , set them in an oven half an hour , then pour the liquor which will be in the dish , and melt a little butter , verjuice and sugar , and pour upon it , garnish your dish , stick in every long roul , a flower of paste , and a branch in the middle . to souce an eel . souce your eel with a handful of salt , split it down the back , take out the chine-bone , season the eel with nutmeg , pepper , and salt , and sweet herbs minced , then lay a pack-thread at each end , and the middle roul up like a collar of brawn , then boil it in water and salt , and vinegar , and a blade or two of mace , and half a sliced lemon , boil it half an hour , keep it in the same liquor two or three days , then cut it out in round pieces , and lay six or seven in a dish , with parsley , and barberries , and serve it with vinegar in saucers . to souce a calves-head . boil your calves-head in water and salt , so much as will cover it , then put in half a pint of vinegar , a branch of sweet herbs , a sliced lemon , and half a pint of white-wine , two or three blades of mace , and one ounce or two of ginger sliced ; boil it all together till it be tender , keep it in the liquor 2 or 3 days , serve it , the dish upright , and stick a branch in the mouth , and in both eyes , garnish the dish with jelly of pickled cucumbers , and saucers of vinegar and jelly , and lemon minced . a stewed rabbet . cut your rabbet in pieces , and season it with pepper and salt , thyme , parsley , winter-savoury , and sweet-marjoram , three apples , and 3 onions minced all together , stew it till it be tender with vinegar and water , put a good piece of butter in , stir it all together in your dish , put sippets in the bottom , then serve it up with the head in the middle of the dish with sippets in the mouth . lay your pig in the same ingredients as you did for your calves-head , use the same for a capon , and the same for a leg of mutton . to boil chickens . boil your chickens in water and salt , and wine-vinegar , a blade of mace , a good handful of endive , and as much succory , two handfuls of skirrets boiled , and blanched , when the chickens and these things are stewed , take a pint of liquor up , and put to it a quart of white-wine , and one ounce and a half of sugar , and three eggs to thicken it , a piece of butter , and lay them in the dish , and pour it on . to boil a rabbet . boil it in water and salt , mince thyme and parsley together , a handful of each , boil it in some of the same liquor , then take three or four spoonfuls of verjuice , a piece of irish butter two or three eggs , stir the eggs together in the liquor , set it upon the fire till it be thick , then pour it upon the rabbet , so serve it in . to boil a duck. half roast your duck with a quick fire , take as much wine and water as will cover her , take some thyme and parsley , and one handful of sweet marjoram , two blades of mace , half a lemon sliced , stew these together half an hour without onions , take some of your liquor , and thicken it with 3 or 4 eggs , two or 3 spoonfuls of verjuice , a piece of butter , and as much sugar as will lie upon it , dish your duck , and boil three or four slices of lemon by it self , and hard eggs minced , put this upon your duck , then pour your liquor upon it with barberries , so you may boil pigeons with the same ingredients , plover or teal . a roasted shoulder of mutton . when it is roasted , slash it , and carbonado it , take two spponfuls of capers , and a little thyme , and lemon minced , half a nutmeg , two anchovies , a quarter of a peck of oysters , mix all together , boil them one hour in strong broth and white-wine , then pour it upon the meat , with hard eggs minced , and sippets round the dish , throw first salt on the meat , then the hard eggs and sliced lemon and barberries . finis .